The Project Gutenberg eBook of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, by Various
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before
using this eBook.
Title: Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Author: Various
Release Date: August 22, 2009 [eBook #29765]
[Most recently updated: June 28, 2023]
Language: English
Produced by: Graham Lawrence
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WEBSTER'S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY ***
A
A (named a in the English, and most commonly ä in other languages).
Defn: The first letter of the English and of many other alphabets.
The capital A of the alphabets of Middle and Western Europe, as also
the small letter (a), besides the forms in Italic, black letter,
etc., are all descended from the old Latin A, which was borrowed from
the Greek Alpha, of the same form; and this was made from the first
letter (Aleph, and itself from the Egyptian origin. The Aleph was a
consonant letter, with a guttural breath sound that was not an
element of Greek articulation; and the Greeks took it to represent
their vowel Alpha with the ä sound, the Phoenician alphabet having no
vowel symbols. This letter, in English, is used for several different
vowel sounds. See Guide to pronunciation, §§ 43-74. The regular long
a, as in fate, etc., is a comparatively modern sound, and has taken
the place of what, till about the early part of the 17th century, was
a sound of the quality of ä (as in far).
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The name of the sixth tone in the model major scale (that in
C), or the first tone of the minor scale, which is named after it the
scale in A minor. The second string of the violin is tuned to the A
in the treble staff.
-- A sharp (A#) is the name of a musical tone intermediate between A
and B.
-- A flat (A) is the name of a tone intermediate between A and G.
A per se Etym: (L. per se by itself), one preëminent; a nonesuch.
[Obs.]
O fair Creseide, the flower and A per se Of Troy and Greece. Chaucer.
A
A (# emph. #).
1. Etym: [Shortened form of an. AS. an one. See One.]
Defn: An adjective, commonly called the indefinite article, and
signifying one or any, but less emphatically.
Defn: "At a birth"; "In a word"; "At a blow". Shak.
Note: It is placed before nouns of the singular number denoting an
individual object, or a quality individualized, before collective
nouns, and also before plural nouns when the adjective few or the
phrase great many or good many is interposed; as, a dog, a house, a
man; a color; a sweetness; a hundred, a fleet, a regiment; a few
persons, a great many days. It is used for an, for the sake of
euphony, before words beginning with a consonant sound [for exception
of certain words beginning with h, see An]; as, a table, a woman, a
year, a unit, a eulogy, a ewe, a oneness, such a one, etc. Formally
an was used both before vowels and consonants.
2. Etym: [Originally the preposition a (an, on).]
Defn: In each; to or for each; as, "twenty leagues a day", "a hundred
pounds a year", "a dollar a yard", etc.
A
A, prep. Etym: [Abbreviated form of an (AS. on). See On.]
1. In; on; at; by. [Obs.] "A God's name." "Torn a pieces." "Stand a
tiptoe." "A Sundays" Shak. "Wit that men have now a days." Chaucer.
"Set them a work." Robynson (More's Utopia)
2. In process of; in the act of; into; to; -- used with verbal
substantives in -ing which begin with a consonant. This is a
shortened form of the preposition an (which was used before the vowel
sound); as in a hunting, a building, a begging. "Jacob, when he was a
dying" Heb. xi. 21. "We'll a birding together." " It was a doing."
Shak. "He burst out a laughing." Macaulay. The hyphen may be used to
connect a with the verbal substantive (as, a-hunting, a-building) or
the words may be written separately. This form of expression is now
for the most part obsolete, the a being omitted and the verbal
substantive treated as a participle.
A
A. Etym: [From AS. of off, from. See Of.]
Defn: Of. [Obs.] "The name of John a Gaunt." "What time a day is it "
Shak. "It's six a clock." B. Jonson.
A
A.
Defn: A barbarous corruption of have, of he, and sometimes of it and
of they. "So would I a done" "A brushes his hat." Shak.
A
A.
Defn: An expletive, void of sense, to fill up the meter
A merry heart goes all the day, Your sad tires in a mile-a. Shak.
A-
A-
Defn: A, as a prefix to English words, is derived from various
sources. (1) It frequently signifies on or in (from an, a forms of
AS. on), denoting a state, as in afoot, on foot, abed, amiss, asleep,
aground, aloft, away (AS. onweg), and analogically, ablaze, atremble,
etc. (2) AS. of off, from, as in adown (AS. ofdüne off the dun or
hill). (3) AS. a- (Goth. us-, ur-, Ger. er-), usually giving an
intensive force, and sometimes the sense of away, on, back, as in
arise, abide, ago. (4) Old English y- or i- (corrupted from the AS.
inseparable particle ge-, cognate with OHG. ga-, gi-, Goth. ga-),
which, as a prefix, made no essential addition to the meaning, as in
aware. (5) French à (L. ad to), as in abase, achieve. (6) L. a, ab,
abs, from, as in avert. (7) Greek insep. prefix a without, or
privative, not, as in abyss, atheist; akin to E. un-.
Note: Besides these, there are other sources from which the prefix a
takes its origin.
A 1
A 1. A registry mark given by underwriters (as at Lloyd's) to ships
in first-class condition. Inferior grades are indicated by A 2 and A
3.
Note: A 1 is also applied colloquially to other things to imply
superiority; prime; first-class; first-rate.
AAM
Aam, n. Etym: [D. aam, fr. LL. ama; cf. L. hama a water bucket, Gr.
Defn: A Dutch and German measure of liquids, varying in different
cities, being at Amsterdam about 41 wine gallons, at Antwerp 36½, at
Hamburg 38¼. [Written also Aum and Awm.]
AARD-VARK
Aard"-vark`, n. Etym: [D., earth-pig.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edentate mammal, of the genus Orycteropus, somewhat
resembling a pig, common in some parts of Southern Africa. It burrows
in the ground, and feeds entirely on ants, which it catches with its
long, slimy tongue.
AARD-WOLF
Aard"-wolf`, n. Etym: [D, earth-wolf] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous quadruped (Proteles Lalandii), of South Africa,
resembling the fox and hyena. See Proteles.
AARONIC; AARONICAL
Aa*ron"ic, Aa*ron"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Aaron, the first high priest of the Jews.
AARON'S ROD
Aar"on's rod`. Etym: [See Exodus vii. 9 and Numbers xvii. 8]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A rod with one serpent twined around it, thus differing from
the caduceus of Mercury, which has two.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with a tall flowering stem; esp. the great mullein, or
hag-taper, and the golden-rod.
AB-
Ab-. Etym: [Latin prep., etymologically the same as E. of, off. See
Of.]
Defn: A prefix in many words of Latin origin. It signifies from, away
, separating, or departure, as in abduct, abstract, abscond. See A-
(6).
AB
Ab, n. Etym: [Of Syriac origin.]
Defn: The fifth month of the Jewish year according to the
ecclesiastical reckoning, the eleventh by the civil computation,
coinciding nearly with August. W. Smith.
ABACA
Ab"a*ca, n. Etym: [The native name.]
Defn: The Manila-hemp plant (Musa textilis); also, its fiber. See
Manila hemp under Manila.
ABACINATE
A*bac"i*nate, v.t. Etym: [LL. abacinatus, p.p. of abacinare; ab off +
bacinus a basin.]
Defn: To blind by a red-hot metal plate held before the eyes. [R.]
ABACINATION
A*bac`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of abacinating. [R.]
ABACISCUS
Ab`a*cis"cus, n. Etym: [Gr.Abacus.] (Arch.)
Defn: One of the tiles or squares of a tessellated pavement; an
abaculus.
ABACIST
Ab"a*cist, n. Etym: [LL abacista, fr. abacus.]
Defn: One who uses an abacus in casting accounts; a calculator.
ABACK
A*back", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + back; AS. on bæc at, on, or toward
the back. See Back.]
1. Toward the back or rear; backward. "Therewith aback she started."
Chaucer.
2. Behind; in the rear. Knolles.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: Backward against the mast;-said of the sails when pressed by
the wind. Totten. To be taken aback. (a) To be driven backward
against the mast; -- said of the sails, also of the ship when the
sails are thus driven. (b) To be suddenly checked, baffled, or
discomfited. Dickens.
ABACK
Ab"ack, n.
Defn: An abacus. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ABACTINAL
Ab*ac"ti*nal, a. Etym: [L. ab + E. actinal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the surface or end opposite to the mouth in a
radiate animal; -- opposed to actinal. "The aboral or abactinal
area." L. Agassiz.
ABACTION
Ab*ac"tion, n.
Defn: Stealing cattle on a large scale. [Obs.]
ABACTOR
Ab*ac"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. abigere to drive away; ab+agere to
drive.] (Law)
Defn: One who steals and drives away cattle or beasts by herds or
droves. [Obs.]
ABACULUS
A*bac"u*lus, n.; pl. Abaculi. Etym: [L., dim. of abacus.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small tile of glass, marble, or other substance, of various
colors, used in making ornamental patterns in mosaic pavements.
Fairholt.
ABACUS
Ab"a*cus, n. E. pl. Abacuses ; L. pl. Abaci. Etym: [L. abacus, abax,
Gr.
1. A table or tray strewn with sand, anciently used for drawing,
calculating, etc. [Obs.]
2. A calculating table or frame; an instrument for performing
arithmetical calculations by balls sliding on wires, or counters in
grooves, the lowest line representing units, the second line, tens,
etc. It is still employed in China.
3. (Arch.)
(a) The uppermost member or division of the capital of a column,
immediately under the architrave. See Column.
(b) A tablet, panel, or compartment in ornamented or mosaic work.
4. A board, tray, or table, divided into perforated compartments, for
holding cups, bottles, or the like; a kind of cupboard, buffet, or
sideboard. Abacus harmonicus (Mus.), an ancient diagram showing the
structure and disposition of the keys of an instrument. Crabb.
ABADA
Ab"a*da, n. Etym: [Pg., the female rhinoceros.]
Defn: The rhinoceros. [Obs.] Purchas.
ABADDON
A*bad"don, n. Etym: [Heb. abaddon destruction, abyss, fr. abad to be
lost, to perish.]
1. The destroyer, or angel of the bottomless pit; -- the same as
Apollyon and Asmodeus.
2. Hell; the bottomless pit. [Poetic]
In all her gates, Abaddon rues Thy bold attempt. Milton.
ABAFT
A*baft", prep. Etym: [Pref. a-on + OE. baft, baften, biaften, AS.
beæftan; be by + æftan behind. See After, Aft, By.] (Naut.)
Defn: Behind; toward the stern from; as, abaft the wheelhouse. Abaft
the beam. See under Beam.
ABAFT
A*baft", adv. (Naut.)
Defn: Toward the stern; aft; as, to go abaft.
ABAISANCE
A*bai"sance, n. Etym: [For obeisance; confused with F. abaisser, E.
abase]
Defn: Obeisance. [Obs.] Jonson.
ABAISER
A*bai"ser, n.
Defn: Ivory black or animal charcoal. Weale.
ABAIST
A*baist", p.p.
Defn: Abashed; confounded; discomfited. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ABALIENATE
Ab*al"ien*ate, v.t. Etym: [L. abalienatus, p.p. of abalienare; ab +
alienus foreign, alien. See Alien.]
1. (Civil Law)
Defn: To transfer the title of from one to another; to alienate.
2. To estrange; to withdraw. [Obs.]
3. To cause alienation of (mind). Sandys.
ABALIENATION
Ab*al`ien*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. abalienatio: cf. F. abalianation.]
Defn: The act of abalienating; alienation; estrangement. [Obs.]
ABALONE
Ab`a*lo"ne, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A univalve mollusk of the genus Haliotis. The shell is lined
with mother-of-pearl, and used for ornamental purposes; the sea-ear.
Several large species are found on the coast of California, clinging
closely to the rocks.
ABAND
A*band", v.t. Etym: [Contracted from abandon.]
1. To abandon. [Obs.]
Enforced the kingdom to aband. Spenser.
2. To banish; to expel. [Obs.] Mir. for Mag.
ABANDON
A*ban"don, v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abandoned; p.pr. & vb.n. Abandoning.]
Etym: [OF. abandoner, F.abandonner; a (L. ad)+bandon permission,
authority, LL. bandum, bannum, public proclamation, interdiction,
bannire to proclaim, summon: of Germanic origin; cf. Goth. bandwjan
to show by signs, to designate OHG. banproclamation. The word meant
to proclaim, put under a ban, put under control; hence, as in OE., to
compel, subject, or to leave in the control of another, and hence, to
give up. See Ban.]
1. To cast or drive out; to banish; to expel; to reject. [Obs.]
That he might . . . abandon them from him. Udall.
Being all this time abandoned from your bed. Shak.
2. To give up absolutely; to forsake entirely ; to renounce utterly;
to relinquish all connection with or concern on; to desert, as a
person to whom one owes allegiance or fidelity; to quit; to
surrender.
Hope was overthrown, yet could not be abandoned. I. Taylor.
3. Reflexively : To give (one's self) up without attempt at self-
control ; to yield (one's self) unrestrainedly ; -- often in a bad
sense.
He abandoned himself . . . to his favorite vice. Macaulay.
4. (Mar. Law)
Defn: To relinquish all claim to; -- used when an insured person
gives up to underwriters all claim to the property covered by a
policy, which may remain after loss or damage by a peril insured
against.
Syn.
-- To give up; yield; forego; cede; surrender; resign; abdicate;
quit; relinquish; renounce; desert; forsake; leave; retire; withdraw
from.
-- To Abandon, Desert, Forsake. These words agree in representing a
person as giving up or leaving some object, but differ as to the mode
of doing it. The distinctive sense of abandon is that of giving up a
thing absolutely and finally; as, to abandon one's friends, places,
opinions, good or evil habits, a hopeless enterprise, a shipwrecked
vessel. Abandon is more widely applicable than forsake or desert. The
Latin original of desert appears to have been originally applied to
the case of deserters from military service. Hence, the verb, when
used of persons in the active voice, has usually or always a bad
sense, implying some breach of fidelity, honor, etc., the leaving of
something which the person should rightfully stand by and support;
as, to desert one's colors, to desert one's post, to desert one's
principles or duty. When used in the passive, the sense is not
necessarily bad; as, the fields were deserted, a deserted village,
deserted halls. Forsake implies the breaking off of previous habit,
association, personal connection, or that the thing left had been
familiar or frequented; as, to forsake old friends, to forsake the
paths of rectitude, the blood forsook his cheeks. It may be used
either in a good or in a bad sense.
ABANDON
A*ban"don, n. Etym: [F. abandon. fr. abandonner. See Abandon, v.]
Defn: Abandonment; relinquishment. [Obs.]
ABANDON
A`ban`don", n. Etym: [F. See Abandon.]
Defn: A complete giving up to natural impulses; freedom from
artificial constraint; careless freedom or ease.
ABANDONED
A*ban"doned, a.
1. Forsaken, deserted. "Your abandoned streams." Thomson.
2. Self-abandoned, or given up to vice; extremely wicked, or sinning
without restraint; irreclaimably wicked ; as, an abandoned villain.
Syn.
-- Profligate; dissolute; corrupt; vicious; depraved; reprobate;
wicked; unprincipled; graceless; vile.
-- Abandoned, Profligate, Reprobate. These adjectives agree in
expressing the idea of great personal depravity. Profligate has
reference to open and shameless immoralities, either in private life
or political conduct; as, a profligate court, a profligate ministry.
Abandoned is stronger, and has reference to the searing of conscience
and hardening of heart produced by a man's giving himself wholly up
to iniquity; as, a man of abandoned character. Reprobate describes
the condition of one who has become insensible to reproof, and who is
morally abandoned and lost beyond hope of recovery.
God gave them over to a reprobate mind. Rom. i. 28.
ABANDONEDLY
A*ban"doned*ly, adv.
Defn: Unrestrainedly.
ABANDONEE
A*ban`don*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom anything is legally abandoned.
ABANDONER
A*ban"don*er, n.
Defn: One who abandons. Beau. & Fl.
ABANDONMENT
A*ban"don*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abandonnement.]
1. The act of abandoning, or the state of being abandoned; total
desertion; relinquishment.
The abandonment of the independence of Europe. Burke.
2. (Mar. Law)
Defn: The relinquishment by the insured to the underwriters of what
may remain of the property insured after a loss or damage by a peril
insured against.
3. (Com. Law)
Defn: (a) The relinquishment of a right, claim, or privilege, as to
mill site, etc. (b) The voluntary leaving of a person to whom one is
bound by a special relation, as a wife, husband, or child; desertion.
4. Careless freedom or ease; abandon. [R.] Carlyle.
ABANDUM
A*ban"*dum, n. Etym: [LL. See Abandon.] (Law)
Defn: Anything forfeited or confiscated.
ABANET
Ab"a*net, n.
Defn: See Abnet.
ABANGA
A*ban"ga, n. Etym: [Name given by the negroes in the island of St.
Thomas.]
Defn: A West Indian palm; also the fruit of this palm, the seeds of
which are used as a remedy for diseases of the chest.
ABANNATION; ABANNITION
Ab`an*na"tion, Ab`an*nition, n. Etym: [LL. abannatio; ad + LL.
bannire to banish.] (Old Law)
Defn: Banishment. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABARTICULATION
Ab`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ab + E. articulation : cf. F.
abarticulation. See Article.] (Anat.)
Defn: Articulation, usually that kind of articulation which admits of
free motion in the joint; diarthrosis. Coxe.
ABASE
A*base", v.t. [imp.&p.p. Abased; p.pr. & vb. n. Abasing.] Etym: [F.
abaisser, LL. abassare, abbassare ; ad + bassare, fr. bassus low. See
Base, a.]
1. To lower or depress; to throw or cast down; as, to abase the eye.
[Archaic] Bacon.
Saying so, he abased his lance. Shelton.
2. To cast down or reduce low or lower, as in rank, office, condition
in life, or estimation of worthiness; to depress; to humble; to
degrade.
Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased. Luke xiv. ll.
Syn.
-- To Abase, Debase, Degrade. These words agree in the idea of
bringing down from a higher to a lower state. Abase has reference to
a bringing down in condition or feelings; as to abase one's self
before God. Debase has reference to the bringing down of a thing in
purity, or making it base. It is, therefore, always used in a bad
sense, as, to debase the coin of the kingdom, to debase the mind by
vicious indulgence, to debase one's style by coarse or vulgar
expressions. Degrade has reference to a bringing down from some
higher grade or from some standard. Thus, a priest is degraded from
the clerical office. When used in a moral sense, it denotes a
bringing down in character and just estimation; as, degraded by
intemperance, a degrading employment, etc. "Art is degraded when it
is regarded only as a trade."
ABASED
A*based", a.
1. Lowered; humbled.
2. (Her.) Etym: [F. abaissé.]
Defn: Borne lower than usual, as a fess; also, having the ends of the
wings turned downward towards the point of the shield.
ABASEDLY
A*bas"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Abjectly; downcastly.
ABASEMENT
A*base"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abaissement.]
Defn: The act of abasing, humbling, or bringing low; the state of
being abased or humbled; humiliation.
ABASER
A*bas"er, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, abases.
ABASH
A*bash", v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abashed; p.pr. & vb. n. Abashing.] Etym:
[OE. abaissen, abaisshen, abashen, OF.esbahir, F. ébahir, to
astonish, fr. L. ex + the interjection bah, expressing astonishment.
In OE. somewhat confused with abase. Cf. Finish.]
Defn: To destroy the self-possession of; to confuse or confound, as
by exciting suddenly a consciousness of guilt, mistake, or
inferiority; to put to shame; to disconcert; to discomfit.
Abashed, the devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is. Milton.
He was a man whom no check could abash. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To confuse; confound; disconcert; shame.
-- To Abash, Confuse, Confound. Abash is a stronger word than
confuse, but not so strong as confound. We are abashed when struck
either with sudden shame or with a humbling sense of inferiority; as,
Peter was abashed in the presence of those who are greatly his
superiors. We are confused when, from some unexpected or startling
occurrence, we lose clearness of thought and self-possession. Thus, a
witness is often confused by a severe cross-examination; a timid
person is apt to be confused in entering a room full of strangers. We
are confounded when our minds are overwhelmed, as it were, by
something wholly unexpected, amazing, dreadful, etc., so that we have
nothing to say. Thus, a criminal is usually confounded at the
discovery of his guilt.
Satan stood Awhile as mute, confounded what to say. Milton.
ABASHEDLY
A*bash"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an abashed manner.
ABASHMENT
A*bash"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ébahissement.]
Defn: The state of being abashed; confusion from shame.
ABASIA
A*ba"si*a, n. [NL.; Gr. - not + a step.] (Med.)
Defn: Inability to coördinate muscular actions properly in walking. -
- A*ba"sic (#), a.
ABASSI; ABASSIS
A*bas"si, A*bas"sis, n. Etym: [Ar.& Per. abasi, belonging to Abas (a
king of Persia).]
Defn: A silver coin of Persia, worth about twenty cents.
ABATABLE
A*bat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being abated; as, an abatable writ or nuisance.
ABATE
A*bate", v.t. [imp.& p.p. Abated, p.pr. & vb.n. Abating.] Etym: [OF.
abatre to beat down, F. abattre, LL. abatere; ab or ad + batere,
battere (popular form for L. batuere to beat). Cf. Bate, Batter.]
1. To beat down; to overthrow. [Obs.]
The King of Scots . . . sore abated the walls. Edw. Hall.
2. To bring down or reduce from a higher to a lower state, number, or
degree; to lessen; to diminish; to contract; to moderate; toto cut
short; as, to abate a demand; to abate pride, zeal, hope.
His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. Deut. xxxiv. 7.
3. To deduct; to omit; as, to abate something from a price.
Nine thousand parishes, abating the odd hundreds. Fuller.
4. To blunt. [Obs.]
To abate the edge of envy. Bacon.
5. To reduce in estimation; to deprive. [Obs.]
She hath abated me of half my train. Shak.
6. (Law)
Defn: (a) To bring entirely down or put an end to; to do away with;
as, to abate a nuisance, to abate a writ. (b) (Eng. Law) To diminish;
to reduce. Legacies are liable to be abated entirely or in
proportion, upon a deficiency of assets. To abate a tax, to remit it
either wholly or in part.
ABATE
A*bate", v.i. Etym: [See Abate, v.t.]
1. To decrease, or become less in strength or violence; as, pain
abates, a storm abates.
The fury of Glengarry . . . rapidly abated. Macaulay.
2. To be defeated, or come to naught; to fall through; to fail; as, a
writ abates. To abate into a freehold, To abate in lands (Law), to
enter into a freehold after the death of the last possessor, and
before the heir takes possession. See Abatement, 4.
Syn.
-- To subside; decrease; intermit; decline; diminish; lessen.
-- To Abate, Subside. These words, as here compared, imply a coming
down from some previously raised or exited state. Abate expresses
this in respect to degrees, and implies a diminution of force or of
intensity; as, the storm abates, the cold abates, the force of the
wind abates; or, the wind abates, a fever abates. Subside (to settle
down) has reference to a previous state of agitation or commotion;
as, the waves subside after a storm, the wind subsides into a calm.
When the words are used figuratively, the same distinction should be
observed. If we conceive of a thing as having different degrees of
intensity or strength, the word to be used is abate. Thus we say, a
man's anger abates, the ardor of one's love abates, "Winter rage
abates". But if the image be that of a sinking down into quiet from
preceding excitement or commotion, the word to be used is subside;
as, the tumult of the people subsides, the public mind subsided into
a calm. The same is the case with those emotions which are tumultuous
in their nature; as, his passion subsides, his joy quickly subsided,
his grief subsided into a pleasing melancholy. Yet if, in such cases,
we were thinking of the degree of violence of the emotion, we might
use abate; as, his joy will abate in the progress of time; and so in
other instances.
ABATE
A*bate, n.
Defn: Abatement. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ABATEMENT
A*bate"ment, n. Etym: [OF. abatement, F. abattement.]
1. The act of abating, or the state of being abated; a lessening,
diminution, or reduction; removal or putting an end to; as, the
abatement of a nuisance is the suppression thereof.
2. The amount abated; that which is taken away by way of reduction;
deduction; decrease; a rebate or discount allowed.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A mark of dishonor on an escutcheon.
4. (Law)
Defn: The entry of a stranger, without right, into a freehold after
the death of the last possessor, before the heir or devisee.
Blackstone. Defense in abatement, Plea in abatement, (Law), plea to
the effect that from some formal defect (e.g. misnomer, want of
jurisdiction) the proceedings should be abated.
ABATER
A*bat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, abates.
ABATIS; ABATTIS
Ab"a*tis, Aba"t*tis, n. Etym: [F. abatis, abattis, mass of things
beaten or cut down, fr. abattre. See Abate.] (Fort.)
Defn: A means of defense formed by felled trees, the ends of whose
branches are sharpened and directed outwards, or against the enemy.
ABATISED
Ab"a*tised, a.
Defn: Provided with an abatis.
ABATOR
A*ba"tor, n. (Law)
Defn: (a) One who abates a nuisance. (b) A person who, without right,
enters into a freehold on the death of the last possessor, before the
heir or devisee. Blackstone.
ABATTOIR
A`bat`toir", n.; pl. Abattoirs. Etym: [F., fr. abattre to beat down.
See Abate.]
Defn: A public slaughterhouse for cattle, sheep, etc.
ABATURE
Ab"a*ture, n. Etym: [F. abatture, fr. abattre. See Abate.]
Defn: Grass and sprigs beaten or trampled down by a stag passing
through them. Crabb.
ABATVOIX
A`bat`voix", n. Etym: [F. abattre to beat down + voix voice.]
Defn: The sounding-board over a pulpit or rostrum.
ABAWED
Ab*awed", p.p. Etym: [Perh. p.p. of a verb fr. OF. abaubir to
frighten, disconcert, fr. L. ad + balbus stammering.]
Defn: Astonished; abashed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ABAXIAL; ABAXILE
Ab*ax"i*al, Ab*ax"ile, a. Etym: [L. ab + axis axle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Away from the axis or central line; eccentric. Balfour.
ABAY
A*bay", n. Etym: [OF. abay barking.]
Defn: Barking; baying of dogs upon their prey. See Bay. [Obs.]
ABB
Abb, n. Etym: [AS. aweb, ab; pref. a- + web. See Web.]
Defn: Among weaves, yarn for the warp. Hence, abb wool is wool for
the abb.
ABBA
Ab"ba, n. Etym: [Syriac abba father. See Abbot.]
Defn: Father; religious superior; -- in the Syriac, Coptic, and
Ethiopic churches, a title given to the bishops, and by the bishops
to the patriarch.
ABBACY
Ab"ba*cy, n.; pl. Abbacies. Etym: [L. abbatia, fr. abbas, abbatis,
abbot. See Abbey.]
Defn: The dignity, estate, or jurisdiction of an abbot.
ABBATIAL
Ab*ba"tial, a. Etym: [LL. abbatialis : cf. F. abbatial.]
Defn: Belonging to an abbey; as, abbatial rights.
ABBATICAL
Ab*bat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Abbatial. [Obs.]
ABBE
Ab"bé`, n.Etym: [F. abbé. See Abbot.]
Defn: The French word answering to the English abbot, the head of an
abbey; but commonly a title of respect given in France to every one
vested with the ecclesiastical habit or dress.
Note: * After the 16th century, the name was given, in social
parlance, to candidates for some priory or abbey in the gift of the
crown. Many of these aspirants became well known in literary and
fashionable life. By further extension, the name came to be applied
to unbeneficed secular ecclesiastics generally. Littré.
ABBESS
Ab"bess, n. Etym: [OF.abaesse, abeesse, F. abbesse, L. abbatissa,
fem. of abbas, abbatis, abbot. See Abbot.]
Defn: A female superior or governess of a nunnery, or convent of
nuns, having the same authority over the nuns which the abbots have
over the monks. See Abbey.
ABBEY
Ab"bey, n.; pl. Abbeys. Etym: [OF. abaïe, F. abbaye, L. abbatia, fr.
abbas abbot. See Abbot.]
1. A monastery or society of persons of either sex, secluded from the
world and devoted to religion and celibacy; also, the monastic
building or buildings.
Note: The men are called monks, and governed by an abbot; the women
are called nuns, and governed by an abbess.
2. The church of a monastery.
Note: In London, the Abbey means Westminster Abbey, and in Scotland,
the precincts of the Abbey of Holyrood. The name is also retained for
a private residence on the site of an abbey; as, Newstead Abbey, the
residence of Lord Byron.
Syn.
-- Monastery; convent; nunnery; priory; cloister. See Cloister.
ABBOT
Ab"bot, n. Etym: [AS. abbod, abbad, L. abbas, abbatis, Gr. abba
father. Cf. Abba, AbbÉ.]
1. The superior or head of an abbey.
2. One of a class of bishops whose sees were formerly abbeys. Encyc.
Brit. Abbot of the people. a title formerly given to one of the chief
magistrates in Genoa.
-- Abbot of Misrule (or Lord of Misrule), in mediæval times, the
master of revels, as at Christmas; in Scotland called the Abbot of
Unreason. Encyc. Brit.
ABBOTSHIP
Ab"bot*ship, n. Etym: [Abbot + -ship.]
Defn: The state or office of an abbot.
ABBREVIATE
Ab*bre"vi*ate, v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abbreviated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Abbreviating.] Etym: [L. abbreviatus, p.p. of abbreviare; ad +
breviare to shorten, fr. brevis short. See Abridge.]
1. To make briefer; to shorten; to abridge; to reduce by contraction
or omission, especially of words written or spoken.
It is one thing to abbreviate by contracting, another by cutting off.
Bacon.
2. (Math.)
Defn: To reduce to lower terms, as a fraction.
ABBREVIATE
Ab*bre"vi*ate, a. Etym: [L. abbreviatus, p.p.]
1. Abbreviated; abridged; shortened. [R.] "The abbreviate form."
Earle.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Having one part relatively shorter than another or than the
ordinary type.
ABBREVIATE
Ab*bre"vi*ate, n.
Defn: An abridgment. [Obs.] Elyot.
ABBREVIATED
Ab*bre"vi*a`ted, a.
Defn: Shortened; relatively short; abbreviate.
ABBREVIATION
Ab*bre`vi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. abbreviatio: cf. F. abbréviation.]
1. The act of shortening, or reducing.
2. The result of abbreviating; an abridgment. Tylor.
3. The form to which a word or phrase is reduced by contraction and
omission; a letter or letters, standing for a word or phrase of which
they are a part; as, Gen. for Genesis; U.S.A. for United States of
America.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: One dash, or more, through the stem of a note, dividing it
respectively into quavers, semiquavers, or demi-semiquavers. Moore.
ABBREVIATOR
Ab*bre"vi*a`tor, n. Etym: [LL.: cf. F. abbréviateur.]
1. One who abbreviates or shortens.
2. One of a college of seventy-two officers of the papal court whose
duty is to make a short minute of a decision on a petition, or reply
of the pope to a letter, and afterwards expand the minute into
official form.
ABBREVIATORY
Ab*bre"vi*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to abbreviate; shortening; abridging.
ABBREVIATURE
Ab*bre"vi*a*ture, n.
1. An abbreviation; an abbreviated state or form. [Obs.]
2. An abridgment; a compendium or abstract.
This is an excellent abbreviature of the whole duty of a Christian.
Jer. Taylor.
ABB WOOL
Abb" wool.
Defn: See Abb.
A B C
A B C".
1. The first three letters of the alphabet, used for the whole
alphabet.
2. A primer for teaching the alphabet and first elements of reading.
[Obs.]
3. The simplest rudiments of any subject; as, the A B C of finance. A
B C book, a primer. Shak.
ABDAL
Ab"dal, n. Etym: [Ar. badil, pl. abdal, a substitute, a good,
religious man, saint, fr. badala to change, substitute.]
Defn: A religious devotee or dervish in Persia.
ABDERIAN
Ab*de"ri*an, a. Etym: [From Abdera, a town in Thrace, of which place
Democritus, the Laughing Philosopher, was a native.]
Defn: Given to laughter; inclined to foolish or incessant merriment.
ABDERITE
Ab*de"rite, n. Etym: [L. Abderita, Abderites, fr. Gr. '
Defn: An inhabitant of Abdera, in Thrace. The Abderite, Democritus,
the Laughing Philosopher.
ABDEST
Ab"dest, n. Etym: [Per. abdast; ab water + dast hand.]
Defn: Purification by washing the hands before prayer; -- a
Mohammedan rite. Heyse.
ABDICABLE
Ab"di*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being abdicated.
ABDICANT
Ab"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. abdicans, p.pr. of abdicare.]
Defn: Abdicating; renouncing; -- followed by of.
Monks abdicant of their orders. Whitlock.
ABDICANT
Ab"di*cant, n.
Defn: One who abdicates. Smart.
ABDICATE
Ab"di*cate, v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abdicated; p.pr. & vb.n. Abdicating.]
Etym: [L. abdicatus, p.p. of abdicare; ab + dicare to proclaim, akin
to dicere to say. See Diction.]
1. To surrender or relinquish, as sovereign power; to withdraw
definitely from filling or exercising, as a high office, station,
dignity; as, to abdicate the throne, the crown, the papacy.
Note: The word abdicate was held to mean, in the case of James II.,
to abandon without a formal surrender.
The cross-bearers abdicated their service. Gibbon.
2. To renounce; to relinquish; -- said of authority, a trust, duty,
right, etc.
He abdicates all right to be his own governor. Burke.
The understanding abdicates its functions. Froude.
3. To reject; to cast off. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
4. (Civil Law)
Defn: To disclaim and expel from the family, as a father his child;
to disown; to disinherit.
Syn.
-- To give up; quit; vacate; relinquish; forsake; abandon; resign;
renounce; desert.
-- To Abdicate, Resign. Abdicate commonly expresses the act of a
monarch in voluntary and formally yielding up sovereign authority;
as, to abdicate the government. Resign is applied to the act of any
person, high or low, who gives back an office or trust into the hands
of him who conferred it. Thus, a minister resigns, a military officer
resigns, a clerk resigns. The expression, "The king resigned his
crown," sometimes occurs in our later literature, implying that he
held it from his people.
-- There are other senses of resign which are not here brought into
view.
ABDICATE
Ab"di*cate, v.i.
Defn: To relinquish or renounce a throne, or other high office or
dignity.
Though a king may abdicate for his own person, he cannot abdicate for
the monarchy. Burke.
ABDICATION
Ab`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. abdicatio: cf. F. abdication.]
Defn: The act of abdicating; the renunciation of a high office,
dignity, or trust, by its holder; commonly the voluntary renunciation
of sovereign power; as, abdication of the throne, government, power,
authority.
ABDICATIVE
Ab"di*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. abdicativus.]
Defn: Causing, or implying, abdication. [R.] Bailey.
ABDICATOR
Ab"di*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who abdicates.
ABDITIVE
Ab"di*tive, a. Etym: [L. abditivus, fr. abdere to hide.]
Defn: Having the quality of hiding. [R.] Bailey.
ABDITORY
Ab"di*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. abditorium.]
Defn: A place for hiding or preserving articles of value. Cowell.
ABDOMEN
Ab*do"men, n. Etym: [L. abdomen (a word of uncertain etymol.): cf. F.
abdomen.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The belly, or that part of the body between the thorax and the
pelvis. Also, the cavity of the belly, which is lined by the
peritoneum, and contains the stomach, bowels, and other viscera. In
man, often restricted to the part between the diaphragm and the
commencement of the pelvis, the remainder being called the pelvic
cavity.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in
insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda.
ABDOMINAL
Ab*dom"i*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abdominal.]
1. Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the abdominal
regions, muscles, cavity.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having abdominal fins; belonging to the Abdominales; as,
abdominal fishes. Abdominal ring (Anat.), a fancied ringlike opening
on each side of the abdomen, external and superior to the pubes; --
called also inguinal ring.
ABDOMINAL
Ab*dom"i*nal, n.; E. pl. Abdominals, L. pl. Abdominales.
Defn: A fish of the group Abdominales.
ABDOMINALES
Ab*dom`i*na"les, n. pl. Etym: [NL., masc. pl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group including the greater part of fresh-water fishes, and
many marine ones, having the ventral fins under the abdomen behind
the pectorals.
ABDOMINALIA
Ab*dom`i*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages.
ABDOMINOSCOPY
Ab*dom`i*nos"co*py, n. Etym: [L. abdomen + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Examination of the abdomen to detect abdominal disease.
ABDOMINOTHORACIC
Ab*dom`i*no*tho*rac"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest.
ABDOMINOUS
Ab*dom"i*nous, a.
Defn: Having a protuberant belly; pot-bellied.
Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan, Like a fat squab upon a Chinese
fan. Cowper.
ABDUCE
Ab*duce", v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abduced; p.pr. & vb.n. Abducing.] Etym:
[L. abducere to lead away; ab + ducere to lead. See Duke, and cf.
Abduct.]
Defn: To draw or conduct away; to withdraw; to draw to a different
part. [Obs.]
If we abduce the eye unto either corner, the object will not
duplicate. Sir T. Browne.
ABDUCT
Ab*duct", v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abducted; p.pr. & vb.n. Abducting.] Etym:
[L. abductus, p.p. of abducere. See Abduce.]
1. To take away surreptitiously by force; to carry away (a human
being) wrongfully and usually by violence; to kidnap.
2. To draw away, as a limb or other part, from its ordinary position.
ABDUCTION
Ab*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. abductio: cf. F. abduction.]
1. The act of abducing or abducting; a drawing apart; a carrying
away. Roget.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The movement which separates a limb or other part from the
axis, or middle line, of the body.
3. (Law)
Defn: The wrongful, and usually the forcible, carrying off of a human
being; as, the abduction of a child, the abduction of an heiress.
4. (Logic)
Defn: A syllogism or form of argument in which the major is evident,
but the minor is only probable.
ABDUCTOR
Ab*duc"tor, n. Etym: [NL.]
1. One who abducts.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which serves to draw a part out, or form the median
line of the body; as, the abductor oculi, which draws the eye
outward.
ABEAM
A*beam", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + beam.] (Naut.)
Defn: On the beam, that is, on a line which forms a right angle with
the ship's keel; opposite to the center of the ship's side.
ABEAR
A*bear", v.t. Etym: [AS. aberan; pref. a- + beran to bear.]
1. To bear; to behave. [Obs.]
So did the faery knight himself abear. Spenser.
2. To put up with; to endure. [Prov.] Dickens.
ABEARANCE
A*bear"ance, n.
Defn: Behavior. [Obs.] Blackstone.
ABEARING
A*bear"ing, n.
Defn: Behavior. [Obs.] Sir. T. More.
ABECEDARIAN
A`be*ce*da"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. abecedarius. A word from the first
four letters of the alphabet.]
1. One who is learning the alphabet; hence, a tyro.
2. One engaged in teaching the alphabet. Wood.
ABECEDARIAN; ABECEDARY
A`be*ce*da"ri*an, A`be*ce"da*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or formed by, the letters of the alphabet;
alphabetic; hence, rudimentary. Abecedarian psalms, hymns, etc.,
compositions in which (like the 119th psalm in Hebrew) distinct
portions or verses commence with successive letters of the alphabet.
Hook.
ABECEDARY
A`be*ce"da*ry, n.
Defn: A primer; the first principle or rudiment of anything. [R.]
Fuller.
ABED
A*bed", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- in, on + bed.]
1. In bed, or on the bed.
Not to be abed after midnight. Shak.
2. To childbed (in the phrase "brought abed," that is, delivered of a
child). Shak.
ABEGGE
A*beg"ge.
Defn: Same as Aby. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ABELE
A*bele", n. Etym: [D. abeel (abeel-boom), OF. abel, aubel, fr. a dim.
of L. albus white.]
Defn: The white polar (Populus alba).
Six abeles i' the churchyard grow. Mrs. Browning.
ABELIAN; ABELITE; ABELONIAN
A*bel"i*an, A"bel*ite, A`bel*o"ni*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect in Africa (4th century), mentioned by St.
Augustine, who states that they married, but lived in continence,
after the manner, as they pretended, of Abel.
ABELMOSK
A"bel*mosk`, n. Etym: [NL. abelmoschus, fr. Ar. abu-l-misk father of
musk, i.e., producing musk. See Musk.] (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen shrub (Hibiscus -- formerly Abelmoschus-
moschatus), of the East and West Indies and Northern Africa, whose
musky seeds are used in perfumery and to flavor coffee; -- sometimes
called musk mallow.
ABER-DE-VINE
Ab`er-de-vine", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European siskin (Carduelis spinus), a small green and
yellow finch, related to the goldfinch.
ABERR
Ab*err", v.i. Etym: [L. aberrare. See Aberrate.]
Defn: To wander; to stray. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ABERRANCE; ABERRANCY
Ab*er"rance, Ab*er"ran*cy, n.
Defn: State of being aberrant; a wandering from the right way;
deviation from truth, rectitude, etc. Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.),
the deviation of a curve from a circular form.
ABERRANT
Ab*er"rant, a. Etym: [L. aberrans, -rantis, p.pr. of aberrare.]
Defn: See Aberr.]
1. Wandering; straying from the right way.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Deviating from the ordinary or natural type; exceptional;
abnormal.
The more aberrant any form is, the greater must have been the number
of connecting forms which, on my theory, have been exterminated.
Darwin.
ABERRATE
Ab"er*rate, v.i. Etym: [L. aberratus, p.pr. of aberrare; ab + errare
to wander. See Err.]
Defn: To go astray; to diverge. [R.]
Their own defective and aberrating vision. De Quincey.
ABERRATION
Ab`er*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aberratio: cf. F. aberration. See
Aberrate.]
1. The act of wandering; deviation, especially from truth or moral
rectitude, from the natural state, or from a type. "The aberration of
youth." Hall. "Aberrations from theory." Burke.
2. A partial alienation of reason. "Occasional aberrations of
intellect." Lingard.
Whims, which at first are the aberrations of a single brain, pass
with heat into epidemic form. I. Taylor.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A small periodical change of position in the stars and other
heavenly bodies, due to the combined effect of the motion of light
and the motion of the observer; called annual aberration, when the
observer's motion is that of the earth in its orbit, and dairy or
diurnal aberration, when of the earth on its axis; amounting when
greatest, in the former case, to 20.4'', and in the latter, to 0.3''.
Planetary aberration is that due to the motion of light and the
motion of the planet relative to the earth.
4. (Opt.)
Defn: The convergence to different foci, by a lens or mirror, of rays
of light emanating from one and the same point, or the deviation of
such rays from a single focus; called spherical aberration, when due
to the spherical form of the lens or mirror, such form giving
different foci for central and marginal rays; and chromatic
aberration, when due to different refrangibilities of the colored
rays of the spectrum, those of each color having a distinct focus.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: The passage of blood or other fluid into parts not appropriate
for it.
6. (Law)
Defn: The producing of an unintended effect by the glancing of an
instrument, as when a shot intended for A glances and strikes B.
Syn.
-- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; alienation; mania;
dementia; hallucination; illusion; delusion. See Insanity.
ABERRATIONAL
Ab`er*ra"tion*al, a.
Defn: Characterized by aberration.
ABERUNCATE
Ab`e*run"cate, v.t. Etym: [L. aberuncare, for aberruncare. See
Averruncate.]
Defn: To weed out. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABERUNCATOR
Ab`e*run"ca*tor, n.
Defn: A weeding machine.
ABET
A*bet", v.t. [imp. & p.p. Abetted; p.pr. & vb.n. Abetting.] Etym:
[OF. abeter; a (L. ad) + beter to bait (as a bear), fr. Icel. beita
to set dogs on, to feed, originally, to cause to bite, fr. Icel. bita
to bite, hence to bait, to incite. See Bait, Bet.]
1. To instigate or encourage by aid or countenance; -- used in a bad
sense of persons and acts; as, to abet an ill-doer; to abet one in
his wicked courses; to abet vice; to abet an insurrection. "The whole
tribe abets the villany." South.
Would not the fool abet the stealth, Who rashly thus exposed his
wealth Gay.
2. To support, uphold, or aid; to maintain; -- in a good sense.
[Obs.].
Our duty is urged, and our confidence abetted. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Law)
Defn: To contribute, as an assistant or instigator, to the commission
of an offense.
Syn.
-- To incite; instigate; set on; egg on; foment; advocate;
countenance; encourage; second; uphold; aid; assist; support;
sustain; back; connive at.
ABET
A*bet", n. Etym: [OF. abet, fr. abeter.]
Defn: Act of abetting; aid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ABETMENT
A*bet"ment, n.
Defn: The act of abetting; as, an abetment of treason, crime, etc.
ABETTAL
A*bet"tal, n.
Defn: Abetment. [R.]
ABETTER; ABETTOR
A*bet"ter, A*bet*tor, n.
Defn: One who abets; an instigator of an offense or an offender.
Note: The form abettor is the legal term and also in general use.
Syn.
-- Abettor, Accessory, Accomplice. These words denote different
degrees of complicity in some deed or crime. An abettor is one who
incites or encourages to the act, without sharing in its performance.
An accessory supposes a principal offender. One who is neither the
chief actor in an offense, nor present at its performance, but
accedes to or becomes involved in its guilt, either by some previous
or subsequent act, as of instigating, encouraging, aiding, or
concealing, etc., is an accessory. An accomplice is one who
participates in the commission of an offense, whether as principal or
accessory. Thus in treason, there are no abettors or accessories, but
all are held to be principals or accomplices.
ABEVACUATION
Ab`e*vac"u*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. ab- + evacuation.] (Med.)
Defn: A partial evacuation. Mayne.
ABEYANCE
A*bey"ance, n. Etym: [OF. abeance expectation, longing; a (L. ad) +
baer, beer, to gape, to look with open mouth, to expect, F. bayer,
LL. badare to gape.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Expectancy; condition of being undetermined.
Note: When there is no person in existence in whom an inheritance (or
a dignity) can vest, it is said to be in abeyance, that is, in
expectation; the law considering it as always potentially existing,
and ready to vest whenever a proper owner appears. Blackstone.
2. Suspension; temporary suppression.
Keeping the sympathies of love and admiration in a dormant state, or
state of abeyance. De Quincey.
ABEYANCY
A*bey"an*cy, n.
Defn: Abeyance. [R.] Hawthorne.
ABEYANT
A*bey"ant, a.
Defn: Being in a state of abeyance.
ABGEORDNETENHAUS
Ab"ge*ord`ne*ten*haus`, n. [G.]
Defn: See Legislature, Austria, Prussia.
ABHAL
Ab"hal, n.
Defn: The berries of a species of cypress in the East Indies.
ABHOMINABLE
Ab*hom"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Abominable.
Note: [A false orthography anciently used; h was foisted into various
words; hence abholish, for abolish, etc.]
This is abhominable, which he [Don Armado] would call abominable.
Shak. Love's Labor's Lost, v. 1.
ABHOMINAL
Ab*hom`i*nal, a. Etym: [L. ab away from + homo, hominis, man.]
Defn: Inhuman. [Obs.] Fuller.
ABHOR
Ab*hor", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abhorred; p. pr. & vb. n. Abhorring.]
Etym: [L. abhorrere; ab + horrere to bristle, shiver, shudder: cf. F.
abhorrer. See Horrid.]
1. To shrink back with shuddering from; to regard with horror or
detestation; to feel excessive repugnance toward; to detest to
extremity; to loathe.
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Rom. xii. 9.
2. To fill with horror or disgust. [Obs.]
It doth abhor me now I speak the word. Shak.
3. (Canon Law)
Defn: To protest against; to reject solemnly. [Obs.]
I utterly abhor, yea, from my soul Refuse you for my judge. Shak.
Syn.
-- To hate; detest; loathe; abominate. See Hate.
ABHOR
Ab*hor", v. i.
Defn: To shrink back with horror, disgust, or dislike; to be contrary
or averse; -- with from. [Obs.] "To abhor from those vices." Udall.
Which is utterly abhorring from the end of all law. Milton.
ABHORRENCE
Ab*hor"rence, n.
Defn: Extreme hatred or detestation; the feeling of utter dislike.
ABHORRENCY
Ab*hor"ren*cy, n.
Defn: Abhorrence. [Obs.] Locke.
ABHORRENT
Ab*hor"rent, a. Etym: [L. abhorens, -rentis, p. pr. of abhorrere.]
1. Abhorring; detesting; having or showing abhorrence; loathing;
hence, strongly opposed to; as, abhorrent thoughts.
The persons most abhorrent from blood and treason. Burke.
The arts of pleasure in despotic courts I spurn abhorrent. Clover.
2. Contrary or repugnant; discordant; inconsistent; -- followed by
to. "Injudicious profanation, so abhorrent to our stricter
principles." Gibbon.
3. Detestable. "Pride, abhorrent as it is." I. Taylor.
ABHORRENTLY
Ab*hor"rent*ly, adv.
Defn: With abhorrence.
ABHORRER
Ab*hor"rer, n.
Defn: One who abhors. Hume.
ABHORRIBLE
Ab*hor"ri*ble, a.
Defn: Detestable. [R.]
ABHORRING
Ab*hor"ring, n.
1. Detestation. Milton.
2. Object of abhorrence. Isa. lxvi. 24.
ABIB
A"bib, n. Etym: [Heb. abib, lit. an ear of corn. The month was so
called from barley being at that time in ear.]
Defn: The first month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year,
corresponding nearly to our April. After the Babylonish captivity
this month was called Nisan. Kitto.
ABIDANCE
A*bid"ance, n.
Defn: The state of abiding; abode; continuance; compliance (with).
The Christians had no longer abidance in the holy hill of Palestine.
Fuller.
A judicious abidance by rules. Helps.
ABIDE
A*bide", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abode, formerly Abid(#); p. pr. & vb. n.
Abiding.] Etym: [AS. abidan; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig.
meaning out) + bidan to bide. See Bide.]
1. To wait; to pause; to delay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To stay; to continue in a place; to have one's abode; to dwell; to
sojourn; -- with with before a person, and commonly with at or in
before a place.
Let the damsel abide with us a few days. Gen. xxiv. 55.
3. To remain stable or fixed in some state or condition; to continue;
to remain.
Let every man abide in the same calling. 1 Cor. vii. 20.
Followed by by: To abide by. (a) To stand to; to adhere; to maintain.
The poor fellow was obstinate enough to abide by what he said at
first. Fielding.
(b) To acquiesce; to conform to; as, to abide by a decision or an
award.
ABIDE
A*bide", v. t.
1. To wait for; to be prepared for; to await; to watch for; as, I
abide my time. "I will abide the coming of my lord." Tennyson.
Note: [[Obs.], with a personal object.
Bonds and afflictions abide me. Acts xx. 23.
2. To endure; to sustain; to submit to.
[Thou] shalt abide her judgment on it. Tennyson.
3. To bear patiently; to tolerate; to put up with.
She could not abide Master Shallow. Shak.
4.
Note: [Confused with aby to pay for. See Aby.]
Defn: To stand the consequences of; to answer for; to suffer for.
Dearly I abide that boast so vain. Milton.
ABIDER
A*bid"er, n.
1. One who abides, or continues. [Obs.] "Speedy goers and strong
abiders." Sidney.
2. One who dwells; a resident. Speed.
ABIDING
A*bid"ing, a.
Defn: Continuing; lasting.
ABIDINGLY
A*bid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Permanently. Carlyle.
ABIES
A"bi*es, n. Etym: [L., fir tree.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of coniferous trees, properly called Fir, as the balsam
fir and the silver fir. The spruces are sometimes also referred to
this genus.
ABIETENE
Ab"i*e*tene, n. Etym: [L. abies, abietis, a fir tree.]
Defn: A volatile oil distilled from the resin or balsam of the nut
pine (Pinus sabiniana) of California.
ABIETIC
Ab`i*et"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the fir tree or its products; as, abietic
acid, called also sylvic acid. Watts.
ABIETIN; ABIETINE
Ab"i*e*tin, Ab"i*e*tine, n. Etym: [See Abietene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A resinous obtained from Strasburg turpentine or Canada balsam.
It is without taste or smell, is insoluble in water, but soluble in
alcohol (especially at the boiling point), in strong acetic acid, and
in ether. Watts.
ABIETINIC
Ab`i*e*tin"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to abietin; as, abietinic acid.
ABIETITE
Ab"i*e*tite, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance resembling mannite, found in the needles of the
common silver fir of Europe (Abies pectinata). Eng. Cyc.
ABIGAIL
Ab"i*gail, n. Etym: [The proper name used as an appellative.]
Defn: A lady's waiting-maid. Pepys.
Her abigail reported that Mrs. Gutheridge had a set of night curls
for sleeping in. Leslie.
ABILIMENT
A*bil"i*ment, n.
Defn: Habiliment. [Obs.]
ABILITY
A*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Abilities(#). Etym: [F. habileté, earlier
spelling habilité (with silent h), L. habilitas aptitude, ability,
fr. habilis apt. See Able.]
Defn: The quality or state of being able; power to perform, whether
physical, moral, intellectual, conventional, or legal; capacity;
skill or competence in doing; sufficiency of strength, skill,
resources, etc.; -- in the plural, faculty, talent.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to
send relief unto the brethren. Acts xi. 29.
Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by
study. Bacon.
The public men of England, with much of a peculiar kind of ability.
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Capacity; talent; cleverness; faculty; capability; efficiency;
aptitude; aptness; address; dexterity; skill. Ability, Capacity.
These words come into comparison when applied to the higher
intellectual powers. Ability has reference to the active exercise of
our faculties. It implies not only native vigor of mind, but that
ease and promptitude of execution which arise from mental training.
Thus, we speak of the ability with which a book is written, an
argument maintained, a negotiation carried on, etc. It always
something to be done, and the power of doing it. Capacity has
reference to the receptive powers. In its higher exercises it
supposes great quickness of apprehension and breadth of intellect,
with an uncommon aptitude for acquiring and retaining knowledge.
Hence it carries with it the idea of resources and undeveloped power.
Thus we speak of the extraordinary capacity of such men as Lord
Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Edmund Burke. "Capacity," says H. Taylor,
"is requisite to devise, and ability to execute, a great enterprise."
The word abilities, in the plural, embraces both these qualities, and
denotes high mental endowments.
ABIME; ABYME
A*bime" or A*byme", n. Etym: [F. abîme. See Abysm.]
Defn: A abyss. [Obs.]
ABIOGENESIS
Ab`i*o*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The supposed origination of living organisms from lifeless
matter; such genesis as does not involve the action of living
parents; spontaneous generation; -- called also abiogeny, and opposed
to biogenesis.
I shall call the . . . doctrine that living matter may be produced by
not living matter, the hypothesis of abiogenesis. Huxley, 1870.
ABIOGENETIC
Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to abiogenesis. Ab`i*o*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
ABIOGENIST
Ab`i*og"e*nist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One who believes that life can be produced independently of
antecedent. Huxley.
ABIOGENOUS
Ab`i*og"e*nous, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Produced by spontaneous generation.
ABIOGENY
Ab`i*og"e*ny, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Abiogenesis.
ABIOLOGICAL
Ab`i*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. biological.]
Defn: Pertaining to the study of inanimate things.
ABIRRITANT
Ab*ir"ri*tant, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that diminishes irritation.
ABIRRITATE
Ab*ir"ri*tate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ab- + irritate.] (Med.)
Defn: To diminish the sensibility of; to debilitate.
ABIRRITATION
Ab*ir`ri*ta"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: A pathological condition opposite to that of irritation;
debility; want of strength; asthenia.
ABIRRITATIVE
Ab*ir"ri*ta*tive, a. (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by abirritation or debility.
ABIT
A*bit",
Defn: 3d sing. pres. of Abide. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ABJECT
Ab"ject, a. Etym: [L. abjectus, p. p. of abjicere to throw away; ab +
jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.]
1. Cast down; low-lying. [Obs.]
From the safe shore their floating carcasses And broken chariot
wheels; so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the
flood. Milton.
2. Sunk to a law condition; down in spirit or hope; degraded;
servile; groveling; despicable; as, abject posture, fortune,
thoughts. "Base and abject flatterers." Addison. "An abject liar."
Macaulay.
And banish hence these abject, lowly dreams. Shak.
Syn.
-- Mean; groveling; cringing; mean-spirited; slavish; ignoble;
worthless; vile; beggarly; contemptible; degraded.
ABJECT
Ab*ject", v. t. Etym: [From Abject, a.]
Defn: To cast off or down; hence, to abase; to degrade; to lower; to
debase. [Obs.] Donne.
ABJECT
Ab"ject, n.
Defn: A person in the lowest and most despicable condition; a
castaway. [Obs.]
Shall these abjects, these victims, these outcasts, know any thing of
pleasure I. Taylor.
ABJECTEDNESS
Ab*ject"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A very abject or low condition; abjectness. [R.] Boyle.
ABJECTION
Ab*jec"tion, n. Etym: [F. abjection, L. abjectio.]
1. The act of bringing down or humbling. "The abjection of the king
and his realm." Joe.
2. The state of being rejected or cast out. [R.]
An adjection from the beatific regions where God, and his angels and
saints, dwell forever. Jer. Taylor.
3. A low or downcast state; meanness of spirit; abasement;
degradation.
That this should be termed baseness, abjection of mind, or servility,
is it credible Hooker.
ABJECTLY
Ab"ject*ly, adv.
Defn: Meanly; servilely.
ABJECTNESS
Ab"ject*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being abject; abasement; meanness; servility.
Grew.
ABJUDGE
Ab*judge", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ab- + judge, v. Cf. Abjudicate.]
Defn: To take away by judicial decision. [R.]
ABJUDICATE
Ab*ju"di*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. abjudicatus, p. p. of abjudicare; ab +
judicare. See Judge, and cf. Abjudge.]
Defn: To reject by judicial sentence; also, to abjudge. [Obs.] Ash.
ABJUDICATION
Ab*ju`di*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Rejection by judicial sentence. [R.] Knowles.
ABJUGATE
Ab"ju*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. abjugatus, p. p. of abjugare.]
Defn: To unyoke. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABJUNCTIVE
Ab*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. abjunctus, p. p. of abjungere; ab +
jungere to join.]
Defn: Exceptional. [R.]
It is this power which leads on from the accidental and abjunctive to
the universal. I. Taylor.
ABJURATION
Ab`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. abjuratio: cf. F. abjuration.]
1. The act of abjuring or forswearing; a renunciation upon oath; as,
abjuration of the realm, a sworn banishment, an oath taken to leave
the country and never to return.
2. A solemn recantation or renunciation; as, an abjuration of heresy.
Oath of abjuration, an oath asserting the right of the present royal
family to the crown of England, and expressly abjuring allegiance to
the descendants of the Pretender. Brande & C.
ABJURATORY
Ab*ju"ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing abjuration.
ABJURE
Ab*jure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abjured; p. pr. & vb. n. Abjuring.]
Etym: [L. abjurare to deny upon oath; ab + jurare to swear, fr. jus,
juris, right, law; cf. F. abjurer. See Jury.]
1. To renounce upon oath; to forswear; to disavow; as, to abjure
allegiance to a prince. To abjure the realm, is to swear to abandon
it forever.
2. To renounce or reject with solemnity; to recant; to abandon
forever; to reject; repudiate; as, to abjure errors. "Magic I here
abjure." Shak.
Syn.
-- See Renounce.
ABJURE
Ab*jure", v. i.
Defn: To renounce on oath. Bp. Burnet.
ABJUREMENT
Ab*jure"ment, n.
Defn: Renunciation. [R.]
ABJURER
Ab*jur"er, n.
Defn: One who abjures.
ABLACTATE
Ab*lac"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablactatus, p. p. of ablactare; ab +
lactare to suckle, fr. lac milk.]
Defn: To wean. [R.] Bailey.
ABLACTATION
Ab`lac*ta"tion. n.
1. The weaning of a child from the breast, or of young beasts from
their dam. Blount.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: The process of grafting now called inarching, or grafting by
approach.
ABLAQUEATE
Ab*la"que*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablaqueatus, p. p. of. ablaqueare; fr.
ab + laqueus a noose.]
Defn: To lay bare, as the roots of a tree. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABLAQUEATION
Ab*la`que*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablaqueatio.]
Defn: The act or process of laying bare the roots of trees to expose
them to the air and water. [Obs.] Evelyn.
ABLASTEMIC
Ab`las*tem"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Non-germinal.
ABLATION
Ab*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablatio, fr. ablatus p. p. of auferre to
carry away; ab + latus, p. p. of ferre carry: cf. F. ablation. See
Tolerate.]
1. A carrying or taking away; removal. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Extirpation. Dunglison.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.
ABLATITIOUS
Ab`la*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Diminishing; as, an ablatitious force. Sir J. Herschel.
ABLATIVE
Ab"la*tive, a. Etym: [F. ablatif, ablative, L. ablativus fr. ablatus.
See Ablation.]
1. Taking away or removing. [Obs.]
Where the heart is forestalled with misopinion, ablative directions
are found needful to unteach error, ere we can learn truth. Bp. Hall.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Applied to one of the cases of the noun in Latin and some other
languages, -- the fundamental meaning of the case being removal,
separation, or taking away.
ABLATIVE
Ab"la*tive, (Gram.)
Defn: The ablative case. ablative absolute, a construction in Latin,
in which a noun in the ablative case has a participle (either
expressed or implied), agreeing with it in gender, number, and case,
both words forming a clause by themselves and being unconnected,
grammatically, with the rest of the sentence; as, Tarquinio regnante,
Pythagoras venit, i. e., Tarquinius reigning, Pythagoras came.
ABLAUT
Ab"laut, n. Etym: [Ger., off-sound; ab off + laut sound.] (Philol.)
Defn: The substitution of one root vowel for another, thus indicating
a corresponding modification of use or meaning; vowel permutation;
as, get, gat, got; sing, song; hang, hung. Earle.
ABLAZE
A*blaze", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + blaze.]
1. On fire; in a blaze, gleaming. Milman.
All ablaze with crimson and gold. Longfellow.
2. In a state of glowing excitement or ardent desire.
The young Cambridge democrats were all ablaze to assist Torrijos.
Carlyle.
ABLE
A"ble, a. [Comp. Abler; superl. Ablest.] Etym: [OF. habile, L.
habilis that may be easily held or managed, apt, skillful, fr. habere
to have, hold. Cf. Habile and see Habit.]
1. Fit; adapted; suitable. [Obs.]
A many man, to ben an abbot able. Chaucer.
2. Having sufficient power, strength, force, skill, means, or
resources of any kind to accomplish the object; possessed of
qualifications rendering competent for some end; competent;
qualified; capable; as, an able workman, soldier, seaman, a man able
to work; a mind able to reason; a person able to be generous; able to
endure pain; able to play on a piano.
3. Specially: Having intellectual qualifications, or strong mental
powers; showing ability or skill; talented; clever; powerful; as, the
ablest man in the senate; an able speech.
No man wrote abler state papers. Macaulay.
4. (Law)
Defn: Legally qualified; possessed of legal competence; as, able to
inherit or devise property.
Note: Able for, is Scotticism.
"Hardly able for such a march." Robertson.
Syn.
-- Competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective; capable;
skillful; clever; vigorous; powerful.
ABLE
A"ble, v. t. Etym: [See Able, a.] [Obs.]
1. To make able; to enable; to strengthen. Chaucer.
2. To vouch for. "I 'll able them." Shak.
ABLE; -ABLE; IBLE; -IBLE
*a*ble. Etym: [F. -able, L. -abilis.]
Defn: An adjective suffix now usually in a passive sense; able to be;
fit to be; expressing capacity or worthiness in a passive sense; as,
movable, able to be moved; amendable, able to be amended; blamable,
fit to be blamed; salable.
Note: The form ible is used in the same sense.
Note: It is difficult to say when we are not to use -able instead of
-ible. "Yet a rule may be laid down as to when we are to use it. To
all verbs, then, from the Anglo-Saxon, to all based on the
uncorrupted infinitival stems of Latin verbs of the first
conjugation, and to all substantives, whencesoever sprung, we annex -
able only." Fitzed. Hall.
ABLE-BODIED
A`ble-bod"ied, a.
Defn: Having a sound, strong body; physically competent; robust.
"Able-bodied vagrant." Froude.
-- A`ble-bod"ied*ness, n..
ABLEGATE
Ab"le*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. ablegatus, p. p. of ablegare; ab + legare
to send with a commission. See Legate.]
Defn: To send abroad. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABLEGATE
Ab"le*gate, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A representative of the pope charged with important commissions
in foreign countries, one of his duties being to bring to a newly
named cardinal his insignia of office.
ABLEGATION
Ab`le*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. ablegatio.]
Defn: The act of sending abroad. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
ABLE-MINDED
A`ble-mind"ed, a.
Defn: Having much intellectual power.
-- A`ble-mind"ed*ness, n.
ABLENESS
A"ble*ness, n.
Defn: Ability of body or mind; force; vigor. [Obs. or R.]
ABLEPSY
Ab"lep*sy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Blindness. [R.] Urquhart.
ABLER
A"bler, a.,
Defn: comp. of Able.
-- A"blest, a.,
Defn: superl. of Able.
ABLET; ABLEN
Ab"let, Ab"len Etym: [F. ablet, ablette, a dim. fr. LL. abula, for
albula, dim. of albus white. Cf. Abele.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fresh-water fish (Leuciscus alburnus); the bleak.
ABLIGATE
Ab"li*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. ab + ligatus, p. p. of ligare to tie.]
Defn: To tie up so as to hinder from. [Obs.]
ABLIGURITION
Ab*lig`u*ri"tion, n. Etym: [L. abligurito, fr. abligurire to spend in
luxurious indulgence; ab + ligurire to be lickerish, dainty, fr.
lingere to lick.]
Defn: Prodigal expense for food. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABLINS
A"blins, adv. Etym: [See Able.]
Defn: Perhaps. [Scot.]
ABLOOM
A*bloom", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + bloom.]
Defn: In or into bloom; in a blooming state. Masson.
ABLUDE
Ab*lude", v. t. Etym: [L. abludere; ab + ludere to play.]
Defn: To be unlike; to differ. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ABLUENT
Ab"lu*ent, a. Etym: [L. abluens, p. pr. of. abluere to wash away; ab
+ luere (lavere, lavare). See Lave.]
Defn: Washing away; carrying off impurities; detergent.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A detergent.
ABLUSH
A*blush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + blush.]
Defn: Blushing; ruddy.
ABLUTION
Ab*lu`tion, n. Etym: [L. ablutio, fr. abluere: cf. F. ablution. See
Abluent.]
1. The act of washing or cleansing; specifically, the washing of the
body, or some part of it, as a religious rite.
2. The water used in cleansing. "Cast the ablutions in the main."
Pope.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A small quantity of wine and water, which is used to wash the
priest's thumb and index finger after the communion, and which then,
as perhaps containing portions of the consecrated elements, is drunk
by the priest.
ABLUTIONARY
Ab*lu"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ablution.
ABLUVION
Ab*lu"vi*on, n. Etym: [LL. abluvio. See Abluent.]
Defn: That which is washed off. [R.] Dwight.
ABLY
A"bly, adv.
Defn: In an able manner; with great ability; as, ably done, planned,
said.
-ABLY
-a*bly(#).
Defn: A suffix composed of -able and the adverbial suffix -ly; as,
favorably.
ABNEGATE
Ab"ne*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abnegated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abnegating.] Etym: [L. abnegatus,p. p. of abnegare; ab + negare to
deny. See Deny.]
Defn: To deny and reject; to abjure. Sir E. Sandys. Farrar.
ABNEGATION
Ab`ne*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. abnegatio: cf. F. abnégation.]
Defn: a denial; a renunciation.
With abnegation of God, of his honor, and of religion, they may
retain the friendship of the court. Knox.
ABNEGATIVE
Ab"ne*ga*tive, a. Etym: [L. abnegativus.]
Defn: Denying; renouncing; negative. [R.] Clarke.
ABNEGATOR
Ab"ne*ga`tor(#), n. [L.]
Defn: One who abnegates, denies, or rejects anything. [R.]
ABNET
Ab"net, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: The girdle of a Jewish priest or officer.
ABNODATE
Ab"no*date, v. t. Etym: [L. abnodatus, p. p. of abnodare; ab + nodus
knot.]
Defn: To clear (tress) from knots. [R.] Blount.
ABNODATION
Ab`no*da"tion, n.
Defn: The act of cutting away the knots of trees. [R.] Crabb.
ABNORMAL
Ab*nor"mal, a. Etym: [For earlier anormal.F. anormal, LL. anormalus
for anomalus, Gr. abnormis. See Anomalous, Abnormous, Anormal.]
Defn: Not conformed to rule or system; deviating from the type;
anomalous; irregular. "That deviating from the type; anomalous;
irregular. " Froude.
ABNORMALITY
Ab`nor*mal"i*ty, n.; pl. Abnormalities.
1. The state or quality of being abnormal; variation; irregularity.
Darwin.
2. Something abnormal.
ABNORMALLY
Ab*nor"mal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an abnormal manner; irregularly. Darwin.
ABNORMITY
Ab*nor"mi*ty, n.; pl. Abnormities. Etym: [LL. abnormitas. See
Abnormous.]
Defn: Departure from the ordinary type; irregularity; monstrosity.
"An abnormity . . . like a calf born with two heads." Mrs. Whitney.
ABNORMOUS
Ab*nor"mous, a. Etym: [L. abnormis; ab + norma rule. See Normal.]
Defn: Abnormal; irregular. Hallam.
A character of a more abnormous cast than his equally suspected
coadjutor. State Trials.
ABOARD
A*board", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on, in + board.]
Defn: On board; into or within a ship or boat; hence, into or within
a railway car.
2. Alongside; as, close aboard. Naut.: To fall aboard of, to strike a
ship's side; to fall foul of.
-- To haul the tacks aboard, to set the courses.
-- To keep the land aboard, to hug the shore.
-- To lay (a ship) aboard, to place one's own ship close alongside
of (a ship) for fighting.
ABOARD
A*board", prep.
1. On board of; as, to go aboard a ship.
2. Across; athwart. [Obs.]
Nor iron bands aboard The Pontic Sea by their huge navy cast.
Spenser.
ABODANCE
A*bod"ance, n. Etym: [See Bode.]
Defn: An omen; a portending. [Obs.]
ABODE
A*bode", pret.
Defn: of Abide.
ABODE
A*bode", n. Etym: [OE. abad, abood, fr. abiden to abide. See Abide.
For the change of vowel, cf. abode, imp. of abide.]
1. Act of waiting; delay. [Obs.] Shak.
And with her fled away without abode. Spenser.
2. Stay or continuance in a place; sojourn.
He waxeth at your abode here. Fielding.
3. Place of continuance, or where one dwells; abiding place;
residence; a dwelling; a habitation.
Come, let me lead you to our poor abode. Wordsworth.
ABODE
A*bode", n. Etym: [See Bode, v. t.]
Defn: An omen. [Obs.]
High-thundering Juno's husband stirs my spirit with true abodes.
Chapman.
ABODE
A*bode", v. t.
Defn: To bode; to foreshow. [Obs.] Shak.
ABODE
A*bode", v. i.
Defn: To be ominous. [Obs.] Dryden.
ABODEMENT
A*bode"ment, n.
Defn: A foreboding; an omen. [Obs.] "Abodements must not now affright
us." Shak.
ABODING
A*bod"ing, n.
Defn: A foreboding. [Obs.]
ABOLISH
A*bol"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abolished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abolishing.] Etym: [F. abolir, L. abolere, aboletum; ab + olere to
grow. Cf. Finish.]
1. To do away with wholly; to annul; to make void; -- said of laws,
customs, institutions, governments, etc.; as, to abolish slavery, to
abolish folly.
2. To put an end to, or destroy, as a physical objects; to wipe out.
[Archaic]
And with thy blood abolish so reproachful blot. Spenser.
His quick instinctive hand Caught at the hilt, as to abolish him.
Tennyson.
Syn.
-- To Abolish, Repeal, Abrogate, Revoke, Annul, Nullify, Cancel.
These words have in common the idea of setting aside by some
overruling act. Abolish applies particularly to things of a permanent
nature, such as institutions, usages, customs, etc.; as, to abolish
monopolies, serfdom, slavery. Repeal describes the act by which the
legislature of a state sets aside a law which it had previously
enacted. Abrogate was originally applied to the repeal of a law by
the Roman people; and hence, when the power of making laws was
usurped by the emperors, the term was applied to their act of setting
aside the laws. Thus it came to express that act by which a sovereign
or an executive government sets aside laws, ordinances, regulations,
treaties, conventions, etc. Revoke denotes the act or recalling some
previous grant which conferred, privilege, etc.; as, to revoke a
decree, to revoke a power of attorney, a promise, etc. Thus, also, we
speak of the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Annul is used in a
more general sense, denoting simply to make void; as, to annul a
contract, to annul an agreement. Nullify is an old word revived in
this country, and applied to the setting of things aside either by
force or by total disregard; as, to nullify an act of Congress.
Cancel is to strike out or annul, by a deliberate exercise of power,
something which has operative force.
ABOLISHABLE
A*bol"ish*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abolissable.]
Defn: Capable of being abolished.
ABOLISHER
A*bol"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who abolishes.
ABOLISHMENT
A*bol"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abolissement.]
Defn: The act of abolishing; abolition; destruction. Hooker.
ABOLITION
Ab"o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. abolitio, fr. abolere: cf. F. abolition.
See Abolish.]
Defn: The act of abolishing, or the state of being abolished; an
annulling; abrogation; utter destruction; as, the abolition of
slavery or the slave trade; the abolition of laws, decrees,
ordinances, customs, taxes, debts, etc.
Note: The application of this word to persons is now unusual or
obsolete
ABOLITIONISM
Ab`o*li"tion*ism, n.
Defn: The principles or measures of abolitionists. Wilberforce.
ABOLITIONIST
Ab`o*li"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A person who favors the abolition of any institution,
especially negro slavery.
ABOLITIONIZE
Ab`o*li`tion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To imbue with the principles of abolitionism. [R.] Bartlett.
ABOMA
A*bo"ma, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American serpent (Boa aboma).
ABOMASUM; ABOMASUS
Ab`o*ma"sum, Ab`o*ma"sus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. ab + omasum (a Celtic
word.] (Anat.)
Defn: The fourth or digestive stomach of a ruminant, which leads from
the third stomach omasum. See Ruminantia.
ABOMINABLE
A*bom"i*na*ble, a. Etym: [F. abominable. L. abominalis. See
Abominate.]
1. Worthy of, or causing, abhorrence, as a thing of evil omen; odious
in the utmost degree; very hateful; detestable; loathsome; execrable.
2. Excessive; large; -- used as an intensive. [Obs.]
Note: Juliana Berners . . . informs us that in her time [15th c.],
"abomynable syght of monkes" was elegant English for "a large company
of friars." G. P. Marsh.
ABOMINABLENESS
A*bom"i*na*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being abominable; odiousness. Bentley.
ABOMINABLY
A*bom"i*na*bly, adv.
Defn: In an abominable manner; very odiously; detestably.
ABOMINATE
A*bom"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abominated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abominating.] Etym: [L. abominatus, p. p. or abominari to deprecate
as ominous, to abhor, to curse; ab + omen a foreboding. See Omen.]
Defn: To turn from as ill-omened; to hate in the highest degree, as
if with religious dread; loathe; as, to abominate all impiety.
Syn.
-- To hate; abhor; loathe; detest. See Hate.
ABOMINATION
A*bom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [OE. abominacioun, -cion, F. abominatio.
See Abominate.]
1. The feeling of extreme disgust and hatred; abhorrence;
detestation; loathing; as, he holds tobacco in abomination.
2. That which is abominable; anything hateful, wicked, or shamefully
vile; an object or state that excites disgust and hatred; a hateful
or shameful vice; pollution.
Antony, most large in his abominations. Shak.
3. A cause of pollution or wickedness.
Syn.
-- Detestation; loathing; abhorrence; disgust; aversion;
loathsomeness; odiousness. Sir W. Scott.
ABOON
A*boon", prep.
Defn: and adv. Above. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Aboon the pass of Bally-Brough. Sir W. Scott.
The ceiling fair that rose aboon. J. R. Drake.
ABORAL
Ab*o"ral, a. Etym: [L. ab. + E. oral.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Situated opposite to, or away from, the mouth.
ABORD
A*bord", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Manner of approaching or accosting; address. Chesterfield.
ABORD
A*bord", v. t. Etym: [F. aborder, à (L. ad) + bord rim, brim, or side
of a vessel. See Border, Board.]
Defn: To approach; to accost. [Obs.] Digby.
ABORIGINAL
Ab`o*rig"i*nal, a. Etym: [See Aborigines.]
1. First; original; indigenous; primitive; native; as, the aboriginal
tribes of America. "Mantled o'er with aboriginal turf." Wordsworth.
2. Of or pertaining to aborigines; as, a Hindoo of aboriginal blood.
ABORIGINAL
Ab`o*rig"i*nal, n.
1. An original inhabitant of any land; one of the aborigines.
2. An animal or a plant native to the region.
It may well be doubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these
islands. Darwin.
ABORIGINALITY
Ab`o*rig`i*nal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being aboriginal. Westm. Rev.
ABORIGINALLY
Ab`o*rig"i*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: Primarily.
ABORIGINES
Ab`o*rig"i*nes, n. pl. Etym: [L. Aborigines; ab + origo, especially
the first inhabitants of Latium, those who originally (ab origine)
inhabited Latium or Italy. See Origin.]
1. The earliest known inhabitants of a country; native races.
2. The original fauna and flora of a geographical area
ABORSEMENT
A*borse"ment, n.
Defn: Abortment; abortion. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ABORSIVE
A*bor"sive, a.
Defn: Abortive. [Obs.] Fuller.
ABORT
A*bort", v. i. Etym: [L. abortare, fr. abortus, p. p. of aboriri; ab
+ oriri to rise, to be born. See Orient.]
1. To miscarry; to bring forth young prematurely.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: To become checked in normal development, so as either to remain
rudimentary or shrink away wholly; to become sterile.
ABORT
A*bort", n. Etym: [L. abortus, fr. aboriri.]
1. An untimely birth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
2. An aborted offspring. [Obs.] Holland.
ABORTED
A*bort"ed, a.
1. Brought forth prematurely.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Rendered abortive or sterile; undeveloped; checked in normal
development at a very early stage; as, spines are aborted branches.
The eyes of the cirripeds are more or less aborted in their mature
state. Owen.
ABORTICIDE
A*bor"ti*cide, n. Etym: [L. abortus + caedere to kill. See Abort.]
(Med.)
Defn: The act of destroying a fetus in the womb; feticide.
ABORTIFACIENT
A*bor`ti*fa"cient, a. Etym: [L. abortus (see Abort, v.) + faciens, p.
pr. of facere to make.]
Defn: Producing miscarriage.
-- n.
Defn: A drug or an agent that causes premature delivery.
ABORTION
A*bor"tion, n. Etym: [L. abortio, fr. aboriri. See Abort.]
1. The act of giving premature birth; particularly, the expulsion of
the human fetus prematurely, or before it is capable of sustaining
life; miscarriage.
Note: It is sometimes used for the offense of procuring a premature
delivery, but strictly the early delivery is the abortion, "causing
or procuring abortion" is the full name of the offense. Abbott.
2. The immature product of an untimely birth.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Arrest of development of any organ, so that it remains an
imperfect formation or is absorbed.
4. Any fruit or produce that does not come to maturity, or anything
which in its progress, before it is matured or perfect; a complete
failure; as, his attempt. proved an abortiori.
ABORTIONAL
A*bor"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to abortion; miscarrying; abortive. Carlyle.
ABORTIONIST
A*bor"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who procures abortion or miscarriage.
ABORTIVE
A*bor"tive, a. Etym: [L. abortivus, fr. aboriri. See Abort, v.]
1. Produced by abortion; born prematurely; as, an abortive child.
[R.]
2. Made from the skin of a still-born animal; as, abortive vellum.
[Obs.]
3. Rendering fruitless or ineffectual. [Obs.] "Plunged in that
abortive gulf." Milton.
4. Coming to naught; failing in its effect; miscarrying; fruitless;
unsuccessful; as, an abortive attempt. "An abortive enterprise."
Prescott.
5. (Biol.)
Defn: Imperfectly formed or developed; rudimentary; sterile; as, an
abortive organ, stamen, ovule, etc.
6. (Med.)
(a) Causing abortion; as, abortive medicines. Parr.
(b) Cutting short; as, abortive treatment of typhoid fever.
ABORTIVE
A*bor"tive, n.
1. That which is born or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
[Obs.] Shak.
2. A fruitless effort or issue. [Obs.]
3. A medicine to which is attributed the property of causing
abortion. Dunglison.
ABORTIVELY
A*bor"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an abortive or untimely manner; immaturely; fruitlessly.
ABORTIVENESS
A*bor"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abortive.
ABORTMENT
A*bort"ment, n.
Defn: Abortion. [Obs.]
ABOUGHT
A*bought", imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Aby. [Obs.]
ABOUND
A*bound", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abounding.]
Etym: [OE. abounden, F. abonder, fr. L. abundare to overflow, abound;
ab + unda wave. Cf. Undulate.]
1. To be in great plenty; to be very prevalent; to be plentiful.
The wild boar which abounds in some parts of the continent of Europe.
Chambers.
Where sin abounded grace did much more abound. Rom. v. 20.
2. To be copiously supplied; -- followed by in or with. To abound in,
to posses in such abundance as to be characterized by.
-- To abound with, to be filled with; to possess in great numbers.
Men abounding in natural courage. Macaulay.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings. Prov. xxviii. 20.
It abounds with cabinets of curiosities. Addison.
ABOUT
A*bout", prep. Etym: [OE. aboute, abouten, abuten; AS. abutan,
onbutan; on + butan, which is from be by + utan outward, from ut out.
See But, Out.]
1. Around; all round; on every side of. "Look about you." Shak. "Bind
them about thy neck." Prov. iii. 3.
2. In the immediate neighborhood of; in contiguity or proximity to;
near, as to place; by or on (one's person). "Have you much money
about you" Bulwer.
3. Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various
directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
Lampoons . . . were handed about the coffeehouses. Macaulay.
Roving still about the world. Milton.
4. Near; not far from; -- determining approximately time, size,
quantity. "To-morrow, about this time." Exod. ix. 18. "About my
stature." Shak.
He went out about the third hour. Matt. xx. 3.
Note: This use passes into the adverbial sense.
5. In concern with; engaged in; intent on.
I must be about my Father's business. Luke ii. 49.
6. Before a verbal noun or an infinitive:
Defn: On the point or verge of; going; in act of.
Paul was now aboutto open his mouth. Acts xviii. 14.
7. Concerning; with regard to; on account of; touching. "To treat
about thy ransom." Milton.
She must have her way about Sarah. Trollope.
ABOUT
A*bout", adv.
1. On all sides; around.
'Tis time to look about. Shak.
2. In circuit; circularly; by a circuitous way; around the outside;
as, a mile about, and a third of a mile across.
3. Here and there; around; in one place and another.
Wandering about from house to house. 1 Tim. v. 13.
4. Nearly; approximately; with close correspondence, in quality,
manner, degree, etc.; as, about as cold; about as high; -- also of
quantity, number, time. "There fell . . . about three thousand men."
Exod. xxii. 28.
5. To a reserved position; half round; in the opposite direction; on
the opposite tack; as, to face about; to turn one's self about. To
bring about, to cause to take place; to accomplish.
-- To come about, to occur; to take place. See under Come.
-- To go about, To set about, to undertake; to arrange; to prepare.
"Shall we set about some revels Shak.
-- Round about, in every direction around.
ABOUT-SLEDGE
A*bout"-sledge", n.
Defn: The largest hammer used by smiths. Weale.
ABOVE
A*bove", prep. Etym: [OE. above, aboven, abuffe, AS. abufon; an (or
on) on + be by + ufan upward; cf. Goth. uf under. *199. See Over.]
1. In or to a higher place; higher than; on or over the upper
surface; over; -- opposed to below or beneath.
Fowl that may fly above the earth. Gen. i. 20.
2. Figuratively, higher than; superior to in any respect; surpassing;
beyond; higher in measure or degree than; as, things above
comprehension; above mean actions; conduct above reproach. "Thy worth
. . . is actions above my gifts." Marlowe.
I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun.
Acts xxxvi. 13.
3. Surpassing in number or quantity; more than; as, above a hundred.
(Passing into the adverbial sense. See Above, adv., 4.) above all,
before every other consideration; chiefly; in preference to other
things. Over and above, prep. or adv., besides; in addition to.
ABOVE
A*bove", adv.
1. In a higher place; overhead; into or from heaven; as, the clouds
above.
2. Earlier in order; higher in the same page; hence, in a foregoing
page. "That was said above." Dryden.
3. Higher in rank or power; as, he appealed to the court above.
4. More than; as, above five hundred were present.
Note: Above is often used elliptically as an adjective by omitting
the word mentioned, quoted, or the like; as, the above observations,
the above reference, the above articles.
-- Above is also used substantively. "The waters that come down from
above." Josh. iii. 13. It is also used as the first part of a
compound in the sense of before, previously; as, above-cited, above-
described, above-mentioned, above-named, abovesaid, abovespecified,
above-written, above-given.
ABOVEBOARD
A*bove"board`, adv.
Defn: Above the board or table. Hence: in open sight; without trick,
concealment, or deception. "Fair and aboveboard." Burke.
Note: This expression is said by Johnson to have been borrowed from
gamesters, who, when they change their cards, put their hands under
the table.
ABOVE-CITED
A*bove"-cit`ed, a.
Defn: Cited before, in the preceding part of a book or writing.
ABOVEDECK
A*bove"deck`, a.
Defn: On deck; and hence, like aboveboard, without artifice. Smart.
ABOVE-MENTIONED; ABOVE-NAMED
A*bove"-men`tioned, A*bove"-named`(#), a.
Defn: Mentioned or named before; aforesaid.
ABOVESAID
A*bove"said`, a.
Defn: Mentioned or recited before.
ABOX
A*box", adv. & a. (Naut.)
Defn: Braced aback.
ABRA
A"bra, n. [Sp., a bay, valley, fissure.]
Defn: A narrow pass or defile; a break in a mesa; the mouth of a
cañon. [Southwestern U. S.]
ABRACADABRA
Ab`ra*ca*dab"ra, n. Etym: [L. Of unknown origin.]
Defn: A mystical word or collocation of letters written as in the
figure. Worn on an amulet it was supposed to ward off fever. At
present the word is used chiefly in jest to denote something without
meaning; jargon.
ABRADANT
Ab*ra"dant, n.
Defn: A material used for grinding, as emery, sand, powdered glass,
etc.
ABRADE
Ab*rade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Abrading.]
Etym: [L. abradere, abrasum, to scrape off; ab + radere to scrape.
See Rase, Raze.]
Defn: To rub or wear off; to waste or wear away by friction; as, to
abrade rocks. Lyell.
ABRADE
A*brade", v. t.
Defn: Same as Abraid. [Obs.]
ABRAHAMIC
A`bra*ham"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Abraham, the patriarch; as, the Abrahamic covenant.
ABRAHAMITIC; ABRAHAMITICAL
A`bra*ham*it"ic, A`bra*ham*it*ic*al(#), a.
Defn: Relating to the patriarch Abraham.
ABRAHAM-MAN; ABRAM-MAN
A"bra*ham-man`(#) or A"bram-man`(#), n. Etym: [Possibly in allusion
to the parable of the beggar Lazarus in Luke xvi. Murray (New Eng.
Dict. ).]
Defn: One of a set of vagabonds who formerly roamed through England,
feigning lunacy for the sake of obtaining alms. Nares. To sham
Abraham, to feign sickness. Goldsmith.
ABRAID
A*braid", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. abraiden, to awake, draw (a sword),
AS. abredgan to shake, draw; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig.
meaning out) + bregdan to shake, throw. See Braid.]
Defn: To awake; to arouse; to stir or start up; also, to shout out.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
ABRANCHIAL
A*bran"chi*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Abranchiate.
ABRANCHIATA
A*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of annelids, so called because the species composing it
have no special organs of respiration.
ABRANCHIATE
A*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without gills.
ABRASE
Ab*rase", a. Etym: [L. abrasus, p. p. of abradere. See Abrade.]
Defn: Rubbed smooth. [Obs.] "An abrase table." B. Jonson.
ABRASION
Ab*ra"sion, n. Etym: [L. abrasio, fr. abradere. See Abrade.]
1. The act of abrading, wearing, or rubbing off; the wearing away by
friction; as, the abrasion of coins.
2. The substance rubbed off. Berkeley.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A superficial excoriation, with loss of substance under the
form of small shreds. Dunglison.
ABRASIVE
Ab*ra"sive, a.
Defn: Producing abrasion. Ure.
ABRAUM; ABRAUM SALTS
A*braum" or A*braum" salts, n. Etym: [Ger., fr. abräumen to remove.]
Defn: A red ocher used to darken mahogany and for making chloride of
potassium.
ABRAXAS
A*brax"as, n. Etym: [A name adopted by the Egyptian Gnostic
Basilides, containing the Greek letters , , , , , , , which, as
numerals, amounted to 365. It was used to signify the supreme deity
as ruler of the 365 heavens of his system.]
Defn: A mystical word used as a charm and engraved on gems among the
ancients; also, a gem stone thus engraved.
ABRAY
A*bray", v. Etym: [A false form from the preterit abraid, abrayde.]
Defn: See Abraid. [Obs.] Spenser.
ABREACTION
Ab`re*ac"tion, n. [Pref. ab-+ reaction, after G. Abreagirung.]
(Psychotherapy)
Defn: See Catharsis, below.
ABREAST
A*breast", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + breast.]
1. Side by side, with breasts in a line; as, "Two men could hardly
walk abreast." Macaulay.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Side by side; also, opposite; over against; on a line with the
vessel's beam; -- with of.
3. Up to a certain level or line; equally advanced; as, to keep
abreast of [or with] the present state of science.
4. At the same time; simultaneously. [Obs.]
Abreast therewith began a convocation. Fuller.
ABREGGE
A*breg"ge, v. t.
Defn: See Abridge. [Obs.]
ABRENOUNCE
Ab`re*nounce", v. t. Etym: [L. abrenuntiare; ab + renuntiare. See
Renounce.]
Defn: To renounce. [Obs.] "They abrenounce and cast them off."
Latimer.
ABRENUNCIATION
Ab`re*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. abrenuntiatio. See Abrenounce.]
Defn: Absolute renunciation or repudiation. [Obs.]
An abrenunciation of that truth which he so long had professed, and
still believed. Fuller.
ABREPTION
Ab*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. abreptus, p. p. of abripere to snatch away;
ab + rapere to snatch.]
Defn: A snatching away. [Obs.]
ABREUVOIR
A`breu`voir", n. Etym: [F., a watering place.] (Masonry)
Defn: The joint or interstice between stones, to be filled with
mortar. Gwilt.
ABRICOCK
A"bri*cock, n.
Defn: See Apricot. [Obs.]
ABRIDGE
A*bridge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abridged; p. pr. & vb. n. Abridging.]
Etym: [OE. abregen, OF. abregier, F. abréger, fr. L. abbreviare; ad +
brevis short. See Brief and cf. Abbreviate.]
1. To make shorter; to shorten in duration; to lessen; to diminish;
to curtail; as, to abridge labor; to abridge power or rights. "The
bridegroom . . . abridged his visit." Smollett.
She retired herself to Sebaste, and abridged her train from state to
necessity. Fuller.
2. To shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the
sense; to epitomize; to condense; as, to abridge a history or
dictionary.
3. To deprive; to cut off; -- followed by of, and formerly by from;
as, to abridge one of his rights.
ABRIDGER
A*bridg"er, n.
Defn: One who abridges.
ABRIDGMENT
A*bridg"ment, n. Etym: [OE. abregement. See Abridge.]
1. The act abridging, or the state of being abridged; diminution;
lessening; reduction or deprivation; as, an abridgment of pleasures
or of expenses.
2. An epitome or compend, as of a book; a shortened or abridged form;
an abbreviation.
Ancient coins as abridgments of history. Addison.
3. That which abridges or cuts short; hence, an entertainment that
makes the time pass quickly. [Obs.]
What abridgment have you for this evening What mask What music Shak.
Syn.
-- Abridgment, Compendium, Epitome, Abstract, Synopsis. An
abridgment is made by omitting the less important parts of some
larger work; as, an abridgment of a dictionary. A compendium is a
brief exhibition of a subject, or science, for common use; as, a
compendium of American literature. An epitome corresponds to a
compendium, and gives briefly the most material points of a subject;
as, an epitome of history. An abstract is a brief statement of a
thing in its main points. A synopsis is a bird's-eye view of a
subject, or work, in its several parts.
ABROACH
A*broach", v. t. Etym: [OE. abrochen, OF. abrochier. See Broach.]
Defn: To set abroach; to let out, as liquor; to broach; to tap.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
ABROACH
A*broach", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + broach.]
1. Broached; in a condition for letting out or yielding liquor, as a
cask which is tapped.
Hogsheads of ale were set abroach. Sir W. Scott.
2. Hence: In a state to be diffused or propagated; afoot; astir.
"Mischiefs that I set abroach." Shak.
ABROAD
A*broad", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + broad.]
1. At large; widely; broadly; over a wide space; as, a tree spreads
its branches abroad.
The fox roams far abroad. Prior.
2. Without a certain confine; outside the house; away from one's
abode; as, to walk abroad.
I went to St. James', where another was preaching in the court
abroad. Evelyn.
3. Beyond the bounds of a country; in foreign countries; as, we have
broils at home and enemies abroad. "Another prince . . . was living
abroad." Macaulay.
4. Before the public at large; throughout society or the world; here
and there; widely.
He went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the
matter. Mark i. 45.
To be abroad. (a) To be wide of the mark; to be at fault; as, you are
all abroad in your guess. (b) To be at a loss or nonplused.
ABROGABLE
Ab"ro*ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being abrogated.
ABROGATE
Ab"ro*gate, a. Etym: [L. abrogatus, p. p.]
Defn: Abrogated; abolished. [Obs.] Latimer.
ABROGATE
Ab"ro*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abrogated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abrogating.] Etym: [L. abrogatus, p. p. of abrogare; ab + rogare to
ask, require, propose. See Rogation.]
1. To annul by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of
the maker or his successor; to repeal; -- applied to the repeal of
laws, decrees, ordinances, the abolition of customs, etc.
Let us see whether the New Testament abrogates what we so frequently
see in the Old. South.
Whose laws, like those of the Medes and Persian, they can not alter
or abrogate. Burke.
2. To put an end to; to do away with. Shak.
Syn.
-- To abolish; annul; do away; set aside; revoke; repeal; cancel;
annihilate. See Abolish.
ABROGATION
Ab`ro*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. abrogatio, fr. abrogare: cf. F.
abrogation.]
Defn: The act of abrogating; repeal by authority. Hume.
ABROGATIVE
Ab"ro*ga*tive, a.
Defn: Tending or designed to abrogate; as, an abrogative law.
ABROGATOR
Ab"ro*ga`tor, n.
Defn: One who repeals by authority.
ABROOD
A*brood", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + brood.]
Defn: In the act of brooding. [Obs.] Abp. Sancroft.
ABROOK
A*brook", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + brook, v.]
Defn: To brook; to endure. [Obs.] Shak.
ABRUPT
Ab*rupt", a. Etym: [L. abruptus, p. p. of abrumpere to break off; ab
+ rumpere to break. See Rupture.]
1. Broken off; very steep, or craggy, as rocks, precipices, banks;
precipitous; steep; as, abrupt places. "Tumbling through ricks
abrupt," Thomson.
2. Without notice to prepare the mind for the event; sudden; hasty;
unceremonious. "The cause of your abrupt departure." Shak.
3. Having sudden transitions from one subject to another;
unconnected.
The abrupt style, which hath many breaches. B. Jonson.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Suddenly terminating, as if cut off. Gray.
Syn.
-- Sudden; unexpected; hasty; rough; curt; unceremonious; rugged;
blunt; disconnected; broken.
ABRUPT
Ab*rupt", n. Etym: [L. abruptum.]
Defn: An abrupt place. [Poetic]
"Over the vast abrupt." Milton.
ABRUPT
Ab*rupt", v. t.
Defn: To tear off or asunder. [Obs.] "Till death abrupts them." Sir
T. Browne.
ABRUPTION
Ab*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. abruptio, fr. abrumpere: cf. F. abruption.]
Defn: A sudden breaking off; a violent separation of bodies.
Woodward.
ABRUPTLY
Ab*rupt"ly, adv.
1. In an abrupt manner; without giving notice, or without the usual
forms; suddenly.
2. Precipitously. Abruptly pinnate (Bot.), pinnate without an odd
leaflet, or other appendage, at the end. Gray.
ABRUPTNESS
Ab*rupt"ness, n.
1. The state of being abrupt or broken; craggedness; ruggedness;
steepness.
2. Suddenness; unceremonious haste or vehemence; as, abruptness of
style or manner.
ABSCESS
Ab"scess, n.; pl. Abscesses. Etym: [L. abscessus a going away,
gathering of humors, abscess, fr. abscessus, p. p. of absedere to go
away; ab, abs + cedere to go off, retire. See Cede.] (Med.)
Defn: A collection of pus or purulent matter in any tissue or organ
of the body, the result of a morbid process. Cold abscess, an abscess
of slow formation, unattended with the pain and heat characteristic
of ordinary abscesses, and lasting for years without exhibiting any
tendency towards healing; a chronic abscess.
ABSCESSION
Ab*sces"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscessio a separation; fr. absedere. See
Abscess.]
Defn: A separating; removal; also, an abscess. [Obs.] Gauden.
Barrough.
ABSCIND
Ab*scind", v. t. Etym: [L. absindere; ab + scindere to rend, cut. See
Schism.]
Defn: To cut off. [R.] "Two syllables . . . abscinded from the rest."
Johnson.
ABSCISION
Ab*sci"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscisio.]
Defn: See Abscission.
ABSCISS
Ab"sciss, n.; pl. Abscisses.
Defn: See Abscissa.
ABSCISSA
Ab*scis"sa, n.; E. pl. Abscissas, L. pl. Abscissæ. Etym: [L., fem. of
abscissus, p. p. of absindere to cut of. See Abscind.] (Geom.)
Defn: One of the elements of reference by which a point, as of a
curve, is referred to a system of fixed rectilineal coördinate axes.
Note: When referred to two intersecting axes, one of them called the
axis of abscissas, or of X, and the other the axis of ordinates, or
of Y, the abscissa of the point is the distance cut off from the axis
of X by a line drawn through it and parallel to the axis of Y. When a
point in space is referred to three axes having a common
intersection, the abscissa may be the distance measured parallel to
either of them, from the point to the plane of the other two axes.
Abscissas and ordinates taken together are called coördinates.
-- OX or PY is the abscissa of the point P of the curve, OY or PX
its ordinate, the intersecting lines OX and OY being the axes of
abscissas and ordinates respectively, and the point O their origin.
ABSCISSION
Ab*scis"sion, n. Etym: [L. abscissio. See Abscind.]
1. The act or process of cutting off. "Not to be cured without the
abscission of a member." Jer. Taylor.
2. The state of being cut off. Sir T. Browne.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech employed when a speaker having begun to say
a thing stops abruptly: thus, "He is a man of so much honor and
candor, and of such generosity -- but I need say no more."
ABSCOND
Ab*scond", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Absconded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Absconding.] Etym: [L. abscondere to hide; ab, abs + condere to lay
up; con + dare (only in comp.) to put. Cf. Do.]
1. To hide, withdraw, or be concealed.
The marmot absconds all winter. Ray.
2. To depart clandestinely; to steal off and secrete one's self; --
used especially of persons who withdraw to avoid a legal process; as,
an absconding debtor.
That very homesickness which, in regular armies, drives so many
recruits to abscond. Macaulay.
ABSCOND
Ab*scond", v. t.
Defn: To hide; to conceal. [Obs.] Bentley.
ABSCONDENCE
Ab*scond"ence, n.
Defn: Fugitive concealment; secret retirement; hiding. [R.] Phillips.
ABSCONDER
Ab*scond"er, n.
Defn: One who absconds.
ABSENCE
Ab"sence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.]
1. A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from
companionship; -- opposed to presence.
Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Phil.
ii. 12.
2. Want; destitution; withdrawal. "In the absence of conventional
law." Kent.
3. Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence
of mind. "Reflecting on the little absences and distractions of
mankind." Addison.
To conquer that abstraction which is called absence. Landor.
ABSENT
Ab"sent, a. Etym: [F., fr. absens, absentis, p. pr. of abesse to be
away from; ab + esse to be. Cf. Sooth.]
1. Being away from a place; withdrawn from a place; not present.
"Expecting absent friends." Shak.
2. Not existing; lacking; as, the part was rudimental or absent.
3. Inattentive to what is passing; absent-minded; preoccupied; as, an
absent air.
What is commonly called an absent man is commonly either a very weak
or a very affected man. Chesterfield.
Syn.
-- Absent, Abstracted. These words both imply a want of attention to
surrounding objects. We speak of a man as absent when his thoughts
wander unconsciously from present scenes or topics of discourse; we
speak of him as abstracted when his mind (usually for a brief period)
is drawn off from present things by some weighty matter for
reflection. Absence of mind is usually the result of loose habits of
thought; abstraction commonly arises either from engrossing interests
and cares, or from unfortunate habits of association.
ABSENT
Ab*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absented; p. pr. & vb. n. Absenting.]
Etym: [Cf. F. absenter.]
1. To take or withdraw (one's self) to such a distance as to prevent
intercourse; -- used with the reflexive pronoun.
If after due summons any member absents himself, he is to be fined.
Addison.
2. To withhold from being present. [Obs.] "Go; for thy stay, not
free, absents thee more." Milton.
ABSENTANEOUS
Ab`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [LL. absentaneus. See absent]
Defn: Pertaining to absence. [Obs.]
ABSENTATION
Ab`sen*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of absenting one's self. Sir W. Hamilton.
ABSENTEE
Ab`sen*tee", n.
Defn: One who absents himself from his country, office, post, or
duty; especially, a landholder who lives in another country or
district than that where his estate is situated; as, an Irish
absentee. Macaulay.
ABSENTEEISM
Ab`sen*tee"ism, n.
Defn: The state or practice of an absentee; esp. the practice of
absenting one's self from the country or district where one's estate
is situated.
ABSENTER
Ab*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who absents one's self.
ABSENTLY
Ab"sent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an absent or abstracted manner.
ABSENTMENT
Ab*sent"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being absent; withdrawal. [R.] Barrow.
ABSENT-MINDED
Ab`sent-mind"ed(#), a.
Defn: Absent in mind; abstracted; preoccupied.
-- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ness, n.
-- Ab`sent-mind"ed*ly, adv.
ABSENTNESS
Ab"sent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being absent-minded. H. Miller.
ABSEY-BOOK
Ab"sey-book`(#), n.
Defn: An A-B-C book; a primer. [Obs.] Shak.
ABSINTHATE
Ab"sin"thate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of absinthic acid with a base or positive
radical.
ABSINTHE; ABSINTH
Ab"sinthe`, Ab"sinth`, n. Etym: [F. absinthe. See Absinthium.]
1. The plant absinthium or common wormwood.
2. A strong spirituous liqueur made from wormwood and brandy or
alcohol.
ABSINTHIAL
Ab*sin"thi*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to wormwood; absinthian.
ABSINTHIAN
Ab*sin"thi*an, n.
Defn: Of the nature of wormwood. "Absinthian bitterness." T.
Randolph.
ABSINTHIATE
Ab"sin"thi*ate, v. t. Etym: [From L. absinthium: cf. L. absinthiatus,
a.]
Defn: To impregnate with wormwood.
ABSINTHIATED
Ab*sin"thi*a`ted, a.
Defn: Impregnated with wormwood; as, absinthiated wine.
ABSINTHIC
Ab*sin"thic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Relating to the common wormwood or to an acid obtained from it.
ABSINTHIN
Ab*sin"thin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The bitter principle of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Watts.
ABSINTHISM
Ab"sin*thism, n.
Defn: The condition of being poisoned by the excessive use of
absinth.
ABSINTHIUM
Ab*sin"thi*um, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The common wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), an intensely bitter
plant, used as a tonic and for making the oil of wormwood.
ABSIS
Ab"sis, n.
Defn: See Apsis.
ABSIST
Ab*sist", v. i. Etym: [L. absistere, p. pr. absistens; ab + sistere
to stand, causal of stare.]
Defn: To stand apart from; top leave off; to desist. [Obs.] Raleigh.
ABSISTENCE
Ab*sist"ence, n.
Defn: A standing aloof. [Obs.]
ABSOLUTE
Ab"so*lute, a. Etym: [L. absolutus, p. p. of absolvere: cf. F.
absolu. See Absolve.]
1. Loosed from any limitation or condition; uncontrolled;
unrestricted; unconditional; as, absolute authority, monarchy,
sovereignty, an absolute promise or command; absolute power; an
absolute monarch.
2. Complete in itself; perfect; consummate; faultless; as, absolute
perfection; absolute beauty.
So absolute she seems, And in herself complete. Milton.
3. Viewed apart from modifying influences or without comparison with
other objects; actual; real; -- opposed to relative and comparative;
as, absolute motion; absolute time or space.
Note: Absolute rights and duties are such as pertain to man in a
state of nature as contradistinguished from relative rights and
duties, or such as pertain to him in his social relations.
4. Loosed from, or unconnected by, dependence on any other being;
self-existent; self-sufficing.
Note: In this sense God is called the Absolute by the Theist. The
term is also applied by the Pantheist to the universe, or the total
of all existence, as only capable of relations in its parts to each
other and to the whole, and as dependent for its existence and its
phenomena on its mutually depending forces and their laws.
5. Capable of being thought or conceived by itself alone;
unconditioned; non-relative.
Note: It is in dispute among philosopher whether the term, in this
sense, is not applied to a mere logical fiction or abstraction, or
whether the absolute, as thus defined, can be known, as a reality, by
the human intellect.
To Cusa we can indeed articulately trace, word and thing, the recent
philosophy of the absolute. Sir W. Hamilton.
6. Positive; clear; certain; not doubtful. [R.]
I am absolute 't was very Cloten. Shak.
7. Authoritative; peremptory. [R.]
The peddler stopped, and tapped her on the head, With absolute
forefinger, brown and ringed. Mrs. Browning.
8. (Chem.)
Defn: Pure; unmixed; as, absolute alcohol.
9. (Gram.)
Defn: Not immediately dependent on the other parts of the sentence in
government; as, the case absolute. See Ablative absolute, under
Ablative. Absolute curvature (Geom.), that curvature of a curve of
double curvature, which is measured in the osculating plane of the
curve.
-- Absolute equation (Astron.), the sum of the optic and eccentric
equations.
-- Absolute space (Physics), space considered without relation to
material limits or objects.
-- Absolute terms. (Alg.), such as are known, or which do not
contain the unknown quantity. Davies & Peck.
-- Absolute temperature (Physics), the temperature as measured on a
scale determined by certain general thermo-dynamic principles, and
reckoned from the absolute zero.
-- Absolute zero (Physics), the be ginning, or zero point, in the
scale of absolute temperature. It is equivalent to -273º centigrade
or -459.4º Fahrenheit.
Syn.
-- Positive; peremptory; certain; unconditional; unlimited;
unrestricted; unqualified; arbitrary; despotic; autocratic.
ABSOLUTE
Ab"so*lute, n. (Geom.)
Defn: In a plane, the two imaginary circular points at infinity; in
space of three dimensions, the imaginary circle at infinity.
ABSOLUTELY
Ab"so*lute*ly, adv.
Defn: In an absolute, independent, or unconditional manner; wholly;
positively.
ABSOLUTENESS
Ab"so*lute*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being absolute; independence of everything
extraneous; unlimitedness; absolute power; independent reality;
positiveness.
ABSOLUTION
Ab`so*lu"tion, n. Etym: [F. absolution, L. absolutio, fr. absolvere
to absolve. See Absolve.]
1. An absolving, or setting free from guilt, sin, or penalty;
forgiveness of an offense. "Government . . . granting absolution to
the nation." Froude.
2. (Civil Law)
Defn: An acquittal, or sentence of a judge declaring and accused
person innocent. [Obs.]
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The exercise of priestly jurisdiction in the sacrament of
penance, by which Catholics believe the sins of the truly penitent
are forgiven.
Note: In the English and other Protestant churches, this act regarded
as simply declaratory, not as imparting forgiveness.
4. (Eccl.)
Defn: An absolving from ecclesiastical penalties, -- for example,
excommunication. P. Cyc.
5. The form of words by which a penitent is absolved. Shipley.
6. Delivery, in speech. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Absolution day (R. C. Ch.),
Tuesday before Easter.
ABSOLUTISM
Ab"so*lu`tism, n.
1. The state of being absolute; the system or doctrine of the
absolute; the principles or practice of absolute or arbitrary
government; despotism.
The element of absolutism and prelacy was controlling. Palfrey.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Doctrine of absolute decrees. Ash.
ABSOLUTIST
Ab"so*lu`tist, n.
1. One who is in favor of an absolute or autocratic government.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who believes that it is possible to realize a cognition or
concept of the absolute. Sir. W. Hamilton.
ABSOLUTIST
Ab"so*lu`tist, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to absolutism; arbitrary; despotic; as,
absolutist principles.
ABSOLUTISTIC
Ab`so*lu*tis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to absolutism; absolutist.
ABSOLUTORY
Ab*sol"u*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. absolutorius, fr. absolvere to absolve.]
Defn: Serving to absolve; absolving. "An absolutory sentence."
Ayliffe.
ABSOLVABLE
Ab*solv"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be absolved.
ABSOLVATORY
Ab*solv"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Conferring absolution; absolutory.
ABSOLVE
Ab*solve" (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absolved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Absolving.] Etym: [L. absolvere to set free, to absolve; ab + solvere
to loose. See Assoil, Solve.]
1. To set free, or release, as from some obligation, debt, or
responsibility, or from the consequences of guilt or such ties as it
would be sin or guilt to violate; to pronounce free; as, to absolve a
subject from his allegiance; to absolve an offender, which amounts to
an acquittal and remission of his punishment.
Halifax was absolved by a majority of fourteen. Macaulay.
2. To free from a penalty; to pardon; to remit (a sin); -- said of
the sin or guilt.
In his name I absolve your perjury. Gibbon.
3. To finish; to accomplish. [Obs.]
The work begun, how soon absolved. Milton.
4. To resolve or explain. [Obs.] "We shall not absolve the doubt."
Sir T. Browne.
Syn.
-- To Absolve, Exonerate, Acquit. We speak of a man as absolved from
something that binds his conscience, or involves the charge of
wrongdoing; as, to absolve from allegiance or from the obligation of
an oath, or a promise. We speak of a person as exonerated, when he is
released from some burden which had rested upon him; as, to exonerate
from suspicion, to exonerate from blame or odium. It implies a purely
moral acquittal. We speak of a person as acquitted, when a decision
has been made in his favor with reference to a specific charge,
either by a jury or by disinterested persons; as, he was acquitted of
all participation in the crime.
ABSOLVENT
Ab*solv"ent, a. Etym: [L. absolvens, p. pr. of absolvere.]
Defn: Absolving. [R.] Carlyle.
ABSOLVENT
Ab*solv"ent, n.
Defn: An absolver. [R.] Hobbes.
ABSOLVER
Ab*solv"er, n.
Defn: One who absolves. Macaulay.
ABSONANT
Ab"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. ab + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to sound.]
Defn: Discordant; contrary; -- opposed to consonant. "Absonant to
nature." Quarles.
ABSONOUS
Ab"so*nous, a. Etym: [L. absonus; ab + sonus sound.]
Defn: Discordant; inharmonious; incongruous. [Obs.] "Absonous to our
reason." Glanvill.
ABSORB
Ab*sorb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Absorbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Absorbing.]
Etym: [L. absorbere; ab + sorbere to suck in, akin to Gr. absorber.]
1. To swallow up; to engulf; to overwhelm; to cause to disappear as
if by swallowing up; to use up; to include. "Dark oblivion soon
absorbs them all." Cowper.
The large cities absorb the wealth and fashion. W. Irving.
2. To suck up; to drink in; to imbibe; as a sponge or as the lacteals
of the body. Bacon.
3. To engross or engage wholly; to occupy fully; as, absorbed in
study or the pursuit of wealth.
4. To take up by cohesive, chemical, or any molecular action, as when
charcoal absorbs gases. So heat, light, and electricity are absorbed
or taken up in the substances into which they pass. Nichol. p. 8
Syn.
-- To Absorb, Engross, Swallow up, Engulf. These words agree in one
general idea, that of completely taking up. They are chiefly used in
a figurative sense and may be distinguished by a reference to their
etymology. We speak of a person as absorbed (lit., drawn in,
swallowed up) in study or some other employment of the highest
interest. We speak of a person as ebgrossed (lit., seized upon in the
gross, or wholly) by something which occupies his whole time and
thoughts, as the acquisition of wealth, or the attainment of honor.
We speak of a person (under a stronger image) as swallowed up and
lost in that which completely occupies his thoughts and feelings, as
in grief at the death of a friend, or in the multiplied cares of
life. We speak of a person as engulfed in that which (like a gulf)
takes in all his hopes and interests; as, engulfed in misery, ruin,
etc.
That grave question which had begun to absorb the Christian mind --
the marriage of the clergy. Milman.
Too long hath love engrossed Britannia's stage, And sunk to softness
all our tragic rage. Tickell.
Should not the sad occasion swallow up My other cares Addison.
And in destruction's river Engulf and swallow those. Sir P. Sidney.
ABSORBABILITY
Ab*sorb`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being absorbable. Graham (Chemistry).
ABSORBABLE
Ab*sorb"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. absorbable.]
Defn: Capable of being absorbed or swallowed up. Kerr.
ABSORBEDLY
Ab*sorb"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner as if wholly engrossed or engaged.
ABSORBENCY
Ab*sorb"en*cy, n.
Defn: Absorptiveness.
ABSORBENT
Ab*sorb"ent, a. Etym: [L. absorbens, p. pr. of absorbere.]
Defn: Absorbing; swallowing; absorptive. Absorbent ground (Paint.), a
ground prepared for a picture, chiefly with distemper, or water
colors, by which the oil is absorbed, and a brilliancy is imparted to
the colors.
ABSORBENT
Ab*sorb"ent, n.
1. Anything which absorbs.
The ocean, itself a bad absorbent of heat. Darwin.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Any substance which absorbs and neutralizes acid fluid in the
stomach and bowels, as magnesia, chalk, etc.; also a substance e. g.,
iodine) which acts on the absorbent vessels so as to reduce enlarged
and indurated parts.
3. pl. (Physiol.)
Defn: The vessels by which the processes of absorption are carried
on, as the lymphatics in animals, the extremities of the roots in
plants.
ABSORBER
Ab*sorb"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, absorbs.
ABSORBING
Ab*sorb"ing, a.
Defn: Swallowing, engrossing; as, an absorbing pursuit.
-- Ab*sorb"ing, adv.
ABSORBITION
Ab`sor*bi"tion, n.
Defn: Absorption. [Obs.]
ABSORPT
Ab*sorpt`, a. Etym: [L. absorptus, p. p.]
Defn: Absorbed. [Arcahic.] "Absorpt in care." Pope.
ABSORPTION
Ab*sorp"tion, n. Etym: [L. absorptio, fr. absorbere. See Absorb.]
1. The act or process of absorbing or sucking in anything, or of
being absorbed and made to disappear; as, the absorption of bodies in
a whirlpool, the absorption of a smaller tribe into a larger.
2. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: An imbibing or reception by molecular or chemical action; as,
the absorption of light, heat, electricity, etc.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: In living organisms, the process by which the materials of
growth and nutrition are absorbed and conveyed to the tissues and
organs.
4. Entire engrossment or occupation of the mind; as, absorption in
some employment.
ABSORPTIVE
Ab*sorp"tive, a.
Defn: Having power, capacity, or tendency to absorb or imbibe. E.
Darwin.
ABSORPTIVENESS
Ab*sorp"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being absorptive; absorptive power.
ABSORPTIVITY
Ab`sorp*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Absorptiveness.
ABSQUATULATE
Ab*squat"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To take one's self off; to decamp. [A jocular word. U. S.]
ABSQUE HOC
Abs"que hoc
Defn: . Etym: [L., without this.] (Law) The technical words of denial
used in traversing what has been alleged, and is repeated.
ABSTAIN
Ab*stain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abstained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abstaining.] Etym: [OE. absteynen, abstenen, OF. astenir, abstenir,
F. abstenir, fr. L. abstinere, abstentum, v. t. & v. i., to keep
from; ab, abs + tenere to hold. See Tenable.]
Defn: To hold one's self aloof; to forbear or refrain voluntarily,
and especially from an indulgence of the passions or appetites; --
with from.
Not a few abstained from voting. Macaulay.
Who abstains from meat that is not gaunt Shak.
Syn.
-- To refrain; forbear; withhold; deny one's self; give up;
relinquish.
ABSTAIN
Ab*stain", v. t.
Defn: To hinder; to withhold.
Whether he abstain men from marrying. Milton.
ABSTAINER
Ab*stain"er, n.
Defn: One who abstains; esp., one who abstains from the use of
intoxicating liquors.
ABSTEMIOUS
Ab*ste"mi*ous, a. Etym: [L. abstemius; ab, abs + root of temetum
intoxicating drink.]
1. Abstaining from wine. [Orig. Latin sense.]
Under his special eye Abstemious I grew up and thrived amain. Milton.
2. Sparing in diet; refraining from a free use of food and strong
drinks; temperate; abstinent; sparing in the indulgence of the
appetite or passions.
Instances of longevity are chiefly among the abstemious. Arbuthnot.
3. Sparingly used; used with temperance or moderation; as, an
abstemious diet. Gibbon.
4. Marked by, or spent in, abstinence; as, an abstemious life. "One
abstemious day." Pope.
5. Promotive of abstemiousness. [R.]
Such is the virtue of the abstemious well. Dryden.
ABSTEMIOUSNESS
Ab*ste"mi*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abstemious, temperate, or sparing in the
use of food and strong drinks. It expresses a greater degree of
abstinence than temperance.
ABSTENTION
Ab*sten"tion, a. Etym: [F. See Abstain.]
Defn: The act of abstaining; a holding aloof. Jer. Taylor.
ABSTENTIOUS
Ab*sten"tious, a.
Defn: Characterized by abstinence; self-restraining. Farrar.
ABSTERGE
Ab*sterge, v. t. Etym: [L. abstergere, abstersum; ab, abs + tergere
to wipe. Cf. F absterger.]
Defn: To make clean by wiping; to wipe away; to cleanse; hence, to
purge. [R.] Quincy.
ABSTERGENT
Ab*ster"gent, a. Etym: [L. abstergens, p. pr. of abstergere.]
Defn: Serving to cleanse, detergent.
ABSTERGENT
Ab*ster"gent, n.
Defn: A substance used in cleansing; a detergent; as, soap is an
abstergent.
ABSTERSE
Ab*sterse", v. t.
Defn: To absterge; to cleanse; to purge away. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ABSTERSION
Ab*ster"sion, n. Etym: [F. abstersion. See Absterge.]
Defn: Act of wiping clean; a cleansing; a purging.
The task of ablution and abstersion being performed. Sir W. Scott.
ABSTERSIVE
Ab*ster"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abstersif. See Absterge.]
Defn: Cleansing; purging. Bacon.
ABSTERSIVE
Ab*ster"sive, n.
Defn: Something cleansing.
The strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate. Milton.
ABSTERSIVENESS
Ab*ster"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abstersive. Fuller.
ABSTINENCE
Ab"sti*nence, n. Etym: [F. abstinence, L. abstinentia, fr. abstinere.
See Abstain.]
1. The act or practice of abstaining; voluntary forbearance of any
action, especially the refraining from an indulgence of appetite, or
from customary gratifications of animal or sensual propensities.
Specifically, the practice of abstaining from intoxicating beverages,
-- called also total abstinence.
The abstinence from a present pleasure that offers itself is a pain,
nay, oftentimes, a very great one. Locke.
2. The practice of self-denial by depriving one's self of certain
kinds of food or drink, especially of meat.
Penance, fasts, and abstinence, To punish bodies for the soul's
offense. Dryden.
ABSTINENCY
Ab"sti*nen*cy, n.
Defn: Abstinence. [R.]
ABSTINENT
Ab"sti*nent, a. Etym: [F. abstinent, L. abstinens, p. pr. of
abstinere. See Abstain.]
Defn: Refraining from indulgence, especially from the indulgence of
appetite; abstemious; continent; temperate. Beau. & Fl.
ABSTINENT
Ab"sti*nent, n.
1. One who abstains.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect who appeared in France and Spain in the 3d
century.
ABSTINENTLY
Ab"sti*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: With abstinence.
ABSTORTED
Ab*stort"ed, a. Etym: [As if fr. abstort, fr. L. ab, abs + tortus, p.
p. of torquere to twist.]
Defn: Wrested away. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABSTRACT
Ab"stract` (#; 277), a. Etym: [L. abstractus, p. p. of abstrahere to
draw from, separate; ab, abs + trahere to draw. See Trace.]
1. Withdraw; separate. [Obs.]
The more abstract . . . we are from the body. Norris.
2. Considered apart from any application to a particular object;
separated from matter; exiting in the mind only; as, abstract truth,
abstract numbers. Hence: ideal; abstruse; difficult.
3. (Logic)
(a) Expressing a particular property of an object viewed apart from
the other properties which constitute it; -- opposed to Ant:
concrete; as, honesty is an abstract word. J. S. Mill.
(b) Resulting from the mental faculty of abstraction; general as
opposed to particular; as, "reptile" is an abstract or general name.
Locke.
A concrete name is a name which stands for a thing; an abstract name
which stands for an attribute of a thing. A practice has grown up in
more modern times, which, if not introduced by Locke, has gained
currency from his example, of applying the expression "abstract name"
to all names which are the result of abstraction and generalization,
and consequently to all general names, instead of confining it to the
names of attributes. J. S. Mill.
4. Abstracted; absent in mind. "Abstract, as in a trance." Milton. An
abstract idea (Metaph.), an idea separated from a complex object, or
from other ideas which naturally accompany it; as the solidity of
marble when contemplated apart from its color or figure.
-- Abstract terms, those which express abstract ideas, as beauty,
whiteness, roundness, without regarding any object in which they
exist; or abstract terms are the names of orders, genera or species
of things, in which there is a combination of similar qualities.
-- Abstract numbers (Math.), numbers used without application to
things, as 6, 8, 10; but when applied to any thing, as 6 feet, 10
men, they become concrete.
-- Abstract or Pure mathematics. See Mathematics.
ABSTRACT
Ab*stract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abstracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Abstracting.] Etym: [See Abstract, a.]
1. To withdraw; to separate; to take away.
He was incapable of forming any opinion or resolution abstracted from
his own prejudices. Sir W. Scott.
2. To draw off in respect to interest or attention; as, his was
wholly abstracted by other objects.
The young stranger had been abstracted and silent. Blackw. Mag.
3. To separate, as ideas, by the operation of the mind; to consider
by itself; to contemplate separately, as a quality or attribute.
Whately.
4. To epitomize; to abridge. Franklin.
5. To take secretly or dishonestly; to purloin; as, to abstract goods
from a parcel, or money from a till.
Von Rosen had quietly abstracted the bearing-reins from the harness.
W. Black.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: To separate, as the more volatile or soluble parts of a
substance, by distillation or other chemical processes. In this sense
extract is now more generally used.
ABSTRACT
Ab*stract", v. t.
Defn: To perform the process of abstraction. [R.]
I own myself able to abstract in one sense. Berkeley.
ABSTRACT
Ab"stract`, n. Etym: [See Abstract, a.]
1. That which comprises or concentrates in itself the essential
qualities of a larger thing or of several things. Specifically: A
summary or an epitome, as of a treatise or book, or of a statement; a
brief.
An abstract of every treatise he had read. Watts.
Man, the abstract Of all perfection, which the workmanship Of Heaven
hath modeled. Ford.
2. A state of separation from other things; as, to consider a subject
in the abstract, or apart from other associated things.
3. An abstract term.
The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts
"paternity" and "filiety." J. S. Mill.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A powdered solid extract of a vegetable substance mixed with
sugar of milk in such proportion that one part of the abstract
represents two parts of the original substance. Abstract of title
(Law), an epitome of the evidences of ownership.
Syn.
-- Abridgment; compendium; epitome; synopsis. See Abridgment.
ABSTRACTED
Ab*stract"ed, a.
1. Separated or disconnected; withdrawn; removed; apart.
The evil abstracted stood from his own evil. Milton.
2. Separated from matter; abstract; ideal. [Obs.]
3. Abstract; abstruse; difficult. [Obs.] Johnson.
4. Inattentive to surrounding objects; absent in mind. "An abstracted
scholar." Johnson.
ABSTRACTEDLY
Ab*stract"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an abstracted manner; separately; with absence of mind.
ABSTRACTEDNESS
Ab*stract"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being abstracted; abstract character.
ABSTRACTER
Ab*stract"er, n.
Defn: One who abstracts, or makes an abstract.
ABSTRACTION
Ab*strac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. abstraction. See Abstract, a.]
1. The act of abstracting, separating, or withdrawing, or the state
of being withdrawn; withdrawal.
A wrongful abstraction of wealth from certain members of the
community. J. S. Mill.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: The act process of leaving out of consideration one or more
properties of a complex object so as to attend to others; analysis.
Thus, when the mind considers the form of a tree by itself, or the
color of the leaves as separate from their size or figure, the act is
called abstraction. So, also, when it considers whiteness, softness,
virtue, existence, as separate from any particular objects.
Note: Abstraction is necessary to classification, by which things are
arranged in genera and species. We separate in idea the qualities of
certain objects, which are of the same kind, from others which are
different, in each, and arrange the objects having the same
properties in a class, or collected body.
Abstraction is no positive act: it is simply the negative of
attention. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. An idea or notion of an abstract, or theoretical nature; as, to
fight for mere abstractions.
4. A separation from worldly objects; a recluse life; as, a hermit's
abstraction.
5. Absence or absorption of mind; inattention to present objects.
6. The taking surreptitiously for one's own use part of the property
of another; purloining. [Modern]
7. (Chem.)
Defn: A separation of volatile parts by the act of distillation.
Nicholson.
ABSTRACTIONAL
Ab*strac"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to abstraction.
ABSTRACTIONIST
Ab*strac"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An idealist. Emerson.
ABSTRACTITIOUS
Ab`strac*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Obtained from plants by distillation. [Obs.] Crabb.
ABSTRACTIVE
Ab*strac"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abstractif.]
Defn: Having the power of abstracting; of an abstracting nature. "The
abstractive faculty." I. Taylor.
ABSTRACTIVELY
Ab*strac"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a abstract manner; separately; in or by itself. Feltham.
ABSTRACTIVENESS
Ab*strac"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abstractive; abstractive property.
ABSTRACTLY
Ab"stract`ly (#; 277), adv.
Defn: In an abstract state or manner; separately; absolutely; by
itself; as, matter abstractly considered.
ABSTRACTNESS
Ab"stract`ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abstract. "The abstractness of the ideas."
Locke.
ABSTRINGE
Ab*stringe", v. t. Etym: [L ab + stringere, strictum, to press
together.]
Defn: To unbind. [Obs.] Bailey.
ABSTRUDE
Ab*strude", v. t. Etym: [L. abstrudere. See Abstruse.]
Defn: To thrust away. [Obs.] Johnson.
ABSTRUSE
Ab*struse", a. Etym: [L. abstrusus, p. p. of abstrudere to thrust
away, conceal; ab, abs + trudere to thrust; cf. F. abstrus. See
Threat.]
1. Concealed or hidden out of the way. [Obs.]
The eternal eye whose sight discerns Abstrusest thoughts. Milton.
2. Remote from apprehension; difficult to be comprehended or
understood; recondite; as, abstruse learning.
Profound and abstruse topics. Milman.
ABSTRUSELY
Ab*struse"ly, adv.
Defn: In an abstruse manner.
ABSTRUSENESS
Ab*struse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abstruse; difficulty of apprehension.
Boyle.
ABSTRUSION
Ab*stru"sion, n. Etym: [L. abstrusio. See Abstruse.]
Defn: The act of thrusting away. [R.] Ogilvie.
ABSTRUSITY
Ab*stru"si*ty, n.
Defn: Abstruseness; that which is abstruse. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
ABSUME
Ab*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. absumere, absumptum; ab + sumere to take.]
Defn: To consume gradually; to waste away. [Obs.] Boyle.
ABSUMPTION
Ab*sump"tion (#; 215), n. Etym: [L. absumptio. See Absume.]
Defn: Act of wasting away; a consuming; extinction. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
ABSURD
Ab*surd", a. Etym: [L. absurdus harsh-sounding; ab + (prob) a
derivative fr. a root svar to sound; not connected with surd: cf. F.
absurde. See Syringe.]
Defn: Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and fiatly opposed
to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common
sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; as, an
absurd person, an absurd opinion; an absurd dream.
This proffer is absurd and reasonless. Shak.
'This phrase absurd to call a villain great. Pope.
p. 9
Syn.
-- Foolish; irrational; ridiculous; preposterous; inconsistent;
incongruous.
-- Absurd, Irrational, Foolish, Preposterous. Of these terms,
irrational is the weakest, denoting that which is plainly
inconsistent with the dictates of sound reason; as, an irrational
course of life. Foolish rises higher, and implies either a perversion
of that faculty, or an absolute weakness or fatuity of mind; as,
foolish enterprises. Absurd rises still higher, denoting that which
is plainly opposed to received notions of propriety and truth; as, an
absurd man, project, opinion, story, argument, etc. Preposterous
rises still higher, and supposes an absolute inversion in the order
of things; or, in plain terms, a "putting of the cart before the
horse;" as, a preposterous suggestion, preposterous conduct, a
preposterous regulation or law.
ABSURD
Ab*surd", n.
Defn: An absurdity. [Obs.] Pope.
ABSURDITY
Ab*surd"i*ty, n.; pl. Absurdities. Etym: [L. absurditas: cf. F.
absurdite.]
1. The quality of being absurd or inconsistent with obvious truth,
reason, or sound judgment. "The absurdity of the actual idea of an
infinite number." Locke.
2. That which is absurd; an absurd action; a logical contradiction.
His travels were full of absurdities. Johnson.
ABSURDLY
Ab*surd"ly, adv.
Defn: In an absurd manner.
ABSURDNESS
Ab*surd"ness, n.
Defn: Absurdity. [R.]
ABUNA
A*bu"na, n. Etym: [Eth. and Ar., our father.]
Defn: The Patriarch, or head of the Abyssinian Church.
ABUNDANCE
A*bun"dance, n. Etym: [OE. (h)abudaunce, abundance, F. abundance, F.
abondance, L. abundantia, fr. abundare. See Abound.]
Defn: An overflowing fullness; ample sufficiency; great plenty;
profusion; copious supply; superfluity; wealth: -- strictly
applicable to quantity only, but sometimes used of number.
It is lamentable to remember what abundance of noble blood hath been
shed with small benefit to the Christian state. Raleigh.
Syn.
-- Exuberance; plenteousness; plenty; copiousness; overflow; riches;
affluence; wealth.
-- Abundance, Plenty, Exuberance. These words rise upon each other
in expressing the idea of fullness. Plenty denotes a sufficiency to
supply every want; as, plenty of food, plenty of money, etc.
Abundance express more, and gives the idea of superfluity or excess;
as, abundance of riches, an abundance of wit and humor; often,
however, it only denotes plenty in a high degree. Exuberance rises
still higher, and implies a bursting forth on every side, producing
great superfluity or redundance; as, an exuberance of mirth, an
exuberance of animal spirits, etc.
ABUNDANT
A*bun"dant, a. Etym: [OE. (h)abundant, aboundant, F. abondant, fr. L.
abudans, p. pr. of abundare. See Abound.]
Defn: Fully sufficient; plentiful; in copious supply; -- followed by
in, rarely by with. "Abundant in goodness and truth." Exod. xxxiv. 6.
Abundant number (Math.), a number, the sum of whose aliquot parts
exceeds the number itself. Thus, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, the aliquot parts of
12, make the number 16. This is opposed to a deficient number, as 14,
whose aliquot parts are 1, 2, 7, the sum of which is 10; and to a
perfect number, which is equal to the sum of its aliquot parts, as 6,
whose aliquot parts are 1, 2., 3.
Syn.
-- Ample; plentiful; copious; plenteous; exuberant; overflowing;
rich; teeming; profuse; bountiful; liberal. See Ample.
ABUNDANTLY
A*bun"dant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a sufficient degree; fully; amply; plentifully; in large
measure.
ABURST
A*burst", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + burst.]
Defn: In a bursting condition.
ABUSABLE
A*bus"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be abused.
ABUSAGE
A*bus"age, n.
Defn: Abuse. [Obs.] Whately (1634).
ABUSE
A*buse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Abused; p. pr. & vb. n. Abusing.] Etym:
[F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to
use. See Use.]
1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad
use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse
inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's
authority.
This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into
popularity. Froude.
2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to
tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's
powers, one's patience.
3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
The . . . tellers of news abused the general. Macaulay.
4. To dishonor. "Shall flight abuse your name" Shak.
5. To violate; to ravish. Spenser.
6. To deceive; to impose on. [Obs.]
Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by
a double object. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate;
asperse; traduce; malign.
ABUSE
A*buse", n. Etym: [F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See Abuse, v. t.]
1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose;
misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights,
or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language.
Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the
abuses of power. Madison.
2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the abuse of
Falstaff." Shak.
3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the
abuses in the civil service.
Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. Macaulay.
4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language;
virulent condemnation; reviling.
The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to
blows. Macaulay.
5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. [Obs.]
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing Shak.
Abuse of distress (Law), a wrongful using of an animal or chattel
distrained, by the distrainer.
Syn.
-- Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium.
-- Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and
vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse
than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels;
invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed
in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is
blameworthy. C. J. Smith.
ABUSEFUL
A*buse"ful, a.
Defn: Full of abuse; abusive. [R.] "Abuseful names." Bp. Barlow.
ABUSER
A*bus"er, n.
Defn: One who abuses [in the various senses of the verb].
ABUSION
A*bu"sion, n. Etym: [OE. abusion, abusioun, OF. abusion, fr. L.
abusio misuse of words, f. abuti. See Abuse, v. t.]
Defn: Evil or corrupt usage; abuse; wrong; reproach; deception;
cheat. Chaucer.
ABUSIVE
A*bu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. abusif, fr. L. abusivus.]
1. Wrongly used; perverted; misapplied.
I am . . . necessitated to use the word Parliament improperly,
according to the abusive acceptation thereof. Fuller.
2. Given to misusing; also, full of abuses. [Archaic] "The abusive
prerogatives of his see." Hallam.
3. Practicing abuse; prone to ill treat by coarse, insulting words or
by other ill usage; as, an abusive author; an abusive fellow.
4. Containing abuse, or serving as the instrument of abuse;
vituperative; reproachful; scurrilous. "An abusive lampoon." Johnson.
5. Tending to deceive; fraudulent; cheating. [Obs.] "An abusive
treaty." Bacon.
Syn.
-- Reproachful; scurrilous; opprobrious; insolent; insulting;
injurious; offensive; reviling.
ABUSIVELY
A*bu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an abusive manner; rudely; with abusive language.
ABUSIVENESS
A*bu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being abusive; rudeness of language, or violence
to the person.
Pick out mirth, like stones out of thy ground, Profaneness,
filthiness, abusiveness. Herbert.
ABUT
A*but", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Abutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Abutting.] Etym:
[OF. abouter, aboter; cf. F. aboutir, and also abuter; a (L. ad) +
OF. boter, buter, to push: cf. F. bout end, and but end, purpose.]
Defn: To project; to terminate or border; to be contiguous; to meet;
-- with on, upon, or against; as, his land abuts on the road.
ABUTILON
A*bu"ti*lon, n. Etym: [Ar. aubutilun.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of malvaceous plants of many species, found in the
torrid and temperate zones of both continents; -- called also Indian
mallow.
ABUTMENT
A*but"ment, n.
1. State of abutting.
2. That on or against which a body abuts or presses; as
(a) (Arch.) The solid part of a pier or wall, etc., which receives
the thrust or lateral pressure of an arch, vault, or strut. Gwilt.
(b) (mech.) A fixed point or surface from which resistance or
reaction is obtained, as the cylinder head of a steam engine, the
fulcrum of a lever, etc.
(c) In breech-loading firearms, the block behind the barrel which
receives the pressure due to recoil.
ABUTTAL
A*but"tal, n.
Defn: The butting or boundary of land, particularly at the end; a
headland. Spelman.
ABUTTER
A*but"ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, abuts. Specifically, the owner of a
contiguous estate; as, the abutters on a street or a river.
ABUZZ
A*buzz", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + buzz.]
Defn: In a buzz; buzzing. [Colloq.] Dickens.
ABY; ABYE
A*by", A*bye", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Abought.] Etym: [AS. abycgan
to pay for; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) +
bycgan to buy. See Buy, and cf. Abide.]
1. To pay for; to suffer for; to atone for; to make amends for; to
give satisfaction. [Obs.]
Lest to thy peril thou aby it dear. Shak.
2. To endure; to abide. [Obs.]
But nought that wanteth rest can long aby. Spenser.
ABYSM
A*bysm", n. Etym: [OF. abisme; F. abime, LL. abyssimus, a superl. of
L. abyssus; Gr. Abyss.]
Defn: An abyss; a gulf. "The abysm of hell." Shak.
ABYSMAL
A*bys"mal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an abyss; bottomless; unending;
profound.
Geology gives one the same abysmal extent of time that astronomy does
of space. Carlyle.
ABYSMALLY
A*bys"mal*ly, adv.
Defn: To a fathomless depth; profoundly. "Abysmally ignorant." G.
Eliot.
ABYSS
A*byss", n. Etym: [L. abyssus a bottomless gulf, fr. Gr.
1. A bottomless or unfathomed depth, gulf, or chasm; hence, any deep,
immeasurable, and, specifically, hell, or the bottomless pit.
Ye powers and spirits of this nethermost abyss. Milton.
The throne is darkness, in the abyss of light. Dryden.
2. Infinite time; a vast intellectual or moral depth.
The abysses of metaphysical theology. Macaulay.
In unfathomable abysses of disgrace. Burke.
3. (Her.)
Defn: The center of an escutcheon.
Note: This word, in its leading uses, is associated with the
cosmological notions of the Hebrews, having reference to a supposed
illimitable mass of waters from which our earth sprung, and beneath
whose profound depths the wicked were punished. Encyc. Brit.
ABYSSAL
A*byss"al, a. Etym: [Cf. Abysmal.]
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, an abyss; unfathomable. Abyssal
zone (Phys. Geog.), one of the belts or zones into which Sir E.
Forbes divides the bottom of the sea in describing its plants,
animals, etc. It is the one furthest from the shore, embracing all
beyond one hundred fathoms deep. Hence, abyssal animals, plants, etc.
ABYSSINIAN
Ab`ys*sin"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Abyssinia. Abyssinian gold, an alloy of
90.74 parts of copper and 8.33 parts of zink. Ure.
ABYSSINIAN
Ab`ys*sin"i*an, n.
1. A native of Abyssinia.
2. A member of the Abyssinian Church.
ACACIA
A*ca"ci*a, n. (Antiq.)
Defn: A roll or bag, filled with dust, borne by Byzantine emperors,
as a memento of mortality. It is represented on medals.
ACACIA
A*ca"cia, n.; pl. E. Acacias, L. Acaciæ. Etym: [L. from Gr. ak to be
sharp. See Acute.]
1. A genus of leguminous trees and shrubs. Nearly 300 species are
Australian or Polynesian, and have terete or vertically compressed
leaf stalks, instead of the bipinnate leaves of the much fewer
species of America, Africa, etc. Very few are found in temperate
climates.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The inspissated juice of several species of acacia; -- called
also gum acacia, and gum arabic.
ACACIN; ACACINE
Ac"a*cin, Ac"a*cine, n.
Defn: Gum arabic.
ACADEME
Ac`a*deme", n. Etym: [L. academia. See Academy.]
Defn: An academy. [Poetic] Shak.
ACADEMIAL
Ac`a*de"mi*al, a.
Defn: Academic. [R.]
ACADEMIAN
Ac`a*de"mi*an, n.
Defn: A member of an academy, university, or college.
ACADEMIC
Ac`a*dem"ic, n.
1. One holding the philosophy of Socrates and Plato; a Platonist.
Hume.
2. A member of an academy, college, or university; an academician.
ACADEMIC; ACADEMICAL
Ac`a*dem"ic, Ac`a*dem"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. academicus: cf. F.
académigue. See Academy.]
1. Belonging to the school or philosophy of Plato; as, the Academic
sect or philosophy.
2. Belonging to an academy or other higher institution of learning;
scholarly; literary or classical, in distinction from scientific.
"Academic courses." Warburton. "Academical study." Berkeley.
ACADEMICALLY
Ac`a*dem`ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an academical manner.
ACADEMICALS
Ac`a*dem"ic*als, n. pl.
Defn: The articles of dress prescribed and worn at some colleges and
universities.
ACADEMICIAN
Ac`a*de*mi"cian (#; 277), n. Etym: [F. académicien. See Academy.]
1. A member of an academy, or society for promoting science, art, or
literature, as of the French Academy, or the Royal Academy of arts.
2. A collegian. [R.] Chesterfield.
ACADEMICISM
Ac`a*dem"i*cism, n.
1. A tenet of the Academic philosophy.
2. A mannerism or mode peculiar to an academy.
ACADEMISM
A*cad"e*mism, n.
Defn: The doctrines of the Academic philosophy. [Obs.] Baxter.
ACADEMIST
A*cad"e*mist, n. Etym: [F. academiste.]
1. An Academic philosopher.
2. An academician. [Obs.] Ray.
ACADEMY
A*cad"e*my, n.; pl. Academies. Etym: [F. académie, L. academia. Cf.
Academe.]
1. A garden or grove near Athens (so named from the hero Academus),
where Plato and his followers held their philosophical conferences;
hence, the school of philosophy of which Plato was head.
2. An institution for the study of higher learning; a college or a
university. Popularly, a school, or seminary of learning, holding a
rank between a college and a common school.
3. A place of training; a school. "Academies of fanaticism." Hume.
4. A society of learned men united for the advancement of the arts
and sciences, and literature, or some particular art or science; as,
the French Academy; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences;
academies of literature and philology.
5. A school or place of training in which some special art is taught;
as, the military academy at West Point; a riding academy; the Academy
of Music. Academy figure (Paint.), a drawing usually half life-size,
in crayon or pencil, after a nude model.
ACADIAN
A*ca"di*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Acadie, or Nova Scotia. "Acadian farmers."
Longfellow.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Acadie. Acadian epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the
beginning of the American paleozoic time, and including the oldest
American rocks known to be fossiliferous. See Geology.
-- Acadian owl (Zoöl.), a small North American owl (Nyctule
Acadica); the saw-whet.
ACAJOU
Ac"a*jou, n. Etym: [F. See Cashew.] (Bot.)
(a) The cashew tree; also, its fruit. See Cashew.
(b) The mahogany tree; also, its timber.
ACALEPH; ACALEPHAN
Ac"a*leph, Ac`a*le"phan n.; pl. Acalephs, Acalephans. Etym: [See
Acalephæ.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Acalephæ.
ACALEPHAE
Ac`a*le"phæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
Defn: A group of Coelenterata, including the Medusæ or jellyfishes,
and hydroids; -- so called from the stinging power they possess.
Sometimes called sea nettles.
ACALEPHOID
Ac`ale"phoid, a. Etym: [Acaleph + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to or resembling the Acalephæ or jellyfishes.
ACALYCINE; ACALYSINOUS
A*cal"y*cine, Ac`a*lys`i*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Without a calyx, or outer floral envelope.
ACANTH
A*canth", n.
Defn: Same as Acanthus.
ACANTHA
A*can"tha, n. Etym: [Gr. Acute.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A prickle.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spine or prickly fin.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The vertebral column; the spinous process of a vertebra.
Dunglison.
ACANTHACEOUS
Ac"an*tha"ceous, a.
1. Armed with prickles, as a plant.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which
the acanthus is the type.
ACANTHINE
A*can"thine, a. Etym: [L. acanthinus, Gr. Acanthus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the plant acanthus.
ACANTHOCARPOUS
A*can`tho*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the fruit covered with spines.
ACANTHOCEPHALA
A*can`tho*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of intestinal worms, having the proboscis armed with
recurved spines.
ACANTHOCEPHALOUS
A*can`tho*ceph"a*lous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a spiny head, as one of the Acanthocephala.
ACANTHOPHOROUS
Ac`an*thoph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Spine-bearing. Gray.
ACANTHOPODIOUS
A*can`tho*po"di*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having spinous petioles.
ACANTHOPTERI
Ac`an*thop"ter*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of teleostean fishes having spiny fins. See
Acanthopterygii.
ACANTHOPTEROUS
Ac`an*thop"ter*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Spiny-winged.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Acanthopterygious.
ACANTHOPTERYGIAN
Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the order of fishes having spinose fins, as the
perch.
-- n.
Defn: A spiny-finned fish.
ACANTHOPTERYGII
Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes having some of the rays of the dorsal,
ventral, and anal fins unarticulated and spinelike, as the perch.
ACANTHOPTERYGIOUS
Ac`an*thop`ter*yg"i*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having fins in which the rays are hard and spinelike; spiny-
finned.
ACANTHUS
A*can"thus, n.; pl. E. Acanthuses, L. Acanthi. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Acantha.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous prickly plants, found in the south of
Europe, Asia Minor, and India; bear's-breech.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament resembling the foliage or leaves of the acanthus
(Acanthus spinosus); -- used in the capitals of the Corinthian and
Composite orders.
A CAPPELLA
A cap*pel"la. Etym: [It. See Chapel.] (Mus.)
(a) In church or chapel style; -- said of compositions sung in the
old church style, without instrumental accompaniment; as, a mass a
capella, i. e., a mass purely vocal.
(b) A time indication, equivalent to alla breve.
ACAPSULAR
A*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + capsular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no capsule.
ACARDIAC
A*car"di*ac, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Without a heart; as, an acardiac fetus.
ACARIDAN
A*car"i*dan, n. Etym: [See Acarus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of arachnids, including the mites and ticks.
ACARINA
Ac`a*ri"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group of Arachnida which includes the mites and ticks. Many
species are parasitic, and cause diseases like the itch and mange.
ACARINE
Ac"a*rine, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or caused by acari or mites; as, acarine diseases.
ACAROID
Ac"a*roid, a. Etym: [NL., acarus a mite + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like or resembling a mite.
ACARPELLOUS
Ac`ar*pel"lous, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + carpel.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no carpels.
ACARPOUS
A*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Not producing fruit; unfruitful.
ACARUS
Ac"a*rus, n.; pl. Acari. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus including many species of small mites.
ACATALECTIC
A*cat`a*lec"tic, a. Etym: [L. acatalecticus, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: Not defective; complete; as, an acatalectic verse.
-- n.
Defn: A verse which has the complete number of feet and syllables.
ACATALEPSY
A*cat"a*lep`sy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Incomprehensibility of things; the doctrine held by the ancient
Skeptic philosophers, that human knowledge never amounts to
certainty, but only to probability.
ACATALEPTIC
A*cat`a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Incapable of being comprehended; incomprehensible.
ACATER
A*ca"ter, n.
Defn: See Caterer. [Obs.]
ACATES
A*cates", n. pl.
Defn: See Cates. [Obs.]
ACAUDATE
A*cau"date, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + caudate.]
Defn: Tailless.
ACAULESCENT
Ac`au*les"cent, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + caulescent.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no stem or caulis, or only a very short one concealed in
the ground. Gray.
ACAULINE
A*cau"line, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + cauline.] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Acaulescent.
ACAULOSE; ACAULOUS
A*cau"lose, A*cau"lous, a. Etym: [Gr. caulis stalk. See Cole.] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Acaulescent.
ACCADIAN
Ac*ca"di*an, a. Etym: [From the city Accad. See Gen. x. 10.]
Defn: Pertaining to a race supposed to have lived in Babylonia before
the Assyrian conquest.
-- Ac*ca"di*an, n., Ac"cad, n. Sayce.
ACCEDE
Ac*cede", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Acceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Acceding.]
Etym: [L. accedere to approach, accede; ad + cedere to move, yield:
cf. F. accédere. See Cede.]
1. To approach; to come forward; -- opposed to recede. [Obs.] T.
Gale.
2. To enter upon an office or dignity; to attain.
Edward IV., who had acceded to the throne in the year 1461. T.
Warton.
If Frederick had acceded to the supreme power. Morley.
3. To become a party by associating one's self with others; to give
one's adhesion. Hence, to agree or assent to a proposal or a view;
as, he acceded to my request.
The treaty of Hanover in 1725 . . . to which the Dutch afterwards
acceded. Chesterfield.
Syn.
-- To agree; assent; consent; comply; acquiesce; concur.
ACCEDENCE
Ac*ced"ence, n.
Defn: The act of acceding.
ACCEDER
Ac*ced"er, n.
Defn: One who accedes.
ACCELERANDO
Ac*cel`er*an"do, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Gradually accelerating the movement.
ACCELERATE
Ac*cel"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accelerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accelerating.] Etym: [L. acceleratus, p. p. of accelerare; ad +
celerare to hasten; celer quick. See Celerity.]
1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the
speed of; -- opposed to retard.
2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of; as,
to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.
3. To hasten, as the occurence of an event; as, to accelerate our
departure. Accelerated motion (Mech.), motion with a continually
increasing velocity.
-- Accelerating force, the force which causes accelerated motion.
Nichol.
Syn.
-- To hasten; expedite; quicken; dispatch; forward; advance;
further.
ACCELERATION
Ac*cel`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. acceleratio: cf. F. accélération.]
Defn: The act of accelerating, or the state of being accelerated;
increase of motion or action; as, a falling body moves toward the
earth with an acceleration of velocity; -- opposed to retardation.
A period of social improvement, or of intellectual advancement,
contains within itself a principle of acceleration. I. Taylor.
(Astr. & Physics.) Acceleration of the moon, the increase of the
moon's mean motion in its orbit, in consequence of which its period
of revolution is now shorter than in ancient times.
-- Acceleration and retardation of the tides. See Priming of the
tides, under Priming.
-- Diurnal acceleration of the fixed stars, the amount by which
their apparent diurnal motion exceeds that of the sun, in consequence
of which they daily come to the meridian of any place about three
minutes fifty-six seconds of solar time earlier than on the day
preceding.
-- Acceleration of the planets, the increasing velocity of their
motion, in proceeding from the apogee to the perigee of their orbits.
ACCELERATIVE
Ac*cel"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Relating to acceleration; adding to velocity; quickening. Reid.
ACCELERATOR
Ac*cel"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, accelerates. Also as an adj.; as,
accelerator nerves.
ACCELERATORY
Ac*cel"er*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Accelerative.
ACCELEROGRAPH
Ac*cel"er*o*graph, n. Etym: [Accelerate + -graph.] (Mil.)
Defn: An apparatus for studying the combustion of powder in guns,
etc.
ACCELEROMETER
Ac*cel`er*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Accelerate + -meter.]
Defn: An apparatus for measuring the velocity imparted by gunpowder.
ACCEND
Ac*cend", v. t. Etym: [L. accendere, accensum, to kindle; ad +
candère to kindle (only in compounds); rel. to candere to be white,
to gleam. See Candle.]
Defn: To set on fire; to kindle. [Obs.] Fotherby.
ACCENDIBILITY
Ac*cend`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capacity of being kindled, or of becoming inflamed;
inflammability.
ACCENDIBLE
Ac*cend"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being inflamed or kindled; combustible; inflammable.
Ure.
ACCENSION
Ac*cen"sion, n.
Defn: The act of kindling or the state of being kindled; ignition.
Locke.
ACCENSOR
Ac*cen"sor, n. Etym: [LL., from p. p. accensus. See Accend.] (R. C.
Ch.)
Defn: One of the functionaries who light and trim the tapers.
ACCENT
Ac"cent`, n. Etym: [F. accent, L. accentus; ad + cantus a singing,
canere to sing. See Cant.]
1. A superior force of voice or of articulative effort upon some
particular syllable of a word or a phrase, distinguishing it from the
others.
Note: Many English words have two accents, the primary and the
secondary; the primary being uttered with a greater stress of voice
than the secondary; as in as'pira''tion, where the chief stress is on
the third syllable, and a slighter stress on the first. Some words,
as an'tiap'o-plec''tic, in-com'pre-hen'si-bil''i-ty, have two
secondary accents. See Guide to Pron., tt 30-46.
2. A mark or character used in writing, and serving to regulate the
pronunciation; esp.: (a) a mark to indicate the nature and place of
the spoken accent; (b) a mark to indicate the quality of sound of the
vowel marked; as, the French accents.
Note: In the ancient Greek the acute accent (') meant a raised tone
or pitch, the grave (`), the level tone or simply the negation of
accent, the circumflex ( ~ or ^) a tone raised and then depressed. In
works on elocution, the first is often used to denote the rising
inflection of the voice; the second, the falling inflection; and the
third (^), the compound or waving inflection. In dictionaries,
spelling books, and the like, the acute accent is used to designate
the syllable which receives the chief stress of voice.
3. Modulation of the voice in speaking; manner of speaking or
pronouncing; peculiar or characteristic modification of the voice;
tone; as, a foreign accent; a French or a German accent. "Beguiled
you in a plain accent." Shak. "A perfect accent." Thackeray.
The tender accent of a woman's cry. Prior.
4. A word; a significant tone; (pl.) expressions in general; speech.
Winds! on your wings to Heaven her accents bear, Such words as Heaven
alone is fit to hear. Dryden.
5. (Pros.)
Defn: Stress laid on certain syllables of a verse.
6. (Mus.)
(a) A regularly recurring stress upon the tone to mark the beginning,
and, more feebly, the third part of the measure.
(b) A special emphasis of a tone, even in the weaker part of the
measure.
(c) The rythmical accent, which marks phrases and sections of a
period.
(d) The expressive emphasis and shading of a passage. J. S. Dwight.
7. (Math.)
(a) A mark placed at the right hand of a letter, and a little above
it, to distinguish magnitudes of a similar kind expressed by the same
letter, but differing in value, as y', y''.
(b) (Trigon.) A mark at the right hand of a number, indicating
minutes of a degree, seconds, etc.; as, 12'27'', i. e., twelve
minutes twenty seven seconds.
(c) (Engin.) A mark used to denote feet and inches; as, 6' 10'' is
six feet ten inches.
ACCENT
Ac*cent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accented; p. pr. & vb. n. Accenting.]
Etym: [OF. accenter, F. accentuer.]
1. To express the accent of (either by the voice or by a mark); to
utter or to mark with accent.
2. To mark emphatically; to emphasize.
ACCENTLESS
Ac"cent`less, a.
Defn: Without accent.
ACCENTOR
Ac*cen"tor, n. Etym: [L. ad. + cantor singer, canere to sing.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: One who sings the leading part; the director or leader. [Obs.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of European birds (so named from their sweet notes),
including the hedge warbler. In America sometimes applied to the
water thrushes.
ACCENTUABLE
Ac*cen"tu*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being accented.
ACCENTUAL
Ac*cen"tu*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to accent; characterized or formed by accent.
ACCENTUALITY
Ac*cen`tu*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being accentual.
ACCENTUALLY
Ac*cen"tu*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an accentual manner; in accordance with accent.
ACCENTUATE
Ac*cen"tu*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accentuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accentuating.] Etym: [LL. accentuatus, p. p. of accentuare, fr. L.
accentus: cf. F. accentuer.]
1. To pronounce with an accent or with accents.
2. To bring out distinctly; to make prominent; to emphasize.
In Bosnia, the struggle between East and West was even more
accentuated. London Times.
3. To mark with the written accent.
ACCENTUATION
Ac*cen`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. accentuatio: cf. F. accentuation.]
Defn: Act of accentuating; applications of accent. Specifically
(Eccles. Mus.),
Defn: pitch or modulation of the voice in reciting portions of the
liturgy.
ACCEPT
Ac*cept", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accepted; p. pr. & vb. n. Accepting.]
Etym: [F. accepter, L. acceptare, freq. of accipere; ad + capere to
take; akin to E. heave.]
1. To receive with a consenting mind (something offered); as, to
accept a gift; -- often followed by of.
If you accept them, then their worth is great. Shak.
To accept of ransom for my son. Milton.
She accepted of a treat. Addison.
2. To receive with favor; to approve.
The Lord accept thy burnt sacrifice. Ps. xx. 3.
Peradventure he will accept of me. Gen. xxxii. 20.
3. To receive or admit and agree to; to assent to; as, I accept your
proposal, amendment, or excuse.
4. To take by the mind; to understand; as, How are these words to be
accepted
5. (Com.)
Defn: To receive as obligatory and promise to pay; as, to accept a
bill of exchange. Bouvier.
6. In a deliberate body, to receive in acquittance of a duty imposed;
as, to accept the report of a committee. [This makes it the property
of the body, and the question is then on its adoption.] To accept a
bill (Law), to agree (on the part of the drawee) to pay it when due.
-- To accept service (Law), to agree that a writ or process shall be
considered as regularly served, when it has not been.
-- To accept the person (Eccl.), to show favoritism. "God accepteth
no man's person." Gal. ii. 6.
Syn.
-- To receive; take; admit. See Receive.
ACCEPT
Ac*cept", a.
Defn: Accepted. [Obs.] Shak.
ACCEPTABILITY
Ac*cept`a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. acceptabilitas.]
Defn: The quality of being acceptable; acceptableness. "Acceptability
of repentance." Jer. Taylor.
ACCEPTABLE
Ac*cept"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. acceptable, L. acceptabilis, fr.
acceptare.]
Defn: Capable, worthy, or sure of being accepted or received with
pleasure; pleasing to a receiver; gratifying; agreeable; welcome; as,
an acceptable present, one acceptable to us.
ACCEPTABLENESS
Ac*cept"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being acceptable, or suitable to be favorably
received; acceptability.
ACCEPTABLY
Ac*cept"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an acceptable manner; in a manner to please or give
satisfaction.
ACCEPTANCE
Ac*cept"ance, n.
1. The act of accepting; a receiving what is offered, with
approbation, satisfaction, or acquiescence; esp., favorable
reception; approval; as, the acceptance of a gift, office, doctrine,
etc.
They shall come up with acceptance on mine altar. Isa. lx. 7.
2. State of being accepted; acceptableness. "Makes it assured of
acceptance." Shak.
3. (Com.)
(a) An assent and engagement by the person on whom a bill of exchange
is drawn, to pay it when due according to the terms of the
acceptance.
(b) The bill itself when accepted.
4. An agreeing to terms or proposals by which a bargain is concluded
and the parties are bound; the reception or taking of a thing bought
as that for which it was bought, or as that agreed to be delivered,
or the taking possession as owner.
5. (Law)
Defn: An agreeing to the action of another, by some act which binds
the person in law.
Note: What acts shall amount to such an acceptance is often a
question of great nicety and difficulty. Mozley & W.
Note: In modern law, proposal and acceptance are the constituent
elements into which all contracts are resolved. Acceptance of a bill
of exchange, check, draft, or order, is an engagement to pay it
according to the terms. This engagement is usually made by writing
the word "accepted" across the face of the bill. Acceptance of goods,
under the statute of frauds, is an intelligent acceptance by a party
knowing the nature of the transaction.
6. Meaning; acceptation. [Obs.] Acceptance of persons, partiality,
favoritism. See under Accept.
ACCEPTANCY
Ac*cept"an*cy, n.
Defn: Acceptance. [R.]
Here's a proof of gift, But here's no proof, sir, of acceptancy. Mrs.
Browning.
ACCEPTANT
Ac*cept"ant, a.
Defn: Accepting; receiving.
ACCEPTANT
Ac*cept"ant, n.
Defn: An accepter. Chapman.
ACCEPTATION
Ac`cep*ta"tion, n.
1. Acceptance; reception; favorable reception or regard; state of
being acceptable. [Obs.]
This is saying worthy of all acceptation. 1 Tim. i. 15.
Some things . . . are notwithstanding of so great dignity and
acceptation with God. Hooker.
2. The meaning in which a word or expression is understood, or
generally received; as, term is to be used according to its usual
acceptation.
My words, in common acceptation, Could never give this provocation.
Gay.
ACCEPTEDLY
Ac*cept"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a accepted manner; admittedly.
ACCEPTER
Ac*cept"er, n.
1. A person who accepts; a taker.
2. A respecter; a viewer with partiality. [Obs.]
God is no accepter of persons. Chillingworth.
3. (Law)
Defn: An acceptor.
ACCEPTILATION
Ac*cep`ti*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. acceptilatio entry of a debt
collected, acquittance, fr. p. p. of accipere (cf. Accept) + latio a
carrying, fr. latus, p. p. of ferre to carry: cf. F. acceptilation.]
(Civil Law)
Defn: Gratuitous discharge; a release from debt or obligation without
payment; free remission.
ACCEPTION
Ac*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. acceptio a receiving, accepting: cf. F.
acception.]
Defn: Acceptation; the received meaning. [Obs.]
Here the word "baron" is not to be taken in that restrictive sense to
which the modern acception hath confined it. Fuller.
Acception of persons or faces (Eccl.), favoritism; partiality. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
ACCEPTIVE
Ac*cept"ive, a.
1. Fit for acceptance.
2. Ready to accept. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ACCEPTOR
Ac*cept"or (#; 277), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who accepts; specifically (Law & Com.),
Defn: one who accepts an order or a bill of exchange; a drawee after
he has accepted.
ACCESS
Ac*cess" (#; 277), n. Etym: [F. accès, L. accessus, fr. accedere. See
Accede.]
1. A coming to, or near approach; admittance; admission;
accessibility; as, to gain access to a prince.
I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. Shak.
2. The means, place, or way by which a thing may be approached;
passage way; as, the access is by a neck of land. "All access was
thronged." Milton.
3. Admission to sexual intercourse.
During coverture, access of the husband shall be presumed, unless the
contrary be shown. Blackstone.
4. Increase by something added; addition; as, an access of territory.
[In this sense accession is more generally used.]
I, from the influence of thy looks, receive Access in every virtue.
Milton.
5. An onset, attack, or fit of disease.
The first access looked like an apoplexy. Burnet.
6. A paroxysm; a fit of passion; an outburst; as, an access of fury.
[A Gallicism]
ACCESSARILY
Ac*ces"sa*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an accessary.
ACCESSARINESS
Ac*ces"sa*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being accessary.
ACCESSARY
Ac*ces"sa*ry (#; 277), a.
Defn: Accompanying, as a subordinate; additional; accessory; esp.,
uniting in, or contributing to, a crime, but not as chief actor. See
Accessory.
To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary. Shak.
Amongst many secondary and accessary causes that support monarchy,
these are not of least reckoning. Milton.
ACCESSARY
Ac*ces"sa*ry (277), n.; pl. Accessaries. Etym: [Cf. Accessory and LL.
accessarius.] (Law)
Defn: One who, not being present, contributes as an assistant or
instigator to the commission of an offense. Accessary before the fact
(Law), one who commands or counsels an offense, not being present at
its commission.
-- Accessary after the fact, one who, after an offense, assists or
shelters the offender, not being present at the commission of the
offense.
Note: This word, as used in law, is spelt accessory by Blackstone and
many others; but in this sense is spelt accessary by Bouvier,
Burrill, Burns, Whishaw, Dane, and the Penny Cyclopedia; while in
other senses it is spelt accessory. In recent text-books on criminal
law the distinction is not preserved, the spelling being either
accessary or accessory.
ACCESSIBILITY
Ac*cess`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. accessibilitas: cf. F.
accessibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being accessible, or of admitting approach;
receptibility. Langhorne.
ACCESSIBLE
Ac*cess"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. accessibilis, fr. accedere: cf. F.
accessible. See Accede.]
1. Easy of access or approach; approachable; as, an accessible town
or mountain, an accessible person.
2. Open to the influence of; -- with to. "Minds accessible to
reason." Macaulay.
3. Obtainable; to be got at.
The best information . . . at present accessible. Macaulay.
ACCESSIBLY
Ac*cess"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In an accessible manner.
ACCESSION
Ac*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. accessio, fr. accedere: cf. F. accession.
See Accede.]
1. A coming to; the act of acceding and becoming joined; as, a king's
accession to a confederacy.
2. Increase by something added; that which is added; augmentation
from without; as, an accession of wealth or territory.
The only accession which the Roman empire received was the province
of Britain. Gibbon.
3. (Law)
(a) A mode of acquiring property, by which the owner of a corporeal
substance which receives an addition by growth, or by labor, has a
right to the part or thing added, or the improvement (provided the
thing is not changed into a different species). Thus, the owner of a
cow becomes the owner of her calf.
(b) The act by which one power becomes party to engagements already
in force between other powers. Kent.
4. The act of coming to or reaching a throne, an office, or dignity;
as, the accession of the house of Stuart; -- applied especially to
the epoch of a new dynasty.
5. (Med.)
Defn: The invasion, approach, or commencement of a disease; a fit or
paroxysm.
Syn.
-- Increase; addition; augmentation; enlargement.
ACCESSIONAL
Ac*ces"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to accession; additional. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
ACCESSIVE
Ac*ces"sive, a.
Defn: Additional.
ACCESSORIAL
Ac`ces*so"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an accessory; as, accessorial agency,
accessorial guilt.
ACCESSORILY
Ac*ces"so*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an accessory; auxiliary.
ACCESSORINESS
Ac*ces"so*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being accessory, or connected subordinately.
ACCESSORY
Ac*ces"so*ry (#; 277), a. Etym: [L. accessorius. See Access, and cf.
Accessary.]
Defn: Accompanying as a subordinate; aiding in a secondary way;
additional; connected as an incident or subordinate to a principal;
contributing or contributory; said of persons and things, and, when
of persons, usually in a bad sense; as, he was accessory to the riot;
accessory sounds in music.
Note: Ash accents the antepenult; and this is not only more regular,
but preferable, on account of easiness of pronunciation. Most
orhoëpists place the accent on the first syllable.
Syn.
-- Accompanying; contributory; auxiliary; subsidiary; subservient;
additional; acceding.
ACCESSORY
Ac*ces"so*ry, n.; pl. Accessories.
1. That which belongs to something else deemed the principal;
something additional and subordinate. "The aspect and accessories of
a den of banditti." Carlyle.
2. (Law)
Defn: Same as Accessary, n.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Anything that enters into a work of art without being
indispensably necessary, as mere ornamental parts. Elmes.
Syn.
-- Abettor; accomplice; ally; coadjutor. See Abettor.
ACCIACCATURA
Ac*ciac`ca*tu"ra, n. Etym: [It., from acciaccare to crush.] (Mus.)
Defn: A short grace note, one semitone below the note to which it is
prefixed; -- used especially in organ music. Now used as equivalent
to the short appoggiatura.
ACCIDENCE
Ac"ci*dence, n. Etym: [A corruption of Eng. accidents, pl. of
accident. See Accident, 2.]
1. The accidents, of inflections of words; the rudiments of grammar.
Milton.
2. The rudiments of any subject. Lowell.
ACCIDENT
Ac"ci*dent, n. Etym: [F. accident, fr. L. accidens, -dentis, p. pr.
of accidere to happen; ad + cadere to fall. See Cadence, Case.]
1. Literally, a befalling; an event that takes place without one's
foresight or expectation; an undesigned, sudden, and unexpected
event; chance; contingency; often, an undesigned and unforeseen
occurrence of an afflictive or unfortunate character; a casualty; a
mishap; as, to die by an accident.
Of moving accidents by flood and field. Shak.
Thou cam'st not to thy place by accident: It is the very place God
meant for thee. Trench.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A property attached to a word, but not essential to it, as
gender, number, case.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A point or mark which may be retained or omitted in a coat of
arms.
4. (Log.)
(a) A property or quality of a thing which is not essential to it, as
whiteness in paper; an attribute.
(b) A quality or attribute in distinction from the substance, as
sweetness, softness.
5. Any accidental property, fact, or relation; an accidental or
nonessential; as, beauty is an accident.
This accident, as I call it, of Athens being situated some miles from
the sea. J. P. Mahaffy.
6. Unusual appearance or effect. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note: Accident, in Law, is equivalent to casus, or such unforeseen,
extraordinary, extraneous interference as is out of the range of
ordinary calculation.
ACCIDENTAL
Ac`ci*den"tal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. accidentel, earlier accidental.]
1. Happening by chance, or unexpectedly; taking place not according
to the usual course of things; casual; fortuitous; as, an accidental
visit.
2. Nonessential; not necessary belonging; incidental; as, are
accidental to a play. Accidental chords (Mus.), those which contain
one or more tones foreign to their proper harmony.
-- Accidental colors (Opt.), colors depending on the
hypersensibility of the retina of the eye for complementary colors.
They are purely subjective sensations of color which often result
from the contemplation of actually colored bodies.
-- Accidental point (Persp.), the point in which a right line, drawn
from the eye, parallel to a given right line, cuts the perspective
plane; so called to distinguish it from the principal point, or point
of view, where a line drawn from the eye perpendicular to the
perspective plane meets this plane.
-- Accidental lights (Paint.), secondary lights; effects of light
other than ordinary daylight, such as the rays of the sun darting
through a cloud, or between the leaves of trees; the effect of
moonlight, candlelight, or burning bodies. Fairholt.
Syn.
-- Casual; fortuitous; contingent; occasional; adventitious.
-- Accidental, Incidental, Casual, Fortuitous, Contingent. We speak
of a thing as accidental when it falls out as by chance, and not in
the regular course of things; as, an accidental meeting, an
accidental advantage, etc. We call a thing incidental when it falls,
as it were, into some regular course of things, but is secondary, and
forms no essential part thereof; as, an incremental remark, an
incidental evil, an incidental benefit. We speak of a thing as
casual, when it falls out or happens, as it were, by mere chance,
without being prearranged or premeditated; as, a casual remark or
encounter; a casual observer. An idea of the unimportant is attached
to what is casual. Fortuitous is applied to what occurs without any
known cause, and in opposition to what has been foreseen; as, a
fortuitous concourse of atoms. We call a thing contingent when it is
such that, considered in itself, it may or may not happen, but is
dependent for its existence on something else; as, the time of my
coming will be contingent on intelligence yet to be received.
ACCIDENTAL
Ac`ci*den"tal, n.
1. A property which is not essential; a nonessential; anything
happening accidentally.
He conceived it just that accidentals . . . should sink with the
substance of the accusation. Fuller.
2. pl. (Paint.)
Defn: Those fortuitous effects produced by luminous rays falling on
certain objects so that some parts stand forth in abnormal brightness
and other parts are cast into a deep shadow.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A sharp, flat, or natural, occurring not at the commencement of
a piece of music as the signature, but before a particular note.
ACCIDENTALISM
Ac`ci*den"tal*ism, n.
Defn: Accidental character or effect. Ruskin.
ACCIDENTALITY
Ac`ci*den*tal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being accidental; accidentalness. [R.]
Coleridge.
ACCIDENTALLY
Ac`ci*den"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an accidental manner; unexpectedly; by chance;
unintentionally; casually; fortuitously; not essentially.
ACCIDENTALNESS
Ac`ci*den"tal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being accidental; casualness.
ACCIDIE
Ac"ci*die, n. Etym: [OF. accide, accidie, LL. accidia, acedia, fr.
Gr.
Defn: Sloth; torpor. [Obs.] "The sin of accidie." Chaucer.
ACCIPENSER
Ac`ci*pen"ser, n.
Defn: See Acipenser.
ACCIPIENT
Ac*cip"i*ent, n. Etym: [L. accipiens, p. pr. of accipere. See
Accept.]
Defn: A receiver. [R.] Bailey
ACCIPITER
Ac*cip"i*ter, n.; pl. E. Accipiters. L. Accipitres. Etym: [L., hawk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of rapacious birds; one of the Accipitres or Raptores.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: A bandage applied over the nose, resembling the claw of a hawk.
ACCIPITRAL
Ac*cip"i*tral, n.
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a falcon or hawk; hawklike.
Lowell.
ACCIPITRES
Ac*cip"i*tres, n. pl. Etym: [L., hawks.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order that includes rapacious birds. They have a hooked
bill, and sharp, strongly curved talons. There are three families,
represented by the vultures, the falcons or hawks, and the owls.
ACCIPITRINE
Ac*cip"i*trine (#; 277), a. Etym: [Cf. F. accipitrin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the Accipitres; raptorial; hawklike.
ACCISMUS
Ac*cis"mus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: Affected refusal; coyness.
ACCITE
Ac*cite", v. t. Etym: [L. accitus, p. p. of accire, accere, to call
for; ad + ciere to move, call. See Cite.]
Defn: To cite; to summon. [Obs.]
Our heralds now accited all that were Endamaged by the Elians.
Chapman.
ACCLAIM
Ac*claim", v. t. Etym: [L. acclamare; ad + clamare to cry out. See
Claim, Clamor.] [R.]
1. To applaud. "A glad acclaiming train." Thomson.
2. To declare by acclamations.
While the shouting crowd Acclaims thee king of traitors. Smollett.
3. To shout; as, to acclaim my joy.
ACCLAIM
Ac*claim", v. i.
Defn: To shout applause.
ACCLAIM
Ac*claim", n.
Defn: Acclamation. [Poetic] Milton.
ACCLAIMER
Ac*claim"er, n.
Defn: One who acclaims.
ACCLAMATION
Ac`cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. acclamatio: cf. F. acclamation.]
1. A shout of approbation, favor, or assent; eager expression of
approval; loud applause.
On such a day, a holiday having been voted by acclamation, an
ordinary walk would not satisfy the children. Southey.
2. (Antiq.)
Defn: A representation, in sculpture or on medals, of people
expressing joy. Acclamation medals are those on which laudatory
acclamations are recorded. Elmes.
ACCLAMATORY
Ac*clam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or expressing approval by, acclamation.
ACCLIMATABLE
Ac*cli"ma*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being acclimated.
ACCLIMATATION
Ac*cli`ma*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. acclimation. See Acclimate.]
Defn: Acclimatization.
ACCLIMATE
Ac*cli"mate (#; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acclimated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acclimating.] Etym: [F. acclimater; à (l. ad) + climat climate. See
Climate.]
Defn: To habituate to a climate not native; to acclimatize. J. H.
Newman.
ACCLIMATEMENT
Ac*cli"mate*ment, n.
Defn: Acclimation. [R.]
ACCLIMATION
Ac`cli*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The process of becoming, or the state of being, acclimated, or
habituated to a new climate; acclimatization.
ACCLIMATIZABLE
Ac*cli"ma*ti`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being acclimatized.
ACCLIMATIZATION
Ac*cli"ma*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of acclimatizing; the process of inuring to a new
climate, or the state of being so inured. Darwin.
ACCLIMATIZE
Ac*cli"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acclimatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acclimatizing.]
Defn: To inure or habituate to a climate different from that which is
natural; to adapt to the peculiarities of a foreign or strange
climate; said of man, the inferior animals, or plants.
ACCLIMATURE
Ac*cli"ma*ture (#; 135), n.
Defn: The act of acclimating, or the state of being acclimated. [R.]
Caldwell.
ACCLIVE
Ac*clive", a.
Defn: Acclivous. [Obs.]
ACCLIVITOUS
Ac*cliv"i*tous, a.
Defn: Acclivous. I. Taylor.
ACCLIVITOUS
Ac*cliv"i*tous, a.
Defn: Acclivous. I. Taylor.
ACCLIVITY
Ac*cliv"i*ty, n.; pl. Acclivities. Etym: [L. acclivitas, fr.
acclivis, acclivus, ascending; ad + clivus a hill, slope, fr. root
kli to lean. See Lean.]
Defn: A slope or inclination of the earth, as the side of a hill,
considered as ascending, in opposition to declivity, or descending;
an upward slope; ascent.
ACCLIVOUS
Ac*cli"vous (#; 277), a. Etym: [L. acclivis and acclivus.]
Defn: Sloping upward; rising as a hillside; -- opposed to declivous.
ACCLOY
Ac*cloy", v. t. Etym: [OF. encloyer, encloer, F. enclouer, to drive
in a nail, fr. L. in + clavus nail.]
Defn: To fill to satiety; to stuff full; to clog; to overload; to
burden. See Cloy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ACCOAST
Ac*coast", v. t. & i. Etym: [See Accost, Coast.]
Defn: To lie or sail along the coast or side of; to accost. [Obs.]
Whether high towering or accosting low. Spenser.
ACCOIL
Ac*coil", v. t. Etym: [OE. acoillir to receive, F. accueillir; L. ad
+ colligere to collect. See Coil.]
1. To gather together; to collect. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To coil together. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
ACCOLADE
Ac`co*lade" (#; 277), n. Etym: [F. accolade, It. accolata, fr.
accollare to embrace; L. ad + collum neck.]
1. A ceremony formerly used in conferring knighthood, consisting am
embrace, and a slight blow on the shoulders with the flat blade of a
sword.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A brace used to join two or more staves.
ACCOMBINATION
Ac*com*bi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. ad + E. combination.]
Defn: A combining together. [R.]
ACCOMMODABLE
Ac*com"mo*da*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. accommodable.]
Defn: That may be accommodated, fitted, or made to agree. [R.] I.
Watts.
ACCOMMODABLENESS
Ac*com"mo*dable*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being accommodable. [R.] Todd.
ACCOMMODATE
Ac*com"mo*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accommodated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accommodating.] Etym: [L. accommodatus, p. p. of accommodare; ad +
commodare to make fit, help; con- + modus measure, proportion. See
Mode.]
1. To render fit, suitable, or correspondent; to adapt; to conform;
as, to accommodate ourselves to circumstances. "They accomodate their
counsels to his inclination." Addison.
2. To bring into agreement or harmony; to reconcile; to compose; to
adjust; to settle; as, to accommodate differences, a dispute, etc.
3. To furnish with something desired, needed, or convenient; to
favor; to oblige; as, to accommodate a friend with a loan or with
lodgings.
4. To show the correspondence of; to apply or make suit by analogy;
to adapt or fit, as teachings to accidental circumstances, statements
to facts, etc.; as, to accommodate prophecy to events.
Syn.
-- To suit; adapt; conform; adjust; arrange.
ACCOMMODATE
Ac*com"mo*date, v. i.
Defn: To adapt one's self; to be conformable or adapted. [R.] Boyle.
ACCOMMODATE
Ac*com"mo*date, a. Etym: [L. accommodatus, p.p. of accommodare.]
Defn: Suitable; fit; adapted; as, means accommodate to end. [Archaic]
Tillotson.
ACCOMMODATELY
Ac*com"mo*date*ly, adv.
Defn: Suitably; fitly. [R.]
ACCOMMODATENESS
Ac*com"mo*date*ness, n.
Defn: Fitness. [R.]
ACCOMMODATING
Ac*com"mo*da`ting, a.
Defn: Affording, or disposed to afford, accommodation; obliging; as
an accommodating man, spirit, arrangement.
ACCOMMODATION
Ac*com`mo*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. accommodatio, fr. accommodare: cf. F.
accommodation.]
1. The act of fitting or adapting, or the state of being fitted or
adapted; adaptation; adjustment; -- followed by to. "The organization
of the body with accommodation to its functions." Sir M. Hale.
2. Willingness to accommodate; obligingness.
3. Whatever supplies a want or affords ease, refreshment, or
convenience; anything furnished which is desired or needful; -- often
in the plural; as, the accomodations -- that is, lodgings and food --
at an inn. Sir W. Scott.
4. An adjustment of differences; state of agreement; reconciliation;
settlement. "To come to terms of accommodation." Macaulay.
5. The application of a writer's language, on the ground of analogy,
to something not originally referred to or intended.
Many of those quotations from the Old Testament were probably
intended as nothing more than accommodations. Paley.
6. (Com.)
(a) A loan of money.
(b) An accommodation bill or note. Accommodation bill, or note
(Com.), a bill of exchange which a person accepts, or a note which a
person makes and delivers to another, not upon a consideration
received, but for the purpose of raising money on credit.
-- Accommodation coach, or train, one running at moderate speed and
stopping at all or nearly all stations.
-- Accommodation ladder (Naut.), a light ladder hung over the side
of a ship at the gangway, useful in ascending from, or descending to,
small boats.
ACCOMMODATOR
Ac*com"mo*da`tor, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, accommodates. Warburton.
ACCOMPANABLE
Ac*com"pa*na*ble, a.
Defn: Sociable. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
ACCOMPANIER
Ac*com"pa*ni*er, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, accompanies. Lamb.
ACCOMPANIMENT
Ac*com"pa*ni*ment, n. Etym: [F. accompagnement.]
Defn: That which accompanies; something that attends as a
circumstance, or which is added to give greater completeness to the
principal thing, or by way of ornament, or for the sake of symmetry.
Specifically: (Mus.)
Defn: A part performed by instruments, accompanying another part or
parts performed by voices; the subordinate part, or parts,
accompanying the voice or a principal instrument; also, the harmony
of a figured bass. P. Cyc.
ACCOMPANIST
Ac*com"pa*nist, n.
Defn: The performer in music who takes the accompanying part. Busby.
ACCOMPANY
Ac*com"pa*ny, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accompanied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accompanying] Etym: [OF. aacompaignier, F. accompagner, to associate
with, fr. OF. compaign, compain, companion. See Company.]
1. To go with or attend as a companion or associate; to keep company
with; to go along with; -- followed by with or by; as, he accompanied
his speech with a bow.
The Persian dames, . . . In sumptuous cars, accompanied his march.
Glover.
They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts. Sir P.
Sidney.
He was accompanied by two carts filled with wounded rebels. Macaulay.
2. To cohabit with. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
Syn.
-- To attend; escort; go with.
-- To Accompany, Attend, Escort. We accompany those with whom we go
as companions. The word imports an equality of station. We attend
those whom we wait upon or follow. The word conveys an idea of
subordination. We escort those whom we attend with a view to guard
and protect. A gentleman accompanies a friend to some public place;
he attends or escorts a lady.
ACCOMPANY
Ac*com"pa*ny, v. i.
1. To associate in a company; to keep company. [Obs.] Bacon.
Men say that they will drive away one another, . . . and not
accompany together. Holland.
2. To cohabit (with). [Obs.] Milton.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: To perform an accompanying part or parts in a composition.
ACCOMPLETIVE
Ac*com"ple*tive, a. Etym: [L. ad + complere, completum, to fill up.]
Defn: Tending to accomplish. [R.]
ACCOMPLICE
Ac*com"plice, n. Etym: [Ac- (perh. for the article a or for L. ad) +
E. complice. See Complice.]
1. A cooperator. [R.]
Success unto our valiant general, And happiness to his accomplices!
Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: An associate in the commission of a crime; a participator in an
offense, whether a principal or an accessory. "And thou, the cursed
accomplice of his treason." Johnson.
Note: It is followed by with or of before a person and by in (or
sometimes of) before the crime; as, A was an accomplice with B in the
murder of C. Dryden uses it with to before a thing. "Suspected for
accomplice to the fire." Dryden.
Syn.
-- Abettor; accessory; assistant; associate; confederate; coadjutor;
ally; promoter. See Abettor.
ACCOMPLICESHIP
Ac*com"plice*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being an accomplice. [R.] Sir H. Taylor.
ACCOMPLICITY
Ac`com*plic"i*ty, n.
Defn: The act or state of being an accomplice. [R.]
ACCOMPLISH
Ac*com"plish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accomplished, p. pr. & vb. n.
Accomplishing.] Etym: [OE. acomplissen, OF. accomplir, F. accomplir;
L. ad + complere to fill up, complete. See Complete, Finish.]
1. To complete, as time or distance.
That He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of
Jerusalem. Dan. ix. 2.
He had accomplished half a league or more. Prescott.
2. To bring to an issue of full success; to effect; to perform; to
execute fully; to fulfill; as, to accomplish a design, an object, a
promise.
This that is written must yet be accomplished in me. Luke xxii. 37.
3. To equip or furnish thoroughly; hence, to complete in
acquirements; to render accomplished; to polish.
The armorers accomplishing the knights. Shak.
It [the moon] is fully accomplished for all those ends to which
Providence did appoint it. Wilkins.
These qualities . . . go to accomplish a perfect woman. Cowden
Clarke.
4. To gain; to obtain. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- To do; perform; fulfill; realize; effect; effectuate; complete;
consummate; execute; achieve; perfect; equip; furnish.
-- To Accomplish, Effect, Execute, Achieve, Perform. These words
agree in the general idea of carrying out to some end proposed. To
accomplish (to fill up to the measure of the intention) generally
implies perseverance and skill; as, to accomplish a plan proposed by
one's self, an object, a design, an undertaking. "Thou shalt
accomplish my desire." 1 Kings v. 9.
He . . . expressed his desire to see a union accomplished between
England and Scotland. Macaulay.
To effect (to work out) is much like accomplish. It usually implies
some degree of difficulty contended with; as, he effected or
accomplished what he intended, his purpose, but little. "What he
decreed, he effected." Milton.
To work in close design by fraud or guile What force effected not.
Milton.
To execute (to follow out to the end, to carry out, or into effect)
implies a set mode of operation; as, to execute the laws or the
orders of another; to execute a work, a purpose, design, plan,
project. To perform is much like to do, though less generally
applied. It conveys a notion of protracted and methodical effort; as,
to perform a mission, a part, a task, a work. "Thou canst best
perform that office." Milton.
The Saints, like stars, around his seat Perform their courses still.
Keble.
To achieve (to come to the end or arrive at one's purpose) usually
implies some enterprise or undertaking of importance, difficulty, and
excellence.
ACCOMPLISHABLE
Ac*com"plish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being accomplished; practicable. Carlyle.
ACCOMPLISHED
Ac*com"plished, a.
1. Completed; effected; established; as, an accomplished fact.
2. Complete in acquirements as the result usually of training; --
commonly in a good sense; as, an accomplished scholar, an
accomplished villain.
They . . . show themselves accomplished bees. Holland.
Daughter of God and man, accomplished Eve. Milton.
ACCOMPLISHER
Ac*com"plish*er, n.
Defn: One who accomplishes.
ACCOMPLISHMENT
Ac*com"plish*ment, n. Etym: [F. accomplissement, fr. accomplir.]
1. The act of accomplishing; entire performance; completion;
fulfillment; as, the accomplishment of an enterprise, of a prophecy,
etc.
2. That which completes, perfects, or equips thoroughly; acquirement;
attainment; that which constitutes excellence of mind, or elegance of
manners, acquired by education or training. "My new accomplishment of
dancing." Churchill. "Accomplishments befitting a station."
Thackeray.
Accomplishments have taken virtue's place, And wisdom falls before
exterior grace. Cowper.
ACCOMPT
Ac*compt" (#; formerly #), n.
Defn: See Account.
Note: Accompt, accomptant, etc., are archaic forms.
ACCOMPTABLE
Ac*compt"a*ble, a.
Defn: See Accountable.
ACCOMPTANT
Ac*compt"ant, n.
Defn: See Accountant.
ACCORD
Ac*cord", n. Etym: [OE. acord, accord, OF. acort, acorde, F. accord,
fr. OF. acorder, F. accorder. See Accord, v. t.]
1. Agreement or concurrence of opinion, will, or action; harmony of
mind; consent; assent.
A mediator of an accord and peace between them. Bacon.
These all continued with one accord in prayer. Acts i. 14.
2. Harmony of sounds; agreement in pitch and tone; concord; as, the
accord of tones.
Those sweet accords are even the angels' lays. Sir J. Davies.
3. Agreement, harmony, or just correspondence of things; as, the
accord of light and shade in painting.
4. Voluntary or spontaneous motion or impulse to act; -- preceded by
own; as, of one's own accord.
That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not
reap. Lev. xxv. 5.
Of his own accord he went unto you. 2 Cor. vii. 17.
5. (Law)
Defn: An agreement between parties in controversy, by which
satisfaction for an injury is stipulated, and which, when executed,
bars a suit. Blackstone. With one accord, with unanimity.
They rushed with one accord into the theater. Acts xix. 29.
ACCORD
Ac*cord", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accorded; p. pr. & vb. n. According.]
Etym: [OE. acorden, accorden, OF. acorder, F. accorder, fr. LL.
accordare; L. ad + cor, cordis, heart. Cf. Concord, Discord, and see
Heart.]
1. To make to agree or correspond; to suit one thing to another; to
adjust; -- followed by to. [R.]
Her hands accorded the lute's music to the voice. Sidney.
2. To bring to an agreement, as persons; to reconcile; to settle,
adjust, harmonize, or compose, as things; as, to accord suits or
controversies.
When they were accorded from the fray. Spenser.
All which particulars, being confessedly knotty and difficult can
never be accorded but by a competent stock of critical learning.
South.
3. To grant as suitable or proper; to concede; to award; as, to
accord to one due praise. "According his desire." Spenser.
ACCORD
Ac*cord", v. i.
1. To agree; to correspond; to be in harmony; -- followed by with,
formerly also by to; as, his disposition accords with his looks.
My heart accordeth with my tongue. Shak.
Thy actions to thy words accord. Milton.
2. To agree in pitch and tone.
ACCORDABLE
Ac*cord"a*ble, a. Etym: [OF. acordable, F. accordable.]
1. Agreeing. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Reconcilable; in accordance.
ACCORDANCE
Ac*cord"ance, n. Etym: [OF. acordance.]
Defn: Agreement; harmony; conformity. "In strict accordance with the
law." Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Harmony; unison; coincidence.
ACCORDANCY
Ac*cord"an*cy, n.
Defn: Accordance. [R.] Paley.
ACCORDANT
Ac*cord"ant, a. Etym: [OF. acordant, F. accordant.]
Defn: Agreeing; consonant; harmonious; corresponding; conformable; --
followed by with or to.
Strictly accordant with true morality. Darwin.
And now his voice accordant to the string. Coldsmith.
ACCORDANTLY
Ac*cord"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In accordance or agreement; agreeably; conformably; -- followed
by with or to.
ACCORDER
Ac*cord"er, n.
Defn: One who accords, assents, or concedes. [R.]
ACCORDING
Ac*cord"ing, p. a.
Defn: Agreeing; in agreement or harmony; harmonious. "This according
voice of national wisdom." Burke. "Mind and soul according well."
Tennyson.
According to him, every person was to be bought. Macaulay.
Our zeal should be according to knowledge. Sprat.
Note: According to has been called a prepositional phrase, but
strictly speaking, according is a participle in the sense of
agreeing, acceding, and to alone is the preposition. According as,
precisely as; the same as; corresponding to the way in which.
According as is an adverbial phrase, of which the propriety has been
doubted; but good usage sanctions it. See According, adv.
Is all things well, According as I gave directions Shak.
The land which the Lord will give you according as he hath promised.
Ex. xii. 25.
p. 13
ACCORDING
Ac*cord"ing, adv.
Defn: Accordingly; correspondingly. [Obs.] Shak.
ACCORDINGLY
Ac*cord"ing*ly, adv.
1. Agreeably; correspondingly; suitably; in a manner conformable.
Behold, and so proceed accordingly. Shak.
2. In natural sequence; consequently; so.
Syn.
-- Consequently; therefore; wherefore; hence; so.
-- Accordingly, Consequently, indicate a connection between two
things, the latter of which is done on account of the former.
Accordingly marks the connection as one of simple accordance or
congruity, leading naturally to the result which followed; as, he was
absent when I called, and I accordingly left my card; our
preparations were all finished, and we accordingly set sail.
Consequently all finished, and we accordingly set sail. Consequently
marks a closer connection, that of logical or causal sequence; as,
the papers were not ready, and consequently could not be signed.
ACCORDION
Ac*cor"di*on, n. Etym: [See Accord.] (Mus.)
Defn: A small, portable, keyed wind instrument, whose tones are
generated by play of the wind upon free metallic reeds.
ACCORDIONIST
Ac*cor"di*on*ist, n.
Defn: A player on the accordion.
ACCORDMENT
Ac*cord"ment, n. Etym: [OF. acordement. See Accord, v.]
Defn: Agreement; reconcilement. [Obs.] Gower.
ACCORPORATE
Ac*cor"po*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. accorporare; ad + corpus, corporis,
body.]
Defn: To unite; to attach; to incorporate. [Obs.] Milton.
ACCOST
Ac*cost" (#; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accosted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accosting.] Etym: [F. accoster, LL. accostare to bring side by side;
L. ad + costa rib, side. See Coast, and cf. Accoast.]
1. To join side to side; to border; hence, to sail along the coast or
side of. [Obs.] "So much [of Lapland] as accosts the sea." Fuller.
2. To approach; to make up to. [Archaic] Shak.
3. To speak to first; to address; to greet. "Him, Satan thus
accosts." Milton.
ACCOST
Ac*cost", v. i.
Defn: To adjoin; to lie alongside. [Obs.] "The shores which to the
sea accost." Spenser.
ACCOST
Ac*cost", n.
Defn: Address; greeting. [R.] J. Morley.
ACCOSTABLE
Ac*cost"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. accostable.]
Defn: Approachable; affable. [R.] Hawthorne.
ACCOSTED
Ac*cost"ed, a. (Her.)
Defn: Supported on both sides by other charges; also, side by side.
ACCOUCHEMENT
Ac*couche"ment (#; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. accoucher to be delivered
of a child, to aid in delivery, OF. acouchier orig. to lay down, put
to bed, go to bed; L. ad + collocare to lay, put, place. See
Collate.]
Defn: Delivery in childbed
ACCOUCHEUR
Ac*cou*cheur", n. Etym: [F., fr. accoucher. See Accouchement.]
Defn: A man who assists women in childbirth; a man midwife; an
obstetrician.
ACCOUCHEUSE
Ac*cou*cheuse", n. Etym: [F.., fem. of accoucher.]
Defn: A midwife. [Recent] Dunglison.
ACCOUNT
Ac*count", n. Etym: [OE. acount, account, accompt, OF. acont, fr.
aconter. See Account, v. t., Count, n., 1.]
1. A reckoning; computation; calculation; enumeration; a record of
some reckoning; as, the Julian account of time.
A beggarly account of empty boxes. Shak.
2. A registry of pecuniary transactions; a written or printed
statement of business dealings or debts and credits, and also of
other things subjected to a reckoning or review; as, to keep one's
account at the bank.
3. A statement in general of reasons, causes, grounds, etc.,
explanatory of some event; as, no satisfactory account has been given
of these phenomena. Hence, the word is often used simply for reason,
ground, consideration, motive, etc.; as, on no account, on every
account, on all accounts.
4. A statement of facts or occurrences; recital of transactions; a
relation or narrative; a report; a description; as, an account of a
battle. "A laudable account of the city of London." Howell.
5. A statement and explanation or vindication of one's conduct with
reference to judgment thereon.
Give an account of thy stewardship. Luke xvi. 2.
6. An estimate or estimation; valuation; judgment. "To stand high in
your account." Shak.
7. Importance; worth; value; advantage; profit. "Men of account."
Pope. "To turn to account." Shak. Account current, a running or
continued account between two or more parties, or a statement of the
particulars of such an account.
-- In account with, in a relation requiring an account to be kept.
-- On account of, for the sake of; by reason of; because of.
-- On one's own account, for one's own interest or behalf.
-- To make account, to have an opinion or expectation; to reckon.
[Obs.]
s other part . . . makes account to find no slender arguments for
this assertion out of those very scriptures which are commonly urged
against it. Milton.
-- To make account of, to hold in estimation; to esteem; as, he makes
small account of beauty.
-- To take account of, or to take into account, to take into
consideration; to notice. "Of their doings, God takes no account."
Milton
.
-- A writ of account (Law), a writ which the plaintiff brings
demanding that the defendant shall render his just account, or show
good cause to the contrary; -- called also an action of account.
Cowell.
Syn.
-- Narrative; narration; relation; recital; description;
explanation; rehearsal.
-- Account, Narrative, Narration, Recital. These words are applied
to different modes of rehearsing a series of events. Account turns
attention not so much to the speaker as to the fact related, and more
properly applies to the report of some single event, or a group of
incidents taken as whole; as, an account of a battle, of a shipwreck,
etc. A narrative is a continuous story of connected incidents, such
as one friend might tell to another; as, a narrative of the events of
a siege, a narrative of one's life, etc. Narration is usually the
same as narrative, but is sometimes used to describe the mode of
relating events; as, his powers of narration are uncommonly great.
Recital denotes a series of events drawn out into minute particulars,
usually expressing something which peculiarly interests the feelings
of the speaker; as, the recital of one's wrongs, disappointments,
sufferings, etc.
1. To reckon; to compute; to count. [Obs.]
The motion of . . . the sun whereby years are accounted. Sir T.
Browne.
2. To place to one's account; to put to the credit of; to assign; --
with to. [R.] Clarendon.
3. To value, estimate, or hold in opinion; to judge or consider; to
deem.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up. Heb. xi. 19.
4. To recount; to relate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ACCOUNT
Ac*count", v. i.
1. To render or receive an account or relation of particulars; as, an
officer must account with or to the treasurer for money received.
2. To render an account; to answer in judgment; -- with for; as, we
must account for the use of our opportunities.
3. To give a satisfactory reason; to tell the cause of; to explain; -
- with for; as, idleness accounts for poverty. To account of, to
esteem; to prize; to value. Now used only in the passive. "I account
of her beauty." Shak.
Newer was preaching more accounted of than in the sixteenth century.
Canon Robinson.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Ac*count"a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being accountable; liability to be called on to
render an account; accountableness. "The awful idea of
accountability." R. Hall.
ACCOUNTABLE
Ac*count"a*ble, a.
1. Liable to be called on to render an account; answerable; as, every
man is accountable to God for his conduct.
2. Capable of being accounted for; explicable. [R.]
True religion . . . intelligible, rational, and accountable, -- not a
burden but a privilege. B. Whichcote.
Syn.
-- Amenable; responsible; liable; answerable.
ACCOUNTABLENESS
Ac*count"a*ble ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being accountable; accountability.
ACCOUNTABLY
Ac*count"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an accountable manner.
ACCOUNTANCY
Ac*count"an*cy, n.
Defn: The art or employment of an accountant.
ACCOUNTANT
Ac*count"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. accomptant, OF. acontant, p. pr.]
1. One who renders account; one accountable.
2. A reckoner.
3. One who is skilled in, keeps, or adjusts, accounts; an officer in
a public office, who has charge of the accounts. Accountatn general,
the head or superintending accountant in certain public offices.
Also, formerly, an officer in the English court of chancery who
received the moneys paid into the court, and deposited them in the
Bank of England.
ACCOUNTANT
Ac*count"ant, a.
Defn: Accountable. [Obs.] Shak.
ACCOUNTANTSHIP
Ac*count"ant*ship, n. Etym: [Accountant + -ship.]
Defn: The office or employment of an accountant.
ACCOUNT BOOK
Ac*count" book`.
Defn: A book in which accounts are kept. Swift.
ACCOUPLE
Ac*cou"ple, v. t. Etym: [OF. acopler, F. accoupler. See Couple.]
Defn: To join; to couple. [R.]
The Englishmen accoupled themselves with the Frenchmen. Hall.
ACCOUPLEMENT
Ac*cou"ple*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. accouplement.]
1. The act of coupling, or the state of being coupled; union. [R.]
Caxton.
2. That which couples, as a tie or brace. [R.]
ACCOURAGE
Ac*cour"age, v. t. Etym: [OF. acoragier; à (L. ad) + corage. See
Courage.]
Defn: To encourage. [Obs.]
ACCOURT
Ac*court", v. t. Etym: [Ac-, for L. ad. See Court.]
Defn: To treat courteously; to court. [Obs.] Spenser.
ACCOUTER; ACCOUTRE
Ac*cou"ter, Ac*cou"tre, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accoutered or Accoutred;
p. pr. & vb. n. Accoutering or Accoutring.] Etym: [F. accouter, OF.
accoutrer, accoustrer; à (L. ad) + perh. LL. custor, for custos
guardian, sacristan (cf. Custody), or perh. akin to E. guilt.]
Defn: To furnish with dress, or equipments, esp. those for military
service; to equip; to attire; to array.
Bot accoutered like young men. Shak.
For this, in rags accoutered are they seen. Dryden.
Accoutered with his burden and his staff. Wordsworth.
ACCOUTERMENTS; ACCOUTREMENTS
Ac*cou"ter*ments, Ac*cou"tre*ments, n. pl. Etym: [F. accoutrement,
earlier also accoustrement, earlier also accoustrement. See
Accouter.]
Defn: Dress; trappings; equipment; specifically, the devices and
equipments worn by soldiers.
How gay with all the accouterments of war!
ACCOY
Ac*coy", v. t. Etym: [OF. acoyer; ac-, for L. ad. See Coy.]
1. To render quiet; to soothe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To subdue; to tame; to daunt. [Obs.]
Then is your careless courage accoyed. Spenser.
ACCREDIT
Ac*cred"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accredited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accrediting.] Etym: [F. accréditer; à (L. ad) + crédit credit. See
Credit.]
1. To put or bring into credit; to invest with credit or authority;
to sanction.
His censure will . . . accredit his praises. Cowper.
These reasons . . . which accredit and fortify mine opinion. Shelton.
2. To send with letters credential, as an ambassador, envoy, or
diplomatic agent; to authorize, as a messenger or delegate.
Beton . . . was accredited to the Court of France. Froude.
3. To believe; to credit; to put trust in.
The version of early Roman history which was accredited in the fifth
century. Sir G. C. Lewis.
He accredited and repeated stories of apparitions and witchcraft.
Southey.
4. To credit; to vouch for or consider (some one) as doing something,
or (something) as belonging to some one. To accredit (one) with
(something), to attribute something to him; as, Mr. Clay was
accredited with these views; they accredit him with a wise saying.
ACCREDITATION
Ac*cred`i*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of accrediting; as, letters of accreditation.
ACCREMENTITIAL
Ac`cre*men*ti"tial, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to accremention.
ACCREMENTITION
Ac`cre*men*ti"tion, n. Etym: [See Accresce, Increment.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The process of generation by development of blastema, or
fission of cells, in which the new formation is in all respect like
the individual from which it proceeds.
ACCRESCE
Ac*cresce", v. i. Etym: [L. accrescere. See Accrue.]
1. To accrue. [R.]
2. To increase; to grow. [Obs.] Gillespie.
ACCRESCENCE
Ac*cres"cence, n. Etym: [LL. accrescentia.]
Defn: Continuous growth; an accretion. [R.]
The silent accrescence of belief from the unwatched depositions of a
general, never contradicted hearsy. Coleridge.
ACCRESCENT
Ac*cres"cent, a. Etym: [L. accrescens, -entis, p. pr. of accrescere;
ad + crescere to grow. See Crescent.]
1. Growing; increasing. Shuckford.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing larger after flowering. Gray.
ACCRETE
Ac*crete", v. i. Etym: [From L. accretus, p. p. of accrescere to
increase.]
1. To grow together.
2. To adhere; to grow (to); to be added; -- with to.
ACCRETE
Ac*crete", v. t.
Defn: To make adhere; to add. Earle.
ACCRETE
Ac*crete", a.
1. Characterized by accretion; made up; as, accrete matter.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Grown together. Gray.
ACCRETION
Ac*cre"tion, n. Etym: [L. accretio, fr. accrescere to increase. Cf.
Crescent, Increase, Accrue.]
1. The act of increasing by natural growth; esp. the increase of
organic bodies by the internal accession of parts; organic growth.
Arbuthnot.
2. The act of increasing, or the matter added, by an accession of
parts externally; an extraneous addition; as, an accretion of earth.
A mineral . . . augments not by grown, but by accretion. Owen.
To strip off all the subordinate parts of his as a later accretion.
Sir G. C. Lewis.
3. Concretion; coherence of separate particles; as, the accretion of
particles so as to form a solid mass.
4. A growing together of parts naturally separate, as of the fingers
toes. Dana.
5. (Law)
(a) The adhering of property to something else, by which the owner of
one thing becomes possessed of a right to another; generally, gain of
land by the washing up of sand or sail from the sea or a river, or by
a gradual recession of the water from the usual watermark.
(b) Gain to an heir or legatee, failure of a coheir to the same
succession, or a co-legatee of the same thing, to take his share.
Wharton. Kent.
ACCRETIVE
Ac*cre"tive, a.
Defn: Relating to accretion; increasing, or adding to, by growth.
Glanvill.
ACCRIMINATE
Ac*crim"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. ac- (for ad to) + criminari.]
Defn: To accuse of a crime. [Obs.] -- Ac*crim`i*na"tion, n. [Obs.]
ACCROACH
Ac*croach", v. t. Etym: [OE. acrochen, accrochen, to obtain, OF.
acrochier, F. accrocher; à (L. ad) + croc hook (E. crook).]
1. To hook, or draw to one's self as with a hook. [Obs.]
2. To usurp, as jurisdiction or royal prerogatives.
They had attempted to accroach to themselves royal power. Stubbs.
ACCROACHMENT
Ac*croach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. accrochement.]
Defn: An encroachment; usurpation. [Obs.] Bailey.
ACCRUAL
Ac*cru"al, n.
Defn: Accrument. [R.]
ACCRUE
Ac*crue", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Accrued; p. pr. & vb. n. Accruing.]
Etym: [See Accrue, n., and cf. Accresce, Accrete.]
1. To increase; to augment.
And though power failed, her courage did accrue. Spenser.
2. To come to by way of increase; to arise or spring as a growth or
result; to be added as increase, profit, or damage, especially as the
produce of money lent. "Interest accrues to principal." Abbott.
The great and essential advantages accruing to society from the
freedom of the press. Junius.
ACCRUE
Ac*crue", n. Etym: [F. accrû, OF. acreü, p. p. of accroitre, OF.
acroistre to increase; L. ad + crescere to increase. Cf. Accretion,
Crew. See Crescent.]
Defn: Something that accrues; advantage accruing. [Obs.]
ACCRUER
Ac*cru"er, n. (Law)
Defn: The act of accruing; accretion; as, title by accruer.
ACCRUMENT
Ac*cru"ment, n.
Defn: The process of accruing, or that which has accrued; increase.
Jer. Taylor.
ACCUBATION
Ac`cu*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. accubatio, for accubatio, fr. accubare to
recline; ad + cubare to lie down. See Accumb.]
Defn: The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the
ancients at meals.
ACCUMB
Ac*cumb", v. i. Etym: [L. accumbere; ad + cumbere (only in compounds)
to lie down.]
Defn: To recline, as at table. [Obs.] Bailey.
ACCUMBENCY
Ac*cum"ben*cy, n.
Defn: The state of being accumbent or reclining. [R.]
ACCUMBENT
Ac*cum"bent, a.
1. Leaning or reclining, as the ancients did at their meals.
The Roman.. accumbent posture in eating. Arbuthnot.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Lying against anything, as one part of a leaf against another
leaf. Gray.
Accumbent cotyledons have their edges placed against the caulicle.
Eaton.
ACCUMBENT
Ac*cum"bent, n.
Defn: One who reclines at table.
ACCUMBER
Ac*cum"ber, v. t.
Defn: To encumber. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ACCUMULATE
Ac*cu"mu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accumulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accumulating.] Etym: [L. accumulatus, p. p. of accumulare; ad +
cumulare to heap. See Cumulate.]
Defn: To heap up in a mass; to pile up; to collect or bring together;
to amass; as, to accumulate a sum of money.
Syn.
-- To collect; pile up; store; amass; gather; aggregate; heap
together; hoard.
ACCUMULATE
Ac*cu"mu*late, v. i.
Defn: To grow or increase in quantity or number; to increase greatly.
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth
accumulates, and men decay. Goldsmith.
ACCUMULATE
Ac*cu"mu*late, a. Etym: [L. accumulatus, p. p. of accumulare.]
Defn: Collected; accumulated. Bacon.
ACCUMULATION
Ac*cu`mu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. accumulatio; cf. F. accumulation.]
1. The act of accumulating, the state of being accumulated, or that
which is accumulated; as, an accumulation of earth, of sand, of
evils, of wealth, of honors.
2. (Law)
Defn: The concurrence of several titles to the same proof.
Accumulation of energy or power, the storing of energy by means of
weights lifted or masses put in motion; electricity stored.
-- An accumulation of degrees (Eng. Univ.), the taking of several
together, or at smaller intervals than usual or than is allowed by
the rules.
ACCUMULATIVE
Ac*cu"mu*la*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by accumulation; serving to collect or amass;
cumulative; additional.
-- Ac*cu"mu*la*tive*ly, adv.
-- Ac*cu"mu*la*tive*ness, n.
ACCUMULATOR
Ac*cu"mu*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who, or that which, accumulates, collects, or amasses.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: An apparatus by means of which energy or power can be stored,
such as the cylinder or tank for storing water for hydraulic
elevators, the secondary or storage battery used for accumulating the
energy of electrical charges, etc.
3. A system of elastic springs for relieving the strain upon a rope,
as in deep-sea dredging.
ACCURACY
Ac"cu*ra*cy (#; 277), n. Etym: [See Accurate.]
Defn: The state of being accurate; freedom from mistakes, this
exemption arising from carefulness; exact conformity to truth, or to
a rule or model; precision; exactness; nicety; correctness; as, the
value of testimony depends on its accuracy.
The professed end [of logic] is to teach men to think, to judge, and
to reason, with precision and accuracy. Reid.
The accuracy with which the piston fits the sides. Lardner.
ACCURATE
Ac"cu*rate, a. Etym: [L. accuratus, p. p. and a., fr. accurare to
take care of; ad + curare to take care, cura care. See Cure.]
1. In exact or careful conformity to truth, or to some standard of
requirement, the result of care or pains; free from failure, error,
or defect; exact; as, an accurate calculator; an accurate measure;
accurate expression, knowledge, etc.
2. Precisely fixed; executed with care; careful. [Obs.]
Those conceive the celestial bodies have more accurate influences
upon these things below. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Correct; exact; just; nice; particular.
-- Accurate, Correct, Exact, Precise. We speak of a thing as correct
with reference to some rule or standard of comparison; as, a correct
account, a correct likeness, a man of correct deportment. We speak of
a thing as accurate with reference to the care bestowed upon its
execution, and the increased correctness to be expected therefrom;
as, an accurate statement, an accurate detail of particulars. We
speak of a thing as exact with reference to that perfected state of a
thing in which there is no defect and no redundance; as, an exact
coincidence, the exact truth, an exact likeness. We speak of a thing
as precise when we think of it as strictly conformed to some rule or
model, as if cut down thereto; as a precise conformity instructions;
precisely right; he was very precise in giving his directions.
ACCURATELY
Ac"cu*rate*ly, adv.
Defn: In an accurate manner; exactly; precisely; without error or
defect.
ACCURATENESS
Ac"cu*rate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being accurate; accuracy; exactness;
nicety; precision.
ACCURSE
Ac*curse", v. t. Etym: [OE. acursien, acorsien; pref. a + cursien to
curse. See Curse.]
Defn: To devote to destruction; to imprecate misery or evil upon; to
curse; to execrate; to anathematize.
And the city shall be accursed. Josh. vi. 17.
Thro' you, my life will be accurst. Tennyson.
ACCURSED; ACCURST
Ac*cursed", Ac*curst", p. p. & a.
Defn: Doomed to destruction or misery; cursed; hence, bad enough to
be under the curse; execrable; detestable; exceedingly hateful; --
as, an accursed deed. Shak.
-- Ac*curs"ed*ly, adv.
-- Ac*curs"ed*ness, n.
ACCUSABLE
Ac*cus"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. accusabilis: cf. F. accusable.]
Defn: Liable to be accused or censured; chargeable with a crime or
fault; blamable; -- with of.
ACCUSAL
Ac*cus"al, n.
Defn: Accusation. [R.] Byron.
ACCUSANT
Ac*cus"ant, n. Etym: [L. accusans, p. pr. of accusare: cf. F.
accusant.]
Defn: An accuser. Bp. Hall.
ACCUSATION
Ac`cu*sa"tion, n. Etym: [OF. acusation, F. accusation, L. accusatio,
fr. accusare. See Accuse.]
1. The act of accusing or charging with a crime or with a lighter
offense.
We come not by the way of accusation To taint that honor every good
tongue blesses. Shak.
2. That of which one is accused; the charge of an offense or crime,
or the declaration containing the charge.
[They] set up over his head his accusation. Matt. xxvii. 37.
Syn.
-- Impeachment; crimination; censure; charge.
ACCUSATIVAL
Ac*cu`sa*ti"val, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the accusative case.
ACCUSATIVE
Ac*cu"sa*tive, a. Etym: [F. accusatif, L. accusativus (in sense 2),
fr. accusare. See Accuse.]
1. Producing accusations; accusatory. "This hath been a very
accusative age." Sir E. Dering.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Applied to the case (as the fourth case of Latin and Greek
nouns) which expresses the immediate object on which the action or
influence of a transitive verb terminates, or the immediate object of
motion or tendency to, expressed by a preposition. It corresponds to
the objective case in English.
ACCUSATIVE
Ac*cu"sa*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The accusative case.
ACCUSATIVELY
Ac*cu"sa*tive*ly, adv.
1. In an accusative manner.
2. In relation to the accusative case in grammar.
ACCUSATORIAL
Ac*cu`sa*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Accusatory.
ACCUSATORIALLY
Ac*cu`sa*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By way accusation.
ACCUSATORY
Ac*cu"sa*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. accusatorius, fr. accusare.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, an accusation; as, an accusatory
libel. Grote.
ACCUSE
Ac*cuse", n.
Defn: Accusation. [Obs.] Shak.
ACCUSE
Ac*cuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accused; p. pr. & vb. n. Accusing.]
Etym: [OF. acuser, F. accuser, L. accusare, to call to account,
accuse; ad + causa cause, lawsuit. Cf. Cause.]
1. To charge with, or declare to have committed, a crime or offense;
(Law)
Defn: to charge with an offense, judicially or by a public process; -
- with of; as, to accuse one of a high crime or misdemeanor.
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. Acts
xxiv. 13.
We are accused of having persuaded Austria and Sardinia to lay down
their arms. Macaulay.
2. To charge with a fault; to blame; to censure.
Their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another.
Rom. ii. 15.
3. To betray; to show. Etym: [L.] Sir P. Sidney.
Syn.
-- To charge; blame; censure; reproach; criminate; indict; impeach;
arraign.
-- To Accuse, Charge, Impeach, Arraign. These words agree in
bringing home to a person the imputation of wrongdoing. To accuse is
a somewhat formal act, and is applied usually (though not
exclusively) to crimes; as, to accuse of treason. Charge is the most
generic. It may refer to a crime, a dereliction of duty, a fault,
etc.; more commonly it refers to moral delinquencies; as, to charge
with dishonesty or falsehood. To arraign is to bring (a person)
before a tribunal for trial; as, to arraign one before a court or at
the bar public opinion. To impeach is officially to charge with
misbehavior in office; as, to impeach a minister of high crimes. Both
impeach and arraign convey the idea of peculiar dignity or
impressiveness.
ACCUSED
Ac*cused", a.
Defn: Charged with offense; as, an accused person.
Note: Commonly used substantively; as, the accused, one charged with
an offense; the defendant in a criminal case.
ACCUSEMENT
Ac*cuse"ment, n. Etym: [OF. acusement. See Accuse.]
Defn: Accusation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ACCUSER
Ac*cus"er, n. Etym: [OE. acuser, accusour; cf. OF. acuseor, fr. L.
accusator, fr. accusare.]
Defn: One who accuses; one who brings a charge of crime or fault.
ACCUSINGLY
Ac*cus"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an accusing manner.
ACCUSTOM
Ac*cus"tom, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Accustomed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Accustoming.] Etym: [OF. acostumer, acustumer, F. accoutumer; à (L.
ad) + OF. costume, F. coutume, custom. See Custom.]
Defn: To make familiar by use; to habituate, familiarize, or inure; -
- with to.
I shall always fear that he who accustoms himself to fraud in little
things, wants only opportunity to practice it in greater. Adventurer.
Syn.
-- To habituate; inure; exercise; train.
ACCUSTOM
Ac*cus"tom, v. i.
1. To be wont. [Obs.] Carew.
2. To cohabit. [Obs.]
We with the best men accustom openly; you with the basest commit
private adulteries. Milton.
ACCUSTOM
Ac*cus"tom, n.
Defn: Custom. [Obs.] Milton.
ACCUSTOMABLE
Ac*cus"tom*a*ble, a.
Defn: Habitual; customary; wonted. "Accustomable goodness." Latimer.
ACCUSTOMABLY
Ac*cus"tom*a*bly, adv.
Defn: According to custom; ordinarily; customarily. Latimer.
ACCUSTOMANCE
Ac*cus"tom*ance, n. Etym: [OF. accoustumance, F. accoutumance.]
Defn: Custom; habitual use. [Obs.] Boyle.
ACCUSTOMARILY
Ac*cus"tom*a*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: Customarily. [Obs.]
ACCUSTOMARY
Ac*cus"tom*a*ry, a.
Defn: Usual; customary. [Archaic] Featley.
ACCUSTOMED
Ac*cus"tomed, a.
1. Familiar through use; usual; customary. "An accustomed action."
Shak.
2. Frequented by customers. [Obs.] "A well accustomed shop."
Smollett.
ACCUSTOMEDNESS
Ac*cus"tomed*ness, n.
Defn: Habituation.
Accustomedness to sin hardens the heart. Bp. Pearce.
ACE
Ace, n.; pl. Aces. Etym: [OE. as, F. as, fr. L. as, assis, unity,
copper coin, the unit of coinage. Cf. As.]
1. A unit; a single point or spot on a card or die; the card or die
so marked; as, the ace of diamonds.
2. Hence: A very small quantity or degree; a particle; an atom; a
jot.
I 'll not wag an ace further. Dryden.
To bate an ace, to make the least abatement. [Obs.] -- Within an ace
of, very near; on the point of. W. Irving.
ACELDAMA
A*cel"da*ma, n. Etym: [Gr. okel damo the field of blood.]
Defn: The potter's field, said to have lain south of Jerusalem,
purchased with the bribe which Judas took for betraying his Master,
and therefore called the field of blood. Fig.: A field of bloodshed.
The system of warfare . . . which had already converted immense
tracts into one universal aceldama. De Quincey.
ACENTRIC
A*cen"tric, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Not centered; without a center.
ACEPHAL
Ac"e*phal, n. Etym: [Gr. acéphale, LL. acephalus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Acephala.
ACEPHALA
A*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Acephal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That division of the Mollusca which includes the bivalve
shells, like the clams and oysters; -- so called because they have no
evident head. Formerly the group included the Tunicata, Brachiopoda,
and sometimes the Bryozoa. See Mollusca.
ACEPHALAN
A*ceph"a*lan, n.
Defn: Same as Acephal.
ACEPHALAN
A*ceph"a*lan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Acephala.
ACEPHALI
A*ceph"a*li, n. pl. Etym: [LL., pl. of acephalus. See Acephal.]
1. A fabulous people reported by ancient writers to have heads.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
(a) A Christian sect without a leader.
(b) Bishops and certain clergymen not under regular diocesan control.
3. A class of levelers in the time of K. Henry I.
ACEPHALIST
A*ceph"a*list, n.
Defn: One who acknowledges no head or superior. Dr. Gauden.
ACEPHALOCYST
A*ceph"a*lo*cyst, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A larval entozoön in the form of a subglobular or oval vesicle,
or hy datid, filled with fluid, sometimes found in the tissues of man
and the lower animals; -- so called from the absence of a head or
visible organs on the vesicle. These cysts are the immature stages of
certain tapeworms. Also applied to similar cysts of different origin.
ACEPHALOCYSTIC
A*ceph`a*lo*cys"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the acephalocysts.
ACEPHALOUS
A*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [See Acephal.]
1. Headless.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without a distinct head; -- a term applied to bivalve mollusks.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the style spring from the base, instead of from the
apex, as is the case in certain ovaries.
4. Without a leader or chief.
5. Wanting the beginning.
A false or acephalous structure of sentence. De Quincey.
6. (Pros.)
Defn: Deficient and the beginning, as a line of poetry. Brande.
ACEQUIA
A*ce"qui*a, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A canal or trench for irrigating land. [Sp. Amer.]
ACERATE
Ac"er*ate, n. Etym: [See Aceric.] (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of aceric acid with a salifiable base.
ACERATE
Ac"er*ate, a.
Defn: Acerose; needle-shaped.
ACERB
A*cerb", a. Etym: [L. acerbus, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. acerbe. See
Acrid.]
Defn: Sour, bitter, and harsh to the taste, as unripe fruit; sharp
and harsh.
ACERBATE
A*cerb"ate, v. t. Etym: [L. acerbatus, p. p. of acerbare, fr.
acerbus.]
Defn: To sour; to imbitter; to irritate.
ACERBIC
A*cerb"ic, a.
Defn: Sour or severe.
ACERBITUDE
A*cerb"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. acerbitudo, fr. acerbus.]
Defn: Sourness and harshness. [Obs.] Bailey.
ACERBITY
A*cerb"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. acerbité, L. acerbitas, fr. acerbus. See
Acerb.]
1. Sourness of taste, with bitterness and astringency, like that of
unripe fruit.
2. Harshness, bitterness, or severity; as, acerbity of temper, of
language, of pain. Barrow.
ACERIC
A*cer"ic, a. Etym: [L. acer maple.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the maple; as, aceric acid.
Ure.
ACEROSE
Ac"er*ose`, a. Etym: [(a) L. acerosus chaffy, fr. acus, gen. aceris,
chaff; (b) as if fr. L. acus needle: cf. F. acéreux.] (Bot.)
(a) Having the nature of chaff; chaffy.
(b) Needle-shaped, having a sharp, rigid point, as the leaf of the
pine.
ACEROUS
Ac"er*ous, a.
Defn: Same as Acerose.
ACEROUS
Ac"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. &a; priv. + keras a horn.] (Zoöl.)
(a) Destitute of tentacles, as certain mollusks.
(b) Without antennæ, as some insects.
ACERVAL
A*cer"val, a. Etym: [L. acervalis, fr. acervus heap.]
Defn: Pertaining to a heap. [Obs.]
ACERVATE
A*cer"vate, v. t. Etym: [L. acervatus, p. p. of acervare to heap up,
fr. acervus heap.]
Defn: To heap up. [Obs.]
ACERVATE
A*cer"vate, a.
Defn: Heaped, or growing in heaps, or closely compacted clusters.
ACERVATION
Ac`er*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. acervatio.]
Defn: A heaping up; accumulation. [R.] Johnson.
ACERVATIVE
A*cer"va*tive, a.
Defn: Heaped up; tending to heap up.
ACERVOSE
A*cer"vose, a.
Defn: Full of heaps. [R.] Bailey.
ACERVULINE
A*cer"vu*line, a.
Defn: Resembling little heaps.
ACESCENCE; ACESCENCY
A*ces"cence, A*ces"cen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. acescence. See Acescent.]
Defn: The quality of being acescent; the process of acetous
fermentation; a moderate degree of sourness. Johnson.
ACESCENT
A*ces"cent, a. Etym: [L. acescens, -entis, p. pr. of acescere to turn
sour; inchoative of acere to be sour: cf. F. acescent. See Acid.]
Defn: Turning sour; readily becoming tart or acid; slightly sour.
Faraday.
ACESCENT
A*ces"cent, n.
Defn: A substance liable to become sour.
ACETABLE
Ac"e*ta*ble, n.
Defn: An acetabulum; or about one eighth of a pint. [Obs.] Holland.
ACETABULAR
Ac`e*tab"u*lar, a.
Defn: Cup-shaped; saucer-shaped; acetabuliform.
ACETABULIFERA
Ac`e*tab`u*lif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Acetabuliferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Cephalopoda in which the arms are furnished
with cup-shaped suckers, as the cuttlefishes, squids, and octopus;
the Dibranchiata. See Cephalopoda.
ACETABULIFEROUS
Ac`e*tab`u*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. acetablum a little cup + -
ferous.]
Defn: Furnished with fleshy cups for adhering to bodies, as
cuttlefish, etc.
ACETABULIFORM
Ac`e*tab"u*li*form, a. Etym: [L. acetabulum + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a shallow; saucer-shaped; as, an acetabuliform
calyx. Gray.
ACETABULUM
Ac`e*tab"u*lum, n. Etym: [L., a little saucer for vinegar, fr. acetum
vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A vinegar cup; socket of the hip bone; a measure of about one
eighth of a pint, etc.
2. (Anat.)
(a) The bony cup which receives the head of the thigh bone.
(b) The cavity in which the leg of an insect is inserted at its
articulation with the body.
(c) A sucker of the sepia or cuttlefish and related animals.
(d) The large posterior sucker of the leeches.
(e) One of the lobes of the placenta in ruminating animals.
ACETAL
Ac"e*tal, n. Etym: [Acetic + alcohol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A limpid, colorless, inflammable liquid from the slow oxidation
of alcohol under the influence of platinum black.
ACETALDEHYDE
Ac`et*al"de*hyde, n.
Defn: Acetic aldehyde. See Aldehyde.
ACETAMIDE
Ac`et*am"ide, n. Etym: [Acetyl + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline solid, from ammonia by replacement of an
equivalent of hydrogen by acetyl.
ACETANILIDE
Ac`et*an"i*lide, n. Etym: [Acetyl + anilide.] (Med.)
Defn: A compound of aniline with acetyl, used to allay fever or pain;
-- called also antifebrine.
ACETARIOUS
Ac`e*ta"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. acetaria, n. pl., salad, fr. acetum
vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.]
Defn: Used in salads; as, acetarious plants.
ACETARY
Ac"e*ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. acetaria salad plants.]
Defn: An acid pulp in certain fruits, as the pear. Grew.
ACETATE
Ac"e*tate, n. Etym: [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be sour.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the union of acetic acid with a base or
positive radical; as, acetate of lead, acetate of potash.
ACETATED
Ac"e*ta`ted, a.
Defn: Combined with acetic acid.
ACETIC
A*ce"tic (#; 277), a. Etym: [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be
sour.] (Chem.)
(a) Of a pertaining to vinegar; producing vinegar; producing vinegar;
as, acetic fermentation.
(b) Pertaining to, containing, or derived from, acetyl, as acetic
ether, acetic acid. The latter is the acid to which the sour taste of
vinegar is due.
ACETIFICATION
A*cet`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making acetous or sour; the process of converting,
or of becoming converted, into vinegar.
ACETIFIER
A*cet"i*fi`er, n.
Defn: An apparatus for hastening acetification. Knight.
ACETIFY
A*cet"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acetified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acetifying.] Etym: [L. acetum vinegar + -fly.]
Defn: To convert into acid or vinegar.
ACETIFY
A*cet"i*fy, v. i.
Defn: To turn acid. Encyc. Dom. Econ.
ACETIMETER
Ac`e*tim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. acetum vinegar + -meter: cf. F.
acétimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for estimating the amount of acetic acid in
vinegar or in any liquid containing acetic acid.
ACETIMETRY
Ac`e*tim"e*try, n.
Defn: The act or method of ascertaining the strength of vinegar, or
the proportion of acetic acid contained in it. Ure.
ACETIN
Ac"e*tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of acetic acid with glycerin. Brande & C.
ACETIZE
Ac"e*tize, v. i.
Defn: To acetify. [R.]
ACETOL
Ac"e*tol, n. [Acetic + -ol as in alcohol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Methyl ketol; also, any of various homologues of the same.
ACETOMETER
Ac`e*tom"e*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Acetimeter. Brande & C.
ACETONAEMIA; ACETONEMIA
Ac`e*to*næ"mi*a, Ac`e*to*ne"mi*a, n. [NL. See Acetone; Hæma-.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition characterized by the presence of acetone in
the blood, as in diabetes.
ACETONE
Ac"e*tone, n. Etym: [See Acetic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile liquid consisting of three parts of carbon, six of
hydrogen, and one of oxygen; pyroacetic spirit, -- obtained by the
distillation of certain acetates, or by the destructive distillation
of citric acid, starch, sugar, or gum, with quicklime.
Note: The term in also applied to a number of bodies of similar
constitution, more frequently called ketones. See Ketone.
ACETONIC
Ac`e*ton"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to acetone; as, acetonic bodies.
ACETONURIA
Ac`e*to*nu"ri*a, n. [NL. See Acetone; Urine.] (Med.)
Defn: Excess of acetone in the urine, as in starvation or diabetes.
ACETOPHENONE
Ac`e*to*phe"none, n. [Acetic + phenyl + one.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline ketone, CH3COC6H5, which may be obtained by the
dry distillation of a mixture of the calcium salts of acetic and
benzoic acids. It is used as a hypnotic under the name of hypnone.
ACETOSE
Ac"e*tose, a.
Defn: Sour like vinegar; acetous.
ACETOSITY
Ac`e*tos"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. acetositas. See Acetous.]
Defn: The quality of being acetous; sourness.
ACETOUS
A*ce"tous (#; 277), a. Etym: [L. acetum vinegar, fr. acere to be
sour.]
1. Having a sour taste; sour; acid. "An acetous spirit." Boyle. "A
liquid of an acetous kind." Bp. Lowth.
2. Causing, or connected with, acetification; as, acetous
fermentation. Acetous acid, a name formerly given to vinegar.
ACETYL
Ac"e*tyl, n. Etym: [L. acetum vinegar + Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A complex, hypothetical radical, composed of two parts of
carbon to three of hydrogen and one of oxygen. Its hydroxide is
acetic acid.
ACETYLENE
A*cet"y*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous compound of carbon and hydrogen, in the proportion of
two atoms of the former to two of the latter. It is a colorless gas,
with a peculiar, unpleasant odor, and is produced for use as an
illuminating gas in a number of ways, but chiefly by the action of
water on calcium carbide. Its light is very brilliant. Watts.
ACH; ACHE
Ach, Ache, n. Etym: [F. ache, L. apium parsley.]
Defn: A name given to several species of plants; as, smallage, wild
celery, parsley. [Obs.] Holland.
ACHAEAN; ACHAIAN
A*chæ"an, A*cha"ian a. Etym: [L. Achaeus, Achaius; Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Achaia in Greece; also, Grecian.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Achaia; a Greek.
ACHARNEMENT
A*char"ne*ment, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Savage fierceness; ferocity.
ACHATE
Ach"ate, n.
Defn: An agate. [Obs.] Evelyn.
ACHATE
A*chate", n. Etym: [F. achat purchase. See Cates.]
1. Purchase; bargaining. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. pl.
Defn: Provisions. Same as Cates. [Obs.] Spenser.
ACHATINA
Ach`a*ti"na, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of land snails, often large, common in the warm parts
of America and Africa.
ACHATOUR
A*cha*tour", n. Etym: [See Cater.]
Defn: Purveyor; acater. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ACHE
Ache, n. Etym: [OE. ache, AS. æce, ece, fr. acan to ache. See Ache,
v. i.]
Defn: Continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or
spasmodic pain. "Such an ache in my bones." Shak.
Note: Often used in composition, as, a headache, an earache, a
toothache.
ACHE
Ache, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ached; p. pr. & vb. n. Aching.] Etym: [OE.
aken, AS. acan, both strong verbs, AS. acan, imp. oc, p. p. acen, to
ache; perh. orig. to drive, and akin to agent.]
Defn: To suffer pain; to have, or be in, pain, or in continued pain;
to be distressed. "My old bones ache." Shak.
The sins that in your conscience ache. Keble.
ACHEAN
A*che"an, a & n.
Defn: See Achæan, Achaian.
ACHENE; ACHENIUM
A*chene", A*che"ni*um n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A small, dry, indehiscent fruit, containing a single seed, as
in the buttercup; -- called a naked seed by the earlier botanists.
[Written also akene and achænium.]
ACHENIAL
A*che"ni*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an achene.
ACHERON
Ach"e*ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Myth.)
Defn: A river in the Nether World or infernal regions; also, the
infernal regions themselves. By some of the English poets it was
supposed to be a flaming lake or gulf. Shak.
ACHERONTIC
Ach`e*ron"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Acheron; infernal; hence, dismal, gloomy;
moribund.
A CHEVAL
A` che*val". [F., lit., on horseback.]
Defn: Astride; with a part on each side; -- used specif. in
designating the position of an army with the wings separated by some
line of demarcation, as a river or road.
A position à cheval on a river is not one which a general willingly
assumes.
Swinton.
ACHIEVABLE
A*chiev"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being achieved. Barrow.
ACHIEVANCE
A*chiev"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. achevance.]
Defn: Achievement. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
ACHIEVE
A*chieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Achieved; p. pr. & vb. n. Achieving.]
Etym: [OE. acheven, OF. achever, achiever, F. achever, to finish; à
(L. ad) + OF. chief, F. chef, end, head, fr. L. caput head. See
Chief.]
1. To carry on to a final close; to bring out into a perfected state;
to accomplish; to perform; -- as, to achieve a feat, an exploit, an
enterprise.
Supposing faculties and powers to be the same, far more may be
achieved in any line by the aid of a capital, invigorating motive
than without it. I. Taylor.
2. To obtain, or gain, as the result of exertion; to succeed in
gaining; to win.
Some are born great, some achieve greatness. Shak.
Thou hast achieved our liberty. Milton.
Note: [[Obs]., with a material thing as the aim.]
Show all the spoils by valiant kings achieved. Prior.
He hath achieved a maid That paragons description. Shak.
3. To finish; to kill. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- To accomplish; effect; fulfill; complete; execute; perform;
realize; obtain. See Accomplish.
ACHIEVEMENT
A*chieve"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. achèvement, E. Hatchment.]
1. The act of achieving or performing; an obtaining by exertion;
successful performance; accomplishment; as, the achievement of his
object.
2. A great or heroic deed; something accomplished by valor, boldness,
or praiseworthy exertion; a feat.
[The exploits] of the ancient saints . . . do far surpass the most
famous achievements of pagan heroes. Barrow.
The highest achievements of the human intellect. Macaulay.
3. (Her.)
Defn: An escutcheon or ensign armorial; now generally applied to the
funeral shield commonly called hatchment. Cussans.
ACHIEVER
A*chiev"er, n.
Defn: One who achieves; a winner.
ACHILLEAN
Ach`il*le"an, a.
Defn: Resembling Achilles, the hero of the Iliad; invincible.
ACHILLES' TENDON
A*chil"les' ten"don, n. Etym: [L. Achillis tendo.] (Anat.)
Defn: The strong tendon formed of the united tendons of the large
muscles in the calf of the leg, an inserted into the bone of the
heel; -- so called from the mythological account of Achilles being
held by the heel when dipped in the River Styx.
ACHILOUS
A*chi"lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Without a lip.
ACHING
Ach"ing, a.
Defn: That aches; continuously painful. See Ache.
-- Ach"ing*ly, adv.
The aching heart, the aching head. Longfellow.
ACHIOTE
A`chi*o"te, n. Etym: [Sp. achiote, fr. Indian achiotl.]
Defn: Seeds of the annotto tree; also, the coloring matter, annotto.
ACHLAMYDATE
A*chlam"y*date, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Not possessing a mantle; -- said of certain gastropods.
ACHLAMYDEOUS
Ach`la*myd"e*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Naked; having no floral envelope, neither calyx nor corolla.
ACHOLIA
A*cho"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Deficiency or want of bile.
ACHOLOUS
Ach"o*lous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Lacking bile.
ACHROMATIC
Ach`ro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. achromatique.]
1. (Opt.)
Defn: Free from color; transmitting light without decomposing it into
its primary colors.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Uncolored; not absorbing color from a fluid; -- said of tissue.
Achromatic lens (Opt.), a lens composed usually of two separate
lenses, a convex and concave, of substances having different
refractive and dispersive powers, as crown and flint glass, with the
curvatures so adjusted that the chromatic aberration produced by the
one is corrected by other, and light emerges from the compound lens
undecomposed.
-- Achromatic prism. See Prism.
-- Achromatic telescope, or microscope, one in which the chromatic
aberration is corrected, usually by means of a compound or achromatic
object glass, and which gives images free from extraneous color.
ACHROMATICALLY
Ach`ro*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an achromatic manner.
ACHROMATICITY
Ach`ro*ma*tic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Achromatism.
ACHROMATIN
A*chro"ma*tin, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Tissue which is not stained by fluid dyes. W. Flemming.
ACHROMATISM
A*chro"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. achromatisme.]
Defn: The state or quality of being achromatic; as, the achromatism
of a lens; achromaticity. Nichol.
ACHROMATIZATION
A*chro`ma*ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. achromatisation.]
Defn: The act or process of achromatizing.
ACHROMATIZE
A*chro"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Achromatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Achromatizing.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To deprive of color; to make achromatic.
ACHROMATOPSY
A*chro"ma*top"sy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Color blindness; inability to distinguish colors; Daltonism.
ACHROMATOUS
A*chro"ma*tous, a. [See Ahromatic.]
Defn: Lacking, or deficient in, color; as, achromatous blood.
ACHROMIC
A*chro"mic, a. [Gr. colorless; priv. + color.]
Defn: Free from color; colorless; as, in Physiol. Chem., the achromic
point of a starch solution acted upon by an amylolytic enzyme is the
point at which it fails to give any color with iodine.
ACHRONIC
A*chron"ic, a.
Defn: See Acronyc.
ACHROODEXTRIN; ACHROOEDEXTRIN
Ach`ro*ö*dex"trin, n. Etym: [Gr. dextrin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Dextrin not colorable by iodine. See Dextrin.
ACHROOUS
Ach"ro*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Colorless; achromatic.
ACHYLOUS
A*chy"lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Without chyle.
ACHYMOUS
A*chy"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Without chyme.
ACICULA
A*cic"u*la, n.; pl. Aciculæ. Etym: [L., a small needle, dimin. of
acus needle.] (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: One of the needlelike or bristlelike spines or prickles of some
animals and plants; also, a needlelike crystal.
ACICULAR
A*cic"u*lar, a.
Defn: Needle-shaped; slender like a needle or bristle, as some leaves
or crystals; also, having sharp points like needless. A*cic"u*lar*ly,
adv.
ACICULATE; ACICULATED
A*cic"u*late, A*cic"u*la"ted a. (Nat. Hist.)
(a) Furnished with aciculæ.
(b) Acicular.
(c) Marked with fine irregular streaks as if scratched by a needle.
Lindley.
ACICULIFORM
A*cic"u*li*form, a. Etym: [L. acicula needle + -form.]
Defn: Needle-shaped; acicular.
ACICULITE
A*cic"u*lite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Needle ore. Brande & C.
ACID
Ac"id, a. Etym: [L. acidus sour, fr. the root ak to be sharp: cf. F.
acide. Cf. Acute.]
1. Sour, sharp, or biting to the taste; tart; having the taste of
vinegar: as, acid fruits or liquors. Also fig.: Sour-tempered.
He was stern and his face as acid as ever. A. Trollope.
2. Of or pertaining to an acid; as, acid reaction.
ACID
Ac"id, n.
1. A sour substance.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of compounds, generally but not always
distinguished by their sour taste, solubility in water, and reddening
of vegetable blue or violet colors. They are also characterized by
the power of destroying the distinctive properties of alkalies or
bases, combining with them to form salts, at the same time losing
their own peculiar properties. They all contain hydrogen, united with
a more negative element or radical, either alone, or more generally
with oxygen, and take their names from this negative element or
radical. Those which contain no oxygen are sometimes called hydracids
in distinction from the others which are called oxygen acids or
oxacids.
Note: In certain cases, sulphur, selenium, or tellurium may take the
place of oxygen, and the corresponding compounds are called
respectively sulphur acids or sulphacids, selenium acids, or
tellurium acids. When the hydrogen of an acid is replaced by a
positive element or radical, a salt is formed, and hence acids are
sometimes named as salts of hydrogen; as hydrogen nitrate for nitric
acid, hydrogen sulphate for sulphuric acid, etc. In the old chemistry
the name acid was applied to the oxides of the negative or
nonmetallic elements, now sometimes called anhydrides.
ACIDIC
A*cid"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Containing a high percentage of silica; -- opposed to basic. an
acidic solution.
ACIDIFEROUS
Ac`id*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. acidus sour + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing or yielding an acid.
ACIDIFIABLE
A*cid"i*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being acidified, or converted into an acid.
ACIDIFIC
Ac`id*if"ic, a.
Defn: Producing acidity; converting into an acid. Dana.
ACIDIFICATION
A*cid`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. acidification.]
Defn: The act or process of acidifying, or changing into an acid.
ACIDIFIER
A*cid"i*fi`er, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A simple or compound principle, whose presence is necessary to
produce acidity, as oxygen, chlorine, bromine, iodine, etc.
ACIDIFY
A*cid"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acidified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acidifying.] Etym: [L. acidus sour, acid + -fy: cf. F. acidifier.]
1. To make acid; to convert into an acid; as, to acidify sugar.
2. To sour; to imbitter.
His thin existence all acidified into rage. Carlyle.
ACIDIMETER
Ac`id*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. acidus acid + -meter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the strength of acids. Ure.
ACIDIMETRY
Ac`id*im"e*try, n. Etym: [L. acidus acid + -metry.] (Chem.)
Defn: The measurement of the strength of acids, especially by a
chemical process based on the law of chemical combinations, or the
fact that, to produce a complete reaction, a certain definite weight
of reagent is required.
-- Ac`id*i*met"ric*al, a.
ACIDITY
A*cid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. acidites, fr. acidus: cf. F. acidité. See
Acid.]
Defn: The quality of being sour; sourness; tartness; sharpness to the
taste; as, the acidity of lemon juice.
ACIDLY
Ac"id*ly, adv.
Defn: Sourly; tartly.
ACIDNESS
Ac"id*ness, n.
Defn: Acidity; sourness.
ACID PROCESS
Ac"id proc"ess. (Iron Metal.)
Defn: That variety of either the Bessemer or the open-hearth process
in which the converter or hearth is lined with acid, that is, highly
siliceous, material. Opposed to basic process.
ACIDULATE
A*cid"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acidulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acidulating.] Etym: [Cf. F. aciduler. See Acidulous.]
Defn: To make sour or acid in a moderate degree; to sour somewhat.
Arbuthnot.
ACIDULENT
A*cid"u*lent, a.
Defn: Having an acid quality; sour; acidulous. "With anxious,
acidulent face." Carlyle.
ACIDULOUS
A*cid"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. acidulus, dim. of acidus. See Acid.]
Defn: Slightly sour; sub-acid; sourish; as, an acidulous tincture. E.
Burke. Acidulous mineral waters, such as contain carbonic anhydride.
ACIERAGE
Ac`i*er*age, n. Etym: [F. aciérage, fr. acier steel.]
Defn: The process of coating the surface of a metal plate (as a
stereotype plate) with steellike iron by means of voltaic
electricity; steeling.
ACIFORM
Ac"i*form, a. Etym: [L. acus needle + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a needle.
ACINACEOUS
Ac"i*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. acinus a grape, grapestone.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing seeds or stones of grapes, or grains like them.
ACINACES
A*cin"a*ces, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Anc. Hist.)
Defn: A short sword or saber.
ACINACIFORM
Ac`i*nac"i*form, a. Etym: [L. acinaces a short sword + -form: cf. F.
acinaciforme.] (Bot.)
Defn: Scimeter-shaped; as, an acinaciform leaf.
ACINESIA
Ac`i*ne"si*a, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Akinesia.
ACINETAE
Ac`i*ne"tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of suctorial Infusoria, which in the adult stage are
stationary. See Suctoria.
ACINETIFORM
Ac`i*net"i*form, a. Etym: [Acinetæ + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling the Acinetæ.
ACINIFORM
A*cin"i*form, a. Etym: [L. acinus a grape, grapestone + -form: cf. F.
acinoforme.]
1. Having the form of a cluster of grapes; clustered like grapes.
2. Full of small kernels like a grape.
ACINOSE; ACINOUS
Ac"i*nose`, Ac"i*nous a. Etym: [L. acinosus, fr. acinus grapestone.]
Defn: Consisting of acini, or minute granular concretions; as,
acinose or acinous glands. Kirwan.
ACINUS
Ac"i*nus, n.; pl. Acini. Etym: [L., grape, grapestone.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) One of the small grains or drupelets which make up some kinds of
fruit, as the blackberry, raspberry, etc.
(b) A grapestone.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the granular masses which constitute a racemose or
compound gland, as the pancreas; also, one of the saccular recesses
in the lobules of a racemose gland. Quain.
ACIPENSER
Ac`i*pen"ser, n. Etym: [L., the name of a fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons, having the
body armed with bony scales, and the mouth on the under side of the
head. See Sturgeon.
ACIURGY
Ac"i*ur`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Operative surgery.
ACKNOW
Ac*know", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + know; AS. oncnawan.]
1. To recognize. [Obs.] "You will not be acknown, sir." B. Jonson.
2. To acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.] Chaucer. To be acknown (often
with of or on), to acknowledge; to confess. [Obs.]
We say of a stubborn body that standeth still in the denying of his
fault, This man will not acknowledge his fault, or, He will not be
acknown of his fault. Sir T. More.
ACKNOWLEDGE
Ac*knowl"edge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acknowledged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acknowledging.] Etym: [Prob. fr. pref. a- + the verb knowledge. See
Knowledge, and ci. Acknow.]
1. To of or admit the knowledge of; to recognize as a fact or truth;
to declare one's belief in; as, to acknowledge the being of a God.
I acknowledge my transgressions. Ps. li. 3.
For ends generally acknowledged to be good. Macaulay.
2. To own or recognize in a particular character or relationship; to
admit the claims or authority of; to give recognition to.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him. Prov. iii. 6.
By my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee. Shak.
3. To own with gratitude or as a benefit or an obligation; as, to
acknowledge a favor, the receipt of a letter.
They his gifts acknowledged none. Milton.
4. To own as genuine; to assent to, as a legal instrument, to give it
validity; to avow or admit in legal form; as, to acknowledgea deed.
Syn.
-- To avow; proclaim; recognize; own; admit; allow; concede;
confess.
-- Acknowledge, Recognize. Acknowledge is opposed to keep back, or
conceal, and supposes that something had been previously known to us
(though perhaps not to others) which we now feel bound to lay open or
make public. Thus, a man acknowledges a secret marriage; one who has
done wrong acknowledges his fault; and author acknowledges his
obligation to those who have aided him; we acknowledge our ignorance.
Recognize supposes that we have either forgotten or not had the
evidence of a thing distinctly before our minds, but that now we know
it (as it were) anew, or receive and admit in on the ground of the
evidence it brings. Thus, we recognize a friend after a long absence.
We recognize facts, principles, truths, etc., when their evidence is
brought up fresh to the mind; as, bad men usually recognize the
providence of God in seasons of danger. A foreign minister, consul,
or agent, of any kind, is recognized on the ground of his producing
satisfactory credentials. See also Confess.
ACKNOWLEDGEDLY
Ac*knowl"edged*ly, adv.
Defn: Confessedly.
ACKNOWLEDGER
Ac*knowl"edg*er, n.
Defn: One who acknowledges.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Ac*knowl"edg*ment, n.
1. The act of acknowledging; admission; avowal; owning; confession.
"An acknowledgment of fault." Froude.
2. The act of owning or recognized in a particular character or
relationship; recognition as regards the existence, authority, truth,
or genuineness.
Immediately upon the acknowledgment of the Christian faith, the
eunuch was baptized by Philip. Hooker.
3. The owning of a benefit received; courteous recognition;
expression of thanks. Shak.
4. Something given or done in return for a favor, message, etc.
Smollett.
5. A declaration or avowal of one's own act, to give it legal
validity; as, the acknowledgment of a deed before a proper officer.
Also, the certificate of the officer attesting such declaration.
Acknowledgment money, in some parts of England, a sum paid by
copyhold tenants, on the death of their landlords, as an
acknowledgment of their new lords. Cowell.
Syn.
-- Confession; concession; recognition; admission; avowal;
recognizance.
ACLINIC
A*clin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physics.)
Defn: Without inclination or dipping; -- said the magnetic needle
balances itself horizontally, having no dip. The aclinic line is also
termed the magnetic equator. Prof. August.
ACME
Ac"me, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. The top or highest point; the culmination.
The very acme and pitch of life for epic poetry. Pope.
The moment when a certain power reaches the acme of its supremacy. I.
Taylor.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The crisis or height of a disease.
3. Mature age; full bloom of life. B. Jonson.
ACNE
Ac"ne, n. Etym: [NL., prob. a corruption of Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A pustular affection of the skin, due to changes in the
sebaceous glands.
ACNODAL
Ac*no"dal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to acnodes.
ACNODE
Ac"node, n. Etym: [L. acus needle + E. node.] (Geom.)
Defn: An isolated point not upon a curve, but whose coördinates
satisfy the equation of the curve so that it is considered as
belonging to the curve.
ACOCK
A*cock", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + cock.]
Defn: In a cocked or turned up fashion.
ACOCKBILL
A*cock"bill`, adv. Etym: [Prefix a- + cock + bill: with bills cocked
up.] (Naut.)
(a) Hanging at the cathead, ready to let go, as an anchor.
(b) Topped up; having one yardarm higher than the other.
ACOLD
A*cold", a. Etym: [Prob. p. p. of OE. acolen to grow cold or cool,
AS. acolian to grow cold; pref. a- (cf. Goth. er-, orig. meaning out)
+ colian to cool. See Cool.]
Defn: Cold. [Obs.] "Poor Tom's acold." Shak.
ACOLOGIC
Ac`o*log"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to acology.
ACOLOGY
A*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Materia medica; the science of remedies.
ACOLOTHIST
A*col"o*thist, n.
Defn: See Acolythist.
ACOLYCTINE
Ac`o*lyc"tine, n. Etym: [From the name of the plant.] (Chem.)
Defn: An organic base, in the form of a white powder, obtained from
Aconitum lycoctonum. Eng. Cyc.
ACOLYTE
Ac`o*lyte, n. Etym: [LL. acolythus, acoluthus, Gr. acolyte.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: One who has received the highest of the four minor orders in
the Catholic church, being ordained to carry the wine and water and
the lights at the Mass.
2. One who attends; an assistant. "With such chiefs, and with James
and John as acolytes." Motley.
ACOLYTH
Ac"o*lyth, n.
Defn: Same as Acolyte.
ACOLYTHIST
A*col"y*thist, n.
Defn: An acolyte. [Obs.]
ACONDDYLOSE; ACONDYLOUS
A*cond"dy*lose`, A*con"dy*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Being without joints; jointless.
ACONITAL
Ac`o*ni"tal, a.
Defn: Of the nature of aconite.
ACONITE
Ac"o*nite, n. Etym: [L. aconitum, Gr. aconit.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The herb wolfsbane, or monkshood; -- applied to any plant of
the genus Aconitum (tribe Hellebore), all the species of which are
poisonous.
2. An extract or tincture obtained from Aconitum napellus, used as a
poison and medicinally. Winter aconite, a plant (Eranthis hyemalis)
allied to the aconites.
ACONITIA
Ac`o*ni"ti*a, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Aconitine.
ACONITIC
Ac`o*nit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to aconite.
ACONITINE
A*con"i*tine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An intensely poisonous alkaloid, extracted from aconite.
ACONITUM
Ac`o*ni"tum, n. Etym: [L. See Aconite.]
Defn: The poisonous herb aconite; also, an extract from it.
Strong As aconitum or rash gunpowder. Shak.
ACONTIA
A*con"ti*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Threadlike defensive organs, composed largely of nettling cells
(cnidæ), thrown out of the mouth or special pores of certain Actiniæ
when irritated.
ACONTIAS
A*con"ti*as, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Anciently, a snake, called dart snake; now, one of a genus of
reptiles closely allied to the lizards.
ACOPIC
A*cop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. priv. + (Med.)
Defn: Relieving weariness; restorative.
ACORN
A"corn, n. Etym: [AS. æcern, fr. æcer field, acre; akin to D. aker
acorn, Ger. ecker, Icel. akarn, Dan. agern, Goth. akran fruit, akrs
field; -- orig. fruit of the field. See Acre.]
1. The fruit of the oak, being an oval nut growing in a woody cup or
cupule.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A cone-shaped piece of wood on the point of the spindle above
the vane, on the mast-head.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Acorn-shell.
ACORN CUP
A"corn cup.
Defn: The involucre or cup in which the acorn is fixed.
ACORNED
A"corned, a.
1. Furnished or loaded with acorns.
2. Fed or filled with acorns. [R.] Shak.
ACORN-SHELL
A"corn-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the sessile cirripeds; a barnacle of the genus Balanus.
See Barnacle.
ACOSMISM
A*cos"mism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A denial of the existence of the universe as distinct from God.
ACOSMIST
A*cos"mist, n. Etym: [See Acosmism.]
Defn: One who denies the existence of the universe, or of a universe
as distinct from God. G. H. Lewes.
ACOTYLEDON
A*cot`y*le"don (#; 277), n. Etym: [Gr. Cotyledon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which has no cotyledons, as the dodder and all
flowerless plants.
ACOTYLEDONOUS
A*cot`y*led"on*ous (#; 277), a.
Defn: Having no seed lobes, as the dodder; also applied to plants
which have no true seeds, as ferns, mosses, etc.
ACOUCHY
A*cou"chy, n. Etym: [F. acouchi, from the native name Guiana.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small species of agouti (Dasyprocta acouchy).
ACOUMETER
A*cou"me*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physics.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the acuteness of the sense of
hearing. Itard.
ACOUMETRY
A*cou"me*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: The measuring of the power or extent of hearing.
ACOUSTIC
A*cous"tic (#; 277), a. Etym: [F. acoustique, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the sense of hearing, the organs of hearing, or
the science of sounds; auditory. Acoustic duct, the auditory duct, or
external passage of the ear.
-- Acoustic telegraph, a telegraph making audible signals; a
telephone.
-- Acoustic vessels, brazen tubes or vessels, shaped like a bell,
used in ancient theaters to propel the voices of the actors, so as to
render them audible to a great distance.
ACOUSTIC
A*cous"tic, n.
Defn: A medicine or agent to assist hearing.
ACOUSTICAL
A*cous"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to acoustics.
ACOUSTICALLY
A*cous"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In relation to sound or to hearing. Tyndall.
ACOUSTICIAN
Ac`ous*ti"cian, n.
Defn: One versed in acoustics. Tyndall.
ACOUSTICS
A*cous"tics (#; 277), n. Etym: [Names of sciences in -ics, as,
acoustics, mathematics, etc., are usually treated as singular. See -
ics.] (Physics.)
Defn: The science of sounds, teaching their nature, phenomena, and
laws.
Acoustics, then, or the science of sound, is a very considerable
branch of physics. Sir J. Herschel.
Note: The science is, by some writers, divided, into diacoustics,
which explains the properties of sounds coming directly from the ear;
and catacoustica, which treats of reflected sounds or echoes.
ACQUAINT
Ac*quaint", a. Etym: [OF. acoint. See Acquaint, v. t.]
Defn: Acquainted. [Obs.]
ACQUAINT
Ac*quaint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquainted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acquainting.] Etym: [OE. aqueinten, acointen, OF. acointier, LL.
adcognitare, fr. L. ad + cognitus, p. p. of cognoscere to know; con-
+ noscere to know. See Quaint, Know.]
1. To furnish or give experimental knowledge of; to make (one) to
know; to make familiar; -- followed by with.
Before a man can speak on any subject, it is necessary to be
acquainted with it. Locke.
A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isa. liii. 3.
2. To communicate notice to; to inform; to make cognizant; --
followed by with (formerly, also, by of), or by that, introducing the
intelligence; as, to acquaint a friend with the particulars of an
act.
Acquaint her here of my son Paris' love. Shak.
I must acquaint you that I have received New dated letters from
Northumberland. Shak.
3. To familiarize; to accustom. [Obs.] Evelyn. To be acquainted with,
to be possessed of personal knowledge of; to be cognizant of; to be
more or less familiar with; to be on terms of social intercourse
with.
Syn.
-- To inform; apprise; communicate; advise.
ACQUAINTABLE
Ac*quaint"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. acointable].
Defn: Easy to be acquainted with; affable. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
ACQUAINTANCE
Ac*quaint"ance, n. Etym: [OE. aqueintance, OF. acointance, fr.
acointier. See Acquaint.]
1. A state of being acquainted, or of having intimate, or more than
slight or superficial, knowledge; personal knowledge gained by
intercourse short of that of friendship or intimacy; as, I know the
man; but have no acquaintance with him.
Contract no friendship, or even acquaintance, with a guileful man.
Sir W. Jones.
2. A person or persons with whom one is acquainted.
Montgomery was an old acquaintance of Ferguson. Macaulay.
Note: In this sense the collective term acquaintance was formerly
both singular and plural, but it is now commonly singular, and has
the regular plural acquaintances. To be of acquaintance, to be
intimate.
-- To take acquaintance of or with, to make the acquaintance of.
[Obs.]
Syn.
-- Familiarity; intimacy; fellowship; knowledge.
-- Acquaintance, Familiarity, Intimacy. These words mark different
degrees of closeness in social intercourse. Acquaintance arises from
occasional intercourse; as, our acquaintance has been a brief one. We
can speak of a slight or an intimate acquaintance. Familiarity is the
result of continued acquaintance. It springs from persons being
frequently together, so as to wear off all restraint and reserve; as,
the familiarity of old companions. Intimacy is the result of close
connection, and the freest interchange of thought; as, the intimacy
of established friendship.
Our admiration of a famous man lessens upon our nearer acquaintance
with him. Addison.
We contract at last such a familiarity with them as makes it
difficult and irksome for us to call off our minds. Atterbury.
It is in our power to confine our friendships and intimacies to men
of virtue. Rogers.
ACQUAINTANCESHIP
Ac*quaint"ance*ship, n.
Defn: A state of being acquainted; acquaintance. Southey.
ACQUAINTANT
Ac*quaint"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. acointant, p. pr.]
Defn: An acquaintance. [R.] Swift.
ACQUAINTED
Ac*quaint"ed, a.
Defn: Personally known; familiar. See To be acquainted with, under
Acquaint, v. t.
ACQUAINTEDNESS
Ac*quaint"ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being acquainted; degree of acquaintance. [R.] Boyle.
ACQUEST
Ac*quest", n. Etym: [OF. aquest, F. acquêt, fr. LL. acquestum,
acquisitum, for L. acquisitum, p. p. (used substantively) of
acquirere to acquire. See Acquire.]
1. Acquisition; the thing gained. [R.] Bacon.
2. (Law)
Defn: Property acquired by purchase, gift, or otherwise than by
inheritance. Bouvier.
ACQUIESCE
Ac`qui*esce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Acquiesced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Acquiescing] Etym: [L. acquiescere; ad + quiescere to be quiet, fr.
quies rest: cf. F. acquiescer. See Quiet.]
1. To rest satisfied, or apparently satisfied, or to rest without
opposition and discontent (usually implying previous opposition or
discontent); to accept or consent by silence or by omitting to
object; -- followed by in, formerly also by with and to.
They were compelled to acquiesce in a government which they did not
regard as just. De Quincey.
2. To concur upon conviction; as, to acquiesce in an opinion; to
assent to; usually, to concur, not heartily but so far as to forbear
opposition.
Syn.
-- To submit; comply; yield; assent; agree; consent; accede; concur;
conform; accept tacitly.
ACQUIESCENCE
Ac`qui*es"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. acquiescence.]
1. A silent or passive assent or submission, or a submission with
apparent content; -- distinguished from avowed consent on the one
hand, and on the other, from opposition or open discontent; quiet
satisfaction.
2. (Crim. Law)
(a) Submission to an injury by the party injured.
(b) Tacit concurrence in the action of another. Wharton. p. 17
ACQUIESCENCY
Ac`qui*es"cen*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of being acquiescent; acquiescence.
ACQUIESCENT
Ac`qui*es"cent, a. Etym: [L. acquiescens, -; p. pr.]
Defn: Resting satisfied or submissive; disposed tacitly to submit;
assentive; as, an acquiescent policy.
ACQUIESCENTLY
Ac`qui*es"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an acquiescent manner.
ACQUIET
Ac*qui"et, v. t. Etym: [LL. acquietare; L. ad + quies rest. See Quiet
and cf. Acquit.]
Defn: To quiet. [Obs.]
Acquiet his mind from stirring you against your own peace. Sir A.
Sherley.
ACQUIRABILITY
Ac*quir"a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being acquirable; attainableness. [R.] Paley.
ACQUIRABLE
Ac*quir"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being acquired.
ACQUIRE
Ac*quire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquired; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquiring.]
Etym: [L. acquirere, acquisitum; ad + quarere to seek for. In OE. was
a verb aqueren, fr. the same, through OF. aquerre. See Quest..]
Defn: To gain, usually by one's own exertions; to get as one's own;
as, to acquire a title, riches, knowledge, skill, good or bad habits.
No virtue is acquired in an instant, but step by step. Barrow.
Descent is the title whereby a man, on the death of his ancestor,
acquires his estate, by right of representation, as his heir at law.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- To obtain; gain; attain; procure; win; earn; secure. See Obtain.
ACQUIREMENT
Ac*quire"ment, n.
Defn: The act of acquiring, or that which is acquired; attainment.
"Rules for the acquirement of a taste." Addison.
His acquirements by industry were . . . enriched and enlarged by many
excellent endowments of nature. Hayward.
Syn.
-- Acquisition, Acquirement. Acquirement is used in opposition to a
natural gift or talent; as, eloquence, and skill in music and
painting, are acquirements; genius is the gift or endowment of
nature. It denotes especially personal attainments, in opposition to
material or external things gained, which are more usually called
acquisitions; but this distinction is not always observed.
ACQUIRER
Ac*quir"er, n.
Defn: A person who acquires.
ACQUIRY
Ac*quir"y, n.
Defn: Acquirement. [Obs.] Barrow.
ACQUISITE
Ac"qui*site, a. Etym: [L. acquisitus, p. p. of acquirere. See
Acquire.]
Defn: Acquired. [Obs.] Burton.
ACQUISITION
Ac`qui*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. acquisitio, fr. acquirere: cf. F.
acquisition. See Acquire.]
1. The act or process of acquiring.
The acquisition or loss of a province. Macaulay.
2. The thing acquired or gained; an acquirement; a gain; as, learning
is an acquisition.
Syn.
-- See Acquirement.
ACQUISITIVE
Ac*quis"i*tive, a.
1. Acquired. [Obs.]
He died not in his acquisitive, but in his native soil. Wotton.
2. Able or disposed to make acquisitions; acquiring; as, an
acquisitive person or disposition.
ACQUISITIVELY
Ac*quis"i*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of acquisition.
ACQUISITIVENESS
Ac*quis"i*tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of being acquisitive; propensity to acquire property;
desire of possession.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty to which the phrenologists attribute the desire of
acquiring and possessing. Combe.
ACQUISITOR
Ac*quis"i*tor, n.
Defn: One who acquires.
ACQUIST
Ac*quist", n. Etym: [Cf. Acquest.]
Defn: Acquisition; gain. Milton.
ACQUIT
Ac*quit", p. p.
Defn: Acquitted; set free; rid of. [Archaic] Shak.
ACQUIT
Ac*quit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acquitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acquitting.]
Etym: [OE. aquiten, OF. aquiter, F. acquitter; (L. ad) + OF. quiter,
F. quitter, to quit. See Quit, and cf. Acquiet.]
1. To discharge, as a claim or debt; to clear off; to pay off; to
requite.
A responsibility that can never be absolutely acquitted. I. Taylor.
2. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To set free, release or discharge from an obligation, duty,
liability, burden, or from an accusation or charge; -- now followed
by of before the charge, formerly by from; as, the jury acquitted the
prisoner; we acquit a man of evil intentions.
4. Reflexively: (a) To clear one's self.k. (b) To bear or conduct
one's self; to perform one's part; as, the soldier acquitted himself
well in battle; the orator acquitted himself very poorly.
Syn.
-- To absolve; clear; exonerate; exonerate; exculpate; release;
discharge. See Absolve.
ACQUITMENT
Ac*quit"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aquitement.]
Defn: Acquittal. [Obs.] Milton.
ACQUITTAL
Ac*quit"tal, n.
1. The act of acquitting; discharge from debt or obligation;
acquittance.
2. (Law)
Defn: A setting free, or deliverance from the charge of an offense,
by verdict of a jury or sentence of a court. Bouvier.
ACQUITTANCE
Ac*quit"tance, n. Etym: [OF. aquitance, fr. aquiter. See Acquit.]
1. The clearing off of debt or obligation; a release or discharge
from debt or other liability.
2. A writing which is evidence of a discharge; a receipt in full,
which bars a further demand.
You can produce acquittances For such a sum, from special officers.
Shak.
ACQUITTANCE
Ac*quit"tance, v. t.
Defn: To acquit. [Obs.] Shak.
ACQUITTER
Ac*quit"ter, n.
Defn: One who acquits or releases.
ACRANIA
A*cra"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: Partial or total absence of the skull.
2. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest group of Vertebrata, including the amphioxus, in
which no skull exists.
ACRANIAL
A*cra"ni*al, a.
Defn: Wanting a skull.
ACRASE; ACRAZE
A*crase", A*craze", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + crase; or cf. F. écraser
to crush. See Crase, Craze.]
1. To craze. [Obs.] Grafton.
2. To impair; to destroy. [Obs.] Hacket.
ACRASIA; ACRASY
A*cra"si*a, Ac"ra*sy n. Etym: [Gr. akrasia.]
Defn: Excess; intemperance. [Obs. except in Med.] Farindon.
ACRASPEDA
A*cras"pe*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of acalephs, including most of the larger jellyfishes;
the Discophora.
ACRE
A"cre, n. Etym: [OE. aker, AS. æcer; akin to OS. accar, OHG. achar,
Ger. acker, Icel. akr, Sw. åker, Dan. ager, Goth. akrs, L. ager, Gr.
ajra. *2, 206.]
1. Any field of arable or pasture land. [Obs.]
2. A piece of land, containing 160 square rods, or 4,840 square
yards, or 43,560 square feet. This is the English statute acre. That
of the United States is the same. The Scotch acre was about 1.26 of
the English, and the Irish 1.62 of the English.
Note: The acre was limited to its present definite quantity by
statutes of Edward I., Edward III., and Henry VIII. Broad acres, many
acres, much landed estate. [Rhetorical] -- God's acre, God's field;
the churchyard.
I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls The burial ground,
God's acre. Longfellow.
ACREABLE
A"cre*a*ble, a.
Defn: Of an acre; per acre; as, the acreable produce.
ACREAGE
A"cre*age, n.
Defn: Acres collectively; as, the acreage of a farm or a country.
ACRED
A"cred, a.
Defn: Possessing acres or landed property; -- used in composition;
as, large-acred men.
ACRID
Ac"rid, a. Etym: [L. acer sharp; prob. assimilated in form to acid.
See Eager.]
1. Sharp and harsh, or bitter and not, to the taste; pungent; as,
acrid salts.
2. Causing heat and irritation; corrosive; as, acrid secretions.
3. Caustic; bitter; bitterly irritating; as, acrid temper, mind,
writing. Acrid poison, a poison which irritates, corrodes, or burns
the parts to which it is applied.
ACRIDITY; ACRIDNESS
A*crid"i*ty, Ac"rid*ness n.
Defn: The quality of being acrid or pungent; irritant bitterness;
acrimony; as, the acridity of a plant, of a speech.
ACRIDLY
Ac"rid*ly, adv.
Defn: In an acid manner.
ACRIMONIOUS
Ac"ri*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. acrimonious, F. acrimonieux.]
1. Acrid; corrosive; as, acrimonious gall. [Archaic] Harvey.
2. Caustic; bitter-tempered' sarcastic; as, acrimonious dispute,
language, temper.
ACRIMONIOUSLY
Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an acrimonious manner.
ACRIMONIOUSNESS
Ac`ri*mo"ni*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being acrimonious; asperity; acrimony.
ACRIMONY
Ac"ri*mo*ny, n.; pl. Acrimonies. Etym: [L. acrimonia, fr. acer,
sharp: cf. F. acrimonie.]
1. A quality of bodies which corrodes or destroys others; also, a
harsh or biting sharpness; as, the acrimony of the juices of certain
plants. [Archaic] Bacon.
2. Sharpness or severity, as of language or temper; irritating
bitterness of disposition or manners.
John the Baptist set himself with much acrimony and indignation to
baffle this senseless arrogant conceit of theirs. South.
Syn.
-- Acrimony, Asperity, Harshness, Tartness. These words express
different degrees of angry feeling or language. Asperity and
harshness arise from angry feelings, connected with a disregard for
the feelings of others. Harshness usually denotes needless severity
or an undue measure of severity. Acrimony is a biting sharpness
produced by an imbittered spirit. Tartness denotes slight asperity
and implies some degree of intellectual readiness. Tartness of reply;
harshness of accusation; acrimony of invective.
In his official letters he expressed, with great acrimony, his
contempt for the king's character. Macaulay.
It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no
benefit has been received. Johnson.
A just reverence of mankind prevents the growth of harshness and
brutality. Shaftesbury.
ACRISIA; ACRISY
A*cris"i*a, Ac"ri*sy, n. Etym: [LL. acrisia, Gr.
1. Inability to judge.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Undecided character of a disease. [Obs.]
ACRITA
Ac"ri*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest groups of animals, in which no nervous system has
been observed.
ACRITAN
Ac"ri*tan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Acrita.
-- n. An individual of the Acrita.
ACRITE
Ac"rite, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Acritan. Owen.
ACRITICAL
A*crit"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Having no crisis; giving no indications of a crisis; as,
acritical symptoms, an acritical abscess.
ACRITOCHROMACY
Ac`ri*to*chro"ma*cy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Color blindness; achromatopsy.
ACRITUDE
Ac"ri*tude, n. Etym: [L. acritudo, from acer sharp.]
Defn: Acridity; pungency joined with heat. [Obs.]
ACRITY
Ac"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. acritas, fr. acer sharp: cf. F. âcreté.]
Defn: Sharpness; keenness. [Obs.]
ACROAMATIC; ACROAMATICAL
Ac`ro*a*mat"ic, Ac`ro*a*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Communicated orally; oral; -- applied to the esoteric teachings
of Aristotle, those intended for his genuine disciples, in
distinction from his exoteric doctrines, which were adapted to
outsiders or the public generally. Hence: Abstruse; profound.
ACROATIC
Ac`ro*at"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Same as Acroamatic.
ACROBAT
Ac"ro*bat, n. Etym: [F. acrobate, fr. Gr.
Defn: One who practices rope dancing, high vaulting, or other daring
gymnastic feats.
ACROBATIC
Ac`ro*bat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. acrobatique.]
Defn: Pertaining to an acrobat.
-- Ac`ro*bat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ACROBATISM
Ac"ro*bat*ism, n.
Defn: Feats of the acrobat; daring gymnastic feats; high vaulting.
ACROCARPOUS
Ac`ro*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
(a) Having a terminal fructification; having the fruit at the end of
the stalk.
(b) Having the fruit stalks at the end of a leafy stem, as in certain
mosses.
ACROCEPHALIC
Ac`ro*ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Cephalic.]
Defn: Characterized by a high skull.
ACROCEPHALY
Ac`ro*ceph"a*ly, n.
Defn: Loftiness of skull.
ACROCERAUNIAN
Ac`ro*ce*rau"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. acroceraunius, fr. Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the high mountain range of "thunder-
smitten" peaks (now Kimara), between Epirus and Macedonia. Shelley.
ACRODACTYLUM
Ac`ro*dac"tyl*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The upper surface of the toes, individually.
ACRODONT
Ac"ro*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of lizards having the teeth immovably united to
the top of the alveolar ridge.
-- a. Of or pertaining to the acrodonts.
ACROGEN
Ac"ro*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the highest class of cryptograms, including the
ferns, etc. See Cryptogamia. The Age of Acrogens (Geol.), the age of
coal plants, or the carboniferous era.
ACROGENOUS
Ac*rog"e*nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Increasing by growth from the extremity; as, an acrogenous
plant.
ACROLEIN
A*cro"le*in, n. Etym: [L. acer sharp + olere to smell.] (Chem.)
Defn: A limpid, colorless, highly volatile liquid, obtained by the
dehydration of glycerin, or the destructive distillation of neutral
fats containing glycerin. Its vapors are intensely irritating. Watts.
ACROLITH
Ac"ro*lith, n. Etym: [L. acrolthus, Gr. with the ends made of stone;
(Arch. & Sculp.)
Defn: A statue whose extremities are of stone, the trunk being
generally of wood. Elmes.
ACROLITHAN; ACROLITHIC
A*crol"i*than, Ac`ro*lith"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an acrolith.
ACROMEGALY
Ac`ro*meg"a*ly, n. Etym: [NL. acromegalia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Chronic enlargement of the extremities and face.
ACROMIAL
A*cro"mi*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. acromial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the acromion. Dunglison.
ACROMION
A*cro"mi*on, n. Etym: [Gr. acromion.] (Anat.)
Defn: The outer extremity of the shoulder blade.
ACROMONOGRAMMATIC
Ac`ro*mon`o*gram*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having each verse begin with the same letter as that with which
the preceding verse ends.
ACRONYC; ACRONYCHAL
A*cron"yc, A*cron"ych*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: Rising at sunset and setting at sunrise, as a star; -- opposed
to cosmical.
Note: The word is sometimes incorrectly written acronical,
achronychal, acronichal, and acronical.
ACRONYCALLY
A*cron"yc*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an acronycal manner as rising at the setting of the sun, and
vise versâ.
ACRONYCTOUS
Ac"ro*nyc"tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: Acronycal.
ACROOK
A*crook", adv.
Defn: Crookedly. [R.] Udall.
ACROPETAL
A*crop"e*tal, a. Etym: [Gr. petere to seek.] (Bot.)
Defn: Developing from below towards the apex, or from the
circumference towards the center; centripetal; -- said of certain
inflorescence.
ACROPHONY; ACHROPHONY
A*croph"o*ny, A*chroph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent
phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.
ACROPHONY
A*croph"o*ny, n. [Gr. 'a`kros extreme + sound.]
Defn: The use of a picture symbol of an object to represent
phonetically the initial sound of the name of the object.
ACROPODIUM
Ac`ro*po"di*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The entire upper surface of the foot.
ACROPOLIS
A*crop"o*lis, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The upper part, or the citadel, of a Grecian city; especially,
the citadel of Athens.
ACROPOLITAN
Ac"ro*pol"i*tan, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an acropolis.
ACROSPIRE
Ac"ro*spire, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The sprout at the end of a seed when it begins to germinate;
the plumule in germination; -- so called from its spiral form.
ACROSPIRE
Ac"ro*spire, v. i.
Defn: To put forth the first sprout.
ACROSPORE
Ac"ro*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A spore borne at the extremity of the cells of fructification
in fungi.
ACROSPOROUS
Ac"ro*spor"ous, a.
Defn: Having acrospores.
ACROSS
A*cross" (#; 115), prep. Etym: [Pref. a- + cross: cf. F. en croix.
See Cross, n.]
Defn: From side to side; athwart; crosswise, or in a direction
opposed to the length; quite over; as, a bridge laid across a river.
Dryden. To come across, to come upon or meet incidentally. Freeman.
-- To go across the country, to go by a direct course across a
region without following the roads.
ACROSS
A*cross", adv.
1. From side to side; crosswise; as, with arms folded across. Shak.
2. Obliquely; athwart; amiss; awry. [Obs.]
The squint-eyed Pharisees look across at all the actions of Christ.
Bp. Hall.
ACROSTIC
A*cros"tic, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A composition, usually in verse, in which the first or the last
letters of the lines, or certain other letters, taken in order, form
a name, word, phrase, or motto.
2. A Hebrew poem in which the lines or stanzas begin with the letters
of the alphabet in regular order (as Psalm cxix.). See Abecedarian.
Double acrostic, a species of enigma, in which words are to be
guessed whose initial and final letters form other words.
ACROSTIC; ACROSTICAL
A*cros"tic, A*cros"ti*cal, n.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, acrostics.
ACROSTICALLY
A*cros"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: After the manner of an acrostic.
ACROTARSIUM
Ac`ro*tar"si*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The instep or front of the tarsus.
ACROTELEUTIC
Ac`ro*te*leu"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Eccles.)
Defn: The end of a verse or psalm, or something added thereto, to be
sung by the people, by way of a response.
ACROTER
Ac"ro*ter, n. Etym: [F. acrotère. See Acroterium.] (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Acroterium.
ACROTERIAL
Ac`ro*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an acroterium; as, ornaments. P. Cyc.
ACROTERIUM
Ac`ro*te`ri*um, n.; pl. Acrotplwia. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Arch.)
(a) One of the small pedestals, for statues or other ornaments,
placed on the apex and at the basal angles of a pediment. Acroteria
are also sometimes placed upon the gables in Gothic architecture. J.
H. Parker.
(b) One of the pedestals, for vases or statues, forming a part roof
balustrade.
ACROTIC
A*crot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to or affecting the surface.
ACROTISM
Ac"ro*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Lack or defect of pulsation.
ACROTOMOUS
A*crot"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Having a cleavage parallel with the base.
ACRYLIC
A*cryl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or containing acryl, the hypothetical radical of which
acrolein is the hydride; as, acrylic acid.
ACT
Act, n. Etym: [L. actus, fr. agere to drive, do: cf. F. acte. See
Agent.]
1. That which is done or doing; the exercise of power, or the effect,
of which power exerted is the cause; a performance; a deed.
That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless,
unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. Wordsworth.
Hence, in specific uses:
(a) The result of public deliberation; the decision or determination
of a legislative body, council, court of justice, etc.; a decree,
edit, law, judgment, resolve, award; as, an act of Parliament, or of
Congress.
(b) A formal solemn writing, expressing that something has been done.
Abbott.
(c) A performance of part of a play; one of the principal divisions
of a play or dramatic work in which a certain definite part of the
action is completed.
(d) A thesis maintained in public, in some English universities, by a
candidate for a degree, or to show the proficiency of a student.
2. A state of reality or real existence as opposed to a possibility
or possible existence. [Obs.]
The seeds of plants are not at first in act, but in possibility, what
they afterward grow to be. Hooker.
3. Process of doing; action. In act, in the very doing; on the point
of (doing). "In act to shoot." Dryden.
This woman was taken . . . in the very act. John viii. 4.
Act of attainder. (Law) See Attainder.
-- Act of bankruptcy (Law), an act of a debtor which renders him
liable to be adjudged a bankrupt.
-- Act of faith. (Ch. Hist.) See Auto-da-Fé.
-- Act of God (Law), an inevitable accident; such extraordinary
interruption of the usual course of events as is not to be looked for
in advance, and against which ordinary prudence could not guard.
-- Act of grace, an expression often used to designate an act
declaring pardon or amnesty to numerous offenders, as at the
beginning of a new reign.
-- Act of indemnity, a statute passed for the protection of those
who have committed some illegal act subjecting them to penalties.
Abbott.
-- Act in pais, a thing done out of court (anciently, in the
country), and not a matter of record.
Syn.
-- See Action.
ACT
Act, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Acted; p. pr. & vb. n. Acting.] Etym: [L.
actus, p. p. of agere to drive, lead, do; but influenced by E. act,
n.]
1. To move to action; to actuate; to animate. [Obs.]
Self-love, the spring of motion, acts the soul. Pope.
2. To perform; to execute; to do. [Archaic]
That we act our temporal affairs with a desire no greater than our
necessity. Jer. Taylor.
Industry doth beget by producing good habits, and facility of acting
things expedient for us to do. Barrow.
Uplifted hands that at convenient times Could act extortion and the
worst of crimes. Cowper.
3. To perform, as an actor; to represent dramatically on the stage.
4. To assume the office or character of; to play; to personate; as,
to act the hero.
5. To feign or counterfeit; to simulate.
With acted fear the villain thus pursued. Dryden.
To act a part, to sustain the part of one of the characters in a
play; hence, to simulate; to dissemble.
-- To act the part of, to take the character of; to fulfill the
duties of.
ACT
Act, v. i.
1. To exert power; to produce an effect; as, the stomach acts upon
food.
2. To perform actions; to fulfill functions; to put forth energy; to
move, as opposed to remaining at rest; to carry into effect a
determination of the will.
He hangs between, in doubt to act or rest. Pope.
3. To behave or conduct, as in morals, private duties, or public
offices; to bear or deport one's self; as, we know not why he has
acted so.
4. To perform on the stage; to represent a character.
To show the world how Garrick did not act. Cowper.
To act as or for, to do the work of; to serve as.
-- To act on, to regulate one's conduct according to.
-- To act up to, to equal in action; to fulfill in practice; as, he
has acted up to his engagement or his advantages.
ACTABLE
Act"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being acted. Tennyson.
ACTINAL
Ac"ti*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the part of a radiate animal which contains the
mouth. L. Agassiz.
ACTINARIA
Ac`ti*na"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large division of Anthozoa, including those which have simple
tentacles and do not form stony corals. Sometimes, in a wider sense,
applied to all the Anthozoa, expert the Alcyonaria, whether forming
corals or not.
ACTING
Act"ing, a.
1. Operating in any way.
2. Doing duty for another; officiating; as, an superintendent.
ACTINIA
Ac*tin"i*a, n.; pl. L. Actiniæ, E. Actinias. Etym: [Latinized fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
(a) An animal of the class Anthozoa, and family Actinidæ. From a
resemblance to flowers in form and color, they are often called
animal flowers and sea anemones. [See Polyp.].
(b) A genus in the family Actinidæ.
ACTINIC
Ac*tin"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to actinism; as, actinic rays.
ACTINIFORM
Ac*tin"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.]
Defn: Having a radiated form, like a sea anemone.
ACTINISM
Ac"tin*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The property of radiant energy (found chiefly in solar or
electric light) by which chemical changes are produced, as in
photography.
ACTINIUM
Ac*tin"i*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed metal, said by Phipson to be contained in commercial
zinc; -- so called because certain of its compounds are darkened by
exposure to light.
ACTINO-CHEMISTRY
Ac`ti*no-chem"is*try, n.
Defn: Chemistry in its relations to actinism. Draper.
ACTINOGRAM
Ac*tin"o*gram, n. [Gr. , , ray + -gram.]
Defn: A record made by the actinograph.
ACTINOGRAPH
Ac*tin"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording the variations in the
actinic or chemical force of rays of light. Nichol.
ACTINOID
Ac"tin*oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Having the form of rays; radiated, as an actinia.
ACTINOLITE
Ac*tin"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A bright green variety of amphibole occurring usually in
fibrous or columnar masses.
ACTINOLITIC
Ac`tin*o*lit"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Of the nature of, or containing, actinolite.
ACTINOLOGY
Ac`ti*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of rays of light, especially of the
actinic or chemical rays.
ACTINOMERE
Ac*tin"o*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the radial segments composing the body of one of the
Coelenterata.
ACTINOMETER
Ac`ti*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter]
(a) An instrument for measuring the direct heating power of the sun's
rays.
(b) An instrument for measuring the actinic effect of rays of light.
ACTINOMETRIC
Ac`ti*no*met"ric, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the measurement of the intensity of the solar
rays, either (a) heating, or (b) actinic.
ACTINOMETRY
Ac`ti*nom"e*try, n.
1. The measurement of the force of solar radiation. Maury.
2. The measurement of the chemical or actinic energy of light. Abney.
ACTINOMYCOSIS
Ac`ti*no*my*co"sis, n. [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: A chronic infectious disease of cattle and man due to the
presence of Actinomyces bovis. It causes local suppurating tumors,
esp. about the jaw. Called also lumpy jaw or big jaw. --
Ac`ti*no*my*cot"ic (#), a.
ACTINOPHONE
Ac*tin"o*phone, n. [Gr. , , ray + voice.] (Physics)
Defn: An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of the
actinic, or ultraviolet, rays.
ACTINOPHONIC
Ac*tin`o*phon"ic, a. (Physics)
Defn: Pertaining to, or causing the production of, sound by means of
the actinic, or ultraviolet, rays; as, actinophonic phenomena.
ACTINOPHOROUS
Ac`ti*noph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having straight projecting spines.
ACTINOSOME
Ac*tin"o*some, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The entire body of a coelenterate.
ACTINOST
Ac"tin*ost, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: (Anat.) One of the bones at the base of a paired fin of a fish.
ACTINOSTOME
Ac*tin"o*stome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The mouth or anterior opening of a coelenterate animal.
ACTINOTROCHA
Ac`ti*not"ro*cha, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar larval form of Phoronis, a genus of marine worms,
having a circle of ciliated tentacles.
ACTINOZOA
Ac"ti*no*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Coelenterata, comprising the Anthozoa Ctenophora.
The sea anemone, or actinia, is a familiar example.
ACTINOZOAL
Ac`ti*no*zo"al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Actinozoa.
ACTINOZOON; ACTINOZOOEN
Ac"ti*no*zo"ön, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Actinozoa.
ACTINULA
Ac*tin"u*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of embryo of certain hydroids (Tubularia), having a
stellate form.
ACTION
Ac"tion, n. Etym: [OF. action, L. actio, fr. agere to do. See Act.]
1. A process or condition of acting or moving, as opposed to rest;
the doing of something; exertion of power or force, as when one body
acts on another; the effect of power exerted on one body by another;
agency; activity; operation; as, the action of heat; a man of action.
One wise in council, one in action brave. Pope.
2. An act; a thing done; a deed; an enterprise. (pl.): Habitual
deeds; hence, conduct; behavior; demeanor.
The Lord is a Good of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1
Sam. ii. 3.
3. The event or connected series of events, either real or imaginary,
forming the subject of a play, poem, or other composition; the
unfolding of the drama of events.
4. Movement; as, the horse has a spirited action.
5. (Mech.)
Defn: Effective motion; also, mechanism; as, the breech action of a
gun.
6. (Physiol.)
Defn: Any one of the active processes going on in an organism; the
performance of a function; as, the action of the heart, the muscles,
or the gastric juice.
7. (Orat.)
Defn: Gesticulation; the external deportment of the speaker, or the
suiting of his attitude, voice, gestures, and countenance, to the
subject, or to the feelings.
8. (Paint. & Sculp.)
Defn: The attitude or position of the several parts of the body as
expressive of the sentiment or passion depicted.
9. (Law)
(a) A suit or process, by which a demand is made of a right in a
court of justice; in a broad sense, a judicial proceeding for the
enforcement or protection of a right, the redress or prevention of a
wrong, or the punishment of a public offense.
(b) A right of action; as, the law gives an action for every claim.
10. (Com.)
Defn: A share in the capital stock of a joint-stock company, or in
the public funds; hence, in the plural, equivalent to stocks. [A
Gallicism] [Obs.]
The Euripus of funds and actions. Burke.
11. An engagement between troops in war, whether on land or water; a
battle; a fight; as, a general action, a partial action.
12. (Music)
Defn: The mechanical contrivance by means of which the impulse of the
player's finger is transmitted to the strings of a pianoforte or to
the valve of an organ pipe. Grove. Chose in action. (Law) See Chose.
-- Quantity of action (Physics), the product of the mass of a body
by the space it runs through, and its velocity.
Syn.
-- Action, Act. In many cases action and act are synonymous; but
some distinction is observable. Action involves the mode or process
of acting, and is usually viewed as occupying some time in doing. Act
has more reference to the effect, or the operation as complete.
To poke the fire is an act, to reconcile friends who have quarreled
is a praiseworthy action. C. J. Smith.
ACTIONABLE
Ac"tion*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. actionabilis. See Action.]
Defn: That may be the subject of an action or suit at law; as, to
call a man a thief is actionable.
ACTIONABLY
Ac"tion*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an actionable manner.
ACTIONARY; ACTIONIST
Ac"tion*a*ry, Ac"tion*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. actionnaire.] (Com.)
Defn: A shareholder in joint-stock company. [Obs.]
ACTIONLESS
Ac"tion*less, a.
Defn: Void of action.
ACTIVATE
Ac"ti*vate, v. t.
Defn: To make active. [Obs.]
ACTIVE
Ac"tive, a. Etym: [F. actif, L. activus, fr. agere to act.]
1. Having the power or quality of acting; causing change;
communicating action or motion; acting; -- opposed to Ant: passive,
that receives; as, certain active principles; the powers of the mind.
2. Quick in physical movement; of an agile and vigorous body; nimble;
as, an active child or animal.
Active and nervous was his gait. Wordsworth.
3. In action; actually proceeding; working; in force; -- opposed to
quiescent, dormant, or extinct; as, active laws; active hostilities;
an active volcano.
4. Given to action; constantly engaged in action; energetic;
diligent; busy; -- opposed to dull, sluggish, indolent, or inert; as,
an active man of business; active mind; active zeal.
5. Requiring or implying action or exertion; -- opposed to Ant:
sedentary or to Ant: tranquil; as, active employment or service;
active scenes.
6. Given to action rather than contemplation; practical; operative; -
- opposed to Ant: speculative or Ant: theoretical; as, an active
rather than a speculative statesman.
7. Brisk; lively; as, an active demand for corn.
8. Implying or producing rapid action; as, an active disease; an
active remedy.
9. (Gram.)
(a) Applied to a form of the verb; -- opposed to Ant: passive. See
Active voice, under Voice.
(b) Applied to verbs which assert that the subject acts upon or
affects something else; transitive.
(c) Applied to all verbs that express action as distinct from mere
existence or state. Active capital, Active wealth, money, or property
that may readily be converted into money.
Syn.
-- Agile; alert; brisk; vigorous; nimble; lively; quick; sprightly;
prompt; energetic.
ACTIVELY
Ac"tive*ly, adv.
1. In an active manner; nimbly; briskly; energetically; also, by
one's own action; voluntarily, not passively.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: In an active signification; as, a word used actively.
ACTIVENESS
Ac"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being active; nimbleness; quickness of motion;
activity.
ACTIVITY
Ac*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Activities. Etym: [Cf. F. activité, LL.
activitas.]
Defn: The state or quality of being active; nimbleness; agility;
vigorous action or operation; energy; active force; as, an increasing
variety of human activities. "The activity of toil." Palfrey.
Syn.
-- Liveliness; briskness; quickness.
ACTLESS
Act"less, a.
Defn: Without action or spirit. [R.]
ACTON
Ac"ton, n. Etym: [OF. aketon, auqueton, F. hoqueton, a quilted
jacket, fr. Sp. alcoton, algodon, cotton. Cf. Cotton.]
Defn: A stuffed jacket worn under the mail, or (later) a jacket
plated with mail. [Spelled also hacqueton.] [Obs.] Halliwell. Sir W.
Scott.
ACTOR
Ac"tor, n. Etym: [L. actor, fr. agere to act.]
1. One who acts, or takes part in any affair; a doer.
2. A theatrical performer; a stageplayer.
After a well graced actor leaves the stage. Shak.
3. (Law)
(a) An advocate or proctor in civil courts or causes. Jacobs.
(b) One who institutes a suit; plaintiff or complainant.
ACTRESS
Ac`tress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. actrice.]
1. A female actor or doer. [Obs.] Cockeram.
2. A female stageplayer; a woman who acts a part.
ACTUAL
Ac"tu*al (#; 135), a. Etym: [OE. actuel, F. actuel, L. actualis, fr.
agere to do, act.]
1. Involving or comprising action; active. [Obs.]
Her walking and other actual performances. Shak.
Let your holy and pious intention be actual; that is . . . by a
special prayer or action, . . . given to God. Jer. Taylor.
2. Existing in act or reality; really acted or acting; in fact; real;
-- opposed to potential, possible, virtual, speculative, coceivable,
theoretical, or nominal; as, the actual cost of goods; the actual
case under discussion.
3. In action at the time being; now exiting; present; as the actual
situation of the country. Actual cautery. See under Cautery.
-- Actual sin (Theol.), that kind of sin which is done by ourselves
in contradistinction to "original sin."
Syn.
-- Real; genuine; positive; certain. See Real.
ACTUAL
Ac"tu*al, n. (Finance)
Defn: Something actually received; real, as distinct from estimated,
receipts. [Cant]
The accounts of revenues supplied . . . were not real receipts: not,
in financial language, "actuals," but only Egyptian budget estimates.
Fortnightly Review.
ACTUALIST
Ac"tu*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who deals with or considers actually existing facts and
conditions, rather than fancies or theories; -- opposed to idealist.
J. Grote.
ACTUALITY
Ac`tu*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Actualities.
Defn: The state of being actual; reality; as, the actuality of God's
nature. South.
ACTUALIZATION
Ac`tu*al*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: A making actual or really existent. [R.] Emerson.
ACTUALIZE
Ac"tu*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make actual; to realize in action. [R.] Coleridge.
ACTUALLY
Ac"tu*al*ly, adv.
1. Actively. [Obs.] "Neither actually . . . nor passively." Fuller.
2. In act or in fact; really; in truth; positively.
ACTUALNESS
Ac"tu*al*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being actual; actuality.
ACTUARIAL
Ac`tu*a"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to actuaries; as, the actuarial value of an
annuity.
ACTUARY
Ac"tu*a*ry, n.; pl. Actuaries. Etym: [L. actuarius copyist, clerk,
fr. actus, p. p. of agere to do, act.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A registar or clerk; -- used originally in courts of civil law
jurisdiction, but in Europe used for a clerk or registar generally.
2. The computing official of an insurance company; one whose
profession it is to calculate for insurance companies the risks and
premiums for life, fire, and other insurances.
ACTUATE
Ac"tu*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Actuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Actuating.]
Etym: [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare, fr. L. actus act.]
1. To put into action or motion; to move or incite to action; to
influence actively; to move as motives do; -- more commonly used of
persons.
Wings, which others were contriving to actuate by the perpetual
motion. Johnson.
Men of the greatest abilities are most fired with ambition; and, on
the contrary, mean and narrow minds are the least actuated by it.
Addison.
2. To carry out in practice; to perform. [Obs.] "To actuate what you
command." Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To move; impel; incite; rouse; instigate; animate.
ACTUATE
Ac"tu*ate, a. Etym: [LL. actuatus, p. p. of actuare.]
Defn: Put in action; actuated. [Obs.] South.
ACTUATION
Ac`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. actuatio.]
Defn: A bringing into action; movement. Bp. Pearson.
ACTUATOR
Ac"tu*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who actuates, or puts into action. [R.] Melville.
ACTUOSE
Ac"tu*ose`, a. Etym: [L. actuosus.]
Defn: Very active. [Obs.]
ACTUOSITY
Ac`tu*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: Abundant activity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
ACTURE
Ac"ture, n.
Defn: Action. [Obs.] Shak.
ACTURIENCE
Ac*tu"ri*ence, n. Etym: [A desid. of L. agere, actum, to act.]
Defn: Tendency or impulse to act. [R.]
Acturience, or desire of action, in one form or another, whether as
restlessness, ennui, dissatisfaction, or the imagination of something
desirable. J. Grote.
ACUATE
Ac"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. acus needle.]
Defn: To sharpen; to make pungent; to quicken. [Obs.] "[To] acuate
the blood." Harvey.
ACUATE
Ac"u*ate, a.
Defn: Sharpened; sharp-pointed.
ACUATION
Ac`u*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of sharpening. [R.]
ACUITION
Ac`u*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. acutus, as if acuitus, p. p. of acuere to
sharpen.]
Defn: The act of sharpening. [Obs.]
ACUITY
A*cu"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. acuitas: cf. F. acuité.]
Defn: Sharpness or acuteness, as of a needle, wit, etc.
ACULEATE
A*cu"le*ate, a. Etym: [L. aculeatus, fr. aculeus, dim. of acus
needle.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a sting; covered with prickles; sharp like a prickle.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having prickles, or sharp points; beset with prickles.
3. Severe or stinging; incisive. [R.] Bacon.
ACULEATED
A*cu"le*a`ted, a.
Defn: Having a sharp point; armed with prickles; prickly; aculeate.
ACULEIFORM
A*cu"le*i*form, a.
Defn: Like a prickle.
ACULEOLATE
A*cu"le*o*late, a. Etym: [L. aculeolus little needle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having small prickles or sharp points. Gray.
ACULEOUS
A*cu"le*ous, a.
Defn: Aculeate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ACULEUS
A*cu"le*us, n.; pl. Aculei. Etym: [L., dim. of acus needle.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A prickle growing on the bark, as in some brambles and roses.
Lindley.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sting.
ACUMEN
A*cu"men, n. Etym: [L. acumen, fr. acuere to sharpen. Cf. Acute.]
Defn: Quickness of perception or discernment; penetration of mind;
the faculty of nice discrimination. Selden.
Syn.
-- Sharpness; sagacity; keenness; shrewdness; acuteness.
ACUMINATE
A*cu"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. acuminatus, p. p. of acuminare to sharpen,
fr. acumen. See Acumen.]
Defn: Tapering to a point; pointed; as, acuminate leaves, teeth, etc.
ACUMINATE
A*cu"mi*nate, v. t.
Defn: To render sharp or keen. [R.] "To acuminate even despair."
Cowper.
ACUMINATE
A*cu"mi*nate, v. i.
Defn: To end in, or come to, a sharp point. "Acuminating in a cone of
prelacy." Milton.
ACUMINATION
A*cu`mi*na"tion, n.
Defn: A sharpening; termination in a sharp point; a tapering point.
Bp. Pearson.
ACUMINOSE
A*cu"mi*nose`, a.
Defn: Terminating in a flat, narrow end. Lindley.
ACUMINOUS
A*cu"mi*nous, a.
Defn: Characterized by acumen; keen. Highmore.
ACUPRESSURE
Ac`u*pres"sure, n. Etym: [L. acus needle + premere, pressum, to
press.] (Surg.)
Defn: A mode of arresting hemorrhage resulting from wounds or
surgical operations, by passing under the divided vessel a needle,
the ends of which are left exposed externally on the cutaneous
surface. Simpson.
ACUPUNCTURATION
Ac`u*punc`tu*ra"tion, n.
Defn: See Acupuncture.
ACUPUNCTURE
Ac`u*punc"ture, n. Etym: [L. acus needle + punctura a pricking, fr.
pungere to prick: cf. F. acuponcture.]
Defn: Pricking with a needle; a needle prick. Specifically (Med.):
Defn: The insertion of needles into the living tissues for remedial
purposes.
ACUPUNCTURE
Ac`u*punc"ture, v. t.
Defn: To treat with acupuncture.
ACUSTUMAUNCE
A*cus"tum*aunce, n.
Defn: See Accustomance. [Obs.]
ACUTANGULAR
A*cut"an`gu*lar, a.
Defn: Acute-angled.
ACUTE
A*cute", a. Etym: [L. acutus, p. p. of acuere to sharpen, fr. a root
ak to be sharp. Cf. Ague, Cute, Edge.]
1. Sharp at the end; ending in a sharp point; pointed; -- opposed to
blunt or obtuse; as, an acute angle; an acute leaf.
2. Having nice discernment; perceiving or using minute distinctions;
penetrating; clever; shrewd; -- opposed to Ant: dull or Ant: stupid;
as, an acute observer; acute remarks, or reasoning.
3. Having nice or quick sensibility; susceptible to slight
impressions; acting keenly on the senses; sharp; keen; intense; as, a
man of acute eyesight, hearing, or feeling; acute pain or pleasure.
4. High, or shrill, in respect to some other sound; -- opposed to
grave or low; as, an acute tone or accent.
5. (Med.)
Defn: Attended with symptoms of some degree of severity, and coming
speedily to a crisis; -- opposed to chronic; as, an acute disease.
Acute angle (Geom.), an angle less than a right angle.
Syn.
-- Subtile; ingenious; sharp; keen; penetrating; sagacious; sharp-
witted; shrewd; discerning; discriminating. See Subtile.
ACUTE
A*cute", v. t.
Defn: To give an acute sound to; as, he acutes his rising inflection
too much. [R.] Walker.
ACUTE-ANGLED
A*cute"-*an`gled, a.
Defn: Having acute angles; as, an acute-angled triangle, a triangle
with every one of its angles less than a right angle.
ACUTELY
A*cute"ly, adv.
Defn: In an acute manner; sharply; keenly; with nice discrimination.
ACUTENESS
A*cute"ness, n.
1. The quality of being acute or pointed; sharpness; as, the
acuteness of an angle.
2. The faculty of nice discernment or perception; acumen; keenness;
sharpness; sensitiveness; -- applied to the senses, or the
understanding. By acuteness of feeling, we perceive small objects or
slight impressions: by acuteness of intellect, we discern nice
distinctions.
Perhaps, also, he felt his professional acuteness interested in
bringing it to a successful close. Sir W. Scott.
3. Shrillness; high pitch; -- said of sounds.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Violence of a disease, which brings it speedily to a crisis.
Syn.
-- Penetration; sagacity; keenness; ingenuity; shrewdness; subtlety;
sharp-wittedness.
ACUTIFOLIATE
A*cu`ti*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [L. acutus sharp + folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having sharp-pointed leaves.
ACUTILOBATE
A*cu`ti*lo"bate, a. Etym: [L. acutus sharp + E. lobe.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having acute lobes, as some leaves.
ACUTORSION
Ac`u*tor"sion, n. [L. acus needle + torsion.] (Med.)
Defn: The twisting of an artery with a needle to arrest hemorrhage.
ACYCLIC
A*cyc"lic, a. [Pref. a- not + cyclic.]
Defn: Not cyclic; not disposed in cycles or whorls; as: (a) (Bot.)
Defn: Of a flower, having its parts inserted spirally on the
receptacle.
(b) (Org. Chem.) Having an open-chain structure; aliphatic.
ACYL
Ac"yl, n. [Acid + -yl.] (Org. Chem.)
Defn: An acid radical, as acetyl, malonyl, or benzoyl.
AD-
Ad-. Etym: [A Latin preposition, signifying to. See At.]
Defn: As a prefix ad- assumes the forms ac-, af-, ag-, al-, an-, ap-,
ar-, as-, at-, assimilating the d with the first letter of the word
to which ad- is prefixed. It remains unchanged before vowels, and
before d, h, j, m, v. Examples: adduce, adhere, adjacent, admit,
advent, accord, affect, aggregate, allude, annex, appear, etc. It
becomes ac- before qu, as in acquiesce.
ADACT
Ad*act", v. t. Etym: [L. adactus, p. p. of adigere.]
Defn: To compel; to drive. [Obs.] Fotherby.
ADACTYL; ADACTYLOUS
A*dac"tyl, A*dac"tyl*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) Without fingers or without toes.
(b) Without claws on the feet (of crustaceous animals).
ADAGE
Ad"age, n. Etym: [F. adage, fr. L. adagium; ad + the root of L. aio I
say.]
Defn: An old saying, which has obtained credit by long use; a
proverb.
Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," Like the poor cat i' the
adage. Shak.
Syn.
-- Axiom; maxim; aphorism; proverb; saying; saw; apothegm. See
Axiom.
ADAGIAL
A*da"gi*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an adage; proverbial. "Adagial verse." Barrow.
ADAGIO
A*da"gio, a. & adv. Etym: [It. adagio; ad (L. ad) at + agio
convenience, leisure, ease. See Agio.] (Mus.)
Defn: Slow; slowly, leisurely, and gracefully. When repeated, adagio,
adagio, it directs the movement to be very slow.
ADAGIO
A*da"gio, n.
Defn: A piece of music in adagio time; a slow movement; as, an adagio
of Haydn.
ADAM
Ad"am, n.
1. The name given in the Bible to the first man, the progenitor of
the human race.
2. (As a symbol)
Defn: "Original sin;" human frailty.
And whipped the offending Adam out of him. Shak.
Adam's ale, water. [Coll.] -- Adam's apple.
1. (Bot.) (a) A species of banana (Musa paradisiaca). It attains a
height of twenty feet or more. Paxton]. (b) A species of lime (Citris
limetta).
2. The projection formed by the thyroid cartilage in the neck. It is
particularly prominent in males, and is so called from a notion that
it was caused by the forbidden fruit (an apple) sticking in the
throat of our first parent.
-- Adam's flannel (Bot.), the mullein (Verbascum thapsus).
-- Adam's needle (Bot.), the popular name of a genus (Yucca) of
liliaceous plants.
ADAMANT
Ad"a*mant, n. Etym: [OE. adamaunt, adamant, diamond, magnet, OF.
adamant, L. adamas, adamantis, the hardest metal, fr. Gr. adamare to
love, be attached to, the word meant also magnet, as in OF. and LL.
See Diamond, Tame.]
1. A stone imagined by some to be of impenetrable hardness; a name
given to the diamond and other substance of extreme hardness; but in
modern minerology it has no technical signification. It is now a
rhetorical or poetical name for the embodiment of impenetrable
hardness.
Opposed the rocky orb Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield. Milton.
2. Lodestone; magnet. [Obs.] "A great adamant of acquaintance."
Bacon.
As true to thee as steel to adamant. Greene.
ADAMANTEAN
Ad`a*man*te"an, a. Etym: [L. adamanteus.]
Defn: Of adamant; hard as adamant. Milton.
ADAMANTINE
Ad`a*man"tine, a. Etym: [L. adamantinus, Gr.
1. Made of adamant, or having the qualities of adamant; incapable of
being broken, dissolved, or penetrated; as, adamantine bonds or
chains.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Like the diamond in hardness or luster.
ADAMBULACRAL
Ad`am*bu*la"cral, a. Etym: [L. ad + E. ambulacral.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Next to the ambulacra; as, the adambulacral ossicles of the
starfish.
ADAMIC; ADAMICAL
A*dam"ic, A*dam"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Adam, or resembling him. Adamic earth, a
name given to common red clay, from a notion that Adam means red
earth.
ADAMITE
Ad"am*ite, n. Etym: [From Adam.]
1. A descendant of Adam; a human being.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of visionaries, who, professing to imitate the
state of Adam, discarded the use of dress in their assemblies.
ADAM'S APPLE
Ad"am's ap"ple.
Defn: See under Adam.
ADANCE
A*dance", adv.
Defn: Dancing. Lowell.
ADANGLE
A*dan"gle, adv.
Defn: Dangling. Browning.
ADANSONIA
Ad`an*so"ni*a, n. Etym: [From Adanson, a French botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of great trees related to the Bombax. There are two
species, A. digitata, the baobab or monkey-bread of Africa and India,
and A. Gregorii, the sour gourd or cream-of-tartar tree of Australia.
Both have a trunk of moderate height, but of enormous diameter, and a
wide-spreading head. The fruit is oblong, and filled with pleasantly
acid pulp. The wood is very soft, and the bark is used by the natives
for making ropes and cloth. D. C. Eaton.
ADAPT
A*dapt", a.
Defn: Fitted; suited. [Obs.] Swift.
ADAPT
A*dapt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adapted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adapting.]
Etym: [L. adaptare; ad + aptare to fit; cf. F. adapter. See Apt,
Adept.]
Defn: To make suitable; to fit, or suit; to adjust; to alter so as to
fit for a new use; -- sometimes followed by to or for.
For nature, always in the right, To your decays adapts my sight.
Swift.
Appeals adapted to his [man's] whole nature. Angus.
Streets ill adapted for the residence of wealthy persons. Macaulay.
ADAPTABILITY; ADAPTABLENESS
A*dapt`a*bil"i*ty, A*dapt"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adaptable; suitableness. "General
adaptability for every purpose." Farrar.
ADAPTABLE
A*dapt"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being adapted.
ADAPTATION
Ad`ap*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adaptation, LL. adaptatio.]
1. The act or process of adapting, or fitting; or the state of being
adapted or fitted; fitness. "Adaptation of the means to the end."
Erskine.
2. The result of adapting; an adapted form.
ADAPTATIVE
A*dapt"a*tive, a.
Defn: Adaptive. Stubbs.
ADAPTEDNESS
A*dapt"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being adapted; suitableness; special
fitness.
ADAPTER
A*dapt"er, n.
1. One who adapts.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A connecting tube; an adopter.
ADAPTION
A*dap"tion, n.
Defn: Adaptation. Cheyne.
ADAPTIVE
A*dapt"ive, a.
Defn: Suited, given, or tending, to adaptation; characterized by
adaptation; capable of adapting. Coleridge.
-- A*dapt"ive*ly, adv.
ADAPTIVENESS
A*dapt"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adaptive; capacity to adapt.
ADAPTLY
A*dapt"ly, adv.
Defn: In a suitable manner. [R.] Prior.
ADAPTNESS
A*dapt"ness, n.
Defn: Adaptedness. [R.]
ADAPTORIAL
Ad`ap*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Adaptive. [R.]
ADAR
A"dar, n. Etym: [Heb. adär.]
Defn: The twelfth month of the Hebrew ecclesiastical year, and the
sixth of the civil. It corresponded nearly with March.
ADARCE
A*dar"ce, n. Etym: [L. adarce, adarca, Gr.
Defn: A saltish concretion on reeds and grass in marshy grounds in
Galatia. It is soft and porous, and was formerly used for cleansing
the skin from freckles and tetters, and also in leprosy. Dana.
ADATIS
Ad"a*tis, n.
Defn: A fine cotton cloth of India.
ADAUNT
A*daunt", v. t. Etym: [OE. adaunten to overpower, OF. adonter; à (L.
ad) + donter, F. dompter. See Daunt.]
Defn: To daunt; to subdue; to mitigate. [Obs.] Skelton.
ADAW
A*daw", v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. adawe of dawe, AS. of dagum from days,
i. e., from life, out of life.]
Defn: To subdue; to daunt. [Obs.]
The sight whereof did greatly him adaw. Spenser.
ADAW
A*daw", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. adawen to wake; pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-
, Ger. er-) + dawen, dagon, to dawn. See Daw.]
Defn: To awaken; to arouse. [Obs.]
A man that waketh of his sleep He may not suddenly well taken keep
Upon a thing, ne seen it parfitly Till that he be adawed verily.
Chaucer.
ADAYS
A*days", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- (for on) + day; the final s was orig. a
genitive ending, afterwards forming adverbs.]
Defn: By day, or every day; in the daytime. [Obs.] Fielding.
AD CAPTANDUM
Ad cap*tan"dum. Etym: [L., for catching.]
Defn: A phrase used adjectively sometimes of meretricious attempts to
catch or win popular favor.
ADD
Add, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Added; p. pr. & vb. n. Adding.] Etym: [L.
addere; ad + dare to give, put. Cf. Date, Do.]
1. To give by way of increased possession (to any one); to bestow
(on).
The Lord shall add to me another son. Gen. xxx. 24.
2. To join or unite, as one thing to another, or as several
particulars, so as to increase the number, augment the quantity,
enlarge the magnitude, or so as to form into one aggregate. Hence: To
sum up; to put together mentally; as, to add numbers; to add up a
column.
Back to thy punishment, False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings.
Milton.
As easily as he can add together the ideas of two days or two years.
Locke.
3. To append, as a statement; to say further.
He added that he would willingly consent to the entire abolition of
the tax. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To Add, Join, Annex, Unite, Coalesce. We add by bringing things
together so as to form a whole. We join by putting one thing to
another in close or continuos connection. We annex by attaching some
adjunct to a larger body. We unite by bringing things together so
that their parts adhere or intermingle. Things coalesce by coming
together or mingling so as to form one organization. To add
quantities; to join houses; to annex territory; to unite kingdoms; to
make parties coalesce.
ADD
Add, v. i.
1. To make an addition. To add to, to augment; to increase; as, it
adds to our anxiety. "I will add to your yoke." 1 Kings xii. 14.
2. To perform the arithmetical operation of addition; as, he adds
rapidly.
ADDABLE
Add"a*ble, a. Etym: [Add, v. + -able.]
Defn: Addible.
ADDAX
Ad"dax, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the largest African antelopes (Hippotragus, or Oryx,
nasomaculatus).
Note: It is now believed to be the Strepsiceros (twisted horn) of the
ancients. By some it is thought to be the pygarg of the Bible.
ADDEEM
Ad*deem", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + deem.]
Defn: To award; to adjudge. [Obs.] "Unto him they did addeem the
prise." Spenser.
ADDENDUM
Ad*den"dum, n.; pl. Addenda. Etym: [L., fr. addere to add.]
Defn: A thing to be added; an appendix or addition. Addendum circle
(Mech.), the circle which may be described around a circular spur
wheel or gear wheel, touching the crests or tips of the teeth.
Rankine.
ADDER
Add"er, n. Etym: [See Add.]
Defn: One who, or that which, adds; esp., a machine for adding
numbers.
ADDER
Ad"der, n. Etym: [OE. addere, naddere, eddre, AS. nædre, adder,
snake; akin to OS. nadra, OHG. natra, natara, Ger. natter, Goth.
nadrs, Icel. nathr, masc., nathra, fem.: cf. W. neidr, Gorn. naddyr,
Ir. nathair, L. natrix, water snake. An adder is for a nadder.]
1. A serpent. [Obs.] "The eddre seide to the woman." Wyclif. Gen.
iii. 4. )
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European
adder is the Vipera (or Pelias) berus. The puff adders of Africa are
species of Clotho.
(b) In America, the term is commonly applied to several harmless
snakes, as the milk adder, puffing adder, etc.
(c) Same as Sea Adder.
Note: In the sculptures the appellation is given to several venomous
serpents, -- sometimes to the horned viper (Cerastles).
ADDER FLY
Ad"der fly.
Defn: A dragon fly.
ADDER'S-TONGUE
Ad"der's-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
(a) A genus of ferns (Ophioglossum), whose seeds are produced on a
spike resembling a serpent's tongue.
(b) The yellow dogtooth violet. Gray.
ADDERWORT
Ad"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The common bistort or snakeweed (Polygonum bistorta).
ADDIBILITY
Add`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quantity of being addible; capability of addition. Locke.
ADDIBLE
Add"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being added. "Addible numbers." Locke.
ADDICE
Ad"dice, n.
Defn: See Adze. [Obs.] Moxon.
ADDICT
Ad*dict", p. p.
Defn: Addicted; devoted. [Obs.]
ADDICT
Ad*dict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Addicting.]
Etym: [L. addictus, p. p. of addicere to adjudge, devote; ad + dicere
to say. See Diction.]
1. To apply habitually; to devote; to habituate; -- with to. "They
addict themselves to the civil law." Evelyn.
He is addicted to his study. Beau. & Fl.
That part of mankind that addict their minds to speculations.
Adventurer.
His genius addicted him to the study of antiquity. Fuller.
A man gross . . . and addicted to low company. Macaulay.
2. To adapt; to make suitable; to fit. [Obs.]
The land about is exceedingly addicted to wood, but the coldness of
the place hinders the growth. Evelyn.
Syn.
-- Addict, Devote, Consecrate, Dedicate. Addict was formerly used in
a good sense; as, addicted to letters; but is now mostly employed in
a bad sense or an indifferent one; as, addicted to vice; addicted to
sensual indulgence. "Addicted to staying at home." J. S. Mill. Devote
is always taken in a good sense, expressing habitual earnestness in
the pursuit of some favorite object; as, devoted to science.
Consecrate and dedicate express devotion of a higher kind, involving
religious sentiment; as, consecrated to the service of the church;
dedicated to God.
ADDICTEDNESS
Ad*dict"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being addicted; attachment.
ADDICTION
Ad*dic"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. L. addictio an adjudging.]
Defn: The state of being addicted; devotion; inclination. "His
addiction was to courses vain." Shak.
ADDISON'S DISEASE
Ad"di*son's dis*ease". Etym: [Named from Thomas Addison, M. D., of
London, who first described it.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition causing a peculiar brownish discoloration of
the skin, and thought, at one time, to be due to disease of the
suprarenal capsules (two flat triangular bodies covering the upper
part of the kidneys), but now known not to be dependent upon this
causes exclusively. It is usually fatal.
ADDITAMENT
Ad*dit"a*ment, n. Etym: [L. additamentum, fr. additus, p. p. of
addere to add.]
Defn: An addition, or a thing added. Fuller.
My persuasion that the latter verses of the chapter were an
additament of a later age. Coleridge.
ADDITION
Ad*di"tion, n. Etym: [F. addition, L. additio, fr. addere to add.]
1. The act of adding two or more things together; -- opposed to
subtraction or diminution. "This endless addition or addibility of
numbers." Locke.
2. Anything added; increase; augmentation; as, a piazza is an
addition to a building.
3. (Math.)
Defn: That part of arithmetic which treats of adding numbers.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A dot at the right side of a note as an indication that its
sound is to be lengthened one half. [R.]
5. (Law)
Defn: A title annexed to a man's name, to identify him more
precisely; as, John Doe, Esq.; Richard Roe, Gent.; Robert Dale,
Mason; Thomas Way, of New York; a mark of distinction; a title.
6. (Her.)
Defn: Something added to a coat of arms, as a mark of honor; --
opposed to abatement. Vector addition (Geom.), that kind of addition
of two lines, or vectors, AB and BC, by which their sum is regarded
as the line, or vector, AC.
Syn.
-- Increase; accession; augmentation; appendage; adjunct.
ADDITIONAL
Ad*di"tion*al, a.
Defn: Added; supplemental; in the way of an addition.
ADDITIONAL
Ad*di"tion*al, n.
Defn: Something added. [R.] Bacon.
ADDITIONALLY
Ad*di"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of addition.
ADDITIONARY
Ad*di"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Additional. [R.] Herbert.
ADDITITIOUS
Ad`di*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. addititius, fr. addere.]
Defn: Additive. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.
ADDITIVE
Ad"di*tive, a. Etym: [L. additivus.] (Math.)
Defn: Proper to be added; positive; -- opposed to subtractive.
ADDITORY
Ad"di*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to add; making some addition. [R.] Arbuthnot.
ADDLE
Ad"dle, n. Etym: [OE. adel, AS. adela, mud.]
1. Liquid filth; mire. [Obs.]
2. Lees; dregs. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
ADDLE
Ad"dle, a.
Defn: Having lost the power of development, and become rotten, as
eggs; putrid. Hence: Unfruitful or confused, as brains; muddled.
Dryden.
ADDLE
Ad"dle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Addled; p. pr. & vb. n. Addling.]
Defn: To make addle; to grow addle; to muddle; as, he addled his
brain. "Their eggs were addled." Cowper.
ADDLE
Ad"dle, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. adlen, adilen, to gain, acquire; prob.
fr. Icel. ö\'eblask to acquire property, akin to othal property. Cf.
Allodial.]
1. To earn by labor. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.
2. To thrive or grow; to ripen. [Prov. Eng.]
Kill ivy, else tree will addle no more. Tusser.
ADDLE-BRAIN; ADDLE-HEAD; ADDLE-PATE
Ad"dle-brain`, Ad"dle-head`, Ad"dle-pate, n.
Defn: A foolish or dull-witted fellow. [Colloq.]
ADDLE-BRAINED; ADDLE-HEADED; ADDLE-PATED
Ad"dle-brained`, Ad"dle-head`ed, Ad"dle-pa`ted, a.
Defn: Dull-witted; stupid. "The addle-brained Oberstein." Motley.
Dull and addle-pated. Dryden.
ADDLE-PATEDNESS
Ad"dle-pa`ted*ness, n.
Defn: Stupidity.
ADDLINGS
Ad"dlings, n. pl. Etym: [See Addle, to earn.]
Defn: Earnings. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
ADDOOM
Ad*doom", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + doom.]
Defn: To adjudge. [Obs.] Spenser.
ADDORSED
Ad*dorsed", a. Etym: [L. ad + dorsum, back: cf. F. adossé.] (Her.)
Defn: Set or turned back to back.
ADDRESS
Ad*dress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Addressed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Addressing.] Etym: [OE. adressen to raise erect, adorn, OF. adrecier,
to straighten, address, F. adresser, fr. à (L. ad) + OF. drecier, F.
dresser, to straighten, arrange. See Dress, v.]
1. To aim; to direct. [Obs.] Chaucer.
And this good knight his way with me addrest. Spenser.
2. To prepare or make ready. [Obs.]
His foe was soon addressed. Spenser.
Turnus addressed his men to single fight. Dryden.
The five foolish virgins addressed themselves at the noise of the
bridegroom's coming. Jer. Taylor.
3. Reflexively: To prepare one's self; to apply one's skill or
energies (to some object); to betake.
These men addressed themselves to the task. Macaulay.
4. To clothe or array; to dress. [Archaic]
Tecla . . . addressed herself in man's apparel. Jewel.
5. To direct, as words (to any one or any thing); to make, as a
speech, petition, etc. (to any one, an audience).
The young hero had addressed his players to him for his assistance.
Dryden.
6. To direct speech to; to make a communication to, whether spoken or
written; to apply to by words, as by a speech, petition, etc., to
speak to; to accost.
Are not your orders to address the senate Addison.
The representatives of the nation addressed the king. Swift.
7. To direct in writing, as a letter; to superscribe, or to direct
and transmit; as, he addressed a letter.
8. To make suit to as a lover; to court; to woo.
9. (Com.)
Defn: To consign or intrust to the care of another, as agent or
factor; as, the ship was addressed to a merchant in Baltimore. To
address one's self to. (a) To prepare one's self for; to apply one's
self to. (b) To direct one's speech or discourse to.
ADDRESS
Ad*dress", v. i.
1. To prepare one's self. [Obs.] "Let us address to tend on Hector's
heels." Shak.
2. To direct speech. [Obs.]
Young Turnus to the beauteous maid addrest. Dryden.
Note: The intransitive uses come from the dropping out of the
reflexive pronoun.
ADDRESS
Ad*dress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adresse. See Address, v. t.]
1. Act of preparing one's self. [Obs.] Jer Taylor.
2. Act of addressing one's self to a person; verbal application.
3. A formal communication, either written or spoken; a discourse; a
speech; a formal application to any one; a petition; a formal
statement on some subject or special occasion; as, an address of
thanks, an address to the voters.
4. Direction or superscription of a letter, or the name, title, and
place of residence of the person addressed.
5. Manner of speaking to another; delivery; as, a man of pleasing or
insinuating address.
6. Attention in the way one's addresses to a lady. Addison.
7. Skill; skillful management; dexterity; adroitness.
Syn.
-- Speech; discourse; harangue; oration; petition; lecture;
readiness; ingenuity; tact; adroitness.
ADDRESSEE
Ad`dress*ee", n.
Defn: One to whom anything is addressed.
ADDRESSION
Ad*dres"sion, n.
Defn: The act of addressing or directing one's course. [Rare & Obs.]
Chapman.
ADDUCE
Ad*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Adducing.]
Etym: [L. adducere, adductum, to lead or bring to; ad + ducere to
lead. See Duke, and cf. Adduct.]
Defn: To bring forward or offer, as an argument, passage, or
consideration which bears on a statement or case; to cite; to allege.
Reasons . . . were adduced on both sides. Macaulay.
Enough could not be adduced to satisfy the purpose of illustration.
De Quincey.
Syn.
-- To present; allege; advance; cite; quote; assign; urge; name;
mention.
ADDUCENT
Ad*du"cent, a. Etym: [L. addunces, p. pr. of adducere.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Bringing together or towards a given point; -- a word applied
to those muscles of the body which pull one part towards another.
Opposed to abducent.
ADDUCER
Ad*du"cer, n.
Defn: One who adduces.
ADDUCIBLE
Ad*du"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being adduced.
Proofs innumerable, and in every imaginable manner diversified, are
adducible. I. Taylor.
ADDUCT
Ad*duct", v. t. Etym: [L. adductus, p. p. of adducere. See Adduce.]
(Physiol.)
Defn: To draw towards a common center or a middle line. Huxley.
ADDUCTION
Ad*duc"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adduction. See Adduce.]
1. The act of adducing or bringing forward.
An adduction of facts gathered from various quarters. I. Taylor.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The action by which the parts of the body are drawn towards its
axis]; -- opposed to abduction. Dunglison.
ADDUCTIVE
Ad*duc"tive, a.
Defn: Adducing, or bringing towards or to something.
ADDUCTOR
Ad*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. adducere.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which draws a limb or part of the body toward the
middle line of the body, or closes extended parts of the body; --
opposed to abductor; as, the adductor of the eye, which turns the eye
toward the nose.
In the bivalve shells, the muscles which close the values of the
shell are called adductor muscles. Verrill.
ADDULCE
Ad*dulce", v. t. Etym: [Like F. adoucir; fr. L. ad. + dulcis sweet.]
Defn: To sweeten; to soothe. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADEEM
A*deem", v. t. Etym: [L. adimere. See Ademption.] (Law)
Defn: To revoke, as a legacy, grant, etc., or to satisfy it by some
other gift.
ADELANTADILLO
A`de*lan`ta*dil"lo, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A Spanish red wine made of the first ripe grapes.
ADELANTADO
A`de*lan*ta"do, n. Etym: [Sp., prop. p. of adelantar to advance, to
promote.]
Defn: A governor of a province; a commander. Prescott.
ADELASTER
Ad*e*las"ter, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A provisional name for a plant which has not had its flowers
botanically examined, and therefore has not been referred to its
proper genus.
ADELING
Ad"el*ing, n.
Defn: Same as Atheling.
ADELOCODONIC
A*del`o*co*don"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Applied to sexual zooids of hydroids, that have a saclike form
and do not become free; -- opposed to phanerocodonic.
ADELOPOD
A*del"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal having feet that are not apparent.
ADELPHIA
A*del"phi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A "brotherhood," or collection of stamens in a bundle; -- used
in composition, as in the class names, Monadelphia, Diadelphia, etc.
ADELPHOUS
A*del"phous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having coalescent or clustered filaments; -- said of stamens;
as, adelphous stamens. Usually in composition; as, monadelphous.
Gray.
ADEMPT
A*dempt", p. p. Etym: [L. ademptus, p. p. of adimere to take away.]
Defn: Takes away. [Obs.]
Without any sinister suspicion of anything being added or adempt.
Latimn.
ADEMPTION
A*demp"tion, n. Etym: [L. ademptio, fr. adimere, ademptum, to take
away; ad + emere to buy, orig. to take.] (Law)
Defn: The revocation or taking away of a grant donation, legacy, or
the like. Bouvier.
ADEN-; ADENO-
Aden- or Adeno-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Combining forms of the Greek word for gland; -- used in words
relating to the structure, diseases, etc., of the glands.
ADENALGIA; ADENALGY
Ad`e*nal"gi*a, Ad"e*nal`gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: (Med.) Pain in a gland.
ADENIFORM
A*den"i*form, a. Etym: [Aden- + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a gland; adenoid. Dunglison.
ADENITIS
Ad`e*ni"tis, n. Etym: [Aden- + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Glandular inflammation. Dunglison.
ADENOGRAPHIC
Ad`e*no*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to adenography.
ADENOGRAPHY
Ad`e*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Adeno- + -graphy.]
Defn: That part of anatomy which describes the glands.
ADENOID; ADENOIDAL
Ad"e*noid, Ad`e*noid"al a.
Defn: Glandlike; glandular.
ADENOLOGICAL
Ad`e*no*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to adenology.
ADENOLOGY
Ad`e*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Adeno- + -logy.]
Defn: The part of physiology that treats of the glands.
ADENOMA
Ad`e*no"ma, n.; L. pl. -mata (#). [NL.; adeno- + -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A benign tumor of a glandlike structure; morbid enlargement of
a gland. -- Ad`e*nom"a*tous, a.
ADENOPATHY
Ad"e*nop"a*thy, n. [Adeno- + Gr. suffering, to suffer.] (Med.)
Defn: Disease of a gland.
ADENOPHOROUS
Ad`e*noph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing glands.
ADENOPHYLLOUS
Ad`e*noph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having glands on the leaves.
ADENOSCLEROSIS
Ad"e*no*scle*ro"sis, n. [NL.; adeno- + sclerosis.] (Med.)
Defn: The hardening of a gland.
ADENOSE
Ad"e*nose`, a.
Defn: Like a gland; full of glands; glandulous; adenous.
ADENOTOMIC
Ad`e*no*tom"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to adenotomy.
ADENOTOMY
Ad`e*not"o*my, n. Etym: [Adeno- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Dissection of, or incision into, a gland or glands.
ADENOUS
Ad"e*nous, a.
Defn: Same as Adenose.
ADEN ULCER
A"den ul"cer. [So named after Aden, a seaport in Southern Arabia,
where it occurs.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease endemic in various parts of tropical Asia, due to a
specific microörganism which produces chronic ulcers on the limbs. It
is often fatal. Called also Cochin China ulcer, Persian ulcer,
tropical ulcer, etc.
ADEPS
Ad"eps, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Animal fat; lard.
ADEPT
A*dept", n. Etym: [L. adeptus obtained (sc. artem), adipsci to arrive
ad + apisci to pursue. See Apt, and cf. Adapt.]
Defn: One fully skilled or well versed in anything; a proficient; as,
adepts in philosophy.
ADEPT
A*dept", a.
Defn: Well skilled; completely versed; thoroughly proficient.
Beaus adept in everything profound. Cowper.
ADEPTION
A*dep"tion, n. Etym: [L. adeptio. See Adept, a.]
Defn: An obtaining; attainment. [Obs.]
In the wit and policy of the capitain consisteth the chief adeption
of the victory. Grafton.
ADEPTIST
A*dept"ist, n.
Defn: A skilled alchemist. [Obs.]
ADEPTNESS
A*dept"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adept; skill.
ADEQUACY
Ad"e*qua*cy, n. Etym: [See Adequate.]
Defn: The state or quality of being adequate, proportionate, or
sufficient; a sufficiency for a particular purpose; as, the adequacy
of supply to the expenditure.
ADEQUATE
Ad"e*quate, a. Etym: [L. adaequatus, p. p. of adaequare to make equal
to; ad + aequare to make equal, aequus equal. See Equal.]
Defn: Equal to some requirement; proportionate, or correspondent;
fully sufficient; as, powers adequate to a great work; an adequate
definition.
Ireland had no adequate champion. De Quincey.
Syn.
-- Proportionate; commensurate; sufficient; suitable; competent;
capable.
ADEQUATE
Ad"e*quate, v. t. Etym: [See Adequate, a.]
1. To equalize; to make adequate. [R.] Fotherby.
2. To equal. [Obs.]
It [is] an impossibility for any creature to adequate God in his
eternity. Shelford.
ADEQUATELY
Ad"e*quate*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adequate manner.
ADEQUATENESS
Ad"e*quate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adequate; suitableness; sufficiency;
adequacy.
ADEQUATION
Ad`e*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. adaequatio.]
Defn: The act of equalizing; act or result of making adequate; an
equivalent. [Obs.] Bp. Barlow.
ADESMY
A*des"my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The division or defective coherence of an organ that is usually
entire.
ADESSENARIAN
Ad*es`se*na"ri*an, n. Etym: [Formed fr. L. adesse to be present; ad +
esse to be.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who held the real presence of Christ's body in the
eucharist, but not by transubstantiation.
ADFECTED
Ad*fect"ed, a. Etym: [L. adfectus or affectus. See Affect, v.] (Alg.)
Defn: See Affected, 5.
ADFILIATED
Ad*fil"i*a`ted, a.
Defn: See Affiliated. [Obs.]
ADFILIATION
Ad*fil`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: See Affiliation. [Obs.]
ADFLUXION
Ad*flux"ion, n.
Defn: See Affluxion.
ADHAMANT
Ad*ha"mant, a. Etym: [From L. adhamare to catch; ad + hamus hook.]
Defn: Clinging, as by hooks.
ADHERE
Ad*here", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Adhered; p. pr. & vb. n. Adhering.]
Etym: [L. adhaerere, adhaesum; ad + haerere to stick: cf. F. adhérer.
See Aghast.]
1. To stick fast or cleave, as a glutinous substance does; to become
joined or united; as, wax to the finger; the lungs sometimes adhere
to the pleura.
2. To hold, be attached, or devoted; to remain fixed, either by
personal union or conformity of faith, principle, or opinion; as, men
adhere to a party, a cause, a leader, a church.
3. To be consistent or coherent; to be in accordance; to agree. "Nor
time nor place did then adhere." Every thing adheres together." Shak.
Syn.
-- To attach; stick; cleave; cling; hold
ADHERENCE
Ad*her"ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. adhérence, LL. adhaerentia.]
1. The quality or state of adhering.
2. The state of being fixed in attachment; fidelity; steady
attachment; adhesion; as, adherence to a party or to opinions.
Syn.
-- Adherence, Adhesion. These words, which were once freely
interchanged, are now almost entirely separated. Adherence is no
longer used to denote physical union, but is applied, to mental
states or habits; as, a strict adherence to one's duty; close
adherence to the argument, etc. Adhesion is now confined chiefly to
the physical sense, except in the phrase "To give in one's adhesion
to a cause or a party."
ADHERENCY
Ad*her"en*cy, n.
1. The state or quality of being adherent; adherence. [R.]
2. That which adheres. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
ADHERENT
Ad*her"ent, a. Etym: [L. adhaerens, -entis, p. pr.: cf. F. adhérent.]
1. Sticking; clinging; adhering. Pope.
2. Attached as an attribute or circumstance.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Congenitally united with an organ of another kind, as calyx
with ovary, or stamens with petals.
ADHERENT
Ad*her"ent, n.
1. One who adheres; one who adheres; one who follows a leader, party,
or profession; a follower, or partisan; a believer in a particular
faith or church.
2. That which adheres; an appendage. [R.] Milton.
Syn.
-- Follower; partisan; upholder; disciple; supporter; dependent;
ally; backer.
ADHERENTLY
Ad*her"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adherent manner.
ADHERER
Ad*her"er, n.
Defn: One who adheres; an adherent.
ADHESION
Ad*he"sion, n. Etym: [L. adhaesio, fr. adhaerere: cf. F. adhésion.]
1. The action of sticking; the state of being attached; intimate
union; as the adhesion of glue, or of parts united by growth, cement,
or the like.
2. Adherence; steady or firm attachment; fidelity; as, to error, to a
policy.
His adhesion to the Tories was bounded by his approbation of their
foreign policy. De Quincey.
3. Agreement to adhere; concurrence; assent.
To that treaty Spain and England gave in their adhesion. Macaulay.
4. (Physics)
Defn: The molecular attraction exerted between bodies in contact. See
Cohesion.
5. (Med.)
Defn: Union of surface, normally separate, by the formation of new
tissue resulting from an inflammatory process.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: The union of parts which are separate in other plants, or in
younger states of the same plant.
Syn.
-- Adherence; union. See Adherence.
ADHESIVE
Ad*he"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. adhésif.]
1. Sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances.
2. Apt or tending to adhere; clinging. Thomson. Adhesive attraction.
(Physics) See Attraction.
-- Adhesive inflammation (Surg.), that kind of inflammation which
terminates in the reunion of divided parts without suppuration.
-- Adhesive plaster, a sticking; a plaster containing resin, wax,
litharge, and olive oil.
ADHESIVELY
Ad*he"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adhesive manner.
ADHESIVENESS
Ad*he"sive*ness, n.
1. The quality of sticking or adhering; stickiness; tenacity of
union.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: Propensity to form and maintain attachments to persons, and to
promote social intercourse.
ADHIBIT
Ad*hib"it, v. t. Etym: [L. adhibitus, p. p. of adhibere to hold to;
ad + habere to have.]
1. To admit, as a person or thing; to take in. Muirhead.
2. To use or apply; to administer. Camden.
3. To attach; to affix. Alison.
ADHIBITION
Ad`hi*bi"tion, n. Etym: [L. adhibitio.]
Defn: The act of adhibiting; application; use. Whitaker.
AD HOMINEM
Ad hom"i*nem. Etym: [L., to the man.]
Defn: ` phrase applied to an appeal or argument addressed to the
principles, interests, or passions of a man.
ADHORT
Ad*hort", v. t. Etym: [L. adhortari. See Adhortation.]
Defn: To exhort; to advise. [Obs.] Feltham.
ADHORTATION
Ad`hor*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. adhortatio, fr. adhortari to advise; ad
+ hortari to exhort.]
Defn: Advice; exhortation. [Obs.] Peacham.
ADHORTATORY
Ad*hor"ta*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing counsel or warning; hortatory; advisory. [Obs.]
Potter.
ADIABATIC
Ad`i*a*bat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: Not giving out or receiving heat.
-- Ad`i*a*bat`ic*al*ly, adv. Adiabatic line or curve, a curve
exhibiting the variations of pressure and volume of a fluid when it
expands without either receiving or giving out heat. Rankine.
ADIACTINIC
Ad`i*ac*tin"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + diactinic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Not transmitting the actinic rays.
ADIANTUM
Ad`i*an"tum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of ferns, the leaves of which shed water; maidenhair.
Also, the black maidenhair, a species of spleenwort.
ADIAPHORISM
Ad`i*aph"o*rism, n.
Defn: Religious indifference.
ADIAPHORIST
Ad`i*aph"o*rist, n. Etym: [See Adiaphorous.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of the German Protestants who, with Melanchthon, held some
opinions and ceremonies to be indifferent or nonessential, which
Luther condemned as sinful or heretical. Murdock.
ADIAPHORISTIC
Ad`i*aph`o*ris"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to matters indifferent in faith and practice.
Shipley.
ADIAPHORITE
Ad`i*aph"o*rite, n.
Defn: Same as Adiaphorist.
ADIAPHOROUS
Ad`i*aph"o*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Indifferent or neutral. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Incapable of doing either harm or good, as some medicines.
Dunglison.
ADIAPHORY
Ad`i*aph"o*ry, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Indifference. [Obs.]
ADIATHERMIC
Ad`i*a*ther"mic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Not pervious to heat.
ADIEU
A*dieu", interj. & adv. Etym: [OE. also adew, adewe, adue, F. dieu,
fr. L. ad to + deus God.]
Defn: Good-by; farewell; an expression of kind wishes at parting.
ADIEU
A*dieu", n.; pl. Adieus.
Defn: A farewell; commendation to the care of God at parting. Shak.
ADIGHT
A*dight", v. t. [p. p. Adight.] Etym: [Pref. a- (intensive) + OE.
dihten. See Dight.]
Defn: To set in order; to array; to attire; to deck, to dress. [Obs.]
AD INFINITUM
Ad in`fi*ni"tum. Etym: [L., to infinity.]
Defn: Without limit; endlessly.
AD INTERIM
Ad in"ter*imEtym: [L.]
Defn: Meanwhile; temporary.
ADIOS
A`dios", interj. [Sp., fr. L. ad to + deus god. Cf. Adieu.]
Defn: Adieu; farewell; good-by; -- chiefly used among Spanish-
speaking people.
This word is often pronounced å*de"os, but the Spanish accent,
though weak, is on the final syllable.
ADIPESCENT
Ad`i*pes"cent, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat + -escent.]
Defn: Becoming fatty.
ADIPIC
A*dip"ic, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, fatty or oily substances; --
applied to certain acids obtained from fats by the action of nitric
acid.
ADIPOCERATE
Ad`i*poc"er*ate, v. t.
Defn: To convert adipocere.
ADIPOCERATION
Ad`i*poc`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of changing into adipocere.
ADIPOCERE
Ad"i*po*cere`, n. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat + cera wax: cf. F.
adipocere.]
Defn: A soft, unctuous, or waxy substance, of a light brown color,
into which the fat and muscle tissue of dead bodies sometimes are
converted, by long immersion in water or by burial in moist places.
It is a result of fatty degeneration.
ADIPOCERIFORM
Ad`i*po*cer"i*form, a. Etym: [Adipocere + -form.]
Defn: Having the form or appearance of adipocere; as, an
adipoceriform tumor.
ADIPOCEROUS
Ad`i*poc"er*ous, a.
Defn: Like adipocere.
ADIPOGENOUS
Ad`i*pog"e*nous, a. [See Adipose; -genous.] (Med.)
Defn: Producing fat.
ADIPOLYSIS
Ad`i*pol"y*sis, n. [NL.; L. adeps, adipis, fat + Gr. a loosing.]
(Physiol.)
Defn: The digestion of fats.
ADIPOLYTIC
Ad`i*po*lyt"ic, a. [L. adeps, adipis, fat + Gr. to loose.] (Chem.)
Defn: Hydrolyzing fats; converting neutral fats into glycerin and
free fatty acids, esp. by the action of an enzyme; as, adipolytic
action.
ADIPOMA
Ad`i*po"ma, n.; L. pl. -mata (#). [NL. See Adipose; -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A mass of fat found internally; also, a fatty tumor. --
Ad`i*pom"a*tous, a.
ADIPOSE
Ad"i*pose`, a. Etym: [L. adeps, adipis, fat, grease.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to animal fat; fatty. Adipose fin (Zoöl.), a
soft boneless fin.
-- Adipose tissue (Anat.), that form of animal tissue which forms or
contains fat.
ADIPOSENESS; ADIPOSITY
Ad"i*pose`ness, Ad`i*pos"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being fat; fatness.
ADIPOUS
Ad"i*pous, a.
Defn: Fatty; adipose. [R.]
ADIPSOUS
A*dip"sous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Quenching thirst, as certain fruits.
ADIPSY
Ad"ip*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence of thirst.
ADIT
Ad"it, n. Etym: [L. aditus, fr. adire, , to go to; ad + ire to go.]
1. An entrance or passage. Specifically: The nearly horizontal
opening by which a mine is entered, or by which water and ores are
carried away; -- called also drift and tunnel.
2. Admission; approach; access. [R.]
Yourself and yours shall have Free adit. Tennyson.
ADJACENCE; ADJACENCY
Ad"ja"cence, Ad*ja"cen*cy,Etym: [Cf. LL. adjacentia.]
1. The state of being adjacent or contiguous; contiguity; as, the
adjacency of lands or buildings.
2. That which is adjacent.[R.] Sir T. Browne.
ADJACENT
Ad*ja"cent, a. Etym: [L. adjacens, -centis, p. pr. of adjacere to lie
near; ad + jac to lie: cf. F. adjacent.]
Defn: Lying near, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on;
as, a field adjacent to the highway. "The adjacent forest." B.
Jonson. Adjacent or contiguous angle. (Geom.) See Angle.
Syn.
-- Adjoining; contiguous; near.
-- Adjacent, Adjoining, Contiguous. Things are adjacent when they
lie close each other, not necessary in actual contact; as, adjacent
fields, adjacent villages, etc.
I find that all Europe with her adjacent isles is peopled with
Christians. Howell.
Things are adjoining when they meet at some line or point of
junction; as, adjoining farms, an adjoining highway. What is spoken
of as contiguous should touch with some extent of one side or the
whole of it; as, a row of contiguous buildings; a wood contiguous to
a plain.
ADJACENT
Ad*ja"cent, n.
Defn: That which is adjacent. [R.] Locke.
ADJACENTLY
Ad*ja"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to be adjacent.
ADJECT
Ad*ject", v. t. Etym: [L. adjectus, p. p. of adjicere to throw to, to
add to; ad + ac to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.]
Defn: To add or annex; to join. Leland.
ADJECTION
Ad*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. adjectio, fr. adjicere: cf. F. adjection.
See Adject.]
Defn: The act or mode of adding; also, the thing added. [R.] B.
Jonson.
ADJECTIONAL
Ad*jec"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to adjection; that is, or may be, annexed. [R.]
Earle.
ADJECTITIOUS
Ad`jec*ti"tious, Etym: [L. adjectitius.]
Defn: Added; additional. Parkhurst.
ADJECTIVAL
Ad`jec*ti"val, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the relating to the adjective; of the nature
of an adjective; adjective. W. Taylor (1797)
ADJECTIVALLY
Ad`jec*ti"val*ly, adv.
Defn: As, or in the manner of, an adjective; adjectively.
ADJECTIVE
Ad"jec*tive, a. Etym: [See Adjective, n.]
1. Added to a substantive as an attribute; of the nature of an
adjunct; as, an word sentence.
2. Not standing by itself; dependent. Adjective color, a color which
requires to be fixed by some mordant or base to give it permanency.
3. Relating to procedure. "The whole English law, substantive and
adjective." Macaulay.
ADJECTIVE
Ad"jec*tive, n. Etym: [L. adjectivum (sc. nomen), neut. of adjectivus
that is added, fr. adjicere: cf. F. adjectif. See Adject.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: A word used with a noun, or substantive, to express a quality
of the thing named, or something attributed to it, or to limit or
define it, or to specify or describe a thing, as distinct from
something else. Thus, in phrase, "a wise ruler," wise is the
adjective, expressing a property of ruler.
2. A dependent; an accessory. Fuller.
ADJECTIVE
Ad"jec*tive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjectived; p. pr. & vb. n.
Adjectiving.]
Defn: To make an adjective of; to form or change into an adjective.
[R.]
Language has as much occasion to adjective the distinct signification
of the verb, and to adjective also the mood, as it has to adjective
time. It has . . . adjectived all three. Tooke.
ADJECTIVELY
Ad"jec*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an adjective; as, a word used adjectively.
ADJOIN
Ad*join", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjoined; p. pr. & vb. n. Adjoining.]
Etym: [OE. ajoinen, OF. ajoindre, F. adjoindre, fr. L. adjungere; ad
+ jungere to join. See Join, and cf. Adjunct.]
Defn: To join or unite to; to lie contiguous to; to be in contact
with; to attach; to append.
Corrections . . . should be, as remarks, adjoined by way of note.
Watts.
ADJOIN
Ad*join", v. i.
1. To lie or be next, or in contact; to be contiguous; as, the houses
adjoin.
When one man's land adjoins to another's. Blackstone.
Note: The construction with to, on, or with is obsolete or
obsolescent.
2. To join one's self. [Obs.]
She lightly unto him adjoined side to side. Spenser.
ADJOINANT
Ad*join"ant, a.
Defn: Contiguous. [Obs.] Carew.
ADJOINING
Ad*join"ing, a.
Defn: Joining to; contiguous; adjacent; as, an adjoining room. "The
adjoining fane." Dryden.
Upon the hills adjoining to the city. Shak.
Syn.
-- Adjacent; contiguous; near; neighboring; abutting; bordering. See
Adjacent.
ADJOINT
Ad"joint, n.
Defn: An adjunct; a helper. [Obs.]
ADJOURN
Ad*journ, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjourned; p. pr. & vb. n. Adjourning.]
Etym: [OE. ajornen, OF. ajoiner, ajurner, F. ajourner; OF. a (L. ad)
+ jor, jur, jorn, F. jour, day, fr. L. diurnus belonging to the day,
fr. dies day. Cf. Journal, Journey.]
Defn: To put off or defer to another day, or indefinitely; to
postpone; to close or suspend for the day; -- commonly said of the
meeting, or the action, of convened body; as, to adjourn the meeting;
to adjourn a debate.
It is a common practice to adjourn the reformation of their lives to
a further time. Barrow.
'Tis a needful fitness That we adjourn this court till further day.
Shak.
Syn.
-- To delay; defer; postpone; put off; suspend.
-- To Adjourn, Prorogue, Dissolve. These words are used in respect
to public bodies when they lay aside business and separate. Adjourn,
both in Great Britain and this country, is applied to all cases in
which such bodies separate for a brief period, with a view to meet
again. Prorogue is applied in Great Britain to that act of the
executive government, as the sovereign, which brings a session of
Parliament to a close. The word is not used in this country, but a
legislative body is said, in such a case, to adjourn sine die. To
dissolve is to annul the corporate existence of a body. In order to
exist again the body must be reconstituted.
ADJOURN
Ad*journ", v. i.
Defn: To suspend business for a time, as from one day to another, or
for a longer period, or indefinitely; usually, to suspend public
business, as of legislatures and courts, or other convened bodies;
as, congress adjourned at four o'clock; the court adjourned without
day.
ADJOURNAL
Ad*journ"al, n.
Defn: Adjournment; postponement. [R.] "An adjournal of the Diet." Sir
W. Scott.
ADJOURNMENT
Ad*journ"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. f. adjournement, OF. ajornement. See
Adjourn.]
1. The act of adjourning; the putting off till another day or time
specified, or without day.
2. The time or interval during which a public body adjourns its
sittings or postpones business.
ADJUDGE
Ad*judge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjudged; p. pr. & vb. n. Adjudging.]
Etym: [OE. ajugen, OF. ajugier, fr. L. adjudicare; ad + judicare to
judge. See Judge, and cf. Adjudicate.]
1. To award judicially in the case of a controverted question; as,
the prize was adjudged to the victor.
2. To determine in the exercise of judicial power; to decide or award
judicially; to adjudicate; as, the case was adjudged in the November
term.
3. To sentence; to condemn.
Without reprieve, adjudged to death For want of well pronouncing
Shibboleth. Milton.
4. To regard or hold; to judge; to deem.
He adjudged him unworthy of his friendship. Knolles.
Syn.
-- To decree; award; determine; adjudicate; ordain; assign.
ADJUDGER
Ad*judg"er, n.
Defn: One who adjudges.
ADJUDGMENT
Ad*judg"ment, n.
Defn: The act of adjudging; judicial decision; adjudication. Sir W.
Temple.
ADJUDICATE
Ad*ju"di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjudicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Adjudicating] Etym: [L. adjudicatus, p. p. of adjudicare. See
Adjudge.]
Defn: To adjudge; to try and determine, as a court; to settle by
judicial decree.
ADJUDICATE
Ad*ju"di*cate, v. i.
Defn: To come to a judicial decision; as, the court adjudicated upon
the case.
ADJUDICATION
Ad*ju`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. adjudicatio: cf. F. adjudication.]
1. The act of adjudicating; the act or process of trying and
determining judicially.
2. A deliberate determination by the judicial power; a judicial
decision or sentence. "An adjudication in favor of natural rights."
Burke.
3. (Bankruptcy practice)
Defn: The decision upon the question whether the debtor is a
bankrupt. Abbott.
4. (Scots Law)
Defn: A process by which land is attached security or in satisfaction
of a debt.
ADJUDICATIVE
Ad*ju"di*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Adjudicating.
ADJUDICATOR
Ad*ju"di*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who adjudicates.
ADJUDICATURE
Ad*ju"di*ca*ture, n.
Defn: Adjudication.
ADJUGATE
Ad"ju*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. adjugatus, p. p. of adjugare; ad + jugum
a yoke.]
Defn: To yoke to. [Obs.]
ADJUMENT
Ad"ju*ment, n. Etym: [L. adjumentum, for adjuvamentum, fr. adjuvare
to help; ad + juvare to help.]
Defn: Help; support; also, a helper. [Obs.] Waterhouse.
ADJUNCT
Ad"junct`, a. Etym: [L. adjunctus, p. p. of adjungere. See Adjoin.]
Defn: Conjoined; attending; consequent.
Though that my death were adjunct to my act. Shak.
Adjunct notes (Mus.), short notes between those essential to the
harmony; auxiliary notes; passing notes.
ADJUNCT
Ad"junct`, n.
1. Something joined or added to another thing, but not essentially a
part of it.
Learning is but an adjunct to our self. Shak.
2. A person joined to another in some duty or service; a colleague;
an associate. Wotton.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A word or words added to quality or amplify the force of other
words; as, the History of the American Revolution, where the words in
italics are the adjunct or adjuncts of "History."
4. (Metaph.)
Defn: A quality or property of the body or the mind, whether natural
or acquired; as, color, in the body, judgment in the mind.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A key or scale closely related to another as principal; a
relative or attendant key. [R.] See Attendant keys, under Attendant,
a.
ADJUNCTION
Ad*junc"tion, n. Etym: [L. adjunctio, fr. adjungere: cf. F.
adjonction, and see Adjunct.]
Defn: The act of joining; the thing joined or added.
ADJUNCTIVE
Ad*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. adjunctivus, fr. adjungere. See Adjunct.]
Defn: Joining; having the quality of joining; forming an adjunct.
ADJUNCTIVE
Ad*junc"tive, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, is joined.
ADJUNCTIVELY
Ad*junc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adjunctive manner.
ADJUNCTLY
Ad*junct"ly, adv.
Defn: By way of addition or adjunct; in connection with.
ADJURATION
Ad`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. adjuratio, fr. adjurare: cf. F.
adjuration. See Adjure.]
1. The act of adjuring; a solemn charging on oath, or under the
penalty of a curse; an earnest appeal.
What an accusation could not effect, an adjuration shall. Bp. Hall.
2. The form of oath or appeal.
Persons who . . . made use of prayer and adjurations. Addison.
ADJURATORY
Ad*ju"ra*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. adjuratorius.]
Defn: Containing an adjuration.
ADJURE
Ad*jure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjured; p. pr. & vb. n. Adjuring].
Etym: [L. adjurare, adjurdium, to swear to; later, to adjure: cf. F.
adjurer. See Jury.]
Defn: To charge, bind, or command, solemnly, as if under oath, or
under the penalty of a curse; to appeal to in the most solemn or
impressive manner; to entreat earnestly.
Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before
the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho. Josh. vi.
26.
The high priest . . . said . . . I adjure thee by the living God,
that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ. Matt. xxvi. 63.
The commissioners adjured them not to let pass so favorable an
opportunity of securing their liberties. Marshall.
ADJURER
Ad*jur"er, n.
Defn: One who adjures.
ADJUST
Ad*just", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adjusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adjusting.]
Etym: [OF. ajuster, ajoster (whence F. ajouter to add), LL. adjuxtare
to fit; fr. L. ad + juxta near; confused later with L. ad and justus
just, right, whence F. ajuster to adjust. See Just, v. t. and cf.
Adjute.]
1. To make exact; to fit; to make correspondent or conformable; to
bring into proper relations; as, to adjust a garment to the body, or
things to a standard.
2. To put in order; to regulate, or reduce to system.
Adjusting the orthography. Johnson.
3. To settle or bring to a satisfactory state, so that parties are
agreed in the result; as, to adjust accounts; the differences are
adjusted.
4. To bring to a true relative position, as the parts of an
instrument; to regulate for use; as, to adjust a telescope or
microscope.
Syn.
-- To adapt; suit; arrange; regulate; accommodate; set right;
rectify; settle.
ADJUSTABLE
Ad*just"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being adjusted.
ADJUSTAGE
Ad*just"age, n. Etym: [Cf. Ajutage.]
Defn: Adjustment. [R.]
ADJUSTER
Ad*just"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, adjusts.
ADJUSTING PLANE; ADJUSTING SURFACE
Adjusting plane or surface. (Aëronautics)
Defn: A small plane or surface, usually capable of adjustment but not
of manipulation, for preserving lateral balance in an aëroplane or
flying machine.
ADJUSTIVE
Ad*just"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to adjust. [R.]
ADJUSTMENT
Ad*just"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ajustement. See Adjust.]
1. The act of adjusting, or condition of being adjusted; act of
bringing into proper relations; regulation.
Success depends on the nicest and minutest adjustment of the parts
concerned. Paley.
2. (Law)
Defn: Settlement of claims; an equitable arrangement of conflicting
claims, as in set-off, contribution, exoneration, subrogation, and
marshaling. Bispham.
3. The operation of bringing all the parts of an instrument, as a
microscope or telescope, into their proper relative position for use;
the condition of being thus adjusted; as, to get a good adjustment;
to be in or out of adjustment.
Syn.
-- Suiting; fitting; arrangement; regulation; settlement;
adaptation; disposition.
ADJUTAGE
Ad"ju*tage, n.
Defn: Same as Ajutage.
ADJUTANCY
Ad"ju*tan*cy, n. Etym: [See Adjutant.]
1. The office of an adjutant.
2. Skillful arrangement in aid; assistance.
It was, no doubt, disposed with all the adjutancy of definition and
division. Burke.
ADJUTANT
Ad"ju*tant, n. Etym: [L. adjutans, p. pr. of adjutare to help. See
Aid.]
1. A helper; an assistant.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A regimental staff officer, who assists the colonel, or
commanding officer of a garrison or regiment, in the details of
regimental and garrison duty. Adjutant general (a) (Mil.), the
principal staff officer of an army, through whom the commanding
general receives communications and issues military orders. In the U.
S. army he is brigadier general. (b) (Among the Jesuits), one of a
select number of fathers, who resided with the general of the order,
each of whom had a province or country assigned to his care.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of very large stork (Ciconia argala), a native of
India; -- called also the gigantic crane, and by the native name
argala. It is noted for its serpent-destroying habits.
ADJUTATOR
Ad"ju*ta`tor, n. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A corruption of Agitator.
ADJUTE
Ad*jute", v. t. Etym: [F. ajouter; confused with L. adjutare.]
Defn: To add. [Obs.]
ADJUTOR
Ad*ju"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. adjuvare. See Aid.]
Defn: A helper or assistant. [Archaic] Drayton.
ADJUTORY
Ad*ju"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. adjutorius.]
Defn: Serving to help or assist; helping. [Obs.]
ADJUTRIX
Ad*ju"trix, n. Etym: [L. See Adjutor.]
Defn: A female helper or assistant. [R.]
ADJUVANT
Ad"ju*vant, a. Etym: [L. adjuvans, p. pr. of adjuvare to aid: cf. F.
adjuvant. See Aid.]
Defn: Helping; helpful; assisting. [R.] "Adjuvant causes." Howell.
ADJUVANT
Ad"ju*vant, n.
1. An assistant. [R.] Yelverton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An ingredient, in a prescription, which aids or modifies the
action of the principal ingredient.
ADLEGATION
Ad`le*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. adlegatio, allegatio, a sending away; fr.
adlegare, allegare, to send away with a commission; ad in addition +
legare to send as ambassador. Cf. Allegation.]
Defn: A right formerly claimed by the states of the German Empire of
joining their own ministers with those of the emperor in public
treaties and negotiations to the common interest of the empire.
Encyc. Brit.
AD LIBITUM
Ad lib"i*tum
Defn: . At one's pleasure; as one wishes.
ADLOCUTION
Ad`lo*cu"tion, n.
Defn: See Allocution. [Obs.]
ADMARGINATE
Ad*mar"gin*ate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + margin.]
Defn: To write in the margin. [R.] Coleridge.
ADMAXILLARY
Ad*max"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. ad- + maxillary.] (Anat.)
Defn: Near to the maxilla or jawbone.
ADMEASURE
Ad*meas"ure, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. amesurer, LL. admensurare. See
Measure.]
1. To measure.
2. (Law)
Defn: To determine the proper share of, or the proper apportionment;
as, to admeasure dower; to admeasure common of pasture. Blackstone.
2. The measure of a thing; dimensions; size.
3. (Law)
Defn: Formerly, the adjustment of proportion, or ascertainment of
shares, as of dower or pasture held in common. This was by writ of
admeasurement, directed to the sheriff.
ADMEASURER
Ad*meas"ur*er, n.
Defn: One who admeasures.
ADMENSURATION
Ad*men`su*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. admensuratio; L. ad + mensurare to
measure. See Mensuration.]
Defn: Same as Admeasurement.
ADMINICLE
Ad*min"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. adminculum support, orig., that on which
the hand rests; ad + manus hand + dim. ending -culym.]
1. Help or support; an auxiliary. Grote.
2. (Law)
Defn: Corroborative or explanatory proof.
Note: In Scots law, any writing tending to establish the existence or
terms of a lost deed. Bell.
ADMINICULAR
Ad`mi*nic"u*lar, a.
Defn: Supplying help; auxiliary; corroborative; explanatory; as,
adminicular evidence. H. Spencer.
ADMINICULARY
Ad`mi*nic"u*la*ry, a.
Defn: Adminicular.
ADMINISTER
Ad*min"is*ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Administered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Administering.] Etym: [OE. aministren, OF. aministrer, F. administer,
fr. L. administrare; ad + ministrare to serve. See Minister.]
1. To manage or conduct, as public affairs; to direct or superintend
the execution, application, or conduct of; as, to administer the
government or the state.
For forms of government let fools contest: Whate'er is best
administered is best. Pope.
2. To dispense; to serve out; to supply; execute; as, to administer
relief, to administer the sacrament.
[Let zephyrs] administer their tepid, genial airs. Philips.
Justice was administered with an exactness and purity not before
known. Macaulay.
3. To apply, as medicine or a remedy; to give, as a dose or something
beneficial or suitable. Extended to a blow, a reproof, etc.
A noxious drug had been administered to him. Macaulay.
4. To tender, as an oath.
Swear . . . to keep the oath that we administer. Shak.
5. (Law)
Defn: To settle, as the estate of one who dies without a will, or
whose will fails of an executor.
Syn.
-- To manage; conduct; minister; supply; dispense; give out;
distribute; furnish.
ADMINISTER
Ad*min"is*ter, v. i.
1. To contribute; to bring aid or supplies; to conduce; to minister.
A fountain . . . administers to the pleasure as well as the plenty of
the place. Spectator.
2. (Law)
Defn: To perform the office of administrator; to act officially; as,
A administers upon the estate of B.
ADMINISTER
Ad*min"is*ter, n.
Defn: Administrator. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADMINISTERIAL
Ad*min`is*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to administration, or to the executive part of
government.
ADMINISTRABLE
Ad*min"is*tra*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being administered; as, an administrable law.
ADMINISTRANT
Ad*min"is*trant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of administrer. See
Administer.]
Defn: Executive; acting; managing affairs.
-- n.
Defn: One who administers.
ADMINISTRATE
Ad*min"is*trate, v. t. Etym: [L. administratus, p. p. of
administrare.]
Defn: To administer. [R.] Milman.
ADMINISTRATION
Ad*min`is*tra"tion, n. Etym: [OE. administracioun, L. administratio:
cf. F. administration.]
1. The act of administering; government of public affairs; the
service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the
conducting of any office or employment; direction; management.
His financial administration was of a piece with his military
administration. Macaulay.
2. The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are
intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of
public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or
the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.
A mild and popular administration. Macaulay.
The administration has been opposed in parliament. Johnson.
3. The act of administering, or tendering something to another;
dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of
justice, or of the sacrament.
4. (Law)
(a) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate
of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor.
(b) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor,
the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use.
Administration with the will annexed, administration granted where
the testator has appointed no executor, or where his appointment of
an executor for any cause has failed, as by death, incompetency,
refusal to act, etc.
Syn.
-- Conduct; management; direction; regulation; execution;
dispensation; distribution.
ADMINISTRATIVE
Ad*min"is*tra`tive, a. Etym: [L. administrativus: cf. F.
administratif.]
Defn: Pertaining to administration; administering; executive; as, an
administrative body, ability, or energy.
-- Ad*min"is*tra`tive*ly, adv.
ADMINISTRATOR
Ad*min`is*tra"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who administers affairs; one who directs, manages, executes,
or dispenses, whether in civil, judicial, political, or
ecclesiastical affairs; a manager.
2. (Law)
Defn: A man who manages or settles the estate of an intestate, or of
a testator when there is no competent executor; one to whom the right
of administration has been committed by competent authority.
ADMINISTRATORSHIP
Ad*min`is*tra"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The position or office of an administrator.
ADMINISTRATRIX
Ad*min`is*tra"trix, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A woman who administers; esp., one who administers the estate
of an intestate, or to whom letters of administration have been
granted; a female administrator.
ADMIRABILITY
Ad`mi*ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. admirabilitac.]
Defn: Admirableness. [R.] Johnson.
ADMIRABLE
Ad"mi*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. admirabilis: cf. F. admirable.]
1. Fitted to excite wonder; wonderful; marvelous. [Obs.]
In man there is nothing admirable but his ignorance and weakness.
Jer. Taylor.
2. Having qualities to excite wonder united with approbation;
deserving the highest praise; most excellent; -- used of persons or
things. "An admirable machine." "Admirable fortitude." Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Wonderful; marvelous; surprising; excellent; delightful;
praiseworthy.
ADMIRABLENESS
Ad"mi*ra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being admirable; wonderful excellence.
ADMIRABLY
Ad"mi*ra*bly, adv.
Defn: In an admirable manner.
ADMIRAL
Ad"mi*ral, n. Etym: [OE. amiral, admiral, OF. amiral, ultimately fr.
Ar. amir-al-bahr commander of the sea; Ar. amir is commander, al is
the Ar. article, and amir-al, heard in different titles, was taken as
one word. Early forms of the word show confusion with L. admirabilis
admirable, fr. admirari to admire. It is said to have been introduced
into Europe by the Genoese or Venetians, in the 12th or 13th century.
Cf. Ameer, Emir.]
1. A naval officer of the highest rank; a naval officer of high rank,
of which there are different grades. The chief gradations in rank are
admiral, vice admiral, and rear admiral. The admiral is the commander
in chief of a fleet or of fleets.
2. The ship which carries the admiral; also, the most considerable
ship of a fleet.
Like some mighty admiral, dark and terrible, bearing down upon his
antagonist with all his canvas straining to the wind, and all his
thunders roaring from his broadsides. E. Everett.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsome butterfly (Pyrameis Atalanta) of Europe and America.
The larva feeds on nettles. Admiral shell (Zoöl.), the popular name
of an ornamental cone shell (Conus admiralis). Lord High Admiral, a
great officer of state, who (when this rare dignity is conferred) is
at the head of the naval administration of Great Britain.
ADMIRALSHIP
Ad"mi*ral*ship, n.
Defn: The office or position oaf an admiral; also, the naval skill of
an admiral.
ADMIRALTY
Ad"mi*ral*ty, n.; pl. Admiralties. Etym: [F. amirauté, for an older
amiralté, office of admiral, fr. LL. admiralitas. See Admiral.]
1. The office or jurisdiction of an admiral. Prescott.
2. The department or officers having authority over naval affairs
generally.
3. The court which has jurisdiction of maritime questions and
offenses.
Note: In England, admiralty jurisdiction was formerly vested in the
High Court of Admiralty, which was held before the Lord High Admiral,
or his deputy, styled the Judge of the Admiralty; but admiralty
jurisdiction is now vested in the probate, divorce, and admiralty
division of the High Justice. In America, there are no admiralty
courts distinct from others, but admiralty jurisdiction is vested in
the district courts of the United States, subject to revision by the
circuit courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. Admiralty
jurisprudence has cognizance of maritime contracts and torts,
collisions at sea, cases of prize in war, etc., and in America,
admiralty jurisdiction is extended to such matters, arising out of
the navigation of any of the public waters, as the Great Lakes and
rivers.
4. The system of jurisprudence of admiralty courts.
5. The building in which the lords of the admiralty, in England,
transact business.
ADMIRANCE
Ad*mir"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. admirance.]
Defn: Admiration. [Obs.] Spenser.
ADMIRATION
Ad`mi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. admiratio. See Admire.]
1. Wonder; astonishment. [Obs.]
Season your admiration for a while. Shak.
2. Wonder mingled with approbation or delight; an emotion excited by
a person or thing possessed of wonderful or high excellence; as,
admiration of a beautiful woman, of a landscape, of virtue.
3. Cause of admiration; something to excite wonder, or pleased
surprise; a prodigy.
Now, good Lafeu, bring in the admiration. Shak.
Note of admiration, the mark (!), called also exclamation point.
Syn.
-- Wonder; approval; appreciation; adoration; reverence; worship.
ADMIRATIVE
Ad*mir"a*tive, a.
Defn: Relating to or expressing admiration or wonder. [R.] Earle.
ADMIRE
Ad*mire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admired; p. pr. & vb. n. Admiring.]
Etym: [F. admirer, fr. L. admirari; ad + mirari to wonder, for
smirari, akin to Gr. smi, and E. smile.]
1. To regard with wonder or astonishment; to view with surprise; to
marvel at. [Archaic]
Examples rather to be admired than imitated. Fuller.
2. To regard with wonder and delight; to look upon with an elevated
feeling of pleasure, as something which calls out approbation,
esteem, love, or reverence; to estimate or prize highly; as, to
admire a person of high moral worth, to admire a landscape.
Admired as heroes and as gods obeyed. Pope.
Note: Admire followed by the infinitive is obsolete or colloquial;
as, I admire to see a man consistent in his conduct.
Syn.
-- To esteem; approve; delight in.
ADMIRE
Ad*mire", v. i.
Defn: To wonder; to marvel; to be affected with surprise; --
sometimes with at.
To wonder at Pharaoh, and even admire at myself. Fuller.
ADMIRED
Ad*mired", a.
1. Regarded with wonder and delight; highly prized; as, an admired
poem.
2. Wonderful; also, admirable. [Obs.] "Admired disorder." " Admired
Miranda." Shak.
ADMIRER
Ad*mir"er, n.
Defn: One who admires; one who esteems or loves greatly. Cowper.
ADMIRING
Ad*mir"ing, a.
Defn: Expressing admiration; as, an admiring glance.
-- Ad*mir"ing*ly, adv. Shak.
ADMISSIBILITY
Ad*mis`si*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. admissibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being admissible; admissibleness; as, the
admissibility of evidence.
ADMISSIBLE
Ad*mis"si*ble, a. Etym: [F. admissible, LL. admissibilis. See Admit.]
Defn: Entitled to be admitted, or worthy of being admitted; that may
be allowed or conceded; allowable; as, the supposition is hardly
admissible.
-- Ad*mis"si*ble*ness, n.
-- Ad*mis"si*bly, adv.
ADMISSION
Ad*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. admissio: cf. F. admission. See Admit.]
1. The act or practice of admitting.
2. Power or permission to enter; admittance; entrance; access; power
to approach.
What numbers groan for sad admission there! Young.
3. The granting of an argument or position not fully proved; the act
of acknowledging something
The too easy admission of doctrines. Macaulay.
4. (Law)
Defn: Acquiescence or concurrence in a statement made by another, and
distinguishable from a confession in that an admission presupposes
prior inquiry by another, but a confession may be made without such
inquiry.
5. A fact, point, or statement admitted; as, admission made out of
court are received in evidence.
6. (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: Declaration of the bishop that he approves of the presentee as
a fit person to serve the cure of the church to which he is
presented. Shipley.
Syn.
-- Admittance; concession; acknowledgment; concurrence; allowance.
See Admittance.
ADMISSIVE
Ad*mis"sive, a.
Defn: Implying an admission; tending to admit. [R.] Lamb.
ADMISSORY
Ad*mis"so*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to admission.
ADMIT
Ad*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Admitting.]
Etym: [OE. amitten, L. admittere, admissum; ad + mittere to send: cf.
F. admettre, OF. admettre, OF. ametre. See Missile.]
1. To suffer to enter; to grant entrance, whether into a place, or
into the mind, or consideration; to receive; to take; as, they were
into his house; to admit a serious thought into the mind; to admit
evidence in the trial of a cause.
2. To give a right of entrance; as, a ticket one into a playhouse.
3. To allow (one) to enter on an office or to enjoy a privilege; to
recognize as qualified for a franchise; as, to admit an attorney to
practice law; the prisoner was admitted to bail.
4. To concede as true; to acknowledge or assent to, as an allegation
which it is impossible to deny; to own or confess; as, the argument
or fact is admitted; he admitted his guilt.
5. To be capable of; to permit; as, the words do not admit such a
construction. In this sense, of may be used after the verb, or may be
omitted.
Both Houses declared that they could admit of no treaty with the
king. Hume.
ADMITTABLE
Ad*mit"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Admissible. Sir T. Browne.
ADMITTANCE
Ad*mit"tance, n.
1. The act of admitting.
2. Permission to enter; the power or right of entrance; also, actual
entrance; reception.
To gain admittance into the house. South.
He desires admittance to the king. Dryden.
To give admittance to a thought of fear. Shak.
3. Concession; admission; allowance; as, the admittance of an
argument. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
4. Admissibility. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Eng. Law)
Defn: The act of giving possession of a copyhold estate. Bouvier.
Syn.
-- Admission; access; entrance; initiation.
-- Admittance, Admission. These words are, to some extent, in a
state of transition and change. Admittance is now chiefly confined to
its primary sense of access into some locality or building. Thus we
see on the doors of factories, shops, etc. "No admittance." Its
secondary or moral sense, as "admittance to the church," is almost
entirely laid aside. Admission has taken to itself the secondary or
figurative senses; as, admission to the rights of citizenship;
admission to the church; the admissions made by one of the parties in
a dispute. And even when used in its primary sense, it is not
identical with admittance. Thus, we speak of admission into a
country, territory, and other larger localities, etc., where
admittance could not be used. So, when we speak of admission to a
concert or other public assembly, the meaning is not perhaps exactly
that of admittance, viz., access within the walls of the building,
but rather a reception into the audience, or access to the
performances. But the lines of distinction on this subject are one
definitely drawn.
ADMITTATUR
Ad`mit*ta"tur, n. Etym: [L., let him be admitted.]
Defn: The certificate of admission given in some American colleges.
ADMITTED; ADMITTEDLY
Ad*mit"ted, a.
Defn: Received as true or valid; acknowledged.
-- Ad*mit"ted*ly adv.
Defn: Confessedly.
ADMITTER
Ad*mit"ter, n.
Defn: One who admits.
ADMIX
Ad*mix", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + mix: cf. L. admixtus, p. p. of
admiscere. See Mix.]
Defn: To mingle with something else; to mix. [R.]
ADMIXTION
Ad*mix"tion, n. Etym: [L. admixtio.]
Defn: A mingling of different things; admixture. Glanvill.
ADMIXTURE
Ad*mix"ture, n. Etym: [L. admiscere, admixtum, to admix; ad + miscere
to mix. See Mix.]
1. The act of mixing; mixture.
2. The compound formed by mixing different substances together.
3. That which is mixed with anything.
ADMONISH
Ad*mon"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Admonished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Admonishing.] Etym: [OE. amonesten, OF. amonester, F. admonester, fr.
a supposed LL. admonesstrare, fr. L. admonere to remind, warn; ad +
monere to warn. See Monition.]
1. To warn or notify of a fault; to reprove gently or kindly, but
seriously; to exhort. "Admonish him as a brother." 2 Thess. iii. 15.
2. To counsel against wrong practices; to cation or advise; to warn
against danger or an offense; -- followed by of, against, or a
subordinate clause.
Admonishing one another in psalms and hymns. Col. iii. 16.
I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold The danger, and the
lurking enemy. Milton.
3. To instruct or direct; to inform; to notify.
Moses was admonished of God, when he was about to make the
tabernacle. Heb. viii. 5.
ADMONISHER
Ad*mon"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who admonishes.
ADMONISHMENT
Ad*mon"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. amonestement, admonestement.]
Defn: Admonition. [R.] Shak.
ADMONITION
Ad`mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [OE. amonicioun, OF. amonition, F.
admonition, fr. L. admonitio, fr. admonere. See Admonish.]
Defn: Gentle or friendly reproof; counseling against a fault or
error; expression of authoritative advice; friendly caution or
warning.
Syn.
-- Admonition, Reprehension, Reproof. Admonition is prospective, and
relates to moral delinquencies; its object is to prevent further
transgression. Reprehension and reproof are retrospective, the former
being milder than the latter. A person of any age or station may be
liable to reprehension in case of wrong conduct; but reproof is the
act of a superior. It is authoritative fault-finding or censure
addressed to children or to inferiors.
ADMONITIONER
Ad`mo*ni"tion*er, n.
Defn: Admonisher. [Obs.]
ADMONITIVE
Ad*mon"i*tive, a.
Defn: Admonitory. [R.] Barrow.
-- Ad*mon"i*tive*ly, adv.
ADMONITOR
Ad*mon"i*tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Admonisher; monitor.
Conscience is at most times a very faithful and prudent admonitor.
Shenstone.
ADMONITORIAL
Ad*mon`i*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Admonitory. [R.] "An admonitorial tone." Dickens.
ADMONITORY
Ad*mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. admonitorius.]
Defn: That conveys admonition; warning or reproving; as, an
admonitory glance.
-- Ad*mon"i*to*ri*ly,, adv.
ADMONITRIX
Ad*mon"i*trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A female admonitor.
ADMORTIZATION
Ad*mor`ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [LL. admortizatio. Cf. Amortization.]
(Law)
Defn: The reducing or lands or tenements to mortmain. See Mortmain.
ADMOVE
Ad*move", v. t. Etym: [L. admovere. See Move.]
Defn: To move or conduct to or toward. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ADNASCENT
Ad*nas"cent, a. Etym: [L. adnascens, p. pr. of adnasci to be born,
grow.]
Defn: Growing to or on something else. "An adnascent plant." Evelyn.
ADNATE
Ad"nate, a. Etym: [L. adnatus, p. p. of adnasci. See Adnascent, and
cf. Agnate.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: Grown to congenitally.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing together; -- said only of organic cohesion of unlike
parts.
An anther is adnate when fixed by its whole length to the filament.
Gray.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Growing with one side adherent to a stem; -- a term applied to
the lateral zooids of corals and other compound animals.
ADNATION
Ad*na"tion, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The adhesion or cohesion of different floral verticils or sets
of organs.
ADNOMINAL
Ad*nom"i*nal, a. Etym: [L. ad + nomen noun.] (Gram.)
Defn: Pertaining to an adnoun; adjectival; attached to a noun. Gibbs.
-- Ad*nom"i*nal*ly, adv.
ADNOUN
Ad"noun`, n. Etym: [Pref. ad- + noun.] (Gram.)
Defn: An adjective, or attribute. [R.] Coleridge.
ADNUBILATED
Ad*nu"bi*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. adnubilatus, p. p. of adnubilare.]
Defn: Clouded; obscured. [R.]
ADO
A*do", (1) v. inf., (2) n. Etym: [OE. at do, northern form for to do.
Cf. Affair.]
1. To do; in doing; as, there is nothing. "What is here ado" J.
Newton.
2. Doing; trouble; difficulty; troublesome business; fuss; bustle;
as, to make a great ado about trifles.
With much ado, he partly kept awake. Dryden.
Let's follow to see the end of this ado. Shak.
ADOBE
A*do"be, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: An unburnt brick dried in the sun; also used as an adjective,
as, an adobe house, in Texas or New Mexico.
ADOLESCENCE
Ad`o*les"cence, n. Etym: [Fr., fr. L. adolescentia.]
Defn: The state of growing up from childhood to manhood or womanhood;
youth, or the period of life between puberty and maturity, generally
considered to be, in the male sex, from fourteen to twenty-one.
Sometimes used with reference to the lower animals.
ADOLESCENCY
Ad`o*les"cen*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of being adolescent; youthfulness.
ADOLESCENT
Ad`o*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. adolescens, p. pr. of adolescere to grow
up to; ad + the inchoative olescere to grow: cf. F. adolescent. See
Adult.]
Defn: Growing; advancing from childhood to maturity.
Schools, unless discipline were doubly strong, Detain their
adolescent charge too long. Cowper.
ADOLESCENT
Ad`o*les"cent, n.
Defn: A youth.
ADONAI
Ad`o*na"i, n. [Heb. adonai, lit., my lord.]
Defn: A Hebrew name for God, usually translated in the Old Testament
by the word "Lord".
The later Jews used its vowel points to fill out the tetragrammaton
Yhvh, or Ihvh, "the incommunicable name," and in reading substituted
"Adonai".
ADONEAN
Ad`o*ne"an, a. Etym: [L. Adon.]
Defn: Pertaining to Adonis; Adonic. "Fair Adonean Venus." Faber.
ADONIC
A*don"ic, a. Etym: [F. adonique: cf. L. Adonius.]
Defn: Relating to Adonis, famed for his beauty.
-- n.
Defn: An Adonic verse. Adonic verse, a verse consisting of a dactyl
and spondee.
ADONIS
A*do"nis, n. Etym: [L., gr. Gr.
1. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: A youth beloved by Venus for his beauty. He was killed in the
chase by a wild boar.
2. A preëminently beautiful young man; a dandy.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the family Ranunculaceæ, containing the
pheasaut's eye (Adonis autumnalis); -- named from Adonis, whose blood
was fabled to have stained the flower.
ADONIST
A*do"nist, n. Etym: [Heb. my Lords.]
Defn: One who maintains that points of the Hebrew word translated
"Jehovah" are really the vowel points of the word "Adonai." See
Jehovist.
ADONIZE
Ad"o*nize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. adoniser, fr. Adonis.]
Defn: To beautify; to dandify.
I employed three good hours at least in adjusting and adonozing
myself. Smollett.
ADOOR; ADOORS
A*door, A*doors,
Defn: At the door; of the door; as, out adoors. Shak.
I took him in adoors. Vicar's Virgil (1630).
ADOPT
A*dopt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adopted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adopting.]
Etym: [L. adoptare; ad + optare to choose, desire: cf. F. adopter.
See Option.]
1. To take by choice into relationship, as, child, heir, friend,
citizen, etc. ; esp. to take voluntarily (a child of other parents)
to be in the place of, or as, one's own child.
2. To take or receive as one's own what is not so naturally; to
select and take or approve; as, to adopt the view or policy of
another; these resolutions were adopted.
ADOPTABLE
A*dopt"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being adopted.
ADOPTED
A*dopt"ed, a.
Defn: Taken by adoption; taken up as one's own; as, an adopted son,
citizen, country, word.
-- A*dopt"ed*ly, adv.
ADOPTER
A*dopt"er, n.
1. One who adopts.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A receiver, with two necks, opposite to each other, one of
which admits the neck of a retort, and the other is joined to another
receiver. It is used in distillations, to give more space to elastic
vapors, to increase the length of the neck of a retort, or to unite
two vessels whose openings have different diameters. [Written also
adapter.]
ADOPTION
A*dop"tion, n. Etym: [L. adoptio, allied to adoptare to adopt: cf. F.
adoption.]
1. The act of adopting, or state of being adopted; voluntary
acceptance of a child of other parents to be the same as one's own
child.
2. Admission to a more intimate relation; reception; as, the adoption
of persons into hospitals or monasteries, or of one society into
another.
3. The choosing and making that to be one's own which originally was
not so; acceptance; as, the adoption of opinions. Jer. Taylor.
ADOPTIONIST
A*dop"tion*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect which maintained that Christ was the Son of God
not by nature but by adoption.
ADOPTIOUS
A*dop"tious, a.
Defn: Adopted. [Obs.]
ADOPTIVE
A*dopt"ive, a. Etym: [L. adoptivus: cf. F. adoptif.]
Defn: Pertaining to adoption; made or acquired by adoption; fitted to
adopt; as, an adoptive father, an child; an adoptive language.
-- A*dopt"ive*ly, adv.
ADORABILITY
A*dor`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Adorableness.
ADORABLE
A*dor"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. adorabilis, fr. adorare: cf. F. adorable.]
1. Deserving to be adored; worthy of divine honors.
The adorable Author of Christianity. Cheyne.
2. Worthy of the utmost love or respect.
ADORABLENESS
A*dor"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adorable, or worthy of adoration. Johnson.
ADORABLY
A*dor"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an adorable manner.
ADORATION
Ad`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. adoratio, fr. adorare: cf. F. adoration.]
1. The act of playing honor to a divine being; the worship paid to
God; the act of addressing as a god.
The more immediate objects of popular adoration amongst the heathens
were deified human beings. Farmer.
2. Homage paid to one in high esteem; profound veneration; intense
regard and love; fervent devotion.
3. A method of electing a pope by the expression of homage from two
thirds of the conclave.
[Pole] might have been chosen on the spot by adoration. Froude.
ADORE
A*dore", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adored; p. pr. & vb. n. Adoring.] Etym:
[OE. aouren, anouren, adoren, OF. aorer, adorer, F. adorer, fr. L.
adorare; ad + orare to speak, pray, os, oris, mouth. In OE. confused
with honor, the French prefix a- being confused with OE. a, an, on.
See Oral.]
1. To worship with profound reverence; to pay divine honors to; to
honor as deity or as divine.
Bishops and priests, . . . bearing the host, which he [James adored.
Smollett.
2. To love in the highest degree; to regard with the utmost esteem
and affection; to idolize.
The great mass of the population abhorred Popery and adored Montouth.
Macaulay.
ADORE
A*dore", v. t.
Defn: To adorn. [Obs.]
Congealed little drops which do the morn adore. Spenser.
ADOREMENT
A*dore"ment, n.
Defn: The act of adoring; adoration. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ADORER
A*dor"er, n.
Defn: One who adores; a worshiper; one who admires or loves greatly;
an ardent admirer. "An adorer of truth." Clarendon.
I profess myself her adorer, not her friend. Shak.
ADORINGLY
A*dor"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With adoration.
ADORN
A*dorn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adorned; p. pr. & vb. n. Adorning.]
Etym: [OE. aournen, anournen, adornen, OF. aorner, fr. L. aaornare;
ad + ornare to furnish, embellish. See Adore, Ornate.]
Defn: To deck or dress with ornaments; to embellish; to set off to
advantage; to render pleasing or attractive.
As a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isa. lxi. 10.
At church, with meek and unaffected grace, His looks adorned the
venerable place. Goldsmith.
Syn.
-- To deck; decorate; embellish; ornament; beautify; grace; dignify;
exalt; honor.
-- To Adorn, Ornament, Decorate, Embellish. We decorate and ornament
by putting on some adjunct which is attractive or beautiful, and
which serves to heighten the general effect. Thus, a lady's head-
dress may be ornament or decorated with flowers or jewelry; a hall
may be decorated or ornament with carving or gilding, with wreaths of
flowers, or with hangings. Ornament is used in a wider sense than
decorate. To embellish is to beautify or ornament richly, not so much
by mere additions or details as by modifying the thing itself as a
whole. It sometimes means gaudy and artificial decoration. We
embellish a book with rich engravings; a style is embellished with
rich and beautiful imagery; a shopkeeper embellishes his front window
to attract attention. Adorn is sometimes identical with decorate, as
when we say, a lady was adorned with jewels. In other cases, it seems
to imply something more. Thus, we speak of a gallery of paintings as
adorned with the works of some of the great masters, or adorned with
noble statuary and columns. Here decorated and ornamented would
hardly be appropriate. There is a value in these works of genius
beyond mere show and ornament. Adorn may be used of what is purely
moral; as, a character adorned with every Christian grace. Here
neither decorate, nor ornament, nor embellish is proper.
ADORN
A*dorn", n.
Defn: Adornment. [Obs.] Spenser.
ADORN
A*dorn", a.
Defn: Adorned; decorated. [Obs.] Milton.
ADORNATION
Ad`or*na"tion, n.
Defn: Adornment. [Obs.]
ADORNER
A*dorn"er, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, adorns; a beautifier.
ADORNINGLY
A*dorn"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By adorning; decoratively.
ADORNMENT
A*dorn"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. adornement. See Adorn.]
Defn: An adorning; an ornament; a decoration.
ADOSCULATION
Ad*os"cu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. adosculari, adosculatum, to kiss. See
Osculate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Impregnation by external contact, without intromission.
ADOWN
A*down", adv. Etym: [OE. adun, adoun, adune. AS. of dune off the
hill. See Down.]
Defn: From a higher to a lower situation; downward; down, to or on
the ground. [Archaic] "Thrice did she sink adown." Spenser.
ADOWN
A*down", prep.
Defn: Down. [Archaic & Poetic]
Her hair adown her shoulders loosely lay displayed. Prior.
ADPRESS
Ad*press", v. t. Etym: [L. adpressus, p. p. of adprimere.]
Defn: See Appressed.
-- Ad*pressed",, a.
ADRAD
A*drad", p. a. Etym: [P. p. of adread.]
Defn: Put in dread; afraid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ADRAGANT
Ad"ra*gant, n. Etym: [F., a corruption of tragacanth.]
Defn: Gum tragacanth. Brande & C.
ADREAD
A*dread", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. andrædan, ondræ; pref. a- (for and
against) + dræden to dread. See Dread.]
Defn: To dread. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
ADREAMED
A*dreamed", p. p.
Defn: Visited by a dream; -- used in the phrase, To be adreamed, to
dream. [Obs.]
ADRENAL
Ad*re"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. ad- + renal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Suprarenal.
ADRENALINE; ADRENALIN
Ad*re"nal*ine, n. Also Ad*re"nal*in. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline substance, C9H13O3N, obtained from suprarenal
extract, of which it is regarded as the active principle. It is used
in medicine as a stimulant and hemostatic.
ADRIAN
A"dri*an, a. Etym: [L. Hadrianus.]
Defn: Pertaining to the Adriatic Sea; as, Adrian billows.
ADRIATIC
A`dri*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. Adriaticus, Hadriaticus, fr. Adria or
Hadria, a town of the Veneti.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a sea so named, the northwestern part of
which is known as the Gulf of Venice.
ADRIFT
A*drift", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- (for on) + drift.]
Defn: Floating at random; in a drifting condition; at the mercy of
wind and waves. Also fig.
So on the sea shall be set adrift. Dryden.
Were from their daily labor turned adrift. Wordsworth.
ADRIP
A*drip", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- in + drip.]
Defn: In a dripping state; as, leaves all adrip. D. G. Mitchell.
ADROGATE
Ad"ro*gate, v. t. Etym: [See Arrogate.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: To adopt (a person who is his own master).
ADROGATION
Ad`ro*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. adrogatio, arrogatio, fr. adrogare. See
Arrogate.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: A kind of adoption in ancient Rome. See Arrogation.
ADROIT
A*droit", a. Etym: [F. adroit; à (L. ad) = droit straight, right, fr.
L. directus, p. p. of dirigere. See Direct.]
Defn: Dexterous in the use of the hands or in the exercise of the
mental faculties; exhibiting skill and readiness in avoiding danger
or escaping difficulty; ready in invention or execution; -- applied
to persons and to acts; as, an adroit mechanic, an adroit reply.
"Adroit in the application of the telescope and quadrant." Horsley.
"He was adroit in intrigue." Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Dexterous; skillful; expert; ready; clever; deft; ingenious;
cunning; ready-witted.
ADROITLY
A*droit"ly, adv.
Defn: In an adroit manner.
ADROITNESS
A*droit"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being adroit; skill and readiness; dexterity.
Adroitness was as requisite as courage. Motley.
Syn.
-- See Skill.
ADRY
A*dry", a. Etym: [Pref. a- (for on) + dry.]
Defn: In a dry or thirsty condition. "A man that is adry." Burton.
ADSCITITIOUS
Ad`sci*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. adscitus, p. p. of adsciscere,
asciscere, to take knowingly; ad + sciscere to seek to know, approve,
scire to know.]
Defn: Supplemental; additional; adventitious; ascititious.
"Adscititious evidence." Bowring.
-- Ad`sci*ti"tious*ly, adv.
ADSCRIPT
Ad"script, a. Etym: [L. adscriptus, p. p. of adscribere to enroll.
See Ascribe.]
Defn: Held to service as attached to the soil; -- said of feudal
serfs.
ADSCRIPT
Ad"script, n.
Defn: One held to service as attached to the glebe or estate; a
feudal serf. Bancroft.
ADSCRIPTIVE
Ad*scrip"tive, a.Etym: [L. adscriptivus. See Adscript.]
Defn: Attached or annexed to the glebe or estate and transferable
with it. Brougham.
ADSIGNIFICATION
Ad*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Additional signification. [R.] Tooke.
ADSIGNIFY
Ad*sig"ni*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. adsignificare to show.]
Defn: To denote additionally. [R.] Tooke.
ADSTRICT
Ad*strict", v. t.
-- Ad*stric"tion, n.
Defn: See Astrict, and Astriction.
ADSTRICTORY
Ad*stric"to*ry, a.
Defn: See Astrictory.
ADSTRINGENT
Ad*strin"gent, a.
Defn: See Astringent.
ADSUKI BEAN
Ad*su"ki bean. [Jap. adzuki.]
Defn: A cultivated variety of the Asiatic gram, now introduced into
the United States.
ADULARIA
Ad`u*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [From Adula, a mountain peak in Switzerland,
where fine specimens are found.] (Min.)
Defn: A transparent or translucent variety of common feldspar, or
orthoclase, which often shows pearly opalescent reflections; --
called by lapidaries moonstone.
ADULATE
Ad"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. adulatus, p. p. of adulari.]
Defn: To flatter in a servile way. Byron.
ADULATION
Ad`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. adulation, fr. L. adulatio, fr. adulari,
adulatum, to flatter.]
Defn: Servile flattery; praise in excess, or beyond what is merited.
Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from
adulation Shak.
Syn.
-- Sycophancy; cringing; fawning; obsequiousness; blandishment.
-- Adulation, Flattery, Compliment. Men deal in compliments from a
desire to please; they use flattery either from undue admiration, or
a wish to gratify vanity; they practice adulation from sordid
motives, and with a mingled spirit of falsehood and hypocrisy.
Compliment may be a sincere expression of due respect and esteem, or
it may be unmeaning; flattery is apt to become gross; adulation is
always servile, and usually fulsome.
ADULATOR
Ad"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. adulari: cf. F. adulateur.]
Defn: A servile or hypocritical flatterer. Carlyle.
ADULATORY
Ad"u*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. adulatorius, fr. adulari: cf. OF.
adulatoire.]
Defn: Containing excessive praise or compliment; servilely praising;
flattering; as, an adulatory address.
A mere rant of adulatory freedom. Burke.
ADULATRESS
Ad"u*la`tress, n.
Defn: A woman who flatters with servility.
ADULT
A*dult", a. Etym: [L. adultus, p. p. of adolescere, akin to alere to
nourish: cf. F. adulte. See Adolescent, Old.]
Defn: Having arrived at maturity, or to full size and strength;
matured; as, an adult person or plant; an adult ape; an adult age.
ADULT
A*dult", n.
Defn: A person, animal, or plant grown to full size and strength; one
who has reached maturity.
Note: In the common law, the term is applied to a person who has
attained full age or legal majority; in the civil law, to males after
the age of fourteen, and to females after twelve.
ADULTER
A*dul"ter, v. i. Etym: [L. adulterare.]
Defn: To commit adultery; to pollute. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ADULTERANT
A*dul"ter*ant, n. Etym: [L. adulterans, p. pr. of adulterare.]
Defn: That which is used to adulterate anything.
-- a. Adulterating; as, adulterant agents and processes.
ADULTERATE
A*dul"ter*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adulterated; p. pr. & vb. n
Adulterating.] Etym: [L. adulteratus, p. p. of adulterare, fr.
adulter adulterer, prob. fr. ad + alter other, properly one who
approaches another on account of unlawful love. Cf. Advoutry.]
1. To defile by adultery. [Obs.] Milton.
2. To corrupt, debase, or make impure by an admixture of a foreign or
a baser substance; as, to adulterate food, drink, drugs, coin, etc.
The present war has . . . adulterated our tongue with strange words.
Spectator.
Syn.
-- To corrupt; defile; debase; contaminate; vitiate; sophisticate.
ADULTERATE
A*dul"ter*ate, v. i.
Defn: To commit adultery. [Obs.]
ADULTERATE
A*dul"ter*ate, a.
1. Tainted with adultery.
2. Debased by the admixture of a foreign substance; adulterated;
spurious.
-- A*dul"ter*ate*ly, adv.
-- A*dul"ter*ate*ness, n.
ADULTERATION
A*dul`ter*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. adulteratio.]
1. The act of adulterating; corruption, or debasement (esp. of food
or drink) by foreign mixture.
The shameless adulteration of the coin. Prescott.
2. An adulterated state or product.
ADULTERATOR
A*dul"ter*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who adulterates or corrupts. [R.] Cudworth.
ADULTERER
A*dul"ter*er, n. Etym: [Formed fr. the verb adulter, with the E.
ending -er. See Advoutrer.]
1. A man who commits adultery; a married man who has sexual
intercourse with a woman not his wife.
2. (Script.)
Defn: A man who violates his religious covenant. Jer. ix. 2.
ADULTERESS
A*dul"ter*ess, n. Etym: [Fem. from L. adulter. Cf. Advoutress.]
1. A woman who commits adultery.
2. (Script.)
Defn: A woman who violates her religious engagements. James iv. 4.
ADULTERINE
A*dul"ter*ine, a.Etym: [L. adulterinus, fr. adulter.]
Defn: Proceeding from adulterous intercourse. Hence: Spurious;
without the support of law; illegal.
When any particular class of artificers or traders thought proper to
act as a corporation without a charter, such were called adulterine
guilds. Adam Smith.
ADULTERINE
A*dul"ter*ine, n.
Defn: An illegitimate child. [R.]
ADULTERIZE
A*dul"ter*ize, v. i.
Defn: To commit adultery. Milton.
ADULTEROUS
A*dul"ter*ous, a.
1. Guilty of, or given to, adultery; pertaining to adultery; illicit.
Dryden.
2. Characterized by adulteration; spurious. "An adulterous mixture."
[Obs.] Smollett.
ADULTEROUSLY
A*dul"ter*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adulterous manner.
ADULTERY
A*dul"ter*y, n.; pl. Adulteries(#). Etym: [L. adulterium. See
Advoutry.]
1. The unfaithfulness of a married person to the marriage bed; sexual
intercourse by a married man with another than his wife, or voluntary
sexual intercourse by a married woman with another than her husband.
Note: It is adultery on the part of the married wrongdoer. The word
has also been used to characterize the act of an unmarried
participator, the other being married. In the United States the
definition varies with the local statutes. Unlawful intercourse
between two married persons is sometimes called double adultery;
between a married and an unmarried person, single adultery.
2. Adulteration; corruption. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. (Script.)
(a) Lewdness or unchastity of thought as well as act, as forbidden by
the seventh commandment.
(b) Faithlessness in religion. Jer. iii. 9.
4. (Old Law)
Defn: The fine and penalty imposed for the offense of adultery.
5. (Eccl.)
Defn: The intrusion of a person into a bishopric during the life of
the bishop.
6. Injury; degradation; ruin. [Obs.]
You might wrest the caduceus out of my hand to the adultery and spoil
of nature. B. Jonson.
ADULTNESS
A*dult"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being adult.
ADUMBRANT
Ad*um"brant, a. Etym: [L. adumbrans, p. pr. of adumbrare.]
Defn: Giving a faint shadow, or slight resemblance; shadowing forth.
ADUMBRATE
Ad*um"brate, v. t. Etym: [L. adumbratus, p. p. of adumbrare; ad +
umbrare to shade; umbra shadow.]
1. To give a faint shadow or slight representation of; to outline; to
shadow forth.
Both in the vastness and the richness of the visible universe the
invisible God is adumbrated. L. Taylor.
2. To overshadow; to shade.
ADUMBRATION
Ad`um*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. adumbratio.]
1. The act of adumbrating, or shadowing forth.
2. A faint sketch; an outline; an imperfect portrayal or
representation of a thing.
Elegant adumbrations of sacred truth. Bp. Horsley.
3. (Her.)
Defn: The shadow or outlines of a figure.
ADUMBRATIVE
Ad*um"bra*tive, a.
Defn: Faintly representing; typical. Carlyle.
ADUNATION
Ad`u*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. adunatio; ad + unus one.]
Defn: A uniting; union. Jer. Taylor.
ADUNC; ADUNQUE
A*dunc", A*dunque", a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Hooked; as, a parrot has an adunc bill.
ADUNCITY
A*dun"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. aduncitas. See Aduncous.]
Defn: Curvature inwards; hookedness.
The aduncity of the beaks of hawks. Pope.
ADUNCOUS
A*dun"cous, a. Etym: [L. aduncus; ad + uncus hooked, hook.]
Defn: Curved inwards; hooked.
ADURE
A*dure", v. t. Etym: [L. adurere; ad + urere to burn.]
Defn: To burn up. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADUROL
Ad"u*rol, n. (Photog.)
Defn: Either of two compounds, a chlorine derivative and bromine
derivative, of hydroquinone, used as developers.
ADUST
A*dust", a. Etym: [L. adustus, p. p. of adurere: cf. F. aduste.]
1. Inflamed or scorched; fiery. "The Libyan air adust." Milton.
2. Looking as if or scorched; sunburnt.
A tall, thin man, of an adust complexion. Sir W. Scott.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Having much heat in the constitution and little serum in the
blood. [Obs.] Hence: Atrabilious; sallow; gloomy.
ADUSTED
A*dust"ed, a.
Defn: Burnt; adust. [Obs.] Howell.
ADUSTIBLE
A*dust"i*ble, a.
Defn: That may be burnt. [Obs.]
ADUSTION
A*dus"tion, n. Etym: [L. adustio, fr. adurere, adustum: cf. F.
adustion.]
1. The act of burning, or heating to dryness; the state of being thus
heated or dried. [Obs.] Harvey.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: Cauterization. Buchanan.
AD VALOREM
Ad va*lo"rem. Etym: [L., according to the value.] (Com.)
Defn: A term used to denote a duty or charge laid upon goods, at a
certain rate per cent upon their value, as stated in their invoice, -
- in opposition to a specific sum upon a given quantity or number;
as, an ad valorem duty of twenty per cent.
ADVANCE
Ad*vance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Advanced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Advancing(#).] Etym: [OE. avancen, avauncen, F. avancer, fr. a
supposed LL. abantiare; ab + ante (F. avant) before. The spelling
with d was a mistake, a- being supposed to be fr. L. ad. See Avaunt.]
1. To bring forward; to move towards the van or front; to make to go
on.
2. To raise; to elevate. [Archaic]
They . . . advanced their eyelids. Shak.
3. To raise to a higher rank; to promote.
Ahasueres . . . advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes.
Esther iii. 1.
4. To accelerate the growth or progress; to further; to forward; to
help on; to aid; to heighten; as, to advance the ripening of fruit;
to advance one's interests.
5. To bring to view or notice; to offer or propose; to show; as, to
advance an argument.
Some ne'er advance a judgment of their own. Pope.
6. To make earlier, as an event or date; to hasten.
7. To furnish, as money or other value, before it becomes due, or in
aid of an enterprise; to supply beforehand; as, a merchant advances
money on a contract or on goods consigned to him.
8. To raise to a higher point; to enhance; to raise in rate; as, to
advance the price of goods.
9. To extol; to laud. [Obs.]
Greatly advancing his gay chivalry. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To raise; elevate; exalt; aggrandize; improve; heighten;
accelerate; allege; adduce; assign.
ADVANCE
Ad*vance", v. i.
1. To move or go forward; to proceed; as, he advanced to greet me.
2. To increase or make progress in any respect; as, to advance in
knowledge, in stature, in years, in price.
3. To rise in rank, office, or consequence; to be preferred or
promoted.
Advanced to a level with ancient peers. Prescott.
ADVANCE
Ad*vance", n. Etym: [Cf. F. avance, fr. avancer. See Advance, v.]
1. The act of advancing or moving forward or upward; progress.
2. Improvement or progression, physically, mentally, morally, or
socially; as, an advance in health, knowledge, or religion; an
advance in rank or office.
3. An addition to the price; rise in price or value; as, an advance
on the prime cost of goods.
4. The first step towards the attainment of a result; approach made
to gain favor, to form an acquaintance, to adjust a difference, etc.;
an overture; a tender; an offer; -- usually in the plural.
[He] made the like advances to the dissenters. Swift.
5. A furnishing of something before an equivalent is received (as
money or goods), towards a capital or stock, or on loan; payment
beforehand; the money or goods thus furnished; money or value
supplied beforehand.
I shall, with pleasure, make the necessary advances. Jay.
The account was made up with intent to show what advances had been
made. Kent.
In advance (a) In front; before. (b) Beforehand; before an equivalent
is received. (c) In the state of having advanced money on account;
as, A is advance to B a thousand dollars or pounds.
ADVANCE
Ad*vance", a.
Defn: Before in place, or beforehand in time; -- used for advanced;
as, an advance guard, or that before the main guard or body of an
army; advance payment, or that made before it is due; advance proofs,
advance sheets, pages of a forthcoming volume, received in advance of
the time of publication.
ADVANCED
Ad*vanced", a.
1. In the van or front.
2. In the front or before others, as regards progress or ideas; as,
advanced opinions, advanced thinkers.
3. Far on in life or time.
A gentleman advanced in years, with a hard experience written in his
wrinkles. Hawthorne.
Advanced guard, a detachment of troops which precedes the march of
the main body.
ADVANCEMENT
Ad*vance"ment, n. Etym: [OE. avancement, F. avancement. See Advance,
v. t.]
1. The act of advancing, or the state of being advanced; progression;
improvement; furtherance; promotion to a higher place or dignity; as,
the advancement of learning.
In heaven . . . every one (so well they love each other) rejoiceth
and hath his part in each other's advancement. Sir T. More.
True religion . . . proposes for its end the joint advancement of the
virtue and happiness of the people. Horsley.
2. An advance of money or value; payment in advance. See Advance, 5.
3. (Law)
Defn: Property given, usually by a parent to a child, in advance of a
future distribution.
4. Settlement on a wife, or jointure. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADVANCER
Ad*van"cer, n.
1. One who advances; a promoter.
2. A second branch of a buck's antler. Howell.
ADVANCING EDGE
Ad*van"cing edge. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The front edge (in direction of motion) of a supporting
surface; -- contr. with following edge, which is the rear edge.
ADVANCING SURFACE
Ad*van"cing sur"face. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The first of two or more surfaces arranged in tandem; -- contr.
with following surface, which is the rear surface.
ADVANCIVE
Ad*van"cive, a.
Defn: Tending to advance. [R.]
ADVANTAGE
Ad*van"tage, n. Etym: [OE. avantage, avauntage, F. avantage, fr.
avant before. See Advance, and cf. Vantage.]
1. Any condition, circumstance, opportunity, or means, particularly
favorable to success, or to any desired end; benefit; as, the enemy
had the advantage of a more elevated position.
Give me advantage of some brief discourse. Shak.
The advantages of a close alliance. Macaulay.
2. Superiority; mastery; -- with of or over.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. 2 Cor. ii. 11.
3. Superiority of state, or that which gives it; benefit; gain;
profit; as, the advantage of a good constitution.
4. Interest of money; increase; overplus (as the thirteenth in the
baker's dozen). [Obs.]
And with advantage means to pay thy love. Shak.
Advantage ground, vantage ground. [R.] Clarendon.
-- To have the advantage of (any one), to have a personal knowledge
of one who does not have a reciprocal knowledge. "You have the
advantage of me; I don't remember ever to have had the honor."
Sheridan.
-- To take advantage of, to profit by; (often used in a bad sense)
to overreach, to outwit.
Syn.
-- Advantage, Advantageous, Benefit, Beneficial. We speak of a thing
as a benefit, or as beneficial, when it is simply productive of good;
as, the benefits of early discipline; the beneficial effects of
adversity. We speak of a thing as an advantage, or as advantageous,
when it affords us the means of getting forward, and places us on a
"vantage ground" for further effort. Hence, there is a difference
between the benefits and the advantages of early education; between a
beneficial and an advantageous investment of money.
ADVANTAGE
Ad*van"tage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Advantaged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Advantaging.] Etym: [F. avantager, fr. avantage. See Advance.]
Defn: To give an advantage to; to further; to promote; to benefit; to
profit.
The truth is, the archbishop's own stiffness and averseness to comply
with the court designs, advantaged his adversaries against him.
Fuller.
What is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose
himself, or be cast away Luke ix. 25.
To advantage one's self of, to avail one's self of. [Obs.]
ADVANTAGEABLE
Ad*van"tage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Advantageous. [Obs.]
ADVANTAGEOUS
Ad`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [F. avantageux, fr. avantage.]
Defn: Being of advantage; conferring advantage; gainful; profitable;
useful; beneficial; as, an advantageous position; trade is
advantageous to a nation.
Advabtageous comparison with any other country. Prescott.
You see . . . of what use a good reputation is, and how swift and
advantageous a harbinger it is, wherever one goes. Chesterfield.
ADVANTAGEOUSLY
Ad`van*ta"geous*ly, adv.
Defn: Profitably; with advantage.
ADVANTAGEOUSNESS
Ad`van*ta"geous*ness, n.
Defn: Profitableness.
ADVENE
Ad*vene", v. i. Etym: [L. advenire; ad + venire to come: cf. F.
avenir, advenir. See Come.]
Defn: To accede, or come (to); to be added to something or become a
part of it, though not essential. [R.]
Where no act of the will advenes as a coefficient. Coleridge.
ADVENIENT
Ad*ven"ient, a. Etym: [L. adviens, p. pr.]
Defn: Coming from outward causes; superadded. [Obs.]
ADVENT
Ad`vent, n. Etym: [L. adventus, fr. advenire, adventum: cf. F. avent.
See Advene.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: The period including the four Sundays before Christmas. Advent
Sunday (Eccl.), the first Sunday in the season of Advent, being
always the nearest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew (Now. 30).
Shipley.
2. The first or the expected second coming of Christ.
3. Coming; any important arrival; approach.
Death's dreadful advent. Young.
Expecting still his advent home. Tennyson.
ADVENTIST
Ad"vent*ist, n.
Defn: One of a religious body, embracing several branches, who look
for the proximate personal coming of Christ; -- called also Second
Adventists. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
ADVENTITIOUS
Ad`ven*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. adventitius.]
1. Added extrinsically; not essentially inherent; accidental or
causal; additional; supervenient; foreign.
To things of great dimensions, if we annex an adventitious idea of
terror, they become without comparison greater. Burke.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Out of the proper or usual place; as, adventitious buds or
roots.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Accidentally or sparingly spontaneous in a country or district;
not fully naturalized; adventive; -- applied to foreign plants.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Acquired, as diseases; accidental.
-- Ad`ven*ti"tious*ly, adv.
-- Ad`ven*ti"tious*ness, n.
ADVENTIVE
Ad*ven"tive, a.
1. Accidental.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Adventitious. Gray.
ADVENTIVE
Ad*ven"tive, n.
Defn: A thing or person coming from without; an immigrant. [R.]
Bacon.
ADVENTUAL
Ad*ven"tu*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the season of advent. Sanderson.
ADVENTURE
Ad*ven"ture, n. Etym: [OE. aventure, aunter, anter, F. aventure, fr.
LL. adventura, fr. L. advenire, adventum, to arrive, which in the
Romance languages took the sense of "to happen, befall." See Advene.]
1. That which happens without design; chance; hazard; hap; hence,
chance of danger or loss.
Nay, a far less good to man it will be found, if she must, at all
adventures, be fastened upon him individually. Milton.
2. Risk; danger; peril. [Obs.]
He was in great adventure of his life. Berners.
3. The encountering of risks; hazardous and striking enterprise; a
bold undertaking, in which hazards are to be encountered, and the
issue is staked upon unforeseen events; a daring feat.
He loved excitement and adventure. Macaulay.
4. A remarkable occurrence; a striking event; a stirring incident;
as, the adventures of one's life. Bacon.
5. A mercantile or speculative enterprise of hazard; a venture; a
shipment by a merchant on his own account. A bill of adventure
(Com.), a writing setting forth that the goods shipped are at the
owner's risk.
Syn.
-- Undertaking; enterprise; venture; event.
ADVENTURE
Ad*ven"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Adventured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Adventuring.] Etym: [OE. aventuren, auntren, F. aventurer, fr.
aventure. See Adventure, n.]
1. To risk, or hazard; jeopard; to venture.
He would not adventure himself into the theater. Acts xix. 31.
2. To venture upon; to run the risk of; to dare.
Yet they adventured to go back. Bunyan,
Discriminations might be adventured. J. Taylor.
ADVENTURE
Ad*ven"ture, v. i.
Defn: To try the chance; to take the risk.
I would adventure for such merchandise. Shak.
ADVENTUREFUL
Ad*ven"ture*ful, a.
Defn: Given to adventure.
ADVENTURER
Ad*ven"tur*er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aventurier.]
1. One who adventures; as, the merchant adventurers; one who seeks
his fortune in new and hazardous or perilous enterprises.
2. A social pretender on the lookout for advancement.
ADVENTURESOME
Ad*ven"ture*some, a.
Defn: Full of risk; adventurous; venturesome.
-- Ad*ven"ture*some*ness, n.
ADVENTURESS
Ad*ven"tur*ess, n.
Defn: A female adventurer; a woman who tries to gain position by
equivocal means.
ADVENTUROUS
Ad*ven"tur*ous, a. Etym: [OE. aventurous, aunterous, OF. aventuros,
F. aventureux, fr. aventure. See Adventure, n.]
1. Inclined to adventure; willing to incur hazard; prone to embark in
hazardous enterprise; rashly daring; -- applied to persons.
Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve. Milton.
2. Full of hazard; attended with risk; exposing to danger; requiring
courage; rash; -- applied to acts; as, an adventurous undertaking,
deed, song.
Syn.
-- Rash; foolhardy; presumptuous; enterprising; daring; hazardous;
venturesome. See Rash.
ADVENTUROUSLY
Ad*ven"tur*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an adventurous manner; venturesomely; boldly; daringly.
ADVENTUROUSNESS
Ad*ven"tur*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being adventurous; daring;
venturesomeness.
ADVERB
Ad"verb, n. Etym: [L. adverbium; ad + verbum word, verb: cf. F.
adverbe.] (Gram.)
Defn: A word used to modify the sense of a verb, participle,
adjective, or other adverb, and usually placed near it; as, he writes
well; paper extremely white.
ADVERBIAL
Ad*ver"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. adverbialis: cf. F. adverbial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an adverb; of the nature of an adverb; as,
an adverbial phrase or form.
ADVERBIALITY
Ad*ver`bi*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being adverbial. Earle.
ADVERBIALIZE
Ad*ver"bi*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To give the force or form of an adverb to.
ADVERBIALLY
Ad*ver"bi*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an adverb.
ADVERSARIA
Ad`ver*sa"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. adversaria (sc. scripta), neut. pl.
of adversarius.]
Defn: A miscellaneous collection of notes, remarks, or selections; a
commonplace book; also, commentaries or notes.
These parchments are supposed to have been St. Paul's adversaria. Bp.
Bull.
ADVERSARIOUS
Ad`ver*sa"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Hostile. [R.] Southey.
ADVERSARY
Ad`ver*sa*ry, n.; pl. Adversaries. Etym: [OE. adversarie, direct fr.
the Latin, and adversaire, fr. OF. adversier, aversier, fr. L.
adversarius (a.) turned toward, (n.) an adversary. See Adverse.]
Defn: One who is turned against another or others with a design to
oppose
or resist them; a member of an opposing or hostile party; an
opponent; an antagonist; an enemy; a foe.
His ancient knot of dangerous adversaries. Shak.
Agree with thine adversary quickly. Matt. v. 25.
It may be thought that to vindicate the permanency of truth is to
dispute without an adversary. Beattie.
The Adversary, The Satan, or the Devil.
Syn.
-- Adversary, Enemy, Opponent, Antagonist. Enemy is the only one of
these words which necessarily implies a state of personal hostility.
Men may be adversaries, antagonists, or opponents to each other in
certain respects, and yet have no feelings of general animosity. An
adversary may be simply one who is placed for a time in a hostile
position, as in a lawsuit, an argument, in chess playing, or at
fence. An opponent is one who is ranged against another (perhaps
passively) on the opposing side; as a political opponent, an opponent
in debate. An antagonist is one who struggles against another with
active effort, either in a literal fight or in verbal debate.
ADVERSARY
Ad"ver*sa*ry, a.
1. Opposed; opposite; adverse; antagonistic. [Archaic] Bp. King.
2. (Law)
Defn: Having an opposing party; not unopposed; as, an adversary suit.
ADVERSATIVE
Ad*ver"sa*tive, a. Etym: [L. adversativus, fr. adversari.]
Defn: Expressing contrariety, opposition, or antithesis; as, an
adversative conjunction (but, however, yet, etc. ); an adversative
force.
-- Ad*ver"sa*tive*ly, adv.
ADVERSATIVE
Ad*ver"sa*tive, n.
Defn: An adversative word. Harris.
ADVERSE
Ad"verse, a. Etym: [OE. advers, OF. avers, advers, fr. L. adversus,
p. p. advertere to turn to. See Advert.]
1. Acting against, or in a contrary direction; opposed; contrary;
opposite; conflicting; as, adverse winds; an adverse party; a spirit
adverse to distinctions of caste.
2. Opposite. "Calpe's adverse height." Byron.
3. In hostile opposition to; unfavorable; unpropitious; contrary to
one's wishes; unfortunate; calamitous; afflictive; hurtful; as,
adverse fates, adverse circumstances, things adverse.
Happy were it for us all if we bore prosperity as well and wisely as
we endure an adverse fortune. Southey.
Adverse possession (Law), a possession of real property avowedly
contrary to some claim of title in another person. Abbott.
Syn.
-- Averse; reluctant; unwilling. See Averse.
ADVERSE
Ad*verse", v. t. Etym: [L. adversari: cf. OF. averser.]
Defn: To oppose; to resist. [Obs.] Gower.
ADVERSELY
Ad"verse*ly (277), adv.
Defn: In an adverse manner; inimically; unfortunately; contrariwise.
ADVERSENESS
Ad"verse*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being adverse; opposition.
ADVERSIFOLIATE; ADVERSIFOLIOUS
Ad*ver`si*fo"li*ate, Ad*ver`si*fo"li*ous a. Etym: [L. adver + folium
leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having opposite leaves, as plants which have the leaves so
arranged on the stem.
ADVERSION
Ad*ver"sion, n.Etym: [L. adversio]
Defn: A turning towards; attention. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
ADVERSITY
Ad*ver"si*ty, n.; pl. Adversities(#). Etym: [OE. adversite, F.
adversité, fr. L. adversitas.]
1. Opposition; contrariety. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Adversity is not without comforts and hopes. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Affliction; distress; misery; disaster; trouble; suffering;
trial.
ADVERT
Ad*vert", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Adverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Adverting.]
Etym: [L. advertere, v. t., to turn to; ad + vertere to turn: cf. F.
avertir. See Advertise.]
Defn: To turn the mind or attention; to refer; to take heed or
notice; -- with to; as, he adverted to what was said.
I may again advert to the distinction. Owen.
Syn.- To refer; allude; regard. See Refer.
ADVERTENCE; ADVERTENCY
Ad*vert"ence, Ad*vert"en*cy,Etym: [OF. advertence, avertence, LL.
advertentia, fr. L. advertens. See Advertent.]
Defn: The act of adverting, of the quality of being advertent;
attention; notice; regard; heedfulness.
To this difference it is right that advertence should be had in
regulating taxation. J. S. Mill.
ADVERTENT
Ad*vert"ent, a. Etym: [L. advertens, -entis, p. pr. of advertere. See
Advert.]
Defn: Attentive; heedful; regardful. Sir M. Hale.
-- Ad*vert"ent*ly, adv.
ADVERTISE
Ad`ver*tise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Advertised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Advertising.] Etym: [F. avertir, formerly also spelt advertir, to
warn, give notice to, L. advertere to turn to. The ending was
probably influenced by the noun advertisement. See Advert.]
Defn: To give notice to; to inform or apprise; to notify; to make
known; hence, to warn; -- often followed by of before the subject of
information; as, to advertise a man of his loss. [Archaic]
I will advertise thee what this people shall do. Num. xxiv. 14.
4. To give public notice of; to announce publicly, esp. by a printed
notice; as, to advertise goods for sale, a lost article, the sailing
day of a vessel, a political meeting.
Syn.
-- To apprise; inform; make known; notify; announce; proclaim;
promulgate; publish.
ADVERTISEMENT
Ad*ver"tise*ment, n. Etym: [F.avertisement, formerly also spelled
advertissement, a warning, giving notice, fr. avertir.]
1. The act of informing or notifying; notification. [Archaic]
An advertisement of danger. Bp. Burnet.
2. Admonition; advice; warning. [Obs.]
Therefore give me no counsel: My griefs cry louder than
advertisement. Shak.
3. A public notice, especially a paid notice in some public print;
anything that advertises; as, a newspaper containing many
advertisement.
ADVERTISER
Ad`ver*tis"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, advertises.
ADVICE
Ad*vice", n. Etym: [OE. avis, F. avis; + OF. vis, fr. L. visum
seemed, seen; really p. p. of videre to see, so that vis meant that
which has seemed best. See Vision, and cf. Avise, Advise.]
1. An opinion recommended or offered, as worthy to be followed;
counsel.
We may give advice, but we can not give conduct. Franklin.
2. Deliberate consideration; knowledge. [Obs.]
How shall I dote on her with more advice, That thus without advice
begin to love her Shak.
3. Information or notice given; intelligence; as, late advices from
France; -- commonly in the plural.
Note: In commercial language, advice usually means information
communicated by letter; -- used chiefly in reference to drafts or
bills of exchange; as, a letter of advice. McElrath.
4. (Crim. Law)
Defn: Counseling to perform a specific illegal act. Wharton. Advice
boat, a vessel employed to carry dispatches or to reconnoiter; a
dispatch boat.
-- To take advice. (a) To accept advice. (b) To consult with another
or others.
Syn.
-- Counsel; suggestion; recommendation; admonition; exhortation;
information; notice.
ADVISABILITY
Ad*vis`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being advisable; advisableness.
ADVISABLE
Ad*vis"a*ble, a.
1. Proper to be advised or to be done; expedient; prudent.
Some judge it advisable for a man to account with his heart every
day. South.
2. Ready to receive advice. [R.] South.
Syn.
-- Expedient; proper; desirable; befitting.
ADVISABLE-NESS
Ad*vis"a*ble-ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being advisable or expedient; expediency;
advisability.
ADVISABLY
Ad*vis"a*bly, adv.
Defn: With advice; wisely.
ADVISE
Ad*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Advised; p. pr. & vb. n. Advising.]
Etym: [OE. avisen to perceive, consider, inform, F. aviser, fr. LL.
advisare. advisare; ad + visare, fr. L. videre, visum, to see. See
Advice, and cf. Avise.]
1. To give advice to; to offer an opinion, as worthy or expedient to
be followed; to counsel; to warn. "I shall no more advise thee."
Milton.
2. To give information or notice to; to inform; -- with of before the
thing communicated; as, we were advised of the risk. To advise one's
self, to bethink one's self; to take counsel with one's self; to
reflect; to consider. [Obs.]
Bid thy master well advise himself. Shak.
Syn.
-- To counsel; admonish; apprise; acquaint.
ADVISE
Ad*vise", v. t.
1. To consider; to deliberate. [Obs.]
Advise if this be worth attempting. Milton.
2. To take counsel; to consult; -- followed by with; as, to advise
with friends.
ADVISEDLY
Ad*vis"ed*ly, adv.
1. Circumspectly; deliberately; leisurely. [Obs.] Shak.
2. With deliberate purpose; purposely; by design. "Advisedly
undertaken." Suckling.
ADVISEDNESS
Ad*vis"ed*ness n.
Defn: Deliberate consideration; prudent procedure; caution.
ADVISEMENT
Ad*vise"ment, n. Etym: [OE. avisement, F. avisement, fr. aviser. See
Advise, and cf. Avisement.]
1. Counsel; advise; information. [Archaic]
And mused awhile, waking advisement takes of what had passed in
sleep. Daniel.
2. Consideration; deliberation; consultation.
Tempering the passion with advisement slow. Spenser.
ADVISER
Ad*vis"er, n.
Defn: One who advises.
ADVISERSHIP
Ad*vis"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an adviser. [R.]
ADVISO
Ad*vi"so, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. aviso. See Advice.]
Defn: Advice; counsel; suggestion; also, a dispatch or advice boat.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ADVISORY
Ad*vi"so*ry, a.
Defn: Having power to advise; containing advice; as, an advisory
council; their opinion is merely advisory.
The General Association has a general advisory superintendence over
all the ministers and churches. Trumbull.
ADVOCACY
Ad"vo*ca*cy, n. Etym: [OF. advocatie, LL. advocatia. See Advocate.]
Defn: The act of pleading for or supporting; work of advocating;
intercession.
ADVOCATE
Ad"vo*cate, n. Etym: [OE. avocat, avocet, OF. avocat, fr. L.
advocatus, one summoned or called to another; properly the p. p. of
advocare to call to, call to one's aid; ad + vocare to call. See
Advowee, Avowee, Vocal.]
1. One who pleads the cause of another. Specifically: One who pleads
the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court; a
counselor.
Note: In the English and American Law, advocate is the same as
"counsel," "counselor," or "barrister." In the civil and
ecclesiastical courts, the term signifies the same as "counsel" at
the common law.
2. One who defends, vindicates, or espouses any cause by argument; a
pleader; as, an advocate of free trade, an advocate of truth.
3. Christ, considered as an intercessor.
We have an Advocate with the Father. 1 John ii. 1.
Faculty of advocates (Scot.), the Scottish bar in Edinburgh.
-- Lord advocate (Scot.), the public prosecutor of crimes, and
principal crown lawyer.
-- Judge advocate. See under Judge.
ADVOCATE
Ad"vo*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Advocated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Advocating.] Etym: [See Advocate, n., Advoke, Avow.]
Defn: To plead in favor of; to defend by argument, before a tribunal
or the public; to support, vindicate, or recommend publicly.
To advocate the cause of thy client. Bp. Sanderson (1624).
This is the only thing distinct and sensible, that has been
advocated. Burke.
Eminent orators were engaged to advocate his cause. Mitford.
ADVOCATE
Ad"vo*cate, v. i.
Defn: To act as advocate. [Obs.] Fuller.
ADVOCATESHIP
Ad"vo*cate*ship, n.
Defn: Office or duty of an advocate.
ADVOCATION
Ad`vo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. advocatio: cf. OF. avocation. See
Advowson.]
1. The act of advocating or pleading; plea; advocacy. [Archaic]
The holy Jesus . . . sits in heaven in a perpetual advocation for us.
Jer. Taylor.
2. Advowson. [Obs.]
The donations or advocations of church livings. Sanderson.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: The process of removing a cause from an inferior court to the
supreme court. Bell.
ADVOCATORY
Ad"vo*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an advocate. [R.]
ADVOKE
Ad*voke", v. t. Etym: [L. advocare. See Advocate.]
Defn: To summon; to call. [Obs.]
Queen Katharine had privately prevailed with the pope to advoke the
cause to Rome. Fuller.
ADVOLUTION
Ad`vo*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. advolvere, advolutum, to roll to.]
Defn: A rolling toward something. [R.]
ADVOUTRER
Ad*vou"trer, n. Etym: [OF. avoutre, avoltre, fr. L. adulter. Cf.
Adulterer.]
Defn: An adulterer. [Obs.]
ADVOUTRESS
Ad*vou"tress, n.
Defn: An adulteress. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADVOUTRY; ADVOWTRY
Ad*vou"try, Ad*vow"try, n. Etym: [OE. avoutrie, avouterie, advoutrie,
OF. avoutrie, avulterie, fr. L. adulterium. Cf. Adultery.]
Defn: Adultery. [Obs.] Bacon.
ADVOWEE
Ad*vow*ee", n. Etym: [OE. avowe, F. avoué, fr. L. advocatus. See
Advocate, Avowee, Avoyer.]
Defn: One who has an advowson. Cowell.
ADVOWSON
Ad*vow"son, n. Etym: [OE. avoweisoun, OF. avoëson, fr. L. advocatio.
Cf. Advocation.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: The right of presenting to a vacant benefice or living in the
church. [Originally, the relation of a patron (advocatus) or
protector of a benefice, and thus privileged to nominate or present
to it.]
Note: The benefices of the Church of England are in every case
subjects of presentation. They are nearly 12,000 in number; the
advowson of more than half of them belongs to private persons, and of
the remainder to the crown, bishops, deans and chapters,
universities, and colleges. Amer. Cyc.
ADVOYER
Ad*voy"er, n.
Defn: See Avoyer. [Obs.]
ADWARD
Ad*ward", n.
Defn: Award. [Obs.] Spenser.
ADYNAMIA
Ad`y*na"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL. adynamia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Considerable debility of the vital powers, as in typhoid fever.
Dunglison.
ADYNAMIC
Ad`y*nam"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. adynamique. See Adynamy.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, debility of the vital
powers; weak.
2. (Physics)
Defn: Characterized by the absence of power or force. Adynamic
fevers, malignant or putrid fevers attended with great muscular
debility.
ADYNAMY
A*dyn"a*my, n.
Defn: Adynamia. [R.] Morin.
ADYTUM
Ad"y*tum, n. Adyta. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: The innermost sanctuary or shrine in ancient temples, whence
oracles were given. Hence: A private chamber; a sanctum.
ADZ
Adz, v. t.
Defn: To cut with an adz. [R.] Carlyle.
ADZ; ADZE
Adz, Adze, n. Etym: [OE. adese, adis, adse, AS. adesa, adese, ax,
hatchet.]
Defn: A carpenter's or cooper's tool, formed with a thin arching
blade set at right angles to the handle. It is used for chipping or
slicing away the surface of wood.
AE
Æ or Ae.
Defn: A diphthong in the Latin language; used also by the Saxon
writers. It answers to the Gr. æ was generally replaced by a, the
long e or ee. In derivatives from Latin words with ae, it is mostly
superseded by e. For most words found with this initial combination,
the reader will therefore search under the letter E.
AECIDIUM
Æ*cid"i*um, n.; pl. Æcidia. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A form of fruit in the cycle of development of the Rusts or
Brands, an order of fungi, formerly considered independent plants.
AEDILE
Æ"dile, n. Etym: [L. aedilis, fr. aedes temple, public building. Cf.
Edify.]
Defn: A magistrate in ancient Rome, who had the superintendence of
public buildings, highways, shows, etc.; hence, a municipal officer.
AEDILESHIP
Æ"dile*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an ædile. T. Arnold.
AEGEAN
Æ*ge"an, a. Etym: [L. Aegeus; Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sea, or arm of the Mediterranean sea,
east of Greece. See Archipelago.
AEGICRANIA
Æ`gi*cra"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: Sculptured ornaments, used in classical architecture,
representing rams' heads or skulls.
AEGILOPS
Æg"i*lops, n. Etym: [L. aegilopis, Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: An ulcer or fistula in the inner corner of the eye.
2. (Bot.)
(a) The great wild-oat grass or other cornfield weed. Crabb.
(b) A genus of plants, called also hardgrass.
AEGIS
Æ"gis, n. Etym: [L. aegis, fr. Gr.
Defn: A shield or protective armor; -- applied in mythology to the
shield of Jupiter which he gave to Minerva. Also fig.: A shield; a
protection.
AEGOPHONY
Æ*goph"o*ny, n.
Defn: Same as Egophony.
AEGROTAT
Æ*gro"tat, n. Etym: [L., he is sick.] (Camb. Univ.)
Defn: A medical certificate that a student is ill.
AENEID
Æ*ne"id, n. Etym: [L. Aeneis, Aeneidis, or -dos: cf. F. .]
Defn: The great epic poem of Virgil, of which the hero is Æneas.
AENEOUS
A*ë"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. aëneus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Colored like bronze.
AEOLIAN
Æ*o"li*an, a. Etym: [L. Aeolius, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to Æolia or Æolis, in Asia Minor, colonized by
the Greeks, or to its inhabitants; æolic; as, the Æolian dialect.
2. Pertaining to Æolus, the mythic god of the winds; pertaining to,
or produced by, the wind; aërial.
Viewless forms the æolian organ play. Campbell.
Æolian attachment, a contrivance often attached to a pianoforte,
which prolongs the vibrations, increases the
volume of sound, etc., by forcing a stream of air upon the strings.
Moore.
-- Æolian harp, Æolian lyre, a musical instrument consisting of a
box, on or in which are stretched strings, on which the wind acts to
produce the notes; -- usually placed at an open window. Moore.
-- Æolian mode (Mus.), one of the ancient Greek and early
ecclesiastical modes.
AEOLIC
Æ*ol"ic, a. Etym: [L. Aeolicus; Gr.
Defn: Æolian, 1; as, the Æolic dialect; the Æolic mode.
AEOLIPILE; AEOLIPYLE
Æ*ol"i*pile, Æ*ol"i*pyle, n. Etym: [L. aeolipilae; Aeolus god of the
winds + pila a ball, or Gr. i. e., doorway of Æolus); cf. F.
éolipyle.]
Defn: An apparatus consisting chiefly of a closed vessel (as a globe
or cylinder) with one or more projecting bent tubes, through which
steam is made to pass from the vessel, causing it to revolve.
[Written also eolipile.]
Note: Such an apparatus was first described by Hero of Alexandria
about 200 years b. c. It has often been called the first steam
engine.
AEOLOTROPIC
Æ`o*lo*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: Exhibiting differences of quality or property in different
directions; not isotropic. Sir W. Thomson.
AEOLOTROPY
Æ`o*lot"ro*py, n. (Physics)
Defn: Difference of quality or property in different directions.
AEOLUS
Æ"o*lus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. & Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The god of the winds.
AEON
Æ"on, n.
Defn: A period of immeasurable duration; also, an emanation of the
Deity. See Eon.
AEONIAN
Æ*o"ni*an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Eternal; everlasting. "Æonian hills." Tennyson.
AEPYORNIS
Æ`py*or"nis, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A gigantic bird found fossil in Madagascar.
AERATE
A"ër*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. A; p. pr. & vb. n. A.] Etym: [Cf. F.
aérer. See Air,v. t.]
1. To combine or charge with gas; usually with carbonic acid gas,
formerly called fixed air.
His sparkling sallies bubbled up as from aërated natural fountains.
Carlyle.
2. To supply or impregnate with common air; as, to aërate soil; to
aërate water.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: To expose to the chemical action of air; to oxygenate (the
blood) by respiration; to arterialize. Aërated bread, bread raised by
charging dough with carbonic acid gas, instead of generating the gas
in the dough by fermentation.
AERATION
A`ër*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aération.]
1. Exposure to the free action of the air; airing; as, aëration of
soil, of spawn, etc.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: A change produced in the blood by exposure to the air in
respiration; oxygenation of the blood in respiration;
arterialization.
3. The act or preparation of charging with carbonic acid gas or with
oxygen.
AERATOR
A"ër*a`tor, n.
Defn: That which supplies with air; esp. an apparatus used for
charging mineral waters with gas and in making soda water.
AERENCHYM; AERENCHYMA
{ A"ër*en`chym, A`ër*en"chy*ma }, n. [NL. aërenchyma. See Aëro-;
Enchyma.] (Bot.)
Defn: A secondary respiratory tissue or modified periderm, found in
many aquatic plants and distinguished by the large intercellular
spaces.
AERIAL
A*ë"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. aërius. See Air.]
1. Of or pertaining to the air, or atmosphere; inhabiting or
frequenting the air; produced by or found in the air; performed in
the air; as, aërial regions or currents. "Aërial spirits." Milton.
"Aërial voyages." Darwin.
2. Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature of air.
Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal.
3. Rising aloft in air; high; lofty; as, aërial spires.
4. Growing, forming, or existing in the air, as opposed to growing or
existing in earth or water, or underground; as, aërial rootlets,
aërial plants. Gray.
5. Light as air; ethereal. Aërial acid, carbonic acid. [Obs.] Ure.
-- Aërial perspective. See Perspective.
AERIALITY
A*ë`ri*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being aërial; [R.] De Quincey.
AERIALLY
A*ë"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Like, or from, the air; in an aërial manner. "A murmur heard
aërially." Tennyson.
AERIAL RAILWAY
A*ë`ri*al rail"way`. (a) A stretched wire or rope elevated above the
ground and forming a way along which a trolley may travel, for
conveying a load suspended from the trolley.
(b) An elevated cableway.
AERIAL SICKNESS
A*ë"ri*al sick"ness.
Defn: A sickness felt by aëronauts due to high speed of flights and
rapidity in changing altitudes, combining some symptoms of mountain
sickness and some of seasickness.
AERIE
Ae"rie, n. Etym: [OE. aire, eire, air, nest, also origin, descent,
OF. aire, LL. area, aera, nest of a bird of prey, perh. fr. L. area
an open space (for birds of prey like to build their nests on flat
and open spaces on the top of high rocks). Cf. Area.]
Defn: The nest of a bird of prey, as of an eagle or hawk; also a
brood of such birds; eyrie. Shak. Also fig.: A human residence or
resting place perched like an eagle's nest.
AERIFEROUS
A`ër*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. aër air + -ferous: cf. F. aérifère.]
Defn: Conveying or containing air; air-bearing; as, the windpipe is
an aëriferous tube.
AERIFICATION
A`ër*i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aérification. See A.]
1. The act of combining air with another substance, or the state of
being filled with air.
2. The act of becoming aërified, or of changing from a solid or
liquid form into an aëriform state; the state of being aëriform.
AERIFORM
A"ër*i*form, a. Etym: [L. aër air + -form: cf. F. aériforme.]
Defn: Having the form or nature of air, or of an elastic fluid;
gaseous. Hence fig.: Unreal.
AERIFY
A"ër*i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. aër air + -fly.]
1. To infuse air into; to combine air with.
2. To change into an aëriform state.
AERO-
A"ër*o-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The combining form of the Greek word meaning air.
AEROBIC
A`ër*o"bic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Growing or thriving only in the presence of oxygen; also,
pertaining to, or induced by, aërobies; as, aërobic fermentation. --
A`ër*o"bic*al*ly (#), adv.
AEROBIES
A"ër*o*bies, n. pl. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Microörganisms which live in contact with the air and need
oxygen for their growth; as the microbacteria which form on the
surface of putrefactive fluids.
AEROBIOTIC
A`ër*o*bi*ot"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Related to, or of the nature of, aërobies; as, aërobiotic
plants, which live only when supplied with free oxygen.
AEROBOAT
A"ër*o*boat`, n. [Aëro- + boat.]
Defn: A form of hydro-aëroplane; a flying boat.
AEROBUS
A"ër*o*bus`, n. [Aëro-+ bus.]
Defn: An aëroplane or airship designed to carry passengers.
AEROCLUB
A"ër*o*club`, n. [Aëro- + club.]
Defn: A club or association of persons interested in aëronautics.
AEROCURVE
A"ër*o*curve`, n. [Aëro- + curve.] (Aëronautics)
Defn: A modification of the aëroplane, having curved surfaces, the
advantages of which were first demonstrated by Lilienthal.
AEROCYST
A"ër*o*cyst, n. Etym: [Aëro- + cyst.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the air cells of algals.
AEROCYST
A"ër*o*cyst, n. [Aëro-+ cyst.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the air cells of algals.
AERODONETICS
A`ë*ro*do*net"ics, n. [Aëro- + Gr. shaken, to shake.] (Aëronautics)
Defn: The science of gliding and soaring flight.
AERODROME
A"ë*ro*drome`, n. [Aëro- + Gr. a running.] (Aëronautics) (a) A shed
for housing an airship or aëroplane.
(b) A ground or field, esp. one equipped with housing and other
facilities, used for flying purposes. -- A`ër*o*drom"ic (#), a.
AERODYNAMIC
A"ër*o*dy*nam"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the force of air in motion.
AERODYNAMICS
A`ër*o*dy*nam"ics, n. Etym: [Aëro- + dynamics: cf. F. aérodynamique.]
Defn: The science which treats of the air and other gaseous bodies
under the action of force, and of their mechanical effects.
AEROFOIL
A"ër*o*foil`, n. [Aëro- + foil.]
Defn: A plane or arched surface for sustaining bodies by its movement
through the air; a spread wing, as of a bird.
AEROGNOSY
A`ër*og"no*sy, n. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr. aérognosie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the properties of the air, and of
the part it plays in nature. Craig.
AEROGRAPHER
A`ër*og"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One versed in aëography: an aërologist.
AEROGRAPHIC; AEROGRAPHICAL
A`ër*o*graph"ic, A`ër*o*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to aërography; aërological.
AEROGRAPHY
A`ër*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -graphy: cf. F. aérographie.]
Defn: A description of the air or atmosphere; aërology.
AEROGUN
A"ër*o*gun`, n. [Aëro-+ gun.]
Defn: A cannon capable of being trained at very high angles for use
against aircraft.
AEROHYDRODYNAMIC
A`ër*o*hy`dro*dy*nam"ic, a. Etym: [Aëro- + hydrodynamic.]
Defn: Acting by the force of air and water; as, an aërohydrodynamic
wheel.
AEROLITE
A"ër*o*lite, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -lite: cf. F. aérolithe.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A stone, or metallic mass, which has fallen to the earth from
distant space; a meteorite; a meteoric stone.
Note: Some writers limit the word to stony meteorites.
AEROLITH
A"ër*o*lith, n.
Defn: Same as A.
AEROLITHOLOGY
A`ër*o*li*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Aëro- + lithology.]
Defn: The science of aërolites.
AEROLITIC
A`ër*o*lit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to aërolites; meteoric; as, aërolitic iron.
Booth.
AEROLOGIC; AEROLOGICAL
A`ër*o*log"ic, A`ër*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to aërology.
AEROLOGIST
A`ër*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in aërology.
AEROLOGY
A`ër*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -logy: cf. F. aérologie.]
Defn: That department of physics which treats of the atmosphere.
AEROMANCY
A"ër*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -mancy: cf. F. aéromancie.]
Defn: Divination from the state of the air or from atmospheric
substances; also, forecasting changes in the weather.
AEROMECHANIC; AEROMECHANICAL
A`ër*o*me*chan"ic, A`ër*o*me*chan"ical, a.
Defn: Of or pert. to aëromechanics.
AEROMECHANIC
A`ër*o*me*chan"ic, n.
Defn: A mechanic or mechanician expert in the art and practice of
aëronautics.
AEROMECHANICS
A`ër*o*me*chan"ics, n.
Defn: The science of equilibrium and motion of air or an aëriform
fluid, including aërodynamics and aërostatics.
AEROMETER
A`ër*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -meter: cf. F. éromètre.]
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the weight or density of air and
gases.
AEROMETRIC
A`ër*o*met"ric, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to aërometry; as, aërometric investigations.
AEROMETRY
A`ër*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Aëro- + -metry: cf. F. érométrie.]
Defn: The science of measuring the air, including the doctrine of its
pressure, elasticity, rarefaction, and condensation; pneumatics.
AERONAT
A"ër*o*nat`, n. [F. aéronat. See Aëro-; Natation.]
Defn: A dirigible balloon.
AERONAUT
A"ër*o*naut, n. Etym: [F. aéronaute, fr. Gr. Nautical.]
Defn: An aërial navigator; a balloonist.
AERONAUTIC; AERONAUTICAL
A`ër*o*naut"ic, A`ër*o*naut"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aéronauitique.]
Defn: Pertaining to aëronautics, or aërial sailing.
AERONAUTICS
A`ër*o*naut"ics, n.
Defn: The science or art of ascending and sailing in the air, as by
means of a balloon; aërial navigation; ballooning.
AERONEF
A"ër*o*nef`, n. [F. aéronef.]
Defn: A power-driven, heavier-than-air flying machine.
AEROPHOBIA; AEROPHOBY
A`ër*o*pho"bi*a, A`ër*oph"o*by, n. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr. aérophobie.]
(Med.)
Defn: Dread of a current of air.
AEROPHONE
A"ër*o*phone`, n. [Aëro- + Gr. voice.] (a) A form of combined
speaking and ear trumpet.
(b) An instrument, proposed by Edison, for greatly intensifying
speech. It consists of a phonograph diaphragm so arranged that its
action opens and closes valves, producing synchronous air blasts
sufficient to operate a larger diaphragm with greater amplitude of
vibration.
AEROPHYTE
A"ër*o*phyte (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr. aérophyte.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant growing entirely in the air, and receiving its
nourishment from it; an air plant or epiphyte.
AEROPLANE
A"ër*o*plane` (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + plane.]
Defn: A flying machine, or a small plane for experiments on flying,
which floats in the air only when propelled through it.
AEROPLANIST
A"ër*o*plan`ist, n.
Defn: One who flies in an aëroplane.
AEROSCOPE
A"ër*o*scope (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: An apparatus designed for collecting spores, germs, bacteria,
etc., suspended in the air.
AEROSCOPY
A`ër*os"co*py (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr.
Defn: The observation of the state and variations of the atmosphere.
AEROSE
Æ*rose" (, a. Etym: [L. aerosus, fr. aes, aeris, brass, copper.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or like, copper; brassy. [R.]
AEROSIDERITE
A`ër*o*sid"er*ite (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + siderite.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A mass of meteoric iron.
AEROSPHERE
A"ër*o*sphere (, n. Etym: [Aëro- + sphere: cf. F. aérosphère.]
Defn: The atmosphere. [R.]
AEROSTAT
A"ër*o*stat (, n. Etym: [F. aérostat, fr. Gr. Statics.]
1. A balloon.
2. A balloonist; an aëronaut.
AEROSTATIC; AEROSTATICAL
A`ër*o*stat"ic (, A`ër*o*stat"ic*al (, a. Etym: [Aëro- + Gr.
aérostatique. See Statical, Statics.]
1. Of or pertaining to aërostatics; pneumatic.
2. Aëronautic; as, an aërostatic voyage.
AEROSTATICS
A`ër*o*stat"ics (, n.
Defn: The science that treats of the equilibrium of elastic fluids,
or that of bodies sustained in them. Hence it includes aëronautics.
AEROSTATION
A`ër*os*ta"tion (, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aérostation the art of using
aërostats.]
1. Aërial navigation; the art of raising and guiding balloons in the
air.
2. The science of weighing air; aërostatics. [Obs.]
AEROTAXIS
A"ër*o*tax`is, n. [NL. See Aëro-; Taxis.] (Bacteriology)
Defn: The positive or negative stimulus exerted by oxygen on aërobic
and anaërobic bacteria. -- A`ër*o*tac"tic (#), a.
AEROTHERAPENTICS
A`ër*o*ther`a*pen"tics, n. [Aëro- + therapeutics.] (Med.)
Defn: Treatment of disease by the use of air or other gases.
AEROYACHT
A"ër*o*yacht`, n. [Aëro- + yacht.]
Defn: A form of hydro-aëroplane; a flying boat.
AERUGINOUS
Æ*ru"gi*nous (, a. Etym: [L. aeruginosus, fr. aerugo rust of copper,
fr. aes copper: cf. F. érugineux.]
Defn: Of the nature or color of verdigris, or the rust of copper.
AERUGO
Æ*ru"go (, n. Etym: [L. aes brass, copper.]
Defn: The rust of any metal, esp. of brass or copper; verdigris.
AERY
Ae"ry (, n.
Defn: An aerie.
AERY
A"ër*y (, a. Etym: [See Air.]
Defn: Aërial; ethereal; incorporeal; visionary. [Poetic] M. Arnold.
AESCULAPIAN
Æs`cu*la"pi*an (, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Æsculapius or to the healing art; medical;
medicinal.
AESCULAPIUS
Æs`cu*la"pi*us (, n. Etym: [L. Aesculapius, Gr. (Myth.)
Defn: The god of medicine. Hence, a physician.
AESCULIN
Æs"cu*lin (, n.
Defn: Same as Esculin.
AESIR
Æ"sir, n. pl. [Icel., pl. of ass god.]
Defn: In the old Norse mythology, the gods Odin, Thor, Loki, Balder,
Frigg, and the others. Their home was called Asgard.
AESOPIAN; ESOPIAN
Æ*so"pi*an, E*so"pi*an (, a. Etym: [L. Aesopius, from Gr. (.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Æsop, or in his manner.
AESOPIC; ESOPIC
Æ*sop"ic, E*sop"ic (, a. Etym: [L. Aesopicus, Gr.
Defn: Same as Æsopian.
AESTHESIA
Æs*the"si*a (, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Perception by the senses; feeling; -- the opposite of
anæsthesia.
AESTHESIOMETER; ESTHESIOMETER
Æs*the`si*om"e*ter, Es*the`si*om"e*ter (, n. Etym: [Gr. Æsthesia) + -
meter.]
Defn: An instrument to measure the degree of sensation, by
determining at how short a distance two impressions upon the skin can
be distinguished, and thus to determine whether the condition of
tactile sensibility is normal or altered.
AESTHESIS
Æs*the""sis (, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Sensuous perception. [R.] Ruskin.
AESTHESODIC
Æs`the*sod"ic (, a. Etym: [Gr. esthésodique.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Conveying sensory or afferent impulses; -- said of nerves.
AESTHETE
Æs"thete (, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who makes much or overmuch of æsthetics. [Recent]
AESTHETIC; AESTHETICAL
Æs*thet"ic (, Æs*thet"ic*al (, a.
Defn: Of or Pertaining to æsthetics; versed in æsthetics; as,
æsthetic studies, emotions, ideas, persons, etc.
-- Æs*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
AESTHETICAN
Æs`the*ti"can, n.
Defn: One versed in æsthetics.
AESTHETICISM
Æs*thet"i*cism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of æsthetics; æsthetic principles; devotion to the
beautiful in nature and art. Lowell.
AESTHETICS; ESTHETICS
Æs*thet"ics, Es*thet"ics (, n. Etym: [Gr. ästhetik, F. esthétique.]
Defn: The theory or philosophy of taste; the science of the beautiful
in nature and art; esp. that which treats of the expression and
embodiment of beauty by art.
AESTHO-PHYSIOLOGY
Æs`tho-phys`i*ol"o*gy(#), n. Etym: [Gr. physiology.]
Defn: The science of sensation in relation to nervous action. H.
Spenser.
AESTIVAL
Æs"ti*val, a. Etym: [L. aestivalis, aestivus, fr. aestas summer.]
Defn: Of or belonging to the summer; as, æstival diseases. [Spelt
also estival.]
AESTIVATE
Æs"ti*vate, v. i. Etym: [L. aestivare, aestivatum.]
1. To spend the summer.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: To pass the summer in a state of torpor. [Spelt also estivate.]
AESTIVATION
Æs`ti*va"tion, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The state of torpidity induced by the heat and dryness of
summer, as in certain snails; -- opposed to hibernation.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The arrangement of the petals in a flower bud, as to folding,
overlapping, etc.; prefloration. Gray. [Spelt also estivation.]
AESTUARY
Æs"tu*a*ry, n. & a.
Defn: See Estuary.
AESTUOUS
Æs"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. aestuosus, fr. aestus fire, glow.]
Defn: Glowing; agitated, as with heat.
AETHEOGAMOUS
A*ë`the*og"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Propagated in an unusual way; cryptogamous.
AETHER
Æ"ther, n.
Defn: See Ether.
AETHIOPS MINERAL
Æ"thi*ops min"er*al. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Ethiops mineral. [Obs.]
AETHOGEN
Æth"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of nitrogen and boro
AETHRIOSCOPE
Æ"thri*o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument consisting in part of a differential thermometer.
It is used for measuring changes of temperature produced by different
conditions of the sky, as when clear or clouded.
AETIOLOGICAL
Æ`ti*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ætiology; assigning a cause.
-- Æ`ti*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
AETIOLOGY
Æ`ti*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. aetologia, Gr. étiologie.]
1. The science, doctrine, or demonstration of causes; esp., the
investigation of the causes of any disease; the science of the origin
and development of things.
2. The assignment of a cause.
AETITES
A`ë*ti"tes, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: See Eaglestone.
AFAR
A*far", adv. Etym: [Pref. a-.(for on or of) + far.]
Defn: At, to, or from a great distance; far away; -- often used with
from preceding, or off following; as, he was seen from afar; I saw
him afar off.
The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar. Beattie.
AFEARD
A*feard", p. a. Etym: [OE. afered, AS. af, p. p. of af to frighten;
a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) + fran to frighten.
See Fear.]
Defn: Afraid. [Obs.]
Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises. Shak.
AFER
A"fer, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The southwest wind. Milton.
AFFABILITY
Af`fa*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. affabilitas: cf. F. affabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being affable; readiness to converse;
courteousness in receiving others and in conversation; complaisant
behavior.
Affability is of a wonderful efficacy or power in procuring love.
Elyot
AFFABLE
Af"fa*ble, a. Etym: [F. affable, L. affabilis, fr. affari to speak
to; ad + fari to speak. See Fable.]
1. Easy to be spoken to or addressed; receiving others kindly and
conversing with them in a free and friendly manner; courteous;
sociable.
An affable and courteous gentleman. Shak.
His manners polite and affable. Macaulay.
2. Gracious; mild; benign.
A serene and affable countenance. Tatler.
Syn.
-- Courteous; civil; complaisant; accessible; mild; benign;
condescending.
AFFABLENESS
Af"fa*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Affability.
AFFABLY
Af"fa*bly, adv.
Defn: In an affable manner; courteously.
AFFABROUS
Af"fa*brous, a. Etym: [L. affaber workmanlike; ad + faber.]
Defn: Executed in a workmanlike manner; ingeniously made. [R.]
Bailey.
AFFAIR
Af*fair", n. Etym: [OE. afere, affere, OF. afaire, F. affaire, fr. a
faire to do; L.. ad + facere to do. See Fact, and cf. Ado.]
1. That which is done or is to be done; matter; concern; as, a
difficult affair to manage; business of any kind, commercial,
professional, or public; -- often in the plural. "At the head of
affairs." Junius. "A talent for affairs." Prescott.
2. Any proceeding or action which it is wished to refer to or
characterize vaguely; as, an affair of honor, i. e., a duel; an
affair of love, i. e., an intrigue.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: An action or engagement not of sufficient magnitude to be
called a battle.
4. Action; endeavor. [Obs.]
And with his best affair Obeyed the pleasure of the Sun. Chapman.
5. A material object (vaguely designated).
A certain affair of fine red cloth much worn and faded. Hawthorne.
AFFAMISH
Af*fam"ish, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. affamer, fr. L. ad + fames hunger.
See Famish.]
Defn: To afflict with, or perish from, hunger. [Obs.] Spenser.
AFFAMISHMENT
Af*fam"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Starvation. Bp. Hall.
AFFATUATE
Af*fat"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ad + fatuus foolish.]
Defn: To infatuate. [Obs.] Milton.
AFFEAR
Af*fear", v. t. Etym: [OE. aferen, AS. af. See Afeard.]
Defn: To frighten. [Obs.] Spenser.
AFFECT
Af*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affected; p. pr. & vb. n. Affecting.]
Etym: [L. affectus, p. p. of afficere to affect by active agency; ad
+ facere to make: cf. F. affectere, L. affectare, freq. of afficere.
See Fact.]
1. To act upon; to produce an effect or change upon.
As might affect the earth with cold heat. Milton.
The climate affected their health and spirits. Macaulay.
2. To influence or move, as the feelings or passions; to touch.
A consideration of the rationale of our passions seems to me very
necessary for all who would affect them upon solid and pure
principles.
3. To love; to regard with affection. [Obs.]
As for Queen Katharine, he rather respected than affected, rather
honored than loved, her. Fuller.
4. To show a fondness for; to like to use or practice; to choose;
hence, to frequent habitually.
For he does neither affect company, nor is he fit for Shak.
Do not affect the society of your inferiors in rank, nor court that
of the great. Hazlitt.
5. To dispose or incline.
Men whom they thought best affected to religion and their country's
liberty. Milton.
6. To aim at; to aspire; to covet. [Obs.]
This proud man affects imperial Dryden.
7. To tend to by affinity or disposition.
The drops of every fluid affect a round figure. Newton.
8. To make a show of; to put on a pretense of; to feign; to assume;
as, to affect ignorance.
Careless she is with artful care, Affecting to seem unaffected.
Congreve.
Thou dost affect my manners. Shak.
9. To assign; to appoint. [R.]
One of the domestics was affected to his special service. Thackeray.
Syn.
-- To influence; operate; act on; concern; move; melt; soften;
subdue; overcome; pretend; assume.
AFFECT
Af*fect", n. Etym: [L. affectus.]
Defn: Affection; inclination; passion; feeling; disposition. [Obs.]
Shak.
AFFECTATION
Af`fec*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. affectatio: cf. F. affectation.]
1. An attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false
display; artificial show. "An affectation of contempt." Macaulay.
Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be
genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural
what is natural. Locke.
2. A striving after. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
3. Fondness; affection. [Obs.] Hooker.
AFFECTATIONIST
Af`fec*ta"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who exhibits affectation. [R.] Fitzed. Hall.
AFFECTED
Af*fect"ed, p. p. & a.
1. Regarded with affection; beloved. [Obs.]
His affected Hercules. Chapman.
2. Inclined; disposed; attached.
How stand you affected his wish Shak.
3. Given to false show; assuming or pretending to posses what is not
natural or real.
He is . . . too spruce, too affected, too odd. Shak.
4. Assumed artificially; not natural.
Affected coldness and indifference. Addison.
5. (Alg.)
Defn: Made up of terms involving different powers of the unknown
quantity; adfected; as, an affected equation.
AFFECTEDLY
Af*fect"ed*ly, adv.
1. In an affected manner; hypocritically; with more show than
reality.
2. Lovingly; with tender care. [Obs.] Shak.
AFFECTEDNESS
Af*fect"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Affectation.
AFFECTER
Af*fect"er, n.
Defn: One who affects, assumes, pretends, or strives after.
"Affecters of wit." Abp. Secker.
AFFECTIBILITY
Af*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being affectible. [R.]
AFFECTIBLE
Af*fect"i*ble, a.
Defn: That may be affected. [R.]
Lay aside the absolute, and, by union with the creaturely, become
affectible. Coleridge.
AFFECTING
Af*fect"ing, a.
1. Moving the emotions; fitted to excite the emotions; pathetic;
touching; as, an affecting address; an affecting sight.
The most affecting music is generally the most simple.
2. Affected; given to false show. [Obs.]
A drawling; affecting rouge. Shak.
AFFECTINGLY
Af*fect"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an affecting manner; is a manner to excite emotions.
AFFECTION
Af*fec"tion, n. Etym: [F. affection, L. affectio, fr. afficere. See
Affect.]
1. The act of affecting or acting upon; the state of being affected.
2. An attribute; a quality or property; a condition; a bodily state;
as, figure, weight, etc. , are affections of bodies. "The affections
of quantity." Boyle.
And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less, An old and strange
affection of the house. Tennyson.
3. Bent of mind; a feeling or natural impulse or natural impulse
acting upon and swaying the mind; any emotion; as, the benevolent
affections, esteem, gratitude, etc. ; the malevolent affections,
hatred, envy, etc.; inclination; disposition; propensity; tendency.
Affection is applicable to an unpleasant as well as a pleasant state
of the mind, when impressed by any object or quality. Cogan.
4. A settled good will; kind feeling; love; zealous or tender
attachment; -- often in the pl. Formerly followed by to, but now more
generally by for or towards; as, filial, social, or conjugal
affections; to have an affection for or towards children.
All his affections are set on his own country. Macaulay.
5. Prejudice; bias. [Obs.] Bp. Aylmer.
6. (Med.)
Defn: Disease; morbid symptom; malady; as, a pulmonary affection.
Dunglison.
7. The lively representation of any emotion. Wotton.
8. Affectation. [Obs.] "Spruce affection." Shak.
9. Passion; violent emotion. [Obs.]
Most wretched man, That to affections does the bridle lend. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Attachment; passion; tenderness; fondness; kindness; love; good
will. See Attachment; Disease.
AFFECTIONAL
Af*fec"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the affections; as, affectional impulses;
an affectional nature.
AFFECTIONATE
Af*fec"tion*ate, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affectionné.]
1. Having affection or warm regard; loving; fond; as, an affectionate
brother.
2. Kindly inclined; zealous. [Obs.] Johson.
Man, in his love God, and desire to please him, can never be too
affectionate. Sprat.
3. Proceeding from affection; indicating love; tender; as, the
affectionate care of a parent; affectionate countenance, message,
language.
4. Strongly inclined; -- with to. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn.
-- Tender; attached; loving; devoted; warm; fond; earnest; ardent.
AFFECTIONATED
Af*fec"tion*a`ted, a.
Defn: Disposed; inclined. [Obs.]
Affectionated to the people. Holinshed.
AFFECTIONATELY
Af*fec"tion*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: With affection; lovingly; fondly; tenderly; kindly.
AFFECTIONATENESS
Af*fec"tion*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being affectionate; fondness; affection.
AFFECTIONED
Af*fec"tioned, a.
1. Disposed. [Archaic]
Be kindly affectioned one to another. Rom. xii. 10.
2. Affected; conceited. [Obs.] Shak.
AFFECTIVE
Af*fec"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affectif.]
1. Tending to affect; affecting. [Obs.] Burnet.
2. Pertaining to or exciting emotion; affectional; emotional. Rogers.
AFFECTIVELY
Af*fec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an affective manner; impressively; emotionally.
AFFECTUOUS
Af*fec"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. affectuous: cf. F. affectueux. See
Affect.]
Defn: Full of passion or emotion; earnest. [Obs.] --
Af*fec"tu*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.] Fabyan.
AFFEER
Af*feer", v. t. Etym: [OF. aforer, afeurer, to tax, appraise, assess,
fr. L. ad + forum market, court of justice, in LL. also meaning pri.]
1. To confirm; to assure. [Obs.] "The title is affeered." Shak.
2. (Old Law)
Defn: To assess or reduce, as an arbitrary penalty or amercement, to
a certain and reasonable sum.
Amercements . . . were affeered by the judges. Blackstone.
AFFEERER; AFFEEROR
Af*feer"er, Af*feer"or, n. Etym: [OF. aforeur, LL. afforator.] (Old
Law)
Defn: One who affeers. Cowell.
AFFEERMENT
Af*feer"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aforement.] (Old Law)
Defn: The act of affeering. Blackstone.
AFFERENT
Af"fer*ent, a. Etym: [L. afferens, p. pr. of afferre; ad + ferre to
bear.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Bearing or conducting inwards to a part or organ; -- opposed to
efferent; as, afferent vessels; afferent nerves, which convey
sensations from the external organs to the brain.
AFFETTUOSO
Af*fet`tu*o"so, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With feeling.
AFFIANCE
Af*fi"ance, n. Etym: [OE. afiaunce trust, confidence, OF. afiance,
fr. afier to trust, fr. LL. affidare to trust; ad + fidare to trust,
fr. L. fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Affidavit, Affy, Confidence.]
1. Plighted faith; marriage contract or promise.
2. Trust; reliance; faith; confidence.
Such feelings promptly yielded to his habitual affiance in the divine
love. Sir J. Stephen.
Lancelot, my Lancelot, thou in whom I have Most joy and most
affiance. Tennyson.
AFFIANCE
Af*fi"ance, v. t. [imp. Affianced; p. pr. Affiancing.] Etym: [Cf. OF.
afiancier, fr. afiance.]
1. To betroth; to pledge one's faith to for marriage, or solemnly
promise (one's self or another) in marriage.
To me, sad maid, he was affianced. Spenser.
2. To assure by promise. [Obs.] Pope.
AFFIANCER
Af*fi"an*cer, n.
Defn: One who makes a contract of marriage between two persons.
AFFIANT
Af*fi"ant, n. Etym: [From p. pr. of OF. afier, LL. affidare. See
Affidavit.] (Law)
Defn: One who makes an affidavit. [U. S.] Burrill.
Syn.
-- Deponent. See Deponent.
AFFICHE
Af`fiche", n. [F., fr. afficher to affix.]
Defn: A written or printed notice to be posted, as on a wall; a
poster; a placard.
AFFIDAVIT
Af`fi*da"vit, n. Etym: [LL. affidavit he has made oath, perfect tense
of affidare. See Affiance, Affy.] (Law)
Defn: A sworn statement in writing; a declaration in writing, signed
and made upon oath before an authorized magistrate. Bouvier. Burrill.
Note: It is always made ex parte, and without cross-examination, and
in this differs from a deposition. It is also applied to written
statements made on affirmation.
Syn.
-- Deposition. See Deposition.
AFFILE
Af*file", v. t. Etym: [OF. afiler, F. affiler, to sharpen; a (L. ad)
+ fil thread, edge.]
Defn: To polish. [Obs.]
AFFILIABLE
Af*fil"i*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being affiliated to or on, or connected with in
origin.
AFFILIATE
Af*fil"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affiliated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Affiliating.] Etym: [LL. adfiliare, affiliare, to adopt as son; ad +
filius son: cf. F. affilier.]
1. To adopt; to receive into a family as a son; hence, to bring or
receive into close connection; to ally.
Is the soul affiliated to God, or is it estranged and in rebellion I.
Taylor.
2. To fix the paternity of; -- said of an illegitimate child; as, to
affiliate the child to (or on or upon) one man rather than another.
3. To connect in the way of descent; to trace origin to.
How do these facts tend to affiliate the faculty of hearing upon the
aboriginal vegetative processes H. Spencer.
4. To attach (to) or unite (with); to receive into a society as a
member, and initiate into its mysteries, plans, etc.; -- followed by
to or with. Affiliated societies, societies connected with a central
society, or with each other.
AFFILIATE
Af*fil"i*ate, v. i.
Defn: To connect or associate one's self; -- followed by with; as,
they affiliate with no party.
AFFILIATION
Af*fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. affiliation, LL. affiliatio.]
1. Adoption; association or reception as a member in or of the same
family or society.
2. (Law)
Defn: The establishment or ascertaining of parentage; the assignment
of a child, as a bastard, to its father; filiation.
3. Connection in the way of descent. H. Spencer.
AFFINAL
Af*fi"nal, a. Etym: [L. affinis.]
Defn: Related by marriage; from the same source.
AFFINE
Af*fine", v. t. Etym: [F. affiner to refine; (L. ad) + fin fine. See
Fine.]
Defn: To refine. [Obs.] Holland.
AFFINED
Af*fined", a. Etym: [OF. afiné related, p. p., fr. LL. affinare to
join, fr. L. affinis neighboring, related to; ad + finis boundary,
limit.]
Defn: Joined in affinity or by any tie. [Obs.] "All affined and kin."
Shak.
AFFINITATIVE
Af*fin"i*ta*tive, a.
Defn: Of the nature of affinity.
-- Af*fin"i*ta*tive*ly, adv.
AFFINITIVE
Af*fin"i*tive, a.
Defn: Closely connected, as by affinity.
AFFINITY
Af*fin"i*ty, n.; pl. Affinities(#). Etym: [OF. afinité, F. affinité,
L. affinites, fr. affinis. See Affined.]
1. Relationship by marriage (as between a husband and his wife's
blood relations, or between a wife and her husband's blood
relations); -- in contradistinction to consanguinity, or relationship
by blood; -- followed by with, to, or between.
Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh. 1 Kings iii. 1.
2. Kinship generally; close agreement; relation; conformity;
resemblance; connection; as, the affinity of sounds, of colors, or of
languages.
There is a close affinity between imposture and credulity. Sir G. C.
Lewis.
2. Companionship; acquaintance. [Obs.]
About forty years past, I began a happy affinity with William
Cranmer. Burton.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: That attraction which takes place, at an insensible distance,
between the heterogeneous particles of bodies, and unites them to
form chemical compounds; chemism; chemical or elective affinity or
attraction.
5. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: A relation between species or highe
6. (Spiritualism)
Defn: A superior spiritual relationship or attraction held to exist
sometimes between persons, esp. persons of the opposite sex; also,
the man or woman who exerts such psychical or spiritual attraction.
AFFIRM
Af*firm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affirmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Affirming.]
Etym: [OE. affermen, OF. afermer, F. affirmer, affermir, fr. L.
affirmare; ad + firmare to make firm, firmus firm. See Firm.]
1. To make firm; to confirm, or ratify; esp. (Law),
Defn: to assert or confirm, as a judgment, decree, or order, brought
before an appelate court for review.
2. To assert positively; to tell with confidence; to aver; to
maintain as true; -- opposed to deny.
Jesus, . . . whom Paul affirmed to be alive. Acts xxv. 19.
3. (Law)
Defn: To declare, as a fact, solemnly, under judicial sanction. See
Affirmation, 4.
Syn.
-- To assert; aver; declare; asseverate; assure; pronounce; protest;
avouch; confirm; establish; ratify.
-- To Affirm, Asseverate, Aver, Protest. We affirm when we declare a
thing as a fact or a proposition. We asseverate it in a peculiarly
earnest manner, or with increased positiveness as what can not be
disputed. We aver it, or formally declare it to be true, when we have
positive knowledge of it. We protest in a more public manner and with
the energy of perfect sincerity. People asseverate in order to
produce a conviction of their veracity; they aver when they are
peculiarly desirous to be believed; they protest when they wish to
free themselves from imputations, or to produce a conviction of their
innocence.
AFFIRM
Af*firm", v. i.
1. To declare or assert positively.
Not that I so affirm, though so it seem To thee, who hast thy
dwelling here on earth. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To make a solemn declaration, before an authorized magistrate
or tribunal, under the penalties of perjury; to testify by
affirmation.
AFFIRMABLE
Af*firm"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being affirmed, asserted, or declared; -- followed
by of; as, an attribute affirmable of every just man.
AFFIRMANCE
Af*firm"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. afermance.]
1. Confirmation; ratification; confirmation of a voidable act.
This statute . . . in affirmance of the common law. Bacon.
2. A strong declaration; affirmation. Cowper.
AFFIRMANT
Af*firm"ant, n. Etym: [L. affirmans, -antis, p. pr. See Affirm.]
1. One who affirms or asserts.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who affirms of taking an oath.
AFFIRMATION
Af`fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. affirmatio: cf. F. affirmation.]
1. Confirmation of anything established; ratification; as, the
affirmation of a law. Hooker.
2. The act of affirming or asserting as true; assertion; -- opposed
to negation or denial.
3. That which is asserted; an assertion; a positive as, an
affirmation, by the vender, of title to property sold, or of its
quality.
4. (Law)
Defn: A solemn declaration made under the penalties of perjury, by
persons who conscientiously decline taking an oath, which declaration
is in law equivalent to an oath. Bouvier.
AFFIRMATIVE
Af*firm"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. affirmativus: cf. F. affirmatif.]
1. Confirmative; ratifying; as, an act affirmative of common law.
2. That affirms; asserting that the fact is so; declaratory of what
exists; answering "yes" to a question; -- opposed to negative; as, an
affirmative answer; an affirmative vote.
3. Positive; dogmatic. [Obs.] J. Taylor.
Lysicles was a little by the affirmative air of Crito. Berkeley.
4. (logic)
Defn: Expressing the agreement of the two terms of a proposition.
5. (Alg.)
Defn: Positive; -- a term applied to quantities which are to be
added, and opposed to negative, or such as are to be subtracted.
AFFIRMATIVE
Af*firm"a*tive, n.
1. That which affirms as opposed to that which denies; an affirmative
proposition; that side of question which affirms or maintains the
proposition stated; -- opposed to Ant: negative; as, there were forty
votes in the affirmative, and ten in the negative.
Whether there are such beings or not, 't is sufficient for my purpose
that many have believed the affirmative. Dryden.
2. A word or phrase expressing affirmation or assent; as, yes, that
is so, etc.
AFFIRMATIVELY
Af*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an affirmative manner; on the affirmative side of a
question; in the affirmative; -- opposed to negatively.
AFFIRMATORY
Af*firm"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Giving affirmation; assertive; affirmative. Massey.
AFFIRMER
Af*firm"er, n.
Defn: One who affirms.
AFFIX
Af*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Affixing.]
Etym: [LL. affixare, L. affixus, p. p. of affigere to fasten to; ad +
figere to fasten: cf. OE. affichen, F. afficher, ultimately fr. L.
affigere. See Fix.]
1. To subjoin, annex, or add at the close or end; to append to; to
fix to any part of; as, to affix a syllable to a word; to affix a
seal to an instrument; to affix one's name to a writing.
2. To fix or fasten in any way; to attach physically.
Should they [caterpillars] affix them to the leaves of a plant
improper for their food. Ray.
3. To attach, unite, or connect with; as, names affixed to ideas, or
ideas affixed to things; to affix a stigma to a person; to affix
ridicule or blame to any one.
4. To fix or fasten figuratively; -- with on or upon; as, eyes
affixed upon the ground. [Obs.] Spenser.
Syn.
-- To attach; subjoin; connect; annex; unite.
AFFIX
Af"fix, n.; pl. Affixes. Etym: [L. affixus, p. p. of affigere: cf. F.
affixe.]
Defn: That which is affixed; an appendage; esp. one or more letters
or syllables added at the end of a word; a suffix; a postfix.
AFFIXION
Af*fix"ion, n. Etym: [L. affixio, fr. affigere.]
Defn: Affixture. [Obs.] T. Adams.
AFFIXTURE
Af*fix"ture, n.
Defn: The act of affixing, or the state of being affixed; attachment.
AFFLATION
Af*fla"tion, n. Etym: [L. afflatus, p. p. of afflare to blow or
breathe on; ad + flare to blow.]
Defn: A blowing or breathing on; inspiration.
AFFLATUS
Af*fla"tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. afflare. See Afflation.]
1. A breath or blast of wind.
2. A divine impartation of knowledge; supernatural impulse;
inspiration.
A poet writing against his genius will be like a prophet without his
afflatus. Spence.
AFFLICT
Af*flict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afflicted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Afflicting.] Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p. of affigere to cast down,
deject; ad + fligere to strike: cf. OF. aflit, afflict, p. p. Cf.
Flagellate.]
1. To strike or cast down; to overthrow. [Obs.] "Reassembling our
afflicted powers." Milton.
2. To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain
or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.
They did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their
burdens. Exod. i. 11.
That which was the worst now least afflicts me. Milton.
3. To make low or humble. [Obs.] Spenser.
Men are apt to prefer a prosperous error before an afflicted truth.
Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To trouble; grieve; pain; distress; harass; torment; wound; hurt.
AFFLICT
Af*flict", p. p. & a. Etym: [L. afflictus, p. p.]
Defn: Afflicted. [Obs.] Becon.
AFFLICTEDNESS
Af*flict"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being afflicted; affliction. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
AFFLICTER
Af*flict"er, n.
Defn: One who afflicts.
AFFLICTING
Af*flict"ing, a.
Defn: Grievously painful; distressing; afflictive; as, an afflicting
event.
-- Af*flict"ing*ly, adv.
AFFLICTION
Af*flic"tion, n. Etym: [F. affliction, L. afflictio, fr. affligere.]
1. The cause of continued pain of body or mind, as sickness, losses,
etc.; an instance of grievous distress; a pain or grief.
To repay that money will be a biting affliction. Shak.
2. The state of being afflicted; a state of pain, distress, or grief.
Some virtues are seen only in affliction. Addison.
Syn.
-- Calamity; sorrow; distress; grief; pain; adversity; misery;
wretchedness; misfortune; trouble; hardship.
-- Affliction, Sorrow, Grief, Distress. Affliction and sorrow are
terms of wide and general application; grief and distress have
reference to particular cases. Affliction is the stronger term. The
suffering lies deeper in the soul, and usually arises from some
powerful cause, such as the loss of what is most dear -- friends,
health, etc. We do not speak of mere sickness or pain as "an
affliction," though one who suffers from either is said to be
afflicted; but deprivations of every kind, such as deafness,
blindness, loss of limbs, etc., are called afflictions, showing that
term applies particularly to prolonged sources of suffering. Sorrow
and grief are much alike in meaning, but grief is the stronger term
of the two, usually denoting poignant mental suffering for some
definite cause, as, grief for the death of a dear friend; sorrow is
more reflective, and is tinged with regret, as, the misconduct of a
child is looked upon with sorrow. Grief is often violent and
demonstrative; sorrow deep and brooding. Distress implies extreme
suffering, either bodily or mental. In its higher stages, it denotes
pain of a restless, agitating kind, and almost always supposes some
struggle of mind or body. Affliction is allayed, grief subsides,
sorrow is soothed, distress is mitigated.
AFFLICTIONLESS
Af*flic"tion*less, a.
Defn: Free from affliction.
AFFLICTIVE
Af*flic"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. afflictif.]
Defn: Giving pain; causing continued or repeated pain or grief;
distressing. "Jove's afflictive hand." Pope.
Spreads slow disease, and darts afflictive pain. Prior.
AFFLICTIVELY
Af*flic"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an afflictive manner.
AFFLUENCE
Af"flu*ence, n. Etym: [F. affluence, L. affluentia, fr. affluens, p.
pr. of affluere to flow to; ad + fluere to flow. See Flux.]
1. A flowing to or towards; a concourse; an influx.
The affluence of young nobles from hence into Spain. Wotton.
There is an unusual affluence of strangers this year. Carlyle.
2. An abundant supply, as of thought, words, feelings, etc.;
profusion; also, abundance of property; wealth.
And old age of elegance, affluence, and ease. Coldsmith.
Syn.
-- Abundance; riches; profusion; exuberance; plenty; wealth;
opulence.
AFFLUENCY
Af"flu*en*cy, n.
Defn: Affluence. [Obs.] Addison.
AFFLUENT
Af"flu*ent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. affluent, L. affluens, -entis, p. pr.
See Affluence.]
1. Flowing to; flowing abundantly. "Affluent blood." Harvey.
2. Abundant; copious; plenteous; hence, wealthy; abounding in goods
or riches.
Language . . . affluent in expression. H. Reed.
Loaded and blest with all the affluent store, Which human vows at
smoking shrines implore. Prior.
AFFLUENT
Af"flu*ent, n.
Defn: A stream or river flowing into a larger river or into a lake; a
tributary stream.
AFFLUENTLY
Af"flu*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: Abundantly; copiously.
AFFLUENTNESS
Af*flu*ent*ness, n.
Defn: Great plenty. [R.]
AFFLUX
Af"flux`, n. Etym: [L. affluxum, p. p. of affluere: cf. F. afflux.
See Affluence.]
Defn: A flowing towards; that which flows to; as, an afflux of blood
to the head.
AFFLUXION
Af*flux"ion, n.
Defn: The act of flowing towards; afflux. Sir T. Browne.
AFFODILL
Af"fo*dill, n.
Defn: Asphodel. [Obs.]
AFFORCE
Af*force", v. t. Etym: [OF. afforcier, LL. affortiare; ad + fortiare,
fr. L. fortis strong.]
Defn: To reënforce; to strengthen. Hallam.
AFFORCEMENT
Af*force"ment, n. Etym: [OF.]
1. A fortress; a fortification for defense. [Obs.] Bailey.
2. A reënforcement; a strengthening. Hallam.
AFFORCIAMENT
Af*for"ci*a*ment, n.
Defn: See Afforcement. [Obs.]
AFFORD
Af*ford", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Afforded; p. pr. & vb. n. Affording.]
Etym: [OE. aforthen, AS. gefor, for, to further, accomplish, afford,
fr. for forth, forward. The prefix ge- has no well defined sense. See
Forth.]
1. To give forth; to supply, yield, or produce as the natural result,
fruit, or issue; as, grapes afford wine; olives afford oil; the earth
affords fruit; the sea affords an abundant supply of fish.
2. To give, grant, or confer, with a remoter reference to its being
the natural result; to provide; to furnish; as, a good life affords
consolation in old age.
His tuneful Muse affords the sweetest numbers. Addison.
The quiet lanes . . . afford calmer retreats. Gilpin.
3. To offer, provide, or supply, as in selling, granting, expending,
with profit, or without loss or too great injury; as, A affords his
goods cheaper than B; a man can afford a sum yearly in charity.
4. To incur, stand, or bear without serious detriment, as an act
which might under other circumstances be injurious; -- with an
auxiliary, as can, could, might, etc.; to be able or rich enough.
The merchant can afford to trade for smaller profits. Hamilton.
He could afford to suffer With those whom he saw suffer. Wordsworth.
AFFORDABLE
Af*ford"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be afforded.
AFFORDMENT
Af*ford"ment, n.
Defn: Anything given as a help; bestowal. [Obs.]
AFFOREST
Af*for"est, v. t. Etym: [LL. afforestare; ad + forestare. See
Forest.]
Defn: To convert into a forest; as, to afforest a tract of country.
AFFORESTATION
Af*for`es*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of converting into forest or woodland. Blackstone.
AFFORMATIVE
Af*form"a*tive, n.
Defn: An affix.
AFFRANCHISE
Af*fran"chise, v. t. Etym: [F. affranchir; (L. ad) + franc free. See
Franchise and Frank.]
Defn: To make free; to enfranchise. Johnson.
AFFRANCHISEMENT
Af*fran"chise*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affranchissement.]
Defn: The act of making free; enfranchisement. [R.]
AFFRAP
Af*frap", v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. It. affrappare, frappare, to cut,
mince, F. frapper to strike. See Frap.]
Defn: To strike, or strike down. [Obs.] Spenser.
AFFRAY
Af*fray", v. t. [p. p. Affrayed.] Etym: [OE. afraien, affraien, OF.
effreer, esfreer, F. effrayer, orig. to disquiet, put out of peace,
fr. L. ex + OHG. fridu peace (akin to E. free). Cf. Afraid, Fray,
Frith inclosure.] [Archaic]
1. To startle from quiet; to alarm.
Smale foules a great heap That had afrayed [affrayed] me out of my
sleep. Chaucer.
2. To frighten; to scare; to frighten away.
That voice doth us affray. Shak.
AFFRAY
Af*fray", n. Etym: [OE. afrai, affrai, OF. esfrei, F. effroi, fr. OF.
esfreer. See Affray, v. t.]
1. The act of suddenly disturbing any one; an assault or attack.
[Obs.]
2. Alarm; terror; fright. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. A tumultuous assault or quarrel; a brawl; a fray. "In the very
midst of the affray." Motley.
4. (Law)
Defn: The fighting of two or more persons, in a public place, to the
terror of others. Blackstone.
Note: A fighting in private is not, in a legal sense, an affray.
Syn.
-- Quarrel; brawl; scuffle; encounter; fight; contest; feud; tumult;
disturbance.
AFFRAYER
Af*fray"er, n.
Defn: One engaged in an affray.
AFFRAYMENT
Af*fray"ment, n.
Defn: Affray. [Obs.] Spenser.
AFFREIGHT
Af*freight", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + freight: cf. F. affréter. See
Freight.]
Defn: To hire, as a ship, for the transportation of goods or freight.
AFFREIGHTER
Af*freight"er, n.
Defn: One who hires or charters a ship to convey goods.
AFFREIGHTMENT
Af*freight"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affrétement.]
Defn: The act of hiring, or the contract for the use of, a vessel, or
some part of it, to convey cargo.
AFFRET
Af*fret", n. Etym: [Cf. It. affrettare to hasten, fretta haste.]
Defn: A furious onset or attack. [Obs.] Spenser.
AFFRICATE
Af"fri*cate, n. [L. affricatus, p. p. of affricare to rub against;
af- = ad- + fricare to rub.] (Phon.)
Defn: A combination of a stop, or explosive, with an immediately
following fricative or spirant of corresponding organic position, as
pf in german Pfeffer, pepper, z (= ts) in German Zeit, time.
AFFRICTION
Af*fric"tion, n. Etym: [L. affricare to rub on. See Friction.]
Defn: The act of rubbing against. [Obs.]
AFFRIENDED
Af*friend"ed, p. p.
Defn: Made friends; reconciled. [Obs.] "Deadly foes . . .
affriended." Spenser.
AFFRIGHT
Af*fright", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affrighted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Affrighting.] Etym: [Orig. p. p.; OE. afright, AS. afyrhtan to
terrify; a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning out) + fyrhto
fright. See Fright.]
Defn: To impress with sudden fear; to frighten; to alarm.
Dreams affright our souls. Shak.
A drear and dying sound Affrights the flamens at their service
quaint. Milton.
Syn.
-- To terrify; frighten; alarm; dismay; appall; scare; startle;
daunt; intimidate.
AFFRIGHT
Af*fright", p. a.
Defn: Affrighted. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AFFRIGHT
Af*fright", n.
1. Sudden and great fear; terror. It expresses a stronger impression
than fear, or apprehension, perhaps less than terror.
He looks behind him with affright, and forward with despair.
Goldsmith.
2. The act of frightening; also, a cause of terror; an object of
dread. B. Jonson.
AFFRIGHTEDLY
Af*fright"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With fright. Drayton.
AFFRIGHTEN
Af*fright"en, v. t.
Defn: To frighten. [Archaic] "Fit tales . . . to affrighten babes."
Southey.
AFFRIGHTER
Af*fright"er, n.
Defn: One who frightens. [Archaic]
AFFRIGHTFUL
Af*fright"ful, a.
Defn: Terrifying; frightful.
-- Af*fright"ful*ly, adv. [Archaic]
Bugbears or affrightful apparitions. Cudworth.
AFFRIGHTMENT
Af*fright"ment, n.
Defn: Affright; the state of being frightened; sudden fear or alarm.
[Archaic]
Passionate words or blows . . . fill the child's mind with terror and
affrightment. Locke.
AFFRONT
Af*front", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affronted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Affronting.] Etym: [OF. afronter, F. affronter, to confront, LL.
affrontare to strike against, fr. L. ad + frons forehead, front. See
Front.]
1. To front; to face in position; to meet or encounter face to face.
[Obs.]
All the sea-coasts do affront the Levant. Holland.
That he, as 't were by accident, may here Affront Ophelia. Shak.
2. To face in defiance; to confront; as, to confront; as, to affront
death; hence, to meet in hostile encounter. [Archaic]
3. To offend by some manifestation of disrespect; to insult to the
face by demeanor or language; to treat with marked incivility.
How can any one imagine that the fathers would have dared to affront
the wife of Aurelius Addison.
Syn.
-- TO insult; abuse; outrage; wound; illtreat; slight; defy; offend;
provoke; pique; nettle.
AFFRONT
Af*front", n. Etym: [Cf. F. affront, fr. affronter.]
1. An encounter either friendly or hostile. [Obs.]
I walked about, admired of all, and dreaded On hostile ground, none
daring my affront. Milton.
2. Contemptuous or rude treatment which excites or justifies
resentment; marked disrespect; a purposed indignity; insult.
Offering an affront to our understanding. Addison.
3. An offense to one's self-respect; shame. Arbuthnot.
Syn.
-- Affront, Insult, Outrage. An affront is a designed mark of
disrespect, usually in the presence of others. An insult is a
personal attack either by words or actions, designed to humiliate or
degrade. An outrage is an act of extreme and violent insult or abuse.
An affront piques and mortifies; an insult irritates and provokes; an
outrage wounds and injures.
Captious persons construe every innocent freedom into an affront.
When people are in a state of animosity, they seek opportunities of
offering each other insults. Intoxication or violent passion impels
men to the commission of outrages. Crabb.
AFFRONTE
Af*fron*té", a. Etym: [F. affronté, p. p.] (Her.)
Defn: Face to face, or front to front; facing.
AFFRONTEDLY
Af*front"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Shamelessly. [Obs.] Bacon.
AFFRONTEE
Af*fron*tee", n.
Defn: One who receives an affront. Lytton.
AFFRONTER
Af*front"er, n.
Defn: One who affronts, or insults to the face.
AFFRONTINGLY
Af*front"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an affronting manner.
AFFRONTIVE
Af*front"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to affront or offend; offensive; abusive.
How affrontive it is to despise mercy. South.
AFFRONTIVENESS
Af*front"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality that gives an affront or offense. [R.] Bailey.
AFFUSE
Af*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affused; p. pr. & vb. n. Affusing.]
Etym: [L. affusus, p. p. of affundere to pour to; ad + fundere. See
Fuse.]
Defn: To pour out or upon. [R.]
I first affused water upon the compressed beans. Boyle.
AFFUSION
Af*fu"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. affusion.]
Defn: The act of pouring upon, or sprinkling with a liquid, as water
upon a child in baptism. Specifically: (Med)
Defn: The act of pouring water or other fluid on the whole or a part
of the body, as a remedy in disease. Dunglison.
AFFY
Af*fy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Affied; p. pr. Affying.] Etym: [OF.
afier, LL. affidare. Cf. Affiance.]
1. To confide (one's self to, or in); to trust. [Obs.]
2. To betroth or espouse; to affiance. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To bind in faith. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.
AFFY
Af*fy", v. i.
Defn: To trust or confide. [Obs.] Shak.
AFGHAN
Af"ghan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Afghanistan.
AFGHAN
Af"ghan, n.
1. A native of Afghanistan.
2. A kind of worsted blanket or wrap.
AFIELD
A*field", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + field.]
1. To, in, or on the field. "We drove afield." Milton.
How jocund did they drive their team afield! Gray.
2. Out of the way; astray.
Why should he wander afield at the age of fifty-five! Trollope.
AFIRE
A*fire", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + fire.]
Defn: On fire.
AFLAME
A*flame", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flame.]
Defn: Inflames; glowing with light or passion; ablaze. G. Eliot.
AFLAT
A*flat", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + flat.]
Defn: Level with the ground; flat. [Obs.] Bacon.
AFLAUNT
A*flaunt", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flaunt.]
Defn: In a flaunting state or position. Copley.
AFLICKER
A*flick"er, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flicker.]
Defn: In a flickering state.
AFLOAT
A*float", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + float.]
1. Borne on the water; floating; on board ship.
On such a full sea are we now afloat. Shak.
2. Moving; passing from place to place; in general circulation; as, a
rumor is afloat.
3. Unfixed; moving without guide or control; adrift; as, our affairs
are all afloat.
AFLOW
A*flow", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flow.]
Defn: Flowing.
Their founts aflow with tears. R. Browning.
AFLUSH
A*flush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flush, n.]
Defn: In a flushed or blushing state.
AFLUSH
A*flush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flush, a.]
Defn: On a level.
The bank is . . . aflush with the sea. Swinburne.
AFLUTTER
A*flut"ter, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + flutter.]
Defn: In a flutter; agitated.
AFOAM
A*foam", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + foam.]
Defn: In a foaming state; as, the sea is all afoam.
A. F. OF L.
A. F. of L. (Abbrev.)
Defn: American Federation of Labor.
AFOOT
A*foot", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + foot.]
1. On foot.
We 'll walk afoot a while. Shak.
2. Fig.: In motion; in action; astir; in progress.
The matter being afoot. Shak.
AFORE
A*fore", adv. Etym: [OE. afore, aforn, AS. onforan or ætforan; pref.
a- + fore.]
1. Before. [Obs.]
If he have never drunk wine afore. Shak.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: In the fore part of a vessel.
AFORE
A*fore", prep.
1. Before (in all its senses). [Archaic]
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Before; in front of; farther forward than; as, afore the
windlass. Afore the mast, among the common sailors; -- a phrase used
to distinguish the ship's crew from the officers.
AFORECITED
A*fore"cit`ed, a.
Defn: Named or quoted before.
AFOREGOING
A*fore"go`ing, a.
Defn: Going before; foregoing.
AFOREHAND
A*fore"hand` adv.
Defn: Beforehand; in anticipation. [Archaic or Dial.]
She is come aforehand to anoint my body. Mark xiv. 8.
AFOREHAND
A*fore"hand`, a.
Defn: Prepared; previously provided; -- opposed to behindhand.
[Archaic or Dial.]
Aforehand in all matters of power. Bacon.
AFOREMENTIONED
A*fore"men`tioned, a.
Defn: Previously mentioned; before-mentioned. Addison.
AFORENAMED
A*fore"named`, a.
Defn: Named before. Peacham.
AFORESAID
A*fore"said`, a.
Defn: Said before, or in a preceding part; already described or
identified.
AFORETHOUGHT
A*fore"thought`, a.
Defn: Premeditated; prepense; previously in mind; designed; as,
malice aforethought, which is required to constitute murder. Bouvier.
AFORETHOUGHT
A*fore"thought`, n.
Defn: Premeditation.
AFORETIME
A*fore"time`, adv.
Defn: In time past; formerly. "He prayed . . . as he did aforetime."
Dan. vi. 10.
A FORTIORI
A for`ti*o"ri. Etym: [L.] (Logic & Math.)
Defn: With stronger reason.
AFOUL
A*foul", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + foul.]
Defn: In collision; entangled. Totten. To run afoul of, to run
against or come into collision with, especially so as to become
entangled or to cause injury.
AFRAID
A*fraid", p. a. Etym: [OE. afrayed, affraide, p. p. of afraien to
affray. See Affray, and cf. Afeard.]
Defn: Impressed with fear or apprehension; in fear; apprehensive.
[Afraid comes after the noun it limits.] "Back they recoiled,
afraid." Milton.
Note: This word expresses a less degree of fear than terrified or
frightened. It is followed by of before the object of fear, or by the
infinitive, or by a dependent clause; as, to be afraid of death. "I
am afraid to die." "I am afraid he will chastise me." "Be not afraid
that I your hand should take." Shak. I am afraid is sometimes used
colloquially to soften a statement; as, I am afraid I can not help
you in this matter.
Syn.
-- Fearful; timid; timorous; alarmed; anxious.
AFREET
Af"reet, n.
Defn: Same as Afrit.
AFRESH
A*fresh", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + fresh.]
Defn: Anew; again; once more; newly.
They crucify . . . the Son of God afresh. Heb. vi. 6.
AFRIC
Af"ric, a.
Defn: African.
-- n.
Defn: Africa. [Poetic]
AFRICAN
Af"ri*can, a. Etym: [L. Africus, Africanus, fr. Afer African.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Africa. African hemp, a fiber prerared from
the leaves of the Sanseviera Guineensis, a plant found in Africa and
India.
-- African marigold, a tropical American plant (Tagetes erecta).
-- African oak or African teak, a timber furnished by Oldfieldia
Africana, used in ship building. African violet African-American, a
United States citizen of African descent.
AFRICAN
Af"ri*can, n.
Defn: A native of Africa; also one ethnologically belonging to an
African race.
AFRICANDER
Af`ri*can"der, n.
Defn: One born in Africa, the offspring of a white father and a
"colored" mother. Also, and now commonly in Southern Africa, a native
born of European settlers.
AFRICANISM
Af"ri*can*ism, n.
Defn: A word, phrase, idiom, or custom peculiar to Africa or
Africans. "The knotty Africanisms . . . of the fathers." Milton.
AFRICANIZE
Af"ri*can*ize, v. t.
Defn: To place under the domination of Africans or negroes. [Amer.]
Bartlett.
AFRIT; AFRITE; AFREET
Af"rit, Af"rite(#), Af"reet(#), n. Etym: [Arab. 'ifrit.] (Moham.
Myth.)
Defn: A powerful evil jinnee, demon, or monstrous giant.
AFRONT
A*front", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + front.]
Defn: In front; face to face.
-- prep. In front of. Shak.
AFT
Aft, adv. & a. Etym: [AS. æftan behind; orig. superl. of of, off. See
After.] (Naut.)
Defn: Near or towards the stern of a vessel; astern; abaft.
AFTER
Aft"er, a. Etym: [AS. æfter after, behind; akin to Goth. aftaro,
aftra, backwards, Icel. aptr, Sw. and Dan. efter, OHG. aftar behind,
Dutch and LG. achter, Gr. -ter is an old comparative suffix, in E.
generally -ther (as in other), and after is a compar. of of, off. Of;
cf. Aft.]
1. Next; later in time; subsequent; succeeding; as, an after period
of life. Marshall.
Note: In this sense the word is sometimes needlessly combined with
the following noun, by means of a hyphen, as, after-ages, after-act,
after-days, after-life. For the most part the words are properly kept
separate when after has this meaning.
2. Hinder; nearer the rear. (Naut.)
Defn: To ward the stern of the ship; -- applied to any object in the
rear part of a vessel; as the after cabin, after hatchway.
Note: It is often combined with its noun; as, after-bowlines, after-
braces, after-sails, after-yards, those on the mainmasts and
mizzenmasts. After body (Naut.), the part of a ship abaft the dead
flat, or middle part.
AFTER
Aft"er, prep.
1. Behind in place; as, men in line one after another. "Shut doors
after you." Shak.
2. Below in rank; next to in order. Shak.
Codrus after PhDryden.
3. Later in time; subsequent; as, after supper, after three days. It
often precedes a clause. Formerly that was interposed between it and
the clause.
After I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. Matt.
xxvi. 32.
4. Subsequent to and in consequence of; as, after what you have said,
I shall be careful.
5. Subsequent to and notwithstanding; as, after all our advice, you
took that course.
6. Moving toward from behind; following, in search of; in pursuit of.
Ye shall not go after other gods. Deut. vi. 14.
After whom is the king of Israel come out 1 Sam. xxiv. 14.
7. Denoting the aim or object; concerning; in relation to; as, to
look after workmen; to inquire after a friend; to thirst after
righteousness.
8. In imitation of; in conformity with; after the manner of; as, to
make a thing after a model; a picture after Rubens; the boy takes
after his father. To name or call after, to name like and reference
to.
Our eldest son was named George after his uncle. Goldsmith.
9. According to; in accordance with; in conformity with the nature
of; as, he acted after his kind.
He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes. Isa. xi. 3.
They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh. Rom.
viii. 5.
10. According to the direction and influence of; in proportion to;
befitting. [Archaic]
He takes greatness of kingdoms according to bulk and currency, and
not after their intrinsic value. Bacon.
After all, when everything has been considered; upon the whole.
-- After (with the same noun preceding and following), as, wave
after wave, day after day, several or many (waves, etc.)
successively.
-- One after another, successively.
-- To be after, to be in pursuit of in order to reach or get; as, he
is after money.
AFTER
Aft"er, adv.
Defn: Subsequently in time or place; behind; afterward; as, he
follows after.
It was about the space of three hours after. Acts. v. 7.
Note: After is prefixed to many words, forming compounds, but
retaining its usual signification. The prefix may be adverbial,
prepositional, or adjectival; as in after- described, after-dinner,
after-part. The hyphen is sometimes needlessly used to connect the
adjective after with its noun. See Note under After, a., 1.
AFTERBIRTH
Aft"er*birth`, n. (Med.)
Defn: The placenta and membranes with which the fetus is connected,
and which come away after delivery.
AFTERCAST
Aft"er*cast`, n.
Defn: A throw of dice after the game in ended; hence, anything done
too late. Gower.
AFTERCLAP
Aft"er*clap`, n.
Defn: An unexpected subsequent event; something disagreeable
happening after an affair is supposed to be at an end. Spenser.
AFTERCROP
Aft"er*crop`, n.
Defn: A second crop or harvest in the same year. Mortimer.
AFTER DAMP
Aft"er damp`.
Defn: An irrespirable gas, remaining after an explosion of fire damp
in mines; choke damp. See Carbonic acid.
AFTER-DINNER
Aft"er-din`ner(#), n.
Defn: The time just after dinner. "An after-dinner's sleep." Shak.
[Obs.] -- a.
Defn: Following dinner; post-prandial; as, an after-dinner nap.
AFTER-EATAGE
Aft"er-eat`age(#), n.
Defn: Aftergrass.
AFTEREYE
Aft"er*eye`, v. t.
Defn: To look after. [Poetic] Shak.
AFTERGAME
Aft"er*game`, n.
Defn: A second game; hence, a subsequent scheme or expedient. Wotton.
Aftergame at Irish, an ancient game very nearly resembling
backgammon. Beau. & Fl.
AFTER-GLOW
Aft"er-glow(#), n.
Defn: A glow of refulgence in the western sky after sunset.
AFTERGRASS
Aft"er*grass`, n.
Defn: The grass that grows after the first crop has been mown;
aftermath.
AFTERGROWTH
Aft"er*growth`, n.
Defn: A second growth or crop, or (metaphorically) development. J. S.
Mill.
AFTERGUARD
Aft"er*guard`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The seaman or seamen stationed on the poop or after part of the
ship, to attend the after-sails. Totten.
AFTER-IMAGE
Aft"er-im`age(#), n.
Defn: The impression of a vivid sensation retained by the retina of
the eye after the cause has been removed; also extended to
impressions left of tones, smells, etc.
AFTERINGS
Aft"er*ings, n. pl.
Defn: The last milk drawn in milking; strokings. [Obs.] Grose.
AFTERMATH
Aft"er*math, n. Etym: [After + math. See Math.]
Defn: A second moving; the grass which grows after the first crop of
hay in the same season; rowen. Holland.
AFTER-MENTIONED
Aft"er-men`tioned(#), a.
Defn: Mentioned afterwards; as, persons after-mentioned (in a
writing).
AFTERMOST
Aft"er*most, a. superl. Etym: [OE. eftemest, AS. æftemest,akin to
Gothic aftumist and aftuma, the last, orig. a superlative of of, with
the superlative endings -te, -me, -st.]
1. Hindmost; -- opposed to foremost.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Nearest the stern; most aft.
AFTERNOON
Aft"er*noon", n.
Defn: The part of the day which follows noon, between noon and
evening.
AFTER-NOTE
Aft"er-note`(#), n. (Mus.)
Defn: One of the small notes occur on the unaccented parts of the
measure, taking their time from the preceding note.
AFTERPAINS
Aft"er*pains`, n. pl. (Med.)
Defn: The pains which succeed childbirth, as in expelling the
afterbirth.
AFTERPIECE
Aft"er*piece`, n.
1. A piece performed after a play, usually a farce or other small
entertainment.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The heel of a rudder.
AFTER-SAILS
Aft"er-sails`(#), n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The sails on the mizzenmast, or on the stays between the
mainmast and mizzenmast. Totten.
AFTERSENSATION
Aft"er*sen*sa`tion, n. (Psychol.)
Defn: A sensation or sense impression following the removal of a
stimulus producing a primary sensation, and reproducing the primary
sensation in positive, negative, or complementary form. The
aftersensation may be continuous with the primary sensation or follow
it after an interval.
AFTERSHAFT
Aft"er*shaft`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hypoptilum.
AFTERTASTE
Aft"er*taste`, n.
Defn: A taste which remains in the mouth after eating or drinking.
AFTERTHOUGHT
Aft"er*thought`, n.
Defn: Reflection after an act; later or subsequent thought or
expedient.
AFTERWARDS; AFTERWARD
Aft"er*wards, Aft"er*ward, adv. Etym: [AS. æfteweard, a., behind. See
Aft, and -ward (suffix). The final s in afterwards is adverbial,
orig. a genitive ending.]
Defn: At a later or succeeding time.
AFTERWISE
Aft"er*wise`, a.
Defn: Wise after the event; wise or knowing, when it is too late.
AFTER-WIT
Aft"er-wit`, n.
Defn: Wisdom or perception that comes after it can be of use. "After-
wit comes too late when the mischief is done." L'Estrange.
AFTER-WITTED
Aft"er-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Characterized by afterwit; slow-witted. Tyndale.
AFTMOST
Aft"most, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Nearest the stern.
AFTWARD
Aft"ward, adv. (Naut.)
Defn: Toward the stern.
AGA; AGHA
A*ga" or A*gha", n. Etym: [Turk. adha a great lord, chief master.]
Defn: In Turkey, a commander or chief officer. It is used also as a
title of respect.
AGAIN
A*gain", adv. Etym: [OE. agein, agayn, AS. ongegn, ongeán, against,
again; on + geán, akin to Ger. gegewn against, Icel. gegn. Cf.
Gainsay.]
1. In return, back; as, bring us word again.
2. Another time; once more; anew.
If a man die, shall he live again Job xiv. 14.
3. Once repeated; -- of quantity; as, as large again, half as much
again.
4. In any other place. [Archaic] Bacon.
5. On the other hand. "The one is my sovereign . . . the other again
is my kinsman." Shak.
6. Moreover; besides; further.
Again, it is of great consequence to avoid, etc. Hersche
Again and again, more than once; often; repeatedly.
-- Now and again, now and then; occasionally.
-- To and again, to and fro. [Obs.] De Foe.
Note: Again was formerly used in many verbal combinations, as, again-
witness, to witness against; again-ride, to ride against; again-come,
to come against, to encounter; again-bring, to bring back, etc.
AGAIN; AGAINS
A*gain", A*gains", prep.
Defn: Against; also, towards (in order to meet). [Obs.]
Albeit that it is again his kind. Chaucer.
AGAINBUY
A*gain"buy`, v. t.
Defn: To redeem. [Obs.] Wyclif.
AGAINSAY
A*gain"say`, v. t.
Defn: To gainsay. [Obs.] Wyclif.
AGAINST
A*gainst", prep. Etym: [OE. agens, ageynes, AS. ongegn. The s is
adverbial, orig. a genitive ending. See Again.]
1. Abreast; opposite to; facing; towards; as, against the mouth of a
river; -- in this sense often preceded by over.
Jacob saw the angels of God come against him. Tyndale.
2. From an opposite direction so as to strike or come in contact
with; in contact with; upon; as, hail beats against the roof.
3. In opposition to, whether the opposition is of sentiment or of
action; on the other side; counter to; in contrariety to; hence,
adverse to; as, against reason; against law; to run a race against
time.
The gate would have been shut against her. Fielding.
An argument against the use of steam. Tyndale.
4. By of before the time that; in preparation for; so as to be ready
for the time when. [Archaic or Dial.]
Urijah the priest made it, against King Ahaz came from Damascus. 2
Kings xvi. 11.
Against the sun, in a direction contrary to that in which the sun
appears to move.
AGAINSTAND
A*gain"stand`, v. t.
Defn: To withstand. [Obs.]
AGAINWARD
A*gain"ward, adv.
Defn: Back again. [Obs.]
AGALACTIA; AGALAXY
Ag`a*lac"ti*a, Ag"a*lax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Failure of the due secretion of milk after childbirth.
AGALACTOUS
Ag`a*lac"tous, a.
Defn: Lacking milk to suckle with.
AGAL-AGAL
A`gal-a"gal, n.
Defn: Same as Agar-agar.
AGALLOCH; AGALLOCHUM
Ag"al*loch, A*gal"lo*chum, n. Etym: [Gr. aguru, Heb. pl. ahalim.]
Defn: A soft, resinous wood (Aquilaria Agallocha) of highly aromatic
smell, burnt by the orientals as a perfume. It is called also
agalwood and aloes wood. The name is also given to some other
species.
AGALMATOLITE
Ag`al*mat"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. agalmatolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A soft, compact stone, of a grayish, greenish, or yellowish
color, carved into images by the Chinese, and hence called figure
stone, and pagodite. It is probably a variety of pinite.
AGAMA
Ag"a*ma, n.; pl. Agamas. Etym: [From the Caribbean name of a species
of lizard.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of lizards, one of the few which feed upon vegetable
substances; also, one of these lizards.
AGAMI
Ag"a*mi, n.; pl. Agamis. Etym: [F. agex, fr. the native name.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird (Psophia crepitans), allied to the
cranes, and easily domesticated; -- called also the gold-breasted
trumpeter. Its body is about the size of the pheasant. See Trumpeter.
AGAMIC
A*gam"ic, a. Etym: [Agamous.]
(a) (Biol.) Produced without sexual union; as, agamic or unfertilized
eggs.
(b) Not having visible organs of reproduction, as flowerless plants;
agamous.
AGAMICALLY
A*gam"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an agamic manner.
AGAMIST
Ag"a*mist, n. Etym: [See Agamous.]
Defn: An unmarried person; also, one opposed to marriage. Foxe.
AGAMOGENESIS
Ag`a*mo*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Reproduction without the union of parents of distinct sexes:
asexual reproduction.
AGAMOGENETIC
Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Reproducing or produced without sexual union.
-- Ag`a*mo*ge*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
All known agamogenetic processes end in a complete return to the
primitive stock. Huxley.
AGAMOUS
Ag"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Having no visible sexual organs; asexual. In Bot.,
cryptogamous.
AGANGLIONIC
A*gan`gli*o"nic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + ganglionic.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Without ganglia.
AGAPE
A*gape", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + gape.]
Defn: Gaping, as with wonder, expectation, or eager attention.
Dazzles the crowd and sets them all agape. Milton.
AGAPE
Ag"a*pe, n.; pl. Agapæ. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The love feast of the primitive Christians, being a meal
partaken of in connection with the communion.
AGAR-AGAR
A`gar-a"gar, n. Etym: [Ceylonese local name.]
Defn: A fucus or seaweed much used in the East for soups and jellies;
Ceylon moss (Gracilaria lichenoides).
AGARIC
Ag"a*ric, n. Etym: [L. agaricum, Gr. Agara, a town in Sarmatia.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A fungus of the genus Agaricus, of many species, of which the
common mushroom is an example.
2. An old name for severwal species of Polyporus, corky fungi growing
on decaying wood.
Note: The "female agaric" (Polyporus officinalic) was renowned as a
cathartic; the "male agaric" (Polyporus igniarius) is used for
preparing touchwood, called punk of German tinder. Agaric mineral, a
light, chalky deposit of carbonate of lime, sometimes called rock
milk, formed in caverns or fissures of limestone.
AGASP
A*gasp", adv. & a. Etym: [. a- + gasp.]
Defn: In a state of gasping. Coleridge.
AGAST
A*gast", p. p. & a.
Defn: See Aghast.
AGAST; AGHAST
A*gast" or A*ghast", v. t.
Defn: To affright; to terrify. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
AGASTRIC
A*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Having to stomach, or distinct digestive canal, as the
tapeworm.
AGATE
A*gate", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on + gate way.]
Defn: On the way; agoing; as, to be agate; to set the bells agate.
[Obs.] Cotgrave.
AGATE
Ag"ate, n. Etym: [F. agate, It. agata, L. achates, fr. Gr.
1. (Min.)
Defn: A semipellucid, uncrystallized variety of quartz, presenting
various tints in the same specimen. Its colors are delicately
arranged in stripes or bands, or blended in clouds.
Note: The fortification agate, or Scotch pebble, the moss agate, the
clouded agate, etc., are familiar varieties.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A kind of type, larger than pearl and smaller than nonpareil;
in England called ruby.
Note: This line is printed in the type called agate.
3. A diminutive person; so called in allusion to the small figures
cut in agate for rings and seals. [Obs.] Shak.
4. A tool used by gold-wire drawers, bookbinders, etc.; -- so called
from the agate fixed in it for burnishing.
AGATIFEROUS
Ag`a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Agate + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing or producing agates. Craig.
AGATINE
Ag"a*tine, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, agate.
AGATIZE
Ag"a*tize, v. t. Etym: [Usually p. p. Agatized(#).]
Defn: To convert into agate; to make resemble agate. Dana.
AGATY
Ag"a*ty, a.
Defn: Of the nature of agate, or containing agate.
AGAVE
A*ga"ve, n. Etym: [L. Agave, prop. name, fr. Gr. (bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceæ) of which the chief
species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called
Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in
attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem,
sometimes forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is
the pulque of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong
thread and a tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has
many uses.
AGAZED
A*gazed", p. p. Etym: [Only in p. p.; another spelling for aghast.]
Defn: Gazing with astonishment; amazed. [Obs.]
The whole army stood agazed on him. Shak.
AGE
Age, n. Etym: [OF. aage, eage, F. âge, fr. L. aetas through a
supposed LL. aetaticum. L. aetas is contracted fr. aevitas, fr. aevum
lifetime, age; akin to E. aye ever. Cf. Each.]
1. The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other
kind; lifetime.
Mine age is as nothing before thee. Ps. xxxix. 5.
2. That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between
its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a
man, or of the earth
3. The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority;
state of being old.
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity. Shak.
4. One of the stages of life; as, the age of infancy, of youth, etc.
Shak.
5. Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full
personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of
age. Abbott.
Note: In the United States, both males and females are of age when
twenty-one years old.
6. The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is
understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of
discretion. Abbott.
7. A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from
others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles. "The spirit of the
age." Prescott.
Truth, in some age or other, will find her witness. Milton.
Archeological ages are designated as three: The Stone age (the early
and the later stone age, called paleolithic and neolithic), the
Bronze age, and the Iron age. During the Age of Stone man is supposed
to have employed stone for weapons and implements. See Augustan,
Brazen, Golden, Heroic, Middle.
8. A great period in the history of the Earth.
Note: The geologic ages are as follows: 1. The Archæan, including the
time when was no life and the time of the earliest and simplest forms
of life. 2. The age of Invertebrates, or the Silurian, when the life
on the globe consisted distinctively of invertebrates. 3. The age of
Fishes, or the Devonian, when fishes were the dominant race. 4. The
age of Coal Plants, or Acrogens, or the Carboniferous age. 5. The
Mesozoic or Secondary age, or age of Reptiles, when reptiles
prevailed in great numbers and of vast size. 6. The Tertiary age, or
age of Mammals, when the mammalia, or quadrupeds, abounded, and were
the dominant race. 7. The Quaternary age, or age of Man, or the
modern era. Dana.
9. A century; the period of one hundred years.
Fleury . . . apologizes for these five ages. Hallam.
10. The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation.
"Ages yet unborn." Pope.
The way which the age follows. J. H. Newman.
Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage, Holds its warped
mirror to a gaping age. C. Sprague.
11. A long time. [Colloq.] "He made minutes an age." Tennyson. Age of
a tide, the time from the origin of a tide in the South Pacific Ocean
to its arrival at a given place.
-- Moon's age, the time that has elapsed since the last preceding
conjunction of the sun and moon.
Note: Age is used to form the first part of many compounds; as,
agelasting, age-adorning, age-worn, age-enfeebled, agelong.
Syn.
-- Time; period; generation; date; era; epoch.
AGE
Age, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aged; p. pr. & vb. n. Aging.]
Defn: To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age; as, he grew
fat as he aged.
They live one hundred and thirty years, and never age for all that.
Holland.
I am aging; that is, I have a whitish, or rather a light-colored,
hair here and there. Landor.
AGE
Age, v. t.
Defn: To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to;
as, grief ages us.
AGED
A"ged, a.
1. Old; having lived long; having lived almost to or beyond the usual
time allotted to that species of being; as, an aged man; an aged oak.
2. Belonging to old age. "Aged cramps." Shak.
3. Having a certain age; at the age of; having lived; as, a man aged
forty years.
AGEDLY
A"ged*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an aged person.
AGEDNESS
A"ged*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being aged; oldness.
Custom without truth is but agedness of error. Milton.
AGELESS
Age"less, a.
Defn: Without old age limits of duration; as, fountains of ageless
youth.
AGEN
A*gen", adv. & prep.
Defn: See Again. [Obs.]
AGENCY
A"gen*cy, n.; pl. Agencies. Etym: [agentia, fr. L. agens, agentis:
cf. F. agence. See Agent.]
1. The faculty of acting or of exerting power; the state of being in
action; action; instrumentality.
The superintendence and agency of Providence in the natural world.
Woodward.
2. The office of an agent, or factor; the relation between a
principal and his agent; business of one intrusted with the concerns
of another.
3. The place of business of am agent.
Syn.
-- Action; operation; efficiency; management.
AGEND
A"gend, n.
Defn: See Agendum. [Obs.]
AGENDUM
A*gen"dum, n.; pl. Agenda. Etym: [L., neut. of the gerundive of agere
to act.]
1. Something to be done; in the pl., a memorandum book.
2. A church service; a ritual or liturgy. [In this sense, usually
Agenda.]
AGENESIC
Ag`e*nes"ic, a. Etym: [See Agensis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Characterized by sterility; infecund.
AGENESIS
A*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Any imperfect development of the body, or any anomaly of
organization.
AGENNESIS
Ag`en*ne"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Impotence; sterility.
AGENT
A"gent, a. Etym: [L. agens, agentis, p. pr. of agere to act; akin to
Gr. aka to drive, Skr. aj.
Defn: Actingpatient, or sustaining, action. [Archaic] "The body
agent." Bacon.
AGENT
A"gent, n.
1. One who exerts power, or has the power to act; an actor.
Heaven made us agents, free to good or ill. Dryden.
2. One who acts for, or in the place of, another, by authority from
him; one intrusted with the business of another; a substitute; a
deputy; a factor.
3. An active power or cause; that which has the power to produce an
effect; as, a physical, chemical, or medicinal agent; as, heat is a
powerful agent.
AGENTIAL
A*gen"tial, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an agent or an agency. Fitzed. Hall.
AGENTSHIP
A"gent*ship, n.
Defn: Agency. Beau. & Fl.
AGERATUM
A*ger"a*tum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, one species of which (A. Mexicanum) has
lavender-blue flowers in dense clusters.
AGGENERATION
Ag*gen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. aggenerare to beget in addition. See
Generate.]
Defn: The act of producing in addition. [Obs.] T. Stanley.
AGGER
Ag"ger, n. Etym: [L., a mound, fr. aggerere to bear to a place, heap
up; ad + gerere to bear.]
Defn: An earthwork; a mound; a raised work. [Obs.] Hearne.
AGGERATE
Ag"ger*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. aggeratus, p. p. of aggerare. See Agger.]
Defn: To heap up. [Obs.] Foxe.
AGGERATION
Ag`ger*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. aggeratio.]
Defn: A heaping up; accumulation; as, aggerations of sand. [R.]
AGGEROSE
Ag`ger*ose", a.
Defn: In heaps; full of heaps.
AGGEST
Ag*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. aggestus, p. p. of aggerere. See Agger.]
Defn: To heap up. [Obs.]
The violence of the waters aggested the earth. Fuller.
AGGLOMERATE
Ag*glom"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Agglomerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Agglomerating.] Etym: [L. agglomeratus, p. p. of agglomerare; ad +
glomerare to form into a ball. See Glomerate.]
Defn: To wind or collect into a ball; hence, to gather into a mass or
anything like a mass.
Where he builds the agglomerated pile. Cowper.
AGGLOMERATE
Ag*glom"er*ate, v. i.
Defn: To collect in a mass.
AGGLOMERATE
Ag*glom"er*ate, n.
1. A collection or mass.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A mass of angular volcanic fragments united by heat; --
distinguished from conglomerate.
AGGLOMERATE; AGGLOMERATED
Ag*glom"er*ate, Ag*glom"er*a`ted, a.
1. Collected into a ball, heap, or mass.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Collected into a rounded head of flowers.
AGGLOMERATION
Ag*glom`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. agglomération.]
1. The act or process of collecting in a mass; a heaping together.
An excessive agglomeration of turrets. Warton.
2. State of being collected in a mass; a mass; cluster.
AGGLOMERATIVE
Ag*glom"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Having a tendency to gather together, or to make collections.
Taylor is eminently discursive, accumulative, and (to use one of his
own words) agglomerative. Coleridge.
AGGLUTINANT
Ag*glu"ti*nant, a. Etym: [L. agglutinans, -antis, p. pr. of
agglutinare.]
Defn: Uniting, as glue; causing, or tending to cause, adhesion.
-- n.
Defn: Any viscous substance which causes bodies or parts to adhere.
AGGLUTINATE
Ag*glu"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Agglutinated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Agglutinating.] Etym: [L. agglutinatus, p. p. of agglutinare to glue
or cement to a thing; ad + glutinare to glue; gluten glue. See Glue.]
Defn: To unite, or cause to adhere, as with glue or other viscous
substance; to unite by causing an adhesion of substances.
AGGLUTINATE
Ag*glu"ti*nate, a.
1. United with glue or as with glue; cemented together.
2. (physiol.)
Defn: Consisting of root words combined but not materially altered as
to form or meaning; as, agglutinate forms, languages, etc. See
Agglutination, 2.
AGGLUTINATION
Ag*glu`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. agglutination.]
1. The act of uniting by glue or other tenacious substance; the state
of being thus united; adhesion of parts.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Combination in which root words are united with little or no
change of form or loss of meaning. See Agglutinative, 2.
AGGLUTINATIVE
Ag*glu"ti*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. agglutinatif.]
1. Pertaining to agglutination; tending to unite, or having power to
cause adhesion; adhesive.
2. (Philol.)
Defn: Formed or characterized by agglutination, as a language or a
compound.
In agglutinative languages the union of words may be compared to
mechanical compounds, in inflective languages to chemical compounds.
R. Morris.
Cf. man-kind, heir-loom, war-like, which are agglutinative compounds.
The Finnish, Hungarian, Turkish, the Tamul, etc., are agglutinative
languages. R. Morris.
Agglutinative languages preserve the consciousness of their roots.
Max Müller.
AGGRACE
Ag*grace", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + grace: cf. It. aggraziare, LL.
aggratiare. See Grace.]
Defn: To favor; to grace. [Obs.] "That knight so much aggraced."
Spenser.
AGGRACE
Ag*grace", n.
Defn: Grace; favor. [Obs.] Spenser.
AGGRADE
Ag*grade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Aggrading.]
(Phys. Geog.)
Defn: To bring, or tend to bring, to a uniform grade, or slope, by
addition of material; as, streams aggrade their beds by depositing
sediment.
AGGRANDIZABLE
Ag"gran*di"za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being aggrandized.
AGGRANDIZATION
Ag*gran`di*za"tion, n.
Defn: Aggrandizement. [Obs.] Waterhouse.
AGGRANDIZE
Ag"gran*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggrandized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggrandizing.] Etym: [F. agrandir; à (L. ad) + grandir to increase,
L. grandire, fr. grandis great. See Grand, and cf. Finish.]
1. To make great; to enlarge; to increase; as, to aggrandize our
conceptions, authority, distress.
2. To make great or greater in power, rank, honor, or wealth; --
applied to persons, countries, etc.
His scheme for aggrandizing his son. Prescott.
3. To make appear great or greater; to exalt. Lamb.
Syn.
-- To augment; exalt; promote; advance.
AGGRANDIZE
Ag"gran*dize, v. i.
Defn: To increase or become great. [Obs.]
Follies, continued till old age, do aggrandize. J. Hall.
AGGRANDIZEMENT
Ag*gran"dize*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. agrandissement.]
Defn: The act of aggrandizing, or the state of being aggrandized or
exalted in power, rank, honor, or wealth; exaltation; enlargement;
as, the emperor seeks only the aggrandizement of his own family.
Syn.
-- Augmentation; exaltation; enlargement; advancement; promotion;
preferment.
AGGRANDIZER
Ag"gran*di`zer, n.
Defn: One who aggrandizes, or makes great.
AGGRATE
Ag*grate", v. t. Etym: [It. aggratare, fr. L. ad + gratus pleasing.
See Grate, a.]
Defn: To please. [Obs.]
Each one sought his lady to aggrate. Spenser.
AGGRAVATE
Ag"gra*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggravated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggravating.] Etym: [L. aggravatus, p. p. of aggravare. See
Aggrieve.]
1. To make heavy or heavier; to add to; to increase. [Obs.] "To
aggravate thy store." Shak.
2. To make worse, or more severe; to render less tolerable or less
excusable; to make more offensive; to enhance; to intensify. "To
aggravate my woes." Pope.
To aggravate the horrors of the scene. Prescott.
The defense made by the prisioner's counsel did rather aggravate than
extenuate his crime. Addison.
3. To give coloring to in description; to exaggerate; as, to
aggravate circumstances. Paley.
4. To exasperate; to provoke; to irritate. [Colloq.]
If both were to aggravate her parents, as my brother and sister do
mine. Richardson (Clarissa).
Syn.
-- To heighten; intensify; increase; magnify; exaggerate; provoke;
irritate; exasperate.
AGGRAVATING
Ag"gra*va`ting, a.
1. Making worse or more heinous; as, aggravating circumstances.
2. Exasperating; provoking; irritating. [Colloq.]
A thing at once ridiculous and aggravating. J. Ingelow.
AGGRAVATINGLY
Ag"gra*va`ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In an aggravating manner.
AGGRAVATION
Ag`gra*va"tion, n. Etym: [LL. aggravatio: cf. F. aggravation.]
1. The act of aggravating, or making worse; -- used of evils, natural
or moral; the act of increasing in severity or heinousness; something
additional to a crime or wrong and enhancing its guilt or injurious
consequences.
2. Exaggerated representation.
By a little aggravation of the features changed it into the Saracen's
head. Addison.
3. An extrinsic circumstance or accident which increases the guilt of
a crime or the misery of a calamity.
4. Provocation; irritation. [Colloq.] Dickens.
AGGRAVATIVE
Ag"gra*va*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to aggravate. Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv.
-- Ag*gres"sive*ness, n.
No aggressive movement was made. Macaulay.
AGGREGATE
Ag"gre*gate, a. [L. aggregatus, p. p.]
1. Formed by a collection of particulars into a whole mass or sum;
collective.
The aggregate testimony of many hundreds.
Sir T. Browne.
2. (Anat.) Formed into clusters or groups of lobules; as, aggregate
glands.
3. (Bot.) Composed of several florets within a common involucre, as
in the daisy; or of several carpels formed from one flower, as in the
raspberry.
4. (Min. & Geol.) Having the several component parts adherent to
each other only to such a degree as to be separable by mechanical
means.
5. (Zoöl.) United into a common organized mass; -- said of certain
compound animals.
Corporation aggregate. (Law) See under Corporation.
AGGREGATE
Ag"gre*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggregated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggregating.] [L. aggregatus, p. p. of aggregare to lead to a flock
or herd; ad + gregare to collect into a flock, grex flock, herd. See
Gregarious.]
1. To bring together; to collect into a mass or sum. "The aggregated
soil." Milton.
2. To add or unite, as, a person, to an association.
It is many times hard to discern to which of the two sorts, the good
or the bad, a man ought to be aggregated.
Wollaston.
3. To amount in the aggregate to; as, ten loads, aggregating five
hundred bushels. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- To heap up; accumulate; pile; collect.
AGGREGATE
Ag"gre*gate, n.
1. A mass, assemblage, or sum of particulars; as, a house is an
aggregate of stone, brick, timber, etc.
In an aggregate the particulars are less intimately mixed than in a
compound.
2. (Physics) A mass formed by the union of homogeneous particles; --
in distinction from a compound, formed by the union of heterogeneous
particles.
In the aggregate, collectively; together.
AGGREGATELY
Ag"gre*gate*ly, adv.
Defn: Collectively; in mass.
AGGREGATION
Ag`gre*ga"tion, n. [Cf. LL. aggregatio, F. agrégation.]
Defn: The act of aggregating, or the state of being aggregated;
collection into a mass or sum; a collection of particulars; an
aggregate.
Each genus is made up by aggregation of species.
Carpenter.
A nation is not an idea only of local extent and individual momentary
aggregation, but . . . of continuity, which extends in time as well
as in numbers, and in space.
Burke.
AGGREGATIVE
Ag"gre*ga*tive, a. [Cf. Fr. agrégatif.]
1. Taken together; collective.
2. Gregarious; social. [R.] Carlyle.
AGGREGATOR
Ag"gre*ga`tor, n.
Defn: One who aggregates.
AGGREGE
Ag*grege", v. t. [OF. agreger. See Aggravate.]
Defn: To make heavy; to aggravate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AGGRESS
Ag*gress", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aggressed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggressing.] [L. aggressus, p. p. of aggredi to go to, approach; ad +
gradi to step, go, gradus step: cf. OF. aggresser. See Grade.]
Defn: To commit the first act of hostility or offense; to begin a
quarrel or controversy; to make an attack; -- with on.
AGGRESS
Ag*gress", n. [L. aggressus.]
Defn: Aggression. [Obs.]
Their military aggresses on others.
Sir M. Hale.
AGGRESS
Ag*gress", v. t.
Defn: To set upon; to attack. [R.]
AGGRESSION
Ag*gres"sion, n. [L. aggressio, fr. aggredi: cf. F. agression.]
Defn: The first attack, or act of hostility; the first act of injury,
or first act leading to a war or a controversy; unprovoked attack;
assault; as, a war of aggression. "Aggressions of power." Hallam
Syn. -- Attack; offense; intrusion; provocation.
AGGRESSIVE
Ag*gres"sive, a. [Cf. F. agressif.]
Defn: Tending or disposed to aggress; characterized by aggression;
making assaults; unjustly attacking; as, an aggressive policy, war,
person, nation. -- Ag*gres"sive*ly, adv. -- Ag*gres"sive*ness, n.
No aggressive movement was made.
Macaulay.
AGGRESSOR
Ag*gres"sor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. agresseur.]
Defn: The person who first attacks or makes an aggression; he who
begins hostility or a quarrel; an assailant.
The insolence of the aggressor is usually proportioned to the
tameness of the sufferer. Ames.
AGGRIEVANCE
Ag*griev"ance, n. Etym: [OF. agrevance, fr. agrever. See Aggrieve.]
Defn: Oppression; hardship; injury; grievance. [Archaic]
AGGRIEVE
Ag*grieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggrieved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggrieving.] Etym: [OE. agreven, OF. agrever; a (L. ad) + grever to
burden, injure, L. gravare to weigh down, fr. gravis heavy. See
Grieve, and cf. Aggravate.]
Defn: To give pain or sorrow to; to afflict; hence, to oppress or
injure in one's rights; to bear heavily upon; -- now commonly used in
the passive TO be aggrieved.
Aggrieved by oppression and extortion. Macaulay.
AGGRIEVE
Ag*grieve", v. i.
Defn: To grieve; to lament. [Obs.]
AGGROUP
Ag*group", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aggrouped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aggrouping.] Etym: [F. agrouper; à (L. ad) + groupe group. See
Group..]
Defn: To bring together in a group; to group. Dryden.
AGGROUPMENT
Ag*group"ment, n.
Defn: Arrangement in a group or in groups; grouping.
AGGRY; AGGRI
Ag"gry, Ag"gri, a.
Defn: Applied to a kind of variegated glass beads of ancient
manufacture; as, aggry beads are found in Ashantee and Fantee in
Africa.
AGHAST
A*ghast", v. t.
Defn: See Agast, v. t. [Obs.]
AGHAST
A*ghast", a & p. p. Etym: [OE. agast, agasted, p. p. of agasten to
terrify, fr. AS. pref. a- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out)
+ g to terrify, torment: cf. Goth. usgaisjan to terrify, primitively
to fix, to root to the spot with terror; akin to L. haerere to stick
fast, cling. See Gaze, Hesitate.]
Defn: Terrified; struck with amazement; showing signs of terror or
horror.
Aghast he waked; and, starting from his bed, Cold sweat in clammy
drops his limbs o'erspread. Dryden.
The commissioners read and stood aghast. Macaulay.
AGIBLE
Ag"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. agibilis, fr. L. agere to move, do.]
Defn: Possible to be done; practicable. [Obs.] "Fit for agible
things." Sir A. Sherley.
AGILE
Ag"ile, a. Etym: [F. agile, L. agilis, fr. agere to move. See Agent.]
Defn: Having the faculty of quick motion in the limbs; apt or ready
to move; nimble; active; as, an agile boy; an agile tongue.
Shaking it with agile hand. Cowper.
Syn.
-- Active; alert; nimble; brisk; lively; quick.
AGILELY
Ag"ile*ly, adv.
Defn: In an agile manner; nimbly.
AGILENESS
Ag"ile*ness, n.
Defn: Agility; nimbleness. [R.]
AGILITY
A*gil"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. agilié, L. agilitas, fr. agilis.]
1. The quality of being agile; the power of moving the limbs quickly
and easily; nimbleness; activity; quickness of motion; as, strength
and agility of body.
They . . . trust to the agility of their wit. Bacon.
Wheeling with the agility of a hawk. Sir W. Scott.
2. Activity; powerful agency. [Obs.]
The agility of the sun's fiery heat. Holland.
AGIO
Ag"i*o, n.; pl. Agios. Etym: [It. aggio exchange, discount, premium,
the same word as agio ease. See Ease.] (Com.)
Defn: The premium or percentage on a better sort of money when it is
given in exchange for an inferior sort. The premium or discount on
foreign bills of exchange is sometimes called agio.
AGIOTAGE
Ag"i*o*tage, n. Etym: [F. agiotage, fr. agioter to practice
stockjobbing, fr. agio.]
Defn: Exchange business; also, stockjobbing; the maneuvers of
speculators to raise or lower the price of stocks or public funds.
Vanity and agiotage are to a Parisian the oxygen and hydrogen of
life. Landor.
AGIST
A*gist", v. t. Etym: [OF. agister; à (L. ad) + gister to assign a
lodging, fr. giste lodging, abode, F. gîte, LL. gistum, gista, fr. L.
jacitum, p. p. of jac to lie: cf. LL. agistare, adgistare. See Gist.]
(Law)
Defn: To take to graze or pasture, at a certain sum; -- used
originally of the feeding of cattle in the king's forests, and
collecting the money for the same. Blackstone.
AGISTATOR
Ag`is*ta"tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: See Agister.
AGISTER; AGISTOR
A*gist"er, A*gist"or, n. Etym: [Anglo-Norman agistour.] (Law)
(a) Formerly, an officer of the king's forest, who had the care of
cattle agisted, and collected the money for the same; -- hence called
gisttaker, which in England is corrupted into guest-taker.
(b) Now, one who agists or takes in cattle to pasture at a certain
rate; a pasturer. Mozley & W.
AGISTMENT
A*gist"ment, n. Etym: [OF. agistement. See Agist.] (Law)
(a) Formerly, the taking and feeding of other men's cattle in the
king's forests.
(b) The taking in by any one of other men's cattle to graze at a
certain rate. Mozley & W.
(c) The price paid for such feeding.
(d) A charge or rate against lands; as, an agistment of sea banks, i.
e., charge for banks or dikes.
AGITABLE
Ag"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. agitabilis: cf. F. agitable.]
Defn: Capable of being agitated, or easily moved. [R.]
AGITATE
Ag"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Agitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Agitating.]
Etym: [L. agitatus, p. p. of agitare to put in motion, fr. agere to
move: cf. F. agiter. See Act, Agent.]
1. To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates
the sea; to agitate water in a vessel. "Winds . . . agitate the air."
Cowper.
2. To move or actuate. [R.] Thomson.
3. To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly
agitated.
The mind of man is agitated by various passions. Johnson.
4. To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy
hotly agitated. Boyle.
5. To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive
busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate
designs.
Syn.
-- To move; shake; excite; rouse; disturb; distract; revolve;
discuss; debate; canvass.
AGITATEDLY
Ag"i*ta`ted*ly, adv.
Defn: In an agitated manner.
AGITATION
Ag`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. agitatio: cf. F. agitation.]
1. The act of agitating, or the state of being agitated; the state of
being moved with violence, or with irregular action; commotion; as,
the sea after a storm is in agitation.
2. A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquillity;
disturbance of mind which shows itself by physical excitement;
perturbation; as, to cause any one agitation.
3. Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.; as, the
antislavery agitation; labor agitation. "Religious agitations."
Prescott.
4. Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a
plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate.
A logical agitation of the matter. L'Estrange.
The project now in agitation. Swift.
Syn.
-- Emotion; commotion; excitement; trepidation; tremor;
perturbation. See Emotion.
AGITATIVE
Ag"i*ta*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to agitate.
AGITATO
A`gi*ta"to, a. Etym: [It., agitated.] (Med.)
Defn: Sung or played in a restless, hurried, and spasmodic manner.
AGITATOR
Ag"i*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who agitates; one who stirs up or excites others; as,
political reformers and agitators.
2. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: One of a body of men appointed by the army, in Cromwell's time,
to look after their interests; -- called also adjutators. Clarendon.
3. An implement for shaking or mixing.
AGLEAM
A*gleam", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + gleam.]
Defn: Gleaming; as, faces agleam. Lowell.
AGLET; AIGLET
Ag"let, Aig"let, n. Etym: [F. aiguillette point, tagged point, dim.
of aiguilee needle, fr. LL. acucula for acicula, dim. of L. acus
needle, pinagleter to hook on. See Acute, and cf. Aiguillette.]
1. A tag of a lace or of the points, braids, or cords formerly used
in dress. They were sometimes formed into small images. Hence, "aglet
baby" (Shak.), an aglet image.
2. (Haberdashery)
Defn: A round white staylace. Beck.
AGLEY
A*gley", adv.
Defn: Aside; askew. [Scotch] Burns.
AGLIMMER
A*glim"mer, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + glimmer.]
Defn: In a glimmering state. Hawthorne.
AGLITTER
A*glit"ter, adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + glitter.]
Defn: Clittering; in a glitter.
AGLOSSAL
A*glos"sal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without tongue; tongueless.
AGLOW
A*glow", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + glow.]
Defn: In a glow; glowing; as, cheeks aglow; the landscape all aglow.
AGLUTITION
Ag`lu*ti"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + L. glutire to swallow.]
(Med.)
Defn: Inability to swallow.
AGMINAL
Ag"mi*nal, a. Etym: [L. agminalis; agmen, agminis, a train.]
Defn: Pertaining to an army marching, or to a train. [R.]
AGMINATE; AGMINATED
Ag"mi*nate, Ag"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. agmen, agminis, a train,
crowd.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Grouped together; as, the agminated glands of Peyer in the
small intestine.
AGNAIL
Ag"nail, n. Etym: [AS. angnægl; ange vexation, trouble + nægel nail.
Cf. Hangnail.]
1. A corn on the toe or foot. [Obs.]
2. An inflammation or sore under or around the nail; also, a
hangnail.
AGNATE
Ag"nate, a. Etym: [L. agnatus, p. p. of agnasci to be born in
addition to; ad + nasci (for gnasci) to be born. Cf. Adnate.]
1. Related or akin by the father's side; also, sprung from the same
male ancestor.
2. Allied; akin. "Agnate words." Pownall.
Assume more or less of a fictitious character, but congenial and
agnate with the former. Landor.
AGNATE
Ag"nate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. agnat.] (Civil Law)
Defn: A relative whose relationship can be traced exclusively through
males.
AGNATIC
Ag*nat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. agnatique.]
Defn: Pertaining to descent by the male line of ancestors. "The
agnatic succession." Blackstone.
AGNATION
Ag*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. agnatio: cf. F. agnation.]
1. (Civil Law)
Defn: Consanguinity by a line of males only, as distinguished from
cognation. Bouvier.
AGNITION
Ag*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. agnitio, fr. agnoscere. See Notion.]
Defn: Acknowledgment. [Obs.] Grafton.
AGNIZE
Ag*nize", v. t. Etym: [Formed like recognize, fr. L. agnoscere.]
Defn: To recognize; to acknowledge. [Archaic]
I do agnize a natural and prompt alacrity. Shak.
AGNOIOLOGY
Ag`noi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine concerning those things of which we are
necessarily ignorant.
AGNOMEN
Ag*no"men, n. Etym: [L.; ad + nomen name.]
1. An additional or fourth name given by the Romans, or account of
some remarkable exploit or event; as, Publius Caius Scipio Africanus.
2. An additional name, or an epithet appended to a name; as,
Aristides the Just.
AGNOMINATE
Ag*nom"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To name. [Obs.]
AGNOMINATION
Ag*nom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. agnominatio. See Agnomen.]
1. A surname. [R.] Minsheu.
2. Paronomasia; also, alliteration; annomination.
AGNOSTIC
Ag*nos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Professing ignorance; involving no dogmatic; pertaining to or
involving agnosticism.
-- Ag*nos"tic*al*ly, adv.
AGNOSTIC
Ag*nos"tic, n.
Defn: One who professes ignorance, or denies that we have any
knowledge, save of phenomena; one who supports agnosticism, neither
affirming nor denying the existence of a personal Deity, a future
life, etc.
AGNOSTICISM
Ag*nos"ti*cism, n.
Defn: That doctrine which, professing ignorance, neither asserts nor
denies. Specifically: (Theol.)
Defn: The doctrine that the existence of a personal Deity, an unseen
world, etc., can be neither proved nor disproved, because of the
necessary limits of the human mind (as sometimes charged upon
Hamilton and Mansel), or because of the insufficiency of the evidence
furnished by physical and physical data, to warrant a positive
conclusion (as taught by the school of Herbert Spencer); -- opposed
alike dogmatic skepticism and to dogmatic theism.
AGNUS
Ag"nus, n.; pl. E. Agnuses; L. Agni. Etym: [L., a lamb.]
Defn: Agnus Dei.
AGNUS CASTUS
Ag"nus cas"tus. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Vitex (V. agnus castus); the chaste tree. Loudon.
And wreaths of agnus castus others bore. Dryden.
AGNUS DEI
Ag"nus De"i. Etym: [L., lamb of God.] (R. C. Ch.)
(a) A figure of a lamb bearing a cross or flag.
(b) A cake of wax stamped with such a figure. It is made from the
remains of the paschal candles and blessed by the Pope.
(c) A triple prayer in the sacrifice of the Mass, beginning with the
words "Agnus Dei."
AGNUS SCYTHICUS
Ag"nus Scyth"i*cus. [L., Scythian lamb.] (Bot.)
Defn: The Scythian lamb, a kind of woolly-skinned rootstock. See
Barometz.
AGO
A*go", a. & adv. Etym: [OE. ago, agon, p. p. of agon to go away, pass
by, AS. agan to pass away; a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger. er-, orig. meaning
out) + gan to go. See Go.]
Defn: Past; gone by; since; as, ten years ago; gone long ago.
AGOG
A*gog", a. & adv. Etym: [Cf. F. gogue fun, perhaps of Celtic origin.]
Defn: In eager desire; eager; astir.
All agog to dash through thick and thin. Cowper.
AGOING
A*go"ing, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + p. pr. of go.]
Defn: In motion; in the act of going; as, to set a mill agoing.
AGON
Ag"on, n.; pl. Agones. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A contest for a prize at the public games.
AGONE
A*gone", a. & adv.
Defn: Ago. [Archaic. & Poet.]
Three days agone I fell sick. 1 Sam. xxx. 13.
AGONE
A"gone, n. Etym: [See Agonic.]
Defn: Agonic line.
AGONIC
A*gon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Not forming an angle. Agonic line (Physics), an imaginary line
on the earth's surface passing through those places where the
magnetic needle points to the true north; the line of no magnetic
variation. There is one such line in the Western hemisphere, and
another in the Eastern hemisphere.
AGONISM
Ag"o*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. Agon.]
Defn: Contention for a prize; a contest. [Obs.] Blount.
AGONIST
Ag"o*nist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who contends for the prize in public games. [R.]
AGONISTIC; AGONISTICAL
Ag`o*nis"tic, Ag`o*nis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Agonism.]
Defn: Pertaining to violent contests, bodily or mental; pertaining to
athletic or polemic feats; athletic; combative; hence, strained;
unnatural.
As a scholar, he [Dr. Parr] was brilliant, but he consumed his power
in agonistic displays. De Quincey.
AGONISTICALLY
Ag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an agonistic manner.
AGONISTICS
Ag`o*nis"tics, n.
Defn: The science of athletic combats, or contests in public games.
AGONIZE
Ag"o*nize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Agonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Agonizing.]
Etym: [F. agoniser, LL. agonizare, fr. Gr. Agony.]
1. To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
To smart and agonize at every pore. Pope.
2. To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately.
AGONIZE
Ag"o*nize, v. t.
Defn: To cause to suffer agony; to subject to extreme pain; to
torture.
He agonized his mother by his behavior. Thackeray.
AGONIZINGLY
Ag"o*ni`zing*ly, adv.
Defn: With extreme anguish or desperate struggles.
AGONOTHETE
Ag"o*no*thete`, n. Etym: [Gr. [Antiq.]
Defn: An officer who presided over the great public games in Greece.
AGONOTHETIC
Ag`o*no*thet"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the office of an agonothete.
AGONY
Ag"o*ny, n.; pl. Agonies. Etym: [L. agonia, Gr. agonie. See
Agon.]Etym:
1. Violent contest or striving.
The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Macaulay.
2. Pain so extreme as to cause writhing or contortions of the body,
similar to those made in the athletic contests in Greece; and hence,
extreme pain of mind or body; anguish; paroxysm of grief;
specifically, the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.
Being in an agony he prayed more earnestly. Luke xxii. 44.
3. Paroxysm of joy; keen emotion.
With cries and agonies of wild delight. Pope.
4. The last struggle of life; death struggle.
Syn.
-- Anguish; torment; throe; distress; pangs; suffering.
-- Agony, Anguish, Pang. These words agree in expressing extreme
pain of body or mind. Agony denotes acute and permanent pain, usually
of the whole system., and often producing contortions. Anguish
denotes severe pressure, and, considered as bodily suffering, is more
commonly local (as anguish of a wound), thus differing from agony. A
pang is a paroxysm of excruciating pain. It is severe and transient.
The agonies or pangs of remorse; the anguish of a wounded conscience.
"Oh, sharp convulsive pangs of agonizing pride!" Dryden.
A-GOOD
A-good(#), adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + good.]
Defn: In earnest; heartily. [Obs.] "I made her weep agood." Shak.
AGOOD
A*good(a*good"), adv. [Pref. a-+ good.]
Defn: In earnest; heartily. [Obs.] "I made her weep agood." Shak.
AGORA
Ag"o*ra, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An assembly; hence, the place of assembly, especially the
market place, in an ancient Greek city.
AGOUARA
A*gou"a*ra, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crab-eating raccoon (Procyon cancrivorus), found in the
tropical parts of America.
AGOUTA
A*gou"ta, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small insectivorous mammal (Solenodon paradoxus), allied to
the moles, found only in Hayti.
AGOUTI; AGOUTY
A*gou"ti, A*gou"ty, n. Etym: [F. agouti, acouti, Sp. aguti, fr.
native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rodent of the genus Dasyprocta, about the size of a rabbit,
peculiar to South America and the West Indies. The most common
species is the Dasyprocta agouti.
AGRACE
A*grace", n. & v.
Defn: See Aggrace. [Obs.]
AGRAFFE
A*graffe", n. Etym: [F. agrafe, formerly agraffe, OF. agrappe. See
Agrappes.]
1. A hook or clasp.
The feather of an ostrich, fastened in her turban by an agraffe set
with brilliants. Sir W. Scott.
2. A hook, eyelet, or other device by which a piano wire is so held
as to limit the vibration.
AGRAMMATIST
A*gram"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A illiterate person. [Obs.] Bailey.
AGRAPHIA
A*graph"i*a, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The absence or loss of the power of expressing ideas by written
signs. It is one form of aphasia.
AGRAPHIC
A*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Characterized by agraphia.
AGRAPPES
A*grappes", n. pl. Etym: [OF. agrappe, F. agrafe; a + grappe (see
Grape) fr. OHG. krapfo hook.]
Defn: Hooks and eyes for armor, etc. Fairholt.
AGRARIAN
A*gra"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. agrarius, fr. ager field.]
1. Pertaining to fields, or lands, or their tenure; esp., relating to
am equal or equitable division of lands; as, the agrarian laws of
Rome, which distributed the conquered and other public lands among
citizens.
His Grace's landed possessions are irresistibly inviting to an
agrarian experiment. Burke.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Wild; -- said of plants growing in the fields.
AGRARIAN
A*gra"ri*an, n.
1. One in favor of an equal division of landed property.
2. An agrarian law. [R.]
An equal agrarian is perpetual law. Harrington.
AGRARIANISM
A*gra"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: An equal or equitable division of landed property; the
principles or acts of those who favor a redistribution of land.
AGRARIANIZE
A*gra"ri*an*ize, v. t.
Defn: To distribute according to, or to imbue with, the principles of
agrarianism.
AGRE; AGREE
A*gre", A*gree", adv. Etym: [F. à gré. See Agree.]
Defn: In good part; kindly. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
AGREE
A*gree", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Agreed; p. pr. & vb. n. Agreeing.] Etym:
[F. agréer to accept or receive kindly, fr. à gré; à (L. ad) + gré
good will, consent, liking, fr. L. gratus pleasing, agreeable. See
Grateful.]
1. To harmonize in opinion, statement, or action; to be in unison or
concord; to be or become united or consistent; to concur; as, all
parties agree in the expediency of the law.
If music and sweet poetry agree. Shak.
Their witness agreed not together. Mark xiv. 56.
The more you agree together, the less hurt can your enemies do you.
Sir T. Browne.
2. To yield assent; to accede; -- followed by to; as, to agree to an
offer, or to opinion.
3. To make a stipulation by way of settling differences or
determining a price; to exchange promises; to come to terms or to a
common resolve; to promise.
Agree with thine adversary quickly. Matt. v. 25.
Didst not thou agree with me for a penny Matt. xx. 13.
4. To be conformable; to resemble; to coincide; to correspond; as,
the picture does not agree with the original; the two scales agree
exactly.
5. To suit or be adapted in its effects; to do well; as, the same
food does not agree with every constitution.
6. (Gram.)
Defn: To correspond in gender, number, case, or person.
Note: The auxiliary forms of to be are often employed with the
participle agreed. "The jury were agreed." Macaulay. "Can two walk
together, except they be agreed " Amos iii. 3. The principal
intransitive uses were probably derived from the transitive verb used
reflexively. "I agree me well to your desire." Ld. Berners.
Syn.
-- To assent; concur; consent; acquiesce; accede; engage; promise;
stipulate; contract; bargain; correspond; harmonize; fit; tally;
coincide; comport.
AGREE
A*gree", v. t.
1. To make harmonious; to reconcile or make friends. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To admit, or come to one mind concerning; to settle; to arrange;
as, to agree the fact; to agree differences. [Obs.]
AGREEABILITY
A*gree`a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [OF. agreablete.]
1. Easiness of disposition. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. The quality of being, or making one's self, agreeable;
agreeableness. Thackeray.
AGREEABLE
A*gree"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. agréable.]
1. Pleasing, either to the mind or senses; pleasant; grateful; as,
agreeable manners or remarks; an agreeable person; fruit agreeable to
the taste.
A train of agreeable reveries. Goldsmith.
2. Willing; ready to agree or consent. [Colloq.]
These Frenchmen give unto the said captain of Calais a great sum of
money, so that he will be but content and agreeable that they may
enter into the said town. Latimer.
3. Agreeing or suitable; conformable; correspondent; concordant;
adapted; -- followed by to, rarely by with.
That which is agreeable to the nature of one thing, is many times
contrary to the nature of another. L'Estrange.
4. In pursuance, conformity, or accordance; -- in this sense used
adverbially for agreeably; as, agreeable to the order of the day, the
House took up the report.
Syn.
-- Pleasing; pleasant; welcome; charming; acceptable; amiable. See
Pleasant.
AGREEABLENESS
A*gree"a*ble*ness, n.
1. The quality of being agreeable or pleasing; that quality which
gives satisfaction or moderate pleasure to the mind or senses.
That author . . . has an agreeableness that charms us. Pope.
2. The quality of being agreeable or suitable; suitableness or
conformity; consistency.
The agreeableness of virtuous actions to human nature. Pearce.
3. Resemblance; concordance; harmony; -- with to or between. [Obs.]
The agreeableness between man and the other parts of the universe.
Grew.
AGREEABLY
A*gree"a*bly, adv.
1. In an agreeably manner; in a manner to give pleasure; pleasingly.
"Agreeably entertained." Goldsmith.
2. In accordance; suitably; consistently; conformably; -- followed by
to and rarely by with. See Agreeable, 4.
The effect of which is, that marriages grow less frequent, agreeably
to the maxim above laid down. Paley.
3. Alike; similarly. [Obs.]
Both clad in shepherds' weeds agreeably. Spenser.
AGREEINGLY
A*gree"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an agreeing manner (to); correspondingly; agreeably. [Obs.]
AGREEMENT
A*gree"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. agrément.]
1. State of agreeing; harmony of opinion, statement, action, or
character; concurrence; concord; conformity; as, a good agreement
subsists among the members of the council.
What agreement hath the temple of God with idols 2 Cor. vi. 16.
Expansion and duration have this further agreement. Locke.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Concord or correspondence of one word with another in gender,
number, case, or person.
3. (Law)
(a) A concurrence in an engagement that something shall be done or
omitted; an exchange of promises; mutual understanding, arrangement,
or stipulation; a contract.
(b) The language, oral or written, embodying reciprocal promises.
Abbott. Brande & C.
Syn.
-- Bargain; contract; compact; stipulation.
AGREER
A*gre"er, n.
Defn: One who agrees.
AGRESTIC
A*gres"tic, a. Etym: [L. agrestis, fr. ager field.]
Defn: Pertaining to fields or the country, in opposition to the city;
rural; rustic; unpolished; uncouth. "Agrestic behavior." Gregory.
AGRESTICAL
A*gres"tic*al, a.
Defn: Agrestic. [Obs.]
AGRICOLATION
A*gric`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [L., agricolatio.]
Defn: Agriculture. [Obs.] Bailey.
AGRICOLIST
A*gric"o*list, n.
Defn: A cultivator of the soil; an agriculturist. Dodsley.
AGRICULTOR
Ag"ri*cul`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. ager field + cultor cultivator.]
Defn: An agriculturist; a farmer. [R.]
AGRICULTURAL
Ag`ri*cul"tur*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to agriculture; connected with, or engaged in,
tillage; as, the agricultural class; agricultural implements, wages,
etc.
-- Ag`ri*cul"tur*al*ly, adv. Agricultural ant (Zoöl.), a species of
ant which gathers and stores seeds of grasses, for food. The
remarkable species (Myrmica barbata) found in Texas clears circular
areas and carefully cultivates its favorite grain, known as ant rice.
AGRICULTURALIST
Ag`ri*cul"tur*al*ist, n.
Defn: An agriculturist (which is the preferred form.)
AGRICULTURE
Ag"ri*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. agricultura; ager field + cultura
cultivation: cf. F. agriculture. See Acre and Culture.]
Defn: The art or science of cultivating the ground, including the
harvesting of crops, and the rearing and management of live stock;
tillage; husbandry; farming.
AGRICULTURISM
Ag`ri*cul"tur*ism, n.
Defn: Agriculture. [R.]
AGRICULTURIST
Ag`ri*cul"tur*ist, n.
Defn: One engaged or skilled in agriculture; a husbandman.
The farmer is always a practitioner, the agriculturist may be a mere
theorist. Crabb.
AGRIEF
A*grief", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + grief.]
Defn: In grief; amiss. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AGRIMONY
Ag"ri*mo*ny, n. Etym: [OE. agremoyne, OF. aigremoine, L. agrimonia
for argemonia, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
(a) A genus of plants of the Rose family.
(b) The name is also given to various other plants; as, hemp agrimony
(Eupatorium cannabinum); water agrimony (Bidens).
Note: The Agrimonia eupatoria, or common agrimony, a perennial herb
with a spike of yellow flowers, was once esteemed as a medical
remedy, but is now seldom used.
AGRIN
A*grin", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + grin.]
Defn: In the act of grinning. "His visage all agrin." Tennyson.
AGRIOLOGIST
Ag`ri*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed or engaged in agriology.
AGRIOLOGY
Ag`ri*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Description or comparative study of the customs of savage or
uncivilized tribes.
AGRISE
A*grise", v. i. Etym: [AS. agrisan to dread; a- (cf. Goth. us-, Ger.
er-, orig. meaning out) + grisan, for gr (only in comp.), akin to
OHG. gr, G. grausen, to shudder. See Grisly.]
Defn: To shudder with terror; to tremble with fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AGRISE
A*grise", v. t.
1. To shudder at; to abhor; to dread; to loathe. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To terrify; to affright. [Obs.]
His manly face that did his foes agrise. Spenser.
AGROM
A"grom, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease occurring in Bengal and other parts of the East
Indies, in which the tongue chaps and cleaves.
AGRONOMIC; AGRONOMICAL
Ag`ro*nom"ic, Ag`ro*nom"ic*al, Etym: [Cf. F. agronomique.]
Defn: Pertaining to agronomy, of the management of farms.
AGRONOMICS
Ag`ro*nom"ics, n.
Defn: The science of the distribution and management of land.
AGRONOMIST
A*gron"o*mist, n.
Defn: One versed in agronomy; a student of agronomy.
AGRONOMY
A*gron"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. agronomie.]
Defn: The management of land; rural economy; agriculture.
AGROPE
A*grope", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + grope.]
Defn: In the act of groping. Mrs. Browning.
AGROSTIS
A*gros"tis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A genus of grasses, including species called in common language
bent grass. Some of them, as redtop (Agrostis vulgaris), are valuable
pasture grasses.
AGROSTOGRAPHIC; AGROSTOGRAPHICAL
A*gros`to*graph"ic, A*gros`to*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
agrostographique.]
Defn: Pertaining to agrostography.
AGROSTOGRAPHY
Ag`ros*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A description of the grasses.
AGROSTOLOGIC; AGROSTOLOGICAL
A*gros`to*log"ic, A*gros`to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to agrostology.
AGROSTOLOGIST
Ag`ros*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One skilled in agrostology.
AGROSTOLOGY
Ag`ros*tol"ogy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That part of botany which treats of the grasses.
AGROTECHNY
Ag"ro*tech`ny, n. [Gr. field, land + an art.]
Defn: That branch of agriculture dealing with the methods of
conversion of agricultural products into manufactured articles;
agricultural technology.
AGROUND
A*ground", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + ground.]
Defn: On the ground; stranded; -- a nautical term applied to a ship
when its bottom lodges on the ground. Totten.
AGROUPMENT
A*group"ment, n.
Defn: See Aggroupment.
AGRYPNOTIC
Ag`ryp*not"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. agrypnotique.]
Defn: Anything which prevents sleep, or produces wakefulness, as
strong tea or coffee.
AGUARDIENTE
A`guar*di*en"te, n. Etym: [Sp., contr. of agua ardiente burning water
(L. aqua water + ardens burning).]
1. A inferior brandy of Spain and Portugal.
2. A strong alcoholic drink, especially pulque. [Mexico and Spanish
America.]
AGUE
A"gue, n. Etym: [OE. agu, ague, OF. agu, F. aigu, sharp, OF. fem.
ague, LL. (febris) acuta, a sharp, acute fever, fr. L. acutus sharp.
See Acute.]
1. An acute fever. [Obs.] "Brenning agues." P. Plowman.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An intermittent fever, attended by alternate cold and hot fits.
3. The cold fit or rigor of the intermittent fever; as, fever and
ague.
4. A chill, or state of shaking, as with cold. Dryden. Ague cake, an
enlargement of the spleen produced by ague.
-- Ague drop, a solution of the arsenite of potassa used for ague.
-- Ague fit, a fit of the ague. Shak.
-- Ague spell, a spell or charm against ague. Gay.
-- Ague tree, the sassafras, -- sometimes so called from the use of
its root formerly, in cases of ague. [Obs.]
AGUE
A"gue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Agued.]
Defn: To strike with an ague, or with a cold fit. Heywood.
AGUILT
A*guilt", v. t.
Defn: To be guilty of; to offend; to sin against; to wrong. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
AGUISE
A*guise", n.
Defn: Dress. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
AGUISE
A*guise", v. t. Etym: [Pref a- + guise.]
Defn: To dress; to attire; to adorn. [Obs.]
Above all knights ye goodly seem aguised. Spenser.
AGUISH
A"gu*ish, a.
1. Having the qualities of an ague; somewhat cold or shivering;
chilly; shaky.
Her aguish love now glows and burns. Granville.
2. Productive of, or affected by, ague; as, the aguish districts of
England. T. Arnold. A"gu*ish*ness, n.
AGUSH
A*gush", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + gush.]
Defn: In a gushing state. Hawthorne.
AGYNOUS
Ag"y*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Without female organs; male.
AH
Ah, interj. Etym: [OE. a: cf. OF. a, F. ah, L. ah, Gr. a, Icel. æ,
OHG. a, Lith. á, á\'a0.]
Defn: An exclamation, expressive of surprise, pity, complaint,
entreaty, contempt, threatening, delight, triumph, etc., according to
the manner of utterance.
AHA
A*ha", interj. Etym: [Ah, interj. + ha.]
Defn: An exclamation expressing, by different intonations, triumph,
mixed with derision or irony, or simple surprise.
AHA
A*ha", n.
Defn: A sunk fence. See Ha-ha. Mason.
AHEAD
A*head", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + head.]
1. In or to the front; in advance; onward.
The island bore but a little ahead of us. Fielding.
2. Headlong; without restraint. [Obs.] L'Estrange. To go ahead. (a)
To go in advance. (b) To go on onward. (c) To push on in an
enterprise. [Colloq] -- To get ahead of. (a) To get in advance of.
(b) To surpass; to get the better of. [Colloq.]
AHEAP
A*heap", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + heap.]
Defn: In a heap; huddled together. Hood.
AHEIGHT
A*height", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + height.]
Defn: Aloft; on high. [Obs.] "Look up aheight." Shak.
AHEM
A*hem", interj.
Defn: An exclamation to call one's attention; hem.
AHEY
A*hey", interj.
Defn: Hey; ho.
AHIGH
A*high", adv.
Defn: On high. [Obs.] Shak.
AHOLD
A*hold", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + hold.]
Defn: Near the wind; as, to lay a ship ahold. [Obs.] Shak.
AHORSEBACK
A*horse"back, adv.
Defn: On horseback.
Two suspicious fellows ahorseback. Smollet.
AHOY
A*hoy", interj. Etym: [OE. a, interj. + hoy.] (Naut.)
Defn: A term used in hailing; as, "Ship ahoy."
AHRIMAN
Ah"ri*man, n. Etym: [Per.]
Defn: The Evil Principle or Being of the ancient Persians; the Prince
of Darkness as opposer to Ormuzd, the King of Light.
AHU
A"hu, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Asiatic gazelle.
AHULL
A*hull", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + hull.] (Naut.)
Defn: With the sails furled, and the helm lashed alee; -- applied to
ships in a storm. See Hull, n.
AHUNGERED
A*hun"gered, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + hungered.]
Defn: Pinched with hunger; very hungry. C. Bronté.
AI
A"i, n.; pl. Ais. Etym: [Braz. aï, haï, from the animal's cry: cf. F.
aï.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The three-toed sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) of South America.
See Sloth.
AIBLINS; ABLINS
Ai"blins, A"blins, adv. Etym: [See Able.]
Defn: Perhaps; possibly. [Scotch] Burns.
AICH'S METAL
Aich's met"al.
Defn: A kind of gun metal, containing copper, zinc, and iron, but no
tin.
AID
Aid, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aided; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiding.] Etym: [F.
aider, OF. aidier, fr. L. adjutare to help, freq. of adjuvare to
help; ad + juvare to help. Cf. Adjutant.]
Defn: To support, either by furnishing strength or means in
coöperation to effect a purpose, or to prevent or to remove evil; to
help; to assist.
You speedy helpers . . . Appear and aid me in this enterprise. Shak.
Syn.
-- To help; assist; support; sustain; succor; relieve; befriend;
coöperate; promote. See Help.
AID
Aid, n. Etym: [F. aide, OF. aïde, aïe, fr. the verb. See Aid, v. t.]
1. Help; succor; assistance; relief.
An unconstitutional mode of obtaining aid. Hallam.
2. The person or thing that promotes or helps in something done; a
helper; an assistant.
It is not good that man should be alone; let us make unto him an aid
like unto himself. Tobit viii. 6.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A subsidy granted to the king by Parliament; also, an exchequer
loan.
4. (Feudal Law)
Defn: A pecuniary tribute paid by a vassal to his lord on special
occasions. Blackstone.
5. An aid-de-camp, so called by abbreviation; as, a general's aid.
Aid prayer (Law), a proceeding by which a defendant beseeches and
claims assistance from some one who has a further or more permanent
interest in the matter in suit.
-- To pray in aid, to beseech and claim such assistance.
AIDANCE
Aid"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aidance.]
Defn: Aid. [R.]
Aidance 'gainst the enemy. Shak.
AIDANT
Aid"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aidant, p. pr. of aider to help.]
Defn: Helping; helpful; supplying aid. Shak.
AID-DE-CAMP
Aid"-de-camp`, n.; pl. Aids-de-camp.. Etym: [F. aide de camp
(literally) camp assistant.] (Mil.)
Defn: An officer selected by a general to carry orders, also to
assist or represent him in correspondence and in directing movements.
AIDER
Aid"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, aids.
AIDFUL
Aid"ful, a.
Defn: Helpful. [Archaic.] Bp. Hall.
AIDLESS
Aid"less, a.
Defn: Helpless; without aid. Milton.
AID-MAJOR
Aid"-ma`jor, n.
Defn: The adjutant of a regiment.
AIEL
Ai"el, n.
Defn: See Ayle. [Obs.]
AIGLET
Aig"let, n.
Defn: Same as Aglet.
AIGRE
Ai"gre, a. Etym: [F. See Eager.]
Defn: Sour. [Obs.] Shak.
AIGREMORE
Ai"gre*more, n. Etym: [F. origin unknown.]
Defn: Charcoal prepared for making powder.
AIGRET; AIGRETTE
Ai"gret, Ai*grette, n. Etym: [F., a sort of white heron, with a tuft
of feathers on its head; a tuft of feathers; dim. of the same word as
heron. See Heron, and cf. Egret, Egrette.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The small white European heron. See Egret.
2. A plume or tuft for the head composed of feathers, or of gems,
etc. Prescott.
3. A tuft like that of the egret. (Bot.)
Defn: A feathery crown of seed; egret; as, the aigrette or down of
the dandelion or the thistle.
AIGUILLE
Ai`guille", n. Etym: [F., a needle. See Aglet.]
1. A needle-shaped peak.
2. An instrument for boring holes, used in blasting.
AIGUILLETTE
Ai`guil*lette", n. Etym: [F. See Aglet.]
1. A point or tag at the end of a fringe or lace; an aglet.
2. One of the ornamental tags, cords, or loops on some military and
naval uniforms.
AIGULET
Ai"gu*let, n.
Defn: See Aglet. Spenser.
AIL
Ail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ailing.] Etym: [OE.
eilen, ailen, AS. eglan to trouble, pain; akin to Goth. us-agljan to
distress, agls troublesome, irksome, aglo, aglitha, pain, and prob.
to E. awe.
Defn: To affect with pain or uneasiness, either physical or mental;
to trouble; to be the matter with; -- used to express some uneasiness
or affection, whose cause is unknown; as, what ails the man I know
not what ails him.
What aileth thee, Hagar Gen. xxi. 17.
Note: It is never used to express a specific disease. We do not say,
a fever ails him; but, something ails him.
AIL
Ail, v. i.
Defn: To be affected with pain or uneasiness of any sort; to be ill
or indisposed or in trouble.
When he ails ever so little . . . he is so peevish. Richardson.
AIL
Ail, n.
Defn: Indisposition or morbid affection. Pope.
AILANTHUS
Ai*lan"thus, n.
Defn: Same as Ailantus.
AILANTUS
Ai*lan"tus, n. Etym: [From aylanto, i. e., tree of heaven, the name
of the tree in the Moluccas.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of beautiful trees, natives of the East Indies. The
tree imperfectly di
AILERON
Ai"le*ron, n. [F., dim. of aile wing.]
1.
Defn: A half gable, as at the end of a penthouse or of the aisle of a
church.
2. (Aëronautics) A small plane or surface capable of being
manipulated by the pilot of a flying machine to preserve or destroy
lateral balance; a hinged wing tip; a lateral stabilizing or
balancing plane.
AILETTE
Ai*lette, n. Etym: [F. ailette, dim. of aile wing, L. ala.]
Defn: A small square shield, formerly worn on the shoulders of
knights, -- being the prototype of the modern epaulet. Fairholt.
AILMENT
Ail"ment, n.
Defn: Indisposition; morbid affection of the body; -- not applied
ordinarily to acute diseases. "Little ailments." Landsdowne.
AILUROIDEA
Ai`lu*roid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of the Carnivora, which includes the cats, civets, and
hyenas.
AIM
Aim, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aiming.] Etym: [OE.
amen, aimen, eimen, to guess at, to estimate, to aim, OF. esmer,
asmer, fr. L. aestimare to estimate; or perh. fr. OF. aesmer; ad) +
esmer. See Estimate.]
1. To point or direct a missile weapon, or a weapon which propels as
missile, towards an object or spot with the intent of hitting it; as,
to aim at a fox, or at a target.
2. To direct the indention or purpose; to attempt the accomplishment
of a purpose; to try to gain; to endeavor; -- followed by at, or by
an infinitive; as, to aim at distinction; to aim to do well.
Aim'st thou at princes Pope.
3. To guess or conjecture. [Obs.] Shak.
AIM
Aim, v. t.
Defn: To direct or point, as a weapon, at a particular object; to
direct, as a missile, an act, or a proceeding, at, to, or against an
object; as, to aim a musket or an arrow, the fist or a blow (at
something); to aim a satire or a reflection (at some person or vice).
AIM
Aim, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. esme estimation, fr. esmer. See Aim, v. i.]
1. The pointing of a weapon, as a gun, a dart, or an arrow, in the
line of direction with the object intended to be struck; the line of
fire; the direction of anything, as a spear, a blow, a discourse, a
remark, towards a particular point or object, with a view to strike
or affect it.
Each at the head leveled his deadly aim. Milton.
2. The point intended to be hit, or object intended to be attained or
affected.
To be the aim of every dangerous shot. Shak.
3. Intention; purpose; design; scheme.
How oft ambitious aims are crossed! Pope.
4. Conjecture; guess. [Obs.]
What you would work me to, I have some aim. Shak.
To cry aim (Archery), to encourage. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- End; object; scope; drift; design; purpose; intention; scheme;
tendency; aspiration.
AIMER
Aim"er, n.
Defn: One who aims, directs, or points.
AIMLESS
Aim"less, a.
Defn: Without aim or purpose; as, an aimless life.
-- Aim"less*ly, adv.
-- Aim"less*ness, n.
AINO
Ai"no, n. Etym: [Said to be the native name for man.]
Defn: One of a peculiar race inhabiting Yesso, the Kooril Islands
etc., in the northern part of the empire of Japan, by some supposed
to have been the progenitors of the Japanese. The Ainos are stout and
short, with hairy bodies.
AIN'T
Ain't.
Defn: A contraction for are not and am not; also used for is not.
[Colloq. or llliterate speech]. See An't.
AIR
Air, n. Etym: [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. aër, fr. Gr. wind. In sense
10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr.
the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is
either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older
sense of origin, descent. Cf. A, Debonair, Malaria, Wind.]
1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the
atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent,
compressible, elastic, and ponderable.
Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element;
but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of
oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the
average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.;
nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These
proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always
contains some vapor of water.
2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm
ache with air." Shak.
He was still all air and fire. Macaulay
. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to
earth and water.]
3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold,
moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a
damp air, the morning air, etc.
4. Any aëriform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital
air. [Obs.]
5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind.
Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. Pope.
6. Odoriferous or contaminated air.
7. That which surrounds and influences.
The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. Wordsworth.
8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent.
You gave it air before me. Dryden.
9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] Bacon.
10. (Mus.)
(a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive
single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which
may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or
even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune;
an aria.
(b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which
bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part
-- is sometimes called the air.
11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien;
demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. "His very
air." Shak.
12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner;
style.
It was communicated with the air of a secret. Pope.
12. pl.
Defn: An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity;
haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. Thackeray.
14. (Paint.)
(a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the
atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed.
New Am. Cyc.
(b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that
portrait has a good air. Fairholt.
15. (Man.)
Defn: The artificial motion or carriage of a horse.
Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound
term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate
limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or
without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air
cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump. Air balloon. See
Balloon.
-- Air bath. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the
body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired
temperature.
-- Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle.
-- Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as a
motive power.
-- Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine.
-- Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a
device for arresting motion without shock by confined air.
-- Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the
force of compressed air.
-- Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not
on blast.
-- Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence Air-line, adj.; as,
air-line road.
-- Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the
outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson.
Knight.
-- Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air.
-- Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized.
-- Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the contraction
and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature.
-- Air threads, gossamer.
-- Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from
drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap.
-- Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from
a room.
-- Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air;
esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to
enter.
-- Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air
pump; an air way in a mine.
-- In the air. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority,
as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c)
(Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the
army had its wing in the air.
-- To take air, to be divulged; to be made public.
-- To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.
AIR
Air, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired; p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] Etym: [See
Air, n., and cf. A.]
1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or
purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room.
It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. Bacon.
Were you but riding forth to air yourself. Shak.
2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display
ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion.
Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. Tennyson.
3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of
warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.
AIR BED
Air" bed`.
Defn: A sack or matters inflated with air, and used as a bed.
AIR BLADDER
Air" blad`der.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: An air sac, sometimes double or variously lobed, in the
visceral cavity of many fishes. It originates in the same way as the
lungs of air-breathing vertebrates, and in the adult may retain a
tubular connection with the pharynx or esophagus.
2. A sac or bladder full of air in an animal or plant; also an air
hole in a casting.
AIR BRAKE
Air" brake`. (Mach.)
Defn: A railway brake operated by condensed air. Knight.
AIR BRUSH
Air brush.
Defn: A kind of atomizer for applying liquid coloring matter in a
spray by compressed air.
AIR-BUILT
Air"-built`, a.
Defn: Erected in the air; having no solid foundation; chimerical; as,
an air-built castle.
AIR CELL
Air" cell`.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A cavity in the cellular tissue of plants, containing air only.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A receptacle of air in various parts of the system; as, a cell
or minute cavity in the walls of the air tubes of the lungs; the air
sac of birds; a dilatation of the air vessels in insects.
AIR CHAMBER
Air" cham`ber.
1. A chamber or cavity filled with air, in an animal or plant.
2. A cavity containing air to act as a spring for equalizing the flow
of a liquid in a pump or other hydraulic machine.
AIR COCK
Air" cock`.
Defn: A faucet to allow escape of air.
AIR COOLING
Air cooling.
Defn: In gasoline-engine motor vehicles, the cooling of the cylinder
by increasing its radiating surface by means of ribs or radiators,
and placing it so that it is exposed to a current of air. Cf. Water
cooling. -- Air"-cooled`, a.
AIRCRAFT
Air"craft`, n. sing. & pl.
Defn: Any device, as a balloon, aëroplane, etc., for floating in, or
flying through, the air.
AIR-DRAWN
Air"-drawn", a.
Defn: Drawn in air; imaginary.
This is the air-drawn dagger. Shak.
AIR DRILL
Air" drill`.
Defn: A drill driven by the elastic pressure of condensed air; a
pneumatic drill. Knight.
AIR ENGINE
Air" engine`.
Defn: An engine driven by heated or by compressed air. Knight.
AIRER
Air"er, n.
1. One who exposes to the air.
2. A frame on which clothes are aired or dried.
AIR GAP
Air gap. (Physics)
Defn: An air-filled gap in a magnetic or electric circuit; specif.,
in a dynamo or motor, the space between the field-magnet poles and
the armature; clearance.
AIR GAS
Air" gas`.
Defn: See under Gas.
AIR GUN
Air" gun`.
Defn: A kind of gun in which the elastic force of condensed air is
used to discharge the ball. The air is powerfully compressed into a
reservoir attached to the gun, by a condensing pump, and is
controlled by a valve actuated by the trigger.
AIR HOLE
Air" hole`.
1. A hole to admit or discharge air; specifically, a spot in the ice
not frozen over.
2. (Founding)
Defn: A fault in a casting, produced by a bubble of air; a blowhole.
AIRILY
Air"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In an airy manner; lightly; gaily; jauntily; fippantly.
AIRINESS
Air"i*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being airy; openness or exposure to the
air; as, the airiness of a country seat.
2. Lightness of spirits; gayety; levity; as, the airiness of young
persons.
AIRING
Air"ing, n.
1. A walk or a ride in the open air; a short excursion for health's
sake.
2. An exposure to air, or to a fire, for warming, drying, etc.; as,
the airing of linen, or of a room.
AIR JACKET
Air" jack`et.
Defn: A jacket having air-tight cells, or cavities which can be
filled with air, to render persons buoyant in swimming.
AIRLESS
Air"less, a.
Defn: Not open to a free current of air; wanting fresh air, or
communication with the open air.
AIR LEVEL
Air" lev`el.
Defn: Spirit level. See Level.
AIRLIKE
Air"like`, a.
Defn: Resembling air.
AIR LINE
Air line.
Defn: A path through the air made easy for aërial navigation by
steady winds.
AIRLING
Air"ling, n.
Defn: A thoughtless, gay person. [Obs.] "Slight airlings." B. Jonson.
AIRMAN
Air"man, n.
Defn: A man who ascends or flies in an aircraft; a flying machine
pilot.
AIRMANSHIP
Air"man*ship, n.
Defn: Art, skill, or ability in the practice of aërial navigation.
AIROL
Air"ol, n. (Pharm.)
Defn: A grayish green antiseptic powder, consisting of a basic iodide
and gallate of bismuth, sometimes used in place of iodoform. [A
Trademark]
AIROMETER
Air*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Air + -meter.]
Defn: A hollow cylinder to contain air. It is closed above and open
below, and has its open end plunged into water.
AIR PIPE
Air" pipe`.
Defn: A pipe for the passage of air; esp. a ventilating pipe.
AIR PLANT
Air" plant`. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an
aërophyte.
Note: The "Florida moss" (Tillandsia), many tropical orchids, and
most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon
trees, but not parasitic on them, are epiphytes.
AIR POISE
Air" poise`. Etym: [See Poise.]
Defn: A
AIR PUMP
Air" pump`.
1. (Physics)
Defn: A kind of pump for exhausting air from a vessel or closed
space; also, a pump to condense air of force in into a closed space.
2. (Steam Engines)
Defn: A pump used to exhaust from a condenser the condensed steam,
the water used for condensing, and any commingled air.
AIR SAC
Air" sac`. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the spaces in different parts. of the bodies of birds,
which are filled with air and connected with the air passages of the
lungs; an air cell.
AIR SHAFT
Air" shaft`.
Defn: A passage, usually vertical, for admitting fresh air into a
mine or a tunnel.
AIRSICK
Air`sick`, a.
Defn: Affected with aërial sickness. -- Air"sick`ness, n.
AIR-SLACKED
Air"-slacked`, a.
Defn: Slacked, or pulverized, by exposure to the air; as, air-slacked
lime.
AIR STOVE
Air" stove`.
Defn: A stove for heating a current of air which is directed against
its surface by means of pipes, and then distributed through a
building.
AIR-TIGHT
Air"-tight`, a.
Defn: So tight as to be impermeable to air; as, an air-tight
cylinder.
AIR-TIGHT
Air"-tight`, n.
Defn: A stove the draft of which can be almost entirely shut off.
[Colloq. U. S.]
AIR VESSEL
Air" ves`sel.
Defn: A vessel, cell, duct, or tube containing or conducting air; as
the air vessels of insects, birds, plants, etc.; the air vessel of a
pump, engine, etc. For the latter, see Air chamber. The air vessels
of insects are called tracheæ, of plants spiral vessels.
AIRWARD; AIRWARDS
Air"ward, Air"wards, adv.
Defn: Toward the air; upward. [R.] Keats.
AIRWOMAN
Air"wom`an, n.
Defn: A woman who ascends or flies in an aircraft.
AIRY
Air"y, a.
1. Consisting of air; as, an airy substance; the airy parts of
bodies.
2. Relating or belonging to air; high in air; aërial; as, an airy
flight. "The airy region." Milton.
3. Open to a free current of air; exposed to the air; breezy; as, an
airy situation.
4. Resembling air; thin; unsubstantial; not material; airlike. "An
airy spirit." Shak.
5. Relating to the spirit or soul; delicate; graceful; as, airy
music.
6. Without reality; having no solid foundation; empty; trifling;
visionary. "Airy fame." Shak.
Empty sound, and airy notions. Roscommon.
7. Light of heart; vivacious; sprightly; flippant; superficial.
"Merry and airy." Jer. Taylor.
8. Having an affected manner; being in the habit of putting on airs;
affectedly grand. [Colloq.]
9. (Paint.)
Defn: Having the light and aërial tints true to nature. Elmes.
AISLE
Aisle, n. Etym: [OF. ele, F. aile, wing, wing of a building, L. ala,
contr. fr. axilla.] (Arch.)
(a) A lateral division of a building, separated from the middle part,
called the nave, by a row of columns or piers, which support the roof
or an upper wall containing windows, called the clearstory wall.
(b) Improperly used also for the have; -- as in the phrases, a church
with three aisles, the middle aisle.
(c) Also (perhaps from confusion with alley), a passage into which
the pews of a church open.
AISLED
Aisled, a.
Defn: Furnished with an aisle or aisles.
AISLESS
Ais"less, a.
Defn: Without an aisle.
AIT
Ait, n. Etym: [AS. ieg, ig, island. See Eyot.]
Defn: An islet, or little isle, in a river or lake; an eyot.
The ait where the osiers grew. R. Hodges (1649).
Among green aits and meadows. Dickens.
AIT
Ait, n.
Defn: Oat. [Scot.] Burns.
AITCH
Aitch, n.
Defn: The letter h or H.
AITCHBONE
Aitch"bone`, n. Etym: [For nachebone. For loss of n, cf. Adder. See
Natch.]
Defn: The bone of the rump; also, the cut of beef surrounding this
bone. [Spelt also edgebone.]
AITIOLOGY
Ai`ti*ol"o*gy, n.
Defn: See Ætiology.
AJAR
A*jar", adv. Etym: [OE. on char ajar, on the turn; AS. cerr, cyrr,
turn, akin to G. kehren to turn, and to D. akerre. See Char.]
Defn: Slightly turned or opened; as, the door was standing ajar.
AJAR
A*jar", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + jar.]
Defn: In a state of discord; out of harmony; as, he is ajar with the
world.
AJAVA
Aj"a*va, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Ajouan.
AJOG
A*jog", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + jog.]
Defn: On the jog.
AJOUAN; AJOWAN
Aj"ou*an Aj"ow*an, n. [Written also ajwain.] [Prob. native name.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of Ammi Copticum, syn. Carum Ajowan, used both as a
medicine and as a condiment. An oil containing thymol is extracted
from it. Called also Javanee seed, Javanese seed, and ajava.
AJUTAGE
Aj"u*tage, n. Etym: [F. ajutage, for ajoutage, fr. ajouter to add,
LL. adjuxtare, fr. L. ad + juxta near to, nigh. Cf. Adjutage,
Adjustage, Adjust.]
Defn: A tube through which is water is discharged; an efflux tube;
as, the ajutage of a fountain.
AKE
Ake, n. & v.
Defn: See Ache.
AKENE
A*kene", n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Achene.
AKETON
Ak"e*ton, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Acton.
AKIMBO
A*kim"bo, a. Etym: [Etymology unknown. Cf. Kimbo.]
Defn: With a crook or bend; with the hand on the hip and elbow turned
outward. "With one arm akimbo." Irving.
AKIN
A*kin", a. Etym: [Pref. a- (for of) + kin.]
1. Of the same kin; related by blood; -- used of persons; as, the two
families are near akin.
2. Allied by nature; partaking of the same properties; of the same
kind. "A joy akin to rapture." Cowper.
The literary character of the work is akin to its moral character.
Jeffrey.
Note: This adjective is used only after the noun.
AKINESIA
Ak`i*ne"si*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Paralysis of the motor nerves; loss of movement. Foster.
AKINESIC
Ak`i*ne"sic, a. (med.)
Defn: Pertaining to akinesia.
AKNEE
A*knee", adv.
Defn: On the knee. [R.] Southey.
AKNOW
Ak*now".
Defn: Earlier form of Acknow. [Obs.] To be aknow, to acknowledge; to
confess. [Obs.]
AL
Al, a.
Defn: All. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AL-
Al-. A prefix. (a) Etym: [AS. eal.]
Defn: All; wholly; completely; as, almighty,almost. (b) Etym: [L.
ad.]
Defn: To; at; on; -- in OF. shortened to a-. See Ad-.
(c) The Arabic definite article answering to the English the; as,
Alkoran, the Koran or the Book; alchemy, the chemistry.
AL
Al. conj.
Defn: Although; if. [Obs.] See All, conj.
ALA
A"la, n.; pl. Alæ. Etym: [L., a wing.] (Biol.)
Defn: A winglike organ, or part.
ALABAMA PERIOD
Al`a*ba"ma pe"ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: A period in the American eocene, the lowest in the tertiary age
except the lignitic.
ALABASTER
Al"a*bas"ter, n. Etym: [L. alabaster, Gr. Alabastron, the name of a
town in Egypt, near which it was common: cf. OF. alabastre, F.
albâtre.]
1. (Min.)
(a) A compact variety or sulphate of lime, or gypsum, of fine
texture, and usually white and translucent, but sometimes yellow,
red, or gray. It is carved into vases, mantel ornaments, etc.
(b) A hard, compact variety of carbonate of lime, somewhat
translucent, or of banded shades of color; stalagmite. The name is
used in this sense by Pliny. It is sometimes distinguished as
oriental alabaster.
2. A box or vessel for holding odoriferous ointments, etc.; -- so
called from the stone of which it was originally made. Fosbroke.
ALABASTRIAN
Al`a*bas"tri*an, a.
Defn: Alabastrine.
ALABASTRINE
Al`a*bas"trine, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, alabaster; as alabastrine limbs.
ALABASTRUM
Al`a*bas"trum, n.; pl. Alabastra. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A flower bud. Gray.
ALACK
A*lack", interj. Etym: [Prob. from ah! lack! OE. lak loss, failure,
misfortune. See Lack.]
Defn: An exclamation expressive of sorrow. [Archaic. or Poet.] Shak.
ALACKADAY
A*lack"a*day`, interj. Etym: [For alack the day. Cf. Lackaday.]
Defn: An exclamation expressing sorrow.
Note: Shakespeare has "alack the day" and "alack the heavy day."
Compare "woe worth the day."
ALACRIFY
A*lac"ri*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. alacer, alacris, lively + -fly.]
Defn: To rouse to action; to inspirit.
ALACRIOUS
A*lac"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. alacer, alacris.]
Defn: Brisk; joyously active; lively.
'T were well if we were a little more alacrious. Hammond.
ALACRIOUSLY
A*lac"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With alacrity; briskly.
ALACRIOUSNESS
A*lac"ri*ous*ness, n.
Defn: Alacrity. [Obs.] Hammond.
ALACRITY
A*lac"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. alacritas, fr. alacer lively, eager, prob.
akin to Gr. aljan zeal.]
Defn: A cheerful readiness, willingness, or promptitude; joyous
activity; briskness; sprightliness; as, the soldiers advanced with
alacrity to meet the enemy.
I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind that I was wont
to have. Shak.
ALADINIST
A*lad"in*ist, n. Etym: [From Aladin, for Ala Eddin, i. e., height of
religion, a learned divine under Mohammed II. and Bajazet II.]
Defn: One of a sect of freethinkers among the Mohammedans.
ALALIA
A*la"li*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + a talking; cf. speechless.]
(Med.)
Defn: Inability to utter articulate sounds, due either to paralysis
of the larynx or to that form of aphasia, called motor, or ataxis,
aphasia, due to loss of control of the muscles of speech.
ALALONGA; ALILONGHI
Al`a*lon"ga, or Al`i*lon"ghi, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tunny. See Albicore.
ALAMIRE
A`la*mi"re, n. Etym: [Compounded of a la mi re, names of notes in the
musical scale.]
Defn: The lowest note but one in Guido Aretino's scale of music.
ALAMODALITY
Al`a*mo*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being à la mode; conformity to the mode or
fashion; fashionableness. [R.] Southey.
ALAMODE
Al"a*mode`, adv. & a. Etym: [F. à la mode after the fashion.]
Defn: According to the fashion or prevailing mode. "Alamode beef
shops." Macaulay.
ALAMODE
Al"a*mode`, n.
Defn: A thin, black silk for hoods, scarfs, etc.; -- often called
simply mode. Buchanan.
ALAMORT
Al`a*mort", a. Etym: [F. à la mort to the death. Cf. Amort.]
Defn: To the death; mortally.
ALAN
A*lan", n. Etym: [OF. alan, alant; cf. Sp. alano.]
Defn: A wolfhound. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALAND
A*land", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + land.]
Defn: On land; to the land; ashore. "Cast aland." Sir P. Sidney.
ALANINE
Al"a*nine, n. Etym: [Aldehyde + the ending -ine. The -n- is a
euphonic insertion.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline base, C3H7NO2, derived from aldehyde
ammonia.
ALANTIN
A*lan"tin, n. Etym: [G. alant elecampane, the Inula helenium of
Linnæus.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Inulin.
ALAR
A"lar, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing: cf. F. alaire.]
1. Pertaining to, or having, wings.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Axillary; in the fork or axil. Gray.
ALARM
A*larm", n. Etym: [F. alarme, It. all' arme to arms ! fr. L. arma,
pl., arms. See Arms, and cf. Alarum.]
1. A summons to arms, as on the approach of an enemy.
Arming to answer in a night alarm. Shak.
2. Any sound or information intended to give notice of approaching
danger; a warming sound to arouse attention; a warning of danger.
Sound an alarm in my holy mountain. Joel ii. 1.
3. A sudden attack; disturbance; broil. [R.] "These home alarms."
Shak.
Thy palace fill with insults and alarms. Pope.
4. Sudden surprise with fear or terror excited by apprehension of
danger; in the military use, commonly, sudden apprehension of being
attacked by surprise.
Alarm and resentment spread throughout the camp. Macaulay.
5. A mechanical contrivance for awaking persons from sleep, or
rousing their attention; an alarum. Alarm bell, a bell that gives
notice on danger.
-- Alarm clock or watch, a clock or watch which can be so set as to
ring or strike loudly at a prearranged hour, to wake from sleep, or
excite attention.
-- Alarm gauge, a contrivance attached to a steam boiler for showing
when the pressure of steam is too high, or the water in the boiler
too low.
-- Alarm post, a place to which troops are to repair in case of an
alarm.
Syn.
-- Fright; affright; terror; trepidation; apprehension;
consternation; dismay; agitation; disquiet; disquietude.
-- Alarm, Fright, Terror, Consternation. These words express
different degrees of fear at the approach of danger. Fright is fear
suddenly excited, producing confusion of the senses, and hence it is
unreflecting. Alarm is the hurried agitation of feeling which springs
from a sense of immediate and extreme exposure. Terror is agitating
and excessive fear, which usually benumbs the faculties.
Consternation is overwhelming fear, and carries a notion of
powerlessness and amazement. Alarm agitates the feelings; terror
disorders the understanding and affects the will; fright seizes on
and confuses the sense; consternation takes possession of the soul,
and subdues its faculties. See Apprehension.
ALARM
A*larm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alarmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alarming.]
Etym: [Alarm, n. Cf. F. alarmer.]
1. To call to arms for defense; to give notice to (any one) of
approaching danger; to rouse to vigilance and action; to put on the
alert.
2. To keep in excitement; to disturb.
3. To surprise with apprehension of danger; to fill with anxiety in
regard to threatening evil; to excite with sudden fear.
Alarmed by rumors of military preparation. Macaulay.
ALARMABLE
A*larm"a*ble, a.
Defn: Easily alarmed or disturbed.
ALARMED
A*larmed", a.
Defn: Aroused to vigilance; excited by fear of approaching danger;
agitated; disturbed; as, an alarmed neighborhood; an alarmed modesty.
The white pavilions rose and fell On the alarmed air. Longfellow.
ALARMEDLY
A*larm"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an alarmed manner.
ALARMING
A*larm"ing, a.
Defn: Exciting, or calculated to excite, alarm; causing apprehension
of danger; as, an alarming crisis or report.
-- A*larm"ing*ly, adv.
ALARMIST
A*larm"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alarmiste.]
Defn: One prone to sound or excite alarms, especially, needless
alarms. Macaulay.
ALARUM
A*lar"um, n. Etym: [OE. alarom, the same word as alarm, n.]
Defn: See Alarm. [Now Poetic]
Note: The variant form alarum is now commonly restricted to an alarm
signal or the mechanism to sound an alarm (as in an alarm clock.)
ALARY
Al"a*ry, a. Etym: [L. alarius, fr. ala wing.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to wings; also, wing-shaped.
The alary system of insects. Wollaston.
ALAS
A*las", interj. Etym: [OE. alas, allas, OF. alas, F. hélas; a interj.
(L. ah.) + las wretched (that I am), L. lassus weary, akin to E.
late. See Late.]
Defn: An exclamation expressive of sorrow, pity, or apprehension of
evil; -- in old writers, sometimes followed by day or white; alas the
day, like alack a day, or alas the white.
ALATE
A*late", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + late.]
Defn: Lately; of late. [Archaic]
There hath been alate such tales spread abroad. Latimer.
ALATE; ALATED
A"late, A"la*ted, a. Etym: [L. alatus, from ala wing.]
Defn: Winged; having wings, or side appendages like wings.
ALATERN; ALATERNUS
Al"a*tern, Al`a*ter"nus, n. Etym: [L. ala wing + terni three each.]
(Bot.)
Defn: An ornamental evergreen shrub (Rhamnus alaternus) belonging to
the buckthorns.
ALATION
A*la"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. alatus winged.]
Defn: The state of being winged.
ALAUNT
A*launt", n.
Defn: See Alan. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALB
Alb, n. Etym: [OE. albe, LL. alba, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Album and
Aube.]
Defn: A vestment of white linen, reaching to the feet, an enveloping
the person; -- in the Roman Catholic church, worn by those in holy
orders when officiating at mass. It was formerly worn, at least by
clerics, in daily life.
ALBACORE
Al"ba*core, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Albicore.
ALBAN
Al"ban, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline resinous substance extracted from gutta-
percha by the action of alcohol or ether.
ALBANIAN
Al*ba"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Albania, a province of Turkey.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Albania.
ALBATA
Al*ba"ta, n. Etym: [L. albatus, p. p. of albare to make white, fr.
albus white.]
Defn: A white metallic alloy; which is made into spoons, forks,
teapots, etc. British plate or German silver. See German silver,
under German.
ALBATROSS
Al"ba*tross, n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant,
albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz,
a bucket, fr. Ar. al-qadus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water
vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird
carrying water in its pouch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are
several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-
continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the
land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.
ALBE; ALBEE
Al`be", Al`bee", conj. Etym: [See Albeit.]
Defn: Although; albeit. [Obs.]
Albe Clarissa were their chiefest founderess. Spenser.
ALBEDO
Al*be"do, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]
Defn: Whiteness. Specifically: (Astron.) The ratio which the light
reflected from an unpolished surface bears to the total light falling
upon that surface.
ALBEIT
Al`be"it, conj. Etym: [OE. al be although it be, where al is our all.
Cf. Although.]
Defn: Even though; although; notwithstanding. Chaucer.
Albeit so masked, Madam, I love the truth. Tennyson.
ALBERTITE
Al"bert*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A bituminous mineral resembling asphaltum, found in the county
of A.
ALBERT WARE
Al"bert ware.
Defn: A soft ornamental terra-cotta pottery, sold in the biscuit
state for decorating.
ALBERTYPE
Al"ber*type, n. Etym: [From the name of the inventor, Albert, of
Munich.]
Defn: A picture printed from a kind of gelatine plate produced by
means of a photographic negative.
ALBESCENCE
Al*bes"cence, n.
Defn: The act of becoming white; whitishness.
ALBESCENT
Al*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. albescens, p. pr. of albescere to grow
white, fr. albus white.]
Defn: Becoming white or whitish; moderately white.
ALBICANT
Al"bi*cant, a. Etym: [L. albicans, p. pr. of albicare, albicatum, to
be white, fr. albus white.]
Defn: Growing or becoming white.
ALBICATION
Al`bi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The process of becoming white, or developing white patches, or
streaks.
ALBICORE
Al"bi*core, n. Etym: [F. albicore (cf. Sp. albacora, Pg. albacor,
albacora, albecora), fr. Ar. bakr, bekr, a young camel, young cow,
heifer, and the article al: cf. Pg. bacoro a little pig.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to several large fishes of the Mackerel family,
esp. Orcynus alalonga. One species (Orcynus thynnus), common in the
Mediterranean and Atlantic, is called in New England the horse
mackerel; the tunny. [Written also albacore.]
ALBIFICATION
Al`bi*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. albification: L. albus white +
ficare (only in comp.), facere, to make.]
Defn: The act or process of making white. [Obs.]
ALBIGENSES; ALBIGEOIS
Al`bi*gen"ses, Al`bi`geois", n. pl. Etym: [From Albi and Albigeois, a
town and its district in the south of France, in which the sect
abounded.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A sect of reformers opposed to the church of Rome in the 12th
centuries.
Note: The Albigenses were a branch of the Catharists (the pure). They
were exterminated by crusades and the Inquisition. They were distinct
from the Waldenses.
ALBIGENSIAN
Al`bi*gen"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Albigenses.
ALBINESS
Al*bi"ness, n.
Defn: A female albino. Holmes.
ALBINISM
Al"bi*nism, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being an albino: abinoism;
leucopathy.
ALBINISTIC
Al`bi*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Affected with albinism.
ALBINO
Al*bi"no, n.; pl. Albinos. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. albino, orig. whitish,
fr. albo white, L. albus.]
Defn: A person, whether negro, Indian, or white, in whom by some
defect of organization the substance which gives color to the skin,
hair, and eyes is deficient or in a morbid state. An albino has a
skin of a milky hue, with hair of the same color, and eyes with deep
red pupil and pink or blue iris. The term is also used of the lower
animals, as white mice, elephants, etc.; and of plants in a whitish
condition from the absence of chlorophyll. Amer. Cyc.
Note: The term was originally applied by the Portuguese to negroes
met with on the coast of Africa, who were mottled with white spots.
ALBINOISM
Al*bi"no*ism, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being an albino; albinism.
ALBINOTIC
Al`bi*not"ic, a.
Defn: Affected with albinism.
ALBION
Al"bi*on, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as Gael. alp a height or
hill. "It may have been bestowed on the land lying behind the white
cliffs visible from the coast of Gaul. Albany, the old name of
Scotland, means probably the "hilly land." I. Taylor.]
Defn: An ancient name of England, still retained in poetry.
In that nook-shotten isle of Albion. Shak.
ALBITE
Al"bite, n. Etym: [L. albus white.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the feldspar family, triclinic in crystallization,
and in composition a silicate of alumina and soda. It is a common
constituent of granite and of various igneous rocks. See Feldspar.
ALBOLITH
Al"bo*lith, n. Etym: [L. albus white + -lith.]
Defn: A kind of plastic cement, or artificial stone, consisting
chiefly of magnesia and silica; -- called also albolite.
ALBORAK
Al"bo*rak, n. Etym: [Ar. al-buraq, fr. baraqa to flash, shine.]
Defn: The imaginary milk-white animal on which Mohammed was said to
have been carried up to heaven; a white mule.
ALB SUNDAY
Alb Sunday. (Eccl.)
Defn: The first Sunday after Easter Sunday, properly Albless Sunday,
because in the early church those who had been baptized on Easter eve
laid aside on the following Saturday their white albs which had been
put on after baptism.
ALBUGINEOUS
Al`bu*gin"e*ous, a. Etym: [See Albugo.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or resembling, the white of the eye, or of an
egg; albuminous; -- a term applied to textures, humors, etc., which
are perfectly white.
ALBUGO
Al*bu"go, n.; pl. Albugines. Etym: [L., whiteness, fr. albus white.]
(Med.)
Defn: Same as Leucoma.
ALBUM
Al"bum, n. Etym: [L., neut. of albus white: cf. F. album. Cf. Alb.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A white tablet on which anything was inscribed, as a list of
names, etc.
2. A register for visitors' names; a visitors' book.
3. A blank book, in which to insert autographs sketches, memorial
writing of friends, photographs, etc.
ALBUMEN
Al*bu"men, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.]
1. The white of an egg.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Nourishing matter stored up within the integuments of the seed
in many plants, but not incorporated in the embryo. It is the floury
part in corn, wheat, and like grains, the oily part in poppy seeds,
the fleshy part in the cocoanut, etc.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Albumin.
ALBUMENIZE
Al*bu"men*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Albumenized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Albumenizing.]
Defn: To cover or saturate with albumen; to coat or treat with an
albuminous solution; as, to albuminize paper.
ALBUM GRAECUM
Al"bum Græ"cum. Etym: [L., Greek white.]
Defn: Dung of dogs or hyenas, which becomes white by exposure to air.
It is used in dressing leather, and was formerly used in medicine.
ALBUMIN
Al*bu"min, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A thick, viscous nitrogenous substance, which is the chief and
characteristic constituent of white of eggs and of the serum of
blood, and is found in other animal substances, both fluid and solid,
also in many plants. It is soluble in water is coagulated by heat ad
by certain chemical reagents. Acid albumin, a modification of albumin
produced by the action of dilute acids. It is not coagulated by heat.
-- Alkali albumin, albumin as modified by the action of alkaline
substances; -- called also albuminate.
ALBUMINATE
Al*bu"mi*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance produced by the action of an alkali upon albumin,
and resembling casein in its properties; also, a compound formed by
the union of albumin with another substance.
ALBUMINIFEROUS
Al*bu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -ferous.]
Defn: Supplying albumen.
ALBUMINIMETER
Al*bu`mi*nim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. albumen, albuminis + -meter: cf. F.
albuminimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of albumen in a
liquid.
ALBUMININ
Al*bu"mi*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The substance of the cells which inclose the white of birds'
eggs.
ALBUMINIPAROUS
Al*bu`mi*nip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. albumen + parere to bear, bring
forth.]
Defn: Producing albumin.
ALBUMINOID
Al*bu"mi*noid, a. Etym: [L. albumen + -oid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Resembling albumin.
-- n.
Defn: One of a class of organic principles (called also proteids)
which form the main part of organized tissues. Brunton.
ALBUMINOIDAL
Al*bu`mi*noid"al, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of the nature of an albuminoid.
ALBUMINOSE
Al*bu"mi*nose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A diffusible substance formed from albumin by the action of
natural or artificial gastric juice. See Peptone.
ALBUMINOSIS
Al*bu`mi*no"sis, n. [NL., fr. E. albumin.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition due to excessive increase of albuminous
elements in the blood.
ALBUMINOUS; ALBUMINOSE
Al*bu"mi*nous, Al*bu"mi*nose`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. albumineux.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, albumen; having the properties
of, or resembling, albumen or albumin.
-- Al*bu"mi*nous*ness, n.
ALBUMINURIA
Al*bu`mi*nu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. albumen + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which albumin is present in the urine.
ALBUMOSE
Al"bu*mose`, n. Etym: [From albumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound or class of compounds formed from albumin by dilute
acids or by an acid solution of pepsin. Used also in combination, as
antialbumose, hemialbumose.
ALBURN
Al"burn, n. Etym: [L. alburnus, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Auburn.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The bleak, a small European fish having scales of a peculiarly
silvery color which are used in making artificial pearls.
ALBURNOUS
Al*bur"nous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to alburnum; of the alburnum; as, alburnous
substances.
ALBURNUM
Al*bur"num, n. Etym: [L., fr. albus white.] (Bot.)
Defn: The white and softer part of wood, between the inner bark and
the hard wood or duramen; sapwood.
ALBYN
Al"byn, n. Etym: [See Albion.]
Defn: Scotland; esp. the Highlands of Scotland. T. Cambell.
ALCADE
Al*cade", n.
Defn: Same as Alcaid.
ALCAHEST
Al"ca*hest, n.
Defn: Same as Alkahest.
ALCAIC
Al*ca"ic, a. Etym: [L. Alcaïcus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Alcæus, a lyric poet of Mitylene, about 6000 b.
c.
-- n. A kind of verse, so called from Alcæus. One variety consists
of five feet, a spondee or iambic, an iambic, a long syllable, and
two dactyls.
ALCAID; ALCAYDE
Al*caid", Al*cayde", n. Etym: [Sp. alcaide, fr. Ar. al-qa\'c6d
governor, fr. qada to lead, govern.]
1. A commander of a castle or fortress among the Spaniards,
Portuguese, and Moors.
2. The warden, or keeper of a jail.
ALCALDE
Al*cal"de, n. Etym: [Sp. alcalde, fr. Ar. al-qadi judge, fr. qada to
decide, judge. Hence, the cadi of the Turks. Cf. Cadi.]
Defn: A magistrate or judge in Spain and in Spanish America, etc.
Prescott.
Note: Sometimes confounded with Alcaid.
ALCALDIA
Al`cal*di"a, n. [Sp. Alcaldía.]
Defn: The jurisdiction or office of an alcalde; also, the building or
chamber in which he conducts the business of his office.
ALCALIMETER
Al`ca*lim"e*ter, n.
Defn: See Alkalimeter.
ALCANNA
Al*can"na, n. Etym: [Sp. alcana, alhe, fr. Ar. al-hinna. See Henna,
and cf. Alkanet.] (Bot.)
Defn: An oriental shrub (Lawsonia inermis) from which henna is
obtained.
ALCARRAZA
Al`car*ra"za, n.; pl. Alcarrazas. Etym: [Sp., from Ar. al-kurraz
earthen vessel.]
Defn: A vessel of porous earthenware, used for cooling liquids by
evaporation from the exterior surface.
ALCAYDE
Al*cayde", n.
Defn: Same as Alcaid.
ALCAZAR
Al*ca"zar, n. Etym: [ fr. Ar. al the + qacr (in pl.) a castle.]
Defn: A fortress; also, a royal palace. Prescott.
ALCEDO
Al*ce"do, n. Etym: [L., equiv. to Gr. Halcyon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of perching birds, including the European kingfisher
(Alcedo ispida). See Halcyon.
ALCHEMIC; ALCHEMICAL
Al*chem"ic, Al*chem"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alchimique.]
Defn: Of or relating to alchemy.
ALCHEMICALLY
Al*chem"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of alchemy.
ALCHEMIST
Al"che*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. alquemiste, F. alchimiste.]
Defn: One who practices alchemy.
You are alchemist; make gold. Shak.
ALCHEMISTIC; ALCHEMISTICAL
Al`che*mis"tic, Al`che*mis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to or practicing alchemy.
Metaphysical and alchemistical legislators. Burke.
ALCHEMISTRY
Al"che*mis*try, n.
Defn: Alchemy. [Obs.]
ALCHEMIZE
Al"che*mize, v. t.
Defn: To change by alchemy; to transmute. Lovelace.
ALCHEMY
Al"che*my, n. Etym: [OF. alkemie, arquemie, F. alchimie, Ar. al-
kimia, fr. late Gr. alquimia, It. alchimia. Gr. fundere to pour,
Goth. guitan, AS. geótan, to pour, and so to E. fuse. See Fuse, and
cf. Chemistry.]
1. An imaginary art which aimed to transmute the baser metals into
gold, to find the panacea, or universal remedy for diseases, etc. It
led the way to modern chemistry.
2. A mixed metal composed mainly of brass, formerly used for various
utensils; hence, a trumpet. [Obs.]
Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy. Milton.
3. Miraculous power of transmuting something common into something
precious.
Kissing with golden face the meadows green, Gilding pale streams with
heavenly alchemy. Shak.
ALCHYMIC; ALCHYMIST; ALCHYMISTIC; ALCHYMY
Al*chym"ic, a., Al"chy*mist, n., Al`chy*mis"tic, a., Al"chy*my, n.
Defn: See Alchemic, Alchemist, Alchemistic, Alchemy.
ALCO
Al"co, n.
Defn: A small South American dog, domesticated by the aborigines.
ALCOATE; ALCOHATE
Al"co*ate, Al"co*hate, n.
Defn: Shortened forms of Alcoholate.
ALCOHOL
Al"co*hol, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcool, formerly written alcohol, Sp.
alcohol alcohol, antimony, galena, OSp. alcofol; all fr. Ar. al-kohl
a powder of antimony or galena, to paint the eyebrows with. The name
was afterwards applied, on account of the fineness of this powder, to
highly rectified spirits, a signification unknown in Arabia. The Sp.
word has bot meanings. Cf. Alquifou.]
1. An impalpable powder. [Obs.]
2. The fluid essence or pure spirit obtained by distillation. [Obs.]
Boyle.
3. Pure spirit of wine; pure or highly rectified spirit (called also
ethyl alcohol); the spirituous or intoxicating element of fermented
or distilled liquors, or more loosely a liquid containing it in
considerable quantity. It is extracted by simple distillation from
various vegetable juices and infusions of a saccharine nature, which
have undergone vinous fermentation.
Note: As used in the U. S. "Pharmacopoeia, alcohol contains 91 per
cent by weight of ethyl alcohol and 9 per cent of water; and diluted
alcohol (proof spirit) contains 45.5 per cent by weight of ethyl
alcohol and 54.5 per cent of water.
4. (Organic Chem.)
Defn: A class of compounds analogous to vinic alcohol in
constitution. Chemically speaking, they are hydroxides of certain
organic radicals; as, the radical ethyl forms common or ethyl alcohol
(C2H5OH); methyl forms methyl alcohol (CH3.OH) or wood spirit; amyl
forms amyl alcohol (C5H11.OH) or fusel oil, etc.
ALCOHOLATE
Al"co*hol*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which the
latter plays a part analogous to that of water of crystallization.
Graham.
ALCOHOLATURE
Al`co*hol"a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolature.] (Med.)
Defn: An alcoholic tincture prepared with fresh plants. New Eng.
Dict.
ALCOHOLIC
Al`co*hol"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcolique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to alcohol, or partaking of its qualities;
derived from, or caused by, alcohol; containing alcohol; as,
alcoholic mixtures; alcoholic gastritis; alcoholic odor.
ALCOHOLIC
Al`co*hol"ic, n.
1. A person given to the use of alcoholic liquors.
2. pl.
Defn: Alcoholic liquors.
ALCOHOLISM
Al"co*hol*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition of the system, brought about by the
continued use of alcoholic liquors.
ALCOHOLIZATION
Al`co*hol`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcoolisation.]
1. The act of reducing a substance to a fine or impalpable powder.
[Obs.] Johnson.
2. The act rectifying spirit.
3. Saturation with alcohol; putting the animal system under the
influence of alcoholic liquor.
ALCOHOLIZE
Al"co*hol*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alcoholized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alcoholizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. alcooliser.]
1. To reduce to a fine powder. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. To convert into alcohol; to rectify; also, to saturate with
alcohol.
ALCOHOLOMETER; ALCOHOLMETER
Al`co*hol*om"e*ter, Al`co*hol"me*ter, n. Etym: [Alcohol + -meter.]
(Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the strength of spirits, with a
scale graduated so as to indicate the percentage of pure alcohol,
either by weight or volume. It is usually a form of hydrometer with a
special scale.
ALCOHOLOMETRIC; ALCOHOLOMETRICAL; ALCOHOLMETRICAL
Al`co*hol`o*met"ric, Al`co*hol`o*met"ric*al, Al`co*hol*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the alcoholometer or alcoholometry.
The alcoholometrical strength of spirituous liquors. Ure.
ALCOHOLOMETRY
Al`co*hol"om"e*try, n.
Defn: The process or method of ascertaining the proportion of pure
alcohol which spirituous liquors contain.
ALCOHOMETER; ALCOHOMETRIC
Al`co*hom"e*ter, n., Al`co*ho*met"ric, a.
Defn: Same as Alcoholometer, Alcoholometric.
ALCOOMETRY; ALCOOEMETRY
Al`co*öm"e*try, n.
Defn: See Alcoholometry.
Note: The chemists say alcomètre, alcoomètrie, doubtless by the
suppression of a syllable in order to avoid a disagreeable sequence
of sounds. (Cf. Idolatry.) Littré.
ALCORAN
Al"co*ran, n. Etym: [alcoran, fr. Ar. al-qoran, orig. the reading,
the book, fr. qaraa to read. Cf. Koran.]
Defn: The Mohammedan Scriptures; the Koran (now the usual form).
[Spelt also Alcoran.]
ALCORANIC
Al`co*ran"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Koran.
ALCORANIST
Al`co*ran"ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to the letter of the Koran, rejecting all
traditions.
ALCORNOQUE
Al`cor*no"que, n. [Sp., cork tree.]
Defn: The bark of several trees, esp. of Bowdichia virgilioides of
Brazil, used as a remedy for consumption; of Byrsonima crassifolia,
used in tanning; of Alchornea latifolia, used medicinally; or of
Quercus ilex, the cork tree.
ALCOVE
Al"cove, n. Etym: [F. alcôve, Sp. or Pg. alcoba, from Ar. al-quobbah
arch, vault, tent.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A recessed portion of a room, or a small room opening into a
larger one; especially, a recess to contain a bed; a lateral recess
in a library.
2. A small ornamental building with seats, or an arched seat, in a
pleasure ground; a garden bower. Cowper.
3. Any natural recess analogous to an alcove or recess in an
apartment.
The youthful wanderers found a wild alcove. Falconer.
ALCYON
Al"cy*on, n.
Defn: See Halcyon.
ALCYONACEA
Al`cy*o*na"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of soft-bodied Alcyonaria, of which Alcyonium is the
type. See Illust. under Alcyonaria.
ALCYONARIA
Al`cy*o*na"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of Anthozoa. It includes the Alcyonacea,
Pennatulacea, and Gorgonacea.
ALCYONES
Al*cy"o*nes, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of Alcyon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The kingfishers.
ALCYONIC
Al`cy*on"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
ALCYONIUM
Al`cy*o"ni*um, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fleshy Alcyonaria, its polyps somewhat resembling
flowers with eight fringed rays. The term was also formerly used for
certain species of sponges.
ALCYONOID
Al"cy*o*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
-- n.
Defn: A zoöphyte of the order Alcyonaria.
ALDAY
Al"day, adv.
Defn: Continually. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALDEBARAN
Al*deb"a*ran, n. Etym: [Ar. al-debaran, fr. dabar to follow; so
called because this star follows upon the Pleiades.] (Astron.)
Defn: A red star of the first magnitude, situated in the eye of
Taurus; the Bull's Eye. It is the bright star in the group called the
Hyades.
Now when Aldebaran was mounted high Above the shiny Cassiopeia's
chair. Spenser.
ALDEHYDE
Al"de*hyde, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. alcohol dehydrogenatum, alcohol
deprived of its hydrogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, mobile, and very volatile liquid obtained from
alcohol by certain of oxidation.
Note: The aldehydes are intermediate between the alcohols and acids,
and differ from the alcohols in having two less hydrogen atoms in the
molecule, as common aldehyde (called also acetic aldehyde or ethyl
aldehyde), C2H4O; methyl aldehyde, CH2O. Aldehyde ammonia (Chem.), a
compound formed by the union of aldehyde with ammonia.
ALDEHYDIC
Al`de*hy"dic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to aldehyde; as, aldehydic acid. Miller.
ALDER
Al"der, n. Etym: [OE. aldir, aller, fr. AS. alr, aler, alor, akin to
D. els, G. erle, Icel. erlir, erli, Swed. al, Dan. elle, el, L.
alnus, and E. elm.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree, usually growing in moist land, and belonging to the
genus Alnus. The wood is used by turners, etc.; the bark by dyers and
tanners. In the U. S. the species of alder are usually shrubs or
small trees. Black alder. (a) A European shrub (Rhamnus frangula);
Alder buckthorn. (b) An American species of holly (Ilex
verticillata), bearing red berries.
ALDER; ALLER
Al"der, Al"ler, a. Etym: [From ealra, alra, gen. pl. of AS. eal. The
d is excrescent.]
Defn: Of all; -- used in composition; as, alderbest, best of all,
alderwisest, wisest of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALDER FLY
Al"der fly.
1. Any of numerous neuropterous insects of the genus Sialis or allied
genera. They have aquatic larvæ, which are used for bait.
2. (Angling) An artificial fly with brown mottled wings, body of
peacock harl, and black legs.
ALDER-LIEFEST
Al`der-lief"est, a. Etym: [For allerliefest dearest of all. See
Lief.]
Defn: Most beloved. [Obs.] Shak.
ALDERMAN
Al"der*man, n.; pl. Aldplwmen. Etym: [AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor
an elder + man. See Elder, n.]
1. A senior or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]
Note: The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes,
dukes, earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also to
archbishops and bishops, implying superior wisdom or authority. Thus
Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all
England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles,
who had jurisdiction within their respective districts.
3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the
mayor and having a legislative function. They may, in some cases,
individually exercise some magisterial and administrative functions.
ALDERMANCY
Al"der*man*cy, n.
Defn: The office of an alderman.
ALDERMANIC
Al"der*man"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, becoming to, or like, an alderman; characteristic
of an alderman.
ALDERMANITY
Al`der*man"i*ty, n.
1. Aldermen collectively; the body of aldermen.
2. The state of being an alderman. [Jocular]
ALDERMANLIKE
Al`der*man*like`, a.
Defn: Like or suited to an alderman.
ALDERMANLY
Al"der*man*ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman.
ALDERMANLY
Al"der*man*ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an alderman. "An aldermanly
discretion." Swift.
ALDERMANRY
Al"der*man*ry, n.
1. The district or ward of an alderman.
2. The office or rank of an alderman. [R.] B. Jonson.
ALDERMANSHIP
Al"der*man*ship, n.
Defn: The condition, position, or office of an alderman. Fabyan.
ALDERN
Al"dern, a.
Defn: Made of alder.
ALDERNEY
Al"der*ney, n.
Defn: One of a breed of cattle raised in Alderney, one of the Channel
Islands. Alderneys are of a dun or tawny color and are often called
Jersey cattle. See Jersey, 3.
ALDINE
Al"dine, a. (Bibliog.)
Defn: An epithet applied to editions (chiefly of the classics) which
proceeded from the press of Aldus Manitius, and his family, of
Venice, for the most part in the 16th century and known by the sign
of the anchor and the dolphin. The term has also been applied to
certain elegant editions of English works.
ALDOL
Al"dol, n. [Aldehyde + -ol as in alcohol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid, C4H8O2, obtained by condensation of two
molecules of acetaldehyde: CH3CHO + CH3CHO = H3CH(OH)CH2CO; also, any
of various derivatives of this. The same reaction has been applied,
under the name of aldol condensation, to the production of many
compounds.
ALE
Ale, n. Etym: [AS. ealu, akin to Icel., Sw., and Dan. öl, Lith. alus
a kind of beer, OSlav. ol beer. Cf. Ir. ol drink, drinking.]
1. An intoxicating liquor made from an infusion of malt by
fermentation and the addition of a bitter, usually hops.
Note: The word ale, in England and the United States, usually
designates a heavier kind of fermented liquor, and the word beer a
lighter kind. The word beer is also in common use as the generic name
for all malt liquors.
2. A festival in English country places, so called from the liquor
drunk. "At wakes and ales." B. Jonson."On ember eves and holy ales."
Shak.
ALEAK
A*leak", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + leak.]
Defn: In a leaking condition.
ALEATORY
A"le*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. aleatorius, fr. alea chance, die.] (Law)
Defn: Depending on some uncertain contingency; as, an aleatory
contract. Bouvier.
ALEBENCH
Ale"bench`, n.
Defn: A bench in or before an alehouse. Bunyan.
ALEBERRY
Ale"ber`ry, n. Etym: [OE. alebery, alebrey; ale + bre broth, fr. AS.
briw pottage.]
Defn: A beverage, formerly made by boiling ale with spice, sugar, and
sops of bread.
Their aleberries, caudles, possets. Beau. & Fl.
ALECITHAL
A*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to those ova which segment uniformly, and which have
little or no food yelk embedded in their protoplasm. Balfour.
ALECONNER
Ale"con`ner, n. Etym: [/Ale + con, OE. cunnen to test, AS. cunnian to
test. See Con.]
Defn: Orig., an officer appointed to look to the goodness of ale and
beer; also, one of the officers chosen by the liverymen of London to
inspect the measures used in public houses. But the office is a
sinecure. [Also called aletaster.] [Eng.]
ALECOST
Ale"cost`, n. Etym: [Ale + L. costus an aromatic plant: cf.
Costmary.] (Bot.)
Defn: The plant costmary, which was formerly much used for flavoring
ale.
ALECTORIDES
Al`ec*tor"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds including the common fowl and the pheasants.
ALECTOROMACHY
A*lec`to*rom"a*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Cockfighting.
ALECTOROMANCY
A*lec"to*ro*man`cy, n.
Defn: See Alectryomancy.
ALECTRYOMACHY
A*lec`try*oma*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Cockfighting.
ALECTRYOMANCY
A*lec"try*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of a cock and grains of corn placed on the
letters of the alphabet, the letters being put together in the order
in which the grains were eaten. Amer. Cyc.
ALEE
A*lee", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + lee.] (Naut.)
Defn: On or toward the lee, or the side away from the wind; the
opposite of aweather. The helm of a ship is alee when pressed close
to the lee side. Hard alee, or Luff alee, an order to put the helm to
the lee side.
ALEGAR
Al"e*gar, n. Etym: [Ale + eager sour, F. aigre. Cf. Vinegar.]
Defn: Sour ale; vinegar made of ale. Cecil.
ALEGER
Al"e*ger, a. Etym: [F. allègre, earlier alègre, fr. L. alacer.]
Defn: Gay; cheerful; sprightly. [Obs.] Bacon.
ALEGGE
A*legge", v. t. Etym: [OE. aleggen, alegen, OF. alegier, F. alléger,
fr. LL. alleviare, for L. allevare to lighten; ad + levis light. Cf.
Alleviate, Allay, Allege.]
Defn: To allay or alleviate; to lighten. [Obs.]
That shall alegge this bitter blast. Spenser.
ALEHOOF
Ale"hoof`, n. Etym: [AS. h ground ivy; the first part is perh. a
corruption: cf. OE. heyhowe hedgehove,
ground ivy, "in old MSS. heyhowe, heyoue, haihoue, halehoue."
[Prior].
Defn: Ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma).
ALEHOUSE
Ale"house`, n.
Defn: A house where ale is retailed; hence, a tippling house.
Macaulay.
ALE-KNIGHT
Ale"-knight`, n.
Defn: A pot companion. [Obs.]
ALEM
Al"em, n. [Turk. 'alem, fr. Ar. 'alam.] (Mil.)
Defn: The imperial standard of the Turkish Empire.
ALEMANNIC
Al`e*man"nic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the Alemanni, a confederacy of warlike German
tribes.
ALEMANNIC
Al`e*man"nic, n.
Defn: The language of the Alemanni.
The Swabian dialect . . . is known as the Alemannic. Amer. Cyc.
ALEMBIC
A*lem"bic, n. Etym: [F. alambic (cf. Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anbiq,
fr. Gr. alembic proper. Cf. Limbec.]
Defn: An apparatus formerly used in distillation, usually made of
glass or metal. It has mostly given place to the retort and worm
still.
Used also metaphorically. The alembic of a great poet's imagination.
Brimley.
ALEMBROTH
A*lem"broth, n. Etym: [Origin uncertain.]
Defn: The salt of wisdom of the alchemists, a double salt composed of
the chlorides of ammonium and mercury. It was formerly used as a
stimulant. Brande & C.
ALENCON LACE
A`len`con" lace".
Defn: See under Lace.
ALENGTH
A*length", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + length.]
Defn: At full length; lenghtwise. Chaucer.
ALEPIDOTE
A*lep"i*dote, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Not having scales.
-- n.
Defn: A fish without scales.
ALEPOLE
Ale"pole`, n.
Defn: A pole set up as the sign of an alehouse. [Obs.]
ALEPPO BOIL; ALEPPO BUTTON; ALEPPO EVIL
A*lep"po boil, button, or evil. (Med.)
Defn: A chronic skin affection terminating in an ulcer, most commonly
of the face. It is endemic along the Mediterranean, and is probably
due to a specific bacillus. Called also Aleppo ulcer, Biskara boil,
Delhi boil, Oriental sore, etc.
ALEPPO GRASS
Aleppo grass. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the cultivated forms of Andropogon Halepensis (syn.
Sorghum Halepense). See Andropogon, below.
ALERT
A*lert", a. Etym: [F. alerte, earlier à l'erte on the watch, fr. It.
all' erta on the watch, prop. (standing) on a height, where one can
look around; erta a declivity, steep, erto steep, p. p. of ergere,
erigere, to erect, raise, L. erigere. See Erect.]
1. Watchful; vigilant; active in vigilance.
2. Brisk; nimble; moving with celerity.
An alert young fellow. Addison.
Syn.
-- Active; agile; lively; quick; prompt.
ALERT
A*lert", n. (Mil.)
Defn: An alarm from a real or threatened attack; a sudden attack;
also, a bugle sound to give warning. "We have had an alert." Farrow.
On the alert, on the lookout or watch against attack or danger; ready
to act.
ALERTLY
A*lert"ly, adv.
Defn: In an alert manner; nimbly.
ALERTNESS
A*lert"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alert or on the alert; briskness;
nimbleness; activity.
ALE SILVER
Ale" sil`ver.
Defn: A duty payable to the lord mayor of London by the sellers of
ale within the city.
ALESTAKE
Ale"stake, n.
Defn: A stake or pole projecting from, or set up before, an alehouse,
as a sign; an alepole. At the end was commonly suspended a garland, a
bunch of leaves, or a "bush." [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALETASTER
Ale"tast`er, n.
Defn: See Aleconner. [Eng.]
ALETHIOLOGY
A*le`thi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the nature of truth and evidence.
Sir W. Hamilton.
ALETHOSCOPE
A*leth"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument for viewing pictures by means of a lens, so as to
present them in their natural proportions and relations.
ALEUROMANCY
A*leu"ro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. aleuromancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of flour. Encyc. Brit.
ALEUROMETER
Al`eu*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the expansive properties, or
quality, of gluten in flour. Knight.
ALEURONAT
A*leu"ro*nat, n. [See Aleurone.]
Defn: Flour made of aleurone, used as a substitute for ordinary flour
in preparing bread for diabetic persons.
ALEURONE
A*leu"rone, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An albuminoid substance which occurs in minute grains ("protein
granules") in maturing seeds and tubers; -- supposed to be a
modification of protoplasm.
ALEURONIC
Al`eu*ron"ic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nature of aleurone. D. C. Eaton.
ALEUTIAN; ALEUTIC
A*leu"tian, A*leu"tic, a. Etym: [Said to be from the Russ. aleut a
bold rock.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chain of islands between Alaska and
Kamtchatka; also, designating these islands.
ALEVIN
Al"e*vin, n. Etym: [F. alevin, OF. alever to rear, fr. L. ad + levare
to raise.]
Defn: Young fish; fry.
ALEW
A*lew", n.
Defn: Halloo. [Obs.] Spenser.
ALEWIFE
Ale"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives.
Defn: A woman who keeps an alehouse. Gay.
ALEWIFE
Ale"wife`, n.; pl. Alewives. Etym: [This word is properly aloof, the
Indian name of a fish. See Winthrop on the culture of maize in
America, "Phil Trans." No. 142, p. 1065, and Baddam's "Memoirs," vol.
ii. p. 131.]Etym: (Zoöl.)
Defn: A North American fish (Clupea vernalis) of the Herring family.
It is called also ellwife, ellwhop, branch herring. The name is
locally applied to other related species.
ALEXANDERS; ALISANDERS
Al`ex*an"ders, Al`i*san"ders, n. Etym: [OE. alisaundre, OF.
alissandere, fr. Alexander or Alexandria.] (Bot)
Defn: A name given to two species of the genus Smyrnium, formerly
cultivated and used as celery now is; -- called also horse parsely.
ALEXANDRIAN
Al`ex*an"dri*an, a.
1. Of or pertaining to Alexandria in Egypt; as, the Alexandrian
library.
2. Applied to a kind of heroic verse. See Alexandrine, n.
ALEXANDRINE
Al`ex*an"drine, a.
Defn: Belonging to Alexandria; Alexandrian. Bancroft.
ALEXANDRINE
Al`ex*an"drine, n. Etym: [F. alexandrin.]
Defn: A kind of verse consisting in English of twelve syllables.
The needless Alexandrine ends the song, That, like a wounded snake,
drags its slow length along. Pope.
ALEXIA
A*lex"i*a, n. [NL.; a- not + Gr. speech, fr. to speak, confused
with L. legere to read.] (Med.)
(a) As used by some, inability to read aloud, due to brain disease.
(b) More commonly, inability, due to brain disease, to understand
written or printed symbols although they can be seen, as in case of
word blindness.
ALEXIPHARMAC; ALEXIPHARMACAL
A*lex`i*phar"mac, A*lex`i*phar"ma*cal, a. & n. Etym: [See
Alexipharmic.]
Defn: Alexipharmic. [Obs.]
ALEXIPHARMIC
A*lex`i*phar"mic, n. (Med.)
Defn: An antidote against poison or infection; a counterpoison.
ALEXIPHARMIC; ALEXIPHARMICAL
A*lex`i*phar"mic, A*lex`i*phar"mic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. alexipharmaque.]
(Med.)
Defn: Expelling or counteracting poison; antidotal.
ALEXIPYRETIC
A*lex`i*py*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Serving to drive off fever; antifebrile.
-- n.
Defn: A febrifuge.
ALEXITERIC
A*lex`i*ter"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. alexitère, LL. alexiterium.] (Med.)
Defn: A preservative against contagious and infectious diseases, and
the effects of poison in general. Brande & C.
ALEXITERIC; ALEXITERICAL
A*lex`i*ter"ic, A*lex`i*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. alexitère.] (med.)
Defn: Resisting poison; obviating the effects of venom; alexipharmic.
ALFA ; ALFA GRASS
Al"fa or Al"fa grass", n.
Defn: A plant (Macrochloa tenacissima) of North Africa; also, its
fiber, used in paper making.
ALFALFA
Al*fal"fa, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Bot.)
Defn: The lucern (Medicago sativa); -- so called in California,
Texas, etc.
ALFENIDE
Al"fe*nide, n. (Metal.)
Defn: An alloy of nickel and silver electroplated with silver.
ALFERES
Al*fe"res, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. Ar. al-fars knight.]
Defn: An ensign; a standard bearer. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
ALFET
Al"fet, n. Etym: [LL. alfetum, fr. AS. alfæt a pot to boil in; al
burning + fæt vat.]
Defn: A caldron of boiling water into which an accused person plunged
his forearm as a test of innocence or guilt.
ALFILARIA
Al*fil`a*ri"a, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The pin grass (Erodium cicutarium), a weed in California.
ALFILERIA; ALFILERILLA
Al*fil`e*ri"a, Al*fil`e*ril"la, n. [Mex. Sp., fr. Sp. alfiler pin.]
Defn: Same as Alfilaria.
ALFIONE
Al`fi*o"ne, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edible marine fish of California (Rhacochilus toxotes).
ALFORJA
Al*for"ja, n. [Also alfarga, alforge.] [Sp.]
Defn: A saddlebag. [Sp. Amer.]
ALFRESCO
Al*fres"co, adv. & a. Etym: [It. al fresco in or on the fresh.]
Defn: In the open-air. Smollett.
ALGA
Al"ga, n.; pl. Algæ. Etym: [L., seaweed.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of seaweed; pl. the class of cellular cryptogamic plants
which includes the black, red, and green seaweeds, as kelp, dulse,
sea lettuce, also marine and fresh water confervæ, etc.
ALGAL
Al"gal, a., (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, algæ.
ALGAROBA
Al`ga*ro"ba, n. Etym: [Sp. algarroba, fr. Ar. al-kharr. Cf. Carob.]
(Bot.)
(a) The Carob, a leguminous tree of the Mediterranean region; also,
its edible beans or pods, called St. John's bread.
(b) The Honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), a small tree found from
California to Buenos Ayres; also, its sweet, pulpy pods. A valuable
gum, resembling gum arabic, is collected from the tree in Texas and
Mexico.
ALGAROT; ALGAROTH
Al"ga*rot, Al"ga*roth, n. Etym: [F. algaroth, fr. the name of the
inventor, Algarotti.] (Med.)
Defn: A term used for the Powder of Algaroth, a white powder which is
a compound of trichloride and trioxide of antimony. It was formerly
used in medicine as an emetic, purgative, and diaphoretic.
ALGAROVILLA
Al`ga*ro*vil"la, n.
Defn: The agglutinated seeds and husks of the legumes of a South
American tree (Inga Marthæ). It is valuable for tanning leather, and
as a dye.
ALGATE; ALGATES
Al"gate, Al"gates, adv. Etym: [All + gate way. The s is an adverbial
ending. See Gate.]
1. Always; wholly; everywhere. [Obs.]
Ulna now he algates must forego. Spenser.
Note: Still used in the north of England in the sense of
"everywhere."
2. By any or means; at all events. [Obs.] Fairfax.
3. Notwithstanding; yet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALGAZEL
Al"ga*zel`, n. Etym: [Ar. al the + ghazal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The true gazelle.
ALGEBRA
Al"ge*bra, n. Etym: [LL. algebra, fr. Ar. al-jebr reduction of parts
to a whole, or fractions to whole numbers, fr. jabara to bind
together, consolidate; al-jebr w'almuqabalah reduction and comparison
(by equations): cf. F. algèbre, It. & Sp. algebra.]
1. (Math.)
Defn: That branch of mathematics which treats of the relations and
properties of quantity by means of letters and other symbols. It is
applicable to those relations that are true of every kind of
magnitude.
2. A treatise on this science.
ALGEBRAIC; ALGEBRAICAL
Al`ge*bra"ic, Al`ge*bra"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to algebra; containing an operation of
algebra, or deduced from such operation; as, algebraic characters;
algebraical writings. Algebraic curve, a curve such that the equation
which expresses the relation between the coördinates of its points
involves only the ordinary operations of algebra; -- opposed to a
transcendental curve.
ALGEBRAICALLY
Al`ge*bra"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By algebraic process.
ALGEBRAIST
Al"ge*bra`ist, n.
Defn: One versed in algebra.
ALGEBRAIZE
Al"ge*bra*ize, v. t.
Defn: To perform by algebra; to reduce to algebraic form.
ALGERIAN
Al*ge"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Algeria.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Algeria.
ALGERINE
Al`ge*rine", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Algiers or Algeria.
ALGERINE
Al`ge*rine", n.
Defn: A native or one of the people of Algiers or Algeria. Also, a
pirate.
ALGID
Al"gid, a. Etym: [L. algidus cold, fr. algere to be cold: cf. F.
algide.]
Defn: Cold; chilly. Bailey. Algid cholera (Med.), Asiatic cholera.
ALGIDITY
Al*gid"i*ty, n.
Defn: Chilliness; coldness; especially (Med.),
Defn: coldness and collapse.
ALGIDNESS
Al"gid*ness, n.
Defn: Algidity. [Obs.]
ALGIFIC
Al*gif"ic, a. Etym: [L. algificus, fr. algus cold + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing cold.
ALGIN
Al"gin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous substance resembling gelatin, obtained from
certain algæ.
ALGOID
Al"goid, a. Etym: [L. alga + -oid.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or resembling, an alga.
ALGOL
Al"gol, n. Etym: [Ar. al-gh destruction, calamity, fr. ghala to take
suddenly, destroy.] (Astron.)
Defn: A fixed star, in Medusa's head, in the constellation Perseus,
remarkable for its periodic variation in brightness.
ALGOLOGICAL
Al`go*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to algology; as, algological specimens.
ALGOLOGIST
Al*gol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One learned about algæ; a student of algology.
ALGOLOGY
Al*gol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. alga seaweed + -logy.] (Bot.)
Defn: The study or science of algæ or seaweeds.
ALGOMETER
Al*gom"e*ter, n. [Gr. pain + -meter.] (Psychol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring sensations of pain due to pressure.
It has a piston rod with a blunted tip which is pressed against the
skin. -- Al*gom"e*try (#), n. -- Al`go*met"ric (#), *met"ric*al (#),
a. --Al`go*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
ALGONKIAN
Al*gon"ki*an, a.
1. Var. of Algonquian.
2. (Geol.) Pertaining to or designating a period or era recognized
by the United States Geological Survey and some other authorities,
between the Archæan and the Paleozoic, from both of which it is
generally separated in the record by unconformities. Algonkian rocks
are both sedimentary and igneous. Although fossils are rare, life
certainly existed in this period. -- n.
Defn: The Algonkian period or era, or system or group of systems.
ALGONQUIAN
Al*gon"qui*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to or designating the most extensive of the
linguistic families of North American Indians, their territory
formerly including practically all of Canada east of the 115th
meridian and south of Hudson's Bay and the part of the United States
east of the Mississippi and north of Tennessee and Virginia, with the
exception of the territory occupied by the northern Iroquoian tribes.
There are nearly 100,000 Indians of the Algonquian tribes, of which
the strongest are the Ojibwas (Chippewas), Ottawas, Crees,
Algonquins, Micmacs, and Blackfeet. -- n.
Defn: An Algonquian Indian.
ALGONQUIN; ALGONKIN
Al*gon"quin, Al*gon"kin, n.
Defn: One of a widely spread family of Indians, including many
distinct tribes, which formerly occupied most of the northern and
eastern part of North America. The name was originally applied to a
group of Indian tribes north of the River St. Lawrence.
ALGOR
Al"gor, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: Cold; chilliness.
ALGORISM; ALGORITHM
Al"go*rism, Al"go*rithm, n. Etym: [OE. algorism, algrim, augrim, OF.
algorisme, F. algorithme (cf. Sp. algoritmo, OSp. alguarismo, LL.
algorismus), fr. the Ar. al-Khowarezmi of Khowarezm, the modern
Khiwa, surname of Abu Ja'far Mohammed ben Musa, author of a work on
arithmetic early in the 9th century, which was translated into Latin,
such books bearing the name algorismus. The spelling with th is due
to a supposed connection with Gr.
1. The art of calculating by nine figures and zero.
2. The art of calculating with any species of notation; as, the
algorithms of fractions, proportions, surds, etc.
ALGOUS
Al"gous, a. Etym: [L. algosus, fr. alga seaweed.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the algæ, or seaweeds; abounding with, or
like, seaweed.
ALGUAZIL
Al`gua*zil", n. Etym: [Sp. alguacil, fr. Ar. alwazir the vizier. Cf.
Vizier.]
Defn: An inferior officer of justice in Spain; a warrant officer; a
constable. Prescott.
ALGUM
Al"gum, n.
Defn: Same as Almug (and etymologically preferable). 2 Chron. ii. 8.
ALHAMBRA
Al*ham"bra, n. Etym: [Ultimately fr. Ar. al the + hamra red; i. e.,
the red (sc. house).]
Defn: The palace of the Moorish kings at Granada.
ALHAMBRAIC; ALHAMBRESQUE
Al`ham*bra"ic, Al`ham*bresque", a.
Defn: Made or decorated after the fanciful style of the ornamentation
in the Alhambra, which affords an unusually fine exhibition of
Saracenic or Arabesque architecture.
ALHENNA
Al*hen"na, n.
Defn: See Henna.
ALIAS
A"li*as, adv. Etym: [L., fr. alius. See Else.] (Law)
(a) Otherwise; otherwise called; -- a term used in legal proceedings
to connect the different names of any one who has gone by two or
more, and whose true name is for any cause doubtful; as, Smith, alias
Simpson.
(b) At another time.
ALIAS
A"li*as, n.; pl. Aliases. Etym: [L., otherwise, at another
time.]Etym: (Law)
(a) A second or further writ which is issued after a first writ has
expired without effect.
(b) Another name; an assumed name.
ALIBI
Al"i*bi, n. Etym: [L., elsewhere, at another place. See Alias.] (Law)
Defn: The plea or mode of defense under which a person on trial for a
crime proves or attempts to prove that he was in another place when
the alleged act was committed; as, to set up an alibi; to prove an
alibi.
ALIBILITY
Al`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Quality of being alible.
ALIBLE
Al"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. alibilis, fr. alere to nourish.]
Defn: Nutritive; nourishing.
ALICANT
Al"i*cant, n.
Defn: A kind of wine, formerly much esteemed; -- said to have been
made near Alicant, in Spain. J. Fletcher.
ALIDADE
Al"i*dade, n. Etym: [LL. alidada, alhidada, fr. Ar. al-'idada a sort
of rule: cf. F. alidade.]
Defn: The portion of a graduated instrument, as a quadrant or
astrolabe, carrying the sights or telescope, and showing the degrees
cut off on the arc of the instrument Whewell.
ALIEN
Al"ien, a. Etym: [OF. alien, L. alienus, fr. alius another; properly,
therefore, belonging to another. See Else.]
1. Not belonging to the same country, land, or government, or to the
citizens or subjects thereof; foreign; as, alien subjects, enemies,
property, shores.
2. Wholly different in nature; foreign; adverse; inconsistent (with);
incongruous; -- followed by from or sometimes by to; as, principles
alien from our religion.
An alien sound of melancholy. Wordsworth.
Alien enemy (Law), one who owes allegiance to a government at war
with ours. Abbott.
ALIEN
Al"ien, n.
1. A foreigner; one owing allegiance, or belonging, to another
country; a foreign-born resident of a country in which he does not
posses the privileges of a citizen. Hence, a stranger. See Alienage.
2. One excluded from certain privileges; one alienated or estranged;
as, aliens from God's mercies.
Aliens from the common wealth of Israel. Ephes. ii. 12.
ALIEN
Al"ien, v. t. Etym: [F. aliéner, L. alienare.]
Defn: To alienate; to estrange; to transfer, as property or
ownership. [R.] "It the son alien lands." Sir M. Hale.
The prince was totally aliened from all thoughts of . . . the
marriage. Clarendon.
ALIENABILITY
Al`ien*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being alienated. "The alienability of the
domain." Burke.
ALIENABLE
Al"ien*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aliénable.]
Defn: Capable of being alienated, sold, or transferred to another;
as, land is alienable according to the laws of the state.
ALIENAGE
Al"ien*age, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aliénage.]
1. The state or legal condition of being an alien.
Note: The disabilities of alienage are removable by naturalization or
by special license from the State of residence, and in some of the
United States by declaration of intention of naturalization. Kent.
Wharton.
Estates forfeitable on account of alienage. Story.
2. The state of being alienated or transferred to another. Brougham.
ALIENATE
Al"ien*ate, a. Etym: [L. alienatus, p. p. of alienare, fr. alienus.
See Alien, and cf. Aliene.]
Defn: Estranged; withdrawn in affection; foreign; -- with from.
O alienate from God. Milton.
ALIENATE
Al"ien*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alienated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alienating.]
1. To convey or transfer to another, as title, property, or right; to
part voluntarily with ownership of.
2. To withdraw, as the affections; to make indifferent of averse,
where love or friendship before subsisted; to estrange; to wean; --
with from.
The errors which . . . alienated a loyal gentry and priesthood from
the House of Stuart. Macaulay.
The recollection of his former life is a dream that only the more
alienates him from the realities of the present. I. Taylor.
ALIENATE
Al"ien*ate, n.
Defn: A stranger; an alien. [Obs.]
ALIENATION
Al`ien*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. aliénation, L. alienatio, fr. alienare,
fr. alienare. See Alienate.]
1. The act of alienating, or the state of being alienated.
2. (Law)
Defn: A transfer of title, or a legal conveyance of property to
another.
3. A withdrawing or estrangement, as of the affections.
The alienation of his heart from the king. Bacon.
4. Mental alienation; derangement of the mental faculties; insanity;
as, alienation of mind.
Syn.
-- Insanity; lunacy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania;
delirium; frenzy; dementia; monomania. See Insanity.
ALIENATOR
Al"ien*a"tor, n.
Defn: One who alienates.
ALIENE
Al*iene, v. t.
Defn: To alien or alienate; to transfer, as title or property; as, to
aliene an estate.
ALIENEE
Al"ien*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom the title of property is transferred; -- opposed to
alienor.
It the alienee enters and keeps possession. Blackstone.
ALIENISM
Al"ien*ism, n.
1. The status or legal condition of an alien; alienage.
The law was very gentle in the construction of the disability of
alienism. Kent.
2. The study or treatment of diseases of the mind.
ALIENIST
Al"ien*ist, n. Etym: [F. aliéniste.]
Defn: One who treats diseases of the mind. Ed. Rev.
ALIENOR
Al`ien*or", n. Etym: [OF. aliéneur.]
Defn: One who alienates or transfers property to another. Blackstone.
ALIETHMOID; ALIETHMOIDAL
Al`i*eth"moid, Al`i*eth*moid"al, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + E.
ethomoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to expansions of the ethmoid bone or
ALIFE
A*life", adv. Etym: [Cf. lief dear.]
Defn: On my life; dearly. [Obs.] "I love that sport alife." Beau. &
Fl.
ALIFEROUS
A*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + -ferous.]
Defn: Having wings, winged; aligerous. [R.]
ALIFORM
Al"i*form, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + -form.]
Defn: Wing-shaped; winglike.
ALIGEROUS
A*lig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. aliger; ala wing + gerere to carry.]
Defn: Having wings; winged. [R.]
ALIGHT
A*light", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Alighted sometimes Alit; p. pr. & vb.
n. Alighting.] Etym: [OE. alihten, fr. AS. alihtan; pref. a- (cf.
Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) + lihtan, to alight, orig. to
render light, to remove a burden from, fr. liht, leoht, light. See
Light, v. i.]
1. To spring down, get down, or descend, as from on horseback or from
a carriage; to dismount.
2. To descend and settle, lodge, rest, or stop; as, a flying bird
alights on a tree; snow alights on a roof.
3. To come or chance (upon). [R.]
ALIGHT
A*light", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + light.]
Defn: Lighted; lighted up; in a flame. "The lamps were alight."
Dickens.
ALIGN
A*lign", v. t. Etym: [F. aligner; à (L. ad) + ligne (L. linea) line.
See Line, and cf. Allineate.]
Defn: To adjust or form to a line; to range or form in line; to bring
into line; to aline.
ALIGN
A*lign", v. t.
Defn: To form in line; to fall into line.
ALIGNMENT
A*lign"ment, n. Etym: [F. alignement.]
1. The act of adjusting to a line; arrangement in a line or lines;
the state of being so adjusted; a formation in a straight line; also,
the line of adjustment; esp., an imaginary line to regulate the
formation of troops or of a squadron.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: The ground-plan of a railway or other road, in distinction from
the grades or profile.
ALIKE
A*like", a. Etym: [AS. onlic, gelic; pref. a + like.]
Defn: Having resemblance or similitude; similar; without difference.
[Now used only predicatively.]
The darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Ps. cxxxix. 12.
ALIKE
A*like", adv. Etym: [AS. gelice, onlice.]
Defn: In the same manner, form, or degree; in common; equally; as, we
are all alike concerne.
ALIKE-MINDED
A*like"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Like-minded. [Obs.]
ALIMENT
Al"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. alimentum, fr. alere to nourish; akin to
Goth. alan to grow, Icel. ala to nourish: cf. F. aliment. See Old.]
1. That which nourishes; food; nutriment; anything which feeds or
adds to a substance in natural growth. Hence: The necessaries of life
generally: sustenance; means of support.
Aliments of theiBacon.
2. An allowance for maintenance. [Scot.]
ALIMENT
Al"i*ment, v. t.
1. To nourish; to support.
2. To provide for the maintenance of. [Scot.]
ALIMENTAL
Al`i*men"tal, a.
Defn: Supplying food; having the quality of nourishing; furnishing
the materials for natural growth; as, alimental sap.
ALIMENTALLY
A`li*men"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to serve for nourishment or food; nourishing quality. Sir
T. Browne.
ALIMENTARINESS
Al`i*men"ta*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alimentary; nourishing quality. [R.]
ALIMENTARY
Al`i*men"ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. alimentarius, fr. alimentum: cf. F.
alimentaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to aliment or food, or to the function of nutrition;
nutritious; alimental; as, alimentary substances. Alimentary canal,
the entire channel, extending from the mouth to the anus, by which
aliments are conveyed through the body, and the useless parts
ejected.
ALIMENTATION
Al`i*men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alimentation, LL. alimentatio.]
1. The act or process of affording nutriment; the function of the
alimentary canal.
2. State or mode of being nourished. Bacon.
ALIMENTIVENESS
Al`i*men"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The instinct or faculty of appetite for food. [Chiefly in
Phrenol.]
ALIMONIOUS
Al`i*mo"ni*ous, a.
Defn: Affording food; nourishing. [R.] "Alimonious humors." Harvey.
ALIMONY
Al"i*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. alimonia, alimonium, nourishment,
sustenance, fr. alere to nourish.]
1. Maintenance; means of living.
2. (Law)
Defn: An allowance made to a wife out of her husband's estate or
income for her support, upon her divorce or legal separation from
him, or during a suit for the same. Wharton. Burrill.
ALINASAL
Al`i*na"sal, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + E. nasal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to expansions of the nasal bone or cartilage.
ALINE
A*line", v. t.
Defn: To range or place in a line; to bring into line; to align.
Evelyn.
ALINEATION
A*lin`e*a"tion, n.
Defn: See Allineation.
ALINEMENT
A*line"ment, n.
Defn: Same as Alignment.
Note: [The Eng. form alinement is preferable to alignment, a bad
spelling of the French]. New Eng. Dict. (Murray).
ALINER
A*lin"er, n.
Defn: One who adjusts things to a line or lines or brings them into
line. Evelyn.
ALIOTH
Al"i*oth, n. Etym: [Ar. alyat the tail of a fat sheep.] (Astron.)
Defn: A star in the tail of the Great Bear, the one next the bowl in
the Dipper.
ALIPED
Al"i*ped, a. Etym: [L. alipes; ala wing + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F.
alipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Wing-footed, as the bat.
-- n.
Defn: An animal whose toes are connected by a membrane, serving for a
wing, as the bat.
ALIPHATIC
Al`i*phat"ic, a. [Gr. , , oil, fat.] (Org. Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, fat; fatty; -- applied to
compounds having an openc-hain structure. The aliphatic compounds
thus include not only the fatty acids and other derivatives of the
paraffin hydrocarbons, but also unsaturated compounds, as the
ethylene and acetylene series.
ALIQUANT
Al"i*quant, a. Etym: [L. aliquantus some, moderate; alius other +
quantus how great: cf. F. aliquante.] (Math.)
Defn: An aliquant part of a number or quantity is one which does not
divide it without leaving a remainder; thus, 5 is an aliquant part of
16. Opposed to aliquot.
ALIQUOT
Al"i*quot, a. Etym: [L. aliquot some, several; alius other + quot how
many: cf. F. aliquote.] (Math.)
Defn: An aliquot part of a number or quantity is one which will
divide it without a remainder; thus, 5 is an aliquot part of 15.
Opposed to aliquant.
ALISEPTAL
Al`i*sep"tal, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + E. septal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to expansions of the nasal septum.
ALISH
Al"ish, a.
Defn: Like ale; as, an alish taste.
ALISPHENOID
Al`i*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The alisphenoid bone.
ALISPHENOID; ALISPHENOIDAL
Al`i*sphe"noid, Al`i*sphe*noid"al, a. Etym: [L. ala wing + E.
sphenoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to or forming the wing of the sphenoid; relating to
a bone in the base of the skull, which in the adult is often
consolidated with the sphenoid; as, alisphenoid bone; alisphenoid
canal.
ALITRUNK
Al"i*trunk, n. Etym: [L. ala wing + truncus trunk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The segment of the body of an insect to which the wings are
attached; the thorax. Kirby.
ALITURGICAL
Al`i*tur"gic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + liturgical.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Applied to those days when the holy sacrifice is not offered.
Shipley.
ALIUNDE
A`li*un"de, adv. & a. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: From another source; from elsewhere; as, a case proved aliunde;
evidence aliunde.
ALIVE
A*live", a. Etym: [OE. on live, AS. on life in life; life being dat.
of lif life. See Life, and cf. Live, a.]
1. Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in
which the organs perform their functions; as, an animal or a plant
which is alive.
2. In a state of action; in force or operation; unextinguished;
unexpired; existent; as, to keep the fire alive; to keep the
affections alive.
3. Exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings;
swarming; thronged.
The Boyne, for a quarter of a mile, was alive with muskets and green
boughs. Macaulay.
4. Sprightly; lively; brisk. Richardson.
5. Having susceptibility; easily impressed; having lively feelings,
as opposed to apathy; sensitive.
Tremblingly alive to nature's laws. Falconer.
6. Of all living (by way of emphasis).
Northumberland was the proudest man alive. Clarendon.
Note: Used colloquially as an intensive; as, man alive!
Note: Alive always follows the noun which it qualifies.
ALIZARI
A`li*za"ri, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. Ar. 'a juice extracted from a plant,
fr. 'a to press.] (Com.)
Defn: The madder of the Levant. Brande & C.
ALIZARIN
A*liz"a*rin, n. Etym: [F. alizarine, fr. alizari.] (Chem.)
Defn: A coloring principle, C14H6O2(OH)2, found in madder, and now
produced artificially from anthracene. It produces the Turkish reds.
ALKAHEST
Al"ka*hest, n. Etym: [LL. alchahest, F. alcahest, a word that has an
Arabic appearance, but was probably arbitrarily formed by
Paracelsus.]
Defn: The fabled "universal solvent" of the alchemists; a menstruum
capable of dissolving all bodies.
-- Al`ka*hes"tic, a.
ALKALAMIDE
Al`kal*am"ide, n. Etym: [Alkali + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of compounds that may be regarded as ammonia in
which a part of the hydrogen has been replaced by basic, and another
part by acid, atoms or radicals.
ALKALESCENCE; ALKALESCENCY
Al`ka*les`cence, Al`ka*les"cen*cy, n.
Defn: A tendency to become alkaline; or the state of a substance in
which alkaline properties begin to be developed, or to predominant.
Ure.
ALKALESCENT
Al`ka*les"cent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcalescent.]
Defn: Tending to the properties of an alkali; slightly alkaline.
ALKALI
Al"ka*li, n.; pl. Alkalis or Alkalies. Etym: [F. alcali, ultimately
fr. Ar. alqali ashes of the plant saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a
pan, fry.]
1. Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, ammoma,
and lithia, whose distinguishing peculiarities are solubility in
alcohol and water, uniting with oils and fats to form soap,
neutralizing and forming salts with acids, turning to brown several
vegetable yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue. Fixed
alkalies, potash and soda.
-- Vegetable alkalies. Same as Alkaloids.
-- Volatile alkali, ammonia, so called in distinction from the fixed
alkalies.
ALKALIFIABLE
Al"ka*li*fi`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcalifiable.]
Defn: Capable of being alkalified, or converted into an alkali.
ALKALI FLAT
Alkali flat.
Defn: A sterile plain, containing an excess of alkali, at the bottom
of an undrained basin in an arid region; a playa.
ALKALIFY
Al"ka*li*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alkalified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alkalifying.] Etym: [Alkali + -fly: cf. F. alcalifier.]
Defn: To convert into an alkali; to give alkaline properties to.
ALKALIFY
Al"ka*li*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become changed into an alkali.
ALKALIMETER
Al`ka*lim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Alkali + -meter. cf. F. alcalimètre.]
Defn: An instrument to ascertain the strength of alkalies, or the
quantity of alkali in a mixture.
ALKALIMETRIC; ALKALIMETRICAL
Al`ka*li*met"ric, Al`ka*li*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to alkalimetry.
ALKALIMETRY
Al`ka*lim"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcalimètrie.] (Chem.)
Defn: The art or process of ascertaining the strength of alkalies, or
the quantity present in alkaline mixtures.
ALKALINE
Al"ka*line, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alcalin.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an alkali or to alkalies; having the
properties of an alkali. Alkaline earths, certain substances, as
lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, possessing some of the
qualities of alkalies.
-- Alkaline metals, potassium, sodium, cæsium, lithium, rubidium.
-- Alkaline reaction, a reaction indicating alkalinity, as by the
action on limits, turmeric, etc.
ALKALINITY
Al`ka*lin"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality which constitutes an alkali; alkaline property.
Thomson.
ALKALIOUS
Al*ka"li*ous, a.
Defn: Alkaline. [Obs.]
ALKALI SOIL
Alkali soil.
Defn: Any one of various soils found in arid and semiarid regions,
containing an unusual amount of soluble mineral salts which
effloresce in the form of a powder or crust (usually white) in dry
weather following rains or irrigation. The basis of these salts is
mainly soda with a smaller amount of potash, and usually a little
lime and magnesia. Two main classes of alkali are commonly
distinguished: black alkali, which may be any alkaline carbonate, but
which practically consists of sodium carbonate (sal soda), which is
highly corrosive and destructive to vegetation; and white alkali,
characterized by the presence of sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt),
which is less injurious to vegetation. Black alkali is so called
because water containing it dissolves humus, forming a dark-colored
solution which, when it collects in puddles and evaporates, produces
characteristic black spots.
ALKALI WASTE
Alkali waste.
Defn: Waste material from the manufacture of alkali; specif., soda
waste.
ALKALIZATE
Al"ka*li*zate, a.
Defn: Alkaline. [Obs.] Boyle.
ALKALIZATE
Al"ka*li**zate, v. t.
Defn: To alkalizate. [R.] Johnson.
ALKALIZATION
Al`ka*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alcalisation.]
Defn: The act rendering alkaline by impregnating with an alkali; a
conferring of alkaline qualities.
ALKALIZE
Al"ka*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alkalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alkalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. alcaliser.]
Defn: To render alkaline; to communicate the properties of an alkali
to.
ALKALOID
Al"ka*loid, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An organic base, especially one of a class of substances
occurring ready formed in the tissues of plants and the bodies of
animals.
Note: Alcaloids all contain nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen, and many
of them also contain oxygen. They include many of the active
principles in plants; thus, morphine and narcotine are alkaloids
found in opium.
ALKALOID; ALKALOIDAL
Al"ka*loid, Al`ka*loid"al, a. Etym: [Alkali + -oid: cf. F.
alcaloïde.]
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, alkali.
ALKANET
Al"ka*net, n. Etym: [Dim. of Sp. alcana, alhe, in which al is the Ar.
article. See Henna, and cf. Orchanet.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A dyeing matter extracted from the roots of Alkanna tinctoria,
which gives a fine deep red color.
2. (Bot.)
(a) A boraginaceous herb (Alkanna tinctoria) yielding the dye;
orchanet.
(b) The similar plant Anchusa officinalis; bugloss; also, the
American puccoon.
ALKARGEN
Al*kar"gen, n. Etym: [Alkarsin + oxygen.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Cacodylic acid.
ALKARSIN
Al*kar"sin, n. Etym: [Alkali + arsenic + -in.] (Chem.)
Defn: A spontaneously inflammable liquid, having a repulsive odor,
and consisting of cacodyl and its oxidation products; -- called also
Cadel's fuming liquid.
ALKAZAR
Al*ka"zar.
Defn: See Alcazar.
ALKEKENGI
Al`ke*ken"gi, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alkékenge, Sp. alquequenje, ultimately
fr. Ar. al-kakanj a kind of resin from Herat.] (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous plant of the nightshade family (Physalis
alkekengi) and its fruit, which is a well flavored berry, the size of
a cherry, loosely inclosed in a enlarged leafy calyx; -- also called
winter cherry, ground cherry, and strawberry tomato. D. C. Eaton.
ALKERMES
Al*ker"mes, n. Etym: [Ar. al-qirmiz kermes. See Kermes.] (Old
Pharmacy)
Defn: A compound cordial, in the form of a confection, deriving its
name from the kermes insect, its principal ingredient.
ALKORAN
Al"ko*ran, n.
Defn: The Mohammedan Scriptures. Same as Alcoran and Koran.
ALKORANIC
Al`ko*ran"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Alcoranic.
ALKORANIST
Al`ko*ran"ist, n.
Defn: Same as Alcoranist.
ALL
All, a. Etym: [OE. al, pl. alle, AS. eal, pl. ealle, Northumbrian
alle, akin to D. & OHG. al, Ger. all, Icel. allr. Dan. al, Sw. all,
Goth. alls; and perh. to Ir. and Gael. uile, W. oll.]
1. The whole quantity, extent, duration, amount, quality, or degree
of; the whole; the whole number of; any whatever; every; as, all the
wheat; all the land; all the year; all the strength; all happiness;
all abundance; loss of all power; beyond all doubt; you will see us
all (or all of us).
Prove all things: hold fast that which is good. 1 Thess. v. 21.
2. Any. [Obs.] "Without all remedy." Shak.
Note: When the definite article "the," or a possessive or a
demonstrative pronoun, is joined to the noun that all qualifies, all
precedes the article or the pronoun; as, all the cattle; all my
labor; all his wealth; all our families; all your citizens; all their
property; all other joys.
Note: This word, not only in popular language, but in the Scriptures,
often signifies, indefinitely, a large portion or number, or a great
part. Thus, all the cattle in Egypt died, all Judea and all the
region round about Jordan, all men held John as a prophet, are not to
be understood in a literal sense, but as including a large part, or
very great numbers.
3. Only; alone; nothing but.
I was born to speak all mirth and no matter. Shak.
All the whole, the whole (emphatically). [Obs.] "All the whole army."
Shak.
ALL
All, adv.
1. Wholly; completely; altogether; entirely; quite; very; as, all
bedewed; my friend is all for amusement. "And cheeks all pale."
Byron.
Note: In the ancient phrases, all too dear, all too much, all so
long, etc., this word retains its appropriate sense or becomes
intensive.
2. Even; just. (Often a mere intensive adjunct.) [Obs. or Poet.]
All as his straying flock he fed. Spenser.
A damsel lay deploring All on a rock reclined. Gay.
All to, or All-to. In such phrases as "all to rent," "all to break,"
"all-to frozen," etc., which are of frequent occurrence in our old
authors, the all and the to have commonly been regarded as forming a
compound adverb, equivalent in meaning to entirely, completely,
altogether. But the sense of entireness lies wholly in the word all
(as it does in "all forlorn," and similar expressions), and the to
properly belongs to the following word, being a kind of intensive
prefix (orig. meaning asunder and answering to the LG. ter-, HG. zer-
). It is frequently to be met with in old books, used without the
all. Thus Wyclif says, "The vail of the temple was to rent:" and of
Judas, "He was hanged and to-burst the middle:" i. e., burst in two,
or asunder.
-- All along. See under Along.
-- All and some, individually and collectively, one and all. [Obs.]
"Displeased all and some." Fairfax.
-- All but. (a) Scarcely; not even. [Obs.] Shak. (b) Almost; nearly.
"The fine arts were all but proscribed." Macaulay.
-- All hollow, entirely, completely; as, to beat any one all hollow.
[Low] -- All one, the same thing in effect; that is, wholly the same
thing.
-- All over, over the whole extent; thoroughly; wholly; as, she is
her mother all over. [Colloq.] -- All the better, wholly the better;
that is, better by the whole difference.
-- All the same, nevertheless. "There they [certain phenomena]
remain rooted all the same, whether we recognize them or not." J. C.
Shairp. "But Rugby is a very nice place all the same." T. Arnold.
-- See also under All, n.
ALL
All, n.
Defn: The whole number, quantity, or amount; the entire thing;
everything included or concerned; the aggregate; the whole; totality;
everything or every person; as, our all is at stake.
Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak.
All that thou seest is mine. Gen. xxxi. 43.
Note: All is used with of, like a partitive; as, all of a thing, all
of us. After all, after considering everything to the contrary;
nevertheless.
-- All in all, a phrase which signifies all things to a person, or
everything desired; (also adverbially) wholly; altogether.
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee, Forever. Milton.
Trust me not at all, or all in all. Tennyson.
-- All in the wind (Naut.), a phrase denoting that the sails are
parallel with the course of the wind, so as to shake.
-- All told, all counted; in all.
-- And all, and the rest; and everything connected. "Bring our crown
and all." Shak.
-- At all. (a) In every respect; wholly; thoroughly. [Obs.] "She is
a shrew at al(l)." Chaucer. (b) A phrase much used by way of
enforcement or emphasis, usually in negative or interrogative
sentences, and signifying in any way or respect; in the least degree
or to the least extent; in the least; under any circumstances; as, he
has no ambition at all; has he any property at all "Nothing at all. "
Shak. "It thy father at all miss me." 1 Sam. xx. 6.
-- Over all, everywhere. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note: All is much used in composition to enlarge the meaning, or add
force to a word. In some instances, it is completely incorporated
into words, and its final consonant is dropped, as in almighty,
already, always: but, in most instances, it is an adverb prefixed to
adjectives or participles, but usually with a hyphen, as, all-
bountiful, all-glorious, allimportant, all-surrounding, etc. In
others it is an adjective; as, allpower, all-giver. Anciently many
words, as, alabout, alaground, etc., were compounded with all, which
are now written separately.
ALL
All, conj. Etym: [Orig. all, adv., wholly: used with though or if,
which being dropped before the subjunctive left all as if in the
sense although.]
Defn: Although; albeit. [Obs.]
All they were wondrous loth. Spenser.
ALLA BREVE
Al`la bre"ve. Etym: [It., according to the breve.] (Old Church Music)
Defn: With one breve, or four minims, to measure, and sung faster
like four crotchets; in quick common time; -- indicated in the time
signature by
ALLAH
Al"lah, n. Etym: [ contr. fr. the article al the + ilah God.]
Defn: The name of the Supreme Being, in use among the Arabs and the
Mohammedans generally.
ALL-A-MORT
All`-a-mort", a.
Defn: See Alamort.
ALLANITE
Al"lan*ite, n. Etym: [From T. Allan, who first distinguished it as a
species.] (min.)
Defn: A silicate containing a large amount of cerium. It is usually
black in color, opaque, and is related to epidote in form and
composition.
ALLANTOIC
Al`lan*to"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. allantoïque.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or contained in, the allantois. Allantoic acid.
(Chem.) See Allantoin.
ALLANTOID; ALLANTOIDAL
Al*lan"toid, Al`lan*toid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the allantois.
ALLANTOIDEA
Al`lan*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Vertebrata in which the embryo develops an
allantois. It includes reptiles, birds, and mammals.
ALLANTOIN
Al*lan"to*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline, transparent, colorless substance found in the
allantoic liquid of the fetal calf; -- formerly called allantoic acid
and amniotic acid.
ALLANTOIS; ALLANTOID
Al*lan"to*is, Al*lan"toid, } n.. (Anat.)
Defn: A membranous appendage of the embryos of mammals, birds, and
reptiles, -- in mammals serving to connect the fetus with the parent;
the urinary vesicle.
ALLATRATE
Al"la*trate, v. i. Etym: [L. allatrare. See Latrate.]
Defn: To bark as a dog. [Obs.] Stubbes.
ALLAY
Al*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Allaying.]
Etym: [OE. alaien, aleggen, to lay down, put down, humble, put an end
to, AS. alecgan; a- (cf. Goth. us-, G. er-, orig. meaning out) +
lecgan to lay; but confused with old forms of allege, alloy, alegge.
See Lay.]
1. To make quiet or put at rest; to pacify or appease; to quell; to
calm; as, to allay popular excitement; to allay the tumult of the
passions.
2. To alleviate; to abate; to mitigate; as, to allay the severity of
affliction or the bitterness of adversity.
It would allay the burning quality of that fell poison. Shak.
Syn.
-- To alleviate; check; repress; assuage; appease; abate; subdue;
destroy; compose; soothe; calm; quiet. See Alleviate.
ALLAY
Al*lay", v. t.
Defn: To diminish in strength; to abate; to subside. "When the rage
allays." Shak.
ALLAY
Al*lay", n.
Defn: Alleviation; abatement; check. [Obs.]
ALLAY
Al*lay", n.
Defn: Alloy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALLAY
Al*lay", v. t.
Defn: To mix (metals); to mix with a baser metal; to alloy; to
deteriorate. [Archaic] Fuller.
ALLAYER
Al*lay"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, allays.
ALLAYMENT
Al*lay"ment, n.
Defn: An allaying; that which allays; mitigation. [Obs.]
The like allayment could I give my grief. Shak.
ALLECRET
Al"le*cret, n. Etym: [OF. alecret, halecret, hallecret.]
Defn: A kind of light armor used in the sixteenth century, esp. by
the Swiss. Fairholt.
ALLECT
Al*lect", v. t. Etym: [L. allectare, freq. of allicere, allectum.]
Defn: To allure; to entice. [Obs.]
ALLECTATION
Al`lec*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. allectatio.]
Defn: Enticement; allurement. [Obs.] Bailey.
ALLECTIVE
Al*lec"tive, a. Etym: [LL. allectivus.]
Defn: Alluring. [Obs.]
ALLECTIVE
Al*lec"tive, n.
Defn: Allurement. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
ALLEDGE
Al*ledge", v. t.
Defn: See Allege. [Obs.]
Note: This spelling, corresponding to abridge, was once the
prevailing one.
ALLEGATION
Al`le*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. allegatio, fr. allegare, allegatum, to
send a message, cite; later, to free by giving reasons; ad + legare
to send, commission. Cf. Allege and Adlegation.]
1. The act of alleging or positively asserting.
2. That which is alleged, asserted, or declared; positive assertion;
formal averment
I thought their allegation but reasonable. Steele.
3. (Law)
Defn: A statement by a party of what he undertakes to prove, --
usually applied to each separate averment; the charge or matter
undertaken to be proved.
ALLEGE
Al*lege", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleged; p. pr. & vb. n. Alleging.]
Etym: [OE. aleggen to bring forward as evidence, OF. esligier to buy,
prop. to free from legal difficulties, fr. an assumed LL. exlitigare;
L. ex + litigare to quarrel, sue (see Litigate). The word was
confused with L. allegare (see Allegation), and lex law. Cf. Allay.]
1. To bring forward with positiveness; to declare; to affirm; to
assert; as, to allege a fact.
2. To cite or quote; as, to allege the authority of a judge.
[Archaic]
3. To produce or urge as a reason, plea, or excuse; as, he refused to
lend, alleging a resolution against lending.
Syn.
-- To bring forward; adduce; advance; assign; produce; declare;
affirm; assert; aver; predicate.
ALLEGE
Al*lege", v. t. Etym: [See Allay.]
Defn: To alleviate; to lighten, as a burden or a trouble. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
ALLEGEABLE
Al*lege"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being alleged or affirmed.
The most authentic examples allegeable in the case. South.
ALLEGEANCE
Al*lege"ance, n.
Defn: Allegation. [Obs.]
ALLEGEMENT
Al*lege"ment, n.
Defn: Allegation. [Obs.]
With many complaints and allegements. Bp. Sanderson.
ALLEGER
Al*leg"er, n.
Defn: One who affirms or declares.
ALLEGGE
Al*legge", v. t.
Defn: See Alegge and Allay. [Obs.]
ALLEGHENIAN; ALLEGHANIAN
Al`le*ghe"ni*an, a. Also Al`le*gha"ni*an. (Biogeography)
Defn: Pertaining to or designating the humid division of the
Transition zone extending across the northern United States from New
England to eastern Dakota, and including also most of Pennsylvania
and the mountainous region as far south as northern Georgia.
ALLEGHENY; ALLEGHANY
Al"le*ghe`ny, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the Allegheny Mountains, or the region where
they are situated. Also Al"le*gha`ny.
2. [From the Allegheny River, Pennsylvania.] (Geol.) Pertaining to
or designating a subdivision of the Pennsylvanian coal measure.
ALLEGIANCE
Al*le"giance, n. Etym: [OE. alegeaunce; pref. a- + OF. lige, liege.
The meaning was influenced by L. ligare to bind, and even by lex,
legis, law. See Liege, Ligeance.]
1. The tie or obligation, implied or expressed, which a subject owes
to his sovereign or government; the duty of fidelity to one's king,
government, or state.
2. Devotion; loyalty; as, allegiance to science.
Syn.
-- Loyalty; fealty.
-- Allegiance, Loyalty. These words agree in expressing the general
idea of fidelity and attachment to the "powers that be." Allegiance
is an obligation to a ruling power. Loyalty is a feeling or sentiment
towards such power. Allegiance may exist under any form of
government, and, in a republic, we generally speak of allegiance to
the government, to the state, etc. In well conducted monarchies,
loyalty is a warm-hearted feeling of fidelity and obedience to the
sovereign. It is personal in its nature; and hence we speak of the
loyalty of a wife to her husband, not of her allegiance. In cases
where we personify, loyalty is more commonly the word used; as,
loyalty to the constitution; loyalty to the cause of virtue; loyalty
to truth and religion, etc.
Hear me, recreant, on thine allegiance hear me! Shak.
So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found, . . . Unshaken,
unseduced, unterrified, His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal.
Milton.
ALLEGIANT
Al*le"giant, a.
Defn: Loyal. Shak.
ALLEGORIC; ALLEGORICAL
Al`le*gor"ic, Al`le*gor"ic*al, a. Etym: [F. allégorique, L.
allegorius, fr. Gr. Allegory.]
Defn: Belonging to, or consisting of, allegory; of the nature of an
allegory; describing by resemblances; figurative. "An allegoric
tale." Falconer. "An allegorical application." Pope.
Allegorical being . . . that kind of language which says one thing,
but means another. Max Miller.
Al`le*gor"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Al`le*gor"ic*al*ness, n.
ALLEGORIST
Al"le*go*rist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. allegoriste.]
Defn: One who allegorizes; a writer of allegory. Hume.
ALLEGORIZATION
Al`le*gor"i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of turning into allegory, or of understanding in an
allegorical sense.
ALLEGORIZE
Al"le*go*rize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allegorized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Allegorizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. allégoriser, fr. L. allegorizare.]
1. To form or turn into allegory; as, to allegorize the history of a
people.
2. To treat as allegorical; to understand in an allegorical sense;
as, when a passage in a writer may understood literally or
figuratively, he who gives it a figurative sense is said to
allegorize it.
ALLEGORIZE
Al"le*go*rize, v. t.
Defn: To use allegory. Holland.
ALLEGORIZER
Al"le*go*ri`zer, n.
Defn: One who allegorizes, or turns things into allegory; an
allegorist.
ALLEGORY
Al"le*go*ry, n.; pl. Allegories. Etym: [L. allegoria, Gr. allégorie.]
1. A figurative sentence or discourse, in which the principal subject
is described by another subject resembling it in its properties and
circumstances. The real subject is thus kept out of view, and we are
left to collect the intentions of the writer or speaker by the
resemblance of the secondary to the primary subject.
2. Anything which represents by suggestive resemblance; an emblem.
3. (Paint. & Sculpt.)
Defn: A figure representation which has a meaning beyond notion
directly conveyed by the object painted or sculptured.
Syn.
-- Metaphor; fable.
-- Allegory, Parable. "An allegory differs both from fable and
parable, in that the properties of persons are fictitiously
represented as attached to things, to which they are as it were
transferred. . . . A figure of Peace and Victory crowning some
historical personage is an allegory. "I am the Vine, ye are the
branches" [John xv. 1-6] is a spoken allegory. In the parable there
is no transference of properties. The parable of the sower [Matt.
xiii. 3-23] represents all things as according to their proper
nature. In the allegory quoted above the properties of the vine and
the relation of the branches are transferred to the person of Christ
and His apostles and disciples." C. J. Smith.
Note: An allegory is a prolonged metaphor. Bunyan's "Pilgrim's
Progress" and Spenser's "Faërie Queene" are celebrated examples of
the allegory.
ALLEGRESSE
Al`le`gresse", n. Etym: [F. allégresse, fr. L. alacer sprightly.]
Defn: Joy; gladsomeness.
ALLEGRETTO
Al`le*gret"to, a. Etym: [It., dim. of allegro.] (Mus.)
Defn: Quicker than andante, but not so quick as allegro.
-- n.
Defn: A movement in this time.
ALLEGRO
Al*le"gro, a. Etym: [It., merry, gay, fr. L. alacer lively. Cf.
Aleger.] (Mus.)
Defn: Brisk, lively.
-- n.
Defn: An allegro movement; a quick, sprightly strain or piece.
ALLELOMORPH
Al*le"lo*morph, n. [Gr. of one another + Gr. form.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the pure unit characters commonly existing singly or in
pairs in the germ cells of Mendelian hybrids, and exhibited in
varying proportion among the organisms themselves. Allelomorphs which
under certain circumstances are themselves compound are called
hypallelomorphs. See Mendel's law. -- Al*le`lo*mor"phic (#), a.
As we know that the several unit characters are of such a nature that
any one of them is capable of independently displacing or being
displaced by one or more alternative characters taken singly, we may
recognize this fact by naming such characters allelomorphs.
Bateson.
ALLELUIA; ALLELUIAH
Al`le*lu"ia, Al`le*lu"iah, n. Etym: [L. alleluia, Gr. hall-yah. See
Hallelujah.]
Defn: An exclamation signifying Praise ye Jehovah. Hence: A song of
praise to God. See Hallelujah, the commoner form.
I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia.
Rev. xix. 1.
ALLEMANDE
Al"le*mande", n. Etym: [F., fr. allemand German.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A dance in moderate twofold time, invented by the French in the
reign of Louis XIV.; -- now mostly found in suites of pieces, like
those of Bach and Handel.
2. A figure in dancing.
ALLEMANNIC
Al`le*man"nic, a.
Defn: See Alemannic.
ALLENARLY
Al*len"ar*ly, adv. Etym: [All + anerly singly, fr. ane one.]
Defn: Solely; only. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
ALLER
Al"ler, a. Etym: [For ealra, the AS. gen. pl. of eal all.]
Defn: Same as Alder, of all. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALLERION
Al*le"ri*on, n. Etym: [F. alérion, LL. alario a sort of eagle; of
uncertain origin.] (Her.)
Defn: Am eagle without beak or feet, with expanded wings. Burke.
ALLEVIATE
Al*le"vi*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alleviated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alleviating.] Etym: [LL. alleviare, fr. L. ad + levis light. See
Alegge, Levity.]
1. To lighten or lessen the force or weight of. [Obs.]
Should no others join capable to alleviate the expense. Evelyn.
Those large bladders . . . conduce much to the alleviating of the
body [of flying birds]. Ray.
2. To lighten or lessen (physical or mental troubles); to mitigate,
or make easier to be endured; as, to alleviate sorrow, pain, care,
etc. ; -- opposed to aggravate.
The calamity of the want of the sense of hearing is much alleviated
by giving the use of letters. Bp. Horsley.
3. To extenuate; to palliate. [R.]
He alleviates his fault by an excuse. Johnson.
Syn.
-- To lessen; diminish; soften; mitigate; assuage; abate; relieve;
nullify; allay.
-- To Alleviate, Mitigate, Assuage, Allay. These words have in
common the idea of relief from some painful state; and being all
figurative, they differ in their application, according to the image
under which this idea is presented. Alleviate supposes a load which
is lightened or taken off; as, to alleviate one's cares. Mitigate
supposes something fierce which is made mild; as, to mitigate one's
anguish. Assuage supposes something violent which is quieted; as, to
assuage one's sorrow. Allay supposes something previously excited,
but now brought down; as, to allay one's suffering or one's thirst.
To alleviate the distresses of life; to mitigate the fierceness of
passion or the violence of grief; to assuage angry feeling; to allay
wounded sensibility.
ALLEVIATION
Al*le`vi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. alleviatio.]
1. The act of alleviating; a lightening of weight or severity;
mitigation; relief.
2. That which mitigates, or makes more tolerable.
I have not wanted such alleviations of life as friendship could
supply. Johnson.
ALLEVIATIVE
Al*le"vi*a*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to alleviate.
-- n.
Defn: That which alleviates.
ALLEVIATOR
Al*le"vi*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, alleviaties.
ALLEVIATORY
Al*le"vi*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Alleviative. Carlyle.
ALLEY
Al"ley, n.; pl. Alleys. Etym: [OE. aley, alley, OF. alée, F. allée, a
going, passage, fr. OE. aler, F. aller, to go; of uncertain origin:
cf. Prov. anar, It. andare, Sp. andar.]
1. A narrow passage; especially a walk or passage in a garden or
park, bordered by rows of trees or bushes; a bordered way.
I know each lane and every alley green. Milton.
2. A narrow passage or way in a city, as distinct from a public
street. Gay.
3. A passageway between rows of pews in a church.
4. (Persp.)
Defn: Any passage having the entrance represented as wider than the
exit, so as to give the appearance of length.
5. The space between two rows of compositors' stands in a printing
office.
ALLEY
Al"ley, n.; pl. Alleys. Etym: [A contraction of alabaster, of which
it was originally made.]
Defn: A choice taw or marble. Dickens.
ALLEYED
Al"leyed, a.
Defn: Furnished with alleys; forming an alley. "An alleyed walk." Sir
W. Scott.
ALLEYWAY
Al"ley*way` n.
Defn: An alley.
ALL FOOLS' DAY
All" Fools' Day`.
Defn: The first day of April, a day on which sportive impositions are
practiced.
The first of April, some do say, Is set apart for All Fools' Day.
Poor Robin's Almanack (1760).
ALLFOURS
All`fours". Etym: [All + four (cards).]
Defn: A game at cards, called "High, Low, Jack, and the Game."
ALL FOURS
All` fours" Etym: [formerly, All` four".]
Defn: All four legs of a quadruped; or the two legs and two arms of a
person. To be, go, or run, on all fours (Fig.), to be on the same
footing; to correspond (with) exactly; to be alike in all the
circumstances to be considered. "This example is on all fours with
the other." "No simile can go on all fours." Macaulay.
ALL HAIL
All` hail". Etym: [All + hail, interj.]
Defn: All health; -- a phrase of salutation or welcome.
ALL-HAIL
All`-hail", v. t.
Defn: To salute; to greet. [Poet.]
Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came missives from the king,
who all-hailed me "Thane of Cawdor." Shak.
ALLHALLOND
All`hal"lond, n.
Defn: Allhallows. [Obs.] Shak.
ALLHALLOW
All`hal"low.
Defn: The evening before Allhallows. See Halloween.
ALLHALLOW; ALLHALLOWS
All`hal"low, All`hal"lows, n.
1. All the saints (in heaven). [Obs.]
2. All Saints' Day, November 1st. [Archaic]
ALLHALLOW EVE
All`hal"low eve` (ev`).
Defn: The evening before Allhallows. See Halloween.
ALLHALLOWMAS
All`hal"low*mas, n.
Defn: The feast of All Saints.
ALLHALLOWN
All`hal"lown, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the time of Allhallows. [Obs.] "Allhallown
summer." Shak. (i. e., late summer; "Indian Summer").
ALLHALLOWTIDE
All`hal"low*tide`, n. Etym: [AS. tid time.]
Defn: The time at or near All Saints, or November 1st.
ALLHEAL
All"heal, n.
Defn: A name popularly given to the officinal valerian, and to some
other plants.
ALLIABLE
Al*li"a*ble, a.
Defn: Able to enter into alliance.
ALLIACEOUS
Al`li*a"ceous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the genus Allium, or garlic, onions, leeks,
etc.; having the smell or taste of garlic or onions.
ALLIANCE
Al*li"ance, n. Etym: [OE. aliaunce, OF. aliance, F. alliance, fr. OF.
alier, F. allier. See Ally, and cf. LL. alligantia.]
1. The state of being allied; the act of allying or uniting; a union
or connection of interests between families, states, parties, etc.,
especially between families by marriage and states by compact,
treaty, or league; as, matrimonial alliances; an alliance between
church and state; an alliance between France and England.
2. Any union resembling that of families or states; union by
relationship in qualities; affinity.
The alliance of the principles of the world with those of the gospel.
C. J. Smith.
The alliance . . . between logic and metaphysics. Mansel.
3. The persons or parties allied. Udall.
Syn.
-- Connection; affinity; union; confederacy; confederation; league;
coalition.
ALLIANCE
Al*li"ance, v. t.
Defn: To connect by alliance; to ally. [Obs.]
ALLIANT
Al*li"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alliant, p. pr.]
Defn: An ally; a confederate. [Obs. & R.] Sir H. Wotton.
ALLICE; ALLIS
Al"lice, Al"lis, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European shad (Clupea vulgaris); allice shad. See Alose.
ALLICIENCY
Al*li"cien*cy, n.
Defn: Attractive power; attractiveness. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ALLICIENT
Al*li"cient, a. Etym: [L. alliciens, p. pr. of allicere to allure; ad
+ lacere to entice.]
Defn: That attracts; attracting.
-- n.
Defn: That attracts. [Rare or Obs.]
ALLIED
Al*lied", a.
Defn: United; joined; leagued; akin; related. See Ally.
ALLIGATE
Al*li*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. alligatus, p. p. of alligare. See Ally.]
Defn: To tie; to unite by some tie.
Instincts alligated to their nature. Sir M. Hale.
ALLIGATION
Al`li*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. alligatio.]
1. The act of tying together or attaching by some bond, or the state
of being attached. [R.]
2. (Arith.)
Defn: A rule relating to the solution of questions concerning the
compounding or mixing of different ingredients, or ingredients of
different qualities or values.
Note: The rule is named from the method of connecting together the
terms by certain ligature-like signs. Alligation is of two kinds,
medial and alternate; medial teaching the method of finding the price
or quality of a mixture of several simple ingredients whose prices
and qualities are known; alternate, teaching the amount of each of
several simple ingredients whose prices or qualities are known, which
will be required to make a mixture of given price or quality.
ALLIGATOR
Al"li*ga`tor, n. Etym: [Sp. el lagarto the lizard (el lagarto de
Indias, the cayman or American crocodile), fr. L. lacertus, lacerta,
lizard. See Lizard.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large carnivorous reptile of the Crocodile family, peculiar
to America. It has a shorter and broader snout than the crocodile,
and the large teeth of the lower jaw shut into pits in the upper jaw,
which has no marginal notches. Besides the common species of the
southern United States, there are allied species in South America.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: Any machine with strong jaws, one of which opens like the
movable jaw of an alligator; as, (a) (Metal Working)
Defn: a form of squeezer for the puddle ball;
(b) (Mining) a rock breaker;
(c) (Printing) a kind of job press, called also alligator press.
Alligator apple (Bot.), the fruit of the Anona palustris, a West
Indian tree. It is said to be narcotic in its properties. Loudon.
-- Alligator fish (Zoöl.), a marine fish of northwestern America
(Podothecus acipenserinus).
-- Alligator gar (Zoöl.), one of the gar pikes (Lepidosteus spatula)
found in the southern rivers of the United States. The name is also
applied to other species of gar pikes.
-- Alligator pear (Bot.), a corruption of Avocado pear. See Avocado.
-- Alligator snapper, Alligator tortoise, Alligator turtle (Zoöl.),
a very large and voracious turtle (Macrochelys lacertina) in habiting
the rivers of the southern United States. It sometimes reaches the
weight of two hundred pounds. Unlike the common snapping turtle, to
which the name is sometimes erroneously applied, it has a scaly head
and many small scales beneath the tail. This name is sometimes given
to other turtles, as to species of Trionyx.
-- Alligator wood, the timber of a tree of the West Indies (Guarea
Swartzii).
ALLIGATOR WRENCH
Al"li*ga`tor wrench. (Mech.)
Defn: A kind of pipe wrench having a flaring jaw with teeth on one
side.
ALLIGNMENT
Al*lign"ment, n.
Defn: See Alignment.
ALLINEATE
Al*lin"e*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ad + lineatus, p. p. of lineare to draw
a line.]
Defn: To align. [R.] Herschel.
ALLINEATION; ALINEEATION
Al*lin`e*a"tion, A*line`e*a"tion, n.
Defn: Alignment; position in a straight line, as of two planets with
the sun. Whewell.
The allineation of the two planets. C. A. Young.
ALLISION
Al*li"sion, n. Etym: [L. allisio, fr. allidere, to strike or dash
against; ad + laedere to dash against.]
Defn: The act of dashing against, or striking upon.
The boisterous allision of the sea. Woodward.
ALLITERAL
Al*lit"er*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by alliteration.
ALLITERATE
Al*lit"er*ate, v. t.
Defn: To employ or place so as to make alliteration. Skeat.
ALLITERATE
Al*lit"er*ate, v. i.
Defn: To compose alliteratively; also, to constitute alliteration.
ALLITERATION
Al*lit`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ad + litera letter. See Letter.]
Defn: The repetition of the same letter at the beginning of two or
more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals;
as in the following lines: -
Behemoth, biggest born of earth, upheaved His vastness. Milton.
Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields. Tennyson.
Note: The recurrence of the same letter in accented parts of words is
also called alliteration. Anglo-Saxon poetry is characterized by
alliterative meter of this sort. Later poets also employed it.
In a somer seson whan soft was the sonne, I shope me in shroudes as I
a shepe were. P. Plowman.
ALLITERATIVE
Al*lit"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, alliteration; as,
alliterative poetry.
-- Al*lit"er*a*tive*ly, adv.
-- Al*lit"er*a*tive*ness, n.
ALLITERATOR
Al*lit"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who alliterates.
ALLIUM
Al"li*um, n. Etym: [L., garlic.] (bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, including the onion, garlic, leek, chive,
etc.
ALLMOUTH
All"mouth`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The angler.
ALLNESS
All"ness, n.
Defn: Totality; completeness. [R.]
The allness of God, including his absolute spirituality, supremacy,
and eternity. R. Turnbull.
ALLNIGHT
All"night`, n.
Defn: Light, fuel, or food for the whole night. [Obs.] Bacon.
ALLOCATE
Al"lo*cate, v. t. Etym: [LL. allocatus, p. p. of allocare, fr. L. ad
+ locare to place. See Allow.]
1. To distribute or assign; to allot. Burke.
2. To localize. [R.]
ALLOCATION
Al`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. allocatio: cf. F. allocation.]
1. The act of putting one thing to another; a placing; disposition;
arrangement. Hallam.
2. An allotment or apportionment; as, an allocation of shares in a
company.
The allocation of the particular portions of Palestine to its
successive inhabitants. A. R. Stanley.
3. The admission of an item in an account, or an allowance made upon
an account; -- a term used in the English exchequer.
ALLOCATUR
Al`lo*ca"tur, n. Etym: [LL., it is allowed, fr. allocare to allow.]
(Law)
Defn: "Allowed." The word allocatur expresses the allowance of a
proceeding, writ, order, etc., by a court, judge, or judicial
officer.
ALLOCHROIC
Al`lo*chro"ic, a.
Defn: Changeable in color.
ALLOCHROITE
Al*loch"ro*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Garnet.
ALLOCHROOUS
Al*loch"ro*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Changing color.
ALLOCUTION
Al`lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. allocuto, fr. alloqui to speak to; ad +
loqui to speak: cf. F. allocution.]
1. The act or manner of speaking to, or of addressing in words.
2. An address; a hortatory or authoritative address as of a pope to
his clergy. Addison.
ALLOD
Al"lod, n.
Defn: See Allodium.
ALLODIAL
Al*lo"di*al, a. Etym: [LL. allodialis, fr. allodium: cf. F. allodial.
See Allodium.] (Law)
Defn: Pertaining to allodium; freehold; free of rent or service; held
independent of a lord paramount; -- opposed to feudal; as, allodial
lands; allodial system. Blackstone.
ALLODIAL
Al*lo"di*al, a.
Defn: Anything held allodially. W. Coxe.
ALLODIALISM
Al*lo"di*al*ism, n.
Defn: The allodial system.
ALLODIALIST
Al*lo"di*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who holds allodial land.
ALLODIALLY
Al*lo"di*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By allodial tenure.
ALLODIARY
Al*lo"di*a*ry, n.
Defn: One who holds an allodium.
ALLODIUM
Al*lo"di*um, n. Etym: [LL. allodium, alodium, alodis, alaudis, of
Ger. origin; cf. OHG. al all, and (AS. ead) possession, property. It
means, therefore, entirely one's property.] (Law)
Defn: Freehold estate; land which is the absolute property of the
owner; real estate held in absolute independence, without being
subject to any rent, service, or acknowledgment to a superior. It is
thus opposed to feud. Blackstone. Bouvier.
ALLOGAMOUS
Al*log"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Characterized by allogamy.
ALLOGAMY
Al*log"a*my n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Fertilization of the pistil of a plant by pollen from another
of the same species; cross-fertilization.
ALLOGENEOUS
Al`lo*ge"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Different in nature or kind. [R.]
ALLOGRAPH
Al"lo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: A writing or signature made by some person other than any of
the parties thereto; -- opposed to autograph.
ALLOMERISM
Al*lom"er*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Variability in chemical constitution without variation in
crystalline form.
ALLOMEROUS
Al*lom"er*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Characterized by allomerism.
ALLOMORPH
Al"lo*morph, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
(a) Any one of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same
substance; or the substance having such forms; -- as, carbonate of
lime occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite.
(b) A variety of pseudomorph which has undergone partial or complete
change or substitution of material; -- thus limonite is frequently an
allomorph after pyrite. G. H. Williams.
ALLOMORPHIC
Al`lo*mor"phic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to allomorphism.
ALLOMORPHISM
Al`lo*mor"phism, n. (Min.)
Defn: The property which constitutes an allomorph; the change
involved in becoming an allomorph.
ALLONGE
Al*longe", n. Etym: [F. allonge, earlier alonge, a lengthening. See
Allonge, v., and cf. Lunge.]
1. (Fencing)
Defn: A thrust or pass; a lunge.
2. A slip of paper attached to a bill of exchange for receiving
indorsements, when the back of the bill itself is already full; a
rider. [A French usage] Abbott.
ALLONGE
Al*longe", v. i. Etym: [F. allonger; à (L. ad) + long (L. longus)
long.]
Defn: To thrust with a sword; to lunge.
ALLONYM
Al"lo*nym, n. Etym: [F. allonyme, fr. Gr.
1. The name of another person assumed by the author of a work.
2. A work published under the name of some one other than the author.
ALLONYMOUS
Al*lon"y*mous, a.
Defn: Published under the name of some one other than the author.
ALLOO
Al*loo", v. t. or i. Etym: [See Halloo.]
Defn: To incite dogs by a call; to halloo. [Obs.]
ALLOPATH
Al"lo*path, n. Etym: [Cf. F. allopathe.]
Defn: An allopathist. Ed. Rev.
ALLOPATHIC
Al`lo*path"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. allopathique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to allopathy.
ALLOPATHICALLY
Al`lo*path"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner conformable to allopathy; by allopathic methods.
ALLOPATHIST
Al*lop"a*thist, n.
Defn: One who practices allopathy; one who professes allopathy.
ALLOPATHY
Al*lop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr. allopathie, F. allopathie. See Pathos.]
Defn: That system of medical practice which aims to combat disease by
the use of remedies which produce effects different from those
produced by the special disease treated; -- a term invented by
Hahnemann to designate the ordinary practice, as opposed to
homeopathy.
ALLOPHYLIC; ALLOPHYLIAN
Al`lo*phyl"ic, Al`lo*phyl"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a race or a language neither Aryan nor Semitic.
J. Prichard.
ALLOQUY
Al"lo*quy, n. Etym: [L. alloquim, fr. alloqui.]
Defn: A speaking to another; an address. [Obs.]
ALLOT
Al*lot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Allotting.]
Etym: [OF. aloter, F. allotir; a (L. ad) + lot lot. See Lot.]
1. To distribute by lot.
2. To distribute, or parcel out in parts or portions; or to
distribute to each individual concerned; to assign as a share or lot;
to set apart as one's share; to bestow on; to grant; to appoint; as,
let every man be contented with that which Providence allots him.
Ten years I will allot to the attainment of knowledge. Johnson.
ALLOTHEISM
Al"lo*the*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The worship of strange gods. Jer. Taylor.
ALLOTMENT
Al*lot"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. alotement, F. allotement.]
1. The act of allotting; assignment.
2. That which is allotted; a share, part, or portion granted or
distributed; that which is assigned by lot, or by the act of God;
anything set apart for a special use or to a distinct party.
The alloments of God and nature. L'Estrange.
A vineyard and an allotment for olives and herbs. Broome.
3. (law)
Defn: The allowance of a specific amount of scrip or of a particular
thing to a particular person. Cottage allotment, an allotment of a
small portion of land to a country laborer for garden cultivation.
[Eng.]
ALLOTRIOPHAGY
Al`lo*tri*oph"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. allotriophagie.] (Med.)
Defn: A depraved appetite; a desire for improper food.
ALLOTROPHIC
Al`lo*troph"ic, a. [Gr. other + trophic.]
(a) (Physiol.) Changed or modified in nutritive power by the process
of digestion.
(b) (Plant Physiol.) Dependent upon other organisms for nutrition;
heterotrophic; -- said of plants unable to perform photosynthesis, as
all saprophytes; -- opposed to autotrophic.
ALLOTROPIC; ALLOTROPICAL
Al`lo*trop"ic, Al`lo*trop"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. allotropique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to allotropism.
-- Al`lo*trop"ic*al*ly, adv. Allotropic state, the several
conditions which occur in a case of allotropism.
ALLOTROPICITY
Al*lot`ro*pic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Allotropic property or nature.
ALLOTROPISM; ALLOTROPY
Al*lot"ro*pism, Al*lot"ro*py, n. Etym: [Gr. allotropie.] (Chem.)
Defn: The property of existing in two or more conditions which are
distinct in their physical or chemical relations.
Note: Thus, carbon occurs crystallized in octahedrons and other
related forms, in a state of extreme hardness, in the diamond; it
occurs in hexagonal forms, and of little hardness, in black lead; and
again occurs in a third form, with entire softness, in lampblack and
charcoal. In some cases, one of these is peculiarly an active state,
and the other a passive one. Thus, ozone is an active state of
oxygen, and is distinct from ordinary oxygen, which is the element in
its passive state.
ALLOTROPIZE
Al*lot"ro*pize, v. t.
Defn: To change in physical properties but not in substance. [R.]
ALLOTTABLE
Al*lot"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being allotted.
ALLOTTEE
Al*lot`tee", n.
Defn: One to whom anything is allotted; one to whom an allotment is
made.
ALLOTTER
Al*lot"ter, n.
Defn: One who allots.
ALLOTTERY
Al*lot"ter*y, n.
Defn: Allotment. [Obs.] Shak.
ALLOW
Al*low", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Allowing.]
Etym: [OE. alouen, OF. alouer, aloer, aluer, F. allouer, fr. LL.
allocare to admit as proved, to place, use; confused with OF. aloer,
fr. L. allaudare to extol; ad + laudare to praise. See Local, and cf.
Allocate, Laud.]
1. To praise; to approve of; hence, to sanction. [Obs. or Archaic]
Ye allow the deeds of your fathers. Luke xi. 48.
We commend his pains, condemn his pride, allow his life, approve his
learning. Fuller.
2. To like; to be suited or pleased with. [Obs.]
How allow you the model of these clothes Massinger.
3. To sanction; to invest; to intrust. [Obs.]
Thou shalt be . . . allowed with absolute power. Shak.
4. To grant, give, admit, accord, afford, or yield; to let one have;
as, to allow a servant his liberty; to allow a free passage; to allow
one day for rest.
He was allowed about three hundred pounds a year. Macaulay.
5. To own or acknowledge; to accept as true; to concede; to accede to
an opinion; as, to allow a right; to allow a claim; to allow the
truth of a proposition.
I allow, with Mrs. Grundy and most moralists, that Miss Newcome's
conduct . . . was highly reprehensible. Thackeray.
6. To grant (something) as a deduction or an addition; esp. to abate
or deduct; as, to allow a sum for leakage.
7. To grant license to; to permit; to consent to; as, to allow a son
to be absent.
Syn.
-- To allot; assign; bestow; concede; admit; permit; suffer;
tolerate. See Permit.
ALLOW
Al*low", v. i.
Defn: To admit; to concede; to make allowance or abatement.
Allowing still for the different ways of making it. Addison.
To allow of, to permit; to admit. Shak.
ALLOWABLE
Al*low"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. allouable.]
1. Praiseworthy; laudable. [Obs.] Hacket.
2. Proper to be, or capable of being, allowed; permissible;
admissible; not forbidden; not unlawful or improper; as, a certain
degree of freedom is allowable among friends.
ALLOWABLENESS
Al*low"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being allowable; permissibleness; lawfulness;
exemption from prohibition or impropriety. South.
ALLOWABLY
Al*low"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an allowable manner.
ALLOWANCE
Al*low"ance, n. Etym: [OF. alouance.]
1. Approval; approbation. [Obs.] Crabbe.
2. The act of allowing, granting, conceding, or admitting;
authorization; permission; sanction; tolerance.
Without the king's will or the state's allowance. Shak.
3. Acknowledgment.
The censure of the which one must in your allowance o'erweigh a whole
theater of others. Shak.
4. License; indulgence. [Obs.] Locke.
5. That which is allowed; a share or portion allotted or granted; a
sum granted as a reimbursement, a bounty, or as appropriate for any
purpose; a stated quantity, as of food or drink; hence, a limited
quantity of meat and drink, when provisions fall short.
I can give the boy a handsome allowance. Thackeray.
6. Abatement; deduction; the taking into account of mitigating
circumstances; as, to make allowance for the inexperience of youth.
After making the largest allowance for fraud. Macaulay.
7. (com.)
Defn: A customary deduction from the gross weight of goods, different
in different countries, such as tare and tret.
ALLOWANCE
Al*low"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allowancing.] Etym: [See Allowance,
n.]
Defn: To put upon a fixed allowance (esp. of provisions and drink);
to supply in a fixed and limited quantity; as, the captain was
obliged to allowance his crew; our provisions were allowanced.
ALLOWEDLY
Al*low"ed*ly adv.
Defn: By allowance; admittedly. Shenstone.
ALLOWER
Al*low"er, n.
1. An approver or abettor. [Obs.]
2. One who allows or permits.
ALLOXAN
Al*lox"an, n. Etym: [Allantoin + oxalic, as containing the elements
of allantion and oxalic acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxidation product of uric acid. It is of a pale reddish
color, readily soluble in water or alcohol.
ALLOXANATE
Al*lox"a*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of alloxanic acid and a base or base or positive
radical.
ALLOXANIC
Al`lox*an"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to alloxan; -- applied to an acid obtained by
the action of soluble alkalies on alloxan.
ALLOXANTIN
Al`lox*an"tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance produced by acting upon uric with warm and very
dilute nitric acid.
ALLOY
Al*loy", n. Etym: [OE. alai, OF. alei, F. aloyer, to alloy, alier to
ally. See Alloy, v. t.]
1. Any combination or compound of metals fused together; a mixture of
metals; for example, brass, which is an alloy of copper and zinc. But
when mercury is one of the metals, the compound is called an amalgam.
2. The quality, or comparative purity, of gold or silver; fineness.
3. A baser metal mixed with a finer.
Fine silver is silver without the mixture of any baser metal. Alloy
is baser metal mixed with it. Locke.
4. Admixture of anything which lessens the value or detracts from;
as, no happiness is without alloy. "Pure English without Latin
alloy." F. Harrison.
ALLOY
Al*loy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alloyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Alloying.]
Etym: [F. aloyer, OF. alier, allier, later allayer, fr. L. aligare.
See Alloy, n., Ally, v.t., and cf. Allay.]
1. To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance;
as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper.
2. To mix, as metals, so as to form a compound.
3. To abate, impair, or debase by mixture; to allay; as, to alloy
pleasure with misfortunes.
ALLOY
Al*loy", v. t.
Defn: To form a metallic compound.
Gold and iron alloy with ease. Ure.
ALLOYAGE
Al*loy"age, n. Etym: [F. aloyage.]
Defn: The act or art of alloying metals; also, the combination or
alloy.
ALLOY STEEL
Al"loy steel.
Defn: Any steel containing a notable quantity of some other metal
alloyed with the iron, usually chromium, nickel, manganese, tungsten,
or vanadium.
ALL-POSSESSED
All`-pos*sessed", a.
Defn: Controlled by an evil spirit or by evil passions; wild.
[Colloq.]
ALL SAINTS; ALL SAINTS'
All" Saints`, All" Saints',
Defn: The first day of November, called, also, Allhallows or
Hallowmas; a feast day kept in honor of all the saints; also, the
season of this festival.
ALL SOULS' DAY
All" Souls' Day`.
Defn: The second day of November; a feast day of the Roman Catholic
church, on which supplications are made for the souls of the faithful
dead.
ALLSPICE
All"spice`, n.
Defn: The berry of the pimento (Eugenia pimenta), a tree of the West
Indies; a spice of a mildly pungent taste, and agreeably aromatic;
Jamaica pepper; pimento. It has been supposed to combine the flavor
of cinnamon, nutmegs, and cloves; and hence the name. The name is
also given to other aromatic shrubs; as, the Carolina allspice
(Calycanthus floridus); wild allspice (Lindera benzoin), called also
spicebush, spicewood, and feverbush.
ALLTHING
All`thing`, adv. Etym: [For in all (= every) thing.]
Defn: Altogether. [Obs.] Shak.
ALLUDE
Al*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Alluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Alluding.]
Etym: [L. alludere to play with, to allude; ad + ludere to play.]
Defn: To refer to something indirectly or by suggestion; to have
reference to a subject not specifically and plainly mentioned; --
followed by to; as, the story alludes to a recent transaction.
These speeches . . . do seem to allude unto such ministerial garments
as were then in use. Hooker.
Syn.
-- To refer; point; indicate; hint; suggest; intimate; signify;
insinuate; advert. See Refer.
ALLUDE
Al*lude", v. t.
Defn: To compare allusively; to refer (something) as applicable.
[Obs.] Wither.
ALLUMETTE
Al`lu`mette, n. Etym: [F., from allumer to light.]
Defn: A match for lighting candles, lamps, etc.
ALLUMINOR
Al*lu"mi*nor, n. Etym: [OF. alumineor, fr. L. ad + liminare. See
Luminate.]
Defn: An illuminator of manuscripts and books; a limner. [Obs.]
Cowell.
ALLURANCE
Al*lur"ance, n.
Defn: Allurement. [R.]
ALLURE
Al*lure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Alluring.]
Etym: [OF. aleurrer, alurer, fr. a (L. ad) + leurre lure. See Lure.]
Defn: To attempt to draw; to tempt by a lure or bait, that is, by the
offer of some good, real or apparent; to invite by something
flattering or acceptable; to entice; to attract.
With promised joys allured them on. Falconer.
The golden sun in splendor likest Heaven Allured his eye. Milton.
Syn.
-- To attract; entice; tempt; decoy; seduce.
-- To Allure, Entice, Decoy, Seduce. These words agree in the idea
of acting upon the mind by some strong controlling influence, and
differ according to the image under which is presented. They are all
used in a bad sense, except allure, which has sometimes (though
rarely) a good one. We are allured by the prospect or offer (usually
deceptive) of some future good. We are commonly enticed into evil by
appeals to our passions. We are decoyed into danger by false
appearances or representations. We are seduced when drawn aside from
the path of rectitude. What allures draws by gentle means; what
entices leads us by promises and persuasions; what decoys betrays us,
as it were, into a snare or net; what seduces deceives us by artful
appeals to the passions.
ALLURE
Al*lure", n.
Defn: Allurement. [R.] Hayward.
ALLURE
Al`lure", n. Etym: [F.; aller to go.]
Defn: Gait; bearing.
The swing, the gait, the pose, the allure of these men. Harper's Mag.
ALLUREMENT
Al*lure"ment, n.
1. The act alluring; temptation; enticement.
Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell. Milton.
2. That which allures; any real or apparent good held forth, or
operating, as a motive to action; as, the allurements of pleasure, or
of honor.
ALLURER
Al*lur"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, allures.
ALLURING
Al*lur"ing, a.
Defn: That allures; attracting; charming; tempting.
-- Al*lur"ing*ly, adv.
-- Al*lur"ing*ness, n.
ALLUSION
Al*lu"sion, n. Etym: [L. allusio, fr. alludere to allude: cf. F.
allusion.]
1. A figurative or symbolical reference. [Obs.]
2. A reference to something supposed to be known, but not explicitly
mentioned; a covert indication; indirect reference; a hint.
ALLUSIVE
Al*lu"sive, a.
1. Figurative; symbolical.
2. Having reference to something not fully expressed; containing an
allusion.
ALLUSIVELY
Al*lu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: Figuratively [Obs.]; by way of allusion; by implication,
suggestion, or insinuation.
ALLUSIVENESS
Al*lu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being allusive.
ALLUSORY
Al*lu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Allusive. [R.] Warburton.
ALLUVIAL
Al*lu"vi*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alluvial. See Alluvion.]
Defn: Pertaining to, contained in, or composed of, alluvium; relating
to the deposits made by flowing water; washed away from one place and
deposited in another; as, alluvial soil, mud, accumulations,
deposits.
ALLUVION
Al*lu"vi*on, n. Etym: [F. alluvion, L. alluvio, fr. alluere to wash
against; ad + luere, equiv. to lavare, to wash. See Lave.]
1. Wash or flow of water against the shore or bank.
2. An overflowing; an inundation; a flood. Lyell.
3. Matter deposited by an inundation or the action of flowing water;
alluvium.
The golden alluvions are there [in California and Australia] spread
over a far wider space: they are found not only on the banks of
rivers, and in their beds, but are scattered over the surface of vast
plains. R. Cobden.
4. (Law)
Defn: An accession of land gradually washed to the shore or bank by
the flowing of water. See Accretion.
ALLUVIOUS
Al*lu"vi*ous, n. Etym: [L. alluvius. See Alluvion.]
Defn: Alluvial. [R.] Johnson.
ALLUVIUM
Al*lu"vi*um, n.; pl. E. Alluviums, L. Alluvia. Etym: [L., neut. of
alluvius. See Alluvious.] (Geol.)
Defn: Deposits of earth, sand, gravel, and other transported matter,
made by rivers, floods, or other causes, upon land not permanently
submerged beneath the waters of lakes or seas. Lyell.
ALLWHERE
All"where`, adv.
Defn: Everywhere. [Archaic]
ALLWORK
All"work`, n.
Defn: Domestic or other work of all kinds; as, a maid of allwork,
that is, a general servant.
ALLY
Al*ly", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Allied; p. pr. & vb. n. Allying.] Etym:
[OE. alien, OF. alier, F. alier, fr. L. alligare to bind to; ad +
ligare to bind. Cf. Alligate, Alloy, Allay, Ligament.]
1. To unite, or form a connection between, as between families by
marriage, or between princes and states by treaty, league, or
confederacy; -- often followed by to or with.
O chief! in blood, and now in arms allied. Pope.
2. To connect or form a relation between by similitude, resemblance,
friendship, or love.
These three did love each other dearly well, And with so firm
affection were allied. Spenser.
The virtue nearest to our vice allied. Pope.
Note: Ally is generally used in the passive form or reflexively.
ALLY
Al*ly", n.; pl. Allies. Etym: [See Ally, v.]
1. A relative; a kinsman. [Obs.] Shak.
2. One united to another by treaty or league; -- usually applied to
sovereigns or states; a confederate.
The English soldiers and their French allies. Macaulay.
3. Anything associated with another as a helper; an auxiliary.
Science, instead of being the enemy of religion, becomes its ally.
Buckle.
4. Anything akin to another by structure, etc.
ALLY
Al"ly, n.
Defn: See Alley, a marble or taw.
ALLYL
Al"lyl, n. Etym: [L. allium garlic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: An organic radical, C3H5, existing especially in oils of garlic
and mustard.
ALLYLENE
Al"ly*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous hydrocarbon, C3H4, homologous with acetylene;
propine. CH3.C.CH
ALMA; ALMAH
Al"ma, Al"mah, n.
Defn: Same as Alme.
ALMACANTAR
Al`ma*can"tar, n. (Astron.)
(a) Same as Almucantar.
(b) A recently invented instrument for observing the heavenly bodies
as they cross a given almacantar circle. See Almucantar.
ALMADIA; ALMADIE
Al`ma*di"a, Al"ma*die, n. Etym: [F. almadie (cf. Sp. & Pg. almadia),
fr. Ar. alma'diyah a raft, float.] (Naut.)
(a) A bark canoe used by the Africans.
(b) A boat used at Calicut, in India, about eighty feet long, and six
or seven broad.
ALMAGEST
Al"ma*gest, n. Etym: [F. almageste, LL. almageste, Ar. al-majisti,
fr. Gr.
Defn: The celebrated work of Ptolemy of Alexandria, which contains
nearly all that is known of the astronomical observations and
theories of the ancients. The name was extended to other similar
works.
ALMAGRA
Al*ma"gra, n. Etym: [Sp. almagra, almagre, fr. Ar. al-maghrah red
clay or earth.]
Defn: A fine, deep red ocher, somewhat purplish, found in Spain. It
is the sil atticum of the ancients. Under the name of Indian red it
is used for polishing glass and silver.
ALMAIN; ALMAYNE; ALMAN
Al"main, Al"mayne, Al"man, n. Etym: [OF. Aleman, F. Allemand, fr. L.
Alemanni, ancient Ger. tribes.] [Obs.]
1. A German. Also adj.,
Defn: German. Shak.
2. The German language. J. Foxe.
3. A kind of dance. See Allemande. Almain rivets, Almayne rivets, or
Alman rivets, a sort of light armor from Germany, characterized by
overlapping plates, arranged to slide on rivets, and thus afford
great flexibility.
ALMA MATER
Al"ma Ma"ter. Etym: [L., fostering mother.]
Defn: A college or seminary where one is educated.
ALMANAC
Al"ma*nac, n. Etym: [LL. almanac, almanach: cf. F. almanach, Sp.
almanaque, It. almanacco, all of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A book or table, containing a calendar of days, and months, to
which astronomical data and various statistics are often added, such
as the times of the rising and setting of the sun and moon, eclipses,
hours of full tide, stated festivals of churches, terms of courts,
etc. Nautical almanac, an almanac, or year book, containing
astronomical calculations (lunar, stellar, etc.), and other
information useful to mariners.
ALMANDINE
Al"man*dine, n. Etym: [LL. almandina, alamandina, for L. alabandina a
precious stone, named after Alabanda, a town in Caria, where it was
first and chiefly found: cf. F. almandine.] (Min.)
Defn: The common red variety of garnet.
ALME; ALMEH
Al"me, Al"meh, n. Etym: [Ar. 'almah (fem.) learned, fr. 'alama to
know: cf. F. almée.]
Defn: An Egyptian dancing girl; an Alma.
The Almehs lift their arms in dance. Bayard Taylor.
ALMENDRON
Al`men*dron", n. Etym: [Sp., fr. almendra almond.]
Defn: The lofty Brazil-nut tree.
ALMERY
Al"mer*y, n.
Defn: See Ambry. [Obs.]
ALMESSE
Alm"esse, n.
Defn: See Alms. [Obs.]
ALMIGHTFUL; ALMIGHTIFUL
Al*might"ful, Al*might"i*ful, a.
Defn: All-powerful; almighty. [Obs.] Udall.
ALMIGHTILY
Al*might"i*ly, adv.
Defn: With almighty power.
ALMIGHTINESS
Al*might"i*ness, n.
Defn: Omnipotence; infinite or boundless power; unlimited might. Jer.
Taylor.
ALMIGHTY
Al*might"y, a. Etym: [AS. ealmihtig, ælmihtig; eal (OE. al) ail +
mihtig mighty.]
1. Unlimited in might; omnipotent; all-powerful; irresistible.
I am the Almighty God. Gen. xvii. 1.
2. Great; extreme; terrible. [Slang]
Poor Aroar can not live, and can not die, -- so that he is in an
almighty fix. De Quincey.
The Almighty, the omnipotent God. Rev. i. 8.
ALMNER
Alm"ner, n.
Defn: An almoner. [Obs.] Spenser.
ALMOND
Alm"ond, n. Etym: [OE. almande, almaunde, alemaunde, F. amande, L.
amygdala, fr. Gr. almendra. Cf. Amygdalate.]
1. The fruit of the almond tree.
Note: The different kinds, as bitter, sweet, thin-shelled, thick-
shelled almonds, and Jordan almonds, are the products of different
varieties of the one species, Amygdalus communis, a native of the
Mediterranean region and western Asia.
2. The tree bears the fruit; almond tree.
3. Anything shaped like an almond. Specifically: (Anat.)
Defn: One of the tonsils. Almond oil, fixed oil expressed from sweet
or bitter almonds.
-- Oil of bitter almonds, a poisonous volatile oil obtained from
bitter almonds by maceration and distillation; benzoic aldehyde.
-- Imitation oil of bitter almonds, nitrobenzene.
-- Almond tree (Bot.), the tree bearing the almond.
-- Almond willow (Bot.), a willow which has leaves that are of a
light green on both sides; almond-leaved willow (Salix amygdalina).
Shenstone.
ALMOND FURNACE
Al"mond fur`nace. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of Almain furnace, i. e.,
German furnace. See Almain.]
Defn: A kind of furnace used in refining, to separate the metal from
cinders and other foreign matter. Chambers.
ALMONDINE
Al"mon*dine, n.
Defn: See Almandine
ALMONER
Al"mon*er, n. Etym: [OE. aumener, aulmener, OF. almosnier, aumosnier,
F. aumônier, fr. OF. almosne, alms, L. eleemosyna. See Alms.]
Defn: One who distributes alms, esp. the doles and alms of religious
houses, almshouses, etc.; also, one who dispenses alms for another,
as the almoner of a prince, bishop, etc.
ALMONERSHIP
Al"mon*er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an almoner.
ALMONRY
Al"mon*ry, n.; pl. Almonries. Etym: [OF. aumosnerie, F. aumônerie,
fr. OF. aumosnier. See Almoner.]
Defn: The place where an almoner resides, or where alms are
distributed.
ALMOSE
Al"mose, n.
Defn: Alms. [Obs.] Cheke.
ALMOST
Al"most, adv. Etym: [AS. ealmæst, ælmæst, quite the most, almost all;
eal (OE. al) all + m most.]
Defn: Nearly; well nigh; all but; for the greatest part.
Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Acts xxvi. 28.
Almost never, scarcely ever.
-- Almost nothing, scarcely anything.
ALMRY
Alm"ry, n.
Defn: See Almonry. [Obs.]
ALMS
Alms, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [OE. almes, almesse, AS. ælmysse, fr. L.
eleemosyna, Gr. Almonry, Eleemosynary.]
Defn: Anything given gratuitously to relieve the poor, as money,
food, or clothing; a gift of charity.
A devout man . . . which gave much alms to the people. Acts x. 2.
Alms are but the vehicles of prayer. Dryden.
Tenure by free alms. See Frankalmoign. Blackstone.
Note: This word alms is singular in its form (almesse), and is
sometimes so used; as, "asked an alms." Acts iii. 3."Received an
alms." Shak. It is now, however, commonly a collective or plural
noun. It is much used in composition, as almsgiver, almsgiving, alms
bag, alms chest, etc.
ALMSDEED
Alms"deed`, n.
Defn: An act of charity. Acts ix. 36.
ALMSFOLK
Alms"folk`, n.
Defn: Persons supported by alms; almsmen. [Archaic] Holinshed.
ALMSGIVER
Alms"giv`er, n.
Defn: A giver of alms.
ALMSGIVING
Alms"giv`ing, n.
Defn: The giving of alms.
ALMSHOUSE
Alms"house`, n.
Defn: A house appropriated for the use of the poor; a poorhouse.
ALMSMAN
Alms"man, n.; fem. Almswoman.
1. A recipient of alms. Shak.
2. A giver of alms. [R.] Halliwell.
ALMUCANTAR
Al`mu*can"tar, n. Etym: [F. almucantarat, almicantarat, ultimately
fr. Ar. al-muqantarat, pl., fr. qantara to bend, arch.] (Astron.)
Defn: A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a circle
or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same almucantar
have the same altitude. See Almacantar. [Archaic] Almucanter staff,
an ancient instrument, having an arc of fifteen degrees, formerly
used at sea to take observations of the sun's amplitude at the time
of its rising or setting, to find the variation of the compass.
ALMUCE
Al"muce, n.
Defn: Same as Amice, a hood or cape.
ALMUDE
Al*mude", n. Etym: [Pg. almude, or Sp. almud, a measure of grain or
dry fruit, fr. Ar. al-mudd a dry measure.]
Defn: A measure for liquids in several countries. In Portugal the
Lisbon almude is about 4.4, and the Oporto almude about 6.6, gallons
U. S. measure. In Turkey the "almud" is about 1.4 gallons.
ALMUG; ALGUM
Al"mug, Al"gum, n. Etym: [Heb., perh. borrowed fr. Skr. valguka
sandalwood.] (Script.)
Defn: A tree or wood of the Bible (2 Chron. ii. 8; 1 K. x. 11).
Note: Most writers at the present day follow Celsius, who takes it to
be the red sandalwood of China and the Indian Archipelago. W. Smith.
ALNAGE
Al"nage, n., Etym: [OF. alnage, aulnage, F. aunage, fr. OF. alne ell,
of Ger. origin: cf. OHG. elina, Goth. aleina, cubit. See Ell.] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: Measurement (of cloth) by the ell; also, a duty for such
measurement.
ALNAGER
Al"na*ger, n. Etym: [See Alnage.]
Defn: A measure by the ell; formerly a sworn officer in England,
whose duty was to inspect act measure woolen cloth, and fix upon it a
seal.
ALOE
Al"oe, n.; pl. Aloes. Etym: [L. aloë, Gr. aloe, F. aloès.]
1. pl.
Defn: The wood of the agalloch. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of succulent plants, some classed as trees, others as
shrubs, but the greater number having the habit and appearance of
evergreen herbaceous plants; from some of which are prepared articles
for medicine and the arts. They are natives of warm countries.
3. pl. (Med.)
Defn: The inspissated juice of several species of aloe, used as a
purgative. [Plural in form but syntactically singular.] American
aloe, Century aloe, the agave. See Agave.
ALOES WOOD
Al"oes wood`.
Defn: See Agalloch.
ALOETIC
Al`o*et"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aloétique.]
Defn: Consisting chiefly of aloes; of the nature of aloes.
ALOETIC
Al`o*et"ic, n.
Defn: A medicine containing chiefly aloes.
ALOFT
A*loft", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loft, which properly meant air. See
Loft.]
1. On high; in the air; high above the ground. "He steers his flight
aloft." Milton.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: In the top; at the mast head, or on the higher yards or
rigging; overhead; hence (Fig. and Colloq.), in or to heaven.
ALOFT
A*loft", prep.
Defn: Above; on top of. [Obs.]
Fresh waters run aloft the sea. Holland.
ALOGIAN
A*lo"gi*an, n. Etym: [LL. Alogiani, Alogii, fr. Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of an ancient sect who rejected St. John's Gospel and the
Apocalypse, which speak of Christ as the Logos. Shipley.
ALOGY
Al"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. alogia, Gr.
Defn: Unreasonableness; absurdity. [Obs.]
ALOIN
Al"o*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter purgative principle in aloes.
ALOMANCY
Al"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. alomancie, halomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of salt. [Spelt also halomancy.] Morin.
ALONE
A*lone", a. Etym: [All + one. OE. al one all allone, AS. an one,
alone. See All, One, Lone.]
1. Quite by one's self; apart from, or exclusive of, others; single;
solitary; -- applied to a person or thing.
Alone on a wide, wide sea. Coleridge.
It is not good that the man should be alone. Gen. ii. 18.
2. Of or by itself; by themselves; without any thing more or any one
else; without a sharer; only.
Man shall not live by bread alone. Luke iv. 4.
The citizens alone should be at the expense. Franklin.
3. Sole; only; exclusive. [R.]
God, by whose alone power and conversation we all live, and move, and
have our being. Bentley.
4. Hence; Unique; rare; matchless. Shak.
Note: The adjective alone commonly follows its noun. To let or leave
alone, to abstain from interfering with or molesting; to suffer to
remain in its present state.
ALONE
A*lone", adv.
Defn: Solely; simply; exclusively.
ALONELY
A*lone"ly, adv.
Defn: Only; merely; singly. [Obs.]
This said spirit was not given alonely unto him, but unto all his
heirs and posterity. Latimer.
ALONELY
A*lone"ly, a.
Defn: Exclusive. [Obs.] Fabyan.
ALONENESS
A*lone"ness, n.
Defn: A state of being alone, or without company; solitariness. [R.]
Bp. Montagu.
ALONG
A*long", adv. Etym: [OE. along, anlong, AS. andlang, along; pref.
and- (akin to OFris. ond-, OHG. ant-, Ger. ent-, Goth. and-, anda-,
L. ante, Gr. anti, over against) + lang long. See Long.]
1. By the length; in a line with the length; lengthwise.
Some laid along . . . on spokes of wheels are hung. Dryden.
2. In a line, or with a progressive motion; onward; forward.
We will go along by the king's highway. Numb. xxi. 22.
He struck with his o'ertaking wings, And chased us south along.
Coleridge.
3. In company; together.
He to England shall along with you. Shak.
All along, all trough the course of; during the whole time;
throughout. "I have all along declared this to be a neutral paper."
Addison.
-- To get along, to get on; to make progress, as in business. "She
'll get along in heaven better than you or I." Mrs. Stowe.
ALONG
A*long", prep.
Defn: By the length of, as distinguished from across. "Along the
lowly lands." Dryden.
The kine . . . went along the highway. 1 Sam. vi. 12.
ALONG
A*long". Etym: [AS. gelang owing to.]
Defn: (Now heard only in the prep. phrase along of.) Along of, Along
on, often shortened to Long of, prep. phr., owing to; on account of.
[Obs. or Low. Eng.] "On me is not along thin evil fare." Chaucer.
"And all this is long of you." Shak. "This increase of price is all
along of the foreigners." London Punch.
ALONGSHORE
A*long"shore`, adv.
Defn: Along the shore or coast.
ALONGSHOREMAN
A*long"shore`man, n.
Defn: See Longshoreman.
ALONGSIDE
A*long"side`, adv.
Defn: Along or by the side; side by side with; -- often with of; as,
bring the boat alongside; alongside of him; alongside of the tree.
ALONGST
A*longst", prep. & adv. Etym: [Formed fr. along, like amongst fr.
among.]
Defn: Along. [Obs.]
ALOOF
A*loof", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Alewife.
ALOOF
A*loof", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loof, fr. D. loef luff, and so
meaning, as a nautical word, to the windward. See Loof, Luff.]
1. At or from a distance, but within view, or at a small distance;
apart; away.
Our palace stood aloof from streets. Dryden.
2. Without sympathy; unfavorably.
To make the Bible as from the hand of God, and then to look at it
aloof and with caution, is the worst of all impieties. I. Taylor.
ALOOF
A*loof", prep.
Defn: Away from; clear from. [Obs.]
Rivetus . . . would fain work himself aloof these rocks and
quicksands. Milton.
ALOOFNESS
A*loof"ness, n.
Defn: State of being aloof. Rogers (1642).
The . . . aloofness of his dim forest life. Thoreau.
ALOPECIA; ALOPECY
Al`o*pe"ci*a, A*lop"e*cy, n. Etym: [L. alopecia, Gr. (med.)
Defn: Loss of the hair; baldness.
ALOPECIST
A*lop"e*cist, n.
Defn: A practitioner who tries to prevent or cure baldness.
ALOSE
A*lose", v. t. Etym: [OE. aloser.]
Defn: To praise. [Obs.]
ALOSE
A"lose, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. alosa or alausa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European shad (Clupea alosa); -- called also allice shad or
allis shad. The name is sometimes applied to the American shad
(Clupea sapidissima). See Shad.
ALOUATTE
Al`ou*atte", n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the several species of howling monkeys of South America.
See Howler, 2.
ALOUD
A*loud", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + loud.]
Defn: With a loud voice, or great noise; loudly; audibly.
Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice. Isa. lviii. 1.
ALOW
A*low", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + low.]
Defn: Below; in a lower part. "Aloft, and then alow." Dryden.
ALP
Alp, n. Etym: [L. Alpes the Alps, said to be of Celtic origin; cf.
Gael. alp a high mountain, Ir. ailp any huge mass or lump: cf. F.
Alpes.]
1. A very high mountain. Specifically, in the plural, the highest
chain of mountains in Europe, containing the lofty mountains of
Switzerland, etc.
Nor breath of vernal air from snowy alp. Milton.
Hills peep o'er hills, and alps on alps arise. Pope.
2. Fig.: Something lofty, or massive, or very hard to be surmounted.
Note: The plural form Alps is sometimes used as a singular. "The Alps
doth spit." Shak.
ALP
Alp, n.
Defn: A bullfinch. Rom. of R.
ALPACA
Al*pac"a, n. Etym: [Sp. alpaca, fr. the original Peruvian name of the
animal. Cf. Paco.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of Peru (Lama paco), having long, fine, wooly hair,
supposed by some to be a domesticated variety of the llama.
2. Wool of the alpaca.
3. A thin kind of cloth made of the wooly hair of the alpaca, often
mixed with silk or with cotton.
ALPEN
Al"pen, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Alps. [R.] "The Alpen snow." J.
Fletcher.
ALPENGLOW
Al"pen*glow`, n.
Defn: A reddish glow seen near sunset or sunrise on the summits of
mountains; specif., a reillumination sometimes observed after the
summits have passed into shadow, supposed to be due to a curving
downward (refraction) of the light rays from the west resulting from
the cooling of the air.
ALPENHORN; ALPHORN
{ Al"pen*horn`, Alp"horn` }, n. [G. Alpenhorn.]
Defn: A curved wooden horn about three feet long, with a cupped
mouthpiece and a bell, used by the Swiss to sound the ranz des vaches
and other melodies. Its notes are open harmonics of the tube.
ALPENSTOCK
Al"pen*stock`, n. Etym: [G.; Alp, gen. pl. Alpen + stock stick.]
Defn: A long staff, pointed with iron, used in climbing the Alps.
Cheever.
ALPESTRINE
Al*pes"trine, a. Etym: [L. Alpestris.]
Defn: Pertaining to the Alps, or other high mountains; as, Alpestrine
diseases, etc.
ALPHA
Al"pha, n. Etym: [L. alpha, Gr. 'a`lfa, from Heb. aleph, name of the
first letter in the alphabet, also meaning ox.]
Defn: The first letter in the Greek alphabet, answering to A, and
hence used to denote the beginning.
In am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the
last. Rev. xxii. 13.
Note: Formerly used also denote the chief; as, Plato was the alpha of
the wits.
Note: In cataloguing stars, the brightest star of a constellation in
designated by Alpha (a); as, a Lyræ.
ALPHABET
Al"pha*bet, n. Etym: [L. alphabetum, fr. Gr. aleph and beth: cf. F.
alphabet.]
1. The letters of a language arranged in the customary order; the
series of letters or signs which form the elements of written
language.
2. The simplest rudiments; elements.
The very alphabet of our law. Macaulay.
Deaf and dumb alphabet. See Dactylology.
ALPHABET
Al"pha*bet, v. t.
Defn: To designate by the letters of the alphabet; to arrange
alphabetically. [R.]
ALPHABETARIAN
Al`pha*bet*a"ri*an, n.
Defn: A learner of the alphabet; an abecedarian. Abp. Sancroft.
ALPHABETIC; ALPHABETICAL
Al`pha*bet"ic, Al`pha*bet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alphabétique.]
1. Pertaining to, furnished with, expressed by, or in the order of,
the letters of the alphabet; as, alphabetic characters, writing,
languages, arrangement.
2. Literal. [Obs.] "Alphabetical servility." Milton.
ALPHABETICALLY
Al`pha*bet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an alphabetic manner; in the customary order of the letters.
ALPHABETICS
Al`pha*bet"ics, n.
Defn: The science of representing spoken sounds by letters.
ALPHABETISM
Al"pha*bet*ism, n.
Defn: The expression of spoken sounds by an alphabet. Encyc. Brit.
ALPHABETIZE
Al"pha*bet*ize, v. t.
1. To arrange alphabetically; as, to alphabetize a list of words.
2. To furnish with an alphabet.
ALPHA PAPER
Al"pha pa"per. (Photog.)
Defn: A sensitized paper for obtaining positives by artificial light.
It is coated with gelatin containing silver bromide and chloride.
[Eng.]
ALPHA RAYS
Alpha rays. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: Rays of relatively low penetrating power emitted by radium and
other radioactive substances, and shown to consist of positively
charged particles (perhaps particles of helium) having enormous
velocities but small masses. They are slightly deflected by a strong
magnetic or electric field.
AL-PHITOMANCY
Al-phit"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. mancy: cf. F. alphitomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of barley meal. Knowles.
ALPHOL
Al"phol, n. [Alpha- + -ol as in alcohol.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A crystalline derivative of salicylic acid, used as an
antiseptic and antirheumatic.
ALPHONSINE
Al*phon"sine, a.
Defn: Of or relating to Alphonso X., the Wise, King of Castile (1252-
1284). Alphonsine tables, astronomical tables prepared under the
patronage of Alphonso the Wise. Whewell.
ALPIGENE
Al"pi*gene, a. Etym: [L. Alpes Alps + -gen.]
Defn: Growing in Alpine regions.
ALPINE
Al"pine, a. Etym: [L. Alpinus, fr. Alpes the Alps: cf. F. Alpin.]
1. Of or pertaining to the Alps, or to any lofty mountain; as, Alpine
snows; Alpine plants.
2. Like the Alps; lofty. "Gazing up an Alpine height." Tennyson.
ALPINIST
Al"pin*ist, n.
Defn: A climber of the Alps.
ALPIST; ALPIA
Al"pist, Al"pi*a, n. Etym: [F.: cf. Sp. & Pg. alpiste.]
Defn: The seed of canary grass (Phalaris Canariensis), used for
feeding cage birds.
ALQUIFOU
Al"qui*fou, n. Etym: [Equiv. to arquifoux, F. alquifoux, Sp.
alquifól, fr. the same Arabic word as alcohol. See Alcohol.]
Defn: A lead ore found in Cornwall, England, and used by potters to
give a green glaze to their wares; potter's ore.
ALREADY
Al*read"y, adv. Etym: [All (OE. al) + ready.]
Defn: Prior to some specified time, either past, present, or future;
by this time; previously. "Joseph was in Egypt already." Exod. i. 5.
I say unto you, that Elias is come already. Matt. xvii. 12.
Note: It has reference to past time, but may be used for a future
past; as, when you shall arrive, the business will be already
completed, or will have been already completed.
ALS
Als, adv.
1. Also. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. As. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ALSATIAN
Al*sa"tian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Alsatia.
ALSATIAN
Al*sa"tian, n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Alsatia or Alsace in Germany, or of Alsatia or
White Friars (a resort of debtors and criminals) in London.
AL SEGNO
Al` se"gno. Etym: [It., to the mark or sign.](Mus.)
Defn: A direction for the performer to return and recommence from the
sign
ALSIKE
Al"sike, n. Etym: [From Alsike, in Sweden.]
Defn: A species of clover with pinkish or white flowers; Trifolium
hybridum.
ALSO
Al"so, adv. & conj. Etym: [All + so. OE. al so, AS. ealswa, alsw,
ælswæ; eal, al, æl, all + swa so. See All, So, As.]
1. In like manner; likewise. [Obs.]
2. In addition; besides; as well; further; too.
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . for where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. vi. 20.
3. Even as; as; so. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Also, Likewise, Too. These words are used by way of transition,
in leaving one thought and passing to another. Also is the widest
term. It denotes that what follows is all so, or entirely like that
which preceded, or may be affirmed with the same truth; as, "If you
were there, I was there also;" "If our situation has some
discomforts, it has also many sources of enjoyment." Too is simply
less formal and pointed than also; it marks the transition with a
lighter touch; as, "I was there too;" "a courtier yet a patriot too."
Pope. Likewise denotes literally "in like manner," and hence has been
thought by some to be more specific than also. "It implies," says
Whately, "some connection or agreement between the words it unites.
We may say, ` He is a poet, and likewise a musician; ' but we should
not say, ` He is a prince, and likewise a musician,' because there is
no natural connection between these qualities." This distinction,
however, is often disregarded.
ALT
Alt, a. & n. Etym: [See Alto.] (Mus.)
Defn: The higher part of the scale. See Alto. To be in alt, to be in
an exalted state of mind.
ALTAIAN; ALTAIC
Al*ta"ian, Al*ta"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altaïque.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Altai, a mountain chain in Central
Asia.
ALTAR
Al"tar, n. Etym: [OE. alter, auter, autier, fr. L. altare, pl.
altaria, altar, prob. fr. altus high: cf. OF. alter, autier, F.
autel. Cf. Altitude.]
1. A raised structure (as a square or oblong erection of stone or
wood) on which sacrifices are offered or incense burned to a deity.
Noah builded an altar unto the Lord. Gen. viii. 20.
2. In the Christian church, a construction of stone, wood, or other
material for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist; the communion
table.
Note: Altar is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a
compound; as, altar bread or altar-bread. Altar cloth or Altar-cloth,
the cover for an altar in a Christian church, usually richly
embroidered.
-- Altar cushion, a cushion laid upon the altar in a Christian
church to support the service book.
-- Altar frontal. See Frontal.
-- Altar rail, the railing in front of the altar or communion table.
-- Altar screen, a wall or partition built behind an altar to
protect it from approach in the rear.
-- Altar tomb, a tomb resembling an altar in shape, etc.
-- Family altar, place of family devotions.
-- To lead (as a bride) to the altar, to marry; -- said of a woman.
ALTARAGE
Al"tar*age, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. auterage, autelage.]
1. The offerings made upon the altar, or to a church.
2. The profit which accrues to the priest, by reason of the altar,
from the small tithes. Shipley.
ALTARIST
Al"tar*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. altarista, F. altariste.] (Old Law)
(a) A chaplain.
(b) A vicar of a church.
ALTARPIECE
Al"tar*piece`, n.
Defn: The painting or piece of sculpture above and behind the altar;
reredos.
ALTARWISE
Al"tar*wise`, adv.
Defn: In the proper position of an altar, that is, at the east of a
church with its ends towards the north and south. Shipley.
ALTAZIMUTH
Alt*az"i*muth, n. Etym: [Alltude + azimuth.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for taking azimuths and altitudes simultaneously.
ALTER
Al"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Altered; p. pr. & vb. n. Altering.] Etym:
[F. altérer, LL. alterare, fr. L. alter other, alius other. Cf. Else,
Other.]
1. To make otherwise; to change in some respect, either partially or
wholly; to vary; to modify. "To alter the king's course." "To alter
the condition of a man." "No power in Venice can alter a decree."
Shak.
It gilds all objects, but it alters none. Pope.
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of
my lips. Ps. lxxxix. 34.
2. To agitate; to affect mentally. [Obs.] Milton.
3. To geld. [Colloq.]
Syn.
-- Change, Alter. Change is generic and the stronger term. It may
express a loss of identity, or the substitution of one thing in place
of another; alter commonly expresses a partial change, or a change in
form or details without destroying identity.
ALTER
Al"ter, v. i.
Defn: To become, in some respects, different; to vary; to change; as,
the weather alters almost daily; rocks or minerals alter by exposure.
"The law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not." Dan. vi. 8.
ALTERABILITY
Al`ter*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. altérabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being alterable; alterableness.
ALTERABLE
Al"ter*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altérable.]
Defn: Capable of being altered.
Our condition in this world is mutable and uncertain, alterable by a
thousand accidents. Rogers.
ALTERABLENESS
Al"ter*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alterable; variableness; alterability.
ALTERABLY
Al"ter*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an alterable manner.
ALTERANT
Al"ter*ant, a. Etym: [LL. alterans, p. pr.: cf. F. altérant.]
Defn: Altering; gradually changing. Bacon.
ALTERANT
Al"ter*ant, n.
Defn: An alterative. [R.] Chambers.
ALTERATION
Al`ter*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. altération.]
1. The act of altering or making different.
Alteration, though it be from worse to better, hath in it
incoveniences. Hooker.
2. The state of being altered; a change made in the form or nature of
a thing; changed condition.
Ere long might perceive Strange alteration in me. Milton.
Appius Claudius admitted to the senate the sons of those who had been
slaves; by which, and succeeding alterations, that council
degenerated into a most corrupt. Swift.
ALTERATIVE
Al"ter*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. alterativus: cf. F. altératif.]
Defn: Causing ateration. Specifically:
Defn: Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state of the
functions into one of health. Burton.
ALTERATIVE
Al"ter*a*tive, n.
Defn: A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and
restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations.
ALTERCATE
Al"ter*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Altercated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Altercating.] Etym: [L. altercatus, p. p. of altercare, altercari,
fr. alter another. See Alter.]
Defn: The contend in words; to dispute with zeal, heat, or anger; to
wrangle.
ALTERCATION
Al`ter*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. altercation, fr. L. altercatio.]
Defn: Warm contention in words; dispute carried on with heat or
anger; controversy; wrangle; wordy contest. "Stormy altercations."
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Altercation, Dispute, Wrangle. The term dispute is in most cases,
but not necessarily, applied to a verbal contest; as, a dispute on
the lawfulness of war. An altercation is an angry dispute between two
parties, involving an interchange of severe language. A wrangle is a
confused and noisy altercation.
Their whole life was little else than a perpetual wrangling and
altercation. Hakewill.
ALTERCATIVE
Al"ter*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by wrangling; scolding. [R.] Fielding.
ALTERITY
Al*ter"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. altérité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being other; a being otherwise. [R.]
For outness is but the feeling of otherness (alterity) rendered
intuitive, or alterity visually represented. Coleridge.
ALTERN
Al"tern, a. Etym: [L. alternus, fr. alter another: cf. F. alterne.]
Defn: Acting by turns; alternate. Milton. Altern base (Trig.), a
second side made base, in distinction from a side previously regarded
as base.
ALTERNACY
Al*ter"na*cy, n.
Defn: Alternateness; alternation. [R.] Mitford.
ALTERNANT
Al*ter"nant, a. Etym: [L. alternans, p. pr.: cf. F. alternant. See
Alternate, v. t.] (Geol.)
Defn: Composed of alternate layers, as some rocks.
ALTERNAT
Al`ter`nat", n. [F.]
Defn: A usage, among diplomats, of rotation in precedence among
representatives of equal rank, sometimes determined by lot and at
other times in regular order. The practice obtains in the signing of
treaties and conventions between nations.
ALTERNATE
Al*ter"nate, a. Etym: [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr.
alternus. See Altern, Alter.]
1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in
succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other;
hence, reciprocal.
And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope.
2. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene
between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of
the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1,
3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the
stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. Gray.
Alternate alligation. See Alligation.
-- Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two
lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD,
are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH
and GHC, are called alternate angles.
-- Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation.
ALTERNATE
Al*ter"nate, n.
1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [R.]
Grateful alternates of substantial. Prior.
2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if
necessary, in performing some duty.
3. (Math.)
Defn: A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging
the means.
ALTERNATE
Al"ter*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Alternating.] Etym: [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See Altern.]
Defn: To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by
turns; to interchange regularly.
The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for
sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. Grew.
ALTERNATE
Al"ter*nate, v. i.
1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in
place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides
alternate with each other.
Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. J. Philips.
Different species alternating with each other. Kirwan.
2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and
sandy plains.
ALTERNATELY
Al*ter"nate*ly, adv.
1. In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order.
2. (Math.)
Defn: By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is
compared with antecedent, and consequent.
ALTERNATENESS
Al*ter"nate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns.
ALTERNATING CURRENT
Al"ter*nat`ing cur"rent. (Elec.)
Defn: A current which periodically changes or reverses its direction
of flow.
ALTERNATION
Al`ter*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. alternatio: cf. F. alternation.]
1. The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of
following and being followed by turns; alternate succession,
performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night,
cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Permutation.
3. The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the
minister. Mason. Alternation of generation. See under Generation.
ALTERNATIVE
Al*ter"na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. alternatif.]
1. Offering a choice of two things.
2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.
3. Alternate; reciprocal. [Obs.] Holland.
ALTERNATIVE
Al*ter"na*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.]
1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both;
a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must
be left.
There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute
destruction or unreformed existence. Burke.
2. Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus
when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called
alternatives.
Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you
obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another.
If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis.
With no alternative but death. Longfellow.
4. A choice between more than two things; one of several things
offered to choose among.
My decided preference is for the fourth and last of thalternatives.
Gladstone.
ALTERNATIVELY
Al*ter"na*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of alternatives, or that admits the choice of one
out of two things.
ALTERNATIVENESS
Al*ter"na*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being alternative, or of offering a choice
between two.
ALTERNATOR
Al"ter*na`tor, n. (Elec.)
Defn: An electric generator or dynamo for producing alternating
currents.
ALTERNITY
Al*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL. alternitas.]
Defn: Succession by turns; alternation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
ALTHAEA; ALTHEA
Al*thæ"a, Al*the"a, n. Etym: [althaea, Gr. (Bot.)
(a) A genus of plants of the Mallow family. It includes the officinal
marsh mallow, and the garden hollyhocks.
(b) An ornamental shrub (Hibiscus Syriacus) of the Mallow family.
ALTHEINE
Al*the"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Asparagine.
ALTHING
Al"thing, n. [Icel. (modern) alping, earlier alpingi; allr all + ping
assembly. See All, and Thing.]
Defn: The national assembly or parliament of Iceland. See Thing, n.,
8.
ALTHO
Al*tho", conj.
Defn: Although. [Reformed spelling] Alt"horn`, n. Etym: [Alt + horn.]
(Mus.)
Defn: An instrument of the saxhorn family, used exclusively in
military music, often replacing the French horn. Grove.
ALTHORN
Alt"horn`, n. [Alt + horn.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument of the saxhorn family, used exclusively in
military music, often replacing the French horn. Grove.
ALTHOUGH
Al*though", conj. Etym: [All + though; OE. al thagh.]
Defn: Grant all this; be it that; supposing that; notwithstanding;
though.
Although all shall be offended, yet will no I. Mark xiv. 29.
Syn.
-- Although, Though. Although, which originally was perhaps more
emphatic than though, is now interchangeable with it in the sense
given above. Euphonic consideration determines the choice.
ALTILOQUENCE
Al*til"o*quence, n.
Defn: Lofty speech; pompous language. [R.] Bailey.
ALTILOQUENT
Al*til"o*quent, a. Etym: [L. altus (adv. alte) high + loquens, p. pr.
of loqui to speak.]
Defn: High-sounding; pompous in speech. [R.] Bailey.
ALTIMETER
Al*tim"e*ter, n. Etym: [LL. altimeter; altus high + metrum, Gr.
altimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for taking altitudes, as a quadrant, sextant,
etc. Knight.
ALTIMETRY
Al*tim"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. altimétrie.]
Defn: The art of measuring altitudes, or heights.
ALTINCAR
Al*tin"car, n.
Defn: See Tincal.
ALTISCOPE
Al"ti*scope, n. Etym: [L. altus high + Gr.
Defn: An arrangement of lenses and mirrors which enables a person to
see an object in spite of intervening objects.
ALTISONANT
Al*tis"o*nant, a. Etym: [L. altus high + sonans, p. pr. of sonare to
sound.]
Defn: High-sounding; lofty or pompous. Skelton.
ALTISONOUS
Al*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. altisonus.]
Defn: Altisonant.
ALTISSIMO
Al*tis"si*mo, n. Etym: [It.; superl. of alto.] (Mus.)
Defn: The part or notes situated above F in alt.
ALTITUDE
Al"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. altitudo, fr. altus high. Cf. Altar,
Haughty, Enhance.]
1. Space extended upward; height; the perpendicular elevation of an
object above its foundation, above the ground, or above a given
level, or of one object above another; as, the altitude of a
mountain, or of a bird above the top of a tree.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The elevation of a point, or star, or other celestial object,
above the horizon, measured by the arc of a vertical circle
intercepted between such point and the horizon. It is either true or
apparent; true when measured from the rational or real horizon,
apparent when from the sensible or apparent horizon.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: The perpendicular distance from the base of a figure to the
summit, or to the side parallel to the base; as, the altitude of a
triangle, pyramid, parallelogram, frustum, etc.
4. Height of degree; highest point or degree.
He is [proud] even to the altitude of his virtue. Shak.
5. Height of rank or excellence; superiority. Swift.
6. pl.
Defn: Elevation of spirits; heroics; haughty airs. [Colloq.]
Richardson.
The man of law began to get into his altitude. Sir W. Scott.
Meridian altitude, an arc of the meridian intercepted between the
south point on the horizon and any point on the meridian. See
Meridian, 3.
ALTITUDINAL
Al`ti*tu"di*nal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to height; as, altitudinal measurements.
ALTITUDINARIAN
Al`ti*tu`di*na"ri*an, a.
Defn: Lofty in doctrine, aims, etc. [R.] Coleridge.
ALTIVOLANT
Al*tiv"o*lant, a. Etym: [L. altivolans. See Volant.]
Defn: Flying high. [Obs.] Blount.
ALTO
Al"to, n.; pl. Altos. Etym: [It. alto high, fr. L. altus. Cf. Alt.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: Formerly the part sung by the highest male, or counter-tenor,
voices; now the part sung by the lowest female, or contralto, voices,
between in tenor and soprano. In instrumental music it now signifies
the tenor.
2. An alto singer. Alto clef (Mus.) the counter-tenor clef, or the C
clef, placed so that the two strokes include the middle line of the
staff. Moore.
ALTO-CUMULUS
Al`to-cu"mu*lus, n. [L. altus high + L. & E. cumulus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A fleecy cloud formation consisting of large whitish or grayish
globular cloudlets with shaded portions, often grouped in flocks or
rows.
ALTOGETHER
Al`to*geth"er, adv. Etym: [OE. altogedere; al all + togedere
together. See Together.]
1. All together; conjointly. [Obs.]
Altogether they wenChaucer.
2. Without exception; wholly; completely.
Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Ps. xxxix. 5.
ALTOMETER
Al*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. altus high + -meter.]
Defn: A theodolite. Knight.
ALTO-RELIEVO
Al"to-re*lie"vo, n.
Defn: Alto-rilievo.
ALTO-RILIEVO
Al"to-ri*lie*vo, n.; pl. Alto-rilievos. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)
Defn: High relief; sculptured work in which the figures project more
than half their thickness; as, this figure is an alto-rilievo or in
alto-rilievo.
Note: When the figure stands only half out, it is called mezzo-
rilievo, demi-rilievo, or medium relief; when its projection is less
than one half, basso-rilievo, bas-relief, or low relief.
ALTO-STRATUS
Al`to-stra"tus, n. [L. altus high + L. & E. stratus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A cloud formation similar to cirro-stratus, but heavier and at
a lower level.
ALTRICAL
Al"tri*cal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like the articles.
ALTRICES
Al*tri"ces, n. pl. Etym: [L., nourishes, pl. of altrix.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Nursers, -- a term applied to those birds whose young are
hatched in a very immature and helpless condition, so as to require
the care of their parents for some time; -- opposed to præcoces.
ALTRUISM
Al"tru*ism, n. Etym: [F. altruisme (a word of Comte's), It. altrui of
or to others, fr. L. alter another.]
Defn: Regard for others, both natural and moral; devotion to the
interests of others; brotherly kindness; -- opposed to egoism or
selfishness. [Recent] J. S. Mill.
ALTRUIST
Al"tru*ist, n.
Defn: One imbued with altruism; -- opposed to egoist.
ALTRUISTIC
Al`tru*is"tic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. altruiste, a. See Altruism..]
Defn: Regardful of others; beneficent; unselfish; -- opposed to Ant:
egoistic or Ant: selfish. Bain.
-- Al`tru*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
ALUDEL
Al"u*del, n. Etym: [F. & Sp. aludel, fr. Ar. aluthal.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the pear-shaped pots open at both ends, and so formed as
to be fitted together, the neck of one into the bottom of another in
succession; -- used in the process of sublimation. Ure.
ALULA
Al"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. ala a wing.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A false or bastard wing. See under Bastard.
ALULAR
Al"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the alula.
ALUM
Al"um, n. Etym: [OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen
alum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element
(esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules
of water of crystallization.
Note: Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium.
It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in
octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double
sulphates similar to alum in formula.
ALUM
Al"um, v. t.
Defn: To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum;
to treat with alum. Ure.
ALUMEN
A*lu"men, n. Etym: [L.] (Chem.)
Defn: Alum.
ALUMINA
A*lu"mi*na, n. Etym: [L. alumen, aluminis. See Alum.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and
three of oxygen, Al2O3.
Note: It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous
salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous
minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the
characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an
impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other
aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum.
ALUMINATE
A*lu`mi*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the
substitution of a metal for the hydrogen.
ALUMINATED
A*lu"mi*na`ted. a.
Defn: Combined with alumina.
ALUMINE
Al"u*mine, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Alumina. Davy.
ALUMINIC
Al`u*min"ic, a.
Defn: Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate.
ALUMINIFEROUS
A*lu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. alumen alum + -ferous: cf. F.
aluminifère.]
Defn: Containing alum.
ALUMINIFORM
A*lu"mi*ni*form, a. Etym: [L. alumen + -form.]
Defn: pertaining the form of alumina.
ALUMINIUM
Al`u*min"i*um, n. Etym: [L. alumen. See Alum.] (Chem.)
Defn: The metallic base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a
bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and
for its lightness, pertaining a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic
weight 27.08. Symbol Al. Aluminium bronze or gold, a pale gold-
colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings,
etc.
ALUMINIZE
A*lu"mi*nize, v. t.
Defn: To treat impregnate with alum; to alum.
ALUMINOGRAPHY
A*lu`mi*nog"ra*phy, n. [Alumin-ium + -graphy.]
Defn: Art or process of producing, and printing from, aluminium
plates, after the manner of ordinary lithography. --
A*lu`mi*no*graph"ic (#), a.
ALUMINOUS
A*lu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. aluminosus, fr. alumen alum: cf. F.
alumineux.]
Defn: Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous
minerals, aluminous solution.
ALUMINUM
A*lu"mi*num, n.
Defn: See Aluminium.
ALUMISH
Al"um*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like alum.
ALUMNA
A*lum"na, n. fem.; pl. Alumnæ . Etym: [L. See Alumnus.]
Defn: A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college.
ALUMNUS
A*lum"nus, n.; pl. Alumni. Etym: [L., fr. alere to nourish.]
Defn: A pupil; especially, a graduate of a college or other seminary
of learning.
ALUM ROOT
Al"um root`. (Bot.)
Defn: A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage
family, whose root has astringent properties.
ALUM SCHIST; ALUM SHALE
Al"um schist", Al"um shale", (Min.)
Defn: A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the
decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often
effloresces on the rock.
ALUM STONE
Al"um stone`. (Min.)
Defn: A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.
ALUNITE
Al"u*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Alum stone.
ALUNOGEN
A*lu"no*gen, n. Etym: [F. alun alum + -gen.] (Min.)
Defn: A white fibrous mineral frequently found on the walls of mines
and quarries, chiefly hydrous sulphate of alumina; -- also called
feather alum, and hair salt.
ALURE
Al"ure, n. Etym: [OF. alure, aleure, walk, gait, fr. aler (F. aller)
to go.]
Defn: A walk or passage; -- applied to passages of various kinds.
The sides of every street were covered with fresh alures of marble.
T. Warton.
ALUTACEOUS
Al"u*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. alutacius, fr. aluta soft leather.]
1. Leathery.
2. Of a pale brown color; leather-yellow. Brande.
ALUTATION
Al`u*ta"tion, n. Etym: [See Alutaceous.]
Defn: The tanning or dressing of leather. [Obs.] Blount.
ALVEARY
Al"ve*a*ry, n.; pl. Alvearies. Etym: [L. alvearium, alveare, beehive,
fr. alveus a hollow vessel, beehive, from alvus belly, beehive.]
1. A beehive, or something resembling a beehive. Barret.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The hollow of the external ear. Quincy.
ALVEATED
Al"ve*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. alveatus hollowed out.]
Defn: Formed or vaulted like a beehive.
ALVEOLAR
Al"ve*o*lar, a. Etym: [L. alveolus a small hollow or cavity: cf. F.
alvéolaire.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, alveoli or little cells,
sacs, or sockets. Alveolar processes, the processes of the maxillary
bones, containing the sockets of the teeth.
ALVEOLARY
Al"ve*o*la*ry, a.
Defn: Alveolar. [R.]
ALVEOLATE
Al"ve*o*late, a. Etym: [L. alveolatus, fr. alveolus.] (Bot.)
Defn: Deeply pitted, like a honeycomb.
ALVEOLE
Al"ve*ole, n.
Defn: Same as Alveolus.
ALVEOLIFORM
Al*ve"o*li*form, a. Etym: [L. alvelous + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of alveoli, or little sockets, cells, or
cavities.
ALVEOLUS
Al*ve"o*lus, n.; pl. Alveoli. Etym: [L., a small hollow or cavity,
dim. of alveus: cf. F. alvéole. See Alveary.]
1. A cell in a honeycomb.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small cavity in a coral, shell, or fossil
3. (Anat.)
Defn: A small depression, sac, or vesicle, as the socket of a tooth,
the air cells of the lungs, the ultimate saccules of glands, etc.
ALVEUS
Al"ve*us, n.; pl. Alvei. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The channel of a river. Weate.
ALVINE
Al"vine, a. Etym: [L. alvus belly: cf. F. alvin.]
Defn: Of, from, in, or pertaining to, the belly or the intestines;
as, alvine discharges; alvine concretions.
ALWAY
Al"way, adv.
Defn: Always. [Archaic or Poetic]
I would not live alway. Job vii. 16.
ALWAYS
Al"ways, adv. Etym: [All + way. The s is an adverbial (orig. a
genitive) ending.]
1. At all times; ever; perpetually; throughout all time; continually;
as, God is always the same.
Even in Heaven his [Mammon's] looks and thoughts. Milton.
2. Constancy during a certain period, or regularly at stated
intervals; invariably; uniformly; -- opposed to sometimes or
occasionally.
He always rides a black galloway. Bulwer.
ALYSSUM
A*lys"sum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cruciferous plants; madwort. The sweet alyssum (A.
maritimum), cultivated for bouquets, bears small, white, sweet-
scented flowers.
AM
Am. Etym: [AS. am, eom, akin to Gothic im, Icel. em, Olr. am, Lith.
esmi, L. sum., Gr. ahmi, Skr. asmi, fr. a root as to be. Are, and cf.
Be, Was.]
Defn: The first person singular of the verb be, in the indicative
mode, present tense. See Be.
God said unto Moses, I am that am. Exod. iii. 14.
AMABILITY
Am`a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. amabilitas.]
Defn: Lovableness. Jer. Taylor.
Note: The New English Dictionary (Murray) says this word is "usefully
distinct from Amiability."
AMACRATIC
Am`a*crat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Photog.)
Defn: Amasthenic. Sir J. Herschel.
AMADAVAT
Am`a*da*vat", n. Etym: [Indian name. From Ahmedabad, a city from
which it was imported to Europe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The strawberry finch, a small Indian song bird (Estrelda
amandava), commonly caged and kept for fighting. The female is olive
brown; the male, in summer, mostly crimson; -- called also red
waxbill. [Written also amaduvad and avadavat.]
AMADOU
Am"a*dou, n. Etym: [F. amadou tinder, prop. lure, bait, fr. amadouer
to allure, caress, perh. fr. Icel. mata to feed, which is akin to E.
meat.]
Defn: A spongy, combustible substance, prepared from fungus (Boletus
and Polyporus) which grows on old trees; German tinder; punk. It has
been employed as a styptic by surgeons, but its common use is as
tinder, for which purpose it is prepared by soaking it in a strong
solution of niter. Ure.
AMAIN
A*main", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + main. See 2d Main, n.]
1. With might; with full force; vigorously; violently; exceedingly.
They on the hill, which were not yet come to blows, perceiving the
fewness of their enemies, came down amain. Milton.
That striping giant, ill-bred and scoffing, shouts amain. T. Parker.
2. At full speed; in great haste; also, at once. "They fled amain."
Holinshed.
AMAIN
A*main", v. t. Etym: [F. amener. See Amenable.] (Naut.)
Defn: To lower, as a sail, a yard, etc.
AMAIN
A*main", v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To lower the topsail, in token of surrender; to yield.
AMALGAM
A*mal"gam, n. Etym: [F. amalgame, prob. fr. L. malagma, Gr.
1. An alloy of mercury with another metal or metals; as, an amalgam
of tin, bismuth, etc.
Note: Medalists apply the term to soft alloys generally.
2. A mixture or compound of different things.
3. (Min.)
Defn: A native compound of mercury and silver.
AMALGAM
A*mal"gam, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. amalgamer]
Defn: To amalgamate. Boyle. B. Jonson.
AMALGAMA
A*mal"ga*ma, n.
Defn: Same as Amalgam.
They divided this their amalgama into a number of incoherent
republics. Burke.
AMALGAMATE
A*mal"ga*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amalgamated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Amalgamating.]
1. To compound or mix, as quicksilver, with another metal; to unite,
combine, or alloy with mercury.
2. To mix, so as to make a uniform compound; to unite or combine; as,
to amalgamate two races; to amalgamate one race with another.
Ingratitude is indeed their four cardinal virtues compacted and
amalgamated into one. Burke.
AMALGAMATE
A*mal"ga*mate, v. i.
1. To unite in an amalgam; to blend with another metal, as
quicksilver.
2. To coalesce, as a result of growth; to combine into a uniform
whole; to blend; as, two organs or parts amalgamate.
AMALGAMATE; AMALGAMATED
A*mal"ga*mate, A*mal"ga*ma`ted, a.
Defn: Coalesced; united; combined.
AMALGAMATION
A*mal`ga*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amalgamation.]
1. The act or operation of compounding mercury with another metal; --
applied particularly to the process of separating gold and silver
from their ores by mixing them with mercury. Ure.
2. The mixing or blending of different elements, races, societies,
etc.; also, the result of such combination or blending; a homogeneous
union. Macaulay.
AMALGAMATIVE
A*mal"ga*ma*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by amalgamation.
AMALGAMATOR
A*mal"ga*ma`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, amalgamates. Specifically: A machine
for separating precious metals from earthy particles by bringing them
in contact with a body of mercury with which they form an amalgam.
AMALGAMIZE
A*mal"ga*mize, v. t.
Defn: To amalgamate. [R.]
AMANDINE
A*man"dine, n. Etym: [F. amande almond. See Almond.]
1. The vegetable casein of almonds.
2. A kind of cold cream prepared from almonds, for chapped hands,
etc.
AMANITA
Am`a*ni"ta, n. [NL. See Amanitine.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of poisonous fungi of the family Agaricaceæ,
characterized by having a volva, an annulus, and white spores. The
species resemble edible mushrooms, and are frequently mistaken for
them. Amanita muscaria, syn. Agaricus muscarius, is the fly amanita,
or fly agaric; and A. phalloides is the death cup.
AMANITINE
A*man"i*tine, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The poisonous principle of some fungi.
AMANUENSIS
A*man`u*en"sis, n.; pl. Amanuenses. Etym: [L., fr. a, ab + manus
hand.]
Defn: A person whose employment is to write what another dictates, or
to copy what another has written.
AMARACUS
A*mar"a*cus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A fragrant flower. Tennyson.
AMARANT
Am"a*rant, n.
Defn: Amaranth, 1. [Obs.] Milton.
AMARANTACEOUS
Am`a*ran*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which
the amaranth is the type.
AMARANTH
Am"a*ranth, n. Etym: [L. amarantus, Gr. mortal; -- so called because
its flowers do not soon wither: cf. F. amarante. The spelling with th
seems to be due to confusion with Gr.
1. An imaginary flower supposed never to fade. [Poetic]
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of ornamental annual plants (Amaranthus) of many
species, with green, purplish, or crimson flowers.
2. A color inclining to purple.
AMARANTHINE
Am`a*ran"thine, a.
1. Of or pertaining to amaranth. "Amaranthine bowers." Pope.
2. Unfading, as the poetic amaranth; undying.
They only amaranthine flower on earth Is virtue. Cowper.
3. Of a purplish color. Buchanan.
AMARANTHUS; AMARANTUS
Am`a*ran"thus, Am`a*ran"tus, n.
Defn: Same as Amaranth.
AMARINE
Am"a*rine, n. Etym: [L. amarus bitter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A characteristic crystalline substance, obtained from oil of
bitter almonds.
AMARITUDE
A*mar"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. amaritudo, fr. amarus bitter: cf. OF.
amaritude.]
Defn: Bitterness. [R.]
AMARYLLIDACEOUS; AMARYLLIDEOUS
Am`a*ryl`li*da"ceous, Am`a*ryl*lid"e*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, an order of plants differing
from the lily family chiefly in having the ovary below the
AMARYLLIS
Am`a*ryl"lis, n. Etym: [L. Amaryllis, Gr.
1. A pastoral sweetheart.
To sport with Amaryllis in the shade. Milton.
2. (bot.)
(a) A family of plants much esteemed for their beauty, including the
narcissus, jonquil, daffodil, agave, and others.
(b) A genus of the same family, including the Belladonna lily.
AMASS
A*mass", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Amassing.]
Etym: [F. ambusher, LL. amassare; L. ad + massa lump, mass. See
Mass.]
Defn: To collect into a mass or heap; to gather a great quantity of;
to accumulate; as, to amass a treasure or a fortune; to amass words
or phrases.
The life Homer has been written by amassing all the traditions and
hints the writers could meet with. Pope.
Syn.
-- To accumulate; heap up; pile.
AMASS
A*mass", n. Etym: [OF. amasse, fr. ambusher.]
Defn: A mass; a heap. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
AMASSABLE
A*mass"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being amassed.
AMASSER
A*mass"er, n.
Defn: One who amasses.
AMASSETTE
A`mas`sette", n. Etym: [F. See Amass.]
Defn: An instrument of horn used for collecting painters' colors on
the stone in the process of grinding.
AMASSMENT
A*mass"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. amassement.]
Defn: An amassing; a heap collected; a large quantity or number
brought together; an accumulation.
An amassment of imaginary conceptions. Glanvill.
AMASTHENIC
Am`as*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Photog.)
Defn: Uniting the chemical rays of light into one focus, as a certain
kind of lens; amacratic.
AMATE
A*mate", v. t. Etym: [OF. amater, amatir.]
Defn: To dismay; to dishearten; to daunt. [Obs. or Archaic]
The Silures, to amate the new general, rumored the overthrow greater
than was true. Milton.
AMATE
A*mate", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + mate.]
Defn: To be a mate to; to match. [Obs.] Spenser.
AMATEUR
Am`a*teur", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. amator lover, fr. amare to love.]
Defn: A person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science as
to music or painting; esp. one who cultivates any study or art, from
taste or attachment, without pursuing it professionally.
AMATEURISH
Am`a*teur"ish, a.
Defn: In the style of an amateur; superficial or defective like the
work of an amateur.
-- Am`a*teur"ish*ly, adv.
-- Am`a*teur"ish*ness, n.
AMATEURISM
Am"a*teur*ism, n.
Defn: The practice, habit, or work of an amateur.
AMATEURSHIP
Am"a*teur`ship, n.
Defn: The quality or character of an amateur.
AMATIVE
Am"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. amatus, p. p. of amare to love.]
Defn: Full of love; amatory.
AMATIVENESS
Am"a*tive*ness, n. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty supposed to influence sexual desire; propensity to
love. Combe.
AMATORIAL
Am`a*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [See Amatorious.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a lover or to love making; amatory; as,
amatorial verses.
AMATORIALLY
Am`a*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an amatorial manner.
AMATORIAN
Am`a*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: Amatory. [R.] Johnson.
AMATORIOUS
Am`a*to"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. amatorius, fr. amare to love.]
Defn: Amatory. [Obs.] "Amatorious poem." Milton.
AMATORY
Am"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, producing, or expressing, sexual love; as,
amatory potions.
AMAUROSIS
Am`au*ro"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A loss or decay of sight, from loss of power in the optic
nerve, without any perceptible external change in the eye; -- called
also gutta serena, the "drop serene" of Milton.
AMAUROTIC
Am`au*rot"ic, a.
Defn: Affected with amaurosis; having the characteristics of
amaurosis.
AMAZE
A*maze", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Amazing.] Etym:
[Pref. a- + maze.]
1. To bewilder; to stupefy; to bring into a maze. [Obs.]
A labyrinth to amaze his foes. Shak.
2. To confound, as by fear, wonder, extreme surprise; to overwhelm
with wonder; to astound; to astonish greatly. "Amazing Europe with
her wit." Goldsmith.
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of
David Matt. xii. 23.
Syn.
-- To astonish; astound; confound; bewilder; perplex; surprise.
-- Amaze, Astonish. Amazement includes the notion of bewilderment of
difficulty accompanied by surprise. It expresses a state in which one
does not know what to do, or to say, or to think. Hence we are amazed
at what we can not in the least account for. Astonishment also
implies surprise. It expresses a state in which one is stunned by the
vastness or greatness of something, or struck with some degree of
horror, as when one is overpowered by the
AMAZE
A*maze", v. i.
Defn: To be astounded. [Archaic] B. Taylor.
AMAZE
A*maze", v. t.
Defn: Bewilderment, arising from fear, surprise, or wonder;
amazement. [Chiefly poetic]
The wild, bewildered Of one to stone converted by amaze. Byron.
AMAZEDLY
A*maz"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In amazement; with confusion or astonishment. Shak.
AMAZEDNESS
A*maz"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being amazed, or confounded with fear, surprise,
or wonder. Bp. Hall.
AMAZEFUL
A*maze"ful, a.
Defn: Full of amazement. [R.]
AMAZEMENT
A*maze"ment, n.
1. The condition of being amazed; bewilderment [Obs.]; overwhelming
wonder, as from surprise, sudden fear, horror, or admiration.
His words impression left Of much amazement. Milton.
2. Frenzy; madness. [Obs.] Webster (1661).
AMAZING
A*maz"ing, a.
Defn: Causing amazement; very wonderful; as, amazing grace.
-- A*maz"ing*ly, adv.
AMAZON
Am"a*zon, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. One of a fabulous race of female warriors in Scythia; hence, a
female warrior.
2. A tall, strong, masculine woman; a virago.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name numerous species of South American parrots of the genus
Chrysotis Amazon ant (Zoöl.), a species of ant (Polyergus rufescens),
of Europe and America. They seize by conquest the larvæ and nymphs
other species and make slaves of them in their own nests.
AMAZONIAN
Am`a*zo"ni*an, a.
1. Pertaining to or resembling an Amazon; of masculine manners;
warlike. Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the river Amazon in South America, or to its
valley.
AMAZONITE; AMAZON STONE
Am"a*zon*ite, Am"a*zon stone`, n. Etym: [Named from the river
Amazon.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of feldspar, having a verdigris-green color.
AMB-; AMBI-
Amb-, Am*bi-. Etym: [L. prefix ambi-, amb-, akin to Gr. abhi, AS.
embe, emb, OHG. umbi, umpi, G. um, and also L. ambo both. Cf. Amphi-,
Both, By.]
Defn: A prefix meaning about, around; -- used in words derived from
the Latin.
AMBAGES
Am*ba"ges, n. pl. Etym: [L. (usually in pl.); pref. ambi-, amb- +
agere to drive: cf. F. ambage.]
Defn: A circuit; a winding. Hence: Circuitous way or proceeding;
quibble; circumlocution; indirect mode of speech.
After many ambages, perspicuously define what this melancholy is.
Burton.
AMBAGINOUS
Am*bag"i*nous, a.
Defn: Ambagious. [R.]
AMBAGIOUS
Am*ba"gious, a. Etym: [L. ambagiosus.]
Defn: Circumlocutory; circuitous. [R.]
AMBAGITORY
Am*bag"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Ambagious. [R.]
AMBARY; AMBARY HEMP
Am*ba"ry, n., or Ambary hemp. [Hind. ambara, ambari.]
Defn: A valuable East Indian fiber plant (Hibiscus cannabinus), or
its fiber, which is used throughout India for making ropes, cordage,
and a coarse canvas and sackcloth; --called also brown Indian hemp.
AMBASSADE; EMBASSADE
Am"bas*sade, Em"bas*sade, n. Etym: [F. ambassade. See Embassy.]
1. The mission of an ambassador. [Obs.] Carew.
2. An embassy. [Obs.] Strype.
AMBASSADOR; EMBASSADOR
Am*bas"sa*dor, Em*bas"sa*dor, n. Etym: [See Embassador.]
1. A minister of the highest rank sent a foreign court to represent
there his sovereign or country.
Note: Ambassador are either ordinary [or resident] or extraordinary,
that is, sent upon some special or unusual occasion or errand.
Abbott.
2. An official messenger and representative.
AMBASSADORIAL
Am*bas`sa*do"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an ambassador. H. Walpole.
AMBASSADORSHIP
Am*bas`sa*dor*ship, n.
Defn: The state, office, or functions of an ambassador.
AMBASSADRESS
Am*bas"sa*dress, n.
Defn: A female ambassador; also, the wife of an ambassador. Prescott.
AMBASSAGE
Am"bas*sage, n.
Defn: Same as Embassage. [Obs. or R.] Luke xiv. 32.
AMBASSY
Am"bas*sy, n.
Defn: See Embassy, the usual spelling. Helps.
AMBER
Am"ber, n. Etym: [OE. aumbre, F. ambre, Sp. ámbar, and with the Ar.
article, alámbar, fr. Ar. 'anbar ambergris.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A yellowish translucent resin resembling copal, found as a
fossil in alluvial soils, with beds of lignite, or on the seashore in
many places. It takes a fine polish, and is used for pipe
mouthpieces, beads, etc., and as a basis for a fine varnish. By
friction, it becomes strongly electric.
2. Amber color, or anything amber-colored; a clear light yellow; as,
the amber of the sky.
3. Ambergris. [Obs.]
You that smell of amber at my charge. Beau. & Fl.
4. The balsam, liquidambar. Black amber, and old and popular name for
jet.
AMBER
Am"ber, a.
1. Consisting of amber; made of amber. "Amber bracelets." Shak.
2. Resembling amber, especially in color; amber-colored. "The amber
morn." Tennyson.
AMBER
Am"ber, v. t. [p. p. & p. a. Ambered .]
1. To scent or flavor with ambergris; as, ambered wine.
2. To preserve in amber; as, an ambered fly.
AMBER FISH
Am"ber fish. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the southern Atlantic coast (Seriola Carolinensis.)
AMBERGREASE
Am"ber*grease, n.
Defn: See Ambergris.
AMBERGRIS
Am"ber*gris, n. Etym: [F. ambre gris, i. e., gray amber; F. gris
gray, which is of German origin: cf. OS. grîs, G. greis, gray-haired.
See Amber.]
Defn: A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the
Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid
secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter
macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin.
In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often
variegated like marble. The floating masses are sometimes from sixty
to two hundred and twenty-five pounds in weight. It is wholly
volatilized as a white vapor at 212º Fahrenheit, and is highly valued
in perfumery. Dana.
AMBER ROOM
Am"ber room
Defn: A room formerly in the Czar's Summer Palace in Russia, which
was richly decorated with walls and fixtures made from amber. The
amber was removed by occupying German troops during the Second World
War and has, as of 1997, never been recovered. The room is being
recreated from old photographs by Russian artisans. PJC
AMBER SEED
Am"ber seed`.
Defn: Seed of the Hibiscus abelmoschus, somewhat resembling millet,
brought from Egypt and the West Indies, and having a flavor like that
of musk; musk seed. Chambers.
AMBER TREE
Am"ber tree`.
Defn: A species of Anthospermum, a shrub with evergreen leaves,
which, when bruised, emit a fragrant odor.
AMBES-AS
Ambes"-as, n.
Defn: Ambs-ace. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMBIDEXTER
Am"bi*dex"ter, a. Etym: [LL., fr. L. ambo both + dexter right, dextra
(sc. manus) the right hand.]
Defn: Using both hands with equal ease. Smollett.
AMBIDEXTER
Am`bi*dex"ter, n.
1. A person who uses both hands with equal facility.
2. Hence; A double-dealer; one equally ready to act on either side in
party disputes.
The rest are hypocrites, ambidexters, so many turning pictures -- a
lion on one side, a lamb on the other. Burton.
3. (Law)
Defn: A juror who takes money from both parties for giving his
verdict. Cowell.
AMBIDEXTERITY
Am"bi*dex*ter"i*ty, n.
1. The quality of being ambidexas, ambidexterity of argumentation.
Sterne.
Ignorant I was of the human frame, and of its latent powers, as
regarded speed, force, and ambidexterity. De Quincey.
2. Double-dealing. (Law)
Defn: A juror's taking of money from the both parties for a verdict.
AMBIDEXTRAL
Am`bi*dex"tral, a.
Defn: Pertaining equally to the right-hand side and the left-hand
side. Earle.
AMBIDEXTROUS
Am`bi*dex"trous, a.
1. Pertaining the faculty of using both hands with equal ease. Sir T.
Browne.
2. Practicing or siding with both parties.
All false, shuffling, and ambidextrous dealings. L'Estrange.
AMBIDEXTROUSLY
Am"bi*dex"trous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ambidextrous manner; cunningly.
AMBIDEXTROUSNESS
Am`bi*dex"trous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being ambidextrous; ambidexterity.
AMBIENT
Am"bi*ent, a. Etym: [L. ambiens, p. pr. of ambire to go around; amb-
+ ire to go.]
Defn: Encompassing on all sides; circumfused; investing. "Ambient
air." Milton. "Ambient clouds." Pope.
AMBIENT
Am"bi*ent, n.
Defn: Something that surrounds or invests; as, air . . . being a
perpetual ambient. Sir H. Wotton.
AMBIGENOUS
Am*big"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + genus kind.]
Defn: Of two kinds. (Bot.)
Defn: Partaking of two natures, as the perianth of some endogenous
plants, where the outer surface is calycine, and the inner petaloid.
AMBIGU
Am"bi*gu, n. Etym: [F., fr. ambigu doubtful, L. ambiquus. See
Ambiguous.]
Defn: An entertainment at which a medley of dishes is set on at the
same time.
AMBIGUITY
Am`bi*gu"i*ty, n.; pl. Ambiguities. Etym: [L. ambiguitas, fr.
ambiguus: cf. F. ambiguité.]
Defn: The quality or state of being ambiguous; doubtfulness or
uncertainty, particularly as to the signification of language,
arising from its admitting of more than one meaning; an equivocal
word or expression.
No shadow of ambiguity can rest upon the course to be pursued. I.
Taylor.
The words are of single signification, without any ambiguity. South.
AMBIGUOUS
Am*big"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. ambiguus, fr. ambigere to wander about,
waver; amb- + agere to drive.]
Defn: Doubtful or uncertain, particularly in respect to
signification; capable of being understood in either of two or more
possible senses; equivocal; as, an ambiguous course; an ambiguous
expression.
What have been thy answers What but dark, Ambiguous, and with double
sense deluding Milton.
Syn.
-- Doubtful; dubious; uncertain; unsettled; indistinct;
indeterminate; indefinite. See Equivocal.
AMBIGUOUSLY
Am*big"u*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ambiguous manner; with doubtful meaning.
AMBIGUOUSNESS
Am*big"u*ous*ness, n.
Defn: Ambiguity.
AMBILEVOUS
Am`bi*le"vous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + laevus left.]
Defn: Left-handed on both sides; clumsy; -- opposed to ambidexter.
[R.] Sir T. Browne.
AMBILOQUY
Am*bil"o*quy, n.
Defn: Doubtful or ambiguous language. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMBIPAROUS
Am*bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. ambo both + parere to bring forth.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Characterized by containing the rudiments of both flowers and
leaves; -- applied to a bud.
AMBIT
Am"bit, n. Etym: [L. ambitus circuit, fr. ambire to go around. See
Ambient.]
Defn: Circuit or compass.
His great parts did not live within a small ambit. Milward.
AMBITION
Am*bi"tion, n. Etym: [F. ambition, L. ambitio a going around,
especially of candidates for office is Rome, to solicit votes (hence,
desire for office or honorambire to go around. See Ambient, Issue.]
1. The act of going about to solicit or obtain an office, or any
other object of desire; canvassing. [Obs.]
[I] used no ambition to commend my deeds. Milton.
2. An eager, and sometimes an inordinate, desire for preferment,
honor, superiority, power, or the attainment of something.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling a way ambition: By that sin fell the
angels. Shak.
The pitiful ambition of possessing five or six thousand more acres.
Burke.
AMBITION
Am*bi"tion, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. ambitionner.]
Defn: To seek after ambitiously or eagerly; to covet. [R.]
Pausanias, ambitioning the sovereignty of Greece, bargains with
Xerxes for his daughter in marriage. Trumbull.
AMBITIONIST
Am*bi"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One excessively ambitious. [R.]
AMBITIONLESS
Am*bi"tion*less, a.
Defn: Devoid of ambition. Pollok.
AMBITIOUS
Am*bi"tious, a. Etym: [L. ambitiosus: cf. F. ambitieux. See
Ambition.]
1. Possessing, or controlled by, ambition; greatly or inordinately
desirous of power, honor, office, superiority, or distinction.
Yet Brutus says he was ambitious, And Brutus is an honorable man.
Shak.
2. Strongly desirous; -- followed by of or the infinitive; as,
ambitious to be or to do something.
I was not ambitious of seeing this ceremony. Evelyn.
Studious of song, and yet ambitious not to sing in vain. Cowper.
3. Springing from, characterized by, or indicating, ambition; showy;
aspiring; as, an ambitious style.
A giant statue . . . Pushed by a wild and artless race, From off
wide, ambitious base. Collins.
AMBITIOUSLY
Am*bi"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ambitious manner.
AMBITIOUSNESS
Am*bi"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being ambitious; ambition; pretentiousness.
AMBITUS
Am"bi*tus, n. Etym: [L. See Ambit, Ambition.]
1. The exterior edge or border of a thing, as the border of a leaf,
or the outline of a bivalve shell.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A canvassing for votes.
AMBLE
Am"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ambled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambling.] Etym:
[F. ambler to amble, fr. L. ambulare to walk, in LL., to amble, perh.
fr. amb-, ambi-, and a root meaning to go: cf. Gr. base. Cf.
Ambulate.]
1. To go at the easy gait called an amble; -- applied to the horse or
to its rider.
2. To move somewhat like an ambling horse; to go easily or without
hard shocks.
The skipping king, he ambled up and down. Shak.
Sir, your wit ambles well; it goes easily. Shak.
AMBLE
Am"ble, n.
1. A peculiar gait of a horse, in which both legs on the same side
are moved at the same time, alternating with the legs on the other
side. "A fine easy amble." B. Jonson.
2. A movement like the amble of a horse.
AMBLER
Am"bler, n.
Defn: A horse or a person that ambles.
AMBLINGLY
Am"bling*ly, adv.
Defn: With an ambling gait.
AMBLOTIC
Am*blot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Tending to cause abortion.
AMBLYGON
Am"bly*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. amblygone.] (Geom.)
Defn: An obtuse-angled figure, esp. and obtuse-angled triangle.
[Obs.]
AMBLYGONAL
Am*blyg"o*nal, a.
Defn: Obtuse-angled. [Obs.] Hutton.
AMBLYOPIA; AMBLYOPY
Am`bly*o"pi*a, Am"bly*o`py, n. Etym: [Gr. amblyopie.] (Med.)
Defn: Weakness of sight, without and opacity of the cornea, or of the
interior of the eye; the first degree of amaurosis.
AMBLYOPIC
Am"bly*op"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to amblyopy. Quain.
AMBLYPODA
Am*blyp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A group of large, extinct, herbivorous mammals, common in the
Tertiary formation of the United States.
AMBO
Am"bo, n.; pl. Ambos. Etym: [LL. ambo, Gr. ambon.]
Defn: A large pulpit or reading desk, in the early Christian
churches. Gwilt.
AMBON
Am"bon, n.
Defn: Same as Ambo.
AMBOYNA BUTTON
Am*boy"na but"ton. (Med.)
Defn: A chronic contagious affection of the skin, prevalent in the
tropics.
AMBOYNA PINE
Amboyna pine. (Bot.)
Defn: The resiniferous tree Agathis Dammara, of the Moluccas.
AMBOYNA WOOD
Am*boy"na wood.
Defn: A beautiful mottled and curled wood, used in cabinetwork. It is
obtained from the Pterocarpus Indicus of Amboyna, Borneo, etc.
AMBREATE
Am"bre*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the combination of ambreic acid with a base or
positive radical.
AMBREIC
Am*bre"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to ambrein; -- said of a certain acid produced
by digesting ambrein in nitric acid.
AMBREIN
Am"bre*in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ambréine. See Amber.] (Chem.)
Defn: A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of
ambergris.
AMBRITE
Am"brite, n. Etym: [From amber.]
Defn: A fossil resin occurring in large masses in New Zealand.
AMBROSE
Am"brose, n.
Defn: A sweet-scented herb; ambrosia. See Ambrosia, 3. Turner.
AMBROSIA
Am*bro"sia, n. Etym: [L. ambrosia, Gr. mrita, L. mortuus, dead, and
to E. mortal.]
1. (Myth.)
(a) The fabled food of the gods (as nectar was their drink), which
conferred immortality upon those who partook of it.
(b) An unguent of the gods.
His dewy locks distilled ambrosia. Milton.
2. A perfumed unguent, salve, or draught; something very pleasing to
the taste or smell. Spenser.
3. Formerly, a kind of fragrant plant; now (Bot.), a genus of plants,
including some coarse and worthless weeds, called ragweed, hogweed,
etc.
AMBROSIA BEETLE
Ambrosia beetle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bark beetle that feeds on ambrosia.
AMBROSIAC
Am"bro"si*ac, a. Etym: [L. ambrosiacus: cf. F. ambrosiaque.]
Defn: Having the qualities of ambrosia; delicious. [R.]"Ambrosiac
odors." B. Jonson.
AMBROSIAL
Am*bro"sial, a. Etym: [L. ambrosius, Gr.
1. Consisting of, or partaking of the nature of, ambrosia; delighting
the taste or smell; delicious. "Ambrosial food." "Ambrosial
fragrance." Milton.
2. Divinely excellent or beautiful. "Shakes his ambrosial curls."
Pope.
AMBROSIALLY
Am*bro"sial*ly, adv.
Defn: After the manner of ambrosia; delightfully. "Smelt
ambrosially." Tennyson.
AMBROSIAN
Am*bro"sian, a.
Defn: Ambrosial. [R.] . Jonson.
AMBROSIAN
Am*bro"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to St. Ambrose; as, the Ambrosian office, or
ritual, a formula of worship in the church of Milan, instituted by
St. Ambrose. Ambrosian chant, the mode of signing or chanting
introduced by St. Ambrose in the 4th century.
AMBROSIN
Am"bro*sin, n. Etym: [LL. Ambrosinus nummus.]
Defn: An early coin struck by the dukes of Milan, and bearing the
figure of St. Ambrose on horseback.
AMBROTYPE
Am"bro*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.] (Photog.)
Defn: A picture taken on a place of prepared glass, in which the
lights are represented in silver, and the shades are produced by a
dark background visible through the unsilvered portions of the glass.
AMBRY
Am"bry, n.; pl. Ambries. Etym: [OE. aumbry, almery, OF. almarie,
armarie, aumaire, F. armoire, LL. armarium chest, cupboard, orig. a
repository for arms, fr. L. arama arms. The word has been confused
with almonry. See Armory.]
1. In churches, a kind of closet, niche, cupboard, or locker for
utensils, vestments, etc.
2. A store closet, as a pantry, cupboard, etc.
3. Almonry. [Improperly so used]
AMBS-ACE
Ambs"-ace, n. Etym: [OF. ambesas; ambes both (fr. L. ambo) + as ace.
See Ace.]
Defn: Double aces, the lowest throw of all at dice. Hence: Bad luck;
anything of no account or value.
AMBULACRAL
Am`bu*la"cral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to ambulacra; avenuelike; as, the ambulacral
ossicles, plates, spines, and suckers of echinoderms.
AMBULACRIFORM
Am`bu*la"cri*form, a. Etym: [Ambulacrum + -form] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form of ambulacra.
AMBULACRUM
Am`bu*la"crum, n.; pl. Ambulacra. Etym: [L., an alley or covered
way.] (Zoöl.)
(a) One of the radical zones of echinoderms, along which run the
principal nerves, blood vessels, and water tubes. These zones usually
bear rows of locomotive suckers or tentacles, which protrude from
regular pores. In star fishes they occupy the grooves along the under
side of the rays.
(b) One of the suckers on the feet of mites.
AMBULANCE
Am"bu*lance, n. Etym: [F. ambulance, hôpital ambulant, fr. L.
ambulare to walk. See Amble.] (Mil.)
(a) A field hospital, so organized as to follow an army in its
movements, and intended to succor the wounded as soon as possible.
Often used adjectively; as, an ambulance wagon; ambulance stretcher;
ambulance corps.
(b) An ambulance wagon or cart for conveying the wounded from the
field, or to a hospital.
AMBULANT
Am"bu*lant, a. Etym: [L. ambulans, p. pr. of ambulare to walk: cf. F.
ambulant.]
Defn: Walking; moving from place to place. Gayton.
AMBULATE
Am"bu*late, v. i. Etym: [L. ambulare to walk. See Amble.]
Defn: To walk; to move about. [R.] Southey.
AMBULATION
Am`bu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ambulatio.]
Defn: The act of walking. Sir T. Browne.
AMBULATIVE
Am"bu*la*tive, a.
Defn: Walking. [R.]
AMBULATOR
Am"bu*la`tor, n.
1. One who walks about; a walker.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A beetle of the genus Lamia.
(b) A genus of birds, or one of this genus.
3. An instrument for measuring distances; -- called also
perambulator. Knight.
AMBULATORIAL
Am`bu*la*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Ambulatory; fitted for walking. Verrill.
AMBULATORY
Am"bu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. ambulatorius.]
1. Of or pertaining to walking; having the faculty of walking; formed
or fitted for walking; as, an ambulatory animal.
2. Accustomed to move from place to place; not stationary; movable;
as, an ambulatory court, which exercises its jurisdiction in
different places.
The priesthood . . . before was very ambulatory, and dispersed into
all families. Jer. Taylor.
3. Pertaining to a walk. [R.]
The princess of whom his majesty had an ambulatory view in his
travels. Sir H. Wotton.
4. (Law)
Defn: Not yet fixed legally, or settled past alteration; alterable;
as, the dispositions of a will are ambulatory until the death of the
testator.
AMBULATORY
Am"bu*la*to*ry, n.; pl. Ambulatories. Etym: [Cf. LL. ambulatorium.]
(Arch.)
Defn: A place to walk in, whether in the open air, as the gallery of
a cloister, or within a building.
AMBURRY
Am"bur*ry, n.
Defn: Same as Anbury.
AMBUSCADE
Am`bus*cade", n. Etym: [F. embuscade, fr. It. imboscata, or Sp.
emboscada, fr. emboscar to ambush, fr. LL. imboscare. See Ambush, v.
t.]
1. A lying in a wood, concealed, for the purpose of attacking an
enemy by surprise. Hence: A lying in wait, and concealed in any
situation, for a like purpose; a snare laid for an enemy; an ambush.
2. A place in which troops lie hid, to attack an enemy unexpectedly.
[R.] Dryden.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: The body of troops lying in ambush.
AMBUSCADE
Am`bus*cade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambuscaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ambuscading.]
1. To post or conceal in ambush; to ambush.
2. To lie in wait for, or to attack from a covert or lurking place;
to waylay.
AMBUSCADE
Am`bus*cade", v. i.
Defn: To lie in ambush.
AMBUSCADO
Am`bus*ca"do, n.
Defn: Ambuscade. [Obs.] Shak.
AMBUSCADOED
Am`bus*ca"doed, p. p.
Defn: Posted in ambush; ambuscaded. [Obs.]
AMBUSH
Am"bush, n. Etym: [F. embûche, fr. the verb. See Ambush, v. t.]
1. A disposition or arrangement of troops for attacking an enemy
unexpectedly from a concealed station. Hence: Unseen peril; a device
to entrap; a snare.
Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege Or ambush from the
deep. Milton.
2. A concealed station, where troops or enemies lie in wait to attack
by surprise.
Bold in close ambush, base in open field. Dryden.
3. The troops posted in a concealed place, for attacking by surprise;
liers in wait. [Obs.]
The ambush arose quickly out of their place. Josh. viii. 19.
To lay an ambush, to post a force in ambush.
AMBUSH
Am"bush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ambushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ambushing.]
Etym: [OE. enbussen, enbushen, OF. embushier, embuissier, F.
embûcher, embusquer, fr. LL. imboscare; in + LL. boscus, buscus, a
wood; akin to G. bush, E. bush. See Ambuscade, Bu.]
1. To station in ambush with a view to surprise an enemy.
By ambushed men behind their temple Dryden.
2. To attack by ambush; to waylay.
AMBUSH
Am"bush, v. i.
Defn: To lie in wait, for the purpose of attacking by surprise; to
lurk.
Nor saw the snake that ambushed for his prey. Trumbull.
AMBUSHER
Am"bush*er, n.
Defn: One lying in ambush.
AMBUSHMENT
Am"bush*ment, n. Etym: [OF. embuschement. See Ambush, v. t.]
Defn: An ambush. [Obs.] 2 Chron. xiii. 13.
AMBUSTION
Am*bus"tion, n. Etym: [L. ambustio.] (Med.)
Defn: A burn or scald. Blount.
AMEBEAN
Am`e*be"an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Am.
AMEER; AMIR
A*meer", A*mir", n. Etym: [See Emir.]
1. Emir. [Obs.]
2. One of the Mohammedan nobility of Afghanistan and Scinde.
AMEL
Am"el, n. Etym: [OE. amell, OF. esmail, F. émail, of German origin;
cf. OHG. smelzi, G. schmelz. See Smelt, v. t.]
Defn: Enamel. [Obs.] Boyle.
AMEL
Am"el, v. t. Etym: [OE. amellen, OF. esmailler, F. émailler, OF.
esmail, F. émail.]
Defn: To enamel. [Obs.]
Enlightened all with stars, And richly ameled. Chapman.
AMELCORN
Am"el*corn`, n. Etym: [Ger. amelkorn: cf. MHG. amel, amer, spelt, and
L. amylum starch, Gr.
Defn: A variety of wheat from which starch is produced; -- called
also French rice.
AMELIORABLE
A*mel"io*ra*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being ameliorated.
AMELIORATE
A*mel"io*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ameliorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ameliorating.] Etym: [L. ad + meliorare to make better: cf. F.
améliorer. See Meliorate.]
Defn: To make better; to improve; to meliorate.
In every human being there is a wish to ameliorate his own condition.
Macaulay.
AMELIORATE
A*mel"io*rate, v. i.
Defn: To grow better; to meliorate; as, wine ameliorates by age.
AMELIORATION
A*mel`io*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amélioration.]
Defn: The act of ameliorating, or the state of being ameliorated;
making or becoming better; improvement; melioration. "Amelioration of
human affairs." J. S. Mill.
AMELIORATIVE
A*mel"io*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to ameliorate; producing amelioration or improvement;
as, ameliorative remedies, efforts.
AMELIORATOR
A*mel"io*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who ameliorates.
AMEN
A`men", interj., adv., & n. Etym: [L. amen, Gr. am certainly, truly.]
Defn: An expression used at the end of prayers, and meaning, So be
it. At the end of a creed, it is a solemn asseveration of belief.
When it introduces a declaration, it is equivalent to truly, verily.
It is used as a noun, to demote: (a) concurrence in belief, or in a
statement; assent; (b) the final word or act; (c) Christ as being one
who is true and faithful.
And let all the people say, Amen. Ps. cvi. 48.
Amen, amen, I say to thee, except a man be born again, he can not see
the kingdom of God. John ii. 3. Rhemish Trans.
To say amen to, to approve warmly; to concur in heartily or
emphatically; to ratify; as, I say Amen to all.
AMEN
A`men", v. t.
Defn: To say Amen to; to sanction fully.
AMENABILITY
A*me`na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being amenable; amenableness. Coleridge.
AMENABLE
A*me"na*ble, a. Etym: [F. amener to lead; ad) = mener to lead, fr. L.
minare to drive animals (properly by threatening cries), in LL. to
lead; L. minari, to threaten, minae threats. See Menace.]
1. (Old Law)
Defn: Easy to be led; governable, as a woman by her husband. [Obs.]
Jacob.
2. Liable to be brought to account or punishment; answerable;
responsible; accountable; as, amenable to law.
Nor is man too diminutive . . . to be amenable to the divine
government. I. Taylor.
3. Liable to punishment, a charge, a claim, etc.
4. Willing to yield or submit; responsive; tractable.
Sterling . . . always was amenable enough to counsel. Carlyle.
AMENABLENESS
A*me"na*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being amenable; liability to answer
charges; answerableness.
AMENABLY
A*me"na*bly, adv.
Defn: In an amenable manner.
AMENAGE
Am"e*nage, v. t. Etym: [OF. amesnagier. See Manage.]
Defn: To manage. [Obs.] Spenser.
AMENANCE
Am"e*nance, n. Etym: [OF. See Amenable.]
Defn: Behavior; bearing. [Obs.] Spenser.
AMEND
A*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amended; p. pr. & vb. n. Amending.]
Etym: [F. amender, L. emendare; e(ex) + mendum, menda, fault, akin to
Skr. minda personal defect. Cf. Emend, Mend.]
Defn: To change or modify in any way for the better; as,
(a) by simply removing what is erroneous, corrupt, superfluous,
faulty, and the like;
(b) by supplying deficiencies;
(c) by substituting something else in the place of what is removed;
to rectify.
Mar not the thing that can not be amended. Shak.
An instant emergency, granting no possibility for revision, or
opening for amended thought. De Quincey.
We shall cheer her sorrows, and amend her blood, by wedding her to a
Norman. Sir W. Scott.
To amend a bill, to make some change in the details or provisions of
a bill or measure while on its passage, professedly for its
improvement.
Syn.
-- To Amend, Emend, Correct, Reform, Rectify. These words agree in
the idea of bringing things into a more perfect state. We correct
(literally, make straight) when we conform things to some standard or
rule; as, to correct proof sheets. We amend by removing blemishes,
faults, or errors, and thus rendering a thing more a nearly perfect;
as, to amend our ways, to amend a text, the draft of a bill, etc.
Emend is only another form of amend, and is applied chiefly to
editions of books, etc. To reform is literally to form over again, or
put into a new and better form; as, to reform one's life. To rectify
is to make right; as, to rectify a mistake, to rectify abuses,
inadvertencies, etc.
AMEND
A*mend", v. i.
Defn: To grow better by rectifying something wrong in manners or
morals; to improve. "My fortune . . . amends." Sir P. Sidney.
AMENDABLE
A*mend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being amended; as, an amendable writ or error.
-- A*mend"a*ble*ness, n.
AMENDATORY
A*mend"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Supplying amendment; corrective; emendatory. Bancroft.
AMENDE
A`mende", n. Etym: [F. See Amend.]
Defn: A pecuniary punishment or fine; a reparation or recantation.
Amende honorable(#). (Old French Law) A species of infamous
punishment in which the offender, being led into court with a rope
about his neck, and a lighted torch in his hand, begged pardon of his
God, the court, etc. In popular language, the phrase now denotes a
public apology or recantation, and reparation to an injured party,
for improper language or treatment.
AMENDER
A*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who amends.
AMENDFUL
A*mend"ful, a.
Defn: Much improving. [Obs.]
AMENDMENT
A*mend"ment, n. Etym: [F. amendement, LL. amendamentum.]
1. An alteration or change for the better; correction of a fault or
of faults; reformation of life by quitting vices.
2. In public bodies; Any alternation made or proposed to be made in a
bill or motion by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting.
3. (Law)
Defn: Correction of an error in a writ or process.
Syn.
-- Improvement; reformation; emendation.
AMENDS
A*mends", n. sing. & pl. Etym: [F. amendes, pl. of amende. Cf.
Amende.]
Defn: Compensation for a loss or injury; recompense; reparation. [Now
const. with sing. verb.] "An honorable amends." Addison.
Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends. Shak.
AMENITY
A*men"i*ty, n.; pl. Amenities. Etym: [F. aménité, L. amoenitas, fr.
amoenus pleasant.]
Defn: The quality of being pleasant or agreeable, whether in respect
to situation, climate, manners, or disposition; pleasantness;
civility; suavity; gentleness.
A sweetness and amenity of temper. Buckle.
This climate has not seduced by its amenities. W. Howitt.
AMENORRHOEA
A*men`or*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [Gr. aménorrhée.] (Med.)
Defn: Retention or suppression of the menstrual discharge.
AMENORRHOEAL
A*men`or*rhoe"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to amenorrhoea.
A MENSA ET THORO
A men"sa et tho"ro. Etym: [L., from board and bed.] (Law)
Defn: A kind of divorce which does not dissolve the marriage bond,
but merely authorizes a separate life of the husband and wife.
Abbott.
AMENT
Am"ent, n. Etym: [L. amentum thong or strap.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of inflorescence; a catkin.
The globular ament of a buttonwood. Coues.
AMENTACEOUS
Am`en*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [LL. amentaceus.] (Bot.)
(a) Resembling, or consisting of, an ament or aments; as, the
chestnut has an amentaceous inflorescence.
(b) Bearing aments; having flowers arranged in aments; as,
amentaceous plants.
AMENTIA
A*men"ti*a, n. Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: Imbecility; total want of understanding.
AMENTIFEROUS
Am`en*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. amentum + -ferous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing catkins. Balfour.
AMENTIFORM
A*men"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. amentum + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a catkin.
AMENTUM
A*men"tum, n.; pl. Amenta.
Defn: Same as Ament.
AMENUSE
Am"e*nuse, v. t. Etym: [OF. amenuisier. See Minute.]
Defn: To lessen. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMERCE
A*merce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Amercing.]
Etym: [OF. amercier, fr. a merci at the mercy of, liable to a
punishment. See Mercy.]
1. To punish by a pecuniary penalty, the amount of which is not fixed
by law, but left to the discretion of the court; as, the amerced the
criminal in the sum on the hundred dollars.
Note: The penalty of fine may be expressed without a preposition, or
it may be introduced by in, with, or of.
2. To punish, in general; to mulct.
Millions of spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven. Milton.
Shall by him be amerced with penance due. Spenser.
AMERCEABLE
A*merce"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be amerced.
AMERCEMENT
A*merce"ment, n. Etym: [OF. amerciment.]
Defn: The infliction of a penalty at the discretion of the court;
also, a mulct or penalty thus imposed. It differs from a fine,in that
the latter is, or was originally, a fixed and certain sum prescribed
by statue for an offense; but an amercement is arbitrary. Hence, the
act or practice of affeering. [See Affeer.] Blackstone.
Note: This word, in old books, is written amerciament. Amercement
royal, a penalty imposed on an officer for a misdemeanor in his
office. Jacobs.
AMERCER
A*mer"cer, n.
Defn: One who amerces.
AMERCIAMENT
A*mer"cia*ment, n. Etym: [LL. amerciamentum.]
Defn: Same as Amercement. Mozley & W.
AMERICAN
A*mer"i*can, a. Etym: [Named from Americus Vespucius.]
1. Of or pertaining to America; as, the American continent: American
Indians.
2. Of or pertaining to the United States. "A young officer of the
American navy." Lyell. American ivy. See Virginia creeper.
-- American Party (U. S. Politics), a party, about 1854, which
opposed the influence of foreign-born citizens, and those supposed to
owe allegiance to a foreign power.
-- Native american Party (U. S. Politics), a party of principles
similar to those of the American party. It arose about 1843, but soon
died out.
AMERICAN
A*mer"i*can, n.
Defn: A native of America; -- originally applied to the aboriginal
inhabitants, but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in
America, and especially to the citizens of the United States.
The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism.
Washington.
AMERICANISM
A*mer"i*can*ism, n.
1. Attachment to the United States.
2. A custom peculiar to the United States or to America; an American
characteristic or idea.
3. A word or phrase peculiar to the United States.
AMERICANIZATION
A*mer`i*can*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The process of Americanizing.
AMERICANIZE
A*mer"i*can*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Americanizer; p. pr. & vb. n.
Americanizing.]
Defn: To render American; to assimilate to the Americans in customs,
ideas, etc.; to stamp with American characteristics.
AMERICAN PLAN
A*mer"i*can plan.
Defn: In hotels, aplan upon which guests pay for both room and board
by the day, week, or other convenient period; -- contrasted with
European plan.
AMERICAN PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION
A*mer"i*can Pro*tect"ive As*so`ci*a"tion.
Defn: A secret organization in the United States, formed in Iowa in
1887, ostensibly for the protection of American institutions by
keeping Roman Catholics out of public office. Abbrev. commonly to A.
P .A.
AMES-ACE
Ames"-ace, n.
Defn: Same as Ambs-ace.
AMESS
Am"ess, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: Amice, a hood or cape. See 2d Amice.
AMETABOLA
Am`e*tab"o*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of insects which do not undergo any metamorphosis.
[Written also Ametabolia.]
AMETABOLIAN
A*met`a*bo"li*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to insects that do undergo any metamorphosis.
AMETABOLIC; AMETABOLOUS
A*met`a*bol"ic, Am`e*tab"o*lous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Not undergoing any metamorphosis; as, ametabolic insects.
AMETHODIST
A*meth"o*dist, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + methodist.]
Defn: One without method; a quack. [Obs.]
AMETHYST
Am"e*thyst, Etym: [F. ametiste, amatiste, F. améthyste, L.
amethystus, fr. Gr. Mead.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of crystallized quartz, of a purple or bluish violet
color, of different shades. It is much used as a jeweler's stone.
Oriental amethyst, the violet-blue variety of transparent
crystallized corundum or sapphire.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A purple color in a nobleman's escutcheon, or coat of arms.
AMETHYSTINE
Am`e*thys"tine, a. Etym: [L. amethystinus, Gr.
1. Resembling amethyst, especially in color; bluish violet.
2. Composed of, or containing, amethyst.
AMETROPIA
Am`e*tro"pi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Any abnormal condition of the refracting powers of the eye.
-- Am`e*trop"ic, a.
AMHARIC
Am*har"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Amhara, a division of Abyssinia; as, the
Amharic language is closely allied to the Ethiopic.
-- n.
Defn: The Amharic language (now the chief language of Abyssinia).
AMIA
Am"i*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fresh-water ganoid fishes, exclusively confined to
North America; called bowfin in Lake Champlain, dogfish in Lake Erie,
and mudfish in South Carolina, etc. See Bowfin.
AMIABILITY
A`mi*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being amiable; amiableness; sweetness of
disposition.
Every excellency is a degree of amiability. Jer. Taylor.
AMIABLE
A"mi*a*ble, a. Etym: [F. amiable, L. amicabilis friendly, fr. amicus
friend, fr. amare to love. The meaning has been influenced by F.
aimable, L. amabilis lovable, fr. amare to love. Cf. Amicable,
Amorous, Amability.]
1. Lovable; lovely; pleasing. [Obs. or R.]
So amiable a prospect. Sir T. Herbert.
2. Friendly; kindly; sweet; gracious; as, an amiable temper or mood;
amiable ideas.
3. Possessing sweetness of disposition; having sweetness of temper,
kind-heartedness, etc., which causes one to be liked; as, an amiable
woman.
4. Done out of love. [Obs.]
Lay an amiable siege to the honesty of this Ford's wife. Shak.
AMIABLENESS
A`mi*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being amiable; amiability.
AMIABLY
A"mi*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an amiable manner.
AMIANTH
Am"i*anth, n.
Defn: See Amianthus. [Poetic]
AMIANTHIFORM
Am`i*an"thi*form, a. Etym: [Amianthus + -form.]
Defn: Resembling amianthus in form.
AMIANTHOID
Am`i*an"thoid, a. Etym: [Amianthus + -oid: cf. F. amiantoïde.]
Defn: Resembling amianthus.
AMIANTHUS
Am`i*an"thus, n. Etym: [L. amiantus, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Earth flax, or mountain flax; a soft silky variety of asbestus.
AMIC
Am"ic, a. Etym: [L. ammonia + -ic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Related to, or derived, ammonia; -- used chiefly as a suffix;
as, amic acid; phosphamic acid. Amic acid (Chem.), one of a class of
nitrogenized acids somewhat resembling amides.
AMICABILITY
Am`i*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being amicable; friendliness; amicableness. Ash.
AMICABLE
Am"i*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. amicabilis, fr. amicus friend, fr. amare to
love. See Amiable.]
Defn: Friendly; proceeding from, or exhibiting, friendliness; after
the manner of friends; peaceable; as, an amicable disposition, or
arrangement.
That which was most remarkable in this contest was . . . the amicable
manner in which it was managed. Prideoux.
Amicable action (Law.), an action commenced and prosecuted by
amicable consent of the parties, for the purpose of obtaining a
decision of the court on some matter of law involved in it. Bouvier.
Burrill.
-- Amicable numbers (Math.), two numbers, each of which is equal to
the sum of all the aliquot parts of the other.
Syn.
-- Friendly; peaceable; kind; harmonious.
-- Amicable, Friendly. Neither of these words denotes any great
warmth of affection, since friendly has by no means the same strength
as its noun friendship. It does, however, imply something of real
cordiality; while amicable supposes very little more than that the
parties referred to are not disposed to quarrel. Hence, we speak of
amicable relations between two countries, an amicable adjustment of
difficulties. "Those who entertain friendly feelings toward each
other can live amicably together."
AMICABLENESS
Am"i*ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being amicable; amicability.
AMICABLY
Am"i*ca*bly, adv.
Defn: In an amicable manner.
AMICE
Am"ice, n. Etym: [OE. amyse, prob. for amyt, OF. amit, ameit, fr. L.
amictus cloak, the word being confused with amice, almuce, a hood or
cape. See next word.]
Defn: A square of white linen worn at first on the head, but now
about the neck and shoulders, by priests of the Roman Catholic Church
while saying Mass.
AMICE
Am"ice, n. Etym: [OE. amuce, amisse, OF. almuce, aumuce, F. aumusse,
LL. almucium, almucia, aumucia: of unknown origin; cf. G. mütze cap,
prob. of the same origin. Cf. Mozetta.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A hood, or cape with a hood, made of lined with gray fur,
formerly worn by the clergy; -- written also amess, amyss, and
almuce.
AMID
A*mid", prep.
Defn: See Amidst.
AMIDE
Am"ide, n. Etym: [Ammonia + -ide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound formed by the union of amidogen with an acid element
or radical. It may also be regarded as ammonia in which one or more
hydrogen atoms have been replaced by an acid atom or radical. Acid
amide, a neutral compound formed by the substitution of the amido
group for hydroxyl in an acid.
AMIDIN
Am"i*din, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amidine, fr. amido starch, fr. L. amylum,
Gr. Meal.] (Chem.)
Defn: Start modified by heat so as to become a transparent mass, like
horn. It is soluble in cold water.
AMIDO
A*mi"do, a. Etym: [From Amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing, or derived from, amidogen. Amido acid, an acid in
which a portion of the nonacid hydrogen has been replaced by the
amido group. The amido acids are both basic and acid.
-- Amido group, amidogen, NH2.
AMIDOGEN
A*mid"o*gen, n. Etym: [Amide + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, NH2, not yet obtained in a separate state,
which may be regarded as ammonia from the molecule of which one of
its hydrogen atoms has been removed; -- called also the amido group,
and in composition represented by the form amido.
AMIDOL
Am"i*dol, n. [Amide + -ol as in alcohol.] (Photog. & Chem.)
Defn: A salt of a diamino phenol, C6H3(OH)(NH2)2, used as a
developer.
AMIDSHIPS
A*mid"ships, adv. (Naut.)
Defn: In the middle of a ship, with regard to her length, and
sometimes also her breadth. Totten.
AMIDST; AMID
A*midst", A*mid", prep. Etym: [OE. amidde, amiddes, on midden, AS. on
middan, in the middle, fr. midde the middle. The s is an adverbial
ending, originally marking the genitive; the t is a later addition,
as in whilst, amongst, alongst. See Mid.]
Defn: In the midst or middle of; surrounded or encompassed by; among.
"This fair tree amidst the garden." "Unseen amid the throng." "Amidst
thick clouds." Milton. "Amidst acclamations." "Amidst the splendor
and festivity of a court." Macaulay.
But rather famish them amid their plenty. Shak.
Syn.
-- Amidst, Among. These words differ to some extent from each other,
as will be seen from their etymology. Amidst denotes in the midst or
middle of, and hence surrounded by; as, this work was written amidst
many interruptions. Among denotes a mingling or intermixing with
distinct or separable objects; as, "He fell among thieves." "Blessed
art thou among women." Hence, we say, among the moderns, among the
ancients, among the thickest of trees, among these considerations,
among the reasons I have to offer. Amid and amidst are commonly used
when the idea of separate or distinguishable objects is not
prominent. Hence, we say, they kept on amidst the storm, amidst the
gloom, he was sinking amidst the waves, he persevered amidst many
difficulties; in none of which cases could among be used. In like
manner, Milton speaks of Abdiel, --
The seraph Abdiel, faithful found; Among the faithless faithful only
he, because he was then considered as one of the angels. But when the
poet adds, --
From amidst them forth he passed, we have rather the idea of the
angels as a collective body.
Those squalid cabins and uncleared woods amidst which he was born.
Macaulay.
AMIGO
A*mi"go, n.; pl. Amigos (#). [Sp., fr. L. amicus.]
Defn: A friend; -- a Spanish term applied in the Philippine Islands
to friendly natives.
AMINE
Am"ine, n. Etym: [Ammonia + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of strongly basic substances derived from
ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by a basic atom
or radical.
AMINOL
Am"i*nol, n. [From amine.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A colorless liquid prepared from herring brine and containing
amines, used as a local antiseptic.
AMIOID
Am"i*oid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Amioidei.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Amioidei.
AMIOIDEI
Am`i*oi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Amia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes of which Amis is type. See Bowfin and
Ganoidei.
AMIR
A*mir", n.
Defn: Same as Ameer.
AMISH
Am"ish, n. pl. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The Amish Mennonites.
AMISH
Am"ish, a. [Written also Omish.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the followers of Jacob
Amman, a strict Mennonite of the 17th century, who even proscribed
the use of buttons and shaving as "worldly conformity". There are
several branches of Amish Mennonites in the United States.
AMISS
A*miss", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + miss.]
Defn: Astray; faultily; improperly; wrongly; ill.
What error drives our eyes and ears amiss Shak.
Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. James iv. 3.
To take (an act, thing) amiss, to impute a wrong motive to (an act or
thing); to take offense at' to take unkindly; as, you must not take
these questions amiss.
AMISS
A*miss", a.
Defn: Wrong; faulty; out of order; improper; as, it may not be amiss
to ask advice.
Note: [Used only in the predicate.] Dryden.
His wisdom and virtue can not always rectify that which is amiss in
himself or his circumstances. Wollaston.
AMISS
A*miss", n.
Defn: A fault, wrong, or mistake. [Obs.]
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss. Shak.
AMISSIBILITY
A*mis`si*bil"i*ty, Etym: [Cf. F. amissibilité. See Amit.]
Defn: The quality of being amissible; possibility of being lost. [R.]
Notions of popular rights and the amissibility of sovereign power for
misconduct were alternately broached by the two great religious
parties of Europe. Hallam.
AMISSIBLE
A*mis"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. amissibilis: cf. F. amissible.]
Defn: Liable to be lost. [R.]
AMISSION
A*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. amissio: cf. F. amission.]
Defn: Deprivation; loss. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
AMIT
A*mit", v. t. Etym: [L. amittere, amissum, to lose; a (ab) + mittere
to send. See Missile.]
Defn: To lose. [Obs.]
A lodestone fired doth presently amit its proper virtue. Sir T.
Browne.
AMITOSIS
Am`i*to"sis, n. [NL. See A-not, and Mitosis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Cell division in which there is first a simple cleavage of the
nucleus without change in its structure (such as the formation of
chromosomes), followed by the division of the cytoplasm; direct cell
division; -- opposed to mitosis. It is not the usual mode of
division, and is believed by many to occur chiefly in highly
specialized cells which are incapable of long-continued
multiplication, in transitory structures, and in those in early
stages of degeneration.
AMITOTIC
Am`i*tot"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to amitosis; karyostenotic; -- opposed to
mitotic.
AMITY
Am"i*ty, n.; pl. Amities. Etym: [F. amitié, OF. amistié, amisté, fr.
an assumed LL. amisitas, fr. L. amicus friendly, from amare to love.
See Amiable.]
Defn: Friendship, in a general sense, between individuals, societies,
or nations; friendly relations; good understanding; as, a treaty of
amity and commerce; the amity of the Whigs and Tories.
To live on terms of amity with vice. Cowper.
Syn.
-- Harmony; friendliness; friendship; affection; good will; peace.
AMMA
Am"ma, n. Etym: [LL. amma, prob. of interjectional or imitative
origin: cf. Sp. ama, G. amme, nurse, Basque ama mother, Heb. , Ar.
immun, ummun.]
Defn: An abbes or spiritual mother.
AMMETER
Am"me*ter, n. (Physics)
Defn: A contraction of amperometer or ampèremeter.
AMMIRAL
Am"mi*ral, n.
Defn: An obsolete form of admiral. "The mast of some great ammiral."
Milton.
AMMITE
Am"mite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Oölite or roestone; -- written also hammite. [Obs.]
AMMODYTE
Am"mo*dyte, n. Etym: [L. ammodytes, Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of a genus of fishes; the sand eel.
(b) A kind of viper in southern Europe. [Obs.]
AMMONAL
Am"mo*nal`, n. [Ammonium + aluminium.]
Defn: An explosive consisting of a mixture of powdered aluminium and
nitrate of ammonium.
AMMONIA
Am*mo"ni*a, n. Etym: [From sal ammoniac, which was first obtaining
near the temple of Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel's dung. See
Ammoniac.] (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a
pungent smell and taste: -- often called volatile alkali, and spirits
of hartshorn.
AMMONIAC; AMMONIACAL
Am*mo"ni*ac, Am`mo*ni"a*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ammonia, or possessing its properties; as,
an ammoniac salt; ammoniacal gas. Ammoniacal engine, an engine in
which the vapor of ammonia is used as the motive force.
-- Sal ammoniac Etym: [L. sal ammoniacus], the salt usually called
chloride of ammonium, and formerly muriate of ammonia.
AMMONIAC; GUM AMMONIAC
Am*mo"ni*ac ([or] Gum` am*mo"ni*ac , n. Etym: [L. Ammoniacum, Gr.
Ammon; cf. F. ammoniac. See Ammonite.] (Med.)
Defn: The concrete juice (gum resin) of an umbelliferous plant, the
Dorema ammoniacum. It is brought chiefly from Persia in the form of
yellowish tears, which occur singly, or are aggregated into masses.
It has a peculiar smell, and a nauseous, sweet taste, followed by a
bitter one. It is inflammable, partially soluble in water and in
spirit of wine, and is used in medicine as an expectorant and
resolvent, and for the formation of certain plasters.
AMMONIACAL FERMENTATION
Am`mo*ni"a*cal fer`men*ta"tion.
Defn: Any fermentation process by which ammonia is formed, as that by
which urea is converted into ammonium carbonate when urine is exposed
to the air.
AMMONIATED
Am*mo"ni*a`ted, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined or impregnated with ammonia.
AMMONIC
Am*mo"nic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ammonia.
AMMONITE
Am"mon*ite, n. Etym: [L. cornu Ammonis born of Ammon; L. Ammon, Gr.
Amun.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil cephalopod shell related to the nautilus. There are
many genera and species, and all are extinct, the typical forms
having existed only in the Mesozoic age, when they were exceedingly
numerous. They differ from the nautili in having the margins of the
septa very much lobed or plaited, and the siphuncle dorsal. Also
called serpent stone, snake stone, and cornu Ammonis.
AMMONITIFEROUS
Am`mon*i*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Ammonite + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing fossil ammonites.
AMMONITOIDEA
Am*mon`i*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Ammonite + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive group of fossil cephalopods often very abundant in
Mesozoic rocks. See Ammonite.
AMMONIUM
Am*mo"ni*um, n. Etym: [See Ammonia.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, NH4, having the chemical relations of a
strongly basic element like the alkali metals.
AMMUNITION
Am`mu*ni"tion, n. Etym: [F. amunition, for munition, prob. caused by
taking la munition as l'amunition. See Munition.]
1. Military stores, or provisions of all kinds for attack or defense.
[Obs.]
2. Articles used in charging firearms and ordnance of all kinds; as
powder, balls, shot, shells, percussion caps, rockets, etc.
3. Any stock of missiles, literal or figurative. Ammunition bread,
shoes, etc., such as are contracted for by government, and supplied
to the soldiers. [Eng.]
AMMUNITION
Am`mu*ni"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ammunitioned; p pr. & vb. n.
Ammunitioning.]
Defn: To provide with ammunition.
AMNESIA
Am*ne"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Forgetfulness; also, a defect of speech, from cerebral disease,
in which the patient substitutes wrong words or names in the place of
those he wishes to employ. Quian.
AMNESIC
Am*ne"sic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to amnesia. "Amnesic or coördinate defects."
Quian.
AMNESTIC
Am*nes"tic, a.
Defn: Causing loss of memory.
AMNESTY
Am"nes*ty, n. Etym: [L. amnestia, Gr. amnistie, earlier amnestie. See
Mean, v.]
1. Forgetfulness; cessation of remembrance of wrong; oblivion.
2. An act of the sovereign power granting oblivion, or a general
pardon, for a past offense, as to subjects concerned in an
insurrection.
AMNESTY
Am"nes*ty, v. t. [imp. p. p. Amnestied; p. pr. & vb. n. Amnestying.]
Defn: To grant amnesty to.
AMNICOLIST
Am*nic"o*list, n. Etym: [L. amnicola, amnis a river + colere to
dwell.]
Defn: One who lives near a river. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMNIGENOUS
Am*nig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. amnigena; amnis a river + root gen of
gignere to beget.]
Defn: Born or bred in, of, or near a river. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMNION
Am"ni*on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A thin membrane surrounding the embryos of mammals, birds, and
reptiles.
AMNIOS
Am"ni*os, n.
Defn: Same as Amnion.
AMNIOTA
Am`ni*o"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Amnion.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That group of vertebrates which develops in its embryonic life
the envelope called the amnion. It comprises the reptiles, the birds,
and the mammals.
AMNIOTIC
Am`ni*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amniotique.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the amnion; characterized by an amnion; as,
the amniotic fluid; the amniotic sac. Amniotic acid. (Chem.) [R.] See
Allantoin.
AMOEBA
A*moe"ba, n; pl. L. Amoebæ; E. Amoebas. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rhizopod. common in fresh water, capable of undergoing many
changes of form at will. See Rhizopoda.
AMOEBAEUM
Am`oe*bæ"um, n. Etym: [L. amoebaeus, Gr. amoebaeum carmen, Gr.
Defn: A poem in which persons are represented at speaking
alternately; as the third and seventh eclogues of Virgil.
AMOEBEA
Am`oe*be"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That division of the Rhizopoda which includes the amoeba and
similar forms.
AMOEBEAN
Am`oe*be"an, a.
Defn: Alternately answering.
AMOEBIAN
A*moe"bi*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amoebea.
AMOEBIFORM; AMOEBOID
A*moe"bi*form, A*moe"boid, a. Etym: [Amoeba + -form or -oid.] (Biol.)
Defn: Resembling an amoeba; amoeba-shaped; changing in shape like an
amoeba. Amoeboid movement, movement produced, as in the amoeba, by
successive processes of prolongation and retraction.
AMOEBOUS
A*moe"bous, a.
Defn: Like an amoeba in structure.
AMOLE
A*mo"le, n. [Mex.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any detergent plant, or the part of it used as a detergent, as
the roots of Agave Americana, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, etc. [Sp.
Amer. & Mex.]
AMOLITION
Am`o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. amolitio, fr. amoliri to remove; a (ab) +
moliri to put in motion.]
Defn: Removal; a putting away. [Obs.] Bp. Ward (1673).
AMOMUM
A*mo"mum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of aromatic plants. It includes species which bear
cardamoms, and grains of paradise.
AMONESTE
A*mon"este, v. t.
Defn: To admonish. [Obs.]
AMONG; AMONGST
A*mong", A*mongst", prep. Etym: [OE. amongist, amonges, amonge,
among, AS. onmang, ongemang, gemang, in a crowd or mixture. For the
ending -st see Amidst. See Mingle.]
1. Mixed or mingled; surrounded by.
They heard, And from his presence hid themselves among The thickest
trees. Milton.
2. Conjoined, or associated with, or making part of the number of; in
the number or class of.
Blessed art thou among women. Luke i. 28.
3. Expressing a relation of dispersion, distribution, etc.; also, a
relation of reciprocal action.
What news among the merchants Shak.
Human sacrifices were practiced among them. Hume.
Divide that gold amongst you. Marlowe.
Whether they quarreled among themselves, or with their neighbors.
Addison.
Syn.
-- Amidst; between. See Amidst, Between.
AMONTILLADO
A*mon`til*la"do, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A dry kind of cherry, of a light color. Simmonds.
AMORET
Am"o*ret, n. Etym: [OF. amorette, F. amourette, dim. of amour.]
1. An amorous girl or woman; a wanton. [Obs.] J. Warton.
2. A love knot, love token, or love song. (pl.) Love glances or love
tricks. [Obs.]
3. A petty love affair or amour. [Obs.]
AMORETTE
Am"o*rette", n.
Defn: An amoret. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
AMORIST
Am"o*rist, n. Etym: [L. armor love. See Amorous.]
Defn: A lover; a gallant. [R.] Milton.
It was the custom for an amorist to impress the name of his mistress
in the dust, or upon the damp earth, with letters fixed upon his
shoe. Southey.
A-MORNINGS
A-morn"ings, adv. Etym: [See Amorwe. The -s is a genitival ending.
See -wards.]
Defn: In the morning; every morning. [Obs.]
And have such pleasant walks into the woods A-mornings. J. Fletcher.
AMOROSA
Am`o*ro"sa, n. Etym: [It. amoroso, fem. amorosa.]
Defn: A wanton woman; a courtesan. Sir T. Herbert.
AMOROSITY
Am`o*ros"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being amorous; lovingness. [R.] Galt.
AMOROSO
Am`o*ro"so, n. Etym: [It. amoroso, LL. amorosus.]
Defn: A lover; a man enamored.
AMOROSO
Am`o*ro"so, adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: In a soft, tender, amatory style.
AMOROUS
Am"o*rous, a. Etym: [OF. amoros, F. amoreux, LL. amorosus, fr. L.
amor love, fr. amare to love.]
1. Inclined to love; having a propensity to love, or to sexual
enjoyment; loving; fond; affectionate; as, an amorous disposition.
2. Affected with love; in love; enamored; -- usually with of;
formerly with on.
Thy roses amorous of the moon. Keats.
High nature amorous of the good. Tennyson.
Sure my brother is amorous on Hero. Shak.
3. Of or relating to, or produced by, love. "Amorous delight."
Milton. "Amorous airs." Waller.
Syn.
-- Loving; fond; tender; passionate; affectionate; devoted; ardent.
AMOROUSLY
Am"o*rous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an amorous manner; fondly.
AMOROUSNESS
Am"o*rous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being amorous, or inclined to sexual love;
lovingness.
AMORPHA
A*mor"pha, n.; pl. Amorphas. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leguminous shrubs, having long clusters of purple
flowers; false or bastard indigo. Longfellow.
AMORPHISM
A*mor"phism, n. Etym: [See Amorphous.]
Defn: A state of being amorphous; esp. a state of being without
crystallization even in the minutest particles, as in glass, opal,
etc.
Note: There are stony substances which, when fused, may cool as glass
or as stone; the glass state is spoken of as a state of amorphism.
AMORPHOUS
A*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Having no determinate form; of irregular; shapeless. Kirwan.
2. Without crystallization in the ultimate texture of a solid
substance; uncrystallized.
3. Of no particular kind or character; anomalous.
Scientific treatises . . . are not seldom rude and amorphous in
style. Hare.
-- A*mor"phous*ly, adv.
-- A*mor"phous*ness, n.
AMORPHOZOA
A*mor`pho*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Animals without a mouth or regular internal organs, as the
sponges.
AMORPHOZOIC
A*mor`pho*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amorphozoa.
AMORPHY
A*mor"phy, n. Etym: [Gr. amorphie. See Amorphous.]
Defn: Shapelessness. [Obs.] Swift.
AMORT
A*mort", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + F. mort death, dead; all amort is for
alamort.]
Defn: As if dead; lifeless; spiritless; dejected; depressed. Shak.
AMORTISE; AMORTISATION; AMORTISABLE; AMORTISEMENT
A*mor"tise, v., A*mor`ti*sa"tion, n., A*mor"tis*a*ble, a.,
A*mor"tise*ment, n.
Defn: Same as Amortize, Amortization, etc.
AMORTIZABLE
A*mor"tiz*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amortissable.]
Defn: Capable of being cleared off, as a debt.
AMORTIZATION
A*mor`ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [LL. amortisatio, admortizatio. See
Amortize, and cf. Admortization.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The act or right of alienating lands to a corporation, which
was considered formerly as transferring them to dead hands, or in
mortmain.
2. The extinction of a debt, usually by means of a sinking fund;
also, the money thus paid. Simmonds.
AMORTIZE
A*mor"tize, v. t. Etym: [OE. amortisen, LL. amortisare, admortizare,
F. amortir to sell in mortmain, to extinguish; L. ad + mors death.
See Mortmain].
1. To make as if dead; to destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: To alienate in mortmain, that is, to convey to a corporation.
See Mortmain.
3. To clear off or extinguish, as a debt, usually by means of a
sinking fund.
AMORTIZEMENT
A*mor"tize*ment, n. Etym: [F. amortissement.]
Defn: Same as Amortization.
AMORWE
A*mor"we, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- on + OE. morwe. See Morrow.]
1. In the morning. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. On the following morning. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMOTION
A*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. amotio. See Amove.]
1. Removal; ousting; especially, the removal of a corporate officer
from his office.
2. Deprivation of possession.
AMOTUS
A*mo"tus, a. Etym: [L., withdrawn (from it (Zoöl.)
Defn: Elevated, -- as a toe, when raised so high that the tip does
not touch the ground.
AMOUNT
A*mount", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Amounted; p. pr. & vb. n. Amounting.]
Etym: [OF. amonter to increase, advance, ascend, fr. amont (equiv. to
L. ad montem to the mountain) upward, F. amont up the river. See
Mount, n.]
1. To go up; to ascend. [Obs.]
So up he rose, and thence amounted straight. Spenser.
2. To rise or reach by an accumulation of particular sums or
quantities; to come (to) in the aggregate or whole; -- with to or
unto.
3. To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to
be equivalent; to come practically (to); as, the testimony amounts to
very little.
AMOUNT
A*mount", v. t.
Defn: To signify; to amount to. [Obs.]
AMOUNT
A*mount", n.
1. The sum total of two or more sums or quantities; the aggregate;
the whole quantity; a totality; as, the amount of 7 and 9 is 16; the
amount of a bill; the amount of this year's revenue.
2. The effect, substance, value, significance, or result; the sum;
as, the amount of the testimony is this.
The whole amount of that enormous fame. Pope.
AMOUR
A*mour", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. amor love.]
1. Love; affection. [Obs.]
2. Love making; a love affair; usually, an unlawful connection in
love; a love intrigue; an illicit love affair. In amours with, in
love with. [Obs.]
AMOUR PROPRE
A"mour` pro"pre. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Self-love; self-esteem.
AMOVABILITY
A*mov`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Liability to be removed or dismissed from office. [R.] T.
Jefferson.
AMOVABLE
A*mov"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amovible.]
Defn: Removable.
AMOVE
A*move", v. t. Etym: [L. amovere; a- (ab) + movere to move: cf. OF.
amover.]
1. To remove, as a person or thing, from a position. [Obs.] Dr. H.
More.
2. (Law)
Defn: To dismiss from an office or station.
AMOVE
A*move", v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. amovir, L. admovere to move to, to
excite; ad + movere.]
Defn: To move or be moved; to excite. [Obs.] Spenser.
AMPELITE
Am"pe*lite, n. Etym: [L. ampelitis, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An earth abounding in pyrites, used by the ancients to kill
insects, etc., on vines; -- applied by Brongniart to a carbonaceous
alum schist.
AMPELOPSIS
Am`pe*lop"sis (am`pe*lop"sis), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a`mpelos vine +
'o`psis appearance.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus formerly including the Virginia creeper.
AMPERAGE
Am*per"age, n. (Elec.)
Defn: The strength of a current of electricity carried by a conductor
or generated by a machine, measured in ampères.
AMPERE; AMPERE
Am`père", Am*pere", n. Etym: [From the name of a French electrician.]
(Elec.)
Defn: The unit of electric current; -- defined by the International
Electrical Congress in 1893 and by U. S. Statute as, one tenth of the
unit of current of the C. G. S. system of electro-magnetic units, or
the practical equivalent of the unvarying current which, when passed
through a standard solution of nitrate of silver in water, deposits
silver at the rate of 0.001118 grams per second. Called also the
international ampère.
AMPERE FOOT
Am`père" foot. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit, employed in calculating fall of pressure in
distributing mains, equivalent to a current of one ampère flowing
through one foot of conductor.
AMPERE HOUR; AMPERE MINUTE; AMPERE SECOND
Ampère hour. (Elec.)
Defn: The quantity of electricity delivered in one hour by a current
whose average strength is one ampère. It is used as a unit of
quantity, and is equal to 3600 coulombs. The terms Ampère minute and
Ampère second are sometimes similarly used.
AMPEREMETER; AMPEROMETER
Am`père"me`ter, Am`pe*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Ampère + meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of an electrical
current in ampères.
AMPERE TURN
Ampère turn. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit equal to the product of one complete convolution (of a
coiled conductor) into one ampère of current; thus, a conductor
having five convolutions and carrying a current of half an ampère is
said to have 2½ ampère turns. The magnetizing effect of a coil is
proportional to the number of its ampère turns.
AMPERSAND
Am"per*sand, n. Etym: [A corruption of and, per se and, i. e., & by
itself makes and.]
Defn: A word used to describe the character Halliwell.
AMPHI-
Am*phi-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A prefix in words of Greek origin, signifying both, of both
kinds, on both sides, about, around.
AMPHIARTHRODIAL
Am`phi*ar*thro"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. amphi- + arthrodial.]
Defn: Characterized by amphiarthrosis.
AMPHIARTHROSIS
Am`phi*ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by
intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.
AMPHIASTER
Am"phi*as`ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The achromatic figure, formed in mitotic cell-division,
consisting of two asters connected by a spindle-shaped bundle of
rodlike fibers diverging from each aster, and called the spindle.
AMPHIBIA
Am*phib"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [See Amphibium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the classes of vertebrates.
Note: The Amphibia are distinguished by having usually no scales, by
having eggs and embryos similar to those of fishes, and by undergoing
a complete metamorphosis, the young having gills. There are three
living orders: (1) The tailless, as the frogs (Anura); (2) The tailed
(Urodela), as the salamanders, and the siren group (Sirenoidea),
which retain the gills of the young state (hence called
Perennibranchiata) through the adult state, among which are the
siren, proteus, etc.; (3) The Coecilians, or serpentlike Amphibia
(Ophiomorpha or Gymnophiona), with minute scales and without limbs.
The extinct Labyrinthodonts also belonged to this class. The term is
sometimes loosely applied to both reptiles and amphibians
collectively.
AMPHIBIAL
Am*phib"i*al (-al), a. & n.
Defn: Amphibian. [R.]
AMPHIBIAN
Am*phib"i*an (-an), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphibia; as, amphibian reptiles.
AMPHIBIAN
Am*phib"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amphibia.
AMPHIBIOLOGICAL
Am*phib`i*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to amphibiology.
AMPHIBIOLOGY
Am*phib`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. amphibiologie.]
Defn: A treatise on amphibious animals; the department of natural
history which treats of the Amphibia.
AMPHIBIOTICA
Am*phib`i*ot"i*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of insects having aquatic larvæ.
AMPHIBIOUS
Am*phib"i*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. i. e., both on land in water;
1. Having the ability to live both on land and in water, as frogs,
crocodiles, beavers, and some plants.
2. Pertaining to, adapted for, or connected with, both land and
water.
The amphibious character of the Greeks was already determined: they
were to be lords of land and sea. Hare.
3. Of a mixed nature; partaking of two natures.
Not in free and common socage, but in this amphibious subordinate
class of villein socage. Blackstone.
AMPHIBIOUSLY
Am*phib"i*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Like an amphibious being.
AMPHIBIUM
Am*phib"i*um, n.; pl. L. Amphibia; E. Amphibiums. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Amphibious.]
Defn: An amphibian.
AMPHIBLASTIC
Am`phi*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Segmenting unequally; -- said of telolecithal ova with complete
segmentation.
AMPHIBOLE
Am"phi*bole, n. Etym: [Gr. amphibole. Haüy so named the genus from
the great variety of color and composition assumed by the mineral.]
(Min.)
Defn: A common mineral embracing many varieties varying in color and
in composition. It occurs in monoclinic crystals; also massive,
generally with fibrous or columnar structure. The color varies from
white to gray, green, brown, and black. It is a silicate of magnesium
and calcium, with usually aluminium and iron. Some common varieties
are tremolite, actinolite, asbestus, edenite, hornblende (the last
name being also used as a general term for the whole species).
Amphibole is a constituent of many crystalline rocks, as syenite,
diorite, most varieties of trachyte, etc. See Hornblende.
AMPHIBOLIC
Am`phi*bol"ic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to amphiboly; ambiguous; equivocal.
2. Of or resembling the mineral amphibole.
AMPHIBOLOGICAL
Am*phib`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of doubtful meaning; ambiguous. "Amphibological expressions."
Jer. Taylor.
-- Am*phib`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
AMPHIBOLOGY
Am`phi*bol"o*gy, n.; pl. Amphibologies. Etym: [L. amphibologia, for
amphibolia, fr. Gr. logia as if fr. Gr. amphibologie. See Amphiboly.]
Defn: A phrase, discourse, or proposition, susceptible of two
interpretations; and hence, of uncertain meaning. It differs from
equivocation, which arises from the twofold sense of a single term.
AMPHIBOLOUS
Am*phib"o*lous, a. Etym: [L. amphibolus, Gr. Amphibole.]
1. Ambiguous; doubtful. [Obs.]
Never was there such an amphibolous quarrel -- both parties declaring
themselves for the king. Howell.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Capable of two meanings.
An amphibolous sentence is one that is capable of two meanings, not
from the double sense of any of the words, but from its admitting of
a double construction; e. g., "The duke yet lives that Henry shall
depose." Whately.
AMPHIBOLY
Am*phib"o*ly, n.; pl. Amphibolies. Etym: [L. amphibolia, Gr.
amphibolie. See Amphibolous.]
Defn: Ambiguous discourse; amphibology.
If it oracle contrary to our interest or humor, we will create an
amphiboly, a double meaning where there is none. Whitlock.
AMPHIBRACH
Am"phi*brach, n. Etym: [L. (Anc. Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three syllables, the middle one long, the first and
last short (as, h. In modern prosody the accented syllable takes the
place of the long and the unaccented of the short; as, pro-phet''ic.
AMPHICARPIC; AMPHICARPOUS
Am`phi*car"pic, Am`phi*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Producing fruit of two kinds, either as to form or time of
ripening.
AMPHICHROIC
Am`phi*chro"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Exhibiting or producing two colors, as substances which in the
color test may change red litmus to blue and blue litmus to red.
AMPHICOELIAN; AMPHICOELOUS
Am`phi*coe"li*an, Am`phi*coe"lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having both ends concave; biconcave; -- said of vertebræ.
AMPHICOME
Am"phi*come, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A kind of figured stone, rugged and beset with eminences,
anciently used in divination. [Obs.] Encyc. Brit.
AMPHICTYONIC
Am*phic`ty*on"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphictyons or their League or Council;
as, an Amphictyonic town or state; the Amphictyonic body. W. Smith.
AMPHICTYONS
Am*phic"ty*ons, n. pl. Etym: [L. Amphictyones, Gr. (Grecian Hist.)
Defn: Deputies from the confederated states of ancient Greece to a
congress or council. They considered both political and religious
matters.
AMPHICTYONY
Am*phic"ty*o*ny, n.; pl. Amphictyonies. Etym: [Gr. (Grecian Hist.)
Defn: A league of states of ancient Greece; esp. the celebrated
confederation known as the Amphictyonic Council. Its object was to
maintain the common interests of Greece.
AMPHID
Am"phid, n. Etym: [Gr. amphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of the class formed by the combination of an acid and a
base, or by the union of two oxides, two sulphides, selenides, or
tellurides, as distinguished from a haloid compound. [R.] Berzelius.
AMPHIDISC
Am"phi*disc, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar small siliceous spicule having a denticulated wheel
at each end; -- found in freshwater sponges.
AMPHIDROMICAL
Am`phi*drom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an Attic festival at the naming of a child; -- so
called because the friends of the parents carried the child around
the hearth and then named it.
AMPHIGAMOUS
Am*phig"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a structure entirely cellular, and no distinct sexual
organs; -- a term applied by De Candolle to the lowest order of
plants.
AMPHIGEAN
Am`phi*ge"an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Extending over all the zones, from the tropics to the polar
zones inclusive.
AMPHIGEN
Am"phi*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen: cf. F. amphigène.] (Chem.)
Defn: An element that in combination produces amphid salt; -- applied
by Berzelius to oxygen, sulphur, selenium, and tellurium. [R.]
AMPHIGENE
Am"phi*gene, n. (Min.)
Defn: Leucite.
AMPHIGENESIS
Am`phi*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Sexual generation; amphigony.
AMPHIGENOUS
Am*phig"e*nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Increasing in size by growth on all sides, as the lichens.
AMPHIGONIC
Am`phi*gon"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to amphigony; sexual; as, amphigonic propagation.
[R.]
AMPHIGONOUS
Am*phig"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to both parents. [R.]
AMPHIGONY
Am*phig"o*ny, n.
Defn: Sexual propagation. [R.]
AMPHIGORIC
Am`phi*gor"ic, a. Etym: [See Amphigory.]
Defn: Nonsensical; absurd; pertaining to an amphigory.
AMPHIGORY
Am"phi*go*ry, n. Etym: [F. amphigouri, of uncertain derivation; perh.
fr. Gr.
Defn: A nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on
further attention proves to be meaningless. [Written also
amphigouri.]
AMPHILOGISM; AMPHILOGY
Am*phil"o*gism, Am*phil"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: Ambiguity of speech; equivocation. [R.]
AMPHIMACER
Am*phim"a*cer, n. Etym: [L. amphimacru, Gr. (Anc. Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three syllables, the middle one short and the others
long, as in cast. Andrews.
AMPHINEURA
Am`phi*neu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Mollusca remarkable for the bilateral symmetry of
the organs and the arrangement of the nerves.
AMPHIOXUS
Am`phi*ox"us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fishlike creature (Amphioxus lanceolatus), two or three
inches long, found in temperature seas; -- also called the lancelet.
Its body is pointed at both ends. It is the lowest and most
generalized of the vertebrates, having neither brain, skull,
vertebræ, nor red blood. It forms the type of the group Acrania,
Leptocardia, etc.
AMPHIPNEUST
Am*phip"neust, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of Amphibia, which have both lungs and gills at
the same time, as the proteus and siren.
AMPHIPOD
Am"phi*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPOD; AMPHIPODAN
Am"phi*pod, Am*phip"o*dan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPODA
Am*phip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., FR. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A numerous group of fourteen -- footed Crustacea, inhabiting
both fresh and salt water. The body is usually compressed laterally,
and the anterior pairs or legs are directed downward and forward, but
the posterior legs are usually turned upward and backward. The beach
flea is an example. See Tetradecapoda and Arthrostraca.
AMPHIPODOUS
Am*phip"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Amphipoda.
AMPHIPROSTYLE
Am*phip"ro*style, a. Etym: [L. amphiprostylos, Gr. amphiprostyle. See
Prostyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: Doubly prostyle; having columns at each end, but not at the
sides.
-- n.
Defn: An amphiprostyle temple or edifice.
AMPHIRHINA
Am`phi*rhi"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to the elasmobranch fishes, because the nasal
sac is double.
AMPHISBAENA
Am`phis*bæ"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A fabled serpent with a head at each end, moving either way.
Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless lizards, serpentlike in form, without legs,
and with both ends so much alike that they appear to have a head at
each, and ability to move either way. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: The Gordius aquaticus, or hairworm, has been called an
amphisbæna; but it belongs among the worms.
AMPHISBAENOID
Am`phis*bæ"noid, a. Etym: [NL., fr. L. amphisbaena + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the lizards of the genus Amphisbæna.
AMPHISCII; AMPHISCIANS
Am*phis"ci*i, Am*phis"cians, n. pl. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The inhabitants of the tropic, whose shadows in one part of the
year are cast to the north, and in the other to the south, according
as the sun is south or north of their zenith.
AMPHISTOMOUS
Am*phis"to*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a sucker at each extremity, as certain entozoa, by means
of which they adhere.
AMPHISTYLIC
Am`phi*sty"lic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the mandibular arch articulated with the hyoid arch and
the cranium, as in the cestraciont sharks; -- said of a skull.
AMPHITHEATER; AMPHITHEATRE
Am`phi*the"a*ter, Am`phi*the"a*tre,, n. Etym: [L. amphitheatrum, fr.
Gr. amphithé\'83tre. See Theater.]
1. An oval or circular building with rising tiers of seats about an
open space called the arena.
Note: The Romans first constructed amphitheaters for combats of
gladiators and wild beasts.
2. Anything resembling an amphitheater in form; as, a level
surrounded by rising slopes or hills, or a rising gallery in a
theater.
AMPHITHEATRAL
Am`phi*the"a*tral, a. Etym: [L. amphitheatralis: cf. F.
amphithé\'83tral.]
Defn: Amphitheatrical; resembling an amphitheater.
AMPHITHEATRIC; AMPHITHEATRICAL
Am`phi*the*at"ric, Am`phi*the*at"ric*al, a. Etym: [L.
amphitheatricus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, exhibited in, or resembling, an
amphitheater.
AMPHITHEATRICALLY
Am`phi*the*at"ric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form or manner of an amphitheater.
AMPHITROCHA
Am*phit"ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of annelid larva having both a dorsal and a ventral
circle of special cilia.
AMPHITROPAL; AMPHITROPOUS
Am*phit"ro*pal, Am*phit"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovule inverted, but with the attachment near the
middle of one side; half anatropous.
AMPHIUMA
Am`phi*u"ma, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of amphibians, inhabiting the Southern United States,
having a serpentlike form, but with four minute limbs and two
persistent gill openings; the Congo snake.
AMPHOPEPTONE
Am`pho*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Gr. peptone.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A product of gastric digestion, a mixture of hemipeptone and
antipeptone.
AMPHORA
Am"pho*ra, n.; pl. Amophoræ. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Ampul.]
Defn: Among the ancients, a two-handled vessel, tapering at the
bottom, used for holding wine, oil, etc.
AMPHORAL
Am"pho*ral, a. Etym: [L. amphoralis.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an amphora.
AMPHORIC
Am*phor"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Produced by, or indicating, a cavity in the lungs, not filled,
and giving a sound like that produced by blowing into an empty
decanter; as, amphoric respiration or resonance.
AMPHOTERIC
Am`pho*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Partly one and partly the other; neither acid nor alkaline;
neutral. [R.] Smart.
AMPLE
Am"ple, a. Etym: [F. ample, L. amplus, prob. for ambiplus full on
both sides, the last syllable akin to L. plenus full. See Full, and
cf. Double.]
Defn: Large; great in size, extent, capacity, or bulk; spacious;
roomy; widely extended.
All the people in that ample house Did to that image bow their humble
knees. Spenser.
2. Fully sufficient; abundant; liberal; copious; as, an ample
fortune; ample justice.
3. Not contracted of brief; not concise; extended; diffusive; as, an
ample narrative. Johnson.
Syn.
-- Full; spacious; extensive; wide; capacious; abundant; plentiful;
plenteous; copious; bountiful; rich; liberal; munificent.
-- Ample, Copious, Abundant, Plenteous. These words agree in
representing a thing as large, but under different relations,
according to the image which is used. Ample implies largeness,
producing a sufficiency or fullness of supply for every want; as,
ample stores or resources, ample provision. Copious carries with it
the idea of flow, or of collection at a single point; as, a copious
supply of materials. "Copious matter of my song." Milton. Abundant
and plenteous refer to largeness of quantity; as, abundant stores;
plenteous harvests.
AMPLECTANT
Am*plec"tant, a. Etym: [L. amplecti to embrace.] (Bot.)
Defn: Clasping a support; as, amplectant tendrils. Gray.
AMPLENESS
Am"ple*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being ample; largeness; fullness;
completeness.
AMPLEXATION
Am`plex*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. amplexari to embrace.]
Defn: An embrace. [Obs.]
An humble amplexation of those sacred feet. Bp. Hall.
AMPLEXICAUL
Am*plex"i*caul, a. Etym: [L. amplexus, p. p. of amplecti to encircle,
to embrace + caulis stem: cf. F. amplexicaule.] (Bot.)
Defn: Clasping or embracing a stem, as the base of some leaves. Gray.
AMPLIATE
Am"pli*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ampliatus, p. p. of ampliare to make
wider, fr. amplus. See Ample.]
Defn: To enlarge. [R.]
To maintain and ampliate the external possessions of your empire.
Udall.
AMPLIATE
Am"pli*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the outer edge prominent; said of the wings of insects.
AMPLIATION
Am`pli*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. ampliatio: cf. F. ampliation.]
1. Enlargement; amplification. [R.]
2. (Civil Law)
Defn: A postponement of the decision of a cause, for further
consideration or re-argument.
AMPLIATIVE
Am"pli*a*tive, a. (Logic)
Defn: Enlarging a conception by adding to that which is already known
or received.
"All bodies possess power of attraction" is an ampliative judgment;
because we can think of bodies without thinking of attraction as one
of their immediate primary attribute. Abp. W. Thomson.
AMPLIFICATE
Am*plif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. amplificatus, p. p. of amplificare.]
Defn: To amplify. [Obs.] Bailey.
AMPLIFICATION
Am`pli*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. amplificatio.]
1. The act of amplifying or enlarging in dimensions; enlargement;
extension.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: The enlarging of a simple statement by particularity of
description, the use of epithets, etc., for rhetorical effect;
diffuse narrative or description, or a dilating upon all the
particulars of a subject.
Exaggeration is a species of amplification. Brande & C.
I shall summarily, without any amplification at all, show in what
manner defects have been supplied. Sir J. Davies.
3. The matter by which a statement is amplified; as, the subject was
presented without amplifications.
AMPLIFICATIVE
Am*plif"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Amplificatory.
AMPLIFICATORY
Am*plif"i*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to amplify or enlarge; amplificative. Morell.
AMPLIFIER
Am"pli*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who or that which amplifies.
AMPLIFY
Am"pli*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amplified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Amplifying.] Etym: [F. amplifier, L. amplificare. See Ample, -fy.]
1. To render larger, more extended, or more intense, and the like; --
used especially of telescopes, microscopes, etc.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: To enlarge by addition or discussion; to treat copiously by
adding particulars, illustrations, etc.; to expand; to make much of.
Troilus and Cressida was written by a Lombard author, but much
amplified by our English translator. Dryden.
AMPLIFY
Am"pli*fy, v. i.
1. To become larger. [Obs.]
Strait was the way at first, withouten light, But further in did
further amplify. Fairfax.
2. To speak largely or copiously; to be diffuse in argument or
description; to dilate; to expatiate; -- often with on or upon.
Watts.
He must often enlarge and amplify upon the subject he handles. South.
AMPLITUDE
Am"pli*tude, n. Etym: [L. amplitudo, fr. amplus: cf. F. amplitude.
See Ample.]
1. State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of
dimensions; size.
The cathedral of Lincoln . . . is a magnificent structure,
proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese. Fuller.
2. Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness.
(a) Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers. "Amplitude of
mind." Milton. "Amplitude of comprehension." Macaulay.
(b) Of extent of means or resources. "Amplitude of reward." Bacon.
3. (Astron.)
(a) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and
the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the
rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is
western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern,
when north or south of the equator.
(b) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and
the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.
4. (Gun.)
Defn: The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a
projectile is thrown; the range.
5. (Physics)
Defn: The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or
position of equilibrium; -- applied especially to vibratory
movements.
6. (math.)
Defn: An angle upon which the value of some function depends; -- a
term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions.
Magnetic amplitude, the angular distance of a heavenly body, when on
the horizon, from the magnetic east or west point as indicated by the
compass. The difference between the magnetic and the true or
astronomical amplitude (see 3 above) is the "variation of the
compass."
AMPLY
Am"ply, adv.
Defn: In an ample manner.
AMPUL
Am"pul, n. Etym: [AS. ampella, ampolla, L. ampulla: cf. OF. ampolle,
F. ampoule.]
Defn: Same as Ampulla, 2.
AMPULLA
Am*pul"la, n.; pl. Ampullæ. Etym: [L. ]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A narrow-necked vessel having two handles and bellying out like
a jug.
2. (Eccl.)
(a) A cruet for the wine and water at Mass.
(b) The vase in which the holy oil for chrism, unction, or coronation
is kept. Shipley.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Any membranous bag shaped like a leathern bottle, as the
dilated end of a vessel or duct; especially the dilations of the
semicircular canals of the ear.
AMPULLACEOUS
Am`pul*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. ampullaceus, fr. ampulla.]
Defn: Like a bottle or inflated bladder; bottle-shaped; swelling.
Kirby. Ampullaceous sac (Zoöl.), one of the peculiar cavities in the
tissues of sponges, containing the zooidal cells.
AMPULLAR; AMPULLARY
Am"pul*lar, Am`pul*la*ry, a.
Defn: Resembling an ampulla.
AMPULLATE; AMPULLATED
Am"pul*late, Am"pul*la`ted a.
Defn: Having an ampulla; flask-shaped; bellied.
AMPULLIFORM
Am*pul"li*form, a. Etym: [Ampulla + -form.]
Defn: Flask-shaped; dilated.
AMPUTATE
Am"pu*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amputated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Amputating.] Etym: [L. amputatus, p. p. of amputare: amb- + putare to
prune, putus clean, akin to E. pure. See Putative.]
1. To prune or lop off, as branches or tendrils.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: To cut off (a limb or projecting part (of the body). Wiseman.
AMPUTATION
Am`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. amputatio: cf. F. amputation.]
Defn: The act amputating; esp. the operation of cutting of a limb or
projecting part of the body.
AMPUTATOR
Am"pu*ta"tor, n.
Defn: One who amputates.
AMPYX
Am"pyx, n. Etym: [Gr. (Greek Antiq.)
Defn: A woman's headband (sometimes of metal), for binding the front
hair.
AMRITA
Am*ri"ta, n. Etym: [Skr. amrita.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: Immorality; also, the nectar conferring immortality.
-- a. Ambrosial; immortal.
AMSEL; AMZEL
Am"sel, Am"zel, n. Etym: [Ger. See Ousel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European ring ousel (Turdus torquatus).
AMT
Amt, n.; pl. Amter (#), E. Amts (#). [Dan. & Norw., fr. G.]
Defn: An administrative territorial division in Denmark and Norway.
Each of the provinces [of Denmark] is divided into several amts,
answering . . . to the English hundreds.
Encyc. Brit.
AMUCK
A*muck", a. & adv. Etym: [Malay amoq furious.]
Defn: In a frenzied and reckless. To run amuck, to rush out in a
state of frenzy, as the Malays sometimes do under the influence of
"bhang," and attack every one that comes in the way; to assail
recklessly and indiscriminately.
Satire's my weapon, but I'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at
all I meet. Pope.
AMULET
Am"u*let, n. Etym: [L. amuletum: cf. F. amulette.]
Defn: An ornament, gem, or scroll, or a package containing a relic,
etc., worn as a charm or preservative against evils or mischief, such
as diseases and witchcraft, and generally inscribed with mystic forms
or characters.
Note: [Also used figuratively.]
AMULETIC
Am`u*let"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an amulet; operating as a charm.
AMURCOUS
A*mur"cous, a. Etym: [LL. amurcous, L. amurca the dregs of olives,
Gr.
Defn: Full off dregs; foul. [R.] Knowles.
AMUSABLE
A*mus"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. amusable.]
Defn: Capable of being amused.
AMUSE
A*muse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Amused; p. pr. & vb. n. Amusing.] Etym:
[F. amuser to make stay, to detain, to amuse, ad) + OF. muser. See
Muse, v.]
1. To occupy or engage the attention of; to lose in deep thought; to
absorb; also, to distract; to bewilder. [Obs.]
Camillus set upon the Gauls when they were amused in receiving their
gold. Holland.
Being amused with grief, fear, and fright, he could not find the
house. Fuller.
2. To entertain or occupy in a pleasant manner; to stir with pleasing
or mirthful emotions; to divert.
A group children amusing themselves with pushing stones from the top
[of the cliff], and watching as they plunged into the lake. Gilpin.
3. To keep in extraction; to beguile; to delude.
He amused his followers with idle promises. Johnson.
Syn.
-- To entertain; gratify; please; divert; beguile; deceive; occupy.
-- To Amuse, Divert, Entertain. We are amused by that which occupies
us lightly and pleasantly. We are entertained by that which brings
our minds into agreeable contact with others, as conversation, or a
book. We are diverted by that which turns off our thoughts to
something of livelier interest, especially of a sportive nature, as a
humorous story, or a laughable incident.
Whatever amuses serves to kill time, to lull the faculties, and to
banish reflection. Whatever entertains usually a wakens the
understanding or gratifies the fancy. Whatever diverts is lively in
its nature, and sometimes tumultuous in its effects. Crabb.
AMUSE
A*muse", v. i.
Defn: To muse; to mediate. [Obs.]
AMUSED
A*mused", a.
1. Diverted.
2. Expressing amusement; as, an amused look.
AMUSEMENT
A*muse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. amusement.]
1. Deep thought; muse. [Obs.]
Here I . . . fell into a strong and deep amusement, revolving in my
mind, with great perplexity, the amazing change of our affairs.
Fleetwood.
2. The state of being amused; pleasurable excitement; that which
amuses; diversion.
His favorite amusements were architecture and gardening. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Diversion; entertainment; recreation; relaxation; pastime; sport.
AMUSER
A*mus"er, n.
Defn: One who amuses.
AMUSETTE
Am`u*sette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A light field cannon, or stocked gun mounted on a swivel.
AMUSING
A*mus"ing, a.
Defn: Giving amusement; diverting; as, an amusing story.
-- A*mus"ing*ly, adv.
AMUSIVE
A*mu"sive, a.
Defn: Having power to amuse or entertain the mind; fitted to excite
mirth. [R.] -- A*mu"sive*ly, adv.
-- A*mu"sive*ness, n.
AMVIS
Am"vis, n. [Ammonium (nitrate) + L. vis strength, force.]
Defn: An explosive consisting of ammonium nitrate, a derivative of
nitrobenzene, chlorated napthalene, and wood meal.
AMY
A*my", n. Etym: [F. ami, fr. L. amicus.]
Defn: A friend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AMYELOUS
A*my"e*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Wanting the spinal cord.
AMYGDALA
A*myg"da*la (a*mig"da*la), n.; pl. -læ (-le). [L., an almond, fr. Gr.
'amygda`lh. See Almond.]
1. An almond.
2. (Anat.)
(a) One of the tonsils of the pharynx.
(b) One of the rounded prominences of the lower surface of the
lateral hemispheres of the cerebellum, each side of the vallecula.
AMYGDALACEOUS
A*myg`da*la"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Akin to, or derived from, the almond.
AMYGDALATE
A*myg"da*late, a. Etym: [L. amygdala, amygdalum, almond, Gr. Almond.]
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or made of, almonds.
AMYGDALATE
A*myg"da*late, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: An emulsion made of almonds; milk of almonds. Bailey. Coxe.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt amygdalic acid.
AMYGDALIC
Am`yg*dal"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to almonds; derived from amygdalin; as,
amygdalic acid.
AMYGDALIFEROUS
A*myg`da*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. amygdalum almond + -ferous.]
Defn: Almond-bearing.
AMYGDALIN
A*myg"da*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from bitter almonds as a white,
crystalline substance.
AMYGDALINE
A*myg"da*line, a. Etym: [L. amygdalinus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, almonds.
AMYGDALOID
A*myg"da*loid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. amygdaloïde.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of trap or basaltic rock, containing small cavities,
occupied, wholly or in part, by nodules or geodes of different
minerals, esp. agates, quartz, calcite, and the zeolites. When the
imbedded minerals are detached or removed by decomposition, it is
porous, like lava.
AMYGDALOID; AMYGDALOIDAL
A*myg"da*loid, A*myg`da*loid"al, a.
1. Almond-shaped.
2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, the rock amygdaloid.
AMYL
Am"yl, n. Etym: [L. amylum starch + -yl. Cf. Amidin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical, C5H11, of the paraffine series found in
amyl alcohol or fusel oil, etc.
AMYLACEOUS
Am`y*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. amylum starch, Gr. Amidin.]
Defn: Pertaining to starch; of the nature of starch; starchy.
AMYL ALCOHOL
Am"yl al"co*hol. (Org. Chem.)
Defn: Any of eight isomeric liquid compounds, C5H11OH; ordinarily, a
mixture of two of these forming a colorless liquid with a peculiar
cough-exciting odor and burning taste, the chief constituent of fusel
oil. It is used as a source of amyl compounds, such as amyl acetate,
amyl nitrite, etc.
AMYLATE
Am"y*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of the radical amyl with oxygen and a positive atom
or radical.
AMYLENE
Am"y*lene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a group of metameric hydrocarbons, C5H10, of the
ethylene series. The colorless, volatile, mobile liquid commonly
called amylene is a mixture of different members of the group.
AMYLIC
A*myl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, amyl; as, amylic ether. Amylic
alcohol (Chem.), one of the series of alcohols, a transparent,
colorless liquid, having a peculiar odor. It is the hydroxide of
amyl.
-- Amylic fermentation (Chem.), a process of fermentation in starch
or sugar in which amylic alcohol is produced. Gregory.
AMYL NITRITE
Amyl nitrite.
Defn: A yellowish oily volatile liquid, C5H11NO2, used in medicine as
a heart stimulant and a vasodilator. The inhalation of its vapor
instantly produces flushing of the face.
AMYLOBACTER
Am`y*lo*bac"ter, n. Etym: [L. amylum starch + NL. bacterium. See
Bacterium.] (Biol.)
Defn: A microörganism (Bacillus amylobacter) which develops in
vegetable tissue during putrefaction. Sternberg.
AMYLOGEN
A*myl"o*gen, n. [Amylum + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: That part of the starch granule or granulose which is soluble
in water.
AMYLOGENESIS
Am`y*lo*gen"e*sis, n. [Amylum + genesis.]
Defn: The formation of starch.
AMYLOGENIC
Am`y*lo*gen"ic, a.
1. Of or pert. to amylogen.
2. Forming starch; -- applied specif. to leucoplasts.
AMYLOID
Am"y*loid, n.
1. A non-nitrogenous starchy food; a starchlike substance.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The substance deposited in the organs in amyloid degeneration.
AMYLOID; AMYLOIDAL
Am"y*loid, Am`y*loid"al, a. Etym: [L. amylum starch + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling or containing amyl; starchlike. Amyloid degeneration
(Med.), a diseased condition of various organs of the body, produced
by the deposit of an albuminous substance, giving a blue color with
iodine and sulphuric acid; -- called also waxy or lardaceous
degeneration.
AMYLOLYSIS
Am`y*lol"y*sis, n. [Amylum + Gr. a loosing.] (Chem.)
Defn: The conversion of starch into soluble products, as dextrins and
sugar, esp. by the action of enzymes. -- Am`y*lo*lyt"ic (#), a.
AMYLOLYTIC
Am`y*lo*ly"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Effecting the conversion of starch into soluble dextrin and
sugar; as, an amylolytic ferment. Foster.
AMYLOMETER
Am`y*lom"e*ter, n. [Amylum + -meter.]
Defn: Instrument for determining the amount of starch in a substance.
AMYLOPLASTIC
Am`y*lo*plas"tic, a. [Amylum + -plastic.]
Defn: Starch-forming; amylogenic.
AMYLOPSIN
Am`y*lop"sin, n. [Amylum + Gr. appearance.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The diastase of the pancreatic juice.
AMYLOSE
Am`y*lose", n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the starch group (C6H10O5)n of the carbohydrates; as,
starch, arabin, dextrin, cellulose, etc.
AMYOUS
Am"y*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Wanting in muscle; without flesh.
AMYSS
Am"yss, n.
Defn: Same as Amice, a hood or cape.
AN
An. Etym: [AS. an one, the same word as the numeral. See One, and cf.
A.]
Defn: This word is properly an adjective, but is commonly called the
indefinite article. It is used before nouns of the singular number
only, and signifies one, or any, but somewhat less emphatically. In
such expressions as "twice an hour," "once an age," a shilling an
ounce (see 2d A, 2), it has a distributive force, and is equivalent
to each, every.
Note: An is used before a word beginning with a vowel sound; as, an
enemy, an hour. It in also often used before h sounded, when the
accent of the word falls on the second syllable; as, an historian, an
hyena, an heroic deed. Many writers use a before h in such positions.
Anciently an was used before consonants as well as vowels.
AN
An, conj. Etym: [Shortened fr. and, OE. an., and, sometimes and if,
in introducing conditional clauses, like Icel. enda if, the same word
as and. Prob. and was originally pleonastic before the conditional
clause.]
Defn: If; -- a word used by old English authors. Shak.
Nay, an thou dalliest, then I am thy foe. B. Jonson.
An if, and if; if.
ANA-
An"a-. Etym: [/Gr. in comp., on, up, upwards.]
Defn: A prefix in words from the Greek, denoting up, upward,
throughout, backward, back, again, anew.
ANA
A"na, adv. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Of each; an equal quantity; as, wine and honey, ana (or,
contracted, aa), ., that is, of wine and honey, each, two ounces.
An apothecary with a . . . long bill of anas. Dryden.
ANA
*a"na. Etym: [The neut. pl. ending of Latin adjectives in -anus.]
Defn: A suffix to names of persons or places, used to denote a
collection of notable sayings, literary gossip, anecdotes, etc. Thus,
Scaligerana is a book containing the sayings of Scaliger, Johnsoniana
of Johnson, etc.
Note: Used also as a substantive; as, the French anas.
It has been said that the table-talk of Selden is worth all the ana
of the Continent. Hallam.
-ANA
-a"na. [The neut. pl. ending of Latin adjectives in -anus.]
Defn: A suffix to names of persons or places, used to denote a
collection of notable sayings, literary gossip, anecdotes, etc. Thus,
Scaligerana is a book containing the sayings of Scaliger, Johnsoniana
of Johnson, etc.
Used also as a substantive; as, the French anas.
It has been said that the table-talk of Selden is worth all the ana
of the Continent.
Hallam.
ANABAPTISM
An`a*bap"tism, n. Etym: [L. anabaptismus, Gr. anabaptisme. See
Anabaptize.]
Defn: The doctrine of the Anabaptists.
ANABAPTIST
An`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [LL. anabaptista, fr. Gr. as if : cf. F.
anabaptiste.]
Defn: A name sometimes applied to a member of any sect holding that
rebaptism is necessary for those baptized in infancy.
Note: In church history, the name Anabaptists usually designates a
sect of fanatics who greatly disturbed the peace of Germany, the
Netherlands, etc., in the Reformation period. In more modern times
the name has been applied to those who do not regard infant baptism
as real and valid baptism.
ANABAPTISTIC; ANABAPTISTICAL
An`a*bap*tis"tic, An`a*bap*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Relating or attributed to the Anabaptists, or their doctrines.
Milton. Bp. Bull.
ANABAPTISTRY
An`a*bap"tist*ry, n.
Defn: The doctrine, system, or practice, of Anabaptists. [R.]
Thus died this imaginary king; and Anabaptistry was suppressed in
Munster. Pagitt.
ANABAPTIZE
An`a*bap*tize", v. t. Etym: [Gr. Baptize.]
Defn: To rebaptize; to rechristen; also, to rename. [R.] Whitlock.
ANABAS
An"a*bas, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, remarkable for their power of living long
out of water, and of making their way on land for considerable
distances, and for climbing trees; the climbing fishes.
ANABASIS
A*nab"a*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A journey or expedition up from the coast, like that of the
younger Cyrus into Central Asia, described by Xenophon in his work
called "The Anabasis."
The anabasis of Napoleon. De Quincey.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The first period, or increase, of a disease; augmentation.
[Obs.]
ANABATIC
An`a*bat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to anabasis; as, an anabatic fever. [Obs.]
ANABOLIC
An`a*bol"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to anabolism; an anabolic changes, or processes,
more or less constructive in their nature.
ANABOLISM
A*nab"o*lism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The constructive metabolism of the body, as distinguished from
katabolism.
ANABRANCH
An"a*branch, n. [Anastomosing + branch.]
Defn: A branch of a river that reënters, or anastomoses with, the
main stream; also, less properly, a branch which loses itself in
sandy soil. [Australia]
Such branches of a river as after separation reunite, I would term
anastomosing branches; or, if a word might be coined, anabranches,
and the islands they form branch islands.
Col. Jackson.
ANACAMPTIC
An`a*camp"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Reflecting of reflected; as, an anacamptic sound (and echo).
Note: The word was formerly applied to that part of optics which
treats of reflection; the same as what is now called catoptric. See
Catoptrics.
ANACAMPTICALLY
An`a*camp"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By reflection; as, echoes are sound produced anacamptically.
Hutton.
ANACAMPTICS
An`a*camp"tics, n.
1. The science of reflected light, now called catoptrics.
2. The science of reflected sounds.
ANACANTHINI; ANACANTHS
An`a*can"thi*ni, An"a*canths, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of teleostean fishes destitute of spiny fin-rays, as
the cod.
ANACANTHOUS
An`a*can"thous, a.
Defn: Spineless, as certain fishes.
ANACARDIACEOUS
An`a*car"di*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a family, or order, of plants of
which the cashew tree is the type, and the species of sumac are well
known examples.
ANACARDIC
An`a*car"dic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the cashew nut; as, anacardic
acid.
ANACARDIUM
An`a*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the cashew tree. See Cashew.
ANACATHARTIC
An`a*ca*thar"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. i. e., by vomiting; Cathartic.]
(Med.)
Defn: Producing vomiting or expectoration.
-- n.
Defn: An anacatharic medicine; an expectorant or an emetic.
ANACHARIS
An*ach"a*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A fresh-water weed of the frog's-bit family (Hydrocharidaceæ),
native to America. Transferred to England it became an obstruction to
navigation. Called also waterweed and water thyme.
ANACHORET; ANACHORETICAL
An*ach"o*ret, n. An*ach`o*ret"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Anchoret, Anchoretic. [Obs.]
ANACHORISM
An*ach"o*rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An error in regard to the place of an event or a thing; a
referring something to a wrong place. [R.]
ANACHRONIC; ANACHRONICAL
An`a*chron"ic, An`a*chron"ic*al, a.
Defn: Characterized by, or involving, anachronism; anachronistic.
ANACHRONISM
An*ach"ro*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. anachronisme.]
Defn: A misplacing or error in the order of time; an error in
chronology by which events are misplaced in regard to each other,
esp. one by which an event is placed too early; falsification of
chronological relation.
ANACHRONISTIC
An*ach`ro*nis"tic, a.
Defn: Erroneous in date; containing an anachronism. T. Warton.
ANACHRONIZE
An*ach"ro*nize, v. t. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To refer to, or put into, a wrong time. [R.] Lowell.
ANACHRONOUS
An*ach"ro*nous, a.
Defn: Containing an anachronism; anachronistic.
-- An*ach"ro*nous*ly, adv.
ANACLASTIC
An`a*clas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Opt.)
Defn: Produced by the refraction of light, as seen through water; as,
anaclastic curves.
2. Springing back, as the bottom of an anaclastic glass. Anaclastic
glass, a glass or phial, shaped like an inverted funnel, and with a
very thin convex bottom. By sucking out a little air, the bottom
springs into a concave form with a smart crack; and by breathing or
blowing gently into the orifice, the bottom, with a like noise,
springs into its former convex form.
ANACLASTICS
An`a*clas"tics, n. (Opt.)
Defn: That part of optics which treats of the refraction of light; --
commonly called dioptrics. Encyc. Brit.
ANACOENOSIS
An`a*coe*no"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a speaker appeals to his hearers or opponents
for their opinion on the point in debate. Walker.
ANACOLUTHIC
An`a*co*lu"thic, a.
Defn: Lacking grammatical sequence.
-- An`a*co*lu"thic*al*ly, adv.
ANACOLUTHON
An`a*co*lu"thon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: A want of grammatical sequence or coherence in a sentence; an
instance of a change of construction in a sentence so that the latter
part does not syntactically correspond with the first part.
ANACONDA
An`a*con"da, n. Etym: [Of Ceylonese origin] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American snake of the Boa family (Eunectes
murinus), which lives near rivers, and preys on birds and small
mammals. The name is also applied to a similar large serpent (Python
tigris) of Ceylon.
ANACREONTIC
A*nac`re*on"tic, a. Etym: [L. Anacreonticus.]
Defn: Pertaining to, after the manner of, or in the meter of, the
Greek poet Anacreon; amatory and convivial. De Quincey.
ANACREONTIC
A*nac`re*on"tic, n.
Defn: A poem after the manner of Anacreon; a sprightly little poem in
praise of love and wine.
ANACROTIC
An`a*crot"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to anachronism.
ANACROTISM
A*nac"ro*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A secondary notch in the pulse curve, obtained in a
sphygmographic tracing.
ANACRUSIS
An`a*cru"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A prefix of one or two unaccented syllables to a verse properly
beginning with an accented syllable.
ANADEM
An"a*dem, n. Etym: [L. anadema, Gr.
Defn: A garland or fillet; a chaplet or wreath. Drayton. Tennyson.
ANADIPLOSIS
An`a*di*plo"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A repetition of the last word or any prominent word in a
sentence or clause, at the beginning of the next, with an adjunct
idea; as, "He retained his virtues amidst all his misfortunes --
misfortunes which no prudence could foresee or prevent."
ANADROM
An"a*drom, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anadrome.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish that leaves the sea and ascends rivers.
ANADROMOUS
A*nad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ascending rivers from the sea, at certain seasons, for
breeding, as the salmon, shad, etc.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Tending upwards; -- said of terns in which the lowest secondary
segments are on the upper side of the branch of the central stem. D.
C. Eaton.
ANAEMIA
A*næ"mi*a, a. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which the blood is deficient in quality
or in quantity.
ANAEMIC
A*næm"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anæmia.
ANAEROBIA; ANAEROBES
An*a`ër*o"bi*a, An*a"ër*obes, n. pl. [NL. anaerobia; an-not + aëro- +
Gr. life.] (Bacteriol.)
Defn: Anaërobic bacteria. They are called facultative anaërobia when
able to live either in the presence or absence of free oxygen;
obligate, or obligatory, anaërobia when they thrive only in its
absence.
ANAEROBIC
An*a`ë*rob"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to, or like, anaërobies; araërobiotic.
ANAEROBIES
An*a"ër*o*bies, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Microörganisms which do not require oxygen, but are killed by
it. Sternberg.
ANAEROBIOTIC
An*a`ër*o*bi*ot"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Related to, or of the nature of, anaërobies.
ANAESTHESIA
An`æs*the"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. anesthésie. See Æsthetics.]
(Med.)
Defn: Entire or partial loss or absence of feeling or sensation; a
state of general or local insensibility produced by disease or by the
inhalation or application of an anæsthetic.
ANAESTHESIS
An`æs*the"sis, n.
Defn: See Anæsthesia.
ANAESTHETIC
An`æs*thet"ic, a. (Med.)
(a) Capable of rendering insensible; as, anæsthetic agents.
(b) Characterized by, or connected with, insensibility; as, an
anæsthetic effect or operation.
ANAESTHETIC
An`æs*thet"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: That which produces insensibility to pain, as chloroform,
ether, etc.
ANAESTHETIZATION
An*æs`the*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The process of anæsthetizing; also, the condition of the
nervous system induced by anæsthetics.
ANAESTHETIZE
An*æs"the*tize, v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To render insensible by an anæsthetic. Encyc. Brit.
ANAGLYPH
An"a*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Any sculptured, chased, or embossed ornament worked in low
relief, as a cameo.
ANAGLYPHIC
An`a*glyph"ic, n.
Defn: Work chased or embossed relief.
ANAGLYPHIC; ANAGLYPHICAL
An`a*glyph"ic, An`a*glyph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of chasing or embossing in relief;
anaglyptic; -- opposed to diaglyptic or sunk work.
ANAGLYPTIC
An`a*glyp"tic, a. Etym: [L. anaglypticus, Gr. Anaglyph.]
Defn: Relating to the art of carving, enchasing, or embossing in low
relief.
ANAGLYPTICS
An`a*glyp"tics, n.
Defn: The art of carving in low relief, embossing, etc.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPH
An`a*glyp"to*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument by which a correct engraving of any embossed
object, such as a medal or cameo, can be executed. Brande & C.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPHIC
An`a*glyp`to*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anaglyptography; as, analyptographic
engraving.
ANAGLYPTOGRAPHY
An`a*glyp*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The art of copying works in relief, or of engraving as to give
the subject an embossed or raised appearance; -- used in representing
coins, bas-reliefs, etc.
ANAGNORISIS
An`ag*nor"i*sis, n. Etym: [Latinized fr. Gr.
Defn: The unfolding or dénouement. [R.] De Quincey.
ANAGOGE
An`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. An elevation of mind to things celestial.
2. The spiritual meaning or application; esp. the application of the
types and allegories of the Old Testament to subjects of the New.
ANAGOGIC; ANAGOGICAL
An`a*gog"ic, An`a*gog"ic*al, a.
Defn: Mystical; having a secondary spiritual meaning; as, the rest of
the Sabbath, in an anagogical sense, signifies the repose of the
saints in heaven; an anagogical explication.
-- An`a*gog"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANAGOGICS
An`a*gog"ics, n. pl.
Defn: Mystical interpretations or studies, esp. of the Scriptures. L.
Addison.
ANAGOGY
An"a*go`gy, n.
Defn: Same as Anagoge.
ANAGRAM
An"a*gram, n. Etym: [F. anagramme, LL. anagramma, fr. Gr. Graphic.]
Defn: Literally, the letters of a word read backwards, but in its
usual wider sense, the change or one word or phrase into another by
the transposition of its letters. Thus Galenus becomes angelus;
William Noy (attorney-general to Charles I., and a laborious man) may
be turned into I moyl in law.
ANAGRAM
An"a*gram, v. t.
Defn: To anagrammatize.
Some of these anagramed his name, Benlowes, into Benevolus.
Warburton.
ANAGRAMMATIC; ANAGRAMMATICAL
An`a*gram*mat"ic, An`a*gram*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
anagramtique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, containing, or making, anagram.
-- An`a*gram*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANAGRAMMATISM
An`a*gram"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. anagrammatisme.]
Defn: The act or practice of making anagrams. Camden.
ANAGRAMMATIST
An`a*gram"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anagrammatiste.]
Defn: A maker anagrams.
ANAGRAMMATIZE
An`a*gram"ma*tize, v. t. Etym: [Gr. anagrammatiser.]
Defn: To transpose, as the letters of a word, so as to form an
anagram. Cudworth.
ANAGRAPH
An"a*graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An inventory; a record. [Obs.] Knowles.
ANAKIM; ANAKS
An"a*kim, A"naks, n. pl. Etym: [Heb.] (Bibl.)
Defn: A race of giants living in Palestine.
ANAL
A"nal, a. Etym: [From Anus.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the anus; as, the anal fin or
glands.
ANALCIME
A*nal"cime, n. Etym: [Gr. analcime.] (Min.)
Defn: A white or flesh-red mineral, of the zeolite, occurring in
isometric crystals. By friction, it acquires a weak electricity;
hence its name.
ANALCITE
A*nal"cite, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Analcime.
ANALECTIC
An`a*lec"tic, a.
Defn: Relating to analects; made up of selections; as, an analectic
magazine.
ANALECTS; ANALECTA
An"a*lects, An`a*lec"ta, n. pl. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A collection of literary fragments.
ANALEMMA
An`a*lem"ma, n. Etym: [L. analemma a sun dial on a pedestal, showing
the latitude and meridian of a place, Gr.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: An orthographic projection of the sphere on the plane of the
meridian, the eye being supposed at an infinite distance, and in the
east or west point of the horizon.
2. An instrument of wood or brass, on which this projection of the
sphere is made, having a movable horizon or cursor; -- formerly much
used in solving some common astronomical problems.
3. A scale of the sun's declination for each day of the year, drawn
across the torrid zone on an artificial terrestrial globe.
ANALEPSIS; ANALEPSY
An"a*lep"sis, An"a*lep"sy, Etym: [Gr. Analemma.] (Med.)
(a) Recovery of strength after sickness.
(b) A species of epileptic attack, originating from gastric disorder.
ANALEPTIC
An"a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. analeptique. See Analepsis.] (Med.)
Defn: Restorative; giving strength after disease.
-- n.
Defn: A restorative.
ANALGEN; ANALGENE
An*al"gen, An*al"gene, n. [Gr. painless.]
Defn: A crystalline compound used as an antipyretic and analgesic,
employed chiefly in rheumatism and neuralgia. It is a complex
derivative of quinoline.
ANALGESIA
An`al*ge"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence of sensibility to pain. Quain.
ANALLAGMATIC
An`al*lag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Math.)
Defn: Not changed in form by inversion. Anallagmatic curves, a class
of curves of the fourth degree which have certain peculiar relations
to circles; -- sometimes called bicircular quartics.
-- Anallagmatic surfaces, a certain class of surfaces of the fourth
degree.
ANALLANTOIC
An`al*lan*to"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Without, or not developing, an allantois.
ANALLANTOIDEA
An`al*lan*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. allantoidea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Vertebrata in which no allantois is developed.
It includes amphibians, fishes, and lower forms.
ANALOGAL
A*nal"o*gal, a.
Defn: Analogous. [Obs.] Donne.
ANALOGIC
An`a*log"ic, a. Etym: [See Analogous.]
Defn: Of or belonging to analogy. Geo. Eliot.
ANALOGICAL
An`a*log"ic*al, a.
1. Founded on, or of the nature of, analogy; expressing or implying
analogy.
When a country which has sent out colonies is termed the mother
country, the expression is analogical. J. S. Mill.
2. Having analogy; analogous. Sir M. Hale.
ANALOGICALLY
An`a*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an analogical sense; in accordance with analogy; by way of
similitude.
A prince is analogically styled a pilot, being to the state as a
pilot is to the vessel. Berkeley.
ANALOGICALNESS
An`a*log"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being analogical.
ANALOGISM
A*nal"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. Logic
Defn: an argument from the cause to the effect; an a priori argument.
Johnson.
2. Investigation of things by the analogy they bear to each other.
Crabb.
ANALOGIST
A*nal"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who reasons from analogy, or represent, by analogy. Cheyne.
ANALOGIZE
A*nal"o*gize, v. i.
Defn: To employ, or reason by, analogy.
ANALOGON
A*nal"o*gon, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Analogue.
ANALOGOUS
A*nal"o*gous, a. Etym: [L. analogous, Gr. Logic.]
Defn: Having analogy; corresponding to something else; bearing some
resemblance or proportion; -- often followed by to.
Analogous tendencies in arts and manners. De Quincey.
Decay of public spirit, which may be considered analogous to natural
death. J. H. Newman.
nalogous pole (Pyroelect.), that pole of a crystal which becomes
positively electrified when heated.
Syn.
-- Correspondent; similar; like.
-- A*nal"o gous*ly, adv.
-- A*nal"o*gous*ness, n.
ANALOGUE
An"a*logue, n. Etym: [F.
1. That which is analogous to, or corresponds with, some other thing.
The vexatious tyranny of the individual despot meets its analogue in
the insolent tyranny of the many. I. Taylor.
2. (Philol.)
Defn: A word in one language corresponding with one in another; an
analogous term; as, the Latin "pater" is the analogue of the English
"father."
3. (Nat. Hist.)
(a) An organ which is equivalent in its functions to a different
organ in another species or group, or even in the same group; as, the
gill of a fish is the analogue of a lung in a quadruped, although the
two are not of like structural relations.
(b) A species in one genus or group having its characters parallel,
one by one, with those of another group.
(c) A species or genus in one country closely related to a species of
the same genus, or a genus of the same group, in another: such
species are often called representative species, and such genera,
representative genera. Dana.
ANALOGY
A*nal"o*gy, n.; pl. Analogies. Etym: [L. analogia, Gr. analogie. See
Analogous.]
1. A resemblance of relations; an agreement or likeness between
things in some circumstances or effects, when the things are
otherwise entirely different. Thus, learning enlightens the mind,
because it is to the mind what light is to the eye, enabling it to
discover things before hidden.
Note: Followed by between, to, or with; as, there is an analogy
between these objects, or one thing has an analogy to or with
another.
Note: Analogy is very commonly used to denote similarity or essential
resemblance; but its specific meaning is a similarity of relations,
and in this consists the difference between the argument from example
and that from analogy. In the former, we argue from the mere
similarity of two things; in the latter, from the similarity of their
relations. Karslake.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A relation or correspondence in function, between organs or
parts which are decidedly different.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: Proportion; equality of ratios.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Conformity of words to the genius, structure, or general rules
of a language; similarity of origin, inflection, or principle of
pronunciation, and the like, as opposed to pl. analogies. Johnson.
ANALYSE; ANALYSER
An"a*lyse, v., An"a*ly`ser, n., etc.
Defn: Same as Analyze, Analyzer, etc.
ANALYSIS
A*nal"y*sis, n.; pl. Analyses. Etym: [Gr. Loose.]
1. A resolution of anything, whether an object of the senses or of
the intellect, into its constituent or original elements; an
examination of the component parts of a subject, each separately, as
the words which compose a sentence, the tones of a tune, or the
simple propositions which enter into an argument. It is opposed to
synthesis.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation of a compound substance, by chemical processes,
into its constituents, with a view to ascertain either (a) what
elements it contains, or (b) how much of each element is present. The
former is called qualitative, and the latter quantitative analysis.
3. (Logic)
Defn: The tracing of things to their source, and the resolving of
knowledge into its original principles.
4. (Math.)
Defn: The resolving of problems by reducing the conditions that are
in them to equations.
5.
(a) A syllabus, or table of the principal heads of a discourse,
disposed in their natural order.
(b) A brief, methodical illustration of the principles of a science.
In this sense it is nearly synonymous with synopsis.
6. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: The process of ascertaining the name of a species, or its place
in a system of classification, by means of an analytical table or
key. Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Volumetric
analysis. (Chem.) See under Ultimate, Proximate, Qualitative, etc.
ANALYST
An"a*lyst, n. Etym: [F. analyste. See Analysis.]
Defn: One who analyzes; formerly, one skilled in algebraical
geometry; now commonly, one skilled in chemical analysis.
ANALYTIC; ANALYTICAL
An`a*lyt"ic, An`a*lyt"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. analytique. See Analysis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to analysis; resolving into elements or
constituent parts; as, an analytical experiment; analytic reasoning;
-- opposed to synthetic. Analytical or coördinate geometry. See under
Geometry.
-- Analytic language, a noninflectional language or one not
characterized by grammatical endings.
-- Analytical table (Nat. Hist.), a table in which the
characteristics of the species or other groups are arranged so as to
facilitate the determination of their names.
ANALYTICALLY
An`a*lyt"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an analytical manner.
ANALYTICS
An`a*lyt"ics, n.
Defn: The science of analysis.
ANALYZABLE
An"a*ly`za*ble, a.
Defn: That may be analyzed.
ANALYZATION
An`a*ly*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of analyzing, or separating into constituent parts;
analysis.
ANALYZE
An"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Analyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Analyzing.]
Etym: [Cf. F. analyser. See Analysis.]
Defn: To subject to analysis; to resolve (anything complex) into its
elements; to separate into the constituent parts, for the purpose of
an examination of each separately; to examine in such a manner as to
ascertain the elements or nature of the thing examined; as, to
analyze a fossil substance; to analyze a sentence or a word; to
analyze an action to ascertain its morality.
No one, I presume, can analyze the sensations of pleasure or pain.
Darwin.
ANALYZER
An"a*ly`zer, n.
1. One who, or that which, analyzes.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: The part of a polariscope which receives the light after
polarization, and exhibits its properties.
ANAMESE
An`a*mese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Anam, to southeastern Asia.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Anam.
ANAMNESIS
An`am*ne"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A recalling to mind; recollection.
ANAMNESTIC
An`am*nes"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Aiding the memory; as, anamnestic remedies.
ANAMNIOTIC
An*am`ni*ot"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Without, or not developing, an amnion.
ANAMORPHISM
An`a*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A distorted image.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A gradual progression from one type to another, generally
ascending. Huxley.
ANAMORPHOSCOPE
An`a*mor"pho*scope, n. [Anamorphosis + -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for restoring a picture or image distorted by
anamorphosis to its normal proportions. It usually consists of a
cylindrical mirror.
ANAMORPHOSIS
An`a*mor"pho*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Persp.)
Defn: A distorted or monstrous projection or representation of an
image on a plane or curved surface, which, when viewed from a certain
point, or as reflected from a curved mirror or through a polyhedron,
appears regular and in proportion; a deformation of an image.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Anamorphism, 2.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A morbid or monstrous development, or change of form, or
degeneration.
ANAMORPHOSY
An`a*mor"pho*sy, n.
Defn: Same as Anamorphosis.
ANAN
A*nan", interj. Etym: [See Anon.]
Defn: An expression equivalent to What did you say Sir Eh [Obs.]
Shak.
ANANAS
A*na"nas, n. Etym: [Sp. ananas, from the native American name.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The pineapple (Ananassa sativa).
ANANDROUS
An*an"drous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of stamen
ANANGULAR
An*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Gr. angular.]
Defn: Containing no angle. [R.]
ANANTHEROUS
An*an"ther*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. anther.] (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of anthers. Gray.
ANANTHOUS
An*an"thous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of flowers; flowerless.
ANAPAEST; ANAPAESTIC
An`a*pæst, An`a*pæs"tic.
Defn: Same as Anapest, Anapestic.
ANAPEST
An"a*pest, n. Etym: [L. anapaestus, Gr. i.e., a dactyl reserved, or,
as it were, struck back; fr.
1. (Pros.)
Defn: A metrical foot consisting of three syllables, the first two
short, or unaccented, the last long, or accented; the reverse of the
dactyl. In Latin d, and in English in-ter-vene, are examples of
anapests.
2. A verse composed of such feet.
ANAPESTIC
An`a*pes"tic, a. Etym: [L. anapaesticus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an anapest; consisting of an anapests; as, an
anapestic meter, foot, verse.
-- n.
Defn: Anapestic measure or verse.
ANAPESTICAL
An`a*pes"tic*al, a.
Defn: Anapestic.
ANAPHORA
A*naph"o*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A repetition of a word or of words at the beginning of two or
more successive clauses.
ANAPHRODISIA
An*aph`ro*dis"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence of sexual appetite.
ANAPHRODISIAC
An*aph`ro*dis"i*ac, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antaphrodisiac. Dunglison.
ANAPHRODITIC
An*aph`ro*dit"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Produced without concourse of sexes.
ANAPLASTIC
An`a*plas"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anaplasty.
ANAPLASTY
An`a*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. anaplastie.] (Surg.)
Defn: The art of operation of restoring lost parts or the normal
shape by the use of healthy tissue.
ANAPLEROTIC
An`a*ple*rot"ic, a. Etym: [L. anapleroticus, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Filling up; promoting granulation of wounds or ulcers.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy which promotes such granulation.
ANAPNOGRAPH
A*nap"no*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: A form of spirometer.
ANAPNOIC
An`ap*no"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to respiration.
ANAPODEICTIC
An*ap`o*deic"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Apodeictic.]
Defn: Not apodeictic; undemonstrable. [R.]
ANAPOPHYSIS
An`a*poph"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: An accessory process in many lumbar vertebræ.
ANAPTOTIC
An`ap*tot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having lost, or tending to lose, inflections by phonetic decay;
as, anaptotic languages.
ANAPTYCHUS
An*ap"ty*chus, n.; pl. Anaptichi. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a pair of shelly plates found in some cephalopods, as
the ammonites.
ANARCH
An"arch, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The author of anarchy; one who excites revolt. Milton.
Imperial anarchs doubling human woes. Byron.
ANARCHAL
A*nar"chal, a.
Defn: Lawless; anarchical. [R.]
We are in the habit of calling those bodies of men anarchal which are
in a state of effervescence. Landor.
ANARCHIC; ANARCHICAL
A*nar"chic, A*nar"chic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchique.]
Defn: Pertaining to anarchy; without rule or government; in political
confusion; tending to produce anarchy; as, anarchic despotism;
anarchical opinions.
ANARCHISM
An"arch*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchisme.]
Defn: The doctrine or practice of anarchists.
ANARCHIST
An"arch*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anarchiste.]
Defn: An anarch; one who advocates anarchy of aims at the overthrow
of civil government.
ANARCHIZE
An"arch*ize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to anarchy.
ANARCHY
An"arch*y, n. Etym: [Gr. anarchie. See Anarch.]
1. Absence of government; the state of society where there is no law
or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion.
Spread anarchy and terror all around. Cowper.
2. Hence, confusion or disorder, in general.
There being then . . . an anarchy, as I may term it, in authors and
their reFuller.
ANARTHROPODA
An`ar*throp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda. See Anarthrous.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the divisions of Articulata in which there are no
jointed legs, as the annelids; -- opposed to Arthropoda.
ANARTHROPODOUS
An`ar*throp"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having no jointed legs; pertaining to Anarthropoda.
ANARTHROUS
An*ar"throus, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: Used without the article; as, an anarthrous substantive.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without joints, or having the joints indistinct, as some
insects.
ANAS
A"nas, n. Etym: [L., duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of water fowls, of the order Anseres, including certain
species of fresh-water ducks.
ANASARCA
An`a*sar"ca, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Dropsy of the subcutaneous cellular tissue; an effusion of
serum into the cellular substance, occasioning a soft, pale,
inelastic swelling of the skin.
ANASARCOUS
An`a*sar"cous, a.
Defn: Belonging, or affected by, anasarca, or dropsy; dropsical.
Wiseman.
ANASEISMIC
An`a*seis"mic, a. [Cf. Gr. a shaking up and down.]
Defn: Moving up and down; -- said of earthquake shocks.
ANASTALTIC
An`a*stal"tic, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. fitted for checking, fr. (Med.)
Defn: Styptic. [Obs.] Coxe.
ANASTATE
An"a*state, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: One of a series of substances formed, in secreting cells, by
constructive or anabolic processes, in the production of protoplasm;
-- opposed to katastate. Foster.
ANASTATIC
An`a*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a process or a style of printing from characters
in relief on zinc plates.
Note: In this process the letterpress, engraving, or design of any
kind is transferred to a zinc plate; the parts not covered with ink
are eaten out, leaving a facsimile in relief to be printed from.
ANASTIGMATIC
An*as`tig*mat"ic, a. [Pref. an-not + astigmatic.] (Optics)
Defn: Not astigmatic; --said esp. of a lens system which consists of
a converging lens and a diverging lens of equal and opposite
astigmatism but different focal lengths, and sensibly free from
astigmatism.
ANASTOMOSE
A*nas"to*mose, v. i. [imp. p. p. Anastomozed; p. pr. Anastomosing.]
Etym: [Cf. F. anastomoser, fr. anastomose. See Anastomosis.] (Anat. &
Bot.)
Defn: To inosculate; to intercommunicate by anastomosis, as the
arteries and veins.
The ribbing of the leaf, and the anastomosing network of its vessels.
I. Taylor.
ANASTOMOSIS
A*nas`to*mo"sis, n.; pl. Anastomoses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
anastomose.] (Anat. & Bot.)
Defn: The inosculation of vessels, or intercommunication between two
or more vessels or nerves, as the cross communication between
arteries or veins.
ANASTOMOTIC
A*nas`to*mot"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anastomosis.
ANASTROPHE
A*nas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet. & Gram.)
Defn: An inversion of the natural order of words; as, echoed the
hills, for, the hills echoed.
ANATHEMA
A*nath"e*ma, n.; pl. Anathemas. Etym: [L. anath, fr. Gr. anath, fr.
Gr. Thesis.]
1. A ban or curse pronounced with religious solemnity by
ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication. Hence:
Denunciation of anything as accursed.
[They] denounce anathemas against unbelievers. Priestley.
2. An imprecation; a curse; a malediction.
Finally she fled to London followed by the anathemas of both
[families]. Thackeray.
3. Any person or thing anathematized, or cursed by ecclesiastical
authority.
The Jewish nation were an anathema destined to destruction. St. Paul
. . . says he could wish, to save them from it, to become an
anathema, and be destroyed himself. Locke.
Anathema Maranatha Etym: (see 1 Cor. xvi. 22), an expression commonly
considered as a highly intensified form of anathema. Maran atha is
now considered as a separate sentence, meaning, "Our Lord cometh."
ANATHEMATIC; ANATHEMATICAL
A*nath`e*mat"ic, A*nath`e*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an anathema.
-- A*nath`e*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANATHEMATISM
A*nath"e*ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. anathématisme.]
Defn: Anathematization. [Obs.]
We find a law of Justinian forbidding anathematisms to be pronounced
against the Jewish Hellenists. J. Taylor.
ANATHEMATIZATION
A*nath`e*ma*ti*za"tion, n. Etym: [LL. anathematisatio.]
Defn: The act of anathematizing, or denouncing as accursed;
imprecation. Barrow.
ANATHEMATIZE
A*nath"e*ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anathematized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anathematizing.] Etym: [L. anathematizare, Gr. anathématiser.]
Defn: To pronounce an anathema against; to curse. Hence: To condemn
publicly as something accursed. Milton.
ANATHEMATIZER
A*nath"e*ma*ti`zer, n.
Defn: One who pronounces an anathema. Hammond.
ANATIFA
A*nat"i*fa, n.; pl. Anatifæ. Etym: [NL., contr. fr. anatifera. See
Anatiferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of the barnacle tribe, of the genus Lepas, having a
fleshy stem or peduncle; a goose barnacle. See Cirripedia.
Note: The term Anatifæ, in the plural, is often used for the whole
group of pedunculated cirripeds.
ANATIFER
A*nat"i*fer,, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Anatifa.
ANATIFEROUS
An`a*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. anas, anatis, a duck + -ferous.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing ducks; -- applied to Anatifæ, under the absurd notion
of their turning into ducks or geese. See Barnacle.
ANATINE
An"a*tine, a. Etym: [L. anatinus, fr. anas, anatis, a duck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ducks; ducklike.
ANATOCISM
A*nat"o*cism, n. Etym: [L. anatocismus, Gr. (Law)
Defn: Compound interest. [R.] Bouvier.
ANATOMIC; ANATOMICAL
An`a*tom"ic, An`a*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. anatomicus, Gr. anatomique.
See Anatomy.]
Defn: Of or relating to anatomy or dissection; as, the anatomic art;
anatomical observations. Hume.
ANATOMICALLY
An`a*tom"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anatomical manner; by means of dissection.
ANATOMISM
A*nat"o*mism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anatomisme.]
1. The application of the principles of anatomy, as in art.
The stretched and vivid anatomism of their [i. e., the French] great
figure painters. The London Spectator.
2. The doctrine that the anatomical structure explains all the
phenomena of the organism or of animal life.
ANATOMIST
A*nat"o*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anatomiste.]
Defn: One who is skilled in the art of anatomy, or dissection.
ANATOMIZATION
A*nat`o*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of anatomizing.
ANATOMIZE
A*nat"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anatomized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anatomizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. anatomiser.]
1. To dissect; to cut in pieces, as an animal vegetable body, for the
purpose of displaying or examining the structure and use of the
several parts.
2. To discriminate minutely or carefully; to analyze.
If we anatomize all other reasonings of this nature, we shall find
that they are founded on the relation of cause and effect. Hume.
ANATOMIZER
A*nat"o*mi`zer, n.
Defn: A dissector.
ANATOMY
A*nat"o*my, n.; pl. Anatomies. Etym: [F. anatomie, L. anatomia, Gr.
1. The art of dissecting, or artificially separating the different
parts of any organized body, to discover their situation, structure,
and economy; dissection.
2. The science which treats of the structure of organic bodies;
anatomical structure or organization.
Let the muscles be well inserted and bound together, according to the
knowledge of them which is given us by anatomy. Dryden.
Note: "Animal anatomy" is sometimes called zomy; "vegetable anatomy,"
phytotomy; "human anatomy," anthropotomy. Comparative anatomy
compares the structure of different kinds and classes of animals.
3. A treatise or book on anatomy.
4. The act of dividing anything, corporeal or intellectual, for the
purpose of examining its parts; analysis; as, the anatomy of a
discourse.
5. A skeleton; anything anatomized or dissected, or which has the
appearance of being so.
The anatomy of a little child, representing all parts thereof, is
accounted a greater rarity than the skeleton of a man in full
stature. Fuller.
They brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain, A mere anatomy.
Shak.
ANATREPTIC
An`a*trep"tic, a. Etym: [overturning, fr.
Defn: Overthrowing; defeating; -- applied to Plato's refutative
dialogues. Enfield.
ANATRON
An"a*tron, n. Etym: [F. anatron, natron, Sp. anatron, natron, fr. Ar.
al-natr. See Natron, Niter.] [Obs.]
1. Native carbonate of soda; natron.
2. Glass gall or sandiver.
3. Saltpeter. Coxe. Johnson.
ANATROPAL; ANATROPOUS
A*nat"ro*pal, A*nat"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovule inverted at an early period in its
development, so that the chalaza is as the apparent apex; -- opposed
to orthotropous. Gray.
ANATTO
A*nat"to, n.
Defn: Same as Annotto.
ANBURY; AMBURY
An"bur*y, Am"bur*y, n. Etym: [AS. ampre, ompre, a crooked swelling
vein: cf. Prov. E. amper a tumor with inflammation. Cf. the first
syllable in agnail, and berry a fruit.]
1. (Far.)
Defn: A soft tumor or bloody wart on horses or oxen.
2. A disease of the roots of turnips, etc.; -- called also fingers
and toes.
ANCE
*ance. Etym: [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. -entia.]
Defn: A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as,
assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy.
Note: All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or -
ence, according to the Latin spelling.
-ANCE
-ance. [F. -ance, fr. L. -antia and also fr. -entia.]
Defn: A suffix signifying action; also, quality or state; as,
assistance, resistance, appearance, elegance. See -ancy.
All recently adopted words of this class take either -ance or -ence,
according to the Latin spelling.
ANCESTOR
An"ces*tor, n. Etym: [OE. ancestre, auncestre, also ancessour; the
first forms fr. OF. ancestre, F. ancêtre, fr. the L. nom. antessor
one who goes before; the last form fr. OF. ancessor, fr. L. acc.
antecessorem, fr. antecedere to go before; ante before + cedere to
go. See Cede, and cf. Antecessor.]
1. One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or
mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a fore father.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: An earlier type; a progenitor; as, this fossil animal is
regarded as the ancestor of the horse.
3. (Law)
Defn: One from whom an estate has descended; -- the correlative of
heir.
ANCESTORIAL
An`ces*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Ancestral. Grote.
ANCESTORIALLY
An`ces*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: With regard to ancestors.
ANCESTRAL
An*ces"tral, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, derived from, or possessed by, an ancestor
or ancestors; as, an ancestral estate. "Ancestral trees." Hemans.
ANCESTRESS
An"ces*tress, n.
Defn: A female ancestor.
ANCESTRY
An"ces*try, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. ancesserie. See Ancestor.]
1. Condition as to ancestors; ancestral lineage; hence, birth or
honorable descent.
Title and ancestry render a good man more illustrious, but an ill one
more contemptible. Addison.
2. A series of ancestors or progenitors; lineage, or those who
compose the line of natural descent.
ANCHOR
An"chor, n. Etym: [OE. anker, AS. ancor, oncer, L. ancora, sometimes
spelt anchora, fr. Gr. angle: cf. F. ancre. See Angle, n.]
1. A iron instrument which is attached to a ship by a cable (rope or
chain), and which, being cast overboard, lays hold of the earth by a
fluke or hook and thus retains the ship in a particular station.
Note: The common anchor consists of a straight bar called a shank,
having at one end a transverse bar called a stock, above which is a
ring for the cable, and at the other end the crown, from which branch
out two or more arms with flukes, forming with the shank a suitable
angle to enter the ground.
Note: Formerly the largest and strongest anchor was the sheet anchor
(hence, Fig., best hope or last refuge), called also waist anchor.
Now the bower and the sheet anchor are usually alike. Then came the
best bower and the small bower (so called from being carried on the
bows). The stream anchor is one fourth the weight of the bower
anchor. Kedges or kedge anchors are light anchors used in warping.
2. Any instrument or contrivance serving a purpose like that of a
ship's anchor, as an arrangement of timber to hold a dam fast; a
contrivance to hold the end of a bridge cable, or other similar part;
a contrivance used by founders to hold the core of a mold in place.
3. Fig.: That which gives stability or security; that on which we
place dependence for safety.
Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Heb. vi. 19.
4. (Her.)
Defn: An emblem of hope.
5. (Arch.)
(a) A metal tie holding adjoining parts of a building together.
(b) Carved work, somewhat resembling an anchor or arrowhead; -- a
part of the ornaments of certain moldings. It is seen in the echinus,
or egg-and-anchor (called also egg-and-dart, egg-and-tongue)
ornament.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the anchor-shaped spicules of certain sponges; also, one
of the calcareous spinules of certain Holothurians, as in species of
Synapta. Anchor ice. See under Ice.
-- Anchor ring. (Math.) Same as Annulus, 2 (b).
-- Anchor stock (Naut.), the crossbar at the top of the shank at
right angles to the arms.
-- The anchor comes home, when it drags over the bottom as the ship
drifts.
-- Foul anchor, the anchor when it hooks, or is entangled with,
another anchor, or with a cable or wreck, or when the slack cable
entangled.
-- The anchor is acockbill, when it is suspended perpendicularly
from the cathead, ready to be let go.
-- The anchor is apeak, when the cable is drawn in do tight as to
bring to ship directly over it.
-- The anchor is atrip, or aweigh, when it is lifted out of the
ground.
-- The anchor is awash, when it is hove up to the surface of the
water.
-- At anchor, anchored.
-- To back an anchor, to increase the holding power by laying down a
small anchor ahead of that by which the ship rides, with the cable
fastened to the crown of the latter to prevent its coming home.
-- To cast anchor, to drop or let go an anchor to keep a ship at
rest.
-- To cat the anchor, to hoist the anchor to the cathead and pass
the ring-stopper.
-- To fish the anchor, to hoist the flukes to their resting place
(called the bill-boards), and pass the shank painter.
-- To weigh anchor, to heave or raise the anchor so as to sail away.
ANCHOR
An"chor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anchored; p. pr. & vb. n. Anchoring.]
Etym: [Cf. F. ancrer.]
1. To place at anchor; to secure by an anchor; as, to anchor a ship.
2. To fix or fasten; to fix in a stable condition; as, to anchor the
cables of a suspension bridge.
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes. Shak.
ANCHOR
An"chor, v. i.
1. To cast anchor; to come to anchor; as, our ship (or the captain)
anchored in the stream.
2. To stop; to fix or rest.
My invention . . . anchors on Isabel. Shak.
ANCHOR
An"chor, n. Etym: [OE. anker, ancre, AS. ancra, fr. L. anachoreta.
See Anchoret.]
Defn: An anchoret. [Obs.] Shak.
ANCHORABLE
An"chor*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit for anchorage.
ANCHORAGE
An"chor*age, n.
1. The act of anchoring, or the condition of lying at anchor.
2. A place suitable for anchoring or where ships anchor; a hold for
an anchor.
3. The set of anchors belonging to a ship.
4. Something which holds like an anchor; a hold; as, the anchorages
of the Brooklyn Bridge.
5. Something on which one may depend for security; ground of trust.
6. A toll for anchoring; anchorage duties. Johnson.
ANCHORAGE
An"cho*rage, n.
Defn: Abode of an anchoret.
ANCHORATE
An"chor*ate, a.
Defn: Anchor-shaped.
ANCHORED
An"chored, a.
1. Held by an anchor; at anchor; held safely; as, an anchored bark;
also, shaped like an anchor; forked; as, an anchored tongue.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having the extremities turned back, like the flukes of an
anchor; as, an anchored cross. [Sometimes spelt ancred.]
ANCHOR ESCAPEMENT
An"chor es*cape"ment. (Horol.)
(a) The common recoil escapement.
(b) A variety of the lever escapement with a wide impulse pin.
ANCHORESS
An"cho*ress, n.
Defn: A female anchoret.
And there, a saintly anchoress, she dwelt. Wordsworth.
ANCHORET; ANCHORITE
An"cho*ret, An"cho*rite, n. Etym: [F. anachorète, L. anachoreta, fr.
Gr. ha to leave. Cf. Anchor a hermit.]
Defn: One who renounces the world and secludes himself, usually for
religious reasons; a hermit; a recluse. [Written by some authors
anachoret.]
Our Savior himself . . . did not choose an anchorite's or a monastic
life, but a social and affable way of conversing with mortals. Boyle.
ANCHORETIC; ANCHORETICAL
An`cho*ret"ic, An`cho*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to an anchoret or hermit; after the manner of an
anchoret.
ANCHORETISH
An"cho*ret`ish, a.
Defn: Hermitlike.
ANCHORETISM
An"cho*ret*ism, n.
Defn: The practice or mode of life of an anchoret.
ANCHOR-HOLD
An"chor-hold`, n.
1. The hold or grip of an anchor, or that to which it holds.
2. Hence: Firm hold: security.
ANCHORITE
An"cho*rite, n.
Defn: Same as Anchoret.
ANCHORITESS
An"cho*ri`tess, n.
Defn: An anchoress. [R.]
ANCHORLESS
An"chor*less, a.
Defn: Without an anchor or stay. Hence: Drifting; unsettled.
ANCHOR LIGHT
Anchor light. (Naut.)
Defn: The lantern shown at night by a vessel at anchor. International
rules of the road require vessels at anchor to carry from sunset to
sunrise a single white light forward if under 150 feet in length, and
if longer, two such lights, one near the stern and one forward.
ANCHOR SHOT
Anchor shot. (Billiards)
Defn: A shot made with the object balls in an anchor space.
ANCHOR SPACE
Anchor space. (Billiards)
Defn: In the balk-line game, any of eight spaces, 7 inches by 3½,
lying along a cushion and bisected transversely by a balk line.
Object balls in an anchor space are treated as in balk.
ANCHOR WATCH
Anchor watch. (Naut.)
Defn: A detail of one or more men who keep watch on deck at night
when a vessel is at anchor.
ANCHOVY
An*cho"vy, n. Etym: [Sp. anchoa, anchova, or Pg. anchova, prob. of
Iberian origin, and lit. a dried or pickled fish, fr. Bisc. antzua
dry: cf. D. anchovis, F. anchois.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish, about three inches in length, of the Herring
family (Engraulis encrasicholus), caught in vast numbers in the
Mediterranean, and pickled for exportation. The name is also applied
to several allied species.
ANCHOVY PEAR
An*cho"vy pear`. (Bot.)
Defn: A West Indian fruit like the mango in taste, sometimes pickled;
also, the tree (Grias cauliflora) bearing this fruit.
ANCHUSIN
An"chu*sin, n. Etym: [L. anchusa the plant alkanet, Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A resinoid coloring matter obtained from alkanet root.
ANCHYLOSE
An"chy*lose, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Anchylosed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anchylosing.] Etym: [Cf. F. ankyloser.]
Defn: To affect or be affected with anchylosis; to unite or
consolidate so as to make a stiff joint; to grow together into one.
[Spelt also ankylose.] Owen.
ANCHYLOSIS; ANKYLOSIS
An`chy*lo"sis, An`ky*lo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ankylose.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Stiffness or fixation of a joint; formation of a stiff joint.
Dunglison.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The union of two or more separate bones to from a single bone;
the close union of bones or other structures in various animals.
ANCHYLOTIC
An`chy*lot"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anchylosis.
ANCIENT
An"cient, a. Etym: [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus, fr. L. ante
before. See Ante-, pref.]
1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great
distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied
to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; -- opposed to
modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.
Witness those ancient empires of the earth. Milton.
Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the
Wise. Fuller.
2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great
age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. "Our ancient
bickerings." Shak.
Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. Prov.
xxii. 28.
An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. Scott.
3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to recent
or new; as, the ancient continent.
A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. Barrow.
4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable. [Archaic]
He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very
grave and ancient. Holland.
5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.]
Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in
the business of the realm. Berners.
6. Former; sometime. [Obs.]
They mourned their ancient leader lost. Pope.
Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors belonging to
the crown, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were held. The
numbers, names, etc., of these were all entered in a book called
Domesday Book.
-- Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have been
enjoined without molestation for more than twenty years. In England,
and in some of the United States, they acquire a prescriptive right.
Syn.
-- Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned;
obsolete.
-- Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique, Antic, Old.
-- Ancient is opposed to modern, and has antiquity; as, an ancient
family, ancient landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought,
etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of use or fashion;
as, antiquated furniture, antiquated laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is
commonly used, instead of antiquated, in reference to language,
customs, etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete
expression. Antique is applied, in present usage, either to that
which has come down from the ancients; as, an antique cameo, bust,
etc. ; or to that which is made to imitate some ancient work of art;
as, an antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique was often
used for ancient; as, "an antique song," "an antique Roman;" and
hence, from singularity often attached to what is ancient, it was
used in the sense of grotesque; as, "an oak whose antique root peeps
out; " and hence came our present word antic, denoting grotesque or
ridiculous. We usually apply both ancient and old to things subject
to gradual decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but never,
the old stars, an old river or mountain. In general, however, ancient
is opposed to modern, and old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak
of a thing that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we
commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient heroes; and not
old republics, old heroes. But when the thing which began or existed
in former times is still in existence, we use either ancient or old;
as, ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or paintings;
ancient authors, or old authors, meaning books.
ANCIENT
An"cient, n.
1. pl.
Defn: Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns.
2. An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of
influence.
The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people,
and the princes thereof. Isa. iii. 14.
3. A senior; an elder; a predecessor. [Obs.]
Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . . were his ancients.
Hooker.
4. pl. (Eng. Law)
Defn: One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.
Council of Ancients (French Hist.), one of the two assemblies
composing the legislative bodies in 1795. Brande.
ANCIENT
An"cient, n. Etym: [Corrupted from ensign.]
1. An ensign or flag. [Obs.]
More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient. Shak.
2. The bearer of a flag; an ensign. [Obs.]
This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. Shak.
ANCIENTLY
An"cient*ly, adv.
1. In ancient times.
2. In an ancient manner. [R.]
ANCIENTNESS
An"cient*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being ancient; antiquity; existence from old
times.
ANCIENTRY
An"cient*ry, n.
1. Antiquity; what is ancient.
They contain not word of ancientry. West.
2. Old age; also, old people. [R.]
Wronging the ancientry. Shak.
3. Ancient lineage; ancestry; dignity of birth.
A gentleman of more ancientry than estate. Fuller.
ANCIENTY
An"cient*y, n. Etym: [F. ancienneté, fr. ancien. See Ancient.]
1. Age; antiquity. [Obs.] Martin.
2. Seniority. [Obs.]
ANCILE
An*ci"le, n. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: The sacred shield of the Romans, said to have-fallen from
heaven in the reign of Numa. It was the palladium of Rome.
ANCILLARY
An"cil*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. ancillaris, fr. ancilla a female servant.]
Defn: Subservient or subordinate, like a handmaid; auxiliary.
The Convocation of York seems to have been always considered as
inferior, and even ancillary, to the greater province. Hallam.
ANCILLARY ADMINISTRATION
An"cil*la*ry ad*min`is*tra"tion. (Law)
Defn: An administration subordinate to, and in aid of, the primary or
principal administration of an estate.
ANCILLE
An*cille", n. Etym: [OF. ancelle, L. ancilla.]
Defn: A maidservant; a handmaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANCIPITAL; ANCIPITOUS
An*cip"i*tal, An*cip"i*tous, a. Etym: [L. anceps, ancipitis, two-
headed, double; an- for amb- on both sides + caput head.] (Bot.)
Defn: Two-edged instead of round; -- said of certain flattened stems,
as those of blue grass, and rarely also of leaves.
ANCISTROID
An*cis"troid, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Hook-shaped.
ANCLE
An"cle, n.
Defn: See Ankle.
ANCOME
An"come, n. Etym: [AS. ancuman, oncuman, to come.]
Defn: A small ulcerous swelling, coming suddenly; also, a whitlow.
[Obs.] Boucher.
ANCON
An"con, n.; L. pl. Ancones. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The olecranon, or the elbow. Ancon sheep (Zoöl.), a breed of
sheep with short crooked legs and long back. It originated in
Massachusetts in 1791; -- called also the otter breed.
ANCON; ANCONE
An"con, An"cone, n. Etym: [See Ancon, above.] (Arch.)
(a) The corner or quoin of a wall, cross-beam, or rafter. [Obs.]
Gwilt.
(b) A bracket supporting a cornice; a console.
ANCONAL; ANCONEAL
An"co*nal, An*co"ne*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancon or elbow. "The olecranon on
anconeal process." Flower.
ANCONEUS
An*co"ne*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. ancon elbow.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle of the elbow and forearm.
ANCONOID
An"co*noid, a.
Defn: Elbowlike; anconal.
ANCONY
An"co*ny, n. Etym: [Origin unknown.] (Iron Work)
Defn: A piece of malleable iron, wrought into the shape of a bar in
the middle, but unwrought at the ends.
-ANCY
-an*cy. Etym: [L. -antia.-]
Defn: A suffix expressing more strongly than -ance the idea of
quality or state; as, constancy, buoyancy, infancy.
AND
And, conj. Etym: [AS. and; akin to OS. endi, Icel. enda, OHG. anti,
enti, inti, unti, G. und, D. en, OD. ende. Cf, An if, Ante-.]
1. A particle which expresses the relation of connection or addition.
It is used to conjoin a word with a word, a clause with a clause, or
a sentence with a sentence.
Note: (a) It is sometimes used emphatically; as, "there are women and
women," that is, two very different sorts of women. (b) By a
rhetorical figure, notions, one of which is modificatory of the
other, are connected by and; as, "the tediousness and process of my
travel," that is, the tedious process, etc.; "thy fair and outward
character," that is, thy outwardly fair character, Schmidt's Shak.
Lex.
2. In order to; -- used instead of the infinitival to, especially
after try, come, go.
At least to try and teach the erring soul. Milton.
3. It is sometimes, in old songs, a mere expletive.
When that I was and a little tiny boy. Shak.
4. If; though. See An, conj. [Obs.] Chaucer.
As they will set an house on fire, and it were but to roast their
eggs. Bacon.
And so forth, and others; and the rest; and similar things; and other
things or ingredients. The abbreviation, etc. (et cetera), or &c., is
usually read and so forth.
ANDABATISM
An"da*ba*tism, n. Etym: [L. andabata a kind of Roman gladiator, who
fought hoodwinked.]
Defn: Doubt; uncertainty. [Obs.] Shelford.
ANDALUSITE
An`da*lu"site, n. (Min.)
Defn: A silicate of aluminium, occurring usually in thick rhombic
prisms, nearly square, of a grayish or pale reddish tint. It was
first discovered in Andalusia, Spain.
ANDANTE
An*dan"te, a. Etym: [It. andante, p. pr. of andare to go.] (Mus.)
Defn: Moving moderately slow, but distinct and flowing; quicker than
larghetto, and slower than allegretto.
-- n.
Defn: A movement or piece in andante time.
ANDANTINO
An`dan*ti"no, a. Etym: [It., dim. of andante.] (Mus.)
Defn: Rather quicker than andante; between that allegretto.
Note: Some, taking andante in its original sense of "going," and
andantino as its diminutive, or "less going," define the latter as
slower than andante.
ANDARAC
An"da*rac, n. Etym: [A corruption of sandarac.]
Defn: Red orpiment. Coxe.
ANDEAN
An*de"an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Andes.
ANDESINE
An"des*ine, n. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of triclinic feldspar found in the Andes.
ANDESITE
An"des*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: An eruptive rock allied to trachyte, consisting essentially of
a triclinic feldspar, with pyroxene, hornblende, or hypersthene.
ANDINE
An"dine, a.
Defn: Andean; as, Andine flora.
ANDIRON
And"i`ron, n. Etym: [OE. anderne, aunderne, aundyre, OF. andier, F.
landier, fr. LL. andena, andela, anderia, of unknown origin. The Eng.
was prob. confused with brand-iron, AS. brand-isen.]
Defn: A utensil for supporting wood when burning in a fireplace, one
being placed on each side; a firedog; as, a pair of andirons.
ANDRANATOMY
An`dra*nat"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. andranatomie. See Anatomy, Androtomy.]
Defn: The dissection of a human body, especially of a male;
androtomy. Coxe.
ANDROCEPHALOUS
An`dro*ceph"a*lous, a. [Gr. , , man + head.]
Defn: Having a human head (upon an animal's body), as the Egyptian
sphinx.
ANDRODIOECIOUS; ANDRODIECIOUS
An`dro*di*o"cious, An`dro*di*e"cious, a. [Gr. , , man + E. diocious.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having perfect and staminate flowers on different plants. --
An`dro*di*o"cism, -di*e"cism (#), n.
ANDROECIUM
An*droe"ci*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (bot.)
Defn: The stamens of a flower taken collectively.
ANDROGYNE
An"dro*gyne, n.
1. An hermaphrodite.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An androgynous plant. Whewell.
ANDROGYNOUS; ANDROGYNAL
An*drog"y*nous, An*drog"y*nal, a. Etym: [L. androgynus, Gr.
androgyne.]
1. Uniting both sexes in one, or having the characteristics of both;
being in nature both male and female; hermaphroditic. Owen.
The truth is, a great mind must be androgynous. Coleridge.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing both staminiferous and pistilliferous flowers in the
same cluster.
ANDROGYNY; ANDROGYNISM
An*drog"y*ny, An*drog"y*nism, n.
Defn: Union of both sexes in one individual; hermaphroditism.
ANDROID
An"droid, a.
Defn: Resembling a man.
ANDROID; ANDROIDES
An"droid, An*droi"des, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A machine or automaton in the form of a human being.
ANDROMEDA
An*drom"e*da, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: A northern constellation, supposed to represent the mythical
Andromeda.
2. (bot.)
Defn: A genus of ericaceous flowering plants of northern climates, of
which the original species was found growing on a rock surrounded by
water.
ANDROMEDE; ANDROMED
An"dro*mede, An"dro*med, n. (Astron.)
Defn: A meteor appearing to radiate from a point in the constellation
Andromeda, -- whence the name.
A shower of these meteors takes place every year on November 27th or
28th. The Andromedes are also called Bielids, as they are connected
with Biela's comet and move in its orbit.
ANDRON
An"dron, n. Etym: [L. andron, Gr. (Gr. & Rom. Arch.)
Defn: The apartment appropriated for the males. This was in the lower
part of the house.
ANDROPETALOUS
An`dro*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Produced by the conversion of the stamens into petals, as
double flowers, like the garden ranunculus. Brande.
ANDROPHAGI
An*droph"a*gi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: Cannibals; man-eaters; anthropophagi. [R.]
ANDROPHAGOUS
An*droph"a*gous, a.
Defn: Anthropophagous.
ANDROPHORE
An"dro*phore, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A support or column on which stamens are raised. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The part which in some Siphonophora bears the male gonophores.
ANDROPOGON
An`dro*po"gon, n. [NL.; Gr. 'anh`r, 'andro`s, man + pw`gwn the
beard.] (Bot.)
Defn: A very large and important genus of grasses, found in nearly
all parts of the world. It includes the lemon grass of Ceylon and the
beard grass, or broom sedge, of the United States. The principal
subgenus is Sorghum, including A. sorghum and A. halepensis, from
which have been derived the Chinese sugar cane, the Johnson grass,
the Aleppo grass, the broom corn, and the durra, or Indian millet.
Several East Indian species, as A. nardus and A. schonanthus, yield
fragrant oils, used in perfumery.
ANDROSPHINX
An"dro*sphinx, n. Etym: [Gr. (Egypt. Art.)
Defn: A man sphinx; a sphinx having the head of a man and the body of
a lion.
ANDROSPORE
An"dro*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A spore of some algæ, which has male functions.
ANDROTOMOUS
An*drot"o*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the filaments of the stamens divided into two parts.
ANDROTOMY
An*drot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Anatomy.]
Defn: Dissection of the human body, as distinguished from zoötomy;
anthropotomy. [R.]
ANDROUS
*an"drous. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A terminal combining form: Having a stamen or stamens;
staminate; as, monandrous, with one stamen; polyandrous, with many
stamens.
ANEAR
A*near", prep. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + near.]
Defn: Near. [R.] "It did not come anear." Coleridge.
The measure of misery anear us. I. Taylor.
ANEAR
A*near", v. t. & i.
Defn: To near; to approach. [Archaic]
ANEATH
A*neath", prep. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + neath for beneath.]
Defn: Beneath. [Scot.]
ANECDOTAGE
An"ec*do`tage, n.
Defn: Anecdotes collectively; a collection of anecdotes.
All history, therefore, being built partly, and some of it
altogether, upon anecdotage, must be a tissue of lies. De Quincey.
ANECDOTAL
An"ec*do`tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or abounding with, anecdotes; as, anecdotal
conversation.
ANECDOTE
An"ec*dote, n. Etym: [F. anecdote, fr. Gr. Dose, n.]
1. pl.
Defn: Unpublished narratives. Burke.
2. A particular or detached incident or fact of an interesting
nature; a biographical incident or fragment; a single passage of
private life.
ANECDOTIC; ANECDOTICAL
An`ec*dot"ic, An`ec*dot"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or addicted to, anecdotes.
"Anecdotical traditions." Bolingbroke.
ANECDOTIST
An"ec*do"tist, n.
Defn: One who relates or collects anecdotes.
ANELACE
An"e*lace, n.
Defn: Same as Anlace.
ANELE
A*nele", v. t. Etym: [OE. anelien; an on + AS. ele oil, L. oleum. See
Oil, Anoil.]
1. To anoint. Shipley.
2. To give extreme unction to. [Obs.] R. of Brunne.
ANELECTRIC
An`e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. electric.] (Physics)
Defn: Not becoming electrified by friction; -- opposed to
idioelectric.
-- n.
Defn: A substance incapable of being electrified by friction.
Faraday.
ANELECTRODE
An`e*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Gr. electrode.] (Elec.)
Defn: The positive pole of a voltaic battery.
ANELECTROTONUS
An`e*lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. electrotonus.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The condition of decreased irritability of a nerve in the
region of the positive electrode or anode on the passage of a current
of electricity through it. Foster.
ANEMOGRAM
A*nem"o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. -gram.]
Defn: A record made by an anemograph.
ANEMOGRAPH
A*nem"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording the direction and
force of the wind. Knight.
ANEMOGRAPHIC
A*nem`o*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Produced by an anemograph; of or pertaining to anemography.
ANEMOGRAPHY
An`e*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
1. A description of the winds.
2. The art of recording the direction and force of the wind, as by
means of an anemograph.
ANEMOLOGY
An`e*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of the wind.
ANEMOMETER
An`e*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the force or velocity of the wind;
a wind gauge.
ANEMOMETRIC; ANEMOMETRICAL
An`e*mo*met"ric, An`e*mo*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anemometry.
ANEMOMETROGRAPH
An`e*mo*met"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Anemometer + -graph.]
Defn: An anemograph. Knight.
ANEMOMETRY
An`e*mom"e*try, n.
Defn: The act or process of ascertaining the force or velocity of the
wind.
ANEMONE
A*nem"o*ne, n. Etym: [L. anemone, Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the Ranunculus or Crowfoot family;
windflower. Some of the species are cultivated in gardens.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sea anemone. See Actinia, and Sea anemone.
Note: This word is sometimes pronounced , especially by classical
scholars.
ANEMONIC
An`e*mon"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: An acrid, poisonous, crystallizable substance, obtained from,
the anemone, or from anemonin.
ANEMONIN
A*nem"o*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An acrid, poisonous, crystallizable substance, obtained from
some species of anemone.
ANEMONY
A*nem"o*ny, n.
Defn: See Anemone. Sandys.
ANEMORPHILOUS
An`e*morph"i*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Fertilized by the agency of the wind; -- said of plants in
which the pollen is carried to the stigma by the wind; wind-
Fertilized. Lubbock.
ANEMOSCOPE
A*nem"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. anémoscope.]
Defn: An instrument which shows the direction of the wind; a wind
vane; a weathercock; -- usually applied to a contrivance consisting
of a vane above, connected in the building with a dial or index with
pointers to show the changes of the wind.
ANEMOSIS
An`e*mo"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. wind.]
Defn: A condition in the wood of some trees in which the rings are
separated, as some suppose, by the action of high winds upon the
trunk; wind shake.
ANENCEPHALIC; ANENCEPHALOUS
An*en`ce*phal"ic, An`en*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. Encephalon.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Without a brain; brainless. Todd & B.
ANENST; ANENT
A*nenst", A*nent", prep. Etym: [OE. anent, anentis, anence, anens,
anents, AS. onefen, onemn; an, on, on + efen even, equal; hence
meaning, on an equality with, even with, beside. See Even, a.] [Scot.
& Prov. Eng.]
1. Over against; as, he lives anent the church.
2. About; concerning; in respect; as, he said nothing anent this
particular.
ANENTEROUS
An*en"ter*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of a stomach or an intestine. Owen.
ANERGIA; ANERGY
An*er"gi*a, An"er*gy, n. [NL. anergia, fr. Gr. - not + work.]
Defn: Lack of energy; inactivity. -- An*er"gic (#), a.
ANEROID
An"e*roid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. anéroïde.]
Defn: Containing no liquid; -- said of kind of barometer. Aneroid
barometer, a barometer the action of which depends on the varying
pressure of the atmosphere upon the elastic top of a metallic box
(shaped like a watch) from which the air has been exhausted. An index
shows the variation of pressure.
ANEROID
An"e*roid, n.
Defn: An aneroid barometer.
ANES
Anes, adv.
Defn: Once. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
ANESTHESIA; ANESTHETIC
An`es*the"si*a, n., An`es*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Anæsthesia, Anæsthetic.
ANET
An"et, n. Etym: [F. aneth, fr. L. anethum, Gr. Anise.]
Defn: The herb dill, or dillseed.
ANETHOL
An"e*thol, n. Etym: [L. anethum (see Anise) + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance obtained from the volatile oils of anise, fennel,
etc., in the form of soft shining scales; -- called also anise
camphor. Watts.
ANETIC
A*net"ic, a. Etym: [L. aneticus, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Soothing.
ANEURISM
An"eu*rism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A soft, pulsating, hollow tumor, containing blood, arising from
the preternatural dilation or rupture of the coats of an artery.
[Written also aneurysm.]
ANEURISMAL
An`eu*ris"mal, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an aneurism; as, an aneurismal tumor;
aneurismal diathesis. [Written also aneurysmal.]
ANEW
A*new", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + new.]
Defn: Over again; another time; in a new form; afresh; as, to arm
anew; to create anew. Dryden.
ANFRACTUOSE
An*frac"tu*ose`, a. Etym: [See Anfractuous.]
Defn: Anfractuous; as, anfractuose anthers.
ANFRACTUOSITY
An*frac`tu*os"i*ty, n.; l. Anfractuosities. Etym: [Cf. F.
anfractuosité.]
1. A state of being anfractuous, or full of windings and turnings;
sinuosity.
The anfractuosities of his intellect and temper. Macaulay.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A sinuous depression or sulcus like those separating the
convolutions of the brain.
ANFRACTUOUS
An*frac"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. anfractuosus, fr. anfractus a turning, a
winding, fr. the unused anfringere to wind, bend; an-, for amb- +
fractus, p. p. of frangere to break: cf. F. anfractueux.]
Defn: Winding; full of windings and turnings; sinuous; tortuous; as,
the anfractuous spires of a born.
-- An*frac"tu*ous*ness, n.
ANFRACTURE
An*frac"ture, n.
Defn: A mazy winding.
ANGARIATION
An*ga"ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. angariatio, fr. L. angaria service to
a lord, villenage, fr. anga, Gr.
Defn: Exaction of forced service; compulsion. [Obs.] Speed.
ANGEIOLOGY; ANGEIOTOMY
An`gei*ol"o*gy, n., An`gei*ot"o*my, etc.
Defn: Same as Angiology, Angiotomy, etc.
ANGEL
An"gel, n. Etym: [AS. æangel, engel, influenced by OF. angele, angle,
F. ange. Both the AS. and the OF. words are from L. angelus, Gr.
1. A messenger. [R.]
The dear good angel of the Spring, The nightingale. B. Jonson.
2. A spiritual, celestial being, superior to man in power and
intelligence. In the Scriptures the angels appear as God's
messengers.
O, welcome, pure-eyed Faith, white-handed Hope, Thou hovering angel,
girt with golden wings. Milton.
3. One of a class of "fallen angels;" an evil spirit; as, the devil
and his angels.
4. A minister or pastor of a church, as in the Seven Asiatic
churches. [Archaic]
Unto-the angel of the church of Ephesus write. Rev. ii. 1.
5. Attendant spirit; genius; demon. Shak.
6. An appellation given to a person supposed to be of angelic
goodness or loveliness; a darling.
When pain and anguish wring the brow. Sir W. Scott.
7. (Numis.)
Defn: An ancient gold coin of England, bearing the figure of the
archangel Michael. It varied in value from 6s. 8d. to 10s. Amer. Cyc.
Note: Angel is sometimes used adjectively; as, angel grace; angel
whiteness. Angel bed, a bed without posts.
-- Angel fish. (Zoöl.) (a) A species of shark (Squatina angelus)
from six to eight feet long, found on the coasts of Europe and North
America. It takes its name from its pectoral fins, which are very
large and extend horizontally like wings when spread. (b) One of
several species of compressed, bright colored fishes warm seas,
belonging to the family, Chætodontidæ.
-- Angel gold, standard gold. [Obs.] Fuller.
-- Angel shark. See Angel fish.
-- Angel shot (Mil.), a kind of chain shot.
-- Angel water, a perfumed liquid made at first chiefly from
angelica; afterwards containing rose, myrtle, and orange-flower
waters, with ambergris, etc. [Obs.]
ANGELAGE
An"gel*age, n.
Defn: Existence or state of angels.
ANGELET
An"gel*et, n. Etym: [OF. angelet.]
Defn: A small gold coin formerly current in England; a half angel.
Eng. Cyc.
ANGEL FISH
An"gel fish.
Defn: See under Angel.
ANGELHOOD
An"gel*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being an angel; angelic nature. Mrs. Browning.
ANGELIC; ANGELICAL
An*gel"ic, An*gel"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. angelicus, Gr. angélique.]
Defn: Belonging to, or proceeding from, angels; resembling,
characteristic of, or partaking of the nature of, an angel; heavenly;
divine. "Angelic harps." Thomson."Angelical actions." Hooker.
The union of womanly tenderness and angelic patience. Macaulay.
Angelic Hymn, a very ancient hymn of the Christian Church; -- so
called from its beginning with the song of the heavenly host recorded
in Luke ii. 14. Eadie.
ANGELIC
An*gel"ic, a. Etym: [From Angelica.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of or derived from angelica; as, angelic acid; angelic ether.
Angelic acid, an acid obtained from angelica and some other plants.
ANGELICA
An*gel"i*ca, n. Etym: [NL. See Angelic.] (Bot.)
1. An aromatic umbelliferous plant (Archangelica officinalis or
Angelica archangelica) the leaf stalks of which are sometimes candied
and used in confectionery, and the roots and seeds as an aromatic
tonic.
2. The candied leaf stalks of angelica. Angelica tree, a thorny North
American shrub (Aralia spinosa), called also Hercules' club.
ANGELICALLY
An*gel"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Like an angel.
ANGELICALNESS
An*gel"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being angelic; excellence more than human.
ANGELIFY
An*gel"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To make like an angel; to angelize. [Obs.] Farindon (1647).
ANGELIZE
An"gel*ize, v. t.
Defn: To raise to the state of an angel; to render angelic.
It ought not to be our object to angelize, nor to brutalize, but to
humanize man. W. Taylor.
ANGELLIKE
An"gel*like`, a. & adv.
Defn: Resembling an angel.
ANGELOLATRY
An`gel*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Worship paid to angels.
ANGELOLOGY
An`gel*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. angelus, Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A discourse on angels, or a body of doctrines in regard to
angels.
The same mythology commanded the general consent; the same
angelology, demonology. Milman.
ANGELOPHANY
An`gel*oph"a*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The actual appearance of an angel to man.
ANGELOT
An"ge*lot, n. Etym: [F. angelot, LL. angelotus, angellotus, dim. of
angelus. See Angel.]
1. A French gold coin of the reign of Louis XI., bearing the image of
St. Michael; also, a piece coined at Paris by the English under Henry
VI. [Obs.]
2. An instrument of music, of the lute kind, now disused. Johnson. R.
Browning.
3. A sort of small, rich cheese, made in Normandy.
ANGELUS
An"ge*lus, n. Etym: [L.] (R. C. Ch.)
(a) A form of devotion in which three Ave Marias are repeated. It is
said at morning, noon, and evening, at the sound of a bell.
(b) The Angelus bell. Shipley.
ANGER
An"ger, n. Etym: [OE. anger, angre, affliction, anger, fr. Icel. angr
affliction, sorrow; akin to Dan. anger regret, Swed. ånger regret,
AS. ange oppressed, sad, L. angor a strangling, anguish, angere to
strangle, Gr. amhas pain, and to. anguish, anxious, quinsy, and perh.
awe, ugly. The word seems to have orig. meant to choke, squeeze.
1. Trouble; vexation; also, physical pain or smart of a sore, etc.
[Obs.]
I made the experiment, setting the moxa where . . . the greatest
anger and soreness still continued. Temple.
2. A strong passion or emotion of displeasure or antagonism, excited
by a real or supposed injury or insult to one's self or others, or by
the intent to do such injury.
Anger is like A full hot horse, who being allowed his way, Self-
mettle tires him. Shak.
Syn.
-- Resentment; wrath; rage; fury; passion; ire gall; choler;
indignation; displeasure; vexation; grudge; spleen.
-- Anger, Indignation, Resentment, Wrath, Ire, Rage, Fury. Anger is
a feeling of keen displeasure (usually with a desire to punish) for
what we regard as wrong toward ourselves or others. It may be
excessive or misplaced, but is not necessarily criminal. Indignation
is a generous outburst of anger in view of things which are indigna,
or unworthy to be done, involving what is mean, cruel, flagitious,
etc., in character or conduct. Resentment is often a moody feeling,
leading one to brood over his supposed personal wrongs with a deep
and lasting anger. See Resentment. Wrath and ire (the last poetical)
express the feelings of one who is bitterly provoked. Rage is a
vehement ebullition of anger; and fury is an excess of rage,
amounting almost to madness. Warmth of constitution often gives rise
to anger; a high sense of honor creates indignation at crime; a man
of quick sensibilities is apt to cherish resentment; the wrath and
ire of men are often connected with a haughty and vindictive spirit;
rage and fury are distempers of the soul to be regarded only with
abhorrence.
ANGER
An"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Angered; p. pr. & vb. n. Angering.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. angra.]
1. To make painful; to cause to smart; to inflame. [Obs.]
He . . . angereth malign ulcers. Bacon.
2. To excite to anger; to enrage; to provoke.
Taxes and impositions . . . which rather angered than grieved the
people. Clarendon.
ANGERLY
An"ger*ly, adv.
Defn: Angrily. [Obs. or Poetic]
Why, how now, Hecate! you look angerly. Shak.
ANGEVINE
An"ge*vine, a. Etym: [F. Angevin.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Anjou in France.
-- n. A native of Anjou.
ANGIENCHYMA
An`gi*en"chy*ma, n. Etym: [Gr. Parenchyma.] (Bot.)
Defn: Vascular tissue of plants, consisting of spiral vessels,
dotted, barred, and pitted ducts, and laticiferous vessels.
ANGINA
An*gi"na, n. Etym: [L., fr. angere to strangle, to choke. See Anger,
n.] (Med.)
Defn: Any inflammatory affection of the throat or faces, as the
quinsy, malignant sore throat, croup, etc., especially such as tends
to produce suffocation, choking, or shortness of breath. Angina
pectoris, a peculiarly painful disease, so named from a sense of
suffocating contraction or tightening of the lower part of the chest;
-- called also breast pang, spasm of the chest.
ANGINOUS; ANGINOSE
An"gi*nous, An"gi*nose`, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to angina or angina pectoris.
ANGIO-
An"gi*o-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A prefix, or combining form, in numerous compounds, usually
relating to seed or blood vessels, or to something contained in, or
covered by, a vessel.
ANGIOCARPOUS
An`gi*o*car"pous, a. Etym: [Angio- + Gr. (Bot.)
(a) Having fruit inclosed within a covering that does not form a part
of itself; as, the filbert covered by its husk, or the acorn seated
in its cupule. Brande & C.
(b) Having the seeds or spores covered, as in certain lichens. Gray.
ANGIOGRAPHY
An`gi*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Angio- + -graphy: cf. F. angiographie.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A description of blood vessels and lymphatics.
ANGIOLOGY
An`gi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Angio- + -logy.] (Anat.)
Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of blood vessels and
lymphatics.
ANGIOMA
An`gi*o"ma, n. Etym: [ + -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A tumor composed chiefly of dilated blood vessels.
ANGIOMONOSPERMOUS
An`gi*o*mon`o*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Angio- + monospermous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Producing one seed only in a seed pod.
ANGIONEUROSIS
An`gi*o*neu*ro"sis, n. [NL.; angio- + neurosis.] (Med.)
Defn: Any disorder of the vasomotor system; neurosis of a blood
vessel. --An`gi*o*neu*rot"ic (#), a.
ANGIOPATHY
An`gi*op"a*thy, n. [Angio- + Gr. disease.] (Med.)
Defn: Disease of the vessels, esp. the blood vessels.
ANGIOSCOPE
An"gi*o*scope, n. Etym: [Angio- + -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for examining the capillary vessels of animals
and plants. Morin.
ANGIOSPERM
An"gi*o*sperm, n. Etym: [Angio- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which has its seeds inclosed in a pericarp.
Note: The term is restricted to exogenous plants, and applied to one
of the two grand divisions of these species, the other division
including gymnosperms, or those which have naked seeds. The oak,
apple, beech, etc., are angiosperms, while the pines, spruce,
hemlock, and the allied varieties, are gymnosperms.
ANGIOSPERMATOUS
An`gi*o*sper"ma*tous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Angiospermous.
ANGIOSPERMOUS
An`gi*o*sper"mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having seeds inclosed in a pod or other pericarp.
ANGIOSPOROUS
An`gi*os"po*rous, a. Etym: [Angio- + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having spores contained in cells or thecæ, as in the case of
some fungi.
ANGIOSTOMOUS
An`gi*os"to*mous, a. Etym: [Angio- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: With a narrow mouth, as the shell of certain gastropods.
ANGIOTOMY
An`gi*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Angio- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Dissection of the blood vessels and lymphatics of the body.
Dunglison.
ANGLE
An"gle, n. Etym: [F. angle, L. angulus angle, corner; akin to uncus
hook, Gr. angel hook, fish-hook, G. angel, and F. anchor.]
1. The inclosed space near the point where two lines; a corner; a
nook.
Into the utmost angle of the world. Spenser.
To search the tenderest angles of the heart. Milton.
2. (Geom.)
(a) The figure made by. two lines which meet.
(b) The difference of direction of two lines. In the lines meet, the
point of meeting is the vertex of the angle.
3. A projecting or sharp corner; an angular fragment.
Though but an angle reached him of the stone. Dryden.
4. (Astrol.)
Defn: A name given to four of the twelve astrological "houses."
[Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Etym: [AS. angel.]
Defn: A fishhook; tackle for catching fish, consisting of a line,
hook, and bait, with or without a rod.
Give me mine angle: we 'll to the river there. Shak.
A fisher next his trembling angle bears. Pope.
Acute angle, one less than a right angle, or less than 90º.
-- Adjacent or Contiguous angles, such as have one leg common to
both angles.
-- Alternate angles. See Alternate.
-- Angle bar. (a) (Carp.) An upright bar at the angle where two
faces of a polygonal or bay window meet. Knight. (b) (Mach.) Same as
Angle iron.
-- Angle bead (Arch.), a bead worked on or fixed to the angle of any
architectural work, esp. for protecting an angle of a wall.
-- Angle brace, Angle tie (Carp.), a brace across an interior angle
of a wooden frame, forming the hypothenuse and securing the two side
pieces together. Knight.
-- Angle iron (Mach.), a rolled bar or plate of iron having one or
more angles, used for forming the corners, or connecting or
sustaining the sides of an iron structure to which it is riveted.
-- Angle leaf (Arch.), a detail in the form of a leaf, more or less
conventionalized, used to decorate and sometimes to strengthen an
angle.
-- Angle meter, an instrument for measuring angles, esp. for
ascertaining the dip of strata.
-- Angle shaft (Arch.), an enriched angle bead, often having a
capital or base, or both.
-- Curvilineal angle, one formed by two curved lines.
-- External angles, angles formed by the sides of any right-lined
figure, when the sides are produced or lengthened.
-- Facial angle. See under Facial.
-- Internal angles, those which are within any right-lined figure.
-- Mixtilineal angle, one formed by a right line with a curved line.
-- Oblique angle, one acute or obtuse, in opposition to a right
angle.
-- Obtuse angle, one greater than a right angle, or more than 90º.
-- Optic angle. See under Optic.
-- Rectilineal or Right-lined angle, one formed by two right lines.
-- Right angle, one formed by a right line falling on another
perpendicularly, or an angle of 90º (measured by a quarter circle).
-- Solid angle, the figure formed by the meeting of three or more
plane angles at one point.
-- Spherical angle, one made by the meeting of two arcs of great
circles, which mutually cut one another on the surface of a globe or
sphere.
-- Visual angle, the angle formed by two rays of light, or two
straight lines drawn from the extreme points of an object to the
center of the eye.
-- For Angles of commutation, draught, incidence, reflection,
refraction, position, repose, fraction, see Commutation, Draught,
Incidence, Reflection, Refraction, etc.
ANGLE
An"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Angled; p. pr. & vb. n. Angling.]
1. To fish with an angle (fishhook), or with hook and line.
2. To use some bait or artifice; to intrigue; to scheme; as, to angle
for praise.
The hearts of all that he did angle for. Shak.
ANGLE
An"gle, v. t.
Defn: To try to gain by some insinuating artifice; to allure. [Obs.]
"He angled the people's hearts." Sir P. Sidney.
ANGLED
An"gled, a.
Defn: Having an angle or angles; -- used in compounds; as, right-
angled, many-angled, etc.
The thrice three-angled beechnut shell. Bp. Hall.
ANGLEMETER
An"gle*me`ter, n. Etym: [Angle + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument to measure angles, esp. one used by geologists to
measure the dip of strata.
ANGLE OF ENTRY
An"gle of en"try. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The angle between the tangent to the advancing edge (of an
aërocurve) and the line of motion; -- contrasted with angle of trail,
which is the angle between the tangent to the following edge and the
line of motion.
ANGLE OF INCIDENCE
Angle of incidence. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The angle between the chord of an aërocurve and the relative
direction of the undisturbed air current.
ANGLER
An"gler, n.
1. One who angles.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish (Lophius piscatorius), of Europe and America, having a
large, broad, and depressed head, with the mouth very large. Peculiar
appendages on the head are said to be used to entice fishes within
reach. Called also fishing frog, frogfish, toadfish, goosefish,
allmouth, monkfish, etc.
ANGLES
An"gles, n. pl. Etym: [L. Angli. See Anglican.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: An ancient Low German tribe, that settled in Britain, which
came to be called Engla-land (Angleland or England). The Angles
probably came from the district of Angeln (now within the limits of
Schleswig), and the country now Lower Hanover, etc.
ANGLESITE
An"gle*site, n. Etym: [From the Isle of Anglesea.] (Min.)
Defn: A native sulphate of lead. It occurs in white or yellowish
transparent, prismatic crystals.
ANGLEWISE
An"gle*wise`, adv. Etym: [Angle + wise, OE. wise manner.]
Defn: In an angular manner; angularly.
ANGLEWORM
An"gle*worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A earthworm of the genus Lumbricus, frequently used by anglers
for bait. See Earthworm.
ANGLIAN
An"gli*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Angles.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Angles.
ANGLIC
An"glic, a.
Defn: Anglian.
ANGLICAN
An"gli*can, a. Etym: [Angli the Angles, a Germanic tribe in Lower
Germany. Cf. English.]
1. English; of or pertaining to England or the English nation;
especially, pertaining to, or connected with, the established church
of England; as, the Anglican church, doctrine, orders, ritual, etc.
2. Pertaining to, characteristic of, or held by, the high church
party of the Church of England.
ANGLICAN
An"gli*can, n.
1. A member of the Church of England.
Whether Catholics, Anglicans, or Calvinists. Burke.
2. In a restricted sense, a member of the High Church party, or of
the more advanced ritualistic section, in the Church of England.
ANGLICANISM
An"gli*can*ism, n.
1. Strong partiality to the principles and rites of the Church of
England.
2. The principles of the established church of England; also, in a
restricted sense, the doctrines held by the high-church party.
3. Attachment to England or English institutions.
ANGLICE
An"gli*ce, adv. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: In English; in the English manner; as, Livorno, Anglice
Leghorn.
ANGLICIFY
An*glic"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [NL. Anglicus English + -fly.]
Defn: To anglicize. [R.]
ANGLICISM
An"gli*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. anglicisme.]
1. An English idiom; a phrase or form language peculiar to the
English. Dryden.
2. The quality of being English; an English characteristic, custom,
or method.
ANGLICITY
An*glic"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being English.
ANGLICIZATION
An`gli*ci*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of anglicizing, or making English in character.
ANGLICIZE
An"gli*cize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anglicized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anglicizing.]
Defn: To make English; to English; to anglify; render conformable to
the English idiom, or to English analogies.
ANGLIFY
An"gli*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anglified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anglifying.] Etym: [L. Angli + -fly.]
Defn: To convert into English; to anglicize. Franklin. Darwin.
ANGLING
An"gling, n.
Defn: The act of one who angles; the art of fishing with rod and
line. Walton.
ANGLO-
An"glo- Etym: [NL. Anglus English. See Anglican.]
Defn: A combining form meaning the same as English; or English and,
or English conjoined with; as, Anglo-Turkish treaty, Anglo-German,
Anglo-Irish. Anglo-American, . Of or pertaining to the English and
Americans, or to the descendants of Englishmen in America.
-- n. A descendant from English ancestors born in America, or the
United States. Anglo-Danish, a. Of or pertaining to the English and
Danes, or to the Danes who settled in England. Anglo-Indian, a. Of or
pertaining to the English in India, or to the English and East Indian
peoples or languages.
-- n. One of the Anglo-Indian race born or resident in the East
Indies. Anglo-Norman, a. Of or pertaining to the English and Normans,
or to the Normans who settled in England.
-- n. One of the English Normans, or the Normans who conquered
England. Anglo-Saxon. See Anglo-Saxon in the Vocabulary.
ANGLO-CATHOLIC
An"glo-Cath"o*lic, a.,
Defn: Of or pertaining to a church modeled on the English
Reformation; Anglican; -- sometimes restricted to the ritualistic or
High Church section of the Church of England.
ANGLO-CATHOLIC
An"glo-Cath"o*lic, n.
Defn: A member of the Church of England who contends for its catholic
character; more specifically, a High Churchman.
ANGLO-CATHOLICISM
An"glo-Ca*thol"i*cism, n.
Defn: The belief of those in the Church of England who accept many
doctrines and practices which they maintain were those of the
primitive, or true, Catholic Church, of which they consider the
Church of England to be the lineal descendant.
ANGLOMANIA
An"glo*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Anglo'cf + mania.]
Defn: A mania for, or an inordinate attachment to, English customs,
institutions, etc.
ANGLOMANIAC
An`glo*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One affected with Anglomania.
ANGLOPHOBIA
An`glo*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [Anglo- + Gr.
Defn: Intense dread of, or aversion to, England or the English.
-- An"glo*phobe, n.
ANGLO-SAXON
An"glo-Sax"on, n. Etym: [L. Angli-Saxones English Saxons.]
1. A Saxon of Britain, that is, an English Saxon, or one the Saxons
who settled in England, as distinguished from a continental (or
"Old") Saxon.
2. pl.
Defn: The Teutonic people (Angles, Saxons, Jutes) of England, or the
English people, collectively, before the Norman Conquest.
It is quite correct to call Æthelstan "King of the Anglo-Saxons," but
to call this or that subject of Æthelstan "an Anglo-Saxon" is simply
nonsense. E. A. Freeman.
3. The language of the English people before the Conquest (sometimes
called Old English). See Saxon.
4. One of the race or people who claim descent from the Saxons,
Angles, or other Teutonic tribes who settled in England; a person of
English descent in its broadest sense.
ANGLO-SAXON
An"glo-Sax"on, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Anglo-Saxons or their language.
ANGLO-SAXONDOM
An"glo-Sax"on*dom, n.
Defn: The Anglo-Saxon domain (i. e., Great Britain and the United
States, etc.); the Anglo-Saxon race.
ANGLO-SAXONISM
An"glo-Sax"on*ism, n.
1. A characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon race; especially, a word or an
idiom of the Anglo-Saxon tongue. M. Arnold.
2. The quality or sentiment of being Anglo-Saxon, or English in its
ethnological sense.
ANGOLA
An*go"la, n. Etym: [A corruption of Angora.]
Defn: A fabric made from the wool of the Angora goat.
ANGOLA PEA
An*go"la pea`. (Bot.)
Defn: A tropical plant (Cajanus indicus) and its edible seed, a kind
of pulse; -- so called from Angola in Western Africa. Called also
pigeon pea and Congo pea.
ANGOR
An"gor, n. Etym: [L. See Anger.] (Med.)
Defn: Great anxiety accompanied by painful constriction at the upper
part of the belly, often with palpitation and oppression.
ANGORA
An*go"ra, n.
Defn: A city of Asia Minor (or Anatolia) which has given its name to
a goat, a cat, etc. Angora cat (Zoöl.), a variety of the domestic cat
with very long and silky hair, generally of the brownish white color.
Called also Angola cat. See Cat.
-- Angora goat (Zoöl.), a variety of the domestic goat, reared for
its long silky hair, which is highly prized for manufacture.
ANGOSTURA BARK
An`gos*tu"ra bark". Etym: [From Angostura, in Venezuela.]
Defn: An aromatic bark used as a tonic, obtained from a South
American of the rue family (Galipea cusparia, or officinalis). U. S.
Disp.
ANGOUMOIS MOTH
An`gou`mois" moth". Etym: [So named from Angoumois in France.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small moth (Gelechia cerealella) which is very destructive to
wheat and other grain. The larva eats out the inferior of the grain,
leaving only the shell.
ANGRILY
An"gri*ly, adv.
Defn: In an angry manner; under the influence of anger.
ANGRINESS
An"gri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being angry, or of being inclined to anger.
Such an angriness of humor that we take fire at everything. Whole
Duty of Man.
ANGRY
An"gry, a. [Compar. Angrier; superl. Angriest.] Etym: [See Anger.]
1. Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous. [Obs.]
God had provided a severe and angry education to chastise the
forwardness of a young spirit. Jer. Taylor.
2. Inflamed and painful, as a sore.
3. Touched with anger; under the emotion of anger; feeling
resentment; enraged; -- followed generally by with before a person,
and at before a thing.
Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves. Gen. xlv. 5.
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice Eccles. v. 6.
4. Showing anger; proceeding from anger; acting as if moved by anger;
wearing the marks of anger; as, angry words or tones; an angry sky;
angry waves. "An angry countenance." Prov. xxv. 23.
5. Red. [R.]
Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave. Herbert.
6. Sharp; keen; stimulated. [R.]
I never ate with angrier appetite. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- Passionate; resentful; irritated; irascible; indignant; provoked;
enraged; incensed; exasperated; irate; hot; raging; furious;
wrathful; wroth; choleric; inflamed; infuriated.
ANGUIFORM
An"gui*form, a. Etym: [L. angius snake + -form.]
Defn: Snake-shaped.
ANGUILLIFORM
An*guil"li*form, a. Etym: [L. anguilla eel (dim. of anguis snake) + -
form.]
Defn: Eel-shaped.
Note: The "Anguillæformes" of Cuvier are fishes related to thee eel.
ANGUINE
An"guine, a. Etym: [L. anguinus, fr. anguis snake.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a snake or serpent. "The
anguine or snakelike reptiles." Owen.
ANGUINEAL
An*guin"e*al, a.
Defn: Anguineous.
ANGUINEOUS
An*guin"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. anguineus.]
Defn: Snakelike.
ANGUISH
An"guish, n. Etym: [OE. anguishe, anguise, angoise, F. angoisse, fr.
L. angustia narrowness, difficulty, distress, fr. angustus narrow,
difficult, fr. angere to press together. See Anger.]
Defn: Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.
But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for
cruel bondage. Ex. vi. 9.
Anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child. Jer. iv. 31.
Note: Rarely used in the plural: -
Ye miserable people, you must go to God in anguishes, and make your
prayer to him. Latimer.
Syn.
-- Agony; pang; torture; torment. See Agony.
ANGUISH
An"guish, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. angoisser, fr. L. angustiare.]
Defn: To distress with extreme pain or grief. [R.] Temple.
ANGULAR
An"gu*lar, a. Etym: [L. angularis, fr. angulus angle, corner. See
Angle.]
1. Relating to an angle or to angles; having an angle or angles;
forming an angle or corner; sharp-cornered; pointed; as, an angular
figure.
2. Measured by an angle; as, angular distance.
3. Fig.: Lean; lank; raw-boned; ungraceful; sharp and stiff in
character; as, remarkably angular in his habits and appearance; an
angular female. Angular aperture, Angular distance. See Aperture,
Distance.
-- Angular motion, the motion of a body about a fixed point or fixed
axis, as of a planet or pendulum. It is equal to the angle passed
over at the point or axis by a line drawn to the body.
-- Angular point, the point at which the sides of the angle meet;
the vertex.
-- Angular velocity, the ratio of anuglar motion to the time
employed in describing.
ANGULAR
An"gu*lar, n. (Anat.)
Defn: A bone in the base of the lower jaw of many birds, reptiles,
and fishes.
ANGULARITY
An`gu*lar"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being angular; angularness.
ANGULARLY
An"gu*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In an angular manner; with of at angles or corners. B. Jonson.
ANGULARNESS
An"gu*lar*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being angular.
ANGULATE
An"gu*late, v. t.
Defn: To make angular.
ANGULATE; ANGULATED
An"gu*late, An"gu*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. angulatus, p. p. of angulare
to make angular.]
Defn: Having angles or corners; angled; as, angulate leaves.
ANGULATION
An`gu*la"tion, n.
Defn: A making angular; angular formation. Huxley.
ANGULO-DENTATE
An"gu*lo-den"tate(#), a.. Etym: [L. angulus angle + dens, dentis,
tooth.] (Bot.)
Defn: Angularly toothed, as certain leaves.
ANGULOMETER
An"gu*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. angulus angle + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring external angles.
ANGULOSE
An"gu*lose`, a.
Defn: Angulous. [R.]
ANGULOSITY
An`gu*los"i*ty, n.
Defn: A state of being angulous or angular. [Obs.]
ANGULOUS
An"gu*lous, a. Etym: [L. angulosus: cf. F. anguleux.]
Defn: Angular; having corners; hooked. [R.]
Held together by hooks and angulous involutions. Glanvill.
ANGUST
An*gust", a. Etym: [L. angustus. See Anguish.]
Defn: Narrow; strait. [Obs.]
ANGUSTATE
An*gus"tate, a. Etym: [L. angustatus, p. p. of angustare to make
narrow.]
Defn: Narrowed.
ANGUSTATION
An`gus*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act or making narrow; a straitening or contacting. Wiseman.
ANGUSTICLAVE
An*gus"ti*clave (an*gus"ti*klav), n. [L. angustus narrow + clavus a
nail, a stripe.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A narrow stripe of purple worn by the equites on each side of
the tunic as a sign of rank.
ANGUSTIFOLIATE; ANGUSTIFOLIOUS
An*gus`ti*fo"li*ate, An*gus`ti*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. angustus
narrow (see Anguish) + folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having narrow leaves. Wright.
ANGUSTURA BARK
An`gus*tu"ra bark`.
Defn: See Angostura bark.
ANGWANTIBO
An`gwan*ti"bo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small lemuroid mammal (Arctocebus Calabarensis) of Africa. It
has only a rudimentary tail.
ANHANG
An*hang", v. t. Etym: [AS. onhangian.]
Defn: To hang. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANHARMONIC
An`har*mon"ic, a. Etym: [F. anharmonique, fr. Gr. (Math.)
Defn: Not harmonic. The anharmonic function or ratio of four points
abcd on a straight line is the quantity (ac/ad):(bc/bd), where the
segments are to regarded as plus or minus, according to the order of
the letters.
ANHELATION
An`he*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. anhelatio, fr. anhelare to pant; an
(perh. akin to E. on) + halare to breathe: cf. F. anhélation.]
Defn: Short and rapid breathing; a panting; asthma. Glanvill.
ANHELE
An*hele", v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. aneler, anheler. See Anhelation.]
Defn: To pant; to be breathlessly anxious or eager (for). [Obs.]
They anhele . . . for the fruit of our convocation. Latimer.
ANHELOSE
An"he*lose, a.
Defn: Anhelous; panting. [R.]
ANHELOUS
An*he"lous, a. Etym: [L. anhelus.]
Defn: Short of breath; panting.
ANHIMA
An"hi*ma, n. Etym: [Brazilian name.]
Defn: A South American aquatic bird; the horned screamer or kamichi
(Palamedea cornuta). See Kamichi.
ANHINGA
An*hin"ga, n. Etym: [Pg.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An aquatic bird of the southern United States (Platus anhinga);
the darter, or snakebird.
ANHISTOUS
An*his"tous, a. Etym: [Gr. anhiste.] (Biol.)
Defn: Without definite structure; as, an anhistous membrane.
ANHUNGERED
An*hun"gered, a.
Defn: Ahungered; longing. [Archaic]
ANHYDRIDE
An*hy"dride, n. Etym: [See Anhydrous.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxide of a nonmetallic body or an organic radical, capable
of forming an acid by uniting with the elements of water; -- so
called because it may be formed from an acid by the abstraction of
water.
ANHYDRITE
An*hy"drite, n. Etym: [See Anhydrous.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a white a slightly bluish color, usually massive.
It is anhydrous sulphate of lime, and differs from gypsum in not
containing water (whence the name).
ANHYDROUS
An*hy"drous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Destitute of water; as, anhydrous salts or acids.
ANI; ANO
A"ni or A"no, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A black bird of tropical America, the West Indies and Florida
(Crotophaga ani), allied to the cuckoos, and remarkable for
communistic nesting.
ANICUT; ANNICUT
An"i*cut, An"ni*cut, n. Etym: [Tamil anai kattu dam building.]
Defn: A dam or mole made in the course of a stream for the purpose of
regulating the flow of a system of irrigation. [India] Brande & C.
ANIDIOMATIC; ANIDIOMATICAL; UNIDIOMATIC; UNIDIOMATICAL
An*id`io*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. idiomatical.]
Defn: Not idiomatic. [R.] Landor.
ANIENT; ANIENTISE
An"i*ent, An`i*en"tise, v. t. Etym: [OF. anientir, F. anéantir.]
Defn: To frustrate; to bring to naught; to annihilate. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
ANIGH
A*nigh", prep. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + nigh.]
Defn: Nigh. [Archaic]
ANIGHT; ANIGHTS
A*night", A*nights", adv. Etym: [OE. on niht.]
Defn: In the night time; at night. [Archaic]
Does he hawk anights still Marston.
ANIL
An"il, n. Etym: [F. anil, Sp. anil, or Pg. anil; all fr. Ar. an-nil,
for al-nil the indigo plant, fr. Skr. nila dark blue, nili indigo,
indigo plant. Cf. Lilac.] (Bot.)
Defn: A West Indian plant (Indigofera anil), one of the original
sources of indigo; also, the indigo dye.
ANILE
An"ile, a. Etym: [L. anilis, fr. anus an old woman.]
Defn: Old-womanish; imbecile. "Anile ideas." Walpole.
ANILENESS
An"ile*ness, n.
Defn: Anility. [R.]
ANILIC
An*il"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, anil; indigotic; -- applied to
an acid formed by the action of nitric acid on indigo. [R.]
ANILIDE
An"i*lide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of compounds which may be regarded as amides in
which more or less of the hydrogen has been replaced by phenyl.
ANILINE
An"i*line, n. Etym: [See Anil.] (Chem.)
Defn: An organic base belonging to the phenylamines. It may be
regarded as ammonia in which one hydrogen atom has been replaced by
the radical phenyl. It is a colorless, oily liquid, originally
obtained from indigo by distillation, but now largely manufactured
from coal tar or nitrobenzene as a base from which many brilliant
dyes are made.
ANILINE
An"i*line, a.
Defn: Made from, or of the nature of, aniline.
ANILINISM
An"i*lin*ism, n. [Aniline + -ism.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease due to inhaling the poisonous fumes present in the
manufacture of aniline.
ANILITY
A*nil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. anilitas. See Anile.]
Defn: The state of being and old woman; old-womanishness; dotage.
"Marks of anility." Sterne.
ANIMADVERSAL
An`i*mad*ver"sal, n.
Defn: The faculty of perceiving; a percipient. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
ANIMADVERSION
An`i*mad*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. animadversio, fr. animadvertere: cf.
F. animadversion. See Animadvert.]
1. The act or power of perceiving or taking notice; direct or simple
perception. [Obs.]
The soul is the sole percipient which hath animadversion and sense,
properly so called. Glanvill.
2. Monition; warning. [Obs.] Clarendon.
3. Remarks by way of criticism and usually of censure; adverse
criticism; reproof; blame.
He dismissed their commissioners with severe and sharp
animadversions. Clarendon.
4. Judicial cognizance of an offense; chastisement; punishment.
[Archaic] "Divine animadversions." Wesley.
Syn.
-- Stricture; criticism; censure; reproof; blame; comment.
ANIMADVERSIVE
An`i*mad*ver"sive, a.
Defn: Having the power of perceiving; percipient. [Archaic] Glanvill.
I do not mean there is a certain number of ideas glaring and shining
to the animadversive faculty. Coleridge.
ANIMADVERT
An`i*mad*vert", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Animadverted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Animadverting.] Etym: [L. animadvertere; animus mind + advertere to
turn to; ad to + vertere to turn.]
1. To take notice; to observe; -- commonly followed by that. Dr. H.
More.
2. To consider or remark by way of criticism or censure; to express
censure; -- with on or upon.
I should not animadvert on him . . . if he had not used extreme
severity in his judgment of the incomparable Shakespeare. Dryden.
3. To take cognizance judicially; to inflict punishment. [Archaic]
Grew.
Syn.
-- To remark; comment; criticise; censure.
ANIMADVERTER
An`i*mad*vert"er, n.
Defn: One who animadverts; a censurer; also [Obs.], a chastiser.
ANIMAL
An"i*mal, n. Etym: [L., fr. anima breath, soul: cf. F. animal. See
Animate.]
1. An organized living being endowed with sensation and the power of
voluntary motion, and also characterized by taking its food into an
internal cavity or stomach for digestion; by giving carbonic acid to
the air and taking oxygen in the process of respiration; and by
increasing in motive power or active aggressive force with progress
to maturity.
2. One of the lower animals; a brute or beast, as distinguished from
man; as, men and animals.
ANIMAL
An"i*mal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. animal.]
1. Of or relating to animals; as, animal functions.
2. Pertaining to the merely sentient part of a creature, as
distinguished from the intellectual, rational, or spiritual part; as,
the animal passions or appetites.
3. Consisting of the flesh of animals; as, animal food. Animal
magnetism. See Magnetism and Mesmerism.
-- Animal electricity, the electricity developed in some animals, as
the electric eel, torpedo, etc.
-- Animal flower (Zoöl.), a name given to certain marine animals
resembling a flower, as any species of actinia or sea anemone, and
other Anthozoa, hydroids, starfishes, etc.
-- Animal heat (Physiol.), the heat generated in the body of a
living animal, by means of which the animal is kept at nearly a
uniform temperature.
-- Animal spirits. See under Spirit.
-- Animal kingdom, the whole class of beings endowed with animal
life. It embraces several subkingdoms, and under these there are
Classes, Orders, Families, Genera, Species, and sometimes
intermediate groupings, all in regular subordination, but variously
arranged by different writers.
Note: The following are the grand divisions, or subkingdoms, and the
principal classes under them, generally recognized at the present
time: -Vertebrata, including Mammalia or Mammals, Aves or Birds,
Reptilia, Amphibia, Pisces or Fishes, Marsipobranchiata (Craniota);
and Leptocardia (Acrania). Tunicata, including the Thaliacea, and
Ascidioidea or Ascidians. Articulata or Annulosa, including Insecta,
Myriapoda, Malacapoda, Arachnida, Pycnogonida, Merostomata, Crustacea
(Arthropoda); and Annelida, Gehyrea (Anarthropoda). Helminthes or
Vermes, including Rotifera, Chætognatha, Nematoidea, Acanthocephala,
Nemertina, Turbellaria, Trematoda, Cestoidea, Mesozea. Molluscoidea,
including Brachiopoda and Bryozoa. Mollusca, including Cephalopoda,
Gastropoda, Pteropoda, Scaphopoda, Lamellibranchiata or Acephala.
Echinodermata, including Holothurioidea, Echinoidea, Asterioidea,
Ophiuroidea, and Crinoidea. Coelenterata, including Anthozoa or
Polyps, Ctenophora, and Hydrozoa or Acalephs. Spongiozoa or Porifera,
including the sponges. Protozoa, including Infusoria and Rhizopoda.
For definitions, see these names in the Vocabulary.
ANIMALCULAR; ANIMALCULINE
An`i*mal"cu*lar, An`i*mal"cu*line, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, animalcules. "Animalcular
life." Tyndall.
ANIMALCULE
An`i*mal"cule, n. Etym: [As if fr. a L. animalculum, dim. of animal.]
1. A small animal, as a fly, spider, etc. [Obs.] Ray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal, invisible, or nearly so, to the naked eye. See
Infusoria.
Note: Many of the so-called animalcules have been shown to be plants,
having locomotive powers something like those of animals. Among these
are Volvox, the Desmidiacæ, and the siliceous Diatomaceæ. Spermatic
animalcules. See Spermatozoa.
ANIMALCULISM
An`i*mal"cu*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalculisme.] (Biol.)
Defn: The theory which seeks to explain certain physiological and
pathological by means of animalcules.
ANIMALCULIST
An`i*mal"cu*list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalculiste.]
1. One versed in the knowledge of animalcules. Keith.
2. A believer in the theory of animalculism.
ANIMALCULUM
An`i*mal"cu*lum, n.; pl. Animalcula. Etym: [NL. See Animalcule.]
Defn: An animalcule.
Note: Animalculæ, as if from a Latin singular animalcula, is a
barbarism.
ANIMALISH
An"i*mal*ish, a.
Defn: Like an animal.
ANIMALISM
An"i*mal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalisme.]
Defn: The state, activity, or enjoyment of animals; mere animal life
without intellectual or moral qualities; sensuality.
ANIMALITY
An`i*mal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalité.]
Defn: Animal existence or nature. Locke.
ANIMALIZATION
An`i*mal*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animalisation.]
1. The act of animalizing; the giving of animal life, or endowing
with animal properties.
2. Conversion into animal matter by the process of assimilation.
Owen.
ANIMALIZE
An"i*mal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Animalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Animalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. animaliser.]
1. To endow with the properties of an animal; to represent in animal
form. Warburton.
2. To convert into animal matter by the processes of assimilation.
3. To render animal or sentient; to reduce to the state of a lower
animal; to sensualize.
The unconscious irony of the Epicurean poet on the animalizing
tendency of his own philosophy. Coleridge.
ANIMALLY
An"i*mal*ly, adv.
Defn: Physically. G. Eliot.
ANIMALNESS
An"i*mal*ness, n.
Defn: Animality. [R.]
ANIMASTIC
An`i*mas"tic, a. Etym: [L. anima breath, life.]
Defn: Pertaining to mind or spirit; spiritual.
ANIMASTIC
An`i*mas"tic, n.
Defn: Psychology. [Obs.]
ANIMATE
An"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Animated; p. pr. & vb. n. Animating.]
Etym: [L. animatus, p. p. of animare, fr. anima breath, soul; akin to
animus soul, mind, Gr. an to breathe, live, Goth. us-anan to expire
(us- out), Icel. önd breath, anda to breathe, OHG. ando anger. Cf.
Animal.]
1. To give natural life to; to make alive; to quicken; as, the soul
animates the body.
2. To give powers to, or to heighten the powers or effect of; as, to
animate a lyre. Dryden.
3. To give spirit or vigor to; to stimulate or incite; to inspirit;
to rouse; to enliven.
The more to animate the people, he stood on high . . . and cried unto
them with a loud voice. Knolles.
Syn.
-- To enliven; inspirit; stimulate; exhilarate; inspire; instigate;
rouse; urge; cheer; prompt; incite; quicken; gladden.
ANIMATE
An"i*mate, a. Etym: [L. animatus, p. p.]
Defn: Endowed with life; alive; living; animated; lively.
The admirable structure of animate bodies. Bentley.
ANIMATED
An"i*ma`ted, a.
Defn: Endowed with life; full of life or spirit; indicating
animation; lively; vigorous. "Animated sounds." Pope. "Animated
bust." Gray. "Animated descriptions." Lewis.
ANIMATEDLY
An"i*ma`ted*ly, adv.
Defn: With animation.
ANIMATER
An"i*ma`ter, n.
Defn: One who animates. De Quincey.
ANIMATING
An"i*ma"ting, a.
Defn: Causing animation; life-giving; inspiriting; rousing.
"Animating cries." Pope.
-- An"i*ma`ting*ly, adv.
ANIMATION
An`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. animatio, fr. animare.]
1. The act of animating, or giving life or spirit; the state of being
animate or alive.
The animation of the same soul quickening the whole frame. Bp. Hall.
Perhaps an inanimate thing supplies me, while I am speaking, with
whatever I posses of animation. Landor.
2. The state of being lively, brisk, or full of spirit and vigor;
vivacity; spiritedness; as, he recited the story with great
animation. Suspended animation, temporary suspension of the vital
functions, as in persons nearly drowned.
Syn.
-- Liveliness; vivacity; spirit; buoyancy; airiness; sprightliness;
promptitude; enthusiasm; ardor; earnestness; energy. See Liveliness.
ANIMATIVE
An"i*ma*tive, a
Defn: Having the power of giving life or spirit. Johnson.
ANIMATOR
An"i*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L. animare.]
Defn: One who, or that which, animates; an animater. Sir T. Browne.
ANIME
A"ni*mé`, a. Etym: [F., animated.] (Her.)
Defn: Of a different tincture from the animal itself; -- said of the
eyes of a rapacious animal. Brande & C.
ANIME
A"ni*mé, n. Etym: [F. animé animated (from the insects that are
entrapped in it); or native name.]
Defn: A resin exuding from a tropical American tree (Hymenæa
courbaril), and much used by varnish makers. Ure.
ANIMISM
An"i*mism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animisme, fr. L. anima soul. See
Animate.]
1. The doctrine, taught by Stahl, that the soul is the proper
principle of life and development in the body.
2. The belief that inanimate objects and the phenomena of nature are
endowed with personal life or a living soul; also, in an extended
sense, the belief in the existence of soul or spirit apart from
matter. Tylor.
ANIMIST
An"i*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. animiste.]
Defn: One who maintains the doctrine of animism.
ANIMISTIC
An`i*mis"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to animism. Huxley. Tylor.
ANIMOSE; ANIMOUS
An`i*mose", An"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. animosus, fr. animus soul,
spirit, courage.]
Defn: Full of spirit; hot; vehement; resolute. [Obs.] Ash.
ANIMOSENESS
An`i*mose"ness, n.
Defn: Vehemence of temper. [Obs.]
ANIMOSITY
An`i*mos"i*ty, n.; pl. Animosities. Etym: [F. animosité, fr. L.
animositas. See Animose, Animate, v. t.]
1. Mere spiritedness or courage. [Obs.] Skelton.
Such as give some proof of animosity, audacity, and execution, those
she [the crocodile] loveth. Holland.
2. Violent hatred leading to active opposition; active enmity;
energetic dislike. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Enmity; hatred; opposition.
-- Animosity, Enmity. Enmity be dormant or concealed; animosity is
active enmity, inflamed by collision and mutual injury between
opposing parties. The animosities which were continually springing up
among the clans in Scotland kept that kingdom in a state of turmoil
and bloodshed for successive ages. The animosities which have been
engendered among Christian sects have always been the reproach of the
church.
Such [writings] as naturally conduce to inflame hatreds and make
enmities irreconcilable. Spectator.
[These] factions . . . never suspended their animosities till they
ruined that unhappy government. Hume.
ANIMUS
An"i*mus, n.; pl. Animi. Etym: [L., mind.]
Defn: Animating spirit; intention; temper. nimus furandi Etym: [L.]
(Law), intention of stealing.
ANION
An"i*on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: An electro-negative element, or the element which, in electro-
chemical decompositions, is evolved at the anode; -- opposed to
cation. Faraday.
ANISE
An"ise, n. Etym: [OE. anys, F. anis, L. anisum, anethum, fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Pimpinella anisum) growing naturally in
Egypt, and cultivated in Spain, Malta, etc., for its carminative and
aromatic seeds.
2. The fruit or seeds of this plant.
ANISEED
An"i*seed, n.
Defn: The seed of the anise; also, a cordial prepared from it. "Oil
of aniseed." Brande & C.
ANISETTE
An`i*sette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A French cordial or liqueur flavored with anise seeds. De
Colange.
ANISIC
A*nis"ic, a.
Defn: Of or derived from anise; as, anisic acid; anisic alcohol.
ANISOCORIA
An`i*so*co"ri*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. + pupil.] (Med.)
Defn: Inequality of the pupils of the eye.
ANISODACTYLA; ANISODACTYLS
An`i*so*dac"ty*la, An`i*so*dac"tyls, n. pl. Etym: [NL. anisodactyla,
fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) A group of herbivorous mammals characterized by having the hoofs
in a single series around the foot, as the elephant, rhinoceros, etc.
(b) A group of perching birds which are anisodactylous.
ANISODACTYLOUS
An`i*so*dac"ty*lous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Characterized by unequal toes, three turned forward and one
backward, as in most passerine birds.
ANISOL
An"i*sol, n. [Anisic + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: Methyl phenyl ether, C6H5OCH3, got by distilling anisic acid or
by the action of methide on potassium phenolate.
ANISOMERIC
An`i*so*mer"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Not isomeric; not made of the same components in the same
proportions.
ANISOMEROUS
An`i*som"er*ous, a. Etym: [See Anisomeric.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the number of floral organs unequal, as four petals and
six stamens.
ANISOMETRIC
An`i*so*met"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. isometric.]
Defn: Not isometric; having unsymmetrical parts; -- said of crystals
with three unequal axes. Dana.
ANISOMETROPIA
An`i*so*me*tro"pi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. + measure + , , eye.]
Defn: Unequal refractive power in the two eyes.
ANISOPETALOUS
An`i*so*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having unequal petals.
ANISOPHYLLOUS
An`i*soph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having unequal leaves.
ANISOPLEURA
An`i*so*pleu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A primary division of gastropods, including those having spiral
shells. The two sides of the body are unequally developed.
ANISOPODA
An`i*sop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Crustacea, which, in some its characteristics, is
intermediate between Amphipoda and Isopoda.
ANISOSPORE
An"i*so*spore`, n. [Gr. priv. + isospore.] (Biol.)
Defn: A sexual spore in which the sexes differ in size; -- opposed to
isospore.
ANISOSTEMONOUS
An`i*so*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having unequal stamens; having stamens different in number from
the petals.
ANISOSTHENIC
An`i*so*sthen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of unequal strength.
ANISOTROPE; ANISOTROPIC
An"i*so*trope`, An`i*so*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: Not isotropic; having different properties in different
directions; thus, crystals of the isometric system are optically
isotropic, but all other crystals are anisotropic.
ANISOTROPOUS
An`i*sot"ro*pous, a.
Defn: Anisotropic.
ANISYL
An"i*syl, n. (Org. Chem.)
(a) The univalent radical, CH3OC6H4, of which anisol is the hydride.
(b) The univalent radical CH3OC6H4CH2; as, anisyl alcohol.
(c) The univalent radical CH3OC6H4CO, of anisic acid.
ANITO
A*ni"to, n.; pl. -tos (#). [Sp.]
Defn: In Guam and the Philippines, an idol, fetich, or spirit.
ANKER
An"ker, n. Etym: [D. anker: cf. LL. anceria, ancheria.]
Defn: A liquid measure in various countries of Europe. The Dutch
anker, formerly also used in England, contained about 10 of the old
wine gallons, or 8
ANKERITE
An"ker*ite, n. Etym: [So called from Prof. Anker of Austria: cf. F.
ankérite, G. ankerit.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral closely related to dolomite, but containing iron.
ANKH
Ankh, n. [Egypt.] (Egypt. Archæol.)
Defn: A tau cross with a loop at the top, used as an attribute or
sacred emblem, symbolizing generation or enduring life. Called also
crux ansata.
ANKLE
An"kle, n. Etym: [OE. ancle, anclow, AS. ancleow; akin to Icel.
ökkla, ökli, Dan. and Sw. ankel, D. enklaauw, enkel, G. enkel, and
perh. OHG. encha, ancha thigh, shin: cf. Skr. anga limb, anguri
finger. Cf. Haunch.]
Defn: The joint which connects the foot with the leg; the tarsus.
Ankle bone, the bone of the ankle; the astragalus.
ANKLED
An"kled, a.
Defn: Having ankles; -- used in composition; as, well-ankled. Beau. &
Fl.
ANKLET
An"klet, n.
Defn: An ornament or a fetter for the ankle; an ankle ring.
ANKUS
An"kus, n. [Hind., fr. Skr. ankuça.]
Defn: An elephant goad with a sharp spike and hook, resembling a
short-handled boat hook. [India] Kipling.
ANKYLOSE
An"ky*lose, v. t. & i.
Defn: Same as Anchylose.
ANKYLOSIS
An`ky*lo"sis, n.
Defn: Same as Anchylosis.
ANKYLOSTOMIASIS
An`ky*los*to*mi"a*sis, n. [NL., fr. Ankylostoma, var. of
Agchylostoma, generic name of one genus of the parasitic nematodes.]
(Med.)
Defn: A disease due to the presence of the parasites Agchylostoma
duodenale, Uncinaria (subgenus Necator) americana, or allied
nematodes, in the small intestine. When present in large numbers they
produce a severe anæmia by sucking the blood from the intestinal
walls. Called also miner's anæmia, tunnel disease, brickmaker's
anæmia, Egyptian chlorosis.
ANLACE
An"lace, n. Etym: [Origin unknown.]
Defn: A broad dagger formerly worn at the girdle. [Written also
anelace.]
ANLAUT
An"laut`, n. [G.; an on + laut sound.] (Phon.)
Defn: An initial sound, as of a word or syllable.
-- Im anlaut, initially; when initial; --used of sounds.
ANN; ANNAT
Ann, An"nat, n. Etym: [LL. annata income of a year, also, of half a
year, fr. L. annus year: cf. F. annate annats.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A half years's stipend, over and above what is owing for the
incumbency, due to a minister's heirs after his decease.
ANNA
An"na, n. Etym: [Hindi ana.]
Defn: An East Indian money of account, the sixteenth of a rupee, or
about 2
ANNAL
An"nal, n.
Defn: See Annals.
ANNALIST
An"nal*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. annaliste.]
Defn: A writer of annals.
The monks . . . were the only annalists in those ages. Hume.
ANNALISTIC
An`nal*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or after the manner of, an annalist; as, the dry
annalistic style."A stiff annalistic method." Sir G. C. Lewis.
ANNALIZE
An"nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To record in annals. Sheldon.
ANNALS
An"nals, n. pl. Etym: [L. annalis (sc. liber), and more frequently in
the pl. annales (sc. libri), chronicles, fr. annus year. Cf. Annual.]
1. A relation of events in chronological order, each event being
recorded under the year in which it happened. "Annals the
revolution." Macaulay. "The annals of our religion." Rogers.
2. Historical records; chronicles; history.
The short and simple annals of the poor. Gray.
It was one of the most critical periods in our annals. Burke.
3. sing.
Defn: The record of a single event or item. "In deathless annal."
Young.
4. A periodic publication, containing records of discoveries,
transactions of societies, etc.; as "Annals of Science."
Syn.
-- History. See History.
ANNATS; ANNATES
An"nats, An"nates, n. pl. Etym: [See Ann.] (Eccl. Law)
Defn: The first year's profits of a spiritual preferment, anciently
paid by the clergy to the pope; first fruits. In England, they now
form a fund for the augmentation of poor livings.
ANNEAL
An*neal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Annealing.]
Etym: [OE. anelen to heat, burn, AS. an; an on + to burn; also OE.
anelen to enamel, prob. influenced by OF. neeler, nieler, to put a
black enamel on gold or silver, F. nieller, fr. LL. nigellare to
blacken, fr. L. nigellus blackish, dim. of niger black. Cf. Niello,
Negro.]
1. To subject to great heat, and then cool slowly, as glass, cast
iron, steel, or other metal, for the purpose of rendering it less
brittle; to temper; to toughen.
2. To heat, as glass, tiles, or earthenware, in order to fix the
colors laid on them.
ANNEALER
An*neal"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, anneals.
ANNEALING
An*neal"ing, n.
1. The process used to render glass, iron, etc., less brittle,
performed by allowing them to cool very gradually from a high heat.
2. The burning of metallic colors into glass, earthenware, etc.
ANNECTENT
An*nec"tent, a. Etym: [L. annectere to tie or bind to. See Annex.]
Defn: Connecting; annexing. Owen.
ANNELID; ANNELIDAN
An`ne*lid, An*nel"i*dan, a. Etym: [F. annélide, fr. anneler to
arrange in rings, OF. anel a ring, fr. L. anellus a ring, dim. of
annulus a ring.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Annelida.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Annelida.
ANNELIDA
An*nel"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Annelid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Articulata, having the body formed of
numerous rings or annular segments, and without jointed legs. The
principal subdivisions are the Chætopoda, including the Oligochæta or
earthworms and Polychæta or marine worms; and the Hirudinea or
leeches. See Chætopoda.
ANNELIDOUS
An*nel"i*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of the nature of an annelid.
ANNELLATA
An`nel*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Annelida.
ANNELOID
An"ne*loid, n. Etym: [F. annelé ringed + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal resembling an annelid.
ANNEX
An*nex", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Annexing.]
Etym: [F. annexer, fr. L. annexus, p. p. of annectere to tie or bind
to; ad + nectere to tie, to fasten together, akin to Skr. nah to
bind.]
1. To join or attach; usually to subjoin; to affix; to append; --
followed by to. "He annexed a codicil to a will." Johnson.
2. To join or add, as a smaller thing to a greater.
He annexed a province to his kingdom. Johnson.
3. To attach or connect, as a consequence, condition, etc.; as, to
annex a penalty to a prohibition, or punishment to guilt.
Syn.
-- To add; append; affix; unite; coalesce. See Add.
ANNEX
An*nex", v. i.
Defn: To join; to be united. Tooke.
ANNEX
An*nex", n. Etym: [F. annexe, L. annexus, neut. annexum, p. p. of
annectere.]
Defn: Something annexed or appended; as, an additional stipulation to
a writing, a subsidiary building to a main building; a wing.
ANNEXATION
An`nex*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. annexation. See Annex, v. t.]
1. The act of annexing; process of attaching, adding, or appending;
the act of connecting; union; as, the annexation of Texas to the
United States, or of chattels to the freehold.
2.
(a) (Law) The union of property with a freehold so as to become a
fixture. Bouvier. (b) (Scots Law) The appropriation of lands or rents
to the crown. Wharton.
ANNEXATIONIST
An`nex*a"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors annexation.
ANNEXER
An*nex"er, n.
Defn: One who annexes.
ANNEXION
An*nex"ion, n. Etym: [L. annexio a tying to, connection: cf. F.
annexion.]
Defn: Annexation. [R.] Shak.
ANNEXIONIST
An*nex"ion*ist, n.
Defn: An annexationist. [R.]
ANNEXMENT
An*nex"ment, n.
Defn: The act of annexing, or the thing annexed; appendage. [R.]
Shak.
ANNIHILABLE
An*ni"hi*la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being annihilated.
ANNIHILATE
An*ni"hi*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annihilated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Annihilating.] Etym: [L. annihilare; ad + nihilum, nihil, nothing, ne
hilum (filum) not a thread, nothing at all. Cf. File, a row.]
1. To reduce to nothing or nonexistence; to destroy the existence of;
to cause to cease to be.
It impossible for any body to be utterly annihilated. Bacon.
2. To destroy the form or peculiar distinctive properties of, so that
the specific thing no longer exists; as, to annihilate a forest by
cutting down the trees. "To annihilate the army." Macaulay.
3. To destroy or eradicate, as a property or attribute of a thing; to
make of no effect; to destroy the force, etc., of; as, to annihilate
an argument, law, rights, goodness.
ANNIHILATE
An*ni"hi*late, a.
Defn: Anhilated. [Archaic] Swift.
ANNIHILATION
An*ni`hi*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. annihilation.]
1. The act of reducing to nothing, or nonexistence; or the act of
destroying the form or combination of parts under which a thing
exists, so that the name can no longer be applied to it; as, the
annihilation of a corporation.
2. The state of being annihilated. Hooker.
ANNIHILATIONIST
An*ni`hi*la"tion*ist, n. (Theol.)
Defn: One who believes that eternal punishment consists in
annihilation or extinction of being; a destructionist.
ANNIHILATIVE
An*ni"hi*la*tive, a.
Defn: Serving to annihilate; destructive.
ANNIHILATOR
An*ni"hi*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, annihilates; as, a fire annihilator.
ANNIHILATORY
An*ni"hi*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Annihilative.
ANNIVERSARILY
An`ni*ver"sa*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: Annually. [R.] Bp. Hall.
ANNIVERSARY
An`ni*ver"sa*ry, a. Etym: [L. anniversarius; annus year + vertere,
versum, to turn: cf. F. anniversaire.]
Defn: Returning with the year, at a stated time; annual; yearly; as,
an anniversary feast. Anniversary day (R. C. Ch.). See Anniversary,
n., 2.
-- Anniversary week, that week in the year in which the annual
meetings of religious and benevolent societies are held in Boston and
New York. [Eastern U. S.]
ANNIVERSARY
An`ni*ver"sa*ry, n.; pl. Anniversaries. Etym: [Cf. F. anniversaire.]
1. The annual return of the day on which any notable event took
place, or is wont to be celebrated; as, the anniversary of the
Declaration of Independence.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The day on which Mass is said yearly for the soul of a deceased
person; the commemoration of some sacred event, as the dedication of
a church or the consecration of a pope.
3. The celebration which takes place on an anniversary day. Dryden.
ANNIVERSE
An"ni*verse, n. Etym: [L. anni versus the turning of a year.]
Defn: Anniversary. [Obs.] Dryden.
ANNODATED
An"no*da`ted, a. Etym: [L. ad to + nodus a knot.] (Her.)
Defn: Curved somewhat in the form of the letter S. Cussans.
ANNO DOMINI
An"no Dom"i*ni. Etym: [L., in the year of [our] Lord [Jesus Christ];
usually abbrev. a. d.]
Defn: In the year of the Christian era; as, a. d. 1887.
ANNOMINATE
An*nom"i*nate, v. t.
Defn: To name. [R.]
ANNOMINATION
An*nom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. annominatio. See Agnomination.]
1. Paronomasia; punning.
2. Alliteration. [Obs.] Tyrwhitt.
ANNOTATE
An"no*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annotated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Annotating.] Etym: [L. annotatus; p. p. of annotare to annotate; ad +
notare to mark, nota mark. See Note, n.]
Defn: To explain or criticize by notes; as, to annotate the works of
Bacon.
ANNOTATE
An"no*tate, v. i.
Defn: To make notes or comments; -- with on or upon.
ANNOTATION
An`no*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. annotatio: cf. F. annotation.]
Defn: A note, added by way of comment, or explanation; -- usually in
the plural; as, annotations on ancient authors, or on a word or a
passage.
ANNOTATIONIST
An`no*ta"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An annotator. [R.]
ANNOTATIVE
An"no*ta*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by annotations; of the nature of annotation.
ANNOTATOR
An"no*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A writer of annotations; a commentator.
ANNOTATORY
An*no"ta*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an annotator; containing annotations. [R.]
ANNOTINE
An"no*tine, n. Etym: [L. annotinus a year old.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird one year old, or that has once molted.
ANNOTINOUS
An*not"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. annotinus, fr. annus year.] (Bot.)
Defn: A year old; in Yearly growths.
ANNOTTO; ARNOTTO
An*not"to, Ar*not"to, n. Etym: [Perh. the native name.]
Defn: A red or yellowish-red dyeing material, prepared from the pulp
surrounding the seeds of a tree (Bixa orellana) belonging to the
tropical regions of America. It is used for coloring cheese, butter,
etc. [Written also Anatto, Anatta, Annatto, Annotta, etc.]
ANNOUNCE
An*nounce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Announced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Announcing.] Etym: [OF. anoncier, F. annoncer, fr. L. annuntiare; ad
+ nuntiare to report, relate, nuntius messenger, bearer of news. See
Nuncio, and cf. Annunciate.]
1. To give public notice, or first notice of; to make known; to
publish; to proclaim.
Her [Q. Elizabeth's] arrival was announced through the country by a
peal of cannon from the ramparts. Gilpin.
2. To pronounce; to declare by judicial sentence.
Publish laws, announce Or life or death. Prior.
Syn.
-- To proclaim; publish; make known; herald; declare; promulgate.
-- To Publish, Announce, Proclaim, Promulgate. We publish what we
give openly to the world, either by oral communication or by means of
the press; as, to publish abroad the faults of our neighbors. We
announce what we declare by anticipation, or make known for the first
time; as, to announce the speedy publication of a book; to announce
the approach or arrival of a distinguished personage. We proclaim
anything to which we give the widest publicity; as, to proclaim the
news of victory. We promulgate when we proclaim more widely what has
before been known by some; as, to promulgate the gospel.
ANNOUNCEMENT
An*nounce"ment, n.
Defn: The act of announcing, or giving notice; that which announces;
proclamation; publication.
ANNOUNCER
An*noun"cer, n.
Defn: One who announces.
ANNOY
An*noy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annoyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Annoying.]
Etym: [OE. anoien, anuien, OF. anoier, anuier, F. ennuyer, fr. OF.
anoi, anui, enui, annoyance, vexation, F. ennui. See Annoy, n.] To
disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to
tease; to ruffle in mind; to vex; as, I was annoyed by his remarks.
Say, what can more our tortured souls annoy Than to behold, admire,
and lose our joy Prior.
2. To molest, incommode, or harm; as, to annoy an army by impeding
its march, or by a cannonade.
Syn.
-- To molest; vex; trouble; pester; embarrass; perplex; tease.
ANNOY
An*noy", n. Etym: [OE. anoi, anui, OF. anoi, anui, enui, fr. L. in
odio hatred (esse alicui in odio, Cic.). See Ennui, Odium, Noisome,
Noy.]
Defn: A feeling of discomfort or vexation caused by what one
dislikes; also, whatever causes such a feeling; as, to work annoy.
Worse than Tantalus' is her annoy. Shak.
ANNOYANCE
An*noy"ance, n. Etym: [OF. anoiance, anuiance.]
1. The act of annoying, or the state of being annoyed; molestation;
vexation; annoy.
A deep clay, giving much annoyance to passengers. Fuller.
For the further annoyance and terror of any besieged place, they
would throw into it dead bodies. Wilkins.
2. That which annoys.
A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair, Any annoyance in that
precious sense. Shak.
ANNOYER
An*noy"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, annoys.
ANNOYFUL
An*noy"ful, a.
Defn: Annoying. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANNOYING
An*noy"ing, a.
Defn: That annoys; molesting; vexatious.
-- An*noy"ing*ly, adv.
ANNOYOUS
An*noy"ous, a. Etym: [OF. enuius, anoios.]
Defn: Troublesome; annoying. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANNUAL
An"nu*al, a. Etym: [OE. annuel, F. annuel, fr. L. annualis, fr. annus
year. Cf. Annals.]
1. Of or pertaining to a year; returning every year; coming or
happening once in the year; yearly.
The annual overflowing of the river [Nile]. Ray.
2. Performed or accomplished in a year; reckoned by the year; as, the
annual motion of the earth.
A thousand pound a year, annual support. Shak.
2. Lasting or continuing only one year or one growing season;
requiring to be renewed every year; as, an annual plant; annual
tickets. Bacon.
ANNUAL
An"nu*al, n.
1. A thing happening or returning yearly; esp. a literary work
published once a year.
2. Anything, especially a plant, that lasts but one year or season;
an annual plant.
Oaths . . . in some sense almost annuals; . . . and I myself can
remember about forty different sets. Swift.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A Mass for a deceased person or for some special object, said
daily for a year or on the anniversary day.
ANNUALIST
An"nu*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who writes for, or who edits, an annual. [R.]
ANNUALLY
An"nu*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Yearly; year by year.
ANNUARY
An"nu*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. annuaire.]
Defn: Annual. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: A yearbook.
ANNUELER
An"nu*el*er, n.
Defn: A priest employed in saying annuals, or anniversary Masses.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
ANNUENT
An"nu*ent, a. Etym: [L. annuens, p. pr. of annuere; ad + nuere to
nod.]
Defn: Nodding; as, annuent muscles (used in nodding).
ANNUITANT
An*nu"i*tant, n. Etym: [See Annuity.]
Defn: One who receives, or its entitled to receive, an annuity. Lamb.
ANNUITY
An*nu"i*ty, n.; pl. Annuities. Etym: [LL. annuitas, fr. L. annus
year: cf. F. annuité.]
Defn: A sum of money, payable yearly, to continue for a given number
of years, for life, or forever; an annual allowance.
ANNUL
An*nul", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annulled; p. pr. & vb. n. Annulling.]
Etym: [F. annuler, LL. annullare, annulare, fr. L. ad to + nullus
none, nullum, neut., nothing. See Null, a.]
1. To reduce to nothing; to obliterate.
Light, the prime work of God, to me's extinct. And all her various
objects of delight Annulled. Milton.
2. To make void or of no effect; to nullify; to abolish; to do away
with; -- used appropriately of laws, decrees, edicts, decisions of
courts, or other established rules, permanent usages, and the like,
which are made void by component authority.
Do they mean to annul laws of inestimable value to our liberties
Burke.
Syn.
-- To abolish; abrogate; repeal; cancel; reverse; rescind; revoke;
nullify; destroy. See Abolish.
ANNULAR
An"nu*lar, a. Etym: [L. annularis, fr. annulis ring: cf. F.
annulaire.]
1. Pertaining to, or having the form of, a ring; forming a ring;
ringed; ring-shaped; as, annular fibers.
2. Banded or marked with circles. Annular eclipse (Astron.), an
eclipse of the sun in which the moon at the middle of the eclipse
conceals the central part of the sun's disk, leaving a complete ring
of light around the border.
ANNULARITY
An`nu*lar"i*ty, n.
Defn: Annular condition or form; as, the annularity of a nebula. J.
Rogers.
ANNULARRY
An"nu*lar*ry, adv.
Defn: In an annular manner.
ANNULARY
An"nu*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. annularis. See Annular.]
Defn: Having the form of a ring; annular. Ray.
ANNULATA
An`nu*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl., fr. L. annulatus ringed.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of articulate animals, nearly equivalent to Annelida,
including the marine annelids, earthworms, Gephyrea, Gymnotoma,
leeches, etc. See Annelida.
ANNULATE
An"nu*late, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Annulata.
ANNULATE; ANNULATED
An"nu*late, An"nu*la`ted a. Etym: [L. annulatus.]
1. Furnished with, or composed of, rings; ringed; surrounded by rings
of color.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Annulata.
ANNULATION
An`nu*la"tion, n.
Defn: A circular or ringlike formation; a ring or belt. Nicholson.
ANNULET
An"nu*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of annulus.]
1. A little ring. Tennyson.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A small, flat fillet, encircling a column, etc., used by
itself, or with other moldings. It is used, several times repeated,
under the Doric capital.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A little circle borne as a charge.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A narrow circle of some distinct color on a surface or round an
organ.
ANNULLABLE
An*nul"la*ble, a.
Defn: That may be Annulled.
ANNULLER
An*nul"ler, n.
Defn: One who annuls. [R.]
ANNULMENT
An*nul"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. annulement.]
Defn: The act of annulling; abolition; invalidation.
ANNULOID
An"nu*loid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Annuloida.
ANNULOIDA
An`nu*loid"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. annulus ring + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Articulata, including the annelids and allied
groups; sometimes made to include also the helminths and echinoderms.
[Written also Annuloidea.]
ANNULOSA
An"nu*lo"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Invertebrata, nearly equivalent to the
Articulata. It includes the Arthoropoda and Anarthropoda. By some
zoölogists it is applied to the former only.
ANNULOSAN
An`nu*lo"san, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Annulosa.
ANNULOSE
An"nu*lose` (, a. Etym: [L. annulus ring.]
1. Furnished with, or composed of, rings or ringlike segments;
ringed.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Annulosa.
ANNULUS
An"nu*lus, n.; pl. Annuli. Etym: [L.]
1. A ring; a ringlike part or space.
2. (Geom.)
(a) A space contained between the circumferences of two circles, one
within the other.
(b) The solid formed by a circle revolving around a line which is the
plane of the circle but does not cut it.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ring-shaped structures or markings, found in, or upon, various
animals.
ANNUMERATE
An*nu"mer*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. annumeratus, p. p. of annumerare. See
Numerate.]
Defn: To add on; to count in. [Obs.] Wollaston.
ANNUMERATION
An*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. annumeratio.]
Defn: Addition to a former number. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ANNUNCIABLE
An*nun"ci*a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be announced or declared; declarable. [R.]
ANNUNCIATE
An*nun"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Annunciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Annunciating.] Etym: [L. annuntiare. See Announce.]
Defn: To announce.
ANNUNCIATE
An*nun"ci*ate, p. p. & a.
Defn: Foretold; preannounced. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANNUNCIATION
An*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. annuntiatio: cf. F. annonciation.]
1. The act of announcing; announcement; proclamation; as, the
annunciation of peace.
2. (Eccl.)
(a) The announcement of the incarnation, made by the angel Gabriel to
the Virgin Mary.
(b) The festival celebrated (March 25th) by the Church of England, of
Rome, etc., in memory of the angel's announcement, on that day; Lady
Day.
ANNUNCIATION LILY
An*nun`ci*a"tion lil"y. (Bot.)
Defn: The common white lily (Lilium candidum). So called because it
is usually introduced by painters in pictures of the Annunciation.
ANNUNCIATIVE
An*nun"ci*a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to annunciation; announcing. [R.] Dr. H. More.
ANNUNCIATOR
An*nun"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. annuntiator.]
1. One who announces. Specifically: An officer in the church of
Constantinople, whose business it was to inform the people of the
festivals to be celebrated.
2. An indicator (as in a hotel) which designates the room where
attendance is wanted.
ANNUNCIATORY
An*nun"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, announcement; making known. [R.]
ANOA
A*noa", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small wild ox of Celebes (Anoa depressicornis), allied to the
buffalo, but having long nearly straight horns.
ANODE
An"ode, n. Etym: [Gr. (Elec.)
Defn: The positive pole of an electric battery, or more strictly the
electrode by which the current enters the electrolyte on its way to
the other pole; -- opposed to cathode.
ANODON
An"o*don, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fresh-water bivalves, having to teeth at the hinge.
[Written also Anodonta.]
ANODYNE
An"o*dyne, a. Etym: [L. anodynus, Gr. anodin.]
Defn: Serving to assuage pain; soothing.
The anodyne draught of oblivion. Burke.
Note: "The word [in a medical sense] in chiefly applied to the
different preparations of opium, belladonna, hyoscyamus, and
lettuce." Am. Cyc.
ANODYNE
An"o*dyne, n. Etym: [L. anodynon. See Anodyne, a.]
Defn: Any medicine which allays pain, as an opiate or narcotic;
anything that soothes disturbed feelings.
ANODYNOUS
An"o*dy`nous, a.
Defn: Anodyne.
ANOETIC
An`o*et"ic, a. [Gr. unthinkable; priv. + perceptible, thinkable.]
1. Unthinkable. [Rare]
2. (Psychol.) Not subject to conscious attention; having an
indefinite, relatively passive, conscious being; characteristic of
the "fringe" or "margin" of consciousness.
Presentation considered as having an existence relatively independent
of thought, may be called sentience, or anoetic consciousness.
Thought and sentience are fundamentally distinct mental functions.
G. F. Stout.
ANOIL
A*noil", v. t. Etym: [OF. enoilier.]
Defn: The anoint with oil. [Obs.] Holinshed.
ANOINT
A*noint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Anointing.]
Etym: [OF. enoint, p. p. of enoindre, fr. L. inungere; in + ungere,
unguere, to smear, anoint. See Ointment, Unguent.]
1. To smear or rub over with oil or an unctuous substance; also, to
spread over, as oil.
And fragrant oils the stiffened limbs anoint. Dryden.
He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. John ix. 6.
2. To apply oil to or to pour oil upon, etc., as a sacred rite,
especially for consecration.
Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his
[Aaron's] head and anoint him. Exod. xxix. 7.
Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. 1 Kings xix. 15.
The Lord's Anointed, Christ or the Messiah; also, a Jewish or other
king by "divine right." 1 Sam. xxvi. 9.
ANOINT
A*noint", p. p.
Defn: Anointed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ANOINTER
A*noint"er, n.
Defn: One who anoints.
ANOINTMENT
A*noint"ment, n.
Defn: The act of anointing, or state of being anointed; also, an
ointment. Milton.
ANOLIS
A*no"lis, n. Etym: [In the Antilles, anoli, anoalli, a lizard.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of lizards which belong to the family Iguanidæ. They
take the place in the New World of the chameleons in the Old, and in
America are often called chameleons.
ANOMAL
A*nom"al, n.
Defn: Anything anomalous. [R.]
ANOMALIPED; ANOMALIPEDE
A*nom"a*li*ped(#), A*nom"a*li*pede, a. Etym: [L. anomalus irregular +
pes, pedis, foot.]
Defn: Having anomalous feet.
ANOMALIPED
A*nom"a*li*ped, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of perching birds, having the middle toe more or
less united to the outer and inner ones.
ANOMALISM
A*nom"a*lism, n.
Defn: An anomaly; a deviation from rule. Hooker.
ANOMALISTIC; ANOMALISTICAL
A*nom`a*lis"tic, A*nom`a*lis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. anomalistique.]
1. Irregular; departing from common or established rules.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: Pertaining to the anomaly, or angular distance of a planet from
its perihelion. Anomalistic month. See under Month.
-- Anomalistic revolution, the period in which a planet or satellite
goes through the complete cycles of its changes of anomaly, or from
any point in its elliptic orbit to the same again.
-- Anomalistic, or Periodical year. See under Year.
ANOMALISTICALLY
A*nom`a*lis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: With irregularity.
ANOMALOFLOROUS
A*nom`a*lo*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. anomalus irregular + flos, floris,
flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having anomalous flowers.
ANOMALOUS
A*nom"a*lous, a Etym: [L. anomalus, Gr. Same, and cf. Abnormal.]
Defn: Deviating from a general rule, method, or analogy; abnormal;
irregular; as, an anomalous proceeding.
ANOMALOUSLY
A*nom"a*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anomalous manner.
ANOMALOUSNESS
A*nom"a*lous*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being anomalous.
ANOMALY
A*nom"a*ly, n.; pl. Anomalies. Etym: [L. anomalia, Gr. Anomalous.]
1. Deviation from the common rule; an irregularity; anything
anomalous.
We are enabled to unite into a consistent whole the various anomalies
and contending principles that are found in the minds and affairs of
men. Burke.
As Professor Owen has remarked, there is no greater anomaly in nature
than a bird that can not fly. Darwin.
2. (Astron.)
(a) The angular distance of a planet from its perihelion, as seen
from the sun. This is the true anomaly. The eccentric anomaly is a
corresponding angle at the center of the elliptic orbit of the
planet. The mean anomaly is what the anomaly would be if the planet's
angular motion were uniform.
(b) The angle measuring apparent irregularities in the motion of a
planet.
3. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Any deviation from the essential characteristics of a specific
type.
ANOMIA
A*no"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of bivalve shells, allied to the oyster, so called from
their unequal valves, of which the lower is perforated for
attachment.
ANOMOPHYLLOUS
An`o*moph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having leaves irregularly placed.
ANOMURA; ANOMOURA
An`o*mu"ra, An`o*mou"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of decapod Crustacea, of which the hermit crab in an
example.
ANOMURAL; ANOMURAN
An`o*mu"ral, An`o*mu"ran, a.
Defn: Irregular in the character of the tail or abdomen; as, the
anomural crustaceans. [Written also anomoural, anomouran.]
ANOMURAN
An`o*mu"ran, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Anomura.
ANOMY
An"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Anomia.]
Defn: Disregard or violation of law. [R.] Glanvill.
ANON
A*non", adv. Etym: [OE. anoon, anon, anan, lit., in one (moment), fr.
AS. on in + an one. See On and One.]
1. Straightway; at once. [Obs.]
The same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it.
Matt. xiii. 20.
2. Soon; in a little while.
As it shall better appear anon. Stow.
3. At another time; then; again.
Sometimes he trots, . . . anon he rears upright. Shak.
Anon right, at once; right off. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- Ever and anon, now and then; frequently; often.
A pouncet box, which ever and anon He gave his nose. Shak.
ANONA
A*no"na, n. Etym: [NL. Cf. Ananas.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of tropical or subtropical plants of the natural order
Anonaceæ, including the soursop.
ANONACEOUS
An`o*na"ceous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the order of plants including the soursop,
custard apple, etc.
ANONYM
An"o*nym, n. Etym: [F. anonyme. See Anonymous.]
1. One who is anonymous; also sometimes used for "pseudonym."
2. A notion which has no name, or which can not be expressed by a
single English word. [R.] J. R. Seeley.
ANONYMITY
An`o*nym"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being anonymous; anonymousness; also,
that which anonymous. [R.]
He rigorously insisted upon the rights of anonymity. Carlyle.
ANONYMOUS
A*non"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Name.]
Defn: Nameless; of unknown name; also, of unknown /or unavowed
authorship; as, an anonymous benefactor; an anonymous pamphlet or
letter.
ANONYMOUSLY
A*non"y*mous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anonymous manner; without a name. Swift.
ANONYMOUSNESS
A*non"y*mous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being anonymous. Coleridge.
ANOPHELES
A*noph"e*les (a*nof"e*lez), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'anwfelh`s useless,
hurtful.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mosquitoes which are secondary hosts of the malaria
parasites, and whose bite is the usual, if not the only, means of
infecting human beings with malaria. Several species are found in the
United States. They may be distinguished from the ordinary mosquitoes
of the genus Culex by the long slender palpi, nearly equaling the
beak in length, while those of the female Culex are very short. They
also assume different positions when resting, Culex usually holding
the body parallel to the surface on which it rests and keeping the
head and beak bent at an angle, while Anopheles holds the body at an
angle with the surface and the head and beak in line with it. Unless
they become themselves infected by previously biting a subject
affected with malaria, the insects cannot transmit the disease.
ANOPHYTE
An"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A moss or mosslike plant which cellular stems, having usually
an upward growth and distinct leaves.
ANOPLA
An"o*pla, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the two orders of Nemerteans. See Nemertina.
ANOPLOTHERE; ANOPLOTHERIUM
An*op"lo*there, An`o*plo*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct quadrupeds of the order Ungulata, whose were
first found in the gypsum quarries near Paris; characterized by the
shortness and feebleness of their canine teeth (whence the name).
ANOPLURA
An`o*plu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of insects which includes the lice.
ANOPSIA; ANOPSY
A*nop"si*a, An"op`sy, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Want or defect of sight; blindness.
ANOREXIA; ANOREXY
An`o*rex"i*a, An"o*rex`y n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Want of appetite, without a loathing of food. Coxe.
ANORMAL
A*nor"mal, a. Etym: [F. anormal. See Abnormal, Normal.]
Defn: Not according to rule; abnormal. [Obs.]
ANORN
A*norn, v. t. Etym: [OF. aörner, aöurner, fr. L. adornare to adorn.
The form a-ourne was corrupted into anourne.]
Defn: To adorn. [Obs.] Bp. Watson.
ANORTHIC
A*nor"thic, a. Etym: [See Anorthite.] (Min.)
Defn: Having unequal oblique axes; as, anorthic crystals.
ANORTHITE
A*nor"thite, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A mineral of the feldspar family, commonly occurring in small
glassy crystals, also a constituent of some igneous rocks. It is a
lime feldspar. See Feldspar.
ANORTHOCLASE
A*nor"tho*clase, n. [Gr. priv. + orthoclase.] (Min.)
Defn: A feldspar closely related to orthoclase, but triclinic. It is
chiefly a silicate of sodium, potassium, and aluminium. Sp. gr., 2.57
-- 2.60.
ANORTHOPIA
An`or*tho"pi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + ortho- + Gr. , , the eye.]
(Med.)
Defn: Distorted vision, in which straight lines appear bent.
ANORTHOSCOPE
A*nor"tho*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Physics)
Defn: An optical toy for producing amusing figures or pictures by
means of two revolving disks, on one of which distorted figures are
painted.
ANORTHOSITE
A*nor"tho*site, n. [F. anorthose triclinic feldspar (fr. Gr. priv. +
straight) + -ite.] (Petrol.)
Defn: A granular igneous rock composed almost exclusively of a soda-
lime feldspar, usually labradorite.
ANOSMIA
A*nos"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Loss of the sense of smell.
ANOTHER
An*oth"er, pron. & a. Etym: [An a, one + other.]
1. One more, in addition to a former number; a second or additional
one, similar in likeness or in effect.
Another yet! -- a seventh! I 'll see no more. Shak.
Would serve to scale another Hero's tower. Shak.
2. Not the same; different.
He winks, and turns his lips another way. Shak.
3. Any or some; any different person, indefinitely; any one else;
some one else.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth. Prov. xxvii. 2.
While I am coming, another steppeth down before me. John v. 7.
Note: As a pronoun another may have a possessive another's, pl.
others, poss. pl. other'. It is much used in opposition to one; as,
one went one way, another another. It is also used with one, in a
reciprocal sense; as, "love one another," that is, let each love the
other or others. "These two imparadised in one another's arms."
Milton.
ANOTHER-GAINES
An*oth"er-gaines`, a. Etym: [Corrupted fr. another-gates.]
Defn: Of another kind. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
ANOTHER-GATES
An*oth"er-gates`, a. Etym: [Another + gate, or gait, way. Cf.
Algates.]
Defn: Of another sort. [Obs.] "Another-gates adventure." Hudibras.
ANOTHER-GUESS
An*oth"er-guess, a. Etym: [Corrupted fr. another-gates.]
Defn: Of another sort. [Archaic]
It used to go in another-guess manner. Arbuthnot.
ANOTTA
A*not"ta, n.
Defn: See Annotto.
ANOURA
An*ou"ra, n.
Defn: See Anura.
ANOUROUS
An*ou"rous, a.
Defn: See Anurous.
ANOXAEMIA; ANOXEMIA
An`ox*æ"mi*a, An`ox*e"mi*a, n. [NL.; Gr. priv. + oxygen + Gr.
blood.] (Med.)
Defn: An abnormal condition due to deficient aëration of the blood,
as in balloon sickness, mountain sickness. -- An`ox*æ"mic, *e"mic
(#), a.
ANSA
An"sa, n.; pl. Ansæ. Etym: [L., a handle.] (Astron.)
Defn: A name given to either of the projecting ends of Saturn's ring.
ANSATED
An"sa*ted, a. Etym: [L. ansatus, fr. ansa a handle.]
Defn: Having a handle. Johnson.
ANSERATED
An"ser*a`ted, a. (Her.)
Defn: Having the extremities terminate in the heads of eagles, lions,
etc.; as, an anserated cross.
ANSERES
An"se*res, n. pl. Etym: [L., geese.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of aquatic birds swimming by means of webbed
feet, as the duck, or of lobed feet, as the grebe. In this order were
included the geese, ducks, auks, divers, gulls, petrels, etc.
ANSERIFORMES
An`se*ri*for"mes, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of birds including the geese, ducks, and closely
allied forms.
ANSERINE
An"ser*ine, a Etym: [L. anserinus, fr. anser a goose.]
1. Pertaining to, or resembling, a goose, or the skin of a goose.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Anseres.
ANSEROUS
An"ser*ous, a. Etym: [L. anser a goose.]
Defn: Resembling a goose; silly; simple. Sydney Smith.
ANSWER
An"swer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Answered; p. pr. & vb. n. Answering.]
Etym: [OE. andswerien, AS. andswerian, andswarian, to answer, fr.
andswaru, n., answer. See Answer, n.]
1. To speak in defense against; to reply to in defense; as, to answer
a charge; to answer an accusation.
2. To speak or write in return to, as in return to a call or
question, or to a speech, declaration, argument, or the like; to
reply to (a question, remark, etc.); to respond to.
She answers him as if she knew his mind. Shak.
So spake the apostate angel, though in pain: . . . And him thus
answered soon his bold compeer. Milton.
3. To respond to satisfactorily; to meet successfully by way of
explanation, argument, or justification, and the like; to refute.
No man was able to answer him a word. Matt. xxii. 46.
These shifts refuted, answer thine appellant. Milton.
The reasoning was not and could not be answered. Macaulay.
4. To be or act in return or response to. Hence:
(a) To be or act in compliance with, in fulfillment or satisfaction
of, as an order, obligation, demand; as, he answered my claim upon
him; the servant answered the bell.
This proud king . . . studies day and night To answer all the debts
he owes unto you. Shak.
(b) To render account to or for.
I will . . . send him to answer thee. Shak.
(c) To atone; to be punished for.
And grievously hath Cæzar answered it. Shak.
(d) To be opposite to; to face.
The windows answering each other, we could just discern the glowing
horizon them. Gilpin.
(e) To be or act an equivalent to, or as adequate or sufficient for;
to serve for; to repay. [R.]
Money answereth all things. Eccles. x. 19.
(f) To be or act in accommodation, conformity, relation, or
proportion to; to correspond to; to suit.
Weapons must needs be dangerous things, if they answered the bulk of
so prodigious a person. Swift.
ANSWER
An"swer, v. i.
1. To speak or write by way of return (originally, to a charge), or
in reply; to make response.
There was no voice, nor any that answered. 1 Kings xviii. 26.
2. To make a satisfactory response or return. Hence: To render
account, or to be responsible; to be accountable; to make amends; as,
the man must answer to his employer for the money intrusted to his
care.
Let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law. Shak.
3. To be or act in return. Hence:
(a) To be or act by way of compliance, fulfillment, reciprocation, or
satisfaction; to serve the purpose; as, gypsum answers as a manure on
some soils.
Do the strings answer to thy noble hand Dryden.
(b) To be opposite, or to act in opposition.
(c) To be or act as an equivalent, or as adequate or sufficient; as,
a very few will answer.
(d) To be or act in conformity, or by way of accommodation,
correspondence, relation, or proportion; to conform; to correspond;
to suit; -- usually with to.
That the time may have all shadow and silence in it, and the place
answer to convenience. Shak.
If this but answer to my just belief, I 'll remember you. Shak.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. Pro
ANSWER
An"swer, n. Etym: [OE. andsware, AS. andswaru; and against + swerian
to swear. Anti-, and Swear, and cf. 1st un-.]
1. A reply to a change; a defense.
At my first answer no man stood with me. 2 Tim. iv. 16.
2. Something said or written in reply to a question, a call, an
argument, an address, or the like; a reply.
A soft answer turneth away wrath. Prov. xv. 1.
I called him, but he gave me no answer. Cant. v. 6.
3. Something done in return for, or in consequence of, something
else; a responsive action.
Great the slaughter is Here made by the Roman; great the answer be
Britons must take. Shak.
4. A solution, the result of a mathematical operation; as, the answer
to a problem.
5. (Law)
Defn: A counter-statement of facts in a course of pleadings; a
confutation of what the other party has alleged; a responsive
declaration by a witness in reply to a question. In Equity, it is the
usual form of defense to the complainant's charges in his bill.
Bouvier.
Syn.
-- Reply; rejoinder; response. See Reply.
ANSWERABLE
An"swer*a*ble, a.
1. Obliged to answer; liable to be called to account; liable to pay,
indemnify, or make good; accountable; amenable; responsible; as, an
agent is answerable to his principal; to be answerable for a debt, or
for damages.
Will any man argue that . . . he can not be justly punished, but is
answerable only to God Swift.
2. Capable of being answered or refuted; admitting a satisfactory
answer.
The argument, though subtle, is yet answerable. Johnson.
3. Correspondent; conformable; hence, comparable.
What wit and policy of man is answerable to their discreet and
orderly course Holland.
This revelation . . . was answerable to that of the apostle to the
Thessalonians. Milton.
4. Proportionate; commensurate; suitable; as, an achievement
answerable to the preparation for it.
5. Equal; equivalent; adequate. [Archaic]
Had the valor of his soldiers been answerable, he had reached that
year, as was thought, the utmost bounds of Britain. Milton.
ANSWERABLENESS
An"swer*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being answerable, liable, responsible, or
correspondent.
ANSWERABLY
An"swer*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an answerable manner; in due proportion or correspondence;
suitably.
ANSWERER
An"swer*er, n.
Defn: One who answers.
ANSWERLESS
An"swer*less, a.
Defn: Having no answer, or impossible to be answered. Byron.
AN 'T
An 't.
Defn: An it, that is, and it or if it. See An, conj. [Obs.]
AN'T
An't.
Defn: A contraction for are and am not; also used for is not; -- now
usually written ain't. [Colloq. & illiterate speech.]
ANT-
Ant-.
Defn: See Anti-, prefix.
-ANT
-ant. Etym: [F. -ant, fr. L. -antem or -entem, the pr. p. ending;
also sometimes directly from L. -antem.]
Defn: A suffix sometimes marking the agent for action; as, merchant,
covenant, servant, pleasant, etc. Cf. -ent.
ANT
Ant, n. Etym: [OE. ante, amete, emete, AS. æmete akin to G. ameise.
Cf. Emmet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hymenopterous insect of the Linnæan genus Formica, which is
now made a family of several genera; an emmet; a pismire.
Note: Among ants, as among bees, there are neuter or working ants,
besides the males and females; the former are without wings. Ants
live together in swarms, usually raising hillocks of earth, variously
chambered within, where they maintain a perfect system of order,
store their provisions, and nurture their young. There are many
species, with diverse habits, as agricultural ants, carpenter ants,
honey ants, foraging ants, amazon ants, etc. The white ants or
Termites belong to the Neuroptera. Ant bird (Zoöl.), one of a very
extensive group of South American birds (Formicariidæ), which live on
ants. The family includes many species, some of which are called ant
shrikes, ant thrushes, and ant wrens.
-- Ant rice (Bot.), a species of grass (Aristida oligantha)
cultivated by the agricultural ants of Texas for the sake of its
seed.
ANTA
An"ta, n.; pl. Antæ. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: A species of pier produced by thickening a wall at its
termination, treated architecturally as a pilaster, with capital and
base.
Note: Porches, when columns stand between two antæ, are called in
Latin in antis.
ANTACID
Ant*ac"id, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + acid.] (Med.)
Defn: A remedy for acidity of the stomach, as an alkali or absorbent.
-- a.
Defn: Counteractive of acidity.
ANTACRID
Ant*ac"rid, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + acrid.]
Defn: Corrective of acrimony of the humors.
ANTAEAN
An*tæ"an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Antæus, a giant athlete slain by Hercules.
ANTAGONISM
An*tag"o*nism, n. Etym: [Gr. antagonisme. See Agony.]
Defn: Opposition of action; counteraction or contrariety of things or
principles.
Note: We speak of antagonism between two things, to or against a
thing, and sometimes with a thing.
ANTAGONIST
An*tag"o*nist, n. Etym: [L. antagonista, Gr. antagoniste. See
Antagonism.]
1. One who contends with another, especially in combat; an adversary;
an opponent.
Antagonist of Heaven's Almigthy King. Milton.
Our antagonists in these controversies. Hooker.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which acts in opposition to another; as a flexor,
which bends a part, is the antagonist of an extensor, which extends
it.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine which opposes the action of another medicine or of a
poison when absorbed into the blood or tissues.
Syn.
-- Adversary; enemy; opponent; toe; competitor. See Adversary.
ANTAGONIST
An*tag"o*nist, a.
Defn: Antagonistic; opposing; counteracting; as, antagonist schools
of philosophy.
ANTAGONISTIC; ANTAGONISTICAL
An*tag`o*nis"tic, An*tag`o*nis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Opposing in combat, combating; contending or acting against;
as, antagonistic forces.
-- An*tag`o*nis"tic*al*ly, adv.
They were distinct, adverse, even antagonistic. Milman.
ANTAGONIZE
An*tag"o*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Antagonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Antagonozing.] Etym: [Gr. Antagonism.]
Defn: To contend with; to oppose actively; to counteract.
ANTAGONIZE
An*tag"o*nize, v. i.
Defn: To act in opposition.
ANTAGONY
An*tag"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. antagonie. See Antagonism.]
Defn: Contest; opposition; antagonism. [Obs.]
Antagony that is between Christ and Belial. Milton.
ANTALGIC
An*tal"gic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. antalgique.] (Med.)
Defn: Alleviating pain.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine to alleviate pain; an anodyne. [R.]
ANTALKALI; ANTALKALINE
Ant*al"ka*li, Ant*al"ka*line, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + alkali.]
Defn: Anything that neutralizes, or that counteracts an alkaline
tendency in the system. Hoopplw.
ANTALKALINE
Ant*al"ka*line, a.
Defn: Of power to counteract alkalies.
ANTAMBULACRAL
Ant*am`bu*la"cral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Away from the ambulacral region.
ANTANACLASIS
Ant`an*a*cla"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. Anaclastic.] (Rhet.)
(a) A figure which consists in repeating the same word in a different
sense; as, Learn some craft when young, that when old you may live
without craft.
(b) A repetition of words beginning a sentence, after a long
parenthesis; as, Shall that heart (which not only feels them, but
which has all motions of life placed in them), shall that heart, etc.
ANTANAGOGE
Ant`an*a*go"ge, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + anagoge.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure which consists in answering the charge of an
adversary, by a counter charge.
ANTAPHRODISIAC
Ant`aph*ro*dis"i*ac, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + aphrodisiac.] (Med.)
Defn: Capable of blunting the venereal appetite.
-- n.
Defn: Anything that quells the venereal appetite.
ANTAPHRODITIC
Ant`aph*ro*dit"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. antaphroditique.]
(Med.)
1. Antaphrodisiac.
2. Antisyphilitic. [R.]
ANTAPHRODITIC
Ant`aph*ro*dit"ic, n.
Defn: An antaphroditic medicine.
ANTAPOPLECTIC
Ant`ap*o*plec"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + apoplectic.] (Med.)
Defn: Good against apoplexy.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine used against apoplexy.
ANTARCHISM
Ant*ar"chism, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr.
Defn: Opposition to government in general. [R.]
ANTARCHIST
Ant*ar"chist, n.
Defn: One who opposes all government. [R.]
ANTARCHISTIC; ANTARCHISTICAL
Ant`ar*chis"tic, Ant`ar*chis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Opposed to all human government. [R.]
ANTARCTIC
Ant*arc"tic, a. Etym: [OE. antartik, OF. antartique, F. antarctique,
L. antarcticus, fr. Gr. Arctic.]
Defn: Opposite to the northern or arctic pole; relating to the
southern pole or to the region near it, and applied especially to a
circle, distant from the pole 23º 28min. Thus we say the antarctic
pole, circle, ocean, region, current, etc.
ANTARES
An*ta"res, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The principal star in Scorpio: -- called also the Scorpion's
Heart.
ANTARTHRITIC
Ant`ar*thrit"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + arthritic.] (Med.)
Counteracting or alleviating gout.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy against gout.
ANTASTHMATIC
Ant`asth*mat"ic ( or ; see Asthma; 277), a. Etym: [Pref. anti- +
asthmatic.] (Med.)
Defn: Opposing, or fitted to relieve, asthma.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for asthma.
ANT-BEAR
Ant"-bear`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edentate animal of tropical America (the Tamanoir), living
on ants. It belongs to the genus Myrmecophaga.
ANT BIRD
Ant" bird, (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ant bird, under Ant, n.
ANT-CATTLE
Ant"-cat`tle, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Various kinds of plant lice or aphids tended by ants for the
sake of the honeydew which they secrete. See Aphips.
ANT COW
Ant cow. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any aphid from which ants obtain honeydew.
ANTE-
An"te-.
Defn: A Latin preposition and prefix; akin to Gr. anti, Goth. and-,
anda- (only in comp.), AS. and-, ond-, (only in comp.: cf. Answer,
Along), G. ant-, ent- (in comp.). The Latin ante is generally used in
the sense of before, in regard to position, order, or time, and the
Gr. opposite, or in the place of.
ANTE
An"te, n. (Poker Playing)
Defn: Each player's stake, which is put into the pool before (ante)
the game begins.
ANTE
An"te, v. t. & i.
Defn: To put up (an ante).
ANTEACT
An"te*act`, n.
Defn: A preceding act.
ANTEAL
An"te*al, a. Etym: [antea, ante, before. Cf. Ancient.]
Defn: Being before, or in front. [R.] J. Fleming.
ANT-EATER
Ant"-eat`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several species of edentates and monotremes that feed
upon ants. See Ant-bear, Pangolin, Aard-vark, and Echidna.
ANTECEDANEOUS
An`te*ce*da"ne*ous, a. Etym: [See Antecede.]
Defn: Antecedent; preceding in time. "Capable of antecedaneous
proof." Barrow.
ANTECEDE
An`te*cede", v. t. & i. Etym: [L. antecedere; ante + cedere to go.
See Cede.]
Defn: To go before in time or place; to precede; to surpass. Sir M.
Hale.
ANTECEDENCE
An`te*ced"ence, n.
1. The act or state of going before in time; precedence. H. Spenser.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: An apparent motion of a planet toward the west; retrogradation.
ANTECEDENCY
An`te*ced"en*cy, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being antecedent; priority.
Fothherby.
ANTECEDENT
An`te*ced"ent, a. Etym: [L. antecedens, -entis, p. pr. of antecedere:
cf. F. antécédent.]
1. Going before in time; prior; anterior; preceding; as, an event
antecedent to the Deluge; an antecedent cause.
2. Presumptive; as, an antecedent improbability.
Syn.
-- Prior; previous; foregoing.
ANTECEDENT
An`te*ced"ent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. antécédent.]
1. That which goes before in time; that which precedes. South.
The Homeric mythology, as well as the Homeric language, has surely
its antecedents. Max Miller.
2. One who precedes or goes in front. [Obs.]
My antecedent, or my gentleman usher. Massinger.
3. pl.
Defn: The earlier events of one's life; previous principles, conduct,
course, history. J. H. Newman.
If the troops . . . prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is
surely ours. Gen. G. McClellan.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: The noun to which a relative refers; as, in the sentence
"Solomon was the prince who built the temple," prince is the
antecedent of who.
5. (Logic)
(a) The first or conditional part of a hypothetical proposition; as,
If the earth is fixed, the sun must move.
(b) The first of the two propositions which constitute an enthymeme
or contracted syllogism; as, Every man is mortal; therefore the king
must die.
6. (Math.)
Defn: The first of the two terms of a ratio; the first or third of
the four terms of a proportion. In the ratio a:b, a is the
antecedent, and b the consequent.
ANTECEDENTLY
An`te*ced"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: Previously; before in time; at a time preceding; as,
antecedently to conversion. Barrow.
ANTECESSOR
An`te*ces"sor, n. Etym: [L., fr. antecedere, antecessum. See
Antecede, Ancestor.]
1. One who goes before; a predecessor.
The successor seldom prosecuting his antecessor's devices. Sir E.
Sandys.
2. An ancestor; a progenitor. [Obs.]
ANTECHAMBER
An"te*cham`ber, n. Etym: [Cf. F. antichambre.]
1. A chamber or apartment before the chief apartment and leading into
it, in which persons wait for audience; an outer chamber. See Lobby.
2. A space viewed as the outer chamber or the entrance to an interior
part.
The mouth, the antechamber to the digestive canal. Todd & Bowman.
ANTECHAPEL
An"te*chap`el, n.
Defn: The outer part of the west end of a collegiate or other chapel.
Shipley.
ANTECHOIR
An"te*choir`, n. (Arch.)
(a) A space inclosed or reserved at the entrance to the choir, for
the clergy and choristers.
(b) Where a choir is divided, as in some Spanish churches, that
division of it which is the farther from the sanctuary.
ANTECIANS
An*te"cians, n. pl.
Defn: See Ant.
ANTECOMMUNION
An`te*com*mun"ion, n.
Defn: A name given to that part of the Anglican liturgy for the
communion, which precedes the consecration of the elements.
ANTECURSOR
An`te*cur"sor, n. Etym: [L., fr. antecurrere to run before; ante +
currere to run.]
Defn: A forerunner; a precursor. [Obs.]
ANTEDATE
An"te*date`, n.
1. Prior date; a date antecedent to another which is the actual date.
2. Anticipation. [Obs.] Donne.
ANTEDATE
An"te*date`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Antedated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Antedating.]
1. To date before the true time; to assign to an earlier date; thus,
to antedate a deed or a bond is to give it a date anterior to the
true time of its execution.
2. To precede in time.
3. To anticipate; to make before the true time.
And antedate the bliss above. Pope.
Who rather rose the day to antedate. Wordsworth.
ANTEDILUVIAL
An`te*di*lu"vi*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ante- + diluvial.]
Defn: Before the flood, or Deluge, in Noah's time.
ANTEDILUVIAN
An`te*di*lu"vi*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the period before the Deluge in Noah's time;
hence, antiquated; as, an antediluvian vehicle.
-- n.
Defn: One who lived before the Deluge.
ANTEFACT
An"te*fact`, n.
Defn: Something done before another act. [Obs.]
ANTEFIX
An"te*fix`, n.; pl. E. Antefixes; L. Antefixa. Etym: [L. ante + fixus
fixed.] (Arch.)
(a) An ornament fixed upon a frieze.
(b) An ornament at the eaves, concealing the ends of the joint tiles
of the roof.
(c) An ornament of the cymatium of a classic cornice, sometimes
pierced for the escape of water.
ANTEFLEXION
An`te*flex"ion, n. (Med.)
Defn: A displacement forward of an organ, esp. the uterus, in such
manner that its axis is bent upon itself. T. G. Thomas.
ANT EGG
Ant" egg`.
Defn: One of the small white egg-shaped pupæ or cocoons of the ant,
often seen in or about ant-hills, and popularly supposed to be eggs.
ANTELOPE
An"te*lope, n. Etym: [OF. antelop, F. antilope, fro Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of ruminant quadrupeds, intermediate between the
deer and the goat. The horns are usually annulated, or ringed. There
are many species in Africa and Asia.
The antelope and wolf both fierce and fell. Spenser.
Note: The common or bezoar antelope of India is Antilope bezoartica.
The chamois of the Alps, the gazelle, the addax, and the eland are
other species. See Gazelle. The pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra
Americana) is found in the Rocky Mountains. See Pronghorn.
ANTELUCAN
An`te*lu"can, a. Etym: [L. antelucanus; ante + lux light.]
Defn: Held or being before light; -- a word applied to assemblies of
Christians, in ancient times of persecution, held before light in the
morning. "Antelucan worship." De Quincey.
ANTEMERIDIAN
An`te*me*rid"i*an, a. Etym: [L. antemeridianus; ante + meridianus
belonging to midday or noon. See Meridian.]
Defn: Being before noon; in or pertaining to the forenoon. (Abbrev.
a. m.)
ANTEMETIC
Ant`e*met"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + emetic.] (Med.)
Defn: Tending to check vomiting.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy to check or allay vomiting.
ANTE MORTEM
An`te mor"tem. [L.]
Defn: Before death; -- generally used adjectivelly; as, an ante-
mortem statement; ante-mortem examination.
The ante-mortem statement, or dying declaration made in view of
death, by one injured, as to the cause and manner of the injury, is
often receivable in evidence against one charged with causing the
death.
ANTEMOSAIC
An`te*mo*sa"ic, a.
Defn: Being before the time of Moses.
ANTEMUNDANE
An`te*mun"dane, a.
Defn: Being or occurring before the creation of the world. Young.
ANTEMURAL
An`te*mu"ral, n. Etym: [L. antemurale: ante + murus wall. See Mural.]
Defn: An outwork of a strong, high wall, with turrets, in front
gateway (as of an old castle), for defending the entrance.
ANTENATAL
An`te*na"tal, a.
Defn: Before birth. Shelley.
ANTENICENE
An`te*ni"cene, a. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Of or in the Christian church or era, anterior to the first
council of Nice, held a. d. 325; as, antenicene faith.
ANTENNA
An*ten"na, n.; pl. Antennæ. Etym: [L. antenna sail-yard; NL., a
feeler, horn of an insect.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A movable, articulated organ of sensation, attached to the
heads of insects and Crustacea. There are two in the former, and
usually four in the latter. They are used as organs of touch, and in
some species of Crustacea the cavity of the ear is situated near the
basal joint. In insects, they are popularly called horns, and also
feelers. The term in also applied to similar organs on the heads of
other arthropods and of annelids.
ANTENNAL
An*ten"nal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the antennæ. Owen.
ANTENNIFEROUS
An`ten*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Antenna + -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing or having antennæ.
ANTENNIFORM
An*ten"ni*form, a. Etym: [Antenna + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like antennæ.
ANTENNULE
An*ten"nule, n. Etym: [Dim. of antenna.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small antenna; -- applied to the smaller pair of antennæ or
feelers of Crustacea.
ANTENUMBER
An`te*num"ber, n.
Defn: A number that precedes another. [R.] Bacon.
ANTENUPTIAL
An`te*nup"tial, a.
Defn: Preceding marriage; as, an antenuptial agreement. Kent.
ANTEORBITAL
An`te*or"bit*al, a. & n. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Antorbital.
ANTEPASCHAL
An`te*pas"chal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the time before the Passover, or before Easter.
ANTEPAST
An"te*past, n. Etym: [Pref. ante- + L. pastus pasture, food. Cf.
Repast.]
Defn: A foretaste.
Antepasts of joy and comforts. Jer. Taylor.
ANTEPENDIUM
An`te*pen"di*um, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. ante + pendere to hang.]
(Eccl.)
Defn: The hangings or screen in front of the altar; an altar cloth;
the frontal. Smollett.
ANTEPENULT; ANTEPENULTIMA
An`te*pe"nult, An`te*pe*nult"i*ma, n. Etym: [L. antepaenultima (sc.
syllaba) antepenultimate; ante before + paenultimus the last but one;
paene almost + ultimus last.] (Pros.)
Defn: The last syllable of a word except two, as -syl in
monosyllable.
ANTEPENULTIMATE
An`te*pe*nult"i*mate, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the last syllable but two.
-- n.
Defn: The antepenult.
ANTEPHIALTIC
Ant`eph*i*al"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Good against nightmare.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy nightmare. Dunglison.
ANTEPILEPTIC
Ant`ep*i*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + epileptic.] (Med.)
Defn: Good against epilepsy.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for epilepsy.
ANTEPONE
An"te*pone, v. t. Etym: [L. anteponere.]
Defn: To put before; to prefer. [Obs.] Bailey.
ANTEPORT
An"te*port, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. anteporta.]
Defn: An outer port, gate, or door.
ANTEPORTICO
An`te*por"ti*co, n.
Defn: An outer porch or vestibule.
ANTEPOSITION
An`te*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. antepositio. See Position.]
(Gram.)
Defn: The placing of a before another, which, by ordinary rules,
ought to follow it.
ANTEPRANDIAL
An`te*pran"di*al, a.
Defn: Preceding dinner.
ANTEPREDICAMENT
An`te*pre*dic"a*ment, n. (Logic)
Defn: A prerequisite to a clear understanding of the predicaments and
categories, such as definitions of common terms. Chambers.
ANTERIOR
An*te"ri*or, a. Etym: [L. anterior, comp. of ante before.]
1. Before in time; antecedent.
Antigonus, who was anterior to Polybius. Sir G. C. Lewis.
2. Before, or toward the front, in place; as, the anterior part of
the mouth; -- opposed to posterior.
Note: In comparative anatomy, anterior often signifies at or toward
the head, cephalic; and in human anatomy it is often used for
ventral.
Syn.
-- Antecedent; previous; precedent; preceding; former; foregoing.
ANTERIORITY
An*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. anterioritas.]
Defn: The state of being anterior or preceding in time or in
situation; priority. Pope.
ANTERIORLY
An*te"ri*or*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anterior manner; before.
ANTERO-
An"te*ro-.
Defn: A combining form meaning anterior, front; as, antero-posterior,
front and back; antero-lateral, front side, anterior and at the side.
ANTEROOM
An"te*room, n.
Defn: A room before, or forming an entrance to, another; a waiting
room.
ANTES; ANTAE
An"tes, n. pl. Antæ.
Defn: See Anta.
ANTESTATURE
An`te*stat"ure, n. (Fort.)
Defn: A small intrenchment or work of palisades, or of sacks of
earth.
ANTESTOMACH
An"te*stom`ach, n.
Defn: A cavity which leads into the stomach, as in birds. Ray.
ANTETEMPLE
An"te*tem`ple, n.
Defn: The portico, or narthex in an ancient temple or church.
ANTEVERSION
An`te*ver"sion, n. Etym: [Pref. ante- + L. vertere, versum, to turn.]
(Med.)
Defn: A displacement of an organ, esp. of the uterus, in such manner
that its whole axis is directed further forward than usual.
ANTEVERT
An`te*vert", v. t. Etym: [L. antevertere; ante + vertere to turn.]
1. To prevent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To displace by anteversion.
ANTHELION
Ant*hel"ion, n.; pl. Anthelia. Etym: [Pref. anti + Gr. (Meteor.)
Defn: A halo opposite the sun, consisting of a colored ring or rings
around the shadow of the spectator's own head, as projected on a
cloud or on an opposite fog bank.
ANTHELIX
Ant"he*lix, n. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Antihelix.
ANTHELMINTIC
An"thel*min"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Good against intestinal worms.
-- An anthelmintic remedy. [Written also anthelminthic.]
ANTHEM
An"them, n. Etym: [OE. antym, antefne, AS. antefen, fr. LL.
antiphona, fr. Gr. anthaine, anteine, antieune, F. antienne. See
Antiphon.]
1. Formerly, a hymn sung in alternate parts, in present usage, a
selection from the Psalms, or other parts of the Scriptures or the
liturgy, set to sacred music.
2. A song or hymn of praise. Milton.
ANTHEM
An"them, v. t.
Defn: To celebrate with anthems. [Poet.]
Sweet birds antheming the morn. Keats.
ANTHEMION
An*the"mi*on, Etym: [ fr. Gr.
Defn: A floral ornament. See Palmette.
ANTHEMIS
An"the*mis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Chamomile; a genus of composite, herbaceous plants.
ANTHEMWISE
An"them*wise`, adv.
Defn: Alternately. [Obs.] Bacon.
ANTHER
An"ther, n. Etym: [F. anthère, L. anthera a medicine composed of
flowers, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: That part of the stamen containing the pollen, or fertilizing
dust, which, when mature, is emitted for the impregnation of the
ovary.
-- An"ther*al, a.
ANTHERIDIUM
An`ther*id"i*um, n.; pl. Anthplwidia. Etym: [Anther + (Bot.)
Defn: The male reproductive apparatus in the lower, consisting of a
cell or other cavity in which spermatozoids are produced; -- called
also spermary.
-- An`ther*id"i*al, a.
ANTHERIFEROUS
An`ther*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Anther + -ferous.] (Bot.)
(a) Producing anthers, as plants.
(b) Supporting anthers, as a part of a flower. Gray.
ANTHERIFORM
An*ther"i*form, a. Etym: [Anther + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like an anther; anther-shaped.
ANTHEROGENOUS
An`ther*og"e*nous, a. Etym: [Anther + -genous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Transformed from anthers, as the petals of a double flower.
ANTHEROID
An"ther*oid, a. Etym: [Anther + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling an anther.
ANTHEROZOID; ANTHEROZOOID
An`ther*o*zoid, An`ther*o*zoo"id, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid. See Zooid.]
(Bot.)
Defn: One of the mobile male reproductive bodies in the antheridia of
cryptogams.
ANTHESIS
An*the"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The period or state of full expansion in a flower. Gray.
ANT-HILL
Ant"-hill, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mound thrown up by ants or by termites in forming their
nests.
ANTHOBIAN
An*tho"bi*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beetle which feeds on flowers.
ANTHOBRANCHIA
An`tho*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of nudibranchiate Mollusca, in which the gills form
a wreath or cluster upon the posterior part of the back. See
Nudibranchiata, and Doris.
ANTHOCARPOUS
An`tho*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having some portion of the floral envelopes attached to the
pericarp to form the fruit, as in the checkerberry, the mulberry, and
the pineapple.
ANTHOCYANIN
An`tho*cy"a*nin, n.
Defn: Same as Anthokyan.
ANTHODIUM
An*tho"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The inflorescence of a compound flower in which many florets
are gathered into a involucrate head.
ANTHOGRAPHY
An*thog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A description of flowers.
ANTHOID
An"thoid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling a flower; flowerlike.
ANTHOKYAN
An`tho*ky"an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The blue coloring matter of certain flowers. Same as Cyanin.
ANTHOLITE
An"tho*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil plant, like a petrified flower.
ANTHOLOGICAL
An`tho*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to anthology; consisting of beautiful extracts from
different authors, especially the poets.
He published a geographical and anthological description of all
empires and kingdoms . . . in this terrestrial globe. Wood.
ANTHOLOGIST
An*thol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who compiles an anthology.
ANTHOLOGY
An*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A discourses on flowers. [R.]
2. A collection of flowers; a garland. [R.]
3. A collection of flowers of literature, that is, beautiful passages
from authors; a collection of poems or epigrams; -- particularly
applied to a collection of ancient Greek epigrams.
4. (Gr. Ch.)
Defn: A service book containing a selection of pieces for the
festival services.
ANTHOMANIA
An`tho*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A extravagant fondness for flowers. [R.]
ANTHONY'S FIRE
An"tho*ny's Fire`.
Defn: See Saint Anthony's Fire, under Saint.
ANTHOPHAGOUS
An*thoph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Eating flowers; -- said of certain insects.
ANTHOPHILOUS
An*thoph"i*lous, a. [Gr. 'a`nqos flower + fi`los loving.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Lit., fond of flowers; hence, feeding upon, or living among,
flowers.
ANTHOPHORE
An"tho*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The stipe when developed into an internode between calyx and
corolla, as in the Pink family. Gray.
ANTHOPHOROUS
An*thoph"o*rous, a.
Defn: Flower bearing; supporting the flower.
ANTHOPHYLLITE
An*thoph"yl*lite, n. Etym: [NL. anthophyllum clove.]
Defn: A mineral of the hornblende group, of a yellowish gray or clove
brown color.
-- An`tho*phyl*lit"ic, a.
ANTHORISM
An"tho*rism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A description or definition contrary to that which is given by
the adverse party. [R.]
ANTHOTAXY
An"tho*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The arrangement of flowers in a cluster; the science of the
relative position of flowers; inflorescence.
ANTHOZOA
An`tho*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The class of the Coelenterata which includes the corals and sea
anemones. The three principal groups or orders are Acyonaria,
Actinaria, and Madreporaria.
ANTHOZOAN
An`tho*zo"an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Anthozoa.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Anthozoa.
ANTHOZOIC
An"tho*zo"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Anthozoa.
ANTHRACENE
An"thra*cene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A solid hydrocarbon, C6H4.C2H2.C6H4, which accompanies
naphthalene in the last stages of the distillation of coal tar. Its
chief use is in the artificial production of alizarin. [Written also
anthracin.]
ANTHRACENE OIL
An"thra*cene oil.
Defn: A heavy green oil (partially solidifying on cooling), which
distills over from coal tar at a temperature above 270º. It is the
principal source of anthracene.
ANTHRACIC
An*thrac"ic, a.
Defn: Of or relating to anthrax; as, anthracic blood.
ANTHRACIFEROUS
An`thra*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Min.)
Defn: Yielding anthracite; as, anthraciferous strata.
ANTHRACITE
An"thra*cite, n. Etym: [L. anthracites a kind of bloodstone; fr. Gr.
Anthrax.]
Defn: A hard, compact variety of mineral coal, of high luster,
differing from bituminous coal in containing little or no bitumen, in
consequence of which it burns with a nearly non luminous flame. The
purer specimens consist almost wholly of carbon. Also called glance
coal and blind coal.
ANTHRACITIC
An"thra*cit"ic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, anthracite; as, anthracitic
formations.
ANTHRACNOSE
An*thrac"nose`, n. [Gr. , , carbuncle + disease.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any one of several fungus diseases, caused by parasitic species
of the series Melanconiales, attacking the bean, grape, melon,
cotton, and other plants. In the case of the grape, brown concave
spots are formed on the stem and fruit, and the disease is called
bird's-eye rot.
ANTHRACOID
An"thra*coid, a. Etym: [Anthrax + -oid.] (Biol.)
Defn: Resembling anthrax in action; of the nature of anthrax; as, an
anthracoid microbe.
ANTHRACOMANCY
An"thra*co*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by inspecting a burning coal.
ANTHRACOMETER
An`thra*com"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the amount of carbonic acid in a
mixture.
ANTHRACOMETRIC
An`thra*co*met"ric, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an anthracometer.
ANTHRACONITE
An*thra"co*nite, n. Etym: [See Anthracite.] (Min.)
Defn: A coal-black marble, usually emitting a fetid smell when
rubbed; -- called also stinkstone and swinestone.
ANTHRACOSIS
An`thra*co"sis, n. [NL. See Anthrax.] (Med.)
Defn: A chronic lung disease, common among coal miners, due to the
inhalation of coal dust; -- called also collier's lung and miner's
phthisis.
ANTHRAQUINONE
An`thra*qui"none, n. Etym: [Anthracene + quinone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon, C6H4.C2O2.C6H4, subliming in shining yellow
needles. It is obtained by oxidation of anthracene.
ANTHRAX
An"thrax, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
(a) A carbuncle.
(b) A malignant pustule.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A microscopic, bacterial organism (Bacillus anthracis),
resembling transparent rods. [See Illust. under Bacillus.]
3. An infectious disease of cattle and sheep. It is ascribed to the
presence of a rod-shaped bacterium (Bacillus anthracis), the spores
of which constitute the contagious matter. It may be transmitted to
man by inoculation. The spleen becomes greatly enlarged and filled
with bacteria. Called also splenic fever.
ANTHRAX VACCINE
An"thrax vac"cine. (Veter.)
Defn: A fluid vaccine obtained by growing a bacterium (Bacterium
anthracis) in beef broth. It is used to immunize animals, esp.
cattle.
ANTHRENUS
An*thre"nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small beetles, several of which, in the larval
state, are very destructive to woolen goods, fur, etc. The common
"museum pest" is A. varius; the carpet beetle is A. scrophulariæ. The
larvæ are commonly confounded with moths.
ANTHROPIC; ANTHROPICAL
An*throp"ic, An*throp"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or related to man; human. [R.] Owen.
ANTHROPIDAE
An*throp"i*dæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group that includes man only.
ANTHROPOCENTRIC
An`thro*po*cen"tric, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Assuming man as the center or ultimate end; -- applied to
theories of the universe or of any part of it, as the solar system.
Draper.
ANTHROPOGENIC
An`thro*po*gen"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anthropogeny.
ANTHROPOGENY
An`thro*pog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science or study of human generation, or the origin and
development of man.
ANTHROPOGEOGRAPHY
An`thro*po*ge*og"ra*phy, n. [Gr. man + geography.]
Defn: The science of the human species as to geographical
distribution and environment. Broadly, it includes industrial,
commercial, and political geography, and that part of ethnology which
deals with distribution and physical environment. --
An`thro*po*ge*og"ra*pher (#), n. -- An`thro*po*ge`o*graph"ic*al (#),
a.
ANTHROPOGLOT
An*throp"o*glot, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal which has a tongue resembling that of man, as the
parrot.
ANTHROPOGRAPHY
An`thro*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: That branch of anthropology which treats of the actual
distribution of the human race in its different divisions, as
distinguished by physical character, language, institutions, and
customs, in contradistinction to ethnography, which treats
historically of the origin and filiation of races and nations. P.
Cyc.
ANTHROPOID
An"thro*poid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling man; -- applied especially to certain apes, as the
ourang or gorilla.
-- n.
Defn: An anthropoid ape.
ANTHROPOIDAL
An`thro*poid"al, a.
Defn: Anthropoid.
ANTHROPOIDEA
An`thro*poid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Anthropoid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The suborder of primates which includes the monkeys, apes, and
man.
ANTHROPOLATRY
An`thro*pol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Man worship.
ANTHROPOLITE
An*throp"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A petrifaction of the human body, or of any portion of it.
ANTHROPOLOGIC; ANTHROPOLOGICAL
An`thro*po*log"ic, An`thro*po*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to anthropology; belonging to the nature of man.
"Anthropologic wisdom." Kingsley.
-- An`thro*po*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANTHROPOLOGIST
An`thro*pol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in anthropology.
ANTHROPOLOGY
An`thro*pol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
1. The science of the structure and functions of the human body.
2. The science of man; -- sometimes used in a limited sense to mean
the study of man as an object of natural history, or as an animal.
3. That manner of expression by which the inspired writers attribute
human parts and passions to God.
ANTHROPOMANCY
An"thro*po*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by the entrails of human being.
ANTHROPOMETRIC; ANTHROPOMETRICAL
An`thro*po*met"ric, An`thro*po*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to anthropometry.
ANTHROPOMETRY
An`thro*pom"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -mercy.]
Defn: Measurement of the height and other dimensions of human beings,
especially at different ages, or in different races, occupations,
etc. Dunglison.
ANTHROPOMORPHA
An`thro*po*mor"pha, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Anthropomorphism.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The manlike, or anthropoid, apes.
ANTHROPOMORPHIC
An`thro*po*mor"phic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anthromorphism. Hadley.
-- An`thro*po*mor"phic*al*ly, adv.
ANTHROPOMORPHISM
An`thro*po*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. The representation of the Deity, or of a polytheistic deity, under
a human form, or with human attributes and affections.
2. The ascription of human characteristics to things not human.
ANTHROPOMORPHIST
An`thro*po*mor"phist, n.
Defn: One who attributes the human form or other human attributes to
the Deity or to anything not human.
ANTHROPOMORPHITE
An`thro*po*mor"phite, n.
Defn: One who ascribes a human form or human attributes to the Deity
or to a polytheistic deity. Taylor. Specifically, one of a sect of
ancient heretics who believed that God has a human form, etc.
Tillotson.
ANTHROPOMORPHITIC
An`thro*po*mor*phit"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: to anthropomorphism. Kitto.
ANTHROPOMORPHITISM
An`thro*po*mor"phi*tism, n.
Defn: Anthropomorphism. Wordsworth.
ANTHROPOMORPHIZE
An`thro*po*mor"phize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To attribute a human form or personality to.
You may see imaginative children every day anthropomorphizing.
Lowell.
ANTHROPOMORPHOLOGY
An`thro*po*mor*phol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy. See Anthropomorphism.]
Defn: The application to God of terms descriptive of human beings.
ANTHROPOMORPHOSIS
An`thro*po*mor"pho*sis, n.
Defn: Transformation into the form of a human being.
ANTHROPOMORPHOUS
An`thro*po*mor"phous, a.
Defn: Having the figure of, or resemblance to, a man; as, an
anthromorphous plant. "Anthromorphous apes." Darwin.
ANTHROPONOMICS; ANTHROPONOMY
An`thro*po*nom"ics, An`thro*pon"o*my, n. [Gr. man + usage, law,
rule.]
Defn: The science of the laws of the development of the human
organism in relation to other organisms and to environment. --
An`thro*po*nom"ic*al (#), a.
ANTHROPOPATHIC; ANTHROPOPATHICAL
An`thro*po*path"ic, An`thro*po*path"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to anthropopathy. [R.] --
An`thro*po*path"ic*al*ly, adv.
The daring anthropopathic imagery by which the prophets often
represent God as chiding, upbraiding, threatening. H. Rogers.
ANTHROPOPATHISM; ANTHROPOPATHY
An`thro*pop"a*thism, An`thro*pop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The ascription of human feelings or passions to God, or to a
polytheistic deity.
In its recoil from the gross anthropopathy of the vulgar notions, it
falls into the vacuum of absolute apathy. Hare.
ANTHROPOPATHITE
An`thro*pop"a*thite, n.
Defn: One who ascribes human feelings to deity.
ANTHROPOPHAGI
An`thro*poph"a*gi, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: Man eaters; cannibals. Shak.
ANTHROPOPHAGIC; ANTHROPOPHAGICAL
An`thro*po*phag"ic, An`thro*po*phag"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to cannibalism or anthropophagy.
ANTHROPOPHAGINIAN
An`thro*poph`a*gin"i*an, n.
Defn: One who east human flesh. [Ludicrous] Shak.
ANTHROPOPHAGITE
An`thro*poph"a*gite, n.
Defn: A cannibal. W. Taylor.
ANTHROPOPHAGOUS
An`thro*poph"a*gous, a.
Defn: Feeding on human flesh; cannibal.
ANTHROPOPHAGY
An`thro*poph"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The eating of human flesh; cannibalism.
ANTHROPOPHUISM
An"thro*poph"u*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Human nature. [R.] Gladstone.
ANTHROPOSCOPY
An`thro*pos"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy.]
Defn: The art of discovering or judging of a man's character,
passions. and inclinations from a study of his visible features. [R.]
ANTHROPOSOPHY
An`thro*pos"o*phy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Knowledge of the nature of man; hence, human wisdom.
ANTHROPOTOMICAL
An`thro*po*tom"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to anthropotomy, or the dissection of human bodies.
ANTHROPOTOMIST
An`thro*pot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in anthropotomy, or human anatomy.
ANTHROPOTOMY
An`thro*pot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The anatomy or dissection of the human body; androtomy. Owen.
ANTHYPNOTIC
Ant`hyp*not"ic.
Defn: See Antihypnotic.
ANTHYPOCHONDRIAC
Ant`hyp*o*chon"dri*ac, a. & n.
Defn: See Antihypochondriac.
ANTHYSTERIC
Ant`hys*ter"ic, a. & n.
Defn: See Antihysteric.
ANTI
An"ti. Etym: [Gr. Ante.]
Defn: A prefix meaning against, opposite or opposed to, contrary, or
in place of; -- used in composition in many English words. It is
often shortened to ant-; as, antacid, antarctic.
ANTIAE
An"ti*æ, n. pl. Etym: [L., forelock.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The two projecting feathered angles of the forehead of some
birds; the frontal points.
ANTIALBUMID
An`ti*al*bu"mid, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + -albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A body formed from albumin by pancreatic and gastric digestion.
It is convertible into antipeptone.
ANTIALBUMOSE
An`ti*al"bu*mose`, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: See Albumose.
ANTI-AMERICAN
An`ti-A*mer"i*can, a.
Defn: Opposed to the Americans, their aims, or interests, or to the
genius of American institutions. Marshall.
ANTIAPHRODISIAC
An`ti*aph`ro*dis"i*ac, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Antaphrodisiac.
ANTIAPOPLECTIC
An`ti*ap`o*plec"tic, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antapoplectic.
ANTIAR
An"ti*ar, n. Etym: [Jav. antjar.]
Defn: A Virulent poison prepared in Java from the gum resin of one
species of the upas tree (Antiaris toxicaria).
ANTIARIN
An`ti*a*rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous principle obtained from antiar. Watts.
ANTIASTHMATIC
An`ti*asth*mat"ic, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Antasthmatic.
ANTIATTRITION
An`ti*at*tri"tion, n.
Defn: Anything to prevent the effects of friction, esp. a compound
lubricant for machinery, etc., often consisting of plumbago, with
some greasy material; antifriction grease.
ANTIBACCHIUS
An`ti*bac*chi"us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Bacchius.] (Pros.)
Defn: A foot of three syllables, the first two long, and the last
short.
ANTIBACTERIAL
An`ti*bac*te"ri*al, a. (Med.)
(a) Inimical to bacteria; -- applied esp. to serum for protection
against bacterial diseases.
(b) Opposed to the bacterial theory of disease.
ANTIBILLOUS
An`ti*bil"lous, a.
Defn: Counteractive of bilious complaints; tending to relieve
biliousness.
ANTIBODY
An"ti*bod`y, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Any of various bodies or substances in the blood which act in
antagonism to harmful foreign bodies, as toxins or the bacteria
producing the toxins. Normal blood serum apparently contains
variousantibodies, and the introduction of toxins or of foreign cells
also results in the development of their specific antibodies.
ANTIBRACHIAL
An`ti*brach"i*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the antibrachium, or forearm.
ANTIBRACHIUM
An`ti*brach"i*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: That part of the fore limb between the brachium and the carpus;
the forearm.
ANTIBROMIC
An`ti*bro"mic, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr.
Defn: An agent that destroys offensive smells; a deodorizer.
ANTIBUBONIC
An`ti*bu*bon"ic, a.
Defn: Good or used against bubonic plague; as, antibubonic serum,
obtained from immunized horses; antibubonic vaccine, a sterilized
bouillon culture of the plague bacillus; antibubonic measures.
ANTIBURGHER
An`ti*burgh"er, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who seceded from the Burghers (1747), deeming it improper
to take the Burgess oath.
ANTIC
An"tic, a. Etym: [The same word as antique; cf. It. antico ancient.
See Antique.]
1. Old; antique. (Zoöl.)
Defn: "Lords of antic fame." Phaer.
2. Odd; fantastic; fanciful; grotesque; ludicrous.
The antic postures of a merry-andrew. Addison.
The Saxons . . . worshiped many idols, barbarous in name, some
monstrous, all antic for shape. Fuller.
ANTIC
An"tic, n.
1. A buffoon or merry-andrew; one that practices odd gesticulations;
the Fool of the old play.
2. An odd imagery, device, or tracery; a fantastic figure.
Woven with antics and wild imagery. Spenser.
3. A grotesque trick; a piece of buffoonery; a caper.
And fraught with antics as the Indian bird That writhes and chatters
in her wiry cage. Wordsworth.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: A grotesque representation. [Obs.]
5. An antimask. [Obs. or R.]
Performed by knights and ladies of his court In nature of an antic.
Ford.
ANTIC
An"tic, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anticked, Antickt.]
Defn: To make appear like a buffoon. [Obs.] Shak.
ANTIC
An"tic, v. i.
Defn: To perform antics.
ANTICATARRHAL
An`ti*ca*tarrh`al, a. (Med.)
Defn: Efficacious against catarrh.
-- n.
Defn: An anticatarrhal remedy.
ANTICATHODE
An`ti*cath"ode, n. (Phys.)
Defn: The part of a vacuum tube opposite the cathode. Upon it the
cathode rays impinge.
ANTICAUSODIC
An`ti*cau*sod"ic, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Anticausotic.
ANTICAUSOTIC
An`ti*cau*sot"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Good against an inflammatory fever.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for such a fever.
ANTICHAMBER
An"ti*cham`ber, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Antechamber.
ANTICHLOR
An"ti*chlor, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + chlorine.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any substance (but especially sodium hyposulphite) used in
removing the excess of chlorine left in paper pulp or stuffs after
bleaching.
ANTICHRIST
An"ti*christ, n. Etym: [L. Antichristus, Gr.
Defn: A denier or opponent of Christ. Specif.: A great antagonist,
person or power, expected to precede Christ's second coming.
ANTICHRISTIAN
An`ti*chris"tian, a.
Defn: Opposed to the Christian religion.
ANTICHRISTIANISM; ANTICHRISTIANITY
An`ti*chris"tian*ism, An`ti*chris*tian"i*ty, n.
Defn: Opposition or contrariety to the Christian religion.
ANTICHRISTIANLY
An`ti*chris"tian*ly, adv.
Defn: In an antichristian manner.
ANTICHRONICAL
An`ti*chron"ic*al, a.
Defn: Deviating from the proper order of time.
-- An`ti*chron"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANTICHRONISM
An*tich"ro*nism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Deviation from the true order of time; anachronism. [R.]
Selden.
ANTICHTHON
An*tich"thon, n.; pl. Antichthones. Etym: [Gr.
1. A hypothetical earth counter to ours, or on the opposite side of
the sun. Grote.
2. pl.
Defn: Inhabitants of opposite hemispheres. Whewell.
ANTICIPANT
An*tic"i*pant, a. Etym: [L. anticipans, p. pr. of anticipare.]
Defn: Anticipating; expectant; -- with of.
Wakening guilt, anticipant of hell. Southey.
ANTICIPATE
An*tic"i*pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Anticipated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Anticipating.] Etym: [L. anticipatus, p. p. of anticipare to
anticipate; ante + capere to make. See Capable.]
1. To be before in doing; to do or take before another; to preclude
or prevent by prior action.
To anticipate and prevent the duke's purpose. R. Hall.
He would probably have died by the hand of the executioner, if indeed
the executioner had not been anticipated by the populace. Macaulay.
2. To take up or introduce beforehand, or before the proper or normal
time; to cause to occur earlier or prematurely; as, the advocate has
anticipated a part of his argument.
3. To foresee (a wish, command, etc.) and do beforehand that which
will be desired.
4. To foretaste or foresee; to have a previous view or impression of;
as, to anticipate the pleasures of a visit; to anticipate the evils
of life.
Syn.
-- To prevent; obviate; preclude; forestall; expect.
-- To Anticipate, Expect. These words, as here compared, agree in
regarding some future event as about to take place. Expect is the
stringer. It supposes some ground or reason in the mind for
considering the event as likely to happen. Anticipate is, literally,
to take beforehand, and here denotes simply to take into the mind as
conception of the future. Hence, to say, "I did not anticipate a
refusal," expresses something less definite and strong than to say, "
did not expect it." Still, anticipate is a convenient word to be
interchanged with expect in cases where the thought will allow.
Good with bad Expect to hear; supernal grace contending With
sinfulness of men. Milton.
I would not anticipate the relish of any happiness, nor feel the
weight of any misery, before it actually arrives. Spectator.
Timid men were anticipating another civil war. Macaulay.
ANTICIPATION
An*tic`i*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. anticipatio: cf. F. anticipation.]
1. The act of anticipating, taking up, placing, or considering
something beforehand, or before the proper time in natural order.
So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery. Shak.
2. Previous view or impression of what is to happen; instinctive
prevision; foretaste; antepast; as, the anticipation of the joys of
heaven.
The happy anticipation of renewed existence in company with the
spirits of the just. Thodey.
3. Hasty notion; intuitive preconception.
Many men give themselves up to the first anticipations of their
minds. Locke.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: The commencing of one or more tones of a chord with or during
the chord preceding, forming a momentary discord.
Syn.
-- Preoccupation; preclusion; foretaste; prelibation; antepast;
pregustation; preconception; expectation; foresight; forethought.
ANTICIPATIVE
An*tic"i*pa*tive, a.
Defn: Anticipating, or containing anticipation. "Anticipative of the
feast to come." Cary.
-- An*tic"i*pa*tive*ly, adv.
ANTICIPATOR
An*tic"i*pa`tor, n.
Defn: One who anticipates.
ANTICIPATORY
An*tic"i*pa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Forecasting; of the nature of anticipation. Owen.
Here is an anticipatory glance of what was to be. J. C. Shairp.
ANTICIVIC
An`ti*civ"ic, n.
Defn: Opposed to citizenship.
ANTICIVISM
An`ti*civ"ism, n.
Defn: Opposition to the body politic of citizens. [Obs.] Carlyle.
ANTICLASTIC
An`ti*clas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- = Gr.
Defn: Having to opposite curvatures, that is, curved longitudinally
in one direction and transversely in the opposite direction, as the
surface of a saddle.
ANTICLIMAX
An`ti*cli"max, n. (Rhet.)
Defn: A sentence in which the ideas fall, or become less important
and striking, at the close; -- the opposite of climax. It produces a
ridiculous effect. Example:
Next comes Dalhousie, the great god of war,
Lieutenant-colonel to the Earl ANTICLINAL
An`ti*cli"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr.
Defn: Inclining or dipping in opposite directions. See Synclinal.
Anticlinal line, Anticlinal axis (Geol.), a line from which strata
dip in opposite directions, as from the ridge of a roof.
-- Anticlinal vertebra (Anat.), one of the dorsal vertebræ, which in
many animals has an upright spine toward which the spines of the
neighboring vertebræ are inclined.
ANTICLINAL
An`ti*cli"nal, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The crest or line in which strata slope or dip in opposite
directions.
ANTICLINE
An"ti*cline, n. [See Anticlinal.] (Geol.)
Defn: A structure of bedded rocks in which the beds on both sides of
an axis or axial plane dip away from the axis; an anticlinal.
ANTICLINORIUM
An`ti*cli*no"ri*um, n.; pl. Anticlinoria. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: The upward elevation of the crust of the earth, resulting from
a geanticlinal.
ANTICLY
An"tic*ly, adv.
Defn: Oddly; grotesquely.
ANTIC-MASK
An"tic-mask`, n.
Defn: An antimask. B. Jonson.
ANTICNESS
An"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being antic. Ford.
ANTICOHERER
An`ti*co*her"er, n. (Wireless Teleg.)
Defn: A device, one form of which consists of a scratched deposit of
silver on glass, used in connection with the receiving apparatus for
reading wireless signals. The electric waves falling on this
contrivance increase its resistance several times. The anticoherer
can be used in conjunction with a telephone.
ANTICONSTITUTIONAL
An`ti*con`sti*tu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Opposed to the constitution; unconstitutional.
ANTICONTAGIOUS
An`ti*con*ta"gious, a. (Med.)
Defn: Opposing or destroying contagion.
ANTICONVULSIVE
An`ti*con*vul"sive, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against convulsions. J. Floyer.
ANTICOR
An"ti*cor, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + L. cor heart; cf. F. antic.]
(Far.)
Defn: A dangerous inflammatory swelling of a horse's breast, just
opposite the heart.
ANTICOUS
An*ti"cous, a. Etym: [L. anticus in front, foremost, fr. ante
before.] (Bot.)
Defn: Facing toward the axis of the flower, as in the introrse
anthers of the water lily.
ANTICYCLONE
An"ti*cy`clone, n. (Meteorol.)
Defn: A movement of the atmosphere opposite in character, as regards
direction of the wind and distribution of barometric pressure, to
that of a cyclone.
-- An`ti*cy*clon"ic, a.
-- An`ti*cy*clon"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANTIDIPHTHERITIC
An`ti*diph`the*rit"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Destructive to, or hindering the growth of, diphtheria bacilli.
-- n.
Defn: An antidiphtheritic agent.
ANTIDOTAL
An"ti*do`tal(#) a.
Defn: Having the quality an antidote; fitted to counteract the
effects of poison. Sir T. Browne.
-- An"ti*do`tal*ly, adv.
ANTIDOTARY
An"ti*do`ta*ry, a.
Defn: Antidotal.
-- n. Antidote; also, a book of antidotes.
ANTIDOTE
An"ti*dote, n. Etym: [L. antidotum, Gr. antidote. See Dose, n.]
1. A remedy to counteract the effects of poison, or of anything
noxious taken into the stomach; -- used with against, for, or to; as,
an antidote against, for, or to, poison.
2. Whatever tends to prevent mischievous effects, or to counteract
evil which something else might produce.
ANTIDOTE
An"ti*dote, v. t.
1. To counteract or prevent the effects of, by giving or taking an
antidote.
Nor could Alexander himself . . . antidote . . . the poisonous
draught, when it had once got into his veins. South.
2. To fortify or preserve by an antidote.
ANTIDOTICAL
An`ti*dot"ic*al, a.
Defn: Serving as an antidote.
-- An`ti*dot"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANTIDROMOUS
An*tid"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Changing the direction in the spiral sequence of leaves on a
stem.
ANTIDYSENTERIC
An`ti*dys`en*ter"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against dysentery.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for dysentery.
ANTIEMETIC
An`ti*e*met"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antemetic.
ANTIEPHIALTIC
An`ti*eph`i*al"tic, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antephialtic.
ANTIEPILEPTIC
An`ti*ep`i*lep"tic, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Antepileptic.
ANTIFEBRILE
An`ti*fe"brile, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Febrifuge.
ANTIFEBRINE
An`ti*feb"rine, n. (Med.)
Defn: Acetanilide.
ANTI-FEDERALIST
An`ti-fed"er*al*ist, n.
Defn: One of party opposed to a federative government; -- applied
particularly to the party which opposed the adoption of the
constitution of the United States. Pickering.
ANTIFRICTION
An`ti*fric"tion, n.
Defn: Something to lessea. Tending to lessen friction.
ANTIGALASTIC
An`ti*ga*las"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr.
Defn: Causing a diminution or a suppression of the secretion of milk.
ANTI-GALLICAN
An`ti-Gal"li*can, a.
Defn: Opposed to what is Gallic or French.
ANTIGRAPH
An"ti*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. antigraphe.]
Defn: A copy or transcript.
ANTIGUGGLER
An`ti*gug"gler n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + guggle or gurgle.]
Defn: A crooked tube of metal, to be introduced into the neck of a
bottle for drawing out the liquid without disturbing the sediment or
causing a gurgling noise.
ANTIHELIX
An`ti*he"lix, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The curved elevation of the cartilage of the ear, within or in
front of the helix. See Ear.
ANTIHEMORRHAGIC
An`ti*hem`or*rhag"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Tending to stop hemorrhage.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for hemorrhage.
ANTIHYDROPHOBIC
An`ti*hy`dro*phob"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Counteracting or preventing hydrophobia.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for hydrophobia.
ANTIHYDROPIC
An`ti*hy*drop"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against dropsy.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for dropsy.
ANTIHYPNOTIC
An`ti*hyp*not"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Tending to prevent sleep.
-- n.
Defn: An antihypnotic agent.
ANTIHYPOCHONDRIAC
An`ti*hyp`o*chon"dri*ac, a. (Med.)
Defn: Counteractive of hypochondria.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for hypochondria.
ANTIHYSTERIC
An`ti*hys*ter"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Counteracting hysteria.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for hysteria.
ANTIICTERIC
An`ti*ic*ter"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against jaundice.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for jaundice.
ANTI-IMPERIALISM
An`ti-im*pe"ri*al*ism, n.
Defn: Opposition to imperialism; -- applied specif., in the United
States, after the Spanish-American war (1898), to the attitude or
principles of those opposing territorial expansion; in England, of
those, often called Little Englanders, opposing the extension of the
empire and the closer relation of its parts, esp. in matters of
commerce and imperial defense. -- An`ti-im*pe"ri*al*ist, n. -- An`ti-
im*pe`ri*al*is"tic (#), a.
ANTILEGOMENA
An`ti*le*gom"e*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: Certain books of the New Testament which were for a time not
universally received, but which are now considered canonical. These
are the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistles of James and Jude, the
second Epistle of Peter, the second and third Epistles of John, and
the Revelation. The undisputed books are called the Homologoumena.
ANTILIBRATION
An`ti*li*bra"tion, n.
Defn: A balancing; equipoise. [R.] De Quincey.
ANTILITHIC
An`ti*lith"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Tending to prevent the formation of urinary calculi, or to
destroy them when formed.
-- n.
Defn: An antilithic medicine.
ANTILOGARITHM
An`ti*log"a*rithm, n. (Math.)
Defn: The number corresponding to a logarithm. The word has been
sometimes, though rarely, used to denote the complement of a given
logarithm; also the logarithmic cosine corresponding to a given
logarithmic sine.
-- An`ti*log`a*rith"mic, a.
ANTILOGOUS
An*til"o*gous, a.
Defn: Of the contrary name or character; -- opposed to analogous.
Antilogous pole (Eccl.), that pole of a crystal which becomes
negatively electrified when heated.
ANTILOGY
An*til"o*gy, n.; pl. Antilogies. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A contradiction between any words or passages in an author. Sir
W. Hamilton.
ANTILOIMIC
An`ti*loi"mic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy against the plague. Brande & C.
ANTILOPINE
An*til"o*pine, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the antelope.
ANTILOQUIST
An*til"o*quist, n.
Defn: A contradicter. [Obs.]
ANTILOQUY
An*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + L. loqui to speak.]
Defn: Contradiction. [Obs.]
ANTILYSSIC
An`ti*lys"sic, a. & n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Antihydrophobic.
ANTIMACASSAR
An`ti*ma*cas"sar, n.
Defn: A cover for the back or arms of a chair or sofa, etc., to
prevent them from being soiled by macassar or other oil from the
hair.
ANTIMAGISTRICAL
An`ti*ma*gis"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + magistrical for
magistratical.]
Defn: Opposed to the office or authority of magistrates. [Obs.]
South.
ANTIMALARIAL
An`ti*ma*la"ri*al, a.
Defn: Good against malaria.
ANTIMASK
An"ti*mask`, n.
Defn: A secondary mask, or grotesque interlude, between the parts of
a serious mask. [Written also anue.] Bacon.
ANTIMASON
An`ti*ma"son, n.
Defn: One opposed to Freemasonry.
-- An`ti*ma*son"ic, a.
ANTIMASONRY
An`ti*ma"son*ry, n.
Defn: Opposition to Freemasonry.
ANTIMEPHITIC
An`ti*me*phit"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against mephitic or deletplwious gases.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy against mephitic gases. Dunglison.
ANTIMERE
An"ti*mere, n. Etym: [. anti- + -mere.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the two halves of bilaterally symmetrical animals; one
of any opposite symmetrical or homotypic parts in animals and plants.
ANTIMETABOLE
An`ti*me*tab"o*le, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure in which the same words or ideas are repeated in
transposed order.
ANTIMETATHESIS
An`ti*me*tath"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An antithesis in which the members are repeated in inverse
order.
ANTIMETER
An*tim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A modification of the quadrant, for measuring small angles.
[Obs.]
ANTIMONARCHIC; ANTIMONARCHICAL
An`ti*mo*nar"chic, An`ti*mo*nar"chic*al,
Defn: Opposed to monarchial government. Bp. Benson. Addison.
ANTIMONARCHIST
An`ti*mon"arch*ist, n.
Defn: An enemy to monarchial government.
ANTIMONATE
An`ti*mo"nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of antimonic acid with a base or basic radical.
[Written also antimoniate.]
ANTIMONIAL
An`ti*mo"ni*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to antimony.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A preparation or medicine containing antimony. Antimonial
powder, a consisting of one part oxide of antimony and two parts
phosphate of calcium; -- also called James's powder.
ANTIMONIATED
An`ti*mo"ni*a`ted, a.
Defn: Combined or prepared with antimony; as, antimoniated tartar.
ANTIMONIC
An`ti*mon"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, antimony; -- said of those
compounds of antimony in which this element has its highest
equivalence; as, antimonic acid.
ANTIMONIOUS
An`ti*mo"ni*ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, antimony; -- said of those
compounds of antimony in which this element has an equivalence next
lower than the highest; as, antimonious acid.
ANTIMONITE
An"ti*mo*nite`, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of antimonious acid and a base or basic radical.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Stibnite.
ANTIMONIURETED
An`ti*mo"ni*u*ret`ed, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with or containing antimony; as, antimoniureted
hydrogen. [Written also antimoniuretted.]
ANTIMONSOON
An"ti*mon*soon", n. (Meteor.)
Defn: The upper, contrary-moving current of the atmosphere over a
monsoon.
ANTIMONY
An"ti*mo*ny, n. Etym: [LL. antimonium, of unknown origin.] (Chem.)
Defn: An elementary substance, resembling a metal in its appearance
and physical properties, but in its chemical relations belonging to
the class of nonmetallic substances. Atomic weight, 120. Symbol, Sb.
Note: It is of tin-white color, brittle, laminated or crystalline,
fusible, and vaporizable at a rather low temperature. It is used in
some metallic alloys, as type metal and bell metal, and also for
medical preparations, which are in general emetics or cathartics. By
ancient writers, and some moderns, the term is applied to native gray
ore of antimony, or stibnite (the stibium of the Romans, and the
Cervantite, senarmontite, and valentinite are native oxides of
antimony.
ANTINATIONAL
An`ti*na"tion*al, a.
Defn: Antagonistic to one's country or nation, or to a national
government.
ANTINEPHRITIC
An`ti*ne*phrit"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Counteracting, or deemed of use in, diseases of the kidneys.
-- n.
Defn: An antinephritic remedy.
ANTINOMIAN
An`ti*no"mi*an, a. Etym: [See Antimony.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Antinomians; opposed to the doctrine
that the moral law is obligatory.
ANTINOMIAN
An`ti*no"mi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who maintains that, under the gospel dispensation, the
moral law is of no use or obligation, but that faith alone is
necessary to salvation. The sect of Antinomians originated with John
Agricola, in Germany, about the year 1535. Mosheim.
ANTINOMIANISM
An`ti*no"mi*an*ism, n.
Defn: The tenets or practice of Antinomians. South.
ANTINOMIST
An*tin"o*mist, n.
Defn: An Antinomian. [R.] Bp. Sanderson.
ANTINOMY
An*tin"o*my, n.; pl. Antinomies. Etym: [L. antinomia, Gr.
1. Opposition of one law or rule to another law or rule.
Different commentators have deduced from it the very opposite
doctrines. In some instances this apparent antinomy is doubtful. De
Quincey.
2. An opposing law or rule of any kind.
As it were by his own antinomy, or counterstatute. Milton.
3. (Metaph.)
Defn: A contradiction or incompatibility of thought or language; --
in the Kantian philosophy, such a contradiction as arises from the
attempt to apply to the ideas of the reason, relations or attributes
which are appropriate only to the facts or the concepts of
experience.
ANTIOCHIAN
An`ti*o"chi*an, a.
1. Pertaining to Antiochus, a contemporary with Cicero, and the
founder of a sect of philosophers.
2. Of or pertaining to the city of Antioch, in Syria. Antiochian
epoch (Chron.), a method of computing time, from the proclamation of
liberty granted to the city of Antioch, about the time of the battle
of Pharsalia, B.C. 48.
ANTIODONTALGIC
An`ti*o`don*tal"gic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Efficacious in curing toothache.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for toothache.
ANTIORGASTIC
An`ti*or*gas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Tending to allay venereal excitement or desire; sedative.
ANTIPAPAL
An`ti*pa"pal, a.
Defn: Opposed to the pope or to popery. Milton.
ANTIPARALLEL
An`ti*par"al*lel, a.
Defn: Running in a contrary direction. Hammond.
ANTIPARALLELS
An`ti*par"al*lels, n. pl. (Geom.)
Defn: Straight lines or planes which make angles in some respect
opposite in character to those made by parallel lines or planes.
ANTIPARALYTIC
An`ti*par`a*lyt"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against paralysis.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for paralysis.
ANTIPARALYTICAL
An`ti*par`a*lyt"ic*al, a.
Defn: Antiparalytic.
ANTIPASCH
An"ti*pasch, n. [Pref. anti-+ pasch.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The Sunday after Easter; Low Sunday.
ANTIPATHETIC; ANTIPATHETICAL
An`ti*pa*thet"ic, An`ti*pa*thet"ic*al, a.
Defn: Having a natural contrariety, or constitutional aversion, to a
thing; characterized by antipathy; -- often followed by to. Fuller.
ANTIPATHIC
An`ti*path"ic, a. Etym: [NL. antipathicus, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Belonging to antipathy; opposite; contrary; allopathic.
ANTIPATHIST
An*tip"a*thist, n.
Defn: One who has an antipathy. [R.] "Antipathist of light."
Coleridge.
ANTIPATHIZE
An*tip"a*thize, v. i.
Defn: To feel or show antipathy. [R.]
ANTIPATHOUS
An*tip"a*thous, a.
Defn: Having a natural contrariety; adverse; antipathetic. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
ANTIPATHY
An*tip"a*thy, n.; pl. Antipathies. Etym: [L. antipathia, Gr.
antipathie. See Pathos.]
1. Contrariety or opposition in feeling; settled aversion or dislike;
repugnance; distaste.
Inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate
attachments to others, are to be avoided. Washington.
2. Natural contrariety; incompatibility; repugnancy of qualities; as,
oil and water have antipathy.
A habit is generated of thinking that a natural antipathy exists
between hope and reason. I. Taylor.
Note: Any is opposed to sympathy. It is followed by to, against, or
between; also sometimes by for.
Syn.
-- Hatred; aversion; dislike; disgust; distaste; enmity; ill will;
repugnance; contrariety; opposition. See Dislike.
ANTIPEPTONE
An`ti*pep"tone, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A product of gastric and pancreatic digestion, differing from
hemipeptone in not being decomposed by the continued action of
pancreatic juice.
ANTIPERIODIC
An`ti*pe`ri*od"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy possessing the property of preventing the return of
periodic paroxysms, or exacerbations, of disease, as in intermittent
fevers.
ANTIPERISTALTIC
An`ti*per`i*stal"tic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Opposed to, or checking motion; acting upward; -- applied to an
inverted action of the intestinal tube.
ANTIPERISTASIS
An`ti*pe*ris"ta*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Opposition by which the quality opposed asquires strength;
resistance or reaction roused by opposition or by the action of an
opposite principle or quality.
ANTIPERISTATIC
An`ti*per`i*stat"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to antiperistasis.
ANTIPETALOUS
An`ti*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Standing before a petal, as a stamen.
ANTIPHARMIC
An`ti*phar"mic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Antidotal; alexipharmic.
ANTIPHLOGISTIAN
An`ti*phlo*gis"tian, n.
Defn: An opposer of the theory of phlogiston.
ANTIPHLOGISTIC
An`ti*phlo*gis"tic, a.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: Opposed to the doctrine of phlogiston.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Counteracting inflammation.
ANTIPHLOGISTIC
An`ti*phlo*gis"tic, n. (Med.)
Defn: Any medicine or diet which tends to check inflammation. Coxe.
ANTIPHON
An"ti*phon, n. Etym: [LL. antiphona, fr. Gr. Anthem.]
1. A musical response; alternate singing or chanting. See Antiphony,
and Antiphone.
2. A verse said before and after the psalms. Shipley.
ANTIPHONAL
An*tiph"o*nal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to antiphony, or alternate singing; sung
alternately by a divided choir or opposite choirs. Wheatly.
-- An*tiph"o*nal*ly, adv.
ANTIPHONAL
An*tiph"o*nal, n.
Defn: A book of antiphons or anthems.
ANTIPHONARY
An*tiph"o*na*ry, n. Etym: [LL. antiphonarium. See Antiphoner.]
Defn: A book containing a collection of antiphons; the book in which
the antiphons of the breviary, with their musical notes, are
contained.
ANTIPHONE
An"ti*phone, n. (Mus.)
Defn: The response which one side of the choir makes to the other in
a chant; alternate chanting or signing.
ANTIPHONER
An*tiph"o*ner, n. Etym: [F. antiphonaire. See Antiphon.]
Defn: A book of antiphons. Chaucer.
ANTIPHONIC
An`ti*phon"ic, a.
Defn: Antiphonal.
ANTIPHONY
An*tiph"o*ny, n.; pl. Antiphonies. Etym: [See Antiphon.]
1. A musical response; also, antiphonal chanting or signing.
2. An anthem or psalm sung alternately by a choir or congregation
divided into two parts. Also figuratively.
O! never more for me shall winds intone, With all your tops, a vast
antiphony. R. Browning.
ANTIPHRASIS
An*tiph"ra*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: The use of words in a sense opposite to their proper meaning;
as when a court of justice is called a court of vengeance.
ANTIPHRASTIC; ANTIPHRASTICAL
An`ti*phras"tic, An`ti*phras"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to antiphrasis.
-- An`ti*phras"tic*al*ly, adv.
ANTIPHTHISIC
An`ti*phthis"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Relieving or curing phthisis, or consumption.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for phthisis.
ANTIPHYSICAL
An`ti*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + physical.]
Defn: Contrary to nature; unnatural.
ANTIPHYSICAL
An`ti*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Relieving flatulence; carminative.
ANTIPLASTIC
An`ti*plas"tic, a.
1. Diminishing plasticity.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Preventing or checking the process of healing, or granulation.
ANTIPODAGRIC
An`ti*po*dag"ric, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against gout.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for gout.
ANTIPODAL
An*tip"o*dal, a.
1. Pertaining to the antipodes; situated on the opposite side of the
globe.
2. Diametrically opposite. His antipodal shadow." Lowell.
ANTIPODE
An"ti*pode, n.
Defn: One of the antipodes; anything exactly opposite.
In tale or history your beggar is ever the just antipode to your
king. Lamb.
Note: The singular, antipode, is exceptional in formation, but has
been used by good writers. Its regular English plural would be
ân"tî*podes, the last syllable rhyming with abodes, and this
pronunciation is sometimes heard. The plural form (originally a Latin
word without a singular) is in common use, and is pronounced, after
the English method of Latin, ân*tîp"o*dez.
ANTIPODEAN
An`ti*po"de*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the antipodes, or the opposite side of the world;
antipodal.
ANTIPODES
An*tip"o*des, n. Etym: [L. pl., fr. Gr.
1. Those who live on the side of the globe diametrically opposite.
2. The country of those who live on the opposite side of the globe.
Latham.
3. Anything exactly opposite or contrary.
Can there be a greater contrariety unto Christ's judgment, a more
perfect antipodes to all that hath hitherto been gospel Hammond.
ANTIPOLE
An"ti*pole, n.
Defn: The opposite pole; anything diametrically opposed. Geo. Eliot.
ANTIPOPE
An"ti*pope, n.
Defn: One who is elected, or claims to be, pope in opposition to the
pope canonically chosen; esp. applied to those popes who resided at
Avignon during the Great Schism.
ANTIPSORIC
An`tip*sor"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of use in curing the itch.
-- n.
Defn: An antipsoric remedy.
ANTIPTOSIS
An`tip*to"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: The putting of one case for another.
ANTIPUTREFACTIVE; ANTIPUTRESCENT
An`ti*pu`tre*fac"tive, An`ti*pu*tres"cent, a.
Defn: Counteracting, or preserving from, putrefaction; antiseptic.
ANTIPYIC
An`ti*py"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Checking or preventing suppuration.
-- n.
Defn: An antipyic medicine.
ANTIPYRESIS
An`ti*py*re"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The condition or state of being free from fever.
ANTIPYRETIC
An`ti*py*ret"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Efficacious in preventing or allaying fever.
-- n.
Defn: A febrifuge.
ANTIPYRINE
An`ti*py"rine, n. (Med.)
Defn: An artificial alkaloid, believed to be efficient in abating
fever.
ANTIPYROTIC
An`ti*py*rot"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against burns or pyrosis.
-- n.
Defn: Anything of use in preventing or healing burns or pyrosis.
ANTIQUARIAN
An`ti*qua"ri*an, a. Etym: [See Antiquary].
Defn: Pertaining to antiquaries, or to antiquity; as, antiquarian
literature.
ANTIQUARIAN
An`ti*qua"ri*an, n.
1. An antiquary.
2. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n.
ANTIQUARIANISM
An`ti*qua"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: Character of an antiquary; study or love of antiquities.
Warburton.
ANTIQUARIANIZE
An`ti*qua"ri*an*ize, v. i.
Defn: To act the part of an antiquary. [Colloq.]
ANTIQUARY
An"ti*qua*ry, a. Etym: [L. antiquarius, fr. antiquus ancient. See
Antique.]
Defn: Pertaining to antiquity. [R.] "Instructed by the antiquary
times." Shak.
ANTIQUARY
An"ti*qua*ry, n.; pl. Antiquaries.
Defn: One devoted to the study of ancient times through their relics,
as inscriptions, monuments, remains of ancient habitations, statues,
coins, manuscripts, etc.; one who searches for and studies the relics
of antiquity.
ANTIQUATE
An"ti*quate, v. t. Etym: [L. antiquatus, p. p. of antiquare, fr.
antiquus ancient.]
Defn: To make old, or obsolete; to make antique; to make old in such
a degree as to put out of use; hence, to make void, or abrogate.
Christianity might reasonably introduce new laws, and antiquate or
abrogate old one. Sir M. Hale.
ANTIQUATED
An"ti*qua`ted, a.
Defn: Grown old. Hence: Bygone; obsolete; out of use; old-fashioned;
as, an antiquated law. "Antiquated words." Dryden.
Old Janet, for so he understood his antiquated attendant was
denominated. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- Ancient; old; antique; obsolete. See Ancient.
ANTIQUATEDNESS
An"ti*qua`ted*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being antiquated.
ANTIQUATENESS
An"ti*quate*ness, n.
Defn: Antiquatedness. [Obs.]
ANTIQUATION
An`ti*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. antiquatio, fr. antiquare.]
Defn: The act of making antiquated, or the state of being antiquated.
Beaumont.
ANTIQUE
An*tique", a. Etym: [F., fr. L. antiquus old, ancient, equiv. to
anticus, from ante before. Cf. Antic.]
1. Old; ancient; of genuine antiquity; as, an antique statue. In this
sense it usually refers to the flourishing ages of Greece and Rome.
For the antique world excess and pride did hate. Spenser.
2. Old, as respects the present age, or a modern period of time; of
old fashion; antiquated; as, an antique robe. "Antique words."
Spenser.
3. Made in imitation of antiquity; as, the antique style of Thomson's
"Castle of Indolence."
4. Odd; fantastic. [In this sense, written antic.]
Syn.
-- Ancient; antiquated; obsolete; antic; old-fashioned; old. See
Ancient.
ANTIQUE
An*tique", n. Etym: [F. See Antique, a. ]
Defn: In general, anything very old; but in a more limited sense, a
relic or object of ancient art; collectively, the antique, the
remains of ancient art, as busts, statues, paintings, and vases.
Misshapen monuments and maimed antiques. Byron.
ANTIQUELY
An*tique"ly, adv.
Defn: In an antique manner.
ANTIQUENESS
An*tique"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being antique; an appearance of ancient origin
and workmanship.
We may discover something venerable in the antiqueness of the work.
Addison.
ANTIQUIST
An"ti*quist, n.
Defn: An antiquary; a collector of antiques. [R.] Pinkerton.
ANTIQUITARIAN
An*tiq`ui*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: An admirer of antiquity.
Note: [Used by Milton in a disparaging sense.] [Obs.]
ANTIQUITY
An*tiq"ui*ty, n.; pl. Antiquities. Etym: [L. antiquitas, fr.
antiquus: cf. F. antiquité. See Antique.]
1. The quality of being ancient; ancientness; great age; as, a statue
of remarkable antiquity; a family of great antiquity.
2. Old age. [Obs.]
It not your voice broken . . . and every part about you blasted with
antiquity Shak.
3. Ancient times; former ages; times long since past; as, Cicero was
an eloquent orator of antiquity.
4. The ancients; the people of ancient times.
That such pillars were raised by Seth all antiquity has Sir W.
Raleigh.
5. An old gentleman. [Obs.]
You are a shrewd antiquity, neighbor Clench. B. Jonson.
6. A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc. ;
an ancient institution.
Note: [In this sense, usually in the plural.] "Heathen antiquities."
Bacon.
ANTIRACHITIC
An`ti*ra*chit"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against the rickets.
ANTIRENTER
An`ti*rent"er, n.
Defn: One opposed to the payment of rent; esp. one of those who in
1840-47 resisted the collection of rents claimed by the patroons from
the settlers on certain manorial lands in the State of New York.
-- An`ti*rent"ism, n.
ANTISABBATARIAN
An`ti*sab`ba*ta"ri*an, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of a sect which opposes the observance of the Christian
Sabbath.
ANTISACERDOTAL
An`ti*sac`er*do"tal, a.
Defn: Hostile to priests or the priesthood. Waterland.
ANTISCIANS; ANTISCII
An*tis"cians, An*tis"ci*i, n. pl. Etym: [L. antiscii, Gr.
Defn: The inhabitants of the earth, living on different sides of the
equator, whose shadows at noon are cast in opposite directions.
The inhabitants of the north and south temperate zones are always
Antiscians. Brande & C.
ANTISCOLETIC; ANTISCOLIC
An`ti*sco*let"ic, An`ti*scol"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Anthelmintic.
ANTISCORBUTIC
An`ti*scor*bu"tic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Counteracting scurvy.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for scurvy.
ANTISCORBUTICAL
An`ti*scor*bu"tic*al, a. (Med.)
Defn: Antiscorbutic.
ANTISCRIPTURAL
An`ti*scrip"tur*al, a.
Defn: Opposed to, or not in accordance with, the Holy Scriptures.
ANTI-SEMITISM
An`ti-Sem"i*tism, n.
Defn: Opposition to, or hatred of, Semites, esp. Jews. -- An`ti-
Sem"ite (#), n. -- An`ti-Sem*it"ic (#), a.
ANTISEPALOUS
An`ti*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + sepal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Standing before a sepal, or calyx leaf.
ANTISEPSIS
An`ti*sep"sis, n. [NL. See Anti-; Sepsis.]
Defn: Prevention of sepsis by excluding or destroying microorganisms.
ANTISEPTIC; ANTISEPTICAL
An`ti*sep"tic, An`ti*sep"tic*al, a.
Defn: Counteracting or preventing putrefaction, or a putrescent
tendency in the system; antiputrefactive. Antiseptic surgery, that
system of surgical practice which insists upon a systematic use of
antiseptics in the performance of operations and the dressing of
wounds.
ANTISEPTIC
An`ti*sep"tic, n.
Defn: A substance which prevents or retards putrefaction, or
destroys, or protects from, putrefactive organisms; as, salt,
carbolic acid, alcohol, cinchona.
ANTISEPTICALLY
An`ti*sep"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By means of antiseptics.
ANTISIALAGOGUE
An`ti*si*al"a*gogue, a. (Med.)
Defn: Checking the flow of saliva.
ANTISIALAGOGUE
An`ti*si*al"a*gogue, n.
Defn: A remedy against excessive salivation.
ANTISLAVERY
An`ti*slav"er*y, a.
Defn: Opposed to slavery.
-- n.
Defn: Opposition to slavery.
ANTISOCIAL
An`ti*so"cial, a.
Defn: Tending to interrupt or destroy social intercourse; averse to
society, or hostile to its existence; as, antisocial principles.
ANTISOCIALIST
An`ti*so"cial*ist, n.
Defn: One opposed to the doctrines and practices of socialists or
socialism.
ANTISOLAR
An`ti*so"lar, a.
Defn: Opposite to the sun; -- said of the point in the heavens 180º
distant from the sun.
ANTISPASMODIC
An`ti*spas*mod"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against spasms.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine which prevents or allays spasms or convulsions.
ANTISPAST
An"ti*spast, n. Etym: [L. antispastus, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A foot of four syllables, the first and fourth short, and the
second and third long.
ANTISPASTIC
An`ti*spas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Antispast.] (Med.)
(a) Believed to cause a revulsion of fluids or of humors from one
part to another. [Obs.]
(b) Counteracting spasms; antispasmodic.
-- n.
Defn: An antispastic agent.
ANTISPLENETIC
An`ti*splen"e*tic (Splenetic, 277), a.
Defn: Good as a remedy against disease of the spleen.
-- n.
Defn: An antisplenetic medicine.
ANTISTROPHE
An*tis"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Strophe.]
1. In Greek choruses and dances, the returning of the chorus, exactly
answering to a previous strophe or movement from right to left.
Hence: The lines of this part of the choral song.
It was customary, on some occasions, to dance round the altars whilst
they sang the sacred hymns, which consisted of three stanzas or
parts; the first of which, called strophe, was sung in turning from
east to west; the other, named antistrophe, in returning from west to
east; then they stood before the altar, and sang the epode, which was
the last part of the song. Abp. Potter.
2. (Rhet.)
(a) The repetition of words in an inverse order; as, the master of
the servant and the servant of the master.
(b) The retort or turning of an adversary's plea against him.
ANTISTROPHIC
An`ti*stroph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an antistrophe.
ANTISTROPHON
An*tis"tro*phon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An argument retorted on an opponent. Milton.
ANTISTRUMATIC
An`ti*stru"mat"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Antistrumous.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for scrofula.
ANTISTRUMOUS
An`ti*stru"mous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Good against scrofulous disorders. Johnson. Wiseman.
ANTISYPHILITIC
An`ti*syph`i*lit"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Efficacious against syphilis.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for syphilis.
ANTITHEISM
An`ti*the"ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of antitheists.
-- An`ti*the*is"tic, a.
ANTITHEIST
An`ti*the"ist, n.
Defn: A disbeliever in the existence of God.
ANTITHESIS
An*tith"e*sis, n.; pl. Antitheses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Thesis.]
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: An opposition or contrast of words or sentiments occurring in
the same sentence; as, "The prodigal robs his heir; the miser robs
himself." "He had covertly shot at Cromwell; he how openly aimed at
the Queen."
2. The second of two clauses forming an antithesis.
3. Opposition; contrast.
ANTITHET
An"ti*thet, n. Etym: [L. antitheton, fr. Gr.
Defn: An antithetic or contrasted statement. Bacon.
ANTITHETIC; ANTITHETICAL
An`ti*thet"ic, An`ti*thet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to antithesis, or opposition of words and
sentiments; containing, or of the nature of, antithesis; contrasted.
ANTITHETICALLY
An`ti*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By way antithesis.
ANTITOXIN; ANTITOXINE
An`ti*tox"in, An`ti*tox"ine, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + toxin.]
Defn: A substance (sometimes the product of a specific micro-organism
and sometimes naturally present in the blood or tissues of an
animal), capable of producing immunity from certain diseases, or of
counteracting the poisonous effects of pathogenic bacteria.
ANTI-TRADE
An"ti-trade`, n.
Defn: A tropical wind blowing steadily in a direction opposite to the
trade wind.
ANTITRAGUS
An*tit"ra*gus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A prominence on the lower posterior portion of the concha of
the external ear, opposite the tragus. See Ear.
ANTITROCHANTER
An`ti*tro*chan"ter, n. (Anat.)
Defn: An articular surface on the ilium of birds against which the
great trochanter of the femur plays.
ANTITROPAL; ANTITROPOUS
An*tit"ro*pal, An*tit"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: At the extremity most remote from the hilum, as the embryo, or
inverted with respect to the seed, as the radicle. Lindley.
ANTITYPAL
An"ti*ty`pal, a.
Defn: Antitypical. [R.]
ANTITYPE
An"ti*type, n. Etym: [Gr. Type.]
Defn: That of which the type pattern or representation; that which is
represented by the type or symbol.
ANTITYPICAL
An`ti*typ"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an antitype; explaining the type.
-- An`ti*typ"ic*al*ly, adv.
ANTITYPOUS
An*tit"y*pous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Resisting blows; hard. [Obs.] Cudworth.
ANTITYPY
An*tit"y*py, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Opposition or resistance of matter to force. [R.] Sir W.
Hamilton.
ANTIVACCINATION
An`ti*vac`ci*na"tion, n.
Defn: Opposition to vaccination. London Times.
ANTIVACCINATIONIST
An`ti*vac`ci*na"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An antivaccinist.
ANTIVACCINIST
An`ti*vac"ci*nist, n.
Defn: One opposed to vaccination.
ANTIVARIOLOUS
An`ti*va*ri"o*lous, a.
Defn: Preventing the contagion of smallpox.
ANTIVENEREAL
An`ti*ve*ne"re*al, a.
Defn: Good against venereal poison; antisyphilitic.
ANTIVENIN
An`ti*ve"nin, n. [Written also antivenen, antivenine.] [Pref. anti- +
L. venenum poison.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The serum of blood rendered antitoxic to a venom by repeated
injections of small doses of the venom.
ANTIVIVISECTION
An`ti*viv`i*sec"tion, n.
Defn: Opposition to vivisection.
ANTIVIVISECTIONIST
An`ti*viv`i*sec"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One opposed to vivisection
ANTIZYMIC
An`ti*zym"ic, a.
Defn: Preventing fermentation.
ANTIZYMOTIC
An`ti*zy*mot"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Preventing fermentation or decomposition.
-- n.
Defn: An agent so used.
ANTLER
Ant"ler, n. Etym: [OE. auntelere, OF. antoillier, andoiller,
endouiller, fr. F. andouiller, fr. an assumed LL. antocularis, fr. L.
ante before + oculus eye. See Ocular.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The entire horn, or any branch of the horn, of a cervine
animal, as of a stag.
Huge stags with sixteen antlers. Macaulay.
Note: The branch next to the head is called the brow antler, and the
branch next above, the bez antler, or bay antler. The main stem is
the beam, and the branches are often called tynes. Antlers are
deciduous bony (not horny) growths, and are covered with a periosteum
while growing. See Velvet. Antler moth (Zoöl.), a destructive
European moth (Cerapteryx graminis), which devastates grass lands.
ANTLERED
Ant"lered, a.
Defn: Furnished with antlers.
The antlered stag. Cowper.
ANTLIA
Ant"li*a, n.; pl. Antilæ. Etym: [L., a pump, Gr, (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spiral tubular proboscis of lepidopterous insects. See
Lepidoptera.
ANT-LION
Ant"-li`on, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A neuropterous insect, the larva of which makes in the sand a
pitfall to capture ants, etc. The common American species is
Myrmeleon obsoletus, the European is M. formicarius.
ANTOECI; ANTOECIANS
An*toe"ci, An*toe"*cians, n. pl. Etym: [NL. antoeci, fr. Gr. pl.
Defn: Those who live under the same meridian, but on opposite
parallels of latitude, north and south of the equator.
ANTONOMASIA
An`to*no*ma"si*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: The use of some epithet or the name of some office, dignity, or
the like, instead of the proper name of the person; as when his
majesty is used for a king, or when, instead of Aristotle, we say,
the philosopher; or, conversely, the use of a proper name instead of
an appellative, as when a wise man is called a Solomon, or an eminent
orator a Cicero.
ANTONOMASTIC
An`to*no*mas"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, antonomasia.
-- An`to*no*mas"tic*al*ly, adv.
ANTONOMASY
An*ton"o*ma*sy, n.
Defn: Antonomasia.
ANTONYM
An"to*nym, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A word of opposite meaning; a counterterm; -- used as a
correlative of synonym. [R.] C. J. Smith.
ANTORBITAL
Ant*or"bit*al, a. Etym: [Pref. anti- + orbital.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated in, the region of the front of the
orbit.
-- n.
Defn: The antorbital bone.
ANTORGASTIC
Ant`or*gas"tic, a.
Defn: See Antiorgastic.
ANTOZONE
Ant*o"zone, n. Etym: [Pref. anti- + ozone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound formerly supposed to be modification of oxygen, but
now known to be hydrogen dioxide; -- so called because apparently
antagonistic to ozone, converting it into ordinary oxygen.
ANTRAL
An"tral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to an antrum.
ANTRE
An"tre, n. Etym: [F. antre, L. antrum, fr. Gr.
Defn: A cavern. [Obs.] Shak.
ANTRORSE
An*trorse", a. Etym: [From L. ante + versun turned; apparently formed
in imitation of re.] (Bot.)
Defn: Forward or upward in direction. Gray.
ANTROVERT
An`tro*vert", v. t.
Defn: To bend forward. [R.] Owen.
ANTRUM
An"trum, n.; pl. Antra. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A cavern or cavity, esp. an anatomical cavity or sinus. Huxley.
ANTRUSTION
An*trus"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. antrustio.]
Defn: A vassal or voluntary follower of Frankish princes in their
enterprises.
ANT THRUSH
Ant" thrush`. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of several species of tropical birds, of the Old World, of
the genus Pitta, somewhat resembling the thrushes, and feeding
chiefly on ants.
(b) See Ant bird, under Ant.
ANUBIS
'd8A*nu"bis, n. Etym: [L.] (Myth.)
Defn: An Egyptian deity, the conductor of departed spirits,
represented by a human figure with the head of a dog or fox.
ANURA
A*nu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of amphibians characterized by the absence of
a tail, as the frogs and toads. [Written also anoura.]
ANUROUS
A*nu"rous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of a tail, as the frogs and toads. [Also written
anourous.]
ANURY
An"u*ry, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Nonsecretion or defective secretion of urine; ischury.
ANUS
A"nus, n. Etym: [L., prob. for asnus: cf. Gr. as.] (Anat.)
Defn: The posterior opening of the alimentary canal, through which
the excrements are expelled.
ANVIL
An"vil, n. Etym: [OE. anvelt, anfelt, anefelt, AS. anfilt, onfilt; of
uncertain origin; cf. OHG. anafalz, D. aanbeld.]
1. An iron block, usually with a steel face, upon which metals are
hammered and shaped.
2. Anything resembling an anvil in shape or use. Specifically
(Anat.),
Defn: the incus. See Incus. To be on the anvil, to be in a state of
discussion, formation, or preparation, as when a scheme or measure is
forming, but not matured. Swift.
ANVIL
An"vil, v. t.
Defn: To form or shape on an anvil; to hammer out; as, anviled armor.
Beau. & Fl.
ANXIETUDE
Anx*i"e*tude, n. Etym: [L. anxietudo.]
Defn: The state of being anxious; anxiety. [R.]
ANXIETY
Anx*i"e*ty, n.; pl. Anxieties. Etym: [L. anxietas, fr. anxius: cf. F.
anxiété. See Anxious.]
1. Concern or solicitude respecting some thing o
2. Eager desire. J. D. Forbes
3. (Med.)
Defn: A state of restlessness and agitation, often with general
indisposition and a distressing sense of oppression at the
epigastrium. Dunglison.
Syn.
-- Care; solicitude; foreboding; uneasiness; perplexity;
disquietude; disquiet; trouble; apprehension; restlessness. See Care.
ANXIOUS
Anx"ious, a. Etym: [L. anxius, fr. angere to cause pain, choke; akin
to Gr. Anger.]
1. Full of anxiety or disquietude; greatly concerned or solicitous,
esp. respecting future or unknown; being in painful suspense; --
applied to persons; as, anxious for the issue of a battle.
2. Accompanied with, or causing, anxiety; worrying; -- applied to
things; as, anxious labor.
The sweet of life, from which God hath bid dwell far off all anxious
cares. Milton.
3. Earnestly desirous; as, anxious to please.
He sneers alike at those who are anxious to preserve and at those who
are eager for reform. Macaulay.
Note: Anxious is followed by for, about, concerning, etc., before the
object of solicitude.
Syn.
-- Solicitous; careful; uneasy; unquiet; restless; concerned;
disturbed; watchful.
ANXIOUSLY
Anx"ious*ly, adv.
Defn: In an anxious manner; with painful uncertainty; solicitously.
ANXIOUSNESS
Anx"ious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being anxious; great solicitude; anxiety.
ANY
A"ny, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. æni, æni, eni, ani, oni, AS. ænig, fr. an
one. It is akin to OS. enig, OHG. einic, G. einig, D. eenig. See
One.]
1. One indifferently, out of an indefinite number; one indefinitely,
whosoever or whatsoever it may be.
Note: Any is often used in denying or asserting without limitation;
as, this thing ought not be done at any time; I ask any one to answer
my question.
No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the
Father, save the Son. Matt. xi. 27.
2. Some, of whatever kind, quantity, or number; as, are there any
witnesses present are there any other houses like it "Who will show
us any good" Ps. iv. 6.
Note: It is often used, either in the singular or the plural, as a
pronoun, the person or thing being understood; anybody; anyone; (pl.)
any persons.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, . . . and it shall be
given him. Jas. i. 5.
That if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he
might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. Acts ix. 2.
At any rate, In any case, whatever may be the state of affairs;
anyhow.
ANY
A"ny, adv.
Defn: To any extent; in any degree; at all.
You are not to go loose any longer. Shak.
Before you go any farther. Steele.
ANYBODY
A"ny*bod*y, n.
1. Any one out of an indefinite number of persons; anyone; any
person.
His Majesty could not keep any secret from anybody. Macaulay.
2. A person of consideration or standing. [Colloq.]
All the men belonged exclusively to the mechanical and shopkeeping
classes, and there was not a single banker or anybody in the list.
Lond. Sat. Rev.
ANYHOW
A"ny*how`, adv.
Defn: In any way or manner whatever; at any rate; in any event.
Anyhow, it must be acknowledged to be not a simple selforiginated
error. J. H. Newman.
Anyhow, the languages of the two nations were closely allied. E. A.
Freeman.
ANYONE
A"ny*one, n.
Defn: One taken at random rather than by selection; anybody.
Note: [Commonly written as two words.]
ANYTHING
A"ny*thing, n.
1. Any object, act, state, event, or fact whatever; thing of any
kind; something or other; aught; as, I would not do it for anything.
Did you ever know of anything so unlucky A. Trollope.
They do not know that anything is amiss with them. W. G. Sumner.
2. Expressing an indefinite comparison; -- with as or like. [Colloq.
or Lowx]
I fear your girl will grow as proud as anything. Richardson.
Note: Any thing, written as two words, is now commonly used in
contradistinction to any person or anybody. Formerly it was also
separated when used in the wider sense. "Necessity drove them to
undertake any thing and venture any thing." De Foe. Anything but, not
at all or in any respect. "The battle was a rare one, and the victory
anything but secure." Hawthorne.
-- Anything like, in any respect; at all; as, I can not give
anything like a fair sketch of his trials.
ANYTHING
A"ny*thing, adv.
Defn: In any measure; anywise; at all.
Mine old good will and hearty affection towards you is not . . .
anything at all quailed. Robynson (More's Utopia).
ANYTHINGARIAN
A`ny*thing*a"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who holds to no particular creed or dogma.
ANYWAY; ANYWAYS
A"ny*way, A"ny*ways, adv.
Defn: Anywise; at all. Tennyson. Southey.
ANYWHERE
A"ny*where, adv.
Defn: In any place. Udall.
ANYWHITHER
A"ny*whith`er, adv.
Defn: To or towards any place. [Archaic] De Foe.
ANYWISE
A"ny*wise, adv.
Defn: In any wise or way; at all. "Anywise essential." Burke.
AONIAN
A*o"ni*an, a. Etym: [From Aonia, a part of Boeotia, in Greece.]
Defn: Pertaining to Aonia, Boeotia, or to the Muses, who were
supposed to dwell there. Aonian fount, the fountain of Aganippe, at
the foot of Mount Helicon, not far from Thebes, and sacred to the
Muses.
AORIST
A"o*rist, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: A tense in the Greek language, which expresses an action as
completed in past time, but leaves it, in other respects, wholly
indeterminate.
AORISTIC
A`o*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Indefinite; pertaining to the aorist tense.
AORTA
A*or"ta, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The great artery which carries the blood from the heart to all
parts of the body except the lungs; the main trunk of the arterial
system.
Note: In fishes and the early stages of all higher vertebrates the
aorta divides near its origin into several branches (the aortic
arches) which pass in pairs round the oesophagus and unite to form
the systemic aorta. One or more pairs of these arches persist in
amphibia and reptiles, but only one arch in birds and mammals, this
being on the right side in the former, and on the left in the latter.
AORTIC
A*or"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the aorta.
AORTITIS
A`or*ti"tis, n. Etym: [Aorta + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the aorta.
AOUDAD
A"ou*dad, n. Etym: [The Moorish name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African sheeplike quadruped (the Ammotragus tragelaphus)
having a long mane on the breast and fore legs. It is, perhaps, the
chamois of the Old Testament.
APACE
A*pace", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + pace. OE. a pas at a walk, in which a
is the article. See Pace.]
Defn: With a quick pace; quick; fast; speedily.
His dewy locks did drop with brine apace. Spenser.
A visible triumph of the gospel drawapace. I. Taylor.
APACHES
A*pa"ches, n. pl.; sing. Apache. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A group of nomadic North American Indians including several
tribes native of Arizona, New Mexico, etc.
APAGOGE
Ap`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [Gr. (Logic)
Defn: An indirect argument which proves a thing by showing the
impossibility or absurdity of the contrary.
APAGOGIC; APAGOGICAL
Ap`a*gog"ic, Ap`a*gog"ic*al, a.
Defn: Proving indirectly, by showing the absurdity, or impossibility
of the contrary. Bp. Berkeley.
APAID
A*paid", a.
Defn: Paid; pleased. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APAIR
A*pair", v. t. & i.
Defn: To impair or become impaired; to injure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APALACHIAN
Ap`a*la"chi*an, a.
Defn: See Appalachian.
APANAGE
Ap"an*age, n.
Defn: Same as Appanage.
APANTHROPY
A*pan"thro*py, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An aversion to the company of men; a love of solitude.
APAR; APARA
A"par, A"pa*ra, n. Etym: [Native name apara.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Mataco.
APAREJO
A`pa*re"jo, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A kind of pack saddle used in the American military service and
among the Spanish Americans. It is made of leather stuffed with hay,
moss, or the like.
APARITHMESIS
Ap`a*rith"me*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: Enumeration of parts or particulars.
APART
A*part", adv. Etym: [F. à part; (L. ad) + part part. See Part.]
1. Separately, in regard to space or company; in a state of
separation as to place; aside.
Others apart sat on a hill retired. Milton.
The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself. Ps. iv. 3.
2. In a state of separation, of exclusion, or of distinction, as to
purpose, use, or character, or as a matter of thought; separately;
independently; as, consider the two propositions apart.
3. Aside; away. "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity
of naughtiness." Jas. i. 21.
Let Pleasure go, put Care apart. Keble.
4. In two or more parts; asunder; to piece; as, to take a piece of
machinery apart.
APARTMENT
A*part"ment, n. Etym: [F. appartement; cf. It. appartamento, fr.
appartare to separate, set apart; all fr. L. ad + pars, partis, part.
See Apart.]
1. A room in a building; a division in a house, separated from others
by partitions. Fielding.
2. A set or suite of rooms. De Quincey.
3. A compartment. [Obs.] Pope.
APARTMENT HOUSE
A*part"ment house.
Defn: A building comprising a number of suites designed for separate
housekeeping tenements, but having conveniences, such as heat, light,
elevator service, etc., furnished in common; -- often distinguished
in the United States from a flat house.
APARTNESS
A*part"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of standing apart.
APASTRON
Ap*as"tron, n. Etym: [Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: That point in the orbit of a double star where the smaller star
is farthest from its primary.
APATHETIC; APATHETICAL
Ap`a*thet"ic, Ap`a*thet"ic*al a. Etym: [See Apathy.]
Defn: Void of feeling; not susceptible of deep emotion; passionless;
indifferent.
APATHETICALLY
Ap`a*thet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an apathetic manner.
APATHIST
Ap"a*thist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. apathiste.]
Defn: One who is destitute of feeling.
APATHISTICAL
Ap`a*this"tic*al, a.
Defn: Apathetic; une motional. [R.]
APATHY
Ap"a*thy, n.; pl. Apathies. Etym: [L. apathia, Gr. apathie. See
Pathos.]
Defn: Want of feeling; privation of passion, emotion, or excitement;
dispassion; -- applied either to the body or the mind. As applied to
the mind, it is a calmness, indolence, or state of indifference,
incapable of being ruffled or roused to active interest or exertion
by pleasure, pain, or passion. "The apathy of despair." Macaulay.
A certain apathy or sluggishness in his nature which led him . . . to
leave events to take their own course. Prescott.
According to the Stoics, apathy meant the extinction of the passions
by the ascendency of reason. Fleming.
Note: In the first ages of the church, the Christians adopted the
term to express a contempt of earthly concerns.
Syn.
-- Insensibility; unfeelingness; indifference; unconcern; stoicism;
supineness; sluggishness.
APATITE
Ap"a*tite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native phosphate of lime, occurring usually in six-sided
prisms, color often pale green, transparent or translucent.
APAUME
A`pau`mé", n.
Defn: See Appaum.
APE
Ape, n. Etym: [AS. apa; akin to D. aap, OHG. affo, G. affe, Icel.
api, Sw. apa, Dan. abe, W. epa.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A quadrumanous mammal, esp. of the family Simiadæ, having teeth
of the same number and form as in man, having teeth of the same
number and form as in man, and possessing neither a tail nor cheek
pouches. The name is applied esp. to species of the genus Hylobates,
and is sometimes used as a general term for all Quadrumana. The
higher forms, the gorilla, chimpanzee, and ourang, are often called
anthropoid apes or man apes.
Note: The ape of the Old Testament was prqobably the rhesus monkey of
India, and allied forms.
2. One who imitates servilely (in allusion to the manners of the
ape); a mimic. Byron.
3. A dupe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APE
Ape, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aped; p. pr. & vb. n. Aping.]
Defn: To mimic, as an ape imitates human actions; to imitate or
follow servilely or irrationally. "How he apes his sire." Addison.
The people of England will not ape the fashions they have never
tried. Burke.
APEAK
A*peak", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + peak. Cf. F. à pic vertically.]
(Naut.)
Defn: In a vertical line. The anchor in apeak, when the cable has
been sufficiently hove in to bring the ship over it, and the ship is
them said to be hove apeak. [Spelt also apeek.]
APEHOOD
Ape"hood, n.
Defn: The state of being an ape.
APELLOUS
A*pel"lous, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + L. pellis skin.]
Defn: Destitute of skin. Brande & C.
APENNINE
Ap"en*nine, a. Etym: [L. Apenninus, fr. Celtic pen, or ben, peak,
mountain.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the Apennines, a chain of
mountains extending through Italy.
APEPSY
A*pep"sy, n. Etym: [NL. apepsia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Defective digestion, indigestion. Coxe.
APER
Ap"er, n.
Defn: One who apes.
APERCU
A`per`çu" (a`pâr`sus"), n.; pl. Aperçus (-sus"). [F., prop. p. p. of
apercevoir to perceive.]
1.
Defn: A first view or glance, or the perception or estimation so
obtained; an immediate apprehension or insight, appreciative rather
than analytic.
The main object being to develop the several aperçus or insights
which furnish the method of such psychology.
W. T. Harris.
A series of partial and more or less disparate aperçus or outlooks;
each for itself a center of experience.
James Ward.
2. Hence, a brief or detached view; conspectus; sketch.
APEREA
A*pe"re*a, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild Guinea pig of Brazil (Cavia aperea).
APERIENT
A*pe"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. aperiens, p. pr. of aperire to uncover,
open; ab + parire, parere, to bring forth, produce. Cf. Cover,
Overt.] (Med.)
Defn: Gently opening the bowels; laxative.
-- n.
Defn: An aperient medicine or food. Arbuthnot.
APERITIVE
A*per"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. apéritif, fr. L. aperire.]
Defn: Serving to open; aperient. Harvey.
APERT
A*pert", a. Etym: [OF. apert, L. apertus, p. p. of aperire. See
Aperient, and cf. Pert, a.]
Defn: Open; ev [Archaic] Fotherby.
APERT
A*pert", adv.
Defn: Openly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APERTION
A*per"tion, n. Etym: [L. apertio.]
Defn: The act of opening; an opening; an aperture. [Archaic] Wiseman.
APERTLY
A*pert"ly, adv.
Defn: Openly; clearly. [Archaic]
APERTNESS
A*pert"ness, n.
Defn: Openness; frankness. [Archaic]
APERTURE
Ap"er*ture, n. Etym: [L. apertura, fr. aperire. See Aperient.]
1. The act of opening. [Obs.]
2. An opening; an open space; a gap, cleft, or chasm; a passage
perforated; a hole; as, an aperture in a wall.
An aperture between the mountains. Gilpin.
The back aperture of the nostrils. Owen.
3. (Opt.)
Defn: The diameter of the exposed part of the object glass of a
telescope or other optical instrument; as, a telescope of four-inch
aperture.
Note: The aperture of microscopes is often expressed in degrees,
called also the angular aperture, which signifies the angular breadth
of the pencil of light which the instrument transmits from the object
or point viewed; as, a microscope of 100º aperture.
APERY
Ap"er*y, n.; pl. Aperies.
1. A place where apes are kept. [R.] Kingsley.
2. The practice of aping; an apish action. Coleridge.
APETALOUS
A*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no petals, or flower leaves. [See Illust. under Anther].
APETALOUSNESS
A*pet"al*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being apetalous.
APEX
A"pex, n.; pl. E. Apexes; L. Apices. Etym: [L.]
1. The tip, top, point, or angular summit of anything; as, the apex
of a mountain, spire, or cone; the apex, or tip, of a leaf.
2. (Mining)
Defn: The end or edge of a vein nearest the surface. [U.S.] Apex of
the earth's motion (Astron.), that point of the heavens toward which
the earth is moving in its orbit.
APHAERESIS
A*phær"e*sis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Apheresis.
APHAKIA
A*pha"ki*a, n. Etym: [NL.; Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An anomalous state of refraction caused by the absence of the
crystalline lens, as after operations for cataract. The remedy is the
use of powerful convex lenses. Dunglison.
APHAKIAL
A*pha"ki*al, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to aphakia; as, aphakial eyes.
APHANIPTERA
Aph`a*nip"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of wingless insects, of which the flea in the type. See
Flea.
APHANIPTEROUS
Aph`a*nip"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Aphaniptera.
APHANITE
Aph"a*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A very compact, dark-colored
APHANITIC
Aph`a*nit"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Resembling aphanite; having a very fine-grained structure.
APHASIA; APHASY
A*pha"si*a, Aph"a*sy, n. Etym: [NL. aphasia, Gr. aphasie.] (Med.)
Defn: Loss of the power of speech, or of the appropriate use of
words, the vocal organs remaining intact, and the intelligence being
preserved. It is dependent on injury or disease of the brain.
APHASIC
A*pha"sic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or affected by, aphasia; speechless.
APHELION
A*phel"ion, n.; pl. Aphelia. Etym: [Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: That point of a planet's or comet's orbit which is most distant
from the sun, the opposite point being the perihelion.
APHELIOTROPIC
A*phe`li*o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Turning away from the sun; -- said of leaves, etc. Darwin.
APHELIOTROPISM
A*phe`li*ot"ro*pism, n.
Defn: The habit of bending from the sunlight; -- said of certain
plants.
APHEMIA
A*phe"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Loss of the power of speaking, while retaining the power of
writing; -- a disorder of cerebral origin.
APHERESIS
A*pher"e*sis, n. Etym: [L. aphaeresis, Gr.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The dropping of a letter or syllable from the beginning of a
word; e. g., cute for acute.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: An operation by which any part is separated from the rest.
[Obs.] Dunglison.
APHESIS
Aph"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The loss of a short unaccented vowel at the beginning of a
word; -- the result of a phonetic process; as, squire for esquire.
New Eng. Dict.
APHETIC
A*phet"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Shortened by dropping a letter or a syllable from the beginning
of a word; as, an aphetic word or form.
-- A*phet"ic*al*ly, adv. New Eng. Dict.
APHETISM
Aph"e*tism, n.
Defn: An aphetized form of a word. New Eng. Dict.
APHETIZE
Aph"e*tize, v. t.
Defn: To shorten by aphesis.
These words . . . have been aphetized. New Eng. Dict.
APHID
A"phid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the genus Aphis; an aphidian.
APHIDES
Aph"i*des, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Aphis.
APHIDIAN
A*phid"i*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the family Aphidæ.
-- n.
Defn: One of the aphides; an aphid.
APHIDIVOROUS
Aph`i*div"o*rous. Etym: [Aphis + L. vorare to devour.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Devouring aphides; aphidophagous.
APHIDOPHAGOUS
Aph`i*doph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Aphis + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Feeding upon aphides, or plant lice, as do beetles of the
family Coccinellidæ.
APHILANTHROPY
Aph`i*lan"thro*py, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Want of love to mankind; -- the opposite of philanthropy. Coxe.
APHIS
A"phis, n.; pl. Aphides. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of insects belonging to the order Hemiptera and family
Aphidæ, including numerous species known as plant lice and green
flies.
Note: Besides the true males and females, there is a race of wingless
asexual individuals which have the power of producing living young in
rapid succession, and these in turn may produce others of the same
kind for several generations, before sexual individuals appear. They
suck the sap of plants by means of a tubular proboscis, and owing to
the wonderful rapidity of their reproduction become very destructive
to vegetation. Many of the Aphidæ excrete honeydew from two tubes
near the end of the body.
APHIS LION
A"phis li"on. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of the lacewinged flies (Chrysopa), which feeds
voraciously upon aphids. The name is also applied to the larvæ of the
ladybugs (Coccinella).
APHLOGISTIC
Aph`lo*gis"*tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Flameless; as, an aphlogistic lamp, in which a coil of wire is
kept in a state of continued ignition by alcohol, without flame.
APHONIA; APHONY
A*pho"ni*a, Aph"o*ny, n. Etym: [NL. aphonia, Gr. aphonie.] (Med.)
Defn: Loss of voice or vocal utterance.
APHONIC; APHONOUS
A*phon"ic, Aph"o*nous, a.
Defn: Without voice; voiceless; nonvocal.
APHORISM
Aph"o*rism, n. Etym: [F. aphorisme, fr. Gr. Horizon.]
Defn: A comprehensive maxim or principle expressed in a few words; a
sharply defined sentence relating to abstract truth rather than to
practical matters.
The first aphorism of Hippocrates is, "Life is short, and the art is
long." Fleming.
Syn.
-- Axiom; maxim; adage; proverb; apothegm; saying; saw; truism;
dictum. See Axiom.
APHORISMATIC; APHORISMIC
Aph`o*ris*mat"ic, Aph`o*ris"mic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to aphorisms, or having the form of an aphorism.
APHORISMER
Aph`o*ris"mer n.
Defn: A dealer in aphorisms. [Used in derogation or contempt.]
Milton.
APHORIST
Aph"o*rist, n.
Defn: A writer or utterer of aphorisms.
APHORISTIC; APHORISTICAL
Aph`o*ris"tic, Aph`o*ris"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: In the form of, or of the nature of, an aphorism; in the form
of short, unconnected sentences; as, an aphoristic style.
The method of the book is aphoristic. De Quincey.
APHORISTICALLY
Aph`o*ris"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form or manner of aphorisms; pithily.
APHORIZE
Aph"o*rize, v. i.
Defn: To make aphorisms.
APHOTIC
A*pho"tic (a*fo"tik), a. [Gr. 'a`fws, 'a`fwtos.]
Defn: Without light.
APHOTIC REGION
Aphotic region. (Phytogeog.)
Defn: A depth of water so great that only those organisms can exist
that do not assimilate.
APHRASIA
A*phra"si*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'a priv. + fra`sis speech.] (Med.)
(a) = Dumbness.
(b) A disorder of speech in which words can be uttered but not
intelligibly joined together.
APHRITE
Aph"rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See under Calcite.
APHRODISIAC; APHRODISIACAL
Aph`ro*dis"i*ac, Aph`ro*di*si"a*cal, a. Etym: [Gr. Aphrodite.]
Defn: Exciting venereal desire; provocative to venery.
APHRODISIAC
Aph`ro*dis"i*ac, n.
Defn: That which (as a drug, or some kinds of food) excites to
venery.
APHRODISIAN
Aph`ro*dis"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Aphrodite or Venus. "Aphrodisian dames" [that is,
courtesans]. C. Reade.
APHRODITE
Aph`ro*di"te, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Classic Myth.)
Defn: The Greek goddess of love, corresponding to the Venus of the
Romans.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large marine annelid, covered with long, lustrous, golden,
hairlike setæ; the sea mouse.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beautiful butterfly (Argunnis Aphrodite) of the United
States.
APHRODITIC
Aph`ro*dit"ic, a.
Defn: Venereal. [R.] Dunglison.
APHTHA
Aph"tha, n. Etym: [Sing. of Aphthæ.] (Med.)
(a) One of the whitish specks called aphthæ.
(b) The disease, also called thrush.
APHTHAE
Aph"thæ, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Roundish pearl-colored specks or flakes in the mouth, on the
lips, etc., terminating in white sloughs. They are commonly
characteristic of thrush.
APHTHOID
Aph"thoid, a. Etym: [Aphtha + -oid.]
Defn: Of the nature of aphthæ; resembling thrush.
APHTHONG
Aph"thong, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A letter, or a combination of letters, employed in spelling a
word, but in the pronunciation having no sound.
-- Aph*thon"gal, a.
APHTHOUS
Aph"thous a. Etym: [Cf. F. aphtheux.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or caused by, aphthæ; characterized by aphtæ;
as, aphthous ulcers; aphthous fever.
APHYLLOUS
Aph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of leaves, as the broom rape, certain euphorbiaceous
plants, etc.
APIACEOUS
A`pi*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Umbelliferous.
APIAN
A"pi*an, a.
Defn: Belonging to bees.
APIARIAN
A`pi*a"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to bees.
APIARIST
A"pi*a*rist, n.
Defn: One who keeps an apiary.
APIARY
A"pi*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. apiarium, fr. apis bee.]
Defn: A place where bees are kept; a stand or shed for bees; a
beehouse.
APICAL
Ap"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. apex, apicis, tip or summit.]
Defn: At or belonging to an apex, tip, or summit. Gray.
APICES
Ap"i*ces, n. pl.
Defn: See Apex.
APICIAN
A*pi"cian, a. Etym: [L. Apicianus.]
Defn: Belonging to Apicius, a notorious Roman epicure; hence applied
to whatever is peculiarly refined or dainty and expensive in cookery.
H. Rogers.
APICULAR
A*pic"u*lar, a. Etym: [NL. apiculus, dim. of L. apex, apicis.]
Defn: Situated at, or near, the apex; apical.
APICULATE; APICULATED
A*pic"u*late, A*pic"u*la`ted, a. Etym: [See Apicular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Terminated abruptly by a small, distinct point, as a leaf.
APICULTURE
Ap"i*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. apis bee + E. culture.]
Defn: Rearing of bees for their honey and wax.
APIECE
A*piece", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + piece.]
Defn: Each by itself; by the single one; to each; as the share of
each; as, these melons cost a shilling apiece. "Fined . . . a
thousand pounds apiece." Hume.
APIECES
A*pie"ces, adv.
Defn: In pieces or to pieces. [Obs.] "Being torn apieces." Shak.
APIKED
A*pik"ed, a.
Defn: Trimmed. [Obs.]
Full fresh and new here gear apiked was. Chaucer.
APIOL
A"pi*ol, n. Etym: [L. apium parsley + -ol.] (Med.)
Defn: An oily liquid derived from parsley.
APIOLOGIST
A`pi*ol"o*gist, n. Etym: [L. apis bee + -logist (see -logy).]
Defn: A student of bees. [R.] Emerson.
APIOLOGY
A`pi*ol"o*gy, n. [L. apis bee + -logy.]
Defn: The scientific or systematic study of honey bees.
APIS
A"pis, n. Etym: [L., bee.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of insects of the order Hymenoptera, including the
common honeybee (Apis mellifica) and other related species. See
Honeybee.
APISH
Ap"ish, a.
Defn: Having the qualities of an ape; prone to imitate in a servile
manner. Hence: Apelike; fantastically silly; foppish; affected;
trifling.
The apish gallantry of a fantastic boy. Sir W. Scott.
APISHLY
Ap"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In an apish manner; with servile imitation; foppishly.
APISHNESS
Ap"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being apish; mimicry; foppery.
APITPAT
A*pit"pat, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + pitpat.]
Defn: With quick beating or palpitation; pitapat. Congreve.
APLACENTAL
Ap`la*cen"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + placental.]
Defn: Belonging to the Aplacentata; without placenta.
APLACENTATA
Ap`la*cen*ta"ta, n. pl. Etym: [Pref. a- not + placenta.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Mammals which have no placenta.
APLACOPHORA
Ap`la*coph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Amphineura in which the body is naked or covered
with slender spines or setæ, but is without shelly plates.
APLANATIC
Ap`la*nat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)
Defn: Having two or more parts of different curvatures, so combined
as to remove spherical aberration; -- said of a lens. Aplanatic focus
of a lens (Opt.), the point or focus from which rays diverging pass
the lens without spherical aberration. In certain forms of lenses
there are two such foci; and it is by taking advantage of this fact
that the best aplanatic object glasses of microscopes are
constructed.
APLANATISM
A*plan"a*tism, n.
Defn: Freedom from spherical aberration.
APLANOGAMETE
A*plan`o*ga*mete", n. (Bot.)
Defn: A nonmotile gamete, found in certain lower algæ.
APLASIA
A*pla"si*a, n. [NL.; Gr. priv. + a molding.] (Med.)
Defn: Incomplete or faulty development.
APLASTIC
A*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + plastic.]
Defn: Not plastic or easily molded.
APLOMB
A`plomb", n. Etym: [F., lit. perpendicularity; plomb lead. See
Plumb.]
Defn: Assurance of manner or of action; self-possession.
APLOTOMY
A*plot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: Simple incision. Dunglison.
APLUSTRE
A*plus"tre, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An ornamental appendage of wood at the ship's stern, usually
spreading like a fan and curved like a bird's feather. Audsley.
APLYSIA
A*plys"i*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine mollusks of the order Tectibranchiata; the
sea hare. Some of the species when disturbed throw out a deep purple
liquor, which colors the water to some distance. See Illust. in
Appendix.
APNEUMATIC
Ap`neu*mat"ic, a. [Gr. not blown through.] (Med.)
Defn: Devoid of air; free from air; as, an apneumatic lung; also,
effected by or with exclusion of air; as, an apneumatic operation.
APNEUMONA
Ap*neu"mo*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of holothurians in which the internal respiratory
organs are wanting; -- called also Apoda or Apodes.
APNOEA; APNEA
Ap*nae"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Partial privation or suspension of breath; suffocation.
APO
Ap"o. Etym: [Gr. Ab-.]
Defn: A prefix from a Greek preposition. It usually signifies from,
away from, off, or asunder, separate; as, in apocope (a cutting off),
apostate, apostle (one sent away), apocarpous.
APOCALYPSE
A*poc"a*lypse, n. Etym: [L. apocalypsis, Gr. apocalypse.]
1. The revelation delivered to St. John, in the isle of Patmos, near
the close of the first century, forming the last book of the New
Testament.
2. Anything viewed as a revelation; as disclosure.
The new apocalypse of Nature. Carlyle.
APOCALYPTIC; APOCALYPTICAL
A*poc`a*lyp"tic, A*poc`a*lyp"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a revelation, or, specifically, to the
Revelation of St. John; containing, or of the nature of, a prophetic
revelation. Apocolyptic number, the number 666, mentioned in Rev.
xiii. 18. It has been variously interpreted.
APOCALYPTIC; APOCALYPTIST
A*poc`a*lyp"tic, A*poc`a*lyp"tist, n.
Defn: The writer of the Apocalypse.
APOCALYPTICALLY
A*poc`a*lyp"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By revelation; in an apocalyptic manner.
APOCARPOUS
Ap`o*car"pous, a. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Either entirely of partially separate, as the carpels of a
compound pistil; -- opposed to syncarpous. Lindley.
APOCHROMATIC
Ap`o*chro*mat"ic, a. [Pref. apo-+ chromatic.] (Optics)
Defn: Free from chromatic and spherical aberration; -- said esp. of a
lens in which rays of three or more colors are brought to the same
focus, the degree of achromatism thus obtained being more complete
than where two rays only are thus focused, as in the ordinary
achromatic objective. --Ap`o*chro"ma*tism (#), n.
APOCODEINE
Ap`o*co*de"ine, n. [Pref. apo-+ codeine.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid, , prepared from codeine. In its effects it
resembles apomorphine.
APOCOPATE
A*poc"o*pate, v. t. Etym: [LL. apocopatus, p. p. of apocopare to cut
off, fr. L. apocore. See Apocope.] (Gram.)
Defn: To cut off or drop; as, to apocopate a word, or the last
letter, syllable, or part of a word.
APOCOPATE; APOCOPATED
A*poc"o*pate, A*poc"o*pa`ted, a.
Defn: Shortened by apocope; as, an apocopate form.
APOCOPATION
A*poc`o*pa"tion, n.
Defn: Shortening by apocope; the state of being apocopated.
APOCOPE
A*poc"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. The cutting off, or omission, of the last letter, syllable, or
part of a word.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A cutting off; abscission.
APOCRISIARY; APOCRISIARIUS
Ap`o*cris"i*a*ry, Ap`o*cris`i*a"ri*us, n. Etym: [L. apocrisiarius,
apocrisarius, fr. Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: A delegate or deputy; especially, the pope's nuncio or legate
at Constantinople.
APOCRUSTIC
Ap`o*crus"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Astringent and repellent.
-- n.
Defn: An apocrustic medicine.
APOCRYPHA
A*poc"ry*pha, n. pl., but often used as sing. with pl. Apocryphas.
Etym: [L. apocryphus apocryphal, Gr.
1. Something, as a writing, that is of doubtful authorship or
authority; -- formerly used also adjectively. [Obs.] Locke.
2. Specif.: Certain writings which are received by some Christians as
an authentic part of the Holy Scriptures, but are rejected by others.
Note: Fourteen such writings, or books, formed part of the
Septuagint, but not of the Hebrew canon recognized by the Jews of
Palestine. The Council of Trent included all but three of these in
the canon of inspired books having equal authority. The German and
English Reformers grouped them in their Bibles under the title
Apocrypha, as not having dogmatic authority, but being profitable for
instruction. The Apocrypha is now commonly
APOCRYPHAL
A*poc"ry*phal, a.
1. Pertaining to the Apocrypha.
2. Not canonical. Hence: Of doubtful authority; equivocal; mythic;
fictitious; spurious; false.
The passages . . . are, however, in part from apocryphal or
fictitious works. Sir G. C. Lewis.
APOCRYPHALIST
A*poc"ry*phal*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in, or defends, the Apocrypha. [R.]
APOCRYPHALLY
A*poc"ry*phal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an apocryphal manner; mythically; not indisputably.
APOCRYPHALNESS
A*poc"ry*phal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being apocryphal; doubtfulness of
credit or genuineness.
APOCYNACEOUS; APOCYNEOUS
A*poc`y*na"ceous, Ap`o*cyn"e*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a family of plants, of which the
dogbane (Apocynum) is the type.
APOCYNIN
A*poc"y*nin, n. Etym: [From Apocynum, the generic name of dogbane.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A bitter principle obtained from the dogbane (Apocynum
cannabinum).
APOD; APODAL
Ap"od, Ap"o*dal, a. Etym: [See Apod, n.]
1. Without feet; footless.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of the ventral fin, as the eels.
APOD; APODE
Ap"od, Ap"ode, n.; pl. Apods or Apodes. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of certain animals that have no feet or footlike organs;
esp. one of certain fabulous birds which were said to have no feet.
Note: The bird of paradise formerly had the name Paradisea apoda,
being supposed to have no feet, as these were wanting in the
specimens first obtained from the East Indies.
APODA
Ap"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Apod, n.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A group of cirripeds, destitute of footlike organs.
(b) An order of Amphibia without feet. See Ophiomorpha.
(c) A group of worms without appendages, as the leech.
APODAN
Ap"o*dan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Apodal.
APODEICTIC; APODICTIC; APODEICTICAL; APODICTICAL
Ap"o*deic"tic, Ap`o*dic"tic, Ap`o*deic"tic*al, Ap`o*dic"tic*al, a.
Etym: [L. apodicticus, Gr.
Defn: Self-evident; intuitively true; evident beyond contradiction.
Brougham. Sir Wm. Hamilton.
APODEICTICALLY; APODICTICALLY
Ap`o*deic"tic*al*ly, Ap`o*dic"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to be evident beyond contradiction.
APODEME
Ap"o*deme, n. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the processes of the shell which project inwards and
unite with one another, in the thorax of many Crustacea.
APODES
Ap"o*des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., masc. pl. See Apoda.] (Zoöl.)
(a) An order of fishes without ventral fins, including the eels.
(b) A group of holothurians destitute of suckers. See Apneumona.
APODICTIC
Ap`o*dic"tic, a.
Defn: Same as Apodeictic.
APODIXIS
Ap`o*dix"is, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: Full demonstration.
APODOSIS
A*pod"o*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: The consequent clause or conclusion in a conditional sentence,
expressing the result, and thus distinguished from the protasis or
clause which expresses a condition. Thus, in the sentence, "Though he
slay me, yet will I trust in him," the former clause is the protasis,
and the latter the apodosis.
Note: Some grammarians extend the terms protasis and apodosis to the
introductory clause and the concluding clause, even when the sentence
is not conditional.
APODOUS
Ap"o*dous(#), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Apodal; apod.
APODYTERIUM
A*pod`y*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: The apartment at the entrance of the baths, or in the palestra,
where one stripped; a dressing room.
APOGAIC
Ap`o*ga"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Apogean.
APOGAMIC
Ap`o*gam"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to apogamy.
APOGAMY
A*pog"a*my, n. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The formation of a bud in place of a fertilized ovule or
oöspore. De Bary.
APOGEAL
Ap`o*ge"al, a. (Astron.)
Defn: Apogean.
APOGEAN
Ap`o*ge"an, a.
Defn: Connected with the apogee; as, apogean (neap) tides, which
occur when the moon has passed her apogee.
APOGEE
Ap"o*gee, n. Etym: [Gr. apogée.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: That point in the orbit of the moon which is at the greatest
distance from the earth.
Note: Formerly, on the hypothesis that the earth is in the center of
the system, this name was given to that point in the orbit of the
sun, or of a planet, which was supposed to be at the greatest
distance from the earth.
2. Fig.: The farthest or highest point; culmination.
APOGEOTROPIC
Ap`o*ge`o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Bending away from the ground; -- said of leaves, etc. Darwin.
APOGEOTROPISM
Ap"o*ge*ot"ro*pism, n.
Defn: The apogeotropic tendency of some leaves, and other parts.
APOGRAPH
Ap"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. apographe.]
Defn: A copy or transcript. Blount.
APOHYAL
Ap`o*hy"al, a. Etym: [Pref. apo- + the Gr. letter Y.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a portion of the horn of the hyoid bone.
APOISE
A*poise", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + poise.]
Defn: Balanced.
APOLAR
A*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + polar.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having no radiating processes; -- applied particularly to
certain nerve cells.
APOLAUSTIC
Ap`o*laus"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Devoted to enjoyment.
APOLLINARIAN
A*pol`li*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Apollinaris, fr. Apollo.] (Rom.
Antiq.)
Defn: In honor of Apollo; as, the Apollinarian games.
APOLLINARIAN
A*pol`li*na"ri*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Apollinaris, Bishop of Laodicea in the fourth
century, who denied the proper humanity of Christ.
APOLLINARIS WATER
A*pol`li*na"ris wa"ter.
Defn: An effervescing alkaline mineral water used as a table
beverage. It is obtained from a spring in Apollinarisburg, near Bonn.
APOLLO
A*pol"lo, n. Etym: [L. Apollo, -linis, Gr. (Classic Myth.)
Defn: A deity among the Greeks and Romans. He was the god of light
and day (the "sun god"), of archery, prophecy, medicine, poetry, and
music, etc., and was represented as the model of manly grace and
beauty; -- called also Phébus. The Apollo Belvedere, a celebrated
statue of Apollo in the Belvedere gallery of the Vatican palace at
Rome, esteemed of the noblest representations of the human frame.
APOLLONIAN; APOLLONIC
Ap`ol*lo"ni*an, Ap`ol*lon"ic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, Apollo.
APOLLYON
A*pol"ly*on, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The Destroyer; -- a name used (Rev. ix. 11) for the angel of
the bottomless pit, answering to the Hebrew Abaddon.
APOLOGER
A*pol"o*ger, n.
Defn: A teller of apologues. [Obs.]
APOLOGETIC; APOLOGETICAL
A*pol`o*get"ic, A*pol`o*get"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Logic.]
Defn: Defending by words or arguments; said or written in defense, or
by way of apology; regretfully excusing; as, an apologetic essay. "To
speak in a subdued and apologetic tone." Macaulay.
APOLOGETICALLY
A*pol`o*get"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of apology.
APOLOGETICS
A*pol`o*get"ics, n.
Defn: That branch of theology which defends the Holy Scriptures, and
sets forth the evidence of their divine authority.
APOLOGIST
A*pol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. apologiste.]
Defn: One who makes an apology; one who speaks or writes in defense
of a faith, a cause, or an institution; especially, one who argues in
defense of Christianity.
APOLOGIZE
A*pol"o*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Apologized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Apologizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. apologiser.]
1. To make an apology or defense. Dr. H. More.
2. To make an apology or excuse; to make acknowledgment of some fault
or offense, with expression of regret for it, by way of amends; --
with for; as, my correspondent apologized for not answering my
letter.
To apologize for his insolent language. Froude.
APOLOGIZE
A*pol"o*gize, v. t.
Defn: To defend. [Obs.]
The Christians . . . were apologized by Plinie. Dr. G. Benson.
APOLOGIZER
A*pol"o*gi`zer, n.
Defn: One who makes an apology; an apologist.
APOLOGUE
Ap"o*logue, n. Etym: [L. apologous, Gr. apologue.]
Defn: A story or relation of fictitious events, intended to convey
some moral truth; a moral fable.
Note: An apologue differs from a parable in this;: the parable is
drawn from events which take place among mankind, and therefore
requires probability in the narrative; the apologue is founded on
supposed actions of brutes or inanimate things, and therefore is not
limited by strict rules of probability. Æsop's fables are good
examples of apologues.
APOLOGY
A*pol"o*gy, n.; pl. Apologies . Etym: [L. apologia, Gr. apologie. See
Apologetic.]
1. Something said or written in defense or justification of what
appears to others wrong, or of what may be liable to disapprobation;
justification; as, Tertullian's Apology for Christianity.
It is not my intention to make an apology for my poem; some will
think it needs no excuse, and others will receive none. Dryden.
2. An acknowledgment intended as an atonement for some improper or
injurious remark or act; an admission to another of a wrong or
discourtesy done him, accompanied by an expression of regret.
3. Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
He goes to work devising apologies for window curtains. Dickens.
Syn.
-- Excuse. An apology, in the original sense of the word, was a
pleading off from some charge or imputation, by explaining and
defending one's principles or conduct. It therefore amounted to a
vindication. One who offers an apology, admits himself to have been,
at least apparently, in the wrong, but brings forward some palliating
circumstance, or tenders a frank acknowledgment, by way of
reparation. We make an apology for some breach of propriety or
decorum (like rude expressions, unbecoming conduct, etc.), or some
deficiency in what might be reasonably expected. We offer an excuse
when we have been guilty of some breach or neglect of duty; and we do
it by way of extenuating our fault, and with a view to be forgiven.
When an excuse has been accepted, an apology may still, in some
cases, be necessary or appropriate. "An excuse is not grounded on the
claim of innocence, but is rather an appeal for favor resting on some
collateral circumstance. An apology mostly respects the conduct of
individuals toward each other as equals; it is a voluntary act
produced by feelings of decorum, or a desire for the good opinion of
others." Crabb.
APOLOGY
A*pol"o*gy, v. i.
Defn: To offer an apology. [Obs.]
For which he can not well apology. J. Webster.
APOMECOMETER
Ap`o*me*com"e*ter, n.
Defn: An instrument for measuring the height of objects. Knight.
APOMECOMETRY
Ap`o*me*com"e*try, n. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. -metry.]
Defn: The art of measuring the distance of objects afar off. [Obs. or
R.]
APOMORPHIA; APOMORPHINE
Ap`o*mor"phi*a, Ap`o*mor"phine, n. Etym: [Pref. apo- + morphia,
morphine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline alkaloid obtained from morphia. It is a powerful
emetic.
APONEUROSIS
Ap`o*neu*ro"sis, n.; pl. Aponeuroses. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Any one of the thicker and denser of the deep fasciæ which
cover, invest, and the terminations and attachments of, many muscles.
They often differ from tendons only in being flat and thin. See
Fascia.
APONEUROTIC
Ap`o*neu*rot"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an aponeurosis.
APONEUROTOMY
Ap`o*neu*rot"o*my, n. Etym: [Aponeurosis + Gr.
Defn: Dissection of aponeuroses.
APOPEMPTIC
Ap`o*pemp"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Sung or addressed to one departing; valedictory; as, apoplectic
songs or hymns.
APOPHASIS
A*poph"a*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a speaker formally declines to take notice of
a favorable point, but in such a manner as to produce the effect
desired. [For example, see Mark Antony's oration. Shak., Julius
Cæsar, iii. 2.]
APOPHLEGMATIC
Ap`o*phleg*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Phlegmatic.] (Med.)
Defn: Designed to facilitate discharges of phlegm or mucus from mouth
or nostrils.
-- n.
Defn: An apohlegmatic medicine.
APOPHLEGMATISM
Ap`o*phleg"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: The action of apophlegmatics.
2. An apophlegmatic. [Obs.] Bacon.
APOPHLEGMATIZANT
Ap`o*phleg*mat"i*zant, n. (Med.)
Defn: An apophlegmatic. [Obs.]
APOPHTHEGM
Ap`oph*thegm, n.
Defn: See Apothegm.
APOPHTHEGMATIC; APOPHTHEGMATICAL
Ap`oph*theg*mat"ic, Ap`oph*theg*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Same as Apothegmatic.
APOPHYGE
A*poph"y*ge, n. Etym: [Gr. apophyge.] (Arch.)
Defn: The small hollow curvature given to the top or bottom of the
shaft of a column where it expands to meet the edge of the fillet; --
called also the scape. Parker.
APOPHYLLITE
A*poph"yl*lite, n. Etym: [Pref. apo- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral relating to the zeolites, usually occurring in square
prisms or octahedrons with pearly luster on the cleavage surface. It
is a hydrous silicate of calcium and potassium.
APOPHYSIS
A*poph"y*sis, n.; pl. -ses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A marked prominence or process on any part of a bone.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An enlargement at the top of a pedicel or stem, as seen in
certain mosses. Gray.
APOPLECTIC; APOPLECTICAL
Ap`o*plec"tic(#) Ap`o*plec"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. apoplecticus, Gr.
apoplectique. See Apoplexy.]
Defn: Relating to apoplexy; affected with, inclined to, or
symptomatic of, apoplexy; as, an apoplectic person, medicine, habit
or temperament, symptom, fit, or stroke.
APOPLECTIC
Ap`o*plec"tic, n.
Defn: One liable to, or affected with, apoplexy.
APOPLECTIFORM; APOPLECTOID
Ap`o*plec"ti*form, Ap`o*plec"toid, a. Etym: [Apoplectic + -form, -
oid.]
Defn: Resembling apoplexy.
APOPLEX
Ap"o*plex, n.
Defn: Apoplexy. [Obs.] Dryden.
APOPLEXED
Ap`o*plexed, a.
Defn: Affected with apoplexy. [Obs.] Shak.
APOPLEXY
Ap"o*plex`y, n. Etym: [OE. poplexye, LL. poplexia, apoplexia, fr. Gr.
apoplexie. See Plague.] (Med.)
Defn: Sudden diminution or loss of consciousness, sensation, and
voluntary motion, usually caused by pressure on the brain.
Note: The term is now usually limited to cerebral apoplexy, or loss
of consciousness due to effusion of blood or other lesion within the
substance of the brain; but it is sometimes extended to denote an
effusion of blood into the substance of any organ; as, apoplexy of
the lung.
APORETICAL
Ap`o*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Aporia.]
Defn: Doubting; skeptical. [Obs.] Cudworth.
APORIA
A*po"ri*a, n.; pl. Aporias. Etym: [L., doubt, Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure in which the speaker professes to be at a loss what
course to pursue, where to begin to end, what to say, etc.
APOROSA
Ap`o*ro"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Aporia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of corals in which the coral is not porous; -- opposed
to Perforata.
APOROSE
Ap`o*rose", a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without pores.
APORT
A*port", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + port.] (Naut.)
Defn: On or towards the port or left side; -- said of the helm.
APOSEMATIC
Ap`o*se*mat"ic, a. [Pref. apo-+ sematic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having or designating conspicuous or warning colors or
structures indicative of special means of defense against enemies, as
in the skunk.
APOSIOPESIS
Ap`o*si`o*pe"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech in which the speaker breaks off suddenly, as
if unwilling or unable to state what was in his mind; as, "I declare
to you that his conduct -- but I can not speak of that, here."
APOSITIC
Ap`o*sit"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Destroying the appetite, or suspending hunger.
APOSTASY
A*pos"ta*sy, n.; pl. Apostasies. Etym: [OE. apostasie, F. apostasie,
L. apostasia, fr. Gr. Off and Stand.]
Defn: An abandonment of what one has voluntarily professed; a total
desertion of departure from one's faith, principles, or party; esp.,
the renunciation of a religious faith; as, Julian's apostasy from
Christianity.
APOSTATE
A*pos"tate, n. Etym: [L. apostata, Gr. Apostasy.]
1. One who has forsaken the faith, principles, or party, to which he
before adhered; esp., one who has forsaken his religion for another;
a pervert; a renegade.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: One who, after having received sacred orders, renounces his
clerical profession.
APOSTATE
A*pos"tate, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, apostasy; faithless to
moral allegiance; renegade.
So spake the apostate angel. Milton.
A wretched and apostate state. Steele.
APOSTATE
A*pos"tate, v. i. Etym: [L. apostatare.]
Defn: To apostatize. [Obs.]
We are not of them which apostate from Christ. Bp. Hall.
APOSTATIC
Ap`o*stat"ic, a. Etym: [L. apostaticus, Gr.
Defn: Apostatical. [R.]
APOSTATICAL
Ap`o*stat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Apostate.
An heretical and apostatical church. Bp. Hall.
APOSTATIZE
A*pos"ta*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Apostatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Apostatizing.] Etym: [LL. apostatizare.]
Defn: To renounce totally a religious belief once professed; to
forsake one's church, the faith or principles once held, or the party
to which one has previously adhered.
He apostatized from his old faith in facts, took to believing in
Carlyle.
APOSTEMATE
A*pos"te*mate, v. i. Etym: [See Aposteme.]
Defn: To form an abscess; to swell and fill with pus. Wiseman.
APOSTEMATION
A*pos`te*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. apostematio: cf. F. apostémation.]
(Med.)
Defn: The formation of an aposteme; the process of suppuration.
[Written corruptly imposthumation.] Wiseman.
APOSTEMATOUS
Ap`os*tem"a*tous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or partaking of the nature of, an aposteme.
APOSTEME
Ap"os*teme, n. Etym: [L. apostema, Gr. apostème. See Apostasy.]
(Med.)
Defn: An abscess; a swelling filled with purulent matter. [Written
corruptly imposthume.]
A POSTERIORI
A` pos*te`ri*o"ri. Etym: [L. a (ab) + posterior latter.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: Characterizing that kind of reasoning which derives
propositions from the observation of facts, or by generalizations
from facts arrives at principles and definitions, or infers causes
from effects. This is the reverse of a priori reasoning.
2. (Philos.)
Defn: Applied to knowledge which is based upon or derived from facts
through induction or experiment; inductive or empirical.
APOSTIL; APOSTILLE
A*pos"til, A*pos"tille, n. Etym: [F. apostille. See Postil.]
Defn: A marginal note on a letter or other paper; an annotation.
Motley.
APOSTLE
A*pos"tle, n. Etym: [OE. apostle, apostel, postle, AS. apostol, L.
apostolus, fr. Gr. stellen to set, E. stall: cf. F. apôtre, Of.
apostre, apostle, apostele, apostole.]
1. Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the
twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and
witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel.
He called unto him his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, whom
also he named apostles. Luke vi. 13.
Note: The title of apostle is also applied to others, who, though not
of the number of the Twelve, yet were equal with them in office and
dignity; as, "Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ." 1 Cor.
i. 1. In Heb. iii. 1, the name is given to Christ himself, as having
been sent from heaven to publish the gospel. In the primitive church,
other ministers were called apostles (Rom. xvi. 7).
2. The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of
the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first
advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as
a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the
apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald
Mathew the apostle of temperance.
3. (Civ. & Admiralty Law)
Defn: A brief letter dimissory sent by a court appealed from to the
superior court, stating the case, etc.; a paper sent up on appeals in
the admiralty courts. Wharton. Burrill. Apostles' creed, a creed of
unknown origin, which was formerly ascribed to the apostles. It
certainly dates back to the beginning of the sixth century, and some
assert that it can be found in the writings of Ambrose in the fourth
century.
-- Apostle spoon (Antiq.), a spoon of silver, with the handle
terminating in the figure of an apostle. One or more were offered by
sponsors at baptism as a present to the godchild. B. Jonson.
APOSTLESHIP
A*pos"tle*ship, n.
Defn: The office or dignity of an apostle.
APOSTOLATE
A*pos"to*late, n. Etym: [L. apostolatus, fr. apostolus. See Apostle.]
1. The dignity, office, or mission, of an apostle; apostleship.
Judas had miscarried and lost his apostolate. Jer. Taylor.
2. The dignity or office of the pope, as the holder of the apostolic
see.
APOSTOLIC; APOSTOLICAL
Ap`os*tol"ic, Ap`os*tol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. apostolicus, Gr.
apostolique.]
1. Pertaining to an apostle, or to the apostles, their times, or
their peculiar spirit; as, an apostolical mission; the apostolic age.
2. According to the doctrines of the apostles; delivered or taught by
the apostles; as, apostolic faith or practice.
3. Of or pertaining to the pope or the papacy; papal. Apostolical
brief. See under Brief.
-- Apostolic canons, a collection of rules and precepts relating to
the duty of Christians, and particularly to the ceremonies and
discipline of the church in the second and third centuries.
-- Apostolic church, the Christian church; -- so called on account
of its apostolic foundation, doctrine, and order. The churches of
Rome, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem were called apostolic
churches.
-- Apostolic constitutions, directions of a nature similar to the
apostolic canons, and perhaps compiled by the same authors or author.
-- Apostolic fathers, early Christian writers, who were born in the
first century, and thus touched on the age of the apostles. They were
Polycarp, Clement, Ignatius, and Hermas; to these Barnabas has
sometimes been added.
-- Apostolic king (or majesty), a title granted by the pope to the
kings of Hungary on account of the extensive propagation of
Christianity by St. Stephen, the founder of the royal line. It is now
a title of the emperor of Austria in right of the throne of Hungary.
-- Apostolic see, a see founded and governed by an apostle;
specifically, the Church of Rome; -- so called because, in the Roman
Catholic belief, the pope is the successor of St. Peter, the prince
of the apostles, and the only apostle who has successors in the
apostolic office.
-- Apostolical succession, the regular and uninterrupted
transmission of ministerial authority by a succession of bishops from
the apostles to any subsequent period. Hook.
APOSTOLIC
Ap`os*tol"ic, n. Etym: [L. apostolicus.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A member of one of certain ascetic sects which at various times
professed to imitate the practice of the apostles.
APOSTOLICALLY
Ap`os*tol"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an apostolic manner.
APOSTOLICALNESS
Ap`os*tol"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: Apostolicity. Dr. H. More.
APOSTOLIC DELEGATE
Ap`os*tol"ic del"e*gate. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The diplomatic agent of the pope highest in grade, superior to
a nuncio.
APOSTOLICISM; APOSTOLICITY
Ap`os*tol"i*cism, A*pos`to*lic"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being apostolical.
APOSTROPHE
A*pos"tro*phe, n. Etym: [(1) L., fr. Gr. apostrophus apostrophe, the
turning away or omitting of a letter, Gr.
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech by which the orator or writer suddenly
breaks off from the previous method of his discourse, and addresses,
in the second person, some person or thing, absent or present; as,
Milton's apostrophe to Light at the beginning of the third book of
"Paradise Lost."
2. (Gram.)
Defn: The contraction of a word by the omission of a letter or
letters, which omission is marked by the character ['] placed where
the letter or letters would have been; as, call'd for called.
3. The mark ['] used to denote that a word is contracted (as in ne'er
for never, can't for can not), and as sign of the possessive,
singular and plural; as, a boy's hat, boys' hats. In the latter use
it originally marked the omission of the letter e.
Note: The apostrophe is used to mark the plural of figures and
letters; as, two 10's and three a's. It is also employed to mark the
close of a quotation.
APOSTROPHIC
Ap`os*troph"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an apostrophe, grammatical or rhetorical.
APOSTROPHIZE
A*pos"tro*phize, v. t., Etym: [imp. & p. p. Apostrophized; p. pr. &
vb. n. Apostrophizing.]
1. To address by apostrophe.
2. To contract by omitting a letter or letters; also, to mark with an
apostrophe (') or apostrophes.
APOSTROPHIZE
A*pos"tro*phize, v. i.
Defn: To use the rhetorical figure called apostrophe.
APOSTUME
Ap"os*tume, n.
Defn: See Aposteme. [Obs.]
APOTACTITE
Ap`o*tac"tite, n. Etym: [LL. pl. apotactitae, Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of ancient Christians, who, in supposed imitation
of the first believers, renounced all their possessions.
APOTELESM
A*pot"e*lesm, n. Etym: [See Apotelesmatic.]
1. The result or issue. [Obs.]
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The calculation and explanation of a nativity. [Obs.] Bailey.
APOTELESMATIC
Ap`o*tel`es*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Relating to the casting of horoscopes. [Archaic] Whewell.
2. Relating to an issue of fulfillment.
In this way a passage in the Old Testament may have, or rather
comprise, an apotelesmatic sense, i. e., one of after or final
accomplishment. M. Stuart.
APOTHECARY
A*poth"e*ca*ry, n.; pl. Apothecaries. Etym: [OE. apotecarie, fr. LL.
apothecarius, fr. L. apotheca storehouse, Gr. apo, fr. apothicaire,
OF. apotecaire. See Thesis.]
Defn: One who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal
purposes.
Note: In England an apothecary is one of a privileged class of
practitioners -- a kind of sub-physician. The surgeon apothecary is
the ordinary family medical attendant. One who sells drugs and makes
up prescriptions is now commonly called in England a druggist or a
pharmaceutical chemist. Apothecaries' weight, the system of weights
by which medical prescriptions were formerly compounded. The pound
and ounce are the same as in Troy weight; they differ only in the
manner of subdivision. The ounce is divided into 8 drams, 24
scruples, 480 grains. See Troy weight.
APOTHECIUM
Apo`*the"ci*um, n.; pl. Apothecia. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: The ascigerous fructification of lichens, forming masses of
various shapes.
APOTHEGM; APOPHTHEGM
Ap"o*thegm, Ap"oph*thegm, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A short, pithy, and instructive saying; a terse remark,
conveying some important truth; a sententious precept or maxim.
Note: [Apothegm is now the prevalent spelling in the United States.]
APOTHEGMATIC; APOTHEGMATICAL
Ap`o*theg*mat"ic, Ap`o*theg*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or in the manner of, an apotghem; sententious;
pithy.
APOTHEGMATIST
Ap`o*theg"ma*tist, n.
Defn: A collector or maker of apothegms. Pope.
APOTHEGMATIZE
Ap`o*theg"ma*tize, v. i.
Defn: To utter apothegms, or short and sententious sayings.
APOTHEM
Ap"o*them, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Math.)
Defn: The perpendicular from the center to one of the sides of a
regular polygon.
2. A deposit formed in a liquid extract of a vegetable substance by
exposure to the air.
APOTHEOSIS
Ap`o*the"o*sis, n. pl. Apotheoses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. The act of elevating a mortal to the rank of, and placing him
among, "the gods;" deification.
2. Glorification; exaltation. "The apotheosis of chivalry." Prescott.
"The noisy apotheosis of liberty and machinery." F. Harrison.
APOTHEOSIZE
Ap`o*the"o*size, v. t.
Defn: To exalt to the dignity of a deity; to declare to be a god; to
deify; to glorify.
APOTHESIS
A*poth"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. Apothecary.] (Arch.)
(a) A place on the south side of the chancel in the primitive
churches, furnished with shelves, for books, vestments, etc. Weale.
(b) A dressing room connected with a public bath.
APOTOME
A*pot"o*me, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Math.)
Defn: The difference between two quantities commensurable only in
power, as between sq. root2 and 1, or between the diagonal and side
of a square.
2. (Mus)
Defn: The remaining part of a whole tone after a smaller semitone has
been deducted from it; a major semitone. [Obs.]
APOZEM
Ap"o*zem, n. Etym: [L. apozema, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A decoction or infusion. [Obs.] Wiseman.
APOZEMICAL
Ap`o*zem"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a decoction. [Obs.] J. Whitaker.
APPAIR
Ap*pair", v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. empeirier, F. empire. See Impair.]
Defn: To impair; to grow worse. [Obs.]
APPALACHIAN
Ap`pa*la"chi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chain of mountains in the United States,
commonly called the Allegheny mountains.
Note: The name Appalachian was given to the mountains by the
Spaniards under De Soto, who derived it from the heighboring Indians.
Am. Cyc.
APPALL
Ap*pall", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Appalling.]
Etym: [OF. appalir to grow pale, make pale; a (L. ad) + pâlir to grow
pale, to make pale, pâle pale. See Pale, a., and cf. Pall.]
1. To make pale; to blanch. [Obs.]
The answer that ye made to me, my dear, . . . Hath so appalled my
countenance. Wyatt.
2. To weaken; to enfeeble; to reduce; as, an old appalled wight.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
Whine, of its own nature, will not congeal and freeze, only it will
lose the strength, and become appalled in extremity of cold. Holland.
3. To depress or discourage with fear; to impress with fear in such a
manner that the mind shrinks, or loses its firmness; to overcome with
sudden terror or horror; to dismay; as, the sight appalled the
stoutest heart.
The house of peers was somewhat appalled at this alarum. Clarendon.
Syn.
-- To dismay; terrify; daunt; frighten; affright; scare; depress.
See Dismay.
APPALL
Ap*pall", v. i.
1. To grow faint; to become weak; to become dismayed or discouraged.
[Obs.] Gower.
2. To lose flavor or become stale. [Obs.]
APPALL
Ap*pall", n.
Defn: Terror; dismay. [Poet.] Cowper.
APPALLING
Ap*pall"ing, a.
Defn: Such as to appall; as, an appalling accident.
-- Ap*pall"ing*ly, adv.
APPALLMENT
Ap*pall"ment, n.
Defn: Depression occasioned by terror; dismay. [Obs.] Bacon.
APPANAGE
Ap"pa*nage, n. Etym: [F. apanage, fr. OF. apaner to nourish, support,
fr. LL. apanare to furnish with bread, to provision; L. ad + pains
bread.]
1. The portion of land assigned by a sovereign prince for the
subsistence of his younger sons.
2. A dependency; a dependent territory.
3. That which belongs to one by custom or right; a natural adjunct or
accompaniment. "Wealth . . . the appanage of wit." Swift.
APPANAGIST
Ap*pan"a*gist, n. Etym: [F. apanagiste.]
Defn: A prince to whom an appanage has been granted.
APPARAILLYNG
Ap*par"ail*lyng, n. Etym: [See Apparel, n. & v.]
Defn: Preparation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APPARATUS
Ap"pa*ratus, n.; pl. Apparatus, also rarely Apparatuses. Etym: [L.,
from apparare, apparatum, to prepare; ad + prepare to make ready.]
1. Things provided as means to some end.
2. Hence: A full collection or set of implements, or utensils, for a
given duty, experimental or operative; any complex instrument or
appliance, mechanical or chemical, for a specific action or
operation; machinery; mechanism.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: A collection of organs all of which unite in a common function;
as, the respiratory apparatus.
APPAREL
Ap*par"el, n. Etym: [OE. apparel, apareil, OF. apareil, appareil,
preparation, provision, furniture, OF. apareiller to match, prepare,
F. appareiller; OF. a (L. ad) + pareil like, similar, fr. LL.
pariculus, dim. of L. par equal. See Pair.]
1. External clothing; vesture; garments; dress; garb; external
habiliments or array.
Fresh in his new apparel, proud and young. Denham.
At public devotion his resigned carriage made religion appear in the
natural apparel of simplicity. Tatler.
2. A small ornamental piece of embroidery worn on albs and some other
ecclesiastical vestments.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The furniture of a ship, as masts, sails, rigging, anchors,
guns, etc.
Syn.
-- Dress; clothing; vesture; garments; raiment; garb; costume;
attire; habiliments.
APPAREL
Ap*par"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appareled, or Apparelled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Appareling, or Apparelling.] Etym: [OF. apareiller.]
1. To make or get (something) ready; to prepare. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To furnish with apparatus; to equip; to fit out.
Ships . . . appareled to fight. Hayward.
3. To dress or clothe; to attire.
They which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in
kings' courts. Luke vii. 25.
4. To dress with external ornaments; to cover with something
ornamental; to deck; to embellish; as, trees appareled with flowers,
or a garden with verdure.
Appareled in celestial light. Wordsworth.
APPARENCE
Ap*par"ence, n. Etym: [OF. aparence.]
Defn: Appearance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APPARENCY
Ap*par"en*cy, n.
1. Appearance. [Obs.]
2. Apparentness; state of being apparent. Coleridge.
3. The position of being heir apparent.
APPARENT
Ap*par"ent, a. Etym: [F. apparent, L. apparens, -entis, p. pr. of
apparere. See Appear.]
1. Capable of being seen, or easily seen; open to view; visible to
the eye; within sight or view.
The moon . . . apparent queen. Milton.
2. Clear or manifest to the understanding; plain; evident; obvious;
known; palpable; indubitable.
It is apparent foul play. Shak.
3. Appearing to the eye or mind (distinguished from, but not
necessarily opposed to, true or real); seeming; as the apparent
motion or diameter of the sun.
To live on terms of civility, and even of apparent friendship.
Macaulay.
What Berkeley calls visible magnitude was by astronomers called
apparent magnitude. Reid.
Apparent horizon, the circle which in a level plain bounds our view,
and is formed by the apparent meeting of the earth and heavens, as
distinguished from the rational horizon.
-- Apparent time. See Time.
-- Heir apparent (Law), one whose to an estate is indefeasible if he
survives the ancestor; -- in distinction from presumptive heir. See
Presumptive.
Syn.
-- Visible; distinct; plain; obvious; clear; certain; evident;
manifest; indubitable; notorious.
APPARENT
Ap*par"ent, n.
Defn: An heir apparent. [Obs.]
I'll draw it [the sword] as apparent to the crown. Shak.
APPARENTLY
Ap*par"ent*ly, adv.
1. Visibly. [Obs.] Hobbes.
2. Plainly; clearly; manifestly; evidently.
If he should scorn me so apparently. Shak.
3. Seemingly; in appearance; as, a man may be apparently friendly,
yet malicious in heart.
APPARENTNESS
Ap*par"ent*ness, n.
Defn: Plainness to the eye or the mind; visibleness; obviousness.
[R.] Sherwood.
APPARITION
Ap`pa*ri"tion, n. Etym: [F. apparition, L. apparitio, fr. apparere.
See Appear.]
1. The act of becoming visible; appearance; visibility. Milton.
The sudden apparition of the Spaniards. Prescott.
The apparition of Lawyer Clippurse occasioned much speculation in
that portion of the world. Sir W. Scott.
2. The thing appearing; a visible object; a form.
Which apparition, it seems, was you. Tatler.
3. An unexpected, wonderful, or preternatural appearance; a ghost; a
specter; a phantom. "The heavenly bands . . . a glorious apparition."
Milton.
I think it is the weakness of mine eyes
That shapes this monstrous apparition. Shak.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: The first appearance of a star or other luminary after having
been invisible or obscured; -- opposed to occultation. Circle of
perpetual apparition. See under Circle.
APPARITIONAL
Ap`pa*ri"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an apparition or to apparitions; spectral. "An
apparitional soul." Tylor.
APPARITOR
Ap*par"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. apparere. See Appear.]
1. Formerly, an officer who attended magistrates and judges to
execute their orders.
Before any of his apparitors could execute the sentence, he was
himself summoned away by a sterner apparitor to the other world. De
Quincey.
2. (Law)
Defn: A messenger or officer who serves the process of an
ecclesiastical court. Bouvier.
APPAUME
Ap`pau`mé", n. Etym: [F. appaumé; (l. ad) + paume the palm, fr. L.
palma.] (Her.)
Defn: A hand open and extended so as to show the palm.
APPAY
Ap*pay", v. t. Etym: [OF. appayer, apaier, LL. appacare, appagare,
fr. L. ad + pacare to pacify, pax, pacis, peace. See Pay, Appease.]
Defn: To pay; to satisfy or appease. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
APPEACH
Ap*peach", v. t. Etym: [OE. apechen, for empechen, OF. empeechier, F.
empêcher, to hinder. See Impeach.]
Defn: To impeach; to accuse; to asperse; to inform against; to
reproach. [Obs.]
And oft of error did himself appeach. Spenser.
APPEACHER
Ap*peach"er, n.
Defn: An accuser. [Obs.] Raleigh.
APPEACHMENT
Ap*peach"ment, n.
Defn: Accusation. [Obs.]
APPEAL
Ap*peal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Appealing.]
Etym: [OE. appelen, apelen, to appeal, accuse, OF. appeler, fr. L.
appellare to approach, address, invoke, summon, call, name; akin to
appellere to drive to; ad + pellere to drive. See Pulse, and cf.
Peal.]
1. (Law)
(a) To make application for the removal of (a cause) from an inferior
to a superior judge or court for a rehearing or review on account of
alleged injustice or illegality in the trial below. We say, the cause
was appealed from an inferior court.
(b) To charge with a crime; to accuse; to institute a private
criminal prosecution against for some heinous crime; as, to appeal a
person of felony.
2. To summon; to challenge. [Archaic]
Man to man will I appeal the Norman to the lists. Sir W. Scott.
3. To invoke. [Obs.] Milton.
APPEAL
Ap*peal", v. t.
1. (Law)
Defn: To apply for the removal of a cause from an inferior to a
superior judge or court for the purpose of reëxamination of for
decision. Tomlins.
I appeal unto Cæsar. Acts xxv. 11.
2. To call upon another to decide a question controverted, to
corroborate a statement, to vindicate one's rights, etc.; as, I
appeal to all mankind for the truth of what is alleged. Hence: To
call on one for aid; to make earnest request.
I appeal to the Scriptures in the original. Horsley.
They appealed to the sword. Macaulay.
APPEAL
Ap*peal", n. Etym: [OE. appel, apel, OF. apel, F. appel, fr. appeler.
See Appeal, v. t.]
1. (Law)
(a) An application for the removal of a cause or suit from an
inferior to a superior judge or court for reëxamination or review.
(b) The mode of proceeding by which such removal is effected.
(c) The right of appeal.
(d) An accusation; a process which formerly might be instituted by
one private person against another for some heinous crime demanding
punishment for the particular injury suffered, rather than for the
offense against the public.
(e) An accusation of a felon at common law by one of his accomplices,
which accomplice was then called an approver. See Approvement.
Tomlins. Bouvier.
2. A summons to answer to a charge. Dryden.
3. A call upon a person or an authority for proof or decision, in
one's favor; reference to another as witness; a call for help or a
favor; entreaty.
A kind of appeal to the Deity, the author of wonders. Bacon.
4. Resort to physical means; recourse.
Every milder method is to be tried, before a nation makes an appeal
to arms. Kent.
APPEALABLE
Ap*peal"a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being appealed against; that may be removed to a higher
tribunal for decision; as, the cause is appealable.
2. That may be accused or called to answer by appeal; as, a criminal
is appealable for manslaughter. [Obs.]
APPEALANT
Ap*peal"ant, n.
Defn: An appellant. [Obs.] Shak.
APPEALER
Ap*peal"er, n.
Defn: One who makes an appeal.
APPEALING
Ap*peal"ing, a.
Defn: That appeals; imploring.
-- Ap*peal"*ing*ly, adv.
-- Ap*peal"ing*ness, n.
APPEAR
Ap*pear", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Appeared; p. pr. & vb. n. Appearing.]
Etym: [OE. apperen, aperen, OF. aparoir, F. apparoir, fr. L. appar to
appear + parto come forth, to be visible; prob. from the same root as
par to produce. Cf. Apparent, Parent, Peer, v. i.]
1. To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
And God . . . said, Let . . . the dry land appear. Gen. i. 9.
2. To come before the public; as, a great writer appeared at that
time.
3. To stand in presence of some authority, tribunal, or superior
person, to answer a charge, plead a cause, or the like; to present
one's self as a party or advocate before a court, or as a person to
be tried.
We must all appear before the judgment seat. * Cor. v. 10.
One ruffian escaped because no prosecutor dared to appear. Macaulay.
4. To become visible to the apprehension of the mind; to be known as
a subject of observation or comprehension, or as a thing proved; to
be obvious or manifest.
It doth not yet appear what we shall be. 1 John iii. 2.
Of their vain contest appeared no end. Milton.
5. To seem; to have a certain semblance; to look.
They disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast.
Matt. vi. 16.
Syn.
-- To seem; look. See Seem.
APPEAR
Ap*pear", n.
Defn: Appearance. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
APPEARANCE
Ap*pear"ance, n. Etym: [F. apparence, L. apparentia, fr. apparere.
See Appear.]
1. The act of appearing or coming into sight; the act of becoming
visible to the eye; as, his sudden appearance surprised me.
2. A thing seed; a phenomenon; a phase; an apparition; as, an
appearance in the sky.
3. Personal presence; exhibition of the person; look; aspect; mien.
And now am come to see . . . It thy appearance answer loud report.
Milton.
4. Semblance, or apparent likeness; external show. pl. Outward signs,
or circumstances, fitted to make a particular impression or to
determine the judgment as to the character of a person or a thing, an
act or a state; as, appearances are against him.
There was upon the tabernacle, as it were, the appearance of fire.
Num. ix. 15.
For man looketh on the outward appearance. 1 Sam. xvi. 7.
Judge not according to the appearance. John. vii. 24.
5. The act of appearing in a particular place, or in society, a
company, or any proceedings; a coming before the public in a
particular character; as, a person makes his appearance as an
historian, an artist, or an orator.
Will he now retire, After appearance, and again prolong Our
expectation Milton.
6. Probability; likelihood. [Obs.]
There is that which hath no appearance. Bacon.
7. (Law)
Defn: The coming into court of either of the parties; the being
present in court; the coming into court of a party summoned in an
action, either by himself or by his attorney, expressed by a formal
entry by the proper officer to that effect; the act or proceeding by
which a party proceeded against places himself before the court, and
submits to its jurisdiction. Burrill. Bouvier. Daniell. To put in an
appearance, to be present; to appear in person.
-- To save appearances, to preserve a fair outward show.
Syn.
-- Coming; arrival; presence; semblance; pretense; air; look;
manner; mien; figure; aspect.
APPEARER
Ap*pear"er, n.
Defn: One who appears. Sir T. Browne.
APPEARINGLY
Ap*pear"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Apparently. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
APPEASABLE
Ap*peas"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being appeased or pacified; placable.
-- Ap*peas"a*ble*ness, n.
APPEASE
Ap*pease", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appealed; p. pr. & vb. n. Appeasing.]
Etym: [OE. apesen, apaisen, OF. apaisier, apaissier, F. apaiser, fr.
a (L. ad) + OF. pais peace, F. paix, fr. L. pax, pacis. See Peace.]
Defn: To make quiet; to calm; to reduce to a state of peace; to
still; to pacify; to dispel (anger or hatred); as, to appease the
tumult of the ocean, or of the passions; to appease hunger or thirst.
Syn.
-- To pacify; quiet; conciliate; propitiate; assuage; compose; calm;
allay; hush; soothe; tranquilize.
APPEASEMENT
Ap*pease"ment, n.
Defn: The act of appeasing, or the state of being appeased;
pacification. Hayward.
APPEASER
Ap*peas"er, n.
Defn: One who appeases; a pacifier.
APPEASIVE
Ap*pea"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to appease.
APPEL
Ap`pel", n. [F., prop., a call. See Appeal, n.] (Fencing)
Defn: A tap or stamp of the foot as a warning of intent to attack; --
called also attack.
APPELLABLE
Ap*pel"la*ble, a.
Defn: Appealable.
APPELLANCY
Ap*pel"lan*cy, n.
Defn: Capability of appeal.
APPELLANT
Ap*pel"lant, a. Etym: [L. appellans, p. pr. of appellare; cf. F.
appelant. See Appeal.]
Defn: Relating to an appeal; appellate. "An appellant jurisdiction."
Hallam. Party appellant (Law), the party who appeals; appellant; --
opposed to respondent, or appellee. Tomlins.
APPELLANT
Ap*pel"lant, n.
1. (Law)
(a) One who accuses another of felony or treason. [Obs.]
(b) One who appeals, or asks for a rehearing or review of a cause by
a higher tribunal.
2. A challenger. [Obs.] Milton.
3. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who appealed to a general council against the bull
Unigenitus.
4. One who appeals or entreats.
APPELLATE
Ap*pel"late, a. Etym: [L. appelatus, p. p. of appellare.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or taking cognizance of, appeals. "Appellate
jurisdiction." Blackstone. "Appellate judges." Burke. Appelate court,
a court having cognizance of appeals.
APPELLATE
Ap*pel"late, n.
Defn: A person or prosecuted for a crime. [Obs.] See Appellee.
APPELLATION
Ap`pel*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. appellatio, fr. appellare: cf. F.
appellation. See Appeal.]
1. The act of appealing; appeal. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. The act of calling by a name.
3. The word by which a particular person or thing is called and
known; name; title; designation.
They must institute some persons under the appellation of
magistrates. Hume.
Syn.
-- See Name.
APPELLATIVE
Ap*pel"la*tive, a. Etym: [L. appellativus, fr. appellare: cf. F.
appelatif. See Appeal.]
1. Pertaining to a common name; serving as a distinctive
denomination; denominative; naming. Cudworth.
2. (gram.)
Defn: Common, as opposed to proper; denominative of a class.
APPELLATIVE
Ap*pel"la*tive, n. Etym: [L. appelativum, sc. nomen.]
1. A common name, distinction from a proper name. A common name, or
appellative, stands for a whole class, genus, or species of beings,
or for universal ideas. Thus, tree is the name of all plants of a
particular class; plant and vegetable are names of things that grow
out of the earth. A proper name, on the other hand, stands for a
single thing; as, Rome, Washington, Lake Erie.
2. An appellation or title; a descriptive name.
God chosen it for one of his appellatives to be the Defender of them.
Jer. Taylor.
APPELLATIVELY
Ap*pel"la*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: After the manner of nouns appellative; in a manner to express
whole classes or species; as, Hercules is sometimes used
appellatively, that is, as a common name, to signify a strong man.
APPELLATIVENESS
Ap*pel"la*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being appellative. Fuller.
APPELLATORY
Ap*pel"la*tory, a. Etym: [L. appellatorius, fr. appellare.]
Defn: Containing an appeal.
An appellatory libel ought to contain the name of the party
appellant. Ayliffe.
APPELLEE
Ap`pel*lee", n. Etym: [F. appelé, p. p. of appeler, fr. L.
appellare.] (Law)
(a) The defendant in an appeal; -- opposed to appellant.
(b) The person who is appealed against, or accused of crime; --
opposed to appellor. Blackstone.
APPELLOR
Ap`pel*lor, n. Etym: [OF. apeleur, fr. L. appellator, fr. appellare.]
(Law)
(a) The person who institutes an appeal, or prosecutes another for a
crime. Blackstone.
(b) One who confesses a felony committed and accuses his accomplices.
Blount. Burrill.
Note: This word is rarely or never used for the plaintiff in appeal
from a lower court, who is called the appellant. Appellee is opposed
both to appellant and appellor.
APPENAGE
Ap"pen*age, n.
Defn: See Appanage.
APPEND
Ap*pend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appended; p. pr. & vb. n. Appending.]
Etym: [L. appendere or F. appendre: cf. OE. appenden, apenden, to
belong, OF. apendre, F. appendre, fr. L. append, v. i., to hang to,
append, v. t., to hang to; ad + pend, v. i., to hang, pend, v. t., to
hang. See Pendant.]
1. To hang or attach to, as by a string, so that the thing is
suspended; as, a seal appended to a record; the inscription was
appended to the column.
2. To add, as an accessory to the principal thing; to annex; as,
notes appended to this chapter.
A further purpose appended to the primary one. I. Taylor.
APPENDAGE
Ap*pend"age, n.
1. Something appended to, or accompanying, a principal or greater
thing, though not necessary to it, as a portico to a house.
Modesty is the appendage of sobriety. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A subordinate or subsidiary part or organ; an external organ or
limb, esp. of the articulates.
Antennæ and other appendages used for feeling. Carpenter.
Syn.
-- Addition; adjunct; concomitant.
APPENDAGED
Ap*pend"aged, a.
Defn: Furnished with, or supplemented by, an appendage.
APPENDANCE
Ap*pend"ance, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Something appendant.
APPENDANT
Ap*pend"ant, a. Etym: [F. appendant, p. pr. of appendre. See Append,
v. t.]
1. Hanging; annexed; adjunct; concomitant; as, a seal appendant to a
paper.
As they have transmitted the benefit to us, it is but reasonable we
should suffer the appendant calamity. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Law)
Defn: Appended by prescription, that is, a personal usage for a
considerable time; -- said of a thing of inheritance belonging to
another inheritance which is superior or more worthy; as, an
advowson, common, etc. , which may be appendant to a manor, common of
fishing to a freehold, a seat in church to a house. Wharton. Coke.
APPENDANT
Ap*pend"ant, n.
1. Anything attached to another as incidental or subordinate to it.
2. (Law)
Defn: A inheritance annexed by prescription to a superior
inheritance.
APPENDECTOMY; APPENDICECTOMY
Ap`pen*dec"to*my, Ap*pend`i*cec"to*my, n. [Appendix + Gr., fr.
excision.] (Surg.)
Defn: Excision of the vermiform appendix.
APPENDENCE; APPENDENCY
Ap*pend"ence, Ap*pend"en*cy, n.
Defn: State of being appendant; appendance. [Obs.]
APPENDICAL
Ap*pend"i*cal, a.
Defn: Of or like an appendix.
APPENDICATE
Ap*pend"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To append. [Obs.]
APPENDICATION
Ap*pend`i*ca"tion, n.
Defn: An appendage. [Obs.]
APPENDICITIS
Ap*pend`i*ci"tis, n. (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the vermiform appendix.
APPENDICLE
Ap*pend"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. appendicula, dim. of. appendix.]
Defn: A small appendage.
APPENDICULAR
Ap`pen*dic"u*lar, a.
Defn: Relating to an appendicle; appendiculate. [R.]
APPENDICULARIA
Ap`pen*dic`u*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small free-swimming Tunicata, shaped somewhat like a
tadpole, and remarkable for resemblances to the larvæ of other
Tunicata. It is the type of the order Copelata or Larvalia. See
Illustration in Appendix.
APPENDICULATA
Ap`pen*dic`u*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of annelids; the Polychæta.
APPENDICULATE
Ap`pen*dic"u*late, a. Etym: [See Appendicle.]
Defn: Having small appendages; forming an appendage. Appendiculate
leaf, a small appended leaf. Withering.
APPENDIX
Ap*pen"dix, n.; pl. E. Appendixes, L. Appendices(#). Etym: [L.
appendix, -dicis, fr. appendere. See Append.]
1. Something appended or added; an appendage, adjunct, or
concomitant.
Normandy became an appendix to England. Sir M. Hale.
2. Any literary matter added to a book, but not necessarily essential
to its completeness, and thus distinguished from supplement, which is
intended to supply deficiencies and correct inaccuracies.
Syn.
-- See Supplement.
APPENDIX VERMIFORMIS
Ap*pen"dix ver`mi*for"mis. [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: The vermiform appendix.
APPENSION
Ap*pen"sion, n.
Defn: The act of appending. [Obs.]
APPERCEIVE
Ap`per*ceive", v. t. Etym: [F. apercevoir, fr. L. ad + percipere,
perceptum, to perceive. See Perceive.]
Defn: To perceive; to comprehend. Chaucer.
APPERCEPTION
Ap`per*cep"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. ad- + perception: cf. F.
apperception.] (Metaph.)
Defn: The mind's perception of itself as the subject or actor in its
own states; perception that reflects upon itself; sometimes,
intensified or energetic perception. Leibnitz. Reid.
This feeling has been called by philosophers the apperception or
consciousness of our own existence. Sir W. Hamilton.
APPERIL
Ap*per"il, n.
Defn: Peril. [Obs.] Shak.
APPERTAIN
Ap`per*tain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Appertained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Appertaining.] Etym: [OE. apperteinen, apertenen, OF. apartenir, F.
appartenir, fr. L. appertinere; ad + pertinere to reach to, belong.
See Pertain.]
Defn: To belong or pertain, whether by right, nature, appointment, or
custom; to relate.
Things appertaining to this life. Hooker.
Give it unto him to whom it appertaineth. Lev. vi. 5.
APPERTAINMENT
Ap`per*tain"ment, n.
Defn: That which appertains to a person; an appurtenance. [Obs. or
R.] Shak.
APPERTINANCE; APPERTINENCE
Ap*per"ti*nance, Ap*per"ti*nence, n.
Defn: See Appurtenance.
APPERTINENT
Ap*per"ti*nent, a.
Defn: Belonging; appertaining. [Now usually written appurtenant.]
Coleridge.
APPERTINENT
Ap*per"ti*nent, n.
Defn: That which belongs to something else; an appurtenant. [Obs.]
Shak.
APPETE
Ap*pete", v. t. Etym: [L. appetere: cf. F. appéter. See Appetite.]
Defn: To seek for; to desire. [Obs.] Chaucer.
APPETENCE
Ap"pe*tence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. appétence. See Appetency.]
Defn: A longing; a desire; especially an ardent desire; appetite;
appetency.
APPETENCY
Ap"pe*ten*cy, n.; pl. Appetencies. Etym: [L. appetentia, fr. appetere
to strive after, long for. See Appetite.]
1. Fixed and strong desire; esp. natural desire; a craving; an eager
appetite.
They had a strong appetency for reading. Merivale.
2. Specifically: An instinctive inclination or propensity in animals
to perform certain actions, as in the young to suck, in aquatic fowls
to enter into water and to swim; the tendency of an organized body to
seek what satisfies the wants of its organism.
These lacteals have mouths, and by animal selection or appetency the
absorb such part of the fluid as is agreeable to their palate. E.
Darwin.
3. Natural tendency; affinity; attraction; -- used of inanimate
objects.
APPETENT
Ap"pe*tent, a. Etym: [L. appetens, p. pr. of appetere.]
Defn: Desiring; eagerly desirous. [R.]
Appetent after glory and renown. Sir G. Buck.
APPETIBILITY
Ap`pe*ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. appétibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being desirable. Bramhall.
APPETIBLE
Ap"pe*ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. appetibilis, fr. appetere: cf. F.
appétible.]
Defn: Desirable; capable or worthy of being the object of desire.
Bramhall.
APPETITE
Ap"pe*tite, n. Etym: [OE. appetit, F. appétit, fr. L. appetitus, fr.
appetere to strive after, long for; ad + petere to seek. See
Petition, and cf. Appetence.]
1. The desire for some personal gratification, either of the body or
of the mind.
The object of appetite it whatsoever sensible good may be wished for;
the object of will is that good which reason does lead us to seek.
Hooker.
2. Desire for, or relish of, food or drink; hunger.
Men must have appetite before they will eat. Buckle.
3. Any strong desire; an eagerness or longing.
It God had given to eagles an appetite to swim. Jer. Taylor.
To gratify the vulgar appetite for the marvelous. Macaulay.
4. Tendency; appetency. [Obs.]
In all bodies there as an appetite of union. Bacon.
5. The thing desired. [Obs.]
Power being the natural appetite of princes. Swift.
Note: In old authors, appetite is followed by to or of, but regularly
it should be followed by for before the object; as, an appetite for
pleasure.
Syn.
-- Craving; longing; desire; appetency; passion.
APPETITION
Ap`pe*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. appetitio: cf. F. appétition.]
Defn: Desire; a longing for, or seeking after, something. Holland.
APPETITIVE
Ap"pe*ti"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. appétitif.]
Defn: Having the quality of desiring gratification; as, appetitive
power or faculty. Sir M. Hale.
APPETIZE
Ap"pe*tize, v. t.
Defn: To make hungry; to whet the appetite of. Sir W. Scott.
APPETIZER
Ap"pe*ti`zer, n.
Defn: Something which creates or whets an appetite.
APPETIZING
Ap"pe*ti`zing, a. Etym: [Cf. F. appétissant.]
Defn: Exciting appetite; as, appetizing food.
The appearance of the wild ducks is very appetizing. Sir W. Scott.
APPETIZING
Ap"pe*ti`zing, adv.
Defn: So as to excite appetite.
APPIAN
Ap"pi*an, a. Etym: [L. Appius, Appianus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Appius. Appian Way, the great paved highway
from ancient Rome trough Capua to Brundisium, now Brindisi,
constructed partly by Appius Claudius, about 312 b. c.
APPLAUD
Ap*plaud", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Applauded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Applauding.] Etym: [L. applaudere; ad + plaudere to clash, to clap
the hands: cf. F. applaudir. Cf. Explode.]
1. To show approval of by clapping the hands, acclamation, or other
significant sign.
I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again.
Shak.
2. To praise by words; to express approbation of; to commend; to
approve.
By the gods, I do applaud his courage. Shak.
Syn.
-- To praise; extol; commend; cry up; magnify; approve. See Praise.
APPLAUD
Ap*plaud", v. i.
Defn: To express approbation loudly or significantly.
APPLAUDER
Ap*plaud"er, n.
Defn: One who applauds.
APPLAUSABLE
Ap*plaus"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy pf applause; praiseworthy. [Obs.]
APPLAUSE
Ap*plause", n. Etym: [L. applaudere, app. See Applaud.]
Defn: The act of applauding; approbation and praise publicly
expressed by clapping the hands, stamping or tapping with the feet,
acclamation, huzzas, or other means; marked commendation.
The brave man seeks not popular applause. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Acclaim; acclamation; plaudit; commendation; approval.
APPLAUSIVE
Ap*plau"sive, a. Etym: [LL. applausivus.]
Defn: Expressing applause; approbative.
-- Ap*plau"sive*ly, adv.
APPLE
Ap"ple, n. Etym: [OE. appel, eppel, AS. æppel, æpl; akin to Fries. &
D. appel, OHG, aphul, aphol, G. apfel, Icel. epli, Sw. äple, Dan.
æble, Gael. ubhall, W. afal, Arm. aval, Lith. ob, Russ. iabloko; of
unknown origin.]
1. The fleshy pome or fruit of a rosaceous tree (Pyrus malus)
cultivated in numberless varieties in the temperate zones.
Note: The European crab apple is supposed to be the original kind,
from which all others have sprung.
2. (bot.)
Defn: Any tree genus Pyrus which has the stalk sunken into the base
of the fruit; an apple tree.
3. Any fruit or other vegetable production resembling, or supposed to
resemble, the apple; as, apple of love, or love apple (a tomato),
balsam apple, egg apple, oak apple.
4. Anything round like an apple; as, an apple of gold.
Note: Apple is used either adjectively or in combination; as, apple
paper or apple-paper, apple-shaped, apple blossom, apple dumpling,
apple pudding. Apple blight, an aphid which injures apple trees. See
Blight, n.
-- Apple borer (Zoöl.), a coleopterous insect (Saperda candida or
bivittata), the larva of which bores into the trunk of the apple tree
and pear tree.
-- Apple brandy, brandy made from apples.
-- Apple butter, a sauce made of apples stewed down in cider.
Bartlett.
-- Apple corer, an instrument for removing the cores from apples.
-- Apple fly (Zoöl.), any dipterous insect, the larva of which
burrows in apples. Apple flies belong to the genera Drosophila and
Trypeta.
-- Apple midge (Zoöl.) a small dipterous insect (Sciara mali), the
larva of which bores in apples.
-- Apple of the eye, the pupil.
-- Apple of discord, a subject of contention and envy, so called
from the mythological golden apple, inscribed "For the fairest,"
which was thrown into an assembly of the gods by Eris, the goddess of
discord. It was contended for by Juno, Minerva, and Venus, and was
adjudged to the latter.
-- Apple of love, or Love apple, the tomato (Lycopersicum
esculentum).
-- Apple of Peru, a large coarse herb (Nicandra physaloides) bearing
pale blue flowers, and a bladderlike fruit inclosing a dry berry.
-- Apples of Sodom, a fruit described by ancient writers as
externally of air appearance but dissolving into smoke and ashes
plucked; Dead Sea apples. The name is often given to the fruit of
Solanum Sodomæum, a prickly shrub with fruit not unlike a small
yellow tomato.
-- Apple sauce, stewed apples. [U. S.] -- Apple snail or Apple shell
(Zoöl.), a fresh-water, operculated, spiral shell of the genus
Ampullaria.
-- Apple tart, a tart containing apples.
-- Apple tree, a tree naturally bears apples. See Apple, 2.
-- Apple wine, cider.
-- Apple worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth (Carpocapsa
pomonella) which burrows in the interior of apples. See Codling moth.
-- Dead Sea Apple. (a) pl. Apples of Sodom. Also Fig. "To seek the
Dead Sea apples of politics." S. B. Griffin. (b) A kind of gallnut
coming from Arabia. See Gallnut.
APPLE
Ap"ple, v. i.
Defn: To grow like an apple; to bear apples. Holland.
APPLE-FACED
Ap"ple-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a round, broad face, like an apple. "Apple-faced
children." Dickens.
APPLE-JACK
Ap"ple-jack`, n.
Defn: Apple brandy. [U.S.]
APPLE-JOHN
Ap"ple-john`, n..
Defn: A kind of apple which by keeping becomes much withered; --
called also Johnapple. Shak.
APPLE PIE
Ap"ple pie`.
Defn: A pie made of apples (usually sliced or stewed) with spice and
sugar. Apple-pie bed, a bed in which, as a joke, the sheets are so
doubled (like the cover of an apple turnover) as to prevent any one
from getting at his length between them. Halliwell, Conybeare.
-- Apple-pie order, perfect order or arrangement. [Colloq.]
Halliwell.
APPLE-SQUIRE
Ap"ple-squire`, n.
Defn: A pimp; a kept gallant. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
APPLIABLE
Ap*pli"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Apply.]
Defn: Applicable; also, compliant. [Obs.] Howell.
APPLIANCE
Ap*pli"ance, n.
1. The act of applying; application; [Obs.] subservience. Shak.
2. The thing applied or used as a means to an end; an apparatus or
device; as, to use various appliances; a mechanical appliance; a
machine with its appliances.
APPLICABILITY
Ap`pli*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being applicable or fit to be applied.
APPLICABLE
Ap"pli*ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aplicable, fr. L. applicare. See
Apply.]
Defn: Capable of being applied; fit or suitable to be applied; having
relevance; as, this observation is applicable to the case under
consideration.
-- Ap"pli*ca*ble*ness, n.
-- Ap"pli*ca*bly, adv.
APPLICANCY
Ap"pli*can*cy, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being applicable. [R.]
APPLICANT
Ap"pli*cant, n. Etym: [L. applicans, p. pr. of applicare. See Apply.]
Defn: One who apples for something; one who makes request; a
petitioner.
The applicant for a cup of water. Plumtre.
The court require the applicant to appear in person. Z. Swift.
APPLICATE
Ap"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. applicatus, p. p. of applicare. See Apply.]
Defn: Applied or put to some use.
Those applicate sciences which extend the power of man over the
elements. I. Taylor.
Applicate number (Math.), one which applied to some concrete case.
-- Applicate ordinate, right line applied at right angles to the
axis of any conic section, and bounded by the curve.
APPLICATE
Ap"pli*cate, v. i.
Defn: To apply. [Obs.]
The act of faith is applicated to the object. Bp. Pearson.
APPLICATION
Ap`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. applicatio, fr. applicare: cf. F.
application. See Apply.]
1. The act of applying or laying on, in a literal sense; as, the
application of emollients to a diseased limb.
2. The thing applied.
He invented a new application by which blood might be stanched.
Johnson.
3. The act of applying as a means; the employment of means to
accomplish an end; specific use.
If a right course . . . be taken with children, there will not be
much need of the application of the common rewards and punishments.
Locke.
4. The act of directing or referring something to a particular case,
to discover or illustrate agreement or disagreement, fitness, or
correspondence; as, I make the remark, and leave you to make the
application; the application of a theory.
5. Hence, in specific uses: (a) That part of a sermon or discourse in
which the principles before laid down and illustrated are applied to
practical uses; the "moral" of a fable. (b) The use of the principles
of one science for the purpose of enlarging or perfecting another;
as, the application of algebra to geometry.
6. The capacity of being practically applied or used; relevancy; as,
a rule of general application.
7. The act of fixing the mind or closely applying one's self;
assiduous effort; close attention; as, to injure the health by
application to study.
Had his application been equal to his talents, his progress night
have been greater. J. Jay.
8. The act of making request of soliciting; as, an application for an
office; he made application to a court of chancery.
9. A request; a document containing a request; as, his application
was placed on file.
APPLICATIVE
Ap"pli*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. applicatif, fr. L. applicare. See
Apply.]
Defn: Having of being applied or used; applying; applicatory;
practical. Bramhall.
-- Ap"pli*ca*tive*ly, adv.
APPLICATORILY
Ap"pli*ca*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of application.
APPLICATORY
Ap"pli*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Having the property of applying; applicative; practical.
-- n.
Defn: That which applies.
APPLIEDLY
Ap*pli"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By application. [R.]
APPLIER
Ap*pli"er, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, applies.
APPLIMENT
Ap*pli"ment, n.
Defn: Application. [Obs.] Marston
APPLIQUE
Ap`pli`qué", a. Etym: [F., fr. appliquer to put on.]
Defn: Ornamented with a pattern (which has been cut out of another
color or stuff) applied or transferred to a foundation; as, appliqué
lace; appliqué work.
APPLOT
Ap*plot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Applotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Applotting.]
Etym: [Pref. ad- + plot.]
Defn: To divide into plots or parts; to apportion. Milton.
APPLOTMENT
Ap*plot"ment, n.
Defn: Apportionment.
APPLY
Ap*ply", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Applied; p. pr. & vb. n. Applying.]
Etym: [OF. aplier, F. appliquer, fr. L. applicare to join, fix, or
attach to; ad + plicare to fold, to twist together. See Applicant,
Ply.]
1. To lay or place; to put or adjust (one thing to another); -- with
to; as, to apply the hand to the breast; to apply medicaments to a
diseased part of the body.
He said, and the sword his throat applied. Dryden.
2. To put to use; to use or employ for a particular purpose, or in a
particular case; to appropriate; to devote; as, to apply money to the
payment of a debt.
3. To make use of, declare, or pronounce, as suitable, fitting, or
relative; as, to apply the testimony to the case; to apply an epithet
to a person.
Yet God at last To Satan, first in sin, his doom applied. Milton.
4. To fix closely; to engage and employ diligently, or with
attention; to attach; to incline.
Apply thine heart unto instruction. Prov. xxiii. 12.
5. To direct or address. [R.]
Sacred vows . . . applied to grisly Pluto. Pope.
6. To betake; to address; to refer; -- used reflexively.
I applied myself to him for help. Johnson.
7. To busy; to keep at work; to ply. [Obs.]
She was skillful in applying his "humors." Sir P. Sidney.
8. To visit. [Obs.]
And he applied each place so fast. Chapman.
Applied chemistry. See under Chemistry.
-- Applied mathematics. See under Mathematics.
APPLY
Ap*ply", v. i.
1. To suit; to agree; to have some connection, agreement, or analogy;
as, this argument applies well to the case.
2. To make request; to have recourse with a view to gain something;
to make application. (to); to solicit; as, to apply to a friend for
information.
3. To ply; to move. [R.]
I heard the sound of an oar applying swiftly through the water. T.
Moore.
4. To apply or address one's self; to give application; to attend
closely (to).
APPOGGIATURA
Ap*pog`gia*tu"ra, n. Etym: [It., fr. appogiarre to lean, to rest; ap-
(L. ad) + poggiare to mount, ascend, poggio hill, fr. L. podium an
elevated place.] (Mus.)
Defn: A passing tone preceding an essential tone, and borrowing the
time it occupies from that; a short auxiliary or grace note one
degree above or below the principal note unless it be of the same
harmony; -- generally indicated by a note of smaller size, as in the
illustration above. It forms no essential part of the harmony.
APPOINT
Ap*point", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appointed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Appointing.] Etym: [OE. appointen, apointen, OF. apointier to
prepare, arrange, lean, place, F. appointer to give a salary, refer a
cause, fr. LL. appunctare to bring back to the point, restore, to fix
the point in a controversy, or the points in an agreement; L. ad +
punctum a point. See Point.]
1. To fix with power or firmness; to establish; to mark out.
When he appointed the foundations of the earth. Prov. viii. 29.
2. To fix by a decree, order, command, resolve, decision, or mutual
agreement; to constitute; to ordain; to prescribe; to fix the time
and place of.
Thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall
appoint. 2 Sam. xv. 15.
He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in
righteousness. Acts xvii. 31.
Say that the emperor request a parley . . . and appoint the meeting.
Shak.
3. To assign, designate, or set apart by authority.
Aaron and his shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service.
Num. iv. 19.
These were cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for
the stranger that sojourneth among them. Josh. xx. 9.
4. To furnish in all points; to provide with everything necessary by
way of equipment; to equip; to fit out.
The English, being well appointed, did so entertain them that their
ships departed terribly torn. Hayward.
5. To point at by way, or for the purpose, of censure or
commendation; to arraign. [Obs.]
Appoint not heavenly disposition. Milton.
6. (Law)
Defn: To direct, designate, or limit; to make or direct a new
disposition of, by virtue of a power contained in a conveyance; --
said of an estate already conveyed. Burrill. Kent. To appoint one's
self, to resolve. [Obs.] Crowley.
APPOINT
Ap*point", v. i.
Defn: To ordain; to determine; to arrange.
For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithoph2
Sam. xvii. 14.
APPOINTABLE
Ap*point"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being appointed or constituted.
APPOINTEE
Ap*point*ee", n. Etym: [F. appointé, p. p. of appointer. See Appoint,
v. t.]
1. A person appointed.
The commission authorizes them to make appointments, and pay the
appointees. Circular of Mass. Representatives (1768).
2. (law)
Defn: A person in whose favor a power of appointment is executed.
Kent. Wharton.
APPOINTER
Ap*point"er, n.
Defn: One who appoints, or executes a power of appointment. Kent.
APPOINTIVE
Ap*point"ive, a.
Defn: Subject to appointment; as, an appointive office. [R.]
APPOINTMENT
Ap*point"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. appointement.]
1. The act of appointing; designation of a person to hold an office
or discharge a trust; as, he erred by the appointment of unsuitable
men.
2. The state of being appointed to somappointment of treasurer.
3. Stipulation; agreement; the act of fixing by mutual agreement.
Hence:: Arrangement for a meeting; engagement; as, they made an
appointment to meet at six.
4. Decree; direction; established order or constitution; as, to
submit to the divine appointments.
According to the appointment of the priests. Ezra vi. 9.
5. (Law)
Defn: The exercise of the power of designating (under a "power of
appointment") a person to enjoy an estate or other specific property;
also, the instrument by which the designation is made.
6. Equipment, furniture, as for a ship or an army; whatever is
appointed for use and management; outfit; (pl.) the accouterments of
military officers or soldiers, as belts, sashes, swords.
The cavaliers emulated their chief in the richness of their
appointments. Prescott.
I'll prove it in my shackles, with these hands Void of appoinment,
that thou liest. Beau. & Fl.
7. An allowance to a person, esp. to a public officer; a perquisite;
-- properly only in the plural. [Obs.]
An expense proportioned to his appointments and fortune is necessary.
Chesterfield.
8. A honorary part or exercise, as an oration, etc., at a public
exhibition of a college; as, to have an appointment. [U.S.]
Syn.
-- Designation; command; order; direction; establishment; equipment.
APPOINTOR
Ap*point*or", n. (Law)
Defn: The person who selects the appointee. See Appointee, 2.
APPORTER
Ap*por"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. apporter to bring in, fr. L. apportare;
ad + portare to bear.]
Defn: A bringer in; an importer. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
APPORTION
Ap*por"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Apportioned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Apportioning.] Etym: [OF. apportionner, LL. apportionare, fr. L. ad +
portio. See Portion.]
Defn: To divide and assign in just proportion; to divide and
distribute proportionally; to portion out; to allot; as, to apportion
undivided rights; to apportion time among various employments.
APPORTIONATENESS
Ap*por"tion*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being apportioned or in proportion. [Obs. & R.]
APPORTIONER
Ap*por"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who apportions.
APPORTIONMENT
Ap*por"tion*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. apportionnement, LL.
apportionamentum.]
Defn: The act of apportioning; a dividing into just proportions or
shares; a division or shares; a division and assignment, to each
proprietor, of his just portion of an undivided right or property. A.
Hamilton.
APPOSABLE
Ap*pos"a*ble, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Capable of being apposed, or applied one to another, as the
thumb to the fingers of the hand.
APPOSE
Ap*pose", v. t. Etym: [F. apposer to set to; ad) + poser to put,
place. See Pose.]
1. To place opposite or before; to put or apply (one thing to
another).
The nymph herself did then appose, For food and beverage, to him all
best meat. Chapman.
2. To place in juxtaposition or proximity.
APPOSE
Ap*pose", v. t. Etym: [For oppose. See Oppose.]
Defn: To put questions to; to examine; to try. [Obs.] See Pose.
To appose him without any accuser, and that secretly. Tyndale.
APPOSED
Ap*posed", a.
Defn: Placed in apposition; mutually fitting, as the mandibles of a
bird's beak.
APPOSER
Ap*pos"er, n.
Defn: An examiner; one whose business is to put questions. Formerly,
in the English Court of Exchequer, an officer who audited the
sheriffs' accounts.
APPOSITE
Ap"po*site, a. Etym: [L. appositus, p. p. of apponere to set or put
to; ad + ponere to put, place.]
Defn: Very applicable; well adapted; suitable or fit; relevant; pat;
-- followed by to; as, this argument is very apposite to the case.
-- Ap"po*site*ly, adv.
-- Ap"po*site*ness, n.
APPOSITION
Ap`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. appositio, fr. apponere: cf. F.
apposition. See Apposite.]
1. The act of adding; application; accretion.
It grows . . . by the apposition of new matter. Arbuthnot.
2. The putting of things in juxtaposition, or side by side; also, the
condition of being so placed.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: The state of two nouns or pronouns, put in the same case,
without a connecting word between them; as, I admire Cicero, the
orator. Here, the second noun explains or characterizes the first.
Growth by apposition (Physiol.), a mode of growth characteristic of
non vascular tissues, in which nutritive matter from the blood is
transformed on the surface of an organ into solid unorganized
substance.
APPOSITIONAL
Ap`po*si"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to apposition; put in apposition syntactically.
Ellicott.
APPOSITIVE
Ap*pos"i*tive, a.
Defn: Of or relating to apposition; in apposition.
-- n.
Defn: A noun in apposition.
-- Ap*pos"i*tive*ly, adv.
Appositive to the words going immediately before. Knatchbull.
APPRAISABLE
Ap*prais"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being appraised.
APPRAISAL
Ap*prais"al, n. Etym: [See Appraise. Cf. Apprizal.]
Defn: A valuation by an authorized person; an appraisement.
APPRAISE
Ap*praise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appraised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Appraising.] Etym: [Pref. ad- + praise. See Praise, Price, Apprize,
Appreciate.]
1. To set a value; to estimate the worth of, particularly by persons
appointed for the purpose; as, to appraise goods and chattels.
2. To estimate; to conjecture.
Enoch . . . appraised his weight. Tennyson.
3. To praise; to commend. [Obs.] R. Browning.
Appraised the Lycian custom. Tennyson.
Note: In the United States, this word is often pronounced, and
sometimes written, apprize.
APPRAISEMENT
Ap*praise"ment, n. Etym: [See Appraise. Cf. Apprizement.]
Defn: The act of setting the value; valuation by an appraiser;
estimation of worth.
APPRAISER
Ap*prais"er, n. Etym: [See Appraise, Apprizer.]
Defn: One who appraises; esp., a person appointed and sworn to
estimate and fix the value of goods or estates.
APPRECATION
Ap`pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. apprecari to pray to; ad + precari to
pray, prex, precis, prayer.]
Defn: Earnest prayer; devout wish. [Obs.]
A solemn apprecation of good success. Bp. Hall.
APPRECATORY
Ap"pre*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Praying or wishing good. [Obs.]"Apprecatory benedictions." Bp.
Hall.
APPRECIABLE
Ap*pre"ci*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. appréciable.]
Defn: Capable of being appreciated or estimated; large enough to be
estimated; perceptible; as, an appreciable quantity.
-- Ap*pre"ci*a*bly, adv.
APPRECIANT
Ap*pre"ci*ant, a.
Defn: Appreciative. [R.]
APPRECIATE
Ap*pre"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appreciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Appreciating.] Etym: [L. appretiatus, p. p. of appretiare to value at
a price, appraise; ad + pretiare to prize, pretium price. Cf.
Appraise.]
1. To set a price or value on; to estimate justly; to value.
To appreciate the motives of their enemies. Gibbon.
3. To raise the value of; to increase the market price of; -- opposed
to depreciate. [U.S.]
Lest a sudden peace should appreciate the money. Ramsay.
4. To be sensible of; to distinguish.
To test the power of bappreciate color. Lubbock.
Syn.
-- To Appreciate, Estimate, Esteem. Estimate is an act of judgment;
esteem is an act of valuing or prizing, and when applied to
individuals, denotes a sentiment of moral approbation. See Estimate.
Appreciate lies between the two. As compared with estimate, it
supposes a union of sensibility with judgment, producing a nice and
delicate perception. As compared with esteem, it denotes a valuation
of things according to their appropriate and distinctive excellence,
and not simply their moral worth. Thus, with reference to the former
of these (delicate perception), an able writer says. "Women have a
truer appreciation of character than men;" and another remarks, "It
is difficult to appreciate the true force and distinctive sense of
terms which we are every day using." So, also, we speak of the
difference between two things, as sometimes hardly appreciable. With
reference to the latter of these (that of valuation as the result of
a nice perception), we say, "It requires a peculiar cast of character
to appreciate the poetry of Wordsworth;" "He who has no delicacy
himself, can not appreciate it in others;" "The thought of death is
salutary, because it leads us to appreciate worldly things aright."
Appreciate is much used in cases where something is in danger of
being overlooked or undervalued; as when we speak of appreciating the
difficulties of a subject, or the risk of an undertaking. So Lord
Plunket, referring to an "ominous silence" which prevailed among the
Irish peasantry, says, "If you knew now to appreciate that silence,
it is more formidable than the most clamorous opposition." In like
manner, a person who asks some favor of another is apt to say, "I
trust you will appreciate my motives in this request." Here we have
the key to a very frequent use of the word. It is hardly necessary to
say that appreciate looks on the favorable side of things. we never
speak of appreciating a man's faults, but his merits. This idea of
regarding things favorably appears more fully in the word
appreciative; as when we speak of an appreciative audience, or an
appreciative review, meaning one that manifests a quick perception
and a ready valuation of excellence.
APPRECIATE
Ap*pre"ci*ate, v. i.
Defn: To rise in value. [See note under Rise, v. i.] J. Morse.
APPRECIATINGLY
Ap*pre"ci*a`ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In an appreciating manner; with appreciation.
APPRECIATION
Ap*pre`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. appréciation.]
1. A just valuation or estimate of merit, worth, weight, etc.;
recognition of excellence.
2. Accurate perception; true estimation; as, an appreciation of the
difficulties before us; an appreciation of colors.
His foreboding showed his appreciation of Henry's character. J. R.
Green.
3. A rise in value; -- opposed to depreciation.
APPRECIATIVE
Ap*pre"ci*a*tive, a.
Defn: Having or showing a just or ready appreciation or perception;
as, an appreciative audience.
-- Ap*pre"ci*a*tive*ly, adv.
APPRECIATIVENESS
Ap*pre"ci*a*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being appreciative; quick recognition of
excellence.
APPRECIATOR
Ap*pre"ci*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who appreciates.
APPRECIATORY
Ap*pre"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Showing appreciation; appreciative; as, appreciatory
commendation.
-- Ap*pre"ci*a*to*ri*ly, adv.
APPREHEND
Ap`pre*hend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Apprehended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Apprehending.] Etym: [L. apprehendere; ad + prehendere to lay hold
of, seize; prae before + -hendere (used only in comp.); akin to Gr.
get: cf. F. appréhender. See Prehensile, Get.]
1. To take or seize; to take hold of. [Archaic]
We have two hands to apprehended it. Jer. Taylor.
2. Hence: To take or seize (a person) by legal process; to arrest;
as, to apprehend a criminal.
3. To take hold of with the understanding, that is, to conceive in
the mind; to become cognizant of; to understand; to recognize; to
consider.
This suspicion of Earl Reimund, though at first but a buzz, soon got
a sting in the king's head, and he violently apprehended it. Fuller.
The eternal laws, such as the heroic age apprehended them. Gladstone.
4. To know or learn with certainty. [Obs.]
G. You are too much distrustful of my truth. E. Then you must give me
leave to apprehend The means and manner how. Beau. & Fl.
5. To anticipate; esp., to anticipate with anxiety, dread, or fear;
to fear.
The opposition had more reason than the king to apprehend violence.
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To catch; seize; arrest; detain; capture; conceive; understand;
imagine; believe; fear; dread.
-- To Apprehend, Comprehend. These words come into comparison as
describing acts of the mind. Apprehend denotes the laying hold of a
thing mentally, so as to understand it clearly, at least in part.
Comprehend denotes the embracing or understanding it in all its
compass and extent. We may apprehended many truths which we do not
comprehend. The very idea of God supposes that he may be apprehended,
though not comprehended, by rational beings. "We may apprehended much
of Shakespeare's aim and intention in the character of Hamlet or King
Lear; but few will claim that they have comprehended all that is
embraced in these characters." Trench.
APPREHEND
Ap`pre*hend", v. i.
1. To think, believe, or be of opinion; to understand; to suppose.
2. To be apprehensive; to fear.
It is worse to apprehend than to suffer. Rowe.
APPREHENDER
Ap`pre*hend"er, n.
Defn: One who apprehends.
APPREHENSIBIITY
Ap`pre*hen`si*bi"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being apprehensible. [R.] De Quincey.
APPREHENSIBLE
Ap`pre*hen"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. apprehensibilis. See Apprehend.]
Defn: Capable of being apprehended or conceived. "Apprehensible by
faith." Bp. Hall.
-- Ap`*pre*hen"si*bly, adv.
APPREHENSION
Ap`pre*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. apprehensio: cf. F. appréhension. See
Apprehend.]
1. The act of seizing or taking hold of; seizure; as, the hand is an
organ of apprehension. Sir T. Browne.
2. The act of seizing or taking by legal process; arrest; as, the
felon, after his apprehension, escaped.
3. The act of grasping with the intellect; the contemplation of
things, without affirming, denying, or passing any judgment;
intellection; perception.
Simple apprehension denotes no more than the soul's naked
intellection of an object. Glanvill.
4. Opinion; conception; sentiment; idea.
Note: In this sense, the word often denotes a belief, founded on
sufficient evidence to give preponderation to the mind, but
insufficient to induce certainty; as, in our apprehension, the facts
prove the issue.
To false, and to be thought false, is all one in respect of men, who
act not according to truth, but apprehension. South.
5. The faculty by which ideas are conceived; understanding; as, a man
of dull apprehension.
6. Anticipation, mostly of things unfavorable; distrust or fear at
the prospect of future evil.
After the death of his nephew Caligula, Claudius was in no small
apprehension for his own life. Addison.
Syn.
-- Apprehension, Alarm. Apprehension springs from a sense of danger
when somewhat remote, but approaching; alarm arises from danger when
announced as near at hand. Apprehension is calmer and more permanent;
alarm is more agitating and transient.
APPREHENSIVE
Ap`pre*hen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. appréhensif. See Apprehend.]
1. Capable of apprehending, or quick to do so; apt; discerning.
It may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and
apprehensive . . . friend, is listening to our talk. Hawthorne.
2. Knowing; conscious; cognizant. [R.]
A man that has spent his younger years in vanity and folly, and is,
by the grace of God, apprehensive of it. Jer. Taylor.
3. Relating to the faculty of apprehension.
Judgment . . . is implied in every apprehensive act. Sir W. Hamilton.
4. Anticipative of something unfavorable' fearful of what may be
coming; in dread of possible harm; in expectation of evil.
Not at all apprehensive of evils as a distance. Tillotson.
Reformers . . . apprehensive for their lives. Gladstone.
5. Sensible; feeling; perceptive. [R.]
Thoughts, my tormentors, armed with deadly stings, Mangle my
apprehensive, tenderest parts. Milton.
APPREHENSIVELY
Ap`pre*hen"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an apprehensive manner; with apprehension of danger.
APPREHENSIVENESS
Ap`pre*hen"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being apprehensive.
APPRENTICE
Ap*pren"tice, n. Etym: [OE. apprentice, prentice, OF. aprentis, nom.
of aprentif, fr. apprendare to learn, L. apprendere, equiv. to
apprehendere, to take hold of (by the mind), to comprehend. See
Apprehend, Prentice.]
1. One who is bound by indentures or by legal agreement to serve a
mechanic, or other person, for a certain time, with a view to learn
the art, or trade, in which his master is bound to instruct him.
2. One not well versed in a subject; a tyro.
3. (Old law)
Defn: A barrister, considered a learner of law till of sixteen years'
standing, when he might be called to the rank of serjeant. [Obs.]
Blackstone.
APPRENTICE
Ap*pren"tice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Apprenticed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Apprenticing.]
Defn: To bind to, or put under the care of, a master, for the purpose
of instruction in a trade or business.
APPRENTICEAGE
Ap*pren"tice*age, n. Etym: [F. apprentissage.]
Defn: Apprenticeship. [Obs.]
APPRENTICEHOOD
Ap*pren"tice*hood, n.
Defn: Apprenticeship. [Obs.]
APPRENTICESHIP
Ap*pren"tice*ship, n.
1. The service or condition of an apprentice; the state in which a
person is gaining instruction in a trade or art, under legal
agreement.
2. The time an apprentice is serving (sometimes seven years, as from
the age of fourteen to twenty-one).
APPRESSED; APPREST
Ap*pressed", Ap*prest", a. Etym: [p. p. appress, which is not in use.
See Adpress.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pressed close to, or lying against, something for its whole
length, as against a stem, Gray.
APPRISE
Ap*prise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Apprised; p. pr. & vb. n. Apprising.]
Etym: [F. appris, fem. apprise, p. p. apprendre to learn, to teach,
to inform. Cf. Apprehend, Apprentice.]
Defn: To give notice, verbal or written; to inform; -- followed by
of; as, we will apprise the general of an intended attack; he
apprised the commander of what he had done.
APPRISE
Ap*prise", n.
Defn: Notice; information. [Obs.] Gower.
APPRIZAL
Ap*priz"al, n.
Defn: See Appraisal.
APPRIZE
Ap*prize", v. t. Etym: [The same as Appraise, only more accommodated
to the English form of the L. pretiare.]
Defn: To appraise; to value; to appreciate.
APPRIZEMENT
Ap*prize"ment, n.
Defn: Appraisement.
APPRIZER
Ap*priz"er, n.
1. An appraiser.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: A creditor for whom an appraisal is made. Sir W. Scott.
APPROACH
Ap*proach", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Approached; p. pr. & vb. n.
Approaching.] Etym: [OE. approchen, aprochen, OF. approcher, LL.
appropriare, fr. L. ad + propiare to draw near, prope near.]
1. To come or go near, in place or time; to draw nigh; to advance
nearer.
Wherefore approached ye so nigh unto the city 2 Sam. xi. 20.
But exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day
approaching. Heb. x. 25.
2. To draw near, in a figurative sense; to make advances; to
approximate; as, he approaches to the character of the ablest
statesman.
APPROACH
Ap*proach", v. t.
1. To bring near; to cause to draw near; to advance. [Archaic] Boyle.
2. To come near to in place, time, or character; to draw nearer to;
as, to approach the city; to approach my cabin; he approached the age
of manhood.
He was an admirable poet, and thought even to have approached Homer.
Temple.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: To take approaches to.
APPROACH
Ap*proach", n. Etym: [Cf. F. approche. See Approach, v. i.]
1. The act of drawing near; a coming or advancing near. "The approach
of summer." Horsley.
A nearer approach to the human type. Owen.
2. A access, or opportunity of drawing near.
The approach to kings and principal persons. Bacon.
3. pl.
Defn: Movements to gain favor; advances.
4. A way, passage, or avenue by which a place or buildings can be
approached; an access. Macaulay.
5. pl. (Fort.)
Defn: The advanced works, trenches, or covered roads made by
besiegers in their advances toward a fortress or military post.
6. (Hort.)
Defn: See Approaching.
APPROACHABILITY
Ap*proach`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being approachable; approachableness.
APPROACHABLE
Ap*proach"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being approached; accessible; as, approachable
virtue.
APPROACHABLENESS
Ap*proach"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being approachable; accessibility.
APPROACHER
Ap*proach"er, n.
Defn: One who approaches.
APPROACHING
Ap*proach"ing, n. (Hort.)
Defn: The act of ingrafting a sprig or shoot of one tree into
another, without cutting it from the parent stock; -- called, also,
inarching and grafting by approach.
APPROACHLESS
Ap*proach"less, a.
Defn: Impossible to be approached.
APPROACHMENT
Ap*proach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. approachement.]
Defn: Approach. [Archaic] Holland.
APPROBATE
Ap"pro*bate, a. Etym: [L. approbatus, p. p. of approbare to approve.]
Defn: Approved. [Obs.] Elyot.
APPROBATE
Ap"pro*bate, v. t.
Defn: To express approbation of; to approve; to sanction officially.
I approbate the one, I reprobate the other. Sir W. Hamilton.
Note: This word is obsolete in England, but is occasionally heard in
the United States, chiefly in a technical sense for license; as, a
person is approbated to preach; approbated to keep a public house.
Pickering (1816).
APPROBATION
Ap`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. approbatio: cf. F. approbation. See
Approve to prove.]
1. Proof; attestation. [Obs.] Shak.
2. The act of approving; an assenting to the propriety of a thing
with some degree of pleasure or satisfaction; approval; sanction;
commendation.
Many . . . joined in a loud hum of approbation. Macaulay.
The silent approbation of one's own breast. Melmoth.
Animals . . . love approbation or praise. Darwin.
3. Probation or novitiate. [Obs.]
This day my sister should the cloister enter, And there receive her
approbation. Shak.
Syn.
-- Approval; liking; sanction; consent; concurrence.
-- Approbation, Approval. Approbation and approval have the same
general meaning, assenting to or declaring as good, sanction,
commendation; but approbation is stronger and more positive. "We may
be anxious for the approbation of our friends; but we should be still
more anxious for the approval of our own consciences." "He who is
desirous to obtain universal approbation will learn a good lesson
from the fable of the old man and his ass." "The work has been
examined by several excellent judges, who have expressed their
unqualified approval of its plan and execution."
APPROBATIVE
Ap"pro*ba*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. approbatif.]
Defn: Approving, or implying approbation. Milner.
APPROBATIVENESS
Ap"pro*ba*tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of being approbative.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: Love of approbation.
APPROBATOR
Ap"pro*ba`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who approves. [R.]
APPROBATORY
Ap"pro*ba`to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing or expressing approbation; commendatory. Sheldon.
APPROMT
Ap*promt", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + promt.]
Defn: To quicken; to prompt. [Obs.]
To appromt our invention. Bacon.
APPROOF
Ap*proof", n. Etym: [See Approve, and Proof.]
1. Trial; proof. [Archaic] Shak.
2. Approval; commendation. Shak.
APPROPINQUATE
Ap`pro*pin"quate, v. i. Etym: [L. appropinquatus, p. p. of
appropinquare; ad + prope near.]
Defn: To approach. [Archaic] Ld. Lytton.
APPROPINQUATION
Ap`pro*pin*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. appropinquatio.]
Defn: A drawing nigh; approach. [R.] Bp. Hall.
APPROPINQUITY
Ap`pro*pin"qui*ty, n. Etym: [Pref. ad- + propinquity.]
Defn: Nearness; propinquity. [R.] J. Gregory.
APPROPRE
Ap*pro"pre, v. t. Etym: [OE. appropren, apropren, OF. approprier, fr.
L. appropriare. See Appropriate.]
Defn: To appropriate. [Obs.] Fuller.
APPROPRIABLE
Ap*pro"pri*a*ble, a. Etym: [See Appropriate.]
Defn: Capable of being appropriated, set apart, sequestered, or
assigned exclusively to a particular use. Sir T. Browne.
APPROPRIAMENT
Ap*pro"pri*a*ment, n.
Defn: What is peculiarly one's own; peculiar qualification.[Obs.]
If you can neglect Your own appropriaments. Ford.
APPROPRIATE
Ap*pro"pri*ate, a. Etym: [L. appropriatus, p. p. of appropriare; ad +
propriare to appropriate, fr. proprius one's own, proper. See
Proper.]
Defn: Set apart for a particular use or person. Hence: Belonging
peculiarly; peculiar; suitable; fit; proper.
In its strict and appropriate meaning. Porteus.
Appropriate acts of divine worship. Stillingfleet.
It is not at all times easy to find words appropriate to express our
ideas. Locke.
APPROPRIATE
Ap*pro"pri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Appropriated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Appropriating.]
1. To take to one's self in exclusion of others; to claim or use as
by an exclusive right; as, let no man appropriate the use of a common
benefit.
2. To set apart for, or assign to, a particular person or use, in
exclusion of all others; -- with to or for; as, a spot of ground is
appropriated for a garden; to appropriate money for the increase of
the navy.
3. To make suitable; to suit. [Archaic] Paley.
4. (Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: To annex, as a benefice, to a spiritual corporation, as its
property. Blackstone.
APPROPRIATE
Ap*pro"pri*ate, n.
Defn: A property; attribute. [Obs.]
APPROPRIATELY
Ap*pro"pri*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In an appropriate or proper manner; fitly; properly.
APPROPRIATENESS
Ap*pro"pri*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being appropriate; peculiar fitness.
Froude.
APPROPRIATION
Ap*pro`pri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. appropriatio: cf. F. appropriation.]
1. The act of setting apart or assigning to a particular use or
person, or of taking to one's self, in exclusion of all others;
application to a special use or purpose, as of a piece of ground for
a park, or of money to carry out some object.
2. Anything, especially money, thus set apart.
The Commons watched carefully over the appropriation. Macaulay.
3. (Law)
(a) The severing or sequestering of a benefice to the perpetual use
of a spiritual corporation. Blackstone.
(b) The application of payment of money by a debtor to his creditor,
to one of several debts which are due from the former to the latter.
Chitty.
APPROPRIATIVE
Ap*pro"pri*a*tive, a.
Defn: Appropriating; making, or tending to, appropriation; as, an
appropriative act.
-- Ap*pro"pri*a*tive*ness, n.
APPROPRIATOR
Ap*pro"pri*a`tor, n.
1. One who appropriates.
2. (Law)
Defn: A spiritual corporation possessed of an appropriated benefice;
also, an impropriator.
APPROVABLE
Ap*prov"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy of being approved; meritorious.
-- Ap*prov"a*ble*ness, n.
APPROVAL
Ap*prov"al, n.
Defn: Approbation; sanction.
A censor . . . without whose approval nTemple.
Syn.
-- See Approbation.
APPROVANCE
Ap*prov"ance, n.
Defn: Approval. [Archaic] Thomson.
APPROVE
Ap*prove", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Approved; p. pr. & vb. n. Approving.]
Etym: [OE. aproven, appreven, to prove, OF. aprover, F. approuver, to
approve, fr. L. approbare; ad + probare to esteem as good, approve,
prove. See Prove, and cf. Approbate.]
1. To show to be real or true; to prove. [Obs.]
Wouldst thou approve thy constancy Approve First thy obedience.
Milton.
2. To make proof of; to demonstrate; to prove or show practically.
Opportunities to approve . . . worth. Emerson.
He had approved himself a great warrior. Macaulay.
'T is an old lesson; Time approves it true. Byron.
His account . . . approves him a man of thought. Parkman.
3. To sanction officially; to ratify; to confirm; as, to approve the
decision of a court-martial.
4. To regard as good; to commend; to be pleased with; to think well
of; as, we approve the measured of the administration.
5. To make or show to be worthy of approbation or acceptance.
The first care and concern must be to approve himself to God. Rog
Note: This word, when it signifies to be pleased with, to think
favorably (of), is often followed by of.
They had not approved of the deposition of James. Macaulay.
They approved of the political institutions. W. Black.
APPROVE
Ap*prove", v. t. Etym: [OF. aprouer; (L. ad) + a form apparently
derived fr. the pro, prod, in L. prodest it is useful or profitable,
properly the preposition pro for. Cf. Improve.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: To make profit of; to convert to one's own profit; said esp. of
waste or common land appropriated by the lord of the manor.
APPROVEDLY
Ap*prov"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to secure approbation; in an approved manner.
APPROVEMENT
Ap*prove"ment, n. [Obs.]
1. Approbation.
I did nothing without your approvement. Hayward.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: a confession of guilt by a prisoner charged with treason or
felony, together with an accusation of his accomplish and a giving
evidence against them in order to obtain his own pardon. The term is
no longer in use; it corresponded to what is now known as turning
king's (or queen's) evidence in England, and state's evidence in the
United States. Burrill. Bouvier.
APPROVEMENT
Ap*prove"ment, n. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: Improvement of common lands, by inclosing and converting them
to the uses of husbandry for the advantage of the lord of the manor.
Blackstone.
APPROVER
Ap*prov"er, n.
1. One who approves. Formerly, one who made proof or trial.
2. An informer; an accuser. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. (Eng. Law)
Defn: One who confesses a crime and accuses another. See 1st
Approvement, 2.
APPROVER
Ap*prov"er, n. Etym: [See 2d Approve, v. t.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: A bailiff or steward; an agent. [Obs.] Jacobs.
APPROVING
Ap*prov"ing, a.
Defn: Expressing approbation; commending; as, an approving smile.
-- Ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
APPROXIMATE
Ap*prox"i*mate, a. Etym: [L. approximatus, p. p. of approximare to
approach; ad + proximare to come near. See Proximate.]
1. Approaching; proximate; nearly resembling.
2. Near correctness; nearly exact; not perfectly accurate; as,
approximate results or values. Approximate quantities (Math.), those
which are nearly, but not, equal.
APPROXIMATE
Ap*prox"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Approximated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Approximating.]
1. To carry or advance near; to cause to approach.
To approximate the inequality of riches to the level of nature.
Burke.
2. To come near to; to approach.
The telescope approximates perfection. J. Morse.
APPROXIMATE
Ap*prox"i*mate, v. i.
Defn: To draw; to approach.
APPROXIMATELY
Ap*prox"i*mate*ly, adv.
Defn: With approximation; so as to approximate; nearly.
APPROXIMATION
Ap*prox`i*ma"tion. n. Etym: [Cf. F. approximation, LL. approximatio.]
1. The act of approximating; a drawing, advancing or being near;
approach; also, the result of approximating.
The largest capacity and the most noble dispositions are but an
approximation to the proper standard and true symmetry of human
nature. I. Taylor.
2. An approach to a correct estimate, calculation, or conception, or
to a given quantity, quality, etc.
3. (Math.)
(a) A continual approach or coming nearer to a result; as, to solve
an equation by approximation.
(b) A value that is nearly but not exactly correct.
APPROXIMATIVE
Ap*prox"i*ma*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. approximatif.]
Defn: Approaching; approximate.
-- Ap*prox"i*ma*tive*ly, adv.
-- Ap*prox"i*ma*tive*ness, n.
APPROXIMATOR
Ap*prox"i*ma`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, approximates.
APPUI
Ap`pui", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. ad + podium foothold, Gr.
Defn: A support or supporter; a stay; a prop. [Obs.]
If a be to climb trees that are of any great height, there would be
stays and appuies set to it. Holland.
Point d'appui. Etym: [F., a point of support.] (Mil.) (a) A given
point or body, upon which troops are formed, or by which are marched
in line or column. (b) An advantageous defensive support, as a
castle, morass, wood, declivity, etc.
APPULSE
Ap"pulse, n. Etym: [L. appulsus, fr. appellere, appulsum, to drive
to; ad + pellere to drive: cf. F. appulse.]
1. A driving or running towards; approach; impulse; also, the act of
striking against.
In all consonants there is an appulse of the organs. Holder.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The near approach of one heavenly body to another, or to the
meridian; a coming into conjunction; as, the appulse of the moon to a
star, or of a star to the meridian.
APPULSION
Ap*pul"sion, n.
Defn: A driving or striking against; an appulse.
APPULSIVE
Ap*pul"sive, a.
Defn: Striking against; impinging; as, the appulsive influence of the
planets. P. Cyc.
APPULSIVELY
Ap*pul"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: By appulsion.
APPURTENANCE
Ap*pur"te*nance, n. Etym: [OF. apurtenaunce, apartenance, F.
appartenance, LL. appartenentia, from L. appertinere. See Appertain.]
Defn: That which belongs to something else; an adjunct; an appendage;
an accessory; something annexed to another thing more worthy; in
common parlance and legal acceptation, something belonging to another
thing as principal, and which passes as incident to it, as a right of
way, or other easement to land; a right of common to pasture, an
outhouse, barn, garden, or orchard, to a house or messuage. In a
strict legal sense, land can never pass as an appurtenance to land.
Tomlins. Bouvier. Burrill.
Globes . . . provided as appurtenances to astronomy. Bacon.
The structure of the eye, and of its appurtenances. Reid.
APPURTENANT
Ap*pur"te*nant, a. Etym: [F. appartenant, p. pr. of appartenir. See
Appurtenance.]
Defn: Annexed or pertaining to some more important thing; accessory;
incident; as, a right of way appurtenant to land or buildings.
Blackstone. Common appurtenatn. (Law) See under Common, n.
APPURTENANT
Ap*pur"te*nant, n,
Defn: Something which belongs or appertains to another thing; an
appurtenance.
Mysterious appurtenants and symbols of redemption. Coleridge.
APRICATE
Ap"ri*cate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. apricatus, p. p. of apricare, fr.
apricus exposed to the sun, fr. aperire to uncover, open.]
Defn: To bask in the sun. Boyle.
APRICATION
Ap`ri*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Basking in the sun. [R.]
APRICOT
A"pri*cot, n. Etym: [OE. apricock, abricot, F. abricot, fr. Sp.
albaricoque or Pg. albricoque, fr. Ar. albirq, al-burq. Though the E.
and F. form abricot is derived from the Arabic through the Spanish,
yet the Arabic word itself was formed from the Gr. praecoquus,
praecox, early ripe. The older E. form apricock was prob. taken
direct from Pg. See Precocious, Cook.] (Bot.)
Defn: A fruit allied to the plum, of an orange color, oval shape, and
delicious taste; also, the tree (Prunus Armeniaca of Linnæus) which
bears this fruit. By cultivation it has been introduced throughout
the temperate zone.
APRIL
A"pril, n. Etym: [L. Aprilis. OE. also Averil, F. Avril, fr. L.
Aprilis.]
1. The fourth month of the year.
2. Fig.: With reference to April being the month in which vegetation
begins to put forth, the variableness of its weather, etc.
The April's her eyes; it is love's spring. Shak.
April fool, one who is sportively imposed upon by others on the first
day of April.
A PRIORI
A` pri*o"ri. Etym: [L. a (ab) + prior former.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: Characterizing that kind of reasoning which deduces
consequences from definitions formed, or principles assumed, or which
infers effects from causes previously known; deductive or
deductively. The reverse of a posteriori.
3. (Philos.)
Defn: Applied to knowledge and conceptions assumed, or presupposed,
as prior to experience, in order to make experience rational or
possible.
A priori, that is, form these necessities of the mind or forms of
thinking, which, though first revealed to us by experience, must yet
have preëxisted in order to make experience possible. Coleridge.
APRIORISM
A`pri*o"rism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. apriorisme.]
Defn: An a priori principle.
APRIORITY
A`pri*or"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being innate in the mind, or prior to
experience; a priori reasoning.
APROCTA
A*proc"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Turbellaria in which there is no anal aperture.
APROCTOUS
A*proc"tous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without an anal office.
APRON
A"pron, n. Etym: [OE. napron, OF. naperon, F. napperon, dim. of OF.
nape, F. nappe, cloth, tablecloth, LL. napa, fr. L. mappa, napkin,
table napkin. See Map.]
1. An article of dress, of cloth, leather, or other stuff, worn on
the fore part of the body, to keep the clothes clean, to defend them
from injury, or as a covering. It is commonly tied at the waist by
strings.
2. Something which by its shape or use suggests an apron; as, (a) The
fat skin covering the belly of a goose or duck. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
(b) A piece of leather, or other material, to be spread before a
person riding on an outside seat of a vehicle, to defend him from the
rain, snow, or dust; a boot. "The weather being too hot for the
apron." Hughes.
(c) (Gun.) A leaden plate that covers the vent of a cannon.
(d) (Shipbuilding) A piece of carved timber, just above the foremost
end of the keel. Totten.
(e) A platform, or flooring of plank, at the entrance of a dock,
against which the dock gates are shut.
(f) A flooring of plank before a dam to cause the water to make a
gradual descent.
(g) (Mech.) The piece that holds the cutting tool of a planer.
(h) (Plumbing) A strip of lead which leads the drip of a wall into a
gutter; a flashing.
(i) (Zoöl.) The infolded abdomen of a crab.
APRONED
A"proned, a.
Defn: Wearing an apron.
A cobbler aproned, and a parson gowned. Pope.
APRONFUL
A"pron*ful, n.; pl. Apronfuls.
Defn: The quality an apron can hold.
APRONLESS
A"pron*less, a.
Defn: Without an apron.
APRON MAN
A"pron man`.
Defn: A man who wears an apron; a laboring man; a mechanic. [Obs.]
Shak.
APRON STRING
A"pron string`.
Defn: The string of an apron. To be tied to a wife's or mother's
apron strings, to be unduly controlled by a wife or mother.
He was so made that he could not submit to be tied to the apron
strings even of the best of wives. Macaulay.
APROPOS
Ap"ro*pos`, a. & adv. Etym: [F. ad) + propos purpose, L. proposium
plan, purpose, fr. proponere to propose. See Propound.]
1. Opportunely or opportune; seasonably or seasonable.
A tale extremely apropos. Pope.
2. By the way; to the purpose; suitably to the place or subject; -- a
word used to introduce an incidental observation, suited to the
occasion, though not strictly belonging to the narration.
APSE
Apse, n.; pl. Apses. [See Apsis.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) A projecting part of a building, esp. of a church, having in the
plan a polygonal or semicircular termination, and, most often,
projecting from the east end. In early churches the Eastern apse was
occupied by seats for the bishop and clergy. Hence:
(b) The bishop's seat or throne, in ancient churches.
2. A reliquary, or case in which the relics of saints were kept.
Note: This word is also written apsis and absis.
APSIDAL
Ap"si*dal, a.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the apsides of an orbit.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the apse of a church; as, the apsidal
termination of the chancel.
APSIDES
Ap"si*des, n. pl.
Defn: See Apsis.
APSIS
Ap"sis, n.; pl. Apsides. See Apse. Etym: [L. apsis, absis, Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the two points of an orbit, as of a planet or satellite,
which are at the greatest and least distance from the central body,
corresponding to the aphelion and perihelion of a planet, or to the
apogee and perigee of the moon. The more distant is called the higher
apsis; the other, the lower apsis; and the line joining them, the
line of apsides.
2. (Math.)
Defn: In a curve referred to polar coördinates, any point for which
the radius vector is a maximum or minimum.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Apse.
APT
Apt, a Etym: [F. apte, L. aptus, fr. obsolete apere to fasten, to
join, to fit, akin to apisci to reach, attain: cf. Gr. apta fit, fr.
ap to reach attain.]
1. Fit or fitted; suited; suitable; appropriate.
They have always apt instruments. Burke.
A river . . . apt to be forded by a lamb. Jer. Taylor.
2. Having an habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; -- used
of things.
My vines and peaches . . . were apt to have a soot or smuttiness upon
their leaves and fruit. Temple.
This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of the leaves by a
leaf-cutting ant. Lubbock.
3. Inclined; disposed customarily; given; ready; -- used of persons.
Apter to give than thou wit be to ask. Beau. & Fl.
That lofty pity with which prosperous folk are apt to remember their
grandfathers. F. Harrison.
4. Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to
learn; prompt; expert; as, a pupil apt to learn; an apt scholar. "An
apt wit." Johnson.
Live a thousand years, I shall not find myself so apt to die. Shak.
I find thee apt . . . Now, Hamlet, hear. Shak.
Syn.
-- Fit; meet; suitable; qualified; inclined; disposed; liable;
ready; quick; prompt.
APT
Apt, v. t. Etym: [L. aptare. See Aptate.]
Defn: To fit; to suit; to adapt. [Obs.] " To apt their places." B.
Jonson.
That our speech be apted to edification. Jer. Taylor.
APTABLE
Apt"a*ble, a. Etym: [LL. aptabilis, fr. L. aptare.]
Defn: Capable of being adapted. [Obs.] Sherwood.
APTATE
Ap"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. aptatus, p. p. of aptare. See Apt.]
Defn: To make fit. [Obs.] Bailey
APTERA
Ap"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. aptera, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Insects without wings, constituting the seventh Linnæn order of
insects, an artificial group, which included Crustacea, spiders,
centipeds, and even worms. These animals are now placed in several
distinct classes and orders.
APTERAL
Ap"ter*al, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Apterous.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Without lateral columns; -- applied to buildings which have no
series of columns along their sides, but are either prostyle or
amphiprostyle, and opposed to peripteral. R. Cyc.
APTERAN
Ap"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Aptera.
APTERIA
Ap*te"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Aptera.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Naked spaces between the feathered areas of birds. See
Pteryliæ.
APTEROUS
Ap"ter*ous, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of wings; apteral; as, apterous insects.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of winglike membranous expansions, as a stem or
petiole; -- opposed to atate.
APTERYGES
Ap*ter"y*ges, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Apteryx.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of birds, including the genus Apteryx.
APTERYX
Ap"te*ryx, n. Etym: [Gr. Aptera.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of New Zealand birds about the size of a hen, with only
short rudiments of wings, armed with a claw and without a tail; the
kiwi. It is allied to the gigantic extinct moas of the same country.
Five species are known.
APTITUDE
Apt"i*tude, n. Etym: [F. aptitude, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus. See
Apt, and cf. Attitude.]
1. A natural or acquired disposition or capacity for a particular
purpose, or tendency to a particular action or effect; as, oil has an
aptitude to burn.
He seems to have had a peculiar aptitude for the management of
irregular troops. Macaulay.
2. A general fitness or suitableness; adaptation.
That sociable and helpful aptitude which God implanted between man
and woman. Milton.
3. Readiness in learning; docility; aptness.
He was a boy of remarkable aptitude. Macaulay.
APTITUDINAL
Apt`i*tu"di*nal, a.
Defn: Suitable; fit. [Obs.]
APTLY
Apt"ly, adv.
Defn: In an apt or suitable manner; fitly; properly; pertinently;
appropriately; readily.
APTNESS
Apt"ness, n.
1. Fitness; suitableness; appropriateness; as, the aptness of things
to their end.
The aptness of his quotations. J. R. Green.
2. Disposition of the mind; propensity; as, the aptness of men to
follow example.
3. Quickness of apprehension; readiness in learning; docility; as, an
aptness to learn is more observable in some children than in others.
4. Proneness; tendency; as, the aptness of iron to rust.
APTOTE
Ap"tote, n. Etym: [L. aptotum, Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: A noun which has no distinction of cases; an indeclinable noun.
APTOTIC
Ap*tot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, aptotes; uninflected; as,
aptotic languages.
APTYCHUS
Ap"ty*chus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shelly plate found in the terminal chambers of ammonite
shells. Some authors consider them to be jaws; others, opercula.
APUS
A"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Apode, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fresh-water phyllopod crustaceans. See Phyllopod.
APYRETIC
Ap`y*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. a not + pyretic.] (Med.)
Defn: Without fever; -- applied to days when there is an intermission
of fever. Dunglison.
APYREXIA; APYREXY
Ap`y*rex"i*a, Ap`y*rex`y, n. Etym: [NL. apyrexia, fr. Gr. apyrexie.]
(Med.)
Defn: The absence or intermission of fever.
APYREXIAL
Ap`y*rex"i*al, a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to apyrexy. "Apyrexial period." Brande & C.
APYROUS
Ap"y*rous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Incombustible; capable of sustaining a strong heat without
alteration of form or properties.
AQUA
A"qua, n. Etym: [L. See Ewer.]
Defn: Water; -- a word much used in pharmacy and the old chemistry,
in various signification, determined by the word or words annexed.
Aqua ammoniæ, the aqueous solution of ammonia; liquid ammonia; often
called aqua ammonia.
-- Aqua marine, or Aqua marina. Same as Aquamarine.
-- Aqua regia. Etym: [L., royal water] (Chem.), a very corrosive
fuming yellow liquid consisting of nitric and hydrochloric acids. It
has the power of dissolving gold, the "royal" metal.
-- Aqua Tofana, a fluid containing arsenic, and used for secret
poisoning, made by an Italian woman named Tofana, in the middle of
the 17th century, who is said to have poisoned more than 600 persons.
Francis.
-- Aqua vitæ Etym: [L., water of life. Cf. Eau de vie, Usquebaugh],
a name given to brandy and some other ardent spirits. Shak.
AQUA FORTIS
A`qua for"tis. Etym: [L., strong water.] (Chem.)
Defn: Nitric acid. [Archaic]
AQUAMARINE
A`qua*ma*rine", n. (Min.)
Defn: A transparent, pale green variety of beryl, used as a gem. See
Beryl.
AQUAPUNCTURE
A`qua*punc"ture, n. Etym: [L. aqua water, + punctura puncture,
pungere, punctum, to, prick.] (Med.)
Defn: The introduction of water subcutaneously for the relief of
pain.
AQUARELLE
Aq`ua*relle", n. Etym: [F., fr. Ital acquerello, fr. acqua water, L.
aqua.]
Defn: A design or painting in thin transparent water colors; also,
the mode of painting in such colors.
AQUARELLIST
Aq`ua*rel"list, n.
Defn: A painter in thin transparent water colors.
AQUARIAL; AQUARIAN
A*qua"ri*al, A*qua"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an aquarium.
AQUARIAN
A*qua"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. (assumed) Aquarianus, fr. aqua: cf. F.
Aquarien. See Aqua.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of Christian in the primitive church who used
water instead of wine in the Lord's Supper.
AQUARIUM
A*qua"ri*um, n.; pl. E. Aquariums, L. Aquaria. Etym: [L. See
Aquarius, Ewer.]
Defn: An artificial pond, or a globe or tank (usually with glass
sides), in which living specimens of aquatic animals or plants are
kept.
AQUARIUS
A*qua"ri*us, n. Etym: [L. aquarius, adj., relating to water, and n.,
a water-carrier, fr. aqua. See Aqua.] (Astron.)
(a) The Water-bearer; the eleventh sign in the zodiac, which the sun
enters about the 20th of January; -- so called from the rains which
prevail at that season in Italy and the East.
(b) A constellation south of Pegasus.
AQUATIC
A*quat"ic, a. Etym: [L. aquaticus: cf. F. aquatique. See Aqua.]
Defn: Pertaining to water growing in water; living in, swimming in,
or frequenting the margins of waters; as, aquatic plants and fowls.
AQUATIC
A*quat`ic, n.
1. An aquatic animal or plant.
2. pl.
Defn: Sports or exercises practiced in or on the water.
AQUATICAL
A*quat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Aquatic. [R.]
AQUATILE
Aq"ua*tile, a. Etym: [L. aquatilis: cf. F. aquatile.]
Defn: Inhabiting the water. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
AQUATINT; AQUATINTA
A"qua*tint, A`qua*tin"ta, n. Etym: [It. acquatinta dyed water; acqua
(L. aqua) water + tinto, fem. tinta, dyed. See Tint.]
Defn: A kind of etching in which spaces are bitten by the use of aqua
fortis, by which an effect is produced resembling a drawing in water
colors or India ink; also, the engraving produced by this method.
AQUEDUCT
Aq"ue*duct, n. Etym: [F. aqueduc, OF. aqueduct (Cotgr.), fr. L.
aquaeductus; aquae, gen. of aqua water + ductus a leading, ducere to
lead. See Aqua, Duke.]
1. A conductor, conduit, or artificial channel for conveying water,
especially one for supplying large cities with water.
Note: The term is also applied to a structure (similar to the ancient
aqueducts), for conveying a canal over a river or hollow; more
properly called an aqueduct bridge.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A canal or passage; as, the aqueduct of Sylvius, a channel
connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain.
AQUEITY
A*que"i*ty, n.
Defn: Wateriness. [Obs.]
AQUEOUS
A"que*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aqueux, L. aquosus, fr. aqua. See Aqua,
Aquose.]
1. Partaking of the nature of water, or abounding with it; watery.
The aqueous vapor of the air. Tyndall.
2. Made from, or by means of, water.
An aqueous deposit. Dana.
Aqueous extract, an extract obtained from a vegetable substance by
steeping it in water.
-- Aqueous humor (Anat.), one the humors of the eye; a limpid fluid,
occupying the space between the crystalline lens and the cornea. (See
Eye.) -- Aqueous rocks (Geol.), those which are deposited from water
and lie in strata, as opposed to volcanic rocks, which are of igneous
origin; -- called also sedimentary rocks.
AQUEOUSNESS
A`que*ous*ness, n.
Defn: Wateriness.
AQUIFEROUS
A*quif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. aqua water + -ferous.]
Defn: Consisting or conveying water or a watery fluid; as, aquiferous
vessels; the aquiferous system.
AQUIFORM
A"qui*form, a. Etym: [L. aqua water + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of water.
AQUILA
Aq"ui*la, n; pl. Aquilæ. Etym: [L., an eagle.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of eagles.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A northern constellation southerly from Lyra and Cygnus and
preceding the Dolphin; the Eagle. Aquila alba Etym: [L., white
eagle], an alchemical name of calomel. Brande & C.
AQUILATED
Aq"ui*la`ted, a. (Her.)
Defn: Adorned with eagles' heads.
AQUILINE
Aq"ui*line, a. Etym: [L. aquilinus, fr. aquila eagle: cf. F. aquilin.
See Eagle. ]
1. Belonging to or like an eagle.
2. Curving; hooked; prominent, like the beak of an eagle; -- applied
particularly to the nose
Terribly arched and aquiline his nose. Cowper.
AQUILON
Aq"ui*lon, n. Etym: [L. aquilo, -lonis: cf. F. aquilon.]
Defn: The north wind. [Obs.] Shak.
AQUIPAROUS
A*quip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. aqua water + parere to bring forth.]
(Med.)
Defn: Secreting water; -- applied to certain glands. Dunglison.
AQUITANIAN
Aq`ui*ta"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aquitania, now called Gascony.
AQUOSE
A*quose", a. Etym: [L. aquosus watery, fr. aqua. See Aqua, Aqueous.]
Defn: Watery; aqueous. [R.] Bailey.
AQUOSITY
A*quos"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. aquositas.]
Defn: The condition of being wet or watery; wateriness. Huxley.
Very little water or aquosity is found in their belly. Holland.
AR
Ar, conj.
Defn: Ere; before. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARA
A"ra, n. Etym: [L.] (Astron.)
Defn: The Altar; a southern constellation, south of the tail of the
Scorpion.
ARA
A"ra, n. Etym: [Native Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name of the great blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna),
native of South America.
ARAB
Ar"ab, n. Etym: [Prob. ultimately fr. Heb. arabah a desert, the name
employed, in the Old Testament, to denote the valley of the Jordan
and Dead Sea. Ar. Arab, Heb. arabi, arbi, arbim: cf. F. Arabe, L.
Arabs, Gr.
Defn: One of a swarthy race occupying Arabia, and numerous in Syria,
Northern Africa, etc. Street Arab, a homeless vagabond in the streets
of a city, particularly and outcast boy or girl. Tylor.
The ragged outcasts and street Arabs who are shivering in damp
doorways. Lond. Sat. Rev.
ARABA
A*ra"ba, n. [Written also aroba and arba.] [Ar. or Turk. 'arabah: cf.
Russ. arba.]
Defn: A wagon or cart, usually heavy and without springs, and often
covered. [Oriental]
The araba of the Turks has its sides of latticework to admit the air
Balfour (Cyc. of India).
ARABESQUE
Ar`a*besque", n. Etym: [F. arabesque, fr. It. arabesco, fr. Arabo
Arab.]
Defn: A style of ornamentation either painted, inlaid, or carved in
low relief. It consists of a pattern in which plants, fruits,
foliage, etc., as well as figures of men and animals, real or
imaginary, are fantastically interlaced or put together.
Note: It was employed in Roman imperial ornamentation, and appeared,
without the animal figures, in Moorish and Arabic decorative art.
(See Moresque.) The arabesques of the Renaissance were founded on
Greco-Roman work.
ARABESQUE
Ar`a*besque", a.
1. Arabian. [Obs.]
2. Relating to, or exhibiting, the style of ornament called
arabesque; as, arabesque frescoes.
ARABESQUED
Ar`a*besqued", a.
Defn: Ornamented in the style of arabesques.
ARABIAN
A*ra"bi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Arabia or its inhabitants. Arabian bird,
the phenix. Shak.
ARABIAN
A*ra"bi*an, n.
Defn: A native of Arabia; an Arab.
ARABIC
Ar"a*bic, a. Etym: [L. Arabicus, fr. Arabia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Arabia or the Arabians. Arabic numerals or
figures, the nine digits, 1, 2, 3, etc., and the cipher 0.
-- Gum arabic. See under Gum.
ARABIC
Ar"a*bic, n.
Defn: The language of the Arabians.
Note: The Arabic is a Semitic language, allied to the Hebrew. It is
very widely diffused, being the language in which all Mohammedans
must read the Koran, and is spoken as a vernacular tongue in Arabia,
Syria, and Northern Africa.
ARABICAL
A*rab"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to Arabia; Arabic.
-- A*rab"ic*al*ly, adv.
ARABIN
Ar"a*bin, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A carbohydrate, isomeric with cane sugar, contained in gum
arabic, from which it is extracted as a white, amorphous substance.
2. Mucilage, especially that made of gum arabic.
ARABINOSE
Ar"a*bin*ose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A sugar of the composition C5H10O5, obtained from cherry gum by
boiling it with dilute sulphuric acid.
ARABISM
Ar"a*bism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Arabisme.]
Defn: An Arabic idiom peculiarly of language. Stuart.
ARABIST
Ar`a*bist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Arabiste.]
Defn: One well versed in the Arabic language or literature; also,
formerly, one who followed the Arabic system of surgery.
ARABLE
Ar"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. arable, L. arabilis, fr. arare to plow, akin
to Gr. ear, to plow. See Earable.]
Defn: Fit for plowing or tillage; -- hence, often applied to land
which has been plowed or tilled.
ARABLE
Ar"a*ble, n.
Defn: Arable land; plow land.
ARABY
Ar"a*by, n.
Defn: The country of Arabia. [Archaic & Poetic]
ARACANESE
Ar`a*ca*nese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aracan, a province of British Burmah.
-- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Aracan.
ARACARI
A`ra*, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird, of the genus Pleroglossius, allied to
the toucans. There are several species.
ARACE
A*race", v. t. Etym: [OE. aracen, arasen, OF. arachier, esracier, F.
arracher, fr. L. exradicare, eradicare. The prefix a- is perh. due to
L. ab. See Eradicate.]
Defn: To tear up by the roots; to draw away. [Obs.] Wyatt.
ARACEOUS
A*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. arum a genus of plants, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an order of plants, of which the genus Arum
is the type.
ARACHNID
A*rach"nid, n.
Defn: An arachnidan. Huxley.
ARACHNIDA
A*rach"ni*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the classes of Arthropoda. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: They have four pairs of legs, no antennæ nor wings, a pair of
mandibles, and one pair of maxillæ or palpi. The head is usually
consolidated with the thorax. The respiration is either by trancheæ
or by pulmonary sacs, or by both. The class includes three principal
orders: Araneina, or spiders; Arthrogastra, including scorpions,
etc.; and Acarina, or mites and ticks.
ARACHNIDAN
A*rach"ni*dan, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Arachnida.
ARACHNIDIAL
Ar`ach*nid"i*al, a. (Zoöl.)
(a) Of or pertaining to the Arachnida.
(b) Pertaining to the arachnidium.
ARACHNIDIUM
Ar`ach*nid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Arachnida.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The glandular organ in which the material for the web of
spiders is secreted.
ARACHNITIS
Ar`ach*ni"tis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane.
ARACHNOID
A*rach"noid, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Resembling a spider's web; cobweblike.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a thin membrane of the brain and spinal cord,
between the dura mater and pia mater.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Covered with, or composed of, soft, loose hairs or fibers, so
as to resemble a cobweb; cobwebby.
ARACHNOID
A*rach"noid, n.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The arachnoid membrane.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Arachnoidea.
ARACHNOIDAL
Ar`ach*noid"al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the arachnoid membrane; arachnoid.
ARACHNOIDEA
Ar`ach*noid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Arachnida.
ARACHNOLOGICAL
A*rach`no*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to arachnology.
ARACHNOLOGIST
Ar`ach*nol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in, or studies, arachnology.
ARACHNOLOGY
Ar`ach*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The department of zoölogy which treats of spiders and other
Arachnida.
ARAEOMETER
A`ræ*om"e*ter.
Defn: See Areometer.
ARAEOSTYLE
A*ræ"o*style, a. & n. Etym: [L. araeostylos, Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: See Intercolumniation.
ARAEOSYSTYLE
A*ræ`o*sys"tyle, a. & n. Etym: [Gr. Systyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Intercolumniation.
ARAGONESE
Ar`a*go*nese, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aragon, in Spain, or to its inhabitants.
-- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Aragon, in Spain.
ARAGONITE
A*rag"o*nite, n. Etym: [From Aragon, in Spain.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral identical in composition with calcite or carbonate of
lime, but differing from it in its crystalline form and some of its
physical characters.
ARAGUATO
A`ra*gua"to, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American monkey, the ursine howler (Mycetes ursinus).
See Howler, n., 2.
ARAISE
A*raise"", v. t.
Defn: To raise. [Obs.] Shak.
ARAK
Ar"ak, n.
Defn: Same as Arrack.
ARAMAEAN; ARAMEAN
Ar`a*mæan, Ar`a*me"an, a. Etym: [L. Aramaeus, Gr. Aram, i. e.
Highland, a name given to Syria and Mesopotamia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Syrians and Chaldeans, or to their
language; Aramaic.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Aram.
ARAMAIC
Ar`a*ma"ic, a. Etym: [See Aramæan, a.]
Defn: Pertaining to Aram, or to the territory, inhabitants, language,
or literature of Syria and Mesopotamia; Aramæan; -- specifically
applied to the northern branch of the Semitic family of languages,
including Syriac and Chaldee.
-- n.
Defn: The Aramaic language.
ARAMAISM
Ar`a*ma"ism, n.
Defn: An idiom of the Aramaic.
ARANEIDA; ARANEOIDEA
Ar`a*ne"i*da, Ar`a*ne*oid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Araneina.
ARANEIDAN
Ar`a*ne"i*dan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Araneina or spiders.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Araneina; a spider.
ARANEIFORM
Ar`a*ne"i*form a. Etym: [L. aranea spider + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form of a spider. Kirby.
ARANEINA
A*ra`ne*i"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. aranea spider.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order of Arachnida that includes the spiders.
Note: They have mandibles, modified a poison faIllustration in
Appendix.
ARANEOSE
A*ra"ne*ose`, a. Etym: [L. araneous.]
Defn: Of the aspect of a spider's web; arachnoid.
ARANEOUS
A*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. araneosus, fr. aranea spider, spider's
web.]
Defn: Cobweblike; extremely thin and delicate, like a cobweb; as, the
araneous membrane of the eye. See Arachnoid. Derham.
ARANGO
A*ran"go, n.; pl. Arangoes. Etym: [The native name.]
Defn: A bead of rough carnelian. Arangoes were formerly imported from
Bombay for use in the African slave trade. McCulloch.
ARAPAIMA
A`ra*pai"ma, n. Etym: [Prob. native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large fresh-water food fish of South America.
ARARA
A*ra"ra, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The palm (or great black) cockatoo, of Australia (Microglossus
aterrimus).
ARAROBA
Ar`a*ro"ba, n. [Tupi.]
1. Goa powder.
2. A fabaceous tree of Brazil (Centrolobium robustum) having
handsomely striped wood; --called also zebrawood.
ARATION
A*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aratio, fr. arare to plow.]
Defn: Plowing; tillage. [R.]
Lands are said to be in a state of aration when they are under
tillage. Brande.
ARATORY
Ar"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. aratorius: cf. F. aratoire.]
Defn: Contributing to tillage.
ARAUCARIA
Ar`au*ca"ri*a, n. Etym: [Araucania, a territory south of Chili.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of tall conifers of the pine family. The species are
confined mostly to South America and Australia. The wood cells differ
from those of other in having the dots in their lateral surfaces in
two or three rows, and the dots of contiguous rows alternating. The
seeds are edible.
ARAUCARIAN
Ar`au*ca"ri*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or of the nature of, the Araucaria. The earliest
conifers in geological history were mostly Araucarian. Dana.
ARBALEST; ARBALIST
Ar"ba*lest, Ar"ba*list, n. Etym: [OF. arbaleste, LL. arbalista, for
L. arcuballista; arcus bow + ballista a military engine. See
Ballista.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A crossbow, consisting of a steel bow set in a shaft of wood,
furnished with a string and a trigger, and a mechanical device for
bending the bow. It served to throw arrows, darts, bullets, etc.
[Written also arbalet and arblast.] Fosbroke.
ARBALESTER; ARBALISTER
Ar"ba*lest`er, Ar"ba*list`er, n. Etym: [OF. arblastere, OF.
arbalestier. See Arbalest.]
Defn: A crossbowman. [Obs.] Speed.
ARBITER
Ar"bi*ter, n. Etym: [L. arbiter; ar- (for ad) + the root of betere to
go; hence properly, one who comes up to look on.]
1. A person appointed, or chosen, by parties to determine a
controversy between them.
Note: In modern usage, arbitrator is the technical word.
2. Any person who has the power of judging and determining, or
ordaining, without control; one whose power of deciding and governing
is not limited.
For Jove is arbiter of both to man. Cowper.
Syn.
-- Arbitrator; umpire; director; referee; controller; ruler;
governor.
ARBITER
Ar"bi*ter, v. t.
Defn: To act as arbiter between. [Obs.]
ARBITRABLE
Ar"bi*tra*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. arbitrable, fr. L. arbitrari. See
Arbitrate, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being decided by arbitration; determinable.
[Archaic] Bp. Hall.
ARBITRAGE
Ar"bi*trage, n. Etym: [F., fr. arbiter to give judgment, L.
arbitrari.]
1. Judgment by an arbiter; authoritative determination. [Archaic]
2. (Com)
Defn: A traffic in bills of exchange (see Arbitration of Exchange);
also, a traffic in stocks which bear differing values at the same
time in different markets.
ARBITRAL
Ar"bi*tral, a. Etym: [L. arbitralis.]
Defn: Of or relating to an arbiter or an arbitration. [R.]
ARBITRAMENT
Ar*bit"ra*ment, n. Etym: [LL. arbitramentum.]
1. Determination; decision; arbitration.
The arbitrament of time. Everett.
Gladly at this moment would MacIvor have put their quarrel to
personal arbitrament. Sir W. Scott.
2. The award of arbitrators. Cowell.
ARBITRARILY
Ar"bi*tra*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In an arbitrary manner; by will only; despotically; absolutely.
ARBITRARINESS
Ar"bi*tra*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being arbitrary; despoticalness; tyranny. Bp.
Hall.
ARBITRARIOUS
Ar`bi*tra"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. arbitrarius. See Arbitrary.]
Defn: Arbitrary; despotic. [Obs.] -- Ar`bi*tra"*ri*ous*ly, adv.
[Obs.]
ARBITRARY
Ar"bi*tra*ry, a. Etym: [L. arbitrarius, fr. arbiter: cf. F.
arbitraire. See Arbiter.]
1. Depending on will or discretion; not governed by any fixed rules;
as, an arbitrary decision; an arbitrary punishment.
It was wholly arbitrary in them to do so. Jer. Taylor.
Rank pretends to fix the value of every one, and is the most
arbitrary of all things. Landor.
2. Exercised according to one's own will or caprice, and therefore
conveying a notion of a tendency to abuse the possession of power.
Arbitrary power is most easily established on the ruins of liberty
abused licentiousness. Washington.
3. Despotic; absolute in power; bound by no law; harsh and
unforbearing; tyrannical; as, an arbitrary prince or government.
Dryden.
Arbitrary constant, Arbitrary function (Math.), a quantity of
function that is introduced into the solution of a problem, and to
which any value or form may at will be given, so that the solution
may be made to meet special requirements.
-- Arbitrary quantity (Math.), one to which any value can be
assigned at pleasure.
ARBITRATE
Ar"bi*trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arbitrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Arbitrating.] Etym: [L. arbitratus, p. p. of arbitrari to be a hearer
or beholder of something, to make a decision, to give judgment, fr.
arbiter. See Arbiter.]
1. To hear and decide, as arbitrators; as, to choose to arbitrate a
disputed case.
2. To decide, or determine generally. South.
There shall your swords and lances arbitrate The swelling difference
of your settled hate. Shak.
ARBITRATE
Ar"bi*trate, v. i.
1. To decide; to determine. Shak.
2. To act as arbitrator or judge; as, to arbitrate upon several
reports;; to arbitrate in disputes among heighbors; to arbitrate
between parties to a suit.
ARBITRATION
Ar`bi*tra"tion, n. Etym: [F. arbitration, L. arbitratio, fr.
arbitrari.]
Defn: The hearing and determination of a cause between parties in
controversy, by a person or persons chosen by the parties.
Note: This may be done by one person; but it is usual to choose two
or three called arbitrators; or for each party to choose one, and
these to name a third, who is called the umpire. Their determination
is called the award. Bouvier Arbitration bond, a bond which obliges
one to abide by the award of an arbitration.
-- Arbitration of Exchange, the operation of converting the currency
of one country into that of another, or determining the rate of
exchange between such countries or currencies. An arbitrated rate is
one determined by such arbitration through the medium of one or more
intervening currencies.
ARBITRATOR
Ar"bi*tra`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. arbitrari: cf. F. arbitrateur.]
1. A person, or one of two or more persons, chosen by parties who
have a controversy, to determine their differences. See Arbitration.
2. One who has the power of deciding or prescribing without control;
a ruler; a governor.
Though Heaven be shut, And Heaven's high Arbitrators sit secure.
Milton.
Masters of their own terms and arbitrators of a peace. Addison.
Syn.
-- Judge; umpire; referee; arbiter. See Judge.
ARBITRATRIX
Ar"bi*tra`trix, n. Etym: [L., fem. of arbitrator.]
Defn: A female who arbitrates or judges.
ARBITRESS
Ar"bi*tress, n. Etym: [From Arbiter.]
Defn: A female arbiter; an arbitratrix. Milton.
ARBLAST
Ar"blast, n.
Defn: A crossbow. See Arbalest.
ARBOR
Ar"bor, n. Etym: [OE. herber, herbere, properly a garden of herbs, F.
herbier, fr. L. herbarium. See Herb, and cf. Herbarium.]
Defn: A kind of latticework formed of, or covered with, vines,
branches of trees, or other plants, for shade; a bower. Sir P.
Sidney.
ARBOR
Ar"bor, n. [Written also arbour.] Etym: [L., a tree, a beam.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tree, as distinguished from a shrub.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. arbre.] (Mech.)
(a) An axle or spindle of a wheel or opinion.
(b) A mandrel in lathe turning. Knight. Arbor Day, a day appointed
for planting trees and shrubs. [U.S.]
ARBORARY
Ar"bo*ra*ry, a. Etym: [L. arborarius, fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to trees; arboreal.
ARBORATOR
Ar"bo*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: One who plants or who prunes trees. [Obs.] Evelyn.
ARBOR DIANAE
Ar"bor Di*a"næ. Etym: [L., the tree of Diana, or silver.] (Chem.)
Defn: A precipitation of silver, in a beautiful arborescent form.
ARBOREAL
Ar*bo"re*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a tree, or to trees; of nature of trees.
Cowley.
2. Attached to, found in or upon, or frequenting, woods or trees; as,
arboreal animals.
Woodpeckers are eminently arboreal. Darwin.
ARBORED
Ar"bored, a.
Defn: Furnished with an arbor; lined with trees. "An arboreal walk."
Pollok.
ARBOREOUS
Ar*bo"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. arboreous, fr. arbor tree.]
1. Having the form, constitution, or habits, of a proper tree, in
distinction from a shrub. Loudon.
2. Pertaining to, or growing on, trees; as, arboreous moss. Quincy.
ARBORESCENCE
Ar`bo*res"cence, n.
Defn: The state of being arborescent; the resemblance to a tree in
minerals, or crystallizations, or groups of crystals in that form;
as, the arborescence produced by precipitating silver.
ARBORESCENT
Ar`bo*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. arborescens, p. pr. of arborescere to
become a tree, fr. arbor tree.]
Defn: Resembling a tree; becoming woody in stalk; dendritic; having
crystallizations disposed like the branches and twigs of a tree.
"Arborescent hollyhocks." Evelyn.
ARBORET
Ar"bo*ret, n. Etym: [OF. arboret, dim. of arbre tree, L. arbor]
Defn: A small tree or shrub. [Obs.] Spenser.
Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers Imbordered on each bank.
Milton.
ARBORETUM
Ar`bo*re"tum, n.; pl. Arboreta. Etym: [L., a place grown with trees.]
Defn: A place in which a collection of rare trees and shrubs is
cultivated for scientific or educational purposes.
ARBORICAL
Ar*bor"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to trees. [Obs.]
ARBORICOLE
Ar*bor"i*cole, a. Etym: [L. arbor + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tree-inhabiting; -- said of certain birds.
ARBORICULTURAL
Ar`bor*i*cul"tur*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to arboriculture. Loudon.
ARBORICULTURE
Ar`bor*i*cul"ture, n. Etym: [L. arbor tree + cultura. See Culture.]
Defn: The cultivation of trees and shrubs, chiefly for timber or for
ornamental purposes.
ARBORICULTURIST
Ar`bor*i*cul"tur*ist, n.
Defn: One who cultivates trees.
ARBORIFORM
Ar*bor"i*form, a.
Defn: Treelike in shape.
ARBORIST
Ar"bor*ist, n. Etym: [F. arboriste, fr. L. arbor tree.]
Defn: One who makes trees his study, or who is versed in the
knowledge of trees. Howell.
ARBORIZATION
Ar`bor*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. arborisation, fr. L. arbor tree.]
Defn: The appearance or figure of a tree or plant, as in minerals or
fossils; a dendrite.
ARBORIZED
Ar"bor*ized, a.
Defn: Having a treelike appearance. "An arborized or moss agate."
Wright.
ARBOROUS
Ar"bor*ous, a.
Defn: Formed by trees. [Obs.]
From under shady, arborous roof. Milton.
ARBOR VINE
Ar"bor vine`.
Defn: A species of bindweed.
ARBOR VITAE
Ar"bor vi"tæ. Etym: [L., tree of life.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen tree of the cypress tribe, genus Thuja. The
American species is the T. occidentalis.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The treelike disposition of the gray and white nerve tissues in
the cerebellum, as seen in a vertical section.
ARBUSCLE
Ar"bus*cle, n. Etym: [L. arbuscula small tree, shrub, dim. of arbor
tree.]
Defn: A dwarf tree, one in size between a shrub and a tree; a
treelike shrub. Bradley.
ARBUSCULAR
Ar*bus"cu*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a dwarf tree; shrublike. Da Costa.
ARBUSTIVE
Ar*bus"tive, a. Etym: [L. arbustivus, fr. arbustum place where trees
are planted.]
Defn: Containing copses of trees or shrubs; covered with shrubs.
Bartram.
ARBUTUS; ARBUTE
Ar"bu*tus, Ar"bute, n. Etym: [L. arbutus, akin to arbor tree.]
Defn: The strawberry tree, a genus of evergreen shrubs, of the Heath
family. It has a berry externally resembling the strawberry; the
arbute tree. Trailing arbutus (Bot.), a creeping or trailing plant of
the Heath family (Epigæa repens), having white or usually rose-
colored flowers with a delicate fragrance, growing in small axillary
clusters, and appearing early in the spring; in New England known as
mayflower; -- called also ground laurel. Gray.
ARC
Arc, n. Etym: [F. arc, L. arcus bow, arc. See Arch, n.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A portion of a curved line; as, the arc of a circle or of an
ellipse.
2. A curvature in the shape of a circular arc or an arch; as, the
colored arc (the rainbow); the arc of Hadley's quadrant.
3. An arch. [Obs.]
Statues and trophies, and triumphal arcs. Milton.
4. The apparent arc described, above or below the horizon, by the sun
or other celestial body. The diurnal arc is described during the
daytime, the nocturnal arc during the night. Electric arc, Voltaic
arc. See under Voltaic.
ARCADE
Ar*cade", n. Etym: [F. arcade, Sp. arcada, LL. arcata, fr. L. arcus
bow, arch.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them,
the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes
open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at
the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature.
(b) A long, arched building or gallery.
2. An arched or covered passageway or avenue.
ARCADED
Ar*cad"ed, a.
Defn: Furnished with an arcade.
ARCADIA
Ar*ca"di*a, n. Etym: [L. Arcadia, Gr.
1. A mountainous and picturesque district of Greece, in the heart of
the Peloponnesus, whose people were distinguished for contentment and
rural happiness.
2. Fig.: Any region or scene of simple pleasure and untroubled quiet.
Where the cow is, there is Arcadia. J. Burroughs.
ARCADIAN; ARCADIC
Ar*ca"di*an, Ar*ca"dic, a. Etym: [L. Arcadius, Arcadicus, fr.
Arcadia: cf. F. Arcadien, Arcadique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Arcadia; pastoral; ideally rural; as,
Arcadian simplicity or scenery.
ARCANE
Ar*cane", a. Etym: [L. arcanus.]
Defn: Hidden; secret. [Obs.] "The arcane part of divine wisdom."
Berkeley.
ARCANUM
Ar*ca"num, n.; pl. Arcana. Etym: [L., fr. arcanus closed, secret, fr.
arca chest, box, fr. arcere to inclose. See Ark.]
1. A secret; a mystery; -- generally used in the plural.
Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead. Warburton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison.
ARCBOUTANT
Arc`*bou`tant", n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: A flying buttress. Gwilt.
ARCH
Arch, n. Etym: [F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: Any part of a curved line.
2. (Arch.)
(a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids,
with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii
of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an
opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e.,
semicircular), or pointed.
(b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or
other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve.
Note: Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an
opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal
thrust.
3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the
arch of a bridge.
4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta.
"Colors of the showery arch." Milton. Triumphal arch, a monumental
structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages,
erected to commemorate a triumph.
ARCH
Arch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arched; p. pr. & vb. n. Arching.]
1. To cover with an arch or arches.
2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch.
The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth.
ARCH
Arch, v. i.
Defn: To form into an arch; to curve.
ARCH-
Arch- (ärch-, except in archangel and one or two other words). Etym:
[L. arch-, Gr. Arch-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend.
ARCH
Arch, a. Etym: [See Arch-, pref.]
1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal.
The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak.
2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look,
word, lad.
[He] spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler.
ARCH
Arch, n. Etym: [See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief. [Obs.]
My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak.
ARCH
*arch. Etym: [Gr. Arch, a.]
Defn: A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
-ARCH
-arch. [Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch,
a.]
Defn: A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
ARCHAEAN
Ar*chæ"an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological
history.
ARCHAEAN
Ar*chæ"an, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the
Lower Silurian. It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance
of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest forms of life.
Note: This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to
the Eozoic of Dawson.
ARCHAEOGRAPHY
Ar`chæ*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities.
ARCHAEOLITHIC
Ar`chæ*o*lith"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Archæol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; -- applied to a
prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age.
ARCHAEOLOGIAN
Ar`chæ*o*lo"gi*an, n.
Defn: An archæologist.
ARCHAEOLOGIC; ARCHAEOLOGICAL
Ar`chæ*o*log"ic, Ar`chæ*o*log"ic*al,
Defn: Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæological
researches.
-- Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ARCHAEOLOGIST
Ar`chæ*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright.
ARCHAEOLOGY
Ar`chæ*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric
antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an
early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written
manuscripts, etc.
ARCHAEOPTERYX
Ar`chæ*op"te*ryx, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a
long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each side,
and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics.
ARCHAEOSTOMATOUS
Ar`chæ*o*stom"a*tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to a gastrula when the blastorope does not entirely up.
ARCHAEOZOIC
Ar`chæ*o*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the earliest forms of animal life.
ARCHAIC
Ar*cha"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated;
obsolescent.
ARCHAICAL
Ar*cha"ic*al, a.
Defn: Archaic. [R.] -- Ar*cha"ic*al*ly, adv.
ARCHAISM
Ar"cha*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. archaïsme. See Arch, a.]
1. An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or
idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use.
2. Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness.
A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and
remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural vocabulary. De
Quincey.
ARCHAIST
Ar"cha*ist, n.
1. Am antiquary.
2. One who uses archaisms.
ARCHAISTIC
Ar`cha*is"tic, a.
Defn: Like, or imitative of, anything archaic; pertaining to an
archaism.
ARCHAIZE
Ar"cha*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Archaized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Archaizing.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To make appear archaic or antique. Mahaffy.
ARCHANGEL
Arch`an"gel, n. Etym: [L. archangelus, Gr. archangel, F. archange.
See Arch-, pref., and Angel.]
1. A chief angel; one high in the celestial hierarchy. Milton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A term applied to several different species of plants (Angelica
archangelica, Lamium album, etc.).
ARCHANGELIC
Arch`an*gel"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. archangélique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to archangels; of the nature of, or
resembling, an archangel. Milton.
ARCHBISHOP
Arch`bish"op, n. Etym: [AS. arcebisceop, arcebiscop, L.
archiepiscopus, fr. Gr. Bishop.]
Defn: A chief bishop; a church dignitary of the first class (often
called a metropolitan or primate) who superintends the conduct of the
suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal
authority in his own diocese.
ARCHBISHOPRIC
Arch`bish"op*ric, n. Etym: [AS. arcebiscoprice. See -ric.]
Defn: The jurisdiction or office of an archbishop; the see or
province over which archbishop exercises archiepiscopal authority.
ARCH BRICK
Arch" brick`.
Defn: A wedge-shaped brick used in the building of an arch.
ARCHBUTLER
Arch`but"ler, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + butler.]
Defn: A chief butler; -- an officer of the German empire.
ARCHCHAMBERLAIN
Arch`cham"ber*lain, n. Etym: [Cf. G. erzkämmerer. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief chamberlain; -- an officer of the old German empire,
whose office was similar to that of the great chamberlain in England.
ARCHCHANCELLOR
Arch`chan"cel*lor, n. Etym: [Cf. Ger. erzkanzler. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A chief chancellor; -- an officer in the old German empire, who
presided over the secretaries of the court.
ARCHCHEMIC
Arch`chem"ic, a.
Defn: Of supreme chemical powers. [R.] "The archchemic sun." Milton.
ARCHDEACON
Arch`dea"con, n. Etym: [AS. arcediacon, archidiacon, L.
archidiaconus, fr. Gr. Arch-, pref., and Deacon.]
Defn: In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a
bishop, whom he assists, and by whom he is appointed, though with
independent authority. Blackstone.
ARCHDEACONRY
Arch`dea"con*ry, n.
Defn: The district, office, or residence of an archdeacon. See
Benefice.
Every diocese is divided into archdeaconries. Blackstone.
ARCHDEACONSHIP
Arch`dea"con*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an archdeacon.
ARCHDIOCESE
Arch`di"o*cese, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + diocese.]
Defn: The diocese of an archbishop.
ARCHDUCAL
Arch`du"cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archduke or archduchy.
ARCHDUCHESS
Arch`duch"ess, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + duchess.]
Defn: The consort of an archduke; also, a princess of the imperial
family of Austria. See Archduke.
ARCHDUCHY
Arch`duch"y, n.
Defn: The territory of an archduke or archduchess. Ash.
ARCHDUKE
Arch`duke", n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + duke.]
Defn: A prince of the imperial family of Austria.
Note: Formerly this title was assumed by the rulers of Lorraine,
Brabant, Austria, etc. It is now appropriated to the descendants of
the imperial family of Austria through the make line, all such male
descendants being styled archduke, and all such female descendants
archduchesses.
ARCHDUKEDOM
Arch`duke"dom, n.
Defn: An archduchy.
ARCHEBIOSIS
Ar`che*bi*o"sis, n. Etym: [Pref. arche- + Gr.
Defn: To origination of living matter from non-living. See
Abiogenesis. Bastian.
ARCHED
Arched, a.
Defn: Made with an arch or curve; covered with an arch; as, an arched
door.
ARCHEGONIAL
Ar`che*go"ni*al, a.
Defn: Relating to the archegonium.
ARCHEGONIUM
Ar`che*go"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The pistillidium or female organ in the higher cryptogamic
plants, corresponding to the pistil in flowering plants.
ARCHEGONY
Ar*cheg"o*ny, n. Etym: [See Archegonium.] (Biol.)
Defn: Spontaneous generation; abiogenesis.
ARCHELOGY
Ar*chel"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of, or a treatise on, first principles. Fleming.
ARCHENCEPHALA
Ar`chen*ceph"a*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division that includes man alone. R. Owen.
ARCHENEMY
Arch`en"e*my, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + enemy.]
Defn: A principal enemy. Specifically, Satan, the grand adversary of
mankind. Milton.
ARCHENTERIC
Arch`en*ter"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the archenteron; as, archenteric invagination.
ARCHENTERON
Arch`en"ter*on, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The primitive enteron or undifferentiated digestive sac of a
gastrula or other embryo. See Illust. under Invagination.
ARCHEOLOGY; ARCHEOLOGICAL
Ar`che*ol"o*gy, n., Ar`che*o*log`ic*al, a.
Defn: Same as Archæology, etc.
ARCHER
Arch"er, n. Etym: [archier, F. archer, LL. arcarius, fr. L. arcus
bow. See Arc, Arch, n.]
Defn: A bowman, one skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.
ARCHERESS
Arch"er*ess, n.
Defn: A female archer. Markham.
ARCHER FISH
Arch"er fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish (Toxotes jaculator), of the East Indies; -- so
called from its ejecting drops of water from its mouth at its prey.
The name is also applied to Chætodon rostratus.
ARCHERSHIP
Arch"er*ship, n.
Defn: The art or skill of an archer.
ARCHERY
Arch"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. archerie.]
1. The use of the bow and arrows in battle, hunting, etc.; the art,
practice, or skill of shooting with a bow and arrows.
2. Archers, or bowmen, collectively.
Let all our archery fall off In wings of shot a-both sides of the
van. Webster (1607).
ARCHES
Arch"es,
Defn: pl. of Arch, n. Court of arches, or Arches Court (Eng. Law),
the court of appeal of the Archbishop of Canterbury, whereof the
judge, who sits as deputy to the archbishop, is called the Dean of
the Arches, because he anciently held his court in the church of St.
Mary-le-Bow (de arcubus). It is now held in Westminster. Mozley & W.
ARCHETYPAL
Ar"che*ty`pal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archetype; consisting a model (real or
ideal) or pattern; original. "One archetypal mind." Gudworth.
Note: Among Platonists, the archetypal world is the world as it
existed as an idea of God before the creation.
ARCHETYPALLY
Ar"che*ty`pal*ly, adv.
Defn: With reference to the archetype; originally. "Parts
archetypally distinct." Dana.
ARCHETYPE
Ar"che*type, n. Etym: [L. archetypum, Gr. archétype. See Arch-,
pref.]
1. The original pattern or model of a work; or the model from which a
thing is made or formed.
The House of Commons, the archetype of all the representative
assemblies which now meet. Macaulay.
Types and shadows of that glorious archetype that was to come into
the world. South.
2. (Coinage)
Defn: The standard weight or coin by which others are adjusted.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The plan or fundamental structure on which a natural group of
animals or plants or their systems of organs are assumed to have been
constructed; as, the vertebrate archetype.
ARCHETYPICAL
Ar`che*typ"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to an archetype; archetypal.
ARCHEUS
Ar*che"us, n. Etym: [LL. arch, Gr. Archi-, pref.]
Defn: The vital principle or force which (according to the
Paracelsians) presides over the growth and continuation of living
beings; the anima mundi or plastic power of the old philosophers.
[Obs.] Johnson.
ARCHI-
Ar"chi-. Etym: [L., archi-, Gr. arce-, erce-, OHG. erzi-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying chief, arch; as, architect, archiepiscopal.
In Biol. and Anat. it usually means primitive, original, ancestral;
as, archipterygium, the primitive fin or wing.
ARCHIANNELIDA
Ar`chi*an*nel"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; pref. archi- + annelida.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Annelida remarkable for having no external segments
or distinct ventral nerve ganglions.
ARCHIATER
Ar"chi*a`ter, n. Etym: [L. archiatrus, Gr.
Defn: Chief physician; -- a term applied, on the continent of Europe,
to the first or body physician of princes and to the first physician
of some cities. P. Cyc.
ARCHIBALD WHEEL
Ar"chi*bald wheel.
Defn: A metal-hubbed wheel of great strength and elasticity, esp.
adapted for artillery carriages and motor cars.
ARCHIBLASTULA
Ar`chi*blas"tu*la, n. Etym: [Pref. archi + blastula.] (Biol.)
Defn: A hollow blastula, supposed to be the primitive form; a c
ARCHICAL
Ar"chi*cal, a. Etym: [Gr. Arch-, pref.]
Defn: Chief; primary; primordial. [Obs.] Cudworth.
ARCHIDIACONAL
Ar`chi*di*ac"o*nal, a. Etym: [L. archidiaconus, Gr. archdeacon.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archdeacon.
This offense is liable to be censured in an archidiaconal visitation.
Johnson.
ARCHIEPISCOPACY
Ar`chi*e*pis"co*pa*cy, n. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopacy.]
1. That form of episcopacy in which the chief power is in the hands
of archbishops.
2. The state or dignity of an archbishop.
ARCHIEPISCOPAL
Ar`chi*e*pis"co*pal, a. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archbishop; as, Canterbury is an
archiepiscopal see.
ARCHIEPISCOPALITY
Ar`chi*e*pis`co*pal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The station or dignity of an archbishop; archiepiscopacy.
Fuller.
ARCHIEPISCOPATE
Ar`chi*e*pis"co*pate, n. Etym: [Pref. archi- + episcopate.]
Defn: The office of an archbishop; an archbishopric.
ARCHIEREY
Ar*chi"e*rey, n. Etym: [Russ. archieréi, fr. Gr. arch-) + * priest.]
Defn: The higher order of clergy in Russia, including metropolitans,
archbishops, and bishops. Pinkerton.
ARCHIL
Ar"chil, n. Etym: [OF. orchel, orcheil, It. orcella, oricello, or
OSp. orchillo. Cf. Orchil.]
1. A violet dye obtained from several species of lichen (Roccella
tinctoria, etc.), which grow on maritime rocks in the Canary and Cape
Verd Islands, etc. Tomlinson.
2. The plant from which the dye is obtained. [Written also orchal and
orchil.]
ARCHILOCHIAN
Ar`chi*lo"chi*an, a. Etym: [L. Archilochius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the satiric Greek poet Archilochus; as,
Archilochian meter.
ARCHIMAGE; ARCHIMAGUS
Ar"chi*mage, Ar`chi*ma"gus, n. Etym: [NL.; pref. archi- + L. magus,
Gr.
1. The high priest of the Persian Magi, or worshipers of fire.
2. A great magician, wizard, or enchanter. Spenser.
ARCHIMANDRITE
Ar`chi*man"drite, n. Etym: [L. archimandrita, LGr. arch-) + (Gr.
Church)
(a) A chief of a monastery, corresponding to abbot in the Roman
Catholic church.
(b) A superintendent of several monasteries, corresponding to
superior abbot, or father provincial, in the Roman Catholic church.
ARCHIMEDEAN
Ar`chi*me*de"an, a. Etym: [L. Archimedeus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Archimedes, a celebrated Greek philosopher;
constructed on the principle of Archimedes' screw; as, Archimedean
drill, propeller, etc. Archimedean screw, or Archimedes' screw, an
instrument, said to have been invented by Archimedes, for raising
water, formed by winding a flexible tube round a cylinder in the form
of a screw. When the screw is placed in an inclined position, and the
lower end immersed in water, by causing the screw to revolve, the
water is raised to the upper end. Francis.
ARCHIMEDES
Ar`chi*me"des, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of Bryzoa characteristic of the
subcarboniferous rocks. Its form is that of a screw.
ARCHING
Arch"ing, n.
1. The arched part of a structure.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Hogging; -- opposed to sagging.
ARCHIPELAGIC
Ar`chi*pe*lag"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an archipelago.
ARCHIPELAGO
Ar`chi*pel"a*go, n.; pl. -goes or -gos. Etym: [It. arcipelago,
properly, chief sea; Gr. pref Plague.]
1. The Grecian Archipelago, or Ægean Sea, separating Greece from Asia
Minor. It is studded with a vast number of small islands.
2. Hence: Any sea or broad sheet of water interspersed with many
islands or with a group of islands.
ARCHIPTERYGIUM
Ar*chip`te*ryg"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. arch-) + (Anat.)
Defn: The primitive form of fin, like that of Ceratodus.
ARCHITECT
Ar"chi*tect, n. Etym: [L. architectus, architecton, Gr. archi-) +
architecte, It. architetto. See Technical.]
1. A person skilled in the art of building; one who understands
architecture, or makes it his occupation to form plans and designs of
buildings, and to superintend the artificers employed.
2. A contriver, designer, or maker.
The architects of their own happiness. Milton.
A French woman is a perfect architect in dress. Coldsmith.
ARCHITECTIVE
Ar`chi*tec"tive, a.
Defn: Used in building; proper for building. Derham.
ARCHITECTONIC; ARCHITECTONICAL
Ar`chi*tec*ton"ic, Ar`chi*tec*ton"ic*al, a. Etym: [L.
architectonicus, Gr. Architect.]
1. Pertaining to a master builder, or to architecture; evincing skill
in designing or construction; constructive. "Architectonic wisdom."
Boyle.
These architectonic functions which we had hitherto thought belonged.
J. C. Shairp.
2. Relating to the systemizing of knowledge.
ARCHITECTONIC
Ar`chi*tec*ton"ic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. architectonique.]
1. The science of architecture.
2. The act of arranging knowledge into a system.
ARCHITECTONICS
Ar`chi*tec*ton"ics, n.
Defn: The science of architecture.
ARCHITECTOR
Ar"chi*tec`tor, n.
Defn: An architect. [Obs.] North.
ARCHITECTRESS
Ar"chi*tec`tress, n.
Defn: A female architect.
ARCHITECTURAL
Ar`chi*tec"tur*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the art of building; conformed to the rules
of architecture.
-- Ar`chi*tec"tur*al*ly, adv.
ARCHITECTURE
Ar"chi*tec`ture, n. Etym: [L. architectura, fr. architectus: cf. F.
architecture. See Architect.]
1. The art or science of building; especially, the art of building
houses, churches, bridges, and other structures, for the purposes of
civil life; -- often called civil architecture.
Many other architectures besides Gothic. Ruskin.
3. Construction, in a more general sense; frame or structure;
workmanship.
The architecture of grasses, plants, and trees. Tyndall.
The formation of the first earth being a piece of divine
architecture. Burnet.
Military architecture, the art of fortifications.
-- Naval architecture, the art of building ships.
ARCHITEUTHIS
Ar`chi*teu"this, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of gigantic cephalopods, allied to the squids, found
esp. in the North Atlantic and about New Zealand.
ARCHITRAVE
Ar"chi*trave, n. Etym: [F. architrave, fr. It. architrave; pref.
archi- + trave beam, L. trabs.] (Arch.)
(a) The lower division of an entablature, or that part which rests
immediately on the column, esp. in classical architecture. See
Column.
(b) The group of moldings, or other architectural member, above and
on both sides of a door or other opening, especially if square in
form.
ARCHITRAVED
Ar"chi*traved, a.
Defn: Furnished with an architrave. Cowper.
ARCHIVAL
Ar"chi*val, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or contained in, archives or records. Tooke.
ARCHIVE
Ar"chive, n.; pl. Archives. Etym: [F. archives, pl., L. archivum,
archium, fr. Gr. Archi-, pref.]
1. pl.
Defn: The place in which public records or historic documents are
kept.
Our words . . . . become records in God's court, and are laid up in
his archives as witnesses. Gov. of Tongue.
2. pl.
Defn: Public records or documents preserved as evidence of facts; as,
the archives of a country or family. [Rarely used in sing.]
Some rotten archive, rummaged out of some seldom explored press.
Lamb.
Syn.
-- Registers; records; chronicles.
ARCHIVIST
Ar"chi*vist, n. Etym: [F. archiviste.]
Defn: A keeper of archives or records. [R.]
ARCHIVOLT
Ar"chi*volt, n. Etym: [F. archivolte, fr. It. archivolto; pref.
archi- + volto vault, arch. See Vault.] (Arch.)
(a) The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an
arch, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a square
opening.
(b) More commonly, the molding or other ornaments with which the wall
face of the voussoirs of an arch is charged.
ARCHLUTE; ARCHILUTE
Arch"lute, Arch"i*lute, n. Etym: [Cf. F. archiluth, It. arciliuto.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A large theorbo, or double-necked lute, formerly in use, having
the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with
a unison.
ARCHLY
Arch"ly, adv.
Defn: In an arch manner; with attractive slyness or roguishness;
slyly; waggishly.
Archly the maiden smiled. Longfellow.
ARCHMARSHAL
Arch`mar"shal, n. Etym: [G. erzmarschall. See Arch-, pref.]
Defn: The grand marshal of the old German empire, a dignity that to
the Elector of Saxony.
ARCHNESS
Arch"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being arch; cleverness; sly humor free from
malice; waggishness. Goldsmith.
ARCHON
Ar"chon, n. Etym: [L. archon, Gr. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of the chief magistrates in ancient Athens, especially, by
preëminence, the first of the nine chief magistrates.
-- Ar*chon"tic, a.
ARCHONSHIP
Ar"chon*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an archon. Mitford.
ARCHONTATE
Ar"chon*tate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. archontat.]
Defn: An archon's term of office. Gibbon.
ARCHONTS
Ar"chonts, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. See Archon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group including man alone.
ARCHOPLASM
Ar"cho*plasm, n. [See Archon; Plasma.] (Biol.)
Defn: The substance from which attraction spheres develop in mitotic
cell division, and of which they consist.
ARCHPRELATE
Arch`prel"ate, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + prelate.]
Defn: An archbishop or other chief prelate.
ARCHPRESBYTER
Arch`pres"by*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Archpriest.
ARCHPRESBYTERY
Arch`pres"by*ter*y, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + presbutery.]
Defn: The absolute dominion of presbytery. Milton.
ARCHPRIEST
Arch`priest", n.
Defn: A chief priest; also, a kind of vicar, or a rural dean.
ARCHPRIMATE
Arch`pri"mate, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + primate.]
Defn: The chief primate. Milton.
ARCH STONE
Arch" stone`.
Defn: A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.
ARCHTRAITOR
Arch`trai"tor, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + traitor.]
Defn: A chief or transcendent traitor. I. Watts.
ARCHTREASURER
Arch`treas"ur*er, n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + treasurer.]
Defn: A chief treasurer. Specifically, the great treasurer of the
German empire.
ARCHWAY
Arch"way, n.
Defn: A way or passage under an arch.
ARCHWIFE
Arch`wife", n. Etym: [Pref. arch- + wife.]
Defn: A big, masculine wife. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARCHWISE
Arch"wise, adv.
Defn: Arch-shaped.
ARCHY
Arch"y, a.
Defn: Arched; as, archy brows.
ARCHY
*ar"chy. Etym: [Gr. Arch-, pref.]
Defn: A suffix properly meaning a rule, ruling, as in monarchy, the
rule of one only. Cf. -arch.
ARCIFORM
Ar"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. arcus bow + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of an arch; curved.
ARC LIGHT
Arc light. (Elec.)
Defn: The light of an arc lamp.
ARCOGRAPH
Arc"o*graph, n. Etym: [L. arcus (E. arc) + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a
central point; a cyclograph.
ARCTATION
Arc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. arctus shut in, narrow, p. p. of arcere to
shut in: cf. F. arctation.] (Med.)
Defn: Constriction or contraction of some natural passage, as in
constipation from inflammation.
ARCTIC
Arc"tic, a. Etym: [OE. artik, OF. artique, F. arctique, L. arcticus,
fr. Gr. ursus bear, Skr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation
called the Bear; northern; frigid; as, the arctic pole, circle,
region, ocean; an arctic expedition, night, temperature.
Note: The arctic circle is a lesser circle, parallel to the equator,
23º 28' from the north pole. This and the antarctic circle are called
the polar circles, and between these and the poles lie the frigid
zones. See Zone.
ARCTIC
Arc"tic, n.
1. The arctic circle.
2. A warm waterproof overshoe. [U.S.]
ARCTISCA
Arc*tis"ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Arachnida. See Illust. in Appendix.
ARCTOGEAL
Arc`to*ge"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to arctic lands; as, the arctogeal fauna.
ARCTOIDEA
Arc*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of the Carnivora, that includes the bears, weasels,
etc.
ARCTURUS
Arc*tu"rus, n. Etym: [L. Arcturus, Gr. Arctic.] (Anat.)
Defn: A fixed star of the first magnitude in the constellation
Boötes.
Note: Arcturus has sometimes been incorrectly used as the name of the
constellation, or even of Ursa Major.
Canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons [Rev. Ver.: "the Bear with
her train"]. Job xxxviii. 32.
ARCUAL
Arc"u*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an arc. Arcual measure of an angle (Math.),
that in which the unit angle has its measuring arc equal to the
radius of the circle.
ARCUATE; ARCUATED
Arc"u*ate, Arc"u*a`ted(#), a. Etym: [L. arcuatus, p. p. of arcuare to
shape like a bow, fr. arcus. See Arc.]
Defn: Bent or curved in the form of a bow. "Arcuate stalks." Gray.
ARCUATELY
Arc"u*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form of a bow.
ARCUATION
Arc`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. arcuatio.]
1. The act of bending or curving; incurvation; the state of being
bent; crookedness. Coxe.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: A mode of propagating trees by bending branches to the ground,
and covering the small shoots with earth; layering. Chambers.
ARCUBALIST
Ar"cu*ba*list, n. Etym: [See Arbalist.]
Defn: A crossbow. Fosbroke.
ARCUBALISTER
Ar`cu*bal"ist*er, n. Etym: [L. arcuballistarius. Cf. Arbalister.]
Defn: A crossbowman; one who used the arcubalist. Camden.
ARCUBUS
Ar"cu*bus, n.
Defn: See Arquebus. [Obs.]
-ARD; -ART
-ard, -art.
Defn: The termination of many English words; as, coward, reynard,
drunkard, mostly from the French, in which language this ending is of
German origin, being orig. the same word as English hard. It usually
has the sense of one who has to a high or excessive degree the
quality expressed by the root; as, braggart, sluggard.
ARDASSINE
Ar*das"sine, n. Etym: [F. (cf. Sp. ardacina), fr. ardasse a kind of
silk thread, fr. Ar. & Per. ardan a kind of raw silk.]
Defn: A very fine sort of Persian silk.
ARDENCY
Ar"den*cy, n.
1. Heat. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
2. Warmth of passion or affection; ardor; vehemence; eagerness; as,
the ardency of love or zeal.
ARDENT
Ar"dent, a. Etym: [OE. ardaunt, F. ardant, p. pr. of arder to burn,
fr. L. ardere.]
1. Hot or burning; causing a sensation of burning; fiery; as, ardent
spirits, that is, distilled liquors; an ardent fever.
2. Having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce; glowing;
shining; as, ardent eyes. Dryden.
3. Warm, applied to the passions and affections; passionate; fervent;
zealous; vehement; as, ardent love, feelings, zeal, hope, temper.
An ardent and impetuous race. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Burning; hot; fiery; glowing; intense; fierce; vehement; eager;
zealous; keen; fervid; fervent; passionate; affectionate.
ARDENTLY
Ar"dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ardent manner; eagerly; with warmth; affectionately;
passionately.
ARDENTNESS
Ar"dent*ness, n.
Defn: Ardency. [R.]
ARDOIS SYSTEM
Ar`dois" sys"tem. (Naut.)
Defn: A widely used system of electric night signals in which a
series of double electric lamps (white and red) is arranged
vertically on a mast, and operated from a keyboard below.
ARDOR
Ar"dor, n. Etym: [L. ardor, fr. ardere to burn: cf. OF. ardor, ardur,
F. ardeur.] [Spelt also ardour.]
1. Heat, in a literal sense; as, the ardor of the sun's rays.
2. Warmth or heat of passion or affection; eagerness; zeal; as, he
pursues study with ardor; the fought with ardor; martial ardor.
3. pl.
Defn: Bright and effulgent spirits; seraphim. [Thus used by Milton.]
Syn.
-- Fervor; warmth; eagerness. See Fervor.
ARDUOUS
Ar"du*ous, a. Etym: [L. arduus steep, high; akin to Ir. ard high,
height.]
1. Steep and lofty, in a literal sense; hard to climb.
Those arduous pats they trod. Pope.
2. Attended with great labor, like the ascending of acclivities;
difficult; laborious; as, an arduous employment, task, or enterprise.
Syn.
-- Difficult; trying; laborious; painful; exhausting.
-- Arduous, Hard, Difficult. Hard is simpler, blunter, and more
general in sense than difficult; as, a hard duty to perform, hard
work, a hard task, one which requires much bodily effort and
perseverance to do. Difficult commonly implies more skill and
sagacity than hard, as when there is disproportion between the means
and the end. A work may be hard but not difficult. We call a thing
arduous when it requires strenuous and persevering exertion, like
that of one who is climbing a precipice; as, an arduous task, an
arduous duty. "It is often difficult to control our feelings; it is
still harder to subdue our will; but it is an arduous undertaking to
control the unruly and contending will of others."
ARDUOUSLY
Ar"du*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an arduous manner; with difficulty or laboriousness.
ARDUOUSNESS
Ar"du*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being arduous; difficulty of execution.
ARDUROUS
Ar"du*rous, a.
Defn: Burning; ardent. [R.]
Lo! further on, Where flames the arduous Spirit of Isidore. Cary.
ARE
Are. Etym: [AS. (Northumbrian) aron, akin to the 1st pers. pl. forms,
Icel. erum, Goth. sijum, L. sumus, Gr. smas; all from a root as. Am
and Is, and cf. Be.]
Defn: The present indicative plural of the substantive verb to be;
but etymologically a different word from be, or was. Am, art, are,
and is, all come from the root as.
ARE
Are, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. area. See Area.] (Metric system)
Defn: The unit of superficial measure, being a square of which each
side is ten meters in length; 100 square meters, or about 119.6
square yards.
AREA
A"re*a, n.; pl. Areas . Etym: [L. area a broad piece of level groAre,
n.]
1. Any plane surface, as of the floor of a room or church, or of the
ground within an inclosure; an open space in a building.
The Alban lake . . . looks like the area of some vast amphitheater.
Addison.
2. The inclosed space on which a building stands.
3. The sunken space or court, giving ingress and affording light to
the basement of a building.
4. An extent of surface; a tract of the earth's surface; a region;
as, vast uncultivated areas.
5. (Geom.)
Defn: The superficial contents of any figure; the surface included
within any given lines; superficial extent; as, the area of a square
or a triangle.
6. (Biol.)
Defn: A spot or small marked space; as, the germinative area.
7. Extent; scope; range; as, a wide area of thought.
The largest area of human history and man's common nature. F.
Harrison.
Dry area. See under Dry.
AREAD; AREED
A*read", A*reed", v. t. Etym: [OE. areden, AS. ar to interpret. See
Read.]
1. To tell, declare, explain, or interpret; to divine; to guess; as,
to aread a riddle or a dream. [Obs.]
Therefore more plain aread this doubtful case. Spenser.
2. To read. [Obs.] Drayton.
3. To counsel, advise, warn, or direct.
But mark what I aread thee now. Avaunt! Milton.
4. To decree; to adjudge. [Archaic] Ld. Lytton.
AREAL
A"re*al, a. Etym: [Cf. L. arealis, fr. area.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an area; as, areal interstices (the areas
or spaces inclosed by the reticulate vessels of leaves).
AREAR
A*rear", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. ar. See Rear.]
Defn: To raise; to set up; to stir up. [Obs.]
AREAR
A*rear", adv. Etym: [See Arrear, adv.]
Defn: Backward; in or to the rear; behindhand. Spenser.
ARECA
A*re"ca, n. Etym: [Canarese adiki: cf. Pg. & Sp. areca.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of palms, one species of which produces the areca nut,
or betel nut, which is chewed in India with the leaf of the Piper
Betle and lime.
ARECOLINE; ARECOLIN
A*re"co*line, A*re"co*lin, n. [From NL. Areca, a genus of palms
bearing betel nut.]
Defn: An oily liquid substance, C8H13O2N, the chief alkaloid of the
betel nut, to which the latter owes its anthelmintic action.
AREEK
A*reek", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + reek.]
Defn: In a reeking condition. Swift.
AREFACTION
Ar`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. arefacere to dry.]
Defn: The act of drying, or the state of growing dry.
The arefaction of the earth. Sir M. Hale.
AREFY
Ar"e*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. arere to be dry + -fly.]
Defn: To dry, or make dry. Bacon.
ARENA
A*re"na, n.; pl. E. Arenas; L. Arenæ. Etym: [L. arena, harena, sand,
a sandy place.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: The area in the central part of an amphitheater, in which the
gladiators fought and other shows were exhibited; -- so called
because it was covered with sand.
2. Any place of public contest or exertion; any sphere of action; as,
the arenaof debate; the arena of life.
3. (Med.)
Defn: "Sand" or "gravel" in the kidneys.
ARENACEOUS
Ar`e*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. arenaceus, fr. arena sand.]
Defn: Sandy or consisting largely of sand; of the nature of sand;
easily disintegrating into sand; friable; as, arenaceous limestone.
ARENARIOUS
Ar`e*na"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. arenarius, fr. arena sand.]
Defn: Sandy; as, arenarious soil.
ARENATION
Ar`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. arenatio, fr. arena sand.] (Med.)
Defn: A sand bath; application of hot sand to the body. Dunglison.
ARENDATOR
Ar`en*da"tor, n. Etym: [LL. arendator, arrendator, fr. arendare,
arrendare, to pay rent, fr. arenda yearly rent; ad + renda, F. rente,
E. rent. Cf. Arrentation and Rent.]
Defn: In some provinces of Russia, one who farms the rents or
revenues.
Note: A person who rents an estate belonging to the crown is called
crown arendator. Tooke.
ARENG; ARENGA
A*reng", A*ren"ga, n. Etym: [Malayan.]
Defn: A palm tree (Saguerus saccharifer) which furnishes sago, wine,
and fibers for ropes; the gomuti palm.
ARENICOLITE
Ar`e*nic"o*lite, n. Etym: [L. arena sand + colere to cherish or
live.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An ancient wormhole in sand, preserved in the rocks. Dana.
ARENILITIC
A*ren`i*lit"ic, a. Etym: [L. arena sand + Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to sandstone; as, arenilitic mountains.
Kirwan.
ARENOSE
Ar"e*nose, a. Etym: [L. arenosus, fr. arena sand.]
Defn: Sandy; full of sand. Johnson.
ARENULOUS
A*ren"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. arenula fine sand, dim. of arena.]
Defn: Full of fine sand; like sand. [Obs.]
AREOLA
A*re"o*la, n.; pl. Areolæ. Etym: [L. areola, dim. of area: cf. F.
aréole. See Area.]
1. An interstice or small space, as between the cracks of the surface
in certain crustaceous lichens; or as between the fibers composing
organs or vessels that interlace; or as between the nervures of an
insect's wing.
2. (Anat. & Med.)
Defn: The colored ring around the nipple, or around a vesicle or
pustule.
AREOLAR
A*re"o*lar, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an areola; filled with interstices or
areolæ. reolar tissue (Anat.), a form of fibrous connective tissue in
which the fibers are loosely arranged with numerous spaces, or
areolæ, between them.
AREOLATE; AREOLATED
A*re"o*late, A*re"o*la*ted, a. Etym: [L. areola: cf. F. aréole.]
Defn: Divided into small spaces or areolations, as the wings of
insects, the leaves of plants, or the receptacle of compound flowers.
AREOLATION
A`re*o*la"tion, n.
1. Division into areolæ. Dana.
2. Any small space, bounded by some part different in color or
structure, as the spaces bounded by the nervures of the wings of
insects, or those by the veins of leaves; an areola.
AREOLE
A"re*ole, n.
Defn: Same as Areola.
AREOLET
A*re"o*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of L. areola.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small inclosed area; esp. one of the small spaces on the
wings of insects, circumscribed by the veins.
AREOMETER
A`re*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. aréomètre.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the specific gravity of fluids; a
form hydrometer.
AREOMETRIC; AREOMETRICAL
A`re*o*met"ric, A`re*o*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or measured by, an areometer.
AREOMETRY
A`re*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: The art or process of measuring the specific gravity of fluids.
AREOPAGIST
Ar`e*op"a*gist, n.
Defn: See Areopagite.
AREOPAGITE
Ar`e*op"a*gite, n. Etym: [L. Areopagites, Gr.
Defn: A member of the Areopagus. Acts xvii. 34.
AREOPAGITIC
Ar`e*op`a*git"ic, a. Etym: [L. Areopagiticus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the Areopagus. Mitford.
AREOPAGUS
Ar`e*op"a*gus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: The highest judicial court at Athens. Its sessions were held on
Mars' Hill. Hence, any high court or tribunal
AREOSTYLE
A*re"o*style, a. & n.
Defn: See Intercolumniation, and Aræostyle.
AREOSYSTYLE
A*re`o*sys"tyle, a. & n.
Defn: See Intercolumniation, and Aræosystyle.
ARERE
A*rere", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Arear. [Obs.] Ellis.
AREST
A*rest", n.
Defn: A support for the spear when couched for the attack. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
ARET
A*ret", v. t. Etym: [OE. aretten, OF. areter; a (L. ad) + OF. reter,
L. reputare. See Repute.]
Defn: To reckon; to ascribe; to impute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARETAICS
Ar`e*ta"ics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The ethical theory which excludes all relations between virtue
and happiness; the science of virtue; -- contrasted with eudemonics.
J. Grote.
ARETE
A`rête", n. [F., lit., a sharp fish bone, ridge, sharp edge, fr. L.
arista beard of grain.] (Geog.)
Defn: An acute and rugged crest of a mountain range or a subsidiary
ridge between two mountain gorges.
ARETOLOGY
Ar`e*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. arétologie.]
Defn: That part of moral philosophy which treats of virtue, its
nature, and the means of attaining to it.
AREW
A*rew". adv. Etym: [See Arow, Row.]
Defn: In a row. [Obs.] "All her teeth arew." Spenser.
ARGAL
Ar"gal, n.
Defn: Crude tartar. See Argol.
ARGAL
Ar"gal, adv.
Defn: A ludicrous corruption of the Latin word ergo, therefore. Shak.
ARGAL; ARGALI
Ar"gal, Ar"ga*li, n. Etym: [Mongolian.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of wild sheep (Ovis ammon, or O. argali), remarkable
for its large horns. It inhabits the mountains of Siberia and central
Asia.
Note: The bearded argali is the aoudad. See Aoudad. The name is also
applied to the bighorn sheep of the Rocky Mountains. See Bighorn.
ARGALA
Ar"ga*la, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The adjutant bird.
ARGAND LAMP
Ar"gand lamp`. Etym: [Named from the inventor, Aimé Argand of
Geneva.]
Defn: A lamp with a circular hollow wick and glass chimney which
allow a current of air both inside and outside of the flame. Argand
burner, a burner for an Argand lamp, or a gas burner in which the
principle of that lamp is applied.
ARGAS
Ar"gas, n.
Defn: A genus of venomous ticks which attack men and animals. The
famous Persian Argas, also called Miana bug, is A. Persicus; that of
Central America, called talaje by the natives, is A. Talaje.
ARGEAN
Ar*ge"an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the ship Argo. See Argo.
ARGENT
Ar"gent, n. Etym: [F. argent, fr. L. argentum, silver; akin to Gr.
rajata white, silver, raj to shine, Ir. arg white, milk, airgiod
silver, money, and L. arguere to make clear. See Argue.]
1. Silver, or money. [Archaic]
2. (Fig. & Poet.)
Defn: Whiteness; anything that is white.
The polished argent of her breast. Tennyson.
3. (Her.)
Defn: The white color in coats of arms, intended to represent silver,
or, figuratively, purity, innocence, beauty, or gentleness; --
represented in engraving by a plain white surface. Weale.
ARGENT
Ar"gent, a.
Defn: Made of silver; of a silvery color; white; shining.
Yonder argent fields above. Pope.
ARGENTAL
Ar*gen"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to silver; resembling, containing, or combined
with, silver.
ARGENTALIUM
Ar`gen*ta"li*um, n. [NL.; L. argentum silver + E. aluminium.]
Defn: A (patented) alloy of aluminium and silver, with a density of
about 2.9.
ARGENTAMINE; ARGENTAMIN
Ar*gen"ta*mine, Ar*gen"ta*min, n. [L. argentum silver + E. amine.]
(Med.)
Defn: A solution of silver phosphate in an aqueous solution of
ethylene diamine, used as an antiseptic astringent and as a
disinfectant.
ARGENTAN
Ar"gen*tan, n.
Defn: An alloy of nicked with copper and zinc; German silver.
ARGENTATE
Ar"gen*tate, a. Etym: [L. argentatus silvered.] (Bot.)
Defn: Silvery white. Gray.
ARGENTATION
Ar`gen*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. argentare to silver, fr. argentum
silver. See Argent.]
Defn: A coating or overlaying with silver. [R.] Johnson.
ARGENTIC
Ar*gen"tic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, silver; -- said of
certain compounds of silver in which this metal has its lowest
proportion; as, argentic chloride.
ARGENTIFEROUS
Ar`gen*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. argentum silver + -ferous: cf. F.
argentifère.]
Defn: Producing or containing silver; as, argentiferous lead ore or
veins.
ARGENTINE
Ar"gen*tine (; in the 2d sense, commonly ), a.
1. Pertaining to, or resembling, silver; made of, or sounding like,
silver; silvery.
Celestial Dian, goddess argentine. Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the Argentine Republic in South America.
ARGENTINE
Ar"gen*tine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. argentin, fr. L. argentum silver.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A siliceous variety of calcite, or carbonate of lime, having a
silvery-white, pearly luster, and a waving or curved lamellar
structure.
2. White metal coated with silver. Simmonds.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of Europe (Maurolicus Pennantii) with silvery scales.
The name is also applied to various fishes of the genus Argentina.
4. A citizen of the Argentine Republic.
ARGENTITE
Ar"gen*tite, n. Etym: [L. argentum silver.] (Min.)
Defn: Sulphide of silver; -- also called vitreous silver, or silver
glance. It has a metallic luster, a lead-gray color, and is sectile
like lead.
ARGENTOUS
Ar*gen"tous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, silver; -- said of certain
silver compounds in which silver has a higher proportion than in
argentic compounds; as, argentous chloride.
ARGENTRY
Ar"gent*ry, n. Etym: [F. argenterie, fr. argent silver, L. argentum.]
Defn: Silver plate or vessels. [Obs.]
Bowls of frosted argentry. Howell.
ARGIL
Ar"gil, n. Etym: [F. argile, L. argilla white clay, akin to Gr.
Argent.] (Min.)
Defn: Clay, or potter's earth; sometimes pure clay, or alumina. See
Clay.
ARGILLACEOUS
Ar`gil*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. argillaceus, fr. argilla.]
Defn: Of the nature of clay; consisting of, or containing, argil or
clay; clayey. Argillaceous sandstone (Geol.), a sandstone containing
much clay.
-- Argillaceous iron ore, the clay ironstone.
-- Argillaceous schist or state. See Argillite.
ARGILLIFEROUS
Ar`gil*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. argilla white clay + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing clay; -- applied to such earths as abound with argil.
Kirwan.
ARGILLITE
Ar"gil*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: Argillaceous schist or slate; clay slate. Its colors is bluish
or blackish gray, sometimes greenish gray, brownish red, etc.
-- Ar`gil*lit"ic, a.
ARGILLO-AREENACEOUS
Ar*gil`lo-are`e*na"ceous, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, clay and sand, as a soil.
ARGILLO-CALCAREOUS
Ar*gil`lo-cal*ca"re*ous, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, clay and calcareous earth.
ARGILLO-FERRUGINOUS
Ar*gil`lo-fer*ru"gi*nous, a.
Defn: Containing clay and iron.
ARGILLOUS
Ar*gil"lous, a. Etym: [L. argillosus, fr. argilla. See Argil.]
Defn: Argillaceous; clayey. Sir T. Browne.
ARGIVE
Ar"give, a. Etym: [L. Argivus, fr. Argos, Argi.]
Defn: Of or performance to Argos, the capital of Argolis in Greece.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Argos. Often used as a generic term, equivalent to
Grecian or Greek.
ARGO
Ar"go, n. Etym: [L. Argo, Gr.
1. (Myth.)
Defn: The name of the ship which carried Jason and his fifty-four
companions to Colchis, in quest of the Golden Fleece.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A large constellation in the southern hemisphere, called also
Argo Navis. In modern astronomy it is replaced by its three
divisions, Carina, Puppis, and Vela.
ARGOAN
Ar*go"an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the ship Argo.
ARGOILE
Ar"goile, n.
Defn: Potter's clay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARGOL
Ar"gol, n. Etym: [Cf. Argal, Orgal. Of unknown origin.]
Defn: Crude tartar; an acidulous salt from which cream of tartar is
prepared. It exists in the juice of grapes, and is deposited from
wines on the sides of the casks. Ure.
ARGOLIC
Ar*gol"ic, a. Etym: [L. Argolicus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Argolis, a district in the Peloponnesus.
ARGON
Ar"gon, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance regarded as an element, contained in the atmosphere
and remarkable for its chemical inertness. Rayleigh and Ramsay.
ARGONAUT
Ar"go*naut, n. Etym: [L. Argonauta, Gr. Argo.]
1. Any one of the legendary Greek heroes who sailed with Jason, in
the Argo, in quest of the Golden Fleece.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cephalopod of the genus Argonauta.
ARGONAUTA
Ar`go*nau"ta, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Cephalopoda. The shell is called paper nautilus or
paper sailor.
Note: The animal has much resemblance to an Octopus. It has eight
arms, two of which are expanded at the end and clasp the shell, but
are never elevated in the air for sails as was formerly supposed. The
creature swims beneath the surface by means of a jet of water, like
other cephalopods. The male has no shell, and is much smaller than
the female. See Hectocotylus.
ARGONAUTIC
Ar"go*naut"ic, a. Etym: [L. Argonauticus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Argonauts.
ARGOSY
Ar"go*sy, n.; pl. Argosies. Etym: [Earlier ragusy, fr. ragusa meaning
orig. a vessel of Ragusa.]
Defn: A large ship, esp. a merchant vessel of the largest size.
Where your argosies with portly sail . . . Do overpeer the petty
traffickers. Shak.
ARGOT
Ar`got", n. Etym: [F. Of unknown origin.]
Defn: A secret language or conventional slang peculiar to thieves,
tramps, and vagabonds; flash.
ARGUABLE
Ar"gu*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being argued; admitting of debate.
ARGUE
Ar"gue, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Argued; p. pr. & vb. n. Arguing.] Etym:
[OE. arguen, F. arguer, fr. L. argutare, freq. of arguere to make
clear; from the same root as E. argent.]
1. To invent and offer reasons to support or overthrow a proposition,
opinion, or measure; to use arguments; to reason.
I argue not Against Heaven's hand or will. Milton.
2. To contend in argument; to dispute; to reason; -- followed by
with; as, you may argue with your friend without convincing him.
ARGUE
Ar"gue, v. t.
1. To debate or discuss; to treat by reasoning; as, the counsel
argued the cause before a full court; the cause was well argued.
2. To prove or evince; too manifest or exhibit by inference,
deduction, or reasoning.
So many laws argue so many sins. Milton.
3. To persuade by reasons; as, to argue a man into a different
opinion.
4. To blame; to accuse; to charge with. [Obs.]
Thoughts and expressions . . . which can be truly argued of
obscenity, profaneness, or immorality. Dryden.
Syn.
-- to reason; evince; discuss; debate; expostulate; remonstrate;
controvert.
-- To Argue, Dispute, Debate. These words, as here compared, suppose
a contest between two parties in respect to some point at issue. To
argue is to adduce arguments or reasons in support of one's cause or
position. To dispute is to call in question or deny the statements or
arguments of the opposing party. To debate is to strive for or
against in a somewhat formal manner by arguments.
Men of many words sometimes argue for the sake of talking; men of
ready tongues frequently dispute for the sake of victory; men in
public life often debate for the sake of opposing the ruling party,
or from any other motive than the love of truth. Crabb.
Unskilled to argue, in dispute yet loud, Bold without caution,
without honors proud. Falconer.
Betwixt the dearest friends to raise debate. Dryden.
ARGUER
Ar"gu*er, n.
Defn: One who argues; a reasoner; a disputant.
ARGUFY
Ar"gu*fy, v. t. & i. Etym: [Argue + -fy.]
1. To argue pertinaciously. [Colloq.] Halliwell.
2. To signify. [Colloq.]
ARGULUS
Ar"gu*lus, n. Etym: [NL., dim of Argus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of copepod Crustacea, parasitic of fishes; a fish
louse. See Branchiura.
ARGUMENT
Ar"gu*ment, n. Etym: [F. argument, L. argumentum, fr. arguere to
argue.]
1. Proof; evidence. [Obs.]
There is.. no more palpable and convincing argument of the existence
of a Deity. Ray.
Why, then, is it made a badge of wit and an argument of parts for a
man to commence atheist, and to cast off all belief of providence,
all awe and reverence for religion South.
2. A reason or reasons offered in proof, to induce belief, or
convince the mind; reasoning expressed in words; as, an argument
about, concerning, or regarding a proposition, for or in favor of it,
or against it.
3. A process of reasoning, or a controversy made up of rational
proofs; argumentation; discussion; disputation.
The argument is about things, but names. Locke.
4. The subject matter of a discourse, writing, or artistic
representation; theme or topic; also, an abstract or summary, as of
the contents of a book, chapter, poem.
You and love are still my argument. Shak.
The abstract or argument of the piece. Jeffrey.
[Shields] with boastful argument portrayed. Milton.
5. Matter for question; business in hand. [Obs.]
Sheathed their swords for lack of argument. Shak.
6. (Astron.)
Defn: The quantity on which another quantity in a table depends; as,
the altitude is the argument of the refraction.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The independent variable upon whose value that of a function
depends. Brande & C.
ARGUMENT
Ar"gu*ment, v. i. Etym: [L. argumentari.]
Defn: To make an argument; to argue. [Obs.] Gower.
ARGUMENTABLE
Ar`gu*men"ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. argumentabilis.]
Defn: Admitting of argument. [R.] Chalmers.
ARGUMENTAL
Ar`gu*men"tal, a. Etym: [L. argumentalis.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, argument; argumentative.
ARGUMENTATION
Ar`gu*men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. argumentatio, from argumentari: cf.
F. argumentation.]
1. The act of forming reasons, making inductions, drawing
conclusions, and applying them to the case in discussion; the
operation of inferring propositions, not known or admitted as true,
from facts or principles known, admitted, or proved to be true.
Which manner of argumentation, how false and naught it is, . . .
every man that hath with perceiveth. Tyndale.
2. Debate; discussion.
Syn.
-- Reasoning; discussion; controversy. See Reasoning.
ARGUMENTATIVE
Ar`gu*men"ta*tive, a.
1. Consisting of, or characterized by, argument; containing a process
of reasoning; as, an argumentative discourse.
2. Adductive as proof; indicative; as, the adaptation of things to
their uses is argumentative of infinite wisdom in the Creator. [Obs.]
3. Given to argument; characterized by argument; disputatious; as, an
argumentative writer. --Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ly, adv.
-- Ar`gu*men"ta*tive*ness, n.
ARGUMENTIZE
Ar"gu*men*tize, v. i.
Defn: To argue or discuss. [Obs.] Wood.
ARGUS
Ar"gus, n. Etym: [L. Argus, Gr.
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A fabulous being of antiquity, said to have had a hundred eyes,
who has placed by Juno to guard Io. His eyes were transplanted to the
peacock's tail.
2. One very vigilant; a guardian always watchful.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of East Indian pheasants. The common species (A.
giganteus) is remarkable for the great length and beauty of the wing
and tail feathers of the male. The species A. Grayi inhabits Borneo.
ARGUS-EYED
Ar"gus-eyed, a.
Defn: Extremely observant; watchful; sharp-sighted.
ARGUS SHELL
Ar"gus shell` . (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of shell (Cypræa argus), beautifully variegated with
spots resembling those in a peacock's tail.
ARGUTATION
Ar`gu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. argutatio. See Argue.]
Defn: Caviling; subtle disputation. [Obs.]
ARGUTE
Ar*gute", a. Etym: [L. argutus, p. p. of arguere. See Argue.]
1. Sharp; shrill. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. Sagacious; acute; subtle; shrewd.
The active preacher . . . the argue schoolman. Milman.
ARGUTELY
Ar*gute"ly, adv.
Defn: In a subtle; shrewdly.
ARGUTENESS
Ar*gute"ness, n.
Defn: Acuteness. Dryden.
ARHIZAL; ARHIZOUS; ARHYTHMIC; ARHYTHMOUS
A*rhi"zal, A*rhi"zous, A*rhyth"*mic, A*rhyth"mous, a.
Defn: See Arrhizal, Arrhizous, Arrhythmic, Arrhythmous.
ARIA
A"ri*a, n. Etym: [It., fr. L. aër. See Air.] (Mus.)
Defn: An air or song; a melody; a tune.
Note: The Italian term is now mostly used for the more elaborate
accompanied melodies sung by a single voice, in operas, oratorios,
cantatas, anthems, etc., and not so much for simple airs or tunes.
ARIAN
Ar"ian, a. & n. (Ethnol.)
Defn: See Aryan.
ARIAN
A"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Arianus.]
Defn: Pertaining to Arius, a presbyter of the church of Alexandria,
in the fourth century, or to the doctrines of Arius, who held Christ
to be inferior to God the Father in nature and dignity, though the
first and noblest of all created beings.
-- n.
Defn: One who adheres to or believes the doctrines of Arius. Mosheim.
ARIANISM
A"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines of the Arians.
ARIANIZE
A"ri*an*ize, v. i.
Defn: To admit or accept the tenets of the Arians; to become an
Arian.
ARIANIZE
A"ri*an*ize, v. t.
Defn: To convert to Arianism.
ARICINE
Ar"i*cine, n. Etym: [From Arica, in Chile.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid, first found in white cinchona bark.
ARID
Ar"id, a. Etym: [L. aridus, fr. arere to be dry: cf. F. aride.]
Defn: Exhausted of moisture; parched with heat; dry; barren. "An arid
waste." Thomson.
ARIDITY
A*rid"i*ty, n.; pl. Aridities. Etym: [L. ariditas, fr. aridus.]
1. The state or quality of being arid or without moisture; dryness.
2. Fig.: Want of interest of feeling; insensibility; dryness of style
or feeling; spiritual drought. Norris.
ARIDNESS
Ar"id*ness, n.
Defn: Aridity; dryness.
ARIEL; ARIEL GAZELLE
A"ri*el, n., or; A"ri*el ga*zelle". Etym: [Ar. aryil, ayyil, stag.]
(Zoöl.) A)
Defn: A variety of the gazelle (Antilope, or Gazella, dorcas), found
in Arabia and adjacent countries. (b) A squirrel-like Australian
marsupial, a species of Petaurus. (c) A beautiful Brazilian toucan
Ramphastos ariel).
ARIES
A"ri*es, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Astron.)
(a) The Ram; the first of the twelve signs in the zodiac, which the
sun enters at the vernal equinox, about the 21st of March.
(b) A constellation west of Taurus, drawn on the celestial globe in
the figure of a ram.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A battering-ram.
ARIETATE
Ar"i*e*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. arietatus, p. p. of arietare, fr. aries
ram.]
Defn: To butt, as a ram. [Obs.]
ARIETATION
Ar`i*e*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. arietatio.]
1. The act of butting like a ram; act of using a battering-ram.
[Obs.] Bacon.
2. Act of striking or conflicting. [R.] Glanvill.
ARIETTA; ARIETTE
A`ri*et"ta, Ar`i*ette", n. Etym: [It. arietta, dim. of aria; F.
ariette.] (Mus.)
Defn: A short aria, or air. "A military ariette." Sir W. Scott.
ARIGHT
A*right", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + right.]
Defn: Rightly; correctly; in a right way or form; without mistake or
crime; as, to worship God aright.
ARIL; ARILLUS
Ar"il, A*ril"lus, n. Etym: [From LL. arilli dry grapes, perh. fr. L.
aridus dry: cf. F,. arille.] (Bot.)
Defn: A exterior covering, forming a false coat or appendage to a
seed, as the loose, transparent bag inclosing the seed or the white
water lily. The mace of the nutmeg is also an aril. Gray.
ARILLATE; ARILLATED; ARILED
Ar"il*late. Ar"il*la`ted, Ar"iled, a. Etym: [Cf. NL. arillatus, F.
arillé.]
Defn: Having an aril.
ARILLODE
Ar"il*lode, n. [Arillus + Gr. form.] (Bot.)
Defn: A false aril; an aril originating from the micropyle instead of
from the funicle or chalaza of the ovule. The mace of the nutmeg is
an arillode.
ARIMAN
A"ri*man, n.
Defn: See Ahriman.
ARIOLATION
Ar`i*o*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ariolatio, hariolatio, fr. hariolari to
prophesy, fr. hariolus soothsayer.]
Defn: A soothsaying; a foretelling. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ARIOSE
Ar"i*ose, a. Etym: [It. arioso, fr. aria.]
Defn: Characterized by melody, as distinguished from harmony.
Mendelssohn wants the ariose beauty of Handel; vocal melody is not
his forte; the interest of his airs harmonic. Foreign Quart. Rev.
ARIOSO
A`ri*o"so, adv. & a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: In the smooth and melodious style of an air; ariose.
ARISE
A*rise", v. i. [imp. Arose; p. pr. & vb. n. Arising; p. p. Arisen.].
Etym: [AS. arisan; a (equiv. to Goth. us-, ur-, G. er-, orig. meaning
out) + risan to rise; cf. Goth. urreisan to arise. See Rise.]
1. To come up from a lower to a higher position; to come above the
horizon; to come up from one's bed or place of repose; to mount; to
ascend; to rise; as, to arise from a kneeling posture; a cloud arose;
the sun ariseth; he arose early in the morning.
2. To spring up; to come into action, being, or notice; to become
operative, sensible, or visible; to begin to act a part; to present
itself; as, the waves of the sea arose; a persecution arose; the
wrath of the king shall arise.
There arose up a new king . . . which knew not Joseph. Ex. i. 8.
The doubts that in his heart arose. Milton.
3. To proceed; to issue; to spring.
Whence haply mention may arise Of something not unseasonable to ask.
Milton.
ARISE
A*rise", n.
Defn: Rising. [Obs.] Drayton.
ARIST
A*rist", 3d sing. pres.
Defn: of Arise, for ariseth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARISTA
A*ris"ta, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: An awn. Gray.
ARISTARCH
Ar"is*tarch, n. Etym: [From Aristarchus, a Greek grammarian and
critic, of Alexandria, about 200 b. c.]
Defn: A severe critic. Knowles.
ARISTARCHIAN
Ar`is*tar"chi*an, a.
Defn: Severely critical.
ARISTARCHY
Ar"is*tar`chy, n.
Defn: Severely criticism.
ARISTARCHY
Ar"is*tar`chy, n.
Defn: Severe criticism. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.
ARISTATE
A*ris"tate, a. Etym: [L. aristatus, fr. arista. See Arista.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a pointed, beardlike process, as the glumes of wheat;
awned. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a slender, sharp, or spinelike tip.
ARISTOCRACY
Ar`is*toc"ra*cy, n.; pl. Aristocracies. Etym: [Gr. arm, and orig.
meant fitting: cf. F. aristocratie. See Arm, and Create, which is
related to Gr.
1. Government by the best citizens.
2. A ruling body composed of the best citizens. [Obs.]
In the Senate Right not our quest in this, I will protest them To all
the world, no aristocracy. B. Jonson.
3. A form a government, in which the supreme power is vested in the
principal persons of a state, or in a privileged order; an oligarchy.
The aristocracy of Venice hath admitted so many abuses, trough the
degeneracy of the nobles, that the period of its duration seems
approach. Swift.
4. The nobles or chief persons in a state; a privileged class or
patrician order; (in a popular use) those who are regarded as
superior to the rest of the community, as in rank, fortune, or
intellect.
ARISTOCRAT
A*ris"to*crat, n. Etym: [F. aristocrate. See Aristocracy.]
1. One of the aristocracy or people of rank in a community; one of a
ruling class; a noble.
2. One who is overbearing in his temper or habits; a proud or haughty
person.
A born aristocrat, bred radical. Mrs. Browning.
3. One who favors an aristocracy as a form of government, or believes
the aristocracy should govern.
His whole family are accused of being aristocrats. Romilly.
ARISTOCRATIC; ARISTOCRATICAL
Ar`is*to*crat"ic, Ar`is*to*crat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. aristocratique.]
1. Of or pertaining to an aristocracy; consisting in, or favoring, a
government of nobles, or principal men; as, an aristocratic
constitution.
2. Partaking of aristocracy; befitting aristocracy; characteristic
of, or originating with, the aristocracy; as, an aristocratic
measure; aristocratic pride or manners.
-- Ar`is*to*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Ar`is*to*crat"ic*al*ness, n.
ARISTOCRATISM
Ar"is*to*crat`ism, n.
1. The principles of aristocrats. Romilly.
2. Aristocrats, collectively. [R.]
ARISTOLOGY
Ar`is*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of dining. Quart. Rev.
ARISTOPHANIC
Ar`is*to*phan"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aristophanes, the Athenian comic poet.
ARISTOTELIAN
Ar`is*to*te"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher
(384-322 b. c.).
-- n.
Defn: A follower of Aristotle; a Peripatetic. See Peripatetic.
ARISTOTELIANISM
Ar`is*to*te"li*an*ism.
Defn: The philosophy of Aristotle, otherwise called the Peripatetic
philosophy.
ARISTOTELIC
Ar`is*to*tel"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Aristotle or to his philosophy. "Aristotelic
usage." Sir W. Hamilton.
ARISTOTLE'S LANTERN
Ar"is*to`tle's lan"tern. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The five united jaws and accessory ossicles of certain sea
urchins.
ARISTOTYPE
A*ris"to*type`, n. [Gr. best + -type.] (Photog.)
Defn: Orig., a printing-out process using paper coated with silver
chloride in gelatin; now, any such process using silver salts in
either collodion or gelatin; also, a print so made.
ARISTULATE
A*ris"tu*late, a. Etym: [Dim. fr. arista.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining a short beard or awn. Gray.
ARITHMANCY
Ar"ith*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of numbers.
ARITHMETIC
A*rith"me*tic, n. Etym: [OE. arsmetike, OF. arismetique, L.
arithmetica, fr. Gr. arm, the idea of counting coming from that of
fitting, attaching. See Arm. The modern Eng. and French forms are
accommodated to the Greek.]
1. The science of numbers; the art of computation by figures.
2. A book containing the principles of this science. Arithmetic of
sines, trigonometry.
-- Political arithmetic, the application of the science of numbers
to problems in civil government, political economy, and social
science.
-- Universal arithmetic, the name given by Sir Isaac Newton to
algebra.
ARITHMETICAL
Ar`ith*met"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to arithmetic; according to the rules or
method of arithmetic. Arithmetical complement of a logarithm. See
Logarithm.
-- Arithmetical mean. See Mean.
-- Arithmetical progression. See Progression.
-- Arithmetical proportion. See Proportion.
ARITHMETICALLY
Ar`ith*met"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Conformably to the principles or methods of arithmetic.
ARITHMETICIAN
A*rith`me*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. arithméticien.]
Defn: One skilled in arithmetic.
ARITHMOMANCY
A*rith"mo*man"cy, n.
Defn: Arithmancy.
ARITHMOMETER
Ar`ith*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. arithmomètre.]
Defn: A calculating machine.
ARK
Ark, n. Etym: [OE. ark, arke, arche, AS. arc, earc, earce, fr. L.
arca, fr. arcere to inclose, keep off; akin to Gr.
1. A chest, or coffer. [Obs.]
Bearing that precious relic in an ark. Spenser.
2. (Jewish Hist.)
Defn: The oblong chest of acacia wood, overlaid with gold, which
supported the mercy seat with its golden cherubs, and occupied the
most sacred place in the sanctuary. In it Moses placed the two tables
of stone containing the ten commandments. Called also the Ark of the
Covenant.
3. The large, chestlike vessel in which Noah and his family were
preserved during the Deluge. Gen. vi. Hence: Any place of refuge.
4. A large flatboat used on Western American rivers to transport
produce to market.
ARKITE
Ark"ite, a.
Defn: Belonging to the ark. [R.] Faber.
ARKOSE
Ar*kose", n. [F] (Petrog)
Defn: A sandstone derived from the disintegration of granite or
gneiss, and characterized by feldspar fragments. -- Ar*kos"ic (#), a.
ARK SHELL
Ark" shell`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine bivalve shell belonging to the genus Arca and its
allies.
ARLES
Arles, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. arrhes, Scot. airles. Cf. Earles penny.]
Defn: An earnest; earnest money; money paid to bind a bargain.
[Scot.] Arles penny, earnest money given to servants. Kersey.
ARM
Arm, n. Etym: [AS. arm, earm; akin to OHG. aram, G., D., Dan., & Sw.
arm, Icel. armr, Goth. arms, L. armus arm, shoulder, and prob. to Gr.
rame. Art, Article.]
1. The limb of the human body which extends from the shoulder to the
hand; also, the corresponding limb of a monkey.
2. Anything resembling an arm; as,
(a) The fore limb of an animal, as of a bear.
(b) A limb, or locomotive or prehensile organ, of an invertebrate
animal.
(c) A branch of a tree.
(d) A slender part of an instrument or machine, projecting from a
trunk, axis, or fulcrum; as, the arm of a steelyard.
(e) (Naut) The end of a yard; also, the part of an anchor which ends
in the fluke.
(f) An inlet of water from the sea.
(g) A support for the elbow, at the side of a chair, the end of a
sofa, etc.
3. Fig.: Power; might; strength; support; as, the secular arm; the
arm of the law.
To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed Isa. lii. 1.
Arm's end, the end of the arm; a good distance off. Dryden.
-- Arm's length, the length of the arm.
-- Arm's reach, reach of the arm; the distance the arm can reach.
-- To go (or walk) arm in arm, to go with the arm or hand of one
linked in the arm of another. "When arm in armwe went along."
Tennyson.
-- To keep at arm's length, to keep at a distance (literally or
figuratively); not to allow to come into close contact or familiar
intercourse.
-- To work at arm's length, to work disadvantageously.
ARM
Arm, n. Etym: [See Arms.] (Mil.)
(a) A branch of the military service; as, the cavalry arm was made
efficient.
(b) A weapon of offense or defense; an instrument of warfare; --
commonly in the pl.
ARM
Arm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Armed; p. pr. & vb. n. Arming.] Etym: [OE.
armen, F. armer, fr. L. armare, fr. arma, pl., arms. See arms.]
1. To take by the arm; to take up in one's arms. [Obs.]
And make him with our pikes and partisans A grave: come, arm him.
Shak.
Arm your prize; I know you will not lose him. Two N. Kins.
2. To furnish with arms or limbs. [R.]
His shoulders broad and strong, Armed long and round. Beau. & Fl.
3. To furnish or equip with weapons of offense or defense; as, to arm
soldiers; to arm the country.
Abram . . . armed his trained servants. Gen. xiv. 14.
4. To cover or furnish with a plate, or with whatever will add
strength, force, security, or efficiency; as, to arm the hit of a
sword; to arm a hook in angling.
5. Fig.: To furnish with means of defense; to prepare for resistance;
to fortify, in a moral sense.
Arm yourselves . . . with the same mind. 1 Pet. iv. 1.
To arm a magnet, to fit it with an armature.
ARM
Arm, v. i.
Defn: To provide one's self with arms, weapons, or means of attack or
resistance; to take arms. " 'Tis time to arm." Shak.
ARMADA
Ar*ma"da, n. Etym: [Sp. armada, L. as if armata (sc. classic fleet),
fr. armatus, p. p. of armare. See Arm, v. t. Army.]
Defn: A fleet of armed ships; a squadron. Specifically, the Spanish
fleet which was sent to assail England, a. d. 1558.
ARMADILLO
Ar`ma*dil"lo, n.; pl. Armadillos. Etym: [Sp. armadillo, dim. of
armado armed, p. p. of armar to arm. Do called from being armed with
a bony shell.] (Zoöl.)
(a) Any edentate animal if the family Dasypidæ, peculiar to America.
The body and head are incased in an armor composed of small bony
plates. The armadillos burrow in the earth, seldom going abroad
except at night. When attacked, they curl up into a ball, presenting
the armor on all sides. Their flesh is good food. There are several
species, one of which (the peba) is found as far north as Texas. See
Peba, Poyou, Tatouay.
(b) A genus of small isopod Crustacea that can roll themselves into a
ball.
ARMADO
Ar*ma"do, n.
Defn: Armada. [Obs.]
ARMAMENT
Ar"ma*ment, n. Etym: [L. armamenta, pl., utensils, esp. the tackle of
a ship, fr. armare to arm: cf. LL. armamentum, F. armement.]
1. A body of forces equipped for war; -- used of a land or naval
force. "The whole united armament of Greece." Glover.
2. (Mil. & Nav.)
Defn: All the cannon and small arms collectively, with their
equipments, belonging to a ship or a fortification.
3. Any equipment for resistance.
ARMAMENTARY
Ar`ma*men"ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. armamentarium, fr. armamentum: cf. F.
armamentaire.]
Defn: An armory; a magazine or arsenal. [R.]
ARMATURE
Ar"ma*ture, n. Etym: [L. armatura, fr. armare to arm: cf. F.
armature. See Arm, v. t., Armor.]
1. Armor; whatever is worn or used for the protection and defense of
the body, esp. the protective outfit of some animals and plants.
2. (Magnetism)
Defn: A piece of soft iron used to connect the two poles of a magnet,
or electro-magnet, in order to complete the circuit, or to receive
and apply the magnetic force. In the ordinary horseshoe magnet, it
serves to prevent the dissipation of the magnetic force.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: Iron bars or framing employed for the consolidation of a
building, as in sustaining slender columns, holding up canopies, etc.
Oxf. Gloss.
ARMCHAIR
Arm"chair`, n.
Defn: A chair with arms to support the elbows or forearms. Tennyson.
ARMED
Armed, a.
1. Furnished with weapons of offense or defense; furnished with the
means of security or protection. "And armed host." Dryden.
2. Furnished with whatever serves to add strength, force, or
efficiency.
A distemper eminently armed from heaven. De Foe.
3. (Her.)
Defn: Having horns, beak, talons, etc; -- said of beasts and birds of
prey. Armed at all points (Blazoning), completely incased in armor,
sometimes described as armed cap-à-pie. Cussans.
-- Armed en flute. (Naut.) See under Flute.
-- Armed magnet, a magnet provided with an armature.
-- Armed neutrality. See under Neutrality.
ARMENIAN
Ar*me"ni*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Arménien, L. Armenias, fr. Armenia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Armenia. Armenian bole, a soft clayey earth
of a bright red color found in Armenia, Tuscany, etc.
-- Armenian stone. (a) The commercial name of lapis lazuli. (b)
Emery.
ARMENIAN
Ar*me"ni*an, n.
1. A native or one of the people of Armenia; also, the language of
the Armenians.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: An adherent of the Armenian Church, an organization similar in
some doctrines and practices to the Greek Church, in others to the
Roman Catholic.
ARMET
Arm"et, n. Etym: [F., dim. of arme arm, or corrupted for healmet
helmet.]
Defn: A kind of helmet worn in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
ARMFUL
Arm"ful, n.; pl. Armfulus.
Defn: As much as the arm can hold.
ARMGAUNT
Arm"gaunt`, a.
Defn: With gaunt or slender legs. "An armgaunt steed." Shak.
Note: This word is peculiar to Shakespeare. Its meaning has not yet
been satisfactorily explained.
ARM-GRET
Arm"-gret`, a.
Defn: Great as a man's arm. [Obs.]
A wreath of gold, arm-gret. Chaucer.
ARMHOLE
Arm"hole`, n. Etym: [Arm + hole.]
1. The cavity under the shoulder; the armpit. Bacon.
2. A hole for the arm in a garment.
ARMIFEROUS
Ar*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. armifer; arma arms + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing arms or weapons. [R.]
ARMIGER
Ar"mi*ger, n. Etym: [L. armiger armor bearer; arma arms + gerere to
bear.]
Defn: Formerly, an armor bearer, as of a knight, an esquire who bore
his shield and rendered other services. In later use, one next in
degree to a knight, and entitled to armorial bearings. The term is
now superseded by esquire. Jacob.
ARMIGEROUS
Ar*mig"er*ous, a.
Defn: Bearing arms. [R.]
They belonged to the armigerous part of the population, and were
entitled to write themselves Esquire. De Quincey.
ARMIL
Ar"mil, n. Etym: [L. armilla a bracelet, fr. armus arm: cf. OF.
armille.]
1. A bracelet. [Obs.]
2. An ancient astronomical instrument.
Note: When composed of one ring placed in the plane of the equator
for determining the time of the equinoxes, it is called an
equinoctial armil; when of two or more rings, one in the plane of the
meridian, for observing the solstices, it is called a solstitial
armil. Whewell.
ARMILLA
Ar*mil"la, n.; pl. E. Armillas, L. Armillæ. Etym: [L., a bracelet.]
1. An armil.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A ring of hair or feathers on the legs.
ARMILLARY
Ar"mil*la*ry, a. Etym: [LL. armillarius, fr. L. armilla arm ring,
bracelet, fr. armus arm: cf. F. armillaire. See Arm, n.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a bracelet or ring; consisting of
rings or circles. Armillary sphere, an ancient astronomical machine
composed of an assemblage of rings, all circles of the same sphere,
designed to represent the positions of the important circles of the
celestial sphere. Nichol.
ARMING
Arm"ing, n.
1. The act of furnishing with, or taking, arms.
The arming was now universal. Macaulay.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of tallow placed in a cavity at the lower end of a
sounding lead, to bring up the sand, shells, etc., of the sea bottom.
Totten.
3. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Red dress cloths formerly hung fore and aft outside of a ship's
upper works on holidays. Arming press (Bookbinding), a press for
stamping titles and designs on the covers of books.
ARMINIAN
Ar*min"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Arminius of his followers, or to their
doctrines. See note under Arminian, n.
ARMINIAN
Ar*min"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who holds the tenets of Arminius, a Dutch divine (b. 1560,
d. 1609).
Note: The Arminian doctrines are: 1. Conditional election and
reprobation, in opposition to absolute predestination. 2. Universal
redemption, or that the atonement was made by Christ for all mankind,
though none but believers can be partakers of the benefit. 3. That
man, in order to exercise true faith, must be regenerated and renewed
by the operation of the Holy Spirit, which is the gift of God. 4.
That man may resist divine grace. 5. That man may relapse from a
state of grace.
ARMINIANISM
Ar*min"i*an*ism, n.
Defn: The religious doctrines or tenets of the Arminians.
ARMIPOTENCE
Ar*mip"o*tence, n. Etym: [L. armipotentia, fr. armipotents.]
Defn: Power in arms. [R.] Johnson.
ARMIPOTENT
Ar*mip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. armipotents; arma arms + potens powerful,
p. pr. of posse to be able.]
Defn: Powerful in arms; mighty in battle.
The temple stood of Mars armipotent. Dryden.
ARMISONANT; ARMISONOUS
Ar*mis"o*nant, Ar*mis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. armisonus; arma arms +
sonare (p. pr. sonans) to sound.]
Defn: Rustling in arms; resounding with arms. [Obs.]
ARMISTICE
Ar"mis*tice, n. Etym: [F. armistice, fr. (an assumed word) L.
armistitium; arma arms + stare, statum (combining form, -stitum), to
stand still.]
Defn: A cessation of arms for a short time, by convention; a
temporary suspension of hostilities by agreement; a truce.
ARMLESS
Arm"less, a.
1. Without any arm or branch.
2. Destitute of arms or weapons.
ARMLET
Arm"let, n. Etym: [Arm + -let.]
1. A small arm; as, an armlet of the sea. Johnson.
2. An arm ring; a bracelet for the upper arm.
3. Armor for the arm.
ARMONIAC
Ar*mo"ni*ac, a.
Defn: Ammoniac. [Obs.]
ARMOR
Ar"mor, n. Etym: [OE. armure, fr. F. armure, OF. armeure, fr. L.
armatura. See Armature.] [Spelt also armour.]
1. Defensive arms for the body; any clothing or covering worn to
protect one's person in battle.
Note: In English statues, armor is used for the whole apparatus of
war, including offensive as well as defensive arms. The statues of
armor directed what arms every man should provide.
2. Steel or iron covering, whether of ships or forts, protecting them
from the fire of artillery. Coat armor, the escutcheon of a person or
family, with its several charges and other furniture, as mantling,
crest, supporters, motto, etc.
-- Submarine, a water-tight dress or covering for a diver. See under
Submarine.
ARMOR-BEARER
Ar"mor-bear`er, n.
Defn: One who carries the armor or arms of another; an armiger. Judg.
ix. 54.
ARMORED
Ar"mored, a.
Defn: Clad with armor.
ARMORED CRUISER
Ar"mored cruis"er. (Nav.)
Defn: A man-of-war carrying a large coal supply, and more or less
protected from the enemy's shot by iron or steel armor. There is no
distinct and accepted classification distinguishing armored and
protected cruisers from each other, except that the first have more
or heavier armor than the second.
ARMORER
Ar"mor*er, n. Etym: [OE. armurer, armerer, fr. F. armurter, fr.
armure armor.]
1. One who makes or repairs armor or arms.
2. Formerly, one who had care of the arms and armor of a knight, and
who dressed him in armor. Shak.
3. One who has the care of arms and armor, cleans or repairs them,
etc.
ARMORIAL
Ar*mo"ri*al, a. Etym: [F. armorial, fr. armoiries arms, coats of
arms, for armoieries, fr. OF. armoier to paint arms, coats of arms,
fr. armes, fr. L. arma. See Arms, Armory.]
Defn: Belonging to armor, or to the heraldic arms or escutcheon of a
family.
Figures with armorial signs of race and birth. Wordsworth.
Armorial bearings. See Arms, 4.
ARMORIC; ARMORICAN
Ar*mor"ic, Ar*mor"i*can, a. Etym: [L. Armoricus, fr. Celtic ar on, at
+ mor sea.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the northwestern part of France (formerly
called Armorica, now Bretagne or Brittany), or to its people.
-- n.
Defn: The language of the Armoricans, a Celtic dialect which has
remained to the present times.
ARMORICAN
Ar*mor"i*can, n.
Defn: A native of Armorica.
ARMORIST
Ar"mor*ist, n. Etym: [F. armoriste.]
Defn: One skilled in coat armor or heraldry. Cussans.
ARMOR-PLATED
Ar"mor-plat`ed, a.
Defn: Covered with defensive plates of metal, as a ship of war;
steel-clad.
This day will be launched . . . the first armor-plated steam frigate
in the possession of Great Britain. Times (Dec. 29, 1860).
ARMORY
Ar"mo*ry, n.; pl. Armories. Etym: [OF. armaire, armarie, F. armoire,
fr. L. armarium place for keeping arms; but confused with F.
armoiries. See Armorial, Ambry.]
1. A place where arms and instruments of war are deposited for safe
keeping.
2. Armor: defensive and offensive arms.
Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears. Milton.
3. A manufactory of arms, as rifles, muskets, pistols, bayonets,
swords. [U.S.]
4. Ensigns armorial; armorial bearings. Spensplw.
5. That branch of hplwaldry which treats of coat armor.
The science of heraldry, or, more justly speaking, armory, which is
but one branch of heraldry, is, without doubt, of very ancient
origin. Cussans.
ARMOZEEN; ARMOZINE
Ar`mo*zeen", Ar`mo*zine", n. Etym: [armosin, armoisin.]
Defn: A thick plain silk, generally black, and used for clerical.
Simmonds.
ARMPIT
Arm"pit`, n. Etym: [Arm + pit.]
Defn: The hollow beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder; the
axilla.
ARMRACK
Arm"rack`, n.
Defn: A frame, generally vertical, for holding small arms.
ARMS
Arms, n. pl. Etym: [OE. armes, F. arme, pl. armes, fr. L. arma, pl.,
arms, orig. fittings, akin to armus shoulder, and E. arm. See Arm,
n.]
1. Instruments or weapons of offense or defense.
He lays down his arms, but not his wiles. Milton.
Three horses and three goodly suits of arms. Tennyson.
2. The deeds or exploits of war; military service or science. "Arms
and the man I sing." Dryden.
3. (Law)
Defn: Anything which a man takes in his hand in anger, to strike or
assault another with; an aggressive weapon. Cowell. Blackstone.
4. (Her.)
Defn: The ensigns armorial of a family, consisting of figures and
colors borne in shields, banners, etc., as marks of dignity and
distinction, and descending from father to son.
5. (Falconry)
Defn: The legs of a hawk from the thigh to the foot. Halliwell. Bred
to arms, educated to the profession of a soldier.
-- In arms, armed for war; in a state of hostility.
-- Small arms, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles, carbines,
pistols, etc.
-- A stand of arms, a complete set for one soldier, as a musket,
bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the musket and bayonet
alone.
-- To arms! a summons to war or battle.
-- Under arms, armed and equipped and in readiness for battle, or
for a military parade. Arm's end, Arm's length, Arm's reach. See
under Arm.
ARMURE
Ar"mure, n. Etym: [F. See Armor.]
1. Armor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A variety of twilled fabric ribbed on the surface.
ARMY
Ar"my, n. Etym: [F. armée, fr. L. armata, fem. of armatus, p. p. of
armare to arm. Cf. Armada.]
1. A collection or body of men armed for war, esp. one organized in
companies, battalions, regiments, brigades, and divisions, under
proper officers.
2. A body of persons organized for the advancement of a cause; as,
the Blue Ribbon Army.
3. A great number; a vast multitude; a host.
An army of good words. Shak.
Standing army, a permanent army of professional soldiers, as
distinguished from militia or volunteers.
ARMY ORGANIZATION
Army organization.
Defn: The system by which a country raises, classifies, arranges, and
equips its armed land forces. The usual divisions are: (1) A regular
or active army, in which soldiers serve continuously with the colors
and live in barracks or cantonments when not in the field; (2) the
reserves of this army, in which the soldiers, while remaining
constantly subject to a call to the colors, live at their homes,
being summoned more or less frequently to report for instruction,
drill, or maneuvers; and (3) one or more classes of soldiers
organized largely for territorial defense, living at home and having
only occasional periods of drill and instraction, who are variously
called home reserves (as in the table below), second, third, etc.,
line of defense (the regular army and its reserves ordinarily
constituting the first line of defense), territorial forces, or the
like. In countries where conscription prevails a soldier is supposed
to serve a given number of years. He is usually enrolled first in
the regular army, then passes to its reserve, then into the home
reserves, to serve until he reaches the age limit. It for any reason
he is not enrolled in the regular army, he may begin his service in
the army reserves or even the home reserves, but then serves the full
number of years or up to the age limit. In equipment the organization
of the army is into the three great arms of infantry, cavalry, and
artillery, together with more or less numerous other branches, such
as engineers, medical corps, etc., besides the staff organizations
such as those of the pay and subsistence departments.
ARMY WORM
Ar"my worm`. (Zoöl.)
(a) A lepidopterous insect, which in the larval state often travels
in great multitudes from field to field, destroying grass, grain, and
other crops. The common army worm of the northern United States is
Leucania unipuncta. The name is often applied to other related
species, as the cotton worm.
(b) The larva of a small two-winged fly (Sciara), which marches in
large companies, in regular order. See Cotton worm, under Cotton.
ARNA; ARNEE
Ar"na, Ar"nee, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild buffalo of India (Bos, or Bubalus, arni), larger than
the domestic buffalo and having enormous horns.
ARNATTO
Ar*nat"to, n.
Defn: See Annotto.
ARNAUT; ARNAOUT
Ar*naut" Ar*naout", n. [Turk. Arnaut, fr. NGr. , for .]
Defn: An inhabitant of Albania and neighboring mountainous regions,
specif. one serving as a soldier in the Turkish army.
ARNICA
Ar"ni*ca, n. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of ptarmica.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants; also, the most important species (Arnica
montana), native of the mountains of Europe, used in medicine as a
narcotic and stimulant.
Note: The tincture of arnica is applied externally as a remedy for
bruises, sprains, etc.
ARNICIN
Ar"ni*cin, n. Etym: [See Arnica.] (Chem.)
Defn: An active principle of Arnica montana. It is a bitter resin.
ARNICINE
Ar"ni*cine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid obtained from the arnica plant.
ARNOT; ARNUT
Ar"not, Ar"nut, n. Etym: [Cf. D. aardnoot, E. earthut.]
Defn: The earthnut. [Obs.]
ARNOTTO
Ar*not"to, n.
Defn: Same as Annotto.
AROID; AROIDEOUS
A"roid, A*roid"e*ous, a. Etym: [Arum + -oid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the Arum family of plants.
AROINT
A*roint", interj. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. rynt, rynt thee, roynt, or
runt, terms used by milkmaids to a cow that has been milked, in order
to drive her away, to make room for others; AS. r to make room or
way, fr. r room. The final t is perh. for ta, for thou. Cf. Room
space.]
Defn: Stand off, or begone. [Obs.]
Aroint thee, witch, the rump-fed ronyon cries. Shak.
AROINT
A*roint", v. t.
Defn: To drive or scare off by some exclamation. [R.] "Whiskered cats
arointed flee." Mrs. Browning.
AROLLA
A*rol"la (a*rol"la), n. [F. arolle.] (Bot.)
Defn: The stone pine (Pinus Cembra).
AROMA
A*ro"ma, n. Etym: [L. aroma, Gr. aromaz, aromat, spice, F. aromate.]
1. The quality or principle of plants or other substances which
constitutes their fragrance; agreeable odor; as, the aroma of coffee.
2. Fig.: The fine diffusive quality of intellectual power; flavor;
as, the subtile aroma of genius.
AROMATIC; AROMATICAL
Ar`o*mat"ic, Ar`o*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. aromaticus, Gr. aromatique.
See Aroma.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, aroma; fragrant; spicy; strong-
scented; odoriferous; as, aromatic balsam. Aromatic compound (Chem.),
one of a large class of organic substances, as the oils of bitter
almonds, wintergreen, and turpentine, the balsams, camphors, etc.,
many of which have an aromatic odor. They include many of the most
important of the carbon compounds and may all be derived from the
benzene group, C6H6. The term is extended also to many of their
derivatives.
-- Aromatic vinegar. See under Vinegar.
AROMATIC
Ar`o*mat"ic, n.
Defn: A plant, drug, or medicine, characterized by a fragrant smell,
and usually by a warm, pungent taste, as ginger, cinnamon spices.
AROMATIZATION
Ar`o*mat`i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aromatisation.]
Defn: The act of impregnating or secting with aroma.
AROMATIZE
A*ro"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aromatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aromatizing.] Etym: [L. aromatizare, Gr. aromatiser.]
Defn: To impregnate with aroma; to render aromatic; to give a spicy
scent or taste to; to perfume. Bacon.
AROMATIZER
A*ro"ma*ti`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, aromatizes or renders aromatic. Evelyn.
AROMATOUS
A*ro"ma*tous, a.
Defn: Aromatic. [Obs.] Caxton.
AROPH
Ar"oph, n. Etym: [A contraction of aroma philosophorum.]
Defn: A barbarous word used by the old chemists to designate various
medical remedies. [Obs.]
AROSE
A*rose".
Defn: The past or preterit tense of Arise.
AROUND
A*round", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + round.]
1. In a circle; circularly; on every side; round.
2. In a circuit; here and there within the surrounding space; all
about; as, to travel around from town to town.
3. Near; in the neighborhood; as, this man was standing around when
the fight took place. [Colloq. U. S.]
Note: See Round, the shorter form, adv. & prep., which, in some of
the meanings, is more commonly used.
AROUND
A*round", prep.
1. On all sides of; encircling; encompassing; so as to make the
circuit of; about.
A lambent flame arose, which gently spread Around his brows. Dryden.
2. From one part to another of; at random through; about; on another
side of; as, to travel around the country; a house standing around
the corner. [Colloq. U. S.]
AROUSAL
A*rous"al, n.
Defn: The act of arousing, or the state of being aroused.
Whatever has associated itself with the arousal and activity of our
better nature. Hare.
AROUSE
A*rouse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aroused; p. pr. & vb. n. Arousing.]
Etym: [Pref. a- + rouse.]
Defn: To excite to action from a state of rest; to stir, or put in
motion or exertion; to rouse; to excite; as, to arouse one from
sleep; to arouse the dormant faculties.
Grasping his spear, forth issued to arouse His brother, mighty
sovereign on the host. Cowper.
No suspicion was aroused. Merivale.
AROW
A*row", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + row.]
Defn: In a row, line, or rank; successively; in order. Shak.
And twenty, rank in rank, they rode arow. Dryden.
AROYNT
A*roynt", interj.
Defn: See Aroint.
ARPEGGIO
Ar*peg"gio, n. Etym: [It., fr. arpeggiare to play on the harp, fr.
arpa harp.] (Mus.)
Defn: The production of the tones of a chord in rapid succession, as
in playing the harp, and not simultaneously; a strain thus played.
ARPENT; ARPEN
Ar"pent, Ar"pen, n. Etym: [F. arpent, fr. L. arepennis, arapennis.
According to Columella, a Gallic word for a measure equiv. to half a
Roman jugerum.]
Defn: Formerly, a measure of land in France, varying in different
parts of the country. The arpent of Paris was 4,088 sq. yards, or
nearly five sixths of an English acre. The woodland arpent was about
1 acre, 1 rood, 1 perch, English.
ARPENTATOR
Ar`pen*ta"tor, n. Etym: [See Arpent.]
Defn: The Anglicized form of the French arpenteur, a land surveyor.
[R.]
ARPINE
Ar"pine, n.
Defn: An arpent. [Obs.] Webster (1623).
ARQUATED
Ar"qua*ted, a.
Defn: Shaped like a bow; arcuate; curved. [R.]
ARQUEBUS; ARQUEBUSE
Ar"que*bus, Ar"que*buse, n. Etym: [F. arquebuse, OF. harquebuse, fr.
D. haak-bus; cf. G. hakenbüchse a gun with a hook. See Hagbut.]
Defn: A sort of hand gun or firearm a contrivance answering to a
trigger, by which the burning match was applied. The musket was a
later invention. [Written also harquebus.]
ARQUEBUSADE
Ar`que*bus*ade", n. Etym: [F. arquebusade shot of an arquebus; eau
d'arquebusade a vulnerary for gunshot wounds.]
1. The shot of an arquebus. Ash.
2. A distilled water from a variety of aromatic plants, as rosemary,
millefoil, etc.; -- originally used as a vulnerary in gunshot wounds.
Parr.
ARQUEBUSIER
Ar`que*bus*ier, n. Etym: [F. arquebusier.]
Defn: A soldier armed with an arquebus.
Soldiers armed with guns, of whatsoever sort or denomination, appear
to have been called arquebusiers. E. Lodge.
ARQUIFOUX
Ar"qui*foux, n.
Defn: Same as Alquifou.
ARRACH
Ar"rach, n.
Defn: See Orach.
ARRACK
Ar"rack, n. Etym: [Ar. araq sweat, juice, spirituous liquor, fr.
araqa to sweat. Cf. Rack arrack.]
Defn: A name in the East Indies and the Indian islands for all ardent
spirits. Arrack is often distilled from a fermented mixture of rice,
molasses, and palm wine of the cocoanut tree or the date palm, etc.
ARRAGONITE
Ar*rag"o*nite, n.
Defn: See Aragonite.
ARRAIGN
Ar*raign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arraigned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Arraigning.] Etym: [OE. arainen, arenen, OF. aragnier, aranier,
araisnier, F. arraisonner, fr. LL. arrationare to address to call
before court; L. ad + ratio reason, reasoning, LL. cause, judgment.
See Reason.]
1. (Law)
Defn: To call or set as a prisoner at the bar of a court to answer to
the matter charged in an indictment or complaint. Blackstone.
2. To call to account, or accuse, before the bar of reason, taste, or
any other tribunal.
They will not arraign you for want of knowledge. Dryden.
It is not arrogance, but timidity, of which the Christian body should
now be arraigned by the world. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To accuse; impeach; charge; censure; criminate; indict; denounce.
See Accuse.
ARRAIGN
Ar*raign", n.
Defn: Arraignment; as, the clerk of the arraigns. Blackstone.
Macaulay.
ARRAIGN
Ar*raign", v. t. Etym: [From OF. aramier, fr. LL. adhramire.] (Old
Eng. Law)
Defn: To appeal to; to demand; as, to arraign an assize of novel
disseizin.
ARRAIGNER
Ar*raign"er, n.
Defn: One who arraigns. Coleridge.
ARRAIGNMENT
Ar*raign"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. arraynement, aresnement.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The act of arraigning, or the state of being arraigned; the act
of calling and setting a prisoner before a court to answer to an
indictment or complaint.
2. A calling to an account to faults; accusation.
In the sixth satire, which seems only an Arraignment of the whole
sex, there is a latent admonition. Dryden.
ARRAIMENT; ARRAYMENT
Ar*rai"ment, Ar*ray"ment, n. Etym: [From Array, v. t.]
Defn: Clothes; raiment. [Obs.]
ARRANGE
Ar*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Arranging.]
Etym: [OE. arayngen, OF. arengier, F. arranger, fr. a (L. ad) + OF.
rengier, rangier, F. ranger. See Range, v. t.]
1. To put in proper order; to dispose (persons, or parts) in the
manner intended, or best suited for the purpose; as, troops arranged
for battle.
So [they] came to the market place, and there he arranged his men in
the streets. Berners.
[They] were beginning to arrange their hampers. Boswell.
A mechanism previously arranged. Paley.
2. To adjust or settle; to prepare; to determine; as, to arrange the
preliminaries of an undertaking.
Syn.
-- Adjust; adapt; range; dispose; classify.
ARRANGEMENT
Ar*range"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. arrangement.]
1. The act of arranging or putting in an orderly condition; the state
of being arranged or put in order; disposition in suitable form.
2. The manner or result of arranging; system of parts disposed in due
order; regular and systematic classification; as, arrangement of
one's dress; the Linnæan arrangement of plants.
3. Preparatory proceeding or measure; preparation; as, we have made
arrangement for receiving company.
4. Settlement; adjustment by agreement; as, the parties have made an
arrangement between themselves concerning their disputes; a
satisfactory arrangement.
5. (Mus.)
(a) The adaptation of a composition to voices or instruments for
which it was not originally written.
(b) A piece so adapted; a transcription; as, a pianoforte arrangement
of Beethoven's symphonies; an orchestral arrangement of a song, an
opera, or the like.
ARRANGER
Ar*ran"ger, n.
Defn: One who arranges. Burke.
ARRANT
Ar"rant, a. Etym: [OE. erraunt, errant, errand, equiv. to E. errant
wandering, which was first applied to vagabonds, as an errant rogue,
an errant thief, and hence passed gradually into its present and
worse sense. See Errant.]
Defn: Notoriously or preëminently bad; thorough or downright, in a
bad sense; shameless; unmitigated; as, an arrant rogue or coward.
I discover an arrant laziness in my soul. Fuller.
2. Thorough or downright, in a good sense. [Obs.]
An arrant honest woman. Burton.
ARRANTLY
Ar"rant*ly, adv.
Defn: Notoriously, in an ill sense; infamously; impudently;
shamefully. L'Estrange.
ARRAS
Ar"ras, n. Etym: [From Arras the capital of Artois, in the French
Netherlands.]
Defn: Tapestry; a rich figured fabric; especially, a screen or
hangings of heavy cloth with interwoven figures.
Stateliest couches, with rich arras spread. Cowper.
Behind the arras I'll convey myself. Shak.
ARRAS
Ar"ras, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with an arras. Chapman.
ARRASENE
Ar`ras*ene", n. Etym: [From Arras.]
Defn: A material of wool or silk used for working the figures in
embroidery.
ARRASTRE
Ar*ras"tre, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A rude apparatus for pulverizing ores, esp. those containing
free gold.
ARRASWISE; ARRASWAYS
Ar"ras*wise`, Ar"ras*ways`, adv. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of
arriswise. See Arris.]
Defn: Placed in such a position as to exhibit the top and two sides,
the corner being in front; -- said of a rectangular form. Encyc.
Brit. Cussans.
ARRAUGHT
Ar*raught". Etym: [The past tense of an old v. areach or arreach. Cf.
Reach, obs. pret. raught.]
Defn: Obtained; seized. Spenser.
ARRAY
Ar*ray", n. Etym: [OE. arai, arrai, OF. arrai, arrei, arroi, order,
arrangement, dress, F. arroi; a (L. ad) + OF. rai, rei, roi, order,
arrangement, fr. G. or Scand.; cf. Goth. raidjan, garaidjan, to
arrange, MHG. gereiten, Icel. reithi rigging, harness; akin to E.
ready. Cf. Ready, Greith, Curry.]
1. Order; a regular and imposing arrangement; disposition in regular
lines; hence, order of battle; as, drawn up in battle array.
Wedged together in the closest array. Gibbon.
2. The whole body of persons thus placed in order; an orderly
collection; hence, a body of soldiers.
A gallant array of nobles and cavaliers. Prescott.
3. An imposing series of things.
Their long array of sapphire and of gold. Byron.
4. Dress; garments disposed in order upon the person; rich or
beautiful apparel. Dryden.
5. (Law)
(a) A ranking or setting forth in order, by the proper officer, of a
jury as impaneled in a cause.
(b) The panel itself.
(c) The whole body of jurors summoned to attend the court. To
challenge the array (Law), to except to the whole panel. Cowell.
Tomlins. Blount.
-- Commission of array (Eng. Hist.), a commission given by the
prince to officers in every county, to muster and array the
inhabitants, or see them in a condition for war. Blackstone.
ARRAY
Ar*ray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Arraying.]
Etym: [OE. araien, arraien, fr. OE. arraier, arreier, arreer,
arroier, fr. arrai. See Array, n.]
1. To place or dispose in order, as troops for battle; to marshal.
By torch and trumpet fast arrayed, Each horseman drew his battle
blade. Campbell.
These doubts will be arrayed before their minds. Farrar.
2. To deck or dress; to adorn with dress; to cloth to envelop; --
applied esp. to dress of a splendid kind.
Pharaoh . . . arrayed him in vestures of fine linen. Gen. xli.
In gelid caves with horrid gloom arrayed. Trumbull.
3. (Law)
Defn: To set in order, as a jury, for the trial of a cause; that is,
to call them man by man. Blackstone. To array a panel, to set forth
in order the men that are impaneled. Cowell. Tomlins.
Syn.
-- To draw up; arrange; dispose; set in order.
ARRAYER
Ar*ray"er, n.
Defn: One who arrays. In some early English statutes, applied to an
officer who had care of the soldiers' armor, and who saw them duly
accoutered.
ARREAR
Ar*rear", adv. Etym: [OE. arere, OF. arere, ariere, F. arrière, fr.
L. ad + retro backward. See Rear.]
Defn: To or in the rear; behind; backwards. [Obs.] Spenser.
ARREAR
Ar*rear", n.
Defn: That which is behind in payment, or which remains unpaid,
though due; esp. a remainder, or balance which remains due when some
part has been paid; arrearage; -- commonly used in the plural, as,
arrears of rent, wages, or taxes. Locke.
For much I dread due payment by the Greeks Of yesterday's arrear.
Cowper.
I have a large arrear of letters to write. J. D. Forbes.
In arrear or In arrears, behind; backward; behindhand; in debt.
ARREARAGE
Ar*rear"age, n. Etym: [F. arrérage, fr. arrière, OF. arere. See
Arrear.]
Defn: That which remains unpaid and overdue, after payment of a part;
arrears.
The old arrearages . . . being defrayed. Howell.
ARRECT; ARRECTED
Ar*rect", Ar*rect"ed, a. Etym: [L. arrectus, p. p. of arrigere to
raise, erect; ad + regere to lead straight, to direct.]
1. Lifted up; raised; erect.
2. Attentive, as a person listening. [Obs.]
God speaks not the idle and unconcerned hearer, but to the vigilant
and arrect. Smalridge.
ARRECT
Ar*rect", v. t.
1. To direct. [Obs.]
My supplication to you I arrect. Skelton.
2. Etym: [See Aret.]
Defn: To impute. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
ARRECTARY
Ar*rect"a*ry, n. Etym: [L. arrectarius, fr. arrigere o set up.]
Defn: An upright beam. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ARRENOTOKOUS
Ar`re*not"o*kous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing males from unfertilized eggs, as certain wasps and
bees.
ARRENTATION
Ar`ren*ta"tion. Etym: [Cf. F. arrenter to give or take as rent. See
Arendator.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A letting or renting, esp. a license to inclose land in a
forest with a low hedge and a ditch, under a yearly rent.
ARREPTION
Ar*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. arripere, arreptum, to seize, snatch; ad +
rapere to snatch. See Rapacious.]
Defn: The act of taking away. [Obs.] "This arreption was sudden." Bp.
Hall.
ARREPTITIOUS
Ar`rep*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. arreptitius.]
Defn: Snatched away; seized or possessed, as a demoniac; raving; mad;
crack-brained. [Obs.]
Odd, arreptitious, frantic extravagances. Howell.
ARREST
Ar*rest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arrested; p. pr. & vb. n. Arresting.]
Etym: [OE. aresten, OF. arester, F. arrêter, fr. LL. arrestare; L. ad
+ restare to remain, stop; re + stare to stand. See Rest remainder.]
1. To stop; to check or hinder the motion or action of; as, to arrest
the current of a river; to arrest the senses.
Nor could her virtues the relentless hand Of Death arrest. Philips.
2. (Law)
Defn: To take, seize, or apprehend by authority of law; as, to arrest
one for debt, or for a crime.
Note: After his word Shakespeare uses of ("I arrest thee of high
treason") or on; the modern usage is for.
3. To seize on and fix; to hold; to catch; as, to arrest the eyes or
attention. Buckminster.
4. To rest or fasten; to fix; to concentrate. [Obs.]
We may arrest our thoughts upon the divine mercies. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To obstruct; delay; detain; check; hinder; stop; apprehend;
seize; lay hold of.
ARREST
Ar*rest", v. i.
Defn: To tarry; to rest. [Obs.] Spenser.
ARREST
Ar*rest", n. Etym: [OE. arest, arrest, OF. arest, F. arrêt, fr.
arester. See Arrest, v. t., Arr.]
1. The act of stopping, or restraining from further motion, etc.;
stoppage; hindrance; restraint; as, an arrest of development.
As the arrest of the air showeth. Bacon.
2. (Law)
Defn: The taking or apprehending of a person by authority of law;
legal restraint; custody. Also, a decree, mandate, or warrant.
William . . . ordered him to be put under arrest. Macaulay.
[Our brother Norway] sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in
brief, obeys. Shak.
Note: An arrest may be made by seizing or touching the body; but it
is sufficient in the party be within the power of the officer and
submit to the arrest. In Admiralty law, and in old English practice,
the term is applied to the seizure of property.
3. Any seizure by power, physical or moral.
The sad stories of fire from heaven, the burning of his sheep, etc.,
. . . were sad arrests to his troubled spirit. Jer. Taylor.
4. (Far.)
Defn: A scurfiness of the back part of the hind leg of a horse; --
also named rat-tails. White. Arrest of judgment (Law), the staying or
stopping of a judgment, after verdict, for legal cause. The motion
for this purpose is called a motion in arrest of judgment.
ARRESTATION
Ar`res*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. arrestation, LL. arrestatio.]
Defn: Arrest. [R.]
The arrestation of the English resident in France was decreed by the
National Convention. H. M. Williams.
ARRESTEE
Ar`res*tee", n. Etym: [See Arrest, v.] (Scots Law)
Defn: The person in whose hands is the property attached by
arrestment.
ARRESTER
Ar*rest"er, n.
1. One who arrests.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: The person at whose suit an arrestment is made. [Also written
arrestor.]
ARRESTING
Ar*rest"ing, a.
Defn: Striking; attracting attention; impressive.
This most solemn and arresting occurrence. J. H. Newman.
ARRESTIVE
Ar*rest"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to arrest. McCosh.
ARRESTMENT
Ar*rest"ment, n. Etym: [OF. arrestement.]
1. (Scots Law)
Defn: The arrest of a person, or the seizure of his effects; esp., a
process by which money or movables in the possession of a third party
are attached.
2. A stoppage or check. Darwin.
ARRET
Ar*rêt, n. Etym: [F. See Arrest, n.] (F. Law)
(a) A judgment, decision, or decree of a court or high tribunal;
also, a decree of a sovereign.
(b) An arrest; a legal seizure.
ARRET
Ar*ret", v. t.
Defn: Same as Aret. [Obs.] Spenser.
ARRHA
Ar"rha, n.; pl. Arrhæ (#). [L. Cf. Earnest.] (Law)
Defn: Money or other valuable thing given to evidence a contract; a
pledge or earnest.
ARRHAPHOSTIC
Ar`rha*phos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Seamless. [R.]
ARRHIZAL; ARRHIZOUS
Ar*rhi"zal, Ar*rhi"zous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of a true root, as a parasitical plant.
ARRHYTHMIC; ARRHYTHMOUS
Ar*rhyth"mic, Ar*rhyth"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Being without rhythm or regularity, as the pulse.
ARRHYTMY
Ar"rhyt*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Want of rhythm. [R.]
ARRIDE
Ar*ride", v. t. Etym: [L. arridere; ad + ridere to laugh.]
Defn: To please; to gratify. [Archaic] B. Jonson.
Above all thy rarities, old Oxenford, what do most arride and solace
me are thy repositories of moldering learning. Lamb.
ARRIERE
Ar*riere", n. Etym: [F. arrière. See Arrear.]
Defn: "That which is behind"; the rear; -- chiefly used as an
adjective in the sense of behind, rear, subordinate. Arriere fee,
Arriere fief, a fee or fief dependent on a superior fee, or a fee
held of a feudatory.
-- Arriere vassal, the vassal of a vassal.
ARRIERE-BAN
Ar*riere"-ban`, n. Etym: [F., fr. OE. arban, heriban, fr. OHG.
hariban, heriban, G. heerbann, the calling together of an army; OHG.
heri an army + ban a public call or order. The French have
misunderstood their old word, and have changed it into arrière-ban,
though arrière has no connection with its proper meaning. See Ban,
Abandon.]
Defn: A proclamation, as of the French kings, calling not only their
immediate feudatories, but the vassals of these feudatories, to take
the field for war; also, the body of vassals called or liable to be
called to arms, as in ancient France.
ARRIS
Ar"ris, n. Etym: [OF. areste, F. arête, fr. L. arista the top or
beard of an ear of grain, the bone of a fish.] (Arch.)
Defn: The sharp edge or salient angle formed by two surfaces meeting
each other, whether plane or curved; -- applied particularly to the
edges in moldings, and to the raised edges which separate the
flutings in a Doric column. P. Cyc. Arris fillet, a triangular piece
of wood used to raise the slates of a roof against a chimney or wall,
to throw off the rain. Gwilt.
-- Arris gutter, a gutter of a V form fixed to the eaves of a
building. Gwilt.
ARRISH
Ar"rish, n. Etym: [See Eddish.]
Defn: The stubble of wheat or grass; a stubble field; eddish. [Eng.]
[Written also arish, ersh, etc.]
The moment we entered the stubble or arrish. Blackw. Mag.
ARRISWISE
Ar"ris*wise`, adv.
Defn: Diagonally laid, as tiles; ridgewise.
ARRIVAL
Ar*riv"al, n. Etym: [From Arrive.]
1. The act of arriving, or coming; the act of reaching a place from a
distance, whether by water (as in its original sense) or by land.
Our watchmen from the towers, with longing eyes, Expect his swift
arrival. Dryden.
2. The attainment or reaching of any object, by effort, or in natural
course; as, our arrival at this conclusion was wholly unexpected.
3. The person or thing arriving or which has arrived; as, news
brought by the last arrival.
Another arrival still more important was speedily announced.
Macaulay.
4. An approach. [Obs.]
The house has a corner arrival. H. Walpole.
ARRIVANCE
Ar*riv"ance, n.
Defn: Arrival. [Obs.] Shak.
ARRIVE
Ar*rive", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Arrived; p. pr. & vb. n. Arriving.]
Etym: [OE. ariven to arrive, land, OF. ariver, F. arriver, fr. LL.
arripare, adripare, to come to shore; L. ad + ripa the shore or
sloping bank of a river. Cf. Riparian.]
1. To come to the shore or bank. In present usage: To come in
progress by water, or by traveling on land; to reach by water or by
land; -- followed by at (formerly sometimes by to), also by in and
from. "Arrived in Padua." Shak.
[Æneas] sailing with a fleet from Sicily, arrived . . . and landed in
the country of Laurentum. Holland.
There was no outbreak till the regiment arrived at Ipswich. Macaulay.
2. To reach a point by progressive motion; to gain or compass an
object by effort, practice, study, inquiry, reasoning, or experiment.
To arrive at, or attain to.
When he arrived at manhood. Rogers.
We arrive at knowledge of a law of nature by the generalization of
facts. McCosh.
If at great things thou wouldst arrive. Milton.
3. To come; said of time; as, the time arrived.
4. To happen or occur. [Archaic]
Happy! to whom this glorious death arrives. Waller.
ARRIVE
Ar*rive", v. t.
1. To bring to shore. [Obs.]
And made the sea-trod ship arrive them. Chapman.
2. To reach; to come to. [Archaic]
Ere he arrive the happy isle. Milton.
Ere we could arrive the point proposed. Shak.
Arrive at last the blessed goal. Tennyson.
ARRIVE
Ar*rive", n.
Defn: Arrival. [Obs.] Chaucer.
How should I joy of thy arrive to hear! Drayton.
ARRIVER
Ar*riv"er, n.
Defn: One who arrives.
ARROBA
Ar*ro"ba, n. Etym: [Sp. and Pg., from Ar. arrub, ar-rubu, a fourth
part.]
1. A Spanish weight used in Mexico and South America = 25.36 lbs.
avoir.; also, an old Portuguese weight, used in Brazil = 32.38 lbs.
avoir.
2. A Spanish liquid measure for wine = 3.54 imp. gallons, and for oil
= 2.78 imp. gallons.
ARROGANCE
Ar"ro*gance, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. arrogantia, fr. arrogans. See
Arrogant.]
Defn: The act or habit of arrogating, or making undue claims in an
overbearing manner; that species of pride which consists in
exorbitant claims of rank, dignity, estimation, or power, or which
exalts the worth or importance of the person to an undue degree;
proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness; self-assumption;
presumption.
I hate not you for her proud arrogance. Shak.
Syn.
-- Haughtiness; hauteur; assumption; lordliness; presumption; pride;
disdain; insolence; conceit; conceitedness. See Haughtiness.
ARROGANCY
Ar"ro*gan*cy, n.
Defn: Arrogance. Shak.
ARROGANT
Ar"ro*gant, a. Etym: [F. arrogant, L. arrogans, p. pr. of arrogare.
See Arrogate.]
1. Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of
rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance;
assuming; haughty; -- applied to persons.
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate. Shak.
2. Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue
claims or self-importance; -- applied to things; as, arrogant
pretensions or behavior.
Syn.
-- Magisterial; lordly; proud; assuming; overbearing; presumptuous;
haughty. See Magisterial.
ARROGANTLY
Ar"ro*gant*ly, adv.
Defn: In an arrogant manner; with undue pride or self-importance.
ARROGANTNESS
Ar"ro*gant*ness, n.
Defn: Arrogance. [R.]
ARROGATE
Ar"ro*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arrogated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Arrogating.] Etym: [L. arrogatus, p. p. of adrogare, arrogare, to
ask, appropriate to one's self; ad + rogare to ask. See Rogation.]
Defn: To assume, or claim as one's own, unduly, proudly, or
presumptuously; to make undue claims to, from vanity or baseless
pretensions to right or merit; as, the pope arrogated dominion over
kings.
He arrogated to himself the right of deciding dogmatically what was
orthodox doctrine. Macaulay.
ARROGATION
Ar`ro*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. arrogatio, fr. arrogare. Cf. Adrogation.]
1. The act of arrogating, or making exorbitant claims; the act of
taking more than one is justly entitled to. Hall.
2. (Civ. Law)
Defn: Adoption of a person of full age.
ARROGATIVE
Ar"ro*ga*tive, a.
Defn: Making undue claims and pretension; prone to arrogance. [R.]
Dr. H. More.
ARRONDISSEMENT
Ar`ron`disse`ment", n. Etym: [F., fr. arrondir to make round; ad +
rond round, L. rotundus.]
Defn: A subdivision of a department. [France]
Note: The territory of France, since the revolution, has been divided
into departments, those into arrondissements, those into cantons, and
the latter into communes.
ARROSE
Ar*rose", v. t. Etym: [F. arroser.]
Defn: To drench; to besprinkle; to moisten. [Obs.]
The blissful dew of heaven does arrose you. Two N. Kins.
ARROSION
Ar*ro"sion, n. Etym: [L. arrodere, arrosum, to gnaw: cf. F.
arrosion.]
Defn: A gnawing. [Obs.] Bailey.
ARROW
Ar"row, n. Etym: [OE. arewe, AS. arewe, earh; akin to Icel. ör,
örvar, Goth. arhwazna, and perh. L. arcus bow. Cf. Arc.]
Defn: A missile weapon of offense, slender, pointed, and usually
feathered and barbed, to be shot from a bow. Broad arrow. (a) An
arrow with a broad head. (b) A mark placed upon British ordnance and
government stores, which bears a rude resemblance to a broad
arrowhead.
ARROW GRASS
Ar"row grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous grasslike plant (Triglochin palustre, and other
species) with pods opening so as to suggest barbed arrowheads.
ARROWHEAD
Ar"row*head`, n.
1. The head of an arrow.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic plant of the genus Sagittaria, esp. S. sagittifolia,
-- named from the shape of the leaves.
ARROWHEADED
Ar"row*head`ed, a.
Defn: Shaped like the head of an arow; cuneiform. Arrowheaded
characters, characters the elements of which consist of strokes
resembling arrowheads, nailheads, or wedges; -- hence called also
nail-headed, wedge-formed, cuneiform, or cuneatic characters; the
oldest written characters used in the country about the Tigris and
Euphrates, and subsequently in Persia, and abounding among the ruins
of Persepolis, Nineveh, and Babylon. See Cuneiform.
ARROWROOT
Ar"row*root`, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A west Indian plant of the genus Maranta, esp. M. arundinacea,
now cultivated in many hot countries. It said that the Indians used
the roots to neutralize the venom in wounds made by poisoned arrows.
2. A nutritive starch obtained from the rootstocks of Maranta
arundinacea, and used as food, esp. for children an invalids; also, a
similar starch obtained from other plants, as various species of
Maranta and Curcuma.
ARROWWOOD
Ar"row*wood`, n.
Defn: A shrub (Viburnum dentatum) growing in damp woods and thickets;
-- so called from the long, straight, slender shoots.
ARROWWORM
Ar"row*worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar transparent worm of the genus Sagitta, living at the
surface of the sea. See Sagitta.
ARROWY
Ar"row*y, a.
1. Consisting of arrows.
How quick they wheeled, and flying, behind them shot Sharp sleet of
arrowy showers. Milton.
2. Formed or moving like, or in any respect resembling, an arrow;
swift; darting; piercing. "His arrowy tongue." Cowper.
By the blue rushing of the arrowy Rhone. Byron.
With arrowy vitalities, vivacities, and ingenuities. Carlyle.
ARROYO
Ar*roy"o, n.; pl Arroyos. Etym: [Sp., fr. LL. arrogium; cf. Gr.
1. A water course; a rivulet.
2. The dry bed of a small stream. [Western U. S.]
ARSCHIN
Ar"schin, n.
Defn: See Arshine.
ARSE
Arse, n. Etym: [AS. ears; ærs; akin to OHG. ars. G. arsch, D. aars,
Sw. ars, Dan. arts, Gr.
Defn: The buttocks, or hind part of an animal; the posteriors; the
fundament; the bottom.
ARSENAL
Ar"se*nal, n. Etym: [Sp. & F. arsenal arsenal, dockyard, or It.
arzanale, arsenale (cf. It. & darsena dock); all fr. Ar. dar house of
industry or fabrication; dar house + art, industry.]
Defn: A public establishment for the storage, or for the manufacture
and storage, of arms and all military equipments, whether for land or
naval service.
ARSENATE
Ar"se*nate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of arsenic acid.
ARSENIATE
Ar*se"ni*ate, n.
Defn: See Arsenate. [R.]
ARSENIC
Ar"se*nic, n. Etym: [L. arsenicum, Gr. zernikh: cf. F. arsenic.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the elements, a solid substance resembling a metal in
its physical properties, but in its chemical relations ranking with
the nonmetals. It is of a steel-gray color and brilliant luster,
though usually dull from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at
356º Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually combined
with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or sulphur. Orpiment and
realgar are two of its sulphur compounds, the first of which is the
true arsenticum of the ancients. The element and its compounds are
active poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight.
Symbol As.
2. (Com.)
Defn: Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; -- called also
arsenious acid, white arsenic, and ratsbane.
ARSENIC
Ar*sen"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; -- said of those
compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest
equivalence; as, arsenic acid.
ARSENICAL
Ar*sen"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or containing, arsenic; as, arsenical
vapor; arsenical wall papers. Arsenical silver, an ore of silver
containing arsenic.
ARSENICATE
Ar*sen"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arsenicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Arsenicating.]
Defn: To combine with arsenic; to treat or impregnate with arsenic.
ARSENICISM
Ar*sen"i*cism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition produced by slow poisoning with arsenic.
ARSENIDE
Ar"sen*ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of arsenic with a metal, or positive element or
radical; -- formerly called arseniuret.
ARSENIFEROUS
Ar`sen*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Arsenic + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing or producing arsenic.
ARSENIOUS
Ar*se"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. arsénieux.]
1. Pertaining to, consisting of, or containing, arsenic; as,
arsenious powder or glass.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic, when having an
equivalence next lower than the highest; as, arsenious acid.
ARSENITE
Ar"sen*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. arsénite.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the union of arsenious acid with a base.
ARSENIURET
Ar`se*ni"u*ret, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Arsenide.
ARSENIURETED
Ar`se*ni"u*ret`ed, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with arsenic; -- said some elementary substances or
radicals; as, arseniureted hydrogen. [Also spelt arseniuretted.]
ARSENOPYRITE
Ar`sen*o*pyr"ite, n. Etym: [Arsenic + pyrite.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a tin-white color and metallic luster, containing
arsenic, sulphur, and iron; -- also called arsenical pyrites and
mispickel.
ARSESMART
Arse"smart, n.
Defn: Smartweed; water pepper. Dr. Prior.
ARSHINE
Ar"shine, n. Etym: [Russ. arshin, of Turkish-Tartar origin; Turk.
arshin, arshun, ell, yard.]
Defn: A Russian measure of length = 2 ft. 4.246 inches.
ARSINE
Ar"sine, n. Etym: [From Arsenic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of arsenic and hydrogen, AsH3, a colorless and
exceedingly poisonous gas, having and odor like garlic; arseniureted
hydrogen.
ARSIS
Ar"sis, n. Etym: [L. arsis, Gr. lifting of the hand in beating time,
and hence the unaccented part of the rhythm.]
1. (Pros.)
(a) That part of a foot where the ictus is put, or which is
distinguished from the rest (known as the thesis) of the foot by a
greater stress of voice. Hermann.
(b) That elevation of voice now called metrical accentuation, or the
rhythmic accent.
Note: It is uncertain whether the arsis originally consisted in a
higher musical tone, greater volume, or longer duration of sound, or
in all combined.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The elevation of the hand, or that part of the bar at which it
is raised, in beating time; the weak or unaccented part of the bar; -
- opposed to thesis. Moore.
ARSMETRIKE
Ars`met"rike, n. Etym: [An erroneous form of arithmetic, as if from
L. ars metrica the measuring art.]
Defn: Arithmetic. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARSON
Ar"son, n. Etym: [OF. arson, arsun, fr. L. ardere, arsum, to burn.]
(Law)
Defn: The malicious burning of a dwelling house or outhouse of
another man, which by the common law is felony; the malicious and
voluntary firing of a building or ship. Wharton.
Note: The definition of this crime is varied by statues in different
countries and states. The English law of arson has been considerably
modified in the United States; in some of the States it has been
materially enlarged, while in others, various degrees of arson have
been established, with corresponding punishment. Burrill.
ART
Art.
Defn: The second person singular, indicative mode, present tense, of
the substantive verb Be; but formed after the analogy of the plural
are, with the ending -t, as in thou shalt, wilt, orig. an ending of
the second person sing. pret. Cf. Be. Now used only in solemn or
poetical style.
ART
Art, n. Etym: [F. art, L. ars, artis, orig., skill in joining or
fitting; prob. akin to E. arm, aristocrat, article.]
1. The employment of means to accomplish some desired end; the
adaptation of things in the natural world to the uses of life; the
application of knowledge or power to practical purposes.
Blest with each grace of nature and of art. Pope.
2. A system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain
actions; a system of principles and rules for attaining a desired
end; method of doing well some special work; -- often
contradistinguished from science or speculative principles; as, the
art of building or engraving; the art of war; the art of navigation.
Science is systematized knowledge . . . Art is knowledge made
efficient by skill. J. F. Genung.
3. The systematic application of knowledge or skill in effecting a
desired result. Also, an occupation or business requiring such
knowledge or skill.
The fishermen can't employ their art with so much success in so
troubled a sea. Addison.
4. The application of skill to the production of the beautiful by
imitation or design, or an occupation in which skill is so employed,
as in painting and sculpture; one of the fine arts; as, he prefers
art to literature.
5. pl.
Defn: Those branches of learning which are taught in the academical
course of colleges; as, master of arts.
In fearless youth we tempt the heights of arts. Pope.
Four years spent in the arts (as they are called in colleges) is,
perhaps, laying too laborious a foundation. Goldsmith.
6. Learning; study; applied knowledge, science, or letters. [Archaic]
So vast is art, so narrow human wit. Pope.
7. Skill, dexterity, or the power of performing certain actions,
asquired by experience, study, or observation; knack; a, a man has
the art of managing his business to advantage.
8. Skillful plan; device.
They employed every art to soothe . . . the discontented warriors.
Macaulay.
9. Cunning; artifice; craft.
Madam, I swear I use no art at all. Shak.
Animals practice art when opposed to their superiors in strength.
Crabb.
10
10
Defn: To black art; magic. [Obs.] Shak. Art and part (Scots Law),
share or concern by aiding and abetting a criminal in the
perpetration of a crime, whether by advice or by assistance in the
execution; complicity.
Note: The arts are divided into various classes. The useful,
mechanical, or industrial arts are those in which the hands and body
are concerned than the mind; as in making clothes and utensils. These
are called trades. The fine arts are those which have primarily to do
with imagination taste, and are applied to the production of what is
beautiful. They include poetry, music, painting, engraving,
sculpture, and architecture; but the term is often confined to
painting, sculpture, and architecture. The liberal arts (artes
liberales, the higher arts, which, among the Romans, only freemen
were permitted to pursue) were, in the Middle Ages, these seven
branches of learning, -- grammar, logic, rhetoric, arithmetic,
geometry, music, and astronomy. In modern times the liberal arts
include the sciences, philosophy, history, etc., which compose the
course of academical or collegiate education. Hence, degrees in the
arts; master and bachelor of arts.
In America, literature and the elegant arts must grow up side by side
with the coarser plants of daily necessity. Irving.
Syn.
-- Science; literature; aptitude; readiness; skill; dexterity;
adroitness; contrivance; profession; business; trade; calling;
cunning; artifice; duplicity. See Science.
ARTEMIA
Ar*te"mi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of phyllopod Crustacea found in salt lakes and brines;
the brine shrimp. See Brine shrimp.
ARTEMISIA
Ar`te*mi"si*a, n. Etym: [L. Artemisia, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the plants called mugwort,
southernwood, and wormwood. Of these A. absinthium, or common
wormwood, is well known, and A. tridentata is the sage brush of the
Rocky Mountain region.
ARTERIAC
Ar*te"ri*ac, a. Etym: [L. arteriacus, Gr. Artery.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the windpipe.
ARTERIAL
Ar*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. artériel.]
1. Of or pertaining to an artery, or the arteries; as, arterial
action; the arterial system.
2. Of or pertaining to a main channel (resembling an artery), as a
river, canal, or railroad. Arterial blood, blood which has been
changed and vitalized (arterialized) during passage through the
lungs.
ARTERIALIZATION
Ar*te`ri*al*i*za"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The process of converting venous blood into arterial blood
during its passage through the lungs, oxygen being absorbed and
carbonic acid evolved; -- called also aëration and hematosis.
ARTERIALIZE
Ar*te"ri*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arterialized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Arterializing.]
Defn: To transform, as the venous blood, into arterial blood by
exposure to oxygen in the lungs; to make arterial.
ARTERIOGRAPHY
Ar*te`ri*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A systematic description of the arteries.
ARTERIOLE
Ar*te"ri*ole, n. Etym: [NL. arteriola, dim. of L. arteria: cf. F.
artériole.]
Defn: A small artery.
ARTERIOLOGY
Ar*te`ri*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of arteries.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS
Ar*te`ri*o*scle*ro"sis (är*te`ri*o*skle*ro"sis), n. [Gr. 'arthri`a
artery + sclerosis.] (Med.)
Defn: Abnormal thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries,
esp. of the intima, occurring mostly in old age. --
Ar*te`ri*o*scle*rot"ic (#), a.
ARTERIOTOMY
Ar*te`ri*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [L. arteriotomia, Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: The opening of an artery, esp. for bloodletting.
2. That part of anatomy which treats of the dissection of the
arteries.
ARTERITIS
Ar`te*ri"tis, n. Etym: [Artery + -etis.]
Defn: Inflammation of an artery or arteries. Dunglison.
ARTERY
Ar"ter*y, n.; pl. Artplwies. Etym: [L. arteria windpipe, artery, Gr.
1. The trachea or windpipe. [Obs.] "Under the artery, or windpipe, is
the mouth of the stomach." Holland.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the vessels or tubes which carry either venous or
arterial blood from the heart. They have tricker and more muscular
walls than veins, and are connected with them by capillaries.
Note: In man and other mammals, the arteries which contain
arterialized blood receive it from the left ventricle of the heart
through the aorta. See Aorta. The pulmonary artery conveys the venous
blood from the right ventricle to the lungs, whence the arterialized
blood is returned through the pulmonary veins.
3. Hence: Any continuous or ramified channel of communication; as,
arteries of trade or commerce.
ARTESIAN
Ar*te"sian, a. Etym: [F. artésien, fr. Artois in France, where many
such wells have been made since the middle of the last century.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Artois (anciently called Artesium), in
France. Artesian wells, wells made by boring into the earth till the
instrument reaches water, which, from internal pressure, flows
spontaneously like a fountain. They are usually of small diameter and
often of great depth.
ARTFUL
Art"ful, a. Etym: [From Art.]
1. Performed with, or characterized by, art or skill. [Archaic]
"Artful strains." "Artful terms." Milton.
2. Artificial; imitative. Addison.
3. Using or exhibiting much art, skill, or contrivance; dexterous;
skillful.
He [was] too artful a writer to set down events in exact historical
order. Dryden.
4. Cunning; disposed to cunning indirectness of dealing; crafty; as,
an artful boy. [The usual sense.]
Artful in speech, in action, and in mind. Pope.
The artful revenge of various animals. Darwin.
Syn.
-- Cunning; skillful; adroit; dexterous; crafty; tricky; deceitful;
designing. See Cunning.
ARTFULLY
Art"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In an artful manner; with art or cunning; skillfully;
dexterously; craftily.
ARTFULNESS
Art"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being artful; art; cunning; craft.
ARTHEN
Ar"then, a.
Defn: Same as Earthen. [Obs.] "An arthen pot." Holland.
ARTHRITIC; ARTHRITICAL
Ar*thrit"ic, Ar*thrit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. arthriticus, Gr.
Arthritis.]
1. Pertaining to the joints. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Of or pertaining to arthritis; gouty. Cowper.
ARTHRITIS
Ar*thri"tis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Any inflammation of the joints, particularly the gout.
ARTHROCHONDRITIS
Ar`thro*chon*dri"tis, n. [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Chondritis of a joint.
ARTHRODERM
Ar"thro*derm, n. Etym: [Gr. 'derm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The external covering of an Arthropod.
ARTHRODESIS
Ar*throd"e*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. joint + a binding together.]
(Surg.)
Defn: Surgical fixation of joints.
ARTHRODIA
Ar*thro"di*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A form of diarthrodial articulation in which the articular
surfaces are nearly flat, so that they form only an imperfect ball
and socket.
ARTHRODIAL; ARTHRODIC
Ar*thro"di*al, Ar*throd"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to arthrodia.
ARTHRODYNIA
Ar`thro*dyn"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An affection characterized by pain in or about a joint, not
dependent upon structural disease.
ARTHRODYNIC
Ar`thro*dyn"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to arthrodynia, or pain in the joints; rheumatic.
ARTHROGASTRA
Ar`thro*gas"tra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Arachnida, having the abdomen annulated,
including the scorpions, harvestmen, etc.; pedipalpi.
ARTHROGRAPHY
Ar*throg"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The description of joints.
ARTHROLOGY
Ar*throl"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That part of anatomy which treats of joints.
ARTHROMERE
Ar"thro*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. -mere.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the body segments of Arthropods. See Arthrostraca.
Packard.
ARTHROPATHY
Ar*throp"a*thy, n. [Gr. joint + , , to suffer.] (Med.)
Defn: Any disease of the joints.
ARTHROPLEURA
Ar`thro*pleu"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The side or limb-bearing portion of an arthromere.
ARTHROPOD
Ar"thro*pod, n (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Arthropoda.
ARTHROPODA
Ar*throp"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large division of Articulata, embracing all those that have
jointed legs. It includes Insects, Arachnida, Pychnogonida, and
Crustacea.
-- Ar*throp"o*dal, a.
ARTHROPOMATA
Ar`thro*pom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of Branchiopoda. See Branchiopoda.
ARTHROSIS
Ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Articulation.
ARTHROSPORE
Ar"thro*spore, n. [Gr. joint + E. spore.] (Bacteriol.)
Defn: A bacterial resting cell, -- formerly considered a spore, but
now known to occur even in endosporous bacteria. -- Ar`thro*spor"ic
(#), Ar*thros"po*rous (#), a.
ARTHROSTRACA
Ar*thros"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the larger divisions of Crustacea, so called because the
thorax and abdomen are both segmented; Tetradecapoda. It includes the
Amphipoda and Isopoda.
ARTHROTOME
Ar"thro*tome, n. [Gr. joint + to cut.] (Surg.)
Defn: A strong scalpel used in the dissection of joints.
ARTHROZOIC
Ar`thro*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Articulata; articulate.
ARTHURIAN
Ar*thu"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to King Arthur or his knights. J. R. Symonds.
In magnitude, in interest, and as a literary origin, the Arthurian
invention dwarfs all other things in the book.
Saintsbury.
ARTIAD
Ar"ti*ad, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Even; not odd; -- said of elementary substances and of radicals
the valence of which is divisible by two without a remainder.
ARTICHOKE
Ar"ti*choke, n. Etym: [It. articioc, perh. corrupted fr. the same
word as carciofo; cf. older spellings archiciocco, archicioffo,
carciocco, and Sp. alcachofa, Pg. alcachofra; prob. fr. Ar. al-
harshaf, al-kharsh.] (Bot.)
1. The Cynara scolymus, a plant somewhat resembling a thistle, with a
dilated, imbricated, and prickly involucre. The head (to which the
name is also applied) is composed of numerous oval scales, inclosing
the florets, sitting on a broad receptacle, which, with the fleshy
base of the scales, is much esteemed as an article of food.
2. See Jerusalem artichoke.
ARTICLE
Ar"ti*cle, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. articulus, dim. of artus joint, akin
to Gr. ar to join, fit. See Art, n.]
1. A distinct portion of an instrument, discourse, literary work, or
any other writing, consisting of two or more particulars, or treating
of various topics; as, an article in the Constitution. Hence: A
clause in a contract, system of regulations, treaty, or the like; a
term, condition, or stipulation in a contract; a concise statement;
as, articles of agreement.
2. A literary composition, forming an independent portion of a
magazine, newspaper, or cyclopedia.
3. Subject; matter; concern; distinct. [Obs.]
A very great revolution that happened in this article of good
breeding. Addison.
This last article will hardly be believed. De Foe.
4. A distinct part. "Upon each article of human duty." Paley. "Each
article of time." Habington.
The articles which compose the blood. E. Darwin.
5. A particular one of various things; as, an article of merchandise;
salt is a necessary article.
They would fight not for articles of faith, but for articles of food.
Landor.
6. Precise point of time; moment. [Obs. or Archaic]
This fatal news coming to Hick's Hall upon the article of my Lord
Russell's trial, was said to have had no little influence on the jury
and all the bench to his prejudice. Evelyn.
7. (Gram.)
Defn: One of the three words, a, an, the, used before nouns to limit
or define their application. A (or an) is called the indefinite
article, the the definite article.
8. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the segments of an articulated appendage. Articles of
Confederation, the compact which was first made by the original
thirteen States of the United States. They were adopted March 1,
1781, and remained the supreme law until March, 1789.
-- Articles of impeachment, an instrument which, in cases of
impeachment, performs the same office which an indictment does in a
common criminal case.
-- Articles of war, rules and regulations, fixed by law, for the
better government of the army.
-- In the article of death Etym: [L. in articulo mortis], at the
moment of death; in the dying struggle.
-- Lords of the articles (Scot. Hist.), a standing committee of the
Scottish Parliament to whom was intrusted the drafting and
preparation of the acts, or bills for laws.
-- The Thirty-nine Articles, statements (thirty-nine in number) of
the tenets held by the Church of England.
ARTICLE
Ar"ti*cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Articled; p. pr. & vb. n. Articling.]
Etym: [Cf. F. articuler, fr. L. articulare. See Article, n.,
Articulate.]
1. To formulate in articles; to set forth in distinct particulars.
If all his errors and follies were articled against him, the man
would seem vicious and miserable. Jer. Taylor.
2. To accuse or charge by an exhibition of articles.
He shall be articled against in the high court of admiralty. Stat. 33
Geo. III.
3. To bind by articles of covenant or stipulation; as, to article an
apprentice to a mechanic.
ARTICLE
Ar"ti*cle, v. i.
Defn: To agree by articles; to stipulate; to bargain; to covenant.
[R.]
Then he articled with her that he should go away when he pleased.
Selden.
ARTICLED
Ar"ti*cled, a.
Defn: Bound by articles; apprenticed; as, an articled clerk.
ARTICULAR
Ar*tic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. articularis: cf. F. articulaire. See
Article, n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the joints; as, an articular disease; an
articular process.
ARTICULAR; ARTICULARY
Ar*tic"u*lar, Ar*tic"u*la*ry, n. (Anat.)
Defn: A bone in the base of the lower jaw of many birds, reptiles,
amphibians, and fishes.
ARTICULARLY
Ar*tic"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In an articular or an articulate manner.
ARTICULATA
Ar*tic`u*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl. from L. articulatus furnished
with joints, distinct, p. p. of articulare. See Article, v.] (Zoöl.)
1. One of the four subkingdoms in the classification of Cuvier. It
has been much modified by later writers.
Note: It includes those Invertebrata having the body composed of
ringlike segments (arthromeres). By some writers, the unsegmented
worms (helminths) have also been included; by others it is restricted
to the Arthropoda. It corresponds nearly with the Annulosa of some
authors. The chief subdivisions are Arthropoda (Insects, Myriapoda,
Arachnida, Pycnogonida, Crustacea); and Anarthropoda, including the
Annelida and allied forms.
2. One of the subdivisions of the Brachiopoda, including those that
have the shells united by a hinge.
3. A subdivision of the Crinoidea.
ARTICULATE
Ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [L. articulatus. See Articulata.]
1. Expressed in articles or in separate items or particulars.
[Archaic] Bacon.
2. Jointed; formed with joints; consisting of segments united by
joints; as, articulate animals or plants.
3. Distinctly uttered; spoken so as to be intelligible; characterized
by division into words and syllables; as, articulate speech, sounds,
words.
Total changes of party and articulate opinion. Carlyle.
ARTICULATE
Ar*tic"u*late, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of the subkingdom Articulata.
ARTICULATE
Ar*tic"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Articulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Articulating].
1. To utter articulate sounds; to utter the elementary sounds of a
language; to enunciate; to speak distinctly.
2. To treat or make terms. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To join or be connected by articulation.
ARTICULATE
Ar*tic"u*late, v. t.
1. To joint; to unite by means of a joint; to put together with
joints or at the joints.
2. To draw up or write in separate articles; to particularize; to
specify. [Obs.]
3. To form, as the elementary sounds; to utter in distinct syllables
or words; to enunciate; as, to articulate letters or language. "To
articulate a word." Ray.
4. To express distinctly; to give utterance to.
Luther articulated himself upon a process that hand already begun in
the Christian church. Bibliotheca Sacra.
To . . . articulate the dumb, deep want of the people. Carlyle.
ARTICULATED
Ar*tic"u*la`ted, a.
1. United by, or provided with, articulations; jointed; as, an
articulated skeleton.
2. Produced, as a letter, syllable, or word, by the organs of speech;
pronounced.
ARTICULATELY
Ar*tic"u*late*ly, adv.
1. After the manner, or in the form, of a joint.
2. Article by article; in distinct particulars; in detail;
definitely. Paley.
I had articulately set down in writing our points. Fuller.
3. With distinct utterance of the separate sounds.
ARTICULATENESS
Ar*tic"u*late*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being articulate.
ARTICULATION
Ar*tic`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. articulation, fr. L. articulatio.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A joint or juncture between bones in the skeleton.
Note: Articulations may be immovable, when the bones are directly
united (synarthrosis), or slightly movable, when they are united
intervening substance (amphiarthrosis), or they may be more or less
freely movable, when the articular surfaces are covered with synovial
membranes, as in complete joints (diarthrosis). The last
(diarthrosis) includes hinge joints, admitting motion in one plane
only (ginglymus), ball and socket joints (enarthrosis), pivot and
rotation joints, etc.
2. (Bot.)
(a) The connection of the parts of a plant by joints, as in pods.
(b) One of the nodes or joints, as in cane and maize.
(c) One of the parts intercepted between the joints; also, a
subdivision into parts at regular or irregular intervals as a result
of serial intermission in growth, as in the cane, grasses, etc.
Lindley.
3. The act of putting together with a joint or joints; any meeting of
parts in a joint.
4. The state of being jointed; connection of parts. [R.]
That definiteness and articulation of imagery. Coleridge.
5. The utterance of the elementary sounds of a language by the
appropriate movements of the organs, as in pronunciation; as, a
distinct articulation.
6. A sound made by the vocal organs; an articulate utterance or an
elementary sound, esp. a consonant.
ARTICULATIVE
Ar*tic"u*la*tive, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to articulation. Bush.
ARTICULATOR
Ar*tic"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, articulates; as: (a) One who enunciates
distinctly. (b) One who prepares and mounts skeletons. (c) An
instrument to cure stammering.
ARTICULUS
Ar*tic"u*lus n.; pl. Articuli. Etym: [L. See Article.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A joint of the cirri of the Crinoidea; a joint or segment of an
arthropod appendage.
ARTIFACT
Ar"ti*fact, n. [L. ars, artis, art + facere, factum, to make.]
1. (Archæol.)
Defn: A product of human workmanship; -- applied esp. to the simpler
products of aboriginal art as distinguished from natural objects.
2. (Biol.) A structure or appearance in protoplasm due to death or
the use of reagents and not present during life.
ARTIFICE
Ar"ti*fice, n. Etym: [L. artificium, fr. artifex artificer; ars,
artis, art + facere to make: cf. F. artifice.]
1. A handicraft; a trade; art of making. [Obs.]
2. Workmanship; a skillfully contrived work.
The material universe.. in the artifice of God, the artifice of the
best Mechanist. Cudworth.
3. Artful or skillful contrivance.
His [Congreve's] plots were constructed without much artifice. Craik.
4. Crafty device; an artful, ingenious, or elaborate trick.
Note: [Now the usual meaning.]
Those who were conscious of guilt employed numerous artifices for the
purpose of averting inquiry. Macaulay.
ARTIFICER
Ar*tif"i*cer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. artificier, fr. LL. artificiarius.]
1. An artistic worker; a mechanic or manufacturer; one whose
occupation requires skill or knowledge of a particular kind, as a
silversmith.
2. One who makes or contrives; a deviser, inventor, or framer.
"Artificer of fraud." Milton.
The great Artificer of all that moves. Cowper.
3. A cunning or artful fellow. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: A military mechanic, as a blacksmith, carpenter, etc.; also,
one who prepares the shells, fuses, grenades, etc., in a military
laboratory.
Syn.
-- Artisan; artist. See Artisan.
ARTIFICIAL
Ar`ti*fi"cial, a. Etym: [L. artificialis, fr. artificium: cf. F.
artificiel. See Artifice.]
1. Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and
labor, in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems,
salts, minerals, fountains, flowers.
Artificial strife Lives in these touches, livelier than life. Shak.
2. Feigned; fictitious; assumed; affected; not genuine. "Artificial
tears." Shak.
3. Artful; cunning; crafty. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Cultivated; not indigenous; not of spontaneous growth; as,
artificial grasses. Gibbon. Artificial arguments (Rhet.), arguments
invented by the speaker, in distinction from laws, authorities, and
the like, which are called inartificial arguments or proofs. Johnson.
-- Artificial classification (Science), an arrangement based on
superficial characters, and not expressing the true natural relations
species; as, "the artificial system" in botany, which is the same as
the Linnæan system.
-- Artificial horizon. See under Horizon. Artificial light, any
light other than that which proceeds from the heavenly bodies.
-- Artificial lines, lines on a sector or scale, so contrived as to
represent the logarithmic sines and tangents, which, by the help of
the line of numbers, solve, with tolerable exactness, questions in
trigonometry, navigation, etc.
-- Artificial numbers, logarithms.
-- Artificial person (Law). See under Person.
-- Artificial sines, tangents, etc., the same as logarithms of the
natural, tangents, etc. Hutton.
ARTIFICIALITY
Ar`ti*fi`ci*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or appearance of being artificial; that which is
artificial.
ARTIFICIALIZE
Ar`ti*fi"cial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render artificial.
ARTIFICIALLY
Ar`ti*fi"cial*ly, adv.
1. In an artificial manner; by art, or skill and contrivance, not by
nature.
2. Ingeniously; skillfully. [Obs.]
The spider's web, finely and artificially wrought. Tillotson.
3. Craftily; artfully. [Obs.]
Sharp dissembled so artificially. Bp. Burnet.
ARTIFICIALNESS
Ar`ti*fi"cial*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being artificial.
ARTIFICIOUS
Ar`ti*fi"cious, a. Etym: [L. artificiosus.]
Defn: Artificial. [Obs.] Johnson.
ARTILIZE
Art"i*lize, v. t.
Defn: To make resemble. [Obs.]
If I was a philosopher, says Montaigne, I would naturalize art
instead of artilizing nature. Bolingbroke.
ARTILLERIST
Ar*til"ler*ist, n.
Defn: A person skilled in artillery or gunnery; a gunner; an
artilleryman.
ARTILLERY
Ar*til"ler*y, n. Etym: [OE. artilrie, OF. artillerie, arteillerie,
fr. LL. artillaria, artilleria, machines and apparatus of all kinds
used in war, vans laden with arms of any kind which follow camps; F.
artillerie great guns, ordnance; OF. artillier to work artifice, to
fortify, to arm, prob. from L. ars, artis, skill in joining
something, art. See Art.]
1. Munitions of war; implements for warfare, as slings, bows, and
arrows. [Obs.]
And Jonathan gave his artillery unto his lad. 1 Sam. xx. 40.
2. Cannon; great guns; ordnance, including guns, mortars, howitzers,
etc., with their equipment of carriages, balls, bombs, and shot of
all kinds.
Note: The word is sometimes used in a more extended sense, including
the powder, cartridges, matches, utensils, machines of all kinds, and
horses, that belong to a train of artillery.
3. The men and officers of that branch of the army to which the care
and management of artillery are confided.
4. The science of artillery or gunnery. Campbell. Artillery park, or
Park of artillery. (a) A collective body of siege or field artillery,
including the guns, and the carriages, ammunition, appurtenances,
equipments, and persons necessary for working them. (b) The place
where the artillery is encamped or collected.
-- Artillery train, or Train of artillery, a number of pieces of
ordnance mounted on carriages, with all their furniture, ready for
marching.
ARTILLERYMAN
Ar*til"ler*y*man, n.
Defn: A man who manages, or assists in managing, a large gun in
firing.
ARTILLERY WHEEL
Ar*til"ler*y wheel.
Defn: A kind of heavily built dished wheel with a long axle box, used
on gun carriages, usually having 14 spokes and 7 felloes; hence, a
wheel of similar construction for use on automobiles, etc.
ARTIODACTYLA
Ar`ti*o*dac"ty*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the divisions of the ungulate animals. The functional
toes of the hind foot are even in number, and the third digit of each
foot (corresponding to the middle finger in man) is asymmetrical and
paired with the fourth digit, as in the hog, the sheep, and the ox; -
- opposed to Perissodactyla.
ARTIODACTYLE
Ar`ti*o*dac"tyle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Artiodactyla.
ARTIODACTYLOUS
Ar`ti*o*dac"ty*lous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Even-toed.
ARTISAN
Ar"ti*san, n. Etym: [F. artisan, fr. L. artitus skilled in arts, fr.
ars, artis, art: cf. It. artigiano. See Art, n.]
1. One who professes and practices some liberal art; an artist.
[Obs.]
2. One trained to manual dexterity in some mechanic art or trade; and
handicraftsman; a mechanic.
This is willingly submitted to by the artisan, who can . . .
compensate his additional toil and fatigue. Hume.
Syn.
-- Artificer; artist.
-- Artisan, Artist, Artificer. An artist is one who is skilled in
some one of the fine arts; an artisan is one who exercises any
mechanical employment. A portrait painter is an artist; a sign
painter is an artisan, although he may have the taste and skill of an
artist. The occupation of the former requires a fine taste and
delicate manipulation; that of the latter demands only an ordinary
degree of contrivance and imitative power. An artificer is one who
requires power of contrivance and adaptation in the exercise of his
profession. The word suggest neither the idea of mechanical
conformity to rule which attaches to the term artisan, nor the ideas
of refinement and of peculiar skill which belong to the term artist.
ARTIST
Art"ist, n. Etym: [F. artiste, LL. artista, fr. L. ars. See Art, n.,
and cf. Artiste.]
1. One who practices some mechanic art or craft; an artisan. [Obs.]
How to build ships, and dreadful ordnance cast, Instruct the articles
and reward their. Waller.
2. One who professes and practices an art in which science and taste
preside over the manual execution.
Note: The term is particularly applied to painters, sculptors,
musicians, engravers, and architects. Elmes.
3. One who shows trained skill or rare taste in any manual art or
occupation. Pope.
4. An artful person; a schemer. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- Artisan. See Artisan.
ARTISTE
Ar*tiste", n. Etym: [F. See Artist.]
Defn: One peculiarly dexterous and tasteful in almost any employment,
as an opera dancer, a hairdresser, a cook.
Note: This term should not be confounded with the English word
artist.
ARTISTIC; ARTISTICAL
Ar*tis"tic, Ar*tis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. artistique, fr. artiste.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to art or to artists; made in the manner of an
artist; conformable to art; characterized by art; showing taste or
skill.
-- Ar*tis"tic*al*ly, adv.
ARTISTRY
Art"ist*ry, n.
1. Works of art collectively.
2. Artistic effect or quality. Southey.
3. Artistic pursuits; artistic ability. The Academy.
ARTLESS
Art"less, a.
1. Wanting art, knowledge, or skill; ignorant; unskillful.
Artless of stars and of the moving sand. Dryden.
2. Contrived without skill or art; inartistic. [R.]
Artless and massy pillars. T. Warton.
3. Free from guile, art, craft, or stratagem; characterized by
simplicity and sincerity; sincere; guileless; ingenuous; honest; as,
an artless mind; an artless tale.
They were plain, artless men, without the least appearance of
enthusiasm or credulity about them. Porteus.
O, how unlike the complex works of man, Heaven's easy, artless,
unencumbered plan! Cowper.
Syn.
-- Simple; unaffected; sincere; undesigning; guileless;
unsophisticated; open; frank; candid.
ARTLESSLY
Art"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In an artless manner; without art, skill, or guile;
unaffectedly. Pope.
ARTLESSNESS
Art"less*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being artless, or void of art or guile;
simplicity; sincerity.
ARTLY
Art"ly, adv.
Defn: With art or skill. [Obs.]
ARTOCARPEOUS; ARTOCARPOUS
Ar`to*car"pe*ous, Ar`to*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the breadfruit, or to the genus Artocarpus.
ARTOTYPE
Ar"to*type, n. Etym: [Art + type.]
Defn: A kind of autotype.
ARTOTYRITE
Ar`to*ty"rite, n. Etym: [LL. Artotyritae, pl., fr. Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect in the primitive church, who celebrated the
Lord's Supper with bread and cheese, alleging that the first
oblations of men not only of the fruit of the earth, but of their
flocks. [Gen. iv. 3, 4.]
ARTOW
Ar"tow.
Defn: A contraction of art thou. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ARTSMAN
Arts"man, n.
Defn: A man skilled in an art or in arts. [Obs.] Bacon.
ART UNION
Art` un"ion.
Defn: An association for promoting art (esp. the arts of design), and
giving encouragement to artists.
ARUM
A"rum, n. Etym: [L. arum, aros, Gr.
Defn: A genus of plants found in central Europe and about the
Mediterranean, having flowers on a spadix inclosed in a spathe. The
cuckoopint of the English is an example.
Our common arums the lords and ladies of village children. Lubbock.
Note: The American "Jack in the pulpit" is now separated from the
genus Arum.
ARUNDELIAN
Ar`un*del"ian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an Earl of Arundel; as, Arundel or Arundelian
marbles, marbles from ancient Greece, bought by the Earl of Arundel
in 1624.
ARUNDIFEROUS
Ar`un*dif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. arundifer; arundo reed + ferre to
bear.]
Defn: Producing reeds or canes.
ARUNDINACEOUS
A*run`di*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. arundinaceus, fr. arundo reed.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a reed; resembling the reed or cane.
ARUNDINEOUS
Ar`un*din"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. arundineus, fr. arundo reed.]
Defn: Abounding with reeds; reedy.
ARUSPEX
A*rus"pex, n.; pl. Aruspices. Etym: [L. aruspex or haruspex.]
Defn: One of the class of diviners among the Etruscans and Romans,
who foretold events by the inspection of the entrails of victims
offered on the altars of the gods.
ARUSPICE
A*rus"pice, n. Etym: [L. aruspex: cf. F. aruspice. Cf. Aruspex,
Haruspice.]
Defn: A soothsayer of ancient Rome. Same as Aruspex. [Written also
haruspice.]
ARUSPICY
A*rus"pi*cy, n. Etym: [L. aruspicium, haruspicium.]
Defn: Prognostication by inspection of the entrails of victims slain
sacrifice.
ARVAL
Ar"val, n. Etym: [W. arwyl funeral; ar over + wylo to weep, or cf.
arföl; Icel. arfr inheritance + Sw. öl ale. Cf. Bridal.]
Defn: A funeral feast. [North of Eng.] Grose.
ARVICOLE
Ar"vi*cole, n. Etym: [L. arvum field + colere to inhabit.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mouse of the genus Arvicola; the meadow mouse. There are many
species.
ARYAN
Ar"yan, n. Etym: [Skr. arya excellent, honorable; akin to the name of
the country Iran, and perh. to Erin, Ireland, and the early name of
this people, at least in Asia.]
1. One of a primitive people supposed to have lived in prehistoric
times, in Central Asia, east of the Caspian Sea, and north of the
Hindoo
2. The language of the original Aryans. [Written also Arian.]
ARYAN
Ar"yan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the people called Aryans; Indo-European;
Indo-Germanic; as, the Aryan stock, the Aryan languages.
ARYANIZE
Ar"yan*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make Aryan (a language, or in language). K. Johnston.
ARYTENOID
A*ryt"e*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Ladle-shaped; -- applied to two small cartilages of the larynx,
and also to the glands, muscles, etc., connected with them. The
cartilages are attached to the cricoid cartilage and connected with
the vocal cords.
AS
As, adv. & conj. Etym: [OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. eal swa,
lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. als as, than, also so,
then. See Also.]
1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like;
similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with;
in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to which;
equally; no less than; as, ye shall be as gods, knowing good and
evil; you will reap as you sow; do as you are bidden.
His spiritual attendants adjured him, as he loved his soul, to
emancipate his brethren. Macaulay.
Note: As is often preceded by one of the antecedent or correlative
words such, same, so, or as, in expressing an equality or comparison;
as, give us such things as you please, and so long as you please, or
as long as you please; he is not so brave as Cato; she is as amiable
as she is handsome; come as quickly as possible. "Bees appear
fortunately to prefer the same colors as we do." Lubbock. As, in a
preceding part of a sentence, has such or so to answer correlatively
to it; as with the people, so with the priest.
2. In the idea, character, or condition of, -- limiting the view to
certain attributes or relations; as, virtue considered as virtue;
this actor will appear as Hamlet.
The beggar is greater as a man, than is the man merely as a king.
Dewey.
3. While; during or at the same time that; when; as, he trembled as
he spoke.
As I return I will fetch off these justices. Shak.
4. Because; since; it being the case that.
As the population of Scotland had been generally trained to arms . .
. they were not indifferently prepared. Sir W. Scott.
[See Synonym under Because.]
5. Expressing concession. (Often approaching though in meaning).
We wish, however, to avail ourselves of the interest, transient as it
may be, which this work has excited. Macaulay.
6. That, introducing or expressing a result or consequence, after the
correlatives so and such. [Obs.]
I can place thee in such abject state, as help shall never find thee.
Rowe.
So as, so that. [Obs.]
The relations are so uncertain as they require a great deal of
examination. Bacon.
7. As if; as though. [Obs. or Poetic]
He lies, as he his bliss did know. Waller.
8. For instance; by way of example; thus; -- used to introduce
illustrative phrases, sentences, or citations.
9. Than. [Obs. & R.]
The king was not more forward to bestow favors on them as they free
to deal affronts to others their superiors. Fuller.
10. Expressing a wish. [Obs.] "As have," i. e., may he have. Chaucer.
As . . . as. See So . . . as, under So.
-- As far as, to the extent or degree. "As far as can be
ascertained." Macaulay.
-- As far forth as, as far as. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- As for, or As to, in regard to; with respect to.
-- As good as, not less than; not falling short of.
-- As good as one's word, faithful to a promise.
-- As if, or As though, of the same kind, or in the same condition
or manner, that it would be if.
-- As it were (as if it were), a qualifying phrase used to apologize
for or to relieve some expression which might be regarded as
inappropriate or incongruous; in a manner.
-- As now, just now. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- As swythe, as quickly as possible. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- As well, also; too; besides. Addison.
-- As well as, equally with, no less than. "I have understanding as
well as you." Job xii. 3.
-- As yet, until now; up to or at the present time; still; now.
AS
As, n. Etym: [See Ace.]
Defn: An ace. [Obs.] Chaucer. Ambes-as, double aces.
AS
As, n.; pl. Asses. Etym: [L. as. See Ace.]
1. A Roman weight, answering to the libra or pound, equal to nearly
eleven ounces Troy weight. It was divided into twelve ounces.
2. A Roman copper coin, originally of a pound weight (12 oz.); but
reduced, after the first Punic war, to two ounces; in the second
Punic war, to one ounce; and afterwards to half an ounce.
ASA
As"a, n. Etym: [NL. asa, of oriental origin; cf. Per. aza mastic, Ar.
asa healing, isa remedy.]
Defn: An ancient name of a gum.
ASAFETIDA; ASAFOETIDA
As`a*fet"i*da, As`a*foet"i*da, n. Etym: [Asa + L. foetidus fetid.]
Defn: The fetid gum resin or inspissated juice of a large
umbelliferous plant (Ferula asafoetida) of Persia and the East India.
It is used in medicine as an antispasmodic. [Written also
assafoetida.]
ASAPHUS
As"a*phus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of trilobites found in the Lower Silurian formation.
See Illust. in Append.
ASARABACCA
As`a*ra*bac"ca, n. Etym: [L. asarum + bacca a berry. See Asarone.]
(Bot.)
Defn: An acrid herbaceous plant (Asarum Europæum), the leaves and
roots of which are emetic and cathartic. It is principally used in
cephalic snuffs.
ASARONE
As"a*rone, n. Etym: [L. asarum hazelwort, wild spikenard, Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A crystallized substance, resembling camphor, obtained from the
Asarum Europæum; -- called also camphor of asarum.
ASBESTIC
As*bes"tic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling asbestus; inconsumable;
asbestine.
ASBESTIFORM
As*bes"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. asbestus + -form.]
Defn: Having the form or structure of asbestus.
ASBESTINE
As*bes"tine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to asbestus, or partaking of its nature;
incombustible; asbestic.
ASBESTOUS
As*bes"tous, a.
Defn: Asbestic.
ASBESTUS; ASBESTOS
As*bes"tus, As*bes"tos, n. Etym: [L. asbestos (NL. asbestus) a kind
of mineral unaffected by fire, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of amphibole or of pyroxene, occurring in long and
delicate fibers, or in fibrous masses or seams, usually of a white,
gray, or green-gray color. The name is also given to a similar
variety of serpentine.
Note: The finer varieties have been wrought into gloves and cloth
which are incombustible. The cloth was formerly used as a shroud for
dead bodies, and has been recommended for firemen's clothes. Asbestus
in also employed in the manufacture of iron safes, for fireproof
roofing, and for lampwicks. Some varieties are called amianthus.
Dana.
ASBOLIN
As"bo*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar acrid and bitter oil, obtained from wood soot.
ASCARIASIS
As`ca*ri"a*sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. an intestinal worm.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease, usually accompanied by colicky pains and diarrhea,
caused by the presence of ascarids in the gastrointestinal canal.
ASCARID
As"ca*rid, n.; pl. Ascarides or Ascarids. Etym: [NL. ascaris, fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A parasitic nematoid worm, espec. the roundworm, Ascaris
lumbricoides, often occurring in the human intestine and allied
species found in domestic animals; also commonly applied to the
pinworm (Oxyuris), often troublesome to children and aged persons.
ASCEND
As*cend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ascended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascending.]
Etym: [L. ascendere; ad + scandere to climb, mount. See Scan.]
1. To move upward; to mount; to go up; to rise; -- opposed to Ant:
descend.
Higher yet that star ascends. Bowring.
I ascend unto my father and your father. John xx. 17.
Note: Formerly used with up.
The smoke of it ascended up to heaven. Addison.
2. To rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a
superior degree, from mean to noble objects, from particulars to
generals, from modern to ancient times, from one note to another more
acute, etc.; as, our inquiries ascend to the remotest antiquity; to
ascend to our first progenitor.
Syn.
-- To rise; mount; climb; scale; soar; tower.
ASCEND
As*cend", v. t.
Defn: To go or move upward upon or along; to climb; to mount; to go
up the top of; as, to ascend a hill, a ladder, a tree, a river, a
throne.
ASCENDABLE
As*cend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being ascended.
ASCENDANCY; ASCENDANCE
As*cend"an*cy, As*cend"ance, n.
Defn: Same as Ascendency.
ASCENDANT
As*cend"ant, n. Etym: [F. ascendant, L. ascendens; p. pr. of
ascendere.]
1. Ascent; height; elevation. [R.]
Sciences that were then in their highest ascendant. Temple.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The horoscope, or that degree of the ecliptic which rises above
the horizon at the moment of one's birth; supposed to have a
commanding influence on a person's life and fortune.
Note: Hence the phrases To be in the ascendant, to have commanding
power or influence, and Lord of the ascendant, one who has possession
of such power or influence; as, to rule, for a while, lord of the
ascendant. Burke.
3. Superiority, or commanding influence; ascendency; as, one man has
the ascendant over another.
Chievres had acquired over the mind of the young monarch the
ascendant not only of a tutor, but of a parent. Robertson.
4. An ancestor, or one who precedes in genealogy or degrees of
kindred; a relative in the ascending line; a progenitor; -- opposed
to descendant. Ayliffe.
ASCENDANT; ASCENDENT
As*cend"ant, As*cend"ent, a.
1. Rising toward the zenith; above the horizon.
The constellation . . . about that time ascendant. Browne.
2. Rising; ascending. Ruskin.
3. Superior; surpassing; ruling.
An ascendant spirit over him. South.
The ascendant community obtained a surplus of wealth. J. S. Mill.
Without some power of persuading or confuting, of defending himself
against accusations, . . . no man could possibly hold an ascendent
position. Grote.
ASCENDENCY
As*cend"en*cy, n.
Defn: Governing or controlling influence; domination; power.
An undisputed ascendency. Macaulay.
Custom has an ascendency over the understanding. Watts.
Syn.
-- Control; authority; influence; sway; dominion; prevalence;
domination.
ASCENDIBLE
As*cend"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. ascendibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being ascended; climbable.
ASCENDING
As*cend"ing, a.
Defn: Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite.
-- As*cend"ing*ly, adv. Ascending latitude (Astron.), the increasing
latitude of a planet. Ferguson.
-- Ascending line (Geneol.), the line of relationship traced
backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and mother,
grandfather and grandmother, etc., are in the line direct ascending.
-- Ascending node having, that node of the moon or a planet wherein
it passes the ecliptic to proceed northward. It is also called the
northern node. Herschel.
-- Ascending series. (Math.) (a) A series arranged according to the
ascending powers of a quantity. (b) A series in which each term is
greater than the preceding.
-- Ascending signs, signs east of the meridian.
ASCENSION
As*cen"sion, n. Etym: [F. ascension, L. ascensio, fr. ascendere. See
Ascend.]
1. The act of ascending; a rising; ascent.
2. Specifically: The visible ascent of our Savior on the fortieth day
after his resurrection. (Acts i. 9.) Also, Ascension Day.
3. An ascending or arising, as in distillation; also that which
arises, as from distillation.
Vaporous ascensions from the stomach. Sir T. Browne.
Ascension Day, the Thursday but one before Whitsuntide, the day on
which commemorated our Savior's ascension into heaven after his
resurrection; -- called also Holy Thursday.
-- Right ascension (Astron.), that degree of the equinoctial,
counted from the beginning of Aries, which rises with a star, or
other celestial body, in a right sphere; or the arc of the equator
intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point of the
equator that comes to the meridian with the star; -- expressed either
in degrees or in time.
-- Oblique ascension (Astron.), an arc of the equator, intercepted
between the first point of Aries and that point of the equator which
rises together with a star, in an oblique sphere; or the arc of the
equator intercepted between the first point of Aries and that point
of the equator that comes to the horizon with a star. It is little
used in modern astronomy.
ASCENSIONAL
As*cen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to ascension; connected with ascent; ascensive;
tending upward; as, the ascensional power of a balloon. Ascensional
difference (Astron.), the difference between oblique and right
ascension; -- used chiefly as expressing the difference between the
time of the rising or setting of a body and six o'clock, or six hours
from its meridian passage.
ASCENSIVE
As*cen"sive, a. Etym: [See Ascend.]
1. Rising; tending to rise, or causing to rise. Owen.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Augmentative; intensive. Ellicott.
ASCENT
As*cent". Etym: [Formed like descent, as if from a F. ascente, fr. a
verb ascendre, fr. L. ascendere. See Ascend, Descent.]
1. The act of rising; motion upward; rise; a mounting upward; as, he
made a tedious ascent; the ascent of vapors from the earth.
To him with swift ascent he up returned. Milton.
2. The way or means by which one ascends.
3. An eminence, hill, or high place. Addison.
4. The degree of elevation of an object, or the angle it makes with a
horizontal line; inclination; rising grade; as, a road has an ascent
of five degrees.
ASCERTAIN
As`cer*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascertained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ascertaining.] Etym: [OF. acertener; a (L. ad) + certain. See
Certain.]
1. To render (a person) certain; to cause to feel certain; to make
confident; to assure; to apprise. [Obs.]
When the blessed Virgin was so ascertained. Jer. Taylor.
Muncer assured them that the design was approved of by Heaven, and
that the Almighty had in a dream ascertained him of its effects.
Robertson.
2. To make (a thing) certain to the mind; to free from obscurity,
doubt, or change; to make sure of; to fix; to determine. [Archaic]
The divine law . . . ascertaineth the truth. Hooker.
The very deferring [of his execution] shall increase and ascertain
the condemnation. Jer. Taylor.
The ministry, in order to ascertain a majority . . . persuaded the
queen to create twelve new peers. Smollett.
The mildness and precision of their laws ascertained the rule and
measure of taxation. Gibbon.
3. To find out or learn for a certainty, by trial, examination, or
experiment; to get to know; as, to ascertain the weight of a
commodity, or the purity of a metal.
He was there only for the purpose of ascertaining whether a descent
on England was practicable. Macaulay.
ASCERTAINABLE
As`cer*tain"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be ascertained.
-- As`cer*tain"a*ble*ness, n.
-- As`cer*tain"a*bly, adv.
ASCERTAINER
As`cer*tain"er, n.
Defn: One who ascertains.
ASCERTAINMENT
As`cer*tain"ment, n.
Defn: The act of ascertaining; a reducing to certainty; a finding out
by investigation; discovery.
The positive ascertainment of its limits. Burke.
ASCESSANCY; ASCESSANT
As*ces"san*cy, n. As*ces"sant, a.
Defn: See Acescency, Acescent. [Obs.]
ASCETIC
As*cet"ic a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Extremely rigid in self-denial and devotions; austere; severe.
The stern ascetic rigor of the Temple discipline. Sir W. Scott.
ASCETIC
As*cet"ic, n.
Defn: In the early church, one who devoted himself to a solitary and
contemplative life, characterized by devotion, extreme self-denial,
and self-mortification; a hermit; a recluse; hence, one who practices
extreme rigor and self-denial in religious things.
I am far from commending those ascetics that take up their quarters
in deserts. Norris.
Ascetic theology, the science which treats of the practice of the
theological and moral virtues, and the counsels of perfection. Am.
Cyc.
ASCETICISM
As*cet"i*cism, n.
Defn: The condition, practice, or mode of life, of ascetics.
ASCHAM
As"cham, n. Etym: [From Roger Ascham, who was a great lover of
archery.]
Defn: A sort of cupboard, or case, to contain bows and other
implements of archery.
ASCI
As"ci, n. pl.
Defn: See Ascus.
ASCIAN
As"cian, n.
Defn: One of the Ascii.
ASCIDIAN
As*cid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Ascidioidea, or in a more general sense, one of the
Tunicata. Also as an adj.
ASCIDIARIUM
As*cid`i*a"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Ascidium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The structure which unites together the ascidiozooids in a
compound ascidian.
ASCIDIFORM
As*cid"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like an ascidian.
ASCIDIOIDEA
As*cid`i*oid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. ascidium + -oid. See
Ascidium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Tunicata, often shaped like a two-necked bottle. The
group includes, social, and compound species. The gill is a netlike
structure within the oral aperture. The integument is usually
leathery in texture. See Illustration in Appendix.
ASCIDIOZOOID
As*cid`i*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Ascidium + zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the individual members of a compound ascidian. See
Ascidioidea.
ASCIDIUM
As*cid"i*um, n.; pl. Ascidia. Etym: [NL., fr. ascus. See Ascus.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A pitcher-shaped, or flask-shaped, organ or appendage of a
plant, as the leaves of the pitcher plant, or the little bladderlike
traps of the bladderwort (Utricularia).
2. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of simple ascidians, which formerly included most of
the known species. It is sometimes used as a name for the
Ascidioidea, or for all the Tunicata.
ASCIGEROUS
As*cig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Ascus + -gerous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having asci. Loudon.
ASCII; ASCIANS
As"ci*i, As"cians, n. pl. Etym: [L. ascii, pl. of ascius, Gr.
Defn: Persons who, at certain times of the year, have no shadow at
noon; -- applied to the inhabitants of the torrid zone, who have,
twice a year, a vertical sun.
ASCITES
As*ci"tes, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A collection of serous fluid in the cavity of the abdomen;
dropsy of the peritoneum. Dunglison.
ASCITIC; ASCITICAL
As*cit"ic, As*cit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or affected by, ascites; dropsical.
ASCITITIOUS
As`ci*ti"tious, a. Etym: [See Adscititious.]
Defn: Supplemental; not inherent or original; adscititious;
additional; assumed.
Homer has been reckoned an ascititious name. Pope.
ASCLEPIAD
As*cle"pi*ad, n. (Gr. & L. Pros.)
Defn: A choriambic verse, first used by the Greek poet Asclepias,
consisting of four feet, viz., a spondee, two choriambi, and an
iambus.
ASCLEPIADACEOUS
As*cle`pi*a*da"ceous, a. Etym: [See Asclepias.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of the Milkweed
family.
ASCLEPIAS
As*cle"pi*as, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Asclepios or Aesculapius.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the milkweed, swallowwort, and some
other species having medicinal properties. Asclepias butterfly
(Zoöl.), a large, handsome, red and black butterfly (Danais
Archippus), found in both hemispheres. It feeds on plants of the
genus Asclepias.
ASCOCARP
As"co*carp, n. [Gr. 'asko`s a bladder + karpo`s fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: In ascomycetous fungi, the spherical, discoid, or cup-shaped
body within which the asci are collected, and which constitutes the
mature fructification. The different forms are known in mycology
under distinct names. Called also spore fruit.
ASCOCOCCUS
As`co*coc"cus, n.; pl. Ascococci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A form of micrococcus, found in putrid meat infusions,
occurring in peculiar masses, each of which is inclosed in a hyaline
capsule and contains a large number of spherical micrococci.
ASCOMYCETES
As`co*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL.; ascus + Gr. , , fungus.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large class of higher fungi distinguished by septate hyphæ,
and by having their spores formed in asci, or spore sacs. It
comprises many orders, among which are the yeasts, molds, mildews,
truffles, morels, etc. -- As`co*my*ce"tous (#), a.
ASCOSPORE
As"co*spore, n. Etym: [Ascus + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the spores contained in the asci of lichens and fungi.
[See Illust. of Ascus.]
ASCRIBABLE
As*crib"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being ascribed; attributable.
ASCRIBE
As*cribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ascribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ascribing.]
Etym: [L. ascribere, adscribere, to ascribe; ad + scribere to write:
cf. OF. ascrire. See Scribe.]
1. To attribute, impute, or refer, as to a cause; as, his death was
ascribed to a poison; to ascribe an effect to the right cause; to
ascribe such a book to such an author.
The finest [speech] that is ascribed to Satan in the whole poem.
Addison.
2. To attribute, as a quality, or an appurtenance; to consider or
allege to belong.
Syn.
-- To Ascribe, Attribute, Impute. Attribute denotes, 1. To refer
some quality or attribute to a being; as, to attribute power to God.
2. To refer something to its cause or source; as, to attribute a
backward spring to icebergs off the coast. Ascribe is used equally in
both these senses, but involves a different image. To impute usually
denotes to ascribe something doubtful or wrong, and hence, in general
literature, has commonly a bad sense; as, to impute unworthy motives.
The theological sense of impute is not here taken into view.
More than good-will to me attribute naught. Spenser.
Ascribes his gettings to his parts and merit. Pope.
And fairly quit him of the imputed blame. Spenser.
ASCRIPT
As"cript, a.
Defn: See Adscript. [Obs.]
ASCRIPTION
As*crip"tion, n. Etym: [L. ascriptio, fr. ascribere. See Ascribe.]
Defn: The act of ascribing, imputing, or affirming to belong; also,
that which is ascribed.
ASCRIPTITIOUS
As`crip*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. ascriptitius, fr. ascribere.]
1. Ascribed.
2. Added; additional. [Obs.]
An ascriptitious and supernumerary God. Farindon.
ASCUS
As"cus, n.; pl. Asci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A small membranous bladder or tube in which are inclosed the
seedlike reproductive particles or sporules of lichens and certain
fungi.
A-SEA
A-sea, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sea.]
Defn: On the sea; at sea; toward the sea.
ASEMIA
A*se"mi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sign.] (Med.)
Defn: Loss of power to express, or to understand, symbols or signs of
thought.
ASEPSIS
A*sep"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + sepsis.]
Defn: State of being aseptic; the methods or processes of
asepticizing.
ASEPTIC
A*sep"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + septic.]
Defn: Not liable to putrefaction; nonputrescent.
-- n.
Defn: An aseptic substance.
ASEXUAL
A*sex"u*al, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sexual.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having no distinct; without sexual action; as, asexual
reproduction. See Fission and Gemmation.
ASEXUALIZATION
A*sex`u*al*i*za"tion, n. [Asexual + -ize + -ation.]
Defn: The act or process of sterilizing an animal or human being, as
by vasectomy.
ASEXUALLY
A*sex"u*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an asexual manner; without sexual agency.
ASH
Ash, n. Etym: [OE. asch, esh, AS. æsc; akin to OHG. asc, Sw. & Dan.
ask, Icel. askr, D. esch, G. esche.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees of the Olive family, having opposite pinnate
leaves, many of the species furnishing valuable timber, as the
European ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and the white ash (F. Americana).
Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum Americanum) and Poison ash (Rhus venenata)
are shrubs of different families, somewhat resembling the true ashes
in their foliage.
-- Mountain ash. See Roman tree, and under Mountain.
2. The tough, elastic wood of the ash tree.
Note: Ash is used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound
term; as, ash bud, ash wood, ash tree, etc.
ASH
Ash, n.,
Defn: sing. of Ashes.
Note: Ash is rarely used in the singular except in connection with
chemical or geological products; as, soda ash, coal which yields a
red ash, etc., or as a qualifying or combining word; as, ash bin, ash
heap, ash hole, ash pan, ash pit, ash-grey, ash-colored, pearlash,
potash. Bone ash, burnt powered; bone earth.
-- Volcanic ash. See under Ashes.
ASH
Ash, v. t.
Defn: To strew or sprinkle with ashes. Howell.
ASHAME
A*shame, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + shame: cf. AS. ascamian to shame
(where a- is the same as Goth. us-, G. er-, and orig. meant out),
gescamian, gesceamian, to shame.]
Defn: To shame. [R.] Barrow.
ASHAMED
A*shamed", a. Etym: [Orig. a p. p. of ashame, v. t.]
Defn: Affected by shame; abashed or confused by guilt, or a
conviction or consciousness of some wrong action or impropriety. "I
am ashamed to beg." Wyclif.
All that forsake thee shall be ashamed. Jer. xvii. 13.
I began to be ashamed of sitting idle. Johnson.
Enough to make us ashamed of our species. Macaulay.
An ashamed person can hardly endure to meet the gaze of those
present. Darwin.
Note: Ashamed seldom precedes the noun or pronoun it qualifies. By a
Hebraism, it is sometimes used in the Bible to mean disappointed, or
defeated.
ASHAMEDLY
A*sham"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Bashfully. [R.]
ASHANTEE
Ash`an*tee", n.; pl. Ashantees.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Ashantee in Western Africa.
ASHANTEE
Ash`an*tee", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Ashantee.
ASH-COLORED
Ash"-col`ored, a.
Defn: Of the color of ashes; a whitish gray or brownish gray.
ASHEN
Ash"en, a. Etym: [See Ash, the tree.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ash tree. "Ashen poles." Dryden.
ASHEN
Ash"en, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, ashes; of a color between brown
and gray, or white and gray.
The ashen hue of age. Sir W. Scott.
ASHEN
Ash"en, n.,
Defn: obs. pl. for Ashes. Chaucer.
ASHERY
Ash"er*y, n.
1. A depository for ashes.
2. A place where potash is made.
ASHES
Ash"es, n. pl. Etym: [OE. asche, aske, AS. asce, æsce, axe; akin to
OHG. asca, G. asche, D. asch, Icel. & Sw. aska, Dan. aske, Goth.
azgo.]
1. The earthy or mineral particles of combustible substances
remaining after combustion, as of wood or coal.
2. Specifically: The remains of the human body when burnt, or when
"returned to dust" by natural decay.
Their martyred blood and ashes sow. Milton.
The coffins were broken open. The ashes were scattered to the winds.
Macaulay.
3. The color of ashes; deathlike paleness.
The lip of ashes, and the cheek of flame. Byron.
In dust and ashes, In sackcloth and ashes, with humble expression of
grief or repentance; -- from the method of mourning in Eastern lands.
-- Volcanic ashes, or Volcanic ash, the loose, earthy matter, or
small fragments of stone or lava, ejected by volcanoes.
ASH-FIRE
Ash"-fire, n.
Defn: A low fire used in chemical operations.
ASH-FURNACE; ASH-OVEN
Ash"-fur`nace, Ash"-ov`en, n.
Defn: A furnace or oven for fritting materials for glass making.
ASHINE
A*shine", a.
Defn: Shining; radiant.
ASHLAR; ASHLER
Ash"lar, Ash"ler, n. Etym: [OE. ascheler, achiler, OF. aiseler, fr.
aiselle, dim. of ais plank, fr. L. axis, assis, plank, axle. See
Axle.]
1. (Masonry)
(a) Hewn or squared stone; also, masonry made of squared or hewn
stone.
Rough ashlar, a block of freestone as brought from the quarry. When
hammer-dressed it is known as common ashlar. Knight.
(b) In the United States especially, a thin facing of squared and
dressed stone upon a wall of rubble or brick. Knight.
ASHLARING; ASHLERING
Ash"lar*ing, Ash"ler*ing, n.
1. The act of bedding ashlar in mortar.
2. Ashlar when in thin slabs and made to serve merely as a case to
the body of the wall. Brande & C.
3. (Carp.)
Defn: The short upright pieces between the floor beams and rafters in
garrets. See Ashlar, 2.
ASHORE
A*shore", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + shore.]
Defn: On shore or on land; on the land adjacent to water; to the
shore; to the land; aground (when applied to a ship); -- sometimes
opposed to aboard or afloat.
Here shall I die ashore. Shak.
I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Shak.
ASHTORETH
Ash"to*reth, n.; pl. Ashtaroth.
Defn: The principal female divinity of the Phoenicians, as Baal was
the principal male divinity. W. Smith.
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash` Wednes"day.
Defn: The first day of Lent; -- so called from a custom in the Roman
Catholic church of putting ashes, on that day, upon the foreheads of
penitents.
ASHWEED
Ash"weed`, n. (Bot.) Etym: [A corruption of ache-weed; F. ache. So
named from the likeness of its leaves to those of ache (celery).]
Defn: Goutweed.
ASHY
Ash"y, a.
1. Pertaining to, or composed of, ashes; filled, or strewed with,
ashes.
2. Ash-colored; whitish gray; deadly pale. Shak. Ashy pale, pale as
ashes. Shak.
ASIAN
A"sian, a. Etym: [L. Asianus, Gr. Asia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Asia; Asiatic. "Asian princes." Jer.
Taylor.
-- n.
Defn: An Asiatic.
ASIARCH
A"si*arch, n. Etym: [L. Asiarcha, Gr.
Defn: One of the chiefs or pontiffs of the Roman province of Asia,
who had the superintendence of the public games and religious rites.
Milner.
ASIATIC
A`si*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. Asiaticus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Asia or to its inhabitants.
-- n.
Defn: A native, or one of the people, of Asia.
ASIATICISM
A`si*at"i*cism, n.
Defn: Something peculiar to Asia or the Asiatics.
ASIDE
A*side", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + side.]
1. On, or to, one side; out of a straight line, course, or direction;
at a little distance from the rest; out of the way; apart.
Thou shalt set aside that which is full. 2 Kings iv. 4.
But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king. Shak.
The flames were blown aside. Dryden.
2. Out of one's thoughts; off; away; as, to put aside gloomy
thoughts. "Lay aside every weight." Heb. xii. 1.
3. So as to be heard by others; privately.
Then lords and ladies spake aside. Sir W. Scott.
To set aside (Law), to annul or defeat the effect or operation of, by
a subsequent decision of the same or of a superior tribunal; to
declare of no authority; as, to set aside a verdict or a judgment.
ASIDE
A*side", n.
Defn: Something spoken aside; as, a remark made by a stageplayer
which the other players are not supposed to hear.
ASILUS
A*si"lus, n. Etym: [L., a gadfly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large and voracious two-winged flies, including the
bee killer and robber fly.
ASINEGO; ASSINEGO
As`i*ne"go, As`si*ne"go, n. Etym: [Sp. asnico, dim. of asno an ass.]
Defn: A stupid fellow. [Obs.] Shak.
ASININE
As"i*nine, a. Etym: [L. asininus, fr. asinus ass. See Ass.]
Defn: Of or belonging to, or having the qualities of, the ass, as
stupidity and obstinacy. "Asinine nature." B. Jonson. "Asinine
feast." Milton.
ASININITY
As`i*nin"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being asinine; stupidity combined with
obstinacy.
ASIPHONATE
A*si"phon*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of a siphon or breathing tube; -- said of many
bivalve shells.
-- n.
Defn: An asiphonate mollusk.
ASIPHONEA; ASIPHONATA; ASIPHONIDA
As`i*pho"ne*a, A*si`pho*na"ta, As`i*phon"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.
Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of bivalve mollusks destitute of siphons, as the
oyster; the asiphonate mollusks.
ASITIA
A*si"ti*a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Want of appetite; loathing of food.
ASK
Ask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asked; p. pr. & vb. n. Asking.] Etym: [OE.
asken, ashen, axien, AS. ascian, acsian; akin to OS. escon, OHG.
eiscon, Sw. aska, Dan. æske, D. eischen, G. heischen, Lith. jëskóti,
OSlav. iskati to seek, Skr. ish to desire. *5.]
1. To request; to seek to obtain by words; to petition; to solicit; -
- often with of, in the sense of from, before the person addressed.
Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God. Judg. xviii. 5.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye
will, and it shall be done unto you. John xv. 7.
2. To require, demand, claim, or expect, whether by way of
remuneration or return, or as a matter of necessity; as, what price
do you ask
Ask me never so much dowry. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
To whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Luke
xii. 48.
An exigence of state asks a much longer time to conduct a design to
maturity. Addison.
3. To interrogate or inquire of or concerning; to put a question to
or about; to question.
He is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. John ix. 21.
He asked the way to Chester. Shak.
4. To invite; as, to ask one to an entertainment.
5. To publish in church for marriage; -- said of both the banns and
the persons. Fuller.
Syn.
-- To beg; request; seek; petition; solicit; entreat; beseech;
implore; crave; require; demand; claim; exhibit; inquire;
interrogate. See Beg.
ASK
Ask, v. i.
1. To request or petition; -- usually folllowed by for; as, to ask
for bread.
Ask, and it shall be given you. Matt. vii. 7.
2. To make inquiry, or seek by request; -- sometimes followed by
after.
Wherefore . . . dost ask after my name Gen. xxxii. 29.
ASK
Ask, n. Etym: [See 2d Asker.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A water newt. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
ASKANCE; ASKANT
A*skance", A*skant", adv. Etym: [Cf. D. schuin, schuins, sideways,
schuiven to shove, schuinte slope. Cf. Asquint.]
Defn: Sideways; obliquely; with a side glance; with disdain, envy, or
suspicion.
They dart away; they wheel askance. Beattie.
My palfrey eyed them askance. Landor.
Both . . . were viewed askance by authority. Gladstone.
ASKANCE
A*skance", v. t.
Defn: To turn aside. [Poet.]
O, how are they wrapped in with infamies That from their own misdeeds
askance their eyes! Shak.
ASKER
Ask"er, n.
Defn: One who asks; a petitioner; an inquirer. Shak.
ASKER
Ask"er, n. Etym: [A corruption of AS. a lizard, newt.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An ask; a water newt. [Local Eng.]
ASKEW
A*skew", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + skew.]
Defn: Awry; askance; asquint; oblique or obliquely; -- sometimes
indicating scorn, or contempt, or entry. Spenser.
ASKING
Ask"ing, n.
1. The act of inquiring or requesting; a petition; solicitation.
Longfellow.
2. The publishing of banns.
ASLAKE
A*slake", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. aslacian, slacian, to slacken. Cf.
Slake.]
Defn: To mitigate; to moderate; to appease; to abate; to diminish.
[Archaic] Chaucer.
ASLANT
A*slant", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slant.]
Defn: Toward one side; in a slanting direction; obliquely.
[The shaft] drove through his neck aslant. Dryden.
ASLANT
A*slant", prep.
Defn: In a slanting direction over; athwart.
There is a willow grows aslant a brook. Shak.
ASLEEP
A*sleep", a. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sleep.]
1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant.
Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden.
By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton.
2. In the sleep of the grave; dead.
Concerning them which are asleep . . . sorrow not, even as others
which have no hope. 1 Thess. iv. 13.
3. Numbed, and, usually, tingling. Udall.
Leaning long upon any part maketh it numb, and, as we call it,
asleep. Bacon.
ASLOPE
A*slope", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + slope.]
Defn: Slopingly; aslant; declining from an upright direction;
sloping. "Set them not upright, but aslope." Bacon.
ASLUG
A*slug", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + slug to move slowly.]
Defn: Sluggishly. [Obs.] Fotherby.
ASMEAR
A*smear", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + smear.]
Defn: Smeared over. Dickens.
ASMONEAN
As`mo*ne"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the patriotic Jewish family to which the
Maccabees belonged; Maccabean; as, the Asmonean dynasty. [Written
also Asmonæan.]
ASMONEAN
As`mo*ne"an, n.
Defn: One of the Asmonean family. The Asmoneans were leaders and
rulers of the Jews from 168 to 35 b. c.
ASOAK
A*soak", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + soak.]
Defn: Soaking.
ASOMATOUS
A*so"ma*tous, a. Etym: [L. asomatus, Gr.
Defn: Without a material body; incorporeal. Todd.
ASONANT
As"o*nant, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sonant.]
Defn: Not sounding or sounded. [R.] C. C. Felton.
ASP
Asp, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Aspen. "Trembling poplar or asp." Martyn.
ASP
Asp, n. Etym: [L. aspis, fr. Gr. aspe, F. aspic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, hooded, poisonous serpent of Egypt and adjacent
countries, whose bite is often fatal. It is the Naja haje. The name
is also applied to other poisonous serpents, esp. to Vipera aspis of
southern Europe. See Haje.
ASPALATHUS
As*pal"a*thus, n. Etym: [L. aspalathus, Gr. (Bot.)
(a) A thorny shrub yielding a fragrant oil. Ecclus. xxiv. 15.
(b) A genus of plants of the natural order Leguminosæ. The species
are chiefly natives of the Cape of Good Hope.
ASPARAGINE
As*par"a*gine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. asparagine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, nitrogenous, crystallizable substance, C4H8N2O3+H2O,
found in many plants, and first obtained from asparagus. It is
believed to aid in the disposition of nitrogenous matter throughout
the plant; -- called also altheine.
ASPARAGINOUS
As`pa*rag"i*nous, a.
Defn: Pertaining or allied to, or resembling, asparagus; having
shoots which are eaten like asparagus; as, asparaginous vegetables.
ASPARAGUS
As*par"a*gus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. prong, sprout, Pers. asparag,
Lith. spurgas sprout, Skr. sphurj to swell. Perh. the Greek borrowed
from the Persian. Cf. Sparrowgrass.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order
Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender
branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus
racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers.
Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in
gardens.
2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a
valuable and well-known article of food.
Note: This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this
pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people.
Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi)
injurious to asparagus.
ASPARTIC
As*par"tic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.
ASPECT
As"pect, n. Etym: [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at;
ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.]
1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk
killeth by aspect." Bacon.
His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.
2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien;
air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden.
[Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.
3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of
affairs." Macaulay.
The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.
4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which
enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation
to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that
is, a position which faces the south.
5. Prospect; outlook. [Obs.]
This town affords a good aspect toward the hill from whence we
descended. Evelyn.
6. (Astrol.)
Defn: The situation of planets or stars with respect to one another,
or the angle formed by the rays of light proceeding from them and
meeting at the eye; the joint look of planets or stars upon each
other or upon the earth. Milton.
Note: The aspects which two planets can assume are five; sextile,
7. (Astrol.)
Defn: The influence of the stars for good or evil; as, an ill aspect.
Shak.
The astrologers call the evil influences of the stars evil aspects.
Bacon. Aspect of a plane (Geom.), the direction of the plane.
ASPECT
As*pect", v. t. Etym: [L. aspectare, v. intens. of aspicere. See
Aspect, n.]
Defn: To behold; to look at. [Obs.]
ASPECTABLE
As*pect"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. aspectabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being; visible. "The aspectable world." Ray.
"Aspectable stars." Mrs. Browning.
ASPECTANT
As*pect"ant, a. (Her.)
Defn: Facing each other.
ASPECTED
As*pect"ed, a.
Defn: Having an aspect. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ASPECTION
As*pec"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspectio, fr. aspicere to look at.]
Defn: The act of viewing; a look. [Obs.]
ASPECT RATIO
Aspect ratio. (Aëronautics)
Defn: The ratio of the long to the short side of an aëroplane,
aërocurve, or wing.
ASPEN; ASP
Asp"en, Asp, n. Etym: [AS. æsp, æps; akin to OHG. aspa, Icel. ösp,
Dan. æsp, Sw. asp, D. esp, G. espe, äspe, aspe; cf. Lettish apsa,
Lith. apuszis.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of several species of poplar bearing this name, especially
the Populus tremula, so called from the trembling of its leaves,
which move with the slightest impulse of the air.
ASPEN
Asp"en, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the aspen, or resembling it; made of aspen
wood.
Nor aspen leaves confess the gentlest breeze. Gay.
ASPER
As"per, a. Etym: [OE. aspre, OF. aspre, F. âpre, fr. L. asper rough.]
Defn: Rough; rugged; harsh; bitter; stern; fierce. [Archaic] "An
asper sound." Bacon.
ASPER
As"per, n. Etym: [L. spiritus asper rough breathing.] (Greek Gram.)
Defn: The rough breathing; a mark placed over an initial vowel sound
or over h before it; thus hws, pronounced h, hrj'twr, pronounced
hra\'b6t.
ASPER
As"per, n. Etym: [F. aspre or It. aspro, fr. MGr.
Defn: A Turkish money of account (formerly a coin), of little value;
the 120th part of a piaster.
ASPERATE
As"per*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asperated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Asperating.] Etym: [L. asperatus, p. p. of asperare, fr. asper
rough.]
Defn: To make rough or uneven.
The asperated part of its surface. Boyle.
ASPERATION
As`per*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of asperating; a making or becoming rough. Bailey.
ASPERGES
As*per"ges, n. Etym: [L., Thou shalt sprinkle.] (R. C. Ch.)
(a) The service or ceremony of sprinkling with holy water.
(b) The brush or instrument used in sprinkling holy water; an
aspergill.
ASPERGILL; ASPERGILLUM
As"per*gill, As`per*gil"lum, n. Etym: [LL. aspergillum, fr. L.
aspergere. See Asperse, v. t.]
1. The brush used in the Roman Catholic church for sprinkling holy
water on the people. [Also written aspergillus.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Wateringpot shell.
ASPERGILLIFORM
As`per*gil"li*form, a. Etym: [Aspergillum + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling the aspergillum in form; as, an aspergilliform
stigma. Gray.
ASPERIFOLIATE; ASPERIFOLIOUS
As`per*i*fo"li*ate, As`per*i*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. asper rough +
folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having rough leaves.
Note: By some applied to the natural order now called Boraginaceæ or
borageworts.
ASPERITY
As*per"i*ty, n.; pl. Asperities. Etym: [L. asperitas, fr. asper
rough: cf. F. aspérité.]
1. Roughness of surface; unevenness; -- opposed to smoothness. "The
asperities of dry bodies." Boyle.
2. Roughness or harshness of sound; that quality which grates upon
the ear; raucity.
3. Roughness to the taste; sourness; tartness.
4. Moral roughness; roughness of manner; severity; crabbedness;
harshness; -- opposed to mildness. "Asperity of character." Landor.
It is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no
benefit has been received. Johnson.
5. Sharpness; disagreeableness; difficulty.
The acclivities and asperities of duty. Barrow.
Syn.
-- Acrimony; moroseness; crabbedness; harshness; sourness; tartness.
See Acrimony.
ASPERMATOUS
A*sper"ma*tous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Aspermous.
ASPERMOUS
A*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of seeds; aspermatous.
ASPERNE
A*sperne", v. t. Etym: [L. aspernari; a (ab) + spernari.]
Defn: To spurn; to despise. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
ASPEROUS
As"per*ous, a. Etym: [See Asper, a.]
Defn: Rough; uneven. Boyle.
ASPERSE
As*perse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspersed; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspersing.]
Etym: [L. aspersus, p. p. of aspergere to scatter, sprinkle; ad +
spargere to strew. See Sparse.]
1. To sprinkle, as water or dust, upon anybody or anything, or to
besprinkle any one with a liquid or with dust. Heywood.
2. To bespatter with foul reports or false and injurious charges; to
tarnish in point of reputation or good name; to slander or
calumniate; as, to asperse a poet or his writings; to asperse a man's
character.
With blackest crimes aspersed. Cowper.
Syn.
-- To slander; defame; detract from; calumniate; vilify.
-- To Asperse, Defame, Slander, Calumniate. These words have in
common the idea of falsely assailing the character of another. To
asperse is figuratively to cast upon a character hitherto unsullied
the imputation of blemishes or faults which render it offensive or
loathsome. To defame is to detract from a man's honor and reputation
by charges calculated to load him with infamy. Slander
(etymologically the same as scandal) and calumniate, from the Latin,
have in common the sense of circulating reports to a man's injury
from unworthy or malicious motives. Men asperse their neighbors by
malignant insinuations; they defame by advancing charges to blacken
or sully their fair fame; they slander or calumniate by spreading
injurious reports which are false, or by magnifying slight faults
into serious errors or crimes.
ASPERSED
As*persed", a.
1. (Her.)
Defn: Having an indefinite number of small charges scattered or
strewed over the surface. Cussans.
2. Bespattered; slandered; calumniated. Motley.
ASPERSER
As*pers"er, n.
Defn: One who asperses; especially, one who vilifies another.
ASPERSION
As*per"sion, n. Etym: [L. aspersio, fr. aspergere: cf. F. aspersion.]
1. A sprinkling, as with water or dust, in a literal sense.
Behold an immersion, not and aspersion. Jer. Taylor.
2. The spreading of calumniations reports or charges which tarnish
reputation, like the bespattering of a body with foul water; calumny.
Every candid critic would be ashamed to cast wholesale aspersions on
the entire body of professional teachers. Grote.
Who would by base aspersions blot thy virtue. Dryden.
ASPERSIVE
As*pers"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to asperse; defamatory; slanderous.
-- As*pers"ive*ly, adv.
ASPERSOIR
As`per`soir", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An aspergill.
ASPERSORIUM
As`per*so"ri*um, n.; pl. Aspplwsoria. Etym: [LL. See Asperse.]
1. The stoup, basin, or other vessel for holy water in Roman Catholic
churches.
2. A brush for sprinkling holy water; an aspergill.
ASPHALT; ASPHALTUM
As"phalt, As*phal"tum, n. Etym: [Gr. asphalte.]
1. Mineral pitch, Jews' pitch, or compact native bitumen. It is
brittle, of a black or brown color and high luster on a surface of
fracture; it melts and burns when heated, leaving no residue. It
occurs on the surface and shores of the Dead Sea, which is therefore
called Asphaltites, or the Asphaltic Lake. It is found also in many
parts of Asia, Europe, and America. See Bitumen.
2. A composition of bitumen, pitch, lime, and gravel, used for
forming pavements, and as a water-proof cement for bridges, roofs,
etc.; asphaltic cement. Artificial asphalt is prepared from coal tar,
lime, sand, etc. Asphalt stone, Asphalt rock, a limestone found
impregnated with asphalt.
ASPHALT
As"phalt, v. t.
Defn: To cover with asphalt; as, to asphalt a roof; asphalted
streets.
ASPHALTE
As`phalte", n. Etym: [F. See Asphalt.]
Defn: Asphaltic mastic or cement. See Asphalt, 2.
ASPHALTIC
As*phal"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or containing, asphalt;
bituminous. "Asphaltic pool." "Asphaltic slime." Milton.
ASPHALTITE
As*phal"tite, a.
Defn: Asphaltic.
ASPHALTITE
As*phal"tite, a.
Defn: Asphaltic. Bryant.
ASPHALTUS
As*phal"tus, n.
Defn: See Asphalt.
ASPHODEL
As"pho*del, n. Etym: [L. asphodelus, Gr. Daffodil.] (Bot.)
Defn: A general name for a plant of the genus Asphodelus. The
asphodels are hardy perennial plants, several species of which are
cultivated for the beauty of their flowers.
Note: The name is also popularly given to species of other genera.
The asphodel of the early English and French poets was the daffodil.
The asphodel of the Greek poets is supposed to be the Narcissus
poeticus. Dr. Prior.
Pansies, and violets, and asphodel. Milton.
ASPHYCTIC
As*phyc"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to asphyxia.
ASPHYXIA; ASPHYXY
As*phyx"i*a, As*phyx"y, n. Etym: [NL. asphyxia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Apparent death, or suspended animation; the condition which
results from interruption of respiration, as in suffocation or
drowning, or the inhalation of irrespirable gases.
ASPHYXIAL
As*phyx"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to asphyxia; as, asphyxial phenomena.
ASPHYXIATE
As*phyx"i*ate, v. t.
Defn: To bring to a state of asphyxia; to suffocate.
Note: [Used commonly in the past pple.]
ASPHYXIATED; ASPHYXIED
As*phyx"i*a`ted, As*phyx"ied, p. p.
Defn: In a state of asphyxia; suffocated.
ASPHYXIATION
As*phyx`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of causing asphyxia; a state of asphyxia.
ASPIC
As"pic, n. Etym: [F. See Asp.]
1. The venomous asp. [Chiefly poetic] Shak. Tennyson.
2. A piece of ordnance carrying a 12 pound shot. [Obs.]
ASPIC
As"pic, n. Etym: [F., a corrupt. of spic (OF. espi, F. épi), L. spica
(spicum, spicus), ear, spike. See Spike.]
Defn: A European species of lavender (Lavandula spica), which
produces a volatile oil. See Spike.
ASPIC
As"pic, n. Etym: [F., prob. fr. aspic an asp.]
Defn: A savory meat jelly containing portions of fowl, game, fish,
hard boiled eggs, etc. Thackeray.
ASPIDOBRANCHIA
As`pi*do*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Gastropoda, with limpetlike shells, including the
abalone shells and keyhole limpets.
ASPIRANT
As*pir"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant, p. pr. of aspirer. See
Aspire.]
Defn: Aspiring.
ASPIRANT
As*pir"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. aspirant.]
Defn: One who aspires; one who eagerly seeks some high position or
object of attainment.
In consequence of the resignations . . . the way to greatness was
left clear to a new set of aspirants. Macaulay.
ASPIRATE
As"pi*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aspirated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Aspirating.] Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p. of aspirare to breathe toward
or upon, to add the breathing h; ad + spirare to breathe, blow. Cf.
Aspire.]
Defn: To pronounce with a breathing, an aspirate, or an h sound; as,
we aspirate the words horse and house; to aspirate a vowel or a
liquid consonant.
ASPIRATE
As"pi*rate, n.
1. A sound consisting of, or characterized by, a breath like the
sound of h; the breathing h or a character representing such a sound;
an aspirated sound.
2. A mark of aspiration used in Greek; the asper, or rough breathing.
Bentley.
3. An elementary sound produced by the breath alone; a surd, or
nonvocal consonant; as, f, th in thin, etc.
ASPIRATE; ASPIRATED
As"pi*rate, As"pi*ra"ted, a. Etym: [L. aspiratus, p. p.]
Defn: Pronounced with the h sound or with audible breath.
But yet they are not aspirate, i. e., with such an aspiration as h.
Holder.
ASPIRATION
As`pi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. aspiratio, fr. aspirare: cf. F.
aspiration.]
1. The act of aspirating; the pronunciation of a letter with a full
or strong emission of breath; an aspirated sound.
If aspiration be defined to be an impetus of breathing. Wilkins.
2. The act of breathing; a breath; an inspiration.
3. The act of aspiring of a ardently desiring; strong wish; high
desire. "Aspirations after virtue." Johnson.
Vague aspiration after military renown. Prescott.
ASPIRATOR
As"pi*ra`tor, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for passing air or gases through or over certain
liquids or solids, or for exhausting a closed vessel, by means of
suction.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for the evacuation of the fluid contents of
tumors or collections of blood.
ASPIRATORY
As*pir"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to breathing; suited to the inhaling of air
ASPIRE
As*pire", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aspired; p. pr. & vb. n. Aspiring.]
Etym: [F. aspirer, L. aspirare. See Aspirate, v. t.]
1. To desire with eagerness; to seek to attain something high or
great; to pant; to long; -- followed by to or after, and rarely by
at; as, to aspire to a crown; to aspire after immorality.
Aspiring to be gods, if angels fell; Aspiring to be angels, men
rebel. Pope.
2. To rise; to ascend; to tower; to soar.
My own breath still foments the fire, Which flames as high as fancy
can aspire. Waller.
ASPIRE
As*pire", v. t.
Defn: To aspire to; to long for; to try to reach; to mount to. [Obs.]
That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. Shak.
ASPIRE
As*pire", n.
Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.] Chapman.
ASPIREMENT
As*pire"ment, n.
Defn: Aspiration. [Obs.]
ASPIRER
As*pir"er, n.
Defn: One who aspires.
ASPIRIN
As"pi*rin, n. (Pharm.)
Defn: A white crystalline compound of acetyl and salicylic acid used
as a drug for the salicylic acid liberated from it in the intestines.
ASPIRING
As*pir"ing, a.
Defn: That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind.
-- As*pir"ing*ly, adv.
-- As*pir"ing*ness, n.
ASPISH
Asp"ish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, an asp.
ASPORTATION
As`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. asportatio, fr. asportare to carry away;
abs = ab + portare to bear, carry.] (Law)
Defn: The felonious removal of goods from the place where they were
deposited.
Note: It is adjudged to be larceny, though the goods are not carried
from the house or apartment. Blackstone.
ASPRAWL
A*sprawl", adv. & a.
Defn: Sprawling.
ASQUAT
A*squat", adv. & a.
Defn: Squatting.
ASQUINT
A*squint", adv. Etym: [Cf. Askant, Squint.]
Defn: With the eye directed to one side; not in the straight line of
vision; obliquely; awry, so as to see distortedly; as, to look
asquint.
ASS
Ass, n. Etym: [OE. asse, AS. assa; akin to Icel. asni, W. asen, asyn,
L. asinus, dim. aselus, Gr. esol, OHG. esil, G. esel, Goth. asilus,
Dan. æsel, Lith. asilas, Bohem. osel, Pol. osiel. The word is prob.
of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. ath she ass. Cf. Ease.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A quadruped of the genus Equus (E. asinus), smaller than the
horse, and having a peculiarly harsh bray and long ears. The tame or
domestic ass is patient, slow, and sure-footed, and has become the
type of obstinacy and stupidity. There are several species of wild
asses which are swift-footed.
2. A dull, heavy, stupid fellow; a dolt. Shak. Asses' Bridge. Etym:
[L. pons asinorum.] The fifth proposition of the first book of
Euclid, "The angles at the base of an isosceles triangle are equal to
one another." [Sportive] "A schoolboy, stammering out his Asses'
Bridge." F. Harrison.
-- To make an ass of one's self, to do or say something very foolish
or absurd.
ASSAFOETIDA
As`sa*foet"i*da, n.
Defn: Same as Asafetida.
ASSAGAI; ASSEGAI
As"sa*gai, As"se*gai, n. Etym: [Pg. azagaia, Sp. azagaya, fr. a
Berber word. Cf. Lancegay.]
Defn: A spear used by tribes in South Africa as a missile and for
stabbing, a kind of light javelin.
ASSAI
As*sa"i. Etym: [It., fr. L. ad + satis enough. See Assets.] (Mus.)
Defn: A direction equivalent to very; as, adagio assai, very slow.
ASSAIL
As*sail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assailing.]
Etym: [OE. assailen, asailen, OF. asaillir, assailler, F. assaillir;
(L. ad) + saillir to burst out, project, fr. L. salire to leap,
spring; cf. L. assilire to leap or spring upon. See Sally.]
1. To attack with violence, or in a vehement and hostile manner; to
assault; to molest; as, to assail a man with blows; to assail a city
with artillery.
No rude noise mine ears assailing. Cowper.
No storm can now assail The charm he wears within. Keble.
2. To encounter or meet purposely with the view of mastering, as an
obstacle, difficulty, or the like.
The thorny wilds the woodmen fierce assail. Pope.
3. To attack morally, or with a view to produce changes in the
feelings, character, conduct, existing usages, institutions; to
attack by words, hostile influence, etc.; as, to assail one with
appeals, arguments, abuse, ridicule, and the like.
The papal authority . . . assailed. Hallam.
They assailed him with keen invective; they assailed him with still
keener irony. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To attack; assault; invade; encounter; fall upon. See Attack.
ASSAILABLE
As*sail"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being assailed.
ASSAILANT
As*sail"ant, a. Etym: [F. assaillant, p. pr. of assaillir.]
Defn: Assailing; attacking. Milton.
ASSAILANT
As*sail"ant, n. Etym: [F. assaillant.]
Defn: One who, or that which, assails, attacks, or assaults; an
assailer.
An assailant of the church. Macaulay.
ASSAILER
As*sail"er, n.
Defn: One who assails.
ASSAILMENT
As*sail"ment, n.
Defn: The act or power of assailing; attack; assault. [R.]
His most frequent assailment was the headache. Johnson.
ASSAMAR
As"sa*mar, n. Etym: [L. assare to roast + amarus, bitter.] (Chem.)
Defn: The peculiar bitter substance, soft or liquid, and of a yellow
color, produced when meat, bread, gum, sugar, starch, and the like,
are roasted till they turn brown.
ASSAMESE
As`sam*ese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Assam, a province of British India, or to
its inhabitants.
-- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Assam.
ASSAPAN; ASSAPANIC
As`sa*pan", As`sa*pan"ic, n. Etym: [Prob. Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American flying squirrel (Pteromys volucella).
ASSART
As*sart", n. Etym: [OF. essart the grubbing up of trees, fr. essarter
to grub up or clear ground of bushes, shrubs, trees, etc., fr. LL.
exartum, exartare, for exsaritare; L. ex + sarire, sarrire, saritum,
to hoe, weed.]
1. (Old Law)
Defn: The act or offense of grubbing up trees and bushes, and thus
destroying the tickets or coverts of a forest. Spelman. Cowell.
2. A piece of land cleared of trees and bushes, and fitted for
cultivation; a clearing. Ash. Assart land, forest land cleared of
woods and brush.
ASSART
As*sart", v. t.
Defn: To grub up, as trees; to commit an assart upon; as, to assart
land or trees. Ashmole.
ASSASSIN
As*sas"sin, n. Etym: [F. (cf. It. assassino), fr. Ar. one who has
drunk of the hashish. Under its influence the Assassins of the East,
followers of the Shaikh al-Jabal (Old Man of the Mountain), were said
to commit the murders required by their chief.]
Defn: One who kills, or attempts to kill, by surprise or secret
assault; one who treacherously murders any one unprepared for
defense.
ASSASSIN
As*sas"sin, v. t.
Defn: To assassinate. [Obs.] Stillingfleet.
ASSASSINATE
As*sas"sin*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assassinated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Assassinating.] Etym: [LL. assassinatus, p. p. of assassinare.]
1. To kill by surprise or secret assault; to murder by treacherous
violence.
Help, neighbors, my house is broken open by force, and I am ravished,
and like to be assassinated. Dryden.
2. To assail with murderous intent; hence, by extended meaning, to
maltreat exceedingly. [Archaic]
Your rhymes assassinate our fame. Dryden.
Such usage as your honorable lords Afford me, assassinated and
betrayed. Milton.
Syn.
-- To kill; murder; slay. See Kill.
ASSASSINATE
As*sas"sin*ate, n. Etym: [F. assassinat.]
1. An assassination, murder, or murderous assault. [Obs.]
If I had made an assassinate upon your father. B. Jonson.
2. An assassin. [Obs.] Dryden.
ASSASSINATION
As*sas`si*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of assassinating; a killing by treacherous violence.
ASSASSINATOR
As*sas"si*na`tor, n.
Defn: An assassin.
ASSASSINOUS
As*sas"sin*ous, a.
Defn: Murderous. Milton.
ASSASTION
As*sas"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. assatio, fr. L. assare to roast.]
Defn: Roasting. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ASSAULT
As*sault", n. Etym: [OE. asaut, assaut, OF. assaut, asalt, F. assaut,
LL. assaltus; L. ad + saltus a leaping, a springing, salire to leap.
See Assail.]
1. A violent onset or attack with physical means, as blows, weapons,
etc.; an onslaught; the rush or charge of an attacking force; onset;
as, to make assault upon a man, a house, or a town.
The Spanish general prepared to renew the assault. Prescott.
Unshaken bears the assault Of their most dreaded foe, the strong
southwest. Wordsworth.
2. A violent onset or attack with moral weapons, as words, arguments,
appeals, and the like; as, to make an assault on the prerogatives of
a prince, or on the constitution of a government. Clarendon.
3. (Law)
Defn: An apparently violent attempt, or willful offer with force or
violence, to do hurt to another; an attempt or offer to beat another,
accompanied by a degree of violence, but without touching his person,
as by lifting the fist, or a cane, in a threatening manner, or by
striking at him, and missing him. If the blow aimed takes effect, it
is a battery. Blackstone. Wharton.
Practically, however, the word assault is used to include the
battery. Mozley & W.
Syn.
-- Attack; invasion; incursion; descent; onset; onslaught; charge;
storm.
ASSAULT
As*sault", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assaulted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Assaulting.] Etym: [From Assault, n.: cf. OF. assaulter, LL.
assaltare.]
1. To make an assault upon, as by a sudden rush of armed men; to
attack with unlawful or insulting physical violence or menaces.
Insnared, assaulted, overcome, led bound. Milton.
2. To attack with moral means, or with a view of producing moral
effects; to attack by words, arguments, or unfriendly measures; to
assail; as, to assault a reputation or an administration.
Before the gates, the cries of babes newborn, . . . Assault his ears.
Dryden.
Note: In the latter sense, assail is more common.
Syn.
-- To attack; assail; invade; encounter; storm; charge. See Attack.
ASSAULTABLE
As*sault"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being assaulted.
ASSAULTER
As*sault"er, n.
Defn: One who assaults, or violently attacks; an assailant. E. Hall.
ASSAY
As*say", n. Etym: [OF. asai, essai, trial, F. essa. See Essay, n.]
1. Trial; attempt; essay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
I am withal persuaded that it may prove much more easy in the assay
than it now seems at distance. Milton.
2. Examination and determination; test; as, an assay of bread or
wine. [Obs.]
This can not be, by no assay of reason. Shak.
3. Trial by danger or by affliction; adventure; risk; hardship; state
of being tried. [Obs.]
Through many hard assays which did betide. Spenser.
4. Tested purity or value. [Obs.]
With gold and pearl of rich assay. Spenser.
5. (Metallurgy)
Defn: The act or process of ascertaining the proportion of a
particular metal in an ore or alloy; especially, the determination of
the proportion of gold or silver in bullion or coin.
6. The alloy or metal to be assayed. Ure. Assay and essay are
radically the same word; but modern usage has appropriated assay
chiefly to experiments in metallurgy, and essay to intellectual and
bodily efforts. See Essay.]
Note: Assay is used adjectively or as the first part of a compound;
as, assay balance, assay furnace. Assay master, an officer who assays
or tests gold or silver coin or bullion.
-- Assay ton, a weight of 29.1662/3 grams.
ASSAY
As*say", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assaying.]
Etym: [OF. asaier, essaier, F. essayer, fr. essai. See Assay, n.,
Essay, v.]
1. To try; to attempt; to apply. [Obs. or Archaic]
To-night let us assay our plot. Shak.
Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed. Milton.
2. To affect. [Obs.]
When the heart is ill assayed. Spenser.
3. To try tasting, as food or drink. [Obs.]
4. To subject, as an ore, alloy, or other metallic compound, to
chemical or metallurgical examination, in order to determine the
amount of a particular metal contained in it, or to ascertain its
composition.
ASSAY
As*say", v. i.
Defn: To attempt, try, or endeavor. [Archaic. In this sense essay is
now commonly used.]
She thrice assayed to speak. Dryden.
ASSAYABLE
As*say"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be assayed.
ASSAYER
As*say"er, n.
Defn: One who assays. Specifically: One who examines metallic ores or
compounds, for the purpose of determining the amount of any
particular metal in the same, especially of gold or silver.
ASSAYING
As*say"ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of testing, esp. of analyzing or examining
metals and ores, to determine the proportion of pure metal.
ASSAY POUND
As"say pound.
Defn: A small standard weight used in assaying bullion, etc.,
sometimes equaling 0.5 gram, but varying with the assayer.
ASSAY TON
Assay ton.
Defn: A weight of 29.166 + grams used in assaying, for convenience.
Since it bears the same relation to the milligram that a ton of 2000
avoirdupois pounds does to the troy ounce, the weight in milligrams
of precious metal obtained from an assay ton of ore gives directly
the number of ounces to the ton.
ASSE
Asse, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small foxlike animal (Vulpes cama) of South Africa, valued
for its fur.
ASSECURATION
As`se*cu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. assecuratio, fr. assecurare.]
Defn: Assurance; certainty. [Obs.]
ASSECURE
As`se*cure", v. t. Etym: [LL. assecurare.]
Defn: To make sure or safe; to assure. [Obs.] Hooker.
ASSECUTION
As`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. assécution, fr. L. assequi to obtain; ad
+ sequi to follow.]
Defn: An obtaining or acquiring. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
ASSEGAI
As"se*gai, n.
Defn: Same as Assagai.
ASSEMBLAGE
As*sem"blage, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assemblage. See Assemble.]
1. The act of assembling, or the state o
In sweet assemblage every blooming grace. Fenton.
2. A collection of individuals, or of individuals, or of particular
things; as, a political assemblage; an assemblage of ideas.
Syn.
-- Company; group; collection; concourse; gathering; meeting;
convention. Assemblage, Assembly. An assembly consists only of
persons; an assemblage may be composed of things as well as persons,
as, an assemblage of incoherent objects. Nor is every assemblage of
persons an assembly; since the latter term denotes a body who have
met, and are acting, in concert for some common end, such as to hear,
to deliberate, to unite in music, dancing, etc. An assemblage of
skaters on a lake, or of horse jockeys at a race course, is not an
assembly, but might be turned into one by collecting into a body with
a view to discuss and decide as to some object of common interest.
ASSEMBLANCE
As*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. assemblance.]
1. Resemblance; likeness; appearance. [Obs.]
Care I for the . . . stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man
Shak.
2. An assembling; assemblage. [Obs.]
To weete [know] the cause of their assemblance. Spenser.
ASSEMBLE
As*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assembled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Assembling.] Etym: [F. assembler, fr. LL. assimulare to bring
together to collect; L. ad + simul together; akin to similis like,
Gr. same. Cf. Assimilate, Same.]
Defn: To collect into one place or body; to bring or call together;
to convene; to congregate.
Thither he assembled all his train. Milton.
All the men of Israel assembled themselves. 1 Kings viii. 2.
ASSEMBLE
As*sem"ble, v. i.
Defn: To meet or come together, as a number of individuals; to
convene; to congregate. Dryden.
The Parliament assembled in November. W. Massey.
ASSEMBLE
As*sem"ble, v. i.
Defn: To liken; to compare. [Obs.]
Bribes may be assembled to pitch. Latimer.
ASSEMBLER
As*sem"bler, n.
Defn: One who assembles a number of individuals; also, one of a
number assembled.
ASSEMBLY
As*sem"bly, n.; pl. Assemblies. Etym: [F. assemblée, fr. assembler.
See Assemble.]
1. A company of persons collected together in one place, and usually
for some common purpose, esp. for deliberation and legislation, for
worship, or for social entertainment.
2. A collection of inanimate objects. [Obs.] Howell.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A beat of the drum or sound of the bugle as a signal to troops
to assemble.
Note: In some of the United States, the legislature, or the popular
branch of it, is called the Assembly, or the General Assembly. In the
Presbyterian Church, the General Assembly is the highest
ecclesiastical tribunal, composed of ministers and ruling elders
delegated from each presbytery; as, the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States, or of Scotland. Assembly
room, a room in which persons assemble, especially for dancing.
-- Unlawful assembly (Law), a meeting of three or more persons on a
common plan, in such a way as to cause a reasonable apprehension that
they will disturb the peace tumultuously.
-- Westminster Assembly, a convocation, consisting chiefly of
divines, which, by act of Parliament, assembled July 1, 1643, and
remained in session some years. It framed the "Confession of Faith,"
the "Larger Catechism," and the "Shorter Catechism," which are still
received as authority by Presbyterians, and are substantially
accepted by Congregationalists.
Syn.
-- See Assemblage.
ASSEMBLYMAN
As*sem"bly*man, n.; pl. Assemblymen.
Defn: A member of an assembly, especially of the lower branch of a
state legislature.
ASSENT
As*sent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assented; p. pr. & vb. n. Assenting.]
Etym: [F. assentir, L. assentire, assentiri; ad + sentire to feel,
think. See Sense.]
Defn: To admit a thing as true; to express one's agreement,
acquiescence, concurrence, or concession.
Who informed the governor . . . And the Jews also assented, saying
that these things were so. Acts xxiv. 9.
The princess assented to all that was suggested. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To yield; agree; acquiesce; concede; concur.
ASSENT
As*sent", n. Etym: [OE. assent, fr. assentir. See Assent, v.]
Defn: The act of assenting; the act of the mind in admitting or
agreeing to anything; concurrence with approval; consent; agreement;
acquiescence.
Faith is the assent to any proposition, on the credit of the
proposer. Locke.
The assent, if not the approbation, of the prince. Prescott.
Too many people read this ribaldry with assent and admiration.
Macaulay.
Royal assent, in England, the assent of the sovereign to a bill which
has passed both houses of Parliament, after which it becomes law.
Syn.
-- Concurrence; acquiescence; approval; accord.
-- Assent, Consent. Assent is an act of the understanding, consent
of the will or feelings. We assent to the views of others when our
minds come to the same conclusion with theirs as to what is true,
right, or admissible. We consent when there is such a concurrence of
our will with their desires and wishes that we decide to comply with
their requests. The king of England gives his assent, not his
consent, to acts of Parliament, because, in theory at least, he is
not governed by personal feelings or choice, but by a deliberate,
judgment as to the common good. We also use assent in cases where a
proposal is made which involves but little interest or feeling. A
lady may assent to a gentleman's opening the window; but if he offers
himself in marriage, he must wait for her consent.
ASSENTATION
As`sen*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. assentatio. See Assent, v.]
Defn: Insincere, flattering, or obsequious assent; hypocritical or
pretended concurrence.
Abject flattery and indiscriminate assentation degrade as much as
indiscriminate contradiction and noisy debate disgust. Ld.
Chesterfield.
ASSENTATOR
As`sen*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. assentari to assent constantly.]
Defn: An obsequious; a flatterer. [R.]
ASSENTATORY
As*sent"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Flattering; obsequious. [Obs.] -- As*sent"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
[Obs.]
ASSENTER
As*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who assents.
ASSENTIENT
As*sen"tient, a.
Defn: Assenting.
ASSENTING
As*sent"ing, a.
Defn: Giving or implying assent.
-- As*sent"ing*ly, adv.
ASSENTIVE
As*sent"ive, a.
Defn: Giving assent; of the nature of assent; complying.
-- As*sent"ive*ness, n.
ASSENTMENT
As*sent"ment, n.
Defn: Assent; agreement. [Obs.]
ASSERT
As*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Asserting.]
Etym: [L. assertus, p. p. of asserere to join or fasten to one's
self, claim, maintain; ad + serere to join or bind together. See
Series.]
1. To affirm; to declare with assurance, or plainly and strongly; to
state positively; to aver; to asseverate.
Nothing is more shameful . . . than to assert anything to be done
without a cause. Ray.
2. To maintain; to defend. [Obs. or Archaic]
That . . . I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of
God to men. Milton.
I will assert it from the scandal. Jer. Taylor.
3. To maintain or defend, as a cause or a claim, by words or
measures; to vindicate a claim or title to; as, to assert our rights
and liberties. To assert one's self, to claim or vindicate one's
rights or position; to demand recognition.
Syn.
-- To affirm; aver; asseverate; maintain; protest; pronounce;
declare; vindicate.
-- To Assert, Affirm, Maintain, Vindicate. To assert is to fasten to
one's self, and hence to claim. It is, therefore, adversative in its
nature. We assert our rights and privileges, or the cause of tree
institutions, as against opposition or denial. To affirm is to
declare as true. We assert boldly; we affirm positively. To maintain
is to uphold, and insist upon with earnestness, whatever we have once
asserted; as, to maintain one's cause, to maintain an argument, to
maintain the ground we have taken. To vindicate is to use language
and measures of the strongest kind, in defense of ourselves and those
for whom we act. We maintain our assertions by adducing proofs,
facts, or arguments; we are ready to vindicate our rights or
interests by the utmost exertion of our powers.
ASSERTER
As*sert"er, n.
Defn: One who asserts; one who avers pr maintains; an assertor.
The inflexible asserter of the rights of the church. Milman.
ASSERTION
As*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. assertio, fr. asserere.]
1. The act of asserting, or that which is asserted; positive
declaration or averment; affirmation; statement asserted; position
advanced.
There is a difference between assertion and demonstration. Macaulay.
2. Maintenance; vindication; as, the assertion of one's rights or
prerogatives.
ASSERTIVE
As*sert"ive, a.
Defn: Positive; affirming confidently; affirmative; peremptory.
In a confident and assertive form. Glanvill.
As*sert"ive*ly, adv.
-- As*sert"ive*ness, n.
ASSERTOR
As*sert"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. asserere.]
Defn: One who asserts or avers; one who maintains or vindicates a
claim or a right; an affirmer, supporter, or vindicator; a defender;
an asserter.
The assertors of liberty said not a word. Macaulay.
Faithful assertor of thy country's cause. Prior.
ASSERTORIAL
As`ser*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Asserting that a thing is; -- opposed to problematical and
apodeictical.
ASSERTORY
As*sert"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. assertorius, fr. asserere.]
Defn: Affirming; maintaining.
Arguments . . . assertory, not probatory. Jer. Taylor.
An assertory, not a promissory, declaration. Bentham.
A proposition is assertory, when it enounces what is known as actual.
Sir W. Hamilton.
ASSESS
As*sess", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assessing.]
Etym: [OF. assesser to regulate, settle, LL. assessare to value for
taxation, fr. L. assidere, supine as if assessum, to sit by, esp. of
judges in a court, in LL. to assess, tax. Cf. Assize, v., Cess.]
1. To value; to make a valuation or official estimate of for the
purpose of taxation.
2. To apportion a sum to be paid by (a person, a community, or an
estate), in the nature of a tax, fine, etc.; to impose a tax upon (a
person, an estate, or an income) according to a rate or
apportionment.
3. To determine and impose a tax or fine upon (a person, community,
estate, or income); to tax; as, the club assessed each member twenty-
five cents.
4. To fix or determine the rate or amount of.
This sum is assessed and raised upon individuals by commissioners in
the act. Blackstone.
ASSESSABLE
As*sess"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to be assessed or taxed; as, assessable property.
ASSESSEE
As`sess*ee", n.
Defn: One who is assessed.
ASSESSION
As*ses"sion, n. Etym: [L. assessio, fr. assid to sit by or near; ad +
sed to sit. See Sit.]
Defn: A sitting beside or near.
ASSESSMENT
As*sess"ment, n. Etym: [LL. assessamentum.]
1. The act of assessing; the act of determining an amount to be paid;
as, an assessment of damages, or of taxes; an assessment of the
members of a club.
2. A valuation of property or profits of business, for the purpose of
taxation; such valuation and an adjudging of the proper sum to be
levied on the property; as, an assessment of property or an
assessment on property.
Note: An assessment is a valuation made by authorized persons
according to their discretion, as opposed to a sum certain or
determined by law. It is a valuation of the property of those who are
to pay the tax, for the purpose of fixing the proportion which each
man shall pay. Blackstone. Burrill.
3. The specific sum levied or assessed.
4. An apportionment of a subscription for stock into successive
installments; also, one of these installments (in England termed a
"call"). [U. S.]
ASSESSOR
As*sess"or, n. Etym: [L., one who sits beside, the assistant of a
judge, fr. assid. See Assession. LL., one who arranges of determines
the taxes, fr. assid. See Assess, v., and cf. Cessor.]
1. One appointed or elected to assist a judge or magistrate with his
special knowledge of the subject to be decided; as legal assessors,
nautical assessors. Mozley & W.
2. One who sits by another, as next in dignity, or as an assistant
and adviser; an associate in office.
Whence to his Son, The assessor of his throne, he thus began. Milton.
With his ignorance, his inclinations, and his fancy, as his assessors
in judgment. I. Taylor.
3. One appointed to assess persons or property for the purpose of
taxation. Bouvier.
ASSESSORIAL
As`ses*so"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. assessorial, fr. L. assessor.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an assessor, or to a court of assessors.
Coxe.
ASSESSORSHIP
As*sess"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office or function of an assessor.
ASSET
As"set, n.
Defn: Any article or separable part of one's assets.
ASSETS
As"sets, n. pl. Etym: [OF. asez enough, F. assez, fr. L. ad + satis,
akin to Gr. saps full. Cf. Assai, Satisfy.]
1. (Law)
(a) Property of a deceased person, subject by law to the payment of
his debts and legacies; -- called assets because sufficient to render
the executor or administrator liable to the creditors and legatees,
so far as such goods or estate may extend. Story. Blackstone.
(b) Effects of an insolvent debtor or bankrupt, applicable to the
payment of debts.
2. The entire property of all sorts, belonging to a person, a
corporation, or an estate; as, the assets of a merchant or a trading
association; -- opposed to liabilities.
Note: In balancing accounts the assets are put on the Cr. side and
the debts on the Dr. side.
ASSEVER
As*sev"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. asseverer, fr. L. asseverare.]
Defn: See Asseverate. [Archaic]
ASSEVERATE
As*sev"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Asseverated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Asseverating.] Etym: [L. asseveratus, p. p. of asseverare to assert
seriously or earnestly; ad + severus. See Severe.]
Defn: To affirm or aver positively, or with solemnity.
Syn.
-- To affirm; aver; protest; declare. See Affirm.
ASSEVERATION
As*sev`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. asseveratio.]
Defn: The act of asseverating, or that which is asseverated; positive
affirmation or assertion; solemn declaration.
Another abuse of the tongue I might add, -- vehement asseverations
upon slight and trivial occasions. Ray.
ASSEVERATIVE
As*sev"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Characterized by asseveration; asserting positively.
ASSEVERATORY
As*sev"er*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Asseverative.
ASSIBILATE
As*sib"i*late, v. t. Etym: [L. assibilatus, p. p. of assibilare to
hiss out; ad + sibilare to hiss.]
Defn: To make sibilant; to change to a sibilant. J. Peile.
ASSIBILATION
As*sib`i*la"tion, n.
Defn: Change of a non-sibilant letter to a sibilant, as of -tion to -
shun, duke to ditch.
ASSIDEAN
As`si*de"an, n. Etym: [Heb. khasad to be pious.]
Defn: One of a body of devoted Jews who opposed the Hellenistic Jews,
and supported the Asmoneans.
ASSIDENT
As"si*dent, a. Etym: [L. assidens, p. pr. of assid to sit by: cf. F.
assident. See Assession.] (Med.)
Defn: Usually attending a disease, but not always; as, assident
signs, or symptoms.
ASSIDUATE
As*sid"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. assiduatus, p. p. of assiduare to use
assiduously.]
Defn: Unremitting; assiduous. [Obs.] "Assiduate labor." Fabyan.
ASSIDUITY
As`si*du"i*ty, n.; pl. Assiduities. Etym: [L. assiduitas: cf. F.
assiduite. See Assiduous.]
1. Constant or close application or attention, particularly to some
business or enterprise; diligence.
I have, with much pains and assiduity, qualified myself for a
nomenclator. Addison.
2. Studied and persevering attention to a person; -- usually in the
plural.
ASSIDUOUS
As*sid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. assiduus, fr. assid to sit near or close;
ad + sed to sit. See Sit.]
1. Constant in application or attention; devoted; attentive;
unremitting.
She grows more assiduous in her attendance. Addison.
2. Performed with constant diligence or attention; unremitting;
persistent; as, assiduous labor.
To weary him with my assiduous cries. Milton.
Syn.
-- Diligent; attentive; sedulous; unwearied; unintermitted;
persevering; laborious; indefatigable. As*sid"u*ous*ly, adv.
-- As*sid"u*ous*ness, n.
ASSIEGE
As*siege", v. t. Etym: [OE. asegen, OF. asegier, F. assiéger, fr. LL.
assediare, assidiare, to besiege. See Siege.]
Defn: To besiege. [Obs.] "Assieged castles." Spenser.
ASSIEGE
As*siege", n.
Defn: A siege. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASSIENTIST
As`si*en"tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assientiste, Sp. asentista.]
Defn: A shareholder of the Assiento company; one of the parties to
the Assiento contract. Bancroft.
ASSIENTO
As`si*en"to, n. Etym: [Sp. asiento seat, contract or agreement, fr.
asentar to place on a chair, to adjust, to make an agreement; a (L.
ad) + sentar, a participial verb; as if there were a L. sedentare to
cause to sit, fr. sedens, sedentis, p. pr. of sed to sit.]
Defn: A contract or convention between Spain and other powers for
furnishing negro slaves for the Spanish dominions in America, esp.
the contract made with Great Britain in 1713.
ASSIGN
As*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Assigning.]
Etym: [OE. assignen, asignen, F. assigner, fr. L. assignare; ad +
signare to mark, mark out, designate, signum mark, sign. See Sign.]
1. To appoint; to allot; to apportion; to make over.
In the order I assign to them. Loudon.
The man who could feel thus was worthy of a better station than that
in which his lot had been assigned. Southey.
He assigned to his men their several posts. Prescott.
2. To fix, specify, select, or designate; to point out
authoritatively or exactly; as, to assign a limit; to assign counsel
for a prisoner; to assign a day for trial.
All as the dwarf the way to her assigned. Spenser.
It is not easy to assign a period more eventful. De Quincey.
3. (Law)
Defn: To transfer, or make over to another, esp. to transfer to, and
vest in, certain persons, called assignees, for the benefit of
creditors. To assign dower, to set out by metes and bounds the
widow's share or portion in an estate. Kent.
ASSIGN
As*sign", n. Etym: [From Assign, v.]
Defn: A thing pertaining or belonging to something else; an
appurtenance. [Obs.]
Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdles,
hangers, and so. Shak.
ASSIGN
As*sign", n. Etym: [See Assignee.] (Law)
Defn: A person to whom property or an interest is transferred; as, a
deed to a man and his heirs and assigns.
ASSIGNABILITY
As*sign`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being assignable.
ASSIGNABLE
As*sign"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being assigned, allotted, specified, or designated;
as, an assignable note or bill; an assignable reason; an assignable
quantity.
ASSIGNAT
As`si`gnat", n. Etym: [F. assignat, fr. L. assignatus, p. p. of
assignare.]
Defn: One of the notes, bills, or bonds, issued as currency by the
revolutionary government of France (1790-1796), and based on the
security of the lands of the church and of nobles which had been
appropriated by the state.
ASSIGNATION
As`sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. assignatio, fr. assignare: cf. F.
assignation.]
1. The act of assigning or allotting; apportionment.
This order being taken in the senate, as touching the appointment and
assignation of those provinces. Holland.
2. An appointment of time and place for meeting or interview; -- used
chiefly of love interviews, and now commonly in a bad sense.
While nymphs take treats, or assignations give. Pope.
3. A making over by transfer of title; assignment. House of
assignation, a house in which appointments for sexual intercourse are
fulfilled.
ASSIGNEE
As`sign*ee", n. Etym: [F. assigné, p. p. of assigner. See Assign, v.,
and cf. Assign an assignee.] (Law)
(a) A person to whom an assignment is made; a person appointed or
deputed by another to do some act, perform some business, or enjoy
some right, privilege, or property; as, an assignee of a bankrupt.
See Assignment (c). An assignee may be by special appointment or
deed, or be created by jaw; as an executor. Cowell. Blount. (b) pl.
Defn: In England, the persons appointed, under a commission of
bankruptcy, to manage the estate of a bankrupt for the benefit of his
creditors.
ASSIGNER
As*sign"er, n.
Defn: One who assigns, appoints, allots, or apportions.
ASSIGNMENT
As*sign"ment, n. Etym: [LL. assignamentum: cf. OF. assenement.]
1. An allotting or an appointment to a particular person or use; or
for a particular time, as of a cause or causes in court.
2. (Law)
(a) A transfer of title or interest by writing, as of lease, bond,
note, or bill of exchange; a transfer of the whole of some particular
estate or interest in lands.
(b) The writing by which an interest is transferred.
(c) The transfer of the property of a bankrupt to certain persons
called assignees, in whom it is vested for the benefit of creditors.
Assignment of dower, the setting out by metes and bounds of the
widow's thirds or portion in the deceased husband's estate, and
allotting it to her.
Note: Assignment is also used in law as convertible with
specification; assignment of error in proceedings for review being
specification of error; and assignment of perjury or fraud in
indictment being specifications of perjury or fraud.
ASSIGNOR
As`sign*or", n. Etym: [L. assignator. Cf. Assigner.] (Law)
Defn: An assigner; a person who assigns or transfers an interest; as,
the assignor of a debt or other chose in action.
ASSIMILABILITY
As*sim`i*la*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being assimilable. [R.] Coleridge.
ASSIMILABLE
As*sim"i*la*ble, a.
Defn: That may be assimilated; that may be likened, or appropriated
and incorporated.
ASSIMILATE
As*sim"i*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assimilated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Assimilating.] Etym: [L. assimilatus, p. p. of assimilare; ad +
similare to make like, similis like. See Similar, Assemble,
Assimilate.]
1. To bring to a likeness or to conformity; to cause a resemblance
between. Sir M. Hale.
To assimilate our law to the law of Scotland. John Bright.
Fast falls a fleecy; the downy flakes Assimilate all objects. Cowper.
2. To liken; to compa [R.]
3. To appropriate and transform or incorporate into the substance of
the assimilating body; to absorb or appropriate, as nourishment; as,
food is assimilated and converted into organic tissue.
Hence also animals and vegetables may assimilate their nourishment.
Sir I. Newton.
His mind had no power to assimilate the lessons. Merivale.
ASSIMILATE
As*sim"i*late, v. i.
1. To become similar or like something else. [R.]
2. To change and appropriate nourishment so as to make it a part of
the substance of the assimilating body.
Aliment easily assimilated or turned into blood. Arbuthnot.
3. To be converted into the substance of the assimilating body; to
become incorporated; as, some kinds of food assimilate more readily
than others.
I am a foreign material, and cannot assimilate with the church of
England. J. H. Newman.
ASSIMILATION
As*sim`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. assimilatio: cf. F. assimilation.]
1. The act or process of assimilating or bringing to a resemblance,
likeness, or identity; also, the state of being so assimilated; as,
the assimilation of one sound to another.
To aspire to an assimilation with God. Dr. H. More.
The assimilation of gases and vapors. Sir J. Herschel.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The conversion of nutriment into the fluid or solid substance
of the body, by the processes of digestion and absorption, whether in
plants or animals.
Not conversing the body, not repairing it by assimilation, but
preserving it by ventilation. Sir T. Browne.
Note: The term assimilation has been limited by some to the final
process by which the nutritive matter of the blood is converted into
the substance of the tissues and organs.
ASSIMILATIVE
As*sim"i*la*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. assimilativus, F. assimilatif.]
Defn: Tending to, or characterized by, assimilation; that assimilates
or causes assimilation; as, an assimilative process or substance.
ASSIMILATORY
As*sim"i*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to assimilate, or produce assimilation; as,
assimilatory organs.
ASSIMULATE
As*sim"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. assimulatus, p. p. of assimulare,
equiv. to assimilare. See Assimilate, v. t.]
1. To feign; to counterfeit; to simulate; to resemble. [Obs.] Blount.
2. To assimilate. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
ASSIMULATION
As*sim`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. assimulatio, equiv. to assimilatio.]
Defn: Assimilation. [Obs.] Bacon.
ASSINEGO
As`si*ne"go, n.
Defn: See Asinego.
ASSISH
Ass"ish, a.
Defn: Resembling an ass; asinine; stupid or obstinate.
Such . . . appear to be of the assich kind . . . Udall.
ASSIST
As*sist", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assisting.]
Etym: [L. assistere; ad + sistere to cause to stand, to stand, from
stare to stand: cf. F. assister. See Stand.]
Defn: To give support to in some undertaking or effort, or in time of
distress; to help; to aid; to succor.
Assist me, knight. I am undone! Shak.
Syn.
-- To help; aid; second; back; support; relieve; succor; befriend;
sustain; favor. See Help.
ASSIST
As*sist", v. i.
1. To lend aid; to help.
With God not parted from him, as was feared, But favoring and
assisting to the end. Milton.
2. To be present as a spectator; as, to assist at a public meeting.
[A Gallicism] Gibbon. Prescott.
ASSISTANCE
As*sist"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assistance.]
1. The act of assisting; help; aid; furtherance; succor; support.
Without the assistance of a mortal hand. Shak.
2. An assistant or helper; a body of helpers. [Obs.]
Wat Tyler [was] killed by valiant Walworth, the lord mayor of London,
and his assistance, . . . John Cavendish. Fuller.
3. Persons present. [Obs. or a Gallicism]
ASSISTANT
As*sist"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. assistant, p. pr. of assister.]
1. Helping; lending aid or support; auxiliary.
Genius and learning . . . are mutually and greatly assistant to each
other. Beattie.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: Of the second grade in the staff of the army; as, an assistant
surgeon. [U.S.]
Note: In the English army it designates the third grade in any
particular branch of the staff. Farrow.
ASSISTANT
As*sist"ant, n.
1. One who, or that which, assists; a helper; an auxiliary; a means
of help.
Four assistants who his labor share. Pope.
Rhymes merely as assistants to memory. Mrs. Chapone.
2. An attendant; one who is present. Dryden.
ASSISTANTLY
As*sist"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to give aid. [R.]
ASSISTER
As*sist"er, n.
Defn: An assistant; a helper.
ASSISTFUL
As*sist"ful, a.
Defn: Helpful.
ASSISTIVE
As*sist"ive, a.
Defn: Lending aid, helping.
ASSISTLESS
As*sist"less, a.
Defn: Without aid or help. [R.] Pope.
ASSISTOR
As*sist"or, n. (Law)
Defn: A assister.
ASSITHMENT
As*sith"ment, n.
Defn: See Assythment. [Obs.]
ASSIZE
As*size", n. Etym: [OE. assise, asise, OF. assise, F. assises,
assembly of judges, the decree pronounced by them, tax, impost, fr.
assis, assise, p. p. of asseoir, fr. L. assid to sit by; ad + sed to
sit. See Sit, Size, and cf. Excise, Assess.]
1. An assembly of knights and other substantial men, with a bailiff
or justice, in a certain place and at a certain time, for public
business. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
(a) A special kind of jury or inquest.
(b) A kind of writ or real action.
(c) A verdict or finding of a jury upon such writ.
(d) A statute or ordinance in general. Specifically: (1) A statute
regulating the weight, measure, and proportions of ingredients and
the price of articles sold in the market; as, the assize of bread and
other provisions; (2) A statute fixing the standard of weights and
measures.
(e) Anything fixed or reduced to a certainty in point of time,
number, quantity, quality, weight, measure, etc.; as, rent of assize.
Glanvill. Spelman. Cowell. Blackstone. Tomlins. Burrill.
Note: [This term is not now used in England in the sense of a writ or
real action, and seldom of a jury of any kind, but in Scotch practice
it is still technically applied to the jury in criminal cases.
Stephen. Burrill. Erskine.]
(f) A court, the sitting or session of a court, for the trial of
processes, whether civil or criminal, by a judge and jury.
Blackstone. Wharton. Encyc. Brit.
(g) The periodical sessions of the judges of the superior courts in
every county of England for the purpose of administering justice in
the trial and determination of civil and criminal cases; -- usually
in the plural. Brande. Wharton. Craig. Burrill.
(h) The time or place of holding the court of assize; -- generally in
the plural, assizes.
3. Measure; dimension; size. [In this sense now corrupted into size.]
An hundred cubits high by just assize. Spenser.
[Formerly written, as in French, assise.]
ASSIZE
As*size", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assized; p. pr. & vb. n. Assizing.]
Etym: [From Assize, n.: cf. LL. assisare to decree in assize. Cf.
Asses, v.]
1. To assess; to value; to rate. [Obs.] Gower.
2. To fix the weight, measure, or price of, by an ordinance or
regulation of authority. [Obs.]
ASSIZER
As*siz"er, n.
Defn: An officer who has the care or inspection of weights and
measures, etc.
ASSIZOR
As*siz"or, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A juror.
ASSOBER
As*so"ber, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + sober. Cf. Ensober.]
Defn: To make or keep sober. [Obs.] Gower.
ASSOCIABILITY
As*so`cia*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being associable, or capable of association;
associableness. "The associability of feelings." H. Spencer.
ASSOCIABLE
As*so"cia*ble, a. Etym: [See Associate.]
1. Capable of being associated or joined.
We know feelings to be associable only by the proved ability of one
to revive another. H. Spencer.
2. Sociable; companionable. [Obs.]
3. (Med.)
Defn: Liable to be affected by sympathy with other parts; -- said of
organs, nerves, muscles, etc.
The stomach, the most associable of all the organs of the animal
body. Med. Rep.
ASSOCIABLENESS
As*so"cia*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Associability.
ASSOCIATE
As*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Associated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Associating.] Etym: [L. associatus, p. p. of associare; ad + sociare
to join or unite, socius companion. See Social.]
1. To join with one, as a friend, companion, partner, or confederate;
as, to associate others with .
2. To join or connect; to combine in acting; as, particles of gold
associated with other substances.
3. To connect or place together in thought.
He succeeded in associating his name inseparably with some names
which will last an long as our language. Macaulay.
4. To accompany; to keep company with. [Obs.]
Friends should associate friends in grief and woe. Shak.
ASSOCIATE
As*so"ci*ate, v. i.
1. To unite in company; to keep company, implying intimacy; as,
congenial minds are disposed to associate.
2. To unite in action, or to be affected by the action of a different
part of the body. E. Darwin.
ASSOCIATE
As*so"ci*ate, a. Etym: [L. associatus, p. p.]
1. Closely connected or joined with some other, as in interest,
purpose, employment, or office; sharing responsibility or authority;
as, an associate judge.
While I descend . . . to my associate powers. Milton.
2. Admitted to some, but not to all, rights and privileges; as, an
associate member.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: Connected by habit or sympathy; as, associate motions, such as
occur sympathetically, in consequence of preceding motions. E.
Darwin.
ASSOCIATE
As*so"ci*ate, n.
1. A companion; one frequently in company with another, implying
intimacy or equality; a mate; a fellow.
2. A partner in interest, as in business; or a confederate in a
league.
3. One connected with an association or institution without the full
rights or privileges of a regular member; as, an associate of the
Royal Academy.
4. Anything closely or usually connected with another; an
concomitant.
The one [idea] no sooner comes into the understanding, than its
associate appears with it. Locke.
Syn.
-- Companion; mate; fellow; friend; ally; partner; coadjutor;
comrade; accomplice.
ASSOCIATED
As*so"ci*a`ted, a.
Defn: Joined as a companion; brought into association; accompanying;
combined. Associated movements (Physiol.), consensual movements which
accompany voluntary efforts without our consciousness. Dunglison.
ASSOCIATESHIP
As*so"ci*ate*ship, n.
Defn: The state of an associate, as in Academy or an office.
ASSOCIATION
As*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. association, LL. associatio, fr. L.
associare.]
1. The act of associating, or state of being associated; union;
connection, whether of persons of things. "Some . . . bond of
association." Hooker.
Self-denial is a kind of holy association with God. Boyle.
2. Mental connection, or that which is mentally linked or associated
with a thing.
Words . . . must owe their powers association. Johnson.
Why should . . . the holiest words, with all their venerable
associations, be profaned Coleridge.
3. Union of persons in a company or society for some particular
purpose; as, the American Association for the Advancement of Science;
a benevolent association. Specifically, as among the
Congregationalists, a society, consisting of a number of ministers,
generally the pastors of neighboring churches, united for promoting
the interests of religion and the harmony of the churches.
Association of ideas (Physiol.), the combination or connection of
states of mind or their objects with one another, as the result of
which one is said to be revived or represented by means of the other.
The relations according to which they are thus connected or revived
are called the law of association. Prominent among them are reckoned
the relations of time and place, and of cause and effect. Porter.
ASSOCIATIONAL
As*so`ci*a"tion*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to association, or to an association.
2. Pertaining to the theory held by the associationists.
ASSOCIATIONISM
As*so`ci*a"tion*ism, n. (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine or theory held by associationists.
ASSOCIATIONIST
As*so`ci*a"tion*ist, n. (Philos.)
Defn: One who explains the higher functions and relations of the soul
by the association of ideas; e. g., Hartley, J. C. Mill.
ASSOCIATIVE
As*so"ci*a*tive, a.
Defn: Having the quality of associating; tending or leading to
association; as, the associative faculty. Hugh Miller.
ASSOCIATOR
As*so"ci*a`tor, n.
Defn: An associate; a confederate or partner in any scheme.
How Pennsylvania's air agrees with Quakers, And Carolina's with
associators. Dryden.
ASSOIL
As*soil", v. t. Etym: [OF. assoiler, absoiler, assoldre, F. absoudre,
L. absolvere. See Absolve.]
1. To set free; to release. [Archaic]
Till from her hands the spright assoiled is. Spenser.
2. To solve; to clear up. [Obs.]
Any child might soon be able to assoil this riddle. Bp. Jewel.
3. To set free from guilt; to absolve. [Archaic]
Acquitted and assoiled from the guilt. Dr. H. More.
Many persons think themselves fairly assoiled, because they are . . .
not of scandalous lives. Jer. Taylor.
4. To expiate; to atone for. [Archaic] Spenser.
Let each act assoil a fault. E. Arnold.
5. To remove; to put off. [Obs.]
She soundly slept, and careful thoughts did quite assoil. Spenser.
ASSOIL
As*soil", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + soil.]
Defn: To soil; to stain. [Obs. or Poet.] Beau. & Fl.
Ne'er assoil my cobwebbed shield. Wordsworth.
ASSOILMENT
As*soil"ment, n.
Defn: Act of assoiling, or state of being assoiled; absolution;
acquittal.
ASSOILMENT
As*soil"ment, n.
Defn: A soiling; defilement.
ASSOILZIE; ASSOILYIE
As*soil"zie, As*soil"yie, v. t. Etym: [Old form assoil. See Assoil.]
(Scots Law)
Defn: To absolve; to acquit by sentence of court.
God assoilzie him for the sin of bloodshed. Sir W. Scott.
ASSONANCE
As"so*nance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assonance. See Assonant.]
1. Resemblance of sound. "The disagreeable assonance of Steevens.
2. (Pros.)
Defn: A peculiar species of rhyme, in which the last accented vowel
and those which follow it in one word correspond in sound with the
vowels of another word, while the consonants of the two words are
unlike in sound; as, calamo and platano, baby and chary.
The assonance is peculiar to the Spaniard. Hallam.
3. Incomplete correspondence.
Assonance between facts seemingly remote. Lowell.
ASSONANT
As"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. assonans, p. pr. of assonare to sound to, to
correspond to in sound; ad + sonare to sound, sonus sound: cf. F.
assonant. See Sound.]
1. Having a resemblance of sounds.
2. (Pros.)
Defn: Pertaining to the peculiar species of rhyme called assonance;
not consonant.
ASSONANTAL
As`so*nan"tal, a.
Defn: Assonant.
ASSONATE
As"so*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. assonare, assonatum, to respond to.]
Defn: To correspond in sound.
ASSORT
As*sort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Assorting.]
Etym: [F. assortir; (L. ad) + sortir to cast or draw lots, to obtain
by lot, L. sortiri, fr. sors, sortis, lot. See Sort.]
1. To separate and distribute into classes, as things of a like kind,
nature, or quality, or which are suited to a like purpose; to
classify; as, to assort goods.
Note: [Rarely applied to persons.]
They appear . . . no ways assorted to those with whom they must
associate. Burke.
2. To furnish with, or make up of, various sorts or a variety of
goods; as, to assort a cargo.
ASSORT
As*sort", v. i.
Defn: To agree; to be in accordance; to be adapted; to suit; to fall
into a class or place. Mitford.
ASSORTED
As*sort"ed, a.
Defn: Selected; culled.
ASSORTMENT
As*sort"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. assortiment.]
1. Act of assorting, or distributing into sorts, kinds, or classes.
2. A collection or quantity of things distributed into kinds or
sorts; a number of things assorted.
3. A collection containing a variety of sorts or kinds adapted to
various wants, demands, or purposes; as, an assortment of goods.
ASSOT
As*sot", v. t. Etym: [OF. asoter, F. assoter; ad) + sot stupid. See
Sot.]
Defn: To besot; to befool; to beguile; to infatuate. [Obs.]
Some ecstasy assotted had his sense. Spenser.
ASSOT
As*sot", a.
Defn: Dazed; foolish; infatuated. [Obs.]
Willie, I ween thou be assot. Spenser.
ASSUAGE
As*suage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assuaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuaging.]
Etym: [OE. asuagen, aswagen, OF. asoagier, asuagier, fr. assouagier,
fr. L. ad + suavis sweet. See Sweet.]
Defn: To soften, in a figurative sense; to allay, mitigate, ease, or
lessen, as heat, pain, or grief; to appease or pacify, as passion or
tumult; to satisfy, as appetite or desire.
Refreshing winds the summer's heat assuage. Addison.
To assuage the sorrows of a desolate old man Burke.
The fount at which the panting mind assuages Her thirst of knowledge.
Byron.
Syn.
-- To alleviate; mitigate; appease; soothe; calm; tranquilize;
relieve. See Alleviate.
ASSUAGE
As*suage", v. i.
Defn: To abate or subside. [Archaic] "The waters assuaged." Gen. vii.
1.
The plague being come to a crisis, its fury began to assuage. De Foe.
ASSUAGEMENT
As*suage"ment, n. Etym: [OF. assouagement, asuagement.]
Defn: Mitigation; abatement.
ASSUAGER
As*sua"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, assuages.
ASSUASIVE
As*sua"sive, a. Etym: [From assuage, as if this were fr. a supposed
L. assuadere to persuade to; or from E. pref. ad + -suasive as in
persuasive.]
Defn: Mitigating; tranquilizing; soothing. [R.]
Music her soft assuasive voice applies. Pope.
ASSUBJUGATE
As*sub"ju*gate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad- + subjugate.]
Defn: To bring into subjection. [Obs.] Shak.
ASSUEFACTION
As`sue*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. assuefacere to accustom to; assuetus
(p. p. of assuescere to accustom to) + facere to make; cf. OF.
assuefaction.]
Defn: The act of accustoming, or the state of being accustomed;
habituation. [Obs.]
Custom and studies efform the soul like wax, and by assuefaction
introduce a nature. Jer. Taylor.
ASSUETUDE
As"sue*tude, n. Etym: [L. assuetudo, fr. assuetus accustomed.]
Defn: Accustomedness; habit; habitual use.
Assuetude of things hurtful doth make them lose their force to hurt.
Bacon.
ASSUMABLE
As*sum"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be assumed.
ASSUMABLY
As*sum"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By way of assumption.
ASSUME
As*sume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuming.]
Etym: [L. assumere; ad + sumere to take; sub + emere to take, buy:
cf. F. assumer. See Redeem.]
1. To take to or upon one's self; to take formally and
demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly.
Trembling they stand while Jove assumes the throne. Pope.
The god assumed his native form again. Pope.
2. To take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to
suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively.
The consequences of assumed principles. Whewell.
3. To pretend to possess; to take in appearance.
Ambition assuming the mask of religion. Porteus.
Assume a virtue, if you have it not. Shak.
4. To receive or adopt.
The sixth was a young knight of lesser renown and lower rank, assumed
into that honorable company. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- To arrogate; usurp; appropriate.
ASSUME
As*sume", v. i.
1. To be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due. Bp.
Burnet.
2. (Law)
Defn: To undertake, as by a promise. Burrill.
ASSUMED
As*sumed", a.
1. Supposed.
2. Pretended; hypocritical; make-believe; as, an assumed character.
ASSUMEDLY
As*sum"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By assumption.
ASSUMENT
As*sum"ent, n. Etym: [L. assumentum, fr. ad + suere to sew.]
Defn: A patch; an addition; a piece put on. [Obs.] John Lewis (1731).
ASSUMER
As*sum"er, n.
Defn: One who assumes, arrogates, pretends, or supposes. W. D.
Whitney.
ASSUMING
As*sum"ing, a.
Defn: Pretentious; taking much upon one's self; presumptuous. Burke.
ASSUMPSIT
As*sump"sit, n. Etym: [L., he undertook, pret. of L. assumere. See
Assume.] (Law)
(a) A promise or undertaking, founded on a consideration. This
promise may be oral or in writing not under seal. It may be express
or implied.
(b) An action to recover damages for a breach or nonperformance of a
contract or promise, express or implied, oral or in writing not under
seal. Common or indebitatus assumpsit is brought for the most part on
an implied promise. Special assumpsit is founded on an express
promise or undertaking. Wharton.
ASSUMPT
As*sumpt", v. t. Etym: [L. assumptus, p. p. of assumere. See Assume.]
Defn: To take up; to elevate; to assume. [Obs.] Sheldon.
ASSUMPT
As*sumpt", n. Etym: [L. assumptum, p. p. neut. of assumere.]
Defn: That which is assumed; an assumption. [Obs.]
The sun of all your assumpts is this. Chillingworth.
ASSUMPTION
As*sump"tion, n. Etym: [OE. assumpcioun a taking up into heaven, L.
assumptio a taking, fr. assumere: cf. F. assomption. See Assume.]
1. The act of assuming, or taking to or upon one's self; the act of
taking up or adopting.
The assumption of authority. Whewell.
2. The act of taking for granted, or supposing a thing without proof;
supposition; unwarrantable claim.
This gives no sanction to the unwarrantable assumption that the soul
sleeps from the period of death to the resurrection of the body.
Thodey.
That calm assumption of the virtues. W. Black.
3. The thing supposed; a postulate, or proposition assumed; a
supposition.
Hold! says the Stoic; your assumption's wrong. Dryden.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The minor or second proposition in a categorical syllogism.
5. The taking of a person up into heaven. Hence: (Rom. Cath. & Greek
Churches)
Defn: A festival in honor of the ascent of the Virgin Mary into
heaven.
ASSUMPTIVE
As*sump"tive, a. Etym: [L. assumptivus, fr. assumptus, fr. assumere.]
Defn: Assumed, or capable of being assumed; characterized by
assumption; making unwarranted claims.
-- As*sump"tive*ly, adv. Assumptive arms (Her.), originally, arms
which a person had a right to assume, in consequence of an exploit;
now, those assumed without sanction of the Heralds' College. Percy
Smith.
ASSURANCE
As*sur"ance, n. Etym: [OE. assuraunce, F. assurance, fr. assurer. See
Assure.]
1. The act of assuring; a declaration tending to inspire full
confidence; that which is designed to give confidence.
Whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead. Acts xvii. 31.
Assurances of support came pouring in daily. Macaulay.
2. The state of being assured; firm persuasion; full confidence or
trust; freedom from doubt; certainty.
Let us draw with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Heb. x. 22.
3. Firmness of mind; undoubting, steadiness; intrepidity; courage;
confidence; self-reliance.
Brave men meet danger with assurance. Knolles.
Conversation with the world will give them knowledge and assurance.
Locke.
4. Excess of boldness; impudence; audacity; as, his assurance is
intolerable.
5. Betrothal; affiance. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
6. Insurance; a contract for the payment of a sum on occasion of a
certain event, as loss or death.
Note: Recently, assurance has been used, in England, in relation to
life contingencies, and insurance in relation to other contingencies.
It is called temporary assurance, in the time within which the
contingent event must happen is limited. See Insurance.
7. (Law)
Defn: Any written or other legal evidence of the conveyance of
property; a conveyance; a deed.
Note: In England, the legal evidences of the conveyance of property
are called the common assurances of the kingdom. Blackstone.
ASSURE
As*sure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Assured; p. pr. & vb. n. Assuring.]
Etym: [OF. aseürer, F. assurer, LL. assecurare; L. ad + securus
secure, sure, certain. See Secure, Sure, and cf. Insure.]
1. To make sure or certain; to render confident by a promise,
declaration, or other evidence.
His promise that thy seed shall bruise our foe . . . Assures me that
the bitterness of death Is past, and we shall live. Milton.
2. To declare to, solemnly; to assert to (any one) with the design of
inspiring belief or confidence.
I dare assure thee that no enemy Shall ever take alive the noble
Brutus. Shak.
3. To confirm; to make certain or secure.
And it shall be assured to him. Lev. xxvii. 19.
And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before him. 1 John iii. 19.
4. To affiance; to betroth. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Law)
Defn: To insure; to covenant to indemnify for loss, or to pay a
specified sum at death. See Insure.
Syn.
-- To declare; aver; avouch; vouch; assert; asseverate; protest;
persuade; convince.
ASSURED
As*sured", a.
Defn: Made sure; safe; insured; certain; indubitable; not doubting;
bold to excess.
ASSURED
As*sured", n.
Defn: One whose life or property is insured.
ASSUREDLY
As*sur"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Certainly; indubitably. "The siege assuredly I'll raise." Shak.
ASSUREDNESS
As*sur"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being assured; certainty; full confidence.
ASSURER
As*sur"er, n.
1. One who assures. Specifically: One who insures against loss; an
insurer or underwriter.
2. One who takes out a life assurance policy.
ASSURGENCY
As*sur"gen*cy, n.
Defn: Act of rising.
The . . . assurgency of the spirit through the body. Coleridge.
ASSURGENT
As*sur"gent, a. Etym: [L. assurgens, p. pr. of assurgere; ad +
surgere to rise.]
Defn: Ascending; (Bot.)
Defn: rising obliquely; curving upward. Gray.
ASSURING
As*sur"ing, a.
Defn: That assures; tending to assure; giving confidence.
-- As*sur"ing*ly, adv.
ASSWAGE
As*swage", v.
Defn: See Assuage.
ASSYRIAN
As*syr"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Assyrius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Assyria, or to its inhabitants.
-- n. A native or an inhabitant of Assyria; the language of Assyria.
ASSYRIOLOGICAL
As*syr`i*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Assyriology; as, Assyriological studies.
ASSYRIOLOGIST
As*syr`i*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in Assyriology; a student of Assyrian archæology.
ASSYRIOLOGY
As*syr`i*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Assyria + -logy.]
Defn: The science or study of the antiquities, language, etc., of
ancient Assyria.
ASSYTHMENT
As*syth"ment, n. Etym: [From OF. aset, asez, orig. meaning enough.
See Assets.]
Defn: Indemnification for injury; satisfaction. [Chiefly in Scots
law]
ASTACUS
As"ta*cus, n. Etym: [L. astacus a crab, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of crustaceans, containing the crawfish of fresh-water
lobster of Europe, and allied species of western North America. See
Crawfish.
ASTARBOARD
A*star"board, adv. (Naut.)
Defn: Over to the starboard side; -- said of the tiller.
ASTART
A*start", v. t. & i.
Defn: Same as Astert. [Obs.]
ASTARTE
As*tar"te, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of bivalve mollusks, common on the coasts of America
and Europe.
ASTATE
A*state", n.
Defn: Estate; state. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASTATIC
A*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + static.] (Magnetism)
Defn: Having little or no tendency to take a fixed or definite
position or direction: thus, a suspended magnetic needle, when
rendered astatic, loses its polarity, or tendency to point in a given
direction. Astatic pair (Magnetism), a pair of magnetic needles so
mounted as to be nearly or quite astatic, as in some galvanometers.
ASTATICALLY
A*stat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an astatic manner.
ASTATICISM
A*stat"i*cism, n.
Defn: The state of being astatic.
ASTATIZE
As"ta*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Astatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Astatizing.] (Magnetism)
Defn: To render astatic.
ASTATKI
As*tat"ki, n. [From Russ. ostatki remnants, pl. of ostatok.]
Defn: A thick liquid residuum obtained in the distillation of Russian
petroleum, much used as fuel.
ASTAY
A*stay", adv. (Naut.)
Defn: An anchor is said to be astay, in heaving it, an acute angle is
formed between the cable and the surface of the water.
ASTEISM
As"te*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. astéisme.] (Rhet.)
Defn: Genteel irony; a polite and ingenious manner of deriding
another.
ASTEL
As"tel, n. Etym: [OE. astelle piece of wood, OF. astele splinter,
shaving, F. attelle, astelle: cf. L. astula, dim. of assis board.]
(Mining)
Defn: An arch, or ceiling, of boards, placed over the men's heads in
a mine.
ASTER
As"ter, n. Etym: [L. aster aster, star, Gr. Star.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers;
starwort; Michaelmas daisy.
2. (Floriculture)
Defn: A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China
asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome
compound flowers.
ASTERIAS
As*te"ri*as, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of echinoderms.
Note: Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes
and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the
commonest shore starfishes.
ASTERIATED
As*te"ri*a`ted, a. Etym: [See Asterias.]
Defn: Radiated, with diverging rays; as, asteriated sapphire.
ASTERIDIAN
As`ter*id"i*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Asterioidea.
-- n.
Defn: A starfish; one of the Asterioidea.
ASTERIOIDEA; ASTERIDEA
As*te`ri*oid"e*a, As`ter*id"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid. See
Asterias.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Echinodermata including the true starfishes. The
rays vary in number and always have ambulacral grooves below. The
body is starshaped or pentagonal.
ASTERION
As*te"ri*on, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The point on the side of the skull where the lambdoid, parieto-
mastoid and occipito-mastoid sutures.
ASTERISCUS
As`ter*is"cus, n. Etym: [L., an asterisk. See Asterisk.] (Anat.)
Defn: The smaller of the two otoliths found in the inner ear of many
fishes.
ASTERISK
As"ter*isk, n. Etym: [L. asteriscus, Gr. Aster.]
Defn: The figure of a star, thus,
ASTERISM
As`ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. astérisme.]
1. (Astron.)
(a) A constellation. [Obs.]
(b) A small cluster of stars.
2. (Printing)
(a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.]
(b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, *, to direct attention to
a particular passage.
3. (Crystallog.)
Defn: An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star-
shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light,
as some mica.
ASTERN
A*stern", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + stern.] (Naut.)
1. In or at the hinder part of a ship; toward the hinder part, or
stern; backward; as, to go astern.
2. Behind a ship; in the rear. "A gale of wind right astern." De Foe.
"Left this strait astern." Drake. To bake astern, to go stern
foremost.
-- To be astern of the reckoning, to be behind the position given by
the reckoning.
-- To drop astern, to fall or be left behind.
-- To go astern, to go backward, as from the action of currents or
winds.
ASTERNAL
A*ster"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + sternal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum.
ASTEROID
As"ter*oid, n. Etym: [Gr. astéroïde. See Aster.]
Defn: A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose
orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; -- called also
planetoids and minor planets.
ASTEROIDAL
As`ter*oid"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an asteroid, or to the asteroids.
ASTEROLEPIS
As`te*rol"e*pis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, some of which were eighteen or twenty feet
long, found in a fossil state in the Old Red Sandstone. Hugh Miller.
ASTEROPE
As*ter"o*pe, n. [Gr. , lit., lightning.]
1. (Myth.)
Defn: One of the Pleiades; -- called also Sterope.
2. (Astron.) A double star in the Pleiades (21 k and 22 l Pleiadum,
of the 5.8 and 6.4 magnitude respectively), appearing as a single
star of the 5.3 magnitude to the naked eye.
ASTEROPHYLLITE
As`ter*oph"yl*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil plant from the coal formations of Europe and America,
now regarded as the branchlets and foliage of calamites.
ASTERT
A*stert, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + start; OE. asterten, asturten.]
Defn: To start up; to befall; to escape; to shun. [Obs.] Spenser.
ASTERT
A*stert", v. i.
Defn: To escape. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASTHENIA; ASTHENY
As`the*ni"a, As"the*ny, n. Etym: [NL. asthenia, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Want or loss of strength; debility; diminution of the vital
forces.
ASTHENIC
As*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by, or pertaining to, debility; weak;
debilitating.
ASTHENOPIA
As`the*no"pi*a, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Weakness of sight. Quain.
-- As`the*nop"ic, a.
ASTHMA
Asth"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. va, Goth. waian, to blow, E. wind.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease, characterized by difficulty of breathing (due to a
spasmodic contraction of the bronchi), recurring at intervals,
accompanied with a wheezing sound, a sense of constriction in the
chest, a cough, and expectoration.
ASTHMA PAPER
Asth"ma pa"per.
Defn: Paper impregnated with saltpeter. The fumes from the burning
paper are often inhaled as an alleviative by asthmatics.
ASTHMATIC; ASTHMATICAL
Asth*mat"ic, Asth*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. asthmaticus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to asthma; as, an asthmatic cough; liable to,
or suffering from, asthma; as, an asthmatic patient.
-- Asth*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
ASTHMATIC
Asth*mat"ic, n.
Defn: A person affected with asthma.
ASTIGMATIC
As`tig*mat"ic, a. (Med. & Opt.)
Defn: Affected with, or pertaining to, astigmatism; as, astigmatic
eyes; also, remedying astigmatism; as, astigmatic lenses.
ASTIGMATISM
A*stig"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.)
Defn: A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the
rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point,
thus causing imperfect images or indistictness of vision.
Note: The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of
lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly
seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or
clearly seen.
ASTIPULATE
As*tip"u*late, v. i. Etym: [L. astipulari; ad + stipulari to
stipulate.]
Defn: To assent. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ASTIPULATION
As*tip`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. astipulatio.]
Defn: Stipulation; agreement. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ASTIR
A*stir", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + stir.]
Defn: Stirring; in a state of activity or motion; out of bed.
ASTOMATOUS; ASTOMOUS
A*stom"a*tous, As"to*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Not possessing a mouth.
ASTON; ASTONE
As*ton", As*tone", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astoned, Astond, or Astound.]
Etym: [See Astonish.]
Defn: To stun; to astonish; to stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASTONIED
As*ton"ied, p. p.
Defn: Stunned; astonished. See Astony. [Archaic]
And I astonied fell and could not pray. Mrs. Browning.
ASTONISH
As*ton"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Astonishing.] Etym: [OE. astonien, astunian, astonen, OF. estoner, F.
étonner, fr. L. ex out + tonare to thunder, but perhaps influenced by
E. stun. See Thunder, Astound, Astony.]
1. To stun; to render senseless, as by a blow. [Obs.]
Enough, captain; you have astonished him. [Fluellen had struck
Pistol]. Shak.
The very cramp-fish [i. e., torpedo] . . . being herself not
benumbed, is able to astonish others. Holland.
2. To strike with sudden fear, terror, or wonder; to amaze; to
surprise greatly, as with something unaccountable; to confound with
some sudden emotion or passion.
Musidorus . . . had his wits astonished with sorrow. Sidney.
I, Daniel . . . was astonished at the vision. Dan. viii. 27.
Syn.
-- To amaze; astound; overwhelm; surprise.
-- Astonished, Surprised. We are surprised at what is unexpected. We
are astonished at what is above or beyond our comprehension. We are
taken by surprise. We are struck with astonishment. C. J. Smith. See
Amaze.
ASTONISHEDLY
As*ton"ish*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an astonished manner. [R.] Bp. Hall.
ASTONISHING
As*ton"ish*ing, a.
Defn: Very wonderful; of a nature to excite astonishment; as, an
astonishing event.
Syn.
-- Amazing; surprising; wonderful; marvelous. As*ton"ish*ing*ly,
adv.
-- As*ton"ish*ing*ness, n.
ASTONISHMENT
As*ton"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. est, F. étonnement.]
1. The condition of one who is stunned. Hence: Numbness; loss of
sensation; stupor; loss of sense. [Obs.]
A coldness and astonishment in his loins, as folk say. Holland.
2. Dismay; consternation. [Archaic] Spenser.
3. The overpowering emotion excited when something unaccountable,
wonderful, or dreadful is presented to the mind; an intense degree of
surprise; amazement.
Lest the place And my quaint habits breed astonishment. Milton.
4. The object causing such an emotion.
Thou shalt become an astonishment. Deut. xxviii. 37.
Syn.
-- Amazement; wonder; surprise.
ASTONY
As*ton"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astonied; p. pr. & vb. n. Astonying.
See Astone.]
Defn: To stun; to bewilder; to astonish; to dismay. [Archaic]
The captain of the Helots . . . strake Palladius upon the side of his
head, that he reeled astonied. Sir P. Sidney.
This sodeyn cas this man astonied so, That reed he wex, abayst, and
al quaking. Chaucer.
ASTOOP
A*stoop", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + stoop.]
Defn: In a stooping or inclined position. Gay.
ASTOUND
As*tound", a. Etym: [OE. astouned, astound, astoned, p. p. of astone.
See Astone.]
Defn: Stunned; astounded; astonished. [Archaic] Spenser.
Thus Ellen, dizzy and astound. As sudden ruin yawned around. Sir W.
Scott.
ASTOUND
As*tound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astounded, [Obs.] Astound; p. pr. &
vb. n. Astounding.] Etym: [See Astound, a.]
1. To stun; to stupefy.
No puissant stroke his senses once astound. Fairfax.
2. To astonish; to strike with amazement; to confound with wonder,
surprise, or fear.
These thoughts may startle well, but not astound The virtuous mind.
Milton.
ASTOUNDING
As*tound"ing, a.
Defn: Of a nature to astound; astonishing; amazing; as, an astounding
force, statement, or fact.
-- As*tound"ing*ly, adv.
ASTOUNDMENT
As*tound"ment, n.
Defn: Amazement. Coleridge.
ASTRACHAN
As`tra*chan", a. & n.
Defn: See Astrakhan.
ASTRADDLE
A*strad"dle, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + straddle.]
Defn: In a straddling position; astride; bestriding; as, to sit
astraddle a horse.
ASTRAEAN
As*træ"an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the genus Astræa or the family Astræidæ.
-- n.
Defn: A coral of the family Astræidæ; a star coral.
ASTRAGAL
As"tra*gal, n. Etym: [L. astragalus, Gr.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A convex molding of rounded surface, generally from half to
three quarters of a circle.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: A round molding encircling a cannon near the mouth.
ASTRAGALAR
As*trag"a*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the astragalus.
ASTRAGALOID
As*trag"a*loid, a. Etym: [Astragalus + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling the astragalus in form.
ASTRAGALOMANCY
As*trag"a*lo*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of small bones or dice.
ASTRAGALUS
As*trag"a*lus, n. Etym: [L. See Astragal.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The ankle bone, or hock bone; the bone of the tarsus which
articulates with the tibia at the ankle.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of papilionaceous plants, of the tribe Galegeæ,
containing numerous species, two of which are called, in English,
milk vetch and licorice vetch. Gum tragacanth is obtained from
different oriental species, particularly the A. gummifer and A.
verus.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: See Astragal, 1.
ASTRAKHAN
As`tra*khan", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Astrakhan in Russia or its products; made
of an Astrakhan skin.
-- n.
Defn: The skin of stillborn or young lambs of that region, the curled
wool of which resembles fur.
ASTRAL
As"tral, a. Etym: [L. astralis, fr. astrum star, Gr. astral. See
Star.]
Defn: Pertaining to, coming from, or resembling, the stars; starry;
starlike.
Shines only with an astral luster. I. Taylor.
Some astral forms I must invoke by prayer. Dryden.
Astral lamp, an Argand lamp so constructed that no shadow is cast
upon the table by the flattened ring-shaped reservoir in which the
oil is contained.
-- Astral spirits, spirits formerly supposed to live in the heavenly
bodies or the aërial regions, and represented in the Middle Ages as
fallen angels, spirits of the dead, or spirits originating in fire.
ASTRAND
A*strand", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + strand.]
Defn: Stranded. Sir W. Scott.
ASTRAY
A*stray", adv. & a. Etym: [See Estray, Stray.]
Defn: Out of the right, either in a literal or in a figurative sense;
wandering; as, to lead one astray.
Ye were as sheep going astray. 1 Pet. ii. 25.
ASTRICT
As*trict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astricted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Astricting.] Etym: [L. astrictus, p. p. of astringere. See Astringe.]
1. To bind up; to confine; to constrict; to contract.
The solid parts were to be relaxed or astricted. Arbuthnot.
2. To bind; to constrain; to restrict; to limit. [R.]
The mind is astricted to certain necessary modes or forms of thought.
Sir W. Hamilton.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: To restrict the tenure of; as, to astrict lands. See
Astriction, 4. Burrill.
ASTRICT
As*trict", a.
Defn: Concise; contracted. [Obs.] Weever.
ASTRICTION
As*tric"tion, n. Etym: [L. astrictio.]
1. The act of binding; restriction; also, obligation. Milton.
2. (Med.)
(a) A contraction of parts by applications; the action of an
astringent substance on the animal economy. Dunglison.
(b) Constipation. Arbuthnot.
3. Astringency. [Obs.] Bacon.
4. (Scots Law)
Defn: An obligation to have the grain growing on certain lands ground
at a certain mill, the owner paying a toll. Bell.
Note: The lands were said to be astricted to the mill.
ASTRICTIVE
As*tric"tive, a.
Defn: Binding; astringent.
-- n.
Defn: An astringent.
-- As*tric"tive*ly, adv.
ASTRICTORY
As*tric"to*ry, a.
Defn: Astrictive. [R.]
ASTRIDE
A*stride", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + stride.]
Defn: With one leg on each side, as a man when on horseback; with the
legs stretched wide apart; astraddle.
Placed astride upon the bars of the palisade. Sir W. Scott.
Glasses with horn bows sat astride on his nose. Longfellow.
ASTRIFEROUS
As*trif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. astrifer; astrum star + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing stars. [R.] Blount.
ASTRINGE
As*tringe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Astringed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Astringing.] Etym: [L. astringere; ad + stringere to draw tight. Cf.
Astrict, and see Strain, v. t.]
1. To bind fast; to constrict; to contract; to cause parts to draw
together; to compress.
Which contraction . . . astringeth the moistuBacon.
2. To bind by moral or legal obligation. Wolsey.
ASTRINGENCY
As*trin"gen*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of being astringent; the power of contracting the
parts of the body; that quality in medicines or other substances
which causes contraction of the organic textures; as, the astringency
of tannin.
ASTRINGENT
As*trin"gent, a. Etym: [L. astringens, p. pr. of astringere: cf. F.
astringent. See Astringe.]
1. Drawing together the tissues; binding; contracting; -- opposed to
laxative; as, astringent medicines; a butter and astringent taste;
astringent fruit.
2. Stern; austere; as, an astringent type of virtue.
ASTRINGENT
As*trin"gent, n.
Defn: A medicine or other substance that produces contraction in the
soft organic textures, and checks discharges of blood, mucus, etc.
External astringents are called styptics. Dunglison.
ASTRINGENTLY
As*trin"gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an astringent manner.
ASTRINGER
As*trin"ger, n. Etym: [OE. ostreger, OF. ostrucier, F. autoursier,
fr. OF. austour, ostor, hawk, F. autour; cf. L. acceptor, for
accipiter, hawk.]
Defn: A falconer who keeps a goschawk. [Obs.] Shak. Cowell. [Written
also austringer.]
ASTRO-
As"tro-.
Defn: The combining form of the Greek word 'a`stron, meaning star.
ASTROFEL; ASTROFELL
As"tro*fel, As"tro*fell, n.
Defn: A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort.
Spenser.
ASTROGENY
As*trog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr.
Defn: The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H.
Spencer.
ASTROGNOSY
As*trog"no*sy, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr.
Defn: The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars.
Bouvier.
ASTROGONY
As*trog"o*ny, n.
Defn: Same as Astrogeny.
-- As`*tro*gon"ic, a.
ASTROGRAPHY
As*trog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Astro'cf + -graphy.]
Defn: The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description
or mapping of the heavens.
ASTROITE
As"tro*ite, n. Etym: [L. astroites: cf. F. astroite.]
Defn: A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [Obs.] [Written also
astrite and astrion.]
ASTROLABE
As"tro*labe, n. Etym: [OE. astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. astrelabe, F.
astrolabe, LL. astrolabium, fr. Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the
stars. It is now disused.
Note: Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A
graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called
an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the
quadrant and sextant.
2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great
circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell.
ASTROLATER
As*trol"a*ter, n.
Defn: A worshiper of the stars. Morley.
ASTROLATRY
As*trol"a*try, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr. astrolâtrie.]
Defn: The worship of the stars.
ASTROLITHOLOGY
As`tro*li*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + lithology.]
Defn: The science of aërolites.
ASTROLOGER
As*trol"o*ger, n. Etym: [See Astrology.]
1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [Obs.]
2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events
by the aspects and situation of the stars.
ASTROLOGIAN
As`tro*lo"gi*an, n. Etym: [OF. astrologien.]
Defn: An astrologer. [Obs.]
ASTROLOGIC; ASTROLOGICAL
As`tro*log"ic, As`tro*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing
astrology. "Astrologi learning." Hudibras. "Astrological
prognostication." Cudworth.
-- As`tro*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ASTROLOGIZE
As*trol"o*gize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology.
ASTROLOGY
As*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [F. astrologie, L. astrologia, fr. Gr. Star.]
Defn: In its etymological signification, the science of the stars;
among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art
of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of
foretelling events by their position and aspects.
Note: Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became
the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was
divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell
the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology,
which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as
changes of the weather, etc.
ASTROMANTIC
As`tro*man"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to divination by means of the stars;
astrologic. [R.] Dr. H. More.
ASTROMETEOROLOGY
As`tro*me`te*or*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + meteorology.]
Defn: The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and
stars, and the weather.
-- As`*tro*me`te*or`o*log"ic*al, a.
-- As`tro*me`te*or*ol"o*gist, n.
ASTROMETER
As*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Astro- + meter.]
Defn: An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of
stars.
ASTROMETRY
As*trom"e*try, n. Etym: [Astro- + metry.]
Defn: The art of making measurements among the stars, or of
determining their relative magnitudes.
ASTRONOMER
As*tron"o*mer, n. Etym: [See Astronomy.]
1. An astrologer. [Obs.] Shak.
2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the
laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions
are regulated, with their various phenomena.
An undevout astronomer is mad. Young.
ASTRONOMIAN
As`tro*no"mi*an, n. Etym: [OE. & OF. astronomien. See Astronomy.]
Defn: An astrologer. [Obs.]
ASTRONOMIC
As`tro*nom"ic, a.
Defn: Astronomical.
ASTRONOMICAL
As`tro*nom"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. astronomicus, Gr. astronomique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods
or principles of astronomy.
-- As`tro*nom"ic*al*ly, adv. Astronomical clock. See under Clock.
-- Astronomical day. See under Day.
-- Astronomical fractions, Astronomical numbers. See under
Sexagesimal.
ASTRONOMIZE
As*tron"o*mize, v. i. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To study or to talk astronomy. [R.]
They astronomized in caves. Sir T. Browne.
ASTRONOMY
As*tron"o*my, n. Etym: [OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia,
fr. Gr. Star, and Nomad.]
1. Astrology. [Obs.]
Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck; And yet methinks I have
astronomy. Shak.
2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their
magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses,
constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various
phenomena.
3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. Physical astronomy.
See under Physical.
ASTROPHEL
As"tro*phel, n.
Defn: See Astrofel. [Obs.]
ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY
As`tro*pho*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Astro- + photography.]
Defn: The application of photography to the delineation of the sun,
moon, and stars.
ASTROPHOTOMETER
As`tro*pho*tom"e*ter, n. [Pref. astro- + photometer.] (Astron.)
Defn: A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars.
ASTROPHOTOMETRY
As`tro*pho*tom"e*try, n. (Astron.)
Defn: The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the
sun, moon, and planets. --As`tro*pho`to*met"ric*al (#), a.
ASTROPHYSICAL
As`tro*phys"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science.
ASTROPHYSICS
As`tro*phys"ics, n. [Astro-+ physics.] (Astron.)
Defn: The science treating of the physical characteristics of the
stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light,
heat, atmospheres, etc.
Its observations are made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc.,
usually in connection with the telescope.
ASTROPHYTON
As*troph"y*ton, n. Etym: [Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched.
ASTROSCOPE
As"tro*scope, n. Etym: [Astro- + scope.]
Defn: An old astronomical instrument, formed of two cones, on whose
surface the constellations were delineated.
ASTROSCOPY
As*tros"co*py, n.
Defn: Observation of the stars. [Obs.]
ASTROTHEOLOGY
As`tro*the*ol"*o*gy, n. Etym: [Astro- + theology.]
Defn: Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial
bodies. Derham.
ASTRUCTIVE
A*struc"tive, a. Etym: [L. astructus, p. p. of astruere to build up;
ad + struere to build.]
Defn: Building up; constructive; -- opposed to destructive. [Obs.]
ASTRUT
A*strut", a. & adv.
1. Sticking out, or puffed out; swelling; in a swelling manner.
[Archaic]
Inflated and astrut with self-conceit. Cowper.
2. In a strutting manner; with a strutting gait.
ASTUCIOUS
As*tu"cious, a. Etym: [F. astucieux. See Astute.]
Defn: Subtle; cunning; astute. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
-- As*tu"cious*ly, adv. [R.]
ASTUCITY
As*tu"ci*ty, n. Etym: [See Astucious.]
Defn: Craftiness; astuteness. [R.] Carlyle.
ASTUN
A*stun", v. t. Etym: [See Astony, Stun.]
Defn: To stun. [Obs.] "Breathless and astunned." Somerville.
ASTURIAN
As*tu"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Asturias in Spain.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Asturias.
ASTUTE
As*tute", a. Etym: [L. astutus, fr. astus craft, cunning; perh.
cognate with E. acute.]
Defn: Critically discerning; sagacious; shrewd; subtle; crafty.
Syn.
-- Keen; eagle-eyed; penetrating; skilled; discriminating; cunning;
sagacious; subtle; wily; crafty. As*tute"ly, adv.
-- As*tute"ness, n.
ASTYLAR
A*sty"lar, a. Etym: [Gr. (arch.)
Defn: Without columns or pilasters. Weale.
ASTYLLEN
A*styl"len, n. (Mining)
Defn: A small dam to prevent free passage of water in an adit or
level.
ASUNDER
A*sun"der, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + sunder.]
Defn: Apart; separate from each other; into parts; in two;
separately; into or in different pieces or places.
I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder. Zech. xi. 10.
As wide asunder as pole and pole. Froude.
ASURA
A*su"ra, n. (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: An enemy of the gods, esp. one of a race of demons and giants.
ASWAIL
As"wail, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sloth bear (Melursus labiatus) of India.
ASWEVE
A*sweve", v. t. Etym: [AS. aswebban; a + swebban. See Sweven.]
Defn: To stupefy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ASWING
A*swing", adv.
Defn: In a state of swinging.
ASWOON
A*swoon", adv.
Defn: In a swoon. Chaucer.
ASWOONED
A*swooned", adv.
Defn: In a swoon.
ASYLUM
A*sy"lum, n.; pl. E. Asylums, L. Asyla. Etym: [L. asylum, Gr.
1. A sanctuary or place of refuge and protection, where criminals and
debtors found shelter, and from which they could not be forcibly
taken without sacrilege.
So sacred was the church to some, that it had the right of an asylum
or sanctuary. Ayliffe.
Note: The name was anciently given to temples, altars, statues of the
gods, and the like. In later times Christian churches were regarded
as asylums in the same sense.
2. Any place of retreat and security.
Earth has no other asylum for them than its own cold bosom. Southey.
3. An institution for the protection or relief of some class of
destitute, unfortunate, or afflicted persons; as, an asylum for the
aged, for the blind, or for the insane; a lunatic asylum; an orphan
asylum.
ASYMMETRAL
A*sym"me*tral, a.
Defn: Incommensurable; also, unsymmetrical. [Obs.] D. H. More.
ASYMMETRIC; ASYMMETRICAL
As`ym*met"ric, As`ym*met"ri*cal, a. Etym: [See Asymmetrous.]
1. Incommensurable. [Obs.]
2. Not symmetrical; wanting proportion; esp., not bilaterally
symmetrical. Huxley.
ASYMMETROUS
A*sym"me*trous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Asymmetrical. [Obs.] Barrow.
ASYMMETRY
A*sym"me*try, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. Want of symmetry, or proportion between the parts of a thing, esp.
want of bilateral symmetry.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Incommensurability. [Obs.] Barrow.
ASYMPTOTE
As"ymp*tote, n. Etym: [Gr. Symptom.] (Math.)
Defn: A line which approaches nearer to some curve than assignable
distance, but, though infinitely extended, would never meet it.
Asymptotes may be straight lines or curves. A rectilinear asymptote
may be conceived as a tangent to the curve at an infinite distance.
ASYNARTETE
A*syn"ar*tete`, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Disconnected; not fitted or adjusted.
-- A*syn"ar*tet"ic, a. Asynartete verse (Pros.), a verse of two
members, having different rhythms; as when the first consists of
iambuses and the second of trochees.
ASYNCHRONOUS
A*syn"chro*nous, a. [Gr. not + synchronous.]
Defn: Not simultaneous; not concurrent in time; --opposed to
synchronous.
ASYNDETIC
As`yn*det"ic, a. Etym: [See Asyndeton.]
Defn: Characterized by the use of asyndeton; not connected by
conjunctions.
-- As`yn*det"ic*al*ly, adv.
ASYNDETON
A*syn"de*ton, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure which omits the connective; as, I came, I saw, I
conquered. It stands opposed to polysyndeton.
ASYSTOLE
A*sys"to*le, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + systole.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A weakening or cessation of the contractile power of the heart.
ASYSTOLISM
A*sys"to*lism, n.
Defn: The state or symptoms characteristic of asystole.
AT
At, prep. Etym: [AS. æt; akin to OHG. az, Goth., OS., & Icel. at, Sw.
åt, Dan. & L. ad.]
Defn: Primarily, this word expresses the relations of presence,
nearness in place or time, or direction toward; as, at the ninth
hour; at the house; to aim at a mark. It is less definite than in or
on; at the house may be in or near the house. From this original
import are derived all the various uses of at. It expresses: -
1. A relation of proximity to, or of presence in or on, something;
as, at the door; at your shop; at home; at school; at hand; at sea
and on land.
2. The relation of some state or condition; as, at war; at peace; at
ease; at your service; at fault; at liberty; at risk; at
disadvantage.
3. The relation of some employment or action; occupied with; as, at
engraving; at husbandry; at play; at work; at meat (eating); except
at puns.
4. The relation of a point or position in a series, or of degree,
rate, or value; as, with the thermometer at 80º; goods sold at a
cheap price; a country estimated at 10,000 square miles; life is
short at the longest.
5. The relations of time, age, or order; as, at ten o'clock; at
twenty-one; at once; at first.
6. The relations of source, occasion, reason, consequence, or effect;
as, at the sight; at this news; merry at anything; at this
declaration; at his command; to demand, require, receive, deserve,
endure at your hands.
7. Relation of direction toward an object or end; as, look at it; to
point at one; to aim at a mark; to throw, strike, shoot, wink, mock,
laugh at any one. At all, At home, At large, At last, At length, At
once, etc. See under All, Home, Large, Last (phrase and syn.),
Length, Once, etc.
-- At it, busily or actively engaged.
-- At least. See Least and However.
-- At one. See At one, in the Vocabulary.
Syn.
-- In, At. When reference to the interior of any place is made
prominent in is used. It is used before the names of countries and
cities (esp. large cities); as, we live in America, in New York, in
the South. At is commonly employed before names of houses,
institutions, villages, and small places; as, Milton was educated at
Christ's College; money taken in at the Customhouse; I saw him at the
jeweler's; we live at Beachville. At may be used before the name of a
city when it is regarded as a mere point of locality. "An English
king was crowned at Paris." Macaulay. "Jean Jacques Rousseau was born
at Geneva, June, 28, 1712." J. Morley. In regard to time, we say at
the hour, on the day, in the year; as, at 9 o'clock, on the morning
of July 5th, in the year 1775.
ATABAL
At"a*bal, n. Etym: [Sp. atabal, fr. Ar. at-tabl the drum, tabala to
beat the drum. Cf. Tymbal.]
Defn: A kettledrum; a kind of tabor, used by the Moors. Croly.
ATACAMITE
A*tac"a*mite, n. Etym: [From the desert of Atacama, where found.]
(Min.)
Defn: An oxychloride of copper, usually in emerald-green prismatic
crystals.
ATAFTER
At`aft"er, prep.
Defn: After. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATAGHAN
At"a*ghan, n.
Defn: See Yataghan.
ATAKE
A*take", v. t.
Defn: To overtake. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATAMAN
At"a*man, n. Etym: [Russ. ataman': cf. Pol. hetman, G. hauptmann
headman, chieftain. Cf. Hetman.]
Defn: A hetman, or chief of the Cossacks.
ATAMASCO LILY
At`a*mas"co lil"y. [Atamasco is fr. North American Indian.] (Bot.)
Defn: See under Lily.
ATARAXIA; ATARAXY
At`a*rax"i*a, At"a*rax`y, n. Etym: [NL. ataraxia, Gr.
Defn: Perfect peace of mind, or calmness.
ATAUNT; ATAUNTO
A*taunt", A*taunt"o, adv. Etym: [F. autant as much (as possible).]
(Naut.)
Defn: Fully rigged, as a vessel; with all sails set; set on end or
set right.
ATAVIC
A*tav"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atavique.]
Defn: Pertaining to a remote ancestor, or to atavism.
ATAVISM
At"a*vism, n. Etym: [L. atavus an ancestor, fr. avus a grandfather.]
(a) The recurrence, or a tendency to a recurrence, of the original
type of a species in the progeny of its varieties; resemblance to
remote rather than to near ancestors; reversion to the original form.
(b) (Biol.) The recurrence of any peculiarity or disease of an
ancestor in a subsequent generation, after an intermission for a
generation or two.
Now and then there occur cases of what physiologists call atavism, or
reversion to an ancestral type of character. J. Fiske
ATAXIA; ATAXY
A*tax"i*a, At"ax*y, n. Etym: [NL. ataxia, Gr. ataxie.]
1. Disorder; irregularity. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
2. (Med.)
(a) Irregularity in disease, or in the functions.
(b) The state of disorder that characterizes nervous fevers and the
nervous condition. Locomotor ataxia. See Locomotor.
ATAXIC
A*tax"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ataxique. See Ataxia.] (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by ataxy, that is, (a) by great irregularity of
functions or symptoms, or (b) by a want of coordinating power in
movements. Ataxic fever, malignant typhus fever. Pinel.
ATAZIR
At`a*zir", n. Etym: [OF., fr. Ar. al-tasir influence.] (Astron.)
Defn: The influence of a star upon other stars or upon men. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
ATE
Ate,
Defn: the preterit of Eat.
ATE
A"te, n. Etym: [Gr. (Greek. Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of mischievous folly; also, in later poets, the
goddess of vengeance.
-ATE
-ate. Etym: [From the L. suffix -atus, the past participle ending of
verbs of the 1st conj.]
1. As an ending of participles or participial adjectives it is
equivalent to -ed; as, situate or situated; animate or animated.
2. As the ending of a verb, it means to make, to cause, to act, etc.;
as, to propitiate (to make propitious); to animate (to give life to).
3. As a noun suffix, it marks the agent; as, curate, delegate. It
also sometimes marks the office or dignity; as, tribunate.
4. In chemistry it is used to denote the salts formed from those
acids whose names end -ic (excepting binary or halogen acids); as,
sulphate from sulphuric acid, nitrate from nitric acid, etc. It is
also used in the case of certain basic salts.
ATECHNIC
A*tech"nic, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + technic.]
Defn: Without technical or artistic knowledge.
Difficult to convey to the atechnic reader. Etching & Engr.
ATELES
At"e*les, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of American monkeys with prehensile tails, and having
the thumb wanting or rudimentary. See Spider monkey, and Coaita.
ATELETS SAUCE; SAUCE AUX HATELETS
A`te*lets" sauce or Sauce` aux ha`te*lets". [F. hâtelet skewer.]
Defn: A sauce (such as egg and bread crumbs) used for covering bits
of meat, small birds, or fish, strung on skewers for frying.
ATELIER
A`te*lier" n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A workshop; a studio.
ATELLAN
A*tel"lan, a. Etym: [L. Atellanus, fr. Atella, an ancient town of the
Osci, in Campania.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Atella, in ancient Italy; as, Atellan
plays; farcical; ribald.
-- n.
Defn: A farcical drama performed at Atella.
ATHALAMOUS
A*thal"a*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Not furnished with shields or beds for the spores, as the
thallus of certain lichens.
ATHAMAUNT
Ath"a*maunt, n.
Defn: Adamant. [Obs.]
Written in the table of athamaunt. Chaucer.
ATHANASIA; ATHANASY
Ath`a*na"si*a, A*than"a*sy, n. [NL. athanasia, fr. Gr. ; priv. +
death.]
Defn: The quality of being deathless; immortality.
Is not a scholiastic athanasy better than none
Lowell.
ATHANASIAN
Ath`a*na"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria in the 4th
century. Athanasian creed, a formulary, confession, or exposition of
faith, formerly supposed to have been drawn up by Athanasius; but
this opinion is now rejected, and the composition is ascribed by some
to Hilary, bishop of Arles (5th century). It is a summary of what was
called the orthodox faith.
ATHANOR
Ath"a*nor, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ar. at-tannur, fr. Heb. tannur an oven
or furnace.]
Defn: A digesting furnace, formerly used by alchemists. It was so
constructed as to maintain uniform and durable heat. Chambers.
ATHECATA
Ath`e*ca"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Hydroidea in which the zooids are naked, or not
inclosed in a capsule. See Tubularian.
ATHEISM
A"the*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. athéisme. See Atheist.]
1. The disbelief or denial of the existence of a God, or supreme
intelligent Being.
Atheism is a ferocious system, that leaves nothing above us to excite
awe, nor around us to awaken tenderness. R. Hall.
Atheism and pantheism are often wrongly confounded. Shipley.
2. Godlessness.
ATHEIST
A"the*ist, n. Etym: [Gr. athéiste.]
1. One who disbelieves or denies the existence of a God, or supreme
intelligent Being.
2. A godless person. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- Infidel; unbeliever.
Note: See Infidel.
ATHEISTIC; ATHEISTICAL
A`the*is"tic, A`the*is"tic*al, a.
1. Pertaining to, implying, or containing, atheism; -- applied to
things; as, atheistic doctrines, opinions, or books.
Atheistical explications of natural effects. Barrow.
2. Disbelieving the existence of a God; impious; godless; -- applied
to persons; as, an atheistic writer.
-- A`the*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
-- A`the*is"tic*al*ness, n.
ATHEIZE
A"the*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render atheistic or godless. [R.]
They endeavored to atheize one another. Berkeley.
ATHEIZE
A"the*ize, v. i.
Defn: To discourse, argue, or act as an atheist. [R.] -- A"the*i`zer,
n. Cudworth.
ATHELING
Ath"el*ing, n. Etym: [AS. æ noble, fr. æ noble, akin to G. adel
nobility, edel noble. The word æ, E. ethel, is in many AS. proper
names, as Ethelwolf, noble wolf; Ethelbald, noble bold; Ethelbert,
noble bright.]
Defn: An Anglo-Saxon prince or nobleman; esp., the heir apparent or a
prince of the royal family. [Written also Adeling and Ætheling.]
ATHENEUM; ATHENAEUM
Ath`e*ne"um, Ath`e*næ"um, n.; pl. E. Atheneums, L. Athenæa. Etym: [L.
Athenaemum, Gr. Minerva by the Romans), the tutelary goddess of
Athens.]
1 (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A temple of Athene, at Athens, in which scholars and poets were
accustomed to read their works and instruct students.
2. A school founded at Rome by Hadrian.
3. A literary or scientific association or club.
4. A building or an apartment where a library, periodicals, and
newspapers are kept for use.
ATHENIAN
A*the"ni*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Athénien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Athens, the metropolis of Greece.
-- n. A native or citizen of Athens.
ATHEOLOGICAL
A`the*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Opposed to theology; atheistic. Bp. Montagu.
ATHEOLOGY
A`the*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Pref. a- not + theology.]
Defn: Antagonism to theology. Swift.
ATHEOUS
A"the*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. Atheist.]
1. Atheistic; impious. [Obs.] Milton.
2. Without God, neither accepting nor denying him.
I should say science was atheous, and therefore could not be
atheistic. Bp. of Carlisle.
ATHERINE
Ath"er*ine, n. Etym: [NL. atherina, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small marine fish of the family Atherinidæ, having a silvery
stripe along the sides. The European species (Atherina presbyter) is
used as food. The American species (Menidia notata) is called
silversides and sand smelt. See Silversides.
ATHERMANCY
A*ther"man*cy, n. Etym: [See Athermanous.]
Defn: Inability to transmit radiant; impermeability to heat. Tyndall.
ATHERMANOUS
A*ther"ma*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. athermane.] (Chem.)
Defn: Not transmitting heat; -- opposed to diathermanous.
ATHERMOUS
A*ther"mous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Athermanous.
ATHEROID
Ath"er*oid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Shaped like an ear of grain.
ATHEROMA
Ath`e*ro"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
(a) An encysted tumor containing curdy matter.
(b) A disease characterized by thickening and fatty degeneration of
the inner coat of the arteries.
ATHEROMATOUS
Ath`e*rom"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or having the nature of, atheroma. Wiseman.
ATHETIZE
Ath"e*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Athetized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Athetizing.] [Gr. , fr. set aside, not fixed; not + to place.]
Defn: To set aside or reject as spurious, as by marking with an
obelus.
ATHETOSIS
Ath`e*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A variety of chorea, marked by peculiar tremors of the fingers
and toes.
ATHINK
A*think", v. t.
Defn: To repent; to displease; to disgust. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATHIRST
A*thirst", a. Etym: [OE. ofthurst, AS. ofpyrsted, p. p. of ofpyrstan;
pref. of-, intensive + pyrstan to thirst. See Thirst.]
1. Wanting drink; thirsty.
2. Having a keen appetite or desire; eager; longing. "Athirst for
battle." Cowper.
ATHLETE
Ath"lete, n. Etym: [L. athleta, Gr. wed: cf. F. athlète.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: One who contended for a prize in the public games of ancient
Greece or Rome.
2. Any one trained to contend in exercises requiring great physical
agility and strength; one who has great activity and strength; a
champion.
3. One fitted for, or skilled in, intellectual contests; as, athletes
of debate.
ATHLETIC
Ath`let"ic, a. Etym: [L. athleticus, Gr. Athlete.]
1. Of or pertaining to athletes or to the exercises practiced by
them; as, athletic games or sports.
2. Befitting an athlete; strong; muscular; robust; vigorous; as,
athletic Celts. "Athletic soundness." South.
-- Ath*let"ic*al*ly, adv.
ATHLETICISM
Ath*let"i*cism, n.
Defn: The practice of engaging in athletic games; athletism.
ATHLETICS
Ath*let"ics, n.
Defn: The art of training by athletic exercises; the games and sports
of athletes.
ATHLETISM
Ath"le*tism, n.
Defn: The state or practice of an athlete; the characteristics of an
athlete.
ATHREPSIA
A*threp"si*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. priv. + nourishment.] (Med.)
Defn: Profound debility of children due to lack of food and to
unhygienic surroundings. --A*threp"tic (#), a.
ATHWART
A*thwart", prep. Etym: [Pref. a- + thwart.]
1. Across; from side to side of.
Athwart the thicket lone. Tennyson.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Across the direction or course of; as, a fleet standing athwart
our course. Athwart hawse, across the stem of another vessel, whether
in contact or at a small distance.
-- Athwart ships, across the ship from side to side, or in that
direction; -- opposed to fore and aft.
ATHWART
A*thwart", adv.
Defn: 1. Across, especially in an oblique direction; sidewise;
obliquely.
Sometimes athwart, sometimes he strook him straight. Spenser.
2. Across the course; so as to thwart; perversely.
All athwart there came A post from Wales loaden with heavy news.
Shak.
ATILT
A*tilt", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + tilt.]
1. In the manner of a tilter; in the position, or with the action, of
one making a thrust. "To run atilt at men." Hudibras.
2. In the position of a cask tilted, or with one end raised.
Note: [In this sense sometimes used as an adjective.]
Abroach, atilt, and run Even to the lees of honor. Beau. & Fl.
ATIMY
At"i*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: Public disgrace or stigma; infamy; loss of civil rights.
Mitford.
-ATION
-a"tion. Etym: [L. -ationem. See -tion.]
Defn: A suffix forming nouns of action, and often equivalent to the
verbal substantive in -ing. It sometimes has the further meanings of
state, and that which results from the action. Many of these nouns
have verbs in -ate; as, alliterate -ation, narrate -ation; many are
derived through the French; as, alteration, visitation; and many are
formed on verbs ending in the Greek formative -ize (Fr. -ise); as,
civilization, demoralization.
A-TIPTOE
A-tip"toe, adv.
Defn: On tiptoe; eagerly expecting.
We all feel a-tiptoe with hope and confidence. F. Harrison.
ATLANTA
At*lan"ta, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small glassy heteropod mollusks found swimming at
the surface in mid ocean. See Heteropod.
ATLANTAL
At*lan"tal, a. (Anat.)
(a) Relating to the atlas.
(b) Anterior; cephalic. Barclay.
ATLANTEAN
At`lan*te"an, a. Etym: [L. Atlant.]
1. Of or pertaining to the isle Atlantis, which the ancients allege
was sunk, and overwhelmed by the ocean.
2. Pertaining to, or resembling, Atlas; strong.
With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear The weight of mightiest
monarchies. Milton.
ATLANTES
At*lan"tes, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Atlas.] (Arch.)
Defn: Figures or half figures of men, used as columns to support an
entablature; -- called also telamones. See Caryatides. Oxf. Gloss.
ATLANTIC
At*lan"tic, a. Etym: [L. Atlanticus, fr. Atlas. See Atlas and
Atlantes.]
1. Of or pertaining to Mt. Atlas in Libya, and hence applied to the
ocean which lies between Europe and Africa on the east and America on
the west; as, the Atlantic Ocean (called also the Atlantic); the
Atlantic basin; the Atlantic telegraph.
2. Of or pertaining to the isle of Atlantis.
3. Descended from Atlas.
The seven Atlantic sisters. Milton.
ATLANTIDES
At*lan"ti*des, n. pl. Etym: [L. See Atlantes.]
Defn: The Pleiades or seven stars, fabled to have been the daughters
of Atlas.
ATLAS
At"las, n.; pl. Atlases. Etym: [L. Atlas, -antis, Gr. Atlas, in W.
Africa, regarded as the pillar of heaven. It is from the root of
Tolerate.]
1. One who sustains a great burden.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The first vertebra of the neck, articulating immediately with
the skull, thus sustaining the globe of the head, whence the name.
3. A collection of maps in a volume; --
Note: supposed to be so called from a picture of Atlas supporting the
world, prefixed to some collections. This name is said to have been
first used by Mercator, the celebrated geographer, in the 16th
century.
Note:
4. A volume of plates illustrating any subject.
5. A work in which subjects are exhibited in a tabular from or
arrangement; as, an historical atlas.
6. A large, square folio, resembling a volume of maps; -- called also
atlas folio.
7. A drawing paper of large size. See under Paper, n. Atlas powder, a
nitroglycerin blasting compound of pasty consistency and great
explosive power.
ATLAS
At"las, n. Etym: [Ar., smooth.]
Defn: A rich kind of satin manufactured in India. Brande & C.
ATLAS POWDER
At"las pow"der.
Defn: A blasting powder or dynamite composed of nitroglycerin, wood
fiber, sodium nitrate, and magnesium carbonate.
ATMAN
At"man, n. [Skr. atman.] (Hinduism)
(a) The life principle, soul, or individual essence.
(b) The universal ego from whom all individual atmans arise. This
sense is a European excrescence on the East Indian thought.
ATMIATRY
At*mi"a*try, n. [Gr. vapor + medical treatment, healing.]
Defn: Treatment of disease by vapors or gases, as by inhalation.
ATMIDOMETER
At`mi*dom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter; cf. F. atmidomètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the evaporation from water, ice, or
snow. Brande & C.
ATMO
At"mo, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. atmosphere.] (Physics)
Defn: The standard atmospheric pressure used in certain physical
measurements calculations; conventionally, that pressure under which
the barometer stands at 760 millimeters, at a temperature of 0º
Centigrade, at the level of the sea, and in the latitude of Paris.
Sir W. Thomson.
ATMOLOGIC; ATMOLOGICAL
At`mo*log"ic, At`mo*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to atmology. "Atmological laws of heat."
Whewell.
ATMOLOGIST
At*mol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in atmology.
ATMOLOGY
At*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Physics)
Defn: That branch of science which treats of the laws and phenomena
of aqueous vapor. Whewell.
ATMOLYSIS
At*mol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of separating mingled gases of unequal
diffusibility by transmission through porous substances.
ATMOLYZATION
At`mol*y*za"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Separation by atmolysis.
ATMOLYZE
At"mo*lyze, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To subject to atmolysis; to separate by atmolysis.
ATMOLYZER
At"mo*ly`zer, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for effecting atmolysis.
ATMOMETER
At*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. atmomètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the rate of evaporation from a
moist surface; an evaporometer. Huxley.
ATMOSPHERE
At"mos*phere, n. Etym: [Gr. atman breath, soul, G. athem breath) +
atmosphère. See Sphere.]
1. (Physics)
(a) The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; --
applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other
body; as, the atmosphere of Mars.
(b) Any gaseous envelope or medium.
An atmosphere of cold oxygen. Miller.
2. A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical
atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies.
Franklin.
3. The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of
surface, or about 14.7 Ibs. to the sq. inch.
Hydrogen was liquefied under a pressure of 650 atmospheres. Lubbock.
4. Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition.
The chillest of social atmospheres. Hawthorne.
5. The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special
physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a
moist or noxious atmosphere.
ATMOSPHERIC; ATMOSPHERICAL
At`mos*pher"ic, At`mos*pher"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atmosphérique.]
1. Of or pertaining to the atmosphere; of the nature of, or
resembling, the atmosphere; as, atmospheric air; the atmospheric
envelope of the earth.
2. Existing in the atmosphere.
The lower atmospheric current. Darwin.
3. Caused, or operated on, by the atmosphere; as, an atmospheric
effect; an atmospheric engine.
4. Dependent on the atmosphere. [R.]
In am so atmospherical a creature. Pope.
Atmospheric engine, a steam engine whose piston descends by the
pressure of the atmosphere, when the steam which raised it is
condensed within the cylinder. Tomlinson.
-- Atmospheric line (Steam Engin.), the equilibrium line of an
indicator card. Steam is expanded "down to the atmosphere" when its
pressure is equal to that of the atmosphere. (See Indicator card.) --
Atmospheric pressure, the pressure exerted by the atmosphere, not
merely downwards, but in every direction. In amounts to about 14.7
Ibs. on each square inch.
-- Atmospheric railway, one in which pneumatic power, obtained from
compressed air or the creation of a vacuum, is the propelling force.
-- Atmospheric tides. See under Tide.
ATMOSPHERICALLY
At`mos*pher"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In relation to the atmosphere.
ATMOSPHEROLOGY
At`mos*phe*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Atmosphere + -logy.]
Defn: The science or a treatise on the atmosphere.
ATOKOUS
At"o*kous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Producing only asexual individuals, as the eggs of certain
annelids.
ATOLE
A*to"le, n. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: A porridge or gruel of maize meal and water, milk, or the like.
[Sp. Amer.]
ATOLL
A*toll", n. Etym: [The native name in the Indian Ocean.]
Defn: A coral island or islands, consisting of a belt of coral reef,
partly submerged, surrounding a central lagoon or depression; a
lagoon island.
ATOM
At"om, n. Etym: [L. atomus, Gr. atome. See Tome.]
1. (Physics)
(a) An ultimate indivisible particle of matter.
(b) An ultimate particle of matter not necessarily indivisible; a
molecule.
(c) A constituent particle of matter, or a molecule supposed to be
made up of subordinate particles.
Note: These three definitions correspond to different views of the
nature of the ultimate particles of matter. In the case of the last
two, the particles are more correctly called molecules. Dana.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The smallest particle of matter that can enter into
combination; one of the elementary constituents of a molecule.
3. Anything extremely small; a particle; a whit.
There was not an atom of water. Sir J. Ross.
ATOM
At"om, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to atoms. [Obs.] Feltham.
ATOMIC; ATOMICAL
A*tom"ic, A*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atomique.]
1. Of or pertaining to atoms.
2. Extremely minute; tiny. Atomic philosophy, or Doctrine of atoms, a
system which assuming that atoms are endued with gravity and motion
accounted thus for the origin and formation of all things. This
philosophy was first broached by Leucippus, was developed by
Democritus, and afterward improved by Epicurus, and hence is
sometimes denominated the Epicurean philosophy.
-- Atomic theory, or the Doctrine of definite proportions (Chem.),
teaches that chemical combinations take place between the supposed
ultimate particles or atoms of bodies, in some simple ratio, as of
one to one, two to three, or some other, always expressible in whole
numbers.
-- Atomic weight (Chem.), the weight of the atom of an element as
compared with the weight of the atom of hydrogen, taken as a
standard.
ATOMICALLY
A*tom"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an atomic manner; in accordance with the atomic philosophy.
ATOMICIAN
At`o*mi"cian, n.
Defn: An atomist. [R.]
ATOMICISM
A*tom"i*cism, n.
Defn: Atomism. [Obs.]
ATOMICITY
At`o*mic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomicité.] (Chem.)
Defn: Degree of atomic attraction; equivalence; valence; also (a
later use) the number of atoms in an elementary molecule. See
Valence.
ATOMISM
At"om*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomisme.]
Defn: The doctrine of atoms. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.
ATOMIST
At"om*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. atomiste.]
Defn: One who holds to the atomic philosophy or theory. Locke.
ATOMISTIC
At`om*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to atoms; relating to atomism. [R.]
It is the object of the mechanical atomistic philosophy to confound
synthesis with synartesis. Coleridge.
ATOMIZATION
At`om*i*za"tion, n.
1. The act of reducing to atoms, or very minute particles; or the
state of being so reduced.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The reduction of fluids into fine spray.
ATOMIZE
At"om*ize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to atoms, or to fine spray.
The liquids in the form of spray are said to be pulverized,
nebulized, or atomized. Dunglison.
ATOMIZER
At"om*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, atomizes; esp., an instrument for
reducing a liquid to spray for disinfecting, cooling, or perfuming.
ATOMOLOGY
At`om*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Atom + -logy.]
Defn: The doctrine of atoms. Cudworth.
ATOMY
At"om*y, n.
Defn: An atom; a mite; a pigmy.
ATOMY
At"o*my, n. Etym: [For anatomy, taken as an atomy.]
Defn: A skeleton. [Ludicrous] Shak.
ATONABLE
A*ton"a*ble, a.
Defn: Admitting an atonement; capable of being atoned for; expiable.
AT ONE
At one". Etym: [OE. at on, atone, atoon, attone.]
1. In concord or friendship; in agreement (with each other); as, to
be, bring, make, or set, at one, i. e., to be or bring in or to a
state of agreement or reconciliation.
If gentil men, or othere of hir contree Were wrothe, she wolde
bringen hem atoon. Chaucer.
2. Of the same opinion; agreed; as, on these points we are at one.
3. Together. [Obs.] Spenser.
He and Aufidius can no more atone Than violentest contrariety. Shak.
2. To stand as an equivalent; to make reparation, compensation, or
amends, for an offense or a crime.
The murderer fell, and blood atoned for blood. Pope.
The ministry not atoning for their former conduct by any wise or
popular measure. Junius.
ATONE
A*tone", v. t.
1. To set at one; to reduce to concord; to reconcile, as parties at
variance; to appease. [Obs.]
I would do much To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio. Shak.
2. To unite in making. [Obs. & R.]
The four elements . . . have atoned A noble league. Ford.
3. To make satisfaction for; to expiate.
Or each atone his guilty love with life. Pope.
ATONEMENT
A*tone"ment, n.
1. (Literally, a setting at one.) Reconciliation; restoration of
friendly relations; agreement; concord. [Archaic]
By whom we have now received the atonement. Rom. v. 11.
He desires to make atonement Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your
brothers. Shak.
2. Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an
injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in
satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; -- with
for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the
obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement be can
make for it is, to warn others. Spectator.
The Phocians behaved with, so much gallantry, that they were thought
to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense. Potter.
ATONER
A*ton"er, n.
Defn: One who makes atonement.
ATONES
At*ones, adv.
Defn: Etym: [See At one.] [Obs.]
Down he fell atones as a stone. Chaucer.
ATONIC
A*ton"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atonique. See Atony.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by atony, or want of vital energy; as, an atonic
disease.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Unaccented; as, an atonic syllable.
3. Destitute of tone vocality; surd. Rush.
ATONIC
A*ton"ic, n.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: A word that has no accent.
2. An element of speech entirely destitute of vocality, or produced
by the breath alone; a nonvocal or surd consonant; a breathing. Rush.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy capable of allaying organic excitement or irritation.
Dunglison.
ATONY
At"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. atonie.] (Med.)
Defn: Want of tone; weakness of the system, or of any organ,
especially of such as are contractile.
ATOP
A*top", adv.
Defn: On or at the top. Milton.
ATRABILARIAN; ATRABILARIOUS
At`ra*bi*la"ri*an, At`ra*bi*la"ri*ous, a. Etym: [LL. atrabilarius,
fr. L. atra bilis black bile: cf. F. atrabilaire, fr. atrabile.]
Defn: Affected with melancholy; atrabilious. Arbuthnot.
ATRABILARIAN
At`ra*bi*la"ri*an, n.
Defn: A person much given to melancholy; a hypochondriac. I.
Disraeli.
ATRABILIAR
At`ra*bil"iar, a.
Defn: Melancholy; atrabilious.
ATRABILIARY
At`ra*bil"ia*ry, a.
1. Of or pertaining to atra bilis or black bile, a fluid formerly
supposed to be produced by the kidneys.
2. Melancholic or hypohondriac; atrabilious; -- from the supposed
predominance of black bile, to the influence of which the ancients
attributed hypochondria, melancholy, and mania. Atrabiliary arteries,
capsules, and veins (Anat.), those pertaining to the kidney; --
called also renal arteries, capsules, and veins.
ATRABILIOUS
At`ra*bil"ious, a.
Defn: Melancholic or hypochondriac; atrabiliary. Dunglision.
A hard-faced, atrabilious, earnest-eyed race. Lowell.
He was constitutionally atrabilious and scornful. Froude.
ATRAMENTACEOUS
At`ra*men*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. atramentum ink, fr. ater black.]
Defn: Black, like ink; inky; atramental. [Obs.] Derham.
ATRAMENTAL; ATRAMENTOUS
At`ra*men"tal, At`ra*men"tous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ink; inky; black, like ink; as, atramental
galls; atramentous spots.
ATRAMENTARIOUS
At`ra*men*ta"ri*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. atramentaire. See
Atramentaceous.]
Defn: Like ink; suitable for making ink. Sulphate of iron (copperas,
green vitriol) is called atramentarious, as being used in making ink.
ATREDE
At*rede, v. t. Etym: [OE. at (AS. æt) out + rede.]
Defn: To surpass in council. [Obs.]
Men may the olde atrenne, but hat atrede. Chaucer.
ATRENNE
At*renne", v. t. Etym: [OE. at + renne to run.]
Defn: To outrun. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATRESIA
A*tre"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Absence or closure of a natural passage or channel of the body;
imperforation.
ATRIAL
A"tri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an atrium.
ATRIP
A*trip", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + trip.] (Naut.)
(a) Just hove clear of the ground; -said of the anchor.
(b) Sheeted home, hoisted taut up and ready for trimming; -- said of
sails.
(c) Hoisted up and ready to be swayed across; -- said of yards.
ATRIUM
A"tri*um, n.; pl. Atria. Etym: [L., the fore court of a Roman house.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) A square hall lighted from above, into which rooms open at one or
more levels.
(b) An open court with a porch or gallery around three or more sides;
especially at the entrance of a basilica or other church. The name
was extended in the Middle Ages to the open churchyard or cemetery.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The main part of either auricle of the heart as distinct from
the auricular appendix. Also, the whole articular portion of the
heart.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cavity in ascidians into which the intestine and generative
ducts open, and which also receives the water from the gills. See
Ascidioidea.
ATROCHA
At`ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of chætopod larva in which no circles of cilia are
developed.
ATROCIOUS
A*tro"cious, a. Etym: [L. atrox, atrocis, cruel, fierce: cf. F.
atroce.]
1. Extremely heinous; full of enormous wickedness; as, atrocious
quilt or deeds.
2. Characterized by, or expressing, great atrocity, great atrocity.
Revelations . . . so atrocious that nothing in history approaches
them. De Quincey.
3. Very grievous or violent; terrible; as, atrocious distempers.
[Obs.] Cheyne.
Syn.
-- Atrocious, Flagitious, Flagrant. Flagitious points to an act as
grossly wicked and vile; as, a flagitious proposal. Flagrant marks
the vivid impression made upon the mind by something strikingly wrong
or erroneous; as, a flagrant misrepresentation; a flagrant violation
of duty. Atrocious represents the act as springing from a violent and
savage spirit. If Lord Chatham, instead of saying "the atrocious
crime of being a young man," had used either of the other two words,
his irony would have lost all its point, in his celebrated reply to
Sir Robert Walpole, as reported by Dr. Johnson.
-- A*tro"cious*ly, adv.
-- A*tro"cious*ness, n.
ATROCITY
A*troc"i*ty, n.; pl. Atrocities. Etym: [F. atrocité, L. atrocitas,
fr. atrox, atrocis, cruel.]
1. Enormous wickedness; extreme heinousness or cruelty.
2. An atrocious or extremely cruel deed.
The atrocities which attend a victory. Macaulay.
ATROPHIC
A*troph"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to atrophy.
ATROPHIED
At"ro*phied, p. a.
Defn: Affected with atrophy, as a tissue or organ; arrested in
development at a very early stage; rudimentary.
ATROPHY
At"ro*phy, n. Etym: [L. atrophia, Gr. atrophie.]
Defn: A wasting away from want of nourishment; diminution in bulk or
slow emaciation of the body or of any part. Milton.
ATROPHY
At"ro*phy, v. t. [p. p. Atrophied.]
Defn: To cause to waste away or become abortive; to starve or weaken.
ATROPHY
At"ro*phy, v. i.
Defn: To waste away; to dwindle.
ATROPIA
A*tro"pi*a, n.
Defn: Same as Atropine.
ATROPINE
At"ro*pine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous, white, crystallizable alkaloid, extracted from the
Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, and the Datura Stramonium,
or thorn apple. It is remarkable for its power in dilating the pupil
of the eye. Called also daturine.
ATROPISM
At"ro*pism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A condition of the system produced by long use of belladonna.
ATROPOUS
At"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Not inverted; orthotropous.
ATROUS
A"trous, a. Etym: [L. ater.]
Defn: Coal-black; very black.
ATRYPA
A*try"pa, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A extinct genus of Branchiopoda, very common in Silurian
limestones.
ATTABAL
At"ta*bal, n.
Defn: See Atabal.
ATTACCA
At*tac"ca. Etym: [It., fr. attaccare to tie, bind. See Attach.]
(Mus.)
Defn: Attack at once; -- a direction at the end of a movement to show
that the next is to follow immediately, without any pause.
ATTACH
At*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attached; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaching.]
Etym: [OF. atachier, F. attacher, to tie or fasten: cf. Celt. tac,
tach, nail, E. tack a small nail, tack to fasten. Cf. Attack, and see
Tack.]
1. To bind, fasten, tie, or connect; to make fast or join; as, to
attach one thing to another by a string, by glue, or the like.
The shoulder blade is . . . attached only to the muscles. Paley.
A huge stone to which the cable was attached. Macaulay.
2. To connect; to place so as to belong; to assign by authority; to
appoint; as, an officer is attached to a certain regiment, company,
or ship.
3. To win the heart of; to connect by ties of love or self-interest;
to attract; to fasten or bind by moral influence; -- with to; as,
attached to a friend; attaching others to us by wealth or flattery.
Incapable of attaching a sensible man. Miss Austen.
God . . . by various ties attaches man to man. Cowper.
4. To connect, in a figurative sense; to ascribe or attribute; to
affix; -- with to; as, to attach great importance to a particular
circumstance.
Top this treasure a curse is attached. Bayard Taylor.
5. To take, seize, or lay hold of. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To take by legal authority: (a) To arrest by writ, and bring
before a court, as to answer for a debt, or a contempt; -- applied to
a taking of the person by a civil process; being now rarely used for
the arrest of a criminal. (b) To seize or take (goods or real estate)
by virtue of a writ or precept to hold the same to satisfy a judgment
which may be rendered in the suit. See Attachment, 4.
The earl marshal attached Gloucester for high treason. Miss Yonge.
Attached column (Arch.), a column engaged in a wall, so that only a
part of its circumference projects from it.
Syn.
-- To affix; bind; tie; fasten; connect; conjoin; subjoin; annex;
append; win; gain over; conciliate.
ATTACH
At*tach", v. i.
1. To adhere; to be attached.
The great interest which attaches to the mere knowledge of these
facts cannot be doubted. Brougham.
2. To come into legal operation in connection with anything; to vest;
as, dower will attach. Cooley.
ATTACH
At*tach", n.
Defn: An attachment. [Obs.] Pope.
ATTACHABLE
At*tach"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being attached; esp., liable to be taken by writ or
precept.
ATTACHE
At`ta*ché", n. Etym: [F., p. p. of attacher. See Attach, v. t.]
Defn: One attached to another person or thing, as a part of a suite
or staff. Specifically: One attached to an embassy.
ATTACHMENT
At*tach"ment, n. Etym: [F. attachment.]
1. The act attaching, or state of being attached; close adherence or
affection; fidelity; regard; anas, an attachment to a friend, or to a
party.
2. That by which one thing is attached to another; connection; as, to
cut the attachments of a muscle.
The human mind . . . has exhausted its forces in the endeavor to rend
the supernatural from its attachment to this history. I. Taylor.
3. Something attached; some adjunct attached to an instrument,
machine, or other object; as, a sewing machine attachment (i. e., a
device attached to a sewing machine to enable it to do special work,
as tucking, etc.).
4. (Giv. Law)
(a) A seizure or taking into custody by virtue of a legal process.
(b) The writ or percept commanding such seizure or taking.
Note: The term is applied to a seizure or taking either of persons or
property. In the serving of process in a civil suit, it is most
generally applied to the taking of property, whether at common law,
as a species of distress, to compel defendant's appearance, or under
local statutes, to satisfy the judgment the plaintiff may recover in
the action. The terms attachment and arrest are both applied to the
taking or apprehension of a defendant to compel an appearance in a
civil action. Attachments are issued at common law and in chancery,
against persons for contempt of court. In England, attachment is
employed in some cases where capias is with us, as against a witness
who fails to appear on summons. In some of the New England States a
writ of attachment is a species of mesne process upon which the
property of a defendant may be seized at the commencement of a suit
and before summons to him, and may be held to satisfy the judgment
the plaintiff may recover. In other States this writ can issue only
against absconding debtors and those who conceal themselves. See
Foreign, Garnishment, Trustee process. Bouvier. Burrill. Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Attachment, Affection. The leading idea of affection is that of
warmth and tenderness; the leading idea of attachment is that of
being bound to some object by strong and lasting ties. There is more
of sentiment (and sometimes of romance) in affection, and more of
principle in preserving attachment. We speak of the ardor of the one,
and the fidelity of the other. There is another distinction in the
use and application of these words. The term attachment is applied to
a wider range of objects than affection. A man may have a strong
attachment to his country, to his profession, to his principles, and
even to favorite places; in respect to none of these could we use the
word affection.
ATTACK
At*tack", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attacked; p. pr. & vb. n. Attacking.]
Etym: [F. attaquer, orig. another form of attacher to attack: cf. It.
attacare to fasten, attack. See Attach, Tack a small nail.]
1. To fall upon with force; to assail, as with force and arms; to
assault. "Attack their lines." Dryden.
2. To assail with unfriendly speech or writing; to begin a
controversy with; to attempt to overthrow or bring into disrepute, by
criticism or satire; to censure; as, to attack a man, or his
opinions, in a pamphlet.
3. To set to work upon, as upon a task or problem, or some object of
labor or investigation.
4. To begin to affect; to begin to act upon, injuriously or
destructively; to begin to decompose or waste.
On the fourth of March he was attacked by fever. Macaulay.
Hydrofluoric acid . . . attacks the glass. B. Stewart.
Syn.
-- To Attack, Assail, Assault, Invade. These words all denote a
violent onset; attack being the generic term, and the others specific
forms of attack. To attack is to commence the onset; to assail is to
make a sudden and violent attack, or to make repeated attacks; to
assault (literally, to leap upon) is to attack physically by a had-
to-hand approach or by unlawful and insulting violence; to invade is
to enter by force on what belongs to another. Thus, a person may
attack by offering violence of any kind; he may assail by means of
missile weapons; he may assault by direct personal violence; a king
may invade by marching an army into a country. Figuratively, we may
say, men attack with argument or satire; they assail with abuse or
reproaches; they may be assaulted by severe temptations; the rights
of the people may be invaded by the encroachments of the crown.
ATTACK
At*tack", v. i.
Defn: To make an onset or attack.
ATTACK
At*tack", n. Etym: [Cf. F. attaque.]
1. The act of attacking, or falling on with force or violence; an
onset; an assault; -- opposed to defense.
2. An assault upon one's feelings or reputation with unfriendly or
bitter words.
3. A setting to work upon some task, etc.
4. An access of disease; a fit of sickness.
5. The beginning of corrosive, decomposing, or destructive action, by
a chemical agent.
ATTACKABLE
At*tack"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being attacked.
ATTACKER
At*tack"er, n.
Defn: One who attacks.
ATTAGAS; ATTAGEN
At"ta*gas, At"ta*gen, n. Etym: [L. attagen a kind of bird, Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of sand grouse (Syrrghaptes Pallasii) found in Asia
and rarely in southern Europe.
ATTAGHAN
At"ta*ghan, n.
Defn: See Yataghan.
ATTAIN
At*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attained; p. pr. & vb. n. Attaining.]
Etym: [Of. atteinen, atteignen, , OF. ateindre, ataindre, F.
atteindre, fr. L. attingere; ad + tangere to touch, reach. See
Tangent, and cf. Attinge, Attaint.]
1. To achieve or accomplish, that is, to reach by efforts; to gain;
to compass; as, to attain rest.
Is he wise who hopes to attain the end without the means Abp.
Tillotson.
2. To gain or obtain possession of; to acquire. [Obs. with a material
object.] Chaucer.
3. To get at the knowledge of; to ascertain. [Obs.]
Not well attaining his meaning. Fuller.
4. To reach or come to, by progression or motion; to arrive at.
"Canaan he now attains." Milton.
5. To overtake. [Obs.] Bacon.
6. To reach in excellence or degree; to equal.
Syn.
-- To Attain, Obtain, Procure. Attain always implies an effort
toward an object. Hence it is not synonymous with obtain and procure,
which do not necessarily imply such effort or motion. We procure or
obtain a thing by purchase or loan, and we obtain by inheritance, but
we do not attain it by such means.
ATTAIN
At*tain", v. i.
1. To come or arrive, by motion, growth, bodily exertion, or efforts
toward a place, object, state, etc.; to reach.
If by any means they might attain to Phenice. Acts xxvii. 12.
Nor nearer might the dogs attain. Sir W. Scott.
To see your trees attain to the dignity of timber. Cowper.
Few boroughs had as yet attained to power such as this. J. R. Green.
2. To come or arrive, by an effort of mind.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I can not attain
unto it. Ps. cxxxix. 6.
ATTAIN
At*tain", n.
Defn: Attainment. [Obs.]
ATTAINABILITY
At*tain`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being attainable; attainbleness.
ATTAINABLE
At*tain"a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being attained or reached by efforts of the mind or
body; capable of being compassed or accomplished by efforts directed
to the object.
The highest pitch of perfection attainable in this life. Addison.
2. Obtainable. [Obs.]
General Howe would not permit the purchase of those articles [clothes
and blankets] in Philadelphia, and they were not attainable in the
country. Marshall.
ATTAINABLENESS
At*tain"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being attainable; attainability.
ATTAINDER
At*tain"der, n. Etym: [OF. ataindre, ateindre, to accuse, convict.
Attainder is often erroneously referred to F. teindre tie stain. See
Attaint, Attain.]
1. The act of attainting, or the state of being attainted; the
extinction of the civil rights and capacities of a person, consequent
upon sentence of death or outlawry; as, an act of attainder. Abbott.
Note: Formerly attainder was the inseparable consequence of a
judicial or legislative sentence for treason or felony, and involved
the forfeiture of all the real and personal property of the condemned
person, and such "corruption of blood" that he could neither receive
nor transmit by inheritance, nor could he sue or testify in any
court, or claim any legal protection or rights. In England attainders
are now abolished, and in the United States the Constitution provides
that no bill of attainder shall be passed; and no attainder of
treason (in consequence of a judicial sentence) shall work corruption
of blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person
attainted.
2. A stain or staining; state of being in dishonor or condemnation.
[Obs.]
He lived from all attainder of suspect. Shak.
Bill of attainder, a bill brought into, or passed by, a legislative
body, condemning a person to death or outlawry, and attainder,
without judicial sentence.
ATTAINMENT
At*tain"ment, n.
1. The act of attaining; the act of arriving at or reaching; hence,
the act of obtaining by efforts.
The attainment of every desired object. Sir W. Jones.
2. That which is attained to, or obtained by exertion; acquirement;
acquisition; (pl.), mental acquirements; knowledge; as, literary and
scientific attainments.
ATTAINT
At*taint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attainted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attainting.] Etym: [OE. atteynten to convict, fr. atteynt, OF.
ateint, p. p. of ateindre, ataindre. The meanings 3, 4, 5, and 6 were
influenced by a supposed connection with taint. See Attain,
Attainder.]
1. To attain; to get act; to hit. [Obs.]
2. (Old Law)
Defn: To find guilty; to convict; -- said esp. of a jury on trial for
giving a false verdict. [Obs.]
Upon sufficient proof attainted of some open act by men of his own
condition. Blackstone.
3. (Law)
Defn: To subject (a person) to the legal condition formerly resulting
from a sentence of death or outlawry, pronounced in respect of
treason or felony; to affect by attainder.
No person shall be attainted of high treason where corruption of
blood is incurred, but by the oath of two witnesses. Stat. 7 & 8 Wm.
III.
4. To accuse; to charge with a crime or a dishonorable act. [Archaic]
5. To affect or infect, as with physical or mental disease or with
moral contagion; to taint or corrupt.
My tender youth was never yet attaint With any passion of inflaming
love. Shak.
6. To stain; to obscure; to sully; to disgrace; to cloud with infamy.
For so exceeding shone his glistring ray, That Phattaint. Spenser.
Lest she with blame her honor should attaint. Spenser.
ATTAINT
At*taint", p. p.
Defn: Attainted; corrupted. [Obs.] Shak.
ATTAINT
At*taint", n. Etym: [OF. attainte. See Attaint, v.]
1. A touch or hit. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Far.)
Defn: A blow or wound on the leg of a horse, made by overreaching.
White.
3. (Law)
Defn: A writ which lies after judgment, to inquire whether a jury has
given a false verdict in any court of record; also, the convicting of
the jury so tried. Bouvier.
4. A stain or taint; disgrace. See Taint. Shak.
5. An infecting influence. [R.] Shak.
ATTAINTMENT
At*taint"ment, n.
Defn: Attainder; attainture; conviction.
ATTAINTURE
At*tain"ture, n.
Defn: Attainder; disgrace.
ATTAL
At"tal, n.
Defn: Same as Attle.
ATTAME
At*tame", v. t. Etym: [OF. atamer, from Latin. See Attaminate.]
1. To pierce; to attack. [Obs.]
2. To broach; to begin.
And right anon his tale he hath attamed. Chaucer.
ATTAMINATE
At*tam"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. attaminare; ad + root of tangere. See
Contaminate.]
Defn: To corrupt; to defile; to contaminate. [Obs.] Blount.
ATTAR
At"tar, n. Etym: [Per. 'atar perfume, essence, Ar. 'itr, fr. 'atara
to smell sweet. Cf. Otto.]
Defn: A fragrant essential oil; esp., a volatile and highly fragrant
essential oil obtained from the petals of roses. [Also written otto
and ottar.]
ATTASK
At*task", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + task.]
Defn: To take to task; to blame. Shak.
ATTASTE
At*taste, v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + taste.]
Defn: To taste or cause to taste. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATTE
At"te.
Defn: At the. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATTEMPER
At*tem"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attempering.] Etym: [OF. atemprer, fr. L. attemperare; ad + temperare
to soften, temper. See Temper, and cf. Attemperate.]
1. To reduce, modify, or moderate, by mixture; to temper; to
regulate, as temperature.
If sweet with bitter . . . were not attempered still. Trench.
2. To soften, mollify, or moderate; to soothe; to temper; as, to
attemper rigid justice with clemency.
3. To mix in just proportion; to regulate; as, a mind well attempered
with kindness and justice.
4. To accommodate; to make suitable; to adapt.
Arts . . . attempered to the lyre. Pope.
Note: This word is now not much used, the verb temper taking its
place.
ATTEMPERAMENT
At*tem"per*a*ment, n. Etym: [OF. attemprement.]
Defn: A tempering, or mixing in due proportion.
ATTEMPERANCE
At*tem"per*ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. atemprance.]
Defn: Temperance; attemperament. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATTEMPERATE
At*tem"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. attemperatus, p. p. of attemperare. See
Attemper.]
Defn: Tempered; proportioned; properly adapted.
Hope must be . . . attemperate to the promise. Hammond.
ATTEMPERATE
At*tem"per*ate, v. t.
Defn: To attemper. [Archaic]
ATTEMPERATION
At*tem`per*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of attempering or regulating. [Archaic] Bacon.
ATTEMPERLY
At*tem"per*ly, adv.
Defn: Temperately. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATTEMPERMENT
At*tem"per*ment, n.
Defn: Attemperament.
ATTEMPT
At*tempt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attempted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attempting.] Etym: [OF. atenter, also spelt atempter, F. attenter,
fr. L. attentare to attempt; ad + tentare, temptare, to touch, try,
v. intens. of tendere to stretch. See Tempt, and cf. Attend.]
1. To make trial or experiment of; to try; to endeavor to do or
perform (some action); to assay; as, to attempt to sing; to attempt a
bold flight.
Something attempted, something done, Has earned a night's repose.
Longfellow.
2. To try to move, by entreaty, by afflictions, or by temptations; to
tempt. [Obs. or Archaic]
It made the laughter of an afternoon That Vivien should attempt the
blameless king. Thackeray.
3. To try to win, subdue, or overcome; as, one who attempts the
virtue of a woman.
Dear sir, of force I must attempt you further: Take some remembrance
of us, as a tribute. Shak.
4. To attack; to make an effort or attack upon; to try to take by
force; as, to attempt the enemy's camp.
Without attempting his adversary's life. Motley.
Syn.
-- See Try.
ATTEMPT
At*tempt", v. i.
Defn: To make an attempt; -- with upon. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ATTEMPT
At*tempt", n.
Defn: A essay, trial, or endeavor; an undertaking; an attack, or an
effort to gain a point; esp. an unsuccessful, as contrasted with a
successful, effort.
By his blindness maimed for high attempts. Milton.
Attempt to commit a crime (Law), such an intentional preparatory act
as will apparently result, if not extrinsically hindered, in a crime
which it was designed to effect. Wharton.
Syn.
-- Attempt, Endeavor, Effort, Exertion, Trial. These words agree in
the idea of calling forth our powers into action. Trial is the
generic term; it denotes a putting forth of one's powers with a view
to determine what they can accomplish; as, to make trial of one's
strength. An attempt is always directed to some definite and specific
object; as, "The attempt, and not the deed, confounds us." Shak. An
endeavor is a continued attempt; as, "His high endeavor and his glad
success." Cowper. Effort is a specific putting forth of strength in
order to carry out an attempt. Exertion is the putting forth or
active exercise of any faculty or power. "It admits of all degrees of
effort and even natural action without effort." C. J. Smith. See Try.
ATTEMPTABLE
At*tempt"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being attempted, tried, or attacked. Shak.
ATTEMPTER
At*tempt"er, n.
1. One who attempts; one who essays anything.
2. An assailant; also, a temper. [Obs.]
ATTEMPTIVE
At*tempt"ive, a.
Defn: Disposed to attempt; adventurous. [Obs.] Daniel.
ATTEND
At*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attended; p. pr. & vb. n. Attending.]
Etym: [OE. atenden, OF. atendre, F. attendre, to expect, to wait, fr.
L. attendre to stretch, (sc. animum), to apply the mind to; ad +
tendere to stretch. See Tend.]
1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to;
to regard. [Obs.]
The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the
unskillful words of the passenger. Sir P. Sidney.
2. To care for; to look after; to take charge of; to watch over.
3. To go or stay with, as a companion, nurse, or servant; to visit
professionally, as a physician; to accompany or follow in order to do
service; to escort; to wait on; to serve.
The fifth had charge sick persons to attend. Spenser.
Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak.
With a sore heart and a gloomy brow, he prepared to attend William
thither. Macaulay.
4. To be present with; to accompany; to be united or consequent to;
as, a measure attended with ill effects.
What cares must then attend the toiling swain. Dryden.
5. To be present at; as, to attend church, school, a concert, a
business meeting.
6. To wait for; to await; to remain, abide, or be in store for.
[Obs.]
The state that attends all men after this. Locke.
Three days I promised to attend my doom. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To Attend, Mind, Regard, Heed, Notice. Attend is generic, the
rest are specific terms. To mind is to attend so that it may not be
forgotten; to regard is to look on a thing as of importance; to heed
is to ~ to a thing from a principle of caution; to notice is to think
on that which strikes the senses. Crabb. See Accompany.
ATTEND
At*tend", v. i.
1. To apply the mind, or pay attention, with a view to perceive,
understand, or comply; to pay regard; to heed; to listen; -- usually
followed by to.
Attend to the voice of my supplications. Ps. lxxxvi. 6.
Man can not at the same time attend to two objects. Jer. Taylor.
2. To accompany or be present or near at hand, in pursuance of duty;
to be ready for service; to wait or be in waiting; -- often followed
by on or upon.
He was required to attend upon the committee. Clarendon.
3. (with to) To take charge of; to look after; as, to attend to a
matter of business.
4. To wait; to stay; to delay. [Obs.]
For this perfection she must yet attend, Till to her Maker she
espoused be. Sir J. Davies.
Syn.
-- To Attend, Listen, Hearken. We attend with a view to hear and
learn; we listen with fixed attention, in order to hear correctly, or
to consider what has been said; we hearken when we listen with a
willing mind, and in reference to obeying.
ATTENDANCE
At*tend"ance, n. Etym: [OE. attendance, OF. atendance, fr. atendre,
F. attendre. See Attend, v. t.]
1. Attention; regard; careful application. [Obs.]
Till I come, give attendance to reading. 1 Tim. iv. 13.
2. The act of attending; state of being in waiting; service;
ministry; the fact of being present; presence.
Constant attendance at church three times a day. Fielding.
3. Waiting for; expectation. [Obs.]
Languishing attendance and expectation of death. Hooker.
4. The persons attending; a retinue; attendants.
If your stray attendance by yet lodged. Milton.
ATTENDANCY
At*tend"an*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of attending or accompanying; attendance; an
attendant. [Obs.]
ATTENDANT
At*tend"ant, a. Etym: [F. attendant, p. pr. of attendre. See Attend,
v. t.]
1. Being present, or in the train; accompanying; in waiting.
From the attendant flotilla rang notes triumph. Sir W. Scott.
Cherub and Seraph . . . attendant on their Lord. Milton.
2. Accompanying, connected with, or immediately following, as
consequential; consequent; as, intemperance with all its attendant
evils.
The natural melancholy attendant upon his situation added to the
gloom of the owner of the mansion. Sir W. Scott.
3. (Law)
Defn: Depending on, or owing duty or service to; as, the widow
attendant to the heir. Cowell. Attendant keys (Mus.), the keys or
scales most nearly related to, or having most in common with, the
principal key; those, namely, of its fifth above, or dominant, its
fifth below (fourth above), or subdominant, and its relative minor or
major.
ATTENDANT
At*tend"ant, n.
1. One who attends or accompanies in any character whatever, as a
friend, companion, servant, agent, or suitor. "A train of
attendants." Hallam.
2. One who is present and takes part in the proceedings; as, an
attendant at a meeting.
3. That which accompanies; a concomitant.
[A] sense of fame, the attendant of noble spirits. Pope.
4. (Law)
Defn: One who owes duty or service to, or depends on, another.
Cowell.
ATTENDEMENT
At*tend"e*ment, n.
Defn: Intent. [Obs.] Spenser.
ATTENDER
At*tend"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, attends.
ATTENDMENT
At*tend"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. atendement.]
Defn: An attendant circumstance. [Obs.]
The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.
ATTENT
At*tent", a. Etym: [L. attentus, p. p. of attendere. See Attend, v.
t.]
Defn: Attentive; heedful. [Archaic]
Let thine ears be attent unto the prayer. 2 Chron. vi. 40.
ATTENT
At*tent", n.
Defn: Attention; heed. [Obs.] Spenser.
ATTENTATE; ATTENTAT
At*ten"tate, At*ten"tat, n. Etym: [L. attentatum, pl. attentata, fr.
attentare to attempt: cf. F. attentat criminal attempt. See Attempt.]
1. An attempt; an assault. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. (Law)
(a) A proceeding in a court of judicature, after an inhibition is
decreed.
(b) Any step wrongly innovated or attempted in a suit by an inferior
judge.
ATTENTION
At*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. attentio: cf. F. attention.]
1. The act or state of attending or heeding; the application of the
mind to any object of sense, representation, or thought; notice;
exclusive or special consideration; earnest consideration, thought,
or regard; obedient or affectionate heed; the supposed power or
faculty of attending.
They say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep
harmony. Shak.
Note: Attention is consciousness and something more. It is
consciousness voluntarily applied, under its law of limitations, to
some determinate object; it is consciousness concentrated. Sir W.
Hamilton.
2. An act of civility or courtesy; care for the comfort and pleasure
of others; as, attentions paid to a stranger. To pay attention to, To
pay one's attentions to, to be courteous or attentive to; to wait
upon as a lover; to court.
Syn.
-- Care; heed; study; consideration; application; advertence;
respect; regard.
ATTENTIVE
At*ten"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. attentif.]
1. Heedful; intent; observant; regarding with care or attention.
Note: Attentive is applied to the senses of hearing and seeing, as,
an attentive ear or eye; to the application of the mind, as in
contemplation; or to the application of the mind, in every possible
sense, as when a person is attentive to the words, and to the manner
and matter, of a speaker at the same time.
2. Heedful of the comfort of others; courteous.
Syn.
-- Heedful; intent; observant; mindful; regardful; circumspect;
watchful.
-- At*ten"tive*ly, adv.
-- At*ten"tive*ness, n.
ATTENTLY
At*tent"ly, adv.
Defn: Attentively. [Obs.] Barrow.
ATTENUANT
At*ten"u*ant, a. Etym: [L. attenuans, p. pr. of attenuare: cf. F.
atténuant. See Attenuate.]
Defn: Making thin, as fluids; diluting; rendering less dense and
viscid; diluent.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that thins or dilutes the fluids; a diluent.
ATTENUATE
At*ten"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attenuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attenuating.] Etym: [L. attenuatus, p. p. of attenuare; ad + tenuare
to make thin, tenuis thin. See Thin.]
1. To make thin or slender, as by mechanical or chemical action upon
inanimate objects, or by the effects of starvation, disease, etc.,
upon living bodies.
2. To make thin or less consistent; to render less viscid or dense;
to rarefy. Specifically: To subtilize, as the humors of the body, or
to break them into finer parts.
3. To lessen the amount, force, or value of; to make less complex; to
weaken.
To undersell our rivals . . . has led the manufacturer to . . .
attenuate his processes, in the allotment of tasks, to an extreme
point. I. Taylor.
We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless
meagerness. Sir F. Palgrave.
ATTENUATE
At*ten"u*ate, v. i.
Defn: To become thin, slender, or fine; to grow less; to lessen.
The attention attenuates as its sphere contracts. Coleridge.
ATTENUATE; ATTENUATED
At*ten"u*ate, At*ten"u*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. attenuatus, p. p.]
1. Made thin or slender.
2. Made thin or less viscid; rarefied. Bacon.
ATTENUATION
At*ten`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. attenuatio: cf. F. atténuation.]
1. The act or process of making slender, or the state of being
slender; emaciation.
2. The act of attenuating; the act of making thin or less dense, or
of rarefying, as fluids or gases.
3. The process of weakening in intensity; diminution of virulence;
as, the attenuation of virus.
ATTER
At"ter, n. Etym: [AS. ætter.]
Defn: Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.] Holland.
ATTERCOP
At"ter*cop, n. Etym: [AS. attercoppa a spider; ætter poison + coppa
head, cup.]
1. A spider. [Obs.]
2. A peevish, ill-natured person. [North of Eng.]
ATTERRATE
At*ter*rate, v. t. Etym: [It. atterrare (cf. LL. atterrare to cast to
earth); L. ad + terra earth, land.]
Defn: To fill up with alluvial earth. [Obs.] Ray.
ATTERRATION
At`ter*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of filling up with earth, or of forming land with
alluvial earth. [Obs.]
ATTEST
At"test", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attested; p. pr. & vb. n. Attesting.]
Etym: [L. attestari; ad + testari to bear witness: cf. F. attester.]
1. To bear witness to; to certify; to affirm to be true or genuine;
as, to attest the truth of a writing, a copy of record.
Facts . . . attested by particular pagan authors. Addison.
2. To give proof of; to manifest; as, the ruins of Palmyra attest its
ancient magnificence.
3. To call to witness; to invoke. [Archaic]
The sacred streams which Heaven's imperial state Attests in oaths,
and fears to violate. Dryden.
ATTEST
At*test", n.
Defn: Witness; testimony; attestation. [R.]
The attest of eyes and ears. Shak.
ATTESTATION
At`tes*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. attestatio: cf. F. attestation.]
Defn: The act of attesting; testimony; witness; a solemn or official
declaration, verbal or written, in support of a fact; evidence. The
truth appears from the attestation of witnesses, or of the proper
officer. The subscription of a name to a writing as a witness, is an
attestation.
ATTESTATIVE
At*test"a*tive, a.
Defn: Of the nature of attestation.
ATTESTER; ATTESTOR
At*test"er, At*test"or, n.
Defn: One who attests.
ATTESTIVE
At*test"ive, a.
Defn: Attesting; furnishing evidence.
ATTIC
At"tic, a. Etym: [L. Atticus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Attica, in Greece, or to Athens, its
principal city; marked by such qualities as were characteristic of
the Athenians; classical; refined. Attic base (Arch.), a peculiar
form of molded base for a column or pilaster, described by Vitruvius,
applied under the Roman Empire to the Ionic and Corinthian and "Roman
Doric" orders, and imitated by the architects of the Renaissance.
-- Attic faith, inviolable faith.
-- Attic purity, special purity of language.
-- Attic salt, Attic wit, a poignant, delicate wit, peculiar to the
Athenians.
-- Attic story. See Attic, n.
-- Attic style, a style pure and elegant.
ATTIC
At"tic, n. Etym: [In sense (a) from F. attique, orig. meaning Attic.
See Attic, a.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) A low story above the main order or orders of a facade, in the
classical styles; -- a term introduced in the 17th century. Hence:
(b) A room or rooms behind that part of the exterior; all the rooms
immediately below the roof.
2. An Athenian; an Athenian author.
ATTICAL
At"tic*al, a.
Defn: Attic. [Obs.] Hammond.
ATTICISM
At"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A favoring of, or attachment to, the Athenians.
2. The style and idiom of the Greek language, used by the Athenians;
a concise and elegant expression.
ATTICIZE
At"ti*cize, v. t. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To conform or make conformable to the language, customs, etc.,
of Attica.
ATTICIZE
At"ti*cize, v. i.
1. To side with the Athenians.
2. To use the Attic idiom or style; to conform to the customs or
modes of thought of the Athenians.
ATTIGUOUS
At*tig"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. attiguus, fr. attingere to touch. See
Attain.]
Defn: Touching; bordering; contiguous. [Obs.] -- At*tig"u*ous*ness,
n. [Obs.]
ATTINGE
At*tinge", v. t. Etym: [L. attingere to touch. See Attain.]
Defn: To touch lightly. [Obs.] Coles.
ATTIRE
At*tire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attired; p. pr. & vb. n. Attiring.]
Etym: [OE. atiren to array, dispose, arrange, OF. atirier; à (L. ad)
+ F. tire rank, order, row; of Ger. origin: cf. As. tier row, OHG.
ziari, G. zier, ornament, zieren to adorn. Cf. Tire a headdress.]
Defn: To dress; to array; to adorn; esp., to clothe with elegant or
splendid garments.
Finely attired in a robe of white. Shak.
With the linen miter shall he be attired. Lev. xvi. 4.
ATTIRE
At*tire", n.
1. Dress; clothes; headdress; anything which dresses or adorns; esp.,
ornamental clothing.
Earth in her rich attire. Milton.
I 'll put myself in poor and mean attire. Shak.
Can a maid forget her ornament, or a bride her attire Jer. ii. 32.
2. The antlers, or antlers and scalp, of a stag or buck.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The internal parts of a flower, included within the calyx and
the corolla. [Obs.] Johnson.
ATTIRED
At*tired", p. p. (Her.)
Defn: Provided with antlers, as a stag.
ATTIREMENT
At*tire"ment, n.
Defn: Attire; adornment.
ATTIRER
At*tir"er, n.
Defn: One who attires.
ATTITUDE
At"ti*tude, n. Etym: [It. attitudine, LL. aptitudo, fr. L. aptus
suited, fitted: cf. F. attitude. Cf. Aptitude.]
1. (Paint. & Sculp.)
Defn: The posture, action, or disposition of a figure or a statue.
2. The posture or position of a person or an animal, or the manner in
which the parts of his body are disposed; position assumed or studied
to serve a purpose; as, a threatening attitude; an attitude of
entreaty.
3. Fig.: Position as indicating action, feeling, or mood; as, in
times of trouble let a nation preserve a firm attitude; one's mental
attitude in respect to religion.
The attitude of the country was rapidly changing. J. R. Green.
To strike an attitude, to take an attitude for mere effect.
Syn.
-- Attitude, Posture. Both of these words describe the visible
disposition of the limbs. Posture relates to their position merely;
attitude refers to their fitness for some specific object. The object
of an attitude is to set forth exhibit some internal feeling; as,
attitude of wonder, of admiration, of grief, etc. It is, therefore,
essentially and designedly expressive. Its object is the same with
that of gesture; viz., to hold forth and represent. Posture has no
such design. If we speak of posture in prayer, or the posture of
devotion, it is only the natural disposition of the limbs, without
any intention to show forth or exhibit.
'T is business of a painter in his choice of attitudes (posituræ) to
foresee the effect and harmony of the lights and shadows. Dryden.
Never to keep the body in the same posture half an hour at a time.
Bacon.
ATTITUDINAL
At`ti*tu"di*nal, a.
Defn: Relating to attitude.
ATTITUDINARIAN
At`ti*tu`di*na"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who attitudinizes; a posture maker.
ATTITUDINARIANISM
At`ti*tu`di*na"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: A practicing of attitudes; posture making.
ATTITUDINIZE
At`ti*tu"di*nize, v. i.
Defn: To assume affected attitudes; to strike an attitude; to pose.
Maria, who is the most picturesque figure, was put to attitudinize at
the harp. Hannah More.
ATTITUDINIZER
At`ti*tu"di*ni`zer, n
Defn: One who practices attitudes.
ATTLE
At"tle, n. Etym: [Cf. Addle mire.] (Mining)
Defn: Rubbish or refuse consisting of broken rock containing little
or no ore. Weale.
ATTOLLENT
At*tol"lent, a. Etym: [L. attollens, p. pr. of attollere; ad +
tollere to lift.]
Defn: Lifting up; raising; as, an attollent muscle. Derham.
ATTONCE
At*tonce", adv. Etym: [At + once.]
Defn: At once; together. [Obs.] Spenser.
ATTONE
At*tone", adv.
Defn: See At one. [Obs.]
ATTORN
At*torn", v. i. Etym: [OF. atorner, aturner, atourner, to direct,
prepare, dispose, attorn (cf. OE. atornen to return, adorn); à (L.
ad) + torner to turn; cf. LL. attornare to commit business to
another, to attorn; ad + tornare to turn, L. tornare to turn in a
lathe, to round off. See Turn, v. t.]
1. (Feudal Law)
Defn: To turn, or transfer homage and service, from one lord to
another. This is the act of feudatories, vassals, or tenants, upon
the alienation of the estate. Blackstone.
2. (Modern Law)
Defn: To agree to become tenant to one to whom reversion has been
granted.
ATTORNEY
At*tor"ney, n.; pl. Attorneys. Etym: [OE. aturneye, OF. atorné, p. p.
of atorner: cf. LL. atturnatus, attornatus, fr. attornare. See
Attorn.]
1. A substitute; a proxy; an agent. [Obs.]
And will have no attorney but myself. Shak.
2. (Law)
(a) One who is legally appointed by another to transact any business
for him; an attorney in fact.
(b) A legal agent qualified to act for suitors and defendants in
legal proceedings; an attorney at law.
Note: An attorney is either public or private. A private attorney, or
an attorney in fact, is a person appointed by another, by a letter or
power of attorney, to transact any business for him out of court; but
in a more extended sense, this class includes any agent employed in
any business, or to do any act in pais, for another. A public
attorney, or attorney at law, is a practitioner in a court of law,
legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court, on
the retainer of clients. Bouvier.
-- The attorney at law answers to the procurator of the civilians,
to the solicitor in chancery, and to the proctor in the
ecclesiastical and admiralty courts, and all of these are
comprehended under the more general term lawyer. In Great Britain and
in some states of the United States, attorneys are distinguished from
counselors in that the business of the former is to carry on the
practical and formal parts of the suit. In many states of the United
States however, no such distinction exists. In England, since 1873,
attorneys at law are by statute called solicitors. A power, letter,
or warrant, of attorney, a written authority from one person
empowering another to transact business for him.
ATTORNEY
At*tor"ney, v. t.
Defn: To perform by proxy; to employ as a proxy. [Obs.] Shak.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
At*tor"ney-gen"er*al, n.; (pl. Attorney-generals or Attorneys-
general). (Law)
Defn: The chief law officer of the state, empowered to act in all
litigation in which the law-executing power is a party, and to advise
this supreme executive whenever required. Wharton.
ATTORNEYISM
At*tor"ney*ism, n.
Defn: The practice or peculiar cleverness of attorneys.
ATTORNEYSHIP
At*tor"ney*ship, n.
Defn: The office or profession of an attorney; agency for another.
Shak.
ATTORNMENT
At*torn"ment, n. Etym: [OF. attornement, LL. attornamentum. See
Attorn.] (Law)
Defn: The act of a feudatory, vassal, or tenant, by which he
consents, upon the alienation of an estate, to receive a new lord or
superior, and transfers to him his homage and service; the agreement
of a tenant to acknowledge the purchaser of the estate as his
landlord. Burrill. Blackstone.
ATTRACT
At*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attracting.] Etym: [L. attractus, p. p. of attrahere; ad + trahere to
draw. See Trace, v. t.]
1. To draw to, or cause to tend to; esp. to cause to approach,
adhere, or combine; or to cause to resist divulsion, separation, or
decomposition.
All bodies and all parts of bodies mutually attract themselves and
one another. Derham.
2. To draw by influence of a moral or emotional kind; to engage or
fix, as the mind, attention, etc.; to invite or allure; as, to
attract admirers.
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze. Milton.
Syn.
-- To draw; allure; invite; entice; influence.
ATTRACT
At*tract", n.
Defn: Attraction. [Obs.] Hudibras.
ATTRACTABILITY
At*tract`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or fact of being attractable. Sir W. Jones.
ATTRACTABLE
At*tract"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being attracted; subject to attraction.
-- At*tract"a*ble*ness, n.
ATTRACTER
At*tract"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, attracts.
ATTRACTILE
At*tract"ile, a.
Defn: Having power to attract.
ATTRACTING
At*tract"ing, a.
Defn: That attracts.
-- At*tract"ing*ly, adv.
ATTRACTION
At*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.]
1. (Physics)
Defn: An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to
itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or
ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce
their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation.
Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible
distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or
phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, --(1.)
Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the
universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the
masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances
apart. (2.) Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each of
which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a
property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on
its quantity. Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, --
(1.) Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of sensible
extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (2.) Cohesive
attraction, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or
unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those
particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by
spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization.
The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of
cohesion. (3.) Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to
rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as
in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when
one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive
attraction. (4.) Chemical attraction, or affinity, that peculiar
force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to
form molecules.
2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or
operation of attraction. Newton.
3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging;
an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence.
4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature.
Syn.
-- Allurement; enticement; charm.
ATTRACTION SPHERE
At*trac"tion sphere.
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) The central mass of the aster in mitotic cell division;
centrosphere.
(b) Less often, the mass of archoplasm left by the aster in the
resting cell.
2. (Bot.) A small body situated on or near the nucleus in the cells
of some of the lower plants, consisting of two centrospheres
containing centrosomes. It exercises an important function in
mitosis.
ATTRACTIVE
At*tract"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. attractif.]
1. Having the power or quality of attracting or drawing; as, the
attractive force of bodies. Sir I. Newton.
2. Attracting or drawing by moral influence or pleasurable emotion;
alluring; inviting; pleasing. "Attractive graces." Milton.
"Attractive eyes." Thackeray.
Flowers of a livid yellow, or fleshy color, are most attractive to
flies. Lubbock.
-- At*tract"ive*ly, adv.
-- At*tract"ive*ness, n.
ATTRACTIVE
At*tract"ive, n.
Defn: That which attracts or draws; an attraction; an allurement.
Speaks nothing but attractives and invitation. South.
ATTRACTIVITY
At`trac*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or degree of attractive power.
ATTRACTOR
At*tract"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, attracts. Sir T. Browne
ATTRAHENT
At"tra*hent, a. Etym: [L. attrahens, p. pr. of attrahere. See
Attract, v. t.]
Defn: Attracting; drawing; attractive.
ATTRAHENT
At"tra*hent, n.
1. That which attracts, as a magnet.
The motion of the steel to its attrahent. Glanvill.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A substance which, by irritating the surface, excites action in
the part to which it is applied, as a blister, an epispastic, a
sinapism.
ATTRAP
At*trap", v. t. Etym: [F. attraper to catch; à (L. ad) + trappe trap.
See Trap (for taking game).]
Defn: To entrap; to insnare. [Obs.] Grafton.
ATTRAP
At*trap", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ad + trap to adorn.]
Defn: To adorn with trapping; to array. [Obs.]
Shall your horse be attrapped . . . more richly Holland.
ATTRECTATION
At`trec*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. attrectatio; ad + tractare to handle.]
Defn: Frequent handling or touching. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
ATTRIBUTABLE
At*trib"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being attributed; ascribable; imputable.
Errors . . . attributable to carelessness. J. D. Hooker.
ATTRIBUTE
At*trib"ute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attributed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Attributing.] Etym: [L. attributus, p. p. of attribuere; ad +
tribuere to bestow. See Tribute.]
Defn: To ascribe; to consider (something) as due or appropriate (to);
to refer, as an effect to a cause; to impute; to assign; to consider
as belonging (to).
We attribute nothing to God that hath any repugnancy or contradiction
in it. Abp. Tillotson.
The merit of service is seldom attributed to the true and exact
performer. Shak.
Syn.
-- See Ascribe.
ATTRIBUTE
At"tri*bute, n. Etym: [L. attributum.]
1. That which is attributed; a quality which is considered as
belonging to, or inherent in, a person or thing; an essential or
necessary property or characteristic.
But mercy is above this sceptered away; . . . It is an attribute to
God himself. Shak.
2. Reputation. [Poetic] Shak.
3. (Paint. & Sculp.)
Defn: A conventional symbol of office, character, or identity, added
to any particular figure; as, a club is the attribute of Hercules.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Quality, etc., denoted by an attributive; an attributive
adjunct or adjective.
ATTRIBUTION
At`tri*bu"tion, n. Etym: [L. attributio: cf. F. attribution.]
1. The act of attributing or ascribing, as a quality, character, or
function, to a thing or person, an effect to a cause.
2. That which is ascribed or attributed.
ATTRIBUTIVE
At*trib"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. attributif.]
Defn: Attributing; pertaining to, expressing, or assigning an
attribute; of the nature of an attribute.
ATTRIBUTIVE
At*trib"u*tive, n., (Gram.)
Defn: A word that denotes an attribute; esp. a modifying word joined
to a noun; an adjective or adjective phrase.
ATTRIBUTIVELY
At*trib"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an attributive manner.
ATTRITE
At*trite", a. Etym: [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to
rub. See Trite.]
1. Rubbed; worn by friction. Milton.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Repentant from fear of punishment; having attrition of grief
for sin; -- opposed to contrite.
ATTRITION
At*tri"tion, n. Etym: [L. attritio: cf. F. attrition.]
1. The act of rubbing together; friction; the act of wearing by
friction, or by rubbing substances together; abrasion.
Effected by attrition of the inward stomach. Arbuthnot.
2. The state of being worn. Johnson.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: Grief for sin arising only from fear of punishment or feelings
of shame. See Contrition. Wallis.
ATTRITUS
At*tri"tus, n. [L. attritus, p. p. of atterere; ad + terere to rub.]
Defn: Matter pulverized by attrition.
ATTRY
At"try, a. Etym: [See Atter.]
Defn: Poisonous; malignant; malicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATTUNE
At*tune", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Attuned (; p. pr. & vb. n. Attuning.]
Etym: [Pref. ad- + tune.]
1. To tune or put in tune; to make melodious; to adjust, as one sound
or musical instrument to another; as, to attune the voice to a harp.
2. To arrange fitly; to make accordant.
Wake to energy each social aim, Attuned spontaneous to the will of
Jove. Beattie.
ATWAIN
A*twain", adv. Etym: [OE. atwaine, atwinne; pref. a- + twain.]
Defn: In twain; asunder. [Obs. or Poetic] "Cuts atwain the knots."
Tennyson.
ATWEEN
A*tween", adv. or prep. Etym: [See Atwain, and cf. Between.]
Defn: Between. [Archaic] Spenser. Tennyson.
ATWIRL
A*twirl", a. & adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + twist.]
Defn: Twisted; distorted; awry. [R.] Halliwell.
ATWITE
A*twite", v. t. Etym: [OE. attwyten, AS. ætwitan. See Twit.]
Defn: To speak reproachfully of; to twit; to upbraid. [Obs.]
ATWIXT
A*twixt", adv.
Defn: Betwixt. [Obs.] Spenser.
ATWO
A*two", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + two.]
Defn: In two; in twain; asunder. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ATYPIC; ATYPICAL
A*typ"ic, A*typ"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. a- not + typic, typical.]
Defn: That has no type; devoid of typical character; irregular;
unlike the type.
AUBADE
Au`bade", n. Etym: [F., fr. aube the dawn, fr. L. albus white.]
Defn: An open air concert in the morning, as distinguished from an
evening serenade; also, a pianoforte composition suggestive of
morning. Grove.
The crowing cock . . . Sang his aubade with lusty voice and clear.
Longfellow.
AUBAINE
Au`baine", n. Etym: [F., fr. aubain an alien, fr. L. alibi
elsewhere.]
Defn: Succession to the goods of a stranger not naturalized. Littré.
Droit d'aubaine (, the right, formerly possessed by the king of
France, to all the personal property of which an alien died
possessed. It was abolished in 1819. Bouvier.
AUBE
Aube, n. Etym: [See Ale.]
Defn: An alb. [Obs.] Fuller.
AUBERGE
Au`berge", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An inn. Beau. & Fl.
AUBIN
Au"bin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A broken gait of a horse, between an amble and a gallop; --
commonly called a Canterbury gallop.
AUBURN
Au"burn, a. Etym: [OE. auburne blonde, OF. alborne, auborne, fr. LL.
alburnus whitish, fr. L. albus white. Cf. Alburn.]
1. Flaxen-colored. [Obs.] Florio.
2. Reddish brown.
His auburn locks on either shoulder flowed. Dryden.
AUCHENIUM
Au*che"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The part of the neck nearest the back.
AUCTARY
Auc"ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. auctarium.]
Defn: That which is superadded; augmentation. [Obs.] Baxter.
AUCTION
Auc"tion, n. Etym: [L. auctio an increasing, a public sale, where the
price was called out, and the article to be sold was adjudged to the
last increaser of the price, or the highest bidder, fr. L. augere,
auctum, to increase. See Augment.]
1. A public sale of property to the highest bidder, esp. by a person
licensed and authorized for the purpose; a vendue.
2. The things sold by auction or put up to auction.
Ask you why Phryne the whole auction buys Pope.
Note: In the United States, the more prevalent expression has been
"sales at auction," that is, by an increase of bids (Lat. auctione).
This latter form is preferable. Dutch auction, the public offer of
property at a price beyond its value, then gradually lowering the
price, till some one accepts it as purchaser. P. Cyc.
AUCTION
Auc"tion, v. t.
Defn: To sell by auction.
AUCTIONARY
Auc"tion*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. auctionarius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an auction or an auctioneer. [R.]
With auctionary hammer in thy hand. Dryden.
AUCTION BRIDGE
Auc"tion bridge.
Defn: A variety of the game of bridge in which the players, beginning
with the dealer, bid for the privilege of naming the trump and
playing with the dummy for that deal, there being heavy penalties for
a player's failure to make good his bid. The score value of each
trick more than six taken by the successful bidder is as follows:
when the trump is spades, 2; clubs, 6; diamonds, 7; hearts, 8; royal
spades (lilies), 9; and when the deal is played with no trump, 10.
AUCTIONEER
Auc`tion*eer", n.
Defn: A person who sells by auction; a person whose business it is to
dispose of goods or lands by public sale to the highest or best
bidder.
AUCTIONEER
Auc`tion*eer", v. t.
Defn: To sell by auction; to auction.
Estates . . . advertised and auctioneered away. Cowper.
AUCTION PITCH
Auction pitch.
Defn: A game of cards in which the players bid for the privilege of
determining or "pitching" the trump suit. R. F. Foster.
AUCUPATION
Au`cu*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. aucupatio, fr. auceps, contr. for
aviceps; avis bird + capere to take.]
Defn: Birdcatching; fowling. [Obs.] Blount.
AUDACIOUS
Au*da"cious, a. Etym: [F. audacieux, as if fr. LL. audaciosus (not
found), fr. L. audacia audacity, fr. audax, -acis, bold, fr. audere
to dare.]
1. Daring; spirited; adventurous.
As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides Audacious. Milton.
2. Contemning the restraints of law, religion, or decorum; bold in
wickedness; presumptuous; impudent; insolent. " Audacious traitor."
Shak. " Such audacious neighborhood." Milton.
3. Committed with, or proceedings from, daring effrontery or contempt
of law, morality, or decorum. "Audacious cruelty." "Audacious prate."
Shak.
AUDACIOUSLY
Au*da"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: In an audacious manner; with excess of boldness; impudently.
AUDACIOUSNESS
Au*da"cious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being audacious; impudence; audacity.
AUDACITY
Au*dac"i*ty, n.
1. Daring spirit, resolution, or confidence; venturesomeness.
The freedom and audacity necessary in the commerce of men. Tatler.
2. Reckless daring; presumptuous impudence; -- implying a contempt of
law or moral restraints.
With the most arrogant audacity. Joye.
AUDIBILITY
Au`di*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being audible; power of being heard; audible
capacity.
AUDIBLE
Au"di*ble, a. Etym: [LL. audibilis, fr. L. audire, auditum, to hear:
cf. Gr. auris, and E. ear.]
Defn: Capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually
heard; as, an audible voice or whisper.
AUDIBLE
Au"di*ble, n.
Defn: That which may be heard. [Obs.]
Visibles are swiftlier carried to the sense than audibles. Bacon.
AUDIBLENESS
Au"di*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being audible.
AUDIBLY
Au"di*bly, adv.
Defn: So as to be heard.
AUDIENCE
Au"di*ence, n. Etym: [F. audience, L. audientia, fr. audire to hear.
See Audible, a.]
1. The act of hearing; attention to sounds.
Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. Milton.
2. Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign
or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of
business.
According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am
sent to speak. Shak.
3. An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to
their readers.
Fit audience find, though few. Milton.
He drew his audience upward to the sky. Dryden.
Court of audience, or Audience court (Eng.), a court long since
disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one
belonging to the Archbishop of York. Mozley & W.
-- In general (or open) audience, publicly.
-- To give audience, to listen; to admit to an interview.
AUDIENT
Au"di*ent, a. Etym: [L. audiens, p. pr. of audire. See Audible, a.]
Defn: Listening; paying attention; as, audient souls. Mrs. Browning.
AUDIENT
Au"di*ent, n.
Defn: A hearer; especially a catechumen in the early church. [Obs.]
Shelton.
AUDILE
Au"dile, n. [L. audire to hear.] (Psychol.)
Defn: One whose thoughts take the form of mental sounds or of
internal discourse rather than of visual or motor images.
AUDIOMETER
Au`di*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. audire to hear + -meter.] (Acous.)
Defn: An instrument by which the power of hearing can be gauged and
recorded on a scale.
AUDIPHONE
Au"di*phone, n. Etym: [L. audire to hear + Gr.
Defn: An instrument which, placed against the teeth, conveys sound to
the auditory nerve and enables the deaf to hear more or less
distinctly; a dentiphone.
AUDIT
Au"dit, n. Etym: [L. auditus a hearing, fr. audire. See Audible, a.]
1. An audience; a hearing. [Obs.]
He appeals to a high audit. Milton.
2. An examination in general; a judicial examination.
Note: Specifically: An examination of an account or of accounts, with
the hearing of the parties concerned, by proper officers, or persons
appointed for that purpose, who compare the charges with the
vouchers, examine witnesses, and state the result.
3. The result of such an examination, or an account as adjusted by
auditors; final account.
Yet I can make my audit up. Shak.
4. A general receptacle or receiver. [Obs.]
It [a little brook] paid to its common audit no more than the
revenues of a little cloud. Jer. Taylor.
Audit ale, a kind of ale, brewed at the English universities, orig.
for the day of audit.
-- Audit house, Audit room, an appendage to a cathedral, for the
transaction of its business.
AUDIT
Au"dit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Audited; p. pr. & vb. n. Auditing.]
Defn: To examine and adjust, as an account or accounts; as, to audit
the accounts of a treasure, or of parties who have a suit depending
in court.
AUDIT
Au"dit, v. i.
Defn: To settle or adjust an account.
Let Hocus audit; he knows how the money was disbursed. Arbuthnot.
AUDITA QUERELA
Au*di"ta que*re"la. Etym: [L., the complaint having been heard.]
(Law)
Defn: A writ which lies for a party against whom judgment is
recovered, but to whom good matter of discharge has subsequently
accrued which could not have been availed of to prevent such
judgment. Wharton.
AUDITION
Au*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. auditio.]
Defn: The act of hearing or listening; hearing.
Audition may be active or passive; hence the difference between
listening and simple hearing. Dunglison.
AUDITIVE
Au"di*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. auditif.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to hearing; auditory. [R.] Cotgrave.
AUDITOR
Au"di*tor, n. Etym: [L. auditor, fr. audire. See Audible, a.]
1. A hearer or listener. Macaulay.
2. A person appointed and authorized to audit or examine an account
or accounts, compare the charges with the vouchers, examine the
parties and witnesses, allow or reject charges, and state the
balance.
3. One who hears judicially, as in an audience court.
Note: In the United States government, and in the State governments,
there are auditors of the treasury and of the public accounts. The
name is also applied to persons employed to check the accounts of
courts, corporations, companies, societies, and partnerships.
AUDITORIAL
Au`di*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Auditory. [R.]
AUDITORIUM
Au`di*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [L. See Auditory, n.]
Defn: The part of a church, theater, or other public building,
assigned to the audience.
Note: In ancient churches the auditorium was the nave, where hearers
stood to be instructed; in monasteries it was an apartment for the
reception of strangers.
AUDITORSHIP
Au"di*tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or function of auditor.
AUDITORY
Au"di*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. auditorius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to hearing, or to the sense or organs of
hearing; as, the auditory nerve. See Ear. Auditory canal (Anat.), the
tube from the auditory meatus or opening of the ear to the tympanic
membrane.
AUDITORY
Au"di*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. auditorium.]
1. An assembly of hearers; an audience.
2. An auditorium. Udall.
AUDITRESS
Au"di*tress, n.
Defn: A female hearer. Milton.
AUDITUAL
Au*dit"u*al, a.
Defn: Auditory. [R.] Coleridge.
AUF
Auf, n. Etym: [OE. auph, aulf, fr. Icel. alfr elf. See Elf.] [Also
spelt oaf, ouphe.]
Defn: A changeling or elf child, -- that is, one left by fairies; a
deformed or foolish child; a simpleton; an oaf. [Obs.] Drayton.
AU FAIT
Au` fait". Etym: [F. Lit., to the deed, act, or point. Fait is fr. L.
factum. See Fact.]
Defn: Expert; skillful; well instructed.
AUFKLARUNG
Auf"klä*rung, n. [G., enlightenment.]
Defn: A philosophic movement of the 18th century characterized by a
lively questioning of authority, keen interest in matters of politics
and general culture, and an emphasis on empirical method in science.
It received its impetus from the unsystematic but vigorous skepticism
of Pierre Bayle, the physical doctrines of Newton, and the
epistemological theories of Locke, in the preceding century. Its
chief center was in France, where it gave rise to the skepticism of
Voltaire , the naturalism of Rousseau, the sensationalism of
Condillac, and the publication of the "Encyclopedia" by D'Alembert
and Diderot. In Germany, Lessing, Mendelssohn, and Herder were
representative thinkers, while the political doctrines of the leaders
of the American Revolution and the speculations of Benjamin Franklin
and Thomas Paine represented the movement in America.
AU FOND
Au` fond". [F., lit., at the bottom.]
Defn: At bottom; fundamentally; essentially.
AUGEAN
Au*ge"an, a.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Augeus, king of Elis, whose stable
contained 3000 oxen, and had not been cleaned for 30 years. Hercules
cleansed it in a single day.
2. Hence: Exceedingly filthy or corrupt. Augean stable (Fig.), an
accumulation of corruption or filth almost beyond the power of man to
remedy.
AUGER
Au"ger, n. Etym: [OE. augoure, nauger, AS. nafegar, fr. nafu, nafa,
nave of a wheel + gar spear, and therefore meaning properly and
originally a nave-bore. See Nave (of a wheel) and 2d Gore, n.]
1. A carpenter's tool for boring holes larger than those bored by a
gimlet. It has a handle placed crosswise by which it is turned with
both hands. A pod auger is one with a straight channel or groove,
like the half of a bean pod. A screw auger has a twisted blade, by
the spiral groove of which the chips are discharge.
2. An instrument for boring or perforating soils or rocks, for
determining the quality of soils, or the nature of the rocks or
strata upon which they lie, and for obtaining water. Auger bit, a bit
with a cutting edge or blade like that of an anger.
AUGET
Au*get", n. Etym: [F., dim. of auge trough, fr. L. alveus hollow, fr.
alvus belly.] (Mining)
Defn: A priming tube connecting the charge chamber with the gallery,
or place where the slow match is applied. Knight.
AUGHT; AUCHT
Aught, Aucht, n. Etym: [AS. , fr. agan to own, p. p. ahte.]
Defn: Property; possession. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
AUGHT
Aught, n. Etym: [OE. aught, ought, awiht, AS. awiht, a ever + wiht.
*136. See Aye ever, and Whit, Wight.]
Defn: Anything; any part. [Also written ought.]
There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord has spoken.
Josh. xxi. 45
But go, my son, and see if aught be wanting. Addison.
AUGHT
Aught, adv.
Defn: At all; in any degree. Chaucer.
AUGITE
Au"gite, n. Etym: [L. augites, Gr. augite.]
Defn: A variety of pyroxene, usually of a black or dark green color,
occurring in igneous rocks, such as basalt; -- also used instead of
the general term pyroxene.
AUGITIC
Au*git"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, augite; containing augite as a
principal constituent; as, augitic rocks.
AUGMENT
Aug*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Augmented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Augmenting.] Etym: [L. augmentare, fr. augmentum an increase, fr.
augere to increase; perh. akin to Gr. wax, v., and eke, v.: cf. F.
augmenter.]
1. To enlarge or increase in size, amount, or degree; to swell; to
make bigger; as, to augment an army by reëforcements; rain augments a
stream; impatience augments an evil.
But their spite still serves His glory to augment. Milton.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: To add an augment to.
AUGMENT
Aug*ment", v. i.
Defn: To increase; to grow larger, stronger, or more intense; as, a
stream augments by rain.
AUGMENT
Aug"ment, n. Etym: [L. augmentum: cf. F. augment.]
1. Enlargement by addition; increase.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A vowel prefixed, or a lengthening of the initial vowel, to
mark past time, as in Greek and Sanskrit verbs.
Note: In Greek, the syllabic augment is a prefixed temporal augment
is an increase of the quantity (time) of an initial vowel, as by
changing
AUGMENTABLE
Aug*ment"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of augmentation. Walsh.
AUGMENTATION
Aug`men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. augmentatio: cf. F. augmentation.]
1. The act or process of augmenting, or making larger, by addition,
expansion, or dilation; increase.
2. The state of being augmented; enlargement.
3. The thing added by way of enlargement.
4. (Her.)
Defn: A additional charge to a coat of arms, given as a mark of
honor. Cussans.
5. (Med.)
Defn: The stage of a disease in which the symptoms go on increasing.
Dunglison.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: In counterpoint and fugue, a repetition of the subject in tones
of twice the original length. Augmentation court (Eng. Hist.), a
court erected by Stat. 27 Hen. VIII., to augment to revenues of the
crown by the suppression of monasteries. It was long ago dissolved.
Encyc. Brit.
Syn.
-- Increase; enlargement; growth; extension; accession; addition.
AUGMENTATIVE
Aug*ment"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. augmentatif.]
Defn: Having the quality or power of augmenting; expressing
augmentation.
-- Aug*ment"a*tive*ly, adv.
AUGMENTATIVE
Aug*ment"a*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A word which expresses with augmented force the idea or the
properties of the term from which it is derived; as, dullard, one
very dull. Opposed to diminutive. Gibbs.
AUGMENTER
Aug*ment"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, augments or increases anything.
AU GRATIN
Au` gra`tin". [F.] (Cookery)
Defn: With a crust made by browning in the oven; as, spaghetti may be
served au gratin.
AUGRIM
Au"grim, n.
Defn: See Algorism. [Obs.] Chaucer. Augrim stones, pebbles formerly
used in numeration.
-- Noumbres of Augrim, Arabic numerals. Chaucer.
AUGUR
Au"gur, n. Etym: [L. Of uncertain origin: the first part of the word
is perh. fr. L. avis bird, and the last syllable, gur, equiv. to the
Skr. gar to call, akin to L. garrulus garrulous.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An official diviner who foretold events by the singing,
chattering, flight, and feeding of birds, or by signs or omens
derived from celestial phenomena, certain appearances of quadrupeds,
or unusual occurrences.
2. One who foretells events by omens; a soothsayer; a diviner; a
prophet.
Augur of ill, whose tongue was never found Without a priestly curse
or boding sound. Dryden.
AUGUR
Au"gur, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Augured (; p. pr. & vb. n. Auguring.]
1. To conjecture from signs or omens; to prognosticate; to foreshow.
My auguring mind assures the same success. Dryden.
2. To anticipate, to foretell, or to indicate a favorable or an
unfavorable issue; as, to augur well or ill.
AUGUR
Au"gur, v. t.
Defn: To predict or foretell, as from signs or omens; to betoken; to
presage; to infer.
It seems to augur genius. Sir W. Scott.
I augur everything from the approbation the proposal has met with. J.
F. W. Herschel.
Syn.
-- To predict; forebode; betoken; portend; presage; prognosticate;
prophesy; forewarn.
AUGURAL
Au"gu*ral, a. Etym: [L. auguralis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to augurs or to augury; betokening; ominous;
significant; as, an augural staff; augural books. "Portents augural."
Cowper.
AUGURATE
Au"gu*rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. auguratus, p. p. of augurari to
augur.]
Defn: To make or take auguries; to augur; to predict. [Obs.] C.
Middleton.
AUGURATE
Au"gu*rate, n.
Defn: The office of an augur. Merivale.
AUGURATION
Au`gu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. auguratio.]
Defn: The practice of augury.
AUGURER
Au"gur*er, n.
Defn: An augur. [Obs.] Shak.
AUGURIAL
Au*gu"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. augurialis.]
Defn: Relating to augurs or to augury. Sir T. Browne.
AUGURIST
Au"gu*rist, n.
Defn: An augur. [R.]
AUGURIZE
Au"gur*ize, v. t.
Defn: To augur. [Obs.] Blount.
AUGURIZE
Au"gur*ize, v. t.
Defn: To augur. [Obs.] Blount.
AUGUROUS
Au"gu*rous, a.
Defn: Full of augury; foreboding. [Obs.] "Augurous hearts." Chapman.
AUGURSHIP
Au"gur*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or period of office, of an augur. Bacon.
AUGURY
Au"gu*ry, n.; pl. Auguries (. Etym: [L. aucurium.]
1. The art or practice of foretelling events by observing the actions
of birds, etc.; divination.
2. An omen; prediction; prognostication; indication of the future;
presage.
From their flight strange auguries she drew. Drayton.
He resigned himself . . . with a docility that gave little augury of
his future greatness. Prescott.
3. A rite, ceremony, or observation of an augur.
AUGUST
Au*gust", a. Etym: [L. augustus; cf. augere to increase; in the
language of religion, to honor by offerings: cf. F. auguste. See
Augment.]
Defn: Of a quality inspiring mingled admiration and reverence; having
an aspect of solemn dignity or grandeur; sublime; majestic; having
exalted birth, character, state, or authority. "Forms august." Pope.
"August in visage." Dryden. "To shed that august blood." Macaulay.
So beautiful and so august a spectacle. Burke.
To mingle with a body so august. Byron.
Syn.
-- Grand; magnificent; majestic; solemn; awful; noble; stately;
dignified; imposing.
AUGUST
Au"gust, n. Etym: [L. Augustus. See note below, and August, a.]
Defn: The eighth month of the year, containing thirty-one days.
Note: The old Roman name was Sextilis, the sixth month from March,
the month in which the primitive Romans, as well as Jews, began the
year. The name was changed to August in honor of Augustus Cæsar, the
first emperor of Rome, on account of his victories, and his entering
on his first consulate in that month.
AUGUSTAN
Au*gus"tan, a. Etym: [L. Augustanus, fr. Augustus. See August, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to Augustus Cæsar or to his times.
2. Of or pertaining to the town of Augsburg. Augustan age of any
national literature, the period of its highest state of purity and
refinement; -- so called because the reign of Augustus Cæsar was the
golden age of Roman literature. Thus the reign of Louis XIV. (b.
1638) has been called the Augustan age of French literature, and that
of Queen Anne (b. 1664) the Augustan age of English literature.
-- Augustan confession (Eccl. Hist.), or confession of Augsburg,
drawn up at Augusta Vindelicorum, or Augsburg, by Luther and
Melanchthon, in 1530, contains the principles of the Protestants, and
their reasons for separating from the Roman Catholic church.
AUGUSTINE; AUGUSTINIAN
Au*gus"tine, Au`gus*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: A member of one of the religious orders called after St.
Augustine; an Austin friar.
AUGUSTINIAN
Au`gus*tin"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to St. Augustine, bishop of Hippo in Northern
Africa (b. 354 -- d. 430), or to his doctrines. Augustinian canons,
an order of monks once popular in England and Ireland; -- called also
regular canons of St. Austin, and black canons.
-- Augustinian hermits or Austin friars, an order of friars
established in 1265 by Pope Alexander IV. It was introduced into the
United States from Ireland in 1790.
-- Augustinian nuns, an order of nuns following the rule of St.
Augustine.
-- Augustinian rule, a rule for religious communities based upon the
109th letter of St. Augustine, and adopted by the Augustinian orders.
AUGUSTINIAN
Au`gus*tin"i*an, n.
Defn: One of a class of divines, who, following St. Augustine,
maintain that grace by its nature is effectual absolutely and
creatively, not relatively and conditionally.
AUGUSTINIANISM; AUGUSTINISM
Au`gus*tin"i*an*ism, Au*gus"tin*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrines held by Augustine or by the Augustinians.
AUGUSTLY
Au*gust"ly, adv.
Defn: In an august manner.
AUGUSTNESS
Au*gust"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being august; dignity of mien; grandeur;
magnificence.
AUK
Auk, n. Etym: [Prov. E. alk; akin to Dan. alke, Icel. & Sw. alka.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to various species of arctic sea birds of the
family Alcidæ. The great auk, now extinct, is Alca (or Plautus)
impennis. The razor-billed auk is A. torda. See Puffin, Guillemot,
and Murre.
AUKWARD
Auk"ward, a.
Defn: See Awkward. [Obs.]
AULARIAN
Au*la"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. aula hall. Cf. LL. aularis of a court.]
Defn: Relating to a hall.
AULARIAN
Au*la"ri*an, n.
Defn: At Oxford, England, a member of a hall, distinguished from a
collegian. Chalmers.
AULD
Auld, a. Etym: [See Old.]
Defn: Old; as, Auld Reekie (old smoky), i. e., Edinburgh. [Scot. &
Prov. Eng.]
AULD LANG SYNE
Auld` lang syne".
Defn: A Scottish phrase used in recalling recollections of times long
since past. "The days of auld lang syne."
AULD LICHT; AULD LIGHT
Auld licht, Auld light . (Eccl. Hist.)
(a) A member of the conservative party in the Church of Scotland in
the latter part of the 18th century.
(b) Same as Burgher, n., 2.
AULETIC
Au*let"ic, a. Etym: [L. auleticus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a pipe (flute) or piper. [R.] Ash.
AULIC
Au"lic, a. Etym: [L. aulicus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a royal court.
Ecclesiastical wealth and aulic dignities. Landor.
Aulic council (Hist.), a supreme court of the old German empire;
properly the supreme court of the emperor. It ceased at the death of
each emperor, and was renewed by his successor. It became extinct
when the German empire was dissolved, in 1806. The term is now
applied to a council of the war department of the Austrian empire,
and the members of different provincial chanceries of that empire are
called aulic councilors. P. Cyc.
AULIC
Au"lic, n.
Defn: The ceremony observed in conferring the degree of doctor of
divinity in some European universities. It begins by a harangue of
the chancellor addressed to the young doctor, who then receives the
cap, and presides at the disputation (also called the aulic).
AULN
Auln, n.
Defn: An ell. [Obs.] See Aune.
AULNAGE; AULNAGER
Aul"nage, Aul"na*ger, n.
Defn: See Alnage and Alnager.
AUM
Aum, n.
Defn: Same as Aam.
AUMAIL
Au*mail", v. t. Etym: [OE. for amel, enamel.]
Defn: To figure or variegate. [Obs.] Spenser.
AUMBRY
Aum"bry, n.
Defn: Same as Ambry.
AUMERY
Au"me*ry, n.
Defn: A form of Ambry, a closet; but confused with Almonry, as if a
place for alms.
AUNCEL
Aun"cel, n.
Defn: A rude balance for weighing, and a kind of weight, formerly
used in England. Halliwell.
AUNCETRY
Aun"cet*ry, n.
Defn: Ancestry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AUNE
Aune, n. Etym: [F. See Alnage.]
Defn: A French cloth measure, of different parts of the country (at
Paris, 0.95 of an English ell); -- now superseded by the meter.
AUNT
Aunt, n. Etym: [OF. ante, F. tante, L. amita father's sister. Cf.
Amma.]
1. The sister of one's father or mother; -- correlative to nephew or
niece. Also applied to an uncle's wife.
Note: Aunt is sometimes applied as a title or term of endearment to a
kind elderly woman not thus related.
2. An old woman; and old gossip. [Obs.] Shak.
3. A bawd, or a prostitute. [Obs.] Shak. Aunt Sally, a puppet head
placed on a pole and having a pipe in its mouth; also a game, which
consists in trying to hit the pipe by throwing short bludgeons at it.
AUNTER
Aun"ter, n.
Defn: Adventure; hap. [Obs.] In aunters, perchance.
AUNTER; AUNTRE
Aun"ter, Aun"tre, v. t. Etym: [See Adventure.]
Defn: To venture; to dare. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AUNTIE; AUNTY
Aunt"ie, Aunt"y, n.
Defn: A familiar name for an aunt. In the southern United States a
familiar term applied to aged negro women.
AUNTROUS
Aun"trous, a.
Defn: Adventurous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AURA
Au"ra, n.; pl. Auræ (. Etym: [L. aura air, akin to Gr.
1. Any subtile, invisible emanation, effluvium, or exhalation from a
substance, as the aroma of flowers, the odor of the blood, a supposed
fertilizing emanation from the pollen of flowers, etc.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The peculiar sensation, as of a light vapor, or cold air,
rising from the trunk or limbs towards the head, a premonitory
symptom of epilepsy or hysterics. Electric ~, a supposed electric
fluid, emanating from an electrified body, and forming a mass
surrounding it, called the electric atmosphere. See Atmosphere, 2.
AURAL
Au"ral, a. Etym: [L. aura air.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the air, or to an aura.
AURAL
Au"ral, a. Etym: [L. auris ear.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ear; as, aural medicine and surgery.
AURANTIACEOUS
Au*ran`ti*a"ceous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the Aurantiaceæ, an order of
plants (formerly considered natural), of which the orange is the
type.
AURATE
Au"rate, n. Etym: [L. auratus, p. p. of aurare to gild, fr. aurum
gold: cf. F. aurate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A combination of auric acid with a base; as, aurate or
potassium.
AURATED
Au"ra*ted, a. Etym: [See Aurate.]
1. Resembling or containing gold; gold-colored; gilded.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with auric acid.
AURATED
Au"ra*ted, a.
Defn: Having ears. See Aurited.
AUREATE
Au"re*ate, a. Etym: [L. aureatus, fr. aureus golden, fr. aurum gold.]
Defn: Golden; gilded. Skelton.
AURELIA
Au*re"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. aurum gold: cf. F. aurélie. Cf.
Chrysalis.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The chrysalis, or pupa of an insect, esp. when reflecting a
brilliant golden color, as that of some of the butterflies.
(b) A genus of jellyfishes. See Discophora.
AURELIAN
Au*re"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the aurelia.
AURELIAN
Au*re"li*an, n.
Defn: An amateur collector and breeder of insects, esp. of
butterflies and moths; a lepidopterist.
AUREOLA; AUREOLE
Au*re"o*la, Au"re*ole, n. Etym: [F. auréole, fr. L. aureola, (fem
adj.) of gold (sc. corona crown), dim. of aureus. See Aureate,
Oriole.]
1. (R. C. Theol.)
Defn: A celestial crown or accidental glory added to the bliss of
heaven, as a reward to those (as virgins, martyrs, preachers, etc.)
who have overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil.
2. The circle of rays, or halo of light, with which painters surround
the figure and represent the glory of Christ, saints, and others held
in special reverence.
Note: Limited to the head, it is strictly termed a nimbus; when it
envelops the whole body, an aureola. Fairholt.
3. A halo, actual or figurative.
The glorious aureole of light seen around the sun during total
eclipses. Proctor.
The aureole of young womanhood. O. W. Holmes.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: See Areola, 2.
AU REVOIR
Au` re*voir". [F., lit., to the seeing again.]
Defn: Good-by until we meet again.
AURIC
Au"ric, a. Etym: [L. aurum gold.]
1. Of or pertaining to gold.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gold; -- said of those
compounds of gold in which this element has its higher valence; as,
auric oxide; auric chloride.
AURICHALCEOUS
Au`ri*chal"ce*ous, a. Etym: [L. aurichalcum, for orichalcum brass.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Brass-colored.
AURICHALCITE
Au`ri*chal"cite, n. Etym: [See Aurichalceous.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous carbonate of copper and zinc, found in pale green or
blue crystalline aggregations. It yields a kind of brass on
reduction.
AURICLE
Au"ri*cle, n. Etym: [L. auricula, dim. of auris ear. See Ear.]
1. (Anat.)
(a) The external ear, or that part of the ear which is prominent from
the head.
(b) The chamber, or one of the two chambers, of the heart, by which
the blood is received and transmitted to the ventricle or ventricles;
-- so called from its resemblance to the auricle or external ear of
some quadrupeds. See Heart.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An angular or ear-shaped lobe.
3. An instrument applied to the ears to give aid in hearing; a kind
of ear trumpet. Mansfield.
AURICLED
Au"ri*cled, a.
Defn: Having ear-shaped appendages or lobes; auriculate; as, auricled
leaves.
AURICULA
Au*ric"u*la, n.; pl. L. Auriculæ (, E. Auriculas (. Etym: [L.
auricula. See Auricle.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) A species of Primula, or primrose, called also, from the shape of
its leaves, bear's-ear. (b)
(b) A species of Hirneola (H. auricula), a membranaceous fungus,
called also auricula Judæ, or Jew's-ear. P. Cyc.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A genus of air-breathing mollusks mostly found near the sea,
where the water is brackish
(b) One of the five arched processes of the shell around the jaws of
a sea urchin.
AURICULAR
Au*ric"u*lar, a. Etym: [LL. auricularis: cf. F. auriculaire. See
Auricle.]
1. Of or pertaining to the ear, or to the sense of hearing; as,
auricular nerves.
2. Told in the ear, i. e., told privately; as, auricular confession
to the priest.
This next chapter is a penitent confession of the king, and the
strangest . . . that ever was auricular. Milton.
3. Recognized by the ear; known by the sense of hearing; as,
auricular evidence. "Auricular assurance." Shak.
4. Received by the ear; known by report. "Auricular traditions."
Bacon.
5. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the auricles of the heart. Auricular finger, the
little finger; so called because it can be readily introduced into
the ear passage.
AURICULARIA
Au*ric`u*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl., fr. LL. auricularis.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of holothurian larva, with soft, blunt appendages. See
Illustration in Appendix.
AURICULARLY
Au*ric"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In an auricular manner.
AURICULARS
Au*ric"u*lars, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A circle of feathers surrounding the opening of the ear of
birds.
AURICULATE; AURICULATED
Au*ric"u*late, Au*ric"u*la`ted, a. Etym: [See Auricle.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having ears or appendages like ears; eared. Esp.: (a) (Bot.)
Having lobes or appendages like the ear; shaped like the ear;
auricled. (b) (Zoöl.) Having an angular projection on one or both
sides, as in certain bivalve shells, the foot of some gastropods,
etc. Auriculate leaf, one having small appended leaves or lobes on
each side of its petiole or base.
AURIFEROUS
Au*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. aurifer; aurum gold + ferre to bear: cf.
F. aurifère.]
Defn: Gold-bearing; containing or producing gold.
Whence many a bursting stream auriferous plays. Thomson.
~= pyrites, iron pyrites (iron disulphide), containing some gold
disseminated through it.
AURIFLAMME
Au"ri*flamme, n.
Defn: See Oriflamme.
AURIFORM
Au"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. auris ear + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of the human ear; ear-shaped.
AURIGA
Au*ri"ga, n. Etym: [L., charioteer.] (Anat.)
Defn: The Charioteer, or Wagoner, a constellation in the northern
hemisphere, situated between Perseus and Gemini. It contains the
bright star Capella.
AURIGAL
Au*ri"gal, a. Etym: [L. aurigalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chariot. [R.]
AURIGATION
Au`ri*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. aurigatio, fr. aurigare to be a
charioteer, fr. auriga.]
Defn: The act of driving a chariot or a carriage. [R.] De Quincey.
AURIGRAPHY
Au*rig"ra*phy, n. Etym: [L. aurum gold + -graphy.]
Defn: The art of writing with or in gold.
AURILAVE
Au`ri*lave, n. [L. auris ear + lavare to wash.]
Defn: An instrument for cleansing the ear, consisting of a small
piece of sponge on an ivory or bone handle.
AURIN
Au"rin, n. Etym: [L. aurum gold.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red coloring matter derived from phenol; -- called also, in
commerce, yellow coralin.
AURIPHRYGIATE
Au`ri*phryg"i*ate, a. Etym: [LL. auriphrigiatus; L. aurum gold + LL.
phrygiare to adorn with Phrygian needlework, or with embroidery;
perhaps corrupted from some other word. Cf. Orfrays.]
Defn: Embroidered or decorated with gold. [R.] Southey.
AURIPIGMENT
Au`ri*pig"ment, n.
Defn: See Orpiment. [Obs.]
AURISCALP
Au"ri*scalp, n. Etym: [L. auris ear + scalpere to scrape.]
Defn: An earpick.
AURISCOPE
Au"ri*scope, n. Etym: [L. auris + -scope.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for examining the condition of the ear.
AURISCOPY
Au*ris"co*py, n.
Defn: Examination of the ear by the aid of the auriscope.
AURIST
Au"rist, n. Etym: [L. auris ear.]
Defn: One skilled in treating and curing disorders of the ear.
AURITED
Au"ri*ted, a. Etym: [L. auritus, fr. auris ear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having lobes like the ear; auriculate.
AURIVOROUS
Au*riv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. aurum gold + vorare to devour.]
Defn: Gold-devouring. [R.] H. Walpole.
AUROCEPHALOUS
Au`ro*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Aurum + cephalous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a gold-colored head.
AUROCHLORIDE
Au`ro*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Aurum + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: The trichloride of gold combination with the chloride of
another metal, forming a double chloride; -- called also chloraurate.
AUROCHS
Au"rochs, n. Etym: [G. auerochs, OHG. ; (cf. AS. ) + ohso ox, G.
ochs. Cf. Owre, Ox.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bison (Bison bonasus, or Europæus), once widely
distributed, but now nearly extinct, except where protected in the
Lithuanian forests, and perhaps in the Caucasus. It is distinct from
the Urus of Cæsar, with which it has often been confused.
AUROCYANIDE
Au`ro*cy"a*nide, n. Etym: [Aurum + cyanide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double cyanide of gold and some other metal or radical; --
called also cyanaurate.
AURORA
Au*ro"ra, n.; pl. E. Auroras (, L. (rarely used) Auroræ (. Etym: [L.
aurora, for ausosa, akin to Gr. ushas, and E. east.]
1. The rising light of the morning; the dawn of day; the redness of
the sky just before the sun rises.
2. The rise, dawn, or beginning. Hawthorne.
3. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Roman personification of the dawn of day; the goddess of
the morning. The poets represented her a rising out of the ocean, in
a chariot, with rosy fingers dropping gentle dew.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of crowfoot. Johnson.
5. The aurora borealis or aurora australis (northern or southern
lights). Aurora borealis (, i. e., northern daybreak; popularly
called northern lights. A luminous meteoric phenomenon, visible only
at night, and supposed to be of electrical origin. This species of
light usually appears in streams, ascending toward the zenith from a
dusky line or bank, a few degrees above the northern horizon; when
reaching south beyond the zenith, it forms what is called the corona,
about a spot in the heavens toward which the dipping needle points.
Occasionally the aurora appears as an arch of light across the
heavens from east to west. Sometimes it assumes a wavy appearance,
and the streams of light are then called merry dancers. They assume a
variety of colors, from a pale red or yellow to a deep red or blood
color. The Aurora australis (is a corresponding phenomenon in the
southern hemisphere, the streams of light ascending in the same
manner from near the southern horizon.
AURORAL
Au*ro"ral, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the aurora (the dawn or the
northern lights); rosy.
Her cheeks suffused with an auroral blush. Longfellow.
AUROUS
Au"rous, a.
1. Containing gold.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gold; -- said of those
compounds of gold in which this element has its lower valence; as,
aurous oxide.
AURUM
Au"rum, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Gold. Aurum fulminans (See Fulminate.
-- Aurum mosaicum (See Mosaic.
AUSCULT
Aus*cult", v. i. & t.
Defn: To auscultate.
AUSCULTATE
Aus"cul*tate, v. i. & t.
Defn: To practice auscultation; to examine by auscultation.
AUSCULTATION
Aus`cul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ausculcatio, fr. auscultare to listen,
fr. a dim. of auris, orig. ausis, ear. See Auricle, and cf. Scout,
n.]
1. The act of listening or hearkening to. Hickes.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An examination by listening either directly with the ear
(immediate auscultation) applied to parts of the body, as the
abdomen; or with the stethoscope (mediate ~), in order to distinguish
sounds recognized as a sign of health or of disease.
AUSCULTATOR
Aus"cul*ta`tor, n.
Defn: One who practices auscultation.
AUSCULTATORY
Aus*cul"ta*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to auscultation. Dunglison.
AUSONIAN
Au*so"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Ausonia, poetic name for Italy.]
Defn: Italian. Milton.
AUSPICATE
Aus"pi*cate, a. Etym: [L. auspicatus, p. p. of auspicari to take
auspices, fr. auspex a bird seer, an augur, a contr. of avispex; avis
bird + specere, spicere, to view. See Aviary, Spy.]
Defn: Auspicious. [Obs.] Holland.
AUSPICATE
Aus"pi*cate, v. t.
1. To foreshow; to foretoken. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. To give a favorable turn to in commencing; to inaugurate; -- a
sense derived from the Roman practice of taking the auspicium, or
inspection of birds, before undertaking any important business.
They auspicate all their proceedings. Burke.
AUSPICE
Aus"pice, n.; pl. Auspices (. Etym: [L. auspicium, fr. auspex: cf. F.
auspice. See Auspicate, a.]
1. A divining or taking of omens by observing birds; an omen as to an
undertaking, drawn from birds; an augury; an omen or sign in general;
an indication as to the future.
2. Protection; patronage and care; guidance.
Which by his auspice they will nobler make. Dryden.
Note: In this sense the word is generally plural, auspices; as, under
the auspices of the king.
AUSPICIAL
Aus*pi"cial, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to auspices; auspicious. [R.]
AUSPICIOUS
Aus*pi"cious, a. Etym: [See Auspice.]
1. Having omens or tokens of a favorable issue; giving promise of
success, prosperity, or happiness; predicting good; as, an auspicious
beginning.
Auspicious union of order and freedom. Macaulay.
2. Prosperous; fortunate; as, auspicious years. "Auspicious chief."
Dryden.
3. Favoring; favorable; propitious; -- applied to persons or things.
"Thy auspicious mistress." Shak. "Auspicious gales." Pope.
Syn.
-- See Propitious.
-- Aus*pi"cious*ly, adv.
-- Aus*pi"cious*ness, n.
AUSTER
Aus"ter, n. Etym: [L. auster a dry, hot, south wind; the south.]
Defn: The south wind. Pope.
AUSTERE
Aus*tere", Etym: [F. austère, L. austerus, fr. Gr. Sear.]
1. Sour and astringent; rough to the state; having acerbity; as, an
austere crab apple; austere wine.
2. Severe in modes of judging, or living, or acting; rigid; rigorous;
stern; as, an austere man, look, life.
From whom the austere Etrurian virtue rose. Dryden.
3. Unadorned; unembellished; severely simple.
Syn.
-- Harsh; sour; rough; rigid; stern; severe; rigorous; strict.
AUSTERELY
Aus*tere"ly, adv.
Defn: Severely; rigidly; sternly.
A doctrine austerely logical. Macaulay.
AUSTERENESS
Aus*tere"ness, n.
1. Harshness or astringent sourness to the taste; acerbity. Johnson.
2. Severity; strictness; austerity. Shak.
AUSTERITY
Aus*ter"i*ty, n.; pl. Austplwies (. Etym: [F. austérité, L.
austerias, fr. austerus. See Austere.]
1. Sourness and harshness to the taste. [Obs.] Horsley.
2. Severity of manners or life; extreme rigor or strictness; harsh
discipline.
The austerity of John the Baptist. Milton.
3. Plainness; freedom from adornment; severe simplicity.
Partly owing to the studied austerity of her dress, and partly to the
lack of demonstration in her manners. Hawthorne.
AUSTIN
Aus"tin, a.
Defn: Augustinian; as, Austin friars.
AUSTRAL
Aus"tral, a. Etym: [L. australis, fr. auster: cf. F. austral.]
Defn: Southern; lying or being in the south; as, austral land;
austral ocean. Austral signs (Astron.), the last six signs of the
zodiac, or those south of the equator.
AUSTRALASIAN
Aus`tral*a"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Australasia; as, Australasian regions.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Australasia.
AUSTRALIAN
Aus*tra"li*an, a. Etym: [From L. Terra Australis southern land.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Australia.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Australia.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT
Aus*tra"li*an bal"lot. (Law)
Defn: A system of balloting or voting in public elections, originally
used in South Australia, in which there is such an arrangement for
polling votes that secrecy is compulsorily maintained, and the ballot
used is an official ballot printed and distributed by the government.
AUSTRALIZE
Aus"tral*ize, v. i. Etym: [See Austral.]
Defn: To tend toward the south pole, as a magnet. [Obs.]
They [magnets] do septentrionate at one extreme, and australize at
another. Sir T. Browne.
AUSTRIAN
Aus"tri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Austria, or to its inhabitants.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Austria.
AUSTRINE
Aus"trine, n. Etym: [L. austrinus, from auster south.]
Defn: Southern; southerly; austral. [Obs.] Bailey.
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN
Aus"tro-Hun*ga"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the monarchy composed of Austria and
Hungary.
AUSTROMANCY
Aus"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. auster south wind + -mancy.]
Defn: Soothsaying, or prediction of events, from observation of the
winds.
AUSZUG
Aus"zug` (ous"tsook), n.; Ger. pl. -zÜge (-tsü`ge). [G.]
Defn: See Army organization, Switzerland.
AUTARCHY
Au"tar*chy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Self-sufficiency. [Obs.] Milton.
AUTHENTIC
Au*then"tic, a. Etym: [OE. autentik, OF. autentique, F. authentique,
L. authenticus coming from the real author, of original or firsthand
authority, from Gr. sons and perh. orig. from the p. pr. of to be,
root as, and meaning the one it really is. See Am, Sin, n., and cf.
Effendi.]
1. Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that
which is false, fictitious, counterfeit, or apocryphal; being what it
purports to be; genuine; not of doubtful origin; real; as, an
authentic paper or register.
To be avenged On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. Milton.
2. Authoritative. [Obs.] Milton.
3. Of approved authority; true; trustworthy; credible; as, an
authentic writer; an authentic portrait; authentic information.
4. (Law)
Defn: Vested with all due formalities, and legally attested.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: Having as immediate relation to the tonic, in distinction from
plagal, which has a correspondent relation to the dominant in the
octave below the tonic.
Syn.
-- Authentic, Genuine. These words, as here compared, have reference
to historical documents. We call a document genuine when it can be
traced back ultimately to the author or authors from whom it
professes to emanate. Hence, the word has the meaning, "not changed
from the original, uncorrupted, unadulterated:" as, a genuine text.
We call a document authentic when, on the ground of its being thus
traced back, it may be relied on as true and authoritative (from the
primary sense of "having an author, vouched for"); hence its extended
signification, in general literature, of trustworthy, as resting on
unquestionable authority or evidence; as, an authentic history; an
authentic report of facts.
A genuine book is that which was written by the person whose name it
bears, as the author of it. An authentic book is that which relates
matters of fact as they really happened. A book may be genuine
without being, authentic, and a book may be authentic without being
genuine. Bp. Watson.
Note: It may be said, however, that some writers use authentic (as,
an authentic document) in the sense of "produced by its professed
author, not counterfeit."
AUTHENTIC
Au*then"tic, n.
Defn: An original (book or document). [Obs.] "Authentics and
transcripts." Fuller.
AUTHENTICAL
Au*then"tic*al, a.
Defn: Authentic. [Archaic]
AUTHENTICALLY
Au*then"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an authentic manner; with the requisite or genuine
authority.
AUTHENTICALNESS
Au*then*tic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being authentic; authenticity. [R.] Barrow.
AUTHENTICATE
Au*then"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authenticated (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Authenticating ( Etym: [Cf. LL. authenticare.]
1. To render authentic; to give authority to, by the proof,
attestation, or formalities required by law, or sufficient to entitle
to credit.
The king serves only as a notary to authenticate the choice of
judges. Burke.
2. To prove authentic; to determine as real and true; as, to
authenticate a portrait. Walpole.
AUTHENTICITY
Au`then*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. authenticité.]
1. The quality of being authentic or of established authority for
truth and correctness.
2. Genuineness; the quality of being genuine or not corrupted from
the original.
Note: In later writers, especially those on the evidences of
Christianity, authenticity is often restricted in its use to the
first of the above meanings, and distinguished from qenuineness.
AUTHENTICLY
Au*then"tic*ly, adv.
Defn: Authentically.
AUTHENTICNESS
Au*then"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being authentic; authenticity. [R.] Hammond.
AUTHENTICS
Au*then"tics, n. (Ciwil Law)
Defn: A collection of the Novels or New Constitutions of Justinian,
by an anonymous author; -- so called on account of its authencity.
Bouvier.
AUTHOR
Au"thor, n. Etym: [OE. authour, autour, OF. autor, F. auteur, fr. L.
auctor, sometimes, but erroneously, written autor or author, fr.
augere to increase, to produce. See Auction, n.]
1. The beginner, former, or first mover of anything; hence, the
efficient cause of a thing; a creator; an originator.
Eternal King; thee, Author of all being. Milton.
2. One who composes or writers a book; a composer, as distinguished
from an editor, translator, or compiler.
The chief glory every people arises from its authors. Johnson.
3. The editor of a periodical. [Obs.]
4. An informant. [Archaic] Chaucer.
AUTHOR
Au"thor, v. t.
1. To occasion; to originate. [Obs.]
Such an overthrow . . . I have authored. Chapman.
2. To tell; to say; to declare. [Obs.]
More of him I dare not author. Massinger.
AUTHORESS
Au"thor*ess, n.
Defn: A female author. Glover.
Note: The word is not very much used, author being commonly applied
to a female writer as well as to a male.
AUTHORIAL
Au*tho"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an author. "The authorial Hare.
AUTHORISM
Au"thor*ism, n.
Defn: Authoriship. [R.]
AUTHORITATIVE
Au*thor"i*ta*tive, a.
1. Having, or proceeding from, due authority; entitled to obedience,
credit, or acceptance; determinate; commanding.
The sacred functions of authoritative teaching. Barrow.
2. Having an air of authority; positive; dictatorial; peremptory; as,
an authoritative tone.
The mock authoritative manner of the one, and the insipid mirth of
the other. Swift.
-- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ly, adv -- Au*thor"i*ta*tive*ness, n.
AUTHORITY
Au*thor"i*ty, n.; pl. Authorities (. Etym: [OE. autorite, auctorite,
F. autorité, fr. L. auctoritas, fr. auctor. See Author, n.]
1. Legal or rightful power; a right to command or to act; power
exercised buy a person in virtue of his office or trust; dominion;
jurisdiction; authorization; as, the authority of a prince over
subjects, and of parents over children; the authority of a court.
Thus can the demigod, Authority, Make us pay down for our offense.
Shak.
By what authority doest thou these things Matt. xxi. 23.
2. Government; the persons or the body exercising power or command;
as, the local authorities of the States; the military authorities.
[Chiefly in the plural.]
3. The power derived from opinion, respect, or esteem; influence of
character, office, or station, or mental or moral superiority, and
the like; claim to be believed or obeyed; as, an historian of no
authority; a magistrate of great authority.
4. That which, or one who, is claimed or appealed to in support of
opinions, actions, measures, etc. Hence:
(a) Testimony; witness. "And on that high authority had believed."
Milton.
(b) A precedent; a decision of a court, an official declaration, or
an opinion, saying, or statement worthy to be taken as a precedent.
(c) A book containing such a statement or opinion, or the author of
the book.
(d) Justification; warrant.
Wilt thou be glass wherein it shall discern Authority for sin,
warrant for blame. Shak.
AUTHORIZABLE
Au"thor*i`za*ble, a. Etym: [LL. authorisabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being authorized. Hammond.
AUTHORIZATION
Au`thor*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. autorisation.]
Defn: The act of giving authority or legal power; establishment by
authority; sanction or warrant.
The authorization of laws. Motley.
A special authorization from the chief. Merivale.
AUTHORIZE
Au"thor*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Authorized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Authorizing.] Etym: [OE. autorize, F. autoriser, fr. LL. auctorizare,
authorisare. See Author.]
1. To clothe with authority, warrant, or legal power; to give a right
to act; to empower; as, to authorize commissioners to settle a
boundary.
2. To make legal; to give legal sanction to; to legalize; as, to
authorize a marriage.
3. To establish by authority, as by usage or public opinion; to
sanction; as, idioms authorized by usage.
4. To sanction or confirm by the authority of some one; to warrant;
as, to authorize a report.
A woman's story at a winter's fire, Authorized by her grandam. Shak.
5. To justify; to furnish a ground for. Locke.
AUTHORIZED
Au"thor*ized, a.
1. Possessed of or endowed with authority; as, an authorized agent.
2. Sanctioned by authority. The Authorized Version of the Bible is
the English translation of the Bible published in 1611 under sanction
of King James I. It was "appointed to be read in churches," and has
been the accepted English Bible. The Revised Version was published in
a complete form in 1855.
AUTHORIZE ONE'S SELF
To authorize one's self
Defn: , to rely for authority. [Obs.]
Authorizing himself, for the most part, upon other histories. Sir P.
Sidney.
AUTHORIZER
Au"thor*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who authorizes.
AUTHORLESS
Au"thor*less, a.
Defn: Without an author; without authority; anonymous.
AUTHORLY
Au"thor*ly, a.
Defn: Authorial. [R.] Cowper.
AUTHORSHIP
Au"thor*ship, n.
1. The quality or state of being an author; function or dignity of an
author.
2. Source; origin; origination; as, the authorship of a book or
review, or of an act, or state of affairs.
AUTHOTYPE
Au"tho*type, n.
Defn: A type or block containing a facsimile of an autograph. Knight.
AUTO-
Au"to- (. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form, with the meaning of self, one's self, one's
own, itself, its own.
AUTOBIOGRAPHER
Au`to*bi*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Auto- + biographer.]
Defn: One who writers his own life or biography.
AUTOBIOGRAPHIC; AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL
Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic, Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, autobiography; as, an
autobiographical sketch. "Such traits of the autobiographic sort."
Carlyle.
-- Au`to*bi`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
AUTOBIOGRAPHIST
Au`to*bi*og"ra*phist, n.
Defn: One who writes his own life; an autobiographer. [R.]
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Au`to*bi*og"ra*phy, n.; pl. Autobiographies (. Etym: [Auto- +
biography.]
Defn: A biography written by the subject of it; memoirs of one's life
written by one's self.
AUTOCARPOUS; AUTOCARPIAN
Au`to*car"pous, Au`to*car"pi*an, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of the pericarp of the ripened pericarp with no
other parts adnate to it, as a peach, a poppy capsule, or a grape.
AUTOCATALYSIS
Au`to*ca*tal"y*sis, n. [Auto-+ catalysis.] (Chem.)
Defn: Self-catalysis; catalysis of a substance by one of its own
products, as of silver oxide by the silver formed by reduction of a
small portion of it. -- Au`to*cat`a*lyt"ic (#), a.
AUTOCEPHALOUS
Au`to*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: Having its own head; independent of episcopal or patriarchal
jurisdiction, as certain Greek churches.
AUTOCHRONOGRAPH
Au`to*chron"o*graph, n. Etym: [Auto- + chronograph.]
Defn: An instrument for the instantaneous self-recording or printing
of time. Knight.
AUTOCHTHON
Au*toch"thon, n.; pl. E. Authochthons (, L. Autochthones (. Etym:
[L., fr. Gr.
1. One who is supposed to rise or spring from the ground or the soil
he inhabits; one of the original inhabitants or aborigines; a native;
-- commonly in the plural. This title was assumed by the ancient
Greeks, particularly the Athenians.
2. That which is original to a particular country, or which had there
its origin.
AUTOCHTHONAL; AUTHOCHTHONIC; AUTOCHTHONOUS
Au*toch"tho*nal, Au`thoch*thon"ic, Au*toch"tho*nous, a.
Defn: Aboriginal; indigenous; native.
AUTOCHTHONISM
Au*toch"tho*nism, n.
Defn: The state of being autochthonal.
AUTOCHTHONY
Au*toch"tho*ny, n.
Defn: An aboriginal or autochthonous condition.
AUTOCLASTIC
Au`to*clas"tic, a. [See Auto-; Clastic.] (Geol.)
Defn: Broken in place; -- said of rocks having a broken or brecciated
structure due to crushing, in contrast to those of brecciated
materials brought from a distance.
AUTOCLAVE
Au"to*clave, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr. clavis key.]
Defn: A kind of French stewpan with a steamtight lid. Knight.
AUTOCOHERER
Au`to*co*her"er, n. [Auto- + coherer.] (Wireless Teleg.)
Defn: A self-restoring coherer, as a microphonic detector.
AUTOCRACY
Au*toc"ra*cy, n.; pl. Autocracies. Etym: [Gr. autocratie. See
Autocrat.]
1. Independent or self-derived power; absolute or controlling
authority; supremacy.
The divine will moves, not by the external impulse or inclination of
objects, but determines itself by an absolute autocracy. South.
2. Supreme, uncontrolled, unlimited authority, or right of governing
in a single person, as of an autocrat.
3. Political independence or absolute sovereignty (of a state);
autonomy. Barlow.
4. (Med.)
Defn: The action of the vital principle, or of the instinctive
powers, toward the preservation of the individual; also, the vital
principle. [In this sense, written also autocrasy.] Dunglison.
AUTOCRAT
Au"to*crat, n. Etym: [Gr. autocrate. See Hard, a.]
1. An absolute sovereign; a monarch who holds and exercises the
powers of government by claim of absolute right, not subject to
restriction; as, Autocrat of all the Russias (a title of the Czar).
2. One who rules with undisputed sway in any company or relation; a
despot.
The autocrat of the breakfast table. Holmes.
AUTOCRATIC; AUTOCRATICAL
Au`to*crat"ic, Au`to*crat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to autocracy or to an autocrat; absolute;
holding independent and arbitrary powers of government.
-- Au`to*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.
AUTOCRATOR
Au*toc"ra*tor, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An autocrat. [Archaic]
AUTOCRATORICAL
Au`to*cra*tor"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an autocrator; absolute. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
AUTOCRATRIX
Au*toc"ra*trix, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A female sovereign who is independent and absolute; -- a title
given to the empresses of Russia.
AUTOCRATSHIP
Au"to*crat*ship, n.
Defn: The office or dignity of an autocrat.
AUTO-DA-FE
Au"to-da-fé", n.; pl. Autos-da-fé (. Etym: [Pg., act of the faith;
auto act, fr. L. actus + da of the + fé faith, fr. L. fides.]
1. A judgment of the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal condemning or
acquitting persons accused of religious offenses.
2. An execution of such sentence, by the civil power, esp. the
burning of a heretic. It was usually held on Sunday, and was made a
great public solemnity by impressive forms and ceremonies.
3. A session of the court of Inquisition.
AUTO-DE-FE
Au"to-de-fe", n.; pl. Autos-de-fe. Etym: [Sp., act of faith.]
Defn: Same as Auto-da-fé.
AUTODIDACT
Au"to*di*dact`, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who is self-taught; an automath.
AUTODYNAMIC
Au`to*dy*nam"ic, a. Etym: [Auto- + dynamic.]
Defn: Supplying its own power; -- applied to an instrument of the
nature of a water-ram.
AUTOECIOUS
Au*to"cious, a. [Auto-+ Gr. house.] (Biol.)
Defn: Passing through all its stages on one host, as certain
parasitic fungi; -- contrasted with heterocious.
AUTOECISM
Au*to"cism, n.
Defn: Quality of being autocious.
AUTOFECUNDATION
Au`to*fec`un*da"tion, n. Etym: [Auto- + fecundation.] (Biol.)
Defn: Self-impregnation. Darwin.
AUTOGAMOUS
Au*tog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Characterized by autogamy; self-fertilized.
AUTOGAMY
Au*tog"a*my, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Self-fertilization, the fertilizing pollen being derived from
the same blossom as the pistil acted upon.
AUTOGENEAL
Au`to*ge"ne*al, a.
Defn: Self-produced; autogenous.
AUTOGENESIS
Au`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Auto- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Spontaneous generation.
AUTOGENETIC
Au`to*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to autogenesis; self-generated.
AUTOGENETIC DRAINAGE
Autogenetic drainage. (Phys. Geog.)
Defn: A system of natural drainage developed by the constituent
streams through headwater erosion.
AUTOGENETIC TOPOGRAPHY
Autogenetic topography. (Phys. Geog.)
Defn: A system of land forms produced by the free action of rain and
streams on rocks of uniform texture.
AUTOGENOUS
Au*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Self-generated; produced independently.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Developed from an independent center of ossification. Owen.
Autogenous soldering, the junction by fusion of the joining edges of
metals without the intervention of solder.
AUTOGENOUSLY
Au*tog"e*nous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an autogenous manner; spontaneously.
AUTOGRAPH
Au"to*graph, n. Etym: [F. autographe, fr. Gr.
Defn: That which is written with one's own hand; an original
manuscript; a person's own signature or handwriting.
AUTOGRAPH
Au"to*graph, a.
Defn: In one's own handwriting; as, an autograph letter; an autograph
will.
AUTOGRAPHAL
Au*tog"ra*phal, a.
Defn: Autographic. [Obs.]
AUTOGRAPHIC; AUTOGRAPHICAL
Au`to*graph"ic, Au`to*graph"ic*al, a.
1. Pertaining to an autograph, or one's own handwriting; of the
nature of an autograph.
2. Pertaining to, or used in, the process of autography; as,
autographic ink, paper, or press.
AUTOGRAPHY
Au*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. autographie.]
1. The science of autographs; a person's own handwriting; an
autograph.
2. A process in lithography by which a writing or drawing is
transferred from paper to stone. Ure.
AUTOHARP
Au"to*harp, n. [Auto- + harp.]
Defn: A zitherlike musical instrument, provided with dampers which,
when depressed, deaden some strings, leaving free others that form a
chord.
AUTOHYPNOTIC
Au`to*hyp*not"ic, a.
Defn: Pert. to autohypnotism; self-hypnotizing. -- n.
Defn: An autohypnotic person.
AUTOHYPNOTISM
Au`to*hyp"no*tism, n. [Auto-+ hypnotism.]
Defn: Hypnotism of one's self by concentration of the attention on
some object or idea.
AUTO-INFECTION
Au`to-in*fec"tion, n. [Auto- + infection.] (Med.)
Defn: Poisoning caused by a virus that originates and develops in the
organism itself.
AUTO-INOCULATION
Au`to-in*oc`u*la"tion, n. [Auto-+ inoculation.] (Med.)
Defn: Inoculation of a person with virus from his own body.
AUTO-INTOXICATION
Au`to-in*tox`i*ca"tion, n. [Auto-+ intoxication.] (Med.)
Defn: Poisoning, or the state of being poisoned, from toxic
substances produced within the body; autotoxæmia.
AUTOKINESIS
Au`to*ki*ne"sis, n. [NL.; auto-+ Gr. motion.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Spontaneous or voluntary movement; movement due to an internal
cause.
AUTOKINETIC
Au`to*ki*net"ic, a. [Auto- + kinetic.]
Defn: Self-moving; moving automatically.
AUTOKINETIC SYSTEM
Autokinetic system.
Defn: In fire-alarm telegraphy, a system so arranged that when one
alarm is being transmitted, no other alarm, sent in from another
point, will be transmitted until after the first alarm has been
disposed of.
AUTOLATRY
Au*tol"a*try, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.
Defn: Self-worship. Farrar.
AUTOMATH
Au"to*math, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who is self-taught. [R.] Young.
AUTOMATIC; AUTOMATICAL
Au`to*mat"ic, Au`to*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. automatique. See
Automaton.]
1. Having an inherent power of action or motion.
Nothing can be said to be automatic. Sir H. Davy.
2. Pertaining to, or produced by, an automaton; of the nature of an
automaton; self-acting or self-regulating under fixed conditions; --
esp. applied to machinery or devices in which certain things formerly
or usually done by hand are done by the machine or device itself; as,
the automatic feed of a lathe; automatic gas lighting; an automatic
engine or switch; an automatic mouse.
3. Not voluntary; not depending on the will; mechanical; as,
automatic movements or functions.
Unconscious or automatic reasoning. H. Spenser.
Automatic arts, such economic arts or manufacture as are carried on
by self-acting machinery. Ure.
AUTOMATICALLY
Au`to*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an automatic manner.
AUTOMATISM
Au*tom"a*tism, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being automatic; the power of self-
moving; automatic, mechanical, or involuntary action. (Metaph.) A
theory as to the activity of matter.
AUTOMATON
Au*tom"a*ton, n.; pl. L. Automata (, E. Automatons (. Etym: [L. fr.
Gr. ma, man, to strive, think, cf. Mean, v. i.]
1. Any thing or being regarded as having the power of spontaneous
motion or action. Huxley.
So great and admirable an automaton as the world. Boyle.
These living automata, human bodies. Boyle.
2. A self-moving machine, or one which has its motive power within
itself; -- applied chiefly to machines which appear to imitate
spontaneously the motions of living beings, such as men, birds, etc.
AUTOMATOUS
Au*tom"a*tous, a. Etym: [L. automatus, Gr. Automaton.]
Defn: Automatic. [Obs.] "Automatous organs." Sir T. Browne.
AUTOMIXTE SYSTEM
Au`to*mixte" system. (Mach.)
Defn: A system (devised by Henri Pieper, a Belgian) of driving
automobiles employing a gasoline engine and an auxiliary reversible
dynamo. When there is an excess of power the dynamo is driven by the
engine so as to charge a small storage battery; when there is a
deficiency of power the dynamo reverses and acts as an auxiliary
motor. Sometimes called Pieper system. -- Automixte car, etc.
AUTOMOBILE
Au`to*mo"bile, n. [F.]
Defn: An automobile vehicle or mechanism; esp., a self-propelled
vehicle suitable for use on a street or roadway. Automobiles are
usually propelled by internal combustion engines (using volatile
inflammable liquids, as gasoline or petrol, alcohol, naphtha, etc.),
steam engines, or electric motors. The power of the driving motor
varies from about 4 to 50 H. P. for ordinary vehicles, ranging from
the run-about to the touring car, up to as high as 200 H. P. for
specially built racing cars. Automobiles are also commonly, and
generally in British usage, called motor cars.
AUTOMOBILISM
Au`to*mo"bil*ism, n.
Defn: The use of automobiles, or the practices, methods, or the like,
of those who use them. -- Au`to*mo"bil*ist, n.
AUTOMORPHIC
Au`to*mor"phic, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.
Defn: Patterned after one's self.
The conception which any one frames of another's mind is more or less
after the pattern of his own mind, -- is automorphic. H. Spenser.
AUTOMORPHISM
Au`to*mor"phism, n.
Defn: Automorphic characterization. H. Spenser.
AUTONOMASY
Au`to*nom"a*sy, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. antonomasia.] (Rhet.)
Defn: The use of a word of common or general signification for the
name of a particular thing; as, "He has gone to town," for, "He has
gone to London."
AUTONOMIC
Au`to*nom"ic, a.
Defn: Having the power of self-government; autonomous. Hickok.
AUTONOMIST
Au"to"no*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. automiste. See Autonomy.]
Defn: One who advocates autonomy.
AUTONOMOUS
Au*ton"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Independent in government; having the right or power of self-
government.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Having independent existence or laws.
AUTONOMY
Au*ton"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. autonomie. See Autonomous.]
1. The power or right of self-government; self-government, or
political independence, of a city or a state.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: The sovereignty of reason in the sphere of morals; or man's
power, as possessed of reason, to give law to himself. In this,
according to Kant, consist the true nature and only possible proof of
liberty. Fleming.
AUTOPATHIC
Au`to*path"ic, a. [See Auto-, and Pathic, a.] (Med.)
Defn: Dependent upon, or due or relating to, the structure and
characteristics of the diseased organism; endopathic; as, an
autopathic disease; an autopathic theory of diseases.
AUTOPHAGI
Au*toph"a*gi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Birds which are able to run about and obtain their own food as
soon as hatched.
AUTOPHAGY
Au*toph"a*gy, n. [Gr. self + to eat.] (Med.)
Defn: The feeding of the body upon itself, as in fasting; nutrition
by consumption of one's own tissues.
AUTOPHOBY
Au*toph"o*by, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.
Defn: Fear of one's self; fear of being egotistical. [R.] Hare.
AUTOPHONY
Au*toph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An auscultatory process, which consists in noting the tone of
the observer's own voice, while he speaks, holding his head close to
the patient's chest. Dunglison.
AUTOPLASTIC
Au`to*plas"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to autoplasty.
AUTOPLASTY
Au"to*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Auto- + -plasty.] (Surg.)
Defn: The process of artificially repairing lesions by taking a piece
of healthy tissue, as from a neighboring part, to supply the
deficiency caused by disease or wounds.
AUTOPNEUMATIC
Au`to*pneu*mat"ic, a. [Auto-+ pneumatic.]
Defn: Acting or moving automatically by means of compressed air.
AUTOPSIC; AUTOPSICAL
Au*top"sic, Au*top"sic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to autopsy; autoptical. [Obs.]
AUTOPSORIN
Au*top"so*rin, n. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: That which is given under the doctrine of administering a
patient's own virus.
AUTOPSY
Au"top*sy, n. Etym: [Gr. autopsie. See Optic, a.]
1. Personal observation or examination; seeing with one's own eyes;
ocular view.
By autopsy and experiment. Cudworth.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Dissection of a dead body, for the purpose of ascertaining the
cause, seat, or nature of a disease; a post-mortem examination.
AUTOPTIC; AUTOPTICAL
Au*top"tic, Au*top"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. autoptique.]
Defn: Seen with one's own eyes; belonging to, or connected with,
personal observation; as, autoptic testimony or experience.
AUTOPTICALLY
Au*top"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By means of ocular view, or one's own observation. Sir T.
Browne.
AUTOSCHEDIASTIC; AUTOSCHEDIASTICAL
Au`to*sche`di*as"tic, Au`to*sche`di*as"tic*al, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr.
Schediasm.]
Defn: Extemporary; offhand. [R.] Dean Martin.
AUTOSTABILITY
Au`to*sta*bil"i*ty, n. [Auto-+ stability.] (Mechanics)
Defn: Automatic stability; also, inherent stability. An aëroplane is
inherently stable if it keeps in steady poise by virtue of its shape
and proportions alone; it is automatically stable if it keeps in
steady poise by means of self-operative mechanism.
AUTOSTYLIC
Au`to*styl"ic, a. Etym: [Auto- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the mandibular arch articulated directly to the cranium,
as in the skulls of the Amphibia.
AUTOSUGGESTION
Au`to*sug*ges"tion, n. [Auto-+ suggestion.] (Med.)
Defn: Self-suggestion as distinguished from suggestion coming from
another, esp. in hypnotism. Autosuggestion is characteristic of
certain mental conditions in which expectant belief tends to produce
disturbance of function of one or more organs.
AUTOTHEISM
Au"to*the`ism, n. Etym: [Auto- + theism.]
1. The doctrine of God's self-existence. [R.]
2. Deification of one's self; self-worship. [R.]
AUTOTHEIST
Au"to*the`ist, n.
Defn: One given to self-worship. [R.]
AUTOTOXAEMIA; AUTOTOXEMIA
Au`to*tox*æ"mi*a, Au`to*tox*e"mi*a, n. [NL. See Auto-, and Toxæmia.]
(Physiol.)
Defn: Self-intoxication. See Auto-intoxication.
AUTOTOXIC
Au`to*tox"ic, a. [Auto- + toxic.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or causing, autotoxæmia.
AUTOTOXICATION
Au`to*tox`i*ca"tion, n. [Auto-+ toxication.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Auto-intoxication.
AUTOTRANSFORMER
Au`to*trans*form"er, n. [Auto-+ transformer.] (Elec.)
Defn: A transformer in which part of the primary winding is used as a
secondary winding, or vice versa; -- called also a compensator or
balancing coil.
AUTOTROPHIC
Au`to*troph"ic, a. [Auto- + trophic.] (Plant Physiol.)
Defn: Capable of self-nourishment; -- said of all plants in which
photosynthetic activity takes place, as opposed to parasitism or
saprophytism.
AUTOTROPISM
Au*tot"ro*pism, n. [Auto- + Gr. to turn.] (Plant Physiol.)
Defn: The tendency of plant organs to grow in a straight line when
uninfluenced by external stimuli.
AUTOTYPE
Au"to*type, n. Etym: [Auto- + -type: cf. F. autotype.]
1. A facsimile.
2. A photographic picture produced in sensitized pigmented gelatin by
exposure to light under a negative; and subsequent washing out of the
soluble parts; a kind of picture in ink from a gelatin plate.
AUTOTYPOGRAPHY
Au`to*ty*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Auto- + typography.]
Defn: A process resembling "nature printing," by which drawings
executed on gelatin are impressed into a soft metal plate, from which
the printing is done as from copperplate.
AUTOTYPY
Au*tot"y*py, n.
Defn: The art or process of making autotypes.
AUTUMN
Au"tumn, n. Etym: [L. auctumnus, autumnus, perh. fr. a root av to
satisfy one's self: cf. F. automne. See Avarice.]
1. The third season of the year, or the season between summer and
winter, often called "the fall." Astronomically, it begins in the
northern temperate zone at the autumnal equinox, about September 23,
and ends at the winter solstice, about December 23; but in popular
language, autumn, in America, comprises September, October, and
November.
Note: In England, according to Johnson, autumn popularly comprises
August, September, and October. In the southern hemisphere, the
autumn corresponds to our spring.
2. The harvest or fruits of autumn. Milton.
3. The time of maturity or decline; latter portion; third stage.
Dr. Preston was now entering into the autumn of the duke's favor.
Fuller.
Life's autumn past, I stand on winter's verge. Wordsworth.
AUTUMNAL
Au*tum"nal, a. Etym: [L. auctumnalis, autumnalis: cf. F. automnal.]
1. Of, belonging to, or peculiar to, autumn; as, an autumnal tint;
produced or gathered in autumn; as, autumnal fruits; flowering in
autumn; as, an autumnal plant.
Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa.
Milton.
2. Past the middle of life; in the third stage.
An autumnal matron. Hawthorne.
Autumnal equinox, the time when the sun crosses the equator, as it
proceeds southward, or when it passes the ~ point.
-- ~= point, the point of the equator intersected by the ecliptic,
as the sun proceeds southward; the first point of Libra.
-- ~= signs, the signs Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius, through
which the sun passes between the ~ equinox and winter solstice.
AUTUNITE
Au"tun*ite, n. [From Autun, France, its locality.] (Min.)
Defn: A lemon-yellow phosphate of uranium and calcium occurring in
tabular crystals with basal cleavage, and in micalike scales. H., 2-
2.5. Sp. gr., 3.05-3.19.
AUXANOMETER
Aux`a*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument to measure the growth of plants. Goodale.
AUXESIS
Aux*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a grave and magnificent word is put for the
proper word; amplification; hyperbole.
AUXETIC
Aux*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, auxesis; amplifying.
AUXETOPHONE
Aux*e"to*phone, n. [Gr. that may be increased + sound, voice.]
Defn: A pneumatic reproducer for a phonograph, controlled by the
recording stylus on the principle of the relay. It produces much
clearer and louder tones than does the ordinary vibrating disk
reproducer.
AUXILIAR
Aux*il"iar, a. Etym: [L. auxiliaris: cf. F. auxiliaire. See
Auxiliary.]
Defn: Auxiliary. [Archaic]
The auxiliar troops and Trojan hosts appear. Pope.
AUXILIAR
Aux*il"iar, n.
Defn: An auxiliary. [Archaic] Milton.
AUXILIARLY
Aux*il"iar*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of help. Harris.
AUXILIARY
Aux*il"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. auxiliarius, fr. auxilium help, aid, fr.
augere to increase.]
Defn: Conferring aid or help; helping; aiding; assisting; subsidiary;
as auxiliary troops. Auxiliary scales (Mus.), the scales of relative
or attendant keys. See under Attendant, a.
-- Auxiliary verbs (Gram.). See Auxiliary, n., 3.
AUXILIARY
Aux*il"ia*ry, n.; pl. Auxiliaries (.
1. A helper; an assistant; a confederate in some action or
enterprise.
2. (Mil.) pl.
Defn: Foreign troops in the service of a nation at war; (rarely in
sing.), a member of the allied or subsidiary force.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A verb which helps to form the voices, modes, and tenses of
other verbs; -- called, also, an auxiliary verb; as, have, be, may,
can, do, must, shall, and will, in English; être and avoir, in
French; avere and essere, in Italian; estar and haber, in Spanish.
4. (Math.)
Defn: A quantity introduced for the purpose of simplifying or
facilitating some operation, as in equations or trigonometrical
formulæ. Math. Dict.
AUXILIATORY
Aux*il"ia*to*ry, a.
Defn: Auxiliary; helping. [Obs.]
AUXOMETER
Aux*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. to increase + -meter.] (Optics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the magnifying power of a lens or
system of lenses.
AVA
A"va, n.
Defn: Same as Kava. Johnston.
AVADAVAT
Av`a*da*vat", n.
Defn: Same as Amadavat.
AVAIL
A*vail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Availed (p. pr. & vb. n. Availing.]
Etym: [OE. availen, fr. F. ad) + valoir to be worth, fr. L. valere to
be strong, to be worth. See Valiant.]
1. To turn to the advantage of; to be of service to; to profit; to
benefit; to help; as, artifices will not avail the sinner in the day
of judgment.
O, what avails me now that honor high ! Milton.
2. To promote; to assist. [Obs.] Pope. To avail one's self of, to
make use of; take advantage of.
Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names. Milton.
I have availed myself of the very first opportunity. Dickens.
AVAIL
A*vail", v. i.
Defn: To be of use or advantage; to answer the purpose; to have
strength, force, or efficacy sufficient to accomplish the object; as,
the plea in bar must avail, that is, be sufficient to defeat the
suit; this scheme will not avail; medicines will not avail to check
the disease. "What signs avail " Milton.
Words avail very little with me, young man. Sir W. Scott.
AVAIL
A*vail", n.
1. Profit; advantage toward success; benefit; value; as, labor,
without economy, is of little avail.
The avail of a deathbed repentance. Jer. Taylor.
2. pl.
Defn: Proceeds; as, the avails of a sale by auction.
The avails of their own industry. Stoddard.
Syn.
-- Use; benefit; utility; profit; service.
AVAIL
A*vail", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Avale, v. [Obs.] Spenser.
AVAILABILITY
A*vail`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Availabilities (.
1. The quality of being available; availableness.
Note: The word is sometimes used derogatively in the sense of "mere
availableness," or capability of success without regard to
worthiness.
He was . . . nominated for his availability. Lowell.
2. That which is available.
AVAILABLE
A*vail"a*ble, a.
1. Having sufficient power, force, or efficacy, for the object;
effectual; valid; as, an available plea. [Obs.]
Laws human are available by consent. Hooker.
2. Such as one may avail one's self of; capable of being used for the
accomplishment of a purpose; usable; profitable; advantageous;
convertible into a resource; as, an available measure; an available
candidate.
Struggling to redeem, as he did, the available months and days out of
so many that were unavailable. Carlyle.
Having no available funds with which to pay the calls on new shares.
H. Spenser.
AVAILABLENESS
A*vail"a*ble*ness, n.
1. Competent power; validity; efficacy; as, the availableness of a
title. [Obs.]
2. Quality of being available; capability of being used for the
purpose intended. Sir M. Hale.
AVAILABLY
A*vail"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an available manner; profitably; advantageously;
efficaciously.
AVAILMENT
A*vail"ment, n.
Defn: Profit; advantage. [Obs.]
AVALANCHE
Av"a*lanche`, n. Etym: [F. avalanche, fr. avaler to descend, to let
down, from aval down, downward; ad) + val, L. vallis, valley. See
Valley.]
1. A large mass or body of snow and ice sliding swiftly down a
mountain side, or falling down a precipice.
2. A fall of earth, rocks, etc., similar to that of an avalanche of
snow or ice.
3. A sudden, great, or irresistible descent or influx of anything.
AVALE
A*vale", v. t. & i. Etym: [F. avaler to descend, to let down. See
Avalanche.]
1. To cause to descend; to lower; to let fall; to doff. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. To bring low; to abase. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
3. (v. i.)
Defn: To descend; to fall; to dismount. [Obs.]
And from their sweaty courses did avale. Spenser.
AVANT
A*vant", n. Etym: [For avant-guard. Cf. Avaunt, Van.]
Defn: The front of an army. [Obs.] See Van.
AVANT-COURIER
A*vant"-cou`ri*er, n. Etym: [F., fr. avant before + courrier. See
Avaunt, and Courier.]
Defn: A person dispatched before another person or company, to give
notice of his or their approach.
AVANT-GUARD
A*vant"-guard` (; sq. root277), n. Etym: [F. avant before + E. guard,
F. avant-garde. See Avaunt.]
Defn: The van or advanced body of an army. See Vanguard.
AVARICE
Av"a*rice, n. Etym: [F. avaritia, fr. avarus avaricious, prob. fr. av
to covert, fr. a root av to satiate one's self: cf. Gr. av to satiate
one's self, rejoice, protect.]
1. An excessive or inordinate desire of gain; greediness after
wealth; covetousness; cupidity.
To desire money for its own sake, and in order to hoard it up, is
avarice. Beattie.
2. An inordinate desire for some supposed good.
All are taught an avarice of praise. Goldsmith.
AVARICIOUS
Av`a*ri"cious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. avaricieux.]
Defn: Actuated by avarice; greedy of gain; immoderately desirous of
accumulating property.
Syn.
-- Greedy; stingy; rapacious; griping; sordid; close.
-- Avaricious, Covetous, Parsimonious, Penurious, Miserly,
Niggardly. The avaricious eagerly grasp after it at the expense of
others, though not of necessity with a design to save, since a man
may be covetous and yet a spendthrift. The penurious, parsimonious,
and miserly save money by disgraceful self-denial, and the niggardly
by meanness in their dealing with others. We speak of persons as
covetous in getting, avaricious in retaining, parsimonious in
expending, penurious or miserly in modes of living, niggardly in
dispensing.
-- Av`a*ri"cious*ly, adv -- Av`a*ri"cious*ness, n.
AVAROUS
Av"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. avarus.]
Defn: Avaricious. [Obs.]
AVAST
A*vast", interj. Etym: [Corrupted from D. houd vast hold fast. See
Hold, v. t., and Fast, a.] (Naut.)
Defn: Cease; stop; stay. "Avast heaving." Totten.
AVATAR
Av`a*tar", n. Etym: [Skr. avatâra descent; ava from + root t to
cross, pass over.]
1. (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: The descent of a deity to earth, and his incarnation as a man
or an animal; -- chiefly associated with the incarnations of Vishnu.
2. Incarnation; manifestation as an object of worship or admiration.
AVAUNCE
A*vaunce", v. t. & i. Etym: [See Advance.]
Defn: To advance; to profit. Chaucer.
AVAUNT
A*vaunt", interj. Etym: [F. avant forward, fr. L. ab + ante before.
Cf. Avant, Advance.]
Defn: Begone; depart; -- a word of contempt or abhorrence, equivalent
to the phrase "Get thee gone."
AVAUNT
A*vaunt", v. t. & i.
1. To advance; to move forward; to elevate. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To depart; to move away. [Obs.] Coverdale.
AVAUNT
A*vaunt", v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. avanter; (L. ad) + vanter. See
Vaunt.]
Defn: To vaunt; to boast. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVAUNT
A*vaunt", n.
Defn: A vaunt; to boast. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVAUNTOUR
A*vaunt"our, n. Etym: [OF. avanteur.]
Defn: A boaster. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVE
A"ve, n. Etym: [L., hail.]
1. An ave Maria.
He repeated Aves and Credos. Macaulay.
2. A reverential salutation.
Their loud applause and aves vehement. Shak.
AVEL
A*vel, v. t. Etym: [L. avellere.]
Defn: To pull away. [Obs.]
Yet are not these parts avelled. Sir T. Browne.
AVELLANE
A*vel"lane, a. Etym: [Cf. It. avellana a filbert, fr. L. Avella or
Abella a city of Campania.] (Her.)
Defn: In the form of four unhusked filberts; as, an avellane cross.
AVE MARIA; AVE MARY
A"ve Ma*ri"a, A"ve Ma"ry.Etym: [From the first words of the Roman
Catholic prayer to the Virgin Mary; L. ave hail, Maria Mary.]
1. A salutation and prayer to the Virgin Mary, as mother of God; --
used in the Roman Catholic church.
To number Ave Maries on his beads. Shak.
2. A particular time (as in Italy, at the ringing of the bells about
half an hour after sunset, and also at early dawn), when the people
repeat the Ave Maria.
Ave Maria ! blessed be the hour ! Byron.
AVENA
A*ve"na, n. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of grasses, including the common oat (Avena sativa);
the oat grasses.
AVENACEOUS
Av`e*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. avenaceus, fr. avena oats.]
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, oats or the oat grasses.
AVENAGE
Av"e*nage, n. Etym: [F. avenage, fr. L. avena oats.] (Old Law)
Defn: A quantity of oats paid by a tenant to a landlord in lieu of
rent. Jacob.
AVENALIN
A*ven"a*lin, n. [L. avena eats.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline globulin, contained in oat kernels, very similar
in composition to excelsin, but different in reactions and
crystalline form.
AVENER
Av"e*ner, n. Etym: [OF. avenier, fr. aveine, avaine, avoine, oats, F.
avoine, L. avena.] (Feud. Law)
Defn: An officer of the king's stables whose duty it was to provide
oats for the horses. [Obs.]
AVENGE
A*venge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avenged (p. pr. & vb. n. Avenging (
Etym: [OF. avengier; L. ad + vindicare to lay claim to, to avenge,
revenge. See Vengeance.]
1. To take vengeance for; to exact satisfaction for by punishing the
injuring party; to vindicate by inflicting pain or evil on a
wrongdoer.
He will avenge the blood of his servants. Deut. xxxii. 43.
Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughtered saints, whose bones Lie scattered on
the Alpine mountains cold. Milton.
He had avenged himself on them by havoc such as England had never
before seen. Macaulay.
2. To treat revengefully; to wreak vengeance on. [Obs.]
Thy judgment in avenging thine enemies. Bp. Hall.
Syn.
-- To Avenge, Revenge. To avenge is to inflict punishment upon evil
doers in behalf of ourselves, or others for whom we act; as, to
avenge one's wrongs; to avenge the injuries of the suffering and
innocent. It is to inflict pain for the sake of vindication, or
retributive justice. To revenge is to inflict pain or injury for the
indulgence of resentful and malicious feelings. The former may at
times be a duty; the latter is one of the worst exhibitions of human
character.
I avenge myself upon another, or I avenge another, or I avenge a
wrong. I revenge only myself, and that upon another. C. J. Smith.
AVENGE
A*venge", v. i.
Defn: To take vengeance. Levit. xix. 18.
AVENGE
A*venge", n.
Defn: Vengeance; revenge. [Obs.] Spenser.
AVENGEANCE
A*venge"ance, n.
Defn: Vengeance. [Obs.]
AVENGEFUL
A*venge"ful, a.
Defn: Vengeful. [Obs.] Spenser.
AVENGEMENT
A*venge"ment, n.
Defn: The inflicting of retributive punishment; satisfaction taken.
[R.] Milton.
AVENGER
A*ven"ger, n.
1. One who avenges or vindicates; as, an avenger of blood.
2. One who takes vengeance. [Obs.] Milton.
AVENGERESS
A*ven"ger*ess, n.
Defn: A female avenger. [Obs.] Spenser.
AVENIOUS
A*ve"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + L. vena a vein.] (Bot.)
Defn: Being without veins or nerves, as the leaves of certain plants.
AVENOR
Av"e*nor, n.
Defn: See Avener. [Obs.]
AVENS
Av"ens, n. Etym: [OF. avence.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Geum, esp. Geum urbanum, or herb bennet.
AVENTAIL
Av"en*tail, n. Etym: [OF. esventail. Cf. Ventail.]
Defn: The movable front to a helmet; the ventail.
AVENTINE
Av"en*tine, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Mons Aventinus, one of the seven hills on which
Rome stood. Bryant.
AVENTINE
Av"en*tine, n.
Defn: A post of security or defense. [Poetic]
Into the castle's tower, The only Aventine that now is left him.
Beau. & Fl.
AVENTRE
A*ven"tre, v. t.
Defn: To thrust forward (at a venture), as a spear. [Obs.] Spenser.
AVENTURE
A*ven"ture, n. Etym: [See Adventure, n.]
1. Accident; chance; adventure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Old Law)
Defn: A mischance causing a person's death without felony, as by
drowning, or falling into the fire.
AVENTURINE
A*ven"tu*rine, n. Etym: [F. aventurine: cf. It. avventurino.]
1. A kind of glass, containing gold-colored spangles. It was produced
in the first place by the accidental (par aventure) dropping of some
brass filings into a pot of melted glass.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of translucent quartz, spangled throughout with
scales of yellow mica. ~= feldspar, a variety of oligoclase with
internal firelike reflections due to the presence of minute crystals,
probably of hematite; sunstone.
AVENUE
Av"e*nue, n. Etym: [F. avenue, fr. avenir to come to, L. advenire.
See Advene.]
1. A way or opening for entrance into a place; a passage by which a
place may by reached; a way of approach or of exit. "The avenues
leading to the city by land." Macaulay.
On every side were expanding new avenues of inquiry. Milman.
2. The principal walk or approach to a house which is withdrawn from
the road, especially, such approach bordered on each side by trees;
any broad passageway thus bordered.
An avenue of tall elms and branching chestnuts. W. Black.
3. A broad street; as, the Fifth Avenue in New York.
AVER
A"ver, n. Etym: [OF. aver domestic animal, whence LL. averia, pl.
cattle. See Habit, and cf. Average.]
Defn: A work horse, or working ox. [Obs. or Dial. Eng.]
AVER
A*ver", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averred (p. pr. & vb. n. Averring.] Etym:
[F. avérer, LL. adverare, averare; L. ad + versus true. See Verity.]
1. To assert, or prove, the truth of. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: To avouch or verify; to offer to verify; to prove or justify.
See Averment.
3. To affirm with confidence; to declare in a positive manner, as in
confidence of asserting the truth.
It is sufficient that the very fact hath its foundation in truth, as
I do seriously aver is the case. Fielding.
Then all averred I had killed the bird. Coleridge.
Syn.
-- To assert; affirm; asseverate. See Affirm.
AVERAGE
Av"er*age, n. Etym: [OF. average, LL. averagium, prob. fr. OF. aver,
F. avoir, property, horses, cattle, etc.; prop. infin., to have, from
L. habere to have. Cf. F. avérage small cattle, and avarie (perh. of
different origin) damage to ship or cargo, port dues. The first
meaning was peAver, n., Avercorn, Averpenny.]
1. (OLd Eng. Law)
Defn: That service which a tenant owed his lord, to be done by the
work beasts of the tenant, as the carriage of wheat, turf, etc.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. avarie damage to ship or cargo.] (Com.)
(a) A tariff or duty on goods, etc. [Obs.]
(b) Any charge in addition to the regular charge for freight of goods
shipped.
(c) A contribution to a loss or charge which has been imposed upon
one of several for the general benefit; damage done by sea perils.
(d) The equitable and proportionate distribution of loss or expense
among all interested. General average, a contribution made, by all
parties concerned in a sea adventure, toward a loss occasioned by the
voluntary sacrifice of the property of some of the parties in
interest for the benefit of all. It is called general average,
because it falls upon the gross amount of ship, cargo, and freight at
risk and saved by the sacrifice. Kent.
-- Particular average signifies the damage or partial loss happening
to the ship, or cargo, or freight, in consequence of some fortuitous
or unavoidable accident; and it is borne by the individual owners of
the articles damaged, or by their insurers.
-- Petty averages are sundry small charges, which occur regularly,
and are necessarily defrayed by the master in the usual course of a
voyage; such as port charges, common pilotage, and the like, which
formerly were, and in some cases still are, borne partly by the ship
and partly by the cargo. In the clause commonly found in bills of
lading, "primage and average accustomed," average means a kind of
composition established by usage for such charges, which were
formerly assessed by way of average. Arnould. Abbott. Phillips.
3. A mean proportion, medial sum or quantity, made out of unequal
sums or quantities; an arithmetical mean. Thus, if A loses 5 dollars,
B 9, and C 16, the sum is 30, and the average 10.
4. Any medial estimate or general statement derived from a comparison
of diverse specific cases; a medium or usual size, quantity, quality,
rate, etc. "The average of sensations." Paley.
5. pl.
Defn: In the English corn trade, the medial price of the several
kinds of grain in the principal corn markets. On an average, taking
the mean of unequal numbers or quantities.
AVERAGE
Av"er*age, a.
1. Pertaining to an average or mean; medial; containing a mean
proportion; of a mean size, quality, ability, etc.; ordinary; usual;
as, an average rate of profit; an average amount of rain; the average
Englishman; beings of the average stamp.
2. According to the laws of averages; as, the loss must be made good
by average contribution.
AVERAGE
Av"er*age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averaged (p. pr. & vb. n. Averaging.]
1. To find the mean of, when sums or quantities are unequal; to
reduce to a mean.
2. To divide among a number, according to a given proportion; as, to
average a loss.
3. To do, accomplish, get, etc., on an average.
AVERAGE
Av"er*age, v. i.
Defn: To form, or exist in, a mean or medial sum or quantity; to
amount to, or to be, on an ~; as, the losses of the owners will
average twenty five dollars each; these spars average ten feet in
length.
AVERCORN
A"ver*corn`, n. Etym: [Aver,n.+ corn.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A reserved rent in corn, formerly paid to religious houses by
their tenants or farmers. Kennet.
AVERMENT
A*ver"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. averement, LL. averamentum. See Aver,
v. t.]
1. The act of averring, or that which is averred; affirmation;
positive assertion.
Signally has this averment received illustration in the course of
recent events. I. Taylor.
2. Verification; establishment by evidence. Bacon.
3. (Law)
Defn: A positive statement of facts; an allegation; an offer to
justify or prove what is alleged.
Note: In any stage of pleadings, when either party advances new
matter, he avers it to be true, by using this form of words: "and
this he is ready to verify." This was formerly called an averment. It
modern pleading, it is termed a verification. Blackstone.
AVERNAL; AVERNIAN
A*ver"nal, A*ver"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Avernus, a lake of Campania, in Italy,
famous for its poisonous vapors, which ancient writers fancied were
so malignant as to kill birds flying over it. It was represented by
the poets to be connected with the infernal regions.
AVERPENNY
Av"er*pen`ny, n. Etym: [Aver,n.+ penny.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: Money paid by a tenant in lieu of the service of average.
AVERROISM
A*ver"ro*ism, n.
Defn: The tenets of the Averroists.
AVERROIST
A*ver"ro*ist, n.
Defn: One of a sect of peripatetic philosophers, who appeared in
Italy before the restoration of learning; so denominated from
Averroes, or Averrhoes, a celebrated Arabian philosopher. He held the
doctrine of monopsychism.
AVERRUNCATE
Av`er*run"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. averruncare to avert; a, ab, off +
verruncare to turn; formerly derived from ab and eruncare to root
out. Cf. Aberuncate.]
1. To avert; to ward off. [Obs.] Hudibras.
2. To root up. [Obs.] Johnson.
AVERRUNCATION
Av`er*run*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. averroncation.]
1. The act of averting. [Obs.]
2. Eradication. [R.] De Quincey.
AVERRUNCATOR
Av`er*run*ca"tor, n. Etym: [Cf. Aberuncator.]
Defn: An instrument for pruning trees, consisting of two blades, or a
blade and a hook, fixed on the end of a long rod.
AVERSATION
Av`er*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. aversatio, fr. aversari to turn away, v.
intens. of avertere. See Avert.]
Defn: A turning from with dislike; aversion. [Obs.or Archaic]
Some men have a natural aversation to some vices or virtues, and a
natural affection to others. Jer. Taylor.
AVERSE
A*verse", a. Etym: [L. aversus, p. p. of avertere. See Avert.]
1. Turned away or backward. [Obs.]
The tracks averse a lying notice gave, And led the searcher backward
from the cave. Dryden.
2. Having a repugnance or opposition of mind; disliking; disinclined;
unwilling; reluctant.
Averse alike to flatter, or offend. Pope.
Men who were averse to the life of camps. Macaulay.
Pass by securely as men averse from war. Micah ii. 8.
Note: The prevailing usage now is to employ to after averse and its
derivatives rather than from, as was formerly the usage. In this the
word is in agreement with its kindred terms, hatred, dislike,
dissimilar, contrary, repugnant, etc., expressing a relation or an
affection of the mind to an object.
Syn.
-- Averse, Reluctant, Adverse. Averse expresses an habitual, though
not of necessity a very strong, dislike; as, averse to active
pursuits; averse to study. Reluctant, a term of the of the will,
implies an internal struggle as to making some sacrifice of interest
or feeling; as, reluctant to yield; reluctant to make the necessary
arrangements; a reluctant will or consent. Adverse denotes active
opposition or hostility; as, adverse interests; adverse feelings,
plans, or movements; the adverse party.
AVERSE
A*verse", v. t. & i.
Defn: To turn away. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
AVERSELY
A*verse"ly, adv.
1. Backward; in a backward direction; as, emitted aversely.
2. With repugnance or aversion; unwillingly.
AVERSENESS
A*verse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being averse; opposition of mind; unwillingness.
AVERSION
A*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. aversio: cf. F. aversion. See Avert.]
1. A turning away. [Obs.]
Adhesion to vice and aversion from goodness. Bp. Atterbury.
2. Opposition or repugnance of mind; fixed dislike; antipathy;
disinclination; reluctance.
Mutual aversion of races. Prescott.
His rapacity had made him an object of general aversion. Macaulay.
Note: It is now generally followed by to before the object. [See
Averse.] Sometimes towards and for are found; from is obsolete.
A freeholder is bred with an aversion to subjection. Addison.
His aversion towards the house of York. Bacon.
It is not difficult for a man to see that a person has conceived an
aversion for him. Spectator.
The Khasias . . . have an aversion to milk. J. D. Hooker.
3. The object of dislike or repugnance.
Pain their aversion, pleasure their desire. Pope.
Syn.
-- Antipathy; dislike; repugnance; disgust. See Dislike.
AVERT
A*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Averted; p. pr. & vb. n. Averting.]
Etym: [L. avertere; a, ab + vertere to turn: cf. OF. avertir. See
Verse, n.]
Defn: To turn aside, or away; as, to avert the eyes from an object;
to ward off, or prevent, the occurrence or effects of; as, how can
the danger be averted "To avert his ire." Milton.
When atheists and profane persons do hear of so many discordant and
contrary opinions in religion, it doth avert them from the church.
Bacon.
Till ardent prayer averts the public woe. Prior.
AVERT
A*vert", v. i.
Defn: To turn away. [Archaic]
Cold and averting from our neighbor's good. Thomson.
AVERTED
A*vert"ed, a.
Defn: Turned away, esp. as an expression of feeling; also, offended;
unpropitious.
Who scornful pass it with averted eye. Keble.
AVERTER
A*vert"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, averts.
AVERTIBLE
A*vert"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being averted; preventable.
AVERTIMENT
A*ver"ti*ment, n.
Defn: Advertisement. [Obs.]
AVES
A"ves, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of avis bird.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The class of Vertebrata that includes the birds.
Note: Aves, or birds, have a complete double circulation, oviparous,
reproduction, front limbs peculiarly modified as wings; and they bear
feathers. All existing birds have a horny beak, without teeth; but
some Mesozoic fossil birds (Odontornithes) had conical teeth inserted
in both jaws. The principal groups are: Carinatæ, including all
existing flying birds; Ratitæ, including the ostrich and allies, the
apteryx, and the extinct moas; Odontornithes, or fossil birds with
teeth.
Note: The ordinary birds are classified largely by the structure of
the beak and feet, which are in direct relating to their habits. See
Beak, Bird, Odontonithes.
AVESTA
A*ves"ta, n.
Defn: The Zoroastrian scriptures. See Zend-Avesta.
AVESTAN
A*ves"tan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Avesta or the language of the Avesta. -
-n.
Defn: The language of the Avesta; -- less properly called Zend.
AVIADO
A`vi*a"do, n. [Sp.]
Defn: One who works a mine with means provided by another. [Sp. Amer.
& Southwestern U. S.]
AVIAN
A"vi*an, a.
Defn: Of or instrument to birds.
AVIARY
A"vi*a*ry, n.; pl. Aviaries. Etym: [L. aviarium, fr. aviarius
pertaining to birds, fr. avis bird, akin to Gr, vi.]
Defn: A house, inclosure, large cage, or other place, for keeping
birds confined; a bird house.
Lincolnshire may be termed the aviary of England. Fuller.
AVIATE
A"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Aviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Aviating.]
Defn: To fly, or navigate the air, in an aëroplane or heavier-than-
air flying machine. [Colloq.]
AVIATION
A`vi*a"tion, n.
Defn: The art or science of flying.
AVIATOR
A"vi*a`tor, n.
(a) An experimenter in aviation.
(b) A flying machine.
AVIATRESS; AVIATRIX
A"vi*a`tress, A`vi*a"trix, n.
Defn: A woman aviator.
AVICULA
A*vic"u*la, n. Etym: [L., small bird.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine bivalves, having a pearly interior, allied to
the pearl oyster; -- so called from a supposed resemblance of the
typical species to a bird.
AVICULAR
A*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. avicula a small bird, dim. of avis bird.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bird or to birds.
AVICULARIA
A*vic`u*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Avicular.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See prehensile processes on the cells of some Bryozoa, often
having the shape of a bird's bill.
AVICULTURE
A"vi*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. avis bird + cultura culture.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Rearing and care of birds.
AVID
Av"id, a. Etym: [L. avidus, fr. av to long: cf. F. avide. See
Avarice.]
Defn: Longing eagerly for; eager; greedy. "Avid of gold, yet greedier
of renown." Southey.
AVIDIOUS
A*vid"i*ous, a.
Defn: Avid.
AVIDIOUSLY
A*vid"i*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Eagerly; greedily.
AVIDITY
A*vid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. aviditas, fr. avidus: cf. F. avidité. See
Avid.]
Defn: Greediness; strong appetite; eagerness; intenseness of desire;
as, to eat with avidity.
His books were received and read with avidity. Milward.
AVIE
A*vie", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + vie.]
Defn: Emulously. [Obs.]
AVIETTE
A`vi*ette", n.
Defn: A heavier-than-air flying machine in which the motive power is
furnished solely by the aviator.
AVIFAUNA
A`vi*fau"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. avis bird + E. fauna.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The birds, or all the kinds of birds, inhabiting a region.
AVIGATO
Av`i*ga"to, n.
Defn: See Avocado.
AVIGNON BERRY
A`vignon" ber"ry. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of the Rhamnus infectorius, eand of other species of
the same genus; -- so called from the city of Avignon, in France. It
is used by dyers and painters for coloring yellow. Called also French
berry.
AVILE
A*vile", v. t. Etym: [OF. aviler, F. avilir; a (L. ad) + vil vile.
See Vile.]
Defn: To abase or debase; to vilify; to depreciate. [Obs.]
Want makes us know the price of what we avile. B. Jonson.
AVIS
A*vis", n. Etym: [F. avis. See Advice.]
Defn: Advice; opinion; deliberation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVISE
A*vise", v. t. Etym: [F. aviser. See Advise, v. t.]
1. To look at; to view; to think of. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To advise; to counsel. [Obs.] Shak. To avise one's self, to
consider with one's self, to reflect, to deliberate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Now therefore, if thou wilt enriched be, Avise thee well, and change
thy willful mood. Spenser.
AVISE
A*vise", v. i.
Defn: To consider; to reflect. [Obs.]
AVISEFUL
A*vise"ful, a.
Defn: Watchful; circumspect. [Obs.]
With sharp, aviseful eye. Spenser.
AVISELY
A*vise"ly, adv.
Defn: Advisedly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVISEMENT
A*vise"ment, n.
Defn: Advisement; observation; deliberation. [Obs.]
AVISION
A*vi"sion, n.
Defn: Vision. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVISO
A*vi"so, n. Etym: [Sp.]
1. Information; advice.
2. An advice boat, or dispatch boat.
AVOCADO
Av`o*ca"do, n. Etym: [Corrupted from the Mexican ahuacatl: cf. Sp.
aguacate, F. aguacaté, avocat, G. avogadobaum.]
Defn: The pulpy fruit of Persea gratissima, a tree of tropical
America. It is about the size and shape of a large pear; -- called
also avocado pear, alligator pear, midshipman's butter.
AVOCAT
Av`o*cat, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An advocate.
AVOCATE
Av"o*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. avocatus, p. p. of avocare; a, ab + vocare
to call. Cf. Avoke, and see Vocal, a.]
Defn: To call off or away; to withdraw; to transfer to another
tribunal. [Obs. or Archaic]
One who avocateth his mind from other occupations. Barrow.
He, at last, . . . avocated the cause to Rome. Robertson.
AVOCATION
Av`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. avocatio.]
1. A calling away; a diversion. [Obs. or Archaic]
Impulses to duty, and powerful avocations from sin. South.
2. That which calls one away from one's regular employment or
vocation.
Heaven is his vocation, and therefore he counts earthly employments
avocations. Fuller.
By the secular cares and avocations which accompany marriage the
clergy have been furnished with skill in common life. Atterbury.
Note: In this sense the word is applied to the smaller affairs of
life, or occasional calls which summon a person to leave his ordinary
or principal business. Avocation (in the singular) for vocation is
usually avoided by good writers.
3. pl.
Defn: Pursuits; duties; affairs which occupy one's time; usual
employment; vocation.
There are professions, among the men, no more favorable to these
studies than the common avocations of women. Richardson.
In a few hours, above thirty thousand men left his standard, and
returned to their ordinary avocations. Macaulay.
An irregularity and instability of purpose, which makes them choose
the wandering avocations of a shepherd, rather than the more fixed
pursuits of agriculture. Buckle.
AVOCATIVE
A*vo"ca*tive, a.
Defn: Calling off. [Obs.]
AVOCATIVE
A*vo"ca*tive, n.
Defn: That which calls aside; a dissuasive.
AVOCET; AVOSET
Av"o*cet, Av"o*set, n. Etym: [F. avocette: cf. It. avosetta, Sp.
avoceta.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A grallatorial bird, of the genus Recurvirostra; the scooper.
The bill is long and bend upward toward the tip. The American species
is R. Americana. [Written also avocette.]
AVOID
A*void" (, v. t. [p. & p. p. Avoided; p. pr. & vb. n. Avoiding.]
Etym: [OF. esvuidier, es (L. ex) + vuidier, voidier, to empty. See
Void, a.]
1. To empty. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To emit or throw out; to void; as, to avoid excretions. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.
3. To quit or evacuate; to withdraw from. [Obs.]
Six of us only stayed, and the rest avoided the room. Bacon.
4. To make void; to annul or vacate; to refute.
How can these grants of the king's be avoided Spenser.
5. To keep away from; to keep clear of; to endeavor no to meet; to
shun; to abstain from; as, to avoid the company of gamesters.
What need a man forestall his date of grief. And run to meet what he
would most avoid Milton.
He carefully avoided every act which could goad them into open
hostility. Macaulay.
6. To get rid of. [Obs.] Shak.
7. (Pleading)
Defn: To defeat or evade; to invalidate. Thus, in a replication, the
plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it
by stating new matter. Blackstone.
Syn.
-- To escape; elude; evade; eschew.
-- To Avoid, Shun. Avoid in its commonest sense means, to keep clear
of, an extension of the meaning, to withdraw one's self from. It
denotes care taken not to come near or in contact; as, to avoid
certain persons or places. Shun is a stronger term, implying more
prominently the idea of intention. The words may, however, in many
cases be interchanged.
No man can pray from his heart to be kept from temptation, if the
take no care of himself to avoid it. Mason.
So Chanticleer, who never saw a fox, Yet shunned him as a sailor
shuns the rocks. Dryden.
AVOID
A*void", v. i.
1. To retire; to withdraw. [Obs.]
David avoided out of his presence. 1 Sam. xviii. 11.
2. (Law)
Defn: To become void or vacant. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
AVOIDABLE
A*void"a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being vacated; liable to be annulled or made invalid;
voidable.
The charters were not avoidable for the king's nonage. Hale.
2. Capable of being avoided, shunned, or escaped.
AVOIDANCE
A*void"ance, n.
1. The act of annulling; annulment.
2. The act of becoming vacant, or the state of being vacant; --
specifically used for the state of a benefice becoming void by the
death, deprivation, or resignation of the incumbent.
Wolsey, . . . on every avoidance of St. Peter's chair, was sitting
down therein, when suddenly some one or other clapped in before him.
Fuller.
3. A dismissing or a quitting; removal; withdrawal.
4. The act of avoiding or shunning; keeping clear of. "The avoidance
of pain." Beattie.
5. The courts by which anything is carried off.
Avoidances and drainings of water. Bacon.
AVOIDER
A*void"er, n.
1. The person who carries anything away, or the vessel in which
things are carried away. Johnson.
2. One who avoids, shuns, or escapes.
AVOIDLESS
A*void"less, a.
Defn: Unavoidable; inevitable.
AVOIRDUPOIS
Av`oir*du*pois", n. & a. Etym: [OE. aver de peis, goods of weight,
where peis is fr. OF. peis weight, F. poids, L. pensum. See Aver, n.,
and Poise, n.]
1. Goods sold by weight. [Obs.]
2. Avoirdupois weight.
3. Weight; heaviness; as, a woman of much avoirdupois. [Colloq.]
Avoirdupois weight, a system of weights by which coarser commodities
are weighed, such as hay, grain, butter, sugar, tea.
Note: The standard Avoirdupois pound of the United States is
equivalent to the weight of 27.7015 cubic inches of distilled water
at 62º Fahrenheit, the barometer being at 30 inches, and the water
weighed in the air with brass weights. In this system of weights 16
drams make 1 ounce, 16 ounces 1 pound, 25 pounds 1 quarter, 4
quarters 1 hundred weight, and 20 hundred weight 1 ton. The above
pound contains 7,000 grains, or 453.54 grams, so that 1 pound
avoirdupois is equivalent to 1 31-144 pounds troy. (See Troy weight.)
Formerly, a hundred weight was reckoned at 112 pounds, the ton being
2,240 pounds (sometimes called a long ton).
AVOKE
A*voke", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Avocate.]
Defn: To call from or back again. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
AVOLATE
Av"o*late, v. i. Etym: [L. avolare; a (ab) + volare to fly.]
Defn: To fly away; to escape; to exhale. [Obs.]
AVOLATION
Av`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. avolatio.]
Defn: The act of flying; flight; evaporation. [Obs.]
AVOSET
Av"o*set, n.
Defn: Same as Avocet.
AVOUCH
A*vouch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avouched (p. pr. & vb. n. Avouching.]
Etym: [OF. avochier, LL. advocare to recognize the existence of a
thing, to advocate, fr. L. advocare to call to; ad + vocare to call.
Cf. Avow to declare, Advocate, and see Vouch, v. t.]
1. To appeal to; to cite or claim as authority. [Obs.]
They avouch many successions of authorities. Coke.
2. To maintain a just or true; to vouch for.
We might be disposed to question its authencity, it if were not
avouched by the full evidence. Milman.
3. To declare or assert positively and as matter of fact; to affirm
openly.
If this which he avouches does appear. Shak.
Such antiquities could have been avouched for the Irish. Spenser.
4. To acknowledge deliberately; to admit; to confess; to sanction.
Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God. Deut. xxvi. 17.
AVOUCH
A*vouch", n.
Defn: Evidence; declaration. [Obs.]
The sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Shak.
AVOUCHABLE
A*vouch"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being avouched.
AVOUCHER
A*vouch"er, n.
Defn: One who avouches.
AVOUCHMENT
A*vouch"ment, n.
Defn: The act of avouching; positive declaration. [Obs.] Milton.
AVOUTRER
A*vou"trer, n.
Defn: See Advoutrer. [Obs.]
AVOUTRIE
A*vou"trie, n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: Adultery. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AVOW
A*vow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Avowed (p. pr. & vb. n. Avowing.] Etym:
[F. avouver, fr. L. advocare to call to (whence the meanings, to call
upon as superior; recognize as lord, own, confess); ad + vocare to
call. See Advocate, Avouch.]
1. To declare openly, as something believed to be right; to own or
acknowledge frankly; as, a man avows his principles or his crimes.
Which I to be the of Israel's God Avow, and challenge Dagon to the
test. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To acknowledge and justify, as an act done. See Avowry.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- To acknowledge; own; confess. See Confess.
AVOW
A*vow", n, Etym: [Cf. F. aveu.]
Defn: Avowal. [Obs.] Dryden.
AVOW
A*vow", v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. avouer, fr. LL. votare to vow, fr. L.
votun. See Vote, n.]
Defn: To bind, or to devote, by a vow. [Obs.] Wyclif.
AVOW
A*vow", n.
Defn: A vow or determination. [Archaic]
AVOWABLE
A*vow"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being avowed, or openly acknowledged, with
confidence. Donne.
AVOWAL
A*vow"al, n.
Defn: An open declaration; frank acknowledgment; as, an avowal of
such principles. Hume.
AVOWANCE
A*vow"ance, n.
1. Act of avowing; avowal.
2. Upholding; defense; vindication. [Obs.]
Can my avowance of king-murdering be collected from anything here
written by me Fuller.
AVOWANT
A*vow"ant, n. (Law)
Defn: The defendant in replevin, who avows the distress of the goods,
and justifies the taking. Cowell.
AVOWED
A*vowed", a.
Defn: Openly acknowledged or declared; admitted.
-- A*vow"ed*ly (, adv.
AVOWEE
A*vow`ee", n. Etym: [F. avoué. Cf. Advowee, Advocate, n.]
Defn: The person who has a right to present to a benefice; the
patron; an advowee. See Advowson.
AVOWER
A*vow"er, n.
Defn: One who avows or asserts.
AVOWRY
A*vow"ry, n. Etym: [OE. avouerie protection, authority, OF. avouerie.
See Avow to declare.]
1. An advocate; a patron; a patron saint. [Obs.]
Let God alone be our avowry. Latimer.
2. The act of the distrainer of goods, who, in an action of replevin,
avows and justifies the taking in his own right. Blackstone.
Note: When an action of replevin is brought, the distrainer either
makes avowry, that is, avours taking the distress in his own right,
or the right of his wife, and states the reason if it, as for arrears
of rent, damage done, or the like; or makes cognizance, that is,
acknowledges the taking, but justifies in an another's right, as his
bailiff or servant.
AVOWTRY
A*vow"try, v. t.
Defn: Adultery. See Advoutry.
AVOYER
A*voy"er, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A chief magistrate of a free imperial city or canton of
Switzerland. [Obs.]
AVULSE
A*vulse", v. t. Etym: [L. avulsus, p. p. of avellere to tear off; a
(ab) + vellere to pluck.]
Defn: To pluck or pull off. Shenstone.
AVULSION
A*vul"sion, n. Etym: [L. avulsio.]
1. A tearing asunder; a forcible separation.
The avulsion of two polished superficies. Locke.
2. A fragment torn off. J. Barlow.
3. (Law)
Defn: The sudden removal of lands or soil from the estate of one man
to that of another by an inundation or a current, or by a sudden
change in the course of a river by which a part of the estate of one
man is cut off and joined to the estate of another. The property in
the part thus separated, or cut off, continues in the original owner.
Wharton. Burrill.
AVUNCULAR
A*vun"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. avunculus uncle.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an uncle.
In these rare instances, the law of pedigree, whether direct or
avuncular, gives way. I. Taylor.
AWAIT
A*wait", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Awaited; p. pr. & vb. n. Awaiting.]
Etym: [OF. awaitier, agaitier; (L. ad) + waitier, gaitier to watch,
F. guetter. See Wait.]
1. To watch for; to look out for. [Obs.]
2. To wait on, serve, or attend. [Obs.]
3. To wait for; to stay for; to expect. See Expect.
Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, Chief of the angelic guards,
awaiting night. Milton.
4. To be in store for; to be ready or in waiting for; as, a glorious
reward awaits the good.
O Eve, some farther change awaits us night. Milton.
AWAIT
A*wait", v. i.
1. To watch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To wait (on or upon). [Obs.]
3. To wait; to stay in waiting. Darwin.
AWAIT
A*wait", n.
Defn: A waiting for; ambush; watch; watching; heed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AWAKE
A*wake", v. t. [imp. Awoke, Awaked (; p. p. Awaked; (Obs.) Awaken,
Awoken; p. pr. & vb. n. Awaking. The form Awoke is sometimes used as
a p. p.] Etym: [AS. awæcnan, v. i. (imp. aw), and awacian, v. i.
(imp. awacode). See Awaken, Wake.]
1. To rouse from sleep.; to wake; to awaken.
Where morning's earliest ray . . . awake her. Tennyson.
And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us;
we perish. Matt. viii. 25.
2. To rouse from a state resembling sleep, as from death, stupidity.,
or inaction; to put into action; to give new life to; to stir up; as,
to awake the dead; to awake the dormant faculties.
I was soon awaked from this disagreeable reverie. Goldsmith.
It way awake my bounty further. Shak.
No sunny gleam awakes the trees. Keble.
AWAKE
A*wake", v. i.
Defn: To cease to sleep; to come out of a state of natural sleep;
and, figuratively, out of a state resembling sleep, as inaction or
death.
The national spirit again awoke. Freeman.
Awake to righteousness, and sin not. 1 Cor. xv. 34.
AWAKE
A*wake", a. Etym: [From awaken, old p. p. of awake.]
Defn: Not sleeping or lethargic; roused from sleep; in a state of
vigilance or action.
Before whom awake I stood. Milton.
She still beheld, Now wide awake, the vision of her sleep. Keats.
He was awake to the danger. Froude.
AWAKEN
A*wak"en, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Awakened (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Awakening.] Etym: [OE. awakenen, awaknen, AS. awæcnan, awæcnian, v.
i.; pref. on- + wæcnan to wake. Cf. Awake, v. t.]
Defn: To rouse from sleep or torpor; to awake; to wake.
[He] is dispatched Already to awaken whom thou nam'st. Cowper.
Their consciences are thoroughly awakened. Tillotson.
Syn.
-- To arouse; excite; stir up; call forth.
AWAKENER
A*wak"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, awakens.
AWAKENING
A*wak"en*ing, a.
Defn: Rousing from sleep, in a natural or a figurative sense; rousing
into activity; exciting; as, the awakening city; an awakening
discourse; the awakening dawn.
-- A*wak"en*ing*ly, adv.
AWAKENING
A*wak"en*ing, n.
Defn: The act of awaking, or ceasing to sleep. Specifically: A
revival of religion, or more general attention to religious matters
than usual.
AWAKENMENT
A*wak"en*ment, n.
Defn: An awakening. [R.]
AWANTING
A*want"ing, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + wanting.]
Defn: Missing; wanting. [Prov. Scot. & Eng.] Sir W. Hamilton.
AWARD
A*ward", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Awarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Awarding.]
Etym: [OF. eswarder to look at, consider, decide, judge; es (L. ex) +
warder, garder, to observe, take heed, keep, fr. OHG. wart to watch,
guard. See Ward.]
Defn: To give by sentence or judicial determination; to assign or
apportion, after careful regard to the nature of the case; to
adjudge; as, the arbitrators awarded damages to the complainant.
To review The wrongful sentence, and award a new. Dryden.
AWARD
A*ward", v. i.
Defn: To determine; to make an ~.
AWARD
A*ward", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. award, awart, esgart. See Award, v. t.]
1. A judgment, sentence, or final decision. Specifically: The
decision of arbitrators in a case submitted."Impatient for the
award." Cowper.
An award had been given against. Gilpin.
2. The paper containing the decision of arbitrators; that which is
warded. Bouvier.
AWARDER
A*ward"er, n.
Defn: One who awards, or assigns by sentence or judicial
determination; a judge.
AWARE
A*ware", a. Etym: [OE. iwar, AS. gewær, fr. wær wary. The pref. ge-
orig. meant together, completely. Wary.]
1. Watchful; vigilant or on one's guard against danger or difficulty.
2. Apprised; informed; cognizant; conscious; as, he was aware of the
enemy's designs.
Aware of nothing arduous in a task They never undertook. Cowper.
AWARN
A*warn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. a- + warn, AS. gewarnian. See Warn, v.
t.]
Defn: To warn. [Obs.] Spenser.
AWASH
A*wash", a. Etym: [Pref. a- + wash.]
Defn: Washed by the waves or tide; -- said of a rock or strip of
shore, or (Naut.) of an anchor, etc., when flush with the surface of
the water, so that the waves break over it.
AWAY
A*way", adv. Etym: [AS. aweg, anweg, onweg; on on + weg way.]
1. From a place; hence.
The sound is going away. Shak.
Have me away, for I am sore wounded. 2 Chron. xxxv. 23.
2. Absent; gone; at a distance; as, the master is away from home.
3. Aside; off; in another direction.
The axis of rotation is inclined away from the sun. Lockyer.
4. From a state or condition of being; out of existence.
Be near me when I fade away. Tennyson.
5. By ellipsis of the verb, equivalent to an imperative: Go or come
~; begone; take ~.
And the Lord said . . . Away, get thee down. Exod. xix. 24.
6. On; in continuance; without intermission or delay; as, sing away.
[Colloq.]
Note: It is much used in phrases signifying moving or going from; as,
go away, run away, etc.; all signifying departure, or separation to a
distance. Sometimes without the verb; as, whither away so fast "Love
hath wings, and will away." Waller. It serves to modify the sense of
certain verbs by adding that of removal, loss, parting with, etc.;
as, to throw away; to trifle away; to squander away, etc. Sometimes
it has merely an intensive force; as, to blaze away. Away with, bear,
abide. [Obs. or Archaic] "The calling of assemblies, I can not away
with." (Isa. i. 13
), i. e., "I can not bear or endure [it]." -- Away with one,
signifies, take him away. "Away with, crucify him." John xix. 15.
-- To make away with. (a) To kill or destroy. (b) To carry off.
AWAY-GOING
A*way"-go"ing, a. (Law)
Defn: Sown during the last years of a tenancy, but not ripe until
after its expiration; -- said of crops. Wharton.
AWAYWARD
A*way"ward, adv.
Defn: Turned away; away. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AWE
Awe, n. Etym: [OE. a, aghe, fr. Icel. agi; akin to AS. ege, , Goth.
agis, Dan. ave chastisement, fear, Gr. ail. Ugly.]
1. Dread; great fear mingled with respect. [Obs. or Obsolescent]
His frown was full of terror, and his voice Shook the delinquent with
such fits of awe. Cowper.
2. The emotion inspired by something dreadful and sublime; an
undefined sense of the dreadful and the sublime; reverential fear, or
solemn wonder; profound reverence.
There is an awe in mortals' joy, A deep mysterious fear. Keble.
To tame the pride of that power which held the Continent in awe.
Macaulay.
The solitude of the desert, or the loftiness of the mountain, may
fill the mind with awe -- the sense of our own littleness in some
greater presence or power. C. J. Smith.
To stand in awe of, to fear greatly; to reverence profoundly.
Syn.
-- See Reverence.
AWE
Awe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Awed (p. pr. & vb. n. Awing.]
Defn: To strike with fear and reverence; to inspire with awe; to
control by inspiring dread.
That same eye whose bend doth awe the world. Shak.
His solemn and pathetic exhortation awed and melted the bystanders.
Macaulay.
AWEARIED
A*wea"ried, p. p.
Defn: Wearied. [Poetic]
AWEARY
A*wea"ry, a. Etym: [Pref. a- + weary.]
Defn: Weary. [Poetic] "I begin to be aweary of thee." Shak.
AWEATHER
A*weath"er, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + weather.] (Naut.)
Defn: On the weather side, or toward the wind; in the direction from
which the wind blows; -- opposed to alee; as, helm aweather ! Totten.
AWEIGH
A*weigh", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + weigh.] (Naut.)
Defn: Just drawn out of the ground, and hanging perpendicularly;
atrip; -- said of the anchor. Totten.
AWELESS
Awe"less, a.
Defn: See Awless.
AWESOME
Awe"some, a.
1. Causing awe; appalling; awful; as, an awesome sight. Wright.
2. Expressive of awe or terror.
An awesome glance up at the auld castle. Sir W. Scott.
AWESOMENESS
Awe"some*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being awesome.
AWE-STRICKEN
Awe"-strick`en, a.
Defn: Awe-struck.
AWE-STRUCK
Awe"-struck`, a.
Defn: Struck with awe. Milton.
AWFUL
Aw"ful, a.
1. Oppressing with fear or horror; appalling; terrible; as, an awful
scene. "The hour of Nature's awful throes." Hemans.
2. Inspiring awe; filling with profound reverence, or with fear and
admiration; fitted to inspire reverential fear; profoundly
impressive.
Heaven's awful Monarch. Milton.
3. Struck or filled with awe; terror-stricken. [Obs.]
A weak and awful reverence for antiquity. I. Watts.
4. Worshipful; reverential; law-abiding. [Obs.]
Thrust from the company of awful men. Shak.
5. Frightful; exceedingly bad; great; -- applied intensively; as, an
awful bonnet; an awful boaster. [Slang]
Syn.
-- See Frightful.
AWFULLY
Aw"ful*ly, adv.
1. In an awful manner; in a manner to fill with terror or awe;
fearfully; reverently.
2. Very; excessively. [Slang]
AWFULNESS
Aw"ful*ness, n.
1. The quality of striking with awe, or with reverence; dreadfulness;
solemnity; as, the awfulness of this sacred place.
The awfulness of grandeur. Johnson.
2. The state of being struck with awe; a spirit of solemnity;
profound reverence. [Obs.]
Producing in us reverence and awfulness. Jer. Taylor.
AWHAPE
A*whape", v. t. Etym: [Cf. whap blow.]
Defn: To confound; to terrify; to amaze. [Obs.] Spenser.
AWHILE
A*while", adv. Etym: [Adj. a + while time, interval.]
Defn: For a while; for some time; for a short time.
AWING
A*wing", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + wing.]
Defn: On the wing; flying; fluttering. Wallace.
AWK
Awk, a. Etym: [OE. auk, awk (properly) turned away; (hence) contrary,
wrong, from Icel. öfigr, öfugr, afigr, turning the wrong way, fr. af
off, away; cf. OHG. abuh, Skr. apac turned away, fr. apa off, away +
a root ak, ak, to bend, from which come also E. angle, anchor.]
1. Odd; out of order; perverse. [Obs.]
2. Wrong, or not commonly used; clumsy; sinister; as, the awk end of
a rod (the but end). [Obs.] Golding.
3. Clumsy in performance or manners; unhandy; not dexterous; awkward.
[Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
AWK
Awk, adv.
Defn: Perversely; in the wrong way. L'Estrange.
AWKLY
Awk"ly, adv.
1. In an unlucky (left-handed) or perverse manner. [Obs.] Holland.
2. Awkwardly. [Obs.] Fuller.
AWKWARD
Awk"ward, a. Etym: [Awk + -ward.]
1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not
dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting ease, grace, or
effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick;
an awkward boy.
And dropped an awkward courtesy. Dryden.
2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
A long and awkward process. Macaulay.
An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is difficult to
adjust. C. J. Smith.
3. Perverse; adverse; untoward. [Obs.] "Awkward casualties." "Awkward
wind." Shak.
O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion, do strain out a
gnat, and swallow up a cancel. Udall.
Syn.
-- Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit;
bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming.
-- Awkward, Clumsy, Uncouth. Awkward has a special reference to
outward deportment. A man is clumsy in his whole person, he is
awkward in his gait and the movement of his limbs. Clumsiness is seen
at the first view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person
begins to move. Hence the expressions, a clumsy appearance, and an
awkward manner. When we speak figuratively of an awkward excuse, we
think of a want of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a
clumsy excuse, we think of the whole thing as coarse and stupid. We
apply the term uncouth most frequently to that which results from the
want of instruction or training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth
language.
-- Awk"ward*ly (, adv.
-- Awk"ward*ness, n.
AWKWARD SQUAD
Awk"ward squad. (Mil.)
Defn: A squad of inapt recruits assembled for special drill.
AWL
Awl, n. Etym: [OE. aul, awel, al, AS. , awel; akin to Icel. alr, OHG.
ala, G. ahle, Lith. yla, Skr. ara.]
Defn: A pointed instrument for piercing small holes, as in leather or
wood; used by shoemakers, saddlers, cabinetmakers, etc. The blade is
differently shaped and pointed for different uses, as in the brad
awl, saddler's awl, shoemaker's awl, etc.
AWLESS
Aw"less, a.
1. Wanting reverence; void of respectful fear. "Awless insolence."
Dryden.
2. Inspiring no awe. [Obs.] "The awless throne." Shak. [Written also
aweless]
AWLESSNESS
Aw"less*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being awless.
AWL-SHAPED
Awl"-shaped`, a.
1. Shaped like an awl.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Subulate. See Subulate. Gray.
AWLWORT
Awl"wort`, n. Etym: [Awl + wort.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Subularia aquatica), with awl-shaped leaves.
AWM
Awm (m), n.
Defn: See Aam.
AWN
Awn, n. Etym: [OE. awn, agune, from Icel. ögn, pl. agnir; akin to Sw.
agn, Dan. avne, Goth. ahana, OHG. agana, G. agen, ahne, chaff, Gr.
egla; prob. from same root as E. acute. See 3d Ear. (Bot.)
Defn: The bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses, etc., or any
similar bristlelike appendage; arista. Gray.
AWNED
Awned, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with an awn, or long bristle-shaped tip; bearded.
Gray.
AWNING
Awn"ing, n. Etym: [Origin uncertain: cf. F. auvent awing, or Pers.
awan, awang, anything suspended, or LG. havening a place sheltered
from wind and weather, E. haven.]
1. A rooflike cover, usually of canvas, extended over or before any
place as a shelter from the sun, rain, or wind.
2. (Naut.) That part of the poop deck which is continued forward
beyond the bulkhead of the cabin.
AWNINGED
Awn"inged, a.
Defn: Furnished with an awning.
AWNLESS
Awn"less, a.
Defn: Without awns or beard.
AWNY
Awn"y, a.
Defn: Having awns; bearded.
AWORK
A*work", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + work.]
Defn: At work; in action. "Set awork." Shak.
AWORKING
A*work"ing, adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + working.]
Defn: At work; in action. [Archaic or Colloq.] Spenser.
AWREAK; AWREKE
A*wreak", A*wreke",, v. t. & i.
Defn: To avenge. [Obs.] See Wreak.
AWRONG
A*wrong", adv. Etym: [Pref. a- + wrong.]
Defn: Wrongly. Ford.
AWRY
A*wry", adv. & a. Etym: [Pref. a- + wry.]
1. Turned or twisted toward one side; not in a straight or true
direction, or position; out of the right course; distorted;
obliquely; asquint; with oblique vision; as, to glance awry. "Your
crown's awry." Shak.
Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry. Into the devious
air. Milton.
2. Aside from the line of truth, or right reason; unreasonable or
unreasonably; perverse or perversely.
Or by her charms Draws him awry, enslaved. Milton.
Nothing more awry from the law of God and nature than that a woman
should give laws to men. Milton.
AWSOME
Aw"some, a.
Defn: Same as Awesome.
AX; AXE
Ax, Axe,, n. Etym: [OE. ax, axe, AS. eax, æx, acas; akin to D. akse,
OS. accus, OHG. acchus, G. axt, Icel. öx, öxi, Sw. yxe, Dan. ökse,
Goth. aqizi, Gr. , L. ascia; not akin to E. acute.]
Defn: A tool or instrument of steel, or of iron with a steel edge or
blade, for felling trees, chopping and splitting wood, hewing timber,
etc. It is wielded by a wooden helve or handle, so fixed in a socket
or eye as to be in the same plane with the blade. The broadax, or
carpenter's ax, is an ax for hewing timber, made heavier than the
chopping ax, and with a broader and thinner blade and a shorter
handle.
Note: The ancient battle-ax had sometimes a double edge.
Note: The word is used adjectively or in combination; as, axhead or
ax head; ax helve; ax handle; ax shaft; ax-shaped; axlike.
Note: This word was originally spelt with e, axe; and so also was
nearly every corresponding word of one syllable: as, flaxe, taxe,
waxe, sixe, mixe, pixe, oxe, fluxe, etc. This superfluous e is not
dropped; so that, in more than a hundred words ending in x, no one
thinks of retaining the e except in axe. Analogy requires its
exclusion here.
Note: "The spelling ax is better on every ground, of etymology,
phonology, and analogy, than axe, which has of late become
prevalent." New English Dict. (Murray).
AX
Ax, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. axien and asken. See Ask.]
Defn: To ask; to inquire or inquire of.
Note: This word is from Saxon, and is as old as the English language.
Formerly it was in good use, but now is regarded as a vulgarism. It
is still dialectic in England, and is sometimes heard among the
uneducated in the United States. "And Pilate axide him, Art thou king
of Jewis" "Or if he axea fish." Wyclif. 'bdThe king axed after your
Grace's welfare." Pegge.
AXAL
Ax"al, a.
Defn: [See Axial.] [R.]
AXE; AXEMAN
Axe, Axe"man, etc.
Defn: See Ax, Axman.
AXIAL
Ax"i*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to an axis; of the nature of, or resembling, an
axis; around an axis.
To take on an axial, and not an equatorial, direction. Nichol.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Belonging to the axis of the body; as, the axial skeleton; or
to the axis of any appendage or organ; as, the axial bones. Axial
line (Magnetism), the line taken by the magnetic force in passing
from one pole of a horseshoe magnet to the other. Faraday.
AXIALLY
Ax"i*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In relation to, or in a line with, an axis; in the axial
(magnetic) line.
AXIL
Ax"il, n. Etym: [L. axilla. Cf. Axle.] (Bot.)
Defn: The angle or point of divergence between the upper side of a
branch, leaf, or petiole, and the stem or branch from which it
springs. Gray.
AXILE
Ax"ile, a.
Defn: Situated in the axis of anything; as an embryo which lies in
the axis of a seed. Gray.
AXILLA
Ax*il"la, n.; pl. Axillae. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: The armpit, or the cavity beneath the junction of the arm and
shoulder.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An axil.
AXILLAR
Ax"il*lar, a.
Defn: Axillary.
AXILLARIES; AXILLARS
Ax"il*la*ries, Ax"il*lars, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Feathers connecting the under surface of the wing and the body,
and concealed by the closed wing.
AXILLARY
Ax"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [See Axil.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the axilla or armpit; as, axillary gland,
artery, nerve.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Situated in, or rising from, an axil; of or pertaining to an
axil. "Axillary buds." Gray.
AXINITE
Ax"i*nite, n. Etym: [Named in allusion to the form of the crystals,
fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A borosilicate of alumina, iron, and lime, commonly found in
glassy, brown crystals with acute edges.
AXINOMANCY
Ax*in"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. axinomantia, Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: A species of divination, by means of an ax or hatchet.
AXIOM
Ax"i*om, n. Etym: [L. axioma, Gr. that which is thought worthy, that
which is assumed, a basis of demonstration, a principle, fr. to think
worthy, fr. worthy, weighing as much as; cf. to lead, drive, also to
weigh so much: cf F. axiome. See Agent, a.]
1. (Logic & Math.)
Defn: A self-evident and necessary truth, or a proposition whose
truth is so evident as first sight that no reasoning or demonstration
can make it plainer; a proposition which it is necessary to take for
granted; as, "The whole is greater than a part;" "A thing can not, at
the same time, be and not be."
2. An established principle in some art or science, which, though not
a necessary truth, is universally received; as, the axioms of
political economy.
Syn.
-- Axiom, Maxim, Aphorism, Adage. An axiom is a self-evident truth
which is taken for granted as the basis of reasoning. A maxim is a
guiding principle sanctioned by experience, and relating especially
to the practical concerns of life. An aphorism is a short sentence
pithily expressing some valuable and general truth or sentiment. An
adage is a saying of long-established authority and of universal
application.
AXIOMATIC; AXIOMATICAL
Ax`i*o*mat"ic, Ax`i*o*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an axiom; having the nature of an axiom;
self-evident; characterized by axioms. "Axiomatical truth." Johnson.
The stores of axiomatic wisdom. I. Taylor.
AXIOMATICALLY
Ax`i*o*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By the use of axioms; in the form of an axiom.
AXIS
Ax"is, n. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spotted deer (Cervus axis or Axis maculata) of India, where
it is called hog deer and parrah (Moorish name).
AXIS
Ax"is, n.; pl. Axes. Etym: [L. axis axis, axle. See Axle.]
Defn: A straight line, real or imaginary, passing through a body, on
which it revolves, or may be supposed to revolve; a line passing
through a body or system around which the parts are symmetrically
arranged.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A straight line with respect to which the different parts of a
magnitude are symmetrically arranged; as, the axis of a cylinder, i.
e., the axis of a cone, that is, the straight line joining the vertex
and the center of the base; the axis of a circle, any straight line
passing through the center.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The stem; the central part, or longitudinal support, on which
organs or parts are arranged; the central line of any body. Gray.
4. (Anat.)
(a) The second vertebra of the neck, or vertebra dentata.
(b) Also used of the body only of the vertebra, which is prolonged
anteriorly within the foramen of the first vertebra or atlas, so as
to form the odontoid process or peg which serves as a pivot for the
atlas and head to turn upon.
5. (Crystallog.)
Defn: One of several imaginary lines, assumed in describing the
position of the planes by which a crystal is bounded.
6. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The primary of secondary central line of any design. Anticlinal
axis (Geol.), a line or ridge from which the strata slope downward on
the two opposite sides.
-- Synclinal axis, a line from which the strata slope upward in
opposite directions, so as to form a valley.
-- Axis cylinder (Anat.), the neuraxis or essential, central
substance of a nerve fiber; -- called also axis band, axial fiber,
and cylinder axis.
-- Axis in peritrochio, the wheel and axle, one of the mechanical
powers.
-- Axis of a curve (Geom.), a straight line which bisects a system
of parallel chords of a curve; called a principal axis, when cutting
them at right angles, in which case it divides the curve into two
symmetrical portions, as in the parabola, which has one such axis,
the ellipse, which has two, or the circle, which has an infinite
number. The two axes of the ellipse are the major axis and the minor
axis, and the two axes of the hyperbola are the transverse axis and
the conjugate axis.
-- Axis of a lens, the straight line passing through its center and
perpendicular to its surfaces.
-- Axis of a telescope or microscope, the straight line with which
coincide the axes of the several lenses which compose it.
-- Axes of coördinates in a plane, to straight lines intersecting
each other, to which points are referred for the purpose of
determining their relative position: they are either rectangular or
oblique.
-- Axes of coördinates in space, the three straight lines in which
the coördinate planes intersect each other.
-- Axis of a balance, that line about which it turns.
-- Axis of oscillation, of a pendulum, a right line passing through
the center about which it vibrates, and perpendicular to the plane of
vibration.
-- Axis of polarization, the central line around which the prismatic
rings or curves are arranged. Brewster.
-- Axis of revolution (Descriptive Geom.), a straight line about
which some line or plane is revolved, so that the several points of
the line or plane shall describe circles with their centers in the
fixed line, and their planes perpendicular to it, the line describing
a surface of revolution, and the plane a solid of revolution.
-- Axis of symmetry (Geom.), any line in a plane figure which
divides the figure into two such parts that one part, when folded
over along the axis, shall coincide with the other part.
-- Axis of the equator, ecliptic, horizon (or other circle
considered with reference to the sphere on which it lies), the
diameter of the sphere which is perpendicular to the plane of the
circle. Hutton.
-- Axis of the Ionic capital (Arch.), a line passing perpendicularly
through the middle of the eye of the volute.
-- Neutral axis (Mech.), the line of demarcation between the
horizontal elastic forces of tension and compression, exerted by the
fibers in any cross section of a girder.
-- Optic axis of a crystal, the direction in which a ray of
transmitted light suffers no double refraction. All crystals, not of
the isometric system, are either uniaxial or biaxial.
-- Optic axis, Visual axis (Opt.), the straight line passing through
the center of the pupil, and perpendicular to the surface of the eye.
-- Radical axis of two circles (Geom.), the straight line
perpendicular to the line joining their centers and such that the
tangents from any point of it to the two circles shall be equal to
each other.
-- Spiral axis (Arch.), the axis of a twisted column drawn spirally
in order to trace the circumvolutions without.
-- Axis of abscissas and Axis of ordinates. See Abscissa.
AXLE
Ax"le, n. Etym: [OE. axel, exel, shoulder, AS. ; akin to AS. eax
axle, Sw. & Dan. axel shoulder, ~, G. achse axle, achsel shoulder, L.
axis axle, Gr. aksha, L. axilla shoulder joint: cf. F. essieu, axle,
OF. aissel, fr. dim. of L. axis. Axis.]
1. The pin or spindle on which a wheel revolves, or which revolves
with a wheel.
2. A transverse bar or shaft connecting the opposite wheels of a car
or carriage; an axletree.
3. An axis; as, the sun's axle.
Had from her axle torn The steadfast earth. Milton.
Note: Railway axles are called leading and trailing from their
position in the front or in the rear of a car or truck respectively.
AXLE BOX
Ax"le box`.
1. A bushing in the hub of a wheel, through which the axle passes.
2. The journal box of a rotating axle, especially a railway axle.
Note: In railway construction, the axle guard, or pedestal, with the
superincumbent weight, rests on the top of the box (usually with a
spring intervening), and holds it in place by flanges. The box rests
upon the journal bearing and key, which intervene between the inner
top of the box and the axle.
AXLED
Ax"led, a.
Defn: Having an axle; -- used in composition.
Merlin's agate-axled car. T. Warton.
AXLE GUARD
Ax"le guard`.
Defn: The part of the framing of a railway car or truck, by which an
axle box is held laterally, and in which it may move vertically; --
also called a jaw in the United States, and a housing in England.
AXLETREE
Ax"le*tree`, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. öxultr.]
1. A bar or beam of wood or iron, connecting the opposite wheels of a
carriage, on the ends of which the wheels revolve.
2. A spindle or axle of a wheel. [Obs.]
AXMAN
Ax"man, n.; pl. Axmen (.
Defn: One who wields an ax.
AXMINSTER
Ax"min`ster, n.
Defn: An Axminster carpet, an imitation Turkey carpet, noted for its
thick and soft pile; -- so called from Axminster, Eng.
AXMINSTER; AXMINSTER CARPET
Ax"min*ster, n., or Axminster carpet .
(a) [More fully chenille Axminster.] A variety of Turkey carpet,
woven by machine or, when more than 27 inches wide, on a hand loom,
and consisting of strips of worsted chenille so colored as to produce
a pattern on a stout jute backing. It has a fine soft pile. So called
from Axminster, England, where it was formerly (1755 -- 1835) made.
(b) A similar but cheaper machine-made carpet, resembling moquette
in construction and appearance, but finer and of better material.
AXOLOTL
Ax"o*lotl, n. Etym: [The native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibian of the salamander tribe found in the elevated
lakes of Mexico; the siredon.
Note: When it breeds in captivity the young develop into true
salamanders of the genus Amblystoma. This also occurs naturally under
favorable conditions, in its native localities; although it commonly
lives and breeds in a larval state, with persistent external gills.
See Siredon.
AXSTONE
Ax"stone`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of jade. It is used by some savages, particularly the
natives of the South Sea Islands, for making axes or hatchets.
AXTREE
Ax"tree, n.
Defn: Axle or axletree. [Obs.] Drayton.
AXUNGE
Ax"unge, n. Etym: [F. axonge, L. axungia; axis wheel + ungere to
grease.]
Defn: Fat; grease; esp. the fat of pigs or geese; usually (Pharm.),
lard prepared for medical use.
AY
Ay, interj.
Defn: Ah! alas! "Ay me! I fondly dream `Had ye been there.'" Milton.
AY
Ay, adv.
Defn: Same as Aye.
AYAH
A"yah, n. Etym: [Pg. aia, akin to Sp. aya a governess, ayo a tutor.]
Defn: A native nurse for children; also, a lady's maid. [India]
AYE; AY
Aye, Ay, adv. Etym: [Perh. a modification of yea, or from the
interjection of admiration or astonishment, OE. ei, ey, why, hey, ay,
well, ah, ha. Cf. MHG. & G. ei, Dan. ej. Or perh. akin to aye ever.]
Defn: Yes; yea; -- a word expressing assent, or an affirmative answer
to a question. It is much used in viva voce voting in legislative
bodies, etc.
Note: This word is written I in the early editions of Shakespeare and
other old writers.
AYE
Aye, n.
Defn: An affirmative vote; one who votes in the affirmative; as, "To
call for the ayes and noes;" "The ayes have it."
AYE; AY
Aye, Ay, adv. Etym: [Icel. ei, ey; akin to AS. a, awa, always, Goth.
aiws an age, Icel. æfi, OHG, , L. aevum, Gr. je, Skr. course. Age,
v., Either, a., Or, conj.]
Defn: Always; ever; continually; for an indefinite time.
For his mercies aye endure. Milton.
For aye, always; forever; eternally.
AYE-AYE
Aye"-aye`, n. Etym: [From the native name, prob. from its cry.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A singular nocturnal quadruped, allied to the lemurs, found in
Madagascar (Cheiromys Madagascariensis), remarkable for its long
fingers, sharp nails, and rodent-like incisor teeth.
AYEGREEN
Aye"green`, n. Etym: [Aye ever + green.] (Bot.)
Defn: The houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum). Halliwell.
AYEN; AYEIN; AYEINS
A*yen", A*yein", A*yeins", adv. & prep. Etym: [OE. Again.]
Defn: Again; back against. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AYENWARD
A*yen"ward, adv.
Defn: Backward. [Obs.] Chaucer.
AYLE
Ayle, n. Etym: [OE. ayel, aiel, OF. aiol, aiel, F. aïeul, a dim. of
L. avus grandfather.]
Defn: A grandfather. [Obs.] Writ of Ayle, an ancient English writ
which lay against a stranger who had dispossessed the demandant of
land of which his grandfather died seized.
AYME
Ay"me`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ahi interj.]
Defn: The utterance of the ejaculation "Ay me !" [Obs.] See Ay,
interj. "Aymees and hearty heigh-hoes." J. Fletcher.
AYOND
A*yond", prep. & adv.
Defn: Beyond. [North of Eng.]
AYONT
A*yont", prep. & adv.
Defn: Beyond. [Scot.]
AYRIE; AYRY
A"y*rie, A"y*ry, n.
Defn: See Aerie. Drayton.
AYRSHIRE
Ayr"shire, n. (Agric.)
Defn: One of a superior breed of cattle from Ayrshire, Scotland.
Ayrshires are notable for the quantity and quality of their milk.
AYUNTAMIENTO
A*yun`ta*mi*en"to, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. OSp. ayuntar to join.]
Defn: In Spain and Spanish America, a corporation or body of
magistrates in cities and towns, corresponding to mayor and aldermen.
AZALEA
A*za"le*a, n.; pl. Azaleas. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of showy flowering shrubs, mostly natives of China or
of North America; false honeysuckle. The genus is scarcely distinct
from Rhododendron.
AZAROLE
Az"a*role, n. Etym: [F. azerole, the name of the fruit, fr. Ar. az-
zo'r: cf. It. azzeruolo, Sp. acerolo.] (Bot.)
Defn: The Neapolitan medlar (Cratægus azarolus), a shrub of southern
Europe; also, its fruit.
AZEDARACH
A*zed"a*rach, n. Etym: [F. azédarac, Sp. acederaque, Pers.
azaddirakht noble tree.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A handsome Asiatic tree (Melia azedarach), common in the
southern United States; -- called also, Pride of India, Pride of
China, and Bead tree.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The bark of the roots of the azedarach, used as a cathartic and
emetic.
AZIMUTH
Az"i*muth, n. Etym: [OE. azimut, F. azimut, fr. Ar. as-sum, pl. of
as-samt a way, or perh., a point of the horizon and a circle
extending to it from the zenith, as being the Arabic article: cf. It.
azzimutto, Pg. azimuth, and Ar. samt-al-ra's the vertex of the
heaven. Cf. Zenith.] (Astron. & Geodesy)
(a) The quadrant of an azimuth circle.
(b) An arc of the horizon intercepted between the meridian of the
place and a vertical circle passing through the center of any object;
as, the azimuth of a star; the azimuth or bearing of a line
surveying.
Note: In trigonometrical surveying, it is customary to reckon the
azimuth of a line from the south point of the horizon around by the
west from 0º to 360º. Azimuth circle, or Vertical circle, one of the
great circles of the sphere intersecting each other in the zenith and
nadir, and cutting the horizon at right angles. Hutton.
-- Azimuth compass, a compass resembling the mariner's compass, but
having the card divided into degrees instead of rhumbs, and having
vertical sights; used for taking the magnetic azimuth of a heavenly
body, in order to find, by comparison with the true azimuth, the
variation of the needle.
-- Azimuth dial, a dial whose stile or gnomon is at right angles to
the plane of the horizon. Hutton.
-- Magnetic azimuth, an arc of the horizon, intercepted between the
vertical circle passing through any object and the magnetic meridian.
This is found by observing the object with an azimuth compass.
AZIMUTHAL
Az"i*muth`al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the azimuth; in a horizontal circle.
Azimuthal error of a transit instrument, its deviation in azimuth
from the plane of the meridian.
AZO-
Az"o-. Etym: [See Azote.] (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form of azote;
(a) Applied loosely to compounds having nitrogen variously combined,
as in cyanides, nitrates, etc.
(b) Now especially applied to compounds containing a two atom
nitrogen group uniting two hydrocarbon radicals, as in azobenzene,
azobenzoic, etc. These compounds furnish many artificial dyes. See
Diazo-.
AZOBENZENE
Az`o*ben"zene, n. Etym: [Azo- + benzene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance (C6H5.N2.C6H5) derived from nitrobenzene, forming
orange red crystals which are easily fusible.
AZOGUE
A*zo"gue, n. [Sp. See Azoth.]
Defn: Lit.: Quicksilver; hence: pl. (Mining)
Defn: Silver ores suitable for treatment by amalgamation with
mercury. [Sp. Amer.]
AZOIC
A*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Destitute of any vestige of organic life, or at least of animal
life; anterior to the existence of animal life; formed when there was
no animal life on the globe; as, the azoic. rocks. Azoic age (Geol.),
the age preceding the existence of animal life, or anterior to the
paleozoic tome. Azoic is also used as a noun, age being understood.
See Archæan, and Eozoic.
AZOLE
Az"ole, n. [From Azote.] (Org. Chem.)
Defn: Any of a large class of compounds characterized by a five-
membered ring which contains an atom of nitrogen and at least one
other noncarbon atom (nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur). The prefixes furo-,
thio, and pyrro-are used to distinguish three subclasses of azoles,
which may be regarded as derived respectively from furfuran,
thiophene, and pyrrol by replacement of the CH group by nitrogen; as,
furo-monazole. Names exactly analogous to those for the azines are
also used; as, oxazole, diazole, etc.
AZOLEIC
Az`o*le"ic, a. Etym: [Azo- + oleic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to an acid produced by treating oleic with nitric
acid. [R.]
AZONIC
A*zon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Confined to no zone or region; not local.
AZORIAN
A*zo"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Azores.
-- n.
Defn: A native of the Azores.
AZOTE
Az"ote, n. Etym: [F. azote, fr. Gr.
Defn: Same as Nitrogen. [R.]
AZOTED
Az"ot*ed, a.
Defn: Nitrogenized; nitrogenous.
AZOTH
Az"oth, n. Etym: [LL. azoch, azoth, fr. Ar. az-zauq mercury.]
(Alchemy)
(a) The first principle of metals, i. e., mercury, which was formerly
supposed to exist in all metals, and to be extractable from them.
(b) The universal remedy of Paracelsus.
AZOTIC
A*zot"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to azote, or nitrogen; formed or consisting of
azote; nitric; as, azotic gas; azotic acid. [R.] Carpenter.
AZOTINE; AZOTIN
Az"o*tine, Az"o*tin, n. [Azote + -ine.]
1.
Defn: An explosive consisting of sodium nitrate, charcoal, sulphur,
and petroleum.
2. = 1st Ammonite, 2.
AZOTITE
Az"o*tite, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the combination of azotous, or nitrous, acid
with a base; a nitrite. [R.]
AZOTIZE
Az"o*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Azotized (p. pr. & vb. n. Azotizing (
Defn: To impregnate with azote, or nitrogen; to nitrogenize.
AZOTOMETER
Az`o*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Azote + -meter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for measuring or determining the proportion of
nitrogen; a nitrometer.
AZOTOUS
A*zo"tous, a
Defn: : Nitrous; as, azotous acid. [R.]
AZOTURIA
Az`o*tu"ri*a, n. [NL.; azote + Gr. urine.] (Med.)
Defn: Excess of urea or other nitrogenous substances in the urine.
AZTEC
Az"tec, a.
Defn: Of or relating to one of the early races in Mexico that
inhabited the great plateau of that country at the time of the
Spanish conquest in 1519.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Aztec race or people.
AZURE
Az"ure, a. Etym: [F. & OSp. azur, Sp. azul, through Ar. from Per.
lajaward, or lajuward, lapis lazuli, a blue color, lajawardi,
lajuwardi, azure, cerulean, the initial l having been dropped,
perhaps by the influence of the Ar. azr-aq azure, blue. Cf. G. lasur,
lasurstein, azure color, azure stone, and NL. lapis lazuli.]
Defn: Sky-blue; resembling the clear blue color of the unclouded sky;
cerulean; also, cloudless. Azure stone (Min.), the lapis lazuli;
also, the lazulite.
AZURE
Az"ure, n.
1. The lapis lazuli. [Obs.]
2. The clear blue color of the sky; also, a pigment or dye of this
color. "In robes of azure." Wordsworth.
3. The blue vault above; the unclouded sky.
Not like those steps On heaven's azure. Milton.
4. (Her.)
Defn: A blue color, represented in engraving by horizontal parallel
lines.
AZURE
Az"ure, v. t.
Defn: To color blue.
AZURED
Az"ured, a.
Defn: Of an azure color; sky-blue. "The azured harebell." Shak.
AZUREOUS
A*zu"re*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of a fine blue color; azure.
AZURINE
Az"u*rine, a. Etym: [Cf. Azurn.]
Defn: Azure.
AZURINE
Az"u*rine, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue roach of Europe (Leuciscus cæruleus); -- so called
from its color.
AZURITE
Az"u*rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Blue carbonate of copper; blue malachite.
AZURN
Az"urn, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. azurin, asurin, LL. azurinus. See Azure,
a.]
Defn: Azure. [Obs.]
Thick set with agate, and the azurn sheen Of turkis blue, and emerald
green. Milton.
AZYGOUS
Az"y*gous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Odd; having no fellow; not one of a pair; single; as, the
azygous muscle of the uvula.
AZYM; AZYME
Az"ym, Az"yme, n. Etym: [F. azyme unleavened, L. azymus, fr. Gr.
Defn: Unleavened bread.
AZYMIC
A*zym"ic, a.
Defn: Azymous.
AZYMITE
Az"y*mite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. azymite.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who administered the Eucharist with unleavened bread; -- a
name of reproach given by those of the Greek church to the Latins.
AZYMOUS
Az"y*mous, a. Etym: [See Azym.]
Defn: Unleavened; unfermented. "Azymous bread." Dunglison.
B
Defn: is the second letter of the English alphabet. (See Guide to
Pronunciation, §§ 196,220.) It is etymologically related to p , v , f
, w and m , letters representing sounds having a close organic
affinity to its own sound; as in Eng. bursar and purser; Eng. bear
and Lat. pear; Eng. silver and Ger. silber; Lat. cubitum and It.
gomito; Eng. seven, Anglo-Saxon seofon, Ger. sieben, Lat. septem,
Gr.ptan. The form of letter B is Roman, from Greek B (Beta), of
Semitic origin. The small b was formed by gradual change from the
capital B.
Note: In Music, B is the nominal of the seventh tone in the model
major scale (the scale of C major ), or of the second tone in it's
relative minor scale (that of A minor ) . B stands for B flat, the
tone a half step , or semitone, lower than B. In German, B stands for
our B, while our B natural is called H (pronounced hä).
BA
Ba, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. baer to open mouth, F. baer.]
Defn: To kiss. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BAA
Baa, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. bäen; an imitative word.]
Defn: To cry baa, or bleat as a sheep.
He treble baas for help, but none can get. Sir P. Sidney.
BAA
Baa, n.; pl. Baas. Etym: [Cf. G. bä.]
Defn: The cry or bleating of a sheep; a bleat.
BAAING
Baa"ing, n.
Defn: The bleating of a sheep. Marryat.
BAAL
Ba"al, n.; Heb. pl. Baalim (. Etym: [Heb. ba'al lord.]
1. (Myth.)
Defn: The supreme male divinity of the Phoenician and Canaanitish
nations.
Note: The name of this god occurs in the Old Testament and elsewhere
with qualifying epithets subjoined, answering to the different ideas
of his character; as, Baal-berith (the Covenant Baal), Baal-zebub
(Baal of the fly).
2. pl.
Defn: The whole class of divinities to whom the name Baal was
applied. Judges x. 6.
BAALISM
Ba"al*ism, n.
Defn: Worship of Baal; idolatry.
BAALIST; BAALITE
Ba"al*ist, Ba"al*ite, n.
Defn: A worshiper of Baal; a devotee of any false religion; an
idolater.
BAB
Bab, n. [Per.]
Defn: Lit., gate; -- a title given to the founder of Babism, and
taken from that of Bab-ud-Din, assumed by him.
BABA
Ba"ba, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of plum cake.
BABBITT
Bab"bitt, v. t.
Defn: To line with Babbitt metal.
BABBITT METAL
Bab"bitt met`al. Etym: [From the inventor, Isaac Babbitt of
Massachusetts.]
Defn: A soft white alloy of variable composition (as a nine parts of
tin to one of copper, or of fifty parts of tin to five of antimony
and one of copper) used in bearings to diminish friction.
BABBLE
Bab"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babbled (p. pr. & vb. n. Babbling.]
Etym: [Cf.LG. babbeln, D. babbelen, G. bappeln, bappern, F. babiller,
It. babbolare; prob. orig., to keep saying ba, imitative of a child
learning to talk.]
1. To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter
inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles.
2. To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words.
3. To talk much; to chatter; to prate.
4. To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running
over stones.
In every babbling he finds a friend. Wordsworth.
Note: Hounds are said to babble, or to be babbling, when they are too
noisy after having found a good scent.
Syn.
-- To prate; prattle; chatter; gossip.
BABBLE
Bab"ble, v. i.
1. To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat,as words,
in a childish way without understanding.
These [words] he used to babble in all companies. Arbuthnot.
2. To disclose by too free talk, as a secret.
BABBLE
Bab"ble, n.
1. Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble; twaddle. "This is mere moral
babble." Milton.
2. Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.
The babble of our young children. Darwin.
The babble of the stream. Tennyson.
BABBLEMENT
Bab"ble*ment, n.
Defn: Babble. Hawthorne.
BABBLER
Bab"bler, n.
1. An idle talker; an irrational prater; a teller of secrets.
Great babblers, or talkers, are not fit for trust. L'Estrange.
2. A hound too noisy on finding a good scent.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to any one of family (Timalinæ) of thrushlike
birds, having a chattering note.
BABBLERY
Bab"ble*ry, n.
Defn: Babble. [Obs.] Sir T. More
BABE
Babe, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. bab, baban, W. baban, maban.]
1. An infant; a young child of either sex; a baby.
2. A doll for children. Spenser.
BABEHOOD
Babe"hood, n.
Defn: Babyhood. [R.] Udall.
BABEL
Ba"bel, n. Etym: [Heb. Babel, the name of the capital of Babylonia;
in Genesis associated with the idea of "confusion"]
1. The city and tower in the land of Shinar, where the confusion of
languages took place.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel. Gen. xi. 9.
2. Hence: A place or scene of noise and confusion; a confused mixture
of sounds, as of voices or languages.
That babel of strange heathen languages. Hammond.
The grinding babel of the street. R. L. Stevenson.
BABERY
Bab"er*y, n. Etym: [Perh. orig. for baboonery. Cf. Baboon, and also
Babe.]
Defn: Finery of a kind to please a child. [Obs.] "Painted babery."
Sir P. Sidney.
BABIAN; BABION
Ba"bi*an, Ba"bi*on, n. Etym: [See Baboon]
Defn: A baboon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BABILLARD
Bab"il*lard, n. Etym: [F., a babbler.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lesser whitethroat of Europe; -- called also babbling
warbler.
BABINGTONITE
Bab"ing*ton*ite, n. Etym: [From Dr. Babbington.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in triclinic crystals approaching pyroxene
in angle, and of a greenish black color. It is a silicate of iron,
manganese, and lime.
BABIROUSSA; BABIRUSSA
Bab`i*rous"sa, Bab`i*rus"sa (, n. Etym: [F. babiroussa, fr.Malay babi
hog + r deer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large hoglike quadruped (Sus, or Porcus, babirussa) of the
East Indies, sometimes domesticated; the Indian hog. Its upper canine
teeth or tusks are large and recurved.
BABISH
Bab"ish, a.
Defn: Like a babe; a childish; babyish. [R.] "Babish imbecility."
Drayton.
-- Bab"ish*ly, adv.
-- Bab"ish*ness, n. [R.]
BABISM
Bab"ism, n. Etym: [From Bab (Pers. bab a gate), the title assumed by
the founder, Mirza Ali Mohammed.]
Defn: The doctrine of a modern religious sect, which originated in
Persia in 1843, being a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian, Jewish and
Parsee elements.
BABISM; BABIISM
Bab"ism, Bab"i*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of a modern religious pantheistical sect in
Persia, which was founded, about 1844, by Mirza Ali Mohammed ibn
Rabhik (1820 -- 1850), who assumed the title of Bab-ed-Din (Per.,
Gate of the Faith). Babism is a mixture of Mohammedan, Christian,
Jewish, and Parsi elements. This doctrine forbids concubinage and
polygamy, and frees women from many of the degradations imposed upon
them among the orthodox Mohammedans. Mendicancy, the use of
intoxicating liquors and drugs, and slave dealing, are forbidden;
asceticism is discountenanced. --Bab"ist, n.
BABIST
Bab"ist, n.
Defn: A believer in Babism.
BABLAH
Bab"lah, n. Etym: [Cf. Per. bab a species of mimosa yielding gum
arabic.]
Defn: The ring of the fruit of several East Indian species of acacia;
neb-neb. It contains gallic acid and tannin, and is used for dyeing
drab.
BABOO; BABU
Ba"boo, Ba"bu, n. Etym: [Hind. bab ]
Defn: A Hindoo gentleman; native clerk who writes English; also, a
Hindoo title answering to Mr. or Esquire. Whitworth.
BABOON
Bab*oon", n. Etym: [OE. babewin, baboin, fr.F. babouin, or LL.
babewynus. Of unknown origin; cf. D. baviaan, G. pavian, baboon, F.
babin lip of ape, dogs, etc., dial. G. bäppe mouth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Old World Quadrumana, of the genera Cynocephalus and
Papio; the dog-faced ape. Baboons have dog-like muzzles and large
canine teeth, cheek pouches, a short tail, and naked callosities on
the buttocks. They are mostly African. See Mandrill, and Chacma, and
Drill an ape.
BABOONERY
Bab*oon"ery, n.
Defn: Baboonish behavior. Marryat.
BABOONISH
Bab*oon"ish, a.
Defn: Like a baboon.
BABUL; BABOOL
Ba*bul", Ba*bool", n. [See Bablah.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any one of several species of Acacia, esp. A. Arabica, which
yelds a gum used as a substitute for true gum arabic.
In place of Putney's golden gorse
The sickly babul blooms.
Kipling.
BABY
Ba"by, n.; pl. Babies. Etym: [Dim. of babe]
Defn: An infant or young child of either sex; a babe.
2. A small image of an infant; a doll. Babies in the eyes, the minute
reflection which one sees of one's self in the eyes of another.
She clung about his neck, gave him ten kisses, Toyed with his locks,
looked babies in his eyes. Heywood.
BABY
Ba"by, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an infant; young or little; as,
baby swans. "Baby figure" Shak.
BABY
Ba"by, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Babied (p. pr. & vb. n.Babying.]
Defn: To treat like a young child; to keep dependent; to humor; to
fondle. Young.
BABY FARM
Ba"by farm`.
Defn: A place where the nourishment and care of babies are offered
for hire.
BABY FARMER
Ba"by farm`er.
Defn: One who keeps a baby farm.
BABY FARMING
Ba"by farm`ing.
Defn: The business of keeping a baby farm.
BABYHOOD
Ba"by*hood, n.
Defn: The state or period of infancy.
BABYHOUSE
Ba"by*house`, a.
Defn: A place for children's dolls and dolls' furniture. Swift.
BABYISH
Ba"by*ish, a.
Defn: Like a baby; childish; puerile; simple.
-- Ba"by*ish*ly, adv.
-- Ba"by*ish*ness, n.
BABYISM
Ba"by*ism, n.
1. The state of being a baby.
2. A babyish manner of acting or speaking.
BABY JUMPER
Ba"by jump`er.
Defn: A hoop suspended by an elastic strap, in which a young child
may be held secure while amusing itself by jumping on the floor.
BABYLONIAN
Bab`y*lo"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the real or to the mystical Babylon, or to
the ancient kingdom of Babylonia; Chaldean.
BABYLONIAN
Bab`y*lo"ni*an, n.
1. An inhabitant of Babylonia (which included Chaldea); a Chaldean.
2. An astrologer; -- so called because the Chaldeans were remarkable
for the study of astrology.
BABYLONIC; BABYLONICAL
Bab`y*lon"ic, Bab`y*lon"ic*al, a.
1. Pertaining to Babylon, or made there; as Babylonic
garments,carpets, or hangings.
2. Tumultuous; disorderly. [Obs.] Sir J. Harrington.
BABYLONISH
Bab"y*lo`nish, n.
1. Of or pertaining to, or made in, Babylon or Babylonia. "A
Babylonish garment." Josh. vii. 21.
2. Pertaining to the Babylon of Revelation xiv.8.
3. Pertaining to Rome and papal power. [Obs.]
The . . . injurious nickname of Babylonish. Gape.
4. Confused; Babel-like.
BABYROUSSA; BABYRUSSA
Bab`y*rous"sa, Bab`y*rus"sa, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Babyroussa.
BABYSHIP
Ba"by*ship, n.
Defn: The quality of being a baby; the personality of an infant.
BAC
Bac, n. Etym: [F. See Back a vat]
1. A broad, flatbottomed ferryboat, usually worked by a rope.
2. A vat or cistern. See 1st Back.
BACCALAUREATE
Bac"ca*lau"re*ate, n. Etym: [NL. baccalaureatus, fr.LL. baccalaureus
a bachelor of arts, fr. baccalarius, but as if fr L. bacca lauri
bayberry, from the practice of the bachelor's wearing a garland of
bayberries. See Bachelor.]
1. The degree of bachelor of arts. (B.A. or A.B.), the first or
lowest academical degree conferred by universities and colleges.
2. A baccalaureate sermon. [U.S.]
BACCALAUREATE
Bac`ca*lau"re*ate, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a bachelor of arts. Baccalaureate sermon, in some
American colleges, a sermon delivered as a farewell discourse to a
graduating class.
BACCARA; BACCARAT
Bac`ca*ra", Bac`ca*rat", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A French game of cards, played by a banker and punters.
BACCARE; BACKARE
Bac*ca"re, Bac*ka"re, interj.
Defn: Stand back! give place! -- a cant word of the Elizabethan
writers, probably in ridicule of some person who pretended to a
knowledge of Latin which he did not possess.
Baccare! you are marvelous forward. Shak.
BACCATE
Bac"cate, a. Etym: [L. baccatus, fr. L. bacca berry.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pulpy throughout, like a berry; -- said of fruits. Gray.
BACCATED
Bac"ca*ted, a.
1. Having many berries.
2. Set or adorned with pearls. [Obs.]
BACCHANAL
Bac"cha*nal, a. Etym: [L. Bacchanalis. See Bacchanalia.]
1. Relating to Bacchus or his festival.
2. Engaged in drunken revels; drunken and riotous or noisy.
BACCHANAL
Bac"cha*nal, n.
1. A devotee of Bacchus; one who indulges in drunken revels; one who
is noisy and riotous when intoxicated; a carouser. "Tipsy
bacchanals." Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: The festival of Bacchus; the bacchanalia.
3. Drunken revelry; an orgy.
4. A song or dance in honor of Bacchus.
BACCHANALIA
Bac`cha*na"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. Bacchanal a place devoted to
Bacchus; in the pl. Bacchanalia a feast of Bacchus, fr. Bacchus the
god of wine, Gr.
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A feast or an orgy in honor of Bacchus.
2. Hence: A drunken feast; drunken reveler.
BACCHANALIAN
Bac`cha*na"li*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the festival of Bacchus; relating to or
given to reveling and drunkenness.
Even bacchanalian madness has its charms. Cowper.
BACCHANALIAN
Bac`cha*na"li*an, n.
Defn: A bacchanal; a drunken reveler.
BACCHANALIANISM
Bac`cha*na"li*an*ism, n.
Defn: The practice of bacchanalians; bacchanals; drunken revelry.
BACCHANT
Bac"chant, n.; pl. E. Bacchants, L. Bacchantes. Etym: [L. bacchans, -
antis, p. pr. of bacchari to celebrate the festival of Bacchus.]
1. A priest of Bacchus.
2. A bacchanal; a reveler. Croly.
BACCHANT
Bac"chant, a.
Defn: Bacchanalian; fond of drunken revelry; wine-loving; reveling;
carousing. Byron.
BACCHANTE
Bac"chante, n.; L. pl. Bacchantes.
1. A priestess of Bacchus.
2. A female bacchanal.
BACCHANTIC
Bac*chan"tic, a.
Defn: Bacchanalian.
BACCHIC; BACCHICAL
Bac"chic, Bac"chic*al, a. Etym: [L. Bacchicus, Gr.
Defn: Of or relating to Bacchus; hence, jovial, or riotous,with
intoxication.
BACCHIUS
Bac*chi"us, n.; pl. Bacchii. Etym: [L. Bacchius pes, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A metrical foot composed of a short syllable and two long ones;
according to some, two long and a short.
BACCHUS
Bac"chus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Myth.)
Defn: The god of wine, son of Jupiter and Semele.
BACCIFEROUS
Bac*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. baccifer; bacca berry + ferre to bear]
Defn: Producing berries. " Bacciferous trees." Ray.
BACCIFORM
Bac"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. bacca berry + -form. ]
Defn: Having the form of a berry.
BACCIVOROUS
Bac*civ"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. bacca berry + varare to devour.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Eating, or subsisting on, berries; as, baccivorous birds.
BACE
Bace, n., a., & v.
Defn: See Base. [Obs.] Spenser.
BACHARACH; BACKARACK
Bach"a*rach, Back"a*rack, n.
Defn: A kind of wine made at Bacharach on the Rhine.
BACHELOR
Bach"e*lor, n. Etym: [OF. bacheler young man, F. bachelier (cf.Pr.
bacalar, Sp.bachiller, Pg. bacharel, It. baccalare), LL. baccalarius
the tenant of a kind of farm called baccalaria, a soldier not old or
rich enough to lead his retainers into battle with a banner, person
of an inferior academical degree aspiring to a doctorate. In the
latter sense, it was afterward changed to baccalaureus. See
Baccalaureate, n.]
1. A man of any age who has not been married.
As merry and mellow an old bachelor as ever followed a hound. W.
Irving.
2. An unmarried woman. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. A person who has taken the first or lowest degree in the liberal
arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university; as, a
bachelor of arts.
4. A knight who had no standard of his own, but fought under the
standard of another in the field; often, a young knight.
5. In the companies of London tradesmen, one not yet admitted to wear
the livery; a junior member. [Obs.]
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of bass, an edible fresh-water fish (Pomoxys annularis)
of the southern United States.
BACHELORDOM
Bach"e*lor*dom, n.
Defn: The state of bachelorhood; the whole body of bachelors.
BACHELORHOOD
Bach"e*lor*hood, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being a bachelor; bachelorship.
BACHELORISM
Bach"e*lor*ism, n.
Defn: Bachelorhood; also, a manner or peculiarity belonging to
bachelors. W. Irving.
BACHELOR'S BUTTON
Bach"e*lor's but"ton
Defn: , (Bot.) A plant with flowers shaped like buttons; especially,
several species of Ranunculus, and the cornflower (Centaures cyanus)
and globe amaranth (Gomphrena).
Note: Bachelor's buttons, a name given to several flowers "from their
similitude to the jagged cloathe buttons, anciently worne in this
kingdom", according to Johnson's Gerarde, p.472 (1633); but by other
writers ascribed to "a habit of country fellows to carry them in
their pockets to divine their success with their sweethearts." Dr.
Prior.
BACHELORSHIP
Bach"e*lor*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a bachelor.
BACHELRY
Bach"el*ry, n. Etym: [OF. bachelerie.]
Defn: The body of young aspirants for knighthood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BACILLAR
Ba*cil"lar, a. Etym: [L. bacillum little staff.] (Biol.)
Defn: Shaped like a rod or staff.
BACILLARIAE
Bac"il*la`ri*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.L. bacillum, dim. of baculum
stick.] (Biol.)
Defn: See Diatom.
BACILLARY
Bac"il*la*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to little rods; rod-shaped.
BACILLIFORM
Ba*cil"li*form, a. Etym: [L. bacillum little staff + -form.]
Defn: Rod-shaped.
BACILLUS
Ba*cil"lus, n.; pl. Bacilli (. Etym: [NL., for L. bacillum. See
Bacillarle.] (Biol.)
Defn: A variety of bacterium; a microscopic, rod-shaped vegetable
organism.
BACK
Back, n. Etym: [F. bac: cf. Arm. bak tray, bowl.]
1. A large shallow vat; a cistern, tub, or trough, used by brewers,
distillers, dyers, picklers, gluemakers, and others, for mixing or
cooling wort, holding water, hot glue, etc. Hop back, Jack back, the
cistern which receives the infusion of malt and hops from the copper.
-- Wash back, a vat in which distillers ferment the wort to form
wash.
-- Water back, a cistern to hold a supply of water; esp. a small
cistern at the back of a stove, or a group of pipes set in the fire
box of a stove or furnace, through which water circulates and is
heated.
2. A ferryboat. See Bac, 1
BACK
Back, n. Etym: [As bæc, bac; akin to Icel., Sw., & LG. bak, Dan. bag;
cf. OHG. bahho ham, Skr. bhaj to turn, OSlav. b flight. Cf. Bacon.]
1. In human beings, the hinder part of the body, extending from the
neck to the end of the spine; in other animals, that part of the body
which corresponds most nearly to such part of a human being; as, the
back of a horse, fish, or lobster.
2. An extended upper part, as of a mountain or ridge.
[The mountains] their broad bare backs upheave Into the clouds.
Milton.
3. The outward or upper part of a thing, as opposed to the inner or
lower part; as, the back of the hand, the back of the foot, the back
of a hand rail.
Methought Love pitying me, when he saw this, Gave me your hands, the
backs and palms to kiss. Donne.
4. The part opposed to the front; the hinder or rear part of a thing;
as, the back of a book; the back of an army; the back of a chimney.
5. The part opposite to, or most remote from, that which fronts the
speaker or actor; or the part out of sight, or not generally seen;
as, the back of an island, of a hill, or of a village.
6. The part of a cutting tool on the opposite side from its edge; as,
the back of a knife, or of a saw.
7. A support or resource in reserve.
This project Should have a back or second, that might hold, If this
should blast in proof. Shak.
8. (Naut.)
Defn: The keel and keelson of a ship.
9. (Mining)
Defn: The upper part of a lode, or the roof of a horizontal
underground passage.
10. A garment for the back; hence, clothing.
A bak to walken inne by daylight. Chaucer.
Behind one's back, when one is absent; without one's knowledge; as,
to ridicule a person behind his back.
-- Full back, Half back, Quarter back (Football), players stationed
behind those in the front line.
-- To be or lie on one's back, to be helpless.
-- To put, or get, one's back up, to assume an attitude of obstinate
resistance (from the action of a cat when attacked.). [Colloq.] -- To
see the back of, to get rid of.
-- To turn the back, to go away; to flee.
-- To turn the back on one, to forsake or neglect him.
BACK
Back, a.
1. Being at the back or in the rear; distant; remote; as, the back
door; back settlements.
2. Being in arrear; overdue; as, back rent.
3. Moving or operating backward; as, back action. Back charges,
charges brought forward after an account has been made up.
-- Back filling (Arch.), the mass of materials used in filling up
the space between two walls, or between the inner and outer faces of
a wall, or upon the haunches of an arch or vault.
-- Back pressure. (Steam Engine) See under Pressure.
-- Back rest, a guide attached to the slide rest of a lathe, and
placed in contact with the work, to steady it in turning.
-- Back slang, a kind of slang in which every word is written or
pronounced backwards; as, nam for man.
-- Back stairs, stairs in the back part of a house; private stairs.
Also used adjectively. See Back stairs, Backstairs, and Backstair, in
the Vocabulary.
-- Back step (Mil.), the retrograde movement of a man or body of
men, without changing front.
-- Back stream, a current running against the main current of a
stream; an eddy.
-- To take the back track, to retrace one's steps; to retreat.
[Colloq.]
BACK
Back, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Backed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Backing.]
1. To get upon the back of; to mount.
I will back him [a horse] straight. Shak.
2. To place or seat upon the back. [R.]
Great Jupiter, upon his eagle backed, Appeared to me. Shak.
3. To drive or force backward; to cause to retreat or recede; as, to
back oxen.
4. To make a back for; to furnish with a back; as, to back books.
5. To adjoin behind; to be at the back of.
A garden . . . with a vineyard backed. Shak.
The chalk cliffs which back the beach. Huxley.
6. To write upon the back of; as, to back a letter; to indorse; as,
to back a note or legal document.
7. To support; to maintain; to second or strengthen by aid or
influence; as, to back a friend. "Parliament would be backed by the
people." Macaulay.
Have still found it necessary to back and fortify their laws with
rewards and punishments. South.
The mate backed the captain manfully. Blackw. Mag.
8. To bet on the success of; -- as, to back a race horse. To back an
anchor (Naut.), to lay down a small anchor ahead of a large one, the
cable of the small one being fastened to the crown of the large one.
-- To back the field, in horse racing, to bet against a particular
horse or horses, that some one of all the other horses, collectively
designated "the field", will win.
-- To back the oars, to row backward with the oars.
-- To back a rope, to put on a preventer.
-- To back the sails, to arrange them so as to cause the ship to
move astern.
-- To back up, to support; to sustain; as, to back up one's friends.
-- To back a warrant (Law), is for a justice of the peace, in the
county where the warrant is to be executed, to sign or indorse a
warrant, issued in another county, to apprehend an offender.
-- To back water (Naut.), to reverse the action of the oars,
paddles, or propeller, so as to force the boat or ship backward.
BACK
Back, v. i.
1. To move or go backward; as, the horse refuses to back.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To change from one quarter to another by a course opposite to
that of the sun; -- used of the wind.
3. (Sporting)
Defn: To stand still behind another dog which has poined; -- said of
a dog. [Eng.] To back and fill, to manage the sails of a ship so that
the wind strikes them alternately in front and behind, in order to
keep the ship in the middle of a river or channel while the current
or tide carries the vessel against the wind. Hence: (Fig.) To take
opposite positions alternately; to assert and deny. [Colloq.] -- To
back out, To back down, to retreat or withdraw from a promise,
engagement, or contest; to recede. [Colloq.]
Cleon at first . . . was willing to go; but, finding that he [Nicias]
was in earnest, he tried to back out. Jowett (Thucyd. )
BACK
Back, adv. Etym: [Shortened from aback.]
1. In, to, or toward, the rear; as, to stand back; to step back.
2. To the place from which one came; to the place or person from
which something is taken or derived; as, to go back for something
left behind; to go back to one's native place; to put a book back
after reading it.
3. To a former state, condition, or station; as, to go back to
private life; to go back to barbarism.
4. ( Of time) In times past; ago. "Sixty or seventy years back."
Gladstone.
5. Away from contact; by reverse movement.
The angel of the Lord . . . came, and rolled back the stone from the
door. Matt. xxvii. 2.
6. In concealment or reserve; in one's own possession; as, to keep
back the truth; to keep back part of the money due to another.
7. In a state of restraint or hindrance.
The Lord hath kept thee back from honor. Numb. xxiv. 11.
8. In return, repayment, or requital.
What have I to give you back! Shak.
9. In withdrawal from a statement, promise, or undertaking; as, he
took back0 the offensive words.
10. In arrear; as, to be back in one's rent. [Colloq.] Back and
forth, backwards and forwards; to and fro.
-- To go back on, to turn back from; to abandon; to betray; as, to
go back on a friend; to go back on one's professions. [Colloq.]
BACKARACK
Back"a*rack, n.
Defn: See Bacharach.
BACKARE
Bac*ka"re, interj.
Defn: Same as Baccare.
BACKBAND
Back"band`, n. Etym: [2nd back ,n.+ band.] (Saddlery)
Defn: The band which passes over the back of a horse and holds up the
shafts of a carriage.
BACKBITE
Back"bite`, v. i. Etym: [2nd back, n., + bite]
Defn: To wound by clandestine detraction; to censure meanly or
spitefully (as absent person); to slander or speak evil of (one
absent). Spenser.
BACKBITE
Back"bite`, v. i.
Defn: To censure or revile the absent.
They are arrant knaves, and will backbite. Shak.
BACKBITER
Back"bit`er, n.
Defn: One who backbites; a secret calumniator or detractor.
BACKBITING
Back"bit`ing, n.
Defn: Secret slander; detraction.
Backbiting, and bearing of false witness. Piers Plowman.
BACKBOARD
Back"board`, n. Etym: [2nd back, n. + board.]
1. A board which supports the back wen one is sitting;
Note: specifically, the board athwart the after part of a boat.
2. A board serving as the back part of anything, as of a wagon.
3. A thin stuff used for the backs of framed pictures, mirrors, etc.
4. A board attached to the rim of a water wheel to prevent the water
from running off the floats or paddies into the interior of the
wheel. W. Nicholson.
5. A board worn across the back to give erectness to the figure.
Thackeray.
BACKBOND
Back"bond`, n. Etym: [Back, adv. + bond.] (Scots Law)
Defn: An instrument which, in conjunction with another making an
absolute disposition, constitutes a trust.
BACKBONE
Back"bone", n. Etym: [2d back,n.+ bone. ]
1. The column of bones in the back which sustains and gives firmness
to the frame; the spine; the vertebral or spinal column.
2. Anything like , or serving the purpose of, a backbone.
The lofty mountains on the north side compose the granitic axis, or
backbone of the country. Darwin.
We have now come to the backbone of our subject. Earle.
3. Firmness; moral principle; steadfastness.
Shelley's thought never had any backbone. Shairp.
To the backbone, through and through; thoroughly; entirely. "Staunch
to the backbone." Lord Lytton.
BACKBONED
Back"boned", a.
Defn: Vertebrate.
BACKCAST
Back"cast`, n. Etym: [Back, adv.+ cast.]
Defn: Anything which brings misfortune upon one, or causes failure in
an effort or enterprise; a reverse. [Scot.]
BACK DOOR
Back" door".
Defn: A door in the back part of a building; hence, an indirect way.
Atterbury.
BACKDOOR
Back"door", a.
Defn: Acting from behind and in concealment; as backdoor intrigues.
BACKDOWN
Back"down`, n.
Defn: A receding or giving up; a complete surrender. [Colloq.]
BACKED
Backed, a.
Defn: Having a back; fitted with a back; as, a backed electrotype or
stereotype plate. Used in composition; as, broad- backed; hump-
backed.
BACKER
Back"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, backs; especially one who backs a
person or thing in a contest.
BACKFALL
Back"fall`, n. Etym: [2nd back ,n. + fall]
Defn: A fall or throw on the back in wrestling.
BACK FIRE
Back fire.
(a) A fire started ahead of a forest or prairie fire to burn only
against the wind, so that when the two fires meet both must go out
for lack of fuel.
(b) A premature explosion in the cylinder of a gas or oil engine
during the exhaust or the compression stroke, tending to drive the
piston in a direction reverse to that in which it should travel;
also, an explosion in the exhaust passages of such ah engine.
BACK-FIRE
Back"-fire`, v. i.
1. (Engin.)
Defn: To have or experience a back fire or back fires; -- said of an
internal-combustion engine.
2. Of a Bunsen or similar air-fed burner, to light so that the flame
proceeds from the internal gas jet instead of from the external jet
of mixed gas and air. -- Back"-fir`ing, n.
BACKFRIEND
Back"friend`, n. Etym: [Back,n.or adv. + friend]
Defn: A secret enemy. [Obs.] South.
BACKGAMMON
Back"gam`mon, n. Etym: [Origin unknown; perhaps fr.Dan. bakke tray +
E. game; or very likely the first part is from E.back, adv., and the
game is so called because the men are often set back.]
Defn: A game of chance and skill, played by two persons on a "board"
marked off into twenty-four spaces called "points". Each player has
fifteen pieces, or "men", the movements of which from point to point
are determined by throwing dice. Formerly called tables. Backgammon
board , a board for playing backgammon, often made in the form of two
rectangular trays hinged together, each tray containing two "tables".
BACKGAMMON
Back"gam`mon, v. i.
Defn: In the game of backgammon, to beat by ending the game before
the loser is clear of his first "table".
BACKGROUND
Back"ground`, n. Etym: [Back, a. + ground.]
1. Ground in the rear or behind, or in the distance, as opposed to
the foreground, or the ground in front.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: The space which is behind and subordinate to a portrait or
group of figures.
Note: The distance in a picture is usually divided into foreground,
middle distance, and background. Fairholt.
3. Anything behind, serving as a foil; as, the statue had a
background of red hangings.
4. A place in obscurity or retirement, or out of sight.
I fancy there was a background of grinding and waiting before Miss
Torry could produce this highly finished . . . performance. Mrs.
Alexander.
A husband somewhere in the background. Thackeray.
BACKHAND
Back"hand`, n. Etym: [Back, adv. + hand.]
Defn: A kind of handwriting in which the downward slope of the
letters is from left to right.
BACKHAND
Back"hand`, a.
1. Sloping from left to right; -- said of handwriting.
2. Backhanded; indirect; oblique. [R.]
BACKHANDED
Back"hand`ed, a.
1. With the hand turned backward; as, a backhanded blow.
2. Indirect; awkward; insincere; sarcastic; as, a backhanded
compliment.
3. Turned back, or inclining to the left; as, a backhanded letters.
BACKHANDEDNESS
Back"hand`ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being backhanded; the using of backhanded or indirect
methods.
BACKHANDER
Back"hand`er, n.
Defn: A backhanded blow.
BACKHEEL
Back"heel`, n. (Wrestling)
Defn: A method of tripping by getting the leg back of the opponent's
heel on the outside and pulling forward while pushing his body back;
a throw made in this way. -- v. t.
Defn: To trip (a person) in this way.
BACKHOUSE
Back"house`, n. Etym: [Back, a. + house.]
Defn: A building behind the main building. Specifically: A privy; a
necessary.
BACKING
Back"ing, n.
1. The act of moving backward, or of putting or moving anything
backward.
2. That which is behind, and forms the back of, anything, usually
giving strength or stability.
3. Support or aid given to a person or cause.
4. (Bookbinding)
Defn: The preparation of the back of a book with glue, etc., before
putting on the cover.
BACKJOINT
Back"joint`, n. Etym: [Back , a. or adv. + joint.] (Arch.)
Defn: A rebate or chase in masonry left to receive a permanent slab
or other filling.
BACKLASH
Back"lash`, n. Etym: [Back , adv. + lash.] (Mech.)
Defn: The distance through which one part of connected machinery, as
a wheel, piston, or screw, can be moved without moving the connected
parts, resulting from looseness in fitting or from wear; also, the
jarring or reflex motion caused in badly fitting machinery by
irregularities in velocity or a reverse of motion.
BACKLESS
Back"less, a.
Defn: Without a back.
BACKLOG
Back"log`, n. Etym: [Back, a. + log.]
Defn: A large stick of wood, forming the of a fire on the hearth.
[U.S.]
There was first a backlog, from fifteen to four and twenty inches in
diameter and five feet long, imbedded in the ashes. S. G. Goodrich.
BACKPIECE; BACKPLATE
Back"piece`, Back"plate`, n. Etym: [Back,n.or a. + piece, plate. ]
Defn: A piece, or plate which forms the back of anything, or which
covers the back; armor for the back.
BACKRACK; BACKRAG
Back"rack, Back"rag, n.
Defn: See Bacharach.
BACKS
Backs, n. pl.
Defn: Among leather dealers, the thickest and stoutest tanned hides.
BACKSAW
Back"saw`, n. Etym: [2d back,n.+ saw.]
Defn: A saw (as a tenon saw) whose blade is stiffened by an added
metallic back.
BACKSET
Back"set`, n. Etym: [Back, adv. + set.]
1. A check; a relapse; a discouragement; a setback.
2. Whatever is thrown back in its course, as water.
Slackwater, or the backset caused by the overflow. Harper's Mag.
BACKSET
Back"set`, v. i.
Defn: To plow again, in the fall; -- said of prairie land broken up
in the spring. [Western U.S.]
BACKSETTLER
Back"set"tler, n. Etym: [Back, a. + settler.]
Defn: One living in the back or outlying districts of a community.
The English backsettlers of Leinster and Munster. Macaulay.
BACKSHEESH; BACKSHISH
Back"sheesh`, Back"shish`, n. Etym: [Pers. bakhshish, fr. bakhshidan
to give.]
Defn: In Egypt and the Turkish empire, a gratuity; a "tip".
BACKSIDE
Back"side`, n. Etym: [Back, a. + side. ]
Defn: The hinder part, posteriors, or rump of a person or animal.
Note: Backside (one word) was formerly used of the rear part or side
of any thing or place, but in such senses is now two words.
BACKSIGHT
Back"sight`, n. Etym: [Back, adv. + sight. ] (Surv.)
Defn: The reading of the leveling staff in its unchanged position
when the leveling instrument has been taken to a new position; a
sight directed backwards to a station previously occupied. Cf.
Foresight, n., 3.
BACKSLIDE
Back`slide", v. i. [imp. Backslid; p.p. Backslidden, Backslid; p. pr.
& vb. n. Backsliding. ] Etym: [Back , adv.+ slide.]
Defn: To slide back; to fall away; esp. to abandon gradually the
faith and practice of a religion that has been professed.
BACKSLIDER
Back"slid"er, n.
Defn: One who backslides.
BACKSLIDING
Back"slid"ing, a.
Defn: Slipping back; falling back into sin or error; sinning.
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord. Jer. iii. 14.
BACKSLIDING
Back"slid"ing, n.
Defn: The act of one who backslides; abandonment of faith or duty.
Our backslidings are many. Jer. xiv. 7.
BACKSTAFF
Back"staff`, n.
Defn: An instrument formerly used for taking the altitude of the
heavenly bodies, but now superseded by the quadrant and sextant; --
so called because the observer turned his back to the body observed.
BACK STAIRS
Back" stairs`.
Defn: Stairs in the back part of a house, as distinguished from the
front stairs; hence, a private or indirect way.
BACKSTAIRS; BACKSTAIR
Back"stairs`, Back"stair`, a.
Defn: Private; indirect; secret; intriguing; as if finding access by
the back stairs.
A backstairs influence. Burke.
Female caprice and backstairs influence. Trevelyan.
BACKSTAY
Back"stay`, n. Etym: [Back, a. orn.+ stay.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope or stay extending from the masthead to the side of a
ship, slanting a little aft, to assist the shrouds in supporting the
mast. [ Often used in the plural.]
2. A rope or strap used to prevent excessive forward motion.
BACKSTER
Back"ster, n. Etym: [See Baxter.]
Defn: A backer. [Obs.]
BACKSTITCH
Back"stitch`, n. Etym: [Back, adv. + stitch.]
Defn: A stitch made by setting the needle back of the end of the last
stitch, and bringing it out in front of the end.
BACKSTITCH
Back"stitch`, v. i.
Defn: To sew with backstitches; as, to backstitch a seam.
BACKSTOP
Back"stop`, n.
1. In baseball, a fence, prop. at least 90 feet behind the home base,
to stop the balls that pass the catcher; also, the catcher himself.
2. In rounders, the player who stands immediately behind the
striking base.
3. In cricket, the longstop; also, the wicket keeper.
BACKSTRESS
Back"stress, n.
Defn: A female baker. [Obs.]
BACKSWORD
Back"sword`, n. Etym: [2d back,n.+ sword.]
1. A sword with one sharp edge.
2. In England, a stick with a basket handle, used in rustic
amusements; also, the game in which the stick is used. Also called
singlestick. Halliwell.
BACKWARD; BACKWARDS
Back"ward, Back"wards, adv. Etym: [Back, adv. + -ward.]
1. With the back in advance or foremost; as, to ride backward.
2. Toward the back; toward the rear; as, to throw the arms backward.
3. On the back, or with the back downward.
Thou wilt fall backward. Shak.
4. Toward, or in, past time or events; ago.
Some reigns backward. Locke.
5. By way of reflection; reflexively. Sir J. Davies.
6. From a better to a worse state, as from honor to shame, from
religion to sin.
The work went backward. Dryden.
7. In a contrary or reverse manner, way, or direction; contrarily;
as, to read backwards.
We might have . . . beat them backward home. Shak.
BACKWARD
Back"ward, a.
1. Directed to the back or rear; as, backward glances.
2. Unwilling; averse; reluctant; hesitating; loath.
For wiser brutes were backward to be slaves. Pope.
3. Not well advanced in learning; not quick of apprehension; dull;
inapt; as, a backward child. "The backward learner." South.
4. Late or behindhand; as, a backward season.
5. Not advanced in civilization; undeveloped; as, the country or
region is in a backward state.
6. Already past or gone; bygone. [R.]
And flies unconscious o'er each backward year. Byron.
BACKWARD
Back"ward, n.
Defn: The state behind or past. [Obs.]
In the dark backward and abysm of time. Shak.
BACKWARD
Back"ward, v. i.
Defn: To keep back; to hinder. [Obs.]
BACKWARDATION
Back`war*da"tion, n. Etym: [Backward, v.i.+ -ation.] (Stock Exchange)
Defn: The seller's postponement of delivery of stock or shares, with
the consent of the buyer, upon payment of a premium to the latter; --
also, the premium so paid. See Contango. Biddle.
BACKWARDLY
Back"ward*ly, adv.
1. Reluctantly; slowly; aversely. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. Perversely; ill.[Obs.]
And does he think so backwardly of me Shak.
BACKWARDNESS
Back"ward*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being backward.
BACKWASH
Back"wash`, v. i.
Defn: To clean the oil from (wood) after combing.
BACKWATER
Back"wa`ter, n. Etym: [Back, a. or adv. + -ward. ]
1. Water turned back in its course by an obstruction, an opposing
current , or the flow of the tide, as in a sewer or river channel, or
across a river bar.
2. An accumulation of water overflowing the low lands, caused by an
obstruction.
3. Water thrown back by the turning of a waterwheel, or by the paddle
wheels of a steamer.
BACKWOODS
Back"woods", n. pl. Etym: [Back, a. + woods.]
Defn: The forests or partly cleared grounds on the frontiers.
BACKWOODSMAN
Back"woods"man, n.; pl. Backwoodsmen (.
Defn: A men living in the forest in or beyond the new settlements,
especially on the western frontiers of the older portions of the
United States. Fisher Ames.
BACKWORM
Back"worm`, n. Etym: [2d back,n.+ worm. ]
Defn: A disease of hawks. See Filanders. Wright.
BACON
Ba"con, n. Etym: [OF. bacon, fr. OHG. bacho, bahho, flitch of bacon,
ham; akin to E. back. Cf. Back the back side.]
Defn: The back and sides of a pig salted and smoked; formerly, the
flesh of a pig salted or fresh. Bacon beetle (Zoöl.), a beetle
(Dermestes lardarius) which, especially in the larval state, feeds
upon bacon, woolens, furs, etc. See Dermestes.
-- To save one's bacon, to save one's self or property from harm or
less. [Colloq.]
BACONIAN
Ba*co"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Lord Bacon, or to his system of philosophy.
Baconian method, the inductive method. See Induction.
BACTERIA
Bac*te"ri*a, n.p.
Defn: See Bacterium.
BACTERIAL
Bac*te"ri*al, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to bacteria.
BACTERICIDAL
Bac*te"ri*ci`dal, a.
Defn: Destructive of bacteria.
BACTERICIDE
Bac*te"ri*cide, n. Etym: [Bacterium + L. caedere to kill] (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Germicide.
BACTERIN
Bac"te*rin, n. (Med.)
Defn: A bacterial vaccine.
BACTERIOLOGICAL
Bac*te"ri*o*log`ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bacteriology; as, bacteriological studies.
BACTERIOLOGIST
Bac*te"ri*ol`o*gist, n.
Defn: One skilled in bacteriology.
BACTERIOLOGY
Bac*te"ri*ol`o*gy, n. Etym: [Bacterium + -logy. ] (Biol.)
Defn: The science relating to bacteria.
BACTERIOLYSIS
Bac*te`ri*ol"y*sis, n. [NL.; fr. Gr. , , a staff + a loosing.]
1. Chemical decomposition brought about by bacteria without the
addition of oxygen.
2. The destruction or dissolution of bacterial cells. --
Bac*te`ri*o*lyt"ic (#), a.
BACTERIOSCOPIC
Bac*te`ri*o*scop"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to bacterioscopy; as, a bacterioscopic examination.
BACTERIOSCOPIST
Bac*te`ri*os"co*pist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One skilled in bacterioscopic examinations.
BACTERIOSCOPY
Bac*te`ri*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Bacterium + -scopy ] (Biol.)
Defn: The application of a knowledge of bacteria for their detection
and identification, as in the examination of polluted water.
BACTERIUM
Bac*te"ri*um, n.; pl. Bacteria. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr., , a staff: cf.
F. bactérie. ] (Biol.)
Defn: A microscopic vegetable organism, belonging to the class Algæ,
usually in the form of a jointed rodlike filament, and found in
putrefying organic infusions. Bacteria are destitute of chlorophyll,
and are the smallest of microscopic organisms. They are very widely
diffused in nature, and multiply with marvelous rapidity, both by
fission and by spores. Certain species are active agents in
fermentation, while others appear to be the cause of certain
infectious diseases. See Bacillus.
BACTEROID; BACTEROIDAL
Bac"te*roid, Bac`te*roid"al, a. Etym: [Bacterium + -oid.] (Biol.)
Defn: Resembling bacteria; as, bacteroid particles.
BACTRIAN
Bac"tri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bactria in Asia.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Bactria. Bactrian camel, the two-humped camel.
BACULE
Bac"ule, n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: See Bascule.
BACULINE
Bac"u*line, a. Etym: [L. baculum staff.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the rod or punishment with the rod.
BACULITE
Bac"u*lite, n. Etym: [L. baculune stick, staff; cf. F. baculite.]
(Paleon.)
Defn: A cephalopod of the extinct genus Baculites, found fossil in
the Cretaceous rocks. It is like an uncoiled ammonite.
BACULOMETRY
Bac`u*lom"e*try, n. Etym: [L. baculum staff + -metry]
Defn: Measurement of distance or altitude by a staff or staffs.
BAD
Bad, imp.
Defn: of Bid. Bade. [Obs.] Dryden.
BAD
Bad, a. [Compar. Worse; superl. Worst. ] Etym: [Probably fr. AS.
bæddel hermaphrodite; cf. bædling effeminate fellow.]
Defn: Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious,
hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective,
either physically or morally; evil; vicious; wicked; -- the opposite
of good; as a bad man; bad conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad health;
bad crop; bad news.
Note: Sometimes used substantively.
The strong antipathy of good to bad. Pope.
Syn.
-- Pernicious; deleterious; noxious; baneful; injurious; hurtful;
evil; vile; wretched; corrupt; wicked; vicious; imperfect.
BADAUD
Ba`daud", n. [F.]
Defn: A person given to idle observation of everything, with wonder
or astonishment; a credulous or gossipy idler.
A host of stories . . . dealing chiefly with the subject of his great
wealth, an ever delightful topic to the badauds of Paris.
Pall Mall Mag.
BADDER
Bad"der,
Defn: compar. of Bad, a. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BADDERLOCKS
Bad"der*locks, n. Etym: [Perh. for Balderlocks, fr. Balder the
Scandinavian deity.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large black seaweed (Alaria esculenta) sometimes eaten in
Europe; -- also called murlins, honeyware, and henware.
BADDISH
Bad"dish, a.
Defn: Somewhat bad; inferior. Jeffrey.
BADE
Bade.
Defn: A form of the pat tense of Bid.
BADGE
Badge, n. Etym: [LL. bagea, bagia, sign, prob. of German origin; cf.
AS. beág, beáh, bracelet, collar, crown, OS b in comp., AS. b to bow,
bend, G. biegen. See Bow to bend.]
1. A distinctive mark, token, sign, or cognizance, worn on the
person; as, the badge of a society; the badge of a policeman. "Tax
gatherers, recognized by their official badges. " Prescott.
2. Something characteristic; a mark; a token.
Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. Shak.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A carved ornament on the stern of a vessel, containing a window
or the representation of one.
BADGE
Badge, v. t.
Defn: To mark or distinguish with a badge.
BADGELESS
Badge"less, a.
Defn: Having no badge. Bp. Hall.
BADGER
Badg"er, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; perh. fr. an old verb badge
to lay up provisions to sell again.]
Defn: An itinerant licensed dealer in commodities used for food; a
hawker; a huckster; -- formerly applied especially to one who bought
grain in one place and sold it in another. [Now dialectic, Eng.]
BADGER
Badg"er, n. Etym: [OE. bageard, prob. fr. badge + -ard, in reference
to the white mark on its forehead. See Badge,n.]
1. A carnivorous quadruped of the genus Meles or of an allied genus.
It is a burrowing animal, with short, thick legs, and long claws on
the fore feet. One species (M. vulgaris), called also brock, inhabits
the north of Europe and Asia; another species (Taxidea Americana or
Labradorica) inhabits the northern parts of North America. See
Teledu.
2. A brush made of badgers' hair, used by artists. Badger dog.
(Zoöl.) See Dachshund.
BADGER
Badg"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Badgered (p. pr. & vb. n. Badgering.]
Etym: [For sense 1, see 2d Badger; for 2, see 1st Badger.]
1. To tease or annoy, as a badger when baited; to worry or irritate
persistently.
2. To beat down; to cheapen; to barter; to bargain.
BADGERER
Badg"er*er, n.
1. One who badgers.
2. A kind of dog used in badger baiting.
BADGER GAME
Badg"er game.
Defn: The method of blackmailing by decoying a person into a
compromising situation and extorting money by threats of exposure.
[Cant]
BADGERING
Badg"er*ing, n.
1. The act of one who badgers.
2. The practice of buying wheat and other kinds of food in one place
and selling them in another for a profit. [Prov. Eng.]
BADGER-LEGGED
Badg"er-legged`, a.
Defn: Having legs of unequal length, as the badger was thought to
have. Shak.
BADGER STATE
Badger State.
Defn: Wisconsin; -- a nickname.
BADIAGA
Bad`i*a"ga, n. Etym: [Russ. badiaga.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water sponge (Spongilla), common in the north of
Europe, the powder of which is used to take away the livid marks of
bruises.
BADIAN
Ba"di*an, n. Etym: [F.badiane, fr. Per. badian anise.] (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen Chinese shrub of the Magnolia family (Illicium
anisatum), and its aromatic seeds; Chinese anise; star anise.
BADIGEON
Ba*di"geon, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A cement or paste (as of plaster and freestone, or of sawdust
and glue or lime) used by sculptors, builders, and workers in wood or
stone, to fill holes, cover defects, or finish a surface.
BADINAGE
Ba`di`nage", n. Etym: [F., fr. badiner to joke, OF. to trifle, be
silly, fr. badin silly.]
Defn: Playful raillery; banter. "He . . . indulged himself only in an
elegant badinage." Warburton.
BAD LANDS
Bad" lands".
Defn: Barren regions, especially in the western United States, where
horizontal strata (Tertiary deposits) have been often eroded into
fantastic forms, and much intersected by canons, and where lack of
wood, water, and forage increases the difficulty of traversing the
country, whence the name, first given by the Canadian French,
Mauvaises Terres (bad lands).
BADLY
Bad"ly, adv.
Defn: In a bad manner; poorly; not well; unskillfully; imperfectly;
unfortunately; grievously; so as to cause harm; disagreeably;
seriously.
Note: Badly is often used colloquially for very much or very greatly,
with words signifying to want or need.
BADMINTON
Bad"min*ton, n. Etym: [From the name of the seat of the Duke of
Beaufort in England.]
1. A game, similar to lawn tennis, played with shuttlecocks.
2. A preparation of claret, spiced and sweetened.
BADNESS
Bad"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bad.
BAENOMERE
Bæ"no*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. to walk + -mere.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the somites (arthromeres) that make up the thorax of
Arthropods. Packard.
BAENOPOD
Bæ"no*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the thoracic legs of Arthropods.
BAENOSOME
Bæ"no*some, n. Etym: [Gr. -some body.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The thorax of Arthropods. Packard.
BAETULUS
Bæ"tu*lus, n.; pl. Bætuli (#). [L., fr. Gr. bai`tylos a sacred
meteorite.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A meteorite, or similar rude stone artificially shaped, held
sacred or worshiped as of divine origin.
All the evidence goes to prove that these menhirs are bætuli, i. e.,
traditional and elementary images of the deity.
I. Gonino (Perrot & Chipiez).
BAFF
Baff, n.
Defn: A blow; a stroke. [Scot.] H. Miller.
BAFFLE
Baf"fle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Baffled (p. pr. & vb. n. Baffling (.]
Etym: [Cf. Lowland Scotch bauchle to treat contemptuously, bauch
tasteless, abashed, jaded, Icel. bagr uneasy, poor, or bagr, n.,
struggle, bægja to push, treat harshly, OF. beffler, beffer, to mock,
deceive, dial. G. bäppe mouth, beffen to bark, chide.]
1. To cause to undergo a disgraceful punishment, as a recreant
knight. [Obs.]
He by the heels him hung upon a tree, And baffled so, that all which
passed by The picture of his punishment might see. Spenser.
2. To check by shifts and turns; to elude; to foil.
The art that baffles time's tyrannic claim. Cowper.
3. To check by perplexing; to disconcert, frustrate, or defeat; to
thwart. "A baffled purpose." De Quincey.
A suitable scripture ready to repel and baffle them all. South.
Calculations so difficult as to have baffled, until within a . . .
recent period, the most enlightened nations. Prescott.
The mere intricacy of a question should not baffle us. Locke.
Baffling wind (Naut.), one that frequently shifts from one point to
another.
Syn.
-- To balk; thwart; foil; frustrate; defeat.
BAFFLE
Baf"fle, v. i.
1. To practice deceit. [Obs.] Barrow.
2. To struggle against in vain; as, a ship baffles with the winds.
[R.]
BAFFLE
Baf"fle, n.
Defn: A defeat by artifice, shifts, and turns; discomfiture. [R.] "A
baffle to philosophy." South.
BAFFLEMENT
Baf"fle*ment, n.
Defn: The process or act of baffling, or of being baffled;
frustration; check.
BAFFLER
Baf"fler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, baffles.
BAFFLING
Baf"fling, a.
Defn: Frustrating; discomfiting; disconcerting; as, baffling
currents, winds, tasks.
-- Bafflingly, adv.
-- Bafflingness, n.
BAFFY
Baff"y (baf"y), n. [See Baff, v. t.] (Golf)
Defn: A short wooden club having a deeply concave face, seldom used.
BAFT
Baft. n.
Defn: Same as Bafta.
BAFTA
Baf"ta, n. Etym: [Cf. Per. baft. woven, wrought.]
Defn: A coarse stuff, usually of cotton, originally made in India.
Also, an imitation of this fabric made for export.
BAG
Bag, n. Etym: [OE. bagge; cf. Icel. baggi, and also OF. bague,
bundle, LL. baga.]
1. A sack or pouch, used for holding anything; as, a bag of meal or
of money.
2. A sac, or dependent gland, in animal bodies, containing some fluid
or other substance; as, the bag of poison in the mouth of some
serpents; the bag of a cow.
3. A sort of silken purse formerly tied about men's hair behind, by
way of ornament. [Obs.]
4. The quantity of game bagged.
5. (Com.)
Defn: A certain quantity of a commodity, such as it is customary to
carry to market in a sack; as, a bag of pepper or hops; a bag of
coffee. Bag and baggage, all that belongs to one.
-- To give one the bag, to disappoint him. [Obs.] Bunyan.
BAG
Bag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bagged(p. pr. & vb. n. Bagging]
1. To put into a bag; as, to bag hops.
2. To seize, capture, or entrap; as, to bag an army; to bag game.
3. To furnish or load with a bag or with a well filled bag.
A bee bagged with his honeyed venom. Dryden.
BAG
Bag, v. i.
1. To swell or hang down like a full bag; as, the skin bags from
containing morbid matter.
2. To swell with arrogance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. To become pregnant. [Obs.] Warner. (Alb. Eng. ).
BAGASSE
Ba*gasse", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Sugar cane, as it
BAGATELLE
Bag`a*telle", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. bagatella; cf. Prov. It. bagata
trifle, OF. bague, Pr. bagua, bundle. See Bag, n.]
1. A trifle; a thing of no importance.
Rich trifles, serious bagatelles. Prior.
2. A game played on an oblong board, having, at one end, cups or
arches into or through which balls are to be driven by a rod held in
the hand of the player.
BAGGAGE
Bag"gage, n. Etym: [F. bagage, from OF. bague bungle. In senses 6 and
7 cf. F. bagasse a prostitute. See Bag, n.]
1. The clothes, tents, utensils, and provisions of an army.
Note: "The term itself is made to apply chiefly to articles of
clothing and to small personal effects." Farrow.
2. The trunks, valises, satchels, etc., which a traveler carries with
him on a journey; luggage.
The baronet's baggage on the roof of the coach. Thackeray.
We saw our baggage following below. Johnson.
Note: The English usually call this luggage.
3. Purulent matter. [Obs.] Barrough.
4. Trashy talk. [Obs.] Ascham.
5. A man of bad character. [Obs.] Holland.
6. A woman of loose morals; a prostitute.
A disreputable, daring, laughing, painted French baggage. Thackeray.
7. A romping, saucy girl. [Playful] Goldsmith.
BAGGAGE MASTER
Bag"gage mas`ter.
Defn: One who has charge of the baggage at a railway station or upon
a line of public travel. [U.S.]
BAGGAGER
Bag"ga*ger, n.
Defn: One who takes care of baggage; a camp follower. [Obs.] Sir W.
Raleigh.
BAGGALA
Bag"ga*la, n. Etym: [Ar. "fem. of baghl a mule." Balfour.] (Naut.)
Defn: A two-masted Arab or Indian trading vessel, used in Indian
Ocean.
BAGGILY
Bag"gi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a loose, baggy way.
BAGGING
Bag"ging, n.
1. Cloth or other material for bags.
2. The act of putting anything into, or as into, a bag.
3. The act of swelling; swelling.
BAGGING
Bag"ging, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Reaping peas, beans, wheat, etc., with a chopping stroke.
[Eng.]
BAGGY
Bag"gy, a.
Defn: Resembling a bag; loose or puffed out, or pendent, like a bag;
flabby; as, baggy trousers; baggy cheeks.
BAGMAN
Bag"man, n.; pl. Bagmen (.
Defn: A commercial traveler; one employed to solicit orders for
manufacturers and tradesmen. Thackeray.
BAG NET
Bag" net`.
Defn: A bag-shaped net for catching fish.
BAGNIO
Bagn"io, n. Etym: [It. bagno, fr. L. balneum. Cf. Bain.]
1. A house for bathing, sweating, etc.; -- also, in Turkey, a prison
for slaves. [Obs.]
2. A brothel; a stew; a house of prostitution.
BAGPIPE
Bag"pipe, n.
Defn: A musical wind instrument, now used chiefly in the Highlands of
Scotland.
Note: It consists of a leather bag, which receives the air by a tube
that is stopped by a valve; and three sounding pipes, into which the
air is pressed by the performer. Two of these pipes produce fixed
tones, namely, the bass, or key tone, and its fifth, and form
together what is called the drone; the third, or chanter, gives the
melody.
BAGPIPE
Bag"pipe, v. t.
Defn: To make to look like a bagpipe. To bagpipe the mizzen (Naut.),
to lay it aback by bringing the sheet to the mizzen rigging. Totten.
BAGPIPER
Bag"pip`er, n.
Defn: One who plays on a bagpipe; a piper. Shak.
BAGREEF
Bag"reef`, n. Etym: [Bag + reef.] (Naut.)
Defn: The lower reef of fore and aft sails; also, the upper reef of
topsails. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
BAGUE
Bague, n. Etym: [F., a ring] (Arch.)
Defn: The annular molding or group of moldings dividing a long shaft
or clustered column into two or more parts.
BAGUET; BAGUETTE
Ba*guet", Ba*guette", n. Etym: [F. baguette, prop. a rodbacchetta,
fr. L. baculum, baculu stick, staff.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A small molding, like the astragal, but smaller; a bead.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: One of the minute bodies seen in the divided nucleoli of some
Infusoria after conjugation.
BAGWIG
Bag"wig", n.
Defn: A wig, in use in the 18th century, with the hair at the back of
the head in a bag.
BAGWORM
Bag"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several lepidopterous insects which construct, in the
larval state, a baglike case which they carry about for protection.
One species (Platoeceticus Gloveri) feeds on the orange tree. See
Basket worm.
BAH
Bah, interj.
Defn: An exclamation expressive of extreme contempt.
Twenty-five years ago the vile ejaculation, Bah! was utterly unknown
to the English public. De Quincey.
BAHADUR; BAHAUDUR
Ba*ha"dur Ba*hau"dur, n. [Written also bahawder.] [Hind. bahadur
hero, champion.]
Defn: A title of respect or honor given to European officers in East
Indian state papers, and colloquially, and among the natives, to
distinguished officials and other important personages.
BAHAI
Ba*hai" (ba*hi"), n.; pl. Bahais (-hiz).
Defn: A member of the sect of the Babis consisting of the adherents
of Baha (Mirza Husain Ali, entitled "Baha 'u 'llah," or, "the
Splendor of God"), the elder half brother of Mirza Yahya of Nur, who
succeeded the Bab as the head of the Babists. Baha in 1863 declared
himself the supreme prophet of the sect, and became its recognized
head. There are upwards of 20,000 Bahais in the United States.
BAHAISM
Ba*ha"ism, n.
Defn: The religious tenets or practices of the Bahais.
BAHAR
Ba*har", n. Etym: [Ar. bahar, from bahara to charge with a load.]
Defn: A weight used in certain parts of the East Indies, varying
considerably in different localities, the range being from 223 to 625
pounds.
BAIGNE
Baigne, v. i. Etym: [F. baigner to bathe, fr. L. balneum bath.]
Defn: To soak or drench. [Obs.]
BAIGNOIRE
Bai`gnoire", n. [Written also baignoir.] [F., lit., bath tub.]
Defn: A box of the lowest tier in a theater. Du Maurier.
BAIL
Bail, n. Etym: [F. baille a bucket, pail; cf. LL. bacula, dim. of
bacca a sort of vessel. Cf. Bac.]
Defn: A bucket or scoop used in bailing water out of a boat. [Obs.]
The bail of a canoe . . . made of a human skull. Capt. Cook.
BAIL
Bail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bailed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bailing.]
1. To lade; to dip and throw; -- usually with out; as, to bail water
out of a boat.
Buckets . . . to bail out the water. Capt. J. Smith.
2. To dip or lade water from; -- often with out to express
completeness; as, to bail a boat.
By the help of a small bucket and our hats we bailed her out. R. H.
Dana, Jr.
BAIL
Bail, v. Etym: [OF. bailler to give, to deliver, fr. L. bajulare to
bear a burden, keep in custody, fr. bajulus
1. To deliver; to release. [Obs.]
Ne none there was to rescue her, ne none to bail. Spenser.
2. (Law)
(a) To set free, or deliver from arrest, or out of custody, on the
undertaking of some other person or persons that he or they will be
responsible for the appearance, at a certain day and place, of the
person bailed.
Note: The word is applied to the magistrate or the surety. The
magistrate bails (but admits to bail is commoner) a man when he
liberates him from arrest or imprisonment upon bond given with
sureties. The surety bails a person when he procures his release from
arrest by giving bond for his appearance. Blackstone.
(b) To deliver, as goods in trust, for some special object or
purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that the trust shall
be faithfully executed on the part of the bailee, or person
intrusted; as, to bail cloth to a tailor to be made into a garment;
to bail goods to a carrier. Blackstone. Kent.
BAIL
Bail, n. Etym: [OF. bail guardian, administrator, fr. L. bajulus. See
Bail to deliver.]
1. Custody; keeping. [Obs.]
Silly Faunus now within their bail. Spenser.
2. (Law)
(a) The person or persons who procure the release of a prisoner from
the custody of the officer, or from imprisonment, by becoming surely
for his appearance in court.
The bail must be real, substantial bondsmen. Blackstone.
A. and B. were bail to the arrest in a suit at law. Kent.
(b) The security given for the appearance of a prisoner in order to
obtain his release from custody of the officer; as, the man is out on
bail; to go bail for any one.
Excessive bail ought not to be required. Blackstone.
BAIL
Bail, n. Etym: [OE. beyl; cf. Dan. böile an bending, ring, hoop, Sw.
bögel, bygel, and Icel. beyla hump, swelling, akin to E. bow to
bend.]
1. The arched handle of a kettle, pail, or similar vessel, usually
movable. Forby.
2. A half hoop for supporting the cover of a carrier's wagon, awning
of a boat, etc.
BAIL
Bail, n. Etym: [OF. bail, baille. See Bailey.]
1. (Usually pl.)
Defn: A line of palisades serving as an exterior defense. [Written
also bayle.] [Obs.]
2. The outer wall of a feudal castle. Hence: The space inclosed by
it; the outer court. Holinshed.
3. A certain limit within a forest. [Eng.]
4. A division for the stalls of an open stable.
5. (Cricket)
Defn: The top or cross piece ( or either of the two cross pieces) of
the wicket.
BAILABLE
Bail"a*ble, a.
1. Having the right or privilege of being admitted to bail, upon bond
with sureties; -- used of persons. "He's bailable, I'm sure." Ford.
2. Admitting of bail; as, a bailable offense.
3. That can be delivered in trust; as, bailable goods.
BAIL BOND
Bail" bond`. (Law)
(a) A bond or obligation given by a prisoner and his surety, to
insure the prisoner's appearance in court, at the return of the writ.
(b) Special bail in court to abide the judgment. Bouvier.
BAILEE
Bail`ee", n. Etym: [OF. baillé, p.p. of bailler. See Bail to
deliver.] (Law)
Defn: The person to whom goods are committed in trust, and who has a
temporary possession and a qualified property in them, for the
purposes of the trust. Blackstone.
Note: In penal statutes the word includes those who receive goods for
another in good faith. Wharton.
BAILER
Bail"er, n. (Law)
Defn: See Bailor.
BAILER
Bail"er, n.
1. One who bails or lades.
2. A utensil, as a bucket or cup, used in bailing; a machine for
bailing water out of a pit.
BAILEY
Bai"ley, n. Etym: [The same word as bail line of palisades; cf. LL.
ballium bailey, OF. bail, baille, a palisade, baillier to inclose,
shut.]
1. The outer wall of a feudal castle. [Obs.]
2. The space immediately within the outer wall of a castle or
fortress. [Obs.]
3. A prison or court of justice; -- used in certain proper names; as,
the Old Bailey in London; the New Bailey in Manchester. [Eng.] Oxf.
Gloss.
BAILIE
Bail"ie, n. Etym: [See Bailiff.]
Defn: An officer in Scotland, whose office formerly corresponded to
that of sheriff, but now corresponds to that of an English alderman.
BAILIFF
Bail"iff, n. Etym: [OF. baillif, F. bailli, custodiabajulus porter.
See Bail to deliver.]
1. Originally, a person put in charge of something especially, a
chief officer, magistrate, or keeper, as of a county, town, hundred,
or castle; one to whom power Abbott.
Lausanne is under the canton of Berne, governed by a bailiff sent
every three years from the senate. Addison.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A sheriff's deputy, appointed to make arrests, collect fines,
summon juries, etc.
Note: In American law the term bailiff is seldom used except
sometimes to signify a sheriff's officer or constable, or a party
liable to account to another for the rent and profits of real estate.
Burrill.
3. An overseer or under steward of an estate, who directs husbandry
operations, collects rents, etc. [Eng.]
BAILIFFWICK
Bail"iff*wick, n.
Defn: See Bailiwick. [Obs.]
BAILIWICK
Bail"i*wick, n. Etym: [Bailie, bailiff + wick a village.] (Law)
Defn: The precincts within which a bailiff has jurisdiction; the
limits of a bailiff's authority.
BAILLIE
Bail"lie, n.
1. Bailiff. [Obs.]
2. Same as Bailie. [Scot.]
BAILMENT
Bail"ment, n.
1. (Law)
Defn: The action of bailing a person accused.
Bailment . . . is the saving or delivery of a man out of prison
before he hath satisfied the law. Dalton.
2. (Law)
Defn: A delivery of goods or money by one person to another in trust,
for some special purpose, upon a contract, expressed or implied, that
the trust shall be faithfully executed. Blackstone.
Note: In a general sense it is sometimes used as comprehending all
duties in respect to property. Story.
BAILOR
Bail`or", n. (Law)
Defn: One who delivers goods or money to another in trust.
BAILPIECE
Bail"piece`, n. (Law)
Defn: A piece of parchment, or paper, containing a recognizance or
bail bond.
BAILY'S BEADS
Bai"ly's beads. (Astron.)
Defn: A row of bright spots observed in connection with total
eclipses of the sun. Just before and after a total eclipse, the
slender, unobscured crescent of the sun's disk appears momentarily
like a row of bright spots resembling a string of beads. The
phenomenon (first fully described by Francis Baily, 1774 -- 1844) is
thought to be an effect of irradiation, and of inequalities of the
moon's edge.
BAIN
Bain, n. Etym: [F. bain, fr. L. balneum. Cf. Bagnio.]
Defn: A bath; a bagnio. [Obs.] Holland.
BAIN-MARIE
Bain`-ma`rie", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A vessel for holding hot water in which another vessel may be
heated without scorching its contents; -- used for warming or
preparing food or pharmaceutical preparations.
BAIRAM
Bai"ram, n. Etym: [Turk. baïram.]
Defn: The name of two Mohammedan festivals, of which one is held at
the close of the fast called Ramadan, and the other seventy days
after the fast.
BAIRN
Bairn, n. Etym: [Scot. bairn, AS. bearn, fr. beran to bear; akin to
Icel., OS., &Goth. barn. See Bear to support.]
Defn: A child. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Has he not well provided for the bairn ! Beau. & Fl.
BAISEMAINS
Baise"mains`, n. pl. Etym: [F., fr. baiser to kiss + mains hands.]
Defn: Respects; compliments. [Obs.]
BAIT
Bait, n. Etym: [Icel. beita food, beit pasture, akin to AS. bat food,
Sw. bete. See Bait, v. i.]
1. Any substance, esp. food, used in catching fish, or other animals,
by alluring them to a hook, snare, inclosure, or net.
2. Anything which allures; a lure; enticement; temptation. Fairfax.
3. A portion of food or drink, as a refreshment taken on a journey;
also, a stop for rest and refreshment.
4. A light or hasty luncheon. Bait bug (Zoöl), a crustacean of the
genus Hippa found burrowing in sandy beaches. See Anomura.
BAIT
Bait, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baited; p. pr. & vb. n. Baiting.] Etym:
[OE. baiten, beit, to feed, harass, fr. Icel. beita, orig. to cause
to bite, fr. bita. sq. root87. See Bite.]
1. To provoke and harass; esp., to harass or torment for sport; as,
to bait a bear with dogs; to bait a bull.
2. To give a portion of food and drink to, upon the road; as, to bait
horses. Holland.
3. To furnish or cover with bait, as a trap or hook.
A crooked pin . . . bailed with a vile earthworm. W. Irving.
BAIT
Bait, v. i.
Defn: To stop to take a portion of food and drink for refreshment of
one's self or one's beasts, on a journey.
Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.
My lord's coach conveyed me to Bury, and thence baiting aEvelyn.
BAIT
Bait, v. i. Etym: [F. battre de l'aile (or des ailes), to flap
oBatter, v. i.]
Defn: To flap the wings; to flutter as if to fly; or to hover, as a
hawk when she stoops to her prey. "Kites that bait and beat." Shak.
BAITER
Bait"er, n.
Defn: One who baits; a tormentor.
BAIZE
Baize, n. Etym: [For bayes, pl. fr. OF. baie; cf. F. bai bay-colored.
See Bay a color.]
Defn: A coarse woolen stuff with a long nap; -- usually dyed in plain
colors.
A new black baize waistcoat lined with silk. Pepys.
BAJOCCO
Ba*joc"co, n. Etym: [It., fr. bajo brown, bay, from its color.]
Defn: A small cooper coin formerly current in the Roman States, worth
about a cent and a half.
BAKE
Bake, v. t. [imp.& p. p. Baked; p. pr. & vb. n. Baking.] Etym: [AS.
bacan; akin to D. bakken, OHG. bacchan, G. backen, Icel. & Sw. baca,
Dan. bage, Gr.
1. To prepare, as food, by cooking in a dry heat, either in an oven
or under coals, or on heated stone or metal; as, to bake bread, meat,
apples.
Note: Baking is the term usually applied to that method of cooking
which exhausts the moisture in food more than roasting or broiling;
but the distinction of meaning between roasting and baking is not
always observed.
2. To dry or harden (anything) by subjecting to heat, as, to bake
bricks; the sun bakes the ground.
3. To harden by cold.
The earth . . . is baked with frost. Shak.
They bake their sides upon the cold, hard stone. Spenser.
BAKE
Bake, v. i.
1. To do the work of baking something; as, she brews, washes, and
bakes. Shak.
2. To be baked; to become dry and hard in heat; as, the bread bakes;
the ground bakes in the hot sun.
BAKE
Bake, n.
Defn: The process, or result, of baking.
BAKEHOUSE
Bake"house`, n. Etym: [AS. bæch. See Bak, v. i., and House.]
Defn: A house for baking; a bakery.
BAKEMEAT; BAKED-MEAT
Bake"meat`, Baked"-meat`, n.
Defn: A pie; baked food. [Obs.] Gen. xl. 17. Shak.
BAKEN
Bak"en,
Defn: p. p. of Bake. [Obs. or. Archaic]
BAKER
Bak"er, n. Etym: [AS. bæcere. See Bake, v. i.]
1. One whose business it is to bake bread, biscuit, etc.
2. A portable oven in which baking is done. [U.S.] A baker's dozen,
thirteen.
-- Baker foot, a distorted foot. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
-- Baker's itch, a rash on the back of the hand, caused by the
irritating properties of yeast.
-- Baker's salt, the subcarbonate of ammonia, sometimes used instead
of soda, in making bread.
BAKER-LEGGED
Bak"er-legged`, a.
Defn: Having legs that bend inward at the knees.
BAKERY
Bak"er*y, n.
1. The trade of a baker. [R.]
2. The place for baking bread; a bakehouse.
BAKING
Bak"ing, n.
1. The act or process of cooking in an oven, or of drying and
hardening by heat or cold.
2. The quantity baked at once; a batch; as, a baking of bread. Baking
powder, a substitute for yeast, usually consisting of an acid, a
carbonate, and a little farinaceous matter.
BAKINGLY
Bak"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a hot or baking manner.
BAKISTRE
Bak"is*tre, n. Etym: [See Baxter.]
Defn: A baker. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BAKSHEESH; BAKSHISH
Bak"sheesh`, Bak"shish`, n.
Defn: Same as Backsheesh.
BALAAM
Ba"laam, n.
Defn: A paragraph describing something wonderful, used to fill out a
newspaper column; -- an allusion to the miracle of Balaam's ass
speaking. Numb. xxii. 30. [Cant] Balaam basket or box (Print.), the
receptacle for rejected articles. Blackw. Mag.
BALACHONG
Bal"a*chong, n. Etym: [Malay balachan.]
Defn: A condiment formed of small fishes or shrimps, pounded up with
salt and spices, and then dried. It is much esteemed in China.
BALAENOIDEA
Bal`æ*noi"de*a, n. Etym: [NL., from L. balaena whale + -oid.] (Zoöl)
Defn: A division of the Cetacea, including the right whale and all
other whales having the mouth fringed with baleen. See Baleen.
BALANCE
Bal"ance, n. Etym: [OE. balaunce, F. balance, fr. L. bilan, bilancis,
having two scales; bis twice (akin to E. two) + lanx plate, scale.]
1. An apparatus for weighing.
Note: In its simplest form, a balance consists of a beam or lever
supported exactly in the middle, having two scales or basins of equal
weight suspended from its extremities. Another form is that of the
Roman balance, our steelyard, consisting of a lever or beam,
suspended near one of its extremities, on the longer arm of which a
counterpoise slides. The name is also given to other forms of
apparatus for weighing bodies, as to the combinations of levers
making up platform scales; and even to devices for weighing by the
elasticity of a spring.
2. Act of weighing mentally; comparison; estimate.
A fair balance of the advantages on either side. Atterbury.
3. Equipoise between the weights in opposite scales.
4. The state of being in equipoise; equilibrium; even adjustment;
steadiness.
And hung a bottle on each side To make his balance true. Cowper.
The order and balance of the country were destroyed. Buckle.
English workmen completely lose their balance. J. S. Mill.
5. An equality between the sums total of the two sides of an account;
as, to bring one's accounts to a balance; -- also, the excess on
either side; as, the balance of an account. " A balance at the
banker's. " Thackeray.
I still think the balance of probabilities leans towards the account
given in the text. J. Peile.
6. (Horol.)
Defn: A balance wheel, as of a watch, or clock. See Balance wheel (in
the Vocabulary).
7. (Astron.)
(a) The constellation Libra.
(b) The seventh sign in the Zodiac, called Libra, which the sun
enters at the equinox in September.
8. A movement in dancing. See Balance, v. i., S. Balance
electrometer, a kind of balance, with a poised beam, which indicates,
by weights suspended from one arm, the mutual attraction of
oppositely electrified surfaces. Knight.
-- Balance fish. (Zoöl) See Hammerhead.
-- Balance knife, a carving or table knife the handle of which
overbalances the blade, and so keeps it from contact with the table.
-- Balance of power. (Politics), such an adjustment of power among
sovereign states that no one state is in a position to interfere with
the independence of the others; international equilibrium; also, the
ability ( of a state or a third party within a state) to control the
relations between sovereign states or between dominant parties in a
state.
-- Balance sheet (Bookkeeping), a paper showing the balances of the
open accounts of a business, the debit and credit balances footing up
equally, if the system of accounts be complete and the balances
correctly taken.
-- Balance thermometer, a thermometer mounted as a balance so that
the movement of the mercurial column changes the indication of the
tube. With the aid of electrical or mechanical devices adapted to it,
it is used for the automatic regulation of the temperature of rooms
warmed artificially, and as a fire alarm.
-- Balance of torsion. See Torsion Balance.
-- Balance of trade (Pol. Econ.), an equilibrium between the money
values of the exports and imports of a country; or more commonly, the
amount required on one side or the other to make such an equilibrium.
-- Balance valve, a valve whose surfaces are so arranged that the
fluid pressure tending to seat, and that tending to unseat the valve,
are nearly in equilibrium; esp., a puppet valve which is made to
operate easily by the admission of steam to both sides. See Puppet
valve.
-- Hydrostatic balance. See under Hydrostatic.
-- To lay in balance, to put up as a pledge or security. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
-- To strike a balance, to find out the difference between the debit
and credit sides of an account.
BALANCE
Bal"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Balanced (p. pr. & vb. n. Balancing (
Etym: [From Balance, n.: cf. F. balancer. ]
1. To bring to an equipoise, as the scales of a balance by adjusting
the weights; to weigh in a balance.
2. To support on a narrow base, so as to keep from falling; as, to
balance a plate on the end of a cane; to balance one's self on a
tight rope.
3. To equal in number, weight, force, or proportion; to counterpoise,
counterbalance, counteract, or neutralize.
One expression . . . must check and balance another. Kent.
4. To compare in relative force, importance, value, etc.; to
estimate.
Balance the good and evil of things. L'Estrange.
5. To settle and adjust, as an account; to make two accounts equal by
paying the difference between them.
I am very well satisfied that it is not in my power to balance
accounts with my Maker. Addison.
6. To make the sums of the debits and credits of an account equal; --
said of an item; as, this payment, or credit, balances the account.
7. To arrange accounts in such a way that the sum total of the debits
is equal to the sum total of the credits; as, to balance a set of
books.
8. (Dancing)
Defn: To move toward, and then back from, reciprocally; as, to
balance partners.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: To contract, as a sail, into a narrower compass; as, to balance
the boom mainsail. Balanced valve. See Balance valve, under Balance,
n.
Syn.
-- To poise; weigh; adjust; counteract; neutralize; equalize.
BALANCE
Bal"ance, v. i.
1. To have equal weight on each side; to be in equipoise; as, the
scales balance.
2. To fluctuate between motives which appear of equal force; to
waver; to hesitate.
He would not balance or err in the determination of his choice.
Locke.
3. (Dancing)
Defn: To move toward a person or couple, and then back.
BALANCEABLE
Bal"ance*a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be balanced.
BALANCEMENT
Bal"ance*ment, n.
Defn: The act or result of balancing or adjusting; equipoise; even
adjustment of forces. [R.] Darwin.
BALANCER
Bal"an*cer, n.
1. One who balances, or uses a balance.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: In Diptera, the rudimentary posterior wing.
BALANCEREEF
Bal"ance*reef`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The last reef in a fore-and-aft sail, taken to steady the ship.
BALANCE WHEEL
Bal"ance wheel`.
1. (Horology)
(a) A wheel which regulates the beats or pulses of a watch or
chronometer, answering to the pendulum of a clock; -- often called
simply a balance.
(b) A ratchet-shaped scape wheel, which in some watches is acted upon
by the axis of the balance wheel proper (in those watches called a
balance).
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A wheel which imparts regularity to the movements of any engine
or machine; a fly wheel.
BALANIFEROUS
Bal`a*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. balanus acorn + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing or producing acorns.
BALANITE
Bal"a*nite, n. Etym: [L. balanus acorn: cf. F. balanite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil balanoid shell.
BALANOGLOSSUS
Bal`a*no*glos"sus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: A peculiar marine worm. See Enteropneusta, and Tornaria.
BALANOID
Bal"a*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling an acorn; -- applied to a group of barnacles having
shells shaped like acorns. See Acornshell, and Barnacle.
BALAS RUBY
Bal"as ru`by. Etym: [OE. bales, balais, F. balais, LL. balascus, fr.
Ar. balakhsh, so called from Badakhshan, Balashan, or Balaxiam, a
place in the neighborhood of Samarcand, where this ruby is found.]
(Min.)
Defn: A variety of spinel ruby, of a pale rose red, or inclining to
orange. See Spinel.
BALATA
Bal"a*ta, n. [Sp., prob. fr. native name.]
1.
Defn: A West Indian sapotaceous tree (Bumelia retusa).
2. The bully tree (Minusops globosa); also, its milky juice (balata
gum), which when dried constitutes an elastic gum called chicle, or
chicle gum.
BALAUSTINE
Ba*laus"tine, n. Etym: [L. balaustium, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The pomegranate tree (Punica granatum). The bark of the root,
the rind of the fruit, and the flowers are used medicinally.
BALAYEUSE
Ba`la`yeuse", n. [F., lit., a female sweeper.]
Defn: A protecting ruffle or frill, as of silk or lace, sewed close
to the lower edge of a skirt on the inside.
BALBUTIATE; BALBUCINATE
Bal*bu"ti*ate, Bal*bu"ci*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. balbutire, fr. balbus
stammering: cf. F. balbutier.]
Defn: To stammer. [Obs.]
BALBUTIES
Bal*bu"ti*es, n. (Med.)
Defn: The defect of stammering; also, a kind of incomplete
pronunciation.
BALCON
Bal"con, n.
Defn: A balcony. [Obs.] Pepys.
BALCONIED
Bal"co*nied, a.
Defn: Having balconies.
BALCONY
Bal"co*ny, n.; pl. Balconies. Etym: [It. balcone; cf. It. balco,
palco, scaffold, fr. OHG. balcho, pa, beam, G. balken. See Balk
beam.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A platform projecting from the wall of a building, usually
resting on brackets or consoles, and inclosed by a parapet; as, a
balcony in front of a window. Also, a projecting gallery in places of
amusement; as, the balcony in a theater.
2. A projecting gallery once common at the stern of large ships.
Note: "The accent has shifted from the second to the first syllable
within these twenty years." Smart (1836).
BALD
Bald, a. Etym: [OE. balled, ballid, perh. the p.p. of ball to reduce
to the roundness or smoothness of a ball, by removing hair. sq.
root85. But cf. W. bali whiteness in a horse's forehead.]
1. Destitute of the natural or common covering on the head or top, as
of hair, feathers, foliage, trees, etc.; as, a bald head; a bald oak.
On the bald top of an eminence. Wordsworth.
2. Destitute of ornament; unadorned; bare; literal.
In the preface to his own bald translation. Dryden.
3. Undisguised. " Bald egotism." Lowell.
4. Destitute of dignity or value; paltry; mean. [Obs.]
5. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of a beard or awn; as, bald wheat.
6. (Zoöl.)
(a) Destitute of the natural covering.
(b) Marked with a white spot on the head; bald-faced. Bald buzzard
(Zoöl.), the fishhawk or osprey.
-- Bald coot (Zoöl.), a name of the European coot (Fulica atra),
alluding to the bare patch on the front of the head.
BALDACHIN
Bal"da*chin, n. Etym: [LL. baldachinus, baldechinus, a canopy of rich
silk carried over the host; fr. Bagdad, It. Baldacco, a city in
Turkish Asia from whence these rich silks came: cf. It. baldacchino.
Cf. Baudekin.]
1. A rich brocade; baudekin. [Obs.]
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A structure in form of a canopy, sometimes supported by
columns, and sometimes suspended from the roof or projecting from the
wall; generally placed over an altar; as, the baldachin in St.
Peter's.
3. A portable canopy borne over shrines, etc., in procession.
[Written also baldachino, baldaquin, etc.]
BALD EAGLE
Bald" ea"gle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The white-headed eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus) of America.
The young, until several years old, lack the white feathers on the
head.
Note: The bald eagle is represented in the coat of arms, and on the
coins, of the United States.
BALDER
Bal"der, n. Etym: [Icel. Baldr, akin to E. bold.] (Scan. Myth.)
Defn: The most beautiful and beloved of the gods; the god of peace;
the son of Odin and Freya. [Written also Baldur.]
BALDERDASH
Bal"der*dash, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin: cf. Dan. balder noise,
clatter, and E. dash; hence, perhaps, unmeaning noise, then
hodgepodge, mixture; or W. baldorduss a prattling, baldordd,
baldorddi, to prattle.]
1. A worthless mixture, especially of liquors.
Indeed beer, by a mixture of wine, hath lost both name and nature,
and is called balderdash. Taylor (Drink and Welcome).
2. Senseless jargon; ribaldry; nonsense; trash.
BALDERDASH
Bal"der*dash, v. t.
Defn: To mix or adulterate, as liquors.
The wine merchants of Nice brew and balderdash, and even mix it with
pigeon's dung and quicklime. Smollett.
BALD-FACED
Bald"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a white face or a white mark on the face, as a stag.
BALDHEAD
Bald"head`, n.
1. A person whose head is bald. 2 Kings ii. 23.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A white-headed variety of pigeon.
BALDHEADED
Bald"head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a bald head.
BALDLY
Bald"ly, adv.
Defn: Nakedly; without reserve; inelegantly.
BALDNESS
Bald"ness, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being bald; as, baldness of the head;
baldness of style.
This gives to their syntax a peculiar character of simplicity and
baldness. W. D. Whitney.
BALDPATE
Bald"pate`, n.
1. A baldheaded person. Shak.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American widgeon (Anas Americana).
BALDPATE; BALDPATED
Bald"pate`, Bald"pat`ed, a.
Defn: Destitute of hair on the head; baldheaded. Shak.
BALDRIB
Bald"rib`, n.
Defn: A piece of pork cut lower down than the sparerib, and destitute
of fat. [Eng.] Southey.
BALDRIC
Bal"dric, n. Etym: [OE. baudric, bawdrik, through OF. (cf. F.
baudrier and LL. baldringus, baldrellus), from OHG. balderich, cf.
balz, palz, akin to E. belt. See Belt, n.]
Defn: A broad belt, sometimes richly ornamented, worn over one
shoulder, across the breast, and under the opposite arm; less
properly, any belt. [Also spelt bawdrick.]
A radiant baldric o'er his shoulder tied Sustained the sword that
glittered at his side. Pope.
BALDWIN
Bald"win, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of reddish, moderately acid, winter apple. [U.S.]
BALE
Bale, n. Etym: [OE. bale, OF. bale, F. balle, LL. bala, fr. OHG.
balla, palla, pallo, G. ball, balle, ballen, ball round pack; cf. D.
baal. Cf. Ball a round body.]
Defn: A bundle or package of goods in a cloth cover, and corded for
storage or transportation; also, a bundle of straw Bale of dice, a
pair of dice. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BALE
Bale, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baled (p. pr. & vb. n. Baling.]
Defn: To make up in a bale. Goldsmith.
BALE
Bale, v. t.
Defn: See Bail, v. t., to lade.
BALE
Bale, n. Etym: [AS. bealo, bealu, balu; akin to OS. , OHG. balo,
Icel. böl, Goth. balweins.]
1. Misery;
Let now your bliss be turned into bale. Spenser.
2. Evil; an evil, pernicious influence; something causing great
injury. [Now chiefly poetic]
BALEARIC
Bal`e*ar"ic, a. Etym: [L. Balearicus, fr. Gr. the Balearic Islands.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the isles of Majorca, Minorca, Ivica, etc.,
in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Valencia. Balearic crane.
(Zoöl.) See Crane.
BALEEN
Ba*leen", n. Etym: [F. baleine whale and whalibone, L. balaena a
whale; cf. Gr. . ] (Zoöl. & Com.)
Defn: Plates or blades of "whalebone," from two to twelve feet long,
and sometimes a foot wide, which in certain whales (Balænoidea) are
attached side by side along the upper jaw, and form a fringelike
sieve by which the food is retained in the mouth.
BALEFIRE
Bale"fire`, n. Etym: [AS. b the fire of the b fire, flame (akin to
Icel. bal, OSlav. b, white, Gr. bright, white, Skr. bhala brightness)
+ f, E. fire.]
Defn: A signal fire; an alarm fire.
Sweet Teviot! on thy silver tide The glaring balefires blaze no more.
Sir W. Scott.
BALEFUL
Bale"ful, a. Etym: [AS. bealoful. See Bale misery.]
1. Full of deadly or pernicious influence; destructive. "Baleful
enemies." Shak.
Four infernal rivers that disgorge Into the burning lake their
baleful streams. Milton.
2. Full of grief or sorrow; woeful; sad. [Archaic]
BALEFULLY
Bale"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a baleful manner; perniciously.
BALEFULNESS
Bale"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being baleful.
BALISAUR
Bal"i*sa`ur, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A badgerlike animal of India (Arcionyx collaris).
BALISTER
Bal"is*ter, n. Etym: [OF. balestre. See Ballista.]
Defn: A crossbow. [Obs.] Blount.
BALISTOID
Bal"is*toid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like a fish of the genus Balistes; of the family Balistidæ. See
Filefish.
BALISTRARIA
Bal`is*tra"ri*a, n. Etym: [LL.] (Anc. Fort.)
Defn: A narrow opening, often cruciform, through which arrows might
be discharged.
BALIZE
Ba*lize", n. Etym: [F. balise; cf. Sp. balisa.]
Defn: A pole or a frame raised as a sea beacon or a landmark.
BALK
Balk, n. Etym: [AS. balca beam, ridge; akin to Icel. balkr partition,
bjalki beam, OS. balko, G. balken; cf. Gael. balc ridge of earth
between two furrows. Cf. Balcony, Balk, v. i., 3d Bulk.]
1. A ridge of land left unplowed between furrows, or at the end of a
field; a piece missed by the plow slipping aside.
Bad plowmen made balks of such ground. Fuller.
2. A great beam, rafter, or timber; esp., the tie-beam of a house.
The loft above was called "the balks."
Tubs hanging in the balks. Chaucer.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: One of the beams connecting the successive supports of a
trestle bridge or bateau bridge.
4. A hindrance or disappointment; a check.
A balk to the confidence of the bold undertaker. South.
5. A sudden and obstinate stop; a failure.
6. (Baseball)
Defn: A deceptive gesture of the pitcher, as if to deliver the ball.
Balk line (Billiards), a line across a billiard table near one end,
marking a limit within which the cue balls are placed in beginning a
game; also, a line around the table, parallel to the sides, used in
playing a particular game, called the balk line game.
BALK
Balk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Balked (p. pr. & vb. n. Balking.] Etym:
[From Balk a beam; orig. to put a balk or beam in one's way, in order
to stop or hinder. Cf., for sense 2, AS. on balcan legan to lay in
heaps.]
1. To leave or make balks in. [Obs.] Gower.
2. To leave heaped up; to heap up in piles. [Obs.]
Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights, Balk'd in their own
blood did Sir Walter see. Shak.
3. To omit, miss, or overlook by chance. [Obs.]
4. To miss intentionally; to avoid; to shun; to refuse; to let go by;
to shirk. [Obs. or Obsolescent]
By reason of the contagion then in London, we balked the Evelyn.
Sick he is, and keeps his bed, and balks his meat. Bp. Hall.
Nor doth he any creature balk, But lays on all he meeteth. Drayton.
5. To disappoint; to frustrate; to foil; to baffle; to as, to balk
expectation.
They shall not balk my entrance. Byron.
BALK
Balk, v. i.
1. To engage in contradiction; to be in opposition. [Obs.]
In strifeful terms with him to balk. Spenser.
2. To stop abruptly and stand still obstinately; to jib; to stop
short; to swerve; as, the horse balks.
Note: This has been regarded as an Americanism, but it occurs in
Spenser's "Faërie Queene," Book IV., 10, xxv.
Ne ever ought but of their true loves talkt, Ne ever for rebuke or
blame of any balkt.
BALK
Balk, v. i. Etym: [Prob. from D. balken to bray, bawl.]
Defn: To indicate to fishermen, by shouts or signals from shore, the
direction taken by the shoals of herring.
BALKER
Balk"er, n. Etym: [See 2d Balk.]
Defn: One who, or that which balks.
BALKER
Balk"er, n. Etym: [See last Balk.]
Defn: A person who stands on a rock or eminence to espy the shoals of
herring, etc., and to give notice to the men in boats which way they
pass; a conder; a huer.
BALKINGLY
Balk"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In manner to balk or frustrate.
BALKISH
Balk"ish, a.
Defn: Uneven; ridgy. [R.] Holinshed.
BALKY
Balk"y, a.
Defn: Apt to balk; as, a balky horse.
BALL
Ball, n. Etym: [OE. bal, balle; akin to OHG. balla, palla, G. ball,
Icel. böllr, ball; cf. F. balle. Cf. 1st Bale, n., Pallmall.]
1. Any round or roundish body or mass; a sphere or globe; as, a ball
of twine; a ball of snow.
2. A spherical body of any substance or size used to play with, as by
throwing, knocking, kicking, etc.
3. A general name for games in which a ball is thrown, kicked, or
knocked. See Baseball, and Football.
4. Any solid spherical, cylindrical, or conical projectile of lead or
iron, to be discharged from a firearm; as, a cannon ball; a rifball;
-- often used collectively; as, powder and ball. Spherical balls for
the smaller firearms are commonly called bullets.
5. (Pirotechnics & Mil.)
Defn: A flaming, roundish body shot into the air; a case filled with
combustibles intended to burst and give light or set fire, or to
produce smoke or stench; as, a fire ball; a stink ball.
6. (Print.)
Defn: A leather-covered cushion, fastened to a handle called a
ballstock; -- formerly used by printers for inking the form, but now
superseded by the roller.
7. A roundish protuberant portion of some part of the body; as, the
ball of the thumb; the ball of the foot.
8. (Far.)
Defn: A large pill, a form in which medicine is commonly given to
horses; a bolus. White.
9. The globe or earth. Pope.
Move round the dark terrestrial ball. Addison.
Ball and socket joint, a joint in which a ball moves within a socket,
so as to admit of motion in every direction within certain limits.
-- Ball bearings, a mechanical device for lessening the friction of
axle bearings by means of small loose metal balls.
-- Ball cartridge, a cartridge containing a ball, as distinguished
from a blank cartridge, containing only powder.
-- Ball cock, a faucet or valve which is opened or closed by the
fall or rise of a ball floating in water at the end of a lever.
-- Ball gudgeon, a pivot of a spherical form, which permits lateral
deflection of the arbor or shaft, while retaining the pivot in its
socket. Knight.
-- Ball lever, the lever used in a ball cock.
-- Ball of the eye, the eye itself, as distinguished from its lids
and socket; -- formerly, the pupil of the eye.
-- Ball valve (Mach.), a contrivance by which a ball, placed in a
circular cup with a hole in its bottom, operates as a valve.
-- Ball vein (Mining), a sort of iron ore, found in loose masses of
a globular form, containing sparkling particles.
-- Three balls, or Three golden balls, a pawnbroker's sign or shop.
Syn.
-- See Globe.
BALL
Ball, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balled (p. pr. & vb. n. Balling.]
Defn: To gather balls which cling to the feet, as of damp snow or
clay; to gather into balls; as, the horse balls; the snow balls.
BALL
Ball, v. t.
1. (Metal.)
Defn: To heat in a furnace and form into balls for rolling.
2. To form or wind into a ball; as, to ball cotton.
BALL
Ball, n. Etym: [F. bal, fr. OF. baler to dance, fr. LL. ballare. Of
uncertain origin; cf. Gr. to toss or throw, or , , to leap, bound, to
dance, jump about; or cf. 1st Ball, n.]
Defn: A social assembly for the purpose of dancing.
BALLAD
Bal"lad, n. Etym: [OE. balade, OF. balade, F. ballade, fr. Pr.
ballada a dancing song, fr. ballare to dance; cf. It. ballata. See 2d
Ball, n., and Ballet.]
Defn: A popular kind of narrative poem, adapted for recitation or
singing; as, the ballad of Chevy Chase; esp., a sentimental or
romantic poem in short stanzas.
BALLAD
Bal"lad, v. i.
Defn: To make or sing ballads. [Obs.]
BALLAD
Bal"lad, v. t.
Defn: To make mention of in ballads. [Obs.]
BALLADE
Bal*lade", n. Etym: [See Ballad, n.]
Defn: A form of French versification, sometimes imitated in English,
in which three or four rhymes recur through three stanzas of eight or
ten lines each, the stanzas concluding with a refrain, and the whole
poem with an envoy.
BALLADER
Bal"lad*er, n.
Defn: A writer of ballads.
BALLAD MONGER
Bal"lad mon`ger. Etym: [See Monger.]
Defn: A seller or maker of ballads; a poetaster. Shak.
BALLADRY
Bal"lad*ry, n. Etym: [From Ballad, n. ]
Defn: Ballad poems; the subject or style of ballads. "Base balladry
is so beloved." Drayton.
BALLAHOO; BALLAHOU
Bal"la*hoo, Bal"la*hou, n.
Defn: A fast-sailing schooner, used in the Bermudas and West Indies.
BALLARAG
Bal"la*rag, v. i. Etym: [Corrupted fr. bullirag.]
Defn: To bully; to threaten. [Low] T. Warton.
BALLAST
Bal"last, n. Etym: [D. ballast; akin to Dan. baglast, ballast, OSw.
barlast, Sw. ballast. The first part is perh. the same word as E.
bare, adj.; the second is last a burden, and hence the meaning a
bare, or mere, load. See Bare, a., and Last load.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: Any heavy substance, as stone, iron, etc., put into the hold to
sink a vessel in the water to such a depth as to prevent capsizing.
2. Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it
steadiness.
3. Gravel, broken stone, etc., laid in the bed of a railroad to make
it firm and solid.
4. The larger solids, as broken stone or gravel, used in making
concrete.
5. Fig.: That which gives, or helps to maintain, uprightness,
steadiness, and security.
It [piety] is the right ballast of prosperity. Barrow.
Ballast engine, a steam engine used in excavating and for digging and
raising stones and gravel for ballast.
-- Ship in ballast, a ship carring only ballast.
BALLAST
Bal"last, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ballasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ballasting.]
1. To steady, as a vessel, by putting heavy substances in the hold.
2. To fill in, as the bed of a railroad, with gravel, stone, etc., in
order to make it firm and solid.
3. To keep steady; to steady, morally.
'T is charity must ballast the heart. Hammond.
BALLASTAGE
Bal"last*age, n. (Law)
Defn: A toll paid for the privilege of taking up ballast in a port or
harbor.
BALLASTING
Bal"last*ing, n.
Defn: That which is used for steadying anything; ballast.
BALLATRY
Bal"la*try, n.
Defn: See Balladry. [Obs.] Milton.
BALLET
Bal"let`, n. Etym: [F., a dim. of bal dance. See 2d Ball, n.]
1. An artistic dance performed as a theatrical entertainment, or an
interlude, by a number of persons, usually women. Sometimes, a scene
accompanied by pantomime and dancing.
2. The company of persons who perform the ballet.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A light part song, or madrigal, with a fa la burden or chorus,
-- most common with the Elizabethan madrigal composers.
4. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing in coats of arms, representing one or more balls,
which are denominated bezants, plates, etc., according to color.
BALL-FLOWER
Ball"-flow`er, n. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament resembling a ball placed in a circular flower, the
petals of which form a cup round it, -- usually inserted in a hollow
molding.
BALLISTA
Bal*lis"ta, n.; pl. Ballist. Etym: [L. ballista, balista, fr. Gr. to
throw.]
Defn: An ancient military engine, in the form of a crossbow, used for
hurling large missiles.
BALLISTER
Bal"lis*ter, n. Etym: [L. ballista. Cf. Balister.]
Defn: A crossbow. [Obs.]
BALLISTIC
Bal*lis"tic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the ballista, or to the art of hurling stones
or missile weapons by means of an engine.
2. Pertaining to projection, or to a projectile. Ballistic pendulum,
an instrument consisting of a mass of wood or other material
suspended as a pendulum, for measuring the force and velocity of
projectiles by means of the arc through which their impact impels it.
BALLISTICS
Bal*lis"tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. balistique. See Ballista.]
Defn: The science or art of hurling missile weapons by the use of an
engine. Whewell.
BALLISTITE
Bal"lis*tite, n. [See Ballista.] (Chem.)
Defn: A smokeless powder containing equal parts of soluble
nitrocellulose and nitroglycerin.
BALLIUM
Bal"li*um, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: See Bailey.
BALLOON
Bal*loon", n. Etym: [F. ballon, aug. of balle ball: cf. It. ballone.
See 1st Ball, n., and cf. Pallone.]
1. A bag made of silk or other light material, and filled with
hydrogen gas or heated air, so as to rise and float in the
atmosphere; especially, one with a car attached for aërial
navigation.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A ball or globe on the top of a pillar, church, etc., as at St.
Paul's, in London. [R.]
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A round vessel, usually with a short neck, to hold or receive
whatever is distilled; a glass vessel of a spherical form.
4. (Pyrotechnics)
Defn: A bomb or shell. [Obs.]
5. A game played with a large inf [Obs.]
6. (Engraving)
Defn: The outline inclosing words represented as coming from the
mouth of a pictured figure. Air balloon, a balloon for aërial
navigation.
-- Balloon frame (Carp.), a house frame constructed altogether of
small timber.
-- Balloon net, a variety of woven lace in which the weft threads
are twisted in a peculiar manner around the warp.
BALLOON
Bal*loon", v. t.
Defn: To take up in, or as if in, a balloon.
BALLOON
Bal*loon", v. i.
1. To go up or voyage in a balloon.
2. To expand, or puff out, like a balloon.
BALLOONED
Bal*looned", a.
Defn: Swelled out like a balloon.
BALLOONER
Bal*loon"er, n.
Defn: One who goes up in a balloon; an aëronaut.
BALLOON FISH
Bal*loon" fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Diodon or the genus Tetraodon, having the
power of distending its body by taking air or water into its
dilatable esophagus. See Globefish, and Bur fish.
BALLOONING
Bal*loon"ing, n.
1. The art or practice of managing balloons or voyaging in them.
2. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: The process of temporarily raising the value of a stock, as by
fictitious sales. [U.S.]
BALLOONING SPIDER
Bal*loon"ing spi"der. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spider which has the habit of rising into the air. Many kinds
( esp. species of Lycosa) do this while young by ejecting threads of
silk until the force of the wind upon them carries the spider aloft.
BALLOONIST
Bal*loon"ist, n.
Defn: An aëronaut.
BALLOONRY
Bal*loon"ry, n.
Defn: The art or practice of ascending in a balloon; aëronautics.
BALLOT
Bal"lot, n. Etym: [F. ballotte, fr. It. ballotta. See Ball round
body.]
1. Originally, a ball used for secret voting. Hence: Any printed or
written ticket used in voting.
2. The act of voting by balls or written or printed ballots or
tickets; the system of voting secretly by balls or by tickets.
The insufficiency of the ballot. Dickens.
3. The whole number of votes cast at an election, or in a given
territory or electoral district. Ballot box, a box for receiving
ballots.
BALLOT
Bal"lot, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Balloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Balloting.]
Etym: [F. ballotter to toss, to ballot, or It. ballottare. See
Ballot, n.]
Defn: To vote or decide by ballot; as, to ballot for a candidate.
BALLOT
Bal"lot, v. t.
Defn: To vote for or in opposition to.
None of the competitors arriving to a sufficient number of balls,
they fell to ballot some others. Sir H. Wotton.
BALLOTADE
Bal"lo*tade`, n. Etym: [F. ballottade, fr. ballotter to toss. See
Ballot, v. i.] (Man.)
Defn: A leap of a horse, as between two pillars, or upon a straight
line, so that when his four feet are in the air, he shows only the
shoes of his hind feet, without jerking out.
BALLOTAGE
Bal"lot*age, n. [F. ballottage.]
Defn: In France, a second ballot taken after an indecisive first
ballot to decide between two or several candidates.
BALLOTATION
Bal`lo*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Voting by ballot. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
BALLOTER
Bal"lot*er, n.
Defn: One who votes by ballot.
BALLOTIN
Bal"lo*tin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An officer who has charge of a ballot box. [Obs.] Harrington.
BALLOW
Bal"low, n.
Defn: A cudgel. [Obs.] Shak.
BALLPROOF
Ball"proof`, a.
Defn: Incapable of being penetrated by balls from firearms.
BALLROOM
Ball"room` (, n.
Defn: A room for balls or dancing.
BALM
Balm, n. Etym: [OE. baume, OF. bausme, basme, F. baume, L. balsamum
balsam, from Gr. ; perhaps of Semitic origin; cf. Heb. basam. Cf.
Balsam.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An aromatic plant of the genus Melissa.
2. The resinous and aromatic exudation of certain trees or shrubs.
Dryden.
3. Any fragrant ointment. Shak.
4. Anything that heals or that mitigates pain. "Balm for each ill."
Mrs. Hemans. Balm cricket (Zoöl.), the European cicada. Tennyson.
-- Balm of Gilead (Bot.), a small evergreen African and Asiatic tree
of the terebinthine family (Balsamodendron Gileadense). Its leaves
yield, when bruised, a strong aromatic scent; and from this tree is
obtained the balm of Gilead of the shops, or balsam of Mecca. This
has a yellowish or greenish color, a warm, bitterish, aromatic taste,
and a fragrant smell. It is valued as an unguent and cosmetic by the
Turks. The fragrant herb Dracocephalum Canariense is familiarly
called balm of Gilead, and so are the American trees, Populus
balsamifera, variety candicans (balsam poplar), and Abies balsamea
(balsam fir).
BALM
Balm, v. i.
Defn: To anoint with balm, or with anything medicinal. Hence: To
soothe; to mitigate. [Archaic] Shak.
BALMIFY
Balm"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Balm + -fy.]
Defn: To render balmy. [Obs.] Cheyne.
BALMILY
Balm"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a balmy manner. Coleridge.
BALMORAL
Bal*mor"al, n. Etym: [From Balmoral Castle, in Aberdeenshire,
Scotland.]
1. A long woolen petticoat, worn immediately under the dress.
2. A kind of stout walking shoe, laced in front.
A man who uses his balmorals to tread on your toes. George Eliot.
BALMY
Balm"y, a.
1. Having the qualities of balm; odoriferous; aromatic; assuaging;
soothing; refreshing; mild. "The balmy breeze." Tickell.
Tired nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep ! Young.
2. Producing balm. "The balmy tree." Pope.
Syn.
-- Fragrant; sweet-scented; odorous; spicy.
BALNEAL
Bal"ne*al, a. Etym: [L. balneum bath.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bath. Howell.
BALNEARY
Bal"ne*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. balnearium, fr. balneum bath.]
Defn: A bathing room. Sir T. Browne.
BALNEATION
Bal`ne*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. balneare to bathe, fr. L. balneum bath.]
Defn: The act of bathing. [R.]
BALNEATORY
Bal"ne*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. balneatorius.]
Defn: Belonging to a bath. [Obs.]
BALNEOGRAPHY
Bal`ne*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + -graphy.]
Defn: A description of baths.
BALNEOLOGY
Bal`ne*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on baths; the science of bathing.
BALNEOTHERAPY
Bal`ne*o*ther"a*py, n. Etym: [L. balneum bath + Gr. to heal.]
Defn: The treatment of disease by baths.
BALOPTICON
Bal*op"ti*con, n. [Gr. to throw + stereopticon.]
Defn: See Projector, below.
BALOTADE
Bal"o*tade`, n.
Defn: See Ballotade.
BALSA
Bal"sa, n. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. balsa.] (Naut.)
Defn: A raft or float, used principally on the Pacific coast of South
America.
BALSAM
Bal"sam, n. Etym: [L. balsamum the balsam tree or its resin, Gr. .
See Balm, n.]
1. A resin containing more or less of an essential or volatile oil.
Note: The balsams are aromatic resinous substances, flowing
spontaneously or by incision from certain plants. A great variety of
substances pass under this name, but the term is now usually
restricted to resins which, in addition to a volatile oil, contain
benzoic and cinnamic acid. Among the true balsams are the balm of
Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu. There are also
many pharmaceutical preparations and resinous substances, possessed
of a balsamic smell, to which the name balsam has been given.
2. (Bot.)
(a) A species of tree (Abies balsamea).
(b) An annual garden plant (Impatiens balsamina) with beautiful
flowers; balsamine.
3. Anything that heals, soothes, or restores.
Was not the people's blessing a balsam to thy blood Tennyson.
Balsam apple (Bot.), an East Indian plant ( Momordica balsamina), of
the gourd family, with red or orange-yellow cucumber-shaped fruit of
the size of a walnut, used as a vulnerary, and in liniments and
poultices.
-- Balsam fir (Bot.), the American coniferous tree, Abies balsamea,
from which the useful Canada balsam is derived.
-- Balsam of copaiba. See Copaiba.
-- Balsam of Mecca, balm of Gilead.
-- Balsam of Peru, a reddish brown, syrupy balsam, obtained from a
Central American tree ( Myroxylon Pereiræ and used as a stomachic and
expectorant, and in the treatment of ulcers, etc. It was long
supposed to be a product of Peru.
-- Balsam of Tolu, a reddish or yellowish brown semisolid or solid
balsam, obtained from a South American tree ( Myxoxylon toluiferum.).
It is highly fragrant, and is used as a stomachic and expectorant.
-- Balsam tree, any tree from which balsam is obtained, esp. the
Abies balsamea.
-- Canada balsam, Balsam of fir, Canada turpentine, a yellowish,
viscid liquid, which, by time and exposure, becomes a transparent
solid mass. It is obtained from the balm of Gilead (or balsam) fir
(Abies balsamea) by breaking the vesicles upon the trunk and
branches. See Balm.
BALSAM
Bal"sam, v. t.
Defn: To treat or anoint with balsam; to relieve, as with balsam; to
render balsamic.
BALSAMATION
Bal`sam*a"tion, n.
1. The act of imparting balsamic properties.
2. The art or process of embalming.
BALSAMIC; BALSAMICAL
Bal*sam"ic, Bal*sam"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. balsamique.]
Defn: Having the qualities of balsam; containing, or resembling,
balsam; soft; mitigative; soothing; restorative.
BALSAMIFEROUS
Bal`sam*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Balsam + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing balsam.
BALSAMINE
Bal"sam*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. balsamine, fr. Gr. balsam plant.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The Impatiens balsamina, or garden balsam.
BALSAMOUS
Bal"sam*ous, a.
Defn: Having the quality of balsam; containing balsam. "A balsamous
substance." Sterne.
BALTER
Bal"ter, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain. Cf. Bloodboltered.]
Defn: To stick together.[Obs.] Holland.
BALTIC
Bal"tic, a. Etym: [NL. mare Balticum, fr. L. balteus belt, from
certain straits or channels surrounding its isles, called belts. See
Belt.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sea which separates Norway and Sweden
from Jutland, Denmark, and Germany; situated on the Baltic Sea.
BALTIMORE BIRD; BALTIMORE ORIOLE
Bal"ti*more bird`. Bal"ti*more o"ri*ole. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A common American bird (Icterus galbula), named after Lord
Baltimore, because its colors (black and orange red) are like those
of his coat of arms; -- called also golden robin.
BALUSTER
Bal"us*ter, n. Etym: [F. balustre, It. balaustro, fr. L. balaustium
the flower of the wild pomegranate, fr. Gr. ; -- so named from the
similarity of form.] (Arch.)
Defn: A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open
parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase,
or the eaves of a building.
BALUSTERED
Bal"us*tered (-terd), a.
Defn: Having balusters. Dryden.
BALUSTRADE
Bal"us*trade` (-trad`), n. [F. balustrade, It. balaustrata fr.
balaustro. See Baluster.] (Arch.)
Defn: A row of balusters topped by a rail, serving as an open
parapet, as along the edge of a balcony, terrace, bridge, staircase,
or the eaves of a building.
BAM
Bam, n. Etym: [Prob. a contr. of bamboozle.]
Defn: An imposition; a cheat; a hoax. Garrick.
To relieve the tediumbams. Prof. Wilson.
BAM
Bam, v. t.
Defn: To cheat; to wheedle. [Slang] Foote.
BAMBINO
Bam*bi"no, n. Etym: [It., a little boy, fr. bambo silly; cf. Gr. , ,
to chatter.]
Defn: A child or baby; esp., a representation in art of the infant
Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes.
BAMBOCCIADE
Bam*boc`ci*ade", n. Etym: [It. bambocciata, fr. Bamboccio a nickname
of Peter Van Laer, a Dutch genre painter; properly, a child,
simpleton, puppet, fr. bambo silly.] (Paint.)
Defn: A representation of a grotesque scene from common or rustic
life.
BAMBOO
Bam*boo", n. Etym: [Malay bambu, mambu.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the family of grasses, and genus Bambusa, growing in
tropical countries.
Note: The most useful species is Bambusa arundinacea, which has a
woody, hollow, round, straight, jointed stem, and grows to the height
of forty feet and upward. The flowers grow in large panicles, from
the joints of the stalk, placed three in a parcel, close to their
receptacles. Old stalks grow to five or six inches in diameter, and
are so hard and durable as to be used for building, and for all sorts
of furniture, for water pipes, and for poles to support palanquins.
The smaller stalks are used for walking sticks, flutes, etc.
BAMBOO
Bam*boo", v. t.
Defn: To flog with the bamboo.
BAMBOOZLE
Bam*boo"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bamboozled (p. pr. & vb. n.
Bamboozling ( Etym: [Said to be of Gipsy origin.]
Defn: To deceive by trickery; to cajole by confusing the senses; to
hoax; to mystify; to humbug. [Colloq.] Addison.
What oriental tomfoolery is bamboozling you J. H. Newman.
BAMBOOZLER
Bam*boo"zler, n.
Defn: A swindler; one who deceives by trickery. [Colloq.] Arbuthnot.
BAN
Ban, n. Etym: [AS. bann command, edict; akin to D. ban, Icel. bann,
Dan. band, OHG. ban, G. bann, a public proclamation, as of
interdiction or excommunication, Gr. to say, L. fari to speak, Skr.
bhan to speak; cf. F. ban, LL. bannum, of G. origin. Abandon, Fame.]
1. A public proclamation or edict; a public order or notice,
mandatory or prohibitory; a summons by public proclamation.
2. (Feudal & Mil.)
Defn: A calling together of the king's (esp. the French king's)
vassals for military service; also, the body of vassals thus
assembled or summoned. In present usage, in France and Prussia, the
most effective part of the population liable to military duty and not
in the standing army.
3. pl.
Defn: Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in church. See Banns
(the common spelling in this sense).
4. An interdiction, prohibition, or proscription. "Under ban to
touch." Milton.
5. A curse or anathema. "Hecate's ban." Shak.
6. A pecuniary mulct or penalty laid upon a delinquent for offending
against a ban; as, a mulct paid to a bishop by one guilty of
sacrilege or other crimes. Ban of the empire (German Hist.), an
imperial interdict by which political rights and privileges, as those
of a prince, city, or district, were taken away.
BAN
Ban, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banned (p. pr. & vb. n. Banning.] Etym: [OE.
bannen, bannien, to summon, curse, AS. bannan to summon; akin to Dan.
bande, forbande, to curse, Sw. banna to revile, bannas to curse. See
Ban an edict, and cf. Banish.]
1. To curse; to invoke evil upon. Sir W. Scott.
2. To forbid; to interdict. Byron.
BAN
Ban, v. i.
Defn: To curse; to swear. [Obs.] Spenser.
BAN
Ban, n. Etym: [Serv. ban; cf. Russ. & Pol. pan a masterban.]
Defn: An ancient title of the warden of the eastern marches of
Hungary; now, a title of the viceroy of Croatia and Slavonia.
BANAL
Ban"al, a. Etym: [F., fr. ban an ordinance.]
Defn: Commonplace; trivial; hackneyed; trite.
BANALITY
Ba*nal"i*ty, n.; pl. Banalities. Etym: [F. banalité. See Banal.]
Defn: Something commonplace, hackneyed, or trivial; the commonplace,
in speech.
The highest things were thus brought down to the banalities of
discourse. J. Morley.
BANANA
Ba*na"na, n. Etym: [Sp. banana, name of the fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herbaceous plant of almost treelike size (Musa
sapientum); also, its edible fruit. See Musa.
Note: The banana has a soft, herbaceous stalk, with leaves of great
length and breadth. The flowers grow in bunches, covered with a
sheath of a green or purple color; the fruit is five or six inches
long, and over an inch in diameter; the pulp is soft, and of a
luscious taste, and is eaten either raw or cooked. This plant is a
native of tropical countries, and furnishes an important article of
food. Banana bird (Zoöl.), a small American bird (Icterus
leucopteryx), which feeds on the banana.
-- Banana quit (Zoöl.), a small bird of tropical America, of the
genus Certhiola, allied to the creepers.
BANANA SOLUTION
Ba*na"na so*lu"tion.
Defn: A solution used as a vehicle in applying bronze pigments. In
addition to acetote, benzine, and a little pyroxylin, it contains
amyl acetate, which gives it the odor of bananas.
BANAT
Ban"at, n. Etym: [Cf. F. & G. banat. See Ban a warden.]
Defn: The territory governed by a ban.
BANC; BANCUS; BANK
Banc, Ban"cus, Bank, n. Etym: [OF. banc, LL. bancus. See Bank, n.]
Defn: A bench; a high seat, or seat of distinction or judgment; a
tribunal or court. In banc, In banco (the ablative of bancus), In
bank, in full court, or with full judicial authority; as, sittings in
banc (distinguished from sittings at nisi prius).
BANCAL
Ban*cal", n.; pl. -cales (#). [Sp., fr. banca, banco, bench. Cf.
Bench.]
Defn: An ornamental covering, as of carpet or leather, for a bench or
form.
BANCO
Ban"co, n. Etym: [It. See Bank.]
Defn: A bank, especially that of Venice.
Note: This term is used in some parts of Europe to indicate bank
money, as distinguished from the current money, when this last has
become depreciated.
BAND
Band, n. Etym: [OE. band, bond, Icel. band; akin to G., Sw., & D.
band, OHG. bant, Goth. banti, Skr. bandha a binding, bandh to bind,
for bhanda, bhandh, also to E. bend, bind. In sense 7, at least, it
is fr. F. bande, from OHG. bant. Bind, v. t., and cf. Bend, Bond, 1st
Bandy.]
1. A fillet, strap, or any narrow ligament with which a thing is
encircled, or fastened, or by which a number of things are tied,
bound together, or confined; a fetter.
Every one's bands were loosed. Acis xvi 26.
2. (Arch.)
(a) A continuous tablet, stripe, or series of ornaments, as of carved
foliage, of color, or of brickwork, etc.
(b) In Gothic architecture, the molding, or suite of moldings, which
encircles the pillars and small shafts.
3. That which serves as the means of union or connection between
persons; a tie. "To join in Hymen's bands." Shak.
4. A linen collar or ruff worn in the 16th and 17th centuries.
5. pl.
Defn: Two strips of linen hanging from the neck in front as part of a
clerical, legal, or academic dress.
6. A narrow strip of cloth or other material on any article of dress,
to bind, strengthen, ornament, or complete it. "Band and gusset and
seam." Hood.
7. A company of persons united in any common design, especially a
body of armed men.
Troops of horsemen with his bands of foot. Shak.
8. A number of musicians who play together upon portable musical
instruments, especially those making a loud sound, as certain wind
instruments (trumpets, clarinets, etc.), and drums, or cymbals.
9. (Bot.)
Defn: A space between elevated lines or ribs, as of the fruits of
umbelliferous plants.
10. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stripe, streak, or other mark transverse to the axis of the
body.
11. (Mech.)
Defn: A belt or strap.
12. A bond [Obs.] "Thy oath and band." Shak.
13. Pledge; security. [Obs.] Spenser. Band saw, a saw in the form of
an endless steel belt, with teeth on one edge, running over wheels.
BAND
Band, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banded; p. pr. & vb. n. Banding.]
1. To bind or tie with a band.
2. To mark with a band.
3. To unite in a troop, company, or confederacy. "Banded against his
throne." Milton. Banded architrave, pier, shaft, etc. (Arch.), an
architrave, pier, etc., of which the regular profile is interrupted
by blocks or projections crossing it at right angles.
BAND
Band, v. i.
Defn: To confederate for some common purpose; to unite; to conspire
together.
Certain of the Jews banded together. Acts xxiii. 12.
BAND
Band, v. t.
Defn: To bandy; to drive away. [Obs.]
BAND
Band, imp.
Defn: of Bind. [Obs.]
BANDAGE
Band"age, n. Etym: [F. bandage, fr. bande. See Band.]
1. A fillet or strip of woven material, used in dressing and binding
up wounds, etc.
2. Something resembling a bandage; that which is bound over or round
something to cover, strengthen, or compress it; a ligature.
Zeal too had a place among the rest, with a bandage over her eyes.
Addison.
BANDAGE
Band"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bandaged (p. pr. & vb. n. Bandaging (
Defn: To bind, dress, or cover, with a bandage; as, to bandage the
eyes.
BANDALA
Ban*da"la, n.
Defn: A fabric made in Manilla from the older leaf sheaths of the
abaca (Musa textilis).
BANDANNA; BANDANA
Ban*dan"na, Ban*dan"a, n. Etym: [Hind. bandhn a mode of dyeing in
which the cloth is tied in different places so as to prevent the
parts tied from receiving the dye. Cf. Band, n.]
1. A species of silk or cotton handkerchief, having a uniformly dyed
ground, usually of red or blue, with white or yellow figures of a
circular, lozenge, or other simple form.
2. A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are
produced upon cloth previously dyed of a uniform red or dark color,
by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the
rest of the cloth is under pressure. Ure.
BANDBOX
Band"box`, n.
Defn: A light box of pasteboard or thin wood, usually cylindrical,
for holding ruffs (the bands of the 17th century), collars, caps,
bonnets, etc.
BANDEAU
Ban"deau, n.; pl. Bandeaux. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A narrow band or fillet; a part of a head-dress.
Around the edge of this cap was a stiff bandeau of leather. Sir W.
Scott.
BANDELET; BANDLET
Band"e*let, Band"let, n. Etym: [F. bandelette, dim. of bande. See
Band, n., and ch. Bendlet.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small band or fillet; any little band or flat molding,
compassing a column, like a ring. Gwilt.
BANDER
Band"er, n.
Defn: One banded with others. [R.]
BANDERILLA
Ban`de*ril"la, n. [Sp., dim. of bandera banner. See Banner, and cf.
Banderole.]
Defn: A barbed dart carrying a banderole which the banderillero
thrusts into the neck or shoulder of the bull in a bullfight.
BANDERILLERO
Ban`de*ril*le"ro, n. [Sp.]
Defn: One who thrusts in the banderillas in bullfighting. W. D.
Howells.
BANDEROLE; BANDROL
Band"e*role, Band"rol, n. Etym: [F. banderole, dim. of bandière,
bannière, banner; cf. It. banderuola a little banner. See Banner.]
Defn: A little banner, flag, or streamer. [Written also bannerol.]
From the extremity of which fluttered a small banderole or streamer
bearing a cross. Sir W. Scott.
BAND FISH
Band" fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small red fish of the genus Cepola; the ribbon fish.
BANDICOOT
Ban"di*coot, n. Etym: [A corruption of the native name.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A species of very large rat (Mus giganteus), found in India and
Ceylon. It does much injury to rice fields and gardens.
(b) A ratlike marsupial animal (genus Perameles) of several species,
found in Australia and Tasmania.
BANDING PLANE
Band"ing plane`.
Defn: A plane used for cutting out grooves and inlaying strings and
bands in straight and circular work.
BANDIT
Ban"dit, n.; pl.Bandits, or Banditti. Etym: [It. bandito outlaw, p.p.
of bandire to proclaim, to banish, to proscribe, LL. bandire,
bannire. See Ban an edict, and cf. Banish.]
Defn: An outlaw; a brigand.
No savage fierce, bandit, or mountaineer. Milton.
Note: The plural banditti was formerly used as a collective noun.
Deerstealers are ever a desperate banditti. Sir W. Scott.
BANDLE
Ban"dle, n. Etym: [Ir. bannlamh cubit, fr. bann a measure + lamh
hand, arm.]
Defn: An Irish measure of two feet in length.
BANDLET
Band"let, n.
Defn: Same as Bandelet.
BANDMASTER
Band"mas`ter, n.
Defn: The conductor of a musical band.
BANDOG
Ban"dog`, n. Etym: [Band + dog, i.e., bound dog.]
Defn: A mastiff or other large and fierce dog, usually kept chained
or tied up.
The keeper entered leading his bandog, a large bloodhound, tied in a
leam, or band, from which he takes his name. Sir W. Scott.
BANDOLEER; BANDOLIER
Ban`do*leer", Ban`do*lier", n. Etym: [F. bandoulière (cf.It.
bandoliera, Sp.bandolera), fr.F. bande band, Sp.&It. banda. See Band,
n.]
1. A broad leather belt formerly worn by soldiers over the right
shoulder and across the breast under the left arm. Originally it was
used for supporting the musket and twelve cases for charges, but
later only as a cartridge belt.
2. One of the leather or wooden cases in which the charges of powder
were carried. [Obs.]
BANDOLINE
Ban"do*line, n. Etym: [Perh. allied to band.]
Defn: A glutinous pomatum for the fair.
BANDON
Ban"don, n. Etym: [OF. bandon. See Abandon.]
Defn: Disposal; control; license. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
BANDORE
Ban"dore, n. Etym: [Sp. bandurria, fr. L. pandura, pandurium, a
musical instrument of three strings, fr. Gr. . Cf. Pandore, Banjo,
Mandolin.]
Defn: A musical stringed instrument, similar in form to a guitar; a
pandore.
BANDROL
Band"rol, n.
Defn: Same as Banderole.
BANDY
Ban"dy, n. Etym: [Telugu bandi.]
Defn: A carriage or cart used in India, esp. one drawn by bullocks.
BANDY
Ban"dy, n.; pl. Bandies (. Etym: [Cf. F. bandé, p.p. of bander to
bind, to bend (a bow), to bandy, fr. bande. See Band, n.]
1. A club bent at the lower part for striking a ball at play; a
hockey stick. Johnson.
2. The game played with such a club; hockey; shinney; bandy ball.
BANDY
Ban"dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bandied (p. pr. & vb. n. Bandying.]
1. To beat to and fro, as a ball in playing at bandy.
Like tennis balls bandied and struck upon us . . . by rackets from
without. Cudworth.
2. To give and receive reciprocally; to exchange. "To bandy hasty
words." Shak.
3. To toss about, as from man to man; to agitate.
Let not obvious and known truth be bandied about in a disputation. I.
Watts.
BANDY
Ban"dy, v. i.
Defn: To content, as at some game in which each strives to drive the
ball his own way.
Fit to bandy with thy lawless sons. Shak.
BANDY
Ban"dy, a.
Defn: Bent; crooked; curved laterally, esp. with the convex side
outward; as, a bandy leg.
BANDY-LEGGED
Ban"dy-legged`, a.
Defn: Having crooked legs.
BANE
Bane, n. Etym: [OE. bane destruction, AS. bana murderer; akin to
Icel. bani death, murderer, OHG. bana murder, bano murderer, murder,
OIr. bath death, benim I strike.
1. That which destroys life, esp. poison of a deadly quality. [Obs.
except in combination, as in ratsbane, henbane, etc.]
2. Destruction; death. [Obs.]
The cup of deception spiced and tempered to their bane. Milton.
3. Any cause of ruin, or lasting injury; harm; woe.
Money, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe. Herbert.
4. A disease in sheep, commonly termed the rot.
Syn.
-- Poison; ruin; destruction; injury; pest.
BANE
Bane, v. t.
Defn: To be the bane of; to ruin. [Obs.] Fuller.
BANEBERRY
Bane"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Actæa) of plants, of the order Ranunculaceæ, native in
the north temperate zone. The red or white berries are poisonous.
BANEFUL
Bane"ful, a.
Defn: Having poisonous qualities; deadly; destructive; injurious;
noxious; pernicious. "Baneful hemlock." Garth. "Baneful wrath."
Chapman.
-- Bane"ful*ly, adv. --Bane"ful*ness, n.
BANEWORT
Bane"wort, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Deadly nightshade.
BANG
Bang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banged; p. pr. & vb. n. Banging.] Etym:
[Icel. banga to hammer; akin to Dan. banke to beat, Sw.bångas to be
impetuous, G. bengel club, clapper of a bell.]
1. To beat, as with a club or cudgel; to treat with violence; to
handle roughly.
The desperate tempest hath so banged the Turks. Shak.
2. To beat or thump, or to cause ( something) to hit or strike
against another object, in such a way as to make a loud noise; as, to
bang a drum or a piano; to bang a door (against the doorpost or
casing) in shutting it.
BANG
Bang, v. i.
Defn: To make a loud noise, as if with a blow or succession of blows;
as, the window blind banged and waked me; he was banging on the
piano.
BANG
Bang, n.
1. A blow as with a club; a heavy blow.
Many a stiff thwack, many a bang. Hudibras.
2. The sound produced by a sudden concussion.
BANG
Bang, v. t.
Defn: To cut squarely across, as the tail of a hors, or the forelock
of human beings; to cut (the hair).
His hair banged even with his eyebrows. The Century Mag.
BANG
Bang, n.
Defn: The short, front hair combed down over the forehead, esp. when
cut squarely across; a false front of hair similarly worn.
His hair cut in front like a young lady's bang. W. D. Howells.
BANG; BANGUE
Bang, Bangue, n.
Defn: See Bhang.
BANGING
Bang"ing, a.
Defn: Huge; great in size. [Colloq.] Forby.
BANGLE
Ban"gle, v. t. Etym: [From 1st Bang.]
Defn: To waste by little and little; to fritter away. [Obs.]
BANGLE
Ban"gle, n. Etym: [Hind. bangri bracelet, bangle.]
Defn: An ornamental circlet, of glass, gold, silver, or other
material, worn by women in India and Africa, and in some other
countries, upon the wrist or ankle; a ring bracelet. Bangle ear, a
loose hanging ear of a horse, like that of a spaniel.
BANIAN
Ban"ian, n. Etym: [Skr. banij merchant. The tree was so named by the
English, because used as a market place by the merchants.]
1. A Hindoo trader, merchant, cashier, or money changer. [Written
also banyan.]
2. A man's loose gown, like that worn by the Banians.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The Indian fig. See Banyan. Banian days (Naut.), days in which
the sailors have no flesh meat served out to them. This use seems to
be borrowed from the Banians or Banya race, who eat no flesh.
BANISH
Ban"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banished(p. pr. & vb. n. Banishing.]
Etym: [OF. banir, F. bannir, LL. bannire, fr. OHG. bannan to summon,
fr. ban ban. See Ban an edict, and Finish, v. t.]
1. To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one's country, by
authority of the ruling power. "We banish you our territories." Shak.
2. To drive out, as from a home or familiar place; -- used with from
and out of.
How the ancient Celtic tongue came to be banished from the Low
Countries in Scotland. Blair.
3. To drive away; to compel to depart; to dispel. "Banish all
offense." Shak.
Syn.
-- To Banish, Exile, Expel. The idea of a coercive removal from a
place is common to these terms. A man is banished when he is forced
by the government of a country (be he a foreigner or a native) to
leave its borders. A man is exiled when he is driven into banishment
from his native country and home. Thus to exile is to banish, but to
banish is not always to exile. To expel is to eject or banish,
summarily or authoritatively, and usually under circumstances of
disgrace; as, to expel from a college; expelled from decent society.
BANISHER
Ban"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who banishes.
BANISHMENT
Ban"ish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bannissement.]
Defn: The act of banishing, or the state of being banished.
He secured himself by the banishment of his enemies. Johnson.
Round the wide world in banishment we roam. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Expatriation; ostracism; expulsion; proscription; exile;
outlawry.
BANISTER
Ban"is*ter, n. Etym: [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted
from bandore, through negro slave pronunciation.]
Defn: A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the
guitar, and its body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is
played with the fingers and hands.
BANJO
Ban"jo, n. [Formerly also banjore and banjer; corrupted from bandore,
through negro slave pronunciation.]
Defn: A stringed musical instrument having a head and neck like the
guitar, and its body like a tambourine. It has five strings, and is
played with the fingers and hands.
BANJORINE
Ban`jo*rine", n. [From banjore banjo. See Banjo.] (Music.)
Defn: A kind of banjo, with a short neck, tuned a fourth higher than
the common banjo; -- popularly so called.
BANK
Bank, n. Etym: [OE. banke; akin to E. bench, and prob. of Scand.
origin.; cf. Icel. bakki. See Bench.]
1. A mound, pile, or ridge of earth, raised above the surrounding
level; hence, anything shaped like a mound or ridge of earth; as, a
bank of clouds; a bank of snow.
They cast up a bank against the city. 2 Sam. xx. 15.
2. A steep acclivity, as the slope of a hill, or the side of a
ravine.
3. The margin of a watercourse; the rising ground bordering a lake,
river, or sea, or forming the edge of a cutting, or other hollow.
Tiber trembled underneath her banks. Shak.
4. An elevation, or rising ground, under the sea; a shoal, shelf, or
shallow; as, the banks of Newfoundland.
5. (Mining)
(a) The face of the coal at which miners are working.
(b) A deposit of ore or coal, worked by excavations above water
level.
(c) The ground at the top of a shaft; as, ores are brought to bank.
Bank beaver (Zoöl.), the otter. [Local, U.S.] -- Bank swallow, a
small American and European swallow (Clivicola riparia) that nests in
a hole which it excavates in a bank.
BANK
Bank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banked(p. pr. & vb. n. Banking.]
1. To raise a mound or dike about; to inclose, defend, or fortify
with a bank; to embank. "Banked well with earth." Holland.
2. To heap or pile up; as, to bank sand.
3. To pass by the banks of. [Obs.] Shak. To bank a fire, To bank up a
fire, to cover the coals or embers with ashes or cinders, thus
keeping the fire low but alive.
BANK
Bank, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. F. banc. Of German origin, and akin to E.
bench. See Bench.]
1. A bench, as for rowers in a galley; also, a tier of oars.
Placed on their banks, the lusty Trojan sweep Neptune's smooth face,
and cleave the yielding deep. Waller.
2. (Law)
(a) The bench or seat upon which the judges sit.
(b) The regular term of a court of law, or the full court sitting to
hear arguments upon questions of law, as distinguished from a sitting
at Nisi Prius, or a court held for jury trials. See Banc. Burrill.
3. (Printing)
Defn: A sort of table used by printers.
4. (Music)
Defn: A bench, or row of keys belonging to a keyboard, as in an
organ. Knight.
BANK
Bank, n. Etym: [F. banque, It. banca, orig. bench, table, counter, of
German origin, and akin to E. bench; cf. G. bank bench, OHG. banch.
See Bench, and cf. Banco, Beach.]
1. An establishment for the custody, loan, exchange, or issue, of
money, and for facilitating the transmission of funds by drafts or
bills of exchange; an institution incorporated for performing one or
more of such functions, or the stockholders (or their
representatives, the directors), acting in their corporate capacity.
2. The building or office used for banking purposes.
3. A fund from deposits or contributions, to be used in transacting
business; a joint stock or capital. [Obs.]
Let it be no bank or common stock, but every man be master of his own
money. Bacon.
4. (Gaming)
Defn: The sum of money or the checks which the dealer or banker has
as a fund, from which to draw his stakes and pay his losses.
5. In certain games, as dominos, a fund of pieces from which the
players are allowed to draw. Bank credit, a credit by which a person
who has give -- Bank of deposit, a bank which receives money for safe
keeping.
-- Bank of issue, a bank which issues its own notes payable to
bearer.
BANK
Bank, v. t.
Defn: To deposit in a bank.
BANK
Bank, v. i.
1. To keep a bank; to carry on the business of a banker.
2. To deposit money in a bank; to have an account with a banker.
BANKABLE
Bank"a*ble, a.
Defn: Receivable at a bank.
BANK BILL
Bank" bill`.
1. In America (and formerly in England), a promissory note of a bank
payable to the bearer on demand, and used as currency; a bank note.
2. In England, a note, or a bill of exchange, of a bank, payable to
order, and usually at some future specified time. Such bills are
negotiable, but form, in the strict sense of the term, no part of the
currency.
BANK BOOK
Bank" book`.
Defn: A book kept by a depositor, in which an officer of a bank
enters the debits and credits of the depositor's account with the
bank.
BANK DISCOUNT
Bank discount.
Defn: A sum equal to the interest at a given rate on the principal
(face) of a bill or note from the time of discounting until it
becomes due.
BANKER
Bank"er, n.Etym: [See the nouns Bank and the verbs derived from
them.]
1. One who conducts the business of banking; one who, individually,
or as a member of a company, keeps an establishment for the deposit
or loan of money, or for traffic in money, bills of exchange, etc.
2. A money changer. [Obs.]
3. The dealer, or one who keeps the bank in a gambling house.
4. A vessel employed in the cod fishery on the banks of Newfoundland.
Grabb. J. Q. Adams.
5. A ditcher; a drain digger. [Prov. Eng.]
6. The stone bench on which masons cut or square their work. Weale.
BANKERESS
Bank"er*ess, n.
Defn: A female banker. Thackeray.
BANKING
Bank"ing, n.
Defn: The business of a bank or of a banker. Banking house, an
establishment or office in which, or a firm by whom, banking is done.
BANK NOTE
Bank" note`.
1. A promissory note issued by a bank or banking company, payable to
bearer on demand.
Note: In the United States popularly called a bank bill.
2. Formerly, a promissory note made by a banker, or banking company,
payable to a specified person at a fixed date; a bank bill. See Bank
bill, 2. [Obs.]
3. A promissory note payable at a bank.
BANKRUPT
Bank"rupt, n. Etym: [F. banqueroute, fr. It. bancarotta bankruptcy;
banca bank (fr. OHG. banch, G. bank, bench) + rotta broken, fr. L.
ruptus, p.p. of rumpere to break. At Florence, it is said, the
bankrupt had his bench ( i.e., money table) broken. See 1st Bank, and
Rupture, n.]
1. (Old Eng. Low)
Defn: A trader who secretes himself, or does certain other acts
tending to defraud his creditors. Blackstone.
2. A trader who becomes unable to pay his debts; an insolvent trader;
popularly, any person who is unable to pay his debts; an insolvent
person. M
3. (Law)
Defn: A person who, in accordance with the terms of a law relating to
bankruptcy, has been judicially declared to be unable to meet his
liabilities.
Note: In England, until the year 1861 none but a "trader" could be
made a bankrupt; a non-trader failing to meet his liabilities being
an "insolvent". But this distinction was abolished by the Bankruptcy
Act of 1861. The laws of 1841 and 1867 of the United States relating
to bankruptcy applied this designation bankrupt to others besides
those engaged in trade.
BANKRUPT
Bank"rupt, a.
1. Being a bankrupt or in a condition of bankruptcy; unable to pay,
or legally discharged from paying, one's debts; as, a bankrupt
merchant.
2. Depleted of money; not having the means of meeting pecuniary
liabilities; as, a bankrupt treasury.
3. Relating to bankrupts and bankruptcy.
4. Destitute of, or wholly wanting (something once possessed, or
something one should possess). "Bankrupt in gratitude." Sheridan.
Bankrupt law, a law by which the property of a person who is unable
or unwilling to pay his debts may be taken and distributed to his
creditors, and by which a person who has made a full surrender of his
property, and is free from fraud, may be discharged from the legal
obligation of his debts. See Insolvent, a.
BANKRUPT
Bank"rupt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bankrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bankrupting.]
Defn: To make bankrupt; to bring financial ruin upon; to impoverish.
BANKRUPTCY
Bank"rupt*cy, n.; pl. Bankruptcies(
1. The state of being actually or legally bankrupt.
2. The act or process of becoming a bankrupt.
3. Complete loss; -- followed by of.
BANKSIDE
Bank"side`, n.
Defn: The slope of a bank, especially of the bank of a steam.
BANK-SIDED
Bank"-sid`ed, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having sides inclining inwards, as a ship; -- opposed to wall-
sided.
BANK SWALLOW
Bank" swal"low.
Defn: See under 1st Bank, n.
BANLIEUE
Ban"li*eue`, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. bannum leucae, banleuca; bannum
jurisdiction + leuca league.]
Defn: The territory without the walls, but within the legal limits,
of a town or city. Brande & C.
BANNER
Ban"ner, n. Etym: [OE. banere, OF. baniere, F. bannière, bandière,
fr. LL. baniera, banderia, fr. bandum banner, fr. OHG. bant band,
strip of cloth; cf. bindan to bind, Goth. bandwa, bandwo, a sign. See
Band, n.]
1. A kind of flag attached to a spear or pike by a crosspiece, and
used by a chief as his standard in battle.
Hang out our banners on the outward walls. Shak.
2. A large piece of silk or other cloth, with a device or motto,
extended on a crosspiece, and borne in a procession, or suspended in
some conspicuous place.
3. Any flag or standard; as, the star-spangled banner. Banner fish
(Zoöl.), a large fish of the genus Histiophorus, of the Swordfish
family, having a broad bannerlike dorsal fin; the sailfish. One
species (H. Americanus) inhabits the North Atlantic.
BANNERED
Ban"nered, a.
Defn: Decorated with a banner or banners "bannered host." Milton.
BANNERET
Ban"ner*et, n.Etym: [OE. baneret, OF. baneret, F. banneret; properly
a dim. of OF. baniere. See Banner.]
1. Originally, a knight who led his vassals into the field under his
own banner; -- commonly used as a title of rank.
2. A title of rank, conferred for heroic deeds, and hence, an order
of knighthood; also, the person bearing such title or rank.
Note: The usual mode of conferring the rank on the field of battle
was by cutting or tearing off the point of the pennon or pointed flag
on the spear of the candidate, thereby making it a banner.
3. A civil officer in some Swiss cantons.
4. A small banner. Shak.
BANNEROL
Ban"ner*ol, n.
Defn: A banderole; esp. a banner displayed at a funeral procession
and set over the tomb. See Banderole.
BANNITION
Ban*ni"tion, n. Etym: [LL. bannitio. See Banish.]
Defn: The act of expulsion.[Obs.] Abp. Laud.
BANNOCK
Ban"nock, n. Etym: [Gael. bonnach.]
Defn: A kind of cake or bread, in shape flat and roundish, commonly
made of oatmeal or barley meal and baked on an iron plate, or
griddle; -- used in Scotland and the northern counties of England.
Jamieson. Bannock fluke, the turbot. [Scot.]
BANNS
Banns, n. pl. Etym: [See Ban.]
Defn: Notice of a proposed marriage, proclaimed in a church, or other
place prescribed by law, in order that any person may object, if he
knows of just cause why the marriage should not take place.
BANQUET
Ban"quet, n. Etym: [F., a feast, prop. a dim. of banc bench; cf. It.
banchetto, dim. of banco a bench, counter. See Bank a bench, and cf.
Banquette.]
1. A feast; a sumptuous entertainment of eating and drinking; often,
a complimentary or ceremonious feast, followed by speeches.
2. A dessert; a course of sweetmeats; a sweetmeat or sweetmeats.
[Obs.]
We'll dine in the great room, but let the music And banquet be
prepared here. Massinger.
BANQUET
Ban"quet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Banqueted; p. pr. & vb. n. Banqueting.]
Defn: To treat with a banquet or sumptuous entertainment of food; to
feast.
Just in time to banquet The illustrious company assembled there.
Coleridge.
BANQUET
Ban"quet, v.i.
1. To regale one's self with good eating and drinking; to feast.
Were it a draught for Juno when she banquets, I would not taste thy
treasonous offer. Milton.
2. To partake of a dessert after a feast. [Obs.]
Where they did both sup and banquet. Cavendish.
BANQUETTE
Ban*quette", n. Etym: [F. See Banquet, n.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A raised way or foot bank, running along the inside of a
parapet, on which musketeers stand to fire upon the enemy.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A narrow window seat; a raised shelf at the back or the top of
a buffet or dresser.
BANQUETTER; BANQUETER
Ban"quet*ter, n.
Defn: One who banquets; one who feasts or makes feasts.
BANSHEE; BANSHIE
Ban"shee, Ban"shie, n. Etym: [Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir.
bean woman + Gael. sith fairy.]
Defn: A supernatural being supposed by the Irish and Scotch peasantry
to warn a family of the speedy death of one of its members, by
wailing or singing in a mournful voice under the windows of the
house.
BANSSHEE; BANSHIE
Bans"shee, Ban"shie, n. [Gael. bean-shith fairy; Gael. & Ir. bean
woman + Gael. sith fairy.] (Celtic Folklore)
Defn: A supernatural being supposed to warn a family of the
approaching death of one of its members, by wailing or singing in a
mournful voice.
BANSTICKLE
Ban"stic`kle, n. Etym: [OE. ban, bon, bone + stickle prickle, sting.
See Bone, n., Stickleback.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish, the three-spined stickleback.
BANTAM
Ban"tam, n.
Defn: A variety of small barnyard fowl, with feathered legs, probably
brought from Bantam, a district of Java.
BANTAM WORK
Ban"tam work`.
Defn: Carved and painted work in imitation of Japan ware.
BANTENG
Ban"teng, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild ox of Java (Bibos Banteng).
BANTER
Ban"ter, v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bantered(p. pr. & vb. n. Bantering.]
Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. F. badiner to joke, or perh. fr. E. bandy
to beat to and fro. See Badinage, and cf. Barter fr. OF. barater.]
1. To address playful good-natured ridicule to, -- the person
addressed, or something pertaining to him, being the subject of the
jesting; to rally; as, he bantered me about my credulity.
Hag-ridden by my own fancy all night, and then bantered on my haggard
looks the next day. W. Irving.
2. To jest about; to ridicule in speaking of, as some trait, habit,
characteristic, and the like. [Archaic]
If they banter your regularity, order, and love of study, banter in
return their neglect of them. Chatham.
3. To delude or trick, -- esp. by way of jest. [Obs.]
We diverted ourselves with bantering several poor scholars with hopes
of being at least his lordship's chaplain. De Foe.
4. To challenge or defy to a match. [Colloq. Southern and Western
U.S.]
BANTER
Ban"ter, n.
Defn: The act of bantering; joking or jesting; humorous or good-
humored raillery; pleasantry.
Part banter, part affection. Tennyson.
BANTERER
Ban"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who banters or rallies.
BANTINGISM
Ban"ting*ism, n.
Defn: A method of reducing corpulence by avoiding food containing
much farinaceous, saccharine, or oily matter; -- so called from
William Banting of London.
BANTLING
Bant"ling, n. Etym: [Prob. for bandling, from band, and meaning a
child wrapped in swaddling bands; or cf. G. bäntling a bastard, fr.
bank bench. Cf. Bastard, n.]
Defn: A young or small child; an infant. [Slightly contemptuous or
depreciatory.]
In what out of the way corners genius produces her bantlings. W.
Irving.
BANTU
Ban"tu, n.
Defn: A member of one of the great family of Negroid tribes occupying
equatorial and southern Africa. These tribes include, as important
divisions, the Kafirs, Damaras, Bechuanas, and many tribes whose
names begin with Aba-, Ama-, Ba-, Ma-, Wa-, variants of the Bantu
plural personal prefix Aba-, as in Ba-ntu, or Aba-ntu, itself a
combination of this prefix with the syllable -ntu, a person. --
Ban"tu, a.
BANXRING
Banx"ring, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian insectivorous mammal of the genus Tupaia.
BANYAN
Ban"yan, n. Etym: [See Banian.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree of the same genus as the common fig, and called the
Indian fig (Ficus Indica), whose branches send shoots to the ground,
which take root and become additional trunks, until it may be the
tree covers some acres of ground and is able to shelter thousands of
men.
BANZAI
Ban"zai", interj. [Jap. banzai, banzei, ten thousand years, forever.]
Defn: Lit., May you live ten thousand years; -- used in salutation of
the emperor and as a battle cry. [Japan]
BAOBAB
Ba"o*bab, n. Etym: [The native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A gigantic African tree (Adansonia digitata), also naturalized
in India. See Adansonia.
BAPHOMET
Baph"o*met, n.Etym: [A corruption of Mahomet or Mohammed, the Arabian
prophet: cf. Pr. Bafomet, OSp. Mafomat, OPg. Mafameda.]
Defn: An idol or symbolical figure which the Templars were accused of
using in their mysterious rites.
BAPTISM
Bap"tism, n. Etym: [OE. baptim, baptem, OE. baptesme, batisme, F.
baptême, L. baptisma, fr. Gr. , fr. to baptize, fr. to dip in water,
akin to deep, Skr. gah to dip, bathe, v. i.]
Defn: The act of baptizing; the application of water to a person, as
a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the
visible church of Christ. This is performed by immersion, sprinkling,
or pouring.
BAPTISMAL
Bap*tis"mal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. baptismal.]
Defn: Pertaining to baptism; as, baptismal vows. Baptismal name, the
Christian name, which is given at baptism.
BAPTISMALLY
Bap*tis"mal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a baptismal manner.
BAPTIST
Bap"tist, n. Etym: [L. baptista, G. ]
1. One who administers baptism; -- specifically applied to John, the
forerunner of Christ. Milton.
2. One of a denomination of Christians who deny the validity of
infant baptism and of sprinkling, and maintain that baptism should be
administered to believers alone, and should be by immersion. See
Anabaptist.
Note: In doctrine the Baptists of this country [the United States]
are Calvinistic, but with much freedom and moderation. Amer. Cyc.
Freewill Baptists, a sect of Baptists who are Arminian in doctrine,
and practice open communion.
-- Seventh-day Baptists, a sect of Baptists who keep the seventh day
of the week, or Saturday, as the Sabbath. See Sabbatarian. The
Dunkers and Campbellites are also Baptists.
BAPTISTERY; BAPTISTRY
Bap"tis*ter*y,Bap"tis*try, n.; pl. Baptisteries (, -tries (. Etym:
[L. baptisterium, Gr. : cf. F. baptistère.] (Arch.)
(a) In early times, a separate building, usually polygonal, used for
baptismal services. Small churches were often changed into
baptisteries when larger churches were built near.
(b) A part of a church containing a font and used for baptismal
services.
BAPTISTIC
Bap*tis"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. ]
Defn: Of or for baptism; baptismal.
BAPTISTICAL
Bap*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Baptistic. [R.]
BAPTIZABLE
Bap*tiz"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being baptized; fit to be baptized. Baxter.
BAPTIZATION
Bap`ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: Baptism. [Obs.]
Their baptizations were null. Jer. Taylor.
BAPTIZE
Bap*tize", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Baptized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Baptizing.] Etym: [F. baptiser, L. baptizare, fr.Gr. . See Baptism.]
1. To administer the sacrament of baptism to.
2. To christen ( because a name is given to infants at their
baptism); to give a name to; to name.
I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo. Shak.
3. To sanctify; to consecrate.
BAPTIZEMENT
Bap*tize"ment, n.
Defn: The act of baptizing.[R.]
BAPTIZER
Bap*tiz"er, n.
Defn: One who baptizes.
BAR
Bar, n. Etym: [OE. barre, F. barre, fr. LL. barra, W. bar the branch
of a tree, bar, baren branch, Gael. & Ir. barra bar.
1. A piece of wood, metal, or other material, long in proportion to
its breadth or thickness, used as a lever and for various other
purposes, but especially for a hindrance, obstruction, or fastening;
as, the bars of a fence or gate; the bar of a door.
Thou shalt make bars of shittim wood. Ex. xxvi. 26.
2. An indefinite quantity of some substance, so shaped as to be long
in proportion to its breadth and thickness; as, a bar of gold or of
lead; a bar of soap.
3. Anything which obstructs, hinders, or prevents; an obstruction; a
barrier.
Must I new bars to my own joy create Dryden.
4. A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a
river or harbor, obstructing navigation.
5. Any railing that divides a room, or office, or hall of assembly,
in order to reserve a space for those having special privileges; as,
the bar of the House of Commons.
6. (Law)
(a) The railing that incloses the place which counsel occupy in
courts of justice. Hence, the phrase at the bar of the court
signifies in open court.
(b) The place in court where prisoners are stationed for arraignment,
trial, or sentence.
(c) The whole body of lawyers licensed in a court or district; the
legal profession.
(d) A special plea constituting a sufficient answer to plaintiff's
action.
7. Any tribunal; as, the bar of public opinion; the bar of God.
8. A barrier or counter, over which liquors and food are passed to
customers; hence, the portion of the room behind the counter where
liquors for sale are kept.
9. (Her.)
Defn: An ordinary, like a fess but narrower, occupying only one fifth
part of the field.
10. A broad shaft, or band, or stripe; as, a bar of light; a bar of
color.
11. (Mus.)
Defn: A vertical line across the staff. Bars divide the staff into
spaces which represent measures, and are themselves called measures.
Note: A double bar marks the end of a strain or main division of a
movement, or of a whole piece of music; in psalmody, it marks the end
of a line of poetry. The term bar is very often loosely used for
measure, i.e., for such length of music, or of silence, as is
included between one bar and the next; as, a passage of eight bars;
two bars' rest.
12. (Far.) pl.
(a) The space between the tusks and grinders in the upper jaw of a
horse, in which the bit is placed.
(b) The part of the crust of a horse's hoof which is bent inwards
towards the frog at the heel on each side, and extends into the
center of the sole.
13. (Mining)
(a) A drilling or tamping rod.
(b) A vein or dike crossing a lode.
14. (Arch.)
(a) A gatehouse of a castle or fortified town.
(b) A slender strip of wood which divides and supports the glass of a
window; a sash bar. Bar shoe (Far.), a kind of horseshoe having a bar
across the usual opening at the heel, to protect a tender frog from
injury.
-- Bar shot, a double headed shot, consisting of a bar, with a ball
or half ball at each end; -- formerly used for destroying the masts
or rigging in naval combat.
-- Bar sinister (Her.), a term popularly but erroneously used for
baton, a mark of illegitimacy. See Baton.
-- Bar tracery (Arch.), ornamental stonework resembling bars of iron
twisted into the forms required.
-- Blank bar (Law). See Blank.
-- Case at bar (Law), a case presently before the court; a case
under argument.
-- In bar of, as a sufficient reason against; to prevent.
-- Matter in bar, or Defence in bar, a plea which is a final defense
in an action.
-- Plea in bar, a plea which goes to bar or defeat the plaintiff's
action absolutely and entirely.
-- Trial at bar (Eng. Law), a trial before all the judges of one the
superior courts of Westminster, or before a quorum representing the
full court.
BAR
Bar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barred (p. pr. & vb. n. Barring.] Etym: [ F.
barrer. See Bar, n.]
1. To fasten with a bar; as, to bar a door or gate.
2. To restrict or confine, as if by a bar; to hinder; to obstruct; to
prevent; to prohibit; as, to bar the entrance of evil; distance bars
our intercourse; the statute bars my right; the right is barred by
time; a release bars the plaintiff's recovery; -- sometimes with up.
He barely looked the idea in the face, and hastened to bar it in its
dungeon. Hawthorne.
3. To except; to exclude by exception.
Nay, but I bar to-night: you shall not gauge me By what we do to-
night. Shak.
4. To cross with one or more stripes or lines.
For the sake of distinguishing the feet more clearly, I have barred
them singly. Burney.
BARACA
Ba*ra"ca, n.
Defn: An international, interdenominational organization of Bible
classes of young men; -- so named in allusion to the Hebrew word
Berachah (Meaning blessing) occurring in 2 Chron. xx. 26 and 1 Chron.
xii.
BARAD
Bar"ad, n. [Gr. weight.] (Physics)
Defn: The pressure of one dyne per square centimeter; -- used as a
unit of pressure.
BARAESTHESIOMETER; BARESTHESIOMETER
Bar`æs*the`si*om"e*ter, Bar`es*the`si*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. weight +
æsthesiometer.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the delicacy of the sense of
pressure. -- Bar`æs*the`si*o*met"ric, Bar`es*the`si*o*met"ric (#), a.
BARATHEA
Bar`a*the"a, n.
Defn: A soft fabric with a kind of basket weave and a diapered
pattern.
BARB
Barb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. L. barba beard. See Beard, n.]
1. Beard, or that which resembles it, or grows in the place of it.
The barbel, so called by reason of his barbs, or wattles in his
mouth. Walton.
2. A muffler, worn by nuns and mourners. [Obs.]
3. pl.
Defn: Paps, or little projections, of the mucous membrane, which mark
the opening of the submaxillary glands under the tongue in horses and
cattle. The name is mostly applied when the barbs are inflamed and
swollen. [Written also barbel and barble.]
4. The point that stands backward in an arrow, fishhook, etc., to
prevent it from being easily extracted. Hence: Anything which stands
out with a sharp point obliquely or crosswise to something else.
"Having two barbs or points." Ascham.
5. A bit for a horse. [Obs.] Spenser.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the side branches of a feather, which collectively
constitute the vane. See Feather.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A southern name for the kingfishes of the eastern and
southeastern coasts of the United States; -- also improperly called
whiting.
8. (Bot.)
Defn: A hair or bristle ending in a double hook.
BARB
Barb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbed (p. pr. & vb. n. Barbing.]
1. To shave or dress the beard of. [Obs.]
2. To clip; to mow. [Obs.] Marston.
3. To furnish with barbs, or with that which will hold or hurt like
barbs, as an arrow, fishhook, spear, etc.
But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. Milton.
BARB
Barb, n. Etym: [F. barbe, fr. Barbarie.]
1. The Barbary horse, a superior breed introduces from Barbary into
Spain by the Moors.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A blackish or dun variety of the pigeon, originally brought
from Barbary.
BARB
Barb, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. bard.]
Defn: Armor for a horse. Same as 2d Bard, n., 1.
BARBACAN
Bar"ba*can, n.
Defn: See Barbican.
BARBACANAGE
Bar"ba*can*age, n.
Defn: See Barbicanage.
BARBADIAN
Bar*ba"di*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Barbados.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Barbados.
BARBADOS; BARBADOES
Bar*ba"dos or Bar*ba"does, n.
Defn: A West Indian island, giving its name to a disease, to a
cherry, etc. Barbados cherry (Bot.), a genus of trees of the West
Indies (Malpighia) with an agreeably acid fruit resembling a cherry.
-- Barbados leg (Med.), a species of elephantiasis incident to hot
climates.
-- Barbados nuts, the seeds of the Jatropha curcas, a plant growing
in South America and elsewhere. The seeds and their acrid oil are
used in medicine as a purgative. See Physic nut.
BARBARA
Bar"ba*ra, n. Etym: [Coined by logicians.] (Logic)
Defn: The first word in certain mnemonic lines which represent the
various forms of the syllogism. It indicates a syllogism whose three
propositions are universal affirmatives. Whately.
BARBARESQUE
Bar`ba*resque", a.
Defn: Barbaric in form or style; as, barbaresque architecture. De
Quincey.
BARBARIAN
Bar*ba"ri*an, n. Etym: [See Barbarous.]
1. A foreigner. [Historical]
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him
that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian
unto me.
2. A man in a rule, savage, or uncivilized state.
3. A person destitute of culture. M. Arnold.
4. A cruel, savage, brutal man; one destitute of pity or humanity.
"Thou fell barbarian." Philips.
BARBARIAN
Bar*ba"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of, or pertaining to, or resembling, barbarians; rude;
uncivilized; barbarous; as, barbarian governments or nations.
BARBARIC
Bar*ba"ric, a. Etym: [L. barbaricus foreign, barbaric, Gr. .]
1. Of, or from, barbarian nations; foreign; -- often with reference
to barbarous nations of east. "Barbaric pearl and gold." Milton.
2. Of or pertaining to, or resembling, an uncivilized person or
people; barbarous; barbarian; destitute of refinement. "Wild,
barbaric music." Sir W. Scott.
BARBARISM
Bar"ba*rism, n. Etym: [L. barbarismus, Gr.; cf. F. barbarisme.]
1. An uncivilized state or condition; rudeness of manners; ignorance
of arts, learning, and literature; barbarousness. Prescott.
2. A barbarous, cruel, or brutal action; an outrage.
A heinous barbarism . . . against the honor of marriage. Milton.
3. An offense against purity of style or language; any form of speech
contrary to the pure idioms of a particular language. See Solecism.
The Greeks were the first that branded a foreign term in any of their
writers with the odious name of barbarism. G. Campbell.
BARBARITY
Bar*bar"i*ty, n.; pl. Barbarities. Etym: [From Barbarous.]
Defn: The state or manner of a barbarian; lack of civilization.
2. Cruelty; ferociousness; inhumanity.
Treating Christians with a barbarity which would have shocked the
very Moslem. Macaulay.
3. A barbarous or cruel act.
4. Barbarism; impurity of speech. [Obs.] Swift.
BARBARIZE
Bar"ba*rize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Barbarized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Barbarizing (.]
1. To become barbarous.
The Roman empire was barbarizing rapidly from the time of Trajan. De
Quincey.
2. To adopt a foreign or barbarous mode of speech.
The ill habit . . . of wretched barbarizing against the Latin and
Greek idiom, with their untutored Anglicisms. Milton.
BARBARIZE
Bar"ba*rize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. barbariser, LL. barbarizare.]
Defn: To make barbarous.
The hideous changes which have barbarized France. Burke.
BARBAROUS
Bar"ba*rous, a. Etym: [L. barbarus, Gr. , strange, foreign; later,
slavish, rude, ignorant; akin to L. balbus stammering, Skr. barbara
stammering, outlandish. Cf. Brave, a.]
1. Being in the state of a barbarian; uncivilized; rude; peopled with
barbarians; as, a barbarous people; a barbarous country.
2. Foreign; adapted to a barbaric taste.[Obs.]
Barbarous gold. Dryden.
3. Cruel; ferocious; inhuman; merciless.
By their barbarous usage he died within a few days, to the grief of
all that knew him. Clarendon.
4. Contrary to the pure idioms of a language.
A barbarous expression G. Campbell.
Syn.
-- Uncivilized; unlettered; uncultivated; untutored; ignorant;
merciless; brutal. See Ferocious.
BARBAROUSLY
Bar"ba*rous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a barbarous manner.
BARBAROUSNESS
Bar"ba*rous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being barbarous; barbarity; barbarism.
BARBARY
Bar"ba*ry, n. Etym: [Fr. Ar. Barbar the people of Barbary.]
Defn: The countries on the north coast of Africa from Egypt to the
Atlantic. Hence: A Barbary horse; a barb. [Obs.] Also, a kind of
pigeon. Barbary ape (Zoöl.), an ape (Macacus innus) of north Africa
and Gibraltar Rock, being the only monkey inhabiting Europe. It is
very commonly trained by showmen.
BARBASTEL
Bar"ba*stel`, n. Etym: [F. barbastelle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bat (Barbastellus communis), with hairy lips.
BARBATE
Bar"bate, a. Etym: [L. barbatus, fr. barba beard. See Barb beard.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Bearded; beset with long and weak hairs.
BARBATED
Bar"ba*ted, a.
Defn: Having barbed points.
A dart uncommonly barbated. T. Warton.
BARBECUE
Bar"be*cue, n. Etym: [In the language of Indians of Guiana, a frame
on which all kinds of flesh and fish are roasted or smoke-dried.]
1. A hog, ox, or other large animal roasted or broiled whole for a
feast.
2. A social entertainment, where many people assemble, usually in the
open air, at which one or more large animals are roasted or broiled
whole.
3. A floor, on which coffee beans are sun-dried.
BARBECUE
Bar"be*cue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbecued (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Barbecuing.]
1. To dry or cure by exposure on a frame or gridiron.
They use little or no salt, but barbecue their game and fish in the
smoke. Stedman.
2. To roast or broil whole, as an ox or hog.
Send me, gods, a whole hog barbecued. Pope.
BARBED
Barbed, a. Etym: [See 4th Bare.]
Defn: Accoutered with defensive armor; -- said of a horse. See Barded
( which is the proper form.) Sir W. Raleigh.
BARBED
Barbed, a.
Defn: Furnished with a barb or barbs; as, a barbed arrow; barbed
wire. Barbed wire, a wire, or a strand of twisted wires, armed with
barbs or sharp points. It is used for fences.
BARBEL
Bar"bel, n.Etym: [OE. barbel, F. barbeau, dim. of L. barbus barbel,
fr. barba beard. See 1st Barb.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A slender tactile organ on the lips of certain fished.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large fresh-water fish ( Barbus vulgaris) found in many
European rivers. Its upper jaw is furnished with four barbels.
3. pl.
Defn: Barbs or paps under the tongued of horses and cattle. See 1st
Barb, 3.
BARBELLATE
Bar"bel*late, a. Etym: [See 1st Barb.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having short, stiff hairs, often barbed at the point. Gray.
BARBELLULATE
Bar*bel"lu*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Barbellate with diminutive hairs or barbs.
BARBER
Bar"ber, n. Etym: [OE. barbour, OF. barbeor, F. barbier, as if fr. an
assumed L. barbator, fr. barba beard. See 1st Barb.]
Defn: One whose occupation it is to shave or trim the beard, and to
cut and dress the hair of his patrons. Barber's itch. See under Itch.
Note: Formerly the barber practiced some offices of surgery, such as
letting blood and pulling teeth. Hence such terms as barber surgeon (
old form barber chirurgeon), barber surgery, etc.
BARBER
Bar"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barbered (p. pr. & vb. n. Barbering.]
Defn: To shave and dress the beard or hair of. Shak.
BARBER FISH
Bar"ber fish. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Surgeon fish.
BARBERMONGER
Bar"ber*mon`ger, n.
Defn: A fop. [Obs.]
BARBERRY
Bar"ber*ry, n. Etym: [OE. barbarin, barbere, OF. berbere.] (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub of the genus Berberis, common along roadsides and in
neglected fields. B. vulgaris is the species best known; its oblong
red berries are made into a preserve or sauce, and have been deemed
efficacious in fluxes and fevers. The bark dyes a fine yellow, esp.
the bark of the root. [Also spelt berberry.]
BARBET
Bar"bet, n. Etym: [F. barbet, fr.barbe beard, long hair of certain
animals. See Barb beard.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A variety of small dog, having long curly hair.
(b) A bird of the family Bucconidæ, allied to the Cuckoos, having a
large, conical beak swollen at the base, and bearded with five
bunches of stiff bristles; the puff bird. It inhabits tropical
America and Africa.
(c) A larva that feeds on aphides.
BARBETTE
Bar*bette", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Barbet.] (Fort.)
Defn: A mound of earth or a platform in a fortification, on which
guns are mounted to fire over the parapet. En barbette, In barbette,
said of guns when they are elevated so as to fire over the top of a
parapet, and not through embrasures.
-- Barbette gun, or Barbette battery, a single gun, or a number of
guns, mounted in barbette, or partially protected by a parapet or
turret.
-- Barbette carriage, a gun carriage which elevates guns
sufficiently to be in barbette. [See Illust. of Casemate.]
BARBICAN; BARBACAN
Bar"bi*can, Bar"ba*can, n. Etym: [OE. barbican, barbecan, F.
barbacane, LL. barbacana, barbicana, of uncertain origin: cf. Ar.
barbakh aqueduct, sewer. F. barbacane also means, an opening to let
out water, loophole.]
1. ( Fort.) A tower or advanced work defending the entrance to a
castle or city, as at a gate or bridge. It was often large and
strong, having a ditch and drawbridge of its own.
2. An opening in the wall of a fortress, through which missiles were
discharged upon an enemy.
BARBICANAGE; BARBACANAGE
Bar"bi*can*age, Bar"ba*can*age, n. Etym: [LL. barbicanagium. See
Barbican.]
Defn: Money paid for the support of a barbican. [Obs.]
BARBICEL
Bar"bi*cel, n. Etym: [NL. barbicella, dim. of L. barba. See 1st
Barb.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the small hooklike processes on the barbules of
feathers.
BARBIERS
Bar"biers, n. (Med.)
Defn: A variety of paralysis, peculiar to India and the Malabar
coast; -- considered by many to be the same as beriberi in chronic
form.
BARBIGEROUS
Bar*big"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. barba a beard + gerous.]
Defn: Having a beard; bearded; hairy.
BARBITON
Bar"bi*ton, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. .] (Mus.)
Defn: An ancient Greek instrument resembling a lyre.
BARBITURIC ACID
Bar`bi*tu"ric ac"id. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline substance,
BARBIZON SCHOOL; BARBISON SCHOOL
Bar`bi`zon" school or Bar`bi`son" school. (Painting)
Defn: A French school of the middle of the 19th century centering in
the village of Barbizon near the forest of Fontainebleau. Its members
went straight to nature in disregard of academic tradition, treating
their subjects faithfully and with poetic feeling for color, light,
and atmosphere. It is exemplified, esp. in landscapes, by Corot,
Rousseau, Daubigny, Jules Dupré, and Diaz. Associated with them are
certain painters of animals, as Troyon and Jaque, and of peasant
life, as Millet and Jules Breton.
BARBLE
Bar"ble, n.
Defn: See Barbel.
BARBOTINE
Bar"bo*tine, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A paste of clay used in decorating coarse pottery in relief.
BARBRE
Bar"bre, a.
Defn: Barbarian. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BARBULE
Bar"bule, n. Etym: [L. barbula, fr. barba beard.]
1. A very minute barb or beard. Booth.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the processes along the edges of the barbs of a feather,
by which adjacent barbs interlock. See Feather.
BARCAROLLE
Bar"ca*rolle, n. Etym: [F. barcarolle, fr. It. barcaruola, fr. barca
bark, barge.] (Mus.)
(a) A popular song or melody sung by Venetian gondoliers.
(b) A piece of music composed in imitation of such a song.
BARCON
Bar"con, n. Etym: [It. barcone, fr. barca a bark.]
Defn: A vessel for freight; -- used in Mediterranean.
BARD
Bard, n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. bardd, Arm. barz, Ir. &
Gael. bard, and F. barde.]
1. A professional poet and singer, as among the ancient Celts, whose
occupation was to compose and sing verses in honor of the heroic
achievements of princes and brave men.
2. Hence: A poet; as, the bard of Avon.
BARD; BARDE
Bard, Barde, n. Etym: [F. barde, of doubtful origin.]
1. A piece of defensive (or, sometimes, ornamental) armor for a
horse's neck, breast, and flanks; a barb. [Often in the pl.]
2. pl.
Defn: Defensive armor formerly worn by a man at arms.
3. (Cookery)
Defn: A thin slice of fat bacon used to cover any meat or game.
BARD
Bard, v. t. (Cookery)
Defn: To cover (meat or game) with a thin slice of fat bacon.
BARD
Bard, n. Etym: [Akin to Dan. & Sw. bark, Icel. börkr, LG. & HG.
borke.]
1. The exterior covering of the trunk and branches of a tree; the
rind.
2. Specifically, Peruvian bark. Bark bed. See Bark stove (below).
-- Bark pit, a pit filled with bark and water, in which hides are
steeped in tanning.
-- Bark stove (Hort.), a glazed structure for keeping tropical
plants, having a bed of tanner's bark (called a bark bed) or other
fermentable matter which produces a moist heat.
BARDED
Bard"ed, p.a. Etym: [See Bard horse armor.]
1. Accoutered with defensive armor; -- said of a horse.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Wearing rich caparisons.
Fifteen hundred men . . . barded and richly trapped. Stow.
BARDIC
Bard"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bards, or their poetry. "The bardic lays of
ancient Greece." G. P. Marsh.
BARDIGLIO
Bar*di"glio, n. [It.]
Defn: An Italian marble of which the principal varieties occur in the
neighborhood of Carrara and in Corsica. It commonly shows a dark gray
or bluish ground traversed by veins.
BARDISH
Bard"ish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or written by, a bard or bards. "Bardish
impostures." Selden.
BARDISM
Bard"ism, n.
Defn: The system of bards; the learning and maxims of bards.
BARDLING
Bard"ling, n.
Defn: An inferior bard. J. Cunningham.
BARDSHIP
Bard"ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a bard.
BARE
Bare, a. Etym: [OE. bar, bare, AS. bær; akin to D. & G. baar, OHG.
par, Icel. berr, Sw. & Dan. bar, OSlav. bos barefoot, Lith. basas;
cf. Skr. bhas to shine
1. Without clothes or covering; stripped of the usual covering;
naked; as, his body is bare; the trees are bare.
2. With head uncovered; bareheaded.
When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. Herbert.
3. Without anything to cover up or conceal one's thoughts or actions;
open to view; exposed.
Bare in thy guilt, how foul must thou appear ! Milton.
4. Plain; simple; unadorned; without polish; bald; meager. "Uttering
bare truth." Shak.
5. Destitute; indigent; empty; unfurnished or scantily furnished; --
used with of (rarely with in) before the thing wanting or taken away;
as, a room bare of furniture. "A bare treasury." Dryden.
6. Threadbare; much worn.
It appears by their bare liveries that they live by your bare words.
Shak.
7. Mere; alone; unaccompanied by anything else; as, a bare majority.
"The bare necessaries of life." Addison.
Nor are men prevailed upon by bare of naked truth. South.
Under bare poles (Naut.), having no sail set.
BARE
Bare, n.
1. Surface; body; substance. [R.]
You have touched the very bare of naked truth. Marston.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a roofing slate, shingle, tile, or metal plate,
which is exposed to the weather.
BARE
Bare, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bared(p. pr. & vb. n. Baring.] Etym: [AS.
barian. See Bare, a.]
Defn: To strip off the covering of; to make bare; as, to bare the
breast.
BARE
Bare.
Defn: Bore; the old preterit of Bear, v.
BAREBACK
Bare"back`, adv.
Defn: On the bare back of a horse, without using a saddle; as, to
ride bareback.
BAREBACKED
Bare"backed`, a.
Defn: Having the back uncovered; as, a barebacked horse.
BAREBONE
Bare"bone`, n.
Defn: A very lean person; one whose bones show through the skin.
Shak.
BAREFACED
Bare"faced`, a.
1. With the face uncovered; not masked. "You will play barefaced."
Shak.
2. Without concealment; undisguised. Hence: Shameless; audacious.
"Barefaced treason." J. Baillie.
BAREFACEDLY
Bare"faced`ly, adv.
Defn: Openly; shamelessly. Locke.
BAREFACEDNESS
Bare"faced`ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being barefaced; shamelessness; assurance;
audaciousness.
BAREFOOT
Bare"foot, a. & adv.
Defn: With the feet bare; without shoes or stockings.
BAREFOOTED
Bare"foot`ed, a.
Defn: Having the feet bare.
BAREGE
Ba*rége", n. Etym: [F. barége, so called from Baréges, a town in the
Pyrenees.]
Defn: A gauzelike fabric for ladies' dresses, veils, etc. of worsted,
silk and worsted, or cotton and worsted.
BAREHANDED
Bare"hand`ed, n.
Defn: Having bare hands.
BAREHEADED; BAREHEAD
Bare"head`ed, Bare"head, a. & adv.
Defn: Having the head uncovered; as, a bareheaded girl.
BARELEGGED
Bare"legged`, a.
Defn: Having the legs bare.
BARELY
Bare"ly, adv.
1. Without covering; nakedly.
2. Without concealment or disguise.
3. Merely; only.
R. For now his son is duke. W. Barely in title, not in revenue. Shak.
4. But just; without any excess; with nothing to spare ( of quantity,
time, etc.); hence, scarcely; hardly; as, there was barely enough for
all; he barely escaped.
BARENECKED
Bare"necked`, a.
Defn: Having the neck bare.
BARENESS
Bare"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bare.
BARESARK
Bare"sark, n. Etym: [Literally, bare sark or shirt.]
Defn: A Berserker, or Norse warrior who fought without armor, or
shirt of mail. Hence, adverbially: Without shirt of mail or armor.
BARFISH
Bar"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Calico bass.
BARFUL
Bar"ful, a.
Defn: Full of obstructions. [Obs.] Shak.
BARGAIN
Bar"gain, n. Etym: [OE. bargayn, bargany, OF. bargaigne, bargagne,
prob. from a supposed LL. barcaneum, fr. barca a boat which carries
merchandise to the shore; hence, to traffic to and fro, to carry on
commerce in general. See Bark a vessel. ]
1. An agreement between parties concerning the sale of property; or a
contract by which one party binds himself to transfer the right to
some property for a consideration, and the other party binds himself
to receive the property and pay the consideration.
A contract is a bargain that is legally binding. Wharton.
2. An agreement or stipulation; mutual pledge.
And whon your honors mean to solemnize The bargain of your faith.
Shak.
3. A purchase; also ( when not qualified), a gainful transaction; an
advantageous purchase; as, to buy a thing at a bargain.
4. The thing stipulated or purchased; also, anything bought cheap.
She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. Shak.
Bargain and sale (Law), a species of conveyance, by which the
bargainor contracts to convey the lands to the bargainee, and becomes
by such contract a trustee for and seized to the use of the
bargainee. The statute then completes the purchase; i.e., the bargain
vests the use, and the statute vests the possession. Blackstone.
-- Into the bargain, over and above what is stipulated; besides.
-- To sell bargains, to make saucy ( usually indelicate) repartees.
[Obs.] Swift.
-- To strike a bargain, to reach or ratify an agreement. "A bargain
was struck." Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Contract; stipulation; purchase; engagement.
BARGAIN
Bar"gain, v. i. Etym: [OE. barganien, OF. bargaigner, F. barguigner,
to hesitate, fr. LL. barcaniare. See Bargain, n.]
Defn: To make a bargain; to make a contract for the exchange of
property or services; -- followed by with and for; as, to bargain
with a farmer for a cow.
So worthless peasants bargain for their wives. Shak.
BARGAIN
Bar"gain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bargained (p. pr. & vb. n. Bargaining.]
Defn: To transfer for a consideration; to barter; to trade; as, to
bargain one horse for another. To bargain away, to dispose of in a
bargain; -- usually with a sense of loss or disadvantage; as, to
bargain away one's birthright. "The heir . . . had somehow bargained
away the estate." G. Eliot.
BARGAINEE
Bar`gain*ee", n. Etym: [OF. bargaigné, p.p. See Bargain, v. i.] (Law)
Defn: The party to a contract who receives, or agrees to receive, the
property sold. Blackstone.
BARGAINER
Bar"gain*er, n.
Defn: One who makes a bargain; -- sometimes in the sense of
bargainor.
BARGAINOR
Bar`gain*or", n. (Law)
Defn: One who makes a bargain, or contracts with another; esp., one
who sells, or contracts to sell, property to another. Blackstone.
BARGE
Barge, n. Etym: [OF. barge, F. berge, fr. LL. barca, for barica (not
found), prob. fr. L. baris an Egyptian rowboat, fr. Gr. , prob. fr.
Egyptian: cf. Coptic bari a boat. Cf. Bark a vessel.]
1. A pleasure boat; a vessel or boat of state, elegantly furnished
and decorated.
2. A large, roomy boat for the conveyance of passengers or goods; as,
a ship's barge; a charcoal barge.
3. A large boat used by flag officers.
4. A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat.
[U.S.]
5. A large omnibus used for excursions. [Local, U.S.]
BARGEBOARD
Barge"board`, n. Etym: [Perh. corrup. of vergeboard; or cf. LL.
bargus a kind of gallows.]
Defn: A vergeboard.
BARGECOURSE
Barge"course`, n. Etym: [See Bargeboard.] (Arch.)
Defn: A part of the tiling which projects beyond the principal
rafters, in buildings where there is a gable. Gwilt.
BARGEE
Bar*gee", n.
Defn: A bargeman. [Eng.]
BARGEMAN
Barge"man, n.
Defn: The man who manages a barge, or one of the crew of a barge.
BARGEMASTTER
Barge"mast`ter, n.
Defn: The proprietor or manager of a barge, or one of the crew of a
barge.
BARGER
Bar"ger, n.
Defn: The manager of a barge. [Obs.]
BARGHEST
Bar"ghest`, n. Etym: [Perh. G. berg mountain + geist demon, or bär a
bear + geist.]
Defn: A goblin, in the shape of a large dog, portending misfortune.
[Also written barguest.]
BARIA
Ba"ri*a, n. Etym: [Cf. Barium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Baryta.
BARIC
Bar"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to barium; as, baric oxide.
BARIC
Bar"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. weight.] (Physics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to weight, esp. to the weight or pressure of
the atmosphere as measured by the barometer.
BARILLA
Ba*ril"la, n. Etym: [Sp. barrilla.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several species of Salsola from which soda is
made, by burning the barilla in heaps and lixiviating the ashes.
2. (Com.)
(a) The alkali produced from the plant, being an impure carbonate of
soda, used for making soap, glass, etc., and for bleaching purposes.
(b) Impure soda obtained from the ashes of any seashore plant, or
kelp. Ure. Copper barilla (Min.), native copper in granular form
mixed with sand, an ore brought from Bolivia; -- called also Barilla
de cobre.
BARILLET
Bar"il*let, n. Etym: [F., dim. of baril barrel.]
Defn: A little cask, or something resembling one. Smart.
BAR IRON
Bar" i`ron.
Defn: See under Iron.
BARITE
Ba"rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Native sulphate of barium, a mineral occurring in transparent,
colorless, white to yellow crystals (generally tabular), also in
granular form, and in compact massive forms resembling marble. It has
a high specific gravity, and hence is often called heavy spar. It is
a common mineral in metallic veins.
BARITONE
Bar"i*tone, a. & n.
Defn: See Barytone.
BARIUM
Ba"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. bary`s heavy.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the elements, belonging to the alkaline earth group; a
metal having a silver-white color, and melting at a very high
temperature. It is difficult to obtain the pure metal, from the
facility with which it becomes oxidized in the air. Atomic weight,
137. Symbol, Ba. Its oxide called baryta. [Rarely written barytum.]
Note: Some of the compounds of this element are remarkable for their
high specific gravity, as the sulphate, called heavy spar, and the
like. The oxide was called barote, by Guyton de Morveau, which name
was changed by Lavoisier to baryta, whence the name of the metal.
BARK
Bark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barked (p. pr. & vb. n. Barking.]
1. To strip the bark from; to peel.
2. To abrade or rub off any outer covering from; as to bark one's
heel.
3. To girdle. See Girdle, v. t., 3.
4. To cover or inclose with bark, or as with bark; as, to bark the
roof of a hut.
BARK
Bark, v. i. Etym: [OE. berken, AS. beorcan; akin to Icel. berkja, and
prob. to E. break.]
1. To make a short, loud, explosive noise with the vocal organs; --
said of some animals, but especially of dogs.
2. To make a clamor; to make importunate outcries.
They bark, and say the Scripture maketh heretics. Tyndale.
Where there is the barking of the belly, there no other commands will
be heard, much less obeyed. Fuller.
BARK
Bark, n.
Defn: The short, loud, explosive sound uttered by a dog; a similar
sound made by some other animals.
BARK; BARQUE
Bark, Barque, n. Etym: [F. barque, fr. Sp. or It. barca, fr. LL.
barca for barica. See Barge.]
1. Formerly, any small sailing vessel, as a pinnace, fishing smack,
etc.; also, a rowing boat; a barge. Now applied poetically to a
sailing vessel or boat of any kind. Byron.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A three-masted vessel, having her foremast and mainmast
squarerigged, and her mizzenmast schooner-rigged.
BARKANTINE
Bark"an*tine, n.
Defn: Same as Barkentine.
BARK BEETLE
Bark" bee`tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small beetle of many species (family Scolytidæ), which in the
larval state bores under or in the bark of trees, often doing great
damage.
BARKBOUND
Bark"bound`, a.
Defn: Prevented from growing, by having the bark too firm or close.
BARKEEPER
Bar"keep`er, n.
Defn: One who keeps or tends a bar for the sale of liquors.
BARKEN
Bark"en, a.
Defn: Made of bark. [Poetic] Whittier.
BARKENTINE
Bark"en*tine, n. Etym: [See Bark, n., a vessel.] (Naut.)
Defn: A threemasted vessel, having the foremast square-rigged, and
the others schooner-rigged. [Spelled also barquentine, barkantine,
etc.] See Illust. in Append.
BARKER
Bark"er, n.
1. An animal that barks; hence, any one who clamors unreasonably.
2. One who stands at the doors of shops to urg [Cant, Eng.]
3. A pistol. [Slang] Dickens.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spotted redshank.
BARKER
Bark"er, n.
Defn: One who strips trees of their bark.
BARKER'S MILL
Bark"er's mill`. Etym: [From Dr. Barker, the inventor.]
Defn: A machine, invented in the 17th century, worked by a form of
reaction wheel. The water flows into a vertical tube and gushes from
apertures in hollow horizontal arms, causing the machine to revolve
on its axis.
BARKERY
Bark"er*y, n.
Defn: A tanhouse.
BARKING IRONS
Bark"ing i`rons.
1. Instruments used in taking off the bark of trees. Gardner.
2. A pair of pistols. [Slang]
BARKLESS
Bark"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of bark.
BARK LOUSE
Bark" louse`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the family Coccidæ, which infests the bark of
trees and vines.
Note: The wingless females assume the shape of scales. The bark louse
of vine is Pulvinaria innumerabilis; that of the pear is Lecanium
pyri. See Orange scale.
BARKY
Bark"y, a.
Defn: Covered with, or containing, bark. "The barky fingers of the
elm." Shak.
BARLEY
Bar"ley, n. Etym: [OE. barli, barlich, AS. bærlic; bere barley + lic
(which is prob. the same as E. like, adj., or perh. a form of AS.
leac leek). AS. bere is akin to Icel, barr barley, Goth. barizeins
made of barley, L. far spelt; cf. W. barlys barley, bara bread.
Farina, 6th Bear.] (Bot.)
Defn: A valuable grain, of the family of grasses, genus Hordeum, used
for food, and for making malt, from which are prepared beer, ale, and
whisky. Barley bird (Zoöl.), the siskin.
-- Barley sugar, sugar boiled till it is brittle (formerly with a
decoction of barley) and candied.
-- Barley water, a decoction of barley, used in medicine, as a
nutritive and demulcent.
BARLEYBRAKE; BARLEYBREAK
Bar"ley*brake` Bar"ley*break`, n.
Defn: An ancient rural game, commonly played round stacks of barley,
or other grain, in which some of the party attempt to catch others
who run from a goal.
BARLEY-BREE
Bar"ley-bree`, n. Etym: [Lit. barley broth. See Brew.]
Defn: Liquor made from barley; strong ale. [Humorous] [Scot.] Burns.
BARLEYCORN
Bar"ley*corn`, n. Etym: [See Corn.]
1. A grain or "corn" of barley.
2. Formerly , a measure of length, equal to the average length of a
grain of barley; the third part of an inch. John Barleycorn, a
humorous personification of barley as the source of malt liquor or
whisky.
BARM
Barm, n. Etym: [OE. berme, AS. beorma; akin to Sw. bärma, G. bärme,
and prob. L. fermenium. *93.]
Defn: Foam rising upon beer, or other malt liquors, when fermenting,
and used as leaven in making bread and in brewing; yeast. Shak.
BARM
Barm, n. Etym: [OE. bearm, berm, barm, AS. beorma; akin to E. bear to
support.]
Defn: The lap or bosom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BARMAID
Bar"maid`, n.
Defn: A girl or woman who attends the customers of a bar, as in a
tavern or beershop.
A bouncing barmaid. W. Irving.
BARMASTER
Bar"mas`ter, n. Etym: [Berg + master: cf. G. Bergmeister.]
Defn: Formerly, a local judge among miners; now, an officer of the
barmote. [Eng.]
BARMCLOTH
Barm"cloth`, n.
Defn: Apron. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BARMECIDAL
Bar"me*ci`dal, a. Etym: [See Barmecide.]
Defn: Unreal; illusory. "A sort of Barmecidal feast." Hood.
BARMECIDE
Bar"me*cide, n. Etym: [A prince of the Barmecide family, who, as
related in the "Arabian Nights' Tales", pretended to set before the
hungry Shacabac food, on which the latter pretended to feast.]
Defn: One who proffers some illusory advantage or benefit. Also used
as an adj.: Barmecidal. "A Barmecide feast." Dickens.
BARMOTE
Bar"mote`, n. Etym: [Barg + mote meeting.]
Defn: A court held in Derbyshire, in England, for deciding
controversies between miners. Blount.
BARMY
Barm"y, a.
Defn: Full of barm or froth; in a ferment. "Barmy beer." Dryden.
BARMY
Barm"y (bärm"y), a.
Defn: Full of barm or froth; in a ferment. "Barmy beer." Dryden.
BARN
Barn, n. Etym: [OE. bern, AS. berern, bern; bere barley + ern, ærn, a
close place. Barley.]
Defn: A covered building used chiefly for storing grain, hay, and
other productions of a farm. In the United States a part of the barn
is often used for stables. Barn owl (Zoöl.), an owl of Europe and
America (Aluco flammeus, or Strix flammea), which frequents barns and
other buildings.
-- Barn swallow (Zoöl.), the common American swallow (Hirundo
horreorum), which attaches its nest of mud to the beams and rafters
of barns.
BARN
Barn, v. t.
Defn: To lay up in a barn. [Obs.] Shak.
Men . . . often barn up the chaff, and burn up the grain. Fuller.
BARN
Barn, n.
Defn: A child. [Obs.] See Bairn.
BARNABITE
Bar"na*bite, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A member of a religious order, named from St. Barnabas.
BARNACLE
Bar"na*cle, n. Etym: [Prob. from E. barnacle a kind of goose, which
was popularly supposed to grow from this shellfish; but perh. from
LL. bernacula for pernacula, dim. of perna ham, sea mussel; cf. Gr.
ham Cf. F. bernacle, barnacle, E. barnacle a goose; and Ir.
bairneach, barneach, limpet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any cirriped crustacean adhering to rocks, floating timber,
ships, etc., esp. (a) the sessile species (genus Balanus and allies),
and (b) the stalked or goose barnacles (genus Lepas and allies). See
Cirripedia, and Goose barnacle. Barnacle eater (Zoöl.), the orange
filefish.
-- Barnacle scale (Zoöl.), a bark louse (Ceroplastes
cirripediformis) of the orange and quince trees in Florida. The
female scale curiously resembles a sessile barnacle in form.
BARNACLE
Bar"na*cle, n. Etym: [See Bernicle.]
Defn: A bernicle goose.
BARNACLE
Bar"na*cle, n. Etym: [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac, and Prov.
F. (Berri) berniques, spectacles.]
1. pl. (Far.)
Defn: An instrument for pinching a horse's nose, and thus restraining
him.
Note: [Formerly used in the sing.]
The barnacles . . . give pain almost equal to that of the switch.
Youatt.
2. pl.
Defn: Spectacles; -- so called from their resemblance to the
barnacles used by farriers. [Cant, Eng.] Dickens.
BARNBURNER
Barn"burn`er, n. [So called in allusion to the fable of the man who
burned his barn in order to rid it of rats.]
Defn: A member of the radical section of the Democratic party in New
York, about the middle of the 19th century, which was hostile to
extension of slavery, public debts, corporate privileges, etc., and
supported Van Buren against Cass for president in 1848; --opposed to
Hunker. [Political Cant, U. S.]
BARNSTORMER
Barn"storm`er, n. [Barn + storm, v.]
Defn: An itinerant theatrical player who plays in barns when a
theatre is lacking; hence, an inferior actor, or one who plays in the
country away from the larger cities. --Barn"storm`ing, n. [Theatrical
Cant]
BARNYARD
Barn"yard`, n.
Defn: A yard belonging to a barn.
BAROCCO
Ba*roc"co, a. Etym: [It.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Baroque.
BAROCYCLONOMETER
Bar`o*cy`clon*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. weight + cyclone + -meter.]
(Meteorol.)
Defn: An aneroid barometer for use with accompanying graphic diagrams
and printed directions designed to aid mariners to interpret the
indications of the barometer so as to determine the existence of a
violent storm at a distance of several hundred miles.
BAROGRAM
Bar"o*gram, n. [Gr. weight + -gram.] (Meteor.)
Defn: A tracing, usually made by the barograph, showing graphically
the variations of atmospheric pressure for a given time.
BAROGRAPH
Bar"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + -graph.] (Meteor.)
Defn: An instrument for recording automatically the variations of
atmospheric pressure.
BAROKO
Ba*ro"ko, n. Etym: [A mnemonic word.] (Logic)
Defn: A form or mode of syllogism of which the first proposition is a
universal affirmative, and the other two are particular negative.
BAROLOGY
Ba*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + -logy.]
Defn: The science of weight or gravity.
BAROMACROMETER
Bar`o*ma*crom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + long + -meter.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the weight and length of a
newborn infant.
BAROMETER
Ba*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + -meter: cf. F. baromètre.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the
atmosphere, and hence for judging of the probable changes of weather,
or for ascertaining the height of any ascent.
Note: The barometer was invented by Torricelli at Florence about
1643. It is made in its simplest form by filling a graduated glass
tube about 34 inches long with mercury and inverting it in a cup
containing mercury. The column of mercury in the tube descends until
balanced by the weight of the atmosphere, and its rise or fall under
varying conditions is a measure of the change in the atmospheric
pressure. At the sea level its ordinary height is about 30 inches
(760 millimeters). See Sympiesometer. Nichol. Aneroid barometer. See
Aneroid barometer, under Aneroid.
-- Marine barometer, a barometer with tube contracted at bottom to
prevent rapid oscillations of the mercury, and suspended in gimbals
from an arm or support on shipboard.
-- Mountain barometer, a portable mercurial barometer with tripod
support, and long scale, for measuring heights.
-- Siphon barometer, a barometer having a tube bent like a hook with
the longer leg closed at the top. The height of the mercury in the
longer leg shows the pressure of the atmosphere.
-- Wheel barometer, a barometer with recurved tube, and a float,
from which a cord passes over a pulley and moves an index.
BAROMETRIC; BAROMETRICAL
Bar`o*met"ric, Bar`o*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the barometer; made or indicated by a barometer;
as, barometric changes; barometrical observations.
BAROMETRICALLY
Bar`o*met"ric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By means of a barometer, or according to barometric
observations.
BAROMETROGRAPH
Bar`o*met"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + measure + -graph.]
Defn: A form of barometer so constructed as to inscribe of itself
upon paper a record of the variations of atmospheric pressure.
BAROMETRY
Ba*rom"e*try, n.
Defn: The art or process of making barometrical measurements.
BAROMETZ
Bar"o*metz, n. Etym: [Cf. Russ. baranets' clubmoss.] (Bot.)
Defn: The woolly-skinned rhizoma or rootstock of a fern (Dicksonia
barometz), which, when specially prepared and inverted, somewhat
resembles a lamb; -- called also Scythian lamb.
BARON
Bar"on, n. Etym: [OE. baron, barun, OF. baron, accus. of ber, F.
baron, prob. fr. OHG. baro (not found) bearer, akin to E. bear to
support; cf. O. Frisian bere, LL. baro, It. barone, Sp. varon. From
the meaning bearer (of burdens) seem to have come the senses strong
man, man (in distinction from woman), which is the oldest meaning in
French, and lastly, nobleman. Cf. L. baro, simpleton. See Bear to
support.]
1. A title or degree of nobility; originally, the possessor of a
fief, who had feudal tenants under him; in modern times, in France
and Germany, a nobleman next in rank below a count; in England, a
nobleman of the lowest grade in the House of Lords, being next below
a viscount.
Note: "The tenants in chief from the Crown, who held lands of the
annual value of four hundred pounds, were styled Barons; and it is to
them, and not to the members of the lowest grade of the nobility (to
whom the title at the present time belongs), that reference is made
when we read of the Barons of the early days of England's history . .
. . Barons are addressed as 'My Lord,' and are styled 'Right
Honorable.' All their sons and daughters 'Honorable.'" Cussans.
2. (Old Law)
Defn: A husband; as, baron and feme, husband and wife. [R.] Cowell.
Baron of beef, two sirloins not cut asunder at the backbone.
-- Barons of the Cinque Ports, formerly members of the House of
Commons, elected by the seven Cinque Ports, two for each port.
-- Baron of the exchequer, the judges of the Court of Exchequer, one
of the three ancient courts of England, now abolished.
BARONAGE
Bar"on*age, n. Etym: [OE. barnage, baronage, OF.barnage, F.
baronnage; cf. LL. baronagium.]
1. The whole body of barons or peers.
The baronage of the kingdom. Bp. Burnet.
2. The dignity or rank of a baron.
3. The land which gives title to a baron. [Obs.]
BARONESS
Bar"on*ess, n.
Defn: A baron's wife; also, a lady who holds the baronial title in
her own right; as, the Baroness Burdett-Coutts.
BARONET
Bar"on*et, n. Etym: [Baron + -et.]
Defn: A dignity or degree of honor next below a baron and above a
knight, having precedency of all orders of knights except those of
the Garter. It is the lowest degree of honor that is hereditary. The
baronets are commoners.
Note: The order was founded by James I. in 1611, and is given by
patent. The word, however, in the sense of a lesser baron, was in use
long before. "Baronets have the title of 'Sir' prefixed to their
Christian names; their surnames being followed by their dignity,
usually abbreviated Bart. Their wives are addressed as 'Lady' or
'Madam'. Their sons are possessed of no title beyond 'Esquire.'"
Cussans.
BARONETAGE
Bar"on*et*age, n.
1. State or rank of a baronet.
2. The collective body of baronets.
BARONETCY
Bar"on*et*cy, n.
Defn: The rank or patent of a baronet.
BARONG
Ba*rong", n. [Native name.]
Defn: A kind of cutting weapon with a thick back and thin razorlike
edge, used by the Moros of the Philippine Islands.
BARONIAL
Ba*ro"ni*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a baron or a barony. "Baronial tenure." Hallam.
BARONY
Bar"o*ny, n.; pl. Baronies (. Etym: [OF. baronie, F. baronnie, LL.
baronia. See Baron.]
1. The fee or domain of a baron; the lordship, dignity, or rank of a
baron.
2. In Ireland, a territorial division, corresponding nearly to the
English hundred, and supposed to have been originally the district of
a native chief. There are 252 of these baronies. In Scotland, an
extensive freehold. It may be held by a commoner. Brande & C.
BAROQUE
Ba*roque", a. Etym: [F.; cf. It. barocco.] (Arch.)
Defn: In bad taste; grotesque; odd.
BAROSCOPE
Bar"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. weight + -scope: cf. F. baroscope.]
Defn: Any instrument showing the changes in the weight of the
atmosphere; also, less appropriately, any instrument that indicates -
or foreshadows changes of the weather, as a deep vial of liquid
holding in suspension some substance which rises and falls with
atmospheric changes.
BAROSCOPIC; BAROSCOPICAL
Bar`o*scop"ic, Bar`o*scop"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or determined by, the baroscope.
BAROTHERMOGRAPH
Bar`o*ther"mo*graph, n. [Gr. weight + thermograph.]
Defn: An instrument for recording both pressure and temperature, as
of the atmosphere.
BAROUCHE
Ba*rouche", n. Etym: [G. barutsche, It. baroccio, biroccio, LL.
barrotium, fr. L. birotus two-wheeled; bi=bis twice + rota wheel.]
Defn: A four-wheeled carriage, with a falling top, a seat on the
outside for the driver, and two double seats on the inside arranged
so that the sitters on the front seat face those on the back seat.
BAROUCHET
Ba`rou*chet", n.
Defn: A kind of light barouche.
BARPOST
Bar"post`, n.
Defn: A post sunk in the ground to receive the bars closing a passage
into a field.
BARQUE
Barque, n.
Defn: Same as 3d Bark, n.
BARRACAN
Bar"ra*can, n. Etym: [F. baracan, bouracan (cf. Pr. barracan, It.
baracane, Sp. barragan, Pg. barregana, LL. barracanus), fr. Ar.
barrakan a kind of black gown, perh. fr. Per. barak a garment made of
camel's hair.]
Defn: A thick, strong stuff, somewhat like camlet; -- still used for
outer garments in the Levant.
BARRACK
Bar"rack, n. Etym: [F. baraque, fr. It. baracca (cf. Sp. barraca),
from LL. barra bar. See Bar, n.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A building for soldiers, especially when in garrison. Commonly
in the pl., originally meaning temporary huts, but now usually
applied to a permanent structure or set of buildings.
He lodged in a miserable hut or barrack, composed of dry branches and
thatched with straw. Gibbon.
2. A movable roof sliding on four posts, to cover hay, straw, etc.
[Local, U.S.]
BARRACK
Bar"rack, v. t.
Defn: To supply with barracks; to establish in barracks; as, to
barrack troops.
BARRACK
Bar"rack, v. i.
Defn: To live or lodge in barracks.
BARRACLADE
Bar"ra*clade, n. Etym: [D. baar, OD. baer, naked, bare + kleed
garment, i.e., cloth undressed or without nap.]
Defn: A home-made woolen blanket without nap. [Local, New York]
Bartlett.
BARRACOON
Bar"ra*coon`, n. Etym: [Sp. or Pg. barraca. See Barrack.]
Defn: A slave warehouse, or an inclosure where slaves are quartered
temporarily. Du Chaillu.
BARRACUDA; BARRACOUTA
Bar`ra*cu"da, Bar`ra*cou"ta, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A voracious pikelike, marine fish, of the genus Sphyræna,
sometimes used as food.
Note: That of Europe and our Atlantic coast is Sphyræna spet (or S.
vulgaris); a southern species is S. picuda; the Californian is S.
argentea.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large edible fresh-water fish of Australia and New Zealand
(Thyrsites atun).
BARRAGE
Bar"rage, n. Etym: [F., fr. barrer to bar, from barre bar.] (Engin.)
Defn: An artificial bar or obstruction placed in a river or water
course to increase the depth of water; as, the barrages of the Nile.
BARRAMUNDI
Bar`ra*mun"di, n. [Written also barramunda.] [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A remarkable Australian fresh-water ganoid fish of the genus
Ceratodus.
(b) An Australian river fish (Osteoglossum Leichhardtii).
BARRANCA
Bar*ran"ca, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A ravine caused by heavy rains or a watercourse. [Texas & N.
Mex.]
BARRAS
Bar"ras, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A resin, called also galipot.
BARRATOR
Bar"ra*tor, n. Etym: [OE. baratour, OF. barateor deceiver, fr. OF.
barater, bareter, to deceive, cheat, barter. See Barter, v. i.]
Defn: One guilty of barratry.
BARRATROUS
Bar"ra*trous, (Law)
Defn: Tainter with, or constituting, barratry.
-- Bar"ra*trous*ly, adv. Kent.
BARRATRY
Bar"ra*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. baraterie, LL. barataria. See Barrator,
and cf. Bartery.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The practice of exciting and encouraging lawsuits and quarrels.
[Also spelt barretry.] Coke. Blackstone.
2. (Mar. Law)
Defn: A fraudulent breach of duty or willful act of known illegality
on the part of a master of a ship, in his character of master, or of
the mariners, to the injury of the owner of the ship or cargo, and
without his consent. It includes every breach of trust committed with
dishonest purpose, as by running away with the ship, sinking or
deserting her, etc., or by embezzling the cargo. Kent. Part.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: The crime of a judge who is influenced by bribery in
pronouncing judgment. Wharton.
BARRED OWL
Barred" owl". (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large American owl (Syrnium nebulosum); -- so called from the
transverse bars of a dark brown color on the breast.
BARREL
Bar"rel, n.Etym: [OE. barel, F. baril, prob. fr. barre bar. Cf.
Barricade.]
1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and
bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having
flat ends or heads.
2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for
different articles and also in different places for the same article,
being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 31
3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel of a
windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.
4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is
discharged. Knight.
5. A jar. [Obs.] 1 Kings xvii. 12.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hollow basal part of a feather. Barrel bulk (Com.), a
measure equal to five cubic feet, used in estimating capacity, as of
a vessel for freight.
-- Barrel drain (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical tube.
-- Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part of a boiler, containing
the flues.
-- Barrel of the ear (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic cavity.
-- Barrel organ, an instrument for producing music by the action of
a revolving cylinder.
-- Barrel vault. See under Vault.
BARREL
Bar"rel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barreled (Barrelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Barreling, or Barrelling.]
Defn: To put or to pack in a barrel or barrels.
BARRELED; BARRELLED
Bar"reled, Bar"relled, a.
Defn: Having a barrel; -- used in composition; as, a double-barreled
gun.
BARREL PROCESS
Bar"rel proc"ess. (Metal.)
Defn: A process of extracting gold or silver by treating the ore in a
revolving barrel, or drum, with mercury, chlorine, cyanide solution,
or other reagent.
BARREN
Bar"ren, a. Etym: [OE. barein, OF. brehaing, brehaigne, baraigne, F.
bréhaigne; of uncertain origin; cf. Arm. brékha, markha, sterile; LL.
brana a sterile mare, principally in Aquitanian and Spanish
documents; Bisc. barau, baru, fasting.]
1. Incapable of producing offspring; producing no young; sterile; --
She was barren of children. Bp. Hall.
2. Not producing vegetation, or useful vegetation; "Barren mountain
tracts." Macaulay.
3. Unproductive; fruitless; unprofitable; empty.
Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott.
Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift.
4. Mentally dull; stupid. Shak. Barren flower, a flower which has
only stamens without a pistil, or which as neither stamens nor
pistils.
-- Barren Grounds (Geog.), a vast tract in British America northward
of the forest regions.
-- Barren Ground bear (Zoöl.), a peculiar bear, inhabiting the
Barren Grounds, now believed to be a variety of the brown bear of
Europe.
-- Barren Ground caribou (Zoöl.), a small reindeer (Rangifer
Groenlandicus) peculiar to the Barren Grounds and Greenland.
BARREN
Bar"ren, n.
1. A tract of barren land.
2. pl.
Defn: Elevated lands or plains on which grow small trees, but not
timber; as, pine barrens; oak barrens. They are not necessarily
sterile, and are often fertile. [Amer.] J. Pickering.
BARRENLY
Bar"ren*ly, adv.
Defn: Unfruitfully; unproductively.
BARRENNESS
Bar"ren*ness, n.
Defn: The condition of being barren; sterility; unproductiveness.
A total barrenness of invention. Dryden.
BARRENWORT
Bar"ren*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous plant of the Barberry family (Epimedium alpinum),
having leaves that are bitter and said to be sudorific.
BARRET
Bar"ret, n. Etym: [F. barrette, LL. barretum a cap. See Berretta, and
cf. Biretta.]
Defn: A kind of cap formerly worn by soldiers; -- called also barret
cap. Also, the flat cap worn by Roman Catholic ecclesiastics.
BARRETTER
Bar"ret*ter, n. [OF. bareter to exchange. Cf. Barter.] (Wireless
Teleg.)
Defn: A thermal cymoscope which operates by increased resistance when
subjected to the influence of electric waves. The original form
consisted of an extremely fine platinum wire loop attached to
terminals and inclosed in a small glass or silver bulb. In a later
variety, called the liquid barretter, wire is replace by a column of
liquid in a very fine capillary tube.
BARRICADE
Bar`ri*cade", n. Etym: [F. barricade, fr. Sp. barricada, orig. a
barring up with casks; fr. barrica cask, perh. fr. LL. barra bar. See
Bar, n., and cf. Barrel, n.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A fortification, made in haste, of trees, earth, palisades,
wagons, or anything that will obstruct the progress or attack of an
enemy. It is usually an obstruction formed in streets to block an
enemy's access.
2. Any bar, obstruction, or means of defense.
Such a barricade as would greatly annoy, or absolutely stop, the
currents of the atmosphere. Derham.
BARRICADE
Bar`ri*cade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Barricaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Barricading.] Etym: [Cf. F. barricader. See Barricade, n.]
Defn: To fortify or close with a barricade or with barricades; to
stop up, as a passage; to obstruct; as, the workmen barricaded the
streets of Paris.
The further end whereof [a bridge] was barricaded with barrels.
Hakluyt.
BARRICADER
Bar`ri*cad"er, n.
Defn: One who constructs barricades.
BARRICADO
Bar`ri*ca"do, n. & v. t.
Defn: See Barricade. Shak.
BARRIER
Bar"ri*er, n. Etym: [OE. barrere, barere, F. barrière, fr. barre bar.
See Bar, n.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A carpentry obstruction, stockade, or other obstacle made in a
passage in order to stop an enemy.
2. A fortress or fortified town, on the frontier of a country,
commanding an avenue of approach.
3. pl.
Defn: A fence or railing to mark the limits of a place, or to keep
back a crowd.
No sooner were the barriers opened, than he paced into the lists. Sir
W. Scott.
4. An any obstruction; anything which hinders approach or attack.
"Constitutional barriers." Hopkinson.
5. Any limit or boundary; a line of separation.
'Twixt that [instinct] and reason, what a nice barrier ! Pope.
Barrier gate, a heavy gate to close the opening through a barrier.
-- Barrier reef, a form of coral reef which runs in the general
direction of the shore, and incloses a lagoon channel more or less
extensive.
-- To fight at barriers, to fight with a barrier between, as a
martial exercise. [Obs.]
BARRIGUDO
Bar`ri*gu"do, n. Etym: [Native name, fr. Sp. barrigudo big-bellied.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, dark-colored, South American monkey, of the genus
Lagothrix, having a long prehensile tail.
BARRINGOUT
Bar`ring*out", n.
Defn: The act of closing the doors of a schoolroom against a
schoolmaster; -- a boyish mode of rebellion in schools. Swift.
BARRIO
Bar"ri*o, n.; pl. Barrios (#). [Sp.]
Defn: In Spain and countries colonized by Spain, a village, ward, or
district outside a town or city to whose jurisdiction it belongs.
BARRISTER
Bar"ris*ter, n. Etym: [From Bar, n.]
Defn: Counselor at law; a counsel admitted to plead at the bar, and
undertake the public trial of causes, as distinguished from an
attorney or solicitor. See Attorney. [Eng.]
BARROOM
Bar"room`, n.
Defn: A room containing a bar or counter at which liquors are sold.
BARROW
Bar"row, n. Etym: [OE. barow, fr. AS. beran to bear. See Bear to
support, and cf. Bier.]
1. A support having handles, and with or without a wheel, on which
heavy or bulky things can be transported by hand. See Handbarrow, and
Wheelbarrow.
2. (Salt Works)
Defn: A wicker case, in which salt is put to drain.
BARROW
Bar"row, n. Etym: [OE. barow, bargh, AS. bearg, bearh; akin to Icel.
börgr, OHG. barh, barug, G. barch.
Defn: A hog, esp. a male hog castrated. Holland.
BARROW
Bar"row, n. Etym: [OE. bergh, AS. beorg, beorh, hill, sepulchral
mound; akin to G. berg mountain, Goth. bairgahei hill, hilly country,
and perh. to Skr. b high, OIr. brigh mountain. Cf. Berg, Berry a
mound, and Borough an incorporated town.]
1. A large mound of earth or stones over the remains of the dead; a
tumulus.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A heap of rubbish, attle, etc.
BARROWIST
Bar"row*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Henry Barrowe, one of the founders of
Independency or Congregationalism in England. Barrowe was executed
for nonconformity in 1953.
BARRULET
Bar"ru*let, n. Etym: [Dim. of bar, n.] (Her.)
Defn: A diminutive of the bar, having one fourth its width.
BARRULY
Bar"ru*ly, a. (Her.)
Defn: Traversed by barrulets or small bars; -- said of the field.
BARRY
Bar"ry, a. (Her.)
Defn: , Divided into bars; -- said of the field.
BARSE
Barse, n. Etym: [AS. bears, bærs, akin to D. baars, G. bars, barsch.
Cf. 1st Bass, n.]
Defn: The common perch. See 1st Bass. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
BARTENDER
Bar"tend`er, n.
Defn: A barkeeper.
BARTER
Bar"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bartered (p. pr. & vb. n. Bartering.]
Etym: [OE. bartren, OF. barater, bareter, to cheat, exchange, perh.
fr. Gr. to do, deal (well or ill), use practices or tricks, or perh.
fr. Celtic; cf. Ir. brath treachery, W. brad. Cf. Barrator.]
Defn: To traffic or trade, by exchanging one commodity for another,
in distinction from a sale and purchase, in which money is paid for
the commodities transferred; to truck.
BARTER
Bar"ter, v. t.
Defn: To trade or exchange in the way of barter; to exchange
(frequently for an unworthy consideration); to traffic; to truck; --
sometimes followed by away; as, to barter away goods or honor.
BARTER
Bar"ter, n.
1. The act or practice of trafficking by exchange of commodities; an
exchange of goods.
The spirit of huckstering and barter. Burke.
2. The thing given in exchange.
Syn.
-- Exchange; dealing; traffic; trade; truck.
BARTERER
Bar"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who barters.
BARTERY
Bar"ter*y, n.
Defn: Barter. [Obs.] Camden.
BARTH
Barth, n. Etym: [Etymol. unknown.]
Defn: A place of shelter for cattle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
BARTHOLOMEW TIDE
Bar*thol"o*mew tide`.
Defn: Time of the festival of St. Bartholomew, August 24th. Shak.
BARTIZAN
Bar"ti*zan`, n. Etym: [Cf. Brettice.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small, overhanging structure for lookout or defense, usually
projecting at an angle of a building or near an entrance gateway.
BARTLETT
Bart"lett, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A Bartlett pear, a favorite kind of pear, which originated in
England about 1770, and was called Williams' Bonchrétien. It was
brought to America, and distributed by Mr. Enoch Bartlett, of
Dorchester, Massachusetts.
BARTON
Bar"ton, n. Etym: [AS. beret courtyard, grange; bere barley + t an
inclosure. ]
1. The demesne lands of a manor; also, the manor itself. [Eng.]
Burton.
2. A farmyard. [Eng.] Southey.
BARTRAM
Bar"tram, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Bertram. Johnson.
BARWAY
Bar"way`, n.
Defn: A passage into a field or yard, closed by bars made to take out
of the posts.
BARWISE
Bar"wise`, adv. (Her.)
Defn: Horizontally.
BARWOOD
Bar"wood`, n.
Defn: A red wood of a leguminous tree (Baphia nitida), from Angola
and the Gaboon in Africa. It is used as a dyewood, and also for
ramrods, violin bows and turner's work.
BARYCENTRIC
Bar`y*cen"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. heavy + center.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the center of gravity. See Barycentric
calculus, under Calculus.
BARYPHONY
Ba*ryph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. heavy + a sound voice.] (Med.)
Defn: Difficulty of speech.
BARYSPHERE
Bar"y*sphere, n. [Gr. heavy + sphere.] (Geol.)
Defn: The heavy interior portion of the earth, within the
lithosphere.
BARYTA
Ba*ry"ta, n. Etym: [Gr. heavy. Cf. Baria.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oxide of barium (or barytum); a heavy earth with a specific
gravity above 4.
BARYTES
Ba*ry"tes, n. Etym: [Gr. heavy: cf. Gr. heaviness, F. baryte.] (Min.)
Defn: Barium sulphate, generally called heavy spar or barite. See
Barite.
BARYTIC
Ba*ryt"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to baryta.
BARYTO-CALCITE
Ba*ry"to-cal"cite, n. Etym: [Baryta + calcite.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a white or gray color, occurring massive or
crystallized. It is a compound of the carbonates of barium and
calcium.
BARYTONE; BARITONE
Bar"y*tone, Bar"i*tone, a. Etym: [Gr. ; heavy + tone.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: Grave and deep, as a kind of male voice.
2. (Greek Gram.)
Defn: Not marked with an accent on the last syllable, the grave
accent being understood.
BARYTONE; BARITONE
Bar"y*tone, Bar"i*tone, n. Etym: [F. baryton: cf. It. baritono.]
1. (Mus.)
(a) A male voice, the compass of which partakes of the common bass
and the tenor, but which does not descend as low as the one, nor rise
as high as the other.
(b) A person having a voice of such range.
(c) The viola di gamba, now entirely disused.
2. (Greek Gram.)
Defn: A word which has no accent marked on the last syllable, the
grave accent being understood.
BARYTUM
Ba*ry"tum, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: The metal barium. See Barium. [R.]
BASAL
Ba"sal, a.
Defn: Relating to, or forming, the base. Basal cleavage. See under
Cleavage.
-- Basal plane (Crystallog.), one parallel to the lateral or
horizontal axis.
BASAL-NERVED
Ba"sal-nerved`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nerves radiating from the base; -- said of leaves.
BASALT
Ba*salt", n. Etym: [N. basaltes (an African word), a dark and hard
species of marble found in Ethiopia: cf. F. basalte.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: A rock of igneous origin, consisting of augite and triclinic
feldspar, with grains of magnetic or titanic iron, and also bottle-
green particles of olivine frequently disseminated.
Note: It is usually of a greenish black color, or of some dull brown
shade, or black. It constitutes immense beds in some regions, and
also occurs in veins or dikes cutting through other rocks. It has
often a prismatic structure as at the Giant's Causeway, in Ireland,
where the columns are as regular as if the work of art. It is a very
tough and heavy rock, and is one of the best materials for
macadamizing roads.
2. An imitation, in pottery, of natural basalt; a kind of black
porcelain.
BASALTIC
Ba*salt"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. basaltique.]
Defn: Pertaining to basalt; formed of, or containing, basalt; as
basaltic lava.
BASALTIFORM
Ba*salt"i*form, a. Etym: [Basalt + -form.]
Defn: In the form of basalt; columnar.
BASALTOID
Ba*salt"oid, a. Etym: [Basalt + -oid.]
Defn: Formed like basalt; basaltiform.
BASAN
Bas"an, n.
Defn: Same as Basil, a sheepskin.
BASANITE
Bas"a*nite, n. Etym: [L. basanites lapis, Gr. the touchstone: cf. F.
basanite.] (Min.)
Defn: Lydian stone, or black jasper, a variety of siliceous or flinty
slate, of a grayish or bluish black color. It is employed to test the
purity of gold, the amount of alloy being indicated by the color left
on the stone when rubbed by the metal.
BASBLEU
Bas`bleu", n. Etym: [F., fr. bas stocking + bleu blue.]
Defn: A bluestocking; a literary woman. [Somewhat derisive]
BASCINET
Bas"ci*net, n. Etym: [OE. bacinet, basnet, OF. bassinet, bacinet, F.
bassinet, dim. of OF. bacin, F. bassin, a helmet in the form of a
basin.]
Defn: A light helmet, at first open, but later made with a visor.
[Written also basinet, bassinet, basnet.]
BASCULE
Bas"cule, n. Etym: [F., a seesaw.]
Defn: In mechanics an apparatus on the principle of the seesaw, in
which one end rises as the other falls. Bascule bridge, a
counterpoise or balanced drawbridge, which is opened by sinking the
counterpoise and thus lifting the footway into the air.
BASE
Base, a. Etym: [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat,
short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf.
Bass a part in music.]
1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base
shrubs. [Archaic] Shak.
2. Low in place or position. [Obs.] Shak.
3. Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A pleasant
and base swain." Bacon.
4. Illegitimate by birth; bastard. [Archaic]
Why bastard wherefore base Shak.
5. Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver,
the precious metals.
6. Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion.
7. Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of
sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base
motives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a base and a cowardish
mind." Robynson (More's Utopia). "Base ingratitude." Milton.
8. Not classical or correct. "Base Latin." Fuller.
9. Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin. [In this
sense, commonly written bass.]
10. (Law)
Defn: Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by
services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called
base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant. Base fee, formerly, an
estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note
under Fee, n., 4.
-- Base metal. See under Metal.
Syn.
-- Dishonorable; worthless; ignoble; low-minded; infamous; sordid;
degraded.
-- Base, Vile, Mean. These words, as expressing moral qualities, are
here arranged in the order of their strength, the strongest being
placed first. Base marks a high degree of moral turpitude; vile and
mean denote, in different degrees, the want of what is valuable or
worthy of esteem. What is base excites our abhorrence; what is vile
provokes our disgust or indignation; what is mean awakens contempt.
Base is opposed to high-minded; vile, to noble; mean, to liberal or
generous. Ingratitude is base; sycophancy is vile; undue compliances
are mean.
BASE
Base, n. Etym: [F. base, L. basis, fr. Gr. a stepping step, a base,
pedestal, fr. to go, step, akin to E. come. Cf. Basis, and see Come.]
1. The bottom of anything, considered as its support, or that on
which something rests for support; the foundation; as, the base of a
statue. "The base of mighty mountains." Prescott.
2. Fig.: The fundamental or essential part of a thing; the essential
principle; a groundwork.
3. (Arch.)
(a) The lower part of a wall, pier, or column, when treated as a
separate feature, usually in projection, or especially ornamented.
(b) The lower part of a complete architectural design, as of a
monument; also, the lower part of any elaborate piece of furniture or
decoration.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: That extremity of a leaf, fruit, etc., at which it is attached
to its support.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: The positive, or non-acid component of a salt; a substance
which, combined with an acid, neutralizes the latter and forms a
salt; -- applied also to the hydroxides of the positive elements or
radicals, and to certain organic bodies resembling them in their
property of forming salts with acids.
6. (Pharmacy)
Defn: The chief ingredient in a compound.
7. (Dyeing)
Defn: A substance used as a mordant. Ure.
8. (Fort.)
Defn: The exterior side of the polygon, or that imaginary line which
connects the salient angles of two adjacent bastions.
9. (Geom.)
Defn: The line or surface constituting that part of a figure on which
it is supposed to stand.
10. (Math.)
Defn: The number from which a mathematical table is constructed; as,
the base of a system of logarithms.
11. Etym: [See Base low.]
Defn: A low, or deep, sound. (Mus.) (a) The lowest part; the deepest
male voice. (b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, base.
[Now commonly written bass.]
The trebles squeak for fear, the bases roar. Dryden.
12. (Mil.)
Defn: A place or tract of country, protected by fortifications, or by
natural advantages, from which the operations of an army proceed,
forward movements are made, supplies are furnished, etc.
13. (Mil.)
Defn: The smallest kind of cannon. [Obs.]
14. (Zoöl.)
Defn: That part of an organ by which it is attached to another more
central organ.
15. (Crystallog.)
Defn: The basal plane of a crystal.
16. (Geol.)
Defn: The ground mass of a rock, especially if not distinctly
crystalline.
17. (Her.)
Defn: The lower part of the field. See Escutcheon.
18. The housing of a horse. [Obs.]
19. pl.
Defn: A kind of skirt ( often of velvet or brocade, but sometimes of
mailed armor) which hung from the middle to about the knees, or
lower. [Obs.]
20. The lower part of a robe or petticoat. [Obs.]
21. An apron. [Obs.] "Bakers in their linen bases." Marston.
22. The point or line from which a start is made; a starting place or
a goal in various games.
To their appointed base they went. Dryden.
23. (Surv.)
Defn: A line in a survey which, being accurately determined in length
and position, serves as the origin from which to compute the
distances and positions of any points or objects connected with it by
a system of triangles. Lyman.
24. A rustic play; -- called also prisoner's base, prison base, or
bars. "To run the country base." Shak.
25. (Baseball)
Defn: Any one of the four bounds which mark the circuit of the
infield. Altern base. See under Altern.
-- Attic base. (Arch.) See under Attic.
-- Base course. (Arch.) (a) The first or lower course of a
foundation wall, made of large stones of a mass of concrete; --
called also foundation course. (b) The architectural member forming
the transition between the basement and the wall above.
-- Base hit (Baseball), a hit, by which the batsman, without any
error on the part of his opponents, is able to reach the first base
without being put out.
-- Base line. (a) A main line taken as a base, as in surveying or in
military operations. (b) A line traced round a cannon at the rear of
the vent.
-- Base plate, the foundation plate of heavy machinery, as of the
steam engine; the bed plate.
-- Base ring (Ordnance), a projecting band of metal around the
breech, connected with the body of the gun by a concave molding. H.
L. Scott.
BASE
Base, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Based (p. pr. & vb. n. Basing.] Etym: [From
Base, n.]
Defn: To put on a base or basis; to lay the foundation of; to found,
as an argument or conclusion; -- used with on or upon. Bacon.
BASE
Base, v. t. Etym: [See Base, a., and cf. Abase.]
1. To abase; to let, or cast, down; to lower. [Obs.]
If any . . . based his pike. Sir T. North.
2. To reduce the value of; to debase. [Obs.]
Metals which we can not base. Bacon.
BASEBALL
Base"ball", n.
1. A game of ball, so called from the bases or bounds ( four in
number) which designate the circuit which each player must endeavor
to make after striking the ball.
2. The ball used in this game.
BASEBOARD
Base"board, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A board, or other woodwork, carried round the walls of a room
and touching the floor, to form a base and protect the plastering; --
also called washboard (in England), mopboard, and scrubboard.
BASEBORN
Base"born`, a.
1. Born out of wedlock. Gay.
2. Born of low parentage.
3. Vile; mean. "Thy baseborn heart." Shak.
BASE-BURNER
Base"-burn`er, n.
Defn: A furnace or stove in which the fuel is contained in a hopper
or chamber, and is fed to the fire as the lower stratum is consumed.
BASE-COURT
Base"-court`, n. Etym: [F. basse-cour. See Base, a., and Court, n.]
1. The secondary, inferior, or rear courtyard of a large house; the
outer court of a castle.
2. (Law)
Defn: An inferior court of law, not of record.
BASED
Based, p. p. & a.
1. Having a base, or having as a base; supported; as, broad-based.
2. Etym: [See Base, n., 18-21.]
Defn: Wearing, or protected by, bases. [Obs.] "Based in lawny
velvet." E. Hall.
BASEDOW'S DISEASE
Ba"se*dow's dis*ease". Etym: [Named for Dr. Basedow, a German
physician.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease characterized by enlargement of the thyroid gland,
prominence of the eyeballs, and inordinate action of the heart; --
called also exophthalmic goiter. Flint.
BASELARD
Bas"e*lard, n. Etym: [OF. baselarde, LL. basillardus.]
Defn: A short sword or dagger, worn in the fifteenth century.
[Written also baslard.] Fairholt.
BASELESS
Base"less, a.
Defn: Without a base; having no foundation or support. "The baseless
fabric of this vision." Shak.
BASELY
Base"ly, adv.
1. In a base manner; with despicable meanness; dishonorably;
shamefully.
2. Illegitimately; in bastardy. [Archaic] Knolles.
BASEMENT
Base"ment, n. Etym: [F. soubassement. Of uncertain origin. Cf. Base,
a., Bastion.] (Arch.)
Defn: The outer wall of the ground story of a building, or of a part
of that story, when treated as a distinct substructure. ( See Base,
n., 3 (a).) Hence: The rooms of a ground floor, collectively.
Basement membrane (Anat.), a delicate membrane composed of a single
layer of flat cells, forming the substratum upon which, in many
organs, the epithelioid cells are disposed.
BASENESS
Base"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being base; degradation; vileness.
I once did hold it a baseness to write fair. Shak.
BASENET
Bas"e*net, n.
Defn: See Bascinet. [Obs.]
BASE VIOL
Base" vi`ol.
Defn: See Bass viol.
BASH
Bash, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. baschen, baissen. See Abash.]
Defn: To abash; to disconcert or be disconcerted or put out of
countenance. [Obs.]
His countenance was bold and bashed not. Spenser.
BASHAW
Ba*shaw", n. Etym: [See Pasha.]
1. A Turkish title of honor, now written pasha. See Pasha.
2. Fig.: A magnate or grandee.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large siluroid fish (Leptops olivaris) of the
Mississippi valley; -- also called goujon, mud cat, and yellow cat.
BASHFUL
Bash"ful, a. Etym: [See Bash.]
1. Abashed; daunted; dismayed. [Obs.]
2. Very modest, or modest excess; constitutionally disposed to shrink
from public notice; indicating extreme or excessive modesty; shy; as,
a bashful person, action, expression.
Syn.
-- Diffident; retiring; reserved; shamefaced; sheepish.
BASHFULLY
Bash"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bashful manner.
BASHFULNESS
Bash"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being bashful.
Syn.
-- Bashfulness, Modesty, Diffidence, Shyness. Modesty arises from a
low estimate of ourselves; bashfulness is an abashment or agitation
of the spirits at coming into contact with others; diffidence is
produced by an undue degree of self-distrust; shyness usually arises
from an excessive self-consciousness, and a painful impression that
every one is looking at us. Modesty of deportment is becoming at all;
bashfulness often gives rise to mistakes and blundering; diffidence
is society frequently makes a man a burden to himself; shyness
usually produces a reserve or distance which is often mistaken for
haughtiness.
BASHI-BAZOUK
Bash"i-ba*zouk", n. Etym: [Turkish, light-headed, a foolish fellow.]
Defn: A soldier belonging to the irregular troops of the Turkish
army.
BASHLESS
Bash"less, a.
Defn: Shameless; unblushing. [Obs.] Spenser.
BASHYLE
Bas"hyle, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Basyle.
BASI-
Ba"si-.
Defn: A combining form, especially in anatomical and botanical words,
to indicate the base or position at or near a base; forming a base;
as, basibranchials, the most ventral of the cartilages or bones of
the branchial arches; basicranial, situated at the base of the
cranium; basifacial, basitemporal, etc.
BASIC
Ba"sic, a.
1. (Chem.)
(a) Relating to a base; performing the office of a base in a salt.
(b) Having the base in excess, or the amount of the base atomically
greater than that of the acid, or exceeding in proportion that of the
related neutral salt.
(c) Apparently alkaline, as certain normal salts which exhibit
alkaline reactions with test paper.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Said of crystalline rocks which contain a relatively low
percentage of silica, as basalt. Basic salt (Chem.), a salt formed
from a base or hydroxide by the partial replacement of its hydrogen
by a negative or acid element or radical.
BASICERITE
Ba*sic"er*ite, n. Etym: [Basi- + Gr. horn, antenna.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The second joint of the antennæ of crustaceans.
BASICITY
Ba*sic"i*ty, n. (Chem.)
(a) The quality or state of being a base.
(b) The power of an acid to unite with one or more atoms or
equivalents of a base, as indicated by the number of replaceable
hydrogen atoms contained in the acid.
BASIC PROCESS
Ba"sic proc"ess. (Iron Metal.)
Defn: A Bessemer or open-hearth steel-making process in which a
lining that is basic, or not siliceous, is used, and additions of
basic material are made to the molten charge during treatment.
Opposed to acid process, above. Called also Thomas process.
BASIC SLAG
Basic slag.
Defn: A by-product from the manufacture of steel by the basic
process, used as a fertilizer. It is rich in lime and contains 14 to
20 per cent of phosphoric acid. Called also Thomas slag, phosphatic
slag, and odorless phosphate.
BASIC STEEL
Basic steel.
Defn: Steel produced by the basic process.
BASIDIOMYCETES
Ba*sid`i*o*my*ce"tes, n. pl. [NL., fr. NL. & E. basidium + Gr. , ,
fungus.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large subdivision of fungi coördinate with the Ascomycetes,
characterized by having the spores borne on a basidium. It embraces
those fungi best known to the public, such as mushrooms, toadstools,
etc.
BASIDIOSPORE
Ba*sid"i*o*spore, n. Etym: [Basidium + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: A spore borne by a basidium.
-- Ba*sid`i*o*spor"ous (, a.
BASIDIUM
Ba*sid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. base.] (Bot.)
Defn: A special oblong or pyriform cell, with slender branches, which
bears the spores in that division of fungi called Basidiomycetes, of
which the common mushroom is an example.
BASIFIER
Ba"si*fi`er, n. (Chem.)
Defn: That which converts into a salifiable base.
BASIFUGAL
Ba*sif"u*gal, a. Etym: [Base,n.+ L. fugere to flee.] (Bot.)
Defn: Tending or proceeding away from the base; as, a basifugal
growth.
BASIFY
Ba"si*fy, v. t. Etym: [Base + -fy.] (Chem.)
Defn: To convert into a salifiable base.
BASIGYNIUM
Ba`si*gyn"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. base + woman.] (Bot.)
Defn: The pedicel on which the ovary of certain flowers, as the
passion flower, is seated; a carpophore or thecaphore.
BASIHYAL
Ba`si*hy"al, a. Etym: [Basi- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Noting two small bones, forming the body of the inverted hyoid
arch.
BASIHYOID
Ba`si*hy"oid, n. Etym: [Basi- + hyoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: The central tongue bone.
BASIL
Bas"il, n. Etym: [Cf. F. basile and E. Bezel.]
Defn: The slope or angle to which the cutting edge of a tool, as a
plane, is ground. Grier.
BASIL
Bas"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basiled (p. pr. & vb. n. Basiling.]
Defn: To grind or form the edge of to an angle. Moxon.
BASIL
Bas"il, n. Etym: [F. basilic, fr. L. badilicus royal, Gr. , fr.
king.] (Bot.)
Defn: The name given to several aromatic herbs of the Mint family,
but chiefly to the common or sweet basil (Ocymum basilicum), and the
bush basil, or lesser basil (O. minimum), the leaves of which are
used in cookery. The name is also given to several kinds of mountain
mint (Pycnanthemum). Basil thyme, a name given to the fragrant herbs
Calamintha Acinos and C. Nepeta.
-- Wild basil, a plant (Calamintha clinopodium) of the Mint family.
BASIL
Bas"il, n. Etym: [Corrupt. from E. basan, F. basane, LL. basanium,
bazana, fr. Ar. bithana, prop., lining.]
Defn: The skin of a sheep tanned with bark.
BASILAR; BASILARY
Bas"i*lar, Bas"i*la*ry, a. Etym: [F. basilaire, fr. L. basis. See
Base, n.]
1. Relating to, or situated at, the base.
2. Lower; inferior; applied to impulses or springs of action. [R.]
"Basilar instincts." H. W. Beecher.
BASILIC
Ba*sil"ic, n. Etym: [F. basilique.]
Defn: Basilica.
BASILIC; BASILICAL
Ba*sil"ic, Ba*sil"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Basilica.]
1. Royal; kingly; also, basilican.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to certain parts, anciently supposed to have a
specially important function in the animal economy, as the middle
vein of the right arm.
BASILICA
Ba*sil"i*ca, n.; pl. Basilicas; sometimes Basilic. Etym: [L.
basilica, Gr. ( sc. , or ) fr. royal, fr. .]
Defn: Originally, the place of a king; but afterward, an apartment
provided in the houses of persons of importance, where assemblies
were held for dispensing justice; and hence, any large hall used for
this purpose.
2. (Arch.)
(a) A building used by the Romans as a place of public meeting, with
court rooms, etc., attached.
(b) A church building of the earlier centuries of Christianity, the
plan of which was taken from the basilica of the Romans. The name is
still applied to some churches by way of honorary distinction.
BASILICA
Ba*sil"i*ca, n.
Defn: A digest of the laws of Justinian, translated from the original
Latin into Greek, by order of Basil I., in the ninth century. P. Cyc.
BASILICAN
Ba*sil"i*can, a.
Defn: Of, relating to, or resembling, a basilica; basilical.
There can be no doubt that the first churches in Constantinople were
in the basilican form. Milman.
BASILICOK
Ba*sil"i*cok, n. Etym: [OF. basilicoc.]
Defn: The basilisk. [Obs.] Chaucer
BASILICON
Ba*sil"i*con, n. Etym: [L. basilicon, Gr. , neut. of : cf. F.
basilicon. See Basilica.] (Med.)
Defn: An ointment composed of wax, pitch, resin, and olive oil, lard,
or other fatty substance.
BASILISK
Bas"i*lisk, n. Etym: [L. basiliscus, Gr. little king, kind of
serpent, dim. of king; -- so named from some prominences on the head
resembling a crown.]
1. A fabulous serpent, or dragon. The ancients alleged that its
hissing would drive away all other serpents, and that its breath, and
even its look, was fatal. See Cockatrice.
Make me not sighted like the basilisk. Shak.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lizard of the genus Basiliscus, belonging to the family
Iguanidæ.
Note: This genus is remarkable for a membranous bag rising above the
occiput, which can be filled with air at pleasure; also for an
elevated crest along the back, that can be raised or depressed at
will.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A large piece of ordnance, so called from its supposed
resemblance to the serpent of that name, or from its size. [Obs.]
BASIN
Ba"sin, n. Etym: [OF. bacin, F. bassin, LL. bacchinus, fr. bacca a
water vessel, fr. L. bacca berry, in allusion to the round shape; or
perh. fr. Celtic. Cf. Bac.]
1. A hollow vessel or dish, to hold water for washing, and for
various other uses.
2. The quantity contained in a basin.
3. A hollow vessel, of various forms and materials, used in the arts
or manufactures, as that used by glass grinders for forming concave
glasses, by hatters for molding a hat into shape, etc.
4. A hollow place containing water, as a pond, a dock for ships, a
little bay.
5. (Physical Geog.)
(a) A circular or oval valley, or depression of the surface of the
ground, the lowest part of which is generally occupied by a lake, or
traversed by a river.
(b) The entire tract of country drained by a river, or sloping
towards a sea or lake.
6. (Geol.)
Defn: An isolated or circumscribed formation, particularly where the
strata dip inward, on all sides, toward a center; -- especially
applied to the coal formations, called coal basins or coal fields.
BASINED
Ba"sined, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a basin. "Basined rivers." Young.
BASINET
Bas"i*net, n.
Defn: Same as Bascinet.
BASIOCCIPITAL
Ba`si*oc*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Basi- + occipital.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the bone in the base of the cranium,
frequently forming a part of the occipital in the adult, but usually
distinct in the young.
-- n.
Defn: The basioccipital bone.
BASION
Ba"si*on, n. Etym: [Gr. a base.] (Anat.)
Defn: The middle of the anterior margin of the great foramen of the
skull.
BASIPODITE
Ba*sip"o*dite, n. Etym: [Basi- + , , foot.] (Anat.)
Defn: The basal joint of the legs of Crustacea.
BASIPTERYGIUM
Ba*sip`te*ryg"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. a base + a fin.] (Anat.)
Defn: A bar of cartilage at the base of the embryonic fins of some
fishes. It develops into the metapterygium.
-- Ba*sip`ter*yg"i*al (, a.
BASIPTERYGOID
Ba`sip*ter"y*goid, a. & n. Etym: [Basi- + pierygoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Applied to a protuberance of the base of the sphenoid bone.
BASIS
Ba"sis, n.; pl. Bases. Etym: [L. basis, Gr. . See Base, n.]
1. The foundation of anything; that on which a thing rests. Dryden.
2. The pedestal of a column, pillar, or statue. [Obs.]
If no basis bear my rising name. Pope.
3. The ground work the first or fundamental principle; that which
supports.
The basis of public credit is good faith. A. Hamilton.
4. The principal component part of a thing.
BASISOLUTE
Ba*sis"o*lute, a. Etym: [Basi- + solute, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: Prolonged at the base, as certain leaves.
BASISPHENOID; BASISPHENOIDAL
Ba`si*sphe"noid, Ba`si*sphe*noid"al, a. Etym: [Basi- + spheroid.]
(Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to that part of the base of the cranium
between the basioccipital and the presphenoid, which usually ossifies
separately in the embryo or in the young, and becomes a part of the
sphenoid in the adult.
BASISPHENOID
Ba`si*sphe"noid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The basisphenoid bone.
BASK
Bask, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basked (p. pr. & vb. n. Basking.] Etym: [
OScand. ba to bathe one's self, or perh. bakask to bake one's self,
sk being reflexive. See Bath, n., Bake, v. t.]
Defn: To lie in warmth; to be exposed to genial heat.
Basks in the glare, and stems the tepid wave. Goldsmith.
BASK
Bask, v. t.
Defn: To warm by continued exposure to heat; to warm with genial
heat.
Basks at the fire his hairy strength. Milton.
BASKET
Bas"ket, n. Etym: [Of unknown origin. The modern Celtic words seem to
be from the English.]
1. A vessel made of osiers or other twigs, cane, rushes, splints, or
other flexible material, interwoven. "Rude baskets . . . woven of the
flexile willow." Dyer.
2. The contents of a basket; as much as a basket contains; as, a
basket of peaches.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The bell or vase of the Corinthian capital. [Improperly so
used.] Gwilt.
4. The two back seats facing one another on the outside of a
stagecoach. [Eng.] Goldsmith. Basket fish (Zoöl.), an ophiuran of the
genus Astrophyton, having the arms much branched. See Astrophyton.
-- Basket hilt, a hilt with a covering wrought like basketwork to
protect the hand. Hudibras. Hence, Baskethilted, a.
-- Basket work, work consisting of plaited osiers or twigs.
-- Basket worm (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of the genus
Thyridopteryx and allied genera, esp. T. ephemeræformis. The larva
makes and carries about a bag or basket-like case of silk and twigs,
which it afterwards hangs up to shelter the pupa and wingless adult
females.
BASKET
Bas"ket, v. t.
Defn: To put into a basket. [R.]
BASKET BALL
Bas"ket ball`.
Defn: A game, usually played indoors, in which two parties of players
contest with each other to toss a large inflated ball into opposite
goals resembling baskets.
BASKETFUL
Bas"ket*ful, n.; pl. Basketfuls (.
Defn: As much as a basket will contain.
BASKETRY
Bas"ket*ry, n.
Defn: The art of making baskets; also, baskets, taken collectively.
BASKING SHARK
Bask"ing shark`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the largest species of sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), so
called from its habit of basking in the sun; the liver shark, or bone
shark. It inhabits the northern seas of Europe and America, and grows
to a length of more than forty feet. It is a harmless species.
BASNET
Bas"net, n.
Defn: Same as Bascinet.
BASOMMATOPHORA
Ba*som`ma*toph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. base + eye + to
bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Pulmonifera having the eyes at the base of the
tentacles, including the common pond snails.
BASON
Ba"son, n.
Defn: A basin. [Obs. or Special form]
BASQUE
Basque, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Pertaining to Biscay, its people, or their language.
BASQUE
Basque, n. Etym: [F.]
1. One of a race, of unknown origin, inhabiting a region on the Bay
of Biscay in Spain and France.
2. The language spoken by the Basque people.
3. A part of a lady's dress, resembling a jacket with a short skirt;
-- probably so called because this fashion of dress came from the
Basques.
BASQUISH
Basqu"ish, a. Etym: [F. Basque Biscayan: cf. G. Baskisch.]
Defn: Pertaining to the country, people, or language of Biscay;
Basque [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
BAS-RELIEF
Bas`-re*lief", n. Etym: [F. bas-relief; bas law + relief raised work,
relever to raise: cf. It. bassorilievo.]
Defn: Low relief; sculpture, the figures of which project less than
half of their true proportions; -- called also bassrelief and basso-
rilievo. See Alto-rilievo.
BASS
Bass, n.
Defn: ; pl. Bass, and sometimes Basses. Etym: [A corruption of
barse.] (Zoöl.)
1. An edible, spiny-finned fish, esp. of the genera Roccus, Labrax,
and related genera. There are many species.
Note: The common European bass is Labrax lupus. American species are:
the striped bass (Roccus lineatus); white or silver bass of the
lakes. (R. chrysops); brass or yellow bass (R. interruptus).
2. The two American fresh-water species of black bass (genus
Micropterus). See Black bass.
3. Species of Serranus, the sea bass and rock bass. See Sea bass.
4. The southern, red, or channel bass (Sciæna ocellata). See Redfish.
Note: The name is also applied to many other fishes. See Calico bass,
under Calico.
BASS
Bass, n. Etym: [A corruption of bast.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The linden or lime tree, sometimes wrongly called whitewood;
also, its bark, which is used for making mats. See Bast.
2. (Pron.
Defn: A hassock or thick mat.
BASS
Bass, n. Etym: [F. basse, fr. bas low. See Base, a.]
1. A bass, or deep, sound or tone.
2. (Mus.)
(a) The lowest part in a musical composition.
(b) One who sings, or the instrument which plays, bass. [Written also
base.] Thorough bass. See Thorough bass.
BASS
Bass, a.
Defn: Deep or grave in tone. Bass clef (Mus.), the character placed
at the beginning of the staff containing the bass part of a musical
composition. [See Illust. under Clef.] -- Bass voice, a deepsounding
voice; a voice fitted for singing bass.
BASS
Bass, v. t.
Defn: To sound in a deep tone. [R.] Shak.
BASSA; BASSAW
Bas"sa, Bas*saw", n.
Defn: See Bashaw.
BASS DRUM
Bass` drum". (Mus.)
Defn: The largest of the different kinds of drums, having two heads,
and emitting a deep, grave sound. See Bass, a.
BASSET
Bas"set, n. Etym: [F. bassette, fr.It. bassetta. Cf. Basso.]
Defn: A game at cards, resembling the modern faro, said to have been
invented at Venice.
Some dress, some dance, some play, not to forget Your piquet parties,
and your dear basset. Rowe.
BASSET
Bas"set, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. basset somewhat low, dim. of bas low.]
(Geol.)
Defn: Inclined upward; as, the basset edge of strata. Lyell.
BASSET
Bas"set, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The edge of a geological stratum at the surface of the ground;
the outcrop.
BASSET
Bas"set, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Basseted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basseting.]
(Geol.)
Defn: To inclined upward so as to appear at the surface; to crop out;
as, a vein of coal bassets.
BASSET HORN
Bas"set horn`. Etym: [See Basset, a.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument blown with a reed, and resembling a clarinet, but
of much greater compass, embracing nearly four octaves.
BASSET HOUND
Bas"set hound`. Etym: [F. basset.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small kind of hound with a long body and short legs, used as
an earth dog.
BASSETING
Bas"set*ing, n.
Defn: The upward direction of a vein in a mine; the emergence of a
stratum at the surface.
BASSETTO
Bas*set"to, n. Etym: [It., adj., somewhat low; n., counter tenor. See
Basso.] (Mus.)
Defn: A tenor or small bass viol.
BASS HORN
Bass" horn". (Mus.)
Defn: A modification of the bassoon, much deeper in tone.
BASSINET
Bas"si*net, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bassinet, dim. of bassin. See Basin, and
cf. Bascinet.]
1. A wicker basket, with a covering or hood over one end, in which
young children are placed as in a cradle.
2. See Bascinet. Lord Lytton.
BASSO
Bas"so, n. Etym: [It., fr. LL. bassus. See Base, a.] (Mus.)
(a) The bass or lowest part; as, to sing basso.
(b) One who sings the lowest part.
(c) The double bass, or contrabasso. Basso continuo (. Etym: [It.,
bass continued.] (Mus.) A bass part written out continuously, while
the other parts of the harmony are indicated by figures attached to
the bass; continued bass.
BASSOCK
Bas"sock, n.
Defn: A hassock. See 2d Bass, 2.
BASSOON
Bas*soon", n. Etym: [F. basson, fr. basse bass; or perh. fr. bas son
low sound. See Bass a part in music. ] (Mus.)
Defn: A wind instrument of the double reed kind, furnished with
holes, which are stopped by the fingers, and by keys, as in flutes.
It forms the natural bass to the oboe, clarinet, etc.
Note: Its compass comprehends three octaves. For convenience of
carriage it is divided into two parts; whence it is also called a
fagot.
BASSOONIST
Bas*soon"ist, n.
Defn: A performer on the bassoon. Busby.
BASSO-RILIEVO; BASSO-RELIEVO
Bas"so-ri*lie"vo, Bas"so-re*lie"vo, n. Etym: [It. basso-rilievo.]
Defn: Same as Bas-relief.
BASSORIN
Bas"so*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bassorine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A constituent part of a species of gum from Bassora, as also of
gum tragacanth and some gum resins. It is one of the amyloses. Ure.
BASS-RELIEF
Bass"-re*lief`, n.
Defn: Some as Bas-relief.
BASS VIOL
Bass" vi`ol. (Mus.)
Defn: A stringed instrument of the viol family, used for playing
bass. See 3d Bass, n., and Violoncello.
BASSWOOD
Bass"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The bass (Tilia) or its wood; especially, T. Americana. See
Bass, the lime tree.
All the bowls were made of basswood, White and polished very
smoothly. Longfellow.
BAST
Bast, n. Etym: [AS. bæst; akin to Icel., Sw., Dan., D., & G. bast, of
unknown origin. Cf. Bass the tree.]
1. The inner fibrous bark of various plants; esp. of the lime tree;
hence, matting, cordage, etc., made therefrom.
2. A thick mat or hassock. See 2d Bass, 2.
BASTA
Bas"ta, interj. Etym: [It.]
Defn: Enough; stop. Shak.
BASTARD
Bas"tard, n. Etym: [OF. bastard, bastart, F. b, prob. fr. OF. bast,
F. b, a packsaddle used as a bed by the muleteers (fr. LL. bastum) +
-ard. OF. fils de bast son of the packsaddle; as the muleteers were
accustomed to use their saddles for beds in the inns. See Cervantes,
"Don Quixote," chap. 16; and cf.G. bankert, fr. bank bench.]
1. A "natural" child; a child begotten and born out of wedlock; an
illegitimate child; one born of an illicit union.
Note: By the civil and canon laws, and by the laws of many of the
United States, a bastard becomes a legitimate child by the
intermarriage of the parents at any subsequent time. But by those of
England, and of some states of the United States, a child, to be
legitimate, must at least be born after the lawful marriage. Kent.
Blackstone.
2. (Sugar Refining)
(a) An inferior quality of soft brown sugar, obtained from the sirups
that
(b) A large size of mold, in which sugar is drained.
3. A sweet Spanish wine like muscadel in flavor.
Brown bastard is your only drink. Shak.
4. A writing paper of a particular size. See Paper.
BASTARD
Bas"tard, a.
1. Begotten and born out of lawful matrimony; illegitimate. See
Bastard, n., note.
2. Lacking in genuineness; spurious; false; adulterate; -- applied to
things which resemble those which are genuine, but are really not so.
That bastard self-love which is so vicious in itself, and productive
of so many vices. Barrow.
3. Of an unusual make or proportion; as, a bastard musket; a bastard
culverin. [Obs.]
4. (Print.)
Defn: Abbreviated, as the half title in a page preceding the full
title page of a book. Bastard ashlar (Arch.), stones for ashlar work,
roughly squared at the quarry.
-- Bastard file, a file intermediate between the coarsest and the
second cut.
-- Bastard type (Print.), type having the face of a larger or a
smaller size than the body; e.g., a nonpareil face on a brevier body.
-- Bastard wing (Zoöl.), three to five quill feathers on a small
joint corresponding to the thumb in some mam malia; the alula.
BASTARD
Bas"tard, v. t.
Defn: To bastardize. [Obs.] Bacon.
BASTARDISM
Bas"tard*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being a bastard; bastardy.
BASTARDIZE
Bas"tard*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bastardized (p. pr. & vb. n.
Bastardizing.]
1. To make or prove to be a bastard; to stigmatize as a bastard; to
declare or decide legally to be illegitimate.
The law is so indulgent as not to bastardize the child, if born,
though not begotten, in lawful wedlock. Blackstone.
2. To beget out of wedlock. [R.] Shak.
BASTARDLY
Bas"tard*ly, a.
Defn: Bastardlike; baseborn; spuripous; corrupt. [Obs.] -- adv.
Defn: In the manner of a bastard; spuriously. [Obs.] Shak. Donne.
BASTARDY
Bas"tar*dy, n.
1. The state of being a bastard; illegitimacy.
2. The procreation of a bastard child. Wharton.
BASTE
Baste, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Basted; p. pr. & vb. n. Basting.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. beysta to strike, powder; Sw. basa to beat with a rod:
perh. akin to E. beat.]
1. To beat with a stick; to cudgel.
One man was basted by the keeper for carrying some people over on his
back through the waters. Pepys.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: To sprinkle flour and salt and drip butter or fat on, as on
meat in roasting.
3. To mark with tar, as sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
BASTE
Baste, v. t. Etym: [OE. basten, OF. bastir, F. b, prob. fr. OHG.
bestan to sew, MHG. besten to bind, fr. OHG. bast bast. See Bast.]
Defn: To sew loosely, or with long stitches; -- usually, that the
work may be held in position until sewed more firmly. Shak.
BASTILE; BASTILLE
Bas*tile" Bas*tille", n. Etym: [F. bastille fortress, OF. bastir to
build, F. b.]
1. (Feud. Fort.)
Defn: A tower or an elevated work, used for the defense, or in the
siege, of a fortified place.
The high bastiles . . . which overtopped the walls. Holland.
2. "The Bastille", formerly a castle or fortress in Paris, used as a
prison, especially for political offenders; hence, a rhetorical name
for a prison.
BASTINADE
Bas`ti*nade", n.
Defn: See Bastinado, n.
BASTINADE
Bas`ti*nade", v. t.
Defn: To bastinado. [Archaic]
BASTINADO
Bas`ti*na"do, n.; pl. Bastinadoes. Etym: [Sp. bastonada (cf. F.
bastonnade), fr. baston (cf. F. b) a stick or staff. See Baston.]
1. A blow with a stick or cudgel.
2. A sound beating with a stick or cudgel. Specifically: A form of
punishment among the Turks, Chinese, and others, consisting in
beating an offender on the soles of his feet.
BASTINADO
Bas`ti*na"do, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bastinadoes (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bastinadoing.]
Defn: To beat with a stick or cudgel, especially on the soles of the
feet.
BASTION
Bas"tion, n. Etym: [F. bastion (cf. It. bastione), fr. LL. bastire to
build (cf. F. b, It. bastire), perh. from the idea of support for a
weight, and akin to Gr. to lift, carry, and to E. baston, baton.]
(Fort.)
Defn: A work projecting outward from the main inclosure of a
fortification, consisting of two faces and two flanks, and so
constructed that it is able to defend by a flanking fire the adjacent
curtain, or wall which extends from one bastion to another. Two
adjacent bastions are connected by the curtain, which joins the flank
of one with the adjacent flank of the other. The distance between the
flanks of a bastion is called the gorge. A lunette is a detached
bastion. See Ravelin.
BASTIONED
Bas"tioned, a.
Defn: Furnished with a bastion; having bastions.
BASTO
Bas"to, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: The ace of clubs in qua Pope.
BASTON
Bas"ton, n. Etym: [OF. baston, F. b, LL. basto. See Bastion, and cf.
Baton, and 3d Batten.]
1. A staff or cudgel. [Obs.] "To fight with blunt bastons." Holland.
2. (Her.)
Defn: See Baton.
3. An officer bearing a painted staff, who formerly was in attendance
upon the king's court to take into custody persons committed by the
court. Mozley & W.
BASUTOS
Ba*su"tos, n. pl.; sing. Basuto. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A warlike South African people of the Bantu stock, divided into
many tribes, subject to the English. They formerly practiced
cannibalism, but have now adopted many European customs.
BASYLE
Bas"yle, n. Etym: [Gr. base + wood. See -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A positive or nonacid constituent of compound, either
elementary, or, if compound, performing the functions of an element.
BASYLOUS
Bas"y*lous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, a basyle; electro-
positive; basic; -- opposed to chlorous. Graham.
BAT
Bat, n. Etym: [OE. batte, botte, AS. batt; perhaps fr. the Celtic;
cf. Ir. bat, bata, stick, staff; but cf. also F. batte a beater
(thing), wooden sword, battre to beat.]
1. A large stick; a club; specifically, a piece of wood with one end
thicker or broader than the other, used in playing baseball, cricket,
etc.
2. (Mining)
Defn: Shale or bituminous shale. Kirwan.
3. A sheet of cotton used for filling quilts or comfortables;
batting.
4. A part of a brick with one whole end. Bat bolt (Machinery), a bolt
barbed or jagged at its butt or tang to make it hold the more firmly.
Knight.
BAT
Bat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Batted (p. pr. & vb. n. Batting.]
Defn: To strike or hit with a bat or a pole; to cudgel; to beat.
Holland.
BAT
Bat, v. i.
Defn: To use a bat, as in a game of baseball.
BAT
Bat, n. Etym: [Corrupt. from OE. back, backe, balke; cf. Dan. aften-
bakke] (aften evening), Sw. natt-backa] (natt night), Icel. le (le
leather), Icel. blaka to flutter.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cheiroptera, an order of flying mammals, in which
the wings are formed by a membrane stretched between the elongated
fingers, legs, and tail. The common bats are small and insectivorous.
See Cheiroptera and Vampire. Bat tick (Zoöl.), a wingless, dipterous
insect of the genus Nycteribia, parasitic on bats.
BATABLE
Bat"a*ble, a. Etym: [Abbrev. from debatable.]
Defn: Disputable. [Obs.]
Note: The border land between England and Scotland, being formerly a
subject of contention, was called batable or debatable ground.
BATAILLED
Bat"ailled, a.
Defn: Embattled. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BATARDEAU
Ba`tar*deau", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A cofferdam. Brande & C.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A wall built across the ditch of a fortification, with a sluice
gate to regulate the height of water in the ditch on both sides of
the wall.
BATATAS; BATATA
Ba*ta"tas, Ba*ta"ta, n.
Defn: An aboriginal American name for the sweet potato (Ipomæa
batatas).
BATAVIAN
Ba*ta"vi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to (a) the Batavi, an ancient Germanic tribe;
or to (b) as, a Batavian legion. Batavian Republic, the name given to
Holland by the French after its conquest in 1795.
BATAVIAN
Ba*ta"vi*an, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Batavia or Holland. [R.] Bancroft.
BATCH
Batch, n. Etym: [OE. bache, bacche, fr. AS. bacan to bake; cf. G.
gebäck and D. baksel. See Bake, v. t.]
1. The quantity of bread baked at one time.
2. A quantity of anything produced at one operation; a group or
collection of persons or things of the same kind; as, a batch of
letters; the next batch of business. "A new batch of Lords." Lady M.
W. Montagu.
BATE
Bate, n. Etym: [Prob. abbrev. from debate.]
Defn: Strife; contention. [Obs.] Shak.
BATE
Bate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bating.] Etym: [From
abate.]
1. To lessen by retrenching, deducting, or reducing; to abate; to
beat down; to lower.
He must either bate the laborer's wages, or not employ or not pay
him. Locke.
2. To allow by way of abatement or deduction.
To whom he bates nothing or what he stood upon with the parliament.
South.
3. To leave out; to except. [Obs.]
Bate me the king, and, be he flesh and blood. He lies that says it.
Beau. & Fl.
4. To remove. [Obs.]
About autumn bate the earth from about the roots of olives, and lay
them bare. Holland.
5. To deprive of. [Obs.]
When baseness is exalted, do not bate The place its honor for the
person's sake. Herbert.
BATE
Bate, v. i.
1. To remit or retrench a part; -- with of.
Abate thy speed, and I will bate of mine. Dryden.
2. To waste away. [Obs.] Shak.
BATE
Bate, v. t.
Defn: To attack; to bait. [Obs.] Spenser.
BATE
Bate, imp.
Defn: of Bite. [Obs.] Spenser.
BATE
Bate, v. i. Etym: [F. battre des ailes to flutter. Cf. Bait to
flutter.]
Defn: To flutter as a hawk; to bait. [Obs.] Bacon.
BATE
Bate, n. (Jewish Antiq.)
Defn: See 2d Bath.
BATE
Bate, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. beta maceration, soaking, G. beize, and E.
bite.]
Defn: An alkaline solution consisting of the dung of certain animals;
-- employed in the preparation of hides; grainer. Knight.
BATE
Bate, v. t.
Defn: To steep in bate, as hides, in the manufacture of leather.
BATEAU
Ba*teau", n.; pl. Bateaux. Etym: [F. bateau, LL. batellus, fr.
battus, batus, boa, which agrees with AS. bat boat: cf. W. bad boat.
See Boat, n.]
Defn: A boat; esp. a flat-bottomed, clumsy boat used on the Canadian
lakes and rivers. [Written also, but less properly, batteau.] Bateau
bridge, a floating bridge supported by bateaux.
BATED
Bat"ed, a.
Defn: Reduced; lowered; restrained; as, to speak with bated breath.
Macaulay.
BATEFUL
Bate"ful, a.
Defn: Exciting contention; contentious. [Obs.] "It did bateful
question frame. " Sidney.
BATELESS
Bate"less, a.
Defn: Not to be abated. [Obs.] Shak.
BATEMENT
Bate"ment, n. Etym: [For Abatement. See 2d Bate.]
Defn: Abatement; diminution. Moxon. Batement light (Arch.), a window
or one division of a window having vertical sides, but with the sill
not horizontal, as where it follows the rake of a staircase.
BATFISH
Bat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to several species of fishes: (a) The Malthe
vespertilio of the Atlantic coast. (b) The flying gurnard of the
Atlantic (Cephalacanthus spinarella). (c) The California batfish or
sting ray (Myliobatis Californicus.)
BATFOWLER
Bat"fowl`er, n.
Defn: One who practices or finds sport in batfowling.
BATFOWLING
Bat"fowl`ing, n. Etym: [From Bat a stick.]
Defn: A mode of catching birds at night, by holding a torch or other
light, and beating the bush or perch where they roost. The birds,
flying to the light, are caught with nets or otherwise.
BATFUL
Bat"ful, a. Etym: [Icel. bati amelioration, batna to grow better;
akin to AS. bet better. Goth. ga-batnan to profit. Batten, v. i.,
Better.]
Defn: Rich; fertile. [Obs.] "Batful valleys." Drayton.
BATH
Bath, n.; pl. Baths. Etym: [AS. bæ; akin to OS. & Icel. ba, Sw.,
Dan., D., & G. bad, and perh. to G. bähen to foment.]
1. The act of exposing the body, or part of the body, for purposes of
cleanliness, comfort, health, etc., to water, vapor, hot air, or the
like; as, a cold or a hot bath; a medicated bath; a steam bath; a hip
bath.
2. Water or other liquid for bathing.
3. A receptacle or place where persons may immerse or wash their
bodies in water.
4. A building containing an apartment or a series of apartments
arranged for bathing.
Among the ancients, the public baths were of amazing extent and
magnificence. Gwilt.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: A medium, as heated sand, ashes, steam, hot air, through which
heat is applied to a body.
6. (Photog.)
Defn: A solution in which plates or prints are immersed; also, the
receptacle holding the solution.
Note: Bath is used adjectively or in combination, in an obvious sense
of or for baths or bathing; as, bathroom, bath tub, bath keeper.
Douche bath. See Douche.
-- Order of the Bath, a high order of British knighthood, composed
of three classes, viz., knights grand cross, knights commanders, and
knights companions, abbreviated thus: G. C. B., K. C. B., K. B.
-- Russian bath, a kind of vapor bath which consists in a prolonged
exposure of the body to the influence of the steam of water, followed
by washings and shampooings.
-- Turkish bath, a kind of bath in which a profuse perspiration is
produced by hot air, after which the body is washed and shampooed.
-- Bath house, a house used for the purpose of bathing; -- also a
small house, near a bathing place, where a bather undresses and
dresses.
BATH
Bath, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: A Hebrew measure containing the tenth of a homer, or five
gallons and three pints, as a measure for liquids; and two pecks and
five quarts, as a dry measure.
BATH
Bath, n.
Defn: A city in the west of England, resorted to for its hot springs,
which has given its name to various objects. Bath brick, a
preparation of calcareous earth, in the form of a brick, used for
cleaning knives, polished metal, etc.
-- Bath chair, a kind of chair on wheels, as used by invalids at
Bath. "People walked out, or drove out, or were pushed out in their
Bath chairs." Dickens.
-- Bath metal, an alloy consisting of four and a half ounces of zinc
and one pound of copper.
-- Bath note, a folded writing paper, 8 1/2 by 14 inches.
-- Bath stone, a species of limestone (oölite) found near Bath, used
for building.
BATHE
Bathe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bathed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bathing.] Etym:
[OE. ba, AS. ba, fr. bæ bath. See 1st Bath, and cf. Bay to bathe.]
1. To wash by immersion, as in a bath; to subject to a bath.
Chancing to bathe himself in the River Cydnus. South.
2. To lave; to wet. "The lake which bathed the foot of the Alban
mountain." T. Arnold.
3. To moisten or suffuse with a liquid.
And let us bathe our hands in Cæsar's blood. Shak.
4. To apply water or some liquid medicament to; as, to bathe the eye
with warm water or with sea water; to bathe one's forehead with
camphor.
5. To surround, or envelop, as water surrounds a person immersed.
"The rosy shadows bathe me. " Tennyson. "The bright sunshine bathing
all the world." Longfellow.
BATHE
Bathe, v. i.
1. To bathe one's self; to take a bath or baths. "They bathe in
summer." Waller.
2. To immerse or cover one's self, as in a bath. "To bathe in fiery
floods." Shak. "Bathe in the dimples of her cheek." Lloyd.
3. To bask in the sun. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BATHE
Bathe, n.
Defn: The immersion of the body in water; as to take one's usual
bathe. Edin. Rev.
BATHER
Bath"er, n.
Defn: One who bathes.
BATHETIC
Ba*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Having the character of bathos. [R.]
BATHING
Bath"ing, n.
Defn: Act of taking a bath or baths. Bathing machine, a small room on
wheels, to be driven into the water, for the convenience of bathers,
who undress and dress therein.
BATHMISM
Bath"mism, n.
Defn: See Vital force.
BATHOMETER
Ba*thom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. depth + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring depths, esp. one for taking
soundings without a sounding line.
BATHORSE
Bat"horse`, n. Etym: [F. b packsaddle (cheval de b packhorse) + E.
horse. See Bastard.]
Defn: A horse which carries an officer's baggage during a campaign.
BATHOS
Ba"thos, n. Etym: [Gr. depth, fr. deep.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A ludicrous descent from the elevated to the low, in writing or
speech; anticlimax.
BATHYBIUS
Ba*thyb"i*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. deep + life] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given by Prof. Huxley to a gelatinous substance found in
mud dredged from the Atlantic and preserved in alcohol. He supposed
that it was free living protoplasm, covering a large part of the
ocean bed. It is now known that the substance is of chemical, not of
organic, origin.
BATHYGRAPHIC
Bath`y*graph"ic, a. [Gr. deep + graphic.]
Defn: Descriptive of the ocean depth; as, a bathygraphic chart.
BATHYMETRIC; BATHYMETRICAL
Bath`y*met"ric, Bath`y*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to bathymetry; relating to the measurement of
depths, especially of depths in the sea.
BATHYMETRY
Ba*thym"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. depth + -metry.]
Defn: The art or science of sounding, or measuring depths in the sea.
BATING
Bat"ing, prep. Etym: [Strictly p. pr. of Bat to abate.]
Defn: With the exception of; excepting.
We have little reason to think that they bring many ideas with them,
bating some faint ideas of hunger and thirst. Locke.
BATISTE
Ba*tiste", n. Etym: [F. batiste, from the name of the alleged first
maker, Baptiste of Cambrai. Littré.]
Defn: Originally, cambric or lawn of fine linen; now applied also to
cloth of similar texture made of cotton.
BATLET
Bat"let, n. Etym: [Bat stick + -let.]
Defn: A short bat for beating clothes in washing them; -- called also
batler, batling staff, batting staff. Shak.
BATMAN
Bat"man, n. Etym: [Turk. batman.]
Defn: A weight used in the East, varying according to the locality;
in Turkey, the greater batman is about 157 pounds, the lesser only a
fourth of this; at Aleppo and Smyrna, the batman is 17 pounds.
Simmonds.
BATMAN
Bat"man, n.; pl. Batmen. Etym: [F. b packsaddle + E. man. Cf.
Bathorse.]
Defn: A man who has charge of a bathorse and his load. Macaulay.
BATOIDEI
Ba*toi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. a kind of ray + -oid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of fishes which includes the rays and skates.
BATON
Bat"on, n. Etym: [F. b. See Baston.]
1. A staff or truncheon, used for various purposes; as, the baton of
a field marshal; the baton of a conductor in musical performances.
He held the baton of command. Prescott.
2. (Her.)
Defn: An ordinary with its ends cut off, borne sinister as a mark of
bastardy, and containing one fourth in breadth of the bend sinister;
-- called also bastard bar. See Bend sinister.
BATOON
Ba*toon", n.
Defn: See Baton, and Baston.
BAT PRINTING
Bat" print`ing. (Ceramics)
Defn: A mode of printing on glazed ware.
BATRACHIA
Ba*tra"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. belonging to a frog, fr.
frog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order of amphibians which includes the frogs and toads; the
Anura. Sometimes the word is used in a wider sense as equivalent to
Amphibia.
BATRACHIAN
Ba*tra"chi*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Batrachia.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Batrachia.
BATRACHOID
Bat"ra*choid, a. Etym: [Batrachia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Froglike. Specifically: Of or pertaining to the Batrachidæ, a
family of marine fishes, including the toadfish. Some have poisonous
dorsal spines.
BATRACHOMYOMACHY
Bat`ra*cho*my*om"a*chy, n. Etym: [Gr. ; frog + mouse + battle.]
Defn: The battle between the frogs and mice; -- a Greek parody on the
Iliad, of uncertain authorship.
BATRACHOPHAGOUS
Bat`ra*choph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. frog + to eat.]
Defn: Feeding on frogs. Quart. Rev.
BATSMAN
Bats"man, n.; pl. Batsmen (.
Defn: The one who wields the bat in cricket, baseball, etc.
BAT'S-WING; BATWING
Bat's"-wing" or Bat"wing, a.
Defn: Shaped like a bat's wing; as, a bat's-wing burner.
BATTA
Bat"ta, n. Etym: [Prob. through Pg. for Canarese bhatta rice in the
husk.]
Defn: Extra pay; esp. an extra allowance to an English officer
serving in India. Whitworth.
BATTA
Bat"ta, n. Etym: [Hind. ba.]
Defn: Rate of exchange; also, the discount on uncurrent coins.
[India]
BATTABLE
Bat"ta*ble, a. Etym: [See Batful.]
Defn: Capable of culti [Obs.] Burton.
BATTAILANT
Bat"tail*ant, a. Etym: [F. bataillant, p. pr. See Battle, v. i. ]
[Obs.]
Defn: Prepared for battle; combatant; warlike. Spenser.
-- n.
Defn: A combatant. Shelton.
BATTAILOUS
Bat"tail*ous, a. Etym: [OF. bataillos, fr. bataille. See Battle, n.]
Defn: Arrayed for battle; fit or eager for battle; warlike. [Obs.]
"In battailous aspect." Milton.
BATTALIA
Bat*tal"ia, n. Etym: [LL. battalia battle, a body of troops. See
Battle, n.]
1. Order of battle; disposition or arrangement of troops (brigades,
regiments, battalions, etc.), or of a naval force, for action.
A drawing up the armies in battalia. Jer. Taylor.
2. An army in battle array; also, the main battalia or body. [Obs.]
Shak.
BATTALION
Bat*tal"ion, n. Etym: [F. bataillon, fr. It. battaglione. See
Battalia.]
1. A body of troops; esp. a body of troops or an army in battle
array. "The whole battalion views." Milton.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A regiment, or two or more companies of a regiment, esp. when
assembled for drill or battle.
BATTALION
Bat*tal"ion, v. t.
Defn: To form into battalions. [R.]
BATTEL
Bat"tel, n. Etym: [Obs. form. of Battle.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A single combat; as, trial by battel. See Wager of battel,
under Wager.
BATTEL
Bat"tel, n. Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]
Defn: Provisions ordered from the buttery; also, the charges for
them; -- only in the pl., except when used adjectively. [Univ. of
Oxford, Eng.]
BATTEL
Bat"tel, v. i.
Defn: To be supplied with provisions from the buttery. [Univ. of
Oxford, Eng.]
BATTEL
Bat"tel, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Batful, Batten, v. i.]
Defn: To make fertile. [Obs.] "To battel barren land." Ray.
BATTEL
Bat"tel, a.
Defn: Fertile; fruitful; productive. [Obs.]
A battel soil for grain, for pasture good. Fairfax.
BATTELER; BATTLER
Bat"tel*er, Bat"tler, n. Etym: [See 2d Battel, n.]
Defn: A student at Oxford who is supplied with provisions from the
buttery; formerly, one who paid for nothing but what he called for,
answering nearly to a sizar at Cambridge. Wright.
BATTEN
Bat"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Battened (p. pr. & vb. n. Battening.]
Etym: [See Batful.]
1. To make fat by plenteous feeding; to fatten. "Battening our
flocks." Milton.
2. To fertilize or enrich, as land.
BATTEN
Bat"ten, v. i.
Defn: To grow fat; to grow fat in ease and luxury; to glut one's
self. Dryden.
The pampered monarch lay battening in ease. Garth.
Skeptics, with a taste for carrion, who batten on the hideous facts
in history, -- persecutions, inquisitions. Emerson.
BATTEN
Bat"ten, n . Etym: [F. b stick, staff. See Baton.]
Defn: A strip of sawed stuff, or a scantling; as, (a) pl. (Com. &
Arch.) Sawed timbers about 7 by 2 1/2 inches and not less than 6 feet
long. Brande & C. (b) (Naut.) A strip of wood used in fastening the
edges of a tarpaulin to the deck, also around masts to prevent
chafing. (c) A long, thin strip used to strengthen a part, to cover a
crack, etc. Batten door (Arch.), a door made of boards of the whole
length of the door, secured by battens nailed crosswise.
BATTEN
Bat"ten, v. t.
Defn: To furnish or fasten with battens. To batten down, to fasten
down with battens, as the tarpaulin over the hatches of a ship during
a storm.
BATTEN
Bat"ten, n. Etym: [F. battant. See Batter, v. t.]
Defn: The movable bar of a loom, which strikes home or closes the
threads of a woof.
BATTENING
Bat"ten*ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: Furring done with small pieces nailed directly upon the wall.
BATTER
Bat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Battered (; p. pr. & vb. n. Battering.]
Etym: [OE. bateren, OF. batre, F. battre, fr. LL. battere, for L.
batuere to strike, beat; of unknown origin. Cf. Abate, Bate to
abate.]
1. To beat with successive blows; to beat repeatedly and with
violence, so as to bruise, shatter, or demolish; as, to batter a wall
or rampart.
2. To wear or impair as if by beating or by hard usage. "Each
battered jade." Pope.
3. (Metallurgy)
Defn: To flatten (metal) by hammering, so as to compress it inwardly
and spread it outwardly.
BATTER
Bat"ter, n. Etym: [OE. batere, batire; cf. OF. bateure, bature, a
beating. See Batter, v. t.]
1. A semi-liquid mixture of several ingredients, as, flour, eggs,
milk, etc. , beaten together and used in cookery. King.
2. Paste of clay or loam. Holland.
3. (Printing)
Defn: A bruise on the face of a plate or of type in the form.
BATTER
Bat"ter, n.
Defn: A backward slope in the face of a wall or of a bank; receding
slope. Batter rule, an instrument consisting of a rule or frame, and
a plumb line, by which the batter or slope of a wall is regulated in
building.
BATTER
Bat"ter, v. i. (Arch.)
Defn: To slope gently backward.
BATTER
Bat"ter, n.
Defn: One who wields a bat; a batsman.
BATTERER
Bat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, batters.
BATTERING-RAM
Bat"ter*ing-ram`, n.
Defn: 1. (Mil.) An engine used in ancient times to beat down the
walls of besieged places.
Note: It was a large beam, with a head of iron, which was sometimes
made to resemble the head of a ram. It was suspended by ropes t a
beam supported by posts, and so balanced as to swing backward and
forward, and was impelled by men against the wall. Grose.
2. A blacksmith's hammer, suspended, and worked horizontally.
BATTERING TRAIN
Bat"ter*ing train`. (Mil.)
Defn: A train of artillery for siege operations.
BATTERY
Bat"ter*y, n.; pl. Batteries. Etym: [F. batterie, fr. battre. See
Batter, v. t.]
1. The act of battering or beating.
2. (Law)
Defn: The unlawful beating of another. It includes every willful,
angry and violent, or negligent touching of another's person or
clothes, or anything attached to his person or held by him.
3. (Mil.)
(a) Any place where cannon or mortars are mounted, for attack or
defense.
(b) Two or more pieces of artillery in the field.
(c) A company or division of artillery, including the gunners, guns,
horses, and all equipments. In the United States, a battery of flying
artillery consists usually of six guns. Barbette battery. See
Barbette.
-- Battery d'enfilade, or Enfilading battery, one that sweeps the
whole length of a line of troops or part of a work.
-- Battery en écharpe, one that plays obliquely.
-- Battery gun, a gun capable of firing a number, of shots
simultaneously or successively without stopping to load.
-- Battery wagon, a wagon employed to transport the tools and
materials for repair of the carriages, etc., of the battery.
-- In battery, projecting, as a gun, into an embrasure or over a
parapet in readiness for firing.
-- Masked battery, a battery artificially concealed until required
to open upon the enemy.
-- Out of battery, or From battery, withdrawn, as a gun, to a
position for loading.
4. (Elec.)
(a) A number of coated jars (Leyden jars) so connected that they may
be charged and discharged simultaneously.
(b) An apparatus for generating voltaic electricity.
Note: In the trough battery, copper and zinc plates, connected in
pairs, divide the trough into cells, which are filled with an acid or
oxidizing liquid; the effect is exhibited when wires connected with
the two end-plates are brought together. In Daniell's battery, the
metals are zinc and copper, the former in dilute sulphuric acid, or a
solution of sulphate of zinc, the latter in a saturated solution of
sulphate of copper. A modification of this is the common gravity
battery, so called from the automatic action of the two fluids, which
are separated by their specific gravities. In Grove's battery,
platinum is the metal used with zinc; two fluids are used, one of
them in a porous cell surrounded by the other. In Bunsen's or the
carbon battery, the carbon of gas coke is substituted for the
platinum of Grove's. In Leclanché's battery, the elements are zinc in
a solution of ammonium chloride, and gas carbon surrounded with
manganese dioxide in a porous cell. A secondary battery is a battery
which usually has the two plates of the same kind, generally of lead,
in dilute sulphuric acid, and which, when traversed by an electric
current, becomes charged, and is then capable of giving a current of
itself for a time, owing to chemical changes produced by the charging
current. A storage battery is a kind of secondary battery used for
accumulating and storing the energy of electrical charges or
currents, usually by means of chemical work done by them; an
accumulator.
5. A number of similar machines or devices in position; an apparatus
consisting of a set of similar parts; as, a battery of boilers, of
retorts, condensers, etc.
6. (Metallurgy)
Defn: A series of stamps operated by one motive power, for crushing
ores containing the precious metals. Knight.
7. The box in which the stamps for crushing ore play up and down.
8. (Baseball)
Defn: The pitcher and catcher together.
BATTING
Bat"ting, n.
1. The act of one who bats; the management of a bat in playing games
of ball. Mason.
2. Cotton in sheets, prepared for use in making quilts, etc.; as,
cotton batting.
BATTLE
Bat"tle, a.
Defn: Fertile. See Battel, a. [Obs.]
BATTLE
Bat"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bataille, bataile, F. bataille battle, OF.,
battle, battalion, fr. L. battalia, battualia, the fighting and
fencing exercises of soldiers and gladiators, fr. batuere to strike,
beat. Cf. Battalia, 1st Battel, and see Batter, v. t. ]
1. A general action, fight, or encounter, in which all the divisions
of an army are or may be engaged; an engagement; a combat.
2. A struggle; a contest; as, the battle of life.
The whole intellectual battle that had at its center the best poem of
the best poet of that day. H. Morley.
3. A division of an army; a battalion. [Obs.]
The king divided his army into three battles. Bacon.
The cavalry, by way of distinction, was called the battle, and on it
alone depended the fate of every action. Robertson.
4. The main body, as distinct from the van and rear; battalia. [Obs.]
Hayward.
Note: Battle is used adjectively or as the first part of a self-
explaining compound; as, battle brand, a "brand" or sword used in
battle; battle cry; battlefield; battle ground; battlearray; battle
song. Battle piece, a painting, or a musical composition,
representing a battle.
-- Battle royal. (a) A fight between several gamecocks, where the
one that stands longest is the victor. Grose. (b) A contest with
fists or cudgels in which more than two are engaged; a mêlée.
Thackeray.
-- Drawn battle, one in which neither party gains the victory.
-- To give battle, to attack an enemy.
-- To join battle, to meet the attack; to engage in battle.
-- Pitched battle, one in which the armies are previously drawn up
in form, with a regular disposition of the forces.
-- Wager of battle. See under Wager, n.
Syn.
-- Conflict; encounter; contest; action. Battle, Combat, Fight,
Engagement. These words agree in denoting a close encounter between
contending parties. Fight is a word of less dignity than the others.
Except in poetry, it is more naturally applied to the encounter of a
few individuals, and more commonly an accidental one; as, a street
fight. A combat is a close encounter, whether between few or many,
and is usually premeditated. A battle is commonly more general and
prolonged. An engagement supposes large numbers on each side, engaged
or intermingled in the conflict.
BATTLE
Bat"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Battled (p. pr. & vb. n. Battling.]
Etym: [F. batailler, fr. bataille. See Battle, n.]
Defn: To join in battle; to contend in fight; as, to battle over
theories.
To meet in arms, and battle in the plain. Prior.
BATTLE
Bat"tle, v. t.
Defn: To assail in battle; to fight.
BATTLE-AX; BATTLE-AXE
Bat"tle-ax` Bat"tle-axe`, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A kind of broadax formerly used as an offensive weapon.
BATTLED
Bat"tled, p. p.
Defn: Embattled. [Poetic] Tennyson.
BATTLEDOOR
Bat"tle*door`, n. Etym: [OE. batyldour. A corrupted form of uncertain
origin; cf. Sp. batallador a great combatant, he who has fought many
battles, Pg. batalhador, Pr. batalhador, warrior, soldier, fr. L.
battalia; or cf. Pr. batedor batlet, fr. batre to beat, fr. L.
batuere. See Battle, n.]
1. An instrument, with a handle and a flat part covered with
parchment or crossed with catgut, used to strike a shuttlecock in
play; also, the play of battledoor and shuttlecock.
2. Etym: [OE. battleder.]
Defn: A child's hornbook. [Obs.] Halliwell.
BATTLEMENT
Bat"tle*ment, n. Etym: [OE. batelment; cf. OF. bataillement combat,
fr. batailler, also OF. bastillier, bateillier, to fortify. Cf.
Battle, n., Bastile, Bastion.] (Arch.)
(a) One of the solid upright parts of a parapet in ancient
fortifications.
(b) pl. The whole parapet, consisting of alternate solids and open
spaces. At first purely a military feature, afterwards copied on a
smaller scale with decorative features, as for churches.
BATTLEMENTED
Bat"tle*ment*ed, a.
Defn: Having battlements.
A battlemented portal. Sir W. Scott.
BATTLE RANGE
Bat"tle range`. (Mil.)
Defn: The range within which the fire of small arms is very
destructive. With the magazine rifle, this is six hundred yards.
BATTLE SHIP
Battle ship. (Nav.)
Defn: An armor-plated man-of-war built of steel and heavily armed,
generally having from ten thousand to fifteen thousand tons
displacement, and intended to be fit to meet the heaviest ships in
line of battle.
BATTOLOGIST
Bat*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who battologizes.
BATTOLOGIZE
Bat*tol"o*gize, v. t.
Defn: To keep repeating needlessly; to iterate. Sir T. Herbert.
BATTOLOGY
Bat*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [F. battologie, fr. Gr. ; a stammerer +
speech.]
Defn: A needless repetition of words in speaking or writing. Milton.
BATTON
Bat"ton, n.
Defn: See Batten, and Baton.
BATTUE
Bat"tue`, n. Etym: [F. battue, fr. battre to beat. See Batter, v. t.,
and cf. Battuta.] (Hunting)
(a) The act of beating the woods, bushes, etc., for game.
(b) The game itself.
(c) The wanton slaughter of game. Howitt.
BATTURE
Bat`ture", n. Etym: [F., fr. battre to beat. ]
Defn: An elevated river bed or sea bed.
BATTUTA
Bat*tu"ta, n. Etym: [It. battuta, fr. battere to beat.] (Mus.)
Defn: The measuring of time by beating.
BATTY
Bat"ty, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a bat. "Batty wings." Shak.
BATULE
Bat"ule, n.
Defn: A springboard in a circus or gymnasium; -- called also batule
board.
BATZ
Batz, n.; pl. Batzen. Etym: [Ger. batz, batze, batzen, a coin bearing
the image of a bear, Ger. bätz, betz, bear.]
Defn: A small copper coin, with a mixture of silver, formerly current
in some parts of Germany and Switzerland. It was worth about four
cents.
BAUBEE
Bau*bee", n.
Defn: Same as Bawbee.
BAUBLE
Bau"ble, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. baubel a child's plaything, F. babiole,
It. babbola, LL. baubellum gem, jewel, L. babulus,a baburrus,
foolish.]
1. A trifling piece of finery; a gewgaw; that which is gay and showy
without real value; a cheap, showy plaything.
The ineffective bauble of an Indian pagod. Sheridan.
2. The fool's club. [Obs.] "A fool's bauble was a short stick with a
head ornamented with an ass's ears fantastically carved upon it."
Nares.
BAUBLING
Bau"bling
Defn: , a. See Bawbling. [Obs.]
BAUDEKIN
Bau"de*kin, n. Etym: [OE. bawdekin rich silk stuff, OF. baudequin.
See Baldachin.]
Defn: The richest kind of stuff used in garments in the Middle Ages,
the web being gold, and the woof silk, with embroidery : -- made
originally at Bagdad. [Spelt also baudkin, baudkyn, bawdekin, and
baldakin.] Nares.
BAUDRICK
Bau"drick, n.
Defn: A belt. See Baldric.
BAUK; BAULK
Bauk, Baulk, n. & v.
Defn: See Balk.
BAUME
Bau`mé", a.
Defn: Designating or conforming to either of the scales used by the
French chemist Antoine Baumé in the graduation of his hydrometers; of
or relating to Baumé's scales or hydrometers. There are two Baumé
hydrometers. One, which is used with liquids heavier than water,
sinks to 0º in pure water, and to 15º in a 15 per cent salt solution;
the other, for liquids lighter than water, sinks to 0º in a 10 per
cent salt solution and to 10º in pure water. In both cases the
graduation, based on the distance between these fundamental points,
is continued along the stem as far as desired. Since all the degrees
on a Baumé scale are thus equal in length, while those on a specific-
gravity scale grow smaller as the density increases, there is no
simple relation between degrees Bé. and Sp. gr. However, readings on
Baumés scale may be approximately reduced to specific gravities by
the following formulæ (x in each case being the reading on Baumé's
scale) : (a) for liquids heavier than water, sp. gr. = 144 ÷ (144 -
x);
(b) for liquids lighter than water, sp. gr. = 144 ÷ (134 + x).
BAUNSCHEIDTISM
Baun"scheidt*ism, n. Etym: [From the introducer, a German named
Baunscheidt.] (Med.)
Defn: A form of acupuncture, followed by the rubbing of the part with
a stimulating fluid.
BAUXITE; BEAUXITE
Baux"ite, Beaux"ite,n. Etym: [F., fr. Baux or Beaux, near Arles.]
(Min.)
Defn: A ferruginous hydrate of alumina. It is largely used in the
preparation of aluminium and alumina, and for the lining of furnaces
which are exposed to intense heat.
BAVARDAGE
Ba`var`dage", n. [F.]
Defn: Much talking; prattle; chatter. Byron.
BAVARIAN
Ba*va"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bavaria.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Bavaria. Bavarian cream. See under
Cream.
BAVAROY
Bav"a*roy, n. Etym: [F. Bavarois Bavarian.]
Defn: A kind of cloak or surtout. [Obs.] Johnson.
Let the looped bavaroy the fop embrace. Gay.
BAVIAN
Ba"vi*an, n. Etym: [See Baboon.]
Defn: A baboon.
BAVIN
Bav"in, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. & Ir. baban tuft, tassel.]
1. A fagot of brushwood, or other light combustible matter, for
kindling fires; refuse of brushwood. [Obs. or Dial. Eng.]
2. Impure limestone. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
BAWBEE
Baw*bee", n. Etym: [Perh. corrupt. fr. halfpenny.]
Defn: A halfpenny. [Spelt also baubee.] [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
BAWBLE
Baw"ble, n.
Defn: A trinket. See Bauble.
BAWBLING
Baw"bling, a.
Defn: Insignificant; contemptible. [Obs.]
BAWCOCK
Baw"cock, n. Etym: [From F. beau fine + E. cock (the bird); or more
prob. fr. OF. baud bold, gay + E. cock. Cf. Bawd.]
Defn: A fine fellow; -- a term of endearment. [Obs.] "How now, my
bawcock " Shak.
BAWD
Bawd, n. Etym: [OE. baude, OF. balt, baut, baude, bold, merry, perh.
fr. OHG. bald bold; or fr. Celtic, cf. W. baw dirt. Cf. Bold,
Bawdry.]
Defn: A person who keeps a house of prostitution, or procures women
for a lewd purpose; a procurer or procuress; a lewd person; --
usually applied to a woman.
BAWD
Bawd, v. i.
Defn: To procure women for lewd purposes.
BAWDILY
Bawd"i*ly, adv.
Defn: Obscenely; lewdly.
BAWDINESS
Bawd"i*ness, n.
Defn: Obscenity; lewdness.
BAWDRICK
Bawd"rick, n.
Defn: A belt. See Baldric.
BAWDRY
Bawd"ry, n. Etym: [OE. baudery, OF. bauderie, balderie, boldness,
joy. See Bawd.]
1. The practice of procuring women for the gratification of lust.
2. Illicit intercourse; fornication. Shak.
3. Obscenity; filthy, unchaste language. "The pert style of the pit
bawdry." Steele.
BAWDY
Bawd"y, a.
1. Dirty; foul; -- said of clothes. [Obs.]
It [a garment] is al bawdy and to-tore also. Chaucer.
2. Obscene; filthy; unchaste. "A bawdy story." Burke.
BAWDYHOUSE
Baw"dy*house`, n.
Defn: A house of prostitution; a house of ill fame; a brothel.
BAWHORSE
Baw"horse`, n.
Defn: Same as Bathorse.
BAWL
Bawl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bawled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bawling.] Etym:
[Icel. baula to low, bellow, as a cow; akin to Sw. böla; cf. AS
bellan, G. bellen to bark, E. bellow, bull.]
1. To cry out with a loud, full sound; to cry with vehemence, as in
calling or exultation; to shout; to vociferate.
2. To cry loudly, as a child from pain or vexation.
BAWL
Bawl, v. t.
Defn: To proclaim with a loud voice, or by outcry, as a hawker or
town-crier does. Swift.
BAWL
Bawl, n.
Defn: A loud, prolonged cry; an outcry.
BAWLER
Bawl"er, n.
Defn: One who bawls.
BAWN
Bawn, n. Etym: [Ir. & Gael. babhun inclosure, bulwark.]
1. An inclosure with mud or stone walls, for keeping cattle; a
fortified inclosure. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A large house. [Obs.] Swift.
BAWREL
Baw"rel, n. Etym: [Cf. It. barletta a tree falcon, or hobby.]
Defn: A kind of hawk. [Obs.] Halliwell.
BAWSIN; BAWSON
Baw"sin, Baw"son, n. Etym: [OE. bawson, baucyne, badger (named from
its color), OF. bauzan, baucant, bauchant, spotted with white, pied;
cf. It. balzano, F. balzan, a white-footed horse, It. balza border,
trimming, fr. L. balteus belt, border, edge. Cf. Belt.]
1. A badger. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. A large, unwieldy person. [Obs.] Nares.
BAXTER
Bax"ter, n. Etym: [OE. bakestre, bakistre, AS. bæcestre, prop. fem.
of bæcere baker. See Baker.]
Defn: A baker; originally, a female baker. [Old Eng. & Scotch]
BAY
Bay, a. Etym: [F. bai, fr. L. badius brown, chestnutcolored; -- used
only of horses.]
Defn: Reddish brown; of the color of a chestnut; -- applied to the
color of horses. Bay cat (Zoöl.), a wild cat of Africa and the East
Indies (Felis aurata).
-- Bay lynx (Zoöl.), the common American lynx (Felis, or Lynx,
rufa).
BAY
Bay, n. Etym: [F. baie, fr. LL. baia. Of uncertain origin: cf. Ir. &
Gael. badh or bagh bay harbor, creek; Bisc. baia, baiya, harbor, and
F. bayer to gape, open the mouth.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: An inlet of the sea, usually smaller than a gulf, but of the
same general character.
Note: The name is not used with much precision, and is often applied
to large tracts of water, around which the land forms a curve; as,
Hudson's Bay. The name is not restricted to tracts of water with a
narrow entrance, but is used foe any recess or inlet between capes or
headlands; as, the Bay of Biscay.
2. A small body of water set off from the main body; as a compartment
containing water for a wheel; the portion of a canal just outside of
the gates of a lock, etc.
3. A recess or indentation shaped like a bay.
4. A principal compartment of the walls, roof, or other part of a
building, or of the whole building, as marked off by the buttresses,
vaulting, mullions of a window, etc.; one of the main divisions of
any structure, as the part of a bridge between two piers.
5. A compartment in a barn, for depositing hay, or grain in the
stalks.
6. A kind of mahogany obtained from Campeachy Bay. Sick bay, in
vessels of war, that part of a deck appropriated to the use of the
sick. Totten.
BAY
Bay, n. Etym: [F. baie a berry, the fruit of the laurel and other
trees, fr. L. baca, bacca, a small round fruit, a berry, akin to
Lith. bapka laurel berry.]
1. A berry, particularly of the laurel. [Obs.]
2. The laurel tree (Laurus nobilis). Hence, in the plural, an
honorary garland or crown bestowed as a prize for victory or
excellence, anciently made or consisting of branches of the laurel.
The patriot's honors and the poet's bays. Trumbull.
3. A tract covered with bay trees. [Local, U. S.] Bay leaf, the leaf
of the bay tree (Laurus nobilis). It has a fragrant odor and an
aromatic taste.
BAY
Bay, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bayed (p. pr. & vb. n. Baying.] Etym: [ OE.
bayen, abayen, OF. abaier, F. aboyer, to bark; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: To bark, as a dog with a deep voice does, at his game.
The hounds at nearer distance hoarsely bayed. Dryden.
BAY
Bay, v. t.
Defn: To bark at; hence, to follow with barking; to bring or drive to
bay; as, to bay the bear. Shak.
BAY
Bay, n. Etym: [See Bay, v. i.]
1. Deep-toned, prolonged barking. "The bay of curs." Cowper.
2. Etym: [OE. bay, abay, OF. abai, F. aboi barking, pl. abois, prop.
the extremity to which the stag is reduced when surrounded by the
dogs, barking (aboyant); aux abois at bay.]
Defn: A state of being obliged to face an antagonist or a difficulty,
when escape has become impossible.
Embolden'd by despair, he stood at bay. Dryden.
The most terrible evils are just kept at bay by incessant efforts. I.
Taylor
BAY
Bay, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. bæwen to bathe, and G. bähen to foment.]
Defn: To bathe. [Obs.] Spenser.
BAY
Bay, n.
Defn: A bank or dam to keep back water.
BAY
Bay, v. t.
Defn: To dam, as water; -- with up or back.
BAYA
Ba"ya, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The East Indian weaver bird (Ploceus Philippinus).
BAYAD; BAYATTE
Ba*yad", Ba*yatte", n. Etym: [Ar. bayad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, edible, siluroid fish of the Nile, of two species
(Bagrina bayad and B. docmac).
BAYADERE
Ba`ya*dere", n. Etym: [F., from Pg. bailadeira a female dancer,
bailar to dance.]
Defn: A female dancer in the East Indies. [Written also bajadere.]
BAYAMO
Ba*ya"mo, n. (Meteor.)
Defn: A violent thunder squall occurring on the south coast of Cuba,
esp. near Bayamo. The gusts, called bayamo winds, are modified foehn
winds.
BAY-ANTLER
Bay"-ant`ler, n. Etym: [See Bez-Antler.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The second tine of a stag's horn. See under Antler.
BAYARD
Bay"ard, n.
1. Etym: [OF. bayard, baiart, bay horse; bai bay + -ard. See Bay, a.,
and -ard.]
Defn: Properly, a bay horse, but often any horse. Commonly in the
phrase blind bayard, an old blind horse.
Blind bayard moves the mill. Philips.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. bayeur, fr. bayer to gape.]
Defn: A stupid, clownish fellow. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BAYARDLY
Bay"ard*ly, a.
Defn: Blind; stupid. [Obs.] "A formal and bayardly round of duties."
Goodman.
BAYBERRY
Bay"ber*ry, n. (Bot.)
(a) The fruit of the bay tree or Laurus nobilis.
(b) A tree of the West Indies related to the myrtle (Pimenta acris).
(c) The fruit of Myrica cerifera (wax myrtle); the shrub itself; --
called also candleberry tree. Bayberry tallow, a fragrant green wax
obtained from the bayberry or wax myrtle; -- called also myrtle wax.
BAYBOLT
Bay"bolt`, n.
Defn: A bolt with a barbed shank.
BAYED
Bayed, a.
Defn: Having a bay or bays. "The large bayed barn." Drayton.
BAYEUX TAPESTRY
Ba`yeux" tap"es*try.
Defn: A piece of linen about 1 ft. 8 in. wide by 213 ft. long,
covered with embroidery representing the incidents of William the
Conqueror's expedition to England, preserved in the town museum of
Bayeux in Normandy. It is probably of the 11th century, and is
attributed by tradition to Matilda, the Conqueror's wife.
BAY ICE
Bay" ice`.
Defn: See under Ice.
BAY LEAF
Bay" leaf`.
Defn: See under 3d Bay.
BAYMAN
Bay"man, n. (Nav.)
Defn: In the United States navy, a sick-bay nurse; -- now officially
designated as hospital apprentice.
BAYONET
Bay"o*net, n. Etym: [F. bayonnette, baïonnette; -- so called, it is
said, because the first bayonets were made at Bayonne.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of
a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of
offense and defense.
Note: Originally, the bayonet was made with a handle, which required
to be fitted into the bore of the musket after the soldier had fired.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A pin which plays in and out of holes made to receive it, and
which thus serves to engage or disengage parts of the machinery.
Bayonet clutch. See Clutch.
-- Bayonet joint, a form of coupling similar to that by which a
bayonet is fixed on the barrel of a musket. Knight.
BAYONET
Bay"o*net, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bayoneted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bayoneting.]
1. To stab with a bayonet.
2. To compel or drive by the bayonet.
To bayonet us into submission. Burke.
BAYOU
Bay"ou, n.; pl. Bayous (.Etym: [North Am. Indian bayuk, in F.
spelling bayouc, bayouque.]
Defn: An inlet from the Gulf of Mexico, from a lake, or from a large
river, sometimes sluggish, sometimes without perceptible movement
except from tide and wind. [Southern U. S.]
A dark slender thread of a bayou moves loiteringly northeastward into
a swamp of huge cypresses. G. W. Cable.
BAYOU STATE
Bay"ou State`.
Defn: Mississippi; -- a nickname, from its numerous bayous.
BAY RUM
Bay" rum".
Defn: A fragrant liquid, used for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
Note: The original bay rum, from the West Indies, is prepared, it is
believed, by distillation from the leaves of the bayberry (Myrcia
acris). The bay rum of the Pharmacopoeia (spirit of myrcia) is
prepared from oil of myrcia (bayberry), oil of orange peel, oil of
pimento, alcohol, and water.
BAYS; BAYZE
Bays, Bayze, n.
Defn: See Baize. [Obs.]
BAY SALT
Bay" salt`.
Defn: Salt which has been obtained from sea water, by evaporation in
shallow pits or basins, by the heat of the sun; the large crystalline
salt of commerce. Bacon. Ure.
BAY STATE
Bay State.
Defn: Massachusetts, which had been called the Colony of
Massachusetts Bay; -- a nickname.
BAY TREE
Bay" tree`.
Defn: A species of laurel. (Laurus nobilis).
BAY WINDOW
Bay" win"dow. (Arch.)
Defn: A window forming a bay or recess in a room, and projecting
outward from the wall, either in a rectangular, polygonal, or
semicircular form; -- often corruptly called a bow window.
BAY YARN
Bay" yarn`.
Defn: Woolen yarn. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
BAZAAR; BAZAR
Ba*zaar" Ba*zar", n. Etym: [Per. bazar market.]
1. In the East, an exchange, marketplace, or assemblage of shops
where goods are exposed for sale.
2. A spacious hall or suite of rooms for the sale of goods, as at a
fair.
3. A fair for the sale of fancy wares, toys, etc., commonly for a
charitable objects. Macaulay.
BDELLIUM
Bdel"lium, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. ; cf. Heb. b'dolakh bdellium (in
sense 1).]
1. An unidentified substance mentioned in the Bible (Gen. ii. 12, and
Num. xi. 7), variously taken to be a gum, a precious stone, or
pearls, or perhaps a kind of amber found in Arabia.
2. A gum resin of reddish brown color, brought from India, Persia,
and Africa.
Note: Indian bdellium or false myrrh is an exudation from
Balsamodendron Roxb. Other kinds are known as African, Sicilian, etc.
BDELLOIDEA
Bdel*loi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. leech + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order of Annulata which includes the leeches. See
Hirudinea.
BDELLOMETER
Bdel*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. leech + -meter.] (Med.)
Defn: A cupping glass to which are attached a scarificator and an
exhausting syringe. Dunglison.
BDELLOMORPHA
Bdel`lo*mor"pha,n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. leech + form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Nemertina, including the large leechlike worms
(Malacobdella) often parasitic in clams.
BE
Be, v. i. [imp. Was; p. p. Been; p. pr. & vb. n. Being.] Etym: [OE.
been, beon, AS. beón to be, beóm I am; akin to OHG. bim, pim, G. bin,
I am, Gael. & Ir. bu was, W. bod to be, Lith. bu-ti, O. Slav. by-ti,
to be, L. fu-i I have been, fu-turus about to be, fo-re to be about
to be, and perh to fieri to become, Gr. to be born, to be, Skr. bh to
be. This verb is defective, and the parts lacking are supplied by
verbs from other roots, is, was, which have no radical connection
with be. The various forms, am, are, is, was, were, etc., are
considered grammatically as parts of the verb "to be", which, with
its conjugational forms, is often called the substantive verb.
Future, Physic.]
1. To exist actually, or in the world of fact; to have ex
To be contents his natural desire. Pope.
To be, or not to be: that is the question. Shak.
2. To exist in a certain manner or relation, -- whether as a reality
or as a product of thought; to exist as the subject of a certain
predicate, that is, as having a certain attribute, or as belonging to
a certain sort, or as identical with what is specified, -- a word or
words for the predicate being annexed; as, to be happy; to be here;
to be large, or strong; to be an animal; to be a hero; to be a
nonentity; three and two are five; annihilation is the cessation of
existence; that is the man.
3. To take place; to happen; as, the meeting was on Thursday.
4. To signify; to represent or symbolize; to answer to.
The field is the world. Matt. xiii. 38.
The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. Rev.
i. 20.
Note: The verb to be (including the forms is, was, etc.) is used in
forming the passive voice of other verbs; as, John has been struck by
James. It is also used with the past participle of many intransitive
verbs to express a state of the subject. But have is now more
commonly used as the auxiliary, though expressing a different sense;
as, "Ye have come too late -- but ye are come. " "The minstrel boy to
the war is gone." The present and imperfect tenses form, with the
infinitive, a particular future tense, which expresses necessity,
duty, or purpose; as, government is to be supported; we are to pay
our just debts; the deed is to be signed to-morrow.
Note: Have or had been, followed by to, implies movement. "I have
been to Paris." Sydney Smith. "Have you been to Franchard " R. L.
Stevenson.
Note: Been, or ben, was anciently the plural of the indicative
present. "Ye ben light of the world." Wyclif, Matt. v. 14. Afterwards
be was used, as in our Bible: "They that be with us are more than
they that be with them." 2 Kings vi. 16. Ben was also the old
infinitive: "To ben of such power." R. of Gloucester. Be is used as a
form of the present subjunctive: "But if it be a question of words
and names." Acts xviii. 15. But the indicative forms, is and are,
with if, are more commonly used. Be it so, a phrase of supposition,
equivalent to suppose it to be so; or of permission, signifying let
it be so. Shak.
-- If so be, in case.
-- To be from, to have come from; as, from what place are you I am
from Chicago.
-- To let be, to omit, or leave untouched; to let alone. "Let be,
therefore, my vengeance to dissuade." Spenser.
Syn.
-- To be, Exist. The verb to be, except in a few rare case, like
that of Shakespeare's "To be, or not to be", is used simply as a
copula, to connect a subject with its predicate; as, man is mortal;
the soul is immortal. The verb to exist is never properly used as a
mere copula, but points to things that stand forth, or have a
substantive being; as, when the soul is freed from all corporeal
alliance, then it truly exists. It is not, therefore, properly
synonymous with to be when used as a copula, though occasionally made
so by some writers for the sake of variety; as in the phrase "there
exists [is] no reason for laying new taxes." We may, indeed, say, "a
friendship has long existed between them," instead of saying, "there
has long been a friendship between them;" but in this case, exist is
not a mere copula. It is used in its appropriate sense to mark the
friendship as having been long in existence.
BE
Be*. Etym: [AS. be, and in accented form bi, akin to OS. be and bi,
OHG. bi, pi, and pi, MHG. be and bi, G. be and bei, Goth. bi, and
perh. Gr. about (cf. AS. beseón to look about). By, Amb-.]
Defn: A prefix, originally the same word as by; joined with verbs, it
serves: (a) To intensify the meaning; as, bespatter, bestir. (b) To
render an intransitive verb transitive; as, befall (to fall upon);
bespeak (to speak for). (c) To make the action of a verb particular
or definite; as, beget (to get as offspring); beset (to set around).
Note: It is joined with certain substantives, and a few adjectives,
to form verbs; as, bedew, befriend, benight, besot; belate (to make
late); belittle (to make little). It also occurs in certain nouns,
adverbs, and prepositions, often with something of the force of the
preposition by, or about; as, belief (believe), behalf, bequest
(bequeath); because, before, beneath, beside, between. In some words
the original force of be is obscured or lost; as, in become, begin,
behave, behoove, belong.
BEACH
Beach, n.; pl. Beaches (. Etym: [Cf. Sw. backe hill, Dan. bakke,
Icel. bakki hill, bank. Cf. Bank.]
1. Pebbles, collectively; shingle.
2. The shore of the sea, or of a lake, which is washed by the waves;
especially, a sandy or pebbly shore; the strand. Beach flea (Zoöl.),
the common name of many species of amphipod Crustacea, of the family
Orchestidæ, living on the sea beaches, and leaping like fleas.
-- Beach grass (Bot.), a coarse grass (Ammophila arundinacea),
growing on the sandy shores of lakes and seas, which, by its
interlaced running rootstocks, binds the sand together, and resists
the encroachment of the waves.
-- Beach wagon, a light open wagon with two or more seats.
-- Raised beach, an accumulation of water-worn stones, gravel, sand,
and other shore deposits, above the present level of wave action,
whether actually raised by elevation of the coast, as in Norway, or
left by the receding waters, as in many lake and river regions.
BEACH
Beach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beached (p. pr. & vb. n. Beaching.]
Defn: To run or drive (as a vessel or a boat) upon a beach; to
strand; as, to beach a ship.
BEACH COMBER
Beach" comb`er.
Defn: A long, curling wave rolling in from the ocean. See Comber.
[Amer.]
BEACHED
Beached, p. p. & a.
1. Bordered by a beach.
The beached verge of the salt flood. Shak.
2. Driven on a beach; stranded; drawn up on a beach; as, the ship is
beached.
BEACHY
Beach"y, a.
Defn: Having a beach or beaches; formed by a beach or beaches;
shingly.
The beachy girdle of the ocean. Shak.
BEACON
Bea"con, n. Etym: [OE. bekene, AS. beácen, b; akin to OS. b, Fries.
baken, beken, sign, signal, D. baak, OHG. bouhhan, G. bake; of
unknown origin. Cf. Beckon.]
1. A signal fire to notify of the approach of an enemy, or to give
any notice, commonly of warning.
No flaming beacons cast their blaze afar. Gay.
2. A signal or conspicuous mark erected on an eminence near the
shore, or moored in shoal water, as a guide to mariners.
3. A high hill near the shore. [Prov. Eng.]
4. That which gives notice of danger.
Modest doubt is called The beacon of the wise. Shak.
Beacon fire, a signal fire.
BEACON
Bea"con, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beaconed (p. pr. & vb. n. Beaconing.]
1. To give light to, as a beacon; to light up; to illumine.
That beacons the darkness of heaven. Campbell.
2. To furnish with a beacon or beacons.
BEACONAGE
Bea"con*age, n.
Defn: Money paid for the maintenance of a beacon; also, beacons,
collectively.
BEACONLESS
Bea"con*less, a.
Defn: Having no beacon.
BEAD
Bead, n. Etym: [OE. bede prayer, prayer bead, AS. bed, gebed, prayer;
akin to D. bede, G. bitte, AS. biddan, to ask, bid, G. bitten to ask,
and perh. to Gr. to persuade, L. fidere to trust. Beads are used by
the Roman Catholics to count their prayers, one bead being dropped
down a string every time a prayer is said. Cf. Sp. cuenta bead, fr.
contar to count. See Bid, in to bid beads, and Bide.]
1. A prayer. [Obs.]
2. A little perforated ball, to be strung on a thread, and worn for
ornament; or used in a rosary for counting prayers, as by Roman
Catholics and Mohammedans, whence the phrases to tell beads, to at
one's beads, to bid beads, etc., meaning, to be at prayer.
3. Any small globular body; as,
(a) A bubble in spirits.
(b) A drop of sweat or other liquid. "Cold beads of midnight dew."
Wordsworth.
(c) A small knob of metal on a firearm, used for taking aim (whence
the expression to draw a bead, for, to take aim).
(d) (Arch.) A small molding of rounded surface, the section being
usually an arc of a circle. It may be continuous, or broken into
short embossments.
(e) (Chem.) A glassy drop of molten flux, as borax or microcosmic
salt, used as a solvent and color test for several mineral earths and
oxides, as of iron, manganese, etc., before the blowpipe; as, the
borax bead; the iron bead, etc. Bead and butt (Carp.), framing in
which the panels are flush, having beads stuck or run upon the two
edges. Knight.
-- Beat mold, a species of fungus or mold, the stems of which
consist of single cells loosely jointed together so as to resemble a
string of beads. [Written also bead mould.] -- Bead tool, a cutting
tool, having an edge curved so as to make beads or beading.
-- Bead tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Melia, the best known
species of which (M. azedarach), has blue flowers which are very
fragrant, and berries which are poisonous.
BEAD
Bead, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beading.]
Defn: To ornament with beads or beading.
BEAD
Bead, v. i.
Defn: To form beadlike bubbles.
BEADHOUSE; BEDEHOUSE
Bead"house`, Bede"house`, n. Etym: [OE. bede prayer + E. house. See
Bead, n.]
Defn: An almshouse for poor people who pray daily for their
benefactors.
BEADING
Bead"ing, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Molding in imitation of beads.
2. The beads or bead-forming quality of certain liquors; as, the
beading of a brand of whisky.
BEADLE
Bea"dle, n. Etym: [OE. bedel, bidel, budel, OF. bedel, F. bedeau, fr.
OHG. butil, putil, G. büttel, fr. OHG. biotan, G. bieten, to bid,
confused with AS. bydel, the same word as OHG. butil. See. Bid, v.]
1. A messenger or crier of a court; a servitor; one who cites or bids
persons to appear and answer; -- called also an apparitor or
summoner.
2. An officer in a university, who precedes public processions of
officers and students. [Eng.]
Note: In this sense the archaic spellings bedel (Oxford) and bedell
(Cambridge) are preserved.
3. An inferior parish officer in England having a variety of duties,
as the preservation of order in church service, the chastisement of
petty offenders, etc.
BEADLERY
Bea"dle*ry, n.
Defn: Office or jurisdiction of a beadle.
BEADLESHIP
Bea"dle*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being, or the personality of, a beadle. A. Wood.
BEAD PROOF
Bead" proof`.
1. Among distillers, a certain degree of strength in alcoholic
liquor, as formerly ascertained by the floating or sinking of glass
globules of different specific gravities thrown into it; now
ascertained by more accurate meters.
2. A degree of strength in alcoholic liquor as shown by beads or
small bubbles remaining on its surface, or at the side of the glass,
when shaken.
BEADROLL
Bead"roll`, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A catalogue of persons, for the rest of whose souls a certain
number of prayers are to be said or counted off on the beads of a
chaplet; hence, a catalogue in general.
On Fame's eternal beadroll worthy to be field. Spenser.
It is quite startling, on going over the beadroll of English
worthies, to find how few are directly represented in the male line.
Quart. Rev.
BEADSMAN; BEDESMAN
Beads"man, Bedes"man, n.; pl. -men (.
Defn: A poor man, supported in a beadhouse, and required to pray for
the soul of its founder; an almsman.
Whereby ye shall bind me to be your poor beadsman for ever unto
Almighty God. Fuller.
BEADSNAKE
Bead"snake`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small poisonous snake of North America (Elaps fulvius),
banded with yellow, red, and black.
BEADSWOMAN; BEDESWOMAN
Beads"wom`an, Bedes"wom`an, n.; pl. -women (.
Defn: Fem. of Beadsman.
BEADWORK
Bead"work`, n.
Defn: Ornamental work in beads.
BEADY
Bead"y, a.
1. Resembling beads; small, round, and glistening. "Beady eyes."
Thackeray.
2. Covered or ornamented with, or as with, beads.
3. Characterized by beads; as, beady liquor.
BEAGLE
Bea"gle, n. Etym: [OE. begele; perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. &
Gael. beag small, little, W. bach. F. bigle is from English.]
1. A small hound, or hunting dog, twelve to fifteen inches high, used
in hunting hares and other small game. See Illustration in Appendix.
2. Fig.: A spy or detective; a constable.
BEAK
Beak, n. Etym: [OE. bek, F. bec, fr. Celtic; cf. Gael. & Ir. bac,
bacc, hook, W. bach.]
Defn: 1. (Zoöl.) (a) The bill or nib of a bird, consisting of a horny
sheath, covering the jaws. The form varied much according to the food
and habits of the bird, and is largely used in the classification of
birds. (b) A similar bill in other animals, as the turtles. (c) The
long projecting sucking mouth of some insects, and other
invertebrates, as in the Hemiptera. (d) The upper or projecting part
of the shell, near the hinge of a bivalve. (e) The prolongation of
certain univalve shells containing the canal.
2. Anything projecting or ending in a point, like a beak, as a
promontory of land. Carew.
3. (Antiq.)
Defn: A beam, shod or armed at the end with a metal head or point,
and projecting from the prow of an ancient galley, in order to pierce
the vessel of an enemy; a beakhead.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of a ship, before the forecastle, which is fastened
to the stem, and supported by the main knee.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: A continuous slight projection ending in an arris or narrow
fillet; that part of a drip from which the water is thrown off.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: Any process somewhat like the beak of a bird, terminating the
fruit or other parts of a plant.
7. (Far.)
Defn: A toe clip. See Clip, n. (Far.).
8. A magistrate or policeman. [Slang, Eng.]
BEAKED
Beaked, a.
1. Having a beak or a beaklike point; beak-shaped. "Each beaked
promontory." Milton.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Furnished with a process or a mouth like a beak; rostrate.
Beaked whale (Zoöl.), a cetacean of the genus Hyperoodon; the
bottlehead whale.
BEAKER
Beak"er, n. Etym: [OE. biker; akin to Icel. bikarr, Sw. bägare, Dan.
baeger, G. becher, It. bicchiere; -- all fr. LL. bicarium, prob. fr.
Gr. wine jar, or perh. L. bacar wine vessel. Cf. Pitcher a jug.]
1. A large drinking cup, with a wide mouth, supported on a foot or
standard.
2. An open-mouthed, thin glass vessel, having a projecting lip for
pouring; -- used for holding solutions requiring heat. Knight.
BEAKHEAD
Beak"head`, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament used in rich Norman doorways, resembling a head
with a beak. Parker.
2. (Naut.)
(a) A small platform at the fore part of the upper deck of a vessel,
which contains the water closets of the crew.
(b) (Antiq.) Same as Beak, 3.
BEAKIRON
Beak"i*ron, n. Etym: [From Bickern.]
Defn: A bickern; a bench anvil with a long beak, adapted to reach the
interior surface of sheet metal ware; the horn of an anvil.
BEAL
Beal (, n. Etym: [See Boil a tumor.] (Med.)
Defn: A small inflammatory tumor; a pustule. [Prov. Eng.]
BEAL
Beal, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bealed (; p. pr & vb. n. Bealing.]
Defn: To gather matter; to swell and come to a head, as a pimple.
[Prov. Eng.]
BE-ALL
Be"-all`, n.
Defn: The whole; all that is to be. [Poetic] Shak.
BEAM
Beam, n. Etym: [AS. beám beam, post, tree, ray of light; akin to
OFries. bam tree, OS. b, D. boom, OHG. boum, poum, G. baum, Icel. ba,
Goth. bahms and Gr. a growth, to become, to be. Cf. L. radius staff,
rod, spoke of a wheel, beam or ray, and G. strahl arrow, spoke of a
wheel, ray or beam, flash of lightning. Be; cf. Boom a spar.]
1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its
thickness, and prepared for use.
2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building or ship.
The beams of a vessel are strong pieces of timber stretching across
from side to side to support the decks. Totten.
3. The width of a vessel; as, one vessel is said to have more beam
than another.
4. The bar of a balance, from the ends of which the scales are
suspended.
The doubtful beam long nods from side to side. Pope.
5. The principal stem or horn of a stag or other deer, which bears
the antlers, or branches.
6. The pole of a carriage. [Poetic] Dryden.
7. A cylinder of wood, making part of a loom, on which weavers wind
the warp before weaving; also, the cylinder on which the cloth is
rolled, as it is woven; one being called the fore beam, the other the
back beam.
8. The straight part or shank of an anchor.
9. The main part of a plow, to which the handles and colter are
secured, and to the end of which are attached the oxen or horses that
draw it.
10. (Steam Engine)
Defn: A heavy iron lever having an oscillating motion on a central
axis, one end of which is connected with the piston rod from which it
receives motion, and the other with the crank of the wheel shaft; --
called also working beam or walking beam.
11. A ray or collection of parallel rays emitted from the sun or
other luminous body; as, a beam of light, or of heat.
How far that little candle throws his beams ! Shak.
12. Fig.: A ray; a gleam; as, a beam of comfort.
Mercy with her genial beam. Keble.
13. One of the long feathers in the wing of a hawk; -- called also
beam feather. Abaft the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon
between a line that crosses the ship at right angles, or in the
direction of her beams, and that point of the compass toward which
her stern is directed.
-- Beam center (Mach.), the fulcrum or pin on which the working beam
of an engine vibrates.
-- Beam compass, an instrument consisting of a rod or beam, having
sliding sockets that carry steel or pencil points; -- used for
drawing or describing large circles.
-- Beam engine, a steam engine having a working beam to transmit
power, in distinction from one which has its piston rod attached
directly to the crank of the wheel shaft.
-- Before the beam (Naut.), in an arc of the horizon included
between a line that crosses the ship at right angles and that point
of the compass toward which the ship steers.
-- On the beam , in a line with the beams, or at right angled with
the keel.
-- On the weather beam, on the side of a ship which faces the wind.
-- To be on her beam ends, to incline, as a vessel, so much on one
side that her beams approach a vertical position.
BEAM
Beam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beamed (p. pr. & vb. n. Beaming.]
Defn: To send forth; to emit; -- followed ordinarily by forth; as, to
beam forth light.
BEAM
Beam, v. i.
Defn: To emit beams of light.
He beamed, the daystar of the rising age. Trumbull.
BEAMBIRD
Beam"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European flycatcher (Muscicapa gricola), so called
because it often nests on a beam in a building.
BEAMED
Beamed, a.
Defn: Furnished with beams, as the head of a stag.
Tost his beamed frontlet to the sky. Sir W. Scott.
BEAMFUL
Beam"ful, a.
Defn: Beamy; radiant.
BEAMILY
Beam"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a beaming manner.
BEAMINESS
Beam"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being beamy.
BEAMING
Beam"ing, a.
Defn: Emitting beams; radiant.
BEAMINGLY
Beam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a beaming manner; radiantly.
BEAMLESS
Beam"less, a.
1. Not having a beam.
2. Not emitting light.
BEAMLET
Beam"let, n.
Defn: A small beam of light.
BEAM TREE
Beam" tree`. Etym: [AS. beám a tree. See Beam.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree (Pyrus aria) related to the apple.
BEAMY
Beam"y, a.
1. Emitting beams of light; radiant; shining. "Beamy gold." Tickell.
2. Resembling a beam in size and weight; massy.
His double-biting ax, and beamy spear. Dryden.
3. Having horns, or antlers.
Beamy stags in toils engage. Dryden.
BEAN
Bean, n. Etym: [OE. bene, AS.beán; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. p,
Icel. baun, Dan. bönne, Sw. böna, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly
of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs.
Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still doubtful.
Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and China bean, included in
Dolichos Sinensis; black Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, D. Lablab;
the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans,
all included in Phaseolus vulgaris; the lower bush bean, Ph.
vulgaris, variety nanus; Lima bean, Ph. lunatus; Spanish bean and
scarlet runner, Ph. maltiflorus; Windsor bean, the common bean of
England, Faba vulgaris. As an article of food beans are classed with
vegetables.
2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less
resembling true beans. Bean aphis (Zoöl.), a plant louse (Aphis fabæ)
which infests the bean plant.
-- Bean fly (Zoöl.), a fly found on bean flowers.
-- Bean goose (Zoöl.), a species of goose (Anser segetum).
-- Bean weevil (Zoöl.), a small weevil that in the larval state
destroys beans. The American species in Bruchus fabæ.
-- Florida bean (Bot.), the seed of Mucuna urens, a West Indian
plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often
polished and made into ornaments.
-- Ignatius bean, or St. Ignatius's bean (Bot.), a species of
Strychnos.
-- Navy bean, the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so
called because an important article of food in the navy.
-- Pea bean, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible
white bean; -- so called from its size.
-- Sacred bean. See under Sacred.
-- Screw bean. See under Screw.
-- Sea bean. (a) Same as Florida bean. (b) A red bean of unknown
species used for ornament.
-- Tonquin bean, or Tonka bean, the fragrant seed of Dipteryx
odorata, a leguminous tree.
-- Vanilla bean. See under Vanilla.
BEAN CAPER
Bean" ca`per. (Bot.)
Defn: A deciduous plant of warm climates, generally with fleshy
leaves and flowers of a yellow or whitish yellow color, of the genus
Zygophyllum.
BEAN TREFOIL
Bean" tre"foil. (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous shrub of southern Europe, with trifoliate leaves
(Anagyris foetida).
BEAR
Bear, v. t. [imp. Bore (formerly Bare (); p. p. Born, Borne (p. pr. &
vb. n. Bearing.] Etym: [OE. beren, AS. beran, beoran, to bear, carry,
produce; akin to D. baren to bring forth, G. gebären, Goth. baíran to
bear or carry, Icel. bera, Sw. bära, Dan. bære, OHG. beran, peran, L.
ferre to bear, carry, produce, Gr. , OSlav brati to take, carry, OIr.
berim I bear, Skr. bh to bear. sq. root92. Cf. Fertile.]
1. To support or sustain; to hold up.
2. To support and remove or carry; to convey.
I 'll bear your logs the while. Shak.
3. To conduct; to bring; -- said of persons. [Obs.]
Bear them to my house. Shak.
4. To possess and use, as power; to exercise.
Every man should bear rule in his own house. Esther i. 22.
5. To sustain; to have on (written or inscribed, or as a mark), as,
the tablet bears this inscription.
6. To possess or carry, as a mark of authority or distinction; to
wear; as, to bear a sword, badge, or name.
7. To possess mentally; to carry or hold in the mind; to entertain;
to harbor Dryden.
The ancient grudge I bear him. Shak.
8. To endure; to tolerate; to undergo; to suffer.
Should such a man, too fond to rule alone, Bear, like the Turk, no
brother near the throne. Pope.
I cannot bear The murmur of this lake to hear. Shelley.
My punishment is greater than I can bear. Gen. iv. 13.
9. To gain or win. [Obs.]
Some think to bear it by speaking a great word. Bacon.
She was . . . found not guilty, through bearing of friends and
bribing of the judge. Latimer.
10. To sustain, or be answerable for, as blame, expense,
responsibility, etc.
He shall bear their iniquities. Is. liii. 11.
Somewhat that will bear your charges. Dryden.
11. To render or give; to bring forward. "Your testimony bear"
Dryden.
12. To carry on, or maintain; to have. "The credit of bearing a part
in the conversation." Locke.
13. To admit or be capable of; that is, to suffer or sustain without
violence, injury, or change.
In all criminal cases the most favorable interpretation should be put
on words that they can possibly bear. Swift.
14. To manage, wield, or direct. "Thus must thou thy body bear."
Shak. Hence: To behave; to conduct.
Hath he borne himself penitently in prison Shak.
15. To afford; to be to ; to supply with.
bear him company. Pope.
16. To bring forth or produce; to yield; as, to bear apples; to bear
children; to bear interest.
Here dwelt the man divine whom Samos bore. Dryden.
Note: In the passive form of this verb, the best modern usage
restricts the past participle born to the sense of brought forth,
while borne is used in the other senses of the word. In the active
form, borne alone is used as the past participle. To bear down. (a)
To force into a lower place; to carry down; to depress or sink. "His
nose, . . . large as were the others, bore them down into
insignificance." Marryat. (b) To overthrow or crush by force; as, to
bear down an enemy.
-- To bear a hand. (a) To help; to give assistance. (b) (Naut.) To
make haste; to be quick.
-- To bear in hand, to keep (one) up in expectation, usually by
promises never to be realized; to amuse by false pretenses; to
delude. [Obs.] "How you were borne in hand, how crossed." Shak.
-- To bear in mind, to remember.
-- To bear off. (a) To restrain; to keep from approach. (b) (Naut.)
To remove to a distance; to keep clear from rubbing against anything;
as, to bear off a blow; to bear off a boat. (c) To gain; to carry
off, as a prize.
-- To bear one hard, to owe one a grudge. [Obs.] "Cæsar doth bear me
hard." Shak.
-- To bear out. (a) To maintain and support to the end; to defend to
the last. "Company only can bear a man out in an ill thing." South.
(b) To corroborate; to confirm.
-- To bear up, to support; to keep from falling or sinking.
"Religious hope bears up the mind under sufferings." Addison.
Syn.
-- To uphold; sustain; maintain; support; undergo; suffer; endure;
tolerate; carry; convey; transport; waft.
BEAR
Bear, v. i.
1. To produce, as fruit; to be fruitful, in opposition to barrenness.
This age to blossom, and the next to bear. Dryden.
2. To suffer, as in carrying a burden.
But man is born to bear. Pope.
3. To endure with patience; to be patient.
I can not, can not bear. Dryden.
4. To press; -- with on or upon, or against.
These men bear hard on the suspected party. Addison.
5. To take effect; to have influence or force; as, to bring matters
to bear.
6. To relate or refer; -- with on or upon; as, how does this bear on
the question
7. To have a certain meaning, intent, or effect.
Her sentence bore that she should stand a certain time upon the
platform. Hawthorne.
8. To be situated, as to the point of compass, with respect to
something else; as, the land bears N. by E. To bear against, to
approach for attack or seizure; as, a lion bears against his prey.
[Obs.] -- To bear away (Naut.), to change the course of a ship, and
make her run before the wind.
-- To bear back, to retreat. "Bearing back from the blows of their
sable antagonist." Sir W. Scott.
-- To bear down upon (Naut.), to approach from the windward side;
as, the fleet bore down upon the enemy.
-- To bear in with (Naut.), to run or tend toward; as, a ship bears
in with the land.
-- To bear off (Naut.), to steer away, as from land.
-- To bear up. (a) To be supported; to have fortitude; to be firm;
not to sink; as, to bear up under afflictions. (b) (Naut.) To put the
helm up (or to windward) and so put the ship before the wind; to bear
away. Hamersly.
-- To bear upon (Mil.), to be pointed or situated so as to affect;
to be pointed directly against, or so as to hit (the object); as, to
bring or plant guns so as to bear upon a fort or a ship; the
artillery bore upon the center.
-- To bear up to, to tend or move toward; as, to bear up to one
another.
-- To bear with, to endure; to be indulgent to; to forbear to
resent, oppose, or punish.
BEAR
Bear, n.
Defn: A bier. [Obs.] Spenser.
BEAR
Bear, n. Etym: [OE. bere, AS. bera; akin to D. beer, OHG. bero, pero,
G. bär, Icel. & Sw. björn, and possibly to L. fera wild beast, Gr.
beast, Skr. bhalla bear.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of the genus Ursus, and of the closely allied
genera. Bears are plantigrade Carnivora, but they live largely on
fruit and insects.
Note: The European brown bear (U. arctos), the white polar bear (U.
maritimus), the grizzly bear (U. horribilis), the American black
bear, and its variety the cinnamon bear (U. Americanus), the Syrian
bear (Ursus Syriacus), and the sloth bear, are among the notable
species.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal which has some resemblance to a bear in form or
habits, but no real affinity; as, the woolly bear; ant bear; water
bear; sea bear.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: One of two constellations in the northern hemisphere, called
respectively the Great Bear and the Lesser Bear, or Ursa Major and
Ursa Minor.
4. Metaphorically: A brutal, coarse, or morose person.
5. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: A person who sells stocks or securities for future delivery in
expectation of a fall in the market.
Note: The bears and bulls of the Stock Exchange, whose interest it
is, the one to depress, and the other to raise, stocks, are said to
be so called in allusion to the bear's habit of pulling down, and the
bull's of tossing up.
6. (Mach.)
Defn: A portable punching machine.
7. (Naut.)
Defn: A block covered with coarse matting; -- used to scour the deck.
Australian bear. (Zoöl.) See Koala.
-- Bear baiting, the sport of baiting bears with dogs.
-- Bear caterpillar (Zoöl.), the hairy larva of a moth, esp. of the
genus Euprepia.
-- Bear garden. (a) A place where bears are kept for diversion or
fighting. (b) Any place where riotous conduct is common or permitted.
M. Arnold.
-- Bear leader, one who leads about a performing bear for money;
hence, a facetious term for one who takes charge of a young man on
his travels.
BEAR
Bear, v. t. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: To endeavor to depress the price of, or prices in; as, to bear
a railroad stock; to bear the market.
BEAR; BERE
Bear, Bere, n. Etym: [AS. bere. See Barley.] (Bot.)
Defn: Barley; the six-rowed barley or the four-rowed barley, commonly
the former (Hord. vulgare). [Obs. except in North of Eng. and Scot.]
BEARABLE
Bear"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being borne or endured; tolerable.
-- Bear"a*bly, adv.
BEARBERRY
Bear"ber*ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A trailing plant of the heath family (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi),
having leaves which are tonic and astringent, and glossy red berries
of which bears are said to be fond.
BEARBIND
Bear"bind`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis).
BEARD
Beard, n. Etym: [OE. berd, AS. beard; akin to Fries. berd, D. baard,
G. bart, Lith. barzda, OSlav. brada, Pol. broda, Russ. boroda, L.
barba, W. barf. Cf. 1st Barb.]
1. The hair that grows on the chin, lips, and adjacent parts of the
human face, chiefly of male adults.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The long hairs about the face in animals, as in the goat.
(b) The cluster of small feathers at the base of the beak in some
birds
(c) The appendages to the jaw in some Cetacea, and to the mouth or
jaws of some fishes.
(d) The byssus of certain shellfish, as the muscle.
(e) The gills of some bivalves, as the oyster.
(f) In insects, the hairs of the labial palpi of moths and
butterflies.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Long or stiff hairs on a plant; the awn; as, the beard of
grain.
4. A barb or sharp point of an arrow or other instrument, projecting
backward to prevent the head from being easily drawn out.
5. That part of the under side of a horse's lower jaw which is above
the chin, and bears the curb of a bridle.
6. (Print.)
Defn: That part of a type which is between the shoulder of the shank
and the face.
7. An imposition; a trick. [Obs.] Chaucer. Beard grass (Bot.), a
coarse, perennial grass of different species of the genus Andropogon.
-- To one's beard, to one's face; in open defiance.
BEARD
Beard, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bearded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bearding.]
1. To take by the beard; to seize, pluck, or pull the beard of (a
man), in anger or contempt.
2. To oppose to the gills; to set at defiance.
No admiral, bearded by three corrupt and dissolute minions of the
palace, dared to do more than mutter something about a court martial.
Macaulay.
3. To deprive of the gills; -- used only of oysters and similar
shellfish.
BEARDED
Beard"ed, a.
Defn: Having a beard. "Bearded fellow." Shak. "Bearded grain."
Dryden. Bearded vulture, Bearded eagle. (Zoöl.) See Lammergeir.
-- Bearded tortoise. (Zoöl.) See Matamata.
BEARDIE
Beard"ie, n. Etym: [From Beard, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bearded loach (Nemachilus barbatus) of Europe. [Scot.]
BEARDLESS
Beard"less, a.
1. Without a beard. Hence: Not having arrived at puberty or manhood;
youthful.
2. Destitute of an awn; as, beardless wheat.
BEARDLESSNESS
Beard"less*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being destitute of beard.
BEARER
Bear"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, bears, sustains, or carries. "Bearers of
burdens." 2 Chron. ii. 18. "The bearer of unhappy news." Dryden.
2. Specifically: One who assists in carrying a body to the grave; a
pallbearer. Milton.
3. A palanquin carrier; also, a house servant. [India]
4. A tree or plant yielding fruit; as, a good bearer.
5. (Com.)
Defn: One who holds a check, note, draft, or other order for the
payment of money; as, pay to bearer.
6. (Print.)
Defn: A strip of reglet or other furniture to bear off the impression
from a blank page; also, a type or type-high piece of metal
interspersed in blank parts to support the plate when it is shaved.
BEARHERD
Bear"herd`, n.
Defn: A man who tends a bear.
BEARHOUND
Bear"hound`, n.
Defn: A hound for baiting or hunting bears. Car
BEARING
Bear"ing, n.
1. The manner in which one bears or conducts one's self; mien;
behavior; carriage.
I know him by his bearing. Shak.
2. Patient endurance; suffering without complaint.
3. The situation of one object, with respect to another, such
situation being supposed to have a connection with the object, or
influence upon it, or to be influenced by it; hence, relation;
connection.
But of this frame, the bearings and the ties, The strong connections,
nice dependencies. Pope.
4. Purport; meaning; intended significance; aspect.
5. The act, power, or time of producing or giving birth; as, a tree
in full bearing; a tree past bearing.
[His mother] in travail of his bearing. R. of Gloucester.
6. (Arch.)
(a) That part of any member of a building which rests upon its
supports; as, a lintel or beam may have four inches of bearing upon
the wall.
(b) The portion of a support on which anything rests.
(c) Improperly, the unsupported span; as, the beam has twenty feet of
bearing between its supports.
7. (Mach.)
(a) The part of an axle or shaft in contact with its support, collar,
or boxing; the journal.
(b) The part of the support on which a journal rests and rotates.
8. (Her.)
Defn: Any single emblem or charge in an escutcheon or coat of arms --
commonly in the pl.
A carriage covered with armorial bearings. Thackeray.
9. (Naut.)
(a) The situation of a distant object, with regard to a ship's
position, as on the bow, on the lee quarter, etc.; the direction or
point of the compass in which an object is seen; as, the bearing of
the cape was W. N. W. (b) pl.
Defn: The widest part of a vessel below the plank-sheer. (c) pl.
Defn: The line of flotation of a vessel when properly trimmed with
cargo or ballast. Ball bearings. See under Ball.
-- To bring one to his bearings, to bring one to his senses.
-- To lose one's bearings, to become bewildered.
-- To take bearings, to ascertain by the compass the position of an
object; to ascertain the relation of one object or place to another;
to ascertain one's position by reference to landmarks or to the
compass; hence (Fig.), to ascertain the condition of things when one
is in trouble or perplexity.
Syn.
-- Deportment; gesture; mien; behavior; manner; carriage; demeanor;
port; conduct; direction; relation; tendency; influence.
BEARING CLOTH
Bear"ing cloth`.
Defn: A cloth with which a child is covered when carried to be
baptized. Shak.
BEARING REIN
Bear"ing rein`.
Defn: A short rein looped over the check hook or the hames to keep
the horse's head up; -- called in the United States a checkrein.
BEARING RING
Bear"ing ring`.
Defn: In a balloon, the braced wooden ring attached to the suspension
ropes at the bottom, functionally analogous to the keel of a ship.
BEARISH
Bear"ish, a.
Defn: Partaking of the qualities of a bear; resembling a bear in
temper or manners. Harris.
BEARISHNESS
Bear"ish*ness, n.
Defn: Behavior like that of a bear.
BEARN
Bearn, n.
Defn: See Bairn. [Obs.]
BEAR'S-BREECH
Bear's"-breech`, n. (Bot.)
(a) See Acanthus, n., 1.
(b) The English cow parsnip (Heracleum sphondylium) Dr. Prior.
BEAR'S-EAR
Bear's-ear`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of primrose (Primula auricula), so called from the shape
of the leaf.
BEAR'S-FOOT
Bear's"-foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of hellebore (Helleborus foetidus), with digitate
leaves. It has an offensive smell and acrid taste, and is a powerful
emetic, cathartic, and anthelmintic.
BEARSKIN
Bear"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a bear.
2. A coarse, shaggy, woolen cloth for overcoats.
3. A cap made of bearskin, esp. one worn by soldiers.
BEAR'S-PAW
Bear's"-paw`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large bivalve shell of the East Indies (Hippopus maculatus),
often used as an ornament.
BEAR STATE
Bear State.
Defn: Arkansas; -- a nickname, from the many bears once inhabiting
its forests.
BEAR-TRAP DAM
Bear"-trap` dam. (Engin.)
Defn: A kind of movable dam, in one form consisting of two leaves
resting against each other at the top when raised and folding down
one over the other when lowered, for deepening shallow parts in a
river.
BEARWARD
Bear"ward`, n. Etym: [Bear + ward a keeper.]
Defn: A keeper of bears. See Bearherd. [R.] Shak.
BEAST
Beast, n. Etym: [OE. best, beste, OF. beste, F. bête, fr. L. bestia.]
1. Any living creature; an animal; -- including man, insects, etc.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Any four-footed animal, that may be used for labor, food, or
sport; as, a beast of burden.
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast. Prov. xii. 10.
3. As opposed to man: Any irrational animal.
4. Fig.: A coarse, brutal, filthy, or degraded fellow.
5. A game at cards similar to loo. [Obs.] Wright.
6. A penalty at beast, omber, etc. Hence: To be beasted, to be beaten
at beast, omber, etc. Beast royal, the lion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Beast, Brute. When we use these words in a figurative sense, as
applicable to human beings, we think of beasts as mere animals
governed by animal appetite; and of brutes as being destitute of
reason or moral feeling, and governed by unrestrained passion. Hence
we speak of beastly appetites; beastly indulgences, etc.; and of
brutal manners; brutal inhumanity; brutal ferocity. So, also, we say
of a drunkard, that he first made himself a beast, and then treated
his family like a brute.
BEASTHOOD
Beast"hood, n.
Defn: State or nature of a beast.
BEASTINGS
Beast"ings, n. pl.
Defn: See Biestings.
BEASTLIHEAD
Beast"li*head, n. Etym: [Beastly + -head state.]
Defn: Beastliness. [Obs.] Spenser.
BEASTLIKE
Beast"like", a.
Defn: Like a beast.
BEASTLINESS
Beast"li*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being beastly.
BEASTLY
Beast"ly, a.
1. Pertaining to, or having the form, nature, or habits of, a beast.
Beastly divinities and droves of gods. Prior.
2. Characterizing the nature of a beast; contrary to the nature and
dignity of man; brutal; filthy.
The beastly vice of drinking to excess. Swift.
3. Abominable; as, beastly weather. [Colloq. Eng.]
Syn.
-- Bestial; brutish; irrational; sensual; degrading.
BEAT
Beat, v. t. [imp. Beat; p. p. Beat, Beaten (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beating.] Etym: [OE. beaten, beten, AS. beátan; akin to Icel. bauta,
OHG. b. Cf. 1st Butt, Button.]
1. To strike repeatedly; to lay repeated blows upon; as, to beat
one's breast; to beat iron so as to shape it; to beat grain, in order
to force out the seeds; to beat eggs and sugar; to beat a drum.
Thou shalt beat some of it [spices] very small. Ex. xxx. 36.
They did beat the gold into thin plates. Ex. xxxix. 3.
2. To punish by blows; to thrash.
3. To scour or range over in hunting, accompanied with the noise made
by striking bushes, etc., for the purpose of rousing game.
To beat the woods, and rouse the bounding prey. Prior.
4. To dash against, or strike, as with water or wind.
A frozen continent . . . beat with perpetual storms. Milton.
5. To tread, as a path.
Pass awful gulfs, and beat my painful way. Blackmore.
6. To overcome in a battle, contest, strife, race, game, etc.; to
vanquish or conquer; to surpass.
He beat them in a bloody battle. Prescott.
For loveliness, it would be hard to beat that. M. Arnold.
7. To cheat; to chouse; to swindle; to defraud; -- often with out.
[Colloq.]
8. To exercise severely; to perplex; to trouble.
Why should any one . . . beat his head about the Latin grammar who
does not intend to be a critic Locke.
9. (Mil.)
Defn: To give the signal for, by beat of drum; to sound by beat of
drum; as, to beat an alarm, a charge, a parley, a retreat; to beat
the general, the reveille, the tattoo. See Alarm, Charge, Parley,
etc. To beat down, to haggle with (any one) to secure a lower price;
to force down. [Colloq.] -- To beat into, to teach or instill, by
repetition.
-- To beat off, to repel or drive back.
-- To beat out, to extend by hammering.
-- To beat out of a thing, to cause to relinquish it, or give it up.
"Nor can anything beat their posterity out of it to this day." South.
-- To beat the dust. (Man.) (a) To take in too little ground with
the fore legs, as a horse. (b) To perform curvets too precipitately
or too low.
-- To beat the hoof, to walk; to go on foot.
-- To beat the wing, to flutter; to move with fluttering agitation.
-- To beat time, to measure or regulate time in music by the motion
of the hand or foot.
-- To beat up, to attack suddenly; to alarm or disturb; as, to beat
up an enemy's quarters.
Syn.
-- To strike; pound; bang; buffet; maul; drub; thump; baste; thwack;
thrash; pommel; cudgel; belabor; conquer; defeat; vanquish; overcome.
BEAT
Beat, v. i.
1. To strike repeatedly; to inflict repeated blaows; to knock
vigorously or loudly.
The men of the city . . . beat at the door. Judges. xix. 22.
2. To move with pulsation or throbbing.
A thousand hearts beat happily. Byron.
3. To come or act with violence; to dash or fall with force; to
strike anything, as, rain, wind, and waves do.
Sees rolling tempests vainly beat below. Dryden.
They [winds] beat at the crazy casement. Longfellow.
The sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wisbed in
himself to die. Jonah iv. 8.
Public envy seemeth to beat chiefly upon ministers. Bacon.
4. To be in agitation or doubt. [Poetic]
To still my beating mind. Shak
.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To make progress against the wind, by sailing in a zigzag line
or traverse.
6. To make a sound when struck; as, the drums beat.
7. (Mil.)
Defn: To make a succession of strokes on a drum; as, the drummers
beat to call soldiers to their quarters.
8. (Acoustics & Mus.)
Defn: To sound with more or less rapid alternations of greater and
less intensity, so as to produce a pulsating effect; -- said of
instruments, tones, or vibrations, not perfectly in unison. A beating
wind (Naut.), a wind which necessitates tacking in order to make
progress.
-- To beat about, to try to find; to search by various means or
ways. Addison.
-- To beat about the bush, to approach a subject circuitously.
-- To beat up and down (Hunting), to run first one way and then
another; -- said of a stag.
-- To beat up for recruits, to go diligently about in order to get
helpers or participators in an enterprise.
BEAT
Beat, n.
1. A stroke; a blow.
He, with a careless beat, Struck out the mute creation at a heat.
Dryden.
2. A recurring stroke; a throb; a pulsation; as, a beat of the heart;
the beat of the pulse.
3. (Mus.)
(a) The rise or fall of the hand or foot, marking the divisions of
time; a division of the measure so marked. In the rhythm of music the
beat is the unit.
(b) A transient grace note, struck immediately before the one it is
intended to ornament.
4. (Acoustics & Mus.)
Defn: A sudden swelling or reënforcement of a sound, recurring at
regular intervals, and produced by the interference of sound waves of
slightly different periods of vibrations; applied also, by analogy,
to other kinds of wave motions; the pulsation or throbbing produced
by the vibrating together of two tones not quite in unison. See Beat,
v. i., 8.
5. A round or course which is frequently gone over; as, a watchman's
beat.
6. A place of habitual or frequent resort.
7. A cheat or swindler of the lowest grade; -- often emphasized by
dead; as, a dead beat. [Low] Beat of drum (Mil.), a succession of
strokes varied, in different ways, for particular purposes, as to
regulate a march, to call soldiers to their arms or quarters, to
direct an attack, or retreat, etc.
-- Beat of a watch, or clock, the stroke or sound made by the action
of the escapement. A clock is in beat or out of beat, according as
the strokes is at equal or unequal intervals.
BEAT
Beat, a.
Defn: Weary; tired; fatigued; exhausted. [Colloq.]
Quite beat, and very much vexed and disappointed. Dickens.
BEATEN
Beat"en, a.
1. Made smooth by beating or treading; worn by use. "A broad and
beaten way." Milton. "Beaten gold." Shak.
2. Vanquished; conquered; baffled.
3. Exhausted; tired out.
4. Become common or trite; as, a beaten phrase. [Obs.]
5. Tried; practiced. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BEATER
Beat"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, beats.
2. A person who beats up game for the hunters. Black.
BEATH
Beath, v. t. Etym: [AS. be to foment.]
Defn: To bathe; also, to dry or heat, as unseasoned wood. [Obs.]
Spenser.
BEATIFIC; BEATIFICAL
Be`a*tif"ic, Be`a*tif"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. béatifique, L.
beatificus. See Beatify.]
Defn: Having the power to impart or complete blissful enjoyment;
blissful. "The beatific vision." South.
-- Be`a*tif"ic*al*ly, adv.
BEATIFICATE
Be`a*tif"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To beatify. [Obs.] Fuller.
BEATIFICATION
Be*at`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. béatification.]
Defn: The act of beatifying, or the state of being beatified; esp.,
in the R. C. Church, the act or process of ascertaining and declaring
that a deceased person is one of "the blessed," or has attained the
second degree of sanctity, -- usually a stage in the process of
canonization. "The beatification of his spirit." Jer. Taylor.
BEATIFY
Be*at"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beatified (p. pr. & vb. n.
Beatifying.] Etym: [L. beatificare; beatus happy (fr. beare to bless,
akin to bonus good) + facere to make: cf. F. béatifier. See Bounty.]
1. To pronounce or regard as happy, or supremely blessed, or as
conferring happiness.
The common conceits and phrases that beatify wealth. Barrow.
2. To make happy; to bless with the completion of celestial
enjoyment. "Beatified spirits." Dryden.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: To ascertain and declare, by a public process and decree, that
a deceased person is one of "the blessed" and is to be reverenced as
such, though not canonized.
BEATING
Beat"ing, n.
1. The act of striking or giving blows; punishment or chastisement by
blows.
2. Pulsation; throbbing; as, the beating of the heart.
3. (Acoustics & Mus.)
Defn: Pulsative sounds. See Beat, n.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: The process of sailing against the wind by tacks in zigzag
direction.
BEATITUDE
Be*at"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. beatitudo: cf. F. béatitude. See Beatify.]
1. Felicity of the highest kind; consummate bliss.
2. Any one of the nine declarations (called the Beatitudes), made in
the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. v. 3-12), with regard to the
blessedness of those who are distinguished by certain specified
virtues.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: Beatification. Milman.
Syn.
-- Blessedness; felicity; happiness.
BEAU
Beau, n.; pl. F. Beaux (E. pron. b), E. Beaus. Etym: [F., a fop, fr.
beau fine, beautiful, fr. L. bellus pretty, fine, for bonulus, dim.
of bonus good. See Bounty, and cf. Belle, Beauty.]
1. A man who takes great care to dress in the latest fashion; a
dandy.
2. A man who escorts, or pays attentions to, a lady; an escort; a
lover.
BEAUCATCHER
Beau"catch`er, n.
Defn: A small flat curl worn on the temple by women. [Humorous]
BEAUFET
Beau"fet, n. Etym: [See Buffet.]
Defn: A niche, cupboard, or sideboard for plate, china, glass, etc.;
a buffet.
A beaufet . . . filled with gold and silver vessels. Prescott.
BEAUFIN
Beau"fin, n.
Defn: See Biffin. Wright.
BEAUFORT'S SCALE
Beau"fort's scale`. (Meteor.)
Defn: A scale of wind force devised by Sir F. Beaufort, R. N., in
1805, in which the force is indicated by numbers from 0 to 12.
The full scale is as follows: -- 0, calm; 1, light air; 2, light
breeze; 3, gentle breeze; 4, moderate breeze; 5, fresh breeze; 6,
strong breeze; 7, moderate gale; 8, fresh gale; 9, strong gale; 10,
whole gale; 11, storm; 12, hurricane.
BEAU IDEAL
Beau" i*de"al. Etym: [F. beau beautiful + idéal ideal.]
Defn: A conception or image of consummate beauty, moral or physical,
formed in the mind, free from all the deformities, defects, and
blemishes seen in actual existence; an ideal or faultless standard or
model.
BEAUISH
Beau"ish, n.
Defn: Like a beau; characteristic of a beau; foppish; fine. "A
beauish young spark." Byrom.
BEAU MONDE
Beau` monde". Etym: [F. beau fine + monde world.]
Defn: The fashionable world; people of fashion and gayety. Prior.
BEAUMONTAGUE
Beau`mon"ta*gue, n.
Defn: A cement used in making joints, filling cracks, etc. For iron,
the principal constituents are iron borings and sal ammoniac; for
wood, white lead or litharge, whiting, and linseed oil.
BEAUPERE
Beau"pere`, n. Etym: [F. beau pére; beau fair + pére father.]
1. A father. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. A companion. [Obs.] Spenser.
BEAUSEANT
Beau`se`ant", n. Etym: [F. beaucéant.]
Defn: The black and white standard of the Knights Templars.
BEAUSHIP
Beau"ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a beau; the personality of a beau. [Jocular]
Dryden.
BEAUTEOUS
Beau"te*ous, a.
Defn: Full of beauty; beautiful; very handsome. [Mostly poetic] --
Beau"te*ous*ly, adv. --
Defn: Beau"te*ous*ness, n.
BEAUTIED
Beau"tied, p. a.
Defn: Beautiful; embellished. [Poetic] Shak.
BEAUTIFIER
Beau"ti*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, beautifies or makes beautiful.
BEAUTIFUL
Beau"ti*ful, a.
Defn: Having the qualities which constitute beauty; pleasing to the
sight or the mind.
A circle is more beautiful than a square; a square is more beautiful
than a parallelogram. Lord Kames.
Syn.
-- Handsome; elegant; lovely; fair; charming; graceful; pretty;
delightful. See Fine.
-- Beau"ti*ful*ly, adv.
-- Beau"ti*ful*ness, n.
BEAUTIFY
Beau"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beautified (p. pr. & vb. n.
Beautifying.] Etym: [Beauty + -fy.]
Defn: To make or render beautiful; to add beauty to; to adorn; to
deck; to grace; to embellish.
The arts that beautify and polish life. Burke.
Syn.
-- To adorn; grace; ornament; deck; decorate.
BEAUTIFY
Beau"ti*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become beautiful; to advance in beauty. Addison.
BEAUTILESS
Beau"ti*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of beauty. Hammond.
BEAUTY
Beau"ty, n.; pl. Beauties. Etym: [OE. beaute, beute, OF. beauté,
biauté, Pr. beltat, F. beauté, fr. an assumed LL. bellitas, from L.
bellus pretty. See Beau.]
1. An assemblage or graces or properties pleasing to the eye, the
ear, the intellect, the æsthetic faculty, or the moral sense.
Beauty consists of a certain composition of color and figure, causing
delight in the beholder. Locke.
The production of beauty by a multiplicity of symmetrical parts
uniting in a consistent whole. Wordsworth.
The old definition of beauty, in the Roman school, was, "multitude in
unity;" and there is no doubt that such is the principle of beauty.
Coleridge.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or excellence; anything
beautiful; as, the beauties of nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful woman.
All the admired beauties of Verona. Shak.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion. [Obs.]
She stained her hair yellow, which was then the beauty. Jer. Taylor.
Beauty spot, a patch or spot placed on the face with intent to
heighten beauty by contrast.
BEAUX
Beaux, n.,
Defn: pl. of Beau.
BEAUXITE
Beaux"ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Bauxite.
BEAVER
Bea"ver, n. Etym: [OE. bever, AS. beofer, befer; akin to D. bever,
OHG. bibar, G. biber, Sw. bäfver, Dan. bæver, Lith. bebru, Russ.
bobr', Gael. beabhar, Corn. befer, L. fiber, and Skr. babhrus large
ichneumon; also as an adj., brown, the animal being probably named
from its color. Brown.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibious rodent, of the genus Castor.
Note: It has palmated hind feet, and a broad, flat tail. It is
remarkable for its ingenuity in constructing its valued for its fur,
and for the material called castor, obtained from two small bags in
the groin of the animal. The European species is Castor fiber, and
the American is generally considered a variety of this, although
sometimes called Castor Canadensis.
2. The fur of the beaver.
3. A hat, formerly made of the fur of the beaver, but now usually of
silk.
A brown beaver slouched over his eyes. Prescott.
4. Beaver cloth, a heavy felted woolen cloth, used chiefly for making
overcoats. Beaver rat (Zoöl.), an aquatic ratlike quadruped of
Tasmania (Hydromys chrysogaster).
-- Beaver skin, the furry skin of the beaver.
-- Bank beaver. See under 1st Bank.
BEAVER
Bea"ver, n. Etym: [OE. baviere, bauier, beavoir, bever; fr. F.
bavière, fr. bave slaver, drivel, foam, OF., prattle, drivel, perh.
orig. an imitative word. Bavière, according to Cotgrave, is the bib
put before a (slavering) child.]
Defn: That piece of armor which protected the lower part of the face,
whether forming a part of the helmet or fixed to the breastplate. It
was so constructed (with joints or otherwise) that the wearer could
raise or lower it to eat and drink.
BEAVERED
Bea"vered, a.
Defn: Covered with, or wearing, a beaver or hat. "His beavered brow."
Pope.
BEAVER STATE
Bea"ver State.
Defn: Oregon; -- a nickname.
BEAVERTEEN
Bea"ver*teen, n.
Defn: A kind of fustian made of coarse twilled cotton, shorn after
dyeing. Simmonds.
BEBEERINE; BEBIRINE
Be*bee"rine, or Be*bi"rine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid got from the bark of the bebeeru, or green heart of
Guiana (Nectandra Rodioei). It is a tonic, antiperiodic, and
febrifuge, and is used in medicine as a substitute for quinine.
[Written also bibirine.]
BEBEERU
Be*bee"ru, n. [Written also bibiru.] [Native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tropical South American tree (Nectandra Rodioi), the bark of
which yields the alkaloid bebeerine, and the wood of which is known
as green heart.
BEBLEED
Be*bleed", v. t.
Defn: To make bloody; to stain with blood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEBLOOD; BEBLOODY
Be*blood", Be*blood"y, v. t.
Defn: To make bloody; to stain with blood. [Obs.] Sheldon.
BEBLOT
Be*blot", v. t.
Defn: To blot; to stain. Chaucer.
BEBLUBBER
Be*blub"ber, v. t.
Defn: To make swollen and disfigured or sullied by weeping; as, her
eyes or cheeks were beblubbered.
BEBUNG
Be"bung, n. [G., lit., a trembling.] (Music)
Defn: A tremolo effect, such as that produced on the piano by
vibratory repetition of a note with sustained use of the pedal.
BECALM
Be*calm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Becalmed (p. pr. & vb. n. Becalming.]
1. To render calm or quiet; to calm; to still; to appease.
Soft whispering airs . . . becalm the mind. Philips.
2. To keep from motion, or stop the progress of, by the stilling of
the wind; as, the fleet was becalmed.
BECAME
Be*came", imp.
Defn: of Become.
BECARD
Bec"ard, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird of the flycatcher family. (Tityra
inquisetor).
BECAUSE
Be*cause", conj. Etym: [OE. bycause; by + cause.]
1. By or for the cause that; on this account that; for the reason
that. Milton.
2. In order that; that. [Obs.]
And the multitude rebuked them because they should hold their peace.
Matt. xx. 31.
Because of, by reason of, on account of. [Prep. phrase.]
Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. Eph. v. 6.
Syn, -- Because, For, Since, As, Inasmuch As. These particles are
used, in certain connections, to assign the reason of a thing, or
that "on account of" which it is or takes place. Because (by cause)
is the strongest and most emphatic; as, I hid myself because I was
afraid. For is not quite so strong; as, in Shakespeare, "I hate him,
for he is a Christian." Since is less formal and more incidental than
because; as, I will do it since you request me. It more commonly
begins a sentence; as, Since your decision is made, I will say no
more. As is still more incidental than since, and points to some
existing fact by way of assigning a reason. Thus we say, as I knew
him to be out of town, I did not call. Inasmuch as seems to carry
with it a kind of qualification which does not belong to the rest.
Thus, if we say, I am ready to accept your proposal, inasmuch as I
believe it is the best you can offer, we mean, it is only with this
understanding that we can accept it.
BECCABUNGA
Bec`ca*bun"ga, n. Etym: [NL. (cf. It. beccabunga, G. bachbunge), fr.
G. bach brook + bunge, OHG. bungo, bulb. See Beck a brook.]
Defn: See Brooklime.
BECCAFICO
Bec`ca*fi"co, n.; pl. Beccaficos (. Etym: [It., fr. beccare to peck +
fico fig.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small bird. (Silvia hortensis), which is highly prized by the
Italians for the delicacy of its flesh in the autumn, when it has fed
on figs, grapes, etc.
BECCHI'S TEST
Bec"chi's test. [After E. Becchi, Italian chemist.] (Chem.)
Defn: A qualitative test for cottonseed oil, based on the fact this
oil imparts a maroon color to an alcoholic solution of silver
nitrate.
BECHAMEL
Bech"a*mel, n. Etym: [F. béchamel, named from its inventor, Louis de
Béchamel.] (Cookery)
Defn: A rich, white sauce, prepared with butter and cream.
BECHANCE
Be*chance", adv. Etym: [Pref. be- for by + chance.]
Defn: By chance; by accident. [Obs.] Grafton.
BECHANCE
Be*chance", v. t. & i.
Defn: To befall; to chance; to happen to.
God knows what hath bechanced them. Shak.
BECHARM
Be*charm", v. t.
Defn: To charm; to captivate.
BECHE DE MER
Bêche` de mer". Etym: [F., lit., a sea spade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The trepang.
BECHIC
Be"chic, a. Etym: [L. bechicus, adj., for a cough, Gr. , fr. cough:
cf. F. béchique.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or relieving, a cough. Thomas.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine for relieving coughs. Quincy.
BECHUANAS
Bech`u*a"nas, n. pl.
Defn: A division of the Bantus, dwelling between the Orange and
Zambezi rivers, supposed to be the most ancient Bantu population of
South Africa. They are divided into totemic clans; they are
intelligent and progressive.
BECK
Beck, n.
Defn: See Beak. [Obs.] Spenser.
BECK
Beck, n. Etym: [OE. bek, AS. becc; akin to Icel. bekkr brook, OHG.
pah, G. bach.]
Defn: A small brook.
The brooks, the becks, the rills. Drayton.
BECK
Beck, n.
Defn: A vat. See Back.
BECK
Beck, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Becked (; p. pr. & vb. n. Becking.] Etym:
[Contr. of beckon.]
Defn: To nod, or make a sign with the head or hand. [Archaic]
Drayton.
BECK
Beck, v. t.
Defn: To notify or call by a nod, or a motion of the head or hand; to
intimate a command to. [Archaic]
When gold and silver becks me to come on. Shak.
BECK
Beck, n.
Defn: A significant nod, or motion of the head or hand, esp. as a
call or command.
They have troops of soldiers at their beck. Shak.
BECKER
Beck"er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish (Pagellus centrodontus); the sea bream or
braise.
BECKET
Beck"et, n. Etym: [Cf. D. bek beak, and E. beak.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A small grommet, or a ring or loop of rope
2. A spade for digging turf. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
BECKON
Beck"on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beckoned (p. pr. & vb. n. Beckoning.]
Defn: To make a significant sign to; hence, to summon, as by a motion
of the hand.
His distant friends, he beckons near. Dryden.
It beckons you to go away with it. Shak.
BECKON
Beck"on, n.
Defn: A sign made without words; a beck. "At the first beckon."
Bolingbroke.
BECK'S SCALE
Beck's scale.
Defn: A hydrometer scale on which the zero point corresponds to sp.
gr. 1.00, and the 30º-point to sp. gr. 0.85. From these points the
scale is extended both ways, all the degrees being of equal length.
BECLAP
Be*clap, v. t. Etym: [OE. biclappen.]
Defn: To catch; to grasp; to insnare. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BECLIP
Be*clip", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beclipped ( Etym: [AS. beclyppan; pref.
be + clyppan to embrace.]
Defn: To embrace; to surround. [Obs.] Wyclif.
BECLOUD
Be*cloud", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beclouded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beclouding.]
Defn: To cause obscurity or dimness to; to dim; to cloud.
If thou becloud the sunshine of thine eye. Quarles.
BECOME
Be*come", v. i. [imp. Became; p. p. Become; p. pr. & vb. n.
Becoming.] Etym: [OE. bicumen, becumen, AS. becuman to come to, to
happen; akin to D. bekomen, OHG.a piquëman, Goth. biquiman to come
upon, G. bekommen to get, suit. See Be-, and Come.]
1. To pass from one state to another; to enter into some state or
condition, by a change from another state, or by assuming or
receiving new properties or qualities, additional matter, or a new
character.
The Lord God . . . breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and
man became a living soul. Gen. ii. 7.
That error now which is become my crime. Milton.
2. To come; to get. [Obs.]
But, madam, where is Warwick then become! Shak.
To become of, to be the present state or place of; to be the fate of;
to be the end of; to be the final or subsequent condition of.
What is then become of so huge a multitude Sir W. Raleigh.
BECOME
Be*come", v. t.
Defn: To suit or be suitable to; to be congruous with; to befit; to
accord with, in character or circumstances; to be worthy of, or
proper for; to cause to appear well; -- said of persons and things.
It becomes me so to speak of so excellent a poet. Dryden.
I have known persons so anxious to have their dress become them, as
to convert it, at length, into their proper self, and thus actually
to become the dress. Coleridge.
BECOMED
Be*com"ed, a.
Defn: Proper; decorous. [Obs.]
And gave him what becomed love I might. Shak.
BECOMING
Be*com"ing, a.
Defn: Appropriate or fit; congruous; suitable; graceful; befitting.
A low and becoming tone. Thackeray.
Note: Formerly sometimes followed by of.
Such discourses as are becoming of them. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Seemly; comely; decorous; decent; proper.
BECOMING
Be*com"ing, n.
Defn: That which is becoming or appropriate. [Obs.]
BECOMINGLY
Be*com"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a becoming manner.
BECOMINGNESS
Be*com"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being becoming, appropriate, or fit; congruity;
fitness.
The becomingness of human nature. Grew.
BECQUEREL RAYS
Becque`rel" rays". (Physics)
Defn: Radiations first observed by the French physicist Henri
Becquerel, in working with uranium and its compounds. They consist of
a mixture of alpha, beta, and gamma rays.
BECRIPPLE
Be*crip"ple, v. t.
Defn: To make a cripple of; to cripple; to lame. [R.] Dr. H. More.
BECUIBA; BECUIBA NUT
Be*cui"ba, n., Be*cui"ba nut`. [Native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: The nut of the Brazilian tree Myristica Bicuhyba, which yields
a medicinal balsam used for rheumatism.
BECUNA
Be*cu"na, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the Mediterranean (Sphyræna spet). See Barracuda.
BECURL
Be*curl", v. t.
Defn: To curl; to adorn with curls.
BED
Bed, n. Etym: [AS. bed, bedd; akin to OS. bed, D. bed, bedde, Icel.
be, Dan. bed, Sw. bädd, Goth. badi, OHG. betti, G. bett, bette, bed,
beet a plat of ground; all of uncertain origin.]
1. An article of furniture to sleep or take rest in or on; a couch.
Specifically: A sack or mattress, filled with some soft material, in
distinction from the bedstead on which it is placed (as, a feather
bed), or this with the bedclothes added. In a general sense, any
thing or place used for sleeping or reclining on or in, as a quantity
of hay, straw, leaves, or twigs.
And made for him [a horse] a leafy bed. Byron.
I wash, wring, brew, bake, . . . make the beds. Shak.
In bed he slept not for my urging it. Shak.
2. (Used as the symbol of matrimony) Marriage.
George, the eldest son of his second bed. Clarendon.
3. A plat or level piece of ground in a garden, usually a little
raised above the adjoining ground. "Beds of hyacinth and roses."
Milton.
4. A mass or heap of anything arranged like a bed; as, a bed of ashes
or coals.
5. The bottom of a watercourse, or of any body of water; as, the bed
of a river.
So sinks the daystar in the ocean bed. Milton.
6. (Geol.)
Defn: A layer or seam, or a horizontal stratum between layers; as, a
bed of coal, iron, etc.
7. (Gun.)
Defn: See Gun carriage, and Mortar bed.
8. (Masonry)
(a) The horizontal surface of a building stone; as, the upper and
lower beds.
(b) A course of stone or brick in a wall.
(c) The place or material in which a block or brick is laid.
(d) The lower surface of a brick, slate, or tile. Knight.
9. (Mech.)
Defn: The foundation or the more solid and fixed part or framing of a
machine; or a part on which something is laid or supported; as, the
bed of an engine.
10. The superficial earthwork, or ballast, of a railroad.
11. (Printing)
Defn: The flat part of the press, on which the form is laid.
Note: Bed is much used adjectively or in combination; as, bed key or
bedkey; bed wrench or bedwrench; bedchamber; bedmaker, etc. Bed of
justice (French Hist.), the throne (F. lit bed) occupied by the king
when sitting in one of his parliaments (judicial courts); hence, a
session of a refractory parliament, at which the king was present for
the purpose of causing his decrees to be registered.
-- To be brought to bed, to be delivered of a child; -- often
followed by of; as, to be brought to bed of a son.
-- To make a bed, to prepare a bed; to arrange or put in order a bed
and its bedding.
-- From bed and board (Law), a phrase applied to a separation by
partial divorce of man and wife, without dissolving the bonds of
matrimony. If such a divorce (now commonly called a judicial
separation) be granted at the instance of the wife, she may have
alimony.
BED
Bed, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bedding.]
1. To place in a bed. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To make partaker of one's bed; to cohabit with.
I'll to the Tuscan wars, and never bed her. Shak.
3. To furnish with a bed or bedding.
4. To plant or arrange in beds; to set, or cover, as in a bed of soft
earth; as, to bed the roots of a plant in mold.
5. To lay or put in any hollow place, or place of rest and security,
surrounded or inclosed; to embed; to furnish with or place upon a bed
or foundation; as, to bed a stone; it was bedded on a rock.
Among all chains or clusters of mountains where large bodies of still
water are bedded. Wordsworth.
6. (Masonry)
Defn: To dress or prepare the surface of stone) so as to serve as a
bed.
7. To lay flat; to lay in order; to place in a horizontal or
recumbent position. "Bedded hair." Shak.
BED
Bed, v. i.
Defn: To go to bed; to cohabit.
If he be married, and bed with his wife. Wiseman.
BEDABBLE
Be*dab*ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedabbled (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bedabbling (.]
Defn: To dabble; to sprinkle or wet. Shak.
BEDAFF
Be*daff", v. t.
Defn: To make a daff or fool of. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEDAGAT
Bed"a*gat, n.
Defn: The sacred books of the Buddhists in Burmah. Malcom.
BEDAGGLE
Be*dag"gle, v. t.
Defn: To daggle.
BEDASH
Be*dash", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedashed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedashing.]
Defn: To wet by dashing or throwing water or other liquid upon; to
bespatter. "Trees bedashed with rain." Shak.
BEDAUB
Be*daub", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedaubed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedaubing.]
Defn: To daub over; to besmear or soil with anything thick and dirty.
Bedaub foul designs with a fair varnish. Barrow.
BEDAZZLE
Be*daz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedazzled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedazzling
(
Defn: To dazzle or make dim by a strong light. "Bedazzled with the
sun." Shak.
BEDBUG
Bed"bug`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wingless, bloodsucking, hemipterous insect (Cimex
Lectularius), sometimes infesting houses and especially beds. See
Illustration in Appendix.
BEDCHAIR
Bed"chair`, n.
Defn: A chair with adjustable back, for the sick, to support them
while sitting up in bed.
BEDCHAMBER
Bed"cham`ber, n.
Defn: A chamber for a bed; an apartment form sleeping in. Shak. Lords
of the bedchamber, eight officers of the royal household, all of
noble families, who wait in turn a week each. [Eng.] -- Ladies of the
bedchamber, eight ladies, all titled, holding a similar official
position in the royal household, during the reign of a queen. [Eng.]
BEDCLOTHES
Bed"clothes`, n. pl.
Defn: Blankets, sheets, coverlets, etc., for a bed. Shak.
BEDCORD
Bed"cord`, n.
Defn: A cord or rope interwoven in a bedstead so as to support the
bed.
BEDDED
Bed"ded, a.
Defn: Provided with a bed; as, double-bedded room; placed or arranged
in a bed or beds.
BEDDING
Bed"ding, n. Etym: [AS. bedding, beding. See Bed.]
1. A bed and its furniture; the materials of a bed, whether for man
or beast; bedclothes; litter.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The state or position of beds and layers.
BEDE
Bede, v. t. Etym: [See Bid, v. t.]
Defn: To pray; also, to offer; to proffer. [Obs.] R. of Gloucester.
Chaucer.
BEDE
Bede, n. (Mining)
Defn: A kind of pickax.
BEDECK
Be*deck", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedecked (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedecking.]
Defn: To deck, ornament, or adorn; to grace.
Bedecked with boughs, flowers, and garlands. Pennant.
BEDEGUAR; BEDEGAR
Bed"e*guar, Bed"e*gar, n. Etym: [F., fr. Per. bad-award, or bad-
awardag, prop., a kind of white thorn or thistle.]
Defn: A gall produced on rosebushes, esp. on the sweetbrier or
eglantine, by a puncture from the ovipositor of a gallfly (Rhodites
rosæ). It was once supposed to have medicinal properties.
BEDEHOUSE
Bede"house`
Defn: ,n.Same as Beadhouse.
BEDEL; BEDELL
Be"del, Be"dell
Defn: ,n.Same as Beadle.
BEDELRY
Be"del*ry, n.
Defn: Beadleship. [Obs.] Blount.
BEDEN
Bed"en, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Abyssinian or Arabian ibex (Capra Nubiana). It is probably
the wild goat of the Bible.
BEDESMAN
Bedes"man, n.
Defn: Same as Beadsman. [Obs.]
BEDEVIL
Be*dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedevilled (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedeviling
or Bedevilling.]
1. To throw into utter disorder and confusion, as if by the agency of
evil spirits; to bring under diabolical influence; to torment.
Bedeviled and used worse than St. Bartholomew. Sterne.
2. To spoil; to corrupt. Wright.
BEDEVILMENT
Be*dev"il*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being bedeviled; bewildering confusion; vexatious
trouble. [Colloq.]
BEDEW
Be*dew", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedewed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedewing.]
Defn: To moisten with dew, or as with dew. "Falling tears his face
bedew." Dryden.
BEDEWER
Be*dew"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bedews.
BEDEWY
Be*dew"y, a.
Defn: Moist with dew; dewy. [Obs.]
Night with her bedewy wings. A. Brewer.
BEDFELLOW
Bed"fel`low, n.
Defn: One who lies with another in the same bed; a person who shares
one's couch.
BEDFERE; BEDPHERE
Bed"fere` Bed"phere`, n. Etym: [Bed + AS. fera a companion.]
Defn: A bedfellow. [Obs.] Chapman.
BEDGOWN
Bed"gown`, n.
Defn: A nightgown.
BEDIGHT
Be*dight", v. t. [p. p. Bedight, Bedighted.]
Defn: To bedeck; to array or equip; to adorn. [Archaic] Milton.
BEDIM
Be*dim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedimmed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bedimming.]
Defn: To make dim; to obscure or darken. Shak.
BEDIZEN
Be*diz"en, v. t.
Defn: To dress or adorn tawdrily or with false taste.
Remnants of tapestried hangings, . . . and shreds of pictures with
which he had bedizened his tatters. Sir W. Scott.
BEDIZENMENT
Be*diz"en*ment, n.
Defn: That which bedizens; the act of dressing, or the state of being
dressed, tawdrily.
BEDKEY
Bed"key`, n.
Defn: An instrument for tightening the parts of a bedstead.
BEDLAM
Bed"lam, n. Etym: [See Bethlehem.]
1. A place appropriated to the confinement and care of the insane; a
madhouse. Abp. Tillotson.
2. An insane person; a lunatic; a madman. [Obs.]
Let's get the bedlam to lead him. Shak.
3. Any place where uproar and confusion prevail.
BEDLAM
Bed"lam, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or fit for, a madhouse. "The bedlam, brainsick
duchess." Shak.
BEDLAMITE
Bed"lam*ite, n.
Defn: An inhabitant of a madhouse; a madman. "Raving bedlamites."
Beattie.
BEDMAKER
Bed"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes beds.
BED-MOLDING; BED-MOULDING
Bed"-mold`ing Bed"-mould`ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The molding of a cornice immediately below the corona. Oxf.
Gloss.
BEDOTE
Be*dote", v. t.
Defn: To cause to dote; to deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEDOUIN
Bed"ou*in, n. Etym: [F. bédouin, OF. béduin, fr. Ar. bedawi rural,
living in the desert, fr. badw desert, fr. bada to live in the
desert, to lead a nomadic life.]
Defn: One of the nomadic Arabs who live in tents, and are scattered
over Arabia, Syria, and northern Africa, esp. in the deserts.
-- Bed"ou*in*ism (, n.
BEDOUIN
Bed"ou*in, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Bedouins; nomad.
BEDPAN
Bed"pan`, n.
1. A pan for warming beds. Nares.
2. A shallow chamber vessel, so constructed that it can be used by a
sick person in bed.
BEDPHERE
Bed"phere`, n.
Defn: See Bedfere. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEDPIECE; BEDPLATE
Bed"piece`, Bed"plate`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The foundation framing or piece, by which the other parts are
supported and held in place; the bed; -- called also baseplate and
soleplate.
BEDPOST
Bed"post`, n.
1. One of the four standards that support a bedstead or the canopy
over a bedstead.
2. Anciently, a post or pin on each side of the bed to keep the
clothes from falling off. See Bedstaff. Brewer.
BEDQUILT
Bed"quilt`, n.
Defn: A quilt for a bed; a coverlet.
BEDRABBLE
Be*drab"ble, v. t.
Defn: To befoul with rain and mud; to drabble.
BEDRAGGLE
Be*drag"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedraggled (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bedraggling (.]
Defn: To draggle; to soil, as garments which, in walking, are
suffered to drag in dust, mud, etc. Swift.
BEDRENCH
Be*drench", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedrenched (p. pr. & vb. n.
Bedrenching.]
Defn: To drench; to saturate with moisture; to soak. Shak.
BEDRIBBLE
Be*drib"ble, v. t.
Defn: To dribble upon.
BEDRID; BEDRIDDEN
Bed"rid`, Bed"rid`den, a. Etym: [OE. bedrede, AS. bedreda, bedrida;
from bed, bedd, a bed or couch + ridda a rider; cf. OHG. pettiriso,
G. bettrise. See Bed, n., and Ride, v. i. ]
Defn: Confined to the bed by sickness or infirmity. "Her decrepit,
sick, and bedrid father." Shak. "The estate of a bedridden old
gentleman." Macaulay.
BEDRIGHT; BEDRITE
Bed"right` Bed"rite`, n. Etym: [Bed + right, rite.]
Defn: The duty or privilege of the marriage bed. Shak.
BEDRIZZLE
Be*driz"zle, v. t.
Defn: To drizzle upon.
BED ROCK
Bed" rock". (Mining)
Defn: The solid rock underlying superficial formations. Also Fig.
BEDROOM
Bed"room, n.
1. A room or apartment intended or used for a bed; a lodging room.
2. Room in a bed.
Note: [In this sense preferably bed room.]
Then by your side no bed room me deny. Shak.
BEDROP
Be*drop", v. t.
Defn: To sprinkle, as with drops.
The yellow carp, in scales bedropped with gold. Pope.
BEDRUG
Be*drug", v. t.
Defn: To drug abundantly or excessively.
BED SCREW
Bed" screw`.
1. (Naut.) A form of jack screw for lifting large bodies, and
assisting in launching.
2. A long screw formerly used to fasten a bedpost to one of the
adjacent side pieces.
BEDSIDE
Bed"side`, n.
Defn: The side of a bed.
BEDSITE
Bed"site`, n.
Defn: A recess in a room for a bed.
Of the three bedrooms, two have fireplaces, and all are of fair size,
with windows and bedsite well placed. Quart. Rev.
BEDSORE
Bed"sore`, n. (Med.)
Defn: A sore on the back or hips caused by lying for a long time in
bed.
BEDSPREAD
Bed"spread`, n.
Defn: A bedquilt; a counterpane; a coverlet. [U. S.]
BEDSTAFF
Bed"staff`, n.; pl. Bedstaves (.
Defn: "A wooden pin stuck anciently on the sides of the bedstead, to
hold the clothes from slipping on either side." Johnson.
Hostess, accommodate us with a bedstaff. B. Jonson.
Say there is no virtue in cudgels and bedstaves. Brome.
BEDSTEAD
Bed"stead, n. Etym: [Bed + stead a frame.]
Defn: A framework for supporting a bed.
BED STEPS
Bed" steps`.
Defn: Steps for mounting a bed of unusual height.
BEDSTOCK
Bed"stock, n.
Defn: The front or the back part of the frame of a bedstead. [Obs. or
Dial. Eng.]
BEDSTRAW
Bed"straw`, n.
1. Straw put into a bed. Bacon.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of slender herbs, usually with square stems, whorled
leaves, and small white flowers. Our Lady's bedstraw, which has
yellow flowers, is Galium verum.
-- White bedstraw is G. mollugo.
BEDSWERVER
Bed"swerv`er, n.
Defn: One who swerves from and is unfaithful to the marriage vow.
[Poetic] Shak.
BEDTICK
Bed"tick`, n.
Defn: A tick or bag made of cloth, used for inclosing the materials
of a bed.
BEDTIME
Bed"time`, n.
Defn: The time to go to bed. Shak.
BEDUCK
Be*duck", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beducked (.]
Defn: To duck; to put the head under water; to immerse. "Deep himself
beducked." Spenser.
BEDUIN
Bed"uin, n.
Defn: See Bedouin.
BEDUNG
Be*dung", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedunged.]
Defn: To cover with dung, as for manuring; to bedaub or defile,
literally or figuratively. Bp. Hall.
BEDUST
Be*dust", v. t.
Defn: To sprinkle, soil, or cover with dust. Sherwood.
BEDWARD
Bed"ward, adv.
Defn: Towards bed.
BEDWARF
Be*dwarf", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedwarfed.]
Defn: To make a dwarf of; to stunt or hinder the growth of; to dwarf.
Donne.
BEDYE
Be*dye", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bedyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bedyeing.]
Defn: To dye or stain.
Briton fields with Sarazin blood bedyed. Spenser.
BEE
Bee,
Defn: p. p. of Be; -- used for been. [Obs.] Spenser.
BEE
Bee, n. Etym: [AS. beó; akin to D. bij and bije, Icel. b, Sw. & Dan.
bi, OHG. pini, G. biene, and perh. Ir. beach, Lith. bitis, Skr. bha.
sq. root97.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the order Hymenoptera, and family Apidæ (the
honeybees), or family Andrenidæ (the solitary bees.) See Honeybee.
Note: There are many genera and species. The common honeybee (Apis
mellifica) lives in swarms, each of which has its own queen, its
males or drones, and its very numerous workers, which are barren
females. Besides the A. mellifica there are other species and
varieties of honeybees, as the A. ligustica of Spain and Italy; the
A. Indica of India; the A. fasciata of Egypt. The bumblebee is a
species of Bombus. The tropical honeybees belong mostly to Melipoma
and Trigona.
2. A neighborly gathering of people who engage in united labor for
the benefit of an individual or family; as, a quilting bee; a husking
bee; a raising bee. [U. S.]
The cellar . . . was dug by a bee in a single day. S. G. Goodrich.
3. pl. Etym: [Prob. fr. AS. beáh ring, fr. b to bend. See 1st Bow.]
(Naut.)
Defn: Pieces of hard wood bolted to the sides of the bowsprit, to
reeve the fore-topmast stays through; -- called also bee blocks. Bee
beetle (Zoöl.), a beetle (Trichodes apiarius) parasitic in beehives.
-- Bee bird (Zoöl.), a bird that eats the honeybee, as the European
flycatcher, and the American kingbird.
-- Bee flower (Bot.), an orchidaceous plant of the genus Ophrys (O.
apifera), whose flowers have some resemblance to bees, flies, and
other insects.
-- Bee fly (Zoöl.), a two winged fly of the family Bombyliidæ. Some
species, in the larval state, are parasitic upon bees.
-- Bee garden, a garden or inclosure to set beehives in ; an apiary.
Mortimer.
-- Bee glue, a soft, unctuous matter, with which bees cement the
combs to the hives, and close up the cells; -- called also propolis.
-- Bee hawk (Zoöl.), the honey buzzard.
-- Bee killer (Zoöl.), a large two-winged fly of the family Asilidæ
(esp. Trupanea apivora) which feeds upon the honeybee. See Robber
fly.
-- Bee louse (Zoöl.), a minute, wingless, dipterous insect (Braula
cæca) parasitic on hive bees.
-- Bee martin (Zoöl.), the kingbird (Tyrannus Carolinensis) which
occasionally feeds on bees.
-- Bee moth (Zoöl.), a moth (Galleria cereana) whose larvæ feed on
honeycomb, occasioning great damage in beehives.
-- Bee wolf (Zoöl.), the larva of the bee beetle. See Illust. of Bee
beetle.
-- To have a bee in the head or in the bonnet. (a) To be choleric.
[Obs.] (b) To be restless or uneasy. B. Jonson. (c) To be full of
fancies; to be a little crazy. "She's whiles crack-brained, and has a
bee in her head." Sir W. Scott.
BEEBREAD
Bee"bread`, n.
Defn: A brown, bitter substance found in some of the cells of
honeycomb. It is made chiefly from the pollen of flowers, which is
collected by bees as food for their young.
BEECH
Beech, n.; pl. Beeches. Etym: [OE. beche, AS. b; akin to D. beuk,
OHG. buocha, G. buche, Icel. beyki, Dan. bög, Sw. bok, Russ. buk, L.
fagus, Gr. oak, to eat, Skr. bhaksh; the tree being named originally
from the esculent fruit. See Book, and cf. 7th Buck, Buckwheat.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A tree of the genus Fagus.
Note: It grows to a large size, having a smooth bark and thick
foliage, and bears an edible triangular nut, of which swine are fond.
The Fagus sylvatica is the European species, and the F. ferruginea
that of America. Beech drops (Bot.), a parasitic plant which grows on
the roots of beeches (Epiphegus Americana).
-- Beech marten (Zoöl.), the stone marten of Europe (Mustela foina).
-- Beech mast, the nuts of the beech, esp. as they lie under the
trees, in autumn.
-- Beech oil, oil expressed from the mast or nuts of the beech tree.
-- Cooper beech, a variety of the European beech with copper-
colored, shining leaves.
BEECHEN
Beech"en, a. Etym: [AS. b.]
Defn: Consisting, or made, of the wood or bark of the beech;
belonging to the beech. "Plain beechen vessels." Dryden.
BEECHNUT
Beech"nut`, n.
Defn: The nut of the beech tree.
BEECH TREE
Beech" tree`.
Defn: The beech.
BEECHY
Beech"y, a.
Defn: Of or relating to beeches.
BEE-EATER
Bee"-eat`er, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A bird of the genus Merops, that feeds on bees. The European
species (M. apiaster) is remarkable for its brilliant colors.
(b) An African bird of the genus Rhinopomastes.
BEEF
Beef, n. Etym: [OE. boef, befe, beef, OF. boef, buef, F. b, fr. L.
bos, bovis, ox; akin to Gr. , Skr. g cow, and E. cow. See 2d Cow.]
1. An animal of the genus Bos, especially the common species, B.
taurus, including the bull, cow, and ox, in their full grown state;
esp., an ox or cow fattened for food.
Note: [In this, which is the original sense, the word has a plural,
beeves (.]
A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine. Milton.
2. The flesh of an ox, or cow, or of any adult bovine animal, when
slaughtered for food.
Note: [In this sense, the word has no plural.] "Great meals of beef."
Shak.
3. Applied colloquially to human flesh.
BEEF
Beef, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, beef. Beef tea, essence of
beef, or strong beef broth.
BEEFEATER
Beef"eat`er, n. Etym: [Beef + eater; prob. one who eats another's
beef, as his servant. Cf. AS. hlaf servant, properly a loaf eater.]
1. One who eats beef; hence, a large, fleshy person.
2. One of the yeomen of the guard, in England.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African bird of the genus Buphaga, which feeds on the larvæ
of botflies hatched under the skin of oxen, antelopes, etc. Two
species are known.
BEEFSTEAK
Beef"steak`, n.
Defn: A steak of beef; a slice of beef broiled or suitable for
broiling.
BEEF-WITTED
Beef"-wit`ted, n.
Defn: Stupid; dull. Shak.
BEEFWOOD
Beef"wood`, n.
Defn: An Australian tree (Casuarina), and its red wood, used for
cabinetwork; also, the trees Stenocarpus salignus of New South Wales,
and Banksia compar of Queensland.
BEEFY
Beef"y, a.
Defn: Having much beef; of the nature of beef; resembling beef;
fleshy.
BEEHIVE
Bee"hive`, n.
Defn: A hive for a swarm of bees. Also used figuratively.
Note: A common and typical form of beehive was a domeshaped inverted
basket, whence certain ancient Irish and Scotch architectural remains
are called beehive houses.
BEEHOUSE
Bee"house`, n.
Defn: A house for bees; an apiary.
BEE LARKSPUR
Bee" lark`spur.
Defn: (Bot.) See Larkspur.
BEELD
Beeld, n.
Defn: Same as Beild. Fairfax.
BEE LINE
Bee" line`.
Defn: The shortest line from one place to another, like that of a bee
to its hive when loaded with honey; an air line. "A bee line for the
brig." Kane.
BEELZEBUB
Be*el"ze*bub, n.
Defn: The title of a heathen deity to whom the Jews ascribed the
sovereignty of the evil spirits; hence, the Devil or a devil. See
Baal.
BEEM
Beem, n. Etym: [AS. b, b.]
Defn: A trumpet. [Obs.]
BEEMASTER
Bee"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One who keeps bees.
BEEN
Been. Etym: [OE. beon, ben, bin, p. p. of been, beon, to be. See Be.]
Defn: The past participle of Be. In old authors it is also the pr.
tense plural of Be. See 1st Bee.
Assembled been a senate grave and stout. Fairfax.
BEER
Beer, n. Etym: [OE. beor, ber, AS. beór; akin to Fries. biar, Icel.
bj, OHG. bior, D. & G. bier, and possibly E. brew. *93, See Brew.]
1. A fermented liquor made from any malted grain, but commonly from
barley malt, with hops or some other substance to impart a bitter
flavor.
Note: Beer has different names, as small beer, ale, porter, brown
stout, lager beer, according to its strength, or other qualities. See
Ale.
2. A fermented extract of the roots and other parts of various
plants, as spruce, ginger, sassafras, etc. Small beer, weak beer;
(fig.) insignificant matters. "To suckle fools, and chronicle small
beer." Shak.
BEEREGAR
Beer"e*gar, n. Etym: [Beer + eager.]
Defn: Sour beer. [Obs.]
BEERHOUSE
Beer"house`, n.
Defn: A house where malt liquors are sold; an alehouse.
BEERINESS
Beer"i*ness, n.
Defn: Beery condition.
BEERY
Beer"y, a.
Defn: Of or resembling beer; affected by beer; maudlin.
BEESTINGS
Beest"ings, n.
Defn: Same as Biestings.
BEESWAX
Bees"wax`, n.
Defn: The wax secreted by bees, and of which their cells are
constructed.
BEESWING
Bees"wing`, n.
Defn: The second crust formed in port and some other wines after long
keeping. It consists of pure, shining scales of tartar, supposed to
resemble the wing of a bee.
BEET
Beet, n. Etym: [AS. bete, from L. beta.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A biennial plant of the genus Beta, which produces an edible
root the first year and seed the second year.
2. The root of plants of the genus Beta, different species and
varieties of which are used for the table, for feeding stock, or in
making sugar.
Note: There are many varieties of the common beet (Beta vulgaris).
The Old "white beet", cultivated for its edible leafstalks, is a
distinct species (Beta Cicla).
BEETE; BETE
Beete, Bete, v. t. Etym: [AS. b to mend. See Better.]
1. To mend; to repair. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To renew or enkindle (a fire). [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEETLE
Bee"tle, n. Etym: [OE. betel, AS. bitl, b, mallet, hammer, fr. beátan
to beat. See Beat, v. t.]
1. A heavy mallet, used to drive wedges, beat pavements, etc.
2. A machine in which fabrics are subjected to a hammering process
while passing over rollers, as in cotton mills; -- called also
beetling machine. Knight.
BEETLE
Bee"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beetled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beetling.]
1. To beat with a heavy mallet.
2. To finish by subjecting to a hammering process in a beetle or
beetling machine; as, to beetle cotton goods.
BEETLE
Bee"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bityl, bittle, AS. b, fr. b to bite. See Bite,
v. t.]
Defn: Any insect of the order Coleoptera, having four wings, the
outer pair being stiff cases for covering the others when they are
folded up. See Coleoptera. Beetle mite (Zoöl.), one of many species
of mites, of the family Oribatidæ, parasitic on beetles.
-- Black beetle, the common large black cockroach (Blatta
orientalis).
BEETLE
Bee"tle, v. i. Etym: [See Beetlebrowed.]
Defn: To extend over and beyond the base or support; to overhang; to
jut.
To the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into
the sea. Shak.
Each beetling rampart, and each tower sublime. Wordsworth.
BEETLE BROW
Bee"tle brow`.
Defn: An overhanging brow.
BEETLE-BROWED
Bee"tle-browed`, a. Etym: [OE. bitelbrowed; cf. OE. bitel, adj.,
sharp, projecting, n., a beetle. See Beetle an insect.]
Defn: Having prominent, overhanging brows; hence, lowering or sullen.
Note: The earlier meaning was, "Having bushy or overhanging
eyebrows."
BEETLEHEAD
Bee"tle*head`, n. Etym: [Beetle a mallet + head.]
1. A stupid fellow; a blockhead. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black-bellied plover, or bullhead (Squatarola helvetica).
See Plover.
BEETLE-HEADED
Bee"tle-head`ed, a.
Defn: Dull; stupid. Shak.
BEETLESTOCK
Bee"tle*stock`, n.
Defn: The handle of a beetle.
BEET RADISH
Beet" rad`ish.
Defn: Same as Beetrave.
BEETRAVE
Beet"rave`, n. Etym: [F. betterave; bette beet + rave radish.]
Defn: The common beet (Beta vulgaris).
BEEVE
Beeve, n. Etym: [Formed from beeves, pl. of beef.]
Defn: A beef; a beef creature.
They would knock down the first beeve they met with. W. Irving.
BEEVES
Beeves, n.
Defn: ; plural of Beef, the animal.
BEFALL
Be*fall", v. t. [imp. Befell; p. p. Befallen; p. pr. & vb. n.
Befalling.] Etym: [AS. befeallan; pref. be- + feallan to fall.]
Defn: To happen to.
I beseech your grace that I may know The worst that may befall me.
Shak.
BEFALL
Be*fall", v. i.
Defn: To come to pass; to happen.
I have revealed . . . the discord which befell. Milton.
BEFIT
Be*fit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Befitting.]
Defn: To be suitable to; to suit; to become.
That name best befits thee. Milton.
BEFITTING
Be*fit"ting, a.
Defn: Suitable; proper; becoming; fitting.
BEFITTINGLY
Be*fit"ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a befitting manner; suitably.
BEFLATTER
Be*flat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To flatter excessively.
BEFLOWER
Be*flow"er, v. t.
Defn: To besprinkle or scatter over with, or as with, flowers.
Hobbes.
BEFOG
Be*fog", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Befogging.]
1. To involve in a fog; -- mostly as a participle or part. adj.
2. Hence: To confuse; to mystify.
BEFOOL
Be*fool", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Befooling.]
Etym: [OE. befolen; pref. be- + fol fool.]
1. To fool; to delude or lead into error; to infatuate; to deceive.
This story . . . contrived to befool credulous men. Fuller.
2. To cause to behave like a fool; to make foolish. "Some befooling
drug." G. Eliot.
BEFORE
Be*fore", prep. Etym: [OE. beforen, biforen, before, AS. beforan;
pref. be- + foran, fore, before. See Be-, and Fore.]
1. In front of; preceding in space; ahead of; as, to stand before the
fire; before the house.
His angel, who shall go Before them in a cloud and pillar of fire.
Milton.
2. Preceding in time; earlier than; previously to; anterior to the
time when; -- sometimes with the additional idea of purpose; in order
that.
Before Abraham was, I am. John viii. 58.
Before this treatise can become of use, two points are necessary.
Swift.
Note: Formerly before, in this sense, was followed by that. "Before
that Philip called thee . . . I saw thee." John i. 48.
3. An advance of; farther onward, in place or time.
The golden age . . . is before us. Carlyle.
4. Prior or preceding in dignity, order, rank, right, or worth;
rather than.
He that cometh after me is preferred before me. John i. 15.
The eldest son is before the younger in succession. Johnson.
5. In presence or sight of; face to face with; facing.
Abraham bowed down himself before the people. Gen. xxiii. 12.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord Micah vi. 6.
6. Under the cognizance or jurisdiction of.
If a suit be begun before an archdeacon. Ayliffe.
7. Open for; free of access to; in the power of.
The world was all before them where to choose. Milton.
Before the mast (Naut.), as a common sailor, -- because the sailors
live in the forecastle, forward of the foremast.
-- Before the wind (Naut.), in the direction of the wind and by its
impulse; having the wind aft.
BEFORE
Be*fore", adv.
1. On the fore part; in front, or in the direction of the front; --
opposed to in the rear.
The battle was before and behind. 2 Chron. xiii. 14.
2. In advance. "I come before to tell you." Shak.
3. In time past; previously; already.
You tell me, mother, what I knew before. Dryden.
4. Earlier; sooner than; until then.
When the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before. Shak.
Note: Before is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, before-
cited, before-mentioned; beforesaid.
BEFOREHAND
Be*fore"hand`, adv. Etym: [Before + hand.]
1. In a state of anticipation ore preoccupation; in advance; -- often
followed by with.
Agricola . . . resolves to be beforehand with the danger. Milton.
The last cited author has been beforehand with me. Addison.
2. By way of preparation, or preliminary; previously; aforetime.
They may be taught beforehand the skill of speaking. Hooker.
BEFOREHAND
Be*fore"hand`, a.
Defn: In comfortable circumstances as regards property; forehanded.
Rich and much beforehand. Bacon.
BEFORETIME
Be*fore"time`, adv.
Defn: Formerly; aforetime.
[They] dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. 2 Kings xiii. 5.
BEFORTUNE
Be*for"tune, v. t.
Defn: To befall. [Poetic]
I wish all good befortune you. Shak.
BEFOUL
Be*foul", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befouled; p. pr. & vb. n. Befouling.]
Etym: [Cf. AS. bef; pref. be- + f to foul. See Foul, a.]
1. To make foul; to soil.
2. To entangle or run against so as to impede motion.
BEFRIEND
Be*friend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befriended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Befriending.]
Defn: To act as a friend to; to favor; to aid, benefit, or
countenance.
By the darkness befriended. Longfellow.
BEFRIENDMENT
Be*friend"ment, n.
Defn: Act of befriending. [R.]
BEFRILL
Be*frill", v. t.
Defn: To furnish or deck with a frill.
BEFRINGE
Be*fringe", v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a fringe; to form a fringe upon; to adorn as
with fringe. Fuller.
BEFUDDLE
Be*fud"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Befuddled]
Defn: To becloud and confuse, as with liquor.
BEG
Beg, n. Etym: [Turk. beg, pronounced bay. Cf. Bey, Begum.]
Defn: A title of honor in Turkey and in some other parts of the East;
a bey.
BEG
Beg, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begged; p. pr. & vb. n. Begging.] Etym: [OE.
beggen, perh. fr. AS. bedecian (akin to Goth. bedagwa beggar), biddan
to ask. (Cf. Bid, v. t.); or cf. beghard, beguin.]
1. To ask earnestly for; to entreat or supplicate for; to beseech.
I do beg your good will in this case. Shak.
[Joseph] begged the body of Jesus. Matt. xxvii. 58.
Note: Sometimes implying deferential and respectful, rather than
earnest, asking; as, I beg your pardon; I beg leave to disagree with
you.
2. To ask for as a charity, esp. to ask for habitually or from house
to house.
Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging
bread. Ps. xxxvii. 25.
3. To make petition to; to entreat; as, to beg a person to grant a
favor.
4. To take for granted; to assume without proof.
5. (Old Law)
Defn: To ask to be appointed guardian for, or to ask to have a
guardian appointed for.
Else some will beg thee, in the court of wards. Harrington.
Hence: To beg (one) for a fool, to take him for a fool. I beg to, is
an elliptical expression for I beg leave to; as, I beg to inform you.
-- To bag the question, to assume that which was to be proved in a
discussion, instead of adducing the proof or sustaining the point by
argument.
-- To go a-begging, a figurative phrase to express the absence of
demand for something which elsewhere brings a price; as, grapes are
so plentiful there that they go a-begging.
Syn.
-- To Beg, Ask, Request. To ask (not in the sense of inquiring) is
the generic term which embraces all these words. To request is only a
polite mode of asking. To beg, in its original sense, was to ask with
earnestness, and implied submission, or at least deference. At
present, however, in polite life, beg has dropped its original
meaning, and has taken the place of both ask and request, on the
ground of its expressing more of deference and respect. Thus, we beg
a person's acceptance of a present; we beg him to favor us with his
company; a tradesman begs to announce the arrival of new goods, etc.
Crabb remarks that, according to present usage, "we can never talk of
asking a person's acceptance of a thing, or of asking him to do us a
favor." This can be more truly said of usage in England than in
America.
BEG
Beg, v. i.
Defn: To ask alms or charity, especially to ask habitually by the
wayside or from house to house; to live by asking alms.
I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.
BEGA
Be"ga, n.
Defn: See Bigha.
BEGEM
Be*gem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begemmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Begemming.]
Defn: To adorn with gems, or as with gems.
Begemmed with dewdrops. Sir W. Scott.
Those lonely realms bright garden isles begem. Shelley.
BEGET
Be*get", v. t. [imp. Begot, (Archaic) Begat (; p. p. Begot, Begotten
(; p. pr. & vb. n. Begetting.] Etym: [OE. bigiten, bigeten, to get,
beget, AS. begitan to get; pref. be- + gitan. See Get, v. t. ]
1. To procreate, as a father or sire; to generate; -- commonly said
of the father.
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget. Milton.
2. To get (with child.) [Obs.] Shak.
3. To produce as an effect; to cause to exist.
Love is begot by fancy. Granville.
BEGETTER
Be*get"ter, n.
Defn: One who begets; a father.
BEGGABLE
Beg"ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being begged.
BEGGAR
Beg"gar, n. Etym: [OE. beggere, fr. beg.]
1. One who begs; one who asks or entreats earnestly, or with
humility; a petitioner.
2. One who makes it his business to ask alms.
3. One who is dependent upon others for support; -- a contemptuous or
sarcastic use.
4. One who assumes in argument what he does not prove. Abp.
Tillotson.
BEGGAR
Beg"gar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beggared; p. pr. & vb. n. Beggaring.]
1. To reduce to beggary; to impoverish; as, he had beggared himself.
Milton.
2. To cause to seem very poor and inadequate.
It beggared all description. Shak.
BEGGARHOOD
Beg"gar*hood, n.
Defn: The condition of being a beggar; also, the class of beggars.
BEGGARISM
Beg"gar*ism, n.
Defn: Beggary. [R.]
BEGGARLINESS
Beg"gar*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being beggarly; meanness.
BEGGARLY
Beg"gar*ly, a.
1. In the condition of, or like, a beggar; suitable for a beggar;
extremely indigent; poverty-stricken; mean; poor; contemptible. "A
bankrupt, beggarly fellow." South. "A beggarly fellowship." Swift.
"Beggarly elements." Gal. iv. 9.
2. Produced or occasioned by beggary. [Obs.]
Beggarly sins, that is, those sins which idleness and beggary usually
betray men to; such as lying, flattery, stealing, and dissimulation.
Jer. Taylor.
BEGGARLY
Beg"gar*ly, adv.
Defn: In an indigent, mean, or despicable manner; in the manner of a
beggar.
BEGGAR'S LICE
Beg"gar's lice`. (Bot.)
Defn: The prickly fruit or seed of certain plants (as some species of
Echinospermum and Cynoglossum) which cling to the clothing of those
who brush by them.
BEGGAR'S TICKS
Beg"gar's ticks`.
Defn: The bur marigold (Bidens) and its achenes, which are armed with
barbed awns, and adhere to clothing and fleeces with unpleasant
tenacity.
BEGGARY
Beg"gar*y, n. Etym: [OE. beggerie. See Beggar, n.]
1. The act of begging; the state of being a beggar; mendicancy;
extreme poverty.
2. Beggarly appearance. [R.]
The freedom and the beggary of the old studio. Thackeray.
Syn.
-- Indigence; want; penury; mendicancy.
BEGGARY
Beg"gar*y, a.
Defn: Beggarly. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEGGESTERE
Beg"ge*stere, n. Etym: [Beg + -ster.]
Defn: A beggar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEGHARD; BEGUARD
Be*ghard" Be*guard", n. Etym: [F. bégard, béguard; cf. G. beghard,
LL. Beghardus, Begihardus, Begardus. Prob. from the root of beguine +
-ard or -hard. See Beguine.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an association of religious laymen living in imitation
of the Beguines. They arose in the thirteenth century, were afterward
subjected to much persecution, and were suppressed by Innocent X. in
1650. Called also Beguins.
BEGILD
Be*gild", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begilded or Begilt.]
Defn: To gild. B. Jonson.
BEGIN
Be*gin", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Began, Begun; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beginning.] Etym: [AS. beginnan (akin to OS. biginnan, D. & G.
beginnen, OHG. biginnan, Goth., du-ginnan, Sw. begynna, Dan.
begynde); pref. be- + an assumed ginnan. sq. root31. See Gin to
begin.]
1. To have or commence an independent or first existence; to take
rise; to commence.
Vast chain of being! which from God began. Pope.
2. To do the first act or the first part of an action; to enter upon
or commence something new, as a new form or state of being, or course
of action; to take the first step; to start. "Tears began to flow."
Dryden.
When I begin, I will also make an end. 1 Sam. iii. 12.
BEGIN
Be*gin", v. t.
1. To enter on; to commence.
Ye nymphs of Solyma ! begin the song. Pope.
2. To trace or lay the foundation of; to make or place a beginning
of.
The apostle begins our knowledge in the creatures, which leads us to
the knowledge of God. Locke.
Syn.
-- To commence; originate; set about; start.
BEGIN
Be*gin", n.
Defn: Beginning. [Poetic & Obs.] Spenser.
BEGINNER
Be*gin"ner, n.
Defn: One who begins or originates anything. Specifically: A young or
inexperienced practitioner or student; a tyro.
A sermon of a new beginner. Swift.
BEGINNING
Be*gin"ning, n.
1. The act of doing that which begins anything; commencement of an
action, state, or space of time; entrance into being or upon a
course; the first act, effort, or state of a succession of acts or
states.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.
2. That which begins or originates something; the first cause;
origin; source.
I am . . . the beginning and the ending. Rev. i. 8.
3. That which is begun; a rudiment or element.
Mighty things from small beginnings grow. Dryden.
4. Enterprise. "To hinder our beginnings." Shak.
Syn.
-- Inception; prelude; opening; threshold; origin; outset;
foundation.
BEGIRD
Be*gird", v. t. [imp. Begirt, Begirded; p. p. Begirt; p. pr. & vb. n.
Begirding.] Etym: [AS. begyrdan (akin to Goth. bigairdan); pref. be-
+ gyrdan to gird.]
1. To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.
2. To surround as with a band; to encompass.
BEGIRDLE
Be*gir"dle, v. t.
Defn: To surround as with a girdle.
BEGIRT
Be*girt", v. t.
Defn: To encompass; to begird. Milton.
BEGLERBEG
Beg"ler*beg`, n. Etym: [Turk. beglerbeg, fr. beg, pl. begler. See
Beg, n.]
Defn: The governor of a province of the Ottoman empire, next in
dignity to the grand vizier.
BEGNAW
Be*gnaw", v. t. [p. p. Begnawed, (R.) Begnawn (.] Etym: [AS.
begnagan; pref. be- + gnagan to gnaw.]
Defn: To gnaw; to eat away; to corrode.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul. Shak.
BEGOD
Be*god", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begodded.]
Defn: To exalt to the dignity of a god; to deify. [Obs.] "Begodded
saints." South.
BEGOHM
Beg"ohm`, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A unit of resistance equal to one billion ohms, or one thousand
megohms.
BEGONE
Be*gone", interj. Etym: [Be, v. i. + gone, p. p.]
Defn: Go away; depart; get you gone.
BEGONE
Be*gone", p. p. Etym: [OE. begon, AS. bigan; pref. be- + gan to go.]
Defn: Surrounded; furnished; beset; environed (as in woe-begone).
[Obs.] Gower. Chaucer.
BEGONIA
Be*go"ni*a, n. Etym: [From Michel Begon, a promoter of botany.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, mostly of tropical America, many species of
which are grown as ornamental plants. The leaves are curiously one-
sided, and often exhibit brilliant colors.
BEGORE
Be*gore", v. t.
Defn: To besmear with gore.
BEGOT
Be*got",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Beget.
BEGOTTEN
Be*got"ten,
Defn: p. p. of Beget.
BEGRAVE
Be*grave", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + grave; akin to G. begraben, Goth.
bigraban to dig a ditch around.]
Defn: To bury; also, to engrave. [Obs.] Gower.
BEGREASE
Be*grease", v. t.
Defn: To soil or daub with grease or other oily matter.
BEGRIME
Be*grime", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begrimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Begriming.]
Defn: To soil with grime or dirt deeply impressed or rubbed in.
Books falling to pieces and begrimed with dust. Macaulay.
BEGRIMER
Be*grim"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, begrimes.
BEGRUDGE
Be*grudge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Begrudged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Begrudging.]
Defn: To grudge; to envy the possession of.
BEGUILE
Be*guile", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beguiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Beguiling.]
1. To delude by guile, artifice, or craft; to deceive or impose on,
as by a false statement; to lure.
The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Gen. iii. 13.
2. To elude, or evade by craft; to foil. [Obs.]
When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage. Shak.
3. To cause the time of to pass without notice; to relieve the tedium
or weariness of; to while away; to divert.
Ballads . . . to beguile his incessant wayfaring. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- To delude; deceive; cheat; insnare; mislead; amuse; divert;
entertain.
BEGUILEMENT
Be*guile"ment, n.
Defn: The act of beguiling, or the state of being beguiled.
BEGUILER
Be*guil"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, beguiles.
BEGUILING
Be*guil"ing, a.
Defn: Alluring by guile; deluding; misleading; diverting.
-- Be*guil"ing*ly, adv.
BEGUIN
Be`guin", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Beghard.
BEGUINAGE
Be`gui`nage", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A collection of small houses surrounded by a wall and occupied
by a community of Beguines.
BEGUINE
Be`guine", n. Etym: [F. béguine; LL. beguina, beghina; fr. Lambert le
Bègue (the Stammerer) the founder of the order. (Du Cange.)]
Defn: A woman belonging to one of the religious and charitable
associations or communities in the Netherlands, and elsewhere, whose
members live in beguinages and are not bound by perpetual vows.
BEGUM
Be"gum, n. Etym: [Per., fr. Turk., perh. properly queen mother, fr.
Turk. beg (see Beg, n.) + Ar. umm mother.]
Defn: In the East Indies, a princess or lady of high rank. Malcom.
BEGUN
Be*gun", p. p.
Defn: of Begin.
BEHALF
Be*half", n. Etym: [OE. on-behalve in the name of, bihalven by the
side of, fr. AS. healf half, also side, part: akin to G. halb half,
halber on account of. See Be-, and Half, n.]
Defn: Advantage; favor; stead; benefit; interest; profit; support;
defense; vindication.
In behalf of his mistress's beauty. Sir P. Sidney.
Against whom he had contracted some prejudice in behalf of his
nation. Clarendon.
In behalf of, in the interest of.
-- On behalf of, on account of; on the part of.
BEHAPPEN
Be*hap"pen, v. t.
Defn: To happen to. [Obs.]
BEHAVE
Be*have", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Behaving.]
Etym: [AS. behabban to surround, restrain, detain (akin to G. gehaben
(obs.) to have, sich gehaben to behave or carry one's self); pref.
be- + habban to have. See Have, v. t. ]
1. To manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to
handle; to restrain. [Obs.]
He did behave his anger ere 't was spent. Shak.
2. To carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used
reflexively.
Those that behaved themselves manfully. 2 Macc. ii. 21.
BEHAVE
Be*have", v. i.
Defn: To act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave
well or ill.
Note: This verb is often used colloquially without an adverb of
manner; as, if he does not behave, he will be punished. It is also
often applied to inanimate objects; as, the ship behaved splendidly.
BEHAVIOR
Be*hav"ior, n.
Defn: Manner of behaving, whether good or bad; mode of conducting
one's self; conduct; deportment; carriage; -- used also of inanimate
objects; as, the behavior of a ship in a storm; the behavior of the
magnetic needle.
A gentleman that is very singular in his behavior. Steele.
To be upon one's good behavior, To be put upon one's good behavior,
to be in a state of trial, in which something important depends on
propriety of conduct.
-- During good behavior, while (or so long as) one conducts one's
self with integrity and fidelity or with propriety.
Syn.
-- Bearing; demeanor; manner.
-- Behavior, Conduct. Behavior is the mode in which we have or bear
ourselves in the presence of others or toward them; conduct is the
mode of our carrying ourselves forward in the concerns of life.
Behavior respects our manner of acting in particular cases; conduct
refers to the general tenor of our actions. We may say of soldiers,
that their conduct had been praiseworthy during the whole campaign,
and their behavior admirable in every instance when they met the
enemy.
BEHEAD
Be*head", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beheaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Beheading.]
Etym: [OE. bihefden, AS. beheáfdian; pref. be- + heáfod head. See
Head.]
Defn: To sever the head from; to take off the head of.
BEHEADAL
Be*head"al
Defn: ,n.Beheading. [Modern]
BEHELD
Be*held",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Behold.
BEHEMOTH
Be"he*moth, n. Etym: [Heb. behem, fr. Egyptian P-ehe-maut
hippopotamus.]
Defn: An animal, probably the hippopotamus, described in Job xl. 15-
24.
BEHEN; BEHN
Be"hen, Behn, n. Etym: [Per. & Ar. bahman, behmen, an herb, whose
leaves resemble ears of corn, saffron.] (Bot.)
(a) The Centaurea behen, or saw-leaved centaury.
(b) The Cucubalus behen, or bladder campion, now called Silene
inflata.
(c) The Statice limonium, or sea lavender.
BEHEST
Be*hest", n. Etym: [OE. biheste promise, command, AS. beh promise;
pref. be- + h command. See Hest, Hight.]
1. That which is willed or ordered; a command; a mandate; an
injunction.
To do his master's high behest. Sir W. Scott.
2. A vow; a promise. [Obs.]
The time is come that I should send it her, if I keep the behest that
I have made. Paston.
BEHEST
Be*hest", v. t.
Defn: To vow. [Obs.] Paston.
BEHETE
Be*hete", v. t.
Defn: See Behight. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEHIGHT
Be*hight", v. t. [imp. Behight; p. p. Behight, Behoten.] Etym: [OE.
bihaten, AS. behatan to vow, promise; pref. be- + hatan to call,
command. See Hight, v.] [Obs. in all its senses.]
1. To promise; to vow.
Behight by vow unto the chaste Minerve. Surrey.
2. To give in trust; to commit; to intrust.
The keys are to thy hand behight. Spenser.
3. To adjudge; to assign by authority.
The second was to Triamond behight. Spenser.
4. To mean, or intend.
More than heart behighteth. Mir. for Mag.
5. To consider or esteem to be; to declare to be.
All the lookers-on him dead behight. Spenser.
6. To call; to name; to address.
Whom . . . he knew and thus behight. Spenser.
7. To command; to order.
He behight those gates to be unbarred. Spenser.
BEHIGHT
Be*hight", n.
Defn: A vow; a promise. [Obs.] Surrey.
BEHIND
Be*hind", prep. Etym: [AS. behindan; pref. be- + hindan. See Hind,
a.]
1. On the side opposite the front or nearest part; on the back side
of; at the back of; on the other side of; as, behind a door; behind a
hill.
A tall Brabanter, behind whom I stood. Bp. Hall.
2. Left after the departure of, whether this be by removing to a
distance or by death.
A small part of what he left behind him. Pope.
3. Left a distance by, in progress of improvement Hence: Inferior to
in dignity, rank, knowledge, or excellence, or in any achievement.
I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. 2 Cor. xi. 5.
BEHIND
Be*hind", adv.
1. At the back part; in the rear. "I shall not lag behind." Milton.
2. Toward the back part or rear; backward; as, to look behind.
3. Not yet brought forward, produced, or exhibited to view; out of
sight; remaining.
We can not be sure that there is no evidence behind. Locke.
4. Backward in time or order of succession; past.
Forgetting those things which are behind. Phil. ii. 13.
5. After the departure of another; as, to stay behind.
Leave not a rack behind. Shak.
BEHIND
Be*hind", n.
Defn: The backside; the rump. [Low]
BEHINDHAND
Be*hind"hand`, adv. & a. Etym: [Behind + hand.]
1. In arrears financially; in a state where expenditures have
exceeded the receipt of funds.
2. In a state of backwardness, in respect to what is seasonable or
appropriate, or as to what should have been accomplished; not equally
forward with some other person or thing; dilatory; backward; late;
tardy; as, behindhand in studies or in work.
In this also [dress] the country are very much behindhand. Addison.
BEHITHER
Be*hith"er, prep.
Defn: On this side of. [Obs.]
Two miles behither Clifden. Evelyn.
BEHOLD
Be*hold", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beheld ( (p. p. formerly Beholden (,
now used only as a p. a.); p. pr. & vb. n. Beholding.] Etym: [OE.
bihalden, biholden, AS. behealdan to hold, have in sight; pref. be- +
healdan to hold, keep; akin to G. behalten to hold, keep. See Hold.]
Defn: To have in sight; to see clearly; to look at; to regard with
the eyes.
When he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Num. xxi. 9.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. John.
i. 29.
Syn.
-- To scan; gaze; regard; descry; view; discern.
BEHOLD
Be*hold", v. i.
Defn: To direct the eyes to, or fix them upon, an object; to look; to
see.
And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne, . . . a lamb as it
had been slain. Rev. v. 6.
BEHOLDEN
Be*hold"en, p. a. Etym: [Old p. p. of behold, used in the primitive
sense of the simple verb hold.]
Defn: Obliged; bound in gratitude; indebted.
But being so beholden to the Prince. Tennyson.
BEHOLDER
Be*hold"er, n.
Defn: One who beholds; a spectator.
BEHOLDING
Be*hold"ing, a.
Defn: Obliged; beholden. [Obs.]
I was much bound and beholding to the right reverend father. Robynson
(More's Utopia).
So much hath Oxford been beholding to her nephews, or sister's
children. Fuller.
BEHOLDING
Be*hold"ing, n.
Defn: The act of seeing; sight; also, that which is beheld. Shak.
BEHOLDINGNESS
Be*hold"ing*ness, n.
Defn: , The state of being obliged or beholden. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
BEHOOF
Be*hoof", n. Etym: [OE. to bihove for the use of, AS. beh advantage,
a word implied in beh necessary; akin to Sw. behof, Dan. behov, G.
behuf, and E. heave, the root meaning to seize, hence the meanings
"to hold, make use of." See Heave, v. t.]
Defn: Advantage; profit; benefit; interest; use.
No mean recompense it brings To your behoof. Milton.
BEHOOVABLE
Be*hoov"a*ble, a.
Defn: Supplying need; profitable; advantageous. [Obs.] Udall.
BEHOOVE
Be*hoove", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Behooved; p. pr. & vb. n. Behooving.]
Etym: [OE. bihoven, behoven, AS. beh to have need of, fr. beh. See
Behoof.]
Defn: To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with
respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used
impersonally.
And thus it behooved Christ to suffer. Luke xxiv. 46.
[Also written behove.]
BEHOOVE
Be*hoove", v. i.
Defn: To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due.
Chaucer.
BEHOOVE
Be*hoove", n.
Defn: Advantage; behoof. [Obs.]
It shall not be to his behoove. Gower.
BEHOOVEFUL
Be*hoove"ful, a.
Defn: Advantageous; useful; profitable. [Archaic] -- Be*hoove"ful*ly,
adv.
-- Be*hoove"ful*ness, n. [Archaic]
BEHOVE
Be*hove", v.
Defn: , and derivatives. See Behoove, & c.
BEHOVELY
Be*hove"ly, a. & adv.
Defn: Useful, or usefully. [Obs.]
BEHOWL
Be*howl", v. t.
Defn: To howl at. [Obs.]
The wolf behowls the moon. Shak.
BEIGE
Beige, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Debeige.
BEILD
Beild, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as build, v. t.]
Defn: A place of shelter; protection; refuge. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
[Also written bield and beeld.]
The random beild o' clod or stane. Burns.
BEING
Be"ing, p. pr. from Be.
Defn: Existing.
Note: Being was formerly used where we now use having. "Being to go
to a ball in a few days." Miss Edgeworth.
Note: In modern usage, is, are, was or were being, with a past
participle following (as built, made, etc.) indicates the process
toward the completed result expressed by the participle. The form is
or was building, in this passive signification, is idiomatic, and, if
free from ambiguity, is commonly preferable to the modern is or was
being built. The last form of speech is, however, sufficiently
authorized by approved writers. The older expression was is, or was,
a-building or in building.
A man who is being strangled. Lamb.
While the article on Burns was being written. Froude.
Fresh experience is always being gained. Jowett (Thucyd. )
BEING
Be"ing, n.
1. Existence, as opposed to nonexistence; state or sphere of
existence.
In Him we live, and move, and have our being. Acts xvii. 28.
2. That which exists in any form, whether it be material or
spiritual, actual or ideal; living existence, as distinguished from a
thing without life; as, a human being; spiritual beings.
What a sweet being is an honest mind ! Beau. & Fl.
A Being of infinite benevolence and power. Wordsworth.
3. Lifetime; mortal existence. [Obs.]
Claudius, thou Wast follower of his fortunes in his being. Webster
(1654).
4. An abode; a cottage. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little
beings within my manor. Steele.
BEING
Be"ing, adv.
Defn: Since; inasmuch as. [Obs. or Colloq.]
And being you have Declined his means, you have increased his malice.
Beau. & Fl.
BEJADE
Be*jade", v. t.
Defn: To jade or tire. [Obs.] Milton.
BEJAPE
Be*jape", v. t.
Defn: To jape; to laugh at; to deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEJAUNDICE
Be*jaun"dice, v. t.
Defn: To infect with jaundice.
BEJEWEL
Be*jew"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bejeweled or Bejewelled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Bejeweling or Bejewelling.]
Defn: To ornament with a jewel or with jewels; to spangle. "Bejeweled
hands." Thackeray.
BEJUCO
Be*ju"co, n. [Sp., a reed or woody vine.]
Defn: Any climbing woody vine of the tropics with the habit of a
liane; in the Philippines, esp. any of various species of Calamus,
the cane or rattan palm.
BEJUMBLE
Be*jum"ble, v. t.
Defn: To jumble together.
BEKAH
Be"kah, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: Half a shekel.
BEKNAVE
Be*knave", v. t.
Defn: To call knave. [Obs.] Pope.
BEKNOW
Be*know", v. t.
Defn: To confess; to acknowledge. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEL
Bel, n.
Defn: The Babylonian name of the god known among the Hebrews as Baal.
See Baal. Baruch vi. 41.
BELABOR
Be*la"bor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belabored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Belaboring.]
1. To ply diligently; to work carefully upon. "If the earth is
belabored with culture, it yieldeth corn." Barrow.
2. To beat soundly; to cudgel.
Ajax belabors there a harmless ox. Dryden.
BEL-ACCOYLE
Bel`-ac*coyle", n. Etym: [F. bel beautiful + accueil reception.]
Defn: A kind or favorable reception or salutation. [Obs.]
BELACE
Be*lace", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belaced.]
1. To fasten, as with a lace or cord. [Obs.]
2. To cover or adorn with lace. [Obs.] Beaumont.
3. To beat with a strap. See Lace. [Obs.] Wright.
BELAM
Be*lam", v. t. Etym: [See Lam.]
Defn: To beat or bang. [Prov. & Low, Eng.] Todd.
BELAMOUR
Bel"a*mour, n. Etym: [F. bel amour fair love.]
1. A lover. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A flower, but of what kind is unknown. [Obs.]
Her snowy brows, like budded belamours. Spenser.
BELAMY
Bel"a*my, n. Etym: [F. bel ami fair friend.]
Defn: Good friend; dear friend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BELATE
Be*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belated; p. pr. & vb. n. Belating.]
Defn: To retard or make too late. Davenant.
BELATED
Be*lat"ed, a.
Defn: Delayed beyond the usual time; too late; overtaken by night;
benighted. "Some belated peasant." Milton.
-- Be*lat"ed*ness, n. Milton.
BELAUD
Be*laud", v. t.
Defn: To laud or praise greatly.
BELAY
Be*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belaid, Belayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Belaying.] Etym: [For senses 1 & 2, D. beleggen to cover, belay; akin
to E. pref. be-, and lay to place: for sense 3, OE. beleggen, AS.
belecgan. See pref. Be-, and Lay to place.]
1. To lay on or cover; to adorn. [Obs.]
Jacket . . . belayed with silver lace. Spenser.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To make fast, as a rope, by taking several turns with it round
a pin, cleat, or kevel. Totten.
3. To lie in wait for with a view to assault. Hence: to block up or
obstruct. [Obs.] Dryden. Belay thee! Stop.
BELAYING PIN
Be*lay"ing pin`. (Naut.)
Defn: A strong pin in the side of a vessel, or by the mast, round
which ropes are wound when they are fastened or belayed.
BELCH
Belch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belched; p. pr. & vb. n. Belching.] Etym:
[OE. belken, AS. bealcan, akin to E. bellow. See Bellow, v. i.]
1. To eject or throw up from the stomach with violence; to eruct.
I belched a hurricane of wind. Swift.
2. To eject violently from within; to cast forth; to emit; to give
vent to; to vent.
Within the gates that now Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame.
Milton.
BELCH
Belch, v. i.
1. To eject wind from the stomach through the mouth; to eructate.
2. To issue with spasmodic force or noise. Dryden.
BELCH
Belch, n.
1. The act of belching; also, that which is belched; an eructation.
2. Malt liquor; -- vulgarly so called as causing eructation. [Obs.]
Dennis.
BELCHER
Belch"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, belches.
BELDAM; BELDAME
Bel"dam Bel"dame, n. Etym: [Pref. bel-, denoting relationship + dame
mother: cf. F. belledame fair lady, It. belladonna. See Belle, and
Dame.]
1. Grandmother; -- corresponding to belsire.
To show the beldam daughters of her daughter. Shak.
2. An old woman in general; especially, an ugly old woman; a hag.
Around the beldam all erect they hang. Akenside.
BELEAGUER
Be*lea"guer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beleaguered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beleaguering.] Etym: [D. belegeren (akin to G. belagern, Sw. belägra,
Dan. beleire); pref. be- = E. be- + leger bed, camp, army, akin to E.
lair. See Lair.]
Defn: To surround with an army so as to preclude escape; to besiege;
to blockade.
The wail of famine in beleaguered towns. Longfellow.
Syn.
-- To block up; environ; invest; encompass.
BELEAGUERER
Be*lea"guer*er, n.
Defn: One who beleaguers.
BELEAVE
Be*leave", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Beleft.]
Defn: To leave or to be left. [Obs.] May.
BELECTURE
Be*lec"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belectured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Belecturing.]
Defn: To vex with lectures; to lecture frequently.
BELEE
Be*lee", v. t.
Defn: To place under the lee, or unfavorably to the wind. Shak.
BELEMNITE
Be*lem"nite, n. Etym: [Gr. dart, fr. dart, fr. to throw: cf. F.
bélemnite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A conical calcareous fossil, tapering to a point at the lower
extremity, with a conical cavity at the other end, where it is
ordinarily broken; but when perfect it contains a small chambered
cone, called the phragmocone, prolonged, on one side, into a delicate
concave blade; the thunderstone. It is the internal shell of a
cephalopod related to the sepia, and belonging to an extinct family.
The belemnites are found in rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous
ages.
-- Bel*em*nit"ic, a.
BELEPER
Be*lep"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belepered.]
Defn: To infect with leprosy. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BEL-ESPRIT
Bel"-es*prit", n.; pl. Beaux-esprits. Etym: [F., fine wit.]
Defn: A fine genius, or man of wit. "A man of letters and a bel
esprit." W. Irving.
BELFRY
Bel"fry, n. Etym: [OE. berfray movable tower used in sieges, OF.
berfreit, berfroit, F. beffroi, fr. MHG. bervrit, bercvrit, G.
bergfriede, fr. MHG. bergen to protect (G. bergen to conceal) + vride
peace, protection, G. friede peace; in compounds often taken in the
sense of security, or place of security; orig. therefore a place
affording security. G. friede is akin to E. free. See Burg, and
Free.]
1. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and
defense.
2. A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but
sometimes separate; a campanile.
3. A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola
or turret for the same purpose.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: The framing on which a bell is suspended.
BELGARD
Bel*gard", n. Etym: [It. bel guardo.]
Defn: A sweet or loving look. [Obs.] Spenser.
BELGIAN
Bel"gi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Belgium.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Belgium.
BELGIAN BLOCK
Belgian block.
Defn: A nearly cubical block of some tough stone, esp. granite, used
as a material for street pavements. Its usual diameter is 5 to 7
inches.
BELGIC
Bel"gic, a. Etym: [L. Belgicus, fr. Belgae the Belgians.]
1. Of or pertaining to the Belgæ, a German tribe who anciently
possessed the country between the Rhine, the Seine, and the ocean.
How unlike their Belgic sires of old. Goldsmith.
2. Of or pertaining to the Netherlands or to Belgium.
BELGRAVIAN
Bel*gra"vi*an, a.
Defn: Belonging to Belgravia (a fashionable quarter of London, around
Pimlico), or to fashionable life; aristocratic.
BELIAL
Be"li*al, n. Etym: [Heb. beli ya'al; beli without + ya'al profit.]
Defn: An evil spirit; a wicked and unprincipled person; the
personification of evil.
What concord hath Christ with Belia 2 Cor. vi. 15.
A son (or man) of Belial, a worthless, wicked, or thoroughly depraved
person. 1 Sam. ii. 12.
BELIBEL
Be*li"bel, v. t. Etym: [See Libel, v. t. ]
Defn: To libel or traduce; to calumniate. Fuller.
BELIE
Be*lie", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belied; p. pr. & vb. n. Belying.] Etym:
[OE. bilien, bili, AS. beleógan; pref. be- + leógan to lie. See Lie,
n.]
1. To show to be false; to convict of, or charge with, falsehood.
Their trembling hearts belie their boastful tongues. Dryden.
2. To give a false representation or account of.
Should I do so, I should belie my thoughts. Shak.
3. To tell lie about; to calumniate; to slander.
Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him. Shak.
4. To mimic; to counterfeit. [Obs.] Dryden.
5. To fill with lies. [Obs.] "The breath of slander doth belie all
corners of the world." Shak.
BELIEF
Be*lief", n. Etym: [OE. bileafe, bileve; cf. AS. geleáfa. See
Believe.]
1. Assent to a proposition or affirmation, or the acceptance of a
fact, opinion, or assertion as real or true, without immediate
personal knowledge; reliance upon word or testimony; partial or full
assurance without positive knowledge or absolute certainty;
persuasion; conviction; confidence; as, belief of a witness; the
belief of our senses.
Belief admits of all degrees, from the slightest suspicion to the
fullest assurance. Reid.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: A persuasion of the truths of religion; faith.
No man can attain [to] belief by the bare contemplation of heaven and
earth. Hooker.
3. The thing believed; the object of belief.
Superstitious prophecies are not only the belief of fools, but the
talk sometimes of wise men. Bacon.
4. A tenet, or the body of tenets, held by the advocates of any class
of views; doctrine; creed.
In the heat of persecution to which Christian belief was subject upon
its first promulgation. Hooker.
Ultimate belief, a first principle incapable of proof; an intuitive
truth; an intuition. Sir W. Hamilton.
Syn.
-- Credence; trust; reliance; assurance; opinion.
BELIEFFUL
Be*lief"ful, a.
Defn: Having belief or faith.
BELIEVABLE
Be*liev"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being believed; credible.
-- Be*liev"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Be*liev`a*bil"i*ty (, n.
BELIEVE
Be*lieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.]
Etym: [OE. bileven (with pref. be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gel, gel;
akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil, Goth.
galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.]
Defn: To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or
testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence
furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by
circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as
true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a
person, a statement, or a doctrine.
Our conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty). Milton.
King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets Acts xxvi.
Often followed by a dependent clause. I believe that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God. Acts viii. 37.
Syn.
-- See Expect.
BELIEVE
Be*lieve", v. i.
1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have
a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.
Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark ix. 24.
With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. Rom. x. 10.
2. To think; to suppose.
I will not believe so meanly of you. Fielding.
To believe in. (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a
person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or
will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She
does not believe in Jupiter." J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the
character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire
confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy.
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me." John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an
action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in
abstinence from alcoholic beverages.
-- To believe on, to accept implicitly as an object of religious
trust or obedience; to have faith in.
BELIEVER
Be*liev"er, n.
1. One who believes; one who is persuaded of the truth or reality of
some doctrine, person, or thing.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who gives credit to the truth of the Scriptures, as a
revelation from God; a Christian; -- in a more restricted sense, one
who receives Christ as his Savior, and accepts the way of salvation
unfolded in the gospel.
Thou didst open the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. Book of Com.
Prayer.
3. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who was admitted to all the rights of divine worship and
instructed in all the mysteries of the Christian religion, in
distinction from a catechumen, or one yet under instruction.
BELIEVING
Be*liev"ing, a.
Defn: That believes; having belief.
-- Be*liev"ing*ly, adv.
BELIGHT
Be*light", v. t.
Defn: To illuminate. [Obs.] Cowley.
BELIKE
Be*like", adv. Etym: [Pref. be- (for by) + like.]
Defn: It is likely or probably; perhaps. [Obs. or Archaic] --
Be*like"ly, adv.
Belike, boy, then you are in love. Shak.
BELIME
Be*lime", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belimed.]
Defn: To besmear or insnare with birdlime.
BELITTLE
Be*lit"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belittled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Belittling.]
Defn: To make little or less in a moral sense; to speak of in a
depreciatory or contemptuous way. T. Jefferson.
BELIVE
Be*live", adv. Etym: [Cf. Live, a.]
Defn: Forthwith; speedily; quickly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BELK
Belk, v. t. Etym: [See Belch.]
Defn: To vomit. [Obs.]
BELL
Bell, n. Etym: [AS. belle, fr. bellan to bellow. See Bellow.]
1. A hollow metallic vessel, usually shaped somewhat like a cup with
a flaring mouth, containing a clapper or tongue, and giving forth a
ringing sound on being struck.
Note: Bells have been made of various metals, but the best have
always been, as now, of an alloy of copper and tin. The Liberty Bell,
the famous bell of the Philadelphia State House, which rang when the
Continental Congress declared the Independence of the United States,
in 1776. It had been cast in 1753, and upon it were the words
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants
thereof."
2. A hollow perforated sphere of metal containing a loose ball which
causes it to sound when moved.
3. Anything in the form of a bell, as the cup or corol of a flower.
"In a cowslip's bell I lie." Shak.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of the capital of a column included between the
abacus and neck molding; also used for the naked core of nearly
cylindrical shape, assumed to exist within the leafage of a capital.
5. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The strikes of the bell which mark the time; or the time so
designated.
Note: On shipboard, time is marked by a bell, which is struck eight
times at 4, 8, and 12 o'clock. Half an hour after it has struck
"eight bells" it is struck once, and at every succeeding half hour
the number of strokes is increased by one, till at the end of the
four hours, which constitute a watch, it is struck eight times. To
bear away the bell, to win the prize at a race where the prize was a
bell; hence, to be superior in something. Fuller.
-- To bear the bell, to be the first or leader; -- in allusion to
the bellwether or a flock, or the leading animal of a team or drove,
when wearing a bell.
-- To curse by bell, book, and candle, a solemn form of
excommunication used in the Roman Catholic church, the bell being
tolled, the book of offices for the purpose being used, and three
candles being extinguished with certain ceremonies. Nares.
-- To lose the bell, to be worsted in a contest. "In single fight he
lost the bell." Fairfax.
-- To shake the bells, to move, give notice, or alarm. Shak.
Note: Bell is much used adjectively or in combinations; as, bell
clapper; bell foundry; bell hanger; bell-mouthed; bell tower, etc.,
which, for the most part, are self-explaining. Bell arch (Arch.), an
arch of unusual form, following the curve of an ogee.
-- Bell cage, or Bell carriage (Arch.), a timber frame constructed
to carry one or more large bells.
-- Bell cot (Arch.), a small or subsidiary construction, frequently
corbeled out from the walls of a structure, and used to contain and
support one or more bells.
-- Bell deck (Arch.), the floor of a belfry made to serve as a roof
to the rooms below.
-- Bell founder, one whose occupation it is to found or cast bells.
-- Bell foundry, or Bell foundery, a place where bells are founded
or cast.
-- Bell gable (Arch.), a small gable-shaped construction, pierced
with one or more openings, and used to contain bells.
-- Bell glass. See Bell jar.
-- Bell hanger, a man who hangs or puts up bells.
-- Bell pull, a cord, handle, or knob, connecting with a bell or
bell wire, and which will ring the bell when pulled. Aytoun.
-- Bell punch, a kind of conductor's punch which rings a bell when
used.
-- Bell ringer, one who rings a bell or bells, esp. one whose
business it is to ring a church bell or chime, or a set of musical
bells for public entertainment.
-- Bell roof (Arch.), a roof shaped according to the general lines
of a bell.
-- Bell rope, a rope by which a church or other bell is rung.
-- Bell tent, a circular conical-topped tent.
-- Bell trap, a kind of bell shaped stench trap.
BELL
Bell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belled; p. pr. & vb. n. Belling.]
Defn: To put a bell upon; as, to bell the cat.
2. To make bell-mouthed; as, to bell a tube.
BELL
Bell, v. i.
Defn: To develop bells or corollas; to take the form of a bell; to
blossom; as, hops bell.
BELL
Bell, v. t. Etym: [AS. bellan. See Bellow.]
Defn: To utter by bellowing. [Obs.]
BELL
Bell, v. i.
Defn: To call or bellow, as the deer in rutting time; to make a
bellowing sound; to roar.
As loud as belleth wind in hell. Chaucer.
The wild buck bells from ferny brake. Sir W. Scott.
BELLADONNA
Bel`la*don"na, n. Etym: [It., literally fine lady; bella beautiful +
donna lady.] (Bot.)
(a) An herbaceous European plant (Atropa belladonna) with reddish
bell-shaped flowers and shining black berries. The whole plant and
its fruit are very poisonous, and the root and leaves are used as
powerful medicinal agents. Its properties are largely due to the
alkaloid atropine which it contains. Called also deadly nightshade.
(b) A species of Amaryllis (A. belladonna); the belladonna lily.
BELL ANIMALCULE
Bell" an`i*mal"cule. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An infusorian of the family Vorticellidæ, common in fresh-water
ponds.
BELLARMINE
Bel"lar*mine, n.
Defn: A stoneware jug of a pattern originated in the neighborhood of
Cologne, Germany, in the 16th century. It has a bearded face or mask
supposed to represent Cardinal Bellarmine, a leader in the Roman
Catholic Counter Reformation, following the Reformation; -- called
also graybeard, longbeard.
BELL BEARER
Bell" bear`er. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Brazilian leaf hopper (Bocydium tintinnabuliferum),
remarkable for the four bell-shaped appendages of its thorax.
BELLBIRD
Bell"bird`, n. Etym: [So called from their notes.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A South American bird of the genus Casmarhincos, and family
Cotingidæ, of several species; the campanero.
(b) The Myzantha melanophrys of Australia.
BELL CRANK
Bell" crank`.
Defn: A lever whose two arms form a right angle, or nearly a right
angle, having its fulcrum at the apex of the angle. It is used in
bell pulls and in changing the direction of bell wires at angles of
rooms, etc., and also in machinery.
BELLE
Belle, n. Etym: [F. belle, fem. of bel, beau, beautiful, fine. See
Beau.]
Defn: A young lady of superior beauty and attractions; a handsome
lady, or one who attracts notice in society; a fair lady.
BELLED
Belled, a.
Defn: Hung with a bell or bells.
BELLEEK WARE
Bel*leek" ware.
Defn: A porcelainlike kind of decorative pottery with a high gloss,
which is sometimes iridescent. A very fine kind is made at Belleek in
Ireland.
BELLE-LETTRIST
Belle-let"trist, n.
Defn: One versed in belleslettres.
BELLEROPHON
Bel*ler"o*phon, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil univalve shells, believed to belong to the
Heteropoda, peculiar to the Paleozoic age.
BELLES-LETTRES
Belles-let"tres, n. pl. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Polite or elegant literature; the humanities; -- used somewhat
vaguely for literary works in which imagination and taste are
predominant.
BELLETRISTIC; BELLETRISTICAL
Bel`le*tris"tic, Bel`le*tris"tic*al, a.
Defn: Occupied with, or pertaining to, belles-lettres. "An unlearned,
belletristic trifler." M. Arnold.
BELL-FACED
Bell"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having the striking surface convex; -- said of hammers.
BELLFLOWER
Bell"flow`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Campanula; -- so named from its bell-
shaped flowers.
BELLFLOWER
Bell"flow`er, n. Etym: [F. bellefleur, lit., beautiful flower.]
Defn: A kind of apple. The yellow bellflower is a large, yellow
winter apple. [Written also bellefleur.]
BELLIBONE
Bel"li*bone, n. Etym: [F. belle et bonne, beautiful and good.]
Defn: A woman excelling both in beauty and goodness; a fair maid.
[Obs.] Spenser.
BELLIC; BELLICAL
Bel"lic, Bel"li*cal, a. Etym: [L. bellicus. See Bellicose.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to war; warlike; martial. [Obs.] "Bellic
Cæsar." Feltham.
BELLICOSE
Bel"li*cose`, a. Etym: [L. bellicosus, fr. bellicus of war, fr.
bellum war. See Duel.]
Defn: Inclined to war or contention; warlike; pugnacious.
Arnold was, in fact, in a bellicose vein. W. Irving.
BELLICOSELY
Bel"li*cose`ly, adv.
Defn: In a bellicose manner.
BELLICOUS
Bel"li*cous, a.
Defn: Bellicose. [Obs.]
BELLIED
Bel"lied
Defn: , a. Having (such) a belly; puffed out; -- used in composition;
as, pot-bellied; shad-bellied.
BELLIGERENCE; BELLIGERENCY
Bel*lig"er*ence, Bel*lig"er*en*cy, n.
Defn: The quality of being belligerent; act or state of making war;
warfare.
BELLIGERENT
Bel*lig"er*ent, a. Etym: [L. bellum war + gerens, -entis, waging, p.
pr. of gerere to wage: cf. F. belligérant. See Bellicose, Jest.]
1. Waging war; carrying on war. "Belligerent powers." E. Everett.
2. Pertaining, or tending, to war; of or relating to belligerents;
as, a belligerent tone; belligerent rights.
BELLIGERENT
Bel*lig"er*ent, n.
Defn: A nation or state recognized as carrying on war; a person
engaged in warfare.
BELLIGERENTLY
Bel*lig"er*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a belligerent manner; hostilely.
BELLING
Bell"ing, n. Etym: [From Bell to bellow.]
Defn: A bellowing, as of a deer in rutting time. Johnson.
BELLIPOTENT
Bel*lip"o*tent, a. Etym: [L. bellipotens; bellum war + potens
powerful, p. pr. of posse to be able.]
Defn: Mighty in war; armipotent. [R.] Blount.
BELL JAR
Bell" jar`. (Phys.)
Defn: A glass vessel, varying in size, open at the bottom and closed
at the top like a bell, and having a knob or handle at the top for
lifting it. It is used for a great variety of purposes; as, with the
air pump, and for holding gases, also for keeping the dust from
articles exposed to view.
BELLMAN
Bell"man, n.
Defn: A man who rings a bell, especially to give notice of anything
in the streets. Formerly, also, a night watchman who called the
hours. Milton.
BELL METAL
Bell" met`al.
Defn: A hard alloy or bronze, consisting usually of about three parts
of copper to one of tin; -- used for making bells. Bell metal ore, a
sulphide of tin, copper, and iron; the mineral stannite.
BELL-MOUTHED
Bell"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Expanding at the mouth; as, a bell-mouthed gun. Byron.
BELLON
Bel"lon, n.
Defn: Lead colic.
BELLONA
Bel*lo"na, n. Etym: [L., from bellum war.] (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of war.
BELLOW
Bel"low, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bellowed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Bellowing.]
Etym: [OE. belwen, belowen, AS. bylgean, fr. bellan; akin to G.
bellen, and perh. to L. flere to weep, OSlav. bleja to bleat, Lith.
balsas voice. Cf. Bell, n. & v., Bawl, Bull.]
1. To make a hollow, loud noise, as an enraged bull.
2. To bowl; to vociferate; to clamor. Dryden.
3. To roar; as the sea in a tempest, or as the wind when violent; to
make a loud, hollow, continued sound.
The bellowing voice of boiling seas. Dryden.
BELLOW
Bel"low, v. t.
Defn: To emit with a loud voice; to shout; -- used with out. "Would
bellow out a laugh." Dryden.
BELLOW
Bel"low, n.
Defn: A loud resounding outcry or noise, as of an enraged bull; a
roar.
BELLOWER
Bel"low*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bellows.
BELLOWS
Bel"lows, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [OE. bely, below, belly, bellows, AS.
bælg, bælig, bag, bellows, belly. Bellows is prop. a pl. and the
orig. sense is bag. See Belly.]
Defn: An instrument, utensil, or machine, which, by alternate
expansion and contraction, or by rise and fall of the top, draws in
air through a valve and expels it through a tube for various
purposes, as blowing fires, ventilating mines, or filling the pipes
of an organ with wind. Bellows camera, in photography, a form of
camera, which can be drawn out like an accordion or bellows.
-- Hydrostatic bellows. See Hydrostatic.
-- A pair of bellows, the ordinary household instrument for blowing
fires, consisting of two nearly heart-shaped boards with handles,
connected by leather, and having a valve and tube.
BELLOWS FISH
Bel"lows fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish (Centriscus scolopax), distinguished by a long
tubular snout, like the pipe of a bellows; -- called also trumpet
fish, and snipe fish.
BELL PEPPER
Bell" pep`per. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Capsicum, or Guinea pepper (C. annuum). It is the
red pepper of the gardens.
BELL PROCESS
Bell process. (Iron Metal.)
Defn: The process of washing molten pig iron by adding iron oxide,
proposed by I. Lowthian Bell of England about 1875.
BELL-SHAPED
Bell"-shaped`, a.
Defn: Having the shape of a widemouthed bell; campanulate.
BELL'S PALSY
Bell's palsy.
Defn: Paralysis of the facial nerve, producing distortion of one side
of the face.
BELL SYSTEM OF CONTROL
Bell system of control. (Aëronautics)
Defn: See Cloche.
BELLUINE
Bel"lu*ine, a. Etym: [L. belluinus, fr. bellua beast.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, a beast; brutal. [R.]
Animal and belluine life. Atterbury.
BELLWETHER
Bell"weth`er, n.
1. A wether, or sheep, which leads the flock, with a bell on his
neck.
2. Hence: A leader. [Contemptuous] Swift.
BELLWORT
Bell"wort", n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (Uvularia) with yellowish bell-shaped
flowers.
BELLY
Bel"ly, n.; pl. Bellies. Etym: [OE. bali, bely, AS. belg, bælg,
bælig, bag, bellows, belly; akin to Icel. belgr bag, bellows, Sw.
bälg, Dan. bælg, D. & G. balg, cf. W. bol the paunch or belly, dim.
boly, Ir. bolg. Cf. Bellows, Follicle, Fool, Bilge.]
1. That part of the human body which extends downward from the breast
to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or intestines; the abdomen.
Note: Formerly all the splanchnic or visceral cavities were called
bellies; -- the lower belly being the abdomen; the middle belly, the
thorax; and the upper belly, the head. Dunglison.
2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human
belly.
Underneath the belly of their steeds. Shak.
3. The womb. [Obs.]
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. Jer. i. 5.
4. The part of anything which resembles the human belly in
protuberance or in cavity; the innermost part; as, the belly of a
flask, muscle, sail, ship.
Out of the belly of hell cried I. Jonah ii. 2.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the convex part of
which is the back. Belly doublet, a doublet of the 16th century,
hanging down so as to cover the belly. Shak.
-- Belly fretting, the chafing of a horse's belly with a girth.
Johnson.
-- Belly timber, food. [Ludicrous] Prior.
-- Belly worm, a worm that breeds or lives in the belly (stomach or
intestines). Johnson.
BELLY
Bel"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bellied; p. pr. & vb. n. Bellying.]
Defn: To cause to swell out; to fill. [R.]
Your breath of full consent bellied his sails. Shak.
BELLY
Bel"ly, v. i.
Defn: To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge.
The bellying canvas strutted with the gale. Dryden.
BELLYACHE
Bel"ly*ache`, n.
Defn: Pain in the bowels; colic.
BELLYBAND
Bel"ly*band`, n.
1. A band that passes under the belly of a horse and holds the saddle
or harness in place; a girth.
2. A band of flannel or other cloth about the belly.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A band of canvas, to strengthen a sail.
BELLYBOUND
Bel"ly*bound` (, a.
Defn: Costive; constipated.
BELLYCHEAT
Bel"ly*cheat`, n.
Defn: An apron or covering for the front of the person. [Obs.] Beau.
& Fl.
BELLYCHEER
Bel"ly*cheer`, n. Etym: [Perh. from F. belle chère.]
Defn: Good cheer; viands. [Obs.] "Bellycheer and banquets." Rowlands.
"Loaves and bellycheer." Milton.
BELLYCHEER
Bel"ly*cheer`, v. i.
Defn: To revel; to feast. [Obs.]
A pack of clergymen [assembled] by themselves to bellycheer in their
presumptuous Sion. Milton.
BELLYFUL
Bel"ly*ful, n.
Defn: As much as satisfies the appetite. Hence: A great abundance;
more than enough. Lloyd.
King James told his son that he would have his bellyful of
parliamentary impeachments. Johnson.
BELLY-GOD
Bel"ly-god`, n.
Defn: One whose great pleasure it is to gratify his appetite; a
glutton; an epicure.
BELLY-PINCHED
Bel"ly-pinched`, a.
Defn: Pinched with hunger; starved. "The belly-pinched wolf." Shak.
BELOCK
Be*lock", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belocked.] Etym: [Pref. be- + lock: cf.
AS. bel.]
Defn: To lock, or fasten as with a lock. [Obs.] Shak.
BELOMANCY
Bel"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. ; arrow + a diviner: cf. F. bélomancie.]
Defn: A kind of divination anciently practiced by means of marked
arrows drawn at random from a bag or quiver, the marks on the arrows
drawn being supposed to foreshow the future. Encyc. Brit.
BELONG
Be*long", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Belonged; p. pr. & vb. n. Belonging.]
Etym: [OE. belongen (akin to D. belangen to concern, G. belangen to
attain to, to concern); pref. be- + longen to desire. See Long, v.
i.]
Note: [Usually construed with to.]
1. To be the property of; as, Jamaica belongs to Great Britain.
2. To be a part of, or connected with; to be appendant or related; to
owe allegiance or service.
A desert place belonging to . . . Bethsaids. Luke ix. 10.
The mighty men which belonged to David. 1 Kings i. 8.
3. To be the concern or proper business or function of; to appertain
to. "Do not interpretations belong to God " Gen. xl. 8.
4. To be suitable for; to be due to.
Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age. Heb. v. 14.
No blame belongs to thee. Shak.
5. To be native to, or an inhabitant of; esp. to have a legal
residence, settlement, or inhabitancy, whether by birth or operation
of law, so as to be entitled to maintenance by the parish or town.
Bastards also are settled in the parishes to which the mothers
belong. Blackstone.
BELONG
Be*long", v. t.
Defn: To be deserved by. [Obs.]
More evils belong us than happen to us. B. Jonson.
BELONGING
Be*long"ing, n. Etym: [Commonly in the pl.]
1. That which belongs to one; that which pertains to one; hence,
goods or effects. "Thyself and thy belongings." Shak.
2. That which is connected with a principal or greater thing; an
appendage; an appurtenance.
3. Family; relations; household. [Colloq.]
Few persons of her ladyship's belongings stopped, before they did her
bidding, to ask her reasons. Thackeray.
BELONITE
Bel"o*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. a needle.] (Min.)
Defn: Minute acicular or dendritic crystalline forms sometimes
observed in glassy volcanic rocks.
BELOOCHE; BELOOCHEE
Bel*oo"che Bel*oo"chee, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Beloochistan, or to its inhabitants.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Beloochistan.
BELORD
Be*lord", v. t.
1. To act the lord over.
2. To address by the title of "lord".
BELOVE
Be*love", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beloved.] Etym: [OE. bilufien. See
pref. Be-, and Love, v. t.]
Defn: To love. [Obs.] Wodroephe.
BELOVED
Be*loved", p. p. & a.
Defn: Greatly loved; dear to the heart.
Antony, so well beloved of Cæsar. Shak.
This is my beloved Son. Matt. iii. 17.
BELOVED
Be*lov"ed, n.
Defn: One greatly loved.
My beloved is mine, and I am his. Cant. ii. 16.
BELOW
Be*low", prep. Etym: [Pref. be- by + low.]
1. Under, or lower in place; beneath not so high; as, below the moon;
below the knee. Shak.
2. Inferior to in rank, excellence, dignity, value, amount, price,
etc.; lower in quality. "One degree below kings." Addison.
3. Unworthy of; unbefitting; beneath.
They beheld, with a just loathing and disdain, . . . how below all
history the persons and their actions were. Milton.
Who thinks no fact below his regard. Hallam.
Syn.
-- Underneath; under; beneath.
BELOW
Be*low", adv.
1. In a lower place, with respect to any object; in a lower room;
beneath.
Lord Marmion waits below. Sir W. Scott.
2. On the earth, as opposed to the heavens.
The fairest child of Jove below. Prior.
3. In hell, or the regions of the dead.
What businesss brought him to the realms below. Dryden.
4. In court or tribunal of inferior jurisdiction; as, at the trial
below. Wheaton.
5. In some part or page following.
BELOWT
Be*lowt", v. t.
Defn: To treat as a lout; to talk abusively to. [Obs.] Camden.
BELSIRE
Bel"sire`, n. Etym: [Pref. bel- + sire. Cf. Beldam.]
Defn: A grandfather, or ancestor. "His great belsire Brute." [Obs.]
Drayton.
BELSWAGGER
Bel"swag`ger, n. Etym: [Contr. from bellyswagger.]
Defn: A lewd man; also, a bully. [Obs.] Dryden.
BELT
Belt, n. Etym: [AS. belt; akin to Icel. belti, Sw. bälte, Dan. bælte,
OHG. balz, L. balteus, Ir. & Gael. balt bo
1. That which engirdles a person or thing; a band or girdle; as, a
lady's belt; a sword belt.
The shining belt with gold inlaid. Dryden.
2. That which restrains or confines as a girdle.
He cannot buckle his distempered cause Within the belt of rule. Shak.
3. Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like
a belt; a strip or stripe; as, a belt of trees; a belt of sand.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Band, n., 2. A very broad band is more properly termed
a belt.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets
Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
6. (Geog.)
Defn: A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser
Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.
7. (Her.)
Defn: A token or badge of knightly rank.
8. (Mech.)
Defn: A band of leather, or other flexible substance, passing around
two wheels, and communicating motion from one to the other.
Note: [See Illust. of Pulley.]
9. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: A band or stripe, as of color, round any organ; or any circular
ridge or series of ridges. Belt lacing, thongs used for lacing
together the ends of machine belting.
BELT
Belt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Belted; p. pr. & vb. n. Belting.]
Defn: To encircle with, or as with, a belt; to encompass; to
surround.
A coarse black robe belted round the waist. C. Reade.
They belt him round with hearts undaunted. Wordsworth.
2. To shear, as the buttocks and tails of sheep. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
BELTANE
Bel"tane, n. Etym: [Gael. bealltainn, bealltuinn.]
1. The first day of May (Old Style).
The quarter-days anciently in Scotland were Hallowmas, Candlemas,
Beltane, and Lammas. New English Dict.
2. A festival of the heathen Celts on the first day of May, in the
observance of which great bonfires were kindled. It still exists in a
modified form in some parts of Scotland and Ireland.
BELTED
Belt"ed, a.
1. Encircled by, or secured with, a belt; as, a belted plaid; girt
with a belt, as an honorary distinction; as, a belted knight; a
belted earl.
2. Marked with a band or circle; as, a belted stalk.
3. Worn in, or suspended from, the belt.
Three men with belted brands. Sir W. Scott.
Belted cattle, cattle originally from Dutch stock, having a broad
band of white round the middle, while the rest of the body is black;
-- called also blanketed cattle.
BELTEIN; BELTIN
Bel"tein, Bel"tin, n.
Defn: See Beltane.
BELTING
Belt"ing, n.
Defn: The material of which belts for machinery are made; also,
belts, taken collectively.
BELUGA
Be*lu"ga, n. Etym: [Russ. bieluga a sort of large sturgeon, prop.
white fish, fr. bieluii white.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cetacean allied to the dolphins.
Note: The northern beluga (Delphinapterus catodon) is the white whale
and white fish of the whalers. It grows to be from twelve to eighteen
feet long.
BELUTE
Be*lute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Beluting.]
Etym: [Pref. be- + L. lutum mud.]
Defn: To bespatter, as with mud. [R.] Sterne.
BELVEDERE
Bel`ve*dere", n. Etym: [It., fr. bello, bel, beautiful + vedere to
see.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small building, or a part of a building, more or less open,
constructed in a place commanding a fine prospect.
BELZEBUTH
Bel"ze*buth, n. Etym: [From Beelzebub.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) of Brazil.
BEMA
Be"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. step, platform.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A platform from which speakers addressed an assembly. Mitford.
2. (Arch.)
(a) That part of an early Christian church which was reserved for the
higher clergy; the inner or eastern part of the chancel.
(b) Erroneously: A pulpit.
BEMAD
Be*mad", v. t.
Defn: To make mad. [Obs.] Fuller.
BEMANGLE
Be*man"gle, v. t.
Defn: To mangle; to tear asunder. [R.] Beaumont.
BEMASK
Be*mask", v. t.
Defn: To mask; to conceal.
BEMASTER
Be*mas"ter, v. t.
Defn: To master thoroughly.
BEMAUL
Be*maul", v. t.
Defn: To maul or beat severely; to bruise. "In order to bemaul
Yorick." Sterne.
BEMAZE
Be*maze, v. t. Etym: [OE. bimasen; pref. be- + masen to maze.]
Defn: To bewilder.
Intellects bemazed in endless doubt. Cowper.
BEMEAN
Be*mean", v. t.
Defn: To make mean; to lower. C. Reade.
BEMEET
Be*meet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bemet; p. pr. & vb. n. Bemeeting.]
Defn: To meet. [Obs.]
Our very loving sister, well bemet. Shak.
BEMETE
Be*mete", v. t.
Defn: To mete. [Obs.] Shak.
BEMINGLE
Be*min"gle, v. t.
Defn: To mingle; to mix.
BEMIRE
Be*mire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bemired; p. pr. & vb. n. Bemiring.]
Defn: To drag through, encumber with, or fix in, the mire; to soil by
passing through mud or dirt.
Bemired and benighted in the dog. Burke.
BEMIST
Be*mist", v. t.
Defn: To envelop in mist. [Obs.]
BEMOAN
Be*moan", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bemoaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Bemoaning.]
Etym: [OE. bimenen, AS. bem; pref. be- + m to moan. See Moan.]
Defn: To express deep grief for by moaning; to express sorrow for; to
lament; to bewail; to pity or sympathize with.
Implores their pity, and his pain bemoans. Dryden.
Syn.
-- See Deplore.
BEMOANER
Be*moan"er, n.
Defn: One who bemoans.
BEMOCK
Be*mock", v. t.
Defn: To mock; to ridicule.
Bemock the modest moon. Shak.
BEMOIL
Be*moil", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + moil, fr. F. mouiller to wet; but
cf. also OE. bimolen to soil, fr. AS. mal spot: cf. E. mole.]
Defn: To soil or encumber with mire and dirt. [Obs.] Shak.
BEMOL
Be"mol, n. Etym: [F. bémol, fr. bé soft.] (Mus.)
Defn: The sign [Obs.]
BEMONSTER
Be*mon"ster, v. t.
Defn: To make monstrous or like a monster. [Obs.] Shak.
BEMOURN
Be*mourn", v. t.
Defn: To mourn over. Wyclif.
BEMUDDLE
Be*mud"dle, v. t.
Defn: To muddle; to stupefy or bewilder; to confuse.
BEMUFFLE
Be*muf"fle, v. t.
Defn: To cover as with a muffler; to wrap up.
Bemuffled with the externals of religion. Sterne.
BEMUSE
Be*muse", v. t.
Defn: To muddle, daze, or partially stupefy, as with liquor.
A parson much bemused in beer. Pope.
BEN; BEN NUT
Ben, Ben" nut`. Etym: [Ar. ban, name of the tree.] (Bot.)
Defn: The seed of one or more species of moringa; as, oil of ben. See
Moringa.
BEN
Ben, adv. & prep. Etym: [AS. binnan; pref. be- by + innan within, in
in.]
Defn: Within; in; in or into the interior; toward the inner
apartment. [Scot.]
BEN
Ben, n. Etym: [See Ben, adv.]
Defn: The inner or principal room in a hut or house of two rooms; --
opposed to but, the outer apartment. [Scot.]
BEN
Ben.
Defn: An old form of the pl. indic. pr. of Be. [Obs.]
BENAME
Be*name", v. t. [p. p. Benamed, Benempt.]
Defn: To promise; to name. [Obs.]
BENCH
Bench, n.; pl. Benches. Etym: [OE. bench, benk, AS. benc; akin to Sw.
bänk, Dan bænk, Icel. bekkr, OS., D., & G. bank. Cf. Bank, Beach.]
1. A long seat, differing from a stool in its greater length.
Mossy benches supplied the place of chairs. Sir W. Scott.
2. A long table at which mechanics and other work; as, a carpenter's
bench.
3. The seat where judges sit in court.
To pluck down justice from your awful bench. Shak.
4. The persons who sit as judges; the court; as, the opinion of the
full bench. See King's Bench.
5. A collection or group of dogs exhibited to the public; -- so named
because the animals are usually placed on benches or raised
platforms.
6. A conformation like a bench; a long stretch of flat ground, or a
kind of natural terrace, near a lake or river. Bench mark (Leveling),
one of a number of marks along a line of survey, affixed to permanent
objects, to show where leveling staffs were placed.
-- Bench of bishops, the whole body of English prelates assembled in
council.
-- Bench plane, any plane used by carpenters and joiners for working
a flat surface, as jack planes, long planes.
-- Bench show, an exhibition of dogs.
-- Bench table (Arch.), a projecting course at the base of a
building, or round a pillar, sufficient to form a seat.
BENCH
Bench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benched; p. pr. & vb. n. Benching.]
1. To furnish with benches.
'T was benched with turf. Dryden.
Stately theaters benched crescentwise. Tennyson.
2. To place on a bench or seat of honor.
Whom I . . . have benched and reared to worship. Shak.
BENCH
Bench, v. i.
Defn: To sit on a seat of justice. [R.] Shak.
BENCHER
Bench"er, n.
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: One of the senior and governing members of an Inn of Court.
2. An alderman of a corporation. [Eng.] Ashmole.
3. A member of a court or council. [Obs.] Shak.
4. One who frequents the benches of a tavern; an idler. [Obs.]
BENCH MARK
Bench mark. (Leveling)
Defn: Any permanent mark to which other levels may be referred.
Specif. : A horizontal mark at the water's edge with reference to
which the height of tides and floods may be measured.
BENCH WARRANT
Bench" war`rant. (Law)
Defn: A process issued by a presiding judge or by a court against a
person guilty of some contempt, or indicted for some crime; -- so
called in distinction from a justice's warrant.
BEND
Bend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bended or Bent; p. pr. & vb. n. Bending.]
Etym: [AS. bendan to bend, fr. bend a band, bond, fr. bindan to bind.
See Bind, v. t., and cf. 3d & 4th Bend.]
1. To strain or move out of a straight line; to crook by straining;
to make crooked; to curve; to make ready for use by drawing into a
curve; as, to bend a bow; to bend the knee.
2. To turn toward some certain point; to direct; to incline. "Bend
thine ear to supplication." Milton.
Towards Coventry bend we our course. Shak.
Bending her eyes . . . upon her parent. Sir W. Scott.
3. To apply closely or with interest; to direct.
To bend his mind to any public business. Temple.
But when to mischief mortals bend their will. Pope.
4. To cause to yield; to render submissive; to subdue. "Except she
bend her humor." Shak.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To fasten, as one rope to another, or as a sail to its yard or
stay; or as a cable to the ring of an anchor. Totten. To bend the
brow, to knit the brow, as in deep thought or in anger; to scowl; to
frown. Camden.
Syn.
-- To lean; stoop; deflect; bow; yield.
BEND
Bend, v. i.
1. To be moved or strained out of a straight line; to crook or be
curving; to bow.
The green earth's end Where the bowed welkin slow doth bend. Milton.
2. To jut over; to overhang.
There is a cliff, whose high and bending head Looks fearfully in the
confined deep. Shak.
3. To be inclined; to be directed.
To whom our vows and wished bend. Milton.
4. To bow in prayer, or in token of submission.
While each to his great Father bends. Coleridge.
BEND
Bend, n. Etym: [See Bend, v. t., and cf. Bent, n.]
1. A turn or deflection from a straight line or from the proper
direction or normal position; a curve; a crook; as, a slight bend of
the body; a bend in a road.
2. Turn; purpose; inclination; ends. [Obs.]
Farewell, poor swain; thou art not for my bend. Fletcher.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A knot by which one rope is fastened to another or to an
anchor, spar, or post. Totten.
4. (Leather Trade)
Defn: The best quality of sole leather; a butt. See Butt.
5. (Mining)
Defn: Hard, indurated clay; bind. Bends of a ship, the thickest and
strongest planks in her sides, more generally called wales. They have
the beams, knees, and foothooks bolted to them. Also, the frames or
ribs that form the ship's body from the keel to the top of the sides;
as, the midship bend.
BEND
Bend, n. Etym: [AS. bend. See Band, and cf. the preceding noun.]
1. A band. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Etym: [OF. bende, bande, F. bande. See Band.] (Her.)
Defn: One of the honorable ordinaries, containing a third or a fifth
part of the field. It crosses the field diagonally from the dexter
chief to the sinister base. Bend sinister (Her.), an honorable
ordinary drawn from the sinister chief to the dexter base.
BENDABLE
Bend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being bent.
BENDER
Bend"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, bends.
2. An instrument used for bending.
3. A drunken spree. [Low, U. S.] Bartlett.
4. A sixpence. [Slang, Eng.]
BENDING
Bend"ing, n.
Defn: The marking of the clothes with stripes or horizontal bands.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
BENDLET
Bend"let, n. Etym: [Bend + -let: cf. E. bandlet.] (Her.)
Defn: A narrow bend, esp. one half the width of the bend.
BENDWISE
Bend"wise, adv. (Her.)
Defn: Diagonally.
BENDY
Ben"dy, a. Etym: [From Bend a band.] (Her.)
Defn: Divided into an even number of bends; -- said of a shield or
its charge. Cussans.
BENE
Ben"e, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Benne.
BENE
Be"ne, n. Etym: [AS. b.]
Defn: A prayer; boon. [Archaic]
What is good for a bootless bene Wordsworth.
BENE; BEN
Bene, Ben, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hoglike mammal of New Guinea (Porcula papuensis).
BENEAPED
Be*neaped", a. (Naut.)
Defn: See Neaped.
BENEATH
Be*neath", prep. Etym: [OE. benethe, bineo, AS. beneo, beny; pref.
be- + neo, ny, downward, beneath, akin to E. nether. See Nether.]
1. Lower in place, with something directly over or on; under;
underneath; hence, at the foot of. "Beneath the mount." Ex. xxxii.
19.
Beneath a rude and nameless stone he lies. Pope.
2. Under, in relation to something that is superior, or that
oppresses or burdens.
Our country sinks beneath the yoke. Shak.
3. Lower in rank, dignity, or excellence than; as, brutes are beneath
man; man is beneath angels in the scale of beings. Hence: Unworthy
of; unbecoming.
He will do nothing that is beneath his high station. Atterbury.
BENEATH
Be*neath", adv.
1. In a lower place; underneath.
The earth you take from beneath will be barren. Mortimer.
2. Below, as opposed to heaven, or to any superior region or
position; as, in earth beneath.
BENEDICITE
Ben`e*dic"i*te, n. Etym: [L., (imperative pl.,) bless ye, praise ye.]
Defn: A canticle (the Latin version of which begins with this word)
which may be used in the order for morning prayer in the Church of
England. It is taken from an apocryphal addition to the third chapter
of Daniel.
BENEDICITE
Ben`e*dic"i*te, interj. Etym: [See Benedicite, n.]
Defn: An exclamation corresponding to Bless you !.
BENEDICT; BENEDICK
Ben"e*dict, Ben"e*dick, n. Etym: [From Benedick, one of the
characters in Shakespeare's play of "Much Ado about Nothing."]
Defn: A married man, or a man newly married.
BENEDICT
Ben"e*dict, a. Etym: [L. benedictus, p. p. of benedicere to bless.
See Benison, and cf. Bennet.]
Defn: Having mild and salubrious qualities. [Obs.] Bacon.
BENEDICTINE
Ben`e*dic"tine, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the monks of St. Benedict, or St. Benet.
BENEDICTINE
Ben`e*dic"tine, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a famous order of monks, established by St. Benedict of
Nursia in the sixth century. This order was introduced into the
United States in 1846.
Note: The Benedictines wear black clothing, and are sometimes called
Black Monks. The name Black Fr which belongs to the Dominicans, is
also sometimes applied to the Benedictines.
BENEDICTION
Ben`e*dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. benedictio: cf. F. bénédiction. See
Benison.]
1. The act of blessing.
2. A blessing; an expression of blessing, prayer, or kind wishes in
favor of any person or thing; a solemn or affectionate invocation of
happiness.
So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Followed with benediction.
Milton.
Homeward serenely she walked with God's benediction upon her.
Longfellow.
Specifically:
Defn: The short prayer which closes public worship; as, to give the
benediction.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The form of instituting an abbot, answering to the consecration
of a bishop. Ayliffe.
4. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A solemn rite by which bells, banners, candles, etc., are
blessed with holy water, and formally dedicated to God.
BENEDICTIONAL
Ben`e*dic"tion*al, n.
Defn: A book of benedictions.
BENEDICTIONARY
Ben`e*dic"tion*a*ry, n.
Defn: A collected series of benedictions.
The benedictionary of Bishop Athelwold. G. Gurton's Needle.
BENEDICTIVE
Ben`e*dic"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to bless. Gauden.
BENEDICTORY
Ben`e*dic"to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressing wishes for good; as, a benedictory prayer.
Thackeray.
BENEDICTUS
Ben`e*dic"tus, n. Etym: [L., blessed. See Benedict, a.]
Defn: The song of Zacharias at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke i.
68); -- so named from the first word of the Latin version.
BENEDIGHT
Ben"e*dight, a.
Defn: Blessed. [R.] Longfellow.
BENEFACTION
Ben`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. benefactio, fr. benefacere to do good to
one; bene well + facere to do. See Benefit.]
1. The act of conferring a benefit. Johnson.
2. A benefit conferred; esp. a charitable donation.
Syn.
-- Gift; present; gratuity; boon; alms.
BENEFACTOR
Ben`e*fac"tor,n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who confers a benefit or benefits. Bacon.
BENEFACTRESS
Ben`e*fac"tress, n.
Defn: A woman who confers a benefit.
His benefactress blushes at the deed. Cowper.
BENEFIC
Be*nef"ic, a. Etym: [L. beneficus. See Benefice.]
Defn: Favorable; beneficent. Milton.
BENEFICE
Ben"e*fice, n. Etym: [F. bénéfice, L. beneficium, a kindness , in LL.
a grant of an estate, fr. L. beneficus beneficent; bene well + facere
to do. See Benefit.]
1. A favor or benefit. [Obs.] Baxter.
2. (Feudal Law)
Defn: An estate in lands; a fief.
Note: Such an estate was granted at first for life only, and held on
the mere good pleasure of the donor; but afterward, becoming
hereditary, it received the appellation of fief, and the term
benefice became appropriated to church livings.
3. An ecclesiastical living and church preferment, as in the Church
of England; a church endowed with a revenue for the maintenance of
divine service. See Advowson.
Note: All church preferments are called benefices, except bishoprics,
which are called dignities. But, ordinarily, the term dignity is
applied to bishoprics, deaneries, archdeaconries, and
prebendaryships; benefice to parsonages, vicarages, and donatives.
BENEFICE
Ben"e*fice, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beneficed.]
Defn: To endow with a benefice.
Note: [Commonly in the past participle.]
BENEFICED
Ben"e*ficed, a.
Defn: Possessed of a benefice o "Beneficed clergymen." Burke.
BENEFICELESS
Ben"e*fice*less, a.
Defn: Having no benefice. "Beneficeless precisians." Sheldon.
BENEFICENCE
Be*nef"i*cence, n. Etym: [L. beneficentia, fr. beneficus: cf. F.
bénéficence. See Benefice.]
Defn: The practice of doing good; active goodness, kindness, or
charity; bounty springing from purity and goodness.
And whose beneficence no charge exhausts. Cowper.
Syn.
-- See Benevolence.
BENEFICENT
Be*nef`i*cent
Defn: , a. Doing or producing good; performing acts of kindness and
charity; characterized by beneficence.
The beneficent fruits of Christianity. Prescott.
Syn.
-- See Benevolent.
BENEFICENTIAL
Be*nef`i*cen"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to beneficence.
BENEFICENTLY
Be*nef"i*cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a beneficent manner; with beneficence.
BENEFICIAL
Ben`e*fi"cial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bénéficial, LL. beneficialis.]
1. Conferring benefits; useful; profito.
The war which would have been most beneficial to us. Swift.
2. (Law)
Defn: Receiving, or entitled to have or receive, advantage, use, or
benefit; as, the beneficial owner of an estate. Kent.
3. King. [Obs.] "A beneficial foe." B. Jonson.
Syn.
-- See Advantage.
BENEFICIALLY
Ben`e*fi"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a beneficial or advantageous manner; profitably; helpfully.
BENEFICIALNESS
Ben`e*fi"cial*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being beneficial; profitableness.
BENEFICIARY
Ben`e*fi"ci*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bénéficiaire, LL. beneficiarius.]
1. Holding some office or valuable possession, in subordination to
another; holding under a feudal or other superior; having a dependent
and secondary possession.
A feudatory or beneficiary king of England. Bacon.
2. Bestowed as a gratuity; as, beneficiary gifts.
BENEFICIARY
Ben`e*fi"ci*a*ry, n.; pl. Beneficiaries (.
1. A feudatory or vassal; hence, one who holds a benefice and uses
its proceeds. Ayliffe.
2. One who receives anything as a gift; one who receives a benefit or
advantage; esp. one who receives help or income from an educational
fund or a trust estate.
The rich men will be offering sacrifice to their Deity whose
beneficiaries they are. Jer. Taylor.
BENEFICIATE
Ben`e*fi"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [Sp. beneficiar to benefit, to work
mines.] (Mining)
Defn: To reduce (ores).
-- Ben`e*fi`ci*a"tion (n.
BENEFICIENT
Ben`e*fi"cient, a.
Defn: Beneficent. [Obs.]
BENEFIT
Ben"e*fit, n. Etym: [OE. benefet, benfeet, bienfet, F. bienfait, fr.
L. benefactum; bene well (adv. of bonus good) + factum, p. p. of
facere to do. See Bounty, and Fact.]
1. An act of kindness; a favor conferred.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Ps. ciii.
2.
2. Whatever promotes prosperity and personal happiness, or adds value
to property; advantage; profit.
Men have no right to what is not for their benefit. Burke.
3. A theatrical performance, a concert, or the like, the proceeds of
which do not go to the lessee of the theater or to the company, but
to some individual actor, or to some charitable use.
4. Beneficence; liberality. [Obs.] Webster (1623).
5. pl.
Defn: Natural advantaged; endowments; accomplishments. [R.] "The
benefits of your own country." Shak. Benefit of clergy. (Law) See
under Clergy.
Syn.
-- Profit; service; use; avail. See Advantage.
BENEFIT
Ben"e*fit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benefited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Benefitting.]
Defn: To be beneficial to; to do good to; to advantage; to advance in
health or prosperity; to be useful to; to profit.
I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Jer. xviii. 10.
BENEFIT
Ben"e*fit, v. i.
Defn: To gain advantage; to make improvement; to profit; as, he will
benefit by the change.
BENEFITER
Ben"e*fit`er, n.
Defn: One who confers a benefit; -- also, one who receives a benefit.
BENEFIT SOCIETY
Benefit society.
Defn: A society or association formed for mutual insurance, as among
tradesmen or in labor unions, to provide for relief in sickness, old
age, and for the expenses of burial. Usually called friendly society
in Great Britain.
BENEME
Be*neme", v. t. Etym: [AS. ben. Cf. Benim.]
Defn: To deprive (of), or take away (from). [Obs.]
BENEMPT
Be*nempt", p. p.
Defn: of Bename.
1. Promised; vowed. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Named; styled. [Archaic] Sir W. Scott.
BENE PLACITO
Be`ne plac"i*to. Etym: [It. beneplacito pleasure, fr. L. bene well +
placitus pleasing.]
1. At or during pleasure.
For our English judges there never was . . . any bene placito as
their tenure. F. Harrison.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: At pleasure; ad libitum.
BENET
Be*net", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benetted.]
Defn: To catch in a net; to insnare. Shak.
BENEVOLENCE
Be*nev"o*lence, n. Etym: [OF. benevolence, L. benevolentia. See
Benevolent.]
1. The disposition to do good; good will; charitableness; love of
mankind, accompanied with a desire to promote their happiness.
The wakeful benevolence of the gospel. Chalmers.
2. An act of kindness; good done; charity given.
3. A species of compulsory contribution or tax, which has sometimes
been illegally exacted by arbitrary kings of England, and falsely
represented as a gratuity.
Syn.
-- Benevolence, Beneficence, Munificence. Benevolence marks a
disposition made up of a choice and desire for the happiness of
others. Beneficence marks the working of this disposition in
dispensing good on a somewhat broad scale. Munificence shows the same
disposition, but acting on a still broader scale, in conferring gifts
and favors. These are not necessarily confined to objects of
immediate utility. One may show his munificence in presents of
pictures or jewelry, but this would not be beneficence. Benevolence
of heart; beneficence of life; munificence in the encouragement of
letters.
BENEVOLENT
Be*nev"o*lent, a. Etym: [L. benevolens, -entis; bene well (adv. of
bonus good) + volens, p. pr. of volo I will, I wish. See Bounty, and
Voluntary.]
Defn: Having a disposition to do good; possessing or manifesting love
to mankind, and a desire to promote their prosperity and happiness;
disposed to give to good objects; kind; charitable.
-- Be*nev"o*lent*ly, adv.
Syn.
-- Benevolent, Beneficent. Etymologically considered, benevolent
implies wishing well to others, and beneficent, doing well. But by
degrees the word benevolent has been widened to include not only
feelings, but actions; thus, we speak of benevolent operations,
benevolent labors for the public good, benevolent societies. In like
manner, beneficent is now often applied to feelings; thus, we speak
of the beneficent intentions of a donor. This extension of the terms
enables us to mark nicer shades of meaning. Thus, the phrase
"benevolent labors" turns attention to the source of these labors,
viz., benevolent feeling; while beneficent would simply mark them as
productive of good. So, "beneficent intentions" point to the feelings
of the donor as bent upon some specific good act; while "benevolent
intentions" would only denote a general wish and design to do good.
BENEVOLOUS
Be*nev"o*lous, a. Etym: [L. benevolus.]
Defn: Kind; benevolent. [Obs.] T. Puller.
BENGAL
Ben*gal", n.
1. A province in India, giving its name to various stuffs, animals,
etc.
2. A thin stuff, made of silk and hair, originally brought from
Bengal.
3. Striped gingham, originally brought from Bengal; Bengal stripes.
Bengal light, a firework containing niter, sulphur, and antimony, and
producing a sustained and vivid colored light, used in making signals
and in pyrotechnics; -- called also blue light.
-- Bengal stripes, a kind of cotton cloth woven with colored
stripes. See Bengal, 3.
-- Bengal tiger. (Zoöl.). See Tiger.
BENGALEE; BENGALI
Ben*gal"ee, Ben*gal"i, n.
Defn: The language spoken in Bengal.
BENGALESE
Ben`gal*ese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bengal.
-- n. sing. & pl. A native or natives of Bengal.
BENGOLA
Ben*go"la, n.
Defn: A Bengal light.
BENIGHT
Be*night", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benighted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Benighting.]
1. To involve in darkness; to shroud with the shades of night; to
obscure. [Archaic]
The clouds benight the sky. Garth.
2. To overtake with night or darkness, especially before the end of a
day's journey or task.
Some virgin, sure, . . . benighted in these woods. Milton.
3. To involve in moral darkness, or ignorance; to debar from
intellectual light.
Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny Heber.
BENIGHTMENT
Be*night"ment, n.
Defn: The condition of being benighted.
BENIGN
Be*nign", a. Etym: [OE. benigne, bening, OF. benigne, F. bénin, fem.
bénigne, fr. L. benignus, contr. from benigenus; bonus good + root of
genus kind. See Bounty, and Genus.]
1. Of a kind or gentle disposition; gracious; generous; favorable;
benignant.
Creator bounteous and benign. Milton.
2. Exhibiting or manifesting kindness, gentleness, favor, etc.; mild;
kindly; salutary; wholesome.
Kind influences and benign aspects. South.
3. Of a mild type or character; as, a benign disease.
Syn.
-- Kind; propitious; bland; genial; salubrious; favorable salutary;
gracious; liberal.
BENIGNANCY
Be*nig"nan*cy, n.
Defn: Benignant quality; kindliness.
BENIGNANT
Be*nig"nant, a. Etym: [LL. benignans, p. pr. of benignare, from L.
benignus. See Benign.]
Defn: Kind; gracious; favorable.
-- Be*nig"nant*ly, adv.
BENIGNITY
Be*nig"ni*ty, n. Etym: [OE. benignite, F. bénignité, OF. bénigneté,
fr. L. benignitas. See Benign.]
1. The quality of being benign; goodness; kindness; graciousness.
"Benignity of aspect." Sir W. Scott.
2. Mildness; gentleness.
The benignity or inclemency of the season. Spectator.
3. Salubrity; wholesome quality. Wiseman.
BENIGNLY
Be*nign"ly, adv.
Defn: In a benign manner.
BENIM
Be*nim", v. t. Etym: [AS. beniman. See Benumb, and cf. Nim.]
Defn: To take away. [Obs.]
Ire . . . benimeth the man fro God. Chaucer.
BENISON
Ben"i*son, n. Etym: [OE. beneysun, benesoun, OF. beneï, beneïson, fr.
L. benedictio, fr. benedicere to bless; bene (adv. of bonus good) +
dicere to say. See Bounty, and Diction, and cf. Benediction.]
Defn: Blessing; beatitude; benediction. Shak.
More precious than the benison of friends. Talfourd.
BENITIER
Bé*ni"tier`, n. Etym: [F., fr. bénir to bless.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A holy-water stoup. Shipley.
BENJAMIN
Ben"ja*min, n. Etym: [Corrupted from benzoin.]
Defn: See Benzoin.
BENJAMIN
Ben"ja*min, n.
Defn: A kind of upper coat for men. [Colloq. Eng.]
BENJAMITE
Ben"ja*mite, n.
Defn: A descendant of Benjamin; one of the tribe of Benjamin. Judg.
iii. 15.
BENNE
Ben"ne, n. Etym: [Malay bijen.] (Bot.)
Defn: The name of two plants (Sesamum orientale and S. indicum),
originally Asiatic; -- also called oil plant. From their seeds an oil
is expressed, called benne oil, used mostly for making soap. In the
southern United States the seeds are used in candy.
BENNET
Ben"net, n. Etym: [F. benoîte, fr. L. benedicta, fem. of benedictus,
p. p., blessed. See Benedict, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: The common yellow-flowered avens of Europe (Geum urbanum); herb
bennet. The name is sometimes given to other plants, as the hemlock,
valerian, etc.
BENSHEE
Ben"shee, n.
Defn: See Banshee.
BENT
Bent,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bend.
BENT
Bent, a. & p. p.
1. Changed by pressure so as to be no longer straight; crooked; as, a
bent pin; a bent lever.
2. Strongly inclined toward something, so as to be resolved,
determined, set, etc.; -- said of the mind, character, disposition,
desires, etc., and used with on; as, to be bent on going to college;
he is bent on mischief.
BENT
Bent, n. Etym: [See Bend, n. & v.]
1. The state of being curved, crooked, or inclined from a straight
line; flexure; curvity; as, the bent of a bow. [Obs.] Wilkins.
2. A declivity or slope, as of a hill. [R.] Dryden.
3. A leaning or bias; proclivity; tendency of mind; inclination;
disposition; purpose; aim. Shak.
With a native bent did good pursue. Dryden.
4. Particular direction or tendency; flexion; course.
Bents and turns of the matter. Locke.
5. (Carp.)
Defn: A transverse frame of a framed structure.
6. Tension; force of acting; energy; impetus. [Archaic]
The full bent and stress of the soul. Norris.
Syn.
-- Predilection; turn. Bent, Bias, Inclination, Prepossession. These
words agree in describing a permanent influence upon the mind which
tends to decide its actions. Bent denotes a fixed tendency of the
mind in a given direction. It is the widest of these terms, and
applies to the will, the intellect, and the affections, taken
conjointly; as, the whole bent of his character was toward evil
practices. Bias is literally a weight fixed on one side of a ball
used in bowling, and causing it to swerve from a straight course.
Used figuratively, bias applies particularly to the judgment, and
denotes something which acts with a permanent force on the character
through that faculty; as, the bias of early education, early habits,
etc. Inclination is an excited state of desire or appetency; as, a
strong inclination to the study of the law. Prepossession is a
mingled state of feeling and opinion in respect to some person or
subject, which has laid hold of and occupied the mind previous to
inquiry. The word is commonly used in a good sense, an unfavorable
impression of this kind being denominated a prejudice. "Strong minds
will be strongly bent, and usually labor under a strong bias; but
there is no mind so weak and powerless as not to have its
inclinations, and none so guarded as to be without its
prepossessions." Crabb.
BENT
Bent, n. Etym: [AS. beonet; akin to OHG. pinuz, G. binse, rush, bent
grass; of unknown origin.]
1. A reedlike grass; a stalk of stiff, coarse grass.
His spear a bent, both stiff and strong. Drayton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A grass of the genus Agrostis, esp. Agrostis vulgaris, or
redtop. The name is also used of many other grasses, esp. in America.
3. Any neglected field or broken ground; a common; a moor. [Obs.]
Wright.
Bowmen bickered upon the bent. Chevy Chase.
BENT GRASS
Bent" grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Bent, a kind of grass.
BENTHAL
Ben"thal, a. Etym: [Gr. the depth of the sea.]
Defn: Relating to the deepest zone or region of the ocean.
BENTHAMIC
Ben*tham"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bentham or Benthamism.
BENTHAMISM
Ben"tham*ism, n.
Defn: That phase of the doctrine of utilitarianism taught by Jeremy
Bentham; the doctrine that the morality of actions is estimated and
determined by their utility; also, the theory that the sensibility to
pleasure and the recoil from pain are the only motives which
influence human desires and actions, and that these are the
sufficient explanation of ethical and jural conceptions.
BENTHAMITE
Ben"tham*ite, n.
Defn: One who believes in Benthamism.
BENTHOS
Ben"thos, n. [NL., fr. Gr. depth of the sea.]
Defn: The bottom of the sea, esp. of the deep oceans; hence (Bot. &
Zoöl.), the fauna and flora of the sea bottom; -- opposed to
plankton.
BENTING TIME
Bent"ing time".
Defn: The season when pigeons are said to feed on bents, before peas
are ripe.
Bare benting times . . . may come. Dryden.
BENTY
Bent"y, a.
1. A bounding in bents, or the stalks of coarse, stiff, withered
grass; as, benty fields.
2. Resembling bent. Holland.
BENUMB
Be*numb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Benumbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Benumbing.]
Etym: [OE. binomen, p. p. of binimen to take away, AS. beniman; pref.
be + niman to take. See Numb, a., and cf. Benim.]
Defn: To make torpid; to deprive of sensation or sensibility; to
stupefy; as, a hand or foot benumbed by cold.
The creeping death benumbed her senses first. Dryden.
BENUMBED
Be*numbed", a.
Defn: Made torpid; numbed; stupefied; deadened; as, a benumbed body
and mind.
-- Be*numbed"ness, n.
BENUMBMENT
Be*numb"ment, n.
Defn: Act of benumbing, or state of being benumbed; torpor. Kirby.
BENZAL
Ben"zal, n. Etym: [Benzoic + aldehyde.] (Chem.)
Defn: A transparent crystalline substance,
BENZAMIDE
Ben*zam"ide, n. Etym: [Benzoin + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A transparent crystalline substance, C6H5.CO.NH2, obtained by
the action of ammonia upon chloride of benzoyl, as also by several
other reactions with benzoyl compounds.
BENZENE
Ben"zene, n. Etym: [From Benzoin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile, very inflammable liquid, C6H6, contained in the
naphtha produced by the destructive distillation of coal, from which
it is separated by fractional distillation. The name is sometimes
applied also to the impure commercial product or benzole, and also,
but rarely, to a similar mixed product of petroleum. Benzene nucleus,
Benzene ring (Chem.), a closed chain or ring, consisting of six
carbon atoms, each with one hydrogen atom attached, regarded as the
type from which the aromatic compounds are derived. This ring formula
is provisionally accepted as representing the probable constitution
of the benzene molecule, C6H6, and as the type on which its
derivatives are formed.
BENZILE
Ben"zile, n. Etym: [From Benzoin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellowish crystalline substance, C6H5.CO.CO.C6H5, formed from
benzoin by the action of oxidizing agents, and consisting of a
doubled benzoyl radical.
BENZINE
Ben"zine, n. Etym: [From Benzoin.] (Chem.)
1. A liquid consisting mainly of the lighter and more volatile
hydrocarbons of petroleum or kerosene oil, used as a solvent and for
cleansing soiled fabrics; -- called also petroleum spirit, petroleum
benzine. Varieties or similar products are gasoline, naphtha,
rhigolene, ligroin, etc.
2. Same as Benzene. [R.]
Note: The hydrocarbons of benzine proper are essentially of the marsh
gas series, while benzene proper is the typical hydrocarbon of the
aromatic series.
BENZOATE
Ben"zo*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. benzoate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the union of benzoic acid with any salifiable
base.
BENZOIC
Ben*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. benzoïque.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, benzoin. Benzoic acid, or
flowers of benzoin, a peculiar vegetable acid, C6H5.CO2H, obtained
from benzoin, and some other balsams, by sublimation or decoction. It
is also found in the urine of infants and herbivorous animals. It
crystallizes in the form of white, satiny flakes; its odor is
aromatic; its taste is pungent, and somewhat acidulous.
-- Benzoic aldehyde, oil of bitter almonds; the aldehyde, C6H5.CHO,
intermediate in composition between benzoic or benzyl alcohol, and
benzoic acid. It is a thin colorless liquid.
BENZOIN
Ben*zoin", n. Etym: [Cf. F. benjoin, Sp. benjui, Pg. beijoin; all fr.
Ar. luban-jawi incense form Sumatra (named Java in Arabic), the first
syllable being lost. Cf. Benjamin.]
Note: [Called also benjamin.]
1. A resinous substance, dry and brittle, obtained from the Styrax
benzoin, a tree of Sumatra, Java, etc., having a fragrant odor, and
slightly aromatic taste. It is used in the preparation of benzoic
acid, in medicine, and as a perfume.
2. A white crystalline substance, C14H12O2, obtained from benzoic
aldehyde and some other sources.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The spicebush (Lindera benzoin). Flowers of benzoin, benzoic
acid. See under Benzoic.
BENZOINATED
Ben*zoin"a*ted, a. (Med.)
Defn: Containing or impregnated with benzoin; as, benzoinated lard.
BENZOLE; BENZOL
Ben"zole Ben"zol, n. Etym: [Benzoin + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: An impure benzene, used in the arts as a solvent, and for
various other purposes. See Benzene.
Note: It has great solvent powers, and is used by manufacturers of
India rubber and gutta percha; also for cleaning soiled kid gloves,
and for other purposes.
BENZOLINE
Ben"zo*line, n. (Chem.)
(a) Same as Benzole.
(b) Same as Amarine. [R.] Watts.
BENZONAPHTHOL; BENZONAPHTOL
Ben`zo*naph"thol, n. Also Ben`zo*naph"tol . [Benzoin + naphthol.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline powder used as an intestinal antiseptic;
beta-naphthol benzoate.
BENZOSOL
Ben"zo*sol, n. (Pharm.)
Defn: Guaiacol benzoate, used as an intestinal antiseptic and as a
substitute for creosote in phthisis. It is a colorless crystalline
pewder.
BENZOYL
Ben"zoyl, n. Etym: [Benzoic + Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, C6H5.CO; the base of benzoic acid, of the
oil of bitter almonds, and of an extensive series of compounds.
[Formerly written also benzule.]
BENZYL
Ben"zyl, n. Etym: [Benzoic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, C6H5.CH2, related to toluene and benzoic
acid; -- commonly used adjectively.
BEPAINT
Be*paint", v. t.
Defn: To paint; to cover or color with, or as with, paint.
Else would a maiden blush bepaint my cheek. Shak.
BEPELT
Be*pelt", v. t.
Defn: To pelt roundly.
BEPINCH
Be*pinch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bepinched.]
Defn: To pinch, or mark with pinches. Chapman.
BEPLASTER
Be*plas"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beplastered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beplastering.]
Defn: To plaster over; to cover or smear thickly; to bedaub.
Beplastered with rouge. Goldsmith.
BEPLUMED
Be*plumed", a.
Defn: Decked with feathers.
BEPOMMEL
Be*pom"mel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bepommeled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bepommeling.]
Defn: To pommel; to beat, as with a stick; figuratively, to assail or
criticise in conversation, or in writing. Thackeray.
BEPOWDER
Be*pow"der, v. t.
Defn: To sprinkle or cover with powder; to powder.
BEPRAISE
Be*praise", v. t.
Defn: To praise greatly or extravagantly. Goldsmith.
BEPROSE
Be*prose", v. t.
Defn: To reduce to prose. [R.] "To beprose all rhyme." Mallet.
BEPUFFED
Be*puffed", a.
Defn: Puffed; praised. Carlyle.
BEPURPLE
Be*pur"ple, v. t.
Defn: To tinge or dye with a purple color.
BEQUEATH
Be*queath", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bequeathed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bequeathing.] Etym: [OE. biquethen, AS. becwe to say, affirm,
bequeath; pref. be- + cwe to say, speak. See Quoth.]
1. To give or leave by will; to give by testament; -- said especially
of personal property.
My heritage, which my dead father did bequeath to me. Shak.
2. To hand down; to transmit.
To bequeath posterity somewhat to remember it. Glanvill.
3. To give; to offer; to commit. [Obs.]
To whom, with all submission, on my knee I do bequeath my faithful
services And true subjection everlastingly. Shak.
Syn.
-- To Bequeath, Devise. Both these words denote the giving or
disposing of property by will. Devise, in legal usage, is property
used to denote a gift by will of real property, and he to whom it is
given is called the devisee. Bequeath is properly applied to a gift
by will or legacy; i. e., of personal property; the gift is called a
legacy, and he who receives it is called a legatee. In popular usage
the word bequeath is sometimes enlarged so as to embrace devise; and
it is sometimes so construed by courts.
BEQUEATHABLE
Be*queath"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being bequeathed.
BEQUEATHAL
Be*queath"al, n.
Defn: The act of bequeathing; bequeathment; bequest. Fuller.
BEQUEATHMENT
Be*queath"ment, n.
Defn: The act of bequeathing, or the state of being bequeathed; a
bequest.
BEQUEST
Be*quest", n. Etym: [OE. biquest, corrupted fr. bequide; pref. be- +
AS. cwide a saying, becwe to bequeath. The ending -est is probably
due to confusion with quest. See Bequeath, Quest.]
1. The act of bequeathing or leaving by will; as, a bequest of
property by A. to B.
2. That which is left by will, esp. personal property; a legacy;
also, a gift.
BEQUEST
Be*quest", v. t.
Defn: To bequeath, or leave as a legacy. [Obs.] "All I have to
bequest." Gascoigne.
BEQUETHEN
Be*queth"en,
Defn: old p. p. of Bequeath. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEQUOTE
Be*quote", v. t.
Defn: To quote constantly or with great frequency.
BERAIN
Be*rain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Berained; p. pr. & vb. n. Beraining.]
Defn: To rain upon; to wet with rain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BERATE
Be*rate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Berated; p. pr. & vb. n. Berating.]
Defn: To rate or chide vehemently; to scold. Holland. Motley.
BERATTLE
Be*rat"tle (, v. t.
Defn: To make rattle; to scold vociferously; to cry down. [Obs.]
Shak.
BERAY
Be*ray" v.t. Etym: [Pref. be + ray to defile]
Defn: TO make foul; to soil; to defile. [Obs.] Milton.
BERBE
Berbe, n. Etym: [Cf. Berber, Barb a Barbary horse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An African genet (Genetta pardina). See Genet.
BERBER
Ber"ber, n. Etym: [See Barbary.]
Defn: A member of a race somewhat resembling the Arabs, but often
classed as Hamitic, who were formerly the inhabitants of the whole of
North Africa from the Mediterranean southward into the Sahara, and
who still occupy a large part of that region; -- called also Kabyles.
Also, the language spoken by this people.
BERBERINE
Ber"ber*ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid obtained, as a bitter, yellow substance, from the
root of the barberry, gold thread, and other plants.
BERBERRY
Ber"ber*ry,n.
Defn: See Barberry.
BERCEUSE
Ber`ceuse", n. [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: A vocal or instrumental composition of a soft tranquil
character, having a lulling effect; a cradle song.
BERDASH
Ber"dash
Defn: ,n.A kind of neckcloth. [Obs.]
A treatise against the cravat and berdash. Steele.
BERE
Bere
Defn: , v. t. Etym: [Cf. OIcel. berja to strike.] To pierce. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BERE
Bere
Defn: ,n.See Bear, barley. [Scot.]
BEREAVE
Be*reave" (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bereaved (, Bereft (; p. pr. & vb.
n. Bereaving.] Etym: [OE. bireven, AS. bereáfian. See Be-, and
Reave.]
1. To make destitute; to deprive; to strip; -- with of before the
person or thing taken away.
Madam, you have bereft me of all words. Shak.
Bereft of him who taught me how to sing. Tickell.
2. To take away from. [Obs.]
All your interest in those territories Is utterly bereft you; all is
lost. Shak.
3. To take away. [Obs.]
Shall move you to bereave my life. Marlowe.
Note: The imp. and past pple. form bereaved is not used in reference
to immaterial objects. We say bereaved or bereft by death of a
relative, bereft of hope and strength.
Syn.
-- To dispossess; to divest.
BEREAVEMENT
Be*reave"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being bereaved; deprivation; esp., the loss of a
relative by death.
BEREAVER
Be*reav"er, n.
Defn: One who bereaves.
BEREFT
Be*reft", imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Bereave.
BERENICE'S HAIR
Ber`e*ni"ce's Hair`. [See Berenice's, Locks, in Dictionary of Noted
Names in Fiction.] (Astron.)
Defn: See Coma Berenices, under Coma.
BERETTA
Be*ret"ta, n.
Defn: Same as Berretta.
BERG
Berg, n. Etym: [sq. root95. See Barrow hill, and cf. Iceberg.]
Defn: A large mass or hill, as of ice.
Glittering bergs of ice. Tennyson
.
BERGAMOT
Ber"ga*mot, n. Etym: [F. bergamote, fr. It. bergamotta; prob. a
corruption of Turk. beg arm
1 . (Bot.)
(a) A tree of the Orange family (Citrus bergamia), having a roundish
or pear-shaped fruit, from the rind of which an essential oil of
delicious odor is extracted, much prized as a perfume. Also, the
fruit. (b) A variety of mint (Mentha aquatica, var. glabrata).
2. The essence or perfume made from the fruit.
3. A variety of pear. Johnson.
4. A variety of snuff perfumed with bergamot.
The better hand . . . gives the nose its bergamot. Cowper
.
5. A coarse tapestry, manufactured from flock of cotton or hemp,
mixed with ox's or goat's hair; -- said to have been invented at
Bergamo, Italy. Encyc. Brit. Wild bergamot (Bot.), an American herb
of the Mint family (Monarda fistulosa).
BERGANDER
Ber"gan*der, n. Etym: [Berg, for burrow + gander a male goose Cf. G.
bergente, Dan. gravgaas.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European duck (Anas tadorna). See Sheldrake.
BERGERET
Ber"ger*et, n. Etym: [OF. bergerete, F. berger a shepherd.]
Defn: A pastoral song. [Obs.]
BERGH
Bergh, n. Etym: [AS. beorg.]
Defn: A hill. [Obs.]
BERGMASTER
Berg"mas`ter, n.
Defn: See Barmaster.
BERGMEAL
Berg"meal, n. Etym: [G. berg mountain + mehl meal.]
Defn: (Min.) An earthy substance, resembling fine flour. It is
composed of the shells of infusoria, and in Lapland and Sweden is
sometimes eaten, mixed with flour or ground birch bark, in times of
scarcity. This name is also given to a white powdery variety of
calcite.
BERGMOTE
Berg"mote, n.
Defn: See Barmote.
BERGOMASK
Ber"go*mask, n.
Defn: A rustic dance, so called in ridicule of the people of Bergamo,
in Italy, once noted for their clownishness.
BERGSCHRUND
Berg"schrund`, n. [G., lit., mountain gap.] (Phys. Geog.)
Defn: The crevasse or series of crevasses, usually deep and often
broad, frequently occurring near the head of a mountain glacier,
about where the névé field joins the valley portion of the glacier.
BERGSTOCK
Berg"stock`, n. [G., lit., mountain stick.]
Defn: A long pole with a spike at the end, used in climbing
mountains; an alpenstock.
BERGYLT
Ber"gylt, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Norway haddock. See Rosefish.
BERHYME
Be*rhyme" (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Berhymed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Berhyming.]
Defn: To mention in rhyme or verse; to rhyme about.
Note: [Sometimes use depreciatively.] Shak.
BERIBERI
Be`ri*be"ri, n. Etym: [Singhalese beri weakness.]
Defn: An acute disease occurring in India, characterized by multiple
inflammatory changes in the nerves, producing great muscular
debility, a painful rigidity of the limbs, and cachexy.
BERIME
Be*rime" (, v. t.
Defn: To berhyme.
Note: [The earlier and etymologically preferable spelling.]
BERING SEA CONTROVERSY
Be"ring Sea Controversy.
Defn: A controversy (1886 --93) between Great Britain and the United
States as to the right of Canadians not licensed by the United States
to carry on seal fishing in the Bering Sea, over which the United
States claimed jurisdiction as a mare clausum. A court of
arbitration, meeting in Paris in 1893, decided against the claim of
the United States, but established regulations for the preservation
of the fur seal.
BERKELEIAN
Berke*le"ian
Defn: ,a.Of or relating to Bishop Berkeley or his system of idealism;
as, Berkeleian philosophy.
-- Berke"ley*ism, n.
BERLIN
Ber"lin, n. Etym: [The capital of Prussia]
1. A four-wheeled carriage, having a sheltered seat behind the body
and separate from it, invented in the 17th century, at Berlin.
2. Fine worsted for fancy-work; zephyr worsted; -- called also Berlin
wool. Berlin black, a black varnish, drying with almost a dead
surface; -- used for coating the better kinds of ironware. Ure.
-- Berlin blue, Prussian blue. Ure.
-- Berlin green, a complex cyanide of iron, used as a green dye, and
similar to Prussian blue.
-- Berlin iron, a very fusible variety of cast iron, from which
figures and other delicate articles are manufactured. These are often
stained or lacquered in imitation of bronze.
-- Berlin shop, a shop for the sale of worsted embroidery and the
materials for such work.
-- Berlin work, worsted embroidery.
BERM; BERME
Berm Berme, n. Etym: [F. berme, of German origin; cf. G. brame,
bräme, border, akin to E. brim.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A narrow shelf or path between the bottom of a parapet and the
ditch.
2. (Engineering)
Defn: A ledge at the bottom of a bank or cutting, to catch earth that
may roll down the slope, or to strengthen the bank.
BERMUDA GRASS
Ber*mu"da grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of grass (Cynodon Dactylon) esteemed for pasture in the
Southern United States. It is a native of Southern Europe, but is now
wide-spread in warm countries; -- called also scutch grass, and in
Bermuda, devil grass.
BERMUDA LILY
Ber*mu"da lil"y. (Bot.)
Defn: The large white lily (Lilium longiflorum eximium, syn. L.
Harrisii) which is extensively cultivated in Bermuda.
BERNACLE
Ber"na*cle, n.
Defn: See Barnacle.
BERNA FLY
Ber"na fly`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Brazilian dipterous insect of the genus Trypeta, which lays
its eggs in the nostrils or in wounds of man and beast, where the
larvæ do great injury.
BERNARDINE
Ber"nar*dine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, or to the
Cistercian monks.
-- n.
Defn: A Cistercian monk.
BERNESE
Ber*nese", a.
Defn: Pertaining to the city o -- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Bern.
BERNICLE
Ber"ni*cle, n. Etym: [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac; prob. fr.
LL. bernacula for hibernicula, bernicula, fr. Hibernia; the birds
coming from Hibernia or Ireland. Cf. 1st Barnacle.]
Defn: A bernicle goose. [Written also barnacle.] Bernicle goose
(Zoöl.), a goose (Branta leucopsis), of Arctic Europe and America. It
was formerly believed that it hatched from the cirripeds of the sea
(Lepas), which were, therefore, called barnacles, goose barnacles, or
Anatifers. The name is also applied to other related species. See
Anatifa and Cirripedia.
BERNOUSE
Ber*nouse", n.
Defn: Some as Burnoose.
BEROB
Be*rob", v. t.
Defn: To rob; to plunder. [Obs.]
BEROE
Ber"o*e, n. Etym: [L. Beroe, one of the Oceanidæ Gr. : cf. F. beroé.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, oval, transparent jellyfish, belonging to the
Ctenophora.
BERRETTA
Ber*ret"ta, n. Etym: [It., fr. LL. birrettum, berretum, a cap, dim.
of L. birrus, birrum, a cloak to keep off rain, cf. Gr. tawny, red:
cf. Sp. birreta, Pg. barrete, and E. Barret.]
Defn: A square cap worn by ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic
Church. A cardinal's berretta is scarlet; that worn by other clerics
is black, except that a bishop's is lined with green. [Also spelt
beretta, biretta, etc.]
BERRIED
Ber"ried, a.
Defn: Furnished with berries; consisting of a berry; baccate; as, a
berried shrub.
BERRY
Ber"ry, n.; pl. Berries. Etym: [OE. berie, AS. berie, berige; akin to
D. bes, G. beere, OS. and OHG. beri, Icel. ber, Sw. bär, Goth. basi,
and perh. Skr. bhas to eat.]
1. Any small fleshy fruit, as the strawberry, mulberry, huckleberry,
etc.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A small fruit that is pulpy or succulent throughout, having
seeds loosely imbedded in the pulp, as the currant, grape, blueberry.
3. The coffee bean.
4. One of the ova or eggs of a fish. Travis. In berry, containing ova
or spawn.
BERRY
Ber"ry, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Berried; p. pr. & vb. n. Berrying.]
Defn: To bear or produce berries.
BERRY
Ber"ry, n. Etym: [AS. beorh. See Barrow a hill.]
Defn: A mound; a hillock. W. Browne.
BERRYING
Ber"ry*ing, n.
Defn: A seeking for or gathering of berries, esp. of such as grow
wild.
BERSEEM
Ber*seem", n. [Ar. bershim clover.]
Defn: An Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) extensively
cultivated as a forage plant and soil-renewing crop in the alkaline
soils of the Nile valley, and now introduced into the southwestern
United States. It is more succulent than other clovers or than
alfalfa. Called also Egyptian clover.
BERSERK; BERSERKER
Ber"serk, Ber"serk*er, n. Etym: [Icel. berserkr.]
1. (Scand. Myth.)
Defn: One of a class of legendary heroes, who fought frenzied by
intoxicating liquors, and naked, regardless of wounds. Longfellow.
2. One who fights as if frenzied, like a Berserker.
BERSTLE
Bers"tle, n.
Defn: See Bristle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BERTH
Berth, n. Etym: [From the root of bear to produce, like birth
nativity. See Birth.] [Also written birth.]
1. (Naut.)
(a) Convenient sea room.
(b) A room in which a number of the officers or ship's company mess
and reside.
(c) The place where a ship lies when she is at anchor, or at a wharf.
2. An allotted place; an appointment; situation or employment. "He
has a good berth." Totten.
3. A place in a ship to sleep in; a long box or shelf on the side of
a cabin or stateroom, or of a railway car, for sleeping in. Berth
deck, the deck next below the lower gun deck. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
-- To give (the land or any object) a wide berth, to keep at a
distance from it.
BERTH
Berth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Berthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Berthing.]
1. To give an anchorage to, or a place to lie at; to place in a
berth; as, she was berthed stem to stern with the Adelaide.
2. To allot or furnish berths to, on shipboard; as, to berth a ship's
company. Totten.
BERTHA
Ber"tha, n. Etym: [F. berthe, fr. Berthe, a woman's name.]
Defn: A kind of collar or cape worn by ladies.
BERTHAGE
Berth"age, n.
Defn: A place for mooring vessels in a dock or harbor.
BERTHIERITE
Ber"thi*er*ite, n. Etym: [From Berthier, a French naturalist.] (Min.)
Defn: A double sulphide of antimony and iron, of a dark steel-gray
color.
BERTHING
Berth"ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The planking outside of a vessel, above the sheer strake.
Smyth.
BERTILLON SYSTEM
Ber`til`lon" sys"tem. [After Alphonse Bertillon, French
anthropologist.]
Defn: A system for the identification of persons by a physical
description based upon anthropometric measurements, notes of
markings, deformities, color, impression of thumb lines, etc.
BERTRAM
Ber"tram, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. L. pyrethrum, Gr. a hot spicy
plant, fr. fire.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pellitory of Spain (Anacyclus pyrethrum).
BERYCOID
Ber"y*coid, a. Etym: [NL. beryx, the name of the typical genus + -
oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Berycidæ, a family of marine fishes.
BERYL
Ber"yl, n. Etym: [F. béryl, OF. beril, L. beryllus, Gr. , prob. fr.
Skr. vaid. Cf. Brilliant.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of great hardness, and, when transparent, of much
beauty. It occurs in hexagonal prisms, commonly of a green or bluish
green color, but also yellow, pink, and white. It is a silicate of
aluminium and glucinum (beryllium). The aquamarine is a transparent,
sea-green variety used as a gem. The emerald is another variety
highly prized in jewelry, and distinguished by its deep color, which
is probably due to the presence of a little oxide of chromium.
BERYLLINE
Ber"yl*line, a.
Defn: Like a beryl; of a light or bluish green color.
BERYLLIUM
Be*ryl"li*um (, n. Etym: [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: A metallic element found in the beryl. See Glucinum.
BERYLLOID
Ber"yl*loid, n. Etym: [Beryl + -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid consisting of a double twelve-sided pyramid; -- so
called because the planes of this form occur on crystals of beryl.
BESAIEL; BESAILE; BESAYLE
Be*saiel", Be*saile", Be*sayle" (, n. Etym: [OF. beseel, F. bisaïeul,
fr. L. bis twice + LL. avolus, dim. of L. avus grandfather.]
1. A great-grandfather. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: A kind of writ which formerly lay where a great-grandfather
died seized of lands in fee simple, and on the day of his death a
stranger abated or entered and kept the heir out. This is now
abolished. Blackstone.
BESAINT
Be*saint", v. t.
Defn: To make a saint of.
BESANT
Be*sant", n.
Defn: See Bezant.
BES-ANTLER
Bes-ant"ler, n.
Defn: Same as Bez-antler.
BESCATTER
Be*scat"ter, v. t.
1. To scatter over.
2. To cover sparsely by scattering (something); to strew. "With
flowers bescattered." Spenser.
BESCORN
Be*scorn", v. t.
Defn: To treat with scorn. "Then was he bescorned." Chaucer.
BESCRATCH
Be*scratch", v. t.
Defn: To tear with the nails; to cover with scratches.
BESCRAWL
Be*scrawl", v. t.
Defn: To cover with scrawls; to scribble over. Milton.
BESCREEN
Be*screen", v. t.
Defn: To cover with a screen, or as with a screen; to shelter; to
conceal. Shak.
BESCRIBBLE
Be*scrib"ble, v. t.
Defn: To scribble over. "Bescribbled with impertinences." Milton.
BESCUMBER; BESCUMMER
Be*scum"ber, Be*scum"mer, v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + scumber, scummer.]
Defn: To discharge ordure or dung upon. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BESEE
Be*see", v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. beseón; pref. be- + to see.]
Defn: To see; to look; to mind. [Obs.] Wyclif.
BESEECH
Be*seech", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besought; p. pr. & vb. n. Beseeching.]
Etym: [OE. bisechen, biseken (akin to G. besuchen to visit); pref.
be- + sechen, seken, to seek. See Seek.]
1. To ask or entreat with urgency; to supplicate; to implore.
I beseech you, punish me not with your hard thoughts. Shak.
But Eve . . . besought his peace. Milton.
Syn.
-- To beg; to crave.
-- To Beseech, Entreat, Solicit, Implore, Supplicate. These words
agree in marking that sense of want which leads men to beg some
favor. To solicit is to make a request, with some degree of
earnestness and repetition, of one whom we address as a superior. To
entreat implies greater urgency, usually enforced by adducing reasons
or arguments. To beseech is still stronger, and belongs rather to the
language of poetry and imagination. To implore denotes increased
fervor of entreaty, as addressed either to equals or superiors. To
supplicate expresses the extreme of entreaty, and usually implies a
state of deep humiliation. Thus, a captive supplicates a conqueror to
spare his life. Men solicit by virtue of their interest with another;
they entreat in the use of reasoning and strong representations; they
beseech with importunate earnestness; they implore from a sense of
overwhelming distress; they supplicate with a feeling of the most
absolute inferiority and dependence.
BESEECH
Be*seech", n.
Defn: Solicitation; supplication. [Obs. or Poetic] Shak.
BESEECHER
Be*seech"er, n.
Defn: One who beseeches.
BESEECHING
Be*seech"ing, a.
Defn: Entreating urgently; imploring; as, a beseeching look.
-- Be*seech"ing*ly, adv.
-- Be*seech"ing*ness, n.
BESEECHMENT
Be*seech"ment, n.
Defn: The act of beseeching or entreating earnestly. [R.] Goodwin.
BESEEK
Be*seek", v. t.
Defn: To beseech. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BESEEM
Be*seem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beseemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Beseeming.]
Etym: [Pref. be- + seem.]
Defn: Literally: To appear or seem (well, ill, best, etc.) for (one)
to do or to have. Hence: To be fit, suitable, or proper for, or
worthy of; to become; to befit.
A duty well beseeming the preachers. Clarendon.
What form of speech or behavior beseemeth us, in our prayers to God
Hocker.
BESEEM
Be*seem", v. i.
Defn: To seem; to appear; to be fitting. [Obs.] "As beseemed best."
Spenser.
BESEEMING
Be*seem"ing, n.
1. Appearance; look; garb. [Obs.]
I . . . did company these three in poor beseeming. Shak.
2. Comeliness. Baret.
BESEEMING
Be*seem"ing, a.
Defn: Becoming; suitable. [Archaic] -- Be*seem"ing*ly, adv.
-- Be*seem"ing*ness, n.
BESEEMLY
Be*seem"ly, a.
Defn: Fit; suitable; becoming. [Archaic]
In beseemly order sitten there. Shenstone.
BESEEN
Be*seen", a. Etym: [Properly the p. p. of besee.]
1. Seen; appearing. [Obs. or Archaic]
2. Decked or adorned; clad. [Archaic] Chaucer.
3. Accomplished; versed. [Archaic] Spenser.
BESET
Be*set", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beset; p. pr. & vb. n. Besetting.] Etym:
[AS. besettan (akin to OHG. bisazjan, G. besetzen, D. bezetten);
pref. be- + settan to set. See Set.]
1. To set or stud (anything) with ornaments or prominent objects.
A robe of azure beset with drops of gold. Spectator.
The garden is so beset with all manner of sweet shrubs that it
perfumes the air. Evelyn.
2. To hem in; to waylay; to surround; to besiege; to blockade. "Beset
with foes." Milton.
Let thy troops beset our gates. Addison.
3. To set upon on all sides; to perplex; to harass; -- said of
dangers, obstacles, etc. "Adam, sore beset, replied." Milton. "Beset
with ills." Addison. "Incommodities which beset old age." Burke.
4. To occupy; to employ; to use up. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- To surround; inclose; environ; hem in; besiege; encircle;
encompass; embarrass; urge; press.
BESETMENT
Be*set"ment, n.
Defn: The act of besetting, or the state of being beset; also, that
which besets one, as a sin. "Fearing a besetment." Kane.
BESETTER
Be*set"ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, besets.
BESETTING
Be*set"ting, a.
Defn: Habitually attacking, harassing, or pressing upon or about; as,
a besetting sin.
BESHINE
Be*shine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beshone; p. pr. & vb. n. Beshining.]
Defn: To shine upon; to ullumine.
BESHOW
Be*show", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large food fish (Anoplopoma fimbria) of the north Pacific
coast; -- called also candlefish.
BESHREW
Be*shrew", v. t.
Defn: To curse; to execrate.
Beshrew me, but I love her heartily. Shak.
Note: Often a very mild form of imprecation; sometimes so far from
implying a curse, as to be uttered coaxingly, nay even with some
tenderness. Schmidt.
BESHROUD
Be*shroud", v. t.
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a shroud; to screen.
BESHUT
Be*shut", v. t.
Defn: To shut up or out. [Obs.]
BESIDE
Be*side", prep. Etym: [OE. biside, bisiden, bisides, prep. and adv.,
beside, besides; pref. be- by + side. Cf. Besides, and see Side, n.]
1. At the side of; on one side of. "Beside him hung his bow." Milton.
2. Aside from; out of the regular course or order of; in a state of
deviation from; out of.
[You] have done enough To put him quite beside his patience. Shak.
3. Over and above; distinct from; in addition to.
Note: [In this use besides is now commoner.]
Wise and learned men beside those whose names are in the Christian
records. Addison.
To be beside one's self, to be out ob one's wits or senses.
Paul, thou art beside thyself. Acts xxvi. 24.
Syn.
-- Beside, Besides. These words, whether used as prepositions or
adverbs, have been considered strictly synonymous, from an early
period of our literature, and have been freely interchanged by our
best writers. There is, however, a tendency, in present usage, to
make the following distinction between them: 1. That beside be used
only and always as a preposition, with the original meaning "by the
side of; " as, to sit beside a fountain; or with the closely allied
meaning "aside from", "apart from", or "out of"; as, this is beside
our present purpose; to be beside one's self with joy. The adverbial
sense to be wholly transferred to the cognate word. 2. That besides,
as a preposition, take the remaining sense "in addition to", as,
besides all this; besides the considerations here offered. "There was
a famine in the land besides the first famine." Gen. xxvi. 1. And
that it also take the adverbial sense of "moreover", "beyond", etc.,
which had been divided between the words; as, besides, there are
other considerations which belong to this case. The following
passages may serve to illustrate this use of the words: --
Lovely Thais sits beside thee. Dryden.
Only be patient till we have appeased The multitude, beside
themselves with fear. Shak.
It is beside my present business to enlarge on this speculation.
Locke.
Besides this, there are persons in certain situations who are
expected to be charitable. Bp. Porteus.
And, besides, the Moor May unfold me to him; there stand I in much
peril. Shak.
That man that does not know those things which are of necessity for
him to know is but an ignorant man, whatever he may know besides.
Tillotson.
Note: See Moreover.
BESIDES; BESIDE
Be*sides", Be*side", adv. Etym: [OE. Same as beside, prep.; the
ending -s is an adverbial one, prop. a genitive sign.]
1. On one side. [Obs.] Chaucer. Shak.
2. More than that; over and above; not included in the number, or in
what has been mentioned; moreover; in addition.
The men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides Gen. xix. 12.
To all beside, as much an empty shade, An Eugene living, as a Cæsar
dead. Pope.
Note: These sentences may be considered as elliptical.
BESIDES
Be*sides, prep.
Defn: Over and above; separate or distinct from; in addition to;
other than; else than. See Beside, prep., 3, and Syn. under Beside.
Besides your cheer, you shall have sport. Shak.
BESIEGE
Be*siege", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besieged; p. pr. & vb. n. Besieging.]
Etym: [OE. bisegen; pref. be- + segen to siege. See Siege.]
Defn: To beset or surround with armed forces, for the purpose of
compelling to surrender; to lay siege to; to beleaguer; to beset.
Till Paris was besieged, famished, and lost. Shak.
Syn.
-- To environ; hem in; invest; encompass.
BESIEGEMENT
Be*siege"ment, n.
Defn: The act of besieging, or the state of being besieged. Golding.
BESIEGER
Be*sie"ger, n.
Defn: One who besieges; -- opposed to the besieged.
BESIEGING
Be*sie"ging, a.
Defn: That besieges; laying siege to.
-- Be*sie"ging*ly, adv.
BESIT
Be*sit", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + sit.]
Defn: To suit; to fit; to become. [Obs.]
BESLABBER
Be*slab"ber, v. t.
Defn: To beslobber.
BESLAVE
Be*slave", v. t.
Defn: To enslave. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
BESLAVER
Be*slav"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beslavered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beslavering.]
Defn: To defile with slaver; to beslobber.
BESLIME
Be*slime", v. t.
Defn: To daub with slime; to soil. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BESLOBBER
Be*slob"ber, v. t.
Defn: To slobber on; to smear with spittle running from the mouth.
Also Fig.: as, to beslobber with praise.
BESLUBBER
Be*slub"ber, v. t.
Defn: To beslobber.
BESMEAR
Be*smear", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmeared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Besmearing.]
Defn: To smear with any viscous, glutinous matter; to bedaub; to
soil.
Besmeared with precious balm. Spenser.
BESMEARER
Be*smear"er, n.
Defn: One that besmears.
BESMIRCH
Be*smirch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmirched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Besmirching.]
Defn: To smirch or soil; to discolor; to obscure. Hence: To dishonor;
to sully. Shak.
BESMOKE
Be*smoke", v. t.
1. To foul with smoke.
2. To harden or dry in smoke. Johnson.
BESMUT
Be*smut", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besmutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Besmutting.]
Etym: [Pref. be- + smut: cf. AS. besmitan, and also OE. besmotren.]
Defn: To blacken with smut; to foul with soot.
BESNOW
Be*snow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besnowed.] Etym: [OE. bisnewen, AS.
besniwan; pref. be- + sniwan to snow.]
1. To scatter like snow; to cover thick, as with snow flakes. [R.]
Gower.
2. To cover with snow; to whiten with snow, or as with snow.
BESNUFF
Be*snuff", v. t.
Defn: To befoul with snuff. Young.
BESOGNE
Be*sogne", n. Etym: [F. bisogne.]
Defn: A worthless fellow; a bezonian. [Obs.]
BESOM
Be"som, n. Etym: [OE. besme, besum, AS. besma; akin to D. bezem, OHG
pesamo, G. besen; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A brush of twigs for sweeping; a broom; anything which sweeps
away or destroys. [Archaic or Fig.]
I will sweep it with the besom of destruction. Isa. xiv. 23.
The housemaid with her besom. W. Irving.
BESOM
Be"som, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besomed.]
Defn: To sweep, as with a besom. [Archaic or Poetic] Cowper.
Rolls back all Greece, and besoms wide the plain. Barlow.
BESOMER
Be"som*er, n.
Defn: One who uses a besom. [Archaic]
BESORT
Be*sort", v. t.
Defn: To assort or be congruous with; to fit, or become. [Obs.]
Such men as may besort your age. Shak.
BESORT
Be*sort", n.
Defn: Befitting associates or attendants. [Obs.]
With such accommodation and besort As levels with her breeding. Shak.
BESOT
Be*sot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Besotting.]
Defn: To make sottish; to make dull or stupid; to stupefy; to
infatuate.
Fools besotted with their crimes. Hudibras.
BESOTTED
Be*sot"ted, a.
Defn: Made sottish, senseless, or infatuated; characterized by
drunken stupidity, or by infatuation; stupefied. "Besotted devotion."
Sir W. Scott.
-- Be*sot"ted*ly, adv.
-- Be*sot"ted*ness, n. Milton.
BESOTTINGLY
Be*sot"ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a besotting manner.
BESOUGHT
Be*sought", p. p.
Defn: of Beseech.
BESPANGLE
Be*span"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespangled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bespangling.]
Defn: To adorn with spangles; to dot or sprinkle with something
brilliant or glittering.
The grass . . . is all bespangled with dewdrops. Cowper.
BESPATTER
Be*spat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespattered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bespattering.]
1. To soil by spattering; to sprinkle, esp. with dirty water, mud, or
anything which will leave foul spots or stains.
2. To asperse with calumny or reproach.
Whom never faction could bespatter. Swift.
BESPAWL
Be*spawl", v. t.
Defn: To daub, soil, or make foul with spawl or spittle. [Obs.]
Milton.
BESPEAK
Be*speak", v. t. [imp. Bespoke, Bespake (Archaic); p. p. Bespoke,
Bespoken (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespeaking.] Etym: [OE. bispeken, AS.
besprecan, to speak to, accuse; pref. be- + sprecan to speak. See
Speak.]
1. To speak or arrange for beforehand; to order or engage against a
future time; as, to bespeak goods, a right, or a favor.
Concluding, naturally, that to gratify his avarice was to bespeak his
favor. Sir W. Scott.
2. To show beforehand; to foretell; to indicate.
[They] bespoke dangers . . . in order to scare the allies. Swift.
3. To betoken; to show; to indicate by external marks or appearances.
When the abbot of St. Martin was born, he had so little the figure of
a man that it bespoke him rather a monster. Locke.
4. To speak to; to address. [Poetic]
He thus the queen bespoke. Dryden.
BESPEAK
Be*speak", v. i.
Defn: To speak. [Obs.] Milton.
BESPEAK
Be*speak", n.
Defn: A bespeaking. Among actors, a benefit (when a particular play
is bespoken.) "The night of her bespeak." Dickens.
BESPEAKER
Be*speak"er, n.
Defn: One who bespeaks.
BESPECKLE
Be*spec"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespeckled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bespeckling.]
Defn: To mark with speckles or spots. Milton.
BESPEW
Be*spew", v. t.
Defn: To soil or daub with spew; to vomit on.
BESPICE
Be*spice", v. t.
Defn: To season with spice, or with some spicy drug. Shak.
BESPIRT
Be*spirt", v. t.
Defn: Same as Bespurt.
BESPIT
Be*spit, v. t. [imp. Bespit; p. p. Bespit, Bespitten (; p. pr. & vb.
n. Bespitting.]
Defn: To daub or soil with spittle. Johnson.
BESPOKE
Be*spoke",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bespeak.
BESPOT
Be*spot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bespotting.]
Defn: To mark with spots, or as with spots.
BESPREAD
Be*spread", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bespread; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bespreading.]
Defn: To spread or cover over.
The carpet which bespread His rich pavilion's floor. Glover.
BESPRENT
Be*sprent", p. p. Etym: [OE. bespreynt, p. p. of besprengen,
bisprengen, to besprinkle, AS. besprengan, akin to D. & G.
besprengen; pref. be- + sprengan to sprinkle. See Sprinkle.]
Defn: Sprinkled over; strewed.
His face besprent with liquid crystal shines. Shenstone.
The floor with tassels of fir was besprent. Longfellow.
BESPRINKLE
Be*sprin"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Besprinkled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Besprinkling.]
Defn: To sprinkle over; to scatter over.
The bed besprinkles, and bedews the ground. Dryden.
BESPRINKLER
Be*sprin"kler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, besprinkles.
BESPRINKLING
Be*sprin"kling, n.
Defn: The act of sprinkling anything; a sprinkling over.
BESPURT
Be*spurt", v. t.
Defn: To spurt on or over; to asperse. [Obs.] Milton.
BESSEMER STEEL
Bes"se*mer steel` (.
Defn: Steel made directly from cast iron, by burning out a portion of
the carbon and other impurities that the latter contains, through the
agency of a blast of air which is forced through the molten metal; --
so called from Sir Henry Bessemer, an English engineer, the inventor
of the process.
BEST
Best, a.; superl. of Good. Etym: [AS. besta, best, contr. from
betest, betst, betsta; akin to Goth. batists, OHG. pezzisto, G. best,
beste, D. best, Icel. beztr, Dan. best, Sw. bäst. This word has no
connection in origin with good. See Better.]
1. Having good qualities in the highest degree; most good, kind,
desirable, suitable, etc.; most excellent; as, the best man; the best
road; the best cloth; the best abilities.
When he is best, he is a little worse than a man. Shak.
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight. Milton.
2. Most advanced; most correct or complete; as, the best scholar; the
best view of a subject.
3. Most; largest; as, the best part of a week. Best man, the only or
principal groomsman at a wedding ceremony.
BEST
Best, n.
Defn: Utmost; highest endeavor or state; most nearly perfect thing,
or being, or action; as, to do one's best; to the best of our
ability. At best, in the utmost degree or extent applicable to the
case; under the most favorable circumstances; as, life is at best
very short.
-- For best, finally. [Obs.] "Those constitutions . . . are now
established for best, and not to be mended." Milton.
-- To get the best of, to gain an advantage over, whether fairly or
unfairly.
-- To make the best of. (a) To improve to the utmost; to use or
dispose of to the greatest advantage. "Let there be freedom to carry
their commodities where they can make the best of them." Bacon. (b)
To reduce to the least possible inconvenience; as, to make the best
of ill fortune or a bad bargain.
BEST
Best, adv.; superl. of Well.
1. In the highest degree; beyond all others. "Thou serpent! That name
best befits thee." Milton.
He prayeth best, who loveth best All things both great and small.
Coleridge.
2. To the most advantage; with the most success, case, profit,
benefit, or propriety.
Had we best retire I see a storm. Milton.
Had I not best go to her Thackeray.
3. Most intimately; most thoroughly or correctly; as, what is
expedient is best known to himself.
BEST
Best, v. t.
Defn: To get the better of. [Colloq.]
BESTAD
Be*stad", imp. & p. p. of Bestead.
Defn: Beset; put in peril. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BESTAIN
Be*stain", v. t.
Defn: To stain.
BESTAR
Be*star", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestarred.]
Defn: To sprinkle with, or as with, stars; to decorate with, or as
with, stars; to bestud. "Bestarred with anemones." W. Black.
BESTEAD
Be*stead", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestead or Bested, also (Obs.) Bestad.
In sense 3 imp. also Besteaded.] Etym: [Pref. be- + stead a place.]
1. To put in a certain situation or condition; to circumstance; to
place. [Only in p. p.]
They shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: . . . and
curse their king and their God. Is. viii. 21.
Many far worse bestead than ourselves. Barrow.
2. To put in peril; to beset.
Note: [Only in p. p.] Chaucer.
3. To serve; to assist; to profit; to avail. Milton.
BESTIAL
Bes"tial, a. Etym: [F. bestial, L. bestialis, fr. bestia beast. See
Beast.]
1. Belonging to a beast, or to the class of beasts.
Among the bestial herds to range. Milton.
2. Having the qualities of a beast; brutal; below the dignity of
reason or humanity; irrational; carnal; beastly; sensual. Shak.
Syn.
-- Brutish; beastly; brutal; carnal; vile; low; depraved; sensual;
filthy.
BESTIAL
Bes"tial, n.
Defn: A domestic animal; also collectively, cattle; as, other kinds
of bestial. [Scot.]
BESTIALITY
Bes*tial"i*ty, n. Etym: [F. bestialité.]
1. The state or quality of being bestial.
2. Unnatural connection with a beast.
BESTIALIZE
Bes"tial*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestialized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bestializing.]
Defn: To make bestial, or like a beast; to degrade; to brutalize.
The process of bestializing humanity. Hare.
BESTIALLY
Bes"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bestial manner.
BESTIARY
Bes"ti*a*ry, n. [LL. bestiarium, fr. L. bestiarius pert. to beasts,
fr. bestia beast: cf. F. bestiaire.]
Defn: A treatise on beasts; esp., one of the moralizing or
allegorical beast tales written in the Middle Ages.
A bestiary . . . in itself one of the numerous mediæval renderings of
the fantastic mystical zoölogy.
Saintsbury.
BESTICK
Be*stick", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestuck; p. pr. & vb. n. Besticking.]
Defn: To stick over, as with sharp points pressed in; to mark by
infixing points or spots here and there; to pierce.
Truth shall retire Bestuck with slanderous darts. Milton.
BESTILL
Be*still", v. t.
Defn: To make still.
BESTIR
Be*stir", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestirred; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestirring.]
Defn: To put into brisk or vigorous action; to move with life and
vigor; -- usually with the reciprocal pronoun.
You have so bestirred your valor. Shak.
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. Milton.
BESTORM
Be*storm", v. i. & t.
Defn: To storm. Young.
BESTOW
Be*stow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestowing.]
Etym: [OE. bestowen; pref. be- + stow a place. See Stow.]
1. To lay up in store; to deposit for safe keeping; to stow; to
place; to put. "He bestowed it in a pouch." Sir W. Scott.
See that the women are bestowed in safety. Byron.
2. To use; to apply; to devote, as time or strength in some
occupation.
3. To expend, as money. [Obs.]
4. To give or confer; to impart; -- with on or upon.
Empire is on us bestowed. Cowper.
Though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor. 1 Cor. xiii. 3.
5. To give in marriage.
I could have bestowed her upon a fine gentleman. Tatler.
6. To demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by a reflexive
pronoun. [Obs.]
How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colors,
and not ourselves be seen Shak.
Syn.
-- To give; grant; present; confer; accord.
BESTOWAL
Be*stow"al, n.
Defn: The act of bestowing; disposal.
BESTOWER
Be*stow"er, n.
Defn: One that bestows.
BESTOWMENT
Be*stow"ment, n.
1. The act of giving or bestowing; a conferring or bestowal.
If we consider this bestowment of gifts in this view. Chauncy.
2. That which is given or bestowed.
They almost refuse to give due praise and credit to God's own
bestowments. I. Taylor.
BESTRADDLE
Be*strad"dle, v. t.
Defn: To bestride.
BESTRAUGHT
Be*straught", a. Etym: [Pref. be- + straught; prob. here used for
distraught.]
Defn: Out of one's senses; distracted; mad. [Obs.] Shak.
BESTREAK
Be*streak", v. t.
Defn: To streak.
BESTREW
Be*strew", v. t. [imp. Bestrewed; p. p. Bestrewed, Bestrown (p. pr. &
vb. n. Bestrewing.]
Defn: To strew or scatter over; to besprinkle. [Spelt also bestrow.]
Milton.
BESTRIDE
Be*stride", v. t. [imp. Bestrode, (Obs. or R.) Bestrid (; p. p.
Bestridden, Bestrid, Bestrode; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestriding.] Etym:
[AS. bestridan; pref. be- + stridan to stride.]
1. To stand or sit with anything between the legs, or with the legs
astride; to stand over
That horse that thou so often hast bestrid. Shak.
Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus. Shak.
2. To step over; to stride over or across; as, to bestride a
threshold.
BESTRODE
Be*strode",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bestride.
BESTROWN
Be*strown",
Defn: p. p. of Bestrew.
BESTUCK
Be*stuck",
Defn: imp. & p. p. Bestick.
BESTUD
Be*stud", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bestudded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bestudding.]
Defn: To set or adorn, as with studs or bosses; to set thickly; to
stud; as, to bestud with stars. Milton.
BESWIKE
Be*swike", v. t. Etym: [AS. beswican; be- + swican to deceive,
entice; akin to OS. swikan, OHG. swihhan, Icel. svikja.]
Defn: To lure; to cheat. [Obs.] Gower.
BET
Bet, n. Etym: [Prob. from OE. abet abetting, OF. abet, fr. abeter to
excite, incite. See Abet.]
Defn: That which is laid, staked, or pledged, as between two parties,
upon the event of a contest or any contingent issue; the act of
giving such a pledge; a wager. "Having made his bets." Goldsmith.
BET
Bet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bet, Betted; p. pr. & vb. n. Betting.]
Defn: To stake or pledge upon the event of a contingent issue; to
wager.
John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much money on his head. Shak.
I'll bet you two to one I'll make him do it. O. W. Holmes.
BET
Bet,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Beat. [Obs.]
BET
Bet, a. & adv.
Defn: An early form of Better. [Obs.] To go bet, to go fast; to
hurry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BETA
Be"ta, n. [Gr. bh a.]
Defn: The second letter of the Greek alphabet, B, b. See B, and cf.
etymology of Alphabet. Beta (B, b) is used variously for classifying,
as:
(a) (Astron.) To designate some bright star, usually the second
brightest, of a constellation, as, b Aurigæ.
(b) (Chem.) To distinguish one of two or more isomers; also, to
indicate the position of substituting atoms or groups in certain
compounds; as, b-naphthol. With acids, it commonly indicates that the
substituent is in union with the carbon atom next to that to which
the carboxyl group is attached.
BETACISM; BETACISMUS
Be"ta*cism, Be`ta*cis"mus, n.
Defn: Excessive or extended use of the b sound in speech, due to
conversion of other sounds into it, as through inability to
distinguish them from b, or because of difficulty in pronouncing
them.
BETAINE
Be"ta*ine, n. Etym: [From beta, generic name of the beet.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous base, C5H11NO2, produced artificially, and also
occurring naturally in beetroot molasses and its residues, from which
it is extracted as a white crystalline substance; -- called also
lycine and oxyneurine. It has a sweetish taste.
BETAKE
Be*take", v. t. [imp. Betook; p. p. Betaken; p. pr. & vb. n.
Betaking.] Etym: [Pref. be- + take.]
1. To take or seize. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To have recourse to; to apply; to resort; to go; -- with a
reflexive pronoun.
They betook themselves to treaty and submission. Burke.
The rest, in imitation, to like arms Betook them. Milton.
Whither shall I betake me, where subsist Milton.
3. To commend or intrust to; to commit to. [Obs.]
BETA RAYS
Be"ta rays. (Physics)
Defn: Penetrating rays readily deflected by a magnetic or electric
field, emitted by radioactive substances, as radium. They consist of
negatively charged particles or electrons, apparently the same in
kind as those of the cathode rays, but having much higher velocities
(about 35,000 to 180,000 miles per second).
BETAUGHT
Be*taught",a. Etym: [p. p. of OE. bitechen, AS. bet, to assign,
deliver. See Teach.]
Defn: Delivered; committed in trust. [Obs.]
BETE
Bete, v. t.
Defn: To better; to mend. See Beete. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BETEELA
Be*tee"la, n. Etym: [Pg. beatilha.]
Defn: An East India muslin, formerly used for cravats, veils, etc.
[Obs.]
BETEEM
Be*teem", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + an old verb teem to be fitting;
cf. D. betamen to beseem, G. ziemen, Goth. gatiman, and E. tame. See
Tame, a.]
1. To give ; to bestow; to grant; to accord; to consent. [Obs.]
Spenser. Milton.
2. To allow; to permit; to suffer. [Obs.]
So loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Shak.
BETEL
Be"tel, n. Etym: [Pg., fr. Tamil vettilei, prop. meaning, a mere
leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of pepper (Piper betle), the leaves of which are
chewed, with the areca or betel nut and a little shell lime, by the
inhabitants of the East Indies. I is a woody climber with ovate
manynerved leaves.
BETELGUESE
Bet"el*guese, n. Etym: [F. Bételgeuse, of Arabic origin.] (Astron.)
Defn: A bright star of the first magnitude, near one shoulder of
Orion. [Written also Betelgeux and Betelgeuse.]
BETEL NUT
Be"tel nut`.
Defn: The nutlike seed of the areca palm, chewed in the East with
betel leaves (whence its name) and shell lime.
BETE NOIRE
Bête" noire". Etym: [Fr., lit. black beast.]
Defn: Something especially hated or dreaded; a bugbear.
BETHABARA WOOD
Beth*ab"a*ra wood`. (Bot.)
Defn: A highly elastic wood, used for fishing rods, etc. The tree is
unknown, but it is thought to be East Indian.
BETHEL
Beth"el, n. Etym: [Heb. b house of God.]
1. A place of worship; a hallowed spot. S. F. Adams.
2. A chapel for dissenters. [Eng.]
3. A house of worship for seamen.
BETHINK
Be*think", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bethought; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bethinking.] Etym: [AS. be; pref. be- + to think. See Think.]
Defn: To call to mind; to recall or bring to recollection,
reflection, or consideration; to think; to consider; -- generally
followed by a reflexive pronoun, often with of or that before the
subject of thought.
I have bethought me of another fault. Shak.
The rest . . . may . . . bethink themselves, and recover. Milton.
We bethink a means to break it off. Shak.
Syn.
-- To recollect; remember; reflect.
BETHINK
Be*think", v. i.
Defn: To think; to recollect; to consider. "Bethink ere thou dismiss
us." Byron.
BETHLEHEM
Beth"le*hem, n. Etym: [Heb. b house of food; b house + lekhem food,
lakham to eat. Formerly the name of a hospital for the insane, in
London, which had been the priory of St. Mary of Bethlehem. Cf.
Bedlam.]
1. A hospital for lunatics; -- corrupted into bedlam.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: In the Ethiopic church, a small building attached to a church
edifice, in which the bread for the eucharist is made. Audsley.
BETHLEHEMITE; BETHLEMITE
Beth"le*hem*ite, Beth"lem*ite, n.
1. An inhabitant of Bethlehem in Judea.
2. An insane person; a madman; a bedlamite.
3. One of an extinct English order of monks.
BETHOUGHT
Be*thought",
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bethink.
BETHRALL
Be*thrall", v. t.
Defn: To reduce to thralldom; to inthrall. [Obs.] Spenser.
BETHUMB
Be*thumb", v. t.
Defn: To handle; to wear or soil by handling; as books. Poe.
BETHUMP
Be*thump", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bethumped, or Bethumpt; p. pr. & vb.
n. Bethumping.]
Defn: To beat or thump soundly. Shak.
BETIDE
Be*tide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betided, Obs. Betid; p. pr. & vb. n.
Betiding.] Etym: [OE. bitiden; pref. bi-, be- + tiden, fr. AS. tidan,
to happen, fr. tid time. See Tide.]
Defn: To happen to; to befall; to come to ; as, woe betide the
wanderer.
What will betide the few Milton.
BETIDE
Be*tide", v. i.
Defn: To come to pass; to happen; to occur.
A salve for any sore that may betide. Shak.
Note: Shakespeare has used it with of. "What would betide of me "
BETIME; BETIMES
Be*time", Be*times", adv. Etym: [Pref. be- (for by) + time; that is,
by the proper time. The -s is an adverbial ending.]
1. In good season or time; before it is late; seasonably; early.
To measure life learn thou betimes. Milton.
To rise betimes is often harder than to do all the day's work.
Barrow.
2. In a short time; soon; speedily; forth with.
He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes. Shak.
BETITLE
Be*ti"tle, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a title or titles; to entitle. [Obs.] Carlyle.
BETOKEN
Be*to"ken, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betokened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Betokening.]
1. To signify by some visible object; to show by signs or tokens.
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow . . . Betokening peace from God,
and covenant new. Milton.
2. To foreshow by present signs; to indicate something future by that
which is seen or known; as, a dark cloud often betokens a storm.
Syn.
-- To presage; portend; indicate; mark; note.
BETON
Bé`ton", n. Etym: [F. béton, fr. L. bitumen bitumen.] (Masonry)
Defn: The French name for concrete; hence, concrete made after the
French fashion.
BETONGUE
Be*tongue", v. t.
Defn: To attack with the tongue; to abuse; to insult.
BETONY
Bet"o*ny, n.; pl. Betonies. Etym: [OE. betony, betany, F. betoine,
fr. L. betonica, vettonica.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Betonica (Linn.).
Note: The purple or wood betony (B. officinalis, Linn.) is common in
Europe, being formerly used in medicine, and (according to Loudon) in
dyeing wool a yellow color.
BETOOK
Be*took", imp.
Defn: of Betake.
BETORN
Be*torn", a.
Defn: Torn in pieces; tattered.
BETOSS
Be*toss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betossed.]
Defn: To put in violent motion; to agitate; to disturb; to toss. "My
betossed soul." Shak.
BETRAP
Be*trap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrapped.]
1. To draw into, or catch in, a trap; to insnare; to circumvent.
Gower.
2. To put trappings on; to clothe; to deck.
After them followed two other chariots covered with red satin, and
the horses betrapped with the same. Stow.
BETRAY
Be*tray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betraying.]
Etym: [OE. betraien, bitraien; pref. be- + OF. traïr to bertray, F.
trahir, fr. L. tradere. See Traitor.]
1. To deliver into the hands of an enemy by treachery or fraud, in
violation of trust; to give up treacherously or faithlessly; as, an
officer betrayed the city.
Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands
of men. Matt. xvii. 22.
2. To prove faithless or treacherous to, as to a trust or one who
trusts; to be false to; to deceive; as, to betray a person or a
cause.
But when I rise, I shall find my legs betraying me. Johnson.
3. To violate the confidence of, by disclosing a secret, or that
which one is bound in honor not to make known.
Willing to serve or betray any government for hire. Macaulay.
4. To disclose or discover, as something which prudence would
conceal; to reveal unintentionally.
Be swift to hear, but cautious of your tongue, lest you betray your
ignorance. T. Watts.
5. To mislead; to expose to inconvenience not foreseen to lead into
error or sin.
Genius . . . often betrays itself into great errors. T. Watts.
6. To lead astray, as a maiden; to seduce (as under promise of
marriage) and then abandon.
7. To show or to indicate; -- said of what is not obvious at first,
or would otherwise be concealed.
All the names in the country betray great antiquity. Bryant.
BETRAYAL
Be*tray"al n.
Defn: The act or the result of betraying.
BETRAYER
Be*tray"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, betrays.
BETRAYMENT
Be*tray"ment, n.
Defn: Betrayal. [R.] Udall.
BETRIM
Be*trim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Betrimming.]
Defn: To set in order; to adorn; to deck, to embellish; to trim.
Shak.
BETROTH
Be*troth", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betrothed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Betrothing.] Etym: [Pref. be- + troth, i. e., truth. See Truth.]
1. To contract to any one for a marriage; to engage or promise in
order to marriage; to affiance; -- used esp. of a woman.
He, in the first flower of my freshest age, Betrothed me unto the
only heir. Spenser.
Ay, and we are betrothed. Shak.
2. To promise to take (as a future spouse); to plight one's troth to.
What man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her
Deut. xx. 7.
3. To nominate to a bishopric, in order to consecration. Ayliffe.
BETROTHAL
Be*troth"al, n.
Defn: The act of betrothing, or the fact of being betrothed; a mutual
promise, engagement, or contract for a future marriage between the
persons betrothed; betrothment; affiance. "The feast of betrothal."
Longfellow.
BETROTHMENT
Be*troth"ment, n.
Defn: The act of betrothing, or the state of being betrothed;
betrothal.
BETRUST
Be*trust", v. t.
Defn: To trust or intrust. [Obs.]
BETRUSTMENT
Be*trust"ment, n.
Defn: The act of intrusting, or the thing intrusted. [Obs.] Chipman.
BETSO
Bet"so, n. Etym: [It. bezzo.]
Defn: A small brass Venetian coin. [Obs.]
BETTER
Bet"ter, a.; compar. of Good. Etym: [OE. betere, bettre, and as adv.
bet, AS. betera, adj., and bet, adv.; akin to Icel. betri, adj.,
betr, adv., Goth. batiza, adj., OHG. bezziro, adj., baz, adv., G.
besser, adj. and adv., bass, adv., E. boot, and prob. to Skr. bhadra
excellent. See Boot advantage, and cf. Best, Batful.]
1. Having good qualities in a greater degree than another; as, a
better man; a better physician; a better house; a better air.
Could make the worse appear The better reason. Milton.
2. Preferable in regard to rank, value, use, fitness, acceptableness,
safety, or in any other respect.
To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam. xv. 22.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.
Ps. cxviii. 9.
3. Greater in amount; larger; more.
4. Improved in health; less affected with disease; as, the patient is
better.
5. More advanced; more perfect; as, upon better acquaintance; a
better knowledge of the subject. All the better. See under All, adv.
-- Better half, an expression used to designate one's wife.
My dear, my better half (said he), I find I must now leave thee. Sir
P. Sidney.
-- To be better off, to be in a better condition.
-- Had better. (See under Had).
Note: The phrase had better, followed by an infinitive without to, is
idiomatic. The earliest form of construction was "were better" with a
dative; as, "Him were better go beside." (Gower.) i. e., It would be
better for him, etc. At length the nominative (I, he, they, etc.)
supplanted the dative and had took the place of were. Thus we have
the construction now used.
By all that's holy, he had better starve Than but once think this
place becomes thee not. Shak.
BETTER
Bet"ter, n.
1. Advantage, superiority, or victory; -- usually with of; as, to get
the better of an enemy.
2. One who has a claim to precedence; a superior, as in merit, social
standing, etc.; -- usually in the plural.
Their betters would hardly be found. Hooker.
For the better, in the way of improvement; so as to produce
improvement. "If I have altered him anywhere for the better." Dryden.
BETTER
Bet"ter, adv.; compar. of Well.
1. In a superior or more excellent manner; with more skill and
wisdom, courage, virtue, advantage, or success; as, Henry writes
better than John; veterans fight better than recruits.
I could have better spared a better man. Shak.
2. More correctly or thoroughly.
The better to understand the extent of our knowledge. Locke.
3. In a higher or greater degree; more; as, to love one better than
another.
Never was monarch better feared, and loved. Shak.
4. More, in reference to value, distance, time, etc.; as, ten miles
and better. [Colloq.] To think better of (any one), to have a more
favorable opinion of any one.
-- To think better of (an opinion, resolution, etc.), to reconsider
and alter one's decision.
BETTER
Bet"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bettered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bettering.]
Etym: [AS. beterian, betrian, fr. betera better. See Better, a.]
1. To improve or ameliorate; to increase the good qualities of.
Love betters what is best. Wordsworth.
He thought to better his circumstances. Thackeray.
2. To improve the condition of, morally, physically, financially,
socially, or otherwise.
The constant effort of every man to better himself. Macaulay.
3. To surpass in excellence; to exceed; to excel.
The works of nature do always aim at that which can not be bettered.
Hooker.
4. To give advantage to; to support; to advance the interest of.
[Obs.]
Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us and
worse our foes. Milton.
Syn.
-- To improve; meliorate; ameliorate; mend; amend; correct; emend;
reform; advance; promote.
BETTER
Bet"ter, v. i.
Defn: To become better; to improve. Carlyle.
BETTER
Bet"ter, n.
Defn: One who bets or lays a wager.
BETTERMENT
Bet"ter*ment, n.
1. A making better; amendment; improvement. W. Montagu.
2. (Law)
Defn: An improvement of an estate which renders it better than mere
repairing would do; -- generally used in the plural. [U. S.] Bouvier.
BETTERMOST
Bet"ter*most`, a.
Defn: Best. [R.] "The bettermost classes." Brougham.
BETTERNESS
Bet"ter*ness, n.
1. The quality of being better or superior; superiority. [R.] Sir P.
Sidney.
2. The difference by which fine gold or silver exceeds in fineness
the standard.
BETTONG
Bet"tong, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, leaping Australian marsupial of the genus Bettongia;
the jerboa kangaroo.
BETTOR
Bet"tor, n.
Defn: One who bets; a better. Addison.
BETTY
Bet"ty, n.
1. Etym: [Supposed to be a cant word, from Betty, for Elizabeth, as
such an instrument is also called Bess (i. e., Elizabeth) in the
Canting Dictionary of 1725, and Jenny (i. e., Jane).]
Defn: A short bar used by thieves to wrench doors open. [Written also
bettee.]
The powerful betty, or the artful picklock. Arbuthnot.
2. Etym: [Betty, nickname for Elizabeth.]
Defn: A name of contempt given to a man who interferes with the
duties of women in a household, or who occupies himself with womanish
matters.
3. A pear-shaped bottle covered round with straw, in which olive oil
is sometimes brought from Italy; -- called by chemists a Florence
flask. [U. S.] Bartlett.
BETULIN
Bet"u*lin, n. Etym: [L. betula birch tree.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance of a resinous nature, obtained from the outer bark
of the common European birch (Betula alba), or from the tar prepared
therefrom; -- called also birch camphor. Watts.
BETUMBLE
Be*tum"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betumbled.]
Defn: To throw into disorder; to tumble. [R.]
From her betumbled couch she starteth. Shak.
BETUTOR
Be*tu"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Betutored.]
Defn: To tutor; to instruct. Coleridge.
BETWEEN
Be*tween", prep. Etym: [OE. bytwene, bitweonen, AS. betweónan,
betweónum; prefix be- by + a form fr. AS. twa two, akin to Goth.
tweihnai two apiece. See Twain, and cf. Atween, Betwixt.]
1. In the space which separates; betwixt; as, New York is between
Boston and Philadelphia.
2. Used in expressing motion from one body or place to another; from
one to another of two.
If things should go so between them. Bacon.
3. Belonging in common to two; shared by both.
Castor and Pollux with only one soul between them. Locke.
4. Belonging to, or participated in by, two, and involving reciprocal
action or affecting their mutual relation; as, opposition between
science and religion.
An intestine struggle, open or secret, between authority and liberty.
Hume.
5. With relation to two, as involved in an act or attribute of which
another is the agent or subject; as, to judge between or to choose
between courses; to distinguish between you and me; to mediate
between nations.
6. In intermediate relation to, in respect to time, quantity, or
degree; as, between nine and ten o'clock. Between decks, the space,
or in the space, between the decks of a vessel.
-- Between ourselves, Between you and me, Between themselves, in
confidence; with the understanding that the matter is not to be
communicated to others.
Syn.
-- Between, Among. Between etymologically indicates only two; as, a
quarrel between two men or two nations; to be between two fires, etc.
It is however extended to more than two in expressing a certain
relation.
I . . . hope that between public business, improving studies, and
domestic pleasures, neither melancholy nor caprice will find any
place for entrance. Johnson.
Among implies a mass or collection of things or persons, and always
supposes more than two; as, the prize money was equally divided among
the ship's crew.
BETWEEN
Be*tween", n.
Defn: Intermediate time or space; interval. [Poetic & R.] Shak.
BETWIXT
Be*twixt", prep. Etym: [OE. betwix, bitwix, rarely bitwixt, AS.
betweox, betweohs, betweoh, betwih; pref. be- by + a form fr. AS. twa
two. See Between.]
1. In the space which separates; between.
From betwixt two aged oaks. Milton.
2. From one to another of; mutually affecting.
There was some speech of marriage Betwixt myself and her. Shak.
Betwixt and between, in a midway position; so-so; neither one thing
nor the other. [Colloq.]
BEURRE
Beur*ré", n. Etym: [F., fr. beurre butter.] (Bot.)
Defn: A beurré (or buttery) pear, one with the meas, Beurré d'Anjou;
Beurré Clairgeau.
BEVEL
Bev"el, n. Etym: [C. F. biveau, earlier buveau, Sp. baivel; of
unknown origin. Cf. Bevile.]
1. Any angle other than a right angle; the angle which one surface
makes with another when they are not at right angles; the slant or
inclination of such surface; as, to give a bevel to the edge of a
table or a stone slab; the bevel of a piece of timber.
2. An instrument consisting of two rules or arms, jointed together at
one end, and opening to any angle, for adjusting the surfaces of work
to the same or a given inclination; -- called also a bevel square.
Gwilt.
BEVEL
Bev"el, a.
1. Having the slant of a bevel; slanting.
2. Hence: Morally distorted; not upright. [Poetic]
I may be straight, though they themselves be bevel. Shak.
A bevel angle, any angle other than one of 90º.
-- Bevel wheel, a cogwheel whose working face is oblique to the
axis. Knight.
BEVEL
Bev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Beveled (Bevelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Beveling or Bevelling.]
Defn: To cut to a bevel angle; to slope the edge or surface of.
BEVEL
Bev"el, v. i.
Defn: To deviate or incline from an angle of 90
Their houses are very ill built, the walls bevel. Swift.
BEVELED; BEVELLED
Bev"eled, Bev"elled, a.
1. Formed to a bevel angle; sloping; as, the beveled edge of a table.
2. (Min.) Replaced by two planes inclining equally upon the adjacent
planes, as an edge; having its edges replaces by sloping planes, as a
cube or other solid.
BEVEL GEAR
Bev"el gear`. (Mech.)
Defn: A kind of gear in which the two wheels working together lie in
different planes, and have their teeth cut at right angles to the
surfaces of two cones whose apices coincide with the point where the
axes of the wheels would meet.
BEVELMENT
Bev"el*ment, n. (Min.)
Defn: The replacement of an edge by two similar planes, equally
inclined to the including faces or adjacent planes.
BEVER
Be"ver, n. Etym: [OE. bever a drink, drinking time, OF. beivre,
boivre, to drink, fr. L. bibere.]
Defn: A light repast between meals; a lunch. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BEVER
Be"ver, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bevered (
Defn: To take a light repast between meals. [Obs.]
BEVERAGE
Bev"er*age, n. Etym: [OF. bevrage, F. breuvage, fr. beivre to drink,
fr. L. bibere. Cf. Bib, v. t., Poison, Potable.]
1. Liquid for drinking; drink; -- usually applied to drink
artificially prepared and of an agreeable flavor; as, an intoxicating
beverage.
He knew no beverage but the flowing stream. Thomson.
2. Specifically, a name applied to various kinds of drink.
3. A treat, or drink money. [Slang]
BEVILE
Bev"ile, n. Etym: [See Bevel.] (Her.)
Defn: A chief broken or opening like a carpenter's bevel. Encyc.
Brit.
BEVILED; BEVILLED
Bev"iled, Bev"illed, a. (Her.)
Defn: Notched with an angle like that inclosed by a carpenter's
bevel; -- said of a partition line of a shield.
BEVY
Bev"y, n.; pl. Bevies. Etym: [Perhaps orig. a drinking company, fr.
OF. bevée (cf. It. beva) a drink, beverage; then, perh., a company in
general, esp. of ladies; and last applied by sportsmen to larks,
quails, etc. See Beverage.]
1. A company; an assembly or collection of persons, especially of
ladies.
What a bevy of beaten slaves have we here ! Beau. & Fl.
2. A flock of birds, especially quails or larks; also, a herd of
roes.
BEWAIL
Be*wail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewailing.]
Defn: To express deep sorrow for, as by wailing; to lament; to wail
over.
Hath widowed and unchilded many a one, Which to this hour bewail the
injury. Shak.
Syn.
-- To bemoan; grieve.
-- See Deplore.
BEWAIL
Be*wail", v. i.
Defn: To express grief; to lament. Shak.
BEWAILABLE
Be*wail"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as may, or ought to, be bewailed; lamentable.
BEWAILER
Be*wail"er, n.
Defn: One who bewails or laments.
BEWAILING
Be*wail"ing, a.
Defn: Wailing over; lamenting.
-- Be*wail"ing*ly, adv.
BEWAILMENT
Be*wail"ment, n.
Defn: The act of bewailing.
BEWAKE
Be*wake", v. t. & i.
Defn: To keep watch over; to keep awake. [Obs.] Gower.
BEWARE
Be*ware", v. i. Etym: [Be, imperative of verb to be + ware. See Ware,
Wary.]
1. To be on one's guard; to be cautious; to take care; -- commonly
followed by of or lest before the thing that is to be avoided.
Beware of all, but most beware of man ! Pope.
Beware the awful avalanche. Longfellow.
2. To have a special regard; to heed. [Obs.]
Behold, I send an Angel before thee. . . . Beware of him, and obey
his voice. Ex. xxiii. 20, 21.
Note: This word is a compound from be and the Old English ware, now
wary, which is an adjective. "Be ye war of false prophetis." Wyclif,
Matt. vii. 15. It is used commonly in the imperative and infinitive
modes, and with such auxiliaries (shall, should, must, etc.) as go
with the infinitive.
BEWARE
Be*ware", v. t.
Defn: To avoid; to take care of; to have a care for. [Obs.] "Priest,
beware your beard." Shak.
To wish them beware the son. Milton.
BEWASH
Be*wash", v. t.
Defn: To drench or souse with water. "Let the maids bewash the men."
Herrick.
BEWEEP
Be*weep", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewept; p. pr. & vb. n. Beweeping.]
Etym: [AS. bew; pref. be- + weep.]
Defn: To weep over; to deplore; to bedew with tears. "His timeless
death beweeping." Drayton.
BEWEEP
Be*weep", v. i.
Defn: To weep. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BEWET
Be*wet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewet, Bewetted.]
Defn: To wet or moisten. Gay.
BEWHORE
Be*whore", v. t.
1. To corrupt with regard to chastity; to make a whore of. J.
Fletcher.
2. To pronounce or characterize as a whore. Shak.
BEWIG
Be*wig", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewigged.]
Defn: To cover (the head) with a wig. Hawthorne.
BEWILDER
Be*wil"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewildered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bewildering.] Etym: [Pref. be- + wilder.]
Defn: To lead into perplexity or confusion, as for want of a plain
path; to perplex with mazes; or in general, to perplex or confuse
greatly.
Lost and bewildered in the fruitless search. Addison.
Syn.
-- To perplex; puzzle; entangle; confuse; confound; mystify;
embarrass; lead astray.
BEWILDERED
Be*wil"dered, a.
Defn: Greatly perplexed; as, a bewildered mind.
BEWILDEREDNESS
Be*wil"dered*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bewildered; bewilderment. [R.]
BEWILDERING
Be*wil"der*ing, a.
Defn: Causing bewilderment or great perplexity; as, bewildering
difficulties.
-- Be*wil"der*ing*ly, adv.
BEWILDERMENT
Be*wil"der*ment, n.
1. The state of being bewildered.
2. A bewildering tangle or confusion.
He . . . soon lost all traces of it amid bewilderment of tree trunks
and underbrush. Hawthorne.
BEWINTER
Be*win"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make wintry. [Obs.]
BEWIT
Bew"it, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. buie bond, chain, fr. L. boja neck collar,
fetter. Cf. Buoy.]
Defn: A double slip of leather by which bells are fastened to a
hawk's legs.
BEWITCH
Be*witch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewitched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bewitching.]
1. To gain an ascendency over by charms or incantations; to affect
(esp. to injure) by witchcraft or sorcery.
See how I am bewitched; behold, mine arm Is like a blasted sapling
withered up. Shak.
2. To charm; to fascinate; to please to such a degree as to take away
the power of resistance; to enchant.
The charms of poetry our souls bewitch. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To enchant; captivate; charm; entrance.
BEWITCHEDNESS
Be*witch"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bewitched. Gauden.
BEWITCHER
Be*witch"er, n.
Defn: One who bewitches.
BEWITCHERY
Be*witch"er*y, n.
Defn: The power of bewitching or fascinating; bewitchment; charm;
fascination.
There is a certain bewitchery or fascination in words. South.
BEWITCHING
Be*witch"ing, a.
Defn: Having power to bewitch or fascinate; enchanting; captivating;
charming.
-- Be*witch"ing*ly, adv.
-- Be*witch"ing*ness, n.
BEWITCHMENT
Be*witch"ment, n.
1. The act of bewitching, or the state of being bewitched. Tylor.
2. The power of bewitching or charming. Shak.
BEWONDER
Be*won"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewondered.]
1. To fill with wonder. [Obs.]
2. To wonder at; to admire. [Obs.]
BEWRAP
Be*wrap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrapped.]
Defn: To wrap up; to cover. Fairfax.
BEWRAY
Be*wray", v. t.
Defn: To soil. See Beray.
BEWRAY
Be*wray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bewrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bewraying.]
Etym: [OE. bewraien, biwreyen; pref. be- + AS. wr to accuse, betray;
akin to OS. wr, OHG. ruog, G. rügen, Icel. rægja, Goth. wr to
accuse.]
Defn: To expose; to reveal; to disclose; to betray. [Obs. or Archaic]
The murder being once done, he is in less fear, and in more hope that
the deed shall not be bewrayed or known. Robynson (More's Utopia. )
Thy speech bewrayeth thee. Matt. xxvi. 73.
BEWRAYER
Be*wray"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bewrays; a revealer. [Obs. or Archaic]
Addison.
BEWRAYMENT
Be*wray"ment, n.
Defn: Betrayal. [R.]
BEWRECK
Be*wreck", v. t.
Defn: To wreck. [Obs.]
BEWREKE
Be*wreke", v. t. Etym: [Pref. be- + wreak.]
Defn: To wreak; to avenge. [Obs.] Ld. Berners.
BEWROUGHT
Be*wrought", a. Etym: [Pref. be- + wrought, p. p. of work, v. t. ]
Defn: Embroidered. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BEY
Bey, n. Etym: [See Beg a bey.]
Defn: A governor of a province or district in the Turkish dominions;
also, in some places, a prince or nobleman; a beg; as, the bey of
Tunis.
BEYLIC
Bey"lic, n. Etym: [Turk.]
Defn: The territory ruled by a bey.
BEYOND
Be*yond", prep. Etym: [OE. biyonde, bi, AS. begeondan, prep. and
adv.; pref. be- + geond yond, yonder. See Yon, Yonder.]
1. On the further side of; in the same direction as, and further on
or away than.
Beyond that flaming hill. G. Fletcher.
2. At a place or time not yet reached; before.
A thing beyond us, even before our death. Pope.
3. Past, out of the reach or sphere of; further than; greater than;
as, the patient was beyond medical aid; beyond one's strength.
4. In a degree or amount exceeding or surpassing; proceeding to a
greater degree than; above, as in dignity, excellence, or quality of
any kind. "Beyond expectation." Barrow.
Beyond any of the great men of my country. Sir P. Sidney.
Beyond sea. (Law) See under Sea.
-- To go beyond, to exceed in ingenuity, in research, or in anything
else; hence, in a bed sense, to deceive or circumvent.
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter. 1 Thess.
iv. 6.
BEYOND
Be*yond", adv.
Defn: Further away; at a distance; yonder.
Lo, where beyond he lyeth languishing. Spenser.
BEZANT
Be*zant", n. Etym: [See Byzant.]
1. A gold coin of Byzantium or Constantinople, varying in weight and
value, usually (those current in England) between a sovereign and a
half sovereign. There were also white or silver bezants. [Written
also besant, byzant, etc.]
2. (Her.)
Defn: A circle in or, i. e., gold, representing the gold coin called
bezant. Burke.
3. A decoration of a flat surface, as of a band or belt, representing
circular disks lapping one upon another.
BEZ-ANTLER
Bez`-ant"ler, n. Etym: [L. bis twice (OF. bes) + E. antler.]
Defn: The second branch of a stag's horn.
BEZEL
Bez"el, n. Etym: [From an old form of F. biseau sloping edge, prob.
fr. L. bis double. See Bi-.]
Defn: The rim which encompasses and fastens a jewel or other object,
as the crystal of a watch, in the cavity in which it is set.
BEZIQUE
Bé*zique", n. Etym: [F. bésigue.]
Defn: A game at cards in which various combinations of cards in the
hand, when declared, score points.
BEZOAR
Be"zoar, n. Etym: [F. bézoard, fr. Ar. bazahr, badizahr, fr. Per.
pad-zahr bezoar; pad protecting + zahr poison; cf. Pg. & Sp. bezoar.]
Defn: A calculous concretion found in the intestines of certain
ruminant animals (as the wild goat, the gazelle, and the Peruvian
llama) formerly regarded as an unfailing antidote for poison, and a
certain remedy for eruptive, pestilential, or putrid diseases. Hence:
Any antidote or panacea.
Note: Two kinds were particularly esteemed, the Bezoar orientale of
India, and the Bezoar occidentale of Peru. Bezoar antelope. See
Antelope.
-- Bezoar goat (Zoöl.), the wild goat (Capra ægagrus).
-- Bezoar mineral, an old preparation of oxide of antimony. Ure.
BEZOARDIC
Bez`o*ar"dic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bézoardique, bézoartique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or compounded with, bezoar.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine containing bezoar.
BEZOARTIC; BEZOARTICAL
Bez`o*ar"tic, Bez`o*ar"tic*al, a. Etym: [See Bezoardic.]
Defn: Having the qualities of an antidote, or of bezoar; healing.
[Obs.]
BEZONIAN
Be*zo"ni*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. besoin need, want, It bisogno.]
Defn: A low fellow or scoundrel; a beggar.
Great men oft die by vile bezonians. Shak.
BEZPOPOVTSY
Bez`po*pov"tsy, n. [Russ.; bez without + popovtsy, a derivative of
pop priest.]
Defn: A Russian sect. See Raskolnik.
BEZZLE
Bez"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bezzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bezzling.]
Etym: [OF. besillier, besiler, to maltreat, pillage; or shortened fr.
embezzle. Cf. Embezzle.]
Defn: To plunder; to waste in riot. [Obs.]
BEZZLE
Bez"zle, v. i.
Defn: To drink to excess; to revel. [Obs.]
BHANG
Bhang, n. Etym: [Per. bang; cf. Skr. bhanga hemp.]
Defn: An astringent and narcotic drug made from the dried leaves and
seed capsules of wild hemp (Cannabis Indica), and chewed or smoked in
the East as a means of intoxication. See Hasheesh.
BHEESTY; BHEESTIE
Bhees"ty, Bhees"tie, n. [Written also bhistee, bhisti, etc.] [Per.
bihishti lit., heavenly.]
Defn: A water carrier, as to a household or a regiment. [India]
BHISTEE; BHISTI
Bhis"tee, Bhis"ti, n.
Defn: Same as Bheesty. [India]
BHUNDER
Bhun"der, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Indian monkey (Macacus Rhesus), protected by the Hindoos as
sacred. See Rhesus.
BI; BI-
Bi*. Etym: [L. bis twice, which in composition drops the -s, akin to
E. two. See Bis-, Two, and cf. Di-, Dis-.]
1. In most branches of science bi- in composition denotes two, twice,
or doubly; as, bidentate, two-toothed; biternate, doubly ternate,
etc.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: In the composition of chemical names bi- denotes two atoms,
parts, or equivalents of that constituent to the name of which it is
prefixed, to one of the other component, or that such constituent is
present in double the ordinary proportion; as, bichromate,
bisulphide. Be- and di- are often used interchangeably.
BIACID
Bi*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by negative
atoms or radicals to form salts; -- said of bases. See Diacid.
BIACUMINATE
Bi`a*cu"mi*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + acuminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having points in two directions.
BIANGULAR
Bi*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angular.]
Defn: Having two angles or corners.
BIANGULATE; BIANGULATED
Bi*an"gu*late, Bi*an"gu*la`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulate,
angulated.]
Defn: Biangular.
BIANGULOUS
Bi*an"gu*lous,a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + angulous.]
Defn: Biangular. [R.]
BIANNUAL
Bi*an"nu*al, a. [Pref. bi- + annual.]
Defn: Occurring twice a year; half-yearly; semiannual.
BIANTHERIFEROUS
Bi*an`ther*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + antherigerous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two anthers.
BIARTICULATE
Bi`ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + articulate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having, or consisting of, tow joints.
BIAS
Bi"as, n.; pl. Biases. Etym: [F. biasis, perh. fr. LL. bifax two-
faced; L. bis + facies face. See Bi-, and cf. Face.]
1. A weight on the side of the ball used in the game of bowls, or a
tendency imparted to the ball, which turns it from a straight line.
Being ignorant that there is a concealed bias within the spheroid,
which will . . . swerve away. Sir W. Scott.
2. A learning of the mind; propensity or prepossession toward an
object or view, not leaving the mind indifferent; bent inclination.
Strong love is a bias upon the thoughts. South.
Morality influences men's lives, and gives a bias to all their
actions. Locke.
3. A wedge-shaped piece of cloth taken out of a garment (as the waist
of a dress) to diminish its circumference.
4. A slant; a diagonal; as, to cut cloth on the bias.
Syn.
-- Prepossession; prejudice; partiality; inclination. See Bent.
BIAS
Bi"as, a.
1. Inclined to one side; swelled on one side. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Cut slanting or diagonally, as cloth.
BIAS
Bi"as, adv.
Defn: In a slanting manner; crosswise; obliquely; diagonally; as, to
cut cloth bias.
BIAS
Bi"as, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Biased; p. pr. & vb. n. Biasing.]
Defn: To incline to one side; to give a particular direction to; to
influence; to prejudice; to prepossess.
Me it had not biased in the one direction, nor should it have biased
any just critic in the counter direction. De. Quincey.
BIAURICULATE
Bi`au*ric"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + au riculate.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Having two auricles, as the heart of mammals, birds, and
reptiles.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two earlike projections at its base, as a leaf.
BIAXAL; BIAXIAL
Bi*ax"al, Bi*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + axal, axial.] (Opt.)
Defn: Having two axes; as, biaxial polarization. Brewster.
-- Bi*ax"i*al*ly, adv.
BIB
Bib, n. Etym: [From Bib, v., because the bib receives the drink that
the child slavers from the mouth.]
1. A small piece of cloth worn by children over the breast, to
protect the clothes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arctic fish (Gadus luscus), allied to the cod; -- called
also pout and whiting pout.
3. A bibcock.
BIB; BIBBE
Bib, Bibbe, v. t. Etym: [L. bibere. See Beverage, and cf. Imbibe.]
Defn: To drink; to tipple. [Obs.]
This miller hath . . . bibbed ale. Chaucer.
BIB
Bib, v. i.
Defn: To drink; to sip; to tipple.
He was constantly bibbing. Locke.
BIBACIOUS
Bi*ba"cious, a. Etym: [L. bibax, bibacis, fr. bibere. See Bib.]
Defn: Addicted to drinking.
BIBACITY
Bi*bac"i*ty, n.
Defn: The practice or habit of drinking too much; tippling. Blount.
BIBASIC
Bi*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having to hydrogen atoms which can be replaced by positive or
basic atoms or radicals to form salts; -- said of acids. See Dibasic.
BIBB
Bibb, n.
Defn: A bibcock. See Bib, n., 3.
BIBBER
Bib"ber, n.
Defn: One given to drinking alcoholic beverages too freely; a
tippler; -- chiefly used in composition; as, winebibber.
BIBBLE-BABBLE
Bib"ble-bab"ble, n. Etym: [A reduplication of babble.]
Defn: Idle talk; babble. Shak.
BIBBS
Bibbs, n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Pieces of timber bolted to certain parts of a mast tp support
the trestletrees.
BIBCOCK
Bib"cock`, n.
Defn: A cock or faucet having a bent down nozzle. Knight.
BIBELOT
Bi`be*lot", n. [F.]
Defn: A small decorative object without practical utility.
Her pictures, her furniture, and her bibelots.
M. Crawford.
BIBIRINE
Bi*bi"rine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Bebeerine.
BIBITORY
Bib"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to drinking or tippling.
BIBLE
Bi"ble, n. Etym: [F. bible, L. biblia, pl., fr. Gr. , pl. of , dim.
of , , book, prop. Egyptian papyrus.]
1. A book. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. The Book by way of eminence, -- that is, the book which is made up
of the writings accepted by Christians as of divine origin and
authority, whether such writings be in the original language, or
translated; the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; --
sometimes in a restricted sense, the Old Testament; as, King James's
Bible; Douay Bible; Luther's Bible. Also, the book which is made up
of writings similarly accepted by the Jews; as, a rabbinical Bible.
3. A book containing the sacred writings belonging to any religion;
as, the Koran is often called the Mohammedan Bible. Fig.)
Defn: A book with an authoritative exposition of some topic,
respected by many experts on the field. Bible Society, an association
for securing the multiplication and wide distribution of the Bible.
-- Douay Bible. See Douay Bible.
-- Geneva Bible. See under Geneva.
BIBLER
Bib"ler, n. Etym: [See Bib, v. t.]
Defn: A great drinker; a tippler. [Written also bibbler and
bibbeler.]
BIBLICAL
Bib"li*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the Bible; as, biblical
learning; biblical authority.
BIBLICALITY
Bib`li*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being biblical; a biblical subject. [R.]
BIBLICALLY
Bib"li*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the Bible.
BIBLICISM
Bib"li*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. biblicisme.]
Defn: Learning or literature relating to the Bible. [R.]
BIBLICIST
Bib"li*cist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the knowledge of the Bible; a demonstrator of
religious truth by the Scriptures.
BIBLIOGRAPH
Bib"li*o*graph`, n.
Defn: Bibliographer.
BIBLIOGRAPHER
Bib`li*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. , fr. book + to write : cf. F.
bibliographe.]
Defn: One who writes, or is versed in, bibliography.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC; BIBLIOGRAPHICAL
Bib`li*o*graph"ic, Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
bibliographique.]
Defn: Pertaining to bibliography, or the history of books.
-- Bib`li*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bib`li*og"ra*phy n.; pl. Bibliographies. Etym: [Gr. : cf. F.
bibliographie.]
Defn: A history or description of books and manuscripts, with notices
of the different editions, the times when they were printed, etc.
BIBLIOLATER; BIBLIOLATRIST
Bib`li*ol"a*ter, Bib`li*ol"a*trist, n. Etym: [See. Bibliolatry.]
Defn: A worshiper of books; especially, a worshiper of the Bible; a
believer in its verbal inspiration. De Quincey.
BIBLIOLATRY
Bib`li*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr. book + service, worship, to serve.]
Defn: Book worship, esp. of the Bible; -- applied by Roman Catholic
divine Coleridge. F. W. Newman.
BIBLIOLOGICAL
Bib`li*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to bibliology.
BIBLIOLOGY
Bib`li*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -logy.]
1. An account of books; book lore; bibliography.
2. The literature or doctrine of the Bible.
BIBLIOMANCY
Bib"li*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. book + -mancy: cf. F. bibliomancie.]
Defn: A kind of divination, performed by selecting passages of
Scripture at hazard, and drawing from them indications concerning
future events.
BIBLIOMANIA
Bib`li*o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + madness: cf. F. bibliomanie.]
Defn: A mania for acquiring books.
BIBLIOMANIAC
Bib`li*o*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One who has a mania for books.
-- a.
Defn: Relating to a bibliomaniac.
BIBLIOMANIACAL
Bib`li*o*ma*ni"ac*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a passion for books; relating to a bibliomaniac.
BIBLIOPEGIC
Bib`li*o*peg"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. book + to make fast.]
Defn: Relating to the binding of books. [R.]
BIBLIOPEGIST
Bib`li*op"e*gist, n.
Defn: A bookbinder.
BIBLIOPEGISTIC
Bib`li*op`e*gis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of binding books. [R.] Dibdin.
BIBLIOPEGY
Bib`li*op"e*gy, n. Etym: [See Bibliopegic.]
Defn: The art of binding books. [R.]
BIBLIOPHILE
Bib"li*o*phile, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to love: cf. F. bibliophile.]
Defn: A lover of books.
BIBLIOPHILISM
Bib`li*oph"i*lism, n.
Defn: Love of books.
BIBLIOPHILIST
Bib`li*oph"i*list, n.
Defn: A lover of books.
BIBLIOPHOBIA
Bib`li*o*pho"bi*a, n. Etym: [Gr. book + to fear.]
Defn: A dread of books. [R.]
BIBLIOPOLE
Bib"li*o*pole, n. Etym: [L. bibliopola, Gr. ; book + to sell: cf. F.
bibliopole.]
Defn: One who sells books.
BIBLIOPOLIC; BIBLIOPOLAR
Bib`li*o*pol"ic, Bib`li*op"o*lar, a. Etym: [See Bibliopole.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the sale of books. "Bibliopolic
difficulties." Carlyle.
BIBLIOPOLISM
Bib`li*op"o*lism, n.
Defn: The trade or business of selling books.
BIBLIOPOLIST
Bib`li*op"o*list, n.
Defn: Same as Bibliopole.
BIBLIOPOLISTIC
Bib`li*op`o*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bibliopolism. Dibdin.
BIBLIOTAPH; BIBLIOTAPHIST
Bib"li*o*taph, Bib`li*ot"a*phist, n. Etym: [Gr. book + a burial.]
Defn: One who hides away books, as in a tomb. [R.] Crabb.
BIBLIOTHEC
Bib"li*o*thec, n.
Defn: A librarian.
BIBLIOTHECA
Bib`li*o*the"ca, n. Etym: [L. See Bibliotheke.]
Defn: A library.
BIBLIOTHECAL
Bib`li*o*the"cal, a. Etym: [L. bibliothecalis. See Bibliotheke.]
Defn: Belonging to a library. Byrom.
BIBLIOTHECARY
Bib`li*oth"e*ca*ry, n. Etym: [L. bibliothecarius: cf. F.
bibliothécaire.]
Defn: A librarian. [Obs.] Evelin.
BIBLIOTHEKE
Bib"li*o*theke, n. Etym: [L. bibliotheca, Gr. ; book + a case, box,
fr. to place: cf. F. bibliothèque.]
Defn: A library. [Obs.] Bale.
BIBLIST
Bib"list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bibliste. See Bible.]
1. One who makes the Bible the sole rule of faith.
2. A biblical scholar; a biblicist. I. Taylor.
BIBRACTEATE
Bi*brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + bracteate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with, or having, two bracts.
BIBULOUS
Bib"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. bibulus, fr. bibere to drink. See Bib, v. t.
]
1. Readily imbibing fluids or moisture; spongy; as, bibulous blotting
paper.
2. Inclined to drink; addicted to tippling.
BIBULOUSLY
Bib"u*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bibulous manner; with profuse imbibition or absorption. De
Quincey.
BICALCARATE
Bi*cal"ca*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + calcarate.]
Defn: Having two spurs, as the wing or leg of a bird.
BICALLOSE; BICALLOUS
Bi*cal"lose, Bi*cal"lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + callose, callous.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having two callosities or hard spots. Gray.
BICAMERAL
Bi*cam"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + camera.]
Defn: Consisting of, or including, two chambers, or legislative
branches. Bentham.
BICAPSULAR
Bi*cap"su*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + capsular: cf. F. bicapsulaire.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having two capsules; as, a bicapsular pericarp.
BICARBONATE
Bi*car"bon*ate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi-+ carbonate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A carbonate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is
replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion
of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the
normal carbonates; an acid carbonate; -- sometimes called
supercarbonate.
BICARBURETED; BICARBURETTED
Bi*car"bu*ret`ed or -ret`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carbureted.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Containing two atoms or equivalents of carbon in the molecule.
[Obs. or R.]
BICARINATE
Bi*car"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + carinate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having two keel-like projections, as the upper palea of
grasses.
BICAUDAL
Bi*cau"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudal.]
Defn: Having, or terminating in, two tails.
BICAUDATE
Bi*cau"date, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + caudate.]
Defn: Two-tailed; bicaudal.
BICCHED
Bic"ched, a. Etym: [Of unknown origin.]
Defn: Pecked; pitted; notched. [Obs.] Chaucer. Bicched bones, pecked,
or notched, bones; dice.
BICE; BISE
Bice, Bise, n. Etym: [F. bis, akin to It. bigio light gray, tawny.]
(Paint.)
Defn: A pale blue pigment, prepared from the native blue carbonate of
copper, or from smalt; -- called also blue bice. Green bice is
prepared from the blue, by adding yellow orpiment, or by grinding
down the green carbonate of copper. Cooley. Brande & C.
BICENTENARY
Bi*cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centenary.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to two hundred, esp. to two hundred years; as,
a bicentenary celebration.
-- n.
Defn: The two hundredth anniversary, or its celebration.
BICENTENNIAL
Bi`cen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + centennial.]
1. Consisting of two hundred years.
2. Occurring every two hundred years.
BICENTENNIAL
Bi`cen*ten"ni*al, n.
Defn: The two hundredth year or anniversary, or its celebration.
BICEPHALOUS
Bi*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cephalous: cf. F. bicéphale.]
Defn: Having two heads.
BICEPS
Bi"ceps, n. Etym: [L., two-headed; bis twice + caput head. See
Capital.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle having two heads or origins; -- applied particularly
to a flexor in the arm, and to another in the thigh.
BICHIR
Bi*chir", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A remarkable ganoid fish (Polypterus bichir) found in the Nile
and other African rivers. See Brachioganoidei.
BICHLORIDE
Bi*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound consisting of two atoms of chlorine with one or more
atoms of another element; -- called also dichloride. Bichloride of
mercury, mercuric chloride; -- sometimes called corrosive sublimate.
BICHO
Bi"cho, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Jigger.
BICHROMATE
Bi*chro"mate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + chromate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt containing two parts of chromic acid to one of the other
ingredients; as, potassium bichromate; -- called also dichromate.
BICHROMATIZE
Bi*chro"ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To combine or treat with a bichromate, esp. with bichromate of
potassium; as, bichromatized gelatine.
BICIPITAL
Bi*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. biceps, bicipitis: cf. F. bicipital. See
Biceps.]
1. (Anat.)
(a) Having two heads or origins, as a muscle.
(b) Pertaining to a biceps muscle; as, bicipital furrows, the
depressions on either side of the biceps of the arm.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Dividing into two parts at one extremity; having two heads or
two supports; as, a bicipital tree.
BICIPITOUS
Bi*cip"i*tous, a.
Defn: Having two heads; bicipital. "Bicipitous serpents." Sir T.
Browne.
BICKER
Bick"er, n. Etym: [See Beaker.]
Defn: A small wooden vessel made of staves and hoops, like a tub.
[Prov. Eng.]
BICKER
Bick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bickering.]
Etym: [OE. bikeren, perh. fr. Celtic; cf. W. bicra to fight, bicker,
bicre conflict, skirmish; perh. akin to E. beak.]
1. To skirmish; to exchange blows; to fight. [Obs.]
Two eagles had a conflict, and bickered together. Holland.
2. To contend in petulant altercation; to wrangle.
Petty things about which men cark and bicker. Barrow.
3. To move quickly and unsteadily, or with a pattering noise; to
quiver; to be tremulous, like flame.
They [streamlets] bickered through the sunny shade. Thomson.
BICKER
Bick"er, n.
1. A skirmish; an encounter. [Obs.]
2. A fight with stones between two parties of boys. [Scot.] Jamieson.
3. A wrangle; also, a noise,, as in angry contention.
BICKERER
Bick"er*er, n.
Defn: One who bickers.
BICKERING
Bick"er*ing, n.
1. A skirmishing. "Frays and bickerings." Milton.
2. Altercation; wrangling.
BICKERMENT
Bick"er*ment, n.
Defn: Contention. [Obs.] Spenser.
BICKERN
Bick"ern, n. Etym: [F. bigorne. See Bicorn.]
Defn: An anvil ending in a beak or point (orig. in two beaks); also,
the beak or horn itself.
BICKFORD FUSE; BICKFORD FUZE; BICKFORD MATCH
Bick"ford fuse, Bick"ford fuze, Bick"ford match.
Defn: A fuse used in blasting, consisting of a long cylinder of
explosive material inclosed in a varnished wrapping of rope or hose.
It burns from 2 to 4 feet a minute.
BICOLLIGATE
Bi*col"li*gate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + colligatus, p. p. See
Colligate, v. t. ] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the anterior toes connected by a basal web.
BICOLOR; BICOLORED
Bi"col`or, Bi"col`ored, a. Etym: [L. bicolor; bis twice + color
color.]
Defn: Of two colors.
BICONCAVE
Bi*con"cave, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + concave.]
Defn: Concave on both sides; as, biconcave vertebræ.
BICONJUGATE
Bi*con"ju*gate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + conjugate, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: Twice paired, as when a petiole forks twice. Gray.
BICONVEX
Bi*con"vex, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + convex.]
Defn: Convex on both sides; as, a biconvex lens.
BICORN; BICORNED; BICORNOUS
Bi"corn, Bi"corned, Bi*cor"nous, a. Etym: [L. bicornis; bis twice +
cornu horn: cf. F. bicorne. Cf. Bickern.]
Defn: Having two horns; two-horned; crescentlike.
BICORPORAL
Bi*cor"po*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporal.]
Defn: Having two bodies.
BICORPORATE
Bi*cor"po*rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + corporate.] (Her.)
Defn: Double-bodied, as a lion having one head and two bodies.
BICOSTATE
Bi*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + costate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two principal ribs running longitudinally, as a leaf.
BICRENATE
Bi*cre"nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crenate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Twice crenated, as in the case of leaves whose crenatures are
themselves crenate.
BICRESCENTIC
Bi`cres*cen"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crescent.]
Defn: Having the form of a double crescent.
BICRURAL
Bi*cru"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + crural.]
Defn: Having two legs. Hooker.
BICUSPID; BICUSPIDATE
Bi*cus"pid, Bi*cus"pid*ate, a. Etym: [See pref. Bi-, and Cuspidate.]
Defn: Having two points or prominences; ending in two points; -- said
of teeth, leaves, fruit, etc.
BICUSPID
Bi*cus"pid, n. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the two double-pointed teeth which intervene between the
canines (cuspids) and the molars, on each side of each jaw. See
Tooth, n.
BICYANIDE
Bi*cy"a*nide, n.
Defn: See Dicyanide.
BICYCLE
Bi"cy*cle, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + cycle.]
Defn: A light vehicle having two wheels one behind the other. It has
a saddle seat and is propelled by the rider's feet acting on cranks
or levers.
BICYCLER
Bi"cy*cler, n.
Defn: One who rides a bicycle.
BICYCLIC
Bi*cyc"lic, a.
Defn: Relating to bicycles.
BICYCLING
Bi"cy*cling, n.
Defn: The use of a bicycle; the act or practice of riding a bicycle.
BICYCLISM
Bi"cy*clism, n.
Defn: The art of riding a bicycle.
BICYCLIST
Bi"cy*clist, n.
Defn: A bicycler.
BICYCULAR
Bi*cyc"u*lar, a.
Defn: Relating to bicycling.
BID
Bid, v. t. [imp. Bade, Bid, (Obs.) Bad; p. p. Bidden, Bid; p. pr. &
vb. n. Bidding.] Etym: [OE. bidden, prop to ask, beg, AS. biddan;
akin to OS. biddian, Icel. bi, OHG. bittan, G. bitten, to pray, ask,
request, and E. bead, also perh. to Gr. to persuade, L. fidere to
trust, E. faith, and bide. But this word was early confused with OE.
beden, beoden, AS. beódan, to offer, command; akin to Icel. bj, Goth.
biudan (in comp.), OHG. biotan to command, bid, G. bieten, D. bieden,
to offer, also to Gr. to learn by inquiry, Skr. budh to be awake, to
heed, present OSlav. bud to be awake, E. bode, v. The word now has
the form of OE. bidden to ask, but the meaning of OE. beden to
command, except in "to bid beads." sq. root30.]
1. To make an offer of; to propose. Specifically : To offer to pay (
a certain price, as for a thing put up at auction), or to take (a
certain price, as for work to be done under a contract).
2. To offer in words; to declare, as a wish, a greeting, a threat, or
defiance, etc.; as, to bid one welcome; to bid good morning,
farewell, etc.
Neither bid him God speed. 2. John 10.
He bids defiance to the gaping crowd. Granrille.
3. To proclaim; to declare publicly; to make known. [Mostly obs.]
"Our banns thrice bid !" Gay.
4. To order; to direct; to enjoin; to command.
That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. Pope
Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee. Matt. xiv. 28
I was bid to pick up shells. D. Jerrold.
5. To invite; to call in; to request to come.
As many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. Matt. xxii. 9
To bid beads, to pray with beads, as the Roman Catholics; to
distinguish each bead by a prayer. [Obs.] -- To bid defiance to , to
defy openly; to brave.
-- To bid fair, to offer a good prospect; to make fair promise; to
seem likely.
Syn.
-- To offer; proffer; tender; propose; order; command; direct;
charge; enjoin.
BID
Bid,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bid.
BID
Bid, n.
Defn: An offer of a price, especially at auctions; a statement of a
sum which one will give for something to be received, or will take
for something to be done or furnished; that which is offered.
BID
Bid, v. i. Etym: [See Bid, v. t.]
1. To pray. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To make a bid; to state what one will pay or take.
BIDALE
Bid"ale`, n. Etym: [Bid + ale.]
Defn: An invitation of friends to drink ale at some poor man's house,
and there to contribute in charity for his relief. [Prov. Eng.]
BIDARKEE; BIDARKA
Bi*dar"kee, Bi*dar"ka, n. [Russ. baidarka, dim. Cf. Baidar.]
Defn: A portable boat made of skins stretched on a frame. [Alaska]
The Century.
BIDDABLE
Bid"da*ble, a.
Defn: Obedient; docile. [Scot.]
BIDDEN
Bid"den, p. p.
Defn: of Bid.
BIDDER
Bid"der, n. Etym: [AS. biddere. ]
Defn: One who bids or offers a price. Burke.
BIDDERY WARE
Bid"der*y ware`. Etym: [From Beder or Bidar a town in India.]
Defn: A kind of metallic ware made in India. The material is a
composition of zinc, tin, and lead, in which ornaments of gold and
silver are inlaid or damascened. [Spelt also bidry, bidree, bedery,
beder.]
BIDDING
Bid"ding, n.
1. Command; order; a proclamation or notifying. "Do thou thy master's
bidding." Shak.
2. The act or process of making bids; an offer; a proposal of a
price, as at an auction.
BIDDING PRAYER
Bid"ding prayer`.
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The prayer for the souls of benefactors, said before the
sermon.
2. (Angl. Ch.)
Defn: The prayer before the sermon, with petitions for various
specified classes of persons.
BIDDY
Bid"dy, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]
Defn: A name used in calling a hen or chicken. Shak.
BIDDY
Bid"dy, n. Etym: [A familiar form of Bridget.]
Defn: An Irish serving woman or girl. [Colloq.]
BIDE
Bide, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bided; p. pr. & vb. n. Biding.] Etym: [OE.
biden, AS. bidan; akin to OHG. bitan, Goth. beidan, Icel. bi; perh.
orig., to wait with trust, and akin to bid. See Bid, v. t., and cf.
Abide.]
1. To dwell; to inhabit; to abide; to stay.
All knees to thee shall bow of them that bide In heaven or earth, or
under earth, in hell. Milton.
2. To remain; to continue or be permanent in a place or state; to
continue to be. Shak.
BIDE
Bide, v. t.
1. To encounter; to remain firm under (a hardship); to endure; to
suffer; to undergo.
Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are, That bide the pelting of
this pitiless storm. Shak.
2. To wait for; as, I bide my time. See Abide.
BIDENT
Bi"dent, n. Etym: [L. bidens, -entis, having two prongs; bis twice +
dens a tooth.]
Defn: An instrument or weapon with two prongs.
BIDENTAL
Bi*den"tal, a.
Defn: Having two teeth. Swift.
BIDENTATE
Bi*den"tate, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two teeth or two toothlike processes; two-toothed.
BIDET
Bi*det", n. Etym: [F. bidet, perh. fr. Celtic; cr. Gael. bideach very
little, diminutive, bidein a diminutive animal, W. bidan a weakly or
sorry wretch.]
1. A small horse formerly allowed to each trooper or dragoon for
carrying his baggage. B. Jonson.
2. A kind of bath tub for sitting baths; a sitz bath.
BIDIGITATE
Bi*dig"i*tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + digitate.]
Defn: Having two fingers or fingerlike projections.
BIDING
Bid"ing, n.
Defn: Residence; habitation. Rowe.
BIELA'S COMET
Bie"la's com"et. (Astron.)
Defn: A periodic coment, discovered by Biela in 1826, which revolves
around the sun in 6.6 years. The November meteors (Andromedes or
Bielids) move in its orbit, and may be fragments of the comet.
BIELD
Bield, n.
Defn: A shelter. Same as Beild. [Scot.]
BIELD
Bield, v. t.
Defn: To shelter. [Scot.]
BIELID
Bie"lid, n. (Astron.)
Defn: See Andromede.
BIENNIAL
Bi*en"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. biennalis and biennis, fr. biennium a space
of two years; bis twice + annus year. Cf. Annual.]
1. Happening, or taking place, once in two years; as, a biennial
election.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Continuing for two years, and then perishing, as plants which
form roots and leaves the first year, and produce fruit the second.
BIENNIAL
Bi*en"ni*al, n.
1. Something which takes place or appears once in two years; esp. a
biennial examination.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which exists or lasts for two years.
BIENNIALLY
Bi*en"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Once in two years.
BIER
Bier, n. Etym: [OE. bæe, beere, AS. b, b; akin to D. baar, OHG. bara,
G. bahre, Icel barar, Dbaare, L. feretrum, Gr. , from the same bear
to produce. See 1st Bear, and cf. Barrow.]
1. A handbarrow or portable frame on which a corpse is placed or
borne to the grave.
2. (Weaving)
Defn: A count of forty threads in the warp or chain of woolen cloth.
Knight.
BIERBALK
Bier"balk`, n. Etym: [See Bier, and Balk, n.]
Defn: A church road (e. g., a path across fields) for funerals.
[Obs.] Homilies.
BIESTINGS; BEESTINGS
Biest"ings, Beest"ings, n. pl. Etym: [OE. bestynge, AS. b, fr. b,
beost; akin to D. biest, OHG. biost, G. biest; of unknown origin.]
Defn: The first milk given by a cow after calving. B. Jonson.
The thick and curdy milk . . . commonly called biestings. Newton.
(1574).
BIFACIAL
Bi*fa"cial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + facial.]
Defn: Having the opposite surfaces alike.
BIFARIOUS
Bi*fa"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifarius; bis twice + fari to speak. Cf.
Gr.
1. Twofold; arranged in two rows.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Pointing two ways, as leaves that grow only on opposite sides
of a branch; in two vertical rows.
BIFARIOUSLY
Bi*fa"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bifarious manner.
BIFEROUS
Bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. bifer; bis twice + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Bearing fruit twice a year.
BIFFIN
Bif"fin, n. Etym: [Cf. Beaufin.]
1. A sort of apple peculiar to Norfolk, Eng.
Note: [Sometimes called beaufin; but properly beefin (it is said),
from its resemblance to raw beef.] Wright.
2. A baked apple pressed down into a flat, round cake; a dried apple.
Dickens.
BIFID
Bi"fid, a. Etym: [L. bifidus; bis twice + root of findere to cleave
or split: cf. F. bifide.]
Defn: Cleft to the middle or slightly beyond the middle; opening with
a cleft; divided by a linear sinus, with straight margins.
BIFIDATE
Bif"i*date, a. Etym: [L. bifidatus.]
Defn: See Bifid.
BIFILAR
Bi*fi"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + filar.]
Defn: Two-threaded; involving the use of two threads; as, bifilar
suspension; a bifilar balance. Bifilar micrometer (often called a
bifilar), an instrument form measuring minute distances or angles by
means of two very minute threads (usually spider lines), one of
which, at least, is movable; -- more commonly called a filar
micrometer.
BIFLABELLATE
Bi`fla*bel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flabellate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Flabellate on both sides.
BIFLAGELLATE
Bi`fla*gel"late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + flagellate.]
Defn: Having two long, narrow, whiplike appendages.
BIFLORATE; BIFLOROUS
Bi*flo"rate, Bi*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + flos, floris,
flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing two flowers; two-flowered.
BIFOCAL
Bi*fo"cal, a. [Pref. bi-+ focal.]
Defn: Having two foci, as some spectacle lenses.
BIFOLD
Bi"fold, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + fold.]
Defn: Twofold; double; of two kinds, degrees, etc. Shak.
BIFOLIATE
Bi*fo"li*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaves; two-leaved.
BIFOLIOLATE
Bi*fo"li*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + foliolate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaflets, as some compound leaves.
BIFORATE
Bif"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + foratus, p. p. of forare to bore
or pierce.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two perforations.
BIFORINE
Bif"o*rine, n. Etym: [L. biforis, biforus, having two doors; bis
twice + foris door.] (Bot.)
Defn: An oval sac or cell, found in the leaves of certain plants of
the order Araceæ. It has an opening at each end through which
raphides, generated inside, are discharged.
BIFORKED
Bi"forked, a.
Defn: Bifurcate.
BIFORM
Bi"form, a. Etym: [L. biformis; bis twice + forma shape: cf. F.
biforme.]
Defn: Having two forms, bodies, or shapes. Croxall.
BIFORMED
Bi"formed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + form.]
Defn: Having two forms. Johnson.
BIFORMITY
Bi*form"i*ty, n.
Defn: A double form.
BIFORN
Bi*forn", prep. & adv.
Defn: Before. [Obs.]
BIFOROUS
Bif"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. biforis having two doors; bis twice, two +
foris door.]
Defn: See Biforate.
BIFRONTED
Bi*front"ed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + front.]
Defn: Having two fronts. "Bifronted Janus." Massinger.
BIFURCATE; BIFURCATED
Bi*fur"cate, Bi*fur"ca*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + furcate.]
Defn: Two-pronged; forked.
BIFURCATE
Bi*fur"cate, v. i.
Defn: To divide into two branches.
BIFURCATION
Bi`fur*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bifurcation.]
Defn: A forking, or division into two branches.
BIFURCOUS
Bi*fur"cous, a. Etym: [L. bifurcus; bis twice + furca fork.]
Defn: See Bifurcate, a. [R.] Coles.
BIG
Big, a. [compar. Bigger; superl. Biggest.] Etym: [Perh. from Celtic;
cf. W. beichiog, beichiawg, pregnant, with child, fr. baich burden,
Arm. beac'h; or cf. OE. bygly, Icel. biggiligr, (properly) habitable;
(then) magnigicent, excellent, fr. OE. biggen, Icel. byggja, to
dwell, build, akin to E. be.]
1. Having largeness of size; of much bulk or magnitude; of great
size; large. "He's too big to go in there." Shak.
2. Great with young; pregnant; swelling; ready to give birth or
produce; -- often figuratively.
[Day] big with the fate of Cato and of Rome. Addison.
3. Having greatness, fullness, importance, inflation, distention,
etc., whether in a good or a bad sense; as, a big heart; a big voice;
big looks; to look big. As applied to looks, it indicates haughtiness
or pride.
God hath not in heaven a bigger argument. Jer. Taylor.
Note: Big is often used in self-explaining compounds; as, big-boned;
big-sounding; big-named; big-voiced. To talk big, to talk loudly,
arrogantly, or pretentiously.
I talked big to them at first. De Foe.
Syn.
-- Bulky; large; great; massive; gross.
BIG; BIGG
Big, Bigg, n. Etym: [OE. bif, bigge; akin to Icel. bygg, Dan. byg,
Sw. bjugg.] (Bot.)
Defn: Barley, especially the hardy four-rowed kind.
"Bear interchanges in local use, now with barley, now with bigg." New
English Dict.
BIG; BIGG
Big, Bigg, v. t. Etym: [OE. biggen, fr. Icel. byggja to inhabit, to
build, b (neut.) to dwell (active) to make ready. See Boor, and
Bound.]
Defn: To build. [Scot. & North of Eng. Dial.] Sir W. Scott.
BIGA
Bi"ga, n. Etym: [L.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A two-horse chariot.
BIGAM
Big"am, n. Etym: [L. bigamus twice married: cf. F. bigame. See
Bigamy.]
Defn: A bigamist. [Obs.]
BIGAMIST
Big"a*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. Digamist.]
Defn: One who is guilty of bigamy. Ayliffe.
BIGAMOUS
Big"a*mous, a.
Defn: Guilty of bigamy; involving bigamy; as, a bigamous marriage.
BIGAMY
Big"a*my, n. Etym: [OE. bigamie, fr. L. bigamus twice married; bis
twice + Gr. marriage; prob. akin to Skt. jamis related, and L. gemini
twins, the root meaning to bind, join: cf. F. bigamie. Cf. Digamy.]
(Law)
Defn: The offense of marrying one person when already legally married
to another. Wharton.
Note: It is not strictly correct to call this offense bigamy: it more
properly denominated polygamy, i. e., having a plurality of wives or
husbands at once, and in several statutes in the United States the
offense is classed under the head of polygamy. In the canon law
bigamy was the marrying of two virgins successively, or one after the
death of the other, or once marrying a widow. This disqualified a man
for orders, and for holding ecclesiastical offices. Shakespeare uses
the word in the latter sense. Blackstone. Bouvier.
Base declension and loathed bigamy. Shak.
BIGARREAU; BIGAROON
Big`ar*reau", Big`a*roon", n. Etym: [F. bigarreau, fr. bigarré
variegated.] (Bot.)
Defn: The large white-heart cherry.
BIG-BELLIED
Big"-bel`lied, a.
Defn: Having a great belly; as, a big-bellied man or flagon; advanced
in pregnancy.
BIG BEND STATE
Big Bend State.
Defn: Tennessee; -- a nickname.
BIGEMINATE
Bi*gem"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + geminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a forked petiole, and a pair of leaflets at the end of
each division; biconjugate; twice paired; -- said of a decompound
leaf.
BIGENTIAL
Bi*gen"tial, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + L. gens, gentis, tribe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Including two tribes or races of men.
BIGEYE
Big"eye`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Priacanthus, remarkable for the large size
of the eye.
BIGG
Bigg, n. & v.
Defn: See Big, n. & v.
BIGGEN
Big"gen, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or become big; to enlarge. [Obs. or Dial.] Steele.
BIGGER
Big"ger, a.
Defn: , compar. of Big.
BIGGEST
Big"gest, a.
Defn: , superl. of Big.
BIGGIN
Big"gin, n. Etym: [F. béguin, prob. from the cap worn by the
Béguines. Cf. Beguine, Biggon.]
Defn: A child's cap; a hood, or something worn on the head.
An old woman's biggin for a nightcap. Massinger.
BIGGIN
Big"gin, n.
Defn: A coffeepot with a strainer or perforated metallic vessel for
holding the ground coffee, through which boiling water is poured; --
so called from Mr. Biggin, the inventor.
BIGGIN; BIGGING
Big"gin, Big"ging, n. Etym: [OE. bigging. See Big, Bigg, v. t.]
Defn: A building. [Obs.]
BIGGON; BIGGONNET
Big"gon, Big"gon*net, n. Etym: [F. béguin and OF. beguinet, dim of
béguin. See Biggin a cap.]
Defn: A cap or hood with pieces covering the ears.
BIGHA
Big"ha, n.
Defn: A measure of land in India, varying from a third of an acre to
an acre.
BIGHORN
Big"horn`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Rocky Mountain sheep (Ovis or Caprovis montana).
BIGHT
Bight, n. Etym: [OE. bi a bending; cf. Sw. & Dan. bugt bend, bay; fr.
AS. byht, fr. b. sq. root88. Cf. Bout, Bought a bend, and see Bow,
v.]
1. A corner, bend, or angle; a hollow; as, the bight of a horse's
knee; the bight of an elbow.
2. (Geog.)
Defn: A bend in a coast forming an open bay; as, the Bight of Benin.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The double part of a rope when folded, in distinction from the
ends; that is, a round, bend, or coil not including the ends; a loop.
BIGLANDULAR
Bi*glan"du*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + glandular.]
Defn: Having two glands, as a plant.
BIGLY
Big"ly, adv. Etym: [From Big, a.]
Defn: In a tumid, swelling, blustering manner; haughtily; violently.
He brawleth bigly. Robynson (More's Utopia. )
BIGNESS
Big"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being big; largeness; size; bulk.
BIGNONIA
Big*no"ni*a, n. Etym: [Named from the Abbé Bignon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of American, mostly tropical, climbing shrubs,
having compound leaves and showy somewhat tubular flowers. B.
capreolata is the cross vine of the Southern United States. The
trumpet creeper was formerly considered to be of this genus.
BIGNONIACEOUS
Big*no`ni*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which
the trumpet flower is an example.
BIGOT
Big"ot, n. Etym: [F. bigot a bigot or hypocrite, a name once given to
the Normans in France. Of unknown origin; possibly akin to Sp. bigote
a whisker; hombre de bigote a man of spirit and vigor; cf. It. s-
bigottire to terrify, to appall. Wedgwood and others maintain that
bigot is from the same source as Beguine, Beghard.]
1. A hypocrite; esp., a superstitious hypocrite. [Obs.]
2. A person who regards his own faith and views in matters of
religion as unquestionably right, and any belief or opinion opposed
to or differing from them as unreasonable or wicked. In an extended
sense, a person who is intolerant of opinions which conflict with his
own, as in politics or morals; one obstinately and blindly devoted to
his own church, party, belief, or opinion.
To doubt, where bigots had been content to wonder and believe.
Macaulay.
BIGOT
Big"ot, a.
Defn: Bigoted. [Obs.]
In a country more bigot than ours. Dryden.
BIGOTED
Big"ot*ed, a.
Defn: Obstinately and blindly attached to some creed, opinion
practice, or ritual; unreasonably devoted to a system or party, and
illiberal toward the opinions of others. "Bigoted to strife." Byron.
Syn.
-- Prejudiced; intolerant; narrow-minded.
BIGOTEDLY
Big"ot*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a bigot.
BIGOTRY
Big"ot*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bigoterie.]
1. The state of mind of a bigot; obstinate and unreasoning attachment
of one's own belief and opinions, with narrow-minded intolerance of
beliefs opposed to them.
2. The practice or tenets of a bigot.
BIGWIG
Big"wig`, n. Etym: [Big,a.+ wig.]
Defn: A person of consequence; as, the bigwigs of society. [Jocose]
In our youth we have heard him spoken of by the bigwigs with extreme
condescension. Dickens.
BIG-WIGGED
Big"-wigged`, a.
Defn: characterized by pomposity of manner. [Eng.]
BIHYDROGURET
Bi`hy*drog"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + hydroguret.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of two atoms of hydrogen with some other substance.
[Obs.]
BIJOU
Bi*jou", n.; pl. Bijoux. Etym: [F.; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A trinket; a jewel; -- a word applied to anything small and of
elegant workmanship.
BIJOUTRY
Bi*jou"try, n. Etym: [F. bijouterie. See Bijou.]
Defn: Small articles of virtu, as jewelry, trinkets, etc.
BIJUGATE
Bij"u*gate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + jugatus, p. p. of jugare to
join.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two pairs, as of leaflets.
BIJUGOUS
Bij"u*gous, a. Etym: [L. bijugus yoked two together; bis twice +
jugum yoke, pair.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bijugate.
BIKE
Bike, n. Etym: [Ethymol. unknown.]
Defn: A nest of wild bees, wasps, or ants; a swarm. [Scot.] Sir W.
Scott.
BIKH
Bikh, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Skr. visha poison.] (Bot.)
Defn: The East Indian name of a virulent poison extracted from
Aconitum ferox or other species of aconite: also, the plant itself.
BILABIATE
Bi*la"bi*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + labiate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two lips, as the corols of certain flowers.
BILACINIATE
Bi`la*cin"i*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + laciniate.]
Defn: Doubly fringed.
BILALO
Bi*la"lo, n.
Defn: A two-masted passenger boat or small vessel, used in the bay of
Manila.
BILAMELLATE; BILAMELLATED
Bi*lam"el*late, Bi*lam"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lamellate.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Formed of two plates, as the stigma of the Mimulus; also,
having two elevated ridges, as in the lip of certain flowers.
BILAMINAR; BILAMINATE
Bi*lam"i*nar, Bi*lam"i*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + laminar,
laminate.]
Defn: Formed of, or having, two laminæ, or thin plates.
BILAND
Bi"land, n.
Defn: A byland. [Obs.] Holland.
BILANDER
Bil"an*der, n. Etym: [D. bijlander; bij by + land land, country.]
(Naut.)
Defn: A small two-masted merchant vessel, fitted only for coasting,
or for use in canals, as in Holland.
Why choose we, then, like bilanders to creep Along the coast, and
land in view to keep Dryden.
BILATERAL
Bi*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lateral: cf. F. bilatéral.]
1. Having two sides; arranged upon two sides; affecting two sides or
two parties.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the two sides of a central area or organ,
or of a central axis; as, bilateral symmetry in animals, where there
is a similarity of parts on the right and left sides of the body.
BILATERALITY
Bi*lat`er*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being bilateral.
BILBERRY
Bil"ber*ry, n.; pl. Bilberries (. Etym: [Cf. Dan. böllebær bilberry,
where bölle is perh. akin to E. ball.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The European whortleberry (Vaccinium myrtillus); also, its
edible bluish black fruit.
There pinch the maids as blue as bilberry. Shak.
2. (Bot.) Any similar plant or its fruit; esp., in America, the
species Vaccinium myrtilloides, V. cæspitosum and V. uliginosum.
BILBO
Bil"bo, n.; pl. Bilboes (.
1. A rapier; a sword; so named from Bilbao, in Spain. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: A long bar or bolt of iron with sliding shackles, and a lock at
the end, to confine the feet of prisoners or offenders, esp. on board
of ships.
Methought I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Shak.
BILBOQUET
Bil"bo*quet, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The toy called cup and ball.
BILCOCK
Bil"cock, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European water rail.
BILDSTEIN
Bild"stein, n. Etym: [G., fr. bild image, likeness + stein stone.]
Defn: Same as Agalmatolite.
BILE
Bile, n. Etym: [L. bilis: cf. F. bile.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: A yellow, or greenish, viscid fluid, usually alkaline in
reaction, secreted by the liver. It passes into the intestines, where
it aids in the digestive process. Its characteristic constituents are
the bile salts, and coloring matters.
2. Bitterness of feeling; choler; anger; ill humor; as, to stir one's
bile. Prescott.
Note: The ancients considered the bile to be the "humor" which caused
irascibility.
BILE
Bile, n. Etym: [OE. byle, bule, bele, AS. b, b; skin to D. buil, G.
beule, and Goth. ufbauljan to puff up. Cf. Boil a tumor, Bulge.]
Defn: A boil. [Obs. or Archaic]
BILECTION
Bi*lec"tion, n. (Arch.)
Defn: That portion of a group of moldings which projects beyond the
general surface of a panel; a bolection.
BILESTONE
Bile"stone`, n. Etym: [Bile + stone.]
Defn: A gallstone, or biliary calculus. See Biliary. E. Darwin.
BILGE
Bilge, n. Etym: [A different orthography of bulge, of same origin as
belly. Cf. Belly, Bulge.]
1. The protuberant part of a cask, which is usually in the middle.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of a ship's hull or bottom which is broadest and most
nearly flat, and on which she would rest if aground.
3. Bilge water. Bilge free (Naut.), stowed in such a way that the
bilge is clear of everything; -- said of a cask.
-- Bilge pump, a pump to draw the bilge water from the gold of a
ship.
-- Bilge water (Naut.), water which collects in the bilge or bottom
of a ship or other vessel. It is often allowed to remain till it
becomes very offensive.
-- Bilge ways, the timbers which support the cradle of a ship upon
the ways, and which slide upon the launching ways in launching the
vessel.
BILGE
Bilge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bilged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bilging.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: To suffer a fracture in the bilge; to spring a leak by a
fracture in the bilge.
2. To bulge.
BILGE
Bilge, v. t.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: To fracture the bilge of, or stave in the bottom of (a ship or
other vessel).
2. To cause to bulge.
BILGY
Bil"gy, a.
Defn: Having the smell of bilge water.
BILIARY
Bil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. bilis bile: cf. F. biliaire.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating or belonging to bile; conveying bile; as, biliary
acids; biliary ducts. Biliary calculus (Med.), a gallstone, or a
concretion formed in the gall bladder or its duct.
BILIATION
Bil`i*a"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The production and excretion of bile.
BILIFEROUS
Bi*lif"er*ous, a.
Defn: Generating bile.
BILIFUSCIN
Bil`i*fus"cin, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + fuscus dark.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A brownish green pigment found in human gallstones and in old
bile. It is a derivative of bilirubin.
BILIMBI; BILIMBING
Bi*lim"bi, Bi*lim"bing, n. Etym: [Malay.]
Defn: The berries of two East Indian species of Averrhoa, of the
Oxalideæ or Sorrel family. They are very acid, and highly esteemed
when preserved or pickled. The juice is used as a remedy for skin
diseases. [Written also blimbi and blimbing.]
BILIMENT
Bil"i*ment, n.
Defn: A woman's ornament; habiliment. [Obs.]
BILIN
Bi"lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. biline, from L. bilis bile.] (Physiol.
Chem.)
Defn: A name applied to the amorphous or crystalline mass obtained
from bile by the action of alcohol and ether. It is composed of a
mixture of the sodium salts of the bile acids.
BILINEAR
Bi*lin"e*ar, a. (Math.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or included by, two lines; as, bilinear
coördinates.
BILINGUAL
Bi*lin"gual, a. Etym: [L. bilinguis; bis twice + lingua tongue,
language.]
Defn: Containing, or consisting of, two languages; expressed in two
languages; as, a bilingual inscription; a bilingual dictionary.
-- Bi*lin"gual*ly, adv.
BILINGUALISM
Bi*lin"gual*ism, n.
Defn: Quality of being bilingual.
The bilingualism of King's English. Earle.
BILINGUAR
Bi*lin"guar, a.
Defn: See Bilingual.
BILINGUIST
Bi*lin"guist, n.
Defn: One versed in two languages.
BILINGUOUS
Bi*lin"guous, a. Etym: [L. bilinguis.]
Defn: Having two tongues, or speaking two languages. [Obs.]
BILIOUS
Bil"ious, a. Etym: [L. biliosus, fr. bilis bile.]
1. Of or pertaining to the bile.
2. Disordered in respect to the bile; troubled with and excess of
bile; as, a bilious patient; dependent on, or characterized by, an
excess of bile; as, bilious symptoms.
3. Choleric; passionate; ill tempered. "A bilious old nabob."
Macaulay. Bilious temperament. See Temperament.
BILIOUSNESS
Bil"ious*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bilious.
BILIPRASIN
Bil`i*pra"sin, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + prasinus green.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A dark green pigment found in small quantity in human
gallstones.
BILIRUBIN
Bil`i*ru"bin, n. Etym: [L. bilis biel + ruber red.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A reddish yellow pigment present in human bile, and in that
from carnivorous and herbivorous animals; the normal biliary pigment.
BILITERAL
Bi*lit"er*al, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + littera letter.]
Defn: Consisting of two letters; as, a biliteral root of a Sanskrit
verb. Sir W. Jones.
-- n.
Defn: A word, syllable, or root, consisting of two letters.
BILITERALISM
Bi*lit"er*al*ism, n.
Defn: The property or state of being biliteral.
BILIVERDIN
Bil`i*ver"din, n. Etym: [L. bilis bile + viridis green. Cf. Verdure.]
(Physiol.)
Defn: A green pigment present in the bile, formed from bilirubin by
oxidation.
BILK
Bilk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bilked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bilking.] Etym:
[Origin unknown. Cf. Balk.]
Defn: To frustrate or disappoint; to deceive or defraud, by
nonfulfillment of engagement; to leave in the lurch; to give the slip
to; as, to bilk a creditor. Thackeray.
BILK
Bilk, n.
1. A thwarting an adversary in cribbage by spoiling his score; a
balk.
2. A cheat; a trick; a hoax. Hudibras.
3. Nonsense; vain words. B. Jonson.
4. A person who tricks a creditor; an untrustworthy, tricky person.
Marryat.
BILL
Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bile, bille, AS. bile beak of a bird, proboscis;
cf. Ir. & Gael. bil, bile, mouth, lip, bird's bill. Cf. Bill a
weapon.]
Defn: A beak, as of a bird, or sometimes of a turtle or other animal.
Milton.
BILL
Bill, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billing.]
1. To strike; to peck. [Obs.]
2. To join bills, as doves; to caress in fondness. "As pigeons bill."
Shak. To bill and coo, to interchange caresses; -- said of doves;
also of demonstrative lovers. Thackeray.
BILL
Bill, n.
Defn: The bell, or boom, of the bittern
The bittern's hollow bill was heard. Wordsworth.
BILL
Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bil, AS. bill, bil; akin to OS. bil sword, OHG.
bill pickax, G. bille. Cf. Bill bea
1. A cutting instrument, with hook-shaped point, and fitted with a
handle; -- used in pruning, etc.; a billhook. When short, called a
hand bill, when long, a hedge bill.
2. A weapon of infantry, in the 14th and 15th centuries. A common
form of bill consisted of a broad, heavy, double-edged, hook-shaped
blade, having a short pike at the back and another at the top, and
attached to the end of a long staff.
France had no infantry that dared to face the English bows end bills.
Macaulay.
3. One who wields a bill; a billman. Strype.
4. A pickax, or mattock. [Obs.]
5. (Naut.)
Defn: The extremity of the arm of an anchor; the point of or beyond
the fluke.
BILL
Bill, v. t.
Defn: To work upon ( as to dig, hoe, hack, or chop anything) with a
bill.
BILL
Bill, n. Etym: [OE. bill, bille, fr. LL. billa (or OF. bille), for L.
bulla anything rounded, LL., seal, stamp, letter, edict, roll; cf. F.
bille a ball, prob. fr. Ger.; cf. MHG. bickel, D. bikkel, dice. Cf.
Bull papal edict, Billet a paper.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A declaration made in writing, stating some wrong the
complainant has suffered from the defendant, or a fault committed by
some person against a law.
2. A writing binding the signer or signers to pay a certain sum at a
future day or on demand, with or without interest, as may be stated
in the document. [Eng.]
Note: In the United States, it is usually called a note, a note of
hand, or a promissory note.
3. A form or draft of a law, presented to a legislature for
enactment; a proposed or projected law.
4. A paper, written or printed, and posted up or given away, to
advertise something, as a lecture, a play, or the sale of goods; a
placard; a poster; a handbill.
She put up the bill in her parlor window. Dickens.
5. An account of goods sold, services rendered, or work done, with
the price or charge; a statement of a creditor's claim, in gross or
by items; as, a grocer's bill.
6. Any paper, containing a statement of particulars; as, a bill of
charges or expenditures; a weekly bill of mortality; a bill of fare,
etc. Bill of adventure. See under Adventure.
-- Bill of costs, a statement of the items which form the total
amount of the costs of a party to a suit or action.
-- Bill of credit. (a) Within the constitution of the United States,
a paper issued by a State, on the mere faith and credit of the State,
and designed to circulate as money. No State shall "emit bills of
credit." U. S. Const. Peters. Wharton. Bouvier (b) Among merchants, a
letter sent by an agent or other person to a merchant, desiring him
to give credit to the bearer for goods or money.
-- Bill of divorce, in the Jewish law, a writing given by the
husband to the wife, by which the marriage relation was dissolved.
Jer. iii. 8.
-- Bill of entry, a written account of goods entered at the
customhouse, whether imported or intended for exportation.
-- Bill of exceptions. See under Exception.
-- Bill of exchange (Com.), a written order or request from one
person or house to another, desiring the latter to pay to some person
designated a certain sum of money therein generally is, and, to be
negotiable, must be, made payable to order or to bearer. So also the
order generally expresses a specified time of payment, and that it is
drawn for value. The person who draws the bil is called the drawer,
the person on whom it is drawn is, before acceptance, called the
drawee, -- after acceptance, the acceptor; the person to whom the
money is directed to be paid is called the payee. The person making
the order may himself be the payee. The bill itself is frequently
called a draft. See Exchange. Chitty.
-- Bill of fare, a written or printed enumeration of the dishes
served at a public table, or of the dishes (with prices annexed)
which may be ordered at a restaurant, etc.
-- Bill of health, a certificate from the proper authorities as to
the state of health of a ship's company at the time of her leaving
port.
-- Bill of indictment, a written accusation lawfully presented to a
grand jury. If the jury consider the evidence sufficient to support
the accusation, they indorse it "A true bill," or "Not found," or
"Ignoramus", or "Ignored." -- Bill of lading, a written account of
goods shipped by any person, signed by the agent of the owner of the
vessel, or by its master, acknowledging the receipt of the goods, and
promising to deliver them safe at the place directed, dangers of the
sea excepted. It is usual for the master to sign two, three, or four
copies of the bill; one of which he keeps in possession, one is kept
by the shipper, and one is sent to the consignee of the goods.
-- Bill of mortality, an official statement of the number of deaths
in a place or district within a given time; also, a district required
to be covered by such statement; as, a place within the bills of
mortality of London.
-- Bill of pains and penalties, a special act of a legislature which
inflicts a punishment less than death upon persons supposed to be
guilty of treason or felony, without any conviction in the ordinary
course of judicial proceedings. Bouvier. Wharton.
-- Bill of parcels, an account given by the seller to the buyer of
the several articles purchased, with the price of each.
-- Bill of particulars (Law), a detailed statement of the items of a
plaintiff's demand in an action, or of the defendant's set-off.
-- Bill of rights, a summary of rights and privileges claimed by a
people. Such was the declaration presented by the Lords and Commons
of England to the Prince and Princess of Orange in 1688, and enacted
in Parliament after they became king and queen. In America, a bill or
declaration of rights is prefixed to most of the constitutions of the
several States.
-- Bill of sale, a formal instrument for the conveyance or transfer
of goods and chattels.
-- Bill of sight, a form of entry at the customhouse, by which
goods, respecting which the importer is not possessed of full
information, may be provisionally landed for examination.
-- Bill of store, a license granted at the customhouse to merchants,
to carry such stores and provisions as are necessary for a voyage,
custom free. Wharton.
-- Bills payable (pl.), the outstanding unpaid notes or acceptances
made and issued by an individual or firm.
-- Bills receivable (pl.), the unpaid promissory notes or
acceptances held by an individual or firm. McElrath.
-- A true bill, a bill of indictment sanctioned by a grand jury.
BILL
Bill, v. t.
1. To advertise by a bill or public notice.
2. To charge or enter in a bill; as, to bill goods.
BILLABONG
Bil"la*bong`, n. [Native name.]
Defn: In Australia, a blind channel leading out from a river; --
sometimes called an anabranch. This is the sense of the word as used
in the Public Works Department; but the term has also been locally
applied to mere back-waters forming stagnant pools and to certain
water channels arising from a source.
BILLAGE
Bil"lage, n.
Defn: and v. t. & i. Same as Bilge.
BILLARD
Bil"lard, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An English fish, allied to the cod; the coalfish. [Written also
billet and billit.]
BILLBEETLE; BILLBUG
Bill`bee"tle, or Bill"bug`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A weevil or curculio of various species, as the corn weevil.
See Curculio.
BILLBOARD
Bill"board`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of thick plank, armed with iron plates, and fixed on
the bow or fore channels of a vessel, for the bill or fluke of the
anchor to rest on. Totten.
2. A flat surface, as of a panel or of a fence, on which bills are
posted; a bulletin board.
BILL BOOK
Bill" book`. (Com.)
Defn: A book in which a person keeps an account of his notes, bills,
bills of exchange, etc., thus showing all that he issues and
receives.
BILL BROKER
Bill" bro`ker.
Defn: One who negotiates the discount of bills.
BILLED
Billed, a.
Defn: Furnished with, or having, a bill, as a bird; -- used in
composition; as, broad-billed.
BILLET
Bil"let, n. Etym: [F. billet, dim. of an OF. bille bill. See Bill a
writing.]
1. A small paper; a note; a short letter. "I got your melancholy
billet." Sterne.
2. A ticket from a public officer directing soldiers at what house to
lodge; as, a billet of residence.
BILLET
Bil"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Billeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Billeting.]
Etym: [From Billet a ticket.] (Mil.)
Defn: To direct, by a ticket or note, where to lodge. Hence: To
quarter, or place in lodgings, as soldiers in private houses.
Billeted in so antiquated a mansion. W. Irving.
BILLET
Bil"let, n. Etym: [F. billette, bille, log; of unknown origin; a
different word from bille ball. Cf. Billiards, Billot.]
1. A small stick of wood, as for firewood.
They shall beat out my brains with billets. Shak.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: A short bar of metal, as of gold or iron.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament in Norman work, resembling a billet of wood either
square or round.
4. (Saddlery)
(a) A strap which enters a buckle.
(b) A loop which receives the end of a buckled strap. Knight.
5. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing in the form of an oblong rectangle.
BILLET-DOUX
Bil`let-doux", n.; pl. Billets-doux. Etym: [F. billet note + doux
sweet, L. dulcis.]
Defn: A love letter or note.
A lover chanting out a billet-doux. Spectator.
BILLETHEAD
Bil"let*head`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A round piece of timber at the bow or stern of a whaleboat,
around which the harpoon lone is run out when the whale darts off.
BILLFISH
Bill"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to several distinct fishes: (a) The garfish
(Tylosurus, or Belone, longirostris) and allied species. (b) The
saury, a slender fish of the Atlantic coast (Scomberesox saurus). (c)
The Tetrapturus albidus, a large oceanic species related to the
swordfish; the spearfish. (d) The American fresh-water garpike
(Lepidosteus osseus).
BILLHEAD
Bill"head`, n.
Defn: A printed form, used by merchants in making out bills or
rendering accounts.
BILL HOLDER
Bill" hold`er.
1. A person who holds a bill or acceptance.
2. A device by means of which bills, etc., are held.
BILLHOOK
Bill"hook`, n. Etym: [Bill + hook.]
Defn: A thick, heavy knife with a hooked point, used in pruning
hedges, etc. When it has a short handle, it is sometimes called a
hand bill; when the handle is long, a hedge bill or scimiter.
BILLIARD
Bil"liard, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the game of billiards. "Smooth as is a
billiard ball." B. Jonson.
BILLIARDS
Bil"liards, n. Etym: [F. billiard billiards, OF. billart staff, cue
form playing, fr. bille log. See Billet a stick.]
Defn: A game played with ivory balls o a cloth-covered, rectangular
table, bounded by elastic cushions. The player seeks to impel his
ball with his cue so that it shall either strike (carom upon) two
other balls, or drive another ball into one of the pockets with which
the table sometimes is furnished.
BILLING
Bill"ing, a. & n.
Defn: Caressing; kissing.
BILLINGSGATE
Bil"lings*gate`, n.
1. A market near the Billings gate in London, celebrated for fish and
foul language.
2. Coarsely abusive, foul, or profane language; vituperation;
ribaldry.
BILLION
Bil"lion, n. Etym: [F. billion, arbitrarily formed fr. L. bis twice,
in imitation of million a million. See Million.]
Defn: According to the French and American method of numeration, a
thousand millions, or 1,000,000,000; according to the English method,
a million millions, or 1,000,000,000,000. See Numeration.
BILLMAN
Bill"man, n.; pl. Billmen (.
Defn: One who uses, or is armed with, a bill or hooked ax. "A billman
of the guard." Savile.
BILLON
Bil`lon", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Billet a stick.]
Defn: An alloy of gold and silver with a large proportion of copper
or other base metal, used in coinage.
BILLOT
Bil"lot, n. Etym: [F. billot, dim. of bille. See Billet a stick.]
Defn: Bullion in the bar or mass.
BILLOW
Bil"low, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bylgja billow, Dan. bölge, Sw. bölja;
akin to MHG. bulge billow, bag, and to E. bulge. See Bulge.]
1. A great wave or surge of the sea or other water, caused usually by
violent wind.
Whom the winds waft where'er the billows roll. Cowper.
2. A great wave or flood of anything. Milton.
BILLOW
Bil"low, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Billowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Billowing.]
Defn: To surge; to rise and roll in waves or surges; to undulate.
"The billowing snow." Prior.
BILLOWY
Bil"low*y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to billows; swelling or swollen into large
waves; full of billows or surges; resembling billows.
And whitening down the many-tinctured stream, Descends the billowy
foam. Thomson.
BILLPOSTER; BILLSTICKER
Bill"post`er, Bill"stick"er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to post handbills or posters in public
places.
BILLY
Bil"ly, n.
1. A club; esp., a policeman's club.
2. (Wool Manuf.)
Defn: A slubbing or roving machine.
BILLYBOY
Bil"ly*boy`, n.
Defn: A flat-bottomed river barge or coasting vessel. [Eng.]
BILLYCOCK; BILLYCOCK HAT
Bil"ly*cock, n., or Bil"ly*cock hat`. [Perh. from bully + cock; that
is, cocked like the hats of the bullies.]
Defn: A round, low-crowned felt hat; a wideawake. "The undignified
billycocks and pantaloons of the West." B. H. Chamberlain.
Little acquiesced, and Ransome disguised him in a beard, and a loose
set of clothes, and a billicock hat.
Charles Reade.
BILLY GOAT
Bil"ly goat`.
Defn: A male goat. [Colloq.]
BILOBATE
Bi*lo"bate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lobate.]
Defn: Divided into two lobes or segments.
BILOBED
Bi"lobed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + lobe.]
Defn: Bilobate.
BILOCATION
Bi`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + location.]
Defn: Double location; the state or power of being in two places at
the same instant; -- a miraculous power attributed to some of the
saints. Tylor.
BILOCULAR
Bi*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + locular: cf. F. biloculaire.]
Defn: Divided into two cells or compartments; as, a bilocular
pericarp. Gray.
BILSTED
Bil"sted, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Sweet gum.
BILTONG
Bil"tong, n. Etym: [S. African.]
Defn: Lean meat cut into strips and sun-dried. H. R. Haggard.
BIMACULATE
Bi*mac"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + maculate, a.]
Defn: Having, or marked with, two spots.
BIMANA
Bim"a*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Bimanous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Animals having two hands; -- a term applied by Cuvier to man as
a special order of Mammalia.
BIMANOUS
Bim"a*nous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + manus hand.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two hands; two-handed.
BIMARGINATE
Bi*mar"gin*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + marginate.]
Defn: Having a double margin, as certain shells.
BIMASTISM
Bi*mas"tism, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + Gr. breast.] (Anat.)
Defn: The condition of having two mammæ or teats.
BIMEDIAL
Bi*me"di*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + medial.] (Geom.)
Defn: Applied to a line which is the sum of two lines commensurable
only in power (as the side and diagonal of a square).
BIMEMBRAL
Bi*mem"bral, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + membrum member.] (Gram.)
Defn: Having two members; as, a bimembral sentence. J. W. Gibbs.
BIMENSAL
Bi*men"sal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + mensal.]
Defn: See Bimonthly, a. [Obs. or R.]
BIMESTRIAL
Bi*mes"tri*al, a. Etym: [L. bimestris; bis twice + mensis month.]
Defn: Continuing two months. [R.]
BIMETALLIC
Bi`me*tal"lic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + metallic: cf. F. bimétallique.]
Defn: Of or relating to, or using, a double metallic standard (as
gold and silver) for a system of coins or currency.
BIMETALLISM
Bi*met"al*lism, n. Etym: [F. bimétalisme.]
Defn: The legalized use of two metals (as gold and silver) in the
currency of a country, at a fixed relative value; -- in opposition to
monometallism.
Note: The words bimétallisme and monométallisme are due to M.
Cernuschi [1869]. Littré.
BIMETALLIST
Bi*met"al*list, n.
Defn: An advocate of bimetallism.
BIMOLECULAR
Bi"mo*lec"u*lar, a. [Pref. bi-+ molecular.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or formed from, two molecules; as, a bimolecular
reaction (a reaction between two molecules).
BIMONTHLY
Bi*month"ly, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + monthly.]
Defn: Occurring, done, or coming, once in two months; as, bimonthly
visits; bimonthly publications.
-- n.
Defn: A bimonthly publication.
BIMONTHLY
Bi*month"ly, adv.
Defn: Once in two months.
BIMUSCULAR
Bi*mus"cu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + muscular.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two adductor muscles, as a bivalve mollusk.
BIN
Bin, n. Etym: [OE. binne, AS. binn manager, crib; perh. akin to D.
ben, benne, basket, and to L. benna a kind of carriage ( a Gallic
word), W. benn, men, wain, cart.]
Defn: A box, frame, crib, or inclosed place, used as a receptacle for
any commodity; as, a corn bin; a wine bin; a coal bin.
BIN
Bin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Binned; p. pr. & vb. n. Binning.]
Defn: To put into a bin; as, to bin wine.
BIN
Bin.
Defn: An old form of Be and Been. [Obs.]
BIN; BIN-
Bin*.
Defn: A euphonic form of the prefix Bi-.
BINAL
Bi"nal, a. Etym: [See Binary.]
Defn: Twofold; double. [R.] "Binal revenge, all this." Ford.
BINARSENIATE
Bin`ar*se"ni*ate, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + arseniate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt having two equivalents of arsenic acid to one of the
base. Graham.
BINARY
Bi"na*ry, a. Etym: [L. binarius, fr. bini two by two, two at a time,
fr. root of bis twice; akin to E. two: cf. F. binaire.]
Defn: Compounded or consisting of two things or parts; characterized
by two (things). Binary arithmetic, that in which numbers are
expressed according to the binary scale, or in which two figures
only, 0 and 1, are used, in lieu of ten; the cipher multiplying
everything by two, as in common arithmetic by ten. Thus, 1 is one; 10
is two; 11 is three; 100 is four, etc. Davies & Peck.
-- Binary compound (Chem.), a compound of two elements, or of an
element and a compound performing the function of an element, or of
two compounds performing the function of elements.
-- Binary logarithms, a system of logarithms devised by Euler for
facilitating musical calculations, in which 1 is logarithm of 2,
instead of 10, as in the common logarithms, and the modulus 1.442695
instead of .43429448.
-- Binary measure (Mus.), measure divisible by two or four; common
time.
-- Binary nomenclature (Nat. Hist.), nomenclature in which the names
designate both genus and species.
-- Binary scale (Arith.), a uniform scale of notation whose ratio is
two.
-- Binary star (Astron.), a double star whose members have a
revolution round their common center of gravity.
-- Binary theory (Chem.), the theory that all chemical compounds
consist of two constituents of opposite and unlike qualities.
BINARY
Bi"na*ry, n.
Defn: That which is constituted of two figures, things, or parts;
two; duality. Fotherby.
BINATE
Bi"nate, a. Etym: [L. bini two and two.] (Bot.)
Defn: Double; growing in pairs or couples. Gray.
BINAURAL
Bin*au"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. bin- + aural.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or used by, both ears.
BINBASHI
Bin*bash"i, n. [Turk., prop., chief of a thousand; bin thousand +
bash head.] (Mil.)
Defn: A major in the Turkish army.
BIND
Bind, v. t. [imp. Bound; p. p. Bound, formerly Bounden; p. pr. & vb.
n. Binding.] Etym: [AS. bindan, perfect tense band, bundon, p. p.
bunden; akin to D. & G. binden, Dan. binde, Sw. & Icel. binda, Goth.
bindan, Skr. bandh (for bhandh) to bind, cf. Gr. (for ) cable, and L.
offendix. sq. root90.]
1. To tie, or confine with a cord, band, ligature, chain, etc.; to
fetter; to make fast; as, to bind grain in bundles; to bind a
prisoner.
2. To confine, restrain, or hold by physical force or influence of
any kind; as, attraction binds the planets to the sun; frost binds
the earth, or the streams.
He bindeth the floods from overflowing. Job xxviii. 11.
Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years. Luke xiii. 16.
3. To cover, as with a bandage; to bandage or dress; -- sometimes
with up; as, to bind up a wound.
4. To make fast ( a thing) about or upon something, as by tying; to
encircle with something; as, to bind a belt about one; to bind a
compress upon a part.
5. To prevent or restrain from customary or natural action; as,
certain drugs bind the bowels.
6. To protect or strengthen by a band or binding, as the edge of a
carpet or garment.
7. To sew or fasten together, and inclose in a cover; as, to bind a
book.
8. Fig.: To oblige, restrain, or hold, by authority, law, duty,
promise, vow, affection, or other moral tie; as, to bind the
conscience; to bind by kindness; bound by affection; commerce binds
nations to each other.
Who made our laws to bind us, not himself. Milton.
9. (Law)
(a) To bring (any one) under definite legal obligations; esp. under
the obligation of a bond or covenant. Abbott.
(b) To place under legal obligation to serve; to indenture; as, to
bind an apprentice; -- sometimes with out; as, bound out to service.
To bind over, to put under bonds to do something, as to appear at
court, to keep the peace, etc.
-- To bind to, to contract; as, to bind one's self to a wife.
-- To bind up in, to cause to be wholly engrossed with; to absorb
in.
Syn.
-- To fetter; tie; fasten; restrain; restrict; oblige.
BIND
Bind, v. i.
1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.
They that reap must sheaf and bind. Shak.
2. To contract; to grow hard or stiff; to cohere or stick together in
a mass; as, clay binds by heat. Mortimer.
3. To be restrained from motion, or from customary or natural action,
as by friction.
4. To exert a binding or restraining influence. Locke.
BIND
Bind, n.
1. That which binds or ties.
2. Any twining or climbing plant or stem, esp. a hop vine; a bine.
3. (Metal.)
Defn: Indurated clay, when much mixed with the oxide of iron. Kirwan.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A ligature or tie for grouping notes.
BINDER
Bind"er, n.
1. One who binds; as, a binder of sheaves; one whose trade is to
bind; as, a binder of books.
2. Anything that binds, as a fillet, cord, rope, or band; a bandage;
-- esp. the principal piece of timber intended to bind together any
building.
BINDERY
Bind"er*y, n.
Defn: A place where books, or other articles, are bound; a
bookbinder's establishment.
BINDHEIMITE
Bind"heim*ite, n. Etym: [From Bindheim, a German who analyzed it.]
(Min.)
Defn: An amorphous antimonate of lead, produced from the alteration
of other ores, as from jamesonite.
BINDING
Bind"ing, a.
Defn: That binds; obligatory. Binding beam (Arch.), the main timber
in double flooring.
-- Binding joist (Arch.), the secondary timber in double-framed
flooring.
Syn.
-- Obligatory; restraining; restrictive; stringent; astringent;
costive; styptic.
BINDING
Bind"ing, n.
1. The act or process of one who, or that which, binds.
2. Anything that binds; a bandage; the cover of a book, or the cover
with the sewing, etc.; something that secures the edge of cloth from
raveling.
3. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The transoms, knees, beams, keelson, and other chief timbers
used for connecting and strengthening the parts of a vessel.
BINDINGLY
Bind"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to bind.
BINDINGNESS
Bind"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or property of being binding; obligatory quality.
Coleridge.
BINDING POST
Bind"ing post`. (Elec.)
Defn: A metallic post attached to electrical apparatus for
convenience in making connections.
BINDING SCREW
Bind"ing screw`.
Defn: A set screw used to bind parts together, esp. one for making a
connection in an electrical circuit.
BINDWEED
Bind"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Convolvulus; as, greater bindweed (C.
Sepium); lesser bindweed (C. arvensis); the white, the blue, the
Syrian, bindweed. The black bryony, or Tamus, is called black
bindweed, and the Smilax aspera, rough bindweed.
The fragile bindweed bells and bryony rings. Tennyson.
BINE
Bine, n. Etym: [Bind, cf. Woodbine.]
Defn: The winding or twining stem of a hop vine or other climbing
plant.
BINERVATE
Bi*nerv"ate, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + nervus sinew, nerve.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Two-nerved; -- applied to leaves which have two longitudinal
ribs or nerves.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having only two nerves, as the wings of some insects.
BING
Bing, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bingr, Sw. binge, G. beige, beuge. Cf.
Prov. E. bink bench, and bench coal the uppermost stratum of coal.]
Defn: A heap or pile; as, a bing of wood. "Potato bings." Burns. "A
bing of corn." Surrey. [Obs. or Dial. Eng. & Scot.]
BINIODIDE
Bin*i"o*dide, n.
Defn: Same as Diiodide.
BINK
Bink, n.
Defn: A bench. [North of Eng. & Scot.]
BINNACLE
Bin"na*cle, n. Etym: [For bittacle, corrupted (perh. by influence of
bin) fr. Pg. bitacola binnacle, fr. L. habitaculum dwelling place,
fr. habitare to dwell. See Habit, and cf. Bittacle.] (Naut.)
Defn: A case or box placed near the helmsman, containing the compass
of a ship, and a light to show it at night. Totten.
BINNY
Bin"ny, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large species of barbel (Barbus bynni), found in the Nile,
and much esteemed for food.
BINOCLE
Bin"o*cle, n. Etym: [F. binocle; L. bini two at a time + oculus eye.]
(Opt.)
Defn: A dioptric telescope, fitted with two tubes joining, so as to
enable a person to view an object with both eyes at once; a double-
barreled field glass or an opera glass.
BINOCULAR
Bin*oc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. binoculaire. See Binocle.]
1. Having two eyes. "Most animals are binocular." Derham.
2. Pertaining to both eyes; employing both eyes at once; as,
binocular vision.
3. Adapted to the use of both eyes; as, a binocular microscope or
telescope. Brewster.
BINOCULAR
Bin*oc"u*lar, n.
Defn: A binocular glass, whether opera glass, telescope, or
microscope.
BINOCULARLY
Bin*oc"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a binocular manner.
BINOCULATE
Bin*oc"u*late, a.
Defn: Having two eyes.
BINOMIAL
Bi*no"mi*al, n. Etym: [L. bis twice + nomen name: cf. F. binome, LL.
binomius (or fr. bi- + Gr. distribution ). Cf. Monomial.] (Alg.)
Defn: An expression consisting of two terms connected by the sign
plus (+) or minus (-); as, a+b, or 7-3.
BINOMIAL
Bi*no"mi*al, a.
1. Consisting of two terms; pertaining to binomials; as, a binomial
root.
2. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Having two names; -- used of the system by which every animal
and plant receives two names, the one indicating the genus, the other
the species, to which it belongs. Binomial theorem (Alg.), the
theorem which expresses the law of formation of any power of a
binomial.
BINOMINAL
Bi*nom"i*nal, a. Etym: [See Binomial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to two names; binomial.
BINOMINOUS
Bi*nom"i*nous, a.
Defn: Binominal. [Obs.]
BINOTONOUS
Bi*not"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. bini two at a time + tonus, fr. Gr. ,
tone.]
Defn: Consisting of two notes; as, a binotonous cry.
BINOUS
Bi"nous, a.
Defn: Same as Binate.
BINOXALATE
Bin*ox"a*late, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + oxalate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt having two equivalents of oxalic acid to one of the
base; an acid oxalate.
BINOXIDE
Bin*ox"ide, n. Etym: [Pref. bin- + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dioxide.
BINTURONG
Bin"tu*rong, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small Asiatic civet of the genus Arctilis.
BINUCLEAR; BINUCLEATE
Bi*nu"cle*ar, Bi*nu"cle*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + nuclear,
nucleate.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having two nuclei; as, binucleate cells.
BINUCLEOLATE
Bi*nu"cle*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + nucleolus.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having two nucleoli.
BIOBLAST
Bi"o*blast, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Bioplast.
BIOCELLATE
Bi*oc"el*late, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + ocellatus. See Ocellated.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two ocelli (eyelike spots); -- said of a wing, etc.
BIOCHEMISTRY
Bi`o*chem"is*try, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. chemistry.] (Biol.)
Defn: The chemistry of living organisms; the chemistry of the
processes incidental to, and characteristic of, life.
BIODYNAMIC; BIODYNAMICAL
Bi`o*dy*nam"ic, Bi`o*dy*nam"ic*al, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to biodynamics, or the doctrine of vital
forces or energy.
BIODYNAMICS
Bi`o*dy*nam"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. dynamics.] (Biol.)
Defn: The doctrine of vital forces or energy.
BIOGEN
Bi"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -gen.] (Biol.)
Defn: Bioplasm.
BIOGENESIS; BIOGENY
Bi`o*gen"e*sis, Bi*og"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. life + , , birth.] (Biol.)
(a) A doctrine that the genesis or production of living organisms can
take place only through the agency of living germs or parents; --
opposed to abiogenesis.
(b) Life development generally.
BIOGENETIC
Bi`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to biogenesis.
BIOGENIST
Bi*og"e*nist, n.
Defn: A believer in the theory of biogenesis.
BIOGEOGRAPHY
Bi`o*ge*og"ra*phy, n. [Gr. bi`os life + E. geography.]
Defn: The branch of biology which deals with the geographical
distribution of animals and plants. It includes both zoögeography and
phytogeography. -- Bi`o*ge`o*graph"ic (#), a. --
Bi`o*ge`o*graph"ic*al*ly (#), adv.
BIOGNOSIS
Bi`og*no"sis, n. Etym: [Gr. life + investigation.] (Biol.)
Defn: The investigation of life.
BIOGRAPH
Bi"o*graph, n. [Gr. bi`os life + -graph.]
1.
Defn: An animated picture machine for screen projection; a
cinematograph.
2. [Cf. Biography.] A biographical sketch. [Rare]
BIOGRAPHER
Bi*og"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who writes an account or history of the life of a
particular person; a writer of lives, as Plutarch.
BIOGRAPHIC; BIOGRAPHICAL
Bi"o*graph"ic, Bi`o*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to biography; containing biography.
-- Bi`o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
BIOGRAPHIZE
Bi*og"ra*phize, v. t.
Defn: To write a history of the life of. Southey.
BIOGRAPHY
Bi*og"ra*phy, n.; pl. Biographies. Etym: [Gr. ; life + to write: cf.
F. biographie. See Graphic.]
1. The written history of a person's life.
2. Biographical writings in general.
BIOLOGIC; BIOLOGICAL
Bi`o*log"ic, Bi`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to biology.
-- Bi`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
BIOLOGIST
Bi*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: A student of biology; one versed in the science of biology.
BIOLOGY
Bi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -logy: cf. F. biologie.]
Defn: The science of life; that branch of knowledge which treats of
living matter as distinct from matter which is not living; the study
of living tissue. It has to do with the origin, structure,
development, function, and distribution of animals and plants.
BIOLYSIS
Bi*ol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. life + a dissolving.] (Biol.)
Defn: The destruction of life.
BIOLYTIC
Bi`o*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. life + to destroy.]
Defn: Relating to the destruction of life.
BIOMAGNETIC
Bi`o*mag*net"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to biomagnetism.
BIOMAGNETISM
Bi`o*mag"net*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. magnetism.]
Defn: Animal magnetism.
BIOMETRY
Bi*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. life + -metry.]
Defn: Measurement of life; calculation of the probable duration of
human life.
BION
Bi"on, n. Etym: [Gr. living, p. pr. of to live.] (Biol.)
Defn: The physiological individual, characterized by definiteness and
independence of function, in distinction from the morphological
individual or morphon.
BIONOMY
Bi*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. life + law.]
Defn: Physiology. [R.] Dunglison.
BIOPHOR; BIOPHORE
Bi"o*phor` Bi"o*phore`, n. Etym: [Gr. life + bearing, fr. to bear.]
(Biol.)
Defn: One of the smaller vital units of a cell, the bearer of
vitality and heredity. See Pangen, in Supplement.
BIOPHOTOPHONE
Bi`o*pho"to*phone, n. [Gr. bi`os life + photo + fwnh` sound, voice.]
Defn: An instrument combining a cinematograph and a phonograph so
that the moving figures on the screen are accompanied by the
appropriate sounds.
BIOPLASM
Bi"o*plasm, n. Etym: [Gr. life + form, mold, fr. to mold.] (Biol.)
Defn: A name suggested by Dr. Beale for the germinal matter supposed
to be essential to the functions of all living beings; the material
through which every form of life manifests itself; unaltered
protoplasm.
BIOPLASMIC
Bi`o*plas"mic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, bioplasm.
BIOPLAST
Bi"o*plast, n. Etym: [Gr. life + to form.] (Biol.)
Defn: A tiny mass of bioplasm, in itself a living unit and having
formative power, as a living white blood corpuscle; bioblast.
BIOPLASTIC
Bi`o*plas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Bioplasmic.
BIOPSYCHIC; BIOPSYCHICAL
Bi`o*psy"chic, Bi`o*psy"chic*al, a. [Gr. bi`os life + psychic, -cal.]
Defn: Pertaining to psychical phenomena in their relation to the
living organism or to the general phenomena of life.
BIORGAN
Bi*or"gan, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. organ.] (Biol.)
Defn: A physiological organ; a living organ; an organ endowed with
function; -- distinguished from idorgan.
BIOSCOPE
Bi"o*scope, n. [Gr. bi`os life + -scope.]
1.
Defn: A view of life; that which gives such a view.
Bagman's Bioscope: Various Views of Men and Manners. [Book Title.]
W. Bayley (1824).
2. An animated picture machine for screen projection; a
cinematograph (which see).
BIOSTATICS
Bi`o*stat"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + . See Statics.] (Biol.)
Defn: The physical phenomena of organized bodies, in opposition to
their organic or vital phenomena.
BIOSTATISTICS
Bi`o*sta*tis"tics, n. Etym: [Gr. life + E. statistics.] (Biol.)
Defn: Vital statistics.
BIOTAXY
Bi"o*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. life + arrangement.] (Biol.)
Defn: The classification of living organisms according to their
structural character; taxonomy.
BIOTIC
Bi*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. pert. to life.] (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to life; as, the biotic principle.
BIOTITE
Bi"o*tite, n. Etym: [From Biot, a French naturalist.] (Min.)
Defn: Mica containing iron and magnesia, generally of a black or dark
green color; -- a common constituent of crystalline rocks. See Mica.
BIPALMATE
Bi*pal"mate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + palmate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Palmately branched, with the branches again palmated.
BIPARIETAL
Bi`pa*ri"e*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + parietal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the diameter of the cranium, from one
parietal fossa to the other.
BIPAROUS
Bip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + parere to bring forth.]
Defn: Bringing forth two at a birth.
BIPARTIBLE
Bi*part"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bipartible. See Bipartite.]
Defn: Capable of being divided into two parts.
BIPARTIENT
Bi*par"tient, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + partiens, p. pr. of partire to
divide.]
Defn: Dividing into two parts.
-- n.
Defn: A number that divides another into two equal parts without a
remainder.
BIPARTILE
Bi*par"tile, a.
Defn: Divisible into two parts.
BIPARTITE
Bip"ar*tite, a. Etym: [L. bipartitus, p. p. of bipartire; bis twice +
partire. See Partite.]
1. Being in two parts; having two correspondent parts, as a legal
contract or writing, one for each party; shared by two; as, a
bipartite treaty.
2. Divided into two parts almost to the base, as a leaf; consisting
of two parts or subdivisions. Gray.
BIPARTITION
Bi`par*ti"tion, n.
Defn: The act of dividing into two parts, or of making two
correspondent parts, or the state of being so divided.
BIPECTINATE; BIPECTINATED
Bi*pec"ti*nate, Bi*pec"ti*na`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pectinate.]
(Biol.)
Defn: Having two margins toothed like a comb.
BIPED
Bi"ped, n. Etym: [L. bipes; bis twice + pes, pedis, bipède.]
Defn: A two-footed animal, as man.
BIPED
Bi"ped, a.
Defn: Having two feet; two-footed.
By which the man, when heavenly life was ceased, Became a helpless,
naked, biped beast. Byrom.
BIPEDAL
Bip"e*dal, a. Etym: [L. bipedalis: cf. F. bipédal. See Biped, n.]
1. Having two feet; biped.
2. Pertaining to a biped.
BIPELTATE
Bi*pel"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + peltate.]
Defn: Having a shell or covering like a double shield.
BIPENNATE; BIPENNATED
Bi*pen"nate, Bi*pen"na*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pennate: cf. L.
bipennis. Cf. Bipinnate.]
Defn: Having two wings. "Bipennated insects." Derham.
BIPENNIS
Bi*pen"nis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An ax with an edge or blade on each side of the handle.
BIPETALOUS
Bi*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + petalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two petals.
BIPINNARIA
Bi`pin*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. bis twice + pinna feather.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of certain starfishes as developed in the free-
swimming stage.
BIPINNATE; BIPINNATED
Bi*pin"nate, Bi*pin"na*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pinnate; cf. F.
bipinné. Cf. Bipennate.]
Defn: Twice pinnate.
BIPINNATIFID
Bi`pin*nat"i*fid, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pinnatifid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Doubly pinnatifid.
Note: A bipinnatifid leaf is a pinnatifid leaf having its segments or
divisions also pinnatifid. The primary divisions are pinnæ and the
secondary pinnules.
BIPLANE
Bi"plane, n. [Pref. bi- + plane.] (Aëronautics)
Defn: An aëroplane with two main supporting surfaces one above the
other.
BIPLANE
Bi"plane, a. (Aëronautics)
Defn: Having, or consisting of, two superposed planes, aërocurves, or
the like; of or pertaining to a biplane; as, a biplane rudder.
BIPLICATE
Bip"li*cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + plicate.]
Defn: Twice folded together. Henslow.
BIPLICITY
Bi*plic"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being twice folded; reduplication. [R.] Bailey.
BIPOLAR
Bi*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + polar. Cf. Dipolar.]
Defn: Doubly polar; having two poles; as, a bipolar cell or
corpuscle.
BIPOLARITY
Bi`po*lar"i*ty, n.
Defn: Bipolar quality.
BIPONT; BIPONTINE
Bi"pont, Bi*pont"ine, a. (Bibliog.)
Defn: Relating to books printed at Deuxponts, or Bipontium
(Zweibrücken), in Bavaria.
BIPRISM
Bi"prism, n. [Pref. bi- + prism.]
1.
Defn: A prism whose refracting angle is very nearly 180 degrees.
2. A combination of two short rectangular glass prisms cemented
together at their diagonal faces so as to form a cube; -- called also
optical cube. It is used in one form of photometer.
BIPUNCTATE
Bi*punc"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + punctate.]
Defn: Having two punctures, or spots.
BIPUNCTUAL
Bi*punc"tu*al, a.
Defn: Having two points.
BIPUPILLATE
Bi*pu"pil*late, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pupil (of the eye).] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an eyelike spot on the wing, with two dots within it of
a different color, as in some butterflies.
BIPYRAMIDAL
Bi`py*ram"i*dal, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + pyramidal.]
Defn: Consisting of two pyramids placed base to base; having a
pyramid at each of the extremities of a prism, as in quartz crystals.
BIQUADRATE
Bi*quad"rate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quadrate.] (Math.)
Defn: The fourth power, or the square of the square. Thus 4x4=16, the
square of 4, and 16x16=256, the biquadrate of 4.
BIQUADRATIC
Bi`quad*rat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quadratic: cf. F.
biquadratique.] (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the biquadrate, or fourth power.
Biquadratic equation (Alg.), an equation of the fourth degree, or an
equation in some term of which the unknown quantity is raised to the
fourth power.
-- Biquadratic root of a number, the square root of the square root
of that number. Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the square root
of 9 is 3, which is the biquadratic root of 81. Hutton.
BIQUADRATIC
Bi`quad*rat"ic, n. (Math.)
(a) A biquadrate.
(b) A biquadratic equation.
BIQUINTILE
Bi*quin"tile, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + quintile: cf. F. biquintile.]
(Astron.)
Defn: An aspect of the planets when they are distant from each other
by twice the fifth part of a great circle -- that is, twice 72
degrees.
BIRADIATE; BIRADIATED
Bi*ra"di*ate, Bi*ra"di*a`ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + radiate.]
Defn: Having two rays; as, a biradiate fin.
BIRAMOUS
Bi*ra"mous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ramous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having, or consisting of, two branches.
BIRCH
Birch, n.; pl. Birches. Etym: [OE. birche, birk, AS. birce, beorc;
akin to Icel. björk, Sw. björk, Dan. birk, D. berk, OHG. piricha,
MHG. birche, birke, G. birke, Russ. bereza, Pol. brzoza, Serv. breza,
Skr. bh. sq. root254. Cf. 1st Birk.]
1. A tree of several species, constituting the genus Betula; as, the
white or common birch (B. alba) (also called silver birch and lady
birch); the dwarf birch (B. glandulosa); the paper or canoe birch (B.
papyracea); the yellow birch (B. lutea); the black or cherry birch
(B. lenta).
2. The wood or timber of the birch.
3. A birch twig or birch twigs, used for flogging.
Note: The twigs of the common European birch (B. alba), being tough
and slender, were formerly much used for rods in schools. They were
also made into brooms.
The threatening twigs of birch. Shak.
4. A birch-bark canoe. Birch of Jamaica, a species (Bursera
gummifera) of turpentine tree.
-- Birch partridge. (Zoöl.) See Ruffed grouse.
-- Birch wine, wine made of the spring sap of the birch.
-- Oil of birch. (a) An oil obtained from the bark of the common
European birch (Betula alba), and used in the preparation of genuine
( and sometimes of the imitation) Russia leather, to which it gives
its peculiar odor. (b) An oil prepared from the black birch (B.
lenta), said to be identical with the oil of wintergreen, for which
it is largely sold.
BIRCH
Birch, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the birch; birchen.
BIRCH
Birch, v. t. [imp & p. p. Birched; p. pr. & vb. n. Birching.]
Defn: To whip with a birch rod or twig; to flog.
BIRCHEN
Birch"en, a.
Defn: Of or relating to birch.
He passed where Newark's stately tower Looks out from Yarrow's
birchen bower. Sir W. Scott.
BIRD
Bird, n. Etym: [OE. brid, bred, bird, young bird, bird, AS. bridd
young bird.
1. Orig., a chicken; the young of a fowl; a young eaglet; a nestling;
and hence, a feathered flying animal (see 2).
That ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird. Shak.
The brydds [birds] of the aier have nestes. Tyndale (Matt. viii. 20).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A warm-blooded, feathered vertebrate provided with wings. See
Aves.
3. Specifically, among sportsmen, a game bird.
4. Fig.: A girl; a maiden.
And by my word! the bonny bird In danger shall not tarry. Campbell.
Arabian bird, the phenix.
-- Bird of Jove, the eagle.
-- Bird of Juno, the peacock.
-- Bird louse (Zoöl.), a wingless insect of the group Mallophaga, of
which the genera and species are very numerous and mostly parasitic
upon birds.
-- Bird mite (Zoöl.), a small mite (genera Dermanyssus, Dermaleichus
and allies) parasitic upon birds. The species are numerous.
-- Bird of passage, a migratory bird.
-- Bird spider (Zoöl.), a very large South American spider (Mygale
avicularia). It is said sometimes to capture and kill small birds.
-- Bird tick (Zoöl.), a dipterous insect parasitic upon birds (genus
Ornithomyia, and allies), usually winged.
BIRD
Bird, v. i.
1. To catch or shoot birds.
2. Hence: To seek for game or plunder; to thieve. [R.] B. Jonson.
BIRDBOLT
Bird"bolt`, n.
Defn: A short blunt arrow for killing birds without piercing them.
Hence: Anything which smites without penetrating. Shak.
BIRD CAGE; BIRDCAGE
Bird" cage", or Bird"cage`, n.
Defn: A cage for confining birds.
BIRDCALL
Bird"call`, n.
1. A sound made in imitation of the note or cry of a bird for the
purpose of decoying the bird or its mate.
2. An instrument of any kind, as a whistle, used in making the sound
of a birdcall.
BIRDCATCHER
Bird"catch`er, n.
Defn: One whose employment it is to catch birds; a fowler.
BIRDCATCHING
Bird"catch`ing, n.
Defn: The art, act, or occupation or catching birds or wild fowls.
BIRD CHERRY
Bird" cher`ry. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (Prunus Padus ) found in Northern and Central Europe.
It bears small black cherries.
BIRDER
Bird"er, n.
Defn: A birdcatcher.
BIRD-EYED
Bird"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Quick-sighted; catching a glance as one goes.
BIRD FANCIER
Bird" fan`ci*er.
1. One who takes pleasure in rearing or collecting rare or curious
birds.
2. One who has for sale the various kinds of birds which are kept in
cages.
BIRDIE
Bird"ie, n.
Defn: A pretty or dear little bird; -- a pet name. Tennyson.
BIRDIKIN
Bird"i*kin, n.
Defn: A young bird. Thackeray.
BIRDING
Bird"ing, n.
Defn: Birdcatching or fowling. Shak. Birding piece, a fowling piece.
Shak.
BIRDLET
Bird"let, n.
Defn: A little bird; a nestling.
BIRDLIKE
Bird"like`, a.
Defn: Resembling a bird.
BIRDLIME
Bird"lime`, n. Etym: [Bird + lime viscous substance.]
Defn: An extremely adhesive viscid substance, usually made of the
middle bark of the holly, by boiling, fermenting, and cleansing it.
When a twig is smeared with this substance it will hold small birds
which may light upon it. Hence: Anything which insnares.
Not birdlime or Idean pitch produce A more tenacious mass of clammy
juice. Dryden.
Note: Birdlime is also made from mistletoe, elder, etc.
BIRDLIME
Bird"lime`, v. t. T
Defn: o smear with birdlime; to catch with birdlime; to insnare.
When the heart is thus birdlimed, then it cleaves to everything it
meets with. Coodwin.
BIRDLING
Bird"ling, n.
Defn: A little bird; a nestling.
BIRDMAN
Bird"man, n.
Defn: A fowler or birdcatcher.
BIRD OF PARADISE
Bird" of par"a*dise. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The name of several very beautiful birds of the genus Paradisea
and allied genera, inhabiting New Guinea and the adjacent islands.
The males have brilliant colors, elegant plumes, and often remarkable
tail feathers.
Note: The Great emerald (Paradisea apoda) and the Lesser emerald (P.
minor) furnish many of the plumes used as ornaments by ladies; the
Red is P. rubra or sanguinea; the Golden is Parotia aurea or
sexsetacea; the King is Cincinnurus regius. The name is also applied
to the longer-billed birds of another related group (Epimachinæ) from
the same region. The Twelve-wired (Seleucides alba) is one of these.
See Paradise bird, and Note under Apod.
BIRD PEPPER
Bird" pep`per.
Defn: A species of capsicum (Capsicum baccatum), whose small,
conical, coral-red fruit is among the most piquant of all red
peppers.
BIRD'S-BEAK
Bird's"-beak`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A molding whose section is thought to resemble a beak.
BIRDSEED
Bird"seed`, n.
Defn: Canary seed, hemp, millet or other small seeds used for feeding
caged birds.
BIRD'S-EYE
Bird's"-eye`, a.
1. Seen from above, as if by a flying bird; embraced at a glance;
hence, generalas, a bird's-eye view.
2. Marked with spots resembling bird's eyes; as, bird's-eye diaper;
bird's-eye maple.
BIRD'S-EYE
Bird's"-eye`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with a small bright flower, as the Adonis or pheasant's
eye, the mealy primrose (Primula farinosa), and species of Veronica,
Geranium, etc.
BIRD'S-EYE MAPLE
Bird's"-eye` ma"ple.
Defn: See under Maple.
BIRD'S-FOOT
Bird's"-foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A papilionaceous plant, the Ornithopus, having a curved,
cylindrical pod tipped with a short, clawlike point. Bird's-foot
trefoil. (Bot.) (a) A genus of plants (Lotus) with clawlike pods. L.
corniculatas, with yellow flowers, is very common in Great Britain.
(b) the related plant, Trigonella ornithopodioides, is also European.
BIRD'S-MOUTH
Bird's-mouth`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: An interior acrow's-foot in the United States.
BIRD'S NEST; BIRD'S-NEST
Bird's" nest`, or Bird's-nest, n.
1. The nest in which a bird lays eggs and hatches her young.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: The nest of a small swallow (Collocalia nidifica and several
allied species), of China and the neighboring countries, which is
mixed with soups.
Note: The nests are found in caverns and fissures of cliffs on rocky
coasts, and are composed in part of algæ. They are of the size of a
goose egg, and in substance resemble isinglass. See Illust. under
Edible.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: An orchideous plant with matted roots, of the genus Neottia (N.
nidus-avis.) Bird's-nest pudding, a pudding containing apples whose
cores have been replaces by sugar.
-- Yellow bird's nest, a plant, the Monotropa hypopitys.
BIRD'S-NESTING
Bird's-nest`ing, n.
Defn: Hunting for, or taking, birds' nests or their contents.
BIRD'S-TONGUE
Bird's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare).
BIRD-WITTED
Bird"-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Flighty; passing rapidly from one subject to another; not
having the faculty of attention. Bacon.
BIRDWOMAN
Bird"wom`an, n.
Defn: An airwoman; an aviatress. [Colloq.]
BIRECTANGULAR
Bi`rec*tan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + rectangular.]
Defn: Containing or having two right angles; as, a birectangular
spherical triangle.
BIREME
Bi"reme, n. Etym: [L. biremis; bis twice + remus oar: cf. F. birème.]
Defn: An ancient galley or vessel with two banks or tiers of oars.
BIRETTA
Bi*ret"ta, n.
Defn: Same as Berretta.
BIRGANDER
Bir"gan*der, n.
Defn: See Bergander.
BIRK
Birk, n. Etym: [See Birch, n.]
Defn: A birch tree. [Prov. Eng.] "The silver birk." Tennyson.
BIRK
Birk, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus).
BIRKEN
Birk"en, v. t. Etym: [From 1st Birk.]
Defn: To whip with a birch or rod. [Obs.]
BIRKEN
Birk"en, a.
Defn: Birchen; as, birken groves. Burns.
BIRKIE
Bir"kie, n.
Defn: A lively or mettlesome fellow. [Jocular, Scot.] Burns.
BIRL
Birl, v. t. & i.
Defn: To revolve or cause to revolve; to spin. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
BIRL
Birl, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. byrlian.
Defn: To pour (beer or wine); to ply with drink; to drink; to
carouse. [Obs. or Dial.] Skelton.
BIRLAW
Bir"law, n. Etym: [See By-law.] (Law)
Defn: A law made by husbandmen respecting rural affairs; a rustic or
local law or by-law. [Written also byrlaw, birlie, birley.]
BIROSTRATE; BIROSTRATED
Bi*ros`trate, Bi*ros"tra*ted, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + rostrate.]
Defn: Having a double beak, or two processes resembling beaks.
The capsule is bilocular and birostrated. Ed. Encyc.
BIRR
Birr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Birred; p. pr. & vb. n. Birring.] Etym:
[Cf. OE. bur, bir, wind, storm wind, fr. Icel. byrr wind. Perh.
imitative.]
Defn: To make, or move with, a whirring noise, as of wheels in
motion.
BIRR
Birr, n.
1. A whirring sound, as of a spinning wheel.
2. A rush or impetus; force.
BIRRUS
Bir"rus, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. birrus a kind of cloak. See Berretta.]
Defn: A coarse kind of thick woolen cloth, worn by the poor in the
Middle Ages; also, a woolen cap or hood worn over the shoulders or
over the head.
BIRSE
Birse, n.
Defn: A bristle or bristles. [Scot.]
BIRT
Birt, n. Etym: [OE. byrte; cf. F. bertonneau. Cf. Bret, Burt.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the turbot kind; the brill. [Written also burt, bret,
or brut.] [Prov. Eng.]
BIRTH
Birth, n. Etym: [OE. burth, birth, AS. beor, gebyrd, fr. beran to
bear, bring forth; akin to D. geboorate, OHG. burt, giburt, G.
geburt, Icel. bur, Skr. bhrti bearing, supporting; cf. Ir. & Gael.
beirthe born, brought forth. Bear, and cf. Berth.]
1. The act or fact of coming into life, or of being born; --
generally applied to human beings; as, the birth of a son.
2. Lineage; extraction; descent; sometimes, high birth; noble
extraction.
Elected without reference to birth, but solely for qualifications.
Prescott.
3. The condition to which a person is born; natural state or
position; inherited disposition or tendency.
A foe by birth to Troy's unhappy name. Dryden.
4. The act of bringing forth; as, she had two children at a birth.
"At her next birth." Milton.
5. That which is born; that which is produced, whether animal or
vegetable.
Poets are far rarer births that kings. B. Jonson.
Others hatch their eggs and tend the birth till it is able to shift
for itself. Addison.
6. Origin; beginning; as, the birth of an empire. New birth (Theol.),
regeneration, or the commencement of a religious life.
Syn.
-- Parentage; extraction; lineage; race; family.
BIRTH
Birth, n.
Defn: See Berth. [Obs.] De Foe.
BIRTHDAY
Birth"day`, n.
1. The day in which any person is born; day of origin or
commencement.
Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next The birthday of invention.
Cowper.
2. The day of the month in which a person was born, in whatever
succeeding year it may recur; the anniversary of one's birth.
This is my birthday; as this very day Was Cassius born. Shak.
BIRTHDAY
Birth"day`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the day of birth, or its anniversary; as,
birthday gifts or festivities.
BIRTHDOM
Birth"dom, n. Etym: [Birth + -dom.]
Defn: The land of one's birth; one's inheritance. [R.] Shak.
BIRTHING
Birth"ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Anything added to raise the sides of a ship. Bailey.
BIRTHLESS
Birth"less, a.
Defn: Of mean extraction. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
BIRTHMARK
Birth"mark`, n.
Defn: Some peculiar mark or blemish on the body at birth.
Most part of this noble lineage carried upon their body for a natural
birthmark, . . . a snake. Sir T. North.
BIRTHNIGHT
Birth"night`, n.
Defn: The night in which a person is born; the anniversary of that
night in succeeding years.
The angelic song in Bethlehem field, On thy birthnight, that sung
thee Savior born. Milton.
BIRTHPLACE
Birth"place`, n.
Defn: The town, city, or country, where a person is born; place of
origin or birth, in its more general sense. "The birthplace of
valor." Burns.
BIRTHRIGHT
Birth"right`, n.
Defn: Any right, privilege, or possession to which a person is
entitled by birth, such as an estate descendible by law to an heir,
or civil liberty under a free constitution; esp. the rights or
inheritance of the first born.
Lest there be any . . . profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel
of meat sold his birthright. Heb. xii. 16.
BIRTHROOT
Birth"root`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous plant (Trillium erectum), and its astringent
rootstock, which is said to have medicinal properties.
BIRTHWORT
Birth"wort`, n.
Defn: A genus of herbs and shrubs (Aristolochia), reputed to have
medicinal properties.
BIS
Bis, adv. Etym: [L. bis twice, for duis, fr. root of duo two. See
Two, and cf. Bi-.]
Defn: Twice; -- a word showing that something is, or is to be,
repeated; as a passage of music, or an item in accounts.
BIS; BIS-
Bis*, pref.
Defn: A form of Bi-, sometimes used before s, c, or a vowel.
BISA ANTELOPE
Bi"sa an"te*lope. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Oryx.
BISACCATE
Bi*sac"cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + saccate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two little bags, sacs, or pouches.
BISCAYAN
Bis*cay"an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Biscay in Spain.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Biscay.
BISCOTIN
Bis"co*tin, n. Etym: [F. biscotin. See Biscuit.]
Defn: A confection made of flour, sugar, marmalade, and eggs; a sweet
biscuit.
BISCUIT
Bis"cuit, n. Etym: [F. biscuit (cf. It. biscotto, Sp. bizcocho, Pg.
biscouto), fr. L. bis twice + coctus, p. p. of coquere to cook, bake.
See Cook, and cf. Bisque a kind of porcelain.]
1. A kind of unraised bread, of many varieties, plain, sweet, or
fancy, formed into flat cakes, and bakes hard; as, ship biscuit.
According to military practice, the bread or biscuit of the Romans
was twice prepared in the oven. Gibbon.
2. A small loaf or cake of bread, raised and shortened, or made light
with soda or baking powder. Usually a number are baked in the same
pan, forming a sheet or card.
3. Earthen ware or porcelain which has undergone the first baking,
before it is subjected to the glazing.
4. (Sculp.)
Defn: A species of white, unglazed porcelain, in which vases,
figures, and groups are formed in miniature. Meat biscuit, an
alimentary preparation consisting of matters extracted from meat by
boiling, or of meat ground fine and combined with flour, so as to
form biscuits.
BISCUTATE
Bi*scu"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + scutate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling two bucklers placed side by side.
BISE
Bise, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A cold north wind which prevails on the northern coasts of the
Mediterranean and in Switzerland, etc.; -- nearly the same as the
mistral.
BISE
Bise, n. (Paint.)
Defn: See Bice.
BISECT
Bi*sect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bisected; p. pr. & vb. n. Bisecting.]
Etym: [L. bis twice + secare, sectum, to cut.]
1. To cut or divide into two parts.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: To divide into two equal parts.
BISECTION
Bi*sec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bissection.]
Defn: Division into two parts, esp. two equal parts.
BISECTOR
Bi*sec"tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bisects; esp. (Geom.) a straight line
which bisects an angle.
BISECTRIX
Bi*sec"trix, n.
Defn: The line bisecting the angle between the optic axes of a
biaxial crystal.
BISEGMENT
Bi*seg"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + segment.]
Defn: One of tow equal parts of a line, or other magnitude.
BISEPTATE
Bi*sep"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + septate.]
Defn: With two partitions or septa. Gray.
BISERIAL; BISERIATE
Bi*se"ri*al, Bi*se"ri*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + serial, seriate.]
Defn: In two rows or series.
BISERRATE
Bi*ser"rate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + serrate.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Doubly serrate, or having the serratures serrate, as in some
leaves.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Serrate on both sides, as some antennæ.
BISETOSE; BISETOUS
Bi*se"tose, Bi*se"tous, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + setose, setous.]
Defn: Having two bristles.
BISEXOUS
Bi*sex"ous, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + sexus sex: cf. F. bissexe.]
Defn: Bisexual. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
BISEXUAL
Bi*sex"u*al, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sexual.] (Biol.)
Defn: Of both sexes; hermaphrodite; as a flower with stamens and
pistil, or an animal having ovaries and testes.
BISEXUOUS
Bi*sex"u*ous, a.
Defn: Bisexual.
BISEYE
Bi*seye", p. p.
Defn: of Besee. [Obs.] Chaucer. Evil biseye, ill looking. [Obs.]
BISH
Bish, n.
Defn: Same as Bikh.
BISHOP
Bish"op, n. Etym: [OE. bischop, biscop, bisceop, AS. bisceop, biscop,
L. episcopus overseer, superintendent, bishop, fr. Gr. , over +
inspector, fr. root of , , to look to, perh. akin to L. specere to
look at. See Spy, and cf. Episcopal.]
1. A spiritual overseer, superintendent, or director.
Ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd
and Bishop of your souls. 1 Pet. ii. 25.
It is a fact now generally recognized by theologians of all shades of
opinion, that in the language of the New Testament the same officer
in the church is called indifferently "bishop" ( J. B. Lightfoot.
2. In the Roman Catholic, Greek, and Anglican or Protestant Episcopal
churches, one ordained to the highest order of the ministry, superior
to the priesthood, and generally claiming to be a successor of the
Apostles. The bishop is usually the spiritual head or ruler of a
diocese, bishopric, or see. Bishop in partibus [infidelium] (R. C.
Ch.), a bishop of a see which does not actually exist; one who has
the office of bishop, without especial jurisdiction. Shipley.
-- Titular bishop (R. C. Ch.), a term officially substituted in 1882
for bishop in partibus.
-- Bench of Bishops. See under Bench.
3. In the Methodist Episcopal and some other churches, one of the
highest church officers or superintendents.
4. A piece used in the game of chess, bearing a representation of a
bishop's miter; -- formerly called archer.
5. A beverage, being a mixture of wine, oranges or lemons, and sugar.
Swift.
6. An old name for a woman's bustle. [U. S.]
If, by her bishop, or her "grace" alone, A genuine lady, or a church,
is known. Saxe.
BISHOP
Bish"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.]
Defn: To admit into the church by confirmation; to confirm; hence, to
receive formally to favor.
BISHOP
Bish"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bishoped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bishoping.]
Etym: [From the name of the scoundrel who first practiced it.
Youatt.] (Far.)
Defn: To make seem younger, by operating on the teeth; as, to bishop
an old horse or his teeth.
Note: The plan adopted is to cut off all the nippers with a saw to
the proper length, and then with a cutting instrument the operator
scoops out an oval cavity in the corner nippers, which is afterwards
burnt with a hot iron until it is black. J. H. Walsh.
BISHOPDOM
Bish"op*dom, n.
Defn: Jurisdiction of a bishop; episcopate. "Divine right of
bishopdom." Milton.
BISHOPLIKE
Bish"op*like`, a.
Defn: Resembling a bishop; belonging to a bishop. Fulke.
BISHOPLY
Bish"op*ly, a.
Defn: Bishoplike; episcopal. [Obs.]
BISHOPLY
Bish"op*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a bishop. [Obs.]
BISHOPRIC
Bish"op*ric, n. Etym: [AS. bisceoprice; bisceop bishop + rice
dominion. See -ric.]
1. A diocese; the district over which the jurisdiction of a bishop
extends.
2. The office of a spiritual overseer, as of an apostle, bishop, or
presbyter. Acts i. 20.
BISHOP'S CAP
Bish"op's cap`. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Mitella; miterwort. Longfellow.
BISHOP SLEEVE
Bish"op sleeve`.
Defn: A wide sleeve, once worn by women.
BISHOP'S LENGTH
Bish"op's length`.
Defn: A canvas for a portrait measuring 58 by 94 inches. The half
bishop measures 45 of 56.
BISHOP-STOOL
Bish"op-stool`, n.
Defn: A bishop's seat or see.
BISHOP'S-WEED
Bish"op's-weed`, n. (Bot.)
(a) An umbelliferous plant of the genus Ammi.
(b) Goutweed (Ægopodium podagraria).
BISHOP'S-WORT
Bish"op's-wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Wood betony (Stachys betonica); also, the plant called fennel
flower (Nigella Damascena), or devil-in-a-bush.
BISIE
Bis"ie, v. t.
Defn: To busy; to employ. [Obs.]
BISILICATE
Bi*sil"i*cate, n. (Min. Chem.)
Defn: A salt of metasilicic acid; -- so called because the ratio of
the oxygen of the silica to the oxygen of the base is as two to one.
The bisilicates include many of the most common and important
minerals.
BISK
Bisk, n. Etym: [F. bisque.]
Defn: Soup or broth made by boiling several sorts of flesh together.
King.
BISK
Bisk, n. Etym: [F. bisque.] (Tennis)
Defn: See Bisque.
BISKARA BOIL; BISKARA BUTTON
Bis"ka*ra boil`, Bis"ka*ra but"ton . [Named after the town Biskara,
in Algeria.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Aleppo boil.
BISMARE; BISMER
Bi*smare", Bi*smer", n. Etym: [AS. bismer.]
Defn: Shame; abuse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BISMER
Bis"mer, n.
1. A rule steelyard. [Scot.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fifteen-spined (Gasterosteus spinachia).
BISMILLAH
Bis*mil"lah, interj. Etym: [Arabic, in the name of God!]
Defn: An adjuration or exclamation common among the Mohammedans.
[Written also Bizmillah.]
BISMITE
Bis"mite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Bismuth trioxide, or bismuth ocher.
BISMUTH
Bis"muth, n. Etym: [Ger. bismuth, wismuth: cf. F. bismuth.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the elements; a metal of a reddish white color,
crystallizing in rhombohedrons. It is somewhat harder than lead, and
rather brittle; masses show broad cleavage surfaces when broken
across. It melts at 507º Fahr., being easily fused in the flame of a
candle. It is found in a native state, and as a constituent of some
minerals. Specific gravity 9.8. Atomic weight 207.5. Symbol Bi.
Note: Chemically, bismuth (with arsenic and antimony is intermediate
between the metals and nonmetals; it is used in thermo-electric
piles, and as an alloy with lead and tin in the fusible alloy or
metal. Bismuth is the most diamagnetic substance known. Bismuth
glance, bismuth sulphide; bismuthinite.
-- Bismuth ocher, a native bismuth oxide; bismite.
BISMUTHAL
Bis"muth*al, a.
Defn: Containing bismuth.
BISMUTHIC
Bis"muth*ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to bismuth; containing bismuth, when this
element has its higher valence; as, bismuthic oxide.
BISMUTHIFEROUS
Bis`muth*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Bismuth + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing bismuth.
BISMUTHINE; BISMUTHINITE
Bis"muth*ine, Bis"muth*in*ite, n.
Defn: Native bismuth sulphide; -- sometimes called bismuthite.
BISMUTHOUS
Bis"muth*ous, a.
Defn: Of, or containing, bismuth, when this element has its lower
valence.
BISMUTHYL
Bis"muth*yl`, n. (Min.)
Defn: Hydrous carbonate of bismuth, an earthy mineral of a dull white
or yellowish color. [Written also bismuthite.]
BISON
Bi"son, n. Etym: [L. bison, Gr. , a wild ox; akin to OHG. wisunt,
wisant, G. wisent, AS. wesend, Icel. visundr: cf. F. bison.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The aurochs or European bison.
(b) The American bison buffalo (Bison Americanus), a large,
gregarious bovine quadruped with shaggy mane and short black horns,
which formerly roamed in herds over most of the temperate portion of
North America, but is now restricted to very limited districts in the
region of the Rocky Mountains, and is rapidly decreasing in numbers.
BISPINOSE
Bi*spi"nose, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + spinose.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two spines.
BISQUE
Bisque, n. Etym: [A corruption of biscuit.]
Defn: Unglazed white porcelain.
BISQUE
Bisque, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A point taken by the receiver of odds in the game of tennis;
also, an extra innings allowed to a weaker player in croquet.
BISQUE
Bisque, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A white soup made of crayfish.
BISSELL TRUCK
Bis"sell truck.
Defn: A truck for railroad rolling stock, consisting of two ordinary
axle boxes sliding in guides attached to a triangular frame; --
called also pony truck.
BISSEXTILE
Bis*sex"tile, n. Etym: [L. bissextilis annus, fr. bissextus (bis +
sextus sixth, fr. sex six) the sixth of the calends of March, or
twenty-fourth day of February, which was reckoned twice every fourth
year, by the intercalation of a day.]
Defn: Leap year; every fourth year, in which a day is added to the
month of February on account of the excess of the tropical year (365
d. 5 h. 48 m. 46 s.) above 365 days. But one day added every four
years is equivalent to six hours each year, which is 11 m. 14 s. more
than the excess of the real year. Hence, it is necessary to suppress
the bissextile day at the end of every century which is not divisible
by 400, while it is retained at the end of those which are divisible
by 400.
BISSEXTILE
Bis*sex"tile, a.
Defn: Pertaining to leap year.
BISSON
Bis"son, a. Etym: [OE. bisen, bisne, AS. bisen, prob. for bis; bi by
+ s clear, akin to seón to see; clear when near, hence short-sighted.
See See.]
Defn: Purblind; blinding. [Obs.] "Bisson rheum." Shak.
BISTER; BISTRE
Bis"ter, Bis"tre, n. Etym: [F. bistre a color made of soot; of
unknown origin. Cf., however, LG. biester frowning, dark, ugly.]
(Paint.)
Defn: A dark brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood.
BISTIPULED
Bi*stip"uled, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + stipule.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two stipules.
BISTORT
Bis"tort, n. Etym: [L. bis + tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist: cf.
F. bistorte.] (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous plant of the genus Polygonum, section Bistorta;
snakeweed; adderwort. Its root is used in medicine as an astringent.
BISTOURY
Bis"tou*ry, n.; pl. Bistouries. Etym: [F. bistouri.]
Defn: A surgical instrument consisting of a slender knife, either
straight or curved, generally used by introducing it beneath the part
to be divided, and cutting towards the surface.
BISTRE
Bis"tre, n.
Defn: See Bister.
BISULCATE
Bi*sul"cate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulcate.]
1. Having two grooves or furrows.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Cloven; said of a foot or hoof.
BISULCOUS
Bi*sul"cous, a. Etym: [L. bisulcus; bis twice + sulcus furrow.]
Defn: Bisulcate. Sir T. Browne.
BISULPHATE
Bi*sul"phate, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sulphate in which but half the hydrogen of the acid is
replaced by a positive element or radical, thus making the proportion
of the acid to the positive or basic portion twice what it is in the
normal sulphates; an acid sulphate.
BISULPHIDE
Bi*sul"phide, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sulphide having two atoms of sulphur in the molecule; a
disulphide, as in iron pyrites, FeS2; -- less frequently called
bisulphuret.
BISULPHITE
Bi*sul"phite, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of sulphurous acid in which the base replaces but half
the hydrogen of the acid; an acid sulphite.
BISULPHURET
Bi*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Bisulphide.
BIT
Bit, n. Etym: [OE. bitt, bite, AS. bite, bite, fr. bitan to bite. See
Bite, n. & v., and cf. Bit a morsel.]
1. The part of a bridle, usually of iron, which is inserted in the
mouth of a horse, and having appendages to which the reins are
fastened. Shak.
The foamy bridle with the bit of gold. Chaucer.
2. Fig.: Anything which curbs or restrains.
BIT
Bit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bitting.]
Defn: To put a bridle upon; to put the bit in the mouth of.
BIT
Bit,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bite.
BIT
Bit, n. Etym: [OE. bite, AS. bita, fr. bitan to bite; akin to D.
beet, G. bissen bit, morsel, Icel. biti. See Bite, v., and cf. Bit
part of a bridle.]
1. A part of anything, such as may be bitten off or taken into the
mouth; a morsel; a bite. Hence: A small piece of anything; a little;
a mite.
2. Somewhat; something, but not very great.
My young companion was a bit of a poet. T. Hook.
Note: This word is used, also, like jot and whit, to express the
smallest degree; as, he is not a bit wiser.
3. A tool for boring, of various forms and sizes, usually turned by
means of a brace or bitstock. See Bitstock.
4. The part of a key which enters the lock and acts upon the bolt and
tumblers. Knight.
5. The cutting iron of a plane. Knight.
6. In the Southern and Southwestern States, a small silver coin (as
the real) formerly current; commonly, one worth about 12 1/2 cents;
also, the sum of 12 1/2 cents. Bit my bit, piecemeal. Pope.
BIT
Bit, 3d sing. pr.
Defn: of Bid, for biddeth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BITAKE
Bi*take", v. t. Etym: [See Betake, Betaught.]
Defn: To commend; to commit. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BITANGENT
Bi*tan"gent, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + tangent.] (Geom.)
Defn: Possessing the property of touching at two points.
-- n.
Defn: A line that touches a curve in two points.
BITARTRATE
Bi*tar"trate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of tartaric acid in which the base replaces but half the
acid hydrogen; an acid tartrate, as cream of tartar.
BITCH
Bitch, n. Etym: [OE. biche, bicche, AS. bicce; cf. Icel. bikkja, G.
betze, peize.]
1. The female of the canine kind, as of the dog, wolf, and fox.
2. An opprobrious name for a woman, especially a lewd woman. Pope.
BITE
Bite, v. t. [imp. Bit; p. p. Bitten, Bit; p. pr. & vb. n. Biting.]
Etym: [OE. biten, AS. bitan; akin to D. bijten, OS. bitan, OHG.
bizan, G. beissen, Goth. beitan, Icel. bita, Sw. bita, Dan. bide, L.
findere to cleave, Skr. bhid to cleave. sq. root87. Cf. Fissure.]
1. To seize with the teeth, so that they enter or nip the thing
seized; to lacerate, crush, or wound with the teeth; as, to bite an
apple; to bite a crust; the dog bit a man.
Such smiling rogues as these, Like rats, oft bite the holy cords
atwain. Shak.
2. To puncture, abrade, or sting with an organ (of some insects) used
in taking food.
3. To cause sharp pain, or smarting, to; to hurt or injure, in a
literal or a figurative sense; as, pepper bites the mouth. "Frosts do
bite the meads." Shak.
4. To cheat; to trick; to take in. [Colloq.] Pope.
5. To take hold of; to hold fast; to adhere to; as, the anchor bites
the ground.
The last screw of the rack having been turned so often that its
purchase crumbled, . . . it turned and turned with nothing to bite.
Dickens.
To bite the dust, To bite the ground, to fall in the agonies of
death; as, he made his enemy bite the dust.
-- To bite in (Etching), to corrode or eat into metallic plates by
means of an acid.
-- To bite the thumb at (any one), formerly a mark of contempt,
designed to provoke a quarrel; to defy. "Do you bite your thumb at us
" Shak.
-- To bite the tongue, to keep silence. Shak.
BITE
Bite, v. i.
1. To seize something forcibly with the teeth; to wound with the
teeth; to have the habit of so doing; as, does the dog bite
2. To cause a smarting sensation; to have a property which causes
such a sensation; to be pungent; as, it bites like pepper or mustard.
3. To cause sharp pain; to produce anguish; to hurt or injure; to
have the property of so doing.
At the last it [wine] biteth like serpent, and stingeth like an
adder. Prov. xxiii. 32.
4. To take a bait into the mouth, as a fish does; hence, to take a
tempting offer.
5. To take or keep a firm hold; as, the anchor bites.
BITE
Bite, n. Etym: [OE. bite, bit, bitt, AS. bite bite, fr. bitan to
bite, akin to Icel. bit, OS. biti, G. biss. See Bite, v., and cf.
Bit.]
1. The act of seizing with the teeth or mouth; the act of wounding or
separating with the teeth or mouth; a seizure with the teeth or
mouth, as of a bait; as, to give anything a hard bite.
I have known a very good fisher angle diligently four or six hours
for a river carp, and not have a bite. Walton.
2. The act of puncturing or abrading with an organ for taking food,
as is done by some insects.
3. The wound made by biting; as, the pain of a dog's or snake's bite;
the bite of a mosquito.
4. A morsel; as much as is taken at once by biting.
5. The hold which the short end of a lever has upon the thing to be
lifted, or the hold which one part of a machine has upon another.
6. A cheat; a trick; a fraud. [Colloq.]
The baser methods of getting money by fraud and bite, by deceiving
and overreaching. Humorist.
7. A sharper; one who cheats. [Slang] Johnson.
8. (Print.)
Defn: A blank on the edge or corner of a page, owing to a portion of
the frisket, or something else, intervening between the type and
paper.
BITER
Bit"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, bites; that which bites often, or is
inclined to bite, as a dog or fish. "Great barkers are no biters."
Camden.
2. One who cheats; a sharper. [Colloq.] Spectator.
BITERNATE
Bi*ter"nate, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ternate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets.
-- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray.
BITHEISM
Bi"the*ism, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + theism.]
Defn: Belief in the existence of two gods; dualism.
BITING
Bit"ing, a.
Defn: That bites; sharp; cutting; sarcastic; caustic. "A biting
affliction." "A biting jest." Shak.
BITING IN
Bit"ing in". (Etching.)
Defn: The process of corroding or eating into metallic plates, by
means of an acid. See Etch. G. Francis.
BITINGLY
Bit"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a biting manner.
BITLESS
Bit"less, a.
Defn: Not having a bit or bridle.
BITO; BITO TREE
Bi"to, n., Bi"to tree`. [Etym. uncertain.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small scrubby tree (Balanites Ægyptiaca) growing in dry
regions of tropical Africa and Asia.
The hard yellowish white wood is made into plows in Abyssinia; the
bark is used in Farther India to stupefy fish; the ripe fruit is
edible, when green it is an anthelmintic; the fermented juice is used
as a beverage; the seeds yield a medicinal oil called zachun. The
African name of the tree is hajilij.
BITSTOCK
Bit"stock`, n.
Defn: A stock or handle for holding and rotating a bit; a brace.
BITT
Bitt, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Bitts.
BITT
Bitt, v. t. Etym: [See Bitts.] (Naut.)
Defn: To put round the bitts; as, to bitt the cable, in order to
fasten it or to slacken it gradually, which is called veering away.
Totten.
BITTACLE
Bit"ta*cle, n.
Defn: A binnacle. [Obs.]
BITTEN
Bit"ten, p. p.
Defn: of Bite.
BITTEN
Bit"ten, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Terminating abruptly, as if bitten off; premorse.
BITTER
Bit"ter, n. Etym: [See Bitts.] (Naut.)
Defn: AA turn of the cable which is round the bitts. Bitter end, that
part of a cable which is abaft the bitts, and so within board, when
the ship rides at anchor.
BITTER
Bit"ter, a. Etym: [AS. biter; akin to Goth. baitrs, Icel. bitr, Dan.,
Sw., D., & G. bitter, OS. bittar, fr. root of E. bite. See Bite, v.
t.]
1. Having a peculiar, acrid, biting taste, like that of wormwood or
an infusion of hops; as, a bitter medicine; bitter as aloes.
2. Causing pain or smart; piercing; painful; sharp; severe; as, a
bitter cold day.
3. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain or distress to the mind;
calamitous; poignant.
It is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy
God. Jer. ii. 19.
4. Characterized by sharpness, severity, or cruelty; harsh; stern;
virulent; as, bitter reproach.
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them. Col. iii.
19.
5. Mournful; sad; distressing; painful; pitiable.
The Egyptians . . . made their lives bitter with hard bondage. Ex. i.
14.
Bitter apple, Bitter cucumber, Bitter gourd. (Bot.) See Colocynth.
-- Bitter cress (Bot.), a plant of the genus Cardamine, esp. C.
amara.
-- Bitter earth (Min.), tale earth; calcined magnesia.
-- Bitter principles (Chem.), a class of substances, extracted from
vegetable products, having strong bitter taste but with no sharply
defined chemical characteristics.
-- Bitter salt, Epsom salts;; magnesium sulphate.
-- Bitter vetch (Bot.), a name given to two European leguminous
herbs, Vicia Orobus and Ervum Ervilia.
-- To the bitter end, to the last extremity, however calamitous.
Syn.
-- Acrid; sharp; harsh; pungent; stinging; cutting; severe;
acrimonious.
BITTER
Bit"ter, n.
Defn: Any substance that is bitter. See Bitters.
BITTER
Bit"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make bitter. Wolcott.
BITTERBUMP
Bit"ter*bump`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: the butterbump or bittern.
BITTERFUL
Bit"ter*ful, a.
Defn: Full of bitterness. [Obs.]
BITTERING
Bit"ter*ing, n.
Defn: A bitter compound used in adulterating beer; bittern.
BITTERISH
Bit"ter*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat bitter. Goldsmith.
BITTERLING
Bit"ter*ling, n. Etym: [G.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A roachlike European fish (Rhodima amarus).
BITTERLY
Bit"ter*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bitter manner.
BITTERN
Bit"tern, n. Etym: [OE. bitoure, betore, bitter, fr. F. butor; of
unknown origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wading bird of the genus Botaurus, allied to the herons, of
various species.
Note: The common European bittern is Botaurus stellaris. It makes,
during the brooding season, a noise called by Dryden bumping, and by
Goldsmith booming. The American bittern is B. lentiginosus, and is
also called stake-driver and meadow hen. See Stake-driver.
Note: The name is applied to other related birds, as the least
bittern (Ardetta exilis), and the sun bittern.
BITTERN
Bit"tern, n. Etym: [From Bitter, a.]
1. The brine which remains in salt works after the salt is concreted,
having a bitter taste from the chloride of magnesium which it
contains.
2. A very bitter compound of quassia, cocculus Indicus, etc., used by
fraudulent brewers in adulterating beer. Cooley.
BITTERNESS
Bit"ter*ness, n. Etym: [AS. biternys; biter better + -nys = -ness.]
1. The quality or state of being bitter, sharp, or acrid, in either a
literal or figurative sense; implacableness; resentfulness; severity;
keenness of reproach or sarcasm; deep distress, grief, or vexation of
mind.
The lip that curls with bitterness. Percival.
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Job vii. 11.
2. A state of extreme impiety or enmity to God.
Thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Acts
viii. 23.
3. Dangerous error, or schism, tending to draw persons to apostasy.
Looking diligently, . . . lest any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you. Heb. xii. 15.
BITTERNUT
Bit"ter*nut", n. (Bot.)
Defn: The swamp hickory (Carya amara). Its thin-shelled nuts are
bitter.
BITTERROOT
Bit"ter*root`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Lewisia rediviva) allied to the purslane, but with
fleshy, farinaceous roots, growing in the mountains of Idaho,
Montana, etc. It gives the name to the Bitter Root mountains and
river. The Indians call both the plant and the river Spæt'lum.
BITTERS
Bit"ters, n. pl.
Defn: A liquor, generally spirituous in which a bitter herb, leaf, or
root is steeped.
BITTER SPAR
Bit"ter spar".
Defn: A common name of dolomite; -- so called because it contains
magnesia, the soluble salts of which are bitter. See Dolomite.
BITTERSWEET
Bit"ter*sweet`, a.
Defn: Sweet and then bitter or bitter and then sweet; esp. sweet with
a bitter after taste; hence (Fig.), pleasant but painful.
BITTERSWEET
Bit"ter*sweet`, n.
1. Anything which is bittersweet.
2. A kind of apple so called. Gower.
3. (Bot.)
(a) A climbing shrub, with oval coral-red berries (Solanum
dulcamara); woody nightshade. The whole plant is poisonous, and has a
taste at first sweetish and then bitter. The branches are the
officinal dulcamara.
(b) An American woody climber (Celastrus scandens), whose yellow
capsules open late in autumn, and disclose the red aril which covers
the seeds; -- also called Roxbury waxwork.
BITTERWEED
Bit"ter*weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Ambrosia (A. artemisiæfolia); Roman worm wood.
Gray.
BITTERWOOD
Bit"ter*wood`, n.
Defn: A West Indian tree (Picræna excelsa) from the wood of which the
bitter drug Jamaica quassia is obtained.
BITTERWORT
Bit"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea), which has a very bitter
taste.
BITTOCK
Bit"tock, n. Etym: [See Bit a morsel.]
Defn: A small bit of anything, of indefinite size or quantity; a
short distance. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
BITTOR; BITTOUR
Bit"tor Bit"tour, n. Etym: [See Bittern] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bittern. Dryden.
BITTS
Bitts, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. bitte, Icel. biti, a beam. (Naut.)
Defn: A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in the fore
part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the ship rides at
anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for belaying (belaying
bitts), for sustaining the windlass (carrick bitts, winch bitts, or
windlass bitts), to hold the pawls of the windlass (pawl bitts) etc.
BITUME
Bi*tume", n. Etym: [F. See Bitumen.]
Defn: Bitumen. [Poetic] May.
BITUMED
Bi*tumed", a.
Defn: Smeared with bitumen. [R.] "The hatches caulked and bitumed."
Shak.
BITUMEN
Bi*tu"men, n. Etym: [L. bitumen: cf. F. bitume. Cf. Béton.]
1. Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright
flame; Jew's pitch. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many
places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. It is used in
cements, in the construction of pavements, etc. See Asphalt.
2. By extension, any one of the natural hydrocarbons, including the
hard, solid, brittle varieties called asphalt, the semisolid maltha
and mineral tars, the oily petroleums, and even the light, volatile
naphthas.
BITUMEN PROCESS
Bi*tu"men proc"ess. (Photog.)
Defn: Any process in which advantage is taken of the fact that
prepared bitumen is rendered insoluble by exposure to light, as in
photolithography.
BITUMINATE
Bi*tu"mi*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bituminated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bituminating.] Etym: [L. bituminatus, p. p. of bituminare to
bituminate. See Bitumen.]
Defn: To treat or impregnate with bitumen; to cement with bitumen.
"Bituminated walls of Babylon." Feltham.
BITUMINIFEROUS
Bi*tu`mi*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Bitumen + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing bitumen. Kirwan.
BITUMINIZATION
Bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bituminisation.]
Defn: The process of bituminizing. Mantell.
BITUMINIZE
Bi*tu"mi*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bituminized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bituminizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. bituminiser.]
Defn: To prepare, treat, impregnate, or coat with bitumen.
BITUMINOUS
Bi*tu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. bituminosus: cf. F. bitumineux.]
Defn: Having the qualities of bitumen; compounded with bitumen;
containing bitumen.
Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed. Milton.
Bituminous coal, a kind of coal which yields, when heated, a
considerable amount of volatile bituminous matter. It burns with a
yellow smoky flame.
-- Bituminous limestone, a mineral of a brown or black color,
emitting an unpleasant smell when rubbed. That of Dalmatia is so
charged with bitumen that it may be cut like soap.
-- Bituminous shale, an argillaceous shale impregnated with bitumen,
often accompanying coal.
BIURET
Bi"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + urea.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance, C2O2N3H5, formed
by heating urea. It is intermediate between urea and cyanuric acid.
BIVALENCY
Biv"a*len*cy, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The quality of being bivalent.
BIVALENT
Biv"a*lent, a. Etym: [L. bis twice + valens, p. pr. See Valence.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Equivalent in combining or displacing power to two atoms of
hydrogen; dyad.
BIVALVE
Bi"valve, n. Etym: [F. bivalve; bi- (L. bis) + valve valve.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mollusk having a shell consisting of two lateral plates or
valves joined together by an elastic ligament at the hinge, which is
usually strengthened by prominences called teeth. The shell is closed
by the contraction of two transverse muscles attached to the inner
surface, as in the clam, -- or by one, as in the oyster. See
Mollusca.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A pericarp in which the seed case opens or splits into two
parts or valves.
BIVALVE
Bi"valve, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + valve.] (Zoöl. & Bot.)
Defn: Having two shells or valves which open and shut, as the oyster
and certain seed vessels.
BIVALVED
Bi"valved, a.
Defn: Having two valves, as the oyster and some seed pods; bivalve.
BIVALVOUS
Bi*val"vous, a.
Defn: Bivalvular.
BIVALVULAR
Bi*val"vu*lar, a.
Defn: Having two valves.
BIVAULTED
Bi*vault"ed, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + vault.]
Defn: Having two vaults or arches.
BIVECTOR
Bi*vec"tor, n. Etym: [Pref. bi- + vector.] (Math.)
Defn: A term made up of the two parts
BIVENTRAL
Bi*ven"tral, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + ventral.]
Defn: (Anat.) Having two bellies or protuberances; as, a biventral,
or digastric, muscle, or the biventral lobe of the cerebellum.
BIVIAL
Biv"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the bivium.
BIVIOUS
Biv"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. bivius; bis twice + via way.]
Defn: Having, or leading, two ways.
Bivious theorems and Janus-faced doctrines. Sir T. Browne.
BIVIUM
Biv"i*um, n. Etym: [L., a place with two ways. See Bivious.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One side of an echinoderm, including a pair of ambulacra, in
distinction from the opposite side (trivium), which includes three
ambulacra.
BIVOUAC
Biv"ouac, n. Etym: [F. bivouac, bivac, prab. fr. G. beiwache, or
beiwacht; bei by, near + wachen to watch, wache watch, guard. See By,
and Watch.] (Mil.)
(a) The watch of a whole army by night, when in danger of surprise or
attack.
(b) An encampment for the night without tents or covering.
BIVOUAC
Biv"ouac, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bivouacked (p. pr. & vb. n.
Bivouacking.] (Mil.)
(a) To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army.
(b) To encamp for the night without tents or covering.
BIWEEKLY
Bi"week`ly, a. Etym: [Pref. bi- + weekly.]
Defn: Occurring or appearing once every two weeks; fortnightly.
-- n.
Defn: A publication issued every two weeks.
-- Bi"week"ly, adv.
BIWREYE
Bi*wreye", v. t.
Defn: To bewray; to reveal. [Obs.]
BIZANTINE
Biz"an*tine.
Defn: See Byzantine.
BIZARRE
Bi*zarre", a. Etym: [F. bizarre odd, fr. Sp. bizarro gallant, brave,
liberal, prob. of Basque origin; cf. Basque bizarra beard, whence the
meaning manly, brave.]
Defn: Odd in manner or appearance; fantastic; whimsical; extravagant;
grotesque. C. Kingsley.
BIZET
Bi*zet", n. Etym: [Cf. Bezel.]
Defn: The upper faceted portion of a brilliant-cut diamond, which
projects from the setting and occupies the zone between the girdle
and the table. See Brilliant, n.
BLAB
Blab, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blabbed (p. pr. & vb. n. Blabbing.] Etym:
[Cf. OE. blaberen, or Dan. blabbre, G. plappern, Gael. blabaran a
stammerer; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. also Blubber, v.]
Defn: To utter or tell unnecessarily, or in a thoughtless manner; to
publish (secrets or trifles) without reserve or discretion. Udall.
And yonder a vile physician blabbing The case of his patient.
Tennyson.
BLAB
Blab, v. i.
Defn: To talk thoughtlessly or without discretion; to tattle; to tell
tales.
She must burst or blab. Dryden.
BLAB
Blab, n. Etym: [OE. blabbe.]
Defn: One who blabs; a babbler; a telltale. "Avoided as a blab."
Milton.
For who will open himself to a blab or a babbler. Bacon.
BLABBER
Blab"ber, n.
Defn: A tattler; a telltale.
BLACK
Black, a. Etym: [OE. blak, AS. blæc; akin to Icel. blakkr dark,
swarthy, Sw. bläck ink, Dan. blæk, OHG. blach, LG. & D. blaken to
burn with a black smoke. Not akin to AS. blac, E. bleak pallid.
1. Destitute of light, or incapable of reflecting it; of the color of
soot or coal; of the darkest or a very dark color, the opposite of
white; characterized by such a color; as, black cloth; black hair or
eyes.
O night, with hue so black! Shak.
2. In a less literal sense: Enveloped or shrouded in darkness; very
dark or gloomy; as, a black night; the heavens black with clouds.
I spy a black, suspicious, threatening cloud. Shak.
3. Fig.: Dismal, gloomy, or forbidding, like darkness; destitute of
moral light or goodness; atrociously wicked; cruel; mournful;
calamitous; horrible. "This day's black fate." "Black villainy."
"Arise, black vengeance." "Black day." "Black despair." Shak.
4. Expressing menace, or discontent; threatening; sullen; foreboding;
as, to regard one with black looks.
Note: Black is often used in self-explaining compound words; as,
black-eyed, black-faced, black-haired, black-visaged. Black act, the
English statute 9 George I, which makes it a felony to appear armed
in any park or warren, etc., or to hunt or steal deer, etc., with the
face blackened or disguised. Subsequent acts inflicting heavy
penalties for malicious injuries to cattle and machinery have been
called black acts.
-- Black angel (Zoöl.), a fish of the West Indies and Florida
(Holacanthus tricolor), with the head and tail yellow, and the middle
of the body black.
-- Black antimony (Chem.), the black sulphide of antimony, Sb2S3,
used in pyrotechnics, etc.
-- Black bear (Zoöl.), the common American bear (Ursus Americanus).
-- Black beast. See Bête noire.
-- Black beetle (Zoöl.), the common large cockroach (Blatta
orientalis).
-- Black and blue, the dark color of a bruise in the flesh, which is
accompanied with a mixture of blue. "To pinch the slatterns black and
blue." Hudibras.
-- Black bonnet (Zoöl.), the black-headed bunting (Embriza
Schoeniclus) of Europe.
-- Black canker, a disease in turnips and other crops, produced by a
species of caterpillar.
-- Black cat (Zoöl.), the fisher, a quadruped of North America
allied to the sable, but larger. See Fisher.
-- Black cattle, any bovine cattle reared for slaughter, in
distinction from dairy cattle. [Eng.] -- Black cherry. See under
Cherry.
-- Black cockatoo (Zoöl.), the palm cockatoo. See Cockatoo.
-- Black copper. Same as Melaconite.
-- Black currant. (Bot.) See Currant.
-- Black diamond. (Min.) See Carbonado.
-- Black draught (Med.), a cathartic medicine, composed of senna and
magnesia.
-- Black drop (Med.), vinegar of opium; a narcotic preparation
consisting essentially of a solution of opium in vinegar.
-- Black earth, mold; earth of a dark color. Woodward.
-- Black flag, the flag of a pirate, often bearing in white a skull
and crossbones; a signal of defiance.
-- Black flea (Zoöl.), a flea beetle (Haltica nemorum) injurious to
turnips.
-- Black flux, a mixture of carbonate of potash and charcoal,
obtained by deflagrating tartar with half its weight of niter. Brande
& C.
-- Black fly. (Zoöl.) (a) In the United States, a small, venomous,
two-winged fly of the genus Simulium of several species, exceedingly
abundant and troublesome in the northern forests. The larvæ are
aquatic. (b) A black plant louse, as the bean aphis (A. fabæ).
-- Black Forest Etym: [a translation of G. Schwarzwald], a forest in
Baden and Würtemburg, in Germany; a part of the ancient Hercynian
forest.
-- Black game, or Black grouse. (Zoöl.) See Blackcock, Grouse, and
Heath grouse.
-- Black grass (Bot.), a grasslike rush of the species Juncus
Gerardi, growing on salt marshes, and making good hay.
-- Black gum (Bot.), an American tree, the tupelo or pepperidge. See
Tupelo.
-- Black Hamburg (grape) (Bot.), a sweet and juicy variety of dark
purple or "black" grape.
-- Black horse (Zoöl.), a fish of the Mississippi valley (Cycleptus
elongatus), of the sucker family; the Missouri sucker.
-- Black lemur (Zoöl.), the Lemurniger of Madagascar; the acoumbo of
the natives.
-- Black list, a list of persons who are for some reason thought
deserving of censure or punishment; -- esp. a list of persons
stigmatized as insolvent or untrustworthy, made for the protection of
tradesmen or employers. See Blacklist, v. t.
-- Black manganese (Chem.), the black oxide of manganese, MnO2.
-- Black Maria, the close wagon in which prisoners are carried to or
from jail.
-- Black martin (Zoöl.), the chimney swift. See Swift.
-- Black moss (Bot.), the common so-called long moss of the southern
United States. See Tillandsia.
-- Black oak. See under Oak.
-- Black ocher. See Wad.
-- Black pigment, a very fine, light carbonaceous substance, or
lampblack, prepared chiefly for the manufacture of printers' ink. It
is obtained by burning common coal tar.
-- Black plate, sheet iron before it is tinned. Knight.
-- Black quarter, malignant anthrax with engorgement of a shoulder
or quarter, etc., as of an ox.
-- Black rat (Zoöl.), one of the species of rats (Mus rattus),
commonly infesting houses.
-- Black rent. See Blackmail, n., 3.
-- Black rust, a disease of wheat, in which a black, moist matter is
deposited in the fissures of the grain.
-- Black sheep, one in a family or company who is unlike the rest,
and makes trouble.
-- Black silver. (Min.) See under Silver.
-- Black and tan, black mixed or spotted with tan color or reddish
brown; -- used in describing certain breeds of dogs.
-- Black tea. See under Tea.
-- Black tin (Mining), tin ore (cassiterite), when dressed, stamped
and washed, ready for smelting. It is in the form of a black powder,
like fine sand. Knight.
-- Black walnut. See under Walnut.
-- Black warrior (Zoöl.), an American hawk (Buteo Harlani).
Syn.
-- Dark; murky; pitchy; inky; somber; dusky; gloomy; swart;
Cimmerian; ebon; atrocious.
BLACK
Black, adv.
Defn: Sullenly; threateningly; maliciously; so as to produce
blackness.
BLACK
Black, n.
1. That which is destitute of light or whiteness; the darkest color,
or rather a destitution of all color; as, a cloth has a good black.
Black is the badge of hell, The hue of dungeons, and the suit of
night. Shak.
2. A black pigment or dye.
3. A negro; a person whose skin is of a black color, or shaded with
black; esp. a member or descendant of certain African races.
4. A black garment or dress; as, she wears black; pl. (Obs.)
Defn: Mourning garments of a black color; funereal drapery.
Friends weeping, and blacks, and obsequies, and the like show death
terrible. Bacon.
That was the full time they used to wear blacks for the death of
their fathers. Sir T. North.
5. The part of a thing which is distinguished from the rest by being
black.
The black or sight of the eye. Sir K. Digby.
6. A stain; a spot; a smooch.
Defiling her white lawn of chastity with ugly blacks of lust. Rowley.
Black and white, writing or print; as, I must have that statement in
black and white.
-- Blue black, a pigment of a blue black color.
-- Ivory black, a fine kind of animal charcoal prepared by calcining
ivory or bones. When ground it is the chief ingredient of the ink
used in copperplate printing.
-- Berlin black. See under Berlin.
BLACK
Black, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blacked ; p. pr. & vb. n. Blacking.] Etym:
[See Black, a., and cf. Blacken.]
1. To make black; to blacken; to soil; to sully.
They have their teeth blacked, both men and women, for they say a dog
hath his teeth white, therefore they will black theirs. Hakluyt.
Sins which black thy soul. J. Fletcher.
2. To make black and shining, as boots or a stove, by applying
blacking and then polishing with a brush.
BLACKAMOOR
Black"a*moor, n. Etym: [Black + Moor.]
Defn: A negro or negress. Shak.
BLACK ART
Black" art`.
Defn: The art practiced by conjurers and witches; necromancy;
conjuration; magic.
Note: This name was given in the Middle Ages to necromancy, under the
idea that the latter term was derived from niger black, instead of
nekro`s, a dead person, and mantei`a, divination. Wright.
BLACK-A-VISED
Black"-a-vised`, a.
Defn: Dark-visaged; swart.
BLACKBALL
Black"ball`, n.
1. A composition for blacking shoes, boots, etc.; also, one for
taking impressions of engraved work.
2. A ball of black color, esp. one used as a negative in voting; --
in this sense usually two words.
BLACKBALL
Black"ball`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackballed (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blackballing.]
1. To vote against, by putting a black ball into a ballot box; to
reject or exclude, as by voting against with black balls; to
ostracize.
He was blackballed at two clubs in succession. Thackeray.
2. To blacken (leather, shoes, etc.) with blacking.
BLACKBAND
Black"band`, n. (Min.)
Defn: An earthy carbonate of iron containing considerable
carbonaceous matter; -- valuable as an iron ore.
BLACK BASS
Black" bass`. (Zoöl.)
1. An edible, fresh-water fish of the United States, of the genus
Micropterus. the small-mouthed kind is M. dolomiei; the largemouthed
is M. salmoides.
2. The sea bass. See Blackfish, 3.
BLACKBERRY
Black"ber*ry, n. Etym: [OE. blakberye, AS. blæcerie; blæc black +
berie berry.]
Defn: The fruit of several species of bramble (Rubus); also, the
plant itself. Rubus fruticosus is the blackberry of England; R.
villosus and R. Canadensis are the high blackberry and low blackberry
of the United States. There are also other kinds.
BLACKBIRD
Black"bird, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: In England, a species of thrush (Turdus merula), a singing bird
with a fin note; the merle. In America the name is given to several
birds, as the Quiscalus versicolor, or crow blackbird; the Agelæus
phoeniceus, or red-winged blackbird; the cowbird; the rusty grackle,
etc. See Redwing.
BLACKBIRDER
Black"bird*er, n.
Defn: A slave ship; a slaver. [Colloq.] F. T. Bullen.
BLACKBIRDING
Black"bird*ing, n.
1. The kidnaping of negroes or Polynesians to be sold as slaves.
2. The act or practice of collecting natives of the islands near
Queensland for service on the Queensland sugar plantations.
[Australia]
BLACKBOARD
Black"board`, n.
Defn: A broad board painted black, or any black surface on which
writing, drawing, or the working of mathematical problems can be done
with chalk or crayons. It is much used in schools.
BLACK BOOK
Black" book`.
1. One of several books of a political character, published at
different times and for different purposes; -- so called either from
the color of the binding, or from the character of the contents.
2. A book compiled in the twelfth century, containing a description
of the court of exchequer of England, an official statement of the
revenues of the crown, etc.
3. A book containing details of the enormities practiced in the
English monasteries and religious houses, compiled by order of their
visitors under Henry VIII., to hasten their dissolution.
4. A book of admiralty law, of the highest authority, compiled in the
reign of Edw. III. Bouvier. Wharton.
5. A book kept for the purpose of registering the names of persons
liable to censure or punishment, as in the English universities, or
the English armies.
6. Any book which treats of necromancy.
BLACK-BROWED
Black"-browed`, a.
Defn: Having black eyebrows. Hence: Gloomy; dismal; threatening;
forbidding. Shak. Dryden.
BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
Black*bur"ni*an war"bler. Etym: [Named from Mrs. Blackburn, an
English lady.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beautiful warbler of the United States (Dendroica
Blackburniæ). The male is strongly marked with orange, yellow, and
black on the head and neck, and has an orange-yellow breast.
BLACKCAP
Black"cap`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small European song bird (Sylvia atricapilla), with a black
crown; the mock nightingale.
(b) An American titmouse (Parus atricapillus); the chickadee.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: An apple roasted till black, to be served in a dish of boiled
custard.
3. The black raspberry.
BLACKCOAT
Black"coat`, n.
Defn: A clergyman; -- familiarly so called, as a soldier is sometimes
called a redcoat or a bluecoat.
BLACKCOCK
Black"cock`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of the European black grouse (Tetrao tetrix, Linn.); -
- so called by sportsmen. The female is called gray hen. See Heath
grouse.
BLACK DEATH
Black" death`.
Defn: A pestilence which ravaged Europe and Asia in the fourteenth
century.
BLACKEN
Black"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackened; p. pr. & vb. n. Blackening.]
Etym: [See Black, a., and cf. Black, v. t. ]
1. To make or render black.
While the long funerals blacken all the way. Pope
2. To make dark; to darken; to cloud. "Blackened the whole heavens."
South.
3. To defame; to sully, as reputation; to make infamous; as, vice
blackens the character.
Syn.
-- To denigrate; defame; vilify; slander; calumniate; traduce;
malign; asperse.
BLACKEN
Black"en, v. i.
Defn: To grow black or dark.
BLACKENER
Black"en*er, n.
Defn: One who blackens.
BLACK-EYED
Black"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having black eyes. Dryden.
BLACK-EYED SUSAN
Black"-eyed` Su"san. (Bot.)
(a) The coneflower, or yellow daisy (Rudbeckia hirta).
(b) The bladder ketmie.
BLACK-FACED
Black"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a black, dark, or gloomy face or aspect.
BLACKFEET
Black"feet`, n. pl. (Ethn.)
Defn: A tribe of North American Indians formerly inhabiting the
country from the upper Missouri River to the Saskatchewan, but now
much reduced in numbers.
BLACKFIN
Black"fin`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bluefin.
BLACKFISH
Black"fish, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small kind of whale, of the genus Globicephalus, of several
species. The most common is G. melas. Also sometimes applied to other
whales of larger size.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tautog of New England (Tautoga).
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black sea bass (Centropristis atrarius) of the Atlantic
coast. It is excellent food fish; -- locally called also black Harry.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of southern Europe (Centrolophus pompilus) of the
Mackerel family.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The female salmon in the spawning season.
Note: The name is locally applied to other fishes.
BLACK FLAGS
Black Flags.
Defn: An organization composed originally of Chinese rebels that had
been driven into Tonkin by the suppression of the Taiping rebellion,
but later increased by bands of pirates and adventurers. It took a
prominent part in fighting the French during their hostilities with
Anam, 1873-85.
BLACKFOOT
Black"foot`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Blackfeet; as, a Blackfoot Indian.
-- n.
Defn: A Blackfoot Indian.
BLACK FRIAR
Black" fri`ar. (Eccl.)
Defn: A friar of the Dominican order; -- called also predicant and
preaching friar; in France, Jacobin. Also, sometimes, a Benedictine.
BLACK FRIDAY
Black Friday.
Defn: Any Friday on which a public disaster has occurred, as: In
England, December 6, 1745, when the news of the landing of the
Pretender reached London, or May 11, 1866, when a financial panic
commenced. In the United States, September 24, 1869, and September
18, 1873, on which financial panics began.
BLACKGUARD
Black"guard, n. Etym: [Black + guard.]
1. The scullions and lower menials of a court, or of a nobleman's
household, who, in a removal from one residence to another, had
charge of the kitchen utensils, and being smutted by them, were
jocularly called the "black guard"; also, the servants and hangers-on
of an army. [Obs.]
A lousy slave, that . . . rode with the black guard in the duke's
carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping pans. Webster (1612).
2. The criminals and vagrants or vagabonds of a town or community,
collectively. [Obs.]
3. A person of stained or low character, esp. one who uses scurrilous
language, or treats others with foul abuse; a scoundrel; a rough.
A man whose manners and sentiments are decidedly below those of his
class deserves to be called a blackguard. Macaulay.
4. A vagrant; a bootblack; a gamin. [Obs.]
BLACKGUARD
Black"guard`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackguarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blackguarding.]
Defn: To revile or abuse in scurrilous language. Southey.
BLACKGUARD
Black"guard, a.
Defn: Scurrilous; abusive; low; worthless; vicious; as, blackguard
language.
BLACKGUARDISM
Black"guard*ism, n.
Defn: The conduct or language of a blackguard; rufflanism.
BLACKGUARDLY
Black"guard*ly, adv. & a.
Defn: In the manner of or resembling a blackguard; abusive;
scurrilous; ruffianly.
BLACK HAMBURG
Black Ham"burg.
Defn: A sweet and juicy variety of European grape, of a dark purplish
black color, much grown under glass in northern latitudes.
BLACK HAND
Black Hand. [A trans. of Sp. mano negra.]
1.
Defn: A Spanish anarchistic society, many of the members of which
were imprisoned in 1883.
2. A lawless or blackmailing secret society, esp. among Italians.
[U. S.]
BLACKHEAD
Black"head`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The scaup duck.
BLACKHEART
Black"heart`, n.
Defn: A heart-shaped cherry with a very dark-colored skin.
BLACK-HEARTED
Black"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Having a wicked, malignant disposition; morally bad.
BLACK HOLE
Black" hole`.
Defn: A dungeon or dark cell in a prison; a military lock-up or
guardroom; -- now commonly with allusion to the cell (the Black Hole)
in a fort at Calcutta, into which 146 English prisoners were thrust
by the nabob Suraja Dowla on the night of June 20, 17656, and in
which 123 of the prisoners died before morning from lack of air.
A discipline of unlimited autocracy, upheld by rods, and ferules, and
the black hole. H. Spencer.
BLACKING
Black"ing, n.
1. Any preparation for making things black; esp. one for giving a
black luster to boots and shoes, or to stoves.
2. The act or process of making black.
BLACKISH
Black"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat black.
BLACK-JACK
Black"-jack`, n.
1. (Min.)
Defn: A name given by English miners to sphalerite, or zinc blende; -
- called also false galena. See Blende.
2. Caramel or burnt sugar, used to color wines, spirits, ground
coffee, etc.
3. A large leather vessel for beer, etc. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.)
Defn: The Quercus nigra, or barren oak.
5. The ensign of a pirate.
BLACK LEAD
Black` lead".
Defn: Plumbago; graphite.It leaves a blackish mark somewhat like
lead. See Graphite.
BLACKLEAD
Black`lead", v. t.
Defn: To coat or to polish with black lead.
BLACKLEG
Black"leg`, n.
1. A notorious gambler. [Colloq.]
2. A disease among calves and sheep, characterized by a settling of
gelatinous matter in the legs, and sometimes in the neck. [Eng.]
BLACK LETTER
Black" let`ter.
Defn: The old English or Gothic letter, in which the Early English
manuscripts were written, and the first English books were printed.
It was conspicuous for its blackness. See Type.
BLACK-LETTER
Black"-let`ter, a.
1. Written or printed in black letter; as, a black-letter manuscript
or book.
2. Given to the study of books in black letter; that is, of old
books; out of date.
Kemble, a black-letter man! J. Boaden.
3. Of or pertaining to the days in the calendar not marked with red
letters as saints' days. Hence: Unlucky; inauspicious.
BLACKLIST
Black"list`, v. t.
Defn: To put in a black list as deserving of suspicion, censure, or
punishment; esp. to put in a list of persons stigmatized as insolvent
or untrustworthy, -- as tradesmen and employers do for mutual
protection; as, to blacklist a workman who has been discharged. See
Black list, under Black, a.
If you blacklist us, we will boycott you. John Swinton.
BLACKLY
Black"ly, adv.
Defn: In a black manner; darkly, in color; gloomily; threateningly;
atrociously. "Deeds so blackly grim and horrid." Feltham.
BLACKMAIL
Black"mail`, n. Etym: [Black + mail a piece of money.]
1. A certain rate of money, corn, cattle, or other thing, anciently
paid, in the north of England and south of Scotland, to certain men
who were allied to robbers, or moss troopers, to be by them protected
from pillage. Sir W. Scott.
2. Payment of money exacted by means of intimidation; also, extortion
of money from a person by threats of public accusation, exposure, or
censure.
3. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Black rent, or rent paid in corn, flesh, or the lowest coin, a
opposed to "white rent", which paid in silver. To levy blackmail, to
extort money by threats, as of injury to one's reputation.
BLACKMAIL
Black"mail`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blackmailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blackmailing.]
Defn: To extort money from by exciting fears of injury other than
bodily harm, as injury to reputation, distress of mind, etc.; as, to
blackmail a merchant by threatening to expose an alleged fraud. [U.
S.]
BLACKMAILER
Black"mail`er, n.
Defn: One who extorts, or endeavors to extort, money, by black
mailing.
BLACKMAILING
Black"mail`ing, n.
Defn: The act or practice of extorting money by exciting fears of
injury other than bodily harm, as injury to reputation.
BLACK MONDAY
Black" Mon`day.
1. Easter Monday, so called from the severity of that day in 1360,
which was so unusual that many of Edward III.'s soldiers, then before
Paris, died from the cold. Stow.
Then it was not for nothing that may nose fell a bleeding on Black
Monday last. Shak.
2. The first Monday after the holidays; -- so called by English
schoolboys. Halliwell.
BLACK MONK
Black" monk`.
Defn: A Benedictine monk.
BLACKMOOR
Black"moor, n.
Defn: See Blackamoor.
BLACK-MOUTHED
Black"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Using foul or scurrilous language; slanderous.
BLACKNESS
Black"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being black; black color; atrociousness
or enormity in wickedness.
They're darker now than blackness. Donne.
BLACKPOLL
Black"poll`, n. Etym: [Black + poll head.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A warbler of the United States (Dendroica striata).
BLACK PUDDING
Black" pud"ding.
Defn: A kind of sausage made of blood, suet, etc., thickened with
meal.
And fat black puddings, -- proper food, For warriors that delight in
blood. Hudibras.
BLACK ROD
Black" Rod`.
(a) the usher to the Chapter of the Garter, so called from the black
rod which he carries. He is of the king's chamber, and also usher to
the House of Lords. [Eng.]
(b) An usher in the legislature of British colonies. Cowell.
Committed to the custody of the Black Rod. Macaulay.
BLACKROOT
Black"root`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Colicroot.
BLACKS
Blacks, n. pl.
1. The name of a kind of in used in copperplate printing, prepared
from the charred husks of the grape, and residue of the wine press.
2. Soot flying in the air. [Eng.]
3. Black garments, etc. See Black, n., 4.
BLACKSALTER
Black"salt`er, n.
Defn: One who,makes crude potash, or black salts.
BLACK SALTS
Black" salts`.
Defn: Crude potash. De Colange.
BLACKSMITH
Black"smith`, n. Etym: [Black (in allusion to the color of the metal)
+ smith. Cf. Whitesmith.]
1. A smith who works in iron with a forge, and makes iron utensils,
horseshoes, etc.
The blacksmith may forge what he pleases. Howell.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the Pacific coast (Chromis, or Heliastes,
punctipinnis), of a blackish color.
BLACK SNAKE; BLACKSNAKE
Black" snake` or Black"snake, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A snake of a black color, of which two species are common in
the United States, the Bascanium constrictor, or racer, sometimes six
feet long, and the Scotophis Alleghaniensis, seven or eight feet
long.
Note: The name is also applied to various other black serpents, as
Natrix atra of Jamaica.
BLACK SPANISH
Black Spanish.
Defn: One of an old and well-known Mediterranean breed of domestic
fowls with glossy black plumage, blue legs and feet, bright red comb
and wattles, and white face. They are remarkable as egg layers.
BLACKSTRAP
Black"strap`, n.
1. A mixture of spirituous liquor (usually rum) and molasses.
No blackstrap to-night; switchel, or ginger pop. Judd.
2. Bad port wine; any commo wine of the Mediterranean; -- so called
by sailors.
BLACKTAIL
Black"tail`, n. Etym: [Black + tail.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish; the ruff or pope.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The black-tailed deer (Cervus or Cariacus Columbianus) of
California and Oregon; also, the mule deer of the Rocky Mountains.
See Mule deer.
BLACKTHORN
Black"thorn`, n. (Bot.)
(a) A spreading thorny shrub or small tree (Prunus spinosa), with
blackish bark, and bearing little black plums, which are called
sloes; the sloe.
(b) A species of Cratægus or hawthorn (C. tomentosa). Both are used
for hedges.
BLACK VOMIT
Black" vom"it. (Med.)
Defn: A copious vomiting of dark-colored matter; or the substance so
discharged; -- one of the most fatal symptoms in yellow fever.
BLACK WASH; BLACKWASH
Black" wash` or Black"wash, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: A lotion made by mixing calomel and lime water.
2. A wash that blackens, as opposed to whitewash; hence,
figuratively, calumny.
To remove as far as he can the modern layers of black wash, and let
the man himself, fair or foul, be seen. C. Kingsley.
BLACKWATER STATE
Black"wa`ter State.
Defn: Nebraska; -- a nickname alluding to the dark color of the water
of its rivers, due to the presence of a black vegetable mold in the
soil.
BLACKWOOD
Black"wood, n.
Defn: A name given to several dark-colored timbers. The East Indian
black wood is from the tree Dalbergia latifolia. Balfour.
BLACKWORK
Black"work`, n.
Defn: Work wrought by blacksmiths; -- so called in distinction from
that wrought by whitesmiths. Knight.
BLADDER
Blad"der, n. Etym: [OE. bladder, bleddre, AS. bl, bl; akin to Icel.
bla, SW. bläddra, Dan. blære, D. blaar, OHG. blatara the bladder in
the body of animals, G. blatter blister, bustule; all fr. the same
root as AS. blawan, E. blow, to puff. See Blow to puff.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A bag or sac in animals, which serves as the receptacle of some
fluid; as, the urinary bladder; the gall bladder; -- applied
especially to the urinary bladder, either within the animal, or when
taken out and inflated with air.
2. Any vesicle or blister, especially if filled with air, or a thin,
watery fluid.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A distended, membranaceous pericarp.
4. Anything inflated, empty, or unsound. "To swim with bladders of
philosophy." Rochester. Bladder nut, or Bladder tree (Bot.), a genus
of plants (Staphylea) with bladderlike seed pods.
-- Bladder pod (Bot.), a genus of low herbs (Vesicaria) with
inflated seed pods.
-- Bladdor senna (Bot.), a genus of shrubs (Colutea), with
membranaceous, inflated pods.
-- Bladder worm (Zoöl.), the larva of any species of tapeworm
(Tænia), found in the flesh or other parts of animals. See Measle,
Cysticercus.
-- Bladder wrack (Bot.), the common black rock weed of the seacoast
(Fucus nodosus and F. vesiculosus) -- called also bladder tangle. See
Wrack.
BLADDER
Blad"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bladdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bladdering.]
1. To swell out like a bladder with air; to inflate. [Obs.] G.
Fletcher.
2. To put up in bladders; as, bladdered lard.
BLADDERWORT
Blad"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Utricularia) of aquatic or marshy plants, which
usually bear numerous vesicles in the divisions of the leaves. These
serve as traps for minute animals. See Ascidium.
BLADDERY
Blad"der*y, a.
Defn: Having bladders; also, resembling a bladder.
BLADE
Blade, n. Etym: [OE. blade, blad, AS. blæd leaf; akin to OS., D.,
Dan., & Sw. blad, Icel. bla, OHG. blat, G. blatt, and perh. to L.
folium, Gr. . The root is prob. the same as that of AS. bl, E. blow,
to blossom. See Blow to blossom, and cf. Foil leaf of metal.]
1. Properly, the leaf, or flat part of the leaf, of any plant,
especially of gramineous plants. The term is sometimes applied to the
spire of grasses.
The crimson dulse . . . with its waving blade. Percival.
First the blade, then ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark
iv. 28.
2. The cutting part of an instrument; as, the blade of a knife or a
sword.
3. The broad part of an oar; also, one of the projecting arms of a
screw propeller.
4. The scapula or shoulder blade.
5. pl. (Arch.)
Defn: The principal rafters of a roof. Weale.
6. pl. (Com.)
Defn: The four large shell plates on the sides, and the five large
ones of the middle, of the carapace of the sea turtle, which yield
the best tortoise shell. De Colange.
7. A sharp-witted, dashing, wild, or reckless, fellow; -- a word of
somewhat indefinite meaning.
He saw a turnkey in a trice Fetter a troublesome blade. Coleridge.
BLADE
Blade, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a blade.
BLADE
Blade, v. i.
Defn: To put forth or have a blade.
As sweet a plant, as fair a flower, is faded As ever in the Muses'
garden bladed. P. Fletcher.
BLADEBONE
Blade"bone`, n.
Defn: The scapula. See Blade, 4.
BLADED
Blad"ed, a.
1. Having a blade or blades; as a two-bladed knife.
Decking with liquid pearl the bladed grass. Shak.
2. Divested of blades; as, bladed corn.
3. (Min.)
Defn: Composed of long and narrow plates, shaped like the blade of a
knife.
BLADEFISH
Blade"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A long, thin, marine fish of Europe (Trichiurus lepturus); the
ribbon fish.
BLADESMITH
Blade"smith`, n.
Defn: A sword cutler. [Obs.]
BLADY
Blad"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of blades. [R.] "Blady grass." Drayton.
BLAE
Blæ, a. Etym: [See Blue.]
Defn: Dark blue or bluish gray; lead-colored. [Scot.]
BLAEBERRY
Blæ"ber*ry, n. Etym: [Blæ + berry; akin to Icel blaber, Sw. bl, D.
blaabær. Cf. Blueberry.]
Defn: The bilberry. [North of Eng. & Scot.]
BLAGUE
Blague, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Mendacious boasting; falcefood; humbug.
BLAIN
Blain, n. Etym: [OE. blein, bleyn, AS. bl; akin to Dan. blegn, D.
blein; perh. fr. the same root as E. bladder. See Bladder.]
1. An inflammatory swelling or sore; a bulla, pustule, or blister.
Blotches and blains must all his flesh emboss. Milton.
2. (Far.)
Defn: A bladder growing on the root of the tongue of a horse, against
the windpipe, and stopping the breath.
BLAMABLE
Blam"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. blâmable.]
Defn: Deserving of censure; faulty; culpable; reprehensible;
censurable; blameworthy.
-- Blam"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Blam"a*bly (, adv.
BLAME
Blame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaming.] Etym:
[OE. blamen, F. blâr, OF. blasmer, fr. L. blasphemare to blaspheme,
LL. also to blame, fr. Gr. to speak ill to slander, to blaspheme, fr.
evil speaking, perh, for ; injury (fr. to injure) + a saying, fr. to
say. Cf. Blaspheme, and see Fame.]
1. To censure; to express disapprobation of; to find fault with; to
reproach.
We have none to blame but ourselves. Tillotson.
2. To bring reproach upon; to blemish. [Obs.]
She . . . blamed her noble blood. Spenser.
To blame, to be blamed, or deserving blame; in fault; as, the
conductor was to blame for the accident.
You were to blame, I must be plain with you. Shak.
BLAME
Blame, n. Etym: [OE. blame, fr. F. blâme, OF. blasme, fr. blâmer, OF.
blasmer, to blame. See Blame, v.]
1. An expression of disapprobation fir something deemed to be wrong;
imputation of fault; censure.
Let me bear the blame forever. Gen. xiiii. 9.
2. That which is deserving of censure or disapprobation; culpability;
fault; crime; sin.
Holy and without blame before him in love. Eph. i. 4.
3. Hurt; injury. [Obs.] Spenser.
Syn.
-- Censure; reprehension; condemnation; reproach; fault; sin; crime;
wrongdoing.
BLAMEFUL
Blame"ful, a.
1. Faulty; meriting blame. Shak.
2. Attributing blame or fault; implying or conveying censure;
faultfinding; censorious. Chaucer.
-- Blame"ful*ly, adv.
-- Blame"ful*ness, n.
BLAMELESS
Blame"less, a.
Defn: Free from blame; without fault; innocent; guiltless; --
sometimes followed by of.
A bishop then must be blameless. 1 Tim. iii. 2.
Blameless still of arts that polish to deprave. Mallet.
We will be blameless of this thine oath. Josh. ii. 17.
Syn.
-- Irreproachable; sinless; unblemished; inculpable.
-- Blameless, Spotless, Faultless, Stainless. We speak of a thing as
blameless when it is free from blame, or the just imputation of
fault; as, a blameless life or character. The others are stronger. We
speak of a thing as faultless, stainless, or spotless, only when we
mean that it is absolutely without fault or blemish; as, a spotless
or stainless reputation; a faultless course of conduct. The last
three words apply only to the general character, while blameless may
be used in reverence to particular points; as, in this transaction he
was wholly blameless. We also apply faultless to personal appearance;
as, a faultless figure; which can not be done in respect to any of
the other words.
BLAMELESSLY
Blame"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blameless manner.
BLAMELESSNESS
Blame"less*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being blameless; innocence.
BLAMER
Blam"er, n.
Defn: One who blames. Wyclif.
BLAMEWORTHY
Blame"wor`thy, a.
Defn: Deserving blame; culpable; reprehensible.
-- Blame"wor`thi*ness, n.
BLANC
Blanc, n. [F., white.]
1. A white cosmetic.
2. A white sauce of fat, broth, and vegetables, used esp. for
braised meat.
BLANCARD
Blan"card, n. Etym: [F., fr. blanc white.]
Defn: A kind of linen cloth made in Normandy, the thread of which is
partly blanches before it is woven.
BLANCH
Blanch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanched; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanching.]
Etym: [OE. blanchen, blaunchen, F. blanchir, fr. blanc white. See
Blank, a.]
1. To take the color out of, and make white; to bleach; as, to blanch
linen; age has blanched his hair.
2. (Gardening)
Defn: To bleach by excluding the light, as the stalks or leaves of
plants, by earthing them up or tying them together.
3. (Confectionery & Cookery)
(a) To make white by removing the skin of, as by scalding; as, to
blanch almonds.
(b) To whiten, as the surface of meat, by plunging into boiling water
and afterwards into cold, so as to harden the surface and retain the
juices.
4. To give a white luster to (silver, before stamping, in the process
of coining.).
5. To cover (sheet iron) with a coating of tin.
6. Fig.: To whiten; to give a favorable appearance to; to whitewash;
to palliate.
Blanch over the blackest and most absurd things. Tillotson.
Syn.
-- To Blanch, Whiten. To whiten is the generic term, denoting, to
render white; as, to whiten the walls of a room. Usually (though not
of necessity) this is supposed to be done by placing some white
coloring matter in or upon the surface of the object in question. To
blanch is to whiten by the removal of coloring matter; as, to blanch
linen. So the cheek is blanched by fear, i. e., by the withdrawal of
the blood, which leaves it white.
BLANCH
Blanch, v. i.
Defn: To grow or become white; as, his cheek blanched with fear; the
rose blanches in the sun.
[Bones] blanching on the grass. Tennyson.
BLANCH
Blanch, v. t. Etym: [See Blench.]
1. To avoid, as from fear; to evade; to leave unnoticed. [Obs.]
Ifs and ands to qualify the words of treason, whereby every man might
express his malice and blanch his danger. Bacon.
I suppose you will not blanch Paris in your way. Reliq. Wot.
2. To cause to turn aside or back; as, to blanch a deer.
BLANCH
Blanch, v. i.
Defn: To use evasion. [Obs.]
Books will speak plain, when counselors blanch. Bacon.
BLANCH
Blanch, n. (Mining)
Defn: Ore, not in masses, but mixed with other minerals.
BLANCHARD LATHE
Blan"chard lathe. [After Thomas Blanchard, American inventor.]
(Mach.)
Defn: A kind of wood-turning lathe for making noncircular and
irregular forms, as felloes, gun stocks, lasts, spokes, etc., after a
given pattern. The pattern and work rotate on parallel spindles in
the same direction with the same speed, and the work is shaped by a
rapidly rotating cutter whose position is varied by the pattern
acting as a cam upon a follower wheel traversing slowly along the
pattern.
BLANCHER
Blanch"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, blanches or whitens; esp., one who
anneals and cleanses money; also, a chemical preparation for this
purpose.
BLANCHER
Blanch"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, frightens away or turns aside. [Obs.]
And Gynecia, a blancher, which kept the dearest deer from her. Sir P.
Sidney.
And so even now hath he divers blanchers belonging to the market, to
let and stop the light of the gospel. Latimer.
BLANCH HOLDING
Blanch" hold`ing. (Scots Law)
Defn: A mode of tenure by the payment of a small duty in white rent
(silver) or otherwise.
BLANCHIMETER
Blanch*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [1st blanch + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the bleaching power of chloride of
lime and potash; a chlorometer. Ure.
BLANCMANGE
Blanc*mange", n. Etym: [F. blancmanger, lit. white food; blanc white
+ manger to eat.] (Cookery)
Defn: A preparation for desserts, etc., made from isinglass, sea
moss, cornstarch, or other gelatinous or starchy substance, with
mild, usually sweetened and flavored, and shaped in a mold.
BLANCMANGER
Blanc*man"ger, n. Etym: [F. See Blancmange.]
Defn: A sort of fricassee with white sauce, variously made of capon,
fish, etc. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLAND
Bland, a. Etym: [L. blandus, of unknown origin.]
1. Mild; soft; gentle; smooth and soothing in manner; suave; as, a
bland temper; bland persuasion; a bland sycophant. "Exhilarating
vapor bland." Milton.
2. Having soft and soothing qualities; not drastic or irritating; not
stimulating; as, a bland oil; a bland diet.
BLANDATION
Blan*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. L. blanditia, blandities, fr. blandus.
See Bland.]
Defn: Flattery. [Obs.]
BLANDILOQUENCE
Blan*dil"o*quence, n. Etym: [L. blandiloquentia; blandus mild + loqui
to speak.]
Defn: Mild, flattering speech.
BLANDILOQUOUS; BLANDILOQUIOUS
Blan*dil"o*quous, Blan*di*lo"qui*ous, a.
Defn: Fair-spoken; flattering.
BLANDISE
Blan"dise, v. i. Etym: [Same word as Blandish.]
Defn: To blandish any one. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLANDISH
Blan"dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blandished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blandishing.] Etym: [OE. blaundisen, F. blandir, fr. L. blandiri, fr.
blandus mild, flattering.]
1. To flatter with kind words or affectionate actions; to caress; to
cajole.
2. To make agreeable and enticing.
Mustering all her wiles, With blandished parleys. Milton.
BLANDISHER
Blan"dish*er, n.
Defn: One who uses blandishments.
BLANDISHMENT
Blan"dish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. blandissement.]
Defn: The act of blandishing; a word or act expressive of affection
or kindness, and tending to win the heart; soft words and artful
caresses; cajolery; allurement.
Cowering low with blandishment. Milton.
Attacked by royal smiles, by female blandishments. Macaulay.
BLANDLY
Bland"ly, adv.
Defn: In a bland manner; mildly; suavely.
BLANDNESS
Bland"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being bland.
BLANK
Blank, a. Etym: [OE. blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, fr. F. blanc,
fem. blanche, fr. OHG. blanch shining, bright, white, G. blank; akin
to E. blink, cf. also AS. blanc white. Blink, and cf. 1st Blanch.]
1. Of a white or pale color; without color.
To the blank moon Her office they prescribed. Milton.
2. Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be
filled in with some special writing; -- said of checks, official
documents, etc.; as, blank paper; a blank check; a blank ballot.
3. Utterly confounded or discomfited.
Adam . . . astonied stood, and blank. Milton.
4. Empty; void; without result; fruitless; as, a blank space; a blank
day.
5. Lacking characteristics which give variety; as, a blank desert; a
blank wall; destitute of interests, affections, hopes, etc.; as, to
live a blank existence; destitute of sensations; as, blank
unconsciousness.
6. Lacking animation and intelligence, or their associated
characteristics, as expression of face, look, etc.; expressionless;
vacant. "Blank and horror-stricken faces." C. Kingsley.
The blank . . . glance of a half returned consciousness. G. Eliot.
7. Absolute; downright; unmixed; as, blank terror. Blank bar (Law), a
plea put in to oblige the plaintiff in an action of trespass to
assign the certain place where the trespass was committed; -- called
also common bar.
-- Blank cartridge, a cartridge containing no ball.
-- Blank deed. See Deed.
-- Blank door, or Blank window (Arch.), a depression in a wall of
the size of a door or window, either for symmetrical effect, or for
the more convenient insertion of a door or window at a future time,
should it be needed.
-- Blank indorsement (Law), an indorsement which omits the name of
the person in whose favor it is made; it is usually made by simply
writing the name of the indorser on the back of the bill.
-- Blank line (Print.), a vacant space of the breadth of a line, on
a printed page; a line of quadrats.
-- Blank tire (Mech.), a tire without a flange.
-- Blank tooling. See Blind tooling, under Blind.
-- Blank verse. See under Verse.
-- Blank wall, a wall in which there is no opening; a dead wall.
BLANK
Blank, n.
1. Any void space; a void space on paper, or in any written
instrument; an interval void of consciousness, action, result, etc; a
void.
I can not write a paper full, I used to do; and yet I will not
forgive a blank of half an inch from you. Swift.
From this time there ensues a long blank in the history of French
legislation. Hallam.
I was ill. I can't tell how long -- it was a blank. G. Eliot.
2. A lot by which nothing is gained; a ticket in a lottery on which
no prize is indicated.
In Fortune's lottery lies A heap of blanks, like this, for one small
prize. Dryden.
3. A paper unwritten; a paper without marks or characters a blank
ballot; -- especially, a paper on which are to be inserted designated
items of information, for which spaces are left vacant; a bland form.
The freemen signified their approbation by an inscribed vote, and
their dissent by a blank. Palfrey.
4. A paper containing the substance of a legal instrument, as a deed,
release, writ, or execution, with spaces left to be filled with
names, date, descriptions, etc.
5. The point aimed at in a target, marked with a white spot; hence,
the object to which anything is directed.
Let me still remain The true blank of thine eye. Shak.
6. Aim; shot; range. [Obs.]
I have stood . . . within the blank of his displeasure For my free
speech. Shak.
7. A kind of base silver money, first coined in England by Henry V.,
and worth about 8 pence; also, a French coin of the seventeenth
century, worth about 4 pence. Nares.
8. (Mech.)
Defn: A piece of metal prepared to be made into something by a
further operation, as a coin, screw, nuts.
9. (Dominoes)
Defn: A piece or division of a piece, without spots; as, the "double
blank"; the "six blank." In blank, with an essential portion to be
supplied by another; as, to make out a check in blank.
BLANK
Blank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanking.] Etym:
[Cf. 3d Blanch.]
1. To make void; to annul. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To blanch; to make blank; to damp the spirits of; to dispirit or
confuse. [Obs.]
Each opposite that blanks the face of joy. Shak.
BLANKET
Blan"ket, n. Etym: [F. blanchet, OF. also blanket, a woolen waistcoat
or shirt, the blanket of a printing press; prop. white woolen stuff,
dim. of blanc white; blanquette a kind of white pear, fr. blanc
white. See Blank, a.]
1. A heavy, loosely woven fabric, usually of wool, and having a nap,
used in bed clothing; also, a similar fabric used as a robe; or any
fabric used as a cover for a horse.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A piece of rubber, felt, or woolen cloth, used in the tympan to
make it soft and elastic.
3. A streak or layer of blubber in whales.
Note: The use of blankets formerly as curtains in theaters explains
the following figure of Shakespeare. Nares.
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark To cry, "Hold, hold!"
Shak.
Blanket sheet, a newspaper of folio size.
-- A wet blanket, anything which damps, chills, dispirits, or
discour
BLANKET
Blan"ket, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blanketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blanketing.]
1. To cover with a blanket.
I'll . . . blanket my loins. Shak.
2. To toss in a blanket by way of punishment.
We'll have our men blanket 'em i' the hall. B. Jonson.
3. To take the wind out of the sails of (another vessel) by sailing
to windward of her. Blanket cattle. See Belted cattle, under Belted.
BLANKET CLAUSE
Blan"ket clause`. (Law)
Defn: A clause, as in a blanket mortgage or policy, that includes a
group or class of things, rather than a number mentioned individually
and having the burden, loss, or the like, apportioned among them.
BLANKETING
Blan"ket*ing, n.
1. Cloth for blankets.
2. The act or punishment of tossing in a blanket.
That affair of the blanketing happened to thee for the fault thou
wast guilty of. Smollett.
BLANKET MORTGAGE; BLANKET POLICY
Blan"ket mortgage or Blan"ket policy .
Defn: One that covers a group or class of things or properties
instead of one or more things mentioned individually, as where a
mortgage secures various debts as a group, or subjects a group or
class of different pieces of property to one general lien.
BLANKET STITCH
Blanket stitch.
Defn: A buttonhole stitch worked wide apart on the edge of material,
as blankets, too thick to hem.
BLANKLY
Blank"ly, adv.
1. In a blank manner; without expression; vacuously; as, to stare
blankly. G. Eliot.
2. Directly; flatly; point blank. De Quincey.
BLANKNESS
Blank"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being blank.
BLANQUETTE
Blan*quette", n. Etym: [F. blanquette, from blanc white.] (Cookery)
Defn: A white fricassee.
BLANQUILLO
Blan*quil"lo, n. Etym: [Sp. blanquillo whitish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large fish of Florida and the W. Indies (Caulolatilus
chrysops). It is red, marked with yellow.
BLARE
Blare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blared; p. pr. & vb. n. Blaring.] Etym:
[OE. blaren, bloren, to cry, woop; cf. G. plärren to bleat, D. blaren
to bleat, cry, weep. Prob. an imitative word, but cf. also E. blast.
Cf. Blore.]
Defn: To sound loudly and somewhat harshly. "The trumpet blared."
Tennyson.
BLARE
Blare, v. t.
Defn: To cause to sound like the blare of a trumpet; to proclaim
loudly.
To blare its own interpretation. Tennyson.
BLARE
Blare, n.
Defn: The harsh noise of a trumpet; a loud and somewhat harsh noise,
like the blast of a trumpet; a roar or bellowing.
With blare of bugle, clamor of men. Tennyson.
His ears are stunned with the thunder's blare. J. R. Drake.
BLARNEY
Blar"ney, n. Etym: [Blarney, a village and castle near Cork.]
Defn: Smooth, wheedling talk; flattery. [Colloq.] Blarney stone, a
stone in Blarney castle, Ireland, said to make those who kiss it
proficient in the use of blarney.
BLARNEY
Blar"ney, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blarneyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blarneying.]
Defn: To influence by blarney; to wheedle with smooth talk; to make
or accomplish by blarney. "Blarneyed the landlord." Irving.
Had blarneyed his way from Long Island. S. G. Goodrich.
BLASE
Bla*sé", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of blaser.]
Defn: Having the sensibilities deadened by excess or frequency of
enjoyment; sated or surfeited with pleasure; used up.
BLASPHEME
Blas*pheme", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasphemed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blaspheming.] Etym: [OE. blasfem, L. blasphemare, fr. Gr. : cf. F.
blasphémer. See Blame, v.]
1. To speak of, or address, with impious irreverence; to revile
impiously (anything sacred); as, to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
So Dagon shall be magnified, and God, Besides whom is no god,
compared with idols, Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn.
Milton.
How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge
thyself on all those who thus continually blaspheme thy great and
all-glorious name Dr. W. Beveridge.
2. Figuratively, of persons and things not religiously sacred, but
held in high honor: To calumniate; to revile; to abuse.
You do blaspheme the good in mocking me. Shak.
Those who from our labors heap their board, Blaspheme their feeder
and forget their lord. Pope.
BLASPHEME
Blas*pheme", v. i.
Defn: To utter blasphemy.
He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness. Mark iii. 29.
BLASPHEMER
Blas*phem"er, n.
Defn: One who blasphemes.
And each blasphemer quite escape the rod, Because the insult's not on
man, but God Pope.
BLASPHEMOUS
Blas"phe*mous, a. Etym: [L. blasphemus, Gr. .]
Defn: Speaking or writing blasphemy; uttering or exhibiting anything
impiously irreverent; profane; as, a blasphemous person; containing
blasphemy; as, a blasphemous book; a blasphemous caricature.
"Blasphemous publications." Porteus.
Nor from the Holy One of Heaven Refrained his tongue blasphemous.
Milton.
Note: Formerly this word was accented on the second syllable, as in
the above example.
BLASPHEMOUSLY
Blas"phe*mous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blasphemous manner.
BLASPHEMY
Blas"phe*my, n. Etym: [L. blasphemia, Gr. : cf. OF. blasphemie.]
1. An indignity offered to God in words, writing, or signs; impiously
irreverent words or signs addressed to, or used in reference to, God;
speaking evil of God; also, the act of claiming the attributes or
prerogatives of deity.
Note: When used generally in statutes or at common law, blasphemy is
the use of irreverent words or signs in reference to the Supreme
Being in such a way as to produce scandal or provoke violence.
2. Figuratively, of things held in high honor: Calumny; abuse;
vilification.
Punished for his blasphemy against learning. Bacon.
-BLAST
-blast. Etym: [Gr. sprout, shoot.]
Defn: A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in biological
terms, and signifying growth, formation; as, bioblast, epiblast,
mesoblast, etc.
BLAST
Blast, n. Etym: [AS. bl a puff of wind, a blowing; akin to Icel.
blastr, OHG. blast, and fr. a verb akin to Icel. blasa to blow, OHG.
blâsan, Goth. bl (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E. blow.
See Blow to eject air.]
1. A violent gust of wind.
And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the north, and calls
his ruffian blasts; His blasts obey, and quit the howling hill.
Thomson.
2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a bellows, the
mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to which one charge of ore
or metal is subjected in a furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron
at a blast.
Note: The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to designate
whether the current is heated or not heated before entering the
furnace. A blast furnace is said to be in blast while it is in
operation, and out of blast when not in use.
3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air out of
a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense draught through the
fire; also, any draught produced by the blast.
4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound
produces at one breath.
One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men. Sir W.
Scott.
The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. Bryant.
5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially
on animals and plants; a blight.
By the blast of God they perish. Job iv. 9.
Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast. Shak.
6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of rock,
earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; also, the
charge used for this purpose. "Large blasts are often used."
Tomlinson.
7. A flatulent disease of sheep. Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a
shaft furnace for smelting ores, into which air is forced by
pressure.
-- Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through which
water enters.
-- Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery end of
a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice.
-- In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great
activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]
BLAST
Blast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blasting.]
1. To injure, as by a noxious wind; to cause to wither; to stop or
check the growth of, and prevent from fruit-bearing, by some
pernicious influence; to blight; to shrivel.
Seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind. Gen. xii. 6.
2. Hence, to affect with some sudden violence, plague, calamity, or
blighting influence, which destroys or causes to fail; to visit with
a curse; to curse; to ruin; as, to blast pride, hopes, or character.
I'll cross it, though it blast me. Shak.
Blasted with excess of light. T. Gray.
3. To confound by a loud blast or din.
Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city's ear. Shak.
4. To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder, dynamite, etc.;
to shatter; as, to blast rocks.
BLAST
Blast, v. i.
1. To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the blossom.
2. To blow; to blow on a trumpet. [Obs.]
Toke his blake trumpe faste And gan to puffen and to blaste. Chaucer.
BLASTED
Blast"ed, a.
1. Blighted; withered.
Upon this blasted heath. Shak.
2. Confounded; accursed; detestable.
Some of her own blasted gypsies. Sir W. Scott.
3. Rent open by an explosive.
The blasted quarry thunders, heard remote. Wordsworth.
BLASTEMA
Blas*te"ma, n.; pl. Blastemata. Etym: [Gr. bud, sprout.] (Biol.)
Defn: The structureless, protoplasmic tissue of the embryo; the
primitive basis of an organ yet unformed, from which it grows.
BLASTEMAL
Blas*te"mal, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the blastema; rudimentary.
BLASTEMATIC
Blas`te*mat"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Connected with, or proceeding from, the blastema; blastemal.
BLASTER
Blast"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, blasts or destroys.
BLASTIDE
Blas"tide, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout, fr. to grow.] (Biol.)
Defn: A small, clear space in the segments of the ovum, the precursor
of the nucleus.
BLASTING
Blast"ing, n.
1. A blast; destruction by a blast, or by some pernicious cause.
I have smitten you with blasting and mildew. Amos iv. 9.
2. The act or process of one who, or that which, blasts; the business
of one who blasts.
BLAST LAMP
Blast lamp.
Defn: A lamp provided with some arrangement for intensifying
combustion by means of a blast.
BLASTMENT
Blast"ment, n.
Defn: A sudden stroke or injury produced by some destructive cause.
[Obs.] Shak.
BLASTOCARPOUS
Blas`to*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. sprout, germ + fruit.] (Bot.)
Defn: Germinating inside the pericarp, as the mangrove. Brande & C.
BLASTOCOELE
Blas"to*coele, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + hollow.] (Biol.)
Defn: The cavity of the blastosphere, or segmentation cavity.
BLASTOCYST
Blas"to*cyst, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. cyst.] (Biol.)
Defn: The germinal vesicle.
BLASTODERM
Blas"to*derm, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. derm.] (Biol.)
Defn: The germinal membrane in an ovum, from which the embryo is
developed.
BLASTODERMATIC; BLASTODERMIC
Blas`to*der*mat"ic, Blas`to*der"mic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the blastoderm.
BLASTOGENESIS
Blas`to*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Multiplication or increase by gemmation or budding.
BLASTOID
Blas"toid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Blastoidea.
BLASTOIDEA
Blas*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. sprout + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the divisions of Crinoidea found fossil in paleozoic
rocks; pentremites. They are so named on account of their budlike
form.
BLASTOMERE
Blas"to*mere, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + -mere.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the segments first formed by the division of the ovum.
Balfour.
BLASTOPHORAL; BLASTOPHORIC
Blas`toph"o*ral, Blas`to*phor"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to the blastophore.
BLASTOPHORE
Blas"to*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + to bear.] (Biol.)
Defn: That portion of the spermatospore which is not converted into
spermatoblasts, but carries them.
BLASTOPORE
Blas"to*pore, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. pore.] (Biol.)
Defn: The pore or opening leading into the cavity of invagination, or
archenteron.
Note: [See Illust. of Invagination.] Balfour.
BLASTOSPHERE
Blas"to*sphere, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout + E. sphere.] (Biol.)
Defn: The hollow globe or sphere formed by the arrangement of the
blastomeres on the periphery of an impregnated ovum.
Note: [See Illust. of Invagination.]
BLASTOSTYLE
Blas"to*style, n. Etym: [Gr. sprout, bud + a pillar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: In certain hydroids, an imperfect zooid, whose special function
is to produce medusoid buds. See Hydroidea, and Athecata.
BLAST PIPE
Blast" pipe`.
Defn: The exhaust pipe of a steam engine, or any pipe delivering
steam or air, when so constructed as to cause a blast.
BLASTULA
Blas"tu*la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of Gr. a sprout.] (Biol.)
Defn: That stage in the development of the ovum in which the outer
cells of the morula become more defined and form the blastoderm.
BLASTULE
Blas"tule, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Blastula.
BLASTY
Blast"y, a.
1. Affected by blasts; gusty.
2. Causing blast or injury. [Obs.] Boyle.
BLAT
Blat, v. i.
Defn: To cry, as a calf or sheep; to bleat; to make a senseless
noise; to talk inconsiderately. [Low]
BLAT
Blat, v. t.
Defn: To utter inconsiderately. [Low]
If I have anything on my mind, I have to blat it right out. W. D.
Howells.
BLATANCY
Bla"tan*cy, n.
Defn: Blatant quality.
BLATANT
Bla"tant, a. Etym: [Cf. Bleat.]
Defn: Bellowing, as a calf; bawling; brawling; clamoring;
disagreeably clamorous; sounding loudly and harshly. "Harsh and
blatant tone." R. H. Dana.
A monster, which the blatant beast men call. Spenser.
Glory, that blatant word, which haunts some military minds like the
bray of the trumpet. W. Irving.
BLATANTLY
Bla"tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blatant manner.
BLATHER
Blath"er (blath"er), v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Blathered; p. pr. &
vb. n. Blathering.] [Written also blether.] [Icel. blaðra. Cf.
Blatherskite.]
Defn: To talk foolishly, or nonsensically. G. Eliot.
BLATHER
Blath"er, n. [Written also blether.]
Defn: Voluble, foolish, or nonsensical talk; -- often in the pl.
Hall Caine.
BLATHERSKITE
Blath"er*skite, n.
Defn: A blustering, talkative fellow. [Local slang, U. S.] Barllett.
BLATTER
Blat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blattered.] Etym: [L. blaterare to
babble: cf. F. blatérer to bleat.]
Defn: To prate; to babble; to rail; to make a senseless noise; to
patter. [Archaic] "The rain blattered." Jeffrey.
They procured . . . preachers to blatter against me, . . . so that
they had place and time to belie me shamefully. Latimer.
BLATTERATION
Blat`ter*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. blateratio a babbling.]
Defn: Blattering.
BLATTERER
Blat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who blatters; a babbler; a noisy, blustering boaster.
BLATTERING
Blat"ter*ing, n.
Defn: Senseless babble or boasting.
BLATTEROON
Blat`ter*oon", n. Etym: [L. blatero, -onis.]
Defn: A senseless babbler or boaster. [Obs.] "I hate such
blatteroons." Howell.
BLAUBOK
Blau"bok, n. Etym: [D. blauwbok.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue buck. See Blue buck, under Blue.
BLAY
Blay, n. Etym: [AS. bl, fr. bl, bleak, white; akin to Icel. bleikja,
OHG. bleicha, G. bleihe. See Bleak, n. & a.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish. See Bleak, n.
BLAZE
Blaze (blaz), n. Etym: [OE. blase, AS. blæse, blase; akin to OHG.
blass whitish, G. blass pale, MHG. blas torch, Icel. blys torch;
perh. fr. the same root as E. blast. Cf. Blast, Blush, Blink.]
1. A stream of gas or vapor emitting light and heat in the process of
combustion; a bright flame. "To heaven the blaze uprolled." Croly.
2. Intense, direct light accompanied with heat; as, to seek shelter
from the blaze of the sun.
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon! Milton.
3. A bursting out, or active display of any quality; an outburst; a
brilliant display. "Fierce blaze of riot." "His blaze of wrath."
Shak.
For what is glory but the blaze of fame Milton.
4. [Cf. D. bles; akin to E. blaze light.]
Defn: A white spot on the forehead of a horse.
5. A spot made on trees by chipping off a piece of the bark, usually
as a surveyor's mark.
Three blazes in a perpendicular line on the same tree indicating a
legislative road, the single blaze a settlement or neighborhood road.
Carlton.
In a blaze, on fire; burning with a flame; filled with, giving, or
reflecting light; excited or exasperated.
-- Like blazes, furiously; rapidly. [Low] "The horses did along like
blazes tear." Poem in Essex dialect.
Note: In low language in the U. S., blazes is frequently used of
something extreme or excessive, especially of something very bad; as,
blue as blazes. Neal.
Syn.
-- Blaze, Flame. A blaze and a flame are both produced by burning
gas. In blaze the idea of light rapidly evolved is prominent, with or
without heat; as, the blaze of the sun or of a meteor. Flame includes
a stronger notion of heat; as, he perished in the flames.
BLAZE
Blaze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blazing.]
1. To shine with flame; to glow with flame; as, the fire blazes.
2. To send forth or reflect glowing or brilliant light; to show a
blaze.
And far and wide the icy summit blazed. Wordsworth.
3. To be resplendent. Macaulay. To blaze away, to discharge a
firearm, or to continue firing; -- said esp. of a number of persons,
as a line of soldiers. Also used (fig.) of speech or action.
[Colloq.]
BLAZE
Blaze, v. t.
1. To mark (a tree) by chipping off a piece of the bark.
I found my way by the blazed trees. Hoffman.
2. To designate by blazing; to mark out, as by blazed trees; as, to
blaze a line or path.
Champollion died in 1832, having done little more than blaze out the
road to be traveled by others. Nott.
BLAZE
Blaze, v. t. Etym: [OE. blasen to blow; perh. confused with blast and
blaze a flame, OE. blase. Cf. Blaze, v. i., and see Blast.]
1. To make public far and wide; to make known; to render conspicuous.
On charitable lists he blazed his name. Pollok.
To blaze those virtues which the good would hide. Pope.
2. (Her.)
Defn: To blazon. [Obs.] Peacham.
BLAZER
Blaz"er, n.
Defn: One who spreads reports or blazes matters abroad. "Blazers of
crime." Spenser.
BLAZING
Blaz"ing, a.
Defn: Burning with a blaze; as, a blazing fire; blazing torches. Sir
W. Scott. Blazing star. (a) A comet. [Obs.] (b) A brilliant center of
attraction. (c) (Bot.) A name given to several plants; as, to
Chamælirium luteum of the Lily family; Liatris squarrosa; and Aletris
farinosa, called also colicroot and star grass.
BLAZON
Bla"zon, n. Etym: [OE. blason, blasoun, shield, fr. F. blason coat of
arms, OF. shield, from the root of AS. blæse blaze, i. e., luster,
splendor, MHG. blas torch See Blaze, n.]
1. A shield. [Obs.]
2. An heraldic shield; a coat of arms, or a bearing on a coat of
arms; armorial bearings.
Their blazon o'er his towers displayed. Sir W. Scott.
3. The art or act of describing or depicting heraldic bearings in the
proper language or manner. Peacham.
4. Ostentatious display, either by words or other means; publication;
show; description; record.
Obtrude the blazon of their exploits upon the company. Collier.
Thy tongue, thy face, thy limbs, actions, and spirit, Do give thee
fivefold blazon. Shak.
BLAZON
Bla"zon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blazoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Blazoning.]
Etym: [From blazon, n.; confused with 4th blaze: cf. F. blasonner.]
1. To depict in colors; to display; to exhibit conspicuously; to
publish or make public far and wide.
Thyself thou blazon'st. Shak.
There pride sits blazoned on th' unmeaning brow. Trumbull.
To blazon his own worthless name. Cowper.
2. To deck; to embellish; to adorn.
She blazons in dread smiles her hideous form. Garth.
3. (Her.)
Defn: To describe in proper terms (the figures of heraldic devices);
also, to delineate (armorial bearings); to emblazon.
The coat of , arms, which I am not herald enough to blazon into
English. Addison.
BLAZON
Bla"zon, v. i.
Defn: To shine; to be conspicuous. [R.]
BLAZONER
Bla"zon*er, n.
Defn: One who gives publicity, proclaims, or blazons; esp., one who
blazons coats of arms; a herald. Burke.
BLAZONMENT
Bla"zon*ment, n.
Defn: The act or blazoning; blazoning; emblazonment.
BLAZONRY
Bla"zon*ry, n.
1. Same as Blazon, 3.
The principles of blazonry. Peacham.
2. A coat of arms; an armorial bearing or bearings.
The blazonry of Argyle. Lord Dufferin.
3. Artistic representation or display.
BLEA
Blea, n.
Defn: The part of a tree which lies immediately under the bark; the
alburnum or sapwood.
BLEABERRY
Blea"ber*ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Blaeberry.
BLEACH
Bleach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bleached; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleaching.]
Etym: [OE. blakien, blechen, v. t. & v. i., AS. blacian, bl, to grow
pale; akin to Icel. bleikja, Sw. bleka, Dan. blege, D. bleeken, G.
bleichen, AS. blac pale. See Bleak, a.]
Defn: To make white, or whiter; to remove the color, or stains, from;
to blanch; to whiten.
The destruction of the coloring matters attached to the bodies to be
bleached is effected either by the action of the air and light, of
chlorine, or of sulphurous acid. Ure.
Immortal liberty, whose look sublime Hath bleached the tyrant's cheek
in every varying clime. Smollett.
BLEACH
Bleach, v. i.
Defn: To grow white or lose color; to whiten.
BLEACHED
Bleached, a.
Defn: Whitened; make white.
Let their bleached bones, and blood's unbleaching stain, Long mark
the battlefield with hideous awe. Byron.
BLEACHER
Bleach"er, n.
Defn: One who whitens, or whose occupation is to whiten, by
bleaching.
BLEACHERY
Bleach"er*y, n.; pl. Bleacheries (.
Defn: A place or an establishment where bleaching is done.
BLEACHING
Bleach"ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of whitening, by removing color or stains;
esp. the process of whitening fabrics by chemical agents. Ure.
Bleaching powder, a powder for bleaching, consisting of chloride of
lime, or some other chemical or chemicals.
BLEAK
Bleak, a. Etym: [OE. blac, bleyke, bleche, AS. blac, bl, pale, wan;
akin to Icel. bleikr, Sw. blek, Dan. bleg, OS. bl, D. bleek, OHG.
pleih, G. bleich; all from the root of AS. blican to shine; akin to
OHG. blichen to shine; cf. L. flagrare to burn, Gr. to burn, shine,
Skr. bhraj to shine, and E. flame. Bleach, Blink, Flame.]
1. Without color; pale; pallid. [Obs.]
When she came out she looked as pale and as bleak as one that were
laid out dead. Foxe.
2. Desolate and exposed; swept by cold winds.
Wastes too bleak to rear The common growth of earth, the foodful ear.
Wordsworth.
At daybreak, on the bleak sea beach. Longfellow.
3. Cold and cutting; cheerless; as, a bleak blast.
-- Bleak"ish, a.
-- Bleak"ly, adv.
-- Bleak"ness, n.
BLEAK
Bleak, n. Etym: [From Bleak, a., cf. Blay.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European river fish (Leuciscus alburnus), of the family
Cyprinidæ; the blay. [Written also blick.]
Note: The silvery pigment lining the scales of the bleak is used in
the manufacture of artificial pearls. Baird.
BLEAKY
Bleak"y, a.
Defn: Bleak. [Obs.] Dryden.
BLEAR
Blear, a. Etym: [See Blear, v.]
1. Dim or sore with water or rheum; -- said of the eyes.
His blear eyes ran in gutters to his chin. Dryden.
2. Causing or caused by dimness of sight; dim.
Power to cheat the eye with blear illusion. Milton.
BLEAR
Blear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bleared; p. pr. & vb. n. Blearing.] Etym:
[OE. bleren; cf. Dan. plire to blink, Sw. plira to twinkle, wink, LG.
plieren; perh. from the same root as E. blink. See Blink, and cf.
Blur.]
Defn: To make somewhat sore or watery, as the eyes; to dim, or blur,
as the sight. Figuratively: To obscure (mental or moral perception);
to blind; to hoodwink.
That tickling rheums Should ever tease the lungs and blear the sight.
Cowper.
To blear the eye of, to deceive; to impose upon. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLEARED
Bleared, a.
Defn: Dimmed, as by a watery humor; affected with rheum.
-- Blear"ed*ness (, n.
Dardanian wives, With bleared visages, come forth to view The issue
of the exploit. Shak.
BLEAREYE
Blear"eye`, n. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the eyelids, consisting in chronic inflammation of
the margins, with a gummy secretion of sebaceous matter. Dunglison.
BLEAR-EYED
Blear"-eyed`, a.
1. Having sore eyes; having the eyes dim with rheum; dim-sighted.
The blear-eyed Crispin. Drant.
2. Lacking in perception or penetration; short-sighted; as, a blear-
eyed bigot.
BLEAREYEDNESS
Blear"eyed`ness, n.
Defn: The state of being blear-eyed.
BLEARY
Blear"y, a.
Defn: Somewhat blear.
BLEAT
Bleat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bleated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleating.] Etym:
[OE. bleten, AS. bl; akin to D. blaten, bleeten, OHG. blazan, plazan;
prob. of imitative origin.]
Defn: To make the noise of, or one like that of, a sheep; to cry like
a sheep or calf.
Then suddenly was heard along the main, To low the ox, to bleat the
woolly train. Pope
The ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baas, will never answer a
calf when he bleats. Shak.
BLEAT
Bleat, n.
Defn: A plaintive cry of, or like that of, a sheep.
The bleat of fleecy sheep. Chapman's Homer.
BLEATER
Bleat"er, n.
Defn: One who bleats; a sheep.
In cold, stiff soils the bleaters oft complain Of gouty ails. Dyer.
BLEATING
Bleat"ing, a.
Defn: Crying as a sheep does.
Then came the shepherd back with his bleating flocks from the
seaside. Longfellow.
BLEATING
Bleat"ing, n.
Defn: The cry of, or as of, a sheep. Chapman.
BLEB
Bleb, n. Etym: [Prov. E. bleb, bleib, blob, bubble, blister. This
word belongs to the root of blub, blubber, blabber, and perh. blow to
puff.]
Defn: A large vesicle or bulla, usually containing a serous fluid; a
blister; a bubble, as in water, glass, etc.
Arsenic abounds with air blebs. Kirwan.
BLEBBY
Bleb"by, a.
Defn: Containing blebs, or characterized by blebs; as, blebby glass.
BLECK; BLEK
Bleck, Blek, v. t.
Defn: To blacken; also, to defile. [Obs. or Dial.] Wyclif.
BLED
Bled,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bleed.
BLEE
Blee, n. Etym: [AS. bleó, bleóh.]
Defn: Complexion; color; hue; likeness; form. [Archaic]
For him which is so bright of blee. Lament. of Mary Magd.
That boy has a strong blee of his father. Forby.
BLEED
Bleed, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bleeding.] Etym:
[OE. bleden, AS. bl, fr. bl blood; akin to Sw. blöda, Dan. blöde, D.
bloeden, G. bluten. See Blood.]
1. To emit blood; to lose blood; to run with blood, by whatever
means; as, the arm bleeds; the wound bled freely; to bleed at the
nose.
2. To withdraw blood from the body; to let blood; as, Dr. A. bleeds
in fevers.
3. To lose or shed one's blood, as in case of a violent death or
severe wounds; to die by violence. "Cæsar must bleed." Shak.
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to-day. Pope.
4. To issue forth, or drop, as blood from an incision.
For me the balm shall bleed. Pope.
5. To lose sap, gum, or juice; as, a tree or a vine bleeds when
tapped or wounded.
6. To pay or lose money; to have money drawn or extorted; as, to
bleed freely for a cause. [Colloq.] To make the heart bleed, to cause
extreme pain, as from sympathy or pity.
BLEED
Bleed, v. t.
1. To let blood from; to take or draw blood from, as by opening a
vein.
2. To lose, as blood; to emit or let drop, as sap.
A decaying pine of stately size, bleeding amber. H. Miller.
3. To draw money from (one); to induce to pay; as, they bled him
freely for this fund. [Colloq.]
BLEEDER
Bleed"er, n. (Med.)
(a) One who, or that which, draws blood.
(b) One in whom slight wounds give rise to profuse or uncontrollable
bleeding.
BLEEDING
Bleed"ing, a.
Defn: Emitting, or appearing to emit, blood or sap, etc.; also,
expressing anguish or compassion.
BLEEDING
Bleed"ing, n.
Defn: A running or issuing of blood, as from the nose or a wound; a
hemorrhage; the operation of letting blood, as in surgery; a drawing
or running of sap from a tree or plant.
BLEMISH
Blem"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blemished; p. pr. & vb. n. Blemishing.]
Etym: [OE. blemissen, blemishen, OF. blemir, blesmir, to strike,
injure, soil, F. blêmir to grow pale, fr. OF. bleme, blesme, pale,
wan, F. blême, prob. fr. Icel blaman the livid color of a wound, fr.
blar blue; akin to E. blue. OF. blemir properly signifies to beat one
(black and) blue, and to render blue or dirty. See Blue.]
1. To mark with deformity; to injure or impair, as anything which is
well formed, or excellent; to mar, or make defective, either the body
or mind.
Sin is a soil which blemisheth the beauty of thy soul. Brathwait.
2. To tarnish, as reputation or character; to defame.
There had nothing passed between us that might blemish reputation.
Oldys.
BLEMISH
Blem"ish, n.; pl. Blemishes (.
Defn: Any mark of deformity or injury, whether physical or moral;
anything; that diminishes beauty, or renders imperfect that which is
otherwise well formed; that which impairs reputation.
He shall take two he lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb of the
first year without blemish. Lev. xiv. 10.
The reliefs of an envious man are those little blemishes and
imperfections that discover themselves in an illustrious character.
Spectator.
Syn.
-- Spot; speck; flaw; deformity; stain; defect; fault; taint;
reproach; dishonor; imputation; disgrace.
BLEMISHLESS
Blem"ish*less, a.
Defn: Without blemish; spotless.
A life in all so blemishless. Feltham.
BLEMISHMENT
Blem"ish*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being blemished; blemish; disgrace; damage;
impairment.
For dread of blame and honor's blemishment. Spenser.
BLENCH
Blench, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Blenching.]
Etym: [OE. blenchen to blench, elude, deceive, AS. blencan to
deceive; akin to Icel. blekkja to impose upon. Prop. a causative of
blink to make to wink, to deceive. See Blink, and cf. 3d Blanch.]
1. To shrink; to start back; to draw back, from lack of courage or
resolution; to flinch; to quail.
Blench not at thy chosen lot. Bryant.
This painful, heroic task he undertook, and never blenched from its
fulfillment. Jeffrey.
2. To fly off; to turn aside. [Obs.]
Though sometimes you do blench from this to that. Shak.
BLENCH
Blench, v. t.
1. To baffle; to disconcert; to turn away; -- also, to obstruct; to
hinder. [Obs.]
Ye should have somewhat blenched him therewith, yet he might and
would of likelihood have gone further. Sir T. More.
2. To draw back from; to deny from fear. [Obs.]
He now blenched what before he affirmed. Evelyn.
BLENCH
Blench, n.
Defn: A looking aside or askance. [Obs.]
These blenches gave my heart another youth. Shak.
BLENCH
Blench, v. i. & t. Etym: [See 1st Blanch.]
Defn: To grow or make pale. Barbour.
BLENCHER
Blench"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, scares another; specifically, a person
stationed to prevent the escape of the deer, at a hunt. See Blancher.
[Obs.]
2. One who blenches, flinches, or shrinks back.
BLENCH HOLDING
Blench" hold`ing. (Law)
Defn: See Blanch holding.
BLEND
Blend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blended or Blent; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blending.] Etym: [OE. blenden, blanden, AS. blandan to blend, mix;
akin to Goth. blandan to mix, Icel. blanda, Sw. blanda, Dan. blande,
OHG. blantan to mis; to unknown origin.]
1. To mix or mingle together; esp. to mingle, combine, or associate
so that the separate things mixed, or the line of demarcation, can
not be distinguished. Hence: To confuse; to confound.
Blending the grand, the beautiful, the gay. Percival.
2. To pollute by mixture or association; to spoil or corrupt; to
blot; to stain. [Obs.] Spenser.
Syn.
-- To commingle; combine; fuse; merge; amalgamate; harmonize.
BLEND
Blend, v. i.
Defn: To mingle; to mix; to unite intimately; to pass or shade
insensibly into each other, as colors.
There is a tone of solemn and sacred feeling that blends with our
conviviality. Irving.
BLEND
Blend, n.
Defn: A thorough mixture of one thing with another, as color, tint,
etc., into another, so that it cannot be known where one ends or the
other begins.
BLEND
Blend, v. t. Etym: [AS. blendan, from blind blind. See Blind, a.]
Defn: To make blind, literally or figuratively; to dazzle; to
deceive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLENDE
Blende, n. Etym: [G., fr. blenden to blind, dazzle, deceive, fr.
blind blind. So called either in allusion to its dazzling luster; or
(Dana) because, though often resembling galena, it yields no lead.
Cf. Sphalerite.] (Min.)
(a) A mineral, called also sphalerite, and by miners mock lead, false
galena, and black-jack. It is a zinc sulphide, but often contains
some iron. Its color is usually yellow, brown, or black, and its
luster resinous.
(b) A general term for some minerals, chiefly metallic sulphides
which have a somewhat brilliant but nonmetallic luster.
BLENDER
Blend"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, blends; an instrument, as a brush, used
in blending.
BLENDING
Blend"ing, n.
1. The act of mingling.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: The method of laying on different tints so that they may mingle
together while wet, and shade into each other insensibly. Weale.
BLENDOUS
Blend"ous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or containing, blende.
BLENDWATER
Blend"wa`ter, n.
Defn: A distemper incident to cattle, in which their livers are
affected. Crabb.
BLENHEIM SPANIEL
Blen"heim span"iel. Etym: [So called from Blenheim House, the seat of
the duke of Marlborough, in England.]
Defn: A small variety of spaniel, kept as a pet.
BLENK
Blenk, v. i.
Defn: To blink; to shine; to look. [Obs.]
BLENNIOID; BLENNIID
Blen"ni*oid, Blen"ni*id, a. Etym: [Blenny + -oid] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the blennies.
BLENNOGENOUS
Blen*nog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. mucus + -genous.]
Defn: Generating mucus.
BLENNORRHEA
Blen`nor*rhe"a, n. Etym: [Gr. mucus + to flow.] (Med.)
(a) An inordinate secretion and discharge of mucus.
(b) Gonorrhea. Dunglison.
BLENNY
Blen"ny, n.; pl. Blennies. Etym: [L. blennius, blendius, blendea, Gr.
, fr. slime, mucus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine fish of the genus Blennius or family Blenniidæ; -- so
called from its coating of mucus. The species are numerous.
BLENT
Blent, imp. & p. p. of Blend to mingle.
Defn: Mingled; mixed; blended; also, polluted; stained.
Rider and horse, friend, foe, in one red burial blent. Byron.
BLENT
Blent, imp. & p. p. of Blend to blind.
Defn: Blinded. Also (Chaucer), 3d sing. pres. Blindeth. [Obs.]
BLEPHARITIS
Bleph`a*ri"tis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. eyelid + -ilis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the eyelids. -- Bleph`a*rit"ic (#), a.
BLESBOK
Bles"bok, n. Etym: [D., fr. bles a white spot on the forehead + bok
buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South African antelope (Alcelaphus albifrons), having a large
white spot on the forehead.
BLESS
Bless, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blessed or Blest; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blessing.] Etym: [OE. blessien, bletsen, AS. bletsian, bledsian,
bloedsian, fr. bl blood; prob. originally to consecrate by sprinkling
with blood. See Blood.]
1. To make or pronounce holy; to consecrate
And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Gen. ii. 3.
2. To make happy, blithesome, or joyous; to confer prosperity or
happiness upon; to grant divine favor to.
The quality of mercy is . . . twice blest; It blesseth him that gives
and him that takes. Shak.
It hath pleased thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may
continue forever before thee. 1 Chron. xvii. 27 (R. V. )
3. To express a wish or prayer for the happiness of; to invoke a
blessing upon; -- applied to persons.
Bless them which persecute you. Rom. xii. 14.
4. To invoke or confer beneficial attributes or qualities upon; to
invoke or confer a blessing on, -- as on food.
Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to
heaven, he blessed them. Luke ix. 16.
5. To make the sign of the cross upon; to cross (one's self).
[Archaic] Holinshed.
6. To guard; to keep; to protect. [Obs.]
7. To praise, or glorify; to extol for excellences.
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy
name. Ps. ciii. 1.
8. To esteem or account happy; to felicitate.
The nations shall bless themselves in him. Jer. iv. 3.
9. To wave; to brandish. [Obs.]
And burning blades about their heads do bless. Spenser.
Round his armed head his trenchant blade he blest. Fairfax.
Note: This is an old sense of the word, supposed by Johnson, Nares,
and others, to have been derived from the old rite of blessing a
field by directing the hands to all parts of it. "In drawing [their
bow] some fetch such a compass as though they would turn about and
bless all the field." Ascham.
Bless me! Bless us! an exclamation of surprise. Milton.
-- To bless from, to secure, defend, or preserve from. "Bless me
from marrying a usurer." Shak.
To bless the doors from nightly harm. Milton.
-- To bless with, To be blessed with, to favor or endow with; to be
favored or endowed with; as, God blesses us with health; we are
blessed with happiness.
BLESSED
Bless"ed, a.
1. Hallowed; consecrated; worthy of blessing or adoration; heavenly;
holy.
O, run; prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his
blessed feet. Milton.
2. Enjoying happiness or bliss; favored with blessings; happy; highly
favored.
All generations shall call me blessed. Luke i. 48.
Towards England's blessed shore. Shak.
3. Imparting happiness or bliss; fraught with happiness; blissful;
joyful. "Then was a blessed time." "So blessed a disposition." Shak.
4. Enjoying, or pertaining to, spiritual happiness, or heavenly
felicity; as, the blessed in heaven.
Reverenced like a blessed saint. Shak.
Cast out from God and blessed vision. Milton.
5. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: Beatified.
6. Used euphemistically, ironically, or intensively.
Not a blessed man came to set her [a boat] free. R. D. Blackmore.
BLESSEDLY
Bless"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Happily; fortunately; joyfully.
We shall blessedly meet again never to depart. Sir P. Sidney.
BLESSEDNESS
Bless"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being blessed; happiness; felicity; bliss;
heavenly joys; the favor of God.
The assurance of a future blessedness. Tillotson.
Single blessedness, the unmarried state. "Grows, lives, and dies in
single blessedness." Shak.
Syn.
-- Delight; beatitude; ecstasy. See Happiness.
BLESSED THISTLE
Bless"ed this"tle.
Defn: See under Thistle.
BLESSER
Bless"er, n.
Defn: One who blesses; one who bestows or invokes a blessing.
BLESSING
Bless"ing, n. Etym: [AS. bletsung. See Bless, v. t.]
1. The act of one who blesses.
2. A declaration of divine favor, or an invocation imploring divine
favor on some or something; a benediction; a wish of happiness
pronounces.
This is the blessing, where with Moses the man of God blessed the
children of Israel. Deut. xxxiii. 1.
3. A means of happiness; that which promotes prosperity and welfare;
a beneficent gift.
Nature's full blessings would be well dispensed. Milton.
4. (Bib.)
Defn: A gift. [A Hebraism] Gen. xxxiii. 11.
5. Grateful praise or worship.
BLEST
Blest, a.
Defn: Blessed. "This patriarch blest." Milton.
White these blest sounds my ravished ear assail. Trumbull.
BLET
Blet, n. Etym: [F. blet, blette, a., soft from over ripeness.]
Defn: A form of decay in fruit which is overripe.
BLETONISM
Ble"ton*ism, n.
Defn: The supposed faculty of perceiving subterraneous springs and
currents by sensation; -- so called from one Bleton, of France.
BLETTING
Blet"ting, n.
Defn: A form of decay seen in fleshy, overripe fruit. Lindley.
BLEW
Blew, imp.
Defn: of Blow.
BLEYME
Bleyme, n. Etym: [F. bleime.] (Far.)
Defn: An inflammation in the foot of a horse, between the sole and
the bone. [Obs.]
BLEYNTE
Bleyn"te, imp.
Defn: of Blench. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLICKEY
Blick"ey, n. Etym: [D. blik tin.]
Defn: A tin dinner pail. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
BLIGHT
Blight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blighted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blighting.]
Etym: [Perh. contr. from AS. blicettan to glitter, fr. the same root
as E. bleak. The meaning "to blight" comes in that case from to
glitter, hence, to be white or pale, grow pale, make pale, bleach.
Cf. Bleach, Bleak.]
1. To affect with blight; to blast; to prevent the growth and
fertility of.
[This vapor] blasts vegetables, blights corn and fruit, and is
sometimes injurious even to man. Woodward.
2. Hence: To destroy the happiness of; to ruin; to mar essentially;
to frustrate; as, to blight one's prospects.
Seared in heart and lone and blighted. Byron.
BLIGHT
Blight, v. i.
Defn: To be affected by blight; to blast; as, this vine never
blights.
BLIGHT
Blight, n.
1. Mildew; decay; anything nipping or blasting; -- applied as a
general name to various injuries or diseases of plants, causing the
whole or a part to wither, whether occasioned by insects, fungi, or
atmospheric influences.
2. The act of blighting, or the state of being blighted; a withering
or mildewing, or a stoppage of growth in the whole or a part of a
plant, etc.
3. That which frustrates one's plans or withers one's hopes; that
which impairs or destroys.
A blight seemed to have fallen over our fortunes. Disraeli.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A downy species of aphis, or plant louse, destructive to fruit
trees, infesting both the roots and branches; -- also applied to
several other injurious insects.
5. pl.
Defn: A rashlike eruption on the human skin. [U. S.]
BLIGHTING
Blight"ing, a.
Defn: Causing blight.
BLIGHTINGLY
Blight"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to cause blight.
BLIMBI; BLIMBING
Blim"bi, Blim"bing, n.
Defn: See Bilimbi, etc.
BLIN
Blin, v. t. & i. Etym: [OE. blinnen, AS. blinnan; pref. be- + linnan
to cease.]
Defn: To stop; to cease; to desist. [Obs.] Spenser.
BLIN
Blin, n. Etym: [AS. blinn.]
Defn: Cessation; end. [Obs.]
BLIND
Blind, a. Etym: [AS.; akin to D., G., OS., Sw., & Dan. blind, Icel.
blindr, Goth. blinds; of uncertain origin.]
1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect or by
deprivation; without sight.
He that is strucken blind can not forget The precious treasure of his
eyesight lost. Shak.
2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of intellectual
light; unable or unwilling to understand or judge; as, authors are
blind to their own defects.
But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, That they may stumble
on, and deeper fall. Milton.
3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate.
This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind
reprobation. Jay.
4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to a person
who is blind; not well marked or easily discernible; hidden; unseen;
concealed; as, a blind path; a blind ditch.
5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced.
The blind mazes of this tangled wood. Milton.
6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall; open
only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut.
7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind passage in
a book; illegible; as, blind writing.
8. (Hort.)
Defn: Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as, blind buds;
blind flowers. Blind alley, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac.
-- Blind axle, an axle which turns but does not communicate motion.
Knight.
-- Blind beetle, one of the insects apt to fly against people, esp.
at night.
-- Blind cat (Zoöl.), a species of catfish (Gronias nigrolabris),
nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns in Pennsylvania.
-- Blind coal, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal.
Simmonds.
-- Blind door, Blind window, an imitation of a door or window,
without an opening for passage or light. See Blank door or window,
under Blank, a.
-- Blind level (Mining), a level or drainage gallery which has a
vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted siphon. Knight.
-- Blind nettle (Bot.), dead nettle. See Dead nettle, under Dead.
-- Blind shell (Gunnery), a shell containing no charge, or one that
does not explode.
-- Blind side, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak or
unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or disposed to
see danger. Swift.
-- Blind snake (Zoöl.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of the
family Typhlopidæ, with rudimentary eyes.
-- Blind spot (Anat.), the point in the retina of the eye where the
optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to light.
-- Blind tooling, in bookbinding and leather work, the indented
impression of heated tools, without gilding; -- called also blank
tooling, and blind blocking.
-- Blind wall, a wall without an opening; a blank wall.
BLIND
Blind, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blinded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blinding.]
1. To make blind; to deprive of sight or discernment. "To blind the
truth and me." Tennyson.
A blind guide is certainly a great mischief; but a guide that blinds
those whom he should lead is . . . a much greater. South.
2. To deprive partially of vision; to make vision difficult for and
painful to; to dazzle.
Her beauty all the rest did blind. P. Fletcher.
3. To darken; to obscure to the eye or understanding; to conceal; to
deceive.
Such darkness blinds the sky. Dryden.
The state of the controversy between us he endeavored, with all his
art, to blind and confound. Stillingfleet.
4. To cover with a thin coating of sand and fine gravel; as a road
newly paved, in order that the joints between the stones may be
filled.
BLIND
Blind, n.
1. Something to hinder sight or keep out light; a screen; a cover;
esp. a hinged screen or shutter for a window; a blinder for a horse.
2. Something to mislead the eye or the understanding, or to conceal
some covert deed or design; a subterfuge.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. blindes, pblende, fr. blenden to blind, fr. blind
blind.] (Mil.)
Defn: A blindage. See Blindage.
4. A halting place. [Obs.] Dryden.
BLIND; BLINDE
Blind, Blinde, n.
Defn: See Blende.
BLINDAGE
Blind"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. blindage.] (Mil.)
Defn: A cover or protection for an advanced trench or approach,
formed of fascines and earth supported by a framework.
BLINDER
Blind"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, blinds.
2. (Saddlery)
Defn: One of the leather screens on a bridle, to hinder a horse from
seeing objects at the side; a blinker.
BLINDFISH
Blind"fish` (, n.
Defn: A small fish (Amblyopsis spelæus) destitute of eyes, found in
the waters of the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky. Related fishes from
other caves take the same name.
BLINDFOLD
Blind"fold`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blindfolded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blindfolding.] Etym: [OE. blindfolden, blindfelden, blindfellen; AS.
blind blind + prob. fellan, fyllan, to fell, strike down.]
Defn: To cover the eyes of, as with a bandage; to hinder from seeing.
And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face. Luke
xxii. 64.
BLINDFOLD
Blind"fold`, a.
Defn: Having the eyes covered; blinded; having the mental eye
darkened. Hence: Heedless; reckless; as, blindfold zeal; blindfold
fury.
Fate's blindfold reign the atheist loudly owns. Dryden.
BLINDING
Blind"ing, a.
Defn: Making blind or as if blind; depriving of sight or of
understanding; obscuring; as, blinding tears; blinding snow.
BLINDING
Blind"ing, n.
Defn: A thin coating of sand and fine gravel over a newly paved road.
See Blind, v. t., 4.
BLINDLY
Blind"ly, adv.
Defn: Without sight, discernment, or understanding; without thought,
investigation, knowledge, or purpose of one's own.
By his imperious mistress blindly led. Dryden.
BLINDMAN'S BUFF
Blind"man's buff" (. Etym: [See Buff a buffet.]
Defn: A play in which one person is blindfolded, and tries to catch
some one of the company and tell who it is.
Surely he fancies I play at blindman's buff with him, for he thinks I
never have my eyes open. Stillingfleet.
BLINDMAN'S HOLIDAY
Blind`man's hol"i*day.
Defn: The time between daylight and candle light. [Humorous]
BLINDNESS
Blind"ness, n.
Defn: State or condition of being blind, literally or figuratively.
Darwin. Color blindness, inability to distinguish certain color. See
Daltonism.
BLIND READER
Blind reader.
Defn: A post-office clerk whose duty is to decipher obscure
addresses.
BLINDSTORY
Blind"sto`ry, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The triforium as opposed to the clearstory.
BLINDWORM
Blind"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, burrowing, snakelike, limbless lizard (Anguis
fragilis), with minute eyes, popularly believed to be blind; the
slowworm; -- formerly a name for the adder.
Newts and blindworms do no wrong. Shak.
BLINK
Blink, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blinking.] Etym:
[OE. blenken; akin to dan. blinke, Sw. blinka, G. blinken to shine,
glance, wink, twinkle, D. blinken to shine; and prob. to D. blikken
to glance, twinkle, G. blicken to look, glance, AS. blican to shine,
E. bleak. sq. root98. See Bleak; cf. 1st Blench.]
1. To wink; to twinkle with, or as with, the eye.
One eye was blinking, and one leg was lame. Pope
2. To see with the eyes half shut, or indistinctly and with frequent
winking, as a person with weak eyes.
Show me thy chink, to blink through with mine eyne. Shak.
3. To shine, esp. with intermittent light; to twinkle; to flicker; to
glimmer, as a lamp.
The dew was falling fast, the stars began to blink. Wordsworth.
The sun blinked fair on pool and stream . Sir W. Scott.
4. To turn slightly sour, as beer, mild, etc.
BLINK
Blink, v. t.
1. To shut out of sight; to avoid, or purposely evade; to shirk; as,
to blink the question.
2. To trick; to deceive. [Scot.] Jamieson.
BLINK
Blink, n. Etym: [OE. blink. See Blink, v. i. ]
1. A glimpse or glance.
This is the first blink that ever I had of him. Bp. Hall.
2. Gleam; glimmer; sparkle. Sir W. Scott.
Not a blink of light was there. Wordsworth.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The dazzling whiteness about the horizon caused by the
reflection of light from fields of ice at sea; ice blink.
4. pl. Etym: [Cf. Blencher.] (Sporting)
Defn: Boughs cast where deer are to pass, to turn or check them.
[Prov. Eng.]
BLINKARD
Blink"ard, n. Etym: [Blind + -ard.]
1. One who blinks with, or as with, weak eyes.
Among the blind the one-eyed blinkard reigns. Marvell.
2. That which twinkles or glances, as a dim star, which appears and
disappears. Hakewill.
BLINK BEER
Blink" beer` (
Defn: Beer kept unbroached until it is sharp. Crabb.
BLINKER
Blink"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, blinks.
2. A blinder for horses; a flap of leather on a horse's bridle to
prevent him from seeing objects as his side hence, whatever obstructs
sight or discernment.
Nor bigots who but one way see, through blinkers of authority. M.
Green.
3. pl.
Defn: A kind of goggles, used to protect the eyes form glare, etc.
BLINK-EYED
Blink"-eyed` (, a.
Defn: Habitually winking. Marlowe.
BLIRT
Blirt, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A gust of wind and rain. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
BLISS
Bliss, n.; pl. Blisses. Etym: [OE. blis, blisse, AS. blis, bli, fr.
bli blithe. See Blithe.]
Defn: Orig., blithesomeness; gladness; now, the highest degree of
happiness; blessedness; exalted felicity; heavenly joy.
An then at last our bliss Full and perfect is. Milton.
Syn.
-- Blessedness; felicity; beatitude; happiness; joy; enjoyment. See
Happiness.
BLISSFUL
Bliss"ful, a.
Defn: Full of, characterized by, or causing, joy and felicity; happy
in the highest degree. "Blissful solitude." Milton.
-- Bliss"ful*ly, adv.
-- Bliss"ful*ness, n.
BLISSLESS
Bliss"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of bliss. Sir P. Sidney.
BLISSOM
Blis"som, v. i. Etym: [For blithesome: but cf. also Icel. bl of a
goat at heat.]
Defn: To be lustful; to be lascivious. [Obs.]
BLISSOM
Blis"som, a.
Defn: Lascivious; also, in heat; -- said of ewes.
BLISTER
Blis"ter, n. Etym: [OE.; akin to OD. bluyster, fr. the same root as
blast, bladder, blow. See Blow to eject wind.]
1. A vesicle of the skin, containing watery matter or serum, whether
occasioned by a burn or other injury, or by a vesicatory; a
collection of serous fluid causing a bladderlike elevation of the
cuticle.
And painful blisters swelled my tender hands. Grainger.
2. Any elevation made by the separation of the film or skin, as on
plants; or by the swelling of the substance at the surface, as on
steel.
3. A vesicatory; a plaster of Spanish flies, or other matter, applied
to raise a blister. Dunglison. Blister beetle, a beetle used to raise
blisters, esp. the Lytta (or Cantharis) vesicatoria, called Cantharis
or Spanish fly by druggists. See Cantharis.
-- Blister fly, a blister beetle.
-- Blister plaster, a plaster designed to raise a blister; --
usually made of Spanish flies.
-- Blister steel, crude steel formed from wrought iron by
cementation; -- so called because of its blistered surface. Called
also blistered steel.
-- Blood blister. See under Blood.
BLISTER
Blis"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blistered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blistering.]
Defn: To be affected with a blister or blisters; to have a blister
form on.
Let my tongue blister. Shak.
BLISTER
Blis"ter, v. t.
1. To raise a blister or blisters upon.
My hands were blistered. Franklin.
2. To give pain to, or to injure, as if by a blister.
This tyrant, whose sole name blisters our tongue. Shak.
BLISTERY
Blis"ter*y, a.
Defn: Full of blisters. Hooker.
BLITE
Blite, n. Etym: [L. blitum, Gr. .] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbs (Blitum) with a fleshy calyx. Blitum capitatum
is the strawberry blite.
BLITHE
Blithe, a. Etym: [AS. bli blithe, kind; akin to Goth. blei kind,
Icel. bli mild, gentle, Dan. & Sw. blid gentle, D. blijd blithe, OHG.
blidi kind, blithe.]
Defn: Gay; merry; sprightly; joyous; glad; cheerful; as, a blithe
spirit.
The blithe sounds of festal music. Prescott.
A daughter fair, So buxom, blithe, and debonair. Milton.
BLITHEFUL
Blithe"ful, a.
Defn: Gay; full of gayety; joyous.
BLITHELY
Blithe"ly, adv.
Defn: In a blithe manner.
BLITHENESS
Blithe"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being blithe. Chaucer.
BLITHESOME
Blithe"some, a.
Defn: Cheery; gay; merry.
The blithesome sounds of wassail gay. Sir W. Scott.
-- Blithe"some*ly, adv.
-- Blithe"some*ness, n.
BLIVE
Blive, adv. Etym: [A contraction of Belive.]
Defn: Quickly; forthwith. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLIZZARD
Bliz"zard, n. Etym: [Cf. Blaze to flash. Formerly, in local use, a
rattling volley; cf. "to blaze away" to fire away.]
Defn: A gale of piercingly cold wind, usually accompanied with fine
and blinding snow; a furious blast. [U. S.]
BLOAT
Bloat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloated; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloating.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. blotna to become soft, blautr soft, wet, Sw. blöt soft,
blöta to soak; akin to G. bloss bare, and AS. bleát wretched; or
perh. fr. root of Eng. 5th blow. Cf. Blote.]
1. To make turgid, as with water or air; to cause a swelling of the
surface of, from effusion of serum in the cellular tissue, producing
a morbid enlargement, often accompanied with softness.
2. To inflate; to puff up; to make vain. Dryden.
BLOAT
Bloat, v. i.
Defn: To grow turgid as by effusion of liquid in the cellular tissue;
to puff out; to swell. Arbuthnot.
BLOAT
Bloat, a.
Defn: Bloated. [R.] Shak.
BLOAT
Bloat, n.
Defn: A term of contempt for a worthless, dissipated fellow. [Slang]
BLOAT
Bloat, v. t.
Defn: To dry (herrings) in smoke. See Blote.
BLOATED
Bloat"ed, p. a.
Defn: Distended beyond the natural or usual size, as by the presence
of water, serum, etc.; turgid; swollen; as, a bloated face. Also,
puffed up with pride; pompous.
BLOATEDNESS
Bloat"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being bloated.
BLOATER
Bloat"er, n. Etym: [See Bloat, Blote.]
Defn: The common herring, esp. when of large size, smoked, and half
dried; -- called also bloat herring.
BLOB
Blob, n. Etym: [See Bleb.]
1. Something blunt and round; a small drop or lump of something
viscid or thick; a drop; a bubble; a blister. Wright.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fresh-water fish (Uranidea Richardsoni); the miller's
thumb.
BLOBBER
Blob"ber, n. Etym: [See Blubber, Blub.]
Defn: A bubble; blubber. [Low] T. Carew. Blobber lip, a thick,
protruding lip.
His blobber lips and beetle brows commend. Dryden.
BLOBBER-LIPPED
Blob"ber-lipped`, a.
Defn: Having thick lips. "A blobber-lipped shell." Grew.
BLOCAGE
Blo*cage", n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: The roughest and cheapest sort of rubblework, in masonry.
BLOCK
Block, n. Etym: [OE. blok; cf. F. bloc (fr. OHG.), D. & Dan. blok,
Sw. & G. block, OHG. bloch. There is also an OHG. bloch, biloh; bi by
+ the same root as that of E. lock. Cf. Block, v. t., Blockade, and
see Lock.]
1. A piece of wood more or less bulky; a solid mass of wood, stone,
etc., usually with one or more plane, or approximately plane, faces;
as, a block on which a butcher chops his meat; a block by which to
mount a horse; children's playing blocks, etc.
Now all our neighbors' chimneys smoke, And Christmas blocks are
burning. Wither.
All her labor was but as a block Left in the quarry. Tennyson.
2. The solid piece of wood on which condemned persons lay their necks
when they are beheaded.
Noble heads which have been brought to the block. E. Everett.
3. The wooden mold on which hats, bonnets, etc., are shaped. Hence:
The pattern on shape of a hat.
He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes
with the next block. Shak.
4. A large or long building divided into separate houses or shops, or
a number of houses or shops built in contact with each other so as to
form one building; a row of houses or shops.
5. A square, or portion of a city inclosed by streets, whether
occupied by buildings or not.
The new city was laid out in rectangular blocks, each block
containing thirty building lots. Such an average block, comprising
282 houses and covering nine acres of ground, exists in Oxford
Street. Lond. Quart. Rev.
6. A grooved pulley or sheave incased in a frame or shell which is
provided with a hook, eye, or strap, by which it may be attached to
an object. It is used to change the direction of motion, as in
raising a heavy object that can not be conveniently reached, and
also, when two or more such sheaves are compounded, to change the
rate of motion, or to exert increased force; -- used especially in
the rigging of ships, and in tackles.
7. (Falconry)
Defn: The perch on which a bird of prey is kept.
8. Any obstruction, or cause of obstruction; a stop; a hindrance; an
obstacle; as, a block in the way.
9. A piece of box or other wood for engravers' work.
10. (Print.)
Defn: A piece of hard wood (as mahogany or cherry) on which a
stereotype or electrotype plate is mounted to make it type high.
11. A blockhead; a stupid fellow; a dolt. [Obs.]
What a block art thou ! Shak.
12. A section of a railroad where the block system is used. See Block
system, below. A block of shares (Stock Exchange), a large number of
shares in a stock company, sold in a lump. Bartlett.
-- Block printing. (a) A mode of printing (common in China and
Japan) from engraved boards by means of a sheet of paper laid on the
linked surface and rubbed with a brush. S. W. Williams. (b) A method
of printing cotton cloth and paper hangings with colors, by pressing
them upon an engraved surface coated with coloring matter.
-- Block system on railways, a system by which the track is divided
into sections of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the
guidance of electric signals that no train enters a section or block
before the preceding train has left it.
BLOCK
Block, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Blocking.] Etym:
[Cf. F. bloquer, fr. bloc block. See Block, n.]
1. To obstruct so as to prevent passage or progress; to prevent
passage from, through, or into, by obstructing the way; -- used both
of persons and things; -- often followed by up; as, to block up a
road or harbor.
With moles . . . would block the port. Rowe.
A city . . . besieged and blocked about. Milton.
2. To secure or support by means of blocks; to secure, as two boards
at their angles of intersection, by pieces of wood glued to each.
3. To shape on, or stamp with, a block; as, to block a hat. To block
out, to begin to reduce to shape; to mark out roughly; to lay out;
as, to block out a plan.
BLOCKADE
Block*ade", n. Etym: [Cf. It. bloccata. See Block, v. t. ]
1. The shutting up of a place by troops or ships, with the purpose of
preventing ingress or egress, or the reception of supplies; as, the
blockade of the ports of an enemy.
Note: Blockade is now usually applied to an investment with ships or
vessels, while siege is used of an investment by land forces. To
constitute a blockade, the investing power must be able to apply its
force to every point of practicable access, so as to render it
dangerous to attempt to enter; and there is no blockade of that port
where its force can not be brought to bear. Kent.
2. An obstruction to passage. To raise a blockade. See under Raise.
BLOCKADE
Block*ade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blockaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blockading.]
1. To shut up, as a town or fortress, by investing it with troops or
vessels or war for the purpose of preventing ingress or egress, or
the introduction of supplies. See note under Blockade, n. "Blockaded
the place by sea." Gilpin.
2. Hence, to shut in so as to prevent egress.
Till storm and driving ice blockade him there. Wordsworth.
3. To obstruct entrance to or egress from.
Huge bales of British cloth blockade the door. Pope.
BLOCKADER
Block*ad"er, n.
1. One who blockades.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel employed in blockading.
BLOCKAGE
Block"age, n.
Defn: The act of blocking up; the state of being blocked up.
BLOCK BOOK
Block" book` (.
Defn: A book printed from engraved wooden blocks instead of movable
types.
BLOCK CHAIN
Block chain. (Mach.)
Defn: A chain in which the alternate links are broad blocks connected
by thin side links pivoted to the ends of the blocks, used with
sprocket wheels to transmit power, as in a bicycle.
BLOCKHEAD
Block"head` (, n. Etym: [Block + head.]
Defn: A stupid fellow; a dolt; a person deficient in understanding.
The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber
in his head. Pope.
BLOCKHEADED
Block"head`ed, a.
Defn: Stupid; dull.
BLOCKHEADISM
Block"head*ism, n.
Defn: That which characterizes a blockhead; stupidity. Carlyle.
BLOCKHOUSE
Block"house` (, n. Etym: [Block + house: cf. G. blockhaus.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: An edifice or structure of heavy timbers or logs for military
defense, having its sides loopholed for musketry, and often an upper
story projecting over the lower, or so placed upon it as to have its
sides make an angle wit the sides of the lower story, thus enabling
the defenders to fire downward, and in all directions; -- formerly
much used in America and Germany.
2. A house of squared logs. [West. & South. U. S.]
BLOCKING
Block"ing, n.
1. The act of obstructing, supporting, shaping, or stamping with a
block or blocks.
2. Blocks used to support (a building, etc.) temporarily.
BLOCKING COURSE
Block"ing course` (. (Arch.)
Defn: The finishing course of a wall showing above a cornice.
BLOCKISH
Block"ish, a.
Defn: Like a block; deficient in understanding; stupid; dull.
"Blockish Ajax." Shak.
-- Block"ish*ly, adv.
-- Block"ish*ness, n.
BLOCKLIKE
Block"like` (, a.
Defn: Like a block; stupid.
BLOCK SIGNAL
Block signal. (Railroads)
Defn: One of the danger signals or safety signals which guide the
movement of trains in a block system. The signal is often so coupled
with a switch that act of opening or closing the switch operates the
signal also.
BLOCK SYSTEM
Block system. (Railroads)
Defn: A system by which the track is divided into short sections, as
of three or four miles, and trains are so run by the guidance of
electric, or combined electric and pneumatic, signals that no train
enters a section or block until the preceding train has left it, as
in absolute blocking, or that a train may be allowed to follow
another into a block as long as it proceeds with excessive caution,
as in permissive blocking.
BLOCK TIN
Block" tin` (.
Defn: See under Tin.
BLOEDITE
Bloe"dite, n. Etym: [From the chemist Blöde.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous sulphate of magnesium and sodium.
BLOLLY
Blol"ly, n. (Bot.)
(a) A shrub or small tree of southern Florida and the West Indies
(Pisonia obtusata) with smooth oval leaves and a hard, 10-ribbed
fruit.
(b) The rubiaceous shrub Chicocca racemosa, of the same region.
BLOMARY
Blom"a*ry, n.
Defn: See Bloomery.
BLONCKET; BLONKET
Blonc"ket, Blon"ket, a. Etym: [OF. blanquet whitish, dim. of blanc
white. Cf. Blanket.]
Defn: Gray; bluish gray. [Obs.]
Our bloncket liveries been all too sad. Spenser.
BLOND; BLONDE
Blond, Blonde, a. Etym: [F., fair, light, of uncertain origin; cf.
AS. blonden-feax gray-haired, old, prop. blended-haired, as a mixture
of white and brown or black. See Blend, v. t. ]
Defn: Of a fair color; light-colored; as, blond hair; a blond
complexion.
BLONDE
Blonde, n. Etym: [F.]
1. A person of very fair complexion, with light hair and light blue
eyes. [Written also blond.]
2. Etym: [So called from its color.]
Defn: A kind of silk lace originally of the color of raw silk, now
sometimes dyed; -- called also blond lace.
BLOND METAL
Blond" met`al.
Defn: A variety of clay ironstone, in Staffordshire, England, used
for making tools.
BLONDNESS
Blond"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being blond. G. Eliot.
BLOOD
Blood, n. Etym: [OE. blod, blood, AS. bl; akin to D. bloed, OHG.
bluot, G. blut, Goth, bl, Sw. & Dan. blod; prob. fr. the same root as
E. blow to bloom. See Blow to bloom.]
1. The fluid which circulates in the principal vascular system of
animals, carrying nourishment to all parts of the body, and bringing
away waste products to be excreted. See under Arterial.
Note: The blood consists of a liquid, the plasma, containing minute
particles, the blood corpuscles. In the invertebrate animals it is
usually nearly colorless, and contains only one kind of corpuscles;
but in all vertebrates, except Amphioxus, it contains some colorless
corpuscles, with many more which are red and give the blood its
uniformly red color. See Corpuscle, Plasma.
2. Relationship by descent from a common ancestor; consanguinity;
kinship.
To share the blood of Saxon royalty. Sir W. Scott.
A friend of our own blood. Waller.
Half blood (Law), relationship through only one parent.
-- Whole blood, relationship through both father and mother. In
American Law, blood includes both half blood, and whole blood.
Bouvier. Peters.
3. Descent; lineage; especially, honorable birth; the highest royal
lineage.
Give us a prince of blood, a son of Priam. Shak.
I am a gentleman of blood and breeding. Shak.
4. (Stock Breeding)
Defn: Descent from parents of recognized breed; excellence or purity
of breed.
Note: In stock breeding half blood is descent showing one half only
of pure breed. Blue blood, full blood, or warm blood, is the same as
blood.
5. The fleshy nature of man.
Nor gives it satisfaction to our blood. Shak.
6. The shedding of blood; the taking of life, murder; manslaughter;
destruction.
So wills the fierce, avenging sprite, Till blood for blood atones.
Hood.
7. A bloodthirsty or murderous disposition. [R.]
He was a thing of blood, whose every motion Was timed with dying
cries. Shak.
8. Temper of mind; disposition; state of the passions; -- as if the
blood were the seat of emotions.
When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth. Shak.
Note: Often, in this sense, accompanied with bad, cold, warm, or
other qualifying word. Thus, to commit an act in cold blood, is to do
it deliberately, and without sudden passion; to do it in bad blood,
is to do it in anger. Warm blood denotes a temper inflamed or
irritated. To warm or heat the blood is to excite the passions.
Qualified by up, excited feeling or passion is signified; as, my
blood was up.
9. A man of fire or spirit; a fiery spark; a gay, showy man; a rake.
Seest thou not . . . how giddily 'a turns about all the hot bloods
between fourteen and five and thirty Shak.
It was the morning costume of a dandy or blood. Thackeray.
10. The juice of anything, especially if red.
He washed . . . his clothes in the blood of grapes. Gen. xiix. 11.
Note: Blood is often used as an adjective, and as the first part of
self-explaining compound words; as, blood-bespotted, blood-bought,
blood-curdling, blood-dyed, blood-red, blood-spilling, blood-stained,
blood-warm, blood-won. Blood baptism (Eccl. Hist.), the martyrdom of
those who had not been baptized. They were considered as baptized in
blood, and this was regarded as a full substitute for literal
baptism.
-- Blood blister, a blister or bleb containing blood or bloody
serum, usually caused by an injury.
-- Blood brother, brother by blood or birth.
-- Blood clam (Zoöl.), a bivalve mollusk of the genus Arca and
allied genera, esp. Argina pexata of the American coast. So named
from the color of its flesh.
-- Blood corpuscle. See Corpuscle.
-- Blood crystal (Physiol.), one of the crystals formed by the
separation in a crystalline form of the hæmoglobin of the red blood
corpuscles; hæmatocrystallin. All blood does not yield blood
crystals.
-- Blood heat, heat equal to the temperature of human blood, or
about 98½ º Fahr.
-- Blood horse, a horse whose blood or lineage is derived from the
purest and most highly prized origin or stock.
-- Blood money. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Blood orange, an orange with dark red pulp.
-- Blood poisoning (Med.), a morbid state of the blood caused by the
introduction of poisonous or infective matters from without, or the
absorption or retention of such as are produced in the body itself;
toxæmia.
-- Blood pudding, a pudding made of blood and other materials.
-- Blood relation, one connected by blood or descent.
-- Blood spavin. See under Spavin.
-- Blood vessel. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Blue blood, the blood of noble or aristocratic families, which,
according to a Spanish prover , has in it a tinge of blue; -- hence,
a member of an old and aristocratic family.
-- Flesh and blood. (a) A blood relation, esp. a child. (b) Human
nature.
-- In blood (Hunting), in a state of perfect health and vigor. Shak.
-- To let blood. See under Let.
-- Prince of the blood, the son of a sovereign, or the issue of a
royal family. The sons, brothers, and uncles of the sovereign are
styled princes of the blood royal; and the daughters, sisters, and
aunts are princesses of the blood royal.
BLOOD
Blood, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Blooding.]
1. To bleed. [Obs.] Cowper.
2. To stain, smear or wet, with blood. [Archaic]
Reach out their spears afar, And blood their points. Dryden.
3. To give (hounds or soldiers) a first taste or sight of blood, as
in hunting or war.
It was most important too that his troops should be blooded.
Macaulay.
4. To heat the blood of; to exasperate. [Obs.]
The auxiliary forces of the French and English were much blooded one
against another. Bacon.
BLOODBIRD
Blood"bird` (, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Australian honeysucker (Myzomela sanguineolata); -- so
called from the bright red color of the male bird.
BLOOD-BOLTERED
Blood"-bol`tered, a. Etym: [Blood + Prov. E. bolter to mat in tufts.
Cf. Balter.]
Defn: Having the hair matted with clotted blood. [Obs. & R.]
The blood-boltered Banquo smiles upon me. Shak.
BLOODED
Blood"ed, a.
Defn: Having pure blood, or a large admixture or pure blood; of
approved breed; of the best stock.
Note: Used also in composition in phrases indicating a particular
condition or quality of blood; as, cold-blooded; warm-blooded.
BLOODFLOWER
Blood"flow`er, n. Etym: [From the color of the flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of bulbous plants, natives of Southern Africa, named
Hæmanthus, of the Amaryllis family. The juice of H. toxicarius is
used by the Hottentots to poison their arrows.
BLOODGUILTY
Blood"guilt`y, a.
Defn: Guilty of murder or bloodshed. "A bloodguilty life." Fairfax.
-- Blood"guilt`i*ness (, n.
-- Blood"guilt`less, a.
BLOODHOUND
Blood"hound` (, n.
Defn: A breed of large and powerful dogs, with long, smooth, and
pendulous ears, and remarkable for acuteness of smell. It is employed
to recover game or prey which has escaped wounded from a hunter, and
for tracking criminals. Formerly it was used for pursuing runaway
slaves. Other varieties of dog are often used for the same purpose
and go by the same name. The Cuban bloodhound is said to be a variety
of the mastiff.
BLOODILY
Blood"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bloody manner; cruelly; with a disposition to shed blood.
BLOODINESS
Blood"i*ness, n.
1. The state of being bloody.
2. Disposition to shed blood; bloodthirstiness.
All that bloodiness and savage cruelty which was in our nature.
Holland.
BLOODLESS
Blood"less, a. Etym: [AS. bl.]
1. Destitute of blood, or apparently so; as, bloodless cheeks;
lifeless; dead.
The bloodless carcass of my Hector sold. Dryden.
2. Not attended with shedding of blood, or slaughter; as, a bloodless
victory. Froude.
3. Without spirit or activity.
Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood ! Shak.
-- Blood"less*ly, adv.
-- Blood"less*ness, n.
BLOODLET
Blood"let` (, v. t. Etym: [AS. bl; bl blood + l to let.]
Defn: bleed; to let blood. Arbuthnot.
BLOODLETTER
Blood"let`ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, lets blood; a phlebotomist.
BLOODLETTING
Blood"let`ting, n. (Med.)
Defn: The act or process of letting blood or bleeding, as by opening
a vein or artery, or by cupping or leeches; -- esp. applied to
venesection.
BLOOD MONEY
Blood" mon`ey.
1. Money paid to the next of kin of a person who has been killed by
another.
2. Money obtained as the price, or at the cost, of another's life; --
said of a reward for supporting a capital charge, of money obtained
for betraying a fugitive or for committing murder, or of money
obtained from the sale of that which will destroy the purchaser.
BLOODROOT
Blood"root` (, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Sanguinaria Canadensis), with a red root and red sap,
and bearing a pretty, white flower in early spring; -- called also
puccoon, redroot, bloodwort, tetterwort, turmeric, and Indian paint.
It has acrid emetic properties, and the rootstock is used as a
stimulant expectorant. See Sanguinaria.
Note: In England the name is given to the tormentil, once used as a
remedy for dysentery.
BLOODSHED
Blood"shed` (, n. Etym: [Blood + shed]
Defn: The shedding or spilling of blood; slaughter; the act of
shedding human blood, or taking life, as in war, riot, or murder.
BLOODSHEDDER
Blood"shed`der, n.
Defn: One who sheds blood; a manslayer; a murderer.
BLOODSHEDDING
Blood"shed`ding, n.
Defn: Bloodshed. Shak.
BLOODSHOT
Blood"shot` (, a. Etym: [Blood + shot, p. p. of shoot to variegate.]
Defn: Red and inflamed; suffused with blood, or having the vessels
turgid with blood, as when the conjunctiva is inflamed or irritated.
His eyes were bloodshot, . . . and his hair disheveled. Dickens.
BLOOD-SHOTTEN
Blood"-shot`ten, a.
Defn: Bloodshot. [Obs.]
BLOODSTICK
Blood"stick", n. (Far.)
Defn: A piece of hard wood loaded at one end with lead, and used to
strike the fleam into the vein. Youatt.
BLOODSTONE
Blood"stone` (, n. (Min.)
(a) A green siliceous stone sprinkled with red jasper, as if with
blood; hence the name; -- called also heliotrope.
(b) Hematite, an ore of iron yielding a blood red powder or "streak."
BLOODSTROKE
Blood"stroke` (, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coup de sang.]
Defn: Loss of sensation and motion from hemorrhage or congestion in
the brain. Dunglison.
BLOODSUCKER
Blood"suck`er, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any animal that sucks blood; esp., the leech (Hirudo
medicinalis), and related species.
2. One who sheds blood; a cruel, bloodthirsty man; one guilty of
bloodshed; a murderer. [Obs.] Shak.
3. A hard and exacting master, landlord, or money lender; an
extortioner.
BLOODTHIRSTY
Blood"thirst`y, a.
Defn: Eager to shed blood; cruel; sanguinary; murderous.
-- Blood"thirst`i*ness (n.
BLOODULF
Blood"ulf, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bullfinch.
BLOOD VESSEL
Blood" ves`sel. (Anat.)
Defn: Any vessel or canal in which blood circulates in an animal, as
an artery or vein.
BLOODWITE; BLOODWIT
Blood"wite`, Blood"wit` (, n. Etym: [AS. bl; bl blood, + wite wite,
fine.] (Anc. Law)
Defn: A fine or amercement paid as a composition for the shedding of
blood; also, a riot wherein blood was spilled.
BLOODWOOD
Blood"wood, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tree having the wood or the sap of the color of blood.
Note: Norfolk Island bloodwood is a euphorbiaceous tree (Baloghia
lucida), from which the sap is collected for use as a plant. Various
other trees have the name, chiefly on account of the color of the
wood, as Gordonia Hæmatoxylon of Jamaica, and several species of
Australian Eucalyptus; also the true logwood ( Hæmatoxylon
campechianum).
BLOODWORT
Blood"wort` (, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant, Rumex sanguineus, or bloody-veined dock. The name is
applied also to bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis), and to an
extensive order of plants (Hæmodoraceæ), the roots of many species of
which contain a red coloring matter useful in dyeing.
BLOODY
Blood"y, a. Etym: [AS. bl.]
1. Containing or resembling blood; of the nature of blood; as, bloody
excretions; bloody sweat.
2. Smeared or stained with blood; as, bloody hands; a bloody
handkerchief.
3. Given, or tending, to the shedding of blood; having a cruel,
savage disposition; murderous; cruel.
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame. Shak.
4. Attended with, or involving, bloodshed; sanguinary; esp., marked
by great slaughter or cruelty; as, a bloody battle.
5. Infamous; contemptible; -- variously used for mere emphasis or as
a low epithet. [Vulgar] Thackeray.
BLOODY
Blood"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloodied (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloodying.]
Defn: To stain with blood. Overbury.
BLOODYBONES
Blood"y*bones` (, n.
Defn: A terrible bugbear.
BLOODY FLUX
Blood"y flux`.
Defn: The dysentery, a disease in which the flux or discharge from
the bowels has a mixture of blood. Arbuthnot.
BLOODY HAND
Blood"y hand` (.
1. A hand stained with the blood of a deer, which, in the old forest
laws of England, was sufficient evidence of a man's trespass in the
forest against venison. Jacob.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A red hand, as in the arms of Ulster, which is now the
distinguishing mark of a baronet of the United Kingdom.
BLOODY-MINDED
Blood"y-mind"ed, a.
Defn: Having a cruel, ferocious disposition; bloodthirsty. Dryden.
BLOODY SWEAT
Blood"y sweat` (.
Defn: A sweat accompanied by a discharge of blood; a disease, called
sweating sickness, formerly prevalent in England and other countries.
BLOOM
Bloom, n. Etym: [OE. blome, fr. Icel. bl, bl; akin to Sw. blom, Goth.
bl, OS. bl, D. bloem, OHG. bluomo, bluoma, G. blume; fr. the same
root as AS. bl to blow, blossom. See Blow to bloom, and cf. Blossom.]
1. A blossom; the flower of a plant; an expanded bud; flowers,
collectively.
The rich blooms of the tropics. Prescott.
2. The opening of flowers in general; the state of blossoming or of
having the flowers open; as, the cherry trees are in bloom. "Sight of
vernal bloom." Milton.
3. A state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor; an opening to
higher perfection, analogous to that of buds into blossoms; as, the
bloom of youth.
Every successive mother has transmitted a fainter bloom, a more
delicate and briefer beauty. Hawthorne.
4. The delicate, powdery coating upon certain growing or newly-
gathered fruits or leaves, as on grapes, plums, etc. Hence: Anything
giving an appearance of attractive freshness; a flush; a glow.
A new, fresh, brilliant world, with all the bloom upon it. Thackeray.
5. The clouded appearance which varnish sometimes takes upon the
surface of a picture.
6. A yellowish deposit or powdery coating which appears on well-
tanned leather. Knight.
7. (Min.)
Defn: A popular term for a bright-hued variety of some minerals; as,
the rose-red cobalt bloom.
BLOOM
Bloom, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bloomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blooming.]
1. To produce or yield blossoms; to blossom; to flower or be in
flower.
A flower which once In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, Began to
bloom. Milton.
2. To be in a state of healthful, growing youth and vigor; to show
beauty and freshness, as of flowers; to give promise, as by or with
flowers.
A better country blooms to view,
Beneath a brighter sky. Logan.
BLOOM
Bloom, v. t.
1. To cause to blossom; to make flourish. [R.]
Charitable affection bloomed them. Hooker.
2. To bestow a bloom upon; to make blooming or radiant. [R.] Milton.
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day. Keats.
BLOOM
Bloom, n. Etym: [AS. bl a mass or lump, isenes bl a lump or wedge of
iron.] (Metal.)
(a) A mass of wrought iron from the Catalan forge or from the
puddling furnace, deprived of its dross, and shaped usually in the
form of an oblong block by shingling.
(b) A large bar of steel formed directly from an ingot by hammering
or rolling, being a preliminary shape for further working.
BLOOMARY
Bloom"a*ry, n.
Defn: See Bloomery.
BLOOMER
Bloom"er, n. Etym: [From Mrs. Bloomer, an American, who sought to
introduce this style of dress.]
1. A costume for women, consisting of a short dress, with loose
trousers gathered round ankles, and (commonly) a broad-brimmed hat.
2. A woman who wears a Bloomer costume.
BLOOMERY
Bloom"er*y, n. (Manuf.)
Defn: A furnace and forge in which wrought iron in the form of blooms
is made directly from the ore, or (more rarely) from cast iron.
BLOOMING
Bloom"ing, n. (Metal.)
Defn: The process of making blooms from the ore or from cast iron.
BLOOMING
Bloom"ing, a.
1. Opening in blossoms; flowering.
2. Thriving in health, beauty, and vigor; indicating the freshness
and beauties of youth or health.
BLOOMINGLY
Bloom"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blooming manner.
BLOOMINGNESS
Bloom"ing*ness, n.
Defn: A blooming condition.
BLOOMLESS
Bloom"less, a.
Defn: Without bloom or flowers. Shelley.
BLOOMY
Bloom"y, a.
1. Full of bloom; flowery; flourishing with the vigor of youth; as, a
bloomy spray.
But all the bloomy flush of life is fled. Goldsmith.
2. Covered with bloom, as fruit. Dryden.
BLOOTH
Blooth, n.
Defn: Bloom; a blossoming. [Prov. Eng.]
All that blooth means heavy autumn work for him and his hands. T.
Hardy.
BLORE
Blore, n. Etym: [Perh. a variant of blare, v. i.; or cf. Gael. & Ir.
blor a loud noise.]
Defn: The act of blowing; a roaring wind; a blast. [Obs.]
A most tempestuous blore. Chapman.
BLOSMY
Blos"my, a.
Defn: Blossomy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BLOSSOM
Blos"som, n. Etym: [OE. blosme, blostme, AS. bl, bl, blossom; akin to
D. bloesem, L. fios, and E. flower; from the root of E. blow to
blossom. See Blow to blossom, and cf. Bloom a blossom.]
1. The flower of a plant, or the essential organs of reproduction,
with their appendages; florescence; bloom; the flowers of a plant,
collectively; as, the blossoms and fruit of a tree; an apple tree in
blossom.
Note: The term has been applied by some botanists, and is also
applied in common usage, to the corolla. It is more commonly used
than flower or bloom, when we have reference to the fruit which is to
succeed. Thus we use flowers when we speak of plants cultivated for
ornament, and bloom in a more general sense, as of flowers in
general, or in reference to the beauty of flowers.
Blossoms flaunting in the eye of day. Longfellow.
2. A blooming period or stage of development; something lovely that
gives rich promise.
In the blossom of my youth. Massinger.
3. The color of a horse that has white hairs intermixed with sorrel
and bay hairs; -- otherwise called peach color. In blossom, having
the blossoms open; in bloom.
BLOSSOM
Blos"som, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blossomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blossoming.]
Etym: [AS. bl. See Blossom, n.]
1. To put forth blossoms or flowers; to bloom; to blow; to flower.
The moving whisper of huge trees that branched And blossomed.
Tennyson.
2. To flourish and prosper.
Israel shall blossom and bud, and full the face of the world with
fruit. Isa. xxvii. 6.
BLOSSOMLESS
Blos"som*less, a.
Defn: Without blossoms.
BLOSSOMY
Blos"som*y, a.
Defn: Full of blossoms; flowery.
BLOT
Blot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blotting.] Etym:
[Cf. Dan. plette. See 3d Blot.]
1. To spot, stain, or bespatter, as with ink.
The brief was writ and blotted all with gore. Gascoigne.
2. To impair; to damage; to mar; to soil.
It blots thy beauty, as frosts do bite the meads. Shak.
3. To stain with infamy; to disgrace.
Blot not thy innocence with guiltless blood. Rowe.
4. To obliterate, as writing with ink; to cancel; to efface; --
generally with out; as, to blot out a word or a sentence. Often
figuratively; as, to blot out offenses.
One act like this blots out a thousand crimes. Dryden.
5. To obscure; to eclipse; to shadow.
He sung how earth blots the moon's gilded wane. Cowley.
6. To dry, as writing, with blotting paper.
Syn.
-- To obliterate; expunge; erase; efface; cancel; tarnish; disgrace;
blur; sully; smear; smutch.
BLOT
Blot, v. i.
Defn: To take a blot; as, this paper blots easily.
BLOT
Blot, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. blettr, Dan. plet.]
1. A spot or stain, as of ink on paper; a blur. "Inky blots and
rotten parchment bonds." Shak.
2. An obliteration of something written or printed; an erasure.
Dryden.
3. A spot on reputation; a stain; a disgrace; a reproach; a blemish.
This deadly blot in thy digressing son. Shak.
BLOT
Blot, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. blot bare, naked, Sw. blott, d. bloot, G.
bloss, and perh. E. bloat.]
1. (Backgammon)
(a) An exposure of a single man to be taken up.
(b) A single man left on a point, exposed to be taken up.
He is too great a master of his art to make a blot which may be so
easily hit. Dryden.
2. A weak point; a failing; an exposed point or mark.
BLOTCH
Blotch, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. blacche in blacchepot blacking pot, akin to
black, as bleach is akin to bleak. See Black, a., or cf. Blot a
spot.]
1. A blot or spot, as of color or of ink; especially a large or
irregular spot. Also Fig.; as, a moral blotch.
Spots and blotches . . . some red, others yellow. Harvey.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A large pustule, or a coarse eruption.
Foul scurf and blotches him defile. Thomson.
BLOTCHED
Blotched, a.
Defn: Marked or covered with blotches.
To give their blotched and blistered bodies ease. Drayton.
BLOTCHY
Blotch"y, a.
Defn: Having blotches.
BLOTE
Blote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bloted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bloting.] Etym:
[Cf. Sw. blöt-fisk soaked fish, fr. blöta to soak. See 1st Bloat.]
Defn: To cure, as herrings, by salting and smoking them; to bloat.
[Obs.]
BLOTLESS
Blot"less, a.
Defn: Without blot.
BLOTTER
Blot"ter, n.
1. One who, or that which blots; esp. a device for absorbing
superfluous ink.
2. (Com.)
Defn: A wastebook, in which entries of transactions are made as they
take place.
BLOTTESQUE
Blot*tesque" (, a. (Painting)
Defn: Characterized by blots or heavy touches; coarsely depicted;
wanting in delineation. Ruskin.
BLOTTING PAPER
Blot"ting pa`per.
Defn: A kind of thick, bibulous, unsized paper, used to absorb
superfluous ink from freshly written manuscript, and thus prevent
blots.
BLOUSE
Blouse, n. Etym: [F. blouse. Of unknown origin.]
Defn: A light, loose over-garment, like a smock frock, worn
especially by workingmen in France; also, a loose coat of any
material, as the undress uniform coat of the United States army.
BLOW
Blow, v. i. [imp. Blew; p. p. Blown; p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] Etym:
[OE. blowen, AS. bl to blossom; akin to OS. bl, D. bloeijen, OHG.
pluojan, MHG. bl, G. blühen, L. florere to flourish, OIr. blath
blossom. Cf. Blow to puff, Flourish.]
Defn: To flower; to blossom; to bloom.
How blows the citron grove. Milton.
BLOW
Blow, v. t.
Defn: To cause to blossom; to put forth (blossoms or flowers).
The odorous banks, that blow Flowers of more mingled hue. Milton.
BLOW
Blow, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A blossom; a flower; also, a state of blossoming; a mass of
blossoms. "Such a blow of tulips." Tatler.
BLOW
Blow, n. Etym: [OE. blaw, blowe; cf. OHG. bliuwan, pliuwan, to beat,
G. bläuen, Goth. bliggwan.]
1. A forcible stroke with the hand, fist, or some instrument, as a
rod, a club, an ax, or a sword.
Well struck ! there was blow for blow. Shak.
2. A sudden or forcible act or effort; an assault.
A vigorous blow might win [Hanno's camp]. T. Arnold.
3. The infliction of evil; a sudden calamity; something which
produces mental, physical, or financial suffering or loss (esp. when
sudden); a buffet.
A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows. Shak.
At a blow, suddenly; at one effort; by a single vigorous act. "They
lose a province at a blow." Dryden.
-- To come to blows, to engage in combat; to fight; -- said of
individuals, armies, and nations.
Syn.
-- Stroke; knock; shock; misfortune.
BLOW
Blow, v. i. [imp. Blew; p. p. Blown; p. pr. & vb. n. Blowing.] Etym:
[OE. blawen, blowen, AS. bl to blow, as wind; akin to OHG. pl, G.
blähen, to blow up, swell, L. flare to blow, Gr. to spout out, and to
E. bladder, blast, inflate, etc., and perh. blow to bloom.]
1. To produce a current of air; to move, as air, esp. to move rapidly
or with power; as, the wind blows.
Hark how it rains and blows ! Walton.
2. To send forth a forcible current of air, as from the mouth or from
a pair of bellows.
3. To breathe hard or quick; to pant; to puff.
Here is Mistress Page at the door, sweating and blowing. Shak.
4. To sound on being blown into, as a trumpet.
There let the pealing organ blow. Milton.
5. To spout water, etc., from the blowholes, as a whale.
6. To be carried or moved by the wind; as, the dust blows in from the
street.
The grass blows from their graves to thy own. M. Arnold.
7. To talk loudly; to boast; to storm. [Colloq.]
You blow behind my back, but dare not say anything to my face.
Bartlett.
To blow hot and cold Etym: (a saying derived from a fable of , to
favor a thing at one time and treat it coldly at another; or to
appear both to favor and to oppose.
-- To blow off, to let steam escape through a passage provided for
the purpose; as, the engine or steamer is blowing off.
-- To blow out. (a) To be driven out by the expansive force of a gas
or vapor; as, a steam cock or valve sometimes blows out. (b) To talk
violently or abusively. [Low] -- To blow over, to pass away without
effect; to cease, or be dissipated; as, the storm and the clouds have
blown over.
-- To blow up, to be torn to pieces and thrown into the air as by an
explosion of powder or gas or the expansive force of steam; to burst;
to explode; as, a powder mill or steam boiler blows up. "The enemy's
magazines blew up." Tatler.
BLOW
Blow, v. t.
1. To force a current of air upon with the mouth, or by other means;
as, to blow the fire.
2. To drive by a current air; to impel; as, the tempest blew the ship
ashore.
Off at sea northeast winds blow Sabean odors from the spicy shore.
Milton.
3. To cause air to pass through by the action of the mouth, or
otherwise; to cause to sound, as a wind instrument; as, to blow a
trumpet; to blow an organ.
Hath she no husband That will take pains to blow a horn before her
Shak.
Boy, blow the pipe until the bubble rise, Then cast it off to float
upon the skies. Parnell.
4. To clear of contents by forcing air through; as, to blow an egg;
to blow one's nose.
5. To burst, shatter, or destroy by an explosion; -- usually with up,
down, open, or similar adverb; as, to blow up a building.
6. To spread by report; to publish; to disclose.
Through the court his courtesy was blown. Dryden.
His language does his knowledge blow. Whiting.
7. To form by inflation; to swell by injecting air; as, to blow
bubbles; to blow glass.
8. To inflate, as with pride; to puff up.
Look how imagination blows him. Shak.
9. To put out of breath; to cause to blow from fatigue; as, to blow a
horse. Sir W. Scott.
10. To deposit eggs or larvæ upon, or in (meat, etc.).
To suffer The flesh fly blow my mouth. Shak.
To blow great guns, to blow furiously and with roaring blasts; --
said of the wind at sea or along the coast.
-- To blow off, to empty (a boiler) of water through the blow-off
pipe, while under steam pressure; also, to eject (steam, water,
sediment, etc.) from a boiler.
-- To blow one's own trumpet, to vaunt one's own exploits, or sound
one's own praises.
-- To blow out, to extinguish by a current of air, as a candle.
-- To blow up. (a) To fill with air; to swell; as, to blow up a
bladder or bubble. (b) To inflate, as with pride, self-conceit, etc.;
to puff up; as, to blow one up with flattery. "Blown up with high
conceits engendering pride." Milton. (c) To excite; as, to blow up a
contention.(d) To burst, to raise into the air, or to scatter, by an
explosion; as, to blow up a fort. (e) To scold violently; as, to blow
up a person for some offense. [Colloq.]
I have blown him up well -- nobody can say I wink at what he does. G.
Eliot.
To blow upon. (a) To blast; to taint; to bring into discredit; to
render stale, unsavory, or worthless. (b) To inform against.
[Colloq.]
How far the very custom of hearing anything spouted withers and blows
upon a fine passage, may be seen in those speeches from
[Shakespeare's] Henry V. which are current in the mouths of
schoolboys. C. Lamb.
A lady's maid whose character had been blown upon. Macaulay.
BLOW
Blow, n.
1. A blowing, esp., a violent blowing of the wind; a gale; as, a
heavy blow came on, and the ship put back to port.
2. The act of forcing air from the mouth, or through or from some
instrument; as, to give a hard blow on a whistle or horn; to give the
fire a blow with the bellows.
3. The spouting of a whale.
4. (Metal.)
Defn: A single heat or operation of the Bessemer converter. Raymond.
5. An egg, or a larva, deposited by a fly on or in flesh, or the act
of depositing it. Chapman.
BLOWBALL
Blow"ball` (, n.
Defn: The downy seed head of a dandelion, which children delight to
blow away. B. Jonson.
BLOWEN; BLOWESS
Blow"en, Blow"ess, n.
Defn: A prostitute; a courtesan; a strumpet. [Low] Smart.
BLOWER
Blow"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, blows.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A device for producing a current of air; as: (a) A metal plate
temporarily placed before the upper part of a grate or open fire. (b)
A machine for producing an artificial blast or current of air by
pressure, as for increasing the draft of a furnace, ventilating a
building or shaft, cleansing gram, etc.
3. A blowing out or excessive discharge of gas from a hole or fissure
in a mine.
4. The whale; -- so called by seamen, from the circumstance of its
spouting up a column of water.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish of the Atlantic coast (Tetrodon turgidus); the
puffer.
6. A braggart, or loud talker. [Slang] Bartlett.
BLOWFLY
Blow"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of fly of the genus Musca that deposits its eggs or
young larvæ (called flyblows and maggots) upon meat or other animal
products.
BLOWGUN
Blow"gun`, n.
Defn: A tube, as of cane or reed, sometimes twelve feet long, through
which an arrow or other projectile may be impelled by the force of
the breath. It is a weapon much used by certain Indians of America
and the West Indies; -- called also blowpipe, and blowtube. See
Sumpitan.
BLOWHOLE
Blow"hole`, n.
1. A cavern in a cliff, at the water level, opening to the air at its
farther extremity, so that the waters rush in with each surge and
rise in a lofty jet from the extremity.
2. A nostril or spiracle in the top of the head of a whale or other
cetacean.
Note: There are two spiracles or blowholes in the common whales, but
only one in sperm whales, porpoises, etc.
3. A hole in the ice to which whales, seals, etc., come to breathe.
4. (Founding)
Defn: An air hole in a casting.
BLOWN
Blown, p. p. & a.
1. Swollen; inflated; distended; puffed up, as cattle when gorged
with green food which develops gas.
2. Stale; worthless.
3. Out of breath; tired; exhausted. "Their horses much blown." Sir W.
Scott.
4. Covered with the eggs and larvæ of flies; fly blown.
BLOWN
Blown, p. p. & a.
Defn: Opened; in blossom or having blossomed, as a flower. Shak.
BLOW-OFF
Blow"-off` (, n.
1. A blowing off steam, water, etc.; -- Also, adj.
Defn: as, a blow-off cock or pipe.
2. An outburst of temper or excitement. [Colloq.]
BLOW-OUT
Blow"-out` (, n.
Defn: The cleaning of the flues of a boiler from scale, etc., by a
blast of steam.
BLOWPIPE
Blow"pipe` (, n.
1. A tube for directing a jet of air into a fire or into the flame of
a lamp or candle, so as to concentrate the heat on some object.
Note: It is called a mouth blowpipe when used with the mouth; but for
both chemical and industrial purposes, it is often worked by a
bellows or other contrivance. The common mouth blowpipe is a tapering
tube with a very small orifice at the end to be inserted in the
flame. The oxyhydrogen blowpipe, invented by Dr. Hare in 1801, is an
instrument in which oxygen and hydrogen, taken from separate
reservoirs, in the proportions of two volumes of hydrogen to one of
oxygen, are burned in a jet, under pressure. It gives a heat that
will consume the diamond, fuse platinum, and dissipate in vapor, or
in gaseous forms, most known substances.
2. A blowgun; a blowtube. Blowpipe analysis (Chem.), analysis by
means of the blowpipe.
-- Blowpipe reaction (Chem.), the characteristic behavior of a
substance subjected to a test by means of the blowpipe.
BLOWPOINT
Blow"point` (, n.
Defn: A child's game. [Obs.]
BLOWSE
Blowse, n.
Defn: See Blowze.
BLOWTH
Blowth, n. Etym: [From Blow to blossom: cf. Growth.]
Defn: A blossoming; a bloom. [Obs. or Archaic] "In the blowth and
bud." Sir W. Raleigh.
BLOWTUBE
Blow"tube`, n.
1. A blowgun. Tylor.
2. A similar instrument, commonly of tin, used by boys for
discharging paper wads and other light missiles.
3. (Glassmaking)
Defn: A long wrought iron tube, on the end of which the workman
gathers a quantity of "metal" (melted glass), and through which he
blows to expand or shape it; -- called also blowing tube, and
blowpipe.
BLOW VALVE
Blow" valve` (. (Mach.)
Defn: See Snifting valve.
BLOWY
Blow"y, a.
Defn: Windy; as, blowy weather; a blowy upland.
BLOWZE
Blowze, n. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as blush.]
Defn: A ruddy, fat-faced woman; a wench. [Obs.] Shak.
BLOWZED
Blowzed, a.
Defn: Having high color from exposure to the weather; ruddy-faced;
blowzy; disordered.
Huge women blowzed with health and wind. Tennyson.
BLOWZY
Blowz"y, a.
Defn: Coarse and ruddy-faced; fat and ruddy; high colored; frowzy.
BLUB
Blub, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. Bleb, Blob.]
Defn: To swell; to puff out, as with weeping. [Obs.]
BLUBBER
Blub"ber, n. Etym: [See Blobber, Blob, Bleb.]
1. A bubble.
At his mouth a blubber stood of foam. Henryson.
2. The fat of whales and other large sea animals from which oil is
obtained. It lies immediately under the skin and over the muscular
flesh.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large sea nettle or medusa.
BLUBBER
Blub"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blubbered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blubbering.]
Defn: To weep noisily, or so as to disfigure the face; to cry in a
childish manner.
She wept, she blubbered, and she tore her hair. Swift.
BLUBBER
Blub"ber, v. t.
1. To swell or disfigure (the face) with weeping; to wet with tears.
Dear Cloe, how blubbered is that pretty face! Prior.
2. To give vent to (tears) or utter (broken words or cries); -- with
forth or out.
BLUBBERED
Blub"bered, p. p. & a.
Defn: Swollen; turgid; as, a blubbered lip. Spenser.
BLUBBERING
Blub"ber*ing, n.
Defn: The act of weeping noisily.
He spake well save that his blubbering interrupted him. Winthrop.
BLUBBERY
Blub"ber*y, a.
1. Swollen; protuberant.
2. Like blubber; gelatinous and quivering; as, a blubbery mass.
BLUCHER
Blu"cher, n.
Defn: A kind of half boot, named from the Prussian general Blücher.
Thackeray.
BLUDGEON
Bludg"eon, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. blocan a little block, Gael. plocan a
mallet, W. plocyn, dim. of ploc block; or perh. connected with E.
blow a stroke. Cf. Block, Blow a stroke.]
Defn: A short stick, with one end loaded, or thicker and heavier that
the other, used as an offensive weapon.
BLUE
Blue, a. [Compar. Bluer; superl. Bluest.] Etym: [OE. bla, blo, blew,
blue, Sw. bl, D. blauw, OHG. bl, G. blau; but influenced in form by
F. bleu, from OHG. blao.]
1. Having the color of the clear sky, or a hue resembling it, whether
lighter or darker; as, the deep, blue sea; as blue as a sapphire;
blue violets. "The blue firmament." Milton.
2. Pale, without redness or glare, -- said of a flame; hence, of the
color of burning brimstone, betokening the presence of ghosts or
devils; as, the candle burns blue; the air was blue with oaths.
3. Low in spirits; melancholy; as, to feel blue.
4. Suited to produce low spirits; gloomy in prospect; as, thongs
looked blue. [Colloq.]
5. Severe or over strict in morals; gloom; as, blue and sour
religionists; suiting one who is over strict in morals; inculcating
an impracticable, severe, or gloomy mortality; as, blue laws.
6. Literary; -- applied to women; -- an abbreviation of bluestocking.
[Colloq.]
The ladies were very blue and well informed. Thackeray.
Blue asbestus. See Crocidolite.
-- Blue black, of, or having, a very dark blue color, almost black.
-- Blue blood. See under Blood.
-- Blue buck (Zoöl.), a small South African antelope (Cephalophus
pygmæus); also applied to a larger species (Ægoceras leucophæus); the
blaubok.
-- Blue cod (Zoöl.), the buffalo cod.
-- Blue crab (Zoöl.), the common edible crab of the Atlantic coast
of the United States (Callinectes hastatus).
-- Blue curls (Bot.), a common plant (Trichostema dichotomum),
resembling pennyroyal, and hence called also bastard pennyroyal.
-- Blue devils, apparitions supposed to be seen by persons suffering
with delirium tremens; hence, very low spirits. "Can Gumbo shut the
hall door upon blue devils, or lay them all in a red sea of claret"
Thackeray.
-- Blue gage. See under Gage, a plum.
-- Blue gum, an Australian myrtaceous tree (Eucalyptus globulus), of
the loftiest proportions, now cultivated in tropical and warm
temperate regions for its timber, and as a protection against
malaria. The essential oil is beginning to be used in medicine. The
timber is very useful. See Eucalyptus.
-- Blue jack, Blue stone, blue vitriol; sulphate of copper.
-- Blue jacket, a man-of war's man; a sailor wearing a naval
uniform.
-- Blue jaundice. See under Jaundice.
-- Blue laws, a name first used in the eighteenth century to
describe certain supposititious laws of extreme rigor reported to
have been enacted in New Haven; hence, any puritanical laws. [U. S.]
-- Blue light, a composition which burns with a brilliant blue flame;
-- used in pyrotechnics and as a night signal at sea, and in military
operations.
-- Blue mantle (Her.), one of the four pursuivants of the English
college of arms; -- so called from the color of his official robes.
-- Blue mass, a preparation of mercury from which is formed the blue
pill. McElrath.
-- Blue mold, or mould, the blue fungus (Aspergillus glaucus) which
grows on cheese. Brande & C.
-- Blue Monday, a Monday following a Sunday of dissipation, or
itself given to dissipation (as the Monday before Lent).
-- Blue ointment (Med.), mercurial ointment.
-- Blue Peter (British Marine), a blue flag with a white square in
the center, used as a signal for sailing, to recall boats, etc. It is
a corruption of blue repeater, one of the British signal flags.
-- Blue pill. (Med.) (a) A pill of prepared mercury, used as an
aperient, etc. (b) Blue mass.
-- Blue ribbon. (a) The ribbon worn by members of the order of the
Garter; -- hence, a member of that order. (b) Anything the attainment
of which is an object of great ambition; a distinction; a prize.
"These [scholarships] were the blue ribbon of the college." Farrar.
(c) The distinctive badge of certain temperance or total abstinence
organizations, as of the Blue ribbon Army.
-- Blue ruin, utter ruin; also, gin. [Eng. Slang] Carlyle.
-- Blue spar (Min.), azure spar; lazulite. See Lazulite.
-- Blue thrush (Zoöl.), a European and Asiatic thrush
(Petrocossyphus cyaneas).
-- Blue verditer. See Verditer.
-- Blue vitriol (Chem.), sulphate of copper, a violet blue
crystallized salt, used in electric batteries, calico printing, etc.
-- Blue water, the open ocean.
-- To look blue, to look disheartened or dejected.
-- True blue, genuine and thorough; not modified, nor mixed; not
spurious; specifically, of uncompromising Presbyterianism, blue being
the color adopted by the Covenanters.
For his religion . . . 'T was Presbyterian, true blue. Hudibras.
BLUE
Blue, n.
1. One of the seven colors into which the rays of light divide
themselves, when refracted through a glass prism; the color of the
clear sky, or a color resembling that, whether lighter or darker; a
pigment having such color. Sometimes, poetically, the sky.
2. A pedantic woman; a bluestocking. [Colloq.]
3. pl. Etym: [Short for blue devils.]
Defn: Low spirits; a fit of despondency; melancholy. [Colloq.] Berlin
blue, Prussian blue.
-- Mineral blue. See under Mineral.
-- Prussian blue. See under Prussian.
BLUE
Blue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blued; p. pr. & vb. n. Bluing.]
Defn: To make blue; to dye of a blue color; to make blue by heating,
as metals, etc.
BLUEBACK
Blue"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A trout (Salmo oquassa) inhabiting some of the lakes of Maine.
(b) A salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of the Columbia River and
northward.
(c) An American river herring (Clupea æstivalis), closely allied to
the alewife.
BLUEBEARD
Blue"beard, n.
Defn: The hero of a mediæval French nursery legend, who, leaving
home, enjoined his young wife not to open a certain room in his
castle. She entered it, and found the murdered bodies of his former
wives.
-- Also used adjectively of a subject which it is forbidden to
investigate.
The Bluebeard chamber of his mind, into which no eye but his own must
look. Carlyle.
BLUEBELL
Blue"bell`, n. (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the genus Campanula, especially the Campanula
rotundifolia, which bears blue bell-shaped flowers; the harebell.
(b) A plant of the genus Scilla (Scilla nutans).
BLUEBERRY
Blue"berry, n. Etym: [Cf. Blaeberry.] (Bot.)
Defn: The berry of several species of Vaccinium, and ericaceous
genus, differing from the American huckleberries in containing
numerous minute seeds instead of ten nutlets. The commonest species
are V. Pennsylvanicum and V. vacillans. V. corymbosum is the tall
blueberry.
BLUEBILL
Blue"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A duck of the genus Fuligula. Two American species (F. marila
and F. affinis) are common. See Scaup duck.
BLUEBIRD
Blue"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small song bird (Sialia sialis), very common in the United
States, and, in the north, one of the earliest to arrive in spring.
The male is blue, with the breast reddish. It is related to the
European robin. Pairy bluebird (Zoöl.), a brilliant Indian or East
Indian bird of the genus Irena, of several species.
BLUE BONNET; BLUE-BONNET
Blue" bon`net or Blue"-bon`net, n.
1. A broad, flat Scottish cap of blue woolen, or one waring such cap;
a Scotchman.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant. Same as Bluebottle.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European blue titmouse (Parus coeruleus); the bluecap.
BLUE BOOK
Blue" book`.
1. A parliamentary publication, so called from its blue paper covers.
[Eng.]
2. The United States official "Biennial Register."
BLUEBOTTLE
Blue"bot`tle, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Centaurea cyanus) which grows in grain fields. It
receives its name from its blue bottle-shaped flowers.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large and troublesome species of blowfly (Musca vomitoria).
Its body is steel blue.
BLUEBREAST
Blue"breast`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European bird; the blue-throated warbler.
BLUECAP
Blue"cap`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) The bluepoll.
(b) The blue bonnet or blue titmouse.
2. A Scot; a Scotchman; -- so named from wearing a blue bonnet.
[Poetic] Shak.
BLUECOAT
Blue"coat`, n.
Defn: One dressed in blue, as a soldier, a sailor, a beadle, etc.
BLUE-EYE
Blue"-eye`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue-cheeked honeysucker of Australia.
BLUE-EYED
Blue"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having blue eyes.
BLUE-EYED GRASS
Blue-eyed grass (Bot.)
Defn: a grasslike plant (Sisyrinchium anceps), with small flowers of
a delicate blue color.
BLUEFIN
Blue"fin`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of whitefish (Coregonus nigripinnis) found in Lake
Michigan.
BLUEFISH
Blue"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
1. A large voracious fish (Pomatomus saitatrix), of the family
Carangidæ, valued as a food fish, and widely distributed on the
American coast. On the New Jersey and Rhode Island coast it is called
the horse mackerel, in Virginia saltwater tailor, or skipjack.
2. A West Indian fish (Platyglossus radiatus), of the family Labridæ.
Note: The name is applied locally to other species of fishes; as the
cunner, sea bass, squeteague, etc.
BLUEGOWN
Blue"gown`, n.
Defn: One of a class of paupers or pensioners, or licensed beggars,
in Scotland, to whim annually on the king's birthday were distributed
certain alms, including a blue gown; a beadsman.
BLUE GRASS
Blue" grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of grass (Poa compressa) with bluish green stems,
valuable in thin gravelly soils; wire grass. Kentucky blue grass, a
species of grass (Poa pratensis) which has running rootstocks and
spreads rapidly. It is valuable as a pasture grass, as it endures
both winter and drought better than other kinds, and is very
nutritious.
BLUE-GRASS STATE
Blue-grass State.
Defn: The Sate of Kentucky; -- a nickname alluding to the blue-grass
region, where fine horses are bred.
BLUE HEN STATE
Blue Hen State.
Defn: The State of Delaware; -- a popular sobriquet. It is said,
though the story lacks proof, to have taken its origin from the
insistence of a Delaware Revolutionary captain, named Caldwell, that
no cock could be truly game unless the mother was a blue hen, whence
Blue Hen's Chickens came to be a nickname for the people of Delaware.
BLUE JAY
Blue" jay`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common jay of the United States (Cyanocitta, or Cyanura,
cristata). The predominant color is bright blue.
BLUE-JOHN
Blue"-john`, n.
Defn: A name given to fluor spar in Derbyshire, where it is used for
ornamental purposes.
BLUELY
Blue"ly, adv.
Defn: With a blue color. Swift.
BLUENESS
Blue"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being blue; a blue color. Boyle.
BLUENOSE
Blue"nose, n.
Defn: A nickname for a Nova Scotian.
BLUENOSE; BLUENOSER
Blue"nose`, Blue"nos*er, n.
Defn: A Nova Scotian; also, a Nova Scotian ship (called also
Blue"nos`er); a Nova Scotian potato, etc.
BLUEPOLL
Blue"poll` (, n. Etym: [Blue + poll head.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of salmon (Salmo Cambricus) found in Wales.
BLUEPRINT
Blue"print.
Defn: See under Print.
BLUE-SKYLAW
Blue"-sky"law`.
Defn: A law enacted to provide for the regulation and supervision of
investment companies in order to protect the public against companies
that do not intend to do a fair and honest business and that offer
investments that do not promise a fair return; -- so called because
the promises made by some investment companies are as boundless or
alluring as the blue sky, or, perhaps, because designed to clear away
the clouds and fogs from the simple investor's horizon. [Colloq.]
BLUESTOCKING
Blue"stock`ing, n.
1. A literary lady; a female pedant. [Colloq.]
Note: As explained in Boswell's "Life of Dr. Johnson", this term is
derived from the name given to certain meetings held by ladies, in
Johnson's time, for conversation with distinguished literary men. An
eminent attendant of these assemblies was a Mr. Stillingfleet, who
always wore blue stockings. He was so much distinguished for his
conversational powers that his absence at any time was felt to be a
great loss, so that the remark became common, "We can do nothing
without the blue stockings." Hence these meetings were sportively
called bluestocking clubs, and the ladies who attended them,
bluestockings.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American avocet (Recurvirostra Americana).
BLUESTOCKINGISM
Blue"stock`ing*ism, n.
Defn: The character or manner of a bluestocking; female pedantry.
[Colloq.]
BLUESTONE
Blue"stone` (, n.
1. Blue vitriol. Dunglison.
2. A grayish blue building stone, as that commonly used in the
eastern United States.
BLUETHROAT
Blue"throat`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A singing bird of northern Europe and Asia (Cyanecula Suecica),
related to the nightingales; -- called also blue-throated robin and
blue-throated warbler.
BLUETS
Blu"ets, n. Etym: [F. bluet, bleuet, dim. of bleu blue. See Blue, a.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several different species of plants having blue
flowers, as the Houstonia coerulea, the Centaurea cyanus or
bluebottle, and the Vaccinium angustifolium.
BLUE-VEINED
Blue"-veined` (, a.
Defn: Having blue veins or blue streaks.
BLUEWING
Blue"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue-winged teal. See Teal.
BLUEY
Blue"y
Defn: ,a.Bluish. Southey.
BLUFF
Bluff, a. Etym: [Cf. OD. blaf flat, broad, blaffaert one with a broad
face, also, a boaster; or G. verblüffen to confuse, LG. bluffen to
frighten; to unknown origin.]
1. Having a broad, flattened front; as, the bluff bows of a ship.
"Bluff visages." Irving.
2. Rising steeply with a flat or rounded front. "A bluff or bold
shore." Falconer.
Its banks, if not really steep, had a bluff and precipitous aspect.
Judd.
3. Surly; churlish; gruff; rough.
4. Abrupt; roughly frank; unceremonious; blunt; brusque; as, a bluff
answer; a bluff manner of talking; a bluff sea captain. "Bluff King
Hal." Sir W. Scott.
There is indeed a bluff pertinacity which is a proper defense in a
moment of surprise. I. Taylor.
BLUFF
Bluff, n.
1. A high, steep bank, as by a river or the sea, or beside a ravine
or plain; a cliff with a broad face.
Beach, bluff, and wave, adieu. Whittier.
2. An act of bluffing; an expression of self-confidence for the
purpose of intimidation; braggadocio; as, that is only bluff, or a
bluff.
3. A game at cards; poker. [U.S.] Bartlett.
BLUFF
Bluff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bluffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bluffing.]
1. (Poker)
Defn: To deter (an opponent) from taking the risk of betting on his
hand of cards, as the bluffer does by betting heavily on his own hand
although it may be of less value. [U. S.]
2. To frighten or deter from accomplishing a purpose by making a show
of confidence in one's strength or resources; as, he bluffed me off.
[Colloq.]
BLUFF
Bluff, v. i.
Defn: To act as in the game of bluff.
BLUFF-BOWED
Bluff"-bowed` (, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
BLUFFER
Bluff"er, ( n.
Defn: One who bluffs.
BLUFF-HEADED
Bluff"-head`ed (, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.
BLUFFNESS
Bluff"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being bluff.
BLUFFY
Bluff"y, a.
1. Having bluffs, or bold, steep banks.
2. Inclined to bo bluff; brusque.
BLUING
Blu"ing, n.
1. The act of rendering blue; as, the bluing of steel. Tomlinson.
2. Something to give a bluish tint, as indigo, or preparations used
by washerwomen.
BLUISH
Blu"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat blue; as, bluish veins. "Bluish mists." Dryden.
-- Blu"ish*ly, adv.
-- Blu"ish*ness, n.
BLUNDER
Blun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blundered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blundering.]
Etym: [OE. blunderen, blondren, to stir, confuse, blunder; perh.
allied to blend to mix, to confound by mixture.]
1. To make a gross error or mistake; as, to blunder in writing or
preparing a medical prescription. Swift.
2. To move in an awkward, clumsy manner; to flounder and stumble.
I was never distinguished for address, and have often even blundered
in making my bow. Goldsmith.
Yet knows not how to find the uncertain place, And blunders on, and
staggers every pace. Dryden.
To blunder on. (a) To continue blundering. (b) To find or reach as if
by an accident involving more or less stupidity, -- applied to
something desirable; as, to blunder on a useful discovery.
BLUNDER
Blun"der, v. t.
1. To cause to blunder. [Obs.] "To blunder an adversary." Ditton.
2. To do or treat in a blundering manner; to confuse.
He blunders and confounds all these together. Stillingfleet.
BLUNDER
Blun"der, n.
1. Confusion; disturbance. [Obs.]
2. A gross error or mistake, resulting from carelessness, stupidity,
or culpable ignorance.
Syn.
-- Blunder, Error, Mistake, Bull. An error is a departure or
deviation from that which is right or correct; as, an error of the
press; an error of judgment. A mistake is the interchange or taking
of one thing for another, through haste, inadvertence, etc.; as, a
careless mistake. A blunder is a mistake or error of a gross kind. It
supposes a person to flounder on in his course, from carelessness,
ignorance, or stupidity. A bull is a verbal blunder containing a
laughable incongruity of ideas.
BLUNDERBUSS
Blun"der*buss, n. Etym: [Either fr. blunder + D. bus tube, box, akin
to G. büchse box, gun, E. box; or corrupted fr. D. donderbus
(literally) thunder box, gun, musket.]
1. A short gun or firearm, with a large bore, capable of holding a
number of balls, and intended to do execution without exact aim.
2. A stupid, blundering fellow.
BLUNDERER
Blun"der*er, n.
Defn: One who is apt to blunder.
BLUNDERHEAD
Blun"der*head` (, n. [Blunder + head.]
Defn: A stupid, blundering fellow.
BLUNDERING
Blun"der*ing, a.
Defn: Characterized by blunders.
BLUNDERINGLY
Blun"der*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blundering manner.
BLUNGE
Blunge, v. t.
Defn: To amalgamate and blend; to beat up or mix in water, as clay.
BLUNGER
Blun"ger, n. Etym: [Corrupted from plunger.]
Defn: A wooden blade with a cross handle, used for mi Tomlinson.
BLUNGING
Blun"ging, n.
Defn: The process of mixing clay in potteries with a blunger.
Tomlinson.
BLUNT
Blunt, a. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. bludde a dull or blunt knife, Dan.
blunde to sleep, Sw. & Icel. blunda; or perh. akin to E. blind.]
1. Having a thick edge or point, as an instrument; dull; not sharp.
The murderous knife was dull and blunt. Shak.
2. Dull in understanding; slow of discernment; stupid; -- opposed to
acute.
His wits are not so blunt. Shak.
3. Abrupt in address; plain; unceremonious; wanting the forms of
civility; rough in manners or speech. "Hiding his bitter jests in
blunt behavior." "A plain, blunt man." Shak.
4. Hard to impress or penetrate. [R.]
I find my heart hardened and blunt to new impressions. Pope.
Note: Blunt is much used in composition, as blunt-edged, blunt-
sighted, blunt-spoken.
Syn.
-- Obtuse; dull; pointless; curt; short; coarse; rude; brusque;
impolite; uncivil.
BLUNT
Blunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blunting.]
1. To dull the edge or point of, by making it thicker; to make blunt.
Shak.
2. To repress or weaken, as any appetite, desire, or power of the
mind; to impair the force, keenness, or susceptibility, of; as, to
blunt the feelings.
BLUNT
Blunt, n.
1. A fencer's foil. [Obs.]
2. A short needle with a strong point. See Needle.
3. Money. [Cant] Beaconsfield.
BLUNTISH
Blunt"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat blunt.
-- Blunt"ish*ness, n.
BLUNTLY
Blunt"ly, adv.
Defn: In a blunt manner; coarsely; plainly; abruptly; without
delicacy, or the usual forms of civility.
Sometimes after bluntly giving his opinions, he would quietly lay
himself asleep until the end of their deliberations. Jeffrey.
BLUNTNESS
Blunt"ness, n.
1. Want of edge or point; dullness; obtuseness; want of sharpness.
The multitude of elements and bluntness of angles. Holland.
2. A bruptness of address; rude plainness. "Bluntness of speech."
Boyle.
BLUNT-WITTED
Blunt"-wit`ted, n.
Defn: Dull; stupid.
Blunt-witted lord, ignoble in demeanor! Shak.
BLUR
Blur, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Blurring.] Etym:
[Prob. of same origin as blear. See Blear.]
1. To render obscure by making the form or outline of confused and
uncertain, as by soiling; to smear; to make indistinct and confused;
as, to blur manuscript by handling it while damp; to blur the
impression of a woodcut by an excess of ink.
But time hath nothing blurred those lines of favor Which then he
wore. Shak.
2. To cause imperfection of vision in; to dim; to darken.
Her eyes are blurred with the lightning's glare. J. R. Drake.
3. To sully; to stain; to blemish, as reputation.
Sarcasms may eclipse thine own, But can not blur my lost renown.
Hudibras.
Syn.
-- To spot; blot; disfigure; stain; sully.
BLUR
Blur, n.
1. That which obscures without effacing; a stain; a blot, as upon
paper or other substance.
As for those who cleanse blurs with blotted fingers, they make it
worse. Fuller.
2. A dim, confused appearance; indistinctness of vision; as, to see
things with a blur; it was all blur.
3. A moral stain or blot.
Lest she . . . will with her railing set a great blur on mine honesty
and good name. Udall.
BLURRY
Blur"ry, a.
Defn: Full of blurs; blurred.
BLURT
Blurt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blurted; p. pr. & vb. n. Blurting.] Etym:
[Cf. Blare.]
Defn: To utter suddenly and unadvisedly; to divulge inconsiderately;
to ejaculate; -- commonly with out.
Others . . . can not hold, but blurt out, those words which afterward
they forced to eat. Hakewill.
To blurt at, to speak contemptuously of. [Obs.] Shak.
BLUSH
Blush v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Blushing.] Etym:
[OE. bluschen to shine, look, turn red, AS. blyscan to glow; akin to
blysa a torch, abl to blush, D. blozen, Dan. blusse to blaze, blush.]
1. To become suffused with red in the cheeks, as from a sense of
shame, modesty, or confusion; to become red from such cause, as the
cheeks or face.
To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the morn. Milton.
In the presence of the shameless and unblushing, the young offender
is ashamed to blush. Buckminster.
He would stroke The head of modest and ingenuous worth, That blushed
at its own praise. Cowper.
2. To grow red; to have a red or rosy color.
The sun of heaven, methought, was loth to set, But stayed, and made
the western welkin blush. Shak.
3. To have a warm and delicate color, as some roses and other
flowers.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen. T. Gray.
BLUSH
Blush, v. t.
1. To suffuse with a blush; to redden; to make roseate. [Obs.]
To blush and beautify the cheek again. Shak.
2. To express or make known by blushing.
I'll blush you thanks. Shak.
BLUSH
Blush, n.
1. A suffusion of the cheeks or face with red, as from a sense of
shame, confusion, or modesty.
The rosy blush of love. Trumbull.
2. A red or reddish color; a rosy tint.
Light's last blushes tinged the distant hills. Lyttleton.
At first blush, or At the first blush, at the first appearance or
view. "At the first blush, we thought they had been ships come from
France." Hakluyt.
Note: This phrase is used now more of ideas, opinions, etc., than of
material things. "All purely identical propositions, obviously, and
at first blush, appear." etc. Locke.
-- To put to the blush, to cause to blush with shame; to put to
shame.
BLUSHER
Blush"er, n.
Defn: One that blushes.
BLUSHET
Blush"et, n.
Defn: A modest girl. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BLUSHFUL
Blush"ful, a.
Defn: Full of blushes.
While from his ardent look the turning Spring Averts her blushful
face. Thomson.
BLUSHING
Blush"ing, a.
Defn: Showing blushes; rosy red; having a warm and delicate color
like some roses and other flowers; blooming; ruddy; roseate.
The dappled pink and blushing rose. Prior.
BLUSHING
Blush"ing, n.
Defn: The act of turning red; the appearance of a reddish color or
flush upon the cheeks.
BLUSHINGLY
Blush"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blushing manner; with a blush or blushes; as, to answer or
confess blushingly.
BLUSHLESS
Blush"less, a.
Defn: Free from blushes; incapable of blushing; shameless; impudent.
Vice now, secure, her blushless front shall raise. Dodsley.
BLUSHY
Blush"y, a.
Defn: Like a blush; having the color of a blush; rosy. [R.] "A blushy
color." Harvey.
BLUSTER
Blus"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Blustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Blustering.]
Etym: [Allied to blast.]
1. To blow fitfully with violence and noise, as wind; to be windy and
boisterous, as the weather.
And ever-threatening storms Of Chaos blustering round. Milton.
2. To talk with noisy violence; to swagger, as a turbulent or
boasting person; to act in a noisy, tumultuous way; to play the
bully; to storm; to rage.
Your ministerial directors blustered like tragic tyrants. Burke.
BLUSTER
Blus"ter, v. t.
Defn: To utter, or do, with noisy violence; to force by blustering;
to bully.
He bloweth and blustereth out . . . his abominable blasphemy. Sir T.
More.
As if therewith he meant to bluster all princes into a perfect
obedience to his commands. Fuller.
BLUSTER
Blus"ter, n.
1. Fitful noise and violence, as of a storm; violent winds;
boisterousness.
To the winds they set Their corners, when with bluster to confound
Sea, air, and shore. Milton.
2. Noisy and violent or threatening talk; noisy and boastful
language. L'Estrange.
Syn.
-- Noise; boisterousness; tumult; turbulence; confusion; boasting;
swaggering; bullying.
BLUSTERER
Blus"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, blusters; a noisy swaggerer.
BLUSTERING
Blus"ter*ing, a.
1. Exhibiting noisy violence, as the wind; stormy; tumultuous.
A tempest and a blustering day. Shak.
2. Uttering noisy threats; noisy and swaggering; boisterous. "A
blustering fellow." L'Estrange.
BLUSTERINGLY
Blus"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a blustering manner.
BLUSTEROUS
Blus"ter*ous, a.
Defn: Inclined to bluster; given to blustering; blustering. Motley.
BLUSTROUS
Blus"trous, a.
Defn: Blusterous. Shak.
BO
Bo, interj. Etym: [Cf. W. bw, an interj. of threatening or
frightening; n., terror, fear, dread.]
Defn: An exclamation used to startle or frighten. [Spelt also boh and
boo.]
BOA
Bo"a, n.; pl. Boas . Etym: [L. boa a kind of water serpent. Perh. fr.
bos an ox.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large American serpents, including the boa
constrictor, the emperor boa of Mexico (B. imperator), and the
chevalier boa of Peru (B. eques).
Note: The name is also applied to related genera; as, the dog-headed
boa (Xiphosoma caninum).
2. A long, round fur tippet; -- so called from its resemblance in
shape to the boa constrictor.
BOA CONSTRICTOR
Bo"a con*strict"or. Etym: [NL. See Boa, and Constrictor.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large and powerful serpent of tropical America, sometimes
twenty or thirty feet long. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: It has a succession of spots, alternately black and yellow,
extending along the back. It kills its prey by constriction. The name
is also loosely applied to other large serpents which crush their
prey, particularly to those of the genus Python, found in Asia and
Africa.
BOANERGES
Bo`a*ner"ges. Etym: [Gr. , fr. Heb. bn sons of thunder.
-- an appellation given by Christ to two of his disciples (James and
John). See Mark iii. 17.]
Defn: Any declamatory and vociferous preacher or orator.
BOAR
Boar, n. Etym: [OE. bar, bor, bore, AS. bar; akin to OHG. p, MHG. b,
G. bär, boar (but not bär bear), and perh. Russ. borov' boar.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The uncastrated male of swine; specifically, the wild hog.
BOARD
Board, n. Etym: [OE. bord, AS. bord board, shipboard; akin to bred
plank, Icel. bor board, side of a ship, Goth. f footstool, D. bord
board, G. brett, bort. See def. 8. sq. root92.]
1. A piece of timber sawed thin, and of considerable length and
breadth as compared with the thickness, -- used for building, etc.
Note: When sawed thick, as over one and a half or two inches, it is
usually called a plank.
2. A table to put food upon.
Note: The term board answers to the modern table, but it was often
movable, and placed on trestles. Halliwell.
Fruit of all kinds . . . She gathers, tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unsparing hand. Milton.
3. Hence: What is served on a table as food; stated meals; provision;
entertainment; -- usually as furnished for pay; as, to work for one's
board; the price of board.
4. A table at which a council or court is held. Hence: A council,
convened for business, or any authorized assembly or meeting, public
or private; a number of persons appointed or elected to sit in
council for the management or direction of some public or private
business or trust; as, the Board of Admiralty; a board of trade; a
board of directors, trustees, commissioners, etc.
Both better acquainted with affairs than any other who sat then at
that board. Clarendon.
We may judge from their letters to the board. Porteus.
5. A square or oblong piece of thin wood or other material used for
some special purpose, as, a molding board; a board or surface painted
or arranged for a game; as, a chessboard; a backgammon board.
6. Paper made thick and stiff like a board, for book covers, etc.;
pasteboard; as, to bind a book in boards.
7. pl.
Defn: The stage in a theater; as, to go upon the boards, to enter
upon the theatrical profession.
8. Etym: [In this use originally perh. a different word meaning
border, margin; cf. D. boord, G. bord, shipboard, and G. borte
trimming; also F. bord (fr. G.) the side of a ship. Cf. Border.]
Defn: The border or side of anything. (Naut.)
(a) The side of a ship. "Now board to board the rival vessels row."
Dryden. See On board, below.
(b) The stretch which a ship makes in one tack.
Note: Board is much used adjectively or as the last part of a
compound; as, fir board, clapboard, floor board, shipboard,
sideboard, ironing board, chessboard, cardboard, pasteboard,
seaboard; board measure. The American Board, a shortened form of "The
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions" (the foreign
missionary society of the American Congregational churches).
-- Bed and board. See under Bed.
-- Board and board (Naut.), side by side.
-- Board of control, six privy councilors formerly appointed to
superintend the affairs of the British East Indies. Stormonth.
-- Board rule, a figured scale for finding without calculation the
number of square feet in a board. Haldeman.
-- Board of trade, in England, a committee of the privy council
appointed to superintend matters relating to trade. In the United
States, a body of men appointed for the advancement and protection of
their business interests; a chamber of commerce.
-- Board wages. (a) Food and lodging supplied as compensation for
services; as, to work hard, and get only board wages. (b) Money wages
which are barely sufficient to buy food and lodging. (c) A separate
or special allowance of wages for the procurement of food, or food
and lodging. Dryden.
-- By the board, over the board, or side. "The mast went by the
board." Totten. Hence (Fig.), To go by the board, to suffer complete
destruction or overthrow.
-- To enter on the boards, to have one's name inscribed on a board
or tablet in a college as a student. [Cambridge, England.] "Having
been entered on the boards of Trinity college." Hallam.
-- To make a good board (Naut.), to sail in a straight line when
close-hauled; to lose little to leeward.
-- To make short boards, to tack frequently.
-- On board. (a) On shipboard; in a ship or a boat; on board of; as,
I came on board early; to be on board ship. (b) In or into a railway
car or train. [Colloq. U. S.] -- Returning board, a board empowered
to canvass and make an official statement of the votes cast at an
election. [U.S.]
BOARD
Board, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boarded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boarding.]
1. To cover with boards or boarding; as, to board a house. "The
boarded hovel." Cowper.
2. Etym: [Cf. Board to accost, and see Board, n.]
Defn: To go on board of, or enter, as a ship, whether in a hostile or
a friendly way.
You board an enemy to capture her, and a stranger to receive news or
make a communication. Totten.
3. To enter, as a railway car. [Colloq. U. S.]
4. To furnish with regular meals, or with meals and lodgings, for
compensation; to supply with daily meals.
5. To place at board, for compensation; as, to board one's horse at a
livery stable.
BOARD
Board, v. i.
Defn: To obtain meals, or meals and lodgings, statedly for
compensation; as, he boards at the hotel.
We are several of us, gentlemen and ladies, who board in the same
house. Spectator.
BOARD
Board, v. t. Etym: [F. aborder. See Abord, v. t.]
Defn: To approach; to accost; to address; hence, to woo. [Obs.]
I will board her, though she chide as loud As thunder when the clouds
in autumn crack. Shak.
BOARDABLE
Board"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be boarded, as a ship.
BOARDER
Board"er, n.
1. One who has food statedly at another's table, or meals and
lodgings in his house, for pay, or compensation of any kind.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: One who boards a ship; one selected to board an enemy's ship.
Totten.
BOARDING
Board"ing, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The act of entering a ship, whether with a hostile or a
friendly purpose.
Both slain at one time, as they attempted the boarding of a frigate.
Sir F. Drake.
2. The act of covering with boards; also, boards, collectively; or a
covering made of boards.
3. The act of supplying, or the state of being supplied, with regular
or specified meals, or with meals and lodgings, for pay. Boarding
house, a house in which boarders are kept.
-- Boarding nettings (Naut.), a strong network of cords or ropes
erected at the side of a ship to prevent an enemy from boarding it.
-- Boarding pike (Naut.), a pike used by sailors in boarding a
vessel, or in repelling an attempt to board it. Totten.
-- Boarding school, a school in which pupils receive board and
lodging as well as instruction.
BOARFISH
Boar"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A Mediterranean fish (Capros aper), of the family Caproidæ; -- so
called from the resemblance of the extended lips to a hog's snout.
(b) An Australian percoid fish (Histiopterus recurvirostris), valued
as a food fish.
BOARISH
Boar"ish, a.
Defn: Swinish; brutal; cruel.
In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs. Shak.
BOAST
Boast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Boasting.] Etym:
[OE. bosten, boosten, v., bost, boost, n., noise, boasting; cf. G.
bausen, bauschen, to swell, pusten, Dan. puste, Sw. pusta, to blow,
Sw. pösa to swell; or W. bostio to boast, bost boast, Gael. bosd. But
these last may be from English.]
1. To vaunt one's self; to brag; to say or tell things which are
intended to give others a high opinion of one's self or of things
belonging to one's self; as, to boast of one's exploits courage,
descent, wealth.
By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: ..
not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph. ii. 8, 9.
2. To speak in exulting language of another; to glory; to exult.
In God we boast all the day long. Ps. xiiv. 8
Syn.
-- To brag; bluster; vapor; crow; talk big.
BOAST
Boast, v. t.
1. To display in ostentatious language; to speak of with pride,
vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation; to extol.
Lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds. Milton.
2. To display vaingloriously.
3. To possess or have; as, to boast a name. To boast one's self, to
speak with unbecoming confidence in, and approval of, one's self; --
followed by of and the thing to which the boasting relates. [Archaic]
Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Prov. xxvii.
BOAST
Boast, v. t. Etym: [Of uncertain etymology.]
1. (Masonry)
Defn: To dress, as a stone, with a broad chisel. Weale.
2. (Sculp.)
Defn: To shape roughly as a preparation for the finer work to follow;
to cut to the general form required.
BOAST
Boast, n.
1. Act of boasting; vaunting or bragging.
Reason and morals and where live they most, In Christian comfort, or
in Stoic boast! Byron.
2. The cause of boasting; occasion of pride or exultation, --
sometimes of laudable pride or exultation.
The boast of historians. Macaulay.
BOASTANCE
Boast"ance, n.
Defn: Boasting. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOASTER
Boast"er, n.
Defn: One who boasts; a braggart.
BOASTER
Boast"er, n.
Defn: A stone mason's broad-faced chisel.
BOASTFUL
Boast"ful, a.
Defn: Given to, or full of, boasting; inclined to boast; vaunting;
vainglorious; self-praising.
-- Boast"ful*ly, adv.
-- Boast"ful*ness, n.
BOASTING
Boast"ing, n.
Defn: The act of glorying or vaunting; vainglorious speaking;
ostentatious display.
When boasting ends, then dignity begins. Young.
BOASTINGLY
Boast"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Boastfully; with boasting. "He boastingly tells you." Burke.
BOASTIVE
Boast"ive, a.
Defn: Presumptuous. [R.]
BOASTLESS
Boast"less, a.
Defn: Without boasting or ostentation.
BOAT
Boat, n. Etym: [OE. boot, bat, AS. bat; akin to Icel. batr, Sw. båt,
Dan. baad, D.& G. boot. Cf. Bateau.]
1. A small open vessel, or water craft, usually moved by cars or
paddles, but often by a sail.
Note: Different kinds of boats have different names; as, canoe, yawl,
wherry, pinnace, punt, etc.
2. Hence, any vessel; usually with some epithet descriptive of its
use or mode of propulsion; as, pilot boat, packet boat, passage boat,
advice boat, etc. The term is sometimes applied to steam vessels,
even of the largest class; as, the Cunard boats.
3. A vehicle, utensil, or dish, somewhat resembling a boat in shape;
as, a stone boat; a gravy boat.
Note: Boat is much used either adjectively or in combination; as,
boat builder or boatbuilder; boat building or boatbuilding; boat hook
or boathook; boathouse; boat keeper or boatkeeper; boat load; boat
race; boat racing; boat rowing; boat song; boatlike; boat-shaped.
Advice boat. See under Advice.
-- Boat hook (Naut.), an iron hook with a point on the back, fixed
to a long pole, to pull or push a boat, raft, log, etc. Totten.
-- Boat rope, a rope for fastening a boat; -- usually called a
painter.
-- In the same boat, in the same situation or predicament. [Colloq.]
F. W. Newman.
BOAT
Boat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boated; p. pr. & vb. n. Boating.]
1. To transport in a boat; as, to boat goods.
2. To place in a boat; as, to boat oars. To boat the oars. See under
Oar.
BOAT
Boat, v. i.
Defn: To go or row in a boat.
I boated over, ran my craft aground. Tennyson.
BOATABLE
Boat"a*ble, a.
1. Such as can be transported in a boat.
2. Navigable for boats, or small river craft.
The boatable waters of the Alleghany. J. Morse.
BOATAGE
Boat"age, n.
Defn: Conveyance by boat; also, a charge for such conveyance.
BOATBILL
Boat"bill` (, n. (Zoöl.)
1. A wading bird (Cancroma cochlearia) of the tropical parts of South
America. Its bill is somewhat like a boat with the keel uppermost.
2. A perching bird of India, of the genus Eurylaimus.
BOAT BUG
Boat" bug` (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An aquatic hemipterous insect of the genus Notonecta; -- so
called from swimming on its back, which gives it the appearance of a
little boat. Called also boat fly, boat insect, boatman, and water
boatman.
BOATFUL
Boat"ful, n.; pl. Boatfuls.
Defn: The quantity or amount that fills a boat.
BOATHOUSE
Boat"house`, n.
Defn: A house for sheltering boats.
Half the latticed boathouse hides. Wordsworth.
BOATING
Boat"ing, n.
1. The act or practice of rowing or sailing, esp. as an amusement;
carriage in boats.
2. In Persia, a punishment of capital offenders, by laying them on
the back in a covered boat, where they are left to perish.
BOATION
Bo*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. boatus, fr. boare to roar.]
Defn: A crying out; a roaring; a bellowing; reverberation. [Obs.]
The guns were heard . . . about a hundred Italian miles, in long
boations. Derham.
BOATMAN
Boat"man, n.; pl. Boatmen (.
1. A man who manages a boat; a rower of a boat.
As late the boatman hies him home. Percival.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A boat bug. See Boat bug.
BOATMANSHIP
Boat"man*ship, n.
Defn: The art of managing a boat.
BOAT-SHAPED
Boat"-shaped` (, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cymbiform.
BOAT SHELL
Boat" shell` (. (Zoöl.)
(a) A marine gastropod of the genus Crepidula. The species are
numerous. It is so named from its form and interior deck.
(b) A marine univalve shell of the genus Cymba.
BOATSMAN
Boats"man, n.
Defn: A boatman. [Archaic]
BOATSWAIN
Boat"swain, n. Etym: [Boat + swain.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: An officer who has charge of the boats, sails, rigging, colors,
anchors, cables, cordage, etc., of a ship, and who also summons the
crew, and performs other duties.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The jager gull.
(b) The tropic bird. Boatswain's mate, an assistant of the boatswain.
Totten.
BOAT-TAIL
Boat"-tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large grackle or blackbird (Quiscalus major), found in the
Southern United States.
BOATWOMAN
Boat"wom`an, n.; pl. Boatwomen (.
Defn: A woman who manages a boat.
BOB
Bob, n. Etym: [An onomatopoetic word, expressing quick, jerky motion;
OE. bob bunch, bobben to strike, mock, deceive. Cf. Prov. Eng. bob,
n., a ball, an engine beam, bunch, blast, trick, taunt, scoff; as, a
v., to dance, to courtesy, to disappoint, OF. bober to mock.]
1. Anything that hangs so as to play loosely, or with a short abrupt
motion, as at the end of a string; a pendant; as, the bob at the end
of a kite's tail.
In jewels dressed and at each ear a bob. Dryden.
2. A knot of worms, or of rags, on a string, used in angling, as for
eels; formerly, a worm suitable for bait.
Or yellow bobs, turned up before the plow, Are chiefest baits, with
cork and lead enow. Lauson.
3. A small piece of cork or light wood attached to a fishing line to
show when a fish is biting; a float.
4. The ball or heavy part of a pendulum; also, the ball or weight at
the end of a plumb line.
5. A small wheel, made of leather, with rounded edges, used in
polishing spoons, etc.
6. A short, jerking motion; act of bobbing; as, a bob of the head.
7. (Steam Engine)
Defn: A working beam.
8. A knot or short curl of hair; also, a bob wig.
A plain brown bob he wore. Shenstone.
9. A peculiar mode of ringing changes on bells.
10. The refrain of a song.
To bed, to bed, will be the bob of the song. L'Estrange.
11. A blow; a shake or jog; a rap, as with the fist.
12. A jeer or flout; a sharp jest or taunt; a trick.
He that a fool doth very wisely hit, Doth very foolishly, although he
smart, Not to seem senseless of the bob. Shak.
13. A shilling. [Slang, Eng.] Dickens.
BOB
Bob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bobbing.] Etym: [OE.
bobben. See Bob, n.]
1. To cause to move in a short, jerking manner; to move (a thing)
with a bob. "He bobbed his head." W. Irving.
2. To strike with a quick, light blow; to tap.
If any man happened by long sitting to sleep . . . he was suddenly
bobbed on the face by the servants. Elyot.
3. To cheat; to gain by fraud or cheating; to filch.
Gold and jewels that I bobbed from him. Shak.
4. To mock or delude; to cheat.
To play her pranks, and bob the fool, The shrewish wife began.
Turbervile.
5. To cut short; as, to bob the hair, or a horse's tail.
BOB
Bob, v. i.
1. To have a short, jerking motion; to play to and fro, or up and
down; to play loosely against anything. "Bobbing and courtesying."
Thackeray.
2. To angle with a bob. See Bob, n., 2 & 3.
He ne'er had learned the art to bob For anything but eels. Saxe.
To bob at an apple, cherry, etc. to attempt to bite or seize with the
mouth an apple, cherry, or other round fruit, while it is swinging
from a string or floating in a tug of water.
BOBAC
Bo"bac, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Poland marmot (Arctomys bobac).
BOBANCE
Bo*bance", n. Etym: [OF. bobance, F. bombance, boasting, pageantry,
fr. L. bombus a humming, buzzing.]
Defn: A boasting. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOBBER
Bob"ber, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bobs.
BOBBERY
Bob"ber*y, n. Etym: [Prob. an Anglo-Indian form of Hindi bap re O
thou father! (a very disrespectful address).]
Defn: A squabble; a tumult; a noisy disturbance; as, to raise a
bobbery. [Low] Halliwell.
BOBBIN
Bob"bin, n. Etym: [F. bobine; of uncertain origin; cf. L. bombus a
humming, from the noise it makes, or Ir. & Gael. baban tassel, or E.
bob.]
1. A small pin, or cylinder, formerly of bone, now most commonly of
wood, used in the making of pillow lace. Each thread is wound on a
separate bobbin which hangs down holding the thread at a slight
tension.
2. A spool or reel of various material and construction, with a head
at one or both ends, and sometimes with a hole bored through its
length by which it may be placed on a spindle or pivot. It is used to
hold yarn or thread, as in spinning or warping machines, looms,
sewing machines, etc.
3. The little rounded piece of wood, at the end of a latch string,
which is pulled to raise the latch.
4. (Haberdashery)
Defn: A fine cord or narrow braid.
5. (Elec.)
Defn: A cylindrical or spool-shaped coil or insulated wire, usually
containing a core of soft iron which becomes magnetic when the wire
is traversed by an electrical current. Bobbin and fly frame, a roving
machine.
-- Bobbin lace, lace made on a pillow with bobbins; pillow lace.
BOBBINET
Bob`bi*net", n. Etym: [Bobbin + net.]
Defn: A kind of cotton lace which is wrought by machines, and not by
hand. [Sometimes written bobbin net.]The English machine-made net is
now confined to point net, warp net, and bobbin net, so called from
the peculiar construction of the machines by which they are produced.
Tomlinsom.
BOBBINWORK
Bob"bin*work`, n.
Defn: Work woven with bobbins.
BOBBISH
Bob"bish, a.
Defn: Hearty; in good spirits. [Low, Eng.] Dickens.
BOBBY
Bob"by, n.
Defn: A nickname for a policeman; -- from Sir Robert Peel, who
remodeled the police force. See Peeler. [Slang, Eng.] Dickens.
BOB-CHERRY
Bob"-cher`ry, n.
Defn: A play among children, in which a cherry, hung so as to bob
against the mouth, is to be caught with the teeth.
BOBFLY
Bob"fly`, n. (Fishing)
Defn: The fly at the end of the leader; an end fly.
BOBOLINK
Bob"o*link`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American singing bird (Dolichonyx oryzivorus). The male is
black and white; the female is brown; -- called also, ricebird,
reedbird, and Boblincoln.
The happiest bird of our spring is the bobolink. W. Irving.
BOBSLED; BOBSLEIGH
Bob"sled`, Bob"sleigh`, n.
Defn: A short sled, mostly used as one of a pair connected by a reach
or coupling; also, the compound sled so formed. [U. S.]
The long wagon body set on bobsleds. W. D. Howells.
BOBSTAY
Bob"stay` (, n. Etym: [Bob + stay.] (Naut.)
Defn: A rope or chain to confine the bowsprit of a ship downward to
the stem or cutwater; -- usually in the pl.
BOBTAIL
Bob"tail`, n. Etym: [Bob + tail.]
Defn: An animal (as a horse or dog) with a short tail. Rag, tag, and
bobtail, the rabble.
BOBTAIL
Bob"tail`, a.
Defn: Bobtailed. "Bobtail cur." Marryat.
BOBTAILED
Bob"tailed` (, a.
Defn: Having the tail cut short, or naturally short; curtailed; as, a
bobtailed horse or dog; a bobtailed coat.
BOBWHITE
Bob"white`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common qua(Colinus, or Ortyx, Virginianus); -- so called
from its note.
BOB WIG
Bob" wig` (.
Defn: A short wig with bobs or short curls; -- called also bobtail
wig. Spectator.
BOCAL
Bo"cal, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A cylindrical glass vessel, with a large and short neck.
BOCARDO
Bo*car"do, n. Etym: [A mnemonic word.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: A form of syllogism of which the first and third propositions
are particular negatives, and the middle term a universal
affirmative.
Baroko and Bocardo have been stumbling blocks to the logicians.
Bowen.
2. A prison; -- originally the name of the old north gate in Oxford,
which was used as a prison. [Eng.] Latimer.
BOCASINE
Boc"a*sine, n. Etym: [F. bocassin, boucassin.]
Defn: A sort of fine buckram.
BOCCA
Boc"ca, n. Etym: [It., mouth.]
Defn: The round hole in the furnace of a glass manufactory through
which the fused glass is taken out. Craig.
BOCE
Boce, n. Etym: [L. box, bocis, Gr. , .] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish (Box vulgaris), having a compressed body and
bright colors; -- called also box, and bogue.
BOCK BEER
Bock" beer` (. Etym: [G. bockbier; bock a buck + bier beer; -- said
to be so named from its tendency to cause the drinker to caper like a
goat.]
Defn: A strong beer, originally made in Bavaria. [Also written buck
beer.]
BOCKELET
Bock"e*let, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of long-winged hawk; -- called also bockerel, and
bockeret. [Obs.]
BOCKEY
Bock"ey, n. Etym: [D. bokaal.]
Defn: A bowl or vessel made from a gourd. [Local, New York] Bartlett.
BOCKING
Bock"ing, n.
Defn: A coarse woolen fabric, used for floor cloths, to cover
carpets, etc.; -- so called from the town of Bocking, in England,
where it was first made.
BOCKLAND
Bock"land, n.
Defn: See Bookland.
BODDICE
Bod"dice, n.
Defn: See Bodick.
BODE
Bode, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boded; p. pr. & vb. n. Boding.] Etym: [OE.
bodien, AS. bodian to announce, tell from bod command; akin to Icel.
bo to announce, Sw. båda to announce, portend. sq. root89. See Bid.]
Defn: To indicate by signs, as future events; to be the omen of; to
portend to presage; to foreshow.
A raven that bodes nothing but mischief. Goldsmith.
Good onset bodes good end. Spenser.
BODE
Bode, v. i.
Defn: To foreshow something; to augur.
Whatever now The omen proved, it boded well to you. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To forebode; foreshadow; augur; betoken.
BODE
Bode, n.
1. An omen; a foreshadowing. [Obs.]
The owl eke, that of death the bode bringeth. Chaucer.
2. A bid; an offer. [Obs. or Dial.] Sir W. Scott
BODE
Bode, n. Etym: [AS. boda; akin to OFries. boda, AS. bodo, OHG. boto.
See Bode, v. t.]
Defn: A messenger; a herald. Robertson.
BODE
Bode, n. Etym: [See Abide.]
Defn: A stop; a halting; delay. [Obs.]
BODE
Bode, imp. & p. p. from Bide.
Defn: Abode.
There that night they bode. Tennyson.
BODE
Bode, p. p.
Defn: of Bid. Bid or bidden. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BODEFUL
Bode"ful, a.
Defn: Portentous; ominous. Carlyle.
BODEMENT
Bode"ment, n.
Defn: An omen; a prognostic. [Obs.]
This foolish, dreaming, superstitious girl Makes all these bodements.
Shak.
BODGE
Bodge, n.
Defn: A botch; a patch. [Dial.] Whitlock.
BODGE
Bodge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bodged.]
Defn: To botch; to mend clumsily; to patch. [Obs. or Dial.]
BODGE
Bodge, v. i.
Defn: See Budge.
BODHISAT; BODHISATTVA; BODHISATTWA
Bo"dhi*sat, Bo`dhi*satt"va, Bo`dhi*satt"wa, n. [Skr. bodhisattva
(perh. through Pali bodhisatto); fr. bodhi knowledge, enlightenment +
sattva being, essence.] (Buddhism)
Defn: One who has reached the highest degree of saintship, so that in
his next incarnation he will be a Buddha, or savior of the world. --
Bo"dhi*sat`ship, n.
BODIAN
Bo"di*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large food fish (Diagramma lineatum), native of the East
Indies.
BODICE
Bod"ice, n. Etym: [This is properly the plural of body, Oe. bodise a
pair of bodies, equiv. to a bodice. Cf. Corset, and see Body.]
1. A kind of under waist stiffened with whalebone, etc., worn esp. by
women; a corset; stays.
2. A close-fitting outer waist or vest forming the upper part of a
woman's dress, or a portion of it.
Her bodice half way she unlaced. Prior.
BODICED
Bod"iced, a.
Defn: Wearing a bodice. Thackeray.
BODIED
Bod"ied, a.
Defn: Having a body; -- usually in composition; as, able-bodied.
A doe . . . not altogether so fat, but very good flesh and good
bodied. Hakluyt.
BODILESS
Bod"i*less, a.
1. Having no body.
2. Without material form; incorporeal.
Phantoms bodiless and vain. Swift.
BODILINESS
Bod"i*li*ness, n.
Defn: Corporeality. Minsheu.
BODILY
Bod"i*ly, a.
1. Having a body or material form; physical; corporeal; consisting of
matter.
You are a mere spirit, and have no knowledge of the bodily part of
us. Tatler.
2. Of or pertaining to the body, in distinction from the mind.
"Bodily defects." L'Estrange.
3. Real; actual; put in execution. [Obs.]
Be brought to bodily act. Shak.
Bodily fear, apprehension of physical injury.
Syn.
-- See Corporal.
BODILY
Bod"i*ly, adv.
1. Corporeally; in bodily form; united with a body or matter; in the
body.
For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Col. ii.
9
2. In respect to, or so as to affect, the entire body or mass;
entirely; all at once; completely; as, to carry away bodily. "Leapt
bodily below." Lowell.
BODING
Bod"ing, a.
Defn: Foreshowing; presaging; ominous.
-- Bod"ing*ly, adv.
BODING
Bod"ing, n.
Defn: A prognostic; an omen; a foreboding.
BODKIN
Bod"kin, n. Etym: [OE. boydekyn dagger; of uncertain origin; cf. W.
bidog hanger, short sword, Ir. bideog, Gael. biodag.]
1. A dagger. [Obs.]
When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin. Shak.
2. (Needlework)
Defn: An implement of steel, bone, ivory, etc., with a sharp point,
for making holes by piercing; a
3. (Print.)
Defn: A sharp tool, like an awl, used for picking
4. A kind of needle with a large eye and a blunt point, for drawing
tape, ribbon, etc., through a loop or a hem; a tape needle.
Wedged whole ages in a bodkin's eye. Pope.
5. A kind of pin used by women to fasten the hair. To sit, ride, or
travel bodkin, to sit closely wedged between two persons. [Colloq.]
Thackeray.
BODKIN
Bod"kin, n.
Defn: See Baudekin. [Obs.] Shirley.
BODLE
Bo"dle, n.
Defn: A small Scotch coin worth about one sixth of an English penny.
Sir W. Scott.
BODLEIAN
Bod"lei*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Sir Thomas Bodley, or to the celebrated
library at Oxford, founded by him in the sixteenth century.
BODOCK
Bo*dock", n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. bois d'arc.]
Defn: The Osage orange. [Southwestern U.S.]
BODRAGE
Bod"rage, n. Etym: [Prob. of Celtic origin: cf. Bordrage.]
Defn: A raid. [Obs.]
BOD VEAL
Bod veal.
Defn: Veal too immature to be suitable for food.
BODY
Bod"y, n.; pl. Bodies. Etym: [OE. bodi, AS. bodig; akin to OHG.
botah. sq. root257. Cf. Bodice.]
1. The material organized substance of an animal, whether living or
dead, as distinguished from the spirit, or vital principle; the
physical person.
Absent in body, but present in spirit. 1 Cor. v. 3
For of the soul the body form doth take. For soul is form, and doth
the body make. Spenser.
2. The trunk, or main part, of a person or animal, as distinguished
from the limbs and head; the main, central, or principal part, as of
a tree, army, country, etc.
Who set the body and the limbs Of this great sport together Shak.
The van of the king's army was led by the general; . . . in the body
was the king and the prince. Clarendon.
Rivers that run up into the body of Italy. Addison.
3. The real, as opposed to the symbolical; the substance, as opposed
to the shadow.
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. Col.
ii. 17.
4. A person; a human being; -- frequently in composition; as,
anybody, nobody.
A dry, shrewd kind of a body. W. Irving.
5. A number of individuals spoken of collectively, usually as united
by some common tie, or as organized for some purpose; a collective
whole or totality; a corporation; as, a legislative body; a clerical
body.
A numerous body led unresistingly to the slaughter. Prescott.
6. A number of things or particulars embodied in a system; a general
collection; as, a great body of facts; a body of laws or of divinity.
7. Any mass or portion of matter; any substance distinct from others;
as, a metallic body; a moving body; an aëriform body. "A body of cold
air." Huxley.
By collision of two bodies, grind The air attrite to fire. Milton.
8. Amount; quantity; extent.
9. That part of a garment covering the body, as distinguished from
the parts covering the limbs.
10. The bed or box of a vehicle, on or in which the load is placed;
as, a wagon body; a cart body.
11. (Print.)
Defn: The shank of a type, or the depth of the shank (by which the
size is indicated); as, a nonpareil face on an agate body.
12. (Geom.)
Defn: A figure that has length, breadth, and thickness; any solid
figure.
13. Consistency; thickness; substance; strength; as, this color has
body; wine of a good body.
Note: Colors bear a body when they are capable of being ground so
fine, and of being mixed so entirely with oil, as to seem only a very
thick oil of the same color. After body (Naut.), the part of a ship
abaft the dead flat.
-- Body cavity (Anat.), the space between the walls of the body and
the inclosed viscera; the cælum; -- in mammals, divided by the
diaphragm into thoracic and abdominal cavities.
-- Body of a church, the nave.
-- Body cloth; pl. Body cloths, a cloth or blanket for covering
horses.
-- Body clothes. (pl.)
1. Clothing for the body; esp. underclothing.
2. Body cloths for horses. [Obs.] Addison.
-- Body coat, a gentleman's dress coat.
-- Body color (Paint.), a pigment that has consistency, thickness,
or body, in distinction from a tint or wash.
-- Body of a law (Law), the main and operative part.
-- Body louse (Zoöl.), a species of louse (Pediculus vestimenti),
which sometimes infests the human body and clothes. See Grayback.
-- Body plan (Shipbuilding), an end elevation, showing the conbour
of the sides of a ship at certain points of her length.
-- Body politic, the collective body of a nation or state as
politically organized, or as exercising political functions; also, a
corporation. Wharton.
As to the persons who compose the body politic or associate
themselves, they take collectively the name of "people", or "nation".
Bouvier.
-- Body servant, a valet.
-- The bodies seven (Alchemy), the metals corresponding to the
planets. [Obs.]
Sol gold is, and Luna silver we threpe (=call), Mars yren (=iron),
Mercurie quicksilver we clepe, Saturnus lead, and Jupiter is tin, and
Venus coper. Chaucer.
-- Body snatcher, one who secretly removes without right or authority
a dead body from a grave, vault, etc.; a resurrectionist.
-- Body snatching (Law), the unauthorized removal of a dead body
from the grave; usually for the purpose of dissection.
BODY
Bod"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bodied (p. pr. & vb. n. Bodying.]
Defn: To furnish with, or as with, a body; to produce in definite
shape; to embody. To body forth, to give from or shape to mentally.
Imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown. Shak.
BODYGUARD
Bod"y*guard` (, n.
1. A guard to protect or defend the person; a lifeguard.
2. Retinue; attendance; following. Bp. Porteus.
BOEOTIAN
Boe*o"tian, a. Etym: [L. Boeotia, Gr. , noted for its moist, thick
atmosphere, and the dullness and stupidity of its inhabitants.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Boeotia; hence, stupid; dull; obtuse.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Boeotia; also, one who is dull and ignorant.
BOER
Boer, n. Etym: [D., a farmer. See Boor.]
Defn: A colonist or farmer in South Africa of Dutch descent.
BOES
Bo"es, 3d sing. pr. of Behove.
Defn: Behoves or behooves. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOG
Bog, n. Etym: [Ir. & Gael. bog soft, tender, moist: cf. Ir. bogach
bog, moor, marsh, Gael. bogan quagmire.]
1. A quagmire filled with decayed moss and other vegetable matter;
wet spongy ground where a heavy body is apt to sink; a marsh; a
morass.
Appalled with thoughts of bog, or caverned pit, Of treacherous earth,
subsiding where they tread. R. Jago.
2. A little elevated spot or clump of earth, roots, and grass, in a
marsh or swamp. [Local, U. S.] Bog bean. See Buck bean.
-- Bog bumper (bump, to make a loud noise), Bog blitter, Bog
bluiter, Bog jumper, the bittern. [Prov.] -- Bog butter, a
hydrocarbon of butterlike consistence found in the peat bogs of
Ireland.
-- Bog earth (Min.), a soil composed for the most part of silex and
partially decomposed vegetable fiber. P. Cyc.
-- Bog moss. (Bot.) Same as Sphagnum.
-- Bog myrtle (Bot.), the sweet gale.
-- Bog ore. (Min.) (a) An ore of iron found in boggy or swampy land;
a variety of brown iron ore, or limonite. (b) Bog manganese, the
hydrated peroxide of manganese.
-- Bog rush (Bot.), any rush growing in bogs; saw grass.
-- Bog spavin. See under Spavin.
BOG
Bog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Bogging.]
Defn: To sink, as into a bog; to submerge in a bog; to cause to sink
and stick, as in mud and mire.
At another time, he was bogged up to the middle in the slough of
Lochend. Sir W. Scott.
BOGBERRY
Bog"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The small cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus), which grows in boggy
places.
BOGEY
Bo"gey, n.
Defn: A goblin; a bugbear. See Bogy.
BOGGARD
Bog"gard, n.
Defn: A bogey. [Local, Eng.]
BOGGLE
Bog"gle, v. i. [imp & p. p. Boggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Boggling.] Etym:
[ See Bogle, n.]
1. To stop or hesitate as if suddenly frightened, or in doubt, or
impeded by unforeseen difficulties; to take alarm; to exhibit
hesitancy and indecision.
We start and boggle at every unusual appearance. Glanvill.
Boggling at nothing which serveth their purpose. Barrow.
2. To do anything awkwardly or unskillfully.
3. To play fast and loose; to dissemble. Howell.
Syn.
-- To doubt; hesitate; shrink; stickle; demur.
BOGGLE
Bog"gle, v. t.
Defn: To embarrass with difficulties; to make a bungle or botch of.
[Local, U. S.]
BOGGLER
Bog"gler, n.
Defn: One who boggles.
BOGGLISH
Bog"glish, a.
Defn: Doubtful; skittish. [Obs.]
BOGGY
Bog"gy, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, a bog or bogs; of the nature of a
bog; swampy; as, boggy land.
BOGIE
Bo"gie, n. [A dialectic word. N. of Eng. & Scot.]
Defn: A four-wheeled truck, having a certain amount of play around a
vertical axis, used to support in part a locomotive on a railway
track.
BOGIE ENGINE
Bo"gie en"gine. (Railroads)
Defn: A switching engine the running gear and driving gear of which
are on a bogie, or truck.
BOGLE
Bo"gle, n. Etym: [Scot. and North Eng. bogle, bogill, bugill,
specter; as a verb, to terrify, fr. W. bwgwl threatening, fear, bwg,
bwgan, specter, hobgoblin. Cf. Bug.]
Defn: A goblin; a specter; a frightful phantom; a bogy; a bugbear.
[Written also boggle.]
BOGSUCKER
Bog"suck`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American woodcock; -- so called from its feeding among the
bogs.
BOGTROTTER
Bog"trot`ter, n.
Defn: One who lives in a boggy country; -- applied in derision to the
lowest class of Irish. Halliwell.
BOGTROTTING
Bog"trot`ting, a.
Defn: Living among bogs.
BOGUE
Bogue, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To fall off from the wind; to edge away to leeward; -- said
only of inferior craft.
BOGUE
Bogue, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The boce; -- called also bogue bream. See Boce.
BOGUS
Bo"gus, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Spurious; fictitious; sham; -- a cant term originally applied
to counterfeit coin, and hence denoting anything counterfeit.
[Colloq. U. S.]
BOGUS
Bo"gus, n.
Defn: A liquor made of rum and molasses. [Local, U. S.] Bartlett.
BOGWOOD
Bog"wood`, n.
Defn: The wood of trees, esp. of oaks, dug up from peat bogs. It is
of a shining black or ebony color, and is largely used for making
ornaments.
BOGY
Bo"gy, n.; pl. Bogies. Etym: [See Bogle.]
Defn: A specter; a hobgoblin; a bugbear. "Death's heads and bogies."
J. H. Newman. [Written also bogey.]
There are plenty of such foolish attempts at playing bogy in the
history of savages. C. Kingsley.
BOHEA
Bo*hea", n. Etym: [From Wu-i, pronounced by the Chinese bu-i, the
name of the hills where this kind of tea is grown.]
Defn: Bohea tea, an inferior kind of black tea. See under Tea.
Note: The name was formerly applied to superior kinds of black tea,
or to black tea in general.
BOHEMIA
Bo*he"mi*a, n.
1. A country of central Europe.
2. Fig.: The region or community of social Bohemians. See Bohemian,
n., 3.
She knew every one who was any one in the land of Bohemia. Compton
Reade.
BOHEMIAN
Bo*he"mi*an, a.
1. Of or pertaining to Bohemia, or to the language of its ancient
inhabitants or their descendants. See Bohemian, n., 2.
2. Of or pertaining to a social gypsy or "Bohemian" (see Bohemian,
n., 3); vagabond; unconventional; free and easy. [Modern]
Hers was a pleasant Bohemian life till she was five and thirty.
Blackw. Mag.
Artists have abandoned their Bohemian manners and customs nowadays.
W. Black.
Bohemian chatterer, or Bohemian waxwing (Zoöl.), a small bird of
Europe and America (Ampelis garrulus); the waxwing.
-- Bohemian glass, a variety of hard glass of fine quality, made in
Bohemia. It is of variable composition, containing usually silica,
lime, and potash, rarely soda, but no lead. It is often remarkable
for beauty of color.
BOHEMIAN
Bo*he"mi*an, n.
1. A native of Bohemia.
2. The language of the Czechs (the ancient inhabitants of Bohemia),
the richest and most developed of the dialects of the Slavic family.
3. A restless vagabond; -- originally, an idle stroller or gypsy (as
in France) thought to have come from Bohemia; in later times often
applied to an adventurer in art or literature, of irregular,
unconventional habits, questionable tastes, or free morals. [Modern]
Note: In this sense from the French bohémien, a gypsy; also, a person
of irregular habits.
She was of a wild, roving nature, inherited from father and mother,
who were both Bohemians by taste and circumstances. Thackeray.
BOHEMIANISM
Bo*he"mi*an*ism, n.
Defn: The characteristic conduct or methods of a Bohemian. [Modern]
BOHUN UPAS
Bo"hun u"pas.
Defn: See Upas.
BOIAR
Bo*iar", n.
Defn: See Boyar.
BOIL
Boil, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Boiling.] Etym:
[OE. boilen, OF. boilir, builir, F. bouillir, fr. L. bullire to be in
a bubbling motion, from bulla bubble; akin to Gr. , Lith. bumbuls.
Cf. Bull an edict, Budge, v., and Ebullition.]
1. To be agitated, or tumultuously moved, as a liquid by the
generation and rising of bubbles of steam (or vapor), or of currents
produced by heating it to the boiling point; to be in a state of
ebullition; as, the water boils.
2. To be agitated like boiling water, by any other cause than heat;
to bubble; to effervesce; as, the boiling waves.
He maketh the deep to boil like a pot. Job xii. 31.
3. To pass from a liquid to an aëriform state or vapor when heated;
as, the water boils away.
4. To be moved or excited with passion; to be hot or fervid; as, his
blood boils with anger.
Then boiled my breast with flame and burning wrath. Surrey.
5. To be in boiling water, as in cooking; as, the potatoes are
boiling. To boil away, to vaporize; to evaporate or be evaporated by
the action of heat.
-- To boil over, to run over the top of a vessel, as liquid when
thrown into violent agitation by heat or other cause of
effervescence; to be excited with ardor or passion so as to lose
self-control.
BOIL
Boil, v. t.
1. To heat to the boiling point, or so as to cause ebullition; as, to
boil water.
2. To form, or separate, by boiling or evaporation; as, to boil sugar
or salt.
3. To subject to the action of heat in a boiling liquid so as to
produce some specific effect, as cooking, cleansing, etc.; as, to
boil meat; to boil clothes.
The stomach cook is for the hall, And boileth meate for them all.
Gower.
4. To steep or soak in warm water. [Obs.]
To try whether seeds be old or new, the sense can not inform; but if
you boil them in water, the new seeds will sprout sooner. Bacon.
To boil down, to reduce in bulk by boiling; as, to boil down sap or
sirup.
BOIL
Boil, n.
Defn: Act or state of boiling. [Colloq.]
BOIL
Boil, n. Etym: [Influenced by boil, v. See Beal, Bile.]
Defn: A hard, painful, inflamed tumor, which, on suppuration,
discharges pus, mixed with blood, and discloses a small fibrous mass
of dead tissue, called the core. A blind boil, one that suppurates
imperfectly, or fails to come to a head.
-- Delhi boil (Med.), a peculiar affection of the skin, probably
parasitic in origin, prevailing in India (as among the British
troops) and especially at Delhi.
BOILARY
Boil"a*ry, n.
Defn: See Boilery.
BOILED
Boiled, a.
Defn: Dressed or cooked by boiling; subjected to the action of a
boiling liquid; as, boiled meat; a boiled dinner; boiled clothes.
BOILER
Boil"er, n.
1. One who boils.
2. A vessel in which any thing is boiled.
Note: The word boiler is a generic term covering a great variety of
kettles, saucepans, clothes boilers, evaporators, coppers, retorts,
etc.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A strong metallic vessel, usually of wrought iron plates
riveted together, or a composite structure variously formed, in which
steam is generated for driving engines, or for heating, cooking, or
other purposes.
Note: The earliest steam boilers were usually spheres or sections of
spheres, heated wholly from the outside. Watt used the wagon boiler
(shaped like the top of a covered wagon) which is still used with low
pressures. Most of the boilers in present use may be classified as
plain cylinder boilers, flue boilers, sectional and tubular boilers.
Barrel of a boiler, the cylindrical part containing the flues.
-- Boiler plate, Boiler iron, plate or rolled iron of about a
quarter to a half inch in thickness, used for making boilers and
tanks, for covering ships, etc.
-- Cylinder boiler, one which consists of a single iron cylinder.
-- Flue boilers are usually single shells containing a small number
of large flues, through which the heat either passes from the fire or
returns to the chimney, and sometimes containing a fire box inclosed
by water.
-- Locomotive boiler, a boiler which contains an inclosed fire box
and a large number of small flues leading to the chimney.
-- Multiflue boiler. Same as Tubular boiler, below.
-- Sectional boiler, a boiler composed of a number of sections,
which are usually of small capacity and similar to, and connected
with, each other. By multiplication of the sections a boiler of any
desired capacity can be built up.
-- Tubular boiler, a boiler containing tubes which form flues, and
are surrounded by the water contained in the boiler. See Illust. of
Steam boiler, under Steam.
-- Tubulous boiler. See under Tubulous. See Tube, n., 6, and 1st
Flue.
BOILERY
Boil"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bouillerie.]
Defn: A place and apparatus for boiling, as for evaporating brine in
salt making.
BOILING
Boil"ing, a.
Defn: Heated to the point of bubbling; heaving with bubbles; in
tumultuous agitation, as boiling liquid; surging; seething; swelling
with heat, ardor, or passion. Boiling point, the temperature at which
a fluid is converted into vapor, with the phenomena of ebullition.
This is different for different liquids, and for the same liquid
under different pressures. For water, at the level of the sea,
barometer 30 in., it is 212 º Fahrenheit; for alcohol, 172.96º; for
ether, 94.8º; for mercury, about 675º. The boiling point of water is
lowered one degree Fahrenheit for about 550 feet of ascent above the
level of the sea.
-- Boiling spring, a spring which gives out very hot water, or water
and steam, often ejecting it with much force; a geyser.
-- To be at the boiling point, to be very angry.
-- To keep the pot boiling, to keep going on actively, as in certain
games. [Colloq.]
BOILING
Boil"ing, n.
1. The act of ebullition or of tumultuous agitation.
2. Exposure to the action of a hot liquid.
BOILINGLY
Boil"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With boiling or ebullition.
And lakes of bitumen rise boiling higher. Byron.
BOIS D'ARC
Bois" d'arc". Etym: [F., bow wood. So called because used for bows by
the Western Indians.] (Bot.)
Defn: The Osage orange (Maclura aurantiaca).
The bois d'arc seems to be the characteristic growth of the black
prairies. U. S. Census (1880).
BOIS DURCI
Bois" dur`ci". Etym: [F., hardened wood.]
Defn: A hard, highly polishable composition, made of fine sawdust
from hard wood (as rosewood) mixed with blood, and pressed.
BOIST
Boist, n. Etym: [OF. boiste, F. boîte, from the same root as E. box.]
Defn: A box. [Obs.]
BOISTEROUS
Bois"ter*ous, a. Etym: [OE. boistous; of uncertain origin; cf. W.
bwyst wild, savage, wildness, ferocity, bwystus ferocious.]
1. Rough or rude; unbending; unyielding; strong; powerful. [Obs.]
"Boisterous sword." "Boisterous hand." Shak.
2. Exhibiting tumultuous violence and fury; acting with noisy
turbulence; violent; rough; stormy.
The waters swell before a boisterous storm. Shak.
The brute and boisterous force of violent men. Milton.
3. Noisy; rough; turbulent; as, boisterous mirth; boisterous
behavior.
I like not that loud, boisterous man. Addison.
4. Vehement; excessive. [R.]
The heat becomes too powerful and boisterous for them. Woodward.
Syn.
-- Loud; roaring; violent; stormy; turbulent; furious; tumultuous;
noisy; impetuous; vehement.
BOISTEROUSLY
Bois"ter*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a boisterous manner.
BOISTEROUSNESS
Bois"ter*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being boisterous; turbulence; disorder;
tumultuousness.
BOISTOUS
Bois"tous, a.
Defn: Rough or rude; coarse; strong; violent; boisterous; noisy.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
-- Bois"tous*ly, adv.
-- Bois"tous*ness, n. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOJANUS ORGAN
Bo*ja"nus or"gan. Etym: [From Bojanus, the discoverer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A glandular organ of bivalve mollusca, serving in part as a
kidney.
BOKADAM
Bo"ka*dam`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cerberus.
BOKE
Boke, v. t. & i.
Defn: To poke; to thrust. [Obs. or Dial.]
BOLAR
Bo"lar, a. Etym: [See Bole clay.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to bole or clay; partaking of the nature and
qualities of bole; clayey.
BOLAS
Bo"las, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A kind of missile weapon consisting of one, two, or more balls
of stone, iron, or other material, attached to the ends of a leather
cord; -- used by the Gauchos of South America, and others, for
hurling at and entangling an animal.
BOLD
Bold, a. Etym: [OE. bald, bold, AS. bald, beald; akin to Icel. ballr,
OHG. bald, MHG. balt, D. boud, Goth. bal boldness, It. baldo. In Ger.
there remains only bald, adv. soon. Cf. Bawd, n.]
1. Forward to meet danger; venturesome; daring; not timorous or
shrinking from risk; brave; courageous.
Throngs of knights and barons bold. Milton.
2. Exhibiting or requiring spirit and contempt of danger; planned
with courage; daring; vigorous. "The bold design leased highly."
Milton.
3. In a bad sense, too forward; taking undue liberties; over assuming
or confident; lacking proper modesty or restraint; rude; impudent.
Thou art too wild, too rude and bold of voice. Shak.
4. Somewhat overstepping usual bounds, or conventional rules, as in
art, literature, etc.; taking liberties in o composition or
expression; as, the figures of an author are bold. "Bold tales."
Waller.
The cathedral church is a very bold work. Addison.
5. Standing prominently out to view; markedly conspicuous; striking
the eye; in high relief.
Shadows in painting . . . make the figure bolder. Dryden.
6. Steep; abrupt; prominent.
Where the bold cape its warning forehead rears. Trumbull.
BOLD
Bold, v. t.
Defn: To make bold or daring. [Obs.] Shak.
BOLD
Bold, v. i.
Defn: To be or become bold. [Obs.]
BOLD EAGLE
Bold eagle, (Zoöl.)
Defn: an Australian eagle (Aquila audax), which destroys lambs and
even the kangaroo.
-- To make bold, to take liberties or the liberty; to venture.
Syn.
-- Courageous; daring; brave; intrepid; fearless; dauntless;
valiant; manful; audacious; stouthearted; high-spirited; adventurous;
confident; strenuous; forward; impudent.
BOLDEN
Bold"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boldened. ]
Defn: To make bold; to encourage; to embolden.
Ready speakers, being boldened with their present abilities to say
more, . . . use less help of diligence and study. Ascham.
BOLD-FACED
Bold"-faced` (, a.
1. Somewhat impudent; lacking modesty; as, a bold-faced woman.
I have seen enough to confute all the bold-faced atheists of this
age. Bramhall.
2. (Print.)
Defn: Having a conspicuous or heavy face.
Note: This line is bold-faced nonpareil.
BOLDLY
Bold"ly, adv. Etym: [AS. bealdlice.]
Defn: In a bold manner.
BOLDNESS
Bold"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being bold.
Syn.
-- Courage; bravery; intrepidity; dauntlessness; hardihood;
assurance.
BOLDO; BOLDU
Bol"do, Bol"du, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fragrant evergreen shrub of Chili (Peumus Boldus). The bark
is used in tanning, the wood for making charcoal, the leaves in
medicine, and the drupes are eaten.
BOLE
Bole, n. Etym: [OE. bole, fr. Icel. bolr; akin to Sw. bål, Dan. bul,
trunk, stem of a tree, G. bohle a thick plank or board; cf. LG. boll
round. Cf. Bulge.]
Defn: The trunk or stem of a tree, or that which is like it.
Enormous elm-tree boles did stoop and lean. Tennyson.
BOLE
Bole, n. Etym: [Etym. doubtful.]
Defn: An aperture, with a wooden shutter, in the wall of a house, for
giving, occasionally, air or light; also, a small closet. [Scot.]
Open the bole wi'speed, that I may see if this be the right Lord
Geraldin. Sir W. Scott.
BOLE
Bole, n.
Defn: A measure. See Boll, n., 2. Mortimer.
BOLE
Bole, n. Etym: [Gr. a clod or lump of earth: cf. F. bol, and also L.
bolus morsel. Cf. Bolus.]
1. Any one of several varieties of friable earthy clay, usually
colored more or less strongly red by oxide of iron, and used to color
and adulterate various substances. It was formerly used in medicine.
It is composed essentially of hydrous silicates of alumina, or more
rarely of magnesia. See Clay, and Terra alba.
2. A bolus; a dose. Coleridge. Armenian bole. See under Armenian.
-- Bole Armoniac, or Armoniak, Armenian bole. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOLECTION
Bo*lec"tion, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting molding round a panel. Same as Bilection. Gwilt.
BOLERO
Bo*le"ro, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Mus.)
Defn: A Spanish dance, or the lively music which accompanies it.
BOLETE
bolete n.
Defn: any fungus of the family Boletaceae.
[WordNet 1.5]
BOLETIC
Bo*let"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the Boletus. Boletic acid, an
acid obtained from the Boletus fomentarius, variety pseudo-igniarius.
Same as Fumaric acid.
BOLETUS
Bo*le"tus, n. Etym: [L. boletus, Gr. .] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of fungi having the under side of the pileus or cap
composed of a multitude of fine separate tubes. A few are edible, and
others very poisonous.
BOLEY; BOLYE
Bo"ley, Bo"lye, n.
Defn: Same as Booly.
BOLIDE
Bo"lide, n. Etym: [F. See Bolis.]
Defn: A kind of meteor; a bolis.
BOLIS
Bo"lis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. missile, arrow, fr. to throw.]
Defn: A meteor or brilliant shooting star, followed by a train of
light or sparks; esp. one which explodes.
BOLIVIAN
Bo*liv"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bolivia.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Bolivia.
BOLL
Boll, n. Etym: [OE. bolle boll, bowl, AS. bolla. See Bowl a vessel.]
1. The pod or capsule of a plant, as of flax or cotton; a pericarp of
a globular form.
2. A Scotch measure, formerly in use: for wheat and beans it
contained four Winchester bushels; for oats, barley, and potatoes,
six bushels. A boll of meal is 140 lbs. avoirdupois. Also, a measure
for salt of two bushels. [Sometimes spelled bole.]
BOLL
Boll, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bolled.]
Defn: To form a boll or seed vessel; to go to seed.
The barley was in the ear, and the flax was bolled. Ex. ix. 31.
BOLLANDISTS
Bol"land*ists, n. pl.
Defn: The Jesuit editors of the "Acta Sanctorum", or Lives of the
Saints; -- named from John Bolland, who began the work.
BOLLARD
Bol"lard, n. Etym: [Cf. Bole the stem of a tree, and Pollard.]
Defn: An upright wooden or iron post in a boat or on a dock, used in
veering or fastening ropes. Bollard timber (Naut.), a timber, also
called a knighthead, rising just within the stem in a ship, on either
side of the bowsprit, to secure its end.
BOLLEN
Boll"en, a.
Defn: See Boln, a.
BOLLING
Boll"ing, n. Etym: [Cf. Bole stem of a tree, and Poll, v. t.]
Defn: A tree from which the branches have been cut; a pollard.
BOLLWORM
Boll"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of a moth (Heliothis armigera) which devours the
bolls or unripe pods of the cotton plant, often doing great damage to
the crops.
BOLN
Boln, v. i. Etym: [OE. bolnen, bollen; cf. Dan. bulne. Cf. Bulge.]
Defn: To swell; to puff. Holland.
BOLN; BOLLEN
Boln, Boll"en, a.
Defn: Swollen; puffed out.
Thin, and boln out like a sail. B. Jonson.
BOLO
Bo"lo, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A kind of large knife resembling a machete. [Phil. Islands]
BOLOGNA
Bo*lo"gna, n.
1. A city of Italy which has given its name to various objects.
2. A Bologna sausage. Bologna sausage Etym: [It. salsiccia di
Bologna], a large sausage made of bacon or ham, veal, and pork,
chopped fine and inclosed in a skin.
-- Bologna stone (Min.), radiated barite, or barium sulphate, found
in roundish masses composed of radiating fibers, first discovered
near Bologna. It is phosphorescent when calcined.
-- Bologna vial, a vial of unannealed glass which will fly into
pieces when its surface is scratched by a hard body, as by dropping
into it a fragment of flint; whereas a bullet may be dropped into it
without injury.
BOLOGNESE
Bo*lo`gnese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bologna.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Bologna. Bolognese school (Paint.), a school of
painting founded by the Carracci, otherwise called the Lombard or
Eclectic school, the object of which was to unite the excellences of
the preceding schools.
BOLOGNIAN
Bo*lo"gnian, a. & n.
Defn: Bolognese. Bolognian stone. See Bologna stone, under Bologna.
BOLOMETER
Bo*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. a stroke, ray + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring minute quantities of radiant heat,
especially in different parts of the spectrum; -- called also actinic
balance, thermic balance. S. P. Langley.
BOLSA
Bol"sa, n. [Sp., lit., purse. See Bourse.]
Defn: An exchange for the transaction of business. [Sp. Amer. & Phil.
Islands]
BOLSTER
Bol"ster, n. Etym: [AS. bolster; akin to Icel. b, Sw. & Dan. bolster,
OHG. bolstar, polstar, G. polster; from the same root as E. bole
stem, bowl hollow vessel. Cf. Bulge, Poltroon.]
1. A long pillow or cushion, used to support the head of a person
lying on a bed; -- generally laid under the pillows.
And here I'll fling the pillow, there the bolster, This way the
coverlet, another way the sheets. Shak.
2. A pad, quilt, or anything used to hinder pressure, support any
part of the body, or make a bandage sit easy upon a wounded part; a
compress.
This arm shall be a bolster for thy head. Gay.
3. Anything arranged to act as a support, as in various forms of
mechanism, etc.
4. (Saddlery)
Defn: A cushioned or a piece part of a saddle.
5. (Naut.)
(a) A cushioned or a piece of soft wood covered with tarred canvas,
placed on the trestletrees and against the mast, for the collars of
the shrouds to rest on, to prevent chafing.
(b) Anything used to prevent chafing.
6. A plate of iron or a mass of wood under the end of a bridge
girder, to keep the girder from resting directly on the abutment.
7. A transverse bar above the axle of a wagon, on which the bed or
body rests.
8. The crossbeam forming the bearing piece of the body of a railway
car; the central and principal cross beam of a car truck.
9. (Mech.)
Defn: the perforated plate in a punching machine on which anything
rests when being punched.
10. (Cutlery)
(a) That part of a knife blade which abuts upon the end of the
handle.
(b) The metallic end of a pocketknife handle. G. Francis.
11. (Arch.)
Defn: The rolls forming the ends or sides of the Ionic capital. G.
Francis.
12. (Mil.)
Defn: A block of wood on the carriage of a siege gun, upon which the
breech of the gun rests when arranged for transportation.
Note: [See Illust. of Gun carriage.] Bolster work (Arch.), members
which are bellied or curved outward like cushions, as in friezes of
certain classical styles.
BOLSTER
Bol"ster, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bolstered (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bolstering.]
1. To support with a bolster or pillow. S. Sharp.
2. To support, hold up, or maintain with difficulty or unusual
effort; -- often with up.
To bolster baseness. Drayton.
Shoddy inventions designed to bolster up a factitious pride. Compton
Reade.
BOLSTERED
Bol"stered, a.
1. Supported; upheld.
2. Swelled out.
BOLSTERER
Bol"ster*er, n.
Defn: A supporter.
BOLT
Bolt, n. Etym: [AS. bolt; akin to Icel. bolti, Dan. bolt, D. bout,
OHG. bolz, G. bolz, bolzen; of uncertain origin.]
1. A shaft or missile intended to be shot from a crossbow or
catapult, esp. a short, stout, blunt-headed arrow; a quarrel; an
arrow, or that which resembles an arrow; a dart.
Look that the crossbowmen lack not bolts. Sir W. Scott.
A fool's bolt is soon shot. Shak.
2. Lightning; a thunderbolt.
3. A strong pin, of iron or other material, used to fasten or hold
something in place, often having a head at one end and screw thread
cut upon the other end.
4. A sliding catch, or fastening, as for a door or gate; the portion
of a lock which is shot or withdrawn by the action of the key.
5. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.
[Obs.]
Away with him to prison! lay bolts enough upon him. Shak.
6. A compact package or roll of cloth, as of canvas or silk, often
containing about forty yards.
7. A bundle, as of oziers. Bolt auger, an auger of large size; an
auger to make holes for the bolts used by shipwrights.
-- Bolt and nut, a metallic pin with a head formed upon one end, and
a movable piece (the nut) screwed upon a thread cut upon the other
end. See B, C, and D, in illust. above.
Note: See Tap bolt, Screw bolt, and Stud bolt.
BOLT
Bolt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting.]
1. To shoot; to discharge or drive forth.
2. To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.
I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments. Milton.
3. To swallow without chewing; as, to bolt food.
4. (U. S. Politics)
Defn: To refuse to support, as a nomination made by a party to which
one has belonged or by a caucus in which one has taken part.
5. (Sporting)
Defn: To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge, as conies,
rabbits, etc.
6. To fasten or secure with, or as with, a bolt or bolts, as a door,
a timber, fetters; to shackle; to restrain.
Let tenfold iron bolt my door. Langhorn.
Which shackles accidents and bolts up change. Shak.
BOLT
Bolt, v. i.
1. To start forth like a bolt or arrow; to spring abruptly; to come
or go suddenly; to dart; as, to bolt out of the room.
This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, . . . And oft out of a bush doth
bolt. Drayton.
2. To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads. Milton.
3. To spring suddenly aside, or out of the regular path; as, the
horse bolted.
4. (U.S. Politics)
Defn: To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or a caucus
with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.
BOLT
Bolt, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a bolt; suddenly; straight; unbendingly.
[He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon. Thackeray.
Bolt upright. (a) Perfectly upright; perpendicular; straight up;
unbendingly erect. Addison. (b) On the back at full length. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
BOLT
Bolt, n. Etym: [From Bolt, v. i.]
1. A sudden spring or start; a sudden spring aside; as, the horse
made a bolt.
2. A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.
This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt
to America -- or anywhere. Compton Reade.
3. (U. S. Politics)
Defn: A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which
one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.
BOLT
Bolt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bolted; p. pr. & vb. n. Bolting.] Etym:
[OE. bolten, boulten, OF. buleter, F. bluter, fr. Ll. buletare,
buratare, cf. F. bure coarse woolen stuff; fr. L. burrus red. See
Borrel, and cf. Bultel.]
1. To sift or separate the coarser from the finer particles of, as
bran from flour, by means of a bolter; to separate, assort, refine,
or purify by other means.
He now had bolted all the flour. Spenser.
Ill schooled in bolted language. Shak.
2. To separate, as if by sifting or bolting; -- with out.
Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things. L'Estrange.
3. (Law)
Defn: To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at
law. Jacob. To bolt to the bran, to examine thoroughly, so as to
separate or discover everything important. Chaucer.
This bolts the matter fairly to the bran. Harte.
The report of the committee was examined and sifted and bolted to the
bran. Burke.
BOLT
Bolt, n.
Defn: A sieve, esp. a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting
flour and meal; a bolter. B. Jonson.
BOLTEL
Bol"tel, n.
Defn: See Boultel.
BOLTER
Bolt"er, n.
Defn: One who bolts; esp.: (a) A horse which starts suddenly aside.
(b) A man who breaks away from his party.
BOLTER
Bolt"er, n.
1. One who sifts flour or meal.
2. An instrument or machine for separating bran from flour, or the
coarser part of meal from the finer; a sieve.
BOLTER
Bolt"er, n.
Defn: A kind of fishing line. See Boulter.
BOLTHEAD
Bolt"head` (, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A long, straightnecked, glass vessel for chemical
distillations; -- called also a matrass or receiver.
2. The head of a bolt.
BOLTING
Bolt"ing, n.
Defn: A darting away; a starting off or aside.
BOLTING
Bolt"ing, n.
1. A sifting, as of flour or meal.
2. (Law)
Defn: A private arguing of cases for practice by students, as in the
Inns of Court. [Obs.] Bolting cloth, wire, hair, silk, or other sieve
cloth of different degrees of fineness; -- used by millers for
sifting flour. McElrath.
-- Bolting hutch, a bin or tub for the bolted flour or meal; (fig.)
a receptacle.
BOLTONITE
Bol"ton*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A granular mineral of a grayish or yellowish color, found in
Bolton, Massachusetts. It is a silicate of magnesium, belonging to
the chrysolite family.
BOLTROPE
Bolt"rope` (, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope stitched to the edges of a sail to strengthen the sail.
BOLTSPRIT
Bolt"sprit` (, n. Etym: [A corruption of bowsprit.] (Naut.)
Defn: See Bowsprit.
BOLTY
Bol"ty, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edible fish of the Nile (genus Chromis). [Written also
bulti.]
BOLUS
Bo"lus, n.; pl. Boluses. Etym: [L. bolus bit, morsel; cf. G. lump of
earth. See Bole, n., clay.]
Defn: A rounded mass of anything, esp. a large pill.
BOM
Bom, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large American serpent, so called from the sound it makes.
BOMB
Bomb, n. Etym: [F. bombe bombshell, fr. L. bombus a humming or
buzzing noise, Gr. .]
1. A great noise; a hollow sound. [Obs.]
A pillar of iron . . . which if you had struck, would make . . . a
great bomb in the chamber beneath. Bacon.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A shell; esp. a spherical shell, like those fired from mortars.
See Shell.
3. A bomb ketch. Bomb chest (Mil.), a chest filled with bombs, or
only with gunpowder, placed under ground, to cause destruction by its
explosion.
-- Bomb ketch, Bomb vessel (Naut.), a small ketch or vessel, very
strongly built, on which mortars are mounted to be used in naval
bombardments; -- called also mortar vessel.
-- Bomb lance, a lance or harpoon with an explosive head, used in
whale fishing.
-- Volcanic bomb, a mass of lava of a spherical or pear shape. "I
noticed volcanic bombs." Darwin.
BOMB
Bomb, v. t.
Defn: To bombard. [Obs.] Prior.
BOMB
Bomb, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Boom.]
Defn: To sound; to boom; to make a humming or buzzing sound. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
BOMBACE
Bom"bace, n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: Cotton; padding. [Obs.]
BOMBARD
Bom"bard, n. Etym: [F. bombarde, LL. bombarda, fr. L. bombus + -ard.
Cf. Bumper, and see Bomb.]
1. (Gun.)
Defn: A piece of heavy ordnance formerly used for throwing stones and
other ponderous missiles. It was the earliest kind of cannon.
They planted in divers places twelve great bombards, wherewith they
threw huge stones into the air, which, falling down into the city,
might break down the houses. Knolles.
2. A bombardment. [Poetic & R.] J. Barlow.
3. A large drinking vessel or can, or a leather bottle, for carrying
liquor or beer. [Obs.]
Yond same black cloud, yond huge one, looks like a foul bombard that
would shed his liquor. Shak.
4. pl.
Defn: Padded breeches. [Obs.] Bombard phrase, inflated language;
bombast. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BOMBARD
Bom"bard, n. Etym: [OE. bombarde, fr. F. bombarde.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Bombardo. [Obs.]
BOMBARD
Bom*bard", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bombarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bombarding.]
Defn: To attack with bombards or with artillery; especially, to throw
shells, hot shot, etc., at or into.
Next, she means to bombard Naples. Burke.
His fleet bombarded and burnt down Dieppe. Wood.
BOMBARDIER
Bom`bar*dier", n. Etym: [F. bombardier.] (Mil.)
(a) One who used or managed a bombard; an artilleryman; a gunner.
[Archaic]
(b) A noncommissioned officer in the British artillery. Bombardier
beetle (Zoöl.), a kind of beetle (Brachinus crepitans), so called
because, when disturbed, it makes an explosive discharge of a pungent
and acrid vapor from its anal glands. The name is applied to other
related species, as the B. displosor, which can produce ten or twelve
explosions successively. The common American species is B. fumans.
BOMBARDMAN
Bom"bard*man, n.
Defn: One who carried liquor or beer in a can or bombard. [Obs.]
They . . . made room for a bombardman that brought bouge for a
country lady. B. Jonson.
BOMBARDMENT
Bom*bard"ment, n. Etym: [F. bombardement.]
Defn: An attack upon a fortress or fortified town, with shells, hot
shot, rockets, etc.; the act of throwing bombs and shot into a town
or fortified place.
BOMBARDO; BOMBARDON
Bom*bar"do, Bom*bar"don, n. Etym: [It. bombardo.] (Mus.)
Defn: Originally, a deep-toned instrument of the oboe or bassoon
family; thence, a bass reed stop on the organ. The name bombardon is
now given to a brass instrument, the lowest of the saxhorns, in tone
resembling the ophicleide. Grove.
BOMBASINE
Bom`ba*sine", n.
Defn: Same as Bombazine.
BOMBAST
Bom"bast, n. Etym: [OF. bombace cotton, LL. bombax cotton, bombasium
a doublet of cotton; hence, padding, wadding, fustian. See
Bombazine.]
1. Originally, cotton, or cotton wool. [Obs.]
A candle with a wick of bombast. Lupton.
2. Cotton, or any soft, fibrous material, used as stuffing for
garments; stuffing; padding. [Obs.]
How now, my sweet creature of bombast! Shak.
Doublets, stuffed with four, five, or six pounds of bombast at least.
Stubbes.
3. Fig.: High-sounding words; an inflated style; language above the
dignity of the occasion; fustian.
Yet noisy bombast carefully avoid. Dryden.
BOMBAST
Bom"bast, a.
Defn: High-sounding; inflated; big without meaning; magniloquent;
bombastic.
[He] evades them with a bombast circumstance,
Horribly stuffed with epithets of war. Shak.
Nor a tall metaphor in bombast way. Cowley.
BOMBAST
Bom*bast", v. t.
Defn: To swell or fill out; to pad; to inflate. [Obs.]
Not bombasted with words vain ticklish ears to feed. Drayton.
BOMBASTIC; BOMBASTICAL
Bom*bas"tic, Bom*bas"tic*al, a.
Defn: Characterized by bombast; highsounding; inflated.
-- Bom*bas"tic*al*ly, adv.
A theatrical, bombastic, windy phraseology. Burke.
Syn.
-- Turgid; tumid; pompous; grandiloquent.
BOMBASTRY
Bom"bast*ry, n.
Defn: Swelling words without much meaning; bombastic language;
fustian.
Bombastry and buffoonery, by nature lofty and light, soar highest of
all. Swift.
BOMBAX
Bom"bax, n. Etym: [LL., cotton. See Bombast, n.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees, called also the silkcotton tree; also, a tree
of the genus Bombax.
BOMBAZET; BOMBAZETTE
Bom`ba*zet" Bom`ba*zette", n. Etym: [Cf. Bombazine.]
Defn: A sort of thin woolen cloth. It is of various colors, and may
be plain or twilled.
BOMBAZINE
Bom`ba*zine", n. Etym: [F. bombasin, LL. bombacinium, bambacinium, L.
bombycinus silken, bombycinum a silk or cotton texture, fr. bombyx
silk, silkworm, Gr. . Cf. Bombast, Bombycinous.]
Defn: A twilled fabric for dresses, of which the warp is silk, and
the weft worsted. Black bombazine has been much used for mourning
garments. [Sometimes spelt bombasin, and bombasine.] Tomlinson.
BOMBIC
Bom"bic, a. Etym: [L. bombyx silk, silkworm: cf. F. bombique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the silkworm; as, bombic acid.
BOMBILATE
Bom"bi*late, v. i. Etym: [LL. bombilare, for L. bombitare. See Bomb,
n.]
Defn: To hum; to buzz. [R.]
BOMBILATION
Bom`bi*la"tion, n.
Defn: A humming sound; a booming.
To . . . silence the bombilation of guns. Sir T. Browne.
BOMBINATE
Bom"bi*nate, v. i.
Defn: To hum; to boom.
BOMBINATION
Bom`bi*na"tion, n.
Defn: A humming or buzzing.
BOMBOLO
Bom"bo*lo, n.; pl. Bomboloes. Etym: [Cf. It bombola a pitcher.]
Defn: A thin spheroidal glass retort or flask, used in the
sublimation of camphor. [Written also bumbelo, and bumbolo.]
BOMBPROOF
Bomb"proof`, a.
Defn: Secure against the explosive force of bombs.
-- n.
Defn: A structure which heavy shot and shell will not penetrate.
BOMBSHELL
Bomb"shell` (, n.
Defn: A bomb. See Bomb, n.
BOMBYCID
Bom*by"cid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Bombyx, or the family
Bombycidæ.
BOMBYCINOUS
Bom*byc"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. bombycinus. See Bombazine.]
1. Silken; made of silk. [Obs.] Coles.
2. Being of the color of the silkworm; transparent with a yellow
tint. E. Darwin.
BOMBYLIOUS
Bom*byl"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. bombylius a bumblebee, Gr. .]
Defn: Buzzing, like a bumblebee; as, the bombylious noise of the
horse fly. [Obs.] Derham.
BOMBYX
Bom"byx, n. Etym: [L., silkworm. See Bombazine.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of moths, which includes the silkworm moth. See
Silkworm.
BON
Bon, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. bonus.]
Defn: Good; valid as security for something.
BON-ACCORD
Bon-ac*cord", n.
Defn: Good will; good fellowship; agreement. [Scot.]
BONACI
Bo`na*ci", n. [Amer. Sp. bonasí, prob. from native name.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A large grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci) of Florida and the West
Indies, valuable as a food fish; -- called also aguaji and, in
Florida, black grouper.
(b) Also, any one of several other similar fishes.
BONA FIDE
Bo"na fi"de. Etym: [L.]
Defn: In or with good faith; without fraud or deceit; real or really;
actual or actually; genuine or genuinely; as, you must proceed bona
fide; a bona fide purchaser or transaction.
BONA FIDES
Bo"na fi"des (bo"na fi"dez). [L.]
Defn: Good faith; honesty; freedom from fraud or deception.
BONAIR
Bo*nair", a. Etym: [OE., also bonere, OF. bonnaire, Cotgr., abbrev.
of debonnaire. See Debonair.]
Defn: Gentle; courteous; complaisant; yielding. [Obs.]
BONANZA
Bo*nan"za, n. Etym: [Sp., prop. calm., fair weather, prosperity, fr.
L. bonus good.]
Defn: In mining, a rich mine or vein of silver or gold; hence,
anything which is a mine of wealth or yields a large income. [Colloq.
U. S.]
BONAPARTEAN
Bo`na*part"e*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Napoleon Bonaparte or his family.
BONAPARTISM
Bo"na*part`ism, n.
Defn: The policy of Bonaparte or of the Bonapartes.
BONAPARTIST
Bo"na*part`ist, n.
Defn: One attached to the policy or family of Bonaparte, or of the
Bonapartes.
BONA PERITURA
Bo"na per`i*tu"ra. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: Perishable goods. Bouvier.
BONA ROBA
Bo"na ro"ba. Etym: [It., prop. "good stuff."]
Defn: A showy wanton; a courtesan. Shak
BONASUS; BONASSUS
Bo*na"sus, Bo*nas"sus, n. Etym: [L. bonasus, Gr. , .] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The aurochs or European bison. See Aurochs.
BONBON
Bon"bon`, n. Etym: [F. bonbon, fr. bon bon very good, a superlative
by reduplication, fr. bon good.]
Defn: Sugar confectionery; a sugarplum; hence, any dainty.
BONBONNIERE
Bon`bon`nière", n.; pl. -nières (#). [F.]
Defn: A small fancy box or dish for bonbons.
BONCE
Bonce, n. Etym: [Etymol. unknown.]
Defn: A boy's game played with large marbles.
BONCHRETIEN
Bon`chré`tien", n. Etym: [F., good Christian.]
Defn: A name given to several kinds of pears. See Bartlett.
BONCILATE
Bon"ci*late, n. Etym: [Empirical trade name.]
Defn: A substance composed of ground bone, mineral matters, etc.,
hardened by pressure, and used for making billiard balls, boxes, etc.
BOND
Bond, n. Etym: [The same word as band. Cf. Band, Bend.]
1. That which binds, ties, fastens,or confines, or by which anything
is fastened or bound, as a cord, chain, etc.; a band; a ligament; a
shackle or a manacle.
Gnawing with my teeth my bonds in sunder, I gained my freedom. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: The state of being bound; imprisonment; captivity, restraint.
"This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds." Acts xxvi.
3. A binding force or influence; a cause of union; a uniting tie; as,
the bonds of fellowship.
A people with whom I have no tie but the common bond of mankind.
Burke.
4. Moral or political duty or obligation.
I love your majesty According to my bond, nor more nor less. Shak.
5. (Law)
Defn: A writing under seal, by which a person binds himself, his
heirs, executors, and administrators, to pay a certain sum on or
before a future day appointed. This is a single bond. But usually a
condition is added, that, if the obligor shall do a certain act,
appear at a certain place, conform to certain rules, faithfully
perform certain duties, or pay a certain sum of money, on or before a
time specified, the obligation shall be void; otherwise it shall
remain in full force. If the condition is not performed, the bond
becomes forfeited, and the obligor and his heirs are liable to the
payment of the whole sum. Bouvier. Wharton.
6. An instrument (of the nature of the ordinary legal bond) made by a
government or a corporation for purpose of borrowing money; as, a
government, city, or railway bond.
7. The state of goods placed in a bonded warehouse till the duties
are paid; as, merchandise in bond.
8. (Arch.)
Defn: The union or tie of the several stones or bricks forming a
wall. The bricks may be arranged for this purpose in several
different ways, as in English or block bond (Fig. 1), where one
course consists of bricks with their ends toward the face of the
wall, called headers, and the next course of bricks with their
lengths parallel to the face of the wall, called stretchers; Flemish
bond (Fig.2), where each course consists of headers and stretchers
alternately, so laid as always to break joints; Cross bond, which
differs from the English by the change of the second stretcher line
so that its joints come in the middle of the first, and the same
position of stretchers comes back every fifth line; Combined cross
and English bond, where the inner part of the wall is laid in the one
method, the outer in the other.
9. (Chem.)
Defn: A unit of chemical attraction; as, oxygen has two bonds of
affinity. It is often represented in graphic formulæ by a short line
or dash. See Diagram of Benzene nucleus, and Valence. Arbitration
bond. See under Arbitration.
-- Bond crediter (Law), a creditor whose debt is secured by a bond.
Blackstone.
-- Bond debt (Law), a debt contracted under the obligation of a
bond. Burrows.
-- Bond (or lap) of a slate, the distance between the top of one
slate and the bottom or drip of the second slate above, i. e., the
space which is covered with three thicknesses; also, the distance
between the nail of the under slate and the lower edge of the upper
slate.
-- Bond timber, timber worked into a wall to tie or strengthen it
longitudinally.
Syn.
-- Chains; fetters; captivity; imprisonment.
BOND
Bond, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bonded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bonding.]
1. To place under the conditions of a bond; to mortgage; to secure
the payment of the duties on (goods or merchandise) by giving a bond.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: To dispose in building, as the materials of a wall, so as to
secure solidity.
BOND
Bond, n. Etym: [OE. bond, bonde, peasant, serf, AS. bonda]C, bunda,
husband, bouseholder, from Icel. b husbandman, for b, fr. b to dwell.
See Boor, Husband.]
Defn: A xassal or serf; a slave. [Obs. or Archaic]
BOND
Bond, a.
Defn: In a state of servitude or slavery; captive.
By one Spirit are we all baptized .. whether we be Jews or Bentiles,
whether we be bond or free. 1 Cor. xii. 13.
BONDAGE
Bond"age, n. Etym: [LL. bondagium. See Bond, a.]
1. The state of being bound; condition of being under restraint;
restraint of personal liberty by compulsion; involuntary servitude;
slavery; captivity.
The King, when he designed you for my guard, Resolved he would not
make my bondage hard. Dryden.
2. Obligation; tie of duty.
He must resolve by no means to be . . . brought under the bondage of
onserving oaths. South.
3. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: Villenage; tenure of land on condition of doing the meanest
services for the owner.
Syn.
-- Thralldom; bond service; imprisonment.
BONDAGER
Bond"a*ger, n.
Defn: A field worker, esp. a woman who works in the field. [Scot.]
BONDAR
Bon"dar, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small quadruped of Bengal (Paradoxurus bondar), allied to the
genet; -- called also musk cat.
BONDED
Bond"ed, a.
Defn: Placed under, or covered by, a bond, as for the payment of
duties, or for conformity to coertain regulations. Bonded goods,
goods placed in a bonded warehouse; goods, for the duties on which
bonds are given at the customhouse.
-- Bonded warehouse, a warehouse in which goods on which the duties
are unpaid are stored under bond and in the joint custody of the
importer, or his agent, and the customs officers.
BONDER
Bond"er, n.
1. One who places goods under bond or in a bonded warehouse.
2. (Masonry)
Defn: A bonding stone or brick; a bondstone.
BONDER
Bond"er, n. Etym: [Norwegian bonde.]
Defn: A freeholder on a small scale. [Norway] Emerson.
BONDHOLDER
Bond"hold`er, n.
Defn: A person who holds the bonds of a public or private corporation
for the payment of money at a certain time.
BONDMAID
Bond"maid`, n. Etym: [Bond,a.orn.+ maid.]
Defn: A female slave, or one bound to service without wages, as
distinguished from a hired servant.
BONDMAN
Bond"man, n.; pl. Bondmen. Etym: [Bond,a.orn.+ man.]
1. A man slave, or one bound to service without wages. "To
enfranchise bondmen." Macaulay.
2. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A villain, or tenant in villenage.
BOND SERVANT
Bond" serv`ant.
Defn: A slave; one who is bound to service without wages.
If thy brother . . . be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt
not compel him to serve as a bond servant: but as an hired servant.
Lev. xxv. 39, 40.
BOND SERVICE
Bond" serv`ice.
Defn: The condition of a bond servant; sevice without wages; slavery.
Their children . . . upon those did Solomon levy a tribute of bond
service. 1 Kings ix. 21.
BONDSLAVE
Bond"slave` (, n.
Defn: A person in a state of slavery; one whose person and liberty
are subjected to the authority of a master.
BONDSMAN
Bonds"man, n.; pl. Bondsmen . Etym: [Bond,a.orn.+ man.]
1. A slave; a villain; a serf; a bondman.
Carnal, greedy people, without such a precept, would have no mercy
upon their poor bondsmen. Derham.
2. (Law)
Defn: A surety; one who is bound, or who gives security, for another.
BONDSTONE
Bond"stone`, n. Etym: [Bond,n.+ stone.] (Masonry)
Defn: A stone running through a wall from one face to another, to
bind it together; a binding stone.
BONDSWOMAN
Bonds"wom`an, n.
Defn: See Bondwoman.
BONDUC
Bon"duc, n. Etym: [F. bonduc, fr. Ar. bunduq hazel nut, filbert nut.]
(Bot.)
Defn: See Nicker tree.
BONDWOMAN
Bond"wom`an, n.; pl. Bondwomen. Etym: [Bond,a.orn.+ woman.]
Defn: A woman who is a slave, or in bondage.
He who was of the bondwoman. Gal. iv. 23.
BONE
Bone, n. Etym: [OE. bon, ban, AS. ban; akin to Icel. bein, Sw. ben,
Dan. & D. been, G. bein bone, leg; cf. Icel. beinn straight.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The hard, calcified tissue of the skeleton of vertebrate
animals, consisting very largely of calcic carbonate, calcic
phosphate, and gelatine; as, blood and bone.
Note: Even in the hardest parts of bone there are many minute
cavities containing living matter and connected by minute canals,
some of which connect with larger canals through which blood vessels
ramify.
2. One of the pieces or parts of an animal skeleton; as, a rib or a
thigh bone; a bone of the arm or leg; also, any fragment of bony
substance. (pl.) The frame or skeleton of the body.
3. Anything made of bone, as a bobbin for weaving bone lace.
4. pl.
Defn: Two or four pieces of bone held between the fingers and struck
together to make a kind of music.
5. pl.
Defn: Dice.
6. Whalebone; hence, a piece of whalebone or of steel for a corset.
7. Fig.: The framework of anything. A bone of contention, a subject
of contention or dispute.
-- A bone to pick, something to investigate, or to busy one's self
about; a dispute to be settled (with some one).
-- Bone ash, the residue from calcined bones; -- used for making
cupels, and for cleaning jewelry.
-- Bone black (Chem.), the black, carbonaceous substance into which
bones are converted by calcination in close vessels; -- called also
animal charcoal. It is used as a decolorizing material in filtering
sirups, extracts, etc., and as a black pigment. See Ivory black,
under Black.
-- Bone cave, a cave in which are found bones of extinct or recent
animals, mingled sometimes with the works and bones of man. Am. Cyc.
-- Bone dust, ground or pulverized bones, used as a fertilizer.
-- Bone earth (Chem.), the earthy residuum after the calcination of
bone, consisting chiefly of phosphate of calcium.
-- Bone lace, a lace made of linen thread, so called because woven
with bobbins of bone.
-- Bone oil, an oil obtained by, heating bones (as in the
manufacture of bone black), and remarkable for containing the
nitrogenous bases, pyridine and quinoline, and their derivatives; --
also called Dippel's oil.
-- Bone setter. Same as Bonesetter. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Bone shark (Zoöl.), the basking shark.
-- Bone spavin. See under Spavin.
-- Bone turquoise, fossil bone or tooth of a delicate blue color,
sometimes used as an imitation of true turquoise.
-- Bone whale (Zoöl.), a right whale.
-- To be upon the bones of, to attack. [Obs.] -- To make no bones,
to make no scruple; not to hesitate. [Low] -- To pick a bone with, to
quarrel with, as dogs quarrel over a bone; to settle a disagreement.
[Colloq.]
BONE
Bone, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boned (; p. pr. & vb. n. Boning.]
1. To withdraw bones from the flesh of, as in cookery. "To bone a
turkey." Soyer.
2. To put whalebone into; as, to bone stays. Ash.
3. To fertilize with bone.
4. To steal; to take possession of. [Slang]
BONE
Bone, v. t. Etym: [F. bornoyer to look at with one eye, to sight, fr.
borgne one-eyed.]
Defn: To sight along an object or set of objects, to see if it or
they be level or in line, as in carpentry, masonry, and surveying.
Knight.
Joiners, etc., bone their work with two straight edges. W. M.
Buchanan.
BONEACHE
Bone"ache`, n.
Defn: Pain in the bones. Shak.
BONEBLACK
Bone"black`, n.
Defn: See Bone black, under Bone, n.
BONED
Boned, a.
1. Having (such) bones; -- used in composition; as, big-boned;
strong-boned.
No big-boned men framed of the Cyclops' size. Shak.
2. Deprived of bones; as, boned turkey or codfish.
3. Manured with bone; as, boned land.
BONEDOG
Bone"dog`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spiny dogfish.
BONEFISH
Bone"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ladyfish.
BONELESS
Bone"less, a.
Defn: Without bones. "Boneless gums." Shak.
BONESET
Bone"set`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A medicinal plant, the thoroughwort (Eupatorium perfoliatum).
Its properties are diaphoretic and tonic.
BONESETTER
Bone"set*ter, n.
Defn: One who sets broken or dislocated bones; -- commonly applied to
one, not a regular surgeon, who makes an occupation of setting bones.
-- Bone"set*ting, n.
BONESHAW
Bone"shaw, n. (Med.)
Defn: Sciatica. [Obs.]
BONETTA
Bo*net"ta, n.
Defn: See Bonito. Sir T. Herbert.
BONFIRE
Bon"fire`, n. Etym: [OE. bonefire, banefire, orig. a fire of bones;
bone + fire; but cf. also Prov. E. bun a dry stalk.]
Defn: A large fire built in the open air, as an expression of public
joy and exultation, or for amusement.
Full soon by bonfire and by bell, We learnt our liege was passing
well. Gay.
BONGO
Bon"go (bon"go), n.
Defn: Either of two large antelopes (Boöcercus eurycercus of West
Africa, and B. isaaci of East Africa) of a reddish or chestnut-brown
color with narrow white stripes on the body. Their flesh is
especially esteemed as food.
BONGRACE
Bon"grace` (, n. Etym: [F. bon good + grâce grace, charm.]
Defn: A projecting bonnet or shade to protect the complexion; also, a
wide-brimmed hat. [Obs.]
BONHOMIE; BONHOMMIE
Bon`ho*mie", Bon`hom*mie" (, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: good nature; pleasant and easy manner.
BONIBELL
Bon"i*bell, n.
Defn: See Bonnibel. [Obs.] Spenser.
BONIFACE
Bon"i*face, n. Etym: [From the sleek, jolly landlord in Farquhar's
comedy of "The Beaux' Stratagem."]
Defn: An innkeeper.
BONIFORM
Bon"i*form, a. Etym: [L. bonus good + -form.]
Defn: Sensitive or responsive to moral excellence. Dr. H. More.
BONIFY
Bon"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. bonus good + -fy: cf. F. bonifier.]
Defn: To convert into, or make, good.
To bonify evils, or tincture them with good. Cudworth.
BONINESS
Bon"i*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being bony.
BONING
Bon"ing, n. Etym: [Senses 1 and 2 fr. 1st Bone, sense 3 fr. 3d Bone.]
1. The clearing of bones from fish or meat.
2. The manuring of land with bones.
3. A method of leveling a line or surface by sighting along the tops
of two or more straight edges, or a range of properly spaced poles.
See 3d Bone, v. t.
BONITARY
Bon"i*ta*ry, a.
Defn: Beneficial, as opposed to statutory or civil; as, bonitary
dominion of land.
BONITO
Bo*ni"to, n.; pl. Bonitoes (. Etym: [Sp. & Pg. bonito, fr. Ar. bainit
and bainith.] [Often incorrectly written bonita.] (Zoöl.)
1. A large tropical fish (Orcynus pelamys) allied to the tunny. It is
about three feet long, blue above, with four brown stripes on the
sides. It is sometimes found on the American coast.
2. The skipjack (Sarda Mediterranea) of the Atlantic, an important
and abundant food fish on the coast of the United States, and (S.
Chilensis) of the Pacific, and other related species. They are large
and active fishes, of a blue color with black oblique stripes.
3. The medregal (Seriola fasciata), an edible fish of the southern of
the United States and the West Indies.
4. The cobia or crab eater (Elacate canada), an edible fish of the
Middle and Southern United States.
BONMOT
Bon"mot`, n.; pl. Bonsmots. Etym: [ F. bon good + mot word.]
Defn: A witty repartee; a jest.
BONNAZ
Bon"naz, n.
Defn: A kind of embroidery made with a complicated sewing machine,
said to have been originally invented by a Frenchman of the name of
Bonnaz. The work is done either in freehand or by following a
perforated design.
BONNE
Bonne, n.
Defn: (F., prop. good woman.) A female servant charged with the care
of a young child.
BONNE BOUCHE
Bonne" bouche"; pl. Bonnes bouches (. Etym: [F. bon, fem. bonne, good
+ bouche mouth.]
Defn: A delicious morsel or mouthful; a tidbit.
BONNET
Bon"net, n. Etym: [OE. bonet, OF. bonet, bonete. F. bonnet fr. LL.
bonneta, bonetum; orig. the name of a stuff, and of unknown origin.]
1. A headdress for men and boys; a cap. [Obs.] Milton. Shak.
2. A soft, elastic, very durable cap, made of thick, seamless woolen
stuff, and worn by men in Scotland.
And pbonnets waving high. Sir W. Scott.
3. A covering for the head, worn by women, usually protecting more or
less the back and sides of the head, but no part of the forehead. The
shape of the bonnet varies greatly at different times; formerly the
front part projected, and spread outward, like the mouth of a funnel.
4. Anything resembling a bonnet in shape or use; as,
(a) (Fort.) A small defense work at a salient angle; or a part of a
parapet elevated to screen the other part from enfilade fire.
(b) A metallic canopy, or projection, over an opening, as a
fireplace, or a cowl or hood to increase the draught of a chimney,
etc.
(c) A frame of wire netting over a locomotive chimney, to prevent
escape of sparks.
(d) A roofing over the cage of a mine, to protect its occupants from
objects falling down the shaft.
(e) In pumps, a metal covering for the openings in the valve
chambers.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: An additional piece of canvas laced to the foot of a jib or
foresail in moderate winds. Hakluyt.
6. The second stomach of a ruminating animal.
7. An accomplice of a gambler, auctioneer, etc., who entices others
to bet or to bid; a decoy. [Cant] Bonnet head (Zoöl.), a shark
(Sphyrna tiburio) of the southern United States and West Indies.
-- Bonnet limpet (Zoöl.), a name given, from their shape, to various
species of shells (family Calyptræidæ).
-- Bonnet monkey (Zoöl.), an East Indian monkey (Macacus sinicus),
with a tuft of hair on its head; the munga.
-- Bonnet piece, a gold coin of the time of James V. of Scotland,
the king's head on which wears a bonnet. Sir W. Scott.
-- To have a bee in the bonnet. See under Bee.
-- Black bonnet. See under Black.
-- Blue bonnet. See in the Vocabulary.
BONNET
Bon"net, v. i.
Defn: To take off the bonnet or cap as a mark of respect; to uncover.
[Obs.] Shak.
BONNETED
Bon"net*ed, a.
1. Wearing a bonnet. "Bonneted and shawled." Howitt.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: Protected by a bonnet. See Bonnet, 4 (a).
BONNETLESS
Bon"net*less, a.
Defn: Without a bonnet.
BONNET ROUGE
Bon`net" rouge". [F.]
Defn: The red cap adopted by the extremists in the French Revolution,
which became a sign of patriotism at that epoch; hence, a
revolutionist; a Red Republican.
BONNIBEL
Bon"ni*bel, n. Etym: [F. bonne et belle, good and beautiful. Cf.
Bellibone.]
Defn: A handsome girl. [Obs.]
BONNIE
Bon"nie, a. Etym: [Scot.]
Defn: See Bonny, a.
BONNILASS
Bon"ni*lass`, n. Etym: [Bonny + lass.]
Defn: A "bonny lass"; a beautiful girl. [Obs.] Spenser.
BONNILY
Bon"ni*ly, adv.
Defn: Gayly; handsomely.
BONNINESS
Bon"ni*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being bonny; gayety [R.]
BONNY
Bon"ny, a. [Spelled bonnie by the Scotch.] Etym: [OE. boni, prob. fr.
F. bon, fem. bonne, good, fr. L. bonus good. See Bounty, and cf.
Bonus, Boon.]
1. Handsome; beautiful; pretty; attractively lively and graceful.
Till bonny Susan sped across the plain. Gay.
Far from the bonnie banks of Ayr. Burns.
2. Gay; merry; frolicsome; cheerful; blithe.
Be you blithe and bonny. Shak.
Report speaks you a bonny monk, that would hear the matiSir W. Scott.
BONNY
Bon"ny, n. (Mining)
Defn: A round and compact bed of ore, or a distinct bed, not
communicating with a vein.
BONNYCLABBER
Bon"ny*clab`ber, n. Etym: [Ir. bainne, baine, milk + clabar mud,
mire.]
Defn: Coagulated sour milk; loppered milk; curdled milk; -- sometimes
called simply clabber. B. Jonson.
BON SILENE
Bon" Si`lène". Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: A very fragrant tea rose with petals of various shades of pink.
BONSPIEL
Bon"spiel, n. Etym: [Scot.; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A cur [Scot.]
BONTEBOK
Bon"te*bok, n. Etym: [D. bont a sort of skin or fur, prop. variegated
+ bok buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pied antelope of South Africa (Alcelaphus pygarga). Its
face and rump are white. Called also nunni.
BON TON
Bon" ton". Etym: [F., good tone, manner.]
Defn: The height of the fashion; fashionable society.
BONUS
Bo"nus, n.; pl. Bonuses (. Etym: [L. bonus good. Cf. Bonny.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A premium given for a loan, or for a charter or other privilege
granted to a company; as the bank paid a bonus for its charter.
Bouvier.
2. An extra dividend to the shareholders of a joint stock company,
out of accumulated profits.
3. Money paid in addition to a stated compensation.
BON VIVANT
Bon" vi`vant"; pl. Bons vivants. Etym: [F. bon good + vivant, p. pr.
of vivre to live.]
Defn: A good fellow; a jovial companion; a free liver.
BONY
Bon"y, a.
1. Consisting of bone, or of bones; full of bones; pertaining to
bones.
2. Having large or prominent bones. Bony fish (Zoöl.), the menhaden.
-- Bony pike (Zoöl.), the gar pike (Lepidosteus).
BONZE
Bon"ze, n. Etym: [Pg. bonzo, fr. Japan bozu a Buddhist priest: cf. F.
bonze.]
Defn: A Buddhist or Fohist priest, monk, or nun.
Note: The name was given by the Portuguese to the priests of Japan,
and has since been applied to the priests of China, Cochin China, and
the neighboring countries.
BOOBY
Boo"by, n.; pl. Boobies. Etym: [Sp. bobe dunce, idiot; cf. L. balbus
stammering, E. barbarous.]
1. A dunce; a stupid fellow.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A swimming bird (Sula fiber or S. sula) related to the common
gannet, and found in the West Indies, nesting on the bare rocks. It
is so called on account of its apparent stupidity. The name is also
sometimes applied to other species of gannets; as, S. piscator, the
red-footed booby.
(b) A species of penguin of the antarctic seas.
Booby hatch (Naut.), a kind of wooden hood over a hatch, readily
removable.
-- Booby hut, a carriage body put upon sleigh runners. [Local, U.
S.] Bartlett.
-- Booby hutch, a clumsy covered carriage or seat, used in the
eastern part of England. Forby.
-- Booby trap, a schoolboy's practical joke, as a shower bath when a
door is opened.
BOOBY
Boo"by, a.
Defn: Having the characteristics of a booby; stupid.
BOOBYISH
Boo"by*ish, a.
Defn: Stupid; dull.
BOODH
Boodh, n.
Defn: Same as Buddha. Malcom.
BOODHISM
Boodh"ism, n.
Defn: Same as Buddhism.
BOODHIST
Boodh"ist, n.
Defn: Same as Buddhist.
BOODLE
Boo"dle, n. Etym: [Origin uncertain.]
1. The whole collection or lot; caboodle. [Low, U. S.] Bartlett.
2. Money given in payment for votes or political influence; bribe
money; swag. [Polit. slang, U. S.]
BOOHOE
Boo`hoe", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boohooed; p. pr. & vb. n. Boohooing.]
Etym: [An imitative word.]
Defn: To bawl; to cry loudly. [Low] Bartlett.
BOOHOO
Boo"hoo`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sailfish; -- called also woohoo.
BOOK
Book, n. Etym: [OE. book, bok, AS. b; akin to Goth. b a letter, in
pl. book, writing, Icel. b, Sw. bok, Dan. bog, OS. b, D. boek, OHG.
puoh, G. buch; and fr. AS. b, b, beech; because the ancient Saxons
and Germans in general wrote runes on pieces of beechen board. Cf.
Beech.]
1. A collection of sheets of paper, or similar material, blank,
written, or printed, bound together; commonly, many folded and bound
sheets containing continuous printing or writing.
Note: When blank, it is called a blank book. When printed, the term
often distinguishes a bound volume, or a volume of some size, from a
pamphlet.
Note: It has been held that, under the copyright law, a book is not
necessarily a volume made of many sheets bound together; it may be
printed on a single sheet, as music or a diagram of patterns. Abbott.
2. A composition, written or printed; a treatise.
A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit, embalmed
and treasured up on purpose to a life beyond life. Milton.
3. A part or subdivision of a treatise or literary work; as, the
tenth book of "Paradise Lost."
4. A volume or collection of sheets in which accounts are kept; a
register of debts and credits, receipts and expenditures, etc.
5. Six tricks taken by one side, in the game of whist; in certain
other games, two or more corresponding cards, forming a set.
Note: Book is used adjectively or as a part of many compounds; as,
book buyer, bookrack, book club, book lore, book sale, book trade,
memorandum book, cashbook. Book account, an account or register of
debt or credit in a book.
-- Book debt, a debt for items charged to the debtor by the creditor
in his book of accounts.
-- Book learning, learning acquired from books, as distinguished
from practical knowledge. "Neither does it so much require book
learning and scholarship, as good natural sense, to distinguish true
and false." Burnet.
-- Book louse (Zoöl.), one of several species of minute, wingless
insects injurious to books and papers. They belong to the
Pseudoneuroptera.
-- Book moth (Zoöl.), the name of several species of moths, the
larvæ of which eat books.
-- Book oath, an oath made on The Book, or Bible.
-- The Book of Books, the Bible.
-- Book post, a system under which books, bulky manuscripts, etc.,
may be transmitted by mail.
-- Book scorpion (Zoöl.), one of the false scorpions (Chelifer
cancroides) found among books and papers. It can run sidewise and
backward, and feeds on small insects.
-- Book stall, a stand or stall, often in the open air, for
retailing books.
-- Canonical books. See Canonical.
-- In one's books, in one's favor. "I was so much in his books, that
at his decease he left me his lamp." Addison.
-- To bring to book. (a) To compel to give an account. (b) To
compare with an admitted authority. "To bring it manifestly to book
is impossible." M. Arnold.
-- To course by bell, book, and candle. See under Bell.
-- To make a book (Horse Racing), to lay bets (recorded in a pocket
book) against the success of every horse, so that the bookmaker wins
on all the unsuccessful horses and loses only on the winning horse or
horses.
-- To speak by the book, to speak with minute exactness.
-- Without book. (a) By memory. (b) Without authority.
BOOK
Book, v. t. [imp & p. p. Booked; p. pr. & vb. n. Booking.]
1. To enter, write, or register in a book or list.
Let it be booked with the rest of this day's deeds. Shak.
2. To enter the name of (any one) in a book for the purpose of
securing a passage, conveyance, or seat; as, to be booked for
Southampton; to book a seat in a theater.
3. To mark out for; to destine or assign for; as, he is booked for
the valedictory. [Colloq.]
Here I am booked for three days more in Paris. Charles Reade.
BOOKBINDER
Book"bind`er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to bind books.
BOOKBINDERY
Book"bind`er*y, n.
Defn: A bookbinder's shop; a place or establishment for binding
books.
BOOKBINDING
Book"bind`ing, n.
Defn: The art, process, or business of binding books.
BOOKCASE
Book"case` (, n.
Defn: A case with shelves for holding books, esp. one with glazed
doors.
BOOKCRAFT
Book"craft`, n.
Defn: Authorship; literary skill.
BOOKED
Booked, a.
1. Registered.
2. On the way; destined. [Colloq.]
BOOKER
Book"er, n.
Defn: One who enters accounts or names, etc., in a book; a
bookkeeper.
BOOKFUL
Book"ful, n.
Defn: As much as will fill a book; a book full. Shak.
-- a.
Defn: Filled with book learning. [R.] "The bookful blockhead." Pope.
BOOKHOLDER
Book"hold`er, n.
1. A prompter at a theater. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.
2. A support for a book, holding it open, while one reads or copies
from it.
BOOKING CLERK
Book"ing clerk`.
Defn: A clerk who registers passengers, baggage, etc., for
conveyance, as by railway or steamship, or who sells passage tickets
at a booking office.
BOOKING OFFICE
Book"ing of`fice.
1. An office where passengers, baggage, etc., are registered for
conveyance, as by railway or steamship.
2. An office where passage tickets are sold. [Eng.]
BOOKISH
Book"ish, a.
1. Given to reading; fond of study; better acquainted with books than
with men; learned from books. "A bookish man." Addison. "Bookish
skill." Bp. Hall.
2. Characterized by a method of expression generally found in books;
formal; labored; pedantic; as, a bookish way of talking; bookish
sentences.
-- Book"ish*ly, adv.
-- Book"ish*ness, n.
BOOKKEEPER
Book"keep`er, n.
Defn: One who keeps accounts; one who has the charge of keeping the
books and accounts in an office.
BOOKKEEPING
Book"keep`ing, n.
Defn: The art of recording pecuniary or business transactions in a
regular and systematic manner, so as to show their relation to each
other, and the state of the business in which they occur; the art of
keeping accounts. The books commonly used are a daybook, cashbook,
journal, and ledger. See Daybook, Cashbook, Journal, and Ledger.
Bookkeeping by single entry, the method of keeping books by carrying
the record of each transaction to the debit or credit of a single
account.
-- Bookkeeping by double entry, a mode of bookkeeping in which two
entries of every transaction are carried to the ledger, one to the
Dr., or left hand, side of one account, and the other to the Cr., or
right hand, side of a corresponding account, in order thaItalian
method.
BOOKLAND; BOCKLAND
Book"land`, Bock"land`, n. Etym: [AS. b; b book + land land.] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: Charter land held by deed under certain rents and free
services, which differed in nothing from free socage lands. This
species of tenure has given rise to the modern freeholds.
BOOK-LEARNED
Book"-learned`, a.
Defn: Versed in books; having knowledge derived from books. [Often in
a disparaging sense.]
Whate'er these book-learned blockheads say, Solon's the veriest fool
in all the play. Dryden.
BOOKLESS
Book"less, a.
Defn: Without books; unlearned. Shenstone.
BOOKLET
Book"let, n.
Defn: A little book. T. Arnold.
BOOKMAKER
Book"mak`er, n.
1. One who writes and publishes books; especially, one who gathers
his materials from other books; a compiler.
2. (Horse Racing)
Defn: A betting man who "makes a book." See To make a book, under
Book, n.
BOOKMAN
Book"man, n.; pl. Bookmen (.
Defn: A studious man; a scholar. Shak.
BOOKMARK
Book"mark`, n.
Defn: Something placed in a book to guide in finding a particular
page or passage; also, a label in a book to designate the owner; a
bookplate.
BOOKMATE
Book"mate`, n. Etym: [Book + mate.]
Defn: A schoolfellow; an associate in study.
BOOKMONGER
Book"mon`ger, n.
Defn: A dealer in books.
BOOK MUSLIN
Book" mus`lin.
1. A kind of muslin used for the covers of books.
2. A kind of thin white muslin for ladies' dresses.
BOOKPLATE
Book"plate`, n.
Defn: A label, placed upon or in a book, showing its ownership or its
position in a library.
BOOKSELLER
Book"sell`er, n.
Defn: One who sells books.
BOOKSELLING
Book"sell`ing, n.
Defn: The employment of selling books.
BOOKSHELF
Book"shelf`, n.; pl. Bookshelves (.
Defn: A shelf to hold books.
BOOKSHOP
Book"shop`, n.
Defn: A bookseller's shop. [Eng.]
BOOKSTALL
Book"stall`, n.
Defn: A stall or stand where books are sold.
BOOKSTAND
Book"stand`, n.
1. A place or stand for the sale of books in the streets; a
bookstall.
2. A stand to hold books for reading or reference.
BOOKSTORE
Book"store`, n.
Defn: A store where books are kept for sale; -- called in England a
bookseller's shop.
BOOKWORK
Book"work`, n.
1. Work done upon a book or books (as in a printing office), in
distinction from newspaper or job work.
2. Study; application to books.
BOOKWORM
Book"worm`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any larva of a beetle or moth, which is injurious to books.
Many species are known.
2. A student closely attached to books or addicted to study; a reader
without appreciation.
I wanted but a black gown and a salary to be as mere a bookworm as
any there. Pope.
BOOKY
Book"y, a.
Defn: Bookish.
BOOLY
Boo"ly, n.; pl. Boolies. Etym: [Ir. buachail cowherd; bo cow + giolla
boy.]
Defn: A company of Irish herdsmen, or a single herdsman, wandering
from place to place with flocks and herds, and living on their milk,
like the Tartars; also, a place in the mountain pastures inclosed for
the shelter of cattle or their keepers. [Obs.] [Written also boley,
bolye, bouillie.] Spenser.
BOOM
Boom (boom), n. Etym: [D. boom tree, pole, beam, bar. See Beam.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A long pole or spar, run out for the purpose of extending the
bottom of a particular sail; as, the jib boom, the studding-sail
boom, etc.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A long spar or beam, projecting from the mast of a derrick,
from the outer end of which the body to be lifted is suspended.
3. A pole with a conspicuous top, set up to mark the channel in a
river or harbor. [Obs.]
4. (Mil. & Naval)
Defn: A strong chain cable, or line of spars bound together, extended
across a river or the mouth of a harbor, to obstruct navigation or
passage.
5. (Lumbering)
Defn: A line of connected floating timbers stretched across a river,
or inclosing an area of water, to keep saw logs, etc., from floating
away. Boom iron, one of the iron rings on the yards through which the
studding-sail booms traverse.
-- The booms, that space on the upper deck of a ship between the
foremast and mainmast, where the boats, spare spars, etc., are
stowed. Totten.
BOOM
Boom (boom), v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To extend, or push, with a boom or pole; as, to boom out a
sail; to boom off a boat.
BOOM
Boom (boom), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boomed, p. pr. & vb. n. Booming.]
Etym: [Of imitative origin; cf. OE. bommen to hum, D. bommen to drum,
sound as an empty barrel, also W. bwmp a hollow sound; aderyn y bwmp,
the bird of the hollow sound, i. e., the bittern. Cf. Bum, Bump, v.
i., Bomb, v. i.]
1. To cry with a hollow note; to make a hollow sound, as the bittern,
and some insects.
At eve the beetle boometh Athwart the thicket lone. Tennyson.
2. To make a hollow sound, as of waves or cannon.
Alarm guns booming through the night air. W. Irving.
3. To rush with violence and noise, as a ship under a press of sail,
before a free wind.
She comes booming down before it. Totten.
4. To have a rapid growth in market value or in popular favor; to go
on rushingly.
BOOM
Boom, n.
1. A hollow roar, as of waves or cannon; also, the hollow cry of the
bittern; a booming.
2. A strong and extensive advance, with more or less noisy
excitement; -- applied colloquially or humorously to market prices,
the demand for stocks or commodities and to political chances of
aspirants to office; as, a boom in the stock market; a boom in
coffee. [Colloq. U. S.]
BOOM
Boom, v. t.
Defn: To cause to advance rapidly in price; as, to boom railroad or
mining shares; to create a "boom" for; as to boom Mr. C. for senator.
[Colloq. U. S.]
BOOMDAS
Boom"das, n. Etym: [D. boom tree + das badger.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small African hyracoid mammal (Dendrohyrax arboreus)
resembling the daman.
BOOMER
Boom"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, booms.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A North American rodent, so named because it is said to make a
booming noise. See Sewellel.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large male kangaroo.
4. One who works up a "boom". [Slang, U. S.]
BOOMERANG
Boom"er*ang, n.
Defn: A very singular missile weapon used by the natives of Australia
and in some parts of India. It is usually a curved stick of hard
wood, from twenty to thirty inches in length, from two to three
inches wide, and half or three quarters of an inch thick. When thrown
from the hand with a quick rotary motion, it describes very
remarkable curves, according to the shape of the instrument and the
manner of throwing it, often moving nearly horizontally a long
distance, then curving upward to a considerable height, and finally
taking a retrograde direction, so as to fall near the place from
which it was thrown, or even far in the rear of it.
BOOMING
Boom"ing, a.
1. Rushing with violence; swelling with a hollow sound; making a
hollow sound or note; roaring; resounding.
O'er the sea-beat ships the booming waters roar. Falcone.
2. Advancing or increasing amid noisy excitement; as, booming prices;
booming popularity. [Colloq. U. S.]
BOOMING
Boom"ing, n.
Defn: The act of producing a hollow or roaring sound; a violent
rushing with heavy roar; as, the booming of the sea; a deep, hollow
sound; as, the booming of bitterns. Howitt.
BOOMKIN
Boom"kin, n. (Naut.)
Defn: Same as Bumkin.
BOOMORAH
Boo"mo*rah, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small West African chevrotain (Hyæmoschus aquaticus),
resembling the musk deer.
BOOMSLANGE
Boom"slang*e, n. Etym: [D. boom tree + slang snake.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South African tree snake (Bucephalus Capensis).
Although considered venomous by natives, it has no poison fangs.
BOON
Boon, n. Etym: [OE. bone, boin, a petition, fr. Icel. b; akin to Sw.
& Dan. b, AS. b, and perh. to E. ban; but influenced by F. bon good,
fr. L. bonus. Ban, Bounty.]
1. A prayer or petition. [Obs.]
For which to God he made so many an idle boon. Spenser.
2. That which is asked or granted as a benefit or favor; a gift; a
benefaction; a grant; a present.
Every good gift and every perfect boon is from above. James i. 17
(Rev. Ver. ).
BOON
Boon, a. Etym: [F. bon. See Boon, n.]
1. Good; prosperous; as, boon voyage. [Obs.]
2. Kind; bountiful; benign.
Which . . . Nature boon Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and
plain. Milton.
3. Gay; merry; jovial; convivial.
A boon companion, loving his bottle. Arbuthnot.
BOON
Boon, n. Etym: [Scot. boon, bune, been, Gael. & Ir. bunach coarse
tow, fr. bun root, stubble.]
Defn: The woody portion flax, which is separated from the fiber as
refuse matter by retting, braking, and scutching.
BOOR
Boor, n. Etym: [D. boer farmer, boor; akin to AS. geb countryman, G.
bauer; fr. the root of AS. b to inhabit, and akin to E. bower, be.
Cf. Neighbor, Boer, and Big to build.]
1. A husbandman; a peasant; a rustic; esp. a clownish or unrefined
countryman.
2. A Dutch, German, or Russian peasant; esp. a Dutch colonist in
South Africa, Guiana, etc.: a boer.
3. A rude ill-bred person; one who is clownish in manners.
BOORISH
Boor"ish, a.
Defn: Like a boor; clownish; uncultured; unmannerly.
-- Boor"ish*ly, adv.
-- Boor"ish*ness, n.
Which is in truth a gross and boorish opinion. Milton.
BOORT
Boort, n.
Defn: See Bort.
BOOSE
Boose, n. Etym: [AS. bos, bosig; akin to Icel. bass, Sw. bås, Dan.
baas, stall, G. banse, Goth. bansts barn, Skr. bhasas stall. *252.]
Defn: A stall or a crib for an ox, cow, or other animal. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
BOOSE
Boose, v. i.
Defn: To drink excessively. See Booze.
BOOSER
Boos"er, n.
Defn: A toper; a guzzler. See Boozer.
BOOST
Boost, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boosted; p. pr. & vb. n. Boosting.] Etym:
[Cf. Boast, v. i.]
Defn: To lift or push from behind (one who is endeavoring to climb);
to push up; hence, to assist in overcoming obstacles, or in making
advancement. [Colloq. U. S.]
BOOST
Boost, n.
Defn: A push from behind, as to one who is endeavoring to climb;
help. [Colloq. U. S.]
BOOSTER
Boost"er, n. (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument for regulating the electro-motive force in an
alternating-current circuit; -- so called because used to "boost", or
raise, the pressure in the circuit.
BOOT
Boot, n. Etym: [OE. bot, bote, adbantage, amends, cure, AS. b; akin
to Icel. b, Sw. bot, Dan. bod, Goth. b, D. boete, G. busse; prop., a
making good or better, from the root of E. better, adj.
1. Remedy; relief; amends; reparation; hence, one who brings relief.
He gaf the sike man his boote. Chaucer.
Thou art boot for many a bruise And healest many a wound. Sir W.
Scott.
Next her Son, our soul's best boot. Wordsworth.
2. That which is given to make an exchange equal, or to make up for
the deficiency of value in one of the things exchanged.
I'll give you boot, I'll give you three for one. Shak.
3. Profit; gain; advantage; use. [Obs.]
Then talk no more of flight, it is no boot. Shak.
To boot, in addition; over and above; besides; as a compensation for
the difference of value between things bartered.
Helen, to change, would give an eye to boot. Shak.
A man's heaviness is refreshed long before he comes to drunkenness,
for when he arrives thither he hath but changed his heaviness, and
taken a crime to boot. Jer. Taylor.
BOOT
Boot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Booted; p. pr. & vb. n. Booting.]
1. To profit; to advantage; to avail; -- generally followed by it;
as, what boots it
What booteth it to others that we wish them well, and do nothing for
them Hooker.
What subdued To change like this a mind so far imbued With scorn of
man, it little boots to know. Byron.
What boots to us your victories Southey.
2. To enrich; to benefit; to give in addition. [Obs.]
And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. Shak.
BOOT
Boot, n. Etym: [OE. bote, OF. bote, F. botte, LL. botta; of uncertain
origin.]
1. A covering for the foot and lower part of the leg, ordinarily made
of leather.
2. An instrument of torture for the leg, formerly used to extort
confessions, particularly in Scotland.
So he was put to the torture, which in Scotland they call the boots;
for they put a pair of iron boots close on the leg, and drive wedges
between them and the leg. Bp. Burnet.
3. A place at the side of a coach, where attendants rode; also, a low
outside place before and behind the body of the coach. [Obs.]
4. A place for baggage at either end of an old-fashioned stagecoach.
5. An apron or cover (of leather or rubber cloth) for the driving
seat of a vehicle, to protect from rain and mud.
6. (Plumbing)
Defn: The metal casing and flange fitted about a pipe where it passes
through a roof. Boot catcher, the person at an inn whose business it
was to pull off boots and clean them. [Obs.] Swift.
-- Boot closer, one who, or that which, sews the uppers of boots.
-- Boot crimp, a frame or device used by bootmakers for drawing and
shaping the body of a boot.
-- Boot hook, a hook with a handle, used for pulling on boots.
-- Boots and saddles (Cavalry Tactics), the trumpet call which is
the first signal for mounted drill.
-- Sly boots. See Slyboots, in the Vocabulary.
BOOT
Boot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Booted; p. pr. & vb. n. Booting.]
1. To put boots on, esp. for riding.
Coated and booted for it. B. Jonson.
2. To punish by kicking with a booted foot. [U. S.]
BOOT
Boot, v. i.
Defn: To boot one's self; to put on one's boots.
BOOT
Boot, n.
Defn: Booty; spoil. [Obs. or R.] Shak.
BOOTBLACK
Boot"black` (, n.
Defn: One who blacks boots.
BOOTED
Boot"ed, a.
1. Wearing boots, especially boots with long tops, as for riding; as,
a booted squire.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an undivided, horny, bootlike covering; -- said of the
tarsus of some birds.
BOOTEE
Boot*ee", n.
Defn: A half boot or short boot.
BOOTES; BOOETES
Bo*ö"tes, n. Etym: [L. Bootes, Gr. herdsman, fr. , gen. , ox, cow.]
(Astron.)
Defn: A northern constellation, containing the bright star Arcturus.
BOOTH
Booth, n. Etym: [OE. bothe; cf. Icel. b, Dan. & Sw. bod, MHG. buode,
G. bude, baude; from the same root as AS. b to dwell, E. boor, bower,
be; cf. Bohem. bauda, Pol. buda, Russ. budka, Lith. buda, W. bwth,
pl. bythod, Gael. buth, Ir. both.]
1. A house or shed built of boards, boughs, or other slight
materials, for temporary occupation. Camden.
2. A covered stall or temporary structure in a fair or market, or at
a polling place.
BOOTHALE
Boot"hale`, v. t. & i. Etym: [Boot, for booty + hale.]
Defn: To forage for booty; to plunder. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BOOTHOSE
Boot"hose`, n.
1. Stocking hose, or spatterdashes, in lieu of boots. Shak.
2. Hose made to be worn with boots, as by travelers on horseback. Sir
W. Scott.
BOOTHY
Booth"y, n.
Defn: See Bothy.
BOOTIKIN
Boot"i*kin, n. Etym: [Boot + -kin.]
1. A little boot, legging, or gaiter.
2. A covering for the foot or hand, worn as a cure for the gout. H.
Walpole.
BOOTING
Boot"ing, n.
Defn: Advantage; gain; gain by plunder; booty. [Obs.] Sir. J.
Harrington.
BOOTING
Boot"ing, n.
1. A kind of torture. See Boot, n., 2.
2. A kicking, as with a booted foot. [U. S.]
BOOTJACK
Boot"jack` (, n.
Defn: A device for pulling off boots.
BOOTLESS
Boot"less, a. Etym: [From Boot profit.]
Defn: Unavailing; unprofitable; useless; without advantage or
success. Chaucer.
I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers. Shak.
-- Boot"less*ly, adv.
-- Boot"less*ness, n.
BOOTLICK
Boot"lick` (, n.
Defn: A toady. [Low, U. S.] Bartlett.
BOOTMAKER
Boot"mak`er, n.
Defn: One who makes boots.
-- Boot"mak`ing, n.
BOOTS
Boots, n.
Defn: A servant at a hotel or elsewhere, who cleans and blacks the
boots and shoes.
BOOTTOPPING
Boot"top`ping, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The act or process of daubing a vessel's bottom near the
surface of the water with a mixture of tallow, sulphur, and resin, as
a temporary protection against worms, after the slime, shells, etc.,
have been scraped off.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Sheathing a vessel with planking over felt.
BOOTTREE
Boot"tree`, n. Etym: [Boot + tree wood, timber.]
Defn: An instrument to stretch and widen the leg of a boot,
consisting of two pieces, together shaped like a leg, between which,
when put into the boot, a wedge is driven.
The pretty boots trimly stretched on boottrees. Thackeray.
BOOTY
Boo"ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. b exchange, barter, Sw. byte barter,
booty, Dan. bytte; akin to D. buit booty, G. beute, and fr. Icel.
byta, Sw. byta, Dan. bytte, to distribute, exchange. The Scandinavian
word was influenced in English by boot profit.]
Defn: That which is seized by violence or obtained by robbery,
especially collective spoil taken in war; plunder; pillage. Milton.
To play booty, to play dishonestly, with an intent to lose; to allow
one's adversary to win at cards at first, in order to induce him to
continue playing and victimize him afterwards. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
BOOZE
Booze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Boozed; p. pr. & vb. n. Boozing.] Etym:
[D. buizen; akin to G. bausen, and perh. fr. D. buis tube, channel,
bus box, jar.]
Defn: To drink greedily or immoderately, esp. alcoholic liquor; to
tipple. [Written also bouse, and boose.] Landor.
This is better than boozing in public houses. H. R. Haweis.
BOOZE
Booze, n.
Defn: A carouse; a drinking. Sir W. Scott.
BOOZER
Booz"er, n.
Defn: One who boozes; a toper; a guzzler of alcoholic liquors; a
bouser.
BOOZY
Booz"y, a.
Defn: A little intoxicated; fuddled; stupid with liquor; bousy.
[Colloq.] C. Kingsley.
BOPEEP
Bo*peep", n. Etym: [Bo + peep.]
Defn: The act of looking out suddenly, as from behind a screen, so as
to startle some one (as by children in play), or of looking out and
drawing suddenly back, as if frightened.
I for sorrow sung, That such a king should play bopeep, And go the
fools among. Shak.
BORABLE
Bor"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being bored. [R.]
BORACHTE
Bo*rach"te, n. Etym: [Sp. borracha a leather bottle for wine,
borracho drunk, fr. borra a lamb.]
Defn: A large leather bottle for liquors, etc., made of the skin of a
goat or other animal. Hence: A drunkard. [Obs.]
You're an absolute borachio. Congreve.
BORACIC
Bo*rac"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. boracique. See Borax.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or produced from, borax; containing boron;
boric; as, boracic acid.
BORACITE
Bo"ra*cite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a white or gray color occurring massive and in
isometric crystals; in composition it is a magnesium borate with
magnesium chloride.
BORACOUS
Bo"ra*cous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Relating to, or obtained from, borax; containing borax.
BORAGE
Bor"age, n. Etym: [OE. borage (cf. F. bourrache, It. borraggine,
borrace, LL. borago, borrago, LGr. ), fr. LL. borra, F. bourre, hair
of beasts, flock; so called from its hairy leaves.] (Bot.)
Defn: A mucilaginous plant of the genus Borago (B. officinalis),
which is used, esp. in France, as a demulcent and diaphoretic.
BORAGEWORT
Bor"age*wort`, n.
Defn: Plant of the Borage family.
BORAGINACEOUS
Bo*rag`i*na"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants
(Boraginaceæ) which includes the borage, heliotrope, beggar's lice,
and many pestiferous plants.
BORAGINEOUS
Bor`a*gin"e*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating to the Borage tribe; boraginaceous.
BORAMEZ
Bor"a*mez, n.
Defn: See Barometz.
BORATE
Bo"rate, n. Etym: [From Boric.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the combination of boric acid with a base or
positive radical.
BORAX
Bo"rax, n. Etym: [OE. boras, fr. F. borax, earlier spelt borras; cf.
LL. borax, Sp. borraj; all fr. Ar. b, fr. Pers. b.]
Defn: A white or gray crystalline salt, with a slight alkaline taste,
used as a flux, in soldering metals, making enamels, fixing colors on
porcelain, and as a soap. It occurs native in certain mineral
springs, and is made from the boric acid of hot springs in Tuscany.
It was originally obtained from a lake in Thibet, and was sent to
Europe under the name of tincal. Borax is a pyroborate or tetraborate
of sodium, Na2B4O7.10H2O. Borax bead. (Chem.) See Bead, n., 3.
BORBORYGM
Bor"bo*rygm, n. Etym: [F. borborygme, fr. Gr. , fr. to rumble in the
bowels.] (Med.)
Defn: A rumbling or gurgling noise produced by wind in the bowels.
Dunglison.
BORD
Bord, n. Etym: [See Board, n.]
1. A board; a table. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Mining)
Defn: The face of coal parallel to the natural fissures.
BORD
Bord, n.
Defn: See Bourd. [Obs.] Spenser.
BORDAGE
Bord"age, n. Etym: [LL. bordagium.]
Defn: The base or servile tenure by which a bordar held his cottage.
BORDAR
Bord"ar, n. Etym: [LL. bordarius, fr. borda a cottage; of uncertain
origin.]
Defn: A villein who rendered menial service for his cottage; a
cottier.
The cottar, the bordar, and the laborer were bound to aid in the work
of the home farm. J. R. Green.
BORDEAUX
Bor*deaux", a.
Defn: Pertaining to Bordeaux in the south of France.
-- n.
Defn: A claret wine from Bordeaux.
BORDEAUX MIXTURE
Bor*deaux" mix"ture. (Hort.)
Defn: A fungicidal mixture composed of blue vitriol, lime, and water.
The formula in common use is: blue vitriol, 6 lbs.; lime, 4 lbs.;
water, 35 -- 50 gallons.
BORDEL; BORDELLO
Bor"del, Bor*del"lo, n. Etym: [F. bordel, orig. a little hut, OF.
borde hut, cabin, of German origin, and akin to E. board,n.See.
Board, n.]
Defn: A brothel; a bawdyhouse; a house devoted to prostitution.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
BORDELAIS
Bor`de*lais", a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bordeaux, in France, or to the district
around Bordeaux.
BORDELLER
Bor"del*ler, n.
Defn: A keeper or a frequenter of a brothel. [Obs.] Gower.
BORDER
Bor"der, n. Etym: [OE. bordure, F. bordure, fr. border to border, fr.
bord a border; of German origin; cf. MHG. borte border, trimming, G.
borte trimming, ribbon; akin to E. board in sense 8. See Board, n.,
and cf. Bordure.]
1. The outer part or edge of anything, as of a garment, a garden,
etc.; margin; verge; brink.
Upon the borders of these solitudes. Bentham.
In the borders of death. Barrow.
2. A boundary; a frontier of a state or of the settled part of a
country; a frontier district.
3. A strip or stripe arranged along or near the edge of something, as
an ornament or finish.
4. A narrow flower bed. Border land, land on the frontiers of two
adjoining countries; debatable land; -- often used figuratively; as,
the border land of science.
-- The Border, The Borders, specifically, the frontier districts of
Scotland and England which lie adjacent.
-- Over the border, across the boundary line or frontier.
Syn.
-- Edge; verge; brink; margin; brim; rim; boundary; confine.
BORDER
Bor"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bordered; p. pr. & vb. n. Bordering.]
1. To touch at the edge or boundary; to be contiguous or adjacent; --
with on or upon as, Connecticut borders on Massachusetts.
2. To approach; to come near to; to verge.
Wit which borders upon profaneness deserves to be branded as folly.
Abp. Tillotson.
BORDER
Bor"der, v. t.
1. To make a border for; to furnish with a border, as for ornament;
as, to border a garment or a garden.
2. To be, or to have, contiguous to; to touch, or be touched, as by a
border; to be, or to have, near the limits or boundary; as, the
region borders a forest, or is bordered on the north by a forest.
The country is bordered by a broad tract called the "hot region."
Prescott.
Shebah and Raamah . . . border the sea called the Persian gulf. Sir
W. Raleigh.
3. To confine within bounds; to limit. [Obs.]
That nature, which contemns its origin, Can not be bordered certain
in itself. Shak.
BORDEREAU
Bor`de*reau", n.; pl. Bordereaux (#). [F.]
Defn: A note or memorandum, esp. one containing an enumeration of
documents.
BORDERER
Bor"der*er, n.
Defn: One who dwells on a border, or at the extreme part or confines
of a country, region, or tract of land; one who dwells near to a
place or region.
Borderers of the Caspian. Dyer.
BORDLAND
Bord"land`, n. Etym: [Bordar (or perh. bord a board) + land.] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: Either land held by a bordar, or the land which a lord kept for
the maintenance of his board, or table. Spelman.
BORDLODE
Bord"lode`, n. Etym: [Bordar (or perh. bord a board) + lode leading.]
(O. Eng. Law)
Defn: The service formerly required of a tenant, to carry timber from
the woods to the lord's house. Bailey. Mozley & W.
BORDMAN
Bord"man, n. Etym: [Bordar (or perh. bord a board) + man.]
Defn: A bordar; a tenant in bordage.
BORDRAG; BORDRAGING
Bord"rag, Bord"ra`ging, n. Etym: [Perh. from OE. bord, for border +
raging. Cf. Bodrage.]
Defn: An incursion upon the borders of a country; a raid. [Obs.]
Spenser.
BORD SERVICE
Bord" serv`ice. Etym: [Bordar (or perh. bord a board) + service.] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: Service due from a bordar; bordage.
BORDURE
Bor"dure, n. Etym: [F. bordure. See Border, n.] (Her.)
Defn: A border one fifth the width of the shield, surrounding the
field. It is usually plain, but may be charged.
BORE
Bore, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bored; p. pr. & vb. n. Boring.] Etym: [OE.
borien, AS. borian; akin to Icel. bora, Dan. bore, D. boren, OHG.
por, G. bohren, L. forare, Gr. to plow, Zend bar. sq. root91.]
1. To perforate or penetrate, as a solid body, by turning an auger,
gimlet, drill, or other instrument; to make a round hole in or
through; to pierce; as, to bore a plank.
I'll believe as soon this whole earth may be bored. Shak.
2. To form or enlarge by means of a boring instrument or apparatus;
as, to bore a steam cylinder or a gun barrel; to bore a hole.
Short but very powerful jaws, by means whereof the insect can bore,
as with a centerbit, a cylindrical passage through the most solid
wood. T. W. Harris.
3. To make (a passage) by laborious effort, as in boring; as, to bore
one's way through a crowd; to force a narrow and difficult passage
through. "What bustling crowds I bored." Gay.
4. To weary by tedious iteration or by dullness; to tire; to trouble;
to vex; to annoy; to pester.
He bores me with some trick. Shak.
Used to come and bore me at rare intervals. Carlyle.
5. To befool; to trick. [Obs.]
I am abused, betrayed; I am laughed at, scorned, Baffled and bored,
it seems. Beau. & Fl.
BORE
Bore, v. i.
1. To make a hole or perforation with, or as with, a boring
instrument; to cut a circular hole by the rotary motion of a tool;
as, to bore for water or oil (i. e., to sink a well by boring for
water or oil); to bore with a gimlet; to bore into a tree (as
insects).
2. To be pierced or penetrated by an instrument that cuts as it
turns; as, this timber does not bore well, or is hard to bore.
3. To push forward in a certain direction with laborious effort.
They take their flight . . . boring to the west. Dryden.
4. (Ma
Defn: To shoot out the nose or toss it in the air; Crabb.
BORE
Bore, n.
1. A hole made by boring; a perforation.
2. The internal cylindrical cavity of a gun, cannon, pistol, or other
firearm, or of a pipe or tube.
The bores of wind instruments. Bacon.
Love's counselor should fill the bores of hearing. Shak.
3. The size of a hole; the interior diameter of a tube or gun barrel;
the caliber.
4. A tool for making a hole by boring, as an auger.
5. Caliber; importance. [Obs.]
Yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter. Shak.
6. A person or thing that wearies by prolixity or dullness; a
tiresome person or affair; any person or thing which causes ennui.
It is as great a bore as to hear a poet read his own verses.
Hawthorne.
BORE
Bore, n. Etym: [Icel. bara wave: cf. G. empor upwards, OHG. bor
height, burren to lift, perh. allied to AS. beran, E. 1st bear. sq.
root92.] (Physical Geog.)
(a) A tidal flood which regularly or occasionally rushes into certain
rivers of peculiar configuration or location, in one or more waves
which present a very abrupt front of considerable height, dangerous
to shipping, as at the mouth of the Amazon, in South America, the
Hoogly and Indus, in India, and the Tsien-tang, in China.
(b) Less properly, a very high and rapid tidal flow, when not so
abrupt, such as occurs at the Bay of Fundy and in the British
Channel.
BORE
Bore,
Defn: imp. of 1st & 2d Bear.
BOREAL
Bo"re*al, a. Etym: [L. borealis: cf. F. boréal. See Boreas.]
Defn: Northern; pertaining to the north, or to the north wind; as, a
boreal bird; a boreal blast.
So from their own clear north in radiant streams, Bright over Europe
bursts the boreal morn. Thomson.
BOREAS
Bo"re*as, n. Etym: [L. boreas, Gr. .]
Defn: The north wind; -- usually a personification.
BORECOLE
Bore"cole`, n. Etym: [Cf. D. boerenkool (lit.) husbandman's cabbage.]
Defn: A brassicaceous plant of many varieties, cultivated for its
leaves, which are not formed into a compact head like the cabbage,
but are loose, and are generally curled or wrinkled; kale.
BOREDOM
Bore"dom, n.
1. The state of being bored, or pestered; a state of ennui. Dickens.
2. The realm of bores; bores, collectively.
BOREE
Bo*ree", n.
Defn: Same as BourrÉ\'82. [Obs.] Swift.
BOREL
Bor"el, n.
Defn: See Borrel.
BORELE
Bor"e*le, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The smaller two-horned rhinoceros of South Africa (Atelodus
bicornis).
BORER
Bor"er, n.
1. One that bores; an instrument for boring.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A marine, bivalve mollusk, of the genus Teredo and allies, which
burrows in wood. See Teredo.
(b) Any bivalve mollusk (Saxicava, Lithodomus, etc.) which bores into
limestone and similar substances.
(c) One of the larvæ of many species of insects, which penetrate
trees, as the apple, peach, pine, etc. See Apple borer, under Apple.
(d) The hagfish (Myxine).
BORIC
Bo"ric, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, boron. Boric acid, a white
crystalline substance B(OH)3, easily obtained from its salts, and
occurring in solution in the hot lagoons of Tuscany.
BORIDE
Bo"ride, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of boron with a more positive or basic
element or radical; -- formerly called boruret.
BORING
Bor"ing, n.
1. The act or process of one who, or that which, bores; as, the
boring of cannon; the boring of piles and ship timbers by certain
marine mollusks.
One of the most important applications of boring is in the formation
of artesian wells. Tomlinson.
2. A hole made by boring.
3. pl.
Defn: The chips or fragments made by boring. Boring bar, a revolving
or stationary bar, carrying one or more cutting tools for dressing
round holes.
-- Boring tool (Metal Working), a cutting tool placed in a cutter
head to dress round holes. Knight.
BORN
Born, p. p. & a. Etym: [See Bear, v. t.]
1. Brought forth, as an animal; brought into life; introduced by
birth.
No one could be born into slavery in Mexico. Prescott.
2. Having from birth a certain character; by or from birth; by
nature; innate; as, a born liar. "A born matchmaker." W. D. Howells.
Born again (Theol.), regenerated; renewed; having received spiritual
life. "Except a man be born again, he can not see the kingdom of
God." John iii. 3.
-- Born days, days since one was born; lifetime. [Colloq.]
BORNE
Borne, p. p. of Bear.
Defn: Carried; conveyed; supported; defrayed. See Bear, v. t.
BORNEOL
Bor"ne*ol, n. Etym: [Borneo + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare variety of camphor, C10H17.OH, resembling ordinary
camphor, from which it can be produced by reduction. It is said to
occur in the camphor tree of Borneo and Sumatra (Dryobalanops
camphora), but the natural borneol is rarely found in European or
American commerce, being in great request by the Chinese. Called also
Borneo camphor, Malay camphor, and camphol.
BORNITE
Bor"nite, n. Etym: [Named after Von Born, a mineralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: A valuable ore of copper, containing copper, iron, and sulphur;
-- also called purple copper ore (or erubescite), in allusion to the
colors shown upon the slightly tarnished surface.
BOROFLUORIDE
Bo`ro*flu"or*ide, n. Etym: [Boron + fluoride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double fluoride of boron and hydrogen, or some other positive
element, or radical; -- called also fluoboride, and formerly
fluoborate.
BOROGLYCERIDE
Bo"ro*glyc"er*ide, n. Etym: [Boron + glyceride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of boric acid and glycerin, used as an antiseptic.
BORON
Bo"ron, n. Etym: [See Borax.] (Chem.)
Defn: A nonmetallic element occurring abundantly in borax. It is
reduced with difficulty to the free state, when it can be obtained in
several different forms; viz., as a substance of a deep olive color,
in a semimetallic form, and in colorless quadratic crystals similar
to the diamond in hardness and other properties. It occurs in nature
also in boracite, datolite, tourmaline, and some other minerals.
Atomic weight 10.9. Symbol B.
BOROSILICATE
Bo"ro*sil"i*cate, n. Etym: [Boron + silicate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double salt of boric and silicic acids, as in the natural
minerals tourmaline, datolite, etc.
BOROUGH
Bor"ough, n. Etym: [OE. burgh, burw, boru, port, town, burrow, AS.
burh, burg; akin to Icel., Sw., & Dan. borg, OS. & D. burg, OHG.
puruc, purc, MHG. burc, G. burg, Goth. baúrgs; and from the root of
AS. beorgan to hide, save, defend, G. bergen; or perh. from that of
AS. beorg hill, mountain. Bury, v. t., and cf. Burrow, Burg, Bury,
n., Burgess, Iceberg, Borrow, Harbor, Hauberk.]
1. In England, an incorporated town that is not a city; also, a town
that sends members to parliament; in Scotland, a body corporate,
consisting of the inhabitants of a certain district, erected by the
sovereign, with a certain jurisdiction; in America, an incorporated
town or village, as in Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Burrill.
Erskine.
2. The collective body of citizens or inhabitants of a borough; as,
the borough voted to lay a tax. Close borough, or Pocket borough, a
borough having the right of sending a member to Parliament, whose
nomination is in the hands of a single person.
-- Rotten borough, a name given to any borough which, at the time of
the passage of the Reform Bill of 1832, contained but few voters, yet
retained the privilege of sending a member to Parliament.
BOROUGH
Bor"ough, n. Etym: [See Borrow.] (O. Eng. Law)
(a) An association of men who gave pledges or sureties to the king
for the good behavior of each other.
(b) The pledge or surety thus given. Blackstone. Tomlins.
BOROUGH-ENGLISH
Bor"ough-Eng"lish, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A custom, as in some ancient boroughs, by which lands and
tenements descend to the youngest son, instead of the eldest; or, if
the owner have no issue, to the youngest brother. Blackstone.
BOROUGHHEAD
Bor"ough*head`, n.
Defn: See Headborough. [Obs.]
BOROUGHHOLDER
Bor"ough*hold"er, n.
Defn: A headborough; a borsholder.
BOROUGHMASTER
Bor"ough*mas"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. Burgomaster.]
Defn: The mayor, governor, or bailiff of a borough.
BOROUGHMONGER
Bor"ough*mon"ger, n.
Defn: One who buys or sells the parliamentary seats of boroughs.
BOROUGHMONGERING; BOROUGHMONGERY
Bor"ough*mon"ger*ing, Bor"ough*mon"ger*y, n.
Defn: The practices of a boroughmonger.
BORRACHO
Bor*rach"o, n.
Defn: See Borachio. [Obs.]
BORRAGE; BORRAGINACEOUS
Bor"rage, n., Bor*rag`i*na"ceous (, a., etc.
Defn: See Borage, n., etc.
BORREL
Bor"rel, n. Etym: [OF. burel a kind of coarse woolen cloth, fr. F.
bure drugget. See Bureau. Rustic and common people dressed in this
cloth, which was prob. so called from its color.]
1. Coarse woolen cloth; hence, coarse clothing; a garment. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
2. A kind of light stuff, of silk and wool.
BORREL
Bor"rel, a. Etym: [Prob. from Borrel, n.]
Defn: Ignorant, unlearned; belonging to the laity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BORROW
Bor"row, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Borrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Borrowing.]
Etym: [OE. borwen, AS. borgian, fr. borg, borh, pledge; akin to D.
borg, G. borg; prob. fr. root of AS. beorgan to protect. Borough.]
1. To receive from another as a loan, with the implied or expressed
intention of returning the identical article or its equivalent in
kind; -- the opposite of lend.
2. (Arith.)
Defn: To take (one or more) from the next higher denomination in
order to add it to the next lower; -- a term of subtraction when the
figure of the subtrahend is larger than the corresponding one of the
minuend.
3. To copy or imitate; to adopt; as, to borrow the style, manner, or
opinions of another.
Rites borrowed from the ancients. Macaulay.
It is not hard for any man, who hath a Bible in his hands, to borrow
good words and holy sayings in abundance; but to make them his own is
a work of grace only from above. Milton.
4. To feign or counterfeit. "Borrowed hair." Spenser.
The borrowed majesty of England. Shak.
5. To receive; to take; to derive.
Any drop thou borrowedst from thy mother. Shak.
To borrow trouble, to be needlessly troubled; to be overapprehensive.
BORROW
Bor"row, n.
1. Something deposited as security; a pledge; a surety; a hostage.
[Obs.]
Ye may retain as borrows my two priests. Sir W. Scott.
2. The act of borrowing. [Obs.]
Of your royal presence I'll adventure The borrow of a week. Shak.
BORROWER
Bor"row*er, n.
Defn: One who borrows.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be. Shak.
BORSHOLDER
Bors"hold`er, n. Etym: [OE. borsolder; prob. fr. AS. borg, gen.
borges, pledge + ealdor elder. See Borrow, and Elder, a.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: The head or chief of a tithing, or borough (see 2d Borough);
the headborough; a parish constable. Spelman.
BORT
Bort, n.
Defn: Imperfectly crystallized or coarse diamonds, or fragments made
in cutting good diamonds which are reduced to powder and used in
lapidary work.
BORURET
Bo"ru*ret, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A boride. [Obs.]
BORWE
Bor"we, n.
Defn: Pledge; borrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOS
Bos, n. Etym: [L., ox, cow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ruminant quadrupeds, including the wild and domestic
cattle, distinguished by a stout body, hollow horns, and a large fold
of skin hanging from the neck.
BOSA
Bo"sa, n. Etym: [Ar. b, Pers. b: cf. F. bosan.]
Defn: A drink, used in the East. See Boza.
BOSCAGE
Bos"cage, n. Etym: [OF. boscage grove, F. bocage, fr. LL. boscus,
buscus, thicket, wood. See 1st Bush.]
1. A growth of trees or shrubs; underwood; a thicket; thick foliage;
a wooded landscape.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Food or sustenance for cattle, obtained from bushes and trees;
also, a tax on wood.
BOSH
Bosh, n. Etym: [Cf. G. posse joke, trifle; It. bozzo a rough stone,
bozzetto a rough sketch, s-bozzo a rough draught, sketch.]
Defn: Figure; outline; show. [Obs.]
BOSH
Bosh, n. Etym: [Turk.]
Defn: Empty talk; contemptible nonsense; trash; humbug. [Colloq.]
BOSH
Bosh, n.; pl. Boshes. Etym: [Cf. G. böschung a slope.]
1. One of the sloping sides of the lower part of a blast furnace;
also, one of the hollow iron or brick sides of the bed of a puddling
or boiling furnace.
2. pl.
Defn: The lower part of a blast furnace, which slopes inward, or the
widest space at the top of this part.
3. In forging and smelting, a trough in which tools and ingots are
cooled.
BOSHBOK
Bosh"bok, n. Etym: [D. bosch wood + bok buck.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of antelope. See Bush buck.
BOSHVARK
Bosh"vark, n. Etym: [D. bosch wood + varken pig.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bush hog. See under Bush, a thicket.
BOSJESMAN
Bos"jes*man, n.
Defn: ; pl. Bosjesmans. [D. boschjesman.]
Defn: See Bushman.
BOSK
Bosk, n. Etym: [See Bosket.]
Defn: A thicket; a small wood. "Through bosk and dell." Sir W. Scott.
BOSKAGE
Bos"kage, n.
Defn: Same as Boscage.
Thridding the somber boskage of the wood. Tennyson.
BOSKET; BOSQUET
Bos"ket, Bos"quet, n. Etym: [F. bosquet a little wood, dim. fr. LL.
boscus. See Boscage, and cf. Bouquet.] (Gardening)
Defn: A grove; a thicket; shrubbery; an inclosure formed by branches
of trees, regularly or irregularly disposed.
BOSKINESS
Bosk"i*ness, n.
Defn: Boscage; also, the state or quality of being bosky.
BOSKY
Bosk"y, a. Etym: [Cf. Bushy.]
1. Woody or bushy; covered with boscage or thickets. Milton.
2. Caused by boscage.
Darkened over by long bosky shadows. H. James.
BOSOM
Bos"om, n. Etym: [AS. b; akin to D. bozem, Fries. b, OHG. puosum, G.
busen, and prob. E. bough.]
1. The breast of a human being; the part, between the arms, to which
anything is pressed when embraced by them.
You must prepare your bosom for his knife. Shak.
2. The breast, considered as the seat of the passions, affections,
and operations of the mind; consciousness; se
Tut, I am in their bosoms, and I know Wherefore they do it. Shak.
If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my
bosom. Job xxxi. 33.
3. Embrace; loving or affectionate inclosure; fold.
Within the bosom of that church. Hooker.
4. Any thing or place resembling the breast; a supporting surface; an
inner recess; the interior; as, the bosom of the earth. "The bosom of
the ocean." Addison.
5. The part of the dress worn upon the breast; an article, or a
portion of an article, of dress to be worn upon the breast; as, the
bosom of a shirt; a linen bosom.
He put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his
hand was leprous as snow. Ex. iv. 6.
6. Inclination; desire. [Obs.] Shak.
7. A depression round the eye of a millstone. Knight.
BOSOM
Bos"om, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the bosom.
2. Intimate; confidential; familiar; trusted; cherished; beloved; as,
a bosom friend.
BOSOM
Bos"om, v. t. [p. & p. p. Bosomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bosoming.]
1. To inclose or carry in the bosom; to keep with care; to take to
heart; to cherish.
Bosom up my counsel, You'll find it wholesome. Shak.
2. To conceal; to hide from view; to embosom.
To happy convents bosomed deep in vines. Pope.
BOSOMED
Bos"omed, a.
Defn: Having, or resembling, bosom; kept in the bosom; hidden.
BOSOMY
Bos"om*y, a.
Defn: Characterized by recesses or sheltered hollows.
BOSON
Bo"son, n.
Defn: See Boatswain. [Obs.] Dryden.
BOSPORIAN
Bos*po"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Bosporus, G. , lit., ox-ford, the ox's or
heifer's ford, on account of Io's passage here as a heifer; fr. ox,
heifer + ford.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Thracian or the Cimmerian Bosporus.
The Alans forced the Bosporian kings to pay them tribute and
exterminated the Taurians. Tooke.
BOSPORUS
Bos"po*rus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A strait or narrow sea between two seas, or a lake and a seas;
as, the Bosporus (formerly the Thracian Bosporus) or Strait of
Constantinople, between the Black Sea and Sea of Marmora; the
Cimmerian Bosporus, between the Black Sea and Sea of Azof. [Written
also Bosphorus.]
BOSQUET
Bos"quet, n.
Defn: See Bosket.
BOSS
Boss, n.; pl. Bosses. Etym: [OE. boce, bose, boche, OF. boce, boche,
bosse, F. bosse, of G. origin; cf. OHG. bozo tuft, bunch, OHG. bozan,
MHG. bôzen, to beat. See Beat, and cf. Botch a swelling.]
1. Any protuberant part; a round, swelling part or body; a knoblike
process; as, a boss of wood.
2. A protuberant ornament on any work, either of different material
from that of the work or of the same, as upon a buckler or bridle; a
stud; a knob; the central projection of a shield. See Umbilicus.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting ornament placed at the intersection of the ribs of
ceilings, whether vaulted or flat, and in other situations.
4. Etym: [Cf. D. bus box, Dan. bösse.]
Defn: A wooden vessel for the mortar used in tiling or masonry, hung
by a hook from the laths, or from the rounds of a ladder. Gwilt.
5. (Mech.)
(a) The enlarged part of a shaft, on which a wheel is keyed, or at
the end, where it is coupled to another.
(b) A swage or die used for shaping metals.
6. A head or reservoir of water. [Obs.]
BOSS
Boss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bossing.] Etym:
[OE. bocen, fr. OF. bocier. See the preceding word.]
Defn: To ornament with bosses; to stud.
BOSS
Boss, n. Etym: [D. baas master.]
Defn: A master workman or superintendent; a director or manager; a
political dictator. [Slang, U. S.]
BOSSAGE
Boss"age, n. Etym: [F. bossage, fr. bosse. See Boss a stud.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A stone in a building, left rough and projecting, to be
afterward carved into shape. Gwilt.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Rustic work, consisting of stones which seem to advance beyond
the level of the building, by reason of indentures or channels left
in the joinings. Gwilt.
BOSSED
Bossed, a.
Defn: Embossed; also, bossy.
BOSSET
Bos"set, n. Etym: [Cf. Boss a stud.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rudimental antler of a young male of the red deer.
BOSSISM
Boss"ism, n.
Defn: The rule or practices of bosses, esp. political bosses. [Slang,
U. S.]
BOSSY
Boss"y, a.
Defn: Ornamented with bosses; studded.
BOSSY
Bos"sy, n. Etym: [Dim. fr. Prov. E. boss in boss-calf, buss-calf, for
boose-calf, prop., a calf kept in the stall. See 1st Boose.]
Defn: A cow or calf; -- familiarly so called. [U. S.]
BOSTON
Bos"ton, n.
Defn: A game at cards, played by four persons, with two packs of
fifty-two cards each; -- said to be so called from Boston,
Massachusetts, and to have been invented by officers of the French
army in America during the Revolutionary war.
BOSTRYX
Bos"tryx, n. [NL.; irreg. fr. Gr. a curl.] (Bot.)
Defn: A form of cymose inflorescence with all the flowers on one side
of the rachis, usually causing it to curl; -- called also a uniparous
helicoid cyme.
BOSWELLIAN
Bos*well"i*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or characteristic of, Boswell, the biographer of
Dr. Johnson.
BOSWELLISM
Bos"well*ism, n.
Defn: The style of Boswell.
BOT
Bot, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bots.
BOTANIC; BOTANICAL
Bo*tan"ic, Bo*tan"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. botanique. See Botany.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to botany; relating to the study of plants;
as, a botanical system, arrangement, textbook, expedition.
-- Botan"ic*al*ly, adv. Botanic garden, a garden devoted to the
culture of plants collected for the purpose of illustrating the
science of botany.
-- Botanic physician, a physician whose medicines consist chiefly of
herbs and roots.
BOTANIST
Bot"a*nist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. botaniste.]
Defn: One skilled in botany; one versed in the knowledge of plants.
BOTANIZE
Bot"a*nize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Botanized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Botanizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. botaniser.]
Defn: To seek after plants for botanical investigation; to study
plants.
BOTANIZE
Bot"a*nize, v. t.
Defn: To explore for botanical purposes.
BOTANIZER
Bot"a*ni`zer, n.
Defn: One who botanizes.
BOTANOLOGER
Bot`a*nol"o*ger, n.
Defn: A botanist. [Obs.]
BOTANOLOGY
Bot`a*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Botany + -logy: cf. F. botanologie.]
Defn: The science of botany. [Obs.] Bailey.
BOTANOMANCY
Bot"a*no*man`cy, n. Etym: [Botany + -mancy: cf. F. botanomantie.]
Defn: An ancient species of divination by means of plants, esp. sage
and fig leaves.
BOTANY
Bot"a*ny, n.; pl. Botanies. Etym: [F. botanique, a. & n., fr. Gr.
botanic, fr. herb, plant, fr. to feed, graze.]
1. The science which treats of the structure of plants, the functions
of their parts, their places of growth, their classification, and the
terms which are employed in their description and denomination. See
Plant.
2. A book which treats of the science of botany.
Note: Botany is divided into various departments; as, Structural
Botany, which investigates the structure and organic composition of
plants; Physiological Botany, the study of their functions and life;
and Systematic Botany, which has to do with their classification,
description, nomenclature, etc.
BOTANY BAY
Bot"a*ny Bay".
Defn: A harbor on the east coast of Australia, and an English convict
settlement there; -- so called from the number of new plants found on
its shore at its discovery by Cook in 1770.
Note: Hence, any place to which desperadoes resort. Botany Bay kino
(Med.), an astringent, reddish substance consisting of the
inspissated juice of several Australian species of Eucalyptus.
-- Botany Bay resin (Med.), a resin of reddish yellow color,
resembling gamboge, the product of different Australian species of
Xanthorrhæa, esp. the grass three (X. hastilis.)
BOTARGO
Bo*tar"go, n. Etym: [It. bottarga, bottarica; or Sp. botarga; a kind
of large sausages, a sort of wide breeches: cf. F. boutargue.]
Defn: A sort of cake or sausage, made of the salted roes of the
mullet, much used on the coast of the Mediterranean as an incentive
to drink.
BOTCH
Botch, n.; pl. Botches. Etym: [Same as Boss a stud. For senses 2 & 3
cf. D. botsen to beat, akin to E. beat.]
1. A swelling on the skin; a large ulcerous affection; a boil; an
eruptive disease. [Obs. or Dial.]
Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss. Milton.
2. A patch put on, or a part of a garment patched or mended in a
clumsy manner.
3. Work done in a bungling manner; a clumsy performance; a piece of
work, or a place in work, marred in the doing, or not properly
finished; a bungle.
To leave no rubs nor botches in the work. Shak.
BOTCH
Botch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Botched; p. pr. & vb. n. Botching.] Etym:
[See Botch, n.]
1. To mark with, or as with, botches.
Young Hylas, botched with stains. Garth.
2. To repair; to mend; esp. to patch in a clumsy or imperfect manner,
as a garment; -- sometimes with up.
Sick bodies . . . to be kept and botched up for a time. Robynson
(More's Utopia).
3. To put together unsuitably or unskillfully; to express or perform
in a bungling manner; to spoil or mar, as by unskillful work.
For treason botched in rhyme will be thy bane. Dryden.
BOTCHEDLY
Botch"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clumsy manner.
BOTCHER
Botch"er, n.
1. One who mends or patches, esp. a tailor or cobbler. Shak.
2. A clumsy or careless workman; a bungler.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young salmon; a grilse.
BOTCHERLY
Botch"er*ly, a.
Defn: Bungling; awkward. [R.]
BOTCHERY
Botch"er*y, n.
Defn: A botching, or that which is done by botching; clumsy or
careless workmanship.
BOTCHY
Botch"y, a.
Defn: Marked with botches; full of botches; poorly done. "This botchy
business." Bp. Watson.
BOTE
Bote, n. Etym: [Old form of boot; -- used in composition. See 1st
Boot.] (Law)
(a) Compensation; amends; satisfaction; expiation; as, man bote, a
compensation or a man slain.
(b) Payment of any kind. Bouvier.
(c) A privilege or allowance of necessaries.
Note: This word is still used in composition as equivalent to the
French estovers, supplies, necessaries; as, housebote, a sufficiency
of wood to repair a house, or for fuel, sometimes called firebote; so
plowbote, cartbote, wood for making or repairing instruments of
husbandry; haybote or hedgebote, wood for hedges, fences, etc. These
were privileges enjoyed by tenants under the feudal system. Burrill.
Bouvier. Blackstone.
BOTELESS
Bote"less, a.
Defn: Unavailing; in vain. See Bootless.
BOTFLY
Bot"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dipterous insect of the family (Estridæ, of many different
species, some of which are particularly troublesome to domestic
animals, as the horse, ox, and sheep, on which they deposit their
eggs. A common species is one of the botflies of the horse
(Gastrophilus equi), the larvæ of which (bots) are taken into the
stomach of the animal, where they live several months and pass
through their larval states. In tropical America one species
sometimes lives under the human skin, and another in the stomach. See
Gadfly.
BOTH
Both, a. or pron. Etym: [OE. bothe, ba, fr. Icel. ba; akin to Dan.
baade, Sw. båda, Goth. baj, OHG. beid, b, G. & D. beide, also AS.
begen, ba, b, Goth. bai, and Gr. , L. ambo, Lith. abà, OSlav. oba,
Skr. ubha. sq. root310. Cf. Amb-.]
Defn: The one and the other; the two; the pair, without exception of
either.
Note: It is generally used adjectively with nouns; as, both horses
ran away; but with pronouns, and often with nous, it is used
substantively, and followed by of.
Note: It frequently stands as a pronoun.
She alone is heir to both of us. Shak.
Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both
of them made a covenant. Gen. xxi. 27.
He will not bear the loss of his rank, because he can bear the loss
of his estate; but he will bear both, because he is prepared for
both. Bolingbroke.
Note: It is often used in apposition with nouns or pronouns.
Thy weal and woe are both of them extremes. Shak.
This said, they both betook them several ways. Milton.
Note: Both now always precedes any other attributive words; as, both
their armies; both our eyes.
Note: Both of is used before pronouns in the objective case; as, both
of us, them, whom, etc.; but before substantives its used is
colloquial, both (without of) being the preferred form; as, both the
brothers.
BOTH
Both, conj.
Defn: As well; not only; equally.
Note: Both precedes the first of two coördinate words or phrases, and
is followed by and before the other, both . . . and . . . ; as well
the one as the other; not only this, but also that; equally the
former and the latter. It is also sometimes followed by more than two
coördinate words, connected by and expressed or understood.
To judge both quick and dead. Milton.
A masterpiece both for argument and style. Goldsmith.
To whom bothe heven and erthe and see is sene. Chaucer.
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp, and hound. Goldsmith.
He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast.
Coleridge.
BOTHER
Both"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bothered (p. pr. & vb. n. Bothering.]
Etym: [Cf. Ir. buaidhirt trouble, buaidhrim I vex.]
Defn: To annoy; to trouble; to worry; to perplex. See Pother.
Note: The imperative is sometimes used as an exclamation mildly
imprecatory.
BOTHER
Both"er, v. i.
Defn: To feel care or anxiety; to make or take trouble; to be
troublesome.
Without bothering about it. H. James.
BOTHER
Both"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, bothers; state of perplexity or
annoyance; embarrassment; worry; disturbance; petty trouble; as, to
be in a bother.
BOTHERATION
Both`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of bothering, or state of being bothered; cause of
trouble; perplexity; annoyance; vexation. [Colloq.]
BOTHERER
Both"er*er, n.
Defn: One who bothers.
BOTHERSOME
Both"er*some, a.
Defn: Vexatious; causing bother; causing trouble or perplexity;
troublesome.
BOTH-HANDS
Both"-hands`, n.
Defn: A factotum. [R.]
He is his master's both-hands, I assure you. B. Jonson.
BOTHIE
Both"ie, n.
Defn: Same as Bothy. [Scot.]
BOTHNIAN; BOTHNIC
Both"ni*an, Both"nic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Bothnia, a country of northern Europe, or
to a gulf of the same name which forms the northern part of the
Baltic sea.
BOTHRENCHYMA
Both*ren"chy*ma, n. Etym: [Gr. pit + something poured in. Formed like
parenchyma.] (Bot.)
Defn: Dotted or pitted ducts or vessels forming the pores seen in
many kinds of wood.
BOTHY; BOOTHY
Both"y Booth"y n.; pl. -ies Etym: [Scottish. Cf. Booth.]
Defn: A wooden hut or humble cot, esp. a rude hut or barrack for
unmarried farm servants; a shepherd's or hunter's hut; a booth.
[Scot.]
BOTOCUDOS
Bo`to*cu"dos, n. pl. Etym: [Pg. botoque stopple. So called because
they wear a wooden plug in the pierced lower lip.]
Defn: A Brazilian tribe of Indians, noted for their use of poisons; -
- also called Aymborés.
BO TREE
Bo" tree`. (Bot.)
Defn: The peepul tree; esp., the very ancient tree standing at
Anurajahpoora in Ceylon, grown from a slip of the tree under which
Gautama is said to have received the heavenly light and so to have
become Buddha.
The sacred bo tree of the Buddhists (Ficus religiosa), which is
planted close to every temple, and attracts almost as much veneration
as the status of the god himself. . . . It differs from the banyan
(Ficus Indica) by sending down no roots from its branches. Tennent.
BOTRYOGEN
Bot"ry*o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. cluster of grapes + -gen.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous sulphate of iron of a deep red color. It often occurs
in botryoidal form.
BOTRYOID; BOTRYOIDAL
Bot"ry*oid, Bot`ry*oid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. cluster of grapes + -oid.]
Defn: Having the form of a bunch of grapes; like a cluster of grapes,
as a mineral presenting an aggregation of small spherical or
spheroidal prominences.
BOTRYOLITE
Bot"ry*o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. cluster of grapes + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of datolite, usually having a botryoidal structure.
BOTRYOSE
Bot"ry*ose`, a. (Bot.)
(a) Having the form of a cluster of grapes.
(b) Of the racemose or acropetal type of inflorescence. Gray.
BOTS
Bots, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Gael. botus belly worm, boiteag maggot.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The larvæ of several species of botfly, especially those larvæ
which infest the stomach, throat, or intestines of the horse, and are
supposed to be the cause of various ailments. [Written also botts.]
Note: See Illust. of Botfly.
BOTTINE
Bot*tine", n. Etym: [F. See Boot (for the foot.).]
1. A small boot; a lady's boot.
2. An appliance resembling a small boot furnished with straps,
buckles, etc., used to correct or prevent distortions in the lower
extremities of children. Dunglison.
BOTTLE
Bot"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bote, botelle, OF. botel, bouteille, F.
bouteille, fr. LL. buticula, dim. of butis, buttis, butta, flask. Cf.
Butt a cask.]
1. A hollow vessel, usually of glass or earthenware (but formerly of
leather), with a narrow neck or mouth, for holding liquids.
2. The contents of a bottle; as much as a bottle contains; as, to
drink a bottle of wine.
3. Fig.: Intoxicating liquor; as, to drown one's reason in the
bottle.
Note: Bottle is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a
compound. Bottle ale, bottled ale. [Obs.] Shak.
-- Bottle brush, a cylindrical brush for cleansing the interior of
bottles.
-- Bottle fish (Zoöl.), a kind of deep-sea eel (Saccopharynx
ampullaceus), remarkable for its baglike gullet, which enables it to
swallow fishes two or three times its won size.
-- Bottle flower. (Bot.) Same as Bluebottle.
-- Bottle glass, a coarse, green glass, used in the manufacture of
bottles. Ure.
-- Bottle gourd (Bot.), the common gourd or calabash (Lagenaria
Vulgaris), whose shell is used for bottles, dippers, etc.
-- Bottle grass (Bot.), a nutritious fodder grass (Setaria glauca
and S. viridis); -- called also foxtail, and green foxtail.
-- Bottle tit (Zoöl.), the European long-tailed titmouse; -- so
called from the shape of its nest.
-- Bottle tree (Bot.), an Australian tree (Sterculia rupestris),
with a bottle-shaped, or greatly swollen, trunk.
-- Feeding bottle, Nursing bottle, a bottle with a rubber nipple
(generally with an intervening tubve), used in feeding infants.
BOTTLE
Bot"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bottled p. pr. & vb. n. Bottling.]
Defn: To put into bottles; to inclose in, or as in, a bottle or
bottles; to keep or restrain as in a bottle; as, to bottle wine or
porter; to bottle up one's wrath.
BOTTLE
Bot"tle, n. Etym: [OE. botel, OF. botel, dim. of F. botte; cf. OHG.
bozo bunch. See Boss stud.]
Defn: A bundle, esp. of hay. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Chaucer. Shak.
BOTTLED
Bot"tled, a.
1. Put into bottles; inclosed in bottles; pent up in, or as in, a
bottle.
2. Having the shape of a bottle; protuberant. Shak.
BOTTLE GREEN
Bot"tle green`
Defn: A dark shade of green, like that of bottle glass.
-- Bot"tle-green`, a.
BOTTLEHEAD
Bot"tle*head`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cetacean allied to the grampus; -- called also bottle-nosed
whale.
Note: There are several species so named, as the pilot whales, of the
genus Globicephalus, and one or more species of Hyperoödon (H.
bidens, etc.), found on the European coast. See Blackfish, 1.
BOTTLEHOLDER
Bot"tle*hold`er, n.
1. One who attends a pugilist in a prize fight; -- so called from the
bottle of water of which he has charge.
2. One who assists or supports another in a contest; an abettor; a
backer. [Colloq.]
Lord Palmerston considered himself the bottleholder of oppressed
states. The London Times.
BOTTLE-NECK FRAME
Bot"tle-neck` frame". (Automobiles)
Defn: An inswept frame. [Colloq.]
BOTTLE-NOSE
Bot"tle-nose` (, n. (Zoöl.)
1. A cetacean of the Dolphin family, of several species, as Delphinus
Tursio and Lagenorhyncus leucopleurus, of Europe.
2. The puffin.
BOTTLE-NOSED
Bot"tle-nosed` (, a.
Defn: Having the nose bottleshaped, or large at the end. Dickens.
BOTTLER
Bot"tler, n.
Defn: One who bottles wine, beer, soda water, etc.
BOTTLESCREW
Bot"tle*screw` n.
Defn: A corkscrew. Swift.
BOTTLING
Bot"tling n.
Defn: The act or the process of putting anything into bottles (as
beer, mineral water, etc.) and corking the bottles.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, n. Etym: [OE. botum, botme, AS. botm; akin to OS. bodom, D.
bodem, OHG. podam, G. boden, Icel. botn, Sw. botten, Dan. bund (for
budn ), L. fundus (for fudnus), Gr.budhna (for bhudhna), and Ir. bonn
sole of the foot, W. bon stem, base. Cf. 4th Found, Fund, n.]
1. The lowest part of anything; the foot; as, the bottom of a tree or
well; the bottom of a hill, a lane, or a page.
Or dive into the bottom of the deep. Shak.
2. The part of anything which is beneath the contents and supports
them, as the part of a chair on which a person sits, the circular
base or lower head of a cask or tub, or the plank floor of a ship's
hold; the under surface.
Barrels with the bottom knocked out. Macaulay.
No two chairs were alike; such high backs and low backs and leather
bottoms and worsted bottoms. W. Irving.
3. That upon which anything rests or is founded, in a literal or a
figurative sense; foundation; groundwork.
4. The bed of a body of water, as of a river, lake, sea.
5. The fundament; the buttocks.
6. An abyss. [Obs.] Dryden.
7. Low land formed by alluvial deposits along a river; low-lying
ground; a dale; a valley. "The bottoms and the high grounds."
Stoddard.
8. (Naut.)
Defn: The part of a ship which is ordinarily under water; hence, the
vessel itself; a ship.
My ventures are not in one bottom trusted. Shak.
Not to sell the teas, but to return them to London in the same
bottoms in which they were shipped. Bancroft.
Full bottom, a hull of such shape as permits carrying a large amount
of merchandise.
9. Power of endurance; as, a horse of a good bottom.
10. Dregs or grounds; lees; sediment. Johnson. At bottom, At the
bottom, at the foundation or basis; in reality. "He was at the bottom
a good man." J. F. Cooper.
-- To be at the bottom of, to be the cause or originator of; to be
the source of. [Usually in an opprobrious sense.] J. H. Newman.
He was at the bottom of many excellent counsels. Addison.
-- To go to the bottom, to sink; esp. to be wrecked.
-- To touch bottom, to reach the lowest point; to find something on
which to rest.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the bottom; fundamental; lowest; under; as,
bottom rock; the bottom board of a wagon box; bottom prices. Bottom
glade, a low glade or open place; a valley; a dale. Milton. -Bottom
grass, grass growing on bottom lands.
-- Bottom land. See 1st Bottom, n., 7.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bottomed (p. pr. & vb. n. Bottoming.]
1. To found or build upon; to fix upon as a support; -- followed by
on or upon.
Action is supposed to be bottomed upon principle. Atterbury.
Those false and deceiving grounds upon which many bottom their
eternal state]. South.
2. To furnish with a bottom; as, to bottom a chair.
3. To reach or get to the bottom of. Smiles.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, v. i.
1. To rest, as upon an ultimate support; to be based or grounded; --
usually with on or upon.
Find on what foundation any proposition bottoms. Locke.
2. To reach or impinge against the bottom, so as to impede free
action, as when the point of a cog strikes the bottom of a space
between two other cogs, or a piston the end of a cylinder.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, n. Etym: [OE. botme, perh. corrupt. for button. See Button.]
Defn: A ball or skein of thread; a cocoon. [Obs.]
Silkworms finish their bottoms in . . . fifteen days. Mortimer.
BOTTOM
Bot"tom, v. t.
Defn: To wind round something, as in making a ball of thread. [Obs.]
As you unwind her love from him, Lest it should ravel and be good to
none, You must provide to bottom it on me. Shak.
BOTTOMED
Bot"tomed, a.
Defn: Having at the bottom, or as a bottom; resting upon a bottom;
grounded; -- mostly, in composition; as, sharp-bottomed; well-
bottomed.
BOTTOM FERMENTATION
Bot"tom fer`men*ta"tion.
Defn: A slow alcoholic fermentation during which the yeast cells
collect at the bottom of the fermenting liquid. It takes place at a
temperature of 4º - 10º C. (39º - 50ºF.). It is used in making lager
beer and wines of low alcohol content but fine bouquet.
BOTTOMLESS
Bot"tom*less, a.
Defn: Without a bottom; hence, fathomless; baseless; as, a bottomless
abyss. "Bottomless speculations." Burke.
BOTTOMRY
Bot"tom*ry, n. Etym: [From 1st Bottom in sense 8: cf.D. bodemerij.
Cf. Bummery.] (Mar.Law)
Defn: A contract in the nature of a mortgage, by which the owner of a
ship, or the master as his agent, hypothecates and binds the ship
(and sometimes the accruing freight) as security for the repayment of
money advanced or lent for the use of the ship, if she terminates her
voyage successfully. If the ship is lost by perils of the sea, the
lender loses the money; but if the ship arrives safe, he is to
receive the money lent, with the interest or premium stipulated,
although it may, and usually does, exceed the legal rate of interest.
See Hypothecation.
BOTTONY; BOTTONE
Bot"ton*y, Bot"to*né, a. Etym: [F. boutonné, fr. boutonner to bud,
button.] (Her.)
Defn: Having a bud or button, or a kind of trefoil, at the end;
furnished with knobs or buttons. Cross bottony (Her.), a cross having
each arm terminating in three rounded lobes, forming a sort of
trefoil.
BOTTS
Botts, n. pl. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bots.
BOTULIFORM
Bot"u*li*form`, a. Etym: [L. botulus sausage + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the shape of a sausage. Henslow.
BOUCHE
Bouche, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Same as Bush, a lining.
BOUCHE
Bouche, v. t.
Defn: Same as Bush, to line.
BOUCHE; BOUCH
Bouche, Bouch, n. Etym: [F. bouche mouth, victuals.]
1. A mouth. [Obs.]
2. An allowance of meat and drink for the tables of inferior officers
or servants in a nobleman's palace or at court. [Obs.]
BOUCHEES
Bou`chées", n. pl. Etym: [F., morsels, mouthfuls, fr. bouche mouth.]
(Cookery)
Defn: Small patties.
BOUCHERIZE
Bou"cher*ize, v. t. [After Dr. Auguste Boucherie, a French chemist,
who invented the process.]
Defn: To impregnate with a preservative solution of copper sulphate,
as timber, railroad ties, etc.
BOUD
Boud, n.
Defn: A weevil; a worm that breeds in malt, biscuit, etc. [Obs.]
Tusser., n. Etym: [F., fr. bouder to pout, be sulky.]
Defn: A small room, esp. if pleasant, or elegantly furnished, to
which a lady may retire to be alone, or to receive intimate friends;
a lady's (or sometimes a gentleman's) private room. Cowper.
BOUDOIR
Bou*doir", n. [F., fr. bouder to pout, be sulky.]
Defn: A small room, esp. if pleasant, or elegantly furnished, to
which a lady may retire to be alone, or to receive intimate friends;
a lady's (or sometimes a gentleman's) private room. Cowper.
BOUFFE
Bouffe, n. Etym: [F., buffoon.]
Defn: Comic opera. See Opera Bouffe.
BOUGAINVILLAEA
Bou`gain*vil*læ`a, n. Etym: [Named from Bougainville, the French
navigator.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Nyctoginaceæ, from tropical
South America, having the flowers surrounded by large bracts.
BOUGE
Bouge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bouged] Etym: [Variant of bulge. Cf.
Bowge.]
1. To swell out. [Obs.]
2. To bilge. [Obs.] "Their ship bouged." Hakluyt.
BOUGE
Bouge, v. t.
Defn: To stave in; to bilge. [Obs.] Holland.
BOUGE
Bouge, n. Etym: [F. bouche mouth, victuals.]
Defn: Bouche (see Bouche, 2); food and drink; provisions. [Obs.]
[They] made room for a bombardman that brought bouge for a country
lady or two, that fainted . . . with fasting. B. Jonson
.
BOUGET
Bou"get, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bougette sack, bag. Cf. Budget.] (Her.)
Defn: A charge representing a leather vessel for carrying water; --
also called water bouget.
BOUGH
Bough, n. Etym: [OE. bogh, AS. bog, boh, bough, shoulder; akin to
Icel. bogr shoulder, bow of a ship, Sw. bog, Dan. bov, OHG. buog, G.
bug, and to Gr.bahu (for bhaghu) arm. sq. root88, 251. Cf. Bow of a
ship.]
1. An arm or branch of a tree, esp. a large arm or main branch.
2. A gallows. [Archaic] Spenser.
BOUGHT
Bought, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. bugt bend, turning, Icel. bug. Cf. Bight,
Bout, and see Bow to bend.]
1. A flexure; a bend; a twist; a turn; a coil, as in a rope; as the
boughts of a serpent. [Obs.] Spenser.
The boughts of the fore legs. Sir T. Browne.
2. The part of a sling that contains the stone. [Obs.]
BOUGHT
Bought,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Buy.
BOUGHT
Bought, p. a.
Defn: Purchased; bribed.
BOUGHTEN
Bought"en, a.
Defn: Purchased; not obtained or produced at home. Coleridge.
BOUGHTY
Bought"y, a.
Defn: Bending. [Obs.] Sherwood.
BOUGIE
Bou*gie" (, n. Etym: [F. bougie wax candle, bougie, fr. Bougie,
Bugia, a town of North Africa, from which these candles were first
imported into Europe.]
1. (Surg.)
Defn: A long, flexible instrument, that is
Note: introduced into the urethra, esophagus, etc., to remove
obstructions, or for the other purposes. It was originally made of
waxed linen rolled into cylindrical form.
2. (Pharm.)
Defn: A long slender rod consisting of gelatin or some other
substance that melts at the temperature of the body. It is
impregnated with medicine, and designed for introduction into
urethra, etc.
BOUGIE DECIMALE
Bou*gie" dé`ci`male". [F., lit., decimal candle.]
Defn: A photometric standard used in France, having the value of one
twentieth of the Violle platinum standard, or slightly less than a
British standard candle. Called also decimal candle.
BOUILLI
Bou`illi" (, n. Etym: [F., fr. bouillir to boil.] (Cookery)
Defn: Boiled or stewed meat; beef boiled with vegetables in water
from which its gravy is to be made; beef from which bouillon or soup
has been made.
BOUILLON
Bou`illon" (, n. Etym: [F., fr. bouillir to boil.]
1. A nutritious liquid food made by boiling beef, or other meat, in
water; a clear soup or broth.
2. (Far.)
Defn: An excrescence on a horse's frush or frog.
BOUK
Bouk, n. Etym: [AS. bücbauch, Icel. bü body.]
1. The body. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Bulk; volume. [Scot.]
BOUL
Boul, n.
Defn: A curved handle. Sir W. Scott.
BOULANGERITE
Bou*lan"ger*ite, n. Etym: [From Boulanger, a French mineralogist.]
(Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a bluish gray color and metallic luster, usually
in plumose masses, also compact. It is sulphide of antimony and lead.
BOULANGISM
Bou*lan"gism, n. [F. boulangisme.]
Defn: The spirit or principles of a French political movement
identified with Gen. Georges Boulanger (d. 1891), whose militarism
and advocacy of revenge on Germany attracted to him a miscellaneous
party of monarchists and Republican malcontents. -- Bou*lan"gist (#),
n.
BOULDER
Boul"der, n.
Defn: Same as Bowlder.
BOULDERY
Boul"der*y, a.
Defn: Characterized by bowlders.
BOULE; BOULEWORK
Boule, Boule"work`, n.
Defn: Same as Buhl, Buhlwork.
BOULEVARD
Bou"le*vard`, n. Etym: [F. boulevard, boulevart, fr. G. bollwerk. See
Bulwark.]
1. Originally, a bulwark or rampart of fortification or fortified
town.
2. A public walk or street occupying the site of demolished
fortifications. Hence: A broad avenue in or around a city.
BOULEVARDIER
Boule`var`dier", n. [F.]
Defn: A frequenter of a city boulevard, esp. in Paris. F. Harrison.
BOULEVERSEMENT
Boule`verse`ment", n. Etym: [F., fr. bouleverser to overthrow.]
Defn: Complete overthrow; disorder; a turning upside down.
BOULT
Boult, n.
Defn: Corrupted form Bolt.
BOULT
Boult (bolt), n.
Defn: Corrupted form Bolt.
BOULTEL; BOULTIN
Boul"tel, Boul"tin, n. (Arch.)
(a) A molding, the convexity of which is one fourth of a circle,
being a member just below the abacus in the Tuscan and Roman Doric
capital; a torus; an ovolo.
(b) One of the shafts of a clustered column. [Written also bowtel,
boltel, boultell, etc.]
BOULTER
Boul"ter, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A long, stout fishing line to which many hooks are attached.
BOUN
Boun, a. Etym: [See Bound ready.]
Defn: Ready; prepared; destined; tending. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOUN
Boun, v. t.
Defn: To make or get ready. Sir W. Scott.
BOUNCE
Bounce, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bounced; p. pr. & vb. n. Bouncing.] Etym:
[OE. bunsen; cf. D. bonzen to strike, bounce, bons blow, LG. bunsen
to knock; all prob. of imitative origin.]
1. To strike or thump, so as to rebound, or to make a sudden noise; a
knock loudly.
Another bounces as hard as he can knock. Swift.
Against his bosom bounced his heaving heart. Dryden.
2. To leap or spring suddenly or unceremoniously; to bound; as, she
bounced into the room.
Out bounced the mastiff. Swift.
Bounced off his arm+chair. Thackeray.
3. To boast; to talk big; to bluster. [Obs.]
BOUNCE
Bounce, v. t.
1. To drive against anything suddenly and violently; to bump; to
thump. Swift.
2. To cause to bound or rebound; sometimes, to toss.
3. To eject violently, as from a room; to discharge unceremoniously,
as from employment. [Collog. U. S.]
4. To bully; to scold. [Collog.] J. Fletcher.
BOUNCE
Bounce, n.
1. A sudden leap or bound; a rebound.
2. A heavy, sudden, and often noisy, blow or thump.
The bounce burst open the door. Dryden.
3. An explosion, or the noise of one. [Obs.]
4. Bluster; brag; untruthful boasting; audacious exaggeration; an
impudent lie; a bouncer. Johnson. De Quincey.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dogfish of Europe (Scyllium catulus).
BOUNCE
Bounce, adv.
Defn: With a sudden leap; suddenly.
This impudent puppy comes bounce in upon me. Bickerstaff.
BOUNCER
Boun"cer, n.
1. One who bounces; a large, heavy person who makes much noise in
moving.
2. A boaster; a bully. [Collog.] Johnson.
3. A bold lie; also, a liar. [Collog.] Marryat.
4. Something big; a good stout example of the kind.
The stone must be a bouncer. De Quincey.
BOUNCING
Boun"cing, a.
1. Stout; plump and healthy; lusty; buxom.
Many tall and bouncing young ladies. Thackeray.
2. Excessive; big. "A bouncing reckoning." B. & Fl. Bouncing Bet
(Bot.), the common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). Harper's Mag.
BOUNCINGLY
Boun"cing*ly, adv.
Defn: With a bounce.
BOUND
Bound, n. Etym: [OE. bounde, bunne, OF. bonne, bonde, bodne, F.
borne, fr. LL. bodina, bodena, bonna; prob. of Celtic origin; cf.
Arm. bonn boundary, limit, and boden, bod, a tuft or cluster of
trees, by which a boundary or limit could be marked. Cf. Bourne.]
Defn: The external or limiting line, either real or imaginary, of any
object or space; that which limits or restrains, or within which
something is limited or restrained; limit; confine; extent; boundary.
He hath compassed the waters with bounds. Job xxvi. 10.
On earth's remotest bounds. Campbell.
And mete the bounds of hate and love. Tennyson.
To keep within bounds, not to exceed or pass beyond assigned limits;
to act with propriety or discretion.
Syn.
-- See Boundary.
BOUND
Bound, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Bounding.]
1. To limit; to terminate; to fix the furthest point of extension of;
-- said of natural or of moral objects; to lie along, or form, a
boundary of; to inclose; to circumscribe; to restrain; to confine.
Where full measure only bounds excess. Milton.
Phlegethon . . . Whose fiery flood the burning empire bounds. Dryden.
2. To name the boundaries of; as, to bound France.
BOUND
Bound, v. i. Etym: [F. bondir to leap, OF. bondir, bundir, to leap,
resound, fr. L. bombitare to buzz, hum, fr. bombus a humming,
buzzing. See Bomb.]
1. To move with a sudden spring or leap, or with a succession of
springs or leaps; as the beast bounded from his den; the herd bounded
across the plain.
Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds. Pope.
And the waves bound beneath me as a steed That knows his rider.
Byron.
2. To rebound, as an elastic ball.
BOUND
Bound, v. t.
1. To make to bound or leap; as, to bound a horse. [R.] Shak.
2. To cause to rebound; to throw so that it will rebound; as, to
bound a ball on the floor. [Collog.]
BOUND
Bound, n.
1. A leap; an elastic spring; a jump.
A bound of graceful hardihood. Wordsworth.
2. Rebound; as, the bound of a ball. Johnson.
3. (Dancing)
Defn: Spring from one foot to the other.
BOUND
Bound,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Bind.
BOUND
Bound, p. p. & a.
1. Restrained by a hand, rope, chain, fetters, or the like.
2. Inclosed in a binding or cover; as, a bound volume.
3. Under legal or moral restraint or obligation.
4. Constrained or compelled; destined; certain; -- followed by the
infinitive; as, he is bound to succeed; he is bound to fail.
5. Resolved; as, I am bound to do it. [Collog. U. S.]
6. Constipated; costive.
Note: Used also in composition; as, icebound, windbound, hidebound,
etc. Bound bailiff (Eng. Law), a sheriff's officer who serves writs,
makes arrests, etc. The sheriff being answerable for the bailiff's
misdemeanors, the bailiff is usually under bond for the faithful
discharge of his trust.
-- Bound up in, entirely devoted to; inseparable from.
BOUND
Bound, a. Etym: [Past p. of OE. bounen to prepare, fr. boun ready,
prepared, fr. Icel. bü, p. p. of büaboor and bower. See Bond, a., and
cf. Busk, v.]
Defn: Ready or intending to go; on the way toward; going; -- with to
or for, or with an adverb of motion; as, a ship is bound to Cadiz, or
for Cadiz. "The mariner bound homeward." Cowper.
BOUNDARY
Bound"a*ry, n.; pl. Boundaries ( Etym: [From Bound a limit; cf. LL.
bonnarium piece of land with fixed limits.]
Defn: That which indicates or fixes a limit or extent, or marks a
bound, as of a territory; a bounding or separating line; a real or
imaginary limit.
But still his native country lies Beyond the boundaries of the skies.
N. Cotton.
That bright and tranquil stream, the boundary of Louth and Meath.
Macaulay.
Sensation and reflection are the boundaries of our thoughts. Locke.
Syn.
-- Limit; bound; border; term; termination; barrier; verge;
confines; precinct. Bound, Boundary. Boundary, in its original and
strictest sense, is a visible object or mark indicating a limit.
Bound is the limit itself. But in ordinary usage the two words are
made interchangeable.
BOUNDEN
Bound"en, p.p & a. Etym: [Old. p. p. of bind.]
1. Bound; fastened by bonds. [Obs.]
2. Under obligation; bound by some favor rendered; obliged; beholden.
This holy word, that teacheth us truly our bounden duty toward our
Lord God in every point. Ridley.
3. Made obligatory; imposed as a duty; binding.
I am much bounden to your majesty. Shak.
BOUNDER
Bound"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, limits; a boundary. Sir T. Herbert.
BOUNDING
Bound"ing, a.
Defn: Moving with a bound or bounds.
The bounding pulse, the languid limb. Montgomery.
BOUNDLESS
Bound"less, a.
Defn: Without bounds or confines; illimitable; vast; unlimited. "The
boundless sky." Bryant. "The boundless ocean." Dryden. "Boundless
rapacity." "Boundless prospect of gain." Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Unlimited; unconfined; immeasurable; illimitable; infinite.
-- Bound"less*ly, adv.
-- Bound"less*ness, n.
BOUNTEOUS
Boun"te*ous, a. Etym: [OE. bountevous, fr. bounte bounty.]
Defn: Liberal in charity; disposed to give freely; generously
liberal; munificent; beneficent; free in bestowing gifts; as,
bounteous production.
But O, thou bounteous Giver of all good. Cowper.
-- Boun"te*ous*ly, adv.
-- Boun"te*ous*ness, n.
BOUNTIFUL
Boun"ti*ful, a.
1. Free in giving; liberal in bestowing gifts and favors.
God, the bountiful Author of our being. Locke.
2. Plentiful; abundant; as, a bountiful supply of food.
Syn.
-- Liberal; munificent; generous; bounteous.
-- Boun"ti*ful*ly, adv.
-- Boun"ti*ful*ness, n.
BOUNTIHEAD; BOUNTYHOOD
Boun"ti*head, Boun"ty*hood, n.
Defn: Goodness; generosity. [Obs.] Spenser.
BOUNTY
Boun"ty, n.; pl. Bounties. Etym: [OE. bounte goodness, kindness, F.
bonté, fr. L. bonitas, fr. bonus good, for older duonus; cf. Skr.
duvas honor, respect.]
1. Goodness, kindness; virtue; worth. [Obs.]
Nature set in her at once beauty with bounty. Gower.
2. Liberality in bestowing gifts or favors; gracious or liberal
giving; generosity; munificence.
My bounty is as boundless as the sea. Shak.
3. That which is given generously or liberally. "Thy morning
bounties." Cowper.
4. A premium offered or given to induce men to enlist into the public
service; or to encourage any branch of industry, as husbandry or
manufactures. Bounty jumper, one who, during the latter part of the
Civil War, enlisted in the United States service, and deserted as
soon as possible after receiving the bounty. [Collog.] -- Queen
Anne's bounty (Eng. Hist.), a provision made in Queen Anne's reign
for augmenting poor clerical livings.
Syn.
-- Munificence; generosity; beneficence.
BOUQUET
Bou*quet", n. Etym: [F. bouquet bunch, bunch of flowers, trees,
feathers, for bousquet, bosquet, thicket, a little wood, dim. of LL.
boscus. See Bush thicket, and cf. Bosket, Busket.]
1. A nosegay; a bunch of flowers.
2. A perfume; an aroma; as, the bouquet of wine.
BOUQUETIN
Bou`que*tin", n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ibex.
BOUR
Bour, n. Etym: [See Bower a chamber.]
Defn: A chamber or a cottage. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOURBON
Bour"bon, n. Etym: [From the castle and seigniory of Bourbon in
central France.]
1. A member of a family which has occupied several European thrones,
and whose descendants still claim the throne of France.
2. A politician who is behind the age; a ruler or politician who
neither forgets nor learns anything; an obstinate conservative.
BOURBONISM
Bour"bon*ism, n.
Defn: The principles of those adhering to the house of Bourbon;
obstinate conservatism.
BOURBONIST
Bour"bon*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to the house of Bourbon; a legitimist.
BOURBON WHISKY
Bour"bon whis"ky.
Defn: See under Whisky.
BOURD
Bourd, n. Etym: [F. bourde fib, lie, OF. borde, bourde, jest, joke.]
Defn: A jest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOURD
Bourd, v. i.
Defn: To jest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BOURDER
Bourd"er, n.
Defn: A jester. [Obs.]
BOURDON
Bour"don, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. burdo mule, esp. one used for carrying
litters. Cf. Sp. muleta a young she mule; also, crutch, prop.]
Defn: A pilgrim's staff.
BOURDON
Bour"don`, n. Etym: [F. See Burden a refrain.] (Mus.)
(a) A drone bass, as in a bagpipe, or a hurdy-gurdy. See Burden (of a
song.)
(b) A kind of organ stop.
BOURGEOIS
Bour*geois", n. Etym: [From a French type founder named Bourgeois, or
fr. F. bourgeois of the middle class; hence applied to an
intermediate size of type between brevier and long primer: cf. G.
bourgeois, borgis. Cf. Burgess.] (Print.)
Defn: A size of type between long primer and brevier. See Type.
Note: This line is printed in bourgeois type.
BOURGEOIS
Bour*geois", n. Etym: [F., fr. bourg town; of German origin. See
Burgess.]
Defn: A man of middle rank in society; one of the shopkeeping class.
[France.] a.
Defn: Characteristic of the middle class, as in France.
BOURGEOISIE
Bour*geoi*sie", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The French middle class, particularly such as are concerned in,
or dependent on, trade.
BOURGEON
Bour"geon, v. i. Etym: [OE. burjoun a bud, burjounen to bud, F.
bourgeon a bud, bourgeonner to bud; cf. OHG. burjan to raise.]
Defn: To sprout; to put forth buds; to shoot forth, as a branch.
Gayly to bourgeon and broadly to grow. Sir W. Scott.
BOURI
Bou"ri, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mullet (Mugil capito) found in the rivers of Southern Europe
and in Africa.
BOURN; BOURNE
Bourn, Bourne, n. Etym: [OE. burne, borne, AS. burna; akin to OS.
brunno spring, G. born, brunnen, OHG. prunno, Goth. brunna, Icel.
brunnr, and perh. to Gr. burn, v., because the source of a stream
seems to issue forth bubbling and boiling from the earth. Cf.
Torrent, and see Burn, v.]
Defn: A stream or rivulet; a burn.
My little boat can safely pass this perilous bourn. Spenser.
BOURN; BOURNE
Bourn, Bourne, n. Etym: [F. borne. See Bound a limit.]
Defn: A bound; a boundary; a limit. Hence: Point aimed at; goal.
Where the land slopes to its watery bourn. Cowper.
The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveler returns. Shak.
Sole bourn, sole wish, sole object of my song. Wordsworth.
To make the doctrine . . . their intellectual bourne. Tyndall.
BOURNLESS
Bourn"less, a.
Defn: Without a bourn or limit.
BOURNONITE
Bour"non*ite, n. Etym: [Named after Count Bournon, a minerologist.]
(Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a steel-gray to black color and metallic luster,
occurring crystallized, often in twin crystals shaped like cogwheels
(wheel ore), also massive. It is a sulphide of antimony, lead, and
copper.
BOURNOUS
Bour*nous", n.
Defn: See Burnoose.
BOURREE
Bour*rée, n. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: An old French dance tune in common time.
BOURSE
Bourse, n. Etym: [F. bourse purse, exchange, LL. bursa, fr. Gr.Purse,
Burse.]
Defn: An exchange, or place where merchants, bankers, etc., meet for
business at certain hours; esp., the Stock Exchange of Paris.
BOUSE
Bouse, v. i.
Defn: To drink immoderately; to carouse; to booze. See Booze.
BOUSE
Bouse, n.
Defn: Drink, esp. alcoholic drink; also, a carouse; a booze. "A good
bouse of liquor." Carlyle.
BOUSER
Bous"er, n.
Defn: A toper; a boozer.
BOUSTROPHEDON
Bou`stro*phe"don, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An ancient mode of writing, in alternate directions, one line
from left to right, and the next from right to left (as fields are
plowed), as in early Greek and Hittite.
BOUSTROPHEDONIC
Bou*stroph`e*don"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to the boustrophedon mode of writing.
BOUSTROPHIC
Bou*stroph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Boustrophedonic.
BOUSY
Bousy, a.
Defn: Drunken; sotted; boozy.
In his cups the bousy poet songs. Dryden.
BOUT
Bout, n. Etym: [A different spelling and application of bought bend.]
1. As much of an action as is performed at one time; a going and
returning, as of workmen in reaping, mowing, etc.; a turn; a round.
In notes with many a winding bout Of linked sweetness long drawn out.
Milton.
The prince . . . has taken me in his train, so that I am in no danger
of starving for this bout. Goldsmith.
2. A conflict; contest; attempt; trial; a set-to at anything; as, a
fencing bout; a drinking bout.
The gentleman will, for his honor's sake, have one bout with you; he
can not by the duello avoid it. Shak.
BOUTADE
Bou*tade", n. Etym: [F., fr. bouter to thrust. See Butt.]
Defn: An outbreak; a caprice; a whim. [Obs.]
BOUTEFEU
Boute"feu, n. Etym: [F.; bouter to thrust, put + feu fire.]
Defn: An incendiary; an inciter of quarrels. [Obs.]
Animated by . . . John à Chamber, a very boutefeu, . . . they entered
into open rebellion. Bacon.
BOUTONNIERE
Bou`ton`nière", n. Etym: [F., buttonhole.]
Defn: A bouquet worn in a buttonhole.
BOUTS-RIMES
Bouts`-ri*més", n. pl. Etym: [F. bout end + rimé rhymed.]
Defn: Words that rhyme, proposed as the ends of verses, to be filled
out by the ingenuity of the person to whom they are offered.
BOVATE
Bo"vate, n. Etym: [LL. bovata, fr. bos, bovis, ox.] (O.Eng.Law.)
Defn: An oxgang, or as much land as an ox can plow in a year; an
ancient measure of land, of indefinite quantity, but usually
estimated at fifteen acres.
BOVEY COAL
Bo"vey coal`. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of mineral coal, or brown lignite, burning with a weak
flame, and generally a disagreeable odor; -- found at Bovey Tracey,
Devonshire, England. It is of geological age of the oölite, and not
of the true coal era.
BOVID
Bo"vid, a. Etym: [L. bos, bovis, ox, cow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to that tribe of ruminant mammals of which the genus
Bos is the type.
BOVIFORM
Bo"vi*form, a. Etym: [L. bos, bovis, ox + -form.]
Defn: Resembling an ox in form; ox-shaped. [R.]
BOVINE
Bo"vine, a. Etym: [LL. bovinus, fr.L. bos, bovis, ox, cow: cf. F.
bovine. See Cow.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: of or pertaining to the genus Bos; relating to, or resembling,
the ox or cow; oxlike; as, the bovine genus; a bovine antelope.
2. Having qualities characteristic of oxen or cows; sluggish and
patient; dull; as, a bovine temperament.
The bovine gaze of gaping rustics. W. Black.
BOW
Bow (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.] Etym:
[OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. bugan (generally v.i.); akin to D.
buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen, Icel. boginn bent, beygja to
bend, Sw. böja, Dan. böie, bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to
flee, Gr. bhuj to bend. sq. root88. Cf. Fugitive.]
1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to
make crooked or curved.
We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural
straightness. Milton.
The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny.
Prescott.
2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend,
figuratively; to turn; to incline.
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. Bacon.
Not to bow and bias their opinions. Fuller.
3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect,
gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
2 Kings ii. 15.
4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;
Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave. Shak.
5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
BOW
Bow (bou), v. i.
1. To bend; to curve. [Obs.]
2. To stop. [Archaic]
They stoop, they bow down together. Is. xlvi. 2
3. To bend the head, knee, or body, in token of reverence or
submission; -- often with down.
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our
maker. Ps. xcv. 6.
4. To incline the head in token of salutation, civility, or assent;
to make bow.
Admired, adored by all circling crowd, For wheresoe'er she turned her
face, they bowed. Dryden.
BOW
Bow (bou), n.
Defn: An inclination of the head, or a bending of the body, in token
of reverence, respect, civility, or submission; an obeisance; as, a
bow of deep humility.
BOW
Bow (bo), n. Etym: [OE. bowe, boge, AS. boga, fr. AS. bü to bend;
akin to D. boog, G. bogen, Icel. bogi. See Bow, v. t.]
1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13.
2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic material, with
a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is
propelled.
3. An ornamental knot, with projecting lops, formed by doubling a
ribbon or string.
4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it
to the yoke.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of
horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a
stringed instrument.
6. An acrograph.
7. (Mech. & Manuf.)
Defn: Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends
connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a
drill, or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by
hatters.
8. (Naut.)
Defn: A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's
altitude at sea.
9. (Saddlery) sing. or pl.
Defn: Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a
saddletree. Bow bearer (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest
who looked after trespassers.
-- Bow drill, a drill worked by a bow and string.
-- Bow instrument (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which the
tones are produced by the bow.
-- Bow window (Arch.) See Bay window.
-- To draw a long bow, to lie; to exaggerate. [Colloq.]
BOW
Bow (bo), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowing.]
Defn: To play (music) with a bow.
-- v. i.
Defn: To manage the bow.
BOW
Bow (bo), n. Etym: [Icel. bogr shoulder, bow of a ship. See Bough.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The bending or rounded part of a ship forward; the stream or
prow.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: One who rows in the forward part of a boat; the bow oar. Bow
chaser (Naut.), a gun in the bow for firing while chasing another
vessel. Totten. - Bow piece, a piece of ordnance carried at the bow
of a ship.
-- On the bow (Naut.), on that part of the horizon within 45º on
either side of the line ahead. Totten.
BOWABLE
Bow"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being bowed or bent; flexible; easily influenced;
yielding. [Obs.]
BOWBELL
Bow"bell`, n.
Defn: One born within hearing distance of Bow-bells; a cockney.
Halliwell.
BOW-BELLS
Bow"-bells`, n. pl.
Defn: The bells of Bow Church in London; cockneydom.
People born within the sound of Bow-bells are usually called
cockneys. Murray's Handbook of London.
BOWBENT
Bow"bent`, a.
Defn: Bent, like a bow. Milton.
BOW-COMPASS
Bow"-com`pass, n.; pl. Bow-compasses (.
1. An arcograph.
2. A small pair of compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil, or a
pen, for drawing circles. Its legs are often connected by a bow-
shaped spring, instead of by a joint.
3. A pair of compasses, with a bow or arched plate riveted to one of
the legs, and passing through the other.
BOWDLERIZE
Bowd"ler*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowdlerized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Bowdlerizing.] [After Dr. Thomas Bowdler, an English physician, who
published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare in 1818.]
Defn: To expurgate, as a book, by omitting or modifying the parts
considered offensive.
It is a grave defect in the splendid tale of Tom Jones . . . that a
Bowlderized version of it would be hardly intelligible as a tale.
F. Harrison.
-- Bowd`ler*i*za"tion (#), n. --Bowd"ler*ism (#), n.
BOWEL
Bow"el, n. Etym: [OE. bouel, bouele, OF. boel, boele, F. boyau, fr.
L. botellus a small sausage, in LL. also intestine, dim. of L.
botulus sausage.]
1. One of the intestines of an animal; an entrail, especially of man;
a gut; -- generally used in the plural.
He burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. Acts i.
18.
2. pl.
Defn: Hence, figuratively: The interior part of anything; as, the
bowels of the earth.
His soldiers . . . cried out amain, And rushed into the bowels of the
battle. Shak.
3. pl.
Defn: The seat of pity or kindness. Hence: Tenderness; compassion.
"Thou thing of no bowels." Shak.
Bloody Bonner, that corpulent tyrant, full (as one said) of guts, and
empty of bowels. Fuller.
4. pl.
Defn: Offspring. [Obs.] Shak.
BOWEL
Bow"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boweled or Bowelled; p. pr.& vb. n.
Boweling or Bowelling.]
Defn: To take out the bowels of; to eviscerate; to disembowel.
BOWELED
Bow"eled, a. [Written also bowelled.]
Defn: Having bowels; hollow. "The boweled cavern." Thomson.
BOWELLESS
Bow"el*less, a.
Defn: Without pity. Sir T. Browne.
BOWENITE
Bow"en*ite, n. Etym: [From G.T.Bowen, who analyzed it in 1822.]
(Min.)
Defn: A hard, compact variety of serpentine found in Rhode Island. It
is of a light green color and resembles jade.
BOWER
Bo"wer, n. Etym: [From Bow, v. & n.]
1. One who bows or bends.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: An anchor carried at the bow of a ship.
3. A muscle that bends a limb, esp. the arm. [Obs.]
His rawbone arms, whose mighty brawned bowers
Were wont to rive steel plates and helmets hew. Spenser.
Best bower, Small bower. See the Note under Anchor.
BOWER
Bow"er, n. Etym: [G. bauer a peasant. So called from the figure
sometimes used for the knave in cards. See Boor.]
Defn: One of the two highest cards in the pack commonly used in the
game of euchre. Right bower, the knave of the trump suit, the highest
card (except the "Joker") in the game.
-- Left bower, the knave of the other suit of the same color as the
trump, being the next to the right bower in value.
-- Best bower or Joker, in some forms of euchre and some other
games, an extra card sometimes added to the pack, which takes
precedence of all others as the highest card.
BOWER
Bow"er, n. Etym: [OE. bour, bur, room, dwelling, AS. bur, fr. the
root of AS. buan to dwell; akin to Icel. bur chamber, storehouse, Sw.
bur cage, Dan. buur, OHG. pur room, G. bauer cage, bauer a peasant.
*97] Cf.Boor, Byre.]
1. Anciently, a chamber; a lodging room; esp., a lady's private
apartment.
Give me my lute in bed now as I lie, And lock the doors of mine
unlucky bower. Gascoigne.
2. A rustic cottage or abode; poetically, an attractive abode or
retreat. Shenstone. B. Johnson.
3. A shelter or covered place in a garden, made with boughs of trees
or vines, etc., twined together; an arbor; a shady recess.
BOWER
Bow"er, v. t.
Defn: To embower; to inclose. Shak.
BOWER
Bow"er, v. i.
Defn: To lodge. [Obs.] Spenser.
BOWER
Bow"er, n. Etym: [From Bough, cf. Brancher.] (Falconry)
Defn: A young hawk, when it begins to leave the nest. [Obs.]
BOWER-BARFF PROCESS
Bow"er-Barff" proc`ess . (Metal.)
Defn: A certain process for producing upon articles of iron or steel
an adherent coating of the magnetic oxide of iron (which is not
liable to corrosion by air, moisture, or ordinary acids). This is
accomplished by producing, by oxidation at about 1600º F. in a closed
space, a coating containing more or less of the ferric oxide (Fe2O3)
and the subsequent change of this in a reduced atmosphere to the
magnetic oxide (Fe2O4).
BOWER BIRD
Bow"er bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Australian bird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus or holosericeus),
allied to the starling, which constructs singular bowers or
playhouses of twigs and decorates them with brightcolored objects;
the satin bird.
Note: The name is also applied to other related birds of the same
region, having similar habits; as, the spotted bower bird
(Chalmydodera maculata), and the regent bird (Sericulus melinus).
BOWERY
Bow"er*y, a.
Defn: Shading, like a bower; full of bowers.
A bowery maze that shades the purple streams. Trumbull.
BOWERY
Bow"er*y, n.; pl. Boweries Etym: [D. bouwerij.]
Defn: A farm or plantation with its buildings. [U.S.Hist.]
The emigrants [in New York] were scattered on boweries or
plantations; and seeing the evils of this mode of living widely
apart, they were advised, in 1643 and 1646, by the Dutch authorities,
to gather into "villages, towns, and hamlets, as the English were in
the habit of doing." Bancroft.
BOWERY
Bow"er*y, a.
Defn: Characteristic of the street called the Bowery, in New York
city; swaggering; flashy.
BOWESS
Bow"ess, n. (Falconry)
Defn: Same as Bower. [Obs.]
BOWFIN
Bow"fin`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A voracious ganoid fish (Amia calva) found in the fresh waters
of the United States; the mudfish; -- called also Johnny Grindle, and
dogfish.
BOWGE
Bowge, v. i.
Defn: To swell out. See Bouge. [Obs.]
BOWGE
Bowge, v. t.
Defn: To cause to leak. [Obs.] See Bouge.
BOWGRACE
Bow"grace`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A frame or fender of rope or junk, laid out at the sides or
bows of a vessel to secure it from injury by floating ice.
BOW HAND
Bow" hand`.
1. (Archery)
Defn: The hand that holds the bow, i. e., the left hand.
Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand. Spenser.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The hand that draws the bow, i. e., the right hand.
BOWHEAD
Bow"head`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The great Arctic or Greenland whale. (Balæna mysticetus). See
Baleen, and Whale.
BOWIE KNIFE
Bow"ie knife`.
Defn: A knife with a strong blade from ten to fifteen inches long,
and double-edged near the point; -- used as a hunting knife, and
formerly as a weapon in the southwestern part of the United States.
It was named from its inventor, Colonel James Bowie. Also, by
extension, any large sheath knife.
BOWING
Bow"ing, n. (Mus.)
1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed
instruments.
Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of the violinist, the
violist, etc. J. W. Moore.
2. In hatmaking, the act or process of separating and distributing
the fur or hair by means of a bow, to prepare it for felting.
BOWINGLY
Bow"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bending manner.
BOWKNOT
Bow"knot`, n.
Defn: A knot in which a portion of the string is drawn through in the
form of a loop or bow, so as to be readily untied.
BOWL
Bowl, n. Etym: [OE. bolle, AS. bolla; akin to Icel. bolli, Dan.
bolle, G. bolle, and perh. to E. boil a tumor. Cf. Boll.]
1. A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately
hemisherical), to hold liquids, etc.
Brought them food in bowls of basswood. Longfellow.
2. Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous
liquors; hence, convival drinking.
3. The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold.
4. The bollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon.
BOWL
Bowl, n. Etym: [F. boule, fr. L. bulla bubble, stud. Cf. Bull an
edict, Bill a writing.]
1. A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level
surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the
other, so as to give it a bias when rolled.
2. pl.
Defn: An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased
balls on a level plat of greensward.
Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . who thinks to attain the jack by
delivering his bowl straightforward upon it. Sir W. Scott.
3. pl.
Defn: The game of tenpins or bowling. [U.S.]
BOWL
Bowl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bowling.]
1. To roll, as a bowl or cricket ball.
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, And bowl the round
nave down the hill of heaven. Shak.
2. To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled
rapidly along the road.
3. To pelt or strike with anything rolled.
Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth, And bowled to death
with turnipsShak.
To bowl (a player) out, in cricket, to put out a striker by knocking
down a bail or a stump in bowling.
BOWL
Bowl, v. i.
1. To play with bowls.
2. To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc.
3. To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage
bowled along.
BOWLDER; BOULDER
Bowl"der, Boul"der, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. bullra to roar, rattle, Dan.
buldre, dial. Sw. bullersteen larger kind of pebbles; perh. akin to
E. bellow.]
1. A large stone, worn smooth or rounded by the action of water; a
large pebble.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A mass of any rock, whether rounded or not, that has been
transported by natural agencies from its native bed. See Drift.
Bowlder clay, the unstratified clay deposit of the Glacial or Drift
epoch, often containing large numbers of bowlders.
-- Bowlder wall, a wall constructed of large stones or bowlders.
BOWLDERY
Bowl"der*y, a.
Defn: Characterized by bowlders.
BOWLEG
Bow"leg`, n.
Defn: A crooked leg. Jer. Taylor.
BOW-LEGGED
Bow"-legged`, a.
Defn: Having crooked legs, esp. with the knees bent outward. Johnson.
BOWLER
Bowl"er, n.
Defn: One who plays at bowls, or who rolls the ball in cricket or any
other game.
BOWLESS
Bow"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of a bow.
BOWLINE
Bow"line, n. Etym: [Cf. D. boelijn, Icel. böglïnabovline; properly
the line attached to the shoulder or side of the sail. See Bow (of a
ship), and Line.] (Naut.)
Defn: A rope fastened near the middle of the leech or perpendicular
edge of the square sails, by subordinate ropes, called bridles, and
used to keep the weather edge of the sail tight forward, when the
ship is closehauled. Bowline bridles, the ropes by which the bowline
is fastened to the leech of the sail.
-- Bowline knot. See Illust. under Knot.
-- On a bowline, close-hauled or sailing close to the wind; -- said
of a ship.
BOWLING
Bowl"ing, n.
Defn: The act of playing at or rolling bowls, or of rolling the ball
at cricket; the game of bowls or of tenpins. Bowling alley, a covered
place for playing at bowls or tenpins.
-- Bowling green, a level piece of greensward or smooth ground for
bowling, as the small park in lower Broadway, New York, where the
Dutch of New Amsterdam played this game.
BOWLS
Bowls, n. pl.
Defn: See Bowl, a ball, a game.
BOWMAN
Bow"man, n.; pl. Bowmen (.
Defn: A man who uses a bow; an archer.
The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen.
Jer. iv. 29.
Bowman's root. (Bot.) See Indian physic, under Indian.
BOWMAN
Bow"man, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The man who rows the foremost oar in a boat; the bow oar.
BOWNE
Bowne, v. t. Etym: [See Boun.]
Defn: To make ready; to prepare; to dress. [Obs.]
We will all bowne ourselves for the banquet. Sir W. Scott.
BOW NET
Bow" net`
Defn: .
1. A trap for lobsters, being a wickerwork cylinder with a funnel-
shaped entrance at one end.
2. A net for catching birds. J. H. Walsh.
BOW OAR
Bow" oar`
Defn: .
1. The oar used by the bowman.
2. One who rows at the bow of a boat.
BOW-PEN
Bow"-pen`, n.
Defn: Bow-compasses carrying a drawing pen. See Bow-compass.
BOW-PENCIL
Bow"-pen`cil, n.
Defn: Bow-compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil.
BOW-SAW
Bow"-saw`, n.
Defn: A saw with a thin or narrow blade set in a strong frame.
BOWSE
Bowse, v. i. Etym: [See Booze, and Bouse.]
1. To carouse; to bouse; to booze. De Quincey.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To pull or haul; as, to bowse upon a tack; to bowse away, i.
e., to pull all together.
BOWSE
Bowse, n.
Defn: A carouse; a drinking bout; a booze.
BOWSHOT
Bow"shot`, n.
Defn: The distance traversed by an arrow shot from a bow.
BOWSPRIT
Bow"sprit`, n. Etym: [Bow + sprit; akin to D.boegspriet; boeg bow of
a ship + spriet, E. sprit, also Sw. bogspröt, G. bugspriet.] (Naut.)
Defn: A large boom or spar, which projects over the stem of a ship or
other vessel, to carry sail forward.
BOWSSEN
Bows"sen, v. t.
Defn: To drench; to soak; especially, to immerse (in water believed
to have curative properties). [Obs.]
There were many bowssening places, for curing of mad men. . . . If
there appeared small amendment he was bowssened again and again.
Carew.
BOWSTRING
Bow"string`, n.
1. The string of a bow.
2. A string used by the Turks for strangling offenders. Bowstring
bridge, a bridge formed of an arch of timber or iron, often braced,
the thrust of which is resisted by a tie forming a chord of the arch.
-- Bowstring girder, an arched beam strengthened by a tie connecting
its two ends.
-- Bowstring hemp (Bot.), the tenacious fiber of the Sanseviera
Zeylanica, growing in India and Africa, from which bowstrings are
made. Balfour.
BOWSTRING
Bow"string`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowstringed ( or Bowstrung (; p. pr.
& vb. n. Bowstringing.]
Defn: To strangle with a bowstring.
BOWSTRINGED
Bow"stringed`, p.a.
1. Furnished with bowstring.
2. Put to death with a bowstring; strangled.
BOWTEL
Bow"tel, n.
Defn: See Boultel.
BOWWOW
Bow"wow`, n.
Defn: An onomatopoetic name for a dog or its bark.
-- a.
Defn: Onomatopoetic; as, the bowwow theory of language; a bowwow
word. [Jocose.]
BOWYER
Bow"yer, n. Etym: [From Bow, like lawyer from law.]
1. An archer; one who uses bow.
2. One who makes or sells bows.
BOX
Box, n. Etym: [As. box, L. buxus, fr. Gr. Box a case.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree or shrub, flourishing in different parts of the world.
The common box (Buxus sempervirens) has two varieties, one of which,
the dwaft box (B.suffruticosa), is much used for borders in gardens.
The wood of the tree varieties, being very hard and smooth, is
extensively used in the arts, as by turners, engravers, mathematical
instrument makers, etc. Box elder, the ash-leaved maple (Negundo
aceroides), of North America.
-- Box holly, the butcher's broom (Russus aculeatus).
-- Box thorn, a shrub (Lycium barbarum).
-- Box tree, the tree variety of the common box.
BOX
Box, n.; pl. Boxes ( Etym: [As. box a small case or vessel with a
cover; akin to OHG. buhsa box, G. büchse; fr. L. buxus boxwood,
anything made of boxwood. See Pyx, and cf. Box a tree, Bushel.]
1. A receptacle or case of any firm material and of various shapes.
2. The quantity that a box contain.
3. A space with a few seats partitioned off in a theater, or other
place of public amusement.
Laughed at by the pit, box, galleries, nay, stage. Dorset.
The boxes and the pit are sovereign judges. Dryden.
4. A chest or any receptacle for the deposit of money; as, a poor
box; a contribution box.
Yet since his neighbors give, the churl unlocks, Damning the poor,
his tripple-bolted box. J. Warton.
5. A small country house. "A shooting box." Wilson.
Tight boxes neatly sashed. Cowper.
6. A boxlike shed for shelter; as, a sentry box.
7. (Mach)
(a) An axle box, journal box, journal bearing, or bushing.
(b) A chamber or section of tube in which a valve works; the bucket
of a lifting pump.
8. The driver's seat on a carriage or coach.
9. A present in a box; a present; esp. a Christmas box or gift. "A
Christmas box." Dickens.
10. (Baseball)
Defn: The square in which the pitcher stands.
11. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Mediterranean food fish; the bogue.
Note: Box is much used adjectively or in composition; as box lid, box
maker, box circle, etc.; also with modifying substantives; as money
box, letter box, bandbox, hatbox or hat box, snuff box or snuffbox.
Box beam (Arch.), a beam made of metal plates so as to have the form
of a long box.
-- Box car (Railroads), a freight car covered with a roof and
inclosed on the sides to protect its contents.
-- Box chronometer, a ship's chronometer, mounted in gimbals, to
preserve its proper position.
-- Box coat, a thick overcoat for driving; sometimes with a heavy
cape to carry off the rain.
-- Box coupling, a metal collar uniting the ends of shafts or other
parts in machinery.
-- Box crab (Zoöl.), a crab of the genus Calappa, which, when at
rest with the legs retracted, resembles a box.
-- Box drain (Arch.), a drain constructed with upright sides, and
with flat top and bottom.
-- Box girder (Arch.), a box beam.
-- Box groove (Metal Working), a closed groove between two rolls,
formed by a collar on one roll fitting between collars on another. R.
W. Raymond.
-- Box metal, an alloy of copper and tin, or of zinc, lead, and
antimony, for the bearings of journals, etc.
-- Box plait, a plait that doubles both to the rigth and the left.
-- Box turtle or Box tortoise (Zoöl.), a land tortoise or turtle of
the genera Cistudo and Emys; -- so named because it can withdraw
entirely within its shell, which can be closed by hinged joints in
the lower shell. Also, humorously, an exceedingly reticent person.
Emerson.
-- In a box, in a perplexity or an embarrassing position; in
difficulty. (Colloq.) -- In the wrong box, out of one's place; out of
one's element; awkwardly situated. (Colloq.) Ridley (1554)
BOX
Box, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boxed (p. pr. & vb. n. Boxing.]
1. To inclose in a box.
2. To furnish with boxes, as a wheel.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: To inclose with boarding, lathing, etc., so as to bring to a
required form. To box a tree, to make an incision or hole in a tree
for the purpose of procuring the sap.
-- To box off, to divide into tight compartments.
-- To box up. (a) To put into a box in order to save; as, he had
boxed up twelve score pounds. (b) To confine; as, to be boxed up in
narrow quarters.
BOX
Box, n. Etym: [Cf.Dan. baske to slap, bask slap, blow. Cf. Pash.]
Defn: A blow on the head or ear with the hand.
A good-humored box on the ear. W. Irving.
BOX
Box, v. i.
Defn: To fight with the fist; to combat with, or as with, the hand or
fist; to spar.
BOX
Box, v. t.
Defn: To strike with the hand or fist, especially to strike on the
ear, or on the side of the head.
BOX
Box, v. t. Etym: [Cf.Sp. boxar, now spelt bojar.]
Defn: To boxhaul. To box off (Naut.), to turn the head of a vessel
either way by bracing the headyards aback.
-- To box the compass (Naut.), to name the thirty-two points of the
compass in their order.
BOXBERRY
Box"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The wintergreern. (Gaultheria procumbens). [Local, U.S.]
BOXEN
Box"en, a.
Defn: Made of boxwood; pertaining to, or resembling, the box (Buxus).
[R.]
The faded hue of sapless boxen leaves. Dryden.
BOXER
Box"er, n.
Defn: One who packs boxes.
BOXER
Box"er, n.
Defn: One who boxes; a pugilist.
BOXFISH
Box"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The trunkfish.
BOXHAUL
Box"haul`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boxhauled.] (Naut.)
Defn: To put (a vessel) on the other tack by veering her short round
on her heel; -- so called from the circumstance of bracing the head
yards abox (i. e., sharp aback, on the wind). Totten.
BOXHAULING
Box"haul`ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A method of going from one tack to another. See Boxhaul.
BOXING
Box"ing, n.
1. The act of inclosing (anything) in a box, as for storage or
transportation.
2. Material used in making boxes or casings.
3. Any boxlike inclosure or recess; a casing.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: The external case of thin material used to bring any member to
a required form.
BOXING
Box"ing, n.
Defn: The act of fighting with the fist; a combat with the fist;
sparring. Blackstone. Boxing glove, a large padded mitten or glove
used in sparring for exercise or amusement.
BOXING DAY
Box"ing day`.
Defn: The first week day after Christmas, a legal holiday on which
Christmas boxes are given to postmen, errand boys, employees, etc.
The night of this day is boxing night. [Eng.]
BOX-IRON
Box"-i`ron, n.
Defn: A hollow smoothing iron containing a heater within.
BOXKEEPER
Box"keep`er, n.
Defn: An attendant at a theater who has charge of the boxes.
BOX KITE
Box kite.
Defn: A kite, invented by Lawrence Hargrave, of Sydney, Australia,
which consist of two light rectangular boxes, or cells open on two
sides, and fastened together horizontally. Called also Hargrave, or
cellular, kite.
BOX TAIL
Box tail. (Aëronautics)
Defn: In a flying machine, a tail or rudder, usually fixed,
resembling a box kite.
BOXTHORN
Box"thorn`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Lycium, esp. Lycium barbarum.
BOXWOOD
Box"wood`, n.
Defn: The wood of the box (Buxus).
BOY
Boy, n. Etym: [Cf. D. boef, Fries. boi, boy; akin to G. bube, Icel.
bofi rouge.]
Defn: A male child, from birth to the age of puberty; a lad; hence, a
son.
My only boy fell by the side of great Dundee. Sir W. Scott.
Note: Boy is often used as a term of comradeship, as in college, or
in the army or navy. In the plural used colloquially of members of an
assosiaton, fraternity, or party. Boy bishop, a boy (usually a
chorister) elected bishop, in old Christian sports, and invested with
robes and other insignia. He practiced a kind of mimicry of the
ceremonies in which the bishop usually officiated. The Old Boy, the
Devil. [Slang] -- Yellow boys, guineas. [Slang, Eng.] -- Boy's love,
a popular English name of Southernwood (Artemisia abrotonum);) --
called also lad's love.
-- Boy's play, childish amusements; anything trifling.
BOY
Boy, v. t.
Defn: To act as a boy; -- in allusion to the former practice of boys
acting women's parts on the stage.
I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness. Shak.
BOYAR; BOYARD
Bo*yar", Bo*yard", n. Etym: [Russ. boiárin'.]
Defn: A member of a Russian aristocratic order abolished by Peter the
Great. Also, one of a privileged class in Roumania.
Note: English writers sometimes call Russian landed proprietors
boyars.
BOYAU
Boy"au, n.; pl. Boyaux or Boyaus. Etym: [F. boyau gut, a long and
narrow place, and (of trenches) a branch. See Bowel.] (Fort.)
Defn: A winding or zigzag trench forming a path or communication from
one siegework to another, to a magazine, etc.
BOYCOTT
Boy"cott`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Boycotted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Boycotting.] Etym: [From Captain Boycott, a land agent in Mayo,
Ireland, so treated in 1880.]
Defn: To combine against (a landlord, tradesman, employer, or other
person), to withhold social or business relations from him, and to
deter others from holding such relations; to subject to a boycott.
BOYCOTT
Boy"cott, n.
Defn: The process, fact, or pressure of boycotting; a combining to
withhold or prevent dealing or social intercourse with a tradesman,
employer, etc.; social and business interdiction for the purpose of
coercion.
BOYCOTTER
Boy"cott`er, n.
Defn: A participant in boycotting.
BOYCOTTISM
Boy"cott*ism, n.
Defn: Methods of boycotters.
BOYDEKIN
Boy"de*kin, n.
Defn: A dagger; a bodkin. [Obs.]
BOYER
Boy"er, n. Etym: [D. boeijer; -- so called because these vessels were
employed for laying the boeijen, or buoys: cf. F. boyer. See Buoy.]
(Naut.)
Defn: A Flemish sloop with a castle at each end. Sir W. Raleigh.
BOYHOOD
Boy"hood, n. Etym: [Boy + -hood.]
Defn: The state of being a boy; the time during which one is a boy.
Hood.
BOYISH
Boy"ish, a.
Defn: Resembling a boy in a manners or opinions; belonging to a boy;
childish; trifling; puerile.
A boyish, odd conceit. Baillie.
BOYISHLY
Boy"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a boyish manner; like a boy.
BOYISHNESS
Boy"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The manners or behavior of a boy.
BOYISM
Boy"ism, n.
1. Boyhood. [Obs.] T. Warton.
2. The nature of a boy; childishness. Dryden.
BOYLE'S LAW
Boyle's" law`.
Defn: See under Law.
BOY SCOUT
Boy scout.
Defn: Orig., a member of the "Boy Scouts," an organization of boys
founded in 1908, by Sir R. S. S. Baden-Powell, to promote good
citizenship by creating in them a spirit of civic duty and of
usefulness to others, by stimulating their interest in wholesome
mental, moral, industrial, and physical activities, etc. Hence, a
member of any of the other similar organizations, which are now
worldwide. In "The Boy Scouts of America" the local councils are
generally under a scout commissioner, under whose supervision are
scout masters, each in charge of a troop of two or more patrols of
eight scouts each, who are of three classes, tenderfoot, second-class
scout, and first-class scout.
BOZA
Bo"za, n. Etym: [See Bosa.]
Defn: An acidulated fermented drink of the Arabs and Egyptians, made
from millet seed and various astringent substances; also, an
intoxicating beverage made from hemp seed, darnel meal, and water.
[Written also bosa, bozah, bouza.]
BRABANTINE
Bra*bant"ine, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Brabant, an ancient province of the Netherlands.
BRABBLE
Brab"ble, v. i. Etym: [D. brabbelen to talk confusedly. Blab,
Babble.]
Defn: To clamor; to contest noisily. [R.]
BRABBLE
Brab"ble, n.
Defn: A broil; a noisy contest; a wrangle.
This petty brabble will undo us all. Shak.
BRABBLEMENT
Brab"ble*ment, n.
Defn: A brabble. [R.] Holland.
BRABBLER
Brab"bler, n.
Defn: A clamorous, quarrelsome, noisy fellow; a wrangler. [R] Shak.
BRACCATE
Brac"cate, a.Etym: [L. bracatus wearing breeches, fr. bracae
breeches.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Furnished with feathers which conceal the feet.
BRACE
Brace, n. Etym: [OF. brace, brasse, the two arms, embrace, fathom, F.
brasse fathom, fr. L. bracchia the arms (stretched out), pl. of
bracchium arm; cf. Gr.
1. That which holds anything tightly or supports it firmly; a bandage
or a prop.
2. A cord, ligament, or rod, for producing or maintaining tension, as
a cord on the side of a drum.
The little bones of the ear drum do in straining and relaxing it as
the braces of the war drum do in that. Derham.
3. The state of being braced or tight; tension.
The laxness of the tympanum, when it has lost its brace or tension.
Holder.
4. (Arch. & Engin.)
Defn: A piece of material used to transmit, or change the direction
of, weight or pressure; any one of the pieces, in a frame or truss,
which divide the structure into triangular parts. It may act as a
tie, or as a strut, and serves to prevent distortion of the
structure, and transverse strains in its members. A boiler brace is a
diagonal stay, connecting the head with the shell.
5. (Print.)
Defn: A vertical curved line connecting two or more words or lines,
which are to be taken together; thus, boll, bowl; or, in music, used
to connect staves.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope reeved through a block at the end of a yard, by which
the yard is moved horizontally; also, a rudder gudgeon.
7. (Mech.)
Defn: A curved instrument or handle of iron or wood, for holding and
turning bits, etc.; a bitstock.
8. A pair; a couple; as, a brace of ducks; now rarely applied to
persons, except familiarly or with some contempt. "A brace of
greyhounds." Shak.
He is said to have shot . . . fifty brace of pheasants. Addison.
A brace of brethren, both bishops, both eminent for learning and
religion, now appeared in the church. Fuller.
But you, my brace of lords. Shak.
9. pl.
Defn: Straps or bands to sustain trousers; suspenders.
I embroidered for you a beautiful pair of braces. Thackeray.
10. Harness; warlike preparation. [Obs.]
For that it stands not in such warlike brace. Shak.
11. Armor for the arm; vantbrace.
12. (Mining)
Defn: The mouth of a shaft. [Cornwall] Angle brace. See under Angle.
BRACE
Brace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braced; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracing.]
1. To furnish with braces; to support; to prop; as, to brace a beam
in a building.
2. To draw tight; to tighten; to put in a state of tension; to
strain; to strengthen; as, to brace the nerves.
And welcome war to brace her drums. Campbell.
3. To bind or tie closely; to fasten tightly.
The women of China, by bracing and binding them from their infancy,
have very little feet. Locke.
Some who spurs had first braced on. Sir W. Scott.
4. To place in a position for resisting pressure; to hold firmly; as,
he braced himself against the crowd.
A sturdy lance in his right hand he braced. Fairfax.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To move around by means of braces; as, to brace the yards. To
brace about (Naut.), to turn (a yard) round for the contrary tack.
-- To brace a yard (Naut.), to move it horizontally by means of a
brace.
-- To brace in (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by hauling in the weather
brace.
-- To brace one's self, to call up one's energies. "He braced
himself for an effort which he was little able to make." J. D.
Forbes. - To brace to (Naut.), to turn (a yard) by checking or easing
off the lee brace, and hauling in the weather one, to assist in
tacking.
-- To brace up (Naut.), to bring (a yard) nearer the direction of
the keel by hauling in the lee brace.
-- To brace up sharp (Naut.), to turn (a yard) as far forward as the
rigging will permit.
BRACE
Brace, v. i.
Defn: To get tone or vigor; to rouse one's energies; -with up.
[Colloq.]
BRACELET
Brace"let, n. Etym: [F. bracelet, dim. of OF. bracel armlet, prop.
little arm, dim. of bras arm, fr. L. bracchium. See Brace,n.]
1. An ornamental band or ring, for the wrist or the arm; in modern
times, an ornament encircling the wrist, worn by women or girls.
2. A piece of defensive armor for the arm. Johnson.
BRACER
Bra"cer, n.
1. That which braces, binds, or makes firm; a band or bandage.
2. A covering to protect the arm of the bowman from the vibration of
the string; also, a brassart. Chaucer.
3. A medicine, as an astringent or a tonic, which gives tension or
tone to any part of the body. Johnson.
BRACH
Brach, n. Etym: [OE. brache a kind of scenting hound or setting dog,
OF. brache, braque, fr. OHG. braccho, G. bracke; possibly akin to E.
fragrant, fr. L. fragrare to smell.]
Defn: A bitch of the hound kind. Shak.
BRACHELYTRA
Brach*el"y*tra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ( (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of beetles having short elytra, as the rove beetles.
BRACHIA
Brach"i*a, n. pl.
Defn: See Brachium.
BRACHIAL
Brach"i*al or (, a. Etym: [L. brachialis (bracch-), from bracchium
(bracch-) arm: cf. F. brachial.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining or belonging to the arm; as, the brachial artery;
the brachial nerve.
2. Of the nature of an arm; resembling an arm.
BRACHIATA
Brach`i*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [See Brachiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Crinoidea, including those furnished with
long jointed arms. See Crinoidea.
BRACHIATE
Brach"i*ate, a. Etym: [L. brachiatus (bracch-) with boughs or
branches like arms, from brackium (bracch-) arm.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having branches in pairs, decussated, all nearly horizontal,
and each pair at right angles with the next, as in the maple and
lilac.
BRACHIOGANOID
Brach`i*og"a*noid, n.
Defn: One of the Brachioganoidei.
BRACHIOGANOIDEI
Brach`i*o*ga*noid"e*i, n. pl.Etym: [NL., from L. brachium (bracch-)
arm + NL. ganoidei.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes of which the bichir of Africa is a
living example. See Crossopterygii.
BRACHIOLARIA
Brach`i*o*la"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. brachiolum (bracch-),
dim. of brachium (bracch-) arm.]
Defn: (Zoöl.) A peculiar early larval stage of certain starfishes,
having a bilateral structure, and swimming by means of bands of
vibrating cilia.
BRACHIOPOD
Brach"i*o*pod, n. Etym: [Cf.F. brachiopode.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Brachiopoda, or its shell.
BRACHIOPODA
Brach`i*op"o*da, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Molluscoidea having a symmetrical bivalve shell,
often attached by a fleshy peduncle.
Note: Within the shell is a pair of "arms," often long and spirally
coiled, bearing rows of ciliated tentacles by which a current of
water is made to flow into the mantle cavity, bringing the
microscopic food to the mouth between the bases of the arms. The
shell is both opened and closed by special muscles. They form two
orders; Lyopoma, in which the shell is thin, and without a distinct
hinge, as in Lingula; and Arthropoma, in which the firm calcareous
shell has a regular hinge, as in Rhynchonella. See Arthropomata.
BRACHIUM
Brach"i*um, n.; pl. Bracchia (. Etym: [L. brachium or bracchium,
arm.] (Anat.)
Defn: The upper arm; the segment of the fore limb between the
shoulder and the elbow.
BRACHMAN
Brach"man, n. Etym: [L. Brachmanae, pl., Gr.
Defn: See Brahman. [Obs.]
BRACHYCATALECTIC
Brach`y*cat`a*lec"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr.& Last. Pros.)
Defn: A verse wanting two syllables at its termination.
BRACHYCEPHALIC; BRACHYCEPHALOUS
Brach`y*ce*phal"ic, Brach`y*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the skull short in proportion to its breadth;
shortheaded; -- in distinction from dolichocephalic.
BRACHYCEPHALY; BRACHYCEPHALISM
Brach`y*ceph"a*ly, Brach`y*ceph"a*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F.
Brachycéphalie] . (Anat.)
Defn: The state or condition of being brachycephalic; shortness of
head.
BRACHYCERAL
Bra*chyc"er*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having short antennæ, as certain insects.
BRACHYDIAGONAL
Brach`y*di*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. diagonal.]
Defn: Pertaining to the shorter diagonal, as of a rhombic prism.
Brachydiagonal axis, the shorter lateral axis of an orthorhombic
crystal.
BRACHYDIAGONAL
Brach`y*di*ag"o*nal, n.
Defn: The shorter of the diagonals in a rhombic prism.
BRACHYDOME
Brach`y*dome, n. Etym: [Gr. dome.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A dome parallel to the shorter lateral axis. See Dome.
BRACHYGRAPHER
Bra*chyg"ra*pher, n.
Defn: A writer in short hand; a stenographer.
He asked the brachygrapher whether he wrote the notes of the sermon.
Gayton.
BRACHYGRAPHY
Bra*chyg"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. brachygraphie.]
Defn: Stenograhy. B. Jonson.
BRACHYLOGY
Bra*chyl"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. brachylogie.] (Rhet.)
Defn: Conciseness of expression; brevity.
BRACHYPINACOID
Brach`y*pin"a*coid, n. Etym: [Gr. pinacoid.] (Crytallog.)
Defn: A plane of an orthorhombic crystal which is parallel both to
the vertical axis and to the shorter lateral (brachydiagonal) axis.
BRACHYPTERA
Bra*chyp"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Coleoptera having short wings; the rove beetles.
BRACHYPTERES
Bra*chyp"te*res, n.pl. Etym: [NL. See Brachyptera. ] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds, including auks, divers, and penguins.
BRACHYPTEROUS
Bra*chyp"ter*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. brachyptère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having short wings.
BRACHYSTOCHRONE
Bra*chys"to*chrone, n. Etym: [Incorrect for brachistochrone, fr. Gr.
brachistochrone. ] (Math.)
Defn: A curve, in which a body, starting from a given point, and
descending solely by the force of gravity, will reach another given
point in a shorter time than it could by any other path. This curve
of quickest descent, as it is sometimes called, is, in a vacuum, the
same as the cycloid.
BRACHYTYPOUS
Brach"y*ty`pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Of a short form.
BRACHYURA
Brach`y*u"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of decapod Crustacea, including the common crabs,
characterized by a small and short abdomen, which is bent up beneath
the large cephalo-thorax. [Also spelt Brachyoura.] See Crab, and
Illustration in Appendix.
BRACHYURAL; BRACHYUROUS
Brach`y*u"ral, Brach`y*u"rous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. brachyure.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Brachyura.
BRACHYURAN
Brach`y*u"ran, n.
Defn: One of the Brachyura.
BRACING
Bra"cing, a.
Defn: Imparting strength or tone; strengthening; invigorating; as, a
bracing north wind.
BRACING
Bra"cing, n.
1. The act of strengthening, supporting, or propping, with a brace or
braces; the state of being braced.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: Any system of braces; braces, collectively; as, the bracing of
a truss.
BRACK
Brack, n. Etym: [Cf.D. braak, Dan. bræk, a breaking, Sw. & Isel. brak
a crackling, creaking. Cf. Breach.]
Defn: An opening caused by the parting of any solid body; a crack or
breach; a flaw.
Stain or brack in her sweet reputation. J. Fletcher.
BRACK
Brack, n. Etym: [D. brak, adj., salt; cf. LG. wrak refuse, G. brack.]
Defn: Salt or brackish water. [Obs.] Drayton.
BRACKEN
Brack"en, n. Etym: [OE. braken, AS. bracce. See 2d Brake, n.]
Defn: A brake or fern. Sir W. Scott.
BRACKET
Brack"et, n. Etym: [Cf.OF. braguette codpiece, F. brayette, Sp.
bragueta, also a projecting mold in architecture; dim. fr.L. bracae
breeches; cf. also, OF. bracon beam, prop, support; of unknown
origin. Cf. Breeches.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: An architectural member, plain or ornamental, projecting from a
wall or pier, to support weight falling outside of the same; also, a
decorative feature seeming to discharge such an office.
Note: This is the more general word. See Brace, Cantalever, Console,
Corbel, Strut.
2. (Engin. & Mech.)
Defn: A piece or combination of pieces, usually triangular in general
shape, projecting from, or fastened to, a wall, or other surface, to
support heavy bodies or to strengthen angles.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A shot, crooked timber, resembling a knee, used as a support.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: The cheek or side of an ordnance carriage.
5. (Print.)
Defn: One of two characters [], used to inclose a reference,
explanation, or note, or a part to be excluded from a sentence, to
indicate an interpolation, to rectify a mistake, or to supply an
omission, and for certain other purposes; -- called also crotchet.
6. A gas fixture or lamp holder projecting from the face of a wall,
column, or the like. Bracket light, a gas fixture or a lamp attached
to a wall, column, etc.
BRACKET
Brack"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bracketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bracketing]
Defn: To place within brackets; to connect by brackets; to furnish
with brackets.
BRACKETING
Brack"et*ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A series or group of brackets; brackets, collectively.
BRACKISH
Brack"ish, a. Etym: [See Brack salt water.]
Defn: Saltish, or salt in a moderate degree, as water in saline soil.
Springs in deserts found seem sweet, all brackish though they be.
Byron.
BRACKISHNESS
Brack"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being brackish, or somewhat salt.
BRACKY
Brack"y, a.
Defn: Brackish. Drayton.
BRACT
Bract, n. Etym: [See Bractea.] (Bot.)
(a) A leaf, usually smaller than the true leaves of a plant, from the
axil of which a flower stalk arises.
(b) Any modified leaf, or scale, on a flower stalk or at the base of
a flower.
Note: Bracts are often inconspicuous, but sometimes large and showy,
or highly colored, as in many cactaceous plants. The spathes of aroid
plants are conspicuous forms of bracts.
BRACTEA
Brac"te*a, n. Etym: [L., a thin plate of metal or wood, gold foil.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A bract.
BRACTEAL
Brac"te*al, a. Etym: [Cf.F. bractéal.]
Defn: Having the nature or appearance of a bract.
BRACTEATE
Brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Cf.L. bracteatus covered with gold plate.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having a bract or bracts.
BRACTED
Bract"ed, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with bracts.
BRACTEOLATE
Brac"te*o*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with bracteoles or bractlets.
BRACTEOLE
Brac"te*ole, n. Etym: [L. bracteola, dim. of bractea. See Bractea.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Same as Bractlet.
BRACTLESS
Bract"less, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Destitute of bracts.
BRACTLET
Bract"let, n. Etym: [Bract + -let] (Bot.)
Defn: A bract on the stalk of a single flower, which is itself on a
main stalk that support several flowers. Gray.
BRAD
Brad, n. Etym: [Cf.OE. brod, Dan. braad prick, sting, brodde ice
spur, frost nail, Sw. brodd frost nail, Icel. broddr any pointed
piece of iron or stell; akin to AS. brord point, spire of grass, and
perh. to E. bristle. See Bristle, n.]
Defn: A thin nail, usually small, with a slight projection at the top
on one side instead of a head; also, a small wire nail, with a flat
circular head; sometimes, a small, tapering, square-bodied finishing
nail, with a countersunk head.
BRAD AWL
Brad" awl`.
Defn: A straight awl with chisel edge, used to make holes for brads,
etc. Weale.
BRADOON
Bra*doon", n.
Defn: Same as Bridoon.
BRAE
Brae, n. Etym: [See Bray a hill.]
Defn: A hillside; a slope; a bank; a hill. [Scot.] Burns.
BRAG
Brag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bragged; p. pr. & vb. n. Bragging.] Etym:
[OE. braggen to resound, blow, boast (cf. F. braguer to lead a merry
life, flaunt, boast, OF. brague merriment), from Icel. braka to
creak, brak noise, fr. the same root as E. break; properly then, to
make a noise, boast. 95.]
Defn: To talk about one's self, or things pertaining to one's self,
in a manner intended to excite admiration, envy, or wonder; to talk
boastfully; to boast; -- often followed by of; as, to brag of one's
exploits, courage, or money, or of the great things one intends to
do.
Conceit, more rich in matter than in words, Brags of his substance,
not of ornament. Shak.
Syn.
-- To swagger; boast; vapor; bluster; vaunt; flourish; talk big.
BRAG
Brag, v. t.
Defn: To boast of. [Obs.] Shak.
BRAG
Brag, n.
1. A boast or boasting; bragging; ostentatious pretense or self
glorification.
Cæsar . . . made not here his brag Of "came," and "saw," and
"overcame." Shak.
2. The thing which is boasted of.
Beauty is Nature's brag. Milton.
3. A game at cards similar to bluff. Chesterfield.
BRAG
Brag, a. Etym: [See Brag, v. i.]
Defn: Brisk; full of spirits; boasting; pretentious; conceited.
[Arhaic]
A brag young fellow. B. Jonson.
BRAG
Brag, adv.
Defn: Proudly; boastfully. [Obs.] Fuller.
BRAGGADOCIO
Brag`ga*do"cio, n. Etym: [From Braggadocchio, a boastful character in
Spenser's "Faërie Queene."]
1. A braggart; a boaster; a swaggerer. Dryden.
2. Empty boasting; mere brag; pretension.
BRAGGARDISM
Brag"gard*ism, n. Etym: [See Braggart.]
Defn: Boastfulness; act of bragging. Shak.
BRAGGART
Brag"gart, n. Etym: [OF. bragard flaunting, vain, bragging. See Brag,
v. i.]
Defn: A boaster.
O, I could play the woman with mine eyes, And braggart with my
tongue. Shak.
BRAGGART
Brag"gart, a.
Defn: Boastful.
-- Brag"gart*ly, adv.
BRAGGER
Brag"ger, n.
Defn: One who brags; a boaster.
BRAGGET
Brag"get, n. Etym: [OE. braket, bragot, fr. W. bragawd, bragod, fr.
brag malt.]
Defn: A liquor made of ale and honey fermented, with spices, etc.
[Obs.] B. Jonson.
BRAGGINGLY
Brag"ging`ly, adv.
Defn: Boastingly.
BRAGLESS
Brag"less, a.
Defn: Without bragging. [R.] Shak.
BRAGLY
Brag"ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to be bragged of; finely; proudly. [Obs.] Spenser.
BRAHMA
Brah"ma, n. Etym: [See Brahman.]
1. (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: The One First Cause; also, one of the triad of Hindoo gods. The
triad consists of Brahma, the Creator, Vishnu, the Preserver, and
Siva, the Destroyer.
Note: According to the Hindoo religious books, Brahma (with the final
a short), or Brahm, is the Divine Essence, the One First Cause, the
All in All, while the personal gods, Brahmá (with the final a long),
Vishnu, and Siva, are emanations or manifestations of Brahma the
Divine Essence.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A valuable variety of large, domestic fowl, peculiar in having
the comb divided lengthwise into three parts, and the legs well
feathered. There are two breeds, the dark or penciled, and the light;
-- called also Brahmapootra.
BRAHMAN; BRAHMIN
Brah"man, Brah"min, n.; pl. Brahmans, Brahmins. Etym: [Skr. Brahmana
(cf. Brahman worship, holiness; the God Brahma, also Brahman): cf. F.
Brahmane, Brachmane, Bramine, L. Brachmanae, -manes, -mani, pl., Gr.
Defn: A person of the highest or sacerdotal caste among the Hindoos.
Brahman bull (Zoöl.), the male of a variety of the zebu, or Indian
ox, considered sacred by the Hindoos.
BRAHMANESS
Brah"man*ess, n.
Defn: A Brahmani.
BRAHMANI
Brah"man*i, n. Etym: [Fem. of Brahman.]
Defn: Any Brahman woman. [Written also Brahmanee.]
BRAHMANIC; BRAHMANICAL; BRAHMAN-ICAL; BRAHMINIC; BRAHMINICAL;
BRAHMIN-ICAL
Brah*man"ic, -ic*al , Brah*min"ic (, *ic*al (, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Brahmans or to their doctrines and
worship.
BRAHMANISM; BRAHMINISM
Brah"man*ism, Brah"min*ism, n.
Defn: The religion or system of doctrines of the Brahmans; the
religion of Brahma.
BRAHMANIST; BRAHMINIST
Brah"man*ist, Brah"min*ist, n.
Defn: An adherent of the religion of the Brahmans.
BRAHMOISM
Brah"mo*ism, n.
Defn: The religious system of Brahmo-somaj. Balfour.
BRAHMO-SOMAJ
Brah`mo-so*maj", n. Etym: [Bengalese, a wor
Defn: A modern reforming theistic sect among the Hindos. [Written
also Brahma-samaj.]
BRAID
Braid, v. t. [imp. &. p. p. Braided; p. pr. & vb. n. Braiding.] Etym:
[OE. braiden, breiden, to pull, reach, braid, AS. bregdan to move to
and fro, to weave; akin. to Icel. breg, D. breiden to knit, OS.
bregdan to weave, OHG. brettan to brandish. Cf. Broid.]
1. To weave, interlace, or entwine together, as three or more strands
or threads; to form into a braid; to plait.
Braid your locks with rosy twine. Milton.
2. To mingle, or to bring to a uniformly soft consistence, by
beating, rubbing, or straining, as in some culinary operations.
3. To reproach. [Obs.] See Upbraid. Shak.
BRAID
Braid, n.
1. A plait, band, or narrow fabric formed by intertwining or weaving
together different strands.
A braid of hair composed of two different colors twined together.
Scott.
2. A narrow fabric, as of wool, silk, or linen, used for binding,
trimming, or ornamenting dresses, etc.
BRAID
Braid, n. Etym: [Cf.Icel. breg to move quickly.]
1. A quick motion; a start. [Obs.] Sackville.
2. A fancy; freak; caprice. [Obs.] R. Hyrde.
BRAID
Braid v. i.
Defn: To start; to awake. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRAID
Braid, a. Etym: [AS. bræd, bred, deceit; akin to Icel. brag trick,
AS. bredan, bregdan, to braid, knit, (hence) to knit a net, to draw
into a net, i.e., to deceive. See Braid, v. t.]
Defn: Deceitful. [Obs.]
Since Frenchmen are so braid, Marry that will, I live and die a maid.
Shak.
BRAIDING
Braid"ing, n.
1. The act of making or using braids.
2. Braids, collectively; trimming.
A gentleman enveloped in mustachios, whiskers, fur collars, and
braiding. Thackeray.
BRAIL
Brail, n. Etym: [OE. brayle furling rope, OF. braiol a band placed
around the breeches, fr.F. braies, pl., breeches, fr.L. braca,
bracae, breeches, a Gallic word; cf. Arm. bragez. Cf. Breeches.]
1. (Falconry)
Defn: A thong of soft leather to bind up a hawk's wing.
2. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Ropes passing through pulleys, and used to haul in or up the
leeches, bottoms, or corners of sails, preparatory to furling.
3. A stock at each end of a seine to keep it stretched.
BRAIL
Brail, v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To haul up by the brails; -- used with up; as, to brail up a
sail.
BRAILLE
Braille, n.
Defn: A system of printing or writing for the blind in which the
characters are represented by tangible points or dots. It was
invented by Louis Braille, a French teacher of the blind.
BRAIN
Brain, n. Etym: [OE. brain, brein, AS. bragen, brægen; akin to LG.
brägen, bregen, D. brein, and perh. to Gr. 95.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The whitish mass of soft matter (the center of the nervous
system, and the seat of consciousness and volition) which is inclosed
in the cartilaginous or bony cranium of vertebrate animals. It is
simply the anterior termination of the spinal cord, and is developed
from three embryonic vesicles, whose cavities are connected with the
central canal of the cord; the cavities of the vesicles become the
central cavities, or ventricles, and the walls thicken unequally and
become the three segments, the fore-, mid-, and hind-brain.
Note: In the brain of man the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the
forebrain, are enormously developed so as to overhang the cerebellum,
the great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely cover the lobes of
the midbrain. The surface of the cerebrum is divided into irregular
ridges, or convolutions, separated by grooves (the so-called fissures
and sulci), and the two hemispheres are connected at the bottom of
the longitudinal fissure by a great transverse band of nervous
matter, the corpus callosum, while the two halves of the cerebellum
are connected on the under side of the brain by the bridge, or pons
Varolii.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The anterior or cephalic ganglion in insects and other
invertebrates.
3. The organ or seat of intellect; hence, the understanding. " My
brain is too dull." Sir W. Scott.
Note: In this sense, often used in the plural.
4. The affections; fancy; imagination. [R.] Shak. To have on the
brain, to have constantly in one's thoughts, as a sort of monomania.
[Low] Brain box or case, the bony on cartilaginous case inclosing the
brain.
-- Brain coral, Brain stone coral (Zoöl), a massive reef-building
coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as
to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of
the genera Mæandrina and Diploria.
-- Brain fag (Med.), brain weariness. See Cerebropathy.
-- Brain fever (Med.), fever in which the brain is specially
affected; any acute cerebral affection attended by fever.
-- Brain sand, calcareous matter found in the pineal gland.
BRAIN
Brain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brained; p. pr. & vb. n. Braining.]
1. To dash out the brains of; to kill by beating out the brains.
Hence, Fig.: To destroy; to put an end to; to defeat.
There thou mayst brain him. Shak.
It was the swift celerity of the death . . . That brained my purpose.
Shak.
2. To conceive; to understand. [Obs.]
brain not. Shak.
BRAINED
Brained, p.a.
Defn: Supplied with brains.
If th' other two be brained like us. Shak.
BRAINISH
Brain"ish, a.
Defn: Hot-headed; furious. [R.] Shak.
BRAINLESS
Brain"less, a.
Defn: Without understanding; silly; thougthless; witless.
-- Brain"less*ness, n.
BRAINPAN
Brain"pan`, n. Etym: [Brain + pan.]
Defn: The bones which inclose the brain; the skull; the cranium.
BRAINSICK
Brain"sick`, a.
Defn: Disordered in the understanding; giddy; thoughtless.
-- Brain"sick*ness, n.
BRAINSICKLY
Brain"sick`ly, adv.
Defn: In a brainsick manner.
BRAINY
Brain"y, a.
Defn: Having an active or vigorous mind. [Colloq.]
BRAISE; BRAIZE
Braise, Braize, n. Etym: [So called from its iridescent colors.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A European marine fish (Pagrus vulgaris) allied to the American
scup; the becker. The name is sometimes applied to the related
species. [Also written brazier.]
BRAISE; BRAIZE
Braise, Braize, n. Etym: [F.]
1. Charcoal powder; breeze.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: Braised meat.
BRAISE
Braise, v. t. Etym: [F. braiser, fr. braise coals.] (Cookery)
Defn: To stew or broil in a covered kettle or pan.
A braising kettle has a deep cover which holds coals; consequently
the cooking is done from above, as well as below. Mrs. Henderson.
BRAISER
Brais"er, n.
Defn: A kettle or pan for braising.
BRAIT
Brait, n. Etym: [Cf.W. braith variegated, Ir. breath, breagh, fine,
comely.]
Defn: A rough diamond.
BRAIZE
Braize, n.
Defn: See Braise.
BRAKE
Brake, imp.
Defn: of Break. [Arhaic] Tennyson.
BRAKE
Brake, n. Etym: [OE. brake fern; cf. AS. bracce fern, LG. brake
willow bush, Da. bregne fern, G. brach fallow; prob. orig. the growth
on rough, broken ground, fr. the root of E. break. See Break, v. t.,
cf. Bracken, and 2d Brake, n.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A fern of the genus Pteris, esp. the P. aquilina, common in
almost all countries. It has solitary stems dividing into three
principal branches. Less properly: Any fern.
2. A thicket; a place overgrown with shrubs and brambles, with
undergrowth and ferns, or with canes.
Rounds rising hillocks, brakes obscure and rough, To shelter thee
from tempest and from rain. Shak.
He stayed not for brake, and he stopped not for stone. Sir W. Scott.
Cane brake, a thicket of canes. See Canebrake.
BRAKE
Brake, n. Etym: [OE. brake; cf. LG. brake an instrument for breaking
flax, G. breche, fr. the root of E. break. See Break, v. t., and cf.
Breach.]
1. An instrument or machine to break or bruise the woody part of flax
or hemp so that it may be separated from the fiber.
2. An extended handle by means of which a number of men can unite in
working a pump, as in a fire engine.
3. A baker's kneading though. Johnson.
4. A sharp bit or snaffle.
Pampered jades . . . which need nor break nor bit. Gascoigne.
5. A frame for confining a refractory horse while the smith is
shoeing him; also, an inclosure to restrain cattle, horses, etc.
A horse . . . which Philip had bought . . . and because of his
fierceness kept him within a brake of iron bars. J. Brende.
6. That part of a carriage, as of a movable battery, or engine, which
enables it to turn.
7. (Mil.)
Defn: An ancient engine of war analogous to the crossbow and
ballista.
8. (Agric.)
Defn: A large, heavy harrow for breaking clods after plowing; a drag.
9. A piece of mechanism for retarding or stopping motion by friction,
as of a carriage or railway car, by the pressure of rubbers against
the wheels, or of clogs or ratchets against the track or roadway, or
of a pivoted lever against a wheel or drum in a machine.
10. (Engin.)
Defn: An apparatus for testing the power of a steam engine, or other
motor, by weighing the amount of friction that the motor will
overcome; a friction brake.
11. A cart or carriage without a body, used in breaking in horses.
12. An ancient instrument of torture. Holinshed. Air brake. See Air
brake, in the Vocabulary.
-- Brake beam or Brake bar, the beam that connects the brake blocks
of opposite wheels.
-- Brake block. (a) The part of a brake holding the brake shoe. (b)
A brake shoe.
-- Brake shoe or Brake rubber, the part of a brake against which the
wheel rubs.
-- Brake wheel, a wheel on the platform or top of a car by which
brakes are operated.
-- Continuous brake . See under Continuous.
BRAKEMAN
Brake"man, n.; pl. Brakemen (.
1. (Railroads)
Defn: A man in charge of a brake or brakes.
2. (Mining)
Defn: The man in charge of the winding (or hoisting) engine for a
mine.
BRAKY
Brak"y, a.
Defn: Full of brakes; abounding with brambles, shrubs, or ferns;
rough; thorny.
In the woods and braky glens. W. Browne.
BRAMA
Bra"ma, n.
Defn: See Brahma.
BRAMAH PRESS
Bra"mah press`.
Defn: A hydrostatic press of immense power, invented by Joseph Bramah
of London. See under Hydrostatic.
BRAMBLE
Bram"ble, n. Etym: [OE. brembil, AS.brbramal), fr. the same root as
E. broom, As. br. See Broom.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Rubus, including the raspberry and
blackberry. Hence: Any rough, prickly shrub.
The thorny brambles, and embracing bushes. Shak.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The brambling or bramble finch.
BRAMBLE BUSH
Bram"ble bush`. (Bot.)
Defn: The bramble, or a collection of brambles growing together.
He jumped into a bramble bush And scratched out both his eyes. Mother
Goose.
BRAMBLED
Bram"bled, a.
Defn: Overgrown with brambles.
Forlorn she sits upon the brambled floor. T. Warton.
BRAMBLE NET
Bram"ble net`.
Defn: A net to catch birds.
BRAMBLING
Bram"bling, n. Etym: [OE. bramline. See Bramble, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European mountain finch (Fringilla montifringilla); --
called also bramble finch and bramble.
BRAMBLY
Bram"bly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or full of, brambles. "In brambly
wildernesses." Tennyson.
BRAME
Brame, n. Etym: [Cf. Breme.]
Defn: Sharp passion; vexation. [Obs.]
Heart-burning brame. Spenser.
BRAMIN; BRAMINIC
Bra"min, Bra*min"ic
Defn: , etc. See Brahman, Brachmanic, etc.
BRAN
Bran, n. Etym: [OE. bren, bran, OF. bren, F. bran, from Celtic; cf.
Armor. brenn, Ir. bran, bran, chaff.]
1. The broken coat of the seed of wheat, rye, or other cereal grain,
separated from the flour or meal by sifting or bolting; the coarse,
chaffy part of ground grain.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European carrion crow.
BRANCARD
Bran"card, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A litter on which a person may be carried. [Obs.] Coigrave.
BRANCH
Branch, n.; pl. Branches (. Etym: [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL.
branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch,
bough.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a
principal limb or bough of a tree or other plant.
2. Any division extending like a branch; any arm or part connected
with the main body of thing; ramification; as, the branch of an
antler; the branch of a chandelier; a branch of a river; a branch of
a railway.
Most of the branches , or streams, were dried up. W. Irving.
3. Any member or part of a body or system; a distinct article; a
section or subdivision; a department. "Branches of knowledge."
Prescott.
It is a branch and parcel of mine oath. Shak.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: One of the portions of a curve that extends outwards to an
indefinitely great distance; as, the branches of an hyperbola.
5. A line of family descent, in distinction from some other line or
lines from the same stock; any descendant in such a line; as, the
English branch of a family.
His father, a younger branch of the ancient stock. Carew.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: A warrant or commission given to a pilot, authorizing him to
pilot vessels in certain waters. Branches of a bridle, two pieces of
bent iron, which bear the bit, the cross chains, and the curb.
-- Branch herring. See Alewife.
-- Root and branch , totally, wholly.
Syn.
-- Bough; limb; shoot; offshoot; twig; sprig.
BRANCH
Branch, a.
Defn: Diverging from, or tributary to, a main stock, line, way,
theme, etc.; as, a branch vein; a branch road or line; a branch
topic; a branch store.
BRANCH
Branch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Branched; p. pr. & vb. n. Branching.]
1. To shoot or spread in branches; to separate into branches; to
ramify.
2. To divide into separate parts or subdivision. To branch off, to
form a branch or a separate part; to diverge.
-- To branch out, to speak diffusively; to extend one's discourse to
other topics than the main one; also, to enlarge the scope of one's
business, etc.
To branch out into a long disputation. Spectator.
BRANCH
Branch, v. t.
1. To divide as into branches; to make subordinate division in.
2. To adorn with needlework representing branches, flowers, or twigs.
The train whereof loose far behind her strayed, Branched with gold
and pearl, most richly wrought. Spenser.
BRANCHER
Branch"er, n.
1. That which shoots forth branches; one who shows growth in various
directions.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: A young hawk when it begins to leave the nest and take to the
branches.
BRANCHERY
Branch"er*y, n.
Defn: A system of branches.
BRANCHIA
Bran"chi*a, n.; pl. Branchiæ. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A gill; a respiratory organ for breathing the air contained in
water, such as many aquatic and semiaquatic animals have.
BRANCHIAL
Bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to branchiæ or gills. Branchial arches, the
bony or cartilaginous arches which support the gills on each side of
the throat of fishes and amphibians. See Illustration in Appendix.
-- Branchial clefts, the openings between the branchial arches
through which water passes.
BRANCHIATE
Bran"chi*ate, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Furnished with branchiæ; as, branchiate segments.
BRANCHIFEROUS
Bran*chif"er*ous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Having gills; branchiate; as, branchiferous gastropods.
BRANCHINESS
Branch"i*ness, n.
Defn: Fullness of branches.
BRANCHING
Branch"ing, a.
Defn: Furnished with branches; shooting our branches; extending in a
branch or branches.
Shaded with branching palm. Milton.
BRANCHING
Branch"ing, n.
Defn: The act or state of separation into branches; division into
branches; a division or branch.
The sciences, with their numerous branchings. L. Watts.
BRANCHIOGASTROPODA
Bran`chi*o*gas*trop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. gastropoda.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Those Gastropoda that breathe by branchiæ, including the
Prosobranchiata and Opisthobranchiata.
BRANCHIOMERISM
Bran`chi*om"er*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. -mere.] (Anat.)
Defn: The state of being made up of branchiate segments. R.
Wiedersheim.
BRANCHIOPOD
Bran"chi*o*pod, n.
Defn: One of the Branchiopoda.
BRANCHIOPODA
Bran"chi*o*poda, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. -poda: cf. F. branchiopode.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Entomostraca; -- so named from the feet of
branchiopods having been supposed to perform the function of gills.
It includes the fresh-water genera Branchipus, Apus, and Limnadia,
and the genus Artemia found in salt lakes. It is also called
Phyllopoda. See Phyllopoda, Cladocera. It is sometimes used in a
broader sense.
BRANCHIOSTEGAL
Bran`chi*os"te*gal, a. Etym: [Gr. branchiostège.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the membrane covering the gills of fishes.
-- n. (Anat.)
Defn: A branchiostegal ray. See Illustration of Branchial arches in
Appendix.
Note: This term was formerly applied to a group of fishes having
boneless branchiæ. But the arrangement was artificial, and has been
rejected.
BRANCHIOSTEGE
Bran`chi*os"tege, (Anat.)
Defn: The branchiostegal membrane. See Illustration in Appendix.
BRANCHIOSTEGOUS
Bran`chi*os"te*gous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Branchiostegal.
BRANCHIOSTOMA
Bran`chi*os"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr., Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lancelet. See Amphioxus.
BRANCHIURA
Bran"chi*u"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr., Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Entomostraca, with suctorial mouths, including
species parasitic on fishes, as the carp lice (Argulus).
BRANCHLESS
Branch"less, a.
Defn: Destitude of branches or shoots; without any valuable product;
barren; naked.
BRANCHLET
Branch"let, n. Etym: [Branch + -let.]
Defn: A little branch; a twig.
BRANCH PILOT
Branch" pi`lot.
Defn: A pilot who has a branch or commission, as from Trinity House,
England, for special navigation.
BRANCHY
Branch"y, a.
Defn: Full of branches; having wide-spreading branches; consisting of
branches.
Beneath thy branchy bowers of thickest gloom. J. Scott.
BRAND
Brand, n. Etym: [OE. brand, brond, AS. brand brond brand, sword, from
byrnan, beornan, to burn; akin to D., Dan., Sw., & G. brand brand,
Icel. brandr a brand, blade of a sword. sq. root32. See Burn, v. t.,
and cf. Brandish.]
1. A burning piece of wood; or a stick or piece of wood partly burnt,
whether burning or after the fire is extinct.
Snatching a live brand from a wigwam, Mason threw it on a matted
roof. Palfrey.
2. A sword, so called from its glittering or flashing brightness.
[Poetic] Tennyson.
Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand.
Milton.
3. A mark made by burning with a hot iron, as upon a cask, to
designate the quality, manufacturer, etc., of the contents, or upon
an animal, to designate ownership; -- also, a mark for a similar
purpose made in any other way, as with a stencil. Hence, figurately:
Quality; kind; grade; as, a good brand of flour.
4. A mark put upon criminals with a hot iron. Hence: Any mark of
infamy or vice; a stigma.
The brand of private vice. Channing.
5. An instrument to brand with; a branding iron.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: Any minute fungus which produces a burnt appearance in plants.
The brands are of many species and several genera of the order
Pucciniæi.
BRAND
Brand, v.t [imp. & p. p. Branded; p. pr. & vb. n. Branding.].
1. To burn a distinctive mark into or upon with a hot iron, to
indicate quality, ownership, etc., or to mark as infamous (as a
convict).
2. To put an actual distinctive mark upon in any other way, as with a
stencil, to show quality of contents, name of manufacture, etc.
3. Fig.: To fix a mark of infamy, or a stigma, upon.
The Inquisition branded its victims with infamy. Prescott.
There were the enormities, branded and condemned by the first and
most natural verdict of common humanity. South.
4. To mark or impress indelibly, as with a hot iron.
As if it were branded on my mind. Geo. Eliot.
Brand"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, brands; a branding iron.
2. A gridiron. [Scot.]
BRANDENBURG
Bran"den*burg, n. [So named after Brandenburg, a province and a town
of Prussia.]
Defn: A kind of decoration for the breast of a coat, sometimes only a
frog with a loop, but in some military uniforms enlarged into a broad
horizontal stripe.
He wore a coat . . . trimmed with Brandenburgs.
Smollett.
BRANDER
Brand"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, brands; a branding iron.
2. A gridiron. [Scot.]
BRAND GOOSE
Brand" goose`. Etym: [Prob. fr. 1st brand + goose: cf. Sw. brandgås.
Cf. Brant.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of wild goose (Branta bernicla) usually called in
America brant. See Brant.
BRANDIED
Bran"died, a.
Defn: Mingled with brandy; made stronger by the addition of brandy;
flavored or treated with brandy; as, brandied peaches.
BRANDING IRON
Brand"ing i`*ron.
Defn: An iron to brand with.
BRAND IRON
Brand" i`ron.
1. A branding iron.
2. A trivet to set a pot on. Huloet.
3. The horizontal bar of an andiron.
BRANDISH
Bran"dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brandished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Brandishing.] Etym: [OE. braundisen, F. brandir, fr. brand a sword,
fr. OHG. brant brand. See Brand, n.]
1. To move or wave, as a weapon; to raise and move in various
directions; to shake or flourish.
The quivering lance which he brandished bright. Drake.
2. To play with; to flourish; as, to brandish syllogisms.
BRANDISH
Bran"dish, n.
Defn: A flourish, as with a weapon, whip, etc. "Brandishes of the
fan." Tailer.
BRANDISHER
Bran"dish*er, n.
Defn: One who brandishes.
BRANDLE
Bran"dle, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. brandiller.]
Defn: To shake; to totter. [Obs.]
BRANDLING; BRANDLIN
Brand"ling, Brand"lin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Branlin, fish and worm.
BRAND-NEW
Brand"-new", a. Etym: [See Brand, and cf. Brannew.]
Defn: Quite new; bright as if fresh from the forge.
BRAND SPORE
Brand" spore`. (Bot.)
Defn: One of several spores growing in a series or chain, and
produced by one of the fungi called brand.
BRANDY
Bran"dy, n.; pl. Brandies. Etym: [From older brandywine, brandwine,
fr. D. brandewijn, fr. p. p. of branden to burn, distill + wijn wine,
akin to G. branntwein. See Brand.]
Defn: A strong alcoholic liquor distilled from wine. The name is also
given to spirit distilled from other liquors, and in the United
States to that distilled from cider and peaches. In northern Europe,
it is also applied to a spirit obtained from grain. Brandy fruit,
fruit preserved in brandy and sugar.
BRANDYWINE
Bran"dy*wine`, n.
Defn: Brandy. [Obs.] Wiseman.
BRANGLE
Bran"gle, n. Etym: [Prov. E. brangled confused, entangled, Scot.
brangle to shake, menace; probably a variant of wrangle, confused
with brawl.]
Defn: A wrangle; a squabble; a noisy contest or dispute. [R.]
A brangle between him and his neighbor. Swift.
BRANGLE
Bran"gle, v.i [imp. & p. p. Brangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Brangling.]
Defn: To wrangle; to dispute contentiously; to squabble. [R.]
BRANGLEMENT
Bran"gle*ment, n.
Defn: Wrangle; brangle. [Obs.]
BRANGLER
Bran"gler, n.
Defn: A quarrelsome person.
BRANGLING
Bran"gling, n.
Defn: A quarrel. [R.] Whitlock.
BRANK
Brank, n. Etym: [Prov. of Celtic origin; cf. L. brance, brace, the
Gallic name of a particularly white kind of corn.]
Defn: Buckwheat. [Local, Eng.] Halliwell.
BRANK; BRANKS
Brank, Branks, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. brangus, brangas, a sort of
pillory, Ir. brancas halter, or D. pranger fetter.]
1. A sort of bridle with wooden side pieces. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Jamieson.
2. A scolding bridle, an instrument formerly used for correcting
scolding women. It was an iron frame surrounding the head and having
a triangular piece entering the mouth of the scold.
BRANK
Brank, v. i.
1. To hold up and toss the head; -- applied to horses as spurning the
bit. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
2. To prance; to caper. [Scot.] Jamieson.
BRANKURSINE
Brank"ur*sine, n. Etym: [F. branc-ursine, branch-ursine, fr. LL.
branca claw + L. ursinus belonging to a bear (fr. ursus bear), i .e.,
bear's claw, because its leaves resemble the claws of a bear. Cf.
Branch.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bear's-breech, or Acanthus.
BRANLIN
Bran"lin, n. Etym: [Scot. branlie fr. brand.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young salmon or parr, in the stage in which it has transverse
black bands, as if burned by a gridiron.
BRANLIN
Bran"lin, n. Etym: [See Brand.]
Defn: A small red worm or larva, used as bait for small fresh-water
fish; -- so called from its red color.
BRAN-NEW
Bran"-new", a.
Defn: See Brand-new.
BRANNY
Bran"ny, a.
Defn: Having the appearance of bran; consisting of or containing
bran. Wiseman.
BRANSLE
Bran"sle, n. Etym: [See Brawl a dance.]
Defn: A brawl or dance. [Obs.] Spenser.
BRANT
Brant, n. Etym: [Cf.Brand goose, Brent, Brenicle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of wild goose (Branta bernicla) -- called also brent
and brand goose. The name is also applied to other related species.
BRANT
Brant, a. Etym: [See Brent.]
Defn: Steep. [Prov. Eng.]
BRANTAIL
Bran"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European redstart; -- so called from the red color of its
tail.
BRANT-FOX
Brant"-fox`, n. Etym: [For brand-fox; cf. G. brandfuchs, Sw. bradräf.
So called from its yellowish brown and somewhat black color. See
Brand.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of fox found in Sweden (Vulpes alopex), smaller than the
common fox (V. vulgaris), but probably a variety of it.
BRANULAR
Bran"u*lar, a.
Defn: Relating to the brain; cerebral. I. Taylor.
BRASEN
Bra"sen, a.
Defn: Same as Brazen.
BRASH
Brash, a. Etym: [Cf. Gael. bras or G. barsch harsh, sharp, tart,
impetuous, D. barsch, Sw. & Dan. barsk.]
Defn: Hasty in temper; impetuous. Grose.
BRASH
Brash, a. Etym: [Cf. Amer. bresk, brusk, fragile, brittle.]
Defn: Brittle, as wood or vegetables. [Colloq., U. S.] Bartlett.
BRASH
Brash, n. Etym: [See Brash brittle.]
1. A rash or eruption; a sudden or transient fit of sickness.
2. Refuse boughs of trees; also, the clippings of hedges. [Prov.
Eng.] Wright.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Broken and angular fragments of rocks underlying alluvial
deposits. Lyell.
4. Broken fragments of ice. Kane. Water brash (Med.), an affection
characterized by a spasmodic pain or hot sensation in the stomach
with a rising of watery liquid into the mouth; pyrosis.
-- Weaning brash (Med.), a severe form of diarrhea which sometimes
attacks children just weaned.
BRASHY
Brash"y, a.
1. Resembling, or of the nature of, brash, or broken fragments;
broken; crumbly.
Our progress was not at all impeded by the few soft, brashy floes
that we encountered.
F. T. Bullen.
2. Showery; characterized by brashes, or showers.
BRASIER; BRAZIER
Bra"sier, Bra"zier, n. Etym: [OE. brasiere, F. braise live coals. See
Brass.]
Defn: An artificer who works in brass. Franklin.
BRASIER; BRAZIER
Bra"sier, Bra"zier, n. Etym: [F. brasier, braisíer, fr. braise live
coals. See Brass.]
Defn: A pan for holding burning coals.
BRASILIN; BRASILEIN
Bras"i*lin, Bras"i*lein, n. [Cf. F. brésiline. See 2d Brazil.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A substance, C16H14O5, extracted from brazilwood as a yellow
crystalline powder which is white when pure. It is colored intensely
red by alkalies on exposure to the air, being oxidized to
bra*sil"e*in, C16H12O5, to which brazilwood owes its dyeing
properties.
BRASQUE
Brasque, n. [F.] (Metal.)
Defn: A paste made by mixing powdered charcoal, coal, or coke with
clay, molasses, tar, or other suitable substance. It is used for
lining hearths, crucibles, etc. Called also steep.
BRASS
Brass, n.; pl. Brasses. Etym: [OE. bras, bres, AS. bræs; akin to
Icel. bras cement, solder, brasa to harden by fire, and to E. braze,
brazen. Cf. 1st & 2d Braze.]
1. An alloy (usually yellow) of copper and zinc, in variable
proportion, but often containing two parts of copper to one part of
zinc. It sometimes contains tin, and rarely other metals.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A journal bearing, so called because frequently made of brass.
A brass is often lined with a softer metal, when the latter is
generally called a white metal lining. See Axle box, Journal Box, and
Bearing.
3. Coin made of copper, brass, or bronze. [Obs.]
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip
for your journey. Matt. x. 9.
4. Impudence; a brazen face. [Colloq.]
5. pl.
Defn: Utensils, ornaments, or other articles of brass.
The very scullion who cleans the brasses. Hopkinson.
6. A brass plate engraved with a figure or device. Specifically, one
used as a memorial to the dead, and generally having the portrait,
coat of arms, etc.
7. pl. (Mining)
Defn: Lumps of pyrites or sulphuret of iron, the color of which is
near to that of brass.
Note: The word brass as used in Sculpture language is a translation
for copper or some kind of bronze.
Note: Brass is often used adjectively or in self-explaining
compounds; as, brass button, brass kettle, brass founder, brass
foundry or brassfoundry. Brass band (Mus.), a band of musicians who
play upon wind instruments made of brass, as trumpets, cornets, etc.
-- Brass foil, Brass leaf, brass made into very thin sheets; --
called also Dutch gold.
BRASSAGE
Bras"sage, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A sum formerly levied to pay the expense of coinage; -- now
called seigniorage.
BRASSART
Bras"sart, n. Etym: [F. brassard, fr. bras arm. See Brace, n.]
Defn: Armor for the arm; -- generally used for the whole arm from the
shoulder to the wrist, and consisting, in the 15th and 16th
centuries, of many parts.
BRASSE
Brasse, n. Etym: [Perh. a transposition of barse; but cf. LG. brasse
the bream, G. brassen Cf. Bream.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spotted European fish of the genus Lucioperca, resembling a
perch.
BRASSETS
Bras"sets, n.
Defn: See Brassart.
BRASSICA
Bras"si*ca, n. Etym: [L., cabbage.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants embracing several species ad varieties
differing much in appearance and qualities: such as the common
cabbage (B. oleracea), broccoli, cauliflowers, etc.; the wild turnip
(B. campestris); the common turnip (B. rapa); the rape of coleseed
(B. napus), etc.
BRASSICACEOUS
Bras`si*ca"ceous, a. Etym: [L. brassica cabbage.] (Bot.)
Defn: Related to, or resembling, the cabbage, or plants of the
Cabbage family.
BRASSIERE
Bras`sière", n. [F.]
Defn: A form of woman's underwaist stiffened with whalebones, or the
like, and worn to support the breasts.
BRASSINESS
Brass"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state, conditions, or quality of being brassy. [Colloq.]
BRASS-VISAGED
Brass"-vis"aged, a.
Defn: Impudent; bold.
BRASSY
Brass"y, a.
1. Of or pertaining to brass; having the nature, appearance, or
hardness, of brass.
2. Impudent; impudently bold. [Colloq.]
BRAST
Brast, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Burst.]
Defn: To burst. [Obs.]
And both his yën braste out of his face. Chaucer.
Dreadfull furies which their chains have brast. Spenser.
BRAT
Brat, n. Etym: [OE. bratt coarse garnment, AS. bratt cloak, fr. the
Celtic; cf. W. brat clout, rag, Gael. brat cloak, apron, raf, Ir.
brat cloak; properly then, a child's bib or clout; hence, a child.]
1. A coarse garnment or cloak; also, coarse clothing, in general.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A coarse kind of apron for keeping the clothes clean; a bib.
[Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Wright.
3. A child; an offspring; -- formerly used in a good sense, but now
usually in a contemptuous sense. "This brat is none of mine." Shak.
"A beggar's brat." Swift.
O Israel! O household of the Lord! O Abraham's brats! O brood of
blessed seed! Gascoigne.
4. The young of an animal. [Obs.] L'Estrange.
BRAT
Brat, n. (Mining)
Defn: A thin bed of coal mixed with pyrites or carbonate of lime.
BRATSCHE
Brat"sche, n. Etym: [G., fr. It. viola da braccio viola held on the
arm.]
Defn: The tenor viola, or viola.
BRATTICE
Brat"tice, n. Etym: [See Brettice.] (Mining)
(a) A wall of separation in a shaft or gallery used for ventilation.
(b) Planking to support a roof or wall.
BRATTISHING
Brat"tish*ing, n.
1. See Brattice, n.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Carved openwork, as of a shrine, battlement, or parapet.
BRAUNITE
Braun"ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A native oxide of manganese, of dark brownish black color. It
was named from a Mr. Braun of Gotha.
BRAVADE
Bra*vade" (, n.
Defn: Bravado. [Obs.] Fanshawe.
BRAVADO
Bra*va"do, n., pl. Bravadoes. Etym: [Sp. bravada, bravata, boast,
brag: cf. F. bravade. See Brave.]
Defn: Boastful and threatening behavior; a boastful menace.
In spite of our host's bravado. Irving.
BRAVE
Brave, a. [Compar. Braver; superl. Bravest.] Etym: [F. brave, It. or
Sp. bravo, (orig.) fierce, wild, savage, prob. from. L. barbarus. See
Barbarous, and cf. Bravo.]
1. Bold; courageous; daring; intrepid; -- opposed to cowardly; as, a
brave man; a brave act.
2. Having any sort of superiority or excellence; -- especially such
as in conspicuous. [Obs. or Archaic as applied to material things.]
Iron is a brave commodity where wood aboundeth. Bacon.
It being a brave day, I walked to Whitehall. Pepys.
3. Making a fine show or display. [Archaic]
Wear my dagger with the braver grace. Shak.
For I have gold, and therefore will be brave. In silks I'll rattle it
of every color. Robert Greene.
Frog and lizard in holiday coats And turtle brave in his golden
spots. Emerson.
Syn.
-- Courageous; gallant; daring; valiant; valorous; bold; heroic;
intrepid; fearless; dauntless; magnanimous; high-spirited; stout-
hearted. See Gallant.
BRAVE
Brave, n.
1. A brave person; one who is daring.
The star-spangled banner, O,long may it wave O'er the land of the
free and the home of the brave. F. S. Key.
2. Specifically, an Indian warrior.
3. A man daring beyond discretion; a bully.
Hot braves like thee may fight. Dryden.
4. A challenge; a defiance; bravado. [Obs.]
Demetrius, thou dost overween in all; And so in this, to bear me down
with braves. Shak.
BRAVE
Brave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Braved; p. pr. & vb. n. Braving.]
1. To encounter with courage and fortitude; to set at defiance; to
defy; to dare.
These I can brave, but those I can not bear. Dryden.
2. To adorn; to make fine or showy. [Obs.]
Thou [a tailor whom Grunio was browbeating] hast braved meny men;
brave not me; I'll neither be faced or braved. Shak.
BRAVELY
Brave"ly, adv.
1. In a brave manner; courageously; gallantly; valiantly; splendidly;
nobly.
2. Finely; gaudily; gayly; showily.
And [she] decked herself bravely to allure the eyes of all men that
should see her. Judith. x. 4.
3. Well; thrivingly; prosperously. [Colloq.]
BRAVENESS
Brave"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of state or being brave.
BRAVERY
Brav"er*y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. braverie.]
1. The quality of being brave; fearless; intrepidity.
Remember, sir, my liege, . . . The natural bravery of your isle.
Shak.
2. The act of braving; defiance; bravado. [Obs.]
Reform, then, without bravery or scandal of former times and persons.
3. Splendor; magnificence; showy appearance; ostentation; fine dress.
With scarfs and fans and double change of bravery. Shak.
Like a stately ship . . . With all her bravery on, and tackle trim.
Milton.
4. A showy person; a fine gentleman; a beau. [Obs.]
A man that is the bravery of his age. Beau. & Fl.
Syn.
-- Courage; heroism; interpidity; gallantry; valor; fearlessness;
dauntlessness; hardihood; manfulness. See Courage, and Heroism.
BRAVING
Brav"ing, n.
Defn: A bravado; a boast.
With so proud a strain Of threats and bravings. Chapman.
BRAVINGLY
Brav"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a defiant manner.
BRAVO
Bra"vo, n.; pl. Bravoes. Etym: [I. See Brave, a.]
Defn: A daring villain; a bandit; one who sets law at defiance; a
professional assassin or murderer.
Safe from detection, seize the unwary prey. And stab, like bravoes,
all who come this way. Churchill.
BRAVO
Bra"vo, interj. Etym: [It. See Brave.]
Defn: Well done! excellent! an exclamation expressive of applause.
BRAVURA
Bra*vu"ra, n. Etym: [It., (properly) bravery, spirit, from bravo. See
Brave.] (Mus.)
Defn: A florid, brilliant style of music, written for effect, to show
the range and flexibility of a singer's voice, or the technical force
and skill of a performer; virtuoso music. Aria di bravura ( Etym:
[It.], a florid air demanding brilliant execution.
BRAW
Braw, a. [See Brave, a.] [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
1. Well-dressed; handsome; smart; brave; -- used of persons or their
clothing, etc.; as, a braw lad. "A braw new gown." Burns.
2. Good; fine. "A braw night." Sir W. Scott.
BRAWL
Brawl, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brawled; p. pr. & vb. n. Brawling.] Etym:
[OE. braulen to quarrel, boast, brallen to cry, make a noise; cf. LG.
brallen to brag, MHG. prulen, G. prahlen, F. brailler to cry, shout,
Pr. brailar, braillar, W. bragal to vociferate, brag, Armor. bragal
to romp, to strut, W. broliaw to brag, brawl boast.
1. To quarrel noisily and outrageously.
Let a man that is a man consider that he is a fool that brawleth
openly with his wife. Golden Boke.
2. To complain loudly; to scold.
3. To make a loud confused noise, as the water of a rapid stream
running over stones.
Where the brook brawls along the painful road. Wordsworth.
Syn.
-- To wrangle; squabble; contend.
BRAWL
Brawl, n.
Defn: A noisy quarrel; loud, angry contention; a wrangle; a tumult;
as, a drunken brawl.
His sports were hindered by the brawls. Shak
.
Syn.
-- Noise; quarrel; uproar; row; tumult.
BRAWLER
Brawl"er, n.
Defn: One that brawls; wrangler. Common brawler (Law), one who
disturbs a neighborhood by brawling (and is therefore indictable at
common law as a nuisance). Wharton.
BRAWLING
Brawl"ing, a.
1. Quarreling; quarrelsome; noisy.
She is an irksome brawling scold. Shak.
2. Making a loud confused noise. See Brawl, v. i., 3.
A brawling stream. J. S. Shairp.
BRAWLINGLY
Brawl"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a brawling manner.
BRAWN
Brawn, n. Etym: [OF. braon fleshy part, muscle, fr. HG. br flesh, G.
braten roast meat; akin to Icel. br flesh, food of beasts, AS. brbr
to roast, G. braten, and possibly to E. breed.]
1. A muscle; flesh. [Obs.]
Formed well of brawns and of bones. Chaucer.
2. Full, strong muscles, esp. of the arm or leg, muscular strength; a
protuberant muscular part of the body; sometimes, the arm.
Brawn without brains is thine. Dryden.
It was ordained that murderers should be brent on the brawn of the
left hand. E. Hall.
And in my vantbrace put this withered brawn. Shak.
3. The flesh of a boar; also, the salted and prepared flesh of a
boar.
The best age for the boar is from two to five years, at which time it
is best to geld him, or sell him for brawn. Mortimer.
4. A boar. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BRAWNED
Brawned, a.
Defn: Brawny; strong; muscular. [Obs.] Spenser.
BRAWNER
Brawn"er, n.
Defn: A boor killed for the table.
BRAWNINESS
Brawn"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being brawny.
BRAWNY
Brawn"y, a.
Defn: Having large, strong muscles; muscular; fleshy; strong. "Brawny
limbs." W. Irving.
Syn.
-- Muscular; fleshy; strong; bulky; sinewy; athletic; stalwart;
powerful; robust.
BRAXY
Brax"y, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. breac rheum, broc sickness, Ir. bracha
corruption. Jamieson.]
1. A disease of sheep. The term is variously applied in different
localities. [Scot.]
2. A diseased sheep, or its mutton.
BRAY
Bray, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Braying.] Etym:
[OE. brayen, OF. breier, F. broyer to pound, grind, fr. OHG. brehhan
to break. See Break.]
Defn: To pound, beat, rub, or grind small or fine.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar, . . . yet will not his
foolishness depart from him. Prov. xxvii. 22.
BRAY
Bray, v. i. Etym: [OE brayen, F. braire to bray, OF. braire to cry,
fr. LL. bragire to whinny; perh. fr. the Celtic and akin to E. break;
or perh. of imitative origin.]
1. To utter a loud, harsh cry, as an ass.
Laugh, and they Return it louder than an ass can bray. Dryden.
2. To make a harsh, grating, or discordant noise.
Heard ye the din of battle bray Gray.
BRAY
Bray, v. t.
Defn: To make or utter with a loud, discordant, or harsh and grating
sound.
Arms on armor clashing, brayed Horrible discord. MIlton.
And varying notes the war pipes brayed. Sir W. Scott.
BRAY
Bray, n.
Defn: The harsh cry of an ass; also, any harsh, grating, or
discordant sound.
The bray and roar of multitudinous London. Jerrold.
BRAY
Bray, n. Etym: [OE. braye, brey, brew, eyebrow, brow of a hill, hill,
bank, Scot. bra, brae, bray, fr. AS. br eyebrow, influenced by the
allied Icel. br eyebrow, bank, also akin to AS. brBrow.]
Defn: A bank; the slope of a hill; a hill. See Brae, which is now the
usual spelling. [North of Eng. & Scot.] Fairfax.
BRAYER
Bray"er, n.
Defn: An implement for braying and spreading ink in hand printing.
BRAYER
Bray"er, n.
Defn: One that brays like an ass. Pope.
BRAYING
Bray"ing, a.
Defn: Making a harsh noise; blaring. "Braying trumpets." Shak.
BRAZE
Braze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brazed; p. pr & vb. n. Brazing.] Etym: [F.
braser to solder, fr. Icel. brasa to harden by fire. Cf. Brass.]
1. To solder with hard solder, esp. with an alloy of copper and zinc;
as, to braze the seams of a copper pipe.
2. To harden. "Now I am brazes to it." Shak.
BRAZE
Braze, v. t. Etym: [AS. bræsian, fr. bræs brass. See Brass.]
Defn: To cover or ornament with brass. Chapman.
BRAZEN
Bra"zen, a.Etym: [OE. brasen, AS. bræsen. See Brass.]
1. Pertaining to, made of, or resembling, brass.
2. Sounding harsh and loud, like resounding brass.
3. Impudent; immodest; shameless; having a front like brass; as, a
brazen countenance. Brazen age. (a) (Myth.) The age of war and
lawlessness which succeeded the silver age. (b) (Archæol.) See under
Bronze.
-- Brazen sea (Jewish Antiq.), a large laver of brass, placed in
Solomon's temple for the use of the priests.
BRAZEN
Bra"zen, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brazened; p. pr. & vb. n. Brazening.]
Defn: To carry through impudently or shamelessly; as, to brazen the
matter through.
Sabina brazened it out before Mrs. Wygram, but inwardly she was
resolved to be a good deal more circumspect. W. Black.
BRAZEN-BROWED
Bra"zen-browed`, a.
Defn: Shamelessly impudent. Sir T. Browne.
BRAZENFACE
Bra"zen*face`, n.
Defn: An impudent of shameless person. "Well said, brazenface; hold
it out." Shak.
BRAZENFACED
Bra"zen*faced`, a.
Defn: Impudent; shameless.
BRAZENLY
Bra"zen*ly, adv.
Defn: In a bold, impudent manner.
BRAZENNESS
Bra"zen*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being brazen. Johnson.
BRAZIER
Bra"zier, n.
Defn: Same as Brasier.
BRAZILETTO
Braz`i*let"to, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. & Sp. brasilete, It. brasiletto.]
Defn: See Brazil wood.
BRAZILIAN
Bra*zil"ian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Brasil.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Brazil. Brazilian pebble. See
Pebble, n., 2.
BRAZILIN
Braz"i*lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. brésiline. See Brazil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance contained in both Brazil wood and Sapan wood, from
which it is extracted as a yellow crystalline substance which is
white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies. [Written
also brezilin.]
BRAZIL NUT
Bra*zil" nut`. (Bot.)
Defn: An oily, three-sided nut, the seed of the Bertholletia excelsa;
the cream nut.
Note: From eighteen to twenty-four of the seed or "nuts" grow in a
hard and nearly globular shell.
BRAZIL WOOD
Bra*zil" wood`. Etym: [OE. brasil, LL. brasile (cf. Pg. & Sp. brasil,
Pr. bresil, Pr. bresil); perh. from Sp. or Pg. brasa a live coal (cf.
Braze, Brasier); or Ar. vars plant for dyeing red or yellow. This
name was given to the wood from its color; and it is said that King
Emanuel, of Portugal, gave the name Brazil to the country in South
America on account of its producing this wood.]
1. The wood of the oriental Cæsalpinia Sapan; -- so called before the
discovery of America.
2. A very heavy wood of a reddish color, imported from Brazil and
other tropical countries, for cabinet-work, and for dyeing. The best
is the heartwood of Cæsalpinia echinata, a leguminous tree; but other
trees also yield it. An interior sort comes from Jamaica, the timber
of C. Braziliensis and C. crista. This is often distinguished as
Braziletto , but the better kind is also frequently so named.
BREACH
Breach, n. Etym: [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in
comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap,
breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break] .
1. The act of breaking, in a figurative sense.
2. Specifically: A breaking or infraction of a law, or of any
obligation or tie; violation; non-fulfillment; as, a breach of
contract; a breach of promise.
3. A gap or opening made made by breaking or battering, as in a wall
or fortification; the space between the parts of a solid body rent by
violence; a break; a rupture.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall
up with our English dead. Shak.
4. A breaking of waters, as over a vessel; the waters themselves;
surge; surf.
The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach
of waters. 2 Sam. v. 20
A clear breach implies that the waves roll over the vessel without
breaking.
-- A clean breach implies that everything on deck is swept away.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
5. A breaking up of amicable relations; rupture.
There's fallen between him and my lord An unkind breach. Shak.
6. A bruise; a wound.
Breach for breach, eye for eye. Lev. xxiv. 20
7. (Med.)
Defn: A hernia; a rupture.
8. A breaking out upon; an assault.
The Lord had made a breach upon Uzza. 1. Chron. xiii. 11
Breach of falth, a breaking, or a failure to keep, an expressed or
implied promise; a betrayal of confidence or trust.
-- Breach of peace, disorderly conduct, disturbing the public peace.
-- Breach of privilege, an act or default in violation of the
privilege or either house of Parliament, of Congress, or of a State
legislature, as, for instance, by false swearing before a committee.
Mozley. Abbott. - Breach of promise, violation of one's plighted
word, esp. of a promise to marry.
-- Breach of trust, violation of one's duty or faith in a matter
entrusted to one.
Syn.
-- Rent; cleft; chasm; rift; aperture; gap; break; disruption;
fracture; rupture; infraction; infringement; violation; quarrel;
dispute; contention; difference; misunderstanding.
BREACH
Breach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breached ( ; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaching.]
Defn: To make a breach or opening in; as, to breach the walls of a
city.
BREACH
Breach, v. i.
Defn: To break the water, as by leaping out; -- said of a whale.
BREACHY
Breach"y, a.
Defn: Apt to break fences or to break out of pasture; unruly; as,
breachy cattle.
BREAD
Bread, v. t. Etym: [AS. brædan to make broad, to spread. See Broad,
a.]
Defn: To spread. [Obs.] Ray.
BREAD
Bread, n. Etym: [AS. breád; akin to OFries. brad, OS. br, D. brood,
G. brod, brot, Icel. brau, Sw. & Dan. bröd. The root is probably that
of E. brew. Brew.]
1. An article of food made from flour or meal by moistening,
kneading, and baking.
Note: Raised bread is made with yeast, salt, and sometimes a little
butter or lard, and is mixed with warm milk or water to form the
dough, which, after kneading, is given time to rise before baking.
-- Cream of tartar bread is raised by the action of an alkaline
carbonate or bicarbonate (as saleratus or ammonium bicarbonate) and
cream of tartar (acid tartrate of potassium) or some acid.
-- Unleavened bread is usually mixed with water and salt only.
Aërated bread. See under Aërated. Bread and butter (fig.), means of
living.
-- Brown bread, Indian bread, Graham bread, Rye and Indian bread.
See Brown bread, under Brown.
-- Bread tree. See Breadfruit.
2. Food; sustenance; support of life, in general.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11
BREAD
Bread, v. t. (Cookery)
Defn: To cover with bread crumbs, preparatory to cooking; as, breaded
cutlets.
BREADBASKET
Bread"bas`ket, n.
Defn: The stomach. [Humorous] S. Foote.
BREADCORN
Bread"corn`.
Defn: Corn of grain of which bread is made, as wheat, rye, etc.
BREADED
Bread"ed, a.
Defn: Braided [Obs.] Spenser.
BREADEN
Bread"en, a.
Defn: Made of bread. [R.]
BREADFRUIT
Bread"fruit`, n. (Bot.)
1. The fruit of a tree (Artocarpus incisa) found in the islands of
the Pacific, esp. the South Sea islands. It is of a roundish form,
from four to six or seven inches in diameter, and, when baked,
somewhat resembles bread, and is eaten as food, whence the name.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The tree itself, which is one of considerable size, with large,
lobed leaves. Cloth is made from the bark, and the timber is used for
many purposes. Called also breadfruit tree and bread tree.
BREADLESS
Bread"less, a.
Defn: Without bread; destitude of food.
Plump peers and breadless bards alike are dull. P. Whitehead.
BREADROOT
Bread`root", n. (Bot.)
Defn: The root of a leguminous plant (Psoralea esculenta), found near
the Rocky Mountains. It is usually oval in form, and abounds in
farinaceous matter, affording sweet and palatable food.
Note: It is the Pomme blanche of Canadian voyageurs.
BREADSTUFF
Bread"stuff, n.
Defn: Grain, flour, or meal of which bread is made.
BREADTH
Breadth, n. Etym: [OE. brede, breede, whence later bredette, AS.
brbrad broad. See Broad, a.]
1. Distance from side to side of any surface or thing; measure
across, or at right angles to the length; width.
2. (Fine Arts) The quality of having the colors and shadows broad and
massive, and the arrangement of objects such as to avoid to great
multiplicity of details, producing an impression of largeness and
simple grandeur; -- called also breadth of effect.
Breadth of coloring is a prominent character in the painting of all
great masters. Weale.
BREADTHLESS
Breadth"less, a.
Defn: Without breadth.
BREADTHWAYS
Breadth"ways, ads.
Defn: Breadthwise. Whewell.
BREADTHWISE
Breadth"wise, ads.
Defn: In the direction of the breadth.
BREADWINNER
Bread"win`ner, n.
Defn: The member of a family whose labor supplies the food of the
family; one who works for his living. H. Spencer.
BREAK
Break, v. t. [imp. broke, (Obs. Brake); p. p. Broken (, (Obs. Broke);
p. pr. & vb. n. Breaking.] Etym: [OE. breken, AS. brecan; akin to OS.
brekan, D. breken, OHG. brehhan, G. brechen, Icel.braka to creak, Sw.
braka, bräkka to crack, Dan. brække to break, Goth. brikan to break,
L. frangere. Cf. Bray to pound, Breach, Fragile.]
1. To strain apart; to sever by fracture; to divide with violence;
as, to break a rope or chain; to break a seal; to break an axle; to
break rocks or coal; to break a lock. Shak.
2. To lay open as by breaking; to divide; as, to break a package of
goods.
3. To lay open, as a purpose; to disclose, divulge, or communicate.
Katharine, break thy mind to me. Shak.
4. To infringe or violate, as an obligation, law, or promise.
Out, out, hyena! these are thy wonted arts . . . To break all faith,
all vows, deceive, betray. Milton
5. To interrupt; to destroy the continuity of; to dissolve or
terminate; as, to break silence; to break one's sleep; to break one's
journey.
Go, release them, Ariel;
My charms I'll break, their senses I'll restore. Shak.
6. To destroy the completeness of; to remove a part from; as, to
break a set.
7. To destroy the arrangement of; to throw into disorder; to pierce;
as, the cavalry were not able to break the British squares.
8. To shatter to pieces; to reduce to fragments.
The victim broke in pieces the musical instruments with which he had
solaced the hours of captivity. Prescott.
9. To exchange for other money or currency of smaller denomination;
as, to break a five dollar bill.
10. To destroy the strength, firmness, or consistency of; as, to
break flax.
11. To weaken or impair, as health, spirit, or mind.
An old man, broken with the storms of state. Shak.
12. To diminish the force of; to lessen the shock of, as a fall or
blow.
I'll rather leap down first, and break your fall. Dryden.
13. To impart, as news or information; to broach; -- with to, and
often with a modified word implying some reserve; as, to break the
news gently to the widow; to break a purpose cautiously to a friend.
14. To tame; to reduce to subjection; to make tractable; to
discipline; as, to break a horse to the harness or saddle. "To break
a colt." Spenser.
Why, then thou canst not break her to the lute Shak.
15. To destroy the financial credit of; to make bankrupt; to ruin.
With arts like these rich Matho, when he speaks, Attracts all fees,
and little lawyers breaks. Dryden.
16. To destroy the official character and standing of; to cashier; to
dismiss.
I see a great officer broken. Swift.
Note: With prepositions or adverbs: --To break down. (a) To crush; to
overwhelm; as, to break down one's strength; to break down
opposition. (b) To remove, or open a way through, by breaking; as, to
break down a door or wall.
-- To break in. (a) To force in; as, to break in a door. (b) To
train; to discipline; as, a horse well broken in.
-- To break of, to rid of; to cause to abandon; as, to break one of
a habit.
-- To break off. (a) To separate by breaking; as, to break off a
twig. (b) To stop suddenly; to abandon. "Break off thy sins by
righteousness." Dan. iv. 27.
-- To break open, to open by breaking. "Open the door, or I will
break it open." Shak.
-- To break out, to take or force out by breaking; as, to break out
a pane of glass.
-- To break out a cargo, to unstow a cargo, so as to unload it
easily.
-- To break through. (a) To make an opening through, as, as by
violence or the force of gravity; to pass violently through; as, to
break through the enemy's lines; to break through the ice. (b) To
disregard; as, to break through the ceremony.
-- To break up. (a) To separate into parts; to plow (new or fallow
ground). "Break up this capon." Shak. "Break up your fallow ground."
Jer. iv. 3. (b) To dissolve; to put an end to. "Break up the court."
Shak.
-- To break (one) all up, to unsettle or disconcert completely; to
upset. [Colloq.]
Note: With an immediate object: -To break the back. (a) To dislocate
the backbone; hence, to disable totally. (b) To get through the worst
part of; as, to break the back of a difficult undertaking.
-- To break bulk, to destroy the entirety of a load by removing a
portion of it; to begin to unload; also, to transfer in detail, as
from boats to cars.
-- To break cover, to burst forth from a protecting concealment, as
game when hunted.
-- To break a deer or stag, to cut it up and apportion the parts
among those entitled to a share.
-- To break fast, to partake of food after abstinence. See
Breakfast.
-- To break ground. (a) To open the earth as for planting; to
commence excavation, as for building, siege operations, and the like;
as, to break ground for a foundation, a canal, or a railroad. (b)
Fig.: To begin to execute any plan. (c) (Naut.) To release the anchor
from the bottom.
-- To break the heart, to crush or overwhelm (one) with grief.
-- To break a house (Law), to remove or set aside with violence and
a felonious intent any part of a house or of the fastenings provided
to secure it.
-- To break the ice, to get through first difficulties; to overcome
obstacles and make a beginning; to introduce a subject.
-- To break jail, to escape from confinement in jail, usually by
forcible means.
-- To break a jest, to utter a jest. "Patroclus . . . the livelong
day break scurril jests." Shak.
-- To break joints, to lay or arrange bricks, shingles, etc., so
that the joints in one course shall not coincide with those in the
preceding course.
-- To break a lance, to engage in a tilt or contest.
-- To break the neck, to dislocate the joints of the neck.
-- To break no squares, to create no trouble. [Obs.] -- To break a
path, road, etc., to open a way through obstacles by force or labor.
-- To break upon a wheel, to execute or torture, as a criminal by
stretching him upon a wheel, and breaking his limbs with an iron bar;
-- a mode of punishment formerly employed in some countries.
-- To break wind, to give vent to wind from the anus.
Syn.
-- To dispart; rend; tear; shatter; batter; violate; infringe;
demolish; destroy; burst; dislocate.
BREAK
Break, v. i.
1. To come apart or divide into two or more pieces, usually with
suddenness and violence; to part; to burst asunder.
2. To open spontaneously, or by pressure from within, as a bubble, a
tumor, a seed vessel, a bag.
Else the bottle break, and the wine runneth out. Math. ix. 17.
3. To burst forth; to make its way; to come to view; to appear; to
dawn.
The day begins to break, and night is fied. Shak.
And from the turf a fountain broke, and gurgled at our feet.
Wordswoorth.
4. To burst forth violently, as a storm.
The clouds are still above; and, while I speak, A second deluge o'er
our head may break. Shak.
5. To open up. to be scattered; t be dissipated; as, the clouds are
breaking.
At length the darkness begins to break. Macawlay.
6. To become weakened in constitution or faculties; to lose health or
strength.
See how the dean begins to break; Poor gentleman . Swift.
7. To be crushed, or overwhelmed with sorrow or grief; as, my heart
is breaking.
8. To fall in business; to become bankrupt.
He that puts all upon adventures doth oftentimes break, and come to
poverty. Bacn.
9. To make an abrupt or sudden change; to change the gait; as, to
break into a run or gallop.
10. To fail in musical quality; as, a singer's voice breaks when it
is strained beyond its compass and a tone or note is not completed,
but degenerates into an unmusical sound instead. Also, to change in
tone, as a boy's voice at puberty.
11. To fall out; to terminate friendship.
To break upon the score of danger or expense is to be mean and
narrow-spirited. Collier.
Note: With prepositions or adverbs: -To break away, to disengage
one's self abruptly; to come or go away against resistance.
Fear me not, man; I will not break away. Shak.
To break down. (a) To come down by breaking; as, the coach broke
down. (b) To fail in any undertaking.
He had broken down almost at the outset. Thackeray.
-- To break forth, to issue; to come out suddenly, as sound, light,
etc. "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning." Isa. lviii.
8;
Note: often with into in expressing or giving vent to one's feelings.
"Break forth into singing, ye mountains." Isa. xliv. 23. To break
from, to go away from abruptly.
This radiant from the circling crowd he broke. Dryden.
-- To break into, to enter by breaking; as, a house.
-- To break in upon, to enter or approach violently or unexpectedly.
"This, this is he; softly awhile; let us not break in upon him."
Milton.
-- To break loose. (a) To extricate one's self forcibly. "Who would
not, finding way, break loose from hell" Milton. (b) To cast off
restraint, as of morals or propriety.
-- To break off. (a) To become separated by rupture, or with
suddenness and violence. (b) To desist or cease suddenly. "Nay,
forward, old man; do not break off so." Shak.
-- To break off from, to desist from; to abandon, as a habit.
-- To break out. (a) To burst forth; to escape from restraint; to
appear suddenly, as a fire or an epidemic. "For in the wilderness
shall waters break out, and stream in the desert." Isa. xxxv. 6 (b)
To show itself in cutaneous eruptions; -- said of a disease. (c) To
have a rash or eruption on the akin; -- said of a patient.
-- To break over, to overflow; to go beyond limits.
-- To break up. (a) To become separated into parts or fragments; as,
the ice break up in the rivers; the wreck will break up in the next
storm. (b) To disperse. "The company breaks up." I. Watts.
-- To break upon, to discover itself suddenly to; to dawn upon.
-- To break with. (a) To fall out; to sever one's relations with; to
part friendship. "It can not be the Volsces dare break with us."
Shak. "If she did not intend to marry Clive, she should have broken
with him altogether." Thackeray. (b) To come to an explanation; to
enter into conference; to speak. [Obs.] "I will break with her and
with her father." Shak.
BREAK
Break, n. Etym: [See Break, v. t., and cf. Brake (the instrument),
Breach, Brack a crack.]
1. An opening made by fracture or disruption.
2. An interruption of continuity; change of direction; as, a break in
a wall; a break in the deck of a ship. Specifically:
(a) (Arch.) A projection or recess from the face of a displacement in
the circuit, interrupting the electrical current.
3. An interruption; a pause; as, a break in friendship; a break in
the conversation.
4. An interruption in continuity in writing or printing, as where
there is an omission, an unfilled line, etc.
All modern trash is Set forth with numerous breaks and dashes. Swift.
5. The first appearing, as of light in the morning; the dawn; as, the
break of day; the break of dawn.
6. A large four-wheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash
top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.
7. A device for checking motion, or for measuring friction. See
Brake, n. 9 & 10.
8. (Teleg.)
Defn: See Commutator.
BREAKABLE
Break"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being broken.
BREAKAGE
Break"age, n.
1. The act of breaking; a break; a breaking; also, articles broken.
2. An allowance or compensation for things broken accidentally, as in
transportation or use.
BREAKAWAY
Break"a*way`, n. [Break + away] [Australasia]
1.
Defn: A wild rush of sheep, cattle, horses, or camels (especially at
the smell or the sight of water); a stampede.
2. An animal that breaks away from a herd.
BREAKBONE FEVER
Break"bone` fe`ver. (Med.)
Defn: See Dengue.
BREAK-CIRCUIT
Break"-cir`cuit, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A key or other device for breaking an electrical circuit.
BREAKDOWN
Break"down`, n.
1. The act or result of breaking down, as of a carriage; downfall.
2.
(a) A noisy, rapid, shuffling dance engaged in competitively by a
number of persons or pairs in succession, as among the colored people
of the Southern United States, and so called, perhaps, because the
exercise is continued until most of those who take part in it break
down.
(b) Any rude, noisy dance performed by shuffling the feet, usually by
one person at a time. [U.S.]
Don't clear out when the quadrilles are over, for we are going to
have a breakdown to wind up with. New Eng. Tales.
BREAKER
Break"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, breaks.
I'll be no breaker of the law. Shak.
2. Specifically: A machine for breaking rocks, or for breaking coal
at the mines; also, the building in which such a machine is placed.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A small water cask. Totten.
4. A wave breaking into foam against the shore, or against a sand
bank, or a rock or reef near the surface.
The breakers were right beneath her bows. Longfellow.
BREAKFAST
Break"fast, n. Etym: [Break + fast.]
1. The first meal in the day, or that which is eaten at the first
meal.
A sorry breakfast for my lord protector. Shak.
2. A meal after fasting, or food in general.
The wolves will get a breakfast by my death. Dryden.
BREAKFAST
Break"fast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. breakfasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Breakfasting.]
Defn: To break one's fast in the morning; too eat the first meal in
the day.
First, sir, I read, and then I breakfast. Prior.
BREAKFAST
Break"fast, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with breakfast. Milton.
BREAKMAN
Break"man, n.
Defn: See Brakeman.
BREAKNECK
Break"neck`, n.
1. A fall that breaks the neck.
2. A steep place endangering the neck.
BREAKNECK
Break"neck`, a.
Defn: Producing danger of a broken neck; as, breakneck speed.
BREAK-UP
Break"-up`, n.
Defn: Disruption; a separation and dispersion of the parts or
members; as, a break-up of an assembly or dinner party; a break-up of
the government.
BREAKWATER
Break"wa`ter, n.
Defn: Any structure or contrivance, as a mole, or a wall at the mouth
of a harbor, to break the force of waves, and afford protection from
their violence.
BREAM
Bream, n. Etym: [OE. breme, brem, F. brême, OF. bresme, of German
origin; cf. OHG. brahsema, brahsina, OLG. bressemo, G. brassen. Cf.
Brasse.]
1. (Zoöl)
Defn: A European fresh-water cyprinoid fish of the genus Abramis,
little valued as food. Several species are known.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: An American fresh-water fish, of various species of Pomotis and
allied genera, which are also called sunfishes and pondfishes. See
Pondfish.
3. (Zoöl)
Defn: A marine sparoid fish of the genus Pagellus, and allied genera.
See Sea Bream.
BREAM
Bream, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Breaming.] Etym:
[Cf. Broom, and G. ein schiff brennen.] (Naut.)
Defn: To clean, as a ship's bottom of adherent shells, seaweed, etc.,
by the application of fire and scraping.
BREAST
Breast, n. Etym: [OE. brest, breost, As. breóst; akin to Icel. brj,
Sw. bröst, Dan. bryst, Goth. brusts, OS. briost, D. borst, G. brust.]
1. The fore part of the body, between the neck and the belly; the
chest; as, the breast of a man or of a horse.
2. Either one of the protuberant glands, situated on the front of the
chest or thorax in the female of man and of some other mammalia, in
which milk is secreted for the nourishment of the young; a mammma; a
teat.
My brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother. Cant. viii. 1.
3. Anything resembling the human breast, or bosom; the front or
forward part of anything; as, a chimney breast; a plow breast; the
breast of a hill.
Mountains on whose barren breast The laboring clouds do often rest.
Milton.
4. (Mining)
(a) The face of a coal working.
(b) The front of a furnace.
5. The seat of consciousness; the repository of thought and self-
consciousness, or of secrets; the seat of the affections and
passions; the heart.
He has a loyal breast. Shak.
6. The power of singing; a musical voice; -- so called, probably,
from the connection of the voice with the lungs, which lie within the
breast. [Obs.]
By my troth, the fool has an excellent breast. Shak.
Breast drill, a portable drilling machine, provided with a
breastplate, for forcing the drill against the work.
-- Breast pang. See Angina pectoris, under Angina.
-- To make a clean breast, to disclose the secrets which weigh upon
one; to make full confession.
BREAST
Breast, v. t. [imp. & p. p.Breasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Breasted.]
Defn: To meet, with the breast; to struggle with or oppose manfully;
as, to breast the storm or waves.
The court breasted the popular current by sustaining the demurrer.
Wirt.
To breast up a hedge, to cut the face of it on one side so as to lay
bare the principal upright stems of the plants.
BREASTBAND
Breast"band`, n.
Defn: A band for the breast. Specifically: (Naut.) A band of canvas,
or a rope, fastened at both ends to the rigging, to support the man
who heaves the lead in sounding.
BREASTBEAM
Breast"beam`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The front transverse beam of a locomotive.
BREASTBONE
Breast"bone`, n.
Defn: The bone of the breast; the sternum.
BREAST-DEEP
Breast"-deep`, a.
Defn: Deep as from the breast to the feet; as high as the breast.
See him breast-deep in earth, and famish him. Shak.
BREASTED
Breast"ed, a.
Defn: Having a breast; -- used in composition with qualifying words,
in either a literal or a metaphorical sense; as, a single-breasted
coat.
The close minister is buttoned up, and the brave officer open-
breasted, on these occasions. Spectator.
BREASTFAST
Breast"fast`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A large rope to fasten the midship part of a ship to a wharf,
or to another vessel.
BREASTHEIGHT
Breast"height`, n.
Defn: The interior slope of a fortification, against which the
garnison lean in firing.
BREAST-HIGH
Breast"-high`, a.
Defn: High as the breast.
BREASTHOOK
Breast"hook`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A thick piece of timber in the form of a knee, placed across
the stem of a ship to strengthen the fore part and unite the bows on
each side. Totten.
BREASTING
Breast"ing, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The curved channel in which a breast wheel turns. It is closely
adapted to the curve of the wheel through about a quarter of its
circumference, and prevents the escape of the water until it has
spent its force upon the wheel. See Breast wheel.
BREASTKNOT
Breast"knot`, n.
Defn: A pin worn of the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a
brooch.
BREASTPIN
Breast"pin` (brest"pin`), n.
Defn: A pin worn on the breast for a fastening, or for ornament; a
brooch.
BREASTPLATE
Breast"plate`, n.
1. A plate of metal covering the breast as defensive armor.
Before his old rusty breastplate could be scoured, and his cracked
headpiece mended. Swift.
2. A piece against which the workman presses his breast in operating
a breast drill, or other similar tool.
3. A strap that runs across a horse's breast. Ash.
4. (Jewish Antiq.)
Defn: A part of the vestment of the high priest, worn upon the front
of the ephod. It was a double piece of richly embroidered stuff, a
span square, set with twelve precious stones, on which were engraved
the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. See Ephod.
BREASTPLOW; BREASTPLOUGH
Breast"plow`, Breast"plough`, n.
Defn: A kind of plow, driven by the breast of the workman; -- used to
cut or pare turf.
BREASTRAIL
Breast"rail`, n.
Defn: The upper rail of any parapet of ordinary height, as of a
balcony; the railing of a quarter-deck, etc.
BREASTROPE
Breast"rope`, n.
Defn: See Breastband.
BREASTSUMMER
Breast"sum`mer, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A summer or girder extending across a building flush with, and
supporting, the upper part of a front or external wall; a long
lintel; a girder; -- used principally above shop windows. [Written
also brestsummer and bressummer.]
BREASTWHEEL
Breast"wheel`, n.
Defn: A water wheel, on which the stream of water strikes neither so
high as in the overshot wheel, nor so low as in the undershot, but
generally at about half the height of the wheel, being kept in
contact with it by the breasting. The water acts on the float boards
partly by impulse, partly by its weight.
BREASTWORK
Breast"work`, n.
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A defensive work of moderate height, hastily thrown up, of
earth or other material.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A railing on the quarter-deck and forecastle.
BREATH
Breath, n. Etym: [OE. breth, breeth, AS. br odor, scent, breath; cf.
OHG. bradam steam, vapor, breath, G. brodem, and possibly E. Brawn,
and Breed.]
1. The air inhaled and exhaled in respiration, air which, in the
process of respiration, has parted with oxygen and has received
carbonic acid, aqueous vapor, warmth, etc.
Melted as breath into the wind. Shak.
2. The act of breathing naturally or freely; the power or capacity to
breathe freely; as, I am out of breath.
3. The power of respiration, and hence, life. Hood.
Thou takest away their breath, they die. Ps. civ. 29.
4. Time to breathe; respite; pause.
Give me some breath, some little pause. Shak.
5. A single respiration, or the time of making it; a single act; an
instant.
He smiles and he frowns in a breath. Dryden.
6. Fig.: That which gives or strengthens life.
The earthquake voice of victory, To thee the breath of life. Byron.
7. A single word; the slightest effort; a triffle.
A breath can make them, as a breath has made. Goldsmith.
8. A very slight breeze; air in gentle motion.
Calm and unruffled as a summer's sea, when not a breath of wind flies
o'er its surface. Addison.
9. Fragrance; exhalation; odor; perfume. Tennison.
The breath of flowers. Bacon.
10. Gentle exercise, causing a quicker respiration.
An after dinner's breath. Shak.
Out of breath, breathless, exhausted; breathing with difficulty.
-- Under one's breath, in low tones.
BREATHABLE
Breath"a*ble, a.
Defn: Such as can be breathed.
BREATHABLENESS
Breath"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being breathable.
BREATHE
Breathe, v. i. [imp. & p. p Breathed; p. pr. & vb. n. Breathing.]
Etym: [From Breath.]
1. To respire; to inhale and exhale air; hence;, to live. "I am in
health, I breathe." Shak.
Breathes there a man with soul so dead Sir W. Scott.
2. To take breath; to rest from action.
Well! breathe awhile, and then to it again! Shak.
3. To pass like breath; noiselessly or gently; to exhale; to emanate;
to blow gently.
The air breathes upon us here most sweetly. Shak.
There breathes a living fragrance from the shore. Byron.
BREATHE
Breathe, v. t.
1. To inhale and exhale in the process of respiration; to respire.
To view the light of heaven, and breathe the vital air. Dryden.
2. To inject by breathing; to infuse; -- with into.
Able to breathe life into a stone. Shak.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life. Gen. ii. 7.
3. To emit or utter by the breath; to utter softly; to whisper; as,
to breathe a vow.
He softly breathed thy name. Dryden.
Or let the church, our mother, breathe her curse, A mother's curse,
on her revolting son. Shak.
4. To exhale; to emit, as breath; as, the flowers breathe odors or
perfumes.
5. To express; to manifest; to give forth.
Others articles breathe the same severe spirit. Milner.
6. To act upon by the breath; to cause to sound by breathing. "They
breathe the flute." Prior.
7. To promote free respiration in; to exercise.
And every man should beat thee. I think thou wast created for men to
breathe themselves upon thee. Shak.
8. To suffer to take breath, or recover the natural breathing; to
rest; as, to breathe a horse.
A moment breathed his panting steed. Sir W. Scott.
9. To put out of breath; to exhaust.
Mr. Tulkinghorn arrives in his turret room, a little breathed by the
journey up. Dickens.
10. (Phonetics)
Defn: To utter without vocality, as the nonvocal consonants.
The same sound may be pronounces either breathed, voiced, or
whispered. H. Sweet.
Breathed elements, being already voiceless, remain unchanged
Note: [in whispering]. H. Sweet.
To breathe again, to take breath; to feel a sense of relief, as from
danger, responsibility, or press of business.
-- To breathe one's last, to die; to expire.
-- To breathe a vein, to open a vein; to let blood. Dryden.
BREATHER
Breath"er, n.
1. One who breathes. Hence: (a) One who lives.(b) One who utters. (c)
One who animates or inspires.
2. That which puts one out of breath, as violent exercise. [Colloq.]
BREATHFUL
Breath"ful, a.
Defn: Full of breath; full of odor; fragrant. [Obs.]
BREATHING
Breath"ing, n.
1. Respiration; the act of inhaling and exhaling air.
Subject to a difficulty of breathing. Melmoth.
2. Air in gentle motion.
3. Any gentle influence or operation; inspiration; as, the breathings
of the Spirit.
4. Aspiration; secret prayer. "Earnest desires and breathings after
that blessed state." Tillotson.
5. Exercising; promotion of respiration.
Here is a lady that wants breathing too; And I have heard, you
knights of Tyre Are excellent in making ladies trip. Shak.
6. Utterance; communication or publicity by words.
I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose. Shak.
7. Breathing place; vent. Dryden.
8. Stop; pause; delay.
You shake the head at so long a breathing. Shak.
9. Also, in a wider sense, the sound caused by the friction of the
outgoing breath in the throat, mouth, etc., when the glottis is wide
open; aspiration; the sound expressed by the letter h.
10. (Gr. Gram.)
Defn: A mark to indicate aspiration or its absence. See Rough
breathing, Smooth breathing, below. Breathing place. (a) A pause.
"That cæsura, or breathing place, in the midst of the verse." Sir P.
Sidney. (b) A vent.
-- Breathing time, pause; relaxation. Bp. Hall.
-- Breathing while, time sufficient for drawing breath; a short
time. Shak.
-- Rough breathing (spiritus asper) (. See 2d Asper, n.
-- Smooth breathing (spiritus lenis), a mark (') indicating the
absence of the sound of h, as in 'ie`nai (ienai).
BREATHLESS
Breath"less, a.
1. Spent with labor or violent action; out of breath.
2. Not breathing; holding the breath, on account of fear,
expectation, or intense interest; attended with a holding of the
breath; as, breathless attention.
But breathless, as we grow when feeling most. Byron.
3. Dead; as, a breathless body.
BREATHLESSLY
Breath"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In a breathless manner.
BREATHLESSNESS
Breath"less*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being breathless or out of breath.
BRECCIA
Brec"cia, n. Etym: [It., breach, pebble, fragments of stone, fr. F.
brèche; of German origin. See Breach.] (Geol.)
Defn: A rock composed of angular fragments either of the same mineral
or of different minerals, etc., united by a cement, and commonly
presenting a variety of colors. Bone breccia, a breccia containing
bones, usually fragmentary.
-- Coin breccia, a breccia containing coins.
BRECCIATED
Brec"ci*a`ted, a.
Defn: Consisting of angular fragments cemented together; resembling
breccia in appearance.
The brecciated appearance of many specimens [of meteorites]. H. A.
Newton.
BRED
Bred,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Breed. Bred out, degenerated. "The strain of
man's bred out into baboon and monkey." Shak.
-- Bred to arms. See under Arms.
-- Well bred. (a) Of a good family; having a good pedigree. "A
gentleman well bred and of good name." Shak. [Obs., except as applied
to domestic animals.] (b) Well brought up, as shown in having good
manners; cultivated; refined; polite.
BREDE; BREEDE
Brede, or Breede, n.
Defn: Breadth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BREDE
Brede, n. Etym: [See Braid woven cord.]
Defn: A braid. [R.]
Half lapped in glowing gauze and golden brede. Tennyson.
BREECH
Breech, n. Etym: [See Breeches.]
1. The lower part of the body behind; the buttocks.
2. Breeches. [Obs.] Shak.
3. The hinder part of anything; esp., the part of a cannon, or other
firearm, behind the chamber.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: The external angle of knee timber, the inside of which is
called the throat.
BREECH
Breech, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Breeched; p. pr. & vb. n. Breeching.]
1. To put into, or clothe with, breeches.
A great man . . . anxious to know whether the blacksmith's youngest
boy was breeched. Macaulay.
2. To cover as with breeches. [Poetic]
Their daggers unmannerly breeched with gore. Shak.
3. To fit or furnish with a breech; as, to breech a gun.
4. To whip on the breech. [Obs.]
Had not a courteous serving man conveyed me away, whilst he went to
fetch whips, I think, in my conscience, he would have breeched me.
Old Play.
5. To fasten with breeching.
BREECH ACTION
Breech action.
Defn: The breech mechanism in breech-loading small arms and certain
special guns, as automatic and machine guns; --used frequently in
referring to the method by which the movable barrels of breech-
loading shotguns are locked, unlocked, or rotated to loading
position.
BREECHBLOCK
Breech"block, n.
Defn: The movable piece which closes the breech of a breech-loading
firearm, and resists the backward force of the discharge. It is
withdrawn for the insertion of a cartridge, and closed again before
the gun is fired.
BREECHCLOTH
Breech"cloth`, n.
Defn: A cloth worn around the breech.
BREECHES
Breech"es, n. pl. Etym: [OE. brech, brek, AS. brek, pl. of broc
breech, breeches; akin to Icel. brok breeches, ODan. brog, D. broek,
G. bruch; cf. L. bracae, braccae, which is of Celtic origin. Cf.
Brail.]
1. A garment worn by men, covering the hips and thighs; smallclothes.
His jacket was red, and his breeches were blue. Coleridge.
2. Trousers; pantaloons. [Colloq.] Breeches buoy, in the life-saving
service, a pair of canvas breeches depending from an annular or
beltlike life buoy which is usually of cork. This contrivance,
inclosing the person to be rescued, is hung by short ropes from a
block which runs upon the hawser stretched from the ship to the
shore, and is drawn to land by hauling lines.
-- Breeches pipe, a forked pipe forming two branches united at one
end.
-- Knee breeches, breeches coming to the knee, and buckled or
fastened there; smallclothes.
-- To wear the breeches, to usurp the authority of the husband; --
said of a wife. [Colloq.]
BREECHING
Breech"ing, n.
1. A whipping on the breech, or the act of whipping on the breech.
I view the prince with Aristarchus' eyes, Whose looks were as a
breeching to a boy. Marlowe.
2. That part of a harness which passes round the breech of a horse,
enabling him to hold back a vehicle.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A strong rope rove through the cascabel of a cannon and secured
to ringbolts in the ship's side, to limit the recoil of the gun when
it is discharged.
4. The sheet iron casing at the end of boilers to convey the smoke
from the flues to the smokestack.
BREECHLOADER
Breech"load`er, n.
Defn: A firearm which receives its load at the breech.
For cavalry, the revolver and breechloader will supersede the saber.
Rep. Sec. War (1860).
BREECH-LOADING
Breech"-load`ing, a.
Defn: Receiving the charge at the breech instead of at the muzzle.
BREECH PIN; BREECH SCREW
Breech" pin`, Breech" screw`.
Defn: A strong iron or steel plug screwed into the breech of a musket
or other firearm, to close the bottom of the bore.
BREECH SIGHT
Breech" sight`.
Defn: A device attached to the breech of a firearm, to guide the eye,
in conjunction with the front sight, in taking aim.
BREED
Breed, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bred; p. pr. & vb. n. Breeding.] Etym:
[OE. breden, AS. bredan to nourish, cherish, keep warm, from brod
brood; akin to D. broeden to brood, OHG. bruoten, G. brüten. See
Brood.]
1. To produce as offspring; to bring forth; to bear; to procreate; to
generate; to beget; to hatch.
Yet every mother breeds not sons alike. Shak.
If the sun breed maggots in a dead dog. Shak.
2. To take care of in infancy, and through the age of youth; to bring
up; to nurse and foster.
To bring thee forth with pain, with care to breed. Dryden.
Born and bred on the verge of the wilderness. Everett.
3. To educate; to instruct; to form by education; to train; --
sometimes followed by up.
But no care was taken to breed him a Protestant. Bp. Burnet.
His farm may not remove his children too far from him, or the trade
he breeds them up in. Locke.
4. To engender; to cause; to occasion; to originate; to produce; as,
to breed a storm; to breed disease.
Lest the place And my quaint habits breed astonishment. Milton.
5. To give birth to; to be the native place of; as, a pond breeds
fish; a northern country breeds stout men.
6. To raise, as any kind of stock.
7. To produce or obtain by any natural process. [Obs.]
Children would breed their teeth with less danger. Locke.
Syn.
-- To engender; generate; beget; produce; hatch; originate; bring
up; nourish; train; instruct.
BREED
Breed, v. i.
1. To bear and nourish young; to reproduce or multiply itself; to be
pregnant.
That they breed abundantly in the earth. Gen. viii. 17.
The mother had never bred before. Carpenter.
Ant. Is your gold and silver ewes and rams Shy. I can not tell. I
make it breed as fast. Shak.
2. To be formed in the parent or dam; to be generated, or to grow, as
young before birth.
3. To have birth; to be produced or multiplied.
Heavens rain grace On that which breeds between them. Shak.
4. To raise a breed; to get progeny.
The kind of animal which you wish to breed from. Gardner.
To breed in and in, to breed from animals of the same stock that are
closely related.
BREED
Breed, n.
1. A race or variety of men or other animals (or of plants),
perpetuating its special or distinctive characteristics by
inheritance.
Twice fifteen thousand hearts of England's breed. Shak.
Greyhounds of the best breed. Carpenter.
2. Class; sort; kind; -- of men, things, or qualities.
Are these the breed of wits so wondered at Shak.
This courtesy is not of the right breed. Shak.
3. A number produced at once; a brood. [Obs.]
Note: Breed is usually applied to domestic animals; species or
variety to wild animals and to plants; and race to men.
BREEDBATE
Breed"bate, n.
Defn: One who breeds or originates quarrels. [Obs.] "No telltale nor
no breedbate." Shak.
BREEDER
Breed"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, breeds, produces, brings up, etc.
She was a great breeder. Dr. A. Carlyle.
Italy and Rome have been the best breeders of worthy men. Ascham.
2. A cause. "The breeder of my sorrow." Shak.
BREEDING
Breed"ing, n.
1. The act or process of generating or bearing.
2. The raising or improving of any kind of domestic animals; as,
farmers should pay attention to breeding.
3. Nurture; education; formation of manners.
She had her breeding at my father's charge. Shak.
4. Deportment or behavior in the external offices and decorums of
social life; manners; knowledge of, or training in, the ceremonies,
or polite observances of society.
Delicacy of breeding, or that polite deference and respect which
civility obliges us either to express or counterfeit towards the
persons with whom we converse. Hume.
5. Descent; pedigree; extraction. [Obs.]
Honest gentlemen, I know not your breeding. Shak.
Close breeding, In and in breeding, breeding from a male and female
from the same parentage.
-- Cross breeding, breeding from a male and female of different
lineage.
-- Good breeding, politeness; genteel deportment.
Syn.
-- Education; instruction; nurture; training; manners. See
Education.
BREEZE; BREEZE FLY
Breeze, Breeze" fly` (, n. Etym: [OE. brese, AS. briósa; perh. akin
to OHG. brimissa, G. breme, bremse, D. brems, which are akin to G.
brummen to growl, buzz, grumble, L. fremere to murmur; cf. G.
brausen, Sw. brusa, Dan. bruse, to roar, rush.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fly of various species, of the family Tabanidæ, noted for
buzzing about animals, and tormenting them by sucking their blood; --
called also horsefly, and gadfly. They are among the largest of two-
winged or dipterous insects. The name is also given to different
species of botflies. [Written also breese and brize.]
BREEZE
Breeze, n. Etym: [F. brise; akin to It. brezza breeze, Sp. briza,
brisa, a breeze from northeast, Pg. briza northeast wind; of
uncertain origin; cf. F. bise, Pr. bisa, OHG. bisa, north wind, Arm.
biz northeast wind.]
1. A light, gentle wind; a fresh, soft-blowing wind.
Into a gradual calm the breezes sink. Wordsworth.
2. An excited or ruffed state of feeling; a flurry of excitement; a
disturbance; a quarrel; as, the discovery produced a breeze.
[Colloq.] Land breeze, a wind blowing from the land, generally at
night.
-- Sea breeze, a breeze or wind blowing, generally in the daytime,
from the sea.
BREEZE
Breeze, n. Etym: [F. braise cinders, live coals. See Brasier.]
1. Refuse left in the process of making coke or burning charcoal.
2. (Brickmaking)
Defn: Refuse coal, coal ashes, and cinders, used in the burning of
bricks.
BREEZE
Breeze, v. i.
Defn: To blow gently. [R.] J. Barlow. To breeze up (Naut.), to blow
with increasing freshness.
BREEZELESS
Breeze"less, a.
Defn: Motionless; destitute of breezes.
A stagnant, breezeless air becalms my soul. Shenstone.
BREEZINESS
Breez"i*ness, n.
Defn: State of being breezy.
BREEZY
Breez"y, a.
1. Characterized by, or having, breezes; airy. "A breezy day in May."
Coleridge.
'Mid lawns and shades by breezy rivulets fanned. Wordsworth.
2. Fresh; brisk; full of life. [Colloq.]
BREGMA
Breg"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. bregma.] (Anat.)
Defn: The point of junction of the coronal and sagittal sutures of
the skull.
BREGMATIC
Breg*mat"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the bregma.
BREHON
Bre"hon, n. Etym: [Ir. breitheamh judge.]
Defn: An ancient Irish or Scotch judge. Brehon laws, the ancient
Irish laws, -- unwritten, like the common law of England. They were
abolished by statute of Edward III.
BRELAN
Bre*lan", n. [F.] (Card Playing)
(a) A French gambling game somewhat like poker.
(b) In French games, a pair royal, or triplet.
BRELAN CARRE
Bre*lan" car`re". [F. carré square.] (Card Playing)
Defn: In French games, a double pair royal.
BRELAN FAVORI
Bre*lan" fa`vo`ri". [F. favori favorite.] (Card Playing)
Defn: In French games, a pair royal composed of 2 cards in the hand
and the card turned.
BRELOQUE
Bre*loque", n. [F.]
Defn: A seal or charm for a watch chain. "His chains and breloques."
Thackeray.
BREME
Breme, a. Etym: [OE. breme, brime, fierce, impetuous, glorious, AS.
breme, br, famous. Cf. Brim, a.]
1. Fierce; sharp; severe; cruel. [Obs.] Spenser.
From the septentrion cold, in the breme freezing air. Drayton.
2. Famous; renowned; well known. Wright. [Written also brim and
brimme.]
BREN; BRENNE
Bren, Bren"ne, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Brent (p. pr. & vb. n.
Brenning.] Etym: [See Burn.]
Defn: To burn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Consuming fire brent his shearing house or stall. W. Browne.
BREN
Bren, n.
Defn: Bran. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRENNAGE
Bren"nage, n. Etym: [OF. brenage; cf. LL. brennagium, brenagium. See
Bran.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A tribute which tenants paid to their lord, in lieu of bran,
which they were obliged to furnish for his hounds.
BRENNINGLY
Bren"ning*ly, adv.
Defn: Burningly; ardently. [Obs.]
BRENT; BRANT
Brent, Brant, a. Etym: [AS. brant; akin to Dan. brat, Icel. brattr,
steep.]
1. Steep; high. [Obs.]
Grapes grow on the brant rocks so wonderfully that ye will marvel how
any man dare climb up to them. Ascham.
2. Smooth; unwrinkled. [Scot.]
Your bonnie brow was brent. Burns.
BRENT
Brent, imp. & p.p.
Defn: of Bren. Burnt. [Obs.]
BRENT
Brent, n. Etym: [Cf. Brant.]
Defn: A brant. See Brant.
BREQUET CHAIN
Breq"uet chain`.
Defn: A watch-guard.
BRERE
Brere, n.
Defn: A brier. [Archaic] Chaucer.
BREST
Brest, 3d sing.pr.
Defn: for Bursteth. [Obs.]
BREST; BREAST
Brest, Breast, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A torus. [Obs.]
BRESTE
Bres"te, v. t. & i. [imp. Brast; p. p. Brusten, Borsten, Bursten.]
Defn: To burst. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRESTSUMMER
Brest"sum`mer, n.
Defn: See Breastsummer.
BRET
Bret, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Birt.
BRETFUL
Bret"ful, a. Etym: [OE. also brerdful, fr. brerd top, brim, AS.
brerd.]
Defn: Brimful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRETHREN
Breth"ren, n.;
Defn: pl. of Brother.
Note: This form of the plural is used, for the most part, in solemn
address, and in speaking of religious sects or fraternities, or their
members.
BRETON
Bret"on, a. Etym: [F. breton.]
Defn: Of or relating to Brittany, or Bretagne, in France.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Brittany, or Bretagne, in France;
also, the ancient language of Brittany; Armorican.
BRETT
Brett, n.
Defn: Same as Britzska.
BRETTICE
Bret"tice, n.; pl. Brettices. Etym: [OE. bretasce, bretage, parapet,
OF. bretesche wooden tower, F. bretèche, LL. breteschia, bertresca,
prob. fr. OHG. bret, G. brett board; akin to E. board. See Board, n.,
and cf. Bartizan.]
Defn: The wooden boarding used in supporting the roofs and walls of
coal mines. See Brattice.
BRETWALDA
Bret"wal*da, n. Etym: [AS. Bretwalda, br, a powerful ruler.] (Eng.
Hist.)
Defn: The official title applied to that one of the Anglo-Saxon
chieftains who was chosen by the other chiefs to lead them in their
warfare against the British tribes. Brande & C.
BRETZEL
Bret"zel, n. Etym: [G.]
Defn: See Pretzel.
BREVE
Breve, n. Etym: [It. & (in sense 2) LL. breve, fr. L. brevis short.
See Brief.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A note or character of time, equivalent to two semibreves or
four minims. When dotted, it is equal to three semibreves. It was
formerly of a square figure (as thus: Moore.
2. (Law)
Defn: Any writ or precept under seal, issued out of any court.
3. (Print.)
Defn: A curved mark [˘] used commonly to indicate the short
quantity of a vowel.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The great ant thrush of Sumatra (Pitta gigas), which has a very
short tail.
BREVET
Bre*vet", n. Etym: [F. brevet, LL. brevetum, fr. L. brevis short. See
Brief.]
1. A warrant from the government, granting a privilege, title, or
dignity. [French usage].
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A commission giving an officer higher rank than that for which
he receives pay; an honorary promotion of an officer.
Note: In the United States army, rank by brevet is conferred, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate, for "gallant actions or
meritorious services." A brevet rank gives no right of command in the
particular corps to which the officer brevetted belongs, and can be
exercised only by special assignment of the President, or on court
martial, and detachments composed of different corps, with pay of the
brevet rank when on such duty.
BREVET
Bre*vet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brevetted (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Brevetting.] (Mil.)
Defn: To confer rank upon by brevet.
BREVET
Bre*vet", a. (Mil.)
Defn: Taking or conferring rank by brevet; as, a brevet colonel; a
brevet commission.
BREVETCY
Bre*vet"cy, n.; pl. Brevetcies (. (Mil.)
Defn: The rank or condition of a brevet officer.
BREVIARY
Bre"vi*a*ry, n.; pl. Breviaries (. Etym: [F. bréviarie, L. breviarium
summary, abridgment, neut. noun fr. breviarius abridged, fr. brevis
short. See Brief, and cf. Brevier.]
1. An abridgment; a compend; an epitome; a brief account or summary.
A book entitled the abridgment or breviary of those roots that are to
be cut up or gathered. Holland.
2. A book containing the daily public or canonical prayers of the
Roman Catholic or of the Greek Church for the seven canonical hours,
namely, matins and lauds, the first, third, sixth, and ninth hours,
vespers, and compline; -- distinguished from the missal.
BREVIATE
Bre"vi*ate, n. Etym: [L. breviatus, p.p. of breviare to shorten,
brevis short.]
1. A short compend; a summary; a brief statement.
I omit in this breviate to rehearse. Hakluyt.
The same little breviates of infidelity have . . . been published and
dispersed with great activity. Bp. Porteus.
2. A lawyer's brief. [R.] Hudibras.
BREVIATE
Bre"vi*ate, v. t.
Defn: To abbreviate. [Obs.]
BREVIATURE
Bre"vi*a*ture, n.
Defn: An abbreviature; an abbreviation. [Obs.] Johnson.
BREVIER
Bre*vier", n. Etym: [Prob. from being originally used in printing a
breviary. See Breviary.] (Print.)
Defn: A size of type between bourgeous and minion.
Note: This line is printed in brevier type.
BREVILOQUENCE
Bre*vil"o*quence, n. Etym: [L. breviloquentia.]
Defn: A brief and pertinent mode of speaking. [R.]
BREVIPED
Brev"i*ped, a. Etym: [L. brevis short + pes, pedis, foot: cf. F.
brévipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having short legs.
-- n.
Defn: A breviped bird.
BREVIPEN
Brev"i*pen, n. Etym: [L. brevis short + penna wing: cf. F.
brévipenne.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A brevipennate bird.
BREVIPENNATE
Brev`i*pen"nate, a. Etym: [L. brevis short + E. pennate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Short-winged; -- applied to birds which can not fly, owing to
their short wings, as the ostrich, cassowary, and emu.
BREVIROSTRAL; BREVIROSTRATE
Brev`i*ros"tral, Brev`i*ros"trate, a. Etym: [L. brevis short + E.
rostral, rostrate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Short-billed; having a short beak.
BREVITY
Brev"i*ty, n.; pl. Brevities. Etym: [L. brevitas, fr. brevis short:
cf. F. brièvité. See Brief.]
1. Shortness of duration; briefness of time; as, the brevity of human
life.
2. Contraction into few words; conciseness.
Brevity is the soul of wit. Shak.
This argument is stated by St. John with his usual elegant brevity
and simplicity. Bp. Porteus.
Syn.
-- Shortness; conciseness; succinctness; terseness.
BREW
Brew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Brewing.] Etym:
[OE. brewen, AS. breówan; akin to D. brouwen, OHG. priuwan, MHG.
briuwen, br, G. brauen, Icel. brugga, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and
perh. to L. defrutum must boiled down, Gr. to prepare by heat. sq.
root93. Cf. Broth, Bread.]
1. To boil or seethe; to cook. [Obs.]
2. To prepare, as beer or other liquor, from malt and hops, or from
other materials, by steeping, boiling, and fermentation. "She brews
good ale." Shak.
3. To prepare by steeping and mingling; to concoct.
Go, brew me a pottle of sack finely. Shak.
4. To foment or prepare, as by brewing; to contrive; to plot; to
concoct; to hatch; as, to brew mischief.
Hence with thy brewed enchantments, foul deceiver! Milton.
BREW
Brew, v. i.
1. To attend to the business, or go through the processes, of brewing
or making beer.
I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour. Shak.
2. To be in a state of preparation; to be mixing, forming, or
gathering; as, a storm brews in the west.
There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest. Shak.
BREW
Brew, n.
Defn: The mixture formed by brewing; that which is brewed. Bacon.
BREWAGE
Brew"age, n.
Defn: Malt liquor; drink brewed. "Some well-spiced brewage." Milton.
A rich brewage, made of the best Spanish wine. Macaulay.
BREWER
Brew"er, n.
Defn: One who brews; one whose occupation is to prepare malt liquors.
BREWERY
Brew"er*y, n.
Defn: A brewhouse; the building and apparatus where brewing is
carried on.
BREWHOUSE
Brew"house`, n.
Defn: A house or building appropriated to brewing; a brewery.
BREWING
Brew"ing, n.
1. The act or process of preparing liquors which are brewed, as beer
and ale.
2. The quantity brewed at once.
A brewing of new beer, set by old beer. Bacon.
3. A mixing together.
I am not able to avouch anything for certainty, such a brewing and
sophistication of them they make. Holland.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A gathering or forming of a storm or squall, indicated by
thick, dark clouds.
BREWIS
Brew"is, n. Etym: [OE. brewis, brouwys, browesse, brewet, OF. brouet,
-s being the OF. ending of the nom. sing. and acc. pl.; dim. of OHG.
brod. sq. root93. See Broth, and cf. Brose.]
1. Broth or pottage. [Obs.]
Let them of their Bonner's "beef" and "broth" make what brewis they
please for their credulous guests. Bp. Hall.
2. Bread soaked in broth, drippings of roast meat, milk, or water and
butter.
BREWSTERITE
Brews"ter*ite, n. Etym: [Named after Sir David Brewster.]
Defn: A rare zeolitic mineral occurring in white monoclinic crystals
with pearly luster. It is a hydrous silicate of aluminia, baryta, and
strontia.
BREZILIN
Brez"i*lin, n.
Defn: See Brazilin.
BRIAR
Bri"ar, n.
Defn: Same as Brier.
BRIAREAN
Bri*a"re*an, a. Etym: [L. Briareius, fr. Briareus a mythological
hundred-handed giant, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, Briareus, a giant fabled to have
a hundred hands; hence, hundred-handed or many-handed.
BRIBABLE
Brib"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being bribed.
A more bribable class of electors. S. Edwards.
BRIBE
Bribe, n. Etym: [F. bribe a lump of bread, scraps, leavings of meals
(that are generally given to a beggar), LL. briba scrap of bread; cf.
OF. briber, brifer, to eat gluttonously, to beg, and OHG. bilibi
food.]
1. A gift begged; a present. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A price, reward, gift, or favor bestowed or promised with a view
to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct of a judge, witness,
voter, or other person in a position of trust.
Undue reward for anything against justice is a bribe. Hobart.
3. That which seduces; seduction; allurement.
Not the bribes of sordid wealth can seduce to leave these
everAkenside.
BRIBE
Bribe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bribed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bribing.]
1. To rob or steal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To give or promise a reward or consideration to (a judge, juror,
legislator, voter, or other person in a position of trust) with a
view to prevent the judgment or corrupt the conduct; to induce or
influence by a bribe; to give a bribe to.
Neither is he worthy who bribes a man to vote against his conscience.
F. W. Robertson.
3. To gain by a bribe; of induce as by a bribe.
BRIBE
Bribe, v. i.
1. To commit robbery or theft. [Obs.]
2. To give a bribe to a person; to pervert the judgment or corrupt
the action of a person in a position of trust, by some gift or
promise.
An attempt to bribe, though unsuccessful, has been holden to be
criminal, and the offender may be indicted. Bouvier.
The bard may supplicate, but cannot bribe. Goldsmith.
BRIBELESS
Bribe"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of being bribed; free from bribes.
From thence to heaven's bribeless hall. Sir W. Raleigh.
BRIBER
Brib"er, n.
1. A thief. [Obs.] Lydgate.
2. One who bribes, or pays for corrupt practices.
3. That which bribes; a bribe.
His service . . . were a sufficient briber for his life. Shak.
BRIBERY
Brib"er*y, n.; pl. Briberies. Etym: [OE. brybery rascality, OF.
briberie. See Bribe, n.]
1. Robbery; extortion. [Obs.]
2. The act or practice of giving or taking bribes; the act of
influencing the official or political action of another by corrupt
inducements. Bribery oath, an oath taken by a person that he has not
been bribed as to voting. [Eng.]
BRIC-A BRAC; BRIC-A-BRAC; BRIC A BRAC
Bric"-a brac`, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Miscellaneous curiosities and works of decorative art,
considered collectively. A piece of bric-a-brac, any curious or
antique article of virtu, as a piece of antiquated furniture or metal
work, or an odd knickknack.
BRICK
Brick, n. Etym: [OE. brik, F. brique; of Ger. origin; cf. AS. brice a
breaking, fragment, Prov. E. brique piece, brique de pain, equiv. to
AS. hlafes brice, fr. the root of E. break. See Break.]
1. A block or clay tempered with water, sand, etc., molded into a
regular form, usually rectangular, and sun-dried, or burnt in a kiln,
or in a heap or stack called a clamp.
The Assyrians appear to have made much less use of bricks baked in
the furnace than the Babylonians. Layard.
2. Bricks, collectively, as designating that kind of material; as, a
load of brick; a thousand of brick.
Some of Palladio's finest examples are of brick. Weale.
3. Any oblong rectangular mass; as, a brick of maple sugar; a penny
brick (of bread).
4. A good fellow; a merry person; as, you 're a brick. [Slang] "He 's
a dear little brick." Thackeray. To have a brick in one's hat, to be
drunk. [Slang]
Note: Brick is used adjectively or in combination; as, brick wall;
brick clay; brick color; brick red. Brick clay, clay suitable for, or
used in making, bricks.
-- Brick dust, dust of pounded or broken bricks.
-- Brick earth, clay or earth suitable for, or used in making,
bricks.
-- Brick loaf, a loaf of bread somewhat resembling a brick in shape.
-- Brick nogging (Arch.), rough brickwork used to fill in the spaces
between the uprights of a wooden partition; brick filling.
-- Brick tea, tea leaves and young shoots, or refuse tea, steamed or
mixed with fat, etc., and pressed into the form of bricks. It is used
in Northern and Central Asia. S. W. Williams.
-- Brick trimmer (Arch.), a brick arch under a hearth, usually
within the thickness of a wooden floor, to guard against accidents by
fire.
-- Brick trowel. See Trowel.
-- Brick works, a place where bricks are made.
-- Bath brick. See under Bath, a city.
-- Pressed brick, bricks which, before burning, have been subjected
to pressure, to free them from the imperfections of shape and texture
which are common in molded bricks.
BRICK
Brick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bricking.]
1. To lay or pave with bricks; to surround, line, or construct with
bricks.
2. To imitate or counterfeit a brick wall on, as by smearing plaster
with red ocher, making the joints with an edge tool, and pointing
them. To brick up, to fill up, inclose, or line, with brick.
BRICKBAT
Brick"bat`, n.
Defn: A piece or fragment of a brick. See Bat, 4. Bacon.
BRICKFIELDER
Brick"field`er, n. [Australia]
1.
Defn: Orig., at Sydney, a cold and violent south or southwest wind,
rising suddenly, and regularly preceded by a hot wind from the north;
-- now usually called southerly buster. It blew across the
Brickfields, formerly so called, a district of Sydney, and carried
clouds of dust into the city.
2. By confusion, a midsummer hot wind from the north.
BRICKKILN
Brick"kiln`, n.
Defn: A kiln, or furnace, in which bricks are baked or burnt; or a
pile of green bricks, laid loose, with arches underneath to receive
the wood or fuel for burning them.
BRICKLAYER
Brick"lay`er, n. Etym: [Brick + lay.]
Defn: One whose pccupation is to build with bricks. Bricklayer's
itch. See under Itch.
BRICKLAYING
Brick"lay`ing, n.
Defn: The art of building with bricks, or of uniting them by cement
or mortar into various forms; the act or occupation of laying bricks.
BRICKLE
Bric"kle, a. Etym: [OE. brekil, brokel, bruchel, fr. AS. brecan, E.
break. Cf. Brittle.]
Defn: Brittle; easily broken. [Obs. or Prov.] Spenser.
As stubborn steel excels the brickle glass. Turbervile.
BRICKLENESS
Bric"kle*ness, n.
Defn: Brittleness. [Obs.]
BRICKMAKER
Brick"mak`er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to make bricks.
-- Brick"mak*ing, n.
BRICKWORK
Brick"work`, n.
1. Anything made of bricks.
Niches in brickwork form the most difficult part of the bricklayer's
art. Tomlinson.
2. The act of building with or laying bricks.
BRICKY
Brick"y, a.
Defn: Full of bricks; formed of bricks; resembling bricks or brick
dust. [R.] Spenser.
BRICKYARD
Brick"yard`, n.
Defn: A place where bricks are made, especially an inclosed place.
BRICOLE
Bri*cole", n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)
Defn: A kind of traces with hooks and rings, with which men drag and
maneuver guns where horses can not be used.
BRID
Brid, n.
Defn: A bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRIDAL
Brid"al, a. Etym: [From Bride. Cf. Bridal, n.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bride, or to wedding; nuptial; as, bridal
ornaments; a bridal outfit; a bridal chamber.
BRIDAL
Brid"al, n. Etym: [OE. bridale, brudale, AS. br brideale, bridal
feast. See Bride, and Ale, 2.]
Defn: A nuptia; festival or ceremony; a marriage.
Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The bridal of the earth and
sky. Herbert.
BRIDALTY
Brid"al*ty, n.
Defn: Celebration of the nuptial feast. [Obs.] "In honor of this
bridalty." B. Jonson.
BRIDE
Bride, n. Etym: [OE. bride, brid, brude, brud, burd, AS. br; akin to
OFries. breid, OSax. br, D. bruid, OHG. pr, br, G. braut, Icel. br,
Sw. & Dan. brud, Goth. br33s; cf. Armor. pried spouse, W. priawd a
married person.]
1. A woman newly married, or about to be married.
Has by his own experience tried How much the wife is dearer than the
bride. Lyttleton.
I will show thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. Rev. xxi. 9.
2. Fig.: An object ardently loved. Bride of the sea, the city of
Venice.
BRIDE
Bride, v. t.
Defn: To make a bride of. [Obs.]
BRIDE-ALE
Bride"-ale`, n. Etym: [See Bridal.]
Defn: A rustic wedding feast; a bridal. See Ale.
The man that 's bid to bride-ale, if he ha' cake, And drink enough,
he need not fear his stake. B. Jonson.
BRIDEBED
Bride"bed`, n.
Defn: The marriage bed. [Poetic]
BRIDECAKE
Bride"cake`, n.
Defn: Rich or highly ornamented cake, to be distributed to the guests
at a wedding, or sent to friends after the wedding.
BRIDECHAMBER
Bride"cham`ber, n.
Defn: The nuptial appartment. Matt. ix. 15.
BRIDEGROOM
Bride"groom`, n. Etym: [OE. bridegome, brudgume, AS. br (akin to OS.
br, D. bruidegom, bruigom, OHG. pr, MHG. briutegome, G. bräutigam);
AS. br bride + guma man, akin to Goth. guma, Icel. gumi, OHG. gomo,
L. homo; the insertion of r being caused by confusion with groom. See
Bride, and cf. Groom, Homage.]
Defn: A man newly married, or just about to be married.
BRIDEKNOT
Bride"knot`, n.
Defn: A knot of ribbons worn by a guest at a wedding; a wedding
favor. [Obs.]
BRIDEMAID; BRIDEMAN
Bride"maid`, n., Bride"man (, n.
Defn: See Bridesmaid, Bridesman.
BRIDESMAID
Brides"maid`, n.
Defn: A female friend who attends on a bride at her wedding.
BRIDESMAN
Brides"man, n.; pl. Bridesmen (.
Defn: A male friend who attends upon a bridegroom and bride at their
marriage; the "best man." Sir W. Scott.
BRIDESTAKE
Bride"stake`, n.
Defn: A stake or post set in the ground, for guests at a wedding to
dance round.
Divide the broad bridecake Round about the bridestake. B. Jonson.
BRIDEWELL
Bride"well, n.
Defn: A house of correction for the confinement of disorderly
persons; -- so called from a hospital built in 1553 near St. Bride's
(or Bridget's) well, in London, which was subsequently a penal
workhouse.
BRIDGE
Bridge, n. Etym: [OE. brig, brigge, brug, brugge, AS. brycg, bricg;
akin to Fries. bregge, D. brug, OHG. bruccu, G. brücke, Icel. bryggja
pier, bridge, Sw. brygga, Dan. brygge, and prob. Icel. br bridge, Sw.
& Dan. bro bridge, pavement, and possibly to E. brow.]
1. A structure, usually of wood, stone, brick, or iron, erected over
a river or other water course, or over a chasm, railroad, etc., to
make a passageway from one bank to the other.
2. Anything supported at the ends, which serves to keep some other
thing from resting upon the object spanned, as in engraving,
watchmaking, etc., or which forms a platform or staging over which
something passes or is conveyed.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: The small arch or bar at right angles to the strings of a
violin, guitar, etc., serving of raise them and transmit their
vibrations to the body of the instrument.
4. (Elec.)
Defn: A device to measure the resistance of a wire or other conductor
forming part of an electric circuit.
5. A low wall or vertical partition in the fire chamber of a furnace,
for deflecting flame, etc.; -- usually called a bridge wall. Aqueduct
bridge. See Aqueduct.
-- Asses' bridge, Bascule bridge, Bateau bridge. See under Ass,
Bascule, Bateau.
-- Bridge of a steamer (Naut.), a narrow platform across the deck,
above the rail, for the convenience of the officer in charge of the
ship; in paddlewheel vessels it connects the paddle boxes.
-- Bridge of the nose, the upper, bony part of the nose.
-- Cantalever bridge. See under Cantalever.
-- Draw bridge. See Drawbridge.
-- Flying bridge, a temporary bridge suspended or floating, as for
the passage of armies; also, a floating structure connected by a
cable with an anchor or pier up stream, and made to pass from bank to
bank by the action of the current or other means.
-- Girder bridge or Truss bridge, a bridge formed by girders, or by
trusses resting upon abutments or piers.
-- Lattice bridge, a bridge formed by lattice girders.
-- Pontoon bridge, Ponton bridge. See under Pontoon.
-- Skew bridge, a bridge built obliquely from bank to bank, as
sometimes required in railway engineering.
-- Suspension bridge. See under Suspension.
-- Trestle bridge, a bridge formed of a series of short, simple
girders resting on trestles.
-- Tubular bridge, a bridge in the form of a hollow trunk or
rectangular tube, with cellular walls made of iron plates riveted
together, as the Britannia bridge over the Menai Strait, and the
Victoria bridge at Montreal.
-- Wheatstone's bridge (Elec.), a device for the measurement of
resistances, so called because the balance between the resistances to
be measured is indicated by the absence of a current in a certain
wire forming a bridge or connection between two points of the
apparatus; -- invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone.
BRIDGE
Bridge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bridged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bridging.]
1. To build a bridge or bridges on or over; as, to bridge a river.
Their simple engineering bridged with felled trees the streams which
could not be forded. Palfrey.
2. To open or make a passage, as by a bridge.
Xerxes . . . over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia
joined. Milton.
3. To find a way of getting over, as a difficulty; -- generally with
over.
BRIDGEBOARD
Bridge"board`, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A notched board to which the treads and risers of the steps of
wooden stairs are fastened.
2. A board or plank used as a bridge.
BRIDGEHEAD
Bridge"head`, n.
Defn: A fortification commanding the extremity of a bridge nearest
the enemy, to insure the preservation and usefulness of the bridge,
and prevent the enemy from crossing; a tête-de-pont.
BRIDGEING; BRIDGING
Bridge"ing, Bridg"ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The system of bracing used between floor or other timbers to
distribute the weight. Bridging joist. Same as Binding joist.
BRIDGELESS
Bridge"less, a.
Defn: Having no bridge; not bridged.
BRIDGEPOT
Bridge"pot`, n. (Mining)
Defn: The adjustable socket, or step, of a millstone spindle. Knight.
BRIDGETREE
Bridge"tree`, n. Etym: [Bridge + tree a beam.] (Mining)
Defn: The beam which supports the spindle socket of the runner in a
grinding mill. Knight.
BRIDGE-WARD
Bridge"-ward`, n.
1. A bridge keeper; a warden or a guard for a bridge. [Obs.] Sir W.
Scott.
2. The principal ward of a key. Knight.
BRIDGEY
Bridge"y, a.
Defn: Full of bridges. [R.] Sherwood.
BRIDLE
Bri"dle, n. Etym: [OE. bridel, AS. bridel; akin to OHG. britil,
brittil, D. breidel, and possibly to E. braid. Cf. Bridoon.]
1. The head gear with which a horse is governed and restrained,
consisting of a headstall, a bit, and reins, with other appendages.
2. A restraint; a curb; a check. I. Watts.
3. (Gun.)
Defn: The piece in the interior of a gun lock, which holds in place
the timbler, sear, etc.
4. (Naut.)
(a) A span of rope, line, or chain made fast as both ends, so that
another rope, line, or chain may be attached to its middle.
(b) A mooring hawser. Bowline bridle. See under Bowline.
-- Branches of a bridle. See under Branch.
-- Bridle cable (Naut.), a cable which is bent to a bridle. See 4,
above.
-- Bridle hand, the hand which holds the bridle in riding; the left
hand.
-- Bridle path, Bridle way, a path or way for saddle horses and pack
horses, as distinguished from a road for vehicles.
-- Bridle port (Naut.), a porthole or opening in the bow through
which hawsers, mooring or bridle cables, etc., are passed.
-- Bridle rein, a rein attached to the bit.
-- Bridle road. (a) Same as Bridle path. Lowell. (b) A road in a
pleasure park reserved for horseback exercise.
-- Bridle track, a bridle path.
-- Scolding bridle. See Branks, 2.
Syn.
-- A check; restrain.
BRIDLE
Bri"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bridled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bridling.]
1. To put a bridle upon; to equip with a bridle; as, to bridle a
horse.
He bridled her mouth with a silkweed twist. Drake.
2. To restrain, guide, or govern, with, or as with, a bridle; to
check, curb, or control; as, to bridle the passions; to bridle a
muse. Addison.
Savoy and Nice, the keys of Italy, and the citadel in her hands to
bridle Switzerland, are in that consolidation. Burke.
Syn.
-- To check; restrain; curb; govern; control; repress; master;
subdue.
BRIDLE
Bri"dle, v. i.
Defn: To hold up the head, and draw in the chin, as an expression of
pride, scorn, or resentment; to assume a lofty manner; -- usually
with up. "His bridling neck." Wordsworth.
By her bridling up I perceived she expected to be treated hereafter
not as Jenny Distaff, but Mrs. Tranquillus. Tatler.
BRIDLE IRON
Bri"dle i`ron. (Arch.)
Defn: A strong flat bar of iron, so bent as to support, as in a
stirrup, one end of a floor timber, etc., where no sufficient bearing
can be had; -- called also stirrup and hanger.
BRIDLER
Bri"dler, n.
Defn: One who bridles; one who restrains and governs, as with a
bridle. Milton.
BRIDOON
Bri*doon", n. Etym: [F. bridon, from bride; of German origin. See
Bridle, n.] (Mil.)
Defn: The snaffle and rein of a military bridle, which acts
independently of the bit, at the pleasure of the rider. It is used in
connection with a curb bit, which has its own rein. Campbell.
BRIE CHEESE
Brie" cheese".
Defn: A kind of soft French cream cheese; -- so called from the
district in France where it is made; --called also fromage de Brie.
BRIEF
Brief, a. Etym: [OE. bref, F. brief, bref, fr. L. brevis; akin to Gr.
barh to tear. Cf. Breve.]
1. Short in duration.
How brief the life of man. Shak.
2. Concise; terse; succinct.
The brief style is that which expresseth much in little. B. Jonson.
3. Rife; common; prevalent. [Prov. Eng.] In brief. See under Brief,
n.
Syn.
-- Short; concise; succinct; summary; compendious; condensed; terse;
curt; transistory; short-lived.
BRIEF
Brief, adv.
1. Briefly. [Obs. or Poetic]
Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. Milton.
2. Soon; quickly. [Obs.] Shak.
BRIEF
Brief, n. Etym: [See Brief, a., and cf. Breve.]
1. A short concise writing or letter; a statement in few words.
Bear this sealed brief, With winged hastle, to the lord marshal.
Shak.
And she told me In a sweet, verbal brief. Shak.
2. An epitome.
Each woman is a brief of womankind. Overbury.
3. (Law)
Defn: An abridgment or concise statement of a client's case, made out
for the instruction of counsel in a trial at law. This word is
applied also to a statement of the heads or points of a law argument.
It was not without some reference to it that I perused many a brief.
Sir J. Stephen.
Note: In England, the brief is prepared by the attorney; in the
United States, counsel generally make up their own briefs.
4. (Law)
Defn: A writ; a breve. See Breve, n., 2.
5. (Scots Law)
Defn: A writ issuing from the chancery, directed to any judge
ordinary, commanding and authorizing that judge to call a jury to
inquire into the case, and upon their verdict to pronounce sentence.
6. A letter patent, from proper authority, authorizing a collection
or charitable contribution of money in churches, for any public or
private purpose. [Eng.] Apostolical brief, a letter of the pope
written on fine parchment in modern characters, subscribed by the
secretary of briefs, dated "a die Nativitatis," i. e., "from the day
of the Nativity," and sealed with the ring of the fisherman. It
differs from a bull, in its parchment, written character, date, and
seal. See Bull.
-- Brief of title, an abstract or abridgment of all the deeds and
other papers constituting the chain of title to any real estate.
-- In brief, in a few words; in short; briefly. "Open the matter in
brief." Shak.
BRIEF
Brief, v. t.
Defn: To make an abstract or abridgment of; to shorten; as, to brief
pleadings.
BRIEFLESS
Brief"less, a.
Defn: Having no brief; without clients; as, a briefless barrister.
BRIEFLY
Brief"ly, adv.
Defn: Concisely; in few words.
BRIEFMAN
Brief"man, n.
1. One who makes a brief.
2. A copier of a manuscript.
BRIEFNESS
Brief"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being brief; brevity; conciseness in discourse
or writing.
BRIER; BRIAR
Bri"er, Bri"ar, n. Etym: [OE. brere, brer, AS. brer, brær; cf. Ir.
briar prickle, thorn, brier, pin, Gael. preas bush, brier, W. prys,
prysg.]
1. A plant with a slender woody stem bearing stout prickles;
especially, species of Rosa, Rubus, and Smilax.
2. Fig.: Anything sharp or unpleasant to the feelings.
The thorns and briers of reproof. Cowper.
Brier root, the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and S.
Walleri; -- used for tobacco pipes.
-- Cat brier, Green brier, several species of Smilax (S.
rotundifolia, etc.) -- Sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa). See Sweetbrier.
-- Yellow brier, the Rosa Eglantina.
BRIERED
Bri"ered, a.
Defn: Set with briers. Chatterton.
BRIERY
Bri"er*y, a.
Defn: Full of briers; thorny.
BRIERY
Bri"er*y, n.
Defn: A place where briers grow. Huloet.
BRIG
Brig, n.
Defn: A bridge. [Scot.] Burns.
BRIG
Brig, n. Etym: [Shortened from Brigantine.] (Naut.)
Defn: A two-masted, square-rigged vessel. Hermaphrodite brig, a two-
masted vessel square-rigged forward and schooner-rigged aft. See
Illustration in Appendix.
BRIGADE
Bri*gade", n. Etym: [F. brigade, fr. It. brigata troop, crew,
brigade, originally, a contending troop, fr. briga trouble, quarrel.
See Brigand.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A body of troops, whether cavalry, artillery, infantry, or
mixed, consisting of two or more regiments, under the command of a
brigadier general.
Note: Two or more brigades constitute a division, commanded by a
major general; two or more divisions constitute an army corps, or
corps d'armée. [U.S.]
2. Any body of persons organized for acting or marching together
under authority; as, a fire brigade. Brigade inspector, an officer
whose duty is to inspect troops in companies before they are mustered
into service.
-- Brigade major, an officer who may be attached to a brigade to
assist the brigadier in his duties.
BRIGADE
Bri*gade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brigaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Brigading.]
(Mil.)
Defn: To form into a brigade, or into brigades.
BRIGADIER GENERAL
Brig`a*dier" gen"er*al. Etym: [F. brigadier, fr. brigade.] (Mil.)
Defn: An officer in rank next above a colonel, and below a major
general. He commands a brigade, and is sometimes called, by a
shortening of his title, simple a brigadier.
BRIGAND
Brig"and, n. Etym: [F. brigand, OF. brigant light-armed soldier, fr.
LL. brigans light-armed soldier (cf. It. brigante.) fr. brigare to
strive, contend, fr. briga quarrel; prob. of German origin, and akin
to E. break; cf. Goth. brikan to break, brakja strife. Cf. Brigue.]
1. A light-armed, irregular foot soldier. [Obs.]
2. A lawless fellow who lives by plunder; one of a band of robbers;
especially, one of a gang living in mountain retreats; a highwayman;
a freebooter.
Giving them not a little the air of brigands or banditti. Jeffery.
BRIGANDAGE
Brig"and*age, n. Etym: [F. brigandage.]
Defn: Life and practice of brigands; highway robbery; plunder.
BRIGANDINE
Brig"an*dine, n. Etym: [F. brigandine (cf. It. brigantina), fr. OF.
brigant. See Brigand.]
Defn: A coast of armor for the body, consisting of scales or plates,
sometimes overlapping each other, generally of metal, and sewed to
linen or other material. It was worn in the Middle Ages. [Written
also brigantine.] Jer. xlvi. 4.
Then put on all thy gorgeous arms, thy helmet, And brigandine of
brass. Milton.
BRIGANDISH
Brig"and*ish, a.
Defn: Like a brigand or freebooter; robberlike.
BRIGANDISM
Brig"and*ism, n.
Defn: Brigandage.
BRIGANTINE
Brig"an*tine, n. Etym: [F. brigantin, fr. It. brigantino, originally,
a practical vessel. See Brigand, and cf. Brig]
1. A practical vessel. [Obs.]
2. A two-masted, square-rigged vessel, differing from a brig in that
she does not carry a square mainsail.
3. See Brigandine.
BRIGGE
Brig"ge, n.
Defn: A bridge. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRIGHT
Bright, v. i.
Defn: See Brite, v. i.
BRIGHT
Bright, a. Etym: [OE. briht, AS. beorht, briht; akin to OS. berht,
OHG. beraht, Icel. bjartr, Goth. baírhts. sq. root94.]
1. Radiating or reflecting light; shedding or having much light;
shining; luminous; not dark.
The sun was bright o'erhead. Longfellow.
The earth was dark, but the heavens were bright. Drake.
The public places were as bright as at noonday. Macaulay.
2. Transmitting light; clear; transparent.
From the brightest wines He 'd turn abhorrent. Thomson.
3. Having qualities that render conspicuous or attractive, or that
affect the mind as light does the eye; resplendent with charms; as,
bright beauty.
Bright as an angel new-dropped from the sky. Parnell.
4. Having a clear, quick intellect; intelligent.
5. Sparkling with wit; lively; vivacious; shedding cheerfulness and
joy around; cheerful; cheery.
Be bright and jovial among your guests. Shak.
6. Illustrious; glorious.
In the brightest annals of a female reign. Cotton.
7. Manifest to the mind, as light is to the eyes; clear; evident;
plain.
That he may with more ease, with brighter evidence, and with surer
success, draw the bearner on. I. Watts.
8. Of brilliant color; of lively hue or appearance.
Here the bright crocus and blue violet grew. Pope.
Note: Bright is used in composition in the sense of brilliant, clear,
sunny, etc.; as, bright-eyed, bright-haired, bright-hued.
Syn.
-- Shining; splending; luminous; lustrous; brilliant; resplendent;
effulgent; refulgent; radiant; sparkling; glittering; lucid; beamy;
clear; transparent; illustrious; witty; clear; vivacious; sunny.
BRIGHT
Bright, n.
Defn: Splendor; brightness. [Poetic]
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear. Milton.
BRIGHT
Bright, adv.
Defn: Brightly. Chaucer.
I say it is the moon that shines so bright. Shak.
BRIGHTEN
Bright"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brightened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Brightening.]
Note: [From Bright, a.]
1. To make bright or brighter; to make to shine; to increase the
luster of; to give a brighter hue to.
2. To make illustrious, or more distinguished; to add luster or
splendor to.
The present queen would brighten her character, if she would exert
her authority to instill virtues into her people. Swift.
3. To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which
obscures and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to
brighten one's prospects.
An ecstasy, which mothers only feel, Plays round my heart and
brightens all my sorrow. Philips.
4. To make acute or witty; to enliven. Johnson.
BRIGHTEN
Bright"en, v. i. Etym: [AS. beorhtan.]
Defn: To grow bright, or more bright; to become less dark or gloomy;
to clear up; to become bright or cheerful.
And night shall brighten into day. N. Cotton.
And, all his prospects brightening to the last, His heaven commences
ere world be past. Goldsmith.
BRIGHT-HARNESSED
Bright"-har`nessed, a.
Defn: Having glittering armor. [Poetic] Milton.
BRIGHTLY
Bright"ly, adv.
1. Brilliantly; splendidly; with luster; as, brightly shining armor.
2. With lively intelligence; intelligently.
Looking brightly into the mother's face. Hawthorne.
BRIGHTNESS
Bright"ness, n. Etym: [AS. beorhines. See Bright.]
1. The quality or state of being bright; splendor; luster;
brilliancy; clearness.
A sudden brightness in his face appear. Crabbe.
2. Acuteness (of the faculties); sharpness 9wit.
The brightness of his parts . . . distinguished him. Prior.
Syn.
-- Splendor; luster; radiance; resplendence; brilliancy; effulgence;
glory; clearness.
BRIGHT'S DISEASE
Bright's" dis*ease". Etym: [From Dr. Bright of London, who first
described it.] (Med.)
Defn: An affection of the kidneys, usually inflammatory in character,
and distinguished by the occurrence of albumin and renal casts in the
urine. Several varieties of Bright's disease are now recognized,
differing in the part of the kidney involved, and in the intensity
and course of the morbid process.
BRIGHTSOME
Bright"some, a.
Defn: Bright; clear; luminous; brilliant. [R.] Marlowe.
BRIGOSE
Bri*gose", a. Etym: [LL. brigosus, It. brigoso. See Brigue, n.]
Defn: Contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Puller.
BRIGUE
Brigue, n. Etym: [F. brigue, fr. LL. briga quarrel. See Brigand.]
Defn: A cabal, intrigue, faction, contention, strife, or quarrel.
[Obs.] Chesterfield.
BRIGUE
Brigue, v. i. Etym: [F. briguer. See Brigue, n.]
Defn: To contend for; to canvass; to solicit. [Obs.] Bp. Hurd.
BRIKE
Brike, n. Etym: [AS. brice.]
Defn: A breach; ruin; downfall; peril. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BRILL
Brill, n. Etym: [Cf. Corn. brilli mackerel, fr. brith streaked,
speckled.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish allied to the turbot (Rhombus levis), much esteemed in
England for food; -- called also bret, pearl, prill. See Bret.
BRILLANTE
Bril*lan"te, adv. Etym: [It. See Brilliant, a.] (Mus.)
Defn: In a gay, showy, and sparkling style.
BRILLIANCE
Bril"liance, n.
Defn: Brilliancy. Tennyson.
BRILLIANCY
Bril"lian*cy, n. Etym: [See Brilliant.]
Defn: The quality of being brilliant; splendor; glitter; great
brighness, whether in a literal or figurative sense.
With many readers brilliancy of style passes for affluence of
thought. Longfellow.
BRILLIANT
Bril"liant, a. Etym: [F. brillant, p. pr. of briller to shine or
sparkle (cf. Pr. & Sp. brillar, It. brillare), fr. L. beryllus a
precious stone of sea-green color, Prov. It. brill. See Beryl.]
1. Sparkling with luster; glittering; very bright; as, a brilliant
star.
2. Distinguished by qualities which excite admiration; splended;
shining; as, brilliant talents.
Washington was more solicitous to avoid fatal mistakes than to
perform brilliant exploits. Fisher Ames.
Syn.
-- See Shining.
BRILLIANT
Bril"liant, n. Etym: [F. brillant. See Brilliant, a.]
1. A diamond or other gem of the finest cut, formed into faces and
facets, so as to reflect and refract the light, by which it is
rendered nore brilliant. It has at the middle, or top, a principal
face, called the table, which is surrounded by a number of sloping
facets forming a bizet; below, it has a small face or collet,
parallel to the table, connected with the gridle by a pavilion of
elongated facets. It is thus distinguished from the rose diamond,
which is entirely covered with facets on the surface, and is flat
below.
This snuffbox -- on the hinge see brilliants shine. Pope.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The small size of type used in England printing.
Note: This line is printed in the type called Brilliant.
3. A kind of kotton goods, figured on the weaving.
BRILLIANTINE
Bril"lian*tine, n. [F. brillantine. See lst Brilliant.]
1. An oily composition used to make the hair glossy.
2. A dress fabric having a glossy finish on both sides, resembling
alpaca but of superior quality.
BRILLIANTLY
Bril"liant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a brilliant manner.
BRILLIANTNESS
Bril"liant*ness, n.
Defn: Brilliancy; splendor; glitter.
BRILLS
Brills, n. pl. Etym: [CF. G. brille spectacles, D. bril, fr. L.
berillus. See Brilliant.]
Defn: The hair on the eyelids of a horse. Bailey.
BRIM
Brim, n. Etym: [OE. brim, brimme, AS. brymme edge, border; akin to
Icel. barmr, Sw. bräm, Dan. bræmme, G. brame, bräme. Possibly the
same word as AS. brim surge, sea, and properly meaning, the line of
surf at the border of the sea, and akin to L. fremere to roar,
murmur. Cf. Breeze a fly.]
1. The rim, border, or upper sdge of a cup, dish, or any hollow
vessel used for holding anything.
Saw I that insect on this goblet's brim I would remove it with an
anxious pity. Coleridge.
2. The edge or margin, as of a fountain, or of the water contained in
it; the brink; border.
The feet of the priest that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of
the water. Josh. iii. 15.
3. The rim of a hat. Wordsworth.
BRIM
Brim, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Brimming.]
Defn: To be full to the brim. "The brimming stream." Milton. To brim
over (literally or figuratively), to be so full that some of the
contents flows over the brim; as, cup brimming over with wine; a man
brimming over with fun.
BRIM
Brim, v. t.
Defn: To fill to the brim, upper edge, or top.
Arrange the board and brim the glass. Tennyson.
BRIM
Brim, a.
Defn: Fierce; sharp; cold. See Breme. [Obs.]
BRIMFUL
Brim"ful, a.
Defn: Full to the brim; completely full; ready to overflow. "Her
brimful eyes." Dryden.
BRIMLESS
Brim"less, a.
Defn: Having no brim; as, brimless caps.
BRIMMED
Brimmed, a.
1. Having a brim; -- usually in composition. "Broad-brimmed hat."
Spectator.
2. Full to, or level with, the brim. Milton.
BRIMMER
Brim"mer, n.
Defn: A brimful bowl; a bumper.
BRIMMING
Brim"ming, a.
Defn: Full to the brim; overflowing.
BRIMSTONE
Brim"stone, n. Etym: [OE. brimston, bremston, bernston, brenston; cf.
Icel. brennistein. See Burn, v. t., and Stone.]
Defn: Sulphur; See Sulphur.
BRIMSTONE
Brim"stone, a.
Defn: Made of, or pertaining to, brimstone; as, brimstone matches.
From his brimstone bed at break of day A-walking the devil has gone.
Coleridge.
BRIMSTONY
Brim"sto`ny, a.
Defn: Containing or resembling brimstone; sulphurous. B. Jonson.
BRIN
Brin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of the radiating sticks of a fan. The outermost are larger
and longer, and are called panaches. Knight.
BRINDED
Brin"ded, a. Etym: [Cf. Icel. bröndottr brindled, fr. brandr brand;
and OE. bernen, brinnen, to burn. See Brand, Burn.]
Defn: Of a gray or tawny color with streaks of darker hue; streaked;
brindled. "Three brinded cows," Dryden. "The brinded cat." Shak.
BRINDLE
Brin"dle, n. Etym: [See Brindled.]
1. The state of being brindled.
2. A brindled color; also, that which is brindled.
BRINDLE
Brin"dle, a.
Defn: Brindled.
BRINDLED
Brin"dled, a. Etym: [A dim. form of brinded.]
Defn: Having dark streaks or spots on a gray or tawny ground;
brinded. "With a brindled lion played." Churchill.
BRINE
Brine, n. Etym: [AS. bryne a burning, salt liquor, brine, fr.
brinnan, brynnan, to burn. See Burn.]
1. Water saturated or strongly inpregnated with salt; pickle; hence,
any strong saline solution; also, the saline residue or strong mother
liquor resulting from the evaporation of natural or artificial
waters.
2. The ocean; the water of an ocean, sea, or salt lake.
Not long beneath the whelming brine . . . he lay. Cowper.
3. Tears; -- so called from their saltness.
What a deal of brine Hath washed thy sallow cheecks for Rosaline!
Shak.
Brine fly (Zoöl.), a fly of the genus Ephydra, the larvæ of which
live in artificial brines and in salt lakes.
-- Brine gauge, an instrument for measuring the saltness of a
liquid.
-- Brine pan, a pit or pan of salt water, where salt is formed by
cristallization.
-- Brine pit, a salt spring or well, from which water is taken to be
boiled or evaporated for making salt.
-- Brine pump (Marine Engin.), a pump for changing the water in the
boilers, so as to clear them of the brine which collects at the
bottom.
-- Brine shrimp, Brine worm (Zoöl.), a phyllopod crustacean of the
genus Artemia, inhabiting the strong brines of salt works and natural
salt lakes. See Artemia.
-- Brine spring, a spring of salt water.
-- Leach brine (Saltmaking), brine which drops from granulated salt
in drying, and is preserved to be boiled again.
BRINE
Brine, v. t.
1. To steep or saturate in brine.
2. To sprinkle with salt or brine; as, to brine hay.
BRING
Bring, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brought; p. pr. & vb. n. Bringing.] Etym:
[OE. bringen, AS. bringan; akin to OS. brengian, D. brengen, Fries.
brenga, OHG. bringan, G. bringen, Goth. briggan.]
1. To convey to the place where the speaker is or is to be; to bear
from a more distant to a nearer place; to fetch.
And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring
me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread. 1 Kings xvii. 11.
To France shall we convey you safe, And bring you back. Shak.
2. To cause the accession or obtaining of; to procure; to make to
come; to produce; to draw to.
There is nothing will bring you more honor . . . than to do what
right in justice you may. Bacon.
3. To convey; to move; to carry or conduct.
In distillation, the water . . . brings over with it some part of the
oil of vitriol. Sir I. Newton.
4. To persuade; to induce; to draw; to lead; to guide.
It seems so preposterous a thing . . . that they do not easily bring
themselves to it. Locke.
The nature of the things . . . would not suffer him to think
otherwise, how, or whensoever, he is brought to reflect on them.
Locke.
5. To produce in exchange; to sell for; to fetch; as, what does coal
bring per ton To bring about, to bring to pass; to effect; to
accomplish.
-- To bring back. (a) To recall. (b) To restore, as something
borrowed, to its owner.
-- To bring by the lee (Naut.), to incline so rapidly to leeward of
the course, when a ship sails large, as to bring the lee side
suddenly to the windward, any by laying the sails aback, expose her
to danger of upsetting.
-- To bring down. (a) To cause to come down. (b) To humble or abase;
as, to bring down high looks.
-- To bring down the house, to cause tremendous applause. [Colloq.]
-- To bring forth. (a) To produce, as young fruit. (b) To bring to
light; to make manifest.
-- To bring forward (a) To exhibit; to introduce; to produce to
view. (b) To hasten; to promote; to forward. (c) To propose; to
adduce; as, to bring forward arguments.
-- To bring home. (a) To bring to one's house. (b) To prove
conclusively; as, to bring home a charge of treason. (c) To cause one
to feel or appreciate by personal experience. (d) (Naut.) To lift of
its place, as an anchor.
-- To bring in. (a) To fetch from without; to import. (b) To
introduce, as a bill in a deliberative assembly. (c) To return or
repot to, or lay before, a court or other body; to render; as, to
bring in a verdict or a report. (d) To take to an appointed place of
deposit or collection; as, to bring in provisions or money for a
specified object. (e) To produce, as income. (f) To induce to join.
-- To bring off, to bear or convey away; to clear from condemnation;
to cause to escape.
-- To bring on. (a) To cause to begin. (b) To originate or cause to
exist; as, to bring on a disease.
-- To bring one on one's way, to accompany, guide, or attend one.
-- To bring out, to expose; to detect; to bring to light from
concealment.
-- To bring over. (a) To fetch or bear across. (b) To convert by
persuasion or other means; to cause to change sides or an opinion.
-- To bring to. (a) To resuscitate; to bring back to consciousness
or life, as a fainting person. (b) (Naut.) To check the course of, as
of a ship, by dropping the anchor, or by counterbracing the sails so
as to keep her nearly stationary (she is then said to lie to). (c) To
cause (a vessel) to lie to, as by firing across her course. (d) To
apply a rope to the capstan.
-- To bring to light, to disclose; to discover; to make clear; to
reveal.
-- To bring a sail to (Naut.), to bend it to the yard.
-- To bring to pass, to accomplish to effect. "Trust also in Him;
and He shall bring it to pass." Ps. xxxvii. 5.
-- To bring under, to subdue; to restrain; to reduce to obedience.
-- To bring up. (a) To carry upward; to nurse; to rear; to educate.
(b) To cause to stop suddenly. (c)
Note: [v. i. by dropping the reflexive pronoun] To stop suddenly; to
come to a standstill. [Colloq.] -- To bring up (any one) with a round
turn, to cause (any one) to stop abruptly. [Colloq.] -- To be brought
to bed. See under Bed.
Syn.
-- To fetch; bear; carry; convey; transport; import; procure;
produce; cause; adduce; induce.
BRINGER
Bring"er, n.
Defn: One who brings.
Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news Hath but a losing office.
Shak.
Bringer in, one who, or that which, introduces.
BRININESS
Brin"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being briny; saltness; brinishness.
BRINISH
Brin"ish, a.
Defn: Like brine; somewhat salt; saltish. "Brinish tears." Shak.
BRINISHNESS
Brin"ish*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being brinish.
BRINJAREE
Brin"ja*ree`, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rough-haired East Indian variety of the greyhound.
BRINK
Brink, n. Etym: [Dan. brink edge, verge; akin to Sw. brink declivity,
hill, Icel. brekka; cf. LG. brink a grassy hill, W. bryn hill,
bryncyn hillock.]
Defn: The edge, margin, or border of a steep place, as of a
precipice; a bank or edge, as of a river or pit; a verge; a border;
as, the brink of a chasm. Also Fig. "The brink of vice." Bp. Porteus.
"The brink of ruin." Burke.
The plashy brink of weedy lake. Bryant.
BRINY
Brin"y, a. Etym: [From Brine.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to brine, or to the sea; partaking of the
nature of brine; salt; as, a briny taste; the briny flood.
BRIOCHE
Bri`oche", n. [F.]
1. A light cake made with flour, butter, yeast, and eggs.
2. A knitted foot cushion.
BRIOLETTE
Bri`o*lette", n. [F.]
Defn: An oval or pearshaped diamond having its entire surface cut in
triangular facets.
BRIONY
Bri"o*ny, n.
Defn: See Bryony. Tennyson.
BRIQUETTE
Bri*quette", n. [Also briquet.] [F., dim. of brique brick.]
1. A block of compacted coal dust, or peat, etc., for fuel.
2. A block of artificial stone in the form of a brick, used for
paving; also, a molded sample of solidified cement or mortar for use
as a test piece for showing the strength of the material.
BRISK
Brisk, a. Etym: [Cf. W. brysg, fr. brys haste, Gael. briosg quick,
lively, Ir. broisg a start, leap, jerk.]
1. Full of liveliness and activity; characterized by quickness of
motion or action; lively; spirited; quick.
Cheerily, boys; be brick awhile. Shak.
Brick toil alternating with ready ease. Wordworth.
2. Full of spirit of life; effervescas, brick cider.
Syn.
-- Active; lively; agile; alert; nimble; quick; sprightly;
vivacious; gay; spirited; animated.
BRISK
Brisk, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Bricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bricking.]
Defn: To make or become lively; to enliven; to animate; to take, or
cause to take, an erect or bold attitude; -- usually with up.
BRISKET
Bris"ket, n. Etym: [OE. bruskette, OF. bruschet, F. bréchet, brichet;
prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. brysced the breast of a slain animal,
brisket, Corn. vrys breast, Armor. brusk, bruched, the front of the
chest, Gael. brisgein the cartilaginous part of a bone.]
Defn: That part of the breast of an animal which extends from the
fore legs back beneath the ribs; also applied to the fore part of a
horse, from the shoulders to the bottom of the chest.
Note: [See Illust. of Beef.]
BRISKLY
Brisk"ly, adv.
Defn: In a brisk manner; nimbly.
BRISKNESS
Brisk"ness, n.
Defn: Liveliness; vigor in action; quickness; gayety; vivacity;
effervescence.
BRISTLE
Bris"tle, n. Etym: [OE. bristel, brustel, AS. bristl, byrst; akin to
D. borstel, OHG. burst, G. borste, Icel. burst, Sw. borst, and to
Skr. bh edge, point, and prob, L. fastigium extremity, Gr. brush,
burr, perh. to brad. sq. root96.]
1. A short, stiff, coarse hair, as on the back of swine.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A stiff, sharp, roundish hair. Gray.
BRISTLE
Bris"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bristled; p. pr. & vb. n. Bristling.]
1. To erect the bristles of; to cause to stand up, as the bristles of
an angry hog; -- sometimes with up.
Now for the bare-picked bone of majesty Doth dogged war bristle his
angry crest. Shak.
Boy, bristle thy courage up. Shak.
2. To fix a bristle to; as, to bristle a thread.
BRISTLE
Bris"tle, v. i.
1. To rise or stand erect, like bristles.
His hair did bristle upon his head. Sir W. Scott.
2. To appear as if covered with bristles; to have standing, thick and
erect, like bristles.
The hill of La Haye Sainte bristling with ten thousand bayonets.
Thackeray.
Ports bristling with thousands of masts. Macaulay.
3. To show deflance or indignation. To bristle up, to show anger or
deflance.
BRISTLE-POINTED
Bris"tle-point`ed, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Terminating in a very fine, sharp point, as some leaves.
BRISTLE-SHAPED
Bris"tle-shaped`, a.
Defn: Resembling a bristle in form; as, a bristle-shaped leaf.
BRISTLETAIL
Bris"tle*tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the genera Lepisma, Campodea, etc., belonging to
the Thysanura.
BRISTLINESS
Bris"tli*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of having bristles.
BRISTLY
Bris"tly, a.
Defn: THick set with bristles, or with hairs resembling bristles;
rough.
The leaves of the black mulberry are somewhat bristly. Bacon.
BRISTOL
Bris"tol, n.
Defn: A seaport city in the west of England. Bristol board, a kind of
fine pasteboard, made with a smooth but usually unglazed surface.
-- Bristol brick, a brick of siliceous matter used for polishing
cultery; -- originally manufactured at Bristol.
-- Bristol stone, rock crystal, or brilliant crystals of quartz,
found in the mountain limestone near Bristol, and used in making
ornaments, vases, etc. When polished, it is called Bristol diamond.
BRISURE
Bri*sure", n. Etym: [F.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: Any part of a rampart or parapet which deviates from the
general direction.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A mark of cadency or difference.
BRIT; BRITT
Brit, Britt, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The young of the common herring; also, a small species of
herring; the sprat.
(b) The minute marine animals (chiefly Entomostraca) upon which the
right whales feed.
BRITANNIA
Bri*tan"ni*a, n. Etym: [From L. Britannia Great Britain.]
Defn: A white-metal alloy of tin, antimony, bismuth, copper, etc. It
somewhat resembles silver, and isused for table ware. Called also
Britannia metal.
BRITANNIC
Bri*tan"nic, a. Etym: [L. Britannicus, fr. Britannia Great Britain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Great Britain; British; as, her Britannic
Majesty.
BRITE; BRIGHT
Brite, Bright, v. t.
Defn: To be or become overripe, as wheat, barley, or hops. [Prov.
Eng.]
BRITICISM
Brit"i*cism, n.
Defn: A word, phrase, or idiom peculiar to Great Britain; any manner
of using a word or words that is peculiar to Great Britain.
BRITISH
Brit"ish, a. Etym: [AS. Brittisc, Bryttisc.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Great Britain or to its inhabitants; --
sometimes restrict to the original inhabitants. British gum, a
brownish substance, very soluble in cold water, formed by heating dry
starch at a temperature of about 600° Fahr. It corresponds, in its
properties, to dextrin, and is used, in solution, as a substitute for
gum in stiffering goods.
-- British lion, the national emblem of Great Britain.
-- British seas, the four seas which surround Great Britain.
BRITISH
Brit"ish, n. pl.
Defn: People of Great Britain.
BRITISHER
Brit"ish*er, n.
Defn: An Englishman; a subject or inhabitant of Great Britain, esp.
one in the British military or naval service. [Now used jocosely]
BRITON
Brit"on, a. Etym: [AS. bryten Britain.]
Defn: British. [Obs.] Spenser.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Great Britain.
BRITTLE
Brit"tle, a. Etym: [OE. britel, brutel, AS. bryttian to dispense, fr.
breótan to break; akin to Icel. brytja, Sw. bryta, Dan. bryde. Cf.
Brickle.]
Defn: Easily broken; apt to break; fragile; not tough or tenacious.
Farewell, thou pretty, brittle piece Of fine-cut crystal. Cotton.
Brittle silver ore, the mineral stephanite.
BRITTLELY
Brit"tle*ly, adv.
Defn: In a brittle manner. Sherwood.
BRITTLENESS
Brit"tle*ness, n.
Defn: Aptness to break; fragility.
BRITTLE STAR
Brit"tle star`.
Defn: Any species of ophiuran starfishes. See Ophiuroidea.
BRITZSKA
Britz"ska, n. Etym: [Russ. britshka; cf. Pol. bryczka, dim. of bryka
freight wagon.]
Defn: A long carriage, with a calash top, so constructed as to give
space for reclining at night, when used on a journey.
BRIZE
Brize, n.
Defn: The breeze fly. See Breeze. Shak.
BROACH
Broach, n. Etym: [OE. broche, F. broche, fr. LL. brocca; prob. of
Celtic origin; cf. W. proc thrust, stab, Gael. brog awl. Cf. Brooch.]
1. A spit. [Obs.]
He turned a broach that had worn a crown. Bacon.
2. An awl; a bodkin; also, a wooden rod or pin, sharpened at each
end, used by thatchers. [Prov. Eng.] Forby.
3. (Mech.)
(a) A tool of steel, generally tapering, and of a polygonal form,
with from four to eight cutting edges, for smoothing or enlarging
holes in metal; sometimes made smooth or without edges, as for
burnishing pivot holes in watches; a reamer. The broach for gun
barrels is commonly square and without taper.
(b) A straight tool with file teeth, made of steel, to be pressed
through irregular holes in metal that cannot be dressed by revolving
tools; a drift.
4. (Masonry)
Defn: A broad chisel for stonecutting.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: A spire rising from a tower. [Local, Eng.]
6. A clasp for fastening a garment. See Brooch.
7. A spitlike start, on the head of a young stag.
8. The stick from which candle wicks are suspended for dipping.
Knight.
9. The pin in a lock which enters the barrel of the key.
BROACH
Broach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Broached; p. pr. & vb. n. Broaching.]
Etym: [F. brocher, fr. broche. See Broach, n.]
1. To spit; to pierce as with a spit.
I'll broach the tadpole on my rapier's point. Shak.
2. To tap; to pierce, as a cask, in order to draw the liquor. Hence:
To let out; to shed, as blood.
Whereat with blade, with bloody blameful blade, He bravely broached
his boiling bloody breast. Shak.
3. To open for the first time, as stores.
You shall want neither weapons, victuals, nor aid; I will open the
old armories, I will broach my store, and will bring forth my stores.
Knolles.
4. To make public; to utter; to publish first; to put forth; to
introduce as a topic of conversation.
Those very opinions themselves had broached. Swift.
5. To cause to begin or break out. [Obs.] Shak.
6. (Masonry)
Defn: To shape roughly, as a block of stone, by chiseling with a
coarse tool. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
7. To enlarge or dress (a hole), by using a broach. To broach to
(Naut.), to incline suddenly to windward, so as to lay the sails
aback, and expose the vessel to the danger of oversetting.
BROACHER
Broach"er, n.
1. A spit; a broach.
On five sharp broachers ranked, the roast they turned. Dryden.
2. One who broaches, opens, or utters; a first publisher or promoter.
Some such broacher of heresy. Atterbury.
BROAD
Broad, a. [Compar. Broader; superl. Broadest.] Etym: [OE. brod, brad,
AS. brad; akin to OS. bred, D. breed, G. breit, Icel. brei, Sw. &
Dan. bred, Goth. braids. Cf. Breadth.]
1. Wide; extend in breadth, or from side to side; -- opposed to
narrow; as, a broad street, a broad table; an inch broad.
2. Extending far and wide; extensive; vast; as, the broad expanse of
ocean.
3. Extended, in the sense of diffused; open; clear; full. "Broad and
open day." Bp. Porteus.
4. Fig.: Having a large measure of any thing or quality; not limited;
not restrained; -- applied to any subject, and retaining the literal
idea more or less clearly, the precise meaning depending largely on
the substantive.
A broad mixture of falsehood. Locke.
Note: Hence: -
5. Comprehensive; liberal; enlarged.
The words in the Constitution are broad enough to include the case.
D. Daggett.
In a broad, statesmanlike, and masterly way. E. Everett.
6. Plain; evident; as, a broad hint.
7. Free; unrestrained; unconfined.
As broad and general as the casing air. Shak.
8. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Characterized by breadth. See Breadth.
9. Cross; coarse; indelicate; as, a broad compliment; a broad joke;
broad humor.
10. Strongly marked; as, a broad Scotch accent.
Note: Broad is often used in compounds to signify wide, large, etc.;
as, broad-chested, broad-shouldered, broad-spreading, broad-winged.
Broad acres. See under Acre.
-- Broad arrow, originally a pheon. See Pheon, and Broad arrow under
Arrow.
-- As broad as long, having the length equal to the breadth; hence,
the same one way as another; coming to the same result by different
ways or processes.
It is as broad as long, whether they rise to others, or bring others
down to them. L'Estrange.
Broad pennant. See under Pennant.
Syn.
-- Wide; large; ample; expanded; spacious; roomy; extensive; vast;
comprehensive; liberal.
BROAD
Broad, n.
1. The broad part of anything; as, the broad of an oar.
2. The spread of a river into a sheet of water; a flooded fen.
[Local, Eng.] Southey.
3. A lathe tool for turning down the insides and bottoms of
cylinders. Knight.
BROADAX; BROADAXE
Broad"ax` Broad"axe`, n.
1. An ancient military weapon; a battle-ax.
2. An ax with a broad edge, for hewing timber.
BROADBILL
Broad"bill`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild duck (Aythya, or Fuligula, marila), which appears in
large numbers on the eastern coast of the United States, in autumn; -
- called also bluebill, blackhead, raft duck, and scaup duck. See
Scaup duck.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The shoveler. See Shoveler.
BROADBRIM
Broad"brim`, n.
1. A hat with a very broad brim, like those worn by men of the
society of Friends.
2. A member of the society of Friends; a Quaker. [Sportive]
BROAD-BRIMMED
Broad"-brimmed`, a.
Defn: Having a broad brim.
A broad-brimmed flat silver plate. Tatler.
BROADCAST
Broad"cast`, n. (Agric.)
Defn: A casting or throwing seed in all directions, as from the hand
in sowing.
BROADCAST
Broad"cast`, a.
1. Cast or dispersed in all directions, as seed from the hand in
sowing; widely diffused.
2. Scattering in all directions (as a method of sowing); -- opposed
to planting in hills, or rows.
BROADCAST
Broad"cast`, adv.
Defn: So as to scatter or be scattered in all directions; so as to
spread widely, as seed from the hand in sowing, or news from the
press.
BROAD CHURCH
Broad" Church`. (Eccl.)
Defn: A portion of the Church of England, consisting of persons who
claim to hold a position, in respect to doctrine and fellowship,
intermediate between the High Church party and the Low Church, or
evangelical, party. The term has been applied to otherbodies of men
holding liberal or comprehensive views of Christian doctrine and
fellowship.
Side by side with these various shades of High and Low Church,
another party of a different character has always existed in the
Church of England. It is called by different names: Moderate,
Catholic, or Broad Church, by its friends; Latitudinarian or
Indifferent, by its enemies. Its distinctive character is the desire
of comprehension. Its watch words are charity and toleration.
Conybeare.
BROADCLOTH
Broad"cloth, n.
Defn: A fine smooth-faced woolen cloth for men's garments, usually of
double width (i.e., a yard and a half); -- so called in distinction
from woolens three quarters of a yard wide.
BROADEN
Broad"en, v. t. [p. & p. p. Broadened (; p. pr. & vb.n. Broadening
(.] Etym: [From Broad, a.]
Defn: To grow broad; to become broader or wider.
The broadening sun appears. Wordsworth.
BROADEN
Broad"en, v. t.
Defn: To make broad or broader; to render more broad or
comprehensive.
BROAD GAUGE
Broad" gauge`. (Railroad)
Defn: A wider distance between the rails than the "standard" gauge of
four feet eight inches and a half. See Gauge.
BROAD-HORNED
Broad"-horned`, a.
Defn: Having horns spreading widely.
BROADISH
Broad"ish, a.
Defn: Rather broad; moderately broad.
BROADLEAF
Broad"leaf`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tree (Terminalia latifolia) of Jamaica, the wood of which is
used for boards, scantling, shingles, etc; -- sometimes called the
almond tree, from the shape of its fruit.
BROAD-LEAVED; BROAD-LEAFED
Broad"-leaved`, Broad"-leafed`, a.
Defn: Having broad, or relatively broad, leaves. Keats.
BROADLY
Broad"ly, adv.
Defn: In a broad manner.
BROADMOUTH
Broad"mouth`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Eurylaimidæ, a family of East Indian passerine
birds.
BROADNESS
Broad"ness, n. Etym: [AS. bradnes.]
Defn: The condition or quality of being broad; breadth; coarseness;
grossness.
BROADPIECE
Broad"piece`, n.
Defn: An old English gold coin, broader than a guinea, as a Carolus
or Jacobus.
BROAD SEAL
Broad" seal`.
Defn: The great seal of England; the public seal of a country or
state.
BROADSEAL
Broad"seal`, v. t.
Defn: To stamp with the broad seal; to make sure; to guarantee or
warrant. [Obs.]
Thy presence broadseals our delights for pure. B. Jonson.
BROADSIDE
Broad"side`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The side of a ship above the water line, from the bow to the
quarter.
2. A discharge of or from all the guns on one side of a ship, at the
same time.
3. A volley of abuse or denunciation. [Colloq.]
4. (Print.)
Defn: A sheet of paper containing one large page, or printed on one
side only; -- called also broadsheet.
BROADSPREAD
Broad"spread`, a.
Defn: Widespread.
BROADSPREADING
Broad"spread`ing, a.
Defn: Spreading widely.
BROADSWORD
Broad"sword`, n.
Defn: A sword with a broad blade and a cutting edge; a claymore.
I heard the broadsword's deadly clang. Sir W. Scott.
BROADWISE
Broad"wise`, adv.
Defn: Breadthwise. [Archaic]
BROB
Brob, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. brog, E. brog, n.] (Carp.)
Defn: A peculiar brad-shaped spike, to be driven alongside the end of
an abutting timber to prevent its slipping.
BROBDINGNAGIAN
Brob`ding*nag"i*an, a. Etym: [From Brobdingnag, a country of giants
in "Gulliver's Travels."]
Defn: Colossal' of extraordinary height; gigantic.
-- n.
Defn: A giant. [Spelt often Brobdignagian.]
BROCADE
Bro*cade", n. Etym: [Sp. brocado (cf. It. broccato, F. brocart), fr.
LL. brocare *prick, to figure (textile fabrics), to emboss (linen),
to stitch. See Broach.]
Defn: Silk stuff, woven with gold and silver threads, or ornamented
with raised flowers, foliage, etc.; -- also applied to other stuffs
thus wrought and enriched.
A gala suit of faded brocade. W. Irving.
BROCADED
Bro*cad"ed, a.
1. Woven or worked, as brocade, with gold and silver, or with raised
flowers, etc.
Brocaded flowers o'er the gay mantua shine. Gay.
2. Dressed in brocade.
BROCAGE
Bro"cage, n.
Defn: See Brokkerage.
BROCARD
Broc"ard, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. Brocardica, Brocardicorum opus, a
collection of ecclesiastical canons by Burkhard, Bishop of Worms,
called, by the Italians and French, Brocard.]
Defn: An elementary principle or maximum; a short, proverbial rule,
in law, ethics, or metaphysics.
The legal brocard, "Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus," is a rule not
more applicable to other witness than to consciousness. Sir W.
Hamilton.
BROCATEL
Bro"ca*tel, n. Etym: [F. brocatelle, fr. It. brocatello: cf. Sp.
brocatel. See Brocade.]
1. A kind of coarse brocade, or figured fabric, used chiefly for
tapestry, linings for carriages, etc.
2. A marble, clouded and veined with white, gray, yellow, and red, in
which the yellow usually prevails. It is also called Siena marble,
from its locality.
BROCATELLO
Bro`ca*tel"lo, n.
Defn: Same as Brocatel.
BROCCOLI
Broc"co*li, n. Etym: [It. broccoli, pl. of broccolo sprout, cabbage
sprout, dim. of brocco splinter. See Broach, n.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Cabbage species (Brassica oleracea) of many
varieties, resembling the cauliflower. The "curd," or flowering head,
is the part used for food.
BROCHANTITE
Broch"an*tite, n. Etym: [From Brochant de Villiers, a French
mineralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: A basic sulphate of copper, occurring in emerald-green
crystals.
BROCHE
Bro`ché", a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Woven with a figure; as, broché goods.
BROCHE
Broche, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Broach, n.
BROCHETTE
Bro`chette" (bro`shet"), n. [F., dim. of broche. See Broach, n.]
(Cookery)
Defn: A small spit or skewer.
-- En bro`chette" (än) [F.], on a brochette; skewered.
BROCHURE
Bro*chure", n. Etym: [F., fr. brocher to stitch. See Broach, v. t.]
Defn: A printed and stitched book containing only a few leaves; a
pamphlet.
BROCK
Brock, n. Etym: [AS. broc, fr. W. broch; akin to Ir. & Gael. broc,
Corn. & Armor. broch; cf. Ir. & Gael. breac speckled.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A badger.
Or with pretense of chasing thence the brock. B. Jonson.
BROCK
Brock, n. Etym: [See Brocket.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A brocket. Bailey.
BROCKEN SPECTER; BROCKEN SPECTRE
Brock"en spec"ter or Brock"en spec"tre. [Trans. of G.
Brockengespenst.]
Defn: A mountain specter (which see), esp. that observed on the
Brocken, in the Harz Mountains.
BROCKET
Brock"et, n. Etym: [OE. broket, F. broquart fallow deer a year old,
fr. the same root as E. broach, meaning point (hence tine of a
horn).]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A male red deer two years old; -- sometimes called brock.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American deer, of several species (Coassus
superciliaris, C. rufus, and C. auritus).
BROCKISH
Brock"ish, a.
Defn: Beastly; brutal. [Obs.] Bale.
BRODEKIN
Brode"kin, n. Etym: [F. brodequin, OE. brossequin, fr. OD. broseken,
brosekin, dim. of broos buskin, prob. fr. LL. byrsa leather, Gr.
Buskin.]
Defn: A buskin or half-boot. [Written also brodequin.] [Obs.]
BROG
Brog, n. Etym: [Gael. Cf. Brob.]
Defn: A pointed instrument, as a joiner's awl, a brad awl, a needle,
or a small ship stick.
BROG
Brog, v. t.
Defn: To prod with a pointed instrument, as a lance; also, to
broggle. [Scot. & Prov.] Sir W. Scott.
BROGAN
Bro"gan, n.
Defn: A stout, coarse shoe; a brogue.
BROGGLE
Brog"gle, v. i. Etym: [Dim. of Prov. E. brog to broggle. Cf. Brog,
n.]
Defn: To sniggle, or fish with a brog. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
BROGUE
Brogue, n. Etym: [Ir. & Gael. brog shoe, hoof.]
1. A stout, coarse shoe; a brogan.
Note: In the Highlands of Scotland, the ancient brogue was made of
horsehide or deerskin, untanned or tenned with the hair on, gathered
round the ankle with a thong. The name was afterward given to any
shoe worn as a part of the Highland costume. Clouted brogues, patched
brogues; also, brogues studded with nails. See under Clout, v. t.
2. A dialectic pronunciation; esp. the Irish manner of pronouncing
English.
Or take, Hibernis, thy still ranker brogue. Lloyd.
BROGUES
Brogues, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Breeches.]
Defn: Breeches. [Obs.] Shenstone.
BROID
Broid, v. t.
Defn: To braid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BROIDER
Broid"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Broidered.] Etym: [OE. broiden,
brouden, F. broder, confused with E. braid; F. broder is either the
same word as border to border (see Border), or perh. of Celtic
origin; cf. W. brathu to sting, stab, Ir. & Gael. brod goad, prickle,
OE. brod a goad; and also Icel. broddr a spike, a sting, AS. brord a
point.]
Defn: To embroider. [Archaic]
They shall make a broidered coat. Ex. xxviii. 4.
BROIDERER
Broid"er*er, n.
Defn: One who embroiders. [Archaic]
BROIDERY
Broid"er*y, n.
Defn: Embroidery. [Archaic]
The golden broidery tender Milkah wove. Tickell.
BROIL
Broil, n. Etym: [F. brouiller to disorder, from LL. brogilus,
broilus, brolium, thicket, wood, park; of uncertain origin; cf. W.
brog a swelling out, OHG. proil marsh, G. brühl, MHG. brogen to rise.
The meaning tumult, confusion, comes apparently from tangled
undergrowth, thicket, and this possibly from the meaning to grow,
rise, sprout.]
Defn: A tumult; a noisy quarrel; a disturbance; a brawl; contention;
discord, either between individuals or in the state.
I will own that there is a haughtiness and fierceness in human nature
which will which will cause innumerable broils, place men in what
situation you please. Burke.
Syn.
-- Contention; fray; affray; tumult; altercation; dissension;
discord; contest; conflict; brawl; uproar.
BROIL
Broil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Broiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Broiling.] Etym:
[OE. broilen, OF. bruillir, fr. bruir to broil, burn; of Ger. origin;
cf. MHG. brüejen, G. brühen, to scald, akin to E. brood.]
1. To cook by direct exposure to heat over a fire, esp. upon a
gridiron over coals.
2. To subject to great (commonly direct) heat.
BROIL
Broil, v. i.
Defn: To be subjected to the action of heat, as meat over the fire;
to be greatly heated, or to be made uncomfortable with heat.
The planets and comets had been broiling in the sun. Cheyne.
BROILER
Broil"er, n.
Defn: One who excites broils; one who engages in or promotes noisy
quarrels.
What doth he but turn broiler, . . . make new libels against the
church Hammond.
BROILER
Broil"er, n.
1. One who broils, or cooks by broiling.
2. A gridiron or other utensil used in broiling.
3. A chicken or other bird fit for broiling. [Colloq.]
BROILING
Broil"ing, a.
Defn: Excessively hot; as, a broiling sun.
-- n.
Defn: The act of causing anything to broil.
BROKAGE
Bro"kage, n.
Defn: See Brokerage.
BROKE
Broke, v. i. Etym: [See Broker, and cf. Brook.]
1. To transact business for another. [R.] Brome.
2. To act as procurer in love matters; to pimp. [Obs.]
We do want a certain necessary woman to broke between them, Cupid
said. Fanshawe.
And brokes with all that can in such a suit Corrupt the tender honor
of a maid. Shak.
BROKE
Broke (brok),
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Break.
BROKEN
Bro"ken (bro"k'n), a. Etym: [From Break, v. t.]
1. Separated into parts or pieces by violence; divided into
fragments; as, a broken chain or rope; a broken dish.
2. Disconnected; not continuous; also, rough; uneven; as, a broken
surface.
3. Fractured; cracked; disunited; sundered; strained; apart; as, a
broken reed; broken friendship.
4. Made infirm or weak, by disease, age, or hardships.
The one being who remembered him as he been before his mind was
broken. G. Eliot.
The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay, Sat by his fire, and talked
the night away. Goldsmith.
5. Subdued; humbled; contrite.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit. Ps. li. 17.
6. Subjugated; trained for use, as a horse.
7. Crushed and ruined as by something that destroys hope; blighted.
"Her broken love and life." G. Eliot.
8. Not carried into effect; not adhered to; violated; as, a broken
promise, vow, or contract; a broken law.
9. Ruined financially; incapable of redeeming promises made, or of
paying debts incurred; as, a broken bank; a broken tradesman.
10. Imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner; as, broken English;
imperfectly spoken on account of emotion; as, to say a few broken
words at parting.
Amidst the broken words and loud weeping of those grave senators.
Macaulay.
Broken ground. (a) (Mil.) Rough or uneven ground; as, the troops were
retarded in their advance by broken ground. (b) Ground recently
opened with the plow.
-- Broken line (Geom.), the straight lines which join a number of
given points taken in some specified order.
-- Broken meat, fragments of meat or other food.
-- Broken number, a fraction.
-- Broken weather, unsettled weather.
BROKEN-BACKED
Bro"ken-backed`, a.
1. Having a broken back; as, a broken-backed chair.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Hogged; so weakened in the frame as to droop at each end; --
said of a ship. Totten.
BROKEN-BELLIED
Bro"ken-bel`lied, a.
Defn: Having a ruptured belly. [R.]
BROKEN BREAST
Bro"ken breast`.
Defn: Abscess of the mammary gland.
BROKEN-HEARTED
Bro"ken-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Having the spirits depressed or crushed by grief or despair.
She left her husband almost broken-hearted. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Disconsolable; heart-broken; inconsolable; comfortless; woe-
begone; forlorn.
BROKENLY
Bro"ken*ly, adv.
Defn: In a broken, interrupted manner; in a broken state; in broken
language.
The pagans worship God . . . as it were brokenly and by piecemeal.
Cudworth.
BROKENNESS
Bro"ken*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being broken; unevenness. Macaulay.
2. Contrition; as, brokenness of heart.
BROKEN WIND
Bro"ken wind`. (Far.)
Defn: The heaves.
BROKEN-WINDED
Bro"ken-wind`ed, a. (Far.)
Defn: Having short breath or disordered respiration, as a horse.
BROKER
Bro"ker, n. Etym: [OE. brocour, from a word akin to broken, bruken,
to use, enjoy, possess, digest, fr. AS. br to use, enjoy; cf. Fries.
broker, F. brocanteur. See Brook, v. t.]
1. One who transacts business for another; an agent.
2. (Law)
Defn: An agent employed to effect bargains and contracts, as a
middleman or negotiator, between other persons, for a compensation
commonly called brokerage. He takes no possession, as broker, of the
subject matter of the negotiation. He generally contracts in the
names of those who employ him, and not in his own. Story.
3. A dealer in money, notes, bills of exchange, etc.
4. A dealer in secondhand goods. [Eng.]
5. A pimp or procurer. [Obs.] Shak. Bill broker, one who buys and
sells notes and bills of exchange.
-- Curbstone broker or Street broker, an operator in stocks (not a
member of the Stock Exchange) who executes orders by running from
office to office, or by transactions on the street. [U.S.] --
Exchange broker, one who buys and sells uncurrent money, and deals in
exchanges relating to money.
-- Insurance broker, one who is agent in procuring insurance on
vessels, or against fire.
-- Pawn broker. See Pawnbroker.
-- Real estate broker, one who buys and sells lands, and negotiates
loans, etc., upon mortgage.
-- Ship broker, one who acts as agent in buying and selling ships,
procuring freight, etc.
-- Stock broker. See Stockbroker.
BROKERAGE
Bro"ker*age, n.
1. The business or employment of a broker. Burke.
2. The fee, reward, or commission, given or changed for transacting
business as a broker.
BROKERLY
Bro"ker*ly, a.
Defn: Mean; servile. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BROKERY
Bro"ker*y, n.
Defn: The business of a broker. [Obs.]
And with extorting, cozening, forfeiting, And tricks belonging unto
brokery. Marlowe.
BROKING
Bro"king, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a broker or brokers, or to brokerage.
[Obs.]
Redeem from broking pawn the blemished crown. Shak.
BROMA
Bro"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: Aliment; food. Dunglison.
2. A light form of prepared cocoa (or cacao), or the drink made from
it.
BROMAL
Bro"mal, n. Etym: [Bromine + aldehyde.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oily, colorless fluid, CBr
BROMALIN
Bro"ma*lin, n. [From Bromine.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A colorless or white crystalline compound, (CH2)6N4C2H5Br, used
as a sedative in epilepsy.
BROMANIL
Brom`an"il, n. [Bromine + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance analogous to chloranil but containing bromine in
place of chlorine.
BROMATE
Bro"mate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of bromic acid.
BROMATE
Bro"mate, v.t. (Med.)
Defn: To combine or impregnate with bromine; as, bromated camphor.
BROMATOLOGIST
Bro`ma*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in the science of foods.
BROMATOLOGY
Bro`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of aliments. Dunglison.
BROME
Brome, n. Etym: [F.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Bromine.
BROME GRASS
Brome" grass`. Etym: [L. bromos a kind of oats, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Bromus) of grasses, one species of which is the chess
or cheat.
BROMELIACEOUS
Bro*me`li*a"ceous, a. Etym: [Named after Olaf Bromel, a Swedish
botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a family of endogenous and mostly
epiphytic or saxicolous plants of which the genera Tillandsia and
Billbergia are examples. The pineapple, though terrestrial, is also
of this family.
BROMIC
Bro"mic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or containing, bromine; -- said of those
compounds of bromine in which this element has a valence of five, or
the next to its highest; as, bromic acid.
BROMIDE
Bro"mide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of bromine with a positive radical.
BROMIDE PAPER; BROMID PAPER
Bromide paper or Bromid paper. (Photog.)
Defn: A sensitized paper coated with gelatin impregnated with bromide
of silver, used in contact printing and in enlarging.
BROMIDIOM
Bro*mid"i*om, n. [Bromide + idiom.]
Defn: A conventional comment or saying, such as those characteristic
of bromides. [Slang]
BROMINATE
Bro"mi*nate, v. t.
Defn: See Bromate, v. t.
BROMINE
Bro"mine, n. Etym: [Gr. Brome.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the elements, related in its chemical qualities to
chlorine and iodine. Atomic weight 79.8. Symbol Br. It is a deep
reddish brown liquid of a very disagreeable odor, emitting a brownish
vapor at the ordinary temperature. In combination it is found in
minute quantities in sea water, and in many saline springs. It occurs
also in the mineral bromyrite.
BROMISM
Bro"mism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition produced by the excessive use of bromine
or one of its compounds. It is characterized by mental dullness and
muscular weakness.
BROMIZE
Bro"mize, v. t. (Photog.)
Defn: To prepare or treat with bromine; as, to bromize a silvered
plate.
BROMLIFE
Brom"life, n. Etym: [From Bromley Hill, near Alston, Cumberland,
England.] (Min.)
Defn: A carbonate of baryta and lime, intermediate between witherite
and strontianite; -- called also alstonite.
BROMOFORM
Bro"mo*form, n. Etym: [Bromine + formyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid, CHBr3, having an agreeable odor and
sweetish taste. It is produced by the simultaneous action of bromine
and caustic potash upon wood spirit, alcohol, or acetone, as also by
certain other reactions. In composition it is the same as chloroform,
with the substitution of bromine for chlorine. It is somewhat similar
to chloroform in its effects. Watts.
BROMOGELATIN
Bro`mo*gel"a*tin, a. [Bromine + gelatin.] (Photog.)
Defn: Designating or pertaining to, a process of preparing dry plates
with an emulsion of bromides and silver nitrate in gelatin.
BROMOIODISM
Bro`mo*i"o*dism, n. [Bromine + iodine + -ism.] (Med.)
Defn: Poisoning induced by large doses of bromine and iodine or of
their compounds.
BROMOIODIZED
Bro`mo*i"o*dized, a. (Photog.)
Defn: Treated with bromides and iodides.
BROMOL
Bro"mol, n. [Abbr. fr. tribromophenol.] (Pharm.)
Defn: A crystalline substance (chemically, tribromophenol,
C6H2Br3OH), used as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
BROMPICRIN
Brom*pi"crin, n. Etym: [G. brompikrin; brom bromine + pikrinsäure
picric acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: A pungent colorless explosive liquid, CNO2Br3, analogous to and
resembling chlorpicrin. [Spelt also brompikrin.]
BROMURET
Brom"u*ret, n.
Defn: See Bromide. [Obs.]
BROMYRITE
Brom"y*rite, n. Etym: [Bromine + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Silver bromide, a rare mineral; -- called also bromargyrite.
BRONCHI
Bron"chi, n. pl. (Anat.)
Defn: See Bronchus.
BRONCHIA
Bron"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. , pl. Cf. Bronchus.] (Anat.)
Defn: The bronchial tubes which arise from the branching of the
trachea, esp. the subdivision of the bronchi. Dunglison.
BRONCHIAL
Bron"chi*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. bronchial. See Bronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: Belonging to the bronchi and their ramifications in the lungs.
Bronchial arteries, branches of the descending aorta, accompanying
the bronchia in all their ramifications.
-- Bronchial cells, the air cells terminating the bronchia.
-- Bronchial glands, glands whose functions are unknown, seated
along the bronchia.
-- Bronchial membrane, the mucous membrane lining the bronchia.
-- Bronchial tube, the bronchi, or the bronchia.
BRONCHIC
Bron"chic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Bronchial.
BRONCHIOLE
Bron"chi*ole, n. (Anat.)
Defn: A minute bronchial tube.
BRONCHITIC
Bron*chit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bronchitis; as, bronchitic inflammation.
BRONCHITIS
Bron*chi"tis, n. Etym: [Bronchus + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation, acute or chronic, of the bronchial tubes or any
part of them.
BRONCHO
Bron"cho, n. Etym: [Sp. bronco rough, wild.]
Defn: A native or a Mexican horse of small size. [Western U.S.]
BRONCHOCELE
Bron"cho*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: See Goiter.
BRONCHOPHONY
Bron*choph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A modification of the voice sounds, by which they are
intensified and heightened in pitch; -- observed in auscultation of
the chest in certain cases of intro-thoracic disease.
BRONCHO-PNEUMONIA
Bron`cho-pneu*mo"ni*a, n. Etym: [Bronchus + pneumonia.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the bronchi and lungs; catarrhal pneumonia.
BRONCHOTOME
Bron"cho*tome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument for cutting into the bronchial tubes.
BRONCHOTOMY
Bron*chot"o*my, n. (Surg.)
Defn: An incision into the windpipe or larynx, including the
operations of tracheotomy and laryngotomy.
BRONCHUS
Bron"chus, n.; pl. Bronchi (. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Bronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the subdivisions of the trachea or windpipe; esp. one of
the two primary divisions.
BRONCO
Bron"co, n.
Defn: Same as Broncho.
BROND
Brond, n. Etym: [See Brand.]
Defn: A sword. [Obs.]
BRONTOGRAPH
Bron"to*graph, n. [Gr. thunder + -graph.] (Meteor.)
(a) A tracing or chart showing the phenomena attendant on
thunderstorms.
(b) An instrument for making such tracings, as a recording
brontometer.
BRONTOLITE; BRONTOLITH
Bron"to*lite, Bron"to*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite, -lith.]
Defn: An aërolite. [R.]
BRONTOLOGY
Bron*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A treatise upon thunder.
BRONTOMETER
Bron*tom"e*ter, n. [Gr. thunder + -meter.] (Meteor.)
Defn: An instrument for noting or recording phenomena attendant on
thunderstorms.
BRONTOSAURUS
Bron`to*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of American jurassic dinosaurs. A length of sixty feet
is believed to have been attained by these reptiles.
BRONTOTHERIUM
Bron`to*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct mammals from the miocene strata of
western North America. They were allied to the rhinoceros, but the
skull bears a pair of powerful horn cores in front of the orbits, and
the fore feet were four-toed. See Illustration in Appendix.
BRONTOZOUM
Bron`to*zo"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct animal of large size, known from its three-toed
footprints in Mesozoic sandstone.
Note: The tracks made by these reptiles are found eighteen inches in
length, and were formerly referred to gigantic birds; but the
discovery of large bipedal three-toed dinosaurs has suggested that
they were made by those reptiles.
BRONZE
Bronze, n. Etym: [F. bronze, fr. It. bronzo brown, fr. OHG. br, G.
braun. See Brown, a.]
1. An alloy of copper and tin, to which small proportions of other
metals, especially zinc, are sometimes added. It is hard and
sonorous, and is used for statues, bells, cannon, etc., the
proportions of the ingredients being varied to suit the particular
purposes. The varieties containing the higher proportions of tin are
brittle, as in bell metal and speculum metal.
2. A statue, bust, etc., cast in bronze.
A print, a bronze, a flower, a root. Prior.
3. A yellowish or reddish brown, the color of bronze; also, a pigment
or powder for imitating bronze.
4. Boldness; impudence; "brass."
Imbrowned with native bronze, lo! Henley stands. Pope.
Aluminium bronze. See under Aluminium.
-- Bronze age, an age of the world which followed the stone age, and
was characterized by the use of implements and ornaments of copper or
bronze.
-- Bronze powder, a metallic powder, used with size or in
combination with painting, to give the appearance of bronze, gold, or
other metal, to any surface.
-- Phosphor bronze and Silicious or Silicium bronze are made by
adding phosphorus and silicon respectively to ordinary bronze, and
are characterized by great tenacity.
BRONZE
Bronze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bronzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bronzing.] Etym:
[Cf. F. bronzer. See Bronze, n.]
1. To give an appearance of bronze to, by a coating of bronze powder,
or by other means; to make of the color of bronze; as, to bronze
plaster casts; to bronze coins or medals.
The tall bronzed black-eyed stranger. W. Black.
2. To make hard or unfeeling; to brazen.
The lawer who bronzes his bosom instead of his forehead. Sir W.
Scott.
Bronzed skin disease. (Pathol.) See Addison's disease.
BRONZE STEEL
Bronze steel.
Defn: A hard tough alloy of tin, copper, and iron, which can be used
for guns.
BRONZEWING
Bronze"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Australian pigeon of the genus Phaps, of several species; --
so called from its bronze plumage.
BRONZINE
Bronz"ine, n.
Defn: A metal so prepared as to have the appearance of bronze.
-- a.
Defn: Made of bronzine; resembling bronze; bronzelike.
BRONZING
Bronz"ing, n.
1. The act or art of communicating to articles in metal, wood, clay,
plaster, etc., the appearance of bronze by means of bronze powders,
or imitative painting, or by chemical processes. Tomlinson.
2. A material for bronzing.
BRONZIST
Bronz"ist, n.
Defn: One who makes, imitates, collects, or deals in, bronzes.
BRONZITE
Bronz"ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bronzite.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of enstatite, often having a bronzelike luster. It is
a silicate of magnesia and iron, of the pyroxene family.
BRONZY
Bronz"y, a.
Defn: Like bronze.
BROOCH
Brooch, n. Etym: [See Broach, n.]
1. An ornament, in various forms, with a tongue, pin, or loop for
attaching it to a garment; now worn at the breast by women; a
breastpin. Formerly worn by men on the hat.
Honor 's a good brooch to wear in a man's hat. B. Jonson.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: A painting all of one color, as a sepia painting, or an India
painting.
BROOCH
Brooch, v. t. Etym: [imp. & p. p. Brooched (.]
Defn: To adorn as with a brooch. [R.]
BROOD
Brood, n. Etym: [OE. brod, AS. brod; akin to D. broed, OHG. bruot, G.
brut, and also to G. brühe broth, MHG. brüeje, and perh. to E. brawn,
breath. Cf. Breed, v. t.]
1. The young birds hatched at one time; a hatch; as, a brood of
chicken.
As a hen doth gather her brood under her wings. Luke xiii. 34.
A hen followed by a brood of ducks. Spectator.
2. The young from the same dam, whether produced at the same time or
not; young children of the same mother, especially if nearly of the
same age; offspring; progeny; as, a woman with a brood of children.
The lion roars and gluts his tawny brood. Wordsworth.
3. That which is bred or produced; breed; species.
Flocks of the airy brood, (Cranes, geese or long-necked swans).
Chapman.
4. (Mining)
Defn: Heavy waste in tin and copper ores. To sit on brood, to ponder.
[Poetic] Shak.
BROOD
Brood, a.
1. Sitting or inclined to sit on eggs.
2. Kept for breeding from; as, a brood mare; brood stock; having
young; as, a brood sow.
BROOD
Brood, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Brooding.]
1. To sit on and cover eggs, as a fowl, for the purpose of warming
them and hatching the young; or to sit over and cover young, as a hen
her chickens, in order to warm and protect them; hence, to sit
quietly, as if brooding.
Birds of calm sir brooding on the charmed wave. Milton.
2. To have the mind dwell continuously or moodily on a subject; to
think long and anxiously; to be in a state of gloomy, serious
thought; -- usually followed by over or on; as, to brood over
misfortunes.
Brooding on unprofitable gold. Dryden.
Brooding over all these matters, the mother felt like one who has
evoked a spirit. Hawthorne.
When with downcast eyes we muse and brood. Tennyson.
BROOD
Brood, v. t.
1. To sit over, cover, and cherish; as, a hen broods her chickens.
2. To cherish with care. [R.]
3. To think anxiously or moodily upon.
You'll sit and brood your sorrows on a throne. Dryden.
BROODY
Brood"y, a.
Defn: Inclined to brood. Ray.
BROOK
Brook, n. Etym: [OE. brok, broke, brook, AS. broc; akin to D. broek,
LG. brok, marshy ground, OHG. pruoh, G. bruch marsh; prob. fr. the
root of E. break, so as that it signifies water breaking through the
earth, a spring or brook, as well as a marsh. See Break, v. t.]
Defn: A natural stream of water smaller than a river or creek.
The Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of
water. Deut. viii. 7.
Empires itself, as doth an inland brook Into the main of waters.
Shak.
BROOK
Brook, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brooked; p. pr. & vb. n. Brooking.] Etym:
[OE. broken, bruken, to use, enjoy, digest, AS. br; akin to D.
gebruiken to use, OHG. pr, G. brauchen, gebrauchen, Icel. br, Goth.
br, and L. frui, to enjoy. Cf. Fruit, Broker.]
1. To use; to enjoy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To bear; to endure; to put up with; to tolerate; as, young men can
not brook restraint. Spenser.
Shall we, who could not brook one lord, Crouch to the wicked ten
Macaulay.
3. To deserve; to earn. [Obs.] Sir J. Hawkins.
BROOKITE
Brook"ite, n. Etym: [Named from the English mineralogist,
H.J.Brooke.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting of titanic oxide, and hence identical with
rutile and octahedrite in composition, but crystallizing in the
orthorhombic system.
BROOKLET
Brook"let, n.
Defn: A small brook.
BROOKLIME
Brook"lime`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Veronica Beccabunga), with flowers, usually blue, in
axillary racemes. The American species is V. Americana. [Formerly
written broklempe or broklympe.]
BROOK MINT
Brook" mint`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Water mint.
BROOKSIDE
Brook"side`, n.
Defn: The bank of a brook.
BROOKWEED
Brook"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small white-flowered herb (Samolus Valerandi) found usually
in wet places; water pimpernel.
BROOM
Broom, n. Etym: [OE. brom, brome, AS. brom; akin to LG. bram, D.
brem, OHG. bramo broom, thornbrombeere blackberry. Cf. Bramble, n.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant having twigs suitable for making brooms to sweep with
when bound together; esp., the Cytisus scoparius of Western Europe,
which is a low shrub with long, straight, green, angular branches,
mintue leaves, and large yellow flowers.
No gypsy cowered o'er fires of furze and broom. Wordsworth.
2. An implement for sweeping floors, etc., commonly made of the
panicles or tops of broom corn, bound together or attached to a long
wooden handle; -- so called because originally made of the twigs of
the broom. Butcher's broom, a plant (Ruscus aculeatus) of the Smilax
family, used by butchers for brooms to sweep their blocks; -- called
also knee holly. See Cladophyll.
-- Dyer's broom, a species of mignonette (Reseda luteola), used for
dyeing yellow; dyer's weed; dyer's rocket.
-- Spanish broom. See under Spanish.
BROOM
Broom, v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: See Bream.
BROOM CORN
Broom" corn`. (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of Sorghum vulgare, having a joined stem, like maize,
rising to the height of eight or ten feet, and bearing its seeds on a
panicle with long branches, of which brooms are made.
BROOM RAPE
Broom" rape`. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Orobanche) of parasitic plants of Europe and Asia.
They are destitute of chlorophyll, have scales instead of leaves, and
spiked flowers, and grow attached to the roots of other plants, as
furze, clover, flax, wild carrot, etc. The name is sometimes applied
to other plants related to this genus, as Aphyllon uniflorumand A.
Ludovicianum.
BROOMSTAFF
Broom"staff`, n.
Defn: A broomstick. [Obs.] Shak.
BROOMSTICK
Broom"stick`, n.
Defn: A stick used as a handle of a broom.
BROOMY
Broom"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to broom; overgrowing with broom; resembling
broom or a broom.
If land grow mossy or broomy. Mortimer.
BROSE
Brose, n. Etym: [CF. Gael. brothas. Cf. Brewis, Broth.]
Defn: Pottage made by pouring some boiling liquid on meal (esp.
oatmeal), and stirring it. It is called beef brose, water brose,
etc., according to the name of the liquid (beef broth, hot water,
etc.) used. [Scot.]
BROTEL
Brot"el, a.
Defn: Brittle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BROTELNESS
Brot"el*ness, n.
Defn: Brittleness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BROTH
Broth, n. Etym: [AS. bro; akin to OHG. brod, brot; cf. Ir. broth,
Gael. brot. *93. Cf. Brewis, Brew.]
Defn: Liquid in which flesh (and sometimes other substances, as
barley or rice) has been boiled; thin or simple soup.
I am sure by your unprejudiced discourses that you love broth better
than soup. Addison.
BROTHEL
Broth"el, n. Etym: [OE. brothel, brodel, brethel, a prostitute, a
worthless fellow, fr. AS. beró to ruin, destroy; cf. AS. breótan to
break, and E. brittle. The term brothel house was confused with
bordel brothel. CF. Bordel.]
Defn: A house of lewdness or ill fame; a house frequented by
prostitutes; a bawdyhouse.
BROTHELER
Broth"el*er, n.
Defn: One who frequents brothels.
BROTHELRY
Broth"el*ry, n.
Defn: Lewdness; obscenity; a brothel. B. Jonson.
BROTHER
Broth"er, n.; pl. Brothers or Brethren. See Brethren. Etym: [OE.
brother, AS. bro; akin to OS. brothar, D. broeder, OHG. pruodar, G.
bruder, Icel. bro, Sw. & Dan. broder, Goth. bro, Ir. brathair, W.
brawd, pl. brodyr, Lith. brolis, Lett. brahlis, Russ. brat', Pol. &
Serv. brat, OSlav. brat, L. frater, Skr. bhrat, Zend. bratar brother,
Gr. Brothers; in the solemn style, Brethren, OE. pl. brether,
bretheren, AS. dat. sing. bre, nom. pl. bro, bro. sq. root258. Cf.
Frair, Fraternal.]
1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another
person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more
definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood.
Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother.
Wordsworth.
2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or
interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil,
suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians,
lawers, professors of religion, etc. "A brother of your order." Shak.
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds
his blood with me Shall be my brother. Shak.
3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities
or traits of character.
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a
great waster. Prov. xviii. 9.
That April morn Of this the very brother. Wordsworth.
Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood
more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham
and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or
brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men.
For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men
Milton.
Brother Jonathan, a humorous designation for the people of the United
States collectively. The phrase is said to have originated from
Washington's referring to the patriotic Jonathan Trumbull, governor
of Connecticut, as "Brother Jonathan." -- Blood brother. See under
Blood.
BROTHER
Broth"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brothered.]
Defn: To make a brother of; to call or treat as a brother; to admit
to a brotherhood. Sir W. Scott.
BROTHER GERMAN
Broth"er ger"man. (Law)
Defn: A brother by both the father's and mother's side, in
contradistinction to a uterine brother, one by the mother only.
Bouvier.
BROTHERHOOD
Broth"er*hood, n. Etym: [Brother + -hood.]
1. The state of being brothers or a brother.
2. An association for any purpose, as a society of monks; a
fraternity.
3. The whole body of persons engaged in the same business, --
especially those of the same profession; as, the legal or medical
brotherhood.
4. Persons, and, poetically, things, of a like kind.
A brotherhood of venerable trees. Wordsworth.
Syn.
-- Fraternity; association; fellowship; sodality.
BROTHER-IN-LAW
Broth"er-in-law`, n.; pl. Brothers-in-law (.
Defn: The brother of one's husband or wife; also, the husband of
one's sister; sometimes, the husband of one's wife's sister.
BROTHERLINESS
Broth"er*li*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being brotherly.
BROTHERLY
Broth"er*ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to brothers; such as is natural for brothers;
becoming to brothers; kind; affectionate; as, brotherly love.
Syn.
-- Fraternal; kind; affectionate; tender.
BROTHERLY
Broth"er*ly, adv.
Defn: Like a brother; affectionately; kindly. "I speak but brotherly
of him." Shak.
BROUDED
Broud"ed, p.a.
Defn: Braided; broidered. [Obs.]
Alle his clothes brouded up and down. Chaucer.
BROUGHAM
Brough"am, n.
Defn: A light, close carriage, with seats inside for two or four, and
the fore wheels so arranged as to turn short.
BROW
Brow, n. Etym: [OE. browe, bruwe, AS. br; akin to AS. br, breáw,
eyelid, OFries. bre, D. braauw, Icel. bra, br, OHG. prawa, G. braue,
OSlav. br, Russ. brove, Ir. brai, Ir. & Gael. abhra, Armor. abrant,
Gr. bhr. Cf. Bray a bank, Bridge.]
1. The prominent ridge over the eye, with the hair that covers it,
forming an arch above the orbit.
And his arched brow, pulled o'er his eyes, With solemn proof
proclaims him wise. Churchill.
2. The hair that covers the brow (ridge over the eyes); the eyebrow.
'T is not your inky brows, your brack silk hair. Shak.
3. The forehead; as, a feverish brow.
Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow. Shak.
4. The general air of the countenance.
To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. Milton.
He told them with a masterly brow. Milton.
5. The edge or projecting upper aprt of a steep place; as, the brow
of a precipice; the brow of a hill. To bend the brow, To knit the
brows, to frown; to scowl.
BROW
Brow, v. t.
Defn: To bound to limit; to be at, or form, the edge of. [R.]
Tending my flocks hard by i' the hilly crofts That brow this bottom
glade. Milton.
BROWBEAT
Brow"beat`, v. t. [imp. Browbeat; p. p. Browbeaten; p. pr. & vb. n.
Browbeating.]
Defn: To depress or bear down with haughty, stern looks, or with
arrogant speech and dogmatic assertions; to abash or disconcert by
impudent or abusive words or looks; to bully; as, to browbeat
witnesses.
My grandfather was not a man to be browbeaten. W. Irving.
BROWBEATING
Brow"beat`ing, n.
Defn: The act of bearing down, abashing, or disconcerting, with stern
looks, suspercilious manners, or confident assertions.
The imperious browbeating and scorn of great men. L'Estrange.
BROWBOUND
Brow"bound`, a.
Defn: Crowned; having the head encircled as with a diadem. Shak.
BROWDYNG
Browd"yng, n.
Defn: Embroidery. [Obs.]
Of goldsmithrye, of browdying, and of steel. Chaucer.
BROWED
Browed, a.
Defn: Having (such) a brow; -- used in composition; as, dark-browed,
stern-browed.
BROWLESS
Brow"less, a.
Defn: Without shame. L. Addison.
BROWN
Brown, a. [Compar. Browner; superl. Brownest.] Etym: [OE. brun,
broun, AS. br; akin to D. bruin, OHG. br, Icel. br, Sw. brun, Dan.
bruun, G. braun, Lith. brunas, Skr. babhru. *93, 253. Cf. Bruin,
Beaver, Burnish, Brunette.]
Defn: Of a dark color, of various shades between black and red or
yellow.
Cheeks brown as the oak leaves. Longfellow.
Brown Bess, the old regulation flintlock smoothbore musket, with
bronzed barrel, formerly used in the British army.
-- Brown bread (a) Dark colored bread; esp. a kind made of unbolted
wheat flour, sometimes called in the United States Graham bread. "He
would mouth with a beggar though she smelt brown bread and garlic."
Shak. (b) Dark colored bread made of rye meal and Indian meal, or of
wheat and rye or Indian; rye and Indian bread. [U.S.] -- Brown coal,
wood coal. See Lignite.
-- Brown hematite or Brown iron ore (Min.), the hydrous iron oxide,
limonite, which has a brown streak. See Limonite.
-- Brown holland. See under Holland.
-- Brown paper, dark colored paper, esp. coarse wrapping paper, made
of unbleached materials.
-- Brown spar (Min.), a ferruginous variety of dolomite, in part
identical with ankerite.
-- Brown stone. See Brownstone.
-- Brown stout, a strong kind of proter or malt liquor.
-- Brown study, a state of mental abstraction or serious reverie. W.
Irving.
BROWN
Brown, n.
Defn: A dark color inclining to red or yellow, resulting from the
mixture of red and black, or of red, black, and yellow; a tawny,
dusky hue.
BROWN
Brown, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Browned; p. pr. & vb. n. Browning.]
1. To make brown or dusky.
A trembling twilight o'er welkin moves,Browns the dim void and
darkens deep the groves. Barlow.
2. To make brown by scorching slightly; as, to brown meat or flour.
3. To give a bright brown color to, as to gun barrels, by forming a
thin coat of oxide on their surface. Ure.
BROWN
Brown, v. i.
Defn: To become brown.
BROWNBACK
Brown"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dowitcher or red-breasted snipe. See Dowitcher.
BROWN BILL
Brown" bill`. Etym: [Brown + bill cutting tool.]
Defn: A bill or halberd of the 16th and 17th centuries. See 4th Bill.
Many time, but for a sallet, my brainpan had been cleft with a brown
bill. Shak.
Note: The black, or as it is sometimes called, the brown bill, was a
kind of halberd, the cutting part hooked like a woodman's bill, from
the back of which projected a spike, and another from the head.
Grose.
BROWNIAN
Brown"i*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Dr. Robert Brown, who first demonstrated (about
1827) the commonness of the motion described below. Brownian
movement, the peculiar, rapid, vibratory movement exhibited by the
microscopic particles of substances when suspended in water or other
fluids.
BROWNIE
Brown"ie, n. Etym: [So called from its supposed tawny or swarthy
color.]
Defn: An imaginary good-natured spirit, who was supposed often to
perform important services around the house by night, such as
thrashing, churning, sweeping. [Scot.]
BROWNING
Brown"ing, n.
1. The act or operation of giving a brown color, as to gun barrels,
etc.
2. (Masonry)
Defn: A smooth coat of brown mortar, usually the second coat, and the
preparation for the finishing coat of plaster.
BROWNISH
Brown"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat brown.
BROWNISM
Brown"ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The views or teachings of Robert Brown of the Brownists.
Milton.
BROWNISM
Brown"ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: The doctrines of the Brunonian system of medicine. See
Brunonian.
BROWNIST
Brown"ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Robert Brown, of England, in the 16th century,
who taught that every church is complete and independent in itself
when organized, and consists of members meeting in one place, having
full power to elect and depose its officers.
BROWNIST
Brown"ist, n. (Med.)
Defn: One who advocates the Brunonian system of medicine.
BROWNNESS
Brown"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being brown.
Now like I brown (O lovely brown thy hair); Only in brownness beauty
dwelleth there. Drayton.
BROWN RACE
Brown race.
Defn: The Malay or Polynesian race; -- loosely so called.
BROWNSTONE
Brown"stone`, n.
Defn: A dark variety of sandstone, much used for building purposes.
BROWN THRUSH
Brown" thrush". (Zoöl.)
Defn: A common American singing bird (Harporhynchus rufus), allied to
the mocking bird; -- also called brown thrasher.
BROWNWORT
Brown"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of figwort or Scrophularia (S. vernalis), and other
species of the same genus, mostly perennials with inconspicuous
coarse flowers.
BROWNY
Brown"y, a.
Defn: Brown or, somewhat brown. "Browny locks." Shak.
BROWPOST
Brow"post`, n. (Carp.)
Defn: A beam that goes across a building.
BROWSE
Browse, n. Etym: [OF. brost, broust, sprout, shoot, F. brout browse,
browsewood, prob. fr. OHG. burst, G. borste, bristle; cf. also Armor.
brousta to browse. See Bristle, n., Brush, n.]
Defn: The tender branches or twigs of trees and shrubs, fit for the
food of cattle and other animals; green food. Spenser.
Sheep, goats, and oxen, and the nobler steed, On browse, and corn,
and flowery meadows feed. Dryden.
BROWSE
Browse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Browsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Browsing.] Etym:
[For broust, OF. brouster, bruster, F. brouter. See Browse, n., and
cf. Brut.]
1. To eat or nibble off, as the tender branches of trees, shrubs,
etc.; -- said of cattle, sheep, deer, and some other animals.
Yes, like the stag, when snow the plasture sheets, The barks of trees
thou browsedst. Shak.
2. To feed on, as pasture; to pasture on; to graze.
Fields . . . browsed by deep-uddered kine. Tennyson.
BROWSE
Browse, v. i.
1. To feed on the tender branches or shoots of shrubs or trees, as do
cattle, sheep, and deer.
2. To pasture; to feed; to nibble. Shak.
BROWSER
Brows"er, n.
Defn: An animal that browses.
BROWSEWOOD
Browse"wood`, n.
Defn: Srubs and bushes upon which animals browse.
BROWSING
Brows"ing, n.
Defn: Browse; also, a place abounding with shrubs where animals may
browse.
Browsings for the deer. Howell.
BROWSPOT
Brow"spot`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rounded organ between the eyes of the frog; the interocular
gland.
BRUANG
Bru*ang", n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Malayan sun bear.
BRUCINE
Bru"cine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. brucine, fr. James Bruce, a Scottish
traveler.] (Chem.)
Defn: A poweful vegetable alkaloid, found, associated with
strychnine, in the seeds of different species of Strychnos,
especially in the Nux vomica. It is less powerful than strychnine.
Called also brucia and brucina.
BRUCITE
Bru"cite, n. Etym: [Named after Dr. A.Bruce of New York.] (Min.)
(a) A white, pearly mineral, occurring thin and foliated, like talc,
and also fibrous; a native magnesium hydrate.
(b) The mineral chondrodite. [R.]
BRUCKELED
Bruck"eled, a.
Defn: Wet and dirty; begrimed. [Obs. or Dial.] Herrick.
BRUH
Bruh, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Native name.]
Defn: The rhesus monkey. See Rhesus.
BRUIN
Bru"in, n. Etym: [D. bruin brown. In the epic poem of "Reynard the
Fox" the bear is so called from his color. See Brown, a.]
Defn: A bear; -- so called in popular tales and fables.
BRUISE
Bruise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bruised; p. pr. & vb. n. Bruising.] Etym:
[OE. brusen, brisen, brosen, bresen, AS. br or fr. OF. bruiser,
bruisier, bruser, to break, shiver, perh. from OHG. brochison. Cf.
Break, v. t.]
1. To injure, as by a blow or collision, without laceration; to
contuse; as, to bruise one's finger with a hammer; to bruise the bark
of a tree with a stone; to bruise an apple by letting it fall.
2. To break; as in a mortar; to bray, as minerals, roots, etc.; to
crush.
Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs. Shak.
Syn.
-- To pulverize; bray; triturate; pound; contuse.
BRUISE
Bruise, v. i.
Defn: To fight with the fists; to box.
Bruising was considered a fine, manly, old English custom. Thackeray.
BRUISE
Bruise, n.
Defn: An injury to the flesh of animals, or to plants, fruit, etc.,
with a blunt or heavy instrument, or by collision with some other
body; a contusion; as, a bruise on the head; bruises on fruit.
From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in
it; but wounds, and bruises. Isa. i. 6.
BRUISER
Bruis"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, bruises.
2. A boxer; a pugilist. R. Browning.
Like a new bruiser on Broughtonic aand, Amid the lists our hero takes
his stand. T. Warton.
3. A concave tool used in grinding lenses or the speculums of
telescopes. Knight.
BRUISEWORT
Bruise"wort`, n.
Defn: A plant supposed to heal bruises, as the true daisy, the
soapwort, and the comfrey.
BRUIT
Bruit, n. Etym: [OE. bruit, brut, noise, bruit, F. bruit, fr. LL.
brugitus; cf. L. rugire to roar; perh. influenced by the source of E.
bray to make a harsh noise, Armor. brud bruit.]
1. Report; rumor; fame.
The bruit thereof will bring you many friends. Shak.
2. [French pron. (Med.)
Defn: An abnormal sound of several kinds, heard on auscultation.
BRUIT
Bruit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bruited; p. pr. & vb. n. Bruiting.]
Defn: To report; to noise abroad.
I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited. Shak.
BRUMAIRE
Bru`maire", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. bruma winter.]
Defn: The second month of the calendar adopted by the first French
republic. It began thirty days after the autumnal equinox. See
Vendemiaire.
BRUMAL
Bru"mal, a. Etym: [L. brumalis, fr. bruma winter: cf. F. brumal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to winter. "The brumal solstice." Sir T.
Browne.
BRUME
Brume, n. Etym: [F. brume winter season, mist, L. bruma winter.]
Defn: Mist; fog; vapors. "The drifting brume." Longfellow.
BRUMMAGEM
Brum"ma*gem, a. Etym: [Birmingham (formerly Bromwycham), Eng., "the
great mart and manufactory of gilt toys, cheap jewelry," etc.]
Defn: Counterfeit; gaudy but worthless; sham. [Slang] "These
Brummagem gentry." Lady D. Hardy.
BRUMOUS
Bru"mous, a.
Defn: Foggy; misty.
BRUN
Brun, n. Etym: [See Broun a brook.]
Defn: Same as Brun, a brook. [Scot.]
BRUNETTE
Bru*nette", n. Etym: [F. brunet, brunette, brownish, dim. of brun,
brune, brown, fr. OHG. br. See Brown, a.]
Defn: A girl or woman with a somewhat brown or dark complexion.
-- a.
Defn: Having a dark tint.
BRUNION
Brun"ion, n. Etym: [F. brugnon (cf. It. brugna, prugna), fr. L.
prunum. See Prune, n.]
Defn: A nectarine.
BRUNONIAN
Bru*no"ni*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or invented by, Brown; -- a term applied to a
system of medicine promulgated in the 18th century by John Brown, of
Scotland, the fundamental doctrine of which was, that life is a state
of excitation produced by the normal action of external agents upon
the body, and that disease consists in excess or deficiency of
excitation.
BRUNSWICK BLACK
Bruns"wick black`.
Defn: See Japan black.
BRUNSWICK GREEN
Bruns"wick green`. Etym: [G. Braunschweiger grün, first made at
Brunswick, in Germany.]
Defn: An oxychloride of copper, used as a green pigment; also, a
carbonate of copper similarly employed.
BRUNT
Brunt, n. Etym: [OE. brunt, bront, fr. Icel. bruna to rush; cf. Icel.
brenna to burn. Cf. Burn, v. t.]
1. The heat, or utmost violence, of an onset; the strength or
greatest fury of any contention; as, the brunt of a battle.
2. The force of a blow; shock; collision. "And heavy brunt of cannon
ball." Hudibras.
It is instantly and irrecoverably scattered by our first brunt with
some real affair of common life. I. Taylor.
BRUSH
Brush, n. Etym: [OE. brusche, OF. broche, broce, brosse, brushwood,
F. brosse brush, LL. brustia, bruscia, fr. OHG. brusta, brust,
bristle, G. borste bristle, bürste brush. See Bristle, n., and cf.
Browse.]
1. An instrument composed of bristles, or other like material, set in
a suitable back or handle, as of wood, bone, or ivory, and used for
various purposes, as in removing dust from clothes, laying on colors,
etc. Brushes have different shapes and names according to their use;
as, clothes brush, paint brush, tooth brush, etc.
2. The bushy tail of a fox.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tuft of hair on the mandibles.
4. Branches of trees lopped off; brushwood.
5. A thicket of shrubs or small trees; the shrubs and small trees in
a wood; underbrush.
6. (Elec.)
Defn: A bundle of flexible wires or thin plates of metal, used to
conduct an electrical current to or from the commutator of a dynamo,
electric motor, or similar apparatus.
7. The act of brushing; as, to give one's clothes a brush; a rubbing
or grazing with a quick motion; a light touch; as, we got a brush
from the wheel as it passed.
[As leaves] have with one winter's brush Fell from their boughts.
Shak.
8. A skirmish; a slight encounter; a shock or collision; as, to have
a brush with an enemy.
Let grow thy sinews till their knots be strong, And tempt not yet the
brushes of the war. Shak.
9. A short contest, or trial, of speed.
Let us enjoy a brush across the country. Cornhill Mag.
Electrical brush, a form of the electric discharge characterized by a
brushlike appearance of luminous rays diverging from an electrified
body.
BRUSH
Brush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Brushing.] Etym:
[OE. bruschen; cf. F. brosser. See Brush, n.]
1. To apply a brush to, according to its particular use; to rub,
smooth, clean, paint, etc., with a brush. "A' brushes his hat o'
mornings." Shak.
2. To touch in passing, or to pass lightly over, as with a brush.
Some spread their sailes, some with strong oars sweep The waters
smooth, and brush the buxom wave. Fairfax.
Brushed with the kiss of rustling wings. Milton.
3. To remove or gather by brushing, or by an act like that of
brushing, or by passing lightly over, as wind; -- commonly with off.
As wicked dew as e'er my mother brushed With raven's feather from
unwholesome fen. Shak.
And from the boughts brush off the evil dew. Milton.
To brush aside, to remove from one's way, as with a brush.
-- To brush away, to remove, as with a brush or brushing motion.
-- To brush up, to paint, or make clean or bright with a brush; to
cleanse or improve; to renew.
You have commissioned me to paint your shop, and I have done my best
to brush you up like your neighbors. Pope.
BRUSH
Brush, v. i.
Defn: To move nimbly in haste; to move so lightly as scarcely to be
perceived; as, to brush by.
Snatching his hat, he brushed off like the wind. Goldsmith.
BRUSHER
Brush"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, brushes.
BRUSHINESS
Brush"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of resembling a brush; brushlike condition;
shagginess. Dr. H. More.
BRUSHING
Brush"ing, a.
1. Constructed or used to brush with; as a brushing machine.
2. Brisk; light; as, a brushing gallop.
BRUSHITE
Brush"ite, n. Etym: [From George J.Brush, an American mineralogist.]
(Min.)
Defn: A white or gray crystalline mineral consisting of the acid
phosphate of calcium.
BRUSH TURKEY
Brush" tur`key. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, edible, gregarious bird of Australia (Talegalla
Lathami) of the family Megapodidæ. Also applied to several allied
species of New Guinea.
Note: The brush turkeys live in the "brush," and construct a common
nest by collecting a large heap of decaying vegetable matter, which
generates heat sufficient to hatch the numerous eggs (sometimes half
a bushel) deposited in it by the females of the flock.
BRUSH WHEEL
Brush" wheel`.
1. A wheel without teeth, used to turn a similar one by the friction
of bristles or something brushlike or soft attached to the
circumference.
2. A circular revolving brush used by turners, lapidaries,
silversmiths, etc., for polishing.
BRUSHWOOD
Brush"wood, n.
1. Brush; a thicket or coppice of small trees and shrubs.
2. Small branches of trees cut off.
BRUSHY
Brush"y, a.
Defn: Resembling a brush; shaggy; rough.
BRUSK
Brusk, a.
Defn: Same as Brusque.
BRUSQUE
Brusque, a. Etym: [F. brusque, from It. brusco brusque, tart, sour,
perh. fr. L. (vitis) labrusca wild (vine); or cf. OHG. bruttisc grim,
fr. brutti terror.]
Defn: Rough and prompt in manner; blunt; abrupt; hluff; as, a brusque
man; a brusque style.
BRUSQUENESS
Brusque"ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being brusque; roughness joined with promptness;
blutness. Brit. Quar.
BRUSSELS
Brus"sels, n.
Defn: A city of Belgium, giving its name to a kind of carpet, a kind
of lace, etc. Brussels carpet, a kind of carpet made of worsted yarn
fixed in a foundation web of strong linen thread. The worsted, which
alone shows on the upper surface in drawn up in loops to form the
pattern.
-- Brussels ground, a name given to the handmade ground of real
Brussels lace. It is very costly because of the extreme fineness of
the threads.
-- Brussels lace, an expensive kind of lace of several varieties,
originally made in Brussels; as, Brussels point, Brussels ground,
Brussels wire ground.
-- Brussels net, an imitation of Brussels ground, made by machinery.
-- Brussels point. See Point lace.
-- Brussels sprouts (Bot.), a plant of the Cabbage family, which
produces, in the axils of the upright stem, numerous small green
heads, or "sprouts," each a cabbage in miniature, of one or two
inches in diameter; the thousand-headed cabbage.
-- Brussels wire ground, a ground for lace, made of silk, with
meshes partly straight and partly arched.
BRUSTLE
Brus"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Brustled; p. pr. & vb. n. Brustling.]
Etym: [OE. brustlien and brastlien, AS. brastlian, fr. berstan to
burst, akin to G. prasseln to crackle. See Burst, v. i.]
1. To crackle; to rustle, as a silk garment. [Obs.] Gower.
2. To make a show of fireceness or defiance; to bristle. [Obs.] To
brustle up, to bristle up. [Obs.] Otway.
BRUSTLE
Brus"tle, n.
Defn: A bristle. [Obs. or Prov.] Chaucer.
BRUT
Brut, v. i. Etym: [F. brouter, OF. brouster. See Browse, n.]
Defn: To browse. [Obs.] Evelyn.
BRUT
Brut, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Birt.
BRUTA
Bru"ta, n. Etym: [NL., neuter pl., fr. L. brutus heavy, stupid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: See Edentata.
BRUTAL
Bru"tal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. brutal. See Brute, a.]
1. Of or pertaining to a brute; as, brutal nature. "Above the rest of
brutal kind." Milton.
2. Like a brute; savage; cruel; inhuman; brutish; unfeeling;
merciless; gross; as, brutal manners. "Brutal intemperance."
Macaulay.
BRUTALISM
Bru"tal*ism, n.
Defn: Brutish quality; brutality.
BRUTALITY
Bru*tal"i*ty, n.; pl. Brutalities. Etym: [Cf. F. brutalité.]
1. The quality of being brutal; inhumanity; savageness; pitilessness.
2. An inhuman act.
The . . . brutalities exercised in war. Brougham.
BRUTALIZATION
Bru`tal*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of making brutal; state of being brutalized.
BRUTALIZE
Bru"tal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brutalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Brutalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. brutaliser.]
Defn: To make brutal; beasty; unfeeling; or inhuman.
BRUTALIZE
Bru"tal*ize, v. i.
Defn: To become brutal, inhuman, barbarous, or coarse and beasty.
[R.]
He mixed . . . with his countrymen, brutalized with them in their
habits and manners. Addison.
BRUTALLY
Bru"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a brutal manner; cruelly.
BRUTE
Brute, a. Etym: [F. brut, nasc., brute, fem., raw, rough, rude,
brutish, L. brutus stupid, irrational: cf. It. & Sp. bruto.]
1. Not having sensation; senseless; inanimate; unconscious; without
intelligence or volition; as, the brute earth; the brute powers of
nature.
2. Not possessing reason, irrational; unthinking; as, a brute beast;
the brute creation.
A creature . . . not prone And brute as other creatures, but endued
With sanctity of reason. Milton.
3. Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of, a brute beast. Hence:
Brutal; cruel; fierce; ferocious; savage; pitiless; as, brute
violence. Macaulay.
The influence of capital and mere brute labor. Playfair.
4. Having the physical powers predominating over the mental; coarse;
unpolished; unintelligent.
A great brute farmer from Liddesdale. Sir W. Scott.
5. Rough; uncivilized; unfeeling. [R.]
BRUTE
Brute, n.
1. An animal destitute of human reason; any animal not human; esp. a
quadruped; a beast.
Brutes may be considered as either aëral, terrestrial, aquatic, or
amphibious. Locke.
2. A brutal person; a savage in heart or manners; as unfeeling or
coarse person.
An ill-natured brute of a husband. Franklin.
Syn.
-- See Beast.
BRUTE
Brute, v. t. Etym: [For bruit.]
Defn: To report; to bruit. [Obs.]
BRUTELY
Brute"ly, adv.
Defn: In a rude or violent manner.
BRUTENESS
Brute"ness, n.
1. Brutality. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Insensibility. "The bruteness of nature." Emerson.
BRUTIFY
Bru"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Brutified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Brutifying.] Etym: [Brute + -fy: cf. F. brutifier.]
Defn: To make like a brute; to make senseless, stupid, or unfeeling;
to brutalize.
Any man not quite brutified and void of sense. Barrow.
BRUTING
Bru"ting, n.
Defn: Browsing. [Obs.] Evelyn.
BRUTISH
Bru"tish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a brute or brutes; of a cruel,
gross, and stupid nature; coarse; unfeeling; unintelligent.
O, let all provocation Take every brutish shape it can devise. Leigh
Hunt.
Man may . . . render himself brutish, but it is in vain that he would
seek to take the rank and density of the brute. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- Insensible; stupid; unfeeling; savage; cruel; brutal; barbarous;
inhuman; ferocious; gross; carnal; sensual; bestial.
-- Bru"tish*ly, adv.
-- Bru"tish*ness, n.
BRUTISM
Bru"tism, n.
Defn: The nature or characteristic qualities or actions of a brute;
extreme stupidity, or beastly vulgarity.
BRYOLOGICAL
Bry*o*log"i*cal, a.
Defn: Relating to bryology; as, bryological studies.
BRYOLOGIST
Bry*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in bryology.
BRYOLOGY
Bry*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That part of botany which relates to mosses.
BRYONIN
Bry"o*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter principle obtained from the root of the bryony
(Bryonia alba and B. dioica). It is a white, or slightly colored,
substance, and is emetic and cathartic.
BRYONY
Bry"o*ny, n. Etym: [L. bryonia, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The common name of several cucurbitaceous plants of the genus
Bryonia. The root of B. alba (rough or white bryony) and of B. dioica
is a strong, irritating cathartic. Black bryony, a plant (Tamus
communis) so named from its dark glossy leaves and black root; black
bindweed.
BRYOPHYTA
Bry*oph"y*ta, n. pl.
Defn: See Cryptogamia.
BRYOZOA
Bry`o*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Molluscoidea, including minute animals which by
budding form compound colonies; -- called also Polyzoa.
Note: They are often coralike in form and appearance, each small cell
containing an individual zooid. Other species grow in delicate,
flexible, branched forms, resembling moss, whence the name. Some are
found in fresh water, but most are marine. The three principal
divisions are Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, and Pterobranchia. See
Cyclostoma, Chilostoma, and Phylactolema.
BRYOZOAN
Bry`o*zo"an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Bryozoa.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Bryozoa.
BRYOZOUM
Bry`o*zo"um, n. Etym: [NL. See Bryozoa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An individual zooid of a bryozoan coralline, of which there may
be two or more kinds in a single colony. The zooecia usually have a
wreath of tentacles around the mouth, and a well developed stomach
and intestinal canal; but these parts are lacking in the other zooids
(Avicularia, Ooecia, etc.).
BUANSUAH
Bu`an*su"ah, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild dog of northern India (Cuon primævus), supposed by
some to be an ancestral species of the domestic dog.
BUAT
Bu"at, n. Etym: [Scot., of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A lantern; also, the moon. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
BUB
Bub, n.
Defn: Strong malt liquor. [Cant] Prior.
BUB
Bub, n. Etym: [Cf. 2d Bubby.]
Defn: A young brother; a little boy; -- a familiar term of address of
a small boy.
BUB
Bub, v. t. Etym: [Abbrev. from Bubble.]
Defn: To throw out in bubbles; to bubble. [Obs.] Sackville.
BUBALE
Bu"ba*le, n. Etym: [Cf. F. bubale. See Buffalo, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large antelope (Alcelaphus bubalis) of Egypt and the Desert
of Sahara, supposed by some to be the fallow deer of the Bible.
BUBALINE
Bu"ba*line, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a buffalo. Bubaline antelope (Zoöl.), the bubale.
BUBBLE
Bub"ble, n. Etym: [Cf. D. bobbel, Dan. boble, Sw. bubbla. Cf. Blob,
n.]
1. A thin film of liquid inflated with air or gas; as, a soap bubble;
bubbles on the surface of a river.
Beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow, Like bubbles in a late
disturbed stream. Shak.
2. A small quantity of air or gas within a liquid body; as, bubbles
rising in champagne or aërated waters.
3. A globule of air, or globular vacuum, in a transparent solid; as,
bubbles in window glass, or in a lens.
4. A small, hollow, floating bead or globe, formerly used for testing
the strength of spirits.
5. The globule of air in the spirit tube of a level.
6. Anything that wants firmness or solidity; that which is more
specious than real; a false show; a cheat or fraud; a delusive
scheme; an empty project; a dishonest speculation; as, the South Sea
bubble.
Then a soldier . . . Seeking the bubble reputation Even in the
cannon's mouth. Shak.
7. A person deceived by an empty project; a gull. [Obs.] "Ganny's a
cheat, and I'm a bubble." Prior.
BUBBLE
Bub"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bubbled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bubbling (.]
Etym: [Cf. D. bobbelen, Dan. boble. See Bubble, n.]
1. To rise in bubbles, as liquids when boiling or agitated; to
contain bubbles.
The milk that bubbled in the pail. Tennyson.
2. To run with a gurdling noise, as if forming bubbles; as, a
bubbling stream. Pope.
3. To sing with a gurgling or warbling sound.
At mine ear Bubbled the nightingale and heeded not. Tennyson.
BUBBLER
Bub"bler, v. t.
Defn: To cheat; to deceive.
She has bubbled him out of his youth. Addison.
The great Locke, who was seldom outwitted by false sounds, was
nevertheless bubbled here. Sterne.
BUBBLER
Bub"bler, n.
1. One who cheats.
All the Jews, jobbers, bubblers, subscribers, projectors, etc. Pope.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the Ohio river; -- so called from the noise it makes.
BUBBLE SHELL
Bub"ble shell`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine univalve shell of the genus Bulla and allied genera,
belonging to the Tectibranchiata.
BUBBLING JOCK
Bub"bling Jock` (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male wild turkey, the gobbler; -- so called in allusion to
its notes.
BUBBLY
Bub"bly, a.
Defn: Abounding in bubbles; bubbling. Nash.
BUBBY
Bub"by (bûb"by), n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. G. bübbi, or It. poppa, Pr.
popa, OF. poupe, a woman's breast.]
Defn: A woman's breast. [Low]
BUBBY
Bub"by, n. Etym: [A corruption of brother.]
Defn: Bub; -- a term of familiar or affectionate address to a small
boy.
BUBO
Bu"bo, n.; pl. Buboes (. Etym: [LL. bubo the groin, a swelling in the
groin, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation, with enlargement, of a limphatic gland, esp.
in the groin, as in syphilis.
BUBONIC
Bu*bon"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bubo or buboes; characterized by buboes.
BUBONOCELE
Bu*bon"o*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. bubonocèle.] (Med.)
Defn: An inguinal hernia; esp. that incomplete variety in which the
hernial pouch descends only as far as the groin, forming a swelling
there like a bubo.
BUBUKLE
Bu"bu*kle, n.
Defn: A red pimple. [R.] Shak.
BUCCAL
Buc"cal, a. Etym: [L. bucca cheek: cf. F. buccal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the mouth or cheeks.
BUCCAN
Buc"can, n. [F. boucan. See Buccaneer.]
1.
Defn: A wooden frame or grid for roasting, smoking, or drying meat
over fire.
2. A place where meat is smoked.
3. Buccaned meat.
BUCCAN
Buc"can, v. t. [F. boucaner. See Buccaneer.]
Defn: To expose (meat) in strips to fire and smoke upon a buccan.
BUCCANEER
Buc`ca*neer", n. Etym: [F. boucanier, fr. boucaner to smoke or broil
meat and fish, to hunt wild beasts for their skins, boucan a smoking
place for meat or fish, gridiron for smoking: a word of American
origin.]
Defn: A robber upon the sea; a pirate; -- a term applied especially
to the piratical adventurers who made depredations on the Spaniards
in America in the 17th and 18th centuries. [Written also bucanier.]
Note: Primarily, one who dries and smokes flesh or fish after the
manner of the Indians. The name was first given to the French
settlers in Hayti or Hispaniola, whose business was to hunt wild
cattle and swine.
BUCCANEER
Buc`ca*neer", v. i.
Defn: To act the part of a buccaneer; to live as a piratical
adventurer or sea robber.
BUCCANEERISH
Buc`ca*neer"ish, a.
Defn: Like a buccaneer; piratical.
BUCCINAL
Buc"ci*nal, a. Etym: [L. bucina a crooked horn or trumpet.]
Defn: Shaped or sounding like a trumpet; trumpetlike.
BUCCINATOR
Buc`ci*na"tor, n. Etym: [L., a trumpeter, fr. bucinare to sound the
trumpet.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle of the cheek; -- so called from its use in blowing
wind instruments.
BUCCINOID
Buc"ci*noid, a. Etym: [Buccinum + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling the genus Buccinum, or pertaining to the Buccinidæ,
a family of marine univalve shells. See Whelk, and Prosobranchiata.
BUCCINUM
Buc"ci*num, n. Etym: [L., a trumpet, a trumpet shell.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large univalve mollusks abundant in the arctic seas.
It includes the common whelk (B. undatum).
BUCENTAUR
Bu*cen"taur, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A fabulous monster, half ox, half man.
2. Etym: [It. bucentoro.]
Defn: The state barge of Venice, used by the doge in the ceremony of
espousing the Adriatic.
BUCEPHALUS
Bu*ceph"a*lus, n. [L., fr. Gr. , lit., ox-headed; ox + head.]
1.
Defn: The celebrated war horse of Alexander the Great.
2. Hence, any riding horse. [Jocose] Sir W. Scott.
BUCEROS
Bu"ce*ros, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large perching birds; the hornbills.
BUCHOLZITE
Buch"ol*zite, n. Etym: [So called from Bucholz, a German chemist.]
(Min.)
Defn: Same as Fibrolite.
BUCHU
Bu"chu, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A South African shrub (Barosma) with small leaves that are
dotted with oil dlands; also, the leaves themselves, which are used
in medicine for diseases of the urinary organs, etc. Several species
furnish the leaves.
BUCK
Buck, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. büke, Dan. byg, Sw. byk, G. bauche: cf.
It. bucato, Prov. Sp. bugada, F. buée.]
1. Lye or suds in which cloth is soaked in the operation of
bleaching, or in which clothes are washed.
2. The cloth or clothes soaked or washed. [Obs.] Shak.
BUCK
Buck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bucked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bucking.] Etym:
[OE. bouken; akin to LG. büken, Dan. byge, Sw. byka, G. bauchen,
beuchen; cf. OF. buer. Cf. the preceding noun.]
1. To soak, steep, or boil, in lye or suds; -- a process in
bleaching.
2. To wash (clothes) in lye or suds, or, in later usage, by beating
them on stones in running water.
3. (Mining)
Defn: To break up or pulverize, as ores.
BUCK
Buck, n. Etym: [OE. buk, bucke, AS. bucca, bua, he-goat; akin to D.
bok, OHG. pocch, G. bock, Ir. boc, W. bwch, Corn. byk; cf. Zend b,
Skr. bukka. *256. Cf. Butcher, n.]
1. The male of deer, especially fallow deer and antelopes, or of
goats, sheep, hares, and rabbits.
Note: A male fallow deer is called a fawn in his first year; a
pricket in his second; a sorel in his third; a sore in his fourth; a
buck of the first head in his fifth; and a great buck in his sixth.
The female of the fallow deer is termed a doe. The male of the red
deer is termed a stag or hart and not a buck, and the female is
called a hind. Brande & C.
2. A gay, dashing young fellow; a fop; a dandy.
The leading bucks of the day. Thackeray.
3. A male Indian or negro. [Colloq. U.S.]
Note: The word buck is much used in composition for the names of
antelopes; as, bush buck, spring buck. Blue buck. See under Blue.
-- Water buck, a South African variety of antelope (Kobus
ellipsiprymnus). See Illust. of Antelope.
BUCK
Buck, v. i.
1. To copulate, as bucks and does.
2. To spring with quick plunging leaps, descending with the fore legs
rigid and the head held as low down as possible; -- said of a vicious
horse or mule.
BUCK
Buck, v. t.
1. (Mil.)
Defn: To subject to a mode of punishment which consists in tying the
wrists together, passing the arms over the bent knees, and putting a
stick across the arms and in the angle formed by the knees.
2. To throw by bucking. See Buck, v. i., 2.
The brute that he was riding had nearly bucked him out of the saddle.
W. E. Norris.
BUCK
Buck, n.
Defn: A frame on which firewood is sawed; a sawhorse; a sawbuck. Buck
saw, a saw set in a frame and used for sawing wood on a sawhorse.
BUCK
Buck, n. Etym: [See Beech, n.]
Defn: The beech tree. [Scot.] Buck mast, the mast or fruit of the
beech tree. Johnson.
BUCK-BASKET
Buck"-bas`ket, n. Etym: [See 1st Buck.]
Defn: A basket in which clothes are carried to the wash. Shak.
BUCK BEAN
Buck" bean`. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Menyanthes trifoliata) which grows in moist and boggy
places, having racems of white or reddish flowers and intensely
bitter leaves, sometimes used in medicine; marsh trefoil; -- called
also bog bean.
BUCKBOARD
Buck"board`, n.
Defn: A four-wheeled vehicle, having a long elastic board or frame
resting on the bolsters or axletrees, and a seat or seats placed
transversely upon it; -- called also buck wagon.
BUCKER
Buck"er, n. (Mining)
1. One who bucks ore.
2. A broad-headed hammer used in bucking ore.
BUCKER
Buck"er, n.
Defn: A horse or mule that bucks.
BUCKET
Buck"et, n. Etym: [OE. boket; cf. AS. buc pitcher, or Corn. buket
tub.]
1. A vessel for drawing up water from a well, or for catching,
holding, or carrying water, sap, or other liquids.
The old oaken bucket, the iron-bound bucket, The moss-covered bucket,
which hung in the well. Wordsworth.
2. A vessel (as a tub or scoop) for hoisting and conveying coal, ore,
grain, etc.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: One of the receptacles on the rim of a water wheel into which
the water rushes, causing the wheel to revolve; also, a float of a
paddle wheel.
4. The valved piston of a lifting pump. Fire bucket, a bucket for
carrying water to put out fires.
-- To kick the bucket, to die. [Low]
BUCKET SHOP
Buck"et shop`.
Defn: An office or a place where facilities are given for betting
small sums on current prices of stocks, petroleum, etc. [Slang, U.S.]
BUCKETY
Buck"et*y, n. Etym: [A corruption of buckwheat.]
Defn: Paste used by weavers to dress their webs. Buchanan.
BUCKEYE
Buck"eye`, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several American trees and shrubs of the same
genus (Æsculus) as the horse chestnut. The Ohio buckeye, or Fetid
buckeye, is Æsculus glabra.
-- Red buckeye is Æ. Pavia.
-- Small buckeye is Æ. paviflora.
-- Sweet buckeye, or Yellow buckeye, is Æ. flava.
2. A cant name for a native in Ohio. [U.S.] Buckeye State, Ohio; --
so called because buckeye trees abound there.
BUCK-EYED
Buck"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having bad or speckled eyes. "A buck-eyed horse." James White.
BUCK FEVER
Buck fever.
Defn: Intense excitement at the sight of deer or other game, such as
often unnerves a novice in hunting. [Colloq.]
BUCKHOUND
Buck"hound`, n.
Defn: A hound for hunting deer. Master of the buckhounds, an officer
in the royal household. [Eng.]
BUCKIE
Buck"ie, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large spiral marine shell, esp. the common whelk. See
Buccinum. [Scot.] Deil's buckie, a perverse, refractory youngster.
[Slang]
BUCKING
Buck"ing, n.
1. The act or process of soaking or boiling cloth in an alkaline
liquid in the operation of bleaching; also, the liquid used.
Tomlinson.
2. A washing.
3. The process of breaking up or pulverizing ores. Bucking iron
(Mining), a broad-faced hammer, used in bucking or breaking up ores.
-- Bucking kier (Manuf.), a large circular boiler, or kier, used in
bleaching.
-- Bucking stool, a washing block.
BUCKISH
Buck"ish, a.
Defn: Dandified; foppish.
BUCKLE
Buc"kle, n. Etym: [OE. bocle buckle, boss of a shield, OF. bocle, F.
boucle, boss of a shield, ring, fr. L. buccula a little cheek or
mouth, dim. of bucca cheek; this boss or knob resembling a cheek.]
1. A device, usually of metal, consisting of a frame with one more
movable tongues or catches, used for fastening things together, as
parts of dress or harness, by means of a strap passing through the
frame and pierced by the tongue.
2. A distortion bulge, bend, or kink, as in a saw blade or a plate of
sheet metal. Knight.
3. A curl of hair, esp. a kind of crisp curl formerly worn; also, the
state of being curled.
Earlocks in tight buckles on each side of a lantern face. W. Irving.
Lets his wig lie in buckle for a whole half year. Addison.
4. A contorted expression, as of the face. [R.]
'Gainst nature armed by gravity, His features too in buckle see.
Churchill.
BUCKLE
Buc"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buckled; p. pr. & vb. n. Buckling.]
Etym: [OE. boclen, F. boucler. See Buckle, n.]
1. To fasten or confine with a buckle or buckles; as, to buckle a
harness.
2. To bend; to cause to kink, or to become distorted.
3. To prepare for action; to apply with vigor and earnestness; --
generally used reflexively.
Cartwright buckled himself to the employment. Fuller.
4. To join in marriage. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
BUCKLE
Buc"kle, v. i.
1. To bend permanently; to become distorted; to bow; to curl; to
kink.
Buckled with the heat of the fire like parchment. Pepys.
2. To bend out of a true vertical plane, as a wall.
3. To yield; to give way; to cease opposing. [Obs.]
The Dutch, as high as they seem, do begin to buckle. Pepys.
4. To enter upon some labor or contest; to join in close fight; to
struggle; to contend.
The bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the Lord Protector as
he was with him. Latimer.
In single combat thou shalt buckle with me. Shak.
To buckle to, to bend to; to engage with zeal.
To make our sturdy humor buckle thereto. Barrow.
Before buckling to my winter's work. J. D. Forbes.
BUCKLER
Buc"kler, n. Etym: [OE. bocler, OF. bocler, F. bouclier, a shield
with a boss, from OF. bocle, boucle, boss. See Buckle, n.]
1. A kind of shield, of various shapes and sizes, worn on one of the
arms (usually the left) for protecting the front of the body.
Note: In the sword and buckler play of the Middle Ages in England,
the buckler was a small shield, used, not to cover the body, but to
stop or parry blows.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of the large, bony, external plates found on many ganoid
fishes.
(b) The anterior segment of the shell of trilobites.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A block of wood or plate of iron made to fit a hawse hole, or
the circular opening in a half-port, to prevent water from entering
when the vessel pitches. Blind buckler (Naut.), a solid buckler.
-- Buckler mustard (Bot.), a genus of plants (Biscutella) with small
bright yellow flowers. The seed vessel on bursting resembles two
bucklers or shields.
-- Buckler thorn, a plant with seed vessels shaped like a buckler.
See Christ's thorn.
-- Riding buckler (Naut.), a buckler with a hole for the passage of
a cable.
BUCKLER
Buc"kler, v. t.
Defn: To shield; to defend. [Obs.]
Can Oxford, that did ever fence the right, Now buckler falsehood with
a pedigree Shak.
BUCKLER-HEADED
Buc"kler-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head like a buckler.
BUCKLING
Buc"kling, a.
Defn: Wavy; curling, as hair. Latham.
BUCKRA
Buck"ra, n. Etym: [In the language of the Calabar coast, buckra means
"demon, a powerful and superior being." J.L.Wilson.]
Defn: A white man; -- a term used by negroes of the African coast,
West Indies, etc.
BUCKRA
Buck"ra, a.
Defn: White; white man's; strong; good; as, buckra yam, a white yam.
BUCKRAM
Buck"ram, n. Etym: [OE. bokeram, bougeren, OF. boqueran, F. bougran,
MHG. buckeram, LL. buchiranus, boquerannus, fr. MHG. boc, G. bock,
goat (as being made of goat's hair), or fr. F. bouracan, by
transposing the letter r. See Buck, Barracan.]
1. A coarse cloth of linen or hemp, stiffened with size or glue, used
in garments to keep them in the form intended, and for wrappers to
cover merchandise.
Note: Buckram was formerly a very different material from that now
known by the name. It was used for wearing apparel, etc. Beck
(Draper's Dict. ).
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant. See Ramson. Dr. Prior.
BUCKRAM
Buck"ram, a.
1. Made of buckram; as, a buckram suit.
2. Stiff; precise. "Buckram dames." Brooke.
BUCKRAM
Buck"ram, v. t.
Defn: To strengthen with buckram; to make stiff. Cowper.
BUCK'S-HORN
Buck's"-horn`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with leaves branched somewhat like a buck's horn
(Plantago Coronopus); also, Lobelia coronopifolia.
BUCKSHOT
Buck"shot`, n.
Defn: A coarse leaden shot, larger than swan shot, used in hunting
deer and large game.
BUCKSKIN
Buck"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a buck.
2. A soft strong leather, usually yellowish or grayish in color, made
of deerskin.
3. A person clothed in buckskin, particularly an American soldier of
the Revolutionary war.
Cornwallis fought as lang's he dought, An' did the buckskins claw,
man. Burns.
4. pl.
Defn: Breeches made of buckskin.
I have alluded to his buckskin. Thackeray.
BUCKSTALL
Buck"stall`, n.
Defn: A toil or net to take deer.
BUCKTHORN
Buck"thorn`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Rhamnus) of shrubs or trees. The shorter branches of
some species terminate in long spines or thorns. See Rhamnus. Sea
buckthorn, a plant of the genus Hippophaë.
BUCKTOOTH
Buck"tooth`, n.
Defn: Any tooth that juts out.
When he laughed, two white buckteeth protruded. Thackeray.
BUCKWHEAT
Buck"wheat`, n. Etym: [Buck a beech tree + wheat; akin to D.
boekweit, G. buchweizen.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Fagopyrum esculentum) of the Polygonum family, the
seed of which is used for food.
2. The triangular seed used, when ground, for griddle cakes, etc.
BUCOLIC
Bu*col"ic, a. Etym: [L. bucolicus, Gr. kal to drive: cf. F.
bucolique. See Cow the animal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the life and occupation of a shepherd;
pastoral; rustic.
BUCOLIC
Bu*col"ic, n. Etym: [L. Bucolicôn poëma.]
Defn: A pastoral poem, representing rural affairs, and the life,
manners, and occupation of shepherds; as, the Bucolics of Theocritus
and Virgil. Dryden.
BUCOLICAL
Bu*col"ic*al, a.
Defn: Bucolic.
BUCRANIUM
Bu*cra"ni*um, n.; pl. L. Bucrania. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A sculptured ornament, representing an ox skull adorned with
wreaths, etc.
BUD
Bud, n. Etym: [OE. budde; cf. D. bot, G. butze, butz, the core of a
fruit, bud, LG. butte in hagebutte, hainbutte, a hip of the dog-rose,
or OF. boton, F. bouton, bud, button, OF. boter to bud, push; all
akin to E. beat. See Button.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A small protuberance on the stem or branches of a plant,
containing the rudiments of future leaves, flowers, or stems; an
undeveloped branch or flower.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A small protuberance on certain low forms of animals and
vegetables which develops into a new organism, either free or
attached. See Hydra. Bud moth (Zoöl.), a lepidopterous insect of
several species, which destroys the buds of fruit trees; esp.
Tmetocera ocellana and Eccopsis malana on the apple tree.
BUD
Bud, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Budded; p. pr. & vb. n. Budding.]
1. To put forth or produce buds, as a plant; to grow, as a bud does,
into a flower or shoot.
2. To begin to grow, or to issue from a stock in the manner of a bud,
as a horn.
3. To be like a bud in respect to youth and freshness, or growth and
promise; as, a budding virgin. Shak.
Syn.
-- To sprout; germinate; blossom.
BUD
Bud, v. t.
Defn: To graft, as a plant with another or into another, by inserting
a bud from the one into an opening in the bark of the other, in order
to raise, upon the budded stock, fruit different from that which it
would naturally bear.
The apricot and the nectarine may be, and usually are, budded upon
the peach; the plum and the peach are budded on each other. Farm.
Dict.
BUDDHA
Bud"dha, n. Etym: [Skr. buddha wise, sage, fr. budh to know.]
Defn: The title of an incarnation of self-abnegation, virtue, and
wisdom, or a deified religious teacher of the Buddhists, esp. Gautama
Siddartha or Sakya Sinha (or Muni), the founder of Buddhism.
BUDDHISM
Bud"dhism, n.
Defn: The religion based upon the doctrine originally taught by the
Hindoo sage Gautama Siddartha, surnamed Buddha, "the awakened or
enlightened," in the sixth century b.c., and adopted as a religion by
the greater part of the inhabitants of Central and Eastern Asia and
the Indian Islands. Buddha's teaching is believed to have been
atheistic; yet it was characterized by elevated humanity and
morality. It presents release from existence (a beatific
enfranchisement, Nirvâna) as the greatest good. Buddhists believe in
transmigration of souls through all phases and forms of life. Their
number was estimated in 1881 at 470,000,000.
BUDDHIST
Bud"dhist, n.
Defn: One who accepts the teachings of Buddhism.
BUDDHIST
Bud"dhist, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Buddha, Buddhism, or the Buddhists.
BUDDHISTIC
Bud*dhis"tic, a.
Defn: Same as Buddhist, a.
BUDDING
Bud"ding, n.
1. The act or process of producing buds.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A process of asexual reproduction, in which a new organism or
cell is formed by a protrusion of a portion of the animal or
vegetable organism, the bud thus formed sometimes remaining attached
to the parent stalk or cell, at other times becoming free; gemmation.
See Hydroidea.
3. The act or process of ingrafting one kind of plant upon another
stock by inserting a bud under the bark.
BUDDLE
Bud"dle, n. Etym: [Prov. E., to cleanse ore, also a vessel for this
purpose; cf. G. butteln to shake.] (Mining)
Defn: An apparatus, especially an inclined trough or vat, in which
stamped ore is concentrated by subjecting it to the action of rynning
water so as to wash out the lighter and less valuable portions.
BUDDLE
Bud"dle, v. i. (Mining)
Defn: To wash ore in a buddle.
BUDE BURNER
Bude" burn`er. Etym: [See Bude light.]
Defn: A burner consisting of two or more concentric Argand burners
(the inner rising above the outer) and a central tube by which oxygen
gas or common air is supplied.
BUDE LIGHT
Bude" light`. Etym: [From Bude, in Cornwall, the residence of Sir
G.Gurney, the inventor.]
Defn: A light in which high illuminating power is obtained by
introducing a jet of oxygen gas or of common air into the center of a
flame fed with coal gas or with oil.
BUDGE
Budge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Budged; p. pr. & vb. n. Budging.] Etym:
[F. bouger to stir, move (akin to Pr. bojar, bolegar, to stir, move,
It. bulicare to boil, bubble), fr. L. bullire. See Boil, v. i.]
Defn: To move off; to stir; to walk away.
I'll not budge an inch, boy. Shak.
The mouse ne'er shunned the cat as they did budge From rascals worse
than they. Shak.
BUDGE
Budge, a. Etym: [See Budge, v.]
Defn: Brisk; stirring; jocund. [Obs.] South.
BUDGE
Budge, n. Etym: [OE. bouge bag, OF. boge, bouge, fr. L. bulga a
leathern bag or knapsack; a Gallic word; cf. OIr. bolc, Gael. bolg.
Cf. Budge, n.]
Defn: A kind of fur prepared from lambskin dressed with the wool on;
-- used formerly as an edging and ornament, esp. of scholastic
habits.
BUDGE
Budge, a.
1. Lined with budge; hence, scholastic. "Budge gowns." Milton.
2. Austere or stiff, like scholastics.
Those budge doctors of the stoic fur. Milton.
Budge bachelor, one of a company of men clothed in long gowns lined
with budge, who formerly accompanied the lord mayor of London in his
inaugural procession.
-- Budge barrel (Mil.), a small copper-hooped barrel with only one
head, the other end being closed by a piece of leather, which is
drawn together with strings like a purse. It is used for carrying
powder from the magazine to the battery, in siege or seacoast
service.
BUDGENESS
Budge"ness, n.
Defn: Sternness; severity. [Obs.]
A Sara for goodness, a great Bellona for budgeness. Stanyhurst.
BUDGER
Budg"er, n.
Defn: One who budges. Shak.
BUDGEROW
budg"e*row, n. Etym: [Hindi bajra.]
Defn: A large and commodious, but generally cumbrous and sluggish
boat, used for journeys on the Ganges.
BUDGET
Budg"et, n. Etym: [OE. bogett, bouget, F. bougette bag, wallet, dim.
of OF. boge, bouge, leather bag. See Budge, n., and cf. Bouget.]
1. A bag or sack with its contents; hence, a stock or store; an
accumulation; as, a budget of inventions.
2. The annual financial statement which the British chancellor of the
exchequer makes in the House of Commons. It comprehends a general
view of the finances of the country, with the proposed plan of
taxation for the ensuing year. The term is sometimes applied to a
similar statement in other countries. To open the budget, to lay
before a legislative body the financial estimates and plans of the
executive government.
BUDGY
Budg"y, a. Etym: [From Budge, n.]
Defn: Consisting of fur. [Obs.]
BUDLET
Bud"let, n. Etym: [Bud + -let.]
Defn: A little bud springing from a parent bud.
We have a criterion to distinguish one bud from another, or the
parent bud from the numerous budlets which are its offspring. E.
Darwin.
BUFF
Buff, n. Etym: [OE. buff, buffe, buff, buffalo, F. buffle buffalo.
See Buffalo.]
1. A sort of leather, prepared from the skin of the buffalo, dressed
with oil, like chamois; also, the skins of oxen, elks, and other
animals, dressed in like manner. "A suit of buff." Shak.
2. The color to buff; a light yellow, shading toward pink, gray, or
brown.
A visage rough, Deformed, unfeatured, and a skin of buff. Dryden.
3. A military coat, made of buff leather. Shak.
4. (Med.)
Defn: The grayish viscid substance constituting the buffy coat. See
Buffy coat, under Buffy, a.
5. (Mech.)
Defn: A wheel covered with buff leather, and used in polishing
cutlery, spoons, etc.
6. The bare skin; as, to strip to the buff. [Colloq.]
To be in buff is equivalent to being naked. Wright.
BUFF
Buff, a.
1. Made of buff leather. Goldsmith.
2. Of the color of buff. Buff coat, a close, military outer garment,
with short sleeves, and laced tightly over the chest, made of buffalo
skin, or other thick and elastic material, worn by soldiers in the
17th century as a defensive covering.
-- Buff jerkin, originally, a leather waistcoat; afterward, one of
cloth of a buff color. [Obs.] Nares.
-- Buff stick (Mech.), a strip of wood covered with buff leather,
used in polishing.
BUFF
Buff, v. t.
Defn: To polish with a buff. See Buff, n., 5.
BUFF
Buff, v. t. Etym: [OF. bufer to cuff, buffet. See Buffet a blow.]
Defn: To strike. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
BUFF
Buff, n. Etym: [See Buffet.]
Defn: A buffet; a blow; -- obsolete except in the phrase "Blindman's
buff."
Nathless so sore a buff to him it lent That made him reel. Spenser.
BUFF
Buff, a. Etym: [Of uncertain etymol.]
Defn: Firm; sturdy.
And for the good old cause stood buff, 'Gainst many a bitter kick and
cuff. Hudibras.
BUFFA
Buf"fa, n. fem. (Mus.) Etym: [It. See Buffoon.]
Defn: The comic actress in an opera.
-- a.
Defn: Comic, farcical. Aria buffa, a droll or comic air.
-- Opera buffa, a comic opera. See Opera bouffe.
BUFFALO
Buf"fa*lo, n.; pl. Buffaloes (. Etym: [Sp. bufalo (cf. It. bufalo, F.
buffle), fr. L. bubalus, bufalus, a kind of African stag or gazelle;
also, the buffalo or wild ox, fr. Gr. Cow the animal, and cf. Buff
the color, and Bubale.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of the genus Bos or Bubalus (B. bubalus), originally
from India, but now found in most of the warmer countries of the
eastern continent. It is larger and less docile than the common ox,
and is fond of marshy places and rivers.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large and savage species of the same genus (B. Caffer)
found in South Africa; -- called also Cape buffalo.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of wild ox.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bison of North America.
5. A buffalo robe. See Buffalo robe, below.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The buffalo fish. See Buffalo fish, below. Buffalo berry
(Bot.), a shrub of the Upper Missouri (Sherherdia argentea) with acid
edible red berries.
-- Buffalo bird (Zoöl.), an African bird of the genus Buphaga, of
two species. These birds perch upon buffaloes and cattle, in search
of parasites.
-- Buffalo bug, the carpet beetle. See under Carpet.
-- Buffalo chips, dry dung of the buffalo, or bison, used for fuel.
[U.S.] -- Buffalo clover (Bot.), a kind of clover (Trifolium reflexum
and T.soloniferum) found in the ancient grazing grounds of the
American bison.
-- Buffalo cod (Zoöl.), a large, edible, marine fish (Ophiodon
elongatus) of the northern Pacific coast; -- called also blue cod,
and cultus cod.
-- Buffalo fish (Zoöl.), one of several large fresh-water fishes of
the family Catostomidæ, of the Mississippi valley. The red-mouthed or
brown (Ictiobus bubalus), the big-mouthed or black (Bubalichthys
urus), and the small-mouthed (B. altus), are among the more important
species used as food.
-- Buffalo fly, or Buffalo gnat (Zoöl.), a small dipterous insect of
the genus Simulium, allied to the black fly of the North. It is often
extremely abundant in the lower part of the Mississippi valley and
does great injury to domestic animals, often killing large numbers of
cattle and horses. In Europe the Columbatz fly is a species with
similar habits.
-- Buffalo grass (Bot.), a species of short, sweet grass (Buchloë
dactyloides), from two to four inches high, covering the prairies on
which the buffaloes, or bisons, feed. [U.S.] -- Buffalo nut (Bot.),
the oily and drupelike fruit of an American shrub (Pyrularia
oleifera); also, the shrub itself; oilnut.
-- Buffalo robe, the skin of the bison of North America, prepared
with the hair on; -- much used as a lap robe in sleighs.
BUFFEL DUCK
Buf"fel duck. Etym: [See Buffalo.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small duck (Charitonetta albeola); the spirit duck, or
butterball. The head of the male is covered with numerous elongated
feathers, and thus appears large. Called also bufflehead.
BUFFER
Buff"er, n. Etym: [Prop a striker. See Buffet a blow.]
1. (Mech.)
(a) An elastic apparatus or fender, for deadening the jar caused by
the collision of bodies; as, a buffer at the end of a railroad car.
(b) A pad or cushion forming the end of a fender, which recieves the
blow; -- sometimes called buffing apparatus.
2. One who polishes with a buff.
3. A wheel for buffing; a buff.
4. A good-humored, slow-witted fellow; -- usually said of an elderly
man. [Colloq.] Dickens.
BUFFERHEAD
Buff"er*head`, n.
Defn: The head of a buffer, which recieves the concussion, in
railroad carriages.
BUFFET
Buf*fet", n. Etym: [F. buffet, LL. bufetum; of uncertain origin;
perh. fr. the same source as E. buffet a blow, the root meaning to
puff, hence (cf. puffed up) the idea of ostentation or display.]
1. A cupboard or set of shelves, either movable or fixed at one side
of a room, for the display of plate, china, etc., a sideboard.
Not when a gilt buffet's reflected pride Turns you from sound
philosophy aside. Pope.
2. A counter for refreshments; a restaurant at a railroad station, or
place of public gathering.
BUFFET
Buf"fet, n. Etym: [OE. buffet, boffet, OF. buffet a slap in the face,
a pair of bellows, fr. buffe blow, cf. F. bouffer to blow, puff;
prob. akin to E. puff. For the meaning slap, blow, cf. F. soufflet a
slap, souffler to blow. See Puff, v. i., and cf. Buffet sidebroad,
Buffoon]
1. A blow with the hand; a slap on the face; a cuff.
When on his cheek a buffet fell. Sir W. Scott.
2. A blow from any source, or that which affects like a blow, as the
violence of winds or waves; a stroke; an adverse action; an
affliction; a trial; adversity.
Those planks of tough and hardy oak that used for yeas to brave the
buffets of the Bay of Biscay. Burke.
Fortune's buffets and rewards. Shak.
3. A small stool; a stool for a buffet or counter.
Go fetch us a light buffet. Townely Myst.
BUFFET
Buf"fet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buffeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Buffeting.]
Etym: [OE. buffeten, OF. buffeter. See the preceding noun.]
1. To strike with the hand or fist; to box; to beat; to cuff; to
slap.
They spit in his face and buffeted him. Matt. xxvi. 67.
2. To affect as with blows; to strike repeatedly; to strive with or
contend against; as, to buffet the billows.
The sudden hurricane in thunder roars, Buffets the bark, and whirls
it from the shores. Broome.
You are lucky fellows who can live in a dreamland of your own,
instead of being buffeted about the world. W. Black.
3. Etym: [Cf. Buffer.]
Defn: To deaden the sound of (bells) by muffling the clapper.
BUFFET
Buf"fet, v. i.
1. To exercise or play at boxing; to strike; to smite; to strive; to
contend.
If I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favors, I
could lay on like a butcher. Shak.
2. To make one's way by blows or struggling.
Strove to buffet to land in vain. Tennyson.
BUFFETER
Buf"fet*er, n.
Defn: One who buffets; a boxer. Jonson.
BUFFETING
Buf"fet*ing, n.
1. A striking with the hand.
2. A succession of blows; continued violence, as of winds or waves;
afflictions; adversity.
He seems to have been a plant of slow growth, but . . . fitted to
endure the buffeting on the rudest storm. Wirt.
BUFFIN
Buf"fin, n. Etym: [So called from resembling buff
Defn: A sort of coarse stuff; as, buffin gowns. [Obs.]
BUFFING APPARATUS
Buff"ing ap`pa*ra"tus.
Defn: See Buffer, 1.
BUFFLE
Buf"fle, n. Etym: [OE., from F. buffle. See Buffalo.]
Defn: The buffalo. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
BUFFLE
Buf"fle, v. i.
Defn: To puzzle; to be at a loss. [Obs.] Swift.
BUFFLEHEAD
Buf"fle*head`, n. Etym: [Buffle + head.]
1. One who has a large head; a heavy, stupid fellow. [Obs.]
What makes you stare so, bufflehead Plautus (trans. 1694).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The buffel duck. See Buffel duck.
BUFFLE-HEADED
Buf"fle-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a large head, like a buffalo; dull; stupid; blundering.
[Obs.]
So fell this buffle-headed giant. Gayton.
BUFFO
Buf"fo, n.masc. Etym: [It. See Buffoon.] (Mus.)
Defn: The comic actor in an opera.
BUFFOON
Buf*foon", n. Etym: [F. bouffon (cf. It. buffone, buffo, buffa, puff
of wind, vanity, nonsense, trick), fr. bouffer to puff out, because
the buffoons puffed out their cheeks for the amusement of the
spectators. See Buffet a blow.]
Defn: A man who makes a practice of amusing others by low tricks,
antic gestures, etc.; a droll; a mimic; a harlequin; a clown; a
merry-andrew.
BUFFOON
Buf*foon", a.
Defn: Characteristic of, or like, a buffoon. "Buffoon stories."
Macaulay.
To divert the audience with buffoon postures and antic dances.
Melmoth.
BUFFOON
Buf*foon", v. i.
Defn: To act the part of a buffoon. [R.]
BUFFOON
Buf*foon", v. t.
Defn: To treat with buffoonery. Glanvill.
BUFFOONERY
Buf*foon"er*y, n.; pl. Buffooneries. Etym: [F. bouffonnerie.]
Defn: The arts and practices of a buffoon, as low jests, ridiculous
pranks, vulgar tricks and postures.
Nor that it will ever constitute a wit to conclude a tart piece of
buffoonery with a "What makes you blush" Spectator.
BUFFOONISH
Buf*foon"ish, a.
Defn: Like a buffoon; consisting in low jests or gestures. Blair.
BUFFOONISM
Buf*foon"ism, n.
Defn: The practices of a buffoon; buffoonery.
BUFFOONLY
Buf*foon"ly, a.
Defn: Low; vulgar. [R.]
Apish tricks and buffoonly discourse. Goodman.
BUFFY
Buff"y, a. (Med.)
Defn: Resembling, or characterized by, buff. Buffy coat, the
coagulated plasma of blood when the red corpuscles have so settled
out that the coagulum appears nearly colorless. This is common in
diseased conditions where the corpuscles run together more rapidly
and in denser masses than usual. Huxley.
BUFO
Bu"fo, n. Etym: [L. bufo a toad.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Amphibia including various species of toads.
BUFONITE
Bu"fon*ite, n. Etym: [L. bufo toad: cf. F. bufonite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: An old name for a fossil consisting of the petrified teeth and
palatal bones of fishes belonging to the family of Pycnodonts (thick
teeth), whose remains occur in the oölite and chalk formations;
toadstone; -- so named from a notion that it was originally formed in
the head of a toad.
BUG
Bug, n. Etym: [OE. bugge, fr. W. bwg, bwgan, hobgoblin, scarecrow,
bugbear. Cf. Bogey, Boggle.]
1. A bugbear; anything which terrifies. [Obs.]
Sir, spare your threats: The bug which you would fright me with I
seek. Shak.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A general name applied to various insects belonging to the
Hemiptera; as, the squash bug; the chinch bug, etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the genus Cimex, especially the bedbug (C.
lectularius). See Bedbug.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of various species of Coleoptera; as, the ladybug; potato
bug, etc.; loosely, any beetle.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of certain kinds of Crustacea; as, the sow bug; pill bug;
bait bug; salve bug, etc.
Note: According to present popular usage in England, and among
housekeepers in America, bug, when not joined with some qualifying
word, is used specifically for bedbug. As a general term it is used
very loosely in America, and was formerly used still more loosely in
England. "God's rare workmanship in the ant, the poorest bug that
creeps." Rogers (Naaman). "This bug with gilded wings." Pope. Bait
bug. See under Bait.
-- Bug word, swaggering or threatening language. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
BUGABOO; BUGBEAR
Bug`a*boo", Bug"bear`, n. Etym: [See Bug.]
Defn: Something frightful, as a specter; anything imaginary that
causes needless fright; something used to excite needless fear; also,
something really dangerous, used to frighten children, etc. "Bugaboos
to fright ye." Lloyd.
But, to the world no bugbear is so great As want of figure and a
small estate. Pope.
The bugaboo of the liberals is the church pray. S. B. Griffin.
The great bugaboo of the birds is the owl. J. Burroughs.
Syn.
-- Hobgoblin; goblin; specter; ogre; scarecrow.
BUGBANE
Bug"bane`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial white-flowered herb of the order Ranunculaceæ and
genus Cimiciguga; bugwort. There are several species.
BUGBEAR
Bug"bear`, n.
Defn: Same as Bugaboo.
-- a.
Defn: Causing needless fright. Locke.
BUGBEAR
Bug"bear`, v. t.
Defn: To alarm with idle phantoms.
BUGFISH
Bug"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaden. [U.S.]
BUGGER
Bug"ger, n. Etym: [F. bougre, fr. LL. Bulgarus, a Bulgarian, and also
a heretic; because the inhabitants of Bulgaria were infected with
heresy. Those guilty of the crime of buggery were called heretics,
because in the eyes of their adversaries there was nothing more
heinous than heresy, and it was therefore thought that the origin of
such a vice could only be owing to heretics.]
1. One guilty of buggery or unnatural vice; a sodomite.
2. A wretch; -- sometimes used humorously or in playful
disparagement. [Low]
BUGGERY
Bug"ger*y, n. Etym: [OF. bougrerie, bogrerie, heresy. See Bugger.]
Defn: Unnatural sexual intercourse; sodomy.
BUGGINESS
Bug"gi*ness, n. Etym: [From Buggy, a.]
Defn: The state of being infested with bugs.
BUGGY
Bug"gy, a. Etym: [From Bug.]
Defn: Infested or abounding with bugs.
BUGGY
Bug"gy, n.; pl. Buggies.
1. A light one horse two-wheeled vehicle. [Eng.]
Villebeck prevailed upon Flora to drive with him to the race in a
buggy. Beaconsfield.
2. A light, four-wheeled vehicle, usually with one seat, and with or
without a calash top. [U.S.] Buggy cultivator, a cultivator with a
seat for the driver.
-- Buggy plow, a plow, or set of plows, having a seat for the
driver; -- called also sulky plow.
BUGLE
Bu"gle, n. Etym: [OE. bugle buffalo, buffalo's horn, OF. bugle, fr.
L. buculus a young bullock, steer, dim. of bos ox. See Cow the
animal.]
Defn: A sort of wild ox; a buffalo. E. Phillips.
BUGLE
Bu"gle, n. Etym: [See Bugle a wild ox.]
1. A horn used by hunters.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A copper instrument of the horn quality of tone, shorter and
more conical that the trumpet, sometimes keyed; formerly much used in
military bands, very rarely in the orchestra; now superseded by the
cornet; -- called also the Kent bugle.
BUGLE
Bu"gle, n. Etym: [LL. bugulus a woman's ornament: cf. G. bügel a bent
piece of metal or wood, fr. the same root as G. biegen to bend, E.
bow to bend.]
Defn: An elingated glass bead, of various colors, though commonly
black.
BUGLE
Bu"gle, a. Etym: [From Bugle a bead.]
Defn: Jet black. "Bugle eyeballs." Shak.
BUGLE
Bu"gle, n. Etym: [F. bugle; cf. It. bugola, L. bugillo.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Ajuga of the Mint family, a native of the
Old World. Yellow bugle, the Ajuga chamæpitys.
BUGLED
Bu"gled, a.
Defn: Ornamented with bugles.
BUGLE HORN
Bu"gle horn`.
1. A bugle.
One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men. Sir W.
Scott.
2. A drinking vessel made of horn. [Obs.]
And drinketh of his bugle horn the wine. Chaucer.
BUGLER
Bu"gler, n.
Defn: One who plays on a bugle.
BUGLEWEED
Bu"gle*weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Mint family and genus Lycopus; esp. L.
Virginicus, which has mild narcotic and astringent properties, and is
sometimes used as a remedy for hemorrhage.
BUGLOSS
Bu"gloss, n.; pl. Buglosses. Etym: [F. buglosse, L. buglossa,
buglossus, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Anchusa, and especially the A.
officinalis, sometimes called alkanet; oxtongue. Small wild bugloss,
the Asperugo procumbens and the Lycopsis arvensis.
-- Viper's bugloss, a species of Echium.
BUGWORT
Bug"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Bugbane.
BUHL; BUHLWORK
Buhl, Buhl"work, n. Etym: [From A.Ch.Boule, a French carver in wood.]
Defn: Decorative woodwork in which tortoise shell, yellow metal,
white metal, etc., are inlaid, forming scrolls, cartouches, etc.
[Written also boule, boulework.]
BUHLBUHL
Buhl"buhl, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bulbul.
BUHRSTONE
Buhr"stone`, n. Etym: [OE. bur a whetstone for scythes.] (Min.)
Defn: A cellular, flinty rock, used for mill stones. [Written also
burrstone.]
BUILD
Build, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Built; p. pr. & vb. n. Building. The
regular imp. & p. p. Builded is antiquated.] Etym: [OE. bulden,
bilden, AS. byldan to build, fr. bold house; cf. Icel. bol farm,
abode, Dan. bol small farm, OSw. bol, böle, house, dwelling, fr. root
of Icel. b to dwell; akin to E. be, bower, boor. sq. root97.]
1. To erect or construct, as an edifice or fabric of any kind; to
form by uniting materials into a regular structure; to fabricate; to
make; to raise.
Nor aught availed him now To have built in heaven high towers.
Milton.
2. To raise or place on a foundation; to form, establish, or produce
by using appropriate means.
Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks. Shak.
3. To increase and strengthen; to increase the power and stability
of; to settle, or establish, and preserve; -- frequently with up; as,
to build up one's constitution.
I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up. Acts xx. 32.
Syn.
-- To erect; construct; raise; found; frame.
BUILD
Build, v. i.
1. To exercise the art, or practice the business, of building.
2. To rest or depend, as on a foundation; to ground one's self or
one's hopes or opinions upon something deemed reliable; to rely; as,
to build on the opinions or advice of others.
BUILD
Build, n.
Defn: Form or mode of construction; general figure; make; as, the
build of a ship.
BUILDER
Build"er, n.
Defn: One who builds; one whose occupation is to build, as a
carpenter, a shipwright, or a mason.
In the practice of civil architecture, the builder comes between the
architect who designs the work and the artisans who execute it. Eng.
Cyc.
BUILDING
Build"ing, n.
1. The act of constructing, erecting, or establishing.
Hence it is that the building of our Sion rises no faster. Bp. Hall.
2. The art of constructing edifices, or the practice of civil
architecture.
The execution of works of architecture necessarily includes building;
but building is frequently employed when the result is not
architectural. Hosking.
3. That which is built; a fabric or edifice constructed, as a house,
a church, etc.
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire Have cost a mass of
public treasury. Shak.
BUILT
Built, n.
Defn: Shape; build; form of structure; as, the built of a ship.
[Obs.] Dryden.
BUILT
Built, a.
Defn: Formed; shaped; constructed; made; -- often used in composition
and preceded by the word denoting the form; as, frigate-built,
clipper-built, etc.
Like the generality of Genoese countrywomen, strongly built. Landor.
BUKE MUSLIN
Buke" mus"lin.
Defn: See Book muslin.
BUKSHISH
Buk"shish, n.
Defn: See Backsheesh.
BULAU
Bu"lau, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian insectivorous mammal (Gymnura Rafflesii),
somewhat like a rat in appearance, but allied to the hedgehog.
BULB
Bulb, n. Etym: [L. bulbus, Gr. bulbe.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A spheroidal body growing from a plant either above or below
the ground (usually below), which is strictly a bud, consisting of a
cluster of partially developed leaves, and producing, as it grows, a
stem above, and roots below, as in the onion, tulip, etc. It differs
from a corm in not being solid.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A name given to some parts that resemble in shape certain
bulbous roots; as, the bulb of the aorta. Bulb of the eye, the
eyeball.
-- Bulb of a hair, the "root," or part whence the hair originates.
-- Bulb of the spinal cord, the medulla oblongata, often called
simply bulb.
-- Bulb of a tooth, the vascular and nervous papilla contained in
the cavity of the tooth.
3. An expansion or protuberance on a stem or tube, as the bulb of a
thermometer, which may be of any form, as spherical, cylindrical,
curved, etc. Tomlinson.
BULB
Bulb, v. i.
Defn: To take the shape of a bulb; to swell.
BULBACEOUS
Bul*ba"ceous, a. Etym: [L. bulbaceus. See Bulb, n.]
Defn: Bulbous. Jonson.
BULBAR
Bulb"ar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to bulb; especially, in medicine, pertaining
to the bulb of the spinal cord, or medulla oblongata; as, bulbar
paralysis.
BULBED
Bulbed, a.
Defn: Having a bulb; round-headed.
BULBEL
Bulb"el, n. Etym: [Dim., fr. bulb, n.] (Bot.)
Defn: A separable bulb formed on some flowering plants.
BULBIFEROUS
Bul*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Bulb,n.+ -ferous: cf. F. bulbifère.] (Bot.)
Defn: Producing bulbs.
BULBIL
Bulb"il, n. [Dim. fr. bulb.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A small or secondary bulb; hence, now almost exclusively: An
aërial bulb or deciduous bud, produced in the leaf axils, as in the
tiger lily, or relpacing the flowers, as in some onions, and capable,
when separated, of propagating the plant; -- called also bulblet and
brood bud.
2. (Anat.) A small hollow bulb, such as an enlargement in a small
vessel or tube.
BULBLET
Bulb"let, n. Etym: [Bulb,n.+ -let.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small bulb, either produced on a larger bulb, or on some
aërial part of a plant, as in the axils of leaves in the tiger lily,
or replacing the flowers in some kinds of onion.
BULBOSE
Bul*bose", a.
Defn: Bulbous.
BULBO-TUBER
Bul"bo-tu`ber, n. Etym: [Bulb,n.+ tuber.] (Bot.)
Defn: A corm.
BULBOUS
Bulb"ous, a. Etym: [L. bulbosus: cf. F. bulbeux. See Bulb, n.]
Defn: Having or containing bulbs, or a bulb; growing from bulbs;
bulblike in shape or structure.
BULBUL
Bul"bul, n. Etym: [Per.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Persian nightingale (Pycnonotus jocosus). The name is also
applied to several other Asiatic singing birds, of the family
Timaliidæ. The green bulbuls belong to the Chloropsis and allied
genera. [Written also buhlbuhl.]
BULBULE
Bul"bule, n. Etym: [L. bulbulus, dim. of bulbus. See Bulb, n.]
Defn: A small bulb; a bulblet.
BULCHIN
Bul"chin, n. Etym: [Dim. of bull.]
Defn: A little bull.
BULGE
Bulge, n. Etym: [OE. bulge a swelling; cf. AS. belgan to swell, OSw.
bulgja, Icel. bolginn swollen, OHG. belgan to swell, G. bulge
leathern sack, Skr. b to be large, strong; the root meaning to swell.
Cf. Bilge, Belly, Billow, Bouge, n.]
1. The bilge or protuberant part of a cask.
2. A swelling, protuberant part; a bending outward, esp. when caused
by pressure; as, a bulge in a wall.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The bilge of a vessel. See Bilge, 2. Bulge ways. (Naut.) See
Bilge ways.
BULGE
Bulge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bulged (; p. pr. & vb.n. Bulging.]
1. To swell or jut out; to bend outward, as a wall when it yields to
pressure; to be protuberant; as, the wall bulges.
2. To bilge, as a ship; to founder.
And scattered navies bulge on distant shores. Broome.
BULGER
Bul"ger, n. [From Bulge.] (Golf)
Defn: A driver or a brassy with a convex face.
BULGY
Bul"gy, a.
Defn: Bulged; bulging; bending, or tending to bend, outward.
[Colloq.]
BULIMIA; BULIMY
Bu*lim"i*a, Bu"li*my, n. Etym: [NL. bulimia, fr. Gr. boulimie.]
(Med.)
Defn: A disease in which there is a perpetual and insatiable appetite
for food; a diseased and voracious appetite.
BULIMUS
Bu*li"mus, n. Etym: [L. bulimus hunger. See Bulimy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of land snails having an elongated spiral shell, often
of large size. The species are numerous ingabundant in tropical
America.
BULK
Bulk, n. Etym: [OE. bulke, bolke, heap; cf. Dan. bulk lump, clod,
OSw. bolk crowd, mass, Icel. b to be bulky. Cf. Boll, n., Bile a
boil, Bulge, n.]
1. Magnitude of material substance; dimensions; mass; size; as, an ox
or ship of great bulk.
Against these forces there were prepared near one hundred ships; not
so great of bulk indeed, but of a more nimble motion, and more
serviceable. Bacon.
2. The main mass or body; the largest or principal portion; the
majority; as, the bulk of a debt.
The bulk of the people must labor, Burke told them, "to obtain what
by labor can be obtained." J. Morley.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: The cargo of a vessel when stowed.
4. The body. [Obs.] Shak.
My liver leaped within my bulk. Turbervile.
Barrel bulk. See under Barrel.
-- To break bulk (Naut.), to begin to unload or more the cargo.
-- In bulk, in a mass; loose; not inclosed in separate packages or
divided into separate parts; in such shape that any desired quantity
may be taken or sold.
-- Laden in bulk, Stowed in bulk, having the cargo loose in the hold
or not inclosed in boxes, bales, or casks.
-- Sale by bulk, a sale of goods as they are, without weight or
measure.
Syn.
-- Size; magnitude; dimension; volume; bigness; largeness;
massiveness.
BULK
Bulk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bulked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bulking.]
Defn: To appear or seem to be, as to bulk or extent; to swell.
The fame of Warburton possibly bulked larger for the moment. Leslie
Stephen.
BULK
Bulk, n. Etym: [Icel. balkr a beam, partition. Cf. Balk, n. & v.]
Defn: A projecting part of a building. [Obs.]
Here, stand behind this bulk. Shak.
BULKER
Bulk"er, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A person employed to ascertain the bulk or size of goods, in
order to fix the amount of freight or dues payable on them.
BULKHEAD
Bulk"head`, n. Etym: [See Bulk part of a building.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A partition in a vessel, to separate apartments on the same
deck.
2. A structure of wood or stone, to resist the pressure of earth or
water; a partition wall or structure, as in a mine; the limiting wall
along a water front. Bulked line, a line beyond which a wharf must
not project; -- usually, the harbor line.
BULKINESS
Bulk"i*ness, n.
Defn: Greatness in bulk; size.
BULKY
Bulk"y, a.
Defn: Of great bulk or dimensions; of great size; large; thick;
massive; as, bulky volumes.
A bulky digest of the revenue laws. Hawthorne.
BULL
Bull, n. Etym: [OE. bule, bul, bole; akin to D. bul, G. bulle, Icel.
boli, Lith. bullus, Lett. bollis, Russ. vol'; prob. fr. the root of
AS. bellan, E. bellow.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of any species of cattle (Bovidæ); hence, the male of
any large quadruped, as the elephant; also, the male of the whale.
Note: The wild bull of the Old Testament is thought to be the oryx, a
large species of antelope.
2. One who, or that which, resembles a bull in character or action.
Ps. xxii. 12.
3. (Astron.)
(a) Taurus, the second of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
(b) A constellation of the zodiac between Aries and Gemini. It
contains the Pleiades.
At last from Aries rolls the bounteous sun, And the bright Bull
receives him. Thomson.
4. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: One who operates in expectation of a rise in the price of
stocks, or in order to effect such a rise. See 4th Bear, n., 5. Bull
baiting, the practice of baiting bulls, or rendering them furious, as
by setting dogs to attack them.
-- John Bull, a humorous name for the English, collectively; also,
an Englishman. "Good-looking young John Bull." W. D.Howells.
-- To take the bull by the horns, to grapple with a difficulty
instead of avoiding it.
BULL
Bull, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bull; resembling a bull; male; large;
fierce. Bull bat (Zoöl.), the night hawk; -- so called from the loud
noise it makes while feeding on the wing, in the evening.
-- Bull calf. (a) A stupid fellow.
-- Bull mackerel (Zoöl.), the chub mackerel.
-- Bull pump (Mining), a direct single-acting pumping engine, in
which the steam cylinder is placed above the pump.
-- Bull snake (Zoöl.), the pine snake of the United States.
-- Bull stag, a castrated bull. See Stag.
-- Bull wheel, a wheel, or drum, on which a rope is wound for
lifting heavy articles, as logs, the tools in well boring, etc.
BULL
Bull, v. i.
Defn: To be in heat; to manifest sexual desire as cows do. [Colloq.]
BULL
Bull, v. t. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: To endeavor to raise the market price of; as, to bull railroad
bonds; to bull stocks; to bull Lake Shore; to endeavor to raise
prices in; as, to bull the market. See 1st Bull, n., 4.
BULL
Bull, n. Etym: [OE. bulle, fr. L. bulla bubble, stud, knob, LL., a
seal or stamp: cf. F. bulle. Cf. Bull a writing, Bowl a ball, Boil,
v. i.]
1. A seal. See Bulla.
2. A letter, edict, or respect, of the pope, written in Gothic
characters on rough parchment, sealed with a bulla, and dated "a die
Incarnationis," i. e., "from the day of the Incarnation." See
Apostolical brief, under Brief.
A fresh bull of Leo's had declared how inflexible the court of Rome
was in the point of abuses. Atterbury.
3. A grotesque blunder in language; an apparent congruity, but real
incongruity, of ideas, contained in a form of expression; so called,
perhaps, from the apparent incongruity between the dictatorial nature
of the pope's bulls and his professions of humility.
And whereas the papist boasts himself to be a Roman Catholic, it is a
mere contradiction, one of the pope's bulls, as if he should say
universal particular; a Catholic schimatic. Milton.
The Golden Bull, an edict or imperial constitution made by the
emperor Charles IV. (1356), containing what became the fundamental
law of the German empire; -- so called from its golden seal.
Syn.
-- See Blunder.
BULLA
Bul"la, n.; pl. Bullæ (. Etym: [L. bulla bubble. See Bull an edict.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A bleb; a vesicle, or an elevation of the cuticle, containing a
transparent watery fluid.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The ovoid prominence below the opening of the ear in the skulls
of many animals; as, the tympanic or auditory bulla.
3. A leaden seal for a document; esp. the round leaden seal attached
to the papal bulls, which has on one side a representation of St.
Peter and St. Paul, and on the other the name of the pope who uses
it.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine shells. See Bubble shell.
BULLACE
Bul"lace, n. Etym: [OE. bolas, bolace, OF. beloce; of Celtic origin;
cf. Arm. bolos, polos, Gael. bulaistear.] (Bot.)
(a) A small European plum (Prunus communis, var. insitita). See Plum.
(b) The bully tree.
BULLANTIC
Bul*lan"tic, a. Etym: [See Bull an edict.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or used in, papal bulls. Fry. Bullantic letters,
Gothic letters used in papal bulls.
BULLARY
Bul"la*ry, n. Etym: [LL. bullarium: cf. F. bullairie. See Bull an
edict.]
Defn: A collection of papal bulls.
BULLARY
Bul"la*ry, n.; pl. Bullaries. Etym: [Cf. Boilary.]
Defn: A place for boiling or preparating salt; a boilery. Crabb.
And certain salt fats or bullaries. Bills in Chancery.
BULLATE
Bul"late, a. Etym: [L. bullatus, fr. bulla bubble.] (Biol.)
Defn: Appearing as if blistered; inflated; puckered. Bullate leaf
(Bot.), a leaf, the membranous part of which rises between the veins
puckered elevations convex on one side and concave on the other.
BULLBEGGAR
Bull"beg`gar, n.
Defn: Something used or suggested to produce terror, as in children
or persons of weak mind; a bugbear.
And being an ill-looked fellow, he has a pension from the church
wardens for being bullbeggar to all the forward children in the
parish. Mountfort (1691).
BULL BRIER
Bull" bri`er. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Smilax (S. Pseudo-China) growing from New Jersey
to the Gulf of Mexico, which has very large tuberous and farinaceous
rootstocks, formerly used by the Indians for a sort of bread, and by
the negroes as an ingredient in making beer; -- called also bamboo
brier and China brier.
BULLCOMBER
Bull"comb*er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A scaraboid beetle; esp. the Typhæus vulgaris of Europe.
BULLDOG
Bull"dog`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A variety of dog, of remarkable ferocity, courage, and tenacity
of grip; -- so named, probably, from being formerly employed in
baiting bulls.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: A refractory material used as a furnace lining, obtained by
calcining the cinder or slag from the puddling furnace of a rolling
mill.
BULLDOG
Bull"dog`, a.
Defn: Characteristic of, or like, a bulldog; stubborn; as, bulldog
courage; bulldog tenacity. Bulldog bat (zo'94l.), a bat of the genus
Nyctinomus; -- so called from the shape of its face.
BULLDOZE
Bull"doze`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bulldozed; p. pr. & vb.n.
Bulldozing.]
Defn: To intimidate; to restrain or coerce by intimidation or
violence; -- used originally of the intimidation of negro voters, in
Louisiana. [Slang, U.S.]
BULLDOZER
Bull"do`zer, n.
Defn: One who bulldozes. [Slang]
BULLED
Bulled, a. Etym: [Cf. Boln.]
Defn: Swollen. [Obs.]
BULLEN-BULLEN
Bul"len-bul"len, n. Etym: [Native Australian name, from its cry.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The lyre bird.
BULLEN-NAIL
Bul"len-nail`, n. Etym: [Bull large, having a large head + nail.]
Defn: A nail with a round head and short shank, tinned and lacquered.
BULLET
Bul"let, n. Etym: [F. boulet, dim. of boule ball. See Bull an edict,
and cf. Boulet.]
1. A small ball.
2. A missile, usually of lead, and round or elongated in form, to be
discharged from a rifle, musket, pistol, or other small firearm.
3. A cannon ball. [Obs.]
A ship before Greenwich . . . shot off her ordnance, one piece being
charged with a bullet of stone. Stow.
4. The fetlock of a horse.
Note: [See Illust. under Horse.]
BULLETIN
Bul"le*tin, n. Etym: [F. bulletin, fr. It. bullettino, dim. of
bulletta, dim. of bulla, bolla, an edict of the pope, from L. bulla
bubble. See Bull an edict.]
1. A brief statement of facts respecting some passing event, as
military operations or the health of some distinguished personage,
issued by authority for the information of the public.
2. Any public notice or announcement, especially of news recently
received.
3. A periodical publication, especially one containing the proceeding
of a society. Bulletin board, a board on which announcements are put,
particularly at newsrooms, newspaper offices, etc.
BULLET-PROOF
Bul"let-proof`, a.
Defn: Capable of resisting the force of a bullet. Bullet tree. See
Bully tree.
-- Bullet wood, the wood of the bullet tree.
BULLFACED
Bull"faced`, a.
Defn: Having a large face.
BULLFEAST
Bull"feast`, n.
Defn: See Bullfight. [Obs.]
BULLFIGHT; BULLFIGHTING
Bull"fight`, Bull"fight`ing, n.
Defn: A barbarous sport, of great antiquity, in which men torment,
and fight with, a bull or bulls in an arena, for public amusement, --
still popular in Spain.
-- Bull"fight`er (, n.
BULLFINCH
Bull"finch`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Pyrrhula and other related genera,
especially the P. vulgaris or rubicilla, a bird of Europe allied to
the grosbeak, having the breast, cheeks, and neck, red.
Note: As a cage bird it is highly valued for its remarkable power of
learning to whistle correctly various musical airs. Crimson-fronted
bullfinch. (Zoöl.) See Burion.
-- Pine bullfinch, the pine finch.
BULLFIST; BULLFICE
Bull"fist, Bull"fice, n. Etym: [Cf. G. bofist, AS. wulfes fist
puffball, E. fizz, foist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of fungus. See Puffball.
BULL FLY; BULLFLY
Bull" fly` or Bull"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any large fly troublesome to cattle, as the gadflies and breeze
flies.
BULLFROG
Bull"frog`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large species of frog (Rana Catesbiana), found in North
America; -- so named from its loud bellowing in spring.
BULLHEAD
Bull"head`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) A fresh-water fish of many species, of the genus Uranidea, esp.
U. gobio of Europe, and U. Richardsoni of the United States; --
called also miller's thumb.
(b) In America, several species of Amiurus; -- called also catfish,
horned pout, and bullpout.
(c) A marine fish of the genus Cottus; the sculpin.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The black-bellied plover (Squatarola helvetica); -- called also
beetlehead.
(b) The golden plover.
3. A stupid fellow; a lubber. [Colloq.] Jonson.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small black water insect. E. Phillips. Bullhead whiting
(Zoöl.), the kingfish of Florida (Menticirrus alburnus).
BULLHEADED
Bull"head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head like that of a bull. Fig.: Headstrong; obstinate;
dogged.
BULLION
Bul"lion, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. bullyon a hook used for fastening the
dress, a button, stud, an embossed ornament of various kinds, e.g.,
on the cover of a book, on bridles or poitrels, for purses, for
breeches and doublets, LL. bullio the swelling of boiling water, a
mass of gold or silver, fr. L. bulla boss, stud, bubble (see Bull an
edict), or perh. corrupted fr. billon base coin, LL. billio bullion.
Cf. Billon, Billet a stick.]
1. Uncoined gold or silver in the mass.
Note: Properly, the precious metals are called bullion, when smelted
and not perfectly refined, or when refined, but in bars, ingots or in
any form uncoined, as in plate. The word is often often used to
denote gold and silver, both coined and uncoined, when reckoned by
weight and in mass, including especially foreign, or uncurrent, coin.
2. Base or uncurrent coin. [Obs.]
And those which eld's strict doom did disallow, And damm for bullion,
go for current now. Sylvester.
3. Showy metallic ornament, as of gold, silver, or copper, on
bridles, saddles, etc. [Obs.]
The clasps and bullions were worth a thousand pound. Skelton.
4. Heavy twisted fringe, made of fine gold or silver wire and used
for epaulets; also, any heavy twisted fringe whose cords are
prominent.
BULLIONIST
Bul"lion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate for a metallic currency, or a paper currency always
convertible into gold.
BULLIRAG
Bul"li*rag, v. t. Etym: [Cf. bully,n.& v., and rag to scold, rail.
Cf. Ballarag.]
Defn: To intimidate by bullying; to rally contemptuously; to badger.
[Low]
BULLISH
Bull"ish, a.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of a bull, or a blunder.
Let me inform you, a toothless satire is as improper as a toothed
sleek stone, and as bullish. Milton.
BULLIST
Bull"ist, n. Etym: [F. bulliste. See Bull an edict.]
Defn: A writer or drawer up of papal bulls. [R.] Harmar.
BULLITION
Bul*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. bullire, bullitum, to boil. See Boil, v.
i.]
Defn: The action of boiling; boiling. [Obs.] See Ebullition. Bacon.
BULL MOOSE
Bull Moose. (U. S. Politics)
(a) A follower of Theodore Roosevelt in the presidential campaign of
1912; -- a sense said to have originated from a remark made by
Roosevelt on a certain occasion that he felt "like a bull moose."
[Cant]
(b) The figure of a bull moose used as the party symbol of the
Progressive party in the presidential campaign of 1912. -- Bull
Mooser. [Cant]
BULL-NECKED
Bull"-necked`, a.
Defn: Having a short and thick neck like that of a bull. Sir W.
Scott.
BULLOCK
Bul"lock, n. Etym: [AS. bulluc a young bull. See Bull.]
1. A young bull, or any male of the ox kind.
Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven
years old. Judges vi. 25.
2. An ox, steer, or stag.
BULLOCK
Bul"lock, v. t.
Defn: To bully. [Obs.]
She shan't think to bullock and domineer over me. Foote.
BULLOCK'S-EYE
Bul"lock's-eye`, n.
Defn: See Bull's-eye, 3.
BULLON
Bul"lon, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West Indian fish (Scarus Croicensis).
BULLPOUT
Bull"pout`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Bullhead, 1 (b).
BULL-ROARER
Bull"-roar`er, n.
Defn: A contrivance consisting of a slat of wood tied to the end of a
thong or string, with which the slat is whirled so as to cause an
intermittent roaring noise. It is used as a toy, and among some races
in certain religious rites.
BULL'S-EYE
Bull's"-eye`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A small circular or oval wooden block without sheaves, having a
groove around it and a hole through it, used for connecting rigging.
2. A small round cloud, with a ruddy center, supposed by sailors to
portend a storm.
3. A small thick disk of glass inserted in a deck, roof, floor,
ship's side, etc., to let in light.
4. A circular or oval opening for air or light.
5. A lantern, with a thick glass lens on one side for concentrating
the light on any object; also, the lens itself. Dickens.
6. (Astron.)
Defn: Aldebaran, a bright star in the eye of Taurus or the Bull.
7. (Archery & Gun.)
Defn: The center of a target.
8. A thick knob or protuberance left on glass by the end of the pipe
through which it was blown.
9. A small and thick old-fashioned watch. [Colloq.]
BULL'S-NOSE
Bull's"-nose`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: An external angle when obtuse or rounded.
BULL TERRIER
Bull" ter"ri*er. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A breed of dogs obtained by crossing the bulldog and the
terrier.
BULL TROUT
Bull" trout`. (Zoöl.)
(a) In England, a large salmon trout of several species, as Salmo
trutta and S. Cambricus, which ascend rivers; -- called also sea
trout.
(b) Salvelinus malma of California and Oregon; -- called also Dolly
Varden trout and red-spotted trout.
(c) The huso or salmon of the Danube.
BULLWEED
Bull"weed`, n. Etym: [Bole a stem + weed.] (Bot.)
Defn: Knapweed. Prior.
BULLWORT
Bull"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Bishop's-weed.
BULLY
Bul"ly, n.; pl. Bullies (. Etym: [Cf. LG. bullerjaan, bullerbäk,
bullerbrook, a blusterer, D. bulderaar a bluster, bulderen to
bluster; prob. of imitative origin; or cf. MHG. buole lover, G.
buhle.]
1. A noisy, blustering fellow, more insolent than courageous; one who
is threatening and quarrelsome; an insolent, tyrannical fellow.
Bullies seldom execute the threats they deal in. Palmerston.
2. A brisk, dashing fellow. [Slang Obs.] Shak.
BULLY
Bul"ly, a.
1. Jovial and blustering; dashing. [Slang] "Bless thee, bully
doctor." Shak.
2. Fine; excellent; as, a bully horse. [Slang, U.S.]
BULLY
Bul"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bullied; p. pr. & vb. n. Bullying.]
Defn: To intimidate with threats and by an overbearing, swaggering
demeanor; to act the part of a bully toward.
For the last fortnight there have been prodigious shoals of
volunteers gone over to bully the French, upon hearing the peace was
just signing. Tatler.
Syn.
-- To bluster; swagger; hector; domineer.
BULLY
Bul"ly, v. i.
Defn: To act as a bully.
BULLY; BULLY BEEF
Bul"ly, n., Bul"ly beef`. [F. bouilli boiled meat, fr. bouillir to
boil. See Boil, v. The word bouilli was formerly commonly used on the
labels of canned beef.]
Defn: Pickled or canned beef.
BULLYRAG
Bul"ly*rag, v. t.
Defn: Same as Bullirag.
BULLYROCK
Bul"ly*rock`, n.
Defn: A bully. [Slang Obs.] Shak.
BULLY TREE
Bul"ly tree`. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several West Indian trees of the order Sapotaceæ,
as Dipholis nigra and species of Sapota and Mimusops. Most of them
yield a substance closely resembling gutta-percha.
BULRUSH
Bul"rush`, n. Etym: [OE. bulrysche, bolroysche; of uncertain origin,
perh. fr. bole stem + rush.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of large rush, growing in wet land or in water.
Note: The name bulrush is applied in England especially to the cat-
tail (Typha latifolia and T. angustifolia) and to the lake club-rush
(Scirpus lacustris); in America, to the Juncus effusus, and also to
species of Scirpus or club-rush.
BULSE
Bulse, n.
Defn: A purse or bag in which to carry or measure diamonds, etc.
[India] Macaulay.
BULTEL
Bul"tel, n. Etym: [LL. bultellus. See Bolt to sift.]
Defn: A bolter or bolting cloth; also, bran. [Obs.]
BULTI
Bul"ti, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Bolty.
BULTONG
Bul"tong, n.
Defn: Biltong.
BULTOW
Bul"tow`, n.
Defn: A trawl; a boulter; the mod
BULWARK
Bul"wark, n. Etym: [Akin to D. bolwerk, G. bollwerk, Sw. bolwerk,
Dan. bolvärk, bulvärk, rampart; akin to G. bohle plank, and werk
work, defense. See Bole stem, and Work, n., and cf. Boulevard.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A rampart; a fortification; a bastion or outwork.
2. That which secures against an enemy, or defends from attack; any
means of defense or protection.
The royal navy of England hath ever been its greatest defense, . . .
the floating bulwark of our island. Blackstone.
3. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The sides of a ship above the upper deck.
Syn.
-- See Rampart.
BULWARK
Bul"wark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bulwarked (; p. pr. & vb.n.
Bulwarking.]
Defn: To fortify with, or as with, a rampart or wall; to secure by
fortification; to protect.
Of some proud city, bulwarked round and armed With rising towers.
Glover.
BUM
Bum, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. bottom in this sense.]
Defn: The buttock. [Low] Shak.
BUM
Bum, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bummed (; p. pr. & vb.n. Bumming ( Etym:
[See Boom, v. i., to roar.]
Defn: To make murmuring or humming sound. Jamieson.
BUM
Bum, n.
Defn: A humming noise. Halliwell.
BUMBAILIFF
Bum"bail"iff, n. Etym: [A corruption of bound bailiff.] [Low, Eng.]
Defn: See Bound bailiff, under Bound, a.
BUMBARD
Bum"bard.
Defn: See Bombard. [Obs.]
BUMBARGE
Bum"barge`, n.
Defn: See Bumboat. Carlyle.
BUMBAST
Bum"bast.
Defn: See Bombast. [Obs.]
BUMBELO
Bum"be*lo, n.; pl. Bumbeloes. Etym: [It. bombola.]
Defn: A glass used in subliming camphor. [Spelled also bombolo and
bumbolo.]
BUMBLE
Bum"ble, n. Etym: [See Bump to boom.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bittern. [Local, Eng.]
BUMBLE
Bum"ble, v. i.
Defn: To make a hollow or humming noise, like that of a bumblebee; to
cry as a bittern.
As a bittern bumbleth in the mire. Chaucer.
BUMBLEBEE
Bum"ble*bee`, n. Etym: [OE. bumblen to make a humming noise (dim. of
bum, v.i.) + bee. Cf. Humblebee.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large bee of the genus Bombus, sometimes called humblebee; --
so named from its sound.
Note: There are many species. All gather honey, and store it in the
empty cocoons after the young have come out.
BUMBLEPUPPY
Bum"ble*pup`py, n. [Origin unknown; cf. Bumble, n.]
1.
Defn: The old game of nineholes.
2. (Card Playing) Whist played in an unscientific way.
BUMBOAT
Bum"boat`, n. Etym: [From bum the buttocks, on account of its clumsy
form; or fr. D. bun a box for holding fish in a boat.] (Naut.)
Defn: A clumsy boat, used for conveying provisions, fruit, etc., for
sale, to vessels lying in port or off shore.
BUMKIN
Bum"kin, n. Etym: [Boom a beam + -kin. See Bumpkin.] (Naut.)
Defn: A projecting beam or boom; as: (a) One projecting from each bow
of a vessel, to haul the fore tack to, called a tack bumpkin. (b) Onr
from each quarter, for the main-brace blocks, and called brace
bumpkin. (c) A small outrigger over the stern of a boat, to extend
the mizzen. [Written also boomkin.]
BUMMALO
Bum"ma*lo, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small marine Asiatic fish (Saurus ophidon) used in India as a
relish; -- called also Bombay duck.
BUMMER
Bum"mer, n.
Defn: An idle, worthless fellow, who is without any visible means of
support; a dissipated sponger. [Slang, U.S.]
BUMMERY
Bum"me*ry, n.
Defn: See Bottomery. [Obs.]
There was a scivener of Wapping brought to hearing for relief against
a bummery bond. R. North.
BUMP
Bump, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bumped; p. pr. & vb. n. Bumping.] Etym:
[Cf. W. pwmp round mass, pwmpiaw to thump, bang, and E. bum, v.i.,
boom to roar.]
Defn: To strike, as with or against anything large or solid; to
thump; as, to bump the head against a wall.
BUMP
Bump, v. i.
Defn: To come in violent contact with something; to thump. "Bumping
and jumping." Southey.
BUMP
Bump, n. Etym: [From Bump to strike, to thump.]
1. A thump; a heavy blow.
2. A swelling or prominence, resulting from a bump or blow; a
protuberance.
It had upon its brow A bump as big as a young cockerel's stone. Shak.
3. (Phren.)
Defn: One of the protuberances on the cranium which are associated
with distinct faculties or affections of the mind; as, the bump of
"veneration;" the bump of "acquisitiveness." [Colloq.]
4. The act of striking the stern of the boat in advance with the prow
of the boat following. [Eng.]
BUMP
Bump, v. i. Etym: [See Boom to roar.]
Defn: To make a loud, heavy, or hollow noise, as the bittern; to
boom.
As a bittern bumps within a reed. Dryden.
BUMP
Bump, n.
Defn: The noise made by the bittern.
BUMPER
Bum"per, n. Etym: [A corruption of bumbard, bombard, a large drinking
vessel.]
1. A cup or glass filled to the brim, or till the liquor runs over,
particularly in drinking a health or toast.
He frothed his bumpers to the brim. Tennyson.
2. A covered house at a theater, etc., in honor of some favorite
performer. [Cant]
BUMPER
Bump"er, n.
1. That which bumps or causes a bump.
2. Anything which resists or deadens a bump or shock; a buffer.
BUMPKIN
Bump"kin, n. Etym: [The same word as bumkin, which Cotgrave defines
thus: "Bumkin, Fr. chicambault, the luffe-block, a long and thick
piece of wood, whereunto the fore-sayle and sprit-sayle are fastened,
when a ship goes by the winde." Hence, a clumsy man may easily have
been compared to such a block of wood; cf. OD. boomken a little tree.
See Boom a pole.]
Defn: An awkward, heavy country fellow; a clown; a country lout.
"Bashful country bumpkins." W. Irving.
BUMPTIOUS
Bump"tious, a.
Defn: Self-conceited; forward; pushing. [Colloq.] Halliwell.
BUMPTIOUSNESS
Bump"tious*ness, n.
Defn: Conceitedness. [Colloq.]
BUN; BUNN
Bun, Bunn, n. Etym: [Scot. bun, bunn, OE. bunne, bonne; fr. Celtic;
cf. Ir. bunna, Gael. bonnach, or OF. bugne tumor, Prov. F. bugne a
kind of pancake; akin to OHG. bungo bulb, MHG. bunge, Prov. E. bung
heap, cluster, bunny a small swelling.]
Defn: A slightly sweetened raised cake or bisquit with a glazing of
sugar and milk on the top crust.
BUNCH
Bunch, n. Etym: [Akin to OSw. & Dan. bunke heap, Icel. bunki heap,
pile, bunga tumor, protuberance; cf. W. pwng cluster. Cf. Bunk.]
1. A protuberance; a hunch; a knob or lump; a hump.
They will carry . . . their treasures upon the bunches of camels.
Isa. xxx. 6.
2. A collection, cluster, or tuft, properly of things of the same
kind, growing or fastened together; as, a bunch of grapes; a bunch of
keys.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A small isolated mass of ore, as distinguished from a
continuous vein. Page.
BUNCH
Bunch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Buncheder (p. pr. & vb.n. Bunchinger.]
Defn: To swell out into a bunch or protuberance; to be protuberant or
round.
Bunching out into a large round knob at one end. Woodward.
BUNCH
Bunch, v. t.
Defn: To form into a bunch or bunches.
BUNCH-BACKED
Bunch"-backed`, a.
Defn: Having a bunch on the back; crooked. "Bunch-backed toad." Shak.
BUNCHBERRY
Bunch"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The dwarf cornel (Cornus Canadensis), which bears a dense
cluster of bright red, edible berries.
BUNCH GRASS
Bunch" grass`. (Bot.)
Defn: A grass growing in bunches and affording pasture. In
California, Atropis tenuifolia, Festuca scabrella, and several kinds
of Stipa are favorite bunch grasses. In Utah, Eriocoma cuspidata is a
good bunch grass.
BUNCHINESS
Bunch"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being bunchy; knobbiness.
BUNCHY
Bunch"y, a.
1. Swelling out in bunches.
An unshapen, bunchy spear, with bark unpiled. Phaer.
2. Growing in bunches, or resembling a bunch; having tufts; as, the
bird's bunchy tail.
3. (Mining)
Defn: Yielding irregularly; sometimes rich, sometimes poor; as, a
bunchy mine. Page.
BUNCOMBE; BUNKUM
Bun"combe, Bun"kum, n. Etym: [Buncombe a country of North Carolina.]
Defn: Speech-making for the gratification of constituents, or to gain
public applause; flattering talk for a selfish purpose; anything said
for mere show. [Cant or Slang, U.S.]
All that flourish about right of search was bunkum -- all that brag
about hanging your Canada sheriff was bunkum . . . slavery speeches
are all bunkum. Haliburton.
To speak for Buncombe, to speak for mere show, or popularly.
Note: "The phrase originated near the close of the debate on the
famous 'Missouri Question,' in the 16th Congress. It was then used by
Felix Walker -- a naïve old mountaineer, who resided at Waynesville,
in Haywood, the most western country of North Carolina, near the
border of the adjacent country of Buncombe, which formed part of his
district. The old man rose to speak, while the house was impatiently
calling for the 'Question,' and several members gathered round him,
begging him to desist. He preserved, however, for a while, declaring
that the people of his district expected it, and that he was bound to
'make a speech for Buncombe.'" W. Darlington.
BUND
Bund, n. Etym: [G.]
Defn: League; confederacy; esp. the confederation of German states.
BUND
Bund, n. Etym: [Hindi band.]
Defn: An embankment against inundation. [India] S. Wells Williams.
BUNDER
Bun"der, n. Etym: [Pers. bandar a landing place, pier.]
Defn: A boat or raft used in the East Indies in the landing of
passengers and goods.
BUNDESRATH
Bun"des*rath`, n. Etym: [G., from bund (akin to E. bond) confederacy
+ rath council, prob. akin to E. read.]
Defn: The federal council of the German Empire. In the Bundesrath and
the Reichstag are vested the legislative functions. The federal
council of Switzerland is also so called.
Note: The Bundesrath of the German empire is presided over by a
chancellor, and is composed of sixty-two members, who represent the
different states of the empire, being appointed for each session by
their respective governments.
By this united congress, the highest tribunal of Switzerland, -- the
Bundesrath -- is chosen, and the head of this is a president. J. P.
Peters (Trans. Müller's Pol. Hist. ).
BUNDES-VERSAMMLUNG
Bun"des-Ver*samm"lung, n. [G.; bund confederacy + versammlung
assembly.]
Defn: See Legislature, Switzerland.
BUNDLE
Bun"dle, n. Etym: [OE. bundel, AS. byndel; akin to D. bondel, bundel,
G. bündel, dim. of bund bundle, fr. the root of E. bind. See Bind.]
Defn: A number of things bound together, as by a cord or envelope,
into a mass or package convenient for handling or conveyance; a loose
package; a roll; as, a bundle of straw or of paper; a bundle of old
clothes.
The fable of the rods, which, when united in a bundle, no strength
could bend. Goldsmith.
Bundle pillar (Arch.), a column or pier, with others of small
dimensions attached to it. Weale.
BUNDLE
Bun"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bundled (p. pr. & vb.n. Bundling (.]
1. To tie or bind in a bundle or roll.
2. To send off abruptly or without ceremony.
They unmercifully bundled me and my gallant second into our own
hackney coach. T. Hook.
To bundle off, to send off in a hurry, or without ceremony.
-- To bundle one's self up, to wrap one's self up warmly or
cumbrously.
BUNDLE
Bun"dle, v. i.
1. To prepare for departure; to set off in a hurry or without
ceremony.
2. To sleep on the same bed without undressing; -- applied to the
custom of a man and woman, especially lovers, thus sleeping.
Bartlett.
Van Corlear stopped occasionally in the villages to eat pumpkin pies,
dance at country frolics, and bundle with the Yankee lasses. W.
Irving.
BUNDOBUST
Bun"do*bust, n. [Hind. & Per. bando-bast tying and binding.]
Defn: System; discipline. [India]
He has more bundobust than most men.
Kipling.
BUNG
Bung, n. Etym: [Cf. W. bwng orfice, bunghole, Ir. buinne tap, spout,
OGael. buine.]
1. The large stopper of the orifice in the bilge of a cask.
2. The orifice in the bilge of a cask through which it is filled;
bunghole.
3. A sharper or pickpocket. [Obs. & Low]
You filthy bung, away. Shak.
BUNG
Bung, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bunged; p. pr. & vb. n. Bunging.]
Defn: To stop, as the orifice in the bilge of a cask, with a bung; to
close; -- with up. To bung up, to use up, as by bruising or over
exertion; to exhaust or incapacitate for action. [Low]
He had bunged up his mouth that he should not have spoken these three
years. Shelton (Trans. Don Quixote).
BUNGALOW
Bun"ga*low, n. Etym: [Bengalee bangla]
Defn: A thatched or tiled house or cottage, of a single story,
usually surrounded by a veranda. [India]
BUNGARUM
Bun"ga*rum, n. Etym: [Bungar, the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A venomous snake of India, of the genus Bungarus, allied to the
cobras, but without a hood.
BUNGHOLE
Bung"hole`, n.
Defn: See Bung, n., 2. Shak.
BUNGLE
Bun"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bungled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Bungling.]
Etym: [Prob. a diminutive from, akin to bang; cf. Prov. G. bungen to
beat, bang, OSw. bunga. See Bang.]
Defn: To act or work in a clumsy, awkward manner.
BUNGLE
Bun"gle, v. t.
Defn: To make or mend clumsily; to manage awkwardly; to botch; --
sometimes with up.
I always had an idea that it would be bungled. Byron.
BUNGLE
Bun"gle, n.
Defn: A clumsy or awkward performance; a botch; a gross blunder.
Those errors and bungles which are committed. Cudworth.
BUNGLER
Bun"gler, n.
Defn: A clumsy, awkward workman; one who bungles.
If to be a dunce or a bungler in any profession be shameful, how much
more ignominious and infamous to a scholar to be such! Barrow.
BUNGLING
Bun"gling, a.
Defn: Unskillful; awkward; clumsy; as, a bungling workman. Swift.
They make but bungling work. Dryden.
BUNGLINGLY
Bun"gling*ly, adv.
Defn: Clumsily; awkwardly.
BUNGO
Bun"go, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A kind of canoe used in Central and South America; also, a kind
of boat used in the Southern United States. Bartlett.
BUNION
Bun"ion, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Bunyon.
BUNK
Bunk, n. Etym: [Cf. OSw. bunke heap, also boaring, flooring. Cf.
Bunch.]
1. A wooden case or box, which serves for a seat in the daytime and
for a bed at night. [U.S.]
2. One of a series of berths or bed places in tiers.
3. A piece of wood placed on a lumberman's sled to sustain the end of
heavy timbers. [Local, U.S.]
BUNK
Bunk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bunked; p. pr. & vb. n. Bunking.]
Defn: To go to bed in a bunk; -- sometimes with in. [Colloq. U.S.]
Bartlett.
BUNKER
Bun"ker, n. Etym: [Scot. bunker, bunkart, a bench, or low chest,
serving for a seat. Cf. Bunk, Bank, Bench.]
1. A sort of chest or box, as in a window, the lid of which serves
for a seat. [Scot.] Jamieson.
2. A large bin or similar receptacle; as, a coal bunker.
BUNKO
Bun"ko, n. Etym: [Sf. Sp. banco bank, banca a sort of game at cards.
Cf. Bank (in the commercial sense).]
Defn: A kind of swindling game or scheme, by means of cards or by a
sham lottery. [Written also bunco.] Bunko steerer, a person employed
as a decoy in bunko. [Slang, U.S.]
BUNKUM
Bun"kum, n.
Defn: See Buncombe.
BUNN
Bunn, n.
Defn: See Bun.
BUNNIAN
Bun"nian, n.
Defn: See Bunyon.
BUNNY
Bun"ny, n. (Mining)
Defn: A great collection of ore without any vein coming into it or
going out from it.
BUNNY
Bun"ny, n.
Defn: A pet name for a rabbit or a squirrel.
BUNODONTA; BUNODONTS
Bu`no*don"ta, Bu"no*donts, n. pl. Etym: [NL. bunodonta, fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the herbivorous mammals including the hogs and
hippopotami; -- so called because the teeth are tuberculated.
BUNSEN CELL
Bun"sen cell. (Elec.)
Defn: A zinc-carbon cell in which the zinc (amalgamated) is
surrounded by dilute sulphuric acid, and the carbon by nitric acid or
a chromic acid mixture, the two plates being separated by a porous
cup.
BUNSEN'S BATTERY; BUNSEN'S BURNER
Bun"sen's bat"ter*y, Bun"sen's burn`er.
Defn: See under Battery, and Burner.
BUNT
Bunt, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fungus (Ustilago foetida) which affects the ear of cereals,
filling the grains with a fetid dust; -- also called pepperbrand.
BUNT
Bunt, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. bunt bundle, Dan. bundt, G. bund, E. bundle.]
(Naut.)
Defn: The middle part, cavity, or belly of a sail; the part of a
furled sail which is at the center of the yard. Totten.
BUNT
Bunt, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To swell out; as, the sail bunts.
BUNT
Bunt, v. t. & i.
Defn: To strike or push with the horns or head; to butt; as, the ram
bunted the boy.
BUNTER
Bun"ter, n.
Defn: A woman who picks up rags in the streets; hence, a low, vulgar
woman. [Cant]
Her . . . daughters, like bunters in stuff gowns. Goldsmith.
BUNTING
Bun"ting, n. Etym: [Scot. buntlin, corn-buntlin, OE. bunting,
buntyle; of unknown origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Emberiza, or of an allied genus, related to
the finches and sparrows (family Fringillidæ).
Note: Among European species are the common or corn bunting (Emberiza
miliaria); the ortolan (E. hortulana); the cirl (E. cirlus); and the
black-headed (Granitivora melanocephala). American species are the
bay-winged or grass (Poöcætes or Pooecetes gramineus); the black-
throated (Spiza Americana); the towhee bunting or chewink (Pipilo);
the snow bunting (Plectrophanax nivalis); the rice bunting or
bobolink, and others. See Ortolan, Chewick, Snow bunting, Lark
bunting.
BUNTING; BUNTINE
Bun"ting, Bun"tine, n. Etym: [Prov. E. bunting sifting flour, OE.
bonten to sift, hence prob. the material used for that purpose.]
Defn: A thin woolen stuff, used chiefly for flags, colors, and ships'
signals.
BUNTLINE
Bunt"line, n. Etym: [2d bunt + line.] (Naut.)
Defn: One of the ropes toggled to the footrope of a sail, used to
haul up to the yard the body of the sail when taking it in. Totten.
BUNYON; BUNION
Bun"yon, Bun"ion, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. bunny a small swelling, fr.
OF. bugne, It. bugna, bugnone. See Bun.] (Med.)
Defn: An enlargement and inflammation of a small membranous sac (one
of the bursæ muscosæ), usually occurring on the first joint of the
great toe.
BUOY
Buoy, n. Etym: [D. boei buoy, fetter, fr. OF. boie, buie, chain,
fetter, F. bouée a buoy, from L. boia. "Boiae genus vinculorum tam
ferreae quam ligneae." Festus. So called because chained to its
place.] (Naut.)
Defn: A float; esp. a floating object moored to the bottom, to mark a
channel or to point out the position of something beneath the water,
as an anchor, shoal, rock, etc. Anchor buoy, a buoy attached to, or
marking the position of, an anchor.
-- Bell buoy, a large buoy on which a bell is mounted, to be rung by
the motion of the waves.
-- Breeches buoy. See under Breeches.
-- Cable buoy, an empty cask employed to buoy up the cable in rocky
anchorage.
-- Can buoy, a hollow buoy made of sheet or boiler iron, usually
conical or pear-shaped.
-- Life buoy, a float intended to support persons who have fallen
into the water, until a boat can be dispatched to save them.
-- Nut or Nun buoy, a buoy large in the middle, and tapering nearly
to a point at each end.
-- To stream the buoy, to let the anchor buoy fall by the ship's
side into the water, before letting go the anchor.
-- Whistling buoy, a buoy fitted with a whistle that is blown by the
action of the waves.
BUOY
Buoy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buoyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Buoying.]
1. To keep from sinking in a fluid, as in water or air; to keep
afloat; -- with up.
2. To support or sustain; to preserve from sinking into ruin or
despondency.
Those old prejudices, which buoy up the ponderous mass of his
nobility, wealth, and title. Burke.
3. To fix buoys to; to mark by a buoy or by buoys; as, to buoy an
anchor; to buoy or buoy off a channel.
Not one rock near the surface was discovered which was not buoyed by
this floating weed. Darwin.
BUOY
Buoy, v. i.
Defn: To float; to rise like a buoy. "Rising merit will buoy up at
last." Pope.
BUOYAGE
Buoy"age, n.
Defn: Buoys, taken collectively; a series of buoys, as for the
guidance of vessels into or out of port; the providing of buoys.
BUOYANCE
Buoy"ance, n.
Defn: Buoyancy. [R.]
BUOYANCY
Buoy"an*cy, n.; pl. Buoyancies (.
1. The property of floating on the surface of a liquid, or in a
fluid, as in the atmosphere; specific lightness, which is inversely
as the weight compared with that of an equal volume of water.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The upward pressure exerted upon a floating body by a fluid,
which is equal to the weight of the body; hence, also, the weight of
a floating body, as measured by the volume of fluid displaced.
Such are buoyancies or displacements of the different classes of her
majesty's ships. Eng. Cyc.
3. Cheerfulness; vivacity; liveliness; sprightliness; -- the opposite
of Ant: heaviness; as, buoyancy of spirits.
BUOYANT
Buoy"ant, a. Etym: [From Buoy, v. t. & i.]
1. Having the quality of rising or floating in a fluid; tending to
rise or float; as, iron is buoyant in mercury. "Buoyant on the
flood." Pope.
2. Bearing up, as a fluid; sustaining another body by being
specifically heavier.
The water under me was buoyant. Dryden.
3. Light-hearted; vivacious; cheerful; as, a buoyant disposition;
buoyant spirits.
-- Buoy"ant*ly, adv.
BUPRESTIDAN
Bu*pres"ti*dan, n. Etym: [L. buprestis, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of beetles, of the genus Buprestis and allied
genera, usually with brilliant metallic colors. The larvæ are usually
bores in timber, or beneath bark, and are often very destructive to
trees.
BUR; BURR
Bur, Burr, n. Etym: [OE. burre burdock; cf. Dan. borre, OSw. borra,
burdock, thistle; perh. akin to E. bristle (burr- for burz-), or
perh. to F. bourre hair, wool, stuff; also, according to Cotgrave,
"the downe, or hairie coat, wherewith divers herbes, fruits, and
flowers, are covered," fr. L. burrae trifles, LL. reburrus rough.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Any rough or prickly envelope of the seeds of plants, whether a
pericarp, a persistent calyx, or an involucre, as of the chestnut and
burdock. Also, any weed which bears burs.
Amongst rude burs and thistles. Milton.
Bur and brake and brier. Tennyson.
2. The thin ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal. See
Burr, n., 2.
3. A ring of iron on a lance or spear. See Burr, n., 4.
4. The lobe of the ear. See Burr, n., 5.
5. The sweetbread.
6. A clinker; a partially vitrified brick.
7. (Mech.)
(a) A small circular saw.
(b) A triangular chisel.
(c) A drill with a serrated head larger than the shank; -- used by
dentists.
8. Etym: [Cf. Gael. borr, borra, a knob, bunch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The round knob of an antler next to a deer's head. [Commonly
written burr.] Bur oak (Bot.), a useful and ornamental species of oak
(Quercus macrocarpa) with ovoid acorns inclosed in deep cups
imbricated with pointed scales. It grows in the Middle and Western
United States, and its wood is tough, close-grained, and durable.
-- Bur reed (Bot.), a plant of the genus Sparganium, having long
ribbonlike leaves.
BURBOLT
Bur"bolt`, n.
Defn: A birdbolt. [Obs.] Ford.
BURBOT
Bur"bot, n. Etym: [F. barbote, fr. barbe beard. See 1st Barb.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water fish of the genus Lota, having on the nose two
very small barbels, and a larger one on the chin. [Written also
burbolt.]
Note: The fish is also called an eelpout or ling, and is allied to
the codfish. The Lota vulgaris is a common European species. An
American species (L. maculosa) is found in New England, the Great
Lakes, and farther north.
BURDELAIS
Bur`de*lais", n. Etym: [F. bourdelais, prob. fr. bordelais. See
Bordelais.]
Defn: A sort of grape. Jonson.
BURDEN
Bur"den, n. [Written also burthen.] Etym: [OE. burden, burthen,
birthen, birden, AS. byredhen; akin to Icel. byredhi, Dan. byrde, Sw.
börda, G. bürde, OHG. burdi, Goth. baúr, fr. the root of E. bear, AS.
beran, Goth. bairan. *92. See 1st Bear.]
1. That which is borne or carried; a load.
Plants with goodly burden bowing. Shak.
2. That which is borne with labor or difficulty; that which is
grievous, wearisome, or oppressive.
Deaf, giddy, helpless, left alone, To all my friends a burden grown.
Swift.
3. The capacity of a vessel, or the weight of cargo that she will
carry; as, a ship of a hundred tons burden.
4. (Mining)
Defn: The tops or heads of stream-work which lie over the stream of
tin.
5. (Metal.)
Defn: The proportion of ore and flux to fuel, in the charge of a
blast furnace. Raymond.
6. A fixed quantity of certain commodities; as, a burden of gad
steel, 120 pounds.
7. A birth. [Obs. & R.] Shak. Beast of burden, an animal employed in
carrying burdens.
-- Burden of proof Etym: [L. onus probandi] (Law), the duty of
proving a particular position in a court of law, a failure in the
performance of which duty calls for judgment against the party on
whom the duty is imposed.
Syn.
-- Burden, Load. A burden is, in the literal sense, a weight to be
borne; a load is something laid upon us to be carried. Hence, when
used figuratively, there is usually a difference between the two
words. Our burdens may be of such a nature that we feel bound to bear
them cheerfully or without complaint. They may arise from the nature
of our situation; they may be allotments of Providence; they may be
the consequences of our errors. What is upon us, as a load, we
commonly carry with greater reluctance or sense of oppression. Men
often find the charge of their own families to be a burden; but if to
this be added a load of care for others, the pressure is usually
serve and irksome.
BURDEN
Bur"den, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burdened; p. pr. & vb. n. Burdening.]
1. To encumber with weight (literal or figurative); to lay a heavy
load upon; to load.
I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened. 2 Cor. viii. 13.
2. To oppress with anything grievous or trying; to overload; as, to
burden a nation with taxes.
My burdened heart would break. Shak.
3. To impose, as a load or burden; to lay or place as a burden
(something heavy or objectionable). [R.]
It is absurd to burden this act on Cromwell. Coleridge.
Syn.
-- To load; encumber; overload; oppress.
BURDEN
Bur"den, n. Etym: [OE. burdoun the bass in music, F. bourdon; cf. LL.
burdo drone, a long organ pipe, a staff, a mule. Prob. of imitative
origin. Cf. Bourdon.]
1. The verse repeated in a song, or the return of the theme at the
end of each stanza; the chorus; refrain. Hence: That which is often
repeated or which is dwelt upon; the main topic; as, the burden of a
prayer.
I would sing my song without a burden. Shak.
2. The drone of a bagpipe. Ruddiman.
BURDEN
Bur"den, n. Etym: [See Burdon.]
Defn: A club. [Obs.] Spenser.
BURDENER
Bur"den*er, n.
Defn: One who loads; a oppressor.
BURDENOUS
Bur"den*ous, a.
Defn: Burdensome. [Obs.] "Burdenous taxations." Shak.
BURDENSOME
Bur"den*some, a.
Defn: Grievous to be borne; causing uneasiness or fatigue;
oppressive.
The debt immense of endless gratitude So burdensome. Milton.
Syn.
-- Heavy; weighty; cumbersome; onerous; grievous; oppressive;
troublesome.
-- Bur"den*some*ly, adv.
-- Bur"den*some*ness, n.
BURDOCK
Bur"dock, n. Etym: [Bur + dock the plant.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of coarse biennial herbs (Lappa), bearing small burs
which adhere tenaciously to clothes, or to the fur or wool of
animals.
Note: The common burdock is the Lappa officinalis.
BURDON
Bur"don, n. Etym: [See Bourdon.]
Defn: A pilgrim's staff. [Written also burden.] Rom. of R.
BUREAU
Bu"reau, n.; pl. E. Bureaus, F. Bureaux. Etym: [F. bureau a writing
table, desk, office, OF., drugget, with which a writing table was
often covered, equiv. to F. bure, and fr. OF. buire dark brown, the
stuff being named from its color, fr. L. burrus red, fr. Gr. Fire,
n., and cf. Borel, n.]
1. Originally, a desk or writing table with drawers for papers.
Swift.
2. The place where such a bureau is used; an office where business
requiring writing is transacted.
3. Hence: A department of public business requiring a force of
clerks; the body of officials in a department who labor under the
direction of a chief.
Note: On the continent of Europe, the highest departments, in most
countries, have the name of bureaux; as, the Bureau of the Minister
of Foreign Affairs. In England and America, the term is confined to
inferior and subordinate departments; as, the "Pension Bureau," a
subdepartment of the Department of the Interior. [Obs.] In Spanish,
bureo denotes a court of justice for the trial of persons belonging
to the king's household.
4. A chest of drawers for clothes, especially when made as an
ornamental piece of furniture. [U.S.] Bureau system. See Bureaucracy.
-- Bureau Veritas, an institution, in the interest of maritime
underwriters, for the survey and rating of vessels all over the
world. It was founded in Belgium in 1828, removed to Paris in 1830,
and reëstablished in Brussels in 1870.
BUREAUCRACY
Bu*reau"cra*cy, n. Etym: [Bureau + Gr. bureaucratie.]
1. A system of carrying on the business of government by means of
departments or bureaus, each under the control of a chief, in
contradiction to a system in which the officers of government have an
associated authority and responsibility; also, government conducted
on this system.
2. Government officials, collectively.
BUREAUCRAT
Bu*reau"crat, n.
Defn: An official of a bureau; esp. an official confirmed in a narrow
and arbitrary routine. C. Kingsley.
BUREAUCRATIC; BUREAUCRATICAL
Bu`reau*crat"ic, Bu`reau*crat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
bureaucratique.]
Defn: Of, relating to, or resembling, a bureaucracy.
BUREAUCRATIST
Bu*reau"cra*tist, n.
Defn: An advocate for , or supporter of, bureaucracy.
BUREL
Bur"el, n. & a.
Defn: Same as Borrel.
BURETTE
Bu*rette", n. Etym: [F., can, cruet, dim. of buire flagon.] (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for delivering measured quantities of liquid or
for measuring the quantity of liquid or gas received or discharged.
It consists essentially of a graduated glass tube, usually furnished
with a small aperture and stopcock.
BUR FISH
Bur" fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spinose, plectognath fish of the Allantic coast of the United
States (esp. Chilo mycterus geometricus) having the power of
distending its body with water or air, so as to resemble a chestnut
bur; -- called also ball fish, balloon fish, and swellfish.
BURG
Burg, n. Etym: [AS. burh, burg, cf. LL. burgus. See 1st Borough.]
1. A fortified town. [Obs.]
2. A borough. [Eng.] See 1st Borough.
BURGAGE
Burg"age, n. Etym: [From Burg: cf. F. bourgage, LL. burgagium.] (Eng.
Law)
Defn: A tenure by which houses or lands are held of the king or other
lord of a borough or city; at a certain yearly rent, or by services
relating to trade or handicraft. Burrill.
BURGALL
Bur"gall, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small marine fish; -- also called cunner.
BURGAMOT
Bur"ga*mot, n.
Defn: See Bergamot.
BURGANET
Bur"ga*net, n.
Defn: See Burgonet.
BURGEE
Bur"gee, n.
1. A kind of small coat.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A swallow-tailed flag; a distinguishing pen
BURGEOIS
Bur*geois", n. (Print.)
Defn: See 1st Bourgeous.
BURGEOIS
Bur*geois", n.
Defn: A burgess; a citizen. See 2d Bourgeois. [R.] Addison.
BURGEON
Bur"geon, v. i.
Defn: To bud. See Bourgeon.
BURGESS
Bur"gess, n. Etym: [OE. burgeis, OF. burgeis, fr. burcfortified town,
town, F. bourg village, fr. LL. burgus fort, city; from the German;
cf. MHG. burc, G. burg. See 1st Borough, and cf. 2d Bourgeois.]
1. An inhabitant of a borough or walled town, or one who possesses a
tenement therein; a citizen or freeman of a borough. Blackstone.
Note: "A burgess of a borough corresponds with a citizen of a city."
Burrill.
2. One who represents a borough in Parliament.
3. A magistrate of a borough.
4. An inhabitant of a Scotch burgh qualified to vote for municipal
officers.
Note: Before the Revolution, the representatives in the popular
branch of the legislature of Virginia were called burgesses; they are
now called delegates. Burgess oath. See Burgher, 2.
BURGESS-SHIP
Bur"gess-ship, n.
Defn: The state of privilege of a burgess. South.
BURGGRAVE
Burg"grave, n. Etym: [G. burggraf; burg fortress + graf count: cf. D.
burggraaf, F. burgrave. See Margrave.] (Gremany)
Defn: Originally, one appointed to the command of a burg (fortress or
castle); but the title afterward became hereditary, with a domain
attached.
BURGH
Burgh, n. Etym: [OE. See Burg.]
Defn: A borough or incorporated town, especially, one in Scotland.
See Borough.
BURGHAL
Burgh"al, a.
Defn: Belonging of a burgh.
BURGHBOTE
Burgh"bote`, n. Etym: [Burgh + bote.] (Old Law)
Defn: A contribution toward the building or repairing of castles or
walls for the defense of a city or town.
BURGHBRECH
Burgh"brech`, n. Etym: [Burgh + F. brèche, equiv. to E. breach.] (AS.
Law)
Defn: The offense of violating the pledge given by every inhabitant
of a tithing to keep the peace; breach of the peace. Burrill.
BURGHER
Burgh"er, n. Etym: [From burgh; akin to D. burger, G. bürger, Dan.
borger, Sw. borgare. See Burgh.]
1. A freeman of a burgh or borough, entitled to enjoy the privileges
of the place; any inhabitant of a borough.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A member of that party, among the Scotch seceders, which
asserted the lawfulness of the burgess oath (in which burgesses
profess "the true religion professed within the realm"), the opposite
party being called antiburghers.
Note: These parties arose among the Presbyterians of Scotland, in
1747, and in 1820 reunited under the name of the "United Associate
Synod of the Secession Church."
BURGHERMASTER
Burgh"er*mas`ter, n.
Defn: See Burgomaster.
BURGHERSHIP
Burgh"er*ship, n.
Defn: The state or privileges of a burgher.
BURGHMASTER
Burgh"mas`ter, n.
1. A burgomaster.
2. (Mining)
Defn: An officer who directs and lays out the meres or boundaries for
the workmen; -- called also bailiff, and barmaster. [Eng.]
BURGHMOTE
Burgh"mote`, n. (AS. Law) Etym: [Burgh + mote meeting.]
Defn: A court or meeting of a burgh or borough; a borough court held
three times yearly.
BURGLAR
Bur"glar, n. Etym: [OE. burg town, F. bourg, fr. LL. burgus (of
German origin) + OF. lere thief, fr. L. latro. See Borough, and
Larceny.] (Law)
Defn: One guilty of the crime of burglary. Burglar alarm, a device
for giving alarm if a door or window is opened from without.
BURGLARER
Bur"glar*er, n.
Defn: A burglar. [Obs.]
BURGLARIOUS
Bur*gla"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to burglary; constituting the crime of burglary.
To come down a chimney is held a burglarious entry. Blackstone.
BURGLARIOUSLY
Bur*gla"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With an intent to commit burglary; in the manner of a burglar.
Blackstone.
BURGLARY
Bur"gla*ry, n.; pl. Burglaries (. Etym: [Fr. Burglar; cf. LL.
burglaria.] (Law)
Defn: Breaking and entering the dwelling house of another, in the
nighttime, with intent to commit a felony therein, whether the
felonious purpose be accomplished or not. Wharton. Burrill.
Note: By statute law in some of the United States, burglary includes
the breaking with felonious intent into a house by day as well as by
night, and into other buildings than dwelling houses. Various degrees
of the crime are established.
BURGOMASTER
Bur"go*mas`ter, n. Etym: [D. burgemeester; burg borough + meester
master; akin to G. burgemeister, bürgermeister. See 1st Borough, and
Master.]
1. A chief magistrate of a municipal town in Holland, Flanders, and
Germany, corresponding to mayor in England and the United States; a
burghmaster.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An aquatic bird, the glaucous gull (Larus glaucus), common in
arctic regions.
BURGONET
Bur"go*net, n. Etym: [F. bouruignotte, because the Burgundians, F.
Bouruignons, first used it.]
Defn: A kind of helmet. [Written also burganet.] Shak.
BURGOO
Bur"goo, n. Etym: [Prov. E. burgood yeast, perh. fr. W. burym yeast +
cawl cabbage, gruel.]
Defn: A kind of oatmeal pudding, or thick gruel, used by seamen.
[Written also burgout.]
BURGRASS
Bur"grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Grass of the genus Cenchrus, growing in sand, and having burs
for fruit.
BURGRAVE
Bur"grave, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Burggrave.
BURGUNDY
Bur"gun*dy, n.
1. An old province of France (in the eastern central part).
2. A richly flavored wine, mostly red, made in Burgundy, France.
Burgundy pitch, a resinous substance prepared from the exudation of
the Norway spruce (Abies excelsa) by melting in hot water and
straining through cloth. The genuine Burgundy pitch, supposed to have
been first prepared in Burgundy, is rare, but there are many
imitations. It has a yellowish brown color, is translucent and hard,
but viscous. It is used in medicinal plasters.
BURH
Burh, n.
Defn: See Burg. [Obs.]
BURHEL; BURRHEL
Bur"hel, Burr"hel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wild Himalayan, or blue, sheep (Ovis burrhel).
BURIAL
Bur"i*al, n. Etym: [OE. buriel, buriels, grave, tomb, AS. byrgels,
fr. byrgan to bury, and akin to OS. burgisli sepulcher.]
1. A grave; a tomb; a place of sepulture. [Obs.]
The erthe schook, and stoones weren cloven, and biriels weren opened.
Wycliff [Matt. xxvii. 51, 52].
2. The act of burying; depositing a dead body in the earth, in a tomb
or vault, or in the water, usually with attendant ceremonies;
sepulture; interment. "To give a public burial." Shak.
Now to glorious burial slowly borne. Tennyson.
Burial case, a form of coffin, usually of iron, made to close air-
tight, for the preservation of a dead body.
-- Burial ground, a piece of ground selected and set apart for a
place of buriials, and consecrated to such use by religious
ceremonies.
-- Burial place, any place where burials are made.
-- Burial service. (a) The religious service performed at the
interment of the dead; a funeral service. (b) That portion of a
liturgy which is read at an interment; as, the English burial
service.
Syn.
-- Sepulture; interment; inhumation.
BURIER
Bur"i*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, buries.
Till the buriers have buried it. Ezek. xxxix. 15.
And darkness be the burier of the dead. Shak.
BURIN
Bu"rin, n. Etym: [F. burin, cf. It. burino, bulino; prob. from OHG.
bora borer, boron to bore, G. bohren. See 1st Bore.]
1. The cutting tool of an engraver on metal, used in line engraving.
It is made of tempered steel, one end being ground off obliquely so
as to produce a sharp point, and the other end inserted in a handle;
a graver; also, the similarly shaped tool used by workers in marble.
2. The manner or style of execution of an engraver; as, a soft burin;
a brilliant burin.
BURINIST
Bu"rin*ist, n.
Defn: One who works with the burin. For. Quart. Rev.
BURION
Bu"ri*on, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-breasted house sparrow of California (Carpodacus
frontalis); -- called also crimson-fronted bullfinch. [Written also
burrion.]
BURKE
Burke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burkeder, p. pr. & vb.n. Burkinger.] Etym:
[From one Burke of Edinburgh, who committed the crime in 1829.]
1. To murder by suffocation, or so as to produce few marks of
violence, for the purpose of obtaining a body to be sold for
dissection.
2. To dispose of quietly or indirectly; to suppress; to smother; to
shelve; as, to burke a parliamentary question.
The court could not burke an inquiry, supported by such a mass of a
affidavits. C. Reade.
BURKISM
Burk"ism, n.
Defn: The practice of killing persons for the purpose of selling
their bodies for dissection.
BURL
Burl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burled (; p. pr. & vb. n. Burling.] Etym:
[OE. burle stuffing, or a knot in cloth; cf. F. bourlet, bourrelet,
OF. bourel, a wreath or a roll of cloth, linen, or leather, stuffed
with flocks, etc., dim. of bourre. *92. See Bur.]
Defn: To dress or finish up (cloth); to pick knots, burs, loose
threads, etc., from, as in finishing cloth. Burling iron, a peculiar
kind of nippers or tweezers used in burling woolen cloth.
BURL
Burl, n.
1. A knot or lump in thread or cloth.
2. An overgrown knot, or an excrescence, on a tree; also, veneer made
from such excrescences.
BURLAP
Bur"lap, n.
Defn: A coarse fabric, made of jute or hemp, used for bagging; also,
a finer variety of similar material, used for curtains, etc. [Written
also burlaps.]
BURLER
Burl"er, n.
Defn: One who burls or dresses cloth.
BURLESQUE
Bur*lesque", a. Etym: [F. burlesque, fr. It. burlesco, fr. burla
jest, mockery, perh. for burrula, dim. of L. burrae trifles. See
Bur.]
Defn: Tending to excite laughter or contempt by extravagant images,
or by a contrast between the subject and the manner of treating it,
as when a trifling subject is treated with mock gravity; jocular;
ironical.
It is a dispute among the critics, whether burlesque poetry runs best
in heroic verse, like that of the Dispensary, or in doggerel, like
that of Hudibras. Addison.
BURLESQUE
Bur*lesque", n.
1. Ludicrous representation; exaggerated parody; grotesque satire.
Burlesque is therefore of two kinds; the first represents mean
persons in the accouterments of heroes, the other describes great
persons acting and speaking like the basest among the people.
Addison.
2. An ironical or satirical composition intended to excite laughter,
or to ridicule anything.
The dull burlesque appeared with impudence, And pleased by novelty in
spite of sense. Dryden.
3. A ludicrous imitation; a caricature; a travesty; a gross
perversion.
Who is it that admires, and from the heart is attached to, national
representative assemblies, but must turn with horror and disgust from
such a profane burlesque and abominable perversion of that sacred
institute Burke.
Syn.
-- Mockery; farce; travesty; mimicry.
BURLESQUE
Bur*lesque", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burlesqued; p. pr. & vb. n.
Burlesquing.]
Defn: To ridicule, or to make ludicrous by grotesque representation
in action or in language.
They burlesqued the prophet Jeremiah's words, and turned the
expression he used into ridicule. Stillingfleet.
BURLESQUE
Bur*lesque", v. i.
Defn: To employ burlesque.
BURLESQUER
Bur*les"quer, n.
Defn: One who burlesques.
BURLETTA
Bur*let"ta, n. Etym: [It., dim. of burla mockery. See Burlesque, a.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A comic operetta; a music farce. Byron.
BURLINESS
Bur"li*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being burly.
BURLY
Bur"ly, a. Etym: [OE. burlich strong, excellent; perh. orig. fit for
a lady's bower, hence handsome, manly, stout. Cf. Bower.]
1. Having a large, strong, or gross body; stout; lusty; -- now used
chiefly of human beings, but formerly of animals, in the sense of
stately or beautiful, and of inanimate things that were huge and
bulky. "Burly sacks." Drayton.
In his latter days, with overliberal diet, [he was] somewhat
corpulent and burly. Sir T. More.
Burly and big, and studious of his ease. Cowper.
2. Coarse and rough; boisterous.
It was the orator's own burly way of nonsense. Cowley.
BURMAN
Bur"man, n.; pl. Burmans (. Etym: ["The softened modern M'yan-ma,
M'yan-ma [native name] is the source of the European corruption
Burma." Balfour.], (Ethnol.)
Defn: A member of the Burman family, one of the four great families
Burmah; also, sometimes, any inhabitant of Burmah; a Burmese.
-- a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Burmans or to Burmah.
BUR MARIGOLD
Bur" mar"i*gold.
Defn: See Beggar's ticks.
BURMESE
Bur`mese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Burmah, or its inhabitants.
-- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or the natives of Burmah. Also (sing.), the language
of the Burmans.
BURN
Burn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burned (Burnt (p. pr. & vb. n. Burning.]
Etym: [OE. bernen, brennen, v.t., early confused with beornen,
birnen, v.i., AS. bærnan, bernan, v.t., birnan, v.i.; akin to OS.
brinnan, OFries. barna, berna, OHG. brinnan, brennan, G. brennen, OD.
bernen, D. branden, Dan. brænde, Sw. bränna, brinna, Icel. brenna,
Goth. brinnan, brannjan (in comp.), and possibly to E. fervent.]
1. To consume with fire; to reduce to ashes by the action of heat or
fire; -- frequently intensified by up: as, to burn up wood. "We'll
burn his body in the holy place." Shak.
2. To injure by fire or heat; to change destructively some property
or properties of, by undue exposure to fire or heat; to scorch; to
scald; to blister; to singe; to char; to sear; as, to burn steel in
forging; to burn one's face in the sun; the sun burns the grass.
3. To perfect or improve by fire or heat; to submit to the action of
fire or heat for some economic purpose; to destroy or change some
property or properties of, by exposure to fire or heat in due degree
for obtaining a desired residuum, product, or effect; to bake; as, to
burn clay in making bricks or pottery; to burn wood so as to produce
charcoal; to burn limestone for the lime.
4. To make or produce, as an effect or result, by the application of
fire or heat; as, to burn a hole; to burn charcoal; to burn letters
into a block.
5. To consume, injure, or change the condition of, as if by action of
fire or heat; to affect as fire or heat does; as, to burn the mouth
with pepper.
This tyrant fever burns me up. Shak.
This dry sorrow burns up all my tears. Dryden.
When the cold north wind bloweth, . . . it devoureth the mountains,
and burneth the wilderness, and consumeth the Ecclus. xliii. 20, 21.
6. (Surg.)
Defn: To apply a cautery to; to cauterize.
7. (Chem.)
Defn: To cause to combine with oxygen or other active agent, with
evolution of heat; to consume; to oxidize; as, a man burns a certain
amount of carbon at each respiration; to burn iron in oxygen. To
burn, To burn together, as two surfaces of metal (Engin.), to fuse
and unite them by pouring over them a quantity of the same metal in a
liquid state.
-- To burn a bowl (Game of Bowls), to displace it accidentally, the
bowl so displaced being said to be burned.
-- To burn daylight, to light candles before it is dark; to waste
time; to perform superfluous actions. Shak.
-- To burn one's fingers, to get one's self into unexpected trouble,
as by interfering the concerns of others, speculation, etc.
-- To burn out, to destroy or obliterate by burning. "Must you with
hot irons burn out mine eyes" Shak.
-- To be burned out, to suffer loss by fire, as the burning of one's
house, store, or shop, with the contents.
-- To burn up, To burn down, to burn entirely.
BURN
Burn, v. i.
1. To be of fire; to flame. "The mount burned with fire." Deut. ix.
15.
2. To suffer from, or be scorched by, an excess of heat.
Your meat doth burn, quoth I. Shak.
3. To have a condition, quality, appearance, sensation, or emotion,
as if on fire or excessively heated; to act or rage with destructive
violence; to be in a state of lively emotion or strong desire; as,
the face burns; to burn with fever.
Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way
Luke xxiv. 32.
The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne, Burned on the water.
Shak.
Burning with high hope. Byron.
The groan still deepens, and the combat burns. Pope.
The parching air Burns frore, and cold performs the effect of fire.
Milton.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: To combine energetically, with evolution of heat; as, copper
burns in chlorine.
5. In certain games, to approach near to a concealed object which is
sought. [Colloq.] To burn out, to burn till the fuel is exhausted.
-- To burn up, To burn down, to be entirely consumed.
BURN
Burn, n.
1. A hurt, injury, or effect caused by fire or excessive or intense
heat.
2. The operation or result of burning or baking, as in brickmaking;
as, they have a good burn.
3. A disease in vegetables. See Brand, n., 6.
BURN
Burn, n. Etym: [See 1st Bourn.]
Defn: A small stream. [Scot.]
BURNABLE
Burn"a*ble, a.
Defn: Combustible. Cotgrave.
BURNED
Burned, p. p. & a.
Defn: See Burnt.
BURNED
Burned, p. p.
Defn: Burnished. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BURNER
Burn"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, burns or sets fire to anything.
2. The part of a lamp, gas fixture, etc., where the flame is
produced. Bunsen's burner (Chem.), a kind of burner, invented by
Professor Bunsen of Heidelberg, consisting of a straight tube, four
or five inches in length, having small holes for the entrance of air
at the bottom. Illuminating gas being also admitted at the bottom, a
mixture of gas and air is formed which burns at the top with a feebly
luminous but intensely hot flame.
-- Argand burner, Rose burner, etc. See under Argand, Rose, etc.
BURNET
Bur"net, n. Etym: [OE. burnet burnet; also, brownish (the plant perh.
being named from its color), fr. F. brunet, dim. of brun brown; cf.
OF. brunete a sort of flower. See Brunette.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial herbs (Poterium); especially,
P.Sanguisorba, the common, or garden, burnet. Burnet moth (Zoöl.), in
England, a handsome moth (Zygæna filipendula), with crimson spots on
the wings.
-- Burnet saxifrage. (Bot.) See Saxifrage.
-- Canadian burnet, a marsh plant (Poterium Canadensis).
-- Great burnet, Wild burnet, Poterium (or Sanguisorba) oficinalis.
BURNETTIZE
Bur"nett*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnettized (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Burnettizing.] (Manuf.)
Defn: To subject (wood, fabrics, etc.) to a process of saturation in
a solution of chloride of zinc, to prevent decay; -- a process
invented by Sir William Burnett.
BURNIE
Burn"ie, n. Etym: [See 4th Burn.]
Defn: A small brook. [Scot.] Burns.
BURNIEBEE
Bur"nie*bee`, n.
Defn: The ladybird. [Prov. Eng.]
BURNING
Burn"ing, a.
1. That burns; being on fire; excessively hot; fiery.
2. Consuming; intense; inflaming; exciting; vehement; powerful; as,
burning zeal.
Like a young hound upon a burning scent. Dryden.
Burning bush (Bot.), an ornamental shrub (Euonymus atropurpureus),
bearing a crimson berry.
BURNING
Burn"ing, n.
Defn: The act of consuming by fire or heat, or of subjecting to the
effect of fire or heat; the state of being on fire or excessively
heated. Burning fluid, any volatile illuminating oil, as the lighter
petroleums (naphtha, benzine), or oil of turpentine (camphine), but
esp. a mixture of the latter with alcohol.
-- Burning glass, a conxex lens of considerable size, used for
producing an intense heat by converging the sun's rays to a focus.
-- Burning house (Metal.), the furnace in which tin ores are
calcined, to sublime the sulphur and arsenic from the pyrites. Weale.
-- Burning mirror, a concave mirror, or a combination of plane
mirrors, used for the same purpose as a burning glass.
Syn.
-- Combustion; fire; conflagration; flame; blaze.
BURNISH
Bur"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Burnished; p. pr. & vb. n. Burnishing.]
Etym: [OE. burnischen, burnissen, burnen, OF. burnir, brunir, to make
brown, polish, F. brunir, fr. F. brun brown, fr. OHG. br; cf. MHG.
briunen to make brown, polish. See Brown, a.]
Defn: To cause to shine; to make smooth and bright; to polish;
specifically, to polish by rubbing with something hard and smooth;
as, to burnish brass or paper.
The frame of burnished steel, that east a glare From far, and seemed
to thaw the freezing air. Dryden.
Now the village windows blaze, Burnished by the setting sun.
Cunningham.
Burnishing machine, a machine for smoothing and polishing by
compression, as in making paper collars.
BURNISH
Bur"nish, v. i.
Defn: To shine forth; to brighten; to become smooth and glossy, as
from swelling or filling out; hence, to grow large.
A slender poet must have time to grow, And spread and burnish as his
brothers do. Dryden.
My thoughts began to burnish, sprout, and swell. Herbert.
BURNISH
Bur"nish, n.
Defn: The effect of burnishing; gloss; brightness; luster. Crashaw.
BURNISHER
Bur"nish*er, n.
1. One who burnishes.
2. A tool with a hard, smooth, rounded end or surface, as of steel,
ivory, or agate, used in smoothing or polishing by rubbing. It has a
variety of forms adapted to special uses.
BURNOOSE; BURNOUS
Bur"noose, Bur"nous, n. Etym: [Ar. burnus a kind of high-crowned cap:
cf. F. bournous, burnous, Sp. al-bornoz, a sort of upper garment,
with a hood attached.]
1. A cloaklike garment and hood woven in one piece, worn by Arabs.
2. A combination cloak and hood worn by women. [Variously written
bournous, bernouse, bornous, etc.]
BURNSTICKLE
Burn"stic`kle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus).
BURNT
Burnt, p. p. & a.
Defn: Consumed with, or as with, fire; scorched or dried, as with
fire or heat; baked or hardened in the fire or the sun. Burnt ear, a
black, powdery fungus which destroys grain. See Smut.
-- Burnt offering, something offered and burnt on an altar, as an
atonement for sin; a sacrifice. The offerings of the Jews were a
clean animal, as an ox, a calf, a goat, or a sheep; or some vegetable
substance, as bread, or ears of wheat or barley. Called also burnt
sacrifice. [2 Sam. xxiv. 22.]
BURR
Burr, n. Etym: [See Bur.] (Bot.)
1. A prickly seed vessel. See Bur, 1.
2. The thin edge or ridge left by a tool in cutting or shaping metal,
as in turning, engraving, pressing, etc.; also, the rough neck left
on a bullet in casting.
The graver, in plowing furrows in the surface of the copper, raises
corresponding ridges or burrs. Tomlinson.
3. A thin flat piece of metal, formed from a sheet by punching; a
small washer put on the end of a rivet before it is swaged down.
4. A broad iron ring on a tilting lance just below the gripe, to
prevent the hand from slipping.
5. The lobe or lap of the ear.
6. Etym: [Probably of imitative origin.]
Defn: A guttural pronounciation of the letter r, produced by trilling
the extremity of the soft palate against the back part of the tongue;
rotacism; -- often called the Newcastle, Northumberland, or
Tweedside, burr.
7. The knot at the bottom of an antler. See Bur, n., 8.
BURR
Burr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Burred; p. pr. & vb. n. Burring.]
Defn: To speak with burr; to make a hoarse or guttural murmur. Mrs.
Browning.
BURREL
Bur"rel, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. burel reddish (cf. Borel, n.), or F.
beurré butter pear, fr. beurre butter. Cf. Butter.]
Defn: A sort of pear, called also the red butter pear, from its
smooth, delicious, soft pulp.
BURREL
Bur"rel, n.
Defn: Same as Borrel.
BURREL FLY
Bur"rel fly`. Etym: [From its reddish color. See 1st Burrel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The botfly or gadfly of cattle (Hypoderma bovis). See Gadfly.
BURREL SHOT
Bur"rel shot`. Etym: [Either from annoying the enemy like a burrel
fly, or, less probably, fr. F. bourreler to sting, torture.] (Gun.)
Defn: A mixture of shot, nails, stones, pieces of old iron, etc.,
fired from a cannon at short range, in an emergency. [R.]
BURRING MACHINE
Burr"ing ma*chine".
Defn: A machine for cleansing wool of burs, seeds, and other
substances.
BURR MILLSTONE
Burr" mill"stone`.
Defn: See Buhrstone.
BURRO
Bur"ro, n. Etym: [Sp., an ass.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A donkey. [Southern U.S.]
BURROCK
Bur"rock, n. Etym: [Perh. from AS. burg, burh, hill + -ock.]
Defn: A small weir or dam in a river to direct the stream to gaps
where fish traps are placed. Knight.
BURROW
Bur"row, n. Etym: [See 1st Borough.]
1. An incorporated town. See 1st Borough.
2. A shelter; esp. a hole in the ground made by certain animals, as
rabbits, for shelter and habitation.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A heap or heaps of rubbish or refuse.
4. A mound. See 3d Barrow, and Camp, n., 5.
BURROW
Bur"row, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Burrowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Burrowing.]
1. To excavate a hole to lodge in, as in the earth; to lodge in a
hole excavated in the earth, as conies or rabbits.
2. To lodge, or take refuge, in any deep or concealed place; to hide.
Sir, this vermin of court reporters, when they are forced into day
upon one point, are sure to burrow in another. Burke.
Burrowing owl (Zoöl.), a small owl of the western part of North
America (Speotyto cunicularia), which lives in holes, often in
company with the prairie dog.
BURROWER
Bur"row*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, burrows; an animal that makes a hole
under ground and lives in it.
BURRSTONE
Burr"stone`, n.
Defn: See Buhrstone.
BURRY
Burr"y, a.
Defn: Abounding in burs, or containing burs; resembling burs; as,
burry wool.
BURSA
Bur"sa, n.; pl. Bursæ (. Etym: [L. See Burse.] (Anat.)
Defn: Any sac or saclike cavity; especially, one of the synovial
sacs, or small spaces, often lined with synovial membrane, interposed
between tendons and bony prominences.
BURSAL
Bur"sal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a bursa or to bursæ.
BURSAR
Bur"sar, n. Etym: [LL. bursarius, fr. bursa purse. See Burse, and cf.
Purser.]
1. A treasurer, or cash keeper; a purser; as, the bursar of a
college, or of a monastery.
2. A student to whom a stipend or bursary is paid for his complete or
partial support.
BURSARSHIP
Bur"sar*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a bursar.
BURSARY
Bur"sa*ry, n.; pl. -ries. Etym: [LL. bursaria. See Bursar.]
1. The treasury of a college or monastery.
2. A scholarship or charitable foundation in a university, as in
scotland; a sum given to enable a student to pursue his studies. "No
woman of rank or fortune but would have a bursary in her gift."
Southey.
BURSCH
Bursch, n.; pl. Burschen. Etym: [G., ultimately fr. LL. bursa. See
Burse.]
Defn: A youth; especially, a student in a german university.
BURSCHENSCHAFT
Bur"schen*schaft`, n.; pl. -schaften (#). [G.]
Defn: In Germany, any of various associations of university students
formed (the original one at Jena in 1815) to support liberal ideas,
or the organization formed by the affiliation of the local bodies.
The organization was suppressed by the government in 1819, but was
secretly revived, and is now openly maintained as a social
organization, the restrictive laws having been repealed prior to
1849. -- Bur"schen*schaft`ler (#), -schaf`ter (#), n.
BURSE
Burse, n. Etym: [LL. bursa, or F. bourse. See Bourse, and cf. Bursch,
Purse.]
1. A purse; also, a vesicle; a pod; a hull. [Obs.] Holland.
2. A fund or foundation for the maintenance of needy scholars in
their studies; also, the sum given to the beneficiaries. [Scot.]
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: An ornamental case of hold the corporal when not in use.
Shipley.
4. An exchange, for merchants and bankers, in the cities of
continental Europe. Same as Bourse.
5. A kind of bazaar. [Obs.]
She says she went to the burse for patterns. Old Play.
BURSICULATE
Bur*sic"u*late, a. Etym: [See Burse.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bursiform.
BURSIFORM
Bur"si*form, a. Etym: [LL. bursa purse + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a purse.
BURSITIS
Bur*si"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. bursa + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of a bursa.
BURST
Burst, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Burst; p. pr. & vb. n. Bursting. The past
participle bursten is obsolete.] Etym: [OE. bersten, bresten, AS.
berstan (pers. sing. berste, imp. sing. bærst, imp. pl. burston, p.p.
borsten); akin to D. bersten, G. bersten, OHG. brestan, OS. brestan,
Icel. bresta, Sw. brista, Dan. briste. Cf. Brast, Break.]
1. To fly apart or in pieces; of break open; to yield to force or
pressure, especially to a sudden and violent exertion of force, or to
pressure from within; to explode; as, the boiler had burst; the buds
will burst in spring.
From the egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosed
Their callow young. Milton.
Note: Often used figuratively, as of the heart, in reference to a
surcharge of passion, grief, desire, etc.
No, no, my heart will burst, an if I speak: And I will speak, that so
my heart may burst. Shak.
2. To exert force or pressure by which something is made suddenly to
give way; to break through obstacles or limitations; hence, to appear
suddenly and unexpecedly or unaccountably, or to depart in such
manner; -- usually with some qualifying adverb or preposition, as
forth, out, away, into, upon, through, etc.
Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth. Milton.
And now you burst (ah cruel!) from my arms. Pope.
A resolved villain Whose bowels suddenly burst out. Shak.
We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea. Coleridge.
To burst upon him like an earthquake. Goldsmith.
BURST
Burst, v. t.
1. To break or rend by violence, as by an overcharge or by strain or
pressure, esp. from within; to force open suddenly; as, to burst a
cannon; to burst a blood vessel; to burst open the doors.
My breast I'll burst with straining of my courage. Shak.
2. To break. [Obs.]
You will not pay for the glasses you have burst Shak.
He burst his lance against the sand below. Fairfax (Tasso).
3. To produce as an effect of bursting; as, to burst a hole through
the wall. Bursting charge. See under Charge.
BURST
Burst, n.
1. A sudden breaking forth; a violent rending; an explosion; as, a
burst of thunder; a burst of applause; a burst of passion; a burst of
inspiration.
Bursts of fox-hunting melody. W. Irving.
2. Any brief, violent evertion or effort; a spurt; as, a burst of
speed.
3. A sudden opening, as of landscape; a stretch; an expanse. [R.] "A
fine burst of country." Jane Austen.
4. A rupture of hernia; a breach.
BURSTEN
Burst"en,
Defn: p. p. of Burst, v. i. [Obs.]
BURSTER
Burst"er, n.
Defn: One that bursts.
BURSTWORT
Burst"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Herniaria glabra) supposed to be valuable for the cure
of hernia or rupture.
BURT
Burt, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Birt. [Prov. Eng.]
BURTHEN
Bur"then, n. & v. t.
Defn: See Burden. [Archaic]
BURTON
Bur"ton, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. & Prov. E. bort to press or indent
anything.] (Naut.)
Defn: A peculiar tackle, formed of two or more blocks, or pulleys,
the weight being suspended of a hook block in the bight of the
running part.
BURY
Bur"y, n. Etym: [See 1st Borough.]
1. A borough; a manor; as, the Bury of St. Edmond's; --
Note: used as a termination of names of places; as, Canterbury,
Shrewsbury.
2. A manor house; a castle. [Prov. Eng.]
To this very day, the chief house of a manor, or the lord's seat, is
called bury, in some parts of England. Miege.
BURY
Bur"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buried; p. pr. & vb. n. Burying.] Etym:
[OE. burien, birien, berien, AS. byrgan; akin to beorgan to protect,
OHG. bergan, G. bergen, Icel. bjarga, Sw. berga, Dan. bierge, Goth.
baírgan. sq. root95. Cf. Burrow.]
1. To cover out of sight, either by heaping something over, or by
placing within something, as earth, etc.; to conceal by covering; to
hide; as, to bury coals in ashes; to bury the face in the hands.
And all their confidence Under the weight of mountains buried deep.
Milton.
2. Specifically: To cover out of sight, as the body of a deceased
person, in a grave, a tomb, or the ocean; to deposit (a corpse) in
its resting place, with funeral ceremonies; to inter; to inhume.
Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Matt. viii. 21.
I'll bury thee in a triumphant grave. Shak.
3. To hide in oblivion; to put away finally; to abandon; as, to bury
strife.
Give me a bowl of wine In this I bury all unkindness, Cassius. Shak.
Burying beetle (Zoöl.), the general name of many species of beetles,
of the tribe Necrophaga; the sexton beetle; -- so called from their
habit of burying small dead animals by digging away the earth beneath
them. The larvæ feed upon decaying flesh, and are useful scavengers.
-- To bury the hatchet, to lay aside the instruments of war, and
make peace; -- a phrase used in allusion to the custom observed by
the North American Indians, of burying a tomahawk when they conclude
a peace.
Syn.
-- To intomb; inter; inhume; inurn; hide; cover; conceal; overwhelm;
repress.
BURYING GROUND; BURYING PLACE
Bur"y*ing ground`, Bur"y*ing place.
Defn: The ground or place for burying the dead; burial place.
BUS
Bus, n. Etym: [Abbreviated from omnibus.]
Defn: An omnibus. [Colloq.]
BUSBY
Bus"by, n.; pl. Busbies (. (Mil.)
Defn: A military headdress or cap, used in the British army. It is of
fur, with a bag, of the same color as the facings of the regiment,
hanging from the top over the right shoulder.
BUSCON
Bus"con, n. Etym: [Sp., a searcher, fr. buscar to search.]
Defn: One who searches for ores; a prospector. [U.S.]
BUSH
Bush, n. Etym: [OE. bosch, busch, buysch, bosk, busk; akin to D.
bosch, OHG. busc, G. busch, Icel. b, b, Dan. busk, Sw. buske, and
also to LL. boscus, buscus, Pr. bosc, It. bosco, Sp. & Pg. bosque, F.
bois, OF. bos. Whether the LL. or G. form ibox a case. Cf. Ambush,
Boscage, Bouquet, Box a case.]
1. A thicket, or place abounding in trees or shrubs; a wild forest.
Note: This was the original sense of the word, as in the Dutch bosch,
a wood, and was so used by Chaucer. In this sense it is extensively
used in the British colonies, especially at the Cape of Good Hope,
and also in Australia and Canada; as, to live or settle in the bush.
2. A shrub; esp., a shrub with branches rising from or near the root;
a thick shrub or a cluster of shrubs.
To bind a bush of thorns among sweet-smelling flowers. Gascoigne.
3. A shrub cut off, or a shrublike branch of a tree; as, bushes to
support pea vines.
4. A shrub or branch, properly, a branch of ivy (as sacred to
Bacchus), hung out at vintners' doors, or as a tavern sign; hence, a
tavern sign, and symbolically, the tavern itself.
If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 't is true that a good
play needs no epilogue. Shak.
5. (Hunting)
Defn: The tail, or brush, of a fox. To beat about the bush, to
approach anything in a round-about manner, instead of coming directly
to it; -- a metaphor taken from hunting.
-- Bush bean (Bot.), a variety of bean which is low and requires no
support (Phaseolus vulgaris, variety nanus). See Bean, 1.
-- Bush buck, or Bush goat (Zoöl.), a beautiful South African
antelope (Tragelaphus sylvaticus); -- so called because found mainly
in wooden localities. The name is also applied to other species.
-- Bush cat (Zoöl.), the serval. See Serval.
-- Bush chat (Zoöl.), a bird of the genus Pratincola, of the Thrush
family.
-- Bush dog. (Zoöl.) See Potto.
-- Bush hammer. See Bushhammer in the Vocabulary.
-- Bush harrow (Agric.) See under Harrow.
-- Bush hog (Zoöl.), a South African wild hog (Potamochoerus
Africanus); -- called also bush pig, and water hog.
-- Bush master (Zoöl.), a venomous snake (Lachesis mutus) of Guinea;
-- called also surucucu.
-- Bush pea (Bot.), a variety of pea that needs to be bushed.
-- Bush shrike (Zoöl.), a bird of the genus Thamnophilus, and allied
genera; -- called also batarg. Many species inhabit tropical America.
-- Bush tit (Zoöl.), a small bird of the genus Psaltriparus, allied
to the titmouse. P. minimus inhabits California.
BUSH
Bush, v. i.
Defn: To branch thickly in the manner of a bush. "The bushing
alders." Pope.
BUSH
Bush, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bushed (p. pr. & vb.n. Bushing.]
1. To set bushes for; to support with bushes; as, to bush peas.
2. To use a bush harrow on (land), for covering seeds sown; to harrow
with a bush; as, to bush a piece of land; to bush seeds into the
ground.
BUSH
Bush, n. Etym: [D. bus a box, akin to E. box; or F. boucher to plug.]
1. (Mech.)
Defn: A lining for a hole to make it smaller; a thimble or ring of
metal or wood inserted in a plate or other part of machinery to
receive the wear of a pivot or arbor. Knight.
Note: In the larger machines, such a piece is called a box,
particularly in the United States.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: A piece of copper, screwed into a gun, through which the
venthole is bored. Farrow.
BUSH
Bush, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a bush, or lining; as, to bush a pivot hole.
BUSHBOY
Bush"boy, n.
Defn: See Bushman.
BUSHEL
Bush"el, n. Etym: [OE. buschel, boischel, OF. boissel, bussel,
boistel, F. boisseau, LL. bustellus; dim. of bustia, buxida (OF.
boiste), fr. pyxida, acc. of L. pyxis box, Gr. Box.]
1. A dry measure, containing four pecks, eight gallons, or thirty-two
quarts.
Note: The Winchester bushel, formerly used in England, contained
2150.42 cubic inches, being the volume of a cylinder 18
2. A vessel of the capacity of a bushel, used in measuring; a bushel
measure.
Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed, and not
to be set on a candlestick Mark iv. 21.
3. A quantity that fills a bushel measure; as, a heap containing ten
bushels of apples.
Note: In the United States a large number of articles, bought and
sold by the bushel, are measured by weighing, the number of pounds
that make a bushel being determined by State law or by local custom.
For some articles, as apples, potatoes, etc., heaped measure is
required in measuring a bushel.
4. A large indefinite quantity. [Colloq.]
The worthies of antiquity bought the rarest pictures with bushels of
gold, without counting the weight or the number of the pieces.
Dryden.
5. The iron lining in the nave of a wheel. [Eng.] In the United
States it is called a box. See 4th Bush.
BUSHELAGE
Bush"el*age, n.
Defn: A duty payable on commodities by the bushel. [Eng.]
BUSHELMAN
Bush"el*man, n.
Defn: A tailor's assistant for repairing garments; -- called also
busheler. [Local, U.S.]
BUSHET
Bush"et, n. Etym: [See Bosket.]
Defn: A small bush.
BUSHFIGHTER
Bush"fight`er, n.
Defn: One accustomed to bushfighting. Parkman.
BUSHFIGHTING
Bush"fight`ing, n.
Defn: Fighting in the bush, or from behind bushes, trees, or
thickets.
BUSHHAMMER
Bush"ham`mer, n.
Defn: A hammer with a head formed of a bundle of square bars, with
pyramidal points, arranged in rows, or a solid head with a face cut
into a number of rows of such points; -- used for dressing stone.
BUSHHAMMER
Bush"ham`mer, v. t.
Defn: To dress with bushhammer; as, to bushhammer a block of granite.
BUSHIDO
Bu"shi`do` (boo"she`do`), n. [Jap. bu military + shi knight + do way,
doctrine, principle.]
Defn: The unwritten code of moral principles regulating the actions
of the Japanese knighthood, or Samurai; the chivalry of Japan.
Unformulated, Bushido was and still is the animating spirit, the
motor force of our country.
Inazo Nitobé.
BUSHINESS
Bush"i*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being bushy.
BUSHING
Bush"ing, n. Etym: [See 4th Bush.]
1. The operation of fitting bushes, or linings, into holes or places
where wear is to be received, or friction diminished, as pivot holes,
etc.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A bush or lining; -- sometimes called . See 4th Bush.
BUSHLESS
Bush"less, a.
Defn: Free from bushes; bare.
O'er the long backs of the bushless downs. Tennyson.
BUSHMAN
Bush"man, n.; pl. Bushmen. Etym: [Cf. D. boschman, boschjesman. See
1st Bush.]
1. A woodsman; a settler in the bush.
2. (Ethnol.)
Defn: One of a race of South African nomads, living principally in
the deserts, and not classified as allied in race or language to any
other people.
BUSHMENT
Bush"ment, n. Etym: [OE. busshement ambush, fr. bush.]
1. A thicket; a cluster of bushes. [Obs.] Raleigh.
2. An ambuscade. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
BUSHRANGER
Bush"ran`ger, n.
Defn: One who roams, or hides, among the bushes; especially, in
Australia, an escaped criminal living in the bush.
BUSHWHACKER
Bush"whack`er, n.
1. One accustomed to beat about, or travel through, bushes. [U.S.]
They were gallant bushwhackers, and hunters of raccoons by moonlight.
W. Irving.
2. A guerrilla; a marauding assassin; one who pretends to be a
peaceful citizen, but secretly harasses a hostile force or its
sympathizers. [U.S.] Farrow.
BUSHWHACKING
Bush"whack`ing, n.
1. Traveling, or working a way, through bushes; pulling by the
bushes, as in hauling a boat along the bushy margin of a stream.
[U.S.] T. Flint.
2. The crimes or warfare of bushwhackers. [U.S.]
BUSHY
Bush"y, a. Etym: [From 1st Bush.]
1. Thick and spreading, like a bush. "Bushy eyebrows." Irving.
2. Full of bushes; overgrowing with shrubs.
Dingle, or bushy dell, of this wild wood. Milton.
BUSILY
Bus"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a busy manner.
BUSINESS
Busi"ness, n.; pl. Businesses. Etym: [From Busy.]
1. That which busies one, or that which engages the time, attention,
or labor of any one, as his principal concern or interest, whether
for a longer or shorter time; constant employment; regular
occupation; as, the business of life; business before pleasure.
Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business Luke ii. 49.
2. Any particular occupation or employment engaged in for livelihood
or gain, as agriculture, trade, art, or a profession. "The business
of instruction." Prescott.
3. Financial dealings; buying and selling; traffic in general;
mercantile transactions.
It seldom happens that men of a studious turn acquire any degree of
reputation for their knowledge of business. Bp. Popteus.
4. That which one has to do or should do; special service, duty, or
mission.
The daughter of the King of France, On serious business, craving
quick despatch, Importunes personal conference. Shak.
What business has the tortoise among the clouds L'Estrange.
5. Affair; concern; matter; -- used in an indefinite sense, and
modified by the connected words.
It was a gentle business, and becoming The action of good women.
Shak.
Bestow Your needful counsel to our business. Shak.
6. (Drama)
Defn: The position, distribution, and order of persons and properties
on the stage of a theater, as determined by the stage manager in
rehearsal.
7. Care; anxiety; diligence. [Obs.] Chaucer. To do one's business, to
ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley.
-- To make (a thing) one's business, to occupy one's self with a
thing as a special charge or duty. [Colloq.] -- To mean business, to
be earnest. [Colloq.]
Syn.
-- Affairs; concern; transaction; matter; engagement; employment;
calling; occupation; trade; profession; vocation; office; duty.
BUSINESSLIKE
Busi"ness*like`, a.
Defn: In the manner of one transacting business wisely and by right
methods.
BUSK
Busk, n. Etym: [F. busc, perh. fr. the hypothetical older form of E.
bois wood, because the first busks were made of wood. See Bush, and
cf. OF. busche, F. bûche, a piece or log of wood, fr. the same root.]
Defn: A thin, elastic strip of metal, whalebone, wood, or other
material, worn in the front of a corset.
Her long slit sleeves, stiff busk, puff verdingall, Is all that makes
her thus angelical. Marston.
BUSK
Busk, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Busked.] Etym: [OE. busken, fr. Icel.
b to make one's self ready, rexlexive of b to prepare, dwell. Cf. 8th
Bound.]
1. To prepare; to make ready; to array; to dress. [Scot. & Old Eng.]
Busk you, busk you, my bonny, bonny bride. Hamilton.
2. To go; to direct one's course. [Obs.]
Ye might have busked you to Huntly banks. Skelton.
BUSKED
Busked, a.
Defn: Wearing a busk. Pollok.
BUSKET
Bus"ket, n. Etym: [See Bosket, Bouquet.]
1. A small bush; also, a sprig or bouquet. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. A part of a garden devoted to shrubs. [R.]
BUSKIN
Bus"kin, n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. brossequin, or D. broosken. See
Brodekin.]
1. A strong, protecting covering for the foot, coming some distance
up the leg.
The hunted red deer's undressed hide Their hairy buskins well
supplied. Sir W. Scott.
2. A similar covering for the foot and leg, made with very thick
soles, to give an appearance of elevation to the stature; -- worn by
tragic actors in ancient Greece and Rome. Used as a symbol of
tragedy, or the tragic drama, as distinguished from comedy.
Great Fletcher never treads in buskins here, No greater Jonson dares
in socks appear. Dryden.
BUSKINED
Bus"kined, a.
1. Wearing buskins.
Her buskined virgins traced the dewy lawn. Pope.
2. Trodden by buskins; pertaining to tragedy. "The buskined stage."
Milton.
BUSKY
Bus"ky, a.
Defn: See Bosky, and 1st Bush, n. Shak.
BUSS
Buss, n. Etym: [OE. basse, fr. L. basium; cf. G. bus (Luther), Prov.
G. busserl, dim. of bus kiss, bussen to kiss, Sw. puss kiss, pussa to
kiss, W. & Gael. bus lip, mouth.]
Defn: A kiss; a rude or playful kiss; a smack. Shak.
BUSS
Buss, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bussed; p. pr. & vb. n. Bussing.]
Defn: To kiss; esp. to kiss with a smack, or rudely. "Nor bussed the
milking maid." Tennyson.
Kissing and bussing differ both in this, We buss our wantons, but our
wives we kiss. Herrick.
BUSS
Buss, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. busse, Pr. bus, LL. bussa, busa, G. büse, D.
buis.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small strong vessel with two masts and two cabins; -- used in
the herring fishery.
The Dutch whalers and herring busses. Macaulay.
BUST
Bust, n. Etym: [F. buste, fr. It. busto; cf. LL. busta, bustula, box,
of the same origin as E. box a case; cf., for the change of meaning,
E. chest. See Bushel.]
1. A piece of sculpture representing the upper part of the human
figure, including the head, shoulders, and breast.
Ambition sighed: she found it vain to trust The faithless column, and
the crumbling bust. Pope.
2. The portion of the human figure included between the head and
waist, whether in statuary or in the person; the chest or thorax; the
upper part of the trunk of the body.
BUSTARD
Bus"tard, n. Etym: [OF. & Prov. F. bistarde, F. outarde, from L. avis
tarda, lit., slow bird. Plin. 10, 22; "proximæ iis sunt, quas
Hispania aves tardas appellat, Græcia (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Otis.
Note: The great or bearded bustard (Otis tarda) is the largest game
bird in Europe. It inhabits the temperate regions of Europe and Asia,
and was formerly common in Great Britain. The little bustard (O.
tetrax) inhabits eastern Europe and Morocco. Many other species are
known in Asia and Africa.
BUSTER
Bus"ter, n.
Defn: Something huge; a roistering blade; also, a spree. [Slang,
U.S.] Bartlett.
BUSTLE
Bus"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bustled (p. pr. & vb.n. Bustling ( Etym:
[Cf. OE. buskle, perh. fr. AS. bysig busy, bysg-ian to busy + the
verbal termination -le; or Icel. bustla to splash, bustle.]
Defn: To move noisily; to be rudely active; to move in a way to cause
agitation or disturbance; as, to bustle through a crowd.
And leave the world for me to bustle in. Shak.
BUSTLE
Bus"tle, n.
Defn: Great stir; agitation; tumult from stirring or excitement.
A strange bustle and disturbance in the world. South.
BUSTLE
Bus"tle, n.
Defn: A kind of pad or cushion worn on the back below the waist, by
women, to give fullness to the skirts; -- called also bishop, and
tournure.
BUSTLER
Bus"tler, n.
Defn: An active, stirring person.
BUSTLING
Bus"tling, a.
Defn: Agitated; noisy; tumultuous; characterized by confused
activity; as, a bustling crowd. "A bustling wharf." Hawthorne.
BUSTO
Bus"to, n.; pl. Bustoes (/plu. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A bust; a statue.
With some antick bustoes in the niches. Ashmole.
BUSY
Bus"y, a. Etym: [OE. busi, bisi, AS. bysig; akin to D. bezig, LG.
besig; cf. Skr. bh to be active, busy.]
1. Engaged in some business; hard at work (either habitually or only
for the time being); occupied with serious affairs; not idle nor at
leisure; as, a busy merchant.
Sir, my mistress sends you word THat she is busy, and she can not
come. Shak.
2. Constantly at work; diligent; active.
Busy hammers closing rivets up. Shak.
Religious motives . . . are so busy in the heart. Addison.
3. Crowded with business or activities; -- said of places and times;
as, a busy street.
To-morrow is a busy day. Shak.
4. Officious; meddling; foolish active.
On meddling monkey, or on busy ape. Shak.
5. Careful; anxious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Diligent; industrious; assiduous; active; occupied; engaged.
BUSY
Bus"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Busied; p. pr. & vb. n. Busying.] Etym:
[AS. bysgian.]
Defn: To make or keep busy; to employ; to engage or keep engaged; to
occupy; as, to busy one's self with books.
Be it thy course to busy giddy minds With foreign quarrels. Shak.
BUSYBODY
Bus"y*bod`y, n.; pl. Busybodies.
Defn: One who officiously concerns himself with the affairs of
others; a meddling person.
And not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things
which they ought not. 1 Tim. v. 13.
BUT
But, prep., adv. & conj. Etym: [OE. bute, buten, AS. b, without, on
the outside, except, besides; pref. be- + outward, without, fr. out.
Primarily, b, as well as , is an adverb. sq. root198. See By, Out;
cf. About.]
1. Except with; unless with; without. [Obs.]
So insolent that he could not go but either spurning equals or
trampling on his inferiors. Fuller.
Touch not the cat but a glove. Motto of the Mackintoshes.
2. Except; besides; save.
Who can it be, ye gods! but perjured Lycon E. Smith.
Note: In this sense, but is often used with other particles; as, but
for, without, had it not been for. "Uncreated but for love divine."
Young.
3. Excepting or excluding the fact that; save that; were it not that;
unless; -- elliptical, for but that.
And but my noble Moor is true of mind . . . it were enough to put him
to ill thinking. Shak.
4. Otherwise than that; that not; -- commonly, after a negative, with
that.
It cannot be but nature hath some director, of infinite power, to
guide her in all her ways. Hooker.
There is no question but the king of Spain will reform most of the
abuses. Addison.
5. Only; solely; merely.
Observe but how their own principles combat one another. Milton.
If they kill us, we shall but die. 2 Kings vii. 4.
A formidable man but to his friends. Dryden.
6. On the contrary; on the other hand; only; yet; still; however;
nevertheless; more; further; -- as connective of sentences or clauses
of a sentence, in a sense more or less exceptive or adversative; as,
the House of Representatives passed the bill, but the Senate
dissented; our wants are many, but quite of another kind.
Now abideth faith hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of
these is charity. 1 Cor. xiii. 13.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.
Prov. xi. 2.
All but. See under All.
-- But and if, but if; an attempt on the part of King James's
translators of the Bible to express the conjunctive and adversative
force of the Greek
But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his
coming; . . . the lord of that servant will come in a day when he
looketh not for him. Luke xii. 45, 46.
But if, unless. [Obs.] Chaucer.
But this I read, that but if remedy Thou her afford, full shortly I
her dead shall see. Spenser.
Syn.
-- But, However, Still. These conjunctions mark opposition in
passing from one thought or topic to another. But marks the
opposition with a medium degree of strength; as, this is not winter,
but it is almost as cold; he requested my assistance, but I shall not
aid him at present. However is weaker, and throws the opposition (as
it were) into the background; as, this is not winter; it is, however,
almost as cold; he required my assistance; at present, however, I
shall not afford him aid. The plan, however, is still under
consideration, and may yet be adopted. Still is stronger than but,
and marks the opposition more emphatically; as, your arguments are
weighty; still they do not convince me. See Except, However.
Note: "The chief error with but is to use it where and is enough; an
error springing from the tendency to use strong words without
sufficient occasio,." Bain.
BUT
But, n. Etym: [Cf. But, prep., adv. & conj.]
Defn: The outer apartment or kitchen of a two-roomed house; --
opposed to ben, the inner room. [Scot.]
BUT
But, n. Etym: [See 1st But.]
1. A limit; a boundary.
2. The end; esp. the larger or thicker end, or the blunt, in
distinction from the sharp, end. See 1st Butt. But end, the larger or
thicker end; as, the but end of a log; the but end of a musket. See
Butt, n.
BUT
But, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Butted; p. pr. & vb. n. Butting.]
Defn: See Butt, v., and Abut, v.
BUTANE
Bu"tane, n. Etym: [L. butyrum butter. See Butter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An inflammable gaseous hydrocarbon, C4H10, of the marsh gas, or
paraffin, series.
BUTCHER
Butch"er, n. Etym: [OE. bochere, bochier, OF. bochier, F. boucher,
orig., slaughterer of buck goats, fr. OF. boc, F. bouc, a buck goat;
of German or Celtic origin. See Buck the animal.]
1. One who slaughters animals, or dresses their flesh for market; one
whose occupation it is to kill animals for food.
2. A slaughterer; one who kills in large numbers, or with unusual
cruelty; one who causes needless loss of life, as in battle. "Butcher
of an innocent child." Shak. Butcher bird (Zoöl.), a species of
shrike of the genus Lanius.
Note: The Lanius excubitor is the common butcher bird of Europe. In
England, the bearded tit is sometimes called the lesser butcher bird.
The American species are L.borealis, or northernbutcher bird, and L.
Ludovicianus or loggerhead shrike. The name butcher birdis derived
from its habit of suspending its prey impaled upon thorns, after
killing it. Butcher's meat, such flesh of animals slaughtered for
food as is sold for that purpose by butchers, as beef, mutton, lamb,
and pork.
BUTCHER
Butch"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Butchered (; p. pr. & vb.n.
Butchering.]
1. To kill or slaughter (animals) for food, or for market; as, to
butcher hogs.
2. To murder, or kill, especially in an unusually bloody or barbarous
manner. Macaulay.
[Ithocles] was murdered, rather butchered. Ford.
BUTCHERING
Butch"er*ing, n.
1. The business of a butcher.
2. The act of slaughtering; the act of killing cruelly and
needlessly.
That dreadful butchering of one another. Addison.
BUTCHERLINESS
Butch"er*li*ness, n.
Defn: Butchery quality.
BUTCHERLY
Butch"er*ly, a.
Defn: Like a butcher; without compunction; savage; bloody; inhuman;
fell. "The victim of a butcherly murder." D. Webster.
What stratagems, how fell, how butcherly, This deadly quarrel daily
doth beget! Shak.
BUTCHER'S BROOM
Butch"er's broom`. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (Ruscus); esp. R. aculeatus, which has large
red berries and leaflike branches. See Cladophyll.
BUTCHERY
Butch"er*y, n. Etym: [OE. bocherie shambles, fr. F. boucherie. See
Butcher, n.]
1. The business of a butcher. [Obs.]
2. Murder or manslaughter, esp. when committed with unusual
barbarity; great or cruel slaughter. Shak.
The perpetration of human butchery. Prescott.
3. A slaughterhouse; the shambles; a place where blood is shed.
[Obs.]
Like as an ox is hanged in the butchery. Fabyan.
Syn.
-- Murder; slaughter; carnage. See Massacre.
BUTLER
But"ler, n. Etym: [OE. boteler, F. bouteillier a bottle-bearer, a
cupbearer, fr. LL. buticularius, fr. buticula bottle. See Bottle a
hollow vessel.]
Defn: An officer in a king's or a nobleman's household, whose
principal business it is to take charge of the liquors, plate, etc.;
the head servant in a large house.
The butler and the baker of the king of Egypt. Gen. xl. 5.
Your wine locked up, your butler strolled abroad. Pope.
BUTLERAGE
But"ler*age, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A duty of two shillings on every tun of wine imported into
England by merchant strangers; -- so called because paid to the
king's butler for the king. Blackstone.
BUTLERSHIP
But"ler*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a butler.
BUTMENT
But"ment, n. Etym: [Abbreviation of Abutment.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A buttress of an arch; the supporter, or that part which joins
it to the upright pier.
2. (Masonry)
Defn: The mass of stone or solid work at the end of a bridge, by
which the extreme arches are sustained, or by which the end of a
bridge without arches is supported. Butment cheek (Carp.), the part
of a mortised timber surrounding the mortise, and against which the
shoulders of the tenon bear. Knight.
BUTT; BUT
Butt, But, n. Etym: [F. but butt, aim (cf. butte knoll), or bout, OF.
bot, end, extremity, fr. boter, buter, to push, butt, strike, F.
bouter; of German origin; cf. OHG. bozan, akin to E. beat. See Beat,
v. t.]
1. A limit; a bound; a goal; the extreme bound; the end.
Here is my journey's end, here my butt And very sea mark of my utmost
sail. Shak.
Note: As applied to land, the word is nearly synonymous with mete,
and signifies properly the end line or boundary; the abuttal.
2. The thicker end of anything. See But.
3. A mark to be shot at; a target. Sir W. Scott.
The groom his fellow groom at butts defies, And bends his bow, and
levels with his eyes. Dryden.
4. A person at whom ridicule, jest, or contempt is directed; as, the
butt of the company.
I played a sentence or two at my butt, which I thought very smart.
Addison.
5. A push, thrust, or sudden blow, given by the head of an animal;
as, the butt of a ram.
6. A thrust in fencing.
To prove who gave the fairer butt, John shows the chalk on Robert's
coat. Prior.
7. A piece of land left unplowed at the end of a field.
The hay was growing upon headlands and butts in cornfields. Burrill.
8. (Mech.)
(a) A joint where the ends of two objects come squarely together
without scrafing or chamfering; -- also called butt joint.
(b) The end of a connecting rod or other like piece, to which the
boxing is attached by the strap, cotter, and gib.
(c) The portion of a half-coupling fastened to the end of a hose.
9. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: The joint where two planks in a strake meet.
10. (Carp.)
Defn: A kind of hinge used in hanging doors, etc.; -- so named
because fastened on the edge of the door, which butts against the
casing, instead of on its face, like the strap hinge; also called
butt hinge.
11. (Leather Trade)
Defn: The thickest and stoutest part of tanned oxhides, used for
soles of boots, harness, trunks.
12. The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in
rifle practice. Butt chain (Saddlery), a short chain attached to the
end of a tug.
-- Butt end. The thicker end of anything. See But end, under 2d But.
Amen; and make me die a good old man! That's the butt end of a
mother's blessing. Shak.
A butt's length, the ordinary distance from the place of shooting to
the butt, or mark.
-- Butts and bounds (Conveyancing), abuttals and boundaries. In
lands of the ordinary rectangular shape, butts are the lines at the
ends (F. bouts), and bounds are those on the sides, or sidings, as
they were formerly termed. Burrill.
-- Bead and butt. See under Bead.
-- Butt and butt, joining end to end without overlapping, as planks.
-- Butt weld (Mech.), a butt joint, made by welding together the
flat ends, or edges, of a piece of iron or steel, or of separate
pieces, without having them overlap. See Weld.
-- Full butt, headfirst with full force. [Colloq.] "The corporal . .
. ran full butt at the lieutenant." Marryat.
BUTT
Butt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Butted; p. pr. & vb. n. Butting.] Etym:
[OE. butten, OF. boter to push, F. bouter. See Butt an end, and cf.
Boutade.]
1. To join at the butt, end, or outward extremity; to terminate; to
be bounded; to abut. [Written also but.]
And Barnsdale there doth butt on Don's well-watered ground. Drayton.
2. To thrust the head forward; to strike by thrusting the head
forward, as an ox or a ram. [See Butt, n.]
A snow-white steer before thine altar led, Butts with his threatening
brows. Dryden.
BUTT
Butt, v. t.
Defn: To strike by thrusting the head against; to strike with the
head.
Two harmless lambs are butting one the other. Sir H. Wotton.
BUTT
Butt, n. Etym: [F. botte, boute, LL. butta. Cf. Bottle a hollow
vessel.]
Defn: A large cask or vessel for wine or beer. It contains two
hogsheads.
Note: A wine butt contains 126 wine gallons (= 105 imperial gallons,
nearly); a beer butt 108 ale gallons (= about 110 imperial gallons).
BUTT
Butt, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common English flounder.
BUTTE
Butte, n. Etym: [F. See Butt a bound.]
Defn: A detached low mountain, or high rising abruptly from the
general level of the surrounding plain; -- applied to peculiar
elevations in the Rocky Mountain region.
The creek . . . passes by two remarkable buttes of red conglomerate.
Ruxton.
BUTTER
But"ter, n. Etym: [OE. botere, butter, AS. butere, fr. L. butyrum,
Gr. Cow.]
1. An oily, unctuous substance obtained from cream or milk by
churning.
2. Any substance resembling butter in degree of consistence, or other
qualities, especially, in old chemistry, the chloridess, as butter of
antimony, sesquichloride of antimony; also, certain concrete fat oils
remaining nearly solid at ordinary temperatures, as butter of cacao,
vegetable butter, shea butter. Butter and eggs (Bot.), a name given
to several plants having flowers of two shades of yellow, as
Narcissus incomparabilis, and in the United States to the toadflax
(Linaria vulgaris).
-- Butter boat, a small vessel for holding melted butter at table.
-- Butter flower, the buttercup, a yellow flower.
-- Butter print, a piece of carved wood used to mark pats of butter;
-- called also butter stamp. Locke.
-- Butter tooth, either of the two middle incisors of the upper jaw.
-- Butter tree (Bot.), a tree of the genus Bassia, the seeds of
which yield a substance closely resembling butter. The butter tree of
India is the B. butyracea; that of Africa is the Shea tree (B.
Parkii). See Shea tree.
-- Butter trier, a tool used in sampling butter.
-- Butter wife, a woman who makes or sells butter; -- called also
butter woman. [Obs. or Archaic]
BUTTER
But"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buttered (p. pr. & vb. n. Buttering.]
1. To cover or spread with butter.
I know what's what. I know on which side My bread is buttered. Ford.
2. To increase, as stakes, at every throw or every game. [Cant]
Johnson.
BUTTER
Butt"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, butts.
BUTTERBALL
But"ter*ball`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The buffel duck.
BUTTERBIRD
But"ter*bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The rice bunting or bobolink; -- so called in the island of
Jamaica.
BUTTERBUMP
But"ter*bump`, n. Etym: [OE. buttur the bittern + 5th bump.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bittern. Johnson.
BUTTERBUR
But"ter*bur`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A broad-leaved plant (Petasites vulgaris) of the Composite
family, said to have been used in England for wrapping up pats of
butter.
BUTTERCUP
But"ter*cup`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Ranunculus, or crowfoot, particularly R.
bulbosus, with bright yellow flowers; -- called also butterflower,
golden cup, and kingcup. It is the cuckoobud of Shakespeare.
BUTTER-FINGERED
But"ter-fin`gered, a.
Defn: Apt to let things fall, or to let them slip away; slippery;
careless.
BUTTERFISH
But"ter*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to several different fishes, in allusion to their
slippery coating of mucus, as the Stromateus triacanthus of the
Atlantic coast, the Epinephelus punctatus of the southern coast, the
rock eel, and the kelpfish of New Zealand.
BUTTERFLY
But"ter*fly`, n.; pl. Butterflies. Etym: [Perh. from the color of a
yellow species. AS. buter-flege, buttor-fleóge; cf. G. butterfliege,
D. botervlieg. See Butter, and Fly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A general name for the numerous species of diurnal Lepidoptera.
Note: [See Illust. under Aphrodite.] Asclepias butterfly. See under
Asclepias.
-- Butterfly fish (Zoöl.), the ocellated blenny (Blennius ocellaris)
of Europe. See Blenny. The term is also applied to the flying
gurnard.
-- Butterfly shell (Zoöl.), a shell of the genus Voluta.
-- Butterfly valve (Mech.), a kind of double clack valve, consisting
of two semicircular clappers or wings hinged to a cross rib in the
pump bucket. When open it somewhat resembles a butterfly in shape.
BUTTERINE
But"ter*ine, n.
Defn: A substance prepared from animal fat with some other
ingredients intermixed, as an imitation of butter.
The manufacturers ship large quantities of oleomargarine to England,
Holland, and other countries, to be manufactured into butter, which
is sold as butterine or suine. Johnson's Cyc.
BUTTERIS
But"ter*is, n. Etym: [The same word as buttress, noun, in a different
application, F. bouter to push.] (Far.)
Defn: A steel cutting instrument, with a long bent shank set in a
handle which rests against the shoulder of the operator. It is
operated by a thrust movement, and used in paring the hoofs of
horses.
BUTTERMAN
But"ter*man`, n.; pl. Buttermen (.
Defn: A man who makes or sells butter.
BUTTERMILK
But"ter*milk`, n.
Defn: The milk that remains after the butter is separated from the
cream.
BUTTERNUT
But"ter*nut`, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An American tree (Juglans cinerea) of the Walnut family, and
its edible fruit; -- so called from the oil contained in the latter.
Sometimes called oil nut and white walnut.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The nut of the Caryocar butyrosum and C. nuciferum, of S.
America; -- called also Souari nut.
BUTTER-SCOTCH
But"ter-scotch`, n.
Defn: A kind of candy, mainly composed of sugar and butter. [Colloq.]
Dickens.
BUTTERWEED
But"ter*weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An annual composite plant of the Mississippi valley (Senecio
lobatus).
BUTTERWEIGHT
But"ter*weight`, n.
Defn: Over weight. Swift.
Note: Formerly it was a custom to give 18 ounces of butter for a
pound.
BUTTERWORT
But"ter*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of low herbs (Pinguicula) having simple leaves which
secrete from their glandular upper surface a viscid fluid, to which
insects adhere, after which the margin infolds and the insects are
digested by the plant. The species are found mostly in the North
Temperate zone.
BUTTERY
But"ter*y, a.
Defn: Having the qualities, consistence, or appearance, of butter.
BUTTERY
But"ter*y, n.; pl. Buttplwies (. Etym: [OE. botery, botry; cf. LL.
botaria wine vessel; also OE. botelerie, fr. F. bouteillerie, fr.
boutellie bottle. Not derived from butter. See Bottle a hollow
vessel, Butt a cask.]
1. An apartment in a house where butter, milk and other provisions
are kept.
All that need a cool and fresh temper, as cellars, pantries, and
butteries, to the north. Sir H. Wotton.
2. A room in some English colleges where liquors, fruit, and
refreshments are kept for sale to the students.
And the major Oxford kept the buttery bar. E. Hall.
3. A cellar in which butts of wine are kept. Weale. Buttery hatch, a
half door between the buttery or kitchen and the hall, in old
mansions, over which provisions were passed. Wright.
BUTT HINGE
Butt" hinge`.
Defn: See 1st Butt, 10.
BUT-THORN
But"-thorn`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common European starfish (Asterias rubens).
BUTTING
But"ting, n.
Defn: An abuttal; a boundary.
Without buttings or boundings on any side. Bp. Beveridge.
BUTTING JOINT
But"ting joint`.
Defn: A joint between two pieces of timber or wood, at the end of one
or both, and either at right angles or oblique to the grain, as the
joints which the struts and braces form with the truss posts; --
sometimes called abutting joint.
BUTT JOINT
Butt" joint`.
Defn: A joint in which the edges or ends of the pieces united come
squarely together instead of overlapping. See 1st Butt, 8.
BUTTOCK
But"tock, n. Etym: [From Butt an end.]
1. The part at the back of the hip, which, in man, forms one of the
rounded protuberances on which he sits; the rump.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The convexity of a ship behind, under the stern. Mar. Dict.
BUTTON
But"ton, n. Etym: [OE. boton, botoun, F. bouton button, bud, prop.
something pushing out, fr. bouter to push. See Butt an end.]
1. A knob; a small ball; a small, roundish mass.
2. A catch, of various forms and materials, used to fasten together
the different parts of dress, by being attached to one part, and
passing through a slit, called a buttonhole, in the other; -- used
also for ornament.
3. A bud; a germ of a plant. Shak.
4. A piece of wood or metal, usually flat and elongated, turning on a
nail or screw, to fasten something, as a door.
5. A globule of metal remaining onan assay cupel or in a crucible,
after fusion. Button hook, a hook for catching a button and drawing
it through a buttonhole, as in buttoning boots and gloves.
-- Button shell (Zoöl.), a small, univalve marine shell of the genus
Rotella.
-- Button snakeroot. (Bot.) (a) The American composite genus
Liatris, having rounded buttonlike heads of flowers. (b) An American
umbelliferous plant with rigid, narrow leaves, and flowers in dense
heads.
-- Button tree (Bot.), a genus of trees (Conocarpus), furnishing
durable timber, mostly natives of the West Indies.
-- To hold by the button, to detain in conversation to weariness; to
bore; to buttonhole.
BUTTON
But"ton, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buttoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Buttoning.]
Etym: [OE. botonen, OF. botoner, F. boutonner. See Button, n.]
1. To fasten with a button or buttons; to inclose or make secure with
buttons; -- often followed by up.
He was a tall, fat, long-bodied man, buttoned up to the throat in a
tight green coat. Dickens.
2. To dress or clothe. [Obs.] Shak.
BUTTON
But"ton, v. i.
Defn: To be fastened by a button or buttons; as, the coat will not
button.
BUTTONBALL
But"ton*ball`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Buttonwood.
BUTTONBUSH
But"ton*bush`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (Cephalanthus occidentalis) growing by the waterside; -
- so called from its globular head of flowers. See Capitulum.
BUTTONHOLE
But"ton*hole`, n.
Defn: The hole or loop in which a button is caught.
BUTTONHOLE
But"ton*hole`, v. t.
Defn: To hold at the button or buttonhole; to detain in conversation
to weariness; to bore; as, he buttonholed me a quarter of an hour.
BUTTONMOLD
But"ton*mold`, n.
Defn: A disk of bone, wood, or other material, which is made into a
button by covering it with cloth. [Written also buttonmould.] Fossil
buttonmolds, joints of encrinites. See Encrinite.
BUTTONS
But"tons, n.
Defn: A boy servant, or page, -- in allusion to the buttons on his
livry. [Colloq.] Dickens.
BUTTONWEED
But"ton*weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several plants of the genera Spermacoce and Diodia,
of the Madder family.
BUTTONWOOD
But"ton*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The Platanus occidentalis, or American plane tree, a large
tree, producing rough balls, from which it is named; -- called also
buttonball tree, and, in some parts of the United States, sycamore.
The California buttonwood is P. racemosa.
BUTTONY
But"ton*y, a.
Defn: Ornamented with a large number of buttons. "The buttony boy."
Thackeray. "My coat so blue and buttony." W. S. Gilbert.
BUTTRESS
But"tress, n. Etym: [OE. butrasse, boterace, fr. F. bouter to push;
cf. OF. bouteret (nom. sing. and acc. pl. bouterez) buttress. See
Butt an end, and cf. Butteris.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting mass of masonry, used for resisting the thrust of
an arch, or for ornament and symmetry.
Note: When an external projection is used merely to stiffen a wall,
it is a pier.
2. Anything which supports or strengthens. "The ground pillar and
buttress of the good old cause of nonconformity." South. Flying
buttress. See Flying buttress.
BUTTRESS
But"tress, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Buttressed (p. pr. & vb. n.
Buttressing.]
Defn: To support with a buttress; to prop; to brace firmly.
To set it upright again, and to prop and buttress it up for duration.
Burke.
BUTT SHAFT
Butt" shaft`
Defn: An arrow without a barb, for shooting at butts; an arrow. [Also
but shaft.] Shak.
BUTT WELD
Butt" weld`.
Defn: See Butt weld, under Butt.
BUTTWELD
Butt"weld`, v. t.
Defn: To unite by a butt weld.
BUTTY
But"ty, n. (Mining)
Defn: One who mines by contract, at so much per ton of coal or ore.
BUTYL
Bu"tyl, n. Etym: [L. butyrum butter + -yl. See Butter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound radical, regarded as butane, less one atom of
hydrogen.
BUTYLAMINE
Bu`tyl*am"ine, n. [Butyric + -yl + amine.] (Org. Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid base, C4H9NH2, of which there are four
isomeric varieties.
BUTYLENE
Bu"ty*lene, n. Etym: [From Butyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three metameric hydrocarbons, C4H8, of the ethylene
series. They are gaseous or easily liquefiable.
BUTYRACEOUS
Bu`ty*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. butyrum butter. See Butter.]
Defn: Having the qualities of butter; resembling butter.
BUTYRATE
Bu"ty*rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of butyric acid.
BUTYRIC
Bu*tyr"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, butter. Butyric acid,
C3H7.CO2H, an acid found in butter; an oily, limpid fluid, having the
smell of rancid butter, and an acrid taste, with a sweetish
aftertaste, like that of ether. There are two metameric butyric
acids, called in distinction the normal- and iso-butyric acid. The
normal butyric acid is the one common in rancid butter.
BUTYRIN
Bu"ty*rin, n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A butyrate of glycerin; a fat contained in small quantity in
milk, which helps to give to butter its peculiar flavor.
BUTYROMETER
Bu`ty*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. butyrum butter + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for determining the amount of fatty matter or
butter contained in a sample of milk.
BUTYRONE
Bu"ty*rone, n. Etym: [Butyric + -one.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid ketone obtained by heating calcium butyrate.
BUTYROUS
Bu"ty*rous, a.
Defn: Butyraceous.
BUTYRYL
Bu"ty*ryl, n. [Butyric + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The radical (C4H7O) of butyric acid.
BUXEOUS
Bux"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. buxeus, fr. buxus the box tree.]
Defn: Belonging to the box tree.
BUXINE
Bux"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid obtained from the Buxus sempervirens, or common box
tree. It is identical with bebeerine; -- called also buxina.
BUXOM
Bux"om, a. Etym: [OE. buxum, boxom, buhsum, pliable, obedient, AS.
bocsum, buhsum (akin to D. buigzaam blexible, G. biegsam); bugan to
bow, bend + -sum, E. -some. See Bow to bend, and -some.]
1. Yielding; pliable or compliant; ready to obey; obedient;
tractable; docile; meek; humble. [Obs.]
So wild a beast, so tame ytaught to be, And buxom to his bands, is
joy to see. Spenser.
I submit myself unto this holy church of Christ, to be ever buxom and
obedient to the ordinance of it. Foxe.
2. Having the characteristics of health, vigor, and comeliness,
combined with a gay, lively manner; stout and rosy; jolly;
frolicsome.
A daughter fair, So buxom, blithe, and debonair. Milton.
A parcel of buxom bonny dames, that were laughing, singing, dancing,
and as merry as the day was long. Tatler.
-- Bux"om*ly, adv.
-- Bux"om*ness, n.
BUY
Buy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bought; p. pr. & vb. n. Buying.] Etym: [OE.
buggen, buggen, bien, AS. bycgan, akin to OS. buggean, Goth. bugjan.]
1. To acquire the ownership of (property) by giving an accepted price
or consideration therefor, or by agreeing to do so; to acquire by the
payment of a price or value; to purchase; -- opposed to sell.
Buy what thou hast no need of, and ere long thou wilt sell thy
necessaries. B. Franklin.
2. To acquire or procure by something given or done in exchange,
literally or figuratively; to get, at a cost or sacrifice; to buy
pleasure with pain.
Buy the truth and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and
understanding. Prov. xxiii. 23.
To buy again. See Againbuy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- To buy off. (a) To influence to compliance; to cause to bend or
yield by some consideration; as, to buy off conscience. (b) To detach
by a consideration given; as, to buy off one from a party.
-- To buy out (a) To buy off, or detach from. Shak. (b) To purchase
the share or shares of in a stock, fund, or partnership, by which the
seller is separated from the company, and the purchaser takes his
place; as, A buys out B. (c) To purchase the entire stock in trade
and the good will of a business.
-- To buy in, to purchase stock in any fund or partnership.
-- To buy on credit, to purchase, on a promise, in fact or in law,
to make payment at a future day.
-- To buy the refusal (of anything), to give a consideration for the
right of purchasing, at a fixed price, at a future time.
BUY
Buy, v. i.
Defn: To negotiate or treat about a purchase.
I will buy with you, sell with you. Shak.
BUYER
Buy"er, n.
Defn: One who buys; a purchaser.
BUZ
Buz, v. & n.
Defn: See Buzz. [Obs.]
BUZZ
Buzz, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Buzzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Buzzing.] Etym: [An
onomatopoeia.]
Defn: To make a low, continuous, humming or sibilant sound, like that
made by bees with their wings. Hence: To utter a murmuring sound; to
speak with a low, humming voice.
Like a wasp is buzzed, and stung him. Longfellow.
However these disturbers of our peace Buzz in the people's ears.
Shak.
BUZZ
Buzz, v. t.
1. To sound forth by buzzing. Shak.
2. To whisper; to communicate, as tales, in an under tone; to spread,
as report, by whispers, or secretly.
I will buzz abroad such prophecies That Edward shall be fearful of
his life. Shak.
3. To talk to incessantly or confidentially in a low humming voice.
[Colloq.]
4. (Phonetics)
Defn: To sound with a "buzz". H. Sweet.
BUZZ
Buzz, n.
1. A continuous, humming noise, as of bees; a confused murmur, as of
general conversation in low tones, or of a general expression of
surprise or approbation. "The constant buzz of a fly." Macaulay.
I found the whole room in a buzz of politics. Addison.
There is a buzz all around regarding the sermon. Thackeray.
2. A whisper; a report spread secretly or cautiously.
There's a certain buzz Of a stolen marriage. Massinger.
3. (Phonetics)
Defn: The audible friction of voice consonants. H. Sweet.
BUZZARD
Buz"zard, n.Etym: [O.E. busard, bosard, F. busard, fr. buse, L.
buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of prey of the Hawk family, belonging to the genus Buteo
and related genera.
Note: The Buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of Europe. The
American species (of which the most common are B. borealis, B.
Pennsylvanicus, and B. lineatus) are usually called hen hawks.
-- The rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of Europe (Pernis
apivorus) feeds on bees and their larvæ, with other insects, and
reptiles.
-- The moor buzzard of Europe is Circus æruginosus. See Turkey
buzzard, and Carrion buzzard. Bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey.
See Fishhawk.
2. A blockhead; a dunce.
It is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not be taught, or who
continues obstinately ignorant, a buzzard. Goldsmith.
BUZZARD
Buz"zard, a.
Defn: Senseless; stupid. [R.& Obs.] Milton.
BUZZARDET
Buz"zard*et`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hawk resembling the buzzard, but with legs relatively longer.
BUZZER
Buzz"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, buzzes; a whisperer; a talebearer.
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear With pestilent speeches of
his father's death. Shak.
BUZZINGLY
Buzz"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a buzzing manner; with a buzzing sound.
BUZZSAW
Buzz"saw`
Defn: A circular saw; -- so called from the buzzing it makes when
running at full speed.
BY
By, prep. Etym: [OE. bi, AS. bi, big, near to, by, of, from, after,
according to; akin to OS.& OFries. bi, be, D. bij, OHG. bi, G. bie,
Goth. bi, and perh. Gr.. E. prefix be- is orig.the same word. pref.
Be-.]
1. In the neighborhood of; near or next to; not far from; close to;
along with; as, come and sit by me.
By foundation or by shady rivulet He sought them both. Milton.
2. On; along; in traversing. Compare 5.
Long labors both by sea and land he bore. Dryden.
By land, by water, they renew the charge. Pope.
3. Near to, while passing; hence, from one to the other side of;
past; as, to go by a church.
4. Used in specifying adjacent dimensions; as, a cabin twenty feet by
forty.
5. Against. [Obs.] Tyndale [1. Cor. iv. 4].
6. With, as means, way, process, etc.; through means of; with aid of;
through; through the act or agency of; as, a city is destroyed by
fire; profit is made by commerce; to take by force.
Note: To the meaning of by, as denoting means or agency, belong, more
or less closely, most of the following uses of the word: (a) It
points out the author and producer; as, "Waverley", a novel by Sir
W.Scott; a statue by Canova; a sonata by Beethoven. (b) In an oath or
adjuration, it indicates the being or thing appealed to as sanction;
as, I affirm to you by all that is sacred; he swears by his faith as
a Christian; no, by Heaven. (c) According to; by direction,
authority, or example of; after; -- in such phrases as, it appears by
his account; ten o'clock by my watch; to live by rule; a model to
build by. (d) At the rate of; according to the ratio or proportion
of; in the measure or quantity of; as, to sell cloth by the yard,
milk by the quart, eggs by the dozen, meat by the pound; to board by
the year. (e) In comparison, it denotes the measure of excess or
deficiency; when anything is increased or diminished, it indicates
the measure of increase or diminution; as, larger by a half; older by
five years; to lessen by a third. (f) It expresses continuance or
duration; during the course of; within the period of; as, by day, by
night. (g) As soon as; not later than; near or at; -- used in
expressions of time; as, by this time the sun had risen; he will be
here by two o'clock.
Note: In boxing the compass, by indicates a pint nearer to, or
towards, the next cardinal point; as, north by east, i.e., a point
towards the east from the north; northeast by east, i.e., on point
nearer the east than northeast is.
Note: With is used instead of by before the instrument with which
anything is done; as, to beat one with a stick; the board was
fastened by the carpenter with nails. But there are many words which
may be regarded as means or processes, or, figuratively, as
instruments; and whether with or by shall be used with them is a
matter of arbitrary, and often, of unsettled usage; as, to a reduce a
town by famine; to consume stubble with fire; he gained his purpose
by flattery; he entertained them with a story; he distressed us with
or by a recital of his sufferings. see With. By all means, most
assuredly; without fail; certainly.
-- By and by. (a) Close together (of place). [Obs.] "Two yonge
knightes liggyng [lying] by and by." Chaucer. (b) Immediately; at
once. [Obs.] "When . . . persecution ariseth because of the word, by
and by he is offended." Matt. xiii. 21. (c) Presently; pretty soon;
before long.
Note: In this phrase, by seems to be used in the sense of nearness in
time, and to be repeated for the sake of emphasis, and thus to be
equivalent to "soon, and soon," that is instantly; hence, -- less
emphatically, -- pretty soon, presently.
-- By one's self, with only one's self near; alone; solitary.- By
the bye. See under Bye.
-- By the head (Naut.), having the bows lower than the stern; --
said of a vessel when her head is lower in the water than her stern.
If her stern is lower, she is by the stern.
-- By the lee, the situation of a vessel, going free, when she has
fallen off so much as to bring the wind round her stern, and to take
her sails aback on the other side.
-- By the run, to let go by the run, to let go altogether, instead
of slacking off.
-- By the way, by the bye; -- used to introduce an incidental or
secondary remark or subject. -Day by day, One by one, Piece by piece,
etc., each day, each one, each piece, etc., by itself singly or
separately; each severally.
-- To come by, to get possession of; to obtain.
-- To do by, to treat, to behave toward.
-- To set by, to value, to esteem.
-- To stand by, to aid, to support.
Note: The common phrase good-by is equivalent to farewell, and would
be better written good-bye, as it is a corruption of God be with you
(b'w'ye).
BY
By, adv.
1. Near; in the neighborhood; present; as, there was no person by at
the time.
2. Passing near; going past; past; beyond; as, the procession has
gone by; a bird flew by.
3. Aside; as, to lay by; to put by.
BY
By, a.
Defn: Out of the common path; aside; -- used in composition, giving
the meaning of something aside, secondary, or incidental, or
collateral matter, a thing private or avoiding notice; as, by-line,
by-place, by-play, by-street. It was formerly more freely used in
composition than it is now; as, by-business, by-concernment, by-
design, by-interest, etc.
BYARD
By"ard, n.
Defn: A piece of leather crossing the breast, used by the men who
drag sledges in coal mines.
BY-BIDDER
By"-bid`der, n.
Defn: One who bids at an auction in behalf of the auctioneer or
owner, for the purpose of running up the price of articles. [U.S.]
BY-BLOW
By"-blow`, n.
1. A side or incidental blow; an accidental blow.
With their by-blows they did split the very stones in pieces. Bunyan.
2. An illegitimate child; a bastard.
The Aga speedily . . . brought her [his disgraced slave] to court,
together with her pretty by-blow, the present Padre Ottomano. Evelyn.
BY-CORNER
By"-cor`ner, n.
Defn: A private corner.
Britain being a by-corner, out of the road of the world. Fuller.
BY-DEPENDENCE
By"-de*pend`ence, n.
Defn: An appendage; that which depends on something else, or is
distinct from the main dependence; an accessory. Shak.
BY-DRINKING
By"-drink`ing, n.
Defn: A drinking between meals. [Obs.]
BYE
Bye, n.
1. A thing not directly aimed at; something which is a secondary
object of regard; an object by the way, etc.; as in on or upon the
bye, i.e., in passing; indirectly; by implication. [Obs. except in
the phrase by the bye.]
The Synod of Dort condemneth upon the bye even the discipline of the
Church of England. Fuller.
2. (Cricket)
Defn: A run made upon a missed ball; as, to steal a bye. T. Hughes.
By the bye, in passing; by way of digression; apropos to the matter
in hand. [Written also by the by.]
BYE
Bye n. Etym: [AS.bbygbyggia, b, to dwell sq. root97.]
1. A dwelling. Gibson.
2. In certain games, a station or place of an individual player.
Emerson.
BY-ELECTION
By"-e*lec"tion, n.
Defn: An election held by itself, not at the time of a general
election.
BY-END
By"-end`, n.
Defn: Private end or interest; secret purpose; selfish advantage.
[Written also bye-end.]
"Profit or some other by-end." L'Estrange.
BYGONE
By"gone`, a.
Defn: Past; gone by. "Bygone fooleries." Shak
BYGONE
By"gone`, n.
Defn: Something gone by or past; a past event. "Let old bygones be"
Tennyson. Let bygones be bygones, let the past be forgotten.
BY-INTEREST
By"-in`ter*est, n.
Defn: Self-interest; private advantage. Atterbury.
BYLAND
By"land, n.
Defn: A peninsula. [Obs.]
BYLANDER
By"land*er, n.
Defn: See Bilander.[Obs.]
BY-LANE
By"-lane`, n.
Defn: A private lane, or one opening out of the usual road.
BY-LAW
By"-law` (, n. Etym: [Cf.Sw.bylag, D.bylov, Icel.b, fr.Sw.& Dan. by
town, Icel. bær, byr (fr. bûa to dwell) + the word for law; hence, a
law for one town, a special law. Cf.Birlaw and see Law.]
1. A local or subordinate law; a private law or regulation made by a
corporation for its own government.
There was likewise a law to restrain the by-laws, or ordinances of
corporations. Bacon.
The law or institution; to which are added two by-laws, as a comment
upon the general law. Addison.
2. A law that is less important than a general law or constitutional
provision, and subsidiary to it; a rule relating to a matter of
detail; as, civic societies often adopt a constitution and by-laws
for the government of their members. In this sense the word has
probably been influenced by by, meaning secondary or aside.
BY-NAME
By"-name`, n.
Defn: A nickname. Camden.
BYNAME
By"name`, v. t.
Defn: To give a nickname to. Camden.
BY-PASS
By"-pass, n. (Mech.)
Defn: A by-passage, for a pipe, or other channel, to divert
circulation from the usual course.
BY-PASSAGE
By"-pas`sage, n.
Defn: A passage different from the usual one; a byway.
BY-PAST
By"-past, a.
Defn: Past; gone by. "By-past perils." Shak.
BYPATH
By"path`, n.; pl. Bypaths(
Defn: A private path; an obscure way; indirect means.
God known, my son, By what bypaths, and indirect crooked ways, I met
this crown. Shak.
BY-PLACE
By"-place` (, n.
Defn: A retired or private place.
BYPLAY
By"play, n.
Defn: Action carried on aside, and commonly in dumb show, while the
main action proceeds.
BY-PRODUCT
By"-prod`uct, n.
Defn: A secondary or additional product; something produced, as in
the course of a manufacture, in addition to the principal product.
BYRE
Byre, n. Etym: [Cf, Icel. bür pantry, Sw. bur cage,Dan. buur,
E.bower.]
Defn: A cow house. [N. of Eng.& Scot.]
BY-RESPECT
By"-re*spect`, n.
Defn: Private end or view; by-interest. [Obs.] Dryden.
BYROAD
By"road`, n.
Defn: A private or obscure road. "Through slippery byroads" Swift.
BYRONIC
By"ron`ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or in the style of, Lord Byron.
With despair and Byronic misanthropy. Thackeray
BY-ROOM
By"-room`, n.
Defn: A private room or apartment. "Stand in some by-room" Shak.
BYSMOTTERED
By"*smot`ter*ed, p.a. Etym: [See Besmut.]
Defn: Bespotted with mud or dirt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
BY-SPEECH
By"-speech`(, n.
Defn: An incidental or casual speech, not directly relating to the
point. "To quote by-speeches." Hooker.
BY-SPELL
By"-spell`(, n. Etym: [AS. bigspell.]
Defn: A proverb. [Obs.]
BYSS
Byss, n.
Defn: See Byssus, n., 1.
BYSSACEOUS
Bys*sa"ceous, a. Etym: [From Byssus.] (Bot.)
Defn: Byssuslike; consisting of fine fibers or threads, as some very
delicate filamentous algæ.
BYSSIFEROUS
Bys*sif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Byssus + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing a byssus or tuft.
BYSSIN
Bys"sin, n.
Defn: See Byssus, n., 1.
BYSSINE
Bys"sine, a. Etym: [L. byssinus made of byssus, Gr.Byssus.]
Defn: Made of silk; having a silky or flaxlike appearance. Coles.
BYSSOID
Bys"soid, a. Etym: [Byssus + -oid.]
Defn: Byssaceous.
BYSSOLITE
Bys"so*lite, n. Etym: [Gr.-lite.] (Min.)
Defn: An olive-green fibrous variety of hornblende.
BYSSUS
Bys"sus, n.; pl. E. Byssuses(#); L. Byssi.(#) Etym: [L. byssus fine
flax, fine linen or cotton, Gr.
1. A cloth of exceedingly fine texture, used by the ancients. It is
disputed whether it was of cotton, linen, or silk. [Written also byss
and byssin.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tuft of long, tough filaments which are formed in a groove of
the foot, and issue from between the valves of certain bivalve
mollusks, as the Pinna and Mytilus, by which they attach themselves
to rocks, etc.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: An obsolete name for certain fungi composed of slender threads.
4. Asbestus.
BYSTANDER
By"stand`er, n. Etym: [By + stander, equiv. to stander-by; cf. AS.
big-standan to stand by or near.]
Defn: One who stands near; a spectator; one who has no concern with
the business transacting.
He addressed the bystanders and scattered pamphlets among them.
Palfrey.
Syn.
-- Looker on; spectator; beholder; observer.
BY-STREET
By"-street`, n.
Defn: A separate, private, or obscure street; an out of the way or
cross street.
He seeks by-streets, and saves the expensive coach. Gay.
BY-STROKE
By"-stroke`, n.
Defn: An accidental or a slyly given stroke.
BY-TURNING
By"-turn`ing, n.
Defn: An obscure road; a way turning from the main road. Sir P.
Sidney.
BY-VIEW
By"-view`(, n.
Defn: A private or selfish view; self-interested aim or purpose.
No by-views of his own shall mislead him. Atterbury.
BY-WALK
By"-walk`(, n.
Defn: secluded or private walk.
He moves afterward in by-walks. Dryden.
BY-WASH
By"-wash`, n.
Defn: The outlet from a dam or reservoir; also, a cut to divert the
flow of water.
BYWAY
By"way`, n.
Defn: A secluded, private, or obscure way; a path or road aside from
the main one. " Take no byways." Herbert.
BY-WIPE
By"-wipe`, n.
Defn: A secret or side stroke, as of raillery or sarcasm. Milton.
BYWORD
By"word`, n. Etym: [AS.bïword; bï, E.by+word.]
1. A common saying; a proverb; a saying that has a general currency.
I knew a wise man that had it for a byword. Bacon.
2. The object of a contemptuous saying.
Thou makest us a byword among the heathen. Ps. xliv. 14
BYWORK
By"work, n.
Defn: Work aside from regular work; subordinate or secondary
business.
BYZANT; BYZANTINE
Byz"ant, Byz"an*tine n.Etym: [OE. besant, besaunt, F. besant, fr. LL.
Byzantius, Byzantinus, fr. Byzantium.] (Numis.)
Defn: A gold coin, so called from being coined at Byzantium. See
Bezant.
BYZANTIAN
By*zan"tian, a.& n.
Defn: See Byzantine.
BYZANTINE
By*zan"tine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Byzantium.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Byzantium, now Constantinople;
sometimes, applied to an inhabitant of the modern city of
Constantinople. [ Written also Bizantine.] Byzantine church, the
Eastern or Greek church, as distinguished from the Western or Roman
or Latin church.See under Greek.
-- Byzantine empire, the Eastern Roman or Greek empire from A.D. 364
or A.D. 395 to the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, A.D. 1453.
-- Byzantine historians, historians and writers (Zonaras, Procopius,
etc.) who lived in the Byzantine empire. P. Cyc. Byzantine style
(Arch.), a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine empire.
Note: Its leading forms are the round arch, the dome, the pillar, the
circle, and the cross. The capitals of the pillars are the endless
variety, and full of invention. The mosque of St. Sophia,
Constantinople, and the church of St. Mark, Venice, are prominent
examples of Byzantine architecture.
C
1. C is the third letter of the English alphabet. It is from the
Latin letter C, which in old Latin represented the sounds of k, and g
(in go); its original value being the latter. In Anglo-Saxon words,
or Old English before the Norman Conquest, it always has the sound of
k. The Latin C was the same letter as the Greek got it from the
Phoenicians. The English name of C is from the Latin name ce, and was
derived, probably, through the French. Etymologically C is related to
g, h, k, q, s (and other sibilant sounds). Examples of these
relations are in L. acutus, E. acute, ague; E. acrid, eagar; L.
cornu, E. horn; E. cat, kitten; E. coy, quiet; L. circare, OF.
cerchier, E. search.
Note: See Guide to Pronunciation, t\'c5 221-228.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: (a) The keynote of the normal or "natural" scale, which has
neither flats nor sharps in its signature; also, the third note of
the relative minor scale of the same (b) C after the clef is the mark
of common time, in which each measure is a semibreve (four fourths or
crotchets); for alla breve time it is written (c) The "C clef," a
modification of the letter C, placed on any line of the staff, abows
that line to be middle C.
3. As a numeral, C stands for Latin centum or 100, CC for 200, etc. C
spring, a spring in the form of the letter C.
CAABA
Ca*a"ba, n. Etym: [Ar. ka'ban, let, a square building, fr. ka'b cube]
Defn: The small and nearly cubical stone building, toward which all
Mohammedans must pray. [Written also kaaba.]
Note: The Caaba is situated in Mecca, a city of Arabia, and contains
a famous black stone said to have been brought from heaven. Before
the time of Mohammed, the Caaba was an idolatrous temple, but it has
since been the chief sanctuary and object of pilgrimage of the
Mohammedan world.
CAADA
Ca*ña"da, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A small cañon; a narrow valley or glen; also, but less
frequently, an open valley. [Local, Western U. S.]
CAAS
Caas, n. sing. & pl.
Defn: Case. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CAATINGA
Caa*tin"ga, n. [Tupi caa-tinga white forest.] (Phytogeography)
Defn: A forest composed of stunted trees and thorny bushes, found in
areas of small rainfall in Brazil.
CAB
Cab, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. cabriolet.]
1. A kind of close carriage with two or four wheels, usually a public
vehicle. "A cab came clattering up." Thackeray.
Note: A cab may have two seats at right to the driver's seat, and a
door behind; or one seat parallel to the driver's, with the entrance
from the side or front. Hansom cab. See Hansom.
2. The covered part of a locomotive, in which the engineer has his
station. Knight.
CAB
Cab, n. Etym: [Heb. gab, fr. qabab to hollow.]
Defn: A Hebrew dry measure, containing a little over two (2.37)
pints. W. H. Ward. 2 Kings vi. 25.
CABAL
Ca*bal", n. Etym: [F. cabale cabal, cabala LL. cabala cabala, fr.
Heb. qabbaleh reception, tradition, mysterious doctrine, fr. qabal to
take or receive, in Piël qibbel to abopt (a doctrine).]
1. Tradition; occult doctrine. See Cabala [Obs.] Hakewill.
2. A secret. [Obs.] "The measuring of the temple, a cabal found out
but lately." B. Jonson.
3. A number of persons united in some close design, usually to
promote their private views and interests in church or state by
intrigue; a secret association composed of a few designing persons; a
junto.
Note: It so happend, by a whimsical coincidence, that in 1671 the
cabinet consisted of five persons, the initial letters of whose names
made up the word cabal; Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ashley, and
Lauderdale. Macaulay.
4. The secret artifices or machinations of a few persons united in a
close design; in intrigue.
By cursed cabals of women. Dryden.
Syn. - Junto; intrigue; plot; combination; conspiracy.
-- Cabal, Combination, Faction. An association for some purpose
considered to be bad is the idea common to these terms. A combination
is an organized union of individuals for mutual support, in urging
their demands or resisting the claims of others, and may be good or
bad according to circumstances; as, a combiniation of workmen or of
employers to effect or to prevent a chang in prices. A cabal is a
secret association of a few individuals who seek by cunning practices
to obtain office and power. A faction is a larger body than a cabal,
employed for selfish purposes in agitating the community and working
up an excitement with a view to change the existing order of things.
"Selfishness, insubordination, and laxity of morals give rise to
combinations, which belong particularly to the lower orders of
society. Restless, jealous, ambitious, and little minds are ever
forming cabals. Factions belong especially to free governments, and
are raised by busy and turbulent spirits for selfish porposes".
Crabb.
CABAL
Ca*bal", v. i. [int. & p. p. Caballed; p. pr. & vb. n. Caballing].
Etym: [Cf. F. cabaler.]
Defn: To unite in a small party to promote private views and
interests by intrigue; to intrigue; to plot.
Caballing still against it with the great. Dryden.
CABALA
Cab"a*la, n. Etym: [LL. See Cabal, n.]
1. A kind of occult theosophy or traditional interpretation of the
Scriptures among Jewish rabbis and certain mediæval Christians, which
treats of the nature of god and the mystery of human existence. It
assumed that every letter, word, number, and accent of Scripture
contains a hidden sense; and it teaches the methods of interpretation
for ascertaining these occult meanings. The cabalists pretend even to
foretell events by this means.
2. Secret science in general; mystic art; mystery.
CABALISM
Cab"a*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cabalisme.]
1. The secret science of the cabalists.
2. A superstitious devotion to the mysteries of the religion which
one professes. [R] Emerson.
CABALIST
Cab"a*list, n. Etym: [Cf.F. cabaliste.]
Defn: One versed in the cabala, or the mysteries of Jewish
traditions. "Studious cabalists." Swift.
CABALISTIC; CABALISTICAL
Cab`a*lis"tic, Cab`a*lis"tic*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cabala; containing or conveying an
occult meaning; mystic.
The Heptarchus is a cabalistic of the first chapter of Genesis.
Hallam.
CABALISTICALLY
Cab`a*lis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cabalistic manner.
CABALIZE
Cab"a*lize, v. i. Etym: [Cf.F. cabaliser.]
Defn: To use cabalistic language. [R] Dr. H. More.
CABALLER
Ca*bal"ler, n.
Defn: One who cabals.
A close caballer and tongue-valiant lord. Dryden.
CABALLERIA
Ca`bal*le*ri"a, n. [Sp. See Caballero.]
Defn: An ancient Spanish land tenure similar to the English knight's
fee; hence, in Spain and countries settled by the Spanish, a land
measure of varying size. In Cuba it is about 33 acres; in Porto Rico,
about 194 acres; in the Southwestern United States, about 108 acres.
CABALLERO
Ca`bal*le"ro, n. [Sp. Cf. Cavalier.]
Defn: A knight or cavalier; hence, a gentleman.
CABALLINE
Cab"al*line, a. Etym: [L.caballinus, fr. caballus a nag. Cf.
Cavalier.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a horse.
-- n.
Defn: Caballine aloes. Caballine aloes, an inferior and impure kind
of aloes formerly used in veterinary practice; -- called also horse
aloes.
-- Caballine spring, the fountain of Hippocrene, on Mount Helicon; -
- fabled to have been formed by a stroke from the foot of the winged
horse Pegasus.
CABALLO
Ca*bal"lo (ka*väl"yo; 220), n. [Written also cavallo.] [Sp., fr. L.
caballus a nag. See Cavalcade.]
Defn: A horse. [Sp. Amer.]
CABARET
Cab"a*ret, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A tavern; a house where liquors are retailed. [Obs. as an
English word.]
CABAS
Ca*bas", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A flat basket or frail for figs, etc.; Hence, a lady's flat
workbasket, reticule, or hand bag; -- often written caba. C. Bronté.
CABASSOU
Ca*bas"sou, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A speciec of armadillo of the genus Xenurus (X. unicinctus and
X. hispidus); the tatouay. [Written also Kabassou.]
CABBAGE
Cab"bage, n. Etym: [OE. cabage, fr. F. cabus headed (of cabbages),
chou cobus headed cabbage, cabbage head; cf. It. capuccio a little
head, cappuccio cowl, hood, cabbage, fr. capo head, L. caput, or fr.
It. cappa cape. See Chiff, Cape.] (Bot.)
1. An esculent vegetable of many varieties, derived from the wild
Brassica oleracea of Europe. The common cabbage has a compact head of
leaves. The cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc., are sometimes
classed as cabbages.
2. The terminal bud of certain palm trees, used, like, cabbage, for
food. See Cabbage tree, below.
3. The cabbage palmetto. See below. Cabbage aphis (Zoöl.), a green
plant-louse (Aphis brassicæ) which lives upon the leaves of the
cabbage.
-- Cabbage Beetle (Zoöl.), a small, striped flea-beetle (Phyllotreta
vittata) which lives, in the larval state, on the roots, and when
adult, on the leaves, of cabbage and other cruciferous plants.
-- Cabbage butterfly (Zoöl.), a white butterfly (Pieris rapæ of both
Europe and America, and the Allied P. oleracea, a native American
species) which, in the larval state, devours the leaves of the
cabbage and the turnip. See Cabbage worm, below.
-- Cabbage Fly (Zoöl.), a small two-winged fly (Anthomyia brassicæ),
which feeds, in the larval or maggot state, on the roots of the
cabbage, often doing much damage to the crop.
-- Cabbage head, the compact head formed by the leaves of a cabbage;
-- contemptuously or humorously, and colloquially, a very stupid and
silly person; a numskull.
-- Cabbage palmetto, a species of palm tree (Sabal Palmetto) found
along the coast from North Carolina to Florida.
-- Cabbage rose (Bot.), a species of rose (Rosa centifolia) having
large and heavy blossoms.
-- Cabbage tree, Cabbage palm, a name given to palms having a
terminal bud called a cabbage, as the Sabal Palmetto of the United
States, and the Euterpe oleracea and Oreodoxa oleracea of the West
Indies.
-- Cabbage worm (Zoöl.), the larva of several species of moths and
butterfies, which attacks cabbages. The most common is usully the
larva of a white butterfly. See Cabbage Butterfly, above. The cabbage
cutworms, which eat off the stalks or young plants during the night,
are the larvæ of several species of moths, of the genus Agrotis. See
Cutworm.
-- Sea cabbage.(Bot.) (a) Sea kale (b). The original Plant (Brassica
oleracea), from which the cabbage, cauliflower, , broccoli, etc.,
have been derived by cultivation.
-- Thousand-headed cabbage. See Brussels sprouts.
CABBAGE
Cab"bage, v. i.
Defn: To form a head like that the cabbage; as, to make lettuce
cabbage. Johnson.
CABBAGE
Cab"bage, v. i. [imp. & p.p Cabbaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Cabbaging (.]
Etym: [F.cabasser, fr. OF. cabas theft; cf. F. cabas basket, and OF.
cabuser to cheat.]
Defn: To purloin or embezzle, as the pieces of cloth remaining after
cutting out a garment; to pilfer.
Your tailor . . . cabbages whole yards of cloth. Arbuthnot.
CABBAGE
Cab"bage, n.
Defn: Cloth or clippings cabbaged or purloined by one who cuts out
garments.
CABBLER
Cab"bler, n.
Defn: One who works at cabbling.
CABBLING
Cab"bling, n. (Metal)
Defn: The process of breaking up the flat masses into which wrought
iron is first hammered, in order that the pieces may be reheated and
wrought into bar iron.
CABECA; CABESSE
Ca*be"ça, Ca*besse", n. Etym: [Pg. cabeça, F. cabesse.]
Defn: The finest kind of silk received from India.
CABER
Ca"ber, n. Etym: [Gael]
Defn: A pole or beam used in Scottish games for tossing as a trial of
strength.
CABEZON
Cab`e*zon", n. Etym: [Sp., properly, big head. Cf. Cavesson.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A California fish (Hemilepidotus spinosus), allied to the
sculpin.
CABIAI
Cab"i*ai, n. Etym: [Native South American name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The capybara. See Capybara.
CABIN
Cab"in, n. Etym: [OF. caban, fr. W. caban booth, cabin, dim. of cab
cot, tent; or fr. F. cabane, cabine, LL. cabanna, perh. from the
Celtic.]
1. A cottage or small house; a hut. Swift.
A hunting cabin in the west. E. Everett.
2. A small room; an inclosed place.
So long in secret cabin there he held Her captive. Spenser.
3. A room in ship for officers or passengers. Cabin boy, a boy whose
duty is wait on the officers and passengers in the cabin of a ship.
CABIN
Cab"in v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabined (-nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cabining.]
Defn: To live in, or as in, a cabin; to lodge.
I'll make you . . . cabin in a cave. Shak.
CABIN
Cab"in, v. t.
Defn: To confine in, or as in, a cabin.
I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in To saucy doubts and fears.
Shak.
CABINET
Cab"i*net, n. Etym: [F., dim. of cabine or cabane. See Cabin, n.]
1. A hut; a cottage; a small house. [Obs.]
Hearken a while from thy green cabinet, The rural song of careful
Colinet. Spenser.
2. A small room, or retired apartment; a closet.
3. A private room in which consultations are held.
Philip passed some hours every day in his father's cabinet. Prescott.
4. The advisory council of the chief executive officer of a nation; a
cabinet council.
Note: In England, the cabinet or cabinet council consists of those
privy coucilors who actually transact the immediate business of the
government. Mozley & W.
-- In the United States, the cabinet is composed of the heads of the
executive departments of the government, namely, the Secretary of
State, of the Treasury, of War, of the Navy, of the Interior, and of
Agiculture, the Postmaster-general ,and the Attorney-general.
5.
(a) A set of drawers or a cupboard intended to contain articles of
value. Hence:
(b) A decorative piece of furniture, whether open like an étagère or
closed with doors. See Etagere.
6. Any building or room set apart for the safe keeping and exhibition
of works of art, etc.; also, the collection itself. Cabinet council.
(a) Same as Cabinet, n., 4 (of which body it was formerly the full
title). (b) A meeting of the cabinet.
-- Cabinet councilor, a member of a cabinet council.
-- Cabinet photograph, a photograph of a size smaller than an
imperial, though larger than a carte de visite.
-- Cabinet picture, a small and generally highly finished picture,
suitable for a small room and for close inspection.
CABINET
Cab"i*net, a.
Defn: Suitable for a cabinet; small.
He [Varnhagen von Ense] is a walking cabinet edition of Goethe. For.
Quar. Rev.
CABINET
Cab"i*net, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cabineted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cabineting.]
Defn: To inclose [R.] Hewyt.
CABINETMAKER
Cab"i*net*mak`er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to make cabinets or other choice
articles of household furniture, as tables, bedsteads, bureaus, etc.
CABINETMAKING
Cab"i*net*mak`ing, n.
Defn: The art or occupation of making the finer articles of household
furniture.
CABINETWORK
Cab"i*net*work`, n.
Defn: The art or occupation of working upon wooden furniture
requiring nice workmanship; also, such furniture.
CABIREAN
Cab`i*re"an
Defn: ,n.One of the Cabiri.
CABIRI
Ca*bi"ri, n. pl. Etym: [ NL., fr. Gr. Ka`beiroi.] (Myth.)
Defn: Certain deities originally worshiped with mystical rites by the
Pelasgians in Lemnos and Samothrace and afterwards throughout Greece;
-- also called sons of Hephæstus (or Vulcan), as being masters of the
art of working metals. [Written also Cabeiri.] Liddell & Scott.
CABIRIAN
Ca*bir"i*an, a.
Defn: Same as Cabiric.
CABIRIC
Ca*bir"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Cabirique]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cabiri, or to their mystical worship.
[Written also Cabiritic.]
CABLE
Ca"ble, n. Etym: [F. Câble,m LL. capulum, caplum, a rope, fr. L.
capere to take; cf. D., Dan., & G. rabel, from the French. See
Capable.]
1. A large, strong rope or chain, of considerable length, used to
retain a vessel at anchor, and for other purposes. It is made of
hemp, of steel wire, or of iron links.
2. A rope of steel wire, or copper wire, usually covered with some
protecting, or insulating substance; as, the cable of a suspension
bridge; a telegraphic cable.
3. (Arch)
Defn: A molding, shaft of a column, or any other member of convex,
rounded section, made to resemble the spiral twist of a rope; --
called also cable molding. Bower cable, the cable belonging to the
bower anchor.
-- Cable road, a railway on which the cars are moved by a
continuously running endless rope operated by a stationary motor.
-- Cable's length, the length of a ship's cable. Cables in the
merchant service vary in length from 100 to 140 fathoms or more; but
as a maritime measure, a cable's length is either 120 fathoms (720
feet), or about 100 fathoms (600 feet, an approximation to one tenth
of a nautical mile).
-- Cable tier. (a) That part of a vessel where the cables are
stowed. (b) A coil of a cable.
-- Sheet cable, the cable belonging to the sheet anchor.
-- Stream cable, a hawser or rope, smaller than the bower cables, to
moor a ship in a place sheltered from wind and heavy seas.
-- Submarine cable. See Telegraph.
-- To pay out the cable, To veer out the cable, to slacken it, that
it may run out of the ship; to let more cable run out of the hawse
hole.
-- To serve the cable, to bind it round with ropes, canvas, etc., to
prevent its being, worn or galled in the hawse, et.
-- To slip the cable, to let go the end on board and let it all run
out and go overboard, as when there is not time to weigh anchor.
Hence, in sailor's use, to die.
CABLE
Ca"ble, v. t.
1. To fasten with a cable.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: To ornament with cabling. See Cabling.
CABLE
Ca"ble, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Cabled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cabling (-blòng).]
Defn: To telegraph by a submarine cable [Recent]
CABLED
Ca"bled, a.
1. Fastened with, or attached to, a cable or rope. "The cabled
stone." Dyer.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Adorned with cabling.
CABLEGRAM
Ca"ble*gram`, n. Etym: [Cable, n. + Gr.
Defn: A message sent by a submarine telegraphic cable.
Note: [A recent hybrid, sometimes found in the newspapers.]
CABLELAID
Ca"ble*laid`, a.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: Composed of three three-stranded ropes, or hawsers, twisted
together to form a cable.
2. Twisted after the manner of a cable; as, a cable-laid gold chain.
Simmonds.
CABLET
Ca"blet, n. Etym: [Dim. of cable; cf. F. câblot.]
Defn: A little cable less than ten inches in circumference.
CABLING
Ca"bling, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The decoration of a fluted shaft of a column or of a pilaster
with reeds, or rounded moldings, which seem to be laid in the hollows
of the fluting. These are limited in length to about one third of the
height of the shaft.
CABMAN
Cab"man, n.; pl. Cabmen (.
Defn: The driver of a cab.
CABOB
Ca*bob", n. Etym: [Hindi kabab]
1. A small piece of mutton or other meat roasted on a skewer; -- so
called in Turkey and Persia.
2. A leg of mutton roasted, stuffed with white herrings and sweet
herbs. Wright.
CABOB
Ca*bob", v. t.
Defn: To roast, as a cabob. Sir. T. Herbert.
CABOCHED
Ca*boched", a. Etym: [F. caboche head. Cf. lst Cabbage.] (Her.)
Defn: Showing the full face, but nothing of the neck; -- said of the
head of a beast in armorial bearing. [Written also caboshed.]
CABOCHON
Ca`bo`chon" (ka`bo`shôN"), n. [F.] (Jewelry)
Defn: A stone of convex form, highly polished, but not faceted; also,
the style of cutting itself. Such stones are said to be cut en
cabochon.
CABOODLE
Ca*boo"dle, n.
Defn: The whole collection; the entire quantity or number; -- usually
in the phrase the whole caboodle. [Slang, U.S.] Bartlett.
CABOOSE
Ca*boose", n. Etym: [Cf. D. kabuis, kombuis, Dan. kabys, Sw. kabysa,
G. kabuse a little room or hut. The First part of the word seems to
be allied to W. cab cabin, booth. Cf. Cabin.] [Written also
camboose.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A house on deck, where the cooking is done; -- commonly called
the galley.
2. (Railroad)
Defn: A car used on freight or construction trains for brakemen,
workmen, etc.; a tool car. [U. S.]
CABOTAGE
Cab"o*tage, n. Etym: [F. cabotage, fr. caboter to sail along the
coast; cf. Sp. cabo cape.] (Naut.)
Defn: Navigation along the coast; the details of coast pilotage.
CABREE
Ca*brée", n. Etym: [French Canadian.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pronghorn antelope. [Also written cabrit, cabret.]
CABRERITE
Ca*brer"ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: An apple-green mineral, a hydrous arseniate of nickel, cobalt,
and magnesia; -- so named from the Sierra Cabrera, Spain.
CABRILLA
Ca*bril"la, n. Etym: [Sp., prawn.] (Zoöl)
Defn: A name applied to various species of edible fishes of the genus
Serranus, and related genera, inhabiting the Meditarranean, the coast
of California, etc. In California, some of them are also called rock
bass and kelp salmon.
CABRIOLE
Cab"ri*ole, n. Etym: [F. See Cabriolet, and cf. Capriole.] (Man.)
Defn: A curvet; a leap. See Capriole.
The cabrioles which his charger exhibited. Sir W. Scott.
CABRIOLET
Cab`ri*o*let", n.Etym: [F., dim. of cabriole a leap, caper, from It.
capriola, fr. dim. of L. caper he-goat, capra she-goat. This carriage
is so called from its skipping lightness. Cf. Cab, Caper a leap.]
Defn: A one-horse carriage with two seats and a calash top.
CABRIT
Ca*brit", n.
Defn: Same as Cabrée.
CABURN
Cab"urn, n. Etym: [Cf. Cable, n.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small line made of spun yarn, to bind or worm cables, seize
tackles, etc.
CACAEMIA; CACHAEMIA
Ca*cæ"mi*a, Ca*chæ"mi*a n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A degenerated or poisoned condition of the blood.
CACAINE
Ca*ca"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The essential principle of cacao; -- now called theobromine.
CACAJAO
Ca*ca*jão", n. Etym: [Pg.] (Zoöl)
Defn: A South American short-tailed monkey (Pithecia (or Brachyurus)
melanocephala). [Written also cacajo.]
CACAO
Ca*ca"o, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. Mex. kakahuatl. Cf. Cocoa, Chocolate]
(Bot.)
Defn: A small evergreen tree (Theobroma Cacao) of South America and
the West Indies. Its fruit contains an edible pulp, inclosing seeds
about the size of an almond, from which cocoa, chocolate, and broma
are prepared.
CACHAEMIA; CACHEMIA
Ca*chæ"mi*a, Ca*che"mi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. bad + blood.] (Med.)
Defn: A degenerated or poisoned condition of the blood. --Ca*chæ"mic,
Ca*che"mic (#), a.
CACHALOT
Cach"a*lot, n. Etym: [F. cachalot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). It has in the top of
its head a large cavity, containing an oily fluid, which, after
death, concretes into a whitish crystalline substance called
spermaceti. See Sperm whale.
CACHE
Cache, n. Etym: [F., a hiding place, fr. cacher to conceal, to hide.]
Defn: A hole in the ground, or hiding place, for concealing and
preserving provisions which it is inconvenient to carry. Kane.
CACHECTIC; CACHECTICAL
Ca*chec"tic, Ca*chec"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. cachecticus, Gr.
cachectique.]
Defn: Having, or pertaining to, cachexia; as, cachectic remedies;
cachectical blood. Arbuthnot.
CACHEPOT
Cache`pot" (kash`po"), n. Etym: [F., fr. cacher to hide + pot a pot.]
Defn: An ornamental casing for a flowerpot, of porcelain, metal,
paper, etc.
CACHET
Cach"et, n. Etym: [F. fr. cacher to hide.]
Defn: A seal, as of a letter. Lettre de cachet Etym: [F.], a sealed
letter, especially a letter or missive emanating from the sovereign;
-- much used in France before the Revolution as an arbitrary order of
imprisonment.
CACHEXIA; CACHEXY
Ca*chex"i*a, Ca*chex"y, n. Etym: [L. cachexia, Gr.
Defn: A condition of ill health and impairment of nutrition due to
impoverishment of the blood, esp. when caused by a specific morbid
process (as cancer or tubercle).
CACHINNATION
Cach`in*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cachinnatio, fr. cachinnare to laugh
aloud, cf Gr.
Defn: Loud or immoderate laughter; -- often a symptom of hysterical
or maniacal affections.
Hideous grimaces . . . attended this unusual cachinnation. Sir W.
Scott.
CACHINNATORY
Ca*chin"na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or accompanied by, immoderate laughter.
Cachinnatory buzzes of approval. Carlyle.
CACHIRI
Ca*chi"ri, n.
Defn: A fermented liquor made in Cayenne from the grated root of the
manioc, and resembling perry. Dunglison.
CACHOLONG
Cach"o*long, n, Etym: [F. cacholong, said to be from Cach, the name
of a river in Bucharia + cholon, a Calmuck word for stone; or fr. a
Calmuck word meaning "beautiful stone"] (Min.)
Defn: An opaque or milk-white chalcedony, a variety of quartz; also,
a similar variety of opal.
CACHOU
Ca`chou", n. Etym: [F. See Cashoo.]
Defn: A silvered aromatic pill, used to correct the odor of the
breath.
CACHUCHA
Ca*chu"cha, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: An Andalusian dance in three-four time, resembing the bolero.
[Sometimes in English spelled cachuca (.]
The orchestra plays the cachucha. Logfellow.
CACHUNDE
Ca*chun"de, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Med.)
Defn: A pastil or troche, composed of various aromatic and other
ingredients, highly celebrated in India as an antidote, and as a
stomachic and antispasmodic.
CACIQUE
Ca*cique", n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: See Cazique.
CACK
Cack, v. i. Etym: [OE. cakken, fr. L. cacare; akin to Gr. cac.]
Defn: To ease the body by stool; to go to stool. Pope.
CACKEREL
Cack"er*el, n. Etym: [OF. caquerel cagarel (Cotgr.), from the root of
E. cack.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The mendole; a small worthless Mediterranean fish considered
poisonous by the ancients. See Mendole.
CACKLE
Cac"kle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cackled (-k'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cackling.] Etym: [OE. cakelen; cf. LG. kakeln, D. kakelen, G.
gackeln, gackern; all of imitative origin. Cf. Gagle, Cake to
cackle.]
1. To make a sharp, broken noise or cry, as a hen or goose does.
When every goose is cackling. Shak.
2. To laugh with a broken noise, like the cackling of a hen or a
goose; to giggle. Arbuthnot.
3. To talk in a silly manner; to prattle. Johnson.
CACKLE
Cac"kle, n.
1. The sharp broken noise made by a goose or by a hen that has laid
an egg.
By her cackle saved the state. Dryden.
2. Idle talk; silly prattle.
There is a buzz and cackle all around regarding the sermon.
Thackeray.
CACKLER
Cac"kler, n.
1. A fowl that cackles.
2. One who prattles, or tells tales; a tattler.
CACKLING
Cac"kling, n.
Defn: The broken noise of a goose or a hen.
CACOCHYMIA; CACOCHYMY
Cac`o*chym"i*a, Cac"o*chym`y, n. Etym: [NL. cacochymia, fr. Gr.
cacochymie.] (Med.)
Defn: A vitiated state of the humors, or fluids, of the body,
especially of the blood. Dunglison.
CACOCHYMIC; CACOCHYMICAL
Cac`o*chym"ic, Cac`o*chym"ic*al, a.
Defn: Having the fluids of the body vitiated, especially the blood.
Wiseman.
CACODEMON
Cac`o*de"mon, n. Etym: [Gr. cacodémon.]
1. An evil spirit; a devil or demon. Shak.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The nightmare. Dunaglison.
CACODOXICAL
Cac`o*dox"ic*al, a.
Defn: Heretical.
CACODOXY
Cac"o*dox`y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Erroneous doctrine; heresy; heterodoxy. [R.]
Heterodoxy, or what Luther calls cacodoxy. R. Turnbull.
CACODYL
Cac"o*dyl, n. Etym: [Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Alkarsin; a colorless, poisonous, arsenical liquid, As2(CH3)4,
spontaneously inflammable and possessing an intensely disagreeable
odor. It is the type of a series of compounds analogous to the
nitrogen compounds called hydrazines. [Written also cacodyle, and
kakodyl.]
CACODYLIC
Cac`o*dyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, cacodyl. Cacodylic acid, a
white, crystalline, deliquescent substance, (CH3)2AsO.OH, obtained by
the oxidation of cacodyl, and having the properties of an exceedingly
stable acid; -- also called alkargen.
CACOETHES
Cac`o*ë"thes, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A bad custom or habit; an insatiable desire; as, cacoëthes
scribendi, "The itch for writing". Addison.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A bad quality or disposition in a disease; an incurable ulcer.
CACOGASTRIC
Cac`o*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Troubled with bad digestion. [R.] Carlyle.
CACOGRAPHIC
Cac`o*graph`ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, cacography; badly written
or spelled.
CACOGRAPHY
Ca*cog`ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy; cf. F. cacographie.]
Defn: Incorrect or bad writing or spelling. Walpole.
CACOLET
Ca`co*let", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A chair, litter, or other contrivance fitted to the back or
pack saddle of a mule for carrying travelers in mountainous
districts, or for the transportation of the sick and wounded of an
army.
CACOLOGY
Ca*col"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. cacologie.]
Defn: Bad speaking; bad choice or use of words. Buchanan.
CACOMIXLE; CACOMIXTLE; CACOMIXL
Ca`co*mix"le, Ca`co*mix"tle, Ca"co*mix`l, n. Etym: [Mexican name.]
Defn: A North American carnivore (Bassaris astuta), about the size of
a cat, related to the raccoons. It inhabits Mexico, Texas, and
California.
CACOON
Ca*coon", n.
Defn: One of the seeds or large beans of a tropical vine (Entada
scandens) used for making purses, scent bottles, etc.
CACOPHONIC; CACOPHONICAL; CACOPHONOUS; CACOPHONIOUS
Cac`o*phon"ic, Cac`o*phon"ic*al, Ca*coph"o*nous, Cac`o*pho"ni*ous, a.
Defn: Harsh-sounding.
CACOPHONY
Ca*coph"o*ny, n.; pl. Cacophonies. Etym: [Gr. Cacophonie.]
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: An uncouth or disagreable sound of words, owing to the
concurrence of harsh letters or syllables. "Cacophonies of all
kinds." Pope.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A combination of discordant sounds.
3. (Med.)
Defn: An unhealthy state of the voice.
CACOSTOMIA
Cac`o*sto"mi*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. bad + mouth.] (Med.)
Defn: Diseased or gangrenous condition of the mouth.
CACOTECHNY
Cac"o*tech`ny, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A corruption or corrupt state of art. [R.]
CACOXENE; CACOXENITE
Ca*cox"ene, Ca*cox"e*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous phosphate of iron occurring in yellow radiated tufts.
The phosphorus seriously injures it as an iron ore.
CACTACEOUS
Cac*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or like, the family of plants of which the
prickly pear is a common example.
CACTUS
Cac"tus, n. ; pl. E. Cactuses, Cacti (-ti). Etym: [L., a kind of
cactus, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the order Cactacæ, as the prickly pear and the
night-blooming cereus. See Cereus. They usually have leafless stems
and branches, often beset with clustered thorns, and are mostly
natives of the warmer parts of America. Cactus wren (Zoöl.), an
American wren of the genus Campylorhynchus, of several species.
CACUMINAL
Ca*cu"mi*nal, a. Etym: [L. cacumen, cacuminis, the top, point.]
(Philol.)
Defn: Pertaining to the top of the palate; cerebral; -- applied to
certain consonants; as, cacuminal (or cerebral) letters.
CACUMINATE
Ca*cu"mi*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. cacuminatus, p. p. of cacuminare to
point, fr. cacumen point.]
Defn: To make sharp or pointed. [Obs.]
CAD
Cad, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. cadet.]
1. A person who stands at the door of an omnibus to open and shut it,
and to receive fares; an idle hanger-on about innyards. [Eng.]
Dickens.
2. A lowbred, presuming person; a mean, vulgar fellow. [Cant]
Thackeray.
CADASTRAL
Ca*das"tral, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to landed property. Cadastral survey, or
Cadastral map, a survey, map, or plan on a large scale (Usually
topographical map, which exaggerates the dimensions of houses and the
breadth of roads and streams, for the sake of distinctness. Brande &
C.
CADASTRE; CADASTER
Ca*das"tre, Ca*das"ter, n. Etym: [f. cadastre.] (Law.)
Defn: An official statement of the quantity and value of real estate
for the purpose of apportioning the taxes payable on such property.
CADAVER
Ca*da"ver, n. Etym: [L., fr cadere to fall.]
Defn: A dead human body; a corpse.
CADAVERIC
Ca*dav"er*ic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a corpse, or the changes
produced by death; cadaverous; as, cadaveric rigidity. Dunglison.
Cadaveric alkaloid, an alkaloid generated by the processes of
decomposition in dead animal bodies, and thought by some to be the
cause of the poisonous effects produced by the bodies. See Ptomaine.
CADAVERINE; CADAVERIN
Ca*dav"er*ine, Ca*dav"er*in, n. [From Cadaver.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sirupy, nontoxic ptomaine, C5H14N2 (chemically pentamethylene
diamine), formed in putrefaction of flesh, etc.
CADAVEROUS
Ca*dav"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. cadaverosus.]
1. Having the appearance or color of a dead human body; pale;
ghastly; as, a cadaverous look.
2. Of or pertaining to, or having the qualities of, a dead body. "The
scent cadaverous." -- Ca*dav"er*ous*ly, adv.
-- Ca*dav"er*ous*ness, n.
CADBAIT
Cad"bait`, n. Etym: [Prov. E. codbait, cadbote fly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Caddice.
CADDICE; CADDIS
Cad"dice, Cad"dis, n. Etym: [Prov. E. caddy, cadew; cf. G. köder
bait.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of a caddice fly. These larvæ generally live in
cylindrical cases, open at each end, and covered externally with
pieces of broken shells, gravel, bits of wood, etc. They are a
favorite bait with anglers. Called also caddice worm, or caddis worm.
Caddice fly (Zoöl.), a species of trichopterous insect, whose larva
is the caddice.
CADDIS
Cad"dis, n. Etym: [OE. caddas, Scot. caddis lint, caddes a kind of
woolen cloth, cf. Gael. cada, cadadh, a kind of cloth, cotton,
fustian, W. cadas, F. cadis.]
Defn: A kind of worsted lace or ribbon. "Caddises, cambrics, lawns."
Shak.
CADDISH
Cad"dish, a.
Defn: Like a cad; lowbred and presuming.
CADDOW
Cad"dow, n. Etym: [OE. cadawe, prob. fr. ca chough + daw jackdaw; cf.
Gael. cadhag, cathag. Cf. Chough, Daw, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A jackdaw. [Prov. Eng.]
CADDY
Cad"dy, n.; pl. Caddies. Etym: [Earlier spelt catty, fr. Malay kati a
weight of 11/3 pounds. Cf. Catty.]
Defn: A small box, can, or chest to keep tea in.
CADE
Cade, a. Etym: [Cf. OE. cad, kod, lamb, also Cosset, Coddle.]
Defn: Bred by hand; domesticated; petted.
He brought his cade lamb with him. Sheldon.
CADE
Cade, v. t.
Defn: To bring up or nourish by hand, or with tenderness; to coddle;
to tame. [Obs.] Johnson.
CADE
Cade, n. Etym: [L. cadus jar, Gr.
Defn: A barrel or cask, as of fish. "A cade of herrings." Shak.
A cade of herrings is 500, of sprats 1,000. Jacob, Law Dict.
CADE
Cade, n. Etym: [F. & Pr.; LL. cada.]
Defn: A species of juniper (Juniperus Oxycedrus) of Mediterranean
countries. Oil of cade, a thick, black, tarry liquid, obtained by
destructive distillation of the inner wood of the cade. It is used as
a local application in skin diseases.
CADENCE
Ca"dence, n. Etym: [OE. cadence, cadens, LL. cadentia a falling, fr.
L. cadere to fall; cf. F. cadence, It. cadenza. See Chance.]
1. The act or state of declining or sinking. [Obs.]
Now was the sun in western cadence low. Milton.
2. A fall of the voice in reading or speaking, especially at the end
of a sentence.
3. A rhythmical modulation of the voice or of any sound; as, music of
bells in cadence sweet.
Blustering winds, which all night long Had roused the sea, now with
hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatched. Milton.
The accents . . . were in passion's tenderest cadence. Sir W. Scott.
4. Rhythmical flow of language, in prose or verse.
Golden cadence of poesy. Shak.
If in any composition much attention was paid to the flow of the
rhythm, it was said (at least in the 14th and 15th centuries) to be
"prosed in faire cadence." Dr. Guest.
5. (Her.)
Defn: See Cadency.
6. (Man.)
Defn: Harmony and proportion in motions, as of a well-managed horse.
7. (Mil.)
Defn: A uniform time and place in marching.
8. (Mus.)
(a) The close or fall of a strain; the point of rest, commonly
reached by the immediate succession of the tonic to the dominant
chord.
(b) A cadenza, or closing embellishment; a pause before the end of a
strain, which the performer may fill with a flight of fancy.
Imperfect cadence. (Mus.) See under Imperfect.
CADENCE
Ca"dence, v. t.
Defn: To regulate by musical measure.
These parting numbers, cadenced by my grief. Philips.
CADENCY
Ca"den*cy, n.
Defn: Descent of related families; distinction between the members of
a family according to their ages. Marks of cadency (Her.), bearings
indicating the position of the bearer as older or younger son, or as
a descendant of an older or younger son. See Difference (Her.).
CADENE
Ca*dene", n. Etym: [Cf. F. cadène.]
Defn: A species of inferior carpet imported from the Levant.
McElrath.
CADENT
Ca"dent, a. Etym: [L. cadens, -entis, p. pr. of cadere to fall.]
Defn: Falling. [R.] "Cadent tears." Shak.
CADENZA
Ca*den"za, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A parenthetic flourish or flight of ornament in the course of a
piece, commonly just before the final cadence.
CADER
Ca"der, n.
Defn: See Cadre.
CADET
Ca*det", n. Etym: [F. cadet a younger or the youngest son or brother,
dim. fr. L. caput head; i. e., a smaller head of the family, after
the first or eldest. See Chief, and cf. Cad.]
1. The younger of two brothers; a younger brother or son; the
youngest son.
The cadet of an ancient and noble family. Wood.
2. (Mil.)
(a) A gentleman who carries arms in a regiment, as a volunteer, with
a view of acquiring military skill and obtaining a commission.
(b) A young man in training for military or naval service; esp. a
pupil in a military or naval school, as at West Point, Annapolis, or
Woolwich.
Note: All the undergraduates at Annapolis are Naval cadets. The
distinction between Cadet midshipmen and Cadet engineers was
abolished by Act of Congress in 1882.
CADETSHIP
Ca*det"ship, n.
Defn: The position, rank, or commission of a cadet; as, to get a
cadetship.
CADEW; CADEWORM
Ca*dew", Cade"worm`, n.
Defn: A caddice. See Caddice.
CADGE
Cadge, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Cadged; p. pr. & vb. n. Cadging.]
Etym: [Cf. Scot. cache, caich, cadge, to toss, drive, OE. cachen to
drive, catch, caggen to bind, or perh. E. cage. Cf. Cadger.]
1. To carry, as a burden. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Halliwell.
2. To hawk or peddle, as fish, poultry, etc. [Prov.]
3. To intrude or live on another meanly; to beg. [Prov. or Slang,
Eng.] Wright.
CADGE
Cadge, n. Etym: [Cf. 2d Cadger.] (Hawking)
Defn: A circular frame on which cadgers carry hawks for sale.
CADGER
Cadg"er, n. Etym: [From Cadge, v. t., cf. Codger.]
1. A packman or itinerant huckster.
2. One who gets his living by trickery or begging. [Prov. or Slang]
"The gentleman cadger." Dickens.
CADGER
Cadg"er, n. Etym: [OF. cagier one who catches hawks. Cf. Cage.]
(Hawking)
Defn: One who carries hawks on a cadge.
CADGY
Cadg"y, a.
Defn: Cheerful or mirthful, as after good eating or drinking; also,
wanton. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
CADI
Ca"di, n. Etym: [Turk. See Alcalde.]
Defn: An inferior magistrate or judge among the Mohammedans, usually
the judge of a town or village.
CADIE; CADDIE
Cad"ie, Cad"die, n.
Defn: A Scotch errand boy, porter, or messenger. [Written also cady.]
Every Scotchman, from the peer to the cadie. Macaulay.
CADILESKER
Ca`di*les"ker, n. Etym: [Ar. qa\'c8i judge + al'sker the army, Per.
leshker.]
Defn: A chief judge in the Turkish empire, so named originally
because his jurisdiction extended to the cases of soldiers, who are
now tried only by their own officers.
CADILLAC
Ca*dil"lac, n. Etym: [Prob. from Cadillac, a French town.]
Defn: A large pear, shaped like a flattened top, used chiefly for
cooking. Johnson.
CADIS
Cad"is, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of coarse serge.
CADMEAN
Cad*me"an, a. Etym: [L. Cadmeus, Gr. Cadmus), which name perhaps
means lit. a man from the East; cf. Heb. qedem east.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cadmus, a fabulous prince of Thebes, who
was said to have introduced into Greece the sixteen simple letters of
the alphabet -- Cadmean letters. Cadmean victory, a victory that
damages the victors as much as the vanquished; probably referring to
the battle in which the soldiers who sprang from the dragon's teeth
sown by Cadmus slew each other.
CADMIA
Cad"mi*a, n. Etym: [L. cadmia calamine, Gr. Calamine.] (Min.)
Defn: An oxide of zinc which collects on the sides of furnaces where
zinc is sublimed. Formerly applied to the mineral calamine.
CADMIAN
Cad"mi*an, a. [R.]
Defn: See Cadmean.
CADMIC
Cad"mic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, cadmium; as, cadmic
sulphide.
CADMIUM
Cad"mi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Cadmia.] (Chem.)
Defn: A comparatively rare element related to zinc, and occurring in
some zinc ores. It is a white metal, both ductile and malleable.
Symbol Cd. Atomic weight 111.8. It was discovered by Stromeyer in
1817, who named it from its association with zinc or zinc ore.
Cadmium yellow, a compound of cadmium and sulphur, of an intense
yellow color, used as a pigment.
CADRANS
Cad"rans, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cadran. Cf. Quadrant.]
Defn: An instrument with a graduated disk by means of which the
angles of gems are measured in the process of cutting and polishing.
CADRE
Ca"dre, n. Etym: [F. cadre, It. quadro square, from L. quadrum, fr.
quatuor four.] (Mil.)
Defn: The framework or skeleton upon which a regiment is to be
formed; the officers of a regiment forming the staff. [Written also
cader.]
CADUCARY
Ca*du"ca*ry, a. Etym: [See Caducous.] (Law)
Defn: Relating to escheat, forfeiture, or confiscation.
CADUCEAN
Ca*du"ce*an, a.
Defn: Of or belonging to Mercury's caduceus, or wand.
CADUCEUS
Ca*du"ce*us, n. Etym: [L. caduceum, caduceus; akin to Gr. (Myth.)
Defn: The official staff or wand of Hermes or Mercury, the messenger
of the gods. It was originally said to be a herald's staff of olive
wood, but was afterwards fabled to have two serpents coiled about it,
and two wings at the top.
CADUCIBRANCHIATE
Ca*du`ci*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [L. caducus falling (fr. cadere to
fall) + E. branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: With temporary gills: -- applied to those Amphibia in which the
gills do not remain in adult life.
CADUCITY
Ca*du"ci*ty, n. Etym: [LL. caducitas: cf. F. caducité. See Caducous.]
Defn: Tendency to fall; the feebleness of old age; senility. [R.]
[A] jumble of youth and caducity. Chesterfield.
CADUCOUS
Ca*du"cous, Etym: [L. caducus falling, inclined to fall, fr. cadere
to fall. See Cadence.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Dropping off or disappearing early, as the calyx of a poppy, or
the gills of a tadpole.
CADUKE
Ca*duke", a. Etym: [Cf. F. caduc. See Caducous.]
Defn: Perishable; frail; transitory. [Obs.] Hickes.
The caduke pleasures of his world. Bp. Fisher.
CADY
Cad"y, n.
Defn: See Cadie.
CAECA
Cæ"ca, n. pl.
Defn: See Cæcum.
CAECAL
Cæ"cal, a. (Anat.)
1. Of or pertaining to the cæcum, or blind gut.
2. Having the form of a cæcum, or bag with one opening; baglike; as,
the cæcal extremity of a duct.
CAECIAS
Cæ"ci*as, n. Etym: [L. caecias, Gr.
Defn: A wind from the northeast. Milton.
CAECILIAN
Cæ*cil"i*an, n. Etym: [L. caecus blind. So named from the supposed
blindness of the species, the eyes being very minute.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A limbless amphibian belonging to the order Cæciliæ or
Ophimorpha. See Ophiomorpha. [Written also coecilian.]
CAECUM
Cæ"cum, n.; pl. Cæcums, L. Cæca. Etym: [L. caecus blind, invisible,
concealed.] (Anat.)
(a) A cavity open at one end, as the blind end of a canal or duct.
(b) The blind part of the large intestine beyond the entrance of the
small intestine; -- called also the blind gut.
Note: The cæcum is comparatively small in man, and ends in a slender
portion, the vermiform appendix; but in herbivorous mammals it is
often as large as the rest of the large intestine. In fishes there
are often numerous intestinal cæca.
CAELATURA
Cæ`la*tu"ra, n. [L., fr. caelare to engrave in relief.]
Defn: Art of producing metal decorative work other than statuary, as
reliefs, intaglios, engraving, chasing, etc.
CAENOZOIC
Cæ`no*zo"ic, a. (Geol.)
Defn: See Cenozoic.
CAEN STONE
Ca"en stone",
Defn: A cream-colored limestone for building, found near Caen,
France.
CAESAR
Cæ"sar, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A Roman emperor, as being the successor of Augustus Cæsar.
Hence, a kaiser, or emperor of Germany, or any emperor or powerful
ruler. See Kaiser, Kesar.
Malborough anticipated the day when he would be servilely flattered
and courted by Cæsar on one side and by Louis the Great on the other.
Macaulay.
CAESAREAN; CAESARIAN
Cæ*sa"re*an, Cæ*sa"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Caesareus, Caesarianus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cæsar or the Cæsars; imperial. Cæsarean
section (Surg.), the operation of taking a child from the womb by
cutting through the walls of the abdomen and uterus; -- so called
because Julius Cæsar is reported to have been brought into the world
by such an operation.
CAESARISM
Cæ"sar*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Césarisme.]
Defn: A system of government in which unrestricted power is exercised
by a single person, to whom, as Cæsar or emperor, it has been
committed by the popular will; imperialism; also, advocacy or support
of such a system of government.
Note: This word came into prominence in the time of Napoleon III., as
an expression of the claims and political views of that emperor, and
of the politicians of his court.
CAESIOUS
Cæ"si*ous, a. Etym: [L. caesius bluish gray.] (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: Of the color of lavender; pale blue with a slight mixture of
gray. Lindley.
CAESIUM
Cæ"si*um, n. Etym: [NL., from L. caesius bluish gray.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare alkaline metal found in mineral water; -- so called from
the two characteristic blue lines in its spectrum. It was the first
element discovered by spectrum analysis, and is the most strongly
basic and electro-positive substance known. Symbol Cs. Atomic weight
132.6.
CAESPITOSE
Cæs"pi*tose`, a.
Defn: Same as Cespitose.
CAESURA
Cæ*su"ra, n.; pl. E. Cæsuras (, L. Cæsuræ ( Etym: [L. caesura a
cutting off, a division, stop, fr. caedere, caesum, to cut off. See
Concise.]
Defn: A metrical break in a verse, occurring in the middle of a foot
and commonly near the middle of the verse; a sense pause in the
middle of a foot. Also, a long syllable on which the cæsural accent
rests, or which is used as a foot.
Note: In the following line the cæsura is between study and of.
The prop | er stud | y || of | mankind | is man.
CAESURAL
Cæ*su"ral, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cæsura. Cæsural pause, a pause made at a
cæsura.
CAFE
Ca`fé", n. Etym: [F. See Coffee.]
Defn: A coffeehouse; a restaurant; also, a room in a hotel or
restaurant where coffee and liquors are served.
CAFENET; CAFENEH
Caf"e*net, Caf"e*neh, n. Etym: [Turk. qahveh khaneh coffeehouse.]
Defn: A humble inn or house of rest for travelers, where coffee is
sold. [Turkey]
CAFETERIA
Caf`e*te"ri*a, n. [Cf. F. cafetière.]
Defn: A restaurant or café at which the patrons serve themselves with
food kept at a counter, taking the food to small tables to eat. [U.
S.]
CAFFEIC
Caf*fe"ic, a. Etym: [See Coffee.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, coffee. Caffeic acid, an acid
obtained from coffee tannin, as a yellow crystalline substance,
C9H8O4.
CAFFEINE
Caf*fe"ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caféine. See Coffee.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, bitter, crystallizable substance, obtained from
coffee. It is identical with the alkaloid theine from tea leaves, and
with guaranine from guarana.
CAFFETANNIC
Caf`fe*tan"nic, a. Etym: [Caffeic + tannic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the tannin of coffee.
Caffetannic acid, a variety of tannin obtained from coffee berries,
regarded as a glucoside.
CAFFILA
Caf"fi*la, n. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: See Cafila.
CAFFRE
Caf"fre, n.
Defn: See Kaffir.
CAFILA; CAFILEH
Ca"fi*la, Ca"fi*leh, n. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A caravan of travelers; a military supply train or government
caravan; a string of pack horses.
CAFTAN
Caf"tan, n. Etym: [Turk. qaftan: cf. F. cafetan.]
Defn: A garment worn throughout the Levant, consisting of a long gown
with sleeves reaching below the hands. It is generally fastened by a
belt or sash.
CAFTAN
Caf"tan, v. t.
Defn: To clothe with a caftan. [R.]
The turbaned and caftaned damsel. Sir W. Scott.
CAG
Cag, n.
Defn: See Keg. [Obs.]
CAGE
Cage, n. Etym: [F. cage, fr. L. cavea cavity, cage, fr. cavus hollow.
Cf. Cave, n., Cajole, Gabion.]
1. A box or inclosure, wholly or partly of openwork, in wood or
metal, used for confining birds or other animals.
In his cage, like parrot fine and gay. Cowper.
2. A place of confinement for malefactors Shak.
Stone walls do not a prison make, Nor iron bars a cage. Lovelace.
3. (Carp.)
Defn: An outer framework of timber, inclosing something within it; as
the cage of a staircase. Gwilt.
4. (Mach.)
(a) A skeleton frame to limit the motion of a loose piece, as a ball
valve.
(b) A wirework strainer, used in connection with pumps and pipes.
5. The box, bucket, or inclosed platform of a lift or elevator; a
cagelike structure moving in a shaft.
6. (Mining)
Defn: The drum on which the rope is wound in a hoisting whim.
7. (Baseball)
Defn: The catcher's wire mask.
CAGE
Cage, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caged; p. pr. & vb. n. Caging.]
Defn: To confine in, or as in, a cage; to shut up or confine. "Caged
and starved to death." Cowper.
CAGED
Caged, a.
Defn: Confined in, or as in, a cage; like a cage or prison. "The
caged cloister." Shak.
CAGELING
Cage"ling, n. Etym: [Cage + -ling]
Defn: A bird confined in a cage; esp. a young bird. [Poetic]
Tennyson.
CAGIT
Ca"git, n. (Zoöl)
Defn: A king of parrot, of a beautiful green color, found in the
Philippine Islands.
CAGMAG
Cag"mag, n.
Defn: A tough old goose; hence, coarse, bad food of any kind. [Prov.
Eng.] Halliwell.
CAGOT
Ca"got, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of a race inhabiting the valleys of the Pyrenees, who until
1793 were political and social outcasts (Christian Pariahs). They are
supposed to be a remnant of the Visigoths.
CAHENSLYISM
Ca*hens"ly*ism, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A plan proposed to the Pope in 1891 by P. P. Cahensly, a member
of the German parliament, to divide the foreign-born population of
the United States, for ecclesiastical purposes, according to European
nationalities, and to appoint bishops and priests of like race and
speaking the same language as the majority of the members of a
diocese or congregation. This plan was successfully opposed by the
American party in the Church.
CAHIER
Ca`hier", n. Etym: [F., fr. OF. cayer, fr. LL. quaternum. See Quire
of paper. The sheets of manuscript were folded into parts.]
1. A namber of sheets of paper put loosely together; esp. one of the
successive portions of a work printed in numbers.
2. A memorial of a body; a report of legislative proceedings, etc.
CAHINCA ROOT
Ca*hin"ca root`. [Written also cainca root.] [See Cahincic.] (Bot.)
Defn: The root of an American shrub (Chiococca racemosa), found as
far north as Florida Keys, from which cahincic acid is obtained;
also, the root of the South American Chiococca anguifuga, a
celebrated antidote for snake poison.
CAHINCIC
Ca*hin"cic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cahinca, the native name of a
species of Brazilian Chiococca, perhaps C. recemosa; as, cahincic
acid.
CAHOOT
Ca*hoot", n. Etym: [Perhaps fr. f. cohorte a a company or band.]
Defn: Partnership; as to go in cahoot with a person. [Slang,
southwestern U. S.] Bartlett.
CAIMACAM
Cai`ma*cam", n. Etym: [Turk.]
Defn: The governor of a sanjak or district in Turkey.
CAIMAN
Cai"man, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cayman.
CAINOZOIC
Cai`no*zo"ic, a.
Defn: (Geol.) See Cenozic.
CAIQUE
Ca*ïque", n. Etym: [F., fr. Turk. qa\'c6q boat.] (Naut..)
Defn: A light skiff or rowboat used on the Bosporus; also, a
Levantine vessel of larger size.
CA IRA
Ça"i*ra". Etym: [F. ça ira, ça ira, les aristocrates à la lanterne,
it shall go on, it shall go on, [hang]the arictocrats to the lantern
(lamp-post).]
Defn: The refrain of a famous song of the French Revolution.
CAIRD
Caird, n. Etym: [Ir. ceard a tinker.]
Defn: A traveling tinker; also a tramp or sturdy beggar. [Prov. Eng.]
CAIRN
Cairn, n. Etym: [Gael. carn, gen. cairn, a heap: cf. Ir. & W. carn.]
1. A rounded or conical heap of stones erected by early inhabitants
of the British Isles, apparently as a sepulchral monument.
Now here let us place the gray stone of her cairn. Campbell.
2. A pile of stones heaped up as a landmark, or to arrest attention,
as in surveying, or in leaving traces of an exploring party, etc. C.
Kingsley. Kane.
CAIRNGORMSTONE
Cairn*gorm"stone`. Etym: [Gael. carn a cairn + gorm azure.] (Min.)
Defn: A yellow or smoky brown variety of rock crystal, or
crystallized quartz, found esp, in the mountain of Cairngorm, in
Scotland.
CAISSON
Cais"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. caisse, case, chest. See 1st Case.]
1. (Mil.)
(a) A chest to hold ammunition.
(b) A four-wheeled carriage for conveying ammunition, consisting of
two parts, a body and a limber. In light field batteries there is one
caisson to each piece, having two ammunition boxes on the body, and
one on the limber. Farrow.
(c) A chest filled with explosive materials, to be laid in the way of
an enemy and exploded on his appoach.
2.
(a) A water-tight box, of timber or iron within which work is carried
on in building foundations or structures below the water level.
(b) A hollow floating box, usually of iron, which serves to close the
entrances of docks and basins.
(c) A structure, usually with an air chamber, placed beneath a vessel
to lift or float it.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A sunk panel of ceilings or soffits. Pneumatic caisson
(Engin.), a caisson, closed at the top but open at the bottom, and
resting upon the ground under water. The pressure of air forced into
the caisson keeps the water out. Men and materials are admitted to
the interior through an air lock. See Lock.
CAISSON DISEASE
Cais"son dis*ease". (Med.)
Defn: A disease frequently induced by remaining for some time in an
atmosphere of high pressure, as in caissons, diving bells, etc. It is
characterized by neuralgic pains and paralytic symptoms. It is
variously explained, most probably as due to congestion of internal
organs with subsequent stasis of the blood.
CAITIFF
Cai"tiff, a. Etym: [OE. caitif, cheitif, captive, miserable, OF.
caitif, chaitif, captive, mean, wretched, F. chétif, fr. L. captivus
captive, fr. capere to take, akin to E. heave. See Heave, and cf.
Captive.]
1. Captive; wretched; unfortunate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Base; wicked and mean; cowardly; despicable.
Arnold had sped his caitiff flight. W. Irving.
CAITIFF
Cai"tiff, n.
Defn: A captive; a prisoner. [Obs.]
Avarice doth tyrannize over her caitiff and slave. Holland.
2. A wretched or unfortunate man. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. A mean, despicable person; one whose character meanness and
wickedness meet.
Note: The deep-felt conviction of men that slavery breaks down the
moral character . . . speaks out with . . . distinctness in the
change of meaning which caitiff has undergone signifying as it now
does, one of a base, abject disposition, while there was a time when
it had nothing of this in it. Trench.
CAJEPUT
Caj"e*put, n.
Defn: See Cajuput.
CAJOLE
Ca*jole", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cajoled; p. pr. & vb. n. Cajoling.]
Etym: [F. cajoler, orig., to chatter like a bird in a cage, to sing;
hence, to amuse with idle talk, to flatter, from the source of OF.
goale, jaiole, F. geôle, dim. of cage a cage. See Cage, Jail.]
Defn: To deceive with flattery or fair words; to wheedle.
I am not about to cajole or flatter you into a reception of my views.
F. W. Robertson.
Syn.
-- To flatter; wheedle; delude; coax; entrap.
CAJOLEMENT
Ca*jole"ment, n.
Defn: The act of cajoling; the state of being cajoled; cajolery.
Coleridge.
CAJOLER
Ca*jol"er, n.
Defn: A flatterer; a wheedler.
CAJOLERY
Ca*jol"er*y, n.; pl. Cajoleries (.
Defn: A wheedling to delude; words used in cajoling; flattery.
"Infamous cajoleries." Evelyn.
CAJUN
Ca"jun, n. [A corruption of Acadian.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: In Louisiana, a person reputed to be Acadian French descent.
CAJUPUT
Caj"u*put, n. Etym: [Of Malayan origin; kayu tree + putih white.]
(Med.)
Defn: A highly stimulating volatile infammable oil, distilled from
the leaves of an East Indian tree (Melaleuca cajuputi, etc.) It is
greenish in color and has a camphoraceous odor and pungent taste.
CAJUPUTENE
Caj"u*put*ene`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorlees or greenish oil extracted from cajuput.
CAKE
Cake, n. Etym: [OE. cake, kaak; akin to Dan. kage, Sw. & Icel. kaka,
D. koek, G.kuchem, OHG. chuocho.]
1. A small mass of dough baked; especially, a thin loaf from
unleavened dough; as, an oatmeal cake; johnnycake.
2. A sweetened composition of flour and other ingredients, leavened
or unleavened, baked in a loaf or mass of any size or shape.
3. A thin wafer-shaped mass of fried batter; a griddlecake or
pancake; as buckwheat cakes.
4. A mass of matter concreted, congealed, or molded into a solid mass
of any form, esp. into a form rather flat than high; as, a cake of
soap; an ague cake.
Cakes of rusting ice come rolling down the flood. Dryden.
Cake urchin (Zoöl), any species of flat sea urchins belonging to the
Clypeastroidea.
-- Oil cake the refuse of flax seed, cotton seed, or other vegetable
substance from which oil has been expressed, compacted into a solid
mass, and used as food for cattle, for manure, or for other purposes.
-- To have one's cake dough, to fail or be disappointed in what one
has undertaken or expected. Shak.
CAKE
Cake, v. i.
Defn: To form into a cake, or mass.
CAKE
Cake, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caked; p. pr. & vb. n. Caking.]
Defn: To concrete or consolidate into a hard mass, as dough in an
oven; to coagulate.
Clotted blood that caked within. Addison.
CAKE
Cake, v. i.
Defn: To cackle as a goose. [Prov. Eng.]
CAKING COAL
Cak"ing coal`.
Defn: See Coal.
CAL
Cal, n. (Cornish Mines)
Defn: Wolfram, an ore of tungsten. Simmonds.
CALABAR
Cal"a*bar, n.
Defn: A district on the west coast of Africa. Calabar bean, The of a
climbing legumious plant (Physostigma venenosum), a native of
tropical Africa. It is highly poisonous. It is used to produce
contraction of the pupil of the eye; also in tetanus, neuralgia, and
rheumatic diseases; -- called also ordeal bean, being used by the
negroes in trials for witchcraft.
CALABARINE
Cal"a*bar*ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid resembing physostigmine and occurring with it in
the calabar bean.
CALABASH
Cal"a*bash, n. Etym: [Sp. calabaza, or Pg. calaba, caba (cf. F.
Calebasse), lit., a dry gourd, fr. Ar. qar', fem., a kind of gourd +
aibas dry.]
1. The common gourd (plant or fruit).
2. The fruit of the calabash tree.
3. A water dipper, bottle, backet, or other utensil, made from the
dry shell of a calabash or gourd. Calabash tree. (Bot.), a tree of
tropical America (Crescentia cujete), producing a large gourdike
fruit, containing a purgative pulp. Its hard shell, after the removal
of the pulp, is used for cups, bottles, etc. The African calabash
tree is the baobab.
CALABOOSE
Cal`a*boose", n. Etym: [A corruption of Sp. calabozo dungeon.]
Defn: A prison; a jail. [Local, U. S.]
CALABOZO
Ca`la*bo"zo, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A jail. See Calaboose.
CALADE
Ca*lade", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A slope or declivity in a manege ground down which a horse is
made to gallop, to give suppleness to his haunches.
CALADIUM
Ca*la"di*um, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A genus of aroideous plants, of which some species are
cultivated for their immense leaves (which are often curiously
blotched with white and red), and others (in Polynesia) for food.
CALAITE
Cal"a*ite, n. Etym: [L. calaïs, Gr. calaïte.]
Defn: A mineral. See Turquoise.
CALAMANCO
Cal`a*man"co, n. Etym: [LL. calamancus, calamacus; cf. camelaucum; a
head covering made of camel's hair, NGr. calmande a woolen stuff.]
Defn: A glossy woolen stuff, plain, striped, or checked. "a gay
calamanco waistcoat." Tatler.
CALAMANDER WOOD
Cal"a*man`der wood.
Defn: A valuable furniture wood from India and Ceylon, of a hazel-
brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a
species of ebony, and is obtained from the Diospyros qusesita. Called
also Coromandel wood.
CALAMAR; CALAMARY
Cal"a*mar, Cal"a*ma*ry, n. Etym: [LL. calamarium inkstand, fr. L.
calamus a reed pen: cf. F. calmar, calemar, pen case, calamar.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A cephalopod, belonging to the genus Loligo and related genera.
There are many species. They have a sack of inklike fluid which they
discharge from the siphon tube, when pursued or alarmed, in order to
confuse their enemies. Their shell is a thin horny plate, within the
flesh of back, shaped very much like a quill pen. In America they are
called squids. See Squid.
CALAMBAC
Cal"am*bac, n. Etym: [F. calambac, calambour, from Malay Kalambaq a
king of fragrant wood.] (Bot.)
Defn: A fragrant wood; agalloch.
CALAMBOUR
Cal"am*bour, n. Etym: [See Calambac.]
Defn: A species of agalloch, or aloes wood, of a dusky or mottled
color, of a light, friable texture, and less fragrant than calambac;
-- used by cabinetmakers.
CALAMIFEROUS
Cal`a*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. calamus reed + ferous.]
Defn: Producing reeds; reedy.
CALAMINE
Cal"a*mine, n. Etym: [F. calamine, LL. calamina, fr. L. Cabmia. See
Cadmia.] (min.)
Defn: A mineral, the hydrous silicate of zinc.
Note: The name was formerly applied to both the carbonate and
silicate of zinc each of which is valuabic as an ore; but it is now
usually restricted to the latter, the former being called
smithsonite.
CALAMINT
Cal"a*mint, n. Etym: [OE. calamint, calemente (cf. F. calament) fr.
L. calamintha, Gr. Mint.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial plants (Calamintha) of the Mint family,
esp. the C. Nepela and C. Acinos, which are called also basil thyme.
CALAMIST
Cal"a*mist, n. Etym: [L. calamus a reed.]
Defn: One who plays upon a reed or pipe. [Obs.] Blount.
CALAMISTRATE
Cal`a*mis"trate, v. i. Etym: [L. calamistratus, curied with the
curling iron, fr. calamistrum curling iron, fr. calamus a reed.]
Defn: To curl or friz, as the hair. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
CALAMISTRATION
Cal`amis*tra"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of curling the hair. [Obs.] burton.
CALAMISTRUM
Cal`a*mis"trum, n. Etym: [L., a curling iron.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A comblike structure on the metatarsus of the hind legs of
certain spiders (Ciniflonidæ), used to curl certain fibers in the
construction of their webs.
CALAMITE
Cal"a*mite, n. Etym: [L. calamus a reed: cf. F. calamite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil plant of the coal formation, having the general form
of plants of the modern Equiseta (the Horsetail or Scouring Rush
family) but sometimes attaining the height of trees, and having the
stem more or less woody within. See Acrogen, and Asterophyllite.
CALAMITOUS
Ca*lam"i*tous, a. Etym: [L. Calamitosus; cf. F. calamiteux.]
1. Suffering calamity; wretched; miserable. [Obs.]
Ten thousands of calamitous persons. South.
2. Producing, or attended with distress and misery; making wretched;
wretched; unhappy. "This sad and calamitous condition." South. "A
calamitous prison" Milton.
Syn.
-- Miserable; deplorable; distressful; afflictive; grievous;
baleful; disastrous; adverse; unhappy; severe; sad; unfortunate.
-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ly, adv.
-- Ca*lam"i*tous*ness, n.
CALAMITY
Ca*lam"i*ty n.; pl. Calamities. Etym: [L. calamitas, akin to in-
columis unharmed: cf. F. calamité]
1. Any great misfortune or cause of misery; -- generally applied to
events or disasters which produce extensive evil, either to
communities or individuals.
Note: The word calamity was first derived from calamus when the corn
could not get out of the stalk. Bacon.
Strokes of calamity that scathe and scorch the soul. W. Irving.
2. A state or time of distress or misfortune; misery.
The deliberations of calamity are rarely wise. Burke.
Where'er I came I brought calamity. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- Disaster; distress; afflicition; adversity; misfortune;
unhappiness; infelicity; mishap; mischance; misery; evil; extremity;
exigency; downfall.
-- Calamity, Disaster, Misfortune, Mishap, Mischance. Of these
words, calamity is the strongest. It supposes a somewhat continuous
state, produced not usually by the direct agency of man, but by
natural causes, such as fire, flood, tempest, disease, etc, Disaster
denotes literally ill-starred, and is some unforeseen and distressing
event which comes suddenly upon us, as if from hostile planet.
Misfortune is often due to no specific cause; it is simply the bad
fortune of an individual; a link in the chain of events; an evil
independent of his own conduct, and not to be charged as a fault.
Mischance and mishap are misfortunes of a trivial nature, occurring
usually to individuals. "A calamity is either public or private, but
more frequently the former; a disaster is rather particular than
private; it affects things rather than persons; journey, expedition,
and military movements are often attended with disasters; misfortunes
are usually personal; they immediately affect the interests of the
individual." Crabb.
CALAMUS
Cal"a*mus, n.; pl. Calami. Etym: [L., a reed. See Halm.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The indian cane, a plant of the Palm family. It furnishes the
common rattan. See Rattan, and Dragon's blood.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Acorus (A. calamus), commonly called calamus, or
sweet flag. The root has a pungent, aromatic taste, and is used in
medicine as a stomachic; the leaves have an aromatic odor, and were
formerly used instead of rushes to strew on floors.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The horny basal portion of a feather; the barrel or quill.
CALANDO
Ca*lan"do, a. Etym: [It.]
Defn: (Mus.) Gradually diminishing in rapidity and loudness.
CALASH
Ca*lash", n. Etym: [F. calèche; of Slavonic origin; cf. Bohem.
kolesa, Russ. koliaska calash, koleso, kolo, wheel.]
1. A light carriage with low wheels, having a top or hood that can be
raised or lowered, seats for inside, a separate seat for the driver,
and often a movable front, so that it can be used as either an open
or a close carriage.
The baroness in a calash capable of holding herself, her two
children, and her servants. W. Irving.
2. In Canada, a two-wheeled, one-seated vehicle, with a calash top,
and the driver's seat elevated in front.
3. A hood or top of a carriage which can be thrown back at pleasure.
4. A hood, formerly worn by ladies, which could be drawn forward or
thrown back like the top of a carriage.
CALAVERAS SKULL
Ca`la*ve"ras skull.
Defn: A human skull reported, by Prof. J. D. Whitney, as found in
1886 in a Tertiary auriferous gravel deposit, lying below a bed of
black lava, in Calaveras County, California. It is regarded as very
doubtful whether the skull really belonged to the deposit in which it
was found. If it did, it indicates an unprecedented antiquity for
human beings of an advanced type.
CALAVERITE
Ca`la*ve"rite (, n. (Min.)
Defn: A bronze-yellow massive mineral with metallic luster; a
telluride of gold; -- first found in Calaveras County California.
CALCANEAL
Cal*ca"ne*al, a. (Anal.)
Defn: Pertaining to the calcaneum; as, calcaneal arteries.
CALCANEUM
Cal*ca"ne*um n.; pl. E. -neums, L. -nea. Etym: [L. the heel, fr.
calx, calcis, the heel.] (Anal.)
Defn: One of the bones of the tarsus which in man, forms the great
bone of the heel; -- called also fibulare.
CALCAR
Cal"car, n. Etym: [L. calcaria lime kiln, fr. calx, calcis, lime. See
Calx.] (Glass manuf.)
Defn: A kind of oven, or reverberatory furnace, used for the
calcination of sand and potash, and converting them into frit. Ure.
CALCAR
Cal"car, n.; L. pl. Calcaria. Etym: [L., a pur, as worn on the heel,
also the spur of a cock, fr. calx, calcis, the heel.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A hollow tube or spur at the base of a petal or corolla.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A slender bony process from the ankle joint of bats, which
helps to support the posterior part of the web, in flight.
3. (Anat.)
(a) A spur, or spurlike prominence.
(b) A curved ridge in the floor of the leteral ventricle of the
brain; the calcar avis, hippocampus minor, or ergot.
CALCARATE; CALCARATED
Cal"ca*rate, Cal"ca*ra`ted, a. Etym: [LL. calcaratus, fr. L. calcar.
See 2d Calcar.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a spur, as the flower of the toadflax and larkspur;
spurred. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Armed with a spur.
CALCAREO-ARGILLACEOUS
Cal*ca"re*o-ar`gil*la"ceous, a.
Defn: consisting of, or containing, calcareous and argillaceous
earths.
CALCAREO-BITUMINOUS
Cal*ca"re*o-bi*tu"mi*nous, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, lime and bitumen. Lyell.
CALCAREO-SILICEOUS
Cal*ca"re*o-si*li"ceous, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing calcareous and siliceous earths.
CALCAREOUS
Cal*ca"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. calcarius pertaining to lime. See Calx.]
Defn: Partaking of the nature ofcalcite or calcium carbonate;
consisting of, or containg, calcium carbonate or carbonate of lime.
Clcareous spar. See as Calcite.
CALCAREOUSNESS
Cal*ca"re*ous*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being calcareous.
CALCARIFEROUS
Cal`ca*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. calcarius of lime + ferous.]
Defn: Lime-yielding; calciferous
CALCARINE
Cal"ca*rine, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the calcar of the brain.
CALCAVELLA
Cal`ca*vel"la, n.
Defn: A sweet wine from Portugal; -- so called from the district of
Carcavelhos. [Written also Calcavellos or Carcavelhos.]
CALCEATED
Cal"ce*a"ted, a. Etym: [L. calceatus, p. p. of pelceare to ahoe, fr.
catceus shoe, fr. calx, calcic, heel.]
Defn: Fitted with, or wearing, shoes. Johnson.
CALCED
Calced, a. Etym: [See Calceated.]
Defn: Wearing shoes; calceated; -- in distintion from discalced or
barefooted; as the calced Carmelites.
CALCEDON
Cal"ce*don, n. Etym: [See Chalcedony.]
Defn: A foul vein, like chalcedony, in some precious stones.
CALCEDONIC; CALCEDONIAN
Cal`ce*don"ic, Cal`ce*do"ni*an, a.
Defn: See Chalcedonic.
CALCEIFORM
Cal"ce*i*form`, a. Etym: [L. calceus shoe + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a plipper, as one petal of the lady's-slipper;
calceolate.
CALCEOLARIA
cal`ce*o*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. calceolarius shoemaker, fr.
calceolus, a dim. of calceus shoe.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of showy herbaceous or shrubby plant, biought from
South America; slipperwort. It has a yellow or purple flower, often
spotted or striped, the shape of which suggests its name.
CALCEOLATE
Cal"ce*o*late, a. Etym: [See Calceolaria.]
Defn: Slipper-ahaped. See Calceiform.
CALCES
Cal"ces, n. pl.
Defn: See Calx.
CALCIC
Cal"cic, a. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime: cf. F. calcique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, calcium or lime.
CALCIFEROUS
Cal*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime + -
ferous.]
Defn: Bearing producing, or containing calcite, or carbonate of lime.
Calciferouse epoch (Geol.), and epoch in the American lower Silurian
system, immediately succeeding the Cambrian period. The name alludes
to the peculiar mixture of calcareous and siliceous characteristics
in many of the beds. See the Diagram under Grology.
CALCIFIC
Cal*cif"ic, a.
Defn: Calciferous. Specifically: (Zoöl.) of or pertaining to hte
portion of the which forms the eggshell in birds and reptiles.
Huxley.
CALCIFICATION
Cal`ci*fi*ca"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The process of chenge into a stony or calcareous substance by
the deposition of lime salt; -- normally, as in the formation of bone
and teeth; abnormally, as in calcareous degeneration of tissue.
CALCIFIED
Cal"ci*fied, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, calcareous matter or lime salts;
calcareous.
CALCIFORM
Cal"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime + -form.]
Defn: In the form of chalk or lime.
CALCIFY
Cal"ci*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Calcified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calcifying.] Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime + -fy.]
Defn: To make stony or calcareous by the deposit or secretion of
salts of lime.
CALCIFY
Cal"ci*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become changed into a stony or calcareous condition, in lime
is a principal ingredient, as in the formation of teeth.
CALCIGENOUS
Cal*cig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime + -genouse.] (Chem.)
Defn: Tending to form, or to become, a calx or earthlike substance on
being oxidized or burnt; as magnesium, calcium. etc.
CALCIGEROUS
Cal*cig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime + -gerouse.]
Defn: Holding lime or other earthy salts; as, the calcigerous cells
of the teeth.
CALCIMINE
Cal"ci*mine, n. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime.]
Defn: A white or colored wash for the ceiling or other plastering of
a room, consisting of a mixture of clear glue, Paris white or zinc
white, and water. [Also spelt kalsomine.]
CALCIMINE
Cal"ci*mine, v. t. [imp. &p. p. Calcimined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calcimining.]
Defn: To wash or cover with calcimine; as, to calcimine walls.
CALCIMINER
Cal"ci*mi`ner, n.
Defn: One who calcimines.
CALCINABLE
Cal*cin"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be calcined; as, a calcinable fossil.
CALCINATE
Cal"ci*nate, v. i.
Defn: To calcine. [R.]
CALCINATION
Cal`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [F. calcination.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of disintegrating a substance, or rendering
it friable by the action of heat, esp. by the expulsion of some
volatile matter, as when carbonic and acid is expelled from carbonate
of calcium in the burning of limestone in order to make lime.
2. The act or process of reducing a metal to an oxide or metallic
calx; oxidation.
CALCINATORY
Cal*cin"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: A vessel used in calcination.
CALCINE
Cal*cine", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calciden; p. pr. & vb. n. Calcining.]
Etym: [F. calciner, fr. L. calx, calcis, lime. See Calx.]
1. To reduce to a powder, or to a friable state, by the action of
heat; to expel volatile matter from by means of heat, as carbonic
acid from limestone, and thus (usually) to produce disintegration; as
to, calcine bones.
2. To oxidize, as a metal by the action of heat; to reduce to a
metallic calx.
CALCINE
Cal*cine", v. i.
Defn: To be convereted into a powder or friable substance, or into a
calx, by the action of heat. "Calcining without fusion" Newton.
CALCINER
Cal*cin"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, calcines.
CALCISPONGIAE
Cal`ci*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. calx, calcis, lime +
spongia a sponge.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of marine sponges, containing calcareous spicules. See
Porifera.
CALCITE
Cal"cite, n. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime.] (Min.)
Defn: Calcium carbonate, or carbonate of lime. It is rhombohedral in
its crystallization, and thus distinguished from aragonite. It
includes common limestone, chalk, and marble. Called also calc-spar
and calcareous spar.
Note: Argentine is a pearly lamellar variety; aphrite is foliated or
chalklike; dogtooth spar, a form in acute rhombohedral or
scalenohedral crystals; calc-sinter and calc-tufa are lose or porous
varieties formed in caverns or wet grounds from calcareous deposits;
agaric mineral is a soft, white friable variety of similar origin;
stalaclite and stalagmite are varieties formed from the drillings in
caverns. Iceland spar is a transparent variety, exhibiting the strong
double refraction of the species, and hence is called doubly
refracting spar.
CALCITRANT
Cal"ci*trant, a. Etym: [L. calcitrans, p. pr. of calcitrare to kick,
fr. calx, calcis , heel.]
Defn: Kicking. Hence: Stubborn; refractory.
CALCITRATE
Cal"ci*trate, v. i. & i. Etym: [L. calcitratus, p. p. of calcitrare.
See Calcitrant.]
Defn: To kick.
CALCITRATION
Cal`ci*tra"tion, n.
Defn: Act of kicking.
CALCIUM
Cal"ci*um, n. Etym: [NL., from L. calx, calcis, lime; cf F. calcium.
See Calx.] (Chem.)
Defn: An elementary substance; a metal which combined with oxygen
forms lime. It is of a pale yellow color, tenacious, and malleable.
It is a member of the alkaline earth group of elements. Atomic weight
40. Symbol Ca.
Note: Calcium is widely and abundantly disseminated, as in its
compounds calcium carbonate or limestone, calcium sulphate or gypsum,
calcium fluoride or fluor spar, calcium phosphate or apatite. Calcium
light, an intense light produced by the incandescence of a stick or
ball of lime in the flame of a combination of oxygen and hydrogen
gases, or of oxygen and coal gas; -- called also Drummond light.
CALCIVOROUS
Cal*civ"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. calx lime + vorare to devour.]
Defn: Eroding, or eating into, limestone.
CALCOGRAPHER
Cal*cog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who practices calcography.
CALCOGRAPHIC; CALCOGRAPHICAL
Cal`co*graph"ic, Cal`co*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to, or in the style of, calcography.
CALCOGRAPHY
Cal*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [L. calx, calcis, lime, chalk + -graphy.]
Defn: The art of drawing with chalk.
CALC-SINTER
Calc"-sin`ter, n. Etym: [G. kalk (L. calx, calcis) lime + E. sinter.]
Defn: See under Calcite.
CALC-SPAR
Calc"-spar`, n. Etym: [G. kalk (L. calx) lime E. spar.]
Defn: Same as Calcite.
CALC-TUFA
Calc"-tu`fa, n. Etym: [G. kalk (l. calx) lime + E. tufa.]
Defn: See under Calcite.
CALCULABLE
Cal"cu*la*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. calculable.]
Defn: That may be calculated or ascertained by calculation.
CALCULARY
Cal"cu*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. calculus a pebble, a calculus; cf
calcularius pertaining to calculation.] (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to calculi.
CALCULARY
Cal"cu*la*ry, n.
Defn: A congeries of little stony knots found in the pulp of the pear
and other fruits.
CALCULATE
Cal"cu*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calculater; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calculating.] Etym: [L, calculatus, p. p. of calculate, fr. calculus
a pebble, a stone used in reckoning; hence, a reckoning, fr. calx,
calcis, a stone used in gaming, limestone. See Calx.]
1. To ascertain or determine by mathematical processes, usually by
the ordinary rules of arithmetic; to reckon up; to estimate; to
compute.
A calencar exacity calculated than any othe. North.
2. To ascertain or predict by mathematical or astrological
computations the time, circumstances, or other conditions of; to
forecast or compute the character or consequences of; as, to
calculate or cast one's nativity.
A cunning man did calculate my birth. Shak.
3. To adjust for purpose; to adapt by forethought or calculation; to
fit or prepare by the adaptation of means to an end; as, to calculate
a system of laws for the government and protection of a free people.
[Religion] is . . . calculated for our benefit. Abp. Tillotson.
4. To plan; to expect; to think. [Local, U. S.]
Syn.
-- To compute; reckon; count; estimate; rate.
-- To Calculate, Compute. Reckon, Count. These words indicate the
means by which we arrive at a given result in regard to quantity. We
calculate with a view to obtain a certain point of knowledge; as, to
calculate an eclipse. We compute by combining given numbers, in order
to learn the grand result. We reckon and count in carrying out the
details of a computation. These words are also used in a secondary
and figurative sense. "Calculate is rather a conjection from what is,
as to what may be; computation is a rational estimate of what has
been, from what is; reckoning is a conclusive conviction, a pleasing
assurance that a thing will happen; counting indicates an
expectation. We calculate on a gain; we compute any loss sustained,
or the amount of any mischief done; we reckon on a promised pleasure;
we count the hours and minutes until the time of enjoyment arrives"
Crabb.
CALCULATE
Cal"cu*late, v. i.
Defn: To make a calculation; to forecast caonsequences; to estimate;
to compute.
The strong passions, whether good or bad, never calculate. F. W.
Robertson.
CALCULATED
Cal"cu*la`ted, p. p. & a.
1. Worked out by calculation; as calculated tables for computing
interest; ascertained or conjectured as a result of calculation; as,
the calculated place of a planet; the calculated velocity of a cannon
ball.
2. Adapted by calculation, contrivance. or forethought to accomplish
a purpose; as, to use arts calculated to deceive the people.
3. Likely to produce a certain effect, whether intended or not;
fitted; adapted; suited.
The only danger that attends multiplicity of publication is, that
some of them may be calculated to injure rather than benefit society.
Goldsmith.
The minister, on the other hand, had never gone through an experience
calculated to lead him beyond the scope of generally received laws.
Hawthorne.
CALCULATING
Cal"cu*la`ting, a.
1. Of or pertaining to mathematical calculations; performing or able
to perform mathematical calculations.
2. Given to contrivance or forethought; forecasting; scheming; as, a
cool calculating disposition. Calculating machine, a machine for the
mechanical performance of mathematical operations, for the most part
invented by Charles Babbage and G. and E. Scheutz. It computes
logarithmic and other mathematical tables of a high degree of
intricacy, imprinting the results on a leaden plate, from which a
stereotype plate is then directly made.
CALCULATING
Cal"cu*la`ting, n.
Defn: The act or process of making mathematical computations or of
estimating results.
CALCULATION
Cal`cu*la"tion, n. Etym: [OE. calculation, fr. L. calculatio; cf. OF.
calcucation.]
1. The act or process, or the result, of calculating; computation;
reckoning, estimate. "The calculation of eclipses." Nichol.
The mountain is not so his calculation makes it. Boyle.
2. An expectation based on cirumstances.
The lazy gossips of the port, Abborrent of a calculation crost, Began
to chafe as at a personal wrong. Tennyson.
CALCULATIVE
Cal"cu*la*tive, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to calculation; involving calculation.
Long habits of calculative dealings. Burke.
CALCULATOR
Cal"cu*la*tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. calculateur.]
Defn: One who computes or reckons: one who estimates or considers the
force and effect of causes, with a view to form a correct estimate of
the effects.
Ambition is no exact calculator. Burke.
CALCULATORY
Cal"cu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. calculatorius.]
Defn: Belonging to calculation. Sherwood.
CALCULE
Cal"cule, n. Etym: [F. calcul, fr. L. calculus. See Calculus.]
Defn: Reckoning; computation. [Obs.] Howell.
CALCULE
Cal"cule, v. i.
Defn: To calculate [Obs.] Chaucer.
CALCULI
Cal"cu*li, n. pl.
Defn: See Calculus.
CALCULOUS
Cal"cu*lous, a. Etym: [L. calculosus.]
1. Of the nature of a calculus; like stone; gritty; as, a calculous
concretion. Sir T. Browne.
2. Caused, or characterized, by the presence of a calculus or
calculi; a, a calculous disorder; affected with gravel or stone; as,
a calculous person.
CALCULUS
Cal"cu*lus, n.; pl. Calculi Etym: [L, calculus. See Calculate, and
Calcule.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Any solid concretion, formed in any part of the body, but most
frequent in the organs that act as reservoirs, and in the passages
connected with them; as, biliary calculi; urinary calculi, etc.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A method of computation; any process of reasoning by the use of
symbols; any branch of mathematics that may involve calculation.
Barycentric calculus, a method of treating geometry by defining a
point as the center of gravity of certain other points to which
coëfficients or weights are ascribed.
-- Calculus of functions, that branch of mathematics which treats of
the forms of functions that shall satisfy given conditions.
-- Calculus of operations, that branch of mathematical logic that
treats of all operations that satisfy given conditions.
-- Calculus of probabilities, the science that treats of the
computation of the probabilities of events, or the application of
numbers to chance.
-- Calculus of variations, a branch of mathematics in which the laws
of dependence which bind the variable quantities together are
themselves subject to change.
-- Differential calculus, a method of investigating mathematical
questions by using the ratio of certain indefinitely small quantities
called differentials. The problems are primarily of this form: to
find how the change in some variable quantity alters at each instant
the value of a quantity dependent upon it.
-- Exponential calculus, that part of algebra which treats of
exponents.
-- Imaginary calculus, a method of investigating the relations of
real or imaginary quantities by the use of the imaginary symbols and
quantities of algebra.
-- Integral calculus, a method which in the reverse of the
differential, the primary object of which is to learn from the known
ratio of the indefinitely small changes of two or more magnitudes,
the relation of the magnitudes themselves, or, in other words, from
having the differential of an algebraic expression to find the
expression itself.
CALDRON
Cal"dron, n. Etym: [OE. caldron, caudron, caudroun, OF. caudron,
chauderon, F. chaudron, an aug. of F. chaudière, LL. caldaria, fr. L.
caldarius suitable for warming, fr. caldus, calidus, warm, fr. calere
to be warm; cf. Skr. çra to boil. Cf. Chaldron, Calaric, Caudle.]
Defn: A large kettle or boiler of copper, brass, or iron. [Written
also cauldron.] "Caldrons of boiling oil." Prescott.
CALECHE
Ca*lèche", n. Etym: [F. calèche.]
Defn: See Calash.
CALEDONIA
Cal`e*do"ni*a, n.
Defn: The ancient Latin name of Scotland; -- still used in poetry.
CALEDONIAN
Cal`e*do"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Caledonia or Scotland; Scottish; Scotch.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Caledonia or Scotland.
CALEDONITE
Ca*led"o*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous sulphate of copper and lead, found in some parts of
Caledonia or Scotland.
CALEFACIENT
Cal`e*fa"cient, a. Etym: [L. calefaciens p. pr. of calefacere to make
warm; calere to be warm + facere to make.]
Defn: Making warm; heating. [R.]
CALEFACIENT
Cal`e*fa"cient, n.
Defn: A substance that excites warmth in the parts to which it is
applied, as mustard.
CALEFACTION
Cal`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. calefactio: cf. F. caléfaction.]
1. The act of warming or heating; the production of heat in a body by
the action of fire, or by communication of heat from other bodies.
2. The state of being heated.
CALEFACTIVE
Cal`e*fac"tive, a.
Defn: See Calefactory. [R.]
CALEFACTOR
Cal`e*fac"tor, n.
Defn: A heater; one who, or that which, makes hot, as a stove, etc.
CALEFACTORY
Cal`e*fac"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. calefactorius.]
Defn: Making hot; producing or communicating heat.
CALEFACTORY
Cal`e*fac"to*ry, n.
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: An apartment in a monastery, warmed and used as a sitting room.
2. A hollow sphere of metal, filled with hot water, or a chafing
dish, placed on the altar in cold weather for the priest to warm his
hands with.
CALEFY
Cal"e*fy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calefied; p. pr. & vb. n. Calefying.]
Etym: [L. calere to be warm + -fy]
Defn: To make warm or hot.
CALEFY
Cal"e*fy, v. i.
Defn: To grow hot or warm. Sir T. Browne.
CALEMBOUR
Cal"em*bour`, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A pun.
CALENDAR
Cal"en*dar, n. Etym: [OE. kalender, calender, fr. L. kalendarium an
interest or account book (cf. F. calendrier, OF. calendier) fr. L.
calendue, kalendae, calends. See Calends.]
1. An orderly arrangement of the division of time, adapted to the
purposes of civil life, as years, months, weeks, and days; also, a
register of the year with its divisions; an almanac.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A tabular statement of the dates of feasts, offices, saints'
days, etc., esp. of those which are liable to change yearly according
to the varying date of Easter.
3. An orderly list or enumeration of persons, things, or events; a
schedule; as, a calendar of state papers; a calendar of bills
presented in a legislative assemblly; a calendar of causes arranged
for trial in court; a calendar of a college or an academy.
Note: Shepherds of people had need know the calendars of tempests of
state. Bacon. Calendar clock, one that shows the days of the week and
month.
-- Calendar month. See under Month.
-- French Republican calendar. See under Vendémiaire.
-- Gregorian calendar, Julian calendar, Perpetual calendar. See
under Gregorian, Julian, and Perpetual.
CALENDAR
Cal"en*dar, v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Calendared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calendaring.]
Defn: To enter or write in a calendar; to register. Waterhouse.
CALENDARIAL
Cal`en*da"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the calendar or a calendar.
CALENDARY
Cal"en*da*ry, a.
Defn: Calendarial. [Obs.]
CALENDER
Cal"en*der, n. Etym: [F. calandre, LL. calendra, corrupted fr. L.
cylindrus a cylinder, Gr. Cylinider.]
1. A machine, used for the purpose of giving cloth, paper, etc., a
smooth, even, and glossy or glazed surface, by cold or hot pressure,
or for watering them and giving them a wavy appearance. It consists
of two or more cylinders revolving nearly in contact, with the
necessary apparatus for moving and regulating.
2. One who pursues the business of calendering.
My good friend the calender. Cawper.
CALENDER
Cal"en*der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calendered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Calendering.] Etym: [Cf. F. calandrer. See Calender, n.]
Defn: To press between rollers for the purpose of making smooth and
glossy, or wavy, as woolen and silk stuffs, linens, paper, etc. Ure.
CALENDER
Cal"en*der, n. Etym: [Per. qalender.]
Defn: One of a sect or order of fantastically dressed or painted
dervishes.
CALENDOGRAPHER
Cal`en*dog"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Calendar + -graph + er.]
Defn: One who makes calendars. [R.]
CALENDRER
Cal"en*drer, n.
Defn: A person who calenders cloth; a calender.
CALENDRIC; CALENDRICAL
Ca*len"dric, Ca*len"dric*al, a.,
Defn: Of or pertaining to a calendar.
CALENDS
Cal"ends, n. pl. Etym: [OE. kalendes month, calends, AS. calend
month, fr. L. calendae; akin to calare to call, proclaim, Gr. Claim.]
Defn: The first day of each month in the ancient Roman calendar.
[Written also kalends.] The Greek calends, a time that will never
come, as the Greeks had no calends.
CALENDULA
Ca*len"du*la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. calendae calends.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite herbaceous plants. One species, Calendula
officinalis, is the common marigold, and was supposed to blossom on
the calends of every month, whence the name.
CALENDULIN
Ca*len"du*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A gummy or mucilaginous tasteless substance obtained from the
marigold or calendula, and analogous to bassorin.
CALENTURE
Cal"en*ture, n. Etym: [F. calenture, fr. Sp. calenture heat, fever,
fr. calentar to heat, fr. p. pr. of L. calere to be warm.] (Med.)
Defn: A name formerly given to various fevers occuring in tropics;
esp. to a form of furious delirium accompanied by fever, among
sailors, which sometimes led the affected person to imagine the sea
to be a green field, and to throw himself into it.
CALENTURE
Cal"en*ture, v. i.
Defn: To see as in the delirium of one affected with calenture.
[Poetic]
Hath fed on pageants floating through the air Or calentures in depths
of limpid flood. Wordsworth.
CALESCENCE
Ca*les"cence, n. Etym: [L. calescens, p.pr. of calescere, incho. of
calere to be warm.]
Defn: Growing warmth; increasing heat.
CALF
Calf, n.; pl. Calves. Etym: [OE. calf, kelf, AS. cealf; akin to D.
kalf, G. kalb, Icel. kalfr, Sw. kalf, Dan. kalv, Goth. kalbo; cf.
Skr. garbha fetus, young, Gr. grabh to seize, conceive, Ir. colpa,
colpach, a calf. *222.]
1. The young of the cow, or of the Bovine family of quadrupeds. Also,
the young of some other mammals, as of the elephant, rhinoceros,
hippopotamus, and whale.
2. Leather made of the skin of the calf; especially, a fine, light-
colored leather used in bookbinding; as, to bind books in calf.
3. An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.
[Colloq.]
Some silly, doting, brainless calf. Drayton.
4. A small island near a larger; as, the Calf of Man.
5. A small mass of ice set free from the submerged part of a glacier
or berg, and rising to the surface. Kane.
6. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kalfi.]
Defn: The fleshy hinder part of the leg below the knee. Calf's-foot
jelly, jelly made from the feet of calves. The gelatinous matter of
the feet is extracted by boiling, and is flavored with sugar,
essences, etc.
CALFSKIN
Calf"skin`, n.
Defn: The hide or skin of a calf; or leather made of the skin.
CALI
Ca"li, n. (Hindoo Myth.)
Defn: The tenth avatar or incarnation of the god Vishnu. [Written
also Kali.]
CALIBER; CALIBRE
Cal"i*ber, Cal"ibre, n. Etym: [F. calibre, perh. fr. L. qualibra of
what pound, of what weight; hence, of what size, applied first to a
ball or bullet; cf. also Ar. qalib model, mold. Cf. Calipers,
Calivere.]
1. (Gunnery)
Defn: The diameter of the bore, as a cannon or other firearm, or of
any tube; or the weight or size of the projectile which a firearm
will carry; as, an 8 inch gun, a 12-pounder, a 44 caliber.
The caliber of empty tubes. Reid.
A battery composed of three guns of small caliber. Prescott.
Note: The caliber of firearms is expressed in various ways. Cannon
are often designated by the weight of a solid spherical shot that
will fit the bore; as, a 12-pounder; pieces of ordnance that project
shell or hollow shot are designated by the diameter of their bore;
as, a 12 inch mortar or a 14 inch shell gun; small arms are
designated by hundredths of an inch expressed decimally; as, a rifle
of .44 inch caliber.
2. The diameter of round or cylindrical body, as of a bullet or
column.
3. Fig.: Capacity or compass of mind. Burke. Caliber compasses. See
Calipers.
-- Caliber rule, a gunner's calipers, an instrument having two
scales arranged to determine a ball's weight from its diameter, and
conversely.
-- A ship's caliber, the weight of her armament.
CALIBRATE
Cal"i*brate, v. i.
Defn: To ascertain the caliber of, as of a thermometer tube; also,
more generally, to determine or rectify the graduation of, as of the
various standards or graduated instruments.
CALIBRATION
Cal`ibra"*tion, n.
Defn: The process of estimating the caliber a tube, as of a
thermometer tube, in order to graduate it to a scale of degrees;
also, more generally, the determination of the true value of the
spaces in any graduated instrument.
CALICE
Cal"ice, n. Etym: [See Calice.]
Defn: See Chalice.
CALICLE
Cal"i*cle, n. Etym: [L. caliculus a small cup, dim. of calicis, a
cup. Cf Calycle.] (Zoöl.)
(a) One of the small cuplike cavities, often with elevated borders,
covering the surface of most corals. Each is formed by a polyp. (b)
One of the cuplike structures inclosing the zooids of certain
hydroids. See Campanularian. [Written also calycle. See Calycle.]
CALICO
Cal"i*co, n.; pl. Calicoes. Etym: [So called because first imported
from Calicut, in the East Indies: cf. F. calicot.]
1. Plain white cloth made from cotton, but which receives distinctive
names according to quality and use, as, super calicoes, shirting
calicoes, unbleached calicoes, etc. [Eng.]
The importation of printed or stained colicoes appears to have been
coeval with the establishment of the East India Company. Beck
(Draper's Dict. ).
2. Cotton cloth printed with a figured pattern.
Note: In the United States the term calico is applied only to the
printed fabric. Calico bass (Zoöl.), an edible, fresh-water fish
(Pomoxys sparaides) of the rivers and lake of the Western United
States (esp. of the Misissippi valley.), allied to the sunfishes, and
so called from its variegated colors; -- called also calicoback,
grass bass, strawberry bass, barfish, and bitterhead.
-- Calico printing, the art or process of impressing the figured
patterns on calico.
CALICO
Cal"i*co, a.
Defn: Made of, or having the apperance of, calico; -- often applied
to an animal, as a horse or cat, on whose body are large patches of a
color strikingly different from its main color. [Colloq. U. S.]
CALICOBACK
Cal"i*co*back`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The calico bass.
(b) An hemipterous insect (Murgantia histrionica) which injures the
cabbage and other garden plants; -- called also calico bug and
harlequin cabbage bug.
CALICULAR; CALICULATE
Ca*lic"u*lar, a. Ca*lic"u*late, a.
Defn: Relating to, or resembling, a cup; also improperly used for
calycular, calyculate.
CALID
Cal"id, a. Etym: [L. calidus, fr. calere to be hot.]
Defn: Hot; burning; ardent. [Obs.] Bailey.
CALIDITY
Ca*lid"i*ty, n.
Defn: Heat. [Obs.]
CALIDUCT
Cal"i*duct, n. Etym: [See Caloriduct.]
Defn: A pipe or duct used to convey hot air or steam.
Subterranean caliducts have been introduced. Evelyn.
CALIF; CALIFATE
Ca"lif, n., Cal"i*fate, n., etc.
Defn: Same as Caliph, Caliphate, etc.
CALIFORNIA JACK
Cal`i*for"ni*a jack".
Defn: A game at cards, a modification of seven-up, or all fours.
CALIFORNIAN
Cal`i*for"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to California.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of California.
CALIGATION
Cal`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. caligatio, fr. caligare to emit vapor, to
be dark, from caligo mist, darkness.]
Defn: Dimness; cloudiness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CALIGINOSITY
Ca*lig`i*nos"ity, n. Etym: [L. caliginosus dark. See Caligation.]
Defn: Darkness. [R.] G. Eliot.
CALIGINOUS
Ca*lig"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. caliginosus; cf. F. caligineux.]
Defn: Affected with darkness or dimness; dark; obscure. [R.] Blount.
The caliginous regions of the air. Hallywell.
-- Ca*lig"i*nous*ly, adv.
-- Ca*lig"i*nous*ness, n.
CALIGO
Ca*li"go, n. Etym: [L., darkness.] (Med.)
Defn: Dimness or obscurity of sight, dependent upon a speck on the
cornea; also, the speck itself.
CALIGRAPHIC
Cal`i*graph"ic, a.
Defn: See Calligraphic.
CALIGRAPHY
Ca*lig"ra*phy, n.
Defn: See Caligraphy.
CALIN
Ca"lin, n. Etym: [F., fr. Malay kelany tin, or fr. Kala'a, a town in
India, fr. which it came.]
Defn: An alloy of lead and tin, of which the Chinese make tea
canisters.
CALIPASH
Cal`i*pash", n. Etym: [F. carapace, Sp. carapacho. Cf Calarash,
Carapace.]
Defn: A part of a turtle which is next to the upper shell. It
contains a fatty and gelatinous substance of a dull greenish tinge,
much esteemed as a delicacy in preparations of turtle.
CALIPEE
Cal"i*pee, n. Etym: [See Calipash]
Defn: A part of a turtle which is attached to the lower shell. It
contains a fatty and gelatinous substance of a light yellowish color,
much esteemed as a delicacy. Thackeray.
CALIPERS
Cal"i*pers, n. pl. Etym: [Corrupted from caliber.]
Defn: An instrument, usually resembling a pair of dividers or
compasses with curved legs, for measuring the diameter or thickness
of bodies, as of work shaped in a lathe or planer, timber, masts,
shot, etc.; or the bore of firearms, tubes, etc.; -- called also
caliper compasses, or caliber compasses. Caliper square, a
draughtsman's or mechanic's square, having a graduated bar and
adjustable jaw or jaws. Knight.
-- Vernier calipers. See Vernier.
CALIPH
Ca"liph, n. Etym: [OE. caliphe, califfe, F. calife (cf. Sp. califa),
fr. Ar. khalifan successor, fr. khalafa to succed.]
Defn: Successor or vicar; -- a title of the successors of Mohammed
both as temporal and spiritual rulers, now used by the sultans of
Turkey, [Writting also calif.]
CALIPHATE
Cal"i*phate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. califat.]
Defn: The office, dignity, or government of a caliph or of the
caliphs.
CALIPPIC
Ca*lip"pic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Calippus, an Athenian astronomer. Calippic
period, a period of seventy-six years, proposed by Calippus, as an
improvement on the Metonic cycle, since the 6940 days of the Metonic
cycle exceeded 19 years by about a quarter of a day, and exceeded 235
lunations by something more.
CALISAYA BARK
Cal`i*sa"ya bark.
Defn: A valuable kind of Peruvian bark obtained from the Cinchona
Calisaya, and other closely related species.
CALISTHENEUM
Cal`is*the"ne*um, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A gymnasium; esp. one for light physical exercise by women and
children.
CALISTHENIC
Cal`is*then"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to calisthenics.
CALISTHENICS
Cal`is*then"ics, n.
Defn: The science, art, or practice of healthful exercise of the body
and limbs, to promote strength and gracefulness; light gymnastics.
CALIVER
Cal"i*ver, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. caliber.]
Defn: An early form of hand gun, variety of the arquebus; originally
a gun having a regular size of bore. [Obs.] Shak.
CALIX
Ca"lix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A cup. See Calyx.
CALK
Calk, v. t. [imp. &p. p. Calked; p. pr. & vb. n. Calking.] Etym:
[Either corrupted fr. F. calfater (cf. Pg. calafetar, Sp.
calafetear), fr. Ar. qalafa to fill up crevices with the fibers of
palm tree or moss; or fr. OE. cauken to tred, through the French fr.
L. calcare, fr. calx heel. Cf. Calk to copy, Inculcate.]
1. To drive tarred oakum into the seams between the planks of (a
ship, boat, etc.), to prevent leaking. The calking is completed by
smearing the seams with melted pitch.
2. To make an indentation in the edge of a metal plate, as along a
seam in a steam boiler or an iron ship, to force the edge of the
upper plate hard against the lower and so fill the crevice.
CALK
Calk, v. t. Etym: [E.calquer to trace, It. caicare to trace, to
trample, fr. L. calcare to trample, fr. calx heel. Cf. Calcarate.]
Defn: To copy, as a drawing, by rubbing the back of it with red or
black chalk, and then passing a blunt style or needle over the lines,
so as to leave a tracing on the paper or other thing against which it
is laid or held. [Writting also calque]
CALK
Calk, n. Etym: [Cf. AS calc shoe, hoof, L. calx, calcis, hel, cälcar,
spur.]
1. A sharp-pointed piece or iron or steel projecting downward on the
shoe of a nore or an ox, to prevent the animal from slipping; --
called also calker, calkin.
2. An instrument with sharp points, worn on the sole of a shoe or
boot, to prevent slipping.
CALK
Calk, v. i.
1. To furnish with calks, to prevent slipping on ice; as, to calk the
shoes of a horse or an ox.
2. To wound with a calk; as when a horse injures a leg or a foot with
a calk on one of the other feet.
CALKER
Calk"er, n.
1. One who calks.
2. A calk on a shoe. See Calk, n., 1.
CALKIN
Calk"in, n.
Defn: A calk on a shoe. See Calk, n., 1.
CALKING
Calk"ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of making seems tight, as in ships, or of
furnishing with calks, as a shoe, or copying, as a drawing. Calking
iron, a tool like a chisel, used in calking ships, tightening seams
in ironwork, etc.
Their left hand does the calking iron guide. Dryden.
CALL
Call, v. i. [imp.& p. p. Called; p. r. & vb. n. Calling] Etym: [OE.
callen, AS. ceallin; akin to Icel & Sw. kalla, Dan. kalde, D. kallen
to talk, prate, Gr. gar to praise. Cf. Garrulous.]
1. To command or request to come or be present; to summon; as, to
call a servant.
Call hither Clifford; bid him come amain Shak.
2. To summon to the discharge of a particular duty; to designate for
an office, or employment, especially of a religious character; --
often used of a divine summons; as, to be called to the ministry;
sometimes, to invite; as, to call a minister to be the pastor of a
church.
Paul . . . called to be an apostle Rom. i. 1.
The Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them. Acts xiii. 2.
3. To invite or command to meet; to convoke; -- often with together;
as, the President called Congress together; to appoint and summon;
as, to call a meeting of the Board of Aldermen.
Now call we our high court of Parliament. Shak.
4. To give name to; to name; to address, or speak of, by a specifed
name.
If you would but call me Rosalind. Shak.
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. Gen.
i. 5.
5. To regard or characterize as of a certain kind; to denominate; to
designate.
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Acts x. 15.
6. To state, or estimate, approximately or loosely; to characterize
without strict regard to fact; as, they call the distance ten miles;
he called it a full day's work.
[The] army is called seven hundred thousand men. Brougham.
7. To show or disclose the class, character, or nationality of.
[Obs.]
This speech calls him Spaniard. Beau. & Fl.
8. To utter in a loud or distinct voice; -- often with off; as, to
call, or call off, the items of an account; to call the roll of a
military company.
No parish clerk who calls the psalm so clear. Gay.
9. To invoke; to appeal to.
I call God for a witness. 2 Cor. i. 23 [Rev. Ver. ]
10. To rouse from sleep; to awaken.
If thou canst awake by four o' the clock. I prithee call me. Sleep
hath seized me wholly. Shak.
To call a bond, to give notice that the amount of the bond will be
paid.
-- To call a party (Law), to cry aloud his name in open court, and
command him to come in and perform some duty requiring his presence
at the time on pain of what may befall him.
-- To call back, to revoke or retract; to recall; to summon back.
-- To call down, to pray for, as blessing or curses.
-- To call forth, to bring or summon to action; as, to call forth
all the faculties of the mind.
-- To call in, (a) To collect; as, to call in debts or money; ar to
withdraw from cirulation; as, to call in uncurrent coin. (b) To
summon to one's side; to invite to come together; as, to call in
neighbors.
-- To call (any one) names, to apply contemptuous names (to any
one).
-- To call off, to summon away; to divert; as, to call off the
attention; to call off workmen from their employment.
-- To call out. (a) To summon to fight; to challenge. (b) To summon
into service; as, to call out the militia.
-- To call over, to recite separate particulars in order, as a roll
of names.
-- To call to account, to demand explanation of.
-- To call to mind, to recollect; to revive in memory.
-- To call to order, to request to come to order; as: (a) A public
meeting, when opening it for business. (b) A person, when he is
transgressing the rules of debate.
-- To call to the bar, to admit to practice in courts of law.
-- To call up. (a) To bring into view or recollection; as to call up
the image of deceased friend. (b) To bring into action or discussion;
to demand the consideration of; as, to call up a bill before a
legislative body.
Syn.
-- To name; denominate; invite; bid; summon; convoke; assemble;
collect; exhort; warn; proclaim; invoke; appeal to; designate. To
Call, Convoke, Summon. Call is the generic term; as, to call a public
meeting. To convoke is to require the assembling of some organized
body of men by an act of authority; as, the king convoked Parliament.
To summon is to require attendance by an act more or less stringent
anthority; as, to summon a witness.
CALL
Call, v. i.
1. To speak in loud voice; to cry out; to address by name; --
sometimes with to.
You must call to the nurse. Shak.
The angel of God called to Hagar. Gen. xxi. 17.
2. To make a demand, requirement, or request.
They called for rooms, and he showed them one. Bunyan.
3. To make a brief visit; also, to stop at some place designated, as
for orders.
He ordered her to call at the house once a week. Temple.
To call for (a) To demand; to require; as, a crime calls for
punishment; a survey, grant, or deed calls for the metes and bounds,
or the quantity of land, etc., which it describes. (b) To give an
order for; to request. "Whenever the coach stopped, the sailor called
for more ale." Marryat.
-- To call on, To call upon, (a) To make a short visit to; as, call
on a friend. (b) To appeal to; to invite; to request earnestly; as,
to call upon a person to make a speech. (c) To solicit payment, or
make a demand, of a debt. (d) To invoke or play to; to worship; as,
to call upon God.
-- To call out To call or utter loudly; to brawl.
CALL
Call, n.
1. The act of calling; -- usually with the voice, but often
otherwise, as by signs, the sound of some instrument, or by writing;
a summons; an entreaty; an invitation; as, a call for help; the
bugle's call. "Call of the trumpet." Shak.
I rose as at thy call, but found thee not. Milton.
2. A signal, as on a drum, bugle, trumpet, or pipe, to summon
soldiers or sailors to duty.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: An invitation to take charge of or serve a church as its
pastor.
4. A requirement or appeal arising from the circumstances of the
case; a moral requirement or appeal.
Dependence is a perpetual call upon hummanity. Addison.
Running into danger without any call of duty. Macaulay.
5. A divine vocation or summons.
St. Paul himself believed he did well, and that he had a call to it,
when he persecuted the Christians. Locke.
6. Vocation; employment.
Note: [In this sense, calling is generally used.]
7. A short visit; as, to make a call on a neighbor; also, the daily
coming of a tradesman to solicit orders.
The baker's punctual call. Cowper.
8. (Hunting)
Defn: A note blown on the horn to encourage the hounds.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate, to
summon the sailors to duty.
10. (Fowling)
Defn: The cry of a bird; also a noise or cry in imitation of a bird;
or a pipe to call birds by imitating their note or cry.
11. (Amer. Land Law)
Defn: A reference to, or statement of, an object, course, distance,
or other matter of description in a survey or grant reguiring or
calling for a carresponding object, etc., on the land.
12. The privilege to demand the delivery of stock, grain, or any
commodity, at a fixed, price, at or within a certain time agreed on.
[Brokers' Cant]
13. See Assessment, 4. At call, or On call, liable to be demanded at
any moment without previous notice; as money on deposit.
-- Call bird, a bird taught to allure others into a snare.
-- Call boy (a) A boy who calls the actors in a theater; a boy who
transmits the orders of the captain of a vessel to the engineer,
helmsman, etc. (b) A waiting boy who answers a cal, or cames at the
ringing of a bell; a bell boy.
-- Call note, the note naturally used by the male bird to call the
female. It is artifically applied by birdcatchers as a decoy. Latham.
-- Call of the house (Legislative Bodies), a calling over the names
of members, to discover who is absent, or for other purposes; a
calling of names with a view to obtaining the ayes and noes from the
persons named.
-- Call to the bar, admission to practice in the courts.
CALLA
Cal"la, n. Etym: [Linnæus derived Calla fr. Gr. calla, calsa, name of
an unknown plant, and Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants, of the order Araceæ.
Note: The common Calla of cultivation is Richardia Africana,
belonging to another genus of the same order. Its large spathe is
pure white, surrounding a fleshy spike, which is covered with minute
apetalous flowers.
CALLAT
Cal"lat, n.
Defn: Same as Callet. [Obs.]
A callat of boundless tongue. Shak.
CALLE
Calle, n. Etym: [See Caul.]
Defn: A kind of head covering; a caul. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CALLER
Call"er, n.
Defn: One who calls.
CALLER
Cal"ler, a. [Scot.]
1. Cool; refreshing; fresh; as, a caller day; the caller air.
Jamieson.
2. Fresh; in good condition; as, caller berrings.
CALLET
Cal"let, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael. caile a country woman, strumpet.]
Defn: A trull or prostitute; a scold or gossip. [Obs.] [Written also
callat.]
CALLET
Cal"let v. i.
Defn: To rail or scold. [Obs.] Brathwait.
CALLID
Cal"lid, a. Etym: [L. callidus, fr. callere to be thick-skinned, to
be hardened, to be practiced, fr. callum, callus, callous skin,
callosity, callousness.]
Defn: Characterized by cunning or shrewdness; crafty. [R.]
CALLIDITY
Cal*lid"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. calliditas.]
Defn: Acuteness of discernment; cunningness; shrewdness. [R.]
Her eagly-eyed callidity. C. Smart.
CALLIGRAPHER
Cal*lig"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One skilled in calligraphy; a good penman.
CALLIGRAPHIC; CALLIGRAPHICAL
Cal`li*graph"ic, Cal`li*graph"ic*al, a., Etym: [Gr. calligraphique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to calligraphy.
Excellence in the calligraphic act. T. Warton.
CALLIGRAPHIST
Cal*lig"ra*phist, n.
Defn: A calligrapher
CALLIGRAPHY
Cal*lig"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. calligraphie.]
Defn: Fair or elegant penmanship.
CALLING
Call"ing, n.
1. The act of one who calls; a crying aloud, esp. in order to summon,
or to attact the attention of, some one.
2. A summoning or convocation, as of Parliament.
The frequent calling and meeting of Parlaiment. Macaulay.
3. A divine summons or invitation; also, the state of being divinely
called.
Who hath . . . called us with an holy calling. 2 Tim. i. 9.
Give diligence to make yior calling . . . sure. 2 Pet. i. 10.
4. A naming, or inviting; a reading over or reciting in order, or a
call of names with a view to obtaining an answer, as in legislative
bodies.
5. One's usual occupation, or employment; vocation; business; trade.
The humble calling of ter female parent. Thackeray.
6. The persons, collectively, engaged in any particular professions
or employment.
To impose celibacy on wholy callings. Hammond.
7. Title; appellation; name. [Obs.]
I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son His youngest son, and would
not change that calling. Shak.
Syn.
-- Occupation; employment; business; trade; profession; office;
engagement; vocation.
CALLIOPE
Cal*li"o*pe, n. Etym: [L. Calliope, Gr. kalli- (from kallos
beautiful) +
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse that presides over eloquence and heroic poetry; mother
of Orpheus, and chief of the nine Muses.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the astreids. See Solar.
3. A musical instrument consisting of series of steam whistles, toned
to the notes of the scale, and played by keys arranged like those of
an organ. It is sometimes attached to steamboat boilers.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beautuful species of humming bird (Stellula Calliope) of
California and adjacent regions.
CALLIOPSIS
Cal`li*op"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. pref. (Bot.)
Defn: A popular name given to a few species of the genus Careopsis,
especially to C. tinctoria of Arkansas.
CALLIPASH
Cal`li*pash" (, n.
Defn: See Calipash.
CALLIPEE
Cal`li*pee" (, n.
Defn: See Calipee.
CALLIPERS
Cal`li*pers (, n. pl.
Defn: See Calipers.
CALLISECTION
Cal`li*sec"tion, n. Etym: [L. callere to be insensible + E. section.]
Defn: Painless vivisection; -- opposed to sentisection. B. G. Wilder.
CALLISTHENIC; CALLISTHENICS
Cal`lis*then"ic, a., Cal`lis*then"ics, n.
Defn: See Calisthenic, Calisthenics.
CALLITHUMP
Cal"li*thump`, n.
Defn: A somewhat riotous parade, accompanied with the blowing of tin
horus, and other discordant noises; also, a burlesque serenade; a
charivari. [U. S.]
CALLITHUMPIAN
Cal`li*thump"i*an, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a callithump. [U. S.]
CALLOSAN
Cal*lo"san, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of the callosum.
CALLOSE
Cal"lose, a. Etym: [See Callous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with protuberant or hardened spots.
CALLOSITY
Cal*los"i*ty, n.; pl. Callosities. Etym: [L. callasitas; cf. F.
calosté.]
Defn: A hard or thickened spot or protuberance; a hardening and
thickening of the skin or bark of a part, eps. as a result of
continued pressure or friction.
CALLOSUM
Cal*lo"sum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. callosus callous, hard.] (Anat.)
Defn: The great band commissural fibers which unites the two cerebral
hemispheres. See corpus callosum, under Carpus.
CALLOT
Cal"lot, n.
Defn: A plant coif or skullcap. Same as Calotte. B. Jonson.
CALLOUS
Cal"lous, a. Etym: [L. callosus callous hard, fr. callum, callus,
callous skin: cf. F. calleux.]
1. Hardenes; indurated. "A callous hand." Goldsmith. "A callous
ulcer." Dunglison.
2. Hardened in mind; insensible; unfeeling; unsusceptible. "The
callous diplomatist." Macaulay.
It is an immense blessing to be perfectly callous to ridicule. T.
Arnold.
Syn.
-- Obdurate; hard; hardened; indurated; insensible; unfeeling;
unsusceptible. See Obdurate.
-- Cal"lous*ly, adv.
-- Cal"lous*ness, n.
A callousness and numbness of soul. Bentley.
CALLOW
Cal"low, a. Etym: [OE. calewe, calu, bald, AS. calu; akin to D. kaal,
OHG. chalo, G. Kuhl; cf. L. calvus.]
1. Destitute of feathers; naked; unfledged.
An in the leafy summit, spied a nest, Which, o'er the callow young, a
sparrow pressed. Dryden.
2. Immature; boyish; "green"; as, a callow youth.
I perceive by this, thou art but a callow maid. Old Play [1675].
CALLOW
Cal*low", n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Named from its note.]
Defn: A kind of duck. See Old squaw.
CALLUS
Cal"lus, n. Etym: [L. See Callous.]
1. (Med.)
(a) Same as Callosity. (b
Defn: The material of repair in fractures of bone; a substance exuded
at the site of fracture, which is at first soft or cartilaginous in
consistence, but is ultimately converted into true bone and unites
the fragments into a single piece.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: The new formation over the end of a cutting, before it puts out
rootlets.
CALM
Calm, n. Etym: [OE. calme, F. calme, fr. It. or Sp. calma (cf. Pg.
calma heat), prob. fr. LL. cauma heat, fr. Gr. Caustic]
Defn: Freodom from motion, agitation, or disturbance; a cessation or
abeence of that which causes motion or disturbance, as of winds or
waves; tranquility; stilness; quiet; serenity.
The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Mark. iv. 39.
A calm before a storm is commonly a peace of a man's own making.
South.
CALM
Calm, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Calming.] Etym:
[Cf. F. calmer. See Calm, n.]
1. To make calm; to render still or quet, as elements; as, to calm
the winds.
To calm the tempest raised by Eolus. Dryden.
2. To deliver from agitation or excitement; to still or soothe, as
the mind or passions.
Passions which seem somewhat calmed.
Syn.
-- To still; quiet; appease; ally; pacigy; tranquilize; soothe;
compose; assuage; check; restrain.
CALM
Calm, a. [compar. Calmer; super. Calmest]
1. Not stormy; without motion, as of winds or waves; still; quiet;
serene; undisturbed. "Calm was the day." Spenser.
Now all is calm, and fresh, and still. Bryant.
2. Undisturbed by passion or emotion; not agitated or excited;
tranquil; quiet in act or speech. "Calm and sinless peace." Milton.
"With calm attention." Pope.
Such calm old age as conscience pure And self-commanding hearts
ensure. Keble.
Syn.
-- Still; quiet; undisturbed; tranquil; peaceful; serene; composed;
unruffled; sedate; collected; placid.
CALMER
Calm"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, makes calm.
CALMLY
Calm"ly, adv.
Defn: In a calm manner.
The gentle stream which calmly flows. Denham.
CALMNESS
Calm"ness, n.
Defn: The state of quality of being calm; quietness; tranquillity;
self-repose.
The gentle calmness of the flood. Denham.
Hes calmness was the repose of conscious power. E. Everett.
Syn.
-- Quietness; quietude; stillness; tranquillity; serenity; repose;
composure; sedateness; placidity.
CALMUCKS
Cal"mucks, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing. Calmuck. A branch of the Mongolian race inbabiting
parts of the Russian and Chinese empires; also (sing.), the language
of the Calmucks. [Written also Kalmucks.]
CALMY
Calm"y, a. Etym: [Fr. Calm, n.]
Defn: Tranquil; peaceful; calm. [Poet.] "A still and calmy day"
Spenser.
CALOMEL
Cal"o*mel, n. Etym: [Gr. calomélas.] (Chem.)
Defn: Mild chloride of mercury, Hg
CALORESCENCE
Cal`o*res"cence, n. Etym: [L. calor heat.] (Physics)
Defn: The conversion of obscure radiant heat info kight; the
transmutation of rays of heat into others of higher refrangibility.
Tyndall.
CALORIC
Ca*lor"ic, n. Etym: [L. calor heat; cf. F. calorique.] (Physics)
Defn: The principle of heat, or the agent to which the phenomena of
heat and combustion were formerly ascribed; -- not now used in
scientific nomenclature, but sometimes used as a general term for
heat.
Caloric expands all bodies. Henry.
CALORIC
Ca*lor"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to caloric. Caloric engine, a kind of engine
operated air.
CALORICITY
Cal`o*ric"ity, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A faculty in animals of developing and preserving the heat
nesessary to life, that is, the animal heat.
CALORIDUCT
Ca*lor"i*duct, n. Etym: [L. calor heat (fr. calere to warm) + E.
duct.]
Defn: A tube or duct for conducting heat; a caliduct.
CALORIE
Cal"o*rie, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. calor heat.] (Physics)
Defn: The unit of heat according to the Frensc standard; the amount
of heat requires to raise the temperature of one kilogram (sometimes,
one gram) of water one degree centigrade, or from 0Foot pound.
CALORIFACIENT
Ca*lor`i*fa"cient, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: See Calorificient.
CALORIFERE
Ca*lor"i*fere, n. Etym: [F. calorifère, fr. L. calor heat + ferre to
bear.]
Defn: An apparatus for conveying and distributing heat, especially by
means of hot water circulating in tubes.
CALORIFIANT
Ca*lor`i*fi"ant, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: See Calorificient.
CALORIFIC
Cal`o*rif"ic, a. Etym: [L. calorificus; calor heat + facere to make;
cf. F. calorifique.]
Defn: Possessing the quality of producing heat; heating. Calorific
rays, the invisible, heating rays which emanate from the sum, and
burning and heated bodies.
CALORIFICATION
Ca*lor`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. calorification.]
Defn: Production of heat, esp. animal heat.
CALORIFICIENT
Ca*lor`i*fi"cient, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Having, or relating to the power of producing heat; -- applied
to foods which, being rich in carbon, as the fats, are supposed to
give rise to heat in the animal body by oxidation.
CALORIMETER
Cal`o*rim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. calor heat + -meter; cf. F.
calorimètre.]
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: An apparatus for measuring the amount of heat contained in
bodies or developed by some mechanical or chemical process, as
friction, chemical combination, combustion, etc.
2. (Engineering)
Defn: An apparatus for measuring the proportion of unevaporated water
contained in steam.
CALORIMETRIC
Ca*lor`i*met"ric, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to process of using the calorimeter.
Satisfactory calorimetric results. Nichol.
CALORIMETRY
Cal`o*rim"e*try, n. (Physics)
Defn: Measurement of the quantities of heat in bodies.
CALORIMOTOR
Ca*lor`i*mo"tor, n. Etym: [L. calor heat + E. motor.] (Physics)
Defn: A voltaic battery, having a large surface of plate, and
producing powerful heating effects.
CALORISATOR
Ca*lor"i*sa`tor, n. [NL., heater, fr. L. calor heat.]
Defn: An apparatus used in beet-sugar factories to heat the juice in
order to aid the diffusion.
CALOTTE; CALLOT
Ca*lotte", Cal"lot, n. Etym: [F. calotte, dim. of cale a sort of flat
cap. Cf. Caul.]
Defn: A close cap without visor or brim. Especially: (a) Such a cap,
worn by English serjeants at law. (b) Such a cap, worn by the French
cavalry under their helmets. (c) Such a cap, worn by the clergy of
the Roman Catholic Church. To assume the calotte, to become a priest.
CALOTYPE
Cal"o*type, n. Etym: [Gr. (Photog.)
Defn: A method of taking photographic pictures, on paper sensitized
with iodide of silver; -- also called Talbotype, from the inventor,
Mr. Fox. Talbot.
CALOYER
Ca*loy"er, n. Etym: [F., fr. NGr.
Defn: A monk of the Greek Church; a cenobite, anchoret, or recluse of
the rule of St. Basil, especially, one on or near Mt. Athos.
CALQUE
Calque, v. t.
Defn: See 2d Calk, v. t.
CALTROP; CALTRAP
Cal"trop, Cal"trap, n. Etym: [OE. calketrappe, calletrappe, caltor
(in both senses), fr. AS. collræppe, calcetreppe, sort of thistle;
cf. F. chaussetrape star thistle, trap, It. calcatreppo,
calcatreppolo, star thistle. Perh. from L. calx heel + the same word
as E. trap. See 1st Trap.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants (Tribulus) of the order
Zygophylleæ, having a hard several-celled fruit, armed with stout
spines, and resembling the military instrument of the same name. The
species grow in warm countries, and are often very annoying to
cattle.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: An instrument with four iron points, so disposed that, any
three of them being on the ground, the other projects upward. They
are scattered on the ground where an enemy's cavalry are to pass, to
impede their progress by endangering the horses' feet.
CALUMBA
Ca*lum"ba, n. Etym: [from kalumb, its native name in Mozambique.]
(Med.)
Defn: The root of a plant (Jateorrhiza Calumba, and probably Cocculus
palmatus), indigenous in Mozambique. It has an unpleasantly bitter
taste, and is used as a tonic and antiseptic. [Written also colombo,
columbo, and calombo.] American calumba, the Frasera Carolinensis,
also called American gentian. Its root has been used in medicine as
bitter tonic in place of calumba.
CALUMBIN
Ca*lum"bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter principle extracted as a white crystalline substance
from the calumba root. [Written also colombin, and columbin]
CALUMET
Cal"u*met, n. Etym: [F. calumet, fr. L. calamus reed. See Halm, and
cf. Shawm.]
Defn: A kind of pipe, used by the North American Indians for smoking
tobacco. The bowl is usually made of soft red stone, and the tube is
a long reed often ornamented with feathers.
Smoked the calumet, the Peace pipe, As a signal to the nations.
Lowgfellow.
Note: The calumet is used as a symbol of peace. To accept the calumet
is to agree to terms of peace, and to refuse it is to reject them.
The calumet of peace is used to seal or ratify contracts and
alliances, and as an evidence to strangers that they are welcome.
CALUMNIATE
Ca*lum"ni*ate, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Calumniated; p. pr. & vb. n.
calumniating.] Etym: [L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See
Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t.]
Defn: To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of
something disreputable; to slander; to libel.
Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all
godly men's doings. Strype.
Syn.
-- To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter;
blacken; libel. See Asperse.
CALUMNIATE
Ca*lum"ni*ate, v. i.
Defn: To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the
reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some
offense or crime.
CALUMNIATION
Ca*lum`ni*a"tion, n.
Defn: False accusation of crime or offense, or a malicious and false
representation of the words or actions of another, with a view to
injure his good name.
The calumniation of her principal counselors. Bacon.
CALUMNIATOR
Ca*lum`ni*a"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who calumniates.
Syn.
-- Slanderer; defamer; libeler; traducer.
CALUMNIATORY
Ca*lum"ni*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing calumny; slanderous. Montagu.
CALUMNIOUS
Ca*lum"ni*ous, a. Etym: [L. calumniosus.]
Defn: Containing or implying calumny; false, malicious, and injurious
to reputation; slanderous; as, calumnious reports.
Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. Shak.
Syn: Slanderous; defamatory; scurrilous; opprobrious; derogatory;
libelous; abusive.
Syn: -- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ly, adv.
-- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ness, n.
CALUMNY
Cal"um*ny, n.; pl. Calumnies. Etym: [L. calumnia, fr. calvi to devise
tricks, deceive; cf. F. calomnie. Cf. Challenge, n.]
Defn: False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or
reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation;
slander; detraction. "Infamouse calumnies." Motley.
Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape
calumny. Shak.
CALVARIA
Cal*va"ri*a, n. Etym: [L. See Calvary.] (Anat.)
Defn: The bones of the cranium; more especially, the bones of the
domelike upper portion.
CALVARY
Cal"va*ry, n. Etym: [L. calvaria a bare skull, fr. calva the scalp
without hair. fr. calvus bald; cf. F. calvaire.]
1. The place where Christ was crucified, on a small hill outside of
Jerusalem. Luke xxiii. 33.
Note: The Latin calvaria is a translation of the Greek Golgotha. Dr.
W. Smith.
2. A representation of the crucifixion, consisting of three crosses
with the figures of Christ and the thieves, often as large as life,
and sometimes surrounded by figures of other personages who were
present at the crucifixion.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A cross, set upon three steps; -- more properly called cross
calvary.
CALVE
Calve, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Calved 3; p. pr. & vb. n. Calving.] Etym:
[AS. cealfian. See Calf.]
1. To bring forth a calf. "Their cow calveth." Job xxi. 10.
2. To bring forth young; to produce offspring.
Canst thou mark when the hinds do calve Job xxxix. 1.
The grassy clods now calved. Molton.
CALVER
Cal"ver, v. i.
1. To cut in slices and pickle, as salmon. [Obs.]
For a change, leave calvered salmon and eat sprats. Massinger.
2. To crimp; as, calvered salmon. Nares.
CALVER
Cal"ver, v. i.
Defn: To bear, or be susceptible of, being calvered; as, grayling's
flesh will calver. Catton.
CALVESSNOUT
Calves"*snout, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Snapdragon.
CALVINISM
Cal"vin*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Calvinisme.]
Defn: The theological tenets or doctrines of John Calvin (a French
theologian and reformer of the 16th century) and his followers, or of
the so-called calvinistic churches.
Note: The distinguishing doctrines of this system, usually termed the
five points of Calvinism, are original sin or total depravity,
election or predestination, particular redemption, effectual calling,
and the perseverance of the saints. It has been subject to many
variations and modifications in different churches and at various
times.
CALVINIST
Cal"vin*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Calviniste.]
Defn: A follower of Calvin; a believer in Calvinism.
CALVINISTIC; CALVINISTICAL
Cal`vin*is"tic, Cal`vin*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Calvin, or Calvinism; following Calvin;
accepting or Teaching Calvinism. "Calvinistic training." Lowell.
CALVINIZE
Cal"vin*ize, v. t.
Defn: To convert to Calvinism.
CALVISH
Calv"ish, a.
Defn: Like a calf; stupid. Sheldon.
CALX
Calx, n.; pl. E. Calxes, L. Calces. Etym: [L. Calx, calcis.
limestone; cf. Gr. carraic rock Gael. carraig, W. careg, stone. Cf.
Chalk.]
1. (Chem.)
(a) Quicklime. [Obs.]
(b) The substance which remains when a metal or mineral has been
subjected to calcination or combustion by heat, and which is, or may
be, reduced to a fine powder.
Note: Metallic calxes are now called oxides.
2. Broken and refuse glass, returned to the post.
CALYCIFLORAL; CALLYCIFLOROUS
Ca*lyc`i*flo"ral, cal*lyc`i*flo"rous, a. Etym: [L. calyx, -ycis,
calyx + flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the petals and stamens adnate to the calyx; -- applied
to a subclass of dicotyledonous plants in the system of the French
botanist Candolle.
CALYCIFORM
Ca*lyc"i*form, a. Etym: [L. calyx, calycis, calyx + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form or appearance of a calyx.
CALYCINAL; CALYCINE
Ca*lyc"i*nal, Cal"y*cine, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to a calyx; having the nature of a calyx.
CALYCLE
Cal"y*cle, n. Etym: [L.calyculus small flower bud, calyx, dim. of
calyx. See Calyx, and cf. Calicle.] (Bot.)
Defn: A row of small bracts, at the base of the calyx, on the
outside.
CALYCLED
Cal"y*cled, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Calyculate.
CALYCOZOA
Cal`y*co*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of acalephs of which Lucernaria is the type. The body
is cup-shaped with eight marginal lobes bearing clavate tentacles. An
aboral sucker serves for attachment. The interior is divided into
four large compartments. See Lucernarida.
CALYCULAR
Ca*lyc"u*lar, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the bracts of a calycle.
CALYCULATE; CALYCULATED
Ca*lyc"u*late, Ca*lyc"u*la`ted, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a set of bracts resembling a calyx.
CALYMENE
Ca*lym"e*ne, n. Etym: [Gr. ( (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of trilobites characteristic of the Silurian age.
CALYON
Cal"yon, n.
Defn: Flint or pebble stone, used in building walls, etc. Haliwell.
CALYPSO
Ca*lyp"so, n. Etym: [The Latinized Greek name of a beautiful nymph.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A small and beautiful species of orchid, having a flower
variegated with purple, pink, and yellow. It grows in cold and wet
localities in the northern part of the United States. The Calypso
borealis is the only orchid which reaches 68º N.
CALYPTRA
Ca*lyp"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A little hood or veil, resembling an extinguisher in form and
position, covering each of the small flaskike capsules which contain
the spores of mosses; also, any similar covering body.
CALYPTRIFORM
Ca*lyp"tri*form, a. Etym: [Calyptra + -form.]
Defn: Having the form a calyptra, or extinguisher.
CALYX
Ca"lyx, n.; pl. E. Calyxes, L. Calyces. Etym: [L. calyx, -ycis, fr.
Gr. Chalice Helmet.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The covering of a flower. See Flower.
Note: The calyx is usually green and foliaceous, but becomes delicate
and petaloid in such flowers as the anemone and the four-o'clock.
Each leaf of the calyx is called a sepal.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A cuplike division of the pelvis of the kidney, which surrounds
one or more of the renal papilæ.
CALZOONS
Cal*zoons", n. pl. Etym: [F. caleçons (cf. It. calzoni breeches), fr.
L. calceus shoe.]
Defn: Drawers. [Obs.]
CAM
Cam, n. Etym: [Dan. kam comb, ridge; or cf. W. Gael., and Ir., cam
bet. See 1st Come.]
1. (Med.)
(a) A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its periphery
or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts variable or intermittent
motion to, or receives such motion from, a rod, lever, or block
brought into sliding or rolling contact with it.
(b) A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for forcing or
clamping two pieces together.
(c) A projecting part of a wheel or other moving piece so shaped as
to give alternate or variable motion to another piece against which
its acts.
Note: Cams are much used in machinery involving complicated, and
irregular movements, as in the sewing machine, pin machine, etc.
2. A ridge or mound of earth. [Prow. Eng.] Wright. Cam wheel (Mach.),
a wheel with one or more projections (cams) or depressions upon its
periphery or upon its face; one which is set or shaped eccentrically,
so that its revolutions impart a varied, reciprocating, or
intermittent motion.
CAM
Cam, a. Etym: [See Kam.]
Defn: Crooked. [Obs.]
CAMAIEU
Ca*ma"ieu, n. Etym: [F.; of unknown origin. Cf. Cameo.]
1. A cameo. [Obs.] Crabb.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Painting in shades of one color; monochrome. Mollett.
CAMAIL
Ca*mail", n. Etym: [F. camail (cf. It. camaglio), fr. L. caput head +
source of E. mail.]
1. (Ancient Armor)
Defn: A neck guard of chain mall, hanging from the bascinet or other
headpiece.
2. A hood of other material than mail; esp. (Eccl.), a hood worn in
church services, -- the amice, or the like.
CAMARA; CAMARA DOS PARES; CAMARADOS DEPUTADOS
Ca"ma*ra, Ca"ma*ra dos pares, Ca"ma*ra*dos deputados, n. [Pg.]
Defn: Chamber; house; -- used in Ca"ma*ra dos Pa"res, and Ca"ma*ra
dos De`pu*ta"dos. See Legislature.
CAMARADERIE
Ca`ma`ra`de*rie", n. [F. See Comrade.]
Defn: Comradeship and loyalty.
The spirit of camaraderie is strong among these riders of the plains.
W. A. Fraser.
CAMARASAURUS
Cam`a*ra*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL. fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of gigantic American Jurassic dinosaurs, having large
cavities in the bodies of the dorsal vertebræ.
CAMARILLA
Ca`ma*ril"la, n. Etym: [Sp., a small room.]
1. The private audience chamber of a king.
2. A company of secret and irresponsible advisers, as of a king; a
cabal or clique.
CAMASS
Cam"ass, n. Etym: [American Indian name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A blue-flowered liliaceous plant (Camassia esculenta) of
northwestern America, the bulbs of which are collected for food by
the Indians. [Written also camas, cammas, and quamash.]
Note: The Eastern cammass is Camassia Fraseri.
CAMBER
Cam"ber, n. Etym: [Of. cambre bent, curved; akin to F. cambrer to
vault, to bend, fr. L. camerare to arch over, fr. camera vault, arch.
See Chamber, and cf. Camerate.]
1. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: An upward convexity of a deck or other surface; as, she has a
high camber (said of a vessel having an unusual convexity of deck).
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An upward concavity in the under side of a beam, girder, or
lintel; also, a slight upward concavity in a straight arch. See
Hogback. Camber arch (Arch.), an arch whose intrados, though
apparently straight, has a slightly concave curve upward.
-- Camber beam (Arch.), a beam whose under side has a concave curve
upward.
CAMBER
Cam"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cambering.]
Defn: To cut bend to an upward curve; to construct, as a deck, with
an upward curve.
CAMBER
Cam"ber, v. i.
Defn: To curve upward.
CAMBERKEELED
Cam"ber*keeled, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having the keel arched upwards, but not actually hogged; --
said of a ship.
CAMBIAL
Cam"bi*al, a. Etym: [LL. cambialis, fr. cambiars. See Change.]
Defn: Belonging to exchanges in commerce; of exchange. [R.]
CAMBIST
Cam"bist, n. Etym: [F. cambiste, It. cambista, fr. L. cambire to
exchange. See Change.]
Defn: A banker; a money changer or broker; one who deals in bills of
exchange, or who is skilled in the science of exchange.
CAMBISTRY
Cam"bist*ry, n.
Defn: The science of exchange, weight, measures, etc.
CAMBIUM
Cam"bi*um, n. Etym: [LL. cambium exchange, fr. L. cambire to
exchange. It was supposed that cambium was sap changing into wood.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A series of formative cells lying outside of the wood proper
and inside of the inner bark. The growth of new wood takes place in
the cambium, which is very soft.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A fancied nutritive juice, formerly supposed to orgiginate in
the blood, to repair losses of the system, and to promote its
increase. Dunglison.
CAMBLET
Cam"blet, n.
Defn: See Camlet.
CAMBOGE
Cam*boge", n.
Defn: See Gamboge.
CAMBOOSE
Cam*boose", n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Caboose.
CAMBRASINE
Cam"bra*sine, n.
Defn: A kind of linen cloth made in Egypt, and so named from its
resemblance to cambric.
CAMBREL
Cam"brel, n.
Defn: See Gambrel, n., 2. Wright.
CAMBRIA
Cam"bri*a, n.
Defn: The ancient Latin name of Wales. It is used by modern poets.
CAMBRIAN
Cam"bri*an, a.
1. (Geog.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cambria or Wales.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lowest subdivision of the rocks of the
Silurian or Molluscan age; -- sometimes described as inferior to the
Silurian. It is named from its development in Cambria or Wales. See
the Diagram under Geology.
CAMBRIAN
Cam"bri*an, n.
1. A native of Cambria or Wales.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The Cambrian formation.
CAMBRIC
Cam"bric, n. Etym: [OE. camerike, fr. Cambrai (Flemish Kamerik), a
city of France (formerly of Flanders), where it was first made.]
1. A fine, thin, and white fabric made of flax or linen.
He hath ribbons of all the colors i' the rainbow; . . . inkles,
caddises, cambrics, lawns. Shak.
2. A fabric made, in imitation of linen cambric, of fine, hardspun
cotton, often with figures of various colors; -- also called cotton
cambric, and cambric muslin.
CAMBROBRITON; CAMBRO-BRITON
Cam"bro*Brit"on, n.
Defn: A Welshman.
CAME
Came,
Defn: imp. of Come.
CAME
Came, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. came, caim, comb, and OE. camet silver.]
Defn: A slender rod of cast lead, with or without grooves, used, in
casements and stained-glass windows, to hold together the panes or
pieces of glass.
CAMEL
Cam"el, n. Etym: [Oe. camel, chamel, OF. camel, chamel, F. chameau L.
camelus, fr. Gr. gamal, Ar. jamal. Cf. As. camel, fr. L. camelus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large ruminant used in Asia and Africa for carrying burdens
and for riding. The camel is remarkable for its ability to go a long
time without drinking. Its hoofs are small, and situated at the
extremities of the toes, and the weight of the animal rests on the
callous. The dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) has one bunch on the
back, while the Bactrian camel (C. Bactrianus) has two. The llama,
alpaca, and vicuña, of South America, belong to a related genus
(Auchenia).
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A watertight structure (as a large box or boxes) used to assist
a vessel in passing over a shoal or bar or in navigating shallow
water. By admitting water, the camel or camels may be sunk and
attached beneath or at the sides of a vessel, and when the water is
pumped out the vessel is lifted. Camel bird (Zoöl.), the ostrich.
-- Camel locust (Zoöl.), the mantis.
-- Camel's thorn (Bot.), a low, leguminous shrub (Alhagi maurorum)
of the Arabian desert, from which exudes a sweetish gum, which is one
of the substances called manna.
CAMELBACKED; CAMEL-BACKED
Cam"el*backed`, a.
Defn: Having a back like a camel; humpbacked. Fuller.
CAMELEON
Ca*me"le*on, n.
Defn: See Chaceleon. [Obs.]
CAMELLIA
Ca*mel"li*a, n. Etym: [NL.; -- named after Kamel, a Jesuit who is
said to have brought it from the East.] (Bot.)
Defn: An Asiatic genus of small shrubs, often with shining leaves and
showy flowers. Camelia Japonica is much cultivated for ornament, and
C. Sassanqua and C. Oleifera are grown in China for the oil which is
pressed from their seeds. The tea plant is now referred to this genus
under the name of Camellia Thea.
CAMELOPARD
Ca*mel"o*pard, n. Etym: [LL. camelopardus, L. camelopardalus,
camelopardalis, fr. Gr. camélopard. The camelopard has a neck and
head like a camel, and is spotted like a pard. See Camel, and Pard.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An African ruminant; the giraffe. See Giraffe.
CAMELOT
Came"lot, n.
Defn: See Camelet. [Obs.]
CAMELRY
Cam"el*ry, n.
Defn: Troops that are mounted on camels.
CAMELSHAIR
Cam"els*hair`, a.
Defn: Of camel's hair. Camel's-hair pencil, a small brush used by
painters in water colors, made of camel's hair or similar materials.
-- Camel's-hair shawl. A name often given to a cashmere shawl. See
Cashmere shawl under Cashmere.
CAMEMBERT; CAMEMBERT CHEESE
Ca`mem`bert", n., or Camembert cheese.
Defn: A kind of soft, unpressed cream cheese made in the vicinity of
Camembert, near Argentan, France; also, any cheese of the same type,
wherever made.
CAMEO
Cam"e*o, n.; pl. Cameos. Etym: [It cammeo; akin to F. camée, camaïeu,
Sp. camafeo, LL. camaeus, camahutus; of unknown origin.]
Defn: A carving in relief, esp. one on a small scale used as a jewel
for personal adornment, or like.
Note: Most cameos are carved in a material which has layers of
different colors, such stones as the onyx and sardonyx, and various
kinds of shells, being used. Cameo conch (Zoöl.), a large, marine,
univalve shell, esp. Cassis cameo, C. rua, and allied species, used
for cutting cameos. See Quern conch.
CAMERA
Cam"e*ra, n.; pl. E. Cameras, L. Camerae. Etym: [L. vault, arch, LL.,
chamber. See Chamber.]
Defn: A chamber, or instrument having a chamber. Specifically: The
camera obscura when used in photography. See Camera, and Camera
obscura. Bellows camera. See under Bellows.
-- In camera (Law), in a judge's chamber, that is, privately; as, a
judge hears testimony which is not fit for the open court in camera.
-- Panoramic, or Pantascopic, camera, a photographic camera in which
the lens and sensitized plate revolve so as to expose adjacent parts
of the plate successively to the light, which reaches it through a
narrow vertical slit; -- used in photographing broad landscapes.
Abney.
CAMERADE
Came"rade, n.
Defn: See Comrade, [Obs.]
CAMERALISTIC
Cam`e*ra*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to finance and public revenue.
CAMERALISTICS
Cam`e*ra*lis"tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caméralistique, G. kameralistik,
fr. L. camera vault, LL., chamber, treasury.]
Defn: The science of finance or public revenue.
CAMERA LUCIDA
Cam"e*ra lu"ci*da. Etym: [L. camera chamber + L. lucidus, lucida,
lucid, light.] (Opt.)
Defn: An instrument which by means of a prism of a peculiar form, or
an arrangement of mirrors, causes an apparent image of an external
object or objects to appear as if projected upon a plane surface, as
of paper or canvas, so that the outlines may conveniently traced. It
is generally used with the microscope.
CAMERA OBSCURA
Cam"e*ra ob*scu"ra. Etym: [LL. camera chamber + L. obscurus, obscura,
dark.] (Opt.)
1. An apparatus in which the images of extermal objects, formed by a
convex lens or a concave mirror, are thrown on a paper or other white
surface placed in the focus of the lens or mirror within a darkened
chamber, or box, so that the oulines may be traced.
2. (Photog.)
Defn: An apparatus in which the image of an external object or
objects is, by means of lenses. thrown upon a sensitized plate or
surface placed at the back or an extensible darkened box or chamber
variously modifled; -- commonly called simply the camera.
CAMERATE
Cam"er*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Camerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Camerzting.] Etym: [L. cameratus, p. p. of camerare. See Camber.]
1. To build in the form of a vault; to arch over.
2. To divide into chambers.
CAMERATION
Cam`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. cameratio.]
Defn: A vaulting or arching over. [R.]
CAMERLINGO
Ca`mer*lin"go, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: The papal chamberlain; the cardinal who presides over the
pope's household. He has at times possessed great power. [Written
also camerlengo and camarlengo.]
CAMERONIAN
Cam`e*ro"ni*an, n.
Defn: A follower of the Rev. Richard Cameron, a Scotch Covenanter of
the time of Charies II.
Cameron and others refused to accept the "indulgence" offered the
Presbyterian clergy, insisted on the Solemn league and Covenant, and
in 1680 declared Charles II deposed for tyranny, breach of faith,
etc. Cameron was killed at the battle of Airdmoss, but his followers
became a denomination (afterwards called Reformed Presbyterians) who
refused to recognize laws or institutions which they believed
contrary to the kingdom of Christ, but who now avail themselves of
political rights.
CAMIS
Cam"is, n. Etym: [See Chemise.]
Defn: A light, loose dress or robe. [Also written camus.] [Obs.]
All in a camis light of purple silk. Spenser.
CAMISADE; CAMISADO
Cam`i*sade", Cam`i*sa"do, n. Etym: [F. camisade a night attack; cf.
It. camiciata. See Camis.] [Obs.] (Mil.)
(a) A shirt worn by soldiers over their uniform, in order to be able
to recognize one another in a night attack.
(b) An attack by surprise by soldiers wearing the camisado.
Give them a camisado in night season. Holinshed.
CAMISARD
Cam"i*sard, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of the French Protestant insurgents who rebelled against
Louis XIV, after the revocation of the edict of Nates; -- so called
from the peasant's smock (camise) which they wore.
CAMISATED
Cam"i*sa`ted, a.
Defn: Dressed with a shirt over the other garments.
CAMISOLE
Cam"i*sole, n. Etym: [F. See chemise.]
1. A short dressing jacket for women.
2. A kind of straitjacket.
CAMLET
Cam"let, n. Etym: [F. camelot (akin to Sp. camelote, chamelote, It.
cambellbito, ciambellotto, LL. camelotum, camelinum, fr. Ar. khamlat
camlet, fr. kaml pile, plush. The word was early confused with camel,
camel's hair also being used in making it. Cf. Calamanco]
Defn: A woven fabric originally made of camel's hair, now chiefly of
goat's hair and silk, or of wool and cotton. [Sometimes written
camelot and camblet.]
Note: They have been made plain and twilled, of sigle warp and weft,
of double warp, and sometimes with double weft also, with thicker
yarn. Beck (Draper's Dict. )
CAMLETED
Cam"let*ed, a.
Defn: Wavy or undulating like camlet; veined. Sir T. Herbert.
CAMMAS
Cam"mas, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Camass.
CAMMOCK
Cam"mock, n. Etym: [AS. cammoc.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant having long hard, crooked roots, the Ononis spinosa; --
called also rest-harrow. The Scandix Pecten-Veneris is also called
cammock.
CAMOMILE; CHAMOMILE
Cam"o*mile, Cham"o*mile, n.Etym: [LL. camonilla, corrupted fr. Gr.
Humble, and Melon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbs (Anthemis) of the Composite family. The common
camomile, A. nobilis, is used as a popular remedy. Its flowers have a
strong and fragrant and a bitter, aromatic taste. They are tonic,
febrifugal, and in large doses emetic, and the volatile oil is
carminative.
CAMONFLET
Ca*mon"flet, n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)
Defn: A small mine, sometimes formed in the wall or side of an
enemy's gallery, to blow in the earth and cut off the retreat of the
miners. Farrow.
CAMORRA
Ca*mor"ra, n. [It.]
Defn: A secret organization formed at Naples, Italy, early in the
19th century, and used partly for political ends and partly for
practicing extortion, violence, etc. -- Ca*mor"rist (#), n.
CAMOUS; CAMOYS
Ca"mous, Ca"moys, a. Etym: [F. camus (equiv. to camard) flat-nosed,
fr. Celtic Cam croked + suff. -us; akin to L. camur, camurus,
croked.]
Defn: Flat; depressed; crooked; -- said only of the nose. [Obs.]
CAMOUSED
Ca"moused, (, a. Etym: [From Camouse]
Defn: Depressed; flattened. [Obs.]
Though my nose be cammoused. B. Jonson
CAMOUSLY
Ca"mous*ly, adv.
Defn: Awry. [Obs.] Skelton.
CAMP
Camp, n. Etym: [F. camp, It. campo, fr. L. campus plant, fleld; akin
to Gr. Campaing, Champ, n.]
1. The ground or spot on which tents, huts, etc., are erected for
shelter, as for an army or for lumbermen, etc. Shzk.
2. A collection of tents, huts, etc., for shelter, commonly arranged
in an orderly manner.
Forming a camp in the neighborhood of Boston. W. Irving.
3. A single hut or shelter; as, a hunter's camp.
4. The company or body of persons encamped, as of soldiers, of
surveyors, of lumbermen, etc.
The camp broke up with the confusion of a flight. Macaulay.
5. (Agric.)
Defn: A mound of earth in which potatoes and other vegetables are
stored for protection against frost; -- called also burrow and pie.
[Prov. Eng.]
6. Etym: [Cf. OE. & AS. camp contest, battle. See champion.]
Defn: An ancient game of football, played in some parts of England.
Halliwell. Camp bedstead, a light bedstead that can be folded up onto
a small space for easy transportation.
-- camp ceiling (Arch.), a kind ceiling often used in attics or
garrets, in which the side walls are inclined inward at the top,
following the slope of the rafters, to meet the plane surface of the
upper ceiling.
-- Camp chair, a light chair that can be folded up compactly for
easy transportation; the seat and back are often made of strips or
pieces of carpet.
-- Camp fever, typhus fever.
-- Camp follower, a civilian accompanying an army, as a sutler,
servant, etc.
-- Camp meeting, a religious gathering for open-air preaching, held
in some retired spot, chiefty by Methodists. It usualy last for
several days, during which those present lodge in tents, temporary
houses, or cottages.
-- Camp stool, the same as camp chair, except that the stool has no
back.
-- Flying camp (Mil.), a camp or body of troops formed for rapid
motion from one place to another. Farrow.
-- To pitch (a) camp, to set up the tents or huts of a camp.
-- To strike camp, to take down the tents or huts of a camp.
CAMP
Camp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Camped; p. pr. & vb n. Camping.]
Defn: To afford rest or lodging for, as an army or travelers.
Had our great palace the capacity To camp this host, we all would sup
together. Shak.
CAMP
Camp, v. i.
1. To pitch or prepare a camp; to encamp; to lodge in a camp; --
often with out.
They camped out at night, under the stars. W. Irving.
2. Etym: [See Camp, n., 6]
Defn: To play the game called camp. [Prov. Eng.] Tusser.
CAMPAGNA
Cam*pa"gna, n. Etym: [It. See Campaing.]
Defn: An open level tract of country; especially "Campagna di Roma."
The extensive undulating plain which surrounds Rome.
Note: Its length is commonly stated to be about ninety miles, and its
breadth from twenty-seven to forty miles. The ground is almost
entirely volcanic, and vapors which arise from the district produce
malaria.
CAMPAGNOL
Cam`pa`gnol", n. Etym: [F. , fr. campagne field.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mouse (Arvicala agrestis), called also meadow mouse, which
often does great damage in fields and gardens, by feeding on roots
and seeds.
CAMPAIGN
Cam*paign", n. Etym: [F. campagne, It. campagna, fr. L. Campania the
level country about Naples, fr. campus field. See Camp, and cf.
Champaign, Champagne.]
1. An open field; a large, open plain without considerable hills.
SeeChampaign. Grath.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A connected series of military operations forming a distinct
stage in a war; the time during which an army keeps the field.
Wilhelm.
3. Political operations preceding an election; a canvass. [Cant, U.
S.]
4. (Metal.)
Defn: The period during which a blast furnace is continuously in
operation.
CAMPAIGN
Cam*paign", v. i.
Defn: To serve in a campaign.
CAMPAIGNER
Cam*paign"er, n.
Defn: One who has served in an army in several campaigns; an old
soldier; a veteran.
CAMPANA
Cam*pa"na, n. Etym: [LL. campana bell. Cf. Campanle.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: A church bell.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The pasque flower. Drayton.
3. (Doric Arch.)
Defn: Same as Gutta.
CAMPANED
Cam*paned", a. (Her.)
Defn: Furnished with, or bearing, campanes, or bells.
CAMPANERO
Cam`pa*ne"ro, n. Etym: [Sp., a bellman.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bellbird of South America. See Bellbird.
CAMPANES
Cam*panes", n. pl. Etym: [See Campana.] (Her.)
Defn: Bells. [R.]
CAMPANIA
Cam*pa"ni*a, n. Etym: [See Campaig.]
Defn: Open country. Sir W. Temple.
CAMPANIFORM
Cam*pan"i*form, a. Etym: [LL. campana bell + -form: cf. F.
companiforme.]
Defn: Bell-shaped.
CAMPANILE
Cam`pa*ni"le, n. Etym: [It. campanile bell tower, steeple, fr. It. &
LL. campana bell.] (Arch.)
Defn: A bell tower, esp. one built separate from a church.
Many of the campaniles od Italy are lofty and magnificent atructures.
Swift.
CAMPANILIFORM
Cam`pa*nil"i*form, a. Etym: [See Campaniform.]
Defn: Bell-shaped; campanulate; campaniform.
CAMPANOLOGIST
Cam`pa*nol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One skilled in campanology; a bell ringer.
CAMPANOLOGY
Cam`pa*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [LL. campana bell _ -logy.]
Defn: The art of ringing bells, or a treatise on the art.
CAMPANULA
Cam*pan"u*la, n. Etym: [LL. campanula a little bell; dim. of campana
bell.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of plants bearing bell-shaped flowers, often of
great beauty; -- also called bellflower.
CAMPANULACEOUS
Cam*pan`u*la"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants
(Camponulaceæ) of which Campanula is the type, and which includes the
Canterbury bell, the harebell, and the Venus's looking-glass.
CAMPANULARIAN
Cam*pan`u*la"ri*an, n. Etym: [L. campanula a bell.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hydroid of the family ampanularidæ, characterized by having
the polyps or zooids inclosed in bell-shaped calicles or hydrothecæ.
CAMPANULATE
Cam*pan"u*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Bell-shaped.
CAMPBELLITE
Camp"bell*ite, n. Etym: [From Alexander Campbell, of Virginia.]
(Eccl.)
Defn: A member of the denomination called Christians or Disciples of
Christ. They themselves repudiate the term Campbellite as a nickname.
See Christian, 3.
CAMPEACHY WOOD
Cam*peach"y Wood`. Etym: [From the bay of Campeachy, in Mexico.]
Defn: Logwood.
CAMPER
Camp"er, n.
Defn: One who lodges temporarily in a hut or camp.
CAMPESTRAL; CAMPESTRIAN
Cam*pes"tral, Cam*pes"tri*an, a. Etym: [L. campester, fr. campus
field.]
Defn: Relating to an open fields; drowing in a field; growing in a
field, or open ground.
CAMPFIGHT
Camp"fight`, n. Etym: [Cf. Camp, n., 6.] (O. Eng. Law.)
Defn: A duel; the decision of a case by a duel.
CAMPHENE
Cam"phene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of substances C10H16, resembling camphor,
regarded as modified terpenes.
CAMPHINE
Cam*phine", n. Etym: [From Camphor.]
Defn: Rectified oil of turpentine, used for burning in lamps, and as
a common solvent in varnishes.
Note: The name is also applied to a mixture of this substance with
three times its volume of alcohol and sometimes a little ether, used
as an illuminant.
CAMPHIRE
Cam"phire, n.
Defn: An old spelling of Camphor.
CAMPHOGEN
Cam"pho*gen, n. Etym: [Camphor + -gen: -- formerly so called as
derived from camphor: cf. F. camphogène.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Cymene.
CAMPHOL
Cam"phol, n. Etym: [Camphol + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Borneol.
CAMPHOR
Cam"phor, n. Etym: [OE. camfere, F. camphre (cf. It. camfara, Sp.
camfara, alcanfor, LL. camfora, camphara, NGr. kafur, prob. fr. Skr.
karpura.]
1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from different
species of the Laurus family, esp. from Cinnamomum camphara (the
Laurus camphara of Linnæus.). Camphor, C10H16O, is volatile and
fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a stimulant, or
sedative.
2. A gum resembing ordinary camphor, obtained from a tree
(Dryobalanops camphora) growing in Sumatra and Borneo; -- called also
Malay camphor, camphor of Borneo, or borneol. See Borneol.
Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies of
similar appearance and properties, as cedar camphor, obtained from
the red or pencil cedar (Juniperus Virginiana), and peppermint
camphor, or menthol, obtained from the oil of peppermint. Camphor oil
(Chem.), name variously given to certain oil-like products, obtained
especially from the camphor tree.
-- Camphor tree, a large evergreen tree (Cinnamomum Camphora) with
lax, smooth branches and shining triple-nerved lanceolate leaves,
probably native in China, but now cultivated in most warm countries.
Camphor is collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood
and subliming the product.
CAMPHOR
Cam"phor, v. t.
Defn: To impregnate or wash with camphor; to camphorate. [R.] Tatler.
CAMPHORACEOUS
Cam`pho*ra"ceous, a.
Defn: Of the nature of camphor; containing camphor. Dunglison.
CAMPHORATE
Cam"phor*ate, v. t.
Defn: To impregnate or treat with camphor.
CAMPHORATE
Cam"phor*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. camphorate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of camphoric acid.
CAMPHORATE; CAMPORATED
Cam"phor*ate, Cam"por*a`ted,
Defn: Combined or impregnated with camphor. Camphorated oil, an
oleaginous preparation containing camphor, much used as an
embrocation.
CAMPHORIC
Cam*phor"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. camphorique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, camphor. Camphoric acid, a
white crystallizable substance, C10H16O4, obtained from the oxidation
of camphor.
Note: Other acid of camphor are campholic acid, C10H18O2, and
camphoronic acid, C9H12O5, white crystallizable substances.
CAMPHRETIC
Cam*phret"ic, a. Etym: [rom Camphor.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from camphor. [R.]
CAMPING
Camp"ing, n.
1. Lodging in a camp.
2. Etym: [See Camp, n., 6]
Defn: A game of football. [Prov. Eng.]
CAMPION
Cam"pi*on, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. L. campus field.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Pink family (Cucubalus bacciferus), bearing
berries regarded as poisonous. Bladder campion, a plant of the Pink
family (Cucubalus Behen or Silene inflata), having a much inflated
calyx. See Behen.
-- Rose campion, a garden plant (Lychnis coronaria) with handsome
crimsome crimson flowers.
CAMPUS
Cam"pus, n. Etym: [L., a field.]
Defn: The principal grounds of a college or school, between the
buildings or within the main inclosure; as, the college campus.
CAMPYLOSPERMOUS
Cam`py*lo*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having seeds grooved lengthwise on the inner face, as in sweet
cicely.
CAMPYLOTROPOUS
Cam`py*lot"ro*pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the ovules and seeds so curved, or bent down upon
themselves, that the ends of the embryo are brought close together.
CAMUS
Cam"us, n.
Defn: See Camis. [Obs.]
CAMWOOD
Cam"wood, n.
Defn: See Barwood.
CAN
Can,
Defn: an obs. form of began, imp. & p. p. of Begin, sometimes used in
old poetry.
Note: [See Gan.]
With gentle words he can faile gree. Spenser.
CAN
Can, n. Etym: [OE. & AS. canne; akin to D. Kan, G. Kanne, OHG.
channa, Sw. Kanna, Dan. kande.]
1. A drinking cup; a vessel for holding liquids. [Shak. ]
Fill the cup and fill can, Have a rouse before the morn. Tennyson.
2. A vessel or case of tinned iron or of sheet metal, of various
forms, but usually cylindrical; as, a can of tomatoes; an oil can; a
milk can.
Note: A can may be a cylinder open at the top, as for receiving the
sliver from a carding machine, or with a removable cover or stopper,
as for holding tea, spices, milk, oysters, etc., or with handle and
spout, as for holding oil, or hermetically sealed, in canning meats,
fruits, etc. The name is also sometimes given to the small glass or
earthenware jar used in canning.
CAN
Can, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Canned; p. pr. &vb. n. Canning.]
Defn: To preserve by putting in sealed cans [U. S.] "Canned meats" W.
D. Howells. Canned goods, a general name for fruit, vegetables, meat,
or fish, preserved in hermetically sealed cans.
CAN
Can, v. t. & i.
Note: [The transitive use is obsolete.] [imp. Could.] Etym: [OE.
cunnen, cannen (1st sing. pres. I can), to know, know how, be able,
AS. cunnan, 1st sing. pres. ic cann or can, pl. cunnon, 1st sing.
imp. cu\'ebe (for cunthe); p. p. cu\'eb (for cunth); akin to OS.
Kunnan, D. Kunnen, OHG. chunnan, G. können, Icel. kunna, Goth.
Kunnan, and E. ken to know. The present tense I can (AS. ic cann) was
originally a preterit, meaning I have known or Learned, and hence I
know, know how. *45. See Ken, Know; cf. Con, Cunning, Uncouth.]
1. To know; to understand. [Obs.]
I can rimes of Rodin Hood. Piers Plowman.
I can no Latin, quod she. Piers Plowman.
Let the priest in surplice white, That defunctive music can. Shak.
2. To be able to do; to have power or influence. [Obs.]
The will of Him who all things can. Milton.
For what, alas, can these my single arms Shak.
Mæcænas and Agrippa, who can most with Cæsar. Beau. & Fl.
3. To be able; -- followed by an infinitive without to; as, I can go,
but do not wish to.
Syn.
-- Can but, Can not but. It is an error to use the former of these
phrases where the sens requires the latter. If we say, "I can but
perish if I go," "But" means only, and denotes that this is all or
the worst that can happen. When the apostle Peter said. "We can not
but speak of the things which we have seen and heard." he referred to
a moral constraint or necessety which rested upon him and his
associates; and the meaning was, We cannot help speaking, We cannot
refrain from speaking. This idea of a moral necessity or constraint
is of frequent occurrence, and is also expressed in the phrase, "I
can not help it." Thus we say. "I can not but hope," "I can not but
believe," "I can not but think," "I can not but remark," etc., in
cases in which it would be an error to use the phrase can but.
Yet he could not but acknowledge to himself that there was something
calculated to impress awe, . . . in the sudden appearances and
vanishings . . . of the masque De Quincey.
Tom felt that this was a rebuff for him, and could not but understand
it as a left-handed hit at his employer. Dickens.
CANAANITE
Ca"naan*ite, n.
1. A descendant of Canaan, the son of Ham, and grandson of Noah.
2. A Native or inbabitant of the land of Canaan, esp. a member of any
of the tribes who inhabited Canaan at the time of the exodus of the
Israelites from Egypt.
CANAANITE
Ca"naan*ite, n. Etym: [From an Aramaic word signifying "zeal."]
Defn: A zealot. "Simon the Canaanite." Matt. x. 4.
Note: This was the "Simon called Zelotes" (Luke vi. 15), i.e., Simon
the zealot. Kitto.
CANAANITISH
Ca"naan*i`tish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Canaan or the Canaanites.
CANADA; CANYADA
Ca*ña"da, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A small cañon; a narrow valley or glen; also, but less
frequently, an open valley. [Local, Western U. S.]
CANADA
Can"a*da, n.
Defn: A British province in North America, giving its name to various
plants and animals. Canada balsam. See under Balsam.
-- Canada goose. (Zoöl.) See Whisky Jack.
-- Canada lynx. (Zoöl.) See Lynx.
-- Canada porcupine (Zoöl.) See Porcupine, and Urson.
-- Canada rice (Bot.) See under Rick.
-- Canada robin (Zoöl.), the cedar bird.
CANADIAN
Ca*na"di*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Canada.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Canada. Canadian period (Geol.), A
subdivision of the American Lower Silurian system embracing the
calciferous, Quebec, and Chazy epochs. This period immediately
follows the primordial or Cambrian period, and is by many geologists
regarded as the beginning of the Silurian age, See the Diagram, under
Geology.
CANAILLE
Ca*naille", n. Etym: [F. canaille (cf. It. canaglia), prop. and orig.
a pack of dogs, fr. L. Canis dog.]
1. The lowest class of people; the rabble; the vulgar.
2. Shorts or inferior flour. [Canadian]
CANAKIN
Can"a*kin, n. Etym: [Dim. of can.]
Defn: A little can or cup. "And let me the canakin clink." Shak.
CANAL
Ca*nal", n. Etym: [F. canal, from L. canalis canal, channel; prob.
from a root signifying "to cut"; cf. D. kanaal, fr. the French. Cf.
Channel, Kennel gutter.]
1. An artificial channel filled with water and designed for
navigation, or for irrigating land, etc.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A tube or duct; as, the alimentary canal; the semicircular
canals of the ear. Canal boat, a boat for use on a canal; esp. one of
peculiar shape, carrying freight, and drawn by horses walking on the
towpath beside the canal. Canal lock. See Lock.
CANAL COAL
Can"al coal`.
Defn: See Cannel coal.
CANALICULATE; CANALICULATED
Can`a*lic"u*late, Can`a*lic"u*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. canaliculatus
channeled, fr. canaliculus, dim. of canalis. See Canal.]
Defn: Having a channel or groove, as in the leafstalks of most palms.
CANALICULUS
Can`a*lic"u*lus, n.; pl. Canaliculi. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: A minute canal.
CANALIZATION
Ca*nal`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: Construction of, or furnishing with, a canal or canals. [R.]
CANAPE
Ca`na`pé", n. [F., orig. a couch with mosquito curtains. See Canopy.]
1. A sofa or divan.
2. (Cookery) A slice or piece of bread fried in butter or oil, on
which anchovies, mushrooms, etc., are served.
CANAPE CONFIDENT
Ca`na`pé" con`fi`dent".
Defn: A sofa having a seat at each end at right angles to the main
seats.
CANARD
Ca*nard", n. Etym: [F., properly, a duck.]
Defn: An extravagant or absurd report or story; a fabricated
sensational report or statement; esp. one set afloat in the
newspapers to hoax the public.
CANARESE
Can`a*rese", a.
Defn: Pertaining to Canara, a district of British India.
CANARY
Ca*na"ry, a. Etym: [F. Canarie, L. Canaria insula one of the Canary
islands, said to be so called from its large dogs, fr. canis dog.]
1. Of or pertaining to the Canary Islands; as, canary wine; canary
birds.
2. Of a pale yellowish color; as, Canary stone. Canary grass, a grass
of the genus Phalaris (P. Canariensis), producing the seed used as
food for canary birds.
-- Canary stone (Min.), a yellow species of carnelian, named from
its resemblance in color to the plumage of the canary bird.
-- Canary wood, the beautiful wood of the trees Persea Indica and P.
Canariensis, natives of Madeira and the Canary Islands.
-- Canary vine. See Canary bird flower, under Canary bird.
CANARY
Ca*na"ry, n.; pl. Canaries.
1. Wine made in the Canary Islands; sack. "A cup of canary." Shak.
2. A canary bird.
3. A pale yellow color, like that of a canary bird.
4. A quick and lively dance. [Obs.]
Make you dance canary With sprightly fire and motion. Shak.
CANARY
Ca*na"ry, v. i.
Defn: To perform the canary dance; to move nimbly; to caper. [Obs.]
But to jig of a tune at the tongue's end, canary to it with your
feet. Shak.
CANARY BIRD
Ca*na"ry bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small singing bird of the Finch family (Serinus Canarius), a
native of the Canary Islands. It was brought to Europe in the 16th
century, and made a household pet. It generally has a yellowish body
with the wings and tail greenish, but in its wild state it is more
frequently of gray or brown color. It is sometimes called canary
finch.canary.
Canary bird flower (Bot.), a climbing plant (Tropæolum peregrinum)
with canary-colored flowers of peculiar form; -- called also canary
vine.
CANASTER
Ca*nas"ter, n. Etym: [Sp. canasta, canastro, basket, fr. L.
canistrum. See Canister.]
Defn: A kind of tobacco for smoking, made of the dried leaves,
coarsely broken; -- so called from the rush baskets in which it is
packed in South America. McElrath.
CAN BUOY
Can" buoy`.
Defn: See under Buoy, n.
CANCAN
Can"can, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A rollicking French dance, accompanied by indecorous or
extravagant postures and gestures.
CANCEL
Can"cel, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Canceled or Cancelled (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Canceling or Cancelling.] Etym: [L. cancellare to make like a
lattice, to strike or cross out (cf. Fr. canceller, OF. canceler) fr.
cancelli lattice, crossbars, dim. of cancer lattice; cf. Gr.
Chancel.]
1. To inclose or surround, as with a railing, or with latticework.
[Obs.]
A little obscure place canceled in with iron work is the pillar or
stump at which . . . our Savior was scourged. Evelyn.
2. To shut out, as with a railing or with latticework; to exclude.
[Obs.] "Canceled from heaven." Milton.
3. To cross and deface, as the lines of a writing, or as a word or
figure; to mark out by a cross line; to blot out or obliterate.
A deed may be avoided by delivering it up to be cancelled; that is,
to have lines drawn over it in the form of latticework or cancelli;
the phrase is now used figuratively for any manner of obliterating or
defacing it. Blackstone.
4. To annul or destroy; to revoke or recall.
The indentures were canceled. Thackeray.
He was unwilling to cancel the interest created through former secret
services, by being refractory on this occasion. Sir W. Scott.
5. (Print.)
Defn: To suppress or omit; to strike out, as matter in type. Canceled
figures (Print), figures cast with a line across the face., as for
use in arithmetics.
Syn.
-- To blot out; Obliterate; deface; erase; efface; expunge; annul;
abolish; revoke; abrogate; repeal; destroy; do away; set aside. See
Abolish.
CANCEL
Can"cel, n. Etym: [See Cancel, v. i., and cf. Chancel.]
1. An inclosure; a boundary; a limit. [Obs.]
A prison is but a retirement, and opportunity of serious thoughts, to
a person whose spirit . . . desires no enlargement beyond the cancels
of the body. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Print)
(a) The suppression on striking out of matter in type, or of a
printed page or pages.
(b) The part thus suppressed.
CANCELIER
Can`cel*ier", v. i. Etym: [F. chanceler, OF. canseler, to waver,
orig. to cross the legs so as not to fall; from the same word as E.
cancel.] (Falconry)
Defn: To turn in flight; -- said of a hawk. [Obs.] Nares.
He makes his stoop; but wanting breath, is forced To cancelier.
Massinger.
CANCELIER; CANCELEER
Can`cel*ier", Can"cel*eer, n. (Falconry)
Defn: The turn of a hawk upon the wing to recover herself, when she
misses her aim in the stoop. [Obs.]
The fierce and eager hawks, down thrilling from the skies, Make
sundry canceliers are they the fowl can reach. Drayton.
CANCELLAREAN
Can`cel*la"re*an, a.
Defn: Cancellarean. [R.]
CANCELLATE
Can"cel*late, a. Etym: [L. cancellatus, p. p. of cancellare, See
Cancel, v. t.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of a network of veins, without intermediate
parenchyma, as the leaves of certain plant; latticelike.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the surface coveres with raised lines, crossing at right
angles.
CANCELLATED
Can"cel*la`ted, a.
1. Crossbarres; marked with cross lines. Grew.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Open or spongy, as some porous bones.
CANCELLATION
Can`cel*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. cancellatio: cf. F. cancellation.]
1. The act, process, or result of canceling; as, the cansellation of
certain words in a contract, or of the contract itself.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of striking out common factora, in both the
dividend and divisor.
CANCELLI
Can*cel"li, n. pl. Etym: [L., a lattice. See Cancel, v. t.]
1. An interwoven or latticed wall or inclosure; latticework, rails,
or crossbars, as around the bar of a court of justice, between the
chancel and the have of a church, or in a window.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The interlacing osseous plates constituting the elastic porous
tissue of certain parts of the bones, esp. in their articular
extremities.
CANCELLOUS
Can"cel*lous, a. Etym: [Cf. L. cancellosus covered with bars.]
(Anat.)
Defn: Having a spongy or porous stracture; made up of cancelli;
cancellated; as, the cancellous texture of parts of many bones.
CANCER
Can"cer, n. Etym: [L. cancer, cancri, crab, ulcer, a sign of the
zodiac; akin to Gr. karka crab, and prob. Skr. karkara hard, the crab
being named from its hard shell. Cf. Canner, Chancre.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of decapod Crustacea, including some of the most common
shore crabs of Europe and North America, as the rock crab, Jonah
crab, etc. See Crab.
2. (Astron.)
(a) The fourth of the twelve signs of the zodiac. The first point is
the northern limit of the sun's course in summer; hence, the sign of
the summer solstice. See Tropic.
(b) A northern constellation between Gemini and Leo.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Formerly, any malignant growth, esp. one attended with great
pain and ulceration, with cachexia and progressive emaciation. It was
so called, perhaps, from the great veins which surround it, compared
by the ancients to the claws of a crab. The term it now restricted to
such a growth made up of aggregations of epithelial cells, either
without support or embedded in the meshes of a trabecular framework.
Note: Four kinds of cancers are recognized: (1) Epithelial cancer, or
Epithelioma, in which there is no trabecular framework. See
Epithelioma. (2) Scirrhous cancer, or Hard cancer, in which the
framework predominates, and the tumor is of hard consistence and slow
growth. (3) Encephaloid, Medullary, or Soft cancer, in which the
cellular element predominates, and the tumor is soft, grows rapidy,
and often ulcerates. (4) Colloid cancer, in which the cancerous
structure becomes gelatinous. The last three varieties are also
called carcinoma. Cancer cells, cells once believed to be peculiar to
cancers, but now know to be epithelial cells differing in no respect
from those found elsewhere in the body, and distinguished only by
peculiarity of location and grouping.
-- Cancer root (Bot.), the name of several low plants, mostly
parasitic on roots, as the beech drops, the squawroot, etc.
-- Tropic of Cancer. See Tropic.
CANCERATE
Can"cer*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cancerated.] Etym: [LL. canceratus
eaten by a cancer. See Cancer.]
Defn: To grow into a canser; to become cancerous. Boyle.
CANCERATION
Can`cer*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or state of becoming cancerous or growing into a
cancer.
CANCERITE
Can"cer*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cancéreux.]
Defn: Like a cancer; having the qualities or virulence of a cancer;
affected with cancer. "Cancerous vices." G. Eliot.
-- Can"cer*ous*ly, adv.
-- Can"cer*ous*ness, n.
CANCEROUS
Can"cer*ous, a. [Cf. F. cancéreux]
Defn: Like a cancer; having the qualities or virulence of a cancer;
affected with cancer. "cancerous vices" G. Eliot.
[1913 Webster]
-- Can"cer*ous*ly, adv. --Can"cer*ous*ness, n.
CANCRIFORM
Can"cri*form, a. Etym: [Cancer + -form; cf. F. cancriforme.]
1. Having the form of, or resembling, a crab; crab-shaped.
2. Like a cancer; cancerous.
CANCRINE
Can"crine, a. Etym: [From Cancer.]
Defn: Having the qualities of a crab; crablike.
CANCRINITE
Can"cri*nite, n. Etym: [Named after Count Cancrin, a minister of
finance in Russia.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in hexagonal crystals, also massive,
generally of a yellow color, containing silica, alumina, lime, soda,
and carbon dioxide.
CANCROID
Can"croid, a. Etym: [Cancer + oid.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a crab; pertaining to the Cancroidea, one of the
families of crabs, including the genus Cancer.
2. Like a cancer; as, a cancroid tumor.
CAND
Cand, n.
Defn: Fluor spar. See Kand.
CANDELABRUM
Can`de*la"brum n.; pl. L. Candelabra, E. Candelabrums. Etym: [L., fr.
candela candle. See candle.]
1. (Antiq.)
(a) A lamp stand of any sort.
(b) A highly ornamented stand of marble or other ponderous material,
usually having three feet, -- frequently a votive offering to a
temple.
2. A large candlestick, having several branches.
CANDENT
Can`dent, a. Etym: [L. candens, p. pr. of candëre to glitter. See
Candid.]
Defn: Heated to whiteness; glowing with heat. "A candent vessel."
Boyle.
CANDEROS
Can"de*ros, n.
Defn: An East Indian resin, of a pellucid white color, from which
small ornaments and toys are sometimes made.
CANDESCENCE
Can*des"cence, n.
Defn: See Inclandescence.
CANDESCENT
Can*des"cent, a. [L. candescens, -entis, p. pr. of candescere, v.
incho. fr. candere to shine.]
Defn: Glowing; luminous; incandescent.
CANDICANT
Can"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. candicans, p. pr. of candicare to be
whitish.]
Defn: Growing white. [Obs.]
CANDID
Can*did, a. Etym: [F. candide (cf. It. candido), L. candidus white,
fr. candëre to be of a glowing white; akin to accend, incend, to set
on fire, Skr. chand to shane. Cf. Candle, Incense.]
1. White. [Obs.]
The box receives all black; but poured from thence, The stones came
candid forth, the hue of innocence. Dryden.
2. Free from undue bias; disposed to think and judge according to
truth and justice, or without partiality or prejudice; fair; just;
impartial; as, a candid opinion. "Candid and dispassionate men." W.
Irving.
3. Open; frank; ingenuous; outspoken.
Syn.
-- Fair; open; ingenuous; impartial; just; frank; artless; unbiased;
equitable.
-- Candid, Fair, Open, Frank, Ingenuous. A man is fair when he puts
things on a just or equitable footing; he is candid when be looks
impartially on both sides of a subject, doing justice especially to
the motives and conduct of an opponent; he is open and frank when he
declares his sentiments without reserve; he is ingenuous when he does
this from a noble regard for truth. Fair dealing; candid
investigation; an open temper; a frank disposition; an ingenuous
answer or declaration.
CANDIDACY
Can"di*da*cy, n.
Defn: The position of a candidate; state of being a candidate;
candidateship.
CANDIDATE
Can"di*date, n. Etym: [L. Candidatus, n. (because candidates for
office in Rome were clothed in a white toga.) fr. candidatus clothed
in white, fr. candiduslittering, white: cf. F. candidat.]
Defn: One who offers himself, or is put forward by others, as a
suitable person or an aspirant or contestant for an office,
privilege, or honor; as, a candidate for the office of governor; a
candidate for holy orders; a candidate for scholastic honors.
CANDIDATESHIP
Can"di*date*ship, n.
Defn: Candidacy.
CANDIDATING
Can"di*da`ting, n.
Defn: The taking of the position of a candidate; specifically, the
preaching of a clergyman with a view to settlement. [Cant, U. S.]
CANDIDATURE
Can"di*da*ture, n.
Defn: Candidacy.
CANDIDLY
Can"did*ly, adv.
Defn: In a candid manner.
CANDIDNESS
Can"did*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being candid.
CANDIED
Can"died, a. Etym: [From 1st Candy.]
1. Preserved in or with sugar; incrusted with a candylike substance;
as, candied fruits.
2.
(a) Converted wholly or partially into sugar or candy; as candied
sirup.
(b) Conted or more or less with sugar; as, candidied raisins.
(c) Figuratively; Honeyed; sweet; flattering.
Let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp. Shak.
3. Covered or incrusted with that which resembles sugar or candy.
Will the cold brook, Candiedwith ice, caudle thy morning tast Shak.
CANDIFY
Can"di*fy, v. t. or v. i. Etym: [L. candificare; candëre to be white
+ -facere to make.]
Defn: To make or become white, or candied. [R.]
CANDIOT
Can"di*ot, a. Etym: [Cf. F. candiote.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Candia; Cretary.
CANDITE
Can"dite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of spinel, of a dark color, found at Candy, in
Ceylon.
CANDLE
Can"dle, n. Etym: [OE. candel, candel, AS, candel, fr. L. candela a
(white) light made of wax or tallow, fr. candëre to be white. See
Candid, and cf. Chandler, Cannel, Kindle.]
1. A slender, cylindrical body of tallow, containing a wick composed
of loosely twisted linen of cotton threads, and used to furnish
light.
How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in
a naughty world. Shak.
Note: Candles are usually made by repeatedly dipping the wicks in the
melted tallow, etc. ("dipped candles"), or by casting or running in a
mold.
2. That which gives light; a luminary.
By these blessed candles of the night. Shak.
Candle nut, the fruit of a euphorbiaceous shrub (Aleurites triloba),
a native of some of the Pacific islands; -- socalled because, when
dry, it will burn with a bright flame, and is used by the natives as
a candle. The oil has many uses.
-- Candle power (Photom.), illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas
flame, reckoned in terms of the light of a standard candle. Electric
candle, A modification of the electric arc lamp, in which the carbon
rods, instead of being placed end to end, are arranged side by side,
and at a distance suitable for the formation of the arc at the tip; -
- called also, from the name of the inventor, Jablockoff candle.
-- Excommunication by inch of candle, a form of excommunication in
which the offender is allowed time to repent only while a candle
burns.
-- Not worth the candle, not worth the cost or trouble.
-- Rush candle, a candle made of the pith of certain rushes, peeled
except on one side, and dipped in grease.
-- Sale by inch of candle, an auction in which persons are allowed
to bid only till a small piece of candle burns out.
-- Standard candle (Photom.), a special form of candle employed as a
standard in photometric measurements; usually, a candle of spermaceti
so constructed as to burn at the rate of 120 grains, or 7.8 grams,
per hour.
-- To curse by bell, book and candle. See under Bell.
CANDLEBERRY TREE
Can"dle*ber`ry tree. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub (the Myrica cerifera, or wax-bearing myrtle), common in
North America, the little nuts of which are covered with a greenish
white wax, which was formerly, used for hardening candles; -- also
called bayberry tree, bayberry, or candleberry.
CANDLEBOMB
Can"dle*bomb`, n.
1. A small glass bubble, filled with water, which, if placed in the
flame of a candle, bursts by expansion of steam.
2. A pasteboard shell used in signaling. It is filled with a
composition which makes a brilliant light when it explodes. Farrow.
CANDLE COAL
Can"dle coal`.
Defn: See Cannel coal.
CANDLEFISH
Can"dle*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A marine fish (Thaleichthys Pacificus), allied to the smelt,
found on the north Pacific coast; -- called also eulachon. It is so
oily that, when dried, it may be used as a candle, by drawing a wick
through it.
(b) The beshow.
CANDLE FOOT
Candle foot. (Photom.)
Defn: The illumination produced by a British standard candle at a
distance of one foot; --used as a unit of illumination.
CANDLEHOLDER
Can"dle*hold`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, holds a candle; also, one who assists
another, but is otherwise not of importance. Shak.
CANDLELIGHT
Can"dle*light`, n.
Defn: The light of a candle.
Never went by candlelight to bed. Dryden.
CANDLEMAS
Can"dle*mas, n. Etym: [AS. candelmæsse, candel candle _ mæsse mass.]
Defn: The second day of February, on which is celebrated the feast of
the Purification of the Virgin Mary; -- so called because the candles
for the altar or other sacred uses are blessed on that day.
CANDLE METER
Candle meter. (Photom.)
Defn: The illumination given by a standard candle at a distance of
one meter; -- used as a unit of illumination, except in Great
Britain.
CANDLENUT
Can"dle*nut`, n.
1. The fruit of a euphorbiaceous tree or shrub (Aleurites moluccana),
native of some of the Pacific islands. It is used by the natives as a
candle. The oil from the nut ( candlenut, or kekune, oil) has many
uses.
2. The tree itself.
CANDLEPIN
Can`dle*pin`, n. (Tenpins)
(a) A form of pin slender and nearly straight like a candle.
(b) The game played with such pins; -- in form candlepins, used as a
singular.
CANDLE POWER
Candle power. (Photom.)
Defn: Illuminating power, as of a lamp, or gas flame, reckoned in
terms of the light of a standard candle.
CANDLESTICK
Can"dle*stick`, n. Etym: [AS. candel-sticca; candel candle + sticca
stick.]
Defn: An instrument or utensil for supporting a candle.
CANDLEWASTER
Can"dle*wast`er, n.
Defn: One who consumes candles by being up late for study or
dissipation.
A bookworm, a candlewaster. B. Jonson.
CANDOCK
Can"dock n. Etym: [Prob. fr. can + dock (the plant). Cf. G.
kannenkraut horsetail, lit. "canweed."] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant or weed that grows in rivers; a species of of
Equisetum; also, the yellow frog lily (Nuphar luteum).
CANDOR
Can"dor, n. [Written also candour.] Etym: [L. candor, fr. candëre;
cf. F. candeur. See candid.]
1. Whiteness; brightness; (as applied to moral conditions) usullied
purity; innocence. [Obs.]
Nor yor unquestioned integrity Shall e'er be sullied with one taint
or spot That may take from your innocence and candor. Massinger.
2. A disposition to treat subjects with fairness; freedom from
prejudice or disguise; frankness; sincerity.
Attribute superior sagacity and candor to those who held that side of
the question. Whewell.
CANDROY
Can"droy, n.
Defn: A machine for spreading out cotton cloths to prepare them for
printing.
CANDY
Can"dy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Candied; p. pr & vb. n. Candying.] Etym:
[F. candir (cf. It. candire, Sp. azúcar cande or candi), fr. Ar. &
Pers. qand, fr. Skr. Khan\'c8da piece, sugar in pieces or lumps, fr.
khan\'c8, khad to break.]
1. To conserve or boil in sugar; as, to candy fruits; to candy
ginger.
2. To make sugar crystals of or in; to form into a mass resembling
candy; as, to candy sirup.
3. To incrust with sugar or with candy, or with that which resembles
sugar or candy.
Those frosts that winter brings Which candy every green. Drayson.
CANDY
Can"dy, v. i.
1. To have sugar crystals form in or on; as, fruits preserved in
sugar candy after a time.
2. To be formed into candy; to solidify in a candylike form or mass.
CANDY
Can"dy n. Etym: [F. candi. See Candy, v. t.]
Defn: A more or less solid article of confectionery made by boiling
sugar or molasses to the desired consistency, and than crystallizing,
molding, or working in the required shape. It is often flavored or
colored, and sometimes contains fruit, nuts, etc.
CANDY
Candy, n. Etym: [Mahratta khan\'c8i, Tamil kan\'c8i.]
Defn: A weight, at Madras 500 pounds, at Bombay 560 pounds.
CANDYTUFT
Can"dy*tuft`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An annual plant of the genus Iberis, cultivated in gardens. The
name was originally given to the I. umbellata, first, discovered in
the island of Candia.
CANE
Cane, n. Etym: [OE. cane, canne, OF. cane, F. canne, L. canna, fr.
Gr. qaneh reed. Cf. Canister, canon, 1st Cannon.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) A name given to several peculiar palms, species of Calamus and
Dæmanorops, having very long, smooth flexible stems, commonly called
rattans.
(b) Any plant with long, hard, elastic stems, as reeds and bamboos of
many kinds; also, the sugar cane.
(c) Stems of other plants are sometimes called canes; as, the canes
of a raspberry.
Like light canes, that first rise big and brave. B. Jonson.
Note: In the Southern United States great cane is the Arundinaria
macrosperma, and small cane is. A. tecta.
2. A walking stick; a staff; -- so called because originally made of
one the species of cane.
Stir the fire with your master's cane. Swift.
3. A lance or dart made of cane. [R.]
Judgelike thou sitt'st, to praise or to arraign The flying skirmish
of the darted cane. Dryden.
4. A local European measure of length. See Canna. Cane borer (Zoö.),
A beetle (Oberea bimaculata) which, in the larval state, bores into
pith and destroy the canes or stalks of the raspberry, blackberry,
etc.
-- Cane mill, a mill for grinding sugar canes, for the manufacture
of sugar.
-- Cane trash, the crushed stalks and other refuse of sugar cane,
used for fuel, etc.
CANE
Cane, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caned; p. pr. & vb. n. Caning.]
1. To beat with a cane. Macaulay.
2. To make or furnish with cane or rattan; as, to cane chairs.
CANEBRAKE
Cane"brake, n.
Defn: A thicket of canes. Ellicott.
CANED
Caned, a. Etym: [Cf. L. canus white.]
Defn: Filled with white flakes; mothery; -- said vinegar when
containing mother. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CANELLA
Ca*nel"la, n. Etym: [LL. (OE. canel, canelle, cinnamon, fr. F.
cannelle), Dim. of L. canna a reed. Canella is so called from the
shape of the rolls of prepared bark. See Cane.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees of the order Canellaceæ, growing in the West
Indies.
Note: The principal species is Canella alba, and its bark is a spice
and drug exported under the names of wild cinnamon and whitewood
bark.
CANESCENT
Ca*nes"cent, a. Etym: [L. canescens, p. pr. of canescere, v.
inchoative of canere to be white.]
Defn: Growing white, or assuming a color approaching to white.
CANGUE
Cangue (kang), n. [Written also cang.] [F. cangue, fr. Pg. canga
yoke.]
Defn: A very broad and heavy wooden collar which certain offenders in
China are compelled to wear as a punishment.
CAN HOOK
Can" hook`.
Defn: A device consisting of a short rope with flat hooks at each
end, for hoisting casks or barrels by the ends of the staves.
CANICULA; CANNICULA
Ca*nic"u*la, Can*nic"u*la, n. Etym: [L. canicula, lit., a little dog,
a dim of canis dog; cf. F. canicule.] (Astron.)
Defn: The Dog Star; Sirius.
CANICULAR
Ca*nic"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. canicularis; cf. F. caniculaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or measured, by the rising of the Dog Star.
Canicular days, the dog days, See Dog days.
-- Canicular year, the Egyptian year, computed from one heliacal
rising of the Dog Star to another.
CANICULE
Can"i*cule, n.
Defn: Canicula. Addison.
CANINAL
Ca*ni"nal, a.
Defn: See Canine, a.
CANINE
Ca*nine", a. Etym: [L. caninus, fr. canis dog: cf. F. canin. See
Hound.]
1. Of or pertaining to the family Canidæ, or dogs and wolves; having
the nature or qualities of a dog; like that or those of a dog.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the pointed tooth on each side the
incisors. Canine appetite, a morbidly voracious appetite; bulimia.
-- Canine letter, the letter r. See R.
-- Canine madness, hydrophobia.
-- Canine toth, a toth situated between the incisor and bicuspid
teeth, so called because well developen in dogs; usually, the third
tooth from the front on each side of each jaw; an eyetooth, or the
corresponding tooth in the lower jaw.
CANINE
Ca*nine", n. (Anat.)
Defn: A canine tooth.
CANIS
Ca"nis, n.; pl. Canes 3. Etym: [L., a dog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of carnivorous mammals, of the family Canidæ, including
the dogs and wolves. Canis major Etym: [L., larger dog], a
constellation to the southeast of Orion, containing Sirius or the Dog
Star.
-- Canis minor Etym: [L., smaller dog], a constellation to the east
of Orion, containing Procyon, a star of the first magnitude.
CANISTER
Can"is*ter, n. Etym: [L. canistrum a basket woven from reeds Gr.
canistre. See Cane, and Canaster.]
1. A small basket of rushes, or wilow twigs, etc.
2. A small box or case for holding tea, coffee, etc.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A kind of case shot for cannon, in which a number of lead or
iron balls in layers are inclosed in a case fitting the gun; --
called also canister shot,
CANKER
Can"ker, n. Etym: [OE. canker, cancre, AS. cancer (akin to D. kanker,
OHG chanchar.), fr. L. cancer a cancer; or if a native word, cf. Gr.
cancre, F. chancere, fr. L. cancer. See cancer, and cf. Chancre.]
1. A corroding or sloughing ulcer; esp. a spreading gangrenous ulcer
or collection of ulcers in or about the mouth; -- called also water
canker, canker of the mouth, and noma.
2. Anything which corrodes, corrupts, or destroy.
The cankers of envy and faction. Temple.
3. (Hort.)
Defn: A disease incident to trees, causing the bark to rot and fall
off.
4. (Far.)
Defn: An obstinate and often incurable disease of a horse's foot,
characterized by separation of the horny portion and the development
of fungoid growths; -- usually resulting from neglected thrush.
5. A kind of wild, worthless rose; the dog-rose.
To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose. And plant this thorm,
this canker, Bolingbroke. Shak.
Black canker. See under Black.
CANKER
Can"ker, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cankered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cankering.]
1. To affect as a canker; to eat away; to corrode; to consune.
No lapse of moons can canker Love. Tennyson.
2. To infect or pollute; to corrupt. Addison.
A tithe purloined canker the whole estate. Herbert.
CANKER
Can"ker, v. i.
1. To waste away, grow rusty, or be oxidized, as a mineral. [Obs.]
Silvering will sully and canker more than gliding. Bacom.
2. To be or become diseased, or as if diseased, with canker; to grow
corrupt; to become venomous.
Deceit and cankered malice. Dryden.
As with age his body uglier grows, So his mind cankers. Shak.
CANKER-BIT
Can"ker-bit`, a.
Defn: Eaten out by canker, or as by canker. [Obs.]
CANKER BLOOM
Can"ker bloom`.
Defn: The bloom or blossom of the wild rose or dog-rose.
CANKER BLOSSOM
Can"ker blos`som.
Defn: That which blasts a blossom as a canker does. [Obs.]
O me! you juggler! you canker blossom! You thief of Love! Shak.
CANKERED
Can"kered, a.
1. Affected with canker; as, a cankered mouth.
2. Affected mentally or morally as with canker; sore, envenomed;
malignant; fretful; ill-natured. "A cankered grandam's will." Shak.
CANKEREDLY
Can"kered*ly, adv.
Defn: Fretfully; spitefully.
CANKER FLY
Can"ker fly`.
Defn: A fly that preys on fruit.
CANKEROUS
Can"ker*ous, a.
Defn: Affecting like a canker. "Canrerous shackles." Thomson.
Misdeem it not a cankerous change. Wordsworth.
CANKER RASH
Can"ker rash". (Med.)
Defn: A form of scarlet fever characterized by ulcerated or putrid
sore throat.
CANKERWORM
Can"ker*worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of two species of geometrid moths which are very
injurious to fruit and shade trees by eating, and often entirely
destroying, the foliage. Other similar larvæ are also called
cankerworms.
Note: The autumnal species (Anisopteryx pometaria) becomes adult late
in autumn (after frosts) and in winter. The spring species (A.
vernata) remains in the ground through the winter, and matures in
early spring. Both have winged males and wingless females. The larvæ
are similar in appearance and habits, and beling to the family of
measuring worms or spanworms. These larvæ hatch from the eggs when
the leaves being to expand in spring.
CANKERY
Can"ker*y, a.
1. Like a canker; full of canker.
2. Surly; sore; malignant.
CANNA
Can"na, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A measure of length in Italy, varying from six to seven feet.
See Cane, 4.
CANNA
Can"na, n. Etym: [L., a reed. See Cane.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of tropical plants, with large leaves and often with
showy flowers. The Indian shot. (C. Indica) is found in gardens of
the northern United States.
CANNABENE
Can"na*bene, n. Etym: [From Cannabis.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oil obtained from hemp dy distillation, and
possessing its intoxicating properties.
CANNABIN
Can"na*bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A pisonous resin extracted from hemp (Cannabis sativa, variety
Indica). The narcotic effects of hasheesh are due to this resin.
CANNABINE
Can"na*bine, a. Etym: [L. cannabinus.]
Defn: Pertaining to hemp; hempen. [R.]
CANNABIS
Can"na*bis, n. Etym: [L., hemp. See Canvas.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of a single species belonging to the order Uricaceæ;
hemp. Cannabis Indica (, the Indian hemp, a powerful narcotic, now
considered a variety of the common hemp.
CANNEL COAL
Can"nel coal`. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. ndle coal.]
Defn: A kind of mineral coal of a black color, sufficiently hard and
solid to be cut and polished. It burns readily, with a clear, yellow
flame, and on this account has been used as a substitute for candles.
CANNELE
Can`ne*lé", n. [F., pop., fluted.] (Textiles)
Defn: A style of interweaving giving to fabrics a channeled or fluted
effect; also, a fabric woven so as to have this effect; a rep.
CANNELURE
Can"ne*lure (kan"ne*lur), n. [F., fr. canneler to groove.] (Mil.)
Defn: A groove in any cylinder; specif., a groove around the cylinder
of an elongated bullet for small arms to contain a lubricant, or
around the rotating band of a gun projectile to lessen the resistance
offered to the rifling. Also, a groove around the base of a
cartridge, where the extractor takes hold. --Can"ne*lured (#), a.
CANNERY
Can"ner*y, n.
Defn: A place where the business of canning fruit, meat, etc., is
carried on. [U. S.]
CANNIBAL
Can"ni*bal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cannibale. Columbus, in a letter to the
Spanish monarchs written in Oct., 1498, mentions that the people of
Hayti lived in great fear of the Caribales (equivalent to E.
Caribbees.), the inhabitants of the smaller Antilles; which form of
the name was afterward changed into NL. Canibales, in order to
express more forcibly their character by a word intelligible through
a Latin root "propter rabiem caninam anthropophagorum gentis." The
Caribbees call themselves, in their own language. Calinago, Carinago,
Calliponam, and, abbreviated, Calina, signifying a brave, from which
Columbus formed his Caribales.]
Defn: A human being that eats human flesh; hence, any that devours
its own kind. Darwin.
CANNIBAL
Can"ni*bal, a.
Defn: Relating to cannibals or cannibalism. "Cannibal terror." Burke.
CANNIBALISM
Can"ni*bal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cannibalisme.]
Defn: The act or practice of eating human flesh by mankind. Hence;
Murderous cruelty; barbarity. Berke.
CANNIBALLY
Can"ni*bal*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of cannibal. "An he had been cannibally given."
Shak.
CANNIKIN
Can"ni*kin, n. Etym: [Can + -kin.]
Defn: A small can or drinking vessel.
CANNILY
Can"ni*ly, adv.
Defn: In a canny manner. [N. of Eng. & Scot.]
CANNINESS
Can"ni*ness, n.
Defn: Caution; crafty management. [N. of Eng. & Scot.]
CANNON
Can"non, n.; pl.Cannons, collectively Cannon. Etym: [F. cannon, fr.
L. canna reed, pipe, tube. See Cane.]
1. A great gun; a piece of ordnance or artillery; a firearm for
discharging heavy shot with great force.
Note: Cannons are made of various materials, as iron, brass, bronze,
and steel, and of various sizes and shapes with respect to the
special service for which they are intended, as intended, as siege,
seacoast, naval, field, or mountain, guns. They always aproach more
or less nearly to a cylindrical from, being usually thicker toward
the breech than at the muzzle. Formerly they were cast hollow,
afterwards they were cast, solid, and bored out. The cannon now most
in use for the armament of war vessels and for seacoast defense
consists of a forged steel tube reinforced with massive steel rings
shrunk upon it. Howitzers and mortars are sometimes called cannon.
See Gun.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A hollow cylindrical piece carried by a revolving shaft, on
which it may, however, revolve independently.
3. (Printing.)
Defn: A kind of type. See Canon. Cannon ball, strictly, a round solid
missile of stone or iron made to be fired from a cannon, but now
often applied to a missile of any shape, whether solid or hollow,
made for cannon. Elongated and cylindrical missiles are sometimes
called bolts; hollow ones charged with explosives are properly called
shells.
-- Cannon bullet, a cannon ball. [Obs.] -- Cannon cracker, a fire
cracker of large size.
-- Cannon lock, a device for firing a cannon by a percussion primer.
-- Cannon metal. See Gun Metal.
-- Cannon pinion, the pinion on the minute hand arbor of a watch or
clock, which drives the hand but permits it to be moved in setting.
-- Cannon proof, impenetrable by cannon balls.
-- Cannon shot. (a) A cannon ball. (b) The range of a cannon.
CANNON
Can"non, n. & v. (Billiards)
Defn: See Carom. [Eng.]
CANNONADE
Can"non*ade", n. Etym: [F. Canonnade; cf. It. cannanata.]
1. The act of discharging cannon and throwing ball, shell, etc., for
the purpose of destroying an army, or battering a town, ship, or
fort; -- usually, an attack of some continuance.
A furious cannonade was kept up from the whole circle of batteries on
the devoted towm. Prescott.
2. Fig.; A loud noise like a cannonade; a booming.
Blue Walden rolls its cannonade. Ewerson.
CANNONADE
Can`non*ade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cannonade; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cannonading.]
Defn: To attack with heavy artillery; to batter with cannon shot.
CANNONADE
Can`non*ade", v. i.
Defn: To discharge cannon; as, the army cannonaded all day.
CANNON BONE
Can"non bone. (Anat.)
Defn: See Canon Bone.
CANNONED
Can"noned (, a.
Defn: Furnished with cannon. [Poetic] "Gilbralter's cannoned steep."
M. Arnold.
CANNONEER; CANNONIER
Can`non*eer", Can`non*ier", n. Etym: [F. canonnier.]
Defn: A man who manages, or fires, cannon.
CANNONERING
Can`non*er"ing, n.
Defn: The use of cannon. Burke.
CANNONRY
Can"non*ry, n.
Defn: Cannon, collectively; artillery.
The ringing of bells and roaring of cannonry proclaimed his course
through the country. W. Irving.
CANNOT
Can"not. Etym: [Can to be able _ -not.]
Defn: Am, is, or are, not able; -- written either as one word or two.
CANNULA
Can"nu*la, n. Etym: [L. cannula a small tube of dim. of canna a reed,
tube.] (Surg.)
Defn: A small tube of metal, wood, or India rubber, used for various
purposes, esp. for injecting or withdrawing fluids. It is usually
associated with a trocar. [Written also canula.]
CANNULAR
Can"nu*lar, a.
Defn: Having the form of a tube; tubular. [Written also canular.]
CANNULATED
Can"nu*la`ted, a.
Defn: Hollow; affording a passage through its interior length for
wire, thread, etc.; as, a cannulated (suture) needle. [Written also
canulated.]
CANNY; CANNEI
Can"ny, Can"nei, a. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kenn skilled, learned, or E.
canny. Cf. Kenn.] [North of Eng. & Scot.]
1. Artful; cunning; shrewd; wary.
2. Skillful; knowing; capable. Sir W. Scott.
3. Cautious; prudent; safe.. Ramsay.
4. Having pleasing of useful qualities; gentle. Burns.
5. Reputed to have magical powers. Sir W. Scott. No canny, not safe,
not fortunate; unpropitious. [Scot.]
CANOE
Ca*noe", n.; pl. Canoes. Etym: [Sp. canoa, fr. Caribbean canáoa.]
1. A boat used by rude nations, formed of trunk of a tree, excavated,
by cutting of burning, into a suitable shape. It is propelled by a
paddle or paddles, or sometimes by sail, and has no rudder.
Others devised the boat of one tree, called the canoe. Raleigh.
2. A boat made of bark or skins, used by savages.
A birch canoe, with paddles, rising, falling, on the water.
Longfellow.
3. A light pleasure boat, especially designed for use by one who goes
alone upon long excursions, including portage. It it propelled by a
paddle, or by a small sail attached to a temporary mast.
CANOE
Ca*noe", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Canoed p. pr. & vb. n. Canoeing (.]
Defn: To manage a canoe, or voyage in a canoe.
CANOEING
Ca*noe"ing n.
Defn: The act or art of using a canoe.
CANOEIST
Ca*noe"ist, n.
Defn: A canoeman.
CANOEMAN
Ca*noe"man, n.; pl. Canoemen.
Defn: One who uses a canoe; one who travels in a canoe.
Cabins and clearing greeted the eye of the passing canoeman. Parkman.
CANON
Can"on, n. Etym: [OE. canon, canoun, AS. canon rule (cf. F. canon,
LL. canon, and, for sense 7, F. chanoine, LL. canonicus), fr. L.
canon a measuring line, rule, model, fr. Gr. Cane, and cf.
Canonical.]
1. A law or rule.
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-
slaughter. Shak.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A law, or rule of doctrine or discipline, enacted by a council
and confirmed by the pope or the sovereign; a decision, regulation,
code, or constitution made by ecclesiastical authority.
Various canons which were made in councils held in the second centry.
Hock.
3. The collection of books received as genuine Holy Scriptures,
called the sacred canon, or general rule of moral and religious duty,
given by inspiration; the Bible; also, any one of the canonical
Scriptures. See Canonical books, under Canonical, a.
4. In monasteries, a book containing the rules of a religious order.
5. A catalogue of saints sckowledged and canonized in the Roman
Catholic Church.
6. A member of a cathedral chapter; a person who possesses a prebend
in a cathedral or collegiate church.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: A musical composition in which the voice begin one after
another, at regular intervals, succesively taking up the same
subject. It either winds up with a coda (tailpiece), or, as each
voice finishes, commences anew, thus forming a perpetual fugue or
round. It is the strictest form of imitation. See Imitation.
8. (Print.)
Defn: The largest size of type having a specific name; -- so called
from having been used for printing the canons of the church.
9. The part of a bell by which it is suspended; -- called also ear
and shank.
Note: [See Illust. of Bell.] Knight.
10. (Billiards)
Defn: See Carom. Apostolical canons. See under Apostolical.
-- Augustinian canons, Black canons. See under Augustinian.
-- Canon capitular, Canon residentiary, a resident member of a
cathedral chapter (during a part or the whole of the year).
-- Canon law. See under Law.
-- Canon of the Mass (R. C. Ch.), that part of the mass, following
the Sanctus, which never changes.
-- Honorary canon, a canon who neither lived in a monastery, nor
kept the canonical hours.
-- Minor canon (Ch. of Eng.), one who has been admitted to a
chapter, but has not yet received a prebend.
-- Regular canon (R. C. Ch.), one who lived in a conventual
community and follower the rule of St. Austin; a Black canon.
-- Secular canon (R. C. Ch.), one who did not live in a monastery,
but kept the hours.
CANON; CANYON
Ca*ñon", n. Etym: [Sp., a tube or hollow, fr. caña reed, fr. L.
canna. See Cane.]
Defn: A deep gorge, ravine, or gulch, between high and steep banks,
worn by water courses. [Mexico & Western U. S.]
CANON BIT
Can"on bit`. Etym: [F. canon, fr. L. canon a rule.]
Defn: That part of a bit which is put in a horse's mouth.
CANON BONE
Can"on bone`. Etym: [F. canon, fr. L. canon a rule. See canon.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The shank bone, or great bone above the fetlock, in the fore
and hind legs of the horse and allied animals, corresponding to the
middle metacarpal or metatarsal bone of most mammals. See Horse.
CANONESS
Can"on*ess, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. canonissa.]
Defn: A woman who holds a canonry in a conventual chapter. Regular
canoness, one bound by the poverty, and observing a strict rule of
life.
-- Secular canoness, one allowed to hold private property, and bound
only by vows of chastity and obedience so long as she chose to remain
in the chapter.
CANONIC; CANNONICAL
Ca*non"ic, Can*non"ic*al, a Etym: [L. cannonicus, LL. canonicalis,
fr. L. canon: cf. F. canonique. See canon.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a canon; established by, or according to a
, canon or canons. "The oath of canonical obedience." Hallam.
Canonical books, or Canonical Scriptures, those books which are
declared by the canons of the church to be of divine inspiration; --
called collectively the canon. The Roman Catolic Church holds as
canonical several books which Protestants reject as apocryphal.
-- Canonical epistles, an appellation given to the epistles called
also general or catholic. See Catholic epistles, under Canholic.
-- Canonical form (Math.), the simples or most symmetrical form to
which all functions of the same class can be reduced without lose of
generality.
-- Canonical hours, certain stated times of the day, fixed by
ecclesiastical laws, and appropriated to the offices of prayer and
devotion; also, certain portions of the Breviary, to be used at
stated hours of the day. In England, this name is also given to the
hours from 8 a. m. to 3 p. m. (formerly 8 a. m. to 12 m.) before and
after which marriage can not be legally performed in any parish
church.
-- Canonical letters, letters of several kinds, formerly given by a
dishop to traveling clergymam or laymen, to show that they were
entitled to receive the cammunion, and to distinguish them from
heretics.
-- Canonical life, the method or rule of living prescribed by the
ancient cleargy who lived in community; a course of living prescribed
for the clergy, less rigid that the monastic, and more restrained
that the secular.
-- Canonical obedience, submission to the canons of a canons of a
church, especially the submission of the inferior cleargy to their
bishops, and of other religious orders to their supriors.
-- Canonical punishments, such as the church may inflict, as
excommunication, degradation, penance, etc.
-- Canonical sins (Anc. Church.), those for which capital punishment
or puplic penance decreed by the canon was inflicted, as idolatry,
murder, adultery, heresy.
CANONICALLY
Ca*non"ic*al*ly, adv. In a canonical manner
Defn: ; according to the canons.
CANONICALNESS
Ca*non"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being canonical; canonicity. Bp. Burnet.
CANONICALS
Ca*non"ic*als, n. pl.
Defn: The dress prescribed by canon to be worn by a clergyman when
oficiating. Sometimes, any distinctive professional dress. Full
canonicals, the complete costume of an officiating clergyman or
ecclesiastic.
CANONICATE
Ca*non"i*cate, n. Etym: [LL. canonucatus canonical: cf. F.
canonicat.]
Defn: The office of a canon; a canonry.
CANONICITY
Can`on*ic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. canonicité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being canonical; agreement with the
canon.
CANONIST
Can"on*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. canoniste.]
Defn: A professor of canon law; one skilled in the knowledge and
practice of ecclesiastical law. South.
CANONISTIC
Can`on*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a canonist. "This canonistic exposition."
Milton.
CANONIZATION
Can`on*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [F. canonisation.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The final process or decree (following beatifacation) by which
the name of a deceased person is placed in the catalogue (canon) of
saints and commended to perpetual veneration and invocation.
Canonization of saints was not known to the Christian church titl
toward the middle of the tenth century. Hoock.
2. The state of being canonized or sainted.
CANONIZE
Can"on*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Canonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Canonizing.] Etym: [F. canoniser or LL. canonizare, fr. L. canon..
See Canon.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: To declare (a deceased person) a saint; to put in the catalogue
of saints; as, Thomas a Becket was canonized.
2. To glorify; to exalt to the highest honor.
Fame in time to come canonize us. Shak.
2. To rate as inspired; to include in the canon.[R.]
CANONRY
Can"on*ry, n. pl. Canonries (.
Defn: A benefice or prebend in a cathedral or collegiate church; a
right to a place in chapter and to a portion of its revenues; the
dignity or emoluments of a canon.
CANONSHIP
Can"on*ship, a.
Defn: Of pertaining to Canopus in egypt; as, the Canopic vases, used
in embalming.
CANOPUS
Ca*no"pus, n. Etym: [L. Canopus, fr. Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: A star of the first magnitude in the southern constellation
Argo.
CANOPY
Can"o*py, n.; pl. Canopies. Etym: [Oe. canopie, F. canopésofa, Of
canopée, canopeu, canopieu, canopy, vail, pavilion (cf. It.
canepècanopy, sofa), LL. canopeum a bed with mosquito curtains, fr.
Gr. Cone, and Optic.]
1. A covering fixed over a bed, dais, or the like, or carried on
poles over an exalted personage or a sacred object, etc. chiefly as a
mark of honor. "Golden canoniec and beds of state." Dryden.
2. (Arch.)
(a) An ornamental projection, over a door, window, niche, etc.
(b) Also, a roofike covering, supported on pilars over an altar, a
statue, a fountain, etc.
CANOPY
Can"o*py, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Canopes; p. pr. & vb. n. Canopying.]
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a canopy. "A bank with ivy
canopied." Milton.
CANOROUS
Ca*no"rous, a. Etym: [L. canorus, from nor melody, fr. canere to
sing.]
Defn: Melodious; musical. "Birds that are most canorous." Sir T.
Browne.
A long, lound, and canorous peal of laughter. De Quincey.
CANOROUSNESS
Ca*no"rous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being musical.
He chooses his language for its rich canorousness. Lowell.
CANSTICK
Can"stick`, n.
Defn: Candlestick. [Obs.] Shak.
CANT
Cant, n. Etym: [OF., edge, angle, prof. from L. canthus the iron ring
round a carriage wheel, a wheel, Gr. cant the stake or tire of a
wheel. Cf. Canthus, Canton, Cantle.]
1. A corner; angle; niche. [Obs.]
The first and principal person in the temple was Irene, or Peace; she
was placed aloft in a cant. B. Jonson.
2. An outer or external angle.
3. An inclination from a horizontal or vertical line; a slope or
bevel; a titl. Totten.
4. A sudden thrust, push, kick, or other impulse, producing a bias or
change of direction; also, the bias or turn so give; as, to give a
ball a cant.
5. (Coopering)
Defn: A segment forming a side piece in the head of a cask. Knight.
6. (Mech.)
Defn: A segment of he rim of a wooden cogwheel. Knight.
7. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of wood laid upon athe deck of a vessel to support the
bulkneads. Cant frames, Cant timbers (Naut.), timber at the two ends
of a ship, rising obliquely from the keel.
CANT
Cant, v. t. [imp & p. p. Canted; p. pr. & vb. N. Canting.]
1. To incline; to set at an angle; to titl over; to tip upon the
edge; as, to cant a cask; to cant a ship.
2. To give a sudden turn or new direction to; as, to cant round a
stick of timber; to cant a football.
3. To cut off an angle from, as from a square piece of timber, or
from the head of a bolt.
CANT
Cant, n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. cant, F. chant, singing, in allusion
to the singing or whining tine of voice used by beggars, fr. L.
cantus. See Chant.]
1. An affected, singsong mode of speaking.
2. The idioms and peculiarities of speech in any sect, class, or
occupation. Goldsmith.
The cant of any profession. Dryden.
3. The use of religious phraseology without understanding or
sincerity; empty, solemn speech, implying what is not felt;
hypocrisy.
They shall hear no cant fromF. W. Robertson
4. Vulgar jargon; slang; the secret language spoker by gipsies,
thieves. tramps, or beggars.
CANT
Cant, a.
Defn: Of the nature of cant; affected; vulgar.
To introduce and multiply cant words in the most ruinous corruption
in any language. Swift.
CANT
Cant, v. i.
1. To speak in a whining voice, or an affected, sinsong tone.
2. To make whining pretensions to goodness; to talk with an
affectation of religion, philanthropy, etc.; to practice hypocrisy;
as, a canting fanatic.
The rankest rogue that ever canted. Beau. & Fl.
3. To use pretentious language, barbarous jargon, or technical
termes; to talk with an affectation of learning.
The doctor here, When he discqurseth of dissection, Of vena cava and
of vena porta, The meseræum and the mesentericum, What does he else
but cant. B. Jonson
That uncouth affected garb of speech, or canting hanguage, if I may
so call it. Bp. Sanderson.
CANT
Cant, n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. cant, equiv. to L. quantum; cf. F.
encan, fr. L. in quantum, i.e. "for how much"]
Defn: A all for bidders at a public sale; an auction. "To sell their
leases by cant." Swift.
CANT
Cant, v. t.
Defn: to sell by auction, or bid a price at a sale by auction.
[Archaic] Swift.
CAN'T
Can't.
Defn: A colloquial contraction for can not.
CANTAB
Can"tab, n. Etym: [Abbreviated from Cantabrigian.]
Defn: A Cantabrigian. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
CANTABILE
Can*ta"bi*le, a. Etym: [It., cantare to sing.] (Mus.)
Defn: In a melodious, flowing style; in a singing style, as opposed
to bravura, recitativo, or parlando.
CANTABILE
Can*ta"bi*le, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A piece or pessage, whether vocal or instrumental, pecuilarly
adapted to singing; -- sometimes called cantilena.
CANTABRIAN
Can*ta"bri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cantabria on the Bay of Biscay in Spain.
CANTABRIGIAN
Can`ta*brig"i*an, n.
Defn: A native or resident of Cambridge; esp. a student or graduate
of the university of Cambridge, England.
CANTALEVER
Can"ta*lev`er, n. Etym: [Can an extermal angle + lever a supported of
the roof timber of a house.] Etym: [Written also cantaliver and
cantilever.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A bracket to support a balcony, a cornice, or the like.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: A projecting beam, truss, or bridge unsupported at the outer
end; one which overhangs. Cantalever bridge, a bridge in which the
principle of the cantalever is applied. It is usually a trussed
bridge, composed of two portions reaching out from opposite banks,
and supported near the middle of their own length on piers which they
overhang, thus forming cantalevers which meet over the space to be
spanned or sustain a third portion, to complete the connection.
CANTALOUPE
Can"ta*loupe, n. Etym: [F. cantaloup, It. cantalupo, so called from
the caste of Cantalupo, in the Marca d'Ancona, in Italy, where they
were first grown in Europe, from seed said to have been imported from
Armenia.]
Defn: A muskmelon of several varieties, having when mature, a
yellowish skin, and flesh of a reddish orange color. [Written also
cantaleup.]
CANTANKEROUS
Can*tan"ker*ous, a.
Defn: Perverse; contentious; ugly; malicious. [Colloq.] --
Can*tan"ker*ous*ly, adv.
-- Can*tan"ker*ous*ness, n.
The cantankerous old maiden aunt. Theckeray.
CANTAR; CANTARRO
Can"tar, Can*tar"ro, n. Etym: [It. cantaro (in sense 1), Sp. cantaro
(in sense 2).]
1. A weight used in southern Europe and East for heavy articles. It
varies in different localities; thus, at Rome it is nearly 75 pounds,
in Sardinia nearly 94 pounds, in Cairo it is 95 pounds, in Syria
about 503 pounds.
2. A liquid measure in Spain, ranging from two and a half to four
gallons. Simmonds.
CANTATA
Can*ta"ta, n. Etym: [It., fr. cantare to sing, fr. L. cantare intens
of canere to sing.] (Mus.)
Defn: A poem set to music; a musical composition comprising choruses,
solos, interludes, etc., arranged in a somewhat dramatic manner;
originally, a composition for a single noise, consisting of both
recitative and melody.
CANTATION
Can*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. cantatio.]
Defn: A singing. [Obs.] Blount.
CANTATORY
Cant"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Caontaining cant or affectation; whining; singing. [R.]
CANTATRICE
Can`ta*tri"ce, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A female professional singer.
CANTED
Cant"ed, a. Etym: [From 2d Cant.]
1. Having angles; as, a six canted bolt head; a canted window. Canted
column (Arch.), a column polygonal in plan.
2. Inclined at an angle to something else; tipped; sloping.
CANTEEN
Can*teen", n. Etym: [F. cantine bottle case, canteen (cf. Sp. & It.
cantina cellar, bottle case), either contr. fr. It. canovettina, dim.
of canova cellar, or, more likely, fr. OF. cant. corner, It. & Sp.
canto. See 1st Cant.] (Mil.)
1. A vessel used by soldiers for carrying water, liquor, or other
drink. [Written also cantine..]
Note: In the English service the canteen is made of wood and holds
three pints; in the United States it is usually a tin flask.
2. The sulter's shop in a garrison; also, a chest containing culinary
and other vessels for officers.
CANTEL
Can"tel, n.
Defn: See Cantle.
CANTER
Can"ter, n. Etym: [An abbreviation of Caner bury. See Canterbury
gallop, under Canterbury.]
1. A moderate and easy gallop adapted to pleasure riding.
Note: The canter is a thoroughly artificial pace, at first extremely
tiring to the horse, and generally only to be produced in him by the
restraint of a powerful bit, which compels him to throw a great part
of his weight on his haunches . . . There is so great a variety in
the mode adopted by different horses for performing the canter, that
no single description will suffice, nor indeed is it easy . . . to
define any one of them. J. H. Walsh.
2. A rapid or easy passing over.
A rapid canter in the Times over all the topics. Sir J. Stephen.
CANTER
Can"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantering.]
Defn: To move in a canter.
CANTER
Can"ter, v. t.
Defn: To cause, as a horse, to go at a canter; to ride (a horse) at a
canter.
CANTER
Cant"er, n.
1. One who cants or whines; a beggar.
2. One who makes hypocritical pretensions to goodness; one who uses
canting language.
The day when he was a canter and a rebel. Macaulay.
CANTERBURY
Can"ter*bur*y, n.
1. A city in England, giving its name various articles. It is the
seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury (primate of all England), and
contains the shrine of Thomas à Becket, to which pilgrimages were
formerly made.
2. A stand with divisions in it for holding music, loose papers, etc.
Canterbury ball (Bot.), a species of Campanula of several varietes,
cultivated for its handsome bell-shaped flowers.
-- Canterbury gallop, a gentle gallop such as was used by pilgrims
riding, to Canterbury; a canter.
-- Canterbury table, one of the tales which Chaucer puts into the
mouths of certain pilgrims to Canterbury. Hence, any tale told by
travelers pass away the time.
CANTHARIDAL
Can*thar"*i*dal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cantharides or made of cantharides; as,
cantharidal plaster.
CANTHARIDES
Can*thar"i*des, n. pl.
Defn: See cantharis.
CANTHARIDIN
Can*thar"i*din, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The active principe of the cantharis, or Spanish fly, a
volatile, acrid, bitter solid, crystallizing in four-sided prisms.
CANTHARIS
Can"tha*ris, n.; pl. Cantharides. Etym: [L., a kind of beetle, esp.
the Spanish fly, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beetle (Lytta, or Cantharis, vesicatoria), having an
elongated cylindrical body of a brilliant green color, and a nauseous
odor; the blister fly or blister beetle, of the apothecary; -- also
called Spanish fly. Many other species of Lytta, used for the same
purpose, take the same name. See Blister beetle, under Blister. The
plural form in usually applied to the dried insects used in medicine.
CANT HOOK
Cant" hook`.
Defn: A wooden lever with a movable iron hook. hear the end; -- used
for canting or turning over heavy logs, etc. [U. S.] Bartlett.
CANTHOPLASTY
Can"tho*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: The operation of forming a new canthus, when one has been
destroyed by injury or disease.
CANTHUS
Can"thus, n.; pl. Canthi. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The corner where the upper and under eyelids meet on each side
of the eye.
CANTICLE
Can"ti*cle, n.; pl. Canticles. Etym: [L. canticulum a little song,
dim. of canticum song, fr. cantus a singing, fr. coner to sing. See
Chant.]
1. A song; esp. a little song or hymn. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. pl.
Defn: The Song of Songs or Song of Solomon, one of the books of the
Old Testament.
3. A canto or division of a poem [Obs.] Spenser.
4. A psalm, hymn, or passage from the Bible, arranged for chanting in
church service.
CANTICOY
Can"ti*coy, n. Etym: [Of American Indian origin.]
Defn: A social gathering; usually, one for dancing.
CANTILE
Can"tile, v. i.
Defn: Same as Cantle, v. t.
CANTILENA
Can`ti*le"na, n. Etym: [It. & L.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Cantabile.
CANTILEVER
Can"ti*lev`er, n.
Defn: Same as Cantalever.
CANTILLATE
Can"til*late, v. i. Etym: [L. cantillatus, p. p. of cantillare to
sing low, dim. of cantare. See Cantata.]
Defn: To chant; to recite with musical tones. M. Stuart.
CANTILLATION
Can`til*la"tion, n.
Defn: A chanting; recitation or reading with musical modulations.
CANTINE
Can*tine", n.
Defn: See Canteen.
CANTING
Cant"ing, a.
Defn: Speaking in a whining tone of voice; using technical or
religious terms affectedly; affectedly pious; as, a canting rogue; a
canting tone. - Cant"ing*ly, adv.
-- Cant"ing*ness, n. Canting arms, Canting heraldry (Her.), bearings
in the nature of a rebus alluding to the name of the bearer. Thus,
the Castletons bear three castles, and Pope Adrian IV. (Nicholas
Breakspeare) bore a broken spear.
CANTING
Cant"ing, n.
Defn: The use of cant; hypocrisy.
CANTINIERE
Can`ti*niere", n. Etym: [F., fr. cantine a sutler's shop, canteen.]
(Mil)
Defn: A woman who carries a canteen for soldiers; a vivandière.
CANTION
Can"tion, n. Etym: [L. cantio, from canere to sing.]
Defn: A song or verses. [Obs.] Spenser.
CANTLE
Can"tle, n. Etym: [OF. cantel, chantel, corner, side, piece, F.
chanteau a piece cut from a larger piece, dim. of OF. cant edge,
corner. See 1st Cant.]
1. A corner or edge of anything; a piece; a fragment; a part. "In one
cantle of his law." Milton.
Cuts me from the best of all my land A huge half moon, a monstrous
cantle out. Shak.
2. The upwardly projecting rear part of saddle, opposite to the
pommel. [Written also cante.]
CANTLE
Can"tle, v. t.
Defn: To cut in pieces; to cut out from. [Obs.] [Written also
cantile.]
CANTLET
Cant"let, n. Etym: [Dim. of cantle.]
Defn: A piece; a fragment; a corner. Dryden.
CANTO
Can"to, n.; pl. Cantos. Etym: [It. canto, fr. L. cantus singing,
song. See Chant.]
1. One of the chief divisions of a long poem; a book.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The highest vocal part; the air or melody in choral music;
anciently the tenor, now the soprano. Canto fermo ( Etym: [It.]
(Mus.), the plain ecclesiastical chant in cathedral service; the
plain song.
CANTON
Can"ton, n.
Defn: A song or canto [Obs.]
Write loyal cantons of contemned love. Shak.
CANTON
Can"ton, n. Etym: [F. canton, augm. of OF. cant edge, corner. See 1st
Cant.]
1. A small portion; a division; a compartment.
That little canton of land called the "English pale" Davies.
There is another piece of Holbein's, . . . in which, in six several
cantons, the several parts of our Savior's passion are represented.
Bp. Burnet.
2. A small community or clan.
3. A small territorial district; esp. one of the twenty-two
independent states which form the Swiss federal republic; in France,
a subdivision of an arrondissement. See Arrondissement.
4. (Her.)
Defn: A division of a shield occupying one third part of the chief,
usually on the dexter side, formed by a perpendicular line from the
top of the shield, meeting a horizontal line from the side.
The king gave us the arms of England to be borne in a canton in our
arms. Evelyn.
CANTON
Can"ton, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cantoned ; p. pr. & vb. n. Cantoning.]
Etym: [Cf. F.cantonner.]
1. To divide into small parts or districts; to mark off or separate,
as a distinct portion or division.
They canton out themselves a little Goshen in the intellectual world.
Locke.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To allot separate quarters to, as to different parts or
divisions of an army or body of troops.
CANTONAL
Can"ton*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a canton or cantons; of the nature of a
canton.
CANTON CRAPE
Can"ton crape".
Defn: A soft, white or colored silk fabric, of a gauzy texture and
wavy appearance, used for ladies' scarfs, shawls, bonnet trimmings,
etc.; -- called also Oriental crape. De Colange.
CANTONED
Can"toned, a.
1. (Her.)
Defn: Having a charge in each of the four corners; -- said of a cross
on a shield, and also of the shield itself.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Having the angles marked by, or decorated with, projecting
moldings or small columns; as, a cantoned pier or pilaster.
CANTON FLANNEL
Can"ton flan"nel.
Defn: See Cotton flannel.
CANTONIZE
Can"ton*ize, v. i.
Defn: To divide into cantons or small districts.
CANTONMENT
Can"ton*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cantonnement.]
Defn: A town or village, or part of a town or village, assigned to a
body of troops for quarters; temporary shelter or place of rest for
an army; quarters.
Note: When troops are sheltered in huts or quartered in the houses of
the people during any suspension of hostilities, they are said to be
in cantonment, or to be cantoned. In India, permanent military
stations, or military towns, are termed cantonments.
CANTOON
Can*toon", n.
Defn: A cotton stuff showing a fine cord on one side and a satiny
surface on the other.
CANTOR
Can"tor, n. Etym: [L., a singer, fr. caner to sing.]
Defn: A singer; esp. the leader of a church choir; a precentor.
The cantor of the church intones the Te Deum. Milman.
CANTORAL
Can"tor*al, a.
Defn: Of or belonging to a cantor. Cantoral staff, the official staff
or baton of a cantor or precentor, with which time is marked for the
singers.
CANTORIS
Can*to"ris, a. Etym: [L., lit., of the cantor, gen. of cantor.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cantor; as, the cantoris side of a choir;
a cantoris stall. Shipley.
CANTRAP; CANTRIP
Can"trap, Can"trip, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. gandar, ODan. & OSw. gan,
witchcraft, and E. trap a snare, tramp.]
Defn: A charm; an incantation; a shell; a trick; adroit mischief.
[Written also cantraip.] [Scot.]
CANTRED; CANTREF
Can"tred, Can"tref, n. Etym: [W. cantref; cant hundred + tref
dwelling place, village.]
Defn: A district comprising a hundred villages, as in Wales. [Written
also kantry.]
CANTY
Can"ty, a.
Defn: Cheerful; sprightly; lively; merry. "The canty dame."
Wordsworth [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
Contented with little, and canty with mair. Burns.
CANUCK
Ca*nuck", n.
1. A Canadian. [Slang]
2. A small or medium-sized hardy horse, common in Canada. [Colloq.]
CANULA; CANULAR; CANULATED
Can"u*la, n., Can"u*lar, a., Can"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: See Cannula, Cannular, and Cannulated.
CANVAS
Can"vas, n. Etym: [OE. canvas, canevas, F. canevas, LL. canabacius
hempen cloth, canvas, L. cannabis hemp, fr. G. Hemp.]
1. A strong cloth made of hemp, flax, or cotton; -- used for tents,
sails, etc.
By glimmering lanes and walls of canvas led. Tennyson.
2.
(a) A coarse cloth so woven as to form regular meshes for working
with the needle, as in tapestry, or worsted work.
(b) A piece of strong cloth of which the surface has been prepared to
receive painting, commonly painting in oil.
History . . . does not bring out clearly upon the canvas the details
which were familiar. J. H. Newman.
3. Something for which canvas is used: (a) A sail, or a collection of
sails. (b) A tent, or a collection of tents. (c) A painting, or a
picture on canvas.
To suit his canvas to the roughness of the see. Goldsmith.
Light, rich as that which glows on the canvas of Claude. Macaulay.
4. A rough draft or model of a song, air, or other literary or
musical composition; esp. one to show a poet the measure of the
verses he is to make. Grabb.
CANVAS
Can"vas, a.
Defn: Made of, pertaining to, or resembling, canvas or coarse cloth;
as, a canvas tent.
CANVASBACK
Can"vas*back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Species of duck (Aythya vallisneria), esteemed for the
delicacy of its flesh. It visits the United States in autumn;
particularly Chesapeake Bay and adjoining waters; -- so named from
the markings of the plumage on its back.
CANVASS
Can"vass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. canvassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Canvassing.]
Etym: [OF. Canabasser to examine curiously, to search or sift out;
properly, to sift through canvas. See Canvas, n.]
1. To sift; to strain; to examine thoroughly; to scrutinize; as, to
canvass the votes cast at an election; to canvass a district with
reference to its probable vote.
I have made careful search on all hands, and canvassed the matter
with all possible diligence. Woodward.
2. To examine by discussion; to debate.
An opinion that we are likely soon to canvass. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. To go trough, with personal solicitation or public addresses; as,
to canvass a district for votes; to canvass a city for subscriptions.
CANVASS
Can"vass, v. i.
Defn: To search thoroughly; to engage in solicitation by traversing a
district; as, to canvass for subscriptions or for votes; to canvass
for a book, a publisher, or in behalf of a charity; -- commonly
followed by for.
CANVASS
Can"vass, n.
1. Close inspection; careful review for verification; as, a canvass
of votes. Bacon.
2. Examination in the way of discussion or debate.
3. Search; exploration; solicitation; systematic effort to obtain
votes, subscribers, etc.
No previous canvass was made for me. Burke.
CANVASSER
Can"vass*er, n.
Defn: One who canvasses.
CANY
Can"y, a. Etym: [From Cane.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to cane or canes; abounding with canes.
Milton.
CANYON
Can"yon, n.
Defn: The English form of the Spanish word Cañon.
CANZONE
Can*zo"ne, n. Etym: [It., a song, fr. L. cantio, fr. canere to sing.
Cf. Chanson, Chant.] (Mus.)
(a) A song or air for one or more voices, of Provençal origin,
resembling, though not strictly, the madrigal.
(b) An instrumental piece in the madrigal style.
CANZONET
Can`zo*net", n. Etym: [It. canzonetta, dim. of canzone.] (Mus.)
Defn: A short song, in one or more parts.
CAONCITO
Cañ`on*ci"to, n. [Amer. Sp. dim. See Cañon.] [Southwestern U. S.]
1. A small cañon.
2. A narrow passage or lane through chaparral or a forest.
CAOUTCHIN
Caout"chin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An inflammable, volatile, oily, liquid hydrocarbon, obtained by
the destructive distillation of caoutchouc.
CAOUTCHOUC
Caout"chouc, n. Etym: [F. caoutchouc, from the South American name.]
Defn: A tenacious, elastic, gummy substance obtained from the milky
sap of several plants of tropical South America (esp. the
euphorbiaceous tree Siphonia elastica or Hevea caoutchouc), Asia, and
Africa. Being impermeable to liquids and gases, and not readly
affected by exposure to air, acids, and alkalies, it is used,
especially when vulcanized, for many purposes in the arts and in
manufactures. Also called India rubber (because it was first brought
from India, and was formerly used chiefly for erasing pencil marks)
and gum elastic. See Vulcanization. Mineral caoutchouc. See under
Mineral.
CAOUTCHOUCIN
Caout"chou*cin, n.
Defn: See Caoutchin.
CAP
Cap, n. Etym: [OE. cappe, AS. cæppe, cap, cape, hood, fr. LL, cappa,
capa; perhaps of Iberian origin, as Isidorus of Seville mentions it
first: "Capa, quia quasi totum capiat hominem; it. capitis
ornamentum." See 3d Cape, and cf. 1st Cope.]
1. A covering for the head; esp.
(a) One usually with a visor but without a brim, for men and boys;
(b) One of lace, muslin, etc., for women, or infants;
(c) One used as the mark or ensign of some rank, office, or dignity,
as that of a cardinal.
2. The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive. Shak.
3. A respectful uncovering of the head.
He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks. Fuller.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill
to the nape of the neck.
5. Anything resembling a cap in form, position, or use; as:
(a) (Arch.) The uppermost of any assemblage of parts; as, the cap of
column, door, etc.; a capital, coping, cornice, lintel, or plate.
(b) Something covering the top or end of a thing for protection or
ornament.
(c) (Naut.) A collar of iron or wood used in joining spars, as the
mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and the jib boom; also, a covering
of tarred canvas at the end of a rope.
(d) A percussion cap. See under Percussion.
(e) (Mech.) The removable cover of a journal box.
(f) (Geom.) A portion of a spherical or other convex surface.
6. A large size of writing paper; as, flat cap; foolscap; legal cap.
Cap of a cannon, a piece of lead laid over the vent to keep the
priming dry; -- now called an apron.
-- Cap in hand, obsequiously; submissively.
-- Cap of liberty. See Liberty cap, under Liberty.
-- Cap of maintenance, a cap of state carried before the kings of
England at the coronation. It is also carried before the mayors of
some cities.
-- Cap money, money collected in a cap for the huntsman at the death
of the fox.
-- Cap paper. (a) A kind of writing paper including flat cap,
foolsap, and legal cap. (b) A coarse wrapping paper used for making
caps to hold commodities. Cap rock (Mining), The layer of rock next
overlying ore, generally of barren vein material.
-- Flat cap, cap See Foolscap.
-- Forage cap, the cloth undress head covering of an officer of
soldier.
-- Legal cap, a kind of folio writing paper, made for the use of
lawyers, in long narrow sheets which have the fold at the top or
"narrow edge." -- To set one's cap, to make a fool of one. (Obs.)
Chaucer.
-- To set one's cap for, to try to win the favor of a man with a
view to marriage. [Colloq.]
CAP
Cap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capped (; p. pr. & vb. n. Capping.]
1. To cover with a cap, or as with a cap; to provide with a cap or
cover; to cover the top or end of; to place a cap upon the proper
part of; as, to cap a post; to cap a gun.
The bones next the joint are capped with a smooth cartilaginous
substance. Derham.
2. To deprive of cap. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To complete; to crown; to bring to the highest point or
consummation; as, to cap the climax of absurdity.
4. To salute by removing the cap. [Slang. Eng.]
Tom . . . capped the proctor with the profoundest of bows. Thackeray.
5. To match; to mate in contest; to furnish a complement to; as, to
cap text; to cap proverbs. Shak.
Now I have him under girdle I'll cap verses with him to the end of
the chapter. Dryden.
Note: In capping verses, when one quotes a verse another must cap it
by quoting one beginning with the last letter of the first letter, or
with the first letter of the last word, or ending with a rhyming
word, or by applying any other arbitrary rule may be agreed upon.
CAP
Cap, v. i.
Defn: To uncover the head respectfully. Shak.
CAPABILITY
Ca`pa*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Capabilities.
1. The quality of being capable; capacity; capableness; esp.
intellectual power or ability.
A capability to take a thousand views of a subject. H. Taylor.
2. Capacity of being used or improved.
CAPABLE
Ca"pa*ble, a. Etym: [F. capable, LL. capabilis capacious, capable,
fr. L. caper to take, contain. See Heave.]
1. Possessing ability, qualification, or susceptibility; having
capacity; of sufficient size or strength; as, a room capable of
holding a large number; a castle capable of resisting a long assault.
Concious of jou and capable of pain. Prior.
2. Possessing adequate power; qualified; able; fully competent; as, a
capable instructor; a capable judge; a mind capable of nice
investigations.
More capable to discourse of battles than to give them. Motley.
3. Possessing legal power or capacity; as, a man capable of making a
contract, or a will.
4. Capacious; large; comprehensive. [Obs.] Shak.
Note: Capable is usually followed by of, sometimes by an infinitive.
Syn.
-- Able; competent; qualified; fitted; efficient; effective;
skillful.
CAPABLENESS
Ca"pa*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being capable; capability;
adequateness; competency.
CAPACIFY
Ca*pac"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capacified.] Etym: [L. capax, -acis,
capacious + -fy.]
Defn: To quality. [R.]
The benefice he is capacified and designed for. Barrow.
CAPACIOUS
Ca*pa"cious, a. Etym: [L. capaz, -acis, fr. capere to take. See
Heave.]
1. Having capacity; able to contain much; large; roomy; spacious;
extended; broad; as, a capacious vessel, room, bay, or harbor.
In the capacious recesses of his mind. Bancroft.
2. Able or qualified to make large views of things, as in obtaining
knowledge or forming designs; comprehensive; liberal. "A capacious
mind." Watts.
CAPACIOUSLY
Ca*pa"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a capacious manner or degree; comprehensively.
CAPACIOUSNESS
Ca*pa"cious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being capacious, as of a vessel, a reservoir a
bay, the mind, etc.
CAPACITATE
Ca*pac"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capacitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Capacitating.]
Defn: To render capable; to enable; to qualify.
By thih instruction we may be capaciated to observe those errors.
Dryden.
CAPACITY
Ca*pac"i*ty, n.; pl. Capacities Etym: [L. capacitus, fr. capax,
capacis; fr. F. capacité. See Capacious.]
1. The power of receiving or containing; extent of room or space;
passive power; -- used in reference to physical things.
Had our great palace the capacity To camp this host, we all would sup
together. Shak.
The capacity of the exhausted cylinder. Boyle.
2. The power of receiving and holding ideas, knowledge, etc.; the
comprehensiveness of the mind; the receptive faculty; capability of
undestanding or feeling.
Capacity is now properly limited to these [the mere passive
operations of the mind]; its primary signification, which is
literally room for, as well as its employment, favars this; although
it can not be dented that there are examples of its usage in an
active sense. Sir W. Hamilton.
3. Ability; power pertaining to, or resulting from, the possession of
strength, wealth, or talent; possibility of being or of doing.
The capacity of blessing the people. Alex. Hamilton.
A cause with such capacities endued. Blackmore.
4. Outward condition or circumstances; occupation; profession;
character; position; as, to work in the capacity of a mason or a
carpenter.
5. (Law)
Defn: Legal or noral qualification, as of age, residence, character,
etc., necessary for certain purposes, as for holding office, for
marrying, for making contracts, will, etc.; legal power or right;
competency. Capacity for heat, the power of absorbing heat.
Substances differ in the amount of heat requisite to raise them a
given number of thermometric degrees, and this difference is the
measure of, or depends upon, whzt is called their capacity for heat.
See Specific heat, under Heat.
Syn.
-- Ability; faculty; talent; capability; skill; efficiency;
cleverness. See Ability.
CAPAPE
Cap`*a*pe", adv.
Defn: See Cap-a-pie. Shak.
CAPAPIE
Cap`*a*pie", adv. Etym: [OF. (cap-a-pie, from head to foot, now de
pied en cap from foot to head; L. per foot + caput head.]
Defn: From head to foot; at all points. "He was armed cap-a-pie."
Prescott.
CAPARISON
Ca*par"i*son, n. Etym: [F. capara, fr. Sp. caparazon a cover for a
saddle, coach, etc.; capa cloak, cover (fr. LL. capa, cf. LL. caparo
also fr. capa) + the term. azon. See Cap.]
1. An ornamental covering or housing for a horse; the harness or
trappings of a horse, taken collectively, esp. when decorative.
Their horses clothed with rich caparison. Drylen.
2. Gay or rich clothing.
My heart groans beneath the gay caparison. Smollett.
CAPARISON
Ca*par"i*son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caparisoned p. pr. & vb. n.
Caparisoning.] Etym: [Cf. F caparaçonner.]
1. To cover with housings, as a horse; to harness or fit out with
decorative trappings, as a horse.
The steeds, caparisoned with purple, stand. Dryden.
2. To aborn with rich dress; to dress.
I am caparisoned like a man. Shak.
CAPARRO
Ca*par"ro, n. Etym: [Native Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American monkey (Lagothrix Humboldtii), with
prehensile tail.
CAPCASE
Cap"case`, n.
Defn: A small traveling case or bandbox; formerly, a chest.
A capcase for your linen and your plate. Beau. & Fl.
CAPE
Cape, n. Etym: [F. cap, fr. It. capo head, cape, fr. L. caput heat,
end, point. See Chief.]
Defn: A piece or point of land, extending beyind the adjacent coast
into the sea or a lake; a promonotory; a headland. Cape buffalo
(Zoöl.) a large and powerful buffalo of South Africa (Bubalus
Caffer). It is said to be the most dangerous wild beast of Africa.
See Buffalo, 2.
-- Cape jasmine, Cape jassamine. See Jasmine.
-- Cape pigeon (Zoöl.), a petrel (Daptium Capense) common off the
Cape of Good Hope. It is about the size of a pigeon.
-- Cape wine, wine made in South Africa [Eng.] -- The Cape, the Cape
of Good Hope, in the general sense of southern extremity of Africa.
Also used of Cape Horn, and, in New England, of Cape Cod.
CAPE
Cape, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To head or point; to keep a course; as, the ship capes
southwest by south.
CAPE
Cape, n. Etym: [OE. Cape, fr. F. cape; cf. LL. cappa. See Cap, and
cf. 1st Cope, Chape.]
Defn: A sleeveless garment or part of a garment, hanging from the
neck over the back, arms, and shoulders, but not reaching below the
hips. See Cloak.
CAPE
Cape, v. i. Etym: [See Gape.]
Defn: To gape. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CAPEL; CAPLE
Ca"pel, Ca"ple, n. Etym: [Icel. kapall; cf. L. caballus.]
Defn: A horse; a nag. [Obs.] Chaucer. Holland.
CAPEL
Ca"pel, n. (Mining)
Defn: A composite stone (quartz, schorl, and hornlende) in the walls
of tin and copper lodes.
CAPELAN
Cap"e*lan, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Capelin.
CAPELIN
Cape"lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capelan, caplan.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small marine fish (Mallotus villosus) of the family
Salmonidæ, very abundant on the coasts of Greenland, Iceland,
Newfoundland, and Alaska. It is used as a bait for the cod. [Written
also capelan and caplin.]
Note: This fish, which is like a smelt, is called by the Spaniards
anchova, and by the Portuguese capelina. Fisheries of U. S. (1884).
CAPELINE
Ca"pe*line`, n. [F., fr. LL. capella. See Chapel.] (Med.)
Defn: A hood-shaped bandage for the head, the shoulder, or the stump
of an amputated limb.
CAPELLA
Ca*pel"la, n. Etym: [L., a little goet, dim. of caper a goat.]
(Asrton.)
Defn: A brilliant star in the constellation Auriga.
CAPELLANE
Cap"el*lane, n. Etym: [See Chaplain.]
Defn: The curate of a chapel; a chaplain. [Obs.] Fuller.
CAPELLE
Ca*pel"le, n. Etym: [G.] (Mus.)
Defn: The private orchestra or band of a prince or of a church.
CAPELLET
Cap"el*let, n. Etym: [F. capelet.] (Far.)
Defn: A swelling, like a wen, on the point of the elbow (or the heel
of the hock) of a horse, caused probably by bruises in lying dowm.
CAPELLMEISTER
Ca*pell"meis`ter, n. Etym: [G., fr. capelle chapel, private band of a
prince + meister a master.]
Defn: The musical director in royal or ducal chapel; a choirmaster.
[Written also kepellmeister.]
CAPER
Ca"per, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Capered p. pr. & vb. n. capering.] Etym:
[From older capreoll to caper, cf. F. se cabrer to prance; all
ultimately fr. L. caper, capra, goat. See Capriole.]
Defn: To leap or jump about in a sprightly manner; to cut capers; to
skip; to spring; to prance; to dance.
He capers, he dances, he has eyes of youth. Shak.
CAPER
Ca"per, n.
Defn: A frolicsome leap or spring; a skip; a jump, as in mirth or
dancing; a prank. To cut a caper, to frolic; to make a sportive
spring; to play a prank. Shak.
CAPER
Ca"per, n. Etym: [D. kaper.]
Defn: A vessel formerly used by the Dutch, privateer. Wright.
CAPER
Ca"per, n. Etym: [F. câpre, fr. L. capparis, Gr. al-kabar.]
1. The pungent grayish green flower bud of the European and Oriental
caper (Capparis spinosa), much used for pickles.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Capparis; -- called also caper bush, caper
tree.
Note: The Capparis spinosa is a low prickly shrub of the
Mediterranean coasts, with trailing branches and brilliant flowers; -
- cultivated in the south of Europe for its buds. The C. sodada is an
almost leafless spiny shrub of central Africa (Soudan), Arabia, and
southern India, with edible berries. Bean caper. See Bran caper, in
the Vocabulary.
-- Caper sauce, a kind of sauce or catchup made of capers.
CAPERBERRY
Ca"per*ber`ry, n.
1. The small olive-shaped berry of the European and Oriental caper,
said to be used in pickles and as a condiment.
2. The currantlike fruit of the African and Arabian caper (Capparis
sodado).
CAPER BUSH; CAPER TREE
Ca"per bush`, Ca"per tree`.
Defn: See Capper, a plant, 2.
CAPERCAILZIE; CAPERCALLY
Ca"per*cail`zie, or Ca"per*cal`ly, n. Etym: [Gael, capulcoile.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of grouse (Tetrao uragallus) of large size and fine
flavor, found in northern Europe and formerly in Scotland; -- called
also cock of the woods. [Written also capercaillie, capercaili.]
CAPERCLAW
Ca"per*claw`, v. t.
Defn: To treat with cruel playfulness, as a cat treats a mouse; to
abuse. [Obs.] Birch.
CAPERER
Ca"per*er, n.
Defn: One who capers, leaps, and skips about, or dances.
The nimble capperer on the cord. Dryden.
CAPFUL
Cap"ful, n.; pl. Capfuls (.
Defn: As much as will fill a cap. A capful of wind (Naut.), a light
puff of wind.
CAPIAS
Ca"pi*as, n. Etym: [L. thou mayst take.] (Low)
Defn: A writ or process commanding the officer to take the body of
the person named in it, that is, to arrest him; -- also called writ
of capias.
Note: One principal kind of capias is a writ by which actions at law
are frequently commenced; another is a writ of execution issued after
judgment to satisfy damages recovered; a capias in criminal law is
the process to take a person charged on an indictment, when he is not
in custody. Burrill. Wharton.
CAPIBARA
Ca`pi*ba"ra, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Capybara.
CAPILLACEOUS
Cap`il*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. capillaceus hairy, fr. capillus hair.]
Defn: Having long filaments; resembling a hair; slender. See
Capillary.
CAPILLAIRE
Cap`il*laire", n. Etym: [F. capillaire maiden-hair; sirop de
capillaire capillaire; fr. L. herba capillaris the maidenhair.]
1. A sirup prepared from the maiden-hair, formerly supposed to have
medicinal properties.
2. Any simple sirup flavored with orange flowers.
CAPILLAMENT
Ca*pil"la*ment, n. Etym: [L. capillamentum, fr. capillus hair: cf. F.
capillament.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A filament. [R.]
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Any villous or hairy covering; a fine fiber or filament, as of
the nerves.
CAPILLARINESS
Cap"il*la*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being capillary.
CAPILLARITY
Cap`il*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capillarité.]
1. The quality or condition of being capillary.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The peculiar action by which the surface of a liquid, where it
is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube), is elevated or
depressed; capillary attraction.
Note: Capillarity depends upon the relative attaction of the
modecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid,
and is especially observable in capillary tubes, where it determines
the ascent or descent of the liquid above or below the level of the
liquid which the tube is dipped; -- hence the name.
CAPILLARY
Cap"il*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. capillaris, fr. capillus hair. Cf.
Capillaire.]
1. Resembling a hair; fine; minute; very slender; having minute tubes
or interspaces; having very small bore; as, the capillary vessels of
animals and plants.
2. Pertaining to capillary tubes or vessels; as, capillary action.
Capillary attraction, Capillary repulsion, the apparent attraction or
repulsion between a soild and liquid caused bycapillarity. See
Capillarity, and Attraction.
-- Capillarity tubes. See the Note under Capillarity.
CAPILLARY
Cap"il*la*ry, n.; pl., Capillaries (.
1. A tube or vessel, extremely fine or minute.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A minute, thin-walled vessel; particularly one of the smallest
blood vessels connecting arteries and veins, but used also for the
smallest lymphatic and biliary vessels.
CAPILLATION
Cap`il*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. capillatie the hair.]
Defn: A capillary blood vessel. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CAPILLATURE
Ca*pil"la*ture, n. Etym: [L. capillatura.]
Defn: A bush of hair; frizzing of the hair. Clarke.
CAPILLIFORM
Ca*pil"li*form, a. Etym: [L. capillus hair + -form.]
Defn: In the shape or form of, a hair, or of hairs.
CAPILLOSE
Cap"il*lose`, a. Etym: [L. capillosus.]
Defn: Having much hair; hairy. [R.]
CAPISTRATE
Ca*pis"trate, a. Etym: [L. capistratus, p. p. of capistrare halter.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Hooded; cowled.
CAPITAL
Cap"i*tal, a. Etym: [F. capital, L. capitalis capital (in senses 1 &
2), fr. caput head. See Chief, and cf. Capital, n.]
1. Of or pertaining to the head. [Obs.]
Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal
pain. Milton.
2. Having reference to, or involving, the forfeiture of the head or
life; affecting life; punishable with death; as, capital trials;
capital punishment.
Many crimes that are capital among us. Swift.
To put to death a capital offender. Milton.
3. First in importance; chief; principal.
A capital article in religion Atterbury.
Whatever is capital and essential in Christianity. I. Taylor.
4. Chief, in a political sense, as being the seat of the general
government of a state or nation; as, Washington and Paris are capital
cities.
5. Of first rate quality; excellent; as, a capital speech or song.
[Colloq.]
Capital letter Etym: [F, lettre capitale] (Print.), a leading or
heading letter, used at the beginning of a sentence and as the first
letter of certain words, distinguished, for the most part, both by
different form and larger size, from the small (lower-case) letters,
which form the greater part of common print or writing.
-- Small capital letters have the form of capital letters and height
of the body of the lower-case letters.
-- Capital stock, money, property, or stock invested in any
business, or the enterprise of any corporation or institution.
Abbott.
Syn.
-- Chief; leading; controlling; prominent.
CAPITAL
Cap"i*tal, n. Etym: [Cf. L. capitellum and Capitulum, a small head,
the head, top, or capital of a column, dim. of caput head; F.
chapiteau, OF. capitel. See Chief, and cf. Cattle, Chattel, Chapiter,
Chapter.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The head or uppermost member of a column, pilaster, etc. It
consists generally of three parts, abacus, bell (or vase), and
necking. See these terms, and Column.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. capilate, fem., sc. ville.] (Geog.)
Defn: The seat of government; the chief city or town in a country; a
metropolis. "A busy and splendid capital" Macauly.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. capital.]
Defn: Money, property, or stock employed in trade, manufactures,
etc.; the sum invested or lent, as distinguished from the income or
interest. See Capital stock, under Capital, a.
4. (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: That portion of the produce of industry, which may be directly
employed either to support human beings or to assist in production.
M'Culloch.
Note: When wealth is used to assist production it is called capital.
The capital of a civilized community includes fixed capital (i.e.
buildings, machines, and roads used in the course of production and
exchange) amd circulating capital (i.e., food, fuel, money, etc.,
spent in the course of production and exchange). T. Raleing.
5. Anything which can be used to increase one's power or influence.
He tried to make capital out of his rival's discomfiture. London
Times.
6. (Fort.)
Defn: An imaginary line dividing a bastion, ravelin, or other work,
into two equal parts.
7. A chapter, or section, of a book. [Obs.]
Holy St. Bernard hath said in the 59th capital. Sir W. Scott.
8. (Print.)
Defn: See Capital letter, under Capital, a. Active capital. See under
Active, -- Small capital (Print.), a small capital letter. See under
Capital, a.
-- To live on one's capital, to consume one's capital without
producing or accumulating anything to replace it.
CAPITALIST
Cap"i*tal*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capitaliste.]
Defn: One who has capital; one who has money for investment, or money
invested; esp. a person of large property, which is employed in
business.
The expenditure of the capitalist. Burke.
CAPITALIZATION
Cap"i*tal*i*za`tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of capitalizing.
CAPITALIZE
Cap"i*tal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capitalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Capitalizing.]
1. To convert into capital, or to use as capital.
2. To compute, appraise, or assess the capital value of (a patent
right, an annuity, etc.)
3. To print in capital letters, or with an initial capital.
CAPITALLY
Cap*i*tal*ly, adv.
1. In a way involving the forfeiture of the head or life; as, to
punish capitally.
2. In a capital manner; excellently. [Colloq.]
CAPITALNESS
Cap"i*tal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being capital; preeminence. [R.]
CAPITAN PASHA; CAPITAN PACHA
Ca`pi*tan` Pa*sha` or Pa*cha`. Etym: [See capitan.]
Defn: The chief admiral of the Turkish fleet.
CAPITATE
Cap"i*tate, a Etym: [L. capitatus fr. caput head.]
1. Headlike in form; also, having the distal end enlarged and
rounded, as the stigmas of certain flowers.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the flowers gathered into a head.
CAPITATIM
Cap`i*ta"tim, a. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Of so much per head; as, a capitatim tax; a capitatim grant.
CAPITATION
Cap`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. capitatio a poll tax, fr. caput head; cf.
F. capitation.]
1. A numbering of heads or individuals. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. A tax upon each head or person, without reference to property; a
poll tax.
CAPITE
Cap"i*te, n. Etym: [L., abl. of caput head.]
Defn: See under Tenant.
CAPITELLATE
Cap`i*tel"late, a. Etym: [L. capitellum, dim. of caput head.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a very small knoblike termination, or collected into
minute capitula.
CAPITIBRANCHIATA
Cap`i*ti*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. caput, capitis,
head + -branchiae gills.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of annelids in which the gills arise from or near
the head. See Tubicola.
CAPITOL
Cap"i*tol, Etym: [L. capitolium, fr. caput head: cf. F. capitole. See
Chief.]
1. The temple of Jupiter, at Rome, on the Mona Capitolinus, where the
Senate met.
Comes Cæsar to the Capitol to-morrow Shak.
2. The edifice at Washington occupied by the Congress of the United
States; also, the building in which the legislature of State holds
its sessions; a statehouse.
CAPITOLIAN; CAPITOLINE
Cap`i*to"li*an, Cap"i*to*line, a. Etym: [L. capitolinus: cf. F.
capitolin.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Capitol in Rome. "Capitolian Jove."
Macaulay. Capitoline games (Antiq.), annual games instituted at Rome
by Camillus, in honor of Jupter Capitolinus, on account of the
preservation of the Capitol from the Gauls; when reinstituted by
Domitian, arter a period of neglect, they were held every fifth year.
CAPITULA
Ca*pit"u*la, n. pl.
Defn: See Capitulum.
CAPITULAR
Ca*pit"u*lar, n. Etym: [LL. capitulare, capitularium, fr. L.
capitulum a small head, a chapter, dim. of capit head, chapter.]
1. An act passed in a chapter.
2. A member of a chapter.
The chapter itself, and all its members or capitulars. Ayliffe.
3. The head or prominent part.
CAPITULAR
Ca*pit"u*lar, a.
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chapter; capitulary.
From the pope to the member of the capitular body. Milman.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in, or pertaining to, a capitulum.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a capitulum; as, the capitular process of a
vetebra, the process which articulates with the capitulum of a rib.
CAPITULARLY
Ca*pit"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or form of an ecclesiastical chapter. Sterne.
CAPITULARY
Ca*pit"u*la*ry, n.; pl. Capitularies. Etym: [See Capitular.]
1. A capitular.
2. The body of laws or statutes of a chapter, or of an ecclesiastical
council.
3. A collection of laws or statutes, civil and ecclesiastical, esp.
of the Frankish kings, in chapters or sections.
Several of Charlemagne's capitularies. Hallam.
CAPITULARY
Ca*pit"u*la*ry, a.
Defn: Relating to the chapter of a cathedral; capitular. "Capitulary
acts." Warton.
CAPITULATE
Ca*pit"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Capitulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Capitulating.] Etym: [LL. capitulatus, p. p. of capitulare to
capitulate: cf. F. capituler. See Capitular, n.]
1. To settle or draw up the heads or terms of an agreement, as in
chapters or articles; to agree. [Obs.]
There capitulates with the king . . . to take to wife his daughter
Mary. Heylin.
There is no reason why the reducing of any agreement to certain heads
or capitula should not be called to capitulate. Trench.
2. To surrender on terms agreed upon (usually, drawn up under several
heads); as, an army or a garrison capitulates.
The Irish, after holding out a week, capitulated. Macaulay.
CAPITULATE
Ca*pit"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To surrender or transfer, as an army or a fortress, on certain
conditions. [R.]
CAPITULATION
Ca*pit`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capitulation, LL. capitulatio.]
1. A reducing to heads or articles; a formal agreement.
With special capitulation that neither the Scots nor the French shall
refortify. Bp. Burnet.
2. The act of capitulating or surrendering to an emeny upon
stipulated terms.
3. The instrument containing the terms of an agreement or surrender.
CAPITULATOR
Ca*pit"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who capitulates.
CAPITULE
Cap"i*tule, n. Etym: [L. capitulum small head, chapter.]
Defn: A summary. [Obs.]
CAPITULUM
Ca*pit"u*lum, n.; pl. Capitula (. Etym: [L., a small head.]
1. A thick head of flowers on a very short axis, as a clover top, or
a dandelion; a composite flower. A capitulum may be either globular
or flat. Gray.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A knobike protuberance of any part, esp. at the end of a bone
or cartilage.
Note: [See Illust. of Artiodactyla.]
CAPIVI
Ca*pi"vi, n. Etym: [Cf. Copaiba.]
Defn: A balsam of the Spanish West Indies. See Copaiba.
CAPLE
Ca"ple, n.
Defn: See Capel.
CAPLIN
Cap"lin, n.
Defn: See Capelin.
CAPLIN; CAPLING
Cap"lin, Cap"ling, n.
Defn: The cap or coupling of a flail, through which the thongs pass
which connect the handle and swingel. Wright.
CAPNOMANCY
Cap"no*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. mancy: cf. F. capnomancie.]
Defn: Divination by means of the ascent or motion of smoke.
CAPNOMOR
Cap"no*mor, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A limpid, colorless oil with a peculiar odor, obtained from
beech tar. Watts.
CAPOC
Ca*poc", n. Etym: [Malay kapoq.]
Defn: A sort of cotton so short and fine thet it can not be spun,
used in the East Indies to line palanquins, to make mattresses, etc.
CAPOCH
Ca*poch", n.; pl. Capoches. Etym: [Cf. Sp. capucho, It. cappucio, F.
Capuce, capuchon, LL. caputium, fr. capa cloak. See Cap.]
Defn: A hood; especialy, the hood attached to the gown of a monk.
CAPOCH
Ca*poch", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capoched.]
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a hood; hence, to hoodwink or blind.
Hudibras.
CAPON
Ca"pon, n. Etym: [OE. capon, chapoun, AS. cap (cf. F. chapon), L.
capo, fr. Gr. skopiti to casrate. CF. Comma.]
Defn: A castrated cock, esp. when fattened; a male chicken gelded to
improve his flesh for the table. Shak.
The merry thought of a capon. W. Irving.
CAPON
Ca"pon, v. t.
Defn: To castrate; to make a capon of.
CAPONET
Ca"pon*et, n.
Defn: A young capon. [R.] Chapman.
CAPONIERE
Cap`o*niere", n. Etym: [F. caponnière, fr. Sp. caponera, orig., a
cage for fattening capons, hence, a place of refuge; cf. It.
capponiera. See Capon.] (Fort.)
Defn: A work made across or in the ditch, to protect it from the
enemy, or to serve as a covered passageway.
CAPONIZE
Ca"pon*ize, v. t.
Defn: To castrate, as a fowl.
CAPORAL
Ca`po*ral" (kä`po*räl"), n. [Sp. See Corporal, n.]
Defn: One who directs work; an overseer. [Sp. Amer.]
CAPOT
Ca*pot", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A winning of all the tricks at the game of piquet. It counts
for forty points. Hoyle.
CAPOT
Ca*pot", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Capotted.]
Defn: To win all the tricks from, in playing at piquet.
CAPO TASTO
Ca"po tas"to. [It. capotasto.] (Music)
Defn: A sort of bar or movable nut, attached to the finger board of a
guitar or other fretted instrument for the purpose of raising
uniformly the pitch of all the strings.
CAPOTE
Ca*pote", n. Etym: [Sp. capote (cf. F. capote.), fr. LL. capa cape,
cloak. See Cap.]
Defn: A long cloak or overcoat, especially one with a hood.
CAPOUCH
Ca*pouch", n. & v. t.
Defn: Same as Capoch.
CAPPADINE
Cap"pa*dine, n.
Defn: A floss or waste obtained from the cocoon after the silk has
been reeled off, used for shag.
CAPPAPER
Cap"pa`per,
Defn: See cap, n., also Paper, n.
CAPPEAK
Cap"peak`, n.
Defn: The front piece of a cap; -- now more commonly called visor.
CAPPELINE
Cap"pe*line`, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. capella. See Chapel.] (Med.)
Defn: A hood-shaped bandage for the head, the shoulder, or the stump
of an amputated limb.
CAPPELLA
Cap*pel"la, n.
Defn: See A cappella.
CAPPER
Cap"per, n.
1. One whose business is to make or sell caps.
2. A by-bidder; a decoy for gamblers [Slang, U. S.].
3. An instrument for applying a percussion cap to a gun or cartridge.
CAPPING PLANE
Cap"ping plane`. (Join.)
Defn: A plane used for working the upper surface of staircase rails.
CAPRA
Ca"pra, n. Etym: [L., a she goat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ruminants, including the common goat.
CAPRATE
Cap"rate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of capric acid.
CAPREOLATE
Cap"re*o*late, a. Etym: [L. capreolus wild goat, tendril, fr.caper
goat: cf. F. capréolé.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having a tendril or tendrils.
CAPREOLINE
Cap"re*o*line, a. Etym: [L. capreolus wild goat, fr. caper goat.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the roebuck.
CAPRI
Ca"pri, n.
Defn: Wine produced on the island of Capri, commonly a light, dry,
white wine.
CAPRIC
Cap"ric, a. Etym: [L. caper goat.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to capric acid or its derivatives. Capric
acid, C9H9.CO2H, Caprylic acid, C7H15.CO2H, and Caproic acid,
C5H11.CO2H, are fatty acids occurring in small quantities in butter,
cocoanut oil, etc., united with glycerin; they are colorless oils, or
white crystalline solids, of an unpleasant odor like that of goats or
sweat.
CAPRICCIO
Ca*pric"cio, n. Etym: [It. See Caprice.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A piece in a free form, with frequent digressions from the
theme; a fantasia; -- often called caprice.
2. A caprice; a freak; a fancy. Shak.
CAPRICE
Ca*price", n. Etym: [F. caprice, It. capriccio, caprice (perh. orig.
a fantastical goat leap), fr. L. caper, capra, goat. Cf Capriole,
Cab, Caper, v. i.]
1. An abrupt change in feeling, opinion, or action, proceeding from
some whim or fancy; a freak; a notion. "Caprices of appetite." W.
Irving.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: See Capriccio.
Syn.
-- Freak; whim; crotchet; fancy; vagary; humor; whimsey; fickleness.
CAPRICIOSO; CAPRICCIOSO
Ca*pri*cio"so, Ca*pric*cio"so, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus)
Defn: In a free, fantastic style.
CAPRICIOUS
Ca*pri"cious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. capricleux, It. capriccioso.]
Defn: Governed or characterized by caprice; apt to change suddenly;
freakish; whimsical; changeable. "Capricious poet." Shak. "Capricious
humor." Hugh Miller.
A capricious partiality to the Romish practices. Hallam.
Syn.
-- Freakish; whimsical; fanciful; fickle; crotchety; fitful;
wayward; changeable; unsteady; uncertain; inconstant; arbitrary.
-- Ca*pri"cious*ly, adv.
-- Ca*pri"cious*ness, n.
CAPRICORN
Cap"ri*corn, n. Etym: [L. capricornus; caper goat + cornu horn: cf.
F. capricorne.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: The tenth sign of zodiac, into which the sun enters at the
winter solstice, about December 21. See Tropic.
The sun was entered into Capricorn. Dryden.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A southern constellation, represented on ancient monuments by
the figure of a goat, or a figure with its fore part like a fish.
Capricorn beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle of the family Carambucidæ; one
of the long-horned beetles. The larvæ usually bore into the wood or
bark of trees and shurbs and are often destructive. See Girdler,
Pruner.
CAPRID
Cap"rid, a. Etym: [L. caper, capra, goat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the tribe of ruminants of which the goat,
or genus Capra, is the type.
CAPRIFICATION
Cap"ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. caprificatio, fr. caprificare to
ripen figs by caprification, fr. caprificus the wild fig; caper goat
+ ficus fig.]
Defn: The practice of hanging, upon the cultivated fig tree, branches
of the wild fig infested with minute hymenopterous insects.
Note: It is supposed that the little insects insure fertilization by
carrying the pollen from the male flowers near the opening of the fig
down to the female flowers, and also accelerate ripening the fruit by
puncturing it. The practice has existed since ancient times, but its
benefit has been disputed.
CAPRIFOLE
Cap"ri*fole, n. Etym: [L. caper goat + folium leaf.]
Defn: The woodbine or honeysuckle. Spenser.
CAPRIFOLIACEOUS
Cap"ri*fo`li*a`ceous, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the Honeysuckle family of
plants (Caprifoliacæ.
CAPRIFORM
Cap"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. caper goat + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a goat.
CAPRIGENOUS
Ca*prig"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. caprigenus; caper goat + gegnere to
produce.]
Defn: Of the goat kind.
CAPRINE
Cap"rine, a. Etym: [L. caprinus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a goat; as, caprine gambols.
CAPRIOLE
Cap"ri*ole, n. Etym: [F. capriole, cabriole, It. capriola, fr. L.
caper goat. Cf. Caper, v. i. Cabriole, Caprice, Cheveril.]
1. (Man.)
Defn: A leap that a horse makes with all fours, upwards only, without
advancing, but with a kick or jerk of the hind legs when at the
height of the leap.
2. A leap or caper, as in dancing. "With lofty turns and caprioles."
Sir J. Davies.
CAPRIOLE
Cap"ri*ole, v. i.
Defn: To perform a capriole. Carlyle.
CAPRIPED
Cap"ri*ped, a. Etym: [L. capripers; caper goat + pes pedis, foot.]
Defn: Having feet like those of a goat.
CAPROATE
Cap"ro*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of caproic acid.
CAPROIC
Ca*pro"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: See under Capric.
CAPRYLATE
Cap"ry*late, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of caprylic acid.
CAPRYLIC
Ca*pryl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: See under Capric.
CAPSAICIN
Cap*sa"i*cin, n. Etym: [From Capsicum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless crystalline substance extracted from the Capsicum
annuum, and giving off vapors of intense acridity.
CAPSHEAF
Cap"sheaf`, n.
Defn: The top sheaf of a stack of grain: (fig.) the crowning or
finishing part of a thing.
CAPSICIN
Cap"si*cin, n. Etym: [From Capsicum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red liquid or soft resin extracted from various species of
capsicum.
CAPSICINE
Cap"si*cine, n. Etym: [From Capsicum.] (Chem.)
Defn: A valatile alkaloid extracted from Capsicum annuum or from
capsicin.
CAPSICUM
Cap"si*cum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. capsa box, chest.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of many species, producing capsules or dry
berries of various forms, which have an exceedingly pungent, biting
taste, and when ground form the red of Cayenne pepper of commerce.
Note: The most important species are Capsicum baccatum or birs
pepper. C, annuum or chili pepper, C. frutesens or spur pepper, and
C. annuum or Guinea pepeer, which includes the bell pepper and other
common garden varieties. The fruit is much used, both in its green
and ripe state, in pickles and in cookery. See Cayenne pepper.
CAPSIZE
Cap*size", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Capsized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Capsizing.] Etym: [Cf. Sp. cabecear to nod, pitch, capuzar, chapuzar,
to sink (a vessel) by the head; both fr. L. caput head.]
Defn: To upset or overturn, as a vessel or other body.
But what if carrying sail capsize the boat Byron.
CAPSIZE
Cap"size`, n.
Defn: An upset or overturn.
CAPSQUARE
Cap"*square, n. (Gun.)
Defn: A metal covering plate which passes over the trunnions of a
cannon, and holds it in place.
CAPSTAN
Cap"stan, n. Etym: [F. cabestan, fr. Sp. cabestrante, cabrestante,
fr. cabestrar to bind with a halter, fr. cabestrohalter, fr. L.
capistrum halter, fr. capere to hold (see Capacious); or perh. the
Spanish is fr. L. caper goat + stans, p. pr. of stare to stand; cf.
F. chèvre she-goat, also a machine for raising heavy weights.]
Defn: A vertical cleated drum or cylinder, revolving on an upright
spindle, and surmounted by a drumhead with sockets for bars or
levers. It is much used, especially on shipboard, for moving or
raising heavy weights or exerting great power by traction upon a rope
or cable, passing around the drum. It is operated either by steam
power or by a number of men walking around the capstan, each pushing
on the end of a lever fixed in its socket. [Sometimes spelt Capstern,
but improperly.] Capstan bar, one of the long bars or levers by which
the capstan is worked; a handspike..
-- To pawl the capstan, to drop the pawls so that they will catch in
the notches of the pawl ring, and prevent the capstan from turning
back.
-- To rig the capstan, to prepare the for use, by putting the bars
in the sockets.
-- To surge the capstan, to slack the tension of the rope or cable
wound around it.
CAPSTONE
Cap"stone`, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil echinus of the genus Cannulus; -- so called from its
supposed resemblance to a cap.
CAPSULAR; CAPSULARY
Cap"su*lar, Cap"su*la*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. capsulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a capsule; having the nature of a capsula;
hollow and fibrous. Capsular ligament (Anat.), a ligamentous bag or
capsule surrounding many movable joints in the skeleton.
CAPSULATE; CAPSULATED
Cap"su*late, Cap"su*la`ted, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a capsule, or as in a chest or box.
CAPSULE
Cap"sule, n. Etym: [L. capsula a little box or chest, fr. capsa
chest, case, fr. capere to take, contain: cf. F. capsule.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: a dry fruit or pod which is made up of several parts or
carpels, and opens to discharge the seeds, as, the capsule of the
poppy, the flax, the lily, etc.
2. (Chem.)
(a) A small saucer of clay for roasting or melting samples of ores,
etc.; a scorifier.
(b) a small, shallow, evaporating dish, usually of porcelain.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A small cylindrical or spherical gelatinous envelope in which
nauseous or acrid doses are inclosed to be swallowed.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: A membranous sac containing fluid, or investing an organ or
joint; as, the capsule of the lens of the eye. Also, a capsulelike
organ.
5. A metallic seal or cover for closing a bottle,
6. A small cup or shell, as of metal, for a percussion cap,
cartridge, etc. Atrabiliary capsule. See under Atrabiliary.
-- Glisson's capsule, a membranous envelope, entering the liver
along with the portal vessels and insheathing the latter in their
course through the organ.
-- Suprarenal capsule, an organ of unknown function, above or in
front of each kidney.
CAPSULITIS
Cap`su*li"tis, n. [NL.; E. capsule + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of a capsule, as that of the crystalline lens.
CAPSULOTOMY
Cap`su*lot"o*my, n. [Capsule + Gr. to cut.] (Surg.)
Defn: The incision of a capsule, esp. of that of the crystalline
lens, as in a cataract operation.
CAPTAIN
Cap"tain, n. Etym: [OE. capitain, captain, OF. capitain, F. capitaine
(cf. Sp. capitan, It. capitano), LL. capitaneus, capitanus, fr. L.
caput the head. See under Chief, and cf. Chieftain.]
1. A head, or chief officer; as:
(a) The military officer who commands a company, troop, or battery,
or who has the rank entitling him to do so though he may be employed
on other service.
(b) An officer in the United States navy, next above a commander and
below a commodore, and ranking with a colonel in the ermy.
(c) By courtesy, an officer actually commanding a vessel, although
not having the rank of captain.
(d) The master or commanding officer of a merchant vessel.
(e) One in charge of a portion of a ship's company; as, a captain of
a top, captain of a gun, etc.
(f) The foreman of a body of workmen.
(g) A person having authority over others acting in concert; as, the
captain of a boat's crew; the captain of a football team.
A trainband captain eke was he. Cowper.
The Rhodian captain, relying on . . . the lightness of his vessel,
passed, in open day, through all the guards. Arbuthnot.
2. A military leader; a warrior.
Foremost captain of his time. Tennyson.
Captain general. (a) The commander in chief of an army or armies, or
of the militia. (b) The Spanish governor of Cuba and its dependent
islands.
-- Captain lieutenant, a lieutenant with the rank and duties of
captain but with a lieutenant's pay, -- as in the first company of an
English regiment.
CAPTAIN
Cap"tain, v. t.
Defn: To act as captain of; to lead. [R.]
Men who captained or accompanied the exodus from existing forms.
Lowell.
CAPTAIN
Cap"tain, a.
Defn: Chief; superior. [R.]
captain jewes in the carcanet. Shak.
CAPTAINCY
Cap"tain*cy, n.; pl. Captaincies (.
Defn: The rank, post, or commission of a captain. Washington.
Captaincy general, the office, power, teritory, or jurisdiction of a
captain general; as, the captaincy general of La Habana (Cuba and its
islands).
CAPTAINRY
Cap"tain*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. capitainerie.]
Defn: Power, or command, over a certain district; chieftainship.
[Obs.]
CAPTAINSHIP
Cap"tain*ship, n.
1. The condition, rank, post, or authority of a captain or chief
commander. "To take the captainship." Shak.
2. Military skill; as, to show good captainship.
CAPTATION
Cap*ta`tion, n. Etym: [L. captatio, fr. captare to catch, intens of
caper to take: cf. F. captation.]
Defn: A courting of favor or applause, by flattery or address; a
captivating quality; an attraction. [Obs.]
Without any of those dresses, or popular captations, which some men
use in their speeches. Eikon Basilike.
CAPTION
Cap"tion, n. Etym: [L. captio, fr. caper to take. In senses 3 and 4,
perhaps confounded in meaning with L. caput a head. See Capacious.]
1. A caviling; a sophism. [Obs.]
This doctrine is for caption and contradiction. Bacon.
2. The act of taking or arresting a person by judicial process. [R.]
Bouvier.
3. (Law)
Defn: That part of a legal instrument, as a commission, indictment,
etc., which shows where, when, and by what authority, it taken,
found, or executed. Bouvier. Wharton.
4. The heading of a chapter, section, or page. [U. S.]
CAPTIOUS
Cap"tious, a. Etym: [F. captieux, L. captiosus. See Caption.]
1. Art to catch at faults; disposed to find fault or to cavil; eager
to object; difficult to please.
A captius and suspicious. Stillingfleet.
I am sensible I have not disposed my materials to adbide the test of
a captious controversy. Bwike.
2. Fitted to harass, perplex, or insnare; insidious; troublesome.
Captious restraints on navigation. Bancroft.
Syn.
-- Caviling, carping, fault-finding; censorious; hypercritical;
peevish, fretful; perverse; troublesome.
-- Captious, caviling, Carping. A captious person is one who has a
fault-finding habit or manner, or is disposed to catch at faults,
errors, etc., with quarrelsome intent; a caviling person is disposed
to raise objections on frivolous grounds; carping implies that one is
given to ill-natured, persistent, or unreasonable fault-finding, or
picking up of the words or actions of others.
Caviling is the carping of argument, carping the caviling of ill
temper. C. J. Smith.
CAPTIOUSLY
Cap"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a captious manner.
CAPTIOUSNESS
Cap"tious*ness, n.
Defn: Captious disposition or manner.
CAPTIVATE
Cap"ti*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Captivated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Captivating.] Etym: [L. captivatus, p. p. of captivare to capture,
fr. captivus captive. See Captive.]
1. To take prisoner; to capture; to subdue. [Obs.]
Their woes whom fortune captivates. Shak.
2. To acquire ascendancy over by reason of some art or attraction; to
fascinate; to charm; as, Cleopatra captivated Antony; the orator
captivated all hearts.
Small landscapes of captivating loveliness. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- To enslave; subdue; overpower; charm; enchant; bewitch; facinate;
capture; lead captive.
CAPTIVATE
Cap"ti*vate, p. a. Etym: [L. captivatus.]
Defn: Taken prisoner; made captive; insnared; charmed.
Women have been captivate ere now. Shak.
CAPTIVATING
Cap"ti*va`ting, a.
Defn: Having power to captivate or cham; fascinating; as, captivating
smiles.
-- Cap"tiva`ting*ly, adv.
CAPTIVATION
Cap"ti*va`tion, n. Etym: [L. capticatio.]
Defn: The act of captivating. [R.]
The captivation of our understanding. Bp. Hall.
CAPTIVE
Cap"tive, n. Etym: [L. captivus, fr. capere to take: cf. F. captif.
See Caitiff.]
1. A prisoner taken by force or stratagem, esp., by an enemy, in war;
one kept in bondage or in the power of another.
Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains. Milton.
2. One charmed or subdued by beaty, excellence, or affection; one who
is captivated.
CAPTIVE
Cap"tive, a.
1. Made prisoner, especially in war; held in bondage or in
confinement.
A poor, miserable, captive thrall. Milton.
2. Subdued by love; charmed; captivated.
Even in so short a space, my wonan's heart Grossly grew captive to
his honey words. Shak.
3. Of or pertaining to bondage or confinement; serving to confine;
as, captive chains; captive hours.
CAPTIVE
Cap"tive, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Captived; p. pr. & vb. n. Captiving.]
Defn: To take prisoner; to capture.
Their inhabitans slaughtered and captived. Burke.
CAPTIVITY
Cap*tiv"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. captivitas: cf. F. captivité.]
1. The state of being a captive or a prisoner.
More celebrated in his captivity that in his greatest triumphs.
Dryden.
2. A state of being under control; subjection of the will or
affections; bondage.
Sink in the soft captivity together. Addison.
Syn.
-- Imprisonment; confinement; bondage; subjection; servitude;
slavery; thralldom; serfdom.
CAPTOR
Cap"tor, n. Etym: [L., a cather (of animals), fr. caper to take.]
Defn: One who captures any person or thing, as a prisoner or a prize.
CAPTURE
Cap"ture, n. Etym: [L. capture, fr. caper to take: cf. F. capture.
See Caitiff, and cf. aptive.]
1. The act of seizing by force, or getting possession of by superior
power or by stratagem; as, the capture of an enemy, a vessel, or a
criminal.
Even with regard to captures made at sea. Bluckstone.
2. The securing of an object of strife or desire, as by the power of
some attraction.
3. The thing taken by force, surprise, or stratagem; a prize; prey.
Syn.
-- Seizure; apprehension; arrest; detention.
CAPTURE
Cap"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Captured; p. pr. & vb. n. Capturing.]
Defn: To seize or take possession of by force, surprise, or
stratagem; to overcome and hold; to secure by effort.
Her heart is like some fortress that has been captured. W. Ivring.
CAPUCCIO
Ca*puc"cio, n. Etym: [It. cappucio. See Capoch.]
Defn: A capoch or hood. [Obs.] Spenser.
CAPUCHED
Ca*puched", a. Etym: [See Capoch.]
Defn: Cover with, or as with, a hood. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CAPUCHIN
Cap`u*chin", n. Etym: [F. capucin a monk who wears a cowl, fr. It.
cappuccio hood. See Capoch.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: A Franciscan monk of the austere branch established in 1526 by
Matteo di Baschi, distinguished by wearing the long pointed cowl or
capoch of St. Francis.
A bare-footed and long-bearded capuchin. Sir W. Scott.
2. A garment for women, consisting of a cloak and hood, resembling,
or supposed to resemble, that of capuchin monks.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) A long-tailed South American monkey (Cabus capucinus), having the
forehead naked and wrinkled, with the hair on the crown reflexed and
resembling a monk's cowl, the rest being of a grayish white; --
called also capucine monkey, weeper, sajou, sapajou, and sai.
(b) Other species of Cabus, as C. fatuellus (the brown or horned
capucine.), C. albifrons (the cararara), and C. apella.
(c) A variety of the domestic pigeon having a hoodlike tuft of
feathers on the head and sides of the neck. Capuchin nun, one of an
austere order of Franciscan nuns which came under Capuchin rule in
1538. The order had recently been founded by Maria Longa.
CAPUCINE
Cap"u*cine, n.
Defn: See Capuchin, 3.
CAPULET
Cap"u*let, n. (Far.)
Defn: Same as Capellet.
CAPULIN
Cap"u*lin, n. Etym: [Sp. capuli.]
Defn: The Mexican chery (Prunus Capollin).
CAPUT
Ca"put, n.; pl. Capita. Etym: [L., the head.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The head; also, a knoblike protuberance or capitulum.
2. The top or superior part of a thing.
3. (Eng.)
Defn: The council or ruling body of the University of Cambridge prior
to the constitution of 1856.
Your caputs and heads of colleges. Lamb.
Caput mortuum (. Etym: [L., dead head.] (Old Chem.) The residuum
after distillation or sublimation; hence, worthless residue.
CAPYBARA
Ca`py*ba"ra, n. Etym: [Sp. capibara, fr. the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large South American rodent (Hydrochærus capybara) Living on
the margins of lakes and rivers. It is the largest extant rodent,
being about three feet long, and half that in height. It somewhat
resembles the Guinea pig, to which it is related; -- called also
cabiai and water hog.
CAR
Car, n. Etym: [OF. car, char, F. cahr, fr. L. carrus, Wagon: a Celtic
word; cf. W. car, Armor. karr, Ir. & Gael. carr. cf. Chariot.]
1. A small vehicle moved on wheels; usually, one having but two
wheels and drawn by one horse; a cart.
2. A vehicle adapted to the rails of a railroad. [U. S.]
Note: In England a railroad passenger car is called a railway
carriage; a freight car a goods wagon; a platform car a goods truck;
a baggage car a van. But styles of car introduced into England from
America are called cars; as, tram car. Pullman car. See Train.
3. A chariot of war or of triumph; a vehicle of splendor, dignity, or
solemnity. [Poetic].
The gilded car of day. Milton.
The towering car, the sable steeds. Tennyson.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: The stars also called Charles's Wain, the Great Bear, or the
Dipper.
The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car. Dryden.
5. The cage of a lift or elevator.
6. The basket, box, or cage suspended from a ballon to contain
passengers, ballast, etc.
7. A floating perforated box for living fish. [U. S.] Car coupling,
or Car coupler, a shackle or other device for connecting the cars in
a railway train. [U. S.] -- Dummy car (Railroad), a car containing
its own steam power or locomotive.
-- Freight car (Railrood), a car for the transportation of
merchandise or other goods. [U. S.] -- Hand car (Railroad), a small
car propelled by hand, used by railroad laborers, etc. [U. S.] --
Horse car, or Street car, an ommibus car, draw by horses or other
power upon rails laid in the streets. [U. S.] -- Palace car, Drawing-
room car, Sleeping car, Parior caretc. , (Railroad), cars especially
designed and furnished for the comfort of travelers.
CARABAO
Ca`ra*ba"o, n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The water buffalo. [Phil. Islands]
CARABID
Car"a*bid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the genus Carbus or family
Carabidæ.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Carabidæ, a family of active insectivorous beetles.
CARABINE
Car"a*bine, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A carbine.
CARABINEER
Car`a*bi*neer", n.
Defn: A carbineer.
CARABOID
Car"a*boid, a. Etym: [Carabus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to the genus Carabus.
CARABUS
Car"a*bus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ground beetles, including numerous species. They
devour many injurious insects.
CARAC
Car"ac, n.
Defn: See Carack.
CARACAL
Car"a*cal, n. Etym: [F. caracal, fr. Turk garahgootag; garah black +
goofag ear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lynx (Felis, or Lynx, caracal.) It is a native of Africa and
Asia. Its ears are black externally, and tipped with long black
hairs.
CARACARA
Ca"`ra*ca"ra, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A south American bird of several species and genera, resembling
both the eagles and the vultures. The caracaras act as scavengers,
and are also called carrion buzzards.
Note: The black caracara is Ibycter ater; the chimango is Milvago
chimango; the Brazilian is Polyborus Braziliensis.
CARACK
Car"ack, n. Etym: [F. caraque (cf. Sp. & Pg. carraca, It. caracca.),
LL. carraca, fr. L. carrus wagon; or perh. fr. Ar. qorqur (pl.
qaraqir) a carack.] (Naut.)
Defn: A kind of large ship formerly used by the Spaniards and
Portuguese in the East India trade; a galleon. [Spelt also carrack.]
The bigger whale like some huge carrack law. Waller.
CARACOLE
Car"a*cole, n. Etym: [F. caracole, caracol, fr. Sp. caracol snail,
winding staircase, a wheeling about.]
1. (Man.)
Defn: A half turn which a horseman makes, either to the right or the
left.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A staircase in a spiral form. En caracole ( Etym: [F.], spiral;
-- said of a staircase.
CARACOLE
Car"a*cole, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caracoled.] Etym: [Cf. F. caracoler.]
(Man.)
Defn: To move in a caracole, or in caracoles; to wheel.
Prince John caracoled within the lists. Sir W. Scott.
CARACOLY
Car"a*col`y, n.
Defn: An alloy of gold, silver, and copper, of which an inferior
quality of jewerly is made.
CARACORE; CARACORA
Car"a*core, Car"a*co`ra, n. Etym: [Malay kurakura.]
Defn: A light vessel or proa used by the people of Borneo, etc., and
by the Dutch in the East Indies.
CARACUL
Ca`ra*cul", n.
Defn: Var. of Karakul, a kind of fur.
CARAFE
Ca*rafe", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A glass water bottle for the table or toilet; -- called also
croft.
CARAGEEN; CARAGHEEN
Car"a*geen` or Car"a*gheen`, n.
Defn: See Carrageen.
CARAMBOLA
Ca`ram*bo"la, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An East Indian tree (Averrhoa Carambola), and its acid, juicy
fruit; called also Coromandel gooseberry.
CARAMEL
Car"a*mel, n. Etym: [F. caramel (cf. Sp. caramelo), LL. canna mellis,
cannamella, canamella, calamellus mellitus, sugar cane, from or
confused with L. canna reed + mel, mellis, honey. See Cane.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: Burnt sugar; a brown or black porous substance obtained by
heating sugar. It is soluble in water, and is used for coloring
spirits, gravies, etc.
2. A kind of confectionery, usually a small cube or square of
tenacious paste, or candy, of varying composition and flavor.
CARANGOID
Ca*ran"goid, a. Etym: [Caranx + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Carangidæ, a family of fishes allied to the
mackerels, and including the caranx, American bluefish, and the pilot
fish.
CARANX
Ca"ranx, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, common on the Atlantic coast, including the
yellow or goldon mackerel.
CARAPACE
Car"a*pace, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The thick shell or sheild which cover the back of the tortoise,
or turtle, the crab, and other crustaceous animals.
CARAPATO
Ca`ra*pa"to, n. Etym: [Pg. carrapato.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A south American tick of the genus Amblyamma. There are several
species, very troublesome to man and beast.
CARAPAX
Car"a*pax, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Carapace.
CARAT
Car"at, n. Etym: [F. carat (cf. It. carato, OPg. quirate, Pg. & Sp.
quilate), Ar. q bean or pea shell, a weight of four grins, a carat,
fr. Gr. Horn.]
1. The weight by which precious stones and pearls are weighed.
Note: The carat equals three and one fifth grains Troy, and is
divided into four grains, sometimes called carat grains. Diamonds and
other precious stones are estimated by carats and fractions of
carats, and pearls, usually, by carat grains. Titfany.
2. A twenty-fourth part; -- a term used in estimating the
proportionate fineness of gold.
Note: A mass of metal is said to be so many carats fine, according to
the number of twenty-fourths of pure gold which it contains; as, 22
carats fine (goldsmith's standard) = 22 parts of gold, 1 of copper,
and 1 of silver.
CARAVAN
Car"a*van, n. Etym: [F. caravane (cf. Sp. caravana), fr. Per. karmwan
a caravan (in sense 1). Cf. Van a wagon.]
1. A company of travelers, pilgrims, or merchants, organized and
equipped for a long journey, or marching or traveling together, esp.
through deserts and countries infested by robbers or hostile tribes,
as in Asia or Africa.
2. A large, covered wagon, or a train of such wagons, for conveying
wild beasts, etc., for exhibition; an itinerant show, as of wild
beasts.
3. A covered vehicle for carrying passengers or for moving furniture,
etc.; -- sometimes shorted into van.
CARAVANEER
Car`a*van*eer", n. Etym: [Cf. F. caravanier.]
Defn: The leader or driver of the camels in caravan.
CARAVANSARY
Car`a*van"sa*ry, n.; pl. Caravansaries Etym: [F. caravansérai, fr.
Per. karwansara\'8b; karwan caravan + -sara\'8b palace, large house,
inn.]
Defn: A kind of inn, in the East, where caravans rest at night, being
a large, rude, unfurnished building, surrounding a court. [Written
also caravanserai and caravansera.]
CARAVEL
Car"a*vel, n. Etym: [F. caravelle (cf. It. caravella, Sp. carabela),
fr. Sp. caraba a kind of vessel, fr. L. carabus a kind of light boat,
fr. Gr. [written also caravel and caravelle.] (Naut.)
Defn: A name given to several kinds of vessels.
(a) The caravel of the 16th century was a small vessel with broad
bows, high, narrow poop, four masts, and lateen sails. Columbus
commanded three caravels on his great voyage.
(b) A Portuguese vessel of 100 or 150 tons burden.
(c) A small fishing boat used on the French coast.
(d) A Turkish man-of-war.
CARAWAY
Car"a*way, n. Etym: [F. carvi (cf. Sp. carvi and al-caravea, al-
carahueya, Pg. al-caravia) fr. Ar. karawi\'befr. Gr. caraum.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A biennial plant of the Parsley family (Carum Carui). The seeds
have an aromatic smell, and a warm, pungent taste. They are used in
cookery and confectionery, and also in medicine as a carminative.
2. A cake or sweetmeat containing caraway seeds.
Caraways, or biscuits, or some other [comfits]. Cogan.
CARBAMIC
Car*bam"ic, a. Etym: [Carbon + amido.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to an acid so called. Carbamic acid (Chem.), an
amido acid, NH2.CO2H, not existing in the free state, but occurring
as a salt of ammonium in commercial ammonium carbonate; -- called
also amido formic acid.
CARBAMIDE
Car*bam"ide, n. Etym: [Carbonyl + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: The technical name for urea.
CARBAMINE
Car*bam"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An isocyanide of a hydrocarbon radical. The carbamines are
liquids, usually colorless, and of unendurable odor.
CARBANIL
Car"ba*nil, n. Etym: [Carbonyl + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: A mobile liquid, CO.N.C6H5, of pungent odor. It is the phenyl
salt of isocyanic acid.
CARBAZOL
Car"ba*zol, n. Etym: [Carbon + azo + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystallized substance, C12H8NH, derived from aniline
and other amines.
CARBAZOTATE
Car*baz"o*tate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of carbazotic or picric acid; a picrate.
CARBAZOTIC
Car`ba*zot"ic, a. Etym: [Carbon + azole.]
Defn: Containing, or derived from, carbon and nitrogen. Carbazotic
acid (Chem.), picric acid. See under Picric.
CARBIDE
Car"bide, n. Etym: [Carbon + -ide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of carbon with some other element or radical,
in which the carbon plays the part of a negative; -- formerly termed
carburet.
CARBIMIDE
Car"bi*mide, n. Etym: [Carbon + imide] (Chem.)
Defn: The technical name for isocyanic acid. See under Isocyanic.
CARBINE
Car"bine, n. Etym: [F. carbine, OF. calabrin carabineer (cf. Ot.
calabrina a policeman), fr. OF & Pr. calabre, OF. cable, chable, an
engine of war used in besieging, fr. LL. chadabula, cabulus, a kind
of projectile machine, fr. Gr. Parable.] (Mil.)
Defn: A short, light musket or rifle, esp. one used by mounted
soldiers or cavalry.
CARBINEER
Car`bi*neer", n. Etym: [F. carabinier.] (Mil.)
Defn: A soldier armed with a carbine.
CARBINOL
Car"bi*nol, n. Etym: [Carbin (Kolbe's name for the radical) + -ol.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Methyl alcohol, CH3OH; -- also, by extension, any one in the
homologous series of paraffine alcohols of which methyl alcohol is
the type.
CARBOHYDRATE
Car`bo*hy"drate, n. Etym: [Carbon + hydrate.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: One of a group of compounds including the sugars, starches, and
gums, which contain six (or some multiple of six) carbon atoms,
united with a variable number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, but with
the two latter always in proportion as to form water; as dextrose,
C6H12O6.
CARBOHYDRIDE
Car`bo*hy"dride, n. Etym: [Carbon + hydrogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon.
CARBOLIC
Car*bol"ic, a. Etym: [L. carbo coal + oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or designating, an acid derived from coal tar
and other sources; as, carbolic acid (called also phenic acid, and
phenol). See Phenol.
CARBOLIZE
Car"bo*lize, v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To apply carbonic acid to; to wash or treat with carbolic acid.
CARBON
Car"bon, n. Etym: [F. carbone, fr. L. carbo coal; cf, Skr. (Chem.)
Defn: An elementary substance, not metallic in its nature, which is
present in all organic compounds. Atomic weight 11.97. Symbol C. it
is combustible, and forms the base of lampblack and charcoal, and
enters largely into mineral coals. In its pure crystallized state it
constitutes the diamond, the hardest of known substances, occuring in
monometric crystals like the octahedron, etc. Another modification is
graphite, or blacklead, and in this it is soft, and occurs in
hexagonal prisms or tables. When united with oxygen it forms carbon
dioxide, commonly called carbonic acid, or carbonic oxide, according
to the proportions of the oxygen; when united with hydrogen, it forms
various compounds called hydrocarbons. Compare Diamond, and Graphite.
Carbon compounds, Compounds of carbon (Chem.), those compounds
consisting largely of carbon, commonly produced by animals and
plants, and hence called organic compounds, though their synthesis
may be effected in many cases in the laboratory.
The formation of the compounds of carbon is not dependent upon the
life process. I. Remsen
-Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide. (Chem.) See under Carbonic.
-- Carbon light (Elec.), an extremely brilliant electric light
produced by passing a galvanic current through two carbon points kept
constantly with their apexes neary in contact.
-- Carbon point (Elec.), a small cylinder or bit of gas carbon moved
forward by clockwork so that, as it is burned away by the electric
current, it shall contantly maintain its proper relation to the
opposing point.
-- Carbon tissue, paper coated with gelatine and pigment, used in
the autotype process of photography. Abney.
-- Gas carbon, a compact variety of carbon obtained as an
incrustation on the interior of gas retorts, and used for the
manufacture of the carbon rods of pencils for the voltaic, arc, and
for the plates of voltaic batteries, etc.
CARBONACEOUS
Car"bo*na`ceous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, containing, or composed of, carbon.
CARBONADE; CARBONADO
Car"bo*nade, Car`bo*na"do, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carbonnade, It.
carbonata, Sp. carbonada, from L. carbo coal.] (Cookery)
Defn: Flesh, fowl, etc., cut across, seasoned, and broiled on coals;
a chop. [Obs.]
CARBONADO; CARBONADE
Car`bo*na"do, Car"bo*nade, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carbonadoed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Carbonadoing.]
1. To cut (meat) across for frying or broiling; to cut or slice and
broil. [Obs.]
A short-legged hen daintily carbonadoed. Bean. & Fl.
2. To cut or hack, as in fighting. [Obs.]
I'll so carbonado your shanks. Shak.
CARBONADO
Car`bo*na"do, n.; pl. Carbonadoes. Etym: [Pg., carbonated.] (Min.)
Defn: A black variety of diamond, found in Brazil, and used for
diamond drills. It occurs in irregular or rounded fragments, rarely
distinctly crystallized, with a texture varying from compact to
porous.
CARBONARISM
Car`bo*na"rism, n.
Defn: The principles, practices, or organization of the Carbonari.
CARBONARO
Car`bo*na"ro, n.; pl. Carbonari. Etym: [It., a coal man.]
Defn: A member of a secret political association in Italy, organized
in the early part of the nineteenth centry for the purpose of
changing the government into a republic.
Note: The origin of the Carbonari is uncertain, but the society is
said to have first met, in 1808, among the charcoal burners of the
mountains, whose phraseology they adopted.
CARBONATATION
Car`bon*a*ta"tion, n. Etym: [From Carbonate.] (Sugar Making)
Defn: The saturation of defecated beet juice with carbonic acid gas.
Knight.
CARBONATE
Car"bon*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carbonate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt or carbonic acid, as in limestone, some forms of lead
ore, etc.
CARBONATED
Car"bon*a`ted, a.
Defn: Combined or impregnated with carbonic acid.
CARBONE
Car"bone, v. t. Etym: [See Carbonado.]
Defn: To broil. [Obs.] "We had a calf's head carboned". Pepys.
CARBONIC
Car*bon"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. carbonique. See Carbon.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or obtained from, carbon; as, carbonic
oxide. Carbonic acid (Chem.), an acid H2CO3, not existing separately,
which, combined with positive or basic atoms or radicals, forms
carbonates. On common language the term is very generally applied to
a compound of carbon and oxygen, CO2, more correctly called carbon
dioxide. It is a colorless, heavy, irrespirable gas, extinguishing
flame, and when breathed destroys life. It can be reduced to a liquid
and solid form by intense pressure. It is produced in the
fermentation of liquors, and by the combustion and decomposition of
organic substances, or other substances containing carbon. It is
formed in the explosion of fire damp in mines, and is hance called
after damp; it is also know as choke damp, and mephilic air. Water
will absorb its own volume of it, and more than this under pressure,
and in this state becomes the common soda water of the shops, and the
carbonated water of natural springs. Combined with lime it
constitutes limestone, or common marble and chalk. Plants imbibe it
for their nutrition and growth, the carbon being retained and the
oxygen given out.
-- Carbonic oxide (Chem.), a colorless gas, CO, of a light odor,
called more correctly carbon monoxide. It is almost the only
definitely known compound in which carbon seems to be divalent. It is
a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon, and is an abundant
constituent of water gas. It is fatal to animal life, extinguishes
combustion, and burns with a pale blue flame, forming carbon dioxide.
CARBONIDE
Car"bon*ide, n.
Defn: A carbide. [R.]
CARBONIFEROUS
Car`bon*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Carbon + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing or containing carbon or coal. Carboniferous age
(Geol.), the age immediately following the Devonian, or Age of
fishes, and characterized by the vegatation which formed the coal
beds. This age embraces three periods, the Subcarboniferous, the
Carboniferous, and Permian. See Age of acrogens, under Acrogen.
-- Carboniferous formation (Geol.), the series of rocks (including
sandstones, shales, limestones, and conglomerates, with beds of coal)
which make up the strata of the Carboniferous age or period. See the
Diagram under Geology.
CARBONITE
Car"bon*ite, n. [Carbon + -ite.]
1.
Defn: An explosive consisting essentially of nitroglycerin, wood
meal, and some nitrate, as that of sodium.
2. An explosive composed of nitrobenzene, saltpeter, sulphur, and
kieselguhr.
CARBONIZATION
Car`bon*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carbonisation.]
Defn: The act or process of carbonizing.
CARBONIZE
Car"bon*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carbonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Carbonizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. carboniser.]
1. To cover (an animal or vegatable substance) into a residue of
carbon by the action of fire or some corrosive agent; to char.
2. To impregnate or combine with carbon, as in making steel by
cementation.
CARBONOMETER
Car`bon*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Carbon + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for detecting and measuring the amount of carbon
which is present, or more esp. the amount of carbon dioxide, by its
action on limewater or by other means.
CARBON PROCESS
Car"bon process. (Photog.)
Defn: A printing process depending on the effect of light on
bichromatized gelatin. Paper coated with a mixture of the gelatin and
a pigment is called carbon paper or carbon tissue. This is exposed
under a negative and the film is transferred from the paper to some
other support and developed by washing (the unexposed portions being
dissolved away). If the process stops here it is called single
transfer; if the image is afterward transferred in order to give an
unreversed print, the method is called double transfer.
CARBON STEEL
Carbon steel.
Defn: Steel deriving its qualities from carbon chiefly, without the
presence of other alloying elements; --opposed to alloy steel.
CARBON TRANSMITTER
Carbon transmitter.
Defn: A telephone transmitter in which a carbon contact is used.
CARBONYL
Car"bon*yl, n. Etym: [Carbon + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The radical (CO)'\'b7, occuring, always combined, in many
compounds, as the aldehydes, the ketones, urea, carbonyl chloride,
etc.
Note: Though denoted by a formula identical with that of carbon
monoxide, it is chemically distinct, as carbon seems to be divalent
in carbon monoxide, but tetravalent in carbonyl compounds. Carbonyl
chloride (Chem.), a colorless gas, COCl2, of offensive odor, and
easily condensable to liquid. It is formed from chlorine and carbon
monoxide, under the influence of light, and hence has been called
phosgene gas; -- called also carbon oxychloride.
CARBORUNDUM
Car`bo*run"dum, [Carbon + corundum.]
Defn: A beautiful crystalline compound, SiC, consisting of carbon and
silicon in combination; carbon silicide. It is made by heating carbon
and sand together in an electric furnace. The commercial article is
dark-colored and iridescent. It is harder than emery, and is used as
an abrasive.
CARBORUNDUM CLOTH; CARBORUNDUM PAPER
Carborundum cloth or paper.
Defn: Cloth or paper covered with powdered carborundum.
CARBOSTYRIL
Car`bo*sty"ril, n. Etym: [Carbon + styrene.]
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C9H6N.OH, of acid properties
derived from one of the amido cinnamic acids.
CARBOXIDE
Car*box"ide, n. Etym: [Carbon + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of carbon and oxygen, as carbonyl, with some element
or radical; as, potassium carboxide. Potassium carboxide, a grayish
explosive crystalline compound, C6O6K, obtained by passing carbon
monoxide over heated potassium.
CARBOXYL
Car*box"yl, n. Etym: [Carbon + oxygen + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The complex radical, CO.OH, regarded as the essential and
characteristic constituent which all oxygen acids of carbon (as
formic, acetic, benzoic acids, etc.) have in common; -- called also
oxatyl.
CARBOY
Car"boy, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael carb basket; or Pers qurabah a sort
of bottle.]
Defn: A large, globular glass bottle, esp. one of green glass,
inclosed in basket work or in a box, for protection; -- used commonly
for carrying corrosive liquids; as sulphuric acid, etc.
CARBUNCLE
Car"bun*cle, n. Etym: [L. carbunculus a little coal, a bright kind of
precious stone, a kind of tumor, dim. of carbo coal: cf. F.
carboncle. See Carbon.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A beautiful gem of a deep red color (with a mixture of scarlet)
called by the Greeks anthrax; found in the East Indies. When held up
to the sun, it loses its deep tinge, and becomes of the color of
burning coal. The name belongs for the most part to ruby sapphire,
though it has been also given to red spinel and garnet.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A very painful acute local inflammation of the subcutaneous
tissue, esp. of the trunk or back of the neck, characterized by
brawny hardness of the affected parts, sloughing of the skin and
deeper tissues, and marked constitutional depression. It differs from
a boil in size, tendency to spread, and the absence of a central
core, and is frequently fatal. It is also called anthrax.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A charge or bearing supposed to represent the precious stone.
It has eight scepters or staves radiating from a common center.
Called also escarbuncle.
CARBUNCLED
Car"bun*cled, a.
1. Set with carbuncles.
He has deserves it [armor], were it carbuncled Like holy Phabus' car.
Shak.
2. Affected with a carbuncle or carbuncles; marked with red sores;
pimpled and blotched. "A carbuncled face." Brome.
CARBUNCULAR
Car*bun"cu*lar, a.
Defn: Belonging to a carbuncle; resembling a carbuncle; red;
inflamed.
CARBUNCULATION
Car*bun`cu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. carbunculatio.]
Defn: The blasting of the young buds of trees or plants, by excessive
heat or caold. Harris.
CARBURET
Car"bu*ret, n. Etym: [From Carbon.] (Chem.)
Defn: A carbide. See Carbide [Archaic]
CARBURET
Car"bu*ret, v. t. [imp & p. p. Carbureted or Carburetted (p. pr. &
vb. n. Carbureting or Carburetting.]
Defn: To combine or to impregnate with carbon, as by passing through
or over a liquid hydrocarbon; to carbonize or carburize.
By carbureting the gas you may use poorer coal. Knight.
CARBURETANT
Car"bu*ret`ant, n.
Defn: Any volatile liquid used in charging illuminating gases.
CARBURETED
Car"bu*ret`ed, a.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with carbon in the manner of a carburet or carbide.
2. Saturated or impregnated with some volatile carbon compound; as,
water gas is carbureted to increase its illuminating power. [Written
also carburetted.] Carbureted hydrogen gas, any one of several
gaseous compounds of carbon and hydrogen, some of with make up
illuminating gas.
-- Light carbureted hydrogen, marsh gas, CH4; fire damp.
CARBURETOR
Car"bu*ret`or, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus in which coal gas, hydrogen, or air is passed
through or over a volatile hydrocarbon, in order to confer or
increase illuminating power. [Written also carburettor.]
CARBURETOR; CARBURETTOR
Car"bu*ret`or, Car"bu*ret`tor, n.
Defn: One that carburets; specif., an apparatus in which air or gas
is carbureted, as by passing it through a light petroleum oil. The
carburetor for a gasoline engine is usually either a surface
carburetor, or a float, float-feed, or spray, carburetor. In the
former air is charged by being passed over the surface of gasoline.
In the latter a fine spray of gasoline is drawn from an atomizing
nozzle by a current of air induced by the suction of the engine
piston, the supply of gasoline being regulated by a float which
actuates a needle valve controlling the outlet of the feed pipe.
Alcohol and other volatile inflammable liquids may be used instead of
gasoline.
CARBURIZATION
Car"bu*ri*za`tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act, process, or result of carburizing.
CARBURIZE
Car"bu*rize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carburized; p. pr. & vb. N.
Carburizing.] (Chem.)
Defn: To combine wtih carbon or a carbon compound; -- said esp. of a
process for conferring a higher degree of illuminating power on
combustible gases by mingling them with a vapor of valatile
hydrocarbons.
CARCAJOU
Car"ca*jou, n. Etym: [Probably a Canadian French corruption of an
Indian name of the wolverene.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wolverence; -- also applied, but erroneously, to the Canada
lynx, and sometimes to the American badger. See Wolverene.
CARCANET
Car"ca*net, n. Etym: [Dim. fr. F. carcan the iron collar or chain of
a criminal, a chain of preciousstones, LL. carcannum, fr. Armor.
kerchen bosom, neck, kechen collar, fr. kelch circle; or Icel. kverk
troat, OHG, querca throat.]
Defn: A jeweled chain, necklace, or collar. [Also written carkenet
and carcant.] Shak.
CARCASE
Car"case, n.
Defn: See Carcass.
CARCASS
Car"cass, n.; pl. Carcasses. [Written also carcase.] Etym: [F.
carcasse, fr. It. carcassa, fr. L. caro flesh + capsa chest, box,
case. Cf. Carnal, Case a sheath.]
1. A dead body, whether of man or beast; a corpse; now commonly the
dead body of a beast.
He turned to see the carcass of the lion. Judges xiv. 8.
This kept thousands in the town whose carcasses went into the great
pits by cartloads. De Foe.
2. The living body; -- now commonly used in contempt or ridicule. "To
pamper his own carcass." South.
Lovely her face; was ne'er so fair a creature. For earthly carcass
had a heavenly feature. Oldham.
3. The abandoned and decaying remains of some bulky and once comely
thing, as a ship; the skeleton, or the uncovered or unfinished frame,
of a thing.
A rotten carcass of a boat. Shak.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: A hollow case or shell, filled with combustibles, to be thrown
from a mortar or howitzer, to set fire to buldings, ships, etc.
A discharge of carcasses and bombshells. W. Iving.
CARCAVELHOS
Car`ca*vel"hos, n.
Defn: A sweet wine. See Calcavella.
CARCELAGE
Car"ce*lage, n. Etym: [LL. carcelladium, carceragium, fr. L. carcer
prison.]
Defn: Prison fees. [Obs.]
CARCEL LAMP
Car"cel lamp`. Etym: [Named after Carcel, the inventor.]
Defn: A French mechanical lamp, for lighthouses, in which a
superbundance of oil is pumped to the wick tube by clockwork.
CARCERAL
Car"cer*al, a. Etym: [L. carceralis, fr. carcer prison.]
Defn: Belonging a prison. [R.] Foxe.
CARCINOLOGICAL
Car`ci*no*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to carcinology.
CARCINOLOGY
Car`ci*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The depertment of zoölogy which treats of the Crustacea
(lobsters, crabs, etc.); -- called also malacostracology and
crustaceology.
CARCINOMA
Car`ci*no"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A cancer. By some medical writers, the term is applied to an
indolent tumor. See Cancer. Dunglison.
CARCINOMATOUS
Car`ci*nom"a*tous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to carcinoma.
CARCINOSYS
Car`ci*no"sys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: The affection of the system with cancer.
CARD
Card, n. Etym: [F. carte, fr. L. charta paper, Gr. Chart.]
1. A piece of pasteboard, or thick paper, blank or prepared for
various uses; as, a playing card; a visiting card; a card of
invitation; pl. a game played with cards.
Our first cards were to Carabas House. Thackeray.
2. A published note, containing a brief statement, explanation,
request, expression of thanks, or the like; as, to put a card in the
newspapers. Also, a printed programme, and (fig.), an attraction or
inducement; as, this will be a good card for the last day of the
fair.
3. A paper on which the points of the compass are marked; the dial or
face of the mariner's compass.
All the quartere that they know I' the shipman's card. Shak.
4. (Weaving)
Defn: A perforated pasteboard or sheet-metal plate for warp threads,
making part of the Jacquard apparatus of a loom. See Jacquard.
5. An indicator card. See under Indicator. Business card, a card on
which is printed an advertisement or business address.
-- Card basket (a) A basket to hold visiting cards left by callers.
(b) A basket made of cardboard.
-- Card catalogue. See Catalogue.
-- Card rack, a rack or frame for holding and displaying business or
visiting card.
-- Card table, a table for use inplaying cards, esp. one having a
leaf which folds over.
-- On the cards, likely to happen; foretold and expected but not yet
brought to pass; -- a phrase of fortune tellers that has come into
common use; also, according to the programme.
-- Playing card, cards used in playing games; specifically, the
cards cards used playing which and other games of chance, and having
each pack divided onto four kinds or suits called hearts, diamonds,
clubs, and spades. The full or whist pack contains fifty-two cards.
-- To have the cards in one's own hands, to have the winning cards;
to have the means of success in an undertaking.
-- To play one's cards well, to make no errors; to act shrewdly.
-- To play snow one's cards, to expose one's plants to rivals or
foes.
-- To speak by the card, to speak from information and definitely,
not by guess as in telling a ship's bearing by the compass card.
-- Visiting card, a small card bearing the name, and sometimes the
address, of the person presenting it.
CARD
Card, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Carded; p. pr. & vb. n. Carding.]
Defn: To play at cards; to game. Johnson.
CARD
Card, n. Etym: [F. carde teasel, the head of a thistle, card, from L.
carduus, cardus, thistle, fr. carere to card.]
1. An instrument for disentangling and arranging the fibers of
cotton, wool, flax, etc.; or for cleaning and smoothing the hair of
animals; -- usually consisting of bent wire teeth set closely in rows
in a thick piece of leather fastened to a back.
2. A roll or sliver of fiber (as of wool) delivered from a carding
machine. Card clothing, strips of wire-toothed card used for covering
the cylinders of carding machines.
CARD
Card, v. t.
1. To comb with a card; to cleanse or disentangle by carding; as, to
card wool; to card a horse.
These card the short comb the longer flakes. Dyer.
2. To clean or clear, as if by using a card. [Obs.]
This book [must] be carded and purged. T. Shelton.
3. To mix or mingle, as with an inferior or weaker article. [Obs.]
You card your beer, if you guests being to be drunk.
-- half small, half strong. Greene.
Note: In the manufacture of wool, cotton, etc., the process of
carding disentangles and collects together all the fibers, of
whatever length, and thus differs from combing, in which the longer
fibers only are collected, while the short straple is combed away.
See Combing.
CARDAMINE
Car"da*mine, n. Etym: [L. cardamina, Gr. cardamine.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cruciferous plants, containing the lady's-smock,
cuckooflower, bitter cress, meadow cress, etc.
CARDAMOM
Car"da*mom, n. Etym: [L. cardamonun, Gr.
1. The aromatic fruit, or capsule with its seeds, of several plants
of the Ginger family growing in the East Indies and elsewhere, and
much used as a condiment, and in medicine.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which prduces cardamoms, esp. Elettaria Cardamomum and
several of Amommum.
CARDBOARD
Card"board, n.
Defn: A stiff compact pasteboard of various qualities, for making
cards, etc., often having a polished surface.
CARDCASE
Card"case`, n.
Defn: A case for visiting cards.
CARDECU
Car"de*cu, n. Etym: [Corrupt, from F. quart d'écu.]
Defn: A quarter of a crown. [Obs.]
The bunch of them were not worth a cardecu. Sir W. Scott.
CARDER
Card"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which cards wool flax, etc. Shak.
CARDIA
Car"di*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
(a) The heart.
(b) The anterior or cardiac orifice of the stomach, where the
esophagus enters it.
CARDIAC
Car"di*ac, a. Etym: [L. cardiacus, Gr. , fr. cardiaque.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or hear the heart; as, the cardiac
arteries; the cardiac, or left, end of the stomach.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Exciting action in the heart, through the medium of the
stomach; cordial; stimulant. Cardiac passion (Med.) cardialgia;
heartburn. [Archaic] -- Cardiac wheel. (Mach.) See Heart wheel.
CARDIAC
Car"di*ac n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine which excites action in the stomach; a cardial.
CARDIACAL
Car*di"a*cal, a.
Defn: Cardiac.
CARDIACLE
Car"di*a*cle, n.
Defn: A pain about the heart. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CARDIAGRAPH
Car"di*a*graph, n.
Defn: See Cardiograph.
CARDIALGLA; CARDIALGY
Car`di*al"gl*a, Car"di*al`gy, n. Etym: [NL. cardialgia, fr. Gr.
cardialgie.] (Med.)
Defn: A burning or gnawing pain, or feeling of distress, referred to
the region of the heart, accompanied with cardisc palpitation;
heartburn. It is usually a symptom of indigestion.
CARDIGAN JACKET
Car"di*gan jack`et. Etym: [From the Earl of Cardigan, who was famous
in the Crimean campaign of 1854-55.]
Defn: A warm jacket of knit worsted with or without sleeves.
CARDINAL
Car"di*nal, a. Etym: [L. cardinalis, fr. cardo the hing of a door,
that on which a thing turns or depends: cf. F. cardinal.]
Defn: Of fundamental importance; preëminet; superior; chief;
principal.
The cardinal intersections of the zodiac. Sir T. Browne.
Impudence is now a cardinal virtue. Drayton.
But cardinal sins, and hollow hearts, I fear ye. Shak.
Cardinal numbers, the numbers one, two, three, etc., in distinction
from first, second, third, etc., which are called ordinal numbers.
-- Cardinal points (a) (Geol.) The four principal points of the
compass, or intersections of the horizon with the meridian and the
prime vertical circle, north, south east, and west. (b) (Astrol.) The
rising and setting of the sun, the zenith and nadir.
-- Cardinal signs (Astron.) Aries, Lidra, Cancer, and Capricorn.
-- Cardinal teeth (Zoöl.), the central teeth of bivalve shell. See
Bivalve.
-- Cardinal veins (Anat.), the veins in vertebrate embryos, which
run each side of the vertebral column and returm the blood to the
heart. They remain through life in some fishes.
-- Cardinal virtues, preëminent virtues; among the ancients,
prudence, justice, temperance, and fortitude.
-- Cardinal winds, winds which blow from the cardinal points due
north, south, east, or west.
CARDINAL
Car"di*nal, n. Etym: [F. carinal, It. cardinale, LL. cardimalis
(ecclesiæ Romanæ). See Cardinal, a.]
Defn: 1. (R.C.Ch.) One of the ecclesiastical prince who constitute
the pope's council, or the sacred college.
The clerics of the supreme Chair are called Cardinals, as undoubtedly
adhering more nearly to the hinge by which all things are moved. Pope
Leo IX.
Note: The cardinals are appointed by the pope. Since the time of
Sixtus V., their number can never exceed seventy (six of episcopal
rank, fifty priests, fourteen deacons), and the number of cardinal
priests and deacons is seldom full. When the papel chair is vacant a
pope is elected by the college of cardinals from among themselves.
The cardinals take procedence of all dignitaries except the pope. The
principal parts of a cardinal's costume are a red cassock, a rochet,
a short purple mantle, and a red hat with a small crown and broad,
brim, with cards and tessels of a special pattern hanging from it.
2. A woman's short cloak with a hood.
Where's your cardinal! Make haste. Lloyd.
3. Mulled red wine. Hotten.
Cardinal bird, or Cardinal grosbeak (Zoöl.), an American song bird
(Cardinalis cardinalis, or C. Virginianus), of the family
Fringillidæ, or finches having a bright red plumage, and a high,
pointed crest on its head. The males have loud and musical notes
resembling those of a fife. Other related species are also called
cardinal birds.
-- Cardinal flower (Bot.), an herbaceous plant (Lobelia cardinalis)
bearing brilliant red flowers of much beauty.
-- Cardinal red, color like that of a cardinal's cassock, hat, etc.;
a bright red, darket than scarlet, and between scarlet and crimson.
CARDINALATE
Car"di*nal*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cardinalat, LL. cardinalatus.]
Defn: The office, rank, or dignity of a cardinal.
CARDINALIZE
Car"di*nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To exalt to the office of a cardinal. Sheldon.
CARDINALSHIP
Car"di*nal*ship, n.
Defn: The condition, dignity, of office of a cardinal
CARDING
Card"ing, a.
1. The act or process of preparing staple for spinning, etc.,
bycarding it. See the Note under Card, v. t.
2. A roll of wool or other fiber as it comes from the carding
machine. Carding engine, Carding machine, a machine for carding
cotton, wool, or other fiber, by subjecting it to the action of
cylinders, or drum covered with wire-toothed cards, revoling nearly
in contact with each other, at different rates of speed, or in
opposite directions, The staple issues in soft sheets, or in slender
rolls called sivers.
CARDIOGRAM
Car"di*o*gram`, n. [Gr. heart + -gram.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The curve or tracing made by a cardiograph.
CARDIOGRAPH
Car"di*o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument which, when placed in contact with the chest,
will register graphically the comparative duration and intensity of
the heart's movements.
CARDIOGRAPHIC
Car`di*o*graph"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or produced by, a cardiograph.
CARDIOGRAPHY
Car`di*og"ra*phy, n.
1. Description of the heart.
2. (Physiol.) Examination by the cardiograph.
CARDIOID
Car"di*oid, n. Etym: [Gr. ( (Math.)
Defn: An algebraic curve, so called from its resemblance to a heart.
CARDIOINHIBITORY
Car`di*o*in*hib"i*to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Checking or arresting the heart's action.
CARDIOLGY
Car`di*ol"*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -ology.]
Defn: The science which treats of the heart and its functions.
CARDIOMETRY
Car`di*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.] (Med.)
Defn: Measurement of the heart, as by percussion or auscultation.
CARDIOSCLEROSIS
Car"di*o*scle*ro"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. heart + sclerosis.]
Defn: Induration of the heart, caused by development of fibrous
tissue in the cardiac muscle.
CARDIOSPHYGMOGRAPH
Car`di*o*sphyg"mo*graph, n.
Defn: A combination of cardiograph and shygmograph.
CARDITIS
Car*di"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis: cf. F. cardile.] (Med)
Defn: Inflammation of the fleshy or muscular substance of the heart.
See Endocardris and Pericarditis. Dunglison.
CARDO
Car"do, n.; pl. Cardies.) Etym: [L., a hinge.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The basal joint of the maxilla in insects.
(b) The hinge of a bivalve shell.
CARDOL
Car"dol, n. Etym: [NL. Anacardium generic name of the cashew + L.
oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow oil liquid, extracted from the shell of the cashew
nut.
CARDOON
Car*doon", n. Etym: [F. cardon. The same word as F. cardon thistle,
fr. L. carduus, cardus, LL. cardo. See 3d Card.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large herbaceos plant (Cynara Cardunculus) related to the
artichoke; -- used in cookery and as a sald.
CARE
Care, n. Etym: [AS. caru, cearu; akin to OS. kara sorrow Goth. kara
lament, and to Gr. . Not akin to cure. Cf. Chary.]
1. A burdensome sense of responsibility; trouble caused by onerous
duties; anxiety; concern; solicitude.
Care keeps his wath in every old man's eye, And where care lodges,
sleep will never lie. Shak.
2. Charge, oversight, or management, implying responsibility for
safety and prosperity.
The care of all the churches. 2 Car. xi. 28
Him thy care must be to find. Milton.
Perlexed with a thousand cares. Shak.
3. Attention or heed; caution; regard; heedfulness; watchfulness; as,
take care; have a care.
I thank thee for thy care and honest pains. Shak.
4. The object of watchful attention or anxiety.
Right sorrowfully mourning her bereaved cares. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Anxiety; solicitude; concern; caution; regard; management;
direction; oversight.
-- Care, Anxiety, Solicitude, Concern. These words express mental
pain in different degress. Care belongs primarily to the intellect,
and becomes painful from overburdened thought. Anxiety denotes a
state of distressing uneasiness fron the dread of evil. Solicitude
expresses the same feeling in a diminished dagree. Concern is opposed
to indifference, and implies exercise of anxious thought more or less
intense. We are careful about the means, solicitous and anxious about
the end; we are solicitous to obtain a good, axious to avoid an evil.
CARE
Care, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cared; p. pr. & vb. n. Caring.] Etym: [AS.
cearian. See Care, n.]
Defn: To be anxious or solictous; to be concerned; to have regard or
interest; -- sometimes followed by an objective of measure.
I would not care a pin, if the other three were in. Shak.
Master, carest thou not that we perish Mark. iv. 38.
To care for. (a) To have under watchful attention; to take care of.
(b) To have regard or affection for; to like or love.
He cared not for the affection of the house. Tennyson.
CAREEN
Ca*reen", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Careened; p. pr. & vb. n. Careening.]
Etym: [OF. cariner, F. caréner, fr. OF. carène, the bottom of a ship,
keel, fr. L. carina.] (Naut.)
Defn: To cause (a vessel) to lean over so that she floats on one
side, leaving the other side out of water and accessible for repairs
below the water line; to case to be off the keel.
CAREEN
Ca*reen" (, v. i.
Defn: To incline to one side, or lie over, as a ship when sailing on
a wind; to be off the keel.
CAREENAGE
Ca*reen"age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carénage.] (Naut.)
(a) Expense of careening ships.
(b) A place for careening.
CAREER
Ca*reer", n. Etym: [F. carrière race course, high road, street, fr.
L. carrus wagon. See Car.]
1. A race course: the ground run over.
To go back again the same career. Sir P. Sidney.
2. A running; full speed; a rapid course.
When a horse is running in his full career. Wilkins.
3. General course of action or conduct in life, or in a particular
part or calling in life, or in some special undertaking; usually
applied to course or conduct which is of a pubic character; as,
Washington's career as a soldier.
An impartial view of his whole career. Macaulay.
4. (Falconary)
Defn: The fight of a hawk.
CAREER
Ca*reer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Careered 3; p. pr. & vb. n. Careering]
Defn: To move or run rapidly.
areering gayly over the curling waves. W. Irving.
CAREFUL
Care"ful, a. Etym: [AS. cearful.]
1. Full of care; anxious; solicitous [Archaic]
Be careful [Rev. Ver. "anxious"] for nothing. Phil. iv. 6.
The careful plowman doubting stands. Milton.
2. Filling with care or colicitube; exposing to concern, anxiety, or
trouble; painful.
The careful cold beinneth for to creep. Spenser.
By Him that raised me to this careful height. Shak.
3. Taking care; gicing good heed; watchful; cautious; provident; not
indifferent heedless, or reckless; -- often follower byof, for, or
the infinitive; as, careful of money; careful to do right.
Thou hast been careful for us with all this care. 2. Kings iv, 13.
What could a careful father more have done Dryden.
Syn.
-- Anxious; solicitous; provident; thoughtful; cautious;
circumspect; heedful; watchful; vigilant.
CAREFULLY
Care"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a careful manner.
CAREFULNESS
Care"ful*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being careful.
CARELESS
Care"less, a. Etym: [AS. cearleás.]
1. Free from care or anxiety. hence, cheerful; light-hearted.
Spenser.
Sleep she as sound as careless infancy. Shak.
2. Having no care; not taking ordinary or proper care; negligent;
unconcerned; heedless; inattentive; unmindful; regardless.
My brother was too careless of his charge. Shak.
He grew careless of himself. Steele.
3. Without thought or purpose; without due care; without attention to
rule or system; unstudied; inconsiderate; spontaneouse; rash; as, a
careless throw; a careless expression.
He framed the careless rhyme. Beatie.
4. Not receiving care; uncared for. [R.]
Their many wounds and careless hatms. Spemser.
Syn.
-- Negligent; heedless; thoughtless; unthinking; inattentive;
incautious; remiss; forgetful; regardless; inconsiderate; listless.
CARELESSLY
Care"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In a careless manner.
CARELESSNESS
Care"less*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being careless; heedlessness;
negligenece; inattention.
CARENE
Ca*rene", n. Etym: [LL. carena, corrupted fr. quarentena. See
Quarantine.] (Ecol.)
Defn: A fast of forty days on bread and water. [Obs.]
CARESS
Ca*ress", n. Etym: [F. caresse, It. carezza, LL. caritia dearness,
fr. L. carus dear. See Charity.]
Defn: An act of endearment; any act or expression of affection; an
embracing, or touching, with tenderness.
Wooed her with his soft caresses. Langfellow.
He exerted himself to win by indulgence and caresses the hearts of
all who were under his command. Macaulay.
CARESS
Ca*ress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caressed; p. pr. & vb. n. Caressing.]
Etym: [F. caresser, fr. It. carezzare, fr. carezza caress. See
Caress., n.]
Defn: To treat with tokens of fondness, affection, or kindness; to
touch or speak to in a loving or endearing manner; to fondle.
The lady caresses the rough bloodhoun. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- To foundle; embrace; pet; coddle; court; flatter.
-- Caress, Fondle. "We caress by words or actions; we fondle by
actions only." Crabb.
CARESSINGLY
Ca*ress"ing*ly, ad.
Defn: In caressing manner.
CARET
Ca"ret, n. Etym: [L. caret there is wanting, fr. carere to want.]
Defn: A mark [^] used by writers and proof readers to indicate that
something is interlined above, or inserted in the margin, which
belongs in the place marked by the caret.
CARET
Ca`ret", n. Etym: [F., a species of tortoise.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.
CARETUNED
Care"*tuned, a.
Defn: Weary; mournful. Shak.
CARE-TUNED
Care"-tuned, a.
Defn: Weary; mournful. Shak.
CAREWORN
Care"worn`, a.
Defn: Worn or burdened with care; as, careworn look or face.
CAREX
Ca"rex, n. Etym: [L., sedge.] (Bot.)
Defn: A numerous and widely distributed genus of perennial herbaceous
plants of the order Cypreaceæ; the sedges.
CARF
Carf,
Defn: pret. of Carve. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CARGASON
Car"ga*son, n. Etym: [F. cargaison, Sp. cargazon, LL. cargare to
load. See rgo.]
Defn: A cargo. [Obs.]
CARGO
Car"go, n.; pl. Cargoes. Etym: [Sp. cargo, carga, burden, load, from
cargar to load, from cargar to load, charge, See Charge.]
Defn: The lading or freight of a ship or other vessel; the goods,
merchandise, or whatever is conveyed in a vessel or boat; load;
freight.
Cargoes of food or clothing. E. Everett.
Note: The term cargo, in law, is usually applied to goods only, and
not to live animals or persons. Burill.
CARGOOSE
Car"goose`, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. Gael. & Ir. cir, cior (pronounced
kir, kior), crest, comb + E. goose. Cf. Crebe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of grebe (Podiceps crisratus); the crested grebe.
CARIAMA
Ça"ri*a"ma, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, long-legged South American bird (Dicholophus
cristatus) which preys upon snakes, etc. See Seriema.
CARIB
Car"ib, n.; pl. Caries. Etym: [See Cannibal.] (Ethol.)
Defn: A native of the Caribbee islands or the coaste of the Caribbean
sea; esp., one of a tribe of Indians inhabiting a region of South
America, north of the Amazon, and formerly most of the West India
islands.
CARIBBEAN; CARIBBEE
Car`ib*be"an, Car`ib*bee, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Caribs, to their islands (the eastern
and southern West Indies), or to the sea (called the Caribbean sa)
lying between those islands and Central America.
CARIBBEE
Car"ib*bee, n.
Defn: A Carib.
CARIBE
Ca*ri"be, n. Etym: [Sp. a cannibal.] (Zoöl).
Defn: A south American fresh water fish of the genus Serrasalmo of
many species, remakable for its voracity. When numerous they attack
man or beast, often with fatal results.
CARIBOU
Car"i*bou, n. Etym: [Canadian French.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American reindeer, especially the common or woodland
species (Rangifer Caribou). Barren Ground caribou. See under Barren.
-- Woodland caribou, the common reindeer (Rangifer Caribou) of the
northern forests of America.
CARICATURE
Car"i*ca*ture, n. Etym: [It. caricatura, fr. caricare to charge,
overload, exaggerate. See Charge, v. t.]
1. An exaggeration, or distortion by exaggeration, of parts or
characteristics, as in a picture.
2. A picture or other figure or description in which the
peculiarities of a person or thing are so exaggerated as to appear
ridiculous; a burlesque; a parody. [Formerly written caricatura.]
The truest likeness of the prince of French literature will be the
one that has most of the look of a caricature. I. Taylor.
A grotesque caricature of virtue. Macaulay.
CARICATURE
Car"i*ca*ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caricatured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Caricaturing.]
Defn: To make or draw a caricature of; to represent with ridiculous
exaggeration; to burlesque.
He could draw an ill face, or caricature a good one, with a masterly
hand. Lord Lyttelton.
CARICATURIST
Car"i*ca*tu`rist, n.
Defn: One who caricatures.
CARICOUS
Car"i*cous, a. Etym: [L. carica a kind of dry fig.]
Defn: Of the shape of a fig; as, a caricous tumor. Graig.
CARIES
Ca"ri*es, n.Etym: [L., decay.] (Med.)
Defn: Ulceration of bone; a process in which bone disintegrates and
is carried away piecemeal, as distinguished from necrosis, in which
it dies in masses.
CARILLON
Car"il*lon, n. Etym: [F. carillon a chime of bells, originally
consisting of four bells, as if fr.. (assumed) L. quadrilio, fr.
quatuer four.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A chime of bells diatonically tuned, played by clockwork or by
finger keys.
2. A tune adapted to be played by musical bells.
CARINA
Ca*ri"na, n. Etym: [L., keel.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A keel.
(a) That part of a papilionaceous flower, consisting of two petals,
commonly united, which incloses the organs of fructification.
(b) A longitudinal ridge or projection like the keel of a boat.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The keel of the breastbone of birds.
CARINARIA
Car`i*na"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. carina keel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of oceanic heteropod Mollusca, having a thin, glassy,
bonnet-shaped shell, which covers only the nucleus and gills.
CARINATAE
Car`i*na"tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., Fem. pl. fr. L. carinatus. See
Carinate.]
Defn: A grand division of birds, including all existing flying birds;
-- So called from the carina or keel on the breastbone.
CARINATE; CARINATED
Car"i*nate, Car"i*na`ted a. Etym: [L. carinatus, fr. carina keel.]
Defn: Shaped like the keel or prow of a ship; having a carina or
keel; as, a carinate calyx or leaf; a carinate sternum (of a bird).
CARIOLE
Car"i*ole, n. Etym: [F. carriole, dim. fr. L. carrus. See Car, and
Carryall.]
(a) A small, light, open one-horse carriage.
(b) A covered cart.
(c) A kind of calash. See Carryall.
CARIOPSIS
Car"i*op"sis, n.
Defn: See Caryopsis.
CARIOSITY
Ca`ri*os"i*ty, n. (Med.)
Defn: Caries.
CARIOUS
Ca"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. cariosus, fr. caries dacay.]
Defn: Affected with caries; decaying; as, a carious tooth.
CARK
Cark, n. Etym: [OE. cark, fr. a dialectic form of F. charge; cf. W.
carc anxiety, care, Arm karg charge, burden. See Charge, and cf.
Cargo.]
Defn: A noxious or corroding care; solicitude; worry. [Archaic.]
His heavy head, devoid of careful cark. Spenser.
Fling cark and care aside. Motherwell.
Ereedom from the cares of money and the cark of fashion. R. D.
Blackmore.
CARK
Cark, v. i.
Defn: To be careful, anxious, solicitous, or troubles in mind; to
worry or grieve. [R.] Beau. & fl.
CARK
Cark, v. t.
Defn: To vex; to worry; to make by anxious care or worry. [R.]
Nor can a man, independently . . . of God's blessing, care and cark
himself one penny richer. South.
CARKANET
Car"ka*net, n.
Defn: A carcanet. Southey.
CARKING
Cark"ing, a.
Defn: Distressing; worrying; perplexing; corroding; as, carking
cares.
CARL
Carl, n. Etym: [Icel, karl a male, a man; akin to AS. ceorl, OHG.
charal, G. kerl fellow. See Churl.] [Written also carle.]
1. A rude, rustic man; a churl.
The miller was a stout carl. Chaucer.
2. Large stalks of hemp which bear the seed; -- called also carl
hemp.
3. pl.
Defn: A kind of food. See citation, below.
Caring or carl are gray steeped in water and fried the next day in
butter or fat. They are eaten on the second Sunday before Easter,
formerly called Carl Sunday. Robinson's Whitby Glossary (1875).
CARLIN
Car"lin, n. Etym: [Dim., fr. carl male.]
Defn: An old woman. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
CARLINE; CAROLINE
Car"line, Car"o*line, n. Etym: [F. carin; cf. It. carlino; -- so
called from Carlo (Charles) VI. of Naples.]
Defn: A silver coin once current in some parts of Italy, worth about
seven cents. Simmonds.
CARLINE; CARLING
Car"line, Car"ling n. Etym: [Cf. F. carlingur, Sp. Pg., & It.
carlinga.] (Naut.)
Defn: A short timber running lengthwise of a ship, from one
transverse desk beam to another; also, one of the cross timbers that
strengthen a hath; -- usually in pl.
CARLINE THISTLE
Car"line this`tle. Etym: [F. carline, It., Sp., & Pg., carline, Said
to be so called from the Emperor Charlemagne, whose army is reputed
to have used it as a remedy for pestilence.] (Bot.)
Defn: A prickly plant of the genus Carlina (C. vulgaris), found in
Europe and Asia.
CARLINGS
Car"lings, n. pl.
Defn: Same as Carl, 3. Carling Sunday, a Sunday in Lent when carls
are eaten. In some parts of England, Passion Sunday. See Carl, 4.
CARLIST
Car"list, n.
Defn: A parisan of Charles X. Of France, or of Dod Carlos of Spain.
CARLOCK
Car"lock, n. Etym: [F. carlock, fr. Russ. Karlúk'.]
Defn: A sort of Russian isinglass, made from the air bladder of the
sturgeon, and used in clarifying wine.
CARLOT
Car"lot, n. Etym: [From Carl.]
Defn: A churl; a boor; a peasant or countryman. [Obs.] Shak.
CARLOVINGIAN
Car`lo*vin"gi*an, a. Etym: [F. Carlovingen.]
Defn: Pertaining to, founded by, of descended from, Charlemagne; as,
the Carlovingian race of kings.
CARMAGNOLE
Car`ma`gnole", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A popular or Red Rebublican song and dance, of the time of the
first French Revolution.
They danced and yelled the carmagnole. Compton Reade.
2. A bombastic report from the French armies.
CARMAN
Car"man, n.; pl. Carmen (
Defn: A man whose employment is to drive, or to convey goods in, a
car or car.
CARMELITE; CARMELIN
Car"mel*ite, Car"mel*in a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the order of Carmelites.
CARMELITE
Car"mel*ite, n.
1. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A friar of a mendicant order (the Order of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel) established on Mount Carmel, in Syria, in the twelfth
century; a White Friar.
2. A nun of the Order of Our lady of Mount Carmel.
CAR MILE
Car mile. (Railroads)
Defn: A mile traveled by a single car, taken as a unit of
computation, as in computing the average travel of each car of a
system during a given period.
CAR MILEAGE
Car mileage. (Railroads)
(a) Car miles collectively.
(b) The amount paid by one road the use of cars of another road.
CARMINATED
Car"mi*na`ted, a.
Defn: Of, relating to, or mixed with, carmine; as, carminated lake.
Tomlinson.
CARMINATIVE
Car*min"ative, a. Etym: [NL. carminativus (carminare to card hence to
cleanse, fr. carmen a card for freeing wool or flax from the coarser
parts, and from extraneous matter: cf. F. carminatif.]
Defn: Expelling wind from the body; warning; antispasmodic.
"Carmenative hot seeds." Dunglison.
CARMINATIVE
Car*min"a*tive, n.
Defn: A substance, esp. an aromatic, which tends to expel wind from
the alimentary canal, or to relieve colic, griping, or flatulence.
CARMINE
Car"mine, n. Etym: [F. carmin (cf. Sp. carmin, It. carminio), contr.
from LL. carmesinus purple color. See Crimson.]
1. A rich red or crimson color with a shade of purple.
2. A beautiful pigment, or a lake, of this color, prepared from
cochineal, and used in miniature painting.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The essential coloring principle of cochineal, extracted as a
purple-red amorphous mass. It is a glucoside and possesses acid
properties; -- hence called also carminic acid. Carmine red (Chem.),
a coloring matter obtained from carmine as a purple-red substance,
and probably allied to the phthaleïns.
CARMINIC
Car*min"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or derived from, carmine. Carminic acid.
Same as Carmine, 3.
CARMOT
Car"mot, n. (Alchemy)
Defn: The matter of which the philosopher's stone was believed to be
composed.
CARNAGE
Car"nage, n. Etym: [F. carnage, LL. carnaticum tribute of animals,
flesh of animals, fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh. See Carnal.]
1. Flesh of slain animals or men.
A miltitude of dogs came to feast on the carnage. Macaulay.
2. Great destruction of life, as in battle; bloodshed; slaughter;
massacre; murder; havoc.
The more fearful carnage of the Bloody Circuit. Macaulay.
CARNAL
Car"nal, a. Etym: [L. carnalis, fr. caro, carnis, flesh; akin to Gr.
kravya; cf. F. charnel, Of. also carnel. Cf. Charnel.]
1. Of or pertaining to the body or is appetites; animal; fleshly;
sensual; given to sensual indulgence; lustful; human or worldly as
opposed to spiritual.
For ye are yet carnal. 1 Car. iii. 3.
Not sunk in carnal pleasure. Milton
rnal desires after miracles. Trench.
2. Flesh-devouring; cruel; ravenous; bloody. [Obs.]
This carnal cur Preys on the issue of his mother's body. Shak.
Carnal knowledge, sexual intercourse; -- used especially of an
unlawful act on the part of the man.
CARNALISM
Car"nal*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being carnal; carnality; sensualism. [R.]
CARNALIST
Car"nal*ist, n.
Defn: A sensualist. Burton.
CARNALITY
Car*nal"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. carnalitas.]
Defn: The state of being carnal; fleshly lust, or the indulgence of
lust; grossness of mind.
Because of the carnality of their hearts. Tillotson.
CARNALIZE
Car"nal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carnalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Carnalizing.]
Defn: To make carnal; to debase to carnality.
A sensual and carnalized spirit. John Scott.
CARNALLITE
Car"nal*lite, n. Etym: [G. carnallit, fr. Von Carnall, a Prussian.]
(Min.)
Defn: A hydrous chloride of potassium and magnesium, sometimes found
associated with deposits of rock salt.
CARNALLY
Car"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the flesh, to the world, or to human nature; in a
manner to gratify animal appetites and lusts; sensually.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace. Rom. viii. 6.
CARNAL-MINDED
Car"nal-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Worldly-minded.
CARNAL-MINDEDNESS
Car"nal-mind"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Grossness of mind.
CARNARY
Car"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. carnarium, fr. caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: A vault or crypt in connection with a church, used as a
repository for human bones disintered from their original burial
places; a charnel house.
CARNASSIAL
Car*nas"si*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. carnassier carnivorous, and L. caro,
carnis, flesh.] (Anat.)
Defn: Adapted to eating flesh.
-- n.
Defn: A carnassial tooth; especially, the last premolar in many
carnivores.
CARNATE
Car"nate, a. Etym: [L. carnatus fleshy.]
Defn: Invested with, or embodied in, flesh.
CARNATION
Car*na"tion, n. Etym: [F. carnation the flesh tints in a painting, It
carnagione, fr. L. carnatio fleshiness, fr. caro, carnis, flesh. See
Carnal.]
1. The natural color of flesh; rosy pink.
Her complexion of the delicate carnation. Ld. Lytton.
2. pl. (Paint.)
Defn: Those parts of a picture in which the human body or any part of
it is represented in full color; the flesh tints.
The flesh tints in painting are termed carnations. Fairholt.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Dianthus (D. Caryophyllus) or pink, having very
beautiful flowers of various colors, esp. white and usually a rich,
spicy scent.
CARNATIONED
Car*na"tioned, a.
Defn: Having a flesh color.
CARNAUBA
Car*nau"ba, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The Brazilian wax palm. See Wax palm.
CARNELIAN
Car*nel"ian, n. Etym: [For carnelian; influenced by L. carneus
fleshy, of flesh, because of its flesh red color. See Cornellan.]
(Min.)
Defn: A variety of chalcedony, of a clear, deep red, flesh red, or
reddish white color. It is moderately hard, capable of a good polish,
and often used for seals.
CARNEOUS
Car"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. carneus, from caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: Consisting of, or like, flesh; carnous; fleshy. "Carneous
fibers." Ray.
CARNEY
Car"ney, n. Etym: [Cf. L. carneus flesh.] (Far.)
Defn: A disease of horses, on which the mouth is so furred that the
afflicted animal can not eat.
CARNIC
Car"nic, a. [L. caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to flesh; specif. (Physiol. Chem.),
Defn: pertaining to or designating a hydroscopic monobasic acid,
C10H15O5N3, obtained as a cleavage product from an acid of muscle
tissue.
CARNIFEX
Car"ni*fex, n. Etym: [L., fr. caro, carnis, flesh + facere to make.]
(Antiq.)
Defn: The public executioner at Rome, who executed persons of the
lowest rank; hence, an executioner or hangman.
CARNIFICATION
Car`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carnification.]
Defn: The act or process of turning to flesh, or to a substance
resembling flesh.
CARNIFY
Car"ni*fy, v. i. Etym: [LL. carnificare, fr. L.o, carnis, flesh +
facere to make: cf. F. carnifier.]
Defn: To form flesh; to become like flesh. Sir M. Hale.
CARNIN
Car"nin, n. Etym: [L. caro, canis , flesh.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline nitrogenous substance, found in extract of
meat, and related to xanthin.
CARNIVAL
Car"ni*val, n. Etym: [It. carnevale, prob. for older carnelevale,
prop., the putting away of meat; fr. L. caro, carnis, flesh _ levare
to take away, lift up, fr. levis light.]
1. A festival celebrated with merriment and revelry in Roman Gatholic
countries during the week before Lent, esp. at Rome and Naples,
during a few days (three to ten) before Lent, ending with Shrove
Tuesday.
The carnival at Venice is everywhere talked of. Addison.
2. Any merrymaking, feasting, or masquerading, especially when
overstepping the bounds of decorum; a time of riotous excess.
Tennyson.
He saw the lean dogs beneath the wall Hold o'er the dead their
carnival Byron.
CARNIVORA
Car*niv"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from L. carnivorus. See
Carnivorous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Mammallia including the lion, tiger, wolf bear,
seal, etc. They are adapted by their structure to feed upon flesh,
though some of them, as the bears, also eat vegetable food. The teeth
are large and sharp, suitable for cutting flesh, and the jaws
powerful.
CARNIVORACITY
Car*niv`o*rac"i*ty, n.
Defn: Greediness of appetite for flesh. [Sportive.] Pope.
CARNIVORE
Car`ni*vore, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carnivore.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Carnivora.
CARNIVOROUS
Car*niv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. carnivorus; caro, carnis, flesh + varare
to devour.]
Defn: Eating or feeding on flesh. The term is applied: (a) to animals
which naturally seek flesh for food, as the tiger, dog, etc.; (b) to
plants which are supposed to absorb animal food; (c) to substances
which destroy animal tissue, as caustics.
CARNOSE; CARNOUS
Car*nose, Car"*nous, a. Etym: [L. carnosus, fr. caro, carnis, flesh:
cf. OF. carneux, F. charneux.]
1. Of a pertaining to flesh; fleshy.
A distinct carnose muscle. Ray.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Of a fleshy consistence; -- applied to succulent leaves, stems,
etc.
CARNOSITY
Car*nos"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carnosité.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A fleshy excrescence; esp. a small excrescence or fungous
growth. Wiseman.
2. Fleshy substance or quality; fleshy covering.
[Consciences] overgrown with so hard a carnosity. Spelman.
The olives, indeed be very small there, and bigger than capers; yet
commended they are for their carnosity. Holland.
CARNOT'S CYCLE
Car`not's" cy"cle. [After N. L. S. Carnot, French physicist.]
(Thermodynamics)
Defn: An ideal heat-engine cycle in which the working fluid goes
through the following four successive operations: (1) Isothermal
expansion to a desired point; (2) adiabatic expansion to a desired
point; (3) isothermal compression to such a point that (4) adiabatic
compression brings it back to its initial state.
CAROB
Car"ob, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caroube fruit of the carob tree, Sp.
garrobo, al-garrobo, carob tree, fr. Ar. kharrub, Per. Kharnub. Cf.
Clgaroba.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen leguminous tree (Ceratania Siliqua) found in the
countries bordering the Mediterranean; the St. John's bread; --
called also carob tree.
2. One of the long, sweet, succulent, pods of the carob tree, which
are used as food for animals and sometimes eaten by man; -- called
also St. John's bread, carob bean, and algaroba bean.
CAROCHE
Ca*roche", n. Etym: [OF. carrache, F. carrose from It. carrocio,
carrozza, fr. carro, L. carus. See Car.]
Defn: A kind of pleasure carriage; a coach. [Obs.]
To mount two-wheeled caroches. Butler.
CAROCHED
Ca*roched", a.
Defn: Placed in a caroche. [Obs.]
Beggary rides caroched. Massenger.
CAROIGNE
Car"oigne, n. Etym: [See Carrion.]
Defn: Dead body; carrion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CAROL
Car"ol, n. Etym: [OF. carole a kind of dance wherein many dance
together, fr. caroler to dance; perh. from Celtic; cf. Armor. koroll,
n., korolla, korolli, v., Ir. car music, turn, circular motion, also
L. choraula a flute player, charus a dance, chorus, choir.]
1. A round dance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A song of joy, exultation, or mirth; a lay.
The costly feast, the carol, and the dance. Dryden
It was the carol of a bird. Byron.
3. A song of praise of devotion; as, a Christmas or Easter carol.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy. Tennyson.
In the darkness sing your carol of high praise. Keble.
4. Joyful music, as of a song.
I heard the bells on Christmans Day Their old, familiar carol play.
Longfellow.
CAROL
Car"ol, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caroled, or Carolled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Caroling, or Carolling.]
1. To praise or celebrate in song.
The Shepherds at their festivals Carol her goodness. Milton.
2. To sing, especially with joyful notes.
Hovering awans . . . carol sounds harmonious. Prior.
CAROL
Car"ol, v. i.
Defn: To sing; esp. to sing joyfully; to warble.
And carol of love's high praise. Spenser.
The gray linnets carol from the hill. Beattie.
CAROL; CARROL
Car"ol, Car"rol, n. Etym: [OF. carole a sort of circular space, or
carol.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small closet or inclosure built against a window on the inner
side, to sit in for study. The word was used as late as the 16th
century.
A bay window may thus be called a carol. Parker.
CAROLIN
Car"o*lin, n. Etym: [L. Carolus Charles.]
Defn: A former gold coin of Germany worth nearly five dollars; also,
a gold coin of Sweden worth nearly five dollars.
CAROLINA PINK
Car`o*li"na pink`. (Bot.)
Defn: See Pinkboot.
CAROLINE
Car"o*line, n.
Defn: A coin. See Carline.
CAROLING
Car"ol*ing, n.
Defn: A song of joy or devotion; a singing, as of carols. Coleridge.
Such heavenly notes and carolings. Spenser.
CAROLINIAN
Car`o*lin"i*an, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of north or South Carolina.
CAROLITIC
Car`o*lit"ic, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Adorned with sculptured leaves and branches.
CAROLUS
Car"o*lus, n.; pl. E. Caroluses, L. Caroli. Etym: [L., Charles.]
Defn: An English gold coin of the value of twenty or twenty-three
shillings. It was first struck in the reign of Charles I.
Told down the crowns and Caroluses. Macawlay.
CAROM
Car"om, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. F. carumboler to carom,
carambolage a carom, carambole the red ball in billiards.]
(Billiards)
Defn: A shot in which the ball struck with the cue comes in contact
with two or more balls on the table; a hitting of two or more balls
with the player's ball. In England it is called cannon.
CAROM
Car"om, v. i. (Billiards)
Defn: To make a carom.
CAROMEL
Car"o*mel, n.
Defn: See Caramel.
CAROTEEL
Car`o*teel", n. (Com.)
Defn: A tierce or cask for dried fruits, etc., usually about 700 lbs.
Simmonds.
CAROTIC
Ca*rot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Carotid.]
1. Of or pertaining to stupor; as, a carotic state.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Carotid; as, the carotic arteries.
CAROTID
Ca*rot"id, n. Etym: [Gr. carotide. The early Greeks believed that
these arteries in some way caused drowsiness.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the two main arteries of the neck, by which blood is
conveyed from the aorta to the head.
Note: [See Illust. of Aorta.]
CAROTID; CAROTIDAL
Ca*rot"id, Ca*rot"id*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or near, the carotids or one of them; as, the
carotid gland.
CAROTIN
Ca*ro"tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A red crystallizable tasteless substance, extracted from the
carrot.
CAROTTE
Ca`rotte", n. [F., prop., carrot.]
Defn: A cylindrical roll of tobacco; as, a carotte of perique.
CAROUSAL
Ca*rous"al, n. Etym: [See Carouse, but also cf. F. carrousel tilt.]
Defn: A jovial feast or festival; a drunken revel; a carouse.
The swains were preparing for a carousal. Sterne.
Syn.
-- Banquet; revel; orgie; carouse. See Feast.
CAROUSE
Ca*rouse", n. Etym: [F. carrousse, earlier carous, fr. G. garaus
finishing stroke, the emptying of the cup in drinking a health; gar
entirely + aus out. See Yare, and Out.]
1. A large draught of liguor. [Obs.] "A full carouse of sack." Sir J.
Davies.
Drink carouses to the next day's fate. Shak.
2. A drinking match; a carousal.
The early feast and late carouse. Pope.
CAROUSE
Ca*rouse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caroused; p. pr. & vb. n. Carousing.]
Defn: To drink deeply or freely in compliment; to take in a carousal;
to engage in drunken revels.
He had been aboard, carousing to his mates. Shak.
CAROUSE
Ca*rouse" v. t.
Defn: To drink up; to drain; to drink freely or jovially. [Archaic]
Guests carouse the sparkling tears of the rich grape. Denham.
Egypt's wanton queen, Carousing gems, herself dissolved in love.
Young.
CAROUSER
Ca*rous"er, n.
Defn: One who carouses; a reveler.
CAROUSING
Ca*rous"ing, a.
Defn: That carouses; relating to a carouse.
CAROUSINGLY
Ca*rous"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a carouser.
CARP
Carp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Carped; p. pr. & vb. n. Carping.] Etym:
[OE. carpen to say, speak; from Scand. (cf. Icel. karpa to boast),
but influenced later by L. carpere to pluck, calumniate.]
1. To talk; to speak; to prattle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To find fault; to cavil; to censure words or actions without
reason or ill-naturedly; -- usually followed by at.
Carping and caviling at faults of manner. Blackw. Mag.
And at my actions carp or catch. Herbert.
CARP
Carp, v. t.
1. To say; to tell. [Obs.]
2. To find fault with; to censure. [Obs.] Dryden.
CARP
Carp, n.; pl. Carp, formerly Carps. Etym: [Cf. Icel. karfi, Dan.
karpe, Sw. karp, OHG. charpho, G. karpfen, F. carpe, LL. carpa.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water herbivorous fish (Cyprinus carpio.). Several
other species of Cyprinus, Catla, and Carassius are called carp. See
Cruclan carp.
Note: The carp was originally from Asia, whence it was early
introduced into Europe, where it is extensively reared in artificial
ponds. Within a few years it has been introduced into America, and
widely distributed by the government. Domestication has produced
several varieties, as the leather carp, which is nearly or quite
destitute of scales, and the mirror carp, which has only a few large
scales. Intermediate varieties occur. Carp louse (Zoöl.), a small
crustacean, of the genus Argulus, parasitic on carp and allied
fishes. See Branchiura.
-- Carp mullet (Zoöl.), a fish (Moxostoma carpio) of the Ohio River
and Great Lakes, allied to the suckers.
-- Carp sucker (Zoöl.), a name given to several species of fresh-
water fishes of the genus Carpiodes in the United States; -- called
also quillback.
CARPAL
Car"pal, a. Etym: [From Carpus.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the carpus, or wrist.
-- n.
Defn: One of the bones or cartilages of the carpus; a carpale. Carpal
angle (Zoöl.), the angle at the last joint of the folded wing of a
bird.
CARPALE
Car*pa"le, n.; pl. Carpalia. Etym: [NL., fr. E. carpus.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones or cartilages of the carpus; esp. one of the
series articulating with the metacarpals.
CARPATHIAN
Car*pa"thi*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a range of mountains in Austro-Hungary,
called the Carpathians, which partially inclose Hungary on the north,
east, and south.
CARPEL; CARPELLUM
Car"pel, Car*pel"lum, n. Etym: [NL. carpellum, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A simple pistil or single-celled ovary or seed vessel, or one
of the parts of a compound pistil, ovary, or seed vessel. See Illust
of Carpaphore.
CARPELLARY
Car"pel*la"ry, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, forming, or containing carpels.
CARPENTER
Car"pen*ter, n. Etym: [OF. carpentier, F. charpentier, LL.
carpentarius, fr. L. carpentum wagon, carriage.]
Defn: An artificer who works in timber; a framer and builder of
houses, ships, etc.
Syn.
-- Carpenter, Joiner. The carpenter frames and puts together roofs,
partitions, floors, and other structural parts of a building. The
joiner Supplies stairs, doors shutters, mantelpieces, cupboards, and
other parts necessary to finishing the building. In America the two
trades are commonly united. Carpenter ant (Zoöl.), any species of ant
which gnaws galleries in the wood of trees and constructs its nests
therein. They usually select dead or somewhat decayed wood. The
common large American species is Formica Pennsylvanica.
-- Carpenter bee (Zoöl.), a large hymenopterous insect of the genus
Xylocopa; -- so called because it constructs its nest by gnawing long
galleries in sound timber. The common American species is Xylocopa
Virginica.
CARPENTERING
Car"pen*ter*ing, n.
Defn: The occupation or work of a carpenter; the act of workingin
timber; carpentry.
CARPENTRY
Car"pen*try, n. Etym: [F. charpenterie, OF. also carpenterie. See
Carpenter.]
1. The art of cutting, framing, and joining timber, as in the
construction of buildings.
2. An assemblage of pieces of timber connected by being framed
together, as the pieces of a roof, floor, etc.; work done by a
carpenter.
CARPER
Carp"er, n.
Defn: One who carps; a caviler. Shak.
CARPET
Car"pet, n. Etym: [OF. carpite rug, soft of cloth, F. carpette coarse
packing cloth, rug (cf. It. carpita rug, blanket), LL. carpeta,
carpita, woolly cloths, fr. L. carpere to pluck, to card (wool); cf.
Gr. Harvest.]
1. A heavy woven or felted fabric, usually of wool, but also of
cotton, hemp, straw, etc.; esp. a floor covering made in breadths to
be sewed together and nailed to the floor, as distinguished from a
rug or mat; originally, also, a wrought cover for tables.
Tables and beds covered with copes instead of carpets and coverlets.
T. Fuller.
2. A smooth soft covering resembling or suggesting a carpet. "The
grassy carpet of this plain." Shak. Carpet beetle or Carpet bug
(Zoöl.), a small beetle (Anthrenus scrophulariæ), which, in the
larval state, does great damage to carpets and other woolen goods; --
also called buffalo bug.
-- Carpet knight. (a) A knight who enjoys ease and security, or
luxury, and has not known the hardships of the field; a hero of the
drawing room; an effeminate person. Shak. (b) One made a knight, for
some other than military distinction or service.
-- Carpet moth (Zoöl.), the larva of an insect which feeds on
carpets and other woolen goods. There are several kinds. Some are the
larvæ of species of Tinea (as T. tapetzella); others of beetles, esp.
Anthrenus.
-- Carpet snake (Zoöl.), an Australian snake. See Diamond snake,
under Diamond.
-- Carpet sweeper, an apparatus or device for sweeping carpets.
-- To be on the carpet, to be under consideration; to be the subject
of deliberation; to be in sight; -- an expression derived from the
use of carpets as table cover.
-- Brussels carpet. See under Brussels.
CARPET
Car"pet, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carpeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Carpeting.]
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a carpet; to spread with carpets; to
furnish with a carpet or carpets.
Carpeted temples in fashionable squares. E. Everett.
CARPETBAG
Car"pet*bag`, n.
Defn: A portable bag for travelers; -- so called because originally
made of carpet.
CARPETBAGGER
Car"pet*bag"ger, n.
Defn: An adventurer; -- a term of contempt for a Northern man seeking
private gain or political advancement in the southern part of the
United States after the Civil War (1865). [U. S.]
CARPETING
Car"pet*ing, n.
Defn: 1. The act of covering with carpets.
2. Cloth or materials for carpets; carpets, in general.
The floor was covered with rich carpeting. Prescott.
CARPETLESS
Car"pet*less, a.
Defn: Without a carpet.
CARPETMONGER
Car"pet*mon`ger, n.
1. One who deals in carpets; a buyer and seller of carpets.
2. One fond of pleasure; a gallant. Shak.
CARPETWAY
Car"pet*way`, n. (Agric.)
Defn: A border of greensward left round the margin of a plowed field.
Ray.
CARPHOLOGY
Car*phol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. carphologie.] (Med.)
Defn: See Flaccillation.
CARPING
Carp"ing, a.
Defn: Fault-finding; censorious caviling. See Captious.
-- Carp"ing*ly, adv.
CARPINTERO
Car`pin*te"ro, n. Etym: [Sp., a carpenter, a woodpecker.]
Defn: A california woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus), noted for
its habit of inserting acorns in holes which it drills in trees. The
acorns become infested by insect larvæ, which, when grown, are
extracted for food by the bird.
CARPOGENIC
Car`po*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Productive of fruit, or causing fruit to be developed.
CARPOLITE
Car"po*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite, cf. F. carpolithe.]
Defn: A general term for a fossil fruit, nut, or seed.
CARPOLOGICAL
Car`po*log"i*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to carpology.
CARPOLOGIST
Car*pol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who describes fruits; one versed in carpology.
CARPOLOGY
Car*pol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That branch of botany which relates to the structure of seeds
and fruit.
CARPOPHAGOUS
Car*poph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Living on fruits; fruit-consuming.
CARPOPHORE
Car"po*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A slender prolongation of the receptacle as an axis between the
carpels, as in Geranium and many umbelliferous plants.
CARPOPHYLL
Car"po*phyll, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A leaf converted into a fruit or a constituent portion of a
fruit; a carpel.
Note: [See Illust. of Gymnospermous.]
CARPOPHYTE
Car"po*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A flowerless plant which forms a true fruit as the result of
fertilization, as the red seaweeds, the Ascomycetes, etc.
Note: The division of alge and fungi into four classes called
Carpophytes, Oöphytes, Protophytes, and Zygophytes (or Carposporeæ,
Oösporeæ, Protophyta, and Zygosporeæ) was proposed by Sachs about
1875.
CARPOSPORE
Car"po*spore, n. Etym: [Gr. -spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of spore formed in the conceptacles of red algæ.
-- Car`po*spor"ic (, a.
CARPUS
Car"pus, n.; pl. Carpi. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The wrist; the bones or cartilages between the forearm, or
antibrachium, and the hand or forefoot; in man, consisting of eight
short bones disposed in two rows.
CARRACK
Car"rack, n.
Defn: See Carack.
CARRAGEEN; CARRIGEEN
Car"ra*geen`, Car"ri*geen`, n.
Defn: A small, purplish, branching, cartilaginous seaweed (Chondrus
crispus), which, when bleached, is the Irish moss of commerce. [Also
written carragheen, carageen.]
CARRANCHA
Car*ran"cha, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Brazilian kite (Polyborus Brasiliensis); -- so called in
imitation of its notes.
CARRAWAY
Car"ra*way, n.
Defn: See Caraway.
CARREL
Car"rel, n.
Defn: See Quarrel, an arrow.
CARREL
Car"rel, n. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as 4th Carol.
CARRIABLE
Car"ri*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being carried.
CARRIAGE
Car"riage, n. Etym: [OF. cariage luggage, carriage, chariage
carriage, cart, baggage, F. charriage, cartage, wagoning, fr. OF.
carier, charier, F. charrier, to cart. See Carry.]
1. That which is carried; burden; baggage. [Obs.]
David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage. 1.
Sam. xvii. 22.
And after those days we took up our carriages and went up to
Jerusalem. Acts. xxi. 15.
2. The act of carrying, transporting, or conveying.
Nine days employed in carriage. Chapman.
3. The price or expense of carrying.
4. That which carries of conveys, as: (a) A wheeled vehicle for
persons, esp. one designed for elegance and comfort. (b) A wheeled
vehicle carrying a fixed burden, as a gun carriage. (c) A part of a
machine which moves and carries of supports some other moving object
or part. (d) A frame or cage in which something is carried or
supported; as, a bell carriage.
5. The manner of carrying one's self; behavior; bearing; deportment;
personal manners.
His gallant carriage all the rest did grace. Stirling.
6. The act or manner of conducting measures or projects; management.
The passage and whole carriage of this action. Shak.
Carriage horse, a horse kept for drawing a carriage.
-- Carriage porch (Arch.), a canopy or roofed pavilion covering the
driveway at the entrance to any building. It is intended as a shelter
for those who alight from vehicles at the door; -- sometimes
erroneously called in the United States porte-cochère.
CARRIAGEABLE
Car"riage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Passable by carriages; that can be conveyed in carriages. [R.]
Ruskin.
CARRIBOO
Car"ri*boo, n.
Defn: See Caribou.
CARRICK
Car"rick, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A carack. See Carack. Carrick bend (Naut.), a kind of knot,
used for bending together hawsers or other ropes.
-- Carrick bitts (Naut.), the bitts which support the windlass.
Totten.
CARRIER
Car"ri*er, n. Etym: [From Carry.]
1. One who, or that which, carries or conveys; a messenger.
The air which is but . . . a carrier of the sounds. Bacon.
2. One who is employed, or makes it his business, to carry goods for
others for hire; a porter; a teamster.
The roads are crowded with carriers, laden with rich manufactures.
Swift.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: That which drives or carries; as: (a) A piece which
communicates to an object in a lathe the motion of the face plate; a
lathe dog. (b) A spool holder or bobbin holder in a braiding machine.
(c) A movable piece in magazine guns which transfers the cartridge to
a position from which it can be thrust into the barrel. Carrier
pigeon (Zoöl.), a variety of the domestic pigeon used to convey
letters from a distant point to to its home.
-- Carrier shell (Zoöl.), a univalve shell of the genus Phorus; --
so called because it fastens bits of stones and broken shells to its
own shell, to such an extent as almost to conceal it.
-- Common carrier (Law.) See under Common, a.
CARRION
Car"ri*on, n. Etym: [OE. caroyne, OF. caroigne, F. charogne, LL.
caronia, fr. L. caro flesh Cf. Crone, Crony.]
1. The dead and putrefying body or flesh of an animal; flesh so
corrupted as to be unfit for food.
They did eat the dead carrions. Spenser.
2. A contemptible or worthless person; -- a term of reproach. [Obs.]
"Old feeble carrions." Shak.
CARRION
Car"ri*on, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dead and putrefying carcasses; feeding on
carrion.
A prey for carrion kites. Shak.
Carrion beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle that feeds habitually on dead
animals; -- also called sexton beetle and burying beetle. There are
many kinds, belonging mostly to the family Silphidæ.
-- Carrion buzzard (Zoöl.), a South American bird of several species
and genera (as Ibycter, Milvago, and Polyborus), which act as
scavengers. See Caracara.
-- Carrion crow, the common European crow (Corvus corone) which
feeds on carrion, insects, fruits, and seeds.
CARROL
Car"rol, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See 4th Carol.
CARROM
Car"rom, n. (Billiards)
Defn: See Carom.
CARROMATA
Car`ro*ma"ta, n. [Sp. in Phil. I.]
Defn: In the Philippines, a light, two-wheeled, boxlike vehicle
usually drawn by a single native pony and used to convey passengers
within city limits or for traveling. It is the common public
carriage.
CARRONADE
Car`ron*ade, n. Etym: [From Carron, in Scotland where it was first
made.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of short cannon, formerly in use, designed to throw a
large projectile with small velocity, used for the purpose of
breaking or smashing in, rather than piercing, the object aimed at,
as the side of a ship. It has no trunnions, but is supported on its
carriage by a bolt passing through a loop on its under side.
CARRON OIL
Car"ron oil.
Defn: A lotion of linseed oil and lime water, used as an application
to burns and scalds; -- first used at the Carron iron works in
Scotland.
CARROT
Car"rot, n. Etym: [F. carotte, fr. L. carota; cf. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous biennial plant (Daucus Carota), of many
varieties.
2. The esculent root of cultivated varieties of the plant, usually
spindle-shaped, and of a reddish yellow color.
CARROTY
Car"rot*y, a.
Defn: Like a carrot in color or in taste; -- an epithet given to
reddish yellow hair, etc.
CARROW
Car"row, n. Etym: [Ir & Gael. carach cunning.]
Defn: A strolling gamester. [Ireland] Spenser.
CARRY
Car"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carried; p. pr. & vb. n. Carrying.] Etym:
[OF. carier, charier, F. carrier, to cart, from OF. car, char, F.
car, car. See Car.]
1. To convey or transport in any manner from one place to another; to
bear; -- often with away or off.
When he dieth he small carry nothing away. Ps. xiix. 17.
Devout men carried Stephen to his burial. Acts viii, 2.
Another carried the intelligence to Russell. Macaulay.
The sound will be carried, at the least, twenty miles. Bacon.
2. To have or hold as a burden, while moving from place to place; to
have upon or about one's person; to bear; as, to carry a wound; to
carry an unborn child.
If the ideas . . . were carried along with us in our minds. Locke.
3. To move; to convey by force; to impel; to conduct; to lead or
guide.
Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet. Shak.
He carried away all his cattle. Gen. xxxi. 18.
Passion and revenge will carry them too far. Locke.
4. To transfer from one place (as a country, book, or column) to
another; as, to carry the war from Greece into Asia; to carry an
account to the ledger; to carry a number in adding figures.
5. To convey by extension or continuance; to extend; as, to carry the
chimney through the roof; to carry a road ten miles farther.
6. To bear or uphold successfully through conflict, as a leader or
principle; hence, to succeed in, as in a contest; to bring to a
successful issue; to win; as, to carry an election. "The greater part
carries it." Shak.
The carrying of our main point. Addison.
7. To get possession of by force; to capture.
The town would have been carried in the end. Bacon.
8. To contain; to comprise; to bear the aspect of ; to show or
exhibit; to imply.
He thought it carried something of argument in it. Watts.
It carries too great an imputation of ignorance. Lacke.
9. To bear (one's self); to behave, to conduct or demean; -- with the
refexive pronouns.
He carried himself so insolently in the house, and out of the house,
to all persons, that he became odious. Clarendon.
10. To bear the charges or burden of holding or having, as stocks,
merchandise, etc., from one time to another; as, a merchant is
carrying a large stock; a farm carries a mortgage; a broker carries
stock for a customer; to carry a life insurance. Carry arms (Mil.
Drill), a command of the Manual of Arms directing the soldier to hold
his piece in the right hand, the barrel resting against the hollow of
the shoulder in a nearly perpendicular position. In this position the
soldier is said to stand, and the musket to be held, at carry.
-- To carry all before one, to overcome all obstacles; to have
uninterrupted success.
-- To carry arms (a) To bear weapons. (b) To serve as a soldier.
-- To carry away. (a) (Naut.) to break off; to lose; as, to carry
away a fore-topmast. (b) To take possession of the mind; to charm; to
delude; as, to be carried by music, or by temptation.
-- To carry coals, to bear indignities tamely, a phrase used by
early dramatists, perhaps from the mean nature of the occupation.
Halliwell.
-- To carry coals to Newcastle, to take things to a place where they
already abound; to lose one's labor.
-- To carry off (a) To remove to a distance. (b) To bear away as
from the power or grasp of others. (c) To remove from life; as, the
plague carried off thousands.
-- To carry on (a) To carry farther; to advance, or help forward; to
continue; as, to carry on a design. (b) To manage, conduct, or
prosecute; as, to carry on husbandry or trade.
-- To carry out. (a) To bear from within. (b) To put into execution;
to bring to a successful issue. (c) To sustain to the end; to
continue to the end.
-- To carry through. (a) To convey through the midst of. (b) To
support to the end; to sustain, or keep from falling, or being
subdued. "Grace will carry us . . . through all difficulties."
Hammond. (c) To complete; to bring to a succesful issue; to succeed.
-- To carry up, to convey or extend in an upward course or
direction; to build.
-- To carry weight. (a) To be handicapped; to have an extra burden,
as when one rides or runs. "He carries weight, he rides a race"
Cowper. (b) To have influence.
CARRY
Car"ry, v. i.
1. To act as a bearer; to convey anything; as, to fetch and carry.
2. To have propulsive power; to propel; as, a gun or mortar carries
well.
3. To hold the head; -- said of a horse; as, to carry well i. e., to
hold the head high, with arching neck.
4. (Hunting)
Defn: To have earth or frost stick to the feet when running, as a
hare. Johnson. To carry on, to behave in a wild, rude, or romping
manner. [Colloq.]
CARRY
Car"ry, n.; pl. Carries.
Defn: A tract of land, over which boats or goods are carried between
two bodies of navigable water; a carrying place; a portage. Etym:
[U.S.]
CARRYALL
Car"ry*all`, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. cariole.]
Defn: A light covered carriage, having four wheels and seats for four
or more persons, usually drawn by one horse.
CARRYING
Car"ry*ing, n.
Defn: The act or business of transporting from one place to another.
Carrying place, a carry; a portage.
-- Carrying trade, the business of transporting goods, etc., from
one place or country to another by water or land; freighting.
We are rivals with them in . . . the carrying trade. Jay.
CARRYK
Car"ryk, n.
Defn: A carack. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CARRYTALE
Car"ry*tale`, n.
Defn: A talebearer. [R.] Shak.
CARSE
Carse, n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. W. cars bog, fen. carsen reed,
Armor. kars, korsen, bog plant, reed.]
Defn: Low, fertile land; a river valley. [Scot.] Jomieson.
CART
Cart, n. Etym: [AS. cræt; cf. W. cart, Ir. & Gael. cairt, or Icel.
kartr. Cf. Car.]
1. A common name for various kinds of vehicles, as a Scythian
dwelling on wheels, or a chariot. "Phoebus' cart." Shak.
2. A two-wheeled vehicle for the ordinary purposes of husbandry, or
for transporting bulky and heavy articles.
Packing all his goods in one poor cart. Dryden.
3. A light business wagon used by bakers, grocerymen, butchers, atc.
4. An open two-wheeled pleasure carriage. Cart horse, a horse which
draws a cart; a horse bred or used for drawing heavy loads.
-- Cart load, or Cartload, as much as will fill or load a cart. In
excavating and carting sand, gravel, earth, etc., one third of a
cubic yard of the material before it is loosened is estimated to be a
cart load.
-- Cart rope, a stout rope for fastening a load on a cart; any
strong rope.
-- To put (or get or set) the cart before the horse, to invert the
order of related facts or ideas, as by putting an effect for a cause.
CART
Cart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carted; p. pr. & vb. n. Carting.]
1. To carry or convey in a cart.
2. To expose in a cart by way of punishment.
She chuckled when a bawd was carted. Prior.
CART
Cart, v. i.
Defn: To carry burdens in a cart; to follow the business of a carter.
CARTAGE
Cart"age, n.
1. The act of carrying in a cart.
2. The price paid for carting.
CARTBOTE
Cart"bote`, n. Etym: [Cart + bote.] (Old Eng. Law.)
Defn: Wood to which a tenant is entitled for making and repairing
carts and other instruments of husbandry.
CARTE
Carte, n. Etym: [F. See 1st Card.]
1. Bill of fare.
2. Short for Carte de visite.
CARTE BLANCHE
Carte` blanche". Etym: [F., fr. OF. carte paper + -blanc, blanche,
white. See 1st Card.]
Defn: A blank paper, with a person's signature, etc., at the bottom,
given to another person, with permission to superscribe what
conditions he pleases. Hence: Unconditional terms; unlimited
authority.
CARTE DE VISITE
Carte" de vi*site`, pl. Cartes de visite (. Etym: [F.]
1. A visiting card.
2. A photographic picture of the size formerly in use for a visiting
card.
CARTEL
Car*tel", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. cartellus a little paper, dim. fr. L.
charta. See 1st Card.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: An agreement between belligerents for the exchange of
prisoners. Wilhelm.
2. A letter of defiance or challenge; a challenge to single combat.
[Obs.]
He is cowed at the very idea of a cartel., Sir W. Scott.
Cartel, or Cartel ship, a ship employed in the exchange of prisoners,
or in carrying propositions to an enemy; a ship beating a flag of
truce and privileged from capture.
CARTEL
Car"tel, v. t.
Defn: To defy or challenge. [Obs.]
You shall cartel him. B. Jonson.
CARTE QUARTE
Carte. Quarte, n. Etym: [F. quarte, prop., a fourth. Cf. Quart.]
(Fencing)
Defn: A position in thrusting or parrying, with the inside of the
hand turned upward and the point of the weapon toward the adversary's
right breast.
CARTER
Cart"er, n.
1. A charioteer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A man who drives a cart; a teamster.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) Any species of Phalangium; -- also called harvestman.
(b) A British fish; the whiff.
CARTESIAN
Car*te"sian, a. Etym: [From Renatus Cartesius, Latinized from of René
Descartes: cf. F. cartésien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the French philosopher René Descartes, or
his philosophy.
The Cartesion argument for reality of matter. Sir W. Hamilton.
Cartesian coördinates (Geom), distance of a point from lines or
planes; -- used in a system of representing geometric quantities,
invented by Descartes.
-- Cartesian devil, a small hollow glass figure, used in connection
with a jar of water having an elastic top, to illustrate the effect
of the compression or expansion of air in changing the specific
gravity of bodies.
-- Cartesion oval (Geom.), a curve such that, for any point of the
curve mr + m'r' = c, where r and r' are the distances of the point
from the two foci and m, m' and c are constant; -- used by Descartes.
CARTESIAN
Car*te"sian, n.
Defn: An adherent of Descartes.
CARTESIANISM
Car*te"sian*ism, n.
Defn: The philosophy of Descartes.
CARTHAGINIAN
Car`tha*gin"i*an, a.
Defn: Of a pertaining to ancient Carthage, a city of northern Africa.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Carthage.
CARTHAMIN
Car"tha*min, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A red coloring matter obtained from the safflower, or Carthamus
tinctorius.
CARTHUSIAN
Car*thu"sian, n. Etym: [LL. Cartusianus, Cartusiensis, from the town
of Chartreuse, in France.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A member of an exceeding austere religious order, founded at
Chartreuse in France by St. Bruno, in the year 1086.
CARTHUSIAN
Car*thu"sian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Carthusian.
CARTILAGE
Car"ti*lage, n. Etym: [L. cartilago; cf. F. cartilage.] (Anat.)
Defn: A translucent, elastic tissue; gristle.
Note: Cartilage contains no vessels, and consists of a homogeneous,
intercellular matrix, in which there are numerous minute cavities, or
capsules, containing protoplasmic cells, the cartilage corpuscul. See
Illust under Duplication. Articular cartilage, cartilage that lines
the joints.
-- Cartilage bone (Anat.), any bone formed by the ossification of
cartilage.
-- Costal cartilage, cartilage joining a rib with he sternum. See
Illust. of Thorax.
CARTILAGINEOUS
Car`ti*la*gin"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. cartilageneus.]
Defn: See Cartilaginous. Ray.
CARTILAGINIFICATION
Car"ti*la*gin`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. cartilago, -laginis,
cartilage + facere to make.]
Defn: The act or process of forming cartilage. Wright.
CARTILAGINOUS
Car`ti*lag"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. cartilaginosus: cf. F.
cartilagineux.]
1. Of or pertaining to cartilage; gristly; firm and tough like
cartilage.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the skeleton in the state of cartilage, the bones
containing little or no calcareous matter; said of certain fishes, as
the sturgeon and the sharks.
CARTIST
Car"tist, n. [Sp. cartista, fr. carta paper, document (cf. Pg.
carta). See Charta; cf. Chartist.]
Defn: In Spain and Portugal, one who supports the constitution.
CARTMAN
Cart"man, n.; pl. Cartmen (.
Defn: One who drives or uses a cart; a teamster; a carter.
CARTOGRAM
Car"to*gram, n. [F. cartogramme.]
Defn: A map showing geographically, by shades or curves, statistics
of various kinds; a statistical map.
CARTOGRAPHER
Car*tog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who make charts or maps.
CARTOGRAPHIC; CARTOGRAPHICAL
Car`to*graph"ic, Car`to*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cartography.
CARTOGRAPHICALLY
Car`to*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By cartography.
CARTOGRAPHY
Car*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cartographie. See Card, and -
graphy.]
Defn: The act business of forming chart's or maps.
CARTOMANCY
Car"to*man`cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cartomancie. See Card, and -mancy.]
Defn: The act of telling fortunes with cards.
CARTON
Car"ton, n. Etym: [F. See Cartoon.]
Defn: Pasteboard for paper boxes; also, a pasteboard box. Carton
pierre (, a species of papier-maché, imitating stone or bronze
sculpture. Knight.
CARTOON
Car*toon", n. Etym: [F. carton (cf. It. cartons pasteboard,
cartoon.); fr. L. charta. See 1st card.]
1. A design or study drawn of the full size, to serve as a model for
transferring or copying; -- used in the making of mosaics,
tapestries, fresco pantings and the like; as, the cartoons of
Raphael.
2. A large pictorial sketch, as in a journal or magazine; esp. a
pictorial caricature; as , the cartoons of "Puck."
CARTOONIST
Car"toon"ist, n.
Defn: One skilled in drawing cartoons.
CARTOUCH
Car*touch", n.; pl. Cartouches Etym: [F. cartouche, It. cartuccia,
cartoccio, cornet, cartouch, fr. L. charta paper. See 1st Card, and
cf. Cartridge.]
1. (Mil.)
(a) A roll or case of paper, etc., holding a charge for a firearm; a
cartridge.
(b) A cartridge box.
(c) A wooden case filled with balls, to be shot from a cannon.
(d) A gunner's bag for ammunition.
(e) A military pass for a soldier on furlough.
2. (Arch.)
(a) A cantalever, console, corbel, or modillion, which has the form
of a scroll of paper.
(b) A tablet for ornament, or for receiving an inscription, formed
like a sheet of paper with the edges rolled up; hence, any tablet of
ornamental form.
3. (Egyptian Antiq.)
Defn: An oval figure on monuments, and in papyri, containing the name
of a sovereign.
CARTRIDGE
Car"tridge, n. Etym: [Formerlly cartrage, corrupted fr. F. cartouche.
See Cartouch.] (Mil.)
Defn: A complete charge for a firearm, contained in, or held together
by, a case, capsule, or shell of metal, pasteboard, or other
material. Ball cartridge, a cartridge containing a projectile.
-- Blank cartrige, a cartridge without a projectile, -- Center-fire
cartridge, a cartridge in which the fulminate occupies an axial
position usually in the center of the base of the capsule, instead of
being contained in its rim. In the Prussian needle gun the fulminate
is applied to the middle of the base of the bullet. Rim-fire
cartridge, a cartridge in which the fulminate is contained in a rim
surrounding its base.
-- Cartridge bag, a bag of woolen cloth, to hold a charge for a
cannon.
-- Cartridge belt, a belt having pocket for cartridges.
-- Cartridge box, a case, usually of leather, attached to a belt or
strap, for holding cartridges.
-- Cartridge paper. (a) A thick stout paper for inclosing
cartridges. (b) A rough tinted paper used for covering walls, and
also for making drawings upon.
CARTULARY
Car"tu*la*ry, n.; pl. Cartularies. Etym: [LL. cartularium,
chartularium, fr. L. charta paper: cf. F. cartulaire. See 1st Card.]
1. A register, or record, as of a monastery or church.
Defn:
2. An ecclesiastical officer who had charge of records or other
public papers.
CARTWAY
Cart"way`, n.
Defn: A way or road for carts.
CARTWRIGHT
Cart"wright`, n. Etym: [Cart + wright.]
Defn: An artificer who makes carts; a cart maker.
CARUCAGE
Car"u*cage, n. Etym: [LL. carrucagium (OF. charuage.), fr. LL.
carruca plow, fr. L. carruca coach.]
1. (Old Eng. Law.)
Defn: A tax on every plow or plowland.
2. The act of plowing. [R.]
CARUCATE
Car"u*cate, n. Etym: [LL. carucata, carrucata. See Carucage.]
Defn: A plowland; as much land as one team can plow in a year and a
day; -- by some said to be about 100 acres. Burrill.
CARUNCLE; CARUNCULA
Car"un*cle, Ca*run"cu*la, n. Etym: [L. caruncula a little piece of
flesh, dim. of caro flesh.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A small fleshy prominence or excrescence; especially the small,
reddish body, the caruncula lacrymalis, in the inner angle of the
eye.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An excrescence or appendage surrounding or near the hilum of a
seed.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A naked, flesh appendage, on the head of a bird, as the wattles
of a turkey, etc.
CARUNCULAR; CARUNCULOUS
Ca*run"cu*lar, Ca*run"cu*lous, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, a caruncle; furnished with
caruncles.
CARUNCULATE; CARUNCULATED
Ca*run"cu*late, Ca*run"cu*la`ted, a.
Defn: Having a caruncle or caruncles; caruncular.
CARUS
Ca"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Coma with complete insensibility; deep lethargy.
CARVACROL
Car"va*crol, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A thick oily liquid, C10H13.OH, of a strong taste and
disagreeable odor, obtained from oil of caraway (Carum carui).
CARVE
Carve, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carved; p. pr. & vb. n. Carving.] Etym:
[AS. ceorfan to cut, carve; akin to D. kerven, G. kerben, Dan. karve,
Sw. karfva, and to Gr. -graphy. Cf. Graphic.]
1. To cut. [Obs.]
Or they will carven the shepherd's throat. Spenser.
2. To cut, as wood, stone, or other material, in an artistic or
decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave.
Carved with figures strange and sweet. Coleridge.
3. To make or shape by cutting, sculpturing, or engraving; to form;
as, to carve a name on a tree.
An angel carved in stone. Tennyson.
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone. C. Wolfe.
4. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat at table; to divide
for distribution or apportionment; to apportion. "To carve a capon."
Shak.
5. To cut: to hew; to mark as if by cutting.
My good blade carved the casques of men. Tennyson.
A million wrinkles carved his skin. Tennyson.
6. To take or make, as by cutting; to provide.
Who could easily have carved themselves their own food. South.
7. To lay out; to contrive; to design; to plan.
Lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet. Shak.
To carve out, to make or get by cutting, or as if by cutting; to cut
out. "[Macbeth] with his brandished steel . . . carved out his
passage." Shak.
Fortunes were carved out of the property of the crown. Macaulay.
CARVE
Carve, v. i.
1. To exercise the trade of a sculptor or carver; to engrave or cut
figures.
2. To cut up meat; as, to carve for all the guests.
CARVE
Carve, n.
Defn: A carucate. [Obs.] Burrill.
CARVEL
Car"vel, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. caravel.]
1. Same as Caravel.
2. A species of jellyfish; sea blubber. Sir T. Herbert.
CARVELBUILT
Car"vel*built, a. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Having the planks meet flush at the seams, instead of lapping
as in a clinker-built vessel.
CARVEN
Car"ven, a.
Defn: Wrought by carving; ornamented by carvings; carved. [Poetic]
A carven bowl well wrought of beechen tree. Bp. Hall.
The carven cedarn doors. Tennyson.
A screen of carven ivory. Mrs. Browning.
CARVENE
Car"vene, n. Etym: [F. carvi caraway.]
Defn: An oily substance, C10H16, extracted from oil caraway.
CARVER
Carv"er, n.
1. One who carves; one who shapes or fashions by carving, or as by
carving; esp. one who carves decorative forms, architectural
adornments, etc. "The carver's chisel." Dodsley.
The carver of his fortunes. Sharp (Richardson's Dict. )
2. One who carves or divides meat at table.
3. A large knife for carving.
CARVING
Carv"ing, n.
1. The act or art of one who carves.
2. A piece of decorative work cut in stone, wood, or other material.
"Carving in wood." Sir W. Temple.
3. The whole body of decorative sculpture of any kind or epoch, or in
any material; as, the Italian carving of the 15th century.
CARVIST
Car"vist, n. Etym: [A corruption of carry fist.] (Falconary)
Defn: A hawk which is of proper age and training to be carried on the
hand; a hawk in its first year. Booth.
CARVOL
Car"vol, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a species of aromatic oils, resembling carvacrol.
CAR WHEEL
Car" wheel`,
Defn: A flanged wheel of a railway car or truck.
CARYATIC; CARYATID
Car`y*at"ic, Car`y*at"id, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a caryatid.
CARYATID
Car`y*at"id, n.; pl. Caryatids Etym: [See Caryatides.]
Defn: (Arch.) A draped female figure supporting an entablature, in
the place of a column or pilaster.
CARYATIDES
Car`y*at"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Arch)
Defn: Caryatids.
Note: Corresponding male figures were called Atlantes, Telamones, and
Persians.
CARYOPHYLLACEOUS
Car`y*o*phyl*la"ceous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
(a) Having corollas of five petals with long claws inclosed in a
tubular, calyx, as the pink.
(b) Belonging to the family of which the pink and the carnation are
the types.
CARYOPHYLLIN
Car`y*oph"yl*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A tasteless and odorless crystalline substance, extracted from
cloves, polymeric with common camphor.
CARYOPHYLLOUS
Car`y*oph"yl*lous, a.
Defn: Caryophyllaceous.
CARYOPSIS
Car`y*op"sis, n.; pl. Caryopses. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A one-celled, dry, indehiscent fruit, with a thin membranous
pericarp, adhering closely to the seed, so that fruit and seed are
incorporated in one body, forming a single grain, as of wheat,
barley, etc.
CASA
Ca"sa, n. [Sp. or It., fr. L. casa cabin.]
Defn: A house or mansion. [Sp. Amer. & Phil. Islands]
I saw that Enriquez had made no attempt to modernize the old casa,
and that even the garden was left in its lawless native luxuriance.
Bret Harte.
CASAL
Ca"sal, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to case; as, a casal ending.
CASCABEL
Cas"ca*bel, n. Etym: [Sp. cascabel a little bell, also (fr. the
shape), a knob at the breech end of a cannon.]
Defn: The projection in rear of the breech of a cannon, usually a
knob or breeching loop connected with the gun by a neck. In old
writers it included all in rear of the base ring.
Note: [See Illust. of Cannon.]
CASCADE
Cas*cade", n. Etym: [F. cascade, fr. It. cascata, fr. cascare to
ball.]
Defn: A fall of water over a precipice, as in a river or brook; a
waterfall less than a cataract.
The silver brook . . . pours the white cascade. Longjellow.
Now murm'ring soft, now roaring in cascade. Cawper.
CASCADE
Cas*cade", v. i.
1. To fall in a cascade. Lowell.
2. To vomit. [Slang] Smollett.
CASCADE METHOD
Cas*cade" meth"od. (Physics)
Defn: A method of attaining successively lower temperatures by
utilizing the cooling effect of the expansion of one gas in
condensing another less easily liquefiable, and so on.
CASCADE SYSTEM
Cascade system. (Elec.)
Defn: A system or method of connecting and operating two induction
motors so that the primary circuit of one is connected to the
secondary circuit of the other, the primary circuit of the latter
being connected to the source of supply; also, a system of electric
traction in which motors so connected are employed. The cascade
system is also called tandem, or concatenated, system; the connection
a cascade, tandem, or concatenated, connection, or a concatenation;
and the control of the motors so obtained a tandem, or concatenation,
control. In the cascade system of traction the cascade connection is
used for starting and for low speeds up to half speed. For full speed
the short-circuited motor is cut loose from the other motor and is
either left idle or (commonly) connected direct to the line.
CASCALHO
Cas*cal"ho, n. Etym: [Pg., a chip of stone, gravel.]
Defn: A deposit of pebbles, gravel, and ferruginous sand, in which
the Brazilian diamond is usually found.
CASCARA BUCKTHORN
Cas"ca*ra buck"thorn`. (Bot.)
Defn: The buckthorn (Rhamnus Purshiana) of the Pacific coast of the
United States, which yields cascara sagrada.
CASCARA SAGRADA
Cas"ca*ra sa*gra"da. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: Holy bark; the bark of the California buckthorn (Rhamnus
Purshianus), used as a mild cathartic or laxative.
CASCARILLA
Cas`ca*ril"la, n.Etym: [Sp., small thin bark, Peruvian bark, dim. of
cáscara bark.] (Bot.)
Defn: A euphorbiaceous West Indian shrub (Croton Eleutheria); also,
its aromatic bark. Cascarilla bark (or Cascarila) (Med.), the bark of
Croton Eleutheria. It has an aromatic odor and a warm, spicy, bitter
taste, and when burnt emits a musky odor. It is used as a gentle
tonic, and sometimes, for the sake of its fragrance, mixed with
smoking tobacco, when it is said to occasion vertigo and
intoxication.
CASCARILLIN
Cas`ca*ril"lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystallizable, bitter substance extracted from oil of
cascarilla.
CASCARON
Cas`ca*ron", n. [Sp. cascarón.]
Defn: Lit., an eggshell; hence, an eggshell filled with confetti to
be thrown during balls, carnivals, etc. [Western U. S.]
CASE
Case, n. Etym: [OF. casse, F. caisse (cf. It. cassa), fr. L. capsa
chest, box, case, fr. caper to take, hold See Capacious, and cf. 4th
Chase, Cash, Enchase, 3d Sash.]
1. A box, sheath, or covering; as, a case for holding goods; a case
for spectacles; the case of a watch; the case (capsule) of a
cartridge; a case (cover) for a book.
2. A box and its contents; the quantity contained in a box; as, a
case of goods; a case of instruments.
3. (Print.)
Defn: A shallow tray divided into compartments or "boxes" for holding
type.
Note: Cases for type are usually arranged in sets of two, called
respectively the upper and the lower case. The upper case contains
capitals, small capitals, accented; the lower case contains the small
letters, figures, marks of punctuation, quadrats, and spaces.
4. An inclosing frame; a casing; as, a door case; a window case.
5. (Mining)
Defn: A small fissure which admits water to the workings. Knight.
CASE
Case, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cased; p. pr. & vb. n. Casing.]
1. To cover or protect with, or as with, a case; to inclose.
The man who, cased in steel, had passed whole days and nights in the
saddle. Prescott.
2. To strip the skin from; as, to case a box. [Obs.]
CASE
Case, n. Etym: [F. cas, fr. L. casus, fr. cadere to fall, to happen.
Cf. Chance.]
1. Chance; accident; hap; opportunity. [Obs.]
By aventure, or sort, or cas. Chaucer.
2. That which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a
circumstance, or all the circumstamces; condition; state of things;
affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the
Indian tribes.
In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge. Deut. xxiv. 13.
If the case of the man be so with his wife. Matt. xix. 10.
And when a lady's in the case. You know all other things give place.
Gay.
You think this madness but a common case. Pope.
I am in case to justle a constable, Shak.
3. (Med. & Surg.)
Defn: A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury;
as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury.
A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases. Arbuthnot.
4. (Law)
Defn: The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as
distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a
cause.
Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is
not reason. Sir John Powell.
Not one case in the reports of our courts. Steele.
5. (Gram.)
Defn: One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a
noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other
words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation
which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word.
Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of
word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its
signification, applied also to the nominative. J. W. Gibbs.
Note: Cases other than the nominative are oblique cases. Case endings
are terminations by which certain cases are distinguished. In old
English, as in Latin, nouns had several cases distinguished by case
endings, but in modern English only that of the possessive case is
retained. Action on the case (Law), according to the old
classification (now obsolete), was an action for redress of wrongs or
injuries to person or property not specially provided against by law,
in which the whole cause of complaint was set out in the writ; --
called also trespass on the case, or simply case.
-- All a case, a matter of indifference. [Obs.] "It is all a case to
me." L'Estrange.
-- Case at bar. See under Bar, n.
-- Case divinity, casuistry.
-- Case lawyer, one versed in the reports of cases rather than in
the science of the law.
-- Case stated or agreed on (Law), a statement in writing of facts
agreed on and submitted to the court for a decision of the legal
points arising on them.
-- A hard case, an abandoned or incorrigible person. [Colloq.] -- In
any case, whatever may be the state of affairs; anyhow.
-- In case, or In case that, if; supposing that; in the event or
contingency; if it should happen that. "In case we are surprised,
keep by me." W. Irving.
-- In good case, in good condition, health, or state of body.
-- To put a case, to suppose a hypothetical or illustrative case.
Syn.
-- Situation, condition, state; circumstances; plight; predicament;
occurrence; contingency; accident; event; conjuncture; cause; action;
suit.
CASE
Case, v. i.
Defn: To propose hypothetical cases. [Obs.] "Casing upon the matter."
L'Estrange.
CASEATION
Ca`se*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caséation. See Casein.] (Med.)
Defn: A degeneration of animal tissue into a cheesy or curdy mass.
CASE-BAY
Case"-bay`, n. (Arch.)
(a) The space between two principals or girders.
(b) One of the joists framed between a pair of girders in naked
flooring.
CASEHARDEN
Case"hard`en, v. t.
1. To subject to a process which converts the surface of iron into
steel.
2. To render insensible to good influences.
CASEHARDENED
Case"hard`ened, a.
1. Having the surface hardened, as iron tools.
2. Hardened against, or insusceptible to, good influences; rendered
callous by persistence in wrongdoing or resistance of good
influences; -- said of persons.
CASEHARDENING
Case"hard`en*ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of converting the surface of iron into
steel. Ure.
Note: Casehardening is now commonly effected by cementation with
charcoal or other carbonizing material, the depth and degree of
hardening (carbonization) depending on the time during which the iron
is exposed to the heat. See Cementation.
CASEIC
Ca"se*ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. caséique, fr. L. caseus cheese.]
Defn: OF or pertaining to cheese; as, caseic acid.
CASEIN
Ca"se*in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. caséine, fr. L. caseur cheese. Cf.
Cheese.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A proteid substance present in both the animal and the
vegetable kingdom. In the animal kindom it is chiefly found in milk,
and constitutes the main part of the curd separated by rennet; in the
vegetable kingdom it is found more or less abundantly in the seeds of
leguminous plants. Its reactions resemble those of alkali albumin.
[Written also caseine.]
CASE KNIFE
Case" knife`.
1. A knife carried in a sheath or case. Addison.
2. A large table knife; -- so called from being formerly kept in a
case.
CASEMATE
Case"mate, n. Etym: [F. casemate, fr. It. casamatta, prob. from casa
house + matto, f. matta, mad, weak, feeble, dim. from the same source
as E. -mate in checkmate.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A bombproof chamber, usually of masonry, in which cannon may be
placed, to be fired through embrasures; or one capable of being used
as a magazine, or for quartering troops.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A hollow molding, chiefly in cornices.
CASEMATED
Case"ma`ted, a.
Defn: Furnished with, protected by, or built like, a casemate.
Campbell.
CASEMENT
Case"ment, n. Etym: [Shortened fr. encasement. See Incase 1st Case,
and cf. Incasement.] (Arch.)
Defn: A window sash opening on hinges affixed to the upright side of
the frame into which it is fitted. (Poetically) A window.
A casement of the great chamber window. Shak.
CASEMENTED
Case"ment*ed, a.
Defn: Having a casement or casements.
CASEOSE
Ca"se*ose, n. [Casein + -ose.] (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: A soluble product (proteose) formed in the gastric and
pancreatic digestion of casein and caseinogen.
CASEOUS
Ca"se*ous, a. Etym: [L. caseus. Cf. Casein.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, cheese; having the qualities
of cheese; cheesy. Caseous degeneration, a morbid process, in
scrofulous or consumptive persons, in which the products of
inflammation are converted into a cheesy substance which is neither
absorbed nor organized.
CASERN
Ca"sern, n. Etym: [F. caserne.]
Defn: A lodging for soldiers in garrison towns, usually near the
rampart; barracks. Bescherelle.
CASE SHOT
Case" shot`. (Mil.)
Defn: A collection of small projectiles, inclosed in a case or
canister.
Note: In the United States a case shot is a thin spherical or oblong
cast-iron shell containing musket balls and a bursting charge, with a
time fuse; -- called in Europe shrapnel. In Europe the term case shot
is applied to what in the United States is called canister. Wilhelm.
CASE SYSTEM
Case system. (Law)
Defn: The system of teaching law in which the instruction is
primarily a historical and inductive study of leading or selected
cases, with or without the use of textbooks for reference and
collateral reading.
CASEUM
Ca"se*um, n. Etym: [L. caseus cheese.]
Defn: Same as Casein.
CASEWORM
Case"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A worm or grub that makes for itself a case. See Caddice.
CASH
Cash, n. Etym: [F. caisse case, box, cash box, cash. See Case a box.]
Defn: A place where money is kept, or where it is deposited and paid
out; a money box. [Obs.]
This bank is properly a general cash, where every man lodges his
money. Sir W. Temple.
£20,000 are known to be in her cash. Sir R. Winwood.
2. (Com.)
(a) Ready money; especially, coin or specie; but also applied to bank
notes, drafts, bonds, or any paper easily convertible into money.
(b) Immediate or prompt payment in current funds; as, to sell goods
for cash; to make a reduction in price for cash. Cash account
(Bookkeeping), an account of money received, disbursed, and on hand.
-- Cash boy, in large retail stores, a messenger who carries the
money received by the salesman from customers to a cashier, and
returns the proper change. [Colloq.] -- Cash credit, an account with
a bank by which a person or house, having given security for
repayment, draws at pleasure upon the bank to the extent of an amount
agreed upon; -- called also bank credit and cash account.
-- Cash sales, sales made for ready, money, in distinction from
those on which credit is given; stocks sold, to be delivered on the
day of transaction.
Syn.
-- Money; coin; specie; currency; capital.
CASH
Cash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Casing.]
Defn: To pay, or to receive, cash for; to exchange for money; as,
cash a note or an order.
CASH
Cash, v. t. Etym: [See Cashier.]
Defn: To disband. [Obs.] Garges.
CASH
Cash, n.sing & pl.
Defn: A Chinese coin.
Note: The cash (Chinese tsien) is the only current coin made by the
chinese government. It is a thin circular disk of a very base alloy
of copper, with a square hole in the center. 1,000 to 1,400 cash are
equivalent to a dollar.
CASHBOOK
Cash"book, n. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: A book in which is kept a register of money received or paid
out.
CASHEW
Ca*shew", n. Etym: [F. acajou, for cajou, prob. from Malay kayu tree;
cf. Pg. acaju, cf. Acajou.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree (Anacardium occidentale) of the same family which the
sumac. It is native in tropical America, but is now naturalized in
all tropical countries. Its fruit, a kidney-shaped nut, grows at the
extremity of an edible, pear-shaped hypocarp, about three inches
long. Casbew nut, the large, kidney-shaped fruit of the cashew, which
is edible after the caustic oil has been expelled from the shell by
roasting the nut.
CASHIER
Cash*ier", n. Etym: [F. caissier, fr. caisse. See Cash.]
Defn: One who has charge of money; a cash keeper; the officer who has
charge of the payments and receipts (moneys, checks, notes), of a
bank or a mercantile company.
CASHIER
Cash*ier", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cahiered; p. pr. &vb. n. Cashiering.]
Etym: [Earlier cash, fr. F. casser to break, annul, cashier, fr. L.
cassare, equiv. to cassum reddere, to annul; cf. G. cassiren. Cf.
Quash to annul, Cass.]
1. To dismiss or discard; to discharge; to dismiss with ignominy from
military service or from an office or place of frust.
They have cashiered several of their followers. Addison.
He had insolence to cashier the captain of the lord lieutenant's own
body guard. Macaulay.
2. To put away or reject; to disregard. [R.]
Connections formed for interest, and endeared
By selfish views, [are] censured and cashiered. Cowper.
They absolutely cashier the literal express sense of the words.
Sowth.
CASHIERER
Cash*ier"er, n.
Defn: One who rejects, discards, or dismisses; as, a cashierer of
monarchs. [R.] Burke.
CASHIER'S CHECK
Cash*ier's" check. (Banking)
Defn: A check drawn by a bank upon its own funds, signed by the
cashier.
CASHMERE
Cash"mere, n.
1. A rich stuff for shawls, acaris, etc., originally made in Cashmere
from the soft wool found beneath the hair of the goats of Cashmere,
Thibet, and the Himalayas. Some cashmere, of fine quality, is richly
embroidered for sale to Europeans.
2. A dress fabric made of fine wool, or of fine wool and cotton, in
imitation of the original cashmere. Cashmere shawl, a rich and costly
shawl made of cashmere; -- other called camel's-hair shawl.
CASHMERETTE
Cash`me*rette", n.
Defn: A kind of dress goods, made with a soft and glossy surface like
cashmere.
CASHOO
Ca*shoo", n. Etym: [F. cachou, NL. catechu, Cochin-Chin. cay cau from
the tree called mimosa, or areca catechu. Cf. Catechu.]
Defn: See Catechu.
CASH RAILWAY
Cash railway.
Defn: A form of cash carrier in which a small carrier or car travels
upon a kind of track.
CASH REGISTER
Cash register.
Defn: A device for recording the amount of cash received, usually
having an automatic adding machine and a money drawer and exhibiting
the amount of the sale.
CASING
Cas"ing, n.
1. The act or process of inclosing in, or covering with, a case or
thin substance, as plaster, boards, etc.
2. An outside covering, for protection or ornament, or to precent the
radiation of heat.
3. An inclosing frame; esp. the framework around a door or a window.
See Case, n., 4.
CASINGS
Ca"sings, n. pl.
Defn: Dried dung of cattle used as fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Waterland.
CASINO
Ca*si"no, n.; pl. E. Casinos, It. Casini. Etym: [It. casino, dim. of
casa house, fr. L. casa cottage. Cf. Cassing.]
1. A small country house.
2. A building or room used for meetings, or public amusements, for
dancing, gaming, etc.
3. A game at cards. See Cassino.
CASK
Cask, n. Etym: [Sp. casco potsherd, skull, helmet, prob. fr. cascar
to break, fr. L. Quassure to break. Cf. Casque, Cass.]
1. Same as Casque. [Obs.]
2. A barrel-shaped vessel made of staves headings, and hoops, usually
fitted together so as to hold liquids. It may be larger or smaller
than a barrel.
3. The quantity contained in a cask.
4. A casket; a small box for jewels. [Obs.] Shak.
CASK
Cask, v. t.
Defn: To put into a cask.
CASKET
Cas"ket, n. Etym: [Cf. F. casquet, dim. of casque belmet, fr. Sp.
casco.]
1. A small chest or box, esp. of rich material or ornamental
character, as for jewels, etc.
The little casket bring me hither. Shak.
2. A kind of burial case. [U. S.]
3. Anything containing or intended to contain something highly
esteemed; as: (a) The body. (Shak). (b) The tomb. (Milton). (c) A
book of selections. [poetic]
They found him dead . . . an empty casket. Shak.
CASKET
Cas"ket, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A gasket. See Gasket.
CASKET
Cas"ket, v. t.
Defn: To put into, or preserve in, a casket. [Poetic] "I have
casketed my treasure." Shak.
CASQUE
Casque, n. Etym: [F. casque, fr. Sp. casco See Cask.]
Defn: A piece of defensive or ornamental armor (with or without a
vizor) for the head and neck; a helmet.
His casque overshadowed with brilliant plumes. Prescott.
CASS
Cass, v. t. Etym: [F. casser, LL. cassare, fr. L. cassus empty,
hollow, and perhaps influenced by L. quassare to shake, shatter, v.
intens. of quatere to shake. Cf. Cashier, v. t., Quash, Cask.]
Defn: To render useless or void; to annul; to reject; to send away.
[Obs.] Sir W. Raleing.
CASSADA
Cas"sa*da, n.
Defn: See Cassava.
CASSAREEP
Cas"sa*reep, n.
Defn: A condiment made from the sap of the bitter cassava (Manihot
utilissima) deprived of its poisonous qualities, concentrated by
boiling, and flavored with aromatics. See Pepper pot.
CASSATE
Cas"sate, v. t. Etym: [LL. cassare. See Cass.]
Defn: To render void or useless; to vacate or annul. [Obs.]
CASSATION
Cas*sa"tion, n. Etym: [F. cassation. See Cass.]
Defn: The act of annulling.
A general cassation of their constitutions. Motley.
Court of cassation, the highest court of appeal in France, which has
power to quash (Casser) or reverse the decisions of the inferior
courts.
CASSAVA
Cas"sa*va, n. Etym: [F. cassave, Sp. cazabe, fr. kasabi, in the
language of Hayti.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrubby euphorbiaceous plant of the genus Manihot, with
fleshy rootstocks yielding an edible starch; -- called also manioc.
Note: There are two species, bitter and sweet, from which the cassava
of commerce is prepared in the West Indies, tropical America, and
Africa. The bitter (Manihot utilissima) is the more important; this
has a poisonous sap, but by grating, pressing, and baking the root
the poisonous qualities are removed. The sweet (M. Aipi) is used as a
table vegetable.
2. A nutritious starch obtained from the rootstocks of the cassava
plant, used as food and in making tapioca.
CASSAVA WOOD
Cas"sa*va wood`. (Bot.)
Defn: A West Indian tree (Turpinia occidentalis) of the family
Staphyleaceæ.
CASSEL BROWN; CASSEL EARTH
Cas"sel brown, Cas"sel earth .
Defn: A brown pigment of varying permanence, consisting of impure
lignite. It was found originally near Cassel (now Kassel), Germany.
CASSE PAPER
Cas"se Pa"per. Etym: [F. papier cassé. See Cass.]
Defn: Broken paper; the outside quires of a ream.
CASSEROLE
Cas"se*role n. Etym: [F. a saucepan, dim. from casse a basin.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A small round dish with a handle, usually of porcelain.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: A mold (in the shape of a hollow vessel or incasement) of
boiled rice, mashed potato or paste, baked, and afterwards filled
with vegetables or meat.
CASSE-TETE
Casse`-tête", n. [F., fr. casser to breal (see 2d Quash) + tête
head.]
Defn: A small war club, esp. of savages; -- so called because of its
supposed use in crushing the skull.
CASSETTE
Cas`sette", n. [F., prop., a casket, dim. of casse a case. See lst
Case.]
Defn: Same as Seggar.
CASSIA
Cas"sia, n. Etym: [L. cassia and casia, Gr. qetsi\'beh, fr. qatsa' to
cut off, to peel off.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leguminous plants (herbs, shrubs, or trees) of many
species, most of which have purgative qualities. The leaves of
several species furnish the senna used in medicine.
2. The bark of several species of Cinnamommum grown in China, etc.;
Chinese cinnamon. It is imported as cassia, but commonly sold as
cinnamon, from which it differs more or less in strength and flavor,
and the amount of outer bark attached.
Note: The medicinal "cassia" (Cassia pulp) is the laxative pulp of
the pods of a leguminous tree (Cassia fistula or Pudding-pipe tree),
native in the East Indies but naturalized in various tropical
countries. Cassia bark, the bark of Cinnamomum Cassia, etc. The
coarser kinds are called Cassia lignea, and are often used to
adulterate true cinnamon.
-- Cassia buds, the dried flower buds of several species of cinnamon
(Cinnamomum cassia, atc..).
-- Cassia oil, oil extracted from cassia bark and cassia buds; --
called also oil of cinnamon.
CASSICAN
Cas"si*can, n. Etym: [NL. cassicus helmeted, fr. L. cassis a belmet.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An American bird of the genus Cassicus, allied to the starlings
and orioles, remarkable for its skillfully constructed and suspended
nest; the crested oriole. The name is also sometimes given to the
piping crow, an Australian bird.
CASSIDEOUS
Cas*sid"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. Cassis helmet.] (Bot.)
Defn: Helmet-shaped; -- applied to a corolla having a broad, helmet-
shaped upper petal, as in aconite.
CASSIDONY
Cas"si*do*ny, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. cassidonium, F. Cassidoine. See
Chalcedony.] (Bot.)
(a) The French lavender (Lawandula Stachas).
(b) The goldilocks (Chrysocoma linosyris) and perhaps other plants
related to the genus Gnaphalium or cudweed.
CASSIMERE
Cas"si*mere, n. Etym: [Cf. F. casimir, prob. of the same origin as E.
cashmere. Cf. Kerseymere.]
Defn: A thin, twilled, woolen cloth, used for men's garments.
[Written also kerseymere.]
CASSINETTE
Cas`si*nette", n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. casinete, G. cassinet.]
Defn: A cloth with a cotton wart, and a woof of very fine wool, or
wool and silk.
CASSINIAN OVALS
Cas*sin"i*an o"vals. (Math.)
Defn: See under Oval.
CASSINO
Cas*si"no, n. Etym: [It. casino a small house, a gaming house. See
asing.]
Defn: A game at cards, played by two or more persons, usually for
twenty-one points. Great cassino, the ten of diamonds.
-- Little cassino, the two of spades.
CASSIOBERRY
Cas"si*o*ber`ry, n. Etym: [NL. cassine, from the language of the
Florida Indians.]
Defn: The fruit of the Viburnum obovatum, a shrub which grows from
Virginia to Florida.
CASSIOPEIA
Cas`si*o*pe"ia, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation of the northern hemisphere, situated between
Capheus and Perseus; -- so called in honor of the wife of Cepheus, a
fabuolous king of Ethiopia. Cassiopeia's Chair, a group of six stars,
in Cassiopeia, somewhat resembling a chair.
CASSITERITE
Cas*sit"er*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native tin dioxide; tin stone; a mineral occurring in
tetragonal crystals of reddish brown color, and brilliant adamantine
luster; also massive, sometimes in compact forms with concentric
fibrous structure resembling wood (wood tin), also in rolled
fragments or pebbly (Stream tin). It is the chief source of metallic
tin. See Black tin, under Black.
CASSIUS
Cas"sius, n. Etym: [From the name of the discoverer, A. Cassius, a
German physician of the 17th centry.]
Defn: A brownish purple pigment, obtained by the action of some
compounds of tin upon certain salts of gold. It is used in painting
and staining porcelain and glass to give a beautiful purple color.
Commonly called Purple of Cassius.
CASSOCK
Cas"sock, n. Etym: [F. casaque, fr. It. casacca, perh. fr. L. casa
cottage, in It., house; or of Slavic origin.]
1. A long outer garment formerly worn by men and women, as well as by
soldiers as part of their uniform.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A garment resembling a long frock coat worn by the clergy of
certain churches when officiating, and by others as the usually outer
garment.
CASSOCKED
Cas"socked, a.
Defn: Clothed with a cassock.
CASSOLETTE
Cas`so*lette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: a box, or vase with a perforated cover to emit perfumes.
CASSONADE
Cas`son*ade", n. Etym: [F., fr. casson, for caisson a large chest.
This sugar comes from Brazil in large chests.]
Defn: Raw sugar; sugar not refined. Mc Elrath.
CASSOWARY
Cas"so*wa*ry, n.; pl. Cassowaries. Etym: [Malay kasuari.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large bird, of the genus Casuarius, found in the east Indies.
It is smaller and stouter than the ostrich. Its head is armed with a
kind of helmet of horny substance, consisting of plates overlapping
each other, and it has a group of long sharp spines on each wing
which are used as defensive organs. It is a shy bird, and runs with
great rapidity. Other species inhabit New Guinea, Australia, etc.
CASSUMUNAR; CASSUMUNIAR
Cas`su*mu"nar, Cas`su*mu"ni*ar, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Med.)
Defn: A pungent, bitter, aromatic, gingerlike root, obtained from the
East Indies.
CAST
Cast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cast; p. pr. & vb. n. Casting.] Etym: [Cf.
Dan. kastw, Icel. & Sw. kasta; perh. akin to L. gerer to bear, carry.
E. Jest.]
1. To send or drive by force; to throw; to fling; to hurl; to impel.
Uzziash prepared . . . slings to cast stones. 2 Chron. xxvi. 14
Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. Acts. xii. 8
We must be cast upon a certain island. Acts. xxvii. 26.
2. To direct or turn, as the eyes.
How earnestly he cast his eyes upon me! Shak.
3. To drop; to deposit; as, to cast a ballot.
4. To throw down, as in wrestling. Shak.
5. To throw up, as a mound, or rampart.
Thine enemies shall cast a trench [bank] about thee. Luke xix. 48.
6. To throw off; to eject; to shed; to lose.
His filth within being cast. Shak.
Neither shall your vine cast her fruit. Mal. iii. 11
The creatures that cast the skin are the snake, the viper, etc.
Bacon.
7. To bring forth prematurely; to slink.
Thy she-goats have not cast their young. Gen. xxi. 38.
8. To throw out or emit; to exhale. [Obs.]
This . . . casts a sulphureous smell. Woodward.
9. To cause to fall; to shed; to reflect; to throw; as, to cast a ray
upon a screen; to cast light upon a subject.
10. To impose; to bestow; to rest.
The government I cast upon my brother. Shak.
Cast thy burden upon the Lord. Ps. iv. 22.
11. To dismiss; to discard; to cashier. [Obs.]
The state can not with safety casthim.
12. To compute; to reckon; to calculate; as, to cast a horoscope.
"Let it be cast and paid." Shak.
You cast the event of war my noble lord. Shak.
13. To contrive; to plan. [Archaic]
The cloister . . . had, I doubt not, been cast for [an orange-
house]. Sir W. Temple.
14. To defeat in a lawsuit; to decide against; to convict; as, to be
cast in damages.
She was cast to be hanged. Jeffrey.
Were the case referred to any competent judge, they would inevitably
be cast. Dr. H. More.
15. To turn (the balance or scale); to overbalance; hence, to make
preponderate; to decide; as, a casting voice.
How much interest casts the balance in cases dubious! South.
16. To form into a particular shape, by pouring liquid metal or other
material into a mold; to fashion; to found; as, to cast bells,
stoves, bullets.
17. (Print.)
Defn: To stereotype or electrotype.
18. To fix, distribute, or allot, as the parts of a play among
actors; also to assign (an actor) for a part.
Our parts in the other world will be new cast. Addison.
To cast anchor (Naut.) Se under Anchor.
-- To cast a horoscope, to calculate it.
-- To cast a horse, sheep, or other animal, to throw with the feet
upwards, in such a manner as to prevent its rising again.
-- To cast a shoe, to throw off or lose a shoe, said of a horse or
ox.
-- To cast aside, to throw or push aside; to neglect; to reject as
useless or inconvenient.
-- To cast away. (a) To throw away; to lavish; to waste. "Cast away
a life" Addison. (b) To reject; to let perish. "Cast away his
people." Rom. xi. 1. "Cast one away." Shak. (c) To wreck. "Cast away
and sunk." Shak.
-- To cast by, to reject; to dismiss or discard; to throw away.
-- To cast down, to throw down; to destroy; to deject or depress, as
the mind. "Why art thou cast down. O my soul" Ps. xiii. 5.
-- To cast forth, to throw out, or eject, as from an inclosed place;
to emit; to send out.
-- To cast in one's lot with, to share the fortunes of.
-- To cast in one's teeth, to upbraid or abuse one for; to twin.
-- To cast lots. See under Lot.
-- To cast off. (a) To discard or reject; to drive away; to put off;
to free one's self from. (b) (Hunting) To leave behind, as dogs;
also, to set loose, or free, as dogs. Crabb. (c) (Naut.) To untie,
throw off, or let go, as a rope.
-- To cast off copy, (Print.), to estimate how much printed matter a
given amount of copy will make, or how large the page must be in
order that the copy may make a given number of pages.
-- To cast one's self on or upon to yield or submit one's self
unreservedly to. as to the mercy of another.
-- To cast out, to throy out; to eject, as from a house; to cast
forth; to expel; to utter.
-- To cast the lead (Naut.), to sound by dropping the lead to the
botton.
-- To cast the water (Med.), to examine the urine for signs of
disease. [Obs.].
-- To cast up. (a) To throw up; to raise. (b) To compute; to reckon,
as the cost. (c) To vomit. (d) To twit with; to throw in one's teeth.
CAST
Cast, v. i.
1. To throw, as a line in angling, esp, with a fly hook.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To turn the head of a vessel around from the wind in getting
under weigh.
Weigh anchor, cast to starboard. Totten.
3. To consider; to turn or revolve in the mind; to plan; as, to cast
about for reasons.
She . . . cast in her mind what manner of salution this should be.
Luke. i. 29.
4. To calculate; to compute. [R.]
Who would cast and balance at a desk. Tennyson.
5. To receive form or shape in a mold.
It will not run thin, so as to cast and mold. Woodward.
6. To warp; to become twisted out of shape.
Stuff is said to cast or warp when . . . it alters its flatness or
straightness. Moxon.
7. To vomit.
These verses . . . make me ready to cast. B. Jonson.
CAST
Cast,
Defn: 3d pres. of Cast, for Casteth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CAST
Cast, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel., Dan., & Sw. kast.]
1. The act of casting or throwing; a throw.
2. The thing thrown.
A cast of dreadful dust. Dryden.
3. The distance to which a thing is or can be thrown. "About a
stone's cast." Luke xxii. 41.
4. A throw of dice; hence, a chance or venture.
An even cast whether the army should march this way or that way.
Sowth.
I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the
die. Shak.
5. That which is throw out or off, shed, or ejected; as, the skin of
an insect, the refuse from a hawk's stomach, the excrement of a
earthworm.
6. The act of casting in a mold.
And why such daily cast of brazen cannon. Shak.
7. An impression or mold, taken from a thing or person; amold; a
pattern.
8. That which is formed in a mild; esp. a reproduction or copy, as of
a work of art, in bronze or plaster, etc.; a casting.
9. Form; appearence; mien; air; style; as, a pecullar cast of
countenance. "A neat cast of verse." Pope.
An heroic poem, but in another cast and figure. Prior.
And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale
cast of thought. Shak.
10. A tendency to any color; a tinge; a shade.
Gray with a cast of green. Woodward.
11. A chance, opportunity, privilege, or advantage; specifically, an
opportunity of riding; a lift. [Scotch]
We bargained with the driver to give us a cast to the next stage.
Smollett.
If we had the cast o' a cart to bring it. Sir W. Scott.
12. The assignment of parts in a play to the actors.
13. (Falconary)
Defn: A flight or a couple or set of hawks let go at one time from
the hand. Grabb.
As when a cast of falcons make their flight. Spenser.
14. A stoke, touch, or trick. [Obs.]
This was a cast of Wood's politics; for his information was wholly
false. Swift.
15. A motion or turn, as of the eye; direction; look; glance; squint.
The cast of the eye is a gesture of aversion. Bacon.
And let you see with one cast of an eye. Addison.
This freakish, elvish cast came into the child's eye. Hawthorne.
16. A tube or funnel for conveying metal into a mold.
17. Four; that is, as many as are thrown into a vessel at once in
counting herrings, etc; a warp.
18. Contrivance; plot, design. [Obs.] Chaucer. A cast of the eye, a
slight squint or strabismus.
-- Renal cast (Med.), microscopic bodies found in the urine of
persons affected with disease of the kidneys; -- so called because
they are formed of matter deposited in, and preserving the outline
of, the renal tubes.
-- The last cast, the last throw of the dice or last effort, on
which every thing is ventured; the last chance.
CASTALIAN
Cas*ta"li*an, a. Etym: [L. Castalius]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Castalia, a mythical fountain of
inspiration on Mt. Parnassus sacred to the Muses. Milton.
CASTANEA
Cas*ta"ne*a, n. Etym: [L., a chestnut, fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of nut-bearing trees or shrubs including the chestnut
and chinquapin.
CASTANET
Cas"ta*net, n.
Defn: See Castanets.
CASTANETS
Cas"ta*nets, n. pl. Etym: [F. castagnettes, Sp. castañetas, fr. L.
castanea (Sp. castaña) a chestnut. So named from the resemblance to
two chestnuts, or because chestnuts were first used for castanets.
See Chestnut.]
Defn: Two small, concave shells of ivory or hard wood, shaped like
spoons, fastened to the thumb, and beaten together with the middle
finger; -- used by the Spaniards and Moors as an accompaniment to
their dance and guitars.
Note: The singular, castanet, is used of one of the pair, or,
sometimes, of the pair forming the instrument.
The dancer, holding a castanet in each hand, rattles then to the
motion of his feet. Moore (Encyc. of Music).
CASTAWAY
Cast"a*way, n.
1. One who, or that which, is cast away or shipwrecked.
2. One who is ruined; one who has made moral shipwreck; a reprobate.
Lest . . . when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway. 1 Cor. ix. 27.
CASTAWAY
Cast"a*way, a.
Defn: Of no value; rejected; useless.
CASTE
Caste, n. Etym: [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste:
cf. F. caste, of same origin.]
1. One of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided
according to the laws of Brahmanism.
Note: The members of the same caste are theoretically of equal rank,
and same profession or occupation, and may not eat or intermarry with
those not of their own caste. The original are four, viz., the
Brahmans, or sacerdotal order; the Kshatriyas, or soldiers and
rulers; the Vaisyas, or husbandmen and merchants; and the Sudras, or
laborers and mechanics. Men of no caste are Pariahs, outcasts.
Numerous mixed classes, or castes, have sprung up in the progress of
time.
2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who
chiefly hold intercourse among themselves.
The tinkers then formed an hereditary caste. Macaulay.
To lose caste, to be degraded from the caste to which one has
belonged; to lose social position or consideration.
CASTELLAN
Cas"tel*lan, n. Etym: [OF. castelain, F. châtelain, L. castellanus
pertaining to a castle, an occupant of a caste, LL., a governor of a
castle, fr. L. catellum castle, citadel, dim. of castrum fortifled
place. See Castle, and cf. Chatelaine.]
Defn: A goveror or warden of a castle.
CASTELLANY
Cas"tel*la*ny, n.; pl. Castellanies. Etym: [LL. castellania.]
Defn: The lordship of a castle; the extent of land and jurisdiction
appertaining to a castle.
CASTELLATED
Cas"tel*la`ted, a. Etym: [LL. castellatus, fr. castellare. See
Castle.]
1. Inclosed within a building; as, a fountain or cistern castellated.
[Obs.] Johnson.
2. Furnished with turrets and battlements, like a castle; built in
the style of a castle.
CASTELLATION
Cas`tel*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. castellation, fr. castellare, fr. L.
castellum. See Castle.]
Defn: The act of making into a castle.
CASTER
Cast"er, n.
1. One who casts; as, caster of stones, etc. ; a caster of cannon; a
caster of accounts.
2. A vial, cruet, or other small vessel, used to contain condiments
at the table; as, a set of casters.
3. A stand to hold a set of cruets.
4. A small wheel on a swivel, on which furniture is supported and
moved.
CASTIGATE
Cas"ti*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castigated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Castigating.] Etym: [L. castigatus, p. p. of castigare to correct,
punish; castus pure, chaste + agere to move, drive. See Caste, and
cf. Chasten.]
1. To punish by stripes; to chastise by blows; to chasten; also, to
chastise verbally; to reprove; to criticise severely.
2. To emend; to correct. [Obs.]
CASTIGATION
Cas`ti*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. catigatio.]
1. Corrective punishment; chastisement; reproof; pungent criticism.
The keenest castigation of her slanderers. W. Irving.
2. Emendation; correction. [Obs.]
CASTIGATOR
Cas`ti*ga"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who castigates or corrects.
CASTIGATORY
Cas`ti*ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. castigatorius.]
Defn: Punitive in order to amendment; corrective.
CASTIGATORY
Cas"ti*ga*to*ry, n.
Defn: An instrument formerly used to punish and correct arrant
scolds; -- called also a ducking stool, or trebucket. Blacktone.
CASTILE SOAP
Cas"tile soap". Etym: [From Castile, or Castilia, a province in
Spain, from which it originally came.]
Defn: A kind of fine, hard, white or mottled soap, made with olive
and soda; also, a soap made in imitation of the above-described soap.
CASTILIAN
Cas*til"ian, n. Etym: [Sp. castellano, from Castila, NL. Castilia,
Castella. Castile, which received its name from the castles erected
on the frontiers as a barrier against the Moors.]
1. An inhabitant or native of Castile, in Spain.
2. The Spanish language as spoken in Castile.
CASTILLAN
Cas*til"lan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Castile, in Spain.
CASTING
Cast"ing, n.
1. The act of one who casts or throws, as in fishing.
2. The act or process of making cast or impressions, or of shaping
metal or plaster in a mold; the act or the process of pouring molten
metal into a mold.
3. That which is cast in a mold; esp. the mass of metal so cast; as,
a casting in iron; bronze casting.
4. The warping of a board. Brande & C.
5. The act of casting off, or that which is cast off, as skin,
feathers, excrement, etc. Casting of draperies, the proper
distribution of the folds of garments, in painting and sculpture.
-- Casting line (Fishing), the leader; also, sometimes applied to
the long reel line. Casting net, a net which is cast and drawn, in
distinction from a net that is set and left.
-- Casting voice, Casting vote, the decisive vote of a presiding
officer, when the votes of the assembly or house are equally divided.
"When there was an equal vote, the governor had the casting voice."
B. Trumbull.
-- Casting weight, a weight that turns a balance when exactly
poised.
CAST IRON
Cast" i`ron.
Defn: Highly carbonized iron, the direct product of the blast
furnace; -- used for making castings, and for conversion into wrought
iron and steel. It can not be welded or forged, is brittle, and
sometimes very hard. Besides carbon, it contains sulphur, phosphorus,
silica, etc.
CAST-IRON
Cast"-i`ron, a.
Defn: Made of cast iron. Hence, Fig.: like cast iron; hardy;
unyielding.
CASTLE
Cas"tle, n. Etym: [AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a
fortified place, castle.]
1. A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a
fortress.
The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as well for his
defense againts injury and violence, as for his repose. Coke.
Our castle's strength Will laugh a siege to scorn. Shak.
Note: Originally the mediæval castle was a single strong tower or
keep, with a palisaded inclosure around it and inferior buidings,
such as stables and the like, and surrounded by a moat; then such a
keep or donjon, with courtyards or baileys and accessory buildings of
greater elaboration a great hall and a chapel, all surrounded by
defensive walls and a moat, with a drawbridge, etc. Afterwards the
name was retained by large dwellings that had formerly been
fortresses, or by those which replaced ancient fortresses. A Donjon
or Keep, an irregular building containing the dwelling of the lord
and his family; B C Large round towers ferming part of the donjon and
of the exterior; D Square tower, separating the two inner courts and
forming part of the donjon; E Chapel, whose apse forms a half-round
tower, F, on the exterior walls; G H Round towers on the exterior
walls; K Postern gate, reached from outside by a removable fight of
steps or inclined plane for hoisting in stores, and leading to a
court, L (see small digagram) whose pavement is on a level with the
sill of the postern, but below the level of the larger court, with
which it communicates by a separately fortified gateway; M Turret,
containing spiral stairway to all the stories of the great tower, B,
and serving also as a station for signal fire, banner, etc.; N Turret
with stairway for tower, C; O Echauguettes; P P P Battlemants
consisting of merlons and crenels alternately, the merlons being
pierced by loopholes; Q Q Machicolations (those at Q defend the
postern K); R Outwork defending the approach, which is a road
ascending the hill and passing under all four faces of the castle; S
S Wall of the outer bailey. The road of approach enters the bailey at
T and passes thence into the castle by the main entrance gateway
(which is in the wall between, and defended by the towers, C H) and
over two drawbridges and through fortified passages to the inner
court.
2. Any strong, imposing, and stately mansion.
3. A small tower, as on a ship, or an elephant's back.
4. A piece, made to represent a castle, used in the game of chess; a
rook. Castle in the air, a visionary project; a baseless scheme; an
air castle; -- sometimes called a castle in Spain (F. Château en
Espagne).
Syn.
-- Fortress; fortification; citadel; stronghold. See Fortress.
CASTLE
Cas"tle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Castled (. p. pr. & vb. n. Castling.]
(Chess)
Defn: To move the castle to the square next to king, and then the
king around the castle to the square next beyond it, for the purpose
of covering the king.
CASTLEBUILDER
Cas"tle*build`er, n.
Defn: Fig.: one who builds castles in the air or forms visionary
schemes.
-- Cas"tle*build`ing, n.
CASTLED
Cas"tled, a.
Defn: Having a castle or castles; supporting a castle; as, a castled
height or crag.
2. Fortified; turreted; as, castled walls.
CASTLE-GUARD
Cas"tle-guard`, n.
1. The guard or defense of a castle.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A tax or imposition an a dwelling within a certain distance of
a castle, for the purpose of maintaining watch and ward in it;
castle-ward.
3. A feudal tenure, obliging the tenant to perform service within the
realm, without limitation of time.
CASTLERY
Cas"tle*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. castelerie. See Castle.]
Defn: The government of a castle. Blount.
CASTLET
Cas"tlet, n.
Defn: A small castle. Leland.
CASTLEWARD
Cas"tle*ward`, n.
Defn: Same as Castleguard.
CASTLING
Cast"ling, n.
Defn: That which is cast or brought forth prematurely; an abortion.
Sir T. Browne.
CASTLING
Cas"tling, n. (Chess)
Defn: A compound move of the king and castle. See Castle, v. i.
CAST-OFF
Cast"-off`, a.
Defn: Cast or laid aside; as, cast-off clothes.
CASTOR
Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L. castor the beaver, Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of rodents, including the beaver. See Beaver.
2. Castoreum. See Castoreum.
3. A hat, esp. one made of beaver fur; a beaver.
I have always been known for the jaunty manner in which I wear my
castor. Sir W. Scott.
4. A heavy quality of broadcloth for overcoats.
CASTOR
Cast"or, n.
Defn: See Caster, a small wheel.
CASTOR
Cas"tor, n. Etym: [L.] (Astron.)
Defn: the northernmost of the two bright stars in the constellation
Gemini, the other being Pollux.
CASTOR; CASTORITE
Cas"tor, Cas"tor*ite, n. Etym: [The minerals castor and pollux were
so named because found together on the island of Elba. See Castor and
Pollux.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of the mineral called petalite, from Elba.
CASTOR AND POLLUX
Cas"tor and Pol"lux. Etym: [Castor and Pollux were twin sons of
Jupiter and Leda.] (Naut.)
Defn: See Saint Elmo's fire, under Saint.
CASTOR BEAN
Cas"tor bean". (Bot.)
Defn: The bean or seed of the castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis, or
Palma Christi.)
CASTOREUM
Cas*to"re*um, n. Etym: [L. See Castor.]
Defn: A peculiar bitter orange-brown substance, with strong,
penetrating odor, found in two sacs between the anus and external
genitals of the beaver; castor; -- used in medicine as an
antispasmodic, and by perfumers.
CASTORIN
Cas"to*rin, n. Etym: [From 1st Castor.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance obtained from castoreum.
CASTOR OIL
Cas"tor oil.
Defn: A mild cathartic oil, expressed or extracted from the seeds of
the Ricinus communis, or Palma Christi. When fresh the oil is
inodorus and insipid. Castor-oil plant. Same as Palma Christi.
CASTRAMETATION
Cas`tra*me*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. castramétation, fr. L. castra camp +
metari to measure off, fr. meta limit.] (Mil.)
Defn: The art or act of encamping; the making or laying out of a
camp.
CASTRATE
Cas"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Castrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Castrating.] Etym: [L. castrarus, p; p. of castrare to castrate, asin
to Skr. çastra knife.]
1. To deprive of the testicles; to emasculate; to geld; to alter.
2. To cut or take out; esp. to remove anything erroneous, or
objectionable from, as the obscene parts of a writing; to expurgate.
My . . . correspondent . . . has sent me the following letter, which
I have castrated in some places. Spectator.
CASTRATION
Cas*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. castratio; cf. F. castration.]
Defn: The act of castrating.
CASTRATO
Cas*tra"to, n. Etym: [L., properly p. p. of castrare. See Castrate.]
Defn: A male person castrated for the purpose of improving his voice
for singing; an artificial, or male, soprano. Swift.
CASTREL
Cas"trel, n. Etym: [Cf. F. crécerelle, cristel, OF. crecel, cercele.
Cf. Kestrel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Kestrel.
CASTRENSIAL
Cas*tren"sial, a. Etym: [L. castrensis, fr. castra camp.]
Defn: Belonging to a camp. Sir T. Browne.
CASTRENSIAN
Cas*tren"sian, a.
Defn: Castrensial. [R.]
CAST STEEL
Cast" steel".
Defn: See Cast steel, under Steel.
CASUAL
Cas"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. casuel, F. casuel, fr. L. casualis, fr. casus
fall, accident, fr. cadere to fall. See Case.]
1. Happening or coming to pass without design, and without being
foreseen or expected; accidental; fortuitous; coming by chance.
Casual breaks, in the general system. W. Irving.
2. Coming without regularity; occasional; incidental; as, casual
expenses.
A constant habit, rather than a casual gesture. Hawthorne.
Syn.
-- Accidental; fortutious; incidental; occasional; contingent;
unforeseen. See Accidental.
CASUAL
Cas"u*al, n.
Defn: One who receives relief for a night in a parish to which he
does not belong; a vagrant.
CASUALISM
Cas"u*al*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine that all things exist or are controlled by chance.
CASUALIST
Cas"u*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in casualism.
CASUALLY
Cas"u*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Without design; accidentally; fortuitously; by chance;
occasionally.
CASUALNESS
Cas"u*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being casual.
CASUALTY
Cas"u*al*ty, n.; pl. Casualties. Etym: [F. casualité, LL.
casualitas.]
1. That which comes without design or without being foreseen;
contingency.
Losses that befall them by mere casualty. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Any injury of the body from accident; hence, death, or other
misfortune, occasioned by an accident; as, an unhappy casualty.
3. pl. (Mil. & Naval)
Defn: Numerical loss caused by death, wounds, discharge, or
desertion. Casualty ward, A ward in a hospital devoted to the
treatment of injuries received by accident.
Syn.
-- Accident; contingency; fortuity; misfortune.
CASUARINA
Cas`u*a*ri"na, n. Etym: [NL., supposed to be named from the
resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the
genus Casuarius.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of
a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are
large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called
beefwood from its color.
CASUIST
Cas"u*ist, n. Etym: [L. casus fall, case; cf. F. casuiste. See
Casual.]
Defn: One who is skilled in, or given to, casuistry.
The judment of any casuist or learned divine concerning the state of
a man's soul, is not sufficient to give him confidence. South.
CASUIST
Cas"u*ist, v. i.
Defn: To play the casuist. Milton.
CASUISTIC; CASUISTICAL
Cas`u*is"tic, Cas`u*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to casuists or casuistry.
CASUISTRY
Cas"u*ist*ry, a.
1. The science or doctrine of dealing with cases of conscience, of
resolving questions of right or wrong in conduct, or determining the
lawfulness or unlawfulness of what a man may do by rules and
principles drawn from the Scriptures, from the laws of society or the
church, or from equity and natural reason; the application of general
moral rules to particular cases.
The consideration of these nice and puzzling question in the science
of ethics has given rise, in modern times, to a particular department
of it, distinguished by the title of casuistry. Stewart.
Casuistry in the science of cases (i.e., oblique deflections from the
general rule). De Quincey.
2. Sophistical, equivocal, or false reasoning or teaching in regard
to duties, obligations, and morals.
CASUS
Ca"sus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An event; an occurrence; an occasion; a combination of
circumstances; a case; an act of God. See the Note under Accident.
Casus belli, an event or combination of events which is a cause war,
or may be alleged as a justification of war.
-- Casus fortuitus, an accident against which due prudence could not
have provided. See Act of God, under Act.
-- Casus omissus, a case not provided for by the statute.
CAT
Cat, n. Etym: [AS. cat; akin to D. & Dan. kat, Sw. kett, Icel. köttr,
G. katze, kater, Ir. Cat, W. cath, Armor. kaz, LL. catus, Bisc.
catua, NGr cot, Turk. kedi, Ar. qitt; of unknown origin. CF. Ketten.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of various species of the genera Felis and Lynx. The
domestic cat is Felis domestica. The European wild cat (Felis catus)
is much larger than the domestic cat. In the United States the name
wild cat is commonly applied to the bay lynx (Lynx rufus) See Wild
cat, and Tiger cat.
Note: The domestic cat includes many varieties named from their place
of origin or from some peculiarity; as, the Angora cat; the Maltese
cat; the Manx cat.
Note: The word cat is also used to designate other animals, from some
fancied resemblance; as, civet cat, fisher cat, catbird, catfish
shark, sea cat.
2. (Naut.)
(a) A strong vessel with a narrow stern, projecting quarters, and
deep waist. It is employed in the coal and timber trade.
(b) A strong tackle used to draw an anchor up to the cathead of a
ship. Totten.
3. A double tripod (for holding a plate, etc.), having six feet, of
which three rest on the ground, in whatever position in is placed.
4. An old game; (a) The game of tipcat and the implement with which
it is played. See Tipcat. (c) A game of ball, called, according to
the number of batters, one old cat, two old cat, etc.
5. A cat o' nine tails. See below. Angora cat, blind cat, See under
Angora, Blind.
-- Black cat the fisher. See under Black.
-- Cat and dog, like a cat and dog; quarrelsome; inharmonius. "I am
sure we have lived a cat and dog life of it." Coleridge.
-- Cat block (Naut.), a heavy iron-strapped block with a large hook,
part of the tackle used in drawing an anchor up to the cathead.
-- Cat hook (Naut.), a strong hook attached to a cat block.
-- Cat nap, a very short sleep. [Colloq.] -- Cat o' nine tails, an
instrument of punishment consisting of nine pieces of knotted line or
cord fastened to a handle; -- formerly used to flog offenders on the
bare back.
-- Cat's cradle, game played, esp. by children, with a string looped
on the fingers so, as to resemble small cradle. The string is
transferred from the fingers of one to those of another, at each
transfer with a change of form. See Cratch, Cratch cradle.
-- To let the cat out of the bag, to tell a secret, carelessly or
willfully. [Colloq.] -- Bush cat, the serval. See Serval.
CAT
Cat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. tted; p. pr. & vb. n. Catting.] (Naut.)
Defn: To bring to the cathead; as, to cat an anchor. See Anchor.
Totten.
CATA
Cat"a. Etym: [Gr. kata`.]
Defn: The Latin and English form of a Greek preposition, used as a
prefix to signify down, downward, under, against, contrary or opposed
to, wholly, completely; as in cataclysm, catarrh. It sometimes drops
the final vowel, as in catoptric; and is sometimes changed to cath,
as in cathartic, catholic.
CATABAPTIST
Cat`a*bap"tist, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + aptist. See Baptist.] (Eccl.)
Defn: One who opposes baptism, especially of infants. [Obs.] Featley.
CATABASION
Cat`a*ba"sion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A vault under altar of a Greek church.
CATABIOTIC
Cat`a*bi*ot"ic, a.
Defn: Aee under Force.
CATACAUSTIC
Cat`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + caustic.] (Physics)
Defn: Relating to, or having the properties of, a caustic curve
formed by reflection. See Caustic, a. Nichol.
CATACAUSTIC
Cat`a*caus"tic, n. (Physics)
Defn: A caustic curve formed by reflection of light. Nichol.
CATACHRESIS
Cat`a*chre"sis, n. Etym: [L. fr. Gr. (Rhel.)
Defn: A figure by which one word is wrongly put for another, or by
which a word is wrested from its true signification; as, "To take
arms against a sea of troubles. " Shak. "Her voice was but the shadow
of a sound." Young.
CATACHRESTIC; CATACHRESTICAL
Cat`a*chres"tic, Cat"a*chres"tic*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or in the manner of, a catachresis; wrested from
its natural sense or form; forced; far-fatched.
-- Cat`a*chres"tic*al*ly, adv.
[A] catachrestical and improper way of speaking. Jer. Taylor.
CATACLASM
Cat"a*clasm, n. [Gr. ; down + to break.]
Defn: A breaking asunder; disruption.
CATACLYSM
Cat"a*clysm, n. Etym: [L. cataclysmos, Gr. cataclysme.]
1. An extensive overflow or sweeping flood of water; a deluge.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Any violent catastrophe, involving sudden and extensive changes
of the earth's surface.
CATACLYSMAL; CATACLYSMIC
Cat`a*clys"mal, Cat"a*clys"mic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cataclysm.
CATACLYSMIST
Cat`a*clys"mist, n.
Defn: One who believes that the most important geological phenomena
have been produced by cataclysms.
CATACOMB
Cat"a*comb, n. Etym: [It. catacomba, fr. L. catacumba perh. from Gr.
Defn: A cave, grotto, or subterraneous place of large extent used for
the burial of the dead; -- commonly in the plural.
Note: The terms is supposed to have been applied originally to the
tombs under the church of St. Sebastain in Rome. The most celebrated
catacombs are those near Rome, on the Appian Way, supposed to have
been the place or refuge and interment of the early Chrictians; those
of Egypt, extending for a wide distance in the vicinity of Cairo; and
those of Paris, in abandoned stone quarries, excavated under a large
portion of the city.
CATACOUSTIC
Cat`a*cous"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. cata _ acoustics: cf. F.
caraconstique.] (Physics)
Defn: That part of acoustics which treats of reflected sounds or
echoes See Acoustics. Hutton.
CATACROTIC
Cat`a*crot"ic, a. [Cata- + Gr. a beating.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Designating, pertaining to, or characterized by, that form of
pulse tracing, or sphygmogram, in which the descending portion of the
curve is marked by secondary elevations due to two or more expansions
of the artery in the same beat. -- Ca*tac"rotism (#), n.
CATADICROTISM
Cat`a*di"cro*tism, n. [Cata-+ dicrotism.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Quality or state of being catacrotic. -- Cat`a*di*crot"ic (#),
a.
CATADIOPTRIC; CATADIOPTRICAL
Cat`a*di*op"tric, Cat`a*di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata +
dioptric: cf. F. catadioptrique.] (Physics)
Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or involving, both the reflection
and refraction of light; as, a catadioptric light. Hutton.
CATADIOPTRICS
Cat`a*di*op"trics, n.
Defn: The science which treats of catadioptric phenomena, or of the
used of catadioptric instruments.
CATADROME
Cat"a*drome, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A race course.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A machine for raising or lowering heavy weights.
CATADROMOUS
Ca*tad"ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the lowest inferior segment of a pinna nearer the rachis
than the lowest superior one; -- said of a mode of branching in
ferns, and opposed to anadromous.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living in fresh water, and going to the sea to spawn; --
opposed to anadromous, and of the eel.
CATAFALCO
Cat`a*fal"co, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: See Catafalque.
CATAFALQUE
Cat"a*falque`, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. catafalco, scaffold, funeral
canopy; of uncertain origin; cf. Sp. catafalso, cadahalso, cadalso,
Pr. casafalc, OF. chafaut. Cf. Scaffold.]
Defn: A temporary structure sometimes used in the funeral solemnities
of eminent persons, for the public exhibition of the remains, or
their conveyance to the place of burial.
CATAGMATIC
Cat`*ag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. catagmatique.] (Med.)
Defn: Having the quality of consolidating broken bones.
CATAIAN
Ca*ta"ian, n.
Defn: A native of Cathay or China; a foreigner; -- formerly a term of
reproach. Shak.
CATALAN
Cat"a*lan, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Catalonia.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inbabitant of Catalonia; also, the language of
Catalonia. Catalan furnace, Catalan forge (Metal.), a kind of furnace
for producing wrought iron directly from the ore. It was formerly
much used, esp. in Catalonia, and is still used in some parts of the
United States and elsewhere.
CATALECTIC
Cat`a*lec"tic, a. Etym: [L. catalecticus, Gr.
1. (Pros.)
Defn: Wanting a syllable at the end, or terminating in an imperfect
foot; as, a catalectic verse.
2. (Photog. & Chem.)
Defn: Incomplete; partial; not affecting the whole of a substance.
Abney.
CATALEPSY; CATALEPSIS
Cat"a*lep`sy, Cat`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL. catalepsis, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A sudden suspension of sensation and volition, the body and
limbs preserving the position that may be given them, while the
action of the heart and lungs continues.
CATALEPTIC
Cat`a*lep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, catalepsy; affected with
catalepsy; as, a cataleptic fit.
CATALLACTA
Cat`al*lac"ta, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Catallactics.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Protozoa, of which Magosphæra is the type. They
exist both in a myxopod state, with branched pseudopodia, and in the
form of ciliated bodies united in free, spherical colonies.
CATALLACTICS
Cat`al*lac"tics n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science of exchanges, a branch of political economy.
CATALOG
Cat"a*log, n. & v.
Defn: Catalogue.
CATALOGIZE
Cat"a*lo*gize, v. t.
Defn: To insert in a catalogue; to register; to catalogue. [R.]
Coles.
CATALOGUE
Cat"a*logue, n. Etym: [F., fr. catalogus, fr. Gr.
Defn: A list or enumeration of names, or articles arranged
methodically, often in alphabetical order; as, a catalogue of the
students of a college, or of books, or of the stars. Card catalogue,
a catalogue, as of books, having each item entered on a separate
card, and the cards arranged in cases by subjects, or authors, or
alphabetically.
-- Catalogue raisonné Etym: [F.], a catalogue of books, etc.,
classed according to their subjects. Syn.
-- List; roll; index; schedule; enumeration; inventory. See List.
CATALOGUE
Cat"a*logue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catalogued; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cataloguing.]
Defn: To make a list or catalogue; to insert in a catalogue.
CATALOGUER
Cat"a*log`uer, n.
Defn: A maker of catalogues; esp. one skilled in the making of
catalogues.
CATALPA
Ca*tal"pa, n. Etym: [From the language of the Indians of Carolina,
where Catesby discovered this tree in the year 1726.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of American and East Indian trees, of which the best
know species are the Catalpa bignonioides, a large, ornamental North
American tree, with spotted white flowers and long cylindrical pods,
and the C. speciosa, of the Mississipi valley; -- called also Indian
bean.
CATALYSIS
Ca*tal"y*sis, n.; pl. Catalyse. Etym: [ML., fr. Gr.
1. Dissolution; degeneration; decay. [R.]
Sad catalysis and declension of piety. Evelyn.
2. (Chem.)
(a) A process by which reaction occurs in the presence of certain
agents which were formerly believed to exert an influence by mere
contact. It is now believed that such reactions are attended with the
formation of an intermediate compound or compounds, so that by
alternate composition and decomposition the agent is apparenty left
unchanged; as, the catalysis of making ether from alcohol by means of
sulphuric acid; or catalysis in the action of soluble ferments (as
diastase, or ptyalin) on starch.
(b) The catalytic force.
CATALYTIC
Cat`a*ly"tic, a.
Defn: Relating to, or causing, catalysis. "The catalytic power is ill
understood." Ure. Catalytic force, that form of chemical energy
formerly supposed to determine catalysis.
CATALYTIC
Cat`a*lyt"ic, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An agent employed in catalysis, as platinum black, aluminium
chloride, etc.
CATAMARAN
Cat`a*ma*ran", n. Etym: [The native East Indian name.]
1. A kind of raft or float, consisting of two or more logs or pieces
of wood lashed together, and moved by paddles or sail; -- used as a
surf boat and for other purposes on the coasts of the East and West
Indies and South America. Modified forms are much used in the lumber
regions of North America, and at life-saving stations.
2. Any vessel with twin hulls, whether propelled by sails or by
steam; esp., one of a class of double-hulled pleasure boats
remarkable for speed.
3. A kind of fire raft or torpedo bat.
The incendiary rafts prepared by Sir Sidney Smith for destroying the
French flotilla at Boulogne, 1804, were called catamarans. Knight.
4. A quarrelsome woman; a scold. [Colloq.]
CATAMENIA
Cat`a*me"nia, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The monthly courses of women; menstrual discharges; menses.
CATAMENIAL
Cat`a*me"ni*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the catamenia, or menstrual discharges.
CATAMITE
Cat"a*mite, n. Etym: [L. Catamitus, an old form of Ganymedes
Ganymede, Gr.
Defn: A boy kept for unnatural purposes.
CATAMOUNT
Cat"a*mount, n. Etym: [Cat + mount; cf. Sp. gato mentes mountain
cat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cougar. Applied also, in some parts of the United States,
to the lynx.
CATANADROMOUS
Cat"a*nad`ro*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Ascending and descending fresh streams from and to the sea, as
the salmon; anadromous. [R.]
CATAPASM
Cat"a*pasm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A compound medicinal powder, used by the ancients to sprinkle
on ulcers, to absorb perspiration, etc. Dunglison.
CATAPELTIC
Cat`a*pel"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a catapult.
CATAPETALOUS
Cat`a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + petalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the petals held together by stamens, which grow to their
bases, as in the mallow.
CATAPHONIC
Cat`a*phon"ic, a.
Defn: Of or relating to cataphonics; catacoustic.
CATAPHONICS
Cat`a*phon"ics, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + phonic: cf. F. cataphonique.]
(Physics)
Defn: That branch of acoustics which treats of reflested sounds;
catacoustics.
CATAPHRACT
Cat"a*phract, n. Etym: [L. cataphractes, Gr.
1. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: Defensive armor used for the whole body and often for the
horse, also, esp. the linked mail or scale armor of some eastern
nations.
2. A horseman covered with a cataphract.
Archers and slingers, cataphracts, and spears. Milton.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The armor or plate covering some fishes.
CATAPHRACTED
Cat"a*phract`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Covered with a cataphract, or armor of plates, scales, etc.; or
with that which corresponds to this, as horny or bony plates, hard,
callous skin, etc.
CATAPHRACTIC
Cat`a*phrac"tic, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cataphract.
CATAPHYSICAL
Cat`a*phys"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. cata + physical.]
Defn: Unnatural; contrary to nature. [R.]
Some artists . . . have given to Sir Walter Scott a pile of forehead
which is unpleassing and cataphysical. De Quincey.
CATAPLASM
Cat"a*plasm, n. Etym: [L. cataplasma, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A soft and moist substance applied externally to some part of
the body; a poultice. Dunglison.
CATAPLEXY
Cat"a*plex`y, n. [Gr. amazement: cf. Apoplexy.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition caused by an overwhelming shock or extreme
fear and marked by rigidity of the muscles. -- Cat`a*plec"tic (#), a.
CATAPUCE
Cat"a*puce, n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: Spurge. [Obs.]
CATAPULT
Cat"a*pult, n. Etym: [L. catapulta, Gr.
1. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: An engine somewhat resembling a massive crossbow, used by the
ancient Greeks and Romans for throwing stones, arrows, spears, etc.
2. A forked stick with elasti band for throwing small stones, etc.
CATARACT
Cat"a*ract, n. Etym: [L. cataracta, catarracles, a waterfall, Gr.
1. A great fall of water over a precipice; a large waterfall.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: An opacity of the crystalline lens, or of its capsule, which
prevents the passage of the rays of light and impairs or destroys the
sight.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: A kind of hydraulic brake for regulating the action of pumping
engines and other machines; -- sometimes called dashpot.
CATARACTOUS
Cat`a*rac"tous, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a cataract in the eye; affected with cataract.
CATARRH
Ca*tarrh", n. Etym: [L. catarrhus, Gr. Stream.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammatory affection of any mucous membrane, in which
there are congestion, swelling, and an altertion in the quantity and
quality of mucus secreted; as catarrh of the stomach; catarrh of the
bladder.
Note: In America, the term catarrh is applied especially to a chronic
inflammation of, and hypersecretion fron, the membranes of the nose
or air passages; in England, to an acute influenza, resulting a cold,
and attended with cough, thirst, lassitude, and watery eyes; also, to
the cold itself.
CATARRHAL
Ca*tarrh"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, produced by, or attending, catarrh; of the
nature of catarrh.
CATARRHINE
Cat"ar*rhine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Catarrhina, a division of Quadrumana, including the
Old World monkeys and apes which have the nostrils close together and
turned downward. See Monkey.
CATARRHOUS
Ca*tarrh"ous, a.
Defn: Catarrhal. [R.]
CATASTALTIC
Cat`a*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Checking evacutions through astringent or styptic qualities.
CATASTASIS
Ca*tas"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: That part of a speech, usually the exordium, in which the
orator sets forth the subject matter to be discussed.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The state, or condition of anything; constitution; habit of
body.
CATASTERISM
Ca*tas"ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A placing among the stars; a catalogue of stars.
The catasterisms of Eratosthenes. Whewell.
CATASTROPHE
Ca*tas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L. catastropha, Gr.
1. An event producing a subversion of the order or system of things;
a final event, usually of a calamitous or disastrous nature; hence,
sudden calamity; great misfortune.
The strange catastrophe of affairs now at London. Bp. Buret.
The most horrible and portentous catastrophe that nature ever yet
saw. Woodward.
2. The final event in a romance or a dramatic piece; a denouement, as
a death in a tragedy, or a marriage in a comedy.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: A violent and widely extended change in the surface of the
earth, as, an elevation or subsidence of some part of it, effected by
internal causes. Whewell.
CATASTROPHIC
Cat`a*stroph"ic, a.
Defn: Of a pertaining to a catastrophe. B. Powell.
CATASTROPHISM
Ca*tas"tro*phism, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The doctrine that the geological changes in the earth's crust
have been caused by the sudden action of violent physical causes; --
opposed to the doctrine of uniformism.
CATASTROPHIST
Ca*tas"tro*phist, n. (Geol.)
Defn: One who holds the theory or catastrophism.
CATAWBA
Ca*taw"ba, n.
1. A well known light red variety of American grape.
2. A light-colored, sprightly American wine from the Catawba grape.
CATAWBAS
Ca*taw"bas, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing. Catawba. (Ethnol.) An appalachian tribe of Indians
which originally inhabited the regions near the Catawba river and the
head waters of the Santee.
CATBIRD
Cat"bird, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American bird (Galeoscoptes Carolinensis), allied to the
mocking bird, and like it capable of imitating the notes of other
birds, but less perfectly. Its note resembles at times the mewing of
a cat.
CATBOAT
Cat"boat`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A small sailboat, with a single mast placed as far forward as
possible, carring a sail extended by a graff and long boom. See
Illustration in Appendix.
CATCALL
Cat"call`, n.
Defn: A sound like the cry of a cat, such as is made in playhouses to
express dissatisfaction with a play; also, a small shrill instrument
for making such a noise.
Upon the rising of the curtain. I was very much surprised with the
great consort of catcalls which was exhibited. Addison.
CATCH
Catch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caught or Catched (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Catching. Catched is rarely used.] Etym: [OE. cacchen, OF. cachier,
dialectic form of chacier to hunt, F. chasser, fr. (assumend) LL.
captiare, for L. capture, V. intens. of capere to take, catch. See
Capacious, and cf. Chase, Case a box.]
1. To lay hold on; to seize, especially with the hand; to grasp
(anything) in motion, with the effect of holding; as, to catch a
ball.
2. To seize after pursuing; to arrest; as, to catch a thief. "They
pursued . . . and caught him." Judg. i. 6.
3. To take captive, as in a snare or net, or on a hook; as, to catch
a bird or fish.
4. Hence: To insnare; to entangle. "To catch him in his words". Mark
xii. 13.
5. To seize with the senses or the mind; to apprehend; as, to catch a
melody. "Fiery thoughts . . . whereof I catch the issue." Tennyson.
6. To communicate to; to fasten upon; as, the fire caught the
adjoining building.
7. To engage and attach; to please; to charm.
The soothing arts that catch the fair. Dryden.
8. To get possession of; to attain.
Torment myself to catch the English throne. Shak.
9. To take or receive; esp. to take by sympathy, contagion,
infection, or exposure; as, to catch the spirit of an occasion; to
catch the measles or smallpox; to catch cold; the house caught fire.
10. To come upon unexpectedly or by surprise; to find; as, to catch
one in the act of stealing.
11. To reach in time; to come up with; as, to catch a train. To catch
fire, to become inflamed or ignited.
-- to catch it to get a scolding or beating; to suffer punishment.
[Colloq.] -- To catch one's eye, to interrupt captiously while
speaking. [Colloq.] "You catch me up so very short." Dickens.
-- To catch up, to snatch; to take up suddenly.
CATCH
Catch, v. i.
1. To attain possession. [Obs.]
Have is have, however men do catch. Shak.
2. To be held or impeded by entanglement or a light obstruction; as,
a kite catches in a tree; a door catches so as not to open.
3. To take hold; as, the bolt does not catch.
4. To spread by, or as by, infecting; to communicate.
Does the sedition catch from man to man Addison.
To catch at, to attempt to seize; to be egger to get or use. "[To]
catch at all opportunities of subverting the state." Addison.
-- To catch up with, to come up with; to overtake.
CATCH
Catch, n.
1. Act of seizing; a grasp. Sir P. Sidney.
2. That by which anything is caught or temporarily fastened; as, the
catch of a gate.
3. The posture of seizing; a state of preparation to lay hold of, or
of watching he opportunity to seize; as, to lie on the catch.
[Archaic] Addison.
The common and the canon law . . . lie at catch, and wait advantages
one againt another. T. Fuller.
4. That which is caught or taken; profit; gain; especially, the whole
quantity caught or taken at one time; as, a good catch of fish.
Hector shall have a great catch if he knock out either of your
brains. Shak.
5. Something desirable to be caught, esp. a husband or wife in
matrimony. [Colloq.] Marryat.
6. pl.
Defn: Passing opportunities seized; snatches.
It has been writ by catches with many intervals. Locke.
7. A slight remembrance; a trace.
We retain a catch of those pretty stories. Glanvill.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: A humorous canon or round, so contrived that the singers catch
up each other's words.
CATCHABLE
Catch"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being caught. [R.]
CATCH-BASIN
Catch"-ba`sin, n.
Defn: A cistern or vault at the point where a street gutter
discharges into a sewer, to oatch bulky matters which would not pass
readly throught the sewer. Knight.
CATCH CROP
Catch crop.
Defn: Any crop grown between the rows of another crop or intermediate
between two crops in ordinary rotation in point of time. -- Catch"-
crop`ping, n.
Radishes . . . are often grown as a catch crop with other vegetables.
L. H. Bailey.
CATCHDRAIN
Catch"drain`, n.
Defn: A dich or drain along the side of a hill to catch the surface
water; also, a ditch at the side of a canal to catch the surplus
water.
CATCHER
Catch"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, catches.
2. (Baseball)
Defn: The player who stands behind the batsman to catch the ball.
CATCHFLY
Catch"fly, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with the joints of the stem, and sometimes other parts,
covered with a viscid secretion to which small insects adhere. The
species of Silene are examples of the catchfly.
CATCHING
Catch"ing a.
1. Infections; contagious.
2. Captavating; alluring.
CATCHING
Catch"ing, n.
Defn: The act of seizing or taking hold of Catching bargain (Law), a
bargain made with an heir expectant for the purchase of his
expectancy at an inadequate price. Bouvier.
CATCH-MEADOW
Catch"-mead`ow, n.
Defn: meadow irrigated by water from a spring or rivulet on the side
of hill.
CATCHMENT
Catch"ment, n.
Defn: A surface of ground on which water may be caught and collected
into a reservoir.
CATCHPENNY
Catch"pen*ny, a.
Defn: Made or contrived for getting small sums of money from the
ignorant or unwary; as, a catchpenny book; a catchpenny show.
-- n.
Defn: Some worthless catchpenny thing.
CATCHPOLL
Catch"poll`, n. Etym: [OF. chacepol, chacipol.]
Defn: A bailiff's assistant.
CATCH TITLE
Catch title.
Defn: A short expressive title used for abbreviated book lists, etc.
CATCHUP; CATSUP
Catch"up, Cat"sup, n. Etym: [Probably of East Indian origin, because
it was originally a kind of East Indian pickles.]
Defn: A table sauce made from mushrooms, tomatoes, walnuts, etc.
[Written also ketchup.]
CATCHWATER
Catch"wa`ter, n.
Defn: A ditch or drain for catching water. See Catchdrain.
CATCHWEED
Catch"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cleavers.
CATCHWEIGHT
Catch"weight`, adv. (Horseracing)
Defn: Without any additional weight; without being handicapped; as,
to ride catchweight.
CATCHWORD
Catch"word`, n.
1. Among theatrical performers, the last word of the preceding
speaker, which reminds one that he is to speak next; cue.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The first word of any page of a book after the first, inserted
at the right hand bottom corner of the preceding page for the
assistance of the reader. It is seldom used in modern printing.
3. A word or phrase caught up and repeated for effect; as, the
catchword of a political party, etc.
CATCHWORK
Catch"work`, n.
Defn: A work or artificial watercourse for throwing water on lands
that lie on the slopes of hills; a catchdrain.
CATCHY
Catch"y, a.
1. Apt or tending to catch the fancy or attention; catching; taking;
as, catchy music.
2. Tending to catch or insnare; entangling; -- usually used fig.;
as, a catchy question.
3. Consisting of, or occuring in, disconnected parts or snatches;
changeable; as, a catchy wind.
It [the fox's scent] is . . . flighty or catchy, if variable.
Encyc. of Sport.
CATE
Cate, n.
Defn: Food. [Obs.] See Cates.
CATECHETIC; CATECHETICAL
Cat`e*chet"ic, Cat`e*chet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catechise.]
Defn: Relating to or consisting in, asking questions and receiving
answers, according to the ancient manner of teaching.
Socrates introduced a catechetical method of arguing. Addison.
CATECHETICALLY
Cat`e*chet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a catechetical manner; by question and answer.
CATECHETICS
Cat`e*chet"ics, n.
Defn: The science or practice of instructing by questions and
answers.
CATECHIN
Cat"e*chin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the tannic acids, extracted from catechu as a white,
crystaline substance; -- called also catechuic acid, and catechuin.
CATECHISATION
Cat`e*chi*sa"tion, n. Etym: [LL. catechizatio.]
Defn: The act of catechising.
CATECHISE
Cat"e*chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catechised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Catechising.] Etym: [L. catechizare, Gr.
1. To instruct by asking questions, receiving answeres, and offering
explanations and corrections, -- esp. in regard to points of
religious faith.
2. To question or interrogate; to examine or try by questions; --
sometimes with a view to reproof, by eliciting from a person answers
which condemn his own conduct. Swift.
CATECHISER
Cat"e*chi`ser, n.
Defn: One who catechises.
CATECHISM
Cat"e*chism, n. Etym: [L. catechismus, fr. Gr. See Catechise.]
1. A form of instruction by means of questions answers.
2. A book containing a summary of principles, especially of religious
doctrine, reduced to the form of questions and answers.
The Jews, even till this day, have their catechisms. Hooker.
The Larger Catechism, The Shorter Catechism. See Westminster
Assembly, under Assembly.
CATECHISMAL
Cat`e*chis"mal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechism, having the form of questions
and answers; catechical.
CATECHIST
Cat"e*chist, n. Etym: [L. catechista, fr. Gr.]
Defn: One who instructs by question and answer, especially in
religions matters.
CATECHISTIC; CATECHISTICAL
Cat`e*chis"tic, Cat`e*chis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a catechist or to a catechism. Dr. H. More.
CATECHIZE
Cat"e*chize, v. t.
Defn: See Catechise.
CATECHU
Cat"e*chu, n. Etym: [See Cashoo.] (Chem.)
Defn: A dry, brown, astringent extract, obtained by decoction and
evaporation from the Acacia catechu, and several other plants growing
in India. It contains a large portion of tannin or tannic acid, and
is used in medicine and in the arts. It is also known by the names
terra japonica, cutch, gambier, etc. Ure. Dunglison.
CATECHUIC
Cat`e*chu"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to catechu or its derivatives. See catechin.
CATECHUMEN
Cat"e*chu`men, n. Etym: [L. catechunenus, Gr. Catechise.] (Eccl.)
Defn: One who is receiving rudimentary instruction in the doctrines
of Christianity; a neophyte; in the primitive church, one officially
recognized as a Christian, and admitted to instruction preliminary to
admission to full membership in the church.
CATECHUMENATE
Cat`e*chu"men*ate, n.
Defn: The state or condition of a catechumen or the time during which
one is a catechumen.
CATECHUMENICAL
Cat`e*chu*men"i*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to catechumens; as, catechumenical
instructions.
CATECHUMENIST
Cat`e*chu"men*ist, n.
Defn: A catechumen. Bp. Morton.
CATEGOREMATIC
Cat`e*gor`e*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Category.] (Logic.)
Defn: Capable of being employed by itself as a term; -- said of a
word.
CATEGORICAL
Cat`e*gor"ic*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a category.
2. Not hypothetical or relative; admitting no conditions or
exceptions; declarative; absolute; positive; express; as, a
categorical proposition, or answer.
The scriptures by a multitude of categorical and intelligible
decisions . . . distinguish between the things seen and temporal and
those that are unseen and eternal. I. Taylor.
CATEGORICALLY
Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Absolutely; directly; expressly; positively; as, to affirm
categorically.
CATEGORICALNESS
Cat`e*gor"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being categorical, positive, or absolute. A.
Marvell.
CATEGORIST
Cat"e*go*rist, n.
Defn: One who inserts in a category or list; one who classifies.
Emerson.
CATEGORIZE
Cat"e*go*rize, v. t.
Defn: To insert in a category or list; to class; to catalogue.
CATEGORY
Cat"e*go*ry, n.; pl. Categories Etym: [L. categoria, Gr.
1. (Logic.)
Defn: One of the highest classes to which the objects of knowledge or
thought can be reduced, and by which they can be arranged in a
system; an ultimate or undecomposable conception; a predicament.
The categories or predicaments -- the former a Greek word, the latter
its literal translation in the Latin language -- were intended by
Aristotle and his followers as an enumeration of all things capable
of being named; an enumeration by the summa genera i.e., the most
extensive classes into which things could be distributed. J. S. Mill.
2. Class; also, state, condition, or predicament; as, we are both in
the same category.
There is in modern literature a whole class of writers standing
within the same category. De Quincey.
CATEL
Cat"el, n. Etym: [See Chattel.]
Defn: Property; -- often used by Chaucer in contrast with rent, or
income.
"For loss of catel may recovered be, But loss of tyme shendeth us,"
quod he. Chaucer.
CATELECTRODE
Cat`e*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Pref. cata + elecrode.] (Physics)
Defn: The negative electrode or pole of a voltaic battery. Faraday.
CATELECTROTONIC
Cat`e*lec`tro*ton"ic, a. (Physics)
Defn: Relating to, or characterized by, catelectrotonus.
CATELECTROTONUS
Cat`e*lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Electro-) + (Physics)
Defn: The condition of increased irritability of a nerve in the
region of the cathode or negative electrode, on the passage of a
current of electricity through it.
CATENA
Ca*te"na, n.; pl. Catene. Etym: [L., a chain.]
Defn: A chain or series of things connected with each other.
I have . . . in no case sought to construct those catenæ of games,
which it seems now the fashion of commentators to link together. C.
J. Ellicott.
CATENARY; CATENARIAN
Cat"e*na*ry, Cat`e*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. catenarius, fr. catena a
chain. See Chain.]
Defn: Relating to a chain; like a chain; as, a catenary curve.
CATENARY
Cat"e*na*ry, n.; pl. Catenaries (. (Geol.)
Defn: The curve formed by a rope or chain of uniform density and
perfect flexibility, hanging freely between two points of suspension,
not in the same vertical line.
CATENATE
Cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catenated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Catenating.] Etym: [L. catenatus, p. p. of catenare, fr. catena
chain. See Chain.]
Defn: To connect, in a series of links or ties; to chain. E. Darwin.
CATENATION
Cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. catenatio.]
Defn: Connection of links or union of parts, as in a chain; a regular
or connected series. See Concatenation. Sir T. Browne.
CATENULATE
Ca*ten"u*late, a. Etym: [L. catenuia, dim. of catena chain.]
1. Consisting of little links or chains.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Chainlike; -- said both or color marks and of indentations when
arranged like the links of a chain, as on shells, etc.
CATER
Ca"ter, n. Etym: [OE. catour purchaser, caterer, OF. acator, fr.
acater, F. acheter, to buy, provide, fr. LL. accaptare; L. ad +
captare to strive, to seize, intens, of capere to take, seize. Cf.
Acater, Capacious.]
Defn: A provider; a purveyor; a caterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CATER
Ca"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Catered; p. pr. & vb. n. Catering.] Etym:
[From Cater, n.]
1. To provide food; to buy, procure, or prepare provisions.
[He] providently caters for the sparrow. Shak.
2. By extension: To supply what is needed or desired, at theatrical
or musical entertainments; -- followed by for or to.
CATER
Ca"ter, n. Etym: [F. quatre four.]
Defn: The four of cards or dice.
CATER
Ca"ter, v. t.
Defn: To cut diagonally. [Obs.] Halliwell.
CATERAN
Cat"e*ran, n. Etym: [Gael. ceatharnach. Cf. Kern Irish foot soldier.]
Defn: A Highland robber: a kind of irregular soldier. [Scot.] Sir W.
Scott.
CATER-CORNERED
Ca"ter-cor"nered, a. Etym: [Cf. Cater to cut diagonally.]
Defn: Diagonal. [Colloq.]
CATER-COUSIN
Ca"ter-cous`in, n.
Defn: A remote relation. See Quater-cousin. Shak.
CATERER
Ca"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who caters.
The little fowls in the air have God for Their provider and caterer.
Shelton.
CATERESS
Ca"ter*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who caters. Milton.
CATERPILLAR
Cat"er*pil`lar, n. Etym: [OE. catyrpel, corrupted fr. OF.
chatepelouse, or cate pelue, fr. chate, F. chatte, she-cat, fem. of
chat, L. catus + L. pilosus hairy, or F. pelu hairy, fr. L. pilus
hair. See Cat, and Pile hair.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larval state of a butterfly or any lepidopterous insect;
sometimes, but less commonly, the larval state of other insects, as
the sawflies, which are also called false caterpillars. The true
caterpillars have three pairs of true legs, and several pairs of
abdominal fleshy legs (prolegs) armed with hooks. Some are hairy,
others naked. They usually feed on leaves, fruit, and succulent
vegetables, being often very destructive, Many of them are popularly
called worms, as the cutworm, cankerworm, army worm, cotton worm,
silkworm.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Scorpiurus, with pods resembling
caterpillars. Caterpillar catcher, or Caterpillar eater (Zoöl.), a
bird belonging to the family of Shrikes, which feeds on caterpillars.
The name is also given to several other birds.
-- Caterpillar hunter (Zoöl.), any species of beetles of the genus
Callosoma and other allied genera of the family Carabidæ which feed
habitually upon caterpillars.
CATERWAUL
Cat"er*waul, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caterwauled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Caterwauling.] Etym: [Cat + waul, wawl, to cry as a cat.]
Defn: To cry as cats in rutting time; to make a harsh, offensive
noise. Coleridge.
CATERWAUL
Cat"er*waul, n.
Defn: A caterwauling.
CATERWAULING
Cat"er*waul`ing, n.
Defn: The cry of cats; a harsh, disagreeable noise or cry like the
cry of cats. Shak.
CATERY
Ca"ter*y, n. Etym: [See Cater, n.]
Defn: The place where provisions are deposited. [Obs.]
CATES
Cates, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Acates, and see Cater, n.]
Defn: Provisions; food; viands; especially, luxurious food;
delicacies; dainties. Shak.
Cates for which Apicius could not pay. Shurchill.
Choicest cates and the fiagon's best spilth. R. Browning.
CAT-EYED
Cat"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having eyes like a cat; hence, able to see in the dark.
CATFALL
Cat"fall`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope used in hoisting the anchor to the cathead. Totten.
CATFISH
Cat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given in the United States to various species of
siluroid fishes; as, the yellow cat (Amiurus natalis); the bind cat
(Gronias nigrilabrus); the mud cat (Pilodictic oilwaris), the stone
cat (Noturus flavus); the sea cat (Arius felis), etc. This name is
also sometimes applied to the wolf fish. See Bullhead.
CATGUT
Cat"gut`, n. Etym: [Cat + gut.]
1. A cord of great toughness made from the intestines of animals,
esp. of sheep, used for strings of musical instruments, etc.
2. A sort of linen or canvas, with wide interstices.
CATHARINE WHEEL
Cath"a*rine wheel`.
Defn: See catherine wheel.
CATHARIST
Cath"a*rist, n. Etym: [LL. catharista, fr. Gr.
Defn: One aiming at or pretending to a greater purity of like than
others about him; -- applied to persons of various sects. See
Albigenses.
CAT-HARPIN
Cat"-harp`in, n.
Defn: See Cat-harping.
CAT-HARPING
Cat"-harp`ing n. (Naut.)
Defn: One of the short ropes or iron cramps used to brace in the
shrouds toward the masts so a to give freer sweep to the yards.
CATHARSIS
Ca*thar"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)
Defn: A natural or artificial purgation of any passage, as of the
mouth, bowels, etc.
CATHARTIC; CATHARICAL
Ca*thar"tic, Ca*thar"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. chaste.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Cleansing the bowels; promoting evacuations by stool;
purgative.
2. Of or pertaining to the purgative principle of senna, as cathartic
acid.
CATHARTIC
Ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that promotes alvine discharges; a purge; a
purgative of moderate activity.
Note: The cathartics are more energetic and certain in action that
the laxatives, which simply increase the tendency to alvine
evacuation; and less powerful and irritaint that the drastic purges,
which cause profuse, repeated, and watery evacuations.
-- Ca*thar"tic*al*ly, adv.
-- Ca*thar"tic*al*ness, n.
CATHARTIN
ca*thar"tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The bitter, purgative principle of senna. It is a glucoside
with the properties of a weak acid; -- called also cathartic acid,
and cathartina.
CATHAY
Ca*thay", n.
Defn: China; -- an old name for the Celestial Empire, said have been
introduced by Marco Polo and to be a corruption of the Tartar name
for North China (Khitai, the country of the Khitans.)
Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.
CATHEAD
Cat"head`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A projecting piece of timber or iron near the bow of vessel, to
which the anchor is hoisted and secured.
CATHEDRA
Cath"e*dra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Chair.]
Defn: The official chair or throne of a bishop, or of any person in
high authority. Ex cathedra Etym: [L., from the chair], in the
exercise of one's office; with authority.
The Vatican Council declares that the Pope, is infallible "when he
speaks ex cathedra." Addis & Arnold's Cath. Dict.
CATHEDRAL
Ca*the"dral, n. Etym: [LL. cathedralis (sc. ecclesia): cf. F.
cathédrale. See Cathedra.]
Defn: The principal church in a diocese, so called because in it the
bishop has his official chair (Cathedra) or throne.
CATHEDRAL
Ca*the"dral, a. Etym: [LL. cathedralis: cf. F. cathédral.]
1. Pertaining to the head church of a diocese; as, a cathedral
church; cathedral service.
2. Emanating from the chair of office, as of a pope or bishop;
official; authoritative.
Now, what solemnity can be more required for the pope to make a
cathedral determination of an article! Jer. Taylor.
3. Resembling the aisles of a cathedral; as, cathedral walks. Pope.
CATHEDRALIC
Cath`e*dral"ic, a.
Defn: Cathedral. [R.]
CATHEDRATED
Cath`e*dra"ted, a. Etym: [From Cathedra.]
Defn: Relating to the chair or office of a teacher. [Obs.]
CATHERETIC
Cath`e*ret"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A mild kind caustic used to reduce warts and other
excrescences. Dunglison.
CATHERINE WHEEL
Cath"er*ine wheel`. Etym: [So called from St. Catherine of
Alexandria, who is represented with a wheel, in allusion to her
martyrdom.]
1. (Geoth.Arth.)
Defn: Same as Rose window and Wheel window. Called also Catherine-
wheel window.
2. (Pyrotechny)
Defn: A revolving piece of fireworks resembling in form the window of
the same name. [Written also Catharine wheel.]
CATHETER
Cath"e*ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The name of various instruments for passing along mucous
canals, esp. applied to a tubular instrument to be introduced into
the bladder through the urethra to draw off the urine. Eustachian
catheter. See under Eustachian.
-- Prostatic catheter, one adapted for passing an enlarged prostate.
CATHETERISM; CATHETERIZATION
Cath"e*ter*ism, Cath`e*ter*i*za"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of introducing a catheter.
CATHETERIZE
Cath"e*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Catheterized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Catheterizing.] (Med.)
Defn: To operate on with a catheter. Dunglison.
CATHETOMETER
Cath`e*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [From Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for the accurate measurement of small differences
of height; esp. of the differences in the height of the upper
surfaces of two columns of mercury or other fluid, or of the same
column at different times. It consists of a telescopic leveling
apparatus (d), which slides up or down a perpendicular metallic
standard very finely graduated (bb). The telescope is raised or
depressed in order to sight the objects or surfaces, and the
differences in vertical height are thus shown on the graduated
standard. [Written also kathetometer.]
CATHETUS
Cath"e*tus, n.; pl. catheti. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Catheter.] (Geom.)
Defn: One line or radius falling perpendicularly on another; as, the
catheti of a right-angled triangle, that is, the two sides that
include the right angle. Barlow.
CATHODE
Cath"ode, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: The part of a voltaic battery by which the electric current
leaves substances through which it passes, or the surface at which
the electric current passes out of the electrolyte; the negative
pole; -- opposed to anode. Faraday. Cathode ray (Phys.), a kind of
ray generated at the cathode in a vacuum tube, by the electrical
discharge.
CATHODIC
Ca*thod"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term applied to the centrifugal, or efferent course of the
nervous infuence. Marshall Hall.
CATHODOGRAPH; CATHODEGRAPH
Ca*thod"o*graph, n. Also Ca*thod"e*graph. [Cathode + -graph.]
(Physics)
Defn: A picture produced by the Röntgen rays; a radiograph.
CAT-HOLE
Cat"-hole`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: One of two small holes astern, above the gunroom ports, through
which hawsers may be passed.
CATHOLIC
Cath"o*lic, a. Etym: [L. catholicus, Gr. solid: cf. F. catholique.]
1. Universal or general; as, the catholic faith.
Men of other countries [came] to bear their part in so great and
catholic a war. Southey.
Note: This epithet, which is applicable to the whole Christian
church, or its faith, is claimed by Roman Catholics to belong
especially to their church, and in popular usage is so limited.
2. Not narrow-minded, partial, or bigoted; liberal; as, catholic
tastes.
3. Of or pertaining to, or affecting the Roman Catholics; as, the
Catholic emancipation act. Catholic epistles, the espistles of the
apostles which are addressed to all the faithful, and not to a
particular church; being those of James, Peter, Jude, and John.
CATHOLIC
Cath"o*lic, n.
1. A person who accepts the creeds which are received in common by
all parts of the orthodox Christian church.
2. An adherent of the Roman Catholic church; a Roman Catholic. Old
Catholic, the name assumed in 1870 by members of the Roman Catholic
church, who denied the ecumenical character of the Vatican Council,
and Rejected its decrees, esp. that concerning the infallibility of
the pope, as contrary to the ancient Catholic faith.
CATHOLICAL
Ca*thol"i*cal, a.
Defn: Catholic. [Obs.]
CATHOLICISM
Ca*thol"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catholicisme.]
1. The state or quality of being catholic or universal; catholicity.
Jer. Taylor.
2. Liberality of sentiment; breadth of view.
3. The faith of the whole orthodox Christian church, or adherence
thereto.
4. The doctrines or faith of the Roman Catholic church, or adherence
thereto.
CATHOLICITY
Cath`o*lic"i*ty, n.
1. The state or quality of being catholic; universality.
2. Liberality of sentiments; catholicism.
3. Adherence or conformity to the system of doctrine held by all
parts of the orthodox Christian church; the doctrine so held;
orthodoxy.
4. Adherence to the doctrines of the church of Rome, or the doctrines
themselves.
CATHOLICIZE
Ca*thol"i*cize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or to become catholic or Roman Catholic.
CATHOLICLY
Cath"o*lic*ly, adv.
Defn: In a catholic manner; generally; universally. Sir L. Cary.
CATHOLICNESS
Cath"o*lic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being catholic; universality; catholicity.
CATHOLICON
Ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Gr. Catholic.] (Med.)
Defn: A remedy for all diseases; a panacea.
CATHOLICOS
Ca*thol"i*cos, n. Etym: [NL. See Catholic.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The spiritual head of the Armenian church, who resides at
Etchmiadzin, Russia, and has ecclesiastical jurisdiction over, and
consecrates the holy oil for, the Armenians of Russia, Turkey, and
Persia, including the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Jerusalem, and
Sis.
Note: The Patriarch of Constantinople is the civil head of the
Armenians in Turkey.
CATILINARIAN
Cat`i*li*na"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Catilinarius.]
Defn: Pertaining to Catiline, the Roman conspirator; resembling
Catiline's conspiracy.
CATION
Cat"i*on, n. Etym: [Gr. p. pr. of (Chem.)
Defn: An electro-positive substance, which in electro-decomposition
is evolved at the cathode; -- opposed to anion. Faraday.
CATKIN
Cat"kin, n. Etym: [Cat + -kin.] (Bot.)
Defn: An ament; a species of inflorescence, consisting of a slender
axis with many unisexual apetalous flowers along its sides, as in the
willow and poplar, and (as to the staminate flowers) in the chestnut,
oak, hickory, etc.
-- so called from its resemblance to a cat's tail. See Illust. of
Ament.
CATLIKE
Cat"like`, a.
Defn: Like a cat; stealthily; noiselessly.
CATLING
Cat"ling, n. Etym: [Cat + -ing.]
1. A little cat; a kitten. "Cat nor catling." Drummond.
2. Catgut; a catgut string. [R.] Shak.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: A double-edged, sharp-pointed dismembering knife. [Spelt also
catlin.] Crobb.
CATLINITE
Cat"lin*ite, n. Etym: [From George Catlin, an American traveler.]
Defn: A red clay from the Upper Missouri region, used by the Indians
for their pipes.
CATNIP; CATMINT
Cat"nip`, Cat"mint`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A well-know plant of the genus Nepeta (N. Cataria), somewhat
like mint, having a string scent, and sometimes used in medicine. It
is so called because cats have a peculiar fondness for it.
CATO-CATHARTIC
Cat`o-ca*thar"tic, n. Etym: [Gr. Cathartic.] (Med.)
Defn: A remedy that purges by alvine discharges.
CATONIAN
Ca*to"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Catonionus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the stern old Roman, Cato the
Censor; severe; inflexible.
CAT O' NINE TAILS
Cat" o' nine" tails`.
Defn: See under Cat.
CATOPRON
Ca*top"ron, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Catopter.
CATOPTER; CATOPTRON
Ca*top"ter, Ca*top"tron, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A reflecting optical glass or instrument; a mirror. [Obs.]
CATOPTRIC; CATOPTRICAL
Ca*top"tric, Ca*top"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Catopter.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to catoptrics; produced by reflection.
Catoptric light, a light in which the rays are concentrated by
reflectors into a beam visible at a distance.
CATOPTRICS
Ca*top"trics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. catoptrique. See Catropric.] (Physics)
Defn: That part of optics which explants the properties and phenomena
of reflected light, and particularly that which is reflected from
mirrors or polished bodies; --- formerly caled anacamptics.
CATOPTROMANCY
Ca*top"tro*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy. See Catopter.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A species of divination, which was perforned by letting down a
mirror into water, for a sick person to look at his face in it. If
his countenance appeared distorted and ghastly, it was an ill omen;
if fresh and healthy, it was favorable.
CATPIPE
Cat`pipe", n.
Defn: See Catcall.
CAT-RIGGED
Cat"-rigged`, a.
Defn: Rigged like a catboat.
CAT-SALT
Cat"-salt`, n.
Defn: A sort of salt, finely granulated, formed out of the bittern or
leach brine.
CAT'S-EYE
Cat's"-eye`, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of quartz or chalcedony, exhibiting opalescent
reflections from within, like the eye of a cat. The mane is given to
other gems affording like effects, esp. the chrysoberyl.
CAT'S-FOOT
Cat's`-foot, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Nepeta Glechoma) of the same genus with catnip; ground
ivy.
CAT-SILVER
Cat"-sil`ver, n.
Defn: Mica. [Archaic]
CATSKILL PERIOD
Cats"kill pe`ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: The closing subdivision of the Devonian age in America. The
rocks of this period are well developed in the Catskill mountains,
and extend south and west under the Carboniferous formation. See the
Diagram under Geology.
CATSO
Cat"so, n.; pl. Catsos. Etym: [It. cazzo.]
Defn: A base fellow; a rogue; a cheat. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CAT'S-PAW
Cat's"-paw`, n.
1. (Naut.)
(a) A light transitory air which ruffles the surface of the water
during a calm, or the ripples made by such a puff of air.
(b) A particular hitch or turn in the bight of a rope, into which a
tackle may be hooked.
2. A dupe; a tool; one who, or that which, is used by another as an
instrument to a accomplish his purposes.
Note: In this sense the term refers to the fable of the monkey using
the cat's paw to draw the roasting chestnuts out of the fire.
CAT'S-TAIL
Cat's"-tail, n.
Defn: See Timothy, Cat-tail, Cirrus.
CATSTICK
Cat"stick`, n.
Defn: A stick or club employed in the game of ball called cat or
tipcat. Massinger.
CATSTITCH
Cat"stitch, v. t. (Needlework)
Defn: To fold and sew down the edge of with a coarse zigzag stitch.
CATSUP
Cat"sup, n.
Defn: Same as Catchup, and Ketchup.
CAT-TAIL
Cat"-tail, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tall rush or flag (Typha latifolia) growing in marshes, with
long, glat leaves, and having its flowers in a close cylindrical
spike at the top of the stem. The leaves are frequently used for
seating chairs, making mats, etc. See Catkin.
Note: The lesser cat-tail is Typha angustifolia.
CATTISH
Cat"tish, a.
Defn: Catlike; feline Drummond.
CATTLE
Cat"tle, n. pl. Etym: [OE. calet, chatel, goods, property, OF. catel,
chatel, LL. captale, capitale, goods, property, esp. cattle, fr. L.
capitals relating to the head, chief; because in early ages beasts
constituted the chief part of a man's property. See Capital, and cf.
Chattel.]
Defn: Quadrupeds of the Bovine family; sometimes, also, including all
domestic quadrupeds, as sheep, goats, horses, mules, asses, and
swine. Belted cattle, Black cattle. See under Belted, Black.
-- Cattle guard, a trench under a railroad track and alongside a
crossing (as of a public highway). It is intended to prevent cattle
from getting upon the track.
-- cattle louse (Zoöl.), any species of louse infecting cattle.
There are several species. The Hæmatatopinus eurysternus and H.
vituli are common species which suck blood; Trichodectes scalaris
eats the hair.
-- Cattle plague, the rinderpest; called also Russian cattle plague.
-- Cattle range, or Cattle run, an open space through which cattle
may run or range. [U. S.] Bartlett.
-- Cattle show, an exhibition of domestic animals with prizes for
the encouragement of stock breeding; -- usually accompanied with the
exhibition of other agricultural and domestic products and of
implements.
CATTY
Cat"ty, n. Etym: [Malay kati. See Caddy.]
Defn: An East Indian Weight of 11/3 pounds.
CAUCASIAN
Cau*ca"sian, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the Caucasus, a mountainous region between the
Black and Caspian seas.
2. Of or pertaining to the white races of mankind, of whom the people
about Mount Caucasus were formerly taken as the type.
CAUCASIAN
Cau*ca"sian, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of the Caucasus, esp. a Circassian or
Georgian.
2. A member of any of the white races of mankind.
CAUCUS
Cau"cus, n. Etym: [Etymology uncertain. Mr. J. H. Trumbull finds the
origin of caucus in the N. A. Indian word cawcawwassough or caú cau-
as'u one who urges or pushes on, a promoter. See citation for an
early use of the word caucus.]
Defn: A meeting, especially a preliminary meeting, of persons
belonging to a party, to nominate candidates for public office, or to
select delegates to a nominating convention, or to confer regarding
measures of party policy; a political primary meeting.
This day learned that the caucus club meets, at certain times, in the
garret of Tom Dawes, the adjutant of the Boston regiment. John
Adams's Diary [Feb. , 1763].
CAUCUS
Cau"cus, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caucused; p. pr. & vb. n. Caucusing.]
Defn: To hold, or meet in, a caucus or caucuses.
CAUDAD
Cau"dad, adv. Etym: [L. cauda tail + ad to.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Backwards; toward the tail or posterior part.
CAUDA GALLI
Cau"da gal*li, (. Etym: [L., tail of a cock.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A plume-shaped fossil, supposed to be a seaweed, characteristic
of the lower Devonian rocks; as, the cauda galli grit. Gauda galli
epoch (Geol.), an epoch at the begining of the Devonian age in
eastern America, so named from the characteristic gritty sandstone
marked with impressions of cauda galli. See the Diagram under
Geology.
CAUDAL
Cau"dal, a. Etym: [L. Cauda tail. Cf. Coward.]
Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a tail; having a tail-like
appendage.
The male widow-bird, remarkable for his caudal plumes. Darwin.
Caudal fin (Zoöl.), the terminal fin (or "tail") of a fish.
CAUDATA
Cau*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cauda tail.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Urodela.
CAUDATE; CAUDATED
Cau"date, Cau"da*ted. a. Etym: [L. cauda tail.]
Defn: Having a taill; having a termination like a tail.
CAUDEX
Cau"dex, n.; pl. L. Caudices, E. Caudexes. Etym: [L.] (Bot.)
Defn: The sterm of a tree., esp. a sterm without a branch, as of a
palm or a tree fern; also, the pernnial rootstock of an herbaceous
plant.
CAUDICLE; CAUDICULA
Cau"di*cle, Cau*dic"u*la, n. Etym: [Dim. of L. cauda tail,
appendage.] (Bot.)
Defn: A slender, elastic process, to which the masses of pollen in
orchidaceous plants are attached.
CAUDLE
Cau"dle, n. Etym: [OF. caudel, F. chaudeau, dim. of LL calidum a
sweet drink, fr. L. caidus warm. See Caldron.]
Defn: A kind of warm drink for sick persons, being a mixture of wine
with eggs, bread, sugar, and spices.
CAUDLE
Cau"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caudled; p. pr. & vb. n. Caudling.]
1. To make into caudle.
2. Too serve as a caudle to; to refresh. [R.] Shak.
CAUF
Cauf, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to Celtic caff, cav, cau, L. cavus hollow,
or to L. caphinus, Gr.
Defn: A chest with holes for keeping fish alive in water. Philips.
CAUFLE
Cau"fle, n.
Defn: A gung of slaves. Same as Coffle.
CAUGHT
Caught, imp. & p. p.
Defn: f Catch.
CAUK; CAUKER
Cauk, n., Cauk"er, n.
Defn: See Cawk, Calker.
CAUL
Caul, n. Etym: [OE. calle, kelle, prob. fr. F. cale; cf. Ir. calla a
veil.]
1. A covering of network for the head, worn by women; also, a net.
Spenser.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The fold of membrane loaded with fat, which covers more or less
of the intestines in mammals; the great omentum See Omentum.
The caul serves for warming of the lower belly. Ray.
3. A part of the amnion, one of the membranes enveloping the fetus,
which sometimes is round the head of a child at its birth.
It is deemed lucky to be with a caul or membrane over the face. This
caul is esteemed an infallible preservative against drowning . . .
According to Chysostom, the midwives frequently sold it for magic
uses. Grose.
I was born with a caul, which was advertised for sale, in the
newspapers, at the low price of fifteen guineas. Dickens.
CAULESCENT
Cau*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. caulis stalk, stem: cf. F. caulescent.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having a leafy stem.
CAULICLE
Cau"li*cle, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A short caulis or stem, esp. the rudimentary stem seen in the
embryo of seed; -- otherwise called a radicle.
CAULICULUS
Cau*lic"u*lus, n.; pl. Cauliculi Etym: [L. caulculus little stalk,
dim. of caulis.] (Arch.)
Defn: In the Corinthian capital, one of the eight stalks rising out
of the lower leafage and terminating in leaves which seem to suport
the volutes. See Illust. of Corinthian order, under Corinthian.
CAULIFLOWER
Cau"li*flow`er, n. Etym: [F. choufleur, modified by E. Cole. L.
caulis, and by E. flower; F. chou cabbage is fr. L. caulis stalk,
cabbage, and fleur flower is fr. L. flos flower. See Cole, and
Flower.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An annual variety of Brassica oleracea, or cabbage of which the
cluster of young flower stalks and buds is eaten as a vegetable.
2. The edible head or "curd" of a caulifower plant.
CAULIFORM
Cau"li*form, a. Etym: [L. caulis + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a caulis.
CAULINE
Cau"line, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing immediately on a caulis; of or pertaining to a caulis.
CAULIS
Cau"lis, n.; L. pl. Caules. Etym: [L., a stem.] (Bot.)
Defn: An herbaceous or woody stem which bears leaves, and may bear
flowers.
CAULK
Caulk, v. t. & n.
Defn: See Calk.
CAULOCARPOUS
Cau`lo*car"pous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having stems which bear flowers and fruit year after year, as
most trees and shrubs.
CAULOME
Cau"lome, n. [Gr. kalo`s stem + -ome as in rhizome.] (Bot.)
Defn: A stem structure or stem axis of a plant, viewed as a whole. --
Cau*lom"ic (#), a.
CAUMA
Cau"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Great heat, as of the body in fever.
CAUPONIZE
Cau"po*nize, v. i. Etym: [L. cauponari, fr. caupo huckster,
innkeeper.]
Defn: To sell wine or victuals. [Obs.] Warburfon.
CAUSABLE
Caus"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being caused.
CAUSAL
Caus"al, a. Etym: [L. causalis. See Cause.]
Defn: Relating to a cause or causes; inplying or containing a cause
or causes; expressing a cause; causative.
Causal propositions are where two propositions are joined by causal
words. Watts.
CAUSAL
Caus"al, n.
Defn: A causal word or form of speech.
Anglo-Saxon drencan to drench, causal of Anglo-Saxon drincan to
drink. Skeat.
CAUSALITY
Cau*sal"i*ty, n.; pl. Causalities (.
1. The agency of a cause; the action or power of a cause, in
producing its effect.
The causality of the divine mind. Whewell.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty of tracing effects to their causes. G. Combe.
CAUSALLY
Caus"al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the order or series of causes; by tracing effects
to causes.
CAUSALLY
Caus"al*ly, n. (Mining.)
Defn: The lighter, earthy parts of ore, carried off washing.
CAUSATION
Cau*sa"tion, n.
Defn: The act of causing; also the act or agency by which an effect
is produced.
The kind of causation by which vision is produced. Whewell.
Law of universal causation, the theoretical or asserted law that
every event or phenomenon results from, or is the sequel of, some
previous event or phenomenon, which being present, the other is
certain to take place.
CAUSATIONIST
Cau*sa"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in the law of universal causation.
CAUSATIVE
Caus"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. causativus pertaining to a lawsuit (causa),
but in the English sense from E. cause.]
1. Effective, as a cause or agent; causing.
Causative in nature of a number of effects. Bacon.
2. Expressing a cause or reason; causal; as, the ablative is a
causative case.
CAUSATIVE
Caus"a*tive, n.
Defn: A word which expresses or suggests a cause.
CAUSATIVELY
Caus"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a causative manner.
CAUSATOR
Cau*sa"tor, n. Etym: [See Cause.]
Defn: One who causes. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CAUSE
Cause, n. Etym: [F. cause, fr. L. causa. Cf. Cause, v., Kickshaw.]
1. That which produces or effects a result; that from which anything
proceeds, and without which it would not exist.
Cause is substance exerting its power into act, to make one thing
begin to be. Locke.
2. That which is the occasion of an action or state; ground; reason;
motive; as, cause for rejoicing.
3. Sake; interest; advantage. [Obs.]
I did it not for his cause. 2 Cor. vii. 12.
4. (Law)
Defn: A suit or action in court; any legal process by which a party
endeavors to obtain his claim, or what he regards as his right; case;
ground of action.
5. Any subject of discussion or debate; matter; question; affair in
general.
What counsel give you in this weighty cause! Shak.
6. The side of a question, which is espoused, advocated, and upheld
by a person or party; a principle which is advocated; that which a
person or party seeks to attain.
God befriend us, as our cause is just. Shak.
The part they take against me is from zeal to the cause. Burke.
Efficient cause, the agent or force that produces a change or redult.
-- Final cause, the end, design, or object, for which anything is
done.
-- Formal cause, the elements of a conception which make the
conception or the thing conceived to be what it is; or the idea
viewed as a formative principle and coöperating with the matter.
-- Material cause, that of which anything is made.
-- Proximate cause. See under Proximate.
-- To make common cause with, to join with in purposes and aims.
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Origin; source; mainspring; motive; reason; incitement;
inducement; purpose; object; suit; action.
CAUSE
Cause, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caused; p. pr. & v. n. Causing.] Etym: [F.
causer, fr. cause, fr. L. causa. See Cause, n., and cf. Acouse.]
Defn: To effect as an agent; to produce; to be the occasion of; to
bring about; to bring into existence; to make; -- usually followed by
an infinitive, sometimes by that with a finite verb.
I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days. Gen. vii. 4.
Cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans. Col. iv.
16.
Syn.
-- To create; produce; beget; effect; occasion; originate; induce;
bring about.
CAUSE
Cause, v. i.
Defn: To assign or show cause; to give a reason; to make excuse.
[Obs.] Spenser.
CAUSE
Cause, conj.
Defn: Abbreviation of Because. B. Jonson.
CAUSEFUL
Cause"ful, n.
Defn: Having a cause. [Obs.]
CAUSELESS
Cause"less, a.
Defn: 1. Self-originating; uncreated.
2. Without just or sufficient reason; groundless.
My fears are causeless and ungrounded. Denham.
CAUSELESS
Cause"less, adv.
Defn: Without cause or reason.
CAUSELESSNESS
Cause"less*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being causeless.
CAUSER
Caus"er, n.
Defn: One who or that which causes.
CAUSERIE
Cause`rie", n. [F., fr. causer to chat.]
Defn: Informal talk or discussion, as about literary matters; light
conversation; chat.
CAUSEUSE
Cau`seuse", n. Etym: [F., fr. causer to talk.]
Defn: A kind of sofa for two person. A tête-a-tête.
CAUSEWAY; CAUSEY
Cause"way, Cau"sey, n. Etym: [OE. cauci, cauchie, OF. cauchie, F.
chaussée, from LL. (via) calciata, fr calciare to make a road, either
fr. L. calx lime, hence, to pave with limestone (cf. E. chalk), or
from L. calceus shoe, from calx heel, hence, to shoe, pave, or wear
by treading.]
Defn: A way or road rasid above the natural level of the ground,
serving as a dry passage over wet or marshy ground.
But that broad causeway will direct your way. Dryden.
The other way Satan went down The causey to Hell-gate. Milton.
CAUSEWAYED; CAUSEYED
Cause"wayed, Cau"seyed. a.
Defn: Having a raised way (causeway or causey); paved. Sir W. Scott.
C. Bronté.
CAUSIDICAL
Cau*sid"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. causidicakis; causa a cause in law +
dicare to say.]
Defn: Pertaining to an advocate, or to the maintenance and defense of
suits.
CAUSTIC; CAUSTICAL
Caus"tic, Caus"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. caustucs, Ge. Calm, Ink.]
1. Capable of destroying the texture of anything or eating away its
substance by chemical action; burning; corrosive; searing.
2. Severe; satirical; sharp; as, a caustic remark. Caustic curve
(Optics), a curve to which the ray of light, reflected or refracted
by another curve, are tangents, the reflecting or refracting curve
and the luminous point being in one plane.
-- Caustic lime. See under Lime.
-- Caustic potash, Caustic soda (Chem.), the solid hydroxides
potash, KOH, and soda, NaOH, or solutions of the same.
-- Caustic silver, nitrate of silver, lunar caustic.
-- Caustic surface (Optics), a surface to which rays reflected or
refracted by another surface are tangents. Caustic curves and
surfaces are called catacaustic when formed by reflection, and
diacaustic when formed by refraction.
Syn.
-- Stinging; cutting; pungent; searching.
CAUSTIC
Cau"stic, n. Etym: [L. causticum (sc. medicamentum). See Caustic, a.]
1. Any substance or means which, applied to animal or other organic
tissue, burns, corrodes, or destroys it by chemical action; an
escharotic.
2. (Optics)
Defn: A caustic curve or caustic surface.
CAUSTICALLY
Caus"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a caustic manner.
CAUSTICILY
Caus*tic"i*ly, n.
1. The quality of being caustic; corrosiveness; as, the causticity of
potash.
2. Severity of language; sarcasm; as, the causticity of a reply or
remark.
CAUSTICNESS
Caus"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being caustic; causticity.
CAUTEL
Cau"tel, n. Etym: [F. cautèle, L. cautela, fr. cavere to be on one's
guard, to take care.]
1. Caution; prudence; wariness. [Obs.] Fulke.
2. Craft; deceit; falseness. [Obs.] Shak.
CAUTELOUS
Cau"te*lous, a. Etym: [F. cauteleux, LL. cautelosus. See Cautel.]
1. Caution; prudent; wary. [Obs.] "Cautelous, though young." Drayton.
2. Crafty; deceitful; false. [Obs.] Shak.
-- Cau"te*lous*ly, adv.
-- Cau"te*lous*ness, n. [Obs.]
CAUTER
Cau"ter, n. Etym: [F. cautère, L. cauterium, fr. Gr. Caustic,
Cautery.]
Defn: A hot iron for searing or cauterizing. Minsheu.
CAUTERANT
Cau"ter*ant, n.
Defn: A cauterizing substance.
CAUTERISM
Cau"ter*ism, n.
Defn: The use or application of a caustic; cautery. Ferrand.
CAUTERIZATION
Cau`ter*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cautèrisation.] (Med.)
Defn: The act of searing some morbid part by the application of a
cautery or caustic; also, the effect of such application.
CAUTERIZE
Cau"ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cauterized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cauterizing.] Etym: [L. cauterizare, Gr. cautérised.. See cauter.]
1. To burn or sear with a cautery or caustic. Dunglison.
2. To sear, as the conscience. Jer. Taylor.
CAUTERY
Cau"ter*y, n.; pl. Cauteries. Etym: [L. cauterium, Gr. Cauter.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or
by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy
animal tissue.
2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing. Actual cautery, a
substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by
actual heat; or the burning so effected.
-- Potential cautery, a substance which cauterizes by chemical
action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such
substance.
CAUTION
Cau"tion, n. Etym: [F. caution a security, L. cautio, fr. cavere (For
scavere) to be on one's guard, to take care (orig.) to be on the
watch, see; akin to E. show.]
1. A careful attention to the probable effects of an act, in order
that failure or harm may be avoided; prudence in regard to danger;
provident care; wariness.
2. Security; guaranty; bail. [R.]
The Parliament would yet give his majesty sufficient caution that the
war should be prosecuted. Clarendon.
3. Precept or warning against evil of any kind; exhortation to
wariness; advice; injunction.
In way of caution I must tell you. Shak.
Caution money, money deposited by way of security or guaranty, as by
a student at an English university.
Syn.
-- Care; forethought; forecast; heed; prudence; watchfulness;
vigilance; circumspection; anxiety; providence; counsel; advice;
warning; admonition.
CAUTION
Cau"tion v. t. [imp & p. p. Cautioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cautioning.]
Defn: To give notice of danger to; to warn; to exhort [one] to take
heed.
You cautioned me against their charms. Swift.
CAUTIONARY
Cau"tion*a*ry, a.
1. Conveying a caution, or warning to avoid danger; as, cautionary
signals.
2. Given as a pledge or as security.
He hated Barnevelt, for his getting the cautionary towns out of his
hands. Bp. Burnet.
3. Wary; cautious. [Obs.] Bacon.
CAUTIONARY BLOCK
Cau"tion*a*ry block. (Railroads)
Defn: A block in which two or more trains are permitted to travel,
under restrictions imposed by a caution card or the like.
CAUTIONER
Cau"tion*er, n.
1. One who cautions or advises.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: A surety or sponsor.
CAUTIONRY
Cau"tion*ry, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: Suretyship.
CAUTIOUS
Cau"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. L. cautus, fr. caver. See Caution.]
Defn: Attentive to examine probable effects and consequences of acts
with a view to avoid danger or misfortune; prudent; circumspect;
wary; watchful; as, a cautious general.
Cautious feeling for another's pain. Byron.
Be swift to hear; but cautious of your tongue. Watts.
Syn.
-- Wary; watchful; vigilant; prudent; circumspect; discreet;
heedful; thoughtful; scrupulous; anxious; careful.
-- Cautious, Wary, Circumspect. A man is cautious who realizes the
constant possibility of danger; one may be wary, and yet bold and
active; a man who is circumspect habitually examines things on every
side in order to weigh and deliberate. It is necessary to be cautious
at all times; to be wary in cases of extraordinary danger; to be
circumspect in matters of peculiar delicacy and difficulty.
CAUTIOUSLY
Cau"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cautious manner.
CAUTIOUSNESS
Cau"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cautious.
CAVALCADE
Cav"al*cade`, n. Etym: [F. cavalcade, fr. It. cavalcata, fr.
cavalcare to go on horseback, fr. LL. caballicare, fr. L. caballus an
inferior horse, Gr. Cavalier, Cavalry.]
Defn: A procession of persons on horseback; a formal, pompous march
of horsemen by way of parade.
He brought back war-worn cavalcade to the city. Prescott.
CAVALERO; CAVALIERO
Cav`a*le"ro, Cav`a*lie"ro, n. Etym: [Sp. caballero. See Cavalier.]
Defn: A cavalier; a gallant; a libertine. Shak.
CAVALIER
Cav`a*lier", n. Etym: [F. cavalier, It. cavaliere, LL. caballarius,
fr. L. caballus. See Cavalcade, and cf. Cavallier, Caballine.]
1. A military man serving on horseback; a knight.
2. A gay, sprightly, military man; hence, a gallant.
3. One of the court party in the time of king Charles L. as
contrasted with a Roundhead or an adherent of Parliament. Clarendon.
4. (Fort.)
Defn: A work of more that ordinary heigh, rising from the level
ground of a bastion, etc., and overlooking surrounding parts.
CAVALIER
Cav`a*lier", a.
Defn: Gay; easy; offhand; frank.
The plodding, persevering scupulous accuracy of the one, and the
easy, cavalier, verbal fluency of the other, from a complete
contrast. Hazlitt.
2. High-spirited. [Obs.] "The people are naturally not valiant, and
not much cavalier." Suckling.
3. Supercilious; haughty; disdainful; curt; brusque.
4. Of or pertaining to the party of King Charles I. "An old Cavalier
family." Beaconsfleld.
CAVALIERISH
Cav`a*lier"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like a cavalier.
CAVALIERISM
Cav`a*lier"ism, n.
Defn: The practice or principles of cavaliers. Sir. W. Scott.
CAVALIERLY
Cav`a*lier"ly, adv.
Defn: In a supercilious, disdainful, or haughty manner; arroganty.
Junius.
CAVALIERNESS
Cav`a*lier"ness, n.
Defn: A disdanful manner.
CAVALLY
Ca*val"ly, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. cavalla a kind of fish; Sp. caballa;
prob. fr. Pg. cavallo horse, Sp. caballa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carangoid fish of the Atlantic coast (Caranx hippos): --
called also horse crevallé.
Note: [See Illust. under Carangoid.]
CAVALRY
Cav"al*ry, n. Etym: [F. cavalerie, fr. It. cavalleria. See Cavalier,
and cf. chivalry.] (Mil.)
Defn: That part of military force which serves on horseback.
Note: Heavy cavalry and light cavalry are so distinguished by the
character of their armament, and by the size of the men and horses.
CAVALRYMAN
Cav"al*ry*man, n.; pl. Cavalrymen (.
Defn: One of a body of cavalry.
CAVATINA
Ca`va*ti"na, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Originally, a melody of simpler form than the aria; a song
without a second part and a da capo; -- a term now variously and
vaguely used.
CAVE
Cave, n. Etym: [F. cave, L. cavus hollow, whence cavea cavity. Cf.
Cage.]
1. A hollow place in the earth, either natural or artificial; a
subterraneous cavity; a cavern; a den.
2. Any hollow place, or part; a cavity. [Obs.] "The cave of the ear."
Bacon. Cave bear (Zoöl.), a very large fossil bear (Ursus spelæus)
similar to the grizzly bear, but large; common in European caves.
-- Cave dweller, a savage of prehistoric times whose dwelling place
was a cave. Tylor.
-- Cave hyena (Zoöl.), a fossil hyena found abundanty in British
caves, now usually regarded as a large variety of the living African
spotted hyena.
-- Cave lion (Zoöl.), a fossil lion found in the caves of Europe,
believed to be a large variety of the African lion.
-- Bone cave. See under Bone.
CAVE
Cave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Caved; p. pr. & vb. n. Caving.] Etym: [Cf.
F. caver. See Cave, n.]
Defn: To make hollow; to scoop out. [Obs.]
The mouldred earth cav'd the banke. Spenser.
CAVE
Cave, v. i.
1. To dwell in a cave. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Etym: [See To cave in, below.]
Defn: To fall in or down; as, the sand bank caved. Hence (Slang), to
retreat from a position; to give way; to yield in a disputed matter.
To cave in. Etym: [Flem. inkalven.] (a) To fall in and leave a
hollow, as earth on the side of a well or pit. (b) To submit; to
yield. [Slang] H. Kingsley.
CAVEAT
Ca"ve*at, n. Etym: [L. caved let him beware, pres. subj. of cavere to
be on one's guard to, beware.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A notice given by an interested party to some officer not to do
a certain act until the party is heard in opposition; as, a caveat
entered in a probate court to stop the proving of a will or the
taking out of letters of administration, etc. Bouvier.
2. (U. S. Patent Laws)
Defn: A description of some invention, designed to be patented,
lodged in the patent office before the patent right is applied for,
and operating as a bar to the issue of letters patent to any other
person, respecting the same invention.
Note: A caveat is operative for one year only, but may be renewed.
3. Intimation of caution; warning; protest.
We think it right to enter our caveat against a conclusion. Jeffrey.
Caveat emptor Etym: [L.] (Law), let the purchaser beware, i. e., let
him examine the article he is buying, and act on his own judgment.
CAVEATING
Ca"ve*a`ting, n. (Fencing)
Defn: Shifting the sword from one side of an adversary's sword to the
other.
CAVEATOR
Ca"ve*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who enters a caveat.
CAVENDISH
Cav"en*dish, n.
Defn: Leaf tobacco softened, sweetened, and pressed into plugs or
cakes. Cut cavendish, the plugs cut into long shreds for smoking.
CAVERN
Cav"ern, n. Etym: [L. caverna, fr. cavus hollow: cf. F. caverne.]
Defn: A large, deep, hollow place in the earth; a large cave.
CAVERNED
Cav"erned, a.
1. Containing caverns.
The wolves yelled on the caverned hill. Byron.
2. Living in a cavern. "Caverned hermit." Pope.
CAVERNOUS
Cav"ern*ous, a. Etym: [L. cavernosus: cf. F. caverneux.]
1. Full of caverns; resembling a cavern or large cavity; hollow.
2. Filled with small cavities or cells.
3. Having a sound caused by a cavity. Cavernous body, a body of
erectile tissue with large interspaces which may be distended with
blood, as in the penis or clitoris.
-- Cavernous respiration, a peculiar respiratory sound andible on
auscultation, when the bronchial tubes communicate with morbid
cavities in the lungs.
CAVERNULOUS
Ca*ver"nu*lous, a.Etym: [L. cavernula, dim. of caverna cavern.]
Defn: Full of little cavities; as, cavernulous metal. Black.
CAVESSON; CAVEZON
Cav"es*son, Cav"e*zon, n. Etym: [F. caveçon, augm. fr. LL. capitium a
head covering hood, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Caberzon.] (Man.)
Defn: A kind of noseband used in breaking and training horses.
[Written also caveson, causson.] White.
CAVETTO
Ca*vet"to, n. Etym: [It. cavetto, fr. cavo hollow, L. cavus.] (Arch.)
Defn: A concave molding; -- used chiefly in classical architecture.
See Illust. of Calumn.
CAVIARE; CAVIAR
Ca*viare", Cav"i*ar, n. Etym: [F. caviar, fr. It. caviale, fr. Turk.
Havi\'ber.]
Defn: The roes of the sturgeon, prepared and salted; -- used as a
relish, esp. in Russia.
Note: Caviare was considered a delicacy, by some, in Shakespeare's
time, but was not relished by most. Hence Hamlet says of a certain
play. "'T was caviare to the general," i. e., above the taste of the
common people.
CAVICORN
Cav"i*corn, a. Etym: [L. cavus hollow + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having hollow horns.
CAVICORNIA
Cav`i*cor"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of ruminants whose horns are hollow, and planted on a
bony process of the front, as the ox.
CAVIL
Cav"il, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Caviled or Cavilled (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Caviling or Cavilling.] Etym: [L. cavillari to practice jesting, to
censure, fr. cavilla bantering jests, sophistry: cf. OF. caviller.]
Defn: To raise captious and frivolous objections; to find fault
without good reason.
You do not well in obstinacy To cavil in the course of this contract.
Shak.
CAVIL
Cav"il, v. t.
Defn: To cavil at. [Obs.] Milton.
CAVIL
Cav"il, n.
Defn: A captious or frivolous objection.
All the cavils of prejudice and unbelief. Shak.
CAVIL; CAVILER; CAVILLER
Cav"il or Cav"il*er, n.
Defn: One who cavils.
Cavilers at the style of the Scriptures. Boyle.
CAVILING
Cav"il*ing, a.
Defn: Disposed to cavil; finding fault without good reason. See
Captious.
His depreciatory and caviling criticism. Lewis.
CAVILINGLY
Cav"il*ing*ly, adb.
Defn: In a caviling manner.
CAVILLATION
Cav`il*la"tion, n.Etym: [F. cavillation, L. cavillatio.]
Defn: Frivolous or sophistical objection. [Obs.] Hooker.
CAVILOUS; CAVILLOUS
Cav"il*ous or Cav"il*lous, a. Etym: [L. cavillosus.]
Defn: Characterized by caviling, or disposed to cavil; quibbing. [R.]
-- Cav"il*ous*ly, adv. [R.] -- Cav"il*ous*ness, n. [R.]
CAVIN
Cav"in, n. Etym: [F. See Cave.] (Mil.)
Defn: A hollow way, adapted to cover troops, and facilitate their
aproach to a place. Farrow.
CAVITARY
Cav"i*ta*ry, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Containing a body cavity; as, the cavitary or nematoid worms.
CAVITY
Cav"i*ty, n.; pl. Cavities. Etym: [L. cavus hollow: cf. F. cavité.]
1. Hollowness. [Obs.]
The cavity or hollowness of the place. Goodwin.
2. A hollow place; a hollow; as, the abdominal cavity.
An instrument with a small cavity, like a small spoon. Arbuthot.
Abnormal spaces or excavations are frequently formed in the lungs,
which are designated cavities or vomicæ. Quain.
Body cavity, the coelum. See under Body.
CAVO-RELIEVO
Ca"vo-re*lie"vo, n.
Defn: Cavo-rilievo.
CAVO-RILIEVO
Ca"vo-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [It.] (Sculp.)
Defn: Hollow relief; sculpture in relief within a sinking made for
the purpose, so no part of it projects beyond the plain surface
around.
CAVORT
Ca*vort", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cavorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Cavorting.]
Defn: To prance ostentatiously; -- said of a horse or his rider.
[Local slang U. S.]
CAVY
Ca"vy, n.; pl. Cavies (. Etym: [NL. cavia, fr. Brazilian cabiai: cf.
F. cabiai.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rodent of the genera cavia and Dolichotis, as the guinea pig
(Cavia cabaya). Cavies are natives of South America. Water cavy
(Zoöl.), The capybara.
CAW
Caw, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cawing.] Etym:
[Imitative. *22 Cf. Chough.]
Defn: To cry like a crow, rook, or raven.
Rising and cawing at the gun's report. Shak.
CAW
Caw, n.
Defn: The cry made by the crow, rook, or raven.
CAWK
Cawk, n. Etym: [Prov. E. cauk limestone. A doublet of chalk.] (Min.)
Defn: An opaque, compact variety of barite, or heavy spar. [Also
written cauk.]
CAWKER
Cawk"er, n.
Defn: See Calker.
CAWKY
Cawk"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cawk; like cawk.
CAXON
Cax"on, n.
Defn: A kind of wig. [Obs.] Lamb.
CAXTON
Cax"ton, n. (Bibliog.)
Defn: Any book printed by William Caxton, the first English printer.
Hansard.
CAY
Cay, n.
Defn: See Key, a ledge.
CAYENNE
Cay*enne, n. Etym: [From Cayenne, a town and island in French Guiana,
South America.]
Defn: Cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper. (a) (Bot.) A species of
capsicum (C. frutescens) with small and intensely pungent fruit. (b)
A very pungent spice made by drying and grinding the fruits or seeds
of several species of the genus Capsicum, esp. C. annuum and C.
Frutescens; -- Called also red pepper. It is used chiefly as a
condiment.
CAYMAN
Cay"man, n. Etym: [From the language of Guiana: cf. Sp. caiman.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The south America alligator. See Alligator. [Sometimes written
caiman.]
CAYO
Ca"yo, n.; pl. -yos (#). [Sp.]
Defn: A small island or ledge of rock in the water; a key. [Sp. Am.]
CAYUGAS
Ca*yu"gas, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing Cayuga. (Ethnol.) A tribe of Indians formerly inbabiting
western New-York, forming part of the confederacy called the Five
Nations.
CAYUSE
Cay*use", n.
Defn: An Indian pony. [Northw. U. S.]
CAZIQUE; CAZIC
Ca*zique", Cazic", n. Etym: [Sp. Cacique, fr. the language of Hayti.]
Defn: A chief or petty king among some tribes of Indians in America.
CC IRA
Ça" i*ra". [F. ça ira, ça ira, les aristocrates à la lanterne, it
shall go on, it shall go on, [hang]the arictocrats to the lantern
(lamp-post).]
Defn: The refrain of a famous song of the French Revolution.
CEASE
Cease, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ceased; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceasing.] Etym:
[OE. cessen, cesen, F. cesser, fr. L. cessare, v. intemsive fr.
cedere to withdraw. See Cede , and cf. Cessation.]
1. To come to an end; to stop; to leave off or give over; to desist;
as, the noise ceased "To cease from strife." Prov. xx. 3.
2. To be wanting; to fail; to pass away.
The poor shall never cease out of the land. Deut. xv. 11.
Syn.
-- To intermit; desist; stop; abstain; quit; discontinue; refrain;
leave off; pause; end.
CEASE
Cease, v. t.
Defn: To put a stop to; to bring to an end.
But he, her fears to cease Sent down the meek-eyed peace. Milton.
Cease, then, this impious rage. Milton
CEASE
Cease, n.
Defn: Extinction. [Obs.] Shak.
CEASELESS
Cease"less, a.
Defn: Without pause or end; incessant.
CEASELESS
Cease"less, adv.
Defn: Without intermission or end.
CECIDOMYIA
Cec`i*do*my"i*a, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small dipterous files, including several very
injurious species, as the Hessian fly. See Hessian fly.
CECITY
Ce"ci*ty, n. Etym: [L. caecitas, fr. caecus blind: cf. F. cécité.]
Defn: Blindness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CECUTIENCY
Ce*cu"tien*cy, n. Etym: [L. caecutire to be blind, fr. caecus blind.]
Defn: Partial blindness, or a tendency to blindness. [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
CEDAR
Ce"dar, n. Etym: [AS. ceder, fr. L. cedrus, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several evergreen trees. The wood is remarkable for
its durability and fragrant odor.
Note: The cedar of Lebanon is the Cedrus Libani; the white cedar
(Cupressus thyoides) is now called Chamoecyparis sphæroidea; American
red cedar is the Juniperus Virginiana; Spanish cedar, the West Indian
Cedrela odorata. Many other trees with odoriferous wood are locally
called cedar. Cedar bird (Zoöl.), a species of chatterer (Ampelis
cedrarum), so named from its frequenting cedar trees; -- called also
cherry bird, Canada robin, and American waxwing.
CEDAR
Ce"dar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar.
CEDARED
Ce"dared, a.
Defn: Covered, or furnished with, cedars.
CEDARN
Ce"darn, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cedar or its wood. [R.]
CEDE
Cede, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceding.] Etym: [L.
cedere to withdraw, yield; akin to cadere to fall, and to E. chance;
cf. F. céder.]
Defn: To yield or surrender; to give up; to resign; as, to cede a
fortress, a province, or country, to another nation, by treaty.
The people must cede to the government some of their natural rights.
Jay.
CEDILLA
Ce*dil"la, n. Etym: [Sp. cedilla, cf. F. cédille; dim. of zeta, the
Gr. name of the letter z, because this letter was formerly written
after the c, to give it the sound of s.]
Defn: A mark placed under the letter c [thus, ç], to show that it is
to be sounded like s, as in façade.
CEDRAT
Ce"drat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cédrat. See Cedar.] (Bot.)
Defn: Properly the citron, a variety of Citrus medica, with large
fruits, not acid, and having a high perfume.
CEDRENE
Ce"drene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A rich aromatic oil, C15H24, extracted from oil of red cedar,
and regarded as a polymeric terpene; also any one of a class of
similar substances, as the essential oils of cloves, cubebs, juniper,
etc., of which cedrene proper is the type. [Written also cedren.]
CEDRINE
Ce"drine, a. Etym: [L. cedrinus, Gr. Cedar.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to cedar or the cedar tree.
CEDRIRET
Ce"dri*ret, n.
Defn: Same as Coerulignone.
CEDRY
Ce"dry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of cedar. [R.]
CEDULE
Ced"ule, n. Etym: [F. cédule, fr. L. shedula. See Shedule.]
Defn: A scroll; a writing; a schedule. [Obs.]
CEDUOUS
Ced"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. caeduus, fr. caedere to cut down.]
Defn: Fit to be felled. [Obs.] Eyelyn.
CEIL
Ceil, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ceiling.] Etym:
[From an older noun, fr. F. ciel heaven, canopy, fr. L. carlum
heaven, vault, arch, covering; cf. Gr.
1. To overlay or cover the inner side of the roof of; to furnish with
a ceiling; as, to ceil a room.
The greater house he ceiled with fir tree. 2 Chron. iii. 5
2. To line or finish a surface, as of a wall, with plaster, stucco,
thin boards, or the like.
CEILING
Ceil"ing, n. Etym: [See Cell, v. t.]
1. (Arch.)
(a) The inside lining of a room overhead; the under side of the floor
above; the upper surface opposite to the floor.
(b) The lining or finishing of any wall or other surface, with
plaster, thin boards, etc.; also, the work when done.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The inner planking of a vessel. Camp ceiling. See under Camp.
-- Ceiling boards, Thin narrow boards used to ceil with.
CEINT
Ceint, n. Etym: [See Cincture.]
Defn: A girdle. [Obs.]
CEINTURE
Cein`ture", n. [F.]
Defn: A cincture, girdle, or belt; -- chiefly used in English as a
dressmaking term.
CELADON
Cel"a*don, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A pale sea-green color; also, porcelain or fine pottery of this
tint.
CELANDINE; CALANDINE
Cel"an*dine, Cal"an*dine, n. Etym: [OE. celidoine, OF. celidoine, F.
chélidoine, fr. L. chelidonia (sc. herba), fr. chelidonius pertaining
to the swallow, Gr. hirundo a swallow.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herbaceous plant (Chelidonium majus) of the poppy
family, with yellow flowers. It is used as a medicine in jandice,
etc., and its acrid saffron-colored juice is used to cure warts and
the itch; -- called also greater celandine and swallowwort. Lasser
celandine, the pilewort (Ranunculus Ficaria).
CELATURE
Cel"a*ture, n. Etym: [L. caelatura, fr. caelare to engrave in
relief.]
1. The act or art of engraving or embossing.
2. That which is engraved. [Obs.] Hakewill.
CELEBRANT
Cel"e*brant, n. Etym: [L. celebrans, p. pr. of celebrare. See
Celebrate.]
Defn: One who performs a public religious rite; -- applied
particularly to an officiating priest in the Roman Catholic Church,
as distinguished from his assistants.
CELEBRATE
Cel"e*brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celebrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Celebrating.] Etym: [L. celebratus, p. p. of celebrare to frequent,
to celebrate, fr. celeber famous.]
1. To extol or honor in a solemn manner; as, to celebrate the name of
the Most High.
2. To honor by solemn rites, by ceremonies of joy and respect, or by
refraining from ordinary business; to observe duly; to keep; as, to
celebrate a birthday.
Fron even unto shall ye celebrate your Sabbath. Lev. xxiii. 32.
3. To perforn or participate in, as a sacrament or solemn rite; to
solemnize; to perform with appropriate rites; as, to celebrate a
marriage.
Syn.
-- To commemorate; distinguish; honor.
-- To Celebrate, Commemorate. We commemorate events which we desire
to keep in remembrance, when we recall them by some special
observace; as, to commemorate the death of our Savior. We celebrate
by demonstrations of joy or solemnity or by appropriate ceremonies;
as, to celebrate the birthday of our Independence.
We are called upon to commemorate a revolution as surprising in its
manner as happy in its consequences. Atterbury.
Earth, water, air, and fire, with feeling glee, Exult to celebrate
thy festival. Thomson.
CELEBRATED
Cel"e*bra`ted, a.
Defn: Having celebrity; distinguished; renowned.
Celebrated for the politeness of his manners. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Distinguished; famous; noted; famed; renowned; illustrious. See
Distinguished.
CELEBRATION
Cel`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. celebratio.]
Defn: The act, process, or time of celebrating.
His memory deserving a particular celebration. Clarendok.
Celebration of Mass is equivalent to offering Mass Cath. Dict.
To hasten the celebration of their marriage. Sir P. Sidney.
CELEBRATOR
Cel"e*bra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who celebrates; a praiser. Boyle.
CELEBRIOUS
Ce*le"bri*ous, a.
Defn: Famous. [Obs.] Speed.
CELEBRITY
Ce*leb"ri*ty, n.; pl. Celebriries. Etym: [L. celebritas: cf. F.
célébrité.]
1. Celebration; solemnization. [Obs.]
The celebrity of the marriage. Bacon.
2. The state or condition of being celebrated; fame; renown; as, the
celebrity of Washington.
An event of great celebrity in the history of astronomy. Whewell.
3. A person of distinction or renown; -- usually in the plural; as,
he is one of the celebrities of the place.
CELERIAC
Ce*le"ri*ac, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Turnip-rooted celery, a from of celery with a large globular
root, which is used for food.
CELERITY
Ce*ler"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. celeritas, from celer swiftm speedy: sf. F.
célérité.]
Defn: Rapidity of motion; quickness; swiftness.
Time, with all its celerity, moves slowly to him whose whole
employment is to watch its flight. Johnson.
CELERY
Cel"er*y, n. Etym: [F. céleri, cf. Prov. It. seleno, seler; fr. Gr.
celery. Cf. Parsley.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Parsley family (Apium graveolens), of which the
blanched leafstalks are used as a salad.
CELESTIAL
Ce*les"tial, a. Etym: [OF. celestial, celestied, fr. L. caelestic,
fr. caelum heaved. See Cell.]
1. Belonging to the aërial regions, or visible heavens. "The twelve
celestial signs." Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to the spiritual heaven; heavenly; divine.
"Celestial spirits." "Celestial light," Milton. Celestial city,
heaven; the heavenly Jerusalem. Bunyan.
-- Celestial empire, China; -- so called from the Chinese words,
tien chan, Heavenly Dynasty, as being the kingdom ruled over by the
dynasty appoined by heaven. S. W. Williams.
CELESTIAL
Ce*les"tial, n.
1. An inhabitant of heaven. Pope.
2. A native of China.
CELESTIALIZE
Ce*les"tial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make celestial. [R.]
CELESTIALLY
Ce*les"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a celestial manner.
CELESTIFY
Ce*les"ti*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. caelestis heavenly + -fly.]
Defn: To make like heaven. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CELESTINE; CELESTITE
Cel"es*tine, Cel"es*tite,, n. Etym: [LL. caelestinus bine.] (Min.)
Defn: Native strontium sulphate, a mineral so named from its
occasional delicate blue color. It occurs crystallized, also in
compact massive and fibrous forms.
CELESTINE; CELESTINIAN
Cel"es*tine, Cel`es*tin"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A monk of the austere branch of the Franciscan Order founded by
Celestine V. in the 13th centry.
CELIAC
Ce"li*ac, a. (Anat.)
Defn: See Coellac.
CELIBACY
Ce*lib"a*cy, n. Etym: [See Celibate, n.]
Defn: The state of being unmarried; single life, esp. that of a
bachelor, or of one bound by vows not to marry. "The celibacy of the
clergy." Hallom.
CELIBATE
Cel"i*bate, n. Etym: [L. aelibatus, fr. caelebs unmarried, single.]
1. Celibate state; celibacy. [Obs.]
He . . . preferreth holy celibate before the estate of marrige. Jer.
Taylor.
2. One who is unmarried, esp. a bachelor, or one bound by vows not to
marry.
CELIBATE
Cel"i*bate, a.
Defn: Unmarried; single; as, a celibate state.
CELIBATIST
Ce*lib"a*tist, n.
Defn: One who lives unmarried. [R.]
CELIDOGRAPHY
Cel`i*dog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. célidographie.]
Defn: A description of apparent spots on the disk of the sun, or on
planets.
CELL
Cell, n. Etym: [OF. celle, fr. L. cella; akin to celare to hide, and
E. hell, helm, conceal. Cf. Hall.]
1. A very small and close apartment, as in a prison or in a monastery
or convent; the hut of a hermit.
The heroic confessor in his cell. Macaulay.
2. A small religious house attached to a monastery or convent. "Cells
or dependent priories." Milman.
3. Any small cavity, or hollow place.
4. (Arch.)
(a) The space between the ribs of a vaulted roof.
(b) Same as Cella.
5. (Elec.)
Defn: A jar of vessel, or a division of a compound vessel, for
holding the exciting fluid of a battery.
6. (Biol.)
Defn: One of the minute elementary structures, of which the greater
part of the various tissues and organs of animals and plants are
composed.
Note: All cells have their origin in the primary cell from which the
organism was developed. In the lowest animal and vegetable forms, one
single cell constitutes the complete individual, such being called
unicelluter orgamisms. A typical cell is composed of a semifluid mass
of protoplasm, more or less granular, generally containing in its
center a nucleus which in turn frequently contains one or more
nucleoli, the whole being surrounded by a thin membrane, the cell
wall. In some cells, as in those of blood, in the amoeba, and in
embryonic cells (both vegetable and animal), there is no restricting
cell wall, while in some of the unicelluliar organisms the nucleus is
wholly wanting. See Illust. of Bipolar. Air cell. See Air cell.
-- Cell development (called also cell genesis, cell formation, and
cytogenesis), the multiplication, of cells by a process of
reproduction under the following common forms; segmentation or
fission, gemmation or budding, karyokinesis, and endogenous
multiplication. See Segmentation, Gemmation, etc.
-- Cell theory. (Biol.) See Cellular theory, under Cellular.
CELL
Cell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Celled.]
Defn: To place or inclosed in a cell. "Celled under ground." [R.]
Warner.
CELLA
Cel"la, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: The part inclosed within the walls of an ancient temple, as
distinguished from the open porticoes.
CELLAR
Cel"lar, n. Etym: [OE. celer, OF. celier, F. celier, fr. L. cellarium
a receptacle for food, pantry, fr. cella storeroom. See Cell.]
Defn: A room or rooms under a building, and usually below the surface
of the ground, where provisions and other stores are kept.
CELLARAGE
Cel"lar*age, n.
1. The space or storerooms of a cellar; a cellar. Sir W. Scott.
You hear this fellow in the cellarage. Shak.
2. Chare for storage in a cellar.
CELLARER
Cel"lar*er, n. Etym: [LL. cellararius, equiv. to L. cellarius
steward: cf. F. cellérier. See Cellar.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A steward or butler of a monastery or chapter; one who has
charge of procuring and keeping the provisions.
CELLARET
Cel`lar*et", n. Etym: [Dim of cellar.]
Defn: A receptacle, as in a dining room, for a few bottles of wine or
liquor, made in the form of a chest or coffer, or a deep drawer in a
sideboard, and usually lined with metal.
CELLARIST
Cel"lar*ist, n.
Defn: Same as Cellarer.
CELLED
Celled, a.
Defn: Containing a cell or cells.
CELLEPORE
Cel"le*pore, n. Etym: [L. cella cell + porus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of delicate branching corals, made up of minute cells,
belonging to the Bryozoa.
CELLIFEROUS
Cel*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cell + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing or producing cells.
CELLO
Cel"lo, n.; pl. E. Cellos (, It. Celli (.
Defn: A contraction for Violoncello.
CELLULAR
Cel"lu*lar, a. Etym: [L. cellula a little cell: cf. F. cellulaire.
See Cellule.]
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells; of or pertaining to a cell
or cells. Cellular plants, Cellular cryptogams (Bot.), those
flowerless plants which have no ducts or fiber in their tissue, as
mosses, fungi, lichens, and algæ.
-- Cellular theory, or Cell theory (Biol.), a theory, according to
which the essential element of every tissue, either vegetable or
animal, is a cell; the whole series of cells having been formed from
the development of the germ cell and by differentiation converted
into tissues and organs which, both in plants ans animals, are to be
considered as a mass of minute cells communicating with each other.
-- Cellular tissue. (a) (Anat.) See conjunctive tissue under
Conjunctive. (b) (Bot.) Tissue composed entirely of parenchyma, and
having no woody fiber or ducts. cellular telephone, a portable radio-
telephone transmitting and receiving the radio-telephonic signals
from one of a group of transmitter-receiver stations so arranged that
they provide adequate signal contact for such telephones over a
certain geographical area. The area within which one transmitter may
service such portable telephones is called its "cell.
CELLULATED
Cel"lu*la`ted, a.
Defn: Cellular. Caldwell.
CELLULE
Cel"lule, n. Etym: [L. cellula a small apartment, dim. of cella: cf.
F. cellule. See Cell.]
Defn: A small cell.
CELLULIFEROUS
Cel`lu*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. cellula + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing or producing little cells.
CELLULITIS
Cel`lu*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cellula + -itis.]
Defn: An inflammantion of the cellular or areolar tissue, esp. of
that lying immediately beneath the skin.
CELLULOID
Cel"lu*loid`, n. Etym: [Cellulose + -oid.]
Defn: A substance composed essentially of gun cotton and camphor, and
when pure resembling ivory in texture and color, but variously
colored to imitate coral, tortoise shell, amber, malachite, etc. It
is used in the manufacture of jewelry and many small articles, as
combs, brushes, collars, and cuffs; -- originaly called xylonite.
CELLULOSE
Cel"lu*lose`, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or containing, cells.
CELLULOSE
Cel"lu*lose`, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The substance which constitutes the essential part of the solid
framework of plants, of ordinary wood, linen, paper, etc. It is also
found to a slight extent in certain animals, as the tunicates. It is
a carbohydrate, (C6H10O5)n, isomeric with starch, and is convertible
into starches and sugars by the action of heat and acids. When pure,
it is a white amorphous mass. See Starch, Granulose, Lignin.
Unsized, well bleached linen paper is merely pure cellulose. Goodale.
Starch cellulose, the delicate framework which remains when the
soluble part (granulose) of starch is removed by saliva or pepsin.
Goodale.
CELOTOMY
Ce*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The act or operation of cutting, to relieve the structure in
strangulated hernia. [Frequently written kelotomy.]
CELSITURE
Cel"si*ture, n. Etym: [L. celstudo, from celsus high: cf. celsitude.]
Defn: Height; altitude. [Obs.]
CELSIUS
Cel"si*us, n.
Defn: The Celsius thermometer or scale, so called from Anders
Celsius, a Swedish astronomer, who invented it. It is the same as the
centigrade thermometer or scale.
CELT
Celt, n. Etym: [L. Celtae, Gr. Celtiad one that dwells in a covert,
an inhabitant of the wood, a Celt, fr. celt covert, shelter, celu to
hide.]
Defn: One of an ancient race of people, who formerly inhabited a
great part of Central and Western Europe, and whose descendants at
the present day occupy Ireland, Wales, the Highlands of Scotland, and
the northern shores of France. [Written also Kelt. The letter C was
pronounced hard in Celtic languages.]
CELT
Celt, n. Etym: [LL. celts a chisel.] (Archæol.)
Defn: A weapon or implement of stone or metal, found in the tumuli,
or barrows, of the early Celtic nations.
CELTIBERIAN
Celt`i*be"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Celtiber, Celtibericus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancient Celtiberia (a district in Spain
lying between the Ebro and the Tagus) or its inhabitants the
Celtiberi (Celts of the river Iberus).
-- n.
Defn: An inhabitant of Celtiberia.
CELTIC
Celt"ic, a. Etym: [L. Celticus, Gr. Celt.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Celts; as, Celtic people, tribes,
literature, tongue. [Written also Keltic.]
CELTIC
Celt"ic, n.
Defn: The language of the Celts.
Note: The remains of the old Celtic language are found in the Gaelic,
the Erse or Irish the Manx, and the Welsh and its cognate dialects
Cornish and Bas Breton.
CELTICISM
Celt"i*cism, n.
Defn: A custom of the Celts, or an idiom of their language. Warton.
CELTICIZE
Celt"i*cize`, v. t.
Defn: To render Celtic; to assimilate to the Celts.
CELTIUM
Cel"ti*um, n. [NL.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed new element of the rare-earth group, accompanying
lutecium and scandium in the gadolinite earths. Symbol, Ct (no
period).
CEMBALO
Cem"ba*lo, n. Etym: [It. See Cymbal.]
Defn: An old mname for the harpsichord.
CEMENT
Ce*ment", n. Etym: [OF. cement, ciment, F. ciment, fr. L. caementum a
rough, unhewn stone, pieces or chips of marble, from which mortar was
made, contr. fr. caedimentum, fr. caedere to cut, prob. akin to
scindere to cleave, and to E. shed, v. t.]
1. Any substance used for making bodies adhere to each other, as
mortar, glue, etc.
2. A kind of calcined limestone, or a calcined mixture of clay and
lime, for making mortar which will harden under water.
3. The powder used in cementation. See Cementation, n.., 2.
4. Bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship,
or men in society. "The cement of our love."
5. (Anat.)
Defn: The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; --
called also cementum. Hydraulic cement. See under Hydraulic.
CEMENT
Ce*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cemented; p. pr. & vb. n. Cementing.]
Etym: [Cf. F. cimenter. See Cement, n.]
1. To unite or cause to adhere by means of a cement. Bp. Burnet.
2. To unite firmly or closely. Shak.
3. To overlay or coat with cement; as, to cement a cellar bottom.
CEMENT
Ce*ment", v. i.
Defn: To become cemented or firmly united; to cohere. S. Sharp.
CEMENTAL
Ce*ment"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cement, as of a tooth; as, cemental tubes.
R. Owen.
CEMENTATION
Cem`en*ta"tion, n.
1. The act or process of cementing.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A process which consists in surrounding a solid body with the
powder of other substances, and heating the whole to a degree not
sufficient to cause fusion, the physical properties of the body being
changed by chemical combination with powder; thus iron becomes steel
by cementation with charcoal, and green glass becomes porcelain by
cementation with sand.
CEMENTATORY
Ce*ment"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Having the quality of cementating or uniting firmly.
CEMENTER
Ce*ment"er, n.
Defn: A person or thing that cements.
CEMENTITIOUS
Cem`en*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. caementitius pertaining to quarry
stones. See Cement, n. ]
Defn: Of the nature of cement. [R.] Forsyth.
CEMENT STEEL
Ce*ment" steel.
Defn: Steel produced by cementation; blister steel.
CEMETERIAL
Cem`e*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cemetery. "Cemeterial cells." [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
CEMETERY
Cem"e*ter*y, n.; pl. Cemeteries (. Etym: [L. cemeterium, Gr.
Defn: A place or ground set apart for the burial of the dead; a
graveyard; a churchyard; a necropolis.
CENANTHY
Ce*nan"thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The absence or suppression of the essential organs (stamens and
pistil) in a flower.
CENATION
Ce*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cenatio.]
Defn: Meal-taking; dining or supping. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CENATORY
Cen"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. cenatorius, fr. cenare to dine, sup, fr.
cena, coena, dinner, supper.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner or supper. [R.]
The Romans washed, were anointed, and wore a cenatory garment. Sir T.
Browne.
CENOBITE
Cen"o*bite, n. Etym: [L. coenobita, fr. Gr. cénobite.]
Defn: One of a religious order, dwelling in a convent, or a
community, in opposition to an anchoret, or hermit, who lives in
solitude. Gibbon.
CENOBITIC; CENOBITICAL
Cen`o*bit"ic, Cen`o*bit"ic*al a. Etym: [Cf. F. cénobitique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cenobite.
CENOBITISM
Cen"o*bi*tism, n.
Defn: The state of being a cenobite; the belief or practice of a
cenobite. Milman.
CENOGAMY
Ce*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The state of a communty which permits promiseuous sexual
intercourse among its members, as in certain societies practicing
communism.
CENOTAPH
Cen"o*taph, n. Etym: [Gr. cénotaphe.]
Defn: An empty tomb or a monument erected in honor of a person who is
buried elsewhere. Dryden.
A cenotaph in Westminster Abbey. Macaulay.
CENOTAPHY
Cen"o*taph`y, n.
Defn: A cenotaph. [R.]
Lord Cobham honored him with a cenotaphy. Macaulay.
CENOZOIC
Ce`no*zo"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Belonging to the most recent division of geological time,
including the tertiary, or Age of mammals, and the Quaternary, or Age
of man. [Written also cænozoic, cainozoic, kainozoic.] See Geology.
Note: This word is used by many authors as synonymous with Tertiary,
the Quaternary Age not being included.
CENSE
Cense, n. Etym: [OF. cense, F. cens, L. census. See Census.]
1. A census; -- also, a public rate or tax. [Obs.] Howell. Bacon.
2. Condition; rank. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CENSE
Cense, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Censed; p. pr. & vb. n. Censing.] Etym:
[Abbrev. from incense.]
Defn: To perfume with odors from burning gums and spices.
The Salii sing and cense his altars round. Dryden.
CENSE
Cense, v. i.
Defn: To burn or scatter incense.
CENSER
Cen"ser, n. Etym: [For incenser, fr. OF. encensier, F. encensoir, fr.
LL. incensarium, incensorium, fr. L. incensum incense. See Incense,
and cf. Incensory.]
Defn: A vessel for perfumes; esp. one in which incense is burned.
Note: The ecclesiastical censer is usually cup-shaped, has a cover
pierced with holes, and is hung by chains. The censer bearer swings
it to quicken the combustion.
Her thoughts are like the fume of frankincense Which from a golden
censer forth doth rise. Spenser.
CENSOR
Cen"sor, n. Etym: [L. censor, fr. censere to value, tax.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of two magistrates of Rome who took a register of the
number and property of citizens, and who also exercised the office of
inspector of morals and conduct.
2. One who is empowered to examine manuscripts before they are
committed to the press, and to forbid their publication if they
contain anything obnoxious; -- an official in some European
countries.
3. One given to fault-finding; a censurer.
Nor can the most circumspect attention, or steady rectitude, escape
blame from censors who have no inclination to approve. Rambler.
4. A critic; a reviewer.
Received with caution by the censors of the press. W. Irving.
CENSORIAL
Cen*so"ri*al, a.
1. Belonging to a censor, or to the correction of public morals.
Junius.
2. Full of censure; censorious.
The censorial declamation of Juvenal. T. Warton.
CENSORIAN
Cen*so"ri*an, a.
Defn: Censorial. [R.] Bacon.
CENSORIOUS
Cen*so"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. censorius pertaining to the censor. See
Censor.]
1. Addicted to censure; apt to blame or condemn; severe in making
remarks on others, or on their writings or manners.
A dogmatical spirit inclines a man to be consorious of his neighbors.
Watts.
2. Implying or expressing censure; as, censorious remarks.
Syn.
-- Fault-finding; carping; caviling; captious; severe; condemnatory;
hypercritical.
-- Cen*so"ri*ous*ly, adv.
-- Cen*so"ri*ous*ness, n.
CENSORSHIP
Cen"sor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or power of a censor; as, to stand for a censorship.
Holland.
The press was not indeed at that moment under a general censorship.
Macaulay.
CENSUAL
Cen"su*al, a. Etym: [L. censualis, fr. census.]
Defn: Relating to, or containing, a census.
He caused the whole realm to be described in a censual roll. Sir R.
Baker.
CENSURABLE
Cen"sur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving of censure; blamable; culpable; reprehensible; as, a
censurable person, or censurable conduct.
-- Cen"sur*a*bleness, n.
-- Cen"sur*a*bly, adv.
CENSURE
Cen"sure, n. Etym: [L. censura fr. censere: cf. F. censure. Cf.
Censor.]
1. Judgment either favorable or unfavorable; opinion. [Obs.]
Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment. Shak.
2. The act of blaming or finding fault with and condemning as wrong;
reprehension; blame.
Both the censure and the praise were merited. Macaulay.
3. Judicial or ecclesiastical sentence or reprimand; condemnatory
judgment.
Excommunication or other censure of the church. Bp. Burnet.
Syn.
-- Blame; reproof; condemnation; reprobation; disapproval;
disapprobation; reprehension; animadversion; reprimand; reflection;
dispraise; abuse.
CENSURE
Cen"sure, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Censured; p. pr. & vb. n. Censuring.]
Etym: [Cf. F. ensurer.]
1. To form or express a judgment in regard to; to estimate; to judge.
[Obs.] "Should I say more, you might well censure me a flatterer."
Beau. & Fl.
2. To find fault with and condemn as wrong; to blame; to express
disapprobation of.
I may be censured that nature thus gives way to loyalty. Shak.
3. To condemn or reprimand by a judicial or ecclesiastical sentence.
Shak.
Syn.
-- To blame; reprove; rebuke; condemn; reprehend; reprimand.
CENSURE
Cen"sure, v. i.
Defn: To judge. [Obs.] Shak.
CENSURER
Cen"sur*er, n.
Defn: One who censures. Sha.
CENSUS
Cen"sus, n. Etym: [L. census, fr. censere. See Censor.]
1. (Bot. Antiq.)
Defn: A numbering of the people, and valuation of their estate, for
the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; -- usually made once in five
years.
2. An official registration of the number of the people, the value of
their estates, and other general statistics of a country.
Note: A general census of the United States was first taken in 1790,
and one has been taken at the end of every ten years since.
CENT
Cent, n. Etym: [F. cent hundred, L. centum. See Hundred.]
1. A hundred; as, ten per cent, the proportion of ten parts in a
hundred.
2. A United States coin, the hundredth part of a dollar, formerly
made of copper, now of copper, tin, and zinc.
3. An old game at cards, supposed to be like piquet; -- so called
because 100 points won the game. Nares.
CENTAGE
Cent"age, n.
Defn: Rate by the hundred; percentage.
CENTAL
Cen"tal, n. Etym: [L. centum a hundred.]
Defn: A weight of one hundred pounds avoirdupois; -- called in many
parts of the United States a Hundredweight.
CENTAL
Cen"tal, n.
Defn: Relating to a hundred. Cental system, the method of buying and
selling by the cental, or hundredweight.
CENTARE
Cen"tare`, n. Etym: [F. centiare; centi- (L. centum) + -are.]
Defn: A measure of area, the hundredth part of an are; one square
meter, or about 1
CENTAUR
Cen"taur, n. Etym: [L. centaurus, Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A fabulous being, represented as half man and half horse.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation in the southern heavens between Hydra and the
Southern Cross.
CENTAUREA
Cen`tau*re"a, n. Etym: [NL. See Centaury.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of composite plants, related to the thistles and
including the cornflower or bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus) and the
star thistle (C. Calcitrapa).
CENTAUROMACHY
Cen`tau*rom"a*chy, n. [Gr. ; centaur + battle.] (Ancient Art)
Defn: A fight in which centaurs take part, -- a common theme for
relief sculpture, as in the Parthenon metopes.
CENTAURY
Cen"tau*ry, n. Etym: [L. centaureum and centauria, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A gentianaceous plant not fully identified. The name is usually
given to the Erytheræa Centaurium and the Chlora perfoliata of
Europe, but is also extended to the whole genus Sabbatia, and even to
the unrelated Centaurea.
CENTENARIAN
Cen`te*na"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a hundred years.
-- n.
Defn: A person a hundred years old.
CENTENARY
Cen"te*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. centenarius, fr. centum a hundred.]
1. Relating to, or consisting of, a hundred.
2. Occurring once in every hundred years; centennial. "Centenary
solemnities." Fuller.
CENTENARY
Cen"te*na*ry, n.; pl. Centenaries (.
1. The aggregate of a hundred single things; specifically, a century.
"Every centenary of years." Hakewill.
2. A commemoration or celebration of an event which occurred a hudred
years before.
CENTENNIAL
Cen*ten"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + annus year.]
1. Relating to, or associated with, the commemoration of an event
that happened a hundred years before; as, a centennial ode.
2. Happening once in a hundred years; as, centennial jubilee; a
centennial celebration.
3. Lasting or aged a hundred years.
Thet opened through long lines Of sacred ilex and centennial pines.
Longfellow.
CENTENNIAL
Cen*ten"ni*al, n.
Defn: The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of any event; a
centenary. [U. S.]
CENTENNIALLY
Cen*ten"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Once in a hundred years.
CENTENNIAL STATE
Centennial State.
Defn: Colorado; -- a nickname alluding to the fact that it was
admitted to the Union in the centennial year, 1876.
CENTER
Cen"ter, n. Etym: [F. centre, fr. L. centrum, fr. round which a
circle is described, fr.
1. A point equally distant from the extremities of a line, figure, or
body, or from all parts of the circumference of a circle; the middle
point or place.
2. The middle or central portion of anything.
3. A principal or important point of concentration; the nucleus
around which things are gathered or to which they tend; an object of
attention, action, or force; as, a center of attaction.
4. The earth. [Obs.] Shak.
5. Those members of a legislative assembly (as in France) who support
the existing government. They sit in the middle of the legislative
chamber, opposite the presiding officer, between the conservatives or
monarchists, who sit on the right of the speaker, and the radicals or
advanced republicans who occupy the seats on his left, See Right, and
Left.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: A temporary structure upon which the materials of a vault or
arch are supported in position util the work becomes self-supporting.
7. (Mech.)
(a) One of the two conical steel pins, in a lathe, etc., upon which
the work is held, and about which it revolves.
(b) A conical recess, or indentation, in the end of a shaft or other
work, to receive the point of a center, on which the work can turn,
as in a lathe.
Note: In a lathe the live center is in the spindle of the head stock;
the dead center is on the tail stock. Planer centers are stocks
carrying centers, when the object to be planed must be turned on its
axis. Center of an army, the body or troops ossupying the place in
the line between the wings.
-- Center of a curve or surface (Geom.) (a) A point such that every
line drawn through the point and terminated by the curve or surface
is bisected at the point. (b) The fixed point of reference in polar
coördinates. See Coördinates.
-- Center of curvature of a curve (Geom.), the center of that circle
which has at any given point of the curve closer contact with the
curve than has any other circle whatever. See Circle.
-- Center of a fleet, the division or column between the van and
rear, or between the weather division and the lee.
-- Center of gravity (Mech.), that point of a body about which all
its parts can be balanced, or which being supported, the whole body
will remain at rest, though acted upon by gravity.
-- Center of gyration (Mech.), that point in a rotating body at
which the whole mass might be concentrated (theoretically) without
altering the resistance of the intertia of the body to angular
acceleration or retardaton.
-- Center of inertia (Mech.), the center of gravity of a body or
system of bodies.
-- Center of motion, the point which remains at rest, while all the
other parts of a body move round it.
-- Center of oscillation, the point at which, if the whole matter of
a suspended body were collected, the time of oscillation would be the
same as it is in the actual form and state of the body.
-- Center of percussion, that point in a body moving about a fixed
axis at which it may strike an obstacle without communicating a shock
to the axis.
-- Center of pressure (Hydros.), that point in a surface pressed by
a fluid, at which, if a force equal to the whole pressure and in the
same line be applied in a contrary direction, it will balance or
counteract the whole pressure of the fluid.
CENTER; CENTRE
Cen"ter, Cen"tre v. i. [imp. & p. p. Centered or Centred (; p. pr. &
vb. n. Centering or Centring.]
1. To be placed in a center; to be central.
2. To be collected to a point; to be concentrated; to rest on, or
gather about, as a center.
Where there is no visible truth wherein to center, error is as wide
as men's fancies. Dr. H. More.
Our hopes must center in ourselves alone. Dryden.
CENTER; CENTRE
Cen"ter , Cen"tre, v. t.
1. To place or fix in the center or on a central point. Milton.
2. To collect to a point; to concentrate.
Thy joys are centered all in me alome. Prior.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To form a recess or indentation for the reception of a center.
CENTERBIT; CENTREBIT
Cen"ter*bit`, Cen"tre*bit`, n.
Defn: An instrument turning on a center, for boring holes. See Bit,
n., 3.
CENTERBOARD; CENTREBOARD
Cen"ter*board`, Cen"tre*board,, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A movable or sliding keel formed of a broad board or slab of
wood or metal which may be raised into a water-tight case amidships,
when in shallow water, or may be lowered to increase the area of
lateral resistance and prevent leeway when the vessel is beating to
windward. It is used in vessels of all sizes along the coast of the
United States
CENTERFIRE CARTRIDGE
Cen"ter*fire` car"tridge.
Defn: See under Cartridge.
CENTERING
Cen"ter*ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Center, n., 6. [Written also centring.]
CENTERPIECE; CENTREPIECE
Cen"ter*piece`, Cen"tre*piece`, n.
Defn: An ornament to be placed in the center, as of a table, ceiling,
atc.; a central article or figure.
CENTESIMAL
Cen*tes"i*mal, a. Etym: [L. centesimus the hundredth, fr. centum a
hundred: cf. F. centésimal.]
Defn: Hundredth.
-- n.
Defn: A hundredth part.
The neglect of a few centesimals. Arbuthnot.
CENTESIMATION
Cen*tes`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. centesimore to take out or select
every hudredth, fr. centesimus hundredth.] (Mil.)
Defn: The infliction of the death penalty upon one person in every
hundred, as in cases of mutiny.
CENTESIMO
Cen*tes"i*mo, n.; pl. -mi. Etym: [It. & Sp.]
Defn: A copper coin of Italy and Spain equivalent to a centime.
CENTESM
Cen"tesm, n. Etym: [L. centesima.]
Defn: Hundredth.
CENTIARE
Cen"ti*are`, n. Etym: [F. See Centare.]
Defn: See centare.
CENTICIPITOUS
Cen`ti*cip"i*tous, a. Etym: [L. centiceps, -cipitis; centum a hunder
+ caput head.]
Defn: Hundred-headed.
CENTIFIDOUS
Cen*tif"i*dous, a. Etym: [L. centifidus; centum + findere to split.]
Defn: Divided into a hundred parts.
CENTIFOLIOUS
Cen`ti*fo"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. centifolius; centum + folium leaf.]
Defn: Having a hundred leaves.
CENTIGRADE
Cen"ti*grade, a. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + gradus degree: cf. F.
centigrade.]
Defn: Consisting of a hundred degrees; graduated into a hundred
divisions or equal parts. Spesifically: of or pertaining the
centigrade thermometer; as, 10° centigrade (or 10° C.). Centigrade
thermometer, a thermometer having the zero or 0 at the point
indicating the freezing state of water, and the distance between that
and the point indicating the boiling state of water divided into one
hundred degrees. It is called also the Celsius thermometer, from
Anders Celsius, the originator of this scale.
CENTIGRAM; CENTIGRAMME
Cen"ti*gram, Cen"ti*gramme, n. Etym: [F. centigramme; centi- (L.
centum) + gramme. See Gram.]
Defn: The hundredth part of a gram; a weight equal to .15432 of a
grain. See Gram.
CENTILITER; CENTILITRE
Cen"ti*li`ter, Cen"ti*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. centilitre; centi (L.
centum) + litre. See Liter.]
Defn: The hundredth part of a liter; a measure of volume or capacity
equal to a little more than six tenths (0.6102) of a cubic inch, or
one third (0.338) of a fluid ounce.
CENTILOQUY
Cen*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. centum hundred + logui to speak.]
Defn: A work divided into a hundred parts. [R.] Burton.
CENTIME
Cen`time", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. centesimus. See Centesimal.] (F.
Coinage)
Defn: The hundredth part of a franc; a small French copper coin and
money of account.
CENTIMETER; CENTIMETRE
Cen"ti*me`ter, Cen"ti*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. centimètre; centi- (L.
centum) + mètre. See Meter.]
Defn: The hundredth part of a meter; a measure of length equal to
rather more than thirty-nine hundredths (0.3937) of an inch. See
Meter.
CENTINEL
Cen"ti*nel, n.
Defn: Sentinel. [Obs.] Sackville.
CENTINODY
Cen*tin"o*dy, n. Etym: [L. centum a hundred + nodus knot: cf. F.
centinode.] (Bot.)
Defn: A weed with a sterm of many joints (Illecebrum verticillatum);
also, the Polygonum aviculare or knotgrass.
CENTIPED
Cen"ti*ped, n. Etym: [L. centipeda; centum a hundred + pes, pedis,
foot: cf. F. centipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of the Myriapoda; esp. the large, flattened, venomous
kinds of the order Chilopoda, found in tropical climates. they are
many-jointed, and have a great number of feet. [Written also
centipede (
CENTISTERE
Cen"ti*stere, n. Etym: [F. centistère; centi- (l. centum) + stère.]
Defn: The hundredth part of a stere, equal to .353 cubic feet.
CENTNER
Cent"ner, n. Etym: [Cf. G. centner a hundred-weight, fr. L.
centenarius of a hundred, fr. centum a hundred.]
1. (Metal. & Assaying)
Defn: A weight divisible first into a hundred parts, and then into
smaller parts.
Note: The metallurgists use a weight divided into a hundred equal
parts, each one pound; the whole they call a centner: the pound is
divided into thirty-two parts, or half ounces; the half ounce into
two quarters; and each of these into two drams. But the assayers use
different weights. With them a centner is one dram, to which the
other parts are proportioned.
2. The commercial hundredweight in several of the continental
countries, varying in different places from 100 to about 112 pounds.
CENTO
Cen"to, n.; pl. Centos. Etym: [L. cento a garment of several pieces
sewed together, patchwork, a poem made up of various verses of
another poem.]
Defn: A literary or a musical composition formed by selections from
different authors disposed in a new order.
CENTONISM
Cen"to*nism, n.
Defn: The composition of a cento; the act or practice of composing a
cento or centos.
CENTRAL
Cen"tral, a. Etym: [L. centralis, fr. centrum: cf. F. central. See
Center.]
Defn: Relating to the center; situated in or near the center or
middle; containing the center; of or pertaining to the parts near the
center; equidistant or equally accessible from certain points.
Central force (Math.), a force acting upon a body towards or away
from a fixed or movable center.
-- Center sun (Astron.), a name given to a hypothetical body about
which Mädler supposed the solar system together with all the stars in
the Milky Way, to be revolving. A point near Alcyone in the Pleiades
was supposed to possess characteristics of the position of such a
body.
CENTRAL; CENTRALE
Cen"tral, Cen*tra"le, n. Etym: [NL. centrale, fr. L. centralis.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The central, or one of the central, bones of the carpus or or
tarsus. In the tarsus of man it is represented by the navicular.
CENTRALISM
Cen"tral*ism, n.
1. The state or condition of being central; the combination of
several parts into one whole; centralization.
2. The system by which power is centralized, as in a government.
CENTRALITY
Cen*tral"i*ty, n.; pl. Centralities (.
Defn: The state of being central; tendency towards a center.
Meantime there is a great centrality, a centripetence equal to the
centrifugence. R. W. Emerson.
CENTRALIZATION
Cen`tral*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centralisation.]
Defn: The act or process of centralizing, or the state of being
centralized; the act or process of combining or reducing several
parts into a whole; as, the centralization of power in the general
government; the centralization of commerce in a city.
CENTRALIZE
Cen"tral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Centralized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Centralizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. centraliser.]
Defn: To draw or bring to a center point; to gather into or about a
center; to bring into one system, or under one control.
[To] centralize the power of government. Bancroft.
CENTRALLY
Cen"tral*ly, adv.
Defn: In a central manner or situation.
CENTRE
Cen"tre, n. & v.
Defn: See Center.
CENTRIC; CENTRICAL
Cen"tric, Cen"tric*al, a.
Defn: Placed in the center or middle; central.
At York or some other centrical place. Sir W. Scott.
-- Cen"tric*al*ly, adv.
-- Cen"tric*al*ness, n.
CENTRICITY
Cen*tric"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being centric; centricalness.
CENTRIFUGAL
Cen*trif"u*gal, a. Etym: [L. centrum center + fugere to flee.]
1. Tending, or causing, to recede from the center.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Expanding first at the summit, and later at the base, as a flower
cluster.
(b) Having the radicle turned toward the sides of the fruit, as some
embryos. Centrifugal force (Mech.), a force whose direction is from a
center.
Note: When a body moves in a circle with uniform velocity, a force
must act on the body to keep it in the circle without change of
velocity. The direction of this force is towards the center of the
circle. If this force is applied by means of a string to the body,
the string will be in a state of tension. To a person holding the
other end of the string, this tension will appear to be directed
toward the body as if the body had a tendency to move away from the
center of the circle which it is describing. Hence this latter force
is often called centrifugal force. The force which really acts on the
body being directed towards the center of the circle is called
centripetal force, and in some popular treatises the centripetal and
centrifugal forces are described as opposing and balancing each
other. But they are merely the different aspects of the same stress.
Clerk Maxwell. Centrifugal impression (Physiol.), an impression
(motor) sent from a nerve center outwards to a muscle or muscles by
which motion is produced.
-- Centrifugal machine, A machine for expelling water or other
fluids from moist substances, or for separating liquids of different
densities by centrifugal action; a whirling table.
-- Centrifugal pump, a machine in which water or other fluid is
lifted and discharged through a pipe by the energy imparted by a
wheel or blades revolving in a fixed case. Some of the largest and
most powerful pumps are of this kind.
CENTRIFUGAL
Cen*trif"u*gal, n.
Defn: A centrifugal machine.
CENTRIFUGAL FILTER
Cen*trif"u*gal fil"ter.
Defn: A filter, as for sugar, in which a cylinder with a porous or
foraminous periphery is rapidly rotated so as to drive off liquid by
centrifugal action.
CENTRIFUGENCE
Cen*trif"u*gence, n.
Defn: The property or quality of being centrifugal. R. W. Emerson.
CENTRING
Cen"tring, n.
Defn: See Centring.
CENTRIPETAL
Cen*trip"e*tal, a. Etym: [L. centrum center + peter to more toward.]
1. Tending, or causing, to approach the center.
2. (Bot.) (a) Expanding first at the base of the inflorescence, and
proceeding in order towards the summit. (b) Having the radicle turned
toward the axis of the fruit, as some embryos.
3. Progressing by changes from the exterior of a thing toward its
center; as, the centripetal calcification of a bone. R. Owen.
Centripetal force (Mech.), a force whose direction is towards a
center, as in case of a planet revolving round the sun, the center of
the system, See Centrifugal force, under Centrifugal.
-- Centripetal impression (Physiol.), an impression (sensory)
transmitted by an afferent nerve from the exterior of the body
inwards, to the central organ.
CENTRIPETENCE
Cen*trip"e*tence, n.
Defn: Centripetency.
CENTRIPETENCY
Cen*trip"e*ten*cy, n.
Defn: Tendency toward the center.
CENTRISCOID
Cen*tris"coid, a. Etym: [NL. Centriscus (r. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Allied to, or resembling, the genus Centriscus, of which the
bellows fish is an example.
CENTROBARIC
Cen`tro*bar"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (
Defn: Relating to the center of gravity, or to the process of finding
it. Centrobaric method (Math.), a process invented for the purpose of
measuring the area or the volume generated by the rotation of a line
or surface about a fixed axis, depending upon the principle that
every figure formed by the revolution of a line or surface about such
an axis has for measure the product of the line or surface by the
length of the path of its center of gravity; -- sometimes called
theorem of Pappus, also, incorrectly, Guldinus's properties. See
Barycentric calculus, under Calculus.
CENTRODE
Cen"trode, n. (Kinematics)
Defn: In two figures having relative motion, one of the two curves
which are the loci of the instantaneous center.
CENTROID
Cen"troid, n. Etym: [L. centrum + -oid.]
Defn: The center of mass, inertia, or gravity of a body or system of
bodies.
CENTROLECITHAL
Cen`tro*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the food yolk placed at the center of the ovum,
segmentation being either regular or unequal. Balfour.
CENTROLINEAD
Cen`tro*lin"e*ad, n.
Defn: An instrument for drawing lines through a point, or lines
converging to a center.
CENTROLINEAL
Cen`tro*lin"e*al, a. Etym: [L. centrum + linea line.]
Defn: Converging to a center; -- applied to lines drawn so as to meet
in a point or center.
CENTROSOME
Cen"tro*some`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A peculiar rounded body lying near the nucleus of a cell. It is
regarded as the dynamic element by means of which the machinery of
cell division is organized.
CENTROSPHERE
Cen"tro*sphere, n. [Gr. centre + sphere.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: The nucleus or central part of the earth, forming most of its
mass; -- disting. from lithosphere, hydrosphere, etc.
2. (Biol.) The central mass of an aster from which the rays extend
and within which the centrosome lies when present; the attraction
sphere. The name has been used both as excluding and including the
centrosome, and also to designate a modified mass of protoplasm about
a centrosome whether aster rays are developed or not.
CENTROSTALTIC
Cen`tro*stal"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term applied to the action of nerve force in the spinal
center. Marshall Hall.
CENTRUM
Cen"trum, n.; pl. E. Centrums, L. Centra. Etym: [L., center.] (Anat.)
Defn: The body, or axis, of a vertebra. See Vertebra.
CENTRY
Cen"try, n.
Defn: See Sentry. [Obs.] Gray.
CENTUMVIR
Cen*tum"vir, n.; pl. Centumviri. Etym: [L., fr. centum hundred + Vir
man.] (Rom. Hist.)
Defn: One of a court of about one hundred judges chosen to try civil
suits. Under the empire the court was increased to 180, and met
usually in four sections.
CENTUMVIRAL
Cen*tum"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. centumvitalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the centumviri, or to a centumvir.
CENTUMVIRATE
Cen*tum"vi*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centumvirat.]
Defn: The office of a centumvir, or of the centumviri.
CENTUPLE
Cen"tu*ple, a. Etym: [L. centuplex; centum + plicare to fold; cf. F.
centuple.]
Defn: Hundredfold.
CENTUPLE
Cen"tu*ple, v. t.
Defn: To increase a hundredfold.
CENTUPLICATE
Cen*tu"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Centuplicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Centuplicating.] Etym: [L. centuplicare. See Centuple, a.]
Defn: To make a hundredfold; to repeat a hundred times. [R.] Howell.
CENTURIAL
Cen*tu"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. See Century.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a century; as, a centurial sermon. [R.]
CENTURIATE
Cen*tu"ri*ate, a. Etym: [L. centuriatus, p. p. of centuriare to
divide (men) into centuries.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or divided into, centuries or hundreds. [R.]
Holland.
CENTURIATE
Cen*tu"ri*ate, v. t. Etym: [See century.]
Defn: To divide into hundreds. [Obs.]
CENTURIATOR; CENTURIST
Cen*tu"ri*a`tor, Cen"tu*rist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. centuriateur.]
Defn: An historian who distinguishes time by centuries, esp. one of
those who wrote the "Magdeburg Centuries." See under Century. [R.]
CENTURION
Cen*tu"ri*on, n. Etym: [L. centurio, fr. centuria; cf. F. centurion.
See Century.] (Rom. Hist.)
Defn: A military officer who commanded a minor division of the Roman
army; a captain of a century.
A centurion of the hand called the Italian band. Acts x. 1.
CENTURY
Cen"tu*ry, n.; pl. Centuries. Etym: [L. centuria (in senses 1 & 3),
fr. centum a hundred: cf. F. centurie. See Cent.]
1. A hundred; as, a century of sonnets; an aggregate of a hundred
things. [Archaic.]
And on it said a century of prayers. Shak.
2. A period of a hundred years; as, this event took place over two
centuries ago.
Note: Century, in the reckoning of time, although often used in a
general way of any series of hundred consecutive years (as, a century
of temperance work), usually signifies a division of the Christian
era, consisting of a period of one hundred years ending with the
hundredth year from which it is named; as, the first century (a. d.
1-100 inclusive); the seventh century (a.d. 601-700); the eighteenth
century (a.d. 1701-1800). With words or phrases connecting it with
some other system of chronology it is used of similar division of
those eras; as, the first century of Rome (A.U.C. 1-100).
3. (Rom. Antiq.)
(a) A division of the Roman people formed according to their
property, for the purpose of voting for civil officers.
(b) One of sixty companies into which a legion of the army was
divided. It was Commanded by a centurion. Century plant (Bot.), the
Agave Americana, formerly supposed to flower but once in a century; -
- hence the name. See Agave.
-- The Magdeburg Centuries, an ecclesiastical history of the first
thirteen centuries, arranged in thirteen volumes, compiled in the
16th century by Protestant scholars at Magdeburg.
CEORL
Ceorl (keôrl or cherl), n. [AS. See Churl, n.] (O. Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A freeman of the lowest class; one not a thane or of the
servile classes; a churl.
CEPACEOUS
Ce*pa"ceous, a. [L. cepa, caepa, onion.]
Defn: Of the nature of an onion, as in odor; alliaceous.
CEPEVOROUS
Ce*pev"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. cepa an onion + varare to devour.]
Defn: Feeding upon onions. [R.] Sterling.
CEPHALAD
Ceph"a*lad, adv. Etym: [Gr. ad toward.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Forwards; towards the head or anterior extremity of the body;
opposed to caudad.
CEPHALALGIA; CEPHALALGY
Ceph`a*lal"gi*a, Ceph"a*lal`gy, n. Etym: [L. cephalalgia, Gr.
céphalalgie.] (Med.)
Defn: Pain in the head; headache.
CEPHALALGIC
Ceph`a*lal"gic, a. Etym: [L. cephalalgicus, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to, or affected with, headache.
-- n.
Defn: A remedy for the headache.
CEPHALANTHIUM
Ceph`a*lan"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Anthodium.
CEPHALASPIS
Ceph`a*las"pis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil ganoid fishes found in the old red sandstone
or Devonian formation. The head is large, and protected by a broad
shield-shaped helmet prolonged behind into two lateral points.
CEPHALATA
Ceph`a*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large division of Mollusca, including all except the
bivalves; -- so called because the head is distinctly developed. See
Illustration in Appendix.
CEPHALATE
Ceph"a*late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a head.
CEPHALIC
Ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [L. cephalicus, Gr. céphalique.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the head. See the Note under Anterior.
Cephalic index (Anat.), the ratio of the breadth of the cranium to
the length, which is taken as the standard, and equal to 100; the
breadth index.
-- Cephalic vein, a large vein running from the back of the head
alond the arm; -- so named because the ancients used to open it for
disorders of the head. Dunglison.
CEPHALIC
Ce*pha"lic, n.
Defn: A medicine for headache, or other disorder in the head.
CEPHALISM
Ceph"a*lism, n. [Gr. head.] (Anthropol.)
Defn: Form or development of the skull; as, the races of man differ
greatly in cephalism.
CEPHALITIS
Ceph`a*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Phrenitis.
CEPHALIZATION
Ceph`a*li*za"tion, n.
Defn: Domination of the head in animal life as expressed in the
physical structure; localization of important organs or parts in or
near the head, in animal development. Dana.
CEPHALO; CEPHALO-
Ceph"a*lo. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form denoting the head, of the head, connected with
the head; as, cephalosome, cephalopod.
CEPHALOCERCAL
Ceph`a*lo*cer"cal, a. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to the long axis of the body.
CEPHALOID
Ceph"a*loid, a. Etym: [Cephalo- + -oid.]
Defn: Shaped like the head. Craing.
CEPHALOLOGY
Ceph`a*lol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the head.
CEPHALOMERE
Ceph"a*lo*mere, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -mere.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the somites (arthromeres) which make up the head of
arthropods. Packard.
CEPHALOMETER
Ceph`a*lom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -meter.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument measuring the dimensions of the head of a fetus
during delivery.
CEPHALOMETRY
Ceph`a*lom"e*try, n. (Anthropometry)
Defn: The measurement of the heads of living persons. --
Ceph`a*lo*met"ric (#),a.
CEPHALON
Ceph"a*lon, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The head.
CEPHALOPHORA
Ceph`a*loph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cephalata.
CEPHALOPOD; CEPHALOPODE
Ceph"a*lo*pod, Ceph"a*lo*pode, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cephalopoda.
CEPHALOPODA
Ceph"`a*lop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., gr. Gr. -poda: cf. F.
céphalopode.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The highest class of Mollusca.
Note: They have, around the front of the head, a group of elongated
muscular arms, which are usually furnished with prehensile suckers or
hooks, The head is highly developed, with large, well organized eyes
and ears, and usually with a cartilaginous brain case. The higher
forms, as the cuttlefishes, squids, and octopi, swim rapidly by
ejecting a jet of water from the tubular siphon beneath the head.
They have a pair of powerful horny jaws shaped like a parrot's beak,
and a bag of inklike fluid which they can eject from the siphon, thus
clouding the water in order to escape from their enemies. They are
divided into two orders, the Dibranchiata, having two gills and eight
or ten sucker-bearing arms, and the Tetrabranchiata, with four gills
and numerous arms without suckers. The latter are all extinct except
the Nautilus. See Octopus, Squid, Nautilus.
CEPHALOPODIC; CEPHALOPODOUS
Ceph`a*lo*pod"ic, Ceph`a*lop"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the cephalopods.
CEPHALOPTERA
Ceph`a*lop"te*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the generic names of the gigantic ray (Manta birostris),
known as devilfish and sea devil. It is common on the coasts of South
Carolina, Florida, and farther south. Some of them grow to enormous
size, becoming twenty feet of more across the body, and weighing more
than a ton.
CEPHALOSOME
Ceph"a*lo*some, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + -some body.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The anterior region or head of insects and other arthropods.
Packard.
CEPHALOSTYLE
Ceph"a*lo*style, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior end of the notochord and its bony sheath in the
base of cartilaginous crania.
CEPHALOTHORAX
Ceph`a*lo*tho"rax, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + thorax.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The anterior portion of any one of the Arachnida and higher
Crustacea, consisting of the united head and thorax.
CEPHALOTOME
Ceph"a*lo*tome, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for cutting into the fetal head, to facilitate
delivery.
CEPHALOTOMY
Ceph`a*lot"o*my, n.
1. Dissection or opening of the head.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Craniotomy; -- usually applied to bisection of the fetal head
with a saw.
CEPHALOTRIBE
Ceph"a*lo*tribe, n. Etym: [Cephalo- + Gr. to rub, grind.]
Defn: An obstetrical instrument for performing cephalotripsy.
CEPHALOTRIPSY
Ceph"a*lo*trip`sy, n. Etym: [See Cephalotribe.] (Med.)
Defn: The act or operation of crushing the head of a fetus in the
womb in order to effect delivery.
CEPHALOTROCHA
Ceph`a*lot"ro*cha, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of annelid larva with a circle of cilia around the head.
CEPHALOUS
Ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a head; -- applied chiefly to the Cephalata, a division
of mollusks.
CEPHEUS
Ce"pheus, n.
Defn: (Astron.) A northern constellation near the pole. Its head,
which is in the Milky Way, is marked by a triangle formed by three
stars of the fourth magnitude. See Cassiopeia.
CERACEOUS
Ce*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [L. cera wax.]
Defn: Having the texture and color of new wax; like wax; waxy.
CERAGO
Ce*ra"go, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.]
Defn: Beebread.
CERAMIC
Ce*ram"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Keramic.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to pottery; relating to the art of making
earthenware; as, ceramic products; ceramic ornaments for ceilings.
CERAMICS
Ce*ram"ics, n. Etym: [See Ceramic.]
1. The art of making things of baked clay; as pottery, tiles, etc.
2. pl.
Defn: Work formed of clay in whole or in part, and baked; as, vases,
urns, etc. Knight.
CERARGYRITE
Ce*rar"gy*rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native silver chloride, a mineral of a white to pale yellow or
gray color, darkening on exposure to the light. It may be cut by a
knife, like lead or horn (hence called horn silver).
CERASIN
Cer"a*sin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous substance, the insoluble part of cherry gum;
-- called also meta-arabinic acid.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A gummy mucilaginous substance; -- called also bassorin,
tragacanthin, etc.
CERASINOUS
Ce*ras"i*nous, a.
1. Pertaining to, or containing, cerasin.
2. Of a cherry color.
CERASTES
Ce*ras"tes, n. Etym: [L., a horned serpent, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of poisonous African serpents, with a horny scale over
each eye; the horned viper.
CERATE
Ce"rate, n. Etym: [L. ceratum, ceratm, fr. cera wax.] (Med.)
Defn: An unctuous preparation for external application, of a
consistence intermediate between that of an ointment and a plaster,
so that it can be spread upon cloth without the use of heat, but does
not melt when applied to the skin.
Note: Cerate consists essentially of wax (for which resin or
spermaceti is sometimes substituted) mixed with oil, lard, and
various medicinal ingredients. The cerate (formerly called simple
cerate) of the United States Pharmacopoeia is a mixture of three
parts of white wax and seven parts of lard.
CERATED
Ce"ra*ted, p. a. Etym: [L. ceratus, p. p. of cerare to wax, fr. cera
wax.]
Defn: Covered with wax.
CERATINE
Cer"a*tine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Lagic.)
Defn: Sophistical.
CERATOBRANCHIA
Cer`a*to*bran"chi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. n. pl., gills.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of nudibranchiate Mollusca having on the back
papilliform or branched organs serving as gills.
CERATOBRANCHIAL
Cer`a*to*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the bone, or cartilage, below the epibranchial in
a branchial arch.
-- n.
Defn: A ceratobranchial bone, or cartilage.
CERATODUS
Ce*rat"o*dus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ganoid fishes, of the order Dipnoi, first known as
Mesozoic fossil fishes; but recently two living species have been
discovered in Australian rivers. They have lungs so well developed
that they can leave the water and breathe in air. In Australia they
are called salmon and baramunda. See Dipnoi, and Archipterygium.
CERATOHYAL
Cer`a*to*hy"al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the bone, or carts, large, below the epihyal in
the hyoid arch.
-- n.
Defn: A ceratohyal bone, or cartilage, which, in man, forms one of
the small horns of the hyoid.
CERATOSAURUS
Cer`a*to*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A carnivorous American Jurassic dinosaur allied to the European
Megalosaurus. The animal was nearly twenty feet in length, and the
skull bears a bony horn core on the united nasal bones. See
Illustration in Appendix.
CERATOSPONGIAE
Cer`a*to*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of sponges in which the skeleton consists of horny
fibers. It includes all the commercial sponges.
CERAUNICS
Ce*rau"nics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: That branch of physics which treats of heat and electricity. R.
Park.
CERAUNOSCOPE
Ce*rau"no*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]
Defn: An instrument or apparatus employed in the ancient mysteries to
imitate thunder and lightning. T. Moore.
CERBEREAN
Cer*be"re*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or resembling, Cerberus. [Written also
Cerberian.]
With wide Cerberean mouth. Milton.
CERBERUS
Cer"be*rus, n. Etym: [L. Cerberus (in sense 1), gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A monster, in the shape, of a three-headed dog, guarding the
entrance into the infernal regions, Hence: Any vigilant custodian or
guardian, esp. if surly.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of East Indian serpents, allied to the pythons; the
bokadam.
CERCAL
Cer"cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the tail.
CERCARIA
Cer*ca"ri*a, n.; pl. Cercarle ( Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larval form of a trematode worm having the shape of a
tadpole, with its body terminated by a tail-like appendage.
CERCARIAN
Cer*ca"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of, like, or pertaining to, the Cercariæ.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Cercariæ.
CERCOPOD
Cer"co*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the jointed antenniform appendage of the posterior
somites of cartain insects. Packard.
CERCUS
Cer"cus, n.; pl. Cerci (. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cercopod.
CERE
Cere, n. Etym: [L. cera wax: cf. F. cire.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The soft naked sheath at the base of the beak of birds of prey,
parrots, and some other birds. See Beak.
CERE
Cere, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cering.] Etym: [L.
cerare, fr. cera wax: cf. F. cirer.]
Defn: To wax; to cover or close with wax. Wiseman.
CEREAL
Ce"re*al, a. Etym: [L. Cerealis pert. to Ceres, and hence, to
agriculture. See Ceres.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the grasses which are cultivated for their
edible seeds (as wheat, maize, rice, etc.), or to their seeds or
grain.
CEREAL
Ce"re*al n.
Defn: Any grass cultivated for its edible grain, or the grain itself;
-- usually in the plural.
CEREALIA
Ce`re*a"li*a, n. pl. Etym: [L. See Cereal.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: Public festivals in honor of Ceres.
2. The cereals. Crabb.
CEREALIN
Ce"re*a*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous substance closely resembling diastase, obtained
from bran, and possessing the power of converting starch into
dextrin, sugar, and lactic acid. Watts.
CEREBEL
Cer"e*bel, n.
Defn: The cerebellum. Derham.
CEREBELLAR; CEREBELLOUS
Cer`e*bel"lar, Cer`e*bel"lous, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the cerebellum.
CEREBELLUM
Cer`e*bel"lum, n.; pl. E. Cerebellums (, L. Cerebella (. Etym: [L.,
dim. of cerebrum brain.] (Anat.)
Defn: The large lobe of the hind brain in front of and above the
medulla; the little brain. It controls combined muscular action. See
Brain.
CEREBRAL
Cer"e*bral, a. Etym: [L. cerebrum brain; akin to Gr. cérébral. See
Cheer.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cerebrum. Cerebral apoplexy. See under
Apoplexy.
CEREBRAL
Cer"e*bral, n. Etym: [A false translation of the Skr. murdhanya,
lit., head-sounds.]
Defn: One of a class of lingual consonants in the East Indian
languages. See Lingual, n.
Note: Prof. W. D. Whitney calls these letters linguals, and this is
their usual designation in the United States.
CEREBRALISM
Cer"e*bral*ism, n. (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine or theory that psychical phenomena are functions
or products of the brain only.
CEREBRALIST
Cer"e*bral*ist, n.
Defn: One who accepts cerebralism.
CEREBRATE
Cer"e*brate, v. i. (Physiol.)
Defn: To exhibit mental activity; to have the brain in action.
CEREBRATION
Cer`e*bra"tion, n.
Defn: Action of the brain, whether conscious or unconscious.
CEREBRIC
Cer"e*bric, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the brain. Cerebric acid
(Physiol. Chem.), a name formerly sometimes given to cerebrin.
CEREBRICITY
Cer`e*bric"i*ty, n.
Defn: Brain power. [R.]
CEREBRIFORM
Ce*reb"ri*form, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + -form.]
Defn: Like the brain in form or substance.
CEREBRIFUGAL
Cer`e*brif"u*gal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + L. fugere to flee.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the brain to the
spinal cord, and so transfer cerebral impulses (centrifugal
impressions) outwards.
CEREBRIN
Cer"e*brin, n. Etym: [From Cerebrum.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A nonphosphorized, nitrogenous substance, obtained from brain
and nerve tissue by extraction with boiling alcohol. It is uncertain
whether it exists as such in nerve tissue, or is a product of the
decomposition of some more complex substance.
CEREBRIPETAL
Cer`e*brip"e*tal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + L. petere to seek.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Applied to those nerve fibers which go from the spinal cord to
the brain and so transfer sensations (centripetal impressions) from
the exterior inwards.
CEREBRITIS
Cer`e*bri"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cerebrum + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the cerebrum.
CEREBROID
Cer"e*broid, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling, or analogous to, the cerebrum or brain.
CEREBROLOGY
Cer`e*brol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the cerebrum or brain.
CEREBROPATHY
Cer`e*brop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A hypochondriacal condition verging upon insanity, occurring in
those whose brains have been unduly taxed; -- called also brain fag.
CEREBROSCOPY
Cer`e*bros"co*py, n. Etym: [Cerebrum + -scopy.] (Med.)
Defn: Examination of the brain for the diagnosis of diseas; esp., the
act or process of diagnosticating the condition of the brain by
examination of the interior of the eye (as with an ophthalmoscope).
Buck.
CEREBROSE
Cer`e*brose", n. Etym: [From Cerebrum.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A sugarlike body obtained by the decomposition of the
nitrogenous non-phosphorized principles of the brain.
CEREBRO-SPINAL
Cer`e*bro-spi"nal, a. Etym: [Cerebrum + spinal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the central nervous system consisting of
the brain and spinal cord. Cerebro-spinal fluid (Physiol.), a serous
fluid secreted by the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
-- Cerebro-spinal meningitis, Cerebro-spinal fever (Med.), a
dangerous epidemic, and endemic, febrile disease, characterized by
inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord, giving
rise to severe headaches, tenderness of the back of the neck,
paralysis of the ocular muscles, etc. It is sometimes marked by a
cutaneous eruption, when it is often called spotted fever. It is not
contagious.
CEREBRUM
Cer"e*brum, n.; pl. E. Cerebrums, L. Cerebra. Etym: [L., the brain.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The anterior, and in man the larger, division of the brain; the
seat of the reasoning faculties and the will. See Brain.
CERECLOTH
Cere"cloth`, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + E. cloth.]
Defn: A cloth smeared with melted wax, or with some gummy or
glutinous matter.
Linen, besmeared with gums, in manner of cerecloth. Bacon.
CEREMENT
Cere"ment, n. Etym: [L. cera wax: cf. F. cirement.]
(a) A cerecloth used for the special purpose of enveloping a dead
body when embalmed.
(b) Any shroud or wrapping for the dead.
CEREMONIAL
Cer`e*mo"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. caerimonialis: cf. F. cérimonial. See
Ceremony.]
1. Relating to ceremony, or external rite; ritual; according to the
forms of established rites.
Ceremonial observances and outward show. Hallam.
2. Observant of forms; ceremonious.
Note: [In this sense ceremonious is now preferred.] Donne.
He moves in the dull ceremonial track. Druden.
CEREMONIAL
Cer`e*mo"ni*al, n.
1. A system of rules and ceremonies, enjoined by law, or established
by custom, in religious worship, social intercourse, or the courts of
princes; outward form.
The gorgeous ceremonial of the Burgundian court. Prescott.
2. The order for rites and forms in the Roman Catholic church, or the
book containing the rules presribed to be observed on solemn
occasions.
CEREMONIALISM
Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ism, n.
Defn: Adherence to external rites; fondness for ceremony.
CEREMONIALLY
Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to rites and ceremonies; as, a person ceremonially
unclean.
CEREMONIALNESS
Cer`e*mo"ni*al*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being ceremonial.
CEREMONIOUS
Cer`e*mo"ni*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cérémonieux, L. Caerimoniosus.]
1. Consisting of outward forms and rites; ceremonial.
Note: [In this sense ceremonial is now preferred.]
The ceremonious part of His worship. South.
2. According to prescribed or customary rules and forms; devoted to
forms and ceremonies; formally respectful; punctilious. "Ceremonious
phrases." Addison.
Too ceremonious and traditional. Shak.
Syn.
-- Formal; precise; exact. See Formal.
CEREMONIOUSLY
Cer`e*mo"ni*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a ceremonious way.
CEREMONIOUSNESS
Cer`e*mo"ni*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality, or practice, of being ceremonious.
CEREMONY
Cer"e*mo*ny, n.; pl. Ceremonies. Etym: [F. cérémonie, L. caerimonia;
perh. akin to E. create and from a root signifying to do or make.]
1. Ar act or series of acts, often of a symbolical character,
prescribed by law, custom, or authority, in the conduct of important
matters, as in the performance of religious duties, the transaction
of affairs of state, and the celebration of notable events; as, the
ceremony of crowning a sovereign; the ceremonies observed in
consecrating a church; marriage and baptismal ceremonies.
According to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies
thereof shall ye keep it [the Passover]. Numb. ix. 3
Bring her up the high altar, that she may The sacred ceremonies there
partake. Spenser.
[The heralds] with awful ceremony And trumpet's sound, throughout the
host proclaim A solemn council. Milton.
2. Behavior regulated by strict etiquette; a formal method of
performing acts of civility; forms of civility prescribed by custom
or authority.
Ceremony was but devised at first To set a gloss on . . . hollow
welcomes . . . But where there is true friendship there needs none.
Shak.
Al ceremonies are in themselves very silly things; but yet a man of
the world should know them. Chesterfield.
3. A ceremonial symbols; an emblem, as a crown, scepter, garland,
etc. [Obs.]
Disrobe the images, If you find them decked with ceremonies. . . .
Let no images Be hung with Cæsar's trophies. Shak.
4. A sign or prodigy; a portent. [Obs.]
Cæsar, I never stood on ceremonies, Yet, now they fright me. Shak.
Master of ceremonies, an officer who determines the forms to be
observed, or superintends their observance, on a public occasion.
-- Not to stand on ceremony, not to be ceremonious; to be familiar,
outspoken, or bold.
CEREOUS
Ce"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. cereus, fr. cera was.]
Defn: Waxen; like wax. [Obs.] Gayton.
CERES
Ce"res, n. Etym: [L., Ceres, also corn, grain, akin to E. create.]
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The daughter of Saturn and Ops or Rhea, the goddess of corn and
tillage.
2. (Actron.)
Defn: The first discovered asteroid.
CERESIN
Cer"e*sin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white wax, made by bleaching and purifying ozocerite, and
used as a substitute for beeswax.
CEREUS
Ce"re*us, n. Etym: [L., a wax candle, fr. cera wax. So named from the
resemblance of one species to the columnar shape of a wax candle.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the Cactus family. They are natives of
America, from California to Chili.
Note: Although several species flower in the night, the name Night-
blooming cereus is specially applied to the Cereus grandiflorus,
which is cultivated for its beautiful, shortlived flowers. The Cereus
giganteus, whose columnar trunk is sometimes sixty feet in height, is
a striking feature of the scenery of New Mexico, Texas, etc.
CEREVIS
Cer"e*vis (ser"e*vis; G. tser`e*ves"), n. [G., fr. L. cerevisia,
cervisia, beer.]
Defn: A small visorless cap, worn by members of German student corps.
It is made in the corps colors, and usually bears the insignia of the
corps.
CERIA
Ce"ri*a (se"ri*a), n. (Chem.)
Defn: Cerium oxide, CeO2, a white infusible substance constituting
about one per cent of the material of the common incandescent mantle.
CERIAL
Cer"i*al, a.
Defn: Same as Cerial. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CERIFEROUS
Ce*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ra wax + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing wax.
CERIN
Ce"rin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + -in: cf. L. cerinus wax-colored.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A waxy substance extracted by alcohol or ether from cork;
sometimes applied also to the portion of beeswax which is soluble in
alcohol. Watts.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of the mineral allanite.
CERINTHIAN
Ce*rin"thi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an ancient religious sect, so called fron Cerinthus, a
Jew, who attempted to unite the doctrines of Christ with the opinions
of the Jews and Gnostics. Hook.
CERIPH
Cer"iph, n. (Type Founding)
Defn: One of the fine lines of a letter, esp. one of the fine cross
strokes at the top and bottom of letters. [Spelt also seriph.]
Savage.
CERISE
Ce*rise", a. Etym: [F., a cherry. See Cherry.]
Defn: Cherry-colored; a light bright red; --- applied to textile
fabrics, especially silk.
CERITE
Ce"rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gastropod shell belonging to the family Cerithiïdæ; -- so
called from its hornlike form.
CERITE
Ce"rite, n. Etym: [From Cherium.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a brownish of cherry-red color, commonly massive.
It is a hydrous silicate of cerium and allied metals.
CERIUM
Ce"ri*um, n. Etym: [Named dy Berzelius in 1803 from the asteroid
Ceres, then just discovered (1801).] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic element, occurring in the minerals cerite,
allanite, monazite, etc. Symbol Ce. Atomic weight 141.5. It resembles
iron in color and luster, but is soft, and both malleable and
ductile. It tarnishes readily in the air.
CERNUOUS
Cer"nu*ous, a. Etym: [L. cernuus with the face turned toward the
earth.] (Bot.)
Defn: Inclining or nodding downward; pendulous; drooping; -- said of
a bud, flower, fruit, or the capsule of a moss.
CERO
Ce"ro, n. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. Sp. sierra saw, sawfish, cero.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large and valuable fish of the Mackerel family, of the genus
Scomberomorus. Two species are found in the West Indies and less
commonly on the Atlantic coast of the United States, -- the common
cero (Scomberomorus caballa), called also kingfish, and spotted, or
king, cero (S. regalis).
CEROGRAPH
Ce"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. khros wax + -graph.]
Defn: A writing on wax. Knight.
CEROGRAPHIC; CEROGRAPHICAL
Ce`ro*graph"ic, Ce`ro*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cerography.
CEROGRAPHIST
Ce*rog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: One who practices cerography.
CEROGRAPHY
Ce*rog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
1. The art of making characters or designs in, or with, wax.
2. A method of making stereotype plates from inscribed sheets of wax.
CEROLITE
Cer"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. * wax + -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous silicate of magnesium, allied to serpentine,
occurring in waxlike masses of a yellow or greenish color.
CEROMA
Ce*ro"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. The unguent (a composition of oil and wax) with which wrestles
were anointed among the ancient Romans.
2. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: That part of the baths and gymnasia in which bathers and
wrestlers anointed themselves.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cere of birds.
CEROMANCY
Cer"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by dropping melted wax in water.
CEROON
Ce*roon", n. Etym: [See Seroon.]
Defn: A bale or package. covered with hide, or with wood bound with
hide; as, a ceroon of indigo, cochineal, etc.
CEROPLASTIC
Ce`ro*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Fine arts)
(a) Relating to the art of modeling in wax.
(b) Modeled in wax; as, a ceroplastic figure.
CEROPLASTICS; CEROPLASTY
Ce`ro*plas"tics, Ce`ro*plas"ty, n. Etym: [Gr. céroplastique.]
Defn: The art of modeling in wax.
CEROSIN
Cer"o*sin, n. Etym: [L. cera wax.] (Chem.)
Defn: A waxy substance obtained from the bark of the sugar cane, and
crystallizing in delicate white laminæ.
CEROTE
Ce"rote, n. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Cerate.
CEROTENE
Cer"o*tene, n. Etym: [L. cerotum a pomade. See Cerate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white waxy solid obtained from Chinese wax, and by the
distillation of cerotin.
CEROTIC
Ce*rot"ic, a. Etym: [See Cerotene.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, beeswax or Chinese wax; as,
cerotic acid or alcohol.
CEROTIN
Cer"o*tin, n. Etym: [See Cerotene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C27H55.OH, obtained from Chinese
wax, and regarded as an alcohol of the marsh gas series; -- called
also cerotic alcohol, ceryl alcohol.
CEROTYPE
Ce"ro*type`, n. [Gr. wax + -type.]
Defn: A printing process of engraving on a surface of wax spread on a
steel plate, for electrotyping.
CERRIAL
Cer"ri*al, a. Etym: [L. cerreus, fr. cerrus a kind of oak.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cerris.
Chaplets green of cerrial oak. Dryden.
CERRIS
Cer"ris, n. Etym: [L. cerrus.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of oak (Quercus cerris) native in the Orient and
southern Europe; -- called also bitter oak and Turkey oak.
CERTAIN
Cer"tain, a. Etym: [F. certain, fr. (assumed) LL. certanus, fr. L.
certus determined, fixed, certain, orig. p. p. of cernere to
perceive, decide, determine; akin to Gr. concern, critic, crime,
riddle a sieve, rinse, v.]
1. Assured in mind; having no doubts; free from suspicions
concerning.
To make her certain of the sad event. Dryden.
I myself am certain of you. Wyclif.
2. Determined; resolved; -- used with an infinitive.
However, I with thee have fixed my lot, Certain to undergo like doom.
Milton.
3. Not to be doubted or denied; established as a fact.
The dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Dan. ii.
45.
4. Actually existing; sure to happen; inevitable.
Virtue that directs our ways Through certain dangers to uncertain
praise. Dryden.
Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. Shak.
5. Unfailing; infallible.
I have often wished that I knew as certain a remedy for any other
distemper. Mead.
6. Fixed or stated; regular; determinate.
The people go out and gather a certain rate every day. Ex. xvi. 4.
7. Not specifically named; indeterminate; indefinite; one or some; --
sometimes used independenty as a noun, and meaning certain persons.
It came to pass when he was in a certain city. Luke. v. 12.
About everything he wrote there was a certain natural grace und
decorum. Macaulay.
For certain, assuredly.
-- Of a certain, certainly.
Syn.
-- Bound; sure; true; undeniable; unquestionable; undoubted; plain;
indubitable; indisputable; incontrovertible; unhesitating;
undoubting; fixed; stated.
CERTAIN
Cer"tain, n.
1. Certainty. [Obs.] Gower.
2. A certain number or quantity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CERTAIN
Cer"tain, adv.
Defn: Certainly. [Obs.] Milton.
CERTAINLY
Cer"tain*ly, adv.
Defn: Without doubt or question; unquestionably.
CERTAINNESS
Cer"tain*ness, n.
Defn: Certainty.
CERTAINTY
Cer"tain*ty, n.; pl. Certainties. Etym: [OF. certaineté.]
1. The quality, state, or condition, of being certain.
The certainty of punishment is the truest security against crimes.
Fisher Ames.
2. A fact or truth unquestionable established.
Certainties are uninteresting and sating. Landor.
3. (Law)
Defn: Clearness; freedom from ambiguity; lucidity. Of a certainty,
certainly.
CERTES
Cer"tes, adv. Etym: [F. certes, for à certes, fr. L. certus. See
Certain.]
Defn: Certainly; in truth; verily. [Archaic]
Certes it great pity was to see Him his nobility so foul deface.
Spenser.
CERTIFICATE
Cer*tif"i*cate, n. Etym: [F. certificat, fr. LL. certificatus made
certain, p. p. of certificare. See tify.]
1. A written testimony to the truth of any fact; as, certificate of
good behavior.
2. A written declaration legally authenticated. Trial by certificate,
a trial which the testimony of the person certifying is the only
proper criterion of the point in dispute; as, when the issue is
whether a person was absent in the army, this is tried by the
certificate of the proper officer in writing, under his seal.
Blackstone.
CERTIFICATE
Cer*tif"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Certificated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Certificating.] Etym: [See Certify.]
1. To verify or vouch for by certificate.
2. To furnish with a certificate; as, to certificate the captain of a
vessel; a certificated teacher.
CERTIFICATION
Cer`ti*fi*ca"tion, n.Etym: [L. certificatio: cf. F. certification.]
Defn: The act of certifying.
CERTIFIER
Cer"ti*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who certifies or assures.
CERTIFY
Cer"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Certified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Certifying.] Etym: [F. certifier, LL. certificare; L. certus certain
+ facere to make. See Certain, and cf. Certificate, v. t.]
1. To give cetain information to; to assure; to make certain.
We certify the king, that . . . thou shalt have no portion on this
side the river. Ezra iv. 16.
2. To give certain information of; to make certain, as a fact; to
verify. Hammond.
The industry of science at once certifies and greatly extends our
knowledge of the vastness of the creation. I. Taylor.
3. To testify to in writing; to make a declaration concerning, in
writing, under hand, or hand and seal.
The judges shall certify their opinion to the chancellor, and upon
such certificate the decree is usually founded. Blackstone.
Certified check, A bank check, the validity of which is certified by
the bank on which it is drawn.
CERTIORARI
Cer`ti*o*ra"ri, n. Etym: [So named from the emphatic word certiorari
in the Latin form of the writ, which read certiorar volumus we wish
to be certified.] (Law)
Defn: A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up
the records of a inferior court, or remove a cause there depending,
in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice, or
that errors and irreguarities may be corrected. It is obtained upon
complaint of a party that he has not received justice, or can not
have an impartial trial in the inferior court.
Note: A certiorari is the correct process to remove the proceedings
of a court in which cases are tried in a manner different from the
course of the common law, as of county commissioners. It is also used
as an auxiliary process in order to obtain a full return to some
other process. Bouvier.
CERTITUDE
Cer"ti*tude, n. Etym: [LL. certitudo, fr. L. certus: cf. F.
certitude. See Certain.]
Defn: Freedom from doubt; assurance; certainty. J. H. Newman.
CERULE
Cer"ule, a. Etym: [L. caerulus, eguiv. to caeruleus.]
Defn: Blue; cerulean. [Obs.] Dyer.
CERULEAN
Ce*ru"le*an, a. Etym: [L. caeruleus.]
Defn: Sky-colored; blue; azure. Cowper.
Blue, blue, as if that sky let fall
A flower from its cerulean wall. Bryant.
CERULEIN
Ce*ru"le*in, n. [L. caeruleus sky-blue.] (Chem.)
Defn: A fast dyestuff, C20H8O6, made by heating gallein with strong
sulphuric acid. It dyes mordanted fabrics green.
CERULEOUS
Ce*ru"le*ous, a.
Defn: Cerulean. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CERULESCENT
Ce`ru*les"cent, a. [L. caeruleus sky-blue + -escent.]
Defn: Tending to cerulean; light bluish.
CERULEUM
Ce*ru"le*um, n. [NL.]
Defn: A greenish blue pigment prepared in various ways, consisting
essentially of cobalt stannate. Unlike other cobalt blues, it does
not change color by gaslight.
CERULIFIC
Cer`u*lif"ic, a. Etym: [L.arulus dark blue + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing a blue or sky color. [R.]
CERUMEN
Ce*ru"men, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cera wax.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The yellow, waxlike secretion from the glands of the external
ear; the earwax.
CERUMINOUS
Ce*ru"mi*nous, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or secreting, cerumen; as, the ceruminous
glands.
CERUSE
Ce"ruse, n. Etym: [F. céruse, L. cerussa.]
1. White lead, used as a pigment. See White lead, under White.
2. A cosmetic containing white lead.
To distinguish ceruse from natural bloom. Macaulay.
3. (Min.)
Defn: The native carbonate of lead.
CERUSED
Ce"rused, a.
Defn: Washed with a preparation of white lead; as, cerused face.
Beau. & Fl.
CERUSITE; CERUSSITE
Ce"ru*site, Ce"rus*site, n. (Min.)
Defn: Native lead carbonate; a mineral occurring in colorless, white,
or yellowish transparent crystals, with an adamantine, also massive
and compact.
CERVANTITE
Cer"van*tite, n. Etym: [Named from Cervantes a town in Spain.] (Min.)
Defn: See under Antimony.
CERVELAT
Cer"ve*lat, n. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: An ancient wind instrument, resembling the bassoon in tone.
CERVICAL
Cer"vi*cal, a. Etym: [L. cervix, -icis, neck: cf. F. cervical.]
(Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the neck; as, the cervical vertebræ.
CERVICIDE
Cer"vi*cide, n. Etym: [L. cervus deer + caedere to kill.]
Defn: The act of killing deer; deer-slaying. [R.]
CERVINE
Cer"vine, a. Etym: [L. cervinus, fr. cervus deer: cf. F. cervin.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the deer, or to the family Cervidæ.
CERVIX
Cer"vix, n.; pl. E. Cervixes, L. Cervices. Etym: [L.] (Anat.)
Defn: The neck; also, the necklike portion of any part, as of the
womb. See Illust. of Bird.
CERVUS
Cer"vus, n. Etym: [L., a deer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of ruminants, including the red deer and other allied
species.
Note: Formerly all species of deer were included in the genus Cervus.
CERYL
Ce"ryl, n. Etym: [L. cera wax + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A radical, C27H55 supposed to exist in several compounds
obtained from Chinese wax, beeswax, etc.
CESAREAN; CESARIAN
Ce*sa"re*an, Ce*sa"ri*an, a.
Defn: Same as Cæsarean, Cæsarian.
CESARISM
Ce"sar*ism, n.
Defn: See Cæsarism.
CESPITINE
Ces"pi*tine, n. Etym: [L. caespes, caespitis, a turf.]
Defn: An oil obtained by distillation of peat, and containing various
members of the pyridine series.
CESPITITIOUS
Ces"pi*ti`tious, a. Etym: [L. caespiticius, fr. caespes turf.]
Defn: Same as Cespitious. [R.] Gough.
CESPITOSE
Ces"pi*tose`, a. Etym: [L. caespes turf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form a piece of turf, i. e., many stems from one
rootstock or from many entangled rootstocks or roots. [Written also
cæspitose.]
CESPITOUS
Ces"pi*tous, a. Etym: [See Cespitose.]
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting, of resembling, turf; turfy.
A cespitous or turfy plant has many stems from the same root, usually
forming a close, thick carpet of matting. Martyn.
CESS
Cess, n. Etym: [For sess, conts. from Assess.]
1. A rate or tax. [Obs. or Prof. Eng. & Scot.] Spenser.
2. Bound; measure. [Obs.]
The poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess. Shak.
CESS
Cess, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cessing.]
Defn: To rate; to tax; to assess. Spenser.
CESS
Cess, v. i. Etym: [F. cesser. See Cease.]
Defn: To cease; to neglect. [Obs.] Spenser.
CESSANT
Ces"sant a. Etym: [L. cessans, p. pr. of cessare. See Cease.]
Defn: Inactive; dormant [Obs.] W. Montagu.
CESSATION
Ces*sa"tion, n. Etym: [F. cessation, L. cessatio, fr. cessare. See
Cease.]
Defn: A ceasing of discontinuance, as of action, whether termporary
or final; a stop; as, a cessation of the war.
The temporary cessation of the papal iniquities. Motley.
The day was yearly observed for a festival by cessation from labor.
Sir J. Hayward.
Cessation of arms (Mil.), an armistice, or truce, agreed to by the
commanders of armies, to give time for a capitulation, or for other
purposes.
Syn.
-- Stop; rest; stay; pause; discontinuance; intermission; interval;
respite; interruption; recess; remission.
CESSAVIT
Ces*sa"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has ceased.] [O. Eng. Law]
Defn: A writ given by statute to recover lands when the tenant has
for two years failed to perform the conditions of his tenure.
CESSER
Ces"ser, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. i.] (Law)
Defn: a neglect of a tenant to perform services, or make payment, for
two years.
CESSIBLE
Ces"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cessible. See Cession.]
Defn: Giving way; yielding. [Obs.] -- Ces`si*bil"i*ty, n. [Obs.] Sir
K. Digby.
CESSION
Ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. cessio, fr. cedere to give way: cf. F.
Cession. See Cede.]
1. A yielding to physical force. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. Concession; compliance. [Obs.]
3. A yielding, or surrender, as of property or rights, to another
person; the act of ceding.
A cession of the island of New Orleans. Bancroft.
4. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: The giving up or vacating a benefice by accepting another
without a proper dispensation.
5. (Civil Law)
Defn: The voluntary surrender of a person's effects to his creditors
to avoid imprisonment.
CESSIONARY
Ces"sion*a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. cessionarius, from cessionare to cede,
fr. L. cessio: cf. F. cessionnaire. See Cession.]
Defn: Having surrendered the effects; as, a cessionary bankrupt.
Martin.
CESSMENT
Cess"ment, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. t.]
Defn: An assessment or tax. [Obs.] Johnson.
CESSOR
Ces"sor, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. i. Cf. Cesser.] (Law)
Defn: One who neglects, for two years, to perform the service by
which he holds lands, so that he incurs the danger of the writ of
cessavit. See Cessavit. Cowell.
CESSOR
Ces"sor, n. Etym: [From Cess, v. t.]
Defn: An assessor. [Obs.]
CESSPIPE
Cess`pipe", n.
Defn: A pipe for carrying off waste water, etc., from a sink or
cesspool. Knight.
CESSPOOL
Cess"pool`, n. Etym: [See Sesspol.]
Defn: A cistern in the course, or the termination, of a drain, to
collect sedimentary or superfluous matter; a privy vault; any
receptace of filth. [Written also sesspool.]
CEST
Cest, n. Etym: [L. cestus: cf. OF. ceste.]
Defn: A woman's girdle; a cestus. [R.] Collins.
CESTODE
Ces"tode, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cestoidea.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Cestoidea.
CESTOID
Ces"toid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cestoidea.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Cestoidea.
CESTOIDEA
Ces*toid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., gr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of parasitic worms (Platelminthes) of which the
tapeworms are the most common examples. The body is flattened, and
usually but not always long, and composed of numerous joints or
segments, each of which may contain a complete set of male and female
reproductive organs. They have neither mouth nor intestine. See
Tapeworm. [Written also Cestoda.]
CESTOLDEAN
Ces*told"e*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cestoidea.
CESTRACIONT
Ces*tra"ci*ont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shark of the genus Cestracion, and of related genera. The
posterior teeth form a pavement of bony plates for crushing
shellfish. Most of the species are extinct. The Port Jackson shark
and a similar one found in California are living examples.
CESTRACIONT
Ces*tra"ci*ont, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the genus Cestracion.
CESTUS
Ces"tus, n. Etym: [L. cestus girdle, Gr.
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A girdle; particularly that of Aphrodite (or Venus) which gave
the wearer the power of exciting love.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Ctenophora. The typical species (Cestus Veneris) is
remarkable for its brilliant iridescent colors, and its long,
girdlelike form.
CESTUS
Ces"tus, n. Etym: [L. caestus, and cestus.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A covering for the hands of boxers, made of leather bands, and
often loaded with lead or iron.
CESTUY; CESTUI
Ces"tuy or Ces"tui, pron. Etym: [Norm. F.] (Law)
Defn: He; the one. Cestuy que trust ( Etym: [norm. F.], a person who
has the equitable and beneficial interest in property, the legal
interest in which is vested in a trustee. Wharton.
-- Cestuy que use ( Etym: [Norm. F.], a person for whose use land,
etc., is granted to another.
CESURA
Ce*su"ra, n.
Defn: See Cæsura.
CESURAL
Ce*su"ral, a.
Defn: See Cæsural.
CETACEA
Ce*ta"ce*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. cetus whale, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of marine mammals, including the whales. Like ordinary
mammals they breathe by means of lungs, and bring forth living young
which they suckle for some time. The anterior limbs are changed to
paddles; the tail flukes are horizontal. There are two living
suborders: (a) The Mysticete or whalebone whales, having no true
teeth after birth, but with a series of plates of whalebone [see
Baleen.] hanging down from the upper jaw on each side, thus making a
strainer, through which they receive the small animals upon which
they feed. (b) The Denticete, including the dolphins and sperm whale,
which have teeth. Another suborder (Zeuglodontia) is extinct. The
Sirenia were formerly included in the Cetacea, but are now made a
separate order.
CETACEAN
Ce*ta"cean, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cetacea.
CETACEOUS
Ce*ta"ceous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cetacea.
CETE
Ce"te, n. Etym: [L., pl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cetacea, or collectively, the Cetacea.
CETENE
Ce"tene, n. Etym: [See Cete.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oily hydrocarbon, C16H32, of the ethylene series, obtained
from spermaceti.
CETERACH
Cet"e*rach, n. Etym: [F. cétérac, fr. Ar. shetrak.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of fern with fronds (Asplenium Ceterach).
CETEWALE
Cet"e*wale, n. Etym: [OF. citoal, F. zedoaire. See Zedoary.]
Defn: Same as Zedoary. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CETIC
Ce"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a whale.
CETIN
Ce"tin, n. Etym: [L. cetus whale.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, waxy substance, forming the essential part of
spermaceti.
CETOLOGICAL
Ce`to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cetology.
CETOLOGIST
Ce*tol"o*gist, a.
Defn: One versed in cetology.
CETOLOGY
Ce*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. cétologie.]
Defn: The description or natural history of cetaceous animals.
CETRARIC
Ce*trar"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the lichen, Iceland moss
(Cetaria Islandica). Cetraric acid. See Cetrarin.
CETRARIN
Cet"ra*rin, n. Etym: [From Cetraria Islandica, the scientific name of
Iceland moss.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white substance extracted from the lichen, Iceland moss
(Cetraria Islandica). It consists of several ingredients, among which
is cetraric acid, a white, crystalline, bitter substance.
CETYL
Ce"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A radical, C16H33, not yet isolated, but supposed to exist in a
series of compounds homologous with the ethyl compounds, and derived
from spermaceti.
CETYLIC
Ce*tyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, spermaceti. Cetylic alcohol
(Chem.), a white, waxy, crystalline solid, obtained from spermaceti,
and regarded as homologous with ordinary, or ethyl, alcohol; ethal; -
- called also cetyl alcohol.
CEYLANITE
Cey"lan*ite, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ceylan Ceylon.] (Min.)
Defn: A dingy blue, or grayish black, variety of spinel. It is also
called pleonaste. [Written also ceylonite.]
CEYLONESE
Cey`lon*ese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Ceylon.
-- n. sing. & pl.
Defn: A native or natives of Ceylon.
C.G.S.
C.G.S.
Defn: An abbreviation for Centimeter, Gram, Second.
-- applied to a system of units much empoyed in physical science,
based upon the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit
of weight or mass, and the second as the unit of time.
C. G. S.
C. G. S.
Defn: An abbreviation for Centimeter, Gram, Second. -- applied to a
system of units much employed in physical science, based upon the
centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of weight or
mass, and the second as the unit of time.
C. G. T.
C. G. T.
Defn: An abbreviation for Confédération Générale du Travail (the
French syndicalist labor union).
CHA
Cha (chä), n. [Chin. ch"a.] [Also chaa, chais, tsia, etc.]
Defn: Tea; -- the Chinese (Mandarin) name, used generally in early
works of travel, and now for a kind of rolled tea used in Central
Asia.
A pot with hot water . . . made with the powder of a certain herb
called chaa, which is much esteemed.
Tr. J. Van Linschoten's Voyages (1598).
CHAB
Chab, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-bellied wood pecker (Melanerpes Carolinus).
CHABASITE; CABAZITE
Chab"a*site, Cab"a*zite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring in glassy rhombohedral crystals, varying, in
color from white to yellow or red. It is essentially a hydrous
silicate of alumina and lime. Called also chabasie.
CHABLIS
Cha*blis", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A white wine made near Chablis, a town in France.
CHABOUK; CHABUK
Cha*bouk", Cha*buk", n. Etym: [Hind. chabuk horsewhip.]
Defn: A long whip, such as is used in the East in the infliction of
punishment. Balfour.
CHACE
Chace, n.
Defn: See 3d Chase, n., 3.
CHACE
Chace, v. t.
Defn: To pursue. See Chase v. t.
CHACHALACA
Cha`cha*la"ca, n. Etym: [Native name, prob. given in imitation of its
cry.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The texan guan (Ortalis vetula). [written also chiacalaca.]
CHACMA
Chac"ma, n. Etym: [Native name.]
Defn: A large species of African baboon (Cynocephalus porcarius); --
called also ursine baboon.
Note: [See Illust. of Baboon.]
CHACONNE
Cha*conne", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. chacona.] (Mus.)
Defn: An old Spanish dance in moderate three-four measure, like the
Passacaglia, which is slower. Both are used by classical composers as
themes for variations.
CHAD
Chad, n.
Defn: See Shad. [Obs.]
CHAETETES
Chæ*te"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fossil corals, common in the lower Silurian
limestones.
CHAETIFEROUS
Chæ*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Bearing setæ.
CHAETODONT
Chæ"to*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine fish of the family Chætodontidæ. The chætodonts have
broad, compressed bodies, and usually bright colors.
CHAETODONT
Chæto*dont, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætodonts or the family Chætodontidæ.
CHAETOGNATH
Chæ"tog*nath, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chætognatha.
CHAETOGNATHA
Chæ*tog"na*tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: An order of free-swimming marine worms, of which the genus
Sagitta is the type. They have groups of curved spines on each side
of the head.
CHAETOPOD
Chæ"to*pod, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Chætopoda.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Chætopoda.
CHAETOPODA
Chæ*top"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very extensive order of Annelida, characterized by the
presence of lateral setæ, or spines, on most or all of the segments.
They are divided into two principal groups: Oligochæta, including the
earthworms and allied forms, and Polychæta, including most of the
marine species.
CHAETOTAXY
Chæ"to*tax`y, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The arrangement of bristles on an insect.
CHAFE
Chafe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chafed; p pr. & vb. n. Chafing.] Etym:
[OE. chaufen to warm, OF. chaufer, F. chauffer, fr. L. calefacere,
calfacere, to make warm; calere to be warm + facere to make. See
Caldron.]
1. To ecxite heat in by friction; to rub in order to stimulate and
make warm.
To rub her temples, and to chafe her skin. Spenser.
2. To excite passion or anger in; to fret; to irritate.
Her intercession chafed him. Shak.
3. To fret and wear by rubbing; as, to chafe a cable.
Two slips of parchment which she sewed round it to prevent its being
chafed. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- To rub; fret; gall; vex; excite; inflame.
CHAFE
Chafe, v. i.
Defn: To rub; to come together so as to wear by rubbing; to wear by
friction.
Made its great boughs chafe together. Longfellow.
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores. Shak.
2. To be worn by rubbing; as, a cable chafes.
3. To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be
irritated. Spenser.
He will chafe at the doctor's marrying my daughter. Shak.
CHAFE
Chafe, n.
1. Heat excited by friction.
2. Injury or wear caused by friction.
3. Vexation; irritation of mind; rage.
The cardinal in a chafe sent for him to Whitehall. Camden.
CHAFER
Chaf"er, n.
1. One who chafes.
2. A vessel for heating water; -- hence, a dish or pan.
A chafer of water to cool the ends of the irons. Baker.
CHAFER
Chaf"er, n. Etym: [AS. ceafor; akin to D. kever, G këfer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of beetle; the cockchafer. The name is also applied to
other species; as, the rose chafer.
CHAFERY
Chaf"er*y, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.] (Iron Works)
Defn: An open furnace or forge, in which blooms are heated before
being wrought into bars.
CHAFEWAX; CHAFFWAX
Chafe"wax`, or Chaff"wax`, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Formerly a chancery officer who fitted wax for sealing writs
and other documents.
CHAFEWEED
Chafe"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The cudweed (Gnaphalium), used to prevent or cure chafing.
CHAFF
Chaff, n. Etym: [AC. ceaf; akin to D. kaf, G. kaff.]
1. The glumes or husks of grains and grasses separated from the seed
by threshing and winnowing, etc.
So take the corn and leave the chaff behind. Dryden.
Old birds are not caught with caff. Old Proverb.
2. Anything of a comparatively light and worthless character; the
refuse part of anything.
The chaff and ruin of the times. Shak.
3. Straw or hay cut up fine for the food of cattle.
By adding chaff to his corn, the horse must take more time to eat it.
In this way chaff is very useful. Ywatt.
4. Light jesting talk; banter; raillery.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: The scales or bracts on the receptacle, which subtend each
flower in the heads of many Compositæ, as the sunflower. Gray. Chaff
cutter, a machine for cutting, up straw, etc., into "chaff" for the
use of cattle.
CHAFF
Chaff, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffing.]
Defn: To use light, idle lagnguage by way of fun or ridicule; to
banter.
CHAFF
Chaff, v. t.
Defn: To make fun of; to turn into ridicule by addressing in ironical
or bantering language; to quiz.
Morgan saw that his master was chaffing him. Thackeray.
A dozen honest fellows . . . chaffed each other about their
sweethearts. C. Kingsley.
CHAFFER
Chaff"er, n.
Defn: One who chaffs.
CHAFFER
Chaf"fer, n. Etym: [OE. chaffare, cheapfare; AS. ceáp a bargain,
price + faru a journey; hence, originally, a going to barain, to
market. See Cheap, and Fare.]
Defn: Bargaining; merchandise. [Obs.] Holished.
CHAFFER
Chaf"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chaffered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chaffering.]
Etym: [OE. chaffaren, fr. chaffare, chapfare, cheapfare, a
bargaining. See Chaffer, n.]
1. To treat or dispute about a purchase; to bargain; to haggle or
higgle; to negotiate.
To chaffer for preferments with his gold. Dryden.
2. To talk much and idly; to chatter. Trench.
CHAFFER
Chaf"fer, v. t.
1. To buy or sell; to trade in.
He chaffered chairs in which churchmen were set. Spenser.
2. To exchange; to bandy, as words. Spenser.
CHAFFERER
Chaf"fer*er, n.
Defn: One who chaffers; a bargainer.
CHAFFERN
Chaf"fern, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]
Defn: A vessel for heating water. [Obs.] Johnson.
CHAFFERY
Chaf"fer*y, n.
Defn: Traffic; bargaining. [Obs.] Spenser.
CHAFFINCH
Chaf"finch, n. Etym: [Cf. Chiff-chaff.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of Europe (Fringilla coelebs), having a variety of very
sweet songs, and highly valued as a cage bird; -- called also copper
finch.
CHAFFING
Chaff"ing, n.
Defn: The use of light, frivolous language by way of fun or ridicule;
raillery; banter.
CHAFFLESS
Chaff"less, a.
Defn: Without chaff.
CHAFFY
Chaff"y, a.
1. Abounding in, or resembling, chaff.
Chaffy grain beneath the thresher's flail. Coleridge.
2. Light or worthless as chaff.
Slight and chaffy opinion. Glanvill.
3. (Bot.)
(a) Resembling chaff; composed of light dry scales.
(b) Bearing or covered with dry scales, as the under surface of
certain ferns, or the disk of some composite flowers.
CHAFING
Chaf"ing, n. Etym: [See Chafe, v. t.]
Defn: The act of rubbing, or wearing by friction; making by rubbing.
Chafing dish, a dish or vessel for cooking on the table, or for
keeping food warm, either by coals, by a lamp, or by hot water; a
portable grate for coals.
-- Chafing gear (Naut.), any material used to protect sails,
rigging, or the like, at points where they are exposed to friction.
CHAGREEN
Cha*green", n.
Defn: See Shagreen.
CHAGRES FEVER
Cha"gres fe"ver. (Med.)
Defn: A form of malarial fever occurring along the Chagres River,
Panama.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", n. Etym: [F., fr. chagrin shagreen, a particular kind of
rough and grained leather; also a rough fishskin used for graters and
files; hence (Fig.), a gnawing, corroding grief. See Shagreen.]
Defn: Vexation; mortification.
I must own that I felt rather vexation and chagrin than hope and
satisfaction. Richard Porson.
Hear me, and touch Belinda with chagrin. Pope.
Syn.
-- Vexation; mortification; peevishness; fretfulness; disgust;
disquiet. Chagrin, Vexation, Mortification. These words agree in the
general sense of pain produced by untoward circumstances. Vexation is
a feeling of disquietude or irritating uneasiness from numerous
causes, such as losses, disappointments, etc. Mortification is a
stronger word, and denotes that keen sense of pain which results fron
wounded pride or humiliating occurrences. Chagrin is literally the
cutting pain produced by the friction of Shagreen leather; in its
figurative sense, it varies in meaning, denoting in its lower degrees
simply a state of vexation, and its higher degrees the keenest sense
of mortification. "Vexation arises chiefly fron our wishes and views
being crossed: mortification, from our self-importance being hurt;
chagrin, from a mixture of the two." Crabb.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chagrined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chargrining.] Etym: [Cf. F. chagriner See Chagrin, n.]
Defn: To excite ill-humor in; to vex; to mortify; as, he was not a
little chagrined.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", v. i.
Defn: To be vexed or annoyed. Fielding.
CHAGRIN
Cha*grin", a.
Defn: Chagrined. Dryden.
CHAIN
Chain, n. Etym: [F. chaîne, fr. L. catena. Cf. Catenate.]
1. A series of links or rings, usually of metal, connected, or fitted
into one another, used for various purposes, as of support, of
restraint, of ornament, of the exertion and transmission of
mechanical power, etc.
[They] put a chain of gold about his neck. Dan. v. 29.
2. That which confines, fetters, or secures, as a chain; a bond; as,
the chains of habit.
Driven down To chains of darkness and the undying worm. Milton.
3. A series of things linked together; or a series of things
connected and following each other in succession; as, a chain of
mountains; a chain of events or ideas.
4. (Surv.)
Defn: An instrument which consists of links and is used in measuring
land.
Note: One commonly in use is Gunter's chain, which consists of one
hundred links, each link being seven inches and ninety-two one
hundredths in length; making up the total length of rods, or sixty-
six, feet; hence, a measure of that length; hence, also, a unit for
land measure equal to four rods square, or one tenth of an acre.
5. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Iron links bolted to the side of a vessel to bold the dead-eyes
connected with the shrouds; also, the channels.
6. (Weaving)
Defn: The warp threads of a web. Knight. Chain belt (Mach.), a belt
made of a chain; -- used for transmitting power.
-- Chain boat, a boat fitted up for recovering lost cables, anchors,
etc.
-- Chain bolt (a) (Naut.) The bolt at the lower end of the chain
plate, which fastens it to the vessel's side. (b) A bolt with a chain
attached for drawing it out of position.
-- Chain bond. See Chain timber.
-- Chain bridge, a bridge supported by chain cables; a suspension
bridge.
-- Chain cable, a cable made of iron links.
-- Chain coral (Zoöl.), a fossil coral of the genus Halysites,
common in the middle and upper Silurian rocks. The tubular corallites
are united side by side in groups, looking in an end view like links
of a chain. When perfect, the calicles show twelve septa.
-- Chain coupling. (a) A shackle for uniting lengths of chain, or
connecting a chain with an object. (b) (Railroad) Supplementary
coupling together of cars with a chain.
-- Chain gang, a gang of convicts chained together.
-- Chain hook (Naut.), a hook, used for dragging cables about the
deck.
-- Chain mail, flexible, defensive armor of hammered metal links
wrought into the form of a garment.
-- Chain molding (Arch.), a form of molding in imitation of a chain,
used in the Normal style.
-- Chain pier, a pier suspended by chain.
-- Chain pipe (Naut.), an opening in the deck, lined with iron,
through which the cable is passed into the lockers or tiers.
-- Chain plate (Shipbuilding), one of the iron plates or bands, on a
vessel's side, to which the standing rigging is fastened.
-- Chain pulley, a pulley with depressions in the periphery of its
wheel, or projections from it, made to fit the links of a chain.
-- Chain pumps. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Chain rule (Arith.), a theorem for solving numerical problems by
composition of ratios, or compound proportion, by which, when several
ratios of equality are given, the consequent of each being the same
as the antecedent of the next, the relation between the first
antecedent and the last consequent is discovered.
-- Chain shot (Mil.), two cannon balls united by a shot chain,
formerly used in naval warfare on account of their destructive effect
on a ship's rigging.
-- Chain stitch. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Chain timber. (Arch.) See Bond timber, under Bond.
-- Chain wales. (Naut.) Same as Channels.
-- Chain wheel. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Closed chain, Open chain (Chem.), terms applied to the chemical
structure of compounds whose rational formulæ are written
respectively in the form of a closed ring (see Benzene nucleus, under
Benzene), or in an open extended form.
-- Endless chain, a chain whose ends have been united by a link.
CHAIN
Chain, v. t. [imp. p. p. Chained (chand); p. pr. & vb. n. Chaining.]
1. To fasten, bind, or connect with a chain; to fasten or bind
securely, as with a chain; as, to chain a bulldog.
Chained behind the hostile car. Prior.
2. To keep in slavery; to enslave.
And which more blest who chained his country, say Or he whose virtue
sighed to lose a day Pope.
3. To unite closely and strongly.
And in this vow do chain my soul to thine. Shak.
4. (Surveying)
Defn: To measure with the chain.
5. To protect by drawing a chain across, as a harbor.
CHAINLESS
Chain"less, a.
Defn: Having no chain; not restrained or fettered. "The chainless
mind." Byron.
CHAINLET
Chain"let, n.
Defn: A small chain. Sir W. Scott.
CHAIN PUMP
Chain" pump`.
Defn: A pump consisting of an endless chain, running over a drum or
wheel by which it is moved, and dipping below the water to be raised.
The chain has at intervals disks or lifts which fit the tube through
which the ascending part passes and carry the water to the point of
discharge.
CHAIN STITCH
Chain" stitch`.
1. An ornamental stitch like the links of a chain; -- used in
crocheting, sewing, and embroidery.
2. (Machine Sewing)
Defn: A stitch in which the looping of the thread or threads forms a
chain on the under side of the work; the loop stitch, as
distinguished from the lock stitch. See Stitch.
CHAIN TIE
Chain tie. (Arch.)
Defn: A tie consisting of a series of connected iron bars or rods.
CHAIN WHEEL
Chain" wheel`.
1. A chain pulley, or sprocket wheel.
2. An inversion of the chain pump, by which it becomes a motor driven
by water.
CHAINWORK
Chain"work`, n.
Defn: Work looped or linked after the manner of a chain; chain stitch
work.
CHAIR
Chair, n. Etym: [OE. chaiere, chaere, OF. chaiere, chaere, F. chaire
pulpit, fr. L. cathedra chair, armchair, a teacher's or professor's
chair, Gr. sit. See Sit, and cf. Cathedral, chaise.]
1. A movable single seat with a back.
2. An official seat, as of a chief magistrate or a judge, but esp.
that of a professor; hence, the office itself.
The chair of a philosophical school. Whewell.
A chair of philology. M. Arnold.
3. The presiding officer of an assembly; a chairman; as, to address
the chair.
4. A vehicle for one person; either a sedan borne upon poles, or two-
wheeled carriage, drawn by one horse; a gig. Shak.
Think what an equipage thou hast in air, And view with scorn two
pages and a chair. Pope.
5. An iron blok used on railways to support the rails and secure them
to the sleepers. Chair days, days of repose and age.
-- To put into the chair, to elect as president, or as chairman of a
meeting. Macaulay.
-- To take the chair, to assume the position of president, or of
chairman of a meeting.
CHAIR
Chair, v. t. [imp. & p. pr. Chaired; p. pr. & vb. n. Chairing.]
1. To place in a chair.
2. To carry publicly in a chair in triumph. [Eng.]
CHAIRMAN
Chair"man, n.; pl. Chairmen (.
1. The presiding officer of a committee, or of a public or private
meeting, or of any organized body.
2. One whose business it is to cary a chair or sedan.
Breaks watchmen's heads and chairmen's glasses. Prior.
CHAIRMANSHIP
Chair"man*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chairman of a meeting or organized body.
CHAISE
Chaise, n. Etym: [F. chaise seat, or chair, chaise or carriage, for
chaire, from a peculiar Parisian pronunciation. See Chair.]
1. A two-wheeled carriage for two persons, with a calash top, and the
body hung on leather straps, or thoroughbraces. It is usually drawn
by one horse.
2. Loosely,
Defn: a carriage in general. Cowper.
CHAJA
Cha"ja, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crested screamer of Brazil (Palamedea, or Chauna,
chavaria), so called in imitation of its notes; -- called also
chauna, and faithful kamichi. It is often domesticated and is useful
in guarding other poultry. See Kamichi.
CHAK
Chak, v. i.
Defn: To toss up the head frequently, as a horse to avoid the
restraint of the bridle.
CHALAZA
Cha*la"za, n.; pl. E. Chalazas, L. Chalazæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The place on an ovule, or seed, where its outer coats cohere
with each other and the nucleus.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A spiral band of thickened albuminous substance which exists in
the white of the bird's egg, and serves to maintain the yolk in its
position; the treadle.
CHALAZAL
Cha*la"zal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the chalaza.
CHALAZE
Cha*laze", n.
Defn: Same as Chalaza.
CHALAZIFEROUS
Chal`a*zif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Chalaza + -ferous.]
Defn: Having or bearing chalazas.
CHALAZION
Cha*la"zi*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A small circumscribed tumor of the eyelid caused by retention
of secretion, and by inflammation of the Melbomian glands.
CHALAZOGAMY
Chal`a*zog"a*my, n. [Chalaza + -gamy, as in polygamy.] (Bot.)
Defn: A process of fecundation in which the pollen tube penetrates to
the embryosac through the tissue of the chalaza, instead of entering
through the micropyle. It was originally discovered by Treub in
Casuarina, and has since been found to occur regularly in the
families Betulaceæ and Juglandaceæ. Partial chalazogamy is found in
Ulmus, the tube here penetrating the nucleus midway between the
chalaza and micropyle. --Chal`a*zo*gam"ic (#), a.
CHALCANTHITE
Chal*can"thite, n. Etym: [L. chalcanthum a solution of blue vitriol,
Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native blue vitriol. See Blue vitriol, under Blue.
CHALCEDONIC
Chal"ce*don"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to chalcedony.
CHALCEDONY
Chal*ced"o*ny, n.; pl. Chalcedonies. Etym: [ L. chalcedonius, fr. Gr.
calcédoine, OE. calcidoine, casidoyne. Cf. Cassidony.] (Min.)
Defn: A cryptocrystalline, translucent variety of quartz, having
usually a whitish color, and a luster nearly like wax. [Written also
calcedony.]
Note: When chalcedony is variegated with with spots or figures, or
arranged in differently colored layers, it is called agate; and if by
reason of the thickness, color, and arrangement of the layers it is
suitable for being carved into cameos, it is called onyx. Chrysoprase
is green chalcedony; carnelian, a flesh red, and sard, a brownish red
variety.
CHALCHIHUITL
Chal`chi*huitl, n. (Min.)
Defn: The Mexican name for turquoise. See Turquoise.
CHALCID FLY
Chal"cid fly`. Etym: [From Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a numerous family of hymenopterous insects (Chalcididæ.
Many are gallflies, others are parasitic on insects.
CHALCIDIAN
Chal*cid"i*an, n. Etym: [L. chalcis a lizard, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tropical family of snakelike lizards (Chalcidæ),
having four small or rudimentary legs.
CHALCOCITE
Chal"co*cite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native copper sulphide, called also copper glance, and vitreous
copper; a mineral of a black color and metallic luster. [Formerly
written chalcosine.]
CHALCOGRAPHER; CHALCOGRAPHIST
Chal*cog"ra*pher, Chal*cog"ra*phist, n.
Defn: An engraver on copper or brass; hence, an engraver of copper
plates for printing upon paper.
CHALCOGRAPHY
Chal*cog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The act or art of engraving on copper or brass, especially of
engraving for printing.
CHALCOPYRITE
Chal`co*pyr"ite, n. Etym: [Gr. pyrite. So named from its color.]
(Min.)
Defn: Copper pyrites, or yellow copper ore; a common ore of opper,
containing copper, iron, and sulphur. It occurs massive and in
tetragonal crystals of a bright brass yellow color.
CHALDAIC
Chal*da"ic, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaicus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldes.
-- n.
Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; Chaldee.
CHALDAISM
Chal"da*ism, n.
Defn: An idiom or peculiarity in the Chaldee dialect.
CHALDEAN
Chal*de"an, a. Etym: [L. Chaldaeus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea.
-- n.
(a) A native or inhabitant of Chaldea.
(b) A learned man, esp. an astrologer; -- so called among the Eastern
nations, because astrology and the kindred arts were much cultivated
by the Chaldeans.
(c) Nestorian.
CHALDEE
Chal"dee, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chaldea.
-- n.
Defn: The language or dialect of the Chaldeans; eastern Aramaic, or
the Aramaic used in Chaldea. Chaldee Paraphrase, A targum written in
Aramaic.
CHALDRICH; CHALDER
Chal"drich, Chal"der, n. Etym: [Icel. tjaldr.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of bird; the oyster catcher.
CHALDRON
Chal"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaldron, F. chaudron kettle. The same word
as caldron.]
Defn: An English dry measure, being, at London, 36 bushels heaped up,
or its equivalent weight, and more than twice as much at Newcastle.
Now used exlusively for coal and coke.
Note: In the United States the chaldron is ordinarily 2,940 lbs, but
at New York it is 2,500 lbs. De Colange.
CHALET
Cha*let", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A herdsman's hut in the mountains of Switzerland.
Chalets are summer huts for the Swiss herdsmen. Wordsworth.
2. A summer cottage or country house in the Swiss mountains; any
country house built in the style of the Swiss cottages.
CHALICE
Chal"ice, n. Etym: [OR. chalis, calice, OF. chalice, calice, F.
calice, fr. L. calix, akin to Gr. helmet. Cf. Calice, Calyx.]
Defn: A cup or bowl; especially, the cup used in the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper.
CHALICED
Chal"iced, a.
Defn: Having a calyx or cup; cupshaped. "Chaliced flowers." Shak.
CHALK
Chalk, n. Etym: [AS. cealc lime, from L. calx limestone. See Calz,
and Cawk.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A soft, earthy substance, of a white, grayish, or yellowish
white color, consisting of calcium carbonate, and having the same
composition as common limestone.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Finely prepared chalk, used as a drawing implement; also, by
extension, a compound, as of clay and black lead, or the like, used
in the same manner. See Crayon. Black chalk, a mineral of a bluish
color, of a slaty texture, and soiling the fingers when handled; a
variety of argillaceous slate.
-- By a long chalk, by a long way; by many degrees. [Slang] Lowell.
-- Chalk drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with crayons. See
Crayon.
-- Chalk formation. See Cretaceous formation, under Cretaceous.
-- Chalk line, a cord rubbed with chalk, used for making straight
lines on boards or other material, as a guide in cutting or in
arranging work.
-- Chalk mixture, a preparation of chalk, cinnamon, and sugar in gum
water, much used in diarrheal affection, esp. of infants.
-- Chalk period. (Geol.) See Cretaceous period, under Cretaceous.
-- Chalk pit, a pit in which chalk is dug.
-- Drawing chalk. See Crayon, n., 1.
-- French chalk, steatite or soapstone, a soft magnesian mineral.
-- Red chalk, an indurated clayey ocher containing iron, and used by
painters and artificers; reddle.
CHALK
Chalk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chalked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chalking.]
1. To rub or mark with chalk.
2. To manure with chalk, as land. Morimer.
3. To make white, as with chalk; to make pale; to bleach. Tennyson.
Let a bleak paleness chalk the door. Herbert.
To chalk out, to sketch with, or as with, chalk; to outline; to
indicate; to plan. [Colloq.] "I shall pursue the plan I have chalked
out." Burke.
CHALKCUTTER
Chalk"cut`ter, n.
Defn: A man who digs chalk.
CHALKINESS
Chalk"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being chalky.
CHALKSTONE
Chalk"stone`, n.
1. A mass of chalk.
As chalkstones . . . beaten in sunder. Isa. xxvii. 9.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A chalklike concretion, consisting mainly of urate of sodium,
found in and about the small joints, in the external ear, and in
other situations, in those affected with gout; a tophus.
CHALKY
Chalk"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or resembling, chalk; containing chalk; as, a
chalky cliff; a chalky taste.
CHALLENGE
Chal"lenge, n. Etym: [OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF.
chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false
accusation, chicanery. See Calumny.]
1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a
defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter
or message conveying the summons.
A challenge to controversy. Goldsmith.
2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post,
and demanding the countersign.
3. A claim or demand. [Obs.]
There must be no challenge of superiority. Collier.
4. (Hunting)
Defn: The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of
their game.
5. (Law)
Defn: An exception to a juror or to a member of a court martial,
coupled with a demand that he should be held incompetent to act; the
claim of a party that a certain person or persons shall not sit in
trial upon him or his cause. Blackstone
6. An exception to a person as not legally qualifed to vote. The
challenge must be made when the ballot is offered. [U. S.] Challenge
to the array (Law), an exception to the whole panel.
-- Challenge to the favor, the alleging a special cause, the
sufficiency of which is to be left to those whose duty and office it
is to decide upon it.
-- Challenge to the polls, an exception taken to any one or more of
the individual jurors returned.
-- Peremptory challenge, a privilege sometimes allowed to
defendants, of challenging a certain number of jurors (fixed by
statute in different States) without assigning any cause.
-- Principal challenge, that which the law allows to be sufficient
if found to be true.
CHALLENGE
Chal"lenge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Challenged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Challenging.] Etym: [OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier,
chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack
with false accusations. See Challenge, n., and cf. Calumniate.]
1. To call to a contest of any kind; to call to answer; to defy.
I challenge any man to make any pretense to power by right of
fatherhood. Locke.
2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by personal
combat.
By this I challenge him to single fight. Shak.
3. To claim as due; to demand as a right.
Challenge better terms. Addison.
4. To censure; to blame. [Obs.]
He complained of the emperors . . . and challenged them for that he
had no greater revenues . . . from them. Holland.
5. (Mil.)
Defn: To question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to
pass the lines); as, the sentinel challenged us, with "Who comes
there"
6. To take exception to; question; as, to challenge the accuracy of a
statement or of a quotation.
7. (Law)
Defn: To object to or take exception to, as to a juror, or member of
a court.
8. To object to the reception of the vote of, as on the ground that
the person in not qualifed as a voter. [U. S.] To challenge to the
array, favor, polls. See under Challenge, n.
CHALLENGE
Chal"lenge, v. i.
Defn: To assert a right; to claim a place.
Where nature doth with merit challenge. Shak.
CHALLENGEABLE
Chal"lenge*a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be challenged.
CHALLENGER
Chal"len*ger, n.
Defn: One who challenges.
CHALLIS
Chal"lis, n. Etym: [F. chaly, challis, a stuff made of goat's hair.]
Defn: A soft and delicate woolen, or woolen and silk, fabric, for
ladies' dresses. [Written also chally.]
CHALON
Cha"lon, n.
Defn: A bed blanket. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHALYBEAN
Cha*lyb"e*an, a. Etym: [L. chalybeïus, fr. chalybs steel, Gr.
1. Of or pertaining to the Chalybes, an ancient people of Pontus in
Asia Minor, celebrated for working in iron and steel.
2. Of superior quality and temper; -- applied to steel. [Obs.]
Milton.
CHALYBEATE
Cha*lyb"e*ate, a. Etym: [NL. chalybeatus, fr. chalubeïus. See
Chalubean.]
Defn: Impregnated with salts of iron; having a taste like iron; as,
chalybeate springs.
CHALYBEATE
Cha*lyb"e*ate, n.
Defn: Any water, liquid, or medicine, into which iron enters as an
ingredient.
CHALYBEOUS
Cha*lyb"e*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Steel blue; of the color of tempered steel.
CHALYBITE
Chal"y*bite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Native iron carbonate; -- usually called siderite.
CHAM
Cham, v. t. Etym: [See Chap.]
Defn: To chew. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Sir T. More.
CHAM
Cham, n. Etym: [See Khan.]
Defn: The sovereign prince of Tartary; -- now usually written khan.
Shak.
CHAMADE
Cha*made, n. Etym: [F. chamade, fr. Pg. chamada, fr. chamar to call,
fr. L. clamare.] (Mil.)
Defn: A signal made for a parley by beat of a drum.
They beat the chamade, and sent us carte blanche. Addison.
CHAMAL
Cha"mal, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Angora goat. See Angora goat, under Angora.
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, n. Etym: [F. chambre, fr. L. camera vault, arched roof, in
LL. chamber, fr. Gr. kmar to be crooked. Cf. Camber, Camera,
Comrade.]
1. A retired room, esp. an upper room used for sleeping; a bedroom;
as, the house had four chambers.
2. pl.
Defn: Apartments in a lodging house. "A bachelor's life in chambers."
Thackeray.
3. A hall, as where a king gives audience, or a deliberative body or
assembly meets; as, presence chamber; senate chamber.
4. A legislative or judicial body; an assembly; a society or
association; as, the Chamber of Deputies; the Chamber of Commerce.
5. A compartment or cell; an inclosed space or cavity; as, the
chamber of a canal lock; the chamber of a furnace; the chamber of the
eye.
6. pl. (Law.)
Defn: A room or rooms where a lawyer transacts business; a room or
rooms where a judge transacts such official business as may be done
out of court.
7. A chamber pot. [Colloq.]
8. (Mil.)
(a) That part of the bore of a piece of ordnance which holds the
charge, esp. when of different diameter from the rest of the bore; --
formerly, in guns, made smaller than the bore, but now larger, esp.
in breech-loading guns.
(b) A cavity in a mine, usually of a cubical form, to contain the
powder.
(c) A short piece of ornance or cannon, which stood on its breech,
without any carriage, formerly used chiefly for rejoicings and
theatrical cannonades. Air chamber. See Air chamber, in the
Vocabulary.
-- Chamber of commerce, a board or association to protect the
interests of commerce, chosen from among the merchants and traders of
a city.
-- Chamber council, a secret council. Shak.
-- Chamber counsel or counselor, a counselor who gives his opinion
in private, or at his chambers, but does not advocate causes in
court.
-- Chamber fellow, a chamber companion; a roommate; a chum.
-- Chamber hangings, tapestry or hangings for a chamber.
-- Chamber lye, urine. Shak.
-- Chamber music, vocal or instrumental music adapted to performance
in a chamber or small apartment or audience room, instead of a
theater, concert hall, or chuch.
-- Chamber practice (Law.), the practice of counselors at law, who
give their opinions in private, but do not appear in court.
-- To sit at chambers, to do business in chambers, as a judge.
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chambering.]
1. To reside in or occupy a chamber or chambers.
2. To be lascivious. [Obs.]
CHAMBER
Cham"ber, v. t.
1. To shut up, as inn a chamber. Shak.
2. To furnish with a chamber; as, to chamber a gun.
CHAMBERED
Cham"bered, a.
Defn: Having a chamber or chambers; as, a chambered shell; a
chambered gun.
CHAMBERER
Cham"ber*er, n.
1. One who attends in a chamber; a chambermaid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A civilian; a carpetmonger. [Obs.]
CHAMBERING
Cham"ber*ing, n.
Defn: Lewdness. [Obs.] Rom. xiii. 13.
CHAMBERLAIN
Cham"ber*lain, n. Etym: [OF. chamberlain, chambrelencF. chambellon,
OHG. chamerling, chamarlinc, G. kämmerling, kammer chamber (fr. L.
camera) + -ling. See Chamber, and -ling.] [Formerly written
chamberlin.]
1. An officer or servant who has charge of a chamber or chambers.
2. An upper servant of an inn. [Obs.]
3. An officer having the direction and management of the private
chambers of a nobleman or monarch; hence, in Europe, one of the high
officers of a court.
4. A treasurer or receiver of public money; as, the chamberlain of
London, of North Wales, etc. The lord chamberlain of England, an
officer of the crown, who waits upon the sovereign on the day of
coronation, and provides requisites for the palace of Westminster,
and for the House of Lords during the session of Parliament. Under
him are the gentleman of the black rod and other officers. His office
is distinct from that of the lord chamberlain of the Household, whose
functions relate to the royal housekeeping.
CHAMBERLAINSHIP
Cham"ber*lain*ship, n.
Defn: Office if a chamberlain.
CHAMBERMAID
Cham"ber*maid`, n.
1. A maidservant who has the care of chambers, making the beds,
sweeping, cleaning the rooms, etc.
2. A lady's maid. [Obs.] Johnson.
CHAMBERTIN
Cham`ber*tin", n.
Defn: A red wine from Chambertin near Dijon, in Burgundy.
CHAMBRANLE
Cham`bran"le, n. [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental bordering or framelike decoration around the
sides and top of a door, window, or fireplace. The top piece is
called the traverse and the side pieces the ascendants.
CHAMBRAY
Cham"bray, n. [From Cambrai, France. Cf. Cambric.]
Defn: A gingham woven in plain colors with linen finish.
CHAMBREL
Cham"brel, n.
Defn: Same as Gambrel.
CHAMECK
Cha*meck", n. Etym: [Native Brazilian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of spider monkey (Ateles chameck), having the thumbs
rudimentary and without a nail.
CHAMELEON
Cha*me"le*on, n. Etym: [L. Chamaeleon, Gr. Humble, and Lion.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lizardlike reptile of the genus Chamæleo, of several species,
found in Africa, Asia, and Europe. The skin is covered with fine
granmulations; the tail is prehensile, and the body is much
compressed laterally, giving it a high back.
Note: Its color changes more or less with the color of the objects
about it, or with its temper when disturbed. In a cool, dark place it
is nearly white, or grayish; on admitting the light, it changes to
brown, bottle-green, or blood red, of various shades, and more or
less mottled in arrangment. The American chameleons belong to Anolis
and allied genera of the family Iguanidæ. They are more slender in
form than the true chameleons, but have the same power of changing
their colors. Chameleon mineral (Chem.), the compound called
potassium permanganate, a dark violet, crystalline substance, KMnO4,
which in formation passes through a peculiar succession of color from
green to blue, purple, red, etc. See Potassium permanganate, under
Potassium.
CHAMELEONIZE
Cha*me"le*on*ize, v. t.
Defn: To change into various colors. [R.]
CHAMFER
Cham"fer, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]
Defn: The surface formed by cutting away the arris, or angle, formed
by two faces of a piece of timber, stone, etc.
CHAMFER
Cham"fer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chamfered ; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chamfering.(
1. (Carp.)
Defn: To cut a furrow in, as in a column; to groove; to channel; to
flute.
2. To make a chamfer on.
CHAMFRET
Cham"fret, n. Etym: [See Chamfron.]
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A small gutter; a furrow; a groove.
2. A chamfer.
CHAMFRON
Cham"fron, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein.] (Anc. Armor)
Defn: The frontlet, or head armor, of a horse. [Written also
champfrain and chamfrain.]
CHAMISAL
Cha`mi*sal", n. [Amer. Sp., fr. Sp. chamiza a kind of wild cane.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A California rosaceous shrub (Adenostoma fasciculatum) which
often forms an impenetrable chaparral.
2. A chaparral formed by dense growths of this shrub.
CHAMLET
Cham"let, n.
Defn: See Camlet. [Obs.]
CHAMOIS
Cham"ois, n. Etym: [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus), living on the
loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It
possesses remarkable agility, and is a favorite object of chase.
2. A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from
sheepskin, etc.; -- called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy
leather. See Shammy.
CHAMOMILE
Cham"o*mile, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Camomile.
CHAMP
Champ, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Champed; p. pr. & vb. n. Champing.] Etym:
[Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa to chew with difficulty,
champ; but cf. also OF. champier, champeyer, champoyer, to graze in
fields, fr. F. champ field, fr. L. campus. Cf. Camp.]
1. To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard.
Foamed and champed the golden bit. Dryden.
2. To bite into small pieces; to crunch. Steele.
CHAMP
Champ, v. i.
Defn: To bite or chew impatiently.
They began . . . irefully to champ upon the bit. Hooker.
CHAMP; CHAMPE
Champ, Champe, n. Etym: [F. champ, L. campus field.] (Arch.)
Defn: The field or ground on which carving appears in relief.
CHAMPAGNE
Cham*pagne", n. Etym: [F. See Champaign.]
Defn: A light wine, of several kinds, originally made in the province
of Champagne, in France.
Note: Champagne properly includes several kinds not only of sparkling
but off still wines; but in America the term is usually restricted to
wines which effervesce.
CHAMPAIGN
Cham*paign", n. Etym: [OF. champaigne; same word as campagne.]
Defn: A flat, open country.
Fair champaign, with less rivers interveined. Milton.
Through Apline vale or champaign wide. Wordsworth.
CHAMPAIGN
Cham*paign", a.
Defn: Flat; open; level.
A wide, champaign country, filled with herds. Addison.
CHAMPER
Champ"er, n.
Defn: One who champs, or bites.
CHAMPERTOR
Cham"per*tor, n. Etym: [F. champarteur a divider of fields or field
rent. See Champerty.] (Law)
Defn: One guilty of champerty; one who purchases a suit, or the right
of suing, and carries it on at his own expense, in order to obtain a
share of the gain.
CHAMPERTY
Cham"per*ty, n. Etym: [F. champart field rent, L. campipars; champ
(L. campus) field + part (L. pars) share.]
1. Partnership in power; equal share of authority. [Obs.]
Beauté ne sleighte, strengthe ne hardyness, Ne may with Venus holde
champartye. Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: The prosecution or defense of a suit, whether by furnishing
money or personal services, by one who has no legitimate concern
therein, in consideration of an agreement that he shall receive, in
the event of success, a share of the matter in suit; maintenance with
the addition of an agreement to divide the thing in suit. See
Maintenance.
Note: By many authorities champerty is defined as an agreement of
this nature. From early times the offence of champerty has been
forbidden and punishable.
CHAMPIGNON
Cham*pi"gnon, n. Etym: [F., a mushroom, ultimately fr. L. campus
field. See Camp.] (Bot.)
Defn: An edible species of mushroom (Agaricus campestris). Fairy ring
champignon, the Marasmius oreades, which has a strong flavor but is
edible.
CHAMPION
Cham"pi*on, n. Etym: [F. champion, fr. LL.campio, of German origin;
cf. OHG. chempho, chemphio, fighter, champf, G. kampf, contest; perh.
influenced by L. campus field, taken in the sense of "field of
battle."]
1. One who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times
contended in single combat in behalf of another's honor or rights; or
one who acts or speaks in behalf of a person or a cause; a defender;
an advocate; a hero.
A stouter champion never handled sword. Shak.
Champions of law and liberty. Fisher Ames.
2. One who by defeating all rivals, has obtained an acknowledged
supremacy in any branch of athetics or game of skill, and is ready to
contend with any rival; as, the champion of England.
Note: Champion is used attributively in the sense of surpassing all
competitors; overmastering; as, champion pugilist; champion chess
player.
Syn.
-- Leader; chieftain; combatant; hero; warrior; defender; protector.
CHAMPION
Cham"pi*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Championed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Championing.] [Obs.] Shak.
2. To furnish with a champion; to attend or defend as champion; to
support or maintain; to protect.
Championed or unchampioned, thou diest. Sir W. Scott.
CHAMPIONNESS
Cham"pi*on*ness, n.
Defn: A female champion. Fairfax.
CHAMPIONSHIP
Cham"pi*on*ship, n.
Defn: State of being champion; leadership; supremancy.
CHAMPLAIN PERIOD
Cham*plain" pe"ri*od. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the Quaternary age immediately following the
Glacial period; -- so named from beds near Lake Champlain.
Note: The earlier deposits of this period are diluvial in character,
as if formed in connection with floods attending the melting of the
glaciers, while the later deposits are of finer material in more
quiet waters, as the alluvium.
CHAMPLEVE
Champ`le*vé", a. [F., p. p. of champlever to engrave. See 3d Champ,
Camp, Lever a bar.] (Art)
Defn: Having the ground engraved or cut out in the parts to be
enameled; inlaid in depressions made in the ground; -- said of a kind
of enamel work in which depressions made in the surface are filled
with enamel pastes, which are afterward fired; also, designating the
process of making such enamel work. --n.
Defn: A piece of champlevé enamel; also, the process or art of making
such enamel work; champlevé work.
CHAMSIN
Cham*sin", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Kamsin.
CHANCE
Chance, n. Etym: [F. chance, OF. cheance, fr. LL. cadentia a allusion
to the falling of the dice), fr. L. cadere to fall; akin to Skr. çad
to fall, L. cedere to yield, E. cede. Cf. Cadence.]
1. A supposed material or psychical agent or mode of activity other
than a force, law, or purpose; fortune; fate; -- in this sense often
personifed.
It is strictly and philosophically true in nature and reason that
there is no such thing as chance or accident; it being evident that
these words do not signify anything really existing, anything that is
truly an agent or the cause of any event; but they signify merely
men's ignorance of the real and immediate cause. Samuel Clark.
Any society into which chance might throw him. Macaulay.
That power Which erring men call Chance. Milton.
2. The operation or activity of such agent.
By chance a priest came down that way. Luke x. 31.
3. The supposed effect of such an agent; something that befalls, as
the result of unknown or unconsidered forces; the issue of uncertain
conditions; an event not calculated upon; an unexpected occurrence; a
happening; accident; fortuity; casualty.
It was a chance that happened to us. 1 Sam. vi. 9.
The Knave of Diamonds tries his wily arts, And wins (O shameful
chance!) the Queen of Hearts. Pope.
I spake of most disastrous chance. Shak.
4. A possibity; a likelihood; an opportunity; -- with reference to a
doubtful result; as, a chance result; as, a chance to escape; a
chance for life; the chances are all against him.
So weary with disasters, tugged with fortune. That I would get my
life on any chance, To mend it, or be rid on't Shak.
5. (Math.)
Defn: Probability.
Note: The mathematical expression, of a chance is the ratio of
frequency with which an event happens in the long run. If an event
may happen in a ways and may fail in b ways, and each of these a + b
ways is equally likely, the chance, or probability, that the event
will happen is measured by the fraction a/(a + b), and the chance, or
probability, that it will fail is measured by b/(a + b). Chance
comer, one who, comes unexpectedly.
-- The last chance, the sole remaining ground of hope.
-- The main chance, the chief opportunity; that upon which reliance
is had, esp. self-interest.
-- Theory of chances, Doctrine of chances (Math.), that branch of
mathematics which treats of the probability of the occurrence of
particular events, as the fall of dice in given positions.
-- To mind one's chances, to take advantage of every circumstance;
to seize every opportunity.
CHANCE
Chance, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Chancing.]
Defn: To happen, come, or arrive, without design or expectation.
"Things that chance daily." Robynson (More's Utopia).
If a bird's nest chance to be before thee. Deut. xxii. 6.
I chanced on this letter. Shak.
Note: Often used impersonally; as, how chances it
How chance, thou art returned so soon Shak.
CHANCE
Chance, v. t.
1. To take the chances of; to venture upon; -- usually with it as
object.
Come what will, I will chance it. W. D. Howells.
2. To befall; to happen to. [Obs.] W. Lambarde.
CHANCE
Chance, a.
Defn: Happening by chance; casual.
CHANCE
Chance, adv.
Defn: By chance; perchance. Gray.
CHANCEABLE
Chance"a*ble, a.
Defn: Fortuitous; casual. [Obs.]
CHANCEABLY
Chance"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By chance. [Obs.]
CHANCEFUL
Chance"ful, a.
Defn: Hazardous. [Obs.] Spenser.
CHANCEL
Chan"cel, n. Etym: [OF. chancel, F. chanceau, cancel, fr. L. cancelli
lattices, crossbars. (The chancel was formerly inclosed with lattices
or crossbars) See Cancel, v. t.] (Arch.)
(a) That part of a church, reserved for the use of the clergy, where
the altar, or communion table, is placed. Hence, in modern use;
(b) All that part of a cruciform church which is beyond the line of
the transept farthest from the main front. Chancel aisle (Arch.), the
aisle which passes on either side of or around the chancel.
-- Chancel arch (Arch.), the arch which spans the main opening,
leading to the chancel -- Chancel casement, the principal window in a
chancel. Tennyson.
-- Chancel table, the communion table.
CHANCELLERY
Chan"cel*ler*y, n. Etym: [Cf. Chancery.]
Defn: Chancellorship. [Obs.] Gower.
CHANCELLOR
Chan"cel*lor, n. Etym: [OE. canceler, chaunceler, F. chancelier, LL.
cancellarius chancellor, a director of chancery, fr. L. cancelli
lattices, crossbars, which surrounded the seat of judgment. See
Chancel.]
Defn: A judicial court of chancery, which in England and in the
United States is distinctively a court with equity jurisdiction.
Note: The chancellor was originally a chief scribe or secretary under
the Roman emperors, but afterward was invested with judicial powers,
and had superintendence over the other officers of the empire. From
the Roman empire this office passed to the church, and every bishop
has his chancellor, the principal judge of his consistory. In later
times, in most countries of Europe, the chancellor was a high officer
of state, keeper of the great seal of the kingdom, and having the
supervision of all charters, and like public instruments of the
crown, which were authenticated in the most solemn manner. In France
a secretary is in some cases called a chancellor. In Scotland, the
appellation is given to the foreman of a jury, or assize. In the
present German empire, the chancellor is the president of the federal
council and the head of the imperial administration. In the United
States, the title is given to certain judges of courts of chancery or
equity, established by the statutes of separate States. Blackstone.
Wharton. Chancellor of a bishop, or of a diocese (R. C. Ch. & ch. of
Eng.), a law officer appointed to hold the bishop's court in his
diocese, and to assist him in matter of ecclesiastical law.
-- Chancellor of a cathedral, one of the four chief dignitaries of
the cathedrals of the old foundation, and an officer whose duties are
chiefly educational, with special reference to the cultivation of
theology.
-- Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, an officer before whom, or
his deputy, the court of the duchy chamber of Lancaster is held. This
is a special jurisdiction.
-- Chancellor of a university, the chief officer of a collegiate
body. In Oxford, he is elected for life; in Cambridge, for a term of
years; and his office is honorary, the chief duties of it devolving
on the vice chancellor.
-- Chancellor of the exchequer, a member of the British cabinet upon
whom devolves the charge of the public income and expenditure as the
highest finance minister of the government.
-- Chancellor of the order of the Garter (or other military orders),
an officer who seals the commissions and mandates of the chapter and
assembly of the knights, keeps the register of their proceedings, and
delivers their acts under the seal of their order.
-- Lord high chancellor of England, the presiding judge in the court
of chancery, the highest judicial officer of the crown, and the first
lay person of the state after the blood royal. He is created
chancellor by the delivery into his custody of the great seal, of
which he becomes keeper. He is privy counselor by his office, and
prolocutor of the House of Lords by prescription.
CHANCELLORSHIP
Chan"cel*lor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chancellor; the time during which one is
chancellor.
CHANCE-MEDLEY
Chance"-med`ley, n. Etym: [Chance + medley.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The kiling of another in self-defense upon a sudden and
unpremeditated encounter. See Chaud-Medley.
Note: The term has been sometimes applied to any kind of homicide by
misadventure, or to any accidental killing of a person without
premeditation or evil intent, but, in strictness, is applicable to
such killing as happens in defending one's self against assault.
Bouvier.
2. Luck; chance; accident. Milton. Cowper.
CHANCERY
Chan"cer*y, n. Etym: [F. chancellerie, LL. cancellaria, from L.
cancellarius. See Chancellor, and cf. Chancellery.]
1. In England, formerly, the highest court of judicature next to the
Parliament, exercising jurisdiction at law, but chiefly in equity;
but under the jurisdiction act of 1873 it became the chancery
division of the High Court of Justice, and now exercises jurisdiction
only in equity.
2. In the Unites States, a court of equity; equity; proceeding in
equity.
Note: A court of chancery, so far as it is a court of equity, in the
English and American sense, may be generally, if not precisely,
described as one having jurisdiction in cases of rights, recognized
and protected by the municipal jurisprudence, where a plain,
adequate, and complete remedy can not be had in the courts of common
law. In some of the American States, jurisdiction at law and in
equity centers in the same tribunal. The courts of the United States
also have jurisdiction both at law and in equity, and in all such
cases they exercise their jurisdiction, as courts of law, or as
courts of equity, as the subject of adjudication may require. In
others of the American States, the courts that administer equity are
distinct tribunals, having their appropriate judicial officers, and
it is to the latter that the appellation courts of chancery is
usually applied; but, in American law, the terms equity and court of
equity are more frequently employed than the corresponding terms
chancery and court of chancery. Burrill. Inns of chancery. See under
Inn.
-- To get (or to hold) In chancery (Boxing), to get the head of an
antagonist under one's arm, so that one can pommel it with the other
fist at will; hence, to have wholly in One's power. The allusion is
to the condition of a person involved in the chancery court, where he
was helpless, while the lawyers lived upon his estate.
CHANCRE
Chan"cre, n. Etym: [F. chancere. See Cancer.] (Med.)
Defn: A venereal sore or ulcer; specifically, the initial lesion of
true syphilis, whether forming a distinct ulcer or not; -- called
also hard chancre, indurated chancre, and Hunterian chancre. Soft
chancre. A chancroid. See Chancroid.
CHANCROID
Chan"croid, n. Etym: [Chancre + -oil.] (Med.)
Defn: A venereal sore, resembling a chancre in its seat and some
external characters, but differing from it in being the starting
point of a purely local process and never of a systemic disease; --
called also soft chancre.
CHANCROUS
Chan"crous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chancreux.] (Med.)
Defn: Of the nature of a chancre; having chancre.
CHANDELIER
Chan`de*lier", n. Etym: [F. See Chandler.]
1. A candlestick, lamp, stand, gas fixture, or the like, having
several branches; esp., one hanging from the ceiling.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: A movable parapet, serving to support fascines to cover
pioneers. [Obs.]
CHANDLER
Chan"dler, n. Etym: [F. chandelier a candlestick, a maker or seller
of candles, LL. candelarius chandler, fr. L. candela candle. See
Candle, and cf. Chandelier.]
1. A maker or seller of candles.
The chandler's basket, on his shoulder borne, With tallow spots thy
coat. Gay.
2. A dealer in other commodities, which are indicated by a word
prefixed; as, ship chandler, corn chandler.
CHANDLERLY
Chan"dler*ly, a.
Defn: Like a chandler; in a petty way. [Obs.] Milton.
CHANDLERY
Chan"dler*y, n.
Defn: Commodities sold by a chandler.
CHANDOO
Chan*doo", n.
Defn: An extract or preparation of opium, used in China and India for
smoking. Balfour.
CHANDRY
Chan"dry, n.
Defn: Chandlery. [Obs.] "Torches from the chandry." B. Jonson.
CHANFRIN
Chan"frin, n. Etym: [F. chanfrein. Cf. Chamfron.]
Defn: The fore part of a horse's head.
CHANGE
Change, v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Changed; p. pr. & vb. n. Changing.] Etym:
[F. changer, fr. LL. cambiare, to exchange, barter, L. cambire. Cf.
Cambial.]
1. To alter; to make different; to cause to pass from one state to
another; as, to change the position, character, or appearance of a
thing; to change the countenance.
Therefore will I change their glory into shame. Hosea. iv. 7.
2. To alter by substituting something else for, or by giving up for
something else; as, to change the clothes; to change one's
occupation; to change one's intention.
They that do change old love for new, Pray gods, they change for
worse! Peele.
3. To give and take reciprocally; to exchange; -- followed by with;
as, to change place, or hats, or money, with another.
Look upon those thousands with whom thou wouldst not, for any
interest, change thy fortune and condition. Jer. Taylor.
4. Specifically: To give, or receive, smaller denominations of money
(technically called change) for; as, to change a gold coin or a bank
bill.
He pulled out a thirty-pound note and bid me change it. Goldsmith.
To change a horse, or To change hand (Man.), to turn or bear the
horse's head from one hand to the other, from the left to right, or
from the right to the left.
-- To change hands, to change owners.
-- To change one's tune, to become less confident or boastful.
[Colloq.] -- To change step, to take a break in the regular
succession of steps, in marching or walking, as by bringing the
hollow of one foot against the heel of the other, and then stepping
off with the foot which is in advance.
Syn.
-- To alter; vary; deviate; substitute; innovate; diversify; shift;
veer; turn. See Alter.
CHANGE
Change, v. i.
1. To be altered; to undergo variation; as, men sometimes change for
the better.
For I am Lord, I change not. Mal. iii. 6.
2. To pass from one phase to another; as, the moon changes to-morrow
night.
CHANGE
Change, n. Etym: [F. change, fr. changer. See Change. v. t.]
1. Any variation or alteration; a passing from one state or form to
another; as, a change of countenance; a change of habits or
principles.
Apprehensions of a change of dynasty. Hallam.
All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
Job xiv. 14.
2. A succesion or substitution of one thing in the place of another;
a difference; novelty; variety; as, a change of seasons.
Our fathers did for change to France repair. Dryden.
The ringing grooves of change. Tennyson.
3. A passing from one phase to another; as, a change of the moon.
4. Alteration in the order of a series; permutation.
5. That which makes a variety, or may be substituted for another.
Thirty change (R.V. changes) of garments. Judg. xiv. 12.
6. Small money; the money by means of which the larger coins and bank
bills are made available in small dealings; hence, the balance
returned when payment is tendered by a coin or note exceeding the sum
due.
7. Etym: [See Exchange.]
Defn: A place where merchants and others meet to transact business; a
building appropriated for mercantile transactions. [Colloq. for
Exchange.]
8. A public house; an alehouse. [Scot.]
They call an alehouse a change. Burt.
9. (Mus.)
Defn: Any order in which a number of bells are struck, other than
that of the diatonic scale.
Four bells admit twenty-four changes in ringing. Holder.
Change of life, the period in the life of a woman when menstruation
and the capacity for conception cease, usually occurring between
forty-five and fifty years of age.
-- Change ringing, the continual production, without repetition, of
changes on bells, See def. 9. above.
-- Change wheel (Mech.), one of a set of wheels of different sizes
and number of teeth, that may be changed or substituted one for
another in machinery, to produce a different but definite rate of
angular velocity in an axis, as in cutting screws, gear, etc.
-- To ring the changes on, to present the same facts or arguments in
variety of ways.
Syn.
-- Variety; variation; alteration; mutation; transition;
vicissitude; innovation; novelty; transmutation; revolution; reverse.
CHANGEABILITY
Change`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Changeableness.
CHANGEABLE
Change"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. changeable.]
1. Capable of change; subject to alteration; mutable; variable;
fickle; inconstant; as, a changeable humor.
2. Appearing different, as in color, in different lights, or under
different circumstances; as, changeable silk.
Syn.
-- Mutable; alterable; variable; inconstant; fitful; vacillating;
capricious; fickle; unstable; unsteady; unsettled; wavering; erratic;
giddy; volatile.
CHANGEABLENESS
Change"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being changeable; fickleness; inconstancy;
mutability.
CHANGEABLY
Change"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a changeable manner.
CHANGEFUL
Change"ful, a.
Defn: Full of change; mutable; inconstant; fickle; uncertain. Pope.
His course had been changeful. Motley.
-- Change"ful*ly, adv.
-- Change"ful*ness, n.
CHANGE GEAR
Change gear. (Mach.)
Defn: A gear by means of which the speed of machinery or of a vehicle
may be changed while that of the propelling engine or motor remains
constant; -- called also change-speed gear.
CHANGE KEY
Change key.
Defn: A key adapted to open only one of a set of locks; --
distinguished from a master key.
CHANGELESS
Change"less, a.
Defn: That can not be changed; constant; as, a changeless purpose.
-- Change"less*ness, n.
CHANGELING
Change"ling, n. Etym: [Change + -ling.]
1. One who, or that which, is left or taken in the place of another,
as a child exchanged by fairies.
Such, men do changelings call, so changed by fairies' theft. Spenser.
The changeling [a substituted writing] never known. Shak.
2. A simpleton; an idiot. Macaulay.
Changelings and fools of heaven, and thence shut out.
Wildly we roam in discontent about. Dryden.
3. One apt to change; a waverer. "Fickle changelings." Shak.
CHANGELING
Change"ling, a.
1. Taken or left in place of another; changed. "A little changeling
boy." Shak.
2. Given to change; inconstant. [Obs.]
Some are so studiously changeling. Boyle.
CHANGER
Chan"ger, n.
1. One who changes or alters the form of anything.
2. One who deals in or changes money. John ii. 14.
3. One apt to change; an inconstant person.
CHANK
Chank", n. Etym: [Skr. çankha. See Conch.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The East Indian name for the large spiral shell of several
species of sea conch much used in making bangles, esp. Turbinella
pyrum. Called also chank chell.
CHANNEL
Chan"nel, n. Etym: [OE. chanel, canel, OF. chanel, F. chenel, fr. L.
canalis. See Canal.]
1. The hollow bed where a stream of water runs or may run.
2. The deeper part of a river, harbor, strait, etc., where the main
current flows, or which affords the best and safest passage for
vessels.
3. (Geog.)
Defn: A strait, or narrow sea, between two portions of lands; as, the
British Channel.
4. That through which anything passes; means of passing, conveying,
or transmitting; as, the news was conveyed to us by different
channels.
The veins are converging channels. Dalton.
At best, he is but a channel to convey to the National assembly such
matter as may import that body to know. Burke.
5. A gutter; a groove, as in a fluted column.
6. pl. Etym: [Cf. Chain wales.] (Naut.)
Defn: Flat ledges of heavy plank bolted edgewise to the outside of a
vessel, to increase the spread of the shrouds and carry them clear of
the bulwarks. Channel bar, Channel iron (Arch.), an iron bar or beam
having a section resembling a flat gutter or channel.
-- Channel bill (Zoöl.), a very large Australian cucko (Scythrops
Novæhollandiæ.
-- Channel goose. (Zoöl.) See Gannet.
CHANNEL
Chan"nel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Channeled, or Channelled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Channeling, or Channelling.]
1. To form a channel in; to cut or wear a channel or channels in; to
groove.
No more shall trenching war channel her fields. Shak.
2. To course through or over, as in a channel. Cowper.
CHANNELING
Chan"nel*ing, n.
1. The act or process of forming a channel or channels.
2. A channel or a system of channels; a groove.
CHANSON
Chan"son, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cantion song. See Cantion, Canzone.]
Defn: A song. Shak.
CHANSON DE GESTE
Chan`son" de geste". [F., prop., song of history.]
Defn: Any Old French epic poem having for its subject events or
exploits of early French history, real or legendary, and written
originally in assonant verse of ten or twelve syllables. The most
famous one is the Chanson de Roland.
Langtoft had written in the ordinary measure of the later chansons de
geste.
Saintsbury.
CHANSONNETTE
Chan`son*nette", n.; pl. Chansonnettes. Etym: [F., dim. of chanson.]
Defn: A little song.
These pretty little chansonnettes that he sung. Black.
CHANT
Chant, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chanting.] Etym:
[F. chanter, fr. L. cantare, intens. of canere to sing. Cf. Cant
affected speaking, and see Hen.]
1. To utter with a melodious voice; to sing.
The cheerful birds . . . do chant sweet music. Spenser.
2. To celebrate in song.
The poets chant in the theaters. Bramhall.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: To sing or recite after the manner of a chant, or to a tune
called a chant.
CHANT
Chant, v. i.
1. To make melody with the voice; to sing. "Chant to the sound of the
viol." Amos vi. 5.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: To sing, as in reciting a chant. To chant (or chaunt) horses,
to sing their praise; to overpraise; to cheat in selling. See
Chaunter. Thackeray.
CHANT
Chant, n.Etym: [F. chant, fr. L. cantus singing, song, fr. canere to
sing. See Chant, v. t.]
1. Song; melody.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A short and simple melody, divided into two parts by double
bars, to which unmetrical psalms, etc., are sung or recited. It is
the most ancient form of choral music.
3. A psalm, etc., arranged for chanting.
4. Twang; manner of speaking; a canting tone. [R.]
His strange face, his strange chant. Macaulay.
Ambrosian chant, See under Ambrosian. Chant royal Etym: [F.], in old
French poetry, a poem containing five strophes of eleven lines each,
and a concluding stanza.
-- each of these six parts ending with a common refrain.
-- Gregorian chant. See under Gregorian.
CHANTANT
Chan`tant", a. Etym: [F. singing.] (Mus.)
Defn: Composed in a melodious and singing style.
CHANTER
Chant"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chanteur.]
1. One who chants; a singer or songster. Pope.
2. The chief singer of the chantry. J. Gregory.
3. The flute or finger pipe in a bagpipe. See Bagpipe.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hedge sparrow.
CHANTERELLE
Chan`te*relle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name for several species of mushroom, of which one
(Cantharellus cibrius) is edible, the others reputed poisonous.
CHANTEY
Chant"ey, n. [Cf. F. chanter to sing, and Chant. n.]
Defn: A sailor's song.
May we lift a deep-sea chantey such as seamen use at sea
Kipling.
CHANTICLEER
Chan"ti*cleer, n. Etym: [F. Chanteclair, name of the cock in the
Roman du Renart (Reynard the Fox); chanter to chant + clair clear.
See Chant, and Clear.]
Defn: A cock, so called from the clearness or loundness of his voice
in crowing.
CHANTING
Chant"ing, n.
Defn: Singing, esp. as a chant is sung. Chanting falcon (Zoöl.), an
African falcon (Melierax canorus or musicus). The male has the habit,
remarkable in a bird of prey, of singing to his mate, while she is
incubating.
CHANTOR
Chant"or, n.
Defn: A chanter.
CHANTRESS
Chant"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chanteresse.]
Defn: A female chanter or singer. Milton.
CHANTRY
Chant"ry, n.; pl. Chantries. Etym: [OF. chanterie, fr. chanter to
sing.]
1. An endowment or foundation for the chanting of masses and offering
of prayers, commonly for the founder.
2. A chapel or altar so endowed. Cowell.
CHAOMANCY
Cha"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of apperances in the air.
CHAOS
Cha"os, n. Etym: [L. chaos chaos (in senses 1 & 2), Gr. Chasm.]
1. An empty, immeasurable space; a yawning chasm. [Archaic]
Between us and there is fixed a great chaos. Luke xvi. 26 (Rhemish
Trans. ).
2. The confused, unorganized condition or mass of matter before the
creation of distinct and order forms.
3. Any confused or disordered collection or state of things; a
confused mixture; confusion; disorder.
CHAOTIC
Cha*ot"ic, a.
Defn: Resembling chaos; confused.
CHAOTICALLY
Cha*ot"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chaotic manner.
CHAP
Chap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chapping.] Etym:
[See Chop to cut.]
1. To cause to open in slits or chinks; to split; to cause the skin
of to crack or become rough.
Then would unbalanced heat licentious reign, Crack the dry hill, and
chap the russet plain. Blackmore.
Nor winter's blast chap her fair face. Lyly.
2. To strike; to beat. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, v. i.
1. To crack or open in slits; as, the earth chaps; the hands chap.
2. To strike; to knock; to rap. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, n. Etym: [From Chap, v. t. & i.]
1. A cleft, crack, or chink, as in the surface of the earth, or in
the skin.
2. A division; a breach, as in a party. [Obs.]
Many clefts and chaps in our council board. T. Fuller.
3. A blow; a rap. [Scot.]
CHAP
Chap, n. Etym: [OE. chaft; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel kjaptr jaw, Sw.
Käft, D. kiæft; akin to G. kiefer, and E. jowl. Cf. Chops.]
1. One of the jaws or the fleshy covering of a jaw; -- commonly in
the plural, and used of animals, and colloquially of human beings.
His chaps were all besmeared with crimson blood. Cowley.
He unseamed him [Macdonald] from the nave to the chaps. Shak.
2. One of the jaws or cheeks of a vise, etc.
CHAP
Chap, n. Etym: [Perh. abbreviated fr. chapman, but used in a more
general sense; or cf. Dan. kiæft jaw, person, E. chap jaw.]
1. A buyer; a chapman. [Obs.]
If you want to sell, here is your chap. Steele.
2. A man or boy; a youth; a fellow. [Colloq.]
CHAP
Chap, v. i. Etym: [See Cheapen.]
Defn: To bargain; to buy. [Obs.]
CHAPARAJOS
Cha`pa*ra"jos, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: Overalls of sheepskin or leather, usually open at the back,
worn, esp. by cowboys, to protect the legs from thorny bushes, as in
the chaparral; -- called also chapareras or colloq. chaps. [Sp.
Amer.]
CHAPARERAS
Cha`pa*re"ras, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: Same as Chaparajos. [Sp. Amer.]
CHAPARRAL
Cha`par*ral", n. Etym: [Sp., fr. chaparro an evergeen oak.]
1. A thicket of low evergreen oaks.
2. An almost impenetrable thicket or succession of thickets of thorny
shrubs and brambles. Chaparral cock; fem. Chaparral hen (Zoöl.), a
bird of the cuckoo family (Geococcyx Californianus), noted for
running with great speed. It ranges from California to Mexico and
eastward to Texas; -- called also road runner, ground cuckoo, churea,
and snake killerit is the state bird of New Mexico.
CHAPBOOK
Chap"book`, n. Etym: [See Chap to cheapen.]
Defn: Any small book carried about for sale by chapmen or hawkers.
Hence, any small book; a toy book.
CHAPE
Chape, n. Etym: [F., a churchman's cope, a cover, a chape, fr. L.
cappa. See Cap.]
1. The piece by which an object is attached to something, as the frog
of a scabbard or the metal loop at the back of a buckle by which it
is fastened to a strap.
2. The transverse guard of a sword or dagger.
3. The metal plate or tip which protects the end of a scabbard, belt,
etc. Knight.
CHAPEAU
Cha`peau", n.; pl. Chapeux. Etym: [F., fr. OF. chapel hat. See
Chaplet.]
1. hat or covering for the head.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A cap of maintenance. See Maintenance. Chapeau bras ( Etym: [F.
chapeau hat + bras arm], a hat so made that it can be compressed and
carried under the arm without injury. Such hats were particularly
worn on dress occasions by gentlemen in the 18th century. A chapeau
bras is now worn in the United States army by general and staff
officers.
CHAPED
Chaped, p. p. or a.
Defn: Furnished with a chape or chapes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHAPEL
Chap"el, n. Etym: [OF. chapele, F. chapelle, fr. LL. capella, orig.,
a short cloak, hood, or cowl; later, a reliquary, sacred vessel,
chapel; dim. of cappa, capa, cloak, cape, cope; also, a covering for
the head. The chapel where St. Martin's cloak was preserved as a
precious relic, itself came to be called capella, whence the name was
applied to similar paces of worship, and the guardian of this cloak
was called capellanus, or chaplain. See Cap, and cf. Chaplain.,
Chaplet.]
1. A subordinate place of worship; as,
(a) a small church, often a private foundation, as for a memorial;
(b) a small building attached to a church;
(c) a room or recess in a church, containing an altar.
Note: In Catholic churches, and also in cathedrals and abbey
churches, chapels are usually annexed in the recesses on the sides of
the aisles. Gwilt.
2. A place of worship not connected with a church; as, the chapel of
a palace, hospital, or prison.
3. In England, a place of worship used by dissenters from the
Established Church; a meetinghouse.
4. A choir of singers, or an orchastra, attached to the court of a
prince or nobleman.
5. (Print.)
(a) A printing office, said to be so called because printing was
first carried on in England in a chapel near Westminster Abbey.
(b) An association of workmen in a printing office. Chapel of ease.
(a) A chapel or dependent church built for the ease or a
accommodation of an increasing parish, or for parishioners who live
at a distance from the principal church. (b) A privy. (Law) -- Chapel
master, a director of music in a chapel; the director of a court or
orchestra.
-- To build a chapel (Naut.), to chapel a ship. See Chapel, v. t.,
2.
-- To hold a chapel, to have a meeting of the men employed in a
printing office, for the purpose of considering questions affecting
their interests.
CHAPEL
Chap"el, v. t.
1. To deposit or inter in a chapel; to enshrine. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To cause (a ship taken aback in a light breeze) so to turn or
make a circuit as to recover, without bracing the yards, the same
tack on which she had been sailing.
CHAPELESS
Chape"less, a.
Defn: Without a chape.
CHAPELET
Chap"e*let, n. Etym: [F. See Chaplet.]
1. A pair of Straps, with stirrups, joined at the top and fastened to
the pommel or the frame of the saddle, after they have been adjusted
to the convenience of the rider. [Written also chaplet.]
2. A kind of chain pump, or dredging machine.
CHAPELLANY
Chap"el*la*ny, n.; pl. Chapellanies. Etym: [Cf. E. chapellenie, LL.
capellania. See Chaplain.]
Defn: A chapel within the jurisdiction of a church; a subordinate
ecclesiastical foundation.
CHAPELRY
Chap"el*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chapelerie.]
Defn: The territorial disrict legally assigned to a chapel.
CHAPERON
Chap"er*on, n. Etym: [F. chaperon. See Chape, Cape, Cap.]
1. A hood; especially, an ornamental or an official hood.
His head and face covered with a chaperon, out of which there are but
two holes to look through. Howell.
2. A divice placed on the foreheads of horses which draw the hearse
in pompous funerals.
3. A matron who accompanies a young lady in public, for propriety, or
as a guide and protector.
CHAPERON
Chap"er*on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chaperoned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chaperoning.] Etym: [Cf. F. chaperonner, fr. chaperon.]
Defn: To attend in public places as a guide and protector; to
matronize.
Fortunately Lady Bell Finley, whom I had promised to chaperon, sent
to excuse herself. Hannah More.
CHAPERONAGE
Chap"er*on`age, n.
Defn: Attendance of a chaperon on a lady in public; protection
afforded by a chaperon.
CHAPFALLEN
Chap"fall`en, a.
Defn: Having the lower chap or jaw drooping, -- an indication of
humiliation and dejection; crestfallen; discouraged. See Chopfallen.
CHAPITER
Chap"i*ter, n. Etym: [OF. chapitel, F. chapiteau, from L. capitellum,
dim. of caput head. Cf. Capital, Chapter.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A capital [Obs.] See Chapital. Ex. xxxvi. 38.
2. (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A summary in writing of such matters as are to be inquired of
or presented before justices in eyre, or justices of assize, or of
the peace, in their sessions; -- also called articles. Jacob.
CHAPLAIN
Chap"lain, n. Etym: [F. chapelain, fr. LL. capellanus, fr. capella.
See Chapel.]
1. An ecclesiastic who has a chapel, or who performs religious
service in a chapel.
2. A clergyman who is officially atteched to the army or navy, to
some public institution, or to a family or court, for the purpose of
performing divine service.
3. Any person (clergyman or layman) chosen to conduct religious
exercises for a society, etc.; as, a chaplain of a Masonic or a
temperance lodge.
CHAPLAINCY
Chap"lain*cy, n.; pl. Chaplaincies (.
Defn: The office, position, or station of a chaplain. Swift.
CHAPLAINSHIP
Chap"lain*ship, n.
1. The office or business of a chaplain.
The Bethesda of some knight's chaplainship. Milton.
2. The possession or revenue of a chapel. Johnson.
CHAPLESS
Chap"less, a.
Defn: Having no lower jaw; hence, fleshless. [R.] "Yellow, chapless
skulls." Shak.
CHAPLET
Chap"let, n. Etym: [F. chapelet, dim. of OF. chapel hat, garland,
dim. fr. LL. cappa. See Cap, and cf. Chapelet, Chapeau.]
1. A garland or wreath to be worn on the head.
2. A string of beads, or part of a string, used by Roman Catholic in
praying; a third of a rosary, or fifty beads.
Her chaplet of beads and her missal. Longfellow.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A small molding, carved into beads, pearls, olives, etc.
4. (Man.)
Defn: A chapelet. See Chapelet, 1.
5. (Founding)
Defn: A bent piece of sheet iron, or a pin with thin plates on its
ends, for holding a core in place in the mold.
6. A tuft of feathers on a peacock's head. Johnson.
CHAPLET
Chap"let, n.
Defn: A small chapel or shrine.
CHAPLET
Chap"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chapleted.]
Defn: To adorn with a chaplet or with flowers. R. Browning.
CHAPMAN
Chap"man, n.; pl. Chapmen. Etym: [AS. ceápman; ceáp trade + man man;
akin to D. koopman, Sw. köpman, Dan. kiöpmand, G. kaufmann.f. Chap to
cheapen, and see Cheap.]
1. One who buys and sells; a merchant; a buyer or a seller. [Obs.]
The word of life is a quick commodity, and ought not, as a drug to be
obtruded on those chapmen who are unwilling to buy it. T. Fuller.
2. A peddler; a hawker.
CHAPPY
Chap"py,
Defn: Full of chaps; cleft; gaping; open.
CHAPS
Chaps, n. pl.
Defn: The jaws, or the fleshy parts about them. See Chap. "Open your
chaps again." Shak.
CHAPTER
Chap"ter, n. Etym: [OF. chapitre, F. chapitre, fr. L. capitulum, dim.
of caput head, the chief person or thing, the principal division of a
writing, chapter. See Chief, and cf, Chapiter.]
1. A division of a book or treatise; as, Genesis has fifty chapters.
2. (Eccl.)
(a) An assembly of monks, or of the prebends and other clergymen
connected with a cathedral, conventual, or collegiate church, or of a
diocese, usually presided over by the dean.
(b) A community of canons or canonesses.
(c) A bishop's council.
(d) A business meeting of any religious community.
3. An organized branch of some society or fraternity as of the
Freemasons. Robertson.
4. A meeting of certain organized societies or orders.
5. A chapter house. [R.] Burrill.
6. A decretal epistle. Ayliffe.
7. A location or compartment.
In his bosom! In what chapter of his bosom Shak.
Chapter head, or Chapter heading, that which stands at the head of a
chapter, as a title.
-- Chapter house, a house or room where a chapter meets, esp. a
cathedral chapter.
-- The chapter of accidents, chance. Marryat.
CHAPTER
Chap"ter, v. t.
1. To divide into chapters, as a book. Fuller.
2. To correct; to bring to book, i. e., to demand chapter and verse.
[Obs.] Dryden.
CHAPTREL
Chap"trel, n. Etym: [See Chapiter.] (Arch.)
Defn: An impost. [Obs.]
CHAR; CHARR
Char, Charr, n. Etym: [Ir. cear, Gael. ceara, lit., red, blood-
colored, fr. cear blood. So named from its red belly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the several species of fishes of the genus Salvelinus,
allied to the spotted trout and salmon, inhabiting deep lakes in
mountainous regions in Europe. In the United States, the brook trout
(Salvelinus fontinalis) is sometimes called a char.
CHAR
Char, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A car; a chariot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHAR
Char, n. Etym: [OE. cherr, char a turning, time, work, AS. cerr,
cyrr, turn, occasion, business, fr. cerran, cyrran, to turn; akin to
OS. kërian, OHG. chëran, G. kehren. Cf. Chore, Ajar.]
Defn: Work done by the day; a single job, or task; a chore. [Written
also chare.] [Eng.]
When thou hast done this chare, I give thee leave To play till
doomsday. Shak.
CHAR; CHARE
Char, Chare, v. t. Etym: [See 3d Char.]
1. To perform; to do; to finish. [Obs.] Nores.
Thet char is chared, as the good wife said when she had hanged her
husband. Old Proverb.
2. To work or hew, as stone. Oxf. Gloss.
CHAR; CHARE
Char, Chare, v. i.
Defn: To work by the day, without being a regularly hired servant; to
do small jobs.
CHAR
Char, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charred; p. pr. & vb. n. Charring.] Etym:
[Prob. the same word as char to perform (see Char, n.), the modern
use coming from charcoal, prop. coal-turned, turned to coal.]
1. To reduce to coal or carbon by exposure to heat; to reduce to
charcoal; to burn to a cinder.
2. To burn slightly or partially; as, to char wood.
CHARA
Cha"ra, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of flowerless plants, having articulated stems and
whorled branches. They flourish in wet places.
CHAR-A-BANC
Char`-a-banc", n.; pl. Chars-a-banc. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A long, light, open vehicle, with benches or seats running
lengthwise.
CHARACT
Char"act, n.
Defn: A distinctive mark; a character; a letter or sign. [Obs.] See
Character.
In all his dressings, characts, titles, forms. Shak.
CHARACTER
Char"ac*ter, n. Etym: [L., an instrument for marking, character, Gr.
caractère.]
1. A distinctive mark; a letter, figure, or symbol.
It were much to be wished that there were throughout the world but
one sort of character for each letter to express it to the eye.
Holder.
2. Style of writing or printing; handwriting; the peculiar form of
letters used by a particular person or people; as, an inscription in
the Runic character.
You know the character to be your brother's Shak.
3. The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person
or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by
nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is;
nature; disposition.
The character or that dominion. Milton.
Know well each Ancient's proper character; His fable, subject, scope
in every page; Religion, Country, genius of his Age. Pope.
A man of . . . thoroughly subservient character. Motley.
4. Strength of mind; resolution; independence; individuality; as, he
has a great deal of character.
5. Moral quality; the principles and motives that control the life;
as, a man of character; his character saves him from suspicion.
6. Quality, position, rank, or capacity; quality or conduct with
respect to a certain office or duty; as, in the miserable character
of a slave; in his character as a magistrate; her character as a
daughter.
7. The estimate, individual or general, put upon a person or thing;
reputation; as, a man's character for truth and veracity; to give one
a bad character.
This subterraneous passage is much mended since Seneca gave so bad a
character of it. Addison.
8. A written statement as to behavior, competency, etc., given to a
servant. [Colloq.]
9. A unique or extraordinary individuality; a person characterized by
peculiar or notable traits; a person who illustrates certain phases
of character; as, Randolph was a character; Cæsar is a great
historical character.
10. One of the persons of a drama or novel.
Note: "It would be well if character and reputation were used
distinctively. In truth, character is what a person is; reputation is
what he is supposed to be. Character is in himself, reputation is in
the minds of others. Character is injured by temptations, and by
wrongdoing; reputation by slanders, and libels. Character endures
throughout defamation in every form, but perishes when there is a
voluntary transgression; reputation may last through numerous
transgressions, but be destroyed by a single, and even an unfounded,
accusation or aspersion." Abbott.
CHARACTER
Char"ac*ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charactered.]
1. To engrave; to inscribe. [R.]
These trees shall be my books. And in their barks my thoughts I 'll
character. Shak.
2. To distinguish by particular marks or traits; to describe; to
characterize. [R.] Mitford.
CHARACTERISM
Char"ac*ter*ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A distinction of character; a characteristic. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CHARACTERISTIC
Char`ac*ter*is"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. charactéristique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or serving to constitute, the character; showing
the character, or distinctive qualities or traits, of a person or
thing; peculiar; distinctive.
Characteristic clearness of temper. Macaulay.
CHARACTERISTIC
Char`ac*ter*is"tic, n.
1. A distinguishing trait, quality, or property; an element of
character; that which characterized. Pope.
The characteristics of a true critic. Johnson.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The integral part (whether positive or negative) of a
logarithm.
CHARACTERISTICAL
Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Characteristic.
CHARACTERISTICALLY
Char`ac*ter*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a characteristic manner; in a way that characterizes.
CHARACTERIZATION
Char`ac*ter*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of characterizing.
CHARACTERIZE
Char"ac*ter*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Characterized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Characterizing.] Etym: [LL. characterizare, Gr. charactériser.]
1. To make distinct and recognizable by peculiar marks or traits; to
make with distinctive features.
European, Asiatic, Chinese, African, and Grecian faces are
Characterized. Arbuthot.
2. To engrave or imprint. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
3. To indicate the character of; to describe.
Under the name of Tamerlane he intended to characterize King William.
Johnson.
4. To be a characteristic of; to make, or express the character of.
The softness and effeminacy which characterize the men of rank in
most countries. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- To describe; distinguish; mark; designate; style; particularize;
entitle.
CHARACTERLESS
Char"ac*ter*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of any distinguishing quality; without character or
force.
CHARACTERY
Char"ac*ter*y, n.
1. The art or means of characterizing; a system of signs or
characters; symbolism; distinctive mark.
Fairies use flowers for their charactery. Shak.
2. That which is charactered; the meaning. [Obs.]
I will construe to thee All the charactery of my sad brows. Shak.
CHARADE
Cha*rade", n. Etym: [F. charade, cf. Pr. charrada long chat, It
ciarlare to chat, whence E. charlatan.]
Defn: A verbal or acted enigma based upon a word which has two or
more significant syllables or parts, each of which, as well as the
word itself, is to be guessed from the descriptions or
representations.
CHARBOCLE
Char"bo*cle, n.
Defn: Carbuncle. [Written also Charboncle.] [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHARBON
Char"bon, n. Etym: [F., coal, charbon.]
1. (Far.)
Defn: A small black spot or mark remaining in the cavity of the
corner tooth of a horse after the large spot or mark has become
obliterated.
2. A very contagious and fatal disease of sheep, horses, and cattle.
See Maligmant pustule.
CHARCOAL
Char"coal`, n. Etym: [See Char, v. t., to burn or to reduce to coal,
and Coal.]
1. Impure carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances; esp.,
coal made by charring wood in a kiln, retort, etc., from which air is
excluded. It is used for fuel and in various mechanical, artistic,
and chemical processes.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Finely prepared charcoal in small sticks, used as a drawing
implement. Animal charcoal, a fine charcoal prepared by calcining
bones in a closed vessel; -- used as a filtering agent in sugar
refining, and as an absorbent and disinfectant.
-- Charcoal blacks, the black pigment, consisting of burnt ivory,
bone, cock, peach stones, and other substances.
-- Charcoal drawing (Fine Arts), a drawing made with charcoal. See
Charcoal, 2. Until within a few years this material has been used
almost exclusively for preliminary outline, etc., but at present many
finished drawings are made with it.
-- Charcoal point, a carbon pencil prepared for use un an electric
light apparatus.
-- Mineral charcoal, a term applied to silky fibrous layers of
charcoal, interlaminated in beds of ordinary bituminous coal; --
known to miners as mother of coal.
CHARD
Chard, n. Etym: [Cf. F. carde esclent thistle.]
1. The tender leaves or leafstalks of the artichoke, white beet,
etc., blanched for table use.
2. A variety of the white beet, which produces large, succulent
leaves and leafstalks.
CHARE
Chare, n.
Defn: A narrow street. [Prov. Eng.]
CHARE
Chare, n. & v.
Defn: A chore; to chore; to do. See Char.
CHARGE
Charge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charged; p. pr. & vb. n. Charging.] Etym:
[OF. chargier, F. charger, fr. LL. carricare, fr. L. carrus wagon.
Cf. Cargo, Caricature, Cark, and see Car.]
1. To lay on or impose, as a load, tax, or burden; to load; to fill.
A carte that charged was with hay. Chaucer.
The charging of children's memories with rules. Locke.
2. To lay on or impose, as a task, duty, or trust; to command,
instruct, or exhort with authority; to enjoin; to urge earnestly; as,
to charge a jury; to charge the clergy of a diocese; to charge an
agent.
Moses . . . charged you to love the Lord your God. Josh. xxii. 5.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fing away ambition. Shak.
3. To lay on, impose, or make subject to or liable for.
When land shal be charged by any lien. Kent.
4. To fix or demand as a prince; as, he charges two dollars a barrelk
for apples.
5. To place something to the account of as a debt; to debit, as to
charge one with goods. Also, to enter upon the debit side of an
account; as, to charge a sum to one.
6. To impute or ascribe; to lay to one's charge.
No more accuse thy pen, but charge the crime On native loth and
negligence of time. Dryden.
7. To accuse; to make a charge or assertion against (a) person or
thing); to lay the responsibility (for something said or done) at the
door of.
If the did that wrong you charge with. Tennyson.
8. To place within or upon any firearm, piece of apparatus or
machinery, the quantity it is intended and fitted to hold or bear; to
load; to fill; as, to charge a gun; to charge an electrical machine,
etc.
Their battering cannon charged to the mouths. Shak.
9. To ornament with or cause to bear; as, to charge an architectural
member with a molding.
10. (Her.)
Defn: To assume as a bearing; as, he charges three roses or; to add
to or represent on; as, he charges his shield with three roses or.
11. To call to account; to challenge. [Obs.]
To charge me to an answer. Shak.
12. To bear down upon; to rush upon; to attack.
Charged our main battle's front. Shak.
Syn.
-- To intrust; command; exhort; instruct; accuse; impeach; arraign.
See Accuse.
CHARGE
Charge, v. i.
1. To make an onset or rush; as, to charge with fixed bayonets.
Like your heroes of antiquity, he charges in iron. Glanvill.
"Charge for the guns!" he said. Tennyson.
2. To demand a price; as, to charge high for goods.
3. To debit on an account; as, to charge for purchases.
4. To squat on its belly and be still; -- a command given by a
sportsman to a dog.
CHARGE
Charge, n. Etym: [F. charge, fr. charger to load. See Charge, v. t.,
and cf. Cargo, Caricature.]
1. A load or burder laid upon a person or thing.
2. A person or thing commited or intrusted to the care, custody, or
management of another; a trust.
Note: The people of a parish or church are called the charge of the
clergyman who is set over them.
3. Custody or care of any person, thing, or place; office;
responsibility; oversight; obigation; duty.
'Tis a great charge to come under one body's hand. Shak.
4. Heed; care; anxiety; trouble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Harm. [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. An order; a mandate or command; an injunction.
The king gave cherge concerning Absalom. 2. Sam. xviii. 5.
7. An address (esp. an earnest or impressive address) containing
instruction or exhortation; as, the charge of a judge to a jury; the
charge of a bishop to his clergy.
8. An accusation of a wrong of offense; allegation; indictment;
specification of something alleged.
The charge of confounding very different classes of phenomena.
Whewell.
9. Whatever constitutes a burden on property, as rents, taxes, lines,
etc.; costs; expense incurred; -- usually in the plural.
10. The price demanded for a thing or service.
11. An entry or a account of that which is due from one party to
another; that which is debited in a business transaction; as, a
charge in an account book.
12. That quantity, as of ammunition, electricity, ore, fuel, etc.,
which any apparatus, as a gun, battery, furnace, machine, etc., is
intended to receive and fitted to hold, or which is actually in it at
one time
13. The act of rushing upon, or towards, an enemy; a sudden onset or
attack, as of troops, esp. cavalry; hence, the signal for attack; as,
to sound the charge.
Never, in any other war afore, gave the Romans a hotter charge upon
the enemies. Holland.
The charge of the light brigade. Tennyson.
14. A position (of a weapon) fitted for attack; as, to bring a weapon
to the charge.
15. (Far.)
Defn: A soft of plaster or ointment.
16. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing. See Bearing, n., 8.
17. Etym: [Cf. Charre.]
Defn: Thirty-six pigs of lead, each pig weighing about seventy
pounds; -- called also charre.
18. Weight; import; value.
Many suchlike "as's" of great charge. Shak.
Back charge. See under Back, a.
-- Bursting charge. (a (Mil.) The charge which bursts a shell, etc.
(b (Mining) A small quantity of fine powder to secure the ignition of
a charge of coarse powder in blasting.
-- Charge and discharge (Equity Practice), the old mode or form of
taking an account before a master in chancery.
-- Charge sheet, the paper on which are entered at a police station
all arrests and accusations.
-- To sound the charge, to give the signal for an attack.
Syn.
-- Care; custody; trust; management; office; expense; cost; price;
assault; attack; onset; injunction; command; order; mandate;
instruction; accusation; indictment.
CHARGEABLE
Charge"a*ble, a.
1. That may be charged, laid, imposed, or imputes; as, a duty
chargeable on iron; a fault chargeable on a man.
2. Subject to be charge or accused; liable or responsible; as,
revenues chargeable with a claim; a man chargeable with murder.
3. Serving to create expense; costly; burdensome.
That we might not be chargeable to any of you. 2. Thess. iii. 8.
For the sculptures, which are elegant, were very chargeable. Evelyn.
CHARGEABLENESS
Charge"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chargeable or expensive. [Obs.]
Whitelocke.
CHARGEABLY
Charge"a*bly, adv.
Defn: At great cost; expensively. [Obs.]
CHARGEANT
Char"geant, a. Etym: [F. chargeant, fr. charger to load.]
Defn: Burdensome; troublesome. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHARGE D'AFFAIRES
Char`gé" d'af`faires", n.; pl. Chargés d'affaires. Etym: [F.,
"charged with affairs."]
Defn: A diplomatic representative, or minister of an inferior grade,
accredited by the government of one state to the minister of foreign
affairs of another; also, a substitute, ad interim, for an ambassador
or minister plenipotentiary.
CHARGEFUL
Charge"ful, a.
Defn: Costly; expensive. [Obs.]
The fineness of the gold and chargeful fashion. Shak.
CHARGEHOUSE
Charge"house`, n.
Defn: A schoolhouse. [Obs.]
CHARGELESS
Charge"less, a.
Defn: Free from, or with little, charge.
CHARGEOUS
Char"geous, a.
Defn: Burdensome. [Obs.]
I was chargeous to no man. Wyclif, (2 Cor. xi. 9).
CHARGER
Char"ger, n.
1. One who, or that which charges.
2. An instrument for measuring or inserting a charge.
3. A large dish. [Obs.]
Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Matt. xiv. 8.
4. A horse for battle or parade. Macaulay.
And furious every charger neighed. Campbell.
CHARGESHIP
Char*ge"ship, n.
Defn: The office of a chargé d'affaires.
CHARILY
Char"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chary manner; carefully; cautiously; frugally.
CHARINESS
Char"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chary.
CHARIOT
Char"i*ot, n. Etym: [F. Chariot, from char car. See Car.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A two-wheeled car or vehicle for war, racing, state
processions, etc.
First moved the chariots, after whom the foot. Cowper.
2. A four-wheeled pleasure or state carriage, having one seat. Shak.
CHARIOT
Char"i*ot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charioted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Charioting.]
Defn: To convey in a chariot. Milton.
CHARIOTEE
Char`i*ot*ee", n.
Defn: A light, covered, four-wheeled pleasure carriage with two
seats.
CHARIOTEER
Char`i*ot*eer", n.
1. One who drives a chariot.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation. See Auriga, and Wagones.
CHARISM
Cha"rism, n. Etym: [Gr. .] (Eccl.)
Defn: A miraculously given power, as of healing, speaking foreign
languages without instruction, etc., attributed to some of the early
Christians.
CHARISMATIC
Char`is*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a charism.
CHARITABLE
Char"i*ta*ble, a.Etym: [F. See Charity.]
1. Full of love and good will; benevolent; kind.
Be thy intents wicked or charitable, . . . . . . I will speak to
thee. Shak.
2. Liberal in judging of others; disposed to look on the best side,
and to avoid harsh judgment.
3. Liberal in benefactions to the poor; giving freely; generous;
beneficent.
What charitable men afford to beggars. Shak.
4. Of or pertaining to charity; springing from, or intended for,
charity; relating to almsgiving; elemosynary; as, a charitable
institution.
5. Dictated by kindness; favorable; lenient.
By a charitable construction it may be a sermon. L. Andrews.
Syn.
-- Kind; beneficent; benevolent; generous; lenient; forgiving;
helpful; liberal; favorable; indulgent.
CHARITABLENESS
Char"i*ta*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being charitable; the exercise of charity.
CHARITABLY
Char"i*ta*bly, adv.
Defn: In a charitable manner.
CHARITY
Char"i*ty, n.; pl. Charities. Etym: [F. charité fr. L. caritas
dearness, high regard, love, from carus dear, costly, loved; asin to
Skr. kam to wish, love, cf. Ir. cara a friend, W. caru to love. Cf.
Caress.]
1. Love; universal benevolence; good will.
Defn:
Now abideth faith, hope, charity, three; but the greatest of these is
charity. 1. Cor. xiii. 13.
They, at least, are little to be envied, in whose hearts the great
charities . . . lie dead. Ruskin.
With malice towards none, with charity for all. Lincoln.
2. Liberality in judging of men and their actions; a disposition
which inclines men to put the best construction on the words and
actions of others.
The highest exercise of charity is charity towards the uncharitable.
Buckminster.
3. Liberality to the poor and the suffering, to benevolent
institutions, or to worthy causes; generosity.
The heathen poet, in commending the charity of Dido to the Trojans,
spake like a Christian. Dryden.
4. Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the needy or suffering for
their relief; alms; any act of kindness.
She did ill then to refuse her a charity. L'Estrange.
5. A charitable institution, or a gift to create and support such an
institution; as, Lady Margaret's charity.
6. pl. (Law)
Defn: Eleemosynary appointments [grants or devises] including relief
of the poor or friendless, education, religious culture, and public
institutions.
The charities that soothe, and heal, and bless, Are scattered at the
feet of man like flowers. Wordsworth.
Sisters of Charity (R. C. Ch.), a sisterhood of religious women
engaged in works of mercy, esp. in nursing the sick; -- a popular
designation. There are various orders of the Sisters of Charity.
Syn.
-- Love; benevolence; good will; affection; tenderness; beneficence;
liberality; almsgiving.
CHARIVARI
Cha*ri`va*ri", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A mock serenade of discordant noises, made with kettles, tin
horns, etc., designed to annoy and insult.
Note: It was at first performed before the house of any person of
advanced age who married a second time.
CHARK
Chark, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. charcoal.]
Defn: Charcoal; a cinder. [Obs.] DeFoe.
CHARK
Chark, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charked.]
Defn: To burn to a coal; to char. [Obs.]
CHARLATAN
Char"la*tan, n. Etym: [F. charlatan, fr. It. ciarlatano, fr. ciarlare
to chartter, prate; of imitative origin; cf. It. zirlare to whistle
like a thrush.]
Defn: One who prates much in his own favor, and makes unwarrantable
pretensions; a quack; an impostor; an empiric; a mountebank.
CHARLATANIC; CHARLATANICAL
Char`la*tan"ic, Char`la*tan"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or like a charlatan; making undue pretension; empirical;
pretentious; quackish.
-- Char`la*tan"ic*al*ly, adv.
CHARLATANISM
Char"la*tan*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. charlatanisme.]
Defn: Charlatanry.
CHARLATANRY
Char"la*tan*ry, n. Etym: [F. charlatanrie, from It. ciarlataneria.
See Charlatan.]
Defn: Undue pretensions to skill; quackery; wheedling; empiricism.
CHARLES'S WAIN
Charles's Wain. Etym: [Charles + wain; cf. AS. Carles w (for wægn),
Sw. karlvagnen, Dan. karlsvogn. See Churl, and Wain.] (Astron.)
Defn: The group of seven stars, commonly called the Dipper, in the
constellation Ursa Major, or Great Bear. See Ursa major, under Ursa.
Note: The name is sometimes also applied to the Constellation.
CHARLIE
Char"lie, n.
1. A familiar nickname or substitute for Charles.
2. A night watchman; -- an old name.
3. A short, pointed beard, like that worn by Charles I.
4. As a proper name, a fox; -- so called in fables and familiar
literature.
CHARLOCK
Char"lock, n. Etym: [AS. cerlic; the latter part perh. fr. AS. leác
leek. Cf. Hemlock.] (Bot.)
Defn: A cruciferous plant (Brassica sinapistrum) with yellow flowers;
wild mustard. It is troublesome in grain fields. Called also
chardock, chardlock, chedlock, and kedlock. Jointed charlock, White
charlock, a troublesome weed (Raphanus Raphanistrum) with straw-
colored, whitish, or purplish flowers, and jointed pods: wild radish.
CHARLOTTE
Char"lotte, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of pie or pudding made by lining a dish with slices of
bread, and filling it with bread soaked in milk, and baked. Charlotte
Russe (, or Charlotte à la russe Etym: [F., lit., Russian charlotte]
(Cookery), a dish composed of custard or whipped cream, inclosed in
sponge cake.
CHARM
Charm, n. Etym: [F. charme, fr. L. carmen song, verse, incantation,
for casmen, akin to Skr. çasman, çasa, a laudatory song, from a root
signifying to praise, to sing.]
1. A melody; a song. [Obs.]
With charm of earliest birds. Milton.
Free liberty to chant our charms at will. Spenser.
2. A word or combination of words sung or spoken in the practice of
magic; a magical combination of words, characters, etc.; an
incantation.
My high charms work. Shak.
3. That which exerts an irresistible power to please and attract;
that which fascinates; any alluring quality.
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the soul. Pope.
The charm of beauty's powerful glance. Milton.
4. Anything worn for its supposed efficacy to the wearer in averting
ill or securing good fortune.
5. Any small decorative object worn on the person, as a seal, a key,
a silver whistle, or the like. Bunches of charms are often worn at
the watch chain.
Syn. - Spell; incantation; conjuration; enchantment; fascination;
attraction.
CHARM
Charm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Charming.] Etym:
[Cf. F. charmer. See Charm, n.]
1. To make music upon; to tune. [Obs. & R.]
Here we our slender pipes may safely charm. Spenser.
2. To subdue, control, or summon by incantation or supernatural
influence; to affect by magic.
No witchcraft charm thee! Shak.
3. To subdue or overcome by some secret power, or by that which gives
pleasure; to allay; to soothe.
Music the fiercest grief can charm. Pope.
4. To attract irresistibly; to delight exceedingly; to enchant; to
fascinate.
They, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his
ear. Milton.
5. To protect with, or make invulnerable by, spells, charms, or
supernatural influences; as, a charmed life.
I, in my own woe charmed, Could not find death. Shak.
Syn. - To fascinate; enchant; enrapture; captivate; bewitch; allure;
subdue; delight; entice; transport.
CHARM
Charm, v. i.
1. To use magic arts or occult power; to make use of charms.
The voice of charmers, charming never so wisely. Ps. lviii. 5.
2. To act as, or produce the effect of, a charm; to please greatly;
to be fascinating.
3. To make a musical sound. [Obs.] Milton.
CHARMEL
Char"mel, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: A fruitful field.
Libanus shall be turned into charmel, and charmel shall be esteemed
as a forest. Isa. xxix. 17 (Douay version).
CHARMER
Charm"er, n.
1. One who charms, or has power to charm; one who uses the power of
enchantment; a magician. Deut. xviii. 11.
2. One who delights and attracts the affections.
CHARMERESS
Charm"er*ess, n.
Defn: An enchantress. Chaucer.
CHARMFUL
Charm"ful, a.
Defn: Abounding with charms. "His charmful lyre." Cowley.
CHARMING
Charm"ing, a.
Defn: Pleasing the mind or senses in a high degree; delighting;
fascinating; attractive.
How charming is divine philosophy. Milton.
Syn. - Enchanting; bewitching; captivating; enrapturing; alluring;
fascinating; delightful; pleasurable; graceful; lovely; amiable;
pleasing; winning.
-- Charm"ing*ly, adv.
-- Charm"ing*ness, n.
CHARMLESS
Charm"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of charms. Swift.
CHARNECO; CHARNICO
Char"ne*co, Char"ni*co, n.
Defn: A sort of sweet wine. [Obs.] Shak.
CHARNEL
Char"nel, a. Etym: [F. charnel carnal, fleshly, fr. L. carnalis. See
Carnal.]
Defn: Containing the bodies of the dead. "Charnel vaults." Milton.
Charnel house, a tomb, vault, cemetery, or other place where the
bones of the dead are deposited; originally, a place for the bones
thrown up when digging new graves in old burial grounds.
CHARNEL
Char"nel, n.
Defn: A charnel house; a grave; a cemetery.
In their proud charnel of Thermopylæ. Byron.
CHARON
Cha"ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Cless. Myth.)
Defn: The son of Erebus and Nox, whose office it was to ferry the
souls of the dead over the Styx, a river of the infernal regions.
Shak.
CHARPIE
Char"pie, n. Etym: [F., properly fem. p. p. of OF. charpir, carpir,
to pluck, fr. L. carpere. Cf. Carpet.] (Med.)
Defn: Straight threads obtained by unraveling old linen cloth; --
used for surgical dressings.
CHARQUI
Char"qui, n. Etym: [Sp. A term used in South America, Central
America, and the Western United States.]
Defn: Jerked beef; beef cut into long strips and dried in the wind
and sun. Darwin.
CHARR
Charr, n.
Defn: See 1st Char.
CHARRAS
Char"ras, n.
Defn: The gum resin of the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). Same as
Churrus. Balfour.
CHARRE
Charre, n. Etym: [LL. charrus a certain weight.]
Defn: See Charge, n., 17.
CHARRY
Char"ry, a. Etym: [See 6th Char.]
Defn: Pertaining to charcoal, or partaking of its qualities.
CHART
Chart, n. Etym: [A doublet of card: cf. F. charte charter, carte
card. See Card, and cf. Charter.]
1. A sheet of paper, pasteboard, or the like, on which information is
exhibited, esp. when the information is arranged in tabular form; as,
an historical chart.
2. A map; esp., a hydrographic or marine map; a map on which is
projected a portion of water and the land which it surrounds, or by
which it is surrounded, intended especially for the use of seamen;
as, the United States Coast Survey charts; the English Admiralty
charts.
3. A written deed; a charter. Globular chart, a chart constructed on
a globular projection. See under Globular.
-- Heliographic chart, a map of the sun with its spots.
-- Mercator's chart, a chart constructed on the principle of
Mercator's projection. See Projection.
-- Plane chart, a representation of some part of the superficies of
the globe, in which its spherical form is disregarded, the meridians
being drawn parallel to each other, and the parallels of latitude at
equal distances.
-- Selenographic chart, a map representing the surface of the moon.
-- Topographic chart, a minute delineation of a limited place or
region.
CHART
Chart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Charted.]
Defn: To lay down in a chart; to map; to delineate; as, to chart a
coast.
CHARTA
Char"ta, n. Etym: [L., leaf of paper. See Chart.] (Law)
(a) Material on which instruments, books, etc., are written;
parchment or paper.
(b) A charter or deed; a writing by which a grant is made. See Magna
Charta.
CHARTACEOUS
Char*ta"ceous, a. Etym: [L. chartaceus. See Charta.]
Defn: Resembling paper or parchment; of paper-like texture; papery.
CHARTE
Charte, n. Etym: [F. See Chart.]
Defn: The constitution, or fundamental law, of the French monarchy,
as established on the restoration of Louis XVIII., in 1814.
CHARTER
Char"ter, n. Etym: [OF. chartre, F. chartre, charte, fr. L. chartula
a little paper, dim. of charta. See Chart, Card.]
1. A written evidence in due form of things done or granted,
contracts made, etc., between man and man; a deed, or conveyance.
[Archaic]
2. An instrument in writing, from the sovereign power of a state or
country, executed in due form, bestowing rights, franchises, or
privileges.
The king [John, a.d. 1215], with a facility somewhat suspicious,
signed and sealed the charter which was required of him. This famous
deed, commonly called the "Great Charter," either granted or secured
very important liberties and privileges to every order of men in the
kingdom. Hume.
3. An act of a legislative body creating a municipal or other
corporation and defining its powers and privileges. Also, an
instrument in writing from the constituted authorities of an order or
society (as the Freemasons), creating a lodge and defining its
powers.
4. A special privilege, immunity, or exemption.
My mother, Who has a charter to extol her blood, When she does praise
me, grieves me. Shak.
5. (Com.)
Defn: The letting or hiring a vessel by special contract, or the
contract or instrument whereby a vessel is hired or let; as, a ship
is offered for sale or charter. See Charter party, below. Charter
land (O. Eng. Law), land held by charter, or in socage; bookland.
-- Charter member, one of the original members of a society or
corporation, esp. one named in a charter, or taking part in the first
proceedings under it.
-- Charter party Etym: [F. chartre partie, or charte partie, a
divided charter; from the practice of cutting the instrument of
contract in two, and giving one part to each of the contractors]
(Com.), a mercantile lease of a vessel; a specific contract by which
the owners of a vessel let the entire vessel, or some principal part
of the vessel, to another person, to be used by the latter in
transportation for his own account, either under their charge or his.
-- People's Charter (Eng. Hist.), the document which embodied the
demands made by the Chartists, so called, upon the English government
in 1838.
CHARTER
Char"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chartered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chartering.]
1. To establish by charter.
2. To hire or let by charter, as a ship. See Charter party, under
Charter, n.
CHARTERED
Char"tered, a.
1. Granted or established by charter; having, or existing under, a
charter; having a privilege by charter.
The sufficiency of chartered rights. Palfrey.
The air, a chartered libertine. Shak.
2. Hired or let by charter, as a ship.
CHARTERER
Char"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who charters; esp. one who hires a ship for a voyage.
CHARTERHOUSE
Char"ter*house`, n.
Defn: A well known public school and charitable foundation in the
building once used as a Carthusian monastery (Chartreuse) in London.
CHARTERIST
Char"ter*ist, n.
Defn: Same as Chartist.
CHARTISM
Chart"ism, n. Etym: [F. charte charter. Cf. Charte, Chart.]
Defn: The principles of a political party in England (1838-48), which
contended for universal suffrage, the vote by ballot, annual
parliaments, equal electoral districts, and other radical reforms, as
set forth in a document called the People's Charter.
CHARTIST
Chart"ist, n.
Defn: A supporter or partisan of chartism. [Eng.]
CHARTLESS
Chart"less, a.
1. Without a chart; having no guide.
2. Not mapped; uncharted; vague. Barlow.
CHARTOGRAPHER; CHARTOGRAPHIC; CHARTOGRAPHY
Char*tog"ra*pher, n., Char`to*graph"ic (, a., Char*tog"ra*phy (, n.,
etc.
Defn: Same as Cartographer, Cartographic, Cartography, etc.
CHARTOMANCY
Char"to*man`cy, n. Etym: [L. charta paper + -mancy. Cf. Cartomancy.]
Defn: Divination by written paper or by cards.
CHARTOMETER
Char*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Chart + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring charts or maps.
CHARTREUSE
Char`treuse", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A Carthusian monastery; esp. La Grande Chartreuse, mother house of
the order, in the mountains near Grenoble, France.
2. An alcoholic cordial, distilled from aromatic herbs; -- made at La
Grande Chartreuse.
CHARTREUX
Char`treux", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A Carthusian.
CHARTULARY
Char"tu*la*ry, n.
Defn: See Cartulary.
CHARWOMAN
Char"wom`an, n.; pl. Charwomen. Etym: [See Char a chore.]
Defn: A woman hired for odd work or for single days.
CHARY
Char"y, a. Etym: [AS. cearig careful, fr. cearu care. See Care.]
Defn: Careful; wary; cautious; not rash, reckless, or spendthrift;
saving; frugal.
His rising reputation made him more chary of his fame. Jeffrey.
CHARYBDIS
Cha*ryb"dis, n. Etym: [L., Gr.
Defn: A dangerous whirlpool on the coast of Sicily opposite Scylla on
the Italian coast. It is personified as a female monster. See Scylla.
CHASABLE
Chas"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being chased; fit for hunting. Gower.
CHASE
Chase, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chased; p. pr. & vb. n. Chasing.] Etym:
[OF. chacier, F. chasser, fr. (assumed) LL. captiare, fr. L. captare
to strive to seize. See Catch.]
1. To pursue for the purpose of killing or taking, as an enemy, or
game; to hunt.
We are those which chased you from the field. Shak.
Philologists, who chase A panting syllable through time and place.
Cowper.
2. To follow as if to catch; to pursue; to compel to move on; to
drive by following; to cause to fly; -- often with away or off; as,
to chase the hens away.
Chased by their brother's endless malice from prince to prince and
from place to place. Knolles.
3. To pursue eagerly, as hunters pursue game.
Chasing each other merrily. Tennyson.
CHASE
Chase, v. i.
Defn: To give chase; to hunt; as, to chase around after a doctor.
[Colloq.]
CHASE
Chase, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chasse, fr. chasser. See Chase, v.]
1. Vehement pursuit for the purpose of killing or capturing, as of an
enemy, or game; an earnest seeking after any object greatly desired;
the act or habit of hunting; a hunt. "This mad chase of fame."
Dryden.
You see this chase is hotly followed. Shak.
2. That which is pursued or hunted.
Nay, Warwick, seek thee out some other chase, For I myself must hunt
this deer to death. Shak.
3. An open hunting ground to which game resorts, and which is private
properly, thus differing from a forest, which is not private
property, and from a park, which is inclosed. Sometimes written
chace. [Eng.]
4. (Court Tennis)
Defn: A division of the floor of a gallery, marked by a figure or
otherwise; the spot where a ball falls, and between which and the
dedans the adversary must drive his ball in order to gain a point.
Chase gun (Naut.), a cannon placed at the bow or stern of an armed
vessel, and used when pursuing an enemy, or in defending the vessel
when pursued.
-- Chase port (Naut.), a porthole from which a chase gun is fired.
-- Stern chase (Naut.), a chase in which the pursuing vessel follows
directly in the wake of the vessel pursued.
CHASE
Chase, n. Etym: [F. cháse, fr. L. capsa box, case. See Case a box.]
(Print.)
1. A rectangular iron frame in which pages or columns of type are
imposed.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The part of a cannon from the reënforce or the trunnions to the
swell of the muzzle. See Cannon.
3. A groove, or channel, as in the face of a wall; a trench, as for
the reception of drain tile.
4. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A kind of joint by which an overlap joint is changed to a flush
joint, by means of a gradually deepening rabbet, as at the ends of
clinker-built boats.
CHASE
Chase, v. t. Etym: [A contraction of enchase.]
1. To ornament (a surface of metal) by embossing, cutting away parts,
and the like.
2. To cut, so as to make a screw thread.
CHASER
Chas"er, n.
1. One who or that which chases; a pursuer; a driver; a hunter.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Same as Chase gun, esp. in terms bow chaser and stern chaser.
See under Bow, Stern.
CHASER
Chas"er, n.
1. One who chases or engraves. See 5th Chase, and Enchase.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A tool with several points, used for cutting or finishing screw
threads, either external or internal, on work revolving in a lathe.
CHASIBLE
Chas"i*ble, n.
Defn: See Chasuble.
CHASING
Chas"ing, n.
Defn: The art of ornamenting metal by means of chasing tools; also, a
piece of ornamental work produced in this way.
CHASM
Chasm, n. Etym: [L. chasma, Gr. Chaos.]
1. A deep opening made by disruption, as a breach in the earth or a
rock; a yawning abyss; a cleft; a fissure.
That deep, romantic chasm which slanted down the green hill.
Coleridge.
2. A void space; a gap or break, as in ranks of men.
Memory . . . fills up the chasms of thought. Addison.
CHASMED
Chasmed, a.
Defn: Having gaps or a chasm. [R.]
CHASMY
Chas"my, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chasm; abounding in chasms. Carlyle.
They cross the chasmy torrent's foam-lit bed. Wordsworth.
CHASSE
Chas`se", n. Etym: [F., fr. chassé, p. p. of chasser to chase.]
Defn: A movement in dancing, as across or to the right or left.
CHASSE
Chas`se", v. i. (Dancing)
Defn: To make the movement called chassé; as, all chassé; chassé to
the right or left.
CHASSE-CAFE
Chasse`-ca`fé", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + café coffee.]
Defn: See Chasse, n., above.
CHASSELAS
Chas"se*las, n. Etym: [F., from the village of Chasselas.]
Defn: A white grape, esteemed for the table.
CHASSE-MAREE
Chasse`-ma`rée", n. [F., fr. chasser to chase + marée tide.] (Naut.)
Defn: A French coasting lugger.
CHASSEPOT
Chasse`pot", n. Etym: [From the French inventor, A. A. Chassepot.]
(Mil.)
Defn: A kind of breechloading, center-fire rifle, or improved needle
gun.
CHASSEUR
Chas`seur", n. Etym: [F., a huntsman. See Chase to pursue.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: One of a body of light troops, cavalry or infantry, trained for
rapid movements.
2. An attendant upon persons of rank or wealth, wearing a plume and
sword.
The great chasseur who had announced her arrival. W. Irving.
CHASSIS
Chas"sis, n. Etym: [F. ch.] (Mil.)
Defn: A traversing base frame, or movable railway, along which the
carriage of a barbette or casemate gum moves backward and forward.
[See Gun carriage.]
CHAST
Chast, v. t.
Defn: to chasten. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHASTE
Chaste, a. Etym: [F. chaste, from L. castus pure, chaste; cf. Gr. to
purify.]
1. Pure from unlawful sexual intercourse; virtuous; continent. "As
chaste as Diana." Shak.
Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced. Milton.
2. Pure in thought and act; innocent; free from lewdness and
obscenity, or indecency in act or speech; modest; as, a chaste mind;
chaste eyes.
3. Pure in design and expression; correct; free from barbarisms or
vulgarisms; refined; simple; as, a chaste style in composition or
art.
That great model of chaste, lofty, and eloquence, the Book of Common
Prayer. Macaulay.
4. Unmarried. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Undefiled; pure; virtuous; continent; immaculate; spotless.
Chaste tree. Same as Agnus castus.
CHASTELY
Chaste"ly, adv.
Defn: In a chaste manner; with purity.
CHASTEN
Chas"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chastened; p. pr. & vb. n. Chastening.]
Etym: [OE. chastien, OF. Chastier, F. Ch, fr. L. castigare to punish,
chastise; castus pure + agere to lead, drive. See Chaste, Act, and
cf. Castigate, Chastise.]
1. To correct by punishment; to inflict pain upon the purpose of
reclaiming; to discipline; as, to chasten a son with a rod.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.
2. To purify from errors or faults; to refine.
They [classics] chasten and enlarge the mind, and excite to noble
actions. Layard.
Syn.
-- To chastise; punish; correct; discipline; castigate; afflict;
subdue; purify. To Chasten, Punish, Chastise. To chasten is to
subject to affliction or trouble, in order to produce a general
change for the better in life or character. To punish is to inflict
penalty for violation of law, disobedience to authority, or
intentional wrongdoing. To chastise is to punish a particular
offense, as with stripes, especially with the hope that suffering or
disgrace may prevent a repetition of faults.
CHASTENED
Chas"tened, a.
Defn: Corrected; disciplined; refined; purified; toned down. Sir. W.
Scott.
Of such a finished chastened purity. Tennyson.
CHASTENER
Chas"ten*er, n.
Defn: One who chastens.
CHASTENESS
Chaste"ness, n.
1. Chastity; purity.
2. (Literature & Art)
Defn: Freedom from all that is meretricious, gaundy, or affected; as,
chasteness of design.
CHASTISABLE
Chas*tis"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable or deserving of chastisement; punishable. Sherwood.
CHASTISE
Chas*tise", v. t. [imp & p. p. Chastised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chastising.] Etym: [OE. chastisen; chastien + ending -isen + modern -
ise, ize, L. izare, G. Chasten.]
1. To inflict pain upon, by means of stripes, or in any other manner,
for the purpose of punishment or reformation; to punish, as with
stripes.
How fine my master is! I am afraid He will chastise me. Shak.
I am glad to see the vanity or envy of the canting chemists thus
discovered and chastised. Boyle.
2. To reduce to order or obedience; to correct or purify; to free
from faults or excesses.
The gay, social sense, by decency chastised. Thomson.
Syn.
-- See Chasten.
CHASTISEMENT
Chas"tise*ment, n. Etym: [From Chastise.]
Defn: The act of chastising; pain inflicted for punishment and
correction; discipline; punishment.
Shall I so much dishonor my fair stars, On equal terms to give him
chastesement! Shak.
I have borne chastisement; I will not offend any more. Job xxxiv. 31.
CHASTISER
Chas*tis"er, n.
Defn: One who chastises; a punisher; a corrector. Jer. Taylor.
The chastiser of the rich. Burke.
CHASTITY
Chas"ti*ty, n. Etym: [F. chasteté, fr. L. castitas, fr. castus. See
Chaste.]
1. The state of being chaste; purity of body; freedom from unlawful
sexual intercourse.
She . . . hath preserved her spotless chastity. T. Carew.
2. Moral purity.
So dear to heaven is saintly chastity, That, when a soul is found
sicerely so A thousand liveried angels lackey her. Milton.
3. The unmarried life; celibacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (Literature & Art)
Defn: Chasteness.
CHASUBLE
Chas"u*ble, n. Etym: [F. chasuble, LL. casubula, cassibula, casula, a
hooded garment, covering the person like a little house; cf. It.
casupola, casipola, cottage, dim of L. casa cottage.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The outer vestment worn by the priest in saying Mass,
consisting, in the Roman Catholic Church, of a broad, flat, back
piece, and a narrower front piece, the two connected over the
shoulders only. The back has usually a large cross, the front an
upright bar or pillar, designed to be emblematical of Christ's
sufferings. In the Greek Church the chasuble is a large round mantle.
[Written also chasible, and chesible.]
CHAT
Chat, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Chatting.] Etym:
[From Chatter. *22.]
Defn: To talk in a light and familiar manner; to converse without
form or ceremony; to gossip. Shak.
To chat a while on their adventures. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To talk; chatter; gossip; converse.
CHAT
Chat, v. t.
Defn: To talk of. [Obs.]
CHAT
Chat, n.
1. Light, familiar talk; conversation; gossip.
Snuff, or fan, supply each pause of chat, With singing, laughing,
ogling, and all that. Pope.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Icteria, allied to the warblers, in
America. The best known species are the yelow-breasted chat (I.
viridis), and the long chat (I. longicauda). In Europe the name is
given to several birds of the family Saxicolidæ, as the stonechat,
and whinchat. Bush chat. (Zoöl.) See under Bush.
CHAT
Chat, n.
1. A twig, cone, or little branch. See Chit.
2. pl. (Mining)
Defn: Small stones with ore. Chat potatoes, small potatoes, such as
are given to swine. [Local.]
CHATEAU
Cha`teau", n.; pl. Chateux. Etym: [F. château a castle. See Castle.]
1. A castle or a fortress in France.
2. A manor house or residence of the lord of the manor; a gentleman's
country seat; also, particularly, a royal residence; as, the chateau
of the Louvre; the chateau of the Luxembourg.
Note: The distinctive, French term for a fortified caste of the
middle ages is château-fort. Chateau en Espagne ( Etym: [F.], a
castle in Spain, that is, a castle in the air, Spain being the region
of romance.
CHATELAINE
Chat"e*laine, n. Etym: [F. châtelaine the wife of a castellan, the
mistress of a chateau, a chatelaine chain.]
Defn: An ornamental hook, or brooch worn by a lady at her waist, and
having a short chain or chains attached for a watch, keys, trinkets,
etc. Also used adjectively; as, a chatelaine chain.
CHATELET
Chat"e*let, n. Etym: [F. châtelet, dim. of château. See Castle.]
Defn: A little castle.
CHATELLANY
Chat"el*la*ny, n. Etym: [F. châtellenie.]
Defn: Same as Castellany.
CHATI
Cha`ti", n. Etym: [Cf. F. chat cat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American species of tiger cat (Felis mitis).
CHATOYANT
Cha*toy"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of chatoyer to be chatoyant, fr.
chat cat.] (Min.)
Defn: Having a changeable, varying luster, or color, like that of a
changeable silk, or oa a cat's eye in the dark.
CHATOYANT
Cha*toy"ant, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hard stone, as the cat's-eye, which presents on a polished
surface, and in the interior, an undulating or wary light.
CHATOYMENT
Cha*toy"ment, n. Etym: [F. chatoiement. See Chatoyant.]
Defn: Changeableness of color, as in a mineral; play of colors.
Cleaceland.
CHATTEL
Chat"tel, n. Etym: [OF. chatel; another form of catel. See Cattle.]
(Law)
Defn: Any item of movable or immovable property except the freehold,
or the things which are parcel of it. It is a more extensive term
than goods or effects.
Note: Chattels are personal or real: personal are such as are
movable, as goods, plate, money; real are such rights in land as are
less than a freehold, as leases, mortgages, growing corn, etc.
Chattel mortgage (Law), a mortgage on personal property, as
distinguished from one on real property.
CHATTELISM
Chat"tel*ism, n.
Defn: The act or condition of holding chattels; the state of being a
chattel.
CHATTER
Chat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Chattering.]
Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Chat, v. i. Chitter.]
1. To utter sounds which somewhat resemble language, but are
inarticulate and indistinct.
The jaw makes answer, as the magpie chatters. Wordsworth.
2. To talk idly, carelessly, or with undue rapidity; to jabber; to
prate.
To tame a shrew, and charm her chattering tongue. Shak.
3. To make a noise by rapid collisions.
With chattering teeth, and bristling hair upright. Dryden.
CHATTER
Chat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To utter rapidly, idly, or indistinctly.
Begin his witless note apace to chatter. Spenser.
CHATTER
Chat"ter, n.
1. Sounds like those of a magpie or monkey; idle talk; rapid,
thoughtless talk; jabber; prattle.
Your words are but idle and empty chatter. Longfellow.
2. Noise made by collision of the teeth, as in shivering.
CHATTERATION
Chat*ter*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or habit of chattering. [Colloq.]
CHATTERER
Chat"ter*er, n.
1. A prater; an idle talker.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the family Ampelidæ -- so called from its monotonous
note. The Bohemion chatterer (Ampelis garrulus) inhabits the arctic
regions of both continents. In America the cedar bird is a more
common species. See Bohemian chatterer, and Cedar bird.
CHATTERING
Chat"ter*ing, n.
Defn: The act or habit of talking idly or rapidly, or of making
inarticulate sounds; the sounds so made; noise made by the collision
of the teeth; chatter.
CHATTER MARK
Chat"ter mark`.
(a) (Mach.) One of the fine undulations or ripples which are formed
on the surface of work by a cutting tool which chatters.
(b) (Geol.) A short crack on a rock surface planed smooth by a
glacier.
CHATTINESS
Chat"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chatty, or of talking easily and
pleasantly.
CHATTY
Chat"ty, a.
Defn: Given to light, familiar talk; talkative. Lady M. W. Montagu.
CHATTY
Chat"ty, n. Etym: [Tamil shati.]
Defn: A porous earthen pot used in India for cooling water, etc.
CHATWOOD
Chat"wood`, n. Etym: [Chat a little stick + wood.]
Defn: Little sticks; twigs for burning; fuel. Johnson.
CHAUD-MEDLEY
Chaud"-med`ley, n. Etym: [F. chaude mêlée; chaud hot + mêler
(Formerly sometimes spelt medler) to mingle.] (Law)
Defn: The killing of a person in an affray, in the heat of blood, and
while under the influence of passion, thus distinguished from chance-
medley or killing in self-defense, or in a casual affray. Burrill.
CHAUDRON
Chau"dron, n.
Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]
CHAUFFER
Chauf"fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chauffoir a kind of stone, fr. chauffer
to heat. See Chafe.] (Chem.)
Defn: A table stove or small furnace, usually a cylindrical box of
sheet iron, with a grate at the bottem, and an open top.
CHAUFFEUR
Chauf`feur", n. [F., lit., stoker.]
1. [pl.] (F. Hist.)
Defn: Brigands in bands, who, about 1793, pillaged, burned, and
killed in parts of France; -- so called because they used to burn the
feet of their victims to extort money.
2. One who manages the running of an automobile; esp., the paid
operator of a motor vehicle.
CHAUFFEUSE
Chauf`feuse", n. [F., fem. of chauffeur.]
Defn: A woman chauffeur.
CHAULDRON
Chaul"dron, n.
Defn: See Chawdron. [Obs.]
CHAUN
Chaun, n.
Defn: A gap. [Obs.] Colgrave.
CHAUN
Chaun, v. t. & i.
Defn: To open; to yawn. [Obs.]
O, chaun thy breast. Marston.
CHAUNT
Chaunt, n. & v.
Defn: See Chant.
CHAUNTER
Chaunt"er, n.
1. A street seller of ballads and other broadsides. [Slang, Eng.]
2. A deceitful, tricky dealer or horse jockey. [Colloq.]
He was a horse chaunter; he's a leg now. Dickens.
3. The flute of a bagpipe. See Chanter, n., 3.
CHAUNTERIE
Chaunt"er*ie, n.
Defn: See Chantry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHAUS
Cha"us, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: a lynxlike animal of Asia and Africa (Lynx Lybicus).
CHAUSSES
Chausses, n. pl. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The garment for the legs and feet and for the body below the
waist, worn in Europe throughout the Middle Ages; applied also to the
armor for the same parts, when fixible, as of chain mail.
CHAUSSURE
Chaus`sure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A foot covering of any kind.
CHAUTAUQUA SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
Chau*tau"qua sys"tem of education.
Defn: The system of home study established in connection with the
summer schools assembled at Chautauqua, N. Y., by the Methodist
Episcopal bishop, J. H. Vincent.
CHAUVINISM
Chau"vin*ism, n. Etym: [F. chauvinisme, from Chauvin, a character
represented as making grotesque and threatening displays of his
attachment to his fallen chief, Napoleon I., in 1815.]
Defn: Blind and absurd devotion to a fallen leader or an obsolete
cause; hence, absurdly vainglorious or exaggerated patriotism.
-- Chau"vin*ist, n.
-- Chau`vin*is"tic (, a.
Note: To have a generous belief in the greatness of one's country is
not chauvinism. It is the character of the latter quality to be
wildly extravagant, to be fretful and childish and silly, to resent a
doubt as an insult, and to offend by its very frankness. Prof. H.
Tuttle.
CHAVENDER
Chav"en*der, n. Etym: [Cf. Cheven.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chub. Walton.
CHAW
Chaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chawing.] Etym:
[See Chew.]
1. To grind with the teeth; to masticate, as food in eating; to chew,
as the cud; to champ, as the bit.
The trampling steed, with gold and purple trapped, Chawing the foamy
bit, there fiercely stood. Surrey.
2. To ruminate in thought; to consider; to keep the mind working
upon; to brood over. Dryden.
Note: A word formerly in good use, but now regarded as vulgar.
CHAW
Chaw, n. Etym: [See Chaw, v. t.]
1. As much as is put in the mouth at once; a chew; a quid. [Law]
2. Etym: [Cf. Jaw.]
Defn: The jaw. [Obs.] Spenser. Chaw bacon, a rustic; a bumpkin; a
lout. (Law) -- Chaw tooth, a grinder. (Law)
CHAWDRON
Chaw"dron, n. Etym: [OF. chaudun, caudun, caldun; cf. G. kaldaunen
guts, bowels, LL. calduna intestine, W. coluddyn gut, dim. of coludd
bowels.]
Defn: Entrails. [Obs.] [Written also chaudron, chauldron.] Shak.
CHAY ROOT
Chay" root`. Etym: [Tamil shaya.]
Defn: The root of the Oldenlandia umbellata, native in India, which
yieds a durable red dyestuff. [Written also choy root.]
CHAZY EPOCH
Cha*zy" ep"och. (Geol.)
Defn: An epoch at the close of the Canadian period of the American
Lower Silurian system; -- so named from a township in Clinton Co.,
New York. See the Diagram under Geology.
CHEAP
Cheap, n. Etym: [AS. ceáp bargain, sale, price; akin to D. Koop
purchase, G. Kauf, ICel. kaup bargain. Cf. Cheapen, Chapman, Chaffer,
Cope, v. i.]
Defn: A bargain; a purchase; cheapness. [Obs.]
The sack that thou hast drunk me would have bought me lights as good
cheap at the dearest chandler's in Europe. Shak.
CHEAP
Cheap, a. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. "good cheap": a good purchase or
bargain; cf. F. bon marché, à bon marché. See Cheap, n., Cheapen.]
1. Having a low price in market; of small cost or price, as compared
with the usual price or the real value.
Where there are a great sellers to a few buyers, there the thing to
be sold will be cheap. Locke.
2. Of comparatively small value; common; mean.
You grow cheap in every subject's eye. Dryden.
Dog cheap, very cheap, -- a phrase formed probably by the
catachrestical transposition of good cheap. [Colloq.]
CHEAP
Cheap, adv.
Defn: Cheaply. Milton.
CHEAP
Cheap, v. i.
Defn: To buy; to bargain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHEAPEN
Cheap"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheapened; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheapening.]
Etym: [OE. cheapien, chepen, to trade, buy, sell, AS. ceápian; akin
to D. koopen to buy, G. kaufen, Icel. kaupa, Goth. kaupon to trade.
Cf. Chap to bargain.]
1. To ask the price of; to bid, bargain, or chaffer for. [Obsoles.]
Pretend to cheapen goods, but nothing buy. Swift.
2. Etym: [Cf. Cheap, a.]
Defn: To beat down the price of; to lessen the value of; to
depreciate. Pope.
My proffered love has cheapened me. Dryden.
CHEAPENER
Cheap"en*er, n.
Defn: One who cheapens.
CHEAP-JACK; CHEAP-JOHN
Cheap"-jack`, Cheap"-john`, n.
Defn: A seller of low-priced or second goods; a hawker.
CHEAPLY
Cheap"ly, adv.
Defn: At a small price; at a low value; in a common or inferior
manner.
CHEAPNESS
Cheap"ness, n.
Defn: Lowness in price, considering the usual price, or real value.
CHEAR
Chear, n. & v. [Obs.]
Defn: See Cheer.
CHEAT
Cheat, n. Etym: [rob. an abbrevation of escheat, lands or tenements
that fall to a lord or to the state by forfeiture, or by the death of
the tenant without heirs; the meaning being explained by the frauds,
real or supposed, that were resorted to in procuring escheats. See
Escheat.]
1. An act of deception or fraud; that which is the means of fraud or
deception; a fraud; a trick; imposition; imposture.
When I consider life, 'tis all a cheat. Dryden.
2. One who cheats or deceives; an impostor; a deceiver; a cheater.
Airy wonders, which cheats interpret. Johnson
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A troublesome grass, growing as a weed in grain fields; --
called also chess. See Chess.
4. (Law)
Defn: The obtaining of property from another by an intentional active
distortion of the truth.
Note: When cheats are effected by deceitful or illegal symbols or
tokens which may affect the public at large and against which common
prudence could not have guarded, they are indictable at common law.
Wharton.
Syn.
-- Deception; imposture; fraud; delusion; artifice; trick; swindle;
deceit; guile; finesse; stratagem.
CHEAT
Cheat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Cheating.] Etym:
[See CHeat, n., Escheat.]
1. To deceive and defraud; to impose upon; to trick; to swindle.
I am subject to a tyrant, a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath
cheated me of this island. Shak.
2. To beguile. Sir W. Scott.
To cheat winter of its dreariness. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- To trick; cozen; gull; chouse; fool; outwit; circumvent; beguile;
mislead; dupe; swindle; defraud; overreach; delude; hoodwink;
deceive; bamboozle.
CHEAT
Cheat, v. i.
Defn: To practice fraud or trickery; as, to cheat at cards.
CHEAT
Cheat, n. Etym: [Perh. from OF. cheté goods, chattels.]
Defn: Wheat, or bread made from wheat. [Obs.] Drayton.
Their purest cheat, Thrice bolted, kneaded, and subdued in paste.
Chapman.
CHEATABLE
Cheat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cheated.
CHEATABLENESS
Cheat"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being cheated.
CHEATER
Cheat"er, n.
1. One who cheats.
2. An escheator. [R.] Shak.
CHEBACCO
Che*bac"co, n. Etym: [From Chebacco, the former name of Essex, a town
in Massachusetts where such vessels were built.] (Naut.)
Defn: A narrow-sterned boat formerly much used in the Newfoundland
fisheries; -- called also pinkstern and chebec. Bartlett.
CHEBEC
Che"bec, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Chebacco.
CHEBEC
Che*bec", n. Etym: [Named from its note.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small American bird (Empidonax minimus); the least
flycatcher.
CHECK
Check, n. Etym: [OE. chek, OF. eschec, F. échec, a stop, hindrance,
orig. check in the game of chess, pl. échecs chess, through AR., fr.
Pers. shah king. See Shah, and cf. Checkmate, Chess, Checker.]
1. (Chess)
Defn: A word of warning denoting that the king is in danger; such a
menace of a player's king by an adversary's move as would, if it were
any other piece, expose it to immediate capture. A king so menaced is
said to be in check, and must be made safe at the next move.
2. A condition of interrupted or impeded progress; arrest; stop;
delay; as, to hold an enemy in check.
Which gave a remarkable check to the first progress of Christianity.
Addison.
No check, no stay, this streamlet fears. Wordsworth.
3. Whatever arrests progress, or limits action; an obstacle, guard,
restraint, or rebuff.
Useful check upon the administration of government. Washington.
A man whom no check could abash. Macaulay.
4. A mark, certificate, or token, by which, errors may be prevented,
or a thing or person may be identified; as, checks placed against
items in an account; a check given for baggage; a return check on a
railroad.
5. A written order directing a bank or banker to pay money as therein
stated. See Bank check, below.
6. A woven or painted design in squares resembling the patten of a
checkerboard; one of the squares of such a design; also, cloth having
such a figure.
7. (Falconry)
Defn: The forsaking by a hawk of its proper game to follow other
birds.
8. Small chick or crack. Bank check, a written order on a banker or
broker to pay money in his keeping belonging to the signer.
-- Check book, a book containing blank forms for checks upon a bank.
-- Check hook, a hook on the saddle of a harness, over which a
checkrein is looped.
-- Check list, a list or catalogue by which things may be verified,
or on which they may be checked.
-- Check nut (Mech.), a secondary nut, screwing down upon the
primary nut to secure it. Knight.
-- Check valve (Mech.), a valve in the feed pipe of a boiler to
prevent the return of the feed water.
-- To take check, to take offense. [Obs.] Dryden.
Syn.
-- Hindrance; setback; interruption; obstruction; reprimand;
censure; rebuke; reproof; repulse; rebuff; tally; counterfoil;
counterbalance; ticket; draft.
CHECK
Check, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checked; p. pr. & vb. n. checking.]
1. (Chess)
Defn: To make a move which puts an adversary's piece, esp. his king,
in check; to put in check.
2. To put a sudden restraint upon; to stop temporarily; to hinder; to
repress; to curb.
So many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of violence and
oppression. Burke.
3. To verify, to guard, to make secure, by means of a mark, token, or
other check; to distinguish by a check; to put a mark against (an
item) after comparing with an original or a counterpart in order to
secure accuracy; as, to check an account; to check baggage.
4. To chide, rebuke, or reprove.
The good king, his master, will check him for it. Shak.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: To slack or ease off, as a brace which is too stiffly extended.
6. To make checks or chinks in; to cause to crack; as, the sun checks
timber.
Syn.
-- To restrain; curb; bridle; repress; control; hinder; impede;
obstruct; interrupt; tally; rebuke; reprove; rebuff.
CHECK
Check, v. i.
Defn: To make a stop; to pause; -- with at.
The mind, once jaded by an attempt above its power, either is
disabled for the future, or else checks at any vigorous undertaking
ever after. Locke.
2. To clash or interfere. [R.] Bacon.
3. To act as a curb or restraint.
It [his presence] checks too strong upon me. Dryden.
4. To crack or gape open, as wood in drying; or to crack in small
checks, as varnish, paint, etc.
5. (Falconry)
Defn: To turn, when in pursuit of proper game, and fly after other
birds.
And like the haggard, check at every feather That comes before his
eye. Shak.
CHECK
Check, a.
Defn: Checkered; designed in checks.
CHECKAGE
Check"age, n.
1. The act of checking; as, the checkage of a name or of an item in a
list.
2. The items, or the amount, to which attention is called by a check
or checks.
CHECKER
Check"er, n. Etym: [From Check, v. t.]
Defn: One who checks.
CHECKER
Check"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkered; p. pr. & vb. n. Checkering.]
Etym: [From OF. eschequier a chessboard, F. échiquier. See Check, n.,
and cf. 3d Checker.]
1. To mark with small squares like a checkerboard, as by crossing
stripes of different colors.
2. To variegate or diversify with different qualities, color, scenes,
or events; esp., to subject to frequent alternations of prosterity
and adversity.
Our minds are, as it were, checkered with truth and falsehood.
Addison.
CHECKER
Check"er, n. Etym: [OF. eschequier. See Checker, v. t.]
1. A piece in the game of draughts or checkers.
2. A pattern in checks; a single check.
3. Checkerwork.
Note: This word is also written chequer.
CHECKERBERRY
Check"er*ber`ry, n.; pl. Checkerberries. (Bot.)
Defn: A spicy plant and its bright red berry; the wintergreen
(Gaultheria procumbens). Also incorrectly applied to the partridge
berry (Mitchella repens).
CHECKERBOARD
Check"er*board, n.
Defn: A board with sixty-four squares of alternate color, used for
playing checkers or draughts.
CHECKERED
Check"ered, a.
1. Marked with alternate squares or checks of different color or
material.
Dancing in the checkered shade. Milton.
2. Diversified or variegated in a marked manner, as in appearance,
character, circumstances, etc.
This checkered narrative. Macaulay.
CHECKERS
Check"ers, n. pl. Etym: [See Checher, v.]
Defn: A game, called also daughts, played on a checkerboard by two
persons, each having twelve men (counters or checkers) which are
moved diagonally. The game is ended when either of the players has
lost all his men, or can not move them.
CHECKERWORK
Check"er*work`, n.
1. Work consisting of or showing checkers varied alternately as to
colors or materials.
2. Any aggregate of varied vicissitudes.
How strange a checkerwork of Providence is the life of man. De Foe.
CHECKLATON
Check"la*ton, n.
1. Ciclatoun. [Obs.]
2. Gilded leather. [Obs.] Spenser.
CHECKLESS
Check"less, a.
Defn: That can not be checked or restrained.
CHECKMATE
Check"mate, n. Etym: [F. échec et mat, fr. Per. shah mat ceckmate,
lit., the king is dead, fr. Ar. mata he died, is dead. The king, when
made prisoner, or checkmated, is assumed to be dead, and the game is
finished. See Chess.]
1. The position in the game of chess when a king is in check and
cannot be released, -- which ends the game.
2. A complete check; utter defeat or overthrow.
CHECKMATE
Check"mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Checkmated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Checkmating.]
1. (Chess)
Defn: To check (an adversary's king) in such a manner that escape in
impossible; to defeat (an adversary) by putting his king in check
from which there is no escape.
2. To defeat completely; to terminate; to thwart.
To checkmate and control my just demands. Ford.
CHECKREIN
Check"rein`, n.
1. A short rein looped over the check hook to prevent a horse from
lowering his head; -- called also a bearing rein.
2. A branch rein connecting the driving rein of one horse of a span
or pair with the bit of the other horse.
CHECKROLL
Check"roll`, n.
Defn: A list of servants in a household; -- called also chequer roll.
CHECKSTRING
Check"string`, n.
Defn: A cord by which a person in a carriage or horse car may signal
to the driver.
CHECKWORK
Check"work, n.
Defn: Anything made so as to form alternate squares lke those of a
checkerboard.
CHECKY
Check"y, a. (Her.)
Defn: Divided into small alternating squares of two tinctures; --
said of the field or of an armorial bearing. [Written also checquy,
cheguy.]
CHEDDAR
Ched"dar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or made at, Cheddar, in England; as,
Cheddar cheese.
CHEEK
Cheek, n. Etym: [OE. cheke, cheoke, AS. céace, céoce; cf. Goth.
kukjan to kiss, D. kaak cheek; perh. akin to E. chew, jaw.]
1. The side of the face below the eye.
2. The cheek bone. [Obs.] Caucer.
3. pl. (Mech.)
Defn: Those pieces of a machine, or of any timber, or stone work,
which form corresponding sides, or which are similar and in pair; as,
the cheeks (jaws) of a vise; the cheeks of a gun carriage, etc.
4. pl.
Defn: The branches of a bridle bit. Knight.
5. (Founding)
Defn: A section of a flask, so made that it can be moved laterally,
to permit the removal of the pattern from the mold; the middle part
of a flask.
6. Cool confidence; assurance; impudence. [Slang] Cheek of beef. See
Illust. of Beef.
-- Cheek bone (Anat.) the bone of the side of the fase; esp., the
malar bone.
-- Cheek by jowl, side by side; very intimate.
-- Cheek pouch (Zoöl.), a sacklike dilation of the cheeks of certain
monkeys and rodents, used for holding food.
-- Cheeks of a block, the two sides of the shell of a tackle block.
-- Cheeks of a mast, the projection on each side of a mast, upon
which the trestletrees rest.
-- Cheek tooth (Anat.), a hinder or molar tooth.
-- Butment cheek. See under Butment.
CHEEK
Cheek, v. t.
Defn: To be impudent or saucy to. [Slang.]
CHEEKED
Cheeked, a.
Defn: Having a cheek; -- used in composition. "Rose-cheeked Adonis."
Shak.
CHEEKY
Cheek"y,
Defn: a Brazen-faced; impudent; bold. [Slang.]
CHEEP
Cheep, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cheeped.] Etym: [Cf. Chirp].
Defn: To chirp, as a young bird.
CHEEP
Cheep, v. t.
Defn: To give expression to in a chirping tone.
Cheep and twitter twenty million loves. Tennyson.
CHEEP
Cheep, n.
Defn: A chirp, peep, or squeak, as of a young bird or mousse.
CHEER
Cheer, n. Etym: [OE. chere face, welcome, cheer, OF. chiere, F.
chère, fr. LL. cara face, Gr. , L. cerebrum brain, G. hirn, and E.
cranium.]
1. The face; the countenance or its expression. [Obs.] "Sweat of thy
cheer." Wyclif.
2. Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart.
Be of good cheer. Matt. ix. 2.
The parents . . . fled away with heavy cheer. Holland.
3. Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation.
I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was
wont to have. Shak.
1. That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions
prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good
cheer.
5. A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm,
applause, favor, etc.
Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street. Tennyson.
Whzt cheer Now do you fare What is there that is cheering
CHEER
Cheer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cheered; p. pr. & vb. n. cheering.]
1. To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with
up. Cowpe.
2. To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to
solace or comfort.
The proud he tamed, the penitent he cheered. Dryden.
3. To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to
cheer hounds in a chase. To cheer ship, to salute a passing ship by
cheers of sailors stationed in the rigging.
Syn.
-- To gladden; encourage; inspirit; comfort; console; enliven;
refresh; exhilarate; animate; applaud.
CHEER
Cheer, v. i.
1. To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with
up.
At sight of thee my gloomy soul cheers up. A. Philips.
2. To be in any state or temper of mind. [Obs.]
How cheer'st thou, Jessica Shak.
3. To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc.
And even the ranks of Tusculum Could scare forbear to cheer.
Macaulay.
CHEERER
Cheer"er, n.
Defn: One who cheers; one who, or that which, gladdens. "Thou cheerer
of our days." Wotton. "Prime cheerer, light." Thomson.
CHEERFUL
Cheer"ful, a.
Defn: Having or showing good spirits or joy; cheering; cheery;
contented; happy; joyful; lively; animated; willing.
To entertain a cheerful disposition. Shak.
The cheerful birds of sundry kind Do chant sweet music. Spenser.
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay.
This general applause and cheerful shout. Shak.
Syn.
-- Lively; animated; gay; joyful; lightsome; gleeful; blithe; airy;
sprightly; jocund; jolly; joyous; vivacious; buoyant; sunny; happy;
hopeful.
CHEERFULLY
Cheer"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cheerful manner, gladly.
CHEERFULNESS
Cheer"ful*ness, n.
Defn: Good spirits; a state of moderate joy or gayety; alacrity.
CHEERILY
Cheer"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cheery manner.
CHEERINESS
Cheer"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being cheery.
CHEERINGLY
Cheer"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to cheer or encourage.
CHEERISNESS
Cheer"is*ness, n.
Defn: Cheerfulness. [Obs.]
There is no Christian duty that is not to be seasoned and set off
with cheerishness. Milton.
CHEERLESS
Cheer"less, a.
Defn: Without joy, gladness, or comfort.
-- Cheer"less*ly, adv.
-- Cheer"less*ness, n.
My cheerful day is turned to cheerles night. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Gloomy; sad; comfortless; dispiriting; dicsconsolate; dejected;
melancholy; forlorn.
CHEERLY
Cheer"ly, a.
Defn: Gay; cheerful. [Obs.] Shak.
CHEERLY
Cheer"ly, adv.
Defn: Cheerily. [Archaic] Tennyson.
CHEERRY
Cheer"ry, a.
Defn: Cheerful; lively; gay; bright; pleasant; as, a cheery person.
His cheery little study, where the sunshine glimmered so pleasantly.
Hawthorne.
CHEESE
Cheese, n. Etym: [OE. chese, AS. cese, fr. L. caseus, LL. casius. Cf.
Casein.]
1. The curd of milk, coagulated usually with rennet, separated from
the whey, and pressed into a solid mass in a hoop or mold.
2. A mass of pomace, or ground apples, pressed togehter in the form
of a cheese.
3. The flat, circuliar, mucilaginous fruit of the dwarf mallow (Malva
rotundifolia). [Colloq.]
4. A low courtesy; -- so called on account of the cheese form assumed
by a woman's dress when she stoops after extending the skirts by a
rapid gyration. De Quincey. Thackeray. Cheese cake, a cake made of or
filled with, a composition of soft curds, sugar, and butter. Prior.
-- Cheese fly (Zoöl.), a black dipterous insect (Piophila casei) of
which the larvæ or maggots, called ckippers or hoppers, live in
cheese.
-- Cheese mite (Zoöl.), a minute mite (Tryoglyhus siro) in cheese
and other articles of food.
-- Cheese press, a press used in making cheese, to separate the whey
from the curd, and to press the curd into a mold.
-- Cheese rennet (Bot.), a plant of the Madder family (Golium verum,
or yellow bedstraw), sometimes used to coagulate milk. The roots are
used as a substitute for madder.
-- Cheese vat, a vat or tub in which the curd is formed and cut or
broken, in cheese making.
CHEESE CLOTH
Cheese" cloth`.
Defn: A thin, loosewoven cotton cloth, such as is used in pressing
cheese curds.
CHEESELEP
Cheese"lep, n. Etym: [Cf. Keslop.]
Defn: A bag in which rennet is kept.
CHEESEMONGER
Cheese"mon`ger, n.
Defn: One who deals incheese. B. Jonson.
CHEESEPARING
Cheese"par`ing, n.
Defn: A thin portion of the rind of a cheese.
-- a.
Defn: Scrimping; mean; as, cheeseparing economy.
CHEESINESS
Chees"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cheesy.
CHEESY
Chees"y, a.
Defn: Having the nature, qualities, taste, form, consistency, or
appearance of cheese.
CHEETAH
Chee"tah, n. Etym: [Hind. chita.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of leopard (Cynælurus jubatus) tamed and used for
hunting in India. The woolly cheetah of South Africa is C. laneus.
[Written also chetah.]
CHEF
Chef, n. Etym: [F.]
1. A chief of head person.
2. The head cook of large establishment, as a club, a family, etc.
3. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Chief.
CHEF-D'OEUVRE
Chef`-d'oeuvre", n.; pl. Chefs-d'oeuvre. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A masterpiece; a capital work in art, literature, etc.
CHEGOE; CHEGRE
Cheg"oe, Cheg"re, n.
Defn: See Chigoe.
CHEILOPLASTY
Chei"lo*plas`ty, n. Etym: [Gr. -plasty.] (Surg.)
Defn: The process of forming an artificial tip or part of a lip, by
using for the purpose a piece of healthy tissue taken from some
neighboring part.
CHEILOPODA
Chei*lop"o*da, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ch.
CHEIROPTER
Chei*rop"ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cheiroptera.
CHEIROPTERA
Chei*rop"te*ra, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of mammalia, including the bats, having four toes of
each of the anterior limbs elongated and connected by a web, so that
they can be used like wings in flying. See Bat.
CHEIROPTEROUS
Chei*rop"ter*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Cheiroptera, or Bat family.
CHEIROPTERYGIUM
Chei*rop`te*ryg"i*um, n.; pl. Cheiropterygia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
(Anat.)
Defn: The typical pentadactyloid limb of the higher vertebrates.
CHEIROSOPHY
Chei*ros"o*phy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The art of reading character as it is delineated in the hand.
-- Chei*ros"o*phist (, n.
CHEIROTHERIUM
Chei`ro*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Poleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct animals, so named from fossil footprints
rudely resembling impressions of the human hand, and believed to have
been made by labyrinthodont reptiles. See Illustration in Appendix.
CHEKELATOUN
Chek`e*la*toun", n.
Defn: See Ciclatoun. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHEKMAK
Chek"mak, n.
Defn: A turkish fabric of silk and cotton, with gold thread
interwoven.
CHELA
Che"la, n.; pl. Chelæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pincherlike claw of Crustacea and Arachnida.
CHELATE
Che"late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Cheliferous.
CHELERYTHRINE
Chel`e*ryth"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Am alkaloidal principle obtained from the celandine, and named
from the red color of its salts, It is a coloriess crystalline
substance, and acts as an acrid narcotic poison. It is identical with
sanguinarine.
CHELICERA
Che*lic"e*ra, n.; pl. Cheliceræ Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the anterior pair of mouth organs, terminated by a
pincherlike claw, in scorpions and allied Arachnida. They are
homologous with the falcers of spiders, and probably with the
mandibles of insects.
CHELIDON
Chel"i*don, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The hollow at the flexure of the arm.
CHELIDONIC
Chel`i*don"ic, a. Etym: [See Celandine.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the celandine. Cheidonic
acid, a weak acid extracted fron the celandine (Chelidonium majus),
as a white crystalline substance.
CHELIDONIUS
Chel`i*do"ni*us, n. Etym: [L. (sc. lapillus.)]
Defn: A small stone taken from the gizzard of a young swallow.
-- anciently worn as a medicinal charm.
CHELIFER
Chel"i*fer, n. Etym: [Gr. -fer.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Book scorpion, under Book.
CHELIFEROUS
Che*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. -ferous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having cheliform claws, like a crab.
CHELIFORM
Chel"i*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a movable joint or finger closing againts a preceding
joint or a projecting part of it, so that the whole may be ised for
grasping, as the claw of a crab; pincherlike.
CHELONE
Che*lo"ne, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of hardy perennial flowering plants, of the order
Scrophulariaceaæ., natives of North America; -- called also
snakehead, turtlehead, shellflower, etc.
CHELONIA
Che*lo"ni*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of reptiles, including the tortoises and turtles,
perculiar in having a part of the vertebræ, ribs, and sternum united
with the dermal plates so as to form a firm shell. The jaws are
covered by a horny beak. See Reptilia; also, Illust. in Appendix.
CHELONIAN
Che*lo"ni*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to animals of the tortoise kind.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Chelonia.
CHELURA
Che*lu"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine amphipod crustacea, which bore into and
sometimes destroy timber.
CHELY
Che"ly, n.
Defn: A claw. See Chela. [Obs.]
CHEMIC
Chem"ic, n. Etym: [See Chenistry.]
1. A chemist; an alchemist. [Obs.]
2. (Bleaching)
Defn: A solution of chloride of line.
CHEMIC
Chem"ic, a.
Defn: Chemical. Blackw. Mag.
CHEMICAL
Chem"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to chemistry; characterized or produced by the
forces and operations of chemistry; employed in the processes of
chemistry; as, chemical changes; chemical comnbinations. Chemical
attraction or affinity. See under Attraction.
CHEMICAL
Chem"ic*al, n.
Defn: A substance used for producing a chemical effect; a reagent.
CHEMICALLY
Chem"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to chemical principles; by chemical process or
operation.
CHEMIGLYPHIC
Chem`i*glyph"ic, a. Etym: [Chemical +
Defn: Engraved by a voltaic battary.
CHEMIGRAPHY
Che*mig"ra*phy, n. [Chemical + -graphy.]
Defn: Any mechanical engraving process depending upon chemical
action; specif., a process of zinc etching not employing photography.
-- Chem`i*graph"ic (#), a.
CHEMILOON
Chem`i*loon", n.
Defn: A garment for women, consisting of chemise and drawers united
in one. [U. S.]
CHEMISE
Che*mise", n. Etym: [F., shirt, fr. LL. camisa, camisia, shirt, thin
dress; cf. G. hemd, or Olr. coimumse sort of garment. Cf. Camis.]
1. A shift, or undergarment, worn by women.
2. A wall that lines the face of a bank or earthwork.
CHEMISETTE
Chem`i*sette", n.Etym: [F., dim. of chemise.]
Defn: An under-garment, worn by women, usually covering the neck,
shoulders, and breast.
CHEMISM
Chem"ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chimisme. See Chemistry.]
Defn: The force exerted between the atoms of elementary substance
whereby they unite to form chemical compounds; chemical attaction;
affinity; -- sometimes used as a general expression for chemical
activity or relationship.
CHEMIST
Chem"ist, n. Etym: [Shortened from alchemist; cf. F. chimiste.]
Defn: A person versed in chemistry or given to chemical
investigation; an analyst; a maker or seller of chemicals or drugs.
CHEMISTRY
Chem"is*try, n. Etym: [From Chemist. See Alchemy.]
1. That branch of science which treats of the composition of
substances, and of the changes which they undergo in consequence of
alterations in the constitution of the molecules, which depend upon
variations of the number, kind, or mode of arrangement, of the
constituent atoms. These atoms are not assumed to be indivisible, but
merely the finest grade of subdivision hitherto attained. Chemistry
deals with the changes in the composition and constitution of
molecules. See Atom, Molecule.
Note: Historically, chemistry is an outgrowth of alchemy (or
alchemistry), with which it was anciently identified.
2. An application of chemical theory and method to the consideration
of some particular subject; as, the chemistry of iron; the chemistry
of indigo.
3. A treatise on chemistry.
Note: This word and its derivatives were formerly written with y, and
sometimes with i, instead of e, in the first syllable, chymistry,
chymist, chymical, etc., or chimistry, chimist, chimical, etc.; and
the pronunciation was conformed to the orthography. Inorganic
chemistry, that which treats of inorganic or mineral substances.
-- Organic chemistry, that which treats of the substances which from
the structure of organized beings and their products, whether animal
or vegetable; -- called also chemistry of the carbon compounds. There
is no fundamental difference between organic and inorganic chemistry.
-- Physiological chemistry, the chemistry of the organs and tissues
of the body, and of the various physiological processes incident to
life.
-- Practical chemistry, or Applied chemistry, that which treats of
the modes of manufacturing the products of chemistry that are useful
in the arts, of their applications to economical purposes, and of the
conditions essential to their best use.
-- Pure chemistry, the consideration of the facts and theories of
chemistry in their purely scientific relations, without necessary
reference to their practical applications or mere utility.
CHEMITYPE
Chem"i*type, n. Etym: [Chemical + -type.] (Engraving)
Defn: One of a number of processes by which an impression from an
engraved plate is obtained in relief, to be used for printing on an
ordinary printing press.
CHEMOLYSIS
Che*mol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Chemical + Gr.
Defn: A term sometimes applied to the decomposition of organic
substance into more simple bodies, by the use of chemical agents
alone. Thudichum.
CHEMOSIS
Che*mo"sis, n. [NL., fr. Gr. a swelling of the cornea resembling a
cockleshell, fr. a gaping, hence a cockleshell.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammatory swelling of the conjunctival tissue surrounding
the cornea. --Che*mot"ic (#), a.
CHEMOSMOSIS
Chem`os*mo"sis, n. Etym: [Chemical + osmosis.]
Defn: Chemical action taking place through an intervening membrane.
CHEMOSMOTIC
Chem`os*mot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or produced by, chemosmosis. [R.]
CHEMOSYNTHESIS
Chem`o*syn"the*sis, n. [Chemical + synthesis.] (Plant Physiol.)
Defn: Synthesis of organic compounds by energy derived from chemical
changes or reactions. Chemosynthesis of carbohydrates occurs in the
nitrite bacteria through the oxidation of ammonia to nitrous acid,
and in the nitrate bacteria through the conversion of nitrous into
nitric acid. -- Chem`o*syn*thet"ic (#), a.
CHEMOTAXIS; CHEMIOTAXIS
Chem`o*tax"is, n. Formerly also Chem`i*o*tax"is. [Chemical + Gr.
arrangement, fr. to arrange.] (Biol.)
Defn: The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms,
as bacteria, zoöspores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in
solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled
(negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic (#), a. --
Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv.
CHEMUNG PERIOD
Che*mung" pe"ri*od, (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision in the upper part of the Devonian system in
America, so named from the Chemung River, along which the rocks are
well developed. It includes the Portage and Chemung groups or epochs.
See the Diagram under Geology.
CHENG
Cheng, n. Etym: [Chinese.]
Defn: A chinese reed instrument, with tubes, blown by the mouth.
CHENILLE
Che*nille", n. Etym: [F., prop., a caterpillar.]
Defn: Tufted cord, of silk or worsted, for the trimimg of ladies'
dresses, for embroidery and fringes, and for the weft of chenille
rugs.
CHENOMORPHAE
Che`no*mor"phæ, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of birds, including the swans, ducks, geese,
flamingoes and screamers.
CHEPSTER
Chep"ster, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European starling. [Local, Eng.]
CHEQUE
Cheque, n.
Defn: See Check.
CHEQUER
Cheq"uer, n. & v.
Defn: Same as Checker.
CHEQUING
Che*quing", n.
Defn: A coin. See Sequin. Shak.
CHEQUY
Cheq"uy, n. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Checky.
CHERIF
Cher"if, n.
Defn: See Cherif.
CHERIMOYER
Cher`i*moy"er, n. Etym: [F. chérimolier.] (Bot.)
1. A small downy-leaved tree (Anona Cherimolia), with fragrant
flowers. It is a native of Peru.
2. Its delicious fruit, which is succulent, dark purple, and similar
to the custard apple of the West Indies.
CHERISH
Cher"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cherished; p. pr. & vb. n. Cherising.]
Etym: [F. chérir, fr. cher dear, fr. L. carus. See Caress, Finish.]
1. To treat with tenderness and affection; to nurture with care; to
protect and aid.
We were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children. 1
Thess. ii. 7.
2. To hold dear; to embrace with interest; to indulge; to encourage;
to foster; to promote; as, to cherish religious principle.
To cherish virtue and humanity. Burke.
Syn.
-- To nourish; foster; nurse; nurture; entertain; encourage;
comfort; protect; support; See Nurture.
CHERISHER
Cher"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who cherishes.
The cherisher of my flesh and blood. Shak.
CHERISHMENT
Cher"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Encouragement; comfort. [Obs.]
Rich bounty and dear cherishment. Spenser.
CHERMES
Cher"mes, n.
Defn: See Kermes.
CHEROGRIL
Cher"o*gril, n. Etym: [L. choerogryllus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cony.
CHEROKEES
Cher`o*kees", n. pl.; sing. Cherokee. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An Appalachian tribe of Indians, formerly inhabiting the region
about the head waters of the Tennessee River. They are now mostly
settled in the Indian Territory, and have become one of the most
civilized of the Indian Tribes.
CHEROOT
Che*root", n. Etym: [Tamil shuruttu, prop., a roll.]
Defn: A kind of cigar, originally brought from Mania, in the
Philippine Islands; now often made of inferior or adulterated
tabacco.
CHERRY
Cher"ry, n. Etym: [OE. chery, for cherys, fr. F. cerise (cf. AS. cyrs
cherry), fr. LL. ceresia, fr. L. cerasus Cherry tree, Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tree or shrub of the genus Prunus (Which also includes the
plum) bearing a fleshy drupe with a bony stone; (a) The common garden
cherry (Prunus Cerasus), of which several hundred varieties are
cultivated for the fruit, some of which are, the begarreau,
blackheart, black Tartarian, oxheart, morelle or morello, May-duke
(corrupted from Médoc in France). (b) The wild cherry; as, prunus
serotina (wild black cherry), valued for its timber; P. Virginiana
(choke cherry), an American shrub which bears astringent fruit; P.
avium and P. Padus, European trees (bird cherry).
2. The fruit of the cherry tree, a drupe of various colors and
flavors.
3. The timber of the cherry tree, esp. of the black cherry, used in
cabinetmaking, etc.
4. A peculiar shade of red, like that of a cherry. Barbadoes cherry.
See under Barbadoes.
-- Cherry bird (Zoöl.), an American bird; the cedar bird; -- so
called from its fondness for cherries.
-- Cherry bounce, cherry brandy and sugar.
-- Cherry brandy, brandy in which cherries have been steeped.
-- Cherry laurel (Bot.), an evergren shrub (Prunus Lauro-cerasus)
common in shrubberies, the poisonous leaves of which have a flavor
like that of bitter almonds.
-- Cherry pepper (Bot.), a species of Capsicum (C. cerasiforme),
with small, scarlet, intensely piquant cherry-shaped fruit.
-- Cherry pit. (a) A child's play, in which cherries are thrown into
a hole. Shak. (b) A cherry stone.
-- Cherry rum, rum in which cherries have been steeped.
-- Cherry sucker (Zoöl.), the European spotted flycatcher (Musicapa
grisola); -- called also cherry chopper cherry snipe. Cherry tree, a
tree that bears cherries.
-- Ground cherry, Winter cherry, See Alkekengi.
CHERRY
Cher"ry, a.
Defn: Like a red cherry in color; ruddy; blooming; as, a cherry lip;
cherry cheeks.
CHERSONESE
Cher"so*nese, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A peninsula; a tract of land nearly surrounded by water, but
united to a larger tract by a neck of land or isthmus; as, the
Cimbric Chersonese, or Jutland; the Tauric Chersonese, or Crimea.
CHERT
Chert, n. Etym: [Ir. ceart stone, perh. akin to E. crag.] (Min.)
Defn: An impure, massive, flintlike quartz or hornstone, of a dull
color.
CHERTY
Chert"y, a.
Defn: Like chert; containing chert; flinty.
CHERUB
Cher"ub, n.; pl. Cherubs; but the Hebrew plural Cherubim is also
used. Etym: [Heb. kerub.]
1. A mysterious composite being, the winged footstool and chariot of
the Almighty, described in Ezekiel i. and x.
I knew that they were the cherubim. Ezek. x. 20.
He rode upon a cherub and did fly. Ps. xviii. 10.
2. A symbolical winged figure of unknown form used in connection with
the mercy seat of the Jewish Ark and Temple. Ez. xxv. 18.
3. One of a order of angels, variously represented in art. In
European painting the cherubim have been shown as blue, to denote
knowledge, as distinguished from the seraphim (see Seraph), and in
later art the children's heads with wings are generally called
cherubs.
4. A beautiful child; -- so called because artists have represented
cherubs as beautiful children.
CHERUBIC; CHERUBICAL
Che*ru"bic, Che*ru"bic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cherubs; angelic. "The cherubic host."
Milton.
CHERUBIM
Cher"u*bim, n.
Defn: The Hebrew plural of Cherub.. Cf. Seraphim.
Note: Cherubims, in the King James version of the bible, is an
incorrect form, made by adding the English plural termination to the
Hebrew plural cherubim instead of to the singular cherub.
CHERUBIN
Cher"u*bin, a.
Defn: Cherubic; angelic. [Obs.] Shak.
CHERUBIN
Cher"u*bin, n.
Defn: A cherub. [Obs.] Dryden.
CHERUP
Cher"up, v. i. Etym: [Prob. fr. chirp.]
Defn: To make a short, shrill, cheerful sound; to chirp. See Chirrup.
"Cheruping birds." Drayton.
CHERUP
Cher"up, v. t.
Defn: To excite or urge on by making a short, shrill, cheerful sound;
to cherup to. See Chirrup.
He cherups brisk ear-erecting steed. Cowper.
CHERUP
Cher"up, n.
Defn: A short, sharp, cheerful noise; a chirp; a chirrup; as, the
cherup of a cricket.
CHERVIL
Cher"vil, n. Etym: [AS. cerfille, fr. L. caerefolium, chaerephyllum,
Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Anthriscus cerefolium) with pinnately divided aromatic
leaves, of which several curled varieties are used in soups and
salads.
CHES
Ches,
Defn: pret. of Chese. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHESE
Chese, v. t.
Defn: To choose [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHESIBLE
Ches"i*ble, n.
Defn: See Chasuble.
CHESLIP
Ches"lip, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The wood louse. [Prov. Eng.]
CHESS
Chess, n. Etym: [OE. ches, F. échecs, prop. pl. of échec check. See
1st Check.]
Defn: A game played on a chessboard, by two persons, with two
differently colored sets of men, sixteen in each set. Each player has
a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two castles or rooks, and
eight pawns.
CHESS
Chess, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of brome grass (Bromus secalinus) which is a
troublesome weed in wheat flelds, and is often erroneously regarded
as degenerate or changed wheat; it bears a very slight resemblance to
oats, and if reaped and ground up with wheat, so as to be used for
food, is said to produce narcotic effects; -- called also cheat and
Willard's bromus. [U. S.]
Note: Other species of brome grass are called upright chess, soft
chess, etc.
CHESS-APPLE
Chess"-ap`ple, n.
Defn: The wild service of Europe (Purus torminalis).
CHESSBOARD
Chess"board`, n.
Defn: The board used in the game of chess, having eight rows of
alternate light and dark squares, eight in each row. See
Checkerboard.
Note: The chessboard and the checkerboard are alike.
CHESSEL
Ches"sel, n.
Defn: The wooden mold in which cheese is pressed. Simmonds.
CHESSES
Chess"es, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. F. chassis a framework of carpenty.]
(Mil.)
Defn: The platforms, consisting of two or more planks doweled
together, for the flooring of a temporary military bridge. Wilhelm.
A singular, chess, is sometimes used. "Each chess consists of three
planks." Farrow.
CHESSIL
Ches"sil, n. Etym: [OE. chesil, AS. ceosel gravel, sand.]
Defn: Gravel or pebbles. Halliwell.
CHESSMAN
Chess"man, n.; pl. Chessmen.
Defn: A piece used in the game of chess.
CHESSOM
Ches"som, n. Etym: [Cf. Chisley.]
Defn: Mellow earth; mold. [Obs.] Bacon.
CHESSTREE
Chess"tree`, n. Etym: [Cf. F chassis a framework of carpentry.]
(Naut.)
Defn: A piece of oak bolted perpendicularly on the side of a vessel,
to aid in drawing down and securing the clew of the mainsail.
CHESSY COPPER
Ches`sy" cop"per. (Min.)
Defn: The mineral azurite, found in fine crystallization at Chessy,
near Lyons; called also chessylite.
CHEST
Chest, n. Etym: [OE. chest, chist, AS. cest, cist, cyst, L. cista,
fr. Gr. Cist, Cistern.]
1. A large box of wood, or other material, having, like a trunk, a
lid, but no covering of skin, leather, or cloth.
Heaps of money crowded in the chest. Dryden.
2. A coffin. [Obs.]
He is now dead and mailed in his cheste. Chaucer.
3. The part of the body inclosed by the ribs and breastbone; the
thorax.
4. (Com.)
Defn: A case in which certain goods, as tea, opium, etc., are
transported; hence, the quantity which such a case contains.
5. (Mech.)
Defn: A tight receptacle or box, usually for holding gas, steam,
liguids, etc.; as, the steam chest of an engine; the wind chest of an
organ. Bomb chest, See under Bomb.
-- Chest of drawers, a case or movable frame containing drawers.
CHEST
Chest, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chested.]
1. To deposit in a chest; to hoard.
2. To place in a coffin. [Obs.]
He dieth and is chested. Gen. 1. 26 (heading).
CHEST
Chest, n. Etym: [AS. ceást.]
Defn: Strife; contention; controversy. [Obs.] P. Plowman.
CHESTED
Chest"ed, a.
Defn: Having (such) a chest; -- in composition; as, broad-chested;
narrow-chested.
CHESTERLITE
Ches"ter*lite, n. Etym: [See -lite.]
Defn: A variety of feldspar found in crystals in the county of
Chester, Pennsylvania.
CHESTEYN
Ches"teyn, n.
Defn: The chestnut tree. [Obs.]
Wilwe, elm, plane, assch, box, chesteyn. Chaucer.
CHEST FOUNDER
Chest" foun`der. (Far.)
Defn: A rheumatic affection of the muscles of the breast and fore
legs of a horse, affecting motion and respiration.
CHESTNUT
Chest"nut, n. Etym: [For chesten-nut; OE. chestein, chesten,
chastein, chestnut, fr. AS. cisten in cistenbeám chestnut tree,
influenced by OF. chastaigne, F. châtaigne, both the AS. and the F.
words coming from L. castanea a chestnut, Gr. Castanets.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The edible nut of a forest tree (Castanea vesce) of Europe and
America. Commonly two or more of the nuts grow in a prickly bur.
2. The tree itself, or its light, coarse-grained timber, used for
ornamental work, furniture, etc.
3. A bright brown color, like that of the nut.
4. The horse chestnut (often so used in England).
5. One of the round, or oval, horny plates on the inner sides of the
legs of the horse, and allied animals.
6. An old joke or story. [Slang] Chestnut tree, a tree that bears
chestnuts.
CHESTNUT
Chest"nut, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining of a chestnut; of a reddish brown color; as,
chestnut curls.
CHETAH
Che"tah, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cheetah.
CHETVERT
Chet"vert, n. Etym: [Russ. chetverte.]
Defn: A measure of grain equal to 0.7218 of an imperial quarter, or
5.95 Winchester bushels. [Russia]
CHEVACHIE
Chev"a*chie`, n.
Defn: See Chivachie. [Obs.]
CHEVAGE
Che"vage, n.
Defn: See Chiefage. [Obs.]
CHEVAL
Che*val", n.; pl. Chevaux. Etym: [F. See Cavalcade.]
Defn: A horse; hence, a support or frame. Cheval glass, a mirror
swinging in a frame, and large enough to reflect the full leght
figure.
CHEVAL-DE-FRISE
Che*val"-de-frise", n.; commonly used in the pl. Chevaux-de-frise.
Etym: [F.; cheval horse + Frise Friesland, where it was first used.]
(Mil.)
Defn: A piece of timber or an iron barrel traversed with iron-pointed
spikes or spears, five or six feet long, used to defend a passage,
stop a breach, or impede the advance of cavalry, etc.
Obstructions of chain, boom, and cheval-de-frise. W. Irving.
CHEVALIER
Che`va*lier", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. caballarius. See Cavaller.]
1. A horseman; a knight; a gallant young man. "Mount, chevaliers; to
arms." Shak.
2. A member of certain orders of knighthood. Chevalier d'industrie (
Etym: [F.], one who lives by persevering fraud; a pickpocket; a
sharper.
-- The Chevalier St. George (Eng. Hist.), James Francis Edward
Stuart (son of James II.), called "The Pretender." -- The Young
Chevalier, Charles Edward Stuart, son of the Chevalier St. George.
CHEVAUX
Che*vaux", n. pl.
Defn: See Cheval.
CHEVE
Cheve, v. i. Etym: [OF. chevir. See Chievance.]
Defn: To come to an issue; to turn out; to succed; as, to cheve well
in a enterprise. [Prov. or Obs.] Holland.
CHEVELURE
Cheve*lure", n. Etym: [F., head of hair.]
Defn: A hairlike envelope.
The nucleus and chevelure of nebulous star. Sir. W. Hershel.
CHEVEN
Chev"en, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chevanne. Cf. Chavender.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A river fish; the chub. Sir T. Browne.
CHEVENTEIN
Chev"en*tein, n.
Defn: A variant of Chieftain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHEVERIL
Chev"er*il, n. Etym: [OF. chevrel, F. chevreau, kid, dim. of chevre
goat, fr. L. capra. See Caper, v. i.]
Defn: Soft leather made of kid skin. Fig.: Used as a symbol of
flexibility. [Obs.]
Here's wit of cheveril, that stretches from an inch narrow to an ell
broad. Shak.
CHEVERIL
Chev"er*il, a.
Defn: Made of cheveril; pliant. [Obs.]
A cheveril conscience and a searching wit. Drayton.
CHEVERLIIZE
Chev"er*li*ize, v. i.
Defn: To make as pliable as kid leather. [Obs.] Br. Montagu.
CHEVET
Che*vet", n. Etym: [F., head of the bed, dim. fr. chef head. See
Chief.] (Arch.)
Defn: The extreme end of the chancel or choir; properly the round or
polygonal part.
CHEVIOT
Chev"i*ot, n.
1. A valuable breed of mountain sheep in Scotland, which takes its
name from the Cheviot hills.
2. A woolen fabric, for men's clothing.
CHEVISANCE
Chev"i*sance, n. Etym: [Of. chevisance, chevissance, fr. chevircome
to an end, perform, fr. chef head, end, from L. caput head. See
Chieve, Chief.]
1. Achievement; deed; performance. [Obs.]
Fortune, the foe of famous chevisance. Spenser.
2. A bargain; profit; gain. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
3. (O. Eng. Law)
(a) A making of contracts.
(b) A bargain or contract; an agreement about a matter in dispute,
such as a debt; a business compact.
(c) An unlawful agreement or contract.
CHEVRETTE
Chev*rette", n. Etym: [F., fr. chévre goat, fr. L. capra. Cf.
Chevron.] (Mil.)
Defn: A machine for raising guns or mortar into their carriages.
CHEVRON
Chev"ron, n. Etym: [F., rafter, chevron, from chévre goat, OF.
chevre, fr. L. capra she-goat. See Cheveril.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: One of the nine honorable ordinaries, consisting of two broad
bands of the width of the bar, issuing, respectively from the dexter
and sinister bases of the field and conjoined at its center.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A distinguishing mark, above the elow, on the sleeve of a
noncommisioned officer's coat.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A zigzag molding, or group of moldings, common in Norman
architecture. Chevron bones (Anat.), The V-shaped subvertebral arches
which inclose the caudal blood vessels in some animals.
CHEVRONED
Chev"roned, p. a.
Defn: Having a chevron; decorated with an ornamental figure of a
zigzag from.
[A garment] whose nether parts, with their bases, were of watchet
cloth of silver, chevroned all over with lace. B. Jonson.
CHEVRONEL
Chev"ron*el, n. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing like a chevron, but of only half its width.
CHEVRONWISE
Chev"ron*wise`, adv. (Her.)
Defn: In the manner of a chevron; as, the field may be divided
chevronwise.
CHEVROTAIN
Chev`ro*tain", n. Etym: [F. chevrotin, OF. chevrot little goat, roe,
dim. of chevre goat. See Chevron.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small ruminant of the family Tragulidæ a allied to the musk
deer. It inhabits Africa and the East Indies. See Kanchil.
CHEVY
Chev"y, v. t.
Defn: See Chivy, v. t. [Slang, Eng.]
One poor fellow was chevied about among the casks in the storm for
ten minutes. London Times.
CHEW
Chew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chewing.] Etym: [As
ceówan, akin to D. kauwen, G. kauen. Cf. Chaw, Jaw.]
1. To bite and grind with the teeth; to masticate.
2. To ruminate mentally; to meditate on.
He chews revenge, abjuring his offense. Prior.
To chew the cud, to chew the food ocer again, as a cow; to ruminate;
hence, to meditate.
Every beast the parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two
claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. Deut.
xxiv. 6.
CHEW
Chew, v. i.
Defn: To perform the action of biting and grinding with the teeth; to
ruminate; to meditate.
old politicians chew wisdom past. Pope.
CHEW
Chew, n.
Defn: That which is chewed; that which is held in the mouth at once;
a cud. [Law]
CHEWER
Chew"er, n.
Defn: One who chews.
CHEWET
Chew"et, n.
Defn: A kind of meat pie. [Obs.]
CHEWINK
Che"wink, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An american bird (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) of the Finch family,
so called from its note; -- called also towhee bunting and ground
robin.
CHEYENNES
Chey*ennes", n. pl.; sing. cheyenne. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A warlike tribe of indians, related to the blackfeet, formerly
inhabiting the region of Wyoming, but now mostly on reservations in
the Indian Territory. They are noted for their horsemanship.
CHIAN
Chi"an a. Etym: [L. chius, fr. Chios the island Chios, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chios, an island in the Ægean Sea. Chian
earth, a dense, compact kind of earth, from Chios, used anciently as
an astringent and a cosmetic.
-- Chian turpentine, a fragrant, almost transparent turpentine,
obtained from the Pistacia Terebinthus.
CHIAROSCURIST
Chi*a`ros*cu"rist, n.
Defn: A painter who cares for and studies light and shade rather than
color.
CHIAROSCURO; CHIARO-OSCURO
Chia`ro*scu"ro, Chi*a"ro-os*cu"ro, n. Etym: [It., clear dark.]
(a) The arrangement of light and dark parts in a work of art, such as
a drawing or painting, whether in monochrome or in color.
(b) The art or practice of so arranging the light and dark parts as
to produce a harmonious effect. Cf. Clair-obscur.
CHIASM; CHIASMA
Chi"asm, Chi*as"ma, n. Etym: [NL. chiasma, fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A commissure; especially, the optic commissure, or crucial
union of the optic nerves.
-- Chi*as"mal (, a..
CHIASMUS
Chi*as"mus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Chiasm.] (Rhet.)
Defn: An inversion of the order of words or phrases, when repeated or
subsequently referred to in a sentence; thus,
If e'er to bless thy sons My voice or hands deny, These hands let
useful skill forsake, This voice in silence die. Dwight.
CHIASTOLITE
Chi*as"to*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite. See Chiasm. So called from the
resemblance of the cross cuts of is crystals to the Greek letter x.]
(Min.)
Defn: A variety of andalusite; -- called also macle. The tesselated
apperance of a cross section is due to the symmetrical arrangement of
impurities in the crystal.
CHIBBAL
Chib"bal, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cibol.
CHIBOUQUE; CHIBOUK
Chi*bouque", Chi*bouk", n. Etym: [F. chibouque, fr. Turk.]
Defn: A Turkish pipe, usually with a mouthpiece of amber, a stem,
four or five feet long and not pliant, of some valuable wood, and a
bowl of baked clay.
CHIC
Chic, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Good form; style. [Slang]
CHICA
Chi"ca, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A red coloring matter. extracted from the Bignonia Chica, used
by some tribes of South American Indians to stain the skin.
2. A fermented liquor or beer made in South American from a decoction
of maize.
3. A popular Moorish, Spanish, and South American dance, said to be
the original of the fandango, etc.
CHICALOTE
Chi`ca*lo"te, n. [Sp., prob. of Mex. origin.] (Bot.)
Defn: A Mexican prickly poppy (Argemone platyceras), which has
migrated into California.
CHICANE
Chi*cane", n. Etym: [F., prob. earlier meaning a dispute, orig. in
the game of mall (F. mail), fr. LGr. chaugan club or bat; or possibly
ultimated fr. L. ciccus a trible.]
Defn: The use of artful subterfuge, designed to draw away attention
from the merits of a case or question; -- specifically applied to
legal proceedings; trickery; chicanery; caviling; sophistry. Prior.
To shuffle from them by chicane. Burke.
To cut short this, I propound it fairly to your own canscience.
Berkeley.
CHICANE
Chi*cane", v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. chicaner. See Chicane, n.]
Defn: To use shifts, cavils, or artifices. Burke.
CHICANER
Chi*can"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chicaneur.]
Defn: One who uses chicanery. Locke.
CHICANERY
Chi*can"er*y, n. Etym: [F. chicanerie.]
Defn: Mean or unfair artifice to perplex a cause and obscure the
truth; stratagem; sharp practice; sophistry.
Irritated by perpetual chicanery. Hallam.
Syn.
-- Trickery; sophistry; stratagem.
CHICCORY
Chic"co*ry, n.
Defn: See Chicory.
CHICH
Chich, n.; pl. Chiches (. Etym: [F. chiche, pois chiche, a dwarf pea,
from L. cicer the chick-pea.] (Bot.)
Defn: The chick-pea.
CHICHA
Chi"cha, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: See Chica.
CHICHEVACHE
Chiche"vache`, n. Etym: [F. chiche lean + vache cow.]
Defn: A fabulous cow of enormous size, whose food was patient wives,
and which was therefore in very lean condition.
CHICHLING; CHICHLING VETCH
Chich"ling, Chich"ling vetch`, n. Etym: [Chich + -ling.] (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous plant (Lathyrus sativus), with broad flattened
seeds which are sometimes used for food.
CHICK
Chick, v. i. Etym: [OE. chykkyn, chyke, chicken.]
Defn: To sprout, as seed in the ground; to vegetate. Chalmers.
CHICK
Chick, n.
1. A chicken.
2. A child or young person; -- a term of endearment. Shak.
CHICKABIDDY
Chick"a*bid`dy, n.
Defn: A chicken; a fowl; also, a trivial term of endearment for a
child.
CHICKADEE
Chick"a*dee`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small bird, the blackcap titmouse (Parus atricapillus), of
North America; -- named from its note.
CHICKAREE
Chick"a*ree`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American red squirrel (Sciurus Hudsonius); -- so called
from its cry.
CHICKASAWS
Chick"a*saws, n. pl.; sing. Chickasaw. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A trible of North American Indians (Southern Appalachian)
allied to the Choctaws. They formerly occupied the northern part of
Alabama and Mississippi, but now live in the Indian Territory.
CHICKEN
Chick"en, n. Etym: [AS. cicen, cyceun, dim. of coc cock; akin to LG.
kiken, küken, D. Kieken, kuiken, G. küchkein. See Cock the animal.]
1. A young bird or fowl, esp. a young barnyard fowl.
2. A young person; a child; esp. a young woman; a maiden. "Stella is
no chicken." Swift. Chicken cholera, a contagious disease of fowls; -
- so called because first studied during the prevalence of a cholera
epidemic in France. It has no resemblance to true cholera.
CHICKEN-BREASTED
Chick"en-breast`ed, a.
Defn: Having a narrow, projecting chest, caused by forward curvature
of the vertebral column.
CHICKEN-HEARTED
Chick"en-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Timid; fearful; cowardly. Bunyan.
CHICKEN POX
Chick"en pox". (Med.)
Defn: A mild, eruptive disease, generally attacking children only;
varicella.
CHICKLING
Chick"ling, n. Etym: [Chick+-ling.]
Defn: A small chick or chicken.
CHICK-PEA
Chick"-pea`, n. Etym: [See Chich.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A Small leguminous plant (Cicer arietinum) of Asia, Africa, and
the sounth of Europe; the chick; the dwarf pea; the gram.
2. Its nutritious seed, used in cookery, and especially, when roasted
(parched pulse), as food for travelers in the Eastern deserts.
CHICKWEED
Chick"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several caryophyllaseous weeds, especially
Stellaria media, the seeds and flower buds of which are a favorite
food of small birds.
CHICKY
Chick"y, n.
Defn: A chicken; -- used as a diminutive or pet name, especially in
calling fowls.
CHICLE; CHICLE GUM
Chic"le, n., Chicle gum. [Amer. Sp. chicle.]
Defn: A gumlike substance obtained from the bully tree (Mimusops
globosa) and sometimes also from the naseberry or sapodilla (Sapota
zapotilla). It is more plastic than caoutchouc and more elastic than
gutta-percha, as an adulterant of which it is used in England. It is
used largely in the United States in making chewing gum.
CHICO
Chi"co, n.
1. Var. of Chica.
2. The common greasewood of the western United States (Sarcobatus
vermiculatus).
3. In the Philippines, the sapodilla or its fruit; also, the
marmalade tree or its fruit.
CHICORY
Chic"o*ry, n. Etym: [F. chicorée, earlier also cichorée, L.
cichorium, fr. Gr. , , Cf. Succory.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A branching perennial plant (Cichorium Intybus) with bright
blue flowers, growing wild in Europe, Asia, and America; also
cultivated for its roots and as a salad plant; succory; wild endive.
See Endive.
2. The root, which is roasted for mixing with coffe.
CHICORY
Chi"co*ry, n.
Defn: See Chiccory.
CHIDE
Chide, v. t. Etym: [imp. Chid, or Chode (Obs.); p. p. Chidden, Chid;
p. pr. & vb. n. Chiding.] Etym: [AS. cidan; of unknown origin.]
1. To rebuke; to reprove; to scold; to find fault with.
Upbraided, chid, and rated at. Shak.
2. Fig.: To be noise about; to chafe against.
The sea that chides the banks of England. Shak.
To chide hither, chide from, or chide away, to cause to come, or to
drive away, by scolding or reproof.
Syn.
-- To blame; rebuke; reprove; scold; censure; reproach; reprehend;
reprimand.
CHIDE
Chide, v. i.
1. To utter words of disapprobation and displeasure; to find fault;
to contend angrily.
Wherefore the people did chide with Moses. Ex. xvii. 2.
2. To make a clamorous noise; to chafe.
As doth a rock againts the chiding flood. Shak.
CHIDE
Chide, n. Etym: [AS. cid]
Defn: A continuous noise or murmur.
The chide of streams. Thomson.
CHIDER
Chid"er, n.
Defn: One who chides or quarrels. Shak.
CHIDERESS
Chid"er*ess, n.
Defn: She who chides. [Obs.]
CHIDESTER
Chide"ster, n. Etym: [Chide + -ster.]
Defn: A female scold. [Obs.]
CHIDINGLY
Chid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chiding or reproving manner.
CHIEF
Chief, n. Etym: [OE. chief, chef, OF. chief, F. chef, fr. L. caput
head, possibly akin to E. head. Cf. Captain, Chapter]
1. The head or leader of any body of men; a commander, as of an army;
a head man, as of a tribe, clan, or family; a person in authority who
directs the work of others; the pricipal actio or agent.
2. The principal part; the most valuable portion.
The chief of the things which should be utterly destroyed.1. Sam. xv.
21
3. (Her.)
Defn: The upper third part of the field. It is supposed to be
composed of the dexter, sinister, and middle chiefs. In chief. (a) At
the head; as, a commander in chief. (b) (Eng. Law) From the king, or
sovereign; as, tenure in chief, tenure directly from the king.
Syn.
-- Chieftain; captain; general; commander; leader; head; principal;
sachem; sagamore; sheik.
-- Chief, chieftain, Commander, Leader. These words fluctuate
somewhat in their meaning according to circumstances, but agree in
the general idea of rule and authority. The term chief is now more
usually applied to one who is a head man, leader, or commander in
civil or military affairs, or holds a hereditary or acquired rank in
a tribe or clan; as, the chief of police; the chief of an Indian
tribe. A chieftain is the chief of a clan or tribe , or a military
leader. A commander directs the movements of or has control over a
body of men, as a military or naval force. A leader is one whom men
follow, as in a political party, a legislative body, a military or
scientific expedition, etc., one who takes the command and gives
direction in particular enterprises.
CHIEF
Chief, a.
1. Highest in office or rank; principal; head. "Chief rulers." John.
xii. 42.
2. Principal or most eminent in any quality or action; most
distinguished; having most influence; taking the lead; most
important; as, the chief topic of conversation; the chief interest of
man.
3. Very intimate, near, or close. [Obs.]
A whisperer separateth chief friends. Prov. xvi. 28.
Syn.
-- Principal; head; leading; main; paramount; supreme; prime; vital;
especial; great; grand; eminent; master.
CHIEFAGE
Chief"age, n. Etym: [OF. chevage, fr. chief head. See Chief.]
Defn: A tribute by the head; a capitation tax. [Written also chevage
and chivage.] [Obs.]
CHIEF BARON
Chief" bar"on. (Eng. Law)
Defn: The presiding judge of the court of exchequer.
CHIEFEST
Chief"est, a. Etym: [Superl. of Chief.]
Defn: First or foremost; chief; principal. [Archaic] "Our chiefest
courtier." Shak.
The chiefest among ten thousand. Canticles v. 10.
CHIEF HARE
Chief" hare`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small rodent (Lagamys princeps) inhabiting the summits of the
Rocky Mountains; -- also called crying hare, calling hare, cony,
American pika, and little chief hare.
Note: It is not a true hare or rabbit, but belongs to the curious
family Lagomyidæ.
CHIEF JUSTICE
Chief" jus"tice.
Defn: The presiding justice, or principal judge, of a court. Lord
Chief Justice of England, The presiding judge of the Queen's Bench
Division of the High Court of Justice. The highest judicial officer
of the realm is the Lord High Chancellor.
-- Chief Justice of the United States, the presiding judge of the
Supreme Court, and Highest judicial officer of the republic.
CHIEF-JUSTICESHIP
Chief"-jus"tice*ship, n.
Defn: The office of chief justice.
Jay selected the chief-justiceship as most in accordance with his
tastes. The Century.
CHIEFLESS
Chief"less, a.
Defn: Without a chief or leader.
CHIEFLY
Chief"ly, adv.
1. In the first place; principally; preëminently; above; especially.
Search through this garden; leave unsearched no nook; But chiefly
where those two fair creatures lodge. Milton.
2. For the most part; mostly.
Those parts of the kingdom where the . . . estates of the dissenters
chiefly lay. Swift.
CHIEFRIE
Chief"rie, n.
Defn: A small rent paid to the lord paramount. [Obs.] Swift.
CHIEFTAIN
Chief"tain, n. Etym: [OE. cheftayn, chevetayn, OF. chevetain, F.
capitaine, LL. capitanus, fr. L. caput head. Cf. Captain, and see
chief.]
Defn: A captain, leader, or commander; a chief; the head of a troop,
army, or clan.
Syn.
-- Chief; commander; leader; head. See Chief.
CHIEFTAINCY; CHIEFTAINSHIP
Chief"tain*cy, Chief"tain*ship, n.
Defn: The rank, dignity, or office of a chieftain.
CHIERTE
Chier"te, n. Etym: [OF. cherté. See Charity.]
Defn: Love; tender regard. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHIEVANCE
Chiev"ance, n. Etym: [OF. chevance property, equiv. To chevisance,
fr. chevir to accomplish. See Chevisance.]
Defn: An unlawful bargain; traffic in which money is exported as
discount. [Obs.] Bacon.
CHIEVE
Chieve, v. i.
Defn: See Cheve, v. i. [Obs.]
CHIFF-CHAFF
Chiff"-chaff (, n. Etym: [So called from its note.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of European warbler (Sylvia hippolais); -- called
also chip-chap, and pettychaps.
CHIFFON
Chif`fon", n. [F., lit., rag. See Chiffonier.]
1.
Defn: Any merely ornamental adjunct of a woman's dress, as a bunch of
ribbon, lace, etc.
2. A kind of soft gauzy material used for ruches, trimmings, etc.
CHIFFONIER; CHIFFONIERE
Chif`fo*nier", fem. Chif`fo-nière", n. Etym: [F. chiffonnier, fem.
chiffonnière, fr. chiffon rag, fr. chiffe a rag, fimsy cloth.]
1. One who gathers rags and odds and ends; a ragpicker.
2. A receptacle for rags or shreds.
3. A movable and ornamental closet or piece of furniture with shelves
or drawers. G. Eliot.
CHIGNON
Chi"gnon (, n. Etym: [F., prop. equiv. to chaînon link, fr. chaîne
chain, fr. L. catena Cf. Chain.]
Defn: A knot, boss, or mass of hair, natural or artificial, worn by a
woman at the back of the head.
A curl that had strayed from her chignon. H. James.
CHIGOE; CHIGRE
Chig"oe, Chig"re, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chigue, perh. fr. Catalan chic
small, Sp. chico; or of Peruvian origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of flea (Pulex penetrans), common in the West Indies
and South America, which often attacks the feet or any exposed part
of the human body, and burrowing beneath the skin produces great
irritation. When the female is allowed to remain and breed,
troublesome sores result, which are sometimes dangerous. See Jigger.
[Written also chegre, chegoe, chique, chigger, jigger.]
Note: The name is sometimes erroneously given to certain mites or
ticks having similar habits.
CHIH FU
Chih" fu`. [Chin. chih fu, lit., (He who) knows (the) prefecture.]
Defn: An official administering a prefecture of China; a prefect,
supervising the civil business of the hsiens or districts comprised
in his fu (which see).
CHIH HSIEN
Chih" hsien`. [Chin. chih hsien, lit., (He who) knows (the)
district.]
Defn: An official having charge of a hsien, or administrative
district, in China; a district magistrate, responsible for good order
in his hsien (which see), and having jurisdiction in its civil and
criminal cases.
CHIH TAI
Chih" tai`. [Chin. chih to govern + t"ai an honorary title.]
Defn: A Chinese governor general; a tsung tu (which see).
CHIKARA
Chi*ka"ra (, n. Etym: [Hind.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The Ingoat antelope (Tragops Bennettii) Of India.
(b) The Indian four-horned antelope (Tetraceros quadricornis).
CHILBLAIN
Chil"blain`, n. Etym: [Chill + Blain.]
Defn: A blain, sore, or inflammatory swelling, produced by exposure
of the feet or hands to cold, and attended by itching, pain, and
sometimes ulceration.
CHILBLAIN
Chil"blain`, v. t.
Defn: To produce chilblains upon.
CHILD
Child, n.; pl. Children. Etym: [AS. cild, pl. cildru; cf. Goth.
kilÞei womb, in-kilÞ\'d3 with child.]
1. A son or a daughter; a male or female descendant, in the first
degree; the immediate progeny of human parents; -- in law, legitimate
offspring. Used also of animals and plants.
2. A descendant, however remote; -- used esp. in the plural; as, the
children of Israel; the children of Edom.
3. One who, by character of practice, shows signs of relationship to,
or of the influence of, another; one closely connected with a place,
occupation, character, etc.; as, a child of God; a child of the
devil; a child of disobedience; a child of toil; a child of the
people.
4. A noble youth. See Childe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. A young person of either sex. esp. one between infancy and youth;
hence, one who exhibits the characteristics of a very young person,
as innocence, obedience, trustfulness, limited understanding, etc.
When I was child. I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. 1. Cor. xii. 11.
6. A female infant. [Obs.]
A boy or a child, I wonder Shak.
To be with child, to be pregnant.
-- Child's play, light work; a trifling contest.
CHILD
Child, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Childed; p. pr. & vb. n. Childing.]
Defn: To give birth; to produce young.
This queen Genissa childing died. Warner.
It chanced within two days they childed both. Latimer.
CHILDBEARING
Child"bear`ing, n.
Defn: The act of producing or bringing forth children; parturition.
Milton. Addison.
CHILDBED
Child"bed, n.
Defn: The state of a woman bringing forth a child, or being in labor;
parturition.
CHILDBIRTH
Child"birth, n.
Defn: The act of bringing forth a child; travail; labor. Jer. Taylor.
CHILDCROWING
Child"crow`ing, n. (Med.)
Defn: The crowing noise made by children affected with spasm of the
laryngeal muscles; false croup.
CHILDE
Childe, n.
Defn: A cognomen formerly prefixed to his name by the oldest son,
until he succeeded to his ancestral titles, or was knighted; as,
Childe Roland.
CHILDED
Child"ed, a.
Defn: Furnished with a child. [Obs.]
CHILDERMAS DAY
Chil"dermas day`. Etym: [AS. cildamæsse-dæg; cild child +dæg day.]
(Eccl.)
Defn: A day (December 28) observed by mass or festival in
commemoration of the children slain by Herod at Bethlehem; -- called
also Holy Innocent's Day.
CHILDHOOD
Child"hood, n. Etym: [AS. cildhad; cild child + -had. See Child, and
hood.]
1. The state of being a child; the time in which persons are
children; the condition or time from infancy to puberty.
I have walked before you from my childhood. 1. Sam. xii. 2.
2. Children, taken collectively. [R.]
The well-governed childhood of this realm. Sir. W. Scott.
3. The commencement; the first period.
The childhood of our joy. Shak.
Second childhood, the state of being feeble and incapable from old
age.
CHILDING
Child"ing, a. Etym: [See Child, v. i.]
Defn: Bearing Children; (Fig.) productive; fruitful. [R.] Shak.
CHILDISH
Child"ish, a.
1. Of, pertaining to, befitting, or resembling, a child. "Childish
innocence." Macaulay.
2. Peurile; trifling; weak.
Methinks that simplicity in her countenance is rather childish than
innocent. Addison.
Note: Childish, as applied tc persons who are grown up, is in a
disparaging sense; as, a childish temper.
CHILDISHLY
Child"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a child; in a trifling way; in a weak or
foolish manner.
CHILDISHNESS
Child"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being childish; simplicity;
harmlessness; weakness of intellect.
CHILDLESSNESS
Child"less*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being childless.
CHILDLIKE
Child"like, a.
Defn: Resembling a child, or that which belongs to children; becoming
a child; meek; submissive; dutiful. "Childlike obedience." Hooker.
Note: Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a
good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity; childlike modesty.
CHILDLY
Child"ly, a.
Defn: Having tthe character of a child; belonging, or appropriate, to
a child. Gower.
CHILDLY
Child"ly, adv.
Defn: Like a child. Mrs. Browning.
CHILDNESS
Child"ness, n.
Defn: The manner characteristic of a child. [Obs.] "Varying
childness." Shak.
CHILDREN
Chil"dren, n.;
Defn: pl. of Child.
CHILDSHIP
Child"ship, n.
Defn: The state or relation of being a child.
CHILD STUDY
Child study.
Defn: A scientific study of children, undertaken for the purpose of
discovering the laws of development of the body and the mind from
birth to manhood.
CHILEAN
Chil"e*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chile.
CHILEAN
Chil"e*an, n.
Defn: A native or resident of Chile; Chilian.
CHILEAN PINE
Chilean pine. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Monkey-puzzle.
CHILI
Chil"i, n. Etym: [Sp. chili, chile.]
Defn: A kind of red pepper. See Capsicum [Written also chilli and
chile.]
CHILIAD
Chil"i*ad, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A thousand; the aggregate of a thousand things; especially, a
period of a thousand years.
The world, then in the seventh chiliad, will be assumed up unto God.
Sir. T. More.
CHILIAGON
Chil"i*a*gon, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A plane figure of a thousand angles and sides. Barlow.
CHILIAHEDRON
Chil"i*a*hedron, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A figure bounded by a thousand plane surfaces [Spelt also
chiliaëdron.]
CHILIAN
Chil"i*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Chili.
-- n.
Defn: A native or citizen of Chili.
CHILIAN; CHILIARCH
Chil"i*an, Chil"i*arch`, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The commander or chief of a thousand men.
CHILIARCHY
Chil"i*arch`y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A body consisting of a thousand men. Mitford.
CHILIASM
Chil"i*asm, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. The millennium.
2. The doctrine of the personal reign of Christ on earth during the
millennium.
CHILIAST
Chil"i*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. Chiliasm.]
Defn: One who believes in the second coming of Christ to reign on
earth a thousand years; a milllenarian.
CHILIASTIC
Chili*astic, a.
Defn: Millenarian. "The obstruction offered by the chiliastic
errors." J. A. Alexander.
CHILL
Chill, n. Etym: [AS. cele, cyle, from the same root as celan, calan,
to be cold; akin to D. kil cold, coldness, Sw. kyla to chill, and E.
cool. See Cold, and cf. Cool.]
1. A moderate but disagreeable degree of cold; a disagreeable
sensation of coolness, accompanied with shivering. "[A] wintry
chill." W. Irving.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A sensation of cold with convulsive shaking of the body,
pinched face, pale skin, and blue lips, caused by undue cooling of
the body or by nervous excitement, or forming the precursor of some
constitutional disturbance, as of a fever.
3. A check to enthusiasm or warmth of feeling; discouragement; as, a
chill comes over an assemblly.
4. An iron mold or portion of a mold, serving to cool rapidly, and so
to harden, the surface of molten iron brought in contact with it.
Raymond.
5. The hardened part of a casting, as the tread of a car wheel.
Knight. Chill and fever, fever and ague.
CHILL
Chill, a.
1. Moderately cold; tending to cause shivering; chilly; raw.
Noisome winds, and blasting vapors chill. Milton.
2. Affected by cold. "My veins are chill." Shak.
3. Characterized by coolness of manner, feeling, etc.; lacking
enthusiasm or warmth; formal; distant; as, a chill reception.
4. Discouraging; depressing; dispiriting.
CHILL
Chill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chilled (chìld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Chilling.]
1. To strike with a chill; to make chilly; to cause to shiver; to
affect with cold.
When winter chilled the day. Goldsmith.
2. To check enthusiasm or warmth of feeling of; to depress; to
discourage.
Every thought on God chills the gayety of his spirits. Rogers.
3. (Metal.)
Defn: To produce, by sudden cooling, a change of crystallization at
or near the surface of, so as to increase the hardness; said of cast
iron.
CHILL
Chill, v. i. (Metal.)
Defn: To become surface-hardened by sudden cooling while solidifying;
as, some kinds of cast iron chill to a greater depth than others.
CHILLED
Chilled, a.
1. Hardened on the surface or edge by chilling; as, chilled iron; a
chilled wheel.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: Having that cloudiness or dimness of surface that is called
"blooming."
CHILLI
Chil"li, n.
Defn: See Chili.
CHILLINESS
Chill"i*ness, n.
1. A state or sensation of being chilly; a disagreeable sensation of
coldness.
2. A moderate degree of coldness; disagreeable coldness or rawness;
as, the chilliness of the air.
3. Formality; lack of warmth.
CHILLING
Chill"ing, a.
Defn: Making chilly or cold; depressing; discouraging; cold; distant;
as, a chilling breeze; a chilling manner.
-- Chill"ing"ly, adv.
CHILLNESS
Chill"ness, n.
Defn: Coolness; coldness; a chill.
Death is the chillness that precedes the dawn. Longfellow.
CHILLY
Chill"y, a.
Defn: Moderately cold; cold and raw or damp so as to cause shivering;
causing or feeling a disagreeable sensation of cold, or a shivering.
CHILOGNATH
Chi"log*nath, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A myriapod of the order Chilognatha.
CHILOGNATHA
Chi*log"na*tha, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the two principal orders of myriapods. They have
numerous segments, each bearing two pairs of small, slender legs,
which are attached ventrallly, near together.
CHILOMA
Chi*lo"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oma.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tumid upper lip of certain mammals, as of a camel.
CHILOPOD
Chi"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A myriapod of the order Chilopoda.
CHILOPODA
Chi*lop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of myriapods, including the centipeds. They
have a single pair of elongated legs attached laterally to each
segment; well developed jaws; and a pair of thoracic legs converted
into poison fangs. They are insectivorous, very active, and some
species grow to the length of a foot.
CHILOSTOMA; CHILOSTOMATA
Chi*los"to*ma, Chi*lo*stom"a*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive suborder of marine Bryozoa, mostly with calcareous
shells. They have a movable lip and a lid to close the aperture of
the cells. [Also written Chillostomata.]
CHILOSTOMATOUS
Chi`lo*stoma*tous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Chilostoma.
CHILTERN HUNDREDS
Chiltern Hundreds. Etym: [AS. Chiltern the Chiltern, high hills in
Buckinghamshire, perh. Fr. ceald cold + ern, ærn, place.]
Defn: A tract of crown land in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire,
England, to which is attached the nominal office of steward. As
members of Parliament cannot resign, when they wish to go out they
accept this stewardship, which legally vacates their seats.
CHIMAERA
Chi*mæ"ra, n. Etym: [NL. See Chimera.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cartilaginous fish of several species, belonging to the order
Holocephali. The teeth are few and large. The head is furnished with
appendages, and the tail terminates in a point.
CHIMAEROID
Chi*mæ"roid, a. Etym: [Chimæra + old.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Related to, or like, the chimæra.
CHIMANGO
Chi*man"go Etym: [Native name] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A south American carrion buzzard (Milvago chimango). See
Caracara.
CHIMB
Chimb (chim), n. Etym: [AS. cim, in cimstan base of a pillar; akin to
D. kim, f. Sw. kim., G. kimme f.]
Defn: The edge of a cask, etc; a chine. See Chine, n., 3. [Written
also hime.]
CHIMB
Chimb, v. i.
Defn: Chime. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHIME
Chime, n. Etym: [See Chimb.]
Defn: See Chine, n., 3.
CHIME
Chime, n. Etym: [OE. chimbe, prop., cymbal, OF. cymbe, cymble, in a
dialectic form, chymble, F. cymbale, L. cymbalum, fr. Gr. Cymbal.]
1. The harmonious sound of bells, or of musical instruments.
Instruments that made melodius chime. Milton.
2. A set of bells musically tuned to each other; specif., in the pl.,
the music performed on such a set of bells by hand, or produced by
mechanism to accompany the striking of the hours or their divisions.
We have heard the chimes at midnight. Shak.
3. Pleasing correspondence of proportion, relation, or sound. "Chimes
of verse." Cowley.
CHIME
Chime, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chimed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chiming.] Etym:
[See Chime, n.]
1. To sound in harmonious accord, as bells.
2. To be in harmony; to agree; to sut; to harmonize; to correspond;
to fall in with.
Everything chimed in with such a humor. W. irving.
3. To join in a conversation; to express assent; -- followed by in or
in with. [Colloq.]
4. To make a rude correspondence of sounds; to jingle, as in rhyming.
Cowley
CHIME
Chime, v. i.
1. To cause to sound in harmony; to play a tune, as upon a set of
bells; to move or strike in harmony.
And chime their sounding hammers. Dryden.
2. To utter harmoniously; to recite rhythmically.
Chime his childish verse. Byron.
CHIMER
Chim"er, n.
Defn: One who chimes.
CHIMERA
Chime"ra, n.; pl. Chimeras. Etym: [L. chimaera a chimera (in sense
1), Gr. qymbr a yearling ewe.]
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A monster represented as vomiting flames, and as having the
head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon. "Dire
chimeras and enchanted isles." Milton.
2. A vain, foolish, or incongruous fancy, or creature of the
imagination; as, the chimera of an author. Burke.
CHIMERE
Chi*mere", n. Etym: [OF. chamarre., F. simarre (cf. It. zimarra), fr.
Sp. chamarra, zamarra, a coat made of sheepskins, a sheepskin, perh.
from Ar. sammur the Scythian weasel or marten, the sable. Cf.
Simarre.]
Defn: The upper robe worn by a bishop, to which lawn sleeves are
usually attached. Hook.
CHIMERIC
Chi*mer"ic, a.
Defn: Chimerical.
CHIMERICAL
Chi*mer"ic*al, a.
Defn: Merely imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wildly or vainly
conceived; having, or capable of having, no existence except in
thought; as, chimerical projects.
Syn.
-- Imaginary; fanciful; fantastic; wild; unfounded; vain; deceitful;
delusive.
CHIMERICALLY
Chi*mer"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Wildy; vainly; fancifully.
CHIMINAGE
Chim"i*nage, n. Etym: [OF. cheminage, fr. chemin way, road.] (Old
Law)
Defn: A toll for passage through a forest. [Obs.] Cowell.
CHIMNEY
Chim"ney, n.; pl. Chimneys. Etym: [F. cheminée, LL. caminata, fr. L.
caminus furnace, fireplace, Gr.
1. A fireplace or hearth. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
2. That part of a building which contains the smoke flues; esp. an
upright tube or flue of brick or stone, in most cases extending
through or above the roof of the building. Often used instead of
chimney shaft.
Hard by a cottage chimney smokes. Milton.
3. A tube usually of glass, placed around a flame, as of a lamp, to
create a draft, and promote combustion.
4. (Min.)
Defn: A body of ore, usually of elongated form, extending downward in
a vein. Raymond. Chimney board, a board or screen used to close a
fireplace; a fireboard.
-- Chimney cap, a device to improve the draught of a chimney, by
presenting an exit aperture always to leeward.
-- Chimney corner, the space between the sides of the fireplace and
the fire; hence, the fireside.
-- Chimney hook, a hook for holding pats and kettles over a fire, --
Chimney money, hearth money, a duty formerly paid in England for each
chimney.
-- Chimney pot (Arch.), a cylinder of earthenware or sheet metal
placed at the top of a chimney which rises above the roof.
-- Chimney swallow. (Zoöl.) (a) An American swift (Chæture
pelasgica) which lives in chimneys. (b) In England, the common
swallow (Hirundo rustica).
-- Chimney sweep, Chimney sweeper, one who cleans chimneys of soot;
esp. a boy who climbs the flue, and brushes off the soot.
CHIMNEY-BREAST
Chim"ney-breast`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The horizontal projection of a chimney from the wall in which
it is built; -- commonly applied to its projection in the inside of a
building only.
CHIMNEY-PIECE
Chim"ney-piece`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A decorative construction around the opning of a fireplace.
CHIMPANZEE
Chim*pan"zee, n. Etym: [From the native name: cf. F. chimpanzé,
chimpansé, chimpanzée.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An african ape (Anthropithecus troglodytes or Troglodytes
niger) which approaches more nearly to man, in most respects, than
any other ape. When full grown, it is from three to four feet high.
CHIN
Chin, n. Etym: [AS. cin, akin to OS. kin, G kinn, Icel. kinn, cheek,
Dan. & Sw. kind, L. gena, Gr. hanu. *232.]
1. The lower extremity of the face below the mouth; the point of the
under jaw.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The exterior or under surface embraced between the branches of
the lower jaw bone, in birds.
CHINA
Chi"na, n.
1. A country in Eastern Asia.
2. China ware, which is the modern popular term for porcelain. See
Porcelain. China aster (Bot.), a well-known garden flower and plant.
See Aster.
-- China bean. See under Bean, 1.
-- China clay See Kaolin.
-- China grass, Same as Ramie.
-- China ink. See India ink.
-- China pink (Bot.), an anual or biennial species of Dianthus (D.
Chiensis) having variously colored single or double flowers; Indian
pink.
-- China root (Med.), the rootstock of a species of Smilax (S.
China, from the East Indies; -- formerly much esteemed for the
purposes that sarsaparilla is now used for. Also the galanga root
(from Alpinia Gallanga and Alpinia officinarum).
-- China rose. (Bot.) (a) A popular name for several free-blooming
varieties of rose derived from the Rosa Indica, and perhaps other
species. (b) A flowering hothouse plant (Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis) of
the Mallow family, common in the gardens of China and the east
Indies.
-- China shop, a shop or store for the sale of China ware or of
crockery.
-- China ware, porcelain; -- so called in the 17th century because
brought from the far East, and differing from the pottery made in
Europa at that time; also, loosely, crockery in general.
-- Pride of China, China tree. (Bot.) See Azedarach.
CHINALDINE
Chin*al"dine, n. Etym: [NL. chinium quinine + aldehyde.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Quinaldine.
CHINAMAN
Chi"na*man, n.; pl. Chinamen (.
Defn: A native of China; a Chinese.
CHINCAPIN
Chin"ca*pin, n.
Defn: See Chinquapin.
CHINCH
Chinch, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. chinche, fr. L. cimex.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bedbug (Cimex lectularius).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bug (Blissus leucopterus), which, in the United States, is
very destructive to grass, wheat, and other grains; -- also called
chiniz, chinch bug, chink bug. It resembles the bedbug in its
disgusting odor.
CHINCHA
Chin"cha, n. Etym: [Cf. Chinchilla.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A south American rodent of the genus Lagotis.
CHINCHE
Chinche, a. Etym: [F. chiche miserly.]
Defn: Parsimonious; niggardly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHINCHERIE
Chinch"er*ie, n.
Defn: Penuriousness. [Obs.]
By cause of his skarsete and chincherie. Caucer.
CHINCHILLA
Chin*chil"la, n. Etym: [Sp.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small rodent (Chinchilla lanigera), of the size of a large
squirrel, remarkable for its fine fur, which is very soft and of a
pearly gray color. It is a native of Peru and Chili.
2. The fur of the chinchilla.
3. A heavy, longnapped, tufted woolen cloth.
CHINCHONA; CHINCONA
Chin*cho"na, Chin*co"na.
Defn: See Cinchona.
CHIN COUGH
Chin" cough". Etym: [For chink cough; cf. As. cincung long laughter,
Scot. kink a violent fit of coughing, akin to MHG. kichen to pant.
Cf. Kinknaust, Cough.]
Defn: Whooping cough.
CHINE
Chine, n. Etym: [Cf. Chink.]
Defn: A chink or cleft; a narrow and deep ravine; as, Shanklin Chine
in the Isle of Wight, a quarter of a mile long and 230 feet deep.
[Prov. Eng.] "The cottage in a chine." J. Ingelow.
CHINE
Chine, n.Etym: [OF. eschine, F. échine, fr. OHG. skina needle,
prickle, shin, G. schiene splint, schienbein shin. For the meaning
cf. L. spina thorn, prickle, or spine, the backbone. Cf. Shin.]
1. The backbone or spine of an animal; the back. "And chine with
rising bristles roughly spread." Dryden.
2. A piece of the backbone of an animal, with the adjoining parts,
cut for cooking.
Note: [See Illust. of Beef.]
3. The edge or rim of a cask, etc., formed by the projecting ends of
the staves; the chamfered end of a stave.
CHINE
Chine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chined.]
1. To cut through the backbone of; to cut into chine pieces.
2. Too chamfer the ends of a stave and form the chine..
CHINED
Chined, a.
1. Pertaining to, or having, a chine, or backbone; -- used in
composition. Beau. & Fl.
2. Broken in the back. [Obs.]
He's chined, goodman. Beau. & Fl.
CHINESE
Chi"nese", a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to China; peculiar to China. Chinese paper.
See India paper, under India.
-- Chinese wax, a snowy-wgite, waxlike substance brought from China.
It is the bleached secretion of certain insects of the family Coccidæ
especially Coccus Sinensis.
CHINESE
Chi*nese", n. sing. & pl.
1. A native or natives of China, or one of that yellow race with
oblique eyelids who live principally in China.
2. sing.
Defn: The language of China, which is monosyllabic.
Note: Chineses was used as a plural by the contemporaries of
Shakespeare and Milton.
CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
Chinese Exclusion Act.
Defn: Any of several acts forbidding the immigration of Chinese
laborers into the United States, originally from 1882 to 1892 by act
of May 6, 1882, then from 1892 to 1902 by act May 5, 1892. By act of
April 29, 1902, all existing legislation on the subject was reënacted
and continued, and made applicable to the insular possessions of the
United States.
CHINK
Chink, n. Etym: [OE. chine, AS. cine fissure, chink, fr. cinan to
gape; akin to Goth. Keinan to sprout, G. keimen. Cf. Chit.]
Defn: A small cleft, rent, or fissure, of greater length than
breadth; a gap or crack; as, the chinks of wall.
Through one cloudless chink, in a black, stormy sky. Shines out the
dewy morning star. Macaulay.
CHINK
Chink, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chinking.]
Defn: To crack; to open.
CHINK
Chink, v. t.
1. To cause to open in cracks or fissures.
2. To fill up the chinks of; as, to chink a wall.
CHINK
Chink, n. Etym: [Of imitative origin. Cf. Jingle.]
1. A short, sharp sound, as of metal struck with a slight degree of
violence. "Chink of bell." Cowper.
2. Money; cash. [Cant] "To leave his chink to better hands."
Somerville.
CHINK
Chink, v. t.
Defn: To cause to make a sharp metallic sound, as coins, small pieces
of metal, etc., by bringing them into collision with each other.
Pope.
CHINK
Chink, v. i.
Defn: To make a slight, sharp, metallic sound, as by the collision of
little pieces of money, or other small sonorous bodies. Arbuthnot.
CHINKY
Chink"y, a.
Defn: Full of chinks or fissures; gaping; opening in narrow clefts.
Dryden.
CHINNED
Chinned, a.
Defn: Having a chin; -- used chiefly in compounds; as, short-chinned.
CHINOIDINE
Chi*noid"ine, n. Etym: [NL. chinium quinine (cf. G. & F. china
Peruvian bark) + --oil + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Quinodine.
CHINOISERIE
Chi`noi`se*rie" (she`nwa`z'*re"), n. [F.]
Defn: Chinese conduct, art, decoration, or the like; also, a specimen
of Chinese manners, art, decoration, etc.
CHINOLINE
Chin"o*line, n. Etym: [NL. chinium quinine (see Chinoldine) + L.
oleum oil + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Quinoline.
CHINONE
Chi"none, n. Etym: [NL. chinium quinine (see Chinoidine.) + -one.]
(Chem.)
Defn: See Quinone.
CHINOOK
Chi*nook", n.
1. (Ethnol.)
Defn: One of a tribe of North American Indians now living in the
state of Washington, noted for the custom of flattening their skulls.
Chinooks also called Flathead Indians.
2. A warm westerly wind from the country of the Chinooks, sometimes
experienced on the slope of the Rocky Mountains, in Montana and the
adjacent territory.
3. A jargon of words from various languages (the largest proportion
of which is from that of the Chinooks) generally understood by all
the Indian tribes of the northwestern territories of the United
States.
CHINOOK STATE
Chi*nook" State.
Defn: Washington -- a nickname. See Chinook, n.
CHINQUAPIN
Chin"qua*pin, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A branching, nut-bearing tree or shrub (Castanea pumila) of
North America, from six to twenty feet high, allied to the chestnut.
Also, its small, sweet, edible nat. [Written also chincapin and
chinkapin.] Chinquapin oak, a small shrubby oak (Quercus prinoides)
of the Atlantic States, with edible acorns.
-- Western Chinquapin, an evergreen shrub or tree (Castanopes
chrysophylla) of the Pacific coast. In California it is a shrub; in
Oregon a tree 30 to 125 feet high.
CHINSE
Chinse, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Chinsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chinsing.]
(Naut.)
Defn: To thrust oakum into (seams or chinks) with a chisel , the
point of a knife, or a chinsing iron; to calk slightly. Chinsing
iron, a light calking iron.
CHINTZ
Chintz, n.; pl. Chintzes. Etym: [Hindi chint spotted cotton clooth,
chinta spot.]
Defn: Cotton cloth, printed with flowers and other devices, in a
number of different colors, and often glazed. Swift.
CHIOPPINE
Chiop*pine", n.
Defn: Same as Chopine, n.
CHIP
Chip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chipping.] Etym:
[Cf. G. kippen to cut off the edge, to clip, pare. Cf. Chop to cut.]
1. To cut small pieces from; to diminsh or reduce to shape, by
cutting away a little at a time; to hew. Shak.
2. To break or crack, or crack off a portion of, as of an eggshell in
hatching, or a piece of crockery.
3. To bet, as with chips in the game of poker. To chip in, to
contribute, as to a fund; to share in the risks or expenses of.
[Slang. U. S.]
CHIP
Chip, v. i.
Defn: To break or fly off in small pieces.
CHIP
Chip, n.
1. A piece of wood, stone, or other substance, separated by an ax,
chisel, or cutting instrument.
2. A fragment or piece broken off; a small piece.
3. Wood or Cuban palm leaf split into slips, or straw plaited in a
special manner, for making hats or bonnets.
4. Anything dried up, withered, or without flavor; -- used
contemptuously.
5. One of the counters used in poker and other games.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: The triangular piece of wood attached to the log line. Buffalo
chips. See under Buffalo.
-- Chip ax, a small ax for chipping timber into shape.
-- Chip bonnet, Chip hat, a bonnet or a hat made of Chip. See Chip,
n., 3.
-- A chip off the old block, a child who resembles either of his
parents. [Colloq.] Milton.- Potato chips, Saratoga chips, thin slices
of raw potato fried crisp.
CHIPMUNK
Chip"munk`, n. Etym: [Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A squirrel-like animal of the genus Tamias, sometimes called
the striped squirrel, chipping squirrel, ground squirrel, hackee. The
common species of the United States is the Tamias striatus. [Written
also chipmonk, chipmuck, and chipmuk.]
CHIPPENDALE
Chip"pen*dale, a.
Defn: Designating furniture designed, or like that designed, by
Thomas Chippendale, an English cabinetmaker of the 18th century.
Chippendale furniture was generally of simple but graceful outline
with delicately carved rococo ornamentation, sculptured either in the
solid wood or, in the cheaper specimens, separately and glued on. In
the more elaborate pieces three types are recognized: French
Chippendale, having much detail, like Louis Quatorze and Louis
Quinze; Chinese Chippendale, marked by latticework and pagodalike
pediments; and Gothic Chippendale, attempting to adapt medieval
details. The forms, as of the cabriole and chairbacks, often resemble
Queen Anne. In chairs, the seat is widened at the front, and the back
toward the top widened and bent backward, except in Chinese
Chippendale, in which the backs are usually rectangular. --
Chip"pen*dal*ism (#), n.
It must be clearly and unmistakably understood, then, that, whenever
painted (that is to say, decorated with painted enrichment) or inlaid
furniture is described as Chippendale, no matter where or by whom, it
is a million chances to one that the description is incorrect.
R. D. Benn.
CHIPPER
Chip"per, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Cheep, Chirp.]
Defn: To chirp or chirrup. [ Prov. Eng.] Forby.
CHIPPER
Chip"per, a.
Defn: Lively; cheerful; talkative. [U. S.]
CHIPPEWAYS
Chip"pe*ways, n. pl.; sing. Chippeway. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians formerly inhabiting the northern and
weastern shores of Lake Superior; -- called also Objibways.
CHIPPING
Chip"ping, n.
1. A chip; a piece separated by a cutting or graving instrument; a
fragment.
2. The act or process of cutting or breaking off small pieces, as in
dressing iron with a chisel, or reducing a timber or block of stone
to shape.
3. The breaking off in small pieces of the edges of potter's ware,
porcelain, etc.
CHIPPING BIRD
Chip"ping bird`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chippy.
CHIPPING SQUIRREL
Chip"ping squir"rel.
Defn: See Chipmunk.
CHIPPY
Chip"py, a.
Defn: Abounding in, or resembling, chips; dry and tasteless.
CHIPPY
Chip"py, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small American sparrow (Spizella socialis), very common near
dwelling; -- also called chipping bird and chipping sparrow, from its
simple note.
CHIPS
Chips, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A ship's carpenter. [Cant.]
CHIRAGRA
Chi*ra"gra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Gout in the hand.
CHIRAGRICAL
Chi*rag"ric*al, a.
Defn: Having the gout in the hand, or subject to that disease. Sir.
T. Browne.
CHIRETTA
Chi*ret"ta, n. Etym: [Hind. chira\'c6ta.]
Defn: A plant (Agathotes Chirayta) found in Northern India, having
medicinal properties to the gentian, and esteemed as a tonic and
febrifuge.
CHIRK
Chirk, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Chirp, also Creak.]
1. To shriek; to gnash; to utter harsh or shrill cries. [Obs.]
All full of chirkyng was that sorry place. Cheucer.
2. To chirp like a bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHIRK
Chirk, v. t.
Defn: To cheer; to enliven; as, to chirk one up. [Colloq. New Eng. ]
CHIRK
Chirk, a. Etym: [From Chirk, v. i.]
Defn: Lively; cheerful; in good spirits. [Colloq. New Eng.]
CHIRM
Chirm, v. i. Etym: [Cf. AS. cyrman, cirman, to cry out. *24 Cf.
Chirp.]
Defn: To chirp or to make a mournful cry, as a bird. [Obs.] Huloet.
CHIROGNOMY
Chi*rog"no*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The art of judging character by the shape and apperance of the
hand.
CHIROGRAPH
Chi"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. (Old. Law)
(a) A writing which, reguiring a counterpart, was engrossed twice on
the same piece of parchment, with a space between, in which was
written the word chirographum, through which the parchment was cut,
and one part given to each party. It answered to what is now called a
charter party.
(b) The last part of a fine of land, commonly called the foot of the
fine. Bouvier.
CHIROGRAPHER
Chi*rog"ra*pher, n.
1. One who practice the art or business of writing or engrossing.
2. See chirographist, 2. Chirographer of fines (Old Eng. Law), an
officer in the court of common pleas, who engrossed fines.
CHIROGRAPHIC; CHIROGRAPHICAL
Chi`ro*graph"ic, Chi`ro*graph"ic*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to chirography.
CHIROGRAPHIST
Chi*rog"ra*phist, n.
1. A chirographer; a writer or engrosser.
2. One who tells fortunes by examining the hand.
CHIROGRAPHY
Chi*rog"ra*phy, n.
1. The art of writing or engrossing; handwriting; as, skilled in
chirography.
2. The art of telling fortunes by examining the hand.
CHIROGYMNAST
Chi`ro*gym"nast, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A mechanocal contrivance for exercesing the fingers of a
pianist.
CHIROLOGICAL
Chi`ro*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to chirology.
CHIROLOGIST
Chi*rol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who communicates thoughts by signs made with the hands and
fingers.
CHIROLOGY
Chi*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The art or practice of using the manual alphabet or of
communicating thoughts by sings made by the hands and fingers; a
substitute for spoken or written language in intercourse with the
deaf and dumb. See Dactylalogy.
CHIROMANCER
Chi"ro*man`cer, n.
Defn: One who practices chiromancy. Dryden.
CHIROMANCY
Chi"ro*mancy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: The art or practice of foretelling events, or of telling the
fortunes or the disposition of persons by inspecting the hand;
palmistry.
CHIROMANIST; CHIROMANTIST
Chi"ro*man`ist, Chi"ro*man`tist n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A chiromancer.
CHIROMANTIC; CHIROMANTICAL
Chi`ro*man"tic, Chi`ro*man"tic*al a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to chiromancy.
CHIROMONIC
Chi`ro*mon"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to chironomy.
CHIRONOMY
Chi*ron"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The art of moving the hands in oratory or in pantomime; gesture
[Obs.]
CHIROPLAST
Chi"ro*plast, n. Etym: [Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument to guid the hands and fingers of pupils in
playing on the piano, etc.
CHIROPODIST
Chi*rop"o*dist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who treats diseases of the hands and feet; especially, one
who removes corns and bunions.
CHIROPODY
Chirop"ody, n.
Defn: The art of treating diseases of the hands and feet.
CHIROSOPHIST
Chiros"ophist, n. Etym: [Gr. Sophist.]
Defn: A fortune teller.
CHIRP
Chirp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chirped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chirping.] Etym:
[Of imitative orgin. Cf. Chirk, Chipper, Cheep, Chirm, Chirrup.]
Defn: To make a shop, sharp, cheerful, as of small birds or crickets.
CHIRP
Chirp, n.
Defn: A short, sharp note, as of a bird or insect. "The chirp of
flitting bird." Bryant.
CHIRPER
Chirp"er, n.
Defn: One who chirps, or is cheerful.
CHIRPING
Chirp"ing, a.
Defn: Cheering; enlivening.
He takes his chirping pint, he cracks his jokes. Pope.
CHIRPINGLY
Chirp"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chirping manner.
CHIRRE
Chirre, v. i. Etym: [Cf. G. girren, AS. corian to murmur, complain.
*24.]
Defn: To coo, as a pigeon. [Obs.]
CHIRRUP
Chir"rup, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chirruped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chirruping.]
Etym: [See Chirp.]
Defn: To quicken or animate by chirping; to cherup.
CHIRRUP
Chir"rup, v. i.
Defn: To chirp. Tennyson.
The criket chirrups on the hearth. Goldsmith.
CHIRRUP
Chir"rup, n.
Defn: The act of chirping; a chirp.
The sparrows' chirrup on the roof. Tennyson.
CHIRRUPY
Chir"rupy, a.
Defn: Cheerful; joyous; chatty.
CHIRURGEON
Chi*rur"geon, n. Etym: [F. chirurgien, from chirurgie surgery, fr.
Gr. Surgeon, Work.]
Defn: A surgeon. [Obs.]
CHIRURGEONLY
Chi*rur"geon*ly, adv.
Defn: Surgically. [Obs.] Shak.
CHIRURGERY
Chi*rur"ger*y, n. Etym: [See Chirurgeon, and cf. Surgery.]
Defn: Surgery. [Obs.]
CHIRURGIC; CHIRURGICAL
Chi*rur"gic, Chirur"gical, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chirurgiquerurgical, L.
Chirurgicus, Gr. Chirurgeon, and cf. Surgical.]
Defn: Surgical [Obs.] "Chirurgical lore" Longfellow.
CHISEL
Chis"el, n. Etym: [OF. chisel, F. ciseau, fr. LL. cisellus, prob. for
caesellus, fr. L. caesus, p. p. of caedere to cut. Cf. Scissors.]
Defn: A tool with a cutting edge on one end of a metal blade, used in
dressing, shaping, or working in timber, stone, metal, etc.; --
usually driven by a mallet or hammer. Cold chisel. See under Cold, a.
CHISEL
Chis"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chiseled, or Chiselled (p. pr. & vb. n.
Chiseling, or Chiselling.] Etym: [Cf. F. ciseler.]
1. To cut, pare, gouge, or engrave with a chisel; as, to chisel a
block of marble into a statue.
2. To cut close, as in a bargain; to cheat. [Slang]
CHISLEU
Chis"leu, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: The ninth month of the Jewish ecclesiastical year, answering to
a part of November with a part of December.
CHISLEY
Chis"ley, a. Etym: [AS. ceosel gravel or sand. Cf. Chessom.]
Defn: Having a large admixture of small pebbles or gravel; -- said of
a soil. Gardner.
CHIT
Chit, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. ci shoot, sprig, from the same root as cinan
to yawn. See Chink a cleft.]
1. The embryo or the growing bud of a plant; a shoot; a sprout; as,
the chits of Indian corn or of potatoes.
2. A child or babe; as, a forward chit; also, a young, small, or
insignificant person or animal.
A little chit of a woman. Thackeray.
3. An excrescence on the body, as a wart. [Obs.]
4. A small tool used in cleaving laths. Knight.
CHIT
Chit, v. i.
Defn: To shoot out; to sprout.
I have known barley chit in seven hours after it had been thrown
forth. Mortimer.
CHIT
Chit, 3d sing. of Chide.
Defn: Chideth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHITCHAT
Chit"chat, n. Etym: [From Chat, by way of reduplication.]
Defn: Familiar or trifling talk; prattle.
CHITIN
Chi"tin, n. Etym: [See Chiton.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous horny substance forming the harder part of
the outer integument of insects, crustacea, and various other
invertebrates; entomolin.
CHITINIZATION
Chi`ti*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The process of becoming chitinous.
CHITINOUS
Chi"ti*nous, a.
Defn: Having the nature of chitin; consisting of, or containing,
chitin.
CHITON
Chi"ton, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. An under garment among the ancient Greeks, nearly representing the
modern shirt.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of gastropod mollusks, with a shell composed of
eight movable dorsal plates. See Polyplacophora.
CHITTER
Chit"ter, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Chatter.]
1. To chirp in a tremulous manner, as a bird. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To shiver or chatter with cold. [Scot.] Burns.
CHITTERLING
Chit"ter*ling, n.
Defn: The frill to the breast of a shirt, which when ironed out
resembled the small entrails. See Chitterlings. [Obs.] Gascoigne.
CHITTERLINGS
Chit"ter*lings, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. AS. cwiÞ womb, Icel. kvith, Goth.
qiÞus, belly, womb, stomach, G. kutteln chitterlings.] (Cookery)
Defn: The smaller intestines of swine, etc., fried for food.
CHITTRA
Chit"tra, n. Etym: [Native Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The axis deer of India.
CHITTY
Chit"ty, a.
1. Full of chits or sprouts.
2. Childish; like a babe. [Obs.]
CHIVACHIE
Chiv"a*chie`, n. Etym: [OF. chevauchie, chevauchée; of the same
origin as E. cavalcade.]
Defn: A cavalry raid; hence, a military expedition. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHIVALRIC
Chiv"al*ric, a. Etym: [See Chivalry.]
Defn: Relating to chivalry; knightly; chivalrous.
CHIVALROUS
Chiv"al*rous, a. Etym: [OF. chevalerus, chevalereus, fr. chevalier.
See Chivalry.]
Defn: Pertaining to chivalry or knight-errantry; warlike; heroic;
gallant; high-spirited; high-minded; magnanimous.
In brave pursuit of chivalrous emprise. Spenser.
CHIVALROUSLY
Chiv"al*rous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chivalrous manner; gallantly; magnanimously.
CHIVALRY
Chiv"al*ry, n. Etym: [F. chevalerie, fr. chevalier knight, OF.,
horseman. See Chevalier, and cf. Cavalry.]
1. A body or order of cavaliers or knights serving on horseback;
illustrious warriors, collectively; cavalry. "His Memphian chivalry."
Milton.
By his light Did all the chivalry of England move, To do brave acts.
Shak.
2. The dignity or system of knighthood; the spirit, usages, or
manners of knighthood; the practice of knight-errantry. Dryden.
3. The qualifications or character of knights, as valor, dexterity in
arms, courtesy, etc.
The glory of our Troy this day doth lie On his fair worth and single
chivalry. Shak.
4. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A tenure of lands by knight's service; that is, by the
condition of a knight's performing service on horseback, or of
performing some noble or military service to his lord.
5. Exploit. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney. Court of chivalry, a court formerly
held before the lord high constable and earl marshal of England as
judges, having cognizance of contracts and other matters relating to
deeds of arms and war. Blackstone.
CHIVARRAS; CHIVARROS
Chi*var"ras, Chi*var"ros, n. pl. [Mex. Sp.]
Defn: Leggings. [Mex. & Southwestern U. S.]
CHIVE
Chive, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A filament of a stamen. [Obs.]
CHIVE
Chive, n. Etym: [F. cive, fr. L. cepa, caepa, onion. Cf. Cives,
Cibol.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant (Allium Schoenoprasum), allied to the onion.
The young leaves are used in omelets, etc. [Written also cive.]
CHIVY
Chiv"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chivied; p. pr. & vb. n. Chivying.] Etym:
[Cf. Chevy.]
Defn: To goad, drive, hunt, throw, or pitch. [Slang, Eng.] Dickens.
CHLAMYDATE
Chlam"y*date, a. Etym: [L. chlamydatus dressed in a military cloak.
See Chlamys.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a mantle; -- applied to certain gastropods.
CHLAMYPHORE
Chlam"y*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American edentate (Chlamyphorus truncatus, and C.
retusus) allied to the armadillo. It is covered with a leathery shell
or coat of mail, like a cloak, attached along the spine.
CHLAMYS
Chla"mys, n.; pl. E. Chlamyses, L. Chlamydes. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: A loose and flowing outer garment, worn by the ancient Greeks;
a kind of cloak.
CHLOASMA
Chlo*as"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A cutaneous affection characterized by yellow or yellowish
brown pigmented spots.
CHLORAL
Chlo"ral, n. Etym: [Chlorine + alcohol.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oily liquid, CCl3.CHO, of a pungent odor and harsh
taste, obtained by the action of chlorine upon ordinary or ethyl
alcohol.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Chloral hydrate. Chloral hydrate, a white crystalline
substance, obtained by treating chloral with water. It produces sleep
when taken internally or hypodermically; -- called also chloral.
CHLORALAMIDE
Chlo"ral*am`ide, n. Etym: [Chloral + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of chloral and formic amide used to produce sleep.
CHLORALISM
Chlo"ral*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition of the system resulting from excessive use
of chloral.
CHLORALUM
Chlor`al"um, n. Etym: [Chlorine + aluminium.]
Defn: An impure aqueous solution of chloride of aluminium, used as an
antiseptic and disinfectant.
CHLORANIL
Chlor`an"il, n. Etym: [Chlorine + aniline.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, C6Cl4.O2, regarded as a
derivative of quinone, obtained by the action of chlorine on certain
benzene derivatives, as aniline.
CHLORATE
Chlo"rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chlorate. See Chlorine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of chloric acid; as, chlorate of potassium.
CHLORAURATE
Chlor`au"rate, n. Etym: [Chlorine + aurate.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Aurochloride.
CHLORHYDRIC
Chlor`hy"dric, a. Etym: [Chlorine + hydrogen + -ic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Hydrochloric.
CHLORHYDRIN
Chlor`hy"drin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of compounds formed from certain polybasic
alcohols (and especially glycerin) by the substitution of chlorine
for one or more hydroxyl groups.
CHLORIC
Chlo"ric, a. Etym: [From Chlorine.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, chlorine; -- said of those
compounds of chlorine in which this element has a valence of five, or
the next to its highest; as, chloric acid, HClO3. Chloric ether
(Chem.), ethylene dichloride. See Dutch liquid, under Dutch.
CHLORIDATE
Chlo"ri*date, v.t.
Defn: To treat or prepare with a chloride, as a plate with chloride
of silver, for the purposes of photography. R. Hunt.
CHLORIDE
Chlo"ride, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of chlorine with another element or radical;
as, chloride of sodium (common salt). Chloride of ammonium, sal
ammoniac.
-- Chloride of lime, bleaching powder; a grayish white substance,
CaOClcalcium hypochlorite. See Hypochlorous acid, under Hypochlorous.
-- Mercuric chloride, corrosive sublimate.
CHLORIDIC
Chlo*rid"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chloride; containing a chloride.
CHLORIDIZE
Chlo"rid*ize, v. t.
Defn: See Chloridate.
CHLORIMETRY
Chlo*rim"e*try, n.
Defn: See Chlorometry.
CHLORINATE
Chlo"rin*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chlorinated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chlorinating.] (Chem.)
Defn: To treat, or cause to combine, with chlorine.
CHLORINATION
Chlo`ri*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of subjecting anything to the action of
chlorine; especially, a process for the extraction of gold by
exposure of the auriferous material to chlorine gas.
CHLORINE
Chlo"rine, n. Etym: [Gr. Yellow.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the elementary substances, commonly isolated as a
greenish yellow gas, two and one half times as heavy as air, of an
intensely disagreeable suffocating odor, and exceedingly poisonous.
It is abundant in nature, the most important compound being common
salt. It is powerful oxidizing, bleaching, and disinfecting agent.
Symbol Cl. Atomic weight, 35.4. Chlorine family, the elements
fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, called the halogens, and
classed together from their common peculiariries.
CHLORIODIC
Chlor`i*od"ic, a.
Defn: Compounded of chlorine and iodine; containing chlorine and
iodine.
CHLORIODINE
Chlor`i"o*dine, n.
Defn: A compound of chlorine and iodine. [R.]
CHLORITE
Chlo"rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: The name of a group of minerals, usually of a green color and
micaceous to granular in structure. They are hydrous silicates of
alumina, iron, and magnesia. Chlorite slate, a schistose or slaty
rock consisting of alumina, iron, and magnesia.
CHLORITE
Chlo"rite, n. Etym: [Chlorous + -ite.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any salt of chlorous acid; as, chlorite of sodium.
CHLORITIC
Chlo*rit"ic, a. Etym: [From 1st Chlorite.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, chlorite; as, chloritic sand.
CHLORMETHANE
Chlor`meth"ane, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless gas, CH3Cl, of a sweet odor, easily condensed to a
liquid; -- called also methyl chloride.
CHLORO-
Chlo"ro-. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix denoting that chlorine is an ingredient in the
substance named.
CHLOROCRUORIN
Chlo`ro*cru"o*rin, n. Etym: [Gr. cruorin.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A green substance, supposed to be the cause of the green color
of the blood in some species of worms. Ray Lankester.
CHLORODYNE
Chlo"ro*dyne, n. Etym: [From chlorine, in imitation of anodyne.]
(Med.)
Defn: A patent anodyne medicine, containing opium, chloroform, Indian
hemp, etc.
CHLOROFORM
Chlo"ro*form, n. Etym: [Chlorine + formyl, it having been regarded as
a trichloride of this radical: cf. F. chloroforme, G. chloroform.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A colorless volatile liquid, CHCl3, having an ethereal odor and
a sweetish taste, formed by treating alcohol with chlorine and an
alkali. It is a powerful solvent of wax, resin, etc., and is
extensively used to produce anæsthesia in surgical operations; also
externally, to alleviate pain.
CHLOROFORM
Chlo"ro*form, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chloroformed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chloroforming.]
Defn: To treat with chloroform, or to place under its influence.
CHLOROLEUCITE
Chlo`ro*leu"cite, n. Etym: [Gr. leucite.] (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Chloroplastid.
CHLOROMETER
Chlo*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chloromètre. See Chlorine, and -
meter.]
Defn: An instrument to test the decoloring or bleaching power of
chloride of lime.
CHLOROMETRY
Chlo*rom"e*try, n.
Defn: The process of testing the bleaching power of any combination
of chlorine.
CHLOROPAL
Chlo*ro"pal, n. Etym: [Gr. opal.] (Min.)
Defn: A massive mineral, greenish in color, and opal-like in
appearance. It is essentially a hydrous silicate of iron.
CHLOROPEPTIC
Chlo`ro*pep"tic, a. Etym: [Chlorine + peptic.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an acid more generally called pepsin-
hydrochloric acid.
CHLOROPHANE
Chlo"ro*phane, n. Etym: [Gr. chlorophane.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of fluor spar, which, when heated, gives a beautiful
emerald green light.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The yellowish green pigment in the inner segment of the cones
of the retina. See Chromophane.
CHLOROPHYLL
Chlo"ro*phyll, n. Etym: [Gr. chlorophylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Literally, leaf green; a green granular matter formed in the
cells of the leaves (and other parts exposed to light) of plants, to
which they owe their green color, and through which all ordinary
assimilation of plant food takes place. Similar chlorophyll granules
have been found in the tissues of the lower animals. [Written also
chlorophyl.]
CHLOROPLAST
Chlo"ro*plast, n. [Pref. chloro-+ Gr. to mold, form.] (Biol.)
Defn: A plastid containing chlorophyll, developed only in cells
exposed to the light. Chloroplasts are minute flattened granules,
usually occurring in great numbers in the cytoplasm near the cell
wall, and consist of a colorless ground substance saturated with
chlorophyll pigments. Under light of varying intensity they exhibit
phototactic movements. In animals chloroplasts occur only in certain
low forms.
CHLOROPLASTID
Chlo`ro*plas"tid, n. Etym: [Gr. plastid.] (Bot.)
Defn: A granule of chlorophyll; -- also called chloroleucite.
CHLOROPLATINIC
Chlo`ro*pla*tin"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Platinichloric.
CHLOROSIS
Chlo*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. chlorose.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: The green sickness; an anæmic disease of young women,
characterized by a greenish or grayish yellow hue of the skin,
weakness, palpitation, etc.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A disease in plants, causing the flowers to turn green or the
leaves to lose their normal green color.
CHLOROTIC
Chlo*rot"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chlorotique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or affected by, chlorosis.
CHLOROUS
Chlo"rous, a. Etym: [See Chlorine.]
1. Of, pertaining to, or derived from, chlorine; -- said of those
compounds of chlorine in which this element has a valence of three,
the next lower than in chloric compounds; as, chlorous acid, HClO2.
2. (Chem. Physics)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the electro-negative character of
chlorine; hence, electro-negative; -- opposed to basylous or zincous.
[Obs.]
CHLORPICRIN
Chlor`pi"crin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A heavy, colorless liquid, CCl3.NO2, of a strong pungent odor,
obtained by subjecting picric acid to the action of chlorine.
[Written also chloropikrin.]
CHLORURET
Chlo"ru*ret, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chlorure.] (Chem.)
Defn: A chloride. [Obs.]
CHOAK
Choak, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Choke.
CHOANOID
Cho"a*noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Funnel-shaped; -- applied particularly to a hollow muscle
attached to the ball of the eye in many reptiles and mammals.
CHOCARD
Cho"card, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chough.
CHOCK
Chock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chocking.]
Defn: To stop or fasten, as with a wedge, or block; to scotch; as, to
chock a wheel or cask.
CHOCK
Chock, v. i.
Defn: To fill up, as a cavity. "The woodwork . . . exactly chocketh
into joints." Fuller.
CHOCK
Chock, n.
1. A wedge, or block made to fit in any space which it is desired to
fill, esp. something to steady a cask or other body, or prevent it
from moving, by fitting into the space around or beneath it.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A heavy casting of metal, usually fixed near the gunwale. It
has two short horn-shaped arms curving inward, between which ropes or
hawsers may pass for towing, mooring, etc.
CHOCK
Chock, adv. (Naut.)
Defn: Entirely; quite; as, chock home; chock aft.
CHOCK
Chock, v. t. Etym: [F. choquer. Cf. Shock, v. t.]
Defn: To encounter. [Obs.]
CHOCK
Chock, n.
Defn: An encounter. [Obs.]
CHOCKABLOCK
Chock"a*block, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Hoisted as high as the tackle will admit; brought close
together, as the two blocks of a tackle in hoisting.
CHOCK-FULL
Chock"-full`, a.
Defn: Quite full; choke-full.
CHOCOLATE
Choc"o*late, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. the Mexican name of the cacao. Cf.
Cacao, Cocoa.]
1. A paste or cake composed of the roasted seeds of the Theobroma
Cacao ground and mixed with other ingredients, usually sugar, and
cinnamon or vanilla.
2. The beverage made by dissolving a portion of the paste or cake in
boiling water or milk. Chocolate house, a house in which customers
may be served with chocolate.
-- Chocolate nut. See Cacao.
CHOCTAWS
Choc"taws, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing. Choctaw. (Ethnol.) A tribe of North American Indians
(Southern Appalachian), in early times noted for their pursuit of
agriculture, and for living at peace with the white settlers. They
are now one of the civilized tribes of the Indian Territory.
CHODE
Chode,
Defn: the old imp. of chide. See Chide.
CHOGSET
Chog"set, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cunner.
CHOICE
Choice, n. Etym: [OE. chois, OF. chois, F. choix, fr. choisir to
choose; of German origin; cf. Goth. kausjan to examine, kiusan to
choose, examine, G. kiesen. *46. Cf. Choose.]
1. Act of choosing; the voluntary act of selecting or separating from
two or more things that which is preferred; the determination of the
mind in preferring one thing to another; election.
2. The power or opportunity of choosing; option.
Choice there is not, unless the thing which we take be so in our
power that we might have refused it. Hooker.
3. Care in selecting; judgment or skill in distinguishing what is to
be preferred, and in giving a preference; discrimination.
I imagine they [the apothegms of Cæsar] were collected with judgment
and choice. Bacon.
4. A sufficient number to choose among. Shak.
5. The thing or person chosen; that which is approved and selected in
preference to others; selection.
The common wealth is sick of their own choice. Shak.
6. The best part; that which is preferable.
The flower and choice Of many provinces from bound to bound. Milton.
To make a choice of, to choose; to select; to separate and take in
preference.
Syn. - See Volition, Option.
CHOICE
Choice, a. [Compar. Choicer; superl. Choicest.]
1. Worthly of being chosen or preferred; select; superior; precious;
valuable.
My choicest hours of life are lost. Swift.
2. Preserving or using with care, as valuable; frugal; -- used with
of; as, to be choice of time, or of money.
3. Selected with care, and due attention to preference; deliberately
chosen.
Choice word measured phrase. Wordsworth.
Syn. - Select; precious; exquisite; uncommon; rare; chary; careful/
CHOICEFUL
Choice"ful, a.
Defn: Making choices; fickle. [Obs.]
His choiceful sense with every change doth fit. Spenser.
CHOICELY
Choice"ly, adv.
1. With care in choosing; with nice regard to preference. "A band of
men collected choicely, from each county some." Shak.
2. In a preferable or excellent manner; excellently; eminently.
"Choicely good." Walton.
CHOICENESS
Choice"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being of particular value or worth; nicely;
excellence.
CHOIR
Choir, n. Etym: [OE. quer, OF. cuer, F. choeur, fr. L. chorus a
choral dance, chorus, choir, fr. Gr. hortus garden, and E. yard. See
Chorus.]
1. A band or organized company of singers, especially in church
service. [Formerly written also quire.]
2. That part of a church appropriated to the singers.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The chancel. Choir organ (Mus.), one of the three or five
distinct organs included in the full organ, each separable from the
rest, but all controlled by one performer; a portion of the full
organ, complete in itself, and more practicable for ordinary service
and in the accompanying of the vocal choir.
-- Choir screen, Choir wall (Arch.), a screen or low wall separating
the choir from the aisles.
-- Choir service, the service of singing performed by the choir. T.
Warton.
CHOKE
Choke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Choked; p. pr. & vb. n. Choking.] Etym:
[OE. cheken, choken; cf. AS. aceocian to suffocate, Icel. koka to
gulp, E. chincough, cough.]
1. To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or
squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle.
With eager feeding food doth choke the feeder. Shak.
2. To obstruct by filling up or clogging any passage; to block up.
Addison.
3. To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to
stifle.
Oats and darnel choke the rising corn. Dryden.
4. To affect with a sense of strangulation by passion or strong
feeling. "I was choked at this word." Swift.
5. To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel
of a shotgun. To choke off, to stop a person in the execution of a
purpose; as, to choke off a speaker by uproar.
CHOKE
Choke, v. i.
1. To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat,
caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled.
2. To be checked, as if by choking; to stick.
The words choked in his throat. Sir W. Scott.
CHOKE
Choke, n.
1. A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of
strangulation.
2. (Gun.)
(a) The tied end of a cartridge.
(b) A constriction in the bore of a shotgun, case of a rocket, etc.
CHOKEBERRY
Choke"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The small apple-shaped or pear-shaped fruit of an American
shrub (Pyrus arbutifolia) growing in damp thickets; also, the shrub.
CHOKEBORE
Choke"bore`, n.
1. In a shotgun, a bore which is tapered to a slightly smaller
diameter at a short distance (usually 2½ to 3 inches) to the rear of
the muzzle, in order to prevent the rapid dispersion of the shot.
2. A shotgun that is made with such a bore.
CHOKEBORE
Choke"bore`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chokebored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chokeboring.]
Defn: To provide with a chokebore.
CHOKECHERRY
Choke"cher`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The astringent fruit of a species of wild cherry (Prunus
Virginiana); also, the bush or tree which bears such fruit.
CHOKE DAMP
Choke" damp`.
Defn: See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
CHOKEDAR
Cho`ke*dar", n. Etym: [Hindi chauki-dar.]
Defn: A watchman; an officer of customs or police. [India]
CHOKE-FULL
Choke"-full`, a.
Defn: Full to the brim; quite full; chock-full.
CHOKE PEAR
Choke" pear`.
1. A kind of pear that has a rough, astringent taste, and is
swallowed with difficulty, or which contracts the mucous membrane of
the mouth.
2. A sarcasm by which one is put to silence; anything that can not be
answered. [Low] S. Richardson.
CHOKER
Chok"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, chokes.
2. A stiff wide cravat; a stock. [Slang]
CHOKE-STRAP
Choke"-strap`, n. (Saddlery)
Defn: A strap leading from the bellyband to the lower part of the
collar, to keep the collar in place.
CHOKING
Chok"ing, a.
1. That chokes; producing the feeling of strangulation.
2. Indistinct in utterance, as the voice of a person affected with
strong emotion.
CHOKING COIL
Choking coil. (Elec.)
Defn: A coil of small resistance and large inductance, used in an
alternating-current circuit to impede or throttle the current, or to
change its phase; --called also reactance coil or reactor, these
terms being now preferred in engineering usage.
CHOKY; CHOKEY
Chok"y Chok"ey, a.
1. Tending to choke or suffocate, or having power to suffocate.
2. Inclined to choke, as a person affected with strong emotion. "A
deep and choky voice." Aytoun.
The allusion to his mother made Tom feel rather chokey. T. Hughes.
CHOLAEMAA
Cho*læ"ma*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease characterized by severe nervous symptoms, dependent
upon the presence of the constituents of the bile in the blood.
CHOLAGOGUE
Chol"a*gogue, a. Etym: [Gr. cholagogue.] (Med.)
Defn: Promoting the discharge of bile from the system.
-- n.
Defn: An agent which promotes the discharge of bile from the system.
CHOLATE
Cho"late, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of cholic acid; as, sodium cholate.
CHOLECYSTIS
Chol`e*cys"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The gall bladder.
CHOLECYSTOTOMY
Chol`e*cys*tot"o*my, n. Etym: [Cholecystis + Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: The operation of making an opening in the gall bladder, as for
the removal of a gallstone.
CHOLEDOLOGY
Chol`e*dol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy. Cf. F. cholédologie.] (Med.)
Defn: A treatise on the bile and bilary organs. Dunglison.
Note: Littré says that the word cholédologie is absolutely barbarous,
there being no Greek word cholology.
CHOLEIC
Cho*le"ic, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, bile; as, choleic acid.
CHOLER
Chol"er, n. Etym: [OE. coler, F. colère anger, L. cholera a bilious
complaint, fr. Gr. Gall, and cf. Cholera.]
1. The bile; -- formerly supposed to be the seat and cause of
irascibility. [Obs.]
His [Richard Hooker's] complexion . . . was sanguine, with a mixture
of choler; and yet his motion was slow. I. Warton.
2. Irritation of the passions; anger; wrath.
He is rash and very sudden in choler. Shak.
CHOLERA
Chol"er*a, n. Etym: [L., a bilious disease. See Choler.] (Med.)
Defn: One of several diseases affecting the digestive and intestinal
tract and more or less dangerous to life, esp. the one commonly
called Asiatic cholera. Asiatic cholera, a malignant and rapidly
fatal disease, originating in Asia and frequently epidemic in the
more filthy sections of other lands, to which the germ or specific
poison may have been carried. It is characterized by diarrhea, rice-
water evacuations, vomiting, cramps, pinched expression, and
lividity, rapidly passing into a state of collapse, followed by
death, or by a stage of reaction of fever.
-- Cholera bacillus. See Comma bacillus.
-- Cholera infantum, a dangerous summer disease, of infants, caused
by hot weather, bad air, or poor milk, and especially fatal in large
cities.
-- Cholera morbus, a disease characterized by vomiting and purging,
with gripings and cramps, usually caused by imprudence in diet or by
gastrointestinal disturbance.
-- Chicken cholera. See under Chicken.
-- Hog cholera. See under Hog.
-- Sporadic cholera, a disease somewhat resembling the Asiatic
cholera, but originating where it occurs, and rarely becoming
epidemic.
CHOLERAIC
Chol`er*a"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, or resulting from, or resembling, cholera.
CHOLERIC
Chol"er*ic, a. Etym: [L. cholericus, Gr. cholérique.]
1. Abounding with, or producing choler, or bile. Dryden.
2. Easily irritated; irascible; inclined to anger.
3. Angry; indicating anger; excited by anger. "Choleric speech." Sir
W. Raleigh. Choleric temperament, the bilious temperament.
CHOLERICLY
Chol"er*ic*ly, adv.
Defn: In a choleric manner; angrily.
CHOLERIFORM
Chol"er*i*form`, a. Etym: [Cholera + -form.]
Defn: Resembling cholera.
CHOLERINE
Chol"er*ine, n. (Med.)
(a) The precursory symptoms of cholera.
(b) The first stage of epidemic cholera.
(c) A mild form of cholera.
CHOLEROID
Chol"er*oid, a. Etym: [Cholera + -oid.]
Defn: Choleriform.
CHOLESTERIC
Cho`les*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cholestérique.]
Defn: Pertaining to cholesterin, or obtained from it; as, cholesteric
acid. Ure.
CHOLESTERIN
Cho*les"ter*in, n. Etym: [Gr. cholestérine. See Stearin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, fatty, crystalline substance, tasteless and odorless,
found in animal and plant products and tissue, and especially in
nerve tissue, in the bile, and in gallstones.
CHOLIAMB; CHOLIAMBIC
Cho"li*amb, Cho`li*am"bic, n. Etym: [L. choliambus, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A verse having an iambus in the fifth place, and a spondee in
the sixth or last.
CHOLIC; CHOLINIC
Chol"ic, Cho*lin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the bile. Cholic acid (Chem.),
a complex organic acid found as a natural constituent of taurocholic
and glycocholic acids in the bile, and extracted as a resinous
substance, convertible under the influence of ether into white
crystals.
CHOLINE
Cho"line, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: See Neurine.
CHOLOCHROME
Chol"o*chrome, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: See Bilirubin.
CHOLOPHAEIN
Chol`o*phæ"in, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: See Bilirubin.
CHOLTRY
Chol"try, n.
Defn: A Hindoo caravansary.
CHOMAGE
Cho`mage", n. [F. chomage.]
1.
Defn: Stoppage; cessation (of labor).
2. A standing still or idle (of mills, factories, etc.).
CHOMP
Chomp, v. i.
Defn: To chew loudly and greedily; to champ. [Prov. Eng. & Colloq. U.
S.] Halliwell.
CHONDRIFICATION
Chon`dri*fi*ca"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: Formation of, or conversion into, cartilage.
CHONDRIFY
Chon"dri*fy, v. t. & i. Etym: [Gr. -fy.]
Defn: To convert, or be converted, into cartilage.
CHONDRIGEN
Chon"dri*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The chemical basis of cartilage, converted by long boiling in
water into a gelatinous body called chondrin.
CHONDRIGENOUS
Chon*drig"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Affording chondrin.
CHONDRIN
Chon"drin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, amorphous, nitrogenous substance, tasteless and
odorless, formed from cartilaginous tissue by long-continued action
of boiling water. It is similar to gelatin, and is a large ingredient
of commercial gelatin.
CHONDRITE
Chon"drite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A meteoric stone characterized by the presence of chondrules.
CHONDRITIC
Chon*drit"ic, a. (Min.)
Defn: Granular; pertaining to, or having the granular structure
characteristic of, the class of meteorites called chondrites.
CHONDRITIS
Chon*dri"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation of cartilage.
CHONDRO-
Chon"dro-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form meaning a grain, granular, granular cartilage,
cartilaginous; as, the chondrocranium, the cartilaginous skull of the
lower vertebrates and of embryos.
CHONDRODITE
Chon"dro*dite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A fluosilicate of magnesia and iron, yellow to red in color,
often occurring in granular form in a crystalline limestone.
CHONDROGANOIDEA
Chon`dro*ga*noi"de*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ganoidei. See Ganoid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes, including the sturgeons; -- so
called on account of their cartilaginous skeleton.
CHONDROGEN
Chon"dro*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Same as Chondrigen.
CHONDROGENESIS
Chon`dro*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Gr. genesis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The development of cartilage.
CHONDROID
Chon"droid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling cartilage.
CHONDROLOGY
Chon*drol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. chondrologie.] (Anat.)
Defn: The science which treats of cartilages. Dunglison.
CHONDROMA
Chon*dro"ma, n.; pl. Chondromata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oma.]
Defn: A cartilaginous tumor or growth.
CHONDROMETER
Chon*drom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: A steelyard for weighting grain.
CHONDROPTERYGIAN
Chon*drop`ter*yg"i*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chondropterygien.]
Defn: Having a cartilaginous skeleton.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Chondropterygii.
CHONDROPTERYGII
Chon*drop`te*ryg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of fishes, characterized by cartilaginous fins and
skeleton. It includes both ganoids (sturgeons, etc.) and selachians
(sharks), but is now often restricted to the latter. [Written also
Chondropterygia.]
CHONDROSTEI
Chon*dros"te*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes, including the sturgeons; -- so named
because the skeleton is cartilaginous.
CHONDROTOMY
Chon*drot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The dissection of cartilages.
CHONDRULE
Chon"drule, n. Etym: [Dim. from Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A peculiar rounded granule of some mineral, usually enstatite
or chrysolite, found imdedded more or less aboundantly in the mass of
many meteoric stones, which are hence called chondrites.
CHOOSE
Choose, v. t. [imp. Chose; p. p. Chosen, Chose (Obs.); p. pr. & vb.
n. Choosing.] Etym: [OE. chesen, cheosen, AS. ceósan; akin to OS.
kiosan, D. kiezen, G. kiesen, Icel. kjosa, Goth. kiusan, L. gustare
to taste, Gr. jush to enjoy. *46. Cf. Choice, 2d Gust.]
1. To make choice of; to select; to take by way of preference from
two or more objects offered; to elect; as, to choose the least of two
evils.
Choose me for a humble friend. Pope.
2. To wish; to desire; to prefer. [Colloq.]
The landlady now returned to know if we did not choose a more genteel
apartment. Goldsmith.
To choose sides. See under Side.
Syn. - To select; prefer; elect; adopt; follow.
-- To Choose, Prefer, Elect. To choose is the generic term, and
denotes to take or fix upon by an act of the will, especially in
accordance with a decision of the judgment. To prefer is to choose or
favor one thing as compared with, and more desirable than, another,
or more in accordance with one's tastes and feelings. To elect is to
choose or select for some office, employment, use, privilege, etc.,
especially by the concurrent vote or voice of a sufficient number of
electors. To choose a profession; to prefer private life to a public
one; to elect members of Congress.
CHOOSE
Choose, v. i.
1. To make a selection; to decide.
They had only to choose between implicit obedience and open
rebellion. Prescott.
2. To do otherwise. "Can I choose but smile" Pope. Can not choose
but, must necessarily.
Thou canst not choose but know who I am. Shak.
CHOOSER
Choos"er, n.
Defn: One who chooses; one who has the power or right of choosing; an
elector. Burke.
CHOP
Chop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chopped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chopping.] Etym:
[Cf. LG. & D. kappen, Dan. kappe, Sw. kappa. Cf. Chap to crack.]
1. To cut by striking repeatedly with a sharp instrument; to cut into
pieces; to mince; -- often with up.
2. To sever or separate by one more blows of a sharp instrument; to
divide; -- usually with off or down.
Chop off your hand, and it to the king. Shak.
3. To seize or devour greedily; -- with up. [Obs.]
Upon the opening of his mouth he drops his breakfast, which the fox
presently chopped up. L'estrange.
CHOP
Chop, v. i.
1. To make a quick strike, or repeated strokes, with an ax or other
sharp instrument.
2. To do something suddenly with an unexpected motion; to catch or
attempt to seize.
Out of greediness to get both, he chops at the shadow, and loses the
substance. L'Estrange.
3. To interrupt; -- with in or out.
This fellow interrupted the sermon, even suddenly chopping in.
Latimer.
CHOP
Chop, v. t. Etym: [Cf. D. koopen to buy. See Cheapen, v. t., and cf.
Chap, v. i., to buy.]
1. To barter or truck.
2. To exchange; substitute one thing for another.
We go on chopping and changing our friends. L'Estrange.
To chop logic, to dispute with an affected use of logical terms; to
argue sophistically.
CHOP
Chop, v. i.
1. To purchase by way of truck.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To vary or shift suddenly; as, the wind chops about.
3. To wrangle; to altercate; to bandy words.
Let not the counsel at the bar chop with the judge. Bacon.
CHOP
Chop, n.
Defn: A change; a vicissitude. Marryat.
CHOP
Chop, v. t. & i.
Defn: To crack. See Chap, v. t. & i.
CHOP
Chop, n.
1. The act of chopping; a stroke.
2. A piece chopped off; a slice or small piece, especially of meat;
as, a mutton chop.
3. A crack or cleft. See Chap.
CHOP
Chop, n. Etym: [See Chap.]
1. A jaw of an animal; -- commonly in the pl. See Chops.
2. A movable jaw or cheek, as of a wooden vise.
3. The land at each side of the mouth of a river, harbor, or channel;
as, East Chop or West Chop. See Chops.
CHOP
Chop, n. Etym: [Chin. & Hind. chap stamp, brand.]
1. Quality; brand; as, silk of the first chop.
2. A permit or clearance. Chop dollar, a silver dollar stamped to
attest its purity.
-- chop of tea, a number of boxes of the same make and quality of
leaf.
-- Chowchow chop. See under Chowchow.
-- Grand chop, a ship's port clearance. S. W. Williams.
CHOPBOAT
Chop"boat`, n. Etym: [Chin. chop sort, quality.]
Defn: A licensed lighter employed in the transportation of goods to
and from vessels. [China] S. W. Williams.
CHOPCHURCH
Chop"church`, n. Etym: [See Chop to barter.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: An exchanger or an exchange of benefices. [Cant]
CHOPFALLEN
Chop`fall`en, a.
Defn: Having the lower chop or jaw depressed; hence, crestfallen;
dejected; dispirited;downcast. See Chapfallen.
CHOPHOUSE
Chop"house`, n.
Defn: A house where chops, etc., are sold; an eating house.
The freedom of a chophouse. W. Irving.
CHOPHOUSE
Chop"house`, n. Etym: [See Chop quality.]
Defn: A customhouse where transit duties are levied. [China] S. W.
Williams.
CHOPIN
Chop"in, n. Etym: [F. chopine, fr. G. schoppen.]
Defn: A liquid measure formerly used in France and Great Britain,
varying from half a pint to a wine quart.
CHOPIN
Chop"in, n.
Defn: See Chopine.
CHOPINE
Cho*pine", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. chapin, escapin, Sp. chapin, Pg.
chapim.]
Defn: A clog, or patten, having a very thick sole, or in some cases
raised upon a stilt to a height of a foot or more. [Variously spelt
chioppine, chopin, etc.]
Your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the
altitude of a chopine. Shak.
CHOP-LOGIC
Chop"-log`ic, n.
Defn: One who bandies words or is very argunentative. [Jocular] Shak.
CHOPNESS
Chop"ness, n.
Defn: A kind of spade. [Eng.]
CHOPPER
Chop"per, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, chops.
CHOPPING
Chop"ping, a. Etym: [Cf. Chubby.]
Defn: Stout or plump; large. [Obs.] Fenton.
CHOPPING
Chop"ping, a. Etym: [See Chop to barter.]
Defn: Shifting or changing suddenly, as the wind; also, having
tumbling waves dashing against each other; as, a chopping sea.
CHOPPING
Chop"ping, n.
Defn: Act of cutting by strokes. Chopping block, a solid block of
wood on which butchers and others chop meat, etc.
-- Chopping knife, a knife for chopping or mincing meat, vegetables,
etc.; -- usually with a handle at the back of the blade instead of at
the end.
CHOPPY
Chop"py, a. Etym: [Cf. Chappy.]
1. Full of cracks. "Choppy finger." Shak.
2. Etym: [Cf. Chop a change.]
Defn: Rough, with short, tumultuous waves; as, a choppy sea.
CHOPS
Chops, n. pl. Etym: [See Chop a jaw.]
1. The jaws; also, the fleshy parts about the mouth.
2. The sides or capes at the mouth of a river, channel, harbor, or
bay; as, the chops of the English Channel.
CHOPSTICK
Chop"stick", n.
Defn: One of two small sticks of wood, ivory, etc., used by the
Chinese and Japanese to convey food to the mouth.
CHOP SUEY; CHOP SOOY
Chop su"ey or Chop soo"y . [Chin. (Cantonese) shap sui odds and ends,
fr. shap for sap to enter the mouth + sui small bits pounded fine.]
Defn: A mélange served in Chinese restaurants to be eaten with rice,
noodles, etc. It consists typically of bean sprouts, onions,
mushrooms, etc., and sliced meats, fried and flavored with sesame
oil. [U. S.]
CHORAGIC
Cho*rag"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a choragus. Choragic monument, a building
or column built by a victorious choragus for the reception and
exhibition of the tripod which he received as a prize. Those of
Lysicrates and Thrasyllus are still to be seen at Athens.
CHORAGUS
Cho*ra"gus, n.; pl. Choragi. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A chorus leader; esp. one who provided at his own expense and
under his own supervision one of the choruses for the musical
contents at Athens.
CHORAL
Cho"ral, a. Etym: [LL. choralis, fr. L. chorus. See Chorus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a choir or chorus; singing, sung, or
adapted to be sung, in chorus or harmony. Choral service, a service
of song.
CHORAL
Cho"ral, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A hymn tune; a simple sacred tune, sung in unison by the
congregation; as, the Lutheran chorals. [Sometimes written chorale.]
CHORALIST
Cho"ral*ist, n.
Defn: A singer or composer of chorals.
CHORALLY
Cho"ral*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a chorus; adapted to be sung by a choir; in
harmony.
CHORD
Chord, n. Etym: [L chorda a gut, a string made of a gut, Gr. cord.
See Cord.]
1. The string of a musical instrument. Milton.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A combination of tones simultaneously performed, producing more
or less perfect harmony, as, the common chord.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: A right line uniting the extremities of the arc of a circle or
curve.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: A cord. See Cord, n., 4.
5. (Engin.)
Defn: The upper or lower part of a truss, usually horizontal,
resisting compression or tension. Waddell. Accidental, Common, and
Vocal chords. See under Accidental, Common, and Vocal.
-- Chord of an arch. See Illust. of Arch.
-- Chord of curvature, a chord drawn from any point of a curve, in
the circle of curvature for that point.
-- Scale of chords. See Scale.
CHORD
Chord, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chorded; p. pr. & vb. n. Chording.]
Defn: To provide with musical chords or strings; to string; to tune.
When Jubal struck the chorded shell. Dryden.
Even the solitary old pine tree chords his harp. Beecher.
CHORD
Chord, v. i. (Mus.)
Defn: To accord; to harmonize together; as, this note chords with
that.
CHORDA
Chor"da, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. chorda. See Chord.] (Anat.)
Defn: A cord. Chorda dorsalis (. Etym: [NL., lit., cord of the back.]
(Anat.) See Notochord.
CHORDAL
Chor"dal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chord.
CHORDATA
Chor*da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. chorda cord.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A comprehensive division of animals including all Vertebrata
together with the Tunicata, or all those having a dorsal nervous
cord.
CHORDEE
Chor*dee", n. Etym: [F. cordé, cordée, p. p. of corder to cord.]
(Med.)
Defn: A painful erection of the penis, usually with downward
curvature, occurring in gonorrhea.
CHORE
Chore, n. Etym: [The same word as char work done by the day.]
Defn: A small job; in the pl., the regular or daily light work of a
household or farm, either within or without doors. [U. S.]
CHORE
Chore, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chored; p. pr. & vb. n. Choring.]
Defn: To do chores. [U. S.]
CHORE
Chore, n.
Defn: A choir or chorus. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CHOREA
Cho*re"a. n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: St. Vitus's dance; a disease attended with convulsive
twitchings and other involuntary movements of the muscles or limbs.
CHOREE
Cho*ree", n. Etym: [F. chorée.]
Defn: See Choreus.
CHOREGRAPHIC; CHOREGRAPHICAL
Cho`re*graph"ic, Cho`re*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to choregraphy.
CHOREGRAPHY
Cho*reg"ra*phy, n. Etym: [GR. -graphy.]
Defn: The art of representing dancing by signs, as music is
represented by notes. Craig.
CHOREIC
Cho*re"ic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, chorea; convulsive.
CHOREPISCOPAL
Cho`re*pis"co*pal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a chorepiscopus or his change or authority.
CHOREPISCOPUS
Cho`re*pis"co*pus, n.; pl. Chorepiscopi. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Bishop.]
(Eccl.)
Defn: A "country" or suffragan bishop, appointed in the ancient
church by a diocesan bishop to exercise episcopal jurisdiction in a
rural district.
CHOREUS; CHOREE
Cho*re"us, Cho*ree" (, n. Etym: [L. choreus, Gr. chorée.] (Anc.
Pros.)
(a) a trochee.
(b) A tribrach.
CHORIAMB
Cho"ri*amb, n.; pl. Choriambs (.
Defn: Same as Choriambus.
CHORIAMBIC
Cho`ri*am"bic, a. Etym: [L. choriambicus, gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a choriamb.
-- n.
Defn: A choriamb.
CHORIAMBUS
Cho`ri*am"bus, n.; pl. L. Choriambi, E. Choriambuses. Etym: [L.
choriambus, Gr. (Anc. Pros.)
Defn: A foot consisting of four syllables, of which the first and
last are long, and the other short (- ~ ~ -); that is, a choreus, or
trochee, and an iambus united.
CHORIC
Cho"ric, a. Etym: [L. choricus, Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chorus.
I remember a choric ode in the Hecuba. Coleridge.
CHORION
Cho"ri*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Anat.)
(a) The outer membrane which invests the fetus in the womb; also, the
similar membrane investing many ova at certain stages of development.
(b) The true skin, or cutis.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The outer membrane of seeds of plants.
CHORISIS
Cho"ri*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The separation of a leaf or floral organ into two more parts.
Note: In collateral chorisis the parts are side by side.
-- In parallel or median chorisis they are one in front of another.
CHORIST
Cho"rist, n. Etym: [F. choriste.]
Defn: A singer in a choir; a chorister. [R.]
CHORISTER
Chor"is*ter, n. Etym: [See Chorus.]
1. One of a choir; a singer in a chorus. Dryden.
2. One who leads a choir in church music. [U. S.]
CHORISTIC
Cho*ris"tic, a.
Defn: Choric; choral. [R.]
CHOROGRAPH
Cho"ro*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for constructing triangles in marine surveying,
etc.
CHOROGRAPHER
Cho*rog"ra*pher, n.
1. One who describes or makes a map of a district or region. "The
chorographers of Italy." Sir T. Browne.
2. A geographical antiquary; one who investigates the locality of
ancient places.
CHOROGRAPHICAL
Cho`ro*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to chorography.
-- Cho`ro*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
CHOROGRAPHY
Cho*rog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [L. chorographia, Gr.
Defn: the mapping or description of a region or district.
The chorography of their provinces. Sir T. Browne.
CHOROID
Cho"roid, a. Etym: [gr. (Anat.)
Defn: resembling the chorion; as, the choroid plexuses of the
ventricles of the brain, and the choroid coat of the eyeball.
-- n.
Defn: The choroid coat of the eye. See Eye. Choroid plexus (Anat.),
one of the delicate fringelike processes, consisting almost entirely
of blood vessels, which project into the ventricles of the brain.
CHOROIDAL
Cho*roid"al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the choroid coat.
CHOROLOGY
Cho*rol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.] (Biol.)
Defn: The science which treats of the laws of distribution of living
organisms over the earth's surface as to latitude, altitude,
locality, etc.
Its distribution or chorology. Huxley.
CHOROMETRY
Cho*rom"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: The art of surveying a region or district.
CHORTLE
Chor"tle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Chortled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chor"tling.]
Defn: A word coined by Lewis Carroll (Charles L. Dodgson), and
usually explained as a combination of chuckle and snort. [Humorous]
O frabjous day ! Callooh ! Callay !
He chortled in his joy.
Lewis Carroll.
CHORUS
Cho"rus, n.; pl. Choruses. Etym: [L., a dance in a ring, a dance
accompanied with song; a chorus, a band of dancers and singers. Gr.
Choir.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A band of singers and dancers.
The Grecian tragedy was at first nothing but a chorus of singers.
Dryden.
2. (Gr. Drama)
Defn: A company of persons supposed to behold what passed in the acts
of a tragedy, and to sing the sentiments which the events suggested
in couplets or verses between the acts; also, that which was thus
sung by the chorus.
What the lofty, grave tragedians taught In chorus or iambic. Milton.
3. An interpreter in a dumb show or play. [Obs.]
4. (Mus.)
Defn: A company of singers singing in concert.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A composition of two or more parts, each of which is intended
to be sung by a number of voices.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: Parts of a song or hymn recurring at intervals, as at the end
of stanzas; also, a company of singers who join with the singer or
choir in singer or choir in singing such parts.
7. The simultaneous of a company in any noisy demonstration; as, a
Chorus of shouts and catcalls.
CHORUS
Cho"rus, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chorused; p. pr. & vb. n. Chorusing.]
Defn: To sing in chorus; to exclaim simultaneously. W. D. Howells.
CHOSE
Chose, n.; pl. Choses. Etym: [F., fr. L. causa cause, reason. See
Cause.] (Law)
Defn: A thing; personal property. Chose in action, a thing of which
one has not possession or actual enjoyment, but only a right to it,
or a right to demand it by action at law, and which does not exist at
the time in specie; a personal right to a thing not reduced to
possession, but recoverable by suit at law; as a right to recover
money due on a contract, or damages for a tort, which can not be
enforced against a reluctant party without suit.
-- Chose in possession, a thing in possession, as distinguished from
a thing in action.
-- Chose local, a thing annexed to a place, as a mill.
-- Chose transitory, a thing which is movable. Cowell. Blount.
CHOSE
Chose,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Choose.
CHOSEN
Cho"sen, p. p. of Choose.
Defn: Selected from a number; picked out; choice.
Seven hundred chosen men left-handed. Judg. xx. 16.
CHOSEN
Cho"sen, n.
Defn: One who, or that which is the object of choice or special
favor.
CHOU
Chou, n.; pl. Choux (#). [F., fr. L. caulis stalk.]
1. A cabbage.
2. A kind of light pastry, usually in the form of a small round
cake, and with a filling, as of jelly or cream.
3. A bunch, knot, or rosette of ribbon or other material, used as an
ornament in women's dress.
CHOUAN
Chou"an, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of the royalist insurgents in western France (Brittany,
etc.), during and after the French revolution.
CHOUGH
Chough, n. Etym: [OE. choughe, kowe (and cf. OE. ca), fr. AS. ceó;
cf. also D. kauw, OHG. chaha; perh. akin to E. caw. *22. Cf. Caddow.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the Crow family (Fregilus graculus) of Europe. It is
of a black color, with a long, slender, curved bill and red legs; --
also called chauk, chauk-daw, chocard, Cornish chough, red-legged
crow. The name is also applied to several allied birds, as the Alpine
chough. Cornish chough (Her.), a bird represented black, with red
feet, and beak; -- called also aylet and sea swallow.
CHOUICHA
Chou"i*cha, n. Etym: [Native name] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The salmon of the Columbia River or California. See Quinnat.
CHOUKA
Chou"ka, n. Etym: [Native name] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Indian four-horned antelope; the chikara.
CHOULE
Choule, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Jowl. Sir W. Scott.
CHOULTRY
Choul"try, n.
Defn: See Choltry.
CHOUSE
Chouse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Choused; p. pr. & vb. n. Chousing.] Etym:
[From Turk. cha\'d4sh a messenger or interpreter, one of whom,
attached to the Turkish embassy, in 1609 cheated the Turkish
merchants resident in England out of £4,000.]
Defn: To cheat, trick, defraud; -- followed by of, or out of; as, to
chouse one out of his money. [Colloq.]
The undertaker of the afore-cited poesy hath choused your highness.
Landor.
CHOUSE
Chouse, n.
1. One who is easily cheated; a tool; a simpleton; a gull. Hudibras.
2. A trick; sham; imposition. Johnson.
3. A swindler. B. Jonson.
CHOUT
Chout, n. Etym: [Mahratta chauth one fourth part.]
Defn: An assessment equal to a fourth part of the revenue. [India] J.
Mill.
CHOW
Chow, n. [Chin chou.]
Defn: A prefecture or district of the second rank in China, or the
chief city of such a district; -- often part of the name of a city,
as in Foochow.
CHOWCHOW
Chow"chow`, a. Etym: [Chin.]
Defn: Consisting of several kinds mingled together; mixed; as,
chowchow sweetmeats (preserved fruits put together).
Chowchow chop, the last lighter containing the small sundry packages
sent off to fill up a ship. S. W. Williams.
CHOWCHOW
Chow"chow`, n. (Com.)
Defn: A kind of mixed pickles.
CHOWDER
Chow"der, n. Etym: [F. chaudière a kettle, a pot. Cf. Caldron.]
1. (Cookery)
Defn: A dish made of fresh fish or clams, biscuit, onions, etc.,
stewed together.
2. A seller of fish. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell. Chowder beer, a liquor
made by boiling black spruce in water and mixing molasses with the
decoction.
CHOWDER
Chow"der, v. t.
Defn: To make a chowder of.
CHOWRY
Chow"ry, n. Etym: [Hind. chaunri.]
Defn: A whisk to keep off files, used in the East Indies. Malcom.
CHOWTER
Chow"ter, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. chowre, and Prov. E. chow, to
grumble.]
Defn: To grumble or mutter like a froward child. [Obs.] E. Phillips.
CHOY ROOT
Choy" root`.
Defn: See Chay root.
CHREMATISTICS
Chre`ma*tis"tics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science of wealth; the science, or a branch of the science,
of political economy.
CHREOTECHNICS
Chre`o*tech"nics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science of the useful arts, esp. agriculture, manufactures,
and commerce. [R.]
CHRESTOMATHIC
Chres`to*math"ic, a.
Defn: Teaching what is useful. "A chrestomathic school." Southey.
CHRESTOMATHY
Chres*tom"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A selection of passages, with notes, etc., to be used in
acquiring a language; as, a Hebrew chrestomathy.
CHRISM
Chrism, n. Etym: [OE. crisme, from AS. crisma; also OE. creme, fr.
OF. cresme, like the AS. word fr. LL. chrisma, fr. Gr. friare,
fricare, to rub, Skr. gharsh, E. friable, friction. Cf. Chrisom.]
(Gr. & R. C. Church
1. Olive oil mixed with balm and spices, consecrated by the bishop on
Maundy Thursday, and used in the administration of baptism,
confirmation, ordination, etc.
2. The same as Chrisom.
CHRISMAL
Chris"mal, a. Etym: [LL. chrismalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to or used in chrism.
CHRISMATION
Chris*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. chrismatio.]
Defn: The act of applying the chrism, or consecrated oil.
Chrismation or cross-signing with ointment, was used in baptism. Jer.
Taylor.
CHRISMATORY
Chris"ma*to*ry, n. Etym: [LL. chrismatorium.]
Defn: A cruet or vessel in which chrism is kept.
CHRISOM
Chris"om, n. Etym: [See Chrism.]
1. A white cloth, anointed with chrism, or a white mantle thrown over
a child when baptized or christened. [Obs.]
2. A child which died within a month after its baptism; -- so called
from the chrisom cloth which was used as a shroud for it. [Obs.]
Blount.
CHRIST
Christ, n. Etym: [L. Christus, Gr. chri`ein to anoint. See Chrism.]
Defn: The Anointed; an appellation given to Jesus, the Savior. It is
synonymous with the Hebrew Messiah.
CHRISTCROSS
Christ"cross`, n.
1. The mark of the cross, as cut, painted, written, or stamped on
certain objects, -- sometimes as the sign of 12 o'clock on a dial.
The fescue of the dial is upon the christcross of noon. Old Play.
Nares.
2. The beginning and the ending. [Obs.] Quarles.
CHRISTCROSS-ROW
Christ"cross-row`,
Defn: The alphabet; -- formerly so called, either from the cross
usually set before it, or from a superstitious custom, sometimes
practiced, of writing it in the form of a cross, by way of a charm.
From infant conning of the Christcross-row. Wordsworth.
CHRISTEN
Chris"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Christened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Christening.] Etym: [AS. cristnian to make a Christian, fr. cristen a
Christian.]
1. To baptize and give a Christian name to.
2. To give a name; to denominate. "Christen the thing what you will."
Bp. Burnet.
3. To Christianize. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
4. To use for the first time. [Colloq.]
CHRISTENDOM
Chris"ten*dom, n. Etym: [AS. cristend; cristen a Christian + -dom.]
1. The profession of faith in Christ by baptism; hence, the Christian
religion, or the adoption of it. [Obs.] Shak.
2. The name received at baptism; or, more generally, any name or
appelation. [Obs.]
Pretty, fond, adoptious christendoms. Shak.
3. That portion of the world in which Christianity prevails, or which
is governed under Christian institutions, in distinction from heathen
or Mohammedan lands.
The Arian doctrine which then divided Christendom. Milton
A wide and still widening Christendom. Coleridge.
4. The whole body of Christians. Hooker.
CHRISTIAN
Chris"tian, n. Etym: [L. christianus, Gr. cristen. See Christ.]
1. One who believes, or professes or is assumed to believe, in Jesus
Christ, and the truth as taught by Him; especially, one whose inward
and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch. Acts xi. 26.
2. One born in a Christian country or of Christian parents, and who
has not definitely becomes an adherent of an opposing system.
3. (Eccl.)
(a) One of a Christian denomination which rejects human creeds as
bases of fellowship, and sectarian names. They are congregational in
church government, and baptize by immersion. They are also called
Disciples of Christ, and Campbellites.
(b) One of a sect (called Christian Connection) of open-communion
immersionists. The Bible is their only authoritative rule of faith
and practice.
Note: In this sense, often pronounced, but not by the members of the
sects, kris"chan.
CHRISTIAN
Chris"tian, a.
1. Pertaining to Christ or his religion; as, Christian people.
3. Pertaining to the church; ecclesiastical; as, a Christian court.
Blackstone.
4. Characteristic of Christian people; civilized; kind; kindly;
gentle; beneficent.
The graceful tact; the Christian art. Tennyson.
Christian Commission. See under Commission.
-- Christian court. Same as Ecclesiastical court.
-- Christian era, the present era, commencing with the birth of
Christ. It is supposed that owing to an error of a monk (Dionysius
Exiguus, d. about 556) employed to calculate the era, its
commencement was fixed three or four years too late, so that 1890
should be 1893 or 1894.
-- Christian name, the name given in baptism, as distinct from the
family name, or surname.
CHRISTIAN ERA
Christian Era.
Defn: The era in use in all Christian countries, which was intended
to commence with the birth of Christ. The era as now established was
first used by Dionysius Exiguus (died about 540), who placed the
birth of Christ on the 25th of December in the year of Rome 754,
which year he counted as 1 a. d. This date for Christ's birth is now
generally thought to be about four years too late.
CHRISTIANISM
Chris`tian*ism, n. Etym: [L. christianismus, Gr. christianisme.]
1. The Christian religion. [Obs.] Milton.
2. The Christian world; Christendom. [Obs.] Johnson
CHRISTIANITE
Chris"tian*ite, n. Etym: [In sense (a) named after Christian
Frederic, of Denmark; in sense (b) after Christian VII., of Denmark.]
(Min.)
(a) Same as Anorthite. [R.]
(b) See Phillipsite.
CHRISTIANITY
Chris*tian"i*ty, n. Etym: [OE. cristiente, OF. cristienté, F.
chrétienté, fr. L. christianitas. ]
1. The religion of Christians; the system of doctrines and precepts
taught by Christ.
2. Practical conformity of one's inward and outward life to the
spirit of the Christian religion
3. The body of Christian believers. [Obs.]
To Walys fled the christianitee Of olde Britons. Chaucer.
CHRISTIANIZATION
Chris`tian*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of converting or being converted to a true
Christianity.
CHRISTIANIZE
Chris"tian*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Christianized (; p. pr. vb. n.
Christianizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. christianiser, L. christianizare, fr.
Gr.
1. To make Christian; to convert to Christianity; as, to Christianize
pagans.
2. To imbue with or adapt to Christian principles.
Christianized philosophers. I. Taylor.
CHRISTIANIZE
Chris"tian*ize, v. i.
Defn: To adopt the character or belief of a Christian; to become
Christian.
The pagans began to Christianize. Latham.
CHRISTIANLIKE
Chris"tian*like`, a.
Defn: Becoming to a Christian.
A virtuous and a Christianlike conclusion. Shak.
CHRISTIANLY
Chris"tian*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner becoming the principles of the Christian religion.
Sufferings . . . patiently and Christianly borne. Sharp.
CHRISTIANLY
Chris"tian*ly, a.
Defn: Christianlike. Longfellow.
CHRISTIANNESS
Chris"tian*ness, n.
Defn: Consonance with the doctrines of Christianity. [Obs.] Hammond.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE
Christian Science.
Defn: A system of healing disease of mind and body which teaches that
all cause and effect is mental, and that sin, sickness, and death
will be destroyed by a full understanding of the Divine Principle of
Jesus' teaching and healing. The system was founded by Rev. Mary
Baker Glover Eddy, of Concord, N. H., in 1866, and bases its teaching
on the Scriptures as understood by its adherents.
CHRISTIAN SCIENTIST
Christian Scientist.
Defn: A believer in Christian Science; one who practices its
teachings.
CHRISTIAN SENECA
Christian Seneca.
Defn: Joseph Hall (1574 -- 1656), Bishop of Norwich, a divine eminent
as a moralist.
CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM
Christian Socialism.
Defn: Any theory or system that aims to combine the teachings of
Christ with the teachings of socialism in their applications to life;
Christianized socialism; esp., the principles of this nature
advocated by F. D. Maurice, Charles Kingsley, and others in England
about 1850. -- Christian socialist.
CHRISTLESS
Christ"less, a.
Defn: Without faith in Christ; unchristian. Tennyson.
CHRISTLIKE
Christ"like`, a.
Defn: Resembling Christ in character, actions, etc.
-- Christ"like`ness, n.
CHRISTLY
Christ"ly, a.
Defn: Christlike. H. Bushnell.
CHRISTMAS
Christ"mas, n. Etym: [Christ + mass.]
Defn: An annual church festival (December 25) and in some States a
legal holiday, in memory of the birth of Christ, often celebrated by
a particular church service, and also by special gifts, greetings,
and hospitality. Christmas box. (a) A box in which presents are
deposited at Christmas. (b) A present or small gratuity given to
young people and servants at Christmas; a Christmas gift.
-- Christmas carol, a carol sung at, or suitable for, Christmas.
-- Christmas day. Same as Christmas.
-- Christmas eve, the evening before Christmas.
-- Christmas fern (Bot.), an evergreen North American fern (Aspidium
acrostichoides), which is much used for decoration in winter.
-- Christmas flower, Christmas rose, the black hellebore, a
poisonous plant of the buttercup family, which in Southern Europe
often produces beautiful roselike flowers midwinter.
-- Christmas tree, a small evergreen tree, set up indoors, to be
decorated with bonbons, presents, etc., and illuminated on Christmas
eve.
CHRISTMASTIDE
Christ"mas*tide`, n. Etym: [Christmas + tide time.]
Defn: The season of Christmas.
CHRISTOCENTRIC
Chris"to*cen"tric, a. Etym: [Christ + centric.]
Defn: Making Christ the center, about whom all things are grouped, as
in religion or history; tending toward Christ, as the central object
of thought or emotion. J. W. Chadwick.
CHRISTOLOGY
Chris*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Crist + -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on Christ; that department of theology which treats
of the personality, attributes, or life of Christ.
CHRISTOM
Chris"tom, n.
Defn: See Chrisom. [Obs.] Shak.
CHRISTOPHANY
Chris*toph"a*ny, n. Etym: [Christ + Gr.
Defn: An appearance of Christ, as to his disciples after the
crucifixion.
CHRIST'S-THORN
Christ's-thorn`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: One of several prickly or thorny shrubs found in Palestine,
especially the Paliurus aculeatus, Zizyphus Spina-Christi, and Z.
vulgaris. The last bears the fruit called jujube, and may be
considered to have been the most readily obtainable for the Crown of
Thorns.
CHROMASCOPE
Chro"ma*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for showing the optical effects of color.
CHROMATE
Chro"mate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chromate. See Chrome.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of chromic acid.
CHROMATIC
Chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. chromaticus, Gr.
1. Relating to color, or to colors.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Proceeding by the smaller intervals (half steps or semitones)
of the scale, instead of the regular intervals of the diatonic scale.
Note: The intermediate tones were formerly written and printed in
colors. Chromatic aberration. (Opt.) See Aberration, 4.
-- Chromatic printing, printing from type or blocks covered with
inks of various colors.
-- Chromatic scale (Mus.), the scale consisting of thirteen tones,
including the eight scale tones and the five intermediate tones.
CHROMATICAL
Chro*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Chromatic. [Obs.]
CHROMATICALLY
Chro*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chromatic manner.
CHROMATICS
Chro*mat"ics, n.
Defn: The science of colors; that part of optics which treats of the
properties of colors.
CHROMATIN
Chro"ma*tin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Tissue which is capable of being stained by dyes.
CHROMATISM
Chro"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Optics)
Defn: The state of being colored, as in the case of images formed by
a lens.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: An abnormal coloring of plants.
CHROMATOGENOUS
Chro`ma*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.]
Defn: Producing color.
CHROMATOGRAPHY
Chro`ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A treatise on colors
CHROMATOLOGY
Chro`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on colors.
CHROMATOPHORE
Chro"ma*to*phore`, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A contractile cell or vesicle containing liquid pigment and
capable of changing its form or size, thus causing changes of color
in the translucent skin of such animals as possess them. They are
highly developed and numerous in the cephalopods.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the granules of protoplasm, which in mass give color to
the part of the plant containing them.
CHROMATOSCOPE
Chro"ma*to*scope`, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Astron.)
Defn: A reflecting telescope, part of which is made to rotate
eccentrically, so as to produce a ringlike image of a star, instead
of a point; -- used in studying the scintillation of the stars.
CHROMATOSPHERE
Chro"ma*to*sphere`, n.
Defn: A chromosphere. [R.]
CHROMATROPE
Chro"ma*trope, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for exhibiting certain chromatic effects of light
(depending upon the persistence of vision and mixture of colors) by
means of rapidly rotating disks variously colored.
2. A device in a magic lantern or stereopticon to produce
kaleidoscopic effects.
CHROMATYPE
Chro"ma*type, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Photog.)
Defn: A colored photographic picture taken upon paper made sensitive
with potassium bichromate or some other salt of chromium.
2. The process by which such picture is made.
CHROME
Chrome, n.
Defn: Same as Chromium. Chrome alum (Chem.), a dark violet substance,
(SO4)3Cr2.K2SO4.24H2O, analogous to, and crystallizing like, common
alum. It is regarded as a double sulphate of chromium and potassium.
-- Chrome green (a) The green oxide of chromium, Cr2O3, used in
enamel painting, and glass staining. (b) A pigment made by mixing
chrome yellow with Prussian blue.
-- Chrome red, a beautiful red pigment originally prepared from the
basic chromate of lead, but now made from red oxide of lead.
-- Chrome yellow, a brilliant yellow pigment, PbCrO4, used by
painters.
CHROME STEEL
Chrome steel.
Defn: Same as Chromium steel, under Steel.
CHROMIC
Chro"mic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, chromium; -- said of the
compounds of chromium in which it has its higher valence. Chromic
acid, an acid, H2CrO4, analogous to sulphuric acid, not readily
obtained in the free state, but forming well known salts, many of
which are colored pigments, as chrome yellow, chrome red, etc.
-- Chromic anhydride, a brilliant red crystalline substance, CrO3,
regarded as the anhydride of chromic acid. It is one of the most
powerful oxidizers known.
CHROMID
Chro"mid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Chromidæ, a family of fresh-water fishes abundant in
the tropical parts of America and Africa. Some are valuable food
fishes, as the bulti of the Nile.
CHROMIDROSIS
Chro`mi*dro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Secretion of abnormally colored perspiration.
CHROMISM
Chro"mism, n.
Defn: Same as Chromatism.
CHROMITE
Chro"mite, n.
1. (Min.)
Defn: A black submetallic mineral consisting of oxide of chromium and
iron; -- called also chromic iron.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A compound or salt of chromous hydroxide regarded as an acid.
[R.]
CHROMIUM
Chro"mi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A comparatively rare element occurring most abundantly in the
mineral chromite. Atomic weight 52.5. Symbol Cr. When isolated it is
a hard, brittle, grayish white metal, fusible with difficulty. Its
chief commercial importance is for its compounds, as potassium
chromate, lead chromate, etc., which are brilliantly colored and are
used dyeing and calico printing. Called also chrome.
CHROMO
Chro"mo, n.; pl. Chromos. Etym: [Abbrev. from chromolithograph.]
Defn: A chromolithograph.
CHROMOBLAST
Chro"mo*blast, n. Etym: [Gr. -blast.]
Defn: An embryonic cell which develops into a pigment cell.
CHROMOGEN
Chro"mo*gen, Etym: [Gr. -gen.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Vegetable coloring matter other than green; chromule.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Any colored compound, supposed to contain one or more
chromophores.
CHROMOGENIC
Chro"mo*gen"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Containing, or capable of forming, chromogen; as, chromogenic
bacteria.
CHROMOGRAPH
Chro"mo*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph.]
Defn: An apparatus by which a number of copies of written matter,
maps, plans, etc., can be made; -- called also hectograph.
CHROMOLEUCITE
Chro`mo*leu"cite, n. Etym: [Gr. leucite.] (Bot.)
Defn: A chromoplastid.
CHROMOLITHOGRAPH
Chro`mo*lith"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. lithograph.]
Defn: A picture printed in tints and colors by repeated impressions
from a series of stones prepared by the lithographic process.
CHROMOLITHOGRAPHER
Chro`mo*li*thog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who is engaged in chromolithography.
CHROMOLITHOGRAPHIC
Chro"mo*lith`o*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or made by, chromolithography.
CHROMOLITHOGRAPHY
Chro"mo*li*thog"ra*phy, n.
Defn: Lithography adapted to printing in inks of various colors.
CHROMOPHANE
Chro"mo*phane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A general name for the several coloring matters, red, green,
yellow, etc., present in the inner segments in the cones of the
retina, held in solution by fats, and slowly decolorized by light;
distinct from the photochemical pigments of the rods of the retina.
CHROMOPHORE
Chro"mo*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Any chemical group or residue (as NO
CHROMOPHOTOGRAPH
Chro`mo*pho"to*graph, n. [Gr. color + photograph.]
Defn: A picture made by any of the processes for reproducing
photographs in colors. --Chro`mo*pho`to*graph"ic (#), a.
CHROMOPHOTOGRAPHY
Chro`mo*pho*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. photography.]
Defn: The art of producing photographs in colors.
CHROMOPHOTOLITHOGRAPH
Chro"mo*pho`to*lith"o*graph, n.
Defn: A photolithograph printed in colors.
CHROMOPLASTID
Chro`mo*plas"tid, n. Etym: [Gr. plastid.] (Bot.)
Defn: A protoplasmic granule of some other color than green; -- also
called chromoleucite.
CHROMOSOME
Chro"mo*some`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: One of the minute bodies into which the chromatin of the
nucleus is resolved during mitotic cell division; the idant of
Weismann.
CHROMOSPHERE
Chro"mo*sphere, n. Etym: [Gr. sphere.] (Astron.)
Defn: An atmosphere of rare matter, composed principally of
incandescent hydrogen gas, surrounding the sun and enveloping the
photosphere. Portions of the chromosphere are here and there thrown
up into enormous tongues of flame.
CHROMOSPHERIC
Chro`mo*spher"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the chromosphere.
CHROMOTYPE
Chro"mo*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.]
1. A sheet printed in colors by any process, as a chromolithograph.
See Chromolithograph.
2. A photographic picture in the natural colors.
CHROMOUS
Chro"mous, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, chromium, when this element
has a valence lower than that in chromic compounds. Chromous acid, a
bluish gray powder, CrO.OH, of weak acid properties and regard as an
acid.
CHROMULE
Chro"mule, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A general name for coloring matter of plants other than
chlorophyll, especially that of petals.
CHRONIC
Chron"ic, a. Etym: [L. chronicus, Gr. chronique.]
1. Relating to time; according to time.
2. Continuing for a long time; lingering; habitual. Chronic disease,
one which is inveterate, of long continuance, or progresses slowly,
in distinction from an acute disease, which speedly terminates.
CHRONICAL
Chron"ic*al, a.
Defn: Chronic.
Partly on a chronical, and partly on a topical method. J. A.
Alexander.
CHRONICLE
Chron"i*cle, n. Etym: [OE. cronicle, fr. cronique, OF. cronique, F.
chronique, L. chronica, fr. Gr. Chronic.]
1. An historical register or account of facts or events disposed in
the order of time.
2. A narrative of events; a history; a record.
3. pl.
Defn: The two canonical books of the Old Testament in which
immediately follow 2 Kings.
Syn. - Register; record; annals. See History.
CHRONICLE
Chron"i*cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chronicled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Chronicling.]
Defn: To record in a history or chronicle; to record; to register.
Shak.
CHRONICLER
Chron"i*cler, n.
Defn: A writer of a chronicle; a recorder of events in the order of
time; an historian.
Such an honest chronicler as Griffith. Shak.
CHRONIQUE
Chro`nique", n. Etym: [F. See Chronicle.]
Defn: A chronicle. L. Addison.
CHRONOGRAM
Chron"o*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. chronogramme.]
1. An inscription in which certain numeral letters, made to appear
specially conspicuous, on being added together, express a particular
date or epoch, as in the motto of a medal struck by Gustavus Adolphus
in 1632: ChrIstVs DVX; ergo trIVMphVs. - the capitals of which give,
when added as numerals, the sum 1632.
2. The record or inscription made by a chronograph.
CHRONOGRAMMATIC; CHRONOGRAMMATICAL
Chron`o*gram*mat"ic, Chron`o*gram*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
chronogrammatique.]
Defn: Belonging to a chronogram, or containing one.
CHRONOGRAMMATIST
Chron`o*gram"ma*tist, n.
Defn: A writer of chronograms.
CHRONOGRAPH
Chron"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph: cf. F. chronographe.]
1. An instrument for measuring or recording intervals of time, upon a
revolving drum or strip of paper moved by clockwork. The action of
the stylus or pen is controlled by electricity.
2. Same as Chronogram, 1. [R.]
3. A chronoscope.
CHRONOGRAPHER
Chro*nog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who writes a chronography; a chronologer. Tooke.
CHRONOGRAPHIC
Chron`o*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a chronograph.
CHRONOGRAPHY
Chro*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. Chronograph.]
Defn: A description or record of past time; history. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CHRONOLOGER
Chro*nol"o*ger, n.
Defn: Same as Chronologist.
CHRONOLOGIC; CHRONOLOGICAL
Chron`o*log"ic, Chron`o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to chronology; containing an account of events in the
order of time; according to the order of time; as, chronological
tables. Raleigh.
-- Chron`o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
CHRONOLOGIST; CHRONOLOGER
Chro*nol"o*gist, Chro*nol"o*ger, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A person who investigates dates of events and transactions; one
skilled in chronology.
That learned noise and dust of the chronologist is wholly to be
avoided. Locke.
THe most exact chronologers tell us that Christ was born in October,
and not in December. John Knox.
CHRONOLOGY
Chro*nol"o*gy, n.; pl. Chronologies. Etym: [Gr. chronologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of measuring time by regular divisions
or periods, and which assigns to events or transactions their proper
dates.
If history without chronology is dark and confused, chronology
without history is dry and insipid. A. Holmes.
CHRONOMETER
Chro*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. chronomètre.]
1. An instrument for measuring time; a timekeeper.
2. A portable timekeeper, with a heavy compensation balance, and
usually beating half seconds; -- intended to keep time with great
accuracy for use an astronomical observations, in determining
longitude, etc.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A metronome. Box chronometer. See under Box.
-- Pocket chronometer, a chronometer in the form of a large watch.
-- To rate a chronometer. See Rate, v. t.
CHRONOMETRIC; CHRONOMETRICAL
Chron`o*met"ric, Chron`o*met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
chronométrique.]
Defn: Pertaining to a chronometer; measured by a chronometer.
CHRONOMETRY
Chro*nom"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. chronométrie.]
Defn: The art of measuring time; the measuring of time by periods or
divisions.
CHRONOPHER
Chron"o*pher, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument signaling the correct time to distant points by
electricity.
CHRONOPHOTOGRAPH
Chron`o*pho"to*graph, n. [Gr. time + photograph.]
Defn: One of a set of photographs of a moving object, taken for the
purpose of recording and exhibiting successive phases of the motion.
--Chron`o*pho*tog"ra*phy, n.
CHRONOSCOPE
Chron"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring minute intervals of time; used in
determining the velocity of projectiles, the duration of short-lived
luminous phenomena, etc.
CHRYSALID
Chrys"a*lid, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a chrysalis; resembling a chrysalis.
CHRYSALID
Chrys"a*lid, n.; pl. Chrysalids.
Defn: See Chrysalis.
CHRYSALIS
Chrys"a*lis, n.; pl. Chrysalides. Etym: [L. chrysallis the gold-
colored pupa of butterflies, Gr. Aurelia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pupa state of certain insects, esp. of butterflies, from
which the perfect insect emerges. See Pupa, and Aurelia (a).
CHRYSANILINE
Chrys*an"i*line, n. Etym: [Gr. anilene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow substance obtained as a by-product in the manufacture
of rosaniline. It dyes silk a fine golden-yellow color.
CHRYSANTHEMUM
Chrys*an"the*mum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of composite plants, mostly perennial, and of many
species including the many varieties of garden chrysanthemums (annual
and perennial), and also the feverfew and the oxeye daisy.
CHRYSAROBIN
Chrys`a*ro"bin, n. Etym: [Gr. araroba a foreign name of Goa powder +
-in.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bitter, yellow substance forming the essential constituent of
Goa powder, and yielding chrysophanic acid proper; hence formerly
called also chrysphanic acid.
CHRYSAURIN
Chrys*au"rin, n. Etym: [Gr. aurum gold. So called from its color.]
Defn: An orange-colored dyestuff, of artificial production.
CHRYSELEPHANTINE
Chrys`el*e*phan"tine, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Composed of, or adorned with, gold and ivory.
Note: The chryselephantine statues of the Greeks were built up with
inferior materials, veneered, as it were, with ivory for the flesh,
and gold decorated with color for the hair and garments.
CHRYSENE
Chry"sene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher aromatic hydrocarbons of coal tar, allied to
napthalene and anthracene. It is a white crystalline substance,
C18H12, of strong blue fluorescence, but generally colored yellow by
impurities.
CHRYSOBERYL
Chrys"o*ber`yl, n. Etym: [L. chrysoberyllus, Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral, found in crystals, of a yellow to green or brown
color, and consisting of aluminia and glucina. It is very hard, and
is often used as a gem.
CHRYSOCHLORE
Chrys"o*chlore, n. Etym: [Gr. chrysochlore.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South African mole of the genus Chrysochloris; the golden
mole, the fur of which reflects brilliant metallic hues of green and
gold.
CHRYSOCOLLA
Chrys"o*col`la, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring massive, of a blue or
greenish blue color.
CHRYSOGEN
Chrys"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance extracted from crude anthracene.
CHRYSOGRAPHY
Chry*sog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. The art of writing in letters of gold.
2. A writing executed in letters of gold.
CHRYSOIDINE
Chrys*o"ï*dine, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid + -ine.] (Chem.)
Defn: An artificial, yellow, crystalline dye, C6H5N2.C6H3(NH2)2.
Also, one of a group of dyestuffs resembling chrysoïdine proper.
CHRYSOLITE
Chrys"o*lite, n. Etym: [L. chrysolithos, Gr. chrysolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral, composed of silica, magnesia, and iron, of a yellow
to green color. It is common in certain volcanic rocks; -- called
also olivine and peridot. Sometimes used as a gem. The name was also
early used for yellow varieties of tourmaline and topaz.
CHRYSOLOGY
Chry*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: That branch of political economy which relates to the
production of wealth.
CHRYSOPA
Chrys*o"pa, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of neuropterous insects. See Lacewing.
CHRYSOPHANE
Chrys"o*phane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from rhubarb as a bitter, yellow,
crystalline powder, and yielding chrysophanic acid on decomposition.
CHRYSOPHANIC
Chrys`o*phan"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, or resembling, chrysophane.
Chrysophanic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance extracted
from rhubarb, yellow dock, sienna, chrysarobin, etc., and shown to be
a derivative of an anthracene. It is used in the treatment of skin
diseases; -- called also rhein, rheic acid, rhubarbarin, etc.
CHRYSOPRASE
Chrys"o*prase, n. Etym: [OE. crisopace, OF. crisoprace, F.
chrysoprase, L. chrysoprasus, fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An apple-green variety of chalcedony, colored by nickel. It has
a dull flinty luster, and is sometimes used in jewelry.
CHRYSOPRASUS
Chry*sop"ra*sus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Chrysoprase. Rev. xxi. 20.
CHRYSOSPERM
Chrys"o*sperm, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The seed of gold; a means of creating gold. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CHRYSOTYPE
Chrys"o*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.]
1. A photographic picture taken upon paper prepared by the use of a
sensitive salt of iron and developed by the application of chloride
of gold. Abney.
2. 2process, invented by Sir J.Herschel.
CHTHONIAN
Chtho"ni*an, a. [Gr. in or under the earth, fr. , , earth.]
Defn: Designating, or pertaining to, gods or spirits of the
underworld; esp., relating to the underworld gods of the Greeks,
whose worship is widely considered as more primitive in form than
that of the Olympian gods. The characteristics of chthonian worship
are propitiatory and magical rites and generalized or euphemistic
names of the deities, which are supposed to have been primarily
ghosts.
CHTHONIC
Chthon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the earth; earthy; as, chthonic religions.
[The] chthonic character of the wife of Zeus. Max Müller.
CHTHONOPHAGIA; CHTHONOPHAGY
Chthon`o*pha"gi*a, Chtho*noph"a*gy, n. Etym: [NL. chthonophagia; Gr.
Defn: A disease characterized by an irresistible desire to eat earth,
observed in some parts of the southern United States, the West
Indies, etc.
CHUB
Chub, n. Etym: [This word seems to signify a large or thick fish. Cf.
Sw. kubb a short and thick piece of wood, and perh. F. chabot chub.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A species to fresh-water fish of the Cyprinidæ or Carp family.
The common European species is Leuciscus cephalus; the cheven. In
America the name is applied to various fishes of the same family, of
the genera Semotilus, Squalius, Ceratichthys, etc., and locally to
several very different fishes, as the tautog, black bass, etc. Chub
mackerel (Zoöl.), a species of mackerel (Scomber colias) in some
years found in abundance on the Atlantic coast, but absent in others;
-- called also bull mackerel, thimble-eye, and big-eye mackerel.
-- Chub sucker (Zoöl.), a fresh-water fish of the United States
(Erimyzon sucetta); -- called also creekfish.
CHUBBED
Chub"bed, a.
Defn: Chubby. [R.] H. Brooke.
CHUBBEDNESS
Chub"bed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being chubby.
CHUBBY
Chub"by, a.
Defn: Like a chub; plump, short, and thick. "Chubby faces." I.
Taylor.
CHUB-FACED
Chub"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a plump, short face.
CHUCK
Chuck, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Chucked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chucking.] Etym:
[Imitative of the sound.]
1. To make a noise resembling that of a hen when she calls her
chickens; to cluck.
2. To chuckle; to laugh. [R.] Marston.
CHUCK
Chuck, v. t.
Defn: To call, as a hen her chickens. Dryden.
CHUCK
Chuck, n.
1. The chuck or call of a hen.
2. A sudden, small noise.
3. A word of endearment; -- corrupted from chick. "Pray, chuck, come
hither." Shak.
CHUCK
Chuck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chucked; p. pr. & vb. n. Chucking.] Etym:
[F. choquer to strike. Cf. Shock, v. t.]
1. To strike gently; to give a gentle blow to.
Chucked the barmaid under the chin. W. Irving.
2. To toss or throw smartly out of the hand; to pitch. [Colloq.]
"Mahomet Ali will just be chucked into the Nile." Lord Palmerson.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To place in a chuck, or hold by means of a chuck, as in
turning; to bore or turn (a hole) in a revolving piece held in a
chuck.
CHUCK
Chuck, n.
1. A slight blow or pat under the chin.
2. A short throw; a toss.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: A contrivance or machine fixed to the mandrel of a lathe, for
holding a tool or the material to be operated upon.
Chuck farthing, a play in which a farthing is pitched into a hole;
pitch farthing.
-- Chuck hole, a deep hole in a wagon rut.
-- Elliptic chuck, a chuck having a silder and an eccentric circle,
which, as the work turns round, give it a sliding motion across the
center which generates an ellipse. Knight.
CHUCK
Chuck, n.
1. A small pebble; -- called also chuckstone and chuckiestone.
[Scot.]
2. pl.
Defn: A game played with chucks, in which one or more are tossed up
and caught; jackstones. [Scot.]
CHUCK
Chuck, n.
Defn: A piece of the backbone of an animal, from between the neck and
the collar bone, with the adjoining parts, cut for cooking; as, a
chuck steak; a chuck roast. [Colloq.]
CHUCKLE
Chuc"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Chuckled; p. pr. & vb. n. Chuckling.]
Etym: [From lst Chuck.]
1. To call, as a hen her chickens; to cluck. [Obs.] Dryden.
2. To fondle; to cocker. [Obs.] Dryden.
CHUCKLE
Chuc"kle, n.
Defn: A short, suppressed laugh; the expression of satisfaction,
exultation, or derision.
CHUCKLE
Chuc"kle, v. i. Etym: [From lst Chuck.]
Defn: To laugh in a suppressed or broken manner, as expressing inward
satisfaction, exultation, or derision.
CHUCKLEHEAD
Chuc"kle*head`, n.
Defn: A person with a large head; a numskull; a dunce. [Low] Knowles.
CHUCKLEHEADED
Chuc"kle*head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a large head; thickheaded; dull; stupid. Smart.
CHUCK-WILL'S-WIDOW
Chuck`-Will's-wid"ow, n. (Zool.)
Defn: A species of goatsucker (Antrostomus Carolinensis), of the
southern United States; -- so called from its note.
CHUD
Chud, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Chew, Cud.]
Defn: To champ; to bite. [Obs.] A. Stafford.
CHUET
Chu"et, n. Etym: [From Chew, v. t.]
Defn: Minced meat. [Obs.] Bacon.
CHUFA
Chu"fa, n. Etym: [Sp.] (Bot.)
Defn: A sedgelike plant (Cyperus esculentus) producing edible tubers,
native about the Mediterranean, now cultivated in many regions; the
earth almond.
CHUFF
Chuff, n. Etym: [Perh. a modification of chub: cf. W. cyff stock,
stump.]
Defn: A coarse or stupid fellow. Shak.
CHUFF
Chuff, a.
Defn: Stupid; churlish. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
CHUFFILY
Chuff"i*ly, adv.
Defn: Clownishly; surlily.
CHUFFINESS
Chuff"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being chuffy.
CHUFFY
Chuff"y, a.
1. Fat or puffed out in the cheeks.
2. Rough; clownish; surly.
CHULAN
Chu"lan, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The fragrant flowers of the Chloranthus inconspicuus, used in
China for perfuming tea.
CHUM
Chum, n. Etym: [Perh. a contraction fr. comrade or chamber fellow:
cf. also AS. cuma a comer, guest.]
Defn: A roommate, especially in a college or university; an old and
intimate friend.
CHUM
Chum, v. i. [imp. p. p. Chummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Chumming.]
Defn: To occupy a chamber with another; as, to chum together at
college. [U. S.]
CHUM
Chum, n.
Defn: Chopped pieces of fish used as bait. [U. S.]
CHUMP
Chump, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kumbr a chopping, E. chop.]
Defn: A short, thick, heavy piece of wood. Morton. Chump end, the
thick end; as, the chump end of a joint of meat. Dickens.
CHUNAM
Chu*nam", n. Etym: [Hind. chuna, from Skr. curna powder, dust; or a
Dravidian word.]
Defn: Quicklime; also, plaster or mortar. [India] Whitworth.
CHUNK
Chunk, n. Etym: [Cf. Chump.]
Defn: A short, thick piece of anything. [Colloq. U. S. & Prov. Eng.]
CHUNKY
Chunk"y, a.
Defn: Short and thick. [U. S.] Kane.
CHUPATTY
Chu*pat"ty, n.; pl. -ties (#). [Hind. chapati.]
Defn: A kind of griddlecake of unleavened bread, used among the
natives of India. [Anglo-Indian]
CHUPRASSY; CHUPRASSIE
Chu*pras"sy Chu*pras"sie, n. [Hind. chaprassi, fr. chapras badge.]
Defn: A messenger or servant wearing an official badge. [Anglo-
Indian]
CHURCH
Church, n. Etym: [OE. chirche, chireche, cherche, Scot. kirk, from
AS. circe, cyrice; akin to D. kerk, Icel. kirkja, Sw. kyrka, Dan.
kirke, G. kirche, OHG. chirihha; all fr. Gr. ç\'d4ra hero, Zend. çura
strong, OIr. caur, cur, hero. Cf. Kirk.]
1. A building set apart for Christian worship.
2. A Jewish or heathen temple. [Obs.] Acts xix. 37.
3. A formally organized body of Christian believers worshiping
together. "When they had ordained them elders in every church." Acts
xiv. 23.
4. A body of Christian believers, holding the same creed, observing
the same rites, and acknowledging the same ecclesiastical authority;
a denomination; as, the Roman Catholic church; the Presbyterian
church.
5. The collective body of Christians.
6. Any body of worshipers; as, the Jewish church; the church of
Brahm.
7. The aggregate of religious influences in a community;
ecclesiastical influence, authority, etc.; as, to array the power of
the church against some moral evil.
Remember that both church and state are properly the rulers of the
people, only because they are their benefactors. Bulwer.
Note: Church is often used in composition to denote something
belonging or relating to the church; as, church authority; church
history; church member; church music, etc. Apostolic church. See
under Apostolic.
-- Broad church. See Broad Church.
-- Catholic or Universal church, the whole body of believers in
Christ throughout the world.
-- Church of England, or English church, the Episcopal church
established and endowed in England by law.
-- Church living, a benefice in an established church.
-- Church militant. See under Militant.
-- Church owl (Zoöl.), the white owl. See Barn owl.
-- Church rate, a tax levied on parishioners for the maintenance of
the church and its services.
-- Church session. See under Session.
-- Church triumphant. See under Triumphant.
-- Church work, work on, or in behalf of, a church; the work of a
particular church for the spread of religion.
-- Established church, the church maintained by the civil authority;
a state church.
CHURCH
Church, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Churched; p. pr. & vb. n. Churching.]
Defn: To bless according to a prescribed form, or to unite with in
publicly returning thanks in church, as after deliverance from the
dangers of childbirth; as, the churching of women.
CHURCH-ALE
Church"-ale`, n.
Defn: A church or parish festival (as in commemoration of the
dedication of a church), at which much ale was used. Wright. Nares.
CHURCH-BENCH
Church"-bench`, n.
Defn: A seat in the porch of a church. Shak.
CHURCHDOM
Church"dom, n.
Defn: The institution, government, or authority of a church. [R.] Bp.
Pearson.
CHURCHGOER
Church"go`er, n.
Defn: One who attends church.
CHURCHGOING
Church"go`ing, a.
1. Habitually attending church.
2. Summoning to church.
The sound of the churchgoing bell. Cowper.
CHURCH-HAW
Church"-haw`, n. Etym: [Church + haw a yard.]
Defn: Churchyard. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CHURCHISM
Church"ism, n.
Defn: Strict adherence to the forms or principles of some church
organization; sectarianism.
CHURCHLESS
Church"less, a.
Defn: Without a church. T. Fuller.
CHURCHLIKE
Church"like`, a.
Defn: Befitting a church or a churchman; becoming to a clergyman.
Shak.
CHURCHLINESS
Church"li*ness, n.
Defn: Regard for the church.
CHURCHLY
Church"ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or suitable for, the church; ecclesiastical.
CHURCHMAN
Church"man, n.; pl. Churchmen.
1. An ecclesiastic or clergyman.
2. An Episcopalian, or a member of the Established Church of England.
"A zealous churchman." Macaulay.
3. One was is attached to, or attends, church.
CHURCHMANLY
Church"man*ly, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or becoming, a churchman. Milman.
CHURCHMANSHIP
Church"man*ship, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being a churchman; attachment to the
church.
CHURCH MODES
Church" modes`. (Mus.)
Defn: The modes or scales used in ancient church music. See
Gregorian.
CHURCHSHIP
Church"ship, n.
Defn: State of being a church. South.
CHURCHWARDEN
Church"ward`en, n.
1. One of the officers (usually two) in an Episcopal church, whose
duties vary in different dioceses, but always include the provision
of what is necessary for the communion service.
2. A clay tobacco pipe, with a long tube. [Slang, Eng.]
There was a small wooden table placed in front of the smoldering
fire, with decanters, a jar of tobacco, and two long churchwardens.
W. Black.
CHURCHWARDENSHIP
Church"ward`en*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a churchwarden.
CHURCHY
Church"y, a.
Defn: Relating to a church; unduly fond of church forms. [Colloq.]
CHURCHYARD
Church"yard`, n.
Defn: The ground adjoining a church, in which the dead are buried; a
cemetery.
Like graves in the holy churchyard. Shak.
Syn.
-- Burial place; burying ground; graveyard; necropolis; cemetery;
God's acre.
CHURL
Churl, n. Etym: [AS. ceorl a freeman of the lowest rank, man,
husband; akin to D. karel, kerel, G. kerl, Dan. & Sw. karl, Icel.
karl, and to the E. proper name Charles (orig., man, male), and perh.
to Skr. jara lover. Cf. Carl, Charles's Wain.]
1. A rustic; a countryman or laborer. "A peasant or churl." Spenser.
Your rank is all reversed; let men of cloth Bow to the stalwart
churls in overalls. Emerson.
2. A rough, surly, ill-bred man; a boor.
A churl's courtesy rarely comes, but either for gain or falsehood.
Sir P. Sidney.
3. A selfish miser; an illiberal person; a niggard.
Like to some rich churl hoarding up his pelf. Drayton.
CHURL
Churl, a.
Defn: Churlish; rough; selfish. [Obs.] Ford.
CHURLISH
Churl"ish, a.
1. Like a churl; rude; cross-grained; ungracious; surly; illiberal;
niggardly. "Churlish benefits." Ld. Burleigh.
Half mankind maintain a churlish strife. Cowper.
2. Wanting pliancy; unmanageable; unyielding; not easily wrought; as,
a churlish soil; the churlish and intractable nature of some
minerals. Boyle.
CHURLISHLY
Churl"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a churlish manner.
CHURLISHNESS
Churl"ish*ness, n.
Defn: Rudeness of manners or temper; lack of kindness or courtesy.
CHURLY
Churl"y, a.
Defn: Rude; churlish; violent. Longfellow.
CHURME; CHIRM
Churme, Chirm, n. Etym: [See Chirm.]
Defn: Clamor, or confused noise; buzzing. [Obs.]
The churme of a thousand taunts and reproaches. Bacon.
CHURN
Churn, n. Etym: [OE. chirne, cherne, AS. ceren, cyrin; akin to D.
karn, Dan. kierne. See Churn, v. t.]
Defn: A vessel in which milk or cream is stirred, beaten, or
otherwise agitated (as by a plunging or revolving dasher) in order to
separete the oily globules from the other parts, and obtain butter.
CHURN
Churn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Churned; p. pr. & vb. n. Churning.] Etym:
[OE. chernen, AS. cernan; akin to LG. karnen, G. kernen, D. karnen,
Dan. kierne, Sw. kärna, and also to E. corn, kernel, the meaning
coming from the idea of extracting the kernel or marrow. See Kernel.]
1. To stir, beat, or agitate, as milk or cream in a churn, in order
to make butter.
2. To shake or agitate with violence.
Churned in his teeth, the foamy venom rose. Addison.
CHURN
Churn, v. i.
Defn: To perform the operation of churning.
CHURNING
Churn"ing, n.
1. The act of one who churns.
2. The quantity of butter made at one operation.
CHURR
Churr, n. [Cf. Chirr.]
Defn: A vibrant or whirring noise such as that made by some insects,
as the cockchafer, or by some birds, as the nightjar, the partridge,
etc.
CHURR
Churr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Churred; p. pr. & vb. n. Churr"ing.]
Defn: To make a churr, as a cockchafer.
That's the churring of the nightjar.
Hall Caine.
CHURR
Churr, v. t.
Defn: To utter by churring.
CHURRUS
Chur"rus, n. Etym: [Hind. charas.]
Defn: A powerfully narcotic and intoxicating gum resin which exudes
from the flower heads, seeds, etc., of Indian hemp.
CHURRWORM
Churr"worm`, n. Etym: [AS. cyrran, cerran, to turn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect that turns about nimbly; the mole cricket; -- called
also fan cricket. Johnson.
CHUSE
Chuse, v. t.
Defn: See Choose. [Obs.]
CHUTE
Chute, n. Etym: [F. chute, prop. a fall.]
1. A framework, trough, or tube, upon or through which objects are
made to slide from a higher to a lower level, or through which water
passes to a wheel.
2. See Shoot.
CHUTNEY; CHUTNEE
Chut"ney, Chut"nee, n. Etym: [Hind. chatni.]
Defn: A warm or spicy condiment or pickle made in India, compounded
of various vegetable substances, sweets, acids, etc.
CHYLACEOUS
Chy*la"ceous, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Possessed of the properties of chyle; consisting of chyle.
CHYLAQUEOUS
Chy*la"que*ous, a. Etym: [Chyle + aqueous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Consisting of chyle much diluted with water; -- said of a
liquid which forms the circulating fluid of some inferior animals.
CHYLE
Chyle, n. Etym: [NL. chylus, Gr. chyle; prob. akin to E. fuse to
melt.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A milky fluid containing the fatty matter of the food in a
state of emulsion, or fine mechanical division; formed from chyme by
the action of the intestinal juices. It is absorbed by the lacteals,
and conveyed into the blood by the thoracic duct.
CHYLIFACTION
Chyl`i*fac"tion, n. Etym: [Chyle + L. facere to make.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process by which chyle is formed from food in animal
bodies; chylification, -- a digestive process.
CHYLIFACTIVE
Chyl`i*fac"tive, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Producing, or converting into, chyle; having the power to form
chyle.
CHYLIFEROUS
Chy*lif"er*ous, a.
Defn: [Chyle + -ferous: cf. F. chylifère.] (Physiol.) Transmitting or
conveying chyle; as, chyliferous vessels.
CHYLIFIC
Chy*lif"ic, a.
Defn: Chylifactive.
CHYLIFICATION
Chyl`i*fi*ca"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The formation of chyle. See Chylifaction.
CHYLIFICATORY
Chy*lif"i*ca*to*ry ( or ), a.
Defn: Chylifactive.
CHYLIFY
Chy"li*fy, v. t. & i. Etym: [Chyle + -ly.] (Physiol.)
Defn: To make chyle of; to be converted into chyle.
CHYLOPOETIC
Chy`lo*po*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. chylopoiei^n to make into juice,
chylo`s juice, chyle + poiei^n to make.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Concerned in the formation of chyle; as, the chylopoetic
organs.
CHYLOUS
Chy"lous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. chyleux.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Consisting of, or similar to, chyle.
CHYLURIA
Chy*lu"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL. from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition in which the urine contains chyle or fatty
matter, giving it a milky appearance.
CHYME
Chyme, n. Etym: [L. chymus chyle, Gr. chyme. See Chyle.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The pulpy mass of semi-digested food in the small intestines
just after its passage from the stomach. It is separated in the
intestines into chyle and excrement. See Chyle.
CHYMIC; CHYMIST; CHYMISTRY
Chym"ic, Chym"ist, Chym"is*try. [Obs.]
Defn: See Chemic, Chemist, Chemistry.
CHYMIFEROUS
Chy*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Chyme + -ferous.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Bearing or containing chyme.
CHYMIFICATION
Chym`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Chyme + L. facere to make: cf. F.
Chymification.] (Physiol.)
Defn: The conversion of food into chyme by the digestive action of
gastric juice.
CHYMIFY
Chym"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Chyme + -fy: cf. F. chymifier.] (Physiol.)
Defn: To form into chyme.
CHYMOUS
Chy"mous, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to chyme.
CHYOMETER
Chy*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring liquids. It consists of a piston
moving in a tube in which is contained the liquid, the quantity
expelled being indicated by the graduation upon the piston rod.
CIBARIOUS
Ci*ba"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. cibaruus, fr. cibus food.]
Defn: Pertaining to food; edible. Johnson.
CIBATION
Ci*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. cibatio, fr. cibare to feed.]
1. The act of taking food.
2. (Alchemy)
Defn: The process or operation of feeding the contents of the
crucilbe with fresh material. B. Jonson.
CIBOL
Cib"ol, n. Etym: [F. ciboule, LL. cepula, cepola, dim. of L. cepa,
caepa, caepe, an onion. Cf. Chibbal, Cives.]
Defn: A perennial alliaceous plant (Allium fistulosum), sometimes
called Welsh onion. Its fistular leaves areused in cookery.
CIBORIUM
Ci*bo"ri*um, n.: pl. Ciboria. Etym: [LL., fr. L. ciborium a cup, fr.
Gr.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A canopy usually standing free and supported on four columns,
covering the high altar, or, very rarely, a secondary altar.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The coffer or case in which the host is kept; the pyx.
CICADA
Ci*ca"da, n.; pl. E. Cicadas, L. Cicadæ. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of the genus Cicada. They are large hemipterous
insects, with nearly transparent wings. The male makes a shrill sound
by pecular organs in the under side of the abdomen, consisting of a
pair of stretched membranes, acted upon by powerful muscles. A noted
American species (C. septendecim) is called the seventeen year
locust. Another common species is the dogday cicada.
CICALA
Ci*ca"la, n. Etym: [It., fr. L. cicada.]
Defn: A cicada. See Cicada. "At eve a dry cicala sung." Tennison.
CICATRICE
Cic"a*trice, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cicatrix.]
Defn: A cicatrix.
CICATRICIAL
Cic`a*tri"cial, a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to, or having the character of, a cicatrix. Dunglison.
CICATRICLE
Cic"a*tri`cle, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cicatricule, fr. L. cicatricula a
small scar, fr. cicatrix a scar.] (Biol.)
Defn: The germinating point in the embryo of a seed; the point in the
yolk of an egg at which development begins.
CICATRISIVE
Cic"a*tri`sive, a.
Defn: Tending to promote the formation of a cicatrix; good for
healing of a wound.
CICATRIX
Ci*ca"trix, n.; pl. Cicatrices. Etym: [L.] (Med.)
Defn: The pellicle which forms over a wound or breach of continuity
and completes the process of healing in the latter, and which
subsequently contracts and becomes white, forming the scar.
CICATRIZANT
Cic"a*tri`zant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cicatrisant, properly p. pr. of
cicatriser.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine or application that promotes the healing of a sore
or wound, or the formation of a cicatrix.
CICATRIZATION
Cic`a*tri*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cicatrisation.] (Med.)
Defn: The process of forming a cicatrix, or the state of being
cicatrized.
CICATRIZE
Cic"a*trize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cicatrized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cicatrizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. cicatriser, fr. cicatrice, L. cicatrix,
scar.] (Med.)
Defn: To heal or induce the formation of a cicatrix in, as in wounded
or ulcerated flesh. Wiseman.
CICATRIZE
Cic"a*trize, v. i. (Med.)
Defn: To heal; to have a new skin.
CICATROSE
Cic"a*trose`, a.
Defn: Full of scars. Craig.
CICELY
Cic"e*ly, n. Etym: [L. seselis, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Any one of several umbelliferous plants, of the genera Myrrhis,
Osmorrhiza, etc.
CICERO
Cic"e*ro, n. (Print.)
Defn: Pica type; -- so called by French printers.
CICERONE
Ci`ce*ro"ne, n.; pl. It. Ciceroni, E. Cicerones. Etym: [It., fr. L.
Cicero, the Roman orator. So called from the ordinary talkativeness
of such a guide.]
Defn: One who shows strangers the curiosities of a place; a guide.
Every glib and loquacious hireling who shows strangers about their
picture galleries, palaces, and ruins, is termed by them [the
Italians] a cicerone, or a Cicero. Trench.
CICERONIAN
Cic`e*ro"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Ciceronianus, fr. Cicero, the orator.]
Defn: Resembling Cicero in style or action; eloquent.
CICERONIANISM
Cic`e*ro"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: Imitation of, or resemblance to, the style or action Cicero; a
Ciceronian phrase or expression. "Great study in Ciceronianism, the
chief abuse of Oxford." Sir P. Sidney.
CICHORACEOUS
Cich`o*ra"ceous, a. Etym: [See Chicory.]
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, a suborder of composite plants of
which the chicory (Cichorium) is the type.
CICH-PEA
Cich"-pea`, n.
Defn: The chick-pea. Holland.
CICISBEISM
Ci*cis"be*ism, n.
Defn: The state or conduct of a cicisbeo.
CICISBEO
Ci`cis*be"o, n.; pl. It. Cicisbei. Etym: [It.]
1. A professed admirer of a married woman; a dangler about women.
2. A knot of silk or ribbon attached to a fan, walking stick, etc.
[Obs.]
CICLATOUN
Cic"la*toun`, n. Etym: [Of. ciclaton.]
Defn: A costly cloth, of uncertain material, used in the Middle Ages.
[Obs.] [Written also checklaton, chekelatoun.]
His robe was of ciclatoun, That coste many a Jane. Chaucer.
CICURATE
Cic"u*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. cicurare to tame, fr. cicur tame.]
Defn: To tame. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CICURATION
Cic`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cicuration.]
Defn: The act of taming. [Obs.] Ray.
CICUTA
Ci*cu"ta, n. Etym: [L., the poison hemlock.] (Bot.)
Defn: a genus of poisonous umbelliferous plants, of which the water
hemlock or cowbane is best known.
Note: The name cicuta is sometimes erroneously applied to Conium
maculatum, or officinal hemlock.
CICUTOXIN
Cic`u*tox"in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The active principle of the water hemlock (Cicuta) extracted as
a poisonous gummy substance.
CID
Cid, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. Ar. seid lord.]
1. Chief or commander; in Spanish literature, a title of Ruy Diaz,
Count of Bivar, a champion of Christianity and of the old Spanish
royalty, in the 11th century.
2. An epic poem, which celebrates the exploits of the Spanish
national hero, Ruy Diaz.
CIDER
Ci"der, n. Etym: [F. cidre, OF. sidre, fr. L. sicera a kind of strong
drink, Gr. shakar to be intoxicated, shekar strong drink.]
Defn: The expressed juice of apples. It is used as a beverage, for
making vinegar, and for other purposes.
Note: Cider was formerly used to signify the juice of other fruits,
and other kinds of strong liquor, but was not applied to wine. Cider
brandy, a kind of brandy distilled from cider.
-- Cider mill, a mill in which cider is made.
-- Cider press, the press of a cider mill.
CIDERIST
Ci`der*ist, n.
Defn: A maker of cider. [Obs.] Mortimer.
CIDERKIN
Ci"der*kin, n. Etym: [Cider + -kin.]
Defn: A kind of weak cider made by steeping the refuse pomace in
water.
Ciderkin is made for common drinking, and supplies the place of small
beer. Mortimer.
CI-DEVANT
Ci`-de*vant", a. Etym: [F., hitherto, formerly.]
Defn: Former; previous; of times gone by; as, a cidevant governor.
CIERGE
Cierge, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cera wax.]
Defn: A wax candle used in religous rites.
CIGAR
Ci*gar", n. Etym: [Sp. cigarro, orig., a kind of tobacco in the
island of Cuba: cf. F. cigare.]
Defn: A small roll of tobacco, used for smoking. Cigar fish (Zoöl.),
a fish (Decapterus punctatus), allied to the mackerel, found on the
coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
CIGARETTE
Cig`a*rette", n. Etym: [F. cigarette.]
Defn: A little cigar; a little fine tobacco rolled in paper for
smoking.
CILIA
Cil"i*a, n. pl. Cilium, the sing., is rarely used. Etym: [L. cilium
eyelid.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The eyelashes.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Small, generally microscopic, vibrating appendages lining
certain organs, as the air passages of the higher animals, and in the
lower animals often covering also the whole or a part of the
exterior. They are also found on some vegetable organisms. In the
Infusoria, and many larval forms, they are locomotive organs.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Hairlike processes, commonly marginal and forming a fringe like
the eyelash.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat resembling true
cilia, as those of Ctenophora.
CILIARY
Cil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ciliaire.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the cilia, or eyelashes. Also applied to special
parts of the eye itself; as, the ciliary processes of the choroid
coat; the ciliary muscle, etc.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to or connected with the cilia in animal or
vegetable organisms; as, ciliary motion.
CILIATA
Cil`i*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Cilia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of Infusoria, characterized by having cilia.
In some species the cilia cover the body generally, in others they
form a band around the mouth.
CILIATE; CILIATED
Cil"i*ate, Cil"i*a`ted, a.
Defn: Provided with, or surrounded by, cilia; as, a ciliate leaf;
endowed with vibratory motion; as, the ciliated epithelium of the
windpipe.
CILICE
Cil"ice, n. Etym: [F. See Cilicious.]
Defn: A kind of haircloth undergarment. Southey.
CILICIAN
Ci*li"cian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cilicia in Asia Minor.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Cilicia.
CILICIOUS
Ci*li"cious, a. Etym: [L. cilicium a covering, orig. made of Cilician
goat's hair, fr. Cilicious Cilician, fr. Cilicia, a province of Asia
Minor.]
Defn: Made, or consisting, of hair. [Obs.]
A Cilicious or sackcloth habit. Sir T. Browne.
CILIFORM; CILIIFORM
Cil"i*form, Cil"i*i*form`, a. Etym: [Cilium + -form]
Defn: Having the form of cilia; very fine or slender.
CILIOGRADE
Cil"i*o*grade, a. Etym: [Cilium + L. gradi to step: cf. F.
ciliograde.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Moving by means of cilia, or cilialike organs; as, the
ciliograde Medusæ.
CILIUM
Cil"i*um, n. Etym: [L., eyelid.]
Defn: See Cilia.
CILL
Cill, n.
Defn: See Sill., n. a foundation.
CILLOSIS
Cil*lo"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cilium eyelid.] (Med.)
Defn: A spasmodic trembling of the upper eyelid.
CIMA
Ci"ma, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of molding. See Cyma.
CIMAR
Ci*mar", n.
Defn: See Simar.
CIMBAL
Cim"bal, n. Etym: [It. ciambella.]
Defn: A kind of confectionery or cake. [Obs.] Nares.
CIMBIA
Cim"bi*a, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A fillet or band placed around the shaft of a column as if to
strengthen it. [Written also cimia.]
CIMBRIAN
Cim"bri*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cimbri.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Cimbri. See Cimbric.
CIMBRIC
Cim"bric, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Cimbri, an ancient tribe inhabiting Northern
Germany.
-- n.
Defn: The language of the Cimbri.
CIMELIARCH
Ci*me"li*arch, n. Etym: [L. cimeliarcha, Gr.
Defn: A superintendent or keeper of a church's valuables; a
churchwarden. [Obs.] Bailey.
CIMETER
Cim"e*ter, n.
Defn: See Scimiter.
CIMEX
Ci"mex, n.; pl. Cimices. Etym: [L., a bug.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of hemipterous insects of which the bedbug is the best
known example. See Bedbug.
CIMIA
Cim"i*a, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Cimbia.
CIMISS
Ci"miss, n. Etym: [L. cimex, -icis, a bug.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bedbug. [Obs.] Wright.
CIMMERIAN
Cim*me"ri*an, a. Etym: [L. Cimmerius.] [Written also Kimmerian.]
1. Pertaining to the Cimmerii, a fabulous people, said to have lived,
in very ancient times, in profound and perpetual darkness.
2. Without any light; intensely dark.
In dark Cimmerian desert ever dwell. Milton.
CIMOLITE
Cim"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. Cimolus, an island of the Cyclades.] (Min.)
Defn: A soft, earthy, clayey mineral, of whitish or grayish color.
CINCH
Cinch, n. Etym: [Sp. cincha, fr. L. cingere to gird.]
1. A strong saddle girth, as of canvas. [West. U. S.]
2. A tight grip. [Colloq.]
CINCHONA
Cin*cho"na, n. Etym: [So named from the wife of Count Chinchon,
viceroy of Peru in the seventeenth century, who by its use was freed
from an intermittent fever, and after her return to Spain,
contributed to the general propagation of this remedy.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees growing naturally on the Andes in Peru and
adjacent countries, but now cultivated in the East Indies, producing
a medicinal bark of great value.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The bark of any species of cinchona containing three per cent.
or more of bitter febrifuge alkaloids; Peruvian bark; Jesuits' bark.
CINCHONACEOUS
Cin`cho*na"ceous, a.
Defn: Allied or pertaining to cinchona, or to the plants that produce
it.
CINCHONIC
Cin*chon"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or obtained from, cinchona. Mayne.
CINCHONIDINE
Cin*chon"i*dine, n. Etym: [From Cinchona.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the quinine group of alkaloids, found especially in red
cinchona bark. It is a white crystalline substance, C19H22N2O, with a
bitter taste and qualities similar to, but weaker than, quinine; --
sometimes called also cinchonidia.
CINCHONINE
Cin"cho*nine, n. Etym: [From Cinchona: cf. F. cinchonine.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the quinine group of alkaloids isomeric with and
resembling cinchonidine; -- called also cinchonia.
CINCHONISM
Cin"cho*nism, n. Etym: [From Cinchona.] (Med.)
Defn: A condition produced by the excessive or long-continued use of
quinine, and marked by deafness, roaring in the ears, vertigo, etc.
CINCHONIZE
Cin"cho*nize, v. t.
Defn: To produce cinchonism in; to poison with quinine or with
cinchona.
CINCINNATI EPOCH
Cin`cin*na"ti ep"och. (Geol.)
Defn: An epoch at the close of the American lower Silurian system.
The rocks are well developed near Cincinnati, Ohio. The group
includes the Hudson River and Lorraine shales of New york.
CINCINNUS
Cin*cin"nus, n.; pl. -ni (#). [Also cicinus, cicinnus.] [L., a curl
of hair.] (Bot.)
Defn: A form of monochasium in which the lateral branches arise
alternately on opposite sides of the false axis; -- called also
scorpioid cyme. --Cin*cin"nal (#), a.
CINCTURE
Cinc"ture, n. Etym: [L. cinctura, fr. cingere, cinctum, to gird.]
1. A belt, a girdle, or something worn round the body, -- as by an
ecclesiastic for confining the alb.
2. That which encompasses or incloses; an inclosure. "Within the
cincture of one wall." Bacon.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The fillet, listel, or band next to the apophyge at the
extremity of the shaft of a column.
CINCTURED
Cinc"tured, n.
Defn: Having or wearing a cincture or gridle.
CINDER
Cin"der, n. Etym: [AS. sinder slag, dross; akin to Icel. sindr dross,
Sw. sinder, G. sinter, D. sintel; perh. influenced by F. cendre
ashes, fr. L. cinis. Cf. Sinter.]
1. Partly burned or vitrified coal, or other combustible, in which
fire is extinct.
2. A hot coal without flame; an ember. Swift.
3. A scale thrown off in forging metal.
4. The slag of a furnace, or scoriaceous lava from a volcano. Cinder
frame, a framework of wire in front of the tubes of a locomotive, to
arrest the escape of cinders.
-- Cinder notch (Metal.), the opening in a blast furnace, through
which melted cinder flows out.
CINDERY
Cin"der*y, a.
Defn: Resembling, or composed of, cinders; full of cinders.
CINEFACTION
Cin`e*fac"tion, n. Etym: [LL. cinefactio: L. cinis ashes + facere to
make: cf. F. cinéfaction.]
Defn: Cineration; reduction to ashes. [Obs.]
CINEMATIC; CINEMATICAL
Cin`e*mat"ic, Cin`e*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: See Kinematic.
CINEMATICS
Cin`e*mat"ics, n. sing.
Defn: See Kinematics.
CINEMATOGRAPH
Cin`e*mat"o*graph, n. [Gr. , , motion + -graph.]
1.
Defn: A machine, combining magic lantern and kinetoscope features,
for projecting on a screen a series of pictures, moved rapidly (25 to
50 a second) and intermittently before an objective lens, and
producing by persistence of vision the illusion of continuous motion;
a moving-picture machine; also, any of several other machines or
devices producing moving pictorial effects. Other common names for
the cinematograph are animatograph, biograph, bioscope, electrograph,
electroscope, kinematograph, kinetoscope, veriscope, vitagraph,
vitascope, zoögyroscope, zoöpraxiscope, etc.
The cinematograph, invented by Edison in 1894, is the result of the
introduction of the flexible film into photography in place of glass.
Encyc. Brit.
2. A camera for taking chronophotographs for exhibition by the
instrument described above.
CINEMATOGRAPHER
Cin`e*ma*tog"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who exhibits moving pictures or who takes chronophotographs
by the cinematograph. -- Cin`e*mat`o*graph"ic (#), a. --
Cin`e*mat`o*graph"ic*al*ly (#), adv.
CINEMOGRAPH
Ci*ne"mo*graph, n. [Gr. motion + -graph.]
Defn: An integrating anemometer.
CINERACEOUS
Cin`er*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. cineraceus, fr. cinis ashes.]
Defn: Like ashes; ash-colored; cinerous.
CINERARIA
Cin`e*ra"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. LL. cinerarius pert. to ashes, fr.
cinis ashes. So called from the ash-colored down on the leaves.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan genus of free-flowering composite plants, mostly from
South Africa. Several species are cultivated for ornament.
CINERARY
Cin"er*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. cinerarius, fr. cinis ashes.]
Defn: Pertaining to ashes; containing ashes. Cinerary urns, vessels
used by the ancients to preserve the ashes of the dead when burned.
CINERATION
Cin`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. cinis ashes: cf. F. cinération.]
Defn: The reducing of anything to ashes by combustion; cinefaction.
CINEREOUS
Ci*ne"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. cinereus, fr. cinis ashes.]
Defn: Like ashes; ash-colored; grayish.
CINERESCENT
Cin`er*es"cent, a.
Defn: Somewhat cinereous; of a color somewhat resembling that of wood
ashes.
CINERITIOUS
Cin`er*i"tious, a. Etym: [L. cineritius, cinericius, fr. cinis
ashes.]
Defn: Like ashes; having the color of ashes, -- as the cortical
substance of the brain.
CINERULENT
Ci*ner"u*lent, a.
Defn: Full of ashes. [Obs.]
CINGALESE
Cin`ga*lese", n. sing. & pl. Etym: [Cf. F. Cingalais.]
Defn: A native or natives of Ceylon descended from its primitive
inhabitants; also (sing.),
Defn: the language of the Cingalese.
-- a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cingalese. [Written also Singhalese.]
Note: Ceylonese is applied to the inhabitants of the island in
general.
CINGLE
Cin"gle, n. Etym: [L. cingula, cingulum, fr. cingere to gird.]
Defn: A girth. [R.] See Surcingle.
CINGULUM
Cin"gu*lum, n. Etym: [L., a girdle.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A distinct girdle or band of color; a raised spiral line as seen
on certain univalve shells.
(b) The clitellus of earthworms.
(c) The base of the crown of a tooth.
CINNABAR
Cin"na*bar, n. Etym: [L. cinnabaris, Gr. qinbar, Hind. shangarf.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: Red sulphide of mercury, occurring in brilliant red crystals,
and also in red or brown amorphous masses. It is used in medicine.
2. The artificial red sulphide of mercury used as a pigment;
vermilion. Cinnabar Græcorum (. Etym: [L. Graecorum, gen. pl., of the
Greeks.] (Med.) Same as Dragon's blood.
-- Green cinnabar, a green pigment consisting of the oxides of
cobalt and zinc subjected to the action of fire.
-- Hepatic cinnabar (Min.), an impure cinnabar of a liver-brown
color and submetallic luster.
CINNABARINE
Cin"na*ba*rine, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cinabarin.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, cinnabar; consisting of cinnabar,
or containing it; as, cinnabarine sand.
CINNAMENE
Cin"na*mene, n. Etym: [From Cinnamic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Styrene (which was formerly called cinnamene because obtained
from cinnamic acid). See Styrene.
CINNAMIC
Cin*nam"ic, a. Etym: [From Cinnamon.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, cinnamon. Cinnamic acid
(Chem.), a white, crystalline, odorless substance.
C6H5.C2H2C2H2.CO2H, formerly obtained from storax and oil of
cinnamon, now made from certain benzene derivatives in large
quantities, and used for the artificial production of indigo.
CINNAMOMIC
Cin`na*mom"ic, a. Etym: [L. cinnamomum cinnamon.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Cinnamic.
CINNAMON
Cin"na*mon, n. Etym: [Heb. qinnamon; cf. Gr. cinnamomum, cinnamon.
The Heb. word itself seems to have been borrowed from some other
language; cf. Malay kaju manis sweet wood.]
(a) The inner bark of the shoots of Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, a tree
growing in Ceylon. It is aromatic, of a moderately pungent taste, and
is one of the best cordial, carminative, and restorative spices.
(b) Cassia. Cinnamon stone (Min.), a variety of garnet, of a cinnamon
or hyacinth red color, sometimes used in jewelry.
-- Oil of cinnamon, a colorless aromatic oil obtained from cinnamon
and cassia, and consisting essentially of cinnamic aldehyde,
C6H5.C2H2.CHO.
-- Wild cinnamon. See Canella.
CINNAMONE
Cin"na*mone, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + -one.]
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance, (C6H5.C2H2)2CO, the ketone of
cinnamic acid.
CINNAMYL
Cin"na*myl, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: The hypothetical radical, (C6H5.C2H2)2C, of cinnamic compounds.
[Formerly written also cinnamule.]
CINNOLINE
Cin"no*line, n. Etym: [Cinnamic + quinoline.]
Defn: A nitrogenous organic base, C8H6N2, analogous to quinoline,
obtained from certain complex diazo compounds.
CINQUE
Cinque, n. Etym: [F. cinq, fr. L. quinque five. See Five.]
Defn: Five; the number five in dice or cards.
CINQUECENTIST
Cin`que*cen"tist, n.
1. An Italian of the sixteenth century, esp. a poet or artist.
2. A student or imitator of the art or literature of the
Cinquecento.
CINQUECENTO
Cin`que*cen"to, n. & a. Etym: [It., five hundred, abbrev. for fifteen
hundred. The Cinquecento style was so called because it arose after
the year 1500.]
Defn: The sixteenth century, when applied to Italian art or
literature; as, the sculpture of the Cinquecento; Cinquecento style.
CINQUEFOIL
Cinque"foil`, n. Etym: [Cinque five + foil, F. feuille leaf. See
Foil.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The name of several different species of the genus Potentilla;
-- also called five-finger, because of the resemblance of its leaves
to the fingers of the hand.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental foliation having five points or cups, used in
windows, panels, etc. Gwilt. Marsh cinquefoil, the Potentilla
palustris, a plant with purple flowers which grows in fresh-water
marshes.
CINQUE-PACE
Cinque"-pace`, n. Etym: [Cinque + pace.]
Defn: A lively dance (called also galliard), the steps of which were
regulated by the number five. [Obs.] Nares. Shak.
CINQUE PORTS
Cinque" Ports`. Etym: [Cinque + port.] (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: Five English ports, to which peculiar privileges were anciently
accorded; -- viz., Hastings, Romney, Hythe, Dover, and Sandwich;
afterwards increased by the addition of Winchelsea, Rye, and some
minor places. Baron of the Cinque Ports. See under Baron.
CINQUE-SPOTTED
Cinque"-spot`ted, a.
Defn: Five-spotted. [R.] Shak.
CINTER
Cin"ter, n. Etym: [F. cintre.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Center.
CINURA
Ci*nu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The group of Thysanura which includes Lepisma and allied forms;
the bristletails. See Bristletail, and Lepisma.
CION
Ci"on, n. Etym: [OF. cion. See Scion.]
Defn: See Scion.
The cion overruleth the stock; and the stock is but passive, and
giveth aliment, but no motion, to the graft. Bacon.
CIPHER
Ci"pher, n. Etym: [OF. cifre zero, F. Chiffre figure (cf. Sp.cifra,
LL. cifra), fr. Ar. çifrun, çafrun, empty, cipher, zero, fr. çafira
to be empty. Cf. Zero.]
1. (Arith.)
Defn: A character [0] which, standing by itself, expresses nothing,
but when placed at the right hand of a whole number, increases its
value tenfold.
2. One who, or that which, has no weight or influence.
Here he was a mere cipher. W. Irving.
3. A character in general, as a figure or letter. [Obs.]
This wisdom began to be written in ciphers and characters and letters
bearing the forms of creatures. Sir W. Raleigh.
4. A combination or interweaving of letters, as the initials of a
name; a device; a monogram; as, a painter's cipher, an engraver's
cipher, etc. The cut represents the initials N. W.
5. A private alphabet, system of characters, or other mode of
writing, contrived for the safe transmission of secrets; also, a
writing in such characters.
His father . . . engaged him when he was very young to write all his
letters to England in cipher. Bp. Burnet.
Cipher key, a key to assist in reading writings in cipher.
CIPHER
Ci"pher, a.
Defn: Of the nature of a cipher; of no weight or influence. "Twelve
cipher bishops." Milton.
CIPHER
Ci"pher, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciphered; p. pr. & vb. n. Ciphering.]
Defn: To use figures in a mathematical process; to do sums in
arithmetic.
"T was certain he could write and cipher too. Goldsmith.
CIPHER
Ci"pher, v. t.
1. To write in occult characters.
His notes he ciphered with Greek characters. Hayward.
2. To get by ciphering; as, to cipher out the answer.
3. To decipher. [Obs.] Shak.
4. To designate by characters. [Obs.] Shak.
CIPHERER
Ci"pher*er, n.
Defn: One who ciphers.
CIPHERHOOD
Ci"pher*hood, n.
Defn: Nothingness. [R.] Goodwin.
CIPOLIN
Cip"o*lin, n. Etym: [It. cippollino, prop., a little onion, fr.
cipolla onion (cf. E. cibol). So called because its veins consist,
like onions, of different strata, one lying upon another.] (Min.)
Defn: A whitish marble, from Rome, containiing pale greenish zones.
It consists of calcium carbonate, with zones and cloudings of talc.
CIPPUS
Cip"pus, n.; pl. Cippi. Etym: [L., stake, post.]
Defn: A small, low pillar, square or round, commonly having an
inscription, used by the ancients for various purposes, as for
indicating the distances of places, for a landmark, for sepulchral
inscriptions, etc. Gwilt.
CIRC
Circ, n. Etym: [See Circus.]
Defn: An amphitheatrical circle for sports; a circus. [R.] T. Warton.
CIRCAR
Cir*car", n. Etym: [See Sircar.]
Defn: A district, or part of a province. See Sircar. [India]
CIRCASSIAN
Cir*cas"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Circassia, in Asia.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Circassia.
CIRCEAN
Cir*ce"an, a. Etym: [L. Circaeus.]
Defn: Having the characteristics of Circe, daughter of Sol and
Perseis, a mythological enchantress, who first charmed her victims
and then changed them to the forms of beasts; pleasing, but noxious;
as, a Circean draught.
CIRCENSIAL; CIRCENSIAN
Cir*cen"sial, Cir*cen"sian, a. Etym: [L. Circensis, ludi Circenses,
the games in the Circus Maximus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or held in, the Circus, In Rome.
The pleasure of the Circensian shows. Holyday.
CIRCINAL
Cir"ci*nal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Circinate.
CIRCINATE
Cir"ci*nate, a. Etym: [L. circinatus, p. p. of circinare to make
round, fr. circinus a pair of compasses, from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Rolled together downward, the tip occupying the center; -- a
term used in reference to foliation or leafing, as in ferns. Gray.
CIRCINATE
Cir"ci*nate, v. t.
Defn: To make a circle around; to encompass. [Obs.] Bailey.
CIRCINATION
Cir`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. circinatio circle.]
1. An orbicular motion. [Obs.] bailey.
2. A circle; a concentric layer. [Obs.] "The circinations and
spherical rounds of onions." Sir T. Browne.
CIRCLE
Cir"cle, n. Etym: [OE. cercle, F. cercle, fr. L. circulus (Whence
also AS. circul), dim. of circus circle, akin to Gr. Circus, Circum-
.]
1. A plane figure, bounded by a single curve line called its
circumference, every part of which is equally distant from a point
within it, called the center.
2. The line that bounds sush a figure; a circumference; a ring.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument of observation, the graduated limb of which
consists of an entire circle.
Note: When it is fixed to a wall in an observatory, it is called a
mural circle; when mounted with a telescope on an axis and in Y's, in
the plane of the meridian, a meridian or transit circle; when
involving the principle of reflection, like the sextant, a reflecting
circle; and when that of repeating an angle several times
continuously along the graduated limb, a repeating circle.
4. A round body; a sphere; an orb.
It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. Is. xi. 22.
5. Compass; circuit; inclosure.
In the circle of this forest. Shak.
6. A company assembled, or conceived to assemble, about a central
point of interest, or bound by a common tie; a class or division of
society; a coterie; a set.
As his name gradually became known, the circle of his acquaintance
widened. Macaulay.
7. A circular group of persons; a ring.
8. A series ending where it begins, and repeating itself.
Thus in a circle runs the peasant's pain. Dryden.
9. (Logic)
Defn: A form of argument in which two or more unproved statements are
used to prove each other; inconclusive reasoning.
That heavy bodies descend by gravity; and, again, that gravity is a
quality whereby a heavy body descends, is an impertinent circle and
teaches nothing. Glanvill.
10. Indirect form of words; circumlocution. [R.]
Has he given the lie, In circle, or oblique, or semicircle. J.
Fletcher.
11. A territorial division or district.
Note: The Circles of the Holy Roman Empire, ten in number, were those
principalities or provinces which had seats in the German Diet.
Azimuth circle. See under Azimuth.
-- Circle of altitude (Astron.), a circle parallel to the horizon,
having its pole in the zenith; an almucantar.
-- Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve (Below).
-- Circle of declination. See under Declination.
-- Circle of latitude. (a) (Astron.) A great circle perpendicular to
the plane of the ecliptic, passing through its poles. (b) (Spherical
Projection) A small circle of the sphere whose plane is perpendicular
to the axis.
-- Circles of longitude, lesser circles parallel to the ecliptic,
diminishing as they recede from it.
-- Circle of perpetual apparition, at any given place, the boundary
of that space around the elevated pole, within which the stars never
set. Its distance from the pole is equal to the latitude of the
place.
-- Circle of perpetual occultation, at any given place, the boundary
of the space around the depressed pole, within which the stars never
rise.
-- Circle of the sphere, a circle upon the surface of the sphere,
called a great circle when its plane passes through the center of the
sphere; in all other cases, a small circle.
-- Diurnal circle. See under Diurnal.
-- Dress circle, a gallery in a theater, generally the one
containing the prominent and more expensive seats.
-- Druidical circles (Eng. Antiq.), a popular name for certain
ancient inclosures formed by rude stones circularly arranged, as at
Stonehenge, near Salisbury.
-- Family circle, a gallery in a theater, usually one containing
inexpensive seats.
-- Horary circles (Dialing), the lines on dials which show the
hours.
-- Osculating circle of a curve (Geom.), the circle which touches
the curve at some point in the curve, and close to the point more
nearly coincides with the curve than any other circle. This circle is
used as a measure of the curvature of the curve at the point, and
hence is called circle of curvature.
-- Pitch circle. See under Pitch.
-- Vertical circle, an azimuth circle.
-- Voltaic circle or circuit. See under Circuit.
-- To square the circle. See under Square.
Syn.
-- Ring; circlet; compass; circuit; inclosure.
CIRCLE
Cir"cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circled; p. pr. & vb. n. Circling.]
Etym: [OE. cerclen, F. cercler, fr. L. circulare to make round. See
Circle, n., and cf. Circulate.]
1. To move around; to revolve around.
Other planets circle other suns. Pope.
2. To encompass, as by a circle; to surround; to inclose; to
encircle. Prior. Pope.
Their heads are circled with a short turban. Dampier.
So he lies, circled with evil. Coleridge.
To circle in, to confine; to hem in; to keep together; as, to circle
bodies in. Sir K. Digby.
CIRCLE
Cir"cle, v. i.
Defn: To move circularly; to form a circle; to circulate.
Thy name shall circle round the gaping through. Byron.
CIRCLED
Cir"cled, a.
Defn: Having the form of a circle; round. "Monthly changes in her
circled orb." Shak.
CIRCLER
Cir"cler, n.
Defn: A mean or inferior poet, perhaps from his habit of wandering
around as a stroller; an itinerant poet. Also, a name given to the
cyclic poets. See under Cyclic, a. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CIRCLET
Cir"clet, n.
1. A little circle; esp., an ornament for the person, having the form
of a circle; that which encircles, as a ring, a bracelet, or a
headband.
Her fair locks in circlet be enrolled. Spenser.
2. A round body; an orb. Pope.
Fairest of stars . . . that crown'st the smiling morn With thy bright
circlet. Milton.
3. A circular piece of wood put under a dish at table. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
CIRCOCELE
Cir"co*cele, n.
Defn: See Cirsocele.
CIRCUIT
Cir"cuit, n. Etym: [F. circuit, fr. L. circuitus, fr. circuire or
circumire to go around; circum around + ire to go.]
1. The act of moving or revolving around, or as in a circle or orbit;
a revolution; as, the periodical circuit of the earth round the sun.
Watts.
2. The circumference of, or distance round, any space; the measure of
a line round an area.
The circuit or compass of Ireland is 1,800 miles. J. Stow.
3. That which encircles anything, as a ring or crown.
The golden circuit on my head. Shak.
4. The space inclosed within a circle, or within limits.
A circuit wide inclosed with goodliest trees. Milton.
5. A regular or appointed journeying from place to place in the
exercise of one's calling, as of a judge, or a preacher.
6.
(a) (Law) A certain division of a state or country, established by
law for a judge or judges to visit, for the administration of
justice. Bouvier. (b) (Methodist Church) A district in which an
itinerant preacher labors.
7. Circumlocution. [Obs.] "Thou hast used no circuit of words."
Huloet. Circuit court (Law), a court which sits successively in
different places in its circuit (see Circuit, 6). In the United
States, the federal circuit courts are commonly presided over by a
judge of the supreme court, or a special circuit judge, together with
the judge of the district court. They have jurisdiction within
statutory limits, both in law and equity, in matters of federal
cognizance. Some of the individual States also have circuit courts,
which have general statutory jurisdiction of the same class, in
matters of State cognizance.
-- Circuit or Circuity of action (Law), a longer course of
proceedings than is necessary to attain the object in view.
-- To make a circuit, to go around; to go a roundabout way.
-- Voltaic or Galvanic circuit or circle, a continous electrical
communication between the two poles of a battery; an arrangement of
voltaic elements or couples with proper conductors, by which a
continuous current of electricity is established.
CIRCUIT
Cir"cuit, v. i.
Defn: To move in a circle; to go round; to circulate. [Obs.] J.
Philips.
CIRCUIT
Cir"cuit, v. t.
Defn: To travel around. [Obs.] "Having circuited the air." T. Warton.
CIRCUITEER
Cir`cuit*eer", n.
Defn: A circuiter. Pope.
CIRCUITER
Cir"cuit*er, n.
Defn: One who travels a circuit, as a circuit judge. [R.] R.
Whitlock.
CIRCUITION
Cir`cu*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. circuitio. See Circuit.]
Defn: The act of going round; circumlocution. [R.]
CIRCUITOUS
Cir*cu"i*tous, a. Etym: [LL. circuitosus.]
Defn: Going round in a circuit; roundabout; indirect; as, a
circuitous road; a circuitous manner of accompalishing an end.
-- Cir*cu"i*tous*ly, adv.
-- Cir*cu"i*tous*ness, n.
Syn.
-- Tortuous; winding; sinuous; serpentine.
CIRCUITY
Cir*cu"i*ty, n.
Defn: A going round in a circle; a course not direct; a roundabout
way of proceeding.
CIRCULABLE
Cir"cu*la*ble, a.
Defn: That may be circulated.
CIRCULAR
Cir"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. circularis, fr. circulus circle: cf. F.
circulaire. See Circle.]
1. In the form of, or bounded by, a circle; round.
2. repeating itself; ending in itself; reverting to the point of
beginning; hence, illogical; inconclusive; as, circular reasoning.
3. Adhering to a fixed circle of legends; cyclic; hence, mean;
inferior. See Cyclic poets, under Cyclic.
Had Virgil been a circular poet, and closely adhered to history, how
could the Romans have had Dido Dennis.
4. Addressed to a circle, or to a number of persons having a common
interest; circulated, or intended for circulation; as, a circular
letter.
A proclamation of Henry III., . . . doubtless circular throughout
England. Hallam.
5. Perfect; complete. [Obs.]
A man so absolute and circular In all those wished-for rarities that
may take A virgin captive. Massinger.
Circular are, any portion of the circumference of a circle.
-- Circular cubics (Math.), curves of the third order which are
imagined to pass through the two circular points at infinity.
-- Circular functions. (Math.) See under Function.
-- Circular instruments, mathematical instruments employed for
measuring angles, in which the graduation extends round the whole
circumference of a circle, or 360º.
-- Circular lines, straight lines pertaining to the circle, as
sines, tangents, secants, etc.
-- Circular note or letter. (a) (Com.) See under Credit. (b)
(Diplomacy) A letter addressed in identical terms to a number of
persons.
-- Circular numbers (Arith.), those whose powers terminate in the
same digits as the roots themselves; as 5 and 6, whose squares are 25
and 36. Bailey. Barlow.
-- Circular points at infinity (Geom.), two imaginary points at
infinite distance through which every circle in the plane is, in the
theory of curves, imagined to pass.
-- Circular polarization. (Min.) See under Polarization.
-- Circular or Globular sailing (Naut.), the method of sailing by
the arc of a great circle.
-- Circular saw. See under Saw.
CIRCULAR
Cir"cu*lar, n. Etym: [Cf. (for sense 1) F. circulaire, lettre
circulaire. See Circular, a.]
1. A circular letter, or paper, usually printed, copies of which are
addressed or given to various persons; as, a business circular.
2. A sleeveless cloak, cut in circular form.
CIRCULARISE
circularise v.
1. to canvass by distributing letters.
Syn. -- circularize.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. to distribute circulars to.
Syn. -- circularize.
[WordNet 1.5]
3. to to pass around, as information.
Syn. -- circulate, circularize, distribute, disseminate, propagate,
broadcast, spread, diffuse, disperse.
[WordNet 1.5]
CIRCULARITY
Cir`cu*lar"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. circularitas.]
Defn: The quality or state of being circular; a circular form.
CIRCULARLY
Cir"cu*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a circular manner.
CIRCULARY
Cir"cu*la*ry, a.
Defn: Circular; illogical. [Obs. & .] "Cross and circulary speeches."
Hooker.
CIRCULATE
Cir"cu*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ciorculated; P. pr. & vb. n.
Circulating.] Etym: [L. circulatus, p. p. of circulare, v. t., to
surround, make round, circulari, v. i., to gather into a circle. See
Circle.]
1. To move in a circle or circuitously; to move round and return to
the same point; as, the blood circulates in the body. Boyle.
2. To pass from place to place, from person to person, or from hand
to hand; to be diffused; as, money circulates; a story circulates.
Circulating decimal. See Decimal.
-- Circulating library, a library whose books are loaned to the
public, usually at certain fixed rates.
-- Circulating medium. See Medium.
CIRCULATE
Cir"cu*late, v. t.
Defn: To cause to pass from place to place, or from person to person;
to spread; as, to circulate a report; to circulate bills of credit.
Circulating pump. See under Pump.
Syn.
-- To spread; diffuse; propagate; disseminate.
CIRCULATION
Cir`cu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. circulatio: cf. F. circulation.]
1. The act of moving in a circle, or in a course which brings the
moving body to the place where its motion began.
This continual circulation of human things. Swift.
2. The act of passing from place to place or person to person; free
diffusion; transmission.
The true doctrines of astronomy appear to have had some popular
circulation. Whewell.
3. Currency; circulating coin; notes, bills, etc., current for coin.
4. The extent to which anything circulates or is circulated; the
measure of diffusion; as, the circulation of a newspaper.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: The movement of the blood in the blood-vascular system, by
which it is brought into close relations with almost every living
elementary constituent. Also, the movement of the sap in the vessels
and tissues of plants.
CIRCULATIVE
Cir"cu*la*tive, a.
Defn: Promoting circulation; circulating. [R.] Coleridge.
CIRCULATOR
Cir"cu*la`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. L. circulator a peddler.]
Defn: One who, or that which, circulates.
CIRCULATORIOUS
Cir`cu*la*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Travelling from house to house or from town to town; itinerant.
[Obs.] "Circulatorious jugglers." Barrow.
CIRCULATORY
Cir"cu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. circulatorius pert. to a mountebank:
cf. F. circulatoire.]
1. Circular; as, a circulatory letter. Johnson.
2. Circulating, or going round. T. Warton.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Subserving the purposes of circulation; as, circulatory organs;
of or pertaining to the organs of circulation; as, circulatory
diseases.
CIRCULATORY
Cir"cu*la*to*ry, n.
Defn: A chemical vessel consisting of two portions unequally exposed
to the heat of the fire, and with connecting pipes or passages,
through which the fluid rises from the overheated portion, and
descends from the relatively colder, maintaining a circulation.
CIRCULET
Cir"cu*let, n.
Defn: A circlet. [Obs.] Spenser.
CIRCULINE
Cir"cu*line, a.
Defn: Proceeding in a circle; circular. [Obs.] "With motion
circuline". Dr. H. More.
CIRCUM-
Cir"cum-. Etym: [Akin to circle, circus.]
Defn: A Latin preposition, used as a prefix in many English words,
and signifying around or about.
CIRCUMAGITATE
Cir`cum*ag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum + agitate.]
Defn: To agitate on all sides. Jer. Taylor.
CIRCUMAMBAGE
Cir`cum*am"bage, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + ambage, obs. sing. of
ambages.]
Defn: A roundabout or indirect course; indirectness. [Obs.] S.
Richardson.
CIRCUMAMBIENCY
Cir`cum*am"bi*en*cy, n.
Defn: The act of surrounding or encompassing. Sir T. Browne.
CIRCUMAMBIENT
Cir`cum*am"bi*ent, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + ambient.]
Defn: Surrounding; inclosing or being on all sides; encompassing.
"The circumambient heaven." J. Armstrong.
CIRCUMAMBULATE
Cir`cum*am"bu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. circumambulatus, p. p. of
circumambulare to walk around; circum + ambulare. See Ambulate.]
Defn: To walk round about.
-- Cir`cum*am`bu*la"tion, n.
CIRCUMBENDIBUS
Cir`cum*bend"i*bus, n.
Defn: A roundabout or indirect way. [Jocular] Goldsmith.
CIRCUMCENTER
Cir`cum*cen"ter, n. (Geom.)
Defn: The center of a circle that circumscribes a triangle.
CIRCUMCISE
Cir"cum*cise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumcised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Circumcising.] Etym: [L. circumcisus, p. p. of circumcidere to cut
around, to circumcise; circum + caedere to cut; akin to E. cæsura,
homicide, concise, and prob. to shed, v. t.]
1. To cut off the prepuce of foreskin of, in the case of males, and
the internal labia of, in the case of females.
2. (Script.)
Defn: To purify spiritually.
CIRCUMCISER
Cir"cum*ci`ser, n.
Defn: One who performs circumcision. Milton.
CIRCUMCISION
Cir`cum*cision, n. Etym: [L. circumcisio.]
1. The act of cutting off the prepuce or foreskin of males, or the
internal labia of females.
Note: The circumcision of males is practiced as a religious rite by
the Jews, Mohammedans, etc.
2. (Script.)
(a) The Jews, as a circumcised people.
(b) Rejection of the sins of the flesh; spiritual purification, and
acceptance of the Christian faith.
CIRCUMCLUSION
Cir`cum*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. circumcludere, -clusum, to inclose.]
Defn: Act of inclosing on all sides. [R.]
CIRCUMCURSATION
Cir`cum*cur*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumcursare, -satum, to run round
about.]
Defn: The act of running about; also, rambling language. [Obs.]
Barrow.
CIRCUMDENUDATION
Cir`cum*den`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + denudation.] (Geol.)
Defn: Denudation around or in the neighborhood of an object. Hills of
circumdenudation, hills which have been produced by surface erosion;
the elevations which have been left, after denudation of a mass of
high ground. Jukes.
CIRCUMDUCE
Cir`cum*duce", v. t. Etym: [See Circumduct.] (Scots Law)
Defn: To declare elapsed, as the time allowed for introducing
evidence. Sir W. Scott.
CIRCUMDUCT
Cir`cum*duct", v. t. Etym: [L. circumductus, p. p. of circumducere to
lead around; circum + ducere to lead.]
1. To lead about; to lead astray. [R.]
2. (Law)
Defn: To contravene; to nullify; as, to circumduct acts of
judicature. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
CIRCUMDUCTION
Cir`cum*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumductio.]
1. A leading about; circumlocution. [R.] Hooker.
2. An annulling; cancellation. [R.] Ayliffe.
3. (Phisiol.)
Defn: The rotation of a limb round an imaginary axis, so as to
describe a concial surface.
CIRCUMESOPHAGAL
Cir`cum*e*soph"a*gal, a. Etym: [Pref. circum + esophagal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounding the esophagus; -- in Zool. said of the nerve
commissures and ganglia of arthropods and mollusks.
CIRCUMESOPHAGEAL
Cir`cum*e`so*phag"e*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Circumesophagal.
CIRCUMFER
Cir"cum*fer, v. t. Etym: [L. circumferre; circum + ferre to bear. See
lst Bear.]
Defn: To bear or carry round. [Obs.] Bacon.
CIRCUMFERENCE
Cir*cum"fer*ence, n. Etym: [L. circumferentia.]
1. The line that goes round or encompasses a circular figure; a
periphery. Millon.
2. A circle; anything circular.
His ponderous shield . . . Behind him cast. The broad circumference
Hung on his shoulders like the moon. Milton.
3. The external surface of a sphere, or of any orbicular body.
CIRCUMFERENCE
Cir*cum"fer*ence, v. t.
Defn: To include in a circular space; to bound. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CIRCUMFERENTIAL
Cir*cum`fer*en"tial, a. Etym: [LL. circumferentialis.]
Defn: Pertaining to the circumference; encompassing; encircling;
circuitous. Parkhurst.
CIRCUMFERENTIALLY
Cir*cum`fer*en"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to surround or encircle.
CIRCUMFERENTOR
Cir*cum`fer*en"tor, n. Etym: [See Circumfer.]
1. A surveying instrument, for taking horizontal angles and bearings;
a surveyor's compass. It consists of a compass whose needle plays
over a circle graduated to 360º, and of a horizontal brass bar at the
ends of which are standards with narrow slits for sighting, supported
on a tripod by a ball and socket joint.
2. A graduated wheel for measuring tires; a tire circle.
CIRCUMFLANT
Cir"cum*flant, a. Etym: [L. circumflans, p. pr. of circumflare.]
Defn: Blowing around. [Obs.] Evelyn.
CIRCUMFLECT
Cir"cum*flect, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumflected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Circumflecting.] Etym: [L. circumflectere. See Circumflex.]
1. To bend around.
2. To mark with the circumflex accent, as a vowel. [R.]
CIRCUMFLECTION
Cir`cum*flec"tion, n.
Defn: See Circumflexion.
CIRCUMFLEX
Cir"cum*flex, n. Etym: [L. circumflexus a bending round, fr.
circumflectere, circumflexum, to bend or turn about; circum +
flectere to bend. See Flexible.]
1. A wave of the voice embracing both a rise and fall or a fall and a
rise on the same a syllable. Walker.
2. A character, or accent, denoting in Greek a rise and of the voice
on the same long syllable, marked thus [~ or Accent, n., 2.
CIRCUMFLEX
Cir"cum*flex, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumflexed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Circumflexing.]
Defn: To mark or pronounce with a circumflex. Walker.
CIRCUMFLEX
Cir"cum*flex, a. Etym: [Cf. L. circumflexus, p. p.]
1. Moving or turning round; circuitous. [R.] Swift.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Curved circularly; -- applied to several arteries of the hip
and thigh, to arteries, veins, and a nerve of the shoulder, and to
other parts.
CIRCUMFLEXION
Cir`cum*flex"ion, n.
1. The act of bending, or causing to assume a curved form.
2. A winding about; a turning; a circuity; a fold.
CIRCUMFLUENCE
Cir*cum"flu*ence, n.
Defn: A flowing round on all sides; an inclosing with a fluid.
CIRCUMFLUENT; CIRCUMFLUOUS
Cir*cum"flu*ent, Cir*cum"flu*ous, a. Etym: [L. circumfluere, p. pr.
of circumfluere; circum + fluere to flow; also L. circumfluus.]
Defn: Flowing round; surrounding in the manner of a fluid. "The deep,
circumfluent waves." Pope.
CIRCUMFORANEAN; CIRCUMFORANEOUS
Cir`cum*fo*ra"ne*an, Cir`cum*fo*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L.
circumforaneus found in markets; circum + forum a market place.]
Defn: Going about or abroad; walking or wandering from house to
house. Addison.
CIRCUMFULGENT
Cir`cum*ful"gent, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + fulgent.]
Defn: Shining around or about.
CIRCUMFUSE
Cir`cum*fuse", v. t. Etym: [L. circumfusus, p. p. of circumfundere to
pour around; circum + fundere to pour.]
Defn: To pour round; to spread round.
His army circumfused on either wing. Milton.
CIRCUMFUSILE
Cir`cum*fu"sile, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. fusilis fusil, a.]
Defn: Capable of being poured or spread round. "Circumfusile gold."
Pope.
CIRCUMFUSION
Cir`cum*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. circumfusio.]
Defn: The act of pouring or spreading round; the state of being
spread round. Swift.
CIRCUMGESTATION
Cir`cum*ges*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumgestare to carry around;
circum + gestare to carry.]
Defn: The act or process of carrying about. [Obs.]
Circumgestation of the eucharist to be adored. Jer. Taylor.
CIRCUMGYRATE
Cir`cum*gy"rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. circum- + gyrate.]
Defn: To roll or turn round; to cause to perform a rotary or circular
motion. Ray.
CIRCUMGYRATION
Cir`cum*gy*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of turning, rolling, or whirling round.
A certain turbulent and irregular circumgyration. Holland.
CIRCUMGYRATORY
Cir`cum*gy"ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Moving in a circle; turning round. Hawthorne.
CIRCUMGYRE
Cir`cum*gyre", v. i.
Defn: To circumgyrate. [Obs.]
CIRCUMINCESSION
Cir`cum*in*ces"sion, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. incedere, incessum,
to walk.] (Theol.)
Defn: The reciprocal existence in each other of the three persons of
the Trinity.
CIRCUMJACENCE
Cir`cum*ja"cence, n.
Defn: Condition of being circumjacent, or of bordering ou every side.
CIRCUMJACENT
Cir`cum*ja"cent, a. Etym: [L. circumjacens, p. pr. of circumjacere;
circum + jac to lie.]
Defn: Lying round; borderong on every side. T. Fuller.
CIRCUMJOVIAL
Cir`cum*jo"vi*al, n. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. Jupiter, gen. Jovis,
Jove.]
Defn: One of the moons or satellites of the planet Jupiter. [Obs.]
Derham.
CIRCUMLITTORAL
Cir`cum*lit"to*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + littus, littoris,
shore; preferable form, litus, litoria.]
Defn: Adjointing the shore.
CIRCUMLOCUTION
Cir`cum*lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumlocutio, fr. circumloqui, -
locutus, to make use of circumlocution; circum + loqui to speak. See
Loquacious.]
Defn: The use of many words to express an idea that might be
expressed by few; indirect or roundabout language; a periphrese.
the plain Billingagate way of calling names . . . would save
abundance of time lost by circumlocution. Swift.
Circumlocution office, a term of riducle for a governmental office
where business is delayed by passing through the hands of different
officials.
CIRCUMLOCUTIONAL
Cir`cum*lo*cu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to, or consisting of, circumlocutions; periphrastic;
circuitous.
CIRCUMLOCUTORY
Cir`cum*loc"u*to*ry, a.
Defn: Characterised by circumlocution; periphrastic. Shenstone.
The officials set to work in regular circumlocutory order. Chambers's
Journal.
CIRCUMMERIDIAN
Cir`cum*me*rid"i*an, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + meridian.]
Defn: About, or near, the meridian.
CIRCUMMURE
Cir`cum*mure", v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum- + mure, v. t.]
Defn: To encompass with a wall. Shak.
CIRCUMNAVIGABLE
Cir`cum*nav"i*ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being sailed round. Ray.
CIRCUMNAVIGATE
Cir`cum*nav"i*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumnavigated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Circumnavigating.] Etym: [L. circumnavigatus, p. p. of
circumnavigare to sail round; circum + navigare to navigate.]
Defn: To sail completely round.
Having circumnavigated the whole earth. T. Fuller.
CIRCUMNAVIGATION
Cir`cum*nav`i*ga"tion, n.
Defn: The act of circumnavigating, or sailing round. Arbuthnot.
CIRCUMNAVIGATOR
Cir`cum*nav"iga`tor, n.
Defn: One who sails round. W. Guthrie.
CIRCUMNUTATE
Cir`cum*nu"tate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. circum- + nutate.]
Defn: To pass through the stages of circumnutation.
CIRCUMNUTATION
Cir`cum*nu*ta"tion, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The successive bowing or bending in different directions of the
growing tip of the stems of many plants, especially seen in climbing
plants.
CIRCUMPOLAR
Cir`cum*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + polar.]
Defn: About the pole; -- applied to stars that revolve around the
pole without setting; as, circumpolar stars.
CIRCUMPOSITION
Cir`cum*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumpositio, fr. circumponere, -
positium, to place around.]
Defn: The act of placing in a circle, or round about, or the state of
being so placed. Evelyn.
CIRCUMROTARY; CIRCUMROTATORY
Cir`cum*ro"tary, Cir`cum*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- +
rotary, rotatory.]
Defn: turning, rolling, or whirling round.
CIRCUMROTATE
Cir`cum*ro"tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. circumrotare; circum + rotare
to turn round.]
Defn: To rotate about. [R.]
CIRCUMROTATION
Cir`cum*ro*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of rolling or revolving round, as a wheel;
circumvolution; the state of being whirled round. J. Gregory.
CIRCUMSCISSILE
Cir`cum*scis"sile, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + scissle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Dehiscing or opening by a transverse fissure extending around
(a capsule or pod). See Illust. of Pyxidium.
CIRCUMSCRIBABLE
Cir`cum*scrib"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumscribed.
CIRCUMSCRIBE
Cir`cum*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumscribed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Circumscribing.] Etym: [L. circumscribere, -scriptum; circum +
scribere to write, draw. See Soribe.]
1. to write or engare around. [R.]
Thereon is circumscribed this epitaph. Ashmole.
2. To inclose within a certain limit; to hem in; to surround; to
bound; to confine; to restrain.
To circumscribe royal power. Bancroft.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: To draw a line around si as to touch at certain points without
cutting. See Inscribe, 5.
Syn.
-- To bound; limit; restrict; confine; abridge; restrain; environ;
encircle; inclose; encompass.
CIRCUMSCRIBER
Cir`cum*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, circumscribes.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIBLE
Cir`cum*scrip"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumscribed or limited by bounds.
CIRCUMSCRIPTION
Cir`cum*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumscriptio. See Circumscribe.]
1. An inscription written around anything. [R.] Ashmole.
2. The exterior line which determines the form or magnitude of a
body; outline; periphery. Ray.
3. The act of limiting, or the state of being limited, by conditions
or restraints; bound; confinement; limit.
The circumscriptions of terrestrial nature. Johnson.
I would not my unhoused, free condition Put into circumscription and
confine. Shak.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIVE
Cir`cum*scrip"tive, a.
Defn: Circumscribing or tending to circumscribe; marcing the limits
or form of.
CIRCUMSCRIPTIVELY
Cir`cum*scrip"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a limited manner.
CIRCUMSCRIPTLY
Cir"cum*script`ly, adv.
Defn: In a literal, limited, or narrow manner. [R.] Milton.
CIRCUMSPECT
Cir"cum*spect, a. Etym: [L. circumspectus, p. p. of circumspicere to
look about one's self, to observe; circum + spicere, specere, to
look. See Spy.]
Defn: Attentive to all the circustances of a case or the probable
consequences of an action; cautious; prudent; wary.
Syn.
-- See Cautious.
CIRCUMSPECTION
Cir`cum*spec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumspectio.]
Defn: Attention to all the facts and circumstances of a case;
caution; watchfulness.
With silent circumspection, unespied. Milton.
Syn.
-- Caution; prudence; watchfulness; deliberation; thoughtfulness;
wariness; forecast.
CIRCUMSPECTIVE
Cir`cum*spec"tive, a.
Defn: Looking around everi way; cautious; careful of consequences;
watchful of danger. "Circumspective eyes." Pope.
CIRCUMSPECTIVELY
Cir`cum*spec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Circumspectly.
CIRCUMSPECTLY
Cir"cum*spect"ly, adv.
Defn: In a circumspect manner; cautiously; warily.
CIRCUMSPECTNESS
Cir"cum*spect"ness, n.
Defn: Vigilance un guarding against evil from every quarter; caution.
[Travel] forces circumspectness on those abroad, who at home are
nursed in security. Sir H. Wotton.
CIRCUMSTANCE
Cir"cum*stance, n. Etym: [L. circumstantia, fr. circumstans, -antis,
p. pr. of circumstare to stand around; circum + stare to stand. See
Stand.]
1. That which attends, or relates to, or in some way affects, a fact
or event; an attendant thing or state of things.
The circumstances are well known in the country where they happened.
W. Irving.
2. An event; a fact; a particular incident.
The sculptor had in his thoughts the conqoeror weeping for new
worlds, or the like circumstances in histery. Addison.
3. Circumlocution; detail. [Obs.]
So without more circumstance at all I hold it fit that shake hands
and part. Shak.
4. pl.
Defn: Condition in regard to worldly estate; state of property;
situation; surroundings.
When men are easy in their circumstances, they are naturally enemies
to innovations. Addison.
Not a circumstance, of no account. [Colloq.] -- Under the
circumstances, taking all things into consideration.
Syn.
-- Event; occurrence; incident; situation; condition; position;
fact; detail; item. See Event.
CIRCUMSTANCE
Cir"cum*stance, v. t.
Defn: To place in a particular situation; to suppy relative
incidents.
The poet took the matters of fact as they came down to him and
circumstanced them, after his own manner. Addison.
CIRCUMSTANCED
Cir"cum*stanced, p. a.
1. Placed in a particular position or condition; situated.
The proposition is, that two bodies so circumstanced will balance
each other. Whewell.
2. Governed by events or circumstances. [Poetic & R.] "I must be
circumstanced." Shak.
CIRCUMSTANT
Cir"cum*stant, a. Etym: [L. circumstans. See Circumstance.]
Defn: Standing or placed around; surrounding. [R.] "Circumstant
bodies." Sir K. Digby.
CIRCUMSTANTIABLE
Cir`cum*stan"tia*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being circumstantiated. [Obs.] Jer Taylor.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
Cir`cum*stan"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. circonstanciel.]
1. Consisting in, or pertaining to, circumstances or particular
incidents.
The usual character of human testimony is substantial truth under
circumstantial variety. Paley.
2. Incidental; relating to, but not essential.
We must therefore distinguish between the essentials in religious
worship . . . and what is merely circumstantial. Sharp.
3. Abounding with circumstances; detailing or exhibiting all the
circumstances; minute; particular.
Tedious and circumstantial recitals. Prior.
Circumstantial evidence (Law), evidence obtained from circumstances,
which necessarily or usually attend facts of a particular nature,
from which arises presumption. According to some authorities
circumstantial is distinguished from positive evidence in that the
latter is the testimony of eyewitnesses to a fact or the admission of
a party; but the prevalent opinion now is that all such testimony is
dependent on circumstances for its support. All testimony is more or
less circumstantial. Wharton.
Syn.
-- See Minute.
CIRCUMSTANTIAL
Cir`cum*stan"tial, n.
Defn: Something incidental to the main subject, but of less
importance; opposed to an essential; -- generally in the plural; as,
the circumstantials of religion. Addison.
CIRCUMSTANTIALITY
Cir`cum*stan`ti*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state, characteristic, or quality of being circumstantial;
particularity or minuteness of detail. "I will endeavor to describe
with sufficient circumstantiality." De Quincey.
CIRCUMSTANTIALLY
Cir`cum*stan"tial*ly, adv.
1. In respect to circumstances; not essentially; accidentally.
Of the fancy and intellect, the powers are only circumstantially
different. Glanvill.
2. In every circumstance or particular; minutely.
To set down somewhat circumstantially, not only the events, but the
manner of my trials. Boyle.
CIRCUMSTANTIATE
Cir`cum*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumstantiated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Circumstantiating.] Etym: [See Circumstantiating (
1. To place in particular circumstances; to invest with particular
accidents or adjuncts. [R.]
If the act were otherwise circumstantiated, it might will that freely
which now it wills reluctantly. Bramhall.
2. To prove or confirm by circumstances; to entr into details
concerning.
Neither will time permint to circumstantiate these particulars, which
I have only touched in the general. State Trials (1661).
CIRCUMTERRANEOUS
Cir`cum*ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. circum- + L. terra earth.]
Defn: Being or dwelling around the earth. "Circumterraneous demouns."
H. Hallywell.
CIRCUMUNDULATE
Cir`cum*un"du*late, v. t. Etym: [Pref. circum- + undulate.]
Defn: To flow round, as waves. [R.]
CIRCUMVALLATE
Cir`cum*val"late, v. t. Etym: [L. circumvallatus, p. p. of
circumvallare to surround with a wall; circum + vallare to wall, fr.
vallum rampart.]
Defn: To surround with a rampart or wall. Johnson.
CIRCUMVALLATE
Cir`cum*val"late, a.
1. Surrounded with a wall; inclosed with a rampart.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Surrounded by a ridle or elevation; as, the circumvallate
papillæ, near the base of the tongue.
CIRCUMVALLATION
Cir`cum*val*la"tion, n. (Mil.)
(a) The act of surrounding with a wall or rampart.
(b) A line of field works made around a besieged place and the
besieging army, to protect the camp of the besiegers against the
attack of an enemy from without.
CIRCUMVECTION
Cir`cum*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvectio; circum + vehere to
carry.]
Defn: The act of carrying anything around, or the state of being so
carried.
CIRCUMVENT
Cir`cum*vent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvented; p. pr. vb. n.
Circumventing.] Etym: [L. circumventis, p. p. of circumvenire, to
come around, encompass, decieve; circum + venire to come, akin to E.
come.]
Defn: To gain advantage over by arts, stratagem, or deception; to
decieve; to delude; to get around.
I circumvented whom I could not gain. Dryden.
CIRCUMVENTION
Cir`cum*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumventio.]
Defn: The act of prevailing over another by arts, address, or fraud;
deception; fraud; imposture; delusion.
A school in which he learns sly circumvention. Cowper.
CIRCUMVENTIVE
Cir`cum*vent"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to circumvent; deceiving by artifices; deluding.
CIRCUMVENTOR
Cir`cum*vent"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who circumvents; one who gains his purpose by cunning.
CIRCUMVEST
Cir`cum*vest", v. t. Etym: [L. circumvestire; circum + vestire to
clothe.]
Defn: To cover round, as woth a garment; to invest. [Obs.]
Circumvested with much prejudice. Sir H. Wotton.
CIRCUMVOLANT
Cir*cum"vo*lant, a. Etym: [L. circumvolans, p. pr. See
Circumvolation.]
Defn: Flying around.
The circumvolant troubles of humanity. G. Macdonald.
CIRCUMVOLATION
Cir`cum*vo*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. circumvolate. -volatum, to fly
around; circum + volare to fly.]
Defn: The act of flying round. [R.]
CIRCUMVOLUTION
Cir`cum*vo*lu"tion, n. Etym: [See Circumvolve.]
1. The act of rolling round; the state of being rolled.
2. A thing rolled round another. Arbuthnot.
3. A roundabout procedure; a circumlocution.
He had neither time nor temper for sentimental circumvolutions.
Beaconsfield.
CIRCUMVOLVE
Cir`cum*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Circumvolved; p. pr. vb. n.
Circumvolving.] Etym: [L. circumvolvere, -volutum; circum + volvere
to roll.]
Defn: To roll round; to cause to revolve; to put into a circular
motion. Herrick.
CIRCUMVOLVE
Cir`cum*volve", v. i.
Defn: To roll round; to revolve.
CIRCUS
Cir"cus, n.; pl. Circuses. Etym: [L. circus circle, ring, circus (in
sense 1). See Circle, and cf. Cirque.]
1. (Roman Antiq.)
Defn: A level oblong space surrounded on three sides by seats of
wood, earth, or stone, rising in tiers one above another, and divided
lengthwise through the middle by a barrier around which the track or
course was laid out. It was used for chariot races, games, and public
shows.
Note: The Circus Maximus at Rome could contain more than 100,000
spectators. Harpers' Latin Dict.
2. A circular inclosure for the exhibition of feats of horsemanship,
acrobatic displays, etc. Also, the company of performers, with their
equipage.
3. Circuit; space; inclosure. [R.]
The narrow circus of my dungeon wall. Byron.
CIRL BUNTING
Cirl" bun`ting. Etym: [Cf. It. cirlo.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bunting (Emberiza cirlus).
CIRQUE
Cirque, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. circus.]
1. A circle; a circus; a circular erection or arrangement of objects.
A dismal cirque Of Druid stones upon a forlorn moor. Keats.
2. A kind of circular valley in the side of a mountain, walled around
by precipices of great height.
CIRRATE
Cir"rate, a. Etym: [L. cirratus having ringlets, fr. cirrus a curl.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Having cirri along the margin of a part or organ.
CIRRHIFEROUS
Cir*rhif"er*ous, a.
Defn: See Cirriferous.
CIRRHOSE
Cir"rhose, a.
Defn: Same as Cirrose.
CIRRHOSIS
Cir*rho"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. cirrhose. So called from the
yellowish appearance which the diseased liver often presents when
cut.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the liver in which it usually becomes smaller in
size and more dense and fibrous in consistence; hence sometimes
applied to similar changes in other organs, caused by increase in the
fibrous framework and decrease in the proper substance of the organ.
CIRRHOTIC
Cir*rhot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, caused by, or affected with, cirrhosis; as,
cirrhotic degeneration; a cirrhotic liver.
CIRRHOUS
Cir"rhous, a.
Defn: See Cirrose.
CIRRHUS
Cir"rhus, n.
Defn: Same as Cirrus.
CIRRI
Cir"ri, n. pl.
Defn: See Cirrus.
CIRRIFEROUS
Cir*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing cirri, as many plants and animals.
CIRRIFORM
Cir"ri*form, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Formed like a cirrus or tendril; -- said of appendages of both
animals and plants.
CIRRIGEROUS
Cir*rig"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cirrus + -gerous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having curled locks of hair; supporting cirri, or hairlike
appendages.
CIRRIGRADE
Cir"ri*grade, a. Etym: [Cirrus + L. gradi to walk.] (Biol.)
Defn: Moving or moved by cirri, or hairlike appendages.
CIRRIPED
Cir"ri*ped, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cirripedia.
CIRRIPEDIA
Cir`ri*pe"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. cirrus curl + pes, pedis,
foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Crustacea including the barnacles. When adult, they
have a calcareous shell composed of several pieces. From the opening
of the shell the animal throws out a group of curved legs, looking
like a delicate curl, whence the name of the group. See Anatifa.
CIRROBRANCHIATA
Cir`ro*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cirrus + L. branchiae
gills.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Mollusca having slender, cirriform appendages
near the mouth; the Scaphopoda.
CIRRO-CUMULUS
Cir`ro-cu"mu*lus, n. Etym: [Cirrus + cumulus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRROSE
Cir"rose, a. Etym: [See Cirrus.] (Bot.)
(a) Bearing a tendril or tendrils; as, a cirrose leaf.
(b) Resembling a tendril or cirrus. [Spelt also cirrhose.]
CIRROSTOMI
Cir`ros"to*mi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. E. cirrus + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lowest group of vertebrates; -- so called from the cirri
around the mouth; the Leptocardia. See Amphioxus.
CIRRO-STRATUS
Cir`ro-stra"tus, n. Etym: [Cirrus + stratus.] (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRROUS
Cir"rous, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Cirrose.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tufted; -- said of certain feathers of birds.
CIRRUS
Cir"rus, n.; pl. Cirri. Etym: [L., lock, curl, ringlet.] [Also
written cirrhus.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A tendril or clasper.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A soft tactile appendage of the mantle of many Mollusca, and of
the parapodia of Annelida. Those near the head of annelids are
Tentacular cirri; those of the last segment are caudal cirri.
(b) The jointed, leglike organs of Cirripedia. See Annelida, and
Polychæta.
Note: In some of the inferior animals the cirri aid in locomotion; in
others they are used in feeding; in the Annelida they are mostly
organs of touch. Some cirri are branchial in function.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The external male organ of trematodes and some other worms, and
of certain Mollusca.
4. (Meteor.)
Defn: See under Cloud.
CIRSOCELE
Cir"so*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The varicose dilatation of the spermatic vein.
CIRSOID
Cir"soid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Med.)
Defn: Varicose. Cirsoid aneurism, a disease of an artery in which it
becomes dilated and elongated, like a varicose vein.
CIRSOTOMY
Cir*sot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: Any operation for the removal of varices by incision.
Dunglison.
CIS-
Cis-.
Defn: A Latin preposition, sometimes used as a prefix in English
words, and signifying on this side.
CISALPINE
Cis*al"pine, a. Etym: [L. Cisalpinus; cis on this side + Alpinus
Alpine.]
Defn: On the hither side of the Alps with reference to Rome, that is,
on the south side of the Alps; -- opposed to transalpine.
CISATLANTIC
Cis`at*lan"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + Atlantic.]
Defn: On this side of the Atlantic Ocean; -- used of the eastern or
the western side, according to the standpoint of the writer. Story.
CISCO
Cis"co, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Lake herring (Coregonus Artedi), valuable food fish of the
Great Lakes of North America. The name is also applied to C. Hoyi, a
related species of Lake Michigan.
CISELURE
Ci`se*lure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The process of chasing on metals; also, the work thus chased.
Weale.
CISLEITHAN
Cis*lei"than, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + Leitha.]
Defn: On the Austrian side of the river Leitha; Austrian.
CISMONTANE
Cis*mon"tane, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + L. mons mountain.]
Defn: On this side of the mountains. See under Ultramontane.
CISPADANE
Cis"pa*dane`, a. Etym: [Pref. cis- + L. Padanus, pert. to the Padus
or Po.]
Defn: On the hither side of the river Po with reference to Rome; that
is, on the south side.
CISSOID
Cis"soid, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve invented by Diocles, for the purpose of solving two
celebrated problems of the higher geometry; viz., to trisect a plane
angle, and to construct two geometrical means between two given
straight lines.
CIST
Cist, n. Etym: [L. cista box, chest, Gr. Chest.]
1. (Antiq.)
Defn: A box or chest. Specifically: (a) A bronze receptacle, round or
oval, frequently decorated with engravings on the sides and cover,
and with feet, handles, etc., of decorative castings. (b) A cinerary
urn. See Illustration in Appendix.
2. See Cyst.
CISTED
Cist"ed, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a cyst. See Cysted.
CISTERCIAN
Cis*ter"cian, n. Etym: [LL. Cistercium. F. Cîteaux, a convent not far
from Dijon, in France: cf. F. cistercien.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A monk of the prolific branch of the Benedictine Order,
established in 1098 at Cîteaux, in France, by Robert, abbot of
Molesme. For two hundred years the Cistercians followed the rule of
St. Benedict in all its rigor.
-- a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cistercians.
CISTERN
Cis"tern, n. Etym: [OE. cisterne, OF. cisterne, F. cisterne, fr. L.
cisterna, fr. cista box, chest. See Cist, and cf. chest.]
1. An artificial reservoir or tank for holding water, beer, or other
liquids.
2. A natural reservoir; a hollow place containing water. "The wide
cisterns of the lakes." Blackmore.
CISTIC
Cist"ic, a.
Defn: See Cystic.
CIT
Cit (, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. citizen.]
Defn: A citizen; an inhabitant of a city; a pert townsman; -- used
contemptuously. "Insulted as a cit". Johnson
Which past endurance sting the tender cit. Emerson.
CITABLE
Cit"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cited.
CITADEL
Cit"a*del, n. Etym: [F. citadelle, It. citadella, dicitt city, fr. L.
civitas. See City.]
Defn: A fortress in or near a fortified city, commanding the city and
fortifications, and intended as a final point of defense. Syn. -
Stronghold. See Fortress.
CITAL
Cit"al, n. Etym: [From Cite]
1. Summons to appear, as before a judge. [R.] Johnson
2. Citation; quotation [R.] Johnson.
CITATION
Ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F. citation, LL. citatio, fr.L. citare to cite.
See Cite]
1. An official summons or notice given to a person to appear; the
paper containing such summons or notice.
2. The act of citing a passage from a book, or from another person,
in his own words; also, the passage or words quoted; quotation.
This horse load of citations and fathers. Milton.
3. Enumeration; mention; as, a citation of facts.
4. (Law)
Defn: A reference to decided cases, or books of authority, to prove a
point in law.
CITATOR
Ci*ta"tor, n.
Defn: One who cites. [R]
CITATORY
Ci"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. citatirius.]
Defn: Having the power or form of a citation; as, letters citatory.
CITE
Cite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cited; p. pr. & vb. n. Citing] Etym: [F.
citer, fr. L. citare, intens. of cire, ciere, to put in motion, to
excite; akin to Gr.
1. To call upon officially or authoritatively to appear, as before a
court; to summon.
The cited dead, Of all past ages, to the general doom Shall hasten.
Milton.
Cited by finger of God. De Quincey.
2. To urge; to enjoin. [R.] Shak.
3. To quote; to repeat, as a passage from a book, or the words of
another.
The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. Shak.
4. To refer to or specify, as for support, proof, illustration, or
confirmation.
The imperfections which you have cited. Shak.
5. To bespeak; to indicate. [Obs.]
Aged honor cites a virtuous youth. Shak.
6. (Law)
Defn: To notify of a proceeding in court. Abbot
Syn.
-- To quote; mention, name; refer to; adduce; select; call; summon.
See Quote.
CITER
Cit"er, n.
Defn: One who cites.
CITESS
Cit"ess, n. Etym: [From Cit.]
Defn: A city woman [R.]
CITHARA
Cith"a*ra, n. Etym: [L. Cf. Cittern, Guitar.] (Mus.)
Defn: An ancient instrument resembling the harp.
CITHARISTIC
Cith`a*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining, or adapted, to the cithara.
CITHERN
Cith"ern, n.
Defn: See Cittern.
CITICISM
Cit"i*cism, n. Etym: [From cit.]
Defn: The manners of a cit or citizen.
CITIED
Cit"ied, a.
1. Belonging to, or resembling, a city. "Smoky, citied towns" [R.]
Drayton.
2. Containing, or covered with, cities. [R.] "The citied earth."
Keats.
CITIFIED
Cit"i*fied, a. Etym: [City +-fy.]
Defn: Aping, or having, the manners of a city.
CITIGRADAE
Cit`i*gra"dæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. citus swift (p. p. of cire,
ciere, to move) + gradi to walk. See Cite.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of Arachnoidea, including the European tarantula and
the wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and their allies, which capture their
prey by rapidly running and jumping. See Wolf spider.
CITIGRADE
Cit"i*grade, a. Etym: [Cf. F. citigrade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Citigradæ.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Citigradæ.
CITINER
Cit"i*ner, n.
Defn: One who is born or bred in a city; a citizen. [Obs.] Champan.
CITIZEN
Cit"i*zen, n. Etym: [OE. citisein, OF. citeain, F. citoyen, fr. cité
city. See City, and cf. Cit.]
1. One who enjoys the freedom and privileges of a city; a freeman of
a city, as distinguished from a foreigner, or one not entitled to its
franchises.
That large body of the working men who were not counted as citizens
and had not so much as a vote to serve as an anodyne to their
stomachs. G. Eliot.
2. An inhabitant of a city; a townsman. Shak.
3. A person, native or naturalized, of either sex, who owes
allegiance to a government, and is entitled to reciprocal protection
from it.
Note: This protection is . . . national protection, recognition of
the individual, in the face of foreign nations, as a member of the
state, and assertion of his security and rights abroad as well as at
home. Abbot
4. One who is domiciled in a country, and who is a citizen, though
neither native nor naturalized, in such a sense that he takes his
legal status from such country.
CITIZEN
Cit"i*zen, a.
1. Having the condition or qualities of a citizen, or of citizens;
as, a citizen soldiery.
2. Of or pertaining to the inhabitants of a city; characteristic of
citizens; effeminate; luxurious. [Obs.]
I am not well, But not so citizen a wanton as To seem to die ere
sick. Shak.
CITIZENESS
Cit"i*zen*ess, n.
Defn: A female citizen. [R.]
CITIZENSHIP
Cit"i*zen*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a citizen; the status of a citizen.
CITOLE
Cit"ole, n. Etym: [OF. citole, fr. L. cithara. See Cittern.] (Mus.)
Defn: A musical instrument; a kind of dulcimer. [Obs.]
CITRACONIC
Cit`ra*con"ic, a. Etym: [Citric + aconitic.]
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or having certain characteristics
of, citric and aconitic acids. Citraconic acid (Chem.), a white,
crystalline, deliquescent substance, C3H4(CO2H)2, obtained by
distillation of citric acid. It is a compound of the ethylene series.
CITRANGE
Cit"range, n. [Citrus + orange.]
Defn: A citrous fruit produced by a cross between the sweet orange
and the trifoliate orange (Citrus trifoliata). It is more acid and
has a more pronounced aroma than the orange; the tree is hardier.
There are several varieties.
CITRATE
Cit"rate, n. Etym: [From Citric.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of citric acid.
CITRIC
Cit"ric, a. Etym: [Cf. F. citrique. See Citron.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, the citron or lemon; as,
citric acid. Citric acid (Chem.), an organic acid, C3H4OH.(CO2H)3,
extracted from lemons, currants, gooseberies, etc., as a white
crystalline substance, having a pleasant sour taste.
CITRINATION
Cit`ri*na"tion, n. Etym: [See Citrine.]
Defn: The process by which anything becomes of the color of a lemon;
esp., in alchemy, the state of perfection in the philosopher's stone
indicated by its assuming a deep yellow color. Thynne.
CITRINE
Cit"rine, a. Etym: [F. citrin. See Citron.]
Defn: Like a citron or lemon; of a lemon color; greenish yellow.
Citrine ointment (Med.), a yellowish mercurial ointment, the
unquentum hydrargyri nitratis.
CITRINE
Cit"rine, n.
Defn: A yellow, pellucid variety of quartz.
CITRON
Cit"ron, n. Etym: [F. citron, LL. citro, fr. L. citrus citron tree
(cf. citreum, sc. malum, a citron), from Gr.
1. (Bot)
Defn: A fruit resembling a lemon, but larger, and pleasantly
aromatic. The thick rind, when candied, is the citron of commerce.
2. A citron tree.
3. A citron melon. Citron melon. (a) A small variety of muskmelon
with sugary greenish flesh. (b) A small variety of watermelon, whose
solid white flesh is used in making sweetmeats and preserves.
-- Citron tree (Bot.), the tree which bears citrons. It was probably
a native of northern India, and is now understood to be the typical
form of Citrus Medica.
CITRUS
Cit"rus, n. Etym: [L., a citron tree.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees including the orange, lemon, citron, etc.,
originally natives of southern Asia.
CITTERN
Cit"tern, n. Etym: [L.cithara, Gr. Cithara, Gittern.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire and
played with a quill or plectrum. [Written also cithern.] Shak.
Note: Not to be confounded with zither.
CITTERN-HEAD
Cit"tern-head`, n.
Defn: Blockhead; dunce; -- so called because the handle of a cittern
usually ended with a carved head. Marsion
CITY
Cit"y (, n.; pl. Cities. Etym: [OE. cite, F. citcivitas citizenship,
state, city, fr. civis citizen; akin to Goth. heiwa (in heiwafrauja
man of the house), AS. heirath marriage, prop., providing a house, E.
hind a peasant.]
1. A large town.
2. A corporate town; in the United States, a town or collective body
of inhabitants, incorporated and governed by a mayor and aldermen or
a city council consisting of a board of aldermen and a common
council; in Great Britain, a town corporate, which is or has been the
seat of a bishop, or the capital of his see.
A city is a town incorporated; which is, or has been, the see of a
bishop; and though the bishopric has been dissolved, as at
Westminster, it yet remaineth a city. Blackstone
When Gorges constituted York a city, he of course meant it to be the
seat of a bishop, for the word city has no other meaning in English
law. Palfrey
3. The collective body of citizens, or inhabitants of a city. "What
is the city but the people" Shak.
Syn.
-- See Village.
CITY
Cit"y, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a city. Shak. City council. See under
Council.
-- City court, The municipal court of a city. [U. S.] -- City ward,
a watchman, or the collective watchmen, of a city. [Obs.] Fairfax.
CIVE
Cive, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Chive.
CIVET
Civ"et, n. Etym: [F. civette (cf. It. zibetto) civet, civet cat, fr.
LGr. zub, zab, civet.]
1. A substance, of the consistence of butter or honey, taken from
glands in the anal pouch of the civet (Viverra civetta). It is of
clear yellowish or brownish color, of a strong, musky odor, offensive
when undiluted, but agreeble when a small portion is mixed with
another substance. It is used as a perfume.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: The animal that produces civet (Viverra civetta); -- called
also civet cat. It is carnivorous, from two to three feet long, and
of a brownish gray color, with transverse black bands and spots on
the body and tail. It is a native of northern Africa and of Asia. The
name is also applied to other species.
CIVET
Civ"et, v. t.
Defn: To scent or perfume with civet. Cowper
CIVIC
Civ"ic, a. Etym: [L.civicus, fr. civis citizen. See City.]
Defn: Relating to, or derived from, a city or citizen; relating to
man as a member of society, or to civil affairs. Civic crown (Rom.
Antiq.), a crown or garland of oak leaves and acorns, bestowed on a
soldier who had saved the life of a citizen in battle.
CIVICISM
Civ"i*cism, n.
Defn: The principle of civil government.
CIVICS
Civ"ics, n.
Defn: The science of civil government.
CIVIL
Civ"il, a. Etym: [L. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. F. civil. See
City.]
1. Pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his relations to
his fellow citizens or to the state; within the city or state.
2. Subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not barbarous;
-- said of the community.
England was very rude and barbarous; for it is but even the other day
since England grew civil. Spenser.
3. Performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to government; --
said of an individual.
Civil men come nearer the saints of God than others; they come within
a step or two of heaven. Preston
4. Having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed to those
of savages or rustics; polite; courteous; complaisant; affable.
Note: "A civil man now is one observant of slight external courtesies
in the mutual intercourse between man and man; a civil man once was
one who fulfilled all the duties and obligations flowing from his
position as a 'civis' and his relations to the other members of that
'civitas.'" Trench
5. Pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from
military, ecclesiastical, or official state.
6. Relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit distinct
from criminal proceedings. Civil action, an action to enforce the
rights or redress the wrongs of an individual, not involving a
criminal proceeding.
-- Civil architecture, the architecture which is employed in
constructing buildings for the purposes of civil life, in distinction
from military and naval architecture, as private houses, palaces,
churches, etc.
-- Civil death. (Law.) See under Death.
-- Civil engineering. See under Engineering.
-- Civil law. See under Law.
-- Civil list. See under List.
-- Civil remedy (Law), that given to a person injured, by action, as
opposed to a criminal prosecution.
-- Civil service, all service rendered to and paid for by the state
or nation other than that pertaining to naval or military affairs.
-- Civil service reform, the substitution of business principles and
methods for the spoils system in the conduct of the civil service,
esp. in the matter of appointments to office.
-- Civil state, the whole body of the laity or citizens not included
under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical states.
-- Civil suit. Same as Civil action.
-- CCivil war. See under War.
-- Civil year. See under Year.
CIVILIAN
Ci*vil"ian, n. Etym: [From Civil]
1. One skilled in the civil law.
Ancient civilians and writers upon government. Swift.
2. A student of the civil law at a university or college. R. Graves.
3. One whose pursuits are those of civil life, not military or
clerical.
CIVILIST
Civ"il*ist, n.
Defn: A civilian. [R.] Warbur
CIVILITY
Ci*vil"i*ty, n.; pl. Civilities. Etym: [L. civilitas: cf. F.
civilité. See Civil.]
1. The state of society in which the relations and duties of a
citizen are recognized and obeyed; a state of civilization. [Obs.]
Monarchies have risen from barbarrism to civility, and fallen again
to ruin. Sir J. Davies.
The gradual depature of all deeper signification from the word
civility has obliged the creation of another word -- civilization.
Trench.
2. A civil office, or a civil process [Obs.]
To serve in a civility. Latimer.
3. Courtesy; politeness; kind attention; good breeding; a polite act
or expression.
The insolent civility of a proud man is, if possible, more shocking
than his rudeness could be. Chesterfield.
The sweet civilities of life. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Urbanity; affability; complaisance.
CIVILIZABLE
Civ"i*li`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being civilized.
CIVILIZATION
Civ`i*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. civilisation.]
1. The act of civilizing, or the state of being civilized; national
culture; refinement.
Our manners, our civilization, and all the good things connected with
manners, and with civilization, have, in this European world of ours,
depended for ages upon two principles -- . . . the spirit of a
gentleman, and spirit of religion. Burke
2. (Law)
Defn: Rendering a criminal process civil. [Obs.]
CIVILIZE
Civ"i*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Civilized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Civilizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. civilizer, fr.L. civilis civil. See
Civil.]
1. To reclaim from a savage state; to instruct in the rules and
customs of civilization; to educate; to refine.
Yet blest that fate which did his arms dispose Her land to civilize,
as to subdue. Dryden
2. To admit as suitable to a civilized state. [Obs. or R.]
"Civilizing adultery." Milton.
Syn.
-- To polish; refine; humanize.
CIVILIZED
Civ"i*lized, a.
Defn: Reclaimed from savage life and manners; instructed in arts,
learning, and civil manners; refined; cultivated.
Sale of conscience and duty in open market is not reconcilable with
the present state of civilized society. J. Quincy.
CIVILIZER
Civ"i*li*zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, civilizes or tends to civilize.
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Civil Service Commission.
Defn: In the United States, a commission appointed by the President,
consisting of three members, not more than two of whom may be
adherents of the same party, which has the control, through
examinations, of appointments and promotions in the classified civil
service. It was created by act of Jan, 16, 1883 (22 Stat. 403).
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
Civil Service Reform.
Defn: The substitution of business principles and methods for
political methods in the conduct of the civil service. esp. the merit
system instead of the spoils system in making appointments to office.
CIVILY
Civ"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a civil manner; as regards civil rights and privileges;
politely; courteously; in a well bred manner.
CIVISM
Civ"ism, n. Etym: [Cf.F. civisme, fr.L. civis citizen.]
Defn: State of citizenship. [R.] Dyer.
CIZAR
Ciz"ar, v. i. Etym: [From Cizars.]
Defn: To clip with scissors. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
CIZARS
Ciz"ars, n. pl.
Defn: Scissors. [Obs.] Swift.
CIZE
Cize, n.
Defn: Bulk; largeness. [Obs.] See Size.
CLABBER
Clab"ber, n. Etym: [See Bonnyclabber]
Defn: Milk curdled so as to become thick.
CLABBER
Clab"ber, v. i.
Defn: To become clabber; to lopper.
CLACHAN
Clach"an, n. Etym: [Scot., fr.Gael.]
Defn: A small village containing a church. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott
Sitting at the clachon alehouse. R. L. Stevenson.
CLACK
Clack, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clacked;p. pr. & vb. n. Clacking.] Etym:
[Prob. of imitative origin; cf. F.claquer to clap, crack, D. klakken,
MHG. klac crack, Ir. clagaim I make a noise, ring. Cf. Clack, n.,
Clatter, Click.]
1. To make a sudden, sharp noise, or a succesion of such noises, as
by striking an object, or by collision of parts; to rattle; to click.
We heard Mr.Hodson's whip clacking on the ahoulders of the poor
little wretches. Thackeray.
2. To utter words rapidly and continually, or with abruptness; to let
the tongue run.
CLACK
Clack, v. t.
1. To cause to make a sudden, sharp noise, or succession of noises;
to click.
2. To utter rapidly and inconsiderately. Feltham. To clack wool, to
cut off the sheep's mark, in order to make the wool weigh less and
thus yield less duty. [Eng.]
CLACK
Clack, n. Etym: [Cf. F. claque a slap or smack, MHG. klac crack, W.
clec crack, gossip. See Clack, v. t.]
1. A sharp, abrupt noise, or succession of noises, made by striking
an object.
2. Anything that causes a clacking noise, as the clapper of a mill,
or a clack valve.
3. Continual or importunate talk; prattle; prating.
Whose chief intent is to vaunt his spiritual clack. South.
Clack box (Mach.), the box or chamber in which a clack valve works.
-- Clack dish, a dish with a movable lid, formerly carried by
beggars, who clacked the lid to attract notice. Shak. Clack door
(Mining), removable cover of the opening through which access is had
to a pump valve.
-- Clack valve (Mach.), a valve; esp. one hinged at one edge, which,
when raised from its seat, falls with a clacking sound.
CLACKER
Clack"er, n.
1. One who clacks; that which clacks; especially, the clapper of a
mill.
2. A claqueur. See Claqueur.
CLAD
Clad, v.t
Defn: To clothe. [Obs.] Holland.
CLAD
Clad,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Clothe.
CLADOCERA
Cla*doc"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of the Entomostraca.
Note: They have a bivalve shell, covering the body but not the head,
and from four to six pairs of legs and two pairs of antenæ, for use
in swimming. They mostly inhabit fresh water.
CLADOPHYLL
Clad"o*phyll, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A special branch, resembling a leaf, as in the apparent foliage
of the broom (Ruscus) and of the common cultivated smilax
(Myrsiphillum).
CLAGGY
Clag"gy, a. Etym: [Cf. Clog.]
Defn: Adhesive; -- said of a roof in a mine to which coal clings.
CLAIK
Claik, n.
Defn: See Clake.
CLAIM
Claim (klam), v. [imp. & p. p. Claimed (klamd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Claiming.] Etym: [OE. clamen, claimen, OF. clamer, fr. L. clamare to
cry out, call; akin to calare to proclaim, Gr. kal to sound, G. holen
to fetch, E. hale haul.]
1. To ask for, or seek to obtain, by virtue of authority, right, or
supposed right; to challenge as a right; to demand as due.
2. To proclaim. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To call or name. [Obs.] Spenser.
4. To assert; to maintain. [Colloq.]
CLAIM
Claim, v. i.
Defn: To be entitled to anything; to deduce a right or title; to have
a claim.
We must know how the first ruler, from whom any one claims, came by
his authority. Locke.
CLAIM
Claim, n. Etym: [Of. claim cry, complaint, from clamer. See Claim,
v.t.]
1. A demand of a right or supposed right; a calling on another for
something due or supposed to be due; an assertion of a right or fact.
2. A right to claim or demand something; a title to any debt,
privilege, or other thing in possession of another; also, a title to
anything which another should give or concede to, or confer on, the
claimant. "A bar to all claims upon land." Hallam.
3. The thing claimed or demanded; that (as land) to which any one
intends to establish a right; as a settler's claim; a miner's claim.
[U.S. & Australia]
4. A laoud call. [Obs.] Spenser
To lay claim to, to demand as a right. "Doth he lay claim to thine
inheritance" Shak.
CLAIMABLE
Claim"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being claimed.
CLAIMANT
Claim"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. clamant, p. pr. of clamer. Cf.Clamant.]
Defn: One who claims; one who asserts a right or title; a claimer.
CLAIMER
Claim"er, n.
Defn: One who claims; a claimant.
CLAIMLESS
Claim"less, a.
Defn: Having no claim.
CLAIRAUDIENCE
Clair*au"di*ence, n. [F. clair clear + F. & E. audience a hearing.
See Clear.]
Defn: Act of hearing, or the ability to hear, sounds not normally
audible; -- usually claimed as a special faculty of spiritualistic
mediums, or the like.
CLAIRAUDIENT
Clair*au"di*ent, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, clairaudience.
CLAIRAUDIENT
Clair*au"di*ent, n.
Defn: One alleged to have the power of clairaudience.
CLAIRE
Claire, n. [F.]
Defn: A small inclosed pond used for gathering and greening oysters.
CLAIR-OBSCUR
Clair"-ob*scur" (, n. Etym: [F. See Clare-obscure.]
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLAIRVOYANCE
Clair*voy"ance, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A power, attributed to some persons while in a mesmeric state,
of discering objects not perceptible by the senses in their normal
condition.
CLAIRVOYANT
Clair*voy"ant, a. Etym: [F., fr. clair clear + voyant, p. pr. of voir
to see. See Clear, and Vision.]
Defn: Pertaining to clairvoyance; discerning objects while in a
mesmeric state which are not present to the senses.
CLAIRVOYANT
Clair*voy"ant n.
Defn: One who is able, when in a mesmeric state, to discern objects
not present to the senses.
CLAKE; CLAIK
Clake, Claik, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bernicle goose; -- called also clack goose.
CLAM
Clam, n. Etym: [Cf. Clamp, Clam, v. t., Clammy.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bivalve mollusk of many kinds, especially those that are
edible; as, the long clam (Mya arenaria), the quahog or round clam
(Venus mercenaria), the sea clam or hen clam (Spisula solidissima),
and other species of the United States. The name is said to have been
given originally to the Tridacna gigas, a huge East Indian bivalve.
You shall scarce find any bay or shallow shore, or cove of sand,
where you may not take many clampes, or lobsters, or both, at your
pleasure. Capt. John Smith (1616).
Clams, or clamps, is a shellfish not much unlike a coclke; it lieth
under the sand. Wood (1634).
2. (Ship Carp.)
Defn: Strong pinchers or forceps.
3. pl. (Mech.)
Defn: A kind of vise, usually of wood. Blood clam. See under Blood.
CLAM
Clam (clam), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clamming.]
Etym: [Cf. AS. clæman to clam, smear; akin to Icel. kleima to smear,
OHG. kleimjan, chleimen, to defile, or E. clammy.]
Defn: To clog, as with glutinous or viscous matter.
A swarm of wasps got into a honey pot, and there they cloyed and
clammed Themselves till there was no getting out again. L'Estrange.
CLAM
Clam, v. i.
Defn: To be moist or glutinous; to stick; to adhere. [R.] Dryden
CLAM
Clam, n.
Defn: Claminess; moisture. [R.] "The clam of death." Carlyle.
CLAM
Clam, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. clamor.]
Defn: A crash or clangor made by ringing all the bells of a chime at
once. Nares.
CLAM
Clam, v. t. & i.
Defn: To produce, in bell ringing, a clam or clangor; to cause to
clang. Nares.
CLAMANT
Cla"mant, a. Etym: [L. clamans, p. pr. of clamare to call. Cf.
Claimant.]
Defn: Crying earnestly, beseeching clamorousky. "Clamant children."
Thomson.
CLAMATION
Cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [LL. clamatio, fr. L. clamare to call.]
Defn: The act of crying out. Sir T. Browne.
CLAMATORES
Clam`a*to"res, n. pl. Etym: [L. clamator, pl. clamatores, a bawler.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of passerine birds in which the vocal muscles are
but little developed, so that they lack the power of singing.
CLAMATORIAL
Clam`a*to"rial, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Clamatores.
CLAMBAKE
Clam"bake, n.
Defn: The backing or steaming of clams on heated stones, between
layers of seaweed; hence, a picnic party, gathered on such an
occasion.
CLAMBER
Clam"ber, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clambered; p. pr. & vb. n. Clambering.]
Etym: [OE clambren, clameren, to heap together, climb; akin to Icel.
klambra to clamp, G. klammern. Cf. Clamp, Climb.]
Defn: To climb with difficulty, or with hands and feet; -- also used
figuratively.
The narrow street that clambered toward the mill. Tennyson.
CLAMBER
Clam"ber, n.
Defn: The act of clambering. T. Moore.
CLAMBER
Clam"ber, v. t.
Defn: To ascend by climbing with difficulty.
Clambering the walls to eye him. Shak.
CLAMJAMPHRIE
Clam*jam"phrie, n.
Defn: Low, worthless people; the rabble. [Scot.] Jamieson.
CLAMMILY
Clam"mi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clammy manner. "Oozing so clammily." Hood.
CLAMMINESS
Clam"mi*ness, n.
Defn: State of being clammy or viscous.
CLAMMY
Clam"my, a. [Compar. Clammier; superl. Clammiest.] Etym: [Cf. AS.
clam clay. See Clam to clog, and cf. Clay.]
Defn: Having the quality of being viscous or adhesive; soft and
sticky; glutinous; damp and adhesive, as if covered with a cold
perspiration.
CLAMOR
Clam"or, n. Etym: [OF. clamour, clamur, F. clameur, fr. L. clamor,
fr. clamare to cry out. See Claim.]
1. A great outcry or vociferation; loud and continued shouting or
exclamation. Shak.
2. Any loud and continued noise. Addison.
3. A continued expression of dissatisfaction or discontent; a popular
outcry. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Outcry; exclamation; noise; uproar.
CLAMOR
Clam"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clamored; p. pr. & vb. n. Clamoring.]
1. To salute loudly. [R.]
The people with a shout Rifted the air, clamoring their god with
praise. Milton
.
2. To stun with noise. [R.] Bacon.
3. To utter loudly or repeatedly; to shout.
Clamored their piteous prayer incessantly. Longfellow.
To clamor bells, to repeat the strokes quickly so as to produce a
loud clang. Bp. Warbur
CLAMOR
Clam"or, v. i.
Defn: To utter loud sounds or outcries; to vociferate; to complain;
to make importunate demands.
The obscure bird Clamored the livelong night. Shak.
CLAMORER
Clam"or*er, n.
Defn: One who clamors.
CLAMOROUS
Clam"or*ous, a. Etym: [LL. clamorosus, for L. Clamosus: cf. OF.
clamoreux.]
Defn: Speaking and repeating loud words; full of clamor; calling or
demanding loudly or urgently; vociferous; noisy; bawling; loud;
turbulent. "My young ones were clamorous for a morning's excursion."
Southey.
-- Clam"or*ous*ly, adv.
-- Clam"or*ous*ness, n.
CLAMP
Clamp, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. & D. klamp, Dan. klampe, also D. klampen to
fasten, clasp. Cf. Clam, Cramp.]
1. Something rigid that holds fast or binds things together; a piece
of wood or metal, used to hold two or more pieces together.
2.
(a) An instrument with a screw or screws by which work is held in its
place or two parts are temporarily held together.
(b) (Joinery) A piece of wood placed across another, or inserted into
another, to bind or strengthen.
3. One of a pair of movable pieces of lead, or other soft material,
to cover the jaws of a vise and enable it to grasp without bruising.
4. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A thick plank on the inner part of a ship's side, used to
sustuan the ends of beams.
5. A mass of bricks heaped up to be burned; or of ore for roasting,
or of coal coking.
6. A mollusk. See Clam. [Obs.]
Clamp nails, nails used to fasten on clamps in ships.
CLAMP
Clamp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clamped p. pr. & vb. n. Clamping.]
1. To fasten with a clamp or clamps; to apply a clamp to; to place in
a clamp.
2. To cover, as vegetables, with earth. [Eng.]
CLAMP
Clamp, n. Etym: [Prob. an imitative word. Cf.Clank.]
Defn: A heavy footstep; a tramp.
CLAMP
Clamp, v. i.
Defn: To tread heavily or clumsily; to clump.
The policeman with clamping feet. Thackeray.
CLAMPER
Clamp"er, n.
Defn: An instrument of iron, with sharp prongs, attached to a boot or
shoe to enable the wearer to walk securely upon ice; a creeper. Kane.
CLAN
Clan, n. Etym: [Gael. clann offspring, descendants; akin to Ir.
clann, cland, offspring, tribe, family; perh. from L. plania scion,
slip, cutting. Cf. Plant, n.]
1. A tribe or collection of families, united under a chieftain,
regarded as having the same common ancestor, and bearing the same
surname; as, the clan of Macdonald. "I have marshaled my clan."
Campbell.
2. A clique; a sect, society, or body of persons; esp., a body of
persons united by some common interest or pursuit; -- sometimes used
contemptuously.
Partidge and the rest of his clan may hoot me. Smolett.
The whole clan of the enlightened among us. Burke.
CLANCULAR
Clan"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. clancularius , from clanculum secretly,
adv. dim. of clam secretly.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; clandestine; concealed. [Obs.]
Not close and clancular, but frank and open. Barrow.
CLANCULARLY
Clan"cu*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: privately; secretly. [Obs.]
CLANDESTINE
Clan*des"tine, a. Etym: [L. clandestinus, fr. clam secretly; akin to
celare, E. conceal: cf. F. clandestin.]
Defn: Conducted with secrecy; withdrawn from public notice, usually
for an evil purpose; kept secret; hidden; private; underhand; as, a
clandestine marriage. Locke.
Syn.
-- Hidden; secret; private; concealed; underhand; sly; stealthy;
surreptitious; furtive; fraudulent.
-- Clan*des"tine*ly, adv.
-- Clan*des"tine*ness, n.
CLANDESTINITY
Clan`des*tin"i*ty, n.
Defn: Privacy or secrecy. [R.]
CLANG
Clang, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Clanging.] Etym:
[L. clangere; akin to Gr. clank.]
Defn: To strike together so as to produce a ringing metallic sound.
The fierce Caretes . . . clanged their sounding arms. Prior.
CLANG
Clang, v. i.
Defn: To give out a clang; to resound. "Clanging hoofs." Tennyson.
CLANG
Clang, n.
1. A loud, ringing sound, like that made by metallic substances when
clanged or struck together.
The broadsword's deadly clang, As if a thousand anvils rang. Sir W.
Scott.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Qualyty of tone.
CLANGOR
Clan"gor, n. Etym: [L., fr. clangere. See Clang, v. t.]
Defn: A sharp, harsh, ringing sound. Dryden.
CLANGOROUS
Clan"gor*ous, a. Etym: [LL. clangorosus.]
Defn: Making a clangor; having a ringing, metallic sound.
CLANGOUS
Clan"gous, a.
Defn: Making a clang, or a ringing metallic sound. [Obs.]
CLANJAMFRIE
Clan*jam"frie, n.
Defn: Same as Clamjamphrie. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
CLANK
Clank, n. Etym: [Akin to clink, and of imitative origin; cf. G. klang
sound, D. klank. Cf. Clang.]
Defn: A sharp, brief, ringing sound, made by a collision of metallic
or other sonorous bodies; -- usually expressing a duller or less
resounding sound than clang, and a deeper and stronger sound than
clink.
But not in chains to pine, His spirit withered with tyeur clank.
Byron.
CLANK
Clank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Clanking.]
Defn: To cause to sound with a clank; as, the prisoners clank their
chains.
CLANK
Clank, v. i.
Defn: To sound with a clank.
CLANKLESS
Clank"less, a.
Defn: Without a clank. Byreon.
CLAN-NA-GAEL
Clan"-na-Gael", n. [Ir., clan of the Gaels.]
Defn: A secret society of Irish Fenians founded in Philadelphia in
1881.
CLANNISH
Clan"nish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a clan; closely united, like a clan;
disposed to associate only with one's clan or clique; actuated by the
traditions, prejudices, habits, etc., of a clan.
-- Clan"nish*ly, adv.
-- Clan"nish*ness, n.
CLANSHIP
Clan"ship, n.
Defn: A state of being united togheter as in a clan; an association
under a chieftain.
CLANSMAN
Clans"man, n.; pl. Clansmen.
Defn: One belonging to the same clan with another.
CLAP
Clap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Clapping.] Etym:
[AS. clappan; akin to Icel. & Sw. klappa, D, klappen, to clap, prate,
G. klaffen, v.i., to split open, yelp, klopfen, v.t. & i., to knock.]
1. To strike; to slap; to strike, or strike together, with a quick
motion, so, as to make a sharp noise; as, to clap one's hands; a
clapping of wings.
Then like a bird it sits and sings, And whets and claps its silver
wings. Marvell.
2. To thrust, drive, put, or close, in a hasty or abrupt manner; --
often followed by to, into, on, or upon.
He had just time to get in and clap to the door. Locke
Clap an extinguaisher upon your irony. Lamb.
3. To manifest approbation of, by striking the hands together; to
applaud; as, to clap a performance. To clap hands. (a) To pledge
faith by joining hands. [Obs.] Shak.
(b) To express contempt or derision. [Obs.] Lam. ii. 15. To clap hold
of, to seize roughly or quickly.
-- To clap up. (a) To imprison hastily or without due formality. (b)
To make or contrive hastily. [Obs.] "Was ever match clapped up so
suddenly" Shak.
CLAP
Clap, v. i.
1. To knock, as at a door. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To strike the hands together in applause.
Their ladies bid them clap. Shak.
3. To come together suddenly with noise.
The doors around me clapped. Dryden.
4. To enter with alacrity and briskness; -- with to or into. [Obs.]
"Shall we clap into it roundly, without . . . saying we are hoarse"
Shak.
5. To talk noisily; to chatter loudly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLAP
Clap, n.
1. A loud noise made by sudden collision; a bang. "Give the door such
a clap, as you go out, as will shake the whole room." Swift.
2. A burst of sound; a sudden explosion.
Horrible claps of thunder. Hakewill.
3. A single, sudden act or motion; a stroke; a blow.
What, fifty of my followers at a clap! Shak.
4. A striking of hands to express approbation.
Unextrected claps or hisses. Addison.
5. Noisy talk; chatter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
6. (Falconry)
Defn: The nether part of the beak of a hawk. Clap dish. See Clack
dish, under Clack, n.
-- Clap net, a net for taking birds, made to close or clap together.
CLAP
Clap, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. clapoir.]
Defn: Gonorrhea.
CLAPBOARD
Clap"board, n.
1. A narrow board, thicker at one edge than at the other; -- used for
weatherboarding the outside of houses. [U. S.]
2. A stave for a cask. [Eng.] Halliwell.
CLAPBOARD
Clap"board, v. t.
Defn: To cover with clapboards; as, to clapboard the sides of a
house. [U. S.] Bartlett.
CLAPBREAD; CLAPCAKE
Clap"bread`, Clap"cake`, n.
Defn: Oatmeal cake or bread clapped or beaten till it is thin. [Obs.]
Halliwell.
CLAPE
Clape, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird; the flicker.
CLAPPER
Clap"per, n.
1. A person who claps.
2. That which strikes or claps, as the tongue of a bell, or the piece
of wood that strikes a mill hopper, etc. See Illust. of Bell. Clapper
rail (Zoöl.), an Americam species of rail (Rallus scepitans).
CLAPPER
Clap"per, n. Etym: [F. clapier.]
Defn: A rabbit burrow. [Obs.]
CLAPPERCLAW
Clap"per*claw, v. t. Etym: [Clap + claw.]
1. To fight and scratch. C. Smart.
2. To abuse with the tongue; to revile; to scold.
CLAPS
Claps, v. t.
Defn: Variant of Clasp [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLAPTRAP
Clap"trap`, n.
1. A contrivance for clapping in theaters. [Obs.]
2. A trick or device to gain applause; humbug.
CLAPTRAP
Clap"trap`, a.
Defn: Contrived for the purpose of making a show, or gaining
applause; deceptive; unreal.
CLAQUE
Claque, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A collection of persons employed to applaud at a theatrical
exhibition.
CLAQUEUR
Cla`queur", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One of the claque employed to applaud at a theater.
CLARE
Clare, n.
Defn: A nun of the order of St.Clare.
CLARENCE
Clar"ence, n.
Defn: A close four-wheeled carriage, with one seat inside, and a seat
for the driver.
CLARENCEUX; CLARENCIEUX
Clar"en*ceux, Clar"en*cieux, n. (Her.)
Defn: See King-at-arms.
CLARENDON
Clar"en*don, n.
Defn: A style of type having a narrow and heave face. It is made in
all sizes.
Note: This line is in nonpareil Clarendon.
CLARE-OBSCURE
Clare"-ob*scure", n. Etym: [L. clarus clear + obscurus obscure; cf.
F. clair-obscur. Cf. Chiaroscuro.] (Painting)
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLARET
Clar"et, n. Etym: [OE. claret, clare, clarry, OF. claret, clar, fr.
cler, F. clair, clear, fr. L. clarus clear. See Clear.]
Defn: The name firat given in England to the red wines of M
CLARIBELLA
Clar`i*bel"la, n. Etym: [NL., from L. clarus clear + bellus fine.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A soft, sweet stop, or set of open wood pipes in an organ.
CLARICHORD
Clar"i*chord, n. Etym: [F. clatocorde, fr.L. clarus clear + chorda
string. See Chord.]
Defn: A musical instrument, formerly in use, in form of a spinet; --
called also manichord and clavichord.
CLARIFICATION
Clar`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. clarification, L. clarificatio
glorification.]
1. The act or process of making clear or transparent, by freeing
visible impurities; as, the clarification of wine.
2. The act of freeing from obscurities.
The clarification of men's ideas. Whewell.
CLARIFIER
Clar"i*fi`er, n.
1. That which clarifies.
2. A vessel in which the process of clarification is conducted; as,
the clarifier in sugar works. Ure.
CLARIFY
Clar"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clarified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clarifying.] Etym: [F. clarifier, from L. clarificare; clarus clear +
facere to make. See Clear, and Fact.]
1. To make clear or bright by freeing from feculent matter; to
defecate; to fine; -- said of liquids, as wine or sirup. "Boiled and
clarified." Ure.
2. To make clear; to free from obscurities; to brighten or
illuminate.
To clarify his reason, and to rectify his will. South.
3. To glorify. [Obs.]
Fadir, clarifie thi name. Wyclif (John ii. 28).
CLARIFY
Clar"i*fy, v. i.
1. To grow or become clear or transparent; to become free from
feculent impurities, as wine or other liquid under clarification.
2. To grow clear or bright; to clear up.
Whosoever hath his mind fraught with many thoughts, his wits and
understanding do clarify and break up in the discoursing with
another. Bacon.
CLARIGATE
Clar"i*gate, v. i. Etym: [L. clarigare]
Defn: To declare war with certain ceremonies. [Obs.] Holland.
CLARINET
Clar"i*net`, n. Etym: [F. clarinette, dim. of clarine, from L.
clarus. See Clear, and cf. Clarion.] (Mus.)
Defn: A wind instrument, blown by a single reed, of richer and fuller
tone than the oboe, which has a double reed. It is the leading
instrument in a military band.
Note: [Often improperly called clarionet.]
CLARINO
Cla*ri"no, n. Etym: [It. a trumpet.] (Mus.)
Defn: A reed stop in an organ.
CLARION
Clar"i*on, n. Etym: [OE. clarioun, OF. clarion, F. clairon, LL.
clario, claro; so called from its clear tone, fr. L. clarus clear.
See Clear.]
Defn: A kind of trumpet, whose note is clear and shrill.
He sounds his imperial clarion along the whole line of battle. E.
Everett.
CLARIONET
Clar`i*o*net", n. Etym: [See Clarion, Clarinet.] (Mus.)
Defn: See Clarinet.
CLARISONUS
Cla*ris"o*nus, a. Etym: [L. clarisonus; clarus + sonus.]
Defn: Having a clear sound. [Obs.] Ash.
CLARITUDE
Clar"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. claritudo, fr. clarus clear.]
Defn: Clearness; splendor. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
CLARITY
Clar"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. claritas, fr. clarus clear: cf. F. clarté.]
Defn: Clearness; brightness; splendor.
Floods, in whose more than crystal clarity, Innumerable virgin graces
row. Beaumont.
CLARO-OBSCURO
Cla"ro-ob*scu"ro, n.
Defn: See Chiaroscuro.
CLARRE
Clar`ré", n. Etym: [See Claret.]
Defn: Wine with a mixture of honey and species. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLART
Clart, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Armor. kalar mud, mire, kalara to dirt, Sw.
lort mud.]
Defn: To daub, smear, or spread, as with mud, etc. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
CLARTY
Clart"y, a.
Defn: Sticky and foul; muddy; filthy; dirty. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLARY
Clar"y, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Clarion.]
Defn: To make a loud or shrill noise. [Obs.] Golding.
CLARY
Cla"ry, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. sclarea, scarlea, D. & G. scharlei, F.
sclarée.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Salvia sclarea) of the Sage family, used in flavoring
soups. Clary water, a composition of clary flowers with brandy, etc.,
formerly used as a cardiac.
CLASH
Clash, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clashing.] Etym:
[Of imitative origin; cf. G. klatschen, Prov. G. kleschen, D.
kletsen, Dan. klaske, E. clack.]
1. To make a noise by striking against something; to dash noisily
together.
2. To meet in opposition; to act in a contrary direction; to come
onto collision; to interfere.
However some of his interests might clash with those of the chief
adjacent colony. Palfrey.
CLASH
Clash, v. t.
Defn: To strike noisily against or together.
CLASH
Clash n.
1. A loud noise resulting from collision; a noisy collision of
bodies; a collision.
The roll of cannon and clash of arms. Tennyson.
2. Opposition; contradiction; as between differing or contending
interests, views, purposes, etc.
Clashes between popes and kings. Denham.
CLASH GEAR
Clash gear. (Mach.)
Defn: A change-speed gear in which the gears are changed by sliding
endwise.
CLASHINGLY
Clash"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With clashing.
CLASP
Clasp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clasped; p. pr. & vb. n. Clasping] Etym:
[OE. claspen, clapsen, prob. akin to E. clap.]
1. To shut or fasten together with, or as with, a clasp; to shut or
fasten (a clasp, or that which fastens with a clasp).
2. To inclose and hold in the hand or with the arms; to grasp; to
embrace.
3. To surround and cling to; to entwine about. "Clasping ivy."
Milton.
CLASP
Clasp, n.
1. An adjustable catch, bent plate, or hook, for holding together two
objects or the parts of anything, as the ends of a belt, the covers
of a book, etc.
2. A close embrace; a throwing of the arms around; a grasping, as
with the hand. Clasp knife, a large knife, the blade of which folds
or shuts into the handle.
-- Clasp lock, a lock which closes or secures itself by means of a
spring.
CLASPER
Clasp"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, clasps, as a tendril. "The claspers of
vines." Derham.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of a pair of organs used by the male for grasping the female
among many of the Crustacea.
(b) One of a pair of male copulatory organs, developed on the
anterior side of the ventral fins of sharks and other elasmobranchs.
See Illust. of Chimæra.
CLASPERED
Clasp"ered, a.
Defn: Furnished with tendrils.
CLASS
Class, n. Etym: [F. classe, fr. L. classis class, collection, fleet;
akin to Gr. claim, haul.]
1. A group of individuals ranked together as possessing common
characteristics; as, the different classes of society; the educated
class; the lower classes.
2. A number of students in a school or college, of the same standing,
or pursuing the same studies.
3. A comprehensive division of animate or inanimate objects, grouped
together on account of their common characteristics, in any
classification in natural science, and subdivided into orders,
families, tribes, gemera, etc.
4. A set; a kind or description, species or variety.
She had lost one class energies. Macaulay.
5. (Methodist Church)
Defn: One of the sections into which a church or congregation is
divided, and which is under the supervision of a class leader. Class
of a curve (Math.), the kind of a curve as expressed by the number of
tangents that can be drawn from any point to the curve. A circle is
of the second class.
-- Class meeting (Methodist Church), a meeting of a class under the
charge of a class leader, for counsel and relegious instruction.
CLASS
Class, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Classed; p. pr. & vb. n. Classing.] Etym:
[Cf. F. classer. See Class, n.]
1. To arrange in classes; to classify or refer to some class; as, to
class words or passages.
Note: In scientific arrangement, to classify is used instead of to
class. Dana.
2. To divide into classes, as students; to form into, or place in, a
class or classes.
CLASS
Class, v. i.
Defn: To grouped or classed.
The genus or famiky under which it classes. Tatham.
CLASS DAY
Class day.
Defn: In American colleges and universities, a day of the
commencement season on which the senior class celebrates the
completion of its course by exercises conducted by the members, such
as the reading of the class histories and poem, the delivery of the
class oration, the planting of the class ivy, etc.
CLASSIBLE
Class"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being classed.
CLASSIC; CLASSICAL
Clas"sic, Clas"sic*al, a. Etym: [L. classicus relating to the classes
of the Roman people, and especially to the frist class; hence, of the
first rank, superior, from classis class: cf. F. classique. See
Class, n.]
1. Of or relating to the first class or rank, especially in
literature or art.
Give, as thy last memorial to the age, One classic drama, and reform
the stage. Byron.
Mr. Greaves may justly be reckoned a classical author on this subject
[Roman weights and coins]. Arbuthnot.
2. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks and Romans, esp. to Greek
or Roman authors of the highest rank, or of the period when their
best literature was produced; of or pertaining to places inhabited by
the ancient Greeks and Romans, or rendered famous by their deeds.
Though throned midst Latium's classic plains. Mrs. Hemans.
The epithet classical, as applied to ancient authors, is determined
less by the purity of their style than by the period at which they
wrote. Brande & C.
He [Atterbury] directed the classical studies of the undergraduates
of his college. Macaulay.
3. Conforming to the best authority in literature and art; chaste;
pure; refined; as, a classical style.
Classical, provincial, and national synods. Macaulay.
Classicals orders. (Arch.) See under Order.
CLASSIC
Clas"sic, n.
1. A work of acknowledged excellence and authrity, or its author; --
originally used of Greek and Latin works or authors, but now applied
to authors and works of a like character in any language.
In is once raised him to the rank of a legitimate English classic.
Macaulay.
2. One learned in the literature of Greece and Rome, or a student of
classical literature.
CLASSICALISM
Clas"sic*al*ism, n.
1. A classical idiom, style, or expression; a classicism.
2. Adherence to what are supposed or assumed to be the classical
canons of art.
CLASSICALIST
Clas"sic*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to what he thinks the classical canons of art.
Ruskin.
CLASSICALITY; CLASSICALNESS
Clas`si*cal"i*ty, Clas"sic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being classical.
CLASSICALLY
Clas"sic*al*ly, adv.
1. In a classical manner; according to the manner of classical
authors.
2. In the manner of classes; according to a regular order of classes
or sets.
CLASSICISM
Clas"si*cism, n.
Defn: A classic idiom or expression; a classicalism. C. Kingsley.
CLASSICIST
Clas"si*cist, n.
Defn: One learned in the classics; an advocate for the classics.
CLASSIFIABLE
Clas"si*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being classified.
CLASSIFIC
Clas*sif"ic, a.
Defn: Characterizing a class or classes; relating to classification.
CLASSIFICATION
Clas`si*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. classification.]
Defn: The act of forming into a class or classes; a distibution into
groups, as classes, orders, families, etc., according to some common
relations or affinities. Artificial classification. (Science) See
under Artifitial.
CLASSIFICATORY
Clas"si*fi*ca`to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to classification; admitting of classification. "A
classificatory system." Earle.
CLASSIFIER
Clas"si*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who classifies.
CLASSIFY
Clas"si*fy, v. t. [imp. & pp. Classified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Classifying.] Etym: [L. classis class +
Defn: To distribute into classes; to arrange according to a system;
to arrnge in sets according to some method founded on common
properties or characters.
Syn.
-- To arrange; distibute; rank.
CLASSIS
Clas"sis, n.; pl. Classes. Etym: [L. See Class, n.]
1. A class or order; sort; kind. [Obs.]
His opinion of that classis of men. Clarendon.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: An ecclesiastical body or judicat
CLASSMAN
Class"man, n.; pl. Classmen(#).
1. A member of a class; a classmate.
2. A candidate for graduation in arts who is placed in an honor
class, as opposed to a passman, who is not classified. [Oxford, Eng.]
CLASSMATE
Class"mate`, n.
Defn: One who is in the same class with another, as at school or
college.
CLASTIC
Clas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Pertaining to what may be taken apart; as, clastic anatomy (of
models).
2. (Min.)
Defn: Fragmental; made up of brokas, sandstone is a clastic rock.
CLATCH
Clatch, n. [Cf. Scot. clatch a slap, the noise caused by the
collision of soft bodies; prob. of imitative origin.] (Scot. & Dial.
Eng.)
1. A soft or sloppy lump or mass; as, to throw a clatch of mud.
2. Anything put together or made in a careless or slipshod way;
hence, a sluttish or slipshod woman.
CLATCH
Clatch, v. t. & i.
Defn: To daub or smear, as with lime; to make or finish in a slipshod
way. [Scot.]
CLATHRATE
Clath"rate, a. Etym: [L. clathri latti
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a lattice; cancellate. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the surface marked with raised lines resembling a
lattice, as many shells.
CLATTER
Clat"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Clattering.]
Etym: [AS. cla a rattle, akin to D. klateren to rattle. Cf. Clack.]
1. To make a rattling sound by striking hard bodies together; to make
a succession of abrupt, rattling sounds.
Clattering loud with clamk. Longfellow.
2. To talk fast and noisily; to rattle with the tongue.
I see thou dost but clatter. Spenser.
CLATTER
Clat"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make a rattling noise with.
You clatter still your brazen kettle. Swift.
CLATTER
Clat"ter, n.
1. A rattling noise, esp. that made by the collision of hard bodies;
also, any loud, abrupt sound; a repetition of abrupt sounds.
The goose let fall a golden egg With cackle and with clatter.
Tennyson.
2. Commotion; disturbance. "Those mighty feats which made such a
clatter in story." Barrow.
3. Rapid, noisy talk; babble; chatter. "Hold still thy clatter."
Towneley Myst. (15 th Cent. ).
Throw by your clatter And handle the matter. B. Jonson
CLATTERER
Clat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who clatters.
CLATTERINGLY
Clat"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With clattering.
CLAUDE LORRAINE GLASS
Claude" Lor*raine" glass`. Etym: [Its name is supposed to be derived
from the similarity of the effects it gives to those of a picture by
Claude Lorrain (often written Lorraine).]
Defn: A slightly convex mirror, commonly of black glass, used as a
toy for viewing the reflected landscape.
CLAUDENT
Clau"dent, a. Etym: [L. claudens, p. pr. of claudere to shut.]
Defn: Shutting; confining; drawing together; as, a claudent muscle.
[R.] Jonson
CLAUDICANT
Clau"di*cant, a. Etym: [L. claudicans, p. pr. of claudicare to limp,
fr. claudus lame.]
Defn: Limping. [R.]
CLAUDICATION
Clau`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. claudicatio.]
Defn: A halting or limping. [R.] Tatler.
CLAUSE
Clause, n. Etym: [F. clause, LL. clausa, equiv. to L. clausula
clause, prop., close of claudere to shut, to end. See Close.]
1. A separate portion of a written paper, paragraph, or sentence; an
article, stipulation, or proviso, in a legal document.
The usual attestation clause to a will. Bouvier.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A subordinate portion or a subdivision of a sentence containing
a subject and its predicate.
CLAUSE
Clause, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Letters clause or close, under Letter.
CLAUSTRAL
Claus"tral, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL. claustralis, fr. L. claustrum. See
Cloister.]
Defn: Cloistral. Ayliffe
CLAUSTRUM
Claus"trum, n.; pl. Claustra. Etym: [L., a bolt or bar.] (Anat.)
Defn: A thin lamina of gray matter in each cerebral hemiphere of the
brain of man.
-- Claus"tral, a.
CLAUSULAR
Clau"su*lar, a. Etym: [From L. clausula. See Clause, n.]
Defn: Consisting of, or having, clauses. Smart.
CLAUSURE
Clau"sure, n. Etym: [L. clausura. See Closure.]
Defn: The act of shutting up or confining; confinement. [R.] Geddes.
CLAVATE; CLAVATED
Cla"vate, Cla"va*ted, a. Etym: [L. clava club.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Club-shaped; having the form of a club; growing gradually
thicker toward the top.
Note: [See Illust. of Antennae.]
CLAVE
Clave,
Defn: imp. of Cleave. [Obs.]
CLAVECIN
Clav"e*cin, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The harpsichord.
CLAVEL
Cla"vel, n.
Defn: See Clevis.
CLAVELLATE
Clav"el*late, a.
Defn: See Clavate.
CLAVELLATED
Clav"el*la`ted, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. cineres clavelatti ashes of burnt
lees or dregs of wine, F. clavel an inferior sort of soda, E.
clavate.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: Said of potash, probably in reference to its having been
obtained from billets of wood by burning. [Obs.]
CLAVER
Clav"er, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Clover. Holland.
CLAVER
Clav"er, n.
Defn: Frivolous or nonsensical talk; prattle; chattering. [Scot. &
North of Eng.]
Emmy found herself entirely at a loss in the midst of their clavers.
Thackeray.
CLAVICHORD
Clav"i*chord, n. Etym: [F. clavicorde, fr. L. clavis key + chorda
string.] (Mus.)
Defn: A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte.
See Clarichord.
CLAVICLE
Clav"i*cle, n. Etym: [F. clavicule, fr. L. clavicula a little key,
tendril, dim. of clavis key, akin to claudere to shut. See Close, and
cf. Clef.] (Anat.)
Defn: The collar bone, which is joined at one end to the scapula, or
shoulder blade, and at the other to the sternum, or breastbone. In
man each clavicle is shaped like the letter
CLAVICORN
Clav"i*corn, a. Etym: [Cf. F. clavicorne.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having club-shaped antennæ. See Antennæ -- n.
Defn: One of the Clavicornes.
CLAVICORNES
Clav`i*cor"nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL.; Fr. L. clava club + cornu horn.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of beetles having club-shaped antennæ.
CLAVICULAR
Cla*vic"u*lar, a. Etym: [Cf. F. claviculaire. See Clavicle.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the clavicle.
CLAVIER
Cla"vi*er ( F. ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. clavis key.] (Mus.)
Defn: The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.
Note: Clavier (
CLAVIFORM
Clav"i*form, a. Etym: [L. clava club + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Club-shaped; clavate. Craig.
CLAVIGER
Clav"i*ger, n. Etym: [L., fr. clavis key + gerere to carry.]
Defn: One who carries the keys of any place.
CLAVIGER
Clav"i*ger, n. Etym: [L., fr. clava club + gerere to carry.]
Defn: One who carries a club; a club bearer.
CLAVIGEROUS
Cla*vig"er*ous, a.
Defn: Bearing a club or a key.
CLAVIS
Cla"vis, n.; pl. L. Claves, E. Clavises. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A key; a glossary.
CLAVUS
Cla"vus, n. Etym: [L., a nail.]
Defn: A callous growth, esp. one the foot; a corn.
CLAVY
Cla"vy, n.; pl. Clavies. Etym: [Cf. F. claveau centerpiece of an
arch.] (Arch.)
Defn: A mantelpiece.
CLAW
Claw, n. Etym: [AS. clawu, cla, cleó; akin to D. klaauw, G. Klaue,
Icel. klo, SW. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.]
1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.
2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers
of a lobster, crab, etc.
3. Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and
forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base
of petals of the pink. Gray. Claw hammer, a hammer with one end of
the metallic head cleft for use in extracting nails, etc.
-- Claw hammer coat, a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern.
[Slang] -- Claw sickness, foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.
CLAW
Claw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clawing.] Etym:
[AS. clawan. See Claw, n.]
1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.
2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to
tickle; hence, to flatter; to court. [Obs.]
Rich men they claw, soothe up, and flatter; the poor they contemn and
despise. Holland.
3. To rail at; to scold. [Obs.]
In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth the great
monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right
well kept and observed; though he claweth them soon after in another
acceptation. T. Fuller
Claw me, claw thee, stand by me and I will stand by you; -- an old
proverb. Tyndale. To claw away, to scold or revile. "The jade Fortune
is to be clawed away for it, if you should lose it." L'Estrange. To
claw (one) on the back, to tickle; to express approbation. (Obs.)
Chaucer.
-- To claw (one) on the gall, to find falt with; to vex. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
CLAW
Claw, v. i.
Defn: To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a
claw. "Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal." W. D. Howells. To
claw off (Naut.), to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on
a lee shore.
CLAWBACK
Claw"back`, n.
Defn: A flatterer or sycophant. [Obs.] "Take heed of these
clawbacks." Latimer.
CLAWBACK
Claw"back`, a.
Defn: Flattering; sycophantic. [Obs.]
Like a clawback parasite. Bp. Hall.
CLAWBACK
Claw"back`, v. t.
Defn: To flatter. [Obs.] Warner.
CLAWED
Clawed, a.
Defn: Furnished with claws. N. Grew.
CLAWLESS
Claw"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of claws.
CLAY
Clay, n. Etym: [AS. clæg; akin to LG. klei, D. klei, and perh. to AS.
clam clay, L. glus, gluten glue, Gr. glue. Cf. Clog.]
1. A soft earth, which is plastuc, or may be molded with the hands,
consisting of hydrous silicate of alumunium. It is the result of the
wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing
aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and
other ingredients, are often present as impurities.
2. (Poetry & Script.)
Defn: Earth in general, as representing the elementary particles of
the human body; hence, the human body as formed from such particles.
I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxxiii. 6.
The earth is covered thick with other clay, Which her own clay shall
cover. Byron.
Bowlder clay. See under Bowlder.
-- Brick clay, the common clay, containing some iron, and therefore
turning red when burned.
-- Clay cold, cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate.
-- Clay ironstone, an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or
carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand.
-- Clay marl, a whitish, smooth, chalky clay.
-- Clay mill, a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug mill.
-- Clay pit, a pit where clay is dug.
-- Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite.
-- Fatty clays, clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical
compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole, etc.
-- Fire clay , a variety of clay, entirely free from lime, iron, or
an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for fire brick.
-- Porcelain clay, a very pure variety, formed directly from the
decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin.
-- Potter's clay, a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.
CLAY
Clay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Claying.]
1. To cover or manure with clay.
2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.
CLAY-BRAINED
Clay"-brained`, a.
Defn: Stupid. [Obs.] Shak.
CLAYES
Clayes, n. pl. Etym: [F. claie hurdle.] (Fort.)
Defn: Wattles, or hurdles, made with stakes interwoven with osiers,
to cover lodgments. [Obs.]
CLAYEY
Clay"ey, a.
Defn: Consisting of clay; abounding with clay; partaking of clay;
like clay.
CLAYISH
Clay"ish, a.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of clay, or containing particles of it.
CLAYMORE
Clay"more`, n. Etym: [Gael. claidheamhmor a broadsword; Gael.
claidheamh sword + mor great, large. Cf. Claymore.]
Defn: A large two-handed sword used formerly by the Scottish
Highlanders.
CLAYTONIA
Clay*to"ni*a, n. Etym: [Named after Dr.John Clayton, an American
botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: An American genus of perennial herbs with delicate blossoms; --
sometimes called spring beauty.
CLEADING
Clead"ing, n. Etym: [Scot., clothing. See Cloth.]
1. A jacket or outer covering of wood, etc., to prevent radiation of
heat, as from the boiler, cylinder. etc., of a steam engine.
2. The planking or boarding of a shaft, cofferdam, etc.
CLEAN
Clean, a. [Compar. Cleaner (; superl. Cleanest.] Etym: [OE. clene,
AS. cl; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein
small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a
primitive, meaning bright, shining. Cf. Glair.]
1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
2. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as,
clean land; clean timber.
3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, aclean
trick; a clean leap over a fence.
4. Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
5. Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean
riddance of corners of thy field. Le
6. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Ps. li. 10
That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven Tennyson.
7. (Script.)
Defn: Free from ceremonial defilement.
8. Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone;
healthy. "Lothair is clean." F. Harrison.
9. Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs. A clean bill of
health, a certificate from the proper authrity that a ship is free
from infection.
-- Clean breach. See under Breach, n., 4.
-- To make a clean breast. See under Breast.
CLEAN
Clean, adv.
1. Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly;
entirely. "Domestic broils clean overblown." Shak. "Clean contrary."
Milton.
All the people were passed clean over Jordan. Josh. iii. 17.
2. Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously. [Obs.] "Pope
came off clean with Homer." Henley.
CLEAN
Clean, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaning.] Etym:
[See Clean, a., and cf. Cleanse.]
Defn: To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or
extraneous; to purify; to cleanse. To clean out, to exhaust; to
empty; to get away from (one) all his money. [Colloq.] De Quincey.
CLEAN-CUT
Clean"-cut`, a.
Defn: See Clear-cut.
CLEANER
Clean"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, cleans.
CLEANING
Clean"ing, n.
1. The act of making clean.
2. The afterbirth of cows, ewes, etc. Gardner.
CLEANLILY
Clean"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cleanly manner.
CLEAN-LIMBED
Clean"-limbed`, a.
Defn: With well-proportioned, unblemished limbs; as, a clean-limbed
young fellow. Dickens.
CLEANLINESS
Clean"li*ness, n. Etym: [From Cleanly.]
Defn: State of being cleanly; neatness of person or dress.
Cleanliness from head to heel. Swift.
CLEANLY
Clean"ly, a. [Compar. Cleanlier; superl. Cleanliest.] Etym: [From
Clean.]
1. Habitually clean; pure; innocent. "Cleanly joys." Glanvill.
Some plain but cleanly country maid. Dryden.
Displays her cleanly platter on the board. Goldsmith.
2. Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc. [Obs.] "With
cleanly powder dry their hair." Prior.
3. Adroit; skillful; dexterous; artful. [Obs.]
Through his fine handling and his cleanly play. Spenser.
CLEANLY
Clean"ly, adv.
1. In a clean manner; neatly.
He was very cleanly dressed. Dickens.
2. Innocently; without stain. Shak.
3. Adroitly; dexterously. Middleton.
CLEANNESS
Clean"ness, n. Etym: [AS. cl. See Clean.]
1. The state or quality of being clean.
2. Purity of life or language; freedom from licentious courses.
Chaucer.
CLEANSABLE
Cleans"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being cleansed. Sherwood.
CLEANSE
Cleanse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleansed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleansing.]
Etym: [AS. clænsian, fr. clæne clean. See Clean.]
Defn: To render clean; to free from fith, pollution, infection,
guilt, etc.; to clean.
If we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ his son
cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7.
Can'st thou not minister to a mind diseased, And with some sweet
oblivious antidote Cleanse the suffed bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart Shak.
CLEANSER
Cleans"er, n. Etym: [AS. cl.]
Defn: One who, or that which, cleanses; a detergent. Arbuthnot.
CLEAN-TIMBERED
Clean"-tim`bered, a.
Defn: Well-propotioned; symmetrical. [Poetic] Shak.
CLEAR
Clear, a. [Compar. Clearer; superl. Clearest.] Etym: [OE. cler,
cleer, OF. cler, F. clair, fr.L. clarus, clear, broght, loud,
distinct, renownwd; perh. akin to L. clamare to call, E. claim. Cf.
Chanticleer, Clairvoyant, Claret, Clarufy.]
1. Free from opaqueness; transparent; bright; light; luminous;
unclouded.
The stream is so transparent, pure, and clear. Denham.
Fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Canticles vi. 10.
2. Free from ambiquity or indistinctness; lucid; perspicuous; plain;
evident; manifest; indubitable.
One truth is clear; whatever is, is right. Pop
3. Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating;
discriminating; as, a clear intellect; a clear head.
Mother of science! now I feel thy power Within me clear, not only to
discern Things in their causes, but to trace the ways Of highest
agents. Milton.
4. Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful.
With a countenance as clear As friendship wears at feasts. Shak.
5. Easily or distinctly heard; audible; canorous.
Hark! the numbers soft and clear Gently steal upon the ear. Pope.
6. Without mixture; entirely pure; as, clear sand.
7. Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear
complexion; clear lumber.
8. Free from guilt or stain; unblemished.
Statesman, yet friend to truth! in soul sincere, In action faithful,
and in honor clear. Pope.
9. Without diminution; in full; net; as, clear profit.
I often wished that I had clear, For life, six hundred pounds a-year.
Swift
.
10. Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed; as, a clear
view; to keep clear of debt.
My companion . . . left the way clear for him. Addison.
11. Free from embarrassment; detention, etc.
The cruel corporal whispered in my ear, Five pounds, if rightly
tipped, would set me clear. Gay.
Clear breach. See under Breach, n., 4.
-- Clear days (Law.), days reckoned from one day to another,
excluding both the first and last day; as, from Sunday to Sunday
there are six clear days.
-- Clear stuff, boards, planks, etc., free from knots.
Syn.
-- Manifest; pure; unmixed; pellucid; transparent; luminous;
obvious; visible; plain; evident; apparent; distinct; perspicuous.
See Manifest.
CLEAR
Clear, n. (Carp.)
Defn: Full extent; distance between extreme limits; especially; the
distance between the nearest surfaces of two bodies, or the space
between walls; as, a room ten feet square in the clear.
CLEAR
Clear, adv.
1. In a clear manner; plainly.
Now clear I understand What oft . . . thoughts have searched in vain.
Milton.
2. Without limitation; wholly; quite; entirely; as, to cut a piece
clear off.
CLEAR
Clear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleared; p. pr. & vb. n. Clearing.]
1. To render bright, transparent, or undimmed; to free from clouds.
He sweeps the skies and clears the cloudy north. Dryden.
2. To free from impurities; to clarify; to cleanse.
3. To free from obscurity or ambiguity; to relive of perplexity; to
make perspicuous.
Many knotty points there are Which all discuss, but few can clear.
Prior.
4. To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make
perspicacious.
Our common prints would clear up their understandings. Addison
5. To free from impediment or incumbrance, from defilement, or from
anything injurious, useless, or offensive; as, to clear land of trees
or brushwood, or from stones; to clear the sight or the voice; to
clear one's self from debt; -- often used with of, off, away, or out.
Clear your mind of cant. Dr. Johnson.
A statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary
only clears away the superfluous matter. Addison.
6. To free from the imputation of guilt; to justify, vindicate, or
acquit; -- often used with from before the thing imputed.
I . . . am sure he will clear me from partiality. Dryden.
How! wouldst thou clear rebellion Addison.
7. To leap or pass by, or over, without touching or fallure; as, to
clear a hedge; to clear a reef.
8. To gain without deduction; to net.
The profit which she cleared on the cargo. Macaulay.
To clear a ship at the customhouse, to exhibit the documents required
by law, give bonds, or perform other acts requisite, and procure a
permission to sail, and such papers as the law requires.
-- To clear a ship for action, or To clear for action (Naut.), to
remove incumbrances from the decks, and prepare for an engagement.
-- To clear the land (Naut.), to gain such a distance from shore as
to have sea room, and be out of danger from the land.
-- To clear hawse (Naut.), to disentangle the cables when twisted.
-- To clear up, to explain; to dispel, as doubts, cares or fears.
CLEAR
Clear, v. i.
1. To become free from clouds or fog; to become fair; -- often
fallowed by up, off, or away.
So foul a sky clears without a strom. Shak.
Advise him to stay till the weather clears up. Swift.
2. To disengage one's self frpm incumbrances, distress, or
entanglements; to become free. [He that clears at once will relapse;
for finding himself out of straits, he will revert to the customs;
but he that cleareth by degrees induceth a habit of frugality. Bacon.
3. (Banking)
Defn: To make exchanges of checks and bills, and settle balances, as
is done in a clearing house.
4. To obtain a clearance; as, the steamer cleared for Liverpool to-
day.
To clear out, to go or run away; to depart. [Colloq.]
CLEARAGE
Clear"age, n.
Defn: The act of reforming anything; clearance. [R.]
CLEARANCE
Clear"ance, n.
1. The act of clearing; as, to make a through clearance.
2. A certificate that a ship or vessel has been cleared at the
customhouse; permission to sail.
Every ship was subject to seizure for want of stamped clearances.
Durke
3. Clear or net profit. Trollope.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: The distance by which one object clears another, as the
distance between the piston and cylinder head at the end of a stroke
in a steam engine, or the least distance between the point of a
cogwell tooth and the bottom of a space between teeth of a wheel with
which it engages. Clearance space (Steam engine), the space inclosed
in one end of the cylinder, between the valve or valves and the
piston, at the beginning of a stroke; waste room. It includes the
space caused by the piston's clearance and the space in ports,
passageways, etc. Its volume is often expressed as a certain
proportion of the volume swept by the piston in a single stroke.
CLEARCOLE
Clear"cole`, n. [F. claire colle clear glue; clair clear (f. claire)
+ colle glue, Gr. ]
Defn: A priming of size mixed with whiting or white lead, used in
house painting, etc.; also, a size upon which gold leaf is applied in
gilding.
CLEARCOLE
Clear"cole`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clearcoled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clearcoling.]
Defn: To coat or paint with clearcole.
CLEAR-CUT
Clear"-cut`, a.
1. Having a sharp, distinct outline, like that of a cameo.
She has . . . a cold and clear-cut face. Tennyson.
2. Concisely and distinctly expressed.
CLEAREDNESS
Clear"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cleared.
Imputed by his friends to the clearedness, by his foes to the
searedness, of his conscience. T. Fuller.
CLEARER
Clear"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, clears.
Gold is a wonderful clearer of the understanding. Addison.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A tool of which the hemp for lines and twines, used by
sailmakers, is finished.
CLEAR-HEADED
Clear"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a clear understanding; quick of perception; intelligent.
"He was laborious and clear-headed." Macaulay.
-- Clear"-head`ed*ness, n.
CLEARING
Clear"ing, n.
1. The act or process of making clear.
The better clearing of this point. South.
2. A tract of land cleared of wood for cultivation.
A lonely clearing on the shores of Moxie Lake. J. Burroughs.
3. A method adopted by banks and bankers for making an exchange of
checks held by each against the others, and settling differences of
accounts.
Note: In England, a similar method has been adopted by railroads for
adjusting their accounts with each other.
4. The gross amount of the balances adjusted in the clearing house.
Clearing house, the establishment where the business of clearing is
carried on. See above, 3.
CLEARLY
Clear"ly, adv.
Defn: In a clear manner.
CLEARNESS
Clear"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being clear.
Syn.
-- Clearness, Perspicuity. Clearness has reference to our ideas, and
springs from a distinct conception of the subject under
consideration. Perspicuity has reference to the mode of expressing
our ideas and belongs essentially to style. Hence we speak of a
writer as having clear ideas, a clear arrangement, and perspicuous
phraseology. We do at times speak of a person's having great
clearness of style; but in such cases we are usually thinking of the
clearness of his ideas as manifested in language. "Whenever men think
clearly, and are thoroughly interested, they express themselves with
perspicuity and force." Robertson.
CLEAR-SEEING
Clear"-see`ing, a.
Defn: Having a clear physical or mental vision; having a clear
understanding.
CLEAR-SHINING
Clear"-shin`ing, a.
Defn: Shining brightly. Shak.
CLEAR-SIGHTED
Clear"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Seeing with clearness; discerning; as, clear-sighted reason
CLEAR-SIGHTEDNESS
Clear"-sight`ed*ness, n.
Defn: Acute discernment.
CLEARSTARCH
Clear"starch`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clearstarched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clearstraching.]
Defn: To stiffen with starch, and then make clear by clapping with
the hands; as, to clearstarch muslin.
CLEARSTARCHER
Clear"starch`er, n.
Defn: One who clearstarches.
CLEARSTORY; CLERESTORY
Clear"sto`ry, Clere"sto`ry, n. (Arch.)
Defn: The upper story of the nave of a church, containing windows,
and rising above the aisle roofs.
CLEARWING
Clear"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A lepidop terous insect with partially transparent wings, of
the family Ægeriadæ, of which the currant and peach-tree borers are
examples.
CLEAT
Cleat (klet), n. Etym: [OE. clete wedge; cf.D. kloot ball, Ger.
kloss, klotz, lump. clod, MHG. kloz lump, ball, wedge, OHG. chloz
ball, round mass.]
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A strip of wood or iron fastened on transversely to something
in order to give strength, prevent warping, hold position, etc.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A device made of wood or metal, having two arms, around which
turns may be taken with a line or rope so as to hold securely and yet
be readily released. It is bolted by the middle to a deck or mast,
etc., or it may be lashed to a rope.
CLEAT
Cleat, v. t.
Defn: To strengthen with a cleat.
CLEAVABLE
Cleav"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of cleaving or being divided.
CLEAVAGE
Cleav"age, n.
1. The act of cleaving or splitting.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: The quality possessed by many crystallized substances of
splitting readily in one or more definite directions, in which the
cohesive attraction is a minimum, affording more or less smooth
surfaces; the direction of the dividing plane; a fragment obtained by
cleaving, as of a diamond. See Parting.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Division into laminæ, like slate, with the lamination not
necessarily parallel to the plane of deposition; -- usually produced
by pressure. Basal cleavage, cleavage parallel to the base of a
crystal, or to the plane of the lateral axes.
-- Cell cleavage (Biol.), multiplication of cells by fission. See
Segmentation.
-- Cubuc cleavage, cleavage parallel to the faces of a cube.
-- Diagonal cleavage, cleavage parallel to ta diagonal plane.
-- Egg clavage. (Biol.) See Segmentation.
-- Lateral cleavage, cleavage parallel to the lateral planes.
-- Octahedral, Dodecahedral, or Rhombohedral, cleavage, cleavage
parallel to the faces of an octahedron, dodecahedron, or
rhombohedron.
-- Prismatic cleavage, cleavage parallel to a vertical prism.
CLEAVE
Cleave, v. i. [.. Cleaved (, Clave (, (Obs.); p. p. Cleaved; p. pr. &
vb. n. Cleaving.] Etym: [OE. cleovien, clivien, cliven, AS. cleofian,
clifian; akin to OS. klibon, G. kleben, LG. kliven, D. kleven, Dan.
klæbe, Sw. klibba, and also to G. kleiben to cleve, paste, Icel.
klifa to climb. Cf. Climb.]
1. To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast; to cling.
My bones cleave to my skin. Ps. cii. 5.
The diseases of Egypt . . . shall cleave unto thee. Deut. xxviii. 60.
Sophistry cleaves close to and protects Sin's rotten trunk,
concealing its defects. Cowper.
2. To unite or be united closely in interest or affection; to adhere
with strong attachment.
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall
cleave unto his wife. Gen. ii. 24.
Cleave unto the Lord your God. Josh. xxiii. 8.
3. To fit; to be adapted; to assimilate. [Poetic.]
New honors come upon him, Like our strange garments, cleave not to
their mold But with the aid of use. Shak.
CLEAVE
Cleave, v. t. [imp. Cleft, Clave (, Clove (, (Obsolescent); p. p.
Cleft, Cleaved ( or Cloven (; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaving.] Etym: [OE.
cleoven, cleven, AS. cleófan; akin to OS. klioban, D. klooven, G.
klieben, Icel. kljufa, Sw. klyfva, Dan. klöve and prob. to Gr.
glubere to peel. Cf. Cleft.]
1. To part or divide by force; to split or rive; to cut.
O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Shak.
2. To pert or open naturally; to divide.
Every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two
claws. Deut. xiv. 6.
CLEAVE
Cleave, v. i.
Defn: To part; to open; to crack; to separate; as parts of bodies;
as, the ground cleaves by frost.
The Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst. Zech. xiv. 4.
CLEAVELANDITE
Cleave"land*ite, n. Etym: [From Professor Parker Cleaveland.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of albite, white and lamellar in structure.
CLEAVER
Cleav"er, n.
Defn: One who cleaves, or that which cleaves; especially, a butcher's
instrument for cutting animal bodies into joints or pieces.
CLEAVERS
Cleav"ers, n. Etym: [From Cleave to stick.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Galium (G. Aparine), having a fruit set with
hooked bristles, which adhere to whatever they come in contact with;
-- called also, goose grass, catchweed, etc.
CLECHE
Clé`ché", a. Etym: [F. cléché.] (Her.)
Defn: Charged with another bearing of the same figure, and of the
color of the field, so large that only a narrow border of the first
bearing remains visible; -- said of any heraldic bearing. Compare
Voided.
CLECHY
Cle"chy, a.
Defn: See Cléché.
CLEDGE
Cledge, n. Etym: [Cf. Clay.] (Mining.)
Defn: The upper stratum of fuller's earth.
CLEDGY
Cledg"y, a.
Defn: Stiff, stubborn, clayey, or tenacious; as, a cledgy soil.
Halliwell.
CLEE
Clee, n.
Defn: A claw. [Holland.
CLEE
Clee, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The redshank.
CLEEK
Cleek, n.
1. A large hook or crook, as for a pot over a fire; specif., an iron-
headed golf club with a straight, narrow face and a long shaft.
2. Act of cleeking; a clutch. [Scot.]
CLEEK
Cleek, v. t. [pret. Claught; pret. & p. p. Cleeked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cleeking.] [ME. cleken, clechen, to seize, clutch; perh. akin to E.
clutch.] [Scot & Dial. Eng.]
1.
Defn: To seize; clutch; snatch; catch; pluck.
2. To catch or draw out with a cleek, as a fish; to hook.
3. To hook or link (together); hence, to marry. Scott.
CLEF
Clef, n. Etym: [F. clef key, a key in music, fr. L. clavis key. See
Clavicle.] (Mus.)
Defn: A character used in musical notation to determine the position
and pitch of the scale as represented on the staff.
Note: The clefs are three in number, called the C, F, and G clefs,
and are probably corruptions or modifications of these letters. They
indicate that the letters of absolute pitch belonging to the lines
upon which they are placed, are respectively C, F, and G. The F or
bass clef, and the G or treble clef, are fixed in their positions
upon the staff. The C clef may have three positions. It may be placed
upon the first or lower line of the staff, in which case it is called
soprano clef, upon the third line, in which case it called alto clef,
or upon the fourth line, in which case tenor clef. It rarely or never
is placed upon the second line, except in ancient music. See other
forms of C clef under C, 2. Alto clef, Bass clef. See under Alto,
Bass.
CLEFT
Cleft, imp. & p. p.
Defn: from Cleave.
CLEFT
Cleft, a.
1. Divided; split; partly divided or split.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Incised nearly to the midrob; as, a cleft leaf.
CLEFT
Cleft, n. Etym: [OE. clift; cf. Sw. klyft cave, den, Icel. kluft
cleft, Dan. klöft, G. kluft. See Cleave to split and cf. 2d Clift,
1st Clough.]
1. A space or opening made by splitting; a crack; a crevice; as, the
cleft of a rock. Is. ii. 21.
2. A piece made by splitting; as, a cleft of wood.
3. (Far.)
Defn: A disease in horses; a crack on the band of the pastern.
Branchial clefts. See under Branchial.
Syn.
-- Crack; crevice; fissure; chink; cranny.
CLEFT-FOOTED
Cleft"-foot`ed, a.
Defn: Having a cloven foot.
CLEFTGRAFT
Cleft"graft`, v. t.
Defn: To ingraft by cleaving the stock and inserting a scion.
Mortimer.
CLEG
Cleg, n. Etym: [Northern Eng. & Scot. gleg: cf. Gael. crethleag.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small breeze or horsefly. [North of Eng. & Scot.] Jamieson.
CLEISTOGAMIC; CLEISTOGAMOUS
Cleis`to*gam"ic, Cleis*tog"a*mous a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having, beside the usual flowers, other minute, closed flowers,
without petals or with minute petals; -- said of certain species of
plants which possess flowers of two or more kinds, the closed ones
being so constituted as to insure self-fertilization. Darwin.
CLEM
Clem, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. clam to clog, or G. klemmen to pinch,
Icel. kl, E. clamp.]
Defn: To starve; to famish. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CLEMATIS
Clem"a*tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of flowering plants, of many species, mostly climbers,
having feathery styles, which greatly enlarge in the fruit; -- called
also virgin's bower.
CLEMENCE
Clem"ence, n.
Defn: Clemency. [Obs.] Spenser.
CLEMENCY
Clem"en*cy, n.; pl. Clemencies. Etym: [L. clementia, fr. clemens
mild, calm.]
1. Disposition to forgive and spare, as offenders; mildness of
temper; gentleness; tenderness; mercy.
Great clemency and tender zeal toward their subjects. Stowe.
They had applied for the royal clemency. Macaulay.
2. Mildness or softness of the elements; as, the clemency of the
season.
Syn.
-- Mildness; tenderness; indulgence; lenity; mercy; gentleness;
compassion; kindness.
CLEMENT
Clem"ent, a. Etym: [L. clemens; -entis; cf. F. cl.]
Defn: Mild in temper and disposition; merciful; compassionate. Shak.
-- Clem"ent*ly, adv.
CLEMENTINE
Clem"ent*ine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Clement, esp. to St.Clement of Rome and the
spurious homilies attributed to him, or to Pope Clement V. and his
compilations of canon law.
CLENCH
Clench, n. & v. t.
Defn: See Clinch.
CLEOPATRA'S NEEDLE
Cle`o*pa"tra's nee"dle. [So named after Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.]
Defn: Either of two obelisks which were moved in ancient times from
Heliopolis to Alexandria, one of which is now on the Thames
Embankment in London, and the other in Central Park, in the City of
New York.
Some writers consider that only the obelisk now in Central Park is
properly called Cleopatra's needle.
CLEPE
Clepe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleped or; p. pr. & vb. n. Cleping. Cf.
Ycleped.] Etym: [AS. clepan, cleopian, clipian, clypian, to cry,
call.]
Defn: To call, or name. [Obs.]
That other son was cleped Cambalo. Chaucer.
CLEPE
Clepe, v. i.
Defn: To make appeal; to cry out. [Obs.]
Wandering in woe, and to the heavens on high Cleping for vengeance of
this treachery. Mir. for Mag.
CLEPSINE
Clep"si*ne, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of freshwater leeches, furnished with a proboscis. They
feed upon mollusks and worms.
CLEPSYDRA
Clep"sy*dra, n. Etym: [L. from Gr.
Defn: A water clock; a contrivance for measuring time by the
graduated flow of a liquid, as of water, through a small aperture.
See Illust. in Appendix.
CLEPTOMANIA
Clep`to*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Kleptomania.
CLERESTORY
Clere"sto`ry, n.
Defn: Same as Clearstory.
CLERGEON
Cler"geon, n. Etym: [F., dim. of clerc. See Clerk.]
Defn: A chorister boy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLERGIAL
Cler"gi*al, a.
Defn: Learned; erudite; clercial. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLERGICAL
Cler"gi*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the clergy; clerical; clerkily; learned.
[Obs.] Milton.
CLERGY
Cler"gy, n. Etym: [OE. clergie, clergi, clerge, OF. clergie, F.
clergie (fr. clerc clerc, fr. L. clericus priest) confused with OF.
clergié, F. clergé, fr. LL. clericatus office of priest, monastic
life, fr. L. clericus priest, LL. scholar, clerc. Both the Old French
words meant clergy, in sense 1, the former having also sense 2. See
Clerk.]
1. The body of men set apart, by due ordination, to the service of
God, in the Christian church, in distinction from the laity; in
England, usually restricted to the ministers of the Established
Church. Hooker.
2. Learning; also, a learned profession. [Obs.]
Sophictry . . . rhetoric, and other cleargy. Guy of Warwick.
Put their second sons to learn some clergy. State Papers (1515).
3. The privilege or benefit of clergy.
If convicted of a clergyable felony, he is entitled equally to his
clergy after as before conviction. Blackstone.
Benefit of clergy (Eng., Law), the exemption of the persons of
clergymen from criminal process before a secular judge -- a privilege
which was extended to all who could read, such persons being, in the
eye of the law, clerici, or clerks. This privilege was abridged and
modified by various statutes, and finally abolished in the reign of
George IV. (1827).
-- Regular clergy, Secular clergy See Regular, n., and Secular, a.
CLERGYABLE
Cler"gy*a*ble, a.
Defn: Entitled to, or admitting, the benefit of clergy; as, a
clergyable felony. Blackstone.
CLERGYMAN
Cler"gy*man, n.; pl. Clergymen.
Defn: An ordained minister; a man regularly authorized to peach the
gospel, and administer its ordinances; in England usually restricted
to a minister of the Established Church.
CLERIC
Cler"ic, n. Etym: [AS., fr. L. clericus. See Clerk.]
Defn: A clerk, a clergyman. [R.] Bp. Horsley.
CLERIC
Cler"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Clerical.
CLERICAL
Cler"ic*al, a. Etym: [LL. clericalis. See Clerk.]
1. Of or pertaining to the clergy; suitable for the clergy. "A
clerical education." Burke.
2. Of or relating to a clerk or copyist, or to writing. "Clerical
work." E. Everett. A clerical error, an error made in copying or
writing.
CLERICALISM
Cler"ic*al*ism, n.
Defn: An excessive devotion to the interests of the sacerdotal order;
undue influence of the clergy; sacerdotalism.
CLERICITY
Cler*ic"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being a clergyman.
CLERISY
Cler"i*sy, n. Etym: [LL. clericia. See Clergy.]
1. The literati, or well educated class.
2. The clergy, or their opinions, as opposed to the laity.
CLERK
Clerk (; in Eng. ; 277), n. Etym: [Either OF. clerc, fr. L. clericus
a priest, or AS. clerc, cleric, clerk, priest, fr. L. clericus, fr.
Gr. Clergy.]
1. A clergyman or ecclesiastic. [Obs.]
All persons were styled clerks that served in the church of Christ.
Ayliffe.
2. A man who could read; a scholar; a learned person; a man of
letters. [Obs.] "Every one that could read . . . being accounted a
clerk." Blackstone.
He was no great clerk, but he was perfectly well versed in the
interests of Europe. Burke.
3. A parish officer, being a layman who leads in reading the
responses of the Episcopal church service, and otherwise assists in
it. [Eng.] Hook.
And like unlettered clerk still cry "Amen". Shak.
4. One employed to keep records or accounts; a scribe; an accountant;
as, the clerk of a court; a town clerk.
The clerk of the crown . . . withdrew the bill. Strype.
Note: In some cases, clerk is synonymous with secretary. A clerk is
always an officer subordinate to a higher officer, board,
corporation, or person; whereas a secretary may be either a
subordinate or the head of an office or department.
5. An assistant in a shop or store. [U. S.]
CLERK-ALE
Clerk"-ale` ( in Eng. , n.
Defn: A feast for the benefit of the parish clerk. [Eng.] T. Warton.
CLERKLESS
Clerk"less, a.
Defn: Unlearned. [Obs.] E. Waterhouse.
CLERKLIKE
Clerk"like`, a.
Defn: Scholarlike. [Obs.] Shak.
CLERKLINESS
Clerk"li*ness, n.
Defn: Scholarship. [Obs.]
CLERKLY
Clerk"ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a clerk. Cranmer.
CLERKLY
Clerk"ly, adv.
Defn: In a scholarly manner. [Obs.] Shak.
CLERKSHIP
Clerk"ship, n.
Defn: State, quality, or business of a clerk.
CLEROMANCY
Cler"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy; cf. F. cléromancie.]
Defn: A divination by throwing dice or casting lots.
CLERONOMY
Cle*ron"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Inheritance; heritage.
CLERSTORY
Cler"sto`ry, n.
Defn: See Clearstory.
CLEVER
Clev"er, a. Etym: [Origin uncertain. Cf. OE. cliver eager, AS. clyfer
(in comp.) cloven; or clifer a claw, perh. connected with E. cleave
to divide, split, the meaning of E. clever perh. coming from the idea
of grasping, seizing (with the mind).]
1. Possessing quickness of intellect, skill, dexterity, talent, or
adroitness; expert.
Though there were many clever men in England during the latter half
of the seventeenth century, there were only two great creative minds.
Macaulay.
Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever. C. Kingsley.
2. Showing skill or adroitness in the doer or former; as, a clever
speech; a clever trick. Byron.
3. Having fitness, propriety, or suitableness.
"T would sound more clever To me and to my heirs forever. Swift.
4. Well-shaped; handsome. "The girl was a tight, clever wench as any
was." Arbuthnot.
5. Good-natured; obliging. [U. S.]
Syn.
-- See Smart.
CLEVERISH
Clev"er*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat clever. [R.]
CLEVERLY
Clev"er*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clever manner.
Never was man so clever absurd. C. Smart.
CLEVERNESS
Clev"er*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being clever; skill; dexterity; adroitness.
Syn.
-- See Ingenuity.
CLEVIS
Clev"is, n. Etym: [Cf. Cleave to adhere, Clavel.]
Defn: A piece of metal bent in the form of an oxbow, with the two
ends perforated to receive a pin, used on the end of the tongue of a
plow, wagen, etc., to attach it to a draft chain, whiffletree, etc.;
-- called also clavel, clevy.
CLEW; CLUE
Clew, Clue, n. Etym: [OE. clewe, clowe, clue, AS. cleowen, cliwen,
clywe ball of thread; akin to D. kluwen, OHG. chliwa, chliuwa, G.
dim. kleuel, knäuel, and perch. to L. gluma hull, husk, Skr. glaus
sort of ball or tumor. Perch. akin to E. claw. *26. Cf. Knawel.]
1. A ball of thread, yarn, or cord; also, The thread itself.
Untwisting his deceitful clew. Spenser.
2. That which guides or directs one in anything of a doubtful or
intricate nature; that which gives a hint in the solution of a
mystery.
The clew, without which it was perilous to enter the vast and
intricate maze of countinental politics, was in his hands. Macaulay.
3. (Naut.) (a.)
Defn: A lower corner of a square sail, or the after corner of a fore-
and-aft sail. (b.)
Defn: A loop and thimbles at the corner of a sail. (c.)
Defn: A combination of lines or nettles by which a hammock is
suspended. Clew garnet (Naut.), one of the ropes by which the clews
of the courses of square-rigged vessels are drawn up to the lower
yards.
-- Clew line (Naut.), a rope by which a clew of one of the smaller
square sails, as topsail, topgallant sail, or royal, is run up to its
yard.
-- Clew-line block (Naut.), The block through which a clew line
reeves. See Illust. of Block.
CLEW
Clew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. & vb. n. Clewing.] Etym: [Cf. D. kluwenen.
See Clew, n.]
1. To direct; to guide, as by a thread. [Obs.]
Direct and clew me out the way to happiness. Beau. && Fl.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To move of draw (a sail or yard) by means of the clew garnets,
clew lines, etc.; esp. to draw up the clews of a square sail to the
yard. To clew down (Naut.), to force (a yard) down by hauling on the
clew lines.
-- To clew up (Naut.), to draw (a sail) up to the yard, as for
furling.
CLICHE
Cli`ché", n. Etym: [F. cliché, from clicher to stereotype.]
Defn: A stereotype plate or any similar reproduction of ornament, or
lettering, in relief. Cliché casting, a mode of obtaining an
impression from a die or woodcut, or the like, by striking it
suddenly upon metal which has been fused and is just becoming solid;
also, the casting so obtained.
CLICK
Click, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Clicking.] Etym:
[Prob. an onomatopoetic word: cf. OF. cliquier. See Clack, and cf.
Clink, Clique.]
Defn: To make a slight, sharp noise (or a succession of such noises),
as by gentle striking; to tick.
The varnished clock that clicked behind the door. Goldsmith.
CLICK
Click, v. t.
1. To more with the sound of a click.
She clicked back the bolt which held the window sash. Thackeray.
2. To cause to make a clicking noise, as by striking together, or
against something.
[Jove] clicked all his marble thumbs. Ben Jonson.
When merry milkmaids click the latch. Tennyson.
CLICK
Click, n.
1. A slight sharp noise, such as is made by the cocking of a pistol.
2. A kind of articulation used by the natives of Southern Africa,
consisting in a sudden withdrawal of the end or some other portion of
the tongue from a part of the mouth with which it is in contact,
whereby a sharp, clicking sound is produced. The sounds are four in
number, and are called cerebral, palatal, dental, and lateral clicks
or clucks, the latter being the noise ordinarily used in urging a
horse forward.
CLICK
Click, v. t. Etym: [OE. kleken, clichen. Cf. Clutch.]
Defn: To snatch. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLICK
Click, n. Etym: [Cf. 4th Click, and OF. clique latch.]
1. A detent, pawl, or ratchet, as that which catches the cogs of a
ratchet wheel to prevent backward motion. See Illust. of Ratched
wheel.
2. The latch of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
CLICK BEETLE
Click" bee"tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Elater.
CLICKER
Click"er, n.
1. One who stands before a shop door to invite people to buy. [Low,
Eng.]
2. (Print.)
Defn: One who as has charge of the work of a companionship.
CLICKET
Click"et, n. Etym: [OF. cliquet the latch of a door. See 5th Click.]
1. The knocker of a door. [Prov. Eng.]
2. A latch key. [Eng.] Chaucer.
CLICKY
Click"y, a.
Defn: Resembling a click; abounding in clicks. "Their strange clicky
language." The Century.
CLIDASTES
Cli*das"tes, n. Etym: [NL., prob. from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of exinct marine reptiles, allied to the Mosasaurus.
See Illust. in Appendix.
CLIENCY
Cli"en*cy, n.
Defn: State of being a client.
CLIENT
Cli"ent, n. Etym: [L. cliens, -emtis, for cluens, one who hears (in
relation to his protector), a client, fr. L. cluere to be named or
called; akin to Gr. çry, and E. loud: cf. F. client. See Loud.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A citizen who put himself under the protection of a man of
distinction and influence, who was called his patron.
2. A dependent; one under the protection of another.
I do think they are your friends and clients, And fearful to disturb
you. B. Jonson.
3. (Law)
Defn: One who consults a legal adviser, or submits his cause to his
management.
CLIENTAGE
Cli"ent*age, n.
1. State of being client.
2. A body of clients. E. Everett.
CLIENTAL
Cli*en"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a client.
A dependent and cliental relation. Burke.
I sat down in the cliental chair. Dickens.
CLIENTED
Cli"ent*ed, a.
Defn: Supplied with clients. [R.]
The least cliented pettifiggers. R. Carew.
CLIENTELAGE
Cli*en"te*lage, n.
Defn: See Clientele, n., 2.
CLIENTELE
Cli`en*tele" ( or ), n. Etym: [L. clientela: cf. F. clientèle.]
1. The condition or position of a client; clientship. [Obs.] Bp.
Hall.
2. The clients or dependents of a nobleman of patron.
3. The persons who make habitual use of the services of another
person; one's clients, collectively; as, the clientele of a lawyer,
doctor, notary, etc.
CLIENTSHIP
Cli"ent*ship, n.
Defn: Condition of a client; state of being under the protection of a
patron. Dryden.
CLIFF
Cliff, n. Etym: [AS. clif, cloef; akin to OS. klif, D. klif, klip,
Icel. klif, Dan. & G. klippe, Sw. klippa; perh. orig. a climbing
place. See Climb.]
Defn: A high, steep rock; a precipice. Cliff swallow (Zoöl.), a North
American swallow (Petrochelidon lunifrons), which builds its nest
against cliffs; the eaves swallow.
CLIFF
Cliff, n. (Mus.)
Defn: See Clef. [Obs.]
CLIFF LIMESTONE
Cliff" lime"stone`. (Geol.)
Defn: A series of limestone strata found in Ohio and farther west,
presenting bluffs along the rivers and valleys, formerly supposed to
be of one formation, but now known to be partly Silurian and partly
Devonian.
CLIFFY
Cliff"y, a.
Defn: Having cliffs; broken; craggy.
CLIFT
Clift, n. Etym: [See 1st Cliff, n.]
Defn: A cliff. [Obs.]
That gainst the craggy clifts did loudly roar. Spenser.
CLIFT
Clift, n. Etym: [See Cleft, n.]
1. A cleft of crack; a narrow opening. [Obs.]
2. The fork of the legs; the crotch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLIFTED
Clift"ed, a. Etym: [From Clift a cleft.]
Defn: Broken; fissured.
Climb the Andeclifted side. Grainger.
CLIMACTER
Cli*mac"ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. climactère. See Climax.]
Defn: See Climacteric, n.
CLIMACTERIC
Cli*mac"ter*ic ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. climactericus, Gr.
Climacter.]
Defn: Relating to a climacteric; critical.
CLIMACTERIC
Cli*mac"ter*ic, n.
1. A period in human life in which some great change is supposed to
take place in the constitution. The critical periods are thought by
some to be the years produced by multiplying 7 into the odd numbers
3, 5, 7, and 9; to which others add the 81st year.
2. Any critical period.
It is your lot, as it was mine, to live during one of the grand
climacterics of the world. Southey.
Grand or Great climacteric, the sixty-third year of human life.
I should hardly yield my rigid fibers to be regenerated by them; nor
begin, in my grand climacteric, to squall in their new accents, or to
stammer, in my second cradle, the elemental sounds of their barbarous
metaphysics. Burke.
CLIMACTERICAL
Clim`ac*ter"ic*al, a. & n.
Defn: See Climacteric. Evelyn.
CLIMACTIC
Cli*mac"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a climax; forming, or of the nature of, a
climax, or ascending series.
A fourth kind of parallelism . . . is still sufficiently marked to be
noticed by the side of those described by Lowth, viz., climactic
parallelism (sometimes called "ascending rhythm").
S. R. Driver.
CLIMATAL
Cli"ma*tal, a.
Defn: Climatic. Dunglison.
CLIMATARCHIC
Cli`ma*tar"chic, a. Etym: [Climate + Gr.
Defn: Presiding over, or regulating, climates.
CLIMATE
Cli"mate, n. Etym: [F. climat, L. clima, -atis, fr. Gr. lean, v. i.
See Lean, v. i., and cf. Clime.]
1. (Anc. Geog.)
Defn: One of thirty regions or zones, parallel to the equator, into
which the surface of the earth from the equator to the pole was
divided, according to the successive increase of the length of the
midsummer day.
2. The condition of a place in relation to various phenomena of the
atmosphere, as temperature, moisture, etc., especially as they affect
animal or vegetable life.
CLIMATE
Cli"mate, v. i.
Defn: To dwell. [Poetic] Shak.
CLIMATIC
Cli*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a climate; depending on, or limited by, a
climate.
CLIMATICAL
Cli*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Climatic.
CLIMATIZE
Cli"ma*tize, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Climatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Climatizing.]
Defn: To acclimate or become acclimated.
CLIMATOGRAPHY
Cli`ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Climate + -graphy.]
Defn: A description of climates.
CLIMATOLOGICAL
Cli`ma*to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to climatology.
CLIMATOLOGIST
Cli`ma*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in, or who studies, climatology.
CLIMATOLOGY
Cli`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Climate + -logy: cf. F. climatologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of climates and investigates their
phenomena and causes. Brande & C.
CLIMATURE
Cli"ma*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. climature.]
Defn: A climate. [Obs.] Shak.
CLIMAX
Cli"max, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. Ladder, Lean, v. i.]
1. Upward movement; steady increase; gradation; ascent. Glanvill.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of which the parts of a sentence or paragraph are so
arranged that each sicceeding one rise
"Tribulation worketh patience, patience experience, and experience
hope" -- a happy climax. J. D. Forbes.
3. The highest point; the greatest degree.
We must look higher for the climax of earthly good. I. Taylor.
To cap the climax, to surpass everything, as in excellence or in
absurdity. [Colloq.]
CLIMB
Climb, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Climbed, Obs. or Vulgar Clomb (; p. pr. &
vb. n. Climbing.] Etym: [AS. climban; akin to OHG. chlimban, G. & D.
klimmen, Icel. klifa, and E. cleave to adhere.]
1. To ascend or mount laboriously, esp. by use of the hands and feet.
2. To ascend as if with effort; to rise to a higher point.
Black vapors climb aloft, and cloud the day. Dryden.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: To ascend or creep upward by twining about a support, or by
attaching itself by tendrills, rootlets, etc., to a support or
upright surface.
CLIMB
Climb, v. t.
Defn: To ascend, as by means of the hands and feet, or laboriously or
slowly; to mount.
CLIMB
Climb, n.
Defn: The act of one who climbs; ascent by climbing. Warburton.
CLIMBABLE
Climb"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being climbed.
CLIMBER
Climb"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, climbs:
(a) (Bot.) A plant that climbs.
(b) (Zoöl.) A bird that climbs, as a woodpecker or a parrot.
CLIMBER
Climb"er, v. i. Etym: [From Climb; cf. Clamber.]
Defn: To climb; to mount with effort; to clamber. [Obs.] Tusser.
CLIMBING
Climb"ing,
Defn: p. pr. & vb. n. of Climb. Climbing fern. See under Fern.
-- Climbing perch. (Zoöl.) See Anabas, and Labyrinthici.
CLIME
Clime, n. Etym: [L. clima. See Climate.]
Defn: A climate; a tract or region of the earth. See Climate.
Turn we to sutvey, Where rougher climes a nobler race display.
Goldsmith.
CLINANTHIUM
Cli*nan"thi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The receptacle of the flowers in a composite plant; -- also
called clinium.
CLINCH
Clinch (; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clinched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clinching.] Etym: [OE. clenchen, prop. causative of clink to cause to
clink, to strike; cf. D. klinken to tinkle, rivet. See Clink.]
1. To hold firmly; to hold fast by grasping or embracing tightly.
"Clinch the pointed spear." Dryden.
2. To set closely together; to close tightly; as, to clinch the teeth
or the first. Swift.
3. The bend or turn over the point of (something that has been driven
trough an object), so that it will hold fast; as, to clinch a nail.
4. To make conclusive; to confirm; to establish; as, to clinch an
argument. South.
CLINCH
Clinch, v. i.
Defn: To hold fast; to grasp something firmly; to seize or grasp one
another.
CLINCH
Clinch, n.
1. The act or process of holding fast; that which serves to hold
fast; a grip; a grasp; a clamp; a holdfast; as, to get a good clinch
of an antagonist, or of a weapon; to secure anything by a clinch.
2. A pun. Pope.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A hitch or bend by which a rope is made fast to the ring of an
anchor, or the breeching of a ship's gun to the ringbolts.
CLINCHER
Clinch"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, clinches; that which holds fast. Pope.
2. That which ends a dispute or controversy; a decisive argument.
CLINCHER-BUILT
Clinch"er-built, a.
Defn: See Clinker-built.
CLING
Cling, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clung, Clong (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n.
Clinging.] Etym: [AS. clingan to adhere, to wither; akin to Dan.
klynge to cluster, crowd. Cf. Clump.]
Defn: To adhere closely; to stick; to hold fast, especially by
twining round or embracing; as, the tendril of a vine clings to its
support; -- usually followed by to or together.
And what hath life for thee That thou shouldst cling to it thus Mrs.
Hemans.
CLING
Cling, v. t.
1. To cause to adhere to, especially by twining round or embraching.
[Obs.]
I clung legs as close to his side as I could. Swift.
2. To make to dry up or wither. [Obs.]
If thou speak'st false, Upon the next tree shalt thou hang alive,
Till famine cling thee. Shak.
CLING
Cling, n.
Defn: Adherence; attachment; devotion. [R.]
A more tenacious cling to worldly respects. Milton.
CLINGSTONE
Cling"stone`, a.
Defn: Having the flesh attached closely to the stone, as in some
kinds of peaches.
-- n.
Defn: A fruit, as a peach, whose flesh adheres to the stone.
CLINGY
Cling"y, a.
Defn: Apt to cling; adhesive. [R.]
CLINIC
Clin"ic, n. Etym: [See Clinical.]
1. One confined to the bed by sickness.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: One who receives baptism on a sick bed. [Obs.] Hook.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A school, or a session of a school or class, in which medicine
or surgery is taught by the examination and treatment of patients in
the presence of the pupils.
CLINICAL; CLINIC
Clin"ic*al, Clin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. clinique. See Lean, v. i.]
1. Of or pertaining to a bed, especially, a sick bed.
2. Of or pertaining to a clinic, or to the study of disease in the
living subject. Clinical baptism, baptism administered to a person on
a sick bed.
-- Clinical instruction, instruction by means of clinics.
-- Clinical lecture (Med.), a discourse upon medical topics
illustrared by the exhibition and examination of living patients.
-- Clinical medicine, Clinical surgery, that part of medicine or
surgery which is occupied with the investigation of disease in the
living subject.
CLINICALLY
Clin"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clinical manner.
CLINIQUE
Cli*nique", n. Etym: [F.] (Med.)
Defn: A clinic.
CLINIUM
Clin"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: See Clinanthium.
CLINK
Clink, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clinked; p. pr. & vb. n. Clinking.] Etym:
[OE. clinken; akin to G. klingen, D. klinken, SW. klinga, Dan.
klinge; prob. of imitative origin. Cf. Clank, Clench, Click, v. i.]
Defn: To cause to give out a slight, sharp, tinkling, sound, as by
striking metallic or other sonorous bodies together.
And let me the canakin clink. Shak.
CLINK
Clink, v. i.
1. To give out a slight, sharp, thinkling sound. "The clinking
latch." Tennyson.
2. To rhyme. [Humorous]. Cowper.
CLINK
Clink, n.
Defn: A slight, sharp, tinkling sound, made by the collision of
sonorous bodies. "Clink and fall of swords." Shak.
CLINKANT
Clin"kant, a.
Defn: See Clnquant.
CLINKER
Clink"er, n. Etym: [From clink; cf. D. clinker a brick which is so
hard that it makes a sonorous sound, from clinken to clink. Cf.
Clinkstone.]
1. A mass composed of several bricks run together by the action of
the fire in the kiln.
2. Scoria or vitrified incombustible matter, formed in a grate or
furnace where anthracite coal in used; vitrified or burnt matter
ejected from a volcano; slag.
3. A scale of oxide of iron, formed in forging.
4. A kind of brick. See Dutch klinker, under Dutch.
CLINKER-BUILT
Clink"er-built, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having the side planks (af a boat) so arranged that the lower
edge of each overlaps the upper edge of the plank next below it like
clapboards on a house. See Lapstreak.
CLINKSTONE
Clink"stone` (; 110), n. Etym: [Clink + stone; -- from its
sonorousness.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous rock of feldspathic composition, lamellar in
structure, and clinking under the hammer. See Phonolite.
CLINODIAGONAL
Cli`no*di*ag"o*nal, n. Etym: [Gr. diagonal.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: That diagonal or lateral axis in a monoclinic crystal which
makes an oblique angle witch the vertical axis. See Crystallization.
-- a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or the direction of, the clinidiagonal.
CLINODOME
Cli"no*dome`, n. Etym: [Gr. dome.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: See under Dome.
CLINOGRAPHIC
Cli"no*graph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. + -graph.]
Defn: Pertaining to that mode of projection in drawing in which the
rays of light are supposed to fall obliquely on the plane of
projection.
CLINOID
Cli"noid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Like a bed; -- applied to several processes on the inner side
of the sphenoid bone.
CLINOMETER
Cli*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Geol.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the dip of beds or strata, pr the
slope of an embankment or cutting; a kind of plumb level. Dana.
CLINOMETRIC
Clin`o*met"ric, a.
1. Pertaining to, or ascertained by, the clinometer.
2. Pertaining to the oblique crystalline forms, or to solids which
have oblique angles between the axes; as, the clinometric systems.
CLINOMETRY
Cli*nom"e*try, n. (geol.)
Defn: That art or operation of measuring the inclination of strata.
CLINOPINACOID
Cli`no*pin"a*coid, n. Etym: [Gr. pinacoid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: The plane in crystals of the monoclinic system which is
parallel to the vertical and the inclined lateral (clinidiagonal)
axes.
CLINORHOMBIC
Cli`no*rhom"bic, a. Etym: [Gr. rhombic: cf. F. clinorhombique.]
(Crystallog.)
Defn: Possessing the qualities of a prism, obliquely inclined to a
rhombic base; monoclinic.
CLINOSTAT
Cli"no*stat, n. [Gr. to incline + to make to stand.] (Bot.)
Defn: An apparatus consisting of a slowly revolving disk, usually
regulated by clockwork, by means of wich the action of external
agents, as light and gravity, on growing plants may be regulated or
eliminated.
CLINQUANT
Clin"quant, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Glittering; dressed in, or overlaid with, tinsel finery. [Obs.]
Shak.
CLINQUANT
Clin"quant, n.
Defn: Tinse;l; Dutch gold.
CLIO
Cli"o, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse who presided over history.
CLIONE
Cli*o"ne, n.
Defn: A genus of naked pteropods. One species (Clione papilonacea),
abundant in the Arctic Ocean, constitutes a part of the food of the
Greenland whale. It is sometimes incorrectly called Clio.
CLIP
Clip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clipped (; p. pr. & vb. n. Clipping.] Etym:
[OE. cluppen, clippen, to embrace, AS. clyran to embrace, clasp; cf.
OHG. kluft tongs, shears, Icel, klypa to pinch, squeeze, also OE.
clippen to cut, shear, Dan. klippe to clip, cut, SW. & Icel. klippa.]
1. To embrace, hence; to encompass.
O . . . that Neptune's arms, who clippeth thee about, Would bear thee
from the knowledge of thyself. Shak.
2. To cut off; as with shears or scissors; as, to clip the hair; to
clip coin.
Sentenced to have his ears clipped. Macaulay.
3. To curtail; to cut short.
All my reports go with the modest truth; No more nor clipped, but so.
Shak.
In London they clip their words after one manner about the court,
another in the city, and a third in the suburbs. Swift.
CLIP
Clip, v. i.
Defn: To move swiftly; -- usually with indefinite it.
Straight flies as chek, and clips it down the wind. Dryden.
CLIP
Clip, n.
1. An embrace. Sir P. Sidney.
2. A cutting; a shearing.
3. The product of a single shearing of sheep; a season's crop of
wool.
4. A clasp or holder for letters, papers, etc.
5. An embracing strap for holding parts together; the iron strap,
with loop, at the ends of a whiffletree. Knight.
6. (Far.)
Defn: A projecting flange on the upper edge of a horseshoe, turned up
so as to embrace the lower part of the hoof; -- called also toe clip
and beak. Youatt.
7. A blow or stroke with the hand; as, he hit him a clip. [Colloq. U.
S.]
CLIPPER
Clip"per, n.
1. One who clips; specifically, one who clips off the edges of coin.
The value is pared off from it into the clipper's pocket. Locke.
2. A machine for clipping hair, esp. the hair of horses.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel with a sharp bow, built and rigged for fast sailing.
-- Clip"per-built` (, a.
Note: The name was first borne by "Baltimore clippers" famous as
privateers in the early wars of the United States.
CLIPPING
Clip"ping, n.
1. The act of embracing. [Obs.]
2. The act of cutting off, curtailing, or diminishing; the practice
of clipping the edges of coins.
clipping by Englishmen is robbing the honest man who receives clipped
money. Locke.
3. That which is clipped off or out of something; a piece separated
by clipping; as, newspaper clippings.
CLIQUE
Clique, n. Etym: [F., fr. OF. cliquer to click. See Click, v. i.]
Defn: A narrow circle of persons associated by common interests or
for the accomplishment of a common purpose; -- generally used in a
bad sense.
CLIQUE
Clique, v. i.
Defn: To To associate together in a clannish way; to act with others
secretly to gain a desired end; to plot; -- used with together.
CLIQUISH
Cli"quish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a clique; disposed to from cliques;
exclusive in spirit.
-- Cli"*quish*ness, n.
CLIQUISM
Cli"quism, n.
Defn: The tendency to associate in cliques; the spirit of cliques.
CLITELLUS
Cli*tel"lus, n. Etym: [NL., prob. fr. L. clitellae a packsadle.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A thickened glandular portion of the body of the adult
earthworm, consisting of several united segments modified for
reproductive purposes.
CLITORIS
Cli"to*ris ( or ), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. labia pudendi.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small organ at the upper part of the vulva, homologous to the
penis in the male.
CLIVERS
Cliv"ers ( or ), n.
Defn: See Cleavers.
CLIVITY
Cliv"i*ty, n.; pl. Clivities. Etym: [L. clivus hill.]
Defn: Inclination; ascent or descent; a gradient. [R.]
CLOACA
Clo"a"ca, n.; pl. Cloacæ. Etym: [L.]
1. A sewer; as, the Cloaca Maxima of Rome.
2. A privy.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The common chamber into which the intestinal, urinary, and
generative canals discharge in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and many
fishes.
CLOACAL
Clo*a"cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cloaca.
CLOAK
Cloak (; 110), n. Etym: [Of. cloque cloak (from the bell-like shape),
bell, F. cloche bell; perh. of Celtik origin and the same word as E.
clock. See 1st Clock.]
1. A loose outer garment, extending from the neck downwards, and
commonly without sleeves. It is longer than a cape, and is worn both
by men and by women.
2. That which conceals; a disguise or pretext; an excuse; a fair
pretense; a mask; a cover.
No man is esteemed any ways considerable for policy who wears
religion otherwise than as a cloak. South.
Cloak bag, a bag in which a cloak or other clothes are carried; a
portmanteau. Shak.
CLOAK
Cloak, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cloaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Cloaking.]
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a cloak; hence, to hide or conceal.
Now glooming sadly, so to cloak her matter. Spenser.
Syn.
-- See Palliate.
CLOAKEDLY
Cloak"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concealed manner.
CLOAKING
Cloak"ing, n.
1. The act of covering with a cloak; the act of concealing anything.
To take heed of their dissembings and cloakings. Strype.
2. The material of which of which cloaks are made.
CLOAKROOM
Cloak"room`, n.
Defn: A room, attached to any place of public resort, where cloaks,
overcoats, etc., may be deposited for a time.
CLOCHE
Cloche, n. [F., prop., bell.] (Aëronautics)
Defn: An apparatus used in controlling certain kinds of aëroplanes,
and consisting principally of a steering column mounted with a
universal joint at the base, which is bellshaped and has attached to
it the cables for controlling the wing-warping devices, elevator
planes, and the like.
CLOCK
Clock, n. Etym: [AS. clucge bell; akin to D. klok clock, bell, G.
glocke, Dan. klokke, Sw. klocka, Icel. klukka bell, LL. clocca, cloca
(whence F. cloche); al perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. & Gael. clog
bell, clock, W. cloch bell. Cf. Cloak.]
1. A machine for measuring time, indicating the hour and other
divisions by means of hands moving on a dial plate. Its works are
moved by a weight or a spring, and it is often so constructed as to
tell the hour by the stroke of a hammer on a bell. It is not adapted,
like the watch, to be carried on the person.
2. A watcg, esp. one that strikes. [Obs.] Walton.
3. The striking of a clock. [Obs.] Dryden.
4. A figure or figured work on the ankle or side of a stocking.
Swift.
Note: The phrases what o'clock it is nine o'clock, etc., are
contracted from what of the clock it is nine of the clock, etc. Alarm
clock. See under Alarm.
-- Astronomical clock. (a) A clock of superior construction, with a
compensating pendulum, etc., to measure time with great accuracy, for
use in astronomical observatories; -- called a regulator when used by
watchmakers as a standard for regulating timepieces. (b) A clock with
mechanism for indicating certain astronomical phenomena, as the
phases of the moon, position of the sun in the ecliptic, equation of
time, etc.
-- Electric clock. (a) A clock moved or regulated by electricity or
electro-magnetism. (b) A clock connected with an electro-magnetic
recording apparatus.
-- Ship's clock (Naut.), a clock arranged to strike from one to
eight strokes, at half hourly intervals, marking the divisions of the
ship's watches.
-- Sidereal clock, an astronomical clock regulated to keep sidereal
time.
CLOCK
Clock, v. t.
Defn: To ornament with figured work, as the side of a stocking.
CLOCK
Clock, v. t. & i.
Defn: To call, as a hen. See Cluck. [R.]
CLOCK
Clock, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large beetle, esp. the European dung beetle (Scarabæus
stercorarius).
CLOCKLIKE
Clock"like`, a.
Defn: Like a clock or like clockwork; mechanical.
Their services are clocklike, to be set Blackward and vorward at
their lord's command. B. Jonson.
CLOCKWISE
Clock"wise`, a. & adv.
Defn: Like the motion of the hands of a clock; -- said of that
direction of a rotation about an axis, or about a point in a plane,
which is ordinarily reckoned negative.
CLOCKWORK
Clock"work`, n.
Defn: The machinery of a clock, or machinary resembling that of a
clock; machinery which produced regularity of movement.
CLOD
Clod, n. Etym: [OE. clodde, latter form of clot. See Clot.]
1. A lump or mass, especially of earth, turf, or clay. "Clods of a
slimy substance." Carew. "Clods of iron and brass." Milton.
"Clods of blood." E. Fairfax.
The earth that casteth up from the plow a great clod, is not so good
as that which casteth up a smaller clod. Bacon.
2. The ground; the earth; a spot of earth or turf.
The clod Where once their sultan's horse has trod. Swift.
3. That which is earthy and of little relative value, as the body of
man in comparison with the soul.
This cold clod of clay which we carry about with us. T. Burnet.
4. A dull, gross, stupid fellow; a dolt Dryden.
5. A pert of the shoulder of a beef creature, or of the neck piece
near the shoulder. See Illust. of Beef.
CLOD
Clod, v.i
Defn: To collect into clods, or into a thick mass; to coagulate; to
clot; as, clodded gore. See Clot.
Clodded in lumps of clay. G. Fletcher.
CLOD
Clod, v. t.
1. To pelt with clods. Jonson.
2. To throw violently; to hurl. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
CLODDISH
Clod"dish, a.
Defn: Resembling clods; gross; low; stupid; boorish. Hawthorne.
-- Clod"dish*ness, n.
CLODDY
Clod"dy, a.
Defn: Consisting of clods; full of clods.
CLODHOPPER
Clod"hop`per, n.
Defn: A rude, rustic fellow.
CLODHOPPING
Clod"hop`ping, a.
Defn: Boorish; rude. C. Bronté.
CLODPATE
Clod"pate`, n.
Defn: A blockhead; a dolt.
CLODPATED
Clod"pat`ed, a.
Defn: Stupid; dull; doltish.
CLODPOLL
Clod"poll`, n. Etym: [Clod + poll head.]
Defn: A stupid fellow; a dolt. [Written also clodpole.] Shak.
CLOFF
Cloff, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Formerly an allowance of two pounds in every three hundred
weight after the tare and tret are subtracted; now used only in a
general sense, of small deductions from the original weight. [Written
also clough.] McCulloch.
CLOG
Clog, n. Etym: [OE. clogge clog, Scot. clag, n., a clot, v., to to
obstruct, cover with mud or anything adhesive; prob. of the same
origin as E. clay.]
1. That which hinders or impedes motion; hence, an encumbrance,
restraint, or impediment, of any kind.
All the ancient, honest, juridical principles and institutions of
England are so many clogs to check and retard the headlong course of
violence and opression. Burke.
2. A weight, as a log or block of wood, attached to a man or an
animal to hinder motion.
As a dog . . . but chance breaks loose, And quits his clog. Hudibras.
A clog of lead was round my feet. Tennyson.
3. A shoe, or sandal, intended to protect the feet from wet, or to
increase the apparent stature, and having, therefore, a very thick
sole. Cf. Chopine.
In France the peasantry goes barefoot; and the middle sort . . .
makes use of wooden clogs. Harvey.
Clog almanac, a primitive kind of almanac or calendar, formerly used
in England, made by cutting notches and figures on the four edges of
a clog, or square piece of wood, brass, or bone; -- called also a
Runic staff, from the Runic characters used in the numerical
notation.
-- Clog dance, a dance performed by a person wearing clogs, or
thick-soled shoes.
-- Clog dancer.
CLOG
Clog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Clogging.]
1. To encumber or load, especially with something that impedes
motion; to hamper.
The winds of birds were clogged with ace and snow. Dryden.
2. To obstruct so as to hinder motion in or through; to choke up; as,
to clog a tube or a channel.
3. To burden; to trammel; to embarrass; to perplex.
The commodities are clogged with impositions. Addison.
You 'll rue the time That clogs me with this answer. Shak.
Syn.
-- Impede; hinder; obstruct; embarrass; burden; restrain; restrict.
CLOG
Clog, v. i.
1. To become clogged; to become loaded or encumbered, as with
extraneous matter.
In working through the bone, the teeth of the saw will begin to clog.
S. Sharp.
2. To coalesce or adhere; to unite in a mass.
Move it sometimes with a broom, that the seeds clog not together.
Evelyn.
CLOGGINESS
Clog"gi*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being clogged.
CLOGGING
Clog"ging, n.
Defn: Anything which clogs. Dr. H. More.
CLOGGY
Clog"gy, a.
Defn: Clogging, or having power to clog.
CLOISONNE
Cloi`son*né, a. Etym: [F., partitioned, fr. cloison a partition.]
Defn: Inlaid between partitions: -- said of enamel when the lines
which divide the different patches of fields are composed of a kind
of metal wire secured to the ground; as distinguished from champlevé
enamel, in which the ground is engraved or scooped out to receive the
enamel. S. Wells Williams.
CLOISTER
Clois"ter, n. Etym: [OF. cloistre, F. cloître, L. claustrum, pl.
claustra, bar, bolt, bounds, fr. claudere, clausum, to close. See
Close, v. t., and cf. Claustral.]
1. An inclosed place. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. A covered passage or ambulatory on one side of a court; (pl.) the
series of such passages on the different sides of any court, esp.
that of a monastery or a college.
But let my due feet never fail To walk the studious cloister's pale.
Milton.
3. A monastic establishment; a place for retirement from the world
for religious duties.
Fitter for a cloister than a crown. Daniel.
Cloister garth (Arch.), the garden or open part of a court inclosed
by the cloisters.
Syn.
-- Cloister, Monastery, Nunnery, Convent, Abbey, Priory. Cloister
and convent are generic terms, and denote a place of seclusion from
the world for persons who devote their lives to religious purposes.
They differ is that the distinctive idea of cloister is that of
seclusion from the world, that of convent, community of living. Both
terms denote houses for recluses of either sex. A cloister or convent
for monks is called a monastery; for nuns, a nunnery. An abbey is a
convent or monastic institution governed by an abbot or an abbess; a
priory is one governed by a prior or a prioress, and is usually
affiliated to an abbey.
CLOISTER
Clois"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cloistered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cloistering.]
Defn: To confine in, or as in, a cloister; to seclude from the world;
to immure.
None among them are throught worthy to be styled religious persons
but those that cloister themselves up in a monastery. Sharp.
CLOISTERAL
Clois"ter*al, a.
Defn: Cloistral. [Obs.] I. Walton.
CLOISTERED
Clois"tered, a.
1. Dwelling in cloisters; solitary. "Cloistered friars and vestal
nuns." Hudibras.
In cloistered state let selfish sages dwell, Proud that their heart
is narrow as their cell. Shenstone.
2. Furnished with cloisters. Sir H. Wotton.
CLOISTERER
Clois"ter*er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cloistier.]
Defn: One belonging to, or living in, a cloister; a recluse.
CLOISTRAL
Clois"tral, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or confined in, a cloister; recluse.
[Written also cloisteral.]
Best become a cloistral exercise. Daniel.
CLOISTRESS
Clois"tress, n.
Defn: A nun. [R.] Shak.
CLOKE
Cloke, n. & v.
Defn: See Cloak. [Obs.]
CLOMB; CLOMBEN
Clomb, Clomb"en,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Climb (for climbed). [Obs.]
The sonne, he sayde, is clomben up on hevene. Chaucer.
CLOMP
Clomp, n.
Defn: See Clamp.
CLONG
Clong,
Defn: imp. of Cling. [Obs.]
CLONIC
Clon"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. clonique.] (Med.)
Defn: Having an irregular, convulsive motion. Dunglison. Clonic
spasm. (Med.) See under Spasm.
CLONUS
Clo"nus, n. [NL., fr. Gr. violent, confused motion.] (Med.)
Defn: A series of muscular contractions due to sudden stretching of
the muscle, -- a sign of certain neuropathies.
CLOOM
Cloom, v. t. Etym: [A variant of clam to clog.]
Defn: To close with glutinous matter. [Obs.] Mortimer.
CLOOP
Cloop, n. Etym: [An onomatopoeia.]
Defn: The sound made when a cork is forcibly drawn from a bottle.
"The cloop of a cork wrenched from a bottle." Thackeray.
CLOOT
Cloot, n. [Cf. G. dial. kleuzen to split.] (Scot. & Dial. Eng.)
1. One of the divisions of a cleft hoof, as in the ox; also, the
whole hoof.
2. The Devil; Clootie; -- usually in the pl. Burns.
CLOOTIE
Cloot"ie, n. (Scot. & Dial. Eng.)
1.
Defn: A little hoof.
2. The Devil. "Satan, Nick, or Clootie." Burns.
CLOSE
Close, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Closed; p. pr. & vb. n. Closing.] Etym:
[From OF. & F. clos, p. p. of clore to close, fr. L. claudere; akin
to G. schliessen to shut, and to E. clot, cloister, clavicle,
conclude, sluice. Cf. Clause, n.]
1. To stop, or fill up, as an opening; to shut; as, to close the
eyes; to close a door.
2. To bring together the parts of; to consolidate; as, to close the
ranks of an army; -- often used with up.
3. To bring to an end or period; to conclude; to complete; to finish;
to end; to consummate; as, to close a bargain; to close a course of
instruction.
One frugal supper did our studies close. Dryden.
4. To come or gather around; to inclose; to encompass; to confine.
The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5.
But now thou dost thyself immure and close In some one corner of a
feeble heart. Herbert.
A closed sea, a sea within the jurisdiction of some particular
nation, which controls its navigation.
CLOSE
Close, v. i.
1. To come together; to unite or coalesce, as the parts of a wound,
or parts separated.
What deep wounds ever closed without a scar Byron.
2. To end, terminate, or come to a period; as, the debate closed at
six o'clock.
3. To grapple; to engange in hand-to-hand fight.
They boldly closed in a hand-to-hand contest. Prescott.
To close on or upon, to come to a mutual agreement; to agree on or
join in. "Would induce France and Holland to close upon some measures
between them to our disadvantage." Sir W. Temple.
-- To close with. (a) To accede to; to consent or agree to; as, to
close with the terms proposed. (b) To make an agreement with.
-- To close with the land (Naut.), to approach the land.
CLOSE
Close, n.
1. The manner of shutting; the union of parts; junction. [Obs.]
The doors of plank were; their close exquisite. Chapman.
2. Conclusion; cessation; ending; end.
His long and troubled life was drawing to a close. Macaulay.
3. A grapple in wrestling. Bacon.
4. (Mus.)
(a) The conclusion of a strain of music; cadence.
(b) A double bar marking the end.
At every close she made, the attending throng Replied, and bore the
burden of the song. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Conclusion; termination; cessation; end; ending; extremity;
extreme.
CLOSE
Close ( or ), n. Etym: [OF. & F. clos an inclosure, fr. clos, p. p.
of clore. See Close, v. t.]
1. An inclosed place; especially, a small field or piece of land
surrounded by a wall, hedge, or fence of any kind; -- specifically,
the precinct of a cathedral or abbey.
Closes surrounded by the venerable abodes of deans and canons.
Macaulay.
2. A narrow passage leading from a street to a court, and the houses
within. [Eng.] Halliwell
3. (Law)
Defn: The interest which one may have in a piece of ground, even
though it is not inclosed. Bouvier.
CLOSE
Close, a. [Compar. Closer; superl. Closest.] Etym: [Of. & F. clos, p.
p. of clore. See Close, v. t.]
1. Shut fast; closed; tight; as, a close box.
From a close bower this dainty music flowed. Dryden.
2. Narrow; confined; as, a close alley; close quarters. "A close
prison." Dickens.
3. Oppressive; without motion or ventilation; causing a feeling of
lassitude; -- said of the air, weather, etc.
If the rooms be low-roofed, or full of windows and doors, the one
maketh the air close, . . . and the other maketh it exceeding
unequal. Bacon.
4. Strictly confined; carefully quarded; as, a close prisoner.
5. Out of the way observation; secluded; secret; hidden. "He yet kept
himself close because of Saul." 1 Chron. xii. 1
"Her close intent." Spenser.
6. Disposed to keep secrets; secretive; reticent. "For servecy, no
lady closer." Shak.
7. Having the parts near each other; dense; solid; compact; as
applied to bodies; viscous; tenacious; not volatile, as applied to
liquids.
The golden globe being put into a press, . . . the water made itself
way through the pores of that very close metal. Locke.
8. Concise; to the point; as, close reasoning. "Where the original is
close no version can reach it in the same compass." Dryden.
9. Adjoining; near; either in space; time, or thought; -- often
followed by to.
Plant the spring crocuses close to a wall. Mortimer.
The thought of the Man of sorrows seemed a very close thing -- not a
faint hearsay. G. Eliot.
10. Short; as, to cut grass or hair close.
11. Intimate; familiar; confidential.
League with you I seek And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I
with you must dwell, or you with me. Milton.
12. Nearly equal; almost evenly balanced; as, a close vote. "A close
contest." Prescott.
13. Difficult to obtain; as, money is close. Bartlett.
14. Parsimonious; stingy. "A crusty old fellow, as close as a vise."
Hawthorne.
15. Adhering strictly to a standard or original; exact; strict; as, a
close translation. Locke.
16. Accurate; careful; precise; also, attentive; undeviating; strict;
not wandering; as, a close observer.
17. (Phon.)
Defn: Uttered with a relatively contracted opening of the mouth, as
certain sounds of e and o in French, Italian, and German; -- opposed
to open. Close borough. See under Borough.
-- Close breeding. See under Breeding.
-- Close communion, communion in the Lord's supper, restricted to
those who have received baptism by immersion.
-- Close corporation, a body or corporation which fills its own
vacancies.
-- Close fertilization. (Bot.) See Fertilization.
-- Close harmony (Mus.), compact harmony, in which the tones
composing each chord are not widely distributed over several octaves.
-- Close time, a fixed period during which killing game or catching
certain fish is prohibited by law.
-- Close vowel (Pron.), a vowel which is pronounced with a
diminished aperture of the lips, or with contraction of the cavity of
the mouth.
-- Close to the wind (Naut.), directed as nearly to the point from
which the wind blows as it is possible to sail; closehauled; -- said
of a vessel.
CLOSE
Close, adv.
1. In a close manner.
2. Secretly; darkly. [Obs.]
A wondrous vision which did close imply The course of all her fortune
and posterity. Spenser.
CLOSE-BANDED
Close"-band`ed, a.
Defn: Closely united.
CLOSE-BARRED
Close"-barred`, a.
Defn: Firmly barred or closed.
CLOSE-BODIED
Close"-bod`ied, a.
Defn: Fitting the body exactly; setting close, as a garment. Ayliffe.
CLOSE-FIGHTS
Close"-fights`, n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Barriers with loopholes, formerly erected on the deck of a
vessel to shelter the men in a close engagement with an enemy's
boarders; -- called also close quarters. [Obs.]
CLOSEFISTED
Close"fist`ed, a.
Defn: Covetous; niggardly. Bp. Berkeley. "Closefisted contractors."
Hawthorne.
CLOSEHANDED
Close"hand`ed, a.
Defn: Covetous; penurious; stingy; closefisted.
-- Close"hand`ed*ness, n.
CLOSEHAULED
Close"hauled`, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Under way and moving as nearly as possible toward the direction
from which the wind blows; -- said of a sailing vessel.
CLOSELY
Close"ly, adv.
1. In a close manner.
2. Secretly; privately. [Obs.]
That nought she did but wayle, and often steepe Her dainty couch with
tears which closely she did weepe. Spenser.
CLOSEMOUTHED
Close"mouthed`, a.
Defn: Cautious in speaking; secret; wary; uncommunicative.
CLOSEN
Clos"en, v. t.
Defn: To make close. [R.]
CLOSENESS
Close"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being close.
Half stifled by the closeness of the room. Swift.
We rise not against the piercing judgment of Augustus, nor the
extreme caution or closeness of Tiberius. Bacon.
An affectation of closeness and covetousness. Addison.
Syn.
-- Narrowness; oppressiveness; strictness; secrecy; compactness;
conciseness; nearness; intimacy; tightness; stinginess; literalness.
CLOSER
Clos"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, closes; specifically, a boot closer. See
under Boot.
2. A finisher; that which finishes or terminates.
3. (Masonry)
Defn: The last stone in a horizontal course, if of a less size than
the others, or a piece of brick finishing a course. Gwilt.
CLOSEREEFED
Close"reefed`, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having all the reefs taken in; -- said of a sail.
CLOSE-STOOL
Close"-stool`, n.
Defn: A utensil to hold a chamber vessel, for the use of the sick and
infirm. It is usually in the form of a box, with a seat and tight
cover.
CLOSET
Clos"et, n. Etym: [OF. closet little inclosure, dim. of clos. See
Close an inclosure.]
1. A small room or apartment for retirement; a room for privacy.
A chair-lumbered closet, just twelve feet by nine. Goldsmith.
When thou prayest, enter into thy closet. Matt. vi. 6.
2. A small apartment, or recess in the side of a room, for household
utensils, clothing, etc. Dryden. Closet sin, sin commited in privacy.
Bp. Hall.
CLOSET
Clos"et, v. t. [imp. & p. pr. & vb. n. Closeting.]
1. To shut up in, or as in, a closet; to conceal. [R.]
Bedlam's closeted and handcuffed charge. Cowper.
2. To make into a closet for a secret interview.
He was to call a new legislature, to closet its members. Bancroft.
He had been closeted with De Quadra. Froude.
CLOSE-TONGUED
Close"-tongued` (, a.
Defn: Closemouthed; silent. "Close-tongued treason." Shak.
CLOSH
Closh, n. Etym: [CF. F. clocher to limp, halt.]
Defn: A disease in the feet of cattle; laminitis. Crabb.
CLOSH
Closh, n. Etym: [CF. D. klossen to play at bowls.]
Defn: The game of ninepins. [Obs.] Halliwell.
CLOSURE
Clo"sure (, 135), n. Etym: [Of. closure, L. clausura, fr. clauedere
to shut. See Close, v. t.]
1. The act of shutting; a closing; as, the closure of a chink.
2. That which closes or shuts; that by which separate parts are
fastened or closed.
Without a seal, wafer, or any closure whatever. Pope.
3. That which incloses or confines; an inclosure.
O thou bloody prison . . . Within the guilty closure of thy walls
Richard the Second here was hacked to death. Shak.
4. A conclusion; an end. [Obs.] Shak.
5. (Parliamentary Practice)
Defn: A method of putting an end to debate and securing an immediate
vote upon a measure before a legislative body. It is similar in
effect to the previous question. It was first introduced into the
British House of Commons in 1882. The French word clôture was
originally applied to this proceeding.
CLOT
Clot, n. Etym: [OE. clot, clodde, clod; akin to D. kloot ball, G.
kloss clod, dumpling, klotz block, Dan. klods, Sw. klot bowl, globe,
klots block; cf. AS. clate bur. Cf. Clod, n., Clutter to clot.]
Defn: A concretion or coagulation; esp. a soft, slimy, coagulated
mass, as of blood; a coagulum. "Clots of pory gore." Addison.
Doth bake the egg into clots as if it began to poach. Bacon.
Note: Clod and clot appear to be radically the same word, and are so
used by early writers; but in present use clod is applied to a mass
of earth or the like, and clot to a concretion or coagulation of soft
matter.
CLOT
Clot, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Clotting.]
Defn: To concrete, coagulate, or thicken, as soft or fluid matter by
evaporation; to become a cot or clod.
CLOT
Clot, v. t.
Defn: To form into a slimy mass.
CLOTBUR
Clot"bur`, n. Etym: [Cf. Clote.]
1. The burdock. [Prov. Engl.] Prior.
2. Same as Cocklebur.
CLOTE
Clote, n. Etym: [AS. cl: cf. G. klette.]
Defn: The common burdock; the clotbur. [Obs.] Wyclif.
CLOTH
Cloth, n.; pl. Cloths (#; 115), except in the sense of garments, when
it is Clothes (klothz or kloz). Etym: [OE. clath cloth, AS. cla\'ed
cloth, garment; akin to D. kleed, Icel. klæ\'ebi, Dan. klæde, cloth,
Sw. kläde, G. kleid garment, dress.]
1. A fabric made of fibrous material (or sometimes of wire, as in
wire cloth); commonly, a woven fabric of cotton, woolen, or linen,
adapted to be made into garments; specifically, woolen fabrics, as
distinguished from all others.
2. The dress; raiment. [Obs.] See Clothes.
I'll ne'er distust my God for cloth and bread. Quarles.
3. The distinctive dress of any profession, especially of the clergy;
hence, the clerical profession.
Appeals were made to the priesthood. Would they tamely permit so
gross an insult to be offered to their cloth Macaulay.
The cloth, the clergy, are constituted for administering and for
giving the best possible effect to . . . every axiom. I. Taylor.
Body cloth. See under Body.
-- Cloth of gold, a fabric woven wholly or partially of threads of
gold.
-- Cloth measure, the measure of length and surface by which cloth
is measured and sold. For this object the standard yard is usually
divided into quarters and nails.
-- Cloth paper, a coarse kind of paper used in pressing and
finishing woolen cloth.
-- Cloth shearer, one who shears cloth and frees it from superfluous
nap.
CLOTHE
Clothe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clothed ( or Clad; p. pr. & vb. n.
Clothing.] Etym: [OE. clathen, clothen, clethen, AS. cla\'ebian,
clæ\'eban. See Cloth.]
1. To put garments on; to cover with clothing; to dress.
Go with me, to clothe you as becomes you. Shak.
2. To provide with clothes; as, to feed and clothe a family; to
clothe one's self extravagantly.
Drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. Prov. xxiii. 21
The naked every day he clad, When he put on his clothes. Goldsmith.
3. Fig.: To cover or invest, as with a garment; as, to clothe one
with authority or power.
Language in which they can clothe their thoughts. Watts.
His sides are clothed with waving wood. J. Dyer.
Thus Belial, with with words clothed in reason's garb. Milton.
CLOTHE
Clothe, v. i.
Defn: To wear clothes. [Poetic]
Care no more to clothe eat. Shak.
CLOTHES
Clothes ( or ; 277), n. pl. Etym: [From Cloth.]
1. Covering for the human body; dress; vestments; vesture; -- a
general term for whatever covering is worn, or is made to be worn,
for decency or comfort.
She . . . speaks well, and has excellent good clothes. Shak.
If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. Mark. v. 28.
2. The covering of a bed; bedclothes.
She turned each way her frighted head, Then sunk it deep beneath the
clothes. Prior.
Body clothes. See under Body.
-- Clothes moth (Zoöl.), a small moth of the genus Tinea. The most
common species (T. flavifrontella)is yellowish white. The larvæ eat
woolen goods, furs, feathers, etc. They live in tubular cases made of
the material upon which they feed, fastened together with silk.
Syn.
-- Garments; dress; clothing; apparel; attire; vesture; raiment;
garb; costume; habit; habiliments.
CLOTHESHORSE
Clothes"horse`, n.
Defn: A frame to hang clothes on.
CLOTHESLINE
Clothes"line`, n.
Defn: A rope or wire on which clothes are hung to dry.
CLOTHESPIN
Clothes"pin` ( or ), n.
Defn: A forked piece of wood, or a small spring clamp, used for
fastening clothes on a line.
CLOTHESPRESS
Clothes"press`, n.
Defn: A receptacle for clothes.
CLOTHIER
Cloth"ier, n.
1. One who makes cloths; one who dresses or fulls cloth. Hayward.
2. One who sells cloth or clothes, or who makes and sells clothes.
CLOTHING
Cloth"ing, n.
1. Garments in general; clothes; dress; raiment; covering.
From others he shall stand in need of nothing, Yet on his brothers
shall depend for clothing. Milton.
As for me, . . . my clothing was sackloth. Ps. xxxv. 13
2. The art of process of making cloth. [R.]
Instructing [refugees] in the art of clothing. Ray.
3. A covering of non-conducting material on the outside of a boiler,
or steam chamber, to prevent radiation of heat. Knight.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: See Card clothing, under 3d Card.
CLOTHRED
Clot"hred, p. p.
Defn: Clottered. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLOTPOLL
Clot"poll`, n.
Defn: See Clodpoll. [Obs.] Shak.
CLOTTED
Clot"ted, a.
Defn: Composed of clots or clods; having the quality or form of a
clot; sticky; slimy; foul. "The clotted glebe." J. Philips.
When lust . . . Lets in defilement to the inward parts, The soul
grows clotted by contagion. Milton.
CLOTTER
Clot"ter, v. i. Etym: [From Clot.]
Defn: To concrete into lumps; to clot. [Obs.] "Clottered blood."
Chapman.
CLOTTY
Clot"ty, a. Etym: [From Clot, n.]
Defn: Full of clots, or clods. "Clotty matter." Harvey.
CLOTURE
Clô`ture", n. Etym: [F.] (Parliamentary Practice)
Defn: See Closure, 5.
CLOTWEED
Clot"weed`, n. Etym: [See Clote.]
Defn: Cocklebur.
CLOUD
Cloud, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. AS. cld a rock or hillock, the application
arising from the frequent resemblance of clouds to rocks or hillocks
in the sky or air.]
1. A collection of visible vapor, or watery particles, susponded in
the upper atmosphere.
I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13.
Note: A classification of clouds according to their chief forms was
first proposed by the meteorologist Howard, and this is still
substantially employed. The following varieties and subvarieties are
recognized: (a) Cirrus. This is the most elevated of all the forms of
clouds; is thin, long-drawn, sometimes looking like carded wool or
hair, sometimes like a brush or room, sometimes in curl-like or
fleecelike patches. It is the cat's-tail of the sailor, and the
mare's-tail of the landsman. (b) Cumulus. This form appears in large
masses of a hemispherical form, or nearly so, above, but flat below,
one often piled above another, forming great clouds, common in the
summer, and presenting the appearance of gigantic mountains crowned
with snow. It often affords rain and thunder gusts. (c) Stratus. This
form appears in layers or bands extending horizontally. (d) Nimbus.
This form is characterized by its uniform gray tint and ragged edges;
it covers the sky in seasons of continued rain, as in easterly
storms, and is the proper rain cloud. The name is sometimes used to
denote a raining cumulus, or cumulostratus. (e) Cirro-cumulus. This
form consists, like the cirrus, of thin, broken, fleecelice clouds,
but the parts are more or less rounded and regulary grouped. It is
popularly called mackerel sky. (f) Cirro-stratus. In this form the
patches of cirrus coalesce in long strata, between cirrus and
stratus. (g) Cumulo-stratus. A form between cumulus and stratus,
often assuming at the horizon a black or bluish tint.
-- Fog, cloud, motionless, or nearly so, lying near or in contact
with the earth's surface.
-- Storm scud, cloud lying quite low, without form, and driven
rapidly with the wind.
2. A mass or volume of smoke, or flying dust, resembling vapor. "A
thick cloud of incense." Ezek. viii. 11.
3. A dark vein or spot on a lighter material, as in marble; hence, a
blemish or defect; as, a cloud upon one's reputation; a cloud on a
title.
4. That which has a dark, lowering, or threatening aspect; that which
temporarily overshadows, obscures, or depresses; as, a cloud of
sorrow; a cloud of war; a cloud upon the intellect.
5. A great crowd or multitude; a vast collection. "So great a cloud
of witnesses." Heb. xii. 1.
6. A large, loosely-knitted scarf, worn by women about the head.
Cloud on a (or the) title (Law), a defect of title, usually
superficial and capable of removal by release, decision in equity, or
legislation.
-- To be under a cloud, to be under suspicion or in disgrace; to be
in disfavor.
-- In the clouds, in the realm of facy and imagination; beyond
reason; visionary.
CLOUD
Cloud, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clouded; p. pr. & vb. n. Clouding.]
1. To overspread or hide with a cloud or clouds; as, the sky is
clouded.
2. To darken or obscure, as if by hiding or enveloping with a cloud;
hence, to render gloomy or sullen.
One day too late, I fear me, noble lord, Hath clouded all thy happy
days on earth. Shak.
Be not disheartened, then, nor cloud those looks. Milton.
Nothing clouds men's minds and impairs their honesty like prejudice.
M. Arnold.
3. To blacken; to sully; to stain; to tarnish; to damage; -- esp.
used of reputation or character.
I would not be a stander-by to hear My sovereign mistress clouded so,
without My present vengeance taken. Shak.
4. To mark with, or darken in, veins or sports; to variegate with
colors; as, to cloud yarn.
And the nice conduct of a clouded cane. Pope.
CLOUD
Cloud, v. i.
Defn: To grow cloudy; to become obscure with clouds; -- often used
with up.
Worthies, away! The scene begins to cloud. Shak.
CLOUDAGE
Cloud"age, n.
Defn: Mass of clouds; cloudiness. [R.]
A scudding cloudage of shapes. Coleridge.
CLOUDBERRY
Cloud"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of raspberry (Rubus Chamæmerous) growing in the
northern regions, and bearing edible, amber-colored fruit.
CLOUD-BUILT
Cloud"-built, a.
Defn: Built of, or in, the clouds; airy; unsubstantial; imaginary.
Cowper.
So vanished my cloud-built palace. Goldsmith.
CLOUD-BURST
Cloud"-burst`, n.
Defn: A sudden copious rainfall, as the whole cloud had been
precipitated at once.
CLOUD-CAPPED
Cloud"-capped`, a.
Defn: Having clouds resting on the top or head; reaching to the
clouds; as, cloud-capped mountains.
CLOUD-COMPELLER
Cloud"-com*pel`ler, n.
Defn: Cloud-gatherer; -- an epithet applied to Zeus. [Poetic.] Pope.
CLOUDILY
Cloud"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cloudy manner; darkly; obscurely. Dryden.
CLOUDINESS
Cloud"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being cloudy.
CLOUDING
Cloud"ing, n.
1. A mottled appearance given to ribbons and silks in the process of
dyeing.
2. A diversity of colors in yarn, recurring at regular intervals.
Knight.
CLOUDLAND
Cloud"land`, n.
Defn: Dreamland.
CLOUDLESS
Cloud"less, a.
Defn: Without a cloud; clear; bright.
A cloudless winter sky. Bankroft.
-- Cloud"less*ly, adv.
-- Cloud"less*ness, n.
CLOUDLET
Cloud"let, n.
Defn: A little cloud. R. Browning.
Eve's first star through fleecy cloudlet peeping. Coleridge.
CLOUDY
Cloud"y (, a. [Compar. Cloudier (; superl. Cloudiest.] Etym: [From
Cloud, n.]
1. Overcast or obscured with clouds; clouded; as, a cloudy sky.
2. Consisting of a cloud or clouds.
As Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended.
Ex. xxxiii. 9
3. Indicating gloom, anxiety, sullenness, or ill-nature; not open or
cheerful. "A cloudy countenance." Shak.
4. Confused; indistinct; obscure; dark.
Cloudy and confused notions of things. Watts.
5. Lacking clearness, brightness, or luster. "A cloudy diamond."
Boyle.
6. Marked with veins or sports of dark or various hues, as marble.
CLOUGH
Clough, n. Etym: [OE. clough, cloghe, clou, clewch, AS. (assumed)
cloh, akin to G. klinge ravine.]
1. A cleft in a hill; a ravine; a narrow valley. Nares.
2. A sluice used in returning water to a channel after depositing its
sediment on the flooded land. Knight.
CLOUGH
Clough, n. (Com.)
Defn: An allowance in weighing. See Cloff.
CLOUT
Clout, n. Etym: [AS. clut a little cloth, piece of metal; cf. Sw.
klut, Icel. klutr a kerchief, or W. clwt a clout, Gael. clud.]
1. A cloth; a piece of cloth or leather; a patch; a rag.
His garments, nought but many ragged clouts, With thorns together
pinned and patched was. Spenser.
A clout upon that head where late the diadem stood. Shak.
2. A swadding cloth.
3. A piece; a fragment. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. The center of the butt at which archers shoot; -- probably once a
piece of white cloth or a nail head.
A'must shoot nearer or he'll ne'er hit the clout. Shak.
5. An iron plate on an axletree or other wood to keep it from
wearing; a washer.
6. A blow with the hand. [Low] Clout nail, a kind of wrought-iron
nail heaving a large flat head; -- used for fastening clouts to
axletrees, plowshares, etc., also for studding timber, and for
various purposes.
CLOUT
Clout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Clouting.] Etym:
[OE. clutien. clouten, to patch. See Clout, n.]
1. To cover with cloth, leather, or other material; to bandage;
patch, or mend, with a clout.
And old shoes and clouted upon their feet. Josh. ix. 5.
Paul, yea, and Peter, too, had more skill in . . . clouting an old
tent than to teach lawyers. Latimer.
2. To join or patch clumsily.
If fond Bavius vent his clouted song. P. Fletcher
3. To quard with an iron plate, as an axletree.
4. To give a blow to; to strike. [Low]
The . . . queen of Spain took off one of her chopines and clouted
Olivarez about the noddle with it. Howell.
5. To stud with nails, as a timber, or a boot sole. Clouted cream,
clotted cream, i. e., cream obtained by warming new milk. A. Philips.
Note: "Clouted brogues" in Shakespeare and "clouted shoon" in Milton
have been understood by some to mean shoes armed with nails; by
others, patched shoes.
CLOUTERLY
Clout"er*ly, a. Etym: [From Clout, n.]
Defn: Clumsy; awkward. [Obs.]
Rough-hewn, cloutery verses. E. Phillips.
CLOVE
Clove,
Defn: imp. of Cleave. Cleft. Spenser. Clove hitch (Naut.) See under
Hitch.
-- Clove hook (Naut.), an iron two-part hook, with jaws overlapping,
used in bending chain sheets to the clews of sails; -- called also
clip hook. Knight.
CLOVE
Clove, n. Etym: [D. kloof. See Cleave, v. t.]
Defn: A cleft; a gap; a ravine; -- rarely used except as part of a
proper name; as, Kaaterskill Clove; Stone Clove.
CLOVE
Clove, n. Etym: [OE. clow, fr. F. clou nail, clou de girofle a clove,
lit. nail of clove, fr. L. clavus nail, perh. akin to clavis key, E.
clavicle. The clove was so called from its resemblance to a nail. So
in D. kruidnagel clove, lit. herb-nail or spice-nail. Cf. Cloy.]
Defn: A very pungent aromatic spice, the unexpanded flower bud of the
clove tree (Eugenia, or Caryophullus, aromatica), a native of the
Molucca Isles. Clove camphor. (Chem.) See Eugenin.
-- Clove gillyflower, Clove pink (Bot.), any fragrant self-colored
carnation.
CLOVE
Clove, n. Etym: [AS. clufe an ear of corn, a clove of garlic; cf.
cleófan to split, E. cleave.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the small bulbs developed in the axils of the scales of
a large bulb, as in the case of garlic.
Developing, in the axils of its skales, new bulbs, of what gardeners
call cloves. Lindley.
2. A weight. A clove of cheese is about eight pounds, of wool, about
seven pounds. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLOVEN
Clo"ven, p. p. & a.
Defn: from Cleave, v. t. To show the cloven foot or hoof, to reveal a
devilish character, or betray an evil purpose, notwithstanding
disguises, -- Satan being represented dramatically and symbolically
as having cloven hoofs.
CLOVEN-FOOTED; CLOVEN-HOOFED
Clo"ven-foot`ed, Clo"ven-hoofed`, a.
Defn: Having the foot or hoof divided into two parts, as the ox.
CLOVER
Clo"ver, n. Etym: [OE. claver, clover, AS. cl; akin to LG. & Dan.
klever, D. klaver, G. klee, Sw. kl.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of differend species of the genus Trifolium; as the
common red clover, T. pratense, the white, T. repens, and the hare's
foot, T. arvense. Clover weevil (Zoöl.) a small weevil (Apion
apricans), that destroys the seeds of clover.
-- Clover worm (Zoöl.), the larva of a small moth (Asopia costalis),
often very destructive to clover hay.
-- In clover, in very pleasant circumstances; fortunate. [Colloq.] -
- Sweet clover. See Meliot.
CLOVERED
Clo"vered, a.
Defn: Covered with growing clover.
Flocks thick nibbling through the clovered vale. Thomson.
CLOWE-GILOFRE
Clowe"-gi*lof`re, n. Etym: [See 3d Clove, and Gilliflower.]
Defn: Spice clove. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLOWN
Clown, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. klunni a clumsy, boorish fellow, North
Fries. kl clown, dial. Sw. klunn log, Dan. klunt log block, and E.
clump, n.]
1. A man of coarse nature and manners; an awkward fellow; an illbred
person; a boor. Sir P. Sidney.
2. One who works upon the soil; a rustic; a churl.
The clown, the child of nature, without guile. Cowper.
3. The fool or buffoon in a play, circus, etc.
The clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o'the sere.
Shak.
CLOWN
Clown, v. i.
Defn: To act as a clown; -- with it [Obs.]
Beclowns it properly indeed. B. Jonson.
CLOWNAGE
Clown"age, n.
Defn: Behavior or manners of a clown; clownery. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CLOWNERY
Clown"er*y, n.
Defn: Clownishness. L'Estrange.
CLOWNISH
Clown"ish, a.
Defn: Of or resembling a clown, or characteristic of a clown;
ungainly; awkward. "Clownish hands." Spenser. "Clownish mimic."
Prior.
-- Clown"ish*ly, adv.
Syn.
-- Coarse; rough; clumsy; awkward; ungainly; rude; uncivil; ill-
bred; boorish; rustic; untutored.
CLOWNISHNESS
Clown"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The manners of a clown; coarseness or rudeness of behavior.
That plainness which the alamode people call clownishness. Locke.
CLOY
Cloy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cloyed (kloid); p. pr. & vb. n. Cloying.]
Etym: [OE. cloer to nail up, F. clouer, fr. OF. clo nail, F. clou,
fr. L. clavus nail. Cf. 3d Clove.]
1. To fill or choke up; to stop up; to clog. [Obs.]
The duke's purpose was to have cloyed the harbor by sinking ships,
laden with stones. Speed.
2. To glut, or satisfy, as the appetite; to satiate; to fill to
loathing; to surfeit.
[Who can] cloy the hungry edge of appetite By bare imagination of a
feast Shak.
He sometimes cloys his readers instead of satisfying. Dryden.
3. To penetrate or pierce; to wound.
Which, with his cruel tusk, him deadly cloyed. Spenser.
He never shod horse but he cloyed him. Bacon.
4. To spike, as a cannon. [Obs.] Johnson.
5. To stroke with a claw. [Obs.] Shak.
CLOYLESS
Cloy"less, a.
Defn: That does not cloy. Shak.
CLOYMENT
Cloy"ment, n.
Defn: Satiety. [Obs.] Shak.
CLUB
Club, n. Etym: [CF. Icel. klubba, klumba, club, klumbuf a clubfoot,
SW. klubba club, Dan. klump lump, klub a club, G. klumpen clump,
kolben club, and E. clump.]
1. A heavy staff of wood, usually tapering, and wielded the hand; a
weapon; a cudgel.
But make you ready your stiff bats and clubs; Rome and her rats are
at the point of battle. Shak.
2. Etym: [Cf. the Spanish name bastos, and Sp. baston staff, club.]
Defn: Any card of the suit of cards having a figure like the trefoil
or clover leaf. (pl.) The suit of cards having such figure.
3. An association of persons for the promotion of some common object,
as literature, science, politics, good fellowship, etc.; esp. an
association supported by equal assessments or contributions of the
members.
They talked At wine, in clubs, of art, of politics. Tennyson.
He [Goldsmith] was one of the nine original members of that
celebrated fraternity which has sometimes been called the Literary
Club, but which has always disclaimed that epithet, and still glories
in the simple name of the Club. Macaulay.
4. A joint charge of expense, or any person's share of it; a
contribution to a common fund.
They laid down the club. L'Estrange.
We dined at a French house, but paid ten shillings for our part of
the club. Pepys.
Club law, government by violence; lynch law; anarchy. Addison. -Club
moss (Bot.), an evergreen mosslike plant, much used in winter
decoration. The best know species is Lycopodium clavatum, but other
Lycopodia are often called by this name. The spores form a highly
inflammable powder.
-- Club root (Bot.), a disease of cabbages, by which the roots
become distorted and the heads spoiled.
-- Club topsail (Naut.), a kind of gaff topsail, used mostly by
yachts having a fore-and-aft rig. It has a short "club" or "jack
yard" to increase its spread.
CLUB
Club, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Clubbing.]
1. To beat with a club.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To throw, or allow to fall, into confusion.
To club a battalion implies a temporary inability in the commanding
officer to restore any given body of men to their natural front in
line or column. Farrow.
3. To unite, or contribute, for the accomplishment of a common end;
as, to club exertions.
4. To raise, or defray, by a proportional assesment; as, to club the
expense. To club a musket (Mil.), to turn the breach uppermost, so as
to use it as a club.
CLUB
Club, v. i.
1. To form a club; to combine for the promotion of some common
object; to unite.
Till grosser atoms, tumbling in the stream Of fancy, madly met, and
clubbed into a dream. Dryden.
2. To pay on equal or proportionate share of a common charge or
expense; to pay for something by contribution.
The owl, the raven, and the bat, Clubbed for a feather to his hat.
Swift.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: To drift in a current with an anchor out.
CLUBBABLE
Club"ba*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable for membership in a club; sociable. [Humorous.] G. W.
Curtis.
CLUBBED
Clubbed, a.
Defn: Shaped like a club; grasped like, or used as, a club. Skelton.
CLUBBER
Club"ber, n.
1. One who clubs.
2. A member of a club. [R.] Massinger.
CLUBBISH
Club"bish, a.
1. Rude; clownish. [Obs.]
2. Disposed to club together; as, a clubbish set.
CLUBBIST
Club"bist, n.
Defn: A member of a club; a frequenter of clubs. [R.] Burke.
CLUBFIST
Club"fist`, n.
1. A large, heavy fist.
2. A coarse, brutal fellow. [Obs.] Mir. for Mag.
CLUBFISTED
Club"fist`ed, a.
Defn: Having a large fist. Howell.
CLUBFOOT
Club"foot, n. Etym: [Club + foot.] (Med.)
Defn: A short, variously distorted foot; also, the deformity, usually
congenital, which such a foot exhibits; talipes.
CLUBFOOTED
Club"foot`ed, a.
Defn: Having a clubfoot.
CLUBHAND
Club"hand`, n. (Med.)
Defn: A short, distorted hand; also, the deformity of having such a
hand.
CLUBHAUL
Club"haul`, v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To put on the other tack by dropping the lee anchor as soon as
the wind is out of the sails (which brings the vessel's head to the
wind), and by cutting the cable as soon as she pays off on the other
tack. Clubhauling is attempted only in an exigency.
CLUBHOUSE
Club"house`, n.
Defn: A house occupied by a club.
CLUBROOM
Club"room`, n.
Defn: The apartment in which a club meets. Addison.
CLUB-RUSH
Club"-rush`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A rushlike plant, the reed mace or cat-tail, or some species of
the genus Scirpus. See Bulrush.
CLUB-SHAPED
Club"-shaped, a.
Defn: Enlarged gradually at the end, as the antennæ of certain
insects.
CLUCK
Cluck, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clucked; p pr. & vb. n. Clucking.] Etym:
[AS. cloccian; cf. D. klokken, G. glucken, glucksen, LG. klukken,
Dan. klukke; all prob. of imitative origin.]
Defn: To make the noise, or utter the call, of a brooding hen. Ray.
CLUCK
Cluck, v. t.
Defn: To call together, or call to follow, as a hen does her
chickens.
She, poor hen, fond of no second brood, Has clucked three to the
wars. Shak.
CLUCK
Cluck, n.
1. The call of a hen to her chickens.
2. A click. See 3d Click, 2.
CLUCKING
Cluck"ing, n.
Defn: The noise or call of a brooding hen.
CLUE
Clue, n. Etym: [See Clew, n.]
Defn: A ball of thread; a thread or other means of guidance. Same as
Clew.
You have wound a goodly clue. Shak.
This clue once found unravels all the rest. Pope.
Serve as clues to guide us into further knowledge. Locke.
CLUM
Clum, interj.
Defn: Silence; hush. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CLUMBER
Clum"ber, n. Etym: [Named from the estate of the Duke of Newcastle.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of field spaniel, with short legs and stout body, which,
unlike other spaniels, hunts silently.
CLUMP
Clump, n. Etym: [Cf. D. klomp lump, G. klump, klumpen, Dan. klump,
Sw. kllimp; perh. akin to L. globus, E. globe. Cf. Club.]
1. An unshaped piece or mass of wood or other substance.
2. A cluster; a group; a thicket.
A clump of shrubby trees. Hawthorne.
3. The compressed clay of coal strata. Brande & C.
CLUMP
Clump, v. t.
Defn: To arrange in a clump or clumps; to cluster; to group.
Blackmore.
CLUMP
Clump, v. i.
Defn: To tread clumsily; to clamp. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CLUMPER
Clump"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. G. klümpern to clod. See Clump, n.]
Defn: To form into clumps or masses. [Obs.]
Vapors . . . clumpered in balls of clouds. Dr. H. More.
CLUMPS
Clumps, n.
Defn: A game in which questions are asked for the purpose of enabling
the questioners to discover a word or thing previously selected by
two persons who answer the questions; -- so called because the
players take sides in two "clumps" or groups, the "clump" which
guesses the word winning the game.
CLUMPY
Clump"y, a. Etym: [From Clump, n.]
Defn: Composed of clumps; massive; shapeless. Leigh Hunt.
CLUMSILY
Clum"si*ly, adv.
Defn: In a clumsy manner; awkwardly; as, to walk clumsily.
CLUMSINESS
Clum"si*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being clusy.
The drudging part of life is chiefly owing to clumsiness and
ignorance. Collier.
CLUMSY
Clum"sy, a. [Compar. Clumsier; superl. Clumsiest.] Etym: [OE. clumsed
benumbed, fr. clumsen to be benumbed; cf. Icel. klumsa lockjaw, dial.
Sw. klummsen benumbed with cold. Cf. 1st Clam, and 1st Clamp.]
1. Stiff or benumbed, as with cold. [Obs.]
2. Without skill or grace; wanting dexterity, nimbleness, or
readiness; stiff; awkward, as if benumbed; unwieldy; unhandy; hence;
ill-made, misshapen, or inappropriate; as, a clumsy person; a clumsy
workman; clumsy fingers; a clumsy gesture; a clumsy excuse.
But thou in clumsy verse, unlicked, unpointed, Hast shamefully defied
the Lord's anointed. Dryden.
Syn.
-- See Awkward.
CLUNCH
Clunch, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. clinch to make fast]
Defn: .
1. (Mining)
Defn: Indurated clay. See Bind, n., 3.
2. One of the hard beds of the lower chalk. Dana.
CLUNG
Clung,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Cling.
CLUNG
Clung, a. Etym: [Prop. p. p. fr. OE. clingen to wither. See Cling, v.
i.]
Defn: Wasted away; shrunken. [Obs.]
CLUNIAC
Clu"ni*ac, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A monk of the reformed branch of the Benedictine Order, founded
in 912 at Cluny (or Clugny) in France.
-- Also used as a.
CLUNIACENSIAN
Clu`ni*a*cen"sian, a.
Defn: Cluniac.
CLUPEOID
Clu"pe*oid, a. Etym: [L.clupea a kind of fish, NL., generic name of
the herring + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Herring family.
CLUSTER
Clus"ter, n. Etym: [AS. cluster, clyster; cf. LG. kluster (also Sw. &
Dan. klase a cluster of grapes, D. klissen to be entangled.)]
1. A number of things of the same kind growing together; a bunch.
Her deeds were like great clusters of ripe grapes, Which load the
bunches of the fruitful vine. Spenser.
2. A number of similar things collected together or lying contiguous;
a group; as, a cluster of islands. "Cluster of provinces." Motley.
3. A number of individuals grouped together or collected in one
place; a crowd; a mob.
As bees . . . Pour forth their populous youth about the hive In
clusters. Milton.
We loved him; but, like beasts And cowardly nobles, gave way unto
your clusters, Who did hoot him out o' the city. Shak.
CLUSTER
Clus"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Clustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Clustering.]
Defn: To grow in clusters or assemble in groups; to gather or unite
in a cluster or clusters.
His sunny hair Cluster'd about his temples, like a god's. Tennyson.
The princes of the country clustering together. Foxe.
CLUSTER
Clus"ter, v. t.
Defn: To collect into a cluster or clusters; to gather into a bunch
or close body.
Not less the bee would range her cells, . . . The foxglove cluster
dappled bells. Tennyson.
Or from the forest falls the clustered snow. Thomson.
Clustered column (Arch.), a column which is composed, or appears to
be composed, of several columns collected together.
CLUSTERINGLY
Clus"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In clusters.
CLUSTERY
Clus"ter*y, a. Etym: [From Cluster, n.]
Defn: Growing in, or full of, clusters; like clusters. Johnson.
CLUTCH
Clutch (kluch; 224), n. Etym: [OE. cloche, cloke, claw, Scot. clook,
cleuck, also OE. cleche claw, clechen, cleken, to seize; cf. AS.
gelæccan (where ge- is a prefix) to seize. Cf. Latch a catch.]
1. A gripe or clinching with, or as with, the fingers or claws;
seizure; grasp. "The clutch of poverty." Cowper.
An expiring clutch at popularity. Carlyle.
But Age, with his stealing steps, Hath clawed me in his clutch. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: The hands, claws, or talons, in the act of grasping firmly; --
often figuratively, for power, rapacity, or cruelty; as, to fall into
the clutches of an adversary.
I must have . . . little care of myself, if I ever more come near the
clutches of such a giant. Bp. Stillingfleet.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: A device which is used for coupling shafting, etc., so as to
transmit motion, and which may be disengaged at pleasure.
4. Any device for gripping an object, as at the end of a chain or
tackle.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The nest complement of eggs of a bird. Bayonet clutch (Mach.),
a clutch in which connection is made by means of bayonets attached to
arms sliding on a feathered shaft. The bayonets slide through holes
in a crosshead fastened on the shaft.
CLUTCH
Clutch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clutched; p. pr. & vb. n. Clutching.]
Etym: [OE. clucchen. See Clutch, n.]
1. To seize, clasp, or gripe with the hand, hands, or claws; -- often
figuratively; as, to clutch power.
A man may set the poles together in his head, and clutch the whole
globe at one intellectual grasp. Collier.
Is this a dagger which I see before me . . . Come, let me clutch
thee. Shak.
2. To close tightly; to clinch.
Not that I have the power to clutch my hand. Shak.
CLUTCH
Clutch, v. i.
Defn: To reach (at something) as if to grasp; to catch or snatch; --
often followed by at.
Clutching at the phantoms of the stock market. Bankroft.
CLUTTER
Clut"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. W. cludair heap, pile, cludeirio to heap.]
1. A confused collection; hence, confusion; disorder; as, the room is
in a clutter.
He saw what a clutter there was with huge, overgrown pots, pans, and
spits. L'Estrange.
2. Clatter; confused noise. Swift.
CLUTTER
Clut"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cluttered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cluttering.]
Defn: To crowd together in disorder; to fill or cover with things in
disorder; to throw into disorder; to disarrange; as, to clutter a
room.
CLUTTER
Clut"ter, v. i.
Defn: To make a confused noise; to bustle.
It [the goose] cluttered here, it chuckled there. Tennyson.
CLUTTER
Clut"ter, v. t. Etym: [From Clod, n.]
Defn: To clot or coagulate, as blood. [Obs.] Holland.
CLYDESDALE
Clydes"dale, n.
Defn: One of a breed of heavy draft horses originally from
Clydesdale, Scotland. They are about sixteen hands high and usually
brown or bay.
CLYDESDALE TERRIER
Clydesdale terrier.
Defn: One of a breed of small silky-haired terriers related to, but
smaller than, the Skye terrier, having smaller and perfectly erect
ears.
CLYPEASTROID
Clyp`e*as"troid, a. Etym: [NL. Clypeaster (L. clupeus shield + aster
star) + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or related to the genus Clupeaster; -- applied to a group
of flattened sea urchins, with a rosette of pores on the upper side.
CLYPEATE
Clyp"e*ate, a. Etym: [L. clupeatus, p. p. of clupeare to arm with a
shield, fr. clupeus, clipeus shield.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Shaped like a round buckler or shield; scutate.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Furnished with a shield, or a protective plate or shell.
CLYPEIFORM
Clyp"e*i*form`, a. Etym: [L. clupeus shield + -form.]
Defn: Shield-shaped; clypeate.
CLYPEUS
Clyp"e*us, n.; pl. Clypei. Etym: [L., a shield.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The frontal plate of the head of an insect.
CLYSMIAN
Clys"mi*an, a. Etym: [Gr. Clyster.]
Defn: Connected with, or related to, the deluge, or to a cataclysm;
as, clysmian changes. Smart.
CLYSMIC
Clys"mic, a.
Defn: Washing; cleansing.
CLYSTER
Clys"ter, n. Etym: [L., fr. G. hlutrs pure, G. lauter: cf. F.
clystère] (Med.)
Defn: A liquid injected into the lower intestines by means of a
syringe; an injection; an enema. Clyster pipe, a tube or pipe used
for injections.
CLYTIE KNOT
Cly"tie knot.
Defn: In hair dressing, a loose, low coil at the back of the head,
like the knot on the head of the bust of Clytie by G. F. Watts.
CNEMIAL
Cne"mi*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the shin bone. Cnemial crest, a crestlike
prominence on the proximal end of the tibia of birds and some
reptiles.
CNIDA
Cni"da, n.; pl. Cnidæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the peculiar stinging, cells found in Coelenterata; a
nematocyst; a lasso cell.
CNIDARIA
Cni*da"ri*a, n., pl. Etym: [NL. See Cnida.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A comprehensive group equivalent to the true Coelenterata,
i.e., exclusive of the sponges. They are so named from presence of
stinging cells (cnidae) in the tissues. See Coelenterata.
CNIDOBLAST
Cni"do*blast, n. Etym: [Cnida + -blast.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the cells which, in the Coelenterata, develop into
cnidæ.
CNIDOCIL
Cni"do*cil, n. Etym: [Cnida + cilium eyelash.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fine filiform process of a cnidoblast.
CO-
Co- (.
Defn: A form of the prefix com-, signifying with, together, in
conjunction, joint. It is used before vowels and some consonants. See
Com-.
COACERVATE
Co`a*cer"vate, a. Etym: [L. coacervatus, p. p. of coacervare to heap
up; co- + acervare. See Acervate.]
Defn: Raised into a pile; collected into a crowd; heaped. [R.] Bacon.
COACERVATE
Co`a*cer"vate, v. t.
Defn: To heap up; to pile. [R.]
COACERVATION
Co*ac`er*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. coacervatio.]
Defn: A heaping together. [R.] Bacon.
COACH
Coach (; 224), n. Etym: [F. coche, fr. It. cocchio, dim. of cocca
little boat, fr. L. concha mussel, mussel shell, Gr. çankha. Cf.
Conch, Cockboat, Cockle.]
1. A large, closed, four-wheeled carriage, having doors in the sides,
and generally a front and back seat inside, each for two persons, and
an elevated outside seat in front for the driver.
Note: Coaches have a variety of forms, and differ in respect to the
number of persons they can carry. Mail coaches and tallyho coaches
often have three or more seats inside, each for two or three persons,
and seats outside, sometimes for twelve or more.
2. A special tutor who assists in preparing a student for
examination; a trainer; esp. one who trains a boat's crew for a race.
[Colloq.]
Wareham was studying for India with a Wancester coach. G. Eliot.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A cabin on the after part of the quarterdeck, usually occupied
by the captain. [Written also couch.] [Obs.]
The commanders came on board and the council sat in the coach. Pepys.
4. (Railroad)
Defn: A first-class passenger car, as distinguished from a drawing-
room car, sleeping car, etc. It is sometimes loosely applied to any
passenger car.
COACH
Coach, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coached; p. pr. & vb. n. Coaching.]
1. To convey in a coach. Pope.
2. To prepare for public examination by private instruction; to train
by special instruction. [Colloq.]
I coached him before he got his scholarship. G. Eliot.
COACH
Coach, v. i.
Defn: To drive or to ride in a coach; -- sometimes used with it.
[Colloq.] "Coaching it to all quarters." E. Waterhouse.
COACHBOX
Coach"box`.
Defn: The seat of a coachman.
COACHDOG
Coach"dog`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a breed of dogs trained to accompany carriages; the
Dalmatian dog.
COACHEE
Coach"ee, n.
Defn: A coachman [Slang]
COACHER
Coach"er, n.
1. A coachman. [Obs.]
2. A coach horse.
3. One who coaches; specif. (Baseball),
Defn: one of the side at the bat posted near first or third base to
direct a base runner.
COACHFELLOW
Coach"fel`low, n.
Defn: One of a pair of horses employed to draw a coach; hence (Fig.),
a comrade. Shak.
COACHMAN
Coach"man, n.; pl. Coachmen.
1. A man whose business is to drive a coach or carriage.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tropical fish of the Atlantic ocean (Dutes auriga); -- called
also charioteer. The name refers to a long, lashlike spine of the
dorsal fin.
COACHMANSHIP
Coach"man*ship, n.
Defn: Skill in driving a coach.
COACHWHIP SNAKE
Coach"whip` snake". (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, slender, harmless snake of the southern United States
(Masticophis flagelliformis).
Note: Its long and tapering tail has the scales so arranged and
colored as to give it a braided appearance, whence the name.
COACT
Co*act", v. t. Etym: [L. coactare, intens. fr. cogere, coactum, to
force. See Cogent.]
Defn: To force; to compel; to drive. [Obs.]
The faith and service of Christ ought to be voluntary and not
coacted. Foxe.
COACT
Co*act", v. i. Etym: [Pref. co- + act, v.i.]
Defn: To act together; to work in concert; to unite. [Obs.]
But if I tell you how these two did coact. Shak.
COACTION
Co*ac"tion, n. Etym: [L. coactio.]
Defn: Force; compulsion, either in restraining or impelling. Sojth.
COACTIVE
Co*ac"tive, a. Etym: [In sense 1, fr. 1st Coact; in sense 2, fr. 2d
Coact.]
1. Serving to compel or constrain; compulsory; restrictive.
Any coactive power or the civil kind. Bp. Warburton.
2. Acting in concurrence; united in action.
With what's unreal thou coactive art. Shak.
COACTIVELY
Co*ac"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a coactive manner.
COACTIVITY
Co`ac*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Unity of action.
COADAPTATION
Co*ad`ap*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Mutual adaption. R. Owen.
COADAPTED
Co`a*dapt"ed, a.
Defn: Adapted one to another; as, coadapted pulp and tooth. R. Owen.
COADJUMENT
Co*ad"ju*ment, n.
Defn: Mutual help; coöperation. [R.] Johnson.
COADJUST
Co`ad*just", v. t.
Defn: To adjust by mutual adaptations. R. Owen.
COADJUSTMENT
Co`ad*just"ment, n.
Defn: Mutual adjustment.
COADJUTANT
Co*ad"ju*tant, a.
Defn: Mutually assisting or operating; helping. J. Philips.
COADJUTANT
Co*ad"ju*tant, n.
Defn: An assistant. R. North.
COADJUTING
Co*ad"ju*ting, a.
Defn: Mutually assisting. [Obs.] Drayton.
COADJUTIVE
Co*ad"ju*tive, a.
Defn: Rendering mutual aid; coadjutant. Feltham.
COADJUTOR
Co`ad*ju"tor, n. Etym: [L. See Co-, and Aid.]
1. One who aids another; an assistant; a coworker.
Craftily outwitting her perjured coadjutor. Sheridan.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: The assistant of a bishop or of a priest holding a benefice.
COADJUTORSHIP
Co`ad*ju"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The state or office of a coadjutor; joint assistance. Pope.
COADJUTRESS; COADJUTRIX
Co`ad*ju"tress, Co`ad*ju"trix, n.
Defn: A female coadjutor or assistant. Holland. Smollett.
COADJUVANCY
Co*ad"ju*van*cy, n.
Defn: Joint help; coöperation. Sir T. Browne.
COADJUVANT
Co*ad"ju*vant, a.
Defn: Coöperating.
COADJUVANT
Co*ad"ju*vant, n. (Med.)
Defn: An adjuvant.
COADUNATE
Co*ad"u*nate, a. Etym: [L. coadunatus, p. p. of coadunare to unite.
See Adunation.] (Bot.)
Defn: United at the base, as contiguous lobes of a leaf.
COADUNATION
Co*ad`u*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. coadunatio.]
Defn: Union, as in one body or mass; unity. Jer. Taylor.
The coadunation of all the civilized provinces. Coleridge.
COADUNITION
Co*ad`u*ni"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. co- + pref. ad- + unition.]
Defn: Coadunation. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
COADVENTURE
Co`ad*ven"ture, n.
Defn: An adventure in which two or more persons are partakers.
COADVENTURE
Co`ad*ven"ture, v. i.
Defn: To share in a venture. Howell.
COADVENTURER
Co`ad*ven"tur*er, n.
Defn: A fellow adventurer.
COAFFOREST
Co`af*for"est, v. t.
Defn: To convert into, or add to, a forest. Howell.
COAG
Coag, n.
Defn: See Coak, a kind of tenon.
COAGENCY
Co*a"gen*cy, n.
Defn: Agency in common; joint agency or agent. Coleridge.
COAGENT
Co*a"gent, n.
Defn: An associate in an act; a coworker. Drayton.
COAGMENT
Co`ag*ment", v. t. Etym: [L. coagmentare, fr. coagmentum a joining
together, fr. cogere. See Cogent.]
Defn: To join together. [Obs.] Glanvill.
COAGMENTATION
Co*ag`men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. coagmentatio.]
Defn: The act of joining, or the state of being joined, together;
union. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COAGULABILITY
Co*ag`u*la*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being coagulable; capacity of being coagulated.
Ure.
COAGULABLE
Co*ag"u*la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being coagulated. Boyle.
COAGULANT
Co*ag"u*lant, n. Etym: [L. coagulans, p. pr.]
Defn: That which produces coagulation.
COAGULATE
Co*ag"u*late, a. Etym: [L. coagulatus, p. p. of coagulare to
coagulate, fr. coagulum means of coagulation, fr. cogere, coactum, to
drive together, coagulate. See Cogent.]
Defn: Coagulated. [Obs.] Shak.
COAGULATE
Co*ag"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coagulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coagulating.]
Defn: To cause (a liquid) to change into a curdlike or semisolid
state, not by evaporation but by some kind of chemical reaction; to
curdle; as, rennet coagulates milk; heat coagulates the white of an
egg.
COAGULATE
Co*ag"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To undergo coagulation. Boyle.
Syn.
-- To thicken; concrete; curdle; clot; congeal.
COAGULATED
Co*ag"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Changed into, or contained in, a coagulum or a curdlike mass;
curdled. Coagulated proteid (Physiol. Chem.), one of a class of
bodies formed in the coagulation of a albuminous substance by heat,
acids, or other agents.
COAGULATION
Co*ag`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. coagulatio.]
1. The change from a liquid to a thickened, curdlike, insoluble
state, not by evaporation, but by some kind of chemical reaction; as,
the spontaneous coagulation of freshly drawn blood; the coagulation
of milk by rennet, or acid, and the coagulation of egg albumin by
heat. Coagulation is generally the change of an albuminous body into
an insoluble modification.
2. The substance or body formed by coagulation.
COAGULATIVE
Co*ag"u*la*tive, a.
Defn: Having the power to cause coagulation; as, a coagulative agent.
Boyle.
COAGULATOR
Co*ag"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: That which causes coagulation. Hixley.
COAGULATORY
Co*ag"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to coagulate; produced by coagulation; as, coagulatory
effects. Boyle.
COAGULUM
Co*ag"u*lum, n.; pl. Coagula. Etym: [L. See Coagulate, a.]
Defn: The thick, curdy precipitate formed by the coagulation of
albuminous matter; any mass of coagulated matter, as a clot of bloot.
COAITA
Co*ai"ta, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The native name of certain South American monkeys of the genus
Ateles, esp. A. paniscus. The black-faced coaita is Ateles ater. See
Illustration in Appendix.
COAK
Coak, n.
Defn: See Coke, n.
COAK
Coak, n.
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A kind of tenon connecting the face of a scarfed timber with
the face of another timber, or a dowel or pin of hard wood or iron
uniting timbers. [Also spelt coag.]
2. A metallic bushing or strengthening piece in the center of a
wooden block sheve.
COAK
Coak, v. t. (Carp.)
Defn: To unite, as timbers, by means of tenons or dowels in the edges
or face. Totten.
COAL
Coal, n. Etym: [AS. col; akin to D. kool, OHG. chol, cholo, G. kohle,
Icel. kol, pl., Sw. kol, Dan. kul; cf. Skr. jval to burn. Cf. Kiln,
Collier.]
1. A thoroughly charred, and extinguished or still ignited, fragment
from wood or other combustible substance; charcoal.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A black, or brownish black, solid, combustible substance, dug
from beds or veins in the earth to be used for fuel, and consisting,
like charcoal, mainly of carbon, but more compact, and often
affording, when heated, a large amount of volatile matter.
Note: This word is often used adjectively, or as the first part of
self-explaining compounds; as, coal-black; coal formation; coal
scuttle; coal ship. etc.
Note: In England the plural coals is used, for the broken mineral
coal burned in grates, etc.; as, to put coals on the fire. In the
United States the singular in a collective sense is the customary
usage; as, a hod of coal. Age of coal plants. See Age of Acrogens,
under Acrogen.
-- Anthracite or Glance coal. See Anthracite.
-- Bituminous coal. See under Bituminous.
-- Blind coal. See under Blind.
-- Brown coal, or Lignite. See Lignite.
-- Caking coal, a bituminous coal, which softens and becomes pasty
or semi-viscid when heated. On increasing the heat, the volatile
products are driven off, and a coherent, grayish black, cellular mass
of coke is left.
-- Cannel coal, a very compact bituminous coal, of fine texture and
dull luster. See Cannel coal.
-- Coal bed (Geol.), a layer or stratum of mineral coal.
-- Coal breaker, a structure including machines and machinery
adapted for crushing, cleansing, and assorting coal.
-- Coal field (Geol.), a region in which deposits of coal occur.
Such regions have often a basinlike structure, and are hence called
coal basins. See Basin.
-- Coal gas, a variety of carbureted hydrogen, procured from
bituminous coal, used in lighting streets, houses, etc., and for
cooking and heating.
-- Coal heaver, a man employed in carrying coal, and esp. in putting
it in, and discharging it from, ships.
-- Coal measures. (Geol.) (a) Strata of coal with the attendant
rocks. (b) A subdivision of the carboniferous formation, between the
millstone grit below and the Permian formation above, and including
nearly all the workable coal beds of the world.
-- Coal oil, a general name for mineral oils; petroleum.
-- Coal plant (Geol.), one of the remains or impressions of plants
found in the strata of the coal formation.
-- Coal tar. See in the Vocabulary.
-- To haul over the coals, to call to account; to scold or censure.
[Colloq.] -- Wood coal. See Lignite.
COAL
Coal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Coaling.]
1. To burn to charcoal; to char. [R.]
Charcoal of roots, coaled into great pieces. Bacon.
2. To mark or delineate with charcoal. Camden.
3. To supply with coal; as, to coal a steamer.
COAL
Coal, v. i.
Defn: To take in coal; as, the steaer coaled at Southampton.
COAL-BLACK
Coal"-black, a.
Defn: As black as coal; jet black; very black. Dryden.
COALERY
Coal"er*y, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Colliery.
COALESCE
Co`a*lesce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coalesced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coalescing.] Etym: [L. coalescere, coalitium; co- + alescere to grow
up, incho. fr. alere to nourish. See Aliment, n.]
1. To grow together; to unite by growth into one body; as, the parts
separated by a wound coalesce.
2. To unite in one body or product; to combine into one body or
community; as, vapors coalesce.
The Jews were incapable of coalescing with other nations. Campbell.
Certain combinations of ideas that, once coalescing, could not be
shaken loose. De Quincey.
Syn.
-- See Add.
COALESCENCE
Co`a*les"cence, n.
Defn: The act or state of growing together, as similar parts; the act
of uniting by natural affinity or attraction; the state of being
united; union; concretion.
COALESCENT
Co`a*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. coalescens, p. pr.]
Defn: Growing together; cohering, as in the organic cohesion of
similar parts; uniting.
COALFISH
Coal"fish`, n. Etym: [Named from the dark color of the back.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The pollock; -- called also, coalsey, colemie, colmey, coal
whiting, etc. See Pollock.
(b) The beshow or candlefish of Alaska.
(c) The cobia.
COALGOOSE
Coal"goose`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cormorant; -- so called from its black color.
COALITE
Co"a*lite, v. i. Etym: [L. coalitus, p. p. of coalescere. See
Coalesce.]
Defn: To unite or coalesce. [Obs.]
Let them continue to coalite. Bolingbroke.
COALITE
Co"a*lite, v. t.
Defn: To cause to unite or coalesce. [Obs.]
Time has by degrees blended . . . and coalited the conquered with the
conquerors. Burke.
COALITION
Co`a*li"tion, n. Etym: [LL. coalitio: cf. F. coalition. See
Coalesce.]
1. The act of coalescing; union into a body or mass, as of separate
bodies or parts; as, a coalition of atoms. Bentley.
2. A combination, for temporary purposes, of persons, parties, or
states, having different interests.
A coalition of the puritan and the blackleg. J. Randolph.
The coalition between the religious and worldly enemies of popery.
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Alliance; confederation; confederacy; league; combination;
conjunction; conspiracy; union.
COALITIONER
Co`a*li"tion*er, n.
Defn: A coalitionist.
COALITIONIST
Co`a*li"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who joins or promotes a coalition; one who advocates
coalition.
CO-ALLY
Co`-al*ly", n.; pl. Co-allies.
Defn: A joint ally. Kent.
COAL-METER
Coal"-me`ter, n.
Defn: A licensed or official coal measurer in London. See Meter.
Simmonds.
COALMOUSE
Coal"mouse`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small species of titmouse, with a black head; the coletit.
COALPIT
Coal"pit`, n.
1. A pit where coal is dug.
2. A place where charcoal is made. [U. S.]
COALSACK
Coal"sack`, n. [Coal + 2d sack.] (Astron.)
Defn: Any one of the spaces in the Milky Way which are very black,
owing to the nearly complete absence of stars; esp., the large space
near the Southern Cross sometimes called the Black Magellanic Cloud.
COAL TAR
Coal" tar`.
Defn: A thick, black, tarry liquid, obtained by the distillation of
bituminous coal in the manufacture of illuminating gas; used for
making printer's ink, black varnish, etc. It is a complex mixture
from which many substances have been obtained, especially
hydrocarbons of the benzene or aromatic series.
Note: Among its important ingredients are benzene, aniline, phenol,
naphtalene, anthracene, etc., which are respectively typical of many
dye stuffs, as the aniline dyes, the phthaleïns, indigo, alizarin,
and many flavoring extracts whose artificial production is a matter
of great commercial importance.
COAL-WHIPPER
Coal"-whip`per, n.
Defn: One who raises coal out of the hold of a ship. [Eng.] Dickens.
COAL WORKS
Coal" works.
Defn: A place where coal is dug, including the machinery for raising
the coal.
COALY
Coal"y, a. Etym: [From Coal, n.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, coal; containing coal; of the
nature of coal.
COAMINGS
Coam"ings, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Comb a crest.] (Naut.)
Defn: Raised pieces of wood of iron around a hatchway, skylight, or
other opening in the deck, to prevent water from running bellow; esp.
the fore-and-aft pieces of a hatchway frame as distinguished from the
transverse head ledges. [Written also combings.]
COANNEX
Co`an*nex", v. t.
Defn: To annex with something else.
COAPTATION
Co`ap*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. coaptatio, fr. coaptare to fit together;
co- + aptare. See Aptate.]
Defn: The adaptation or adjustment of parts to each other, as of a
broken bone or dislocated joint.
COARCT; COARCTATE
Co*arct", Co*arc"tate, v. t. Etym: [See Coarctate, a.]
1. To press together; to crowd; to straiten; to confine closely.
[Obs.] Bacon.
2. To restrain; to confine. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
COARCTATE
Co*arc"tate, a. Etym: [L. coarctatus, p. p. of coarctare to press
together; co- + arctare to press together, from arctus, p. p. See
Arctation.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pressed together; closely connected; -- applied to insects
having the abdomen separated from the thorax only by a constriction.
Coarctate pupa (Zoöl.), a pupa closely covered by the old larval
skin, as in most Diptera.
COARCTATION
Co`arc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. coarctatio.]
1. Confinement to a narrow space. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. Pressure; that which presses. [Obs.] Ray.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A stricture or narrowing, as of a canal, cavity, or orifice.
COARSE
Coarse, a. [Compar. Coarser; superl. Coarsest.] Etym: [As this word
was anciently written course, or cours, it may be an abbreviation of
of course, in the common manner of proceeding, common, and hence,
homely, made for common domestic use, plain, rude, rough, gross, e.
g., "Though the threads be course." Gascoigne. See Course.]
1. Large in bulk, or composed of large parts or particles; of
inferior quality or appearance; not fine in material or close in
texture; gross; thick; rough; -- opposed to fine; as, coarse sand;
coarse thread; coarse cloth; coarse bread.
2. Not refined; rough; rude; unpolished; gross; indelicate; as,
coarse manners; coarse language.
I feel Of what coarse metal ye are molded. Shak.
To copy, in my coarse English, his beautiful expressions. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Large; thick; rough; gross; blunt; uncouth; unpolished;
inelegant; indelicate; vulgar.
COARSE-GRAINED
Coarse"-grained`, a.
Defn: Having a coarse grain or texture, as wood; hence, wanting in
refinement.
COARSELY
Coarse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a coarse manner; roughly; rudely; inelegantly; uncivilly;
meanly.
COARSEN
Coars"en, v. t.
Defn: To make coarse or vulgar; as, to coarsen one's character. [R.]
Graham.
COARSENESS
Coarse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being coarse; roughness; melegance;
vulgarity; grossness; as, coarseness of food, texture, manners, or
language. "The coarseness of the sackcloth." Dr. H. More.
Pardon the coarseness of the illustration. L'Estrange.
A coarseness and vulgarity in all the proceedings. Burke.
COARTICULATION
Co`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The unoin or articulation of bones to form a joint.
CO-ASSESSOR
Co`-as*sess"or, n.
Defn: A joint assessor.
COAST
Coast, n. Etym: [OF. coste, F. côte, rib, hill, shore, coast, L.
costa rib, side. Cf. Accost, v. t., Cutlet.]
1. The side of a thing. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton.
2. The exterior line, limit, or border of a country; frontier border.
[Obs.]
From the river, the river Euphrates, even to the uttermost sea, shall
your coast be. Deut. xi. 24.
3. The seashore, or land near it.
He sees in English ships the Holland coast. Dryden.
We the Arabian coast do know At distance, when the species blow.
Waller.
The coast is clear, the danger is over; no enemy in sight. Dryden.
Fig.: There are no obstacles. "Seeing that the coast was clear,
Zelmane dismissed Musidorus." Sir P. Sidney. Coast guard. (a) A body
of men originally employed along the coast to prevent smuggling; now,
under the control of the admiralty, drilled as a naval reserve.
[Eng.] (b) The force employed in lifesaving stations along the
seacoast. [U. S.] -- Coast rat (Zoöl.), a South African mammal
(Bathyergus suillus), about the size of a rabbit, remarkable for its
extensive burrows; -- called also sand mole.
-- Coast waiter, a customhouse officer who superintends the landing
or shipping of goods for the coast trade. [Eng.]
COAST
Coast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Coasting.] Etym:
[OE. costien, costeien, costen, OF. costier, costoier, F. côtoyer,
fr. Of. coste coast, F. côte. See Coast, n.]
1. To draw or keep near; to approach. [Obs.]
Anon she hears them chant it lustily, And all in haste she coasteth
to the cry. Shak.
2. To sail by or near the shore.
The ancients coasted only in their navigation. Arbuthnot.
3. To sail from port to port in the same country.
4. Etym: [Cf. OF. coste, F. côte, hill, hillside.]
Defn: To slide down hill; to slide on a sled, upon snow or ice.
[Local, U. S.]
COAST
Coast, v. t.
1. To draw near to; to approach; to keep near, or by the side of.
[Obs.] Hakluyt.
2. To sail by or near; to follow the coast line of.
Nearchus, . . . not knowing the compass, was fain to coast that
shore. Sir T. Browne.
3. To conduct along a coast or river bank. [Obs.]
The Indians . . . coasted me along the river. Hakluyt.
COASTAL
Coast"al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cast.
COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY
Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Defn: A bureau of the United States government charged with the
topographic and hydrographic survey of the coast and the execution of
belts of primary triangulation and lines of precise leveling in the
interior. It now belongs to the Department of Commerce and Labor.
COASTER
Coast"er, n.
1. A vessel employed in sailing along a coast, or engaged in the
coasting trade.
2. One who sails near the shore.
COASTING
Coast"ing, a.
Defn: Sailing along or near a coast, or running between ports along a
coast. Coasting trade, trade carried on by water between neighboring
ports of the same country, as distinguished fron foreign trade or
trade involving long voyages.
-- Coasting vessel, a vessel employed in coasting; a coaster.
COASTING
Coast"ing, n.
1. A sailing along a coast, or from port to port; a carrying on a
coasting trade.
2. Sliding down hill; sliding on a sled upon snow or ice. [Local, U.
S.]
COASTWISE; COASTWAYS
Coast"wise`, Coast"ways`, adv.
Defn: By way of, or along, the coast.
COAT
Coat (; 110), n. Etym: [OF. cote, F. cotte, petticoat, cotte d'armes
coat of arms, cotte de mailles coat of mail, LL. cota, cotta, tunic,
prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. chozzo coarse mantle, G. klotze, D.
kot, hut, E. cot. Cf. Cot a hut.]
1. An outer garment fitting the upper part of the body; especially,
such a garment worn by men.
Let each His adamantine coat gird well. Milton.
2. A petticoat. [Obs.] "A child in coats." Locke.
3. The habit or vesture of an order of men, indicating the order or
office; cloth.
Men of his coat should be minding their prayers. Swift.
She was sought by spirits of richest coat. Shak.
4. An external covering like a garment, as fur, skin, wool, husk, or
bark; as, the horses coats were sleek.
Fruit of all kinds, in coat Rough or smooth rined, or bearded husk,
or shell. Milton.
5. A layer of any substance covering another; a cover; a tegument;
as, the coats of the eye; the coats of an onion; a coat of tar or
varnish.
6. Same as Coat of arms. See below.
Hark, countrymen! either renew the fight, Or tear the lions out of
England's coat. Shak.
7. A coat card. See below. [Obs.]
Here's a trick of discarded cards of us! We were ranked with coats as
long as old master lived. Massinger.
Coat armor. See under Armor.
-- Coat of arms (Her.), a translation of the French cotte d'armes, a
garment of light material worn over the armor in the 15th and 16th
centuries. This was often charged with the heraldic bearings of the
wearer. Hence, an heraldic achievement; the bearings of any person,
taken together.
-- Coat card, a card bearing a coated figure; the king, queen, or
knave of playing cards. "`I am a coat card indeed.' `Then thou must
needs be a knave, for thou art neither king nor queen.'" Rowley.
-- Coat link, a pair of buttons or studs joined by a link, to hold
together the lappels of a double-breasted coat; or a button with a
loop for a single-breasted coat.
-- Coat of mail, a defensive garment of chain mail. See Chain mail,
under Chain.
-- Mast coat (Naut.), a piece of canvas nailed around a mast, where
it passes through the deck, to prevent water from getting below.
-- Sail coat (Naut.), a canvas cover laced over furled sails, and
the like, to keep them dry and clean.
COAT
Coat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coated; p. pr. & vb. n. Coating.]
1. To cover with a coat or outer garment.
2. To cover with a layer of any substance; as, to coat a jar with tin
foil; to coat a ceiling.
COATEE
Coat*ee", n.
Defn: A coat with short flaps.
COATI
Co*a"ti ( or , n. Etym: [From the native name: cf. F. coati.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mammal of tropical America of the genus Nasua, allied to the
raccoon, but with a longer body, tail, and nose.
Note: The red coati (N. socialis), called also coati mondi, inhabits
Mexico and Central America. The brown coati (N. narica) is found in
Surinam and Brazil.
COATING
Coat"ing, n.
1. A coat or covering; a layer of any substance, as a cover or
protection; as, the coating of a retort or vial.
2. Cloth for coats; as, an assortment of coatings.
COATLESS
Coat"less, a.
Defn: Not wearing a coat; also, not possessing a coat.
COAX
Coax (; 110), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coaxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Coaxing.]
Etym: [Cf. OE. cokes fool, a person easily imposed upon, W. coeg
empty, foolish; F. coquin knave, rogue.]
Defn: To persuade by gentle, insinuating courtesy, flattering, or
fondling; to wheedle; to soothe.
Syn.
-- To wheedle; cajole; flatter; persuade; entice.
COAX
Coax, n.
Defn: A simpleton; a dupe. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.
COAXATION
Co`ax*a"tion, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The act of croaking. [R] Dr. H. More.
COAXER
Coax"er, n.
Defn: One who coaxes.
COAXINGLY
Coax"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a coaxing manner; by coaxing.
COB
Cob, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. cop, copp, head, top, D. kop, G. kopf, kuppe,
LL. cuppa cup (cf. E. brainpan), and also W. cob tuft, spider, cop,
copa, top, summit, cobio to thump. Cf. Cop top, Cup, n.]
1. The top or head of anything. [Obs.] W. Gifford.
2. A leader or chief; a conspicuous person, esp. a rich covetous
person. [Obs.]
All cobbing country chuffs, which make their bellies and their bags
their god, are called rich cobs. Nash.
3. The axis on which the kernels of maize or indian corn grow. [U.
S.]
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A spider; perhaps from its shape; it being round like a head.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young herring. B. Jonson.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish; -- also called miller's thumb.
7. A short-legged and stout horse, esp. one used for the saddle.
[Eng.]
8. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sea mew or gull; esp., the black-backed gull (Larus marinus).
[Written also cobb.]
9. A lump or piece of anything, usually of a somewhat large size, as
of coal, or stone.
10. A cobnut; as, Kentish cobs. See Cobnut. [Eng.]
11. Clay mixed with straw. [Prov. Eng.]
The poor cottager contenteth himself with cob for his walls, and
thatch for his covering. R. Carew.
12. A punishment consisting of blows inflicted on the buttocks with a
strap or a flat piece of wood. Wright.
13. A Spanish coin formerly current in Ireland, worth abiut 4s. 6d.
[Obs.] Wright. Cob coal, coal in rounded lumps from the size of an
egg to that of a football; -- called also cobbles. Grose.
-- Cob loaf, a crusty, uneven loaf, rounded at top. Wright.
-- Cob money, a kind of rudely coined gold and silver money of
Spanish South America in the eighteenth century. The coins were of
the weight of the piece of eight, or one of its aliquot parts.
COB
Cob, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Cobbing.]
1. To strike [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. (Mining)
Defn: To break into small pieces, as ore, so as to sort out its
better portions. Raymond.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: To punish by striking on the buttocks with a strap, a flat
piece of wood, or the like.
COBAEA
Co*bæ"a, n. Etym: [Named after D. Cobo, a Spanish botanist.]
Defn: A genus of climbing plants, native of Mexico and South America.
C. scandens is a consrvatory climber with large bell-shaped flowers.
COBALT
Co"balt (; 277, 74), n. Etym: [G. kobalt, prob. fr. kobold, kobel,
goblin, MHG. kobolt; perh. akin to G. koben pigsty, hut, AS. cofa
room, cofgodas household gods, Icel. kofi hut. If so, the ending -old
stands for older -walt, -wald, being the same as -ald in E. herald
and the word would mean ruler or governor in a house, house spirit,
the metal being so called by miners, because it was poisonous and
troublesome. Cf. Kobold, Cove, Goblin.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A tough, lustrous, reddish white metal of the iron group, not
easily fusible, and somewhat magnetic. Atomic weight 59.1. Symbol Co.
Note: It occurs in nature in combination with arsenic, sulphur, and
oxygen, and is obtained from its ores, smaltite, cobaltite, asbolite,
etc. Its oxide colors glass or any flux, as borax, a fine blue, and
is used in the manufacture of smalt. It is frequently associated with
nickel, and both are characteristic ingredients of meteoric iron.
2. A commercial name of a crude arsenic used as fly poison. Cobalt
bloom. Same as Erythrite.
-- Cobalt blue, a dark blue pigment consisting of some salt of
cobalt, as the phosphate, ignited with alumina; -- called also cobalt
ultramarine, and Thenard's blue.
-- Cobalt crust, earthy arseniate of cobalt.
-- Cobalt glance. (Min.) See Cobaltite.
-- Cobalt green, a pigment consisting essentially of the oxides of
cobalt and zinc; -- called also Rinman's green.
-- Cobalt yellow (Chem.), a yellow crystalline powder, regarded as a
double nitrite of cobalt and potassium.
COBALTIC
Co*balt"ic (; 74), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cobaltique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, cobalt; -- said
especially of those compounds in which cobalt has higher valence; as,
cobaltic oxide. Luteo-cobaltic compounds (Chem.), an extensive series
of complex yellow compounds of ammonia and cobaltic salts.
-- Roseo-cobaltic compounds (Chem.), an extensive series of complex
red compounds of cobalt and ammonia. Modifications of these are the
purpureo-cobaltic compounds.
COBALTIFEROUS
Co`balt*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [Cobalt + -ferous.] (Min.)
Defn: Containing cobalt.
COBALTINE; COBALTITE
Co"balt*ine, Co"balt*ite n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a nearly silver-white color, composed of arsenic,
sulphur, and cobalt.
COBALTOUS
Co*balt"ous, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, cobalt; -- said
esp. of cobalt compounds in which the metal has its lower valence.
Cobaltous chloride, a crystalline compound, CoCl2, of a pale rose
color when hydrous, blue when dehydrated. Its solution is used for a
sympathetic ink, the writing being nearly colorless when dried in the
air, owing to absorbed moisture, and becoming bright blue when
warmed.
COBBING
Cob"bing, a.
Defn: Haughty; purse-proud. See Cob, n., 2. [Obs.] Withals (1608).
COBBLE
Cob"ble, n.
Defn: A fishing boat. See Coble.
COBBLE
Cob"ble, n. Etym: [From Cob a lump. See Cob, n., 9, and cf. Copple,
Copplestone.]
1. A cobblestone. "Their slings held cobbles round." Fairfax.
2. pl.
Defn: Cob coal. See under Cob.
COBBLE
Cob"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cobbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Cobbling.]
Etym: [OF. cobler, copler, to join or knit together, couple, F.
coupler, L. copulare to couple, join. Cf. Couple, n. & v. t.]
1. To make or mend coarsely; to patch; to botch; as, to cobble shoes.
Shak. "A cobbled saddle." Thackeray.
2. To make clumsily. "Cobbled rhymes." Dryden.
3. To pave with cobblestones.
COBBLER
Cob"bler, n.
1. A mender of shoes. Addison.
2. A clumsy workman. Shak.
3. A beverage. See Sherry cobbler, under Sherry. Cobbler fish
(Zoöl.), a marine fish (Blepharis crinitus) of the Atlantic. The name
alludes to its threadlike fin rays.
COBBLESTONE
Cob"ble*stone`, n.
Defn: A large pebble; a rounded stone not too large to be handled; a
small boulder; -- used for paving streets and for other purposes.
COBBY
Cob"by, a. Etym: [From Cob, n.]
1. Headstrong; obstinate. [Obs.] Brockett.
2. Stout; hearty; lively. [Obs.]
COBELLIGERENT
Co`bel*lig"er*ent, a.
Defn: Carryng on war in conjunction with another power.
COBELLIGERENT
Co`bel*lig"er*ent, n.
Defn: A nation or state that carries on war in connection with
another.
COBIA
Co"bi*a, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An oceanic fish of large size (Elacate canada); the crabeater;
-- called also bonito, cubbyyew, coalfish, and sergeant fish.
COBIRON
Cob"i`ron, n. Etym: [From Cob the top.]
Defn: An andiron with a knob at the top. Bacon.
COBISHOP
Co`bish"op, n.
Defn: A joint or coadjutant bishop. Ayliffe.
COBLE
Co"ble, n. Etym: [AS. cuopel; cf. W. ceubal skiff, ferryboat.]
Defn: A flat-floored fishing boat with a lug sail, and a drop rudder
extending from two to four feet below the keel. It was originally
used on the stormy coast of Yorkshire, England.
COBNUT
Cob"nut`, n.
1. (Com.)
Defn: A large roundish variety of the cultivated hazelnut.
2. A game played by children with nuts.
COBOOSE
Co*boose", n.
Defn: See Caboose.
COBOURG
Co"bourg, n. Etym: [Named from the town of Coburg in Germany.]
Defn: A thin worsted fabric for women's dresses.
COBRA
Co"bra, n.
Defn: See Copra.
COBRA
Co"bra, n.
Defn: The cobra de capello.
COBRA DE CAPELLO
Co"bra de ca*pel"lo. Etym: [Pg., serpent of the hood.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hooded snake (Naia tripudians), a highly venomous serpent
inhabiting India.
COBSTONE
Cob"stone`, n.
Defn: Cobblestone. [Prov. Eng.]
COBSWAN
Cob"swan`, n.
Defn: A large swan. B. Jonson.
COBWALL
Cob"wall`, n. Etym: [Cob clay mixed with straw + wall.]
Defn: A wall made of clay mixed with straw.
COBWEB
Cob"web`, n. Etym: [Cob a spider + web.]
1. The network spread by a spider to catch its prey.
2. A snare of insidious meshes designed to catch the ignorant and
unwary.
I can not but lament thy splendid wit Entangled in the cobwebs of the
schools. Cowper.
3. That which is thin and unsubstantial, or flimsy and worthless;
rubbish.
The dust and cobwebs of that uncivil age. Sir P. Sidney.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European spotted flycatcher. Cobweb lawn, a fine linen,
mentioned in 1640 as being in pieces of fifteen yards. Beck. Draper's
Dict.
Such a proud piece of cobweb lawn. Beau. & Fl.
Cobweb micrometer, a micrometer in which threads of cobwed are
substituted for wires.
COBWEBBED
Cob"webbed`, a.
Defn: Abounding in cobwebs. "The cobwebbed cottage." Young.
COBWEBBY
Cob"web`by, a.
Defn: Abounding in cobwebs, or any fine web; resembling a cobweb.
COBWORK
Cob"work`, a.
Defn: Built of logs, etc., laid horizontally, with the ends
dovetailed together at the corners, as in a log house; in marine
work, often surrounding a central space filled with stones; as, a
cobwork dock or breakwater.
COCA
Co"ca, n. Etym: [Sp., fr. native name.]
Defn: The dried leaf of a South American shrub (Erythroxylon Coca).
In med., called Erythroxylon.
Note: Coca leaves resemble tea leaves in size, shape, and odor, and
are chewed (with an alkali) by natives of Peru and Bolivia to impart
vigor in prolonged exertion, or to sustain strength in absence of
food. Mexican coca, an American herb (Richardsonia scabra), yielding
a nutritious fodder. Its roots are used as a substitute for
ipecacuanha.
COCAGNE
Coc*agne", n. Etym: [F. cocagne, pays de cocagne; of uncertian
origin, cf. Prov. F. couque cake, Catal. coca, L. coquere to cook; as
if the houses in this country were covered with cakes. Cf. Cook,
Cockney.]
1. An imaginary country of idleness and luxury.
2. The land of cockneys; cockneydom; -- a term applied to London and
its suburbs. Smart.
COCAINE
Co"ca*ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful alkaloid, C17H21NO4, obtained from the leaves of
coca. It is a bitter, white, crystalline substance, and is remarkable
for producing local insensibility to pain.
COCAINISM
Co*ca"in*ism, n. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition produced by the habitual and excessive use
of cocaine. -- Co*ca"in*ist, n.
COCAINIZE
Co*ca"in*ize, v. t.
Defn: To treat or anæsthetize with cocaine. -- Co*ca`in*i*za"tion
(#), n.
COCCIFEROUS
Coc*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. coccum a berry + -ferous. See Coccus.]
Defn: Bearing or producing berries; bacciferous; as, cocciferrous
trees or plants.
COCCINELLA
Coc`ci*nel"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. coccineus scarlet-colored. See
Cochoneal.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small beetles of many species. They and their larvæ
feed on aphids or plant lice, and hence are of great benefit to man.
Also called ladybirds and ladybugs.
COCCOBACTERIUM
Coc`co*bac*te"ri*um, n.; pl. Coccobacteria. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
bacterium. So called from its round shape.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the round variety of bacteria, a vegetable organism,
generally less than a thousandth of a millimeter in diameter.
COCCOLITE
Coc"co*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. coccalite.] (Min.)
Defn: A granular variety of pyroxene, green or white in color.
COCCOLITH
Coc"co*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lith.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of a kind of minute, calcareous bodies, probably vegetable,
often abundant in deep-sea mud.
COCCOSPHERE
Coc"co*sphere, n. Etym: [Gr. sphere.] (Biol.)
Defn: A small, rounded, marine organism, capable of braking up into
coccoliths.
COCCOSTEUS
Coc*cos"te*us, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct genus of Devonian ganoid fishes, having the broad
plates about the head studded with berrylike tubercles.
COCCULUS INDICUS
Coc"cu*lus In"di*cus, n. Etym: [NL. cocculus (dim. of L. coccum
kermes berry) + L. Indicus of India.] (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit or berry of the Anamirta Cocculus, a climbing plant
of the East Indies. It is a poisonous narcotic and stimulant.
COCCUS
Coc"cus, n.; pl. Cocci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cochineal.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the separable carpels of a dry fruit.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of hemipterous insects, including scale insects, and
the cochineal insect (Coccus cacti).
3. (Biol.)
Defn: A form of bacteria, shaped like a globule.
COCCYGEAL
Coc*cyg"e*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the coccyx; as, the coccygeal vertebræ.
Coccygeal glands (Zoöl.) , glands situated at the base of the tail of
birds. They secrete the oil with which the plumage is dressed.
COCCYGEOUS
Coc*cyg"e*ous, a.
Defn: Coccygeal. [R.]
COCCYX
Coc"cyx, n.; pl. L. Coccyges. Etym: [L., cuckoo, Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The end of the vertebral column beyond the sacrum in man and
tailless monkeys. It is composed of several vertebræ more or less
consolidated.
COCHINEAL
Coch"i*neal, Etym: [Sp. cochinilla, dim. from L. coccineus, coccinus,
scarlet, fr. coccum the kermes berry, G. Quercus coccifera; but cf.
also Sp. cochinilla wood louse, dim. of cochina sow, akin to F.
cochon pig.]
Defn: A dyestuff consisting of the dried bodies of females of the
Coccus cacti, an insect native in Mexico, Central America, etc., and
found on several species of cactus, esp. Opuntia cochinellifera.
Note: These insects are gathered from the plant, killed by the
application of heat, and exposed to the sun to dry. When dried they
resemble small, rough berries or seeds, of a brown or purple color,
and form the cochineal of the shops, which is used for making
carmine, and also as a red dye.
Note: Cochineal contains as its essential coloring matter carminic
acid, a purple red amorphous substance which yields carmine red.
COCHINEAL FIG
Coch"i*neal fig, (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of Central and Southern Anerica, of the Cactus familly,
extensively cultivated for the sake of the cochineal insect, which
lives on it.
COCHIN FOWL
Co"chin fowl`, (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large variety of the domestic fowl, originally from Cochin
China (Anam).
COCHLEA
Coch"le*a, n. Etym: [L., a snail, or snail shell, Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: An appendage of the labyrinth of the internal ear, which is
elongated and coiled into a spiral in mammals. See Ear.
COCHLEAR
Coch"le*ar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cochlea.
COCHLEARE
Coch`le*a"re, n. Etym: [L.]
1. A spoon. Andrews.
2. (Med)
Defn: A spoonful. Dungleson.
COCHLEARIFORM
Coch`le*ar"i*form, a. Etym: [Cochleare + -form.]
Defn: Spoon-shaped.
COCHLEARY
Coch"le*a*ry, a. Etym: [L. cochlearum penfor snails (meaning formerly
given, snail shell). See Cjchlea.]
Defn: Same as Cochleate.
COCHLEATE; COCHLEATED
Coch"le*ate, Coch"le*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. cochleatus spiral or screw-
formed. See Cochlea.]
Defn: Having the form of a snail shell; spiral; turbinated.
COCK
Cock, n. Etym: [AS. coc; of unkown origin, perh. in imitation of the
cry of the cock. Cf. Chicken.]
1. The male of birds, particulary of gallinaceous or domestic fowls.
2. A vane in the shape of a cock; a weathercock.
Drenched our steeples, drowned the cocks! Shak.
3. A chief man; a leader or master. [Humorous]
Sir Andrew is the cock of the club, since he left us. Addison.
4. The crow of a cock, esp. the first crow in the morning; cockcrow.
[Obs.]
He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. Shak.
5. A faucet or valve.
Note: Jonsons says, "The handly probably had a cock on the top;
things that were contrived to turn seem anciently to have had that
form, whatever was the reason." Skinner says, because it used to be
constructed in forma critæ galli, i.e., in the form of a cock's comb.
6. The style of gnomon of a dial. Chambers.
7. The indicator of a balance. Johnson.
8. The bridge piece which affords a bearing for the pivot of a
balance in a clock or watch. Knight. Ball cock. See under Ball.
-- Chaparral cock. See under Chaparral.
-- Cock and bull story, an extravagant, boastful story; a canard.
-- Cock of the plains (Zoöl.) See Sage cock.
-- Cock of the rock (Zoöl.), a South American bird (Rupicola
aurantia) having a beautiful crest.
-- Cock of the walk, a chief or master; the hero of the hour; one
who has overcrowed, or got the better of, rivals or competitors.
-- Cock of the woods. See Capercailzie.
COCK
Cock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Cocking.] Etym:
[Cf. Gael. coc to cock.]
1. To set erect; to turn up.
Our Lightfoot barks, and cocks his ears. Gay.
Dick would cock his nose in scorn. Swift.
2. To shape, as a hat, by turning up the brim.
3. To set on one side in a pert or jaunty manner.
They cocked their hats in each other's faces. Macaulay.
4. To turn (the eye) obliquely and partially close its lid, as an
expression of derision or insinuation. Cocked hat. (a) A hat with
large, stiff flaps turned up to a peaked crown, thus making its form
triangular; -- called also three-cornered hat. (b) A game similar to
ninepins, except that only three pins are used, which are set up at
the angles of a triangle.
COCK
Cock, v. i.
Defn: To strut; to swagger; to look big, pert, or menacing. Addison.
COCK
Cock, n.
Defn: The act of cocking; also, the turn so given; as, a cock of the
eyes; to give a hat a saucy cock.
COCK
Cock, n. Etym: [It. cocca notch of an arrow.]
1. The notch of an arrow or crossbow.
2. The hammer in the lock of a firearm. At cock, At full cock, with
the hammer raised and ready to fire; -- said of firearms, also,
jocularly, of one prepared for instant action.
-- At half cock. See under Half.
-- Cock feather (Archery), the feather of an arrow at right angles
to the direction of the cock or notch. Nares.
COCK
Cock, v. t.
Defn: To draw the hammer of (a firearm) fully back and set it for
firing.
COCK
Cock, v. i.
Defn: To draw back the hammer of a firearm, and set it for firing.
Cocked, fired, and missed his man. Byron.
COCK
Cock, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kökkr lump, Dan. kok heap, or E. cock to
set erect.]
Defn: A small concial pile of hay.
COCK
Cock, v. t.
Defn: To put into cocks or heaps, as hay.
Under the cocked hay. Spenser.
COCK
Cock, n. Etym: [Of. coque, F. coche, a small vessel, L. concha muscle
shell, a vessel. See Coach, and cf.Cog
Defn: A small boat.
Yond tall anchoring bark [appears] Diminished to her cock; her cock,
a buoy Almost too small for sight. Shak.
COCK
Cock, n.
Defn: A corruption or disguise of the word God, used in oaths. [Obs.]
"By cock and pie." Shak.
COCKADE
Cock*ade", n. Etym: [F. cocarble, fr. coquard vain, OF. coquart, fr.
coq cock, prob. of imitative origin. The ornament is so named from
its resemblance to the crest of a cock. Cf. Coquette.]
Defn: A badge, usually in the form of a rosette, or knot, and
generally worn upon the hat; -- used as an indication of military or
naval service, or party allegiance, and in England as a part of the
livery to indicate that the wearer is the servant of a military or
naval officer.
Seduced by military liveries and cockades. Burke.
COCKADED
Cock*ad"ed, a.
Defn: Wearing a cockade. Young.
COCK-A-HOOP
Cock`-a-hoop", a.
Defn: Boastful; defiant; exulting. Also used adverbially.
COCKAL
Cock"al, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
1. A game played with sheep's bones instead of dice [Obs.]
2. The bone used in playing the game; -- called also huckle bone.
[Obs.] Nares.
A little transverse bone Which boys and bruckeled children call
(Playing for points and pins) cockal. Herrick.
COCKALEEKIE
Cock`a*leek"ie, n. Etym: [From cock + leek.]
Defn: A favorite soup in Scotland, made from a capon highly seasoned,
and boiled with leeks and prunes.
COCKAMAROO
Cock`a*ma*roo", n.
Defn: The Russian variety of bagatelle.
COCKATEEL
Cock"a*teel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Australian parrot (Calopsitta Novæ-Hollandiæ); -- so called
from its note.
COCKATOO
Cock`a*too, n. Etym: [Malayan kakatua.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the Parrot family, of the subfamily Cacatuinæ, having
a short, strong, and much curved beak, and the head ornamented with a
crest, which can be raised or depressed at will. There are several
genera and many species; as the broad-crested (Plictolophus, or
Cacatua, cristatus), the sulphur-crested (P. galeritus), etc. The
palm or great black cockatoo of Australia is Microglossus aterrimus.
Cock"a*trice, n. Etym: [OF. cocatrice crocodile, F. cocatrix,
cocatrice. The word is a corruption from the same source as E.
crocodile, but was confused with cock the bird, F. coq, whence arose
the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See
Crocodile.]
1. A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal.
See Basilisk.
That bare vowel, I, shall poison more Than the death-darting eye of
cockatrice. Shak.
2. (Her.)
Defn: A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings, and
legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.
3. (Script.)
Defn: A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.
The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's
Note: [Rev. Ver. basilisk's] den. Is. xi. 8.
4. Any venomous or deadly thing.
This little cockatrice of a king. Bacon.
COCKATRICE
Cock"a*trice (-tris; 277), n. [OF. cocatrice crocodile, F. cocatrix,
cocatrice. The word is a corruption from the same source as E.
crocodile, but was confused with cock the bird, F. coq, whence arose
the fable that the animal was produced from a cock's egg. See
Crocodile.]
1. A fabulous serpent whose breath and look were said to be fatal.
See Basilisk.
That bare vowel, I, shall poison more
Than the death-darting eye of cockatrice.
Shak.
2. (Her.) A representation of this serpent. It has the head, wings,
and legs of a bird, and tail of a serpent.
3. (Script.) A venomous serpent which which cannot now be identified.
The weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's [Rev. Ver.
basilisk's] den.
Is. xi. 8.
4. Any venomous or deadly thing.
This little cockatrice of a king.
Bacon.
COCKBILL
Cock"bill, v. t. Etym: [See Cock to set erect.] (Naut.)
Defn: To tilt up one end of so as to make almost vertical; as, to
cockbill the yards as a sign of mourning. To cockbill the anchor, to
suspend it from the cathead preparatory to letting it go. See
Acockbill.
COCKBOAT
Cock"boat`, n. Etym: [See Cock a boat.]
Defn: A small boat, esp. one used on rivers or near the shore.
COCK-BRAINED
Cock"-brained`, a.
Defn: Giddy; rash. Milton.
COCKCHAFER
Cock"chaf`er, n. Etym: [See Chafer the beetle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beetle of the genus Melolontha (esp. M. vulgaris) and allied
genera; -- called also May bug, chafer, or dorbeetle.
COCKCROW; COCKCROWING
Cock"crow, Cock"crow`ing, n.
Defn: The time at which cooks first crow; the early morning.
COCKER
Cock"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cockered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cockering.]
Etym: [OE. cokeren; cf. W. cocru to indulge, fondle, E. cock the
bird, F. coqueliner to dandle (Cotgrave), to imitate the crow of a
cock, to run after the girls, and E. cockle, v.]
Defn: Th treat with too great tenderness; to fondle; to indulge; to
pamper.
Cocker thy child and he shall make thee afraid. Ecclesiasticus xxx.
9.
Poor folks cannot afford to cocker themselves up. J. Ingelow.
COCKER
Cock"er, n. Etym: [From Cock the bird.]
1. One given to cockfighting. [Obs.] Steele.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small dog of the spaniel kind, used for starting up
woodcocks, etc.
COCKER
Cock"er, n. Etym: [OE. coker qyiver, boot, AS. cocer quiver; akin to
G. köcher quiver, and perh. originally meaning receptacle, holder.
Cf. Quiver (for arrows).]
Defn: A rustic high shoe or half-boots. [Obs.] Drayton.
COCKEREL
Cock"er*el, n. Etym: [Prob. a double dim. of cock.]
Defn: A young cock.
COCKER SPANIEL
Cock"er span"iel.
Defn: One of a breed of small or medium-sized spaniels kept for
hunting or retrieving game or for household pets. They usually weigh
from eighteen to twenty-eight pounds. They have the head of fair
length, with square muzzle, the ears long and set low, the legs short
or of medium length, and the coat fine and silky, wavy but not curly.
Various colors are bred, as black, liver, red, black and white, black
and tan, etc.
COCKET
Cock"et, a. Etym: [F. coquet coquettish. See Coquette, n.]
Defn: Pert; saucy. [Obs.] Halliwell.
COCKET
Cock"et, n.
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A customhouse seal; a certified document given to a shopper as
a warrant that his goods have been duly enstered and have paid duty.
2. An office in a customhouse where goods intended for export are
entered. [Eng.]
3. A measure for bread. [Obs.] Blount.
COCKEYE
Cock"eye`, n. Etym: [From cock to turn up.]
Defn: A squinting eye. Forby.
COCKEYE
Cock"eye`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The socket in the ball of a millstone, which sits on the
cockhead.
COCKFIGHT
Cock"fight`, n.
Defn: A match or contest of gamecocks.
COCKFIGHTING
Cock"fight`ing, n.
Defn: The act or practice of pitting gamecocks to fight.
COCKFIGHTING
Cock"fight`ing, a.
Defn: Addicted to cockfighting.
COCKHEAD
Cock"head`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: The rounded or pointed top of a grinding mill spindle, forming
a pivot on which the stone is balanced.
COCKHORSE
Cock"horse`, n.
1. A child's rocking-horse.
Ride a cockhorse to Banbury cross. Mother Goose.
2. A high or tall horse. [R.]
COCKHORSE
Cock"horse`, a.
1. Lifted up, as one is on a tall horse.
2. Lofty in feeling; exultant; pround; upstart.
Our painted fools and cockhorse peasantry. Marlowe.
COCKIELEEKIE
Cock`ie*leek"ie, n.
Defn: Same as Cockaleekie.
COCKING
Cock"ing, n.
Defn: Cockfighting. Ben Jonson.
COCKLE
Coc"kle, n. Etym: [OE. cockes cockles, AS. s sea cockles, prob, from
Celtic; cf. W. cocs cockles, Gael. cochull husk. Perh. influenced by
EF. coquille shell, a dim. from the root of E. conch. Cf. Coach.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bivalve mollusk, with radiating ribs, of the genus Cardium,
especially C. edule, used in Europe for food; -- sometimes applied to
similar shells of other genera.
2. A cockleshell.
3. The mineral black tourmaline or schorl; -- so called by the
Cornish miners. Raymond.
4. The fire chamber of a furnace. [Eng.] Knight.
5. A hop-drying kiln; an oast. Knight.
6. The dome of a heating furnace. Knight. Cockle hat, a hat
ornamented with a cockleshell, the badge of a pilgrim. Shak.
-- Cockle stairs, winding or spiral stairs.
COCKLE
Coc"kle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cockled; p. pr. & vb. n. Cockling.]
Etym: [Of uncertian origin.]
Defn: To cause to contract into wrinkles or ridges, as some kinds of
cloth after a wetting. Cockling sea, waves dashing against each other
with a short and quick motion. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
COCKLE
Coc"kle, n. Etym: [AS. coccel, cocel; cf. Gael. cogall tares, husks,
cockle.] (Bot.)
(a) A plant or weed that grows among grain; the corn rose (Luchnis
Githage).
(b) The Lotium, or darnel.
COCKLEBUR
Coc"kle*bur`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse, composite weed, having a rough or prickly fruit; one
of several species of the genus Xanthium; -- called also clotbur.
COCKLED
Coc"kled, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a shell.
The tender horns of cockled snails. Shak.
COCKLED
Coc"kled, a.
Defn: Wrinkled; puckered.
Showers soon drench the camlet's cockled grain. Gay.
COCKLER
Coc"kler, n.
Defn: One who takes and sells cockles.
COCKLESHELL
Coc"kle*shell`, n.
1. One of the shells or valves of a cockle.
2. A light boat.
To board the cockleshell in those plunding waters. W. Black.
COCKLOFT
Cock"loft` n. Etym: [Prop., a loft where cocks roost.]
Defn: An upper loft; a garret; the highest room in a building.
Dryden. Swift.
COCKMASTER
Cock"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One who breeds gamecocks. L'Estrange.
COCKMATCH
Cock"match`, n.
Defn: A cockfight.
COCKNEY
Cock"ney, n.; pl. Cockneys. Etym: [OE. cocknay, cokenay, a spoiled
child, effeminate person, an egg; prob. orig. a cock's egg, a small
imperfect egg; OE. cok cock + nay, neye, for ey egg (cf. Newt), AS.
æg. See 1st Cock, Egg, n.]
1. An effeminate person; a spoilt child. "A young heir or cockney,
that is his mother's darling." Nash (1592).
This great lubber, the world, will prove a cockney. Shak.
2. A native or resident of the city of London; -- used contemptuosly.
A cockney in a rural village was stared at as much as if he had
entered a kraal of Hottentots. Macaulay.
COCKNEY
Cock"ney, a.
Defn: Of or relating to, or like, cockneys.
COCKNEYDOM
Cock"ney*dom, n.
Defn: The region or home of cockneys; cockneys, collectively.
Thackeray.
COCKNEYFY
Cock"ney*fy, v. t. Etym: [Cockney + -fy.]
Defn: To form with the manners or character of a cockney. [Colloq.]
COCKNEYISH
Cock"ney*ish, a.
Defn: Characteristic of, or resembling, cockneys.
COCKNEYISM
Cock"ney*ism, n.
Defn: The charasteristics, manners, or dialect, of a cockney.
COCK-PADDLE
Cock"-pad`dle, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lumpfish. [Scot.]
COCK-PADLE
Cock"-pad`le, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lumpfish. [Scot.]
COCKPIT
Cock"pit`, n.
1. A pit, or inclosed area, for cockfights.
Henry the Eight had built . . . a cockpit. Macaulay.
2. The Privy Council room at Westminster; -- so called because built
on the site of the cockpit of Whitehall palace. Brande & C.
3. (Naut.)
(a) That part of a war vessel appropriated to the wounded during an
engagement.
(b) In yachts and other small vessels, a space lower than the rest of
the deck, which affords easy access to the cabin.
COCKROACH
Cock"roach, n. Etym: [Sp. cucaracha.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An orthopterus insect of the genus Blatta, and allied genera.
Note: The species are numerous, especially in hot countries. Those
most commonly infesting houses in Europe and North America are Blatta
orientalis, a large species often called black beetle, and the Croton
bug (Ectobia Germanica).
COCKSCOMB
Cocks"comb, n. Etym: [1st cock, n. + comb crest.]
1. See Coxcomb.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Celosia cristata), of many varieties, cultivated for
its broad, fantastic spikes of brilliant flowers; -- sometimes called
garden cockscomb. Also the Pedicularis, or lousewort, the Rhinanthus
Crista-galli, and the Onobrychis Crista-galli.
COCKSHEAD
Cocks"head`, n.
Defn: (Bot.) A leguminous herb (Onobrychis Caput-galli), having small
spiny-crested pods.
COCKSHUT
Cock"shut`, n.
Defn: A kind of net to catch woodcock. [Obs.] Nares. Cockshut time or
light, evening twilight; nightfall; -- so called in allusion to the
tome at which the cockshut used to be spread. [Obs.] Shak. B. Jonson.
COCKSHY
Cock"shy`, n.
1. A game in which trinkets are set upon sticks, to be thrown at by
the players; -- so called from an ancient popular sport which
consisted in "shying" or throwing cudgels at live cocks.
2. An object at which stones are flung.
"Making a cockshy of him," replied the hideous small boy. Dickens.
COCKSPUR
Cock"spur, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of Cratægus, or hawthorn (C. Crus-galli), having
long, straight thorns; -- called also Cockspur thorn.
COCKSURE
Cock"sure`, a.
1. Perfectly safe. [Obs.]
We steal as in a castle, cocksure: . . . we walk invisible. Shak.
2. Quite certain. [Colloq.]
I throught myself cocksure of the horse which he readily promised me.
Pope.
COCKSWAIN
Cock"swain (, colloq. ), n. Etym: [Cock a boat + swain; hence, the
master of a boat.]
Defn: The steersman of a boat; a petty officer who has charge of a
boat and its crew.
COCKTAIL
Cock"tail`, n.
1. A beverage made of brandy, whisky, or gin, iced, flavored, and
sweetened. [U. S.]
2. (Stock Breeding)
Defn: A horse, not of pure breed, but having only one eighth or one
sixteenth impure blood in his veins. Darwin.
3. A mean, half-hearted fellow; a coward. [Slang, Eng.]
It was in the second affair that poor little Barney showed he was a
cocktail. Thackeray.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of rove beetle; -- so called from its habit of
elevating the tail.
COCKUP
Cock"up, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, highly esteemed, edible fish of India (Lates
calcarifer); -- also called begti.
COCKWEED
Cock"weed, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Peppergrass. Johnson.
COCKY
Cock"y, a. Etym: [See Cocket.]
Defn: Pert. [Slang]
COCKYOLLY BIRD; COCKYOLY BIRD
Cock`y*ol"ly bird or Cock`y*ol"y bird. [Cf. Cock, fowl; Yellow.]
Defn: A pet name for any small bird.
COCO; COCO PALM
Co"co, n. or Co"co palm.
Defn: See Cocoa.
COCOA; COCOA PALM
Co"coa, n., Co"coa palm` Etym: [Sp. & Pg. coco cocoanut, in Sp. also,
cocoa palm. The Portuguese name is said to have been given from the
monkeylike face at the base of the nut, fr. Pg. coco a bugbear, an
ugly mask to frighten children. Cf., however, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A palm tree producing the cocoanut (Cocos nucifera). It grows
in nearly all tropical countries, attaining a height of sixty or
eighty feet. The trunk is without branches, and has a tuft of leaves
at the top, each being fifteen or twenty feet in length, and at the
base of these the nuts hang in clusters; the cocoanut tree.
COCOA
Co"coa, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. cacao.]
Defn: A preparation made from the seeds of the chocolate tree, and
used in making, a beverage; also the beverage made from cocoa or
cocoa shells. Cocoa shells, the husks which separate from the cacao
seeds in preparing them for use.
COCOANUT
Co"coa*nut`, n.
Defn: The large, hard-shelled nut of the cocoa palm. It yields an
agreeable milky liquid and a white meat or albumen much used as food
and in making oil.
COCOBOLO; COCOBOLAS
Co`co*bo"lo, Co`co*bo"las, n. Etym: [Sp. cocobolo.] (Bot.)
Defn: A very beautiful and hard wood, obtained in the West India
Islands. It is used in cabinetmaking, for the handles of tools, and
for various fancy articles.
COCOON
Co*coon", n. Etym: [F. cocon, dim. of coque shell of egge and
insects, fr. L. concha mussel shell. See Conch.]
1. An oblong case in which the silkworn lies in its chrysalis state.
It is formed of threads of silk spun by the worm just before leaving
the larval state. From these the silk of commerce is prepared.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The case constructed by any insect to contain its larva or pupa.
(b) The case of silk made by spiders to protect their eggs.
(c) The egg cases of mucus, etc., made by leeches and other worms.
COCOONERY
Co*coon"er*y, n.
Defn: A building or apartment for silkworms, when feeding and forming
cocoons.
COCTIBLE
Coc"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Coctile.]
Defn: Capable of being cooked. Blount.
COCTILE
Coc"tile, a. Etym: [L. coctilis, fr. coguere. See Cook.]
Defn: Made by baking, or exposing to heat, as a brick.
COCTION
Coc"tion, n. Etym: [L. coctio.]
1. Act of boiling.
2. (Med.)
(a) Digestion. [Obs.]
(b) The change which the humorists believed morbific matter undergoes
before elimination. [Obs.] Dunglison.
COCUS WOOD
Co"cus wood`.
Defn: A West Indian wood, used for making flutes and other musical
instruments.
COD
Cod, n. Etym: [AS. codd small bag; akin to Icel. koddi pillow, Sw.
kudde cushion; cf. W. cod, ciod, bag, shell.]
1. A husk; a pod; as, a peascod. [Eng.] Mortimer.
2. A small bag or pouch. [Obs.] Halliwell.
3. The scortum. Dunglison.
4. A pillow or cushion. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
COD
Cod, n. Etym: [Cf. G. gadde, and (in Heligoland) gadden, L. gadus
merlangus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An important edible fish (Gadus morrhua), Taken in immense
numbers on the northern coasts of Europe and America. It is
especially abundant and large on the Grand Bank of Newfoundland. It
is salted and dried in large quantities.
Note: There are several varieties; as shore cod, from shallow water;
bank cod, from the distant banks; and rock cod, which is found among
ledges, and is often dark brown or mottled with red. The tomcod is a
distinct species of small size. The bastard, blue, buffalo, or cultus
cod of the Pacific coast belongs to a distinct family. See Buffalo
cod, under Buffalo. Cod fishery, the business of fishing for cod.
-- Cod line, an eighteen-thread line used in catching codfish.
McElrath.
CODA
Co"da, n. Etym: [It., tail, fr. L. cauda.] (Mus.)
Defn: A few measures added beyond the natural termination of a
composition.
CODDER
Cod"der, n.
Defn: A gatherer of cods or peas. [Obs. or Prov.] Johnson.
CODDING
Cod"ding, a.
Defn: Lustful. [Obs.] Shak.
CODDLE
Cod"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Coddling.]
Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. caddle to coax, spoil, fondle, and Cade, a. & v.
t.] [Written also codle.]
1. To parboil, or soften by boiling.
It [the guava fruit] may be coddled. Dampier.
2. To treat with excessive tenderness; to pamper.
How many of our English princes have been coddled at home by their
fond papas and mammas! Thackeray.
He [Lord Byron] never coddled his reputation. Southey.
CODDYMODDY
Cod"dy*mod"dy, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A gull in the plumage of its first year.
CODE
Code, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. codex, caudex, the stock or
1. A body of law, sanctioned by legislation, in which the rules of
law to be specifically applied by the courts are set forth in
systematic form; a compilation of laws by public authority; a digest.
Note: The collection of laws made by the order of Justinian is
sometimes called, by way of eminence. "The Code" Wharton.
2. Any system of rules or regulations relating to one subject; as,
the medical code, a system of rules for the regulation of the
professional conduct of physicians; the naval code, a system of rules
for making communications at sea means of signals. Code civil or Code
Napoleon, a code enacted in France in 1803 and 1804, embodying the
law of rights of persons and of property generally. Abbot.
CODEFENDANT
Co`de*fend"ant, n.
Defn: A joint defendant. Blackstone.
CODEINE
Co*de"ine, n. Etym: [Gr. cod.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the opium alkaloids; a white crystalline substance,
C18H21NO3, similar to and regarded as a derivative of morphine, but
much feebler in its action; -- called also codeia.
CODETTA
Co*det"ta, n. Etym: [It., dim. of coda tail.] (Mus.)
Defn: A short passage connecting two sections, but not forming part
of either; a short coda.
CODEX
Co"dex, n.; pl. Codices. Etym: [L. See Code.]
1. A book; a manuscript.
2. A collection or digest of laws; a code. Burrill.
3. An ancient manuscript of the Sacred Scriptures, or any part of
them, particularly the New Testament.
4. A collection of canons. Shipley.
CODFISH
Cod"fish, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of fish. Same as Cod.
CODGER
Codg"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Cadger.]
1. A miser or mean person.
2. A singular or odd person; -- a familiar, humorous, or depreciatory
appellation. [Colloq.]
A few of us old codgers met at the fireside. Emerson.
CODICAL
Cod"i*cal, a.
Defn: Ralating to a codex, or a code.
CODICIL
Cod"i*cil, n. Etym: [L. codicillus, dim. of codex: cf. F. codicille.
See Code.] (Law)
Defn: A clause added to a will.
CODICILLARY
Cod`i*cil"la*ry, a. Etym: [L. codicillaris, codicillarius.]
Defn: Of the nature of a codicil.
CODIFICATION
Co`di*fi*ca"tion ( or ), n. Etym: [Cf. F. codification.]
Defn: The act or process of codifying or reducing laws to a code.
CODIFIER
Co"di*fi`er ( or ), n.
Defn: One who codifies.
CODIFY
Co"di*fy ( or ; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Codified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Codifying.] Etym: [Code + -fy: cf. F. codifier.]
Defn: To reduce to a code, as laws.
CODILLA
Co*dil"la, n. Etym: [Cf. L. codicula a little tail, dim. of cauda
tail.] (Com.)
Defn: The coarse tow of flax and hemp. McElrath.
CODILLE
Co*dille", n. Etym: [F. codile.]
Defn: A term at omber, signifying that the game is won. Pope.
CODIST
Co"dist, n.
Defn: A codifier; a maker of codes. [R.]
CODLE
Co"dle, v. t.
Defn: See Coddle.
CODLIN; CODLING
Cod"lin, Cod"ling, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. codæppel a quince.]
(a) An apple fit to stew or coddle.
(b) An immature apple.
A codling when 't is almost an apple. Shak.
Codling moth (Zoöl.), a small moth (Carpocapsa Pomonella), which in
the larval state (known as the apple worm) lives in apples, often
doing great damage to the crop.
CODLING
Cod"ling, n. Etym: [Dim. of cod the fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young cod; also, a hake.
COD LIVER
Cod" liv`er, n.
Defn: The liver of the common cod and allied species. Cod-liver oil,
an oil obtained fron the liver of the codfish, and used extensively
in medicine as a means of supplying the body with fat in cases of
malnutrition.
CODPIECE
Cod"piece`, n. Etym: [Cod, n., piece.]
Defn: A part of male dress in front of the breeches, formerly made
very conspicuous. Shak. Fosbroke.
COECILIAN
Coe*cil"i*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cæcilian.
COEDUCATION
Co*ed`u*ca"tion, n.
Defn: An educating together, as of persons of different sexes or
races. Co*ed`u*ca"tion*al (, a.
COEFFICACY
Co*ef"fi*ca*cy, n.
Defn: Joint efficacy.
COEFFICIENCY
Co`ef*fi"cien*cy, n.
Defn: Joint efficiency; coöperation. Glanvill.
COEFFICIENT
Co`ef*fi"cient, a.
Defn: Coöperating; acting together to produce an effect.
Co`ef*fi"cient*ly, adv.
COEFFICIENT
Co`ef*fi"cient, n.
1. That which unites in action with something else to produce the
same effect.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. coefficient.] (Math.)
Defn: A number or letter put before a letter or quantity, known or
unknown, to show how many times the latter is to be taken; as, 6x;
bx; here 6 and b are coefficients of x.
3. (Physics)
Defn: A number, commonly used in computation as a factor, expressing
the amount of some change or effect under certain fixed conditions as
to temperature, length, volume, etc.; as, the coefficient of
expansion; the coefficient of friction. Arbitrary coefficient
(Math.), a literal coefficient placed arbitrarily in an algebraic,
expression, the value of the coefficient being afterwards determined
by the conditions of the problem.
COEHORN
Coe"horn, n. Etym: [From its inventor, Baron Coehorn.] (Mil.)
Defn: A small bronze mortar mounted on a wooden block with handles,
and light enough to be carried short distances by two men.
COELACANTH
Coel"a*canth ( or , a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having hollow spines, as some ganoid fishes.
COELECTRON
Co`e*lec"tron, n.
Defn: See Electron.
COELENTERA; COELENTERATA
Coe*len"te*ra or Coe*len`te*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A comprehensive group of Invertebrata, mostly marine,
comprising the Anthozoa, Hydrozoa, and Ctenophora. The name implies
that the stomach and body cavities are one. The group is sometimes
enlarged so as to include the sponges.
COELENTERATE
Coe*len"ter*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Coelentra.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Coelentera.
COELIA
Coe"li*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A cavity.
Note: The word is applied to the ventricles of the brain, the
different venticles being indicated by prefixes like those
characterizing the parts of the brain in which the cavities are
found; as, epicoelia, mesocoelia, metacoelia, procoelia, etc. B. G.
Wilder.
COELIAC; CELIAC
Coe"li*ac, Ce"li*ac, a. Etym: [L. coeliacus, Gr.
Defn: Relating to the abdomen, or to the cavity of the abdomen.
Coeliac artery (Anat.), the artery which issues from the aorta just
below the diaphragm; -- called also coeliac axis.
-- Coeliac flux, Coeliac passion (Med.), a chronic flux or diarrhea
of undigested food.
COELODONT
Coe"lo*dont, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having hollow teeth; -- said of a group lizards.
-- n.
Defn: One of a group of lizards having hollow teeth.
COELOSPERMOUS
Coel`o*sper"mous ( or , a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Hollow-seeded; having the ventral face of the seedlike carpels
incurved at the ends, as in coriander seed.
COELUM
Coe"lum, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Body cavity, under Body.
COEMPTION
Co*emp"tion, n. Etym: [L. coëmptio, fr. coëmere to buy up. See
Emption.]
Defn: The act of buying the whole quantity of any commodity. [R.]
Bacon.
COENDOO
Co*en"doo, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Brazilian porcupine (Cercolades, or Sphingurus,
prehensiles), remarkable for its prehensile tail.
COENENCHYM; COENENCHYMA
Coe*nen"chym, Coe*nen"chy*ma n. Etym: [NL. coenenchyma, fr. Gr.
parenchyma.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common tissue which unites the polyps or zooids of a
compound anthozoan or coral. It may be soft or more or less ossified.
See Coral.
COENESTHESIS
Coen`es*the"sis ( or ), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Common sensation or general sensibility, as distinguished from
the special sensations which are located in, or ascribed to, separate
organs, as the eye and ear. It is supposed to depend on the
ganglionic system.
COENOBITE
Coen"o*bite ( or ), n.
Defn: See Cenobite.
COENOECIUM
Coe*noe"ci*um ( or ), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common tissue which unites the various zooids of a
bryozoan.
COENOGAMY
Coe*nog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The state of a community which permits promiscuous sexual
intercourse among its members; -- as in certain primitive tribes or
communistic societies. [Written also cenogamy.]
COENOSARC
Coen"o*sarc ( or ), n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common soft tissue which unites the polyps of a compound
hydroid. See Hydroidea.
COENURUS
Coe*nu"rus, n. Etym: [NL. fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larval stage of a tapeworm (Tænia coenurus) which forms
bladderlike sacs in the brain of sheep, causing the fatal disease
known as water brain, vertigo, staggers or gid.
Note: This bladder worm has on its surface numerous small heads, each
of which, when swallowed by a dog, becomes a mature tapeworm in the
dog's intestine.
COEQUAL
Co*e"qual, a. Etym: [L. coaequalis; co- + aequalis equal.]
Defn: Being on an equality in rank or power.
-- n.
Defn: One who is on an equality with another.
In once he come to be a cardinal, He'll make his cap coequal with the
crown. Shak.
COEQUALITY
Co`e*qual"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being on an equality, as in rank or power.
COEQUALLY
Co*e"qual*ly, adv.
Defn: With coequality.
COERCE
Co*erce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coerced; p. pr. & vb. n. Coercing.]
Etym: [L. coërcere; co- + arcere to shut up, to press together. See
Ark.]
1. To restrain by force, especially by law or authority; to repress;
to curb. Burke.
Punishments are manifold, that they may coerce this profligate sort.
Ayliffe.
2. To compel or constrain to any action; as, to coerce a man to vote
for a certain candidate.
3. To compel or enforce; as, to coerce obedience.
Syn.
-- To Coerce, Compel. To compel denotes to urge on by force which
cannot be resisted. The term aplies equally to physical and moral
force; as, compelled by hunger; compelled adverse circumstances;
compelled by parental affection. Coerce had at first only the
negative sense of checking or restraining by force; as, to coerce a
bad man by punishments or a prisoner with fetters. It has now gained
a positive sense., viz., that of driving a person into the
performance of some act which is required of him by another; as, to
coerce a man to sign a contract; to coerce obedience. In this sense
(which is now the prevailing one), coerce differs but little from
compel, and yet there is a distinction between them. Coercion is
usually acomplished by indirect means, as threats and intimidation,
physical force being more rarely employed in coercing.
COERCIBLE
Co"er"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being coerced.
-- Co*er"ci*ble*ness, n.
COERCION
Co*er"cion, n. Etym: [L. coercio, fr. coercere. See Coerce.]
1. The act or process of coercing.
2. (Law)
Defn: The application to another of either physical or moral force.
When the force is physical, and cannot be resisted, then the act
produced by it is a nullity, so far as concerns the party coerced.
When the force is moral, then the act, though voidable, is imputable
to the party doing it, unless he be so paralyzed by terror as to act
convulsively. At the same time coercion is not negatived by the fact
of submission under force. "Coactus volui" (I consented under
compulsion) is the condition of mind which, when there is volition
forced by coercion, annuls the result of such coercion. Wharton.
COERCITIVE
Co*er"ci*tive, a.
Defn: Coercive. "Coercitive power in laws." Jer. Taylor.
COERCIVE
Co*er"cive, a.
Defn: Serving or intended to coerce; having power to constrain.
-- Co*er"cive*ly, adv.
-- Co*er"cive*ness, n.
Coercive power can only influence us to outward practice. Bp.
Warburton.
Coercive or Coercitive force (Magnetism), the power or force which in
iron or steel produces a slowness or difficulty in imparting
magnetism to it, and also interposes an obstacle to the return of a
bar to its natural state when active magnetism has ceased. It plainly
depends on the molecular constitution of the metal. Nichol.
The power of resisting magnetization or demagnization is sometimes
called coercive force. S. Thompson.
COERULIGNONE
Coe`ru*lig"none, n. Etym: [L. coeruleus cerulean + lignum wood + E.
quinone.] (Chem.)
Defn: A bluish violet, crystalline substance obtained in the
purification of crude wood vinegar. It is regarded as a complex
quinone derivative of diphenyl; -- called also cedriret.
COESSENTIAL
Co`es*sen"tial, a.
Defn: Partaking of the same essence.
-- Co`es*sen"tial*ly, adv.
We bless and magnify that coessential Spirit, eternally proceeding
from both [The Father and the Son]. Hooker.
COESSENTIALITY
Co`es*sen`ti*al"i*ty ( or ; 106), n.
Defn: Participation of the same essence. Johnson.
COESTABLISHMENT
Co`es*tab"lish*ment, n.
Defn: Joint establishment. Bp. Watson.
COESTATE
Co`es*tate", n.
Defn: Joint estate. Smolett.
COETANEAN
Co`e*ta"ne*an, n.
Defn: A personcoetaneous with another; a contemporary. [R.]
A . . . coetanean of the late earl of SouthamptoAubrey.
COETANEOUS
Co`e*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. coaetaneus; co- + aetas age.]
Defn: Of the same age; beginning to exist at the same time;
contemporaneous.
-- Co`e*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv.
And all [members of the body] are coetaneous. Bentley.
COETERNAL
Co`e*ter"nal, a.
Defn: Equally eternal.
-- Co`e*ter"nal*ly, adv.
Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first born! Or of the Eternal
coeternal beam. Milton.
COETERNITY
Co`e*ter"ni*ty, n.
Defn: Existence from eternity equally with another eternal being;
equal eternity.
COEVAL
Co*e"val, a. Etym: [L. coaevus; co- + aevum lifetime, age. See Age,
n.]
Defn: Of the same age; existing during the same period of time,
especially time long and remote; -- usually followed by with.
Silence! coeval with eternity! Pope.
Oaks coeval spread a mournful shade. Cowper.
COEVAL
Co*e"val, n.
Defn: One of the same age; a contemporary.
As if it were not enough to have outdone all your coevals in wit.
Pope.
COEVOUS
Co*e"vous, a.
Defn: Coeaval [Obs.] South.
COEXECUTOR
Co`ex*ec"u*tor, n.
Defn: A joint executor.
COEXECUTRIX
Co`ex*ec"u*trix, n.
Defn: A joint executrix.
COEXIST
Co`ex*ist, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coexisted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coexisting.]
Defn: To exist at the same time; -- sometimes followed by with.
Of substances no one has any clear idea, farther than of certain
simple ideas coexisting together. Locke.
So much purity and integrity . . . coexisting with so much decay and
so many infirmities. Warburton.
COEXISTENCE
Co`ex*ist"ence, n.
Defn: Existence at the same time with another; -- contemporary
existence.
Without the help, or so much as the coexistence, of any condition.
Jer. Taylor.
COEXISTENT
Co`ex*ist"ent, a.
Defn: Existing at the same time with another.
-- n.
Defn: That which coexists with another.
The law of coexistent vibrations. Whewell.
COEXISTING
Co`ex*ist"ing, a.
Defn: Coexistent. Locke.
COEXTEND
Co`ex*tend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coextended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coextending.]
Defn: To extend through the same space or time with another; to
extend to the same degree.
According to which the least body may be coextended with the
greatest. Boyle.
Has your English language one single word that is coextended through
all these significations Bentley.
COEXTENSION
Co`ex*ten"sion, n.
Defn: The act of extending equally, or the state of being equally
extended.
COEXTENSIVE
Co`ex*ten"sive, a.
Defn: Equally extensive; having as, consciousness and knowledge are
coextensive. Sir W. Hamilton.
-- Co`ex*ten"sive*ly, adv.
-- Co`ex*ten"sive*ness, n.
COFFEE
Cof"fee, n. Etym: [Turk. qahveh, Ar. qahuah wine, coffee, a decoction
of berries. Cf. Café.]
1. The "beans" or "berries" (pyrenes) obtained from the drupes of a
small evergreen tree of the genus Coffea, growing in Abyssinia,
Arabia, Persia, and other warm regions of Asia and Africa, and also
in tropical America.
2. The coffee tree.
Note: There are several species of the coffee tree, as, Coffea
Arabica, C. occidentalis, and C. Liberica. The white, fragrant
flowers grow in clusters at the root of the leaves, and the fruit is
a red or purple cherrylike drupe, with sweet pulp, usually containing
two pyrenes, commercially called "beans" or "berries".
3. The beverage made from the roasted and ground berry.
They have in Turkey a drink called coffee . . . This drink comforteth
the brain and heart, and helpeth digestion. Bacon.
Note: The use of coffee is said to have been introduced into England
about 1650, when coffeehouses were opened in Oxford and London.
Coffee bug (Zoöl.), a species of scale insect (Lecanium coffæa),
often very injurious to the coffee tree.
-- Coffee rat (Zoöl.) See Musang.
COFFEEHOUSE
Cof"fee*house`, n.
Defn: A house of entertainment, where guests are supplied with coffee
and other refreshments, and where men meet for conversation.
The coffeehouse must not be dismissed with a cursory mention. It
might indeed, at that time, have been not improperly called a most
important political institution . . . The coffeehouses were the chief
organs through which the public opinion of the metropolis vented
itself . . . Every man of the upper or middle class went daily to his
coffeehouse to learn the news and discuss it. Every coffeehouse had
one or more orators, to whose eloquence the crowd listened with
admiration, and who soon became what the journalists of our own time
have been called -- a fourth estate of the realm. Macaulay.
COFFEEMAN
Cof"fee*man, n.
Defn: One who keeps a coffeehouse. Addison.
COFFEEPOT
Cof"fee*pot, n.
Defn: A covered pot im which coffee is prepared,
COFFEEROOM
Cof"fee*room`, n.
Defn: A public room where coffee and other refreshments may be
obtained.
COFFER
Cof"fer, n. Etym: [OF. cofre, F. coffre, L. cophinus basket, fr. Gr.
Coffin, n.]
1. A casket, chest, or trunk; especially, one used for keeping money
or other valuables. Chaucer.
In ivory coffers I have stuffed my crowns. Shak.
2. Fig.: Treasure or funds; -- usually in the plural.
He would discharge it without any burden to the queen's coffers, for
honor sake. Bacon.
Hold, here is half my coffer. Shak.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A panel deeply recessed in the ceiling of a vault, dome, or
portico; a caisson.
4. (Fort.)
Defn: A trench dug in the botton of a dry moat, and extending across
it, to enable the besieged to defend it by a raking fire.
5. The chamber of a canal lock; also, a caisson or a cofferdam.
Coffer dam. (Engin.) See Cofferdam, in the Vocabulary.
-- Coffer fish. (Zoöl.) See Cowfish.
COFFER
Cof"fer, v. t.
1. To put into a coffer. Bacon.
2. (Mining.)
Defn: To secure from leaking, as a chaft, by ramming clay behind the
masonry or timbering. Raymond.
3. To form with or in a coffer or coffers; to turnish with a coffer
or coffers.
COFFERDAM
Cof"fer*dam, n.
Defn: A water-tight inclosure, as of piles packed with clay, from
which the water is pumped to expose the bottom (of a river, etc.) and
permit the laying of foundations, building of piers, etc.
COFFERER
Cof"fer*er, n.
Defn: One who keeps treasures in a coffer. [R.]
COFFERWORK
Cof"fer*work`, n. (Masonry)
Defn: Rubblework faced with stone. Knight.
COFFIN
Cof"fin, n. Etym: [OE., a basket, receptacle, OF. cofin, fr. L.
cophinus. See Coffer, n.]
1. The case in which a dead human body is inclosed for burial.
They embalmed him [Joseph], and he was put in a coffin. Gen. 1. 26.
2. A basket. [Obs.] Wyclif (matt. xiv. 20).
3. A casing or crust, or a mold, of pastry, as for a pie.
Of the paste a coffin I will rear. Shak.
4. A conical paper bag, used by grocers. [Obs.] Nares.
5. (Far.)
Defn: The hollow crust or hoof of a horse's foot, below the coronet,
in which is the coffin bone. Coffin bone, the foot bone of the horse
and allied animals, inclosed within the hoof, and corresponding to
the third phalanx of the middle finger, or toe, of most mammals.
-- Coffin joint, the joint next above the coffin bone.
COFFIN
Cof"fin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coffined; p. pr. & vb. n. Coffining.]
Defn: To inclose in, or as in, a coffin.
Would'st thou have laughed, had I come coffined home Shak.
Devotion is not coffined in a cell. John Hall (1646).
COFFINLESS
Cof"fin*less, a.
Defn: Having no coffin.
COFFLE
Cof"fle, n. Etym: [Ar. kafala caravan.]
Defn: A gang of negro slaves being driven to market.
COG
Cog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Cogging.] Etym: [Cf.
W. coegio to make void, to beceive, from coeg empty, vain, foolish.
Cf. Coax, v. t.]
1. To seduce, or draw away, by adulation, artifice, or falsehood; to
wheedle; to cozen; to cheat. [R.]
I'll . . . cog their hearts from them. Shak.
2. To obtrude or thrust in, by falsehood or deception; as, to cog in
a word; to palm off. [R.]
Fustian tragedies . . . have, by concerted applauses, been cogged
upon the town for masterpieces. J. Dennis
To cog a die, to load so as to direct its fall; to cheat in playing
dice. Swift.
COG
Cog, v. i.
Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to play false; to lie; to wheedle; to
cajole.
For guineas in other men's breeches, Your gamesters will palm and
will cog. Swift.
COG
Cog, n.
Defn: A trick or deception; a falsehood. Wm. Watson.
COG
Cog, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. kugge a cog, or W. cocos the cogs of a wheel.]
1. (Mech.)
Defn: A tooth, cam, or catch for imparting or receiving motion, as on
a gear wheel, or a lifter or wiper on a shaft; originally, a separate
piece of wood set in a mortise in the face of a wheel.
2. (Carp.)
(a) A kind of tenon on the end of a joist, received into a notch in a
bearing timber, and resting flush with its upper surface.
(b) A tenon in a scarf joint; a coak. Knight.
3. (Mining.)
Defn: One of the rough pillars of stone or coal left to support the
roof of a mine.
COG
Cog, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a cog or cogs. Cogged breath sound
(Auscultation), a form of interrupted respiration, in which the
interruptions are very even, three or four to each inspiration.
Quain.
COG
Cog, n. Etym: [OE. cogge; cf. D. kog, Icel. kuggr Cf. Cock a boat.]
Defn: A small fishing boat. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
COGENCY
Co"gen*cy, n. Etym: [See Cogent.]
Defn: The quality of being cogent; power of compelling conviction;
conclusiveness; force.
An antecedent argument of extreme cogency. J. H. Newman.
COGENIAL
Co*ge"ni*al, a.
Defn: Congenial. [Obs.]
COGENT
Co"gent, a. Etym: [L. cogens, p. pr. of cogere to drive together, to
force; co- + agere to drive. See Agent, a., and cf. Coact to force,
Coagulate, p. a.]
1. Compelling, in a physical sense; powerful. [Obs.]
The cogent force of nature. Prior.
2. Having the power to compel conviction or move the will;
constraining; conclusive; forcible; powerful; not easily reasisted.
No better nor more cogent reason. Dr. H. More.
Proofs of the most cogent description. Tyndall.
The tongue whose strains were cogent as commands, Revered at home,
and felt in foreign lands. Cowper.
Syn.
-- Forcible; powerful; potent; urgent; strong; persuasive;
convincing; conclusive; influential.
COGENTLY
Co"gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cogent manner; forcibly; convincigly; conclusively. Locke.
COGGER
Cog"ger, n. Etym: [From Cog to wheedle.]
Defn: A flatterer or deceiver; a sharper.
COGGERY
Cog"ger*y, n.
Defn: Trick; deception. Bp. Watson.
COGGLE
Cog"gle, n. Etym: [See Cog small boat.]
Defn: A small fishing boat. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
COGGLE
Cog"gle, n. Etym: [Cf. Cobble a cobblestone.]
Defn: A cobblestone. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
COGITABILITY
Cog`i*ta*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being cogitable; conceivableness.
COGITABLE
Cog"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. cogitabilis, fr. cogitare to think.]
Defn: Capable of being brought before the mind as a throught or idea;
conceivable; thinkable.
Creation is cogitable by us only as a putting forth of divine power.
Sir W. Hamilton.
COGITABUND
Cog"i*ta*bund`, a. Etym: [L. cogitabundus.]
Defn: Full of thought; thoughtful. [R.] Leigh Hunt.
COGITATE
Cog"i*tate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cogitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cogitating.] Etym: [L. cogitatus, p. p. of cogitare to reflect upon,
prob. fr. co- + the root of aio I say; hence, prop., to discuss with
one's self. Cf. Adage.]
Defn: To engage in continuous thought; to think.
He that calleth a thing into his mind, whether by impression or
recordation, cogitateth and considereth, and he that employeth the
faculty of his fancy also cogitateth. Bacon.
COGITATE
Cog"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To think over; to plan.
He . . . is our witness, how we both day and night, revolving in our
minds, did cogitate nothing more than how to satisfy the parts of a
good pastor. Foxe.
COGITATION
Cog`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. cogitatio: cf. F. cogitation.]
Defn: The act of thinking; thought; meditation; contemplation. "Fixed
in cogitation deep." Milton.
COGITATIVE
Cog"i*ta*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. cogitativus.]
1. Possessing, or pertaining to, the power of thinking or meditating.
"Cogitative faculties." Wollaston.
2. Given to thought or contemplation. Sir H. Wotton.
COGMAN
Cog"man, n.
Defn: A dealer in cogware or coarse cloth. [Obs.] Wright.
COGNAC
Co"gnac`, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of French brandy, so called from the town of Cognac.
COGNATE
Cog"nate, a. Etym: [L. cognatus; co- + gnatus, natus, p. p. of nasci,
anciently gnasci, to be born. See Nation, and cf. Connate.]
1. Allied by blood; kindred by birth; specifically (Law), related on
the mother's side.
2. Of the same or a similar nature; of the same family; proceeding
from the same stock or root; allied; kindred; as, a cognate language.
COGNATE
Cog"nate, n.
1. (Law)
Defn: One who is related to another on the female side. Wharton.
2. One of a number of things allied in origin or nature; as, certain
letters are cognates.
COGNATENESS
Cog"nate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being cognate.
COGNATI
Cog*na"ti, n. pl. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: Relatives by the mother's side. Wharton.
COGNATION
Cog*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cognatio.]
1. Relationship by blood; descent from the same original; kindred.
As by our cognation to the body of the first Adam. Jer. Taylor.
2. Participation of the same nature. Sir T. Browne.
A like temper and cognation. Sir K. Digby.
3. (Law)
Defn: That tie of consanguinity which exists between persons
descended from the same mother; -- used in distinction from agnation.
COGNATUS
Cog*na"tus, n. Etym: [L., a kinsman.] (Law)
Defn: A person cinnected through cognation.
COGNISOR; COGNISEE
Cog`ni*sor" ( or ), Cog`ni*see, n.
Defn: See Cognizor, Cognizee.
COGNITION
Cog*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. cognitio, fr. cognoscere, cognitum, to
become acquainted with, to know; co- + noscere, gnoscere, to get a
knowledge of. See Know, v. t.]
1. The act of knowing; knowledge; perception.
I will not be myself nor have cognation Of what I feel: I am all
patience. Shak.
2. That which is known.
COGNITIVE
Cog"ni*tive, a.
Defn: Knowing, or apprehending by the understanding; as, cognitive
power. South.
COGNIZABLE
Cog"ni*za*ble ( or , a. Etym: [F. connaissable, fr. connaître to
know, L. cognoscere. See Cognition.]
1. Capable of being known or apprehended; as, cognizable causes.
2. Fitted to be a subject of judicial investigation; capable of being
judicially heard and determined.
Cognizable both in the ecclesiastical and secular courts. Ayliffe.
COGNIZABLY
Cog"ni*za*bly, adv.
Defn: In a cognizable manner.
COGNIZANCE
Cog"ni*zance ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [OF. conissance, conoissance, F.
conaissance, LL. cognoscentia, fr. L. cognoscere to know. See
Cognition, and cf. Cognoscence, Connoisseur.]
1. Apprehension by the understanding; perception; observation.
Within the cognizance and lying under the control of their divine
Governor. Bp. Hurd
2. Recollection; recognition.
Who, soon as on that knight his eye did glance, Eftsoones of him had
perfect cognizance. Spenser.
3. (Law)
(a) Jurisdiction, or the power given by law to hear and decide
controversies.
(b) The hearing a matter judicially.
(c) An acknowledgment of a fine of lands and tenements or confession
of a thing done. [Eng.]
(d) A form of defense in the action of replevin, by which the
defendant insists that the goods were lawfully taken, as a distress,
by defendant, acting as servant for another. [Eng.] Cowell. Mozley &
W.
4. The distinguishing mark worn by an armed knight, usually upon the
helmet, and by his retainers and followers: Hence, in general, a
badge worn by a retainer or dependent, to indicate the person or
party to which he belonged; a token by which a thing may be known.
Wearing the liveries and cognizance of their master. Prescott.
This pale and angry rose, As cognizance of my blood-drinking hate.
Shak.
COGNIZANT
Cog"ni*zant ( or ), a. Etym: [See Cognizance, and cf. Connusant.]
Defn: Having cognizance or knowledge. (of).
COGNIZE
Cog"nize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Cognizant, Recognize.]
Defn: To know or perceive; to recognize.
The reasoning faculty can deal with no facts until they are cognized
by it. H. Spencer.
COGNIZEE
Cog`ni*zee" ( or ), n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom a fine of land was ackowledged. Blackstone.
COGNIZOR
Cog`ni*zor, n. Etym: [See Cognizance.] (Law)
Defn: One who ackowledged the right of the plaintiff or cognizee in a
fine; the defendant. Blackstone.
COGNOMEN
Cog*no"men, n. Etym: [L.: co- + (g)nomen name.]
1. The last of the three names of a person among the ancient Romans,
denoting his house or family.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A surname.
COGNOMINAL
Cog*nom"i*nal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cognomen; of the nature of a surname.
COGNOMINAL
Cog*nom"i*nal, n.
Defn: One bearing the same name; a namesake. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
COGNOMINATION
Cog*nom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. cognominatio.]
Defn: A cognomen or surname. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
COGNOSCENCE
Cog*nos"cence, n. Etym: [LL. cognoscentia. See Cognizance.]
Defn: Cognizance. [R.] Dr. H. More.
COGNOSCENTE
Cog`nos*cen"te, n.; pl. Cognoscenti. Etym: [OIt. cognoscente, p. pr.
of cognoscere, It. conoscere to know.]
Defn: A conoisseur. Mason.
COGNOSCIBILITY
Cog*nos`ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being cognoscible. Cudworth.
COGNOSCIBLE
Cog*nos"ci*ble, a.
1. Capable of being known. "Matters intelligible and cognoscible."
Sir M. Hale.
2. Liable to judicial investigation. Jer. Taylor.
COGNOSCITIVE
Cog*nos"ci*tive, a.
Defn: Having the power of knowing. [Obs.] "An innate cognoscitive
power." Cudworth.
COGNOVIT
Cog*no"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has acknowledged.] (Law)
Defn: An instrument in writting whereby a defendant in an action
acknowledges a plaintiff's demand to be just. Mozley & W.
COGON
Co*gon", n. [Sp., prob. fr. a native name.]
Defn: A tall, coarse grass (Imperata arundinacea) of the Philippine
Islands and adjacent countries, used for thatching.
COGUARDIAN
Co*guard"i*an, n.
Defn: A joint guardian.
COGUE
Cogue, n. Etym: [Cf. Cog a small boat.]
Defn: A small wooden vessel; a pail. [Scot.] Jamieson.
COGWARE
Cog"ware`, n.
Defn: A coarse, narrow cloth, like frieze, used by the lower classes
in the sixteenth century. Halliwell.
COGWHEEL
Cog"wheel`, n.
Defn: A wheel with cogs or teeth; a gear wheel. See Illust. of
Gearing.
COHABIT
Co*hab"it, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cohabited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cohabiting.] Etym: [L. cohabitare; co- + habitare to dwell, to have
possession of (a place), freg. of habere to have. See Habit, n. & v.]
1. To inhabit or reside in company, or in the same place or country.
The Philistines were worsted by the captived ark . . . : they were
not able to cohabit with that holy thing. South.
2. To dwell or live together as husband and wife.
The law presumes that husband and wife cohabit together, even after a
voluntary separation has taken place between them. Bouvier.
Note: By the common law as existing in the United States, marriage is
presumed when a man and woman cohabit permanently together, being
reputed by those who know them to be husband and wife, and admitting
the relationship. Wharton.
COHABITANT
Co*hab"it*ant, n. Etym: [L. cohabitans, p. pr.]
Defn: One who dwells with another, or in the same place or country.
No small number of the Danes became peaceable cohabitants with the
Saxons in England. Sir W. Raleigh.
COHABITATION
Co*hab"i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. cohabitatio.]
1. The act or state of dwelling together, or in the same place with
another. Feltham.
2. (Law)
Defn: The living together of a man and woman in supposed sexual
relationship.
That the duty of cohabitation is released by the cruelty of one of
the parties is admitted. Lord Stowell.
COHABITER
Co*hab"it*er, n.
Defn: A cohabitant. Hobbes.
COHEIR
Co*heir, n.
Defn: A joint heir; one of two or more heirs; one of several entitled
to an inheritance.
COHEIRESS
Co*heir"ess, n.
Defn: A female heir who inherits with other heiresses; a joint
heiress.
COHEIRSHIP
Co*heir"ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a coheir.
COHERALD
Co*her"ald, n.
Defn: A joint herald.
COHERE
Co*here", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cohered; p. pr. & vb. n. Cohering.]
Etym: [L. cohaerere, cohaesum; co- + haerere to stick, adhere. See
Aghast, a.]
1. To stick together; to cleave; to be united; to hold fast, as parts
of the same mass.
Neither knows he . . . how the solid parts of the body are united or
cohere together. Locke.
2. To be united or connected together in subordination to one
purpose; to follow naturally and logically, as the parts of a
discourse, or as arguments in a train of reasoning; to be logically
consistent.
They have been inserted where they best seemed to cohere. Burke.
3. To suit; to agree; to fit. [Obs.]
Had time cohered with place, or place with wishing. Shak.
Syn.
-- To cleave; unite; adhere; stick; suit; agree; fit; be consistent.
COHERENCE; COHERENCY
Co*her"ence, Co*her"en*cy, n. Etym: [L. cohaerentia: cf. F.
cohérence.]
1. A sticking or cleaving together; union of parts of the same body;
cohesion.
2. Connection or dependence, proceeding from the subordination of the
parts of a thing to one principle or purpose, as in the parts of a
discourse, or of a system of philosophy; consecutiveness.
Coherence of discourse, and a direct tendency of all the parts of it
to the argument in hand, are most eminently to be found in him.
Locke.
COHERENT
Co*her"ent, a. Etym: [L. cohaerens, p. pr. See Cohere.]
1. Sticking together; cleaving; as the parts of bodies; solid or
fluid. Arbuthnot.
2. Composed of mutually dependent parts; making a logical whole;
consistent; as, a coherent plan, argument, or discourse.
3. Logically consistent; -- applied to persons; as, a coherent
thinker. Watts.
4. Suitable or suited; adapted; accordant. [Obs.]
Instruct my daughter how she shall persever, That time and place,
with this deceit so lawful, May prove coherent. Shak.
COHERENTLY
Co*her"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a coherent manner.
COHERER
Co*her"er, n. (Elec.)
Defn: Any device in which an imperfectly conducting contact between
pieces of metal or other conductors loosely resting against each
other is materially improved in conductivity by the influence of
Hertzian waves; -- so called by Sir O. J. Lodge in 1894 on the
assumption that the impact of the electic waves caused the loosely
connected parts to cohere, or weld together, a condition easily
destroyed by tapping. A common form of coherer as used in wireless
telegraphy consists of a tube containing filings (usually a pinch of
nickel and silver filings in equal parts) between terminal wires or
plugs (called conductor plugs).
COHESIBILITY
Co*he`si*bil"i*ty ( or ), n.
Defn: The state of being cohesible. Good.
COHESIBLE
Co*he"si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of cohesion.
COHESION
Co*he"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cohésion. See Cohere.]
1. The act or state of sticking together; close union.
2. (Physics)
Defn: That from of attraction by which the particles of a body are
united throughout the mass, whether like or unlike; -- distinguished
from adhesion, which unites bodies by their adjacent surfaces.
Solids and fluids differ in the degree of cohesion, which, being
increased, turns a fluid into a solid. Arbuthnot.
3. Logical agreement and dependence; as, the cohesion of ideas.
Locke.
COHESIVE
Co*he"sive, a.
1. Holding the particles of a homogeneous body together; as, cohesive
attraction; producing cohesion; as, a cohesive force.
2. Cohering, or sticking together, as in a mass; capable of cohering;
tending to cohere; as, cohesive clay. Cohesive attraction. See under
Attraction.
-- Co*he"sive*ly, adv.
-- Co*he"sive*ness, n.
COHIBIT
Co*hib"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cohibited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cohibiting.] Etym: [L. cohibitus, p. p. of cohibere to confine; co- +
habere to hold.]
Defn: To restrain. [Obs.] Bailey.
COHIBITION
Co`hi*bi"tion, n. Etym: [L. cohibitio.]
Defn: Hindrance; restraint. [Obs.]
COHOBATE
Co`ho*bate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cohobated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Cohobating.] Etym: [LL. cohobare; prob. of Arabic origin: cf. F.
cohober.] (Anc. Chem.)
Defn: To repeat the distillation of, pouring the liquor back upon the
matter remaining in the vessel. Arbuthnot.
COHOBATION
Co`ho*ba"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. cohobation.] (Anc. Chem.)
Defn: The process of cohobating. Grew.
COHORN
Co"horn, n. (Mil.)
Defn: See Coehorn.
COHORT
Co"hort, n. Etym: [L. cohors, prop. an inclosure: cf. F. cohorte. See
Court, n.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A body of about five or six hundred soldiers; the tenth part of
a legion.
2. Any band or body of warriors.
With him the cohort bright Of watchful cherubim. Milton.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A natural group of orders of plants, less comprehensive than a
class.
COHOSH
Co"hosh, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial American herb (Caulophyllum thalictroides), whose
roostock is used in medicine; -- also called pappoose root. The name
is sometimes also given to the Cimicifuga racemosa, and to two
species of Actæa, plants of the Crowfoot family.
COHUNE; COHUNE PALM
Co*hune", n., or Cohune palm . [Prob. fr. a native name in Honduras.]
Defn: A Central and South American pinnate-leaved palm (Attalea
cohune), the very large and hard nuts of which are turned to make
fancy articles, and also yield an oil used as a substitute for
coconut oil.
COIF
Coif (koif), n. Etym: [OF. coife, F. coiffe, LL. cofea, cuphia, fr.
OHG. kuppa, kuppha, miter, perh. fr. L. cupa tub. See Cup, n. ; but
cf. also Cop, Cuff the article of dress, Quoif, n.]
Defn: A cap. Specifically: (a) A close-fitting cap covering the sides
of the head, like a small hood without a cape. (b) An official
headdress, such as that worn by certain judges in England. [Writting
also quoif.]
From point and saucy ermine down To the plain coif and russet gown.
H. Brocke.
The judges, . . . althout they are not of the first magnitude, nor
need be of the degree of the coif, yet are they considerable. Bacon.
COIF
Coif (koif), v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. coiffer.]
Defn: To cover or dress with, or as with, a coif.
And coif me, where I'm bald, with flowers. J. G. Cooper.
COIFED
Coifed (koift), a.
Defn: Wearing a coif.
COIFFEUR
Coif`feur", n. [F.]
Defn: A hairdresser.
COIFFURE
Coif"fure, n. Etym: [F., fr. coiffer. See Coif.]
Defn: A headdress, or manner of dressing the hair. Addison.
COIGN
Coign, n.
Defn: A var. spelling of Coin, Quoin, a corner, wedge; -- chiefly
used in the phrase coign of vantage, a position advantageous for
action or observation.
From some shielded nook or coign of vantage.
The Century.
The lithosphere would be depressed on four faces; . . . the four
projecting coigns would stand up as continents.
Nature.
COIGNE
Coigne (koin), n. Etym: [See Coin, n.]
Defn: A quoin.
See you yound coigne of the Capitol yon corner stone Shak.
COIGNE; COIGNY
Coigne, Coign"y, n.
Defn: The practice of quartering one's self as landlord on a tenant;
a quartering of one's self on anybody. [Ireland] Spenser.
COIL
Coil (koil), v.t. [imp. & p. p. Coiled (koild); p. pr. & vb. n.
Coiling.] Etym: [OF. coillir, F. cueillir, to collect, gather
together, L. coligere; col- + legere to gather. See Legend, and cf.
Cull, v. t., Collect.]
1. To wind cylindrically or spirally; as, to coil a rope when not in
use; the snake coiled itself before springing.
2. To encircle and hold with, or as with, coils. [Obs. or R.] T.
Edwards.
COIL
Coil, v. i.
Defn: To wind itself cylindrically or spirally; to form a coil; to
wind; -- often with about or around.
You can see his flery serpents . . . Coiting, playing in the water.
Longfellow.
COIL
Coil, n.
1. A ring, series of rings, or spiral, into which a rope, or other
like thing, is wound.
The wild grapevines that twisted their coils from trec to tree. W.
Irving.
2. Fig.: Entanglement; toil; mesh; perplexity.
3. A series of connected pipes in rows or layers, as in a steam
heating apparatus. Induction coil. (Elec.) See under Induction.
-- Ruhmkorff's coil (Elec.), an induction coil, sometimes so called
from Ruhmkorff (, a prominent manufacturer of the apparatus.
COIL
Coil, n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. goil fume, rage.]
Defn: A noise, tumult, bustle, or confusion. [Obs.] Shak.
COILON
Coi"lon, n. Etym: [F. See Cullion.]
Defn: A testicle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COIN
Coin (koin), n. Etym: [F. coin, formerly also coing, wedge, stamp,
corner, fr. L. cuneus wedge; prob. akin to E. cone, hone. See Hone,
n., and cf. Coigne, Quoin, Cuneiform.]
1. A quoin; a corner or external angle; a wegde. See Coigne, and
Quoin.
2. A piece of metal on which certain characters are stamped by
government authority, making it legally current as money; -- much
used in a collective sense.
It is alleged that it [a subsidy] exceeded all the current coin of
the realm. Hallam.
3. That which serves for payment or recompense.
The loss of present advantage to flesh and blood is repaid in a
nobler coin. Hammond.
Coin balance. See Illust. of Balance.
-- To pay one in his own coin, to return to one the same kind of
injury or ill treatment as has been received from him. [Colloq.]
COIN
Coin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coined (koind); p. pr. & vb. n. Coining.]
1. To make of a definite fineness, and convert into coins, as a mass
of metal; to mint; to manufacture; as, to coin silver dollars; to
coin a medal.
2. To make or fabricate; to invent; to originate; as, to coin a word.
Some tale, some new pretense, he daily coined, To soothe his sister
and delude her mind. Dryden.
3. To acquire rapidly, as money; to make.
Tenants cannot coin rent just at quarter day. Locke.
COIN
Coin, v. i.
Defn: To manufacture counterfeit money.
They cannot touch me for coining. Shak.
COINAGE
Coin"age, n. Etym: [From Coin, v. t., cf. Cuinage.]
1. The act or process of converting metal into money.
The care of the coinage was committed to the inferior magistrates.
Arbuthnot.
2. Coins; the aggregate coin of a time or place.
3. The cost or expense of coining money.
4. The act or process of fabricating or inventing; formation;
fabrication; that which is fabricated or forged. "Unnecessary coinage
. . . of words." Dryden.
This is the very coinage of your brain. Shak.
COINCIDE
Co`in*cide", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coincided; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coinciding.] Etym: [L. co- + incidere to fall on; in + cadere to
fall: cf. F. coïncider. See Chance, n.]
1. To occupy the same place in space, as two equal triangles, when
placed one on the other.
If the equator and the ecliptic had coincided, it would have rendered
the annual revoluton of the earth useless. Cheyne.
2. To occur at the same time; to be contemporaneous; as, the fall of
Granada coincided with the discovery of America.
3. To correspond exactly; to agree; to concur; as, our aims coincide.
The rules of right jugdment and of good ratiocination often coincide
with each other. Watts.
COINCIDENCE
Co*in"ci*dence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coïncidence.]
1. The condition of occupying the same place in space; as, the
coincidence of circles, surfaces, etc. Bentley.
2. The condition or fact of happening at the same time; as, the
coincidence of the deaths of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
3. Exact correspondence in nature, character, result, circumstances,
etc.; concurrence; agreement.
The very concurrence and coincidence of ao many evidences . . .
carries a great weight. Sir M. Hale.
Those who discourse . . . of the nature of truth . . . affirm a
perfect coincidence between truth and goodness. South.
COINCIDENCY
Co*in"ci*den*cy, n.
Defn: Coincidence. [R.]
COINCIDENT
Co*in"ci*dent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. coïncident.]
Defn: Having coincidence; occupying the same place; contemporaneous;
concurrent; -- followed by with.
Christianity teaches nothing but what is perfectly suitable to, and
coincident with, the ruling principles of a virtuous and well-
inclined man. South.
COINCIDENT
Co*in"ci*dent, n.
Defn: One of two or more coincident events; a coincidence. [R.]
"Coincidents and accidents." Froude.
COINCIDENTAL
Co*in`ci*den"tal, a.
Defn: Coincident.
COINCIDENTLY
Co*in"ci*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: With coincidence.
COINCIDER
Co`in*cid"er, n.
Defn: One who coincides with another in an opinion.
COINDICATION
Co*in`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coïdication.]
Defn: One of several signs or sumptoms indicating the same fact; as,
a coindication of disease.
COINER
Coin"er, n.
1. One who makes or stamps coin; a maker of money; -- usually, a
maker of counterfeit money.
Precautions such as are employed by coiners and receivers of stolen
goods. Macaulay.
2. An inventor or maker, as of words. Camden.
COINHABITANT
Co`in*hab"it*ant, n.
Defn: One who dwells with another, or with others. "Coinhabitants of
the same element." Dr. H. More.
COINHERE
Co`in*here", v. i.
Defn: To inhere or exist together, as in one substance. Sir W.
Hamilton.
COINHERITANCE
Co`in*her"it*ance, n.
Defn: Joint inheritance.
COINHERITOR
Co`in*her"it*or, n.
Defn: A coheir.
COINITIAL
Co`in*i"tial, a. (Math.)
Defn: Having a common beginning.
COINQUINATE
Co*in"qui*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. coinquinatus, p. p. of coinquinare to
defile. See Inquinate.]
Defn: Topollute. [Obs.] Skelton.
COINQUINATION
Co*in`qui*na"tion, n.
Defn: Defilement. [Obs.]
COINSTANTANEOUS
Co*in"stan*ta"ne*ous, a.
Defn: Happening at the same instant. C. Darwin.
COINSURANCE
Co`in*sur"ance, n. [Co- + insurance.]
Defn: Insurance jointly with another or others; specif., that system
of fire insurance in which the insurer is treated as insuring himself
to the extent of that part of the risk not covered by his policy, so
that any loss is apportioned between him and the insurance company on
the principle of average, as in marine insurance or between other
insurers.
COINTENSE
Co`intense", a.
Defn: Equal in intensity or degree; as, the relations between 6 and
12, and 8 and 16, are cointense. H. Spencer.
COINTENSION
Co`in*ten"sion, n.
Defn: The condition of being of equal in intensity; -- applied to
relations; as, 3 : 6 and 6 : 12 are relations of cointension.
Cointension . . . is chosen indicate the equality of relations in
respect of the contrast between their terms. H. Spencer.
COIR
Coir (koir), n. Etym: [Tamil kayiru.]
1. A material for cordage, matting, etc., consisting of the prepared
fiber of the outer husk of the cocoanut. Homans.
2. Cordage or cables, made of this material.
COISTRIL
Cois"tril, n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. coustillier groom or lad. Cf.
Custrel.]
1. An inferior groom or lad employed by an esquire to carry the
knight's arms and other necessaries. [Written also coistrel.]
2. A mean, paltry fellow; a coward. [Obs.] Shak.
COIT
Coit (koit), n. Etym: [See Quoit.]
Defn: A quoit. [Obs.] Carew.
COIT
Coit, v. t.
Defn: To throw, as a stone. [Obs.] See Quoit.
COITION
Co*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. coitio, fr. coire to come together; co- + ire
to go.]
Defn: A coming together; sexual intercourse; copulation. Grew.
COJOIN
Co*join", v. t.
Defn: To join; to conjoin. [R.] Shak.
COJUROR
Co*ju"ror, n.
Defn: One who swears to another's credibility. W. Wotton.
COKE
Coke, n. Etym: [Perh. akin to cake, n.]
Defn: Mineral coal charred, or depriver of its bitumen, sulphur, or
other volatile matter by roasting in a kiln or oven, or by
distillation, as in gas works. It is lagerly used where [Written also
coak.] Gas coke, the coke formed in gas retorts, as distinguished
from that made in ovens.
COKE
Coke, v. t.
Defn: To convert into coke.
COKENAY
Coke"nay, n.
Defn: A cockney. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COKERNUT
Co"ker*nut`, n. (Com.)
Defn: The cocoanut.
Note: A mode of spelling introduced by the London customhouse to
distinguish more widely between this and other articles spelt much in
the same manner.
COKES
Cokes, n. Etym: [OE. Cf. Coax.]
Defn: A simpleton; a gull; a dupe. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COKEWOLD
Coke"wold, n.
Defn: Cuckold. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COL; COL-
Col
Defn: - (with, together. See Com-.
COL
Col, n. Etym: [F., neck, fr. L. collum neck.]
Defn: A short ridge connecting two higher elevations or mountains;
the pass over such a ridge.
COLA
Co"la, n. [NL., fr. a native name.] (Bot.)
(a) A genus of sterculiaceous trees, natives of tropical Africa,
esp. Guinea, but now naturalized in tropical America, esp. in the
West Indies and Brazil.
(b) Same as Cola nut, below.
COLA
Co"la, n.,
Defn: L. pl. of Colon.
COLABORER
Co*la"bor*er, n.
Defn: One who labors with another; an associate in labor.
COLANDER
Col"an*der, n. Etym: [L. colans, -antis, p. pr. of colare to filter,
to strain, fr. colum a strainer. Cf. Cullis, Culvert.]
Defn: A utensil with a bottom perforated with little holes for
straining liquids, mashed vegetable pulp, etc.; a strainer of
wickerwork, perfprated metal, or the like.
COLA NUT; COLA SEED
Cola nut, Cola seed. (Bot.)
Defn: The bitter fruit of Cola acuminata, which is nearly as large as
a chestnut, and furnishes a stimulant, which is used in medicine.
COLATION
Co*la"tion, n. Etym: [See Colander.]
Defn: The act or process of straining or filtering. [R.]
COLATITUDE
Co*lat"i*tude (; 134), n. Etym: [Formed like cosine. See Cosine.]
Defn: The complement of the latitude, or the difference between any
latitude and ninety degrees.
COLATURE
Col"a*ture, n. Etym: [L. colatura, from colare: cf. F. colature. See
Colander.]
Defn: The process of straining; the matter strained; a strainer. [R.]
COLBERTINE
Col"ber*tine, n. Etym: [From Jean Baptiste Colbert, a minister of
Louis XIV., who encouraged the lace manufacture in France.]
Defn: A kind of lace. [Obs.]
Pinners edged with colbertine. Swift.
Difference rose between Mechlin, the queen of lace, and colbertine.
Young.
COLCHICINE
Col"chi*cine ( or ), n. Etym: [Cf. F. colchicine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful vegetable alkaloid, C17H19NO5, extracted from the
Colchicum autumnale, or meadow saffron, as a white or yellowish
amorphous powder, with a harsh, bitter taste; -- called also
colchicia.
COLCHICUM
Col"chi*cum, n. Etym: [L., a plant with a poisonous root, fr.
Colchicus Colchian, fr. Colchis, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of bulbous-rooted plants found in many parts of Europe,
including the meadow saffron.
Note: Preparations made from the poisonous bulbs and seeds, and
perhaps from the flowers, of the Colchicum autumnale (meadow saffron)
are used as remedies for gout and rheumatism.
COLCOTHAR
Col"co*thar, n. Etym: [NL. colcothar vitrioli, fr. Ar. qolqotar.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Polishing rouge; a reddish brown oxide of iron, used in
polishing glass, and also as a pigment; -- called also crocus Martis.
COLD
Cold, a. [Compar. Colder; superl. Coldest.] Etym: [OE. cold, cald,
AS. cald, ceald; akin to OS. kald, D. koud, G. kalt, Icel. kaldr,
Dan. kold, Sw. kall, Goth. kalds, L. gelu frost, gelare to freeze.
Orig. p. p. of AS. calan to be cold, Icel. kala to freeze. Cf. Cool,
a., Chill, n.]
1. Deprived of heat, or having a low temperature; not warm or hot;
gelid; frigid. "The snowy top of cold Olympis." Milton.
2. Lacking the sensation of warmth; suffering from the absence of
heat; chilly; shivering; as, to be cold.
3. Not pungent or acrid. "Cold plants." Bacon
4. Wanting in ardor, intensity, warmth, zeal, or passion; spiritless;
unconcerned; reserved.
A cold and unconcerned spectator. T. Burnet.
No cold relation is a zealous citizen. Burke.
5. Unwelcome; disagreeable; unsatisfactory. "Cold news for me." "Cold
comfort." Shak.
6. Wanting in power to excite; dull; uninteresting.
What a deal of cold business doth a man misspend the better part of
life in! B. Jonson.
The jest grows cold . . . when in comes on in a second scene.
Addison.
7. Affecting the sense of smell (as of hunting dogs) but feebly;
having lost its odor; as, a cold scent.
8. Not sensitive; not acute.
Smell this business with a sense as cold As is a dead man's nose.
Shak.
9. Distant; -- said, in the game of hunting for some object, of a
seeker remote from the thing concealed.
10. (Paint.)
Defn: Having a bluish effect. Cf. Warm, 8. Cold abscess. See under
Abscess.
-- Cold blast See under Blast, n., 2. Cold blood. See under Blood,
n., 8.
-- Cold chill, an ague fit. Wright.
-- Cold chisel, a chisel of peculiar strength and hardness, for
cutting cold metal. Weale.
-- Cold cream. See under Cream.
-- Cold slaw. See Cole slaw.
-- In cold blood, without excitement or passion; deliberately.
He was slain in cold blood after thefight was over. Sir W. Scott.
To give one the cold shoulder, to treat one with neglect.
Syn.
-- Gelid; bleak; frigid; chill; indifferent; unconcerned;
passionless; reserved; unfeeling; stoical.
COLD
Cold, n.
1. The relative absence of heat or warmth.
2. The sensation produced by the escape of heat; chilliness or
chillness.
When she saw her lord prepared to part, A deadly cold ran shivering
to her heart. Dryden.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid state of the animal system produced by exposure to
cold or dampness; a catarrh. Cold sore (Med.), a vesicular eruption
appearing about the mouth as the result of a cold, or in the course
of any disease attended with fever.
-- To leave one out in the cold, to overlook or neglect him.
[Colloq.] Cold, v. i.
Defn: To become cold. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COLD-BLOODED
Cold"-blood`ed, a.
1. Having cold blood; -- said of fish or animals whose blood is but
little warmer than the water or air about them.
2. Deficient in sensibility or feeling; hard-hearted.
3. Not thoroughbred; -- said of animals, as horses, which are derived
from the common stock of a country.
COLDFINCH
Cold"finch`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A British wagtail.
COLD-HEARTED
Cold"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Wanting passion or feeling; indifferent.
-- Cold"-heart`ed*ness, n.
COLDISH
Cold"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat cold; cool; chilly.
COLDLY
Cold"ly, adv.
Defn: In a cold manner; without warmth, animation, or feeling; with
indifference; calmly.
Withdraw unto some private place, And reason coldly of your
grievances. Shak.
COLDNESS
Cold"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being cold.
COLD-SHORT
Cold"-short`, a.
Defn: Brittle when cold; as, cold-short iron.
COLD-SHUT
Cold"-shut`, a. (Metal.)
Defn: Closed while too cold to become thoroughly welded; -- said of a
forging or casting.
-- n.
Defn: An imperfection caused by such insufficient welding.
COLD WAVE
Cold" wave". (Meteor.)
Defn: In the terminology of the United States Weather Bureau, an
unusual fall in temperature, to or below the freezing point,
exceeding 16º in twenty-four hours or 20º in thirty-six hours,
independent of the diurnal range.
COLE
Cole, n. Etym: [OE. col, caul, AS. cawl, cawel, fr. L. caulis, the
stalk or stem of a plant, esp. a cabbage stalk, cabbage, akin to Gr.
Cauliflower, Kale.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the Brassica or Cabbage genus; esp. that form of B.
oleracea called rape and coleseed.
CO-LEGATEE
Co-leg`a*tee", n.
Defn: A joint legatee.
COLEGOOSE
Cole"goose`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Coalgoose.
COLEMANITE
Cole"man*ite, n. Etym: [From W.T. Coleman of San Francisco.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous borate of lime occurring in transparent colorless or
white crystals, also massive, in Southern California.
COLEMOUSE
Cole"mouse`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Coletit.
COLEOPTER
Co`le*op"ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Coleoptera.
COLEOPTERA
Co`le*op"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of insects having the anterior pair of wings (elytra)
hard and horny, and serving as coverings for the posterior pair,
which are membranous, and folded transversely under the others when
not in use. The mouth parts form two pairs of jaws (mandibles and
maxillæ) adapted for chewing. Most of the Coleoptera are known as
beetles and weevils.
COLEOPTERAL; COLEOPTEROUS
Co`le*op"ter*al, Co`le*op"ter*ous a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having wings covered with a case or sheath; belonging to the
Coleoptera.
COLEOPTERAN
Co`le*op"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the order of Coleoptera.
COLEOPTERIST
Co`le*op"ter*ist, n.
Defn: One versed in the study of the Coleoptera.
COLEORHIZA
Co`le*o*rhi"za, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A sheath in the embryo of grasses, inclosing the caulicle.
Gray.
COLEPERCH
Cole"perch`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of small black perch.
COLERA
Col"e*ra, n. Etym: [L. cholera. See Choler.]
Defn: Bile; choler. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COLERIDGIAN
Cole*ridg"i*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Samuel Taylor Coleridge, or to his poetry or
metaphysics.
COLESEED
Cole"seed`, n.
Defn: The common rape or cole.
COLESLAW
Cole"slaw`, n. Etym: [D. kool slaa cabbage salad.]
Defn: A salad made of sliced cabbage.
CO-LESSEE
Co`-les*see", n.
Defn: A partner in a lease taen.
CO-LESSOR
Co`-les*sor", n.
Defn: A partner in giving a lease.
COLESTAFF
Cole"staff`, n.
Defn: See Colstaff.
COLET; COLLET
Col"et, Col"letEtym: [Corrupted fr. acolyte.]
Defn: An inferior church servant. [Obs.] See Acolyte.
COLETIT; COALTIT
Cole"tit` or Coal"tit, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European titmouse (Parus ater), so named from its black
color; -- called also coalmouse and colemouse.
COLEUS
Co"le*us, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of several species of the Mint family, cultivated for
its bright-colored or variegated leaves.
COLEWORT
Cole"wort`, n. Etym: [AS. cawlwyrt; cawl cole + wyrt wort. Cf.
Collards.]
1. A variety of cabbage in which the leaves never form a compact
head.
2. Any white cabbage before the head has become firm.
COLFOX
Col"fox`, n.
Defn: A crafty fox. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COLIC
Col"ic, n. Etym: [F. colique, fr. L. colicus sick with the colic, GR.
Colon.] (Med.)
Defn: A severe paroxysmal pain in the abdomen, due to spasm,
obstruction, or distention of some one of the hollow viscera. Hepatic
colic, the severe pain produced by the passage of a gallstone from
the liver or gall bladder through the bile duct.
-- Intestinal colic, or Ordinary colic, pain due to distention of
the intestines by gas.
-- Lead colic, Painter's colic, a violent form of intestinal colic,
associated with obstinate constipation, produced by chronic lead
poisoning.
-- Renal colic, the severe pain produced by the passage of a
calculus from the kidney through the ureter.
-- Wind colic. See Intestinal colic, above.
COLIC
Col"ic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to colic; affecting the bowels. Milton.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the colon; as, the colic arteries.
COLICAL
Col"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or of the nature of, colic. Swift.
COLICKY
Col"ick*y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or troubled with, colic; as, a colicky disorder.
COLICROOT
Col"ic*root`, n.
Defn: A bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with the leaves
all radical, and the small yellow or white flowers in a long spike
(Aletris farinosa and A. aurea). Called sometimes star grass,
blackroot, blazing star, and unicorn root.
COLIN
Col"in, n. Etym: [F. colin; prop. a dim. of Colas, contr. fr. Nicolas
Nicholas.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American quail or bobwhite. The name is also applied to
other related species. See Bobwhite.
COLISEUM
Col`i*se"um, n. Etym: [NL. (cf. It. coliseo, colosseo), fr. L.
colosseus colossal, fr. colossus a colossus. See Colossus, and cf.
Colosseum.]
Defn: The amphitheater of Vespasian at Rome, the largest in the
world. [Written also Colosseum.]
COLITIS
Co*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation of the large intestine, esp. of its mucous
membrane; colonitis.
COLL
Coll, v. t. Etym: [OF. coler, fr. L. collum neck.]
Defn: To embrace. [Obs.] "They coll and kiss him." Latimer.
COLLABORATEUR
Col*la`bo*ra*teur", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Collaborator.
COLLABORATION
Col*lab`o*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The act ofworking together; united labor.
COLLABORATOR
Col*lab"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L. collaborare to labor together; col- +
laborare to labor: cf. F. collaborateur.]
Defn: An associate in labor, especially in literary or scientific
labor.
COLLAGEN
Col"la*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: The chemical basis of ordinary connective tissue, as of tendons
or sinews and of bone. On being boiled in water it becomes gelatin or
glue.
COLLAGENOUS
Col*lag"e*nous, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Containing or resembling collagen.
COLLAPSE
Col*lapse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Collapsed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Collapsing] Etym: [L. collapsus, p. p. of collabi to collapse; col- +
labi to fall, slide. See Lapse.]
1. To fall together suddenly, as the sides of a hollow vessel; to
close by falling or shrinking together; to have the sides or parts of
(a thing) fall in together, or be crushed in together; as, a flue in
the boiler of a steam engine sometimes collapses.
A balloon collapses when the gas escapes from it. Maunder.
2. To fail suddenly and completely, like something hollow when
subject to too much pressure; to undergo a collapse; as, Maximilian's
government collapsed soon after the French army left Mexico; many
financial projects collapse after attaining some success and
importance.
COLLAPSE
Col*lapse", n.
1. A falling together suddenly, as of the sides of a hollow vessel.
2. A sudden and complete failure; an utter failure of any kind; a
breakdown. [Colloq.]
3. (Med.)
Defn: Extreme depression or sudden failing o
COLLAPSION
Col*lap"sion, n. Etym: [L. collapsio.]
Defn: Collapse. [R.] Johnson.
COLLAR
Col"lar, n. Etym: [OE. coler, coller, OF. colier, F. collier,
necklace, collar, fr. OF. col neck, F. cou, fr. L. collum; akin to
AS. heals, G. & Goth. hals. Cf. Hals, n.]
1. Something worn round the neck, whether for use, ornament,
restraint, or identification; as, the collar of a coat; a lady's
collar; the collar of a dog.
2. (Arch.)
(a) A ring or cinture.
(b) A collar beam.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The neck or line of junction between the root of a plant and
its stem. Gray.
4. An ornament worn round the neck by knights, having on it devises
to designate their rank or order.
5. (Zoöl.)
(a) A ringlike part of a mollusk in connection with esophagus.
(b) A colored ring round the neck of a bird or mammal.
6. (Mech.)
Defn: A ring or round flange upon, surrounding, or against an object,
and used for rastraining motion within given limits, or for holding
something to its place, or for hibing an opening around an object;
as, a collar on a shaft, used to prevent endwise motion of the shaft;
a collar surrounding a stovepipe at the place where it enters a wall.
The flanges of a piston and the gland of a stuffing box are sometimes
called collars.
7. (Naut.)
Defn: An eye formed in the bight or bend of a shroud or stay to go
over the masthead; also, a rope to which certain parts of rigging, as
dead-eyes, are secured.
8. (Mining)
Defn: A curb, or a horizontal timbering, around the mouth of a shaft.
Raymond. Collar beam (Arch.), a horizontal piece of timber connecting
and tying together two opposite rafters; -- also, called simply
collar.
-- Collar of brawn, the quantity of brawn bound up in one parcel.
[Eng.] Johnson.
-- Collar day, a day of great ceremony at the English court, when
persons, who are dignitaries of honorary orders, wear the collars of
those orders.
-- To slip the collar, to get free; to disentangle one's self from
difficulty, labor, or engagement. Spenser.
COLLAR
Col"lar, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collared; p. pr. & vb. n. Collaring.]
1. To seize by the collar.
2. To put a collar on. To collar beef (or other meat), to roll it up,
and bind it close with a string preparatory to cooking it.
COLLAR BONE
Col"lar bone`. (Anat.)
Defn: The clavicle.
COLLARDS
Col"lards, n., pl. Etym: [Corrupted fr. colewort.]
Defn: Young cabbage, used as "greens"; esp. a kind cultivated for
that purpose; colewort. [Colloq. Souther U. S.]
COLLARED
Col"lared, a.
1. Wearing a collar. "Collared with gold." Chaucer.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Wearing a collar; -- said of a man or beast used as a bearing
when a collar is represented as worn around the neck or loins.
3. Rolled up and bound close with a string; as, collared beef. See To
collar beef, under Collar, v. t.
COLLARET; COLLARETTE
Col`lar*et", Col`la*rette", n. [F. collerette, dim. of collier. See
Collar.]
Defn: A small collar; specif., a woman's collar of lace, fur, or
other fancy material.
COLLATABLE
Col*lat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being collated. Coleridge.
COLLATE
Col*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collated; p. pr. & vb. n. Collating.]
Etym: [From Collation.]
1. To compare critically, as books or manuscripts, in order to note
the points of agreement or disagreement.
I must collage it, word, with the original Hebrew. Coleridge.
2. To gather and place in order, as the sheets of a book for binding.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: To present and institute in a benefice, when the person
presenting is both the patron and the ordinary; -- followed by to.
4. To bestow or confer. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COLLATE
Col*late", v. i. (Ecl.)
Defn: To place in a benefice, when the person placing is both the
patron and the ordinary.
If the bishop neglets to collate within six months, the right to do
it devolves on the archbishop. Encyc. Brit.
COLLATERAL
Col*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [LL. collateralis; col- + lateralis lateral.
See Lateral.]
1. Coming from, being on, or directed toward, the side; as,
collateral pressure. "Collateral light." Shak.
2. Acting in an indirect way.
If by direct or by collateral hand They find us touched, we will our
kingdom give . . . To you in satisfaction. Shak.
3. Related to, but not strictly a part of, the main thing or matter
under consideration; hence, subordinate; not chief or principal; as,
collateral interest; collateral issues.
That he [Attebury] was altogether in the wrong on the main question,
and on all the collateral questions springing out of it, . . . is
true. Macaulay.
4. Tending toward the same conclusion or result as something else;
additional; as, collateral evidence.
Yet the attempt may give Collateral interest to this homely tale.
Wordsworth.
5. (Genealogy)
Defn: Descending from the same stock or ancestor, but not in the same
line or branch or one from the other; -- opposed to lineal.
Note: Lineal descendants proceed one from another in a direct line;
collateral relations spring from a common ancestor, but from
different branches of that common stirps or stock. Thus the children
of brothers are collateral relations, having different fathers, but a
common grandfather. Blackstone.
Collateral assurance, that which is made, over and above the deed
itself.
-- Collateral circulation (Med. & Physiol.), circulation established
through indirect or subordinate branches when the supply through the
main vessel is obstructed.
-- Collateral issue. (Law) (a) An issue taken upon a matter aside
from the merits of the case. (b) An issue raised by a criminal
convict who pleads any matter allowed by law in bar of execution, as
pardon, diversity of person, etc. (c) A point raised, on cross-
examination, aside from the issue fixed by the pleadings, as to which
the answer of the witness, when given, cannot subsequently be
contradicted by the party asking the question.
-- Collateral security, security for the performance of covenants,
or the payment of money, besides the principal security,
COLLATERAL
Col*lat"er*al, n.
1. A collateral relative. Ayliffe.
2. Collateral security; that which is pledged or deposited as
collateral security.
COLLATERALLY
Col*lat"er*al*ly, adv.
1. Side by side; by the side.
These pulleys . . . placed collaterally. Bp. Wilkins.
2. In an indirect or subordinate manner; indirectly.
The will hath force upon the conscience collaterally and indirectly.
Jer. Taylor.
3. In collateral relation; not lineally.
COLLATERALNESS
Col*lat"er*al*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being collateral.
COLLATION
Col*la"tion, n. Etym: [OE. collacioun speech, conference, reflection,
OF. collacion, F. collation, fr. L. collatio a bringing together,
comparing, fr. collatum (used as the supine of conferre); col- +
latium (used as the supine of ferre to bear), for tlatum. See
Tolerate, v. t.]
1. The act of collating or comparing; a comparison of one copy er
thing (as of a book, or manuscript) with another of a like kind;
comparison, in general. Pope.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The gathering and examination of sheets preparatory to binding.
3. The act of conferring or bestowing. [Obs.]
Not by the collation of the king . . . but by the people. Bacon.
4. A conference. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: The presentation of a clergyman to a benefice by a bishop, who
has it in his own gift.
6. (Law)
(a) The act of comparing the copy of any paper with its original to
ascertain its conformity.
(b) The report of the act made by the proper officers.
7. (Scots Law)
Defn: The right which an heir has of throwing the whole heritable and
movable estates of the deceased into one mass, and sharing it equaly
with others who are of the same degree of kindred.
Note: This also obtains in the civil law, and is found in the code of
Louisiana. Bouvier.
8. (Eccles.)
Defn: A collection of the Lives of the Fathers or other devout work
read daily in monasteries.
9. A light repast or luncheon; as, a cold collation; -- first applied
to the refreshment on fast days that accompanied the reading of the
collation in monasteries.
A collation of wine and sweetmeats. Whiston.
Collation of seals (Old Law), a method of ascertaining the
genuineness of a seal by comparing it with another known to be
genuine. Bouvier.
COLLATION
Col*la"tion, v. i.
Defn: To partake of a collation. [Obs.]
May 20, 1658, I . . . collationed in Spring Garden. Evelyn.
COLLATIONER
Col*la"tion*er, n. (Print.)
Defn: One who examines the sheets of a book that has just been
printed, to ascertain whether they are correctly printed, paged, etc.
[Eng.]
COLLATITIOUS
Col`la*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. collatitius. See Collation.]
Defn: Brought together; contributed; done by contributions. [Obs.]
Bailey.
COLLATIVE
Col*la"tive, a. Etym: [L. collativus brought together. ]
Defn: Passing or held by collation; -- said of livings of which the
bishop and the patron are the same person.
COLLATOR
Col*la"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who collates manuscripts, books, etc. Addison.
2. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: One who collates to a benefice.
3. One who confers any benefit. [Obs.] Feltham.
COLLAUD
Col*laud", v. t. Etym: [L. collaudare; col- + laudare to praise.]
Defn: To join in praising. [Obs.] Howell.
COLLEAGUE
Col"league, n. Etym: [F. coll*gue, L. collega one chosen at the same
time with another, a partner in office; col- + legare to send or
choose as deputy. See Legate.]
Defn: A partner or associate in some civil or ecclesiastical office
or employment. It is never used of partners in trade or manufactures.
Syn.
-- Helper; assistant; coadjutor; ally; associate; companion;
confederate.
COLLEAGUE
Col*league", v.t & i.
Defn: To unite or associate with another or with others. [R.] Shak.
COLLEAGUESHIP
Col"league*ship, n.
Defn: Partnership in office. Milton.
COLLECT
Col*lect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Collecting.] Etym: [L. collecrus, p. p. of collerige to bind
together; col- + legere to gather: cf. OF. collecter. See Legend, and
cf. Coil, v. t., Cull, v. t.]
1. To gather into one body or place; to assemble or bring together;
to obtain by gathering.
A band of men Collected choicely from each country. Shak.
'Tis memory alone that enriches the mind, by preserving what our
labor and industry daily collect. Watts.
2. To demand and obtain payment of, as an account, or other
indebtedness; as, to collect taxes.
3. To infer from observed facts; to conclude from premises.
[Archaic.] Shak.
Which sequence, I conceive, is very ill collected. Locke.
To collect one's self, to recover from surprise, embarrassment, or
fear; to regain self-control.
Syn.
-- To gather; assemble; congregate; muster; accumulate; garner;
aggregate; amass; infer; deduce.
COLLECT
Col*lect", v. i.
1. To assemble together; as, the people collected in a crowd; to
accumulate; as, snow collects in banks.
2. To infer; to conclude. [Archaic]
Whence some collect that the former word imports a plurality of
persons. South.
COLLECT
Col"lect, n. Etym: [LL. collecta, fr. L. collecta a collection in
money; an assemblage, fr. collerige: cf. F. collecte. See Collect, v.
t.]
Defn: A short, comprehensive prayer, adapted to a particular day,
occasion, or condition, and forming part of a liturgy.
The noble poem on the massacres of Piedmont is strictly a collect in
verse. Macaulay.
COLLECTANEA
Col`lec*ta"ne*a, n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl. from L. collectaneus
collected, fr. colligere. See Collect, v. t.]
Defn: Passages selected from various authors, usually for purposes of
instruction; miscellany; anthology.
COLLECTED
Col*lect"ed, a.
1. Gathered together.
2. Self-possessed; calm; composed.
COLLECTEDLY
Col*lect"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Composedly; coolly.
COLLECTEDNESS
Col*lect"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A collected state of the mind; self-possession.
COLLECTIBLE
Col*lect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being collected.
COLLECTION
Col*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. collectio: cf. F. collection.]
1. The act or process of collecting or of gathering; as, the
collection of specimens.
2. That which is collected; as: (a) A gathering or assemblage of
objects or of persons. "A collection of letters." Macaulay.
(b) A gathering of money for charitable or other purposes, as by
passing a contribution box for freewill offerings. "The collection
for the saints." 1 Cor. xvi. 1
(c) (Usually in pl.) That which is obtained in payment of demands.
(d) An accumulation of any substance. "Collections of moisture."
Whewell. "A purulent collection." Dunglison.
3. The act of inferring or concluding from premises or observed
facts; also, that which is inferred. [Obs.]
We may safely say thus, that wrong collections have been hitherto
made out of those words by modern divines. Milton.
4. The jurisdiction of a collector of excise. [Eng.]
Syn.
-- Gathering; assembly; assemblage; group; crowd; congregation;
mass; heap; compilation.
COLLECTIONAL
Col*lec"tion*al (-al), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to collecting.
The first twenty-five [years] must have been wasted for collectional
purposes. H. A. Merewether.
COLLECTIVE
Col*lect"ive, a. Etym: [L. collectivus: cf. F. collectif.]
1. Formed by gathering or collecting; gathered into a mass, sum, or
body; congregated or aggregated; as, the collective body of a nation.
Bp. Hoadley.
2. Deducing consequences; reasoning; inferring. [Obs.] "Critical and
collective reason." Sir T. Browne.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing a collection or aggregate of individuals, by a
singular form; as, a collective name or noun, like assembly, army,
juri, etc.
4. Tending to collect; forming a collection.
Local is his throne . . . to fix a point, A central point, collective
of his sons. Young.
5. Having plurality of origin or authority; as, in diplomacy, a note
signed by the representatives of several governments is called a
collective note. Collective fruit (Bot.), that which is formed from a
mass of flowers, as the mulberry, pineapple, and the like; -- called
also multiple fruit. Gray.
COLLECTIVE
Col*lect"ive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A collective noun or name.
COLLECTIVELY
Col*lect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a mass, or body; in a collected state; in the aggregate;
unitedly.
COLLECTIVENESS
Col*lect"ive*ness, n.
Defn: A state of union; mass.
COLLECTIVISM
Col*lect"iv*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. collectivisme.] (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: The doctrine that land and capital should be owned by society
collectively or as a whole; communism. W. G. Summer.
COLLECTIVIST
Col*lect"iv*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. collectiviste.]
Defn: An advocate of collectivism.
-- a.
Defn: Relating to, or characteristic of, collectivism.
COLLECTIVITY
Col`lec*tiv"i*ty, n.
1. Quality or state of being collective.
2. The collective sum. aggregate, or mass of anything; specif., the
people as a body; the state.
The proposition to give work by the collectivity is supposed to be in
contravention of the sacred principle of monopolistic competition.
W. D. Howells.
3. (Polit. Econ.) Collectivism.
COLLECTOR
Col*lect"or, n. Etym: [LL. collector one who collects: cf. F.
collecteur.]
1. One who collects things which are separate; esp., one who makes a
business or practice of collecting works of art, objects in natural
history, etc.; as, a collector of coins.
I digress into Soho to explore a bookstall. Methinks I have been
thirty years a collector. Lamb.
2. A compiler of books; one who collects scattered passages and puts
them together in one book.
Volumes without the collector's own reflections. Addison.
3. (Com.)
Defn: An officer appointed and commissioned to collect and receive
customs, duties, taxes, or toll.
A great part of this is now embezzled . . . by collectors, and other
officers. Sir W. Temple.
4. One authorized to collect debts.
5. A bachelor of arts in Oxford, formerly appointed to superintend
some scholastic proceedings in Lent. Todd.
COLLECTORATE
Col*lect"or*ate, n.
Defn: The district of a collector of customs; a collectorship.
COLLECTORSHIP
Col*lect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a collector of customs or of taxes.
COLLEEN
Col*leen", n. [Ir. cailin.]
Defn: A girl; a maiden. [Anglo-Irish]
Of all the colleens in the land
Sweet Mollie is the daisy.
The Century.
COLLEGATARY
Col*leg"a*ta*ry, n. Etym: [L. collegetarius. See Legatary.] (Law)
Defn: A joint legatee.
COLLEGE
Col"lege, n. Etym: [F. collège, L. collegium, fr. collega colleague.
See Colleague.]
1. A collection, body, or society of persons engaged in common
pursuits, or having common duties and interests, and sometimes, by
charter, peculiar rights and privileges; as, a college of heralds; a
college of electors; a college of bishops.
The college of the cardinals. Shak.
Then they made colleges of sufferers; persons who, to secure their
inheritance in the world to come, did cut off all their portion in
this. Jer. Taylor.
2. A society of scholars or friends of learning, incorporated for
study or instruction, esp. in the higher branches of knowledge; as,
the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and many American
colleges.
Note: In France and some other parts of continental Europe, college
is used to include schools occupied with rudimentary studies, and
receiving children as pupils.
3. A building, or number of buildings, used by a college. "The gate
of Trinity College." Macaulay.
4. Fig.: A community. [R.]
Thick as the college of the bees in May. Dryden.
College of justice, a term applied in Scotland to the supreme civil
courts and their principal officers.
-- The sacred college, the college or cardinals at Rome.
COLLEGIAL
Col*le"gi*al, n. Etym: [LL. collegialis.]
Defn: Collegiate. [R.]
COLLEGIAN
Col*le"gi*an, n.
Defn: A member of a college, particularly of a literary institution
so called; a student in a college.
COLLEGIATE
Col*le"gi*ate, a. Etym: [L. collegiatus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a college; as, collegiate studies; a
collegiate society. Johnson. Collegiate church. (a) A church which,
although not a bishop's seat, resembles a cathedral in having a
college, or chapter of canons (and, in the Church of England, a
dean), as Westminster Abbey. (b) An association of churches,
possessing common revenues and administered under the joint pastorate
of several ministers; as, the Reformed (Dutch) Collegiate Church of
New York.
COLLEGIATE
Col*le"gi*ate, n.
Defn: A member of a college. Burton.
COLLEMBOLA
Col*lem"bo*la, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Thysanura which includes Podura, and allied
forms.
COLLENCHYMA
Col*len"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. parenchyma.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tissue of vegetable cells which are thickend at the angles
and (usually) elongated.
COLLET
Col"let, n. Etym: [F. collet, dim. fr. L. collum neck. See Collar.]
1. A small collar or neckband. Foxe.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A small metal ring; a small collar fastened on an arbor; as,
the collet on the balance arbor of a watch; a small socket on a stem,
for holding a drill.
3. (Jewelry)
(a) The part of a ring containing the bezel in which the stone is
set.
(b) The flat table at the base of a brilliant. See Illust. of
Brilliant.
How full the collet with his jewel is! Cowley.
COLLETERIAL
Col`le*te"ri*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the colleterium of insects. R. Owen.
COLLETERIUM
Col`le*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Colletic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An organ of female insects, containing a cement to unite the
ejected ova.
COLLETIC
Col*let"ic, a. Etym: [L. colleticus suitable for gluing, Gr.
Defn: Agglutinant.
-- n.
Defn: An agglutinant.
COLLEY
Col"ley, n.
Defn: See Collie.
COLLIDE
Col*lide", v. i. Etym: [L. collidere, collisum; col- + laedere to
strike. See Lesion.]
Defn: To strike or dash against each other; to come into collision;
to clash; as, the vessels collided; their interests collided.
Across this space the attraction urges them. They collide, they
recoil, they oscillate. Tyndall.
No longer rocking and swaying, but clashing and colliding. Carlyle.
COLLIDE
Col*lide", v. t.
Defn: To strike or dash against. [Obs.]
Scintillations are . . . inflammable effluencies from the bodies
collided. Sir T. Browne.
COLLIDINE
Col"li*dine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a class of organic bases, C8H11N, usually pungent oily
liquids, belonging to the pyridine series, and obtained from bone
oil, coal tar, naphtha, and certain alkaloids.
COLLIE
Col"lie, n. Etym: [Gael. cuilean whelp, puppy, dog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Scotch shepherd dog. There are two breeds, the rough-haired
and smooth-haired. It is remarkable for its intelligence, displayed
especially in caring for flocks. [Written also colly, colley.]
COLLIED
Col"lied, p. & a.
Defn: Darkened. See Colly, v. t.
COLLIER
Col"lier, n. Etym: [OE. colier. See Coal.]
1. One engaged in the business of digging mineral coal or making
charcoal, or in transporting or dealing in coal.
2. A vessel employed in the coal trade.
COLLIERY
Col"lier*y, n.; pl. Collieries. Etym: [Cf. Coalery, Collier.]
1. The place where coal is dug; a coal mine, and the buildings, etc.,
belonging to it.
2. The coal trade. [Obs.] Johnson.
COLLIFLOWER
Col"li*flow`er, n.
Defn: See Cauliflower.
COLLIGATE
Col"li*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colligated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Colligating.] Etym: [L. colligatus, p. p. of colligare to collect;
co- + ligare to bind.]
1. To tie or bind together.
The pieces of isinglass are colligated in rows. Nicholson.
2. (Logic)
Defn: To bring together by colligation; to sum up in a single
proposition.
He had discovered and colligated a multitude of the most wonderful .
. . phenomena. Tundall.
COLLIGATE
Col"li*gate, a.
Defn: Bound together.
COLLIGATION
Col`li*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. colligatio.]
1. A binding together. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Logic)
Defn: That process by which a number of isolated facts are brought
under one conception, or summed up in a general proposition, as when
Kepler discovered that the various observed positions of the planet
Mars were points in an ellipse. "The colligation of facts." Whewell.
Colligation is not always induction, but induction is always
colligation. J. S. Mill.
COLLIMATE
Col"li*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collimated; p. p. & vb. n.
Collimating.] Etym: [See Collimation.] (Physics & Astron.)
Defn: To render parallel to a certain line or direction; to bring
into the same line, as the axes of telescopes, etc.; to render
parallel, as rays of light.
Collimating eyepiece, an eyepiece with a diagonal reflector for
illumination, used to determine the error of collimation in a transit
instrument by observing the image of a cross wire reflected from
mercury, and comparing its position in the field with that of the
same wire seen directly.
-- Collimating lens (Optics), a lens used for producing parallel
rays of light.
COLLIMATION
Col`li*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. collimation, fr. a false reading
(collimare) for L. collineare to direct in a straight line; col- +
linea line. Cf. Collineation.]
Defn: The act of collimating; the adjustment of the line of the
sights, as the axial line of the telescope of an instrument, into its
proper position relative to the other parts of the instrument. Error
of collimation, the deviation of the line collimation of an
astronomical instrument from the position it ought to have with
respect to the axis of motion of the instrument.
-- Line of collimation, the axial line of the telescope of an
astronomical or geodetic instrument, or the line which passes through
the optical center of the object glass and the intersection of the
cross wires at its focus.
COLLIMATOR
Col"li*ma`tor, n.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: A telescope arranged and used to determine errors of
collimation, both vertical and horizontal. Nichol.
2. (Optics)
Defn: A tube having a convex lens at one end and at the other a small
opening or slit which is at the principal focus of the lens, used for
producing a beam of parallel rays; also, a lens so used.
COLLIN
Col"lin, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A very pure form of gelatin.
COLLINE
Col"line, n. Etym: [F. colline, fr. L. collis a hill.]
Defn: A small hill or mount. [Obs.]
And watered park, full of fine collines and ponds. Evelyn.
COLLINEATION
Col*lin`e*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. collineare to direct in a straight
line. See Collimation.]
Defn: The act of aiming at, or directing in a line with, a fixed
object. [R.] Johnson.
COLLING
Coll"ing, n. Etym: [From Coll, v. t.]
Defn: An embrace; dalliance. [Obs.] Halliwell.
COLLINGLY
Coll"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With embraces. [Obs.] Gascoigne.
COLLINGUAL
Col*lin"gual, a.
Defn: Having, or pertaining to, the same language.
COLLIQUABLE
Col*liq"ua*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to melt, grow soft, or become fluid. [Obs.] Harvey.
COLLIQUAMENT
Col*liq"ua*ment, n.
Defn: The first rudiments of an embryo in generation. Dr. H. More.
COLLIQUATE
Col"li*quate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Colliquated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Colliquating.] Etym: [Pref. col- + L. liquare, liquatum, to melt.]
Defn: To change from solid to fluid; to make or become liquid; to
melt. [Obs.]
The ore of it is colliquated by the violence of the fire. Boyle.
[Ice] will colliquate in water or warm oil. Sir T. Browne.
COLLIQUATION
Col`li*qua"tion, n.
1. A melting together; the act of melting; fusion.
When sand and ashes are well melted together and suffered to cool,
there is generated, by the colliquation, that sort of concretion we
call "glass". Boyle.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A processive wasting or melting away of the solid parts of the
animal system with copious excretions of liquids by one or more
passages. [Obs.]
COLLIQUATIVE
Col*liq"ua*tive, a.
Defn: Causing rapid waste or exhaustion; melting; as, collequative
sweats.
COLLIQUEFACTION
Col*liq`ue*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. colliquefactus melted; col- +
liquefacere; liquere to be liquid + facere to make.]
Defn: A melting together; the reduction of different bodies into one
mass by fusion.
The incorporation of metals by simple colliquefaction. Bacon.
COLLISH
Col"lish, n. (Shoemaking)
Defn: A tool to polish the edge of a sole. Knight.
COLLISION
Col*li"sion, n. Etym: [L. collisio, fr. collidere. See Collide.]
1. The act of striking together; a striking together, as of two hard
bodies; a violent meeting, as of railroad trains; a clashing.
2. A state of opposition; antagonism; interference.
The collision of contrary false principles. Bp. Warburton.
Sensitive to the most trifling collisions. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- Conflict; clashing; encounter; opposition.
COLLISIVE
Col*li"sive, a.
Defn: Colliding; clashing. [Obs.]
COLLITIGANT
Col*lit"i*gant, a.
Defn: Disputing or wrangling. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: One who litigates or wrangles. [Obs.]
COLLOCATE
Col"lo*cate, a. Etym: [L. collocatus, p. p. of collocare. See Couch.]
Defn: Set; placed. [Obs.] Bacon.
COLLOCATE
Col"lo*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collocated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Collocating.]
Defn: To set or place; to set; to station.
To marshal and collocate in order his battalions. E. Hall.
COLLOCATION
Col`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. collocatio.]
Defn: The act of placing; the state of being placed with something
else; disposition in place; arrangement.
The choice and collocation of words. Sir W. Jones.
COLLOCUTION
Col`lo*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. collocutio, fr. colloqui, -locutum, to
converse; col- + loqui to speak. See Loquacious.]
Defn: A speaking or conversing together; conference; mutual
discourse. Bailey.
COLLOCUTOR
Col"lo*cu`tor, n. Etym: [L. collocutor]
Defn: One of the speakers in a dialogue. Derham.
COLLODION
Col*lo"di*on, n. Etym: [Gr. Colloid.] (Chem.)
Defn: A solution of pyroxylin (soluble gun cotton) in ether
containing a varying proportion of alcohol. It is strongly adhesive,
and is used by surgeons as a containing for wounds; but its chief
application is as a vehicle for the sensitive film in photography.
Collodion process (Photog.), a process in which a film of sensitized
collodion is used in preparing the plate for taking a picture.
-- Styptic collodion, collodion containing an astringent, as tannin.
COLLODIONIZE
Col*lo"di*on*ize, v. t.
Defn: To prepare or treat with collodion. R. Hunt.
COLLODIOTYPE
Col*lo"di*o*type, n.
Defn: A picture obtained by the collodion process; a melanotype or
ambrotype.
COLLODIUM
Col*lo"di*um, n.
Defn: See Collodion.
COLLOGUE
Col*logue", v. i. Etym: [Cf. L. colloqui and E. dialogue. Cf.
Collocution.]
Defn: To talk or confer secretly and confidentially; to converse,
especially with evil intentions; to plot mischief. [Archaic or
Colloq.]
Pray go in; and, sister, salve the matter, Collogue with her again,
and all shall be well. Greene.
He had been colloguing with my wife. Thackeray.
COLLOID
Col"loid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid. Cf. Collodion.]
Defn: Resembling glue or jelly; characterized by a jellylike
appearance; gelatinous; as, colloid tumors.
COLLOID
Col"loid, n.
1. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A substance (as albumin, gum, gelatin, etc.) which is of a
gelatinous rather than a crystalline nature, and which diffuses
itself through animal membranes or vegetable parchment more slowly
than crystalloids do; -- opposed to crystalloid.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A gelatinous substance found in colloid degeneration and
colloid cancer. Styptic colloid (Med.), a preparation of astringent
and antiseptic substances with some colloid material, as collodion,
for ready use.
COLLOIDAL
Col*loid"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, colloids.
COLLOIDALITY
Col`loi*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being colloidal.
COLLOP
Col"lop, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. OF. colp blow, stroke,
piece, F. coup, fr. L. colophus buffet, cuff, Gr. [Written also
colp.]
1. A small slice of meat; a piece of flesh.
God knows thou art a collop of my flesh. Shak.
Sweetbread and collops were with skewers pricked. Dryden.
2. A part or piece of anything; a portion.
Cut two good collops out of the crown land. Fuller.
COLLOPED
Col"loped, a.
Defn: Having ridges or bunches of flesh, like collops.
With that red, gaunt, and colloped neck astrain. R. Browning.
COLLOPHORE
Col"lo*phore, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) A suckerlike organ at the base of the abdomen of insects
belonging to the Collembola.
(b) An adhesive marginal organ of the Lucernariae.
COLLOQUIAL
Col*lo"qui*al, a. Etym: [See Colloqui.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or used in, conversation, esp. common and
familiar conversation; conversational; hence, unstudied; informal;
as, colloquial intercourse; colloquial phrases; a colloquial style.
-- Col*lo"qui*al*ly, adv.
His [Johnson's] colloquial talents were, indeed, of the highest
order. Macaulay.
COLLOQUIALISM
Col*lo"qui*al*ism, n.
Defn: A colloquial expression, not employed in formal discourse or
writing.
COLLOQUIALIZE
Col*lo"qui*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make colloquial and familiar; as, to colloquialize one's
style of writing.
COLLOQUIST
Col"lo*quist, n.
Defn: A speaker in a colloquy or dialogue. Malone.
COLLOQUY
Col"lo*quy, n.; pl. Colloquies. Etym: [L. colloquium. See
Collocution.]
1. Mutual discourse of two or more persons; conference; conversation.
They went to Worms, to the colloquy there about religion. A. Wood.
2. In some American colleges, a part in exhibitions, assigned for a
certain scholarship rank; a designation of rank in collegiate
scholarship.
COLLOTYPE
Col"lo*type, n. [Gr. glue + -type.]
Defn: A photomechanical print made directly from a hardened film of
gelatin or other colloid; also, the process of making such prints.
According to one method, the film is sensitized with potassium
dichromate and exposed to light under a reversed negative. After the
dichromate has been washed out, the film is soaked in glycerin and
water. As this treatment causes swelling in those parts of the film
which have been acted on by light, a plate results from which
impressions can be taken with prepared ink. The albertype, phototype,
and heliotype are collotypes.
COLLOW
Col"low, n.
Defn: Soot; smut. See 1st Colly. [Obs.]
COLLUCTANCY
Col*luc"tan*cy, n. Etym: [L. colluctari to struggle with.]
Defn: A struggling to resist; a striving against; resistance;
opposition of nature. [Obs.]
COLLUCTATION
Col`luc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. colluctatio, fr. colluctari to struggle
with; col- + luctari to struggle.]
Defn: A struggling; a contention. [Obs.]
Colluctation with old hags and hobgoblins. Dr. H. More.
COLLUDE
Col*lude", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Colluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Colluding.]
Etym: [L. colludere, -lusum; col- + ludere to play. See Ludicrous.]
Defn: To have secretly a joint part or share in an action; to play
into each other's hands; to conspire; to act in concert.
If they let things take their course, they will be represented as
colluding with sedition. Burke.
COLLUDER
Col*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who conspires in a fraud.
COLLUM
Col"lum, n.; pl. Colla. Etym: [L., neck.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A neck or cervix. Dunglison.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Collar. Gray.
COLLUSION
Col*lu"sion, n. Etym: [L. collusio: cf. F. collusion. See Collude.]
1. A secret agreement and cooperation for a fraudulent or deceitful
purpose; a playing into each other's hands; deceit; fraud; cunning.
The foxe, maister of collusion. Spenser.
That they [miracles] be done publicly, in the face of the world, that
there may be no room to suspect artifice and collusion. Atterbury.
By the ignorance of the merchants or dishonesty of the weavers, or
the collusion of both, the ware was bad and the price excessive.
Swift.
2. (Law)
Defn: An agreement between two or more persons to defraud a person of
his rights, by the forms of law, or to obtain an object forbidden by
law. Bouvier. Abbott.
Syn.
-- Collusion, Connivance. A person who is guilty of connivance
intentionally overlooks, and thus sanctions what he was bound to
prevent. A person who is guilty of collusion unites with others
(playing into their hands) for fraudulent purposes.
COLLUSIVE
Col*lu"sive, a.
1. Characterized by collusion; done or planned in collusion.
"Collusive and sophistical arguings." J. Trapp. "Collusive divorces."
Strype.
2. Acting in collusion. "Collusive parties." Burke.
-- Col*lu"sive*ly, adv.
-- Col*lu"sive*ness, n.
COLLUSORY
Col*lu"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. collusorius.]
Defn: Collusive.
COLLUTORY
Col"lu*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. colluere, collutum, to wash.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicated wash for the mouth.
COLLUVIES
Col*lu"vi*es, n. [L., a collection of washings, dregs, offscourings,
fr. colluere to wash; col-+ luere to wash.]
1. A collection or gathering, as of pus, or rubbish, or odds and
ends.
2. A medley; offscourings or rabble.
COLLY
Col"ly, n. Etym: [From Coal.]
Defn: The black grime or soot of coal. [Obs.] Burton.
COLLY
Col"ly, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Collied; p. pr. & vb. n. Collying.]
Defn: To render black or dark, as of with coal smut; to begrime.
[Archaic.]
Thou hast not collied thy face enough. B. Jonson.
Brief as the lighting in the collied night. Shak.
COLLY
Col"ly, n.
Defn: A kind of dog. See Collie.
COLLYBIST
Col"ly*bist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A money changer. [Obs.]
In the face of these guilty collybists. Bp. Hall.
COLLYRIUM
Col*lyr"i*um, n.; pl. E. Collyriums, L. Collyria. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
(Med.)
Defn: An application to the eye, usually an eyewater.
COLOBOMA
Col`o*bo"ma, n. [NL. fr. Gr. , the part taken away in mutilation, fr.
to mutilate.] (Anat. & Med.)
Defn: A defect or malformation; esp., a fissure of the iris supposed
to be a persistent embryonic cleft.
COLOCOLO
Col`o*co"lo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American wild cat (Felis colocolo), of the size of the
ocelot.
COLOCYNTH
Col"ocynth, n. Etym: [L. colocynthis, Gr. Coloquintida.] (Med.)
Defn: The light spongy pulp of the fruit of the bitter cucumber
(Citrullus, or Cucumis, colocynthis), an Asiatic plant allied to the
watermelon; coloquintida. It comes in white balls, is intensely
bitter, and a powerful cathartic. Called also bitter apple, bitter
cucumber, bitter gourd.
COLOCYNTHIN
Col`o*cyn"thin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colocynthine.] (Chem.)
Defn: The active medicinal principle of colocynth; a bitter, yellow,
crystalline substance, regarded as a glucoside.
COLOGNE
Co*logne", n. Etym: [Originally made in Cologne, the French name of
Köln, a city in Germany.]
Defn: A perfumed liquid, composed of alcohol and certain aromatic
oils, used in the toilet; -- called also cologne water and eau de
cologne.
COLOGNE EARTH
Co*logne" earth`. Etym: [From Cologne the city.] (Min.)
Defn: An earth of a deep brown color, containing more vegetable than
mineral matter; an earthy variety of lignite, or brown coal.
COLOMBIER
Col"om*bier, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A large size of paper for drawings. See under Paper.
COLOMBIN
Co*lom"bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Calumbin.
COLOMBO
Co*lom"bo, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLON
Co"lon, n. Etym: [L. colon, colum, limb, member, the largest of the
intestines, fr. Gr. colon. Cf. Colic.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: That part of the large intestines which extends from the cæcum
to the rectum.
Note: [See Illust of Digestion.]
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A point or character, formed thus [:], used to separate parts
of a sentence that are complete in themselves and nearly independent,
often taking the place of a conjunction.
COLONEL
Colo"nel, n. Etym: [F. colonel, It. colonello, prop., the chief or
commander of a column, fr. colonna column, L. columna. See Column.]
(Mil.)
Defn: The chief officer of a regiment; an officer ranking next above
a lieutenant colonel and next below a brigadier general.
COLONELCY
Colo"nel*cy, n. (Mil.)
Defn: The office, rank, or commission of a colonel.
COLONELSHIP
Colo"nel*ship, n.
Defn: Colonelcy. Swift.
COLONER
Col"o*ner, n.
Defn: A colonist. [Obs.] Holland
COLONIAL
Co*lo"ni*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. colonial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a colony; as, colonial rights, traffic,
wars.
COLONIALISM
Co*lo"ni*al*ism, n.
1. The state or quality of, or the relationship involved in, being
colonial.
The last tie of colonialism which bound us to the mother country is
broken.
Brander Matthews.
2. A custom, idea, feature of government, or the like,
characteristic of a colony.
3. The colonial system or policy in political government or
extension of territory.
COLONICAL
Co*lon"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. colonus husbandman.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to husbandmen. [Obs.]
COLONIST
Col"o*nist, n.
Defn: A member or inhabitant of a colony.
COLONITIS
Col`o*ni"tis, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Colitis.
COLONIZATION
Col`o*ni*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colonisation.]
Defn: Tha act of colonizing, or the state of being colonized; the
formation of a colony or colonies.
The wide continent of America invited colonization. Bancroft.
COLONIZATIONIST
Col`o*ni*za"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A friend to colonization, esp. (U. S. Hist) to the colonization
of Africa by emigrants from the colored population of the United
States.
COLONIZE
Col"o*nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Colonizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. coloniser.]
Defn: To plant or establish a colony or colonies in; to people with
colonists; to migrate to and settle in. Bacon.
They that would thus colonize the stars with inhabitants. Howell.
COLONIZE
Col"o*nize, v. i.
Defn: To remove to, and settle in, a distant country; to make a
colony. C. Buchanan.
COLONIZER
Col"o*ni`zer, n.
Defn: One who promotes or establishes a colony; a colonist. Bancroft.
COLONNADE
Col`on*nade", n. Etym: [F. colonnade, It. colonnata, fr. colonna
column. See Colonel.] (Arch.)
Defn: A series or range of columns placed at regular intervals with
all the adjuncts, as entablature, stylobate, roof, etc.
Note: When in front of a building, it is called a portico; when
surrounding a building or an open court or square, a peristyle.
COLONY
Col"o*ny, n.; pl. Colonies. Etym: [L. colonia, fr. colonus farmer,
fr. colere to cultivate, dwell: cf. F. colonie. Cf. Culture.]
1. A company of people transplanted from their mother country to a
remote province or country, and remaining subject to the jurisdiction
of the parent state; as, the British colonies in America.
The first settlers of New England were the best of Englishmen, well
educated, devout Christians, and zealous lovers of liberty. There was
never a colony formed of better materials. Ames.
2. The district or country colonized; a settlement.
3. A company of persons from the same country sojourning in a foreign
city or land; as, the American colony in Paris.
4. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: A number of animals or plants living or growing together,
beyond their usual range.
COLOPHANY
Col"o*pha`ny ( or ), n.
Defn: See Colophony.
COLOPHENE
Co"lo*phene ( or ), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, oily liquid, formerly obtained by distillation of
colophony. It is regarded as a polymeric form of terebenthene. Called
also diterebene.
COLOPHON
Col"o*phon, n. Etym: [L. colophon finishing stroke, Gr. culmen top,
collis hill. Cf. Holm.]
Defn: An inscription, monogram, or cipher, containing the place and
date of publication, printer's name, etc., formerly placed on the
last page of a book.
The colophon, or final description, fell into disuse, and . . . the
title page had become the principal direct means of identifying the
book. De Morgan.
The book was uninjured from title page to colophon. Sir W. Scott.
COLOPHONITE
Col"o*pho*nite ( or ), n. Etym: [Cf. F. colophonite. So named from
its resemblance to the color of colophony.] (Min.)
Defn: A coarsely granular variety of garnet.
COLOPHONY
Col"o*pho`ny ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Rosin.
COLOQUINTIDA
Col`o*quin"ti*da, n.
Defn: See Colocynth. Shak.
COLOR
Col"or, n. [Written also colour.] Etym: [OF. color, colur, colour, F.
couleur, L. color; prob. akin to celare to conceal (the color taken
as that which covers). See Helmet.]
1. A property depending on the relations of light to the eye, by
which individual and specific differences in the hues and tints of
objects are apprehended in vision; as, gay colors; sad colors, etc.
Note: The sensation of color depends upon a peculiar function of the
retina or optic nerve, in consequence of which rays of light produce
different effects according to the length of their waves or
undulations, waves of a certain length producing the sensation of
red, shorter waves green, and those still shorter blue, etc. White,
or ordinary, light consists of waves of various lengths so blended as
to produce no effect of color, and the color of objects depends upon
their power to absorb or reflect a greater or less proportion of the
rays which fall upon them.
2. Any hue distinguished from white or black.
3. The hue or color characteristic of good health and spirits; ruddy
complexion.
Give color to my pale cheek. Shak.
4. That which is used to give color; a paint; a pigment; as, oil
colors or water colors.
5. That which covers or hides the real character of anything;
semblance; excuse; disguise; appearance.
They had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they
would have cast anchors out of the foreship. Acts xxvii. 30.
That he should die is worthy policy; But yet we want a color for his
death. Shak.
6. Shade or variety of character; kind; species.
Boys and women are for the most part cattle of this color. Shak.
7. A distinguishing badge, as a flag or similar symbol (usually in
the plural); as, the colors or color of a ship or regiment; the
colors of a race horse (that is, of the cap and jacket worn by the
jockey).
In the United States each regiment of infantry and artillery has two
colors, one national and one regimental. Farrow.
8. (Law)
Defn: An apparent right; as where the defendant in trespass gave to
the plaintiff an appearance of title, by stating his title specially,
thus removing the cause from the jury to the court. Blackstone.
Note: Color is express when it is asverred in the pleading, and
implied when it is implied in the pleading. Body color. See under
Body.
-- Color blindness, total or partial inability to distinguish or
recognize colors. See Daltonism.
-- Complementary color, one of two colors so related to each other
that when blended together they produce white light; -- so called
because each color makes up to the other what it lacks to make it
white. Artificial or pigment colors, when mixed, produce effects
differing from those of the primary colors, in consequence of partial
absorption.
-- Of color (as persons, races, etc.), not of the white race; --
commonly meaning, esp. in the United States, of negro blood, pure or
mixed.
-- Primary colors, those developed from the solar beam by the prism,
viz., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, which are
reduced by some authors to three, -- red, green, and violet-blue.
These three are sometimes called fundamental colors.
-- Subjective or Accidental color, a false or spurious color seen in
some instances, owing to the persistence of the luminous impression
upon the retina, and a gradual change of its character, as where a
wheel perfectly white, and with a circumference regulary subdiveded,
is made to revolve rapidly over a dark object, the teeth, of the
wheel appear to the eye of different shades of color varying with the
rapidity of rotation. See Accidental colors, under Accidental.
COLOR
Col"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Colored; p. pr. & vb. n. Coloring.] Etym:
[F. colorer.]
1. To change or alter the bue or tint of, by dyeing, staining,
painting, etc.; to dye; to tinge; to aint; to stain.
The rays, to speak properly, are not colored; in them there is
nothing else than a certain power and disposition to stir up a
sensation of this or that color. Sir I. Newton.
2. To change or alter, as if by dyeing or painting; to give a false
appearance to; usually, to give a specious appearance to; to cause to
appear attractive; to make plausible; to palliate or excuse; as, the
facts were colored by his prejudices.
He colors the falsehood of Æneas by an express command from Jupiter
to forsake the queen. Dryden.
3. To hide. [Obs.]
That by his fellowship he color might Both his estate and love from
skill of any wight. Spenser.
COLOR
Col"or, v. i.
Defn: To acquire color; to turn red, especially in the face; to
blush.
COLORABLE
Col"or*a*ble, a.
Defn: Specious; plausible; having an appearance of right or justice.
"Colorable pretense for infidility." Bp. Stillingfleet.
-- Col"or*a*ble*ness, n.
-- Col"or*a*bly, adv.
Colorable and subtle crimes, that seldom are taken within the walk of
human justice. Hooker.
COLORADO BEETLE
Col`o*ra"do bee"tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A yellowish beetle (Doryphora decemlineata), with ten
longitudinal, black, dorsal stripes. It has migrated eastwards from
its original habitat in Colorado, and is very destructive to the
potato plant; -- called also potato beetle and potato bug. See Potato
beetle.
COLORADO GROUP
Col`o*ra"do group. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision of the cretaceous formation of western North
America, especially developed in Colorado and the upper Missouri
region.
COLORADOITE
Col`o*ra"do*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Mercury telluride, an iron-black metallic mineral, found in
Colorado.
COLORATE
Col"or*ate, a. Etym: [L. coloratus, p. p. of colorare to color.]
Defn: Colored. [Obs.] Ray.
COLORATION
Col`or*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or art of coloring; the state of being colored. Bacon.
The females . . . resemble each other in their general type of
coloration. Darwin.
COLORATURE
Col"or*a*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. G. coloratur, fr. LL. coloratura.]
(Mus.)
Defn: Vocal music colored, as it were, by florid ornaments, runs, or
rapid passages.
COLOR-BLIND
Col"or-blind, a.
Defn: Affected with color blindness. See Color blindness, under
Color, n.
COLORED
Col"ored, a.
1. Having color; tinged; dyed; painted; stained.
The lime rod, colored as the glede. Chaucer.
The colored rainbow arched wide. Spenser.
2. Specious; plausible; aborned so as to appear well; as, a highly
colored description. Sir G. C. Lewis.
His colored crime with craft to cloke. Spenser.
3. Of some other color than black or white.
4. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of some other color than white; specifically applied to negroes
or persons having negro blood; as, a colored man; the colored people.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: Of some other color than green.
Colored, meaning, as applied to foliage, of some other color than
green. Gray.
Note: In botany, green is not regarded as a color, but white is.
Wood.
COLORIFIC
Col`or*if"ic, a. Etym: [L. color color + facere to make: cf. F.
colorifique.]
Defn: Capable of communicating color or tint to other bodies.
COLORIMETER
Col`or*im"e*ter, n. Etym: [Color + -meter: cf. F. colorimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the depth of the color of anything,
especially of a liquid, by comparison with a standard liquid.
COLORIMETRY
Col`or*im"e*try, n. [See Colorimeter.]
1.
Defn: The quantitative determination of the depth of color of a
substance.
2. A method of quantitative chemical analysis based upon the
comparison of the depth of color of a solution with that of a
standard liquid.
COLORING
Col"or*ing, n.
1. The act of applying color to; also, that which produces color.
2. Change of appearance as by addition of color; appearance; show;
disguise; misrepresentation.
Tell the whole story without coloring or gloss. Compton Reade.
Dead coloring. See under Dead.
COLORIST
Col"or*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coloriste.]
Defn: One who colors; an artist who excels in the use of colors; one
to whom coloring is of prime importance.
Titian, Paul Veronese, Van Dyck, and the rest of the good colorists.
Dryden.
COLORLESS
Col"or*less, a.
1. Without color; not distinguished by any hue; transparent; as,
colorless water.
2. Free from any manifestation of partial or peculiar sentiment or
feeling; not disclosing likes, dislikes, prejudice, etc.; as,
colorless music; a colorless style; definitions should be colorless.
COLORMAN
Col"or*man, n.; pl. Colormen.
Defn: A vender of paints, etc. Simmonds.
COLOR SERGEANT
Col"or ser"geant.
Defn: See under Sergeant.
COLOSSAL
Co*los"sal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cossal, L. colosseus. See Colossus.]
1. Of enormous size; gigantic; huge; as, a colossal statue. "A
colossal stride." Motley.
2. (Sculpture & Painting)
Defn: Of a size larger than heroic. See Heroic.
COLOSSEAN
Col`os*se"an, a.
Defn: Colossal. [R.]
COLOSSEUM
Col`os*se"um, n. Etym: [Neut., fr. L. coloseus gigantic. See
Coliseum.]
Defn: The amphitheater of Vespasian in Rome. [Also written Coliseum.]
COLOSSUS
Co*los"sus, n.; pl. L. Colossi, E. Colossuses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A statue of gigantic size. The name was especially applied to
certain famous statues in antiquity, as the Colossus of Nero in Rome,
the Colossus of Apollo at Rhodes.
He doth bestride the narrow world Like a colossus. Shak.
Note: There is no authority for the statement that the legs of the
Colossus at Rhodes extended over the mouth of the harbor. Dr. Wm.
Smith.
2. Any man or beast of gigantic size.
COLOSTRUM
Co*los"trum, n. Etym: [L., biestings.] (Med.)
(a) The first milk secreted after delivery; biestings.
(b) A mixture of turpentine and the yolk of an egg, formerly used as
an emulsion.
COLOTOMY
Co*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: An operation for opening the colon
COLOUR
Col"our, n.
Defn: See Color.
COLP
Colp, n.
Defn: See Collop.
COLPORTAGE
Col"por`tage, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The distribution of religious books, tracts, etc., by
colporteurs.
COLPORTER
Col"por`ter, n.
Defn: Same as Colporteur.
COLPORTEUR
Col"por`teur, n. Etym: [F. colporteur one who carries on his neck,
fr. colporter to carry on one's neck; col (L. collum) neck + porter
(L. portare) to carry.]
Defn: A hawker; specifically, one who travels about selling and
distributing religious tracts and books.
COLSTAFF
Col"staff`, n. Etym: [F. col neck + E. staff. Cf. Coll.]
Defn: A staff by means of which a burden is borne by two persons on
their shoulders.
COLT
Colt (; 110), n. Etym: [OE. colt a young horse, ass, or camel, AS.
colt; cf. dial. Sw. kullt a boy, lad.]
1. The young of the equine genus or horse kind of animals; --
sometimes distinctively applied to the male, filly being the female.
Cf. Foal.
Note: In sporting circles it is usual to reckon the age of colts from
some arbitrary date, as from January 1, or May 1, next preceding the
birth of the animal.
2. A young, foolish fellow. Shak.
3. A short knotted rope formerly used as an instrument of punishment
in the navy. Ham. Nav. Encyc. Colt's tooth, an imperfect or
superfluous tooth in young horses.
-- To cast one's colt's tooth, to cease from youthful wantonness.
"Your colt's tooth is not cast yet." Shak.
-- To have a colt's tooth, to be wanton. Chaucer.
COLT
Colt (; 110), v. i.
Defn: To frisk or frolic like a colt; to act licentiously or
wantonly. [Obs.]
They shook off their bridles and began to colt. Spenser.
COLT
Colt, v. t.
1. To horse; to get with young. Shak.
2. To befool. [Obs.] Shak.
COLTER
Col"ter, n. Etym: [AS. culter, fr. L. culter plowshare, knife. Cf.
Cutlass.]
Defn: A knife or cutter, attached to the beam of a plow to cut the
sward, in advance of the plowshare and moldboard. [Written also
coulter.]
COLTISH
Colt"ish, a.
Defn: Like a colt; wanton; frisky.
He was all coltish, full of ragery. Chaucer.
-- Colt"ish*ly, adv.
-- Colt"ish*ness, n.
COLT PISTOL
Colt pistol. (Firearms)
Defn: A self-loading or semi-automatic pistol with removable magazine
in the handle holding seven cartridges. The recoil extracts and
ejects the empty cartridge case, and reloads ready for another shot.
Called also Browning, and Colt-Browning, pistol.
COLT REVOLVER
Colt revolver. (Firearms)
Defn: A revolver made according to a system using a patented
revolving cylinder, holding six cartridges, patented by Samuel Colt,
an American inventor, in 1835. With various modifications, it has for
many years been the standard for the United States army.
COLTSFOOT
Colts"foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial herb (Tussilago Farfara), whose leaves and
rootstock are sometimes employed in medicine. Butterbur coltsfoot
(Bot.), a European plant (Petasites vulgaris).
COLT'S TOOTH
Colt's" tooth`.
Defn: See under Colt.
COLUBER
Col"u*ber, n. Etym: [L., a serpent.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless serpents.
Note: Linnæus placed in this genus all serpents, whether venomous or
not, whose scales beneath the tail are arranged in pairs; but by
modern writers it is greatly restricted.
COLUBRINE
Col"u*brine, a. Etym: [L. colubrinus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: like or related to snakes of the genus Coluber.
2. Like a snake; cunning; crafty. Johnson.
COLUGO
Co*lu"go, n. Etym: [Prob. an aboriginal name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar East Indian mammal (Galleopithecus volans), having
along the sides, connecting the fore and hind limbs, a parachutelike
membrane, by means of which it is able to make long leaps, like the
flying squirrel; -- called also flying lemur.
COLUMBA
Co*lum"ba, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLUMBAE
Co*lum"bæ, n. pl.; Etym: [L. columba pigeon.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of birds, including the pigeons.
COLUMBARIUM
Col`um*ba"ri*um, n.; pl. L. Columbaria Etym: [L. See Columbary.]
(Rom. Antiq.)
(a) A dovecote or pigeon house.
(b) A sepulchral chamber with niches for holding cinerary urns.
COLUMBARY
Col"um*ba*ry, n.; pl. Columbaries. Etym: [L. columbarium, fr. columba
a dove.]
Defn: A dovecote; a pigeon house. Sir T. Browne.
COLUMBATE
Co*lum"bate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colombate. See Columbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of columbic acid; a niobate. See Columbium.
COLUMBATZ FLY
Co*lum"batz fly`. Etym: [From Kolumbatz, a mountain in Germany.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: See Buffalo fly, under Buffalo.
COLUMBELLA
Col`um*bel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. columba a dove. So called
from a fancied resemblance in color and form, of some species.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of univale shells, abundant in tropical seas. Some
species, as Columbella mercatoria, were formerly used as shell money.
COLUMBIA
Co*lum"bi*a, n.
Defn: America; the United States; -- a poetical appellation given in
honor of Columbus, the discoverer. Dr. T. Dwight.
COLUMBIAD
Co*lum"bi*ad, n. Etym: [From Columbia the United States.] (Mil.)
Defn: A form of seacoast cannon; a long, chambered gun designed for
throwing shot or shells with heavy charges of powder, at high angles
of elevation.
Note: Since the War of 1812 the Columbiad has been much modified form
now used in seacoast defense is often called the Rodman gun.
COLUMBIAN
Co*lum"bi*an, a. Etym: [From Columbia.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the United States, or to America.
COLUMBIC
Co*lum"bic, a. Etym: [From Columbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, columbium or niobium; niobic.
Columbic acid (Chem.), a weak acid derived from columbic or niobic
oxide, Nb2O5; -- called also niobic acid.
COLUMBIC
Co*lum"bic, a. Etym: [From Columbo.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the columbo root. Columbic acid
(Chem.), an organic acid extracted from the columbo root as a bitter,
yellow, amorphous substance.
COLUMBIER
Co*lum"bi*er, n.
Defn: See Colombier.
COLUMBIFEROUS
Col"um*bif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Columbium + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing or containing columbium.
COLUMBIN
Co*lum"bin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, bitter substance. See Calumbin.
COLUMBINE
Col"um*bine, a. Etym: [L. columbinus, fr. columba dove.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a dove; dovelike; dove-colored. "Columbine
innocency." Bacon.
COLUMBINE
Col"um*bine, n. Etym: [LL. columbina, L. columbinus dovelike, fr.
columba dove: cf. F. colombine. Perh. so called from the beaklike
spurs of its flowers.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of several species of the genus Aquilegia; as, A.
vulgaris, or the common garden columbine; A. Canadensis, the wild red
columbine of North America.
2. The mistress or sweetheart of Harlequin in pantomimes. Brewer.
COLUMBITE
Co*lum"bite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. colombite. See Columbium.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a black color, submetallic luster, and high
specific specific gravity. It is a niobate (or columbate) of iron and
manganese, containing tantalate of iron; -- first found in New
England.
COLUMBIUM
Co*lum"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Columbia America.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare element of the vanadium group, first found in a variety
of the mineral columbite occurring in Connecticut, probably at
Haddam. Atomic weight 94.2. Symbol Cb or Nb. Now more commonly called
niobium.
COLUMBO
Co*lum"bo, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Calumba.
COLUMBUS DAY
Co*lum"bus Day.
Defn: The 12th day of October, on which day in 1492 Christopher
Columbus discovered America, landing on one of the Bahama Islands
(probably the one now commonly called Watling Island), and naming it
"San Salvador"; -- called also Discovery Day. This day is made a
legal holiday in many States of The United States.
COLUMELLA
Col`u*mel"la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of columen column. See Column.]
1. (Bot.)
(a) An axis to which a carpel of a compound pistil may be attached,
as in the case of the geranium; or which is left when a pod opens.
(b) A columnlike axis in the capsule of mosses.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A term applied to various columnlike parts; as, the columnella,
or epipterygoid bone, in the skull of many lizards; the columella of
the ear, the bony or cartilaginous rod connecting the tympanic
membrane with the internal ear.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) The upright pillar in the axis of most univalve shells.
(b) The central pillar or axis of the calicles of certain corals.
COLUMELLIFORM
Col`u*mel"li*form, a. Etym: [Columella + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a little column, or columella.
COLUMN
Col"umn, n. Etym: [L. columna, fr. columen, culmen, fr. cellere (used
only in comp.), akin to E. excel, and prob. to holm. See Holm, and
cf. Colonel.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A kind of pillar; a cylindrical or polygonal support for a
roof, ceiling, statue, etc., somewhat ornamented, and usually
composed of base, shaft, and capital. See Order.
2. Anything resembling, in form or position, a column an
architecture; an upright body or mass; a shaft or obelisk; as, a
column of air, of water, of mercury, etc. ; the Column Vendôme; the
spinal column.
3. (Mil.)
(a) A body of troops formed in ranks, one behind the other; --
contradistinguished from line. Compare Ploy, and Deploy.
(b) A small army.
4. (Naut.)
Defn: A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in
single or double file or in squadrons; -- in distinction from "line",
where they are side by side.
5. (Print.)
Defn: A perpendicular set of lines, not extending across the page,
and separated from other matter by a rule or blank space; as, a
column in a newspaper.
6. (Arith.)
Defn: A perpendicular line of figures.
7. (Bot.)
Defn: The body formed by the union of the stamens in the Mallow
family, or of the stamens and pistil in the orchids. Attached column.
See under Attach, v. t.
-- Clustered column. See under Cluster, v. t.
-- Column rule, a thin strip of brass separating columns of type in
the form, and making a line between them in printing.
COLUMNAR
Co*lum"*nar, a. Etym: [L. columnaris, fr. columna.]
Defn: Formed in columns; having the form of a column or columns; like
the shaft of a column. Columnar epithelium (Anat.), epithelium in
which the cells are priismatic in form, and set upright on the
surface they cover.
-- Columnar structure (Geol.), a structure consisting of more or
less regular columns, usually six-sided, but sometimes with eight or
more sides. The columns are often fractured transversely, with a cup
joint, showing a concave surface above. This structure is
characteristic of certain igneous rocks, as basalt, and is due to
contraction in cooling.
COLUMNARITY
Col`um*nar"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being columnar.
COLUMNATED
Co*lum"na*ted, a.
Defn: Having columns; as, columnated temples.
COLUMNED
Col"umned, a.
Defn: Having columns.
Troas and Ilion's columned citadel. Tennyson.
COLUMNIATION
Co*lum`ni*a"tion, n.
Defn: The employment or arrangement of columns in a structure. Gwilt.
COLURE
Co*lure", n.; pl. Colures. Etym: [F. colure, L. coluri, pl., fr. Gr.
(Astron. & Geog.)
Defn: One of two great circles intersecting at right angles in the
poles of the equator. One of them passes through the equinoctial
points, and hence is denominated the equinoctial colure; the other
intersects the equator at the distance of 90º from the former, and is
called the solstitial colure.
Thrice the equinoctial line He circled; four times crossed the car of
night From pole to pole, traversing each colure. Milton.
COLY
Co"ly, n.; pl. Colies. Etym: [NL. colius, prob. fr. Gr.
Defn: Any bird of the genus Colius and allied genera. They inhabit
Africa.
COLZA
Col"za, n. Etym: [F., fr. D. koolzaad, prob., cabbage seed; kool
(akin to E. cole) + zaad akin to E. seed.] (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of cabbage (Brassica oleracea), cultivated for its
seeds, which yield an oil valued for illuminating and lubricating
purposes; summer rape.
COM-
Com-.
Defn: A prefix from the Latin preposition cum, signifying with,
together, in conjunction, very, etc. It is used in the form com-
before b, m, p, and sometimes f, and by assimilation becomes col-
before l, cor- before r, and con- before any consonant except b, h,
l, m, p, r, and w. Before a vowel com- becomes co-; also before h, w,
and sometimes before other consonants.
COMA
Co"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cemetery.]
Defn: A state of profound insensibility from which it is difficult or
impossible to rouse a person. See Carus.
COMA
Co"ma, n. Etym: [L., hair, fr. Gr.
1. (Astron.)
Defn: The envelope of a comet; a nebulous covering, which surrounds
the nucleus or body of a comet.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A tuft or bunch, -- as the assemblage of branches forming the
head of a tree; or a cluster of brachts when empty and terminating
the inflorescence of a plant; or a tuft of long hairs on certain
seeds. Coma Berenices ( Etym: [L.] (Astron.), a small constellation
north of Virgo; -- called also Berenice's Hair.
COMANCHES
Co*man"ches ( or ), n. pl.; sing. Comanche ( or ) . (Ethnol.)
Defn: A warlike, savage, and nomadic tribe of the Shoshone family of
Indians, inhabiting Mexico and the adjacent parts of the United
States; -- called also Paducahs. They are noted for plundering and
cruelty.
COMART
Co"mart`, n.
Defn: A covenant. [Obs.] Shak.
COMATE
Co"mate, a. Etym: [L. comatus, fr. comare to clothe with hair, fr.
coma hair.]
Defn: Encompassed with a coma, or bushy appearance, like hair; hairy.
CO-MATE
Co"-mate`, n. Etym: [Pref. co- + mate.]
Defn: A companion. Shak.
COMATOSE
Co"ma*tose` ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [From Coma lethargy.]
Defn: Relating to, or resembling, coma; drowsy; lethargic; as,
comatose sleep; comatose fever.
COMATOUS
Co"ma*tous, a.
Defn: Comatose.
COMATULA
Co*mat"u*la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. comatulus having hair neatly
curled, dim. fr. coma hair.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A crinoid of the genus Antedon and related genera. When young
they are fixed by a stem. When adult they become detached and cling
to seaweeds, etc., by their dorsal cirri; -- called also feather
stars.
COMATULID
Co*mat"u*lid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any crinoid of the genus Antedon or allied genera.
COMB
Comb (; 110), n. Etym: [AS.. camb; akin to Sw., Dan., & D. kam, Icel.
kambr, G. kamm, Gr. jambha tooth.]
1. An instrument with teeth, for straightening, cleansing, and
adjusting the hair, or for keeping it in place.
2. An instrument for currying hairy animals, or cleansing and
smoothing their coats; a currycomb.
3. (Manuf. & Mech.)
(a) A toothed instrument used for separating and cleansing wool,
flax, hair, etc.
(b) The serrated vibratory doffing knife of a carding machine.
(c) A former, commonly cone-shaped, used in hat manufacturing for
hardening the soft fiber into a bat.
(d) A tool with teeth, used for chasing screws on work in a lathe; a
chaser.
(e) The notched scale of a wire micrometer.
(f) The collector of an electrical machine, usually resembling a
comb.
4. (Zoöl.)
(a) The naked fleshy crest or caruncle on the upper part of the bill
or hood of a cock or other bird. It is usually red.
(b) One of a pair of peculiar organs on the base of the abdomen of
scorpions.
5. The curling crest of a wave.
6. The waxen framework forming the walls of the cells in which bees
store their honey, eggs, etc.; honeycomb. "A comb of honey." Wyclif.
When the bee doth leave her comb. Shak.
7. The thumbpiece of the hammer of a gunlock, by which it may be
cocked.
COMB
Comb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combed; p. pr. & vb. n. Combing.]
Defn: To disentangle, cleanse, or adjust, with a comb; to lay smooth
and straight with, or as with, a comb; as, to comb hair or wool. See
under Combing.
Comb down his hair; look, look! it stands upright. Shak.
COMB
Comb, v. i. Etym: [See Comb, n., 5.] (Naut.)
Defn: To roll over, as the top or crest of a wave; to break with a
white foam, as waves.
COMB; COMBE
Comb, Combe ( or ), n. Etym: [AS. comb, prob. of Celtic origin; cf.
W. cwm a dale, valley.]
Defn: That unwatered portion of a valley which forms its continuation
beyond and above the most elevated spring that issues into it.
[Written also coombe.] Buckland.
A gradual rise the shelving combe Displayed. Southey.
COMB
Comb, n.
Defn: A dry measure. See Coomb.
COMBAT
Com"bat ( or ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Combated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Combating.] Etym: [F. combattre; pref. com- + battre to beat, fr. L.
battuere to strike. See Batter.]
Defn: To struggle or contend, as with an opposing force; to fight.
To combat with a blind man I disdain. Milton.
After the fall of the republic, the Romans combated only for the
choice of masters. Gibbon.
COMBAT
Com"bat, v. t.
Defn: To fight with; to oppose by force, argument, etc.; to contend
against; to resist.
When he the ambitious Norway combated. Shak.
And combated in silence all these reasons. Milton.
Minds combat minds, repelling and repelled. Goldsmith.
Syn.
-- To fight against; resist; oppose; withstand; oppugn; antagonize;
repel; resent.
COMBAT
Com"bat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. combat.]
1. A fight; a contest of violence; a struggle for supremacy.
My courage try by combat, if thou dar'st. Shak.
The noble combat that 'twixt joy and sorrow was fought in Paulina.
Shak.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: An engagement of no great magnitude; or one in which the
parties engaged are not armies. Single combat, one in which a single
combatant meets a single opponent, as in the case of David and
Goliath; also a duel.
Syn.
-- A battle; engagement; conflict; contest; contention; struggle;
fight, strife. See Battle, Contest.
COMBATABLE
Com"bat*a*ble ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. combattable.]
Defn: Such as can be, or is liable to be, combated; as, combatable
foes, evils, or arguments.
COMBATANT
Com"bat*ant, a. Etym: [F. combattant, p. pr.]
Defn: Contending; disposed to contend. B. Jonson.
COMBATANT
Com"bat*ant, n. Etym: [F. combattant.]
Defn: One who engages in combat. "The mighty combatants." Milton.
A controversy which long survived the original combatants. Macaulay
COMBATER
Com"bat*er, n.
Defn: One who combats. Sherwood.
COMBATIVE
Com"bat*ive or
Defn: (
COMBATIVENESS
Com"bat*ive*ness, n.
1. The quality of being combative; propensity to contend or to
quarrel.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: A cranial development supposed to indicate a combative
disposition.
COMBATTANT
Com`bat`tant", a. Etym: [F.] (Her.)
Defn: In the position of fighting; -- said of two lions set face to
face, each rampant.
COMBBROACH
Comb"broach`, n.
Defn: A tooth of a wool comb. [Written also combrouch.]
COMBE
Combe ( or ), n.
Defn: See Comb.
COMBER
Comb"er, n.
1. One who combs; one whose occupation it is to comb wool, flax, etc.
Also, a machine for combing wool, flax, etc.
2. A long, curling wave.
COMBER
Com"ber, v. t.
Defn: To cumber. [Obs.] Spenser.
COMBER
Com"ber, n.
Defn: Encumbrance. [Obs.]
COMBER
Com"ber, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cabrilla. Also, a name applied to a species of wrasse.
[Prov. Eng.]
COMBINABLE
Com*bin"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. combinable.]
Defn: Capable of combinding; consistent with. [R.] M. Arnold.
-- Com*bin"a*ble*ness, n.
COMBINATE
Com"bi*nate, a. Etym: [LL. combinatus, p. p.]
Defn: United; joined; betrothed. [R.]
COMBINATION
Com`bi*na"tion, n. Etym: [LL. combinatio. See Combine.]
1. The act or process of combining or uniting persons and things.
Making new compounds by new combinations. Boyle.
A solemn combination shall be made Of our dear souls. Shak.
2. The result of combining or uniting; union of persons or things;
esp. a union or alliance of persons or states to effect some purpose;
-- usually in a bad sense.
A combination of the most powerful men in Rome who had conspired my
ruin. Melmoth.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of uniting by chemical affinity, by which
substances unite with each other in definite proportions by weight to
form distinct compounds.
4. pl. (Math.)
Defn: The different arrangements of a number of objects, as letters,
into groups.
Note: In combinations no regard is paid to the order in which the
objects are arranged in each group, while in variations and
permutations this order is respected. Brande & C. Combination car, a
railroad car containing two or more compartments used for different
purposes. [U. S.] -- Combination lock, a lock in which the mechanism
is controlled by means of a movable dial (sometimes by several dials
or rings) inscribed with letters or other characters. The bolt of the
lock can not be operated until after the dial has been so turned as
to combine the characters in a certain order or succession.
-- Combination room, in the University of Cambridge, Eng., a room
into which the fellows withdraw after dinner, for wine, dessert, and
conversation.
-- Combination by volume (Chem.), the act, process, or ratio by
which gaseous elements and compounds unite in definite proportions by
volume to form distinct compounds.
-- Combination by weight (Chem.), the act, process, or ratio, in
which substances unite in proportions by weight, relatively fixed and
exact, to form distinct compounds. See Law of definite proportions,
under Definite.
Syn.
-- Cabal; alliance; association; league; union; confederacy;
coalition; conspiracy. See Cabal.
COMBINE
Com*bine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Combined; p. pr. & vb. n. Combining.]
Etym: [LL. combinare, combinatum; L. com- + binus, pl. bini, two and
two, double: cf. F. combiner. See Binary.]
1. To unite or join; to link closely together; to bring into
harmonious union; to cause or unite so as to form a homogeneous, as
by chemical union.
So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined. Milton.
Friendship is the which really combines mankind. Dr. H. More.
And all combined, save what thou must combine By holy marriage. Shak.
Earthly sounds, though sweet and well combined. Cowper.
2. To bind; to hold by a moral tie. [Obs.]
I am combined by a sacred vow. Shak.
COMBINE
Com*bine", v. i.
1. To form a union; to agree; to coalesce; to confederate.
You with your foes combine, And seem your own destruction to design
Dryden.
So sweet did harp and voice combine. Sir W. Scott.
2. To unite by affinity or natural attraction; as, two substances,
which will not combine of themselves, may be made to combine by the
intervention of a third.
3. (Card Playing)
Defn: In the game of casino, to play a card which will take two or
more cards whose aggregate number of pips equals those of the card
played. Combining weight (Chem.), that proportional weight, usually
referred to hydrogen as a standard, and for each element fixed and
exact, by which an element unites with another to form a distinct
compound. The combining weights either are identical with, or are
multiples or multiples of, the atomic weight. See Atomic weight,
under Atomic, a.
COMBINED
Com*bined", a.
Defn: United closely; confederated; chemically united.
COMBINEDLY
Com*bin"ed*ly, adv. In combination or coöperation
Defn: ; jointly.
COMBINER
Com*bin"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, combines.
COMBING
Comb"ing, n.
1. The act or process of using a comb or a number of combs; as, the
combing of one's hair; the combing of wool.
Note: The process of combing is used in straightening wool of long
staple; short wool is carded.
2. pl.
(a) That which is caught or collected with a comb, as loose, tangled
hair.
(b) Hair arranged to be worn on the head.
The baldness, thinness, and . . . deformity of their hair is supplied
by borders and combings. Jer. Taylor.
(c) (Naut.)
Defn: See Coamings. Combing machine (Textile Manuf.), a machine for
combing wool, flax, cotton, etc., and separating the longer and more
valuable fiber from the shorter. See also Carding machine, under
Carding.
COMBLESS
Comb"less, a.
Defn: Without a comb or crest; as, a combless ceck.
COMBOLOIO
Com`bo*lo"io, n.
Defn: A Mohammedan rosary, consisting of ninety-nine beads. Byron.
COMB-SHAPED
Comb"-shaped`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pectinate.
COMBUST
Com*bust", a. Etym: [L. combustus, p. p. of comburere to burn up;
com- + burere (only in comp.), of uncertian origin; cf. bustum
fineral pyre, prurire to itch, pruna a live coal, Gr. plush to burn.]
1. Burnt; consumed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: So near the sun as to be obscured or eclipsed by his light, as
the moon or planets when not more than eight degrees and a half from
the sun. [Obs.]
Planets that are oft combust. Milton.
COMBUSTIBILITY
Com*bus`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being combustible.
COMBUSTIBLE
Com*bus"ti*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. combustble.]
1. Capable of taking fire and burning; apt to catch fire;
inflammable.
Sin is to the soul like fire to combustible matter. South.
2. Ea
Arnold was a combustible character. W. Irving.
COMBUSTIBLE
Com*bus"ti*ble, n.
Defn: A substance that may bee set on fire, or which is liable to
take fire and burn.
All such combustibles as are cheap enough for common use go under the
name of fuel. Ure.
COMBUSTIBLENESS
Com*bus"ti*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Combustibility.
COMBUSTION
Com*bus"tion, n. Etym: [L. combustio: cf. F. combustion.]
1. The state of burning.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The combination of a combustible with a supporter of
combustion, producing heat, and sometimes both light and heat.
Combustion results is common cases from the mutual chemical action
and reaction of the combustible and the oxygen of the atmosphere,
whereby a new compound is formed. Ure.
Supporter of combustion (Chem.), a gas as oxygen, the combination of
which with a combustible, as coal, constitutes combustion.
3. Violent agitation; confusion; tumult. [Obs.]
There [were] great combustions and divisions among the heads of the
university. Mede.
But say from whence this new combustion springs. Dryden.
COMBUSTION CHAMBER
Com*bus"tion cham`ber. (Mech.)
(a) A space over, or in front of , a boiler furnace where the gases
from the fire become more thoroughly mixed and burnt. (b) The
clearance space in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine
where the charge is compressed and ignited.
COMBUSTIOUS
Com*bus"tious, a.
Defn: Inflammable. [Obs.] Shak.
COME
Come, v. i. [imp. Came; p. p. Come; p. pr & vb. n. Coming.] Etym:
[OE. cumen, comen, AS. cuman; akin to OS.kuman, D. komen, OHG.
queman, G. kommen, Icel. koma, Sw. komma, Dan. komme, Goth. giman, L.
venire (gvenire), Gr. gam. *23. Cf. Base, n., Convene, Adventure.]
1. To move hitherward; to draw near; to approach the speaker, or some
place or person indicated; -- opposed to go.
Look, who comes yonder Shak.
I did not come to curse thee. Tennyson.
2. To complete a movement toward a place; to arrive.
When we came to Rome. Acts xxviii. 16.
Lately come from Italy. Acts vviii. 2.
3. To approach or arrive, as if by a journey or form a distance. "Thy
kingdom come." Matt. vi. 10.
The hour is comming, and now is. John. v. 25.
So quik bright things come to confusion. Shak.
4. To approach or arrive, as the result of a cause, or of the act of
another.
From whence come wars James iv. 1.
Both riches and honor come of thee! Chron. xxix. 12.
5. To arrive in sight; to be manifest; to appear.
Then butter does refuse to come. Hudibras.
6. To get to be, as the result of change or progress; -- with a
predicate; as, to come united.
How come you thus estranged Shak.
How come her eyes so bright Shak.
Note: Am come, is come, etc., are frequently used instead of have
come, has come, etc., esp. in poetry. The verb to be gives adjectival
significance to the participle as expressing a state or condition of
the subject, while the auxiliary have expresses simply the completion
of the action signified by the verb.
Think not that I am come to destroy. Matt. v. 17.
We are come off like Romans. Shak.
The melancholy days are come, the saddest of the year. Bryant.
Note: Come may properly be used (instead of go) in speaking of a
movement hence, or away, when there is reference to an approach to
the person addressed; as, I shall come home next week; he will come
to your house to-day. It is used with other verbs almost as an
auxiliary, indicative of approach to the action or state expressed by
the verb; as, how came you to do it Come is used colloquially, with
reference to a definite future time approaching, without an
auxilliary; as, it will be two years, come next Christmas; i. e.,
when Christmas shall come.
They were cried In meeting, come next Sunday. Lowell.
Come, in the imperative, is used to excite attention, or to invite to
motion or joint action; come, let us go. "This is the heir; come, let
us kill him." Matt. xxi. 38. When repeated, it sometimes expresses
haste, or impatience, and sometimes rebuke. "Come, come, no time for
lamentation now." Milton. To come, yet to arrive, future. "In times
to come." Dryden. "There's pippins and cheese to come." Shak.
-- To come about. (a) To come to pass; to arrive; to happen; to
result; as, how did these things come about (b) To change; to come
round; as, the ship comes about. "The wind is come about." Shak.
On better thoughts, and my urged reasons, They are come about, and
won to the true side. B. Jonson.
-- To come abroad. (a) To move or be away from one's home or country.
"Am come abroad to see the world." Shak. (b) To become public or
known. [Obs.] "Neither was anything kept secret, but that it should
come abroad." Mark. iv. 22.
-- To come across, to meet; to find, esp. by chance or suddenly. "We
come across more than one incidental mention of those wars." E. A.
Freeman. "Wagner's was certainly one of the strongest and most
independent natures I ever came across." H. R. Heweis.
-- To come after. (a) To follow. (b) To come to take or to obtain;
as, to come after a book.
-- To come again, to return. "His spirit came again and he revived."
Judges. xv. 19.
-- To come and go. (a) To appear and disappear; to change; to
alternate. "The color of the king doth come and go." Shak. (b)
(Mech.) To play backward and forward.
-- To come at. (a) To reach; to arrive within reach of; to gain; as,
to come at a true knowledge of ourselves. (b) To come toward; to
attack; as, he came at me with fury.
-- To come away, to part or depart.
-- To come between, to interverne; to separate; hence, to cause
estrangement.
-- To come by. (a) To obtain, gain, acquire. "Examine how you came
by all your state." Dryden. (b) To pass near or by way of.
-- To come down. (a) To descend. (b) To be humbled.
-- To come down upon, to call to account, to reprimand. [Colloq.]
Dickens.
-- To come home. (a) To retuen to one's house or family. (b) To come
close; to press closely; to touch the feelings, interest, or reason.
(b) (Naut.) To be loosened from the ground; -- said of an anchor.
-- To come in. (a) To enter, as a town, house, etc. "The thief
cometh in." Hos. vii. 1. (b) To arrive; as, when my ship comes in.
(c) To assume official station or duties; as, when Lincoln came in.
(d) To comply; to yield; to surrender. "We need not fear his coming
in" Massinger. (e) To be brought into use. "Silken garments did not
come in till late." Arbuthnot. (f) To be added or inserted; to be or
become a part of. (g) To accrue as gain from any business or
investment. (h) To mature and yield a harvest; as, the crops come in
well. (i) To have sexual intercourse; -- with to or unto. Gen.
xxxviii. 16. (j) To have young; to bring forth; as, the cow will come
in next May. [U. S.] -- To come in for, to claim or receive. "The
rest came in for subsidies." Swift.
-- To come into, to join with; to take part in; to agree to; to
comply with; as, to come into a party or scheme.
-- To come it ever, to hoodwink; to get the advantage of. [Colloq.]
-- To come near or nigh, to approach in place or quality to be equal
to. "Nothing ancient or modern seems to come near it." Sir W. Temple.
-- To come of. (a) To descend or spring from. "Of Priam's royal race
my mother came." Dryden. (b) To result or follow from. "This comes of
judging by the eye." L'Estrange.
-- To come off. (a) To depart or pass off from. (b) To get free; to
get away; to escape. (c) To be carried through; to pass off; as, it
came off well. (d) To acquit one's self; to issue from (a contest,
etc.); as, he came off with honor; hence, substantively, a come off,
an escape; an excuse; an evasion. [Colloq.] (e) To pay over; to give.
[Obs.] (f) To take place; to happen; as, when does the race come off
(g) To be or become after some delay; as, the weather came off very
fine. (h) To slip off or be taken off, as a garment; to separate. (i)
To hurry away; to get through. Chaucer.
-- To come off by, to suffer. [Obs.] "To come off by the worst."
Calamy.
-- To come off from, to leave. "To come off from these grave
disquisitions." Felton.
-- To come on. (a) To advance; to make progress; to thrive. (b) To
move forward; to approach; to supervene.
-- To come out. (a) To pass out or depart, as from a country, room,
company, etc. "They shall come out with great substance." Gen. xv.
14. (b) To become public; to appear; to be published. "It is indeed
come out at last." Bp. Stillingfleet. (c) To end; to result; to turn
out; as, how will this affair come out he has come out well at last.
(d) To be introduced into society; as, she came out two seasons ago.
(e) To appear; to show itself; as, the sun came out. (f) To take
sides; to take a stand; as, he came out against the tariff.(g) To
publicly admit oneself to be homosexual.
-- To come out with, to give publicity to; to disclose.
-- To come over. (a) To pass from one side or place to another.
"Perpetually teasing their friends to come over to them." Addison.
(b) To rise and pass over, in distillation.
-- To come over to, to join.
-- To come round. (a) To recur in regular course. (b) To recover.
[Colloq.] (c) To change, as the wind. (d) To relent. J. H. Newman.
(e) To circumvent; to wheedle. [Colloq.] -- To come short, to be
deficient; to fail of attaining. "All have sinned and come short of
the glory of God." Rom. iii. 23.
-- To come to. (a) To consent or yield. Swift. (b) (Naut.) (with the
accent on to) To luff; to brin the ship's head nearer the wind; to
anchor. (c) (with the accent on to) To recover, as from a swoon. (d)
To arrive at; to reach. (e) To amount to; as, the taxes come to a
large sum. (f) To fall to; to be received by, as an inheritance.
Shak.
-- To come to blows. See under Blow.
-- To come to grief. See under Grief.
-- To come to a head. (a) To suppurate, as a boil. (b) To mature; to
culminate; as a plot.
-- To come to one's self, to recover one's senses.
-- To come to pass, to happen; to fall out.
-- To come to the scratch. (a) (Prize Fighting) To step up to the
scratch or mark made in the ring to be toed by the combatants in
beginning a contest; hence: (b) To meet an antagonist or a difficulty
bravely. [Colloq.] -- To come to time. (a) (Prize Fighting) To come
forward in order to resume the contest when the interval allowed for
rest is over and "time" is called; hence: (b) To keep an appointment;
to meet expectations. [Colloq.] -- To come together. (a) To meet for
business, worship, etc.; to assemble. Acts i. 6. (b) To live together
as man and wife. Matt. i. 18.
-- To come true, to happen as predicated or expected.
-- To come under, to belong to, as an individual to a class.
-- To come up (a) to ascend; to rise. (b) To be brought up; to
arise, as a question. (c) To spring; to shoot or rise above the
earth, as a plant. (d) To come into use, as a fashion.
-- To come up the capstan (Naut.), to turn it the contrary way, so
as to slacken the rope about it.
-- To come up the tackle fall (Naut.), to slacken the tackle gently.
Totten.
-- To come up to, to rise to; to equal.
-- To come up with, to overtake or reach by pursuit.
-- To come upon. (a) To befall. (b) To attack or invade. (c) To have
a claim upon; to become dependent upon for support; as, to come upon
the town. (d) To light or chance upon; to find; as, to come upon hid
treasure.
COME
Come, v. t.
Defn: To carry through; to succeed in; as, you can't come any tricks
here. [Slang] To come it, to succeed in a trick of any sort. [Slang]
COME
Come, n.
Defn: Coming. Chaucer.
COME-ALONG
Come"-a*long`, n.
Defn: A gripping device, as for stretching wire, etc., consisting of
two jaws so attached to a ring that they are closed by pulling on the
ring.
CO-MEDDLE
Co-med"dle, v. t.
Defn: To mix; to mingle, to temper. [Obs.] Shak.
COMEDIAN
Co*me"di*an, n. Etym: [Cf. F. comédien.]
1. An actor or player in comedy. "The famous comedian, Roscius."
Middleton.
2. A writer of comedy. Milton.
COMEDIENNE
Co*mé`di*enne", n. Etym: [F., fem. of com.]
Defn: A women who plays in comedy.
COMEDIETTA
Co*me`di*et"ta, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A dramatic sketch; a brief comedy.
COMEDO
Com"e*do, n.; pl. Comedones. Etym: [L., a glutton. See Comestible.]
(Med.)
Defn: A small nodule or cystic tumor, common on the nose, etc., which
on pressure allows the escape of a yellow wormlike mass of retained
oily secretion, with a black head (dirt).
COMEDOWN
Come"down`, n.
Defn: A downfall; an humillation. [Colloq.]
COMEDY
Com"e*dy, n.; pl. Comedies. Etym: [F. comédie, L. comoedia, fr. Gr.
home) + Home, and Ode.]
Defn: A dramatic composition, or representation of a bright and
amusing character, based upon the foibles of individuals, the manners
of society, or the ludicrous events or accidents of life; a play in
which mirth predominates and the termination of the plot is happy; --
opposed to tragedy.
With all the vivacity if comedy. Macaulay.
Are come to play a pleasant comedy. Shak.
COMELILY
Come"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a suitable or becoming manner. [R.] Sherwood.
COMELINESS
Come"li*ness, n. Etym: [See Comely.]
Defn: The quality or state of being comely.
Comeliness is a disposing fair Of things and actions in fit time and
place. Sir J. Davies.
Strength, comeliness of shape, or amplest merit. Milton.
Comeliness signifies something less forcible than beauty, less
elegant than grace, and less light than prettiness. Johnson.
COMELY
Come"ly, a. [Compar. Comelier; superl. Comeliest.] Etym: [OE.
comeliche, AS. cymlic; cyme suitable (fr. cuman to come, become) +
lic like.]
1. Pleasing or agreeable to the sight; well-proportioned; good-
looking; handsome.
He that is comely when old and decrepit, surely was very beautiful
when he was young. South.
Not once perceive their foul disfigurement But boast themselves more
comely than before. Milton.
2. Suitable or becoming; proper; agreeable.
This is a happier and more comely time Than when these fellows ran
about the streets, Crying confusion. Shak.
It is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and
praise is comely. Ps. cxlvii. 1.
COMELY
Come"ly, adv.
Defn: In a becoming manner. Ascham.
COME-OUTER
Come-out"er, n.
Defn: One who comes out or withdraws from a religious or other
organization; a radical reformer. [Colloq. U. S.]
COMER
Com"er, n.
Defn: One who comes, or who has come; one who has arrived, and is
present. All comers, all who come, or offer, to take part in a
matter, especially in a contest or controversy. "To prove it against
all comers." Bp. Stillingfleet.
COMES
Co"mes, n. Etym: [L., a companion.] (Mus.)
Defn: The answer to the theme (dux) in a fugue.
COMESSATION
Com`es*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. comissatio, comessatio.]
Defn: A reveling; a rioting. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMESTIBLE
Co*mes"ti*ble, a. Etym: [F. comestible, fr. L. comesus, comestus, p.
p. pf comedere to eat; com- + edere to eat.]
Defn: Suitable to be eaten; eatable; esculent.
Some herbs are most comestible. Sir T. Elyot.
COMESTIBLE
Co*mes"ti*ble, n.
Defn: Something suitable to be eaten; -- commonly in the plural.
Thackeray.
COMET
Com"et, n. Etym: [L. cometes, cometa, from Gr. coma: cf. F. comète.]
(Astron.)
Defn: A member of the solar system which usually moves in an
elongated orbit, approaching very near to the sun in its perihelion,
and receding to a very great distance from it at its aphelion. A
comet commonly consists of three parts: the nucleus, the envelope, or
coma, and the tail; but one or more of these parts is frequently
wanting. See Illustration in Appendix.
COMETARIUM
Com`e*ta"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument, intended to represent the revolution of a comet
round the sun. Hutton.
COMETARY
Com"et*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. cométaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a comet. Cheyne.
COMET-FINDER; COMET-SEEKER
Com"et-find`er, or Com"et-seek`er, n. (Astron.)
Defn: A telescope of low power, having a large field of view, used
for finding comets.
COMETHER
Co*meth"er, n. [Prob. dial. pron. of come hither, used in calling
cows, etc.] [Dial. or Colloq., Brit.]
1.
Defn: Matter; affair.
2. Friendly communication or association.
To put the, or one's, comether on, to exercise persuasion upon; to
get under one's influence; to beguile; to wheedle.
How does ut come about, sorr, that whin a man has put the comether on
wan woman he's sure bound to put ut on another
Kipling.
COMETIC
Co*met"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to a comet.
COMETOGRAPHER
Com`et*og"ra*pher, n.
Defn: One who describes or writes about comets.
COMETOGRAPHY
Com`et*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Comet + -graphy: cf. F. cométographie.]
Defn: A description of, or a treatise concerning, comets.
COMETOLOGY
Com`et*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Comet + -logy.]
Defn: The department of astronomy relating to comets.
COMFIT
Com"fit, n. Etym: [F. confit, prop. a p. p., fr. confire to preserve,
pickle, fr. L. conficere to prepare; con- + facere to make. See Fact,
and cf. Confect.]
Defn: A dry sweetmeat; any kind of fruit, root, or seed preserved
with sugar and dried; a confection.
COMFIT
Com"fit, v. t.
Defn: To preserve dry with sugar.
The fruit which does so quickly waste, . . . Thou comfitest in sweets
to make it last. Cowley.
COMFITURE
Com"fi*ture, n. Etym: [F. confiture; cf. LL. confecturae sweetmeats,
confectura a preparing. See Comfit, and cf. Confiture.]
Defn: See Comfit, n.
COMFORT
Com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comforted; p. pr. & vb. n. Comforting.]
Etym: [F. conforter, fr. L. confortare to strengthen much; con- +
fortis strong. See Fort.]
1. To make strong; to invigorate; to fortify; to corroborate. [Obs.]
Wyclif.
God's own testimony . . . doth not a little comfort and confirm the
same. Hooker.
2. To assist or help; to aid. [Obs.]
I . . . can not help the noble chevalier: God comfort him in this
necessity! Shak.
3. To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to
console; to cheer,
Light excelleth in comforting the spirits of men. Bacon.
That we may be adle to comfort them that are in any affliction. 2
Cor. i. 4. (Rev. Ver. ).
A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command.
Wordsworth.
Syn.
-- To cheer; solace; console; revive; encourage; enliven;
invigorate; inspirit, gladden; recreate; exhilarate; refresh;
animate; confirm; strengthen.
-- To Comfort, Console, Solace. These verbs all suppose some
antecedent state of suffering or sorrow. Console in confined to the
act giving sympathetic relief to the mind under affliction or sorrow,
and points to some definite source of that relief; as, the presence
of his friend consoled him; he was much consoled by this
intelligence. The act of consoling commonly implies the inculcation
of resignation. Comfort points to relief afforded by the
communication of positive pleasure, hope, and strength, as well as by
the diminution of pain; as, "They brought the young man alive, and
were not a little comforted." Acts xx. 12.
Note: Solace is from L. solacium, which means according to Dumesnil,
consolation inwardly felt or applied to the case of the sufferer.
Hence, the verb to solace denotes the using of things for the purpose
of affording relief under sorrow or suffering; as, to solace one's
self with reflections, with books, or with active employments.
COMFORT
Com"fort, n. Etym: [OF. confort, fr. conforter.]
1. Assistance; relief; support. [Obs. except in the phrase "aid and
comfort." See 5 below.] Shak.
2. Encouragement; solace; consolation in trouble; also, that which
affords consolation.
In comfort of her mother's fears. Shak.
Cheer thy spirit with this comfort. Shak.
Speaking words of endearment where words of comfort availed not.
Longfellow.
3. A state of quiet enjoyment; freedom from pain, want, or anxiety;
also, whatever contributes to such a condition.
I had much joy and comfort in thy love. Phil. 7 (Rev. Ver. ).
He had the means of living in comfort. Macaulay.
4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.]
5. (Law)
Defn: Unlawful support, countenance, or encouragement; as, to give
aid and comfort to the enemy.
Syn.
-- Comfort, Consolation. Comfort has two meanings:
1. Strength and relief received under affliction;
2. Positive enjoyment, of a quiet, permanent nature, together with
the sources thereof; as, the comfort of love; surrounded with
comforts; but it is with the former only that the word consolation is
brought into comparison. As thus compared, consolation points to some
specific source of relief for the afflicted mind; as, the
consolations of religion. Comfort supposes the relief to be afforded
by imparting positive enjoyment, as well as a diminution of pain.
"Consolation, or comfort, signifies some alleviation to that pain to
which it is not in our power to afford the proper and adequate
remedy; they imply rather an augmentation of the power of bearing,
than a diminution of the burden." Johnson.
COMFORTABLE
Com"fort*a*ble, a. Etym: [OF. confortable.]
1. Strong; vigorous; valiant. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. For my sake be
comfortable; hold death a while at the arm's end. Shak.
2. Serviceable; helpful. [Obs.]
Be comfortable to my mother, your mistress, and make much of her.
Shak.
3. Affording or imparting comfort or consolation; able to comfort;
cheering; as, a comfortable hope. "Kind words and comfortable."
Cowper.
A comfortable provision made for their subsistence. Dryden.
4. In a condition of comfort; having comforts; not suffering or
anxious; hence, contented; cheerful; as, to lead a comfortable life.
My lord leans wondrously to discontent; His comfortable temper has
forsook him: He is much out of health. Shak.
5. Free, or comparatively free, from pain or distress; -- used of a
sick person. [U. S.]
COMFORTABLE
Com"fort*a*ble, n.
Defn: A stuffed or quilted coverlet for a bed; a comforter; a
comfort. [U. S.]
COMFORTABLENESS
Com"fort*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being comfortable or comforting manner.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem. Is. xl. 2.
COMFORTABLY
Com"fort*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a comfortable or comforting manner.
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem.
Is. xl. 2.
COMFORTER
Com"fort*er, n.
1. One who administers comfort or consolation.
Let no comforter delight mine ear But such a one whose wrongs do suit
with mine. Shak.
2. (Script.)
Defn: The Holy Spirit, -- reffering to his office of comforting
believers.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send
in my name, he shall teach you all things. John xiv. 26.
3. A knit woolen tippet, long and narrow. [U. S.]
The American schoolboy takes off his comforter and unbuttons his
jacket before going in for a snowball fight. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
4. A wadded bedquilt; a comfortable. [U. S.] Job's comforter, a boil.
[Colloq.]
COMFORTLESS
Com"fort*less, a.
Defn: Without comfort or comforts; in want or distress; cheerless.
Comfortless through turanny or might. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Forlorn; desolate; cheerless; inconsolable; disconsolate;
wretched; miserable.
-- Com"fort*less*ly, adv.
-- Com"fort*less*ness, n.
When all is coldly, comfortlessly costly. Milton.
COMFORTMENT
Com"fort*ment, n.
Defn: Act or process of administering comfort. [Obs.]
The gentle comfortment and entertainment of the said embassador.
Hakluyt.
COMFORTRESS
Com"fort*ress, n.
Defn: A woman who comforts.
To be your comfortress, and to preserve you. B. Jonson.
COMFREY
Com"frey, n. Etym: [Prob. from F. conferve, L. conferva, fr.
confervere to boil together, in medical language, to heal, grow
together. So called on account of its healing power, for which reason
it was also called consolida.] (Bot.)
Defn: A rough, hairy, perennial plant of several species, of the
genus Symphytum.
Note: A decoction of the mucilaginous root of the "common comfrey"
(S. officinale) is used in cough mixtures, etc.; and the gigantic
"prickly comfrey" (S. asperrimum) is somewhat cultivated as a forage
plant.
COMIC
Com"ic, a. Etym: [L. comicus pertaining to comedy, Gr. comique. See
Comedy.]
1. Relating to comedy, as distinct from tragedy.
I can not for the stage a drama lay, Tragic or comic, but thou
writ'st the play. B. Jonson.
2. Causing mirth; ludicrous. "Comic shows." Shak.
COMIC
Com"ic, n.
Defn: A comedian. [Obs.] Steele.
COMICAL
Com"ic*al, a.
1. Relating to comedy.
They deny it to be tragical because its catastrphe is a wedding,
which hath ever been accounted comical. Gay.
2. Exciting mirth; droll; laughable; as, a comical story. "Comical
adventures." Dryden.
Syn.
-- Humorous; laughable; funny. See Droll.
-- Com"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Com"ic*al"ness, n.
COMICALITY
Com`i*cal"i*ty, n.; pl. Comicalities.
Defn: The quality of being comical; something comical.
COMICRY
Com"ic*ry, n.
Defn: The power of exciting mirth; comicalness. [R.] H. Giles.
COMING
Com"ing, a.
1. Approaching; of the future, especially the near future; the next;
as, the coming week or year; the coming exhibition.
Welcome the coming, speed the parting, guest. Pope.
Your coming days and years. Byron.
2. Ready to come; complaisant; fond. [Obs.] Pope.
COMING
Com"ing, n.
1. Approach; advent; manifestation; as, the coming of the train.
2. Specifically: The Second Advent of Christ. Coming in.
(a) Entrance; entrance way; manner of entering; beginning. "The
goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof." Ezek. xliii. 11
(b) Income or revenue. "What are thy comings in" Shak.
COMITIA
Co*mi"ti*a, n., pl. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A public assembly of the Roman people for electing officers or
passing laws.
Note: There were three kinds of comitia: comitia curiata, or assembly
of the patricians, who voted in curiæ; comitia centuriata, or
assembly of the whole Roman people, who voted by centuries; and
comitia tributa, or assembly of the plebeians according to their
division into tribes.
COMITIAL
Co*mi"tial, a. Etym: [L. comitialis.]
Defn: Relating to the comitia, or popular assembles of the Romans for
electing officers and passing laws. Middleton.
COMITIVA
Co`mi*ti"va, n. [It.]
Defn: A body of followers; -- applied to the lawless or brigand bands
in Italy and Sicily.
COMITY
Com"i*ty, n.; pl. Comities. Etym: [L. comitas, fr. comis courteous,
kind.]
Defn: Mildness and suavity of manners; courtesy between equals;
friendly equals; friendly civility; as, comity of manners; the comity
of States. Comity of nations (International Law), the courtesy by
which nations recognize within their own territory, or in their
courts, the peculiar institutions of another nation or the rights and
privileges acquired by its citizens in their own land. By some
authorities private international law rests on this comity, but the
better opinion is that it is part of the common law of the land, and
hence is obligatory as law.
Syn.
-- Civility; good breeding; courtesy; good will.
COMMA
Com"ma, n. Etym: [L. comma part of a sentence, comma, Gr. Capon.]
1. A character or point [,] marking the smallest divisions of a
sentence, written or printed.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A small interval (the difference beyween a major and minor half
step), seldom used except by tuners. Comma bacillus (Physiol.), a
variety of bacillus shaped like a comma, found in the intestines of
patients suffering from cholera. It is considered by some as having a
special relation to the disease; -- called also cholera bacillus.
-- Comma butterfly (Zoöl.), an American butterfly (Grapta comma),
having a white comma-shaped marking on the under side of the wings.
COMMAND
Com*mand" (; 61), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commanded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commanding.] Etym: [OE. comaunden, commanden, OF. comander, F.
commander, fr. L. com- + mandare to commit to, to command. Cf.
Commend, Mandate.]
1. To order with authority; to lay injunction upon; to direct; to
bid; to charge.
We are commanded to forgive our enemies, but you never read that we
are commanded to forgive our friends. Bacon.
Go to your mistress: Say, I command her come to me. Shak.
2. To exercise direct authority over; to have control of; to have at
one's disposal; to lead.
Monmouth commanded the English auxiliaries. Macaulay.
Such aid as I can spare you shall command. Shak.
3. To have within a sphere of control, influence, access, or vision;
to dominate by position; to guard; to overlook.
Bridges commanded by a fortified house. Motley.
Up to the eastern tower, Whose height commands as subject all the
vale. Shak.
One side commands a view of the finest garden. Addison.
4. To have power or influence of the nature of authority over; to
obtain as if by ordering; to reeceive as a due; to challenge; to
claim; as, justice commands the respect and affections of the people;
the best goods command the best price.
'Tis not in mortals to command success. Addison.
5. To direct to come; to bestow. [Obs.]
I will command my blessing upon you. Lev. xxv. 21.
Syn.
-- To bid; order; direct; dictate; charge; govern; rule; overlook.
COMMAND
Com*mand", v. i.
1. To have or to exercise direct authority; to govern; to sway; to
influence; to give an order or orders.
And reigned, commanding in his monarchy. Shak.
For the king had so commanded concerning [Haman]. Esth. iii. 2.
2. To have a view, as from a superior position.
Far and wide his eye commands. Milton.
COMMAND
Com*mand", n.
1. An authoritative order requiring obedience; a mandate; an
injunction.
A waiting what command their mighty chief Had to impose. Milton.
2. The possession or exercise of authority.
Command and force may often create, but can never cure, an aversion.
Locke.
3. Authority; power or right of control; leadership; as, the forces
under his command.
4. Power to dominate, command, or overlook by means of position;
scope of vision; survey.
Te steepy stand Which overlooks the vale with wide command. Dryden.
5. Control; power over something; sway; influence; as, to have
command over one's temper or voice; the fort has command of the
bridge.
He assumed an absolute command over his readers. Druden.
6. A body of troops, or any naval or military force or post, or the
whole territory under the authority or control of a particular
officer.
Word of command (Mil.), a word or phrase of definite and established
meaning, used in directing the movements of soldiers; as, aim; fire;
shoulder arms, etc.
Syn.
-- Control; sway; power; authority; rule; dominion; sovereignty;
mandate; order; injunction; charge; behest. See Direction.
COMMANDABLE
Com*mand"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being commanded.
COMMANDANT
Com`man*dant", n. Etym: [F., orig. p. pr. of commander.]
Defn: A commander; the commanding officer of a place, or of a body of
men; as, the commandant of a navy-yard.
COMMANDATORY
Com*mand"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Mandatory; as, commandatory authority. [Obs.]
COMMANDEER
Com`man*deer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commandeered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commandeering.] [D. kommandeeren to command, in South Africa to
commandeer, fr. F. commander to command. See Command.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: To compel to perform military service; to seize for military
purposes; -- orig. used of the Boers.
2. To take arbitrary or forcible possession of. [Colloq.]
COMMANDER
Com*mand"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commandeur. Cf. Commodore, Commender.]
1. A chief; one who has supreme authority; a leader; the chief
officer of an army, or of any division of it.
A leader and commander to the people. Is. lv. 4.
2. (Navy)
Defn: An officer who ranks next below a captain, -- ranking with a
lieutenant colonel in the army.
3. The chief officer of a commandery.
4. A heavy beetle or wooden mallet, used in paving, in sail lofts,
etc. Commander in chief, the military title of the officer who has
supreme command of the land or naval forces or the united forces of a
nation or state; a generalissimo. The President is commander in chief
of the army and navy of the United States.
Syn.
-- See Chief.
COMMANDERSHIP
Com*mand"er*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a commander.
COMMANDERY
Com*mand"er*y, n.; pl. Commanderies. Etym: [F. commanderie.]
1. The office or rank of a commander. [Obs.]
2. A district or a manor with lands and tenements appertaining
thereto, under the control of a member of an order of knights who was
called a commander; -- called also a preceptory.
3. An assembly or lodge of Knights Templars (so called) among the
Freemasons. [U. S.]
4. A district under the administration of a military commander or
governor. [R.] Brougham.
COMMANDING
Com*mand"ing, a.
1. Exercising authority; actually in command; as, a commanding
officer.
2. Fitted to impress or control; as, a commanding look or presence.
3. Exalted; overlooking; having superior strategic advantages; as, a
commanding position.
Syn.
-- Authoritative; imperative; imperious.
COMMANDINGLY
Com*mand"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commanding manner.
COMMANDMENT
Com*mand"ment, n. Etym: [OF. commandement, F. commandement.]
1. An order or injunction given by authority; a command; a charge; a
precept; a mandate.
A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another. John
xiii. 34.
2. (Script.)
Defn: One of the ten laws or precepts given by God to the Israelites
at Mount Sinai.
3. The act of commanding; exercise of authority.
And therefore put I on the countenance Of stern commandment. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: The offense of commanding or inducing another to violate the
law. The Commandments, The Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, or
summary of God's commands, given to Moses at Mount Sinai. (Ex. xx.)
COMMANDO
Com*man"do, n. [D. See Command, v. t.]
Defn: In South Africa, a military body or command; also, sometimes,
an expedition or raid; as, a commando of a hundred Boers.
The war bands, called commandos, have played a great part in the . .
. military history of the country.
James Bryce.
COMMANDRESS
Com*mand"ress, n.
Defn: A woman invested with authority to command. Hooker.
COMMANDRY
Com*mand"ry, n.
Defn: See Commandery.
COMMARK
Com"mark`, n. Etym: [Of. comarque, or LL. commarca, commarcha; com- +
marcha, boundary. See March a confine.]
Defn: The frontier of a country; confines. [Obs.] Shelton.
COMMATERIAL
Com`ma*te"ri*al, a.
Defn: Consisting of the same material. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMATIC
Com*mat"ic, a. Etym: [L. commaticus, Gr. Comma.]
Defn: Having short clauses or sentences; brief; concise.
COMMATISM
Com"ma*tism, n. Etym: [See Commatic.]
Defn: Conciseness in writing. Bp. Horsley.
COMMEASURABLE
Com*meas"ur*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. Commensurable.]
Defn: Having the same measure; commensurate; proportional.
She being now removed by death, a commeasurable grief took as full
possession of him as joy had one. I. Walton.
COMMEASURE
Com*meas"ure, v. t.
Defn: To be commensurate with; to equal. Tennyson.
COMMEMORABLE
Com*mem"o*ra"ble, a. Etym: [L. commemorabilis.]
Defn: Worthy to be commemorated.
COMMEMORATE
Com*mem"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commemorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commemorating.] Etym: [L. commemoratus, p. p. of commemorare to
remember; com- + memorare to mention, fr. memor mindful. See Memory.]
Defn: To call to remembrance by a special act or observance; to
celebrate with honor and solemnity; to honor, as a person or event,
by some act of respect of affection, intended to preserve the
remembrance of the person or event; as, to commemorate the sufferings
and dying love of our Savior by the sacrament of the Lord's Supper;
to commemorate the Declaration of Independence by the observance of
the Fourth of July.
We are called upon to commemorate a revolution. Atterbury.
Syn.
-- See Celebrate.
COMMEMORATION
Com*mem`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commemoratio.]
1. The act of commemorating; an observance or celebration designed to
honor the memory of some person or event.
This sacrament was designed to be a standing commemoration of the
death and passion of our Lord. Abp. Tillotson.
The commonwealth which . . . chooses the most flagrant act of
murderous regicide treason for a feast of eternal commemoration.
Burke.
2. Whatever serves the purpose of commemorating; a memorial.
Commemoration day, at the University of Oxford, Eng., an annual
observance or ceremony in honor of the benefactors of the University,
at which time honorary degrees are conferred.
COMMEMORATIVE
Com*mem"o*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Tending or intended to commemorate. "A sacrifice commemorative
of Christ's offering up his body for us." Hammond.
An inscription commemorative of his victory. Sir G. C. Lewis.
COMMEMORATOR
Com*mem"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who commemorates.
COMMEMORATORY
Com*mem"o*ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to commemorate; commomerative. Bp. Hooper.
COMMENCE
Com*mence", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commenced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commencing.] Etym: [F. commencer, OF. commencier, fr. L. com- +
initiare to begin. See Initiate.]
1. To have a beginning or origin; to originate; to start; to begin.
Here the anthem doth commence. Shak.
His heaven commences ere the world be past. Goldsmith.
2. To begin to be, or to act as. [Archaic]
We commence judges ourselves. Coleridge.
3. To take a degree at a university. [Eng.]
I question whether the formality of commencing was used in that age.
Fuller.
COMMENCE
Com*mence", v. t.
Defn: To enter upon; to begin; to perform the first act of.
Many a wooer doth commence his suit. Shak.
Note: It is the practice of good writers to use the verbal noun
(instead of the infinitive with to) after commence; as, he commenced
studying, not he commenced to study.
COMMENCEMENT
Com*mence"ment, n. Etym: [F. comencement.]
1. The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise;
origin; beginnig; start.
The time of Henry VII . . . nearly coincides with the commencement of
what is termed "modern history."
2. The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities
upon students and others.
COMMEND
Com*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commending.] Etym: [L. commendare; com- + mandare to intrust to one's
charge, enjoin, command. Cf. Command, Mandate.]
1. To commit, intrust, or give in charge for care or preservation.
His eye commends the leading to his hand. Shak.
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Luke xxiii. 46.
2. To recommend as worthy of confidence or regard; to present as
worthy of notice or favorable attention.
Among the objects of knowlwdge, two especially commend themselves to
our contemplation. Sir M. Hale.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister. Rom. xvi. 1.
3. To mention with approbation; to praise; as, to commend a person or
an act.
Historians commend Alexander for weeping when he read the actions of
Achilles. Dryden.
4. To mention by way of courtesy, implying remembrance and good will.
[Archaic]
Commend me to my brother. Shak.
COMMEND
Com*mend", n.
1. Commendation; praise. [Obs.]
Speak in his just commend. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: Compliments; greetings. [Obs.]
Hearty commends and much endeared love to you. Howell.
COMMENDABLE
Com*mend"a*ble, a.
Note: (Formerly accented on the first syllable.) Etym: [L.
commendabilis.]
Defn: Worthy of being commended or praised; laudable; praiseworthy.
Order and decent ceremonies in the church are not only comely but
commendable. Bacon.
-- Com*mend"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Com*mend"a*bly, adv.
COMMENDAM
Com*men"dam, n. Etym: [LL. dare in commendam to give into trust.]
(Eng. Eccl. Law)
Defn: A vacant living or benefice commended to a cleric (usually a
bishop) who enjoyed the revenue until a pastor was provided. A living
so held was said to be held in commendam. The practice was abolished
by law in 1836.
There was [formerly] some sense for commendams. Selden.
Partnership in commendam. See under Partnership.
COMMENDATARY
Com*mend"a*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commendataire, LL.
commendatarius.]
Defn: One who holds a living in commendam.
COMMENDATION
Com`men*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. commendatio.]
1. The act of commending; praise; favorable representation in words;
recommendation.
Need we . . . epistles of commendatiom 2 Cor. iii. 1.
By the commendation of the great officers. Bacon.
2. That which is the ground of approbation or praise.
Good nature is the most godlike commendation of a man. Dryden.
3. pl.
Defn: A message of affection or respect; compliments; greeting.
[Obs.]
Hark you, Margaret; No princely commendations to my king Shak.
COMMENDATOR
Com*mend"a*tor ( or ), n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who holds a benefice in commendam; a commendatary.
Chalmers.
COMMENDATORY
Com*mend"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. commendatorius.]
1. Serving to commend; containing praise or commendation; commending;
praising. "Commendatory verses." Pope.
2. Holding a benefice in commendam; as, a commendatory bishop. Burke.
Commendatory prayer (Book of Common Prayer), a prayer read over the
dying. "The commendatory prayer was said for him, and, as it ended,
he [William III.] died." Bp. Burnet.
COMMENDATORY
Com*mend"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: A commendation; eulogy. [R.] "Commendatories to our affection."
Sharp.
COMMENDER
Com*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who commends or praises.
COMMENSAL
Com*men"sal, n. Etym: [LL. commensalis; L. com- + mensa table: cf. F.
commensal. Cf. Mensal.]
1. One who eats at the same table. [Obs.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal, not truly parasitic, which lives in with, or on,
another, partaking usually of the same food. Both species may be
benefited by the association.
COMMENSAL
Com*men"sal, a.
Defn: Having the character of a commensal.
COMMENSALISM
Com*men"sal*ism, n.
Defn: The act of eating together; table fellowship.
COMMENSALITY
Com`men*sal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fellowship at table; the act or practice of eating at the same
table. [Obs.] "Promiscuous commensality." Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSATION
Com`men*sa"tion, n.
Defn: Commensality. [Obs.]
Daniel . . . declined pagan commensation. Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSURABILITY
Com*men`su*ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensurabilite.]
Defn: The quality of being commersurable. Sir T. Browne.
COMMENSURABLE
Com*men"su*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. commensurabilis; pref. com- +
mensurable. See Commensurate, and cf. Commeasurable.]
Defn: Having a common measure; capable of being exactly measured by
the same number, quantity, or measure.
-- Com*men"su*ra*ble*ness, n. Commensurable numbers or quantities
(Math.), those that can be exactly expressed by some common unit;
thus a foot and yard are commensurable, since both can be expressed
in terms of an inch, one being 12 inches, the other 36 inches.
-- Numbers, or Quantities, commensurable in power, those whose
squares are commensurable.
COMMENSURABLY
Com*men"su*ra*bly, adv.
Defn: In a commensurable manner; so as to be commensurable.
COMMENSURATE
Com*men"su*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commensurated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commensurating.] Etym: [Pref. com- + mensurate.]
1. To reduce to a common measure. Sir T. Browne.
2. To proportionate; to adjust. T. Puller
COMMENSURATE
Com*men"su*rate, a.
1. Having a common measure; commensurable; reducible to a common
measure; as, commensurate quantities.
2. Equal in measure or extent; proportionate.
Those who are persuaded that they shall continue forever, can not
choose but aspire after a hapiness commensurate to their duration.
Tillotson.
COMMENSURATELY
Com*men"su*rate*ly, adv.
1. In a commensurate manner; so as to be equal or proportionate;
adequately.
2. With equal measure or extent. Goodwin.
COMMENSURATENESS
Com*men"su*rate*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being commensurate. Foster.
COMMENSURATION
Com*men`su*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. commensuration.]
Defn: The act of commensurating; the state of being commensurate.
All fitness lies in a particular commensuration, or proportion of one
thing to another. South.
COMMENT
Com"ment, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commented; p. pr. & vb. n. Commenting.]
Etym: [F. commenter, L. commentary to meditate upon, explain, v.
intens, of comminisci, commentus, to reflect upon, invent; com- + the
root of meminisse to remember, mens mind. See Mind.]
Defn: To make remarks, observations, or criticism; especially, to
write notes on the works of an author, with a view to illustrate his
meaning, or to explain particular passages; to write annotations; --
often followed by on or upon.
A physician to comment on your malady. Shak.
Critics . . . proceed to comment on him. Dryden.
I must translate and comment. Pope.
COMMENT
Com"ment, v. t.
Defn: To comment on. [Archaic.] Fuller.
COMMENT
Com"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. comment.]
1. A remark, observation, or criticism; gossip; discourse; talk.
Their lavish comment when her name was named. Tennyson.
2. A note or observation intended to explain, illustrate, or
criticise the meaning of a writing, book, etc.; explanation;
annotation; exposition.
All the volumes of philosophy, With all their comments. Prior.
COMMENTARY
Com"men*ta*ry, n.; pl. Commentaries. Etym: [L. commentarius,
commentarium, note book, commentary: cf. F. commentaire. See Comment,
v. i.]
1. A series of comments or annotations; esp., a book of explanations
or expositions on the whole or a part of the Scriptures or of some
other work.
This letter . . . was published by him with a severe commentary.
Hallam.
2. A brief account of transactions or events written hastily, as if
for a memorandum; -- usually in the plural; as, Caesar's Commentaries
on the Gallic War.
COMMENTATE
Com"men*tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. commentatus, p. p. of commentari
to meditate.]
Defn: To write comments or notes upon; to make comments. [R.]
Commentate upon it, and return it enriched. Lamb.
COMMENTATION
Com`men*ta"tion, n.
1. The act or process of commenting or criticising; exposition. [R.]
The spirit of commentation. Whewell.
2. The result of the labors of a commentator.
COMMENTATOR
Com"men*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L. commentator: cf. F. commentateur.]
Defn: One who writes a commentary or comments; an expositor; an
annotator.
The commentator's professed object is to explain, to enforce, to
illustrate doctrines claimed as true. Whewell.
COMMENTATORIAL
Com`men*ta*to"ri*al ( or , a.
Defn: Pertaining to the making of commentaries. Whewell.
COMMENTATORSHIP
Com"men*ta`tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or occupation of a commentator.
COMMENTER
Com"ment`er, n.
Defn: One who makes or writes comments; a commentator; an annotator.
COMMENTITIOUS
Com`men*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. commentitius.]
Defn: Fictitious or imaginary; unreal; as, a commentitious system of
religion. [Obs.] Warburton.
COMMERCE
Com"merce, n.
Note: (Formerly accented on the second syllable.) Etym: [F. commerce,
L. commercium; com- + merx, mercis, merchadise. See Merchant.]
1. The exchange or buying and selling of commodities; esp. the
exchange of merchandise, on a large scale, between different places
or communities; extended trade or traffic.
The public becomes powerful in proportion to the opulence and
extensive commerce of private men. Hume.
2. Social intercourse; the dealings of one person or class in society
with another; familiarity.
Fifteen years of thought, observation, and commerce with the world
had made him [Bunyan] wiser. Macaulay.
3. Sexual intercourse. W. Montagu.
4. A round game at cards, in which the cards are subject to exchange,
barter, or trade. Hoyle. Chamber of commerce. See Chamber.
Syn.
-- Trade; traffic; dealings; intercourse; interchange; communion;
communication.
COMMERCE
Com*merce" ( or , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Commerced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commercing.] Etym: [Cf. F. commercer, fr. LL. commerciare.]
1. To carry on trade; to traffic. [Obs.]
Beware you commerce not with bankrupts. B. Jonson.
2. To hold intercourse; to commune. Milton.
Commercing with himself. Tennyson.
Musicians . . . taught the people in angelic harmonies to commerce
with heaven. Prof. Wilson.
COMMERCE DESTROYER
Com"merce de*stroy"er. (Nav.)
Defn: A very fast, unarmored, lightly armed vessel designed to
capture or destroy merchant vessels of an enemy. Not being intended
to fight, they may be improvised from fast passenger steamers.
COMMERCIAL
Com*mer"cial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. commercial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to commerce; carrying on or occupied with
commerce or trade; mercantile; as, commercial advantages; commercial
relations. "Princely commercial houses." Macaulay. Commercial
college, a school for giving instruction in commercial knowledge and
business.
-- Commercial law. See under Law.
-- Commercial note paper, a small size of writing paper, usually
about 5 by 7½ or 8 inches.
-- Commercial paper, negotiable paper given in due course of
business. It includes bills of exchange, promissory notes, bank
cheks, etc.
-- Commercial traveler, an agent of a wholesale house who travels
from town to town to solicit orders.
Syn.
-- See Mercantile.
COMMERCIALISM
Com*mer"cial*ism, n.
Defn: The commercial spirit or method. C. Kingsley.
COMMERCIALLY
Com*mer"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commercial manner.
COMMIGRATE
Com"mi*grate, v. i. Etym: [L. commigrare, commigratum.]
Defn: To migrate together. [R.]
COMMIGRATION
Com`mi*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commigratio.]
Defn: Migration together. [R.] Woodward.
COMMINATION
Com`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. comminatio, from comminary to threaten;
com- + minari to threaten: cf. F. commination.]
1. A threat or threatening; a denunciation of punishment or
vengeance.
With terrible comminations to all them that did resist. I. Taylor.
2. An office in the liturgy of the Church of England, used on Ash
Wednesday, containing a recital of God's anger and judgments against
sinners.
COMMINATORY
Com*min"a*to"ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. comminatoire.]
Defn: Threatening or denouncing punishment; as, comminatory terms. B.
Jonson.
COMMINGLE
Com*min"gle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Commingled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commingling.]
Defn: To mingle together; to mix in one mass, or intimately; to
blend. Bacon.
COMMINGLER
Com*min"gler, n.
Defn: One that commingles; specif., a device for noiseless heating of
water by steam, in a vessel filled with a porous mass, as of pebbles.
COMMINUTE
Com"mi*nute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comminuted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Comminuting.] Etym: [L. comminutus, p. p. of comminuere to comminute;
com- + minuere to lessen. See Minute.]
Defn: To reduce to minute particles, or to a fine powder; to
pulverize; to triturate; to grind; as, to comminute chalk or bones;
to comminute food with the teeth. Pennant. Comminuted fracture. See
under Fracture.
COMMINUTION
Com`mi*nu"tion, n.
1. The act of reducing to a fine powder or to small particles;
pulverization; the state of being comminuted. Bentley.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: Fracture (of a bone) into a number of pieces. Dunglison.
3. Gradual diminution by the removal of small particles at a time; a
lessening; a wearing away.
Natural and necessary comminution of our lives. Johnson.
COMMISERABLE
Com*mis"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Pitiable. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMISERATE
Com*mis"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commiserated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commiserating.] Etym: [L. commiseratus, p. p. of commiserari to
commiserate; com- + miserari to pity. See Miserable.]
Defn: To feel sorrow, pain, or regret for; to pity.
Then must we those, who groan, beneath the weight Of age, disease, or
want, commiserate. Denham.
We should commiserate our mutual ignorance. Locke.
Syn.
-- To pity; compassionate; lament; condole.
COMMISERATION
Com*mis`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [F. commis, fr. L. commiseratio a part of
an oration intended to exite compassion.]
Defn: The act of commiserating; sorrow for the wants, afflictions, or
distresses of another; pity; compassion.
And pluck commiseration of his state From brassy bosoms and rough
hearts of flint. Shak.
Syn.
-- See Sympathy.
COMMISERATIVE
Com*mis"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Feeling or expressing commiseration. Todd.
COMMISERATOR
Com*mis"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who pities.
COMMISSARIAL
Com`mis*sa"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a commissary.
COMMISSARIAT
Com`mis*sa"ri*at, n. Etym: [F. commissariat.] (Mil.)
(a) The organized system by which armies and military posts are
supplied with food and daily necessaries.
(b) The body of officers charged with such service.
COMMISSARY
Com"mis*sa*ry, n.; pl. Commissaries. Etym: [LL. commissarius, fr. L.
commissus, p. p. of committere to commit, intrust to. See Commit.]
1. One to whom is committed some charge, duty, or office, by a
superior power; a commissioner.
Great Destiny, the Commissary of God. Donne.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: An officer on the bishop, who exercises ecclesiastical
jurisdiction in parts of the diocese at a distance from the residence
of the bishop. Ayliffe.
3. (Mil.)
(a) An officer having charge of a special sevice; as, the commissary
of musters.
(b) An officer whose business is to provide food for a body of troops
or a military post; -- officially called commissary of subsistence.
[U. S.]
Washington wrote to the President of Congress . . . urging the
appointment of a commissary general, a quartermaster general, a
commissary of musters, and a commissary of artillery. W. Irving
Commissary general, an officer in charge of some special department
of army service; as: (a) The officer in charge of the commissariat
and transport department, or of the ordinace store department. [Eng.]
(b) The commissary general of subsistence. [U. S.] -- Commissary
general of subsistence (Mil. U. S.), the head of the subsistence
department, who has charge of the purchase and issue of provisions
for the army.
COMMISSARYSHIP
Com"mis*sa*ry*ship, n.
Defn: The office or employment of a commissary. Ayliffe.
COMMISSION
Com*mis"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. commissio. See Commit.]
1. The act of committing, doing, or performing; the act of
perpetrating.
Every commission of sin introduces into the soul a certain degree of
hardness. South.
2. The act of intrusting; a charge; instructions as to how a trust
shall be executed.
3. The duty or employment intrusted to any person or persons; a
trust; a charge.
4. A formal written warrant or authority, granting certain powers or
privileges and authorizing or commanding the performance of certain
duties.
Let him see our commission. Shak.
5. A certificate conferring military or naval rank and authority; as,
a colonel's commission.
6. A company of persons joined in the performance of some duty or the
execution of some trust; as, the interstate commerce commission.
A commission was at once appointed to examine into the matter.
Prescott.
7. (Com.)
(a) The acting under authority of, or on account of, another.
(b) The thing to be done as agent for another; as, I have three
commissions for the city.
(c) The brokerage or allowance made to a factor or agent for
transacting business for another; as, a commission of ten per cent on
sales. See Del credere. Commission of array. (Eng. Hist.) See under
Array.
-- Commission of bankrupty, a commission apointing and empowering
certain persons to examine into the facts relative to an alleged
bankrupty, and to secure the bankrupt's lands and effects for the
creditors.
-- Commission of lunacy, a commission authoring and inquiry whether
a person is a lunatic or not.
-- Commission merchant, one who buys or sells goods on commission,
as the agent of others, receiving a rate per cent as his
compensation.
-- Commission, or Commissioned, officer (Mil.), one who has a
commission, in distingtion from a noncommossioned or warrant officer.
-- Commission of the peace, a commission under the great seal,
constituting one or more persons justices of the peace. [Eng.] -- To
put a vessel into commission (Naut.), to equip and man a goverment
vessel, and send it out on service after it has been laid up; esp.,
the formal act of tacking command of a vessel for service, hoisting
the flag, reading the orders, etc.
-- To put a vessel out of commission (Naut.), to detach the officers
and crew and retire it from active service, temporarily or
permanently.
-- To put the great seal, or the Treasury, into commission, to place
it in the hands of a commissioner or commissioners during the
abeyance of the ordinary administration, as between the going out of
one lord keeper and accession of another. [Eng.] -- The United States
Christians Commission, an organization among the people of the North,
during the Civil War, which afforded material comforts to the Union
soldiers, and performed services of a religious character in the
field and in hospitals.
-- The United States Sanitary Commission, an organization formed by
the people of the North to coöperate with and supplement the medical
department of the Union armies during the Civil War.
Syn.
-- Charge; warrant; authority; mandate; office; trust; employment.
COMMISSION
Com*mis"sion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commissioned; p. pr & vb. n.
Commissioning.]
1. To give a commission to; to furnish with a commission; to empower
or authorize; as, to commission persons to perform certain acts; to
commission an officer.
2. To send out with a charge or commission.
A chosen band He first commissions to the Latian land. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To appoint; depute; authorize; empower; delegate; constitute;
ordain.
COMMISSIONAIRE
Com*mis`sion*aire", n. [F. commissionnaire. Cf. Commissioner.]
1. One intrusted with a commission, now only a small commission, as
an errand; esp., an attendant or subordinate employee in a public
office, hotel, or the like. The commissionaire familiar to European
travelers performs miscellaneous services as a light porter,
messenger, solicitor for hotels, etc.
2. One of a corps of pensioned soldiers, as in London, employed as
doorkeepers, messengers, etc.
COMMISSIONAL; COMMISSIONARY
Com*mis"sion*al, Com*mis"sion*a*ry a.
Defn: Of pertaining to, or conferring, a commission; conferred by a
commission or warrant. [R.]
Delegate or commissionary authority. Bp. Hall.
COMMISSIONATE
Com*mis"sion*ate, v. t.
Defn: To commission [Obs.]
COMMISSIONER
Com*mis"sion*er, n.
1. A person who has a commission or warrant to perform some office,
or execute some bussiness, for the goverment, corporation, or person
employing him; as, a commissioner to take affidavits or to adjust
claims.
To another adress which requisted that a commission might be sent to
examine into the state of things in Ireland, William returned a
gracious answer, and desired the Commons to name the commissioners.
Macaulay.
2. An officer having charge of some department or bureau of the
public service.
Herbert was first commissioner of the Admiralty. Macaulay.
The commissioner of patents, the commissioner of the land office, the
commissioner of Indian affairs, are subotdinates of the secretary of
the interior. Bartlett.
Commissioner of deeds, an officer having authority to take
affidavits, depositions, acknowledgment of deeds, etc., for use in
the State by which he is appointed. [U. S.] -- County commissioners,
certain administrative officers in some of the States, invested by
local laws with various powers in reference to the roads,
courthouses, financial matters, etc., of the county. [U. S.]
COMMISSIONNAIRE
Com*mis`sion*naire" (; F. ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. commissio.]
1. An agent or factor; a commission merchant.
2. One of a class of attendants, in some European cities, who perform
miscellaneous services for travelers.
COMMISSIONSHIP
Com*mis"sion*ship, n.
Defn: The office of commissioner. Sir W. Scott.
COMMISSIVE
Com*mis"sive, a.
Defn: Relating to commission; of the nature of, or involving,
commission. [R.]
COMMISSURAL
Com*mis"su*ral ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a commissure.
COMMISSURE
Com*mis"sure ( or ; 134-6), n. Etym: [L. commissura a joing together:
cf. F. commissure. See Commit.]
1. A joint, seam, or closure; the place where two bodies, or parts of
a body, meet and unite; an interstice, cleft, or juncture.
2. (Anat. & Zoöl.)
(a) The point of union between two parts, as the angles of the lips
or eyelids, the mandibles of a bird, etc.
(b) A collection of fibers connecting parts of the brain or spinal
marrow; a chiasma.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The line of junction or cohering face of two carpels, as in the
parsnip, caraway, etc.
COMMIT
Com*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commited; p. pr. & vb. n. Commiting.]
Etym: [L. committere, commissum, to connect, commit; com- + mittere
to send. See Mission.]
1. To give in trust; to put into charge or keeping; to intrust; to
consign; -- used with to, unto.
Commit thy way unto the Lord. Ps. xxxvii. 5.
Bid him farewell, commit him to the grave. Shak.
2. To put in charge of a jailor; to imprison.
These two were commited. Clarendon.
3. To do; to perperate, as a crime, sin, or fault.
Thou shalt not commit adultery. Ex. xx. 14.
4. To join a contest; to match; -- followed by with. [R.] Dr. H.
More.
5. To pledge or bind; to compromise, expose, or endanger by some
decisive act or preliminary step; -- often used reflexively; as, to
commit one's self to a certain course.
You might have satisfied every duty of political friendship, without
commiting the honor of your sovereign. Junius.
Any sudden assent to the proposal . . . might possibly be considered
as committing the faith of the United States. Marshall.
6. To confound. [An obsolete Latinism.]
Committing short and long [quantities]. Milton.
To commit a bill (Legislation), to refer or intrust it to a committee
or others, to be considered and reported.
-- To commit to memory, or To commit, to learn by heart; to
memorize.
Syn.
-- To Commit, Intrust, Consign. These words have in common the idea
of transferring from one's self to the care and custody of another.
Commit is the widest term, and may express only the general idea of
delivering into the charge of another; as, to commit a lawsuit to the
care of an attorney; or it may have the special sense of intrusting
with or without limitations, as to a superior power, or to a careful
servant, or of consigning, as to writing or paper, to the flames, or
to prison. To intrust denotes the act of committing to the exercise
of confidence or trust; as, to intrust a friend with the care of a
child, or with a secret. To consign is a more formal act, and regards
the thing transferred as placed chiefly or wholly out of one's
immediate control; as, to consign a pupil to the charge of his
instructor; to consign goods to an agent for sale; to consign a work
to the press.
COMMIT
Com"mit, v. i.
Defn: To sin; esp., to be incontinent. [Obs.]
Commit not with man's sworn spouse. Shak.
COMMITMENT
Com*mit"ment, n.
1. The act of commiting, or putting in charge, keeping, or trust;
consigment; esp., the act of commiting to prison.
They were glad to compound for his bare commitment to the Tower,
whence he was within few days enlarged. Clarendon.
2. A warrant or order for the imprisonment of a person; -- more
frequently termed a mittimus.
3. The act of referring or intrusting to a committee for
consideration and report; as, the commitment of a petition or a bill.
4. A doing, or preperation, in a bad sense, as of a crime or blunder;
commission.
5. The act of pledging or engaging; the act of exposing, endangering,
or compromising; also, the state of being pledged or engaged.
Hamilton.
COMMITTABLE
Com*mit"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being committed.
COMMITTAL
Com*mit"tal, n.
Defn: The act of commiting, or the state of being committed;
commitment.
COMMITTEE
Com*mit"tee, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. comité company, and LL. comitatus
jurisdiction or territory of a count, county, assize, army. The word
was apparently influenced by the verb commit, but not directly formed
from it. Cf. County.]
Defn: One or more persons elected or appointed, to whom any matter or
bussiness is referred, either by a legislative body, or by a court,
or by any collective body of men acting together. Commitee of the
whole [house], a committee, embracing all the members present, into
which a legislative or deliberative body sometimes resolves itself,
for the purpose of considering a particular measure under the
operation of different rules from those governing the general
legislative proceedings. The committee of the whole has its own
chairman, and reports its action in the form of recommendations.
-- Standing committee. See under Standing.
COMMITTEE
Com`mit*tee", n. Etym: [From Commit, v. t.] (Law)
Defn: One to whom the charge of the person or estate of another, as
of a lunatic, is committed by suitable authority; a guardian.
COMMITTEEMAN
Com*mit"tee*man, n.
Defn: A member of a committee.
COMMITTER
Com*mit"ter, n.
1. One who commits; one who does or perpetrates. South.
2. A fornicator. [Obs.] T. Decker.
COMMITTIBLE
Com*mit"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being committed; liable to be committed. [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
COMMIX
Com*mix", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Commixed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Commixing.] Etym: [Pref. com+ + mix: cf. L. commixtus, p. p.of
commiscere. See Mix.]
Defn: To mix or mingle together; to blend.
The commixed impressions of all the colors do stir up and beget a
sensation of white. Sir I. Newton.
To commix With winds that sailors rail at. Shak.
COMMIXION
Com*mix"ion, n. Etym: [See Commix.]
Defn: Commixture. Shak.
COMMIXTION
Com*mix"tion, n. Etym: [L. commixtio.]
Defn: Commixture; mingling. [R.]
An exact commixtion of the ingredients. Boyle.
COMMIXTURE
Com*mix"ture, n. Etym: [L. commixtura.]
1. The act or process of mixing; the state of being mingled; the
blending of ingredients in one mass or compound.
In the commixture of anything that is more oily or sweet, such bodies
are least apt to putrefy. Bacon.
2. The mass formed by mingling different things; a compound; a
mixture. Bacon.
COMMODATE
Com"mo*date, n. Etym: [L. commodatum thing lent, loan.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A gratuitous loan.
COMMODE
Com*mode", n. Etym: [F. commode, fr. commode convenient, L. commodus;
com- + modus measure, mode. See Mode.]
1. A kind of headdress formerly worn by ladies, raising the hair and
fore part of the cap to a great height.
Or under high commodes, with looks erect. Granville.
2. A piece of furniture, so named according to temporary fashion; as:
(a) A cheat of drawers or a bureau. (b) A night stand with a
compartment for holding a chamber vessel. (c) A kind of close stool.
(d) A movable sink for a wash bowl, with closet.
COMMODIOUS
Com*mo"di*ous, a. Etym: [LL. commodiosus, fr. L. commodum
convenience, fr. commodus. See Commode.]
Defn: Adapted to its use or purpose, or to wants and necessities;
serviceable; spacious and convenient; roomy and comfortable; as, a
commodious house. "A commodious drab." Shak. "Commodious gold." Pope.
The haven was not commodious to winter in. Acts. xxvii. 12.
Syn.
-- Convenient; suitable; fit; proper; advantageous; serviceable;
useful; spacious; comfortable.
COMMODIOUSLY
Com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a commodious manner.
To pass commodiously this life. Milton.
COMMODIOUSNESS
Com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.
Defn: State of being commodious; suitableness for its purpose;
convience; roominess.
Of cities, the greatness and riches increase according to the
commodiousness of their situation. Sir W. Temple.
The commodiousness of the harbor. Johnson.
COMMODITY
Com*mod"i*ty, n.; pl. Commodities. Etym: [F. commodit, fr. L.
commoditas. See Commode.]
1. Convenience; accommodation; profit; benefit; advantage; interest;
commodiousness. [Obs.]
Drawn by the commodity of a footpath. B. Jonson.
Men may seek their own commodity, yet if this were done with injury
to others, it was not to be suffered. Hooker.
2. That which affords convenience, advantage, or profit, especially
in commerce, including everything movable that is bought and sold
(except animals), -- goods, wares, merchandise, produce of land and
manufactures, etc.
3. A parcel or quantity of goods. [Obs.]
A commodity of brown paper and old ginger. Shak.
COMMODORE
Com"mo*dore`, n. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of commander, or Sp.
comendador a knight of a military order who holds a commandery; also
a superior of a monastery;, fr. LL. commendare to command. Cf.
Commend, Command, Commander.]
1. (U. S. Navy)
Defn: An officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by
courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore
corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.
2. (Brititsh Navy)
Defn: A captain commanding a squadron, or a division of a fleet, or
having the temporary rank of rear admiral.
3. A title given courtesy to the senior captain of a line of merchant
vessels, and also to the chief officer of a yachting or rowing club.
4. A familiar for the flagchip, or for the principal vessel of a
squadron or fleet.
COMMON
Com"mon, a. [Compar. Commoner; superl. Commonest.] Etym: [OE. commun,
comon, OF. comun, F. commun, fr. L. communis; com- + munis ready to
be of service; cf. Skr. mi to make fast, set up, build, Coth. gamains
common, G. gemein, and E. mean low, common. Cf. Immunity, Commune, n.
& v.]
1. Belonging or relating equally, or similary, to more than one; as,
you and I have a common interest in the property.
Though life and sense be common to men and brutes. Sir M. Hale.
2. Belonging to or shared by, affecting or serving, all the members
of a class, consired together; general; public; as, propertis common
to all plants; the common schools; the Book of Common Prayer.
Such actions as the common good requereth. Hocker.
The common enemy of man. Shak.
3. Often met with; usual; frequent; customary.
Grief more than common grief. Shak.
4. Not distinguished or exceptional; inconspicuous; ordinary;
plebeian; -- often in a depreciatory sense.
The honest, heart-felt enjoyment of common life. W. Irving.
This fact was infamous And ill beseeming any common man, Much more a
knight, a captain and a leader. Shak.
Above the vulgar flight of common souls. A. Murpphy.
5. Profane; polluted. [Obs.]
What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Acts x. 15.
6. Given to habits of lewdness; prostitute.
A dame who herself was common. L'Estrange.
Common bar (Law) Same as Blank bar, under Blank.
-- Common barrator (Law), one who makes a business of instigating
litigation.
-- Common Bench, a name sometimes given to the English Court of
Common Pleas.
-- Common brawler (Law), one addicted to public brawling and
quarreling. See Brawler.
-- Common carrier (Law), one who undertakes the office of carrying
(goods or persons) for hire. Such a carrier is bound to carry in all
cases when he has accommodation, and when his fixed price is
tendered, and he is liable for all losses and injuries to the goods,
except those which happen in consequence of the act of God, or of the
enemies of the country, or of the owner of the property himself.
-- Common chord (Mus.), a chord consisting of the fundamental tone,
with its third and fifth.
-- Common council, the representative (legislative) body, or the
lower branch of the representative body, of a city or other munisipal
corporation.
-- Common crier, the crier of a town or city.
-- Common divisor (Math.), a number or quantity that divides two or
more numbers or quantities without a remainder; a common measure.
-- Common gender (Gram.), the gender comprising words that may be of
either the masculine or the feminine gender.
-- Common law, a system of jurisprudence developing under the
guidance of the courts so as to apply a consistent and reasonable
rule to each litigated case. It may be superseded by statute, but
unless superseded it controls. Wharton.
Note: It is by others defined as the unwritten law (especially of
England), the law that receives its binding force from immemorial
usage and universal reception, as ascertained and expressed in the
judgments of the courts. This term is often used in contradistinction
from statute law. Many use it to designate a law common to the whole
country. It is also used to designate the whole body of English (or
other) law, as distinguished from its subdivisions, local, civil,
admiralty, equity, etc. See Law.
-- Common lawyer, one versed in common law.
-- Common lewdness (Law), the habitual performance of lewd acts in
public.
-- Common multiple (Arith.) See under Multiple.
-- Common noun (Gram.), the name of any one of a class of objects,
as distinguished from a proper noun (the name of a particular person
or thing).
-- Common nuisance (Law), that which is deleterious to the health or
comfort or sense of decency of the community at large.
-- Common pleas, one of the three superior courts of common law at
Westminster, presided over by a chief justice and four puisne judges.
Its jurisdiction is confined to civil matters. Courts bearing this
title exist in several of the United States, having, however, in some
cases, botth civil and criminal jurisdiction extending over the whole
State. In other States the jurisdiction of the common pleas is
limited to a county, and it is sometimes called a county court. Its
powers are generally defined by statute.
-- Common prayer, the liturgy of the Church of England, or of the
Protestant Episcopal church of the United States, which all its
clergy are enjoined use. It is contained in the Book of Common
Prayer.
-- Common school, a school maintained at the public expense, and
open to all.
-- Common scold (Law), a woman addicted to scolding
indiscriminately, in public.
-- Common seal, a seal adopted and used by a corporation.
-- Common sense. (a) A supposed sense which was held to be the
common bond of all the others. [Obs.] Trench. (b) Sound judgment. See
under Sense.
-- Common time (Mus.), that variety of time in which the measure
consists of two or of four equal portions.
-- In common, equally with another, or with others; owned, shared,
or used, in community with others; affecting or affected equally.
-- Out of the common, uncommon; extraordinary.
-- Tenant in common, one holding real or personal property in common
with others, having distinct but undivided interests. See Joint
tenant, under Joint.
-- To make common cause with, to join or ally one's self with.
Syn.
-- General; public; popular; universal; frequent; ordinary;
customary; usual; familiar; habitual; vulgar; mean; trite; stale;
threadbare; commonplace. See Mutual, Ordinary, General.
COMMON
Com"mon, n.
1. The people; the community. [Obs.] "The weal o' the common." Shak.
2. An inclosed or uninclosed tract of ground for pleasure, for
pasturage, etc., the use of which belongs to the public; or to a
number of persons.
3. (Law)
Defn: The right of taking a profit in the land of another, in common
either with the owner or with other persons; -- so called from the
community of interest which arises between the claimant of the right
and the owner of the soil, or between the claimants and other
commoners entitled to the same right. Common appendant, a right
belonging to the owners or occupiers of arable land to put commonable
beasts upon the waste land in the manor where they dwell.
-- Common appurtenant, a similar right applying to lands in other
manors, or extending to other beasts, besides those which are
generally commonable, as hogs.
-- Common because of vicinage or neighborhood, the right of the
inhabitants of each of two townships, lying contiguous to each other,
which have usually intercommoned with one another, to let their
beasts stray into the other's fields.
-- Common in gross or at large, a common annexed to a man's person,
being granted to him and his heirs by deed; or it may be claimed by
prescriptive right, as by a parson of a church or other corporation
sole. Blackstone.
-- Common of estovers, the right of taking wood from another's
estate.
-- Common of pasture, the right of feeding beasts on the land of
another. Burill.
-- Common of piscary, the right of fishing in waters belonging to
another.
-- Common of turbary, the right of digging turf upon the ground of
another.
COMMON
Com"mon, v. i.
1. To converse together; to discourse; to confer. [Obs.]
Embassadors were sent upon both parts, and divers means of entreaty
were commoned of. Grafton.
2. To participate. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
3. To have a joint right with others in common ground. Johnson.
4. To board together; to eat at a table in common.
COMMONABLE
Com"mon*a*ble, a.
1. Held in common. "Forests . . . and other commonable places."
Bacon.
2. Allowed to pasture on public commons.
Commonable beasts are either beasts of the plow, or such as manure
the ground. Blackstone.
COMMONAGE
Com"mon*age, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. communage.]
Defn: The right of pasturing on a common; the right of using anything
in common with others.
The claim of comonage . . . in most of the forests. Burke.
COMMONALTY
Com"mon*al*ty, n.; pl. Commonalties. Etym: [Of. communalté; F.
communauté, fr. communal. See Communal.]
1. The common people; those classes and conditions of people who are
below the rank of nobility; the commons.
The commonalty, like the nobility, are divided into several degrees.
Blackstone.
The ancient fare of our kings differed from that of the commonalty in
plenteousness only. Landon.
2. The majority or bulk of mankind. [Obs.] Hooker.
COMMONER
Com"mon*er, n.
1. One of the common people; one having no rank of nobility.
All below them [the peers] even their children, were commoners, and
in the eye law equal to each other. Hallam.
2. A member of the House of Commons.
3. One who has a joint right in common ground.
Much good land might be gained from forests . . . and from other
commonable places, so as always there be a due care taken that the
poor commoners have no injury. Bacon.
4. One sharing with another in anything. [Obs.] Fuller.
5. A student in the university of Oxford, Eng., who is not dependent
on any foundation for support, but pays all university charges; -- at
Cambrige called a pensioner.
6. A prostitute. [Obs.] Shak.
COMMONISH
Com"mon*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat common; commonplace; vulgar.
COMMONITION
Com`mo*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. commonitio. See Monition.]
Defn: Advice; warning; instruction. [Obs.] Bailey.
COMMONITIVE
Com*mon"i*tive, a.
Defn: Monitory. [Obs.]
Only commemorative and commonitive. Bp. Hall.
COMMONITORY
Com*mon"i*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. commonitorius.]
Defn: Calling to mind; giving admonition. [Obs.] Foxe.
COMMONLY
Com"mon*ly, adv.
1. Usually; generally; ordinarily; frequently; for the most part; as,
confirmed habits commonly continue trough life.
2. In common; familiary. [Obs.] Spenser.
COMMONNESS
Com"mon*ness, n.
1. State or quality of being common or usual; as, the commonness of
sunlight.
2. Triteness; meanness.
COMMONPLACE
Com"mon*place`, a.
Defn: Common; ordinary; trite; as, a commonplace person, or
observation.
COMMONPLACE
Com"mon*place`, n.
1. An idea or expression wanting originality or interest; a trite or
customary remark; a platitude.
2. A memorandum; something to be frequently consulted or referred to.
Whatever, in my reading, occurs concerning this our fellow creature,
I do never fail to set it down by way of commonplace. Swift.
Commonplace book, a book in which records are made of things to be
remembered.
COMMONPLACE
Com"mon*place`, v. t.
Defn: To enter in a commonplace book, or to reduce to general heads.
Felton.
COMMONPLACE
Com"mon*place`, v. i.
Defn: To utter commonplaces; to indulge in platitudes. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMMONPLACENESS
Com"mon*place`ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being commonplace; commonness.
COMMONS
Com"mons, n. pl.,
1. The mass of the people, as distinguished from the titled chasses
or nobility; the commonalty; the common people. [Eng.]
'T is like the commons, rude unpolished hinds, Could send such
message to their sovereign. Shak.
The word commons in its present ordinary signification comprises all
the people who are under the rank of peers. Blackstone.
2. The House of Commons, or lower house of the British Parliament,
consisting of representatives elected by the qualified voters of
counties, boroughs, and universities.
It is agreed that the Commons were no part of the great council till
some ages after the Conquest. Hume.
3. Provisions; food; fare, -- as that provided at a common table in
colleges and universities.
Their commons, though but coarse, were nothing scant. Dryden.
4. A club or association for boarding at a common table, as in a
college, the members sharing the expenses equally; as, to board in
commons.
5. A common; public pasture ground.
To shake his ears, and graze in commons. Shak.
Doctors' Commons, a place near St. Paul's Chuchyard in London where
the doctors of civil law used to common together, and where were the
ecclesiastical and admiralty courts and offices having jurisdiction
of marriage licenses, divorces, registration of wills, etc.
-- To be on short commons, to have small allowance of food.
[Colloq.]
COMMON SENSE
Com"mon sense".
Defn: See Common sense, under Sense.
COMMONTY
Com"mon*ty, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A common; a piece of land in which two or more persons have a
common right. Bell.
COMMONWEAL
Com"mon*weal", n. [Common + weal.]
Defn: Commonwealth.
Such a prince, So kind a father of the commonweal. Shak.
COMMONWEALTH
Com"mon*wealth`, n. Etym: [Common + wealth well-being.]
1. A state; a body politic consisting of a certain number of men,
united, by compact or tacit agreement, under one form of government
and system of laws.
The trappings of a monarchy would set up an ordinary commonwealth.
Milton.
Note: This term is applied to governments which are considered as
free or popular, but rarely, or improperly, to an absolute
government. The word signifies, strictly, the common well-being or
happiness; and hence, a form of government in which the general
welfare is regarded rather than the welfare of any class.
2. The whole body of people in a state; the public.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: Specifically, the form of government established on the death
of Charles I., in 1649, which existed under Oliver Cromwell and his
son Richard, ending with the abdication of the latter in 1659.
Syn.
-- State; realm; republic.
COMMORANCE
Com"mo*rance, n.
Defn: See Commorancy.
COMMORANCY
Com"mo*ran*cy, n.
1. (Law)
Defn: A dwelling or ordinary residence in a place; habitation.
Commorancy consists in usually lying there. Blackstone.
2. (Am. Law)
Defn: Residence temporarily, or for a short time.
COMMORANT
Com"mo*rant, n. Etym: [L. commorans, p. pr. of commorari to abide;
com- + morari to delay.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Ordinarily residing; inhabiting.
All freeholders within the precinct . . . and all persons commorant
therein. Blackstone.
2. (Am. Law)
Defn: Inhabiting or occupying temporarily.
COMMORANT
Com"mo*rant, n.
Defn: A resident. Bp. Hacket.
COMMORATION
Com`mo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. commoratio.]
Defn: The act of staying or residing in a place. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMMORIENT
Com*mo"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. commoriens, p. pr. of commoriri.]
Defn: Dying together or at the same time. [R.] Sir G. Buck.
COMMORSE
Com*morse", n. Etym: [L. commorsus, p. p. of commordere to bite
sharply.]
Defn: Remorse. [Obs.] "With sad commorse." Daniel.
COMMOTE
Com*mote", v. t. Etym: [See Commove.]
Defn: To commove; to disturb; to stir up. [R.]
Society being more or less commoted and made uncomfortable.
Hawthorne.
COMMOTION
Com*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. commotio: cf. F. commotion. See Motion.]
1. Disturbed or violent motion; agitation.
[What] commotion in the winds! Shak.
2. A popular tumult; public disturbance; riot.
When ye shall hear of wars and commotions. Luke xxi. 9.
3. Agitation, perturbation, or disorder, of mind; heat; excitement.
"He could not debate anything without some commotion." Clarendon.
Syn.
-- Excitement; agitation; perturbation; disturbance; tumult;
disorder; violence.
COMMOVE
Com*move", v. t. [inp. & p. p. Commoved; p. pr. & vb. n. Commoving.]
Etym: [L. commovere, commotum; com- + movere to move.]
1. To urge; to persuade; to incite. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To put in motion; to disturb; to unsettle. [R.]
Straight the sands, Commoved around, in gathering eddies play.
Thomson.
COMMUNAL
Com"mu*nal ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. communal.]
Defn: Pertaining to a commune.
COMMUNALISM
Com"mu*nal*ism, n.
Defn: A French theory of government which holds that commune should
be a kind of independent state, and the national government a
confederation of such states, having only limited powers. It is
advocated by advanced French republicans; but it should not be
confounded with communism.
COMMUNALIST
Com"mu*nal*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. communaliste.]
Defn: An advocate of communalism.
COMMUNALISTIC
Com`mu*nal*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to communalism.
COMMUNE
Com*mune", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Communed; p. pr. & vb. n. Communing.]
Etym: [OF. communier, fr. L. communicare to communicate, fr. communis
common. See Common, and cf. Communicate.]
1. To converse together with sympathy and confidence; to interchange
sentiments or feelings; to take counsel.
I would commune with you of such things That want no ear but yours.
Shak.
2. To receive the communion; to partake of the eucharist or Lord's
supper.
To commune under both kinds. Bp. Burnet.
To commune with one's self or one's heart, to think; to reflect; to
meditate.
COMMUNE
Com"mune, n.
Defn: Communion; sympathetic intercourse or conversation between
friends.
For days of happy commune dead. Tennyson.
COMMUNE
Com"mune, n. Etym: [F., fr. commun. See Common.]
1. The commonalty; the common people. [Obs.] Chaucer.
In this struggle -- to use the technical words of the time -- of the
"commune", the general mass of the inhabitants, against the
"prudhommes" or "wiser" few. J. R. Green.
2. A small terrotorial district in France under the government of a
mayor and municipal council; also, the inhabitants, or the
government, of such a district. See Arrondissement.
3. Absolute municipal self-government. The Commune of Paris, or The
Commune (a) The government established in Paris (1792-94) by a
usurpation of supreme power on the part of representatives chosen by
the communes; the period of its continuance is known as the "Reign of
Terror." (b) The revolutionary government, modeled on the commune of
1792, which the communists, so called, attempted to establish in
1871.
COMMUNICABILITY
Com*mu`ni*ca*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. communicabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being communicable; capability of being
imparted.
COMMUNICABLE
Com*mu"ni*ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. communicable, LL. communicabilis.]
1. Capable of being communicated, or imparted; as, a communicable
disease; communicable knowledge.
2. Communicative; free-speaking. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
-- Com*mu"ni*ca*ble*ness, n.
-- Com*mu"ni*ca"bly, adv.
COMMUNICANT
Com*mu"ni*cant, n. Etym: [L. communicans, p. pr.]
1. One who partakes of, or is entitled to partake of, the sacrament
of the Lord's supper; a church member.
A never-failing monthly communicant. Atterbury.
2. One who communicates. Foxe.
COMMUNICANT
Com*mu"ni*cant, a.
Defn: Communicating. [R.] Coleridge.
COMMUNICATE
Com*mu"ni*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Communicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Communicating.] Etym: [L. communicatus, p. p. of communicare to
communicate, fr. communis common. See Commune, v. i.]
1. To share in common; to participate in. [Obs.]
To thousands that communicate our loss. B. Jonson
2. To impart; to convey; as, to communicate a disease or a sensation;
to communicate motion by means of a crank.
Where God is worshiped, there he communicates his blessings and holy
influences. Jer. Taylor.
3. To make known; to recount; to give; to impart; as, to communicate
information to any one.
4. To administer the communion to. [R.]
She [the church] . . . may communicate him. Jer. Taylor.
Note: This verb was formerly followed by with before the person
receiving, but now usually takes to after it.
He communicated those thoughts only with the Lord Digby. Clarendon.
Syn.
-- To impart; bestow; confer; reveal; disclose; tell; announce;
recount; make known.
-- To Communicate, Impart, Reveal. Communicate is the more general
term, and denotes the allowing of others to partake or enjoy in
common with ourselves. Impart is more specific. It is giving to
others a part of what we had held as our own, or making them our
partners; as, to impart our feelings; to impart of our property, etc.
Hence there is something more intimate in imparting intelligence than
in communicating it. To reveal is to disclose something hidden or
concealed; as, to reveal a secret.
COMMUNICATE
Com*mu"ni*cate, v. i.
1. To share or participate; to possess or enjoy in common; to have
sympathy.
Ye did communicate with my affliction. Philip. iv. 4.
2. To give alms, sympathy, or aid.
To do good and to communicate forget not. Heb. xiii. 16.
3. To have intercourse or to be the means of intercourse; as, to
communicate with another on business; to be connected; as, a
communicating artery.
Subjects suffered to communicate and to have intercourse of traffic.
Hakluyt.
The whole body is nothing but a system of such canals, which all
communicate with one another. Arbutnot.
4. To partake of the Lord's supper; to commune.
The primitive Christians communicated every day. Jer. Taylor.
COMMUNICATION
Com*mu`ni*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. communicatio.]
1. The act or fact of communicating; as, communication of smallpox;
communication of a secret.
2. Intercourse by words, letters, or messages; interchange of
thoughts or opinions, by conference or other means; conference;
correspondence.
Argument . . . and friendly communication. Shak.
3. Association; company.
Evil communications corrupt manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33.
4. Means of communicating; means of passing from place to place; a
connecting passage; connection.
The Euxine Sea is conveniently situated for trade, by the
communication it has both with Asia and Europe. Arbuthnot.
5. That which is communicated or imparted; intelligence; news; a
verbal or written message.
6. Participation in the Lord's supper. Bp. Pearson.
7. (Rhet.)
Defn: A trope, by which a speaker assumes that his hearer is a
partner in his sentiments, and says we, instead of I or you. Beattie.
Syn.
-- Correspondence; conference; intercourse.
COMMUNICATIVE
Com*mu"ni*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. Communicatif, LL.
communicativus.]
Defn: Inclined to communicate; ready to impart to others.
Determine, for the future, to be less communicative. Swift.
COMMUNICATIVENESS
Com*mu"ni*ca*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being communicative. Norris.
COMMUNICATOR
Com*mu"ni*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who communicates. Boyle.
COMMUNICATORY
Com*mu"ni*ca"to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. communicatorius.]
Defn: Imparting knowledge or information.
Canonical and communicatory letters. Barrow.
COMMUNION
Com*mun"ion, n. Etym: [L. communio: cf. F. communion. See Common.]
1. The act of sharing; community; participation. "This communion of
goods." Blackstone.
2. Intercourse between two or more persons; esp., intimate
association and intercourse implying sympathy and confidence;
interchange of thoughts, purposes, etc.; agreement; fellowship; as,
the communion of saints.
We are naturally induced to seek communion and fellowship with
others. Hooker.
What communion hath light with darkness 2 Cor. vi. 14.
Bare communion with a good church can never alone make a good man.
South.
3. A body of Christians having one common faith and discipline; as,
the Presbyterian communion.
4. The sacrament of the eucharist; the celebration of the Lord's
supper; the act of partaking of the sacrament; as, to go to
communion; to partake of the communion. Close communion. See under
Close, a.
-- Communion elements, the bread and wine used in the celebration of
the Lord's supper.
-- Communion service, the celebration of the Lord's supper, or the
office or service therefor.
-- Communion table, the table upon which the elements are placed at
the celebration of the Lord's supper.
-- Communion in both kinds, participation in both the bread and wine
by all communicants.
-- Communion in one kind, participation in but one element, as in
the Roman Catholic Church, where the laity partake of the bread only.
Syn.
-- Share; participation; fellowship; converse; intercourse; unity;
concord; agreement.
COMMUNISM
Com"mu*nism, n. Etym: [F. communisme, fr. commun common.]
Defn: A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life;
specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of
inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all
wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the
equal use and advantage of all.
Note: At different times, and in different countries, various schemes
pertaining to socialism in government and the conditions of domestic
life, as well as in the distribution of wealth, have been called
communism.
COMMUNIST
Com"mu*nist, n. Etym: [F. communiste.]
1. An advocate for the theory or practice of communism.
2. A supporter of the commune of Paris.
COMMUNISTIC
Com`mu*nis"tic, a.
1. Of or pertaining to communism or communists; as, communistic
theories.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living or having their nests in common, as certain birds.
COMMUNITY
Com*mu"ni*ty, n.; pl. Communities. Etym: [L. communitas: cf. OF.
communité. Cf. Commonalty, and see Common.]
1. Common possession or enjoyment; participation; as, a community of
goods.
The original community of all things. Locke.
An unreserved community of thought and feeling. W. Irwing.
2. A body of people having common rights, privileges, or interests,
or living in the same place under the same laws and regulations; as,
a community of monks. Hence a number of animals living in a common
home or with some apparent association of interests.
Creatures that in communities exist. Wordsworth.
3. Society at large; a commonwealth or state; a body politic; the
public, or people in general.
Burdens upon the poorer classes of the community. Hallam.
Note: In this sense, the term should be used with the definite
article; as, the interests of the community.
4. Common character; likeness. [R.]
The essential community of nature between organic growth and
inorganic growth. H. Spencer.
5. Commonness; frequency. [Obs.]
Eyes . . . sick and blunted with community. Shak.
COMMUTABILITY
Com*mu`ta*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being commutable.
COMMUTABLE
Com*mut"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. commutabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being commuted or interchanged.
The predicate and subject are not commutable. Whately.
COMMUTABLENESS
Com*mut"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being commutable; interchangeableness.
COMMUTATION
Com`mu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. commutatio: cf. F. commutation.]
1. A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation.
[R.]
So great is the commutation that the soul then hated only that which
now only it loves. South.
2. The act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange. [Obs.]
The use of money is . . . that of saving the commutation of more
bulky commodities. Arbuthnot.
3. (Law)
Defn: The change of a penalty or punishment by the pardoning power of
the State; as, the commutation of a sentence of death to banishment
or imprisonment.
Suits are allowable in the spiritual courts for money agreed to be
given as a commutation for penance. Blackstone.
4. A substitution, as of a less thing for a greater, esp. a
substitution of one form of payment for another, or one payment for
many, or a specific sum of money for conditional payments or
allowances; as, commutation of tithes; commutation of fares;
commutation of copyright; commutation of rations. Angle of
commutation (Astron.), the difference of the geocentric longitudes of
the sun and a planet.
-- Commutation of tithes, the substitution of a regular payment,
chargeable to the land, for the annual tithes in kind.
-- Commutation ticket, a ticket, as for transportation, which is the
evidence of a contract for service at a reduced rate. See 2d Commute,
2.
COMMUTATION TICKET
Com`mu*ta"tion tick"et.
Defn: A ticket for transportation at a reduced rate in consideration
of some special circumstance, as increase of travel; specif., a
ticket for a certain number of, or for daily, trips between
neighboring places at a reduced rate, such as are commonly used by
those doing business in a city and living in a suburb. Commutation
tickets are excepted from the prohibition against special rates
contained in the Interstate Commerce Act of Feb. 4, 1887 (24 Stat.
379), and in 145 U. S. 263 it was held that party tickets were also
excepted as being "obviously within the commuting principle."
COMMUTATIVE
Com*mut"a*tive, a. Etym: [CF. F. commutatif.]
Defn: Relative to exchange; interchangeable; reciprocal.
-- Com*mut"a*tive"ly, adv.
Rich traders, from their success, are presumed . . . to have
cultivated an habitual regard to commutative justice. Burke.
COMMUTATOR
Com"mu*ta`tor, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A piece of apparatus used for reversing the direction of an
electrical current; an attachment to certain electrical machines, by
means of which alternating currents are made to be continuous or to
have the same direction.
COMMUTE
Com*mute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Commuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Commuting.]
Etym: [L. commutare, -mutatum; com- + mutare to change. See
Mutation.]
Defn: To exchange; to put or substitute something else in place of,
as a smaller penalty, obligation, or payment, for a greater, or a
single thing for an aggregate; hence; to lessen; to diminish; as, to
commute a sentence of death to one of imprisonment for life; to
commute tithes; to commute charges for fares.
The sounds water and fire, being once annexed to those two elements,
it was certainly more natural to call beings participating of the
first "watery", and the last "fiery", than to commute the terms, and
call them by the reverse. J. Harris
The utmost that could be obtained was that her sentence should be
commuted from burning to beheading. Macaulay.
COMMUTE
Com*mute", v. i.
1. To obtain or bargain for exemption or substitution; to effect a
commutation.
He . . . thinks it unlawful to commute, and that he is bound to pay
his vow in kind. Jer. Taylor.
2. To pay, or arrange to pay, in gross instead of part by part; as,
to commute for a year's travel over a route.
COMMUTER
Com*mut"er, n.
Defn: One who commutes; especially, one who commutes in traveling.
COMMUTUAL
Com*mu"tu*al, a. Etym: [Pref. com- + mutual.]
Defn: Mutual; reciprocal; united. [R.]
There, with commutual zeal, we both had strove. Pope.
COMOSE
Co"mose ( or ), a. Etym: [L. comosus hairy, from coma hair.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing a tuft of soft hairs or down, as the seeds of milkweed.
Gray.
COMPACT
Com*pact", p. p. & a Etym: [L. compactus, p. p. of compingere to join
or unite; com- + pangere to fasten, fix: cf. F. compacte. See Pact.]
1. Joined or held together; leagued; confederated. [Obs.] "Compact
with her that's gone." Shak.
A pipe of seven reeds, compact with wax together. Peacham.
2. Composed or made; -- with of. [Poetic]
A wandering fire, Compact of unctuous vapor. Milton.
3. Closely or firmly united, as the particles of solid bodies; firm;
close; solid; dense.
Glass, crystal, gems, and other compact bodies. Sir I. Newton.
4. Brief; close; pithy; not diffuse; not verbose; as, a compact
discourse.
Syn.
-- Firm; close; solid; dense; pithy; sententious.
COMPACT
Com*pact", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compacted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Compacting.]
1. To thrust, drive, or press closely together; to join firmly; to
consolidate; to make close; -- as the parts which compose a body.
Now the bright sun compacts the precious stone. Blackstone.
2. To unite or connect firmly, as in a system.
The whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which
every joint supplieth. Eph. iv. 16.
COMPACT
Com"pact, n. Etym: [L. compactum, fr. compacisci, p. p. compactus, to
make an agreement with; com- + pacisci to make an agreement. See
Pact.]
Defn: An agreement between parties; a covenant or contract.
The law of nations depends on mutual compacts, treaties, leagues,
etc. Blackstone.
Wedlock is described as the indissoluble compact. Macaulay.
The federal constitution has been styled a compact between the States
by which it was ratified. Wharton.
Syn.
-- See Covenant.
COMPACTED
Com*pact"ed, a.
Defn: Compact; pressed close; concentrated; firmly united.
COMPACTEDLY
Com*pact"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compact manner.
COMPACTEDNESS
Com*pact"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being compact.
COMPACTER
Com*pact"er, n.
Defn: One who makes a compact.
COMPACTIBLE
Com*pact"i*ble, a.
Defn: That may be compacted.
COMPACTION
Com*pac"tion, n. Etym: [L. compactio.]
Defn: The act of making compact, or the state of being compact.
[Obs.] Bacon.
COMPACTLY
Com*pact"ly, adv.
Defn: In a compact manner; with close union of parts; densely;
tersely.
COMPACTNESS
Com*pact"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being compact; close union of parts;
density.
COMPACTURE
Com*pac"ture, n. Etym: [L. compactura.]
Defn: Close union or connection of parts; manner of joining;
construction. [Obs.] "With comely compass and compacture strong."
Spenser.
COMPAGES
Com*pa"ges, n. sing & pl. Etym: [L., fr. compingere. See Compact, v.
t.]
Defn: A system or structure of many parts united.
A regular compages of pipes and vessels. Ray.
COMPAGINATE
Com*pag"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. compaginare, compaginatum.]
Defn: To unite or hold together; as, the side pieces compaginate the
frame. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
COMPAGINATION
Com*pag`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. compaginatio.]
Defn: Union of parts; structure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COMPANABLE
Com"pa*na*ble, a. Etym: [OF. compaignable.]
Defn: Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COMPANATOR
Com"pa*na`tor, n. Etym: [LL. companatores, pl.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Same as Impanator.
COMPANIABLE
Com*pan"i*a*ble, a.
Defn: Companionable; sociable. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMPANION
Com*pan"ion, n. Etym: [F. compagnon, OF. compaing, fr. as assumed LL.
companio (cf. companium fellowship, a mess), fr. L. com- + panis
bread. See Pantry.]
1. One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or
shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in
the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an
associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner.
The companions of his fall. Milton.
The companion of fools shall smart for it. Prov. xiii. 20 (Rev. Ver.
)
Here are your sons again; and I must lose Two of the sweetest
companions in the world. Shak.
A companion is one with whom we share our bread; a messmate. Trench.
2. A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of
the Bath.
3. A fellow; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Etym: [Cf. OSp. compaña an outhouse, office.] (Naut.)
(a) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various
shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck.
(b) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a
companion hatch. Companion hatch (Naut.), a wooden porch over the
entrance or staircase of the cabin.
-- Companion ladder (Naut.), the ladder by which officers ascend to,
or descend from, the quarter-deck. Totten.
-- Companion way (Naut.), a staircase leading to the cabin.
-- Knights companions, in certain honorary orders, the members of
the lowest grades as distinguished from knights commanders, knights
grand cross, and the like.
Syn.
-- Associate; comrade; mate; compeer; partner; ally; confederate;
coadjutor; accomplice.
COMPANION
Com*pan"ion, v. t.
1. To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany. [R.] Ruskin.
2. To qualify as a companion; to make equal. [Obs.]
Companion me with my mistress. Shak.
COMPANIONABLE
Com*pan"ion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Fitted to be a companion; fit for good fellowship; agreeable;
sociable. "Each companionable guest." Mallett. "Companionable wit."
Clarendon.
-- Com*pan"ion*a*ble*ness, n.
-- Com*pan"ion*a*bly, adv.
COMPANIONLESS
Com*pan"ion*less, a.
Defn: Without a companion.
COMPANIONSHIP
Com*pan"ion*ship, n.
Defn: Fellowship; association; the act or fact of keeping company
with any one. Shak.
He never seemed to avail himself of my sympathy other than by mere
companionship. W. Irwing
COMPANY
Com"pa*ny, n.; pl. Companies. Etym: [F. compagnie, fr. OF. compaing.
See Companion.]
1. The state of being a companion or companions; the act of
accompaying; fellowship; companionship; society; friendly
intercourse. Shak.
Evil company doth corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. xv. 33. (Rev. Ver. ).
Brethren, farewell: your company along I will not wish. Milton.
2. A companion or companions.
To thee and thy company I bid A hearty welcome. Shak.
3. An assemblage or association of persons, either permanent or
transient.
Thou shalt meet a company of prophets. 1 Sam. x. 5.
4. Guests or visitors, in distinction from the members of a family;
as, to invite company to dine.
5. Society, in general; people assembled for social intercourse.
Nature has left every man a capacity of being agreeable, though not
of shining in company. Swift.
6. An association of persons for the purpose of carrying on some
enterprise or business; a corporation; a firm; as, the East India
Company; an insurance company; a joint-stock company.
7. Partners in a firm whose names are not mentioned in its style or
title; -- often abbreviated in writing; as, Hottinguer & Co.
8. (Mil.)
Defn: A subdivision of a regiment of troops under the command of a
captain, numbering in the United States (full strength) 100 men.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: The crew of a ship, including the officers; as, a whole ship's
company.
10. The body of actors employed in a theater or in the production of
a play. To keep company with. See under Keep, v. t.
Syn.
-- Assemblage; assembly; society; group; assembly; society; group;
circle; crowd; troop; crew; gang; corporation; association;
fraternity; guild; partnership; copartnery; union; club; party;
gathering.
COMPANY
Com"pa*ny, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Companied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Companying.]
Defn: To accompany or go with; to be companion to. [Obs.]
COMPANY
Com"pa*ny, v. i.
1. To associate.
Men which have companied with us all the time. Acts i. 21.
2. To be a gay companion. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. To have sexual commerce. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
COMPARABLE
Com"pa*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. comparabilis: cf. F. comparable.]
Defn: Capable of being compared; worthy of comparison.
There is no blessing of life comparable to the enjoyment of a
discreet and virtuous friend. Addison.
-- Com"pa*ra*ble*ness, n.
-- Com"pa*ra*bly, adv.
COMPARATE
Com"pa*rate, n. Etym: [L. comparatum, fr. comparatus, p. p. of
comparare. See 1st Compare.] (Logic)
Defn: One of two things compared together.
COMPARATION
Com`pa*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. comparatio. See Compare to get.]
Defn: A making ready; provision. [Obs.]
COMPARATIVE
Com*par"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. comparativus: cf. F. comparatif.]
1. Of or pertaining to comparison. "The comparative faculty."
Granvill.
2. Proceeding from, or by the method of, comparison; as, the
comparative anatomy.
3. Estimated by comparison; relative; not positive or absolute, as
compared with another thing or state.
The recurrence of comparative warmth and cold. Whewell.
The bubble, by reason of its comparative levity to the fluid that
incloses it, would necessarily ascend to the top. Bentley.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing a degree greater or less than the positive degree of
the quality denoted by an adjective or adverb. The comparative degree
is formed from the positive by the use of -er, more, or less; as,
brighter, more bright, or less bright. Comparative sciences, those
which are based on a comprehensive comparison of the range of objects
or facts in any branch or department, and which aim to study out and
treat of the fundamental laws or systems of relation pervading them;
as, comparative anatomy, comparative physiology, comparative
philology.
COMPARATIVE
Com*par"a*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The comparative degree of adjectives and adverbs; also, the
form by which the comparative degree is expressed; as, stronger,
wiser, weaker, wore stormy, less windy, are all comparatives.
In comparatives is expressed a relation of two; as in superlatives
there is a relation of many.
2. An equal; a rival; a compeer. [Obs.]
Gerard ever was His full comparative. Beau. & Fl.
3. One who makes comparisons; one who affects wit. [Obs.] "Every
beardless vain comparative." Shak.
COMPARATIVELY
Com*par"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: According to estimate made by comparison; relatively; not
positively or absolutely.
With but comparatively few exceptions. Prescott.
COMPARATOR
Com"pa*ra`tor ( or ), n. Etym: [L., a comparater.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument or machine for comparing anything to be measured
with a standard measure; -- applied especially to a machine for
comparing standards of length.
COMPARE
Com*pare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compared; p. pr. & vb. n. Comparing.]
Etym: [L.comparare, fr. compar like or equal to another; com- + par
equal: cf. F. comparer. See Pair, Peer an equal, and cf. Compeer.]
1. To examine the character or qualities of, as of two or more
persons or things, for the purpose of discovering their resemblances
or differences; to bring into comparison; to regard with
discriminating attention.
Compare dead happiness with living woe. Shak.
The place he found beyond expression bright, Compared with aught on
earth. Milton.
Compare our faces and be judge yourself. Shak.
To compare great things with small. Milton.
2. To represent as similar, for the purpose of illustration; to
liken.
Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators and counselors to
the winds; for that the sea would be calm and quiet if the winds did
not trouble it. Bacon.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect according to the degrees of comparison; to state
positive, comparative, and superlative forms of; as, most adjectives
of one syllable are compared by affixing "-er" and "-est" to the
positive form; as, black, blacker, blackest; those of more than one
syllable are usually compared by prefixing "more" and "most", or
"less" and "least", to the positive; as, beautiful, more beautiful,
most beautiful.
Syn.
-- To Compare, Compare with, Compare to. Things are compared with
each other in order to learn their relative value or excellence. Thus
we compare Cicero with Demosthenes, for the sake of deciding which
was the greater orator. One thing is compared to another because of a
real or fanciful likeness or similarity which exists between them.
Thus it has been common to compare the eloquence of Demosthenes to a
thunderbolt, on account of its force, and the eloquence of Cicero to
a conflagration, on account of its splendor. Burke compares the parks
of London to the lungs of the human body.
COMPARE
Com*pare", v. i.
1. To be like or equal; to admit, or be worthy of, comparison; as,
his later work does not compare with his earlier.
I should compare with him in excellence. Shak.
2. To vie; to assume a likeness or equality.
Shall pack horses . . . compare with Cæsars Shak.
COMPARE
Com*pare", n.
1. Comparison. [Archaic]
His mighty champion, strong beyond compare. Milton.
Their small galleys may not hold compare With our tall ships. Waller.
2. Illustration by comprison; simile. [Obs.]
Rhymes full of protest, of oath, and big compare. Shak.
Beyond compare. See Beyond comparison, under Comparison.
COMPARE
Com*pare", v. t. Etym: [L. comparare to prepare, procure; com- +
parare. See Prepare, Parade.]
Defn: To get; to procure; to obtain; to acquire [Obs.]
To fill his bags, and richesse to compare. Spenser.
COMPARER
Com*par"er, n.
Defn: One who compares.
COMPARISON
Com*par"i*son ( or ), n. Etym: [F. comparaison, L. comparatio. See
1st Compare.]
1. The act of comparing; an examination of two or more objects with
the view of discovering the resemblances or differences; relative
estimate.
As sharp legal practitioners, no class of human beings can bear
comparison with them. Macaulay.
The miracles of our Lord and those of the Old Testament afford many
interesting points of comparison. Trench.
2. The state of being compared; a relative estimate; also, a state,
quality, or relation, admitting of being compared; as, to bring a
thing into comparison with another; there is no comparison between
them.
3. That to which, or with which, a thing is compared, as being equal
or like; illustration; similitude.
Whereto shall we liken the kingdom of God Or with what comparison
shall we compare it Mark iv. 30.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: The modification, by inflection or otherwise, which the
adjective and adverb undergo to denote degrees of quality or
quantity; as, little, less, least, are examples of comparison.
5. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which one person or thing is compared to another,
or the two are considered with regard to some property or quality,
which is common to them both; e.g., the lake sparkled like a jewel.
6. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty of the reflective group which is supposed to
perceive resemblances and contrasts. Beyond comparison, so far
superior as to have no likeness, or so as to make comparison
needless.
-- In comparison of, In comparison with, as compared with; in
proportion to. [Archaic] "So miserably unpeopled in comparison of
what it once was." Addison.
-- Comparison of hands (Law), a mode of proving or disproving the
genuineness of a signature or writing by comparing it with another
proved or admitted to be genuine, in order to ascertain whether both
were written by the same person. Bouvier. Burrill.
COMPARISON
Com*par"i*son, v. t.
Defn: To compare. [Obs.] Wyclif.
COMPART
Com*part", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comparted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Comparting.] Etym: [L. compartiri; com- + partiri, partire to share,
pars, partis, part, share: cf. OF. compartir. See Part, v. t.]
Defn: To divide; to mark out into parts or subdivisions. [R.]
The crystal surface is comparted all In niches verged with rubies.
Glover.
COMPARTITION
Com`par*ti"tion, n. Etym: [LL. compartitio.]
Defn: The act of dividing into parts or compartments; division; also,
a division or compartment. [Obs.]
Their temples . . . needed no compartitions. Sir H. Wotton.
COMPARTMENT
Com*part"ment, n. Etym: [F. compartiment, OF. compartir to divide.
See Compart.]
1. One of the parts into which an inclosed portion of space is
divided, as by partitions, or lines; as, the compartments of a
cabinet, a house, or a garden.
In the midst was placed a large compartment composed of grotesque
work. Carew.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: One of the sections into which the hold of a ship is divided by
water-tight bulkheads.
COMPARTNER
Com*part"ner, n.
Defn: See Copartner. [Obs.]
COMPASS
Com"pass, n. Etym: [F. compas, fr. LL. compassus circle, prop., a
stepping together; com- + passus pace, step. See Pace, Pass.]
1. A passing round; circuit; circuitous course.
They fetched a compass of seven day's journey. 2 Kings iii. 9.
This day I breathed first; time is come round, And where I did begin,
there shall I end; My life is run his compass. Shak.
2. An inclosing limit; boundary; circumference; as, within the
compass of an encircling wall.
3. An inclosed space; an area; extent.
Their wisdom . . . lies in a very narrow compass. Addison.
4. Extent; reach; sweep; capacity; sphere; as, the compass of his
eye; the compass of imagination.
The compass of his argument. Wodsworth.
5. Moderate bounds, limits of truth; moderation; due limits; -- used
with within.
In two hundred years before (I speak within compass), no such
commission had been executed. Sir J. Davies.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: The range of notes, or tones, within the capacity of a voice or
instument.
You would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass.
Shak.
7. An instrument for determining directions upon the carth's surface
by means of a magnetized bar or needle turning freely upon a pivot
and pinting in a northerly and southerly direction.
He that firat discovered the use of the compass did more for the
supplying and increase of useful commodities than those who built
workhouses. Locke.
8. A pair of compasses. [R.]
To fix one foot of their compass wherever they please. Swift.
9. A circle; a continent. [Obs.]
The tryne compas [the threefold world containing earth, sea, and
heaven. Skeat.] Chaucer.
Azimuth compass. See under Azimuth.
-- Beam compass. See under Beam.
-- Compass card, the eircular card attached to the needles of a
mariner's compass, on which are marked the thirty-two points or
rhumbs.
-- Compass dial, a small pocket compass fitted with a sundial to
tell the hour of the day.
-- Compass plane (Carp.), a plane, convex in the direction of its
length on the under side, for smoothing the concave faces of curved
woodwork.
-- Compass plant, Compass flower (Bot.), a plant of the American
prairies (Silphium laciniatum), not unlike a small sunflower;
rosinweed. Its lower and root leaves are vertical, and on the
prairies are disposed to present their edges north and south.
Its leaves are turned to the north as true as the magnet: This is the
compass flower. Longefellow.
-- Compass saw, a saw with a narrow blade, which will cut in a curve;
-- called also fret saw and keyhole saw.
-- Compass timber (Shipbuilding), curved or crooked timber.
-- Compass window (Arch.), a circular bay window or oriel window. It
has two or more magnetic needles permanently attached to a card,
which moves freely upon a pivot, and is read with reference to a mark
on the box representing the ship's head. The card is divided into
thirty-two points, called also rhumbs, and the glass-covered box or
bowl containing it is suspended in gimbals within the binnacle, in
order to preserve its horizontal position.
-- Surveyor's compass, an instrument used in surveying for measuring
horizontal angles. See Circumferentor.
-- Variation compass, a compass of delicate construction, used in
observations on the variations of the needle.
-- To fetch a compass, to make a circuit.
COMPASS
Com"pass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassed; p. pr. & vb. n. Compassing.]
Etym: [F. compasser, LL. compassare.]
1. To go about or entirely round; to make the circuit of.
Ye shall compass the city seven times. Josh. vi. 4.
We the globe can compass soon. Shak.
2. To inclose on all sides; to surround; to encircle; to envior; to
invest; to besiege; -- used with about, round, around, and round
about.
With terrors and with clamors compassed round. Milton.
Now all the blessings
Of a glad cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round.uke xix.
43.
3. To reach round; to circumvent; to get within one's power; to
obtain; to accomplish.
If I can chek my erring love, I will: If not, to compass her I'll use
my skill. Shak.
How can you to compass your designs Denham.
4. To curve; to bend into a circular form. [Obs. except in carpentry
and shipbuilding.] Shak.
5. (Law)
Defn: To purpose; to intend; to imagine; to plot.
Compassing and imagining the death of the king are synonymous terms;
compassing signifying the purpose or design of the mind or will, and
not, as in common speech, the carrying such design to effect.
Blackstone.
COMPASSABLE
Com"pass*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being compassed or accomplished. Burke.
COMPASSED
Com"passed, a.
Defn: Rounded; arched. [Obs.]
She came . . . into the compassed window. Shak.
COMPASSES
Com"pass*es, n., pl.
Defn: An instrument for describing circles, measuring figures, etc.,
consisting of two, or (rarely) more, pointed branches, or legs,
usually joined at the top by a rivet on which they move.
Note: The compasses for drawing circles have adjustable pen points,
pencil points, etc.; those used for measuring without adjustable
points are generally called dividers. See Dividers. Bow compasses.
See Bow-compass.
-- Caliber compasses, Caliper compasses. See Calipers.
-- Proportional, Triangular, etc., compasses. See under
Proportional, etc.
COMPASSING
Com"pass*ing, a. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Curved; bent; as, compassing timbers.
COMPASSION
Com*pas"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. compassio, fr. compati to have
compassion; com- + pati to bear, suffer. See Patient.]
Defn: Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow
excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity;
commiseration.
Womanly igenuity set to work by womanly compassion. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Pity; sympathy; commiseration; fellow-feeling; mercy; condolence.
See Pity.
COMPASSION
Com*pas"sion, v. t.
Defn: To pity. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPASSIONABLE
Com*pas"sion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving compassion or pity; pitiable. [R.] Barrow.
COMPASSIONATE
Com*pas"sion*ate, a.
1. Having a temper or disposition to pity; sympathetic; merciful.
There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also
tender and compassionate. South.
2. Complaining; inviting pity; pitiable. [R.] Shak.
Syn.
-- Sympathizing; tender; merciful; pitiful.
COMPASSIONATE
Com*pas"sion*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compassionated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Compassionating.]
Defn: To have compassion for; to pity; to commiserate; to sympathize
with.
Compassionates my pains, and pities me. Addison.
COMPASSIONATELY
Com*pas"sion*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compassionate manner; mercifully. Clarendon.
COMPASSIONATENESS
Com*pas"sion*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being compassionate.
COMPASSLESS
Com"pass*less, a.
Defn: Having no compass. Knowles.
COMPATERNITY
Com`pa*ter"ni*ty, n. Etym: [LL. compaternitas, fr. compater
godfather; com- + pater father.]
Defn: The relation of a godfather to a person. [Obs.]
The relation of gossipred or compaternity by the cannon law is a
spiritual affinity. Sir J. Da
COMPATIBILITY
Com*pat`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compatibilit.]
Defn: The quality or power of being compatible or congruous;
congruity; as, a compatibility of tempers; a compatibility of
properties.
COMPATIBLE
Com*pat"i*ble, a. Etym: [F., fr. LL.compatibilis, fr. L. compati. See
Compassion.]
Defn: Capable of existing in harmony; congruous; suitable; not
repugnant; -- usually followed by with.
Our poets have joined together such qualities as are by nature the
most compatible. Broome.
Syn.
-- Consistent; suitable; agreeable; accordant.
COMPATIBLENESS
Com*pat"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Compatibility; consistency; fitness; agreement.
COMPATIBLY
Com*pat"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a compatible manner.
COMPATIENT
Com*pa"tient, a. Etym: [L. compatients, p. pr. of compati. See
Compassion.]
Defn: Suffering or enduring together. [Obs.] Sir G. Buck.
COMPATRIOT
Com*pa"tri*ot, n. Etym: [F. compatriote, LL. compatriotus; com- +
patriota a native. See Patriot, and cf. Copatriot.]
Defn: One of the same country, and having like interests and feeling.
The distrust with which they felt themselves to be regarded by their
compatriots in America. Palfrey.
COMPATRIOT
Com*pa"tri*ot, a.
Defn: Of the same country; having a common sentiment of patriotism.
She [Britain] rears to freedom an undaunted race, Compatriot,
zealous, hospitable, kind. Thomson.
COMPATRIOTISM
Com*pa"tri*ot*ism, n.
Defn: The condition of being compatriots.
COMPEAR
Com*pear", v. i. Etym: [F. comparior, L. compar; com- + par to
appear.]
1. To appear. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: To appear in court personally or by attorney. [Scot]
COMPEER
Com*peer", Etym: [OE. comper, through French fr. L. compar; com- +
par equal. See Peer an equal, and cf. 1st Compare.]
Defn: An equal, as in rank, age, prowess, etc.; a companion; a
comrade; a mate.
And him thus answer 'd soon his bold compeer. Milton.
COMPEER
Com*peer", v. t.
Defn: To be equal with; to match. [R.]
In my rights, By me invested, he compeers the best. Shak.
COMPEER; COMPEIR
Com*peer", Com*peir", v. i.
Defn: See Conpear.
COMPEL
Com*pel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compelled; p. pr. & vb. n Compelling.]
Etym: [L. compellere, compilstum, to drive together, to compel, urge;
com- + pellere to drive: cf. OF. compellir. See Pulse.]
1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to
constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral
force.
Wolsey . . . compelled the people to pay up the whole subsidy at
once. Hallam.
And they compel one Simon . . . to bear his cross. Mark xv. 21.
2. To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort. [R.]
Commissions, which compel from each The sixth part of his substance.
Shak.
3. To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.
Easy sleep their weary limbs compelled. Dryden.
I compel all creatures to my will. Tennyson.
4. To gather or unite in a crowd or company. [A Latinism] "In one
troop compelled." Dryden.
5. To call forth; to summon. [Obs.] Chapman.
She had this knight from far compelled. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To force; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce. See Coerce.
COMPEL
Com*pel", v. i.
Defn: To make one yield or submit. "If she can not entreat, I can not
compel." Shak.
COMPELLABLE
Com*pel"la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being compelled or constrained. Blackstone.
COMPELLABLY
Com*pel"la*bly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion.
COMPELLATION
Com`pel*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. compellatio, fr. compellare to accost,
fr. compellere. See Compel.]
Defn: Style of address or salutation; an appellation. "Metaphorical
compellations." Milton.
He useth this endearing compellation, "My little children." Bp.
Beveridge.
The peculiar compellation of the kings in France is by "Sire," which
is nothing else but father. Sir W. Temple.
COMPELLATIVE
Com*pel"la*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The name by which a person is addressed; an appellative.
COMPELLATORY
Com*pel"la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to compel; compulsory. [R.]
COMPELLER
Com*pel"ler, n.
Defn: One who compels or constrains.
COMPEND
Com"pend, n.
Defn: A compendium; an epitome; a summary.
A compend and recapitulation of the Mosaical law. Bp. Burnet.
COMPENDIARIOUS
Com*pen`di*a"ri*ous, a. Etym: [L. compendiarius.]
Defn: Short; compendious. [Obs.] Bailey.
COMPENDIATE
Com*pen"di*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. compendiatus, p. p. of compendiare to
shorten, fr. compendium.]
Defn: To sum or collect together. [Obs.] Bp. King.
COMPENDIOUS
Com*pen"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. compendiosus.]
Defn: Containing the substance oe general principles of a subject or
work in a narrow compass; abridged; summarized.
More compendious and exeditious ways. Woodward.
Three things be required in the oration of a man having authority --
that it be compendious, sententious, and delectable. Sir T. Elyot.
Syn.
-- Short; summary; abridged; condensed; comprehensive; succinct;
brief; concise.
COMPENDIOUSLY
Com*pen"di*ous*ly, dv.
Defn: In a compendious manner.
Compendiously exressed by the word chaos. Bentley.
COMPENDIOUSNESS
Com*pen"di*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being compendious.
COMPENDIUM
Com*pen"di*um, n.; pl. E. Compendiums, L. Compendia. Etym: [L.
compendium that which is wieghed, saved, or shortened, a short way,
fr. compendere to weigh; com- + pendere to weigh. See Pension, and
cf. Compend.]
Defn: A brief compilation or composition, containing the principal
heads, or general principles, of a larger work or system; an
abridgment; an epitome; a compend; a condensed summary.
A short system or compendium of a sience. I. Watts.
Syn.
-- See Abridgment.
COMPENSATE
Com"pen*sate ( or ; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compensated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Compensating.] Etym: [L. compensatus, p. p. of compensare,
prop., to weigh several things with one another, to balance with one
another, verb intens. fr. compendere. See Compendum.]
1. To make equal return to; to remunerate; to recompence; to give an
equivalent to; to requite suitably; as, to compensate a laborer for
his work, or a merchant for his losses.
2. To be equivalent in value or effect to; to counterbalance; to make
up for; to make amends for.
The length of the night and the dews thereof do compensate the heat
of the day. Bacon.
The pleasures of life do not compensate the miseries. Prior.
Syn.
-- To recompense; remunerate; indemnify; reward; requite;
counterbalance.
COMPENSATE
Com"pen*sate, v. i.
Defn: To make amends; to supply an equivalent; -- followed by for;
as, nothing can compensate for the loss of reputation.
COMPENSATION
Com`pen*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. compensatio a weighing, a balancing of
accounts.]
1. The act or principle of compensating. Emerson.
2. That which constitutes, or is regarded as, an equivalent; that
which makes good the lack or variation of something else; that which
compensates for loss or privation; amends; remuneration; recompense.
The parliament which dissolved the monastic foundations . . .
vouchsafed not a word toward securing the slightest compensation to
the dispossessed owners. Hallam.
No pecuniary compensation can possibly reward them. Burke.
3. (Law)
(a) The extinction of debts of which two persons are reciprocally
debtors by the credits of which they are reciprocally creditors; the
payment of a debt by a credit of equal amount; a set-off. Bouvier.
Wharton.
(b) A recompense or reward for some loss or service.
(c) An equivalent stipulated for in contracts for the sale of real
eatate, in which it is customary to privide that errors in
description, etc., shall not avoid, but shall be the subject of
compensation. Compensation balance, or Compensated balance, a kind of
balance wheel for a timepiece. The rim is usually made of two
different expansibility under changes of temperature, so arranged as
to counteract each other and preserve uniformity of movement.
-- Compensation pendulum. See Pendulum.
Syn.
-- Recompense; reward; indemnification; consideration; requital;
satisfaction; set-off.
COMPENSATIVE
Com*pen"sa*tive, a. Etym: [LL. compensativus.]
Defn: Affording compensation.
COMPENSATIVE
Com*pen"sa*tive, n.
Defn: Compensation. [R.] Lamb.
COMPENSATOR
Com"pen*sa`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, compensates; -- a name applied to various
mechanical devices.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: An iron plate or magnet placed near the compass on iron vessels
to neutralize the effect of the ship's attraction on the needle.
COMPENSATORY
Com*pen"sa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving for compensation; making amends. Jer. Taylor.
COMPENSE
Com*pense", v. t. Etym: [F. compenser. See Compensate.]
Defn: To compensate. [Obs.] Bacon.
COMPERENDINATE
Com`pe*ren"di*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. comperendinatus, p. p. of
comperendinare to defer (the time of trial.)]
Defn: To delay. Bailey.
COMPESCE
Com*pesce", v. t. Etym: [L. compescere.]
Defn: To hold in check; to restrain. [R.] Carlyle.
COMPETE
Com*pete", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Competed; p. pr. & vb. n. Competing.]
Etym: [L. completere, competitum; com- + petere to seek. See
Petition.]
Defn: To contend emulously; to seek or strive for the same thing,
position, or reward for which another is striving; to contend in
rivalry, as for a prize or in business; as, tradesmen compete with
one another.
The rival statesmen, with eyes fixed on America, were all the while
competing for European alliances. Bancroft.
COMPETENCE; COMPETENCY
Com"pe*tence, Com"pe*ten*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compétence, from L.
competentia agreement.]
1. The state of being competent; fitness; ability; adequacy; power.
The loan demonstrates, in regard to instrumental resources, the
competency of this kingdom to the assertion of the common cause.
Burke.
To make them act zealously is not in the competence of law. Burke.
2. Property or means sufficient for the necessaries and conveniences
of life; sifficiency without excess.
Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, Lie in three words --
health, peace, and competence. Pope.
Superfluity comes sooner by white hairs, but competency lives longer.
Shak.
3. (Law)
(a) Legal capacity or qualifications; fitness; as, the competency of
a witness or of a evidence.
(b) Right or authority; legal power or capacity to take cognizance of
a cause; as, the competence of a judge or court. Kent.
COMPETENT
Com"pe*tent (; 94), a. Etym: [F. compétent, p. pr. of compéter to be
in the competency of, LL. competere to strive after together, to
agree with; hence, to be fit. See Compete.]
1. Answering to all requirements; adeqouate; sufficient; suitable;
capable; legally qualified; fit. "A competent knowledge of the
world." Arrerbury. "Competent age." Grafton. "Competent statesmen."
Palfrey. /"A competent witness." Bouvier.
2. Rightfully or properly belonging; incident; -- followed by to.
[Rare, except in legal usage.]
That is the privillege of the infinite Author of things, . . . but is
not competent to any finite being. Locke.
Syn.
-- See Qualified.
COMPETENTLY
Com"pe*tent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a competent manner; adequately; suitably.
COMPETIBLE
Com*pet"i*ble, a.
Defn: Compatible; suitable; consistent. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
COMPETITION
Com`pe*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. competitio. See Conpete.]
Defn: The act of seeking, or endevearing to gain, what another is
endeavoring to gain at the same time; common strife for the same
objects; strife for superiority; emulous contest; rivalry, as for
approbation, for a prize, or as where two or more persons are engaged
in the same business and each seeking patronage; -- followed by for
before the object sought, and with before the person or thing
competed with.
Competition to the crown there is none, nor can be. Bacon.
A portrait, with which one of Titian's could not come in
competititon. Dryden.
There is no competition but for the second place. Dryden.
Where competition does not act at all there is complete monopoly. A.
T. Hadley.
Syn.
-- Emulation; rivalry; rivalship; contest; struggle; contention;
opposition; jealousy. See Emulation.
COMPETITIVE
Com*pet"i*tive, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to competition; producing competition;
competitory; as, a competitive examination.
COMPETITOR
Com*pet"i*tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. compétiteur.]
1. One who seeks what another seeks, or claims what another claims;
one who competes; a rival.
And can not brook competitors in love. Shak.
2. An associate; a confederate. [Obs.]
Every hour more competitors Flock to their aid, and still their power
increaseth. Shak.
COMPETITORY
Com*pet"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Acting in competition; competing; rival.
COMPETITRESS
Com*pet"i*tress, n.
Defn: A woman who competes.
COMPETITRIX
Com*pet"i*trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A competitress.
COMPILATION
Com"pi*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. compilatio: cf. F. compilation.]
1. The act or process of compiling or gathering together from various
sources.
2. That which is compiled; especially, a book or document composed of
materials gathering from other books or documents.
His [Goldsmith's] compilations are widely distinguished from the
compilations of ordinary bookmakers. Macaulay.
COMPILATOR
Com"pi*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Compiler. [Obs.]
COMPILE
Com*pile", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Compiling.]
Etym: [F. compiler, fr.L. compilare to plunder, pillage; com- +
pilare to plunder. See Pill, v. t., Pillage.]
1. To put together; to construct; to build. [Obs.]
Before that Merlin died, he did intend A brazen wall in compass to
compile. Spenser.
2. To contain or comprise. [Obs.]
Which these six books compile. Spenser.
3. To put together in a new form out of materials already existing;
esp., to put together or compose out of materials from other books or
documents.
He [Goldsmith] compiled for the use of schools a History of Rome.
Macaulay.
4. To write; to compose. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
COMPILEMENT
Com*pile"ment, n.
Defn: Compilation. [R.]
COMPILER
Com*pil"er, n. Etym: [OE. compiluor; cf. OF. compileor, fr. L.
compilator.]
Defn: One who compiles; esp., one who makes books by compilation.
COMPINGE
Com*pinge", v. t. Etym: [L. compingere.]
Defn: To compress; to shut up. [Obs.] Burton.
COMPLACENCE; COMPLACENCY
Com*pla"cence, Com*pla"cen*cy, n. Etym: [LL. complacentia: cf. F.
complaisance. See Complacent, and cf. Complaisance.]
1. Calm contentment; satisfaction; gratification.
The inward complacence we find in acting reasonably and virtuously.
Atterbury.
Others proclaim the infirmities of a great man with satisfaction and
complacency, if they discover none of the like in themselves.
Addison.
2. The cause of pleasure or joy. "O thou, my sole complacence."
Milton.
3. The manifestation of contentment or satisfaction; good nature;
kindness; civility; affability.
Complacency, and truth, and manly sweetness, Dwell ever on his
tongue, and smooth his thoughts. Addison.
With mean complacence ne'er betray your trust. Pope.
COMPLACENT
Com*pla"cent, a. Etym: [L. complacens very pleasing, p. pr. of
complacere; com- + placere to please: cf. F. complaisant. See Please
and cf. Complaisant.]
Defn: Self-satisfied; contented; kindly; as, a complacent temper; a
complacent smile.
They look up with a sort of complacent awe . . . to kings. Burke.
COMPLACENTIAL
Com`pla*cen"tial, a.
Defn: Marked by, or causing, complacence. [Obs.] "Complacential
love." Baxter.
COMPLACENTLY
Com*pla"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a complacent manner.
COMPLAIN
Com*plain", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Complained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Complaining.] Etym: [F. complaindre, LL. complangere; com- + L.
plangere to strike, beat, to beat the breast or head as a sign of
grief, to lament. See Plaint.]
1. To give utterance to expression of grief, pain, censure, regret.
etc.; to lament; to murmur; to find fault; -- commonly used with of.
Also, to creak or squeak, as a timber or wheel.
O lose of sight, of three I most complain! Milton.
2. To make a formal accusation; to make a charge.
Now, Master Shallow, you'll complain of me to the king Shak.
Syn.
-- To repine; grumble; deplore; bewail; grieve; mourn; regret;
murmur.
COMPLAIN
Com*plain", v. t.
Defn: To lament; to bewail. [Obs.]
They might the grievance inwardly complain. Daniel.
By chaste Lucrece's soul that late complain'd Her wrongs to us. Shak.
COMPLAINABLE
Com*plain"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be complained of. [R.] Feltham.
COMPLAINANT
Com*plain"ant, n. Etym: [F. complaignant, p. pr. of complaindre.]
1. One who makes complaint.
Eager complainants of the dispute. Collier.
2. (Law)
(a) One who commences a legal process by a complaint.
(b) The party suing in equity, answering to the plaintiff at common
law.
He shall forfeit one moiety to the use of the town, and the other
moiety to the use of the complainant. Statutes of Mass.
COMPLAINER
Com*plain"er, n.
Defn: One who complains or laments; one who finds fault; a murmurer.
Beattie.
Speechless complainer, I will learn thy thought. Shak.
COMPLAINT
Com*plaint", n. Etym: [F. complainte. See Complain.]
1. Expression of grief, regret, pain, censure, or resentment;
lamentation; murmuring; accusation; fault-finding.
I poured out my complaint before him. Ps. cxlii. 2.
Grievous complaints of you. Shak.
2. Cause or subject of complaint or murmuring.
The poverty of the clergy in England hath been the complaint of all
who wish well to the church. Swift.
3. An ailment or disease of the body.
One in a complaint of his bowels. Arbuthnot.
4. (Law)
Defn: A formal allegation or charge against a party made or presented
to the appropriate court or officer, as for a wrong done or a crime
committed (in the latter case, generally under oath); an information;
accusation; the initial bill in proceedings in equity.
Syn.
-- Lamentation; murmuring; sorrow; grief; disease; illness;
disorder; malady; ailment.
COMPLAINTFUL
Com*plaint"ful, a.
Defn: Full of complaint. [Obs.]
COMPLAISANCE
Com"plai*sance`, n. Etym: [F. complaisance. See Complaisant, and cf.
Complacence.]
Defn: Disposition to please or oblige; obliging compliance with the
wishes of others; a deportment indicative of a desire to please;
courtesy; civility.
These [ladies] . . . are by the just complaisance and gallantry of
our nation the most powerful part of our people. Addison.
They strive with their own hearts and keep them down, In complaisance
to all the fools in town. Young.
Syn.
-- Civility; courtesy; urbanity; suavity; affability; good breeding.
COMPLAISANT
Com"plai*sant, a. Etym: [F. complaisant, p. pr. of complaire to
acquiesce as a favor, fr. L. complacere. See Complacent.]
Defn: Desirous to please; courteous; obliging; compliant; as, a
complaisant gentleman.
There are to whom my satire seems too bold: Scarce to wise Peter
complaisant enough. Pope.
Syn.
-- Obliging; courteous; affable; gracious; civil; polite; well-bred.
See Obliging.
-- Com"plai*sant`ly, adv.
-- Com"plai*sant`ness, n.
COMPLANAR
Com*pla"nar, a.
Defn: See Coplanar.
COMPLANATE
Com"pla*nate ( or , a. Etym: [L. complanatus, p. p. of complanare to
make plane. See Plane, v. t.]
Defn: Flattened to a level surface. [R.]
COMPLANATE
Com"pla*nate, v. t.
Defn: To make level. [R.]
COMPLECTED
Com*plect"ed, a.
Defn: Complexioned. [Low, New Eng.]
COMPLEMENT
Com"ple*ment, n. Etym: [L. complementun: cf. F. complément. See
Complete, v. t., and cf. Compliment.]
1. That which fills up or completes; the quantity or number required
to fill a thing or make it complete.
2. That which is required to supply a deficiency, or to complete a
symmetrical whole.
History is the complement of poetry. Sir J. Stephen.
3. Full quantity, number, or amount; a complete set; completeness.
To exceed his complement and number appointed him which was one
hundred and twenty persons. Hakluyt.
4. (Math.)
Defn: A second quantity added to a given quantity to make equal to a
third given quantity.
5. Something added for ornamentation; an accessory. [Obs.]
Without vain art or curious complements. Spenser.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: The whole working force of a vessel.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval wanting to complete the octave; -- the fourth is
the complement of the fifth, the sixth of the third.
8. A compliment. [Obs.] Shak. Arithmetical compliment of a logarithm.
See under Logarithm.
-- Arithmetical complement of a number (Math.), the difference
between that number and the next higher power of 10; as, 4 is the
complement of 6, and 16 of 84.
-- Complement of an arc or angle (Geom.), the difference between
that arc or angle and 90º.
-- Complement of a parallelogram. (Math.) See Gnomon.
-- In her complement (Her.), said of the moon when represented as
full.
COMPLEMENT
Com"ple*ment, v. t.
1. To supply a lack; to supplement. [R.]
2. To compliment. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
COMPLEMENTAL
Com`ple*men"tal, a.
1. Supplying, or tending to supply, a deficiency; fully completing.
"Complemental ceremony." Prynne.
2. Complimentary; courteous. [Obs.] Shak. Complemental air
(Physiol.), the air (averaging 100 cubic inches) which can be drawn
into the lungs in addition to the tidal air, by the deepest possible
inspiration.
-- Complemental males (Zoöl.), peculiar small males living
parasitically on the ordinary hermaphrodite individuals of certain
barnacles.
COMPLEMENTARY
Com`ple*men"ta"ry, a.
Defn: Serving to fill out or to complete; as, complementary numbers.
Complementary colors. See under Color.
-- Complementary angles (Math.), two angles whose sum is 90°.
COMPLEMENTARY
Com`ple*men"ta*ry, n. Etym: [See Complimentary.]
Defn: One skilled in compliments. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COMPLETE
Com"plete", a. Etym: [L. completus, p. p. of complere to fill. See
Full, a., and cf. Comply, Compline.]
1. Filled up; with no part or element lacking; free from deficienty;
entire; perfect; consummate. "Complete perfections." Milton.
Ye are complete in him. Col. ii. 10.
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revesit'st thus the
glimpses of the moon. Shak.
2. Finished; ended; concluded; completed; as, the edifice is
complete.
This course of vanity almost complete. Prior.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Having all the parts or organs which belong to it or to the
typical form; having calyx, corolla, stamens, and pistil.
Syn.
-- See Whole.
COMPLETE
Com*plete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Completed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Completing.]
Defn: To bring to a state in which there is no deficiency; to
perfect; to consummate; to accomplish; to fulfill; to finish; as, to
complete a task, or a poem; to complete a course of education.
Bred only and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence. Milton.
And, to complete her bliss, a fool for mate. Pope.
Syn.
-- To perform; execute; terminate; conclude; finish; end; fill up;
achieve; realize; effect; consummate; accomplish; effectuate;
fulfill; bring to pass.
COMPLETELY
Com*plete"ly, adv.
Defn: In a complete manner; fully.
COMPLETEMENT
Com*plete"ment, n.
Defn: Act of completing or perfecting; completion. [Obs.] Dryden.
COMPLETENESS
Com*plete"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being complete.
COMPLETION
Com*ple"tion, n. Etym: [L. completio a filling, a fulfillment.]
1. The act or process of making complete; the getting through to the
end; as, the completion of an undertaking, an education, a service.
The completion of some repairs. Prescott.
2. State of being complete; fulfillment; accomplishment; realization.
Predictions receiving their completion in Christ. South.
COMPLETIVE
Com*ple"tive, a. Etym: [L. completivus: cf. F. compl.]
Defn: Making complete. [R.] J. Harris.
COMPLETORY
Com*ple"to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to fulfill.
Completory of ancient presignifications. Barrow.
COMPLETORY
Com"ple*to"ry ( or ), n. Etym: [L. completorium.] (Eccl.)
Defn: Same as Compline.
COMPLEX
Com"plex, a. Etym: [L. complexus, p. p. of complecti to entwine
around, comprise; com- + plectere to twist, akin to plicare to fold.
See Plait, n.]
1. Composed of two or more parts; composite; not simple; as, a
complex being; a complex idea.
Ideas thus made up of several simple ones put together, I call
complex; such as beauty, gratitude, a man, an army, the universe.
Locke.
2. Involving many parts; complicated; intricate.
When the actual motions of the heavens are calculated in the best
possible way, the process is difficult and complex. Whewell.
Complex fraction. See Fraction.
-- Complex number (Math.), in the theory of numbers, an expression
of the form a + bsq. root-1, when a and b are ordinary integers.
Syn.
-- See Intricate.
COMPLEX
Com"plex, n. Etym: [L. complexus]
Defn: Assemblage of related things; colletion; complication.
This parable of the wedding supper comprehends in it the whole
complex of all the blessings and privileges exhibited by the gospel.
South.
Complex of lines (Geom.), all the possible straight lines in space
being considered, the entire system of lines which satisfy a single
relation constitute a complex; as, all the lines which meet a given
curve make up a complex. The lines which satisfy two relations
constitute a congruency of lines; as, the entire system of lines,
each one of which meets two given surfaces, is a congruency.
COMPLEXED
Com*plexed", a.
Defn: Complex, complicated. [Obs.] "Complexed significations." Sir T.
Browne.
COMPLEXEDNESS
Com*plex"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being complex or involved;
complication.
The complexedness of these moral ideas. Locke.
COMPLEXION
Com*plex"ion, n. Etym: [F. complexion, fr. L. complexio. See Complex,
a.]
1. The state of being complex; complexity. [Obs.]
Though the terms of propositions may be complex, yet . . . it is
proprly called a simple syllogism, since the complexion does not
belong to the syllogistic form of it. I. Watts.
2. A combination; a complex. [Archaic]
This paragraph is . . . a complexion of sophisms. Coleridge.
3. The bodily constitution; the temperament; habitude, or natural
disposition; character; nature. [Obs.]
If his complexion incline him to melancholy. Milton.
It is the complexion of them all to leave the dam. Shak.
4. The color or hue of the skin, esp. of the face.
Tall was her stature, her complexion dark. Wordswoorth.
Between the pale complexion of true love, And the red glow of scron
and proud disdain. Shak.
5. The general appearance or aspect; as, the complexion of the sky;
the complexion of the news.
COMPLEXIONAL
Com*plex"ion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to constitutional complexion.
A moral rather than a complexional timidity. Burke.
COMPLEXIONALLY
Com*plex"ion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Constitutionally. [R.]
Though corruptible, not complexionally vicious. Burke.
COMPLEXIONARY
Com*plex"ion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the complexion, or to the care of it. Jer.
Taylor.
COMPLEXIONED
Com*plex"ioned, a.
Defn: Having (such) a complexion; -- used in composition; as, a dark-
complexioned or a ruddy-complexioned person.
A flower is the best-complexioned grass, as a pearl is the best-
colored clay. Fuller.
COMPLEXITY
Com*plex"i*ty, n.; pl. Complexities. Etym: [Cf. F. complexité.]
1. The state of being complex; intricacy; entanglement.
The objects of society are of the greatest possible complexity.
Burke.
2. That which is complex; intricacy; complication.
Many-corridored complexities Of Arthur's palace. Tennyson.
COMPLEXLY
Com"plex`ly, adv.
Defn: In a complex manner; not simply.
COMPLEXNESS
Com"plex`ness, n.
Defn: The state of being complex; complexity. A. Smith.
COMPLEXUS
Com*plex"us, n. Etym: [L., an embracing.]
Defn: A complex; an aggregate of parts; a complication.
COMPLIABLE
Com*pli"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of bending or yielding; apt to yield; compliant.
Another compliable mind. Milton.
The Jews . . . had made their religion compliable, and accemodated to
their passions. Jortin.
COMPLIANCE
Com*pli"ance, n. Etym: [See Comply.]
1. The act of complying; a yielding; as to a desire, demand, or
proposal; concession; submission.
What compliances will remove dissension Swift.
Ready compliance with the wishes of his people. Macaulay.
2. A disposition to yield to others; complaisance.
A man of few words and of great compliance. Clarendon.
Syn.
-- Concession; submission; consent; obedience; performance;
execution; acqquiescence; assent.
COMPLIANCY
Com*pli"an*cy, n.
Defn: Compliance; disposition to yield to others. Goldsmith.
COMPLIANT
Com*pli"ant, a.
Defn: Yielding; bending; pliant; submissive. "The compliant boughs."
Milton.
COMPLIANTLY
Com*pli"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a compliant manner.
COMPLICACY
Com"pli*ca*cy, n.
Defn: A state of being complicate or intricate. Mitford.
COMPLICANT
Com"pli*cant, a. Etym: [L. complicans, p. pr.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Overlapping, as the elytra of certain beetles.
COMPLICATE
Com"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. complicatus, p. p. of complicare to fold
together. See Complex.]
1. Composed of two or more parts united; complex; complicated;
involved.
How poor, how rich, how abject, how august, How complicate, how
wonderful is man! Young.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Folded together, or upon itself, with the fold running
lengthwise.
COMPLICATE
Com"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Complicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Complicating.]
Defn: To fold or twist together; to combine intricately; to make
complex; to combine or associate so as to make intricate or
difficult.
Nor can his complicated sinews fail. Young.
Avarice and luxury very often become one complicated principle of
action. Addison.
When the disease is complicated with other diseases. Arbuthnot.
COMPLICATELY
Com"pli*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a complex manner.
COMPLICATENESS
Com"pli*cate*ness, n.
Defn: Complexity. Sir M. Hale.
COMPLICATION
Com`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. compliasion: cf. F. complication.]
1. The act or process of complicating; the state of being
complicated; intricate or confused relation of parts; entaglement;
complexity.
A complication of diseases. Macaulay.
Through and beyond these dark complications of the present, the New
England founders looked to the great necessities of future times.
Palfrey.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A disease or diseases, or adventitious circumstances or
conditions, coexistent with and modifying a primary disease, but not
necessarily connected with it.
COMPLICE
Com"plice, n.; pl. Complices. Etym: [F., fr. L. complex, -plicis,
closely connected with one, confederate. See Complicate, and cf.
Accomplice.]
Defn: An accomplice. [Obs.]
To quell the rebels and their complices. Shak.
COMPLICITY
Com*plic"i*ty, n.; pl. Complicities. Etym: [F. complicité.]
Defn: The state of being an accomplice; participation in guilt.
COMPLIER
Com*pli"er, n.
Defn: One who complies, yields, or obeys; one of an easy, yieldy
temper. Swift.
COMPLIMENT
Com"pli*ment, n. Etym: [F. compliment. It complimento, fr. comlire to
compliment, finish, suit, fr. L. complere to fill up. See Complete,
and cf. Complement.]
Defn: An expression, by word or act, of approbation, regard,
confidence, civility, or admiration; a flattering speech or
attention; a ceremonious greeting; as, to send one's compliments to a
friend.
Tedious waste of time, to sit and hear So many hollow compliments and
lies. Milton.
Many a compliment politely penned. Cowper.
To make one a compliment, to show one respect; to praise one in a
flattering way.Locke.
-- To make one's compliments to, to offer formal courtesias to.
-- To stand on compliment, to treat with ceremony.
Syn.
-- See Adulation.
COMPLIMENT
Com"pli*ment, v. t.
Defn: To praise, flatter, or gratify, by expressions of approbation,
respect, or congratulation; to make or pay a compliment to.
Monarchs should their inward soul disguise; . . . Should compliment
their foes and shun their friends. Prior.
Syn.
-- To praise; flatter; adulate; commend.
COMPLIMENT
Com"pli*ment, v. i.
Defn: To pass compliments; to use conventional expressions of
respect.
I make the interlocutors, upon occasion, compliment with one another.
Boyle.
COMPLIMENTAL
Com`pli*men"tal, a.
Defn: Complimentary. [Obs.]
Languages . . . grow rich and abundant in complimental phrases, and
such froth. Sir H. Wotton.
-- Com`pli*men"tal*ly, adv. [Obs.] Boyle.
-- Com`pli*men"tal*ness, n. [Obs.] Hammond.
COMPLIMENTARY
Com`pli*men"ta*ry, a.
Defn: Expressive of regard or praise; of the nature of, or
containing, a compliment; as, a complimentary remark; a complimentary
ticket. "Complimentary addresses." Prescott.
COMPLIMENTATIVE
Com`pli*men"ta*tive, a.
Defn: Complimentary. [R.] Boswell.
COMPLIMENTER
Com"pli*ment`er, n.
Defn: One who compliments; one given to complimenting; a flatterer.
COMPLINE; COMPLIN
Com"pline, Com"plin, n. Etym: [From OE. complie, OF. complie, F.
complies, pl., fr. LL. completa (prop. fem. of L. completus) the
religious exercise which completes and closes the service of the day.
See Complete.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The last division of the Roman Catholic breviary; the seventh
and last of the canonical hours of the Western church; the last
prayer of the day, to be said after sunset.
The custom of godly man been to shut up the evening with a compline
of prayer at nine of the night. Hammond.
COMPLOT
Com"plot, n. Etym: [F. complot, prob. for comploit, fr.L.
complicitum, prop. p. p. of complicare, but equiv. to complicatio
complication, entangling. See Complicate, and cf. Plot.]
Defn: A plotting together; a confederacy in some evil design; a
conspiracy.
I know their complot is to have my life. Shak.
COMPLOT
Com*plot", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Complotted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Complotting.] Etym: [Cf. F. comploter, fr. complot.]
Defn: To plot or plan together; to conspire; to join in a secret
design.
We find them complotting together, and contriving a new scence of
miseries to the Trojans. Pope.
COMPLOTMENT
Com*plot"ment, n.
Defn: A plotting together. [R.]
COMPLOTTER
Com*plot"ter, n.
Defn: One joined in a plot. Dryden.
COMPLUTENSIAN
Com`plu*ten"sian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Complutum (now Alcala de Henares) a city
near Madrid; as, the Complutensian Bible.
COMPLUVIUM
Com*plu"vi*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Arch.)
Defn: A space left unroofed over the court of a Roman dwelling,
through which the rain fell into the impluvium or cistern.
COMPLY
Com*ply", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Complied; p. pr. & vb. n. Complying.]
Etym: [Perh. formed fr. compliment, influenced by ply, pliant, which
are of different origin: cf. It. complire to compliment, finish,
suit. See Compliment, Complete.]
1. To yield assent; to accord; agree, or acquiesce; to adapt one's
self; to consent or conform; -- usually followed by with.
Yet this be sure, in nothing to comply, Scandalous or forbidden in
our law. Milton.
They did servilely comply with the people in worshiping God by
sensible images. Tillotson.
He that complies against his will Is of his own opinion still.
Hudibras.
2. To be ceremoniously courteous; to make one's compliments. [Obs.]
Shak.
COMPLY
Com*ply", v. t. Etym: [See comply, v. i.]
1. To fulfill; to accomplish. [Obs.] Chapman.
2. Etym: [Cf. L. complicare to fold up. See Ply.]
Defn: To infold; to embrace. [Obs.]
Seemed to comply, Cloudlike, the daintie deitie. Herrick.
COMPO
Com"po, n.; pl. -pos (#).
Defn: Short for Composition; -- used, esp. in England, colloq. in
various trade applications; as :
(a) A mortar made of sand and cement.
(b) A carver's mixture of resin, whiting, and glue, used instead of
plaster of Paris for ornamenting walls and cornices.
(c) A composition for billiard balls.
(d) A preparation of which printer's rollers are made.
(e) A preparation used in currying leather.
(f) Composition paid by a debtor.
COMPONE
Com*pone", v. t. Etym: [L. componere. See Compound.]
Defn: To compose; to settle; to arrange. [Obs.]
A good pretense for componing peace. Strype.
COMPONE
Com*po"ne, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Compony.
COMPONENT
Com*po"nent, a. Etym: [L. componens, p. pr. of componere. See
Compound, v. t.]
Defn: Serving, or helping, to form; composing; constituting;
constituent.
The component parts of natural bodies. Sir I. Newton.
COMPONENT
Com*po"nent, n.
Defn: A constituent part; an ingredient. Component of force (Mech.),
a force which, acting conjointly with one or more forces, produces
the effect of a single force or resultant; one of a number of forces
into which a single force may be resolved.
COMPONY; COMPONE
Com*po"ny, Com*po"né, a. Etym: [F. componé.] (Her.)
Defn: Divided into squares of alternate tinctures in a single row; --
said of any bearing; or, in the case of a bearing having curved
lines, divided into patches of alternate colors following the curve.
If there are two rows it is called counter-compony.
COMPORT
Com*port", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Comported; p. pr. & vb. n.
Comporting.] Etym: [F. comporter, LL. comportare, fr.L. comportare to
bring together; com- + portare to carry. See Port demeanor.]
1. To bear or endure; to put up (with); as, to comport with an
injury. [Obs.] Barrow.
2. To agree; to accord; to suit; -- sometimes followed by with.
How ill this dullness doth comport with greatness. Beau. & Fl.
How their behavior herein comported with the institution. Locke.
COMPORT
Com*port", v. t.
1. To bear; to endure; to brook; to put with. [Obs.]
The malcontented sort That never can the present state comport.
Daniel.
2. To carry; to conduct; -- with a reflexive pronoun.
Observe how Lord Somers . . . comported himself. Burke.
COMPORT
Com"port (, formerly , n. Etym: [Cf.OF. comport.]
Defn: Manner of acting; behavior; conduct; deportment. [Obs.]
I knew them well, and marked their rude comport. Dryden.
COMPORTABLE
Com*port"a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable; consistent. [Obs.] "Some comportable method." Wotton.
COMPORTANCE
Com*port"ance, n.
Defn: Behavior; comport. [Obs.]
Goodly comportance each to other bear. Spenser.
COMPORTATION
Com`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. comportatio.]
Defn: A bringing together. [Obs.] Bp. Richardson.
COMPORTMENT
Com*port"ment, n. Etym: [F. comportement.]
Defn: Manner of acting; behavior; bearing.
A graceful comportment of their bodies. Cowley.
Her serious and devout comportment. Addison.
COMPOSE
Com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Composed; p. pr. & vb. n. Composing.]
Etym: [F. composer; com- + poser to place. The sense is that of L.
componere, but the prigin is different. See Pose, v. t.]
1. To form by putting together two or more things or parts; to put
together; to make up; to fashion.
Zeal ought to be composed of the hidhest degrees of all pious
affection. Bp. Sprat.
2. To form the substance of, or part of the substance of; to
constitute.
Their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb. Milton.
A few useful things . . . compose their intellectual possessions. I.
Watts.
3. To construct by mental labor; to design and execute, or put
together, in a manner involving the adaptation of forms of expression
to ideas, or to the laws of harmony or proportion; as, to compose a
sentence, a sermon, a symphony, or a picture.
Let me compose Something in verse as well as prose. Pope.
The genius that composed such works as the "Standard" and "Last
Supper". B. R. Haydon.
4. To dispose in proper form; to reduce to order; to put in proper
state or condition; to adjust; to regulate.
In a peaceful grave my corpse compose. Dryden.
How in safety best we may Compose our present evils. Milton.
5. To free from agitation or disturbance; to tranquilize; to soothe;
to calm; to quiet.
Compose thy mind; Nor frauds are here contrived, nor force designed.
Dryden.
6. (Print.)
Defn: To arrange (types) in a composing stick in order for printing;
to set (type).
COMPOSE
Com*pose", v. i.
Defn: To come to terms. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOSED
Com*posed", a.
Defn: Free from agitation; calm; sedate; quiet; tranquil; self-
possessed.
The Mantuan there in sober triumph sate, Composed his posture, and
his look sedate. Pope.
-- Com*pos"ed*ly (, adv.
-- Com*pos"ed*ness, n.
COMPOSER
Com*pos"er, n.
1. One who composes; an author. Specifically, an author of a piece of
music.
If the thoughts of such authors have nothing in them, they at least .
. . show an honest industry and a good intention in the composer.
Addison.
His [Mozart's] most brilliant and solid glory is founded upon his
talents as a composer. Moore (Encyc. of Mus. ).
2. One who, or that which, quits or calms; one who adjust a
difference.
Sweet composes of the pensive sGay.
COMPOSING
Com*pos"ing, a.
1. Tending to compose or soothe.
2. Pertaining to, or used in, composition. Composing frame (Print.),
a stand for holding cases of type when in use.
-- Composing rule (Print.), a thin slip of brass or steel, against
which the type is arranged in a composing stick, or by the aid of
which stickfuls or handfuls or type are lifted; -- called also
setting rule.
-- Composing stick (Print.), an instrument usually of metal, which
the compositor holds in his left hand, and in which he arranges the
type in words and lines. It has one open side, and one adjustable end
by means of which the length of the lines, and consequently the width
of the page or column, may be determined.
COMPOSITAE
Com*pos"i*tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. compositus made up of parts.
See Composite.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large family of dicotyledonous plants, having their flowers
arranged in dense heads of many small florets and their anthers
united in a tube. The daisy, dandelion, and asters, are examples.
COMPOSITE
Com*pos"ite, a. Etym: [L. compositus made up of parts, p. p. of
componere. See Compound, v. t., and cf. Compost.]
1. Made up of distinct parts or elements; compounded; as, a composite
language.
Happiness, like air and water . . . is composite. Landor.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Belonging to a certain order which is composed of the Ionic
order grafted upon the Corinthian. It is called also the Roman or the
Italic order, and is one of the five orders recognized by the Italian
writers of the sixteenth century. See Capital.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the order Compositæ; bearing involucrate heads of
many small florets, as the daisy, thistle, and dandelion. Composite
carriage, a railroad car having compartments of different classes.
[Eng.] -- Composite number (Math.), one which can be divided exactly
by a number exceeding unity, as 6 by 2 or 3.prime number.
-- Composite photograph or portrait, one made by a combination, or
blending, of several distinct photographs. F. Galton.
-- Composite sailing (Naut.), a combination of parallel and great
circle sailing.
-- Composite ship, one with a wooden casing and iron frame.
COMPOSITE
Com*pos"ite, n.
Defn: That which is made up of parts or compounded of several
elements; composition; combination; compound. [R.]
COMPOSITION
Com`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F. composition, fr. L. compositio. See
Composite.]
1. The act or art of composing, or forming a whole or integral, by
placing together and uniting different things, parts, or ingredients.
In specific uses:
(a) The invention or combination of the parts of any literary work or
discourse, or of a work of art; as, the composition of a poem or a
piece of music. "The constant habit of elaborate composition."
Macaulay.
(b) (Fine Arts) The art or practice of so combining the different
parts of a work of art as to produce a harmonious whole; also, a work
of art considered as such. See 4, below.
(c) The act of writing for practice in a language, as English, Latin,
German, etc.
(d) (Print.) The setting up of type and arranging it for printing.
2. The state of being put together or composed; conjunction;
combination; adjustment.
View them in composition with other things. I. Watts.
The elementary composition of bodies. Whewell.
3. A mass or body formed by combining two or more substances; as, a
chemical composition.
A omposition that looks . . . like marble. Addison.
4. A literary, musical, or artistic production, especially one
showing study and care in arrangement; -- often used of an elementary
essay or translation done as an educational exercise.
5. Consistency; accord; congruity. [Obs.]
There is no composition in these news That gives them credit. Shak.
6. Mutual agreement to terms or conditions for the settlement of a
difference or controversy; also, the terms or conditions of
settlement; agreement.
Thus we are agreed: I crave our composition may be written. Shak.
7. (Law)
Defn: The adjustment of a debt, or avoidance of an obligation, by
some form of compensation agreed on between the parties; also, the
sum or amount of compensation agreed upon in the adjustment.
Compositions for not taking the order of knighthood. Hallam.
Cleared by composition with their creditors. Blackstone.
8. Synthesis as opposed to analysis.
The investigation of difficult things by the method of analysis ought
ever to precede the method of composition. Sir I. Newton.
Composition cloth, a kind of clotch covered with a preparation making
it waterproof.
-- Composition deed, an agreement for composition between a debtor
and several creditors.
-- Composition plane (Crystallog.), the plane by which the two
individuals of a twin crystal are united in their reserved positions.
-- Composition of forces (Mech.), the finding of a single force
(called the resultant) which shall be equal in effect to two or more
given forces (called the components) when acting in given directions.
Herbert.
-- Composition metal, an alloy resembling brass, which is sometimes
used instead of copper for sheathing vessels; -- also called Muntz
metal and yellow metal.
-- Composition of proportion (Math.), an arrangement of four
proportionals so that the sum of the arrangement of four
proportionals so that the sum of the third and fourth to the
fourth.COMPOSITIVE
Com*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. compositivus.]
Defn: Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded.
[R.]
COMPOSITIVE
Com*pos"i*tive, a. [L. compositivus.]
Defn: Having the quality of entering into composition; compounded.
[R.]
COMPOSITOR
Com*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., an arranger.]
1. One who composes or sets in order.
2. (Print.)
Defn: One who sets type and arranges it for use.
COMPOSITOUS
Com*pos"i*tous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Compositæ; composite. [R.] Darwin.
COMPOS-MENTIS
Com"pos-men"tis, n.
Defn: One who is compos mentis. [Colloq.]
COMPOSSIBLE
Com*pos"si*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. com- + possible.]
Defn: Able to exist with another thing; consistent. [R.]
Chillingworth.
COMPOST
Com"post, n.Etym: [OF. compost, fr. L. compositus, p. p. See
Composite.]
1. A mixture; a compound. [R.]
A sad compost of more bitter than sweet. Hammond.
2. (Agric.)
Defn: A mixture for fertilizing land; esp., a composition of various
substances (as muck, mold, lime, and stable manure) thoroughly
mingled and decomposed, as in a compost heap.
And do not spread the compost on the weeds To make them ranker. Shak.
COMPOST
Com"post, v. t.
1. To manure with compost.
2. To mingle, as different fertilizing substances, in a mass where
they will decompose and form into a compost.
COMPOSTURE
Com*pos"ture, n. Etym: [L. compositura, -postura, a joining.]
Defn: Manure; compost. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOSURE
Com*po"sure, n. Etym: [From Compose.]
1. The act of composing, or that which is composed; a composition.
[Obs.]
Signor Pietro, who had an admirable way both of composure [in music]
and teaching. Evelyn.
2. Orderly adjustment; disposition. [Obs.]
Various composures and combinations of these corpuscles. Woodward.
3. Frame; make; temperament. [Obs.]
His composure must be rare indeed Whom these things can not blemish.
Shak.
4. A settled state; calmness; sedateness; tranquillity; repose. "We
seek peace and composure." Milton.
When the passions . . . are all silent, the mind enjoys its most
perfect composure. I. Watts.
5. A combination; a union; a bond. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPOTATION
Com`po*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. compotatio; com- + potare to drink.]
Defn: The act of drinking or tippling together. [R.]
The fashion of compotation. Sir W. Scott.
COMPOTATOR
Com"po*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who drinks with another. [R.] Pope.
COMPOTE
Com"pote, n. Etym: [F. See Compost.]
Defn: A preparation of fruit in sirup in such a manner as to preserve
its form, either whole, halved, or quartered; as, a compote of pears.
Littr
COMPOTIER
Com`po`tier" (kôN`po`tya"), n.; pl. Compotiers (F. tya"). [F.]
Defn: A dish for holding compotes, fruit, etc.
COMPOUND
Com"pound, n. Etym: [Malay kompund a village.]
Defn: In the East Indies, an inclosure containing a house,
outbuildings, etc.
COMPOUND
Com*pound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compounded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Compounding.] Etym: [OE. componen, compounen, L. componere,
compositum; com-+ ponere to put set. The d is excrescent. See
Position, and cf. Componé.]
1. To form or make by combining different elements, ingredients, or
parts; as, to compound a medicine.
Incapacitating him from successfully compounding a tale of this sort.
Sir W. Scott.
2. To put together, as elements, ingredients, or parts, in order to
form a whole; to combine, mix, or unite.
We have the power of altering and compounding those images into all
the varieties of picture. Addison.
3. To modify or change by combination with some other thing or part;
to mingle with something else.
Only compound me with forgotten dust. Shak.
4. To compose; to constitute. [Obs.]
His pomp and all what state compounds. Shak.
5. To settle amicably; to adjust by agreement; to compromise; to
discharge from obligation upon terms different from those which were
stipulated; as, to compound a debt.
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife. Shak.
To compound a felony, to accept of a consideration for forbearing to
prosecute, such compounding being an indictable offense. See
Theftbote.
COMPOUND
Com*pound", v. i.
Defn: To effect a composition; to come to terms of agreement; to
agree; to settle by a compromise; -- usually followed by with before
the person participating, and for before the thing compounded or the
consideration.
Here's a fellow will help you to-morrow; . . . compound with him by
the year. Shak.
They were at last glad to compound for his bare commitment to the
Tower. Clarendon.
Cornwall compounded to furnish ten oxen after Michaelmas for thirty
pounds. R. Carew.
Compound for sins they are inclined to By damning those they have no
mind to. Hudibras.
COMPOUND
Com"pound, a. Etym: [OE. compouned, p. p. of compounen. See Compound,
v. t.]
Defn: Composed of two or more elements, ingredients, parts; produced
by the union of several ingredients, parts, or things; composite; as,
a compound word.
Compound substances are made up of two or more simple substances. I.
Watts.
Compound addition, substraction, multiplication, division (Arith.),
the addition, substraction, etc., of compound numbers.
-- Compound crystal (Crystallog.), a twin crystal, or one seeming to
be made up of two or more crystals combined according to regular laws
of composition.
-- Compound engine (Mech.), a form of steam engine in which the
steam that has been used in a high-pressure cylinder is made to do
further service in a larger low-pressure cylinder, sometimes in
several larger cylinders, successively.
-- Compound ether. (Chem.) See under Ether.
-- Compound flower (Bot.), a flower head resembling a single flower,
but really composed of several florets inclosed in a common calyxlike
involucre, as the sunflower or dandelion.
-- Compound fraction. (Math.) See Fraction.
-- Compound fracture. See Fracture.
-- Compound householder, a householder who compounds or arranges
with his landlord that his rates shall be included in his rents.
[Eng.] -- Compound interest. See Interest.
-- Compound larceny. (Law) See Larceny.
-- Compound leaf (Bot.), a leaf having two or more separate blades
or leaflets on a common leafstalk.
-- Compound microscope. See Microscope.
-- Compound motion. See Motion.
-- Compound number (Math.), one constructed according to a varying
scale of denomination; as, 3 cwt., 1 qr., 5 lb.; -- called also
denominate number.
-- Compound pier (Arch.), a clustered column.
-- Compound quantity (Alg.), a quantity composed of two or more
simple quantities or terms, connected by the sign + (plus) or -
(minus). Thus, a + b - c, and bb - b, are compound quantities.
-- Compound radical. (Chem.) See Radical.
-- Compound ratio (Math.), the product of two or more ratios; thus
ab:cd is a ratio compounded of the simple ratios a:c and b:d.
-- Compound rest (Mech.), the tool carriage of an engine lathe.
-- Compound screw (Mech.), a screw having on the same axis two or
more screws with different pitch (a differential screw), or running
in different directions (a right and left screw).
-- Compound time (Mus.), that in which two or more simple measures
are combined in one; as, 6-8 time is the joining of two measures of
3-8 time.
-- Compound word, a word composed of two or more words;
specifically, two or more words joined together by a hyphen.
COMPOUND
Com"pound, n.
1. That which is compounded or formed by the union or mixture of
elements ingredients, or parts; a combination of simples; a compound
word; the result of composition. Shak.
Rare compound of oddity, frolic, and fun. Goldsmith.
When the word "bishopric" was first made, it was made as a compound.
Earle.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A union of two or more ingredients in definite proportions by
weight, so combined as to form a distinct substance; as, water is a
compound of oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: Every definite chemical compound always contains the same
elements, united in the same proportions by weight, and with the same
internal arrangement. Binary compound (Chem.). See under Binary.
-- Carbon compounds (Chem.). See under Carbon.
COMPOUNDABLE
Com*pound"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be compounded.
COMPOUND CONTROL
Com"pound con*trol". (Aëronautics)
Defn: A system of control in which a separate manipulation, as of a
rudder, may be effected by either of two movements, in different
directions, of a single lever, etc.
COMPOUNDER
Com*pound"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, compounds or mixes; as, a compounder of
medicines.
2. One who attempts to bring persons or parties to terms of
agreement, or to accomplish, ends by compromises. "Compounder in
politics." Burke.
3. One who compounds a debt, obligation, or crime.
Religious houses made compounders For the horrid actions of their
founders. Hudibras.
4. One at a university who pays extraordinary fees for the degree he
is to take. [Eng.] A. Wood.
5. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A Jacobite who favored the restoration of James II, on
condition of a general amnesty and of guarantees for the security of
the civil and ecclesiastical constitution of the realm.
COMPRADOR
Com`pra*dor, n. Etym: [Pg., a buyer.]
Defn: A kind of steward or agent. [China] S. W. Williams
COMPRECATION
Com`pre*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. comprecatio, fr. comprecari to pray to.
See Precarious.]
Defn: A praying together. [Obs.] Bp. Wilkins.
COMPREHEND
Com`pre*hend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comprehended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Comprehending.] Etym: [L. comprehendere, comprehensum; com- +
prehendere to grasp, seize; prae before + hendere (used only in
comp.). See Get, and cf. Comprise.]
1. To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in
the Austrian Empire.
Who hath . . . comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure. Is.
xl. 12.
2. To take in or include by construction or implication; to comprise;
to imply.
Comprehended all in this one word, Discretion. Hobbes.
And if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in
this saying. Rom. xiii. 9.
3. To take into the mind; to grasp with the understanding; to
apprehend the meaning of; to understand.
At a loss to comprehend the question. W. Irwing.
Great things doeth he, which we can not comprehend. Job. xxxvii. 5.
Syn.
-- To contain; include; embrace; comprise; inclose; grasp; embody;
involve; imply; apprehend; imagine; conceive; understand. See
Apprehend.
COMPREHENSIBILITY
Com`pre*hen`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being comprehensible; capability of
being understood.
COMPREHENSIBLE
Com"pre*hen"si*ble, a. Etym: [L. comprehensibilis: cf. F.
compreéhensible.]
1. Capable of being comprehended, included, or comprised.
Lest this part of knowledge should seem to any not comprehensible by
axiom, we will set down some heads of it. Bacon.
2. Capable of being understood; intelligible; conceivable by the
mind.
The horizon sets the bounds . . . between what is and what is not
comprehensible by us. Locke.
COMPREHENSIBLENESS
Com`pre*hen"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being comprehensible; comprehensibility.
COMPREHENSIBLY
Com`pre*hen"si*bly, adv.
1. With great extent of signification; comprehensively. Tillotson.
2. Intelligibly; in a manner to be comprehended or understood.
COMPREHENSION
Com`pre*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. comprehensio: cf. F. compréhension.]
1. The act of comprehending, containing, or comprising; inclusion.
In the Old Testament there is a close comprehension of the New; in
the New, an open discovery of the Old. Hooker.
2. That which is comrehended or inclosed within narrow limits; a
summary; an epitome. [Obs.]
Though not a catalogue of fundamentals, yet . . . a comprehension of
them. Chillingworth.
3. The capacity of the mind to perceive and understand; the power,
act, or process of grasping with the intellect; perception;
understanding; as, a comprehension of abstract principles.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The complement of attributes which make up the notion signified
by a general term.
5. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which the name of a whole is put for a part, or
that of a part for a whole, or a definite number for an indefinite.
COMPREHENSIVE
Com`pre*hen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compréhensif.]
1. Including much; comprising many things; having a wide scope or a
full view.
A very comprehensive definition. Bentley.
Large and comprehensive idea. Channing.
2. Having the power to comprehend or understand many things. "His
comprehensive head." Pope.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Possessing peculiarities that are characteristic of several
diverse groups.
Note: The term is applied chiefly to early fossil groups which have a
combination of structures that appear in more fully developed or
specialized forms in later groups. Synthetic, as used by Agssiz, is
nearly synonymous.
Syn.
-- Extensive; wide; large; full; compendious.
COMPREHENSIVELY
Com`pre*hen"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a comprehensive manner; with great extent of scope.
COMPREHENSIVENESS
Com`pre*hen"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being comprehensive; extensiveness of scope.
Compare the beauty and comprehensiveness of legends on ancient coins.
Addison.
COMPREHENSOR
Com`pre*hen"sor, n.
Defn: One who comprehends; one who has attained to a full knowledge.
[Obs.]
When I shall have dispatched this weary pilgrimage, and from a
traveler shall come to be a comprehensor, farewell faith and welcome
vision. Bp. Hall.
COMPRESS
Com*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compressed; p. pr & vb. n.
Compressing.] Etym: [L. compressus, p. p. of comprimere to compress:
com- + premere to press. See Press.]
1. To press or squeeze together; to force into a narrower compass; to
reduce the volume of by pressure; to compact; to condense; as, to
compress air or water.
Events of centuries . . . compressed within the compass of a single
life. D. Webster.
The same strength of expression, though more compressed, runs through
his historical harangues. Melmoth.
2. To embrace sexually. [Obs.] Pope.
Syn.
-- To crowd; squeeze; condense; reduce; abridge.
COMPRESS
Com"press, n. Etym: [F. compresse.] (Surg.)
Defn: A folded piece of cloth, pledget of lint, etc., used to cover
the dressing of wounds, and so placed as, by the aid of a bandage, to
make due pressure on any part.
COMPRESSED
Com*pressed", a.
1. Pressed together; compacted; reduced in volume by pressure.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Flattened lengthwise. Compessed air engine, an engine operated
by the elastic force of compressed air.
COMPRESSED YEAST
Com*pressed" yeast.
Defn: A cake yeast made by filtering the cells from the liquid in
which they are grown, subjecting to heavy pressure, and mixing with
starch or flour.
COMPRESSIBILITY
Com*press`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. compressibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being compressible of being compressible; as,
the compressibility of elastic fluids.
COMPRESSIBLE
Com*press"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compressible.]
Defn: Capable of being pressed together or forced into a narrower
compass, as an elastic or spongy substance.
COMPRESSIBLENESS
Com*press"ible*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being compressible; compressibility.
COMPRESSION
Com*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. compressio: cf. F. compression.]
Defn: The act of compressing, or state of being compressed.
"Compression of thought." Johnson.
COMPRESSION PROJECTILE
Com*pres"sion pro*jec"tile.
Defn: A projectile constructed so as to take the grooves of a rifle
by means of a soft copper band firmly attached near its base or,
formerly, by means of an envelope of soft metal. In small arms the
modern projectile, having a soft core and harder jacket, is subjected
to compression throughout the entire cylindrical part.
COMPRESSIVE
Com*press"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. compressif.]
Defn: Compressing, or having power or tendency to compress; as, a
compressive force.
COMPRESSOR
Com*press"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Anything which serves to compress; as:
(a) (Anat.) A muscle that compresses certain parts.
(b) (Surg.) An instrument for compressing an artery (esp., the
femoral artery) or other part.
(c) An apparatus for confining or flattening between glass plates an
object to be examined with the microscope; -- called also
compressorium.
(d) (Mach.) A machine for compressing gases; especially, an air
compressor.
COMPRESSURE
Com*pres"sure, n.
Defn: Compression.
COMPRINT
Com*print", v. t. & i.
1. To print together.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: To print surreptitiously a work belonging to another. E.
Phillips.
COMPRINT
Com"print, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: The surreptitious printing of another's copy or book; a work
thus printed.
COMPRISAL
Com*pris"al, n.
Defn: The act of comprising or comprehending; a compendium or
epitome.
A comprisal . . . and sum of all wickedness. Barrow.
COMPRISE
Com*prise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Comprised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Comprising.] Etym: [From F. compris, comprise, p. p. of comprendre,
L. comprehendere. See Comprehend.]
Defn: To comprehend; to include.
Comprise much matter in few words. Hocker.
Friendship does two souls in one comprise. Roscommon.
Syn.
-- To embrace; include; comprehend; contain; encircle; inclose;
involve; imply.
COMPROBATE
Com"pro*bate, v. i. Etym: [L. comprobatus, p. p. of comprobare, to
approve wholly.]
Defn: To agree; to concur. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
COMPROBATION
Com`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. comprobatio.]
1. Joint attestation; proof. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Approbation. [Obs.] Foxe.
COMPROMISE
Com"pro*mise, n. Etym: [F. compromis, fr. L. compromissum a mutual
promise to abide by the decision of an arbiter, fr. compromittere to
make such a promise; com- + promittere to promise. See Promise.]
1. A mutual agreement to refer matters in dispute to the decision of
arbitrators. [Obs.] Burrill.
2. A settlement by arbitration or by mutual consent reached by
concession on both sides; a reciprocal abatement of extreme demands
or rights, resulting in an agreement.
But basely yielded upon compromise That which his noble ancestors
achieved with blows. Shak.
All government, indeed every human benefit and enjoyment, every
virtue and every prudent act, is founded on compromise and barter.
Burke.
An abhorrence of concession and compromise is a never failing
characteristic of religious factions. Hallam.
3. A committal to something derogatory or objectionable; a
prejudicial concession; a surrender; as, a compromise of character or
right.
I was determined not to accept any fine speeches, to the compromise
of that sex the belonging to which was, after all, my strongest claim
and title to them. Lamb.
COMPROMISE
Com"pro*mise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compromised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Compromising.] Etym: [From Compromise, n.; cf. Compromit.]
1. To bind by mutual agreement; to agree. [Obs.]
Laban and himself were compromised That all the eanlings which were
streaked and pied Should fall as Jacob's hire. Shak.
2. To adjust and settle by mutual concessions; to compound.
The controversy may easily be compromised. Fuller.
3. To pledge by some act or declaration; to endanger the life,
reputation, etc., of, by some act which can not be recalled; to
expose to suspicion.
To pardon all who had been compromised in the late disturbances.
Motley.
COMPROMISE
Com"pro*mise, v. i.
1. To agree; to accord. [Obs.]
2. To make concession for concilation and peace.
COMPROMISER
Com"pro*mi`ser, n.
Defn: One who compromises.
COMPROMISSORIAL
Com`pro*mis*so"ri*al, a.
Defn: Relating to compromise. [R.] Chalmers.
COMPROMIT
Com"pro*mit`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Compromitted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Compromitting.] Etym: [L. compromittere. See Compromise, n.]
1. To pledge by some act or declaration; to promise. State Trials
(1529).
2. To put to hazard, by some indiscretion; to endanger; to
compromise; as, to compromit the honor or the safety of a nation.
COMPROVINCIAL
Com`pro*vin"cial, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or associated in, the same province. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: One who belongs to the same province. [Obs.]
The six islands, comprovincial In ancient times unto Great Britain.
Spenser.
COMPSOGNATHUS
Comp*sog"na*thus ( , n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Dinosauria found in the Jurassic formation, and
remarkable for having several birdlike features.
COMPT
Compt (kount, formerly kòmt; 215), n. Etym: [F. compte. See Count an
account.]
Defn: Account; reckoning; computation. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPT
Compt, v. t. Etym: [F. compter. See Count, v. t.]
Defn: To compute; to count. [Obs.] See Count.
COMPT
Compt, a. Etym: [L. comptus, p. p. of comere to care for, comb,
arrange, adorn.]
Defn: Neat; spruce. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
COMPTER
Compt"er, n.
Defn: A counter. [Obs.] Shak.
COMPTE RENDU
Compte" ren`du. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A report of an officer or agent.
COMPTIBLE
Compt"i*ble, a. Etym: [See Compt, v. t.]
Defn: Accountable; responsible; sensitive. [Obs.]
I am very comptible even to the least sinister usage. Shak.
COMPTLY
Compt"ly, adv.
Defn: Neatly. [Obs.] Sherwood.
COMPTOGRAPH
Comp"to*graph, n. [F. compter to count + -graph.]
Defn: A machine for adding numbers and making a printed record of the
sum.
COMPTOMETER
Comp*tom"e*ter, n. [See Count; -meter.]
Defn: A calculating machine; an arithmometer.
COMPTROL
Comp*trol", n. & v.
Defn: See Control.
COMPTROLER
Comp*trol"er, n.
Defn: A controller; a public officer whose duty it is to examine
certify accounts.
COMPULSATIVE
Com*pul"sa*tive, a. Etym: [From L. compulsare, v. intens. of
compellere. See Compel.]
Defn: Compulsatory. [R.] Shak.
COMPULSATIVELY
Com*pul"sa*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion. [R.]
COMPULSATORY
Com*pul"sa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Operating with force; compelling; forcing; constraininig;
resulting from, or enforced by, compulsion. [R.]
To recover of us, by strong hand And terms compulsatory, those
foresaid lands. Shak.
COMPULSION
Com*pul"sion, n. Etym: [L. compulsio. See Compel.]
Defn: The act of compelling, or the state of being compelled; the act
of driving or urging by force or by physical or moral constraint;
subjection to force.
If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would give no man a
reason upon compulsion. Shak.
With what complusion and laborious flight We sunk thus low. Milton.
Syn.
-- See Constraint.
COMPULSIVE
Com*pul"sive, a.
Defn: Having power to compel; exercising or applying compulsion.
Religion is . . . inconsistent with all compulsive motives. Sharp.
COMPULSIVELY
Com*pul"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: By compulsion; by force.
COMPULSORILY
Com*pul"so*ri*ly, adv. In a compulsory manner
Defn: ; by force or constraint.
COMPULSORY
Com*pul"so*ry, a. Etym: [LL. compulsorius.]
1. Having the power of compulsion; constraining.
2. Obligatory; enjoined by authority; necessary; due to complusion.
This contribution therestening fall infinitely short of their hopes,
they soon made it compulsory. Burke.
COMPUNCT
Com*punct", a. Etym: [LL. compunctus, p. p.]
Defn: Affected with compunction; conscience-stricken. [Obs.]
COMPUNCTION
Com*punc"tion, n. Etym: [OF. compunction, F. componction, L.
compunctio, fr. compungere, compunctum, to prick; com- + pungere to
prick, sting. See Pungent.]
1. A pricking; stimulation. [Obs.]
That acid piecering spirit which, with such activity and compunction,
invadeth the brains and nostrils. Sir T. Browne.
2. A picking of heart; poignant grief proceeding from a sense of
guilt or consciousness of causing pain; the sting of conscience.
He acknowledged his disloyalty to the king, with expressions of great
compunction. Clarendon.
Syn.
-- Compunction, Remorse, Contrition. Remorse is anguish of soul
under a sense of guilt or consciousness of having offened God or
brought evil upon one's self or others. Compunction is the pain
occasioned by a wounded and awakened conscience. Neither of them
implies true contrition, which denotes self-condemnation,
humiliation, and repentance. We speak of the gnawings of remorse; of
compunction for a specific act of transgression; of deep contrition
in view of our past lives. See Regret.
COMPUNCTIONLESS
Com*punc"tion*less, a.
Defn: Without compunction.
COMPUNCTIOUS
Com*punc"tious, a.
Defn: Of the nature of compunction; caused by conscience; attended
with, or causing, compunction.
That no compunctious vistings of nature Shake my fell purpose. Shak.
COMPUNCTIOUSLY
Com*punc"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: With compunction.
COMPUNCTIVE
Com*punc"tive, a.
Defn: Sensitive in respect of wrongdoing; conscientious. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
COMPURGATION
Com`pur*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. compurgatio, fr. compurgare to purify
wholly; com- + purgare to make pure. See Purge, v. t.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The act or practice of justifying or confirming a man's
veracity by the oath of others; -- called also wager of law. See
Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.
2. Exculpation by testimony to one's veracity or innocence.
He was privileged from his childhood from suspicion of incontinency
and needed no compurgation. Bp. Hacket.
COMPURGATOR
Com"pur*ga`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who bears testimony or swears to the veracity or innocence
of another. See Purgation; also Wager of law, under Wager.
All they who know me . . . will say they have reason in this matter
to be my compurgators. Chillingworth.
COMPURGATORIAL
Com*pur`ga*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Relating to a compurgator or to compurgation. "Their
compurgatorial oath." Milman.
COMPUTABLE
Com*put"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. computabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being computed, numbered, or reckoned.
Not easily computable by arithmetic. Sir M. Hale.
COMPUTATION
Com`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. computatio: cf. F. computation.]
1. The act or process of computing; calculation; reckoning.
By just computation of the time. Shak.
By a computation backward from ourselves. Bacon.
2. The result of computation; the amount computed.
Syn.
-- Reckoning; calculation; estimate; account.
COMPUTE
Com*pute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Computed; p. pr. & vb. n. Computing.]
Etym: [L. computare. See Count, v. t.]
Defn: To determine calculation; to reckon; to count.
Two days, as we compute the days of heaven. Milton.
What's done we partly may compute, But know not what's resisted.
Burns.
Syn.
-- To calculate; number; count; recken; estimate; enumerate; rate.
See Calculate.
COMPUTE
Com*pute", n. Etym: [L. computus: cf. F. comput.]
Defn: Computation. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
COMPUTER
Com*put"er, n.
Defn: One who computes.
COMPUTIST
Com"pu*tist, n.
Defn: A computer.
COMRADE
Com"rade ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Sp. camarada, fr. L. camara, a
chamber; hence, a chamber-fellowship, and then a chamber-fellow: cf.
F. camarade. Cf. Chamber.]
Defn: A mate, companion, or associate.
And turned my flying comrades to the charge. J. Baillie.
I abjure all roofs, and choose . . . To be a comrade with the wolf
and owl. Shak.
COMRADERY
Com"rade*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. camarederie.]
Defn: The spirit of comradeship; comradeship. [R.]
"Certainly", said Dunham, with the comradery of the smoker. W. D.
Howells.
COMRADESHIP
Com"rade*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a comrade; intimate fellowship.
COMROGUE
Com"rogue`, n.
Defn: A fellow rogue. [Obs.]
COMTISM
Com"tism ( or ), n. Etym: [Named after the French philosopher,
Auguste Comte.]
Defn: Positivism; the positive philosophy. See Positivism.
COMTIST
Com"tist, n.
Defn: A disciple of Comte; a positivist.
CON; CON-
Con
Defn: - (cum, signifying with, together, etc. See Com-.
CON
Con, adv. Etym: [Abbrev. from L. contra against.]
Defn: Against the affirmative side; in opposition; on the negative
side; -- The antithesis of pro, and usually in connection with it.
See Pro.
CON
Con, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conned; p. pr. & vb. n. Conning.] Etym: [AS.
cunnan to know, be able, and (derived from this) cunnian to try,
test. See Can, v. t. & i.]
1. To know; to understand; to acknowledge. [Obs.]
Of muses, Hobbinol, I con no skill. Spenser.
They say they con to heaven the highway. Spenser.
2. To study in order to know; to peruse; to learn; to commit to
memory; to regard studiously.
Fixedly did look Upon the muddy waters which he conned As if he had
been reading in a book. Wodsworth.
I did not come into Parliament to con my lesson. Burke.
To con answer, to be able to answer. [Obs.] -- To con thanks, to
thank; to acknowledge obligation. [Obs.] Shak.
CON
Con, v. t. Etym: [See Cond.] (Naut.)
Defn: To conduct, or superintend the steering of (a vessel); to watch
the course of (a vessel) and direct the helmsman how to steer.
CONACRE
Con*a"cre, v. t.
Defn: To underlet a proportion of, for a single crop; -- said of a
farm. [Ireland]
CONACRE
Con*a"cre, n.
Defn: A system of letting a proportion of a farm for a single crop.
[Ireland] Also used adjectively; as, the conacre system or principle.
Mozley & W.
CONARIUM
Co*na"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The pineal gland.
CONATION
Co*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. conatio.] (Philos.)
Defn: The power or act which directs or impels to effort of any kind,
whether muscular or psychical.
Of conation, in other words, of desire and will. J. S. Mill.
CONATIVE
Co"na*tive ( or ), a. Etym: [See Conatus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to conation.
This division of mind into the three great classes of the cognitive
faculties, the feelings, . . . and the exertive or conative powers, .
. . was first promulgated by Kant. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONATUS
Co*na"tus, n. Etym: [L., fr. conatus, p. p. of conari to attempt.]
Defn: A natural tendency inherent in a body to develop itself; an
attempt; an effort.
What conatus could give prickles to the porcupine or hedgehog, or to
the sheep its fleece Paley.
CONCAMERATE
Con*cam"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. concameratus, p. p. of concamerare to
arch over. See Camber.]
1. To arch over; to vault.
Of the upper beak an inch and a half consisteth of one concamerated
bone. Grew.
2. To divide into chambers or cells. Woodward.
CONCAMERATION
Con*cam`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. concameratio.]
1. An arch or vault.
2. A chamber of a multilocular shell. Glanvill.
CONCATENATE
Con*cat"e*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concatenated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concatenating.] Etym: [L. concatenatus, p. p. of concatenare to
concatenate. See Catenate.]
Defn: To link together; to unite in a series or chain, as things
depending on one another.
This all things friendly will concatenate. Dr. H. More
CONCATENATION
Con*cat`e*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. concatenatio.]
Defn: A series of links united; a series or order of things depending
on each other, as if linked together; a chain, a succession.
The stoics affirmed a fatal, unchangeable concatenation of causes,
reaching even to the illicit acts of man's will. South.
A concatenation of explosions. W. Irving.
CONCAUSE
Con*cause", n.
Defn: A joint cause. Fotherby.
CONCAVATION
Con`ca*va"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making concave.
CONCAVE
Con"cave ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. concavus; con- + cavus hollow: cf.
F. concave. See Cave a hollow.]
1. Hollow and curved or rounded; vaulted; -- said of the interior of
a curved surface or line, as of the curve of the of the inner surface
of an eggshell, in opposition to convex; as, a concave mirror; the
concave arch of the sky.
2. Hollow; void of contents. [R.]
As concave . . . as a worm-eaten nut. Shak.
CONCAVE
Con"cave, n. Etym: [L. concavum.]
1. A hollow; an arched vault; a cavity; a recess.
Up to the fiery concave towering hight. Milton.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A curved sheath or breasting for a revolving cylinder or roll.
CONCAVE
Con"cave, v. t. [imp. & p. p. concaved (; p. pr.& vb. n. Concaving.]
Defn: To make hollow or concave.
CONCAVED
Con"caved, a. (Her.)
Defn: Bowed in the form of an arch; -- called also arched.
CONCAVENESS
Con"cave*ness, n.
Defn: Hollowness; concavity.
CONCAVITY
Con*cav"i*ty, n.; pl. Concavities. Etym: [L. concavitas: cf. F.
concavité. See Concave.]
Defn: A concave surface, or the space bounded by it; the state of
being concave.
CONCAVO-CONCAVE
Con*ca`vo-con"cave, a.
Defn: Concave or hollow on both sides; double concave.
CONCAVO-CONVEX
Con*ca`vo-con"vex, a.
1. Concave on one side and convex on the other, as an eggshell or a
crescent.
2. (Optics)
Defn: Specifically, having such a combination of concave and convex
sides as makes the focal axis the shortest line between them. See
Illust. under Lens.
CONCAVOUS
Con*ca*"vous, a. Etym: [L. concavus.]
Defn: Concave. Abp. potter.
-- Con*ca"vous*ly, adv.
CONCEAL
Con*ceal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concealed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concealing.] Etym: [OF. conceler, L. concelare; con- + celareto hide;
akin to AS. helan, G. hehlen, E. hele (to cover), helmet. See Hell,
Helmet.]
Defn: To hide or withdraw from observation; to cover; to cover or
keep from sight; to prevent the discovery of; to withhold knowledge
of.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing. Prov. xxv. 2.
Declare ye among the nations, . . . publish and conceal not. Jer. 1.
2.
He which finds him shall deserve our thanks, . . . He that conceals
him, death. Shak.
Syn.
-- To hide; secrete; screen; cover; disguise; dissemble; mask; veil;
cloak; screen.
-- To Conceal, Hide, Disguise, Dissemble, Secrete. To hide is the
generic term, which embraces all the rest. To conceal is simply not
make known what we wish to keep secret. In the Bible hide often has
the specific meaning of conceal. See 1 Sam. iii. 17, 18. To disguise
or dissemble is to conceal by assuming some false appearance. To
secrete is to hide in some place of secrecy. A man may conceal facts,
disguise his sentiments, dissemble his feelings, secrete stolen
goods.
Bur double griefs afflict concealing hearts. Spenser.
Both dissemble deeply their affections. Shak.
We have in these words a primary sense, which reveals a future state,
and a secondary sense, which hides and secretes it. Warburton.
CONCEALABLE
Con*ceal"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being concealed.
CONCEALED
Con*cealed", a.
Defn: Hidden; kept from sight; secreted.
-- Con*ceal"ed*ly (, adv.
-- Con*ceal"ed*ness, n. Concealed weapons (Law), dangerous weapons
so carried on the person as to be knowingly or willfully concealed
from sight, -- a practice forbidden by statute.
CONCEALER
Con*ceal"er, n.
Defn: One who conceals.
CONCEALMENT
Con*ceal"ment, n. Etym: [OF. concelement.]
1. The act of concealing; the state of being concealed.
But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask
cheek. Shak.
Some dear cause Will in concealment wrap me up awhile. Shak.
2. A place of hiding; a secret place; a retreat frem observation.
The cleft tree Offers its kind concealment to a few. Thomson.
3. A secret; out of the way knowledge. [Obs.]
Well read in strange concealments. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: Suppression of such facts and circumstances as in justice ought
to be made known. Wharton.
CONCEDE
Con*cede", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conceded; p. pr. & vb. n. Conceding.]
Etym: [L. concedere, concessum; con- + cedere to go along, give way,
yield: cf. F. concéder. See Cede.]
1. To yield or suffer; to surrender; to grant; as. to concede the
point in question. Boyle.
2. To grant, as a right or privilege; to make concession of.
3. To admit to be true; to acknowledge.
We concede that their citizens were those who lived under different
forms. Burke.
Syn.
-- To grant; allow; admit; yield; surrender.
CONCEDE
Con*cede", v. i.
Defn: To yield or make concession.
I wished you to concede to America, at a time when she prayed
concession at our feet. Burke.
CONCEIT
Con*ceit", n. Etym: [Through French, fr. L. conceptus a conceiving,
conception, fr. concipere to conceive: cf. OF. p. p. nom. conciez
conceived. See Conceive, and cf. Concept, Deceit.]
1. That which is conceived, imagined, or formed in the mind; idea;
thought; image; conception.
In laughing, there ever procedeth a conceit of somewhat ridiculous.
Bacon.
A man wise in his own conceit. Prov. xxvi. 12.
2. Faculty of conceiving ideas; mental faculty; apprehension; as, a
man of quick conceit. [Obs.]
How often, alas! did her eyes say unto me that they loved! and yet I,
not looking for such a matter, had not my conceit open to understand
them. Sir P. Sidney.
3. Quickness of apprehension; active imagination; lively fancy.
His wit's as thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's more conceit in him
than is in a mallet. Shak.
4. A fanciful, odd, or extravagant notion; a quant fancy; an
unnatural or affected conception; a witty thought or turn of
expression; a fanciful device; a whim; a quip.
On his way to the gibbet, a freak took him in the head to go off with
a conceit. L'Estrange.
Some to conceit alone their works confine, And glittering thoughts
struck out at every line. Pope.
Tasso is full of conceits . . . which are not only below the dignity
of heroic verse but contrary to its nature. Dryden.
5. An overweening idea of one's self; vanity.
Plumed with conceit he calls aloud. Cotton.
6. Design; pattern. [Obs.] Shak. In conceit with, in accord with;
agreeing or conforming.
-- Out of conceit with, not having a favorable opinion of; not
pleased with; as, a man is out of conceit with his dress.
-- To put [one] out conceit with, to make one indifferent to a
thing, or in a degree displeased with it.
CONCEIT
Con*ceit", v. t.
Defn: To conceive; to imagine. [Archaic]
The strong, by conceiting themselves weak, are therebly rendered as
inactive . . . as if they really were so. South.
One of two bad ways you must conceit me, Either a coward or a
flatterer. Shak.
CONCEIT
Con*ceit", v. i.
Defn: To form an idea; to think. [Obs.]
Those whose . . . vulgar apprehensions conceit but low of matrimonial
purposes. Milton.
CONCEITED
Con*ceit"ed, a.
1. Endowed with fancy or imagination. [Obs.]
He was . . . pleasantly conceited, and sharp of wit. Knolles.
2. Entertaining a flattering opinion of one's self; vain.
If you think me too conceited Or to passion quickly heated. Swift.
Conceited of their own wit, science, and politeness. Bentley.
3. Curiously contrived or designed; fanciful. [Obs.]
A conceited chair to sleep in. Evelyn.
Syn.
-- Vain; proud; opinionated; egotistical.
CONCEITEDLY
Con*ceit"ed*ly, adv.
1. In an egotistical manner.
2. Fancifully; whimsically.
CONCEITEDNESS
Con*ceit"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being conceited; conceit; vanity. Addison.
CONCEITLESS
Con*ceit"less, a.
Defn: Without wit; stupid. [Obs.]
Think'st thou I am so shallow, so conceitless. To be seduced by thy
flattery Shak.
CONCEIVABLE
Con*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. concevable.]
Defn: Capable of being conceived, imagined, or understood. "Any
conceivable weight." Bp. Wilkins.
It is not conceivable that it should be indeed that very person whose
shape and voice it assumed. Atterbury.
-- Con*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Con*ceiv"a*bly, adv.
CONCEIVE
Con*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conceived; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conceiving.] Etym: [OF. conzoivre, concever, conceveir, F. concevoir,
fr. L. oncipere to take, to conceive; con- + capere to seize or take.
See Capable, and cf. Conception.]
1. To receive into the womb and begin to breed; to begin the
formation of the embryo of.
She hath also conceived a son in her old age. Luke i. 36.
2. To form in the mind; to plan; to devise; to generate; to
originate; as, to conceive a purpose, plan, hope.
It was among the ruins of the Capitol that I first conceived the idea
of a work which has amused and exercised near twenty years of my
life. Gibbon.
Conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. Is. lix.
13.
3. To apprehend by reason or imagination; to take into the mind; to
know; to imagine; to comprehend; to understand. "I conceive you."
Hawthorne.
O horror, horror, horror! Tongue nor heart Cannot conceive nor name
thee! Shak.
You will hardly conceive him to have been bred in the same climate.
Swift.
Syn.
-- To apprehend; imagine; suppose; understand; comprehend; believe;
think.
CONCEIVE
Con*ceive", v. i.
1. To have an embryo or fetus formed in the womb; to breed; to become
pregnant.
A virgin shall conceive, and bear a son. Isa. vii. 14.
2. To have a conception, idea, or opinion; think; -- with of.
Conceive of things clearly and distinctly in their own natures. I.
Watts.
CONCEIVER
Con*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who conceives.
CONCELEBRATE
Con*cel"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. concelebratus, p. p. of concelebrare
to concelebrate.]
Defn: To celebrate together. [Obs.] Holland.
CONCENT
Con*cent", n. Etym: [L. concentus, fr. concinere to sing together;
con- + canere to sing.]
1. Concert of voices; concord of sounds; harmony; as, a concent of
notes. [Archaic.] Bacon.
That undisturbed song of pure concent. Milton.
2. Consistency; accordance. [Obs.]
In concent to his own principles. Atterbury.
CONCENTER; CONCENTRE
Con*cen"ter, Con*cen"tre, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concentered or
Concentred (; p. pr & vb. n. Concentering or Concentring (.] Etym:
[F. concentrer, fr. L. con- + centrum center. See Center, and cf.
Concentrate]
Defn: To come to one point; to meet in, or converge toward, a common
center; to have a common center.
God, in whom all perfections concenter. Bp. Beveridge.
CONCENTER; CONCENTRE
Con*cen"ter, Con*cen"tre, v. t.
Defn: To draw or direct to a common center; to bring together at a
focus or point, as two or more lines; to concentrate.
In thee concentering all their precious beams. Milton.
All is concentered in a life intense. Byren.
CONCENTRATE
Con*cen"trate ( or ), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concentrated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Concentrating.] Etym: [Pref. con- + L. centrum center. Cf.
Concenter.]
1. To bring to, or direct toward, a common center; to unite more
closely; to gather into one body, mass, or force; to fix; as, to
concentrate rays of light into a focus; to concentrate the attention.
(He) concentrated whole force at his own camp. Motley.
2. To increase the strength and diminish the bulk of, as of a liquid
or an ore; to intensify, by getting rid of useless material; to
condense; as, to concentrate acid by evaporation; to concentrate by
washing; -- opposed to Ant: dilute.
Spirit of vinegar concentrated and reduced to its greatest strength.
Arbuthnot.
Syn.
-- To combine; to condense; to consolidate.
CONCENTRATE
Con*cen"trate ( or ), v. i.
Defn: To approach or meet in a common center; to consolidate; as,
population tends to concentrate in cities.
CONCENTRATION
Con`cen*tra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. concentration.]
1. The act or process of concentrating; the process of becoming
concentrated, or the state of being concentrated; concentration.
Concentration of the lunar beams. Boyle.
Intense concetration of thought. Sir J. Herschel.
2. The act or process of reducing the volume of a liquid, as by
evaporation.
The acid acquires a higher degree of concentration. Knight.
3. (Metal.)
Defn: The act or process of removing the dress of ore and of reducing
the valuable part to smaller compass, as by currents of air or water.
CONCENTRATIVE
Con*cen"tra*tive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to concentrate; characterized by
concentration.
A discrimination is only possible by a concentrative act, or act of
attention. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONCENTRATIVENESS
Con*cen"tra*tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of concentrating.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty or propensity which has to do with concentrating
the intellectual the intellectual powers. Combe.
CONCENTRATOR
Con"cen*tra`tor, n. (Mining)
Defn: An apparatus for the separation of dry comminuted ore, by
exposing it to intermittent puffs of air. Knight.
CONCENTRIC; CONCENTRICAL
Con*cen"tric, Con*cen"tric*al, a. Etym: [F. concentrique. See
Concenter.]
Defn: Having a common center, as circles of different size, one
within another.
Concentric circles upon the surface of the water. Sir I. Newton.
Concentrical rings like those of an onion. Arbuthnot.
CONCENTRIC
Con*cen"tric, n.
Defn: That which has a common center with something else.
Its pecular relations to its concentrics. Coleridge.
CONCENTRICALLY
Con*cen"tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concentric manner.
CONCENTRICITY
Con`cen*tric"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being concentric.
CONCENTUAL
Con*cen"tu*al, a. [From Concent.]
Defn: Possesing harmony; accordant. [R.] Warton.
CONCEPT
Con"cept, n. Etym: [L. conceptus (cf. neut. conceptum fetus), p. p.
of concipere to conceive: cf. F. concept. See Conceit.]
Defn: An abstract general conception; a notion; a universal.
The words conception, concept, notion, should be limited to the
thought of what can not be represented in the imagination; as, the
thought suggested by a general term. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONCEPTACLE
Con*cep"ta*cle, n. Etym: [L. conceptaculum, fr. concipere to receive.
See Conceive.]
1. That in which anything is contained; a vessel; a receiver or
receptacle. [Obs.] Woodward.
2. (Bot.)
(a) A pericarp, opening longitudinally on one side and having the
seeds loose in it; a follicle; a double follicle or pair of
follicles.
(b) One of the cases containing the spores, etc., of flowerless
plants, especially of algae.
CONCEPTIBILITY
Con*cep`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being conceivable; conceivableness. Cudworth.
CONCEPTIBLE
Con*cep"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Conceive.]
Defn: Capable of being conceived; conceivable. Sir M. Hale.
CONCEPTION
Con*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. conception, L. conceptio, fr. concipere to
conceive. See Conceive.]
1. The act of conceiving in the womb; the initiation of an embryonic
animal life.
I will greaty multiply thy sorrow and thy conception. Gen. iii. 16.
2. The state of being conceived; beginning.
Joy had the like conception in our eyes. Shak.
3. The power or faculty of apprehending of forming an idea in the
mind; the power of recalling a past sensation or perception.
Under the article of conception, I shall confine myself to that
faculty whose province it is to enable us to form a notion of our
past sensations, or of the objects of sense that we have formerly
perceived. Stewart.
4. The formation in the mind of an image, idea, or notion,
apprehension.
Conception consists in a conscious act of the understanding, bringing
any given object or impression into the same class with any number of
other objects or impression, by means of some character or characters
common to them all. Coleridge.
5. The image, idea, or notion of any action or thing which is formed
in the mind; a concept; a notion; a universal; the product of a
rational belief or judgment. See Concept.
He [Herodotus] says that the sun draws or attracts the water; a
metaphorical term obviously intended to denote some more general and
abstract conception than that of the visible operation which the word
primarily signifies. Whewell.
6. Idea; purpose; design.
Note this dangerous conception. Shak.
7. Conceit; affected sentiment or thought. [Obs.]
He . . . is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticism.
Dryden.
Syn.
-- Idea; notion; perception; apprehemsion; comprehension.
CONCEPTIONAL
Con*cep"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to conception.
CONCEPTIONALIST
Con*cep"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: A conceptualist.
CONCEPTIOUS
Con*cep"tious, a.
Defn: Apt to conceive; fruitful. [Obs.] Shak.
CONCEPTIVE
Con*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conceptif, L. conceptivus.]
Defn: Capable of conceiving. Sir T. Browne
CONCEPTUAL
Con*cep"tu*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to conception.
CONCEPTUALISM
Con*cep"tu*al*ism, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: A theory, intermediate between realism and nominalism, that the
mind has the power of forming for itself general conceptions of
individual or single objects. Stewart.
CONCEPTUALIST
Con*cep"tu*al*ist, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who maintains the theory of conceptualism. Stewart.
CONCERN
Con*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concerned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concerning.] Etym: [F. concerner, LL. concernere to regard, concern,
fr. L. concernere to mix or mingle together, as in a sieve for
separating; con- + cernere to separate, sift, distinguish by the
senses, and especially by the eyes, to perceive, see. See Certain.]
1. To relate or belong to; to have reference to or connection with;
to affect the interest of; to be of importance to.
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern
the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts xxviii. 31.
Our wars with France have affected us in our most tender interests,
and concerned us more than those with any other nation. Addison.
It much concerns a preacher first to learn The genius of his audience
and their turn. Dodsley.
Ignorant, so far as the usual instruction is concerned. J. F. Cooper.
2. To engage by feeling or sentiment; to interest; as, a good prince
concerns himself in the happiness of his subjects.
They think themselves out the reach of Providence, and no longer
concerned to solicit his favor. Rogers.
CONCERN
Con*cern", v. i.
Defn: To be of importance. [Obs.]
Which to deny concerns more than avails. Shak.
CONCERN
Con*cern", n.
1. That which relates or belongs to one; business; affair.
The private concerns of fanilies. Addison.
2. That which affects the welfare or happiness; interest; moment.
Mysterious secrets of a high concern. Roscommon.
3. Interest in, or care for, any person or thing; regard; solicitude;
anxiety.
O Marcia, let me hope thy kind concerns And gentle wishes follow me
to battle.--Addison.
4. (Com.)
Defn: Persons connected in business; a firm and its business; as, a
banking concern. The whole concern, all connected with a particular
affair or business.
Syn.
-- Care; anxiety; solicitude; interest; regard; business; affair;
matter; moment. See Care.
CONCERNED
Con*cerned", a. Etym: [See Concern, v. t., 2.]
Defn: Disturbed; troubled; solicitous; as, to be much concerned for
the safety of a friend.
CONCERNEDLY
Con*cern"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concerned manner; solicitously; sympathetically.
CONCERNING
Con*cern"ing, prep.
Defn: Pertaining to; regarding; having relation to; respecting; as
regards.
I have accepted thee concerning this thing. Gen. xix. 21.
The Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel. Num. x. 29.
CONCERNING
Con*cern"ing, a.
Defn: Important. [Archaic]
So great and so concerning truth. South.
CONCERNING
Con*cern"ing, n.
1. That in which one is concerned or interested; concern; affair;
interest. "Our everlasting concernments." I. Watts.
To mix with thy concernments I desist. Milton.
2. Importance; moment; consequence.
Let every action of concernment to begun with prayer. Jer. Taylor.
3. Concern; participation; interposition.
He married a daughter to the earl without any other approbation of
her father or concernment in it, than suffering him and her come into
his presence. Clarendon.
4. Emotion of mind; solicitude; anxiety.
While they are so eager to destory the fame of others, their ambition
is manifest in their concernment. Dryden.
CONCERT
Con*cert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concerted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concerting.] Etym: [F. concerter, It. concertare, conertare, prob.
from L. consertus, p. p. of conserere to join together; con- + serere
to join together, influenced by concertare to contend; con- + centare
to strive; properly, to try to decide; fr. cernere to distinguish.
See Series, and cf. Concern.]
1. To plan together; to settle or adjust by conference, agreement, or
consultation.
It was concerted to begin the siege in March. Bp. Burnet.
2. To plan; to devise; to arrange.
A commander had more trouble to concert his defense before the people
than to plan . . . the compaign. Burke.
CONCERT
Con*cert", v. i.
Defn: To act in harmony or conjunction; to form combined plans.
The ministers of Denmark were appointed to concert with Talbot. Bp.
Burnet
CONCERT
Con"cert, n. Etym: [F. concert, It. concerto, conserto, fr.
concertare. See Concert, v. t.]
1. Agreement in a design or plan; union formed by mutual
communication of opions and viewa; accordance in a scheme; harmony;
simultaneous action.
All these discontens, how ruinous soever, have arisen from the want
of a due communication and concert. Swift.
2. Musical accordance or harmony; concord.
Let us in concert to the season sing. Cowper.
3. A musical entertainment in which several voices or instruments
take part.
Visit by night your lady's chamber window With some sweet concert.
Shak.
And boding screech owls make the concert full. Shak.
Concert pitch. See under Pitch.
CONCERTANTE
Con`cer*tan"te (; It. ), n. Etym: [It., orig p. pr. of concertare to
form or perform a concert. See Concert.] (Mus.)
Defn: A concert for two or more principal instruments, with
orchestral accompaniment. Also adjectively; as, concertante parts.
CONCERTATION
Con`cer*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. concertatio.]
Defn: Strife; contention. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONCERTATIVE
Con*cer"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. concertativus.]
Defn: Contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONCERTED
Con*cert"ed, a.
Defn: Mutually contrived or planned; agreed on; as, concerted
schemes, signals. Concerted piece (Mus.), a composition in parts for
several voices or instrument, as a trio, a quartet, etc.
CONCERTINA
Con`cer*ti"na, n. Etym: [From It. concerto a concert.]
Defn: A small musical imstrument on the principle of the accordion.
It is a small elastic box, or bellows, having free reeds on the
inside, and keys and handles on the outside of each of the two
hexagonal heads.
CONCERTINO
Con`cer*ti"no, n. Etym: [See Concertina.] (Mus.)
Defn: A piece for one or more solo instruments with orchestra; --
more concise than the concerto.
CONCERTION
Con*cer"tion, n.
Defn: Act of concerting; adjustment. [R.] Young.
CONCERTMEISTER
Con*cert`meis"ter, n. Etym: [G.] (Mus.)
Defn: The head violinist or leader of the strings in an orchestra;
the sub-leader of the orchestra; concert master.
CONCERTO
Con*cer"to (; It. ), n.; pl. Concertos. Etym: [It. See Concert, n.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A composition (usually in symphonic form with three movements)
in which one instrument (or two or three) stands out in bold relief
against the orchestra, or accompaniment, so as to display its
qualities or the performer's skill.
CONCERT OF EUROPE; EUROPEAN CONCERT
Concert of Europe, or European concert.
Defn: An agreement or understanding between the chief European powers
to take only joint action in the (European) Eastern Question.
CONCERT OF THE POWERS
Concert of the powers.
Defn: An agreement or understanding between the chief European
powers, the United States, and Japan in 1900 to take only joint
action in the Chinese aspect of the Eastern Question.
CONCESSION
Con*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. concessio, fr. concedere: cf. F.
concession. See Concede.]
1. The act of conceding or yielding; usually implying a demand,
claim, or request, and thus distinguished from giving, which is
voluntary or spontaneous.
By mutual concession the business was adjusted. Hallam.
2. A thing yielded; an acknowledgment or admission; a boon; a grant;
esp. a grant by government of a privilege or right to do something;
as, a concession to build a canal.
This is therefore a concession , that he doth . . . believe the
Scriptures to be sufficiently plain. Sharp.
When a lover becomes satisfied by small compliances without further
pursuits, then expect to find popular assemblies content with small
concessions. Swift.
CONCESSIONAIRE; CONCESSIONNAIRE
Con*ces`sion*aire", Con`ces`sion`naire", n. [F. concessionnaire.]
Defn: The beneficiary of a concession or grant.
CONCESSIONARY
Con*ces"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a concession. -- n.; pl. -ries.
Defn: A concessionaire.
CONCESSIONIST
Con*ces"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors concession.
CONCESSIVE
Con*ces"sive, a. Etym: [L. concessivus.]
Defn: Implying concession; as, a concessive conjunction. Lowth.
CONCESSIVELY
Con*ces"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of concession.
CONCESSORY
Con*ces"so*ry, a.
Defn: Conceding; permissive.
CONCETTISM
Con*cet"tism, n.
Defn: The use of concetti or affected conceits. [R.] C. Kingsley.
CONCETTO
Con*cet"to (; It. ), n.; pl. Concetti. Etym: [It., fr. L. conceptus.
See Conceit.]
Defn: Affected wit; a conceit. Chesterfield.
CONCH
Conch, n. Etym: [L. concha, Gr. Coach, n.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to various marine univalve shells; esp. to those
of the genus Strombus, which are of large size. S. gigas is the large
pink West Indian conch. The large king, queen, and cameo conchs are
of the genus Cassis. See Cameo.
Note: The conch is sometimes used as a horn or trumpet, as in fogs at
sea, or to call laborers from work.
2. In works of art, the shell used by Tritons as a trumpet.
3. One of the white natives of the Bahama Islands or one of their
descendants in the Florida Keys; -- so called from the commonness of
the conch there, or because they use it for food.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: See Concha, n.
5. The external ear. See Concha, n., 2.
CONCHA
Con"cha, n. Etym: [LL. (in sense 1), fr. concha. See Conch.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The plain semidome of an apse; sometimes used for the entire
apse.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The external ear; esp. the largest and deepest concavity of the
external ear, surrounding the entrance to the auditory canal.
CONCHAL
Con"chal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the concha, or external ear; as, the conchal
cartilage.
CONCHIFER
Con"chi*fer, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conchofère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Conchifera.
CONCHIFERA
Con*chif"e*ra, n, pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. concha + ferre to bear.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: That class of Mollusca which includes the bivalve shells; the
Lamellibranchiata. See Mollusca.
CONCHIFEROUS
Con*chif"er*ous, a.
Defn: Producing or having shells.
CONCHIFORM
Con"chi*form, a. Etym: [Conch + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like one half of a bivalve shell; shell-shaped.
CONCHININE
Con"chi*nine ( or ), n. Etym: [Formed by transposition fr.
cinchonine.]
Defn: See Quinidine.
CONCHITE
Con"chite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conchite. See Conch.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil or petrified conch or shell.
CONCHITIC
Con*chit"ic, a.
Defn: Composed of shells; containing many shells.
CONCHOID
Con"choid, n. Etym: [Gr. conchoïde.] (Geom.)
Defn: A curve, of the fourth degree, first made use of by the Greek
geometer, Nicomedes, who invented it for the purpose of trisecting an
angle and duplicating the cube.
CONCHOIDAL
Con*choid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conchoïdal.] (Min.)
Defn: Having elevations or depressions in form like one half of a
bivalve shell; -- applied principally to a surface produced by
fracture.
CONCHOLOGICAL
Con`cho*log"ic*al, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, conchology.
CONCHOLOGIST
Con*chol"o*gist, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One who studies, or is versed in, conchology.
CONCHOLOGY
Con*chol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Conch + -logy.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The science of Mollusca, and of the shells which they form;
malacology.
CONCHOMETER
Con*chom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Conch + -meter.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring shells, or the angle of their
spire.
CONCHOMETRY
Con*chom"e*try, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The art of measuring shells or their curves; conchyliometry.
CONCHO-SPIRAL
Con`cho-spi"ral, n.
Defn: A kind of spiral curve found in certain univalve shells.
Agassiz.
CONCHYLACEOUS; CONCHYLIACEOUS
Con`chy*la"ceous, Con*chyl`i*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. conchylium shell,
Gr. Conch.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to shells; resembling a shell; as,
conchyliaceous impressions. Kirwan.
CONCHYLIOLOGIST; CONCHYLIOLOGY
Con*chyl`i*ol"o*gist, n., Con*chyl`i*ol"o*gy, n.
Defn: See Conchologist, and Conchology.
CONCHYLIOMETRY
Con*chyl`i*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: Same as Conchometry.
CONCHYLIOUS
Con*chyl"i*ous, a.
Defn: Conchylaceous.
CONCIATOR
Con"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [It. conciatore, fr. conciare to adjust,
dress, fr. L. comtus, p. p. See Compt, a.] (Glass Works)
Defn: The person who weighs and proportions the materials to be made
into glass, and who works and tempers them.
CONCIERGE
Con`cierge", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who keeps the entrance to an edifice, public or private; a
doorkeeper; a janitor, male or female.
CONCIERGERIE
Con`cier`ge*rie", n. [F.]
1. The office or lodge of a concierge or janitor.
2. A celebrated prison, attached to the Palais de Justice in Paris.
CONCILIABLE
Con*cil"i*a*ble, n. Etym: [L. conciliabulum, fr. concitium assembly:
cf. F. conciliabule. See Council.]
Defn: A small or private assembly, especially of an ecclesiastical
nature. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCILIABLE
Con*cil"i*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conciliable.]
Defn: Capable of being conciliated or reconciled. Milton.
CONCILIABULE
Con*cil"i*a*bule, n. Etym: [See Conciliable, n.]
Defn: An obscure ecclesiastical council; a conciliable. Milman.
CONCILIAR; CONCILIARY
Con*cil"i*ar, Con*cil"i*a*ry a. Etym: [Cf. F. conciliare.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or issued by, a council. Jer. Taylor.
CONCILIATE
Con*cil"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conciliated; p. pr & vb. n.
Conciliating.] Etym: [L. conciliatus, p. p. of conciliare to draw or
bring together, unite, from concilium council. See Council.]
Defn: To win ower; to gain from a state of hostility; to gain the
good will or favor of; to make friendly; to mollify; to propitiate;
to appease.
The rapacity of his father's administration had excited such
universal discontent, that it was found expedient to conciliate the
nation. Hallam.
Syn.
-- To reconcile; propitiate; appease; pacify.
CONCILIATION
Con*cil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. conciliatio.]
Defn: The act or process of conciliating; the state of being
conciliated.
The house has gone further; it has declared conciliation admissible
previous to any submission on the part of America. Burke.
CONCILIATIVE
Con*cil"i*a*tive, a.
Defn: Conciliatory. Coleridge.
CONCILIATOR
Con*cil"i*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who conciliates.
CONCILIATORY
Con*cil"i*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to conciliate; pacific; mollifying; propitiating.
The only alternative, therefore, was to have recourse to the
conciliatory policy. Prescott.
CONCINNATE
Con*cin"nate, v. t. Etym: [L. concinnatus, p. p. of concinnare to
concinnate. See Concinnity.]
Defn: To place fitly together; to adapt; to clear. [Obs.] Holland.
CONCINNITY
Con*cin"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. concinnitas, fr. concinnus skillfully put
together, beautiful. Of uncertain origin.]
Defn: Internal harmony or fitness; mutual adaptation of parts;
elegance; -- used chiefly of style of discourse. [R.]
An exact concinnity and eveness of fancy. Howell.
CONCINNOUS
Con*cin"nous, a. Etym: [L. concinnus.]
Defn: Characterized by concinnity; neat; elegant. [R.]
The most concinnous and most rotund of proffessors, M. Heyne. De
Quiency.
CONCIONATE
Con"cio*nate, v. i. Etym: [L. concionatus, p. p. of concionari to
adress.]
Defn: To preach. [Obs.] Lithgow.
CONCIONATOR
Con"cio*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. An haranguer of the people; a preacher.
2. (Old Law)
Defn: A common councilman. [Obs.]
CONCIONATORY
Con"cio*na`to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to preaching or public addresses. [Obs.]
Howell.
CONCISE
Con*cise", a. Etym: [L. concisus cut off, short, p. p. of concidere
to cut to pieces; con- + caedere to cut; perh. akin to scindere to
cleave, and to E. shed, v.t.; cf. F. concis.]
Defn: Expressing much in a few words; condensed; brief and compacted;
-- used of style in writing or speaking.
The concise style, which expresseth not enough, but leaves somewhat
to be understood. B. Jonson.
Where the author is . . . too brief and concise, amplify a little. I.
Watts.
Syn.
-- Laconic; terse; brief; short; compendious; summary; succinct. See
Laconic, and Terse.
CONCISELY
Con*cise"ly, adv.
Defn: In a concise manner; briefly.
CONCISENESS
Con*cise"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being concise.
CONCISION
Con*ci"sion, n. Etym: [L. concisio: cf. F. concision. See Concise.]
Defn: A cutting off; a division; a schism; a faction. South.
CONCITATION
Con`ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. concitatio. See Concite.]
Defn: The act of stirring up, exciting, or agitating. [Obs.] "The
concitation of humors." Sir T. Browne.
CONCITE
Con*cite", v. t. Etym: [L. concitare; con- + citare. See Cite.]
Defn: To excite or stir up. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
CONCLAMATION
Con`cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. conclamatio.]
Defn: An outcry or shout of many together. [R.]
Before his funeral conclamation. May (Lucan).
CONCLAVE
Con"clave ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conclave a room that may
locked up; con- + clavis key. See Clavicle.]
1. The set of apartments within which the cardinals of the Roman
Catholic Church are continuously secluded while engaged in choosing a
pope.
2. The body of cardinals shut up in the conclave for the election of
a pope; hence, the body of cardinals.
It was said a cardinal, by reason of his apparent likelihood to step
into St. Peter's chair, that in two conclaves he went in pope and
came out again cardinal. South.
3. A private meeting; a close or secret assembly.
The verdicts pronounced by this conclave (Johnson's Club) on new
books, were speedily known over all London. Macaulay.
To be in conclave, to be engaged in a secret meeting; -- said of
several, or a considerable number of, persons.
CONCLAVIST
Con"cla`vist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conclaviste, It. conclavista.]
Defn: One of the two ecclesiastics allowed to attend a cardinal in
the conclave.
CONCLUDE
Con*clude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concluded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concluding.] Etym: [L. concludere, conclusum; con- + claudere to
shut. See Close, v. t.]
1. To shut up; to inclose. [Obs.]
The very person of Christ [was] concluded within the grave. Hooker.
2. To include; to comprehend; to shut up together; to embrace. [Obs.]
For God hath concluded all in unbelief. Rom. xi. 32.
The Scripture hath concluded all under sin. Gal. iii. 22.
3. To reach as an end of reasoning; to infer, as from premises; to
close, as an argument, by inferring; -- sometimes followed by a
dependent clause.
No man can conclude God's love or hatred to any person by anything
that befalls him. Tillotson.
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith. Rom. iii. 28.
4. To make a final determination or judgment concerning; to judge; to
decide.
But no frail man, however great or high, Can be concluded blest
before he die. Addison.
Is it concluded he shall be protector Shak.
5. To bring to an end; to close; to finish.
I will conclude this part with the speech of a counselor of state.
Bacon.
6. To bring about as a result; to effect; to make; as, to conclude a
bargain. "If we conclude a peace." Shak.
7. To shut off; to restrain; to limit; to estop; to bar; -- generally
in the passive; as, the defendant is concluded by his own plea; a
judgment concludes the introduction of further evidence argument.
If therefore they will appeal to revelation for their creation they
must be concluded by it. Sir M. Hale.
Syn.
-- To infer; decide; determine; settle; close; finish; terminate;
end.
CONCLUDE
Con*clude", v. i.
1. To come to a termination; to make an end; to close; to end; to
terminate.
A train of lies, That, made in lust, conclude in perjuries. Dryden.
And, to conclude, The victory fell on us. Shak.
2. To form a final judgment; to reach a decision.
Can we conclude upon Luther's instability Bp. Atterbury.
Conclude and be agreed. Shak.
CONCLUDENCY
Con*clud"en*cy, n.
Defn: Deduction from premises; inference; conclusion. [Obs.] Sir M.
Hale.
CONCLUDENT
Con*clud"ent, a. Etym: [L. concludens, p. pr.]
Defn: Bringing to a close; decisive; conclusive. [Obs.]
Arguments highly consequential and concludent to my purpose. Sir M.
Hale.
CONCLUDER
Con*clud"er, n.
Defn: One who concludes.
CONCLUDINGLY
Con*clud"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Conclusively. [R.] Digby.
CONCLUSIBLE
Con*clu"si*ble, a.
Defn: Demonstrable; determinable. [Obs.] Hammond.
CONCLUSION
Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude.]
1. The last part of anything; close; termination; end.
A fluorish of trumpets announced the conclusion of the contest.
Prescott.
2. Final decision; determination; result.
And the conclusion is, she shall be thine. Shak.
3. Any inference or result of reasoning.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The inferred proposition of a syllogism; the necessary
consequence of the conditions asserted in two related propositions
called premises. See Syllogism.
He granted him both the major and minor, but denied him the
conclusion. Addison.
5. Drawing of inferences. [Poetic]
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes And still conclusion. Shak.
6. An experiment, or something from which a conclusion may be drawn.
[Obs.]
We practice likewise all conclusions of grafting and inoculating.
Bacon.
7. (Law)
(a) The end or close of a pleading, e.g., the formal ending of an
indictment, "against the peace," etc.
(b) An estoppel or bar by which a person is held to a particular
position. Wharton. Conclusion to the country (Law), the conclusion of
a pleading by which a party "puts himself upon the country," i.e.,
appeals to the verdict of a jury. Mozley & W.
-- In conclusion. (a) Finally. (b) In short.
-- To try conclusions, to make a trial or an experiment.
Like the famous ape, To try conclusions, in the basket creep. Shak.
Syn.
-- Inference; deduction; result; consequence; end; decision. See
Inference.
CONCLUSIVE
Con*clu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conclusif.]
Defn: Belonging to a close or termination; decisive; convincing;
putting an end to debate or question; leading to, or involving, a
conclusion or decision.
Secret reasons . . . equally conclusive for us as they were for them.
Rogers.
Conclusive evidence (Law), that of which, from its nature, the law
allows no contradiction or explanation.
-- Conclusive presumption (Law), an inference which the law makes so
peremptorily that it will not allow it to be overthrown by any
contrary proof, however strong.
Syn.
-- Final; ultimate; unanswerable. See Final.
CONCLUSIVELY
Con*clu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of conclusion; decisively; positively. Burke.
CONCLUSIVENESS
Con*clu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conclusive; decisiveness.
CONCLUSORY
Con*clu"so*ry, a.
Defn: Conclusive. [R.]
CONCOCT
Con*coct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concocted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concocting.] Etym: [L. concoctus, p. p. of concoquere to cook
together, to digest, mature; con- + coquere to cook. See Cook.]
1. To digest; to convert into nourishment by the organs of nutrition.
[Obs.]
Food is concocted, the heart beats, the blood circulates. Cheyne.
2. To purify or refine chemically. [Obs.] Thomson.
3. To prepare from crude materials, as food; to invent or prepare by
combining different ingredients; as, to concoct a new dish or
beverage.
4. To digest in the mind; to devise; to make up; to contrive; to
plan; to plot.
He was a man of a feeble stomach, unable to concoct any great
fortune. Hayward.
5. To mature or perfect; to ripen. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCOCTER
Con*coct"er, n.
Defn: One who concocts.
CONCOCTION
Con*coc"tion, n. Etym: [L. concoctio.]
1. A change in food produced by the organs of nutrition; digestion.
[Obs.]
2. The act of concocting or preparing by combining different
ingredients; also, the food or compound thus prepared.
3. The act of digesting in the mind; planning or devising;
rumination. Donne.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Abatement of a morbid process, as a fever and return to a
normal condition. [Obs.]
5. The act of perfecting or maturing. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONCOCTIVE
Con*coct"ive, a.
Defn: Having the power of digesting or ripening; digestive.
Hence the concoctive powers, with various art, Subdue the cruder
aliments to chyle. J. Armstrong.
CONCOLOR
Con"col`or, a. Etym: [L. concolor; con- + color color.]
Defn: Of the same color; of uniform color. [R.] "Concolor animals."
Sir T. Browne.
CONCOLOROUS
Con"col`or*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of the same color throughout.
CONCOMITANCE; CONCOMITANCY
Con*com"i*tance, Con*com"i*tan*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. concomitance, fr.
LL. concomitantia.]
1. The state of accompanying; accompaniment.
The secondary action subsisteth not alone, but in concomitancy with
the other. Sir T. Browne.
2. (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: The doctrine of the existence of the entire body of Christ in
the eucharist, under each element, so that the body and blood are
both received by comunication in one kind only.
CONCOMITANT
Con*com"i*tant, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. con- + comitari to accompany,
comes companion. See Count a nobleman.]
Defn: Accompanying; conjoined; attending.
It has pleased our wise Creator to annex to several objects, as also
to several of our thoughts, a concomitant pleasure. Locke.
CONCOMITANT
Con*com"i*tant, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, accompanies, or is collaterally
connected with another; a companion; an associate; an accompaniment.
Reproach is a concomitant to greatness. Addison.
The other concomitant of ingratitude is hardheartedness. South.
CONCOMITANTLY
Con*com"i*tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In company with others; unitedly; concurrently. Bp. pearson.
CONCORD
Con"cord, n. Etym: [F. concorde, L. concordia, fr. concors of the
same mind, agreeing; con- + cor, cordis, heart. See Heart, and cf.
Accord.]
1. A state of agreement; harmony; union.
Love quarrels oft in pleasing concord end. Milton.
2. Agreement by stipulation; compact; covenant; treaty or league.
[Obs.]
The concord made between Henry and Roderick. Davies.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Agreement of words with one another, in gender, number, person,
or case.
4. (Old Law)
Defn: An agreement between the parties to a fine of land in reference
to the manner in which it should pass, being an acknowledgment that
the land in question belonged to the complainant. See Fine. Burril.
5. Etym: [Prob. influenced by chord.] (Mus.)
Defn: An agreeable combination of tones simultaneously heard; a
consonant chord; consonance; harmony.
CONCORD
Con"cord, n.
Defn: A variety of American grape, with large dark blue (almost
black) grapes in compact clusters.
CONCORD
Con*cord", v. i. Etym: [F. concorder, L. concordare.]
Defn: To agree; to act together. [Obs.] Clarendon.
CONCORDABLE
Con*cord"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. concordabilis.]
Defn: Capable of according; agreeing; harmonious.
CONCORDANCE
Con*cord"ance, n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. concordantia.]
1. Agreement; accordance.
Contrasts, and yet concordances. Carlyle.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Concord; agreement. [Obs.] Aschlam.
3. An alphabetical verbal index showing the places in the text of a
book where each principal word may be found, with its immediate
context in each place.
His knowledge of the Bible was such, that he might have been called a
living concordance. Macaulay.
4. A topical index or orderly analysis of the contents of a book.
CONCORDANCY
Con*cord"an*cy, n.
Defn: Agreement. W. Montagu.
CONCORDANT
Con*cord"ant, a. Etym: [L. concordans, p. pr. of concordare: cf. F.
concordant. See Concord.]
Defn: Agreeing; correspondent; harmonious; consonant.
Were every one employed in points concordant to their natures,
professions, and arts, commonwealths would rise up of themselves. Sir
T. Browne
CONCORDANTLY
Con*cord"ant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concordant manner.
CONCORDAT
Con*cor"dat, n. Etym: [F. concordat, L. concordato, prop. p. p. of
concordare. See Concord.]
1. A compact, covenant, or agreement concerning anything.
2. An agreement made between the pope and a sovereign or government
for the regulation of ecclesiastical matters with which both are
concerned; as, the concordat between Pope Pius VIL and Bonaparte in
1801. Hook.
CONCORD BUGGY
Con"cord bug"gy (kon"kerd). [From Concord, New Hampshire, where first
made.]
Defn: A kind of buggy having a body with low sides, and side springs.
CONCORDIST
Con*cord"ist, n.
Defn: The compiler of a concordance.
CONCORPORATE
Con*cor"po*rate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. concorporatus, p. p. of
concorporare.]
Defn: To unite in one mass or body; to incorporate. [Archaic.] Jer.
Taylor.
CONCORPORATE
Con*cor"po*rate, a.
Defn: United in one body; incorporated. [Archaic] B. Jonson.
CONCORPORATION
Con*cor`po*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. concorporatio.]
Defn: Union of things in one mass or body. [R.] Dr. H. More.
CONCOURSE
Con"course, n. Etym: [F. concours, L. concursus, fr. concurrere to
run together. See Concur.]
1. A moving, flowing, or running together; confluence.
The good frame of the universe was not the product of chance or
fortuitous concourse of particles of matter. Sir M. Hale.
2. An assembly; a gathering formed by a voluntary or spontaneous
moving and meeting in one place.
Amidst the concourse were to be seen the noble ladies of Milan, in
gay, fantastic cars, shining in silk brocade. Prescott.
3. The place or point of meeting or junction of two bodies. [Obs.]
The drop will begin to move toward the concourse of the glasses. Sir
I. Newton.
4. An open space where several roads or paths meet; esp. an open
space in a park where several roads meet.
5. Concurrence; coöperation. [Obs.]
The divine providence is wont to afford its concourse to such
proceeding. Barrow.
CONCREATE
Con`cre*ate" ( or ), v. t.
Defn: To create at the same time.
If God did concreate grace with Adam. Jer. Taylor.
CONCREMATION
Con`cre*ma"tion ( or ), n. Etym: [L. concrematio, fr. concremare. See
Cremate.]
Defn: The act of burning different things together. [Obs.]
CONCREMENT
Con"cre*ment, n. Etym: [L. concrementum, fr. concrescere. See
Concrete.]
Defn: A growing together; the collection or mass formed by
concretion, or natural union. [Obs.]
The concrement of a pebble or flint. Sir M. Hale
CONCRESCENCE
Con*cres"cence, n. Etym: [L. concrescentia.]
Defn: Coalescence of particles; growth; increase by the addition of
particles. [R.] Sir W. Raleigh.
CONCRESCIBLE
Con*cres"ci*ble, a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Capable of being changed from a liquid to a solid state. [Obs.]
They formed a . . . fixed concrescible oil. Fourcroy (Trans. ).
CONCRESCIVE
Con*cres"cive, a.
Defn: Growing together, or into union; uniting. [R.] Eclec. Rev.
CONCRETE
Con"crete ( or ), a. Etym: [L. concretus, p. p. of concrescere to
grow together; con- + crescere to grow; cf. F. concret. See
Crescent.]
1. United in growth; hence, formed by coalition of separate particles
into one mass; united in a solid form.
The first concrete state, or consistent surface, of the chaos must be
of the same figure as the last liquid state. Bp. Burnet.
2. (Logic)
(a) Standing for an object as it exists in nature, invested with all
its qualities, as distingushed from standing for an attribute of an
object; -- opposed to abstract. Hence:
(b) Applied to a specific object; special; particular; -- opposed to
general. See Abstract, 3.
Concrete is opposed to a abstract. The names of individuals are
concrete, those of classes abstract. J. S. Mill.
Concrete terms, while they express the quality, do also express, or
imply, or refer to, some subject to which it belongs. I. Watts.
Concrete number, a number associated with, or applied to, a
particular object, as three men, five days, etc., as distinguished
from an abstract number, or one used without reference to a
particular object.
-- Concrete quantity, a physical object or a collection of such
objects. Davies & Peck.
-- Concrete science, a physical science, one having as its subject
of knowledge concrete things instead of abstract laws.
-- Concrete sound or movement of the voice, one which slides
continuously up or down, as distinguished from a discrete movement,
in which the voice leaps at once from one line of pitch to another.
Rush.
CONCRETE
Con"crete, n.
1. A compound or mass formed by concretion, spontaneous union, or
coalescence of separate particles of matter in one body.
To divide all concretes, minerals and others, into the same number of
distinct substances. Boyle.
2. A mixture of gravel, pebbles, or broken stone with cement or with
tar, etc., used for sidewalks, roadways, foundations, etc., and esp.
for submarine structures.
3. (Logic)
Defn: A term designating both a quality and the subject in which it
exists; a concrete term.
The concretes "father" and "son" have, or might have, the abstracts
"paternity" and "filiety". J. S. Mill.
4. (Sugar Making)
Defn: Sugar boiled down from cane juice to a solid mass.
CONCRETE
Con*crete", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concreted; p. pr & vb. n.
Concreting.]
Defn: To unite or coalesce, as separate particles, into a mass or
solid body.
Note: Applied to some substances, it is equivalent to indurate; as,
metallic matter concretes into a hard body; applied to others, it is
equivalent to congeal, thicken, inspissate, coagulate, as in the
concretion of blood. "The blood of some who died of the plague could
not be made to concrete." Arbuthnot.
CONCRETE
Con*crete", v. t.
1. To form into a mass, as by the cohesion or coalescence of separate
particles.
There are in our inferior world divers bodies that are concreted out
of others. Sir M. Hale.
2. To cover with, or form of, concrete, as a pavement.
CONCRETELY
Con*crete"ly, adv.
Defn: In a concrete manner.
CONCRETENESS
Con*crete"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being concrete.
CONCRETION
Con*cre"tion, n. Etym: [L. concretio.]
1. The process of concreting; the process of uniting or of becoming
united, as particles of matter into a mass; solidification.
2. A mass or nodule of solid matter formed by growing together, by
congelation, condensation, coagulation, induration, etc.; a clot; a
lump; a calculus.
Accidental ossifications or deposits of phosphates of lime in certain
organs . . . are called osseous concretions. Dunglison.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: A rounded mass or nodule produced by an aggregation of the
material around a center; as, the calcareous concretions common in
beds of clay.
CONCRETIONAL
Con*cre"tion*al, a.
Defn: Concretionary.
CONCRETIONARY
Con*cre"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or formed by, concretion or aggregation;
producing or containing concretions.
CONCRETIVE
Con*cre"tive, a.
Defn: Promoting concretion. Sir T. Browne.
CONCRETIVELY
Con*cre"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a concrete manner.
CONCRETURE
Con*cre"ture, n.
Defn: A mass formed by concretion. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCREW
Con*crew", v. i. Etym: [See Concrete, a., and Accrue.]
Defn: To grow together. [Obs.] Spenser.
CONCRIMINATION
Con*crim`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: A joint accusation.
CONCUBINACY
Con*cu"bi*na*cy, n.
Defn: The practice of concubinage. [Obs.] Strype.
CONCUBINAGE
Con*cu"bi*nage, n.
1. The cohabiting of a man and a woman who are not legally married;
the state of being a concubine.
Note: In some countries, concubinage is marriage of an inferior kind,
or performed with less solemnity than a true or formal marriage; or
marriage with a woman of inferior condition, to whom the husband does
not convey his rank or quality. Under Roman law, it was the living of
a man and woman in sexual relations without marriage, but in
conformity with local law.
2. (Law)
Defn: A plea, in which it is alleged that the woman suing for dower
was not lawfully married to the man in whose lands she seeks to be
endowed, but that she was his concubine.
CONCUBINAL
Con*cu"bi*nal, a. Etym: [L. concubinalis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to concubinage.
CONCUBINARIAN
Con*cu`bi*na"ri*an, a. & n.
Defn: Concubinary.
The married and concubinarian, as well as looser clergy. Milman.
CONCUBINARY
Con*cu"bi*na*ry, a. Etym: [LL. concubinarius.]
Defn: Relating to concubinage; living in concubinage.
CONCUBINARY
Con*cu"bi*na*ry, n.; pl. Concubinaries.
Defn: One who lives in concubinage. Jer. Taylor.
CONCUBINATE
Con*cu"bi*nate, n. Etym: [L. concubinatus.]
Defn: Concubinage. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCUBINE
Con"cu*bine, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. concubina; con- + cubare to lie
down, concumbere to lie together, akin to E. cubit.]
1. A woman who cohabits with a man without being his wife; a
paramour.
Note: Concubine has been sometimes, but rarely, used of a male
paramour as well as of a female. Trench.
2. A wife of inferior condition; a lawful wife, but not united to the
man by the usual ceremonies, and of inferior condition. Such were
Hagar and Keturah, the concubines of Abraham; and such concubines
were allowed by the Roman laws. Their children were not heirs of
their father.
CONCULCATE
Con*cul"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Concultated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conculcating.] Etym: [L. conculcatus, p. p. of conculcare to
conculcate fr. calx heel.]
Defn: To tread or trample under foot. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu --
Con`cul*ca"tion (, n. [Obs.]
CONCUPISCENCE
Con*cu"pis*cence, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. concupiscentia.]
Defn: Sexual lust; morbid carnal passion.
Concupiscence like a pestilence walketh in darkness. Horne.
CONCUPISCENT
Con*cu"pis*cent, a. Etym: [L. concupiscens, p. pr. of concupiscere,
v. incho. of concupere to long for; con- + cupere. See Covet.]
Defn: Having sexual lust; libidinous; lustful; lecherous; salacious.
Johnson.
CONCUPISCENTIAL
Con*cu`pis*cen"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to concupiscence. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONCUPISCENTIOUS
Con*cu`pis*cen"tious, a.
Defn: Concupiscent. [Obs.]
CONCUPISCIBLE
Con*cu`pis*ci*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. concupiscible.]
1. Exciting to, or liable to be affected by, concupiscence; provoking
lustful desires. Shak.
2. Exciting desire, good or evil.
The schools reduce all the passions to these two heads, the
concupiscible and irascible appetite. South.
CONCUPISCIBLENESS
Con*cu"pis*ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being concupiscible. [Obs.]
CONCUPY
Con"cu*py, n.
Defn: Concupiscence.
Note: [Used only in "Troilus and Cressida"] Shak.
CONCUR
Con*cur", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Concurred (; p. pr. & vb. n.
Concurring.] Etym: [L. concurrere to run together, agree; con- +
currere to run. See Current.]
1. To run together; to meet. [Obs.]
Anon they fierce encountering both concurred With grisly looks and
faces like their fates. J. Hughes.
2. To meet in the same point; to combine or conjoin; to contribute or
help toward a common object or effect.
When outward causes concur. Jer. Colier.
3. To unite or agree (in action or opinion); to join; to act jointly;
to agree; to coincide; to correspond.
Mr. Burke concurred with Lord Chatham in opinion. Fox.
Tories and Whigs had concurred in paying honor to Walker. Makaulay.
This concurs directly with the letter. Shak.
4. To assent; to consent. [Obs.] Milton.
Syn.
-- To agree; unite; combine; conspire; coincide; approve; acquiesce;
assent.
CONCURRENCE
Con*cur"rence, n. Etym: [F., competition, equality of rights, fr. LL.
concurrentia competition.]
1. The act of concurring; a meeting or coming together; union;
conjunction; combination.
We have no other measure but our own ideas, with the concurence of
other probable reasons, to persuade us. Locke.
2. A meeting of minds; agreement in opinion; union in design or act;
-- implying joint approbation.
Tarquin the Proud was expelled by the universal concurrence of nobles
and people. Swift.
3. Agreement or consent, implying aid or contribution of power or
influence; coöperation.
We collect the greatness of the work, and the necessity of the divine
concurrence to it. Rogers.
An instinct that works us to its own purposes without our
concurrence. Burke.
4. A common right; coincidence of equal powers; as, a concurrence of
jurisdiction in two different courts.
CONCURRENCY
Con*cur"ren*cy, n.
Defn: Concurrence.
CONCURRENT
Con*cur"rent, a. Etym: [F. concurrent, L. concurrens, p. pr. of
concurrere.]
1. Acting in conjunction; agreeing in the same act or opinion;
contibuting to the same event of effect; coöperating.
I join with these laws the personal presence of the kings' son, as a
concurrent cause of this reformation. Sir J. Davies.
The concurrent testimony of antiquity. Bp. Warburton.
2. Conjoined; associate; concomitant; existing or happening at the
same time.
There is no difference the concurrent echo and the iterant but the
quickness or slowness of the return. Bacon.
Changes . . . concurrent with the visual changes in the eye. Tyndall.
3. Joint and equal in authority; taking cognizance of similar
questions; operating on the same objects; as, the concurrent
jurisdiction of courts.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: Meeting in one point.
Syn.
-- Meeting; uniting; accompanying; conjoined; associated;
coincident; united.
CONCURRENT
Con*cur"rent, n.
1. One who, or that which, concurs; a joint or contributory cause.
To all affairs of importance there are three necessary concurrents .
. . time, industry, and faculties. Dr. H. More.
2. One pursuing the same course, or seeking the same objects; hence,
a rival; an opponent.
Menander . . . had no concurrent in his time that came near unto him.
Holland.
3. (Chron.)
Defn: One of the supernumerary days of the year over fifty-two
complete weeks; -- so called because they concur with the solar
cycle, the course of which they follow.
CONCURRENTLY
Con*cur"rent*ly, adv.
Defn: With concurrence; unitedly.
CONCURRENTNESS
Con*cur"rent*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being concurrent; concurrence.
CONCURRING
Con*cur"ring, a.
Defn: Agreeing. Concurring figure (Geom.), one which, being laid on
another, exactly meets every part of it, or one which correspondends
with another in all its parts.
CONCUSS
Con*cuss", v. t. Etym: [L. concussus, p. p. of concutere. See
Concussion.]
1. To shake or agitate. "Concussed with uncertainty." Daniel.
2. (Law)
Defn: To force (a person) to do something, or give up something, by
intimidation; to coerce. Wharton.
CONCUSSATION
Con`cus*sa"tion, n.
Defn: A violent shock or agitation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CONCUSSION
Con*cus"sion, n. Etym: [L. concussio, fr. concutere, concussum, to
shake violenty; con- + quatere to shake. See Cashier, Quash.]
1. A shaking or agitation; a shock; caused by the collision of two
bodies.
It is believed that great ringing of bells, in populous cities, hath
dissipated pestilent air; which may be from the concussion of the
air. Bacon.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A condition of lowered functional activity, without visible
structural change, produced in an organ by a shock, as by fall or
blow; as, a concussion of the brain.
3. (Civil Law)
Defn: The unlawful forcing of another by threats of violence to yield
up something of value.
Then concussion, rapine, pilleries, Their catalogue of accusations
fill. Daniel.
Concussion fuse (Mil.), one that is ignited by the concussion of the
shell when it strikes.
Syn.
-- See Shock.
CONCUSSIVE
Con*cus"sive, a.
Defn: Having the power or quality of shaking or agitating. Johnson.
COND
Cond, v. t. Etym: [OE. conduen, condien, F. conduire to conduct, fr.
L. conducere. See Conduct, and cf. Con (Naut.), Conn. Cun.] (Naut.)
Defn: To con, as a ship.
CONDEMN
Con*demn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condemned; p. pr. & vb. n. Condemning
( or ]. Etym: [L. condemnare; con- + damnare to condemn: cf. F.
condamner. See Damn.]
1. To pronounce to be wrong; to disapprove of; to censure.
Condemn the fault, and not the actor of it! Why, every fault's
condemned ere it be done. Shak.
Wilt thou condemn him that is most just Job xxxiv. 17.
2. To declare the guilt of; to make manifest the faults or
unworthiness of; to convict of guilt.
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this
generation, and shall condemn it. Matt. xii. 42.
3. To pronounce a judicial sentence against; to sentence to
punishment, suffering, or loss; to doom; -- with to before the
penalty.
Driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred deep to utter woe.
Milton.
To each his sufferings; all are men, Condemned alike to groan. Gray.
And they shall condemn him to death. Matt. xx. 18.
The thief condemned, in law already dead. Pope.
No flocks that range the valley free, To slaughter I condemn.
Goldsmith.
4. To amerce or fine; -- with in before the penalty.
The king of Egypt . . . condemned the land in a hundred talents of
silver. 2 Cron. xxxvi. 3.
5. To adjudge or pronounce to be unfit for use or service; to adjudge
or pronounce to be forfeited; as, the ship and her cargo were
condemned.
6. (Law)
Defn: To doom to be taken for public use, under the right of eminent
domain.
Syn.
-- To blame; censure; reprove; reproach; upbraid; reprobate;
convict; doom; sentence; adjudge.
CONDEMNABLE
Con"dem*na"ble, a. Etym: [L. condemnabilis.]
Defn: Worthy of condemnation; blamable; culpable.
CONDEMNATION
Con"dem*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. condemnatio.]
1. The act of condemning or pronouncing to be wrong; censure; blame;
disapprobation.
In every other sense of condemnation, as blame, censure, reproof,
private judgment, and the like. Paley.
2. The act of judicially condemning, or adjudging guilty, unfit for
use, or forfeited; the act of dooming to punishment or forfeiture.
A legal and judicial condemnation. Paley.
Whose condemnation is pronounced. Shak.
3. The state of being condemned.
His pathetic appeal to posterity in the hopeless hour of
condemnation. W. Irving.
4. The ground or reason of condemning.
This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men
loved darkness rather light, because their deeds were evil. John iii.
19.
CONDEMNATORY
Con*dem"na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Condemning; containing or imposing condemnation or censure; as,
a condemnatory sentence or decree.
CONDEMNED
Con*demned", a.
1. Pronounced to be wrong, guilty, worthless, or forfeited; adjudged
or sentenced to punishment, destruction, or confiscation.
2. Used for condemned persons.
Richard Savage . . . had lain with fifty pounds weight of irons on
his legs in the condemned ward of Newgate. Macaulay.
CONDEMNER
Con*dem"ner ( or ), n.
Defn: One who condemns or censures.
CONDENSABILITY
Con*den`sa*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being condensed.
CONDENSABLE
Con*den"sa*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. condensable.]
Defn: Capable of being condensed; as, vapor is condensable.
CONDENSATE
Con*den"sate, a. Etym: [L. condensatus, p. p. of condensare. See
Condense, v. t.]
Defn: Made dense; condensed.
Water . . . thickened or condensate. Peacham.
CONDENSATE
Con*den"sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condensated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Condensating.]
Defn: To condense. [R.] Hammond.
CONDENSATION
Con`den*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. condensatio: cf. F. condensation.]
1. The act or process of condensing or of being condensed; the state
of being condensed.
He [Goldsmith] was a great and perhaps an unequaled master of the
arts of selection and condensation. Macaulay.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The act or process of reducing, by depression of temperature or
increase of pressure, etc., to another and denser form, as gas to the
condition of a liquid or steam to water.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A rearrangement or concentration of the different constituents
of one or more substances into a distinct and definite compound of
greater complexity and molecular weight, often resulting in an
increase of density, as the condensation of oxygen into ozone, or of
acetone into mesitylene. Condensation product (Chem.), a substance
obtained by the polymerization of one substance, or by the union of
two or more, with or without separation of some unimportant side
products.
-- Surface condensation, the system of condensing steam by contact
with cold metallic surfaces, in distinction from condensation by the
injection of cold water.
CONDENSATIVE
Con*den"sa*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. condensatif.]
Defn: Having the property of condensing.
CONDENSE
Con*dense", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condensed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Condensing.] Etym: [L. condensare; con- + densare to make thick or
dense, densus thick, dense: cf. F. condenser. See Dense, and cf.
Condensate.]
1. To make more close, compact, or dense; to compress or concentrate
into a smaller compass; to consolidate; to abridge; to epitomize.
In what shape they choose, Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure.
Milton.
The secret course pursued at Brussels and at Madrid may be condensed
into the usual formula, dissimulation, procrastination, and again
dissimulation. Motley.
2. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: To reduce into another and denser form, as by cold or pressure;
as, to condense gas into a liquid form, or steam into water.
Condensed milk, milk reduced to the consistence of very thick cream
by evaporation (usually with addition of sugar) for preservation and
transportation.
-- Condensing engine, a steam engine in which the steam is condensed
after having exerted its force on the piston.
Syn.
-- To compress; contract; crowd; thicken; concentrate; abridge;
epitomize; reduce.
CONDENSE
Con*dense", v. i.
1. To become more compact; to be reduced into a denser form.
Nitrous acid is gaseous at ordinary temperatures, but condenses into
a very volatile liquid at the zero of Fahrenheit. H. Spencer.
2. (Chem.)
(a) To combine or unite (as two chemical substances) with or without
separation of some unimportant side products.
(b) To undergo polymerization.
CONDENSE
Con*dense", a. Etym: [L. condensus.]
Defn: Condensed; compact; dense. [R.]
The huge condense bodies of planets. Bentley.
CONDENSER
Con*dens"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, condenses.
2. (Physic) (a) An instrument for condensing air or other elastic
fluids, consisting of a cylinder having a movable piston to force the
air into a receiver, and a valve to prevent its escape. (b) An
instrument for concentrating electricity by the effect of induction
between conducting plates separated by a nonconducting plate. (c) A
lens or mirror, usually of short focal distance, used to concentrate
light upon an object.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for receiving and condensing the volatile products
of distillation to a liquid or solid form, by cooling.
4. (Steam Engine)
Defn: An apparatus, separate from the cylinder, in which the exhaust
steam is condensed by the action of cold water or air. See Illust. of
Steam engine. Achromatic condenser (Optics), an achromatic lens used
as a condenser.
-- Bull's-eye condenser, or Bull's-eye (Optics), a lens of short
focal distance used for concentrating rays of light.
-- Injection condenser, a vessel in which steam is condensed by the
direct contact of water.
-- Surface condenser, an apparatus for condensing steam, especially
the exhaust of a steam engine, by bringing it into contact with
metallic surface cooled by water or air.
CONDENSIBLE
Con*den"si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being condensed; as, a gas condensible to a liquid
by cold.
CONDER
Cond"er, n. Etym: [From Cond.]
Defn: One who watches shoals of fish; a balker. See Balker.
CONDESCEND
Con`de*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condescended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Condescending.] Etym: [F. condescendre, LL. condescendere, fr. L.
con- + descendere. See Descend.]
1. To stoop or descend; to let one's self down; to submit; to waive
the privilege of rank or dignity; to accommodate one's self to an
inferior. "Condescend to men of low estate." Rom. xii. 16.
Can they think me so broken, so debased With corporal servitude, that
my mind ever Will condescend to such absurd commands Milton.
Spain's mighty monarch, In gracious clemency, does condescend, On
these conditions, to become your friend. Dryden.
Note: Often used ironically, implying an assumption of superiority.
Those who thought they were honoring me by condescending to address a
few words to me. F. W. Robinson.
2. To consent. [Obs.]
All parties willingly condescended heruento. R. Carew.
Syn.
-- To yield; stoop; descend; deign; vouchsafe.
CONDESCENDENCE; CONDESCENDENCY
Con`de*scend"ence, Con`de*scend"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F.
condescendance.]
Defn: Condescension. [Obs.]
CONDESCENDINGLY
Con`de*scend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a condescending manner. Atterbury.
CONDESCENSION
Con`de*scen"sion, n. Etym: [L. condescensio.]
Defn: The act of condescending; voluntary descent from one's rank or
dignity in intercourse with an inferior; courtesy toward inferiors.
It forbids pride . . . and commands humility, modesty, and
condescension to others. Tillotson.
Such a dignity and condescension . . . as are suitable to a superior
nature. Addison.
Syn.
-- Complaisance; courtesy; affability.
CONDESCENT
Con`de*scent", n. Etym: [Cf. Condescend, Descent.]
Defn: An act of condescension. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONDIGN
Con*dign", a. Etym: [F. condigne, L. condignus very worthy; con- +
dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Digne.]
1. Worthy; suitable; deserving; fit. [Obs.]
Condign and worthy praise. Udall.
Herself of all that rule she deemend most condign. Spenser.
2. Deserved; adequate; suitable to the fault or crime. "Condign
censure." Milman.
Unless it were a bloody murderer . . . I never gave them condign
punishment. Shak.
CONDIGNITY
Con*dig"ni*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. condignité.] (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: Merit, acguired by works, which can claim reward on the score
of general benevolence.
Such a worthiness of condignity, and proper merit of the heavenly
glory, cannot be found in any the best, most perfect, and excellent
of created beings. Bp. Bull.
CONDIGNLY
Con*dign"ly, adv.
Defn: According to merit.
CONDIGNNESS
Con*dign"ness, n.
Defn: Agreeableness to deserts; suitableness.
CONDIMENT
Con"di*ment, n. Etym: [L. condimentum, fr. condire. See Condite.]
Defn: Something used to give relish to food, and to gratify the
taste; a pungment and appetizing substance, as pepper or mustard;
seasoning.
As for radish and the like, they are for condiments, and not for
nourishment. Bacon.
CONDISCIPLE
Con`dis*ci"ple, n. Etym: [L. condiscipulus. See Disciple.]
Defn: A schoolfellow; a fellow-student. [R.]
CONDITE
Con"dite, a. Etym: [L. conditus, p. p. of condire to preserve,
pickle, season. See Recondite.]
Defn: Preserved; pickled. [Obs.] Burton.
CONDITE
Con*dite", v. t.
Defn: To pickle; to preserve; as, to condite pears, quinces, etc.
[Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
CONDITION
Con*di"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. conditio (better condicio)
agreement, compact, condition; con- + a root signifying to show,
point out, akin to dicere to say, dicare to proclaim, dedicate. See
Teach, Token.]
1. Mode or state of being; state or situation with regard to external
circumstances or influences, or to physical or mental integrity,
health, strength, etc.; predicament; rank; position, estate.
I am in my condition A prince, Miranda; I do think, a king. Shak.
And O, what man's condition can be worse Than his whom plenty starves
and blessings curse Cowley.
The new conditions of life. Darwin.
2. Essential quality; property; attribute.
It seemed to us a condition and property of divine powers and beings
to be hidden and unseen to others. Bacon.
3. Temperament; disposition; character. [Obs.]
The condition of a saint and the complexion of a devil. Shak.
4. That which must exist as the occasion or concomitant of something
else; that which is requisite in order that something else should
take effect; an essential qualification; stipulation; terms
specified.
I had as lief take her dowry with this condition, to be whipped at
the high cross every morning. Shak.
Many are apt to believe remission of sins, but they believe it
without the condition of repentance. Jer. Taylor.
5. (Law)
Defn: A clause in a contract, or agreement, which has for its object
to suspend, to defeat, or in some way to modify, the principal
obligation; or, in case of a will, to suspend, revoke, or modify a
devise or bequest. It is also the case of a future uncertain event,
which may or may not happen, and on the occurrence or non-occurrence
of which, the accomplishment, recission, or modification of an
obligation or testamentary disposition is made to depend. Blount.
Tomlins. Bouvier. Wharton. Equation of condition. (Math.) See under
Equation.
-- On or Upon condition (that), used for if in introducing
conditional sentences. "Upon condition thou wilt swear to pay him
tribute . . . thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him." Shak.
-- Conditions of sale, the terms on which it is proposed to sell
property by auction; also, the instrument containing or expressing
these terms.
Syn.
-- State; situation; circumstances; station; case; mode; plight;
predicament; stipulation; qualification; requisite; article;
provision; arrangement. See State.
CONDITION
Con*di"tion, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conditioned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conditioning.]
1. To make terms; to stipulate.
Pay me back my credit, And I'll condition with ye. Beau. & Fl.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: To impose upon an object those relations or conditions without
which knowledge and thought are alleged to be impossible.
To think of a thing is to condition. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONDITION
Con*di"tion, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. conditionare. See Condition, n.]
1. To invest with, or limit by, conditions; to burden or qualify by a
condition; to impose or be imposed as the condition of.
Seas, that daily gain upon the shore, Have ebb and flow conditioning
their march. Tennyson.
2. To contract; to stipulate; to agree.
It was conditioned between Saturn and Titan, that Saturn should put
to death all his male children. Sir W. Raleigh.
3. (U. S. Colleges)
Defn: To put under conditions; to require to pass a new examination
or to make up a specified study, as a condition of remaining in one's
class or in college; as, to condition a student who has failed in
some branch of study.
4. To test or assay, as silk (to ascertain the proportion of moisture
it contains). McElrath.
Defn: train; acclimate.
CONDITIONAL
Con*di"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. conditionalis.]
1. Containing, implying, or depending on, a condition or conditions;
not absolute; made or granted on certain terms; as, a conditional
promise.
Every covenant of God with man . . . may justly be made (as in fact
it is made) with this conditional punishment annexed and declared.
Bp. Warburton.
2. (Gram. & Logic)
Defn: Expressing a condition or supposition; as, a conditional word,
mode, or tense.
A conditional proposition is one which asserts the dependence of one
categorical proposition on another. Whately.
The words hypothetical and conditional may be . . . used
synonymously. J. S. Mill.
CONDITIONAL
Con*di"tion*al, n.
1. A limitation. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A conditional word, mode, or proposition.
Disjunctives may be turned into conditionals. L. H. Atwater.
CONDITIONALITY
Con*di`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being conditional, or limited; limitation by
certain terms.
CONDITIONALLY
Con*di"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conditional manner; subject to a condition or conditions;
not absolutely or positively. Shak.
CONDITIONATE
Con*di"tion*ate, a. Etym: [LL. conditionatus, p. p. See Condition, v.
t.]
Defn: Conditional. [Obs.]
Barak's answer is faithful, though conditionate. Bp. Hall.
CONDITIONATE
Con*di"tion*ate, v. t.
1. To qualify by conditions; to regulate. [Obs.]
2. To put under conditions; to render conditional.
CONDITIONED
Con*di"tioned, a.
1. Surrounded; circumstanced; in a certain state or condition, as of
property or health; as, a well conditioned man.
The best conditioned and unwearied spirit. Shak.
2. Having, or known under or by, conditions or relations; not
independent; not absolute.
Under these, thought is possible only in the conditioned interval.
Sir W. Hamilton.
CONDITIONLY
Con*di"tion*ly, adv.
Defn: Conditionally. [Obs.]
CONDITORY
Con"di*to*ry, n.; pl. Conditories. Etym: [L. conditorium, fr. condere
to hide. See Recondite.]
Defn: A repository for holding things; a hinding place.
CONDOG
Con*dog", v. i. Etym: [A punning corruption of concur.]
Defn: To concur; to agree. [Burlesque]
Note: This word appears in early dictionaries as a synonym for the
word agree; thus. "Agree; concurre, cohere, condog, condescend."
Cockeram.
CONDOLATORY
Con*do"la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressing condolence. Smart.
CONDOLE
Con*dole", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Condoled; p. pr. & vb. n. Condoling.]
Etym: [L. condolere; con- + dolere to feel pain, grieve. See
Doleful.]
Defn: To express sympathetic sorrow; to grieve in sympathy; --
followed by with.
Your friends would have cause to rejoice, rather than condole with
you. Sir W. Temple.
CONDOLE
Con*dole", v. t.
Defn: To lament or grieve over. [R.]
I come not, Samson, to condole thy chance. Milton.
CONDOLEMENT
Con*dole"ment, n.
1. Condolence. "A pitiful condolement." Milton.
2. Sorrow; mourning; lamentation. Shak.
CONDOLENCE
Con*do"lence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. condoléance.]
Defn: Expression of sympathy with another in sorrow or grief.
Their congratulations and their condolences. Steele.
A special mission of condolence. Macaulay.
CONDOLER
Con*dol"er, n.
Defn: One who condoles.
CONDONATION
Con`do*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. condonatio a giving away.]
1. The act of condoning or pardoning.
2. (Law)
Defn: Forgiveness, either express or implied, by a husband of his
wife or by a wife of her husband, for a breach of marital duty, as
adultery, with an implied condition that the offense shall not be
repeated. Bouvier. Wharton.
CONDONE
Con*done", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Condoned; p. pr. & vb. n. Condoning.]
Etym: [L. condonare, -donatum, to give up, remit, forgive; con- +
donare to give. See Donate.]
1. To pardon; to forgive.
A fraud which he had either concocted or condoned. W. Black.
It would have been magnanimous in the men then in power to have
overlooked all these things, and, condoning the politics, to have
rewarded the poetry of Burns. J. C. Shairp.
2. (Law)
Defn: To pardon; to overlook the offense of; esp., to forgive for a
violation of the marriage law; -- said of either the husband or the
wife.
CONDOR
Con"dor, n. Etym: [Sp. condor, fr. Peruvian cuntur.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very large bird of the Vulture family (Sarcorhamphus
gryphus), found in the most elevated parts of the Andes.
CONDOTTIERE
Con`dot*tie"re, n.; pl. Condottieri. Etym: [It., captain.]
Defn: A military adventurer of the fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries, who sold his services, and those of his followers, to any
party in any contest.
CONDUCE
Con*duce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Conducing.]
Etym: [L. conducere to bring together, conduce, hire; con- + ducere
to lead. See Duke and cf. Conduct, n., Cond.]
Defn: To lead or tend, esp. with reference to a favorable or
desirable result; to contribute; -- usually followed by to or toward.
He was sensible how much such a union would conduce to the happiness
of both. Macaulay.
The reasons you allege do more conduce To the hot passion of
distemper'd blood. Shak.
Syn.
-- To contribute; aid; assist; tend; subserve.
CONDUCE
Con*duce", v. t.
Defn: To conduct; to lead; to guide. [Obs.]
He was sent to conduce hither the princess. Sir H. Wotton.
CONDUCENT
Con*du"cent, a. Etym: [L. conducens, p. pr.]
Defn: Conducive; tending.
Conducent to the good success of this business. Abp. Laud.
CONDUCIBILITY
Con*du"ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being conducible; conducibleness. Bp.
Wilkins.
CONDUCIBLE
Con*du"ci*ble, a. Etym: [L. conducibilis.]
Defn: Conducive; tending; contributing. Bacon.
All his laws are in themselves conducible to the temporal interest of
them that observe them. Bentley.
CONDUCIBLENESS
Con*du"ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being conducible.
CONDUCIBLY
Con*du"ci*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to promote. [R.]
CONDUCIVE
Con*du"cive, a.
Defn: Loading or tending; helpful; contributive; tending to promote.
However conducive to the good or our country. Addison.
CONDUCIVENESS
Con*du"cive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of conducing.
CONDUCT
Con"duct, n. Etym: [LL. conductus defense, escort, fr. L. conductus,
p. p. of conducere. See Conduce, and cf. Conduit.]
1. The act or method of conducting; guidance; management.
Christianity has humanized the conduct of war. Paley.
The conduct of the state, the administration of its affairs. Ld.
Brougham.
2. Skillful guidance or management; generalship.
Conduct of armies is a prince's art. Waller.
Attacked the Spaniards . . . with great impetuosity, but with so
little conduct, that his forces were totally routed. Robertson.
3. Convoy; escort; guard; guide. [Archaic]
I will be your conduct. B. Jonson.
In my conduct shall your ladies come. Shak.
4. That which carries or conveys anything; a channel; a conduit; an
instrument. [Obs.]
Although thou been conduct of my chame. Shak.
5. The manner of guiding or carrying one's self; personal deportment;
mode of action; behavior.
All these difficulties were increased by the conduct of Shrewsbury.
Macaulay.
What in the conduct of our life appears So well designed, so luckily
begun, But when we have our wish, we wish undone Dryden.
6. Plot; action; construction; manner of development.
The book of Job, in conduct and diction. Macaulay.
Conduct money (Naut.), a portion of a seaman's wages retained till
the end of his engagement, and paid over only if his conduct has been
satisfactory.
Syn.
-- Behavior; deportment; demeanor; bearing; management; guidance.
See Behavior.
CONDUCT
Con*duct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conducted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conducting.] Etym: [See Conduct, n.]
1. To lead, or guide; to escort; to attend.
I can conduct you, lady, to a low But loyal cottage, where you may be
safe. Milton.
2. To lead, as a commander; to direct; to manage; to carry on; as, to
conduct the affairs of a kingdom.
Little skilled in the art of conducting a siege. Prescott.
3. To behave; -- with the reflexive; as, he conducted himself well.
4. (Physics)
Defn: To serve as a medium for conveying; to transmit, as heat,
light, electricity, etc.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: To direct, as the leader in the performance of a musical
composition.
CONDUCT
Con*duct", v. i.
1. To act as a conductor (as of heat, electricity, etc.); to carry.
2. To conduct one's self; to behave. [U. S.]
CONDUCTANCE
Con*duct"ance (kon*duk"tans), n. [Conduct, v. + -ance.] (Elec.)
Defn: Conducting power; -- the reciprocal of resistance. A suggested
unit is the mho, the reciprocal of the ohm.
Conductance is an attribute of any specified conductor, and refers to
its shape, length, and other factors. Conductivity is an attribute of
any specified material without direct reference to its shape or other
factors.
Sloane's Elec. Dict.
CONDUCTIBILITY
Con*duct`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conductibilité.]
1. Capability of being conducted; as, the conductibility of heat or
electricity.
2. Conductivity; capacity for receiving and transmitting.
CONDUCTIBLE
Con*duct"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conducted.
CONDUCTION
Con*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. conductio a bringing together: cf. F.
conduction.]
1. The act of leading or guiding. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. The act of training up. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. (Physics)
Defn: Transmission through, or by means of, a conductor; also,
conductivity.
[The] communication [of heat] from one body to another when they are
in contact, or through a homogenous body from particle to particle,
constitutes conduction. Amer. Cyc.
CONDUCTIVE
Con*duct"ive, a.
Defn: Having the quality or power of conducting; as, the conductive
tissue of a pistil.
The ovarian walls . . . are seen to be distinctly conductive. Goodale
(Gray's Bot. ).
CONDUCTIVITY
Con`duc*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or power of conducting, or of receiving and
transmitting, as, the conductivity of a nerve. Thermal conductivity
(Physics), the quantity of heat that passes in unit time through unit
area of plate whose thickness is unity, when its opposite faces
differ in temperature by one degree. J. D. Everett.
-- Thermometic conductivity (Physics), the thermal conductivity when
the unit of heat employed is the heat required to raise unit volume
of the substance one degree.
CONDUCTOR
Con*duct"or, n. Etym: [LL., a carrier, transporter, L., a lessee.]
1. One who, or that which, conducts; a leader; a commander; a guide;
a manager; a director.
Zeal, the blind conductor of the will. Dryden.
2. One in charge of a public conveyance, as of a railroad train or a
street car. [U. S.]
3. (Mus.)
Defn: The leader or director of an orchestra or chorus.
4. (Physics)
Defn: A substance or body capable of being a medium for the
transmission of certain forces, esp. heat or electricity;
specifically, a lightning rod.
5. (Surg.)
Defn: A grooved sound or staff used for directing instruments, as
lithontriptic forceps, etc.; a director.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Leader. Prime conductor (Elec.), the largest conductor
of an electrical machine, serving to collect, accumulate, or retain
the electricity.
CONDUCTORY
Con*duct"o*ry, a. Etym: [LL. conductorius.]
Defn: Having the property of conducting. [R.]
CONDUCTRESS
Con*duct"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who leads or directs; a directress.
CONDUIT
Con"duit ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. conductus escort,
conduit. See Conduct.]
1. A pipe, canal, channel, or passage for conveying water or fluid.
All the conduits of my blood froze up. Shak.
This is the fountain of all those bitter waters, of which, through a
hundred different conduits, we have drunk. Burke.
2. (Arch.)
(a) A structure forming a reservoir for water. Oxf. Gloss.
(b) A narrow passage for private communication.
CONDUIT SYSTEM; CONDUIT RAILWAY
Con"duit sys"tem. (Elec.)
Defn: A system of electric traction, esp. for light railways, in
which the actuating current passes along a wire or rail laid in an
underground conduit, from which the current is "picked up" by a plow
or other device fixed to the car or electric locomotive. Hence
Conduit railway.
CONDUPLICATE
Con*du"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. conduplicatus, p. p. of conduplicare.
See Duplicate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Folded lengthwise along the midrib, the upper face being
within; -- said of leaves or petals in vernation or æstivation.
CONDUPLICATION
Con*du`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. conduplicatio.]
Defn: A doubling together or folding; a duplication. [R.]
CONDURANGO
Con`du*ran"go, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Cundurango.
CONDURRITE
Con*dur"rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of the mineral domeykite, or copper arsenide, from
the Condurra mine in Cornwall, England.
CONDYLAR
Con"dy*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a condyle. Condylar foramen (Anat.), a
formen in front of each condyle of the occipital bone; -- sometimes
called the anterior condylar foramen when a second, or posterior,
foramen is present behind the condyle, as often happens in man.
CONDYLE
Con"dyle ( or ), n. Etym: [L. condylus knuckle, joint, Gr. condyle.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A bony prominence; particularly, an eminence at the end of a
bone bearing a rounded articular surface; -- sometimes applied also
to a concave articular surface.
CONDYLOID
Con"dy*loid, a. Etym: [Condyle + -oid: cf. F. condyloïde.] (Anat.)
Defn: Shaped like or pertaining to a condyle.
CONDYLOMA; CONDYLOME
Con`dy*lo"ma, Con"dy*lome, n.; pl. Condylomata or, E. Condylomes.
Etym: [NL. condyloma, fr. Gr. -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A wartlike new growth on the outer skin or adjoining mucous
membrance.
Note: There are two kinds of condylomata, the pointed and the broad,
the latter being of syphilitic origin.
CONDYLOPOD
Con*dyl"o*pod, n. Etym: [Gr. -pod.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arthropod.
CONE
Cone, n. Etym: [L. conus cone (in sense 1), Gr. çana whetstone, L.
cuneus wedge, and prob. to E. hone. See Hone, n.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A solid of the form described by the revolution of a right-
angled triangle about one of the sides adjacent to the right angle; -
- called also a right cone. More generally, any solid having a
vertical point and bounded by a surface which is described by a
straight line always passing through that vertical point; a solid
having a circle for its base and tapering to a point or vertex.
2. Anything shaped more or less like a mathematical cone; as, a
volcanic cone, a collection of scoriæ around the crater of a volcano,
usually heaped up in a conical form.
Now had Night measured with her shadowy cone Half way up hill this
vast sublunar vault. Milton.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit or strobile of the Coniferæ, as of the pine, fir,
cedar, and cypress. It is composed of woody scales, each one of which
has one or two seeds at its base.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A shell of the genus Conus, having a conical form. Cone of rays
(Opt.), the pencil of rays of light which proceed from a radiant
point to a given surface, as that of a lens, or conversely.
-- Cone pulley. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Oblique or Scalene cone, a cone of which the axis is inclined to
the plane of its base.
-- Eight cone. See Cone, 1.
CONE
Cone, v. t.
Defn: To render coneshaped; to bevel like the circular segment of a
cone; as, to cone the tires of car wheels.
CONE CLUTCH
Cone clutch. (Mach.)
Defn: A friction clutch with conical bearing surfaces.
CONEFLOWER
Cone"flow`er, n.
Defn: Any plant of the genus Rudbeckia; -- so called from the cone-
shaped disk of the flower head. Also, any plant of the related genera
Ratibida and Brauneria, the latter usually known as purple
coneflower.
CONE-IN-CONE
Cone"-in-cone", a. (Geol.)
Defn: Consisting of a series of parallel cones, each made up of many
concentric cones closely packed together; -- said of a kind of
structure sometimes observed in sedimentary rocks.
CONEINE
Co*ne"ine ( or ; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Conine.
CONE-NOSE
Cone"-nose`, n.
Defn: A large hemipterous insect of the family Reduviidæ, often found
in houses, esp. in the southern and western United States. It bites
severely, and is one of the species called kissing bugs. It is also
called big bedbug.
CONEPATE; CONEPATL
Co"ne*pate, Co"ne*patl, n. Etym: [Mexican conepatl and epatl.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The skunk.
CONE PULLEY
Cone" pul"ley.
Defn: A pulley for driving machines, etc., having two or more parts
or steps of different diameters; a pulley having a conical shape.
CONESTOGA WAGON; CONESTOGA WAIN
Con`es*to"ga wag`on, Con`es*to"ga wain. [From Conestoga,
Pennsylvania.]
Defn: A kind of large broad-wheeled wagon, usually covered, for
traveling in soft soil and on prairies.
CONEY
Co"ney ( or ), n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A rabbit. See Cony.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish. See Cony.
CONFAB
Con"fab, n. Etym: [Contr. from confabulation.]
Defn: Familiar talk or conversation. [Colloq.]
CONFABULATE
Con*fab"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Confabulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Confabulating.] Etym: [L. confabulatus, p. p. of confabulary, to
converse together; con- + fabulary to speak, fr. fabula. See Fable.]
Defn: To talk familiarly together; to chat; to prattle.
I shall not ask Jean Jaques Rousseau If birds confabulate or no.
Cowper.
CONFABULATION
Con*fab`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. confabulatio.]
Defn: Familiar talk; easy, unrestrained, unceremonious conversation.
Friends' confabulations are comfortable at all times, as fire in
winter. Burton.
CONFABULATORY
Con*fab"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of familiar talk; in the form of a dialogue.
Weever.
CONFALON
Con"fa*lon, n. Etym: [F. See Confalon.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: One of a fraternity of seculars, also called Penitents.
CONFARREATION
Con*far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. confarreatio, fr. confarreare to
marry; con- + farreum (sc. libum cake) a spelt cake, fr. farreus made
of spelt, fr. far a sort of grain.] (Antiq.)
Defn: A form of marriage among the Romans, in which an offering of
bread was made, in presence of the high priest and at least ten
witnesses.
CONFATED
Con*fat"ed, p.a.
Defn: Fated or decreed with something else. [R.] A. Tucker.
CONFECT
Con*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Confecting.] Etym: [L. confectus, p. p. of conficere to prepare. See
Comfit.]
1. To prepare, as sweetmeats; to make a confection of. [Obs.]
Saffron confected in Cilicia. W. Browne.
2. To construct; to form; to mingle or mix. [Obs.]
Of this were confected the famous everlasting lamps and tapers. Sir
T. Herbert.
[My joys] are still confected with some fears. Stirling.
CONFECT
Con"fect, n.
Defn: A comfit; a confection. [Obs.]
At supper eat a pippin roasted and sweetened with sugar of roses and
caraway confects. Harvey.
CONFECTION
Con*fec"tion, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. confectio.]
1. A composition of different materials. [Obs.]
A new confection of mold. Bacon.
2. A preparation of fruits or roots, etc., with sugar; a sweetmeat.
Certain confections . . . are like to candied conserves, and are made
of sugar and lemons. Bacon.
3. A composition of drugs. Shak.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A soft solid made by incorporating a medicinal substance or
substances with sugar, sirup, or honey.
Note: The pharmacopoeias formerly made a distinction between
conserves (made of fresh vegetable substances and sugar) and
electuaries (medicinal substances combined with sirup or honey), but
the distinction is now abandoned and all are called confections.
CONFECTIONARY
Con*fec"tion*a*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. confectionaris a pharmacist.]
Defn: A confectioner. [Obs.]
He will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks. 1
Sam. viii. 13.
CONFECTIONARY
Con*fec"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Prepared as a confection.
The biscuit or confectionary plum. Cowper.
CONFECTIONER
Con*fec"tion*er, n.
1. A compounder. [Obs.]
Canidia Neapolitana was confectioner of unguents. Haywood.
2. One whose occupation it is to make or sell confections, candies,
etc.
CONFECTIONERS' SUGAR
Con*fec"tion*ers' sug`ar.
Defn: A highly refined sugar in impalpable powder, esp. suited to
confectioners' uses.
CONFECTIONERY
Con*fec"tion*er*y, n.
1. Sweetmeats, in general; things prepared and sold by a
confectioner; confections; candies.
2. A place where candies, sweetmeats, and similar things are made or
sold.
CONFECTORY
Con*fec"to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the art of making sweetmeats. [Obs.] Beaumont.
CONFECTURE
Con*fec"ture, n.
Defn: Same as Confiture. [Obs.]
CONFEDER
Con*fed"er, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. conf. See Confederate.]
Defn: To confederate. [Obs.] Sir T. North.
CONFEDERACY
Con*fed"er*a*cy, n.; pl. Confederacies. Etym: [From Confederate, a.]
1. A league or compact between two or more persons, bodies of men, or
states, for mutual support or common action; alliance.
The friendships of the world are oft Confederacies in vice or leagues
of pleasure. Addison.
He hath heard of our confederacy. Shak.
Virginia promoted a confederacy. Bancroft.
2. The persons, bodies, states, or nations united by a league; a
confederation.
The Grecian common wealth, . . . the most heroic confederacy that
ever existed. Harris.
Virgil has a whole confederacy against him. Dryden.
3. (Law)
Defn: A combination of two or more persons to commit an unlawful act,
or to do a lawful act by unlawful means. See Conspiracy.
Syn.
-- League; compact; alliance; association; union; combination;
confederation.
CONFEDERATE
Con*fed"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. confoederatus, p. p. of confoederare to
join by a league; con- + foederare to establish by treaty or league,
fr. foedus league, compact. See Federal.]
1. United in a league; allied by treaty; engaged in a confederacy;
banded together; allied.
All the swords In Italy, and her confederate arms, Could not have
made this peace. Shak.
2. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the government of the eleven Southern
States of the United States which (1860-1865) attempted to establish
an independent nation styled the Confederate States of America; as,
the Confederate congress; Confederate money.
CONFEDERATE
Con*fed"er*ate, n.
1. One who is united with others in a league; a person or a nation
engaged in a confederacy; an ally; also, an accomplice in a bad
sense.
He found some of his confederates in gaol. Macaulay.
2. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: A name designating an adherent to the cause of the States which
attempted to withdraw from the Union (1860-1865).
CONFEDERATE
Con*fed"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confederated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Confederating.]
Defn: To unite in a legue or confederacy; to ally.
With these the Piercies them confederate. Daniel.
CONFEDERATE
Con*fed"er*ate, v. i.
Defn: To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant;
to band together.
By words men . . . covenant and confederate. South.
CONFEDERATER
Con*fed"er*a`ter, n.
Defn: A confederate.
CONFEDERATION
Con*fed`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. confoederatio: cf. F. confédération.]
1. The act of confederating; a league; a compact for mutual support;
alliance, particulary of princes, nations, or states.
The three princes enter into some strict league and confederation
among themselves. Bacon.
This was no less than a political confederation of the colonies of
New England. Palfrey.
2. The parties that are confederated, considered as a unit; a
confederacy. Articles of confederation. See under Article.
CONFEDERATIVE
Con*fed"er*a*tive ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a confederation.
CONFEDERATOR
Con*fed"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: A confederate. Grafton.
CONFER
Con*fer", v.t. [imp. & p. p. Conferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Conferring.]
Etym: [L. conferre to bring together, contribute, consult; con- +
ferre to bear: cf. F. conférer. See 1st Bear.]
1. To bring together for comparison; to compare. [Obs.]
If we confer these observations with others of the like nature, we
may find cause to rectify the general opinion. Boyle.
2. To grant as a possession; to bestow.
The public marks of honor and reward Conferred upon me. Milton.
3. To contribute; to conduce. [Obs.]
The closeness and compactness of the parts resting together doth much
confer to the strength of the union. Glanvill.
CONFER
Con*fer", v. i.
Defn: To have discourse; to consult; to compare views; to deliberate.
Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered. Acts xxv.
12.
You shall hear us confer of this. Shak.
Syn.
-- To counsel; advise; discourse; converse.
CONFEREE
Con`fer*ee", n. Etym: [Cf. Referee.]
1. One who is conferred with, or who takes part in a conference; as,
the conferees on the part of the Senate.
2. One upon whom something is conferred.
CONFERENCE
Con"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. conférence. See Confer.]
1. The act of comparing two or more things together; comparison.
[Obs.]
Helps and furtherances which . . . the mutual conference of all men's
collections and observations may afford. Hocker.
2. The act of consulting together formally; serious conversation or
discussion; interchange of views.
Nor with such free and friendly conference As he hath used of old.
Shak.
3. A meeting for consultation, discussion, or an interchange of
opinions.
4. A meeting of the two branches of a legislature, by their
committees, to adjust between them.
5. (Methodist Church)
Defn: A stated meeting of preachers and others, invested with
authority to take cognizance of ecclesiastical matters.
6. A voluntary association of Congregational churches of a district;
the district in which such churches are. Conference meeting, a
meeting for conference. Specifically, a meeting conducted (usually)
by laymen, for conference and prayer. [U. S.] -- Conference room, a
room for conference and prayer, and for the pastor's less formal
addresses. [U. S.]
CONFERENTIAL
Con`fer*en"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to conference. [R.] Clarke.
CONFERRABLE
Con*fer"ra*ble a.
Defn: Capable of being conferred.
CONFERREE
Con`fer*ree", n.
Defn: Same as Conferee.
CONFERRER
Con*fer"rer, n.
1. One who confers; one who converses. Johnson.
2. One who bestows; a giver.
CONFERRUMINATE; CONFERRUMINATED
Con`fer*ru"mi*nate, Con`fer*ru"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. conferruminare
to cement. See Ferruminate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Closely united by the coalescence, or sticking together, of
contiguous faces, as in the case of the cotyledons of the live-oak
acorn.
CONFERVA
Con*fer"va, n.; pl. Confervæ. Etym: [L., a kind of water plant. See
Comfrey.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any unbranched, slender, green plant of the fresh-water algae.
The word is frequently used in a wider sense.
CONFERVACEOUS
Con`fer*va"ceous, a.
Defn: Belonging to the confervae.
CONFERVOID
Con*fer"void, a. Etym: [Conferva + -oid.]
Defn: Like, or related to, the confervae. Loudon.
CONFERVOUS
Con*fer"vous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to confervae; consisting of, or resembling, the
confervae.
Yon exiguous pool's confervous scum. O. W. Holmes.
CONFESS
Con*fess", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confessed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confessing.]
Etym: [F. confesser, fr. L. confessus, p.p. of confiteri to confess;
con- + fateri to confess; akin to fari to speak. See 2d Ban, Fame.]
1. To make acknowledgment or avowal in a matter pertaining to one's
self; to acknowledge, own, or admit, as a crime, a fault, a debt.
And there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg. Milton.
I must confess I was most pleased with a beautiful prospect that none
of them have mentioned. Addison.
2. To acknowledge faith in; to profess belief in.
Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I
confess, also, before my Father which is in heaven. Matt. x. 32.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel,
nor spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. Acts xxiii. 8.
3. To admit as true; to assent to; to acknowledge, as after a
previous doubt, denial, or concealment.
I never gave it him. Send for him hither, And let him confess a
truth. Shak.
As I confess it needs must be. Tennyson.
As an actor confessed without rival to shine. Goldsmith.
4. (Eccl.)
(a) To make known or acknowledge, as one's sins to a priest, in order
to receive absolution; -- sometimes followed by the reflexive
pronoun.
Our beautiful votary took an opportunity of confessing herself to
this celebrated father. Addison.
(b) To hear or receive such confession; -- said of a priest.
He . . . heard mass, and the prince, his son, with him, and the most
part of his company were confessed. Ld. Berners.
5. To disclose or reveal, as an effect discloses its cause; to prove;
to attest.
Tall thriving trees confessed the fruitful mold. Pope.
Syn.
-- Admit; grant; concede; avow; own; assent; recognize; prove;
exhibit; attest.
-- To Confess, Acknowledge, Avow. Acknowledge is opposed to conceal.
We acknowledge what we feel must or ought to be made known. (See
Acknowledge.) Avow is opposed to withhold. We avow when we make an
open and public declaration, as against obloquy or opposition; as, to
avow one's principles; to avow one's participation in some act.
Confess is opposed to deny. We confess (in the ordinary sense of the
word) what we feel to have been wrong; as, to confess one's errors or
faults. We sometimes use confess and acknowledge when there is no
admission of our being in the wrong; as, this, I confess, is my
opinion; I acknowledge I have always thought so; but in these cases
we mean simply to imply that others may perhaps think us in the
wrong, and hence we use the words by way of deference to their
opinions. It was in this way that the early Christians were led to
use the Latin confiteor and confessio fidei to denote the public
declaration of their faith in Christianity; and hence the
corresponding use in English of the verb confess and the noun
confession.
CONFESS
Con*fess", v. i.
1. To make confession; to disclose sins or faults, or the state of
the conscience.
Every tongue shall confess to God. Rom. xiv. 11.
2. To acknowledge; to admit; to concede.
But since (And I confess with right) you think me bound. Tennyson.
CONFESSANT
Con*fess"ant, n. Etym: [F. confessant.]
Defn: One who confesses to a priest. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFESSARY
Con*fess"a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessarius.]
Defn: One who makes a confession. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CONFESSEDLY
Con*fess"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By confession; without denial. [Written also confessly.]
CONFESSER
Con*fess"er, n.
Defn: One who makes a confession.
CONFESSION
Con*fes"sion, n. Etym: [F. confession, L. confessio.]
1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's
self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime.
With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some
confession Of his true state. Shak.
2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Rom. x. 10.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to
obtain sacramental absolution.
Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of
sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. Hallam.
4. A formulary in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed
to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to
membership of a church; a confession of faith.
5. (Law)
Defn: An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation
to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it
applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted.
Wharton. Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which
the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges
some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them.
Mozley & W. Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles
of faith; a creed.
-- General confession, the confession of sins made by a number of
persons in common, as in public prayer.
-- Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.
CONFESSIONAL
Con*fes"sion*al, n. Etym: [F. confessional.]
Defn: The recess, seat, or inclosed place, where a priest sits to
hear confessions; often a small structure furnished with a seat for
the priest and with a window or aperture so that the penitent who is
outside may whisper into the priest's ear without being seen by him
or heard by others.
CONFESSIONAL
Con*fes"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a confession of faith. Confessional equality,
equality before the law of persons confessing different creeds.
CONFESSIONALISM
Con*fes"sion*al*ism, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: An exaggerated estimate of the importance of giving full assent
to any particular formula of the Christian faith. Shaff.
CONFESSIONALIST
Con*fes"sion*al*ist, n.
Defn: A priest hearing, or sitting to hear, confession. [R.] Boucher
CONFESSIONARY
Con*fes"sion*a*ry, n. Etym: [LL. confessionarium.]
Defn: A confessional. [Obs.] Johnson.
CONFESSIONARY
Con*fes"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to auricular confession; as, a confessionary litany.
CONFESSIONIST
Con*fes"sion*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confessioniste.]
Defn: One professing a certain faith. Bp. Montagu.
CONFESSOR
Con*fess"or, n. Etym: [OF. confessor, F. confesseur, fr. L. & LL.
confessor.]
1. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a
charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses
himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith.
He who dies for religion is a martyr; he who suffers for it is a
confessor. Latham.
Our religion which hath been sealed with the blood of so many martyrs
and confessors. Bacon.
2. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to
grant them absolution.
CONFESSORSHIP
Con*fess"or*ship, n.
Defn: The act or state of suffering persecution for religious faith.
Our duty to contend even to confessorship. J. H. Newman.
CONFESTLY
Con*fest"ly, adv.
Defn: See Cofessedly.
CONFETTI
Con*fet"ti, n. pl.; sing. -fetto. [It. Cf. Comfit.]
Defn: Bonbons; sweetmeats; confections; also, plaster or paper
imitations of, or substitutes for, bonbons, often used by carnival
revelers, at weddings, etc.
CONFIDANT; CONFIDANTE
Con`fi*dant"; 277), n. masc., Con`fi*dante", n. fem.Etym: [F.
confident, confidente, formerly also spelt confidant, confidante. See
Confide, and cf. Confident.]
Defn: One to whom secrets, especially those relating to affairs of
love, are confided or intrusted; a confidential or bosom friend.
You love me for no other end Than to become my confidant and friend;
As such I keep no secret from your sight. Dryden.
CONFIDE
Con*fide", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Confided; p.pr. & vb.n. Confiding.]
Etym: [L. confidere; con- + fidere to trust. See Faith, and cf.
Affiance.]
Defn: To put faith (in); to repose confidence; to trust; -- usually
followed by in; as, the prince confides in his ministers.
By thy command I rise or fall, In thy protection I confide. Byron.
Judge before friendships, then confide till death. Young.
CONFIDE
Con*fide", v. t.
Defn: To intrust; to give in charge; to commit to one's keeping; --
followed by to.
Congress may . . . confide to the Circuit jurisdiction of all
offenses against the United States. Story.
CONFIDENCE
Con"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. confidentia firm trust in, self-
confidence: cf. F. confidence.]
1. The act of confiding, trusting, or putting faith in; trust;
reliance; belief; -- formerly followed by of, now commonly by in.
Society is built upon trust, and trust upon confidence of one
another's integrity. South.
A cheerful confidence in the mercy of God. Macaulay.
2. That in which faith is put or reliance had.
The Lord shall be thy confidence. Prov. iii. 26.
3. The state of mind characterized by one's reliance on himself, or
his circumstamces; a feeling of self-sufficiency; such assurance as
leads to a feeling of security; self-reliance; -- often with self
prefixed.
Your wisdom is consumed in confidence; Do not go forth to-day. Shak.
But confidence then bore thee on secure Either to meet no danger, or
to find Matter of glorious trial. Milton.
4. Private conversation; (pl.) secrets shared; as, there were
confidences between them.
Sir, I desire some confidence with you. Shak.
Confidence game, any swindling operation in which advantage is taken
of the confidence reposed by the victim in the swindler.
-- Confidence man, a swindler.
-- To take into one's confidence, to admit to a knowledge of one's
feelings, purposes, or affairs.
Syn.
-- Trust; assurance; expectation; hope.
I am confident that very much be done. Boyle.
2. Trustful; without fear or suspicion; frank; unreserved.
Be confident to speak, Northumberland; We three are but thyself.
Shak.
3. Having self-reliance; bold; undaunted.
As confident as is the falcon's flight Against a bird, do I with
Mowbray fight. Shak.
4. Having an excess of assurance; bold to a fault; dogmatical;
impudent; presumptuous.
The fool rageth and is confident. Prov. xiv. 16.
5. Giving occasion for confidence. [R.]
The cause was more confident than the event was prosperious. Jer.
Taylor.
CONFIDENT
Con"fi*dent, n.
Defn: See Confidant. South. Dryden.
CONFIDENTIAL
Con`fi*den"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confidentiel.]
1. Enjoying, or treated with, confidence; trusted in; trustworthy;
as, a confidential servant or clerk.
2. Communicated in confidence; secret. "Confidential messages."
Burke. Confidential communication (Law) See Privileged communication,
under Privileged.
-- Confidential creditors, those whose claims are of such a
character that they are entitled to be paid before other creditors.
-- Confidential debts, debts incurred for borrowed money, and
regarded as having a claim to be paid before other debts. McElrath.
CONFIDENTIALLY
Con`fi*den"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In confidence; in reliance on secrecy.
CONFIDENTLY
Con"fi*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: With confidence; with strong assurance; positively.
CONFIDENTNESS
Con"fi*dent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being confident.
CONFIDER
Con*fid"er, n.
Defn: One who confides.
CONFIDING
Con*fid"ing, a.
Defn: That confides; trustful; unsuspicious.
-- Con*fid"ing*ly, adv.
-- Con*fid"ing*ness, n.
CONFIGURATE
Con*fig"ur*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. configuratus, p.p. of configurare to
form or after; con- + figurare to form, figura form. See Figure.]
Defn: To take form or position, as the parts of a complex structure;
to agree with a pattern.
Known by the name of uniformity; Where pyramids to pyramids relate
And the whole fabric doth configurate. Jordan.
CONFIGURATION
Con*fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. configuratio.]
1. Form, as depending on the relative disposition of the parts of a
thing' shape; figure.
It is the variety of configurations [of the mouth] . . . which gives
birth and origin to the several vowels. Harris.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: Relative position or aspect of the planets; the face of the
horoscope, according to the relative positions of the planets at any
time.
They [astrologers] undertook . . . to determine the course of a man's
character and life from the configuration of the stars at the moment
of his birth. Whewell.
CONFIGURE
Con*fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Configured; p.pr. & vb.n.
Configuring.] Etym: [L. configurare: cf. F. configurer. See
Configurate.]
Defn: To arrange or dispose in a certain form, figure, or shape.
Bentley.
CONFINABLE
Con*fin"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being confined, restricted, or limited.
Not confinable to any limits. Bp. Hall.
CONFINE
Con*fine", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confined; p.pr. & vb.n. Confining.]
Etym: [F. confiner to border upon, LL. confinare to set bounds to;
con- + finis boundary, end. See Final, Finish.]
Defn: To restrain within limits; to restrict; to limit; to bound; to
shut up; to inclose; to keep close.
Now let not nature's hand Keep the wild flood confined! let order
die! Shak.
He is to confine himself to the compass of numbers and the slavery of
rhyme. Dryden.
To be confined, to be in childbed.
Syn.
-- To bound; limit; restrain; imprison; immure; inclose;
circumscribe; restrict.
CONFINE
Con"fine or
Defn: (v. i. To have a common boundary; to border; to lie contiguous;
to touch; -- followed by on or with. [Obs.]
Where your g;oomy bounds Confine with heaven. Milton.
Beywixt hezven and earth and skies there stands a place. Confuining
on all three. Dryden.
CONFINE
Con"fine, n.
1. Common boundary; border; limit; -- used chiefly in the plural.
Events that came to pass within the confines of Judea. Locke.
And now in little space The confines met of emryrean heaven, And of
this world. Milton.
On the confines of the city and the Temple. Macaulay.
2. Apartment; place of restraint; prison. [Obs.]
Confines, wards, and dungeons. Shak.
The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine. Shak.
CONFINELESS
Con"fine`less ( or ), a.
Defn: Without limitation or end; boundless. Shak.
CONFINEMENT
Con*fine"ment, n.
1. Restraint within limits; imprisonment; any restraint of liberty;
seclusion.
The mind hates restraint, and is apt to fancy itself under
confinement when the sight is pent up. Addison.
2. Restraint within doors by sickness, esp. that caused by
childbirth; lying-in.
CONFINER
Con*fin"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, limits or restrains.
CONFINER
Con"fi`ner ( or , n.
Defn: One who lives on confines, or near the border of a country; a
borderer; a near neighbor. [Obs.] Bacon.
Happy confiners you of other lands, That shift your soil, and oft
'scape tyrants' hands. Daniel.
CONFINITY
Con*fin"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. confinité.]
Defn: Community of limits; contiguity. [R.] Bailey.
CONFIRM
Con*firm", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Confrmed; p.pr. & vb.n. Confirming.]
Etym: [OE. confermen, confirmen, OF. confermer, F. confirmer, fr. L.
confirmare; con- + firmare to make firm, fr. firmus firm. See Firm.]
1. To make firm or firmer; to add strength to; to establish; as,
health is confirmed by exercise.
Confirm the crown to me and to mine heirs. Shak.
Annd confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law. Ps. cv. 10.
2. To strengthen in judgment or purpose.
Confirmed, then, I resolve Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe.
Milton.
3. To give new assurance of the truth of; to render certain; to
verify; to corroborate; as, to confirm a rumor.
Your eyes shall witness and confirm my tale. Pope.
These likelihoods confirm her flight. Shak.
4. To render valid by formal assent; to complete by a necessary
sanction; to ratify; as, to confirm the appoinment of an official;
the Senate confirms a treaty.
That treaty so prejudicial ought to have been remitted rather than
confimed. Swift.
5. (Eccl.)
Defn: To administer the rite of confirmation to. See Confirmation, 3.
Those which are thus confirmed are thereby supposed to be fit for
admission to the sacrament. Hammond.
Syn.
-- To strengthen; corroborate; substantiate; establish; fix; ratify;
settle; verify; assure.
CONFIRMABLE
Con*firm"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be confirmed.
CONFIRMANCE
Con*firm"ance, n.
Defn: Confirmation. [Obs.]
CONFIRMATION
Con`fir*ma"tion, n. Etym: [F. confirmation, L. confirmatio.]
1. The act of confirming or strengthening; the act of establishing,
ratifying, or sanctioning; as, the confirmation of an appointment.
Their blood is shed In confirmation of the noblest claim. Cowper.
2. That which confirms; that which gives new strength or assurance;
as to a statement or belief; additional evidence; proof; convincing
testimony.
Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmations strong As
proofs of holy writ. Shak.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: A rite supplemental to baptism, by which a person is admitted,
through the laying on of the hands of a bishop, to the full
privileges of the church, as in the Roman Catholic, the Episcopal
Church, etc.
This ordinance is called confirmation, because they who duly receive
it are confirmed or strengthened for the fulfillment of their
Christian duties, by the grace therein bestowed upon them. Hook.
4. (Law)
Defn: A conveyance by which a voidable estate is made sure and not
voliable, or by which a particular estate is increased; a contract,
express or implied, by which a person makes that firm and binding
which was before voidable.
CONFIRMATIVE
Con*firm"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. confirmativus: cf. F. confirmatif.]
Defn: Tending confirm or establish. Sherwood.
-- Con*firm"a*tive*ly, adv.
CONFIRMATOR
Con"fir*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, confirms; a confirmer. Sir T. Browne.
CONFIRMATORY
Con*firm"a*to*ry, a. .
Defn: Serving to confirm; corroborative.
A fact confirmatory of the conclusion. I. Taylor.
2. Pertaining to the rite of confirmation. Compton.
CONFIRMEDLY
Con*firm"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With confirmation.
CONFIRMEDNESS
Con*firm"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A fixed state.
CONFIRMEE
Con`fir*mee", n. Etym: [F. confirm, p.p. of confirmer.] (Law)
Defn: One to whom anuthing is confirmed.
CONFIRMER
Con*firm"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, confirms, establishes, or ratifies; one
who corroborates. Shak.
CONFIRMINGLY
Con*firm"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a confirming manner.
CONFISCABLE
Con*fis"ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. confiscable.]
Defn: Capable of being confiscated; liable to forfeiture.
CONFISCATE
Con"fis*cate ( or , a. Etym: [L. confiscatus, p.p. of confiscare to
confiscate, prop., to lay up in a chest; con- + fiscus basket, purse,
treasury. See Fiscal.]
Defn: Seized and appropriated by the government to the public use;
forfeited.
Lest that your goods too soon be confiscate. Shak.
CONFISCATE
Con"fis*cate ( or , v. t. [imp & p. p. Confiscated; p.pr & vb. n.
Confiscating.]
Defn: To seize as forfeited to the public treasury; to appropriate to
the public use.
It was judged that he should be banished and his whole estate
confiscated and seized. Bacon.
CONFISCATION
Con`fis*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. confiscatio.]
Defn: The act or process of taking property or condemning it to be
taken, as forfeited to the public use.
The confiscations following a subdued rebellion. Hallam.
CONFISCATOR
Con"fis*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L., a treasurer.]
Defn: One who confiscates. Burke.
CONFISCATORY
Con*fis"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Effecting confiscation; characterized by confiscations.
"Confiscatory and exterminatory periods." Burke.
CONFIT
Con"fit, n.
Defn: Same as Comfit. [Obs.]
CONFITENT
Con"fi*tent, n. Etym: [L. confitens, p.pr.]
Defn: One who confesses his sins and faults. [Obs.]
CONFITEOR
Con*fit"e*or, n. Etym: [L., I confess. See Confess.] (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: A form of prayer in which public confession of sins is made.
CONFITURE
Con"fi*ture ( or , n.
Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity;
adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds.
If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that
union should have been thrice blessed. Motley.
CONFIX
Con*fix", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Confixing.]
[L. confixus, p. p. of configere to fasten together.]
Defn: To fix; to fasten. [Obs.] Shak.
CONFIXURE
Con*fix"ure (; 135), n.
Defn: Act of fastening. [Obs.]
CONFLAGRANT
Con*fla"grant, a. [L. conflagrans, p. pr. of conflagrare; con- +
flagrare to blaze. See Flagrant.]
Defn: Burning together in a common flame. [R.] "The conflagrant
mass." Milton.
CONFLAGRATION
Con`fla*gra"tion, n. [L. conflagratio: cf. F. conflagration.]
Defn: A fire extending to many objects, or over a large space; a
general burning.
Till one wide conflagration swallows all.
Pope.
CONFLATE
Con*flate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conflated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conflating.] [L. conflatus, p. p. of conflare to blow together; con-
+ flare to blow.]
Defn: To blow together; to bring together; to collect; to fuse
together; to join or weld; to consolidate.
The State-General, created and conflated by the passionate effort of
the whole nation.
Carlyle.
CONFLATION
Con*fla"tion, n. [L. conflatio.]
Defn: A blowing together, as of many instruments in a concert, or of
many fires in a foundry. [R.] Bacon.
CONFLICT
Con"flict, n. [L. conflictus a striking together, fr. confligere, -
flictum, to strike together, to fight: cf. F. conflit, formerly also
conflict. See Conflict, v.]
1. A striking or dashing together; violent collision; as, a conflict
of elements or waves.
2. A strife for the mastery; hostile contest; battle; struggle;
fighting.
As soon as he [Atterbury] was himself again, he became eager for
action and conflict.
Macaulay.
An irrepressible conflict between opposing and enduring forces.
W. H. Seward.
Conflict of laws, that branch of jurisprudence which deals with
individual litigation claimed to be subject to the conflicting laws
of two or more states or nations; -- often used as synonymous with
Private international law.
Syn. -- Contest; collision; struggle; combat; strife; contention;
battle; fight; encounter. See Contest.
CONFLICT
Con*flict", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Conflicted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conflicting.] [L. conflictus, p. p. of confligere to conflict (cf.
conflictare); con- + fligere to strike; cf. Gr. fli`bein, qli`bein,
to press, L. flagrum whip.]
1. To strike or dash together; to meet in violent collision; to
collide. Shak.
Fire and water conflicting together.
Bacon.
2. To maintain a conflict; to contend; to engage in strife or
opposition; to struggle.
A man would be content to . . . conflict with great difficulties, in
hopes of a mighty reward.
Abp. Tillotson.
3. To be in opposition; to be contradictory.
The laws of the United States and of the individual States may, in
some cases, conflict with each other.
Wheaton.
Syn. -- To fight; contend; contest; resist; struggle; combat; strive;
battle.
CONFLICTING
Con*flict"ing, a.
Defn: Being in conflict or collision, or in opposition; contending;
contradictory; incompatible; contrary; opposing.
Torn with sundry conflicting passions.
Bp. Hurd.
CONFLICTIVE
Con*flict"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to conflict; conflicting. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONFLUENCE
Con"flu*ence, n. [L. confluentia.]
1. The act of flowing together; the meeting or junction of two or
more streams; the place of meeting.
New York stood at the confluence of two rivers.
Bancroft.
2. Any running together of separate streams or currents; the act of
meeting and crowding in a place; hence, a crowd; a concourse; an
assemblage.
You see this confluence, this great flood of vistors.
Shak.
The confluence . . . of all true joys.
Boyle.
CONFLUENT
Con"flu*ent, a. [L. confluens, -entis, p. pr. of confluere, -fluxum;
con- + fluere to flow. See Fluent.]
1. Flowing together; meeting in their course; running one into
another.
These confluent steams make some great river's head.
Blackmore.
2. (Bot.) Blended into one; growing together, so as to obliterate
all distinction.
3. (Med.)
(a) Running together or uniting, as pimples or pustules.
(b) Characterized by having the pustules, etc., run together or
unite, so as to cover the surface; as, confluent smallpox.
Dunglison.
CONFLUENT
Con"flu*ent, n.
1. A small steam which flows into a large one.
2. The place of meeting of steams, currents, etc. [Obs.] Holland.
CONFLUX
Con"flux, n. [From L. confluxus, p. p. See Confluent.]
1. A flowing together; a meeting of currents. "The conflux of meeting
sap." Shak.
The general conflux and concourse of the whole people.
Clarendon.
2. A large assemblage; a passing multitude.
To the gates cast round thine eye, and see
What conflux issuing forth, or entering in.
Milton.
CONFLUXIBILITY
Con*flux`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The tendency of fluids to run together. [R.] Boyle.
CONFLUXIBLE
Con*flux"i*ble, a.
Defn: Inclined to flow or run together. --Con*flux"i*ble*ness, n.
CONFOCAL
Con*fo"cal, a. (Math.)
Defn: Having the same foci; as, confocal quadrics.
CONFORM
Con*form", a. [L. conformis; con- + forma form: cf. F. conforme.]
Defn: Of the same form; similar in import; conformable. Bacon.
Care must be taken that the interpretation be every way conform to
the analogy of faith.
Bp.Hall.
CONFORM
Con*form", v. i.
1. To be in accord or harmony; to comply; to be obedient; to submit;
-- with to or with.
A rule to which experience must conform.
Whewell.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) To comply with the usages of the Established
Church; to be a conformist.
About two thousand ministers whose consciences did not suffer them to
conform were driven from their benefices in a day.
Macaulay.
CONFORM
Con*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Conformed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conforming.] [F. conformer, L. conformare, -formatum; con- + formare
to form, forma form. See Form.]
Defn: To shape in accordance with; to make like; to bring into
harmony or agreement with; -- usually with to or unto.
Demand of them wherefore they conform not themselves unto the order
of the church.
Hooker.
CONFORMABILITY
Con*form`a*bil"i*ty, n.
1. The state of being conformable.
2. (Geol.) The parallelism of two sets of strata which are in
contact.
CONFORMABLE
Con*form"a*ble, a.
1. Corresponding in form, character, opinions, etc.; similar; like;
consistent; proper or suitable; --usually followed by to.
The fragments of Sappho give us a taste of her way of writing
perfectly conformable with that character.
Addison.
Conformable to Scripture as well as to philosophy.
Whewell.
To make matters somewhat conformable for the old knight.
Sir W. Scott.
2. Disposed to compliance or obedience; ready to follow directions;
submissive; compliant.
I have been to you a true and humble wife,
At all times to your will conformable.
Shak.
3. (Geol.) Parallel, or nearly so; -- said of strata in contact.
CONFORMABLENESS
Con*form"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conformable; conformability.
CONFORMABLY
Con*form"a*bly, adv.
Defn: With conformity or in conformity; suitably; agreeably.
Conformably to the law and nature of God.
Bp. Beveridge.
CONFORMANCE
Con*form"ance, n.
Defn: Conformity. [R.] Marston.
CONFORMATE
Con*form"ate, a. [L. conformatus, p. p. See Conform.]
Defn: Having the same form. [R.]
CONFORMATION
Con`for*ma"tion, n. [L. conformatio: cf. F. conformation.]
1. The act of conforming; the act of producing conformity.
The conformation of our hearts and lives to the duties of true
religion and morality.
I. Watts.
2. The state of being conformed; agreement; hence; structure, as
depending on the arrangement of parts; form; arrangement.
In Hebrew poetry, there may be observed a certain conformation of the
sentences.
Lowth.
A structure and conformation of the earth.
Woodward.
CONFORMATOR
Con"for*ma`tor, n. [L., a framer.]
Defn: An apparatus for taking the conformation of anything, as of the
head for fitting a hat, or, in craniometry, finding the largest
horizontal area of the head.
CONFORMER
Con*form"er, n.
Defn: One who conforms; one who complies with established forms or
doctrines.
CONFORMIST
Con*form"ist, n.
Defn: One who conforms or complies; esp., one who conforms to the
Church of England, or to the Established Church, as distinguished
from a dissenter or nonconformist.
A cheeful conformist to your judgment.
Jer.Taylor.
CONFORMITY
Con*form"i*ty, n.; pl. Conformities (#). [Cf. F. conformité.]
1. Correspondence in form, manner, or character; resemblance;
agreement; congruity; -- followed by to, with, or between.
By our conformity to God.
Tillotson.
The end of all religion is but to draw us to a conformity with God.
Dr. H.More.
A conformity between the mental taste and the sensitive taste.
Addison.
2. (Eng. Eccl. Hist.) Compliance with the usages of the Established
Church.
The king [James I.] soon afterward put forth a proclamation requiring
all ecclesiastical and civil officers to do their duty by enforcing
conformity.
Hallam.
CONFORTATION
Con`for*ta"tion, n. [Cf. F. confortation, LL. confortatio. Cf.
Comfort.]
Defn: The act of strengthening. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFOUND
Con*found" (kon*found"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confounded; p. pr. &
vb. n. Confounding.] [F. confondre, fr. L. confundere, -fusum, to
pour together; con- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt, and cf.
Confuse.]
1. To mingle and blend, so that different elements can not be
distinguished; to confuse.
They who strip not ideas from the marks men use for them, but
confound them with words, must have endless dispute.
Locke.
Let us go down, and there confound their language.
Gen. xi. 7.
2. To mistake for another; to identify falsely.
They [the tinkers] were generally vagrants and pilferers, and were
often confounded with the gypsies.
Macaulay.
3. To throw into confusion or disorder; to perplex; to strike with
amazement; to dismay.
The gods confound...
The Athenians both within and out that wall.
Shak.
They trusted in thee and were not confounded.
Ps. xxii. 5.
So spake the Son of God, and Satan stood
A while as mute, confounded what to say.
Milton.
4. To destroy; to ruin; to waste. [Obs.]
One man's lust these many lives confounds.
Shak.
How couldst thou in a mile confound an hour
Shak.
Syn. -- To abash; confuse; baffle; dismay; astonish; defeat; terrify;
mix; blend; intermingle. See Abash.
CONFOUNDED
Con*found"ed, a.
1. Confused; perplexed.
A cloudy and confounded philosopher.
Cudworth.
2. Excessive; extreme; abominable. [Colloq.]
He was a most confounded tory.
Swift.
The tongue of that confounded woman.
Sir. W. Scott.
CONFOUNDEDLY
Con*found"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Extremely; odiously; detestably. [Colloq.] "Confoundedly sick."
Goldsmith.
CONFOUNDEDNESS
Con*found"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being confounded.
Their witty descant of my confoundedness.
Milton.
CONFOUNDER
Con*found"er, n.
Defn: One who confounds.
CONFRACT
Con"fract`, a. [L. confractus, p. p. of confringere.]
Defn: Broken in pieces; severed. [Obs.]
CONFRAGOSE
Con`fra*gose", a. [L. confragosus; con- + fragosus, fr. frangere. See
Fragile.]
Defn: Broken; uneven. [Obs.] "Confragose cataracts." Evelyn.
CONFRATERNITY
Con`fra*ter"ni*ty, n.; pl. Confraternities (#). [LL. confraternitas:
cf. F. confraternité. See Fraternity.]
Defn: A society or body of men united for some purpose, or in some
profession; a brotherhood.
These live in one society and confraternity.
Stow.
CONFRERE
Con`frere", n. [F.]
Defn: Fellow member of a fraternity; intimate associate.
CONFRICATION
Con`fri*ca"tion, n. [L. confricatio, fr. confricare to rub
vigorously.]
Defn: A rubbing together; friction. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONFRIER
Con*fri"er, n. [Cf. F. confrère. See Friar.]
Defn: A confrère. [Obs.] Weever.
CONFRONT
Con*front", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confronted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Confronting.] [F. confronter; L. con- + frons the forehead or front.
See Front.]
1. To stand facing or in front of; to face; esp. to face hostilely;
to oppose with firmness.
We four, indeed, confronted were with four
In Russian habit.
Shak.
He spoke and then confronts the bull.
Dryden.
Hester caught hold of Pearl, and drew her forcibly into her arms,
confronting the old Puritan magistrate with almost a fierce
expression.
Hawthorne.
It was impossible at once to confront the might of France and to
trample on the liberties of England.
Macaulay.
2. To put face to face; to cause to face or to meet; as, to confront
one with the proofs of his wrong doing.
3. To set in opposition for examination; to put in contrast; to
compare.
When I confront a medal with a verse, I only show you the same design
executed by different hands.
Addison.
CONFRONTATION
Con`fron*ta"tion, n. [LL. confrontatio.]
Defn: Act of confronting. H. Swinburne.
CONFRONTE
Con`fron`té", a. [F., p. p. confronter.] (Her.)
Defn: Same as Affronté.
CONFRONTER
Con*front"er, n.
Defn: One who confronts.
A confronter in authority.
Speed.
CONFRONTING
confronting n.
Defn: dealing with (a person or problem) directly; taking the bull by
the horns.
Syn. -- braving, coping with, grappling, tackling.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
CONFRONTMENT
Con*front"ment, n.
Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.
CONFRONTMENT
Con*front"ment, n.
Defn: The act of confronting; the state of being face to face.
CONFUCIAN
Con*fu"cian, a.
Defn: Of, or relating to, Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher
and teacher. -- n.
Defn: A Confucianist.
CONFUCIANISM
Con*fu"cian*ism, n.
Defn: The political morality taught by Confucius and his disciples,
which forms the basis of the Chinese jurisprudence and education. It
can hardly be called a religion, as it does not inculcate the worship
of any god. S. W. Williams.
CONFUCIANIST
Con*fu"cian*ist, n.
Defn: A follower of Confucius; a Confucian. S. W. Williams.
CONFUS
Con*fus, a. [F. See Confuse, a.]
Defn: Confused, disturbed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONFUSABILITY
Con*fus`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being confused.
CONFUSABLE
Con*fus"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being confused.
CONFUSE
Con*fuse", a. [F. confus, L. confusus, p. p. of confundere. See
Confound.]
Defn: Mixed; confounded. [Obs.] Baret.
CONFUSE
Con*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confused; p. pr. & vb. n. Confusing.]
1. To mix or blend so that things can not be distinguished; to jumble
together; to confound; to render indistinct or obscure; as, to
confuse accounts; to confuse one's vision.
A universal hubbub wild
Of stunning sounds and voices all confused.
Milton.
2. To perplex; to disconcert; to abash; to cause to lose self-
possession.
Nor thou with shadowed hint confuse
A life that leads melodious days.
Tennyson.
Confused and sadly she at length replied.
Pope.
Syn. -- To abash; disorder; disarrange; disconcert; confound;
obscure; distract. See Abash.
CONFUSEDLY
Con*fus"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a confused manner.
CONFUSEDNESS
Con*fus"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of confusion. Norris.
CONFUSELY
Con*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: Confusedly; obscurely. [Obs.]
CONFUSION
Con*fu"sion, n. [F. confusion, L. confusio.]
1. The state of being mixed or blended so as to produce
indistinctness or error; indistinct combination; disorder; tumult.
The confusion of thought to which the Aristotelians were liable.
Whewell.
Moody beggars starving for a time
Of pellmell havoc and confusion.
Shak.
2. The state of being abashed or disconcerted; loss self-possession;
perturbation; shame.
Confusion dwelt in every face
And fear in every heart.
Spectator.
3. Overthrow; defeat; ruin.
Ruin seize thee, ruthless king,
Confusion on thy banners wait.
Gray.
4. One who confuses; a confounder. [Obs.] Chapmen.
Confusion of goods (Law), the intermixture of the goods of two or
more persons, so that their respective portions can no longer be
distinguished. Blackstone. Bouvier.
CONFUSIVE
Con*fu"sive, a.
Defn: Confusing; having a tendency to confusion. Bp. Hall.
CONFUTABLE
Con*fut"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be confuted.
A conceit . . . confutable by daily experience.
Sir T.Browne.
CONFUTANT
Con*fut"ant, n. [L. confutans, p. pr. of confutare.]
Defn: One who undertakes to confute. Milton.
CONFUTATION
Con`fu*ta"tion, n. [L. confutatio: cf. F. confutation.]
Defn: The act or process of confuting; refutation. "For the
edification of some and the confutation of others." Bp. Horne.
CONFUTATIVE
Con*fut"a*tive, a.
Defn: Adapted or designed to confute. Bp. Warburton
CONFUTE
Con*fute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Confuted; p. pr. & vb. n. Confuting.]
[L. confutare to chek (a boiling liquid), to repress, confute; con- +
a root seen in futis a water vessel), prob. akin to fundere to pour:
cf. F. confuter. See Fuse to melt.]
Defn: To overwhelm by argument; to refute conclusively; to prove or
show to be false or defective; to overcome; to silence.
Satan stood . . . confuted and convinced
Of his weak arguing fallacious drift.
Milton.
No man's error can be confuted who doth not . . . grant some true
principle that contradicts his error.
Chillingworth.
I confute a good profession with a bad conversation.
Fuller.
Syn. -- To disprove; overthrow; sed aside; refute; oppugn. -- To
Confute, Refute. Refute is literally to and decisive evidence; as, to
refute a calumny, charge, etc. Confute is literally to check boiling,
as when cold water is poured into hot, thus serving to allay, bring
down, or neutralize completely. Hence, as applied to arguments (and
the word is never applied, like refute, to charges), it denotes, to
overwhelm by evidence which puts an end to the case and leaves an
opponent nothing to say; to silence; as, "the atheist is confuted by
the whole structure of things around him."
CONFUTEMENT
Con*fute"ment, n.
Defn: Confutation. [Obs.] Milton.
CONFUTER
Con*fut"er, n.
Defn: One who confutes or disproves.
CONG
Cong, n. (Med.)
Defn: An abbreviation of Congius.
CONGE
Con"ge, v. i. [Imp. & p. p. Congeed; p. pr. & vb. n. Congeing.] [OF.
congier, congeer, F. congédier, fr. congé. See Congé, n.]
Defn: To take leave with the customary civilities; to bow or
courtesy.
I have congeed with the duke, done my adieu with his nearest.
Shak.
CONGE
Con`gé" (kôN`zhay"; E. kon"je; 277), n. [F., leave, permission, fr.
L. commeatus a going back and forth, a leave of absence, furlough,
fr. commeare, -meatum, to go and come; com- + meare to go. Cf.
Permeate.] [Formerly written congie.]
1. The act of taking leave; parting ceremony; farewell; also,
dismissal.
Should she pay off old Briggs and give her her congé
Thackeray.
2. The customary act of civility on any occasion; a bow or a
courtesy.
The captain salutes you with congé profound.
Swift.
3. (Arch.) An apophyge. Gwilt.
Congé d'élire [F., leave to choose] (Eccl.), the sovereign's license
or permission to a dean and chapter to choose as bishop the person
nominated in the missive.
CONGEABLE
Con"ge*a*ble, a. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Permissible; done lawfully; as, entry congeable.
CONGEAL
Con*geal", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Congealed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Congealing.] [F. congeler, L. congelare, -gelatumn; con- + gelare to
freeze, gelu frost. See Gelid.]
1. To change from a fluid to a solid state by cold; to freeze.
A vapory deluge lies to snow congealed.
Thomson.
2. To affect as if by freezing; to check the flow of, or cause to
run cold; to chill.
As if with horror to congeal his blood.
Stirling.
CONGEAL
Con*geal", v. i.
Defn: To grow hard, stiff, or thick, from cold or other causes; to
become solid; to freeze; to cease to flow; to run cold; to be
chilled.
Lest zeal, now melted . . .
Cool and congeal again to what it was.
Shak.
CONGEALABLE
Con*geal"a*ble, a. [Cf. F. congelable.]
Defn: Capable of being congealed. --Con*geal"a*ble*ness, n.
CONGEALEDNESS
Con*geal"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being congealed. Dr. H.More.
CONGEALMENT
Con*geal"ment, n.
1. The act or the process of congealing; congeliation.
2. That which is formed by congelation; a clot. [Obs.]
Wash the congealment from your wounds.
Shak.
CONGEE
Con"gee, n. & v.
Defn: See Congé, Conge. [Obs.]
And unto her his congee came to take.
Spenser.
CONGEE
Con*gee", n.
1. [Tamil kashi boilings.]
Defn: Boiled rice; rice gruel. [India]
2. A jail; a lockup. [India]
Congee discharges, rice water discharges. Dunglison. -- Congee water,
water in which rice has been boiled.
CONGELATION
Con`ge*la"tion, n. [F. congélation, L. congelatio.]
1. The act or process of passing, or causing to pass, from a fluid to
a solid state, as by the abstraction of heat; the act or process of
freezing.
The capillary tubes are obstructed either by outward compression or
congelation of the fluid.
Arbuthnot.
2. The state of being congealed.
3. That which is congealed.
Sugar plums . . . with a multitude of congelations in jellies of
various colors.
Taller.
CONGENER
Con"ge*ner (; 277), n. [From L. congener. See Congenerous.]
Defn: A thing of the same genus, species, or kind; a thing allied in
nature, character, or action.
The cherry tree has been often grafted on the laurel, to which it is
a congener.
P. Miller.
Our elk is more polygamous in his habits than any other deer except
his congener, the red deer of Europe.
Caton.
CONGENERACY
Con*gen"er*a*cy, n.
Defn: Similarity of origin; affinity. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONGENERIC; CONGENERICAL
Con`ge*ner"ic, Con`ge*ner"ic*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to the same genus; allied in origin, nature, or
action. R. Owen.
CONGENEROUS
Con*gen"er*ous, a. [L. congener; con- + genus, generis, birth, kind,
race. See Genus, and cf. Congener.]
Defn: Allied in origin or cause; congeneric; as, congenerous
diseases. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
-- Con*gen"er*ous*ness, n. [Obs.] Hallywell.
CONGENIAL
Con*gen"ial (; 106), a. [Pref. con- + genial.]
1. Partaking of the same nature; allied by natural characteristics;
kindred; sympathetic.
Congenial souls! whose life one avarice joins.
Pope.
2. Naturally adapted; suited to the disposition. "Congenial clime."
C. J. Fox.
To defame the excellence with which it has no sympathy . . . is its
congenial work.
I. Taylor.
CONGENIALITY
Con*ge`ni*al"i*ty ( or ; 106), n.
Defn: The state or quality of being congenial; natural affinity;
adaptation; suitableness. Sir J. Reynolds.
If congeniality of tastes could have made a marriage happy, that
union should have been thrice blessed.
Motley.
CONGENIALIZE
Con*gen"ial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make congenial. [R.]
CONGENIALLY
Con*gen"ial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a congenial manner; as, congenially married or employed.
CONGENIALNESS
Con*gen"ial*ness, n.
Defn: Congeniality.
CONGENIOUS
Con*gen"ious, a.
Defn: Congeneric. [Obs.]
CONGENITAL
Con*gen"i*tal, a. Etym: [From Congenite.]
Defn: Existing at, or dating from, birth; pertaining to one from
birth; born with one; connate; constitutinal; natural; as, a
congenital deformity. See Connate.
CONGENITALLY
Con*gen"i*tal*ly, dv.
Defn: In a congenital manner.
CONGENITE
Con*gen"ite, a. Etym: [L. congenitus; con- + genitus, p.p. of gignere
to beget. See Generate.]
Defn: Congenital; connate; inborn. See Congenital. [Obs.]
Many conclusions, of moral and intellectual truths, seem . . . to be
congenite with us. Sir M. Hale.
CONGER
Con"ger, n. Etym: [L. conger, congrus, akin to Gr. congre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The conger eel; -- called also congeree. Conger sea (Zoöl.),
the sea eel; a large species of eel (Conger vulgaris), which
sometimes grows to the length of ten feet.
CONGERIES
Con*ge"ri*es, n. sing & pl. Etym: [L., fr. congerere. See Congest.]
Defn: A collection of particles or bodies into one mass; a heap; an
aggregation.
CONGEST
Con*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. congestus, p. p. of congere to bring
together; con- + gerere. See Gerund.]
1. To collect or gather into a mass or aggregate; to bring together;
to accumulate.
To what will thy congested guilt amount Blackmore.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To cause an overfullness of the blood vessels (esp. the
capillaries) of an organ or part.
CONGESTED
Con*gest"ed, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Crowded together. Gray.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Containing an unnatural accumulation of blood; hyperæmic; --
said of any part of the body.
CONGESTION
Con*ges"tion, n. Etym: [L. congestio: cf. F. congestion.]
1. The act of gathering into a heap or mass; accumulation. [Obs.]
The congestion of dead bodies one upon another. Evelyn.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Overfullness of the capillary and other blood vessels, etc., in
any locality or organ (often producing other morbid symptoms); local
hyperas, arterial congestion; venous congestion; congestion of the
lungs.
CONGESTIVE
Con*gest"ive, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, indicating, or attended with, congestion in some
part of the body; as, a congestive fever.
CONGIARY
Con"gi*a*ry, n.; pl. Congiaries. Etym: [L. congiarium, fr. congius a
liquid measure.]
Defn: A present, as of corn, wine, or oil, made by a Roman emperor to
the soldiers or the people; -- so called because measured to each in
a congius. Addison.
Note: In later years, when gifts of money were distributed, the name
congius was retained.
CONGIUS
Con"gi*us, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Roman Antiq.)
Defn: A liquid measure containing about three quarts.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A gallon, or four quarts. [Often abbreviated to cong.]
CONGLACIATE
Con*gla"ci*ate (; 221), v. t. & i. Etym: [L. conglaciatus, p.p. of
conglaciare. See Glaciate.]
Defn: To turn to ice; to freeze. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONGLACIATION
Con*gla`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conglaciation.]
Defn: The act or process of changing into ice, or the state of being
converted to ice; a freezing; congelation; also, a frost. Bacon.
CONGLOBATE
Con*glo"bate, a. Etym: [L. conglobatus, p.p. of conglobare to
conglobate. See Globate.]
Defn: Collected into, or forming, a rounded mass or ball; as, the
conglobate [lymphatic] glands; conglobate flowers.
CONGLOBATE
Con*glo"bate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglobated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Conglobating.] Etym: [Cf. Conglore.]
Defn: To collect or form into a ball or rounded mass; to gather or
mass together.
Conglobated bubbles undissolved. Wordsworth.
CONGLOBATION
Con`glo*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglobatio: cf. F. conglobation.]
1. The act or process of forming into a ball. Sir T. Browne.
2. A round body.
CONGLOBE
Con*globe", v. t. [imp & p. p. Conglobed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Conglobing.] Etym: [L. conglobare: cf. F. conglober. Cf. Conglobate.]
Defn: To gather into a ball; to collect into a round mass.
Then founded, then conglobed Like things to like. Milton.
CONGLOBE
Con*globe", v. i.
Defn: To collect, unite, or coalesce in a round mass. Milton.
CONGLOBULATE
Con*glob"u*late, v. i. Etym: [Pref. con- + globule.]
Defn: To gather into a small round mass.
CONGLOMERATE
Con*glom"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. conglomeratus, p.p. of conglomerare to
roll together; con- + glomerare to wind into a ball. See Glomerate.]
1. Gathered into a ball or a mass; collected together; concentrated;
as, conglomerate rays of light.
Beams of light when they are multiplied and conglomerate. Bacon.
Fluids are separated in the liver and the other conglobate and
conglomerate glands. Cheyne.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Closely crowded together; densly clustered; as, conglomerate
flowers. Gray.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Composed of stones, pebbles, or fragments of rocks, cemented
together.
CONGLOMERATE
Con*glom"er*ate, n.
1. That which is heaped together in a mass or conpacted from various
sources; a mass formed of fragments; collection; accumulation.
A conglomerate of marvelous anecdotes, marvelously heaped together.
Trench.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A rock, composed or rounded fragments of stone cemented
together by another mineral substance, either calcareous, siliceous,
or argillaceous; pudding stone; -- opposed to agglomerate. See
Breccia.
A conglomerate, therefore, is simply gravel bound together by a
cement. Lyell.
CONGLOMERATE
Con*glom"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglomerated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Conglomerating.]
Defn: To gather into a ball or round body; to collect into a mass.
CONGLOMERATION
Con*glom`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglomeratio: cf. F.
conglomeration.]
Defn: The act or process of gathering into a mass; the state of being
thus collected; collection; accumulation; that which is
conglomerated; a mixed mass. Bacon.
CONGLUTIN
Con*glu"tin, n. Etym: [From Conglutinate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of vegetable casein, resembling legumin, and found in
almonds, rye, wheat, etc.
CONGLUTINANT
Con*glu"ti*nant, a. Etym: [L., conglutinans, p.pr.]
Defn: Cementing together; uniting closely; causing to adhere;
promoting healing, as of a wound or a broken bone, by adhesion of the
parts.
CONGLUTINATE
Con*glu"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. conglutinatus, p.p. of conglutinare to
glue; con- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.]
Defn: Glued together; united, as by some adhesive substance.
CONGLUTINATE
Con*glu"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conglutinated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Conglutinating.]
Defn: To glue together; to unite by some glutinous or tenacious
substance; to cause to adhere or to grow together.
Bones . . . have had their broken parts conglutinated within three or
four days. Boyle.
CONGLUTINATE
Con*glu"ti*nate, v. i.
Defn: To unite by the intervention of some glutinous substance; to
coalesce.
CONGLUTINATION
Con*glu`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. conglutinatio: cf. F.
conglutination.]
Defn: A gluing together; a joining by means of some tenacious
substance; junction; union.
Conglutination of parts separated by a wound. Arbuthnot.
CONGLUTINATIVE
Con*glu"ti*na"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conglutinatif.]
Defn: Conglutinant.
CONGO; CONGOU
Con"go, Con"gou, n. Etym: [Chin. kung-foo labor.]
Defn: Black tea, of higher grade (finer leaf and less dusty) than the
present bohea. See Tea.
Of black teas, the great mass is called Congou, or the "well worked",
a name which took the place of the Bohea of 150 years ago, and is now
itself giving way to the term "English breakfast tea." S. W.
Williams.
CONGO GROUP
Con"go group. [From Congo red.]
Defn: A group of artificial dyes with an affinity for vegetable
fibers, so that no mordant is required. Most of them are azo
compounds derived from benzidine or tolidine. Called also benzidine
dyes.
CONGO RED
Congo red. (Chem.)
Defn: An artificial red dye from which the Congo group received its
name. It is also widely used either in aqueous solution or as test
paper (Congo paper) for the detection of free acid, which turns it
blue.
CONGO SNAKE
Con"go snake". (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibian (Amphiuma means) of the order Urodela, found in
the southern United States. See Amphiuma.
CONGRATULANT
Con*grat"u*lant, a. Etym: [L. congratulans, p. pr.]
Defn: Rejoicing together; congratulatory.
With like joy Congratulant approached him. Milton.
CONGRATULATE
Con*grat"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Congratulated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Congratulating.] Etym: [L. congratulatus, p.p. of congratulari to
wish joy abundantly; con- + gratulari to wish joy, from gratus
pleasing. See Grateful.]
Defn: To address with expressions of sympathetic pleasure on account
of some happy event affecting the person addressed; to wish joy to.
It is the king's most sweet pleasure and affection to congratulate
the princess at her pavilion. Shak.
To congratulate one's self, to rejoice; to feel satisfaction; to
consider one's self happy or fortunate.
Syn.
-- To Congratulate, Felicitate. To felicitate is simply to wish a
person joy. To congratulate has the additional signification of
uniting in the joy of him whom we congratulate. Hence they are by no
means synonymous. One who has lost the object of his affections by
her marriage to a rival, might perhaps felicitate that rival on his
success, but could never be expected to congratulate him on such an
event.
Felicitations are little better than compliments; congratulations are
the expression of a genuine sympathy and joy. Trench.
CONGRATULATE
Con*grat"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To express of feel sympathetic joy; as, to congratulate with
one's country. [R.] Swift.
The subjects of England may congratulate to themselves. Dryden.
CONGRATULATION
Con*grat`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. congratulatio: cf. F.
congratulation.]
Defn: The act of congratulating; an expression of sympathetic
pleasure.
With infinite congratulations for our safe arrival. Dr. J. Scott.
CONGRATULATOR
Con*grat"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who offers congratulation. Milton.
CONGRATULATORY
Con*grat"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressive of sympathetic joy; as, a congratulatory letter.
CONGREE
Con*gree", v. i. Etym: [Pref.on-+ L. gratus pleasing. Cf. Agree.]
Defn: To agree. [bs.] Shak.
CONGREET
Con*greet", v. t.
Defn: To salute mutually. [Obs.]
CONGREGATE
Con"gre*gate, a. Etym: [L. congregatus, p.p. of congregare to
congregate; on- + gregare to collect into a flock, fr. grex flock,
herd. See Gregarious.]
Defn: Collected; compact; close. [R.] Bacon.
CONGREGATE
Con"gre*gate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Congregated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Congregating]
Defn: To collect into an assembly or assemblage; to assemble; to
bring into one place, or into a united body; to gather together; to
mass; to compact.
Any multitude of Christian men congregated may be termed by the name
of a church. Hooker.
Cold congregates all bodies. Coleridge.
The great receptacle Of congregated waters he called Seas. Milton.
CONGREGATE
Con"gre*gate, v. i.
Defn: To come together; to assemble; to meet.
Even there where merchants most do congregate. Shak.
CONGREGATION
Con`gre*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. congregatio: cf. F. congrégation.]
1. The act of congregating, or bringing together, or of collecting
into one aggregate or mass.
The means of reduction in the fire is but by the congregation of
homogeneal parts. Bacon.
2. A collection or mass of separate things.
A foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. Shak.
3. An assembly of persons; a gathering; esp. an assembly of persons
met for the worship of God, and for religious instruction; a body of
people who habitually so meet.
He [Bunyan] rode every year to London, and preached there to large
and attentive congregations. Macaulay.
4. (Anc. Jewish Hist.)
Defn: The whole body of the Jewish people; -- called also
Congregation of the Lord.
It is a sin offering for the congregation. Lev. iv. 21.
5. (R. C. Ch.)
(a) A body of cardinals or other ecclesiastics to whom as intrusted
some departament of the church business; as, the Congregation of the
Propaganda, which has charge of the missions of the Roman Catholic
Church.
(b) A company of religious persons forming a subdivision of a
monastic order.
6. The assemblage of Masters and Doctors at Oxford or Cambrige
University, mainly for the granting of degrees. [Eng.]
7. (Scotch Church Hist.)
Defn: the name assumed by the Protestant party under John Knox. The
leaders called themselves (1557) Lords of the Congregation.
CONGREGATIONAL
Con`gre*ga"tion*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a congregation; conducted, or participated in,
by a congregation; as, congregational singing.
2. Belonging to the system of Congregationalism, or to
Congregationalist; holding to the faith and polity of
Congregationalism; as, a Congregational church.
CONGREGATIONALISM
Con`gre*ga"tion*al*ism, n.
1. That system of church organization which vests all ecclesiastical
power in the assembled brotherhood of each local church.
2. The faith and polity of the Congregational churches, taken
collectively.
Note: In this sense (which is its usual signification)
Congregationalism is the system of faith and practice common to a
large body of evangelical Trinitarian churches, which recognize the
local brotherhood of each church as independent of all dictation in
ecclesiastical matters, but are united in fellowship and joint
action, as in councils for mutual advice, and in consociations,
conferences, missionary organizations, etc., and to whose membership
the designation "Congregationalists" is generally restricted; but
Unitarian and other churches are Congregational in their polity.
CONGREGATIONALIST
Con`gre*ga"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a Congregational church or society; one who
holds to Congregationalism.
CONGRESS
Con"gress, n.; pl. Congresses. Etym: [L. congressus, fr. congredi,
p.p. -gressus, to go or come together; con- + grati to go or step,
gradus step: cf. F. congr. See Grade.]
1. A meeting of individuals, whether friendly or hostile; an
encounter. [Obs.]
Here Pallas urges on, and Lausus there;congress in the field great
Jove withstands. Dryden.
2. A sudden encounter; a collision; a shock; -- said of things.
[Obs.]
From these laws may be deduced the rules of the congresses and
reflections of two bodies. Cheyne.
3. The coming together of a male and female in sexual commerce; the
act of coition. Pennant.
4. A gathering or assembly; a conference.
5. A formal assembly, as of princes, deputies, representatives,
envoys, or commissioners; esp., a meeting of the representatives of
several governments or societies to consider and determine matters of
common interest.
The European powers strove to . . . accommodate their differences at
the congress of Vienna. Alison.
6. The collective body of senators and representatives of the people
of a nation, esp. of a republic, constituting the chief legislative
body of the nation.
Note: In the Congress of the United States (which took the place of
the Federal Congress, March 4, 1789), the Senate consists of two
Senators from each State, chosen by the State legislature for a term
of six years, in such a way that the terms of one third of the whole
number expire every year; the House of Representatives consists of
members elected by the people of the several Congressional districts,
for a term of two years, the term of all ending at the same time. The
united body of Senators and Representatives for any term of two years
for which the whole body of Representatives is chosen is called one
Congress. Thus the session which began in December, 1887, was the
first (or long) session, and that which began in December, 1888, was
the second (or short) session, of the Fiftieth Congress. When an
extra session is had before the date of the first regular meeting of
a Congress, that is called the first session, and the following
regular session is called the second session.
7. The lower house of the Spanish Cortes, the members of which are
elected for three years. The Continental Congress, an assembly of
deputies from the thirteen British colonies in America, appointed to
deliberate in respect to their common interests. They first met in
1774, and from time thereafter until near the close of the
Revolution.
-- The Federal Congress, the assembly of representatives of the
original States of the American Union, who met under the Articles of
Confederation from 1781 till 1789.
-- Congress boot or gaiter, a high shoe or half-boot, coming above
the ankle, and having the sides made in part of some elastic material
which stretches to allow the boot to be drawn on and off. [U.S.] --
Congress water, a saline mineral water from the Congress spring at
Saratoga, in the State of New York.
Syn.
-- Assembly; meeting; convention; convocation; council; diet;
conclave; parliament; legislature.
CONGRESSION
Con*gres"sion ( or , n. Etym: [L. congressio.]
Defn: A coming or bringing together, as in a public meeting, in a
dispute, in the act of comparing, or in sexual intercourse. [R.] Jer.
Taylor.
CONGRESSIONAL
Con*gres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a congress, especially, to the Congress of
the United States; as, congressional debates.
Congressional and official labor. E. Everett.
Congressional District, one of the divisions into which a State is
periodically divided (according to population), each of which is
entitled to elect a Representative to the Congress of the United
States.
CONGRESSIVE
Con*gres"sive, a.
Defn: Encountering, or coming together. Sir T. Browne.
CONGRESSMAN
Con"gress*man, n.; pl. Congressmen (.
Defn: A member of the Congress of the United States, esp. of the
House of Representatives.
CONGREVE ROCKET
Con"greve rock"et.
Defn: See under Rocket.
CONGRUE
Con"grue", v. i. Etym: [L. congruere. See Congruous.]
Defn: To agree; to be suitable. [Obs.] Shak.
CONGRUENCE
Con"gru*ence, n. Etym: [L. congruentia: cf. OF. cornguence.]
Defn: Suitableness of one thing to another; agreement; consistency.
Holland.
CONGRUENCY
Con"gru*en*cy ( or ), n.
Defn: Congruence. Congruency of lines. (Geom.) See Complex of lines,
under Complex, n.
CONGRUENT
Con"gru*ent, a. Etym: [L. congruens, p.pr. of congruere: cf. F.
congruent.]
Defn: Possessing congruity; suitable; agreeing; corresponding.
The congruent and harmonious fitting of parts in a sentence. B.
Jonson.
Congruent figures (Geom.), concurring figures.
CONGRUISM
Con"gru*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. congruisme.] (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: See Congruity.
CONGRUITY
Con*gru"i*ty ( or , n.; pl. Congruities. Etym: [Cf. F. congruit.]
1. The state or quality of being congruous; the relation or agreement
between things; fitness; harmony; correspondence; consistency.
With what congruity doth the church of Rome deny that her enemies do
at all appertain to the church of Christ Hooker.
A whole sentence may fail of its congruity by wanting one particle.
Sir P. Sidney.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: Coincidence, as that of lines or figures laid over one another.
3. (Scholastic Theol.)
Defn: That, in an imperfectly good persons, which renders it suitable
for God to bestow on him gifts of grace.
CONGRUOUS
Con"gru*ous, a. Etym: [L. congruus, fr. congruere to come together,
to coincide, to agree. Of uncertain origin.]
Defn: Suitable or concordant; accordant; fit; harmonious;
correspondent; consistent.
Not congruous to the nature of epic poetry. Blair.
It is no ways congruous that God should be always frightening men
into an acknowledgment of the truth. Atterbury.
CONGRUOUSLY
Con"gru*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a congruous manner.
CONHYDRINE
Con*hy"drine ( or , n. Etym: [Conium + hydrate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A vegetable alkaloid found with conine in the poison hemlock
(Conium maculatum). It is a white crystalline substance, C8H17NO,
easily convertible into conine.
CONIA
Co*ni"a ( or , n. Etym: [NL. See Conium.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Conine.
CONIC; CONICAL
Con"ic, Con"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. conique. See Cone.]
1. Having the form of, or resembling, a geometrical cone; round and
tapering to a point, or gradually lessening in circumference; as, a
conic or conical figure; a conical vessel.
2. Of or pertaining to a cone; as, conic sections. Conic section
(Geom.), a curved line formed by the intersection of the surface of a
right cone and a plane. The conic sections are the parabola, ellipse,
and hyperbola. The right lines and the circle which result from
certain positions of the plane are sometimes, though not generally
included.
-- Conic sections, that branch of geometry which treats of the
parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola.
-- Conical pendulum. See Pendulum.
-- Conical projection, a method of delineating the surface of a
sphere upon a plane surface as if projected upon the surface of a
cone; -- much used by makers of maps in Europe.
-- Conical surface (Geom.), a surface described by a right line
moving along any curve and always passing through a fixed point that
is not in the plane of that curve.
CONIC
Con"ic, n. (Math.)
Defn: A conic section.
CONICALITY
Con`i*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Conicalness.
CONICALLY
Con"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the form of a cone.
CONICALNESS
Con"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being conical.
CONICO-
Con"i*co- (, a. Etym: [See Conic.]
Defn: A combining form, meaning somewhat resembling a cone; as,
conico-cylindrical, resembling a cone and a cylinder; conico-
hemispherical; conico-subulate.
CONICOID
Con"i*coid, a. Etym: [Conic + -oid.] (Math.)
Defn: Same as Conoidal.
CONICS
Con"ics, n.
1. That branch of geometry which treats of the cone and the curves
which arise from its sections.
2. Conic sections.
CONIDIUM
Co*nid"i*um, n.; pl. Conida. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A peculiar kind of reproductive cell found in certain fungi,
and often containing zoöspores.
CONIFER
Co"ni*fer, n. Etym: [L. conifer; conus cone + ferre to bear: cf. F.
conifère.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree or shrub bearing cones; one of the order Coniferae,
which includes the pine, cypress, and (according to some) the yew.
CONIFERIN
Co*nif"er*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from the cambium layer of coniferous
trees as a white crystalline substance.
CONIFEROUS
Co*nif"er*ous, a.
(a) Bearing cones, as the pine and cypress.
(b) Pertaining to the order Coniferae, of which the pine tree is the
type.
CONIFORM
Co"ni*form, a. Etym: [Cone + -form: cf. F. coniforme.]
Defn: Cone-shaped; conical.
CONIINE
Co*ni"ine ( or , n.
Defn: See Conine.
CONIMENE
Co"ni*mene, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Olibene.
CONINE
Co"nine ( or , n. Etym: [From Conium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful and very poisonous vegetable alkaloid found in the
hemlock (Conium maculatum) and extracted as a colorless oil, C8H17N,
of strong repulsive odor and acrid taste. It is regarded as a
derivative of piperidine and likewise of one of the collidines. It
occasions a gradual paralysis of the motor nerves. Called also
coniine, coneine, conia, etc. See Conium, 2.
CONIROSTER
Co`ni*ros"ter, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Conirostres.
CONIROSTRAL
Co`ni*ros"tral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Conirostres.
CONIROSTRES
Co`ni*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. conus cone + rostrum beak:
cf. F. conirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe of perching birds, including those which have a strong
conical bill, as the finches.
CONISOR
Con`i*sor", n. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Cognizor.
CONISTRA
Co*nis"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Greek Antiq.)
Defn: Originally, a part of the palestra, or gymnasium among the
Greeks; either the place where sand was stored for use in sprinkling
the wrestlers, or the wrestling ground itself. Hence, a part of the
orchestra of the Greek theater.
CONITE
Co"nite, n. Etym: [Gr. conite. So called on account of its gray
color.] (Min.)
Defn: A magnesian variety of dolomite.
CONIUM
Co*ni"um ( or , n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of biennial, poisonous, white-flowered, umbelliferous
plants, bearing ribbed fruit ("seeds") and decompound leaves.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The common hemlock (Conium maculatum, poison hemlock, spotted
hemlock, poison parsley), a roadside weed of Europe, Asia, and
America, cultivated in the United States for medicinal purpose. It is
an active poison. The leaves and fruit are used in medicine.
CONJECT
Con*ject", v. t. Etym: [L. conjectus, p.p. of conjicere. See
Conjecture, n.]
Defn: To throw together, or to throw. [Obs.] Bp. Montagu.
CONJECT
Con*ject", v. t.
Defn: To conjecture; also, to plan. [Obs.]
CONJECTOR
Con*ject"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who guesses or conjectures. [Obs.]
A great conjector at other men by their writings. Milton.
CONJECTURABLE
Con*jec"tur*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conjectured or guessed.
CONJECTURAL
Con*jec"tur*al, a. Etym: [L. conjecturalis: cf. F. conjectural.]
Defn: Dependent on conjecture; fancied; imagined; guessed at;
undetermined; doubtful.
And mak'st conjectural fears to come into me. Shak.
A slight expense of conjectural analogy. Hugh Miller.
Who or what such editor may be, must remain conjectural. Carlyle.
CONJECTURALIST
Con*jec"tur*al*ist, n.
Defn: A conjecturer. [R.] Month. rev.
CONJECTURALLY
Con*jec`tur*al"ly, n.
Defn: That which depends upon guess; guesswork. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
CONJECTURALLY
Con*jec`tur*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjectural manner; by way of conjecture. Boyle.
CONJECTURE
Con*jec"ture, n. Etym: [L. conjectura, fr. conjicere, conjectum, to
throw together, infer, conjecture; con- + jacere to throw: cf. F.
conjecturer. See Jet a shooting forth.]
Defn: An opinion, or judgment, formed on defective or presumptive
evidence; probable inference; surmise; guess; suspicion.
He [Herodotus] would thus have corrected his first loose conjecture
by a real study of nature. Whewell.
Conjectures, fancies, built on nothing firm. Milton.
CONJECTURE
Con*jec"ture, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjectured; p.pr. & vb.n.
Conjecturing.] Etym: [Cf. F. conjecturer. Cf. Conject.]
Defn: To arrive at by conjecture; to infer on slight evidence; to
surmise; to guess; to form, at random, opinions concerning.
Human reason can then, at the best, but conjecture what will be.
South.
CONJECTURE
Con*jec"ture, v. i.
Defn: To make conjectures; to surmise; to guess; to infer; to form an
opinion; to imagine.
CONJECTURER
Con*jec"tur*er, n.
Defn: One who conjectures. Hobbes.
CONJOIN
Con*join, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjoined; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjoining.]
Etym: [F. conjoindre, fr. L. conjungere, -junctum; con- + jungere to
join. See Join, and cf. Conjugate, Conjunction.]
Defn: To join together; to unite.
The English army, that divided was Into two parties, is now conjoined
in one. Shak.
If either of you know any inward impediment why you should not be
conjoined. Shak.
Let that which he learns next be nearly conjoined with what he knows
already. Locke.
CONJOIN
Con*join", v. i.
Defn: To unite; to join; to league. Shak.
CONJOINED
Con*joined", a. (Her.)
Defn: Joined together or touching.
CONJOINT
Con*joint", a. Etym: [F. conjoint, p.p. of conjoindre. See Conjoin,
and cf. Conjunct.]
Defn: United; connected; associated. "Influence conjoint." Glover.
Conjoint degrees (Mus.), two notes which follow each other
immediately in the order of the scale, as ut and re. Johnson.
Conjoint tetrachords (Mus.), two tetrachords or fourths, where the
same note is the highest of one and the lowest of the other; -- also
written conjunct.
CONJOINTLY
Con*joint"ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjoint manner; untitedly; jointly; together. Sir T.
Browne.
CONJOINTNESS
Con*joint"ness, n.
Defn: The qquality of being conjoint.
CONJUBILANT
Con*ju"bi*lant, a.
Defn: Shouting together for joy; rejoicing together. [R.] Neale.
CONJUGAL
Con"ju*gal, a. Etym: [L. conjugalis, fr. conjux husband, wife,
consort, fr. conjungere to unite, join in marriage. See Conjoin.]
Defn: Belonging to marriage; suitable or appropriate to the marriage
state or to married persons; matrimonial; connubial. "Conjugal
affection." Milton.
CONJUGALITY
Con`ju*gal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The conjugal state; sexual intercourse. [R.] Milton.
CONJUGALLY
Con"ju*gal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conjugal manner; matrimonially; connubially.
CONJUGATE
Con"ju*gate, a. Etym: [L. conjugatus, p.p. or conjugare to unite;
con- + jugare to join, yoke, marry, jugum yoke; akin to jungere to
join. See Join.]
1. United in pairs; yoked together; coupled.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: In single pairs; coupled.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two or more radicals supposed to act the part of a
single one. [R.]
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Agreeing in derivation and radical signification; -- said of
words.
5. (Math.)
Defn: Presenting themselves simultaneously and having reciprocal
properties; -- frequently used in pure and applied mathematics with
reference to two quantities, points, lines, axes, curves, etc.
Conjugate axis of a hyperbola (Math.), the line through the center of
the curve, perpendicular to the line through the two foci.
-- Conjugate diameters (Conic Sections), two diameters of an ellipse
or hyperbola such that each bisects all chords drawn parallel to the
other.
-- Conjugate focus (Opt.) See under Focus.
-- Conjugate mirrors (Optics), two mirrors so placed that rays from
the focus of one are received at the focus of the other, especially
two concave mirrors so placed that rays proceeding from the principal
focus of one and reflected in a parallel beam are received upon the
other and brought to the principal focus.
-- Conjugate point (Geom.), an acnode. See Acnode, and Double point.
-- Self-conjugate triangle (Conic Sections), a triangle each of
whose vertices is the pole of the opposite side with reference to a
conic.
CONJUGATE
Con`ju*gate, n. Etym: [L. conjugatum a combining, etymological
relationship.]
1. A word agreeing in derivation with another word, and therefore
generally resembling it in signification.
We have learned, in logic, that conjugates are sometimes in name
only, and not in deed. Abp. Bramhall.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A complex radical supposed to act the part of a single radical.
[R.]
CONJUGATE
Con"ju*gate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjugated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Conjugating.]
1. To unite in marriage; to join. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect (a verb), or give in order the forms which it
assumed in its several voices, moods, tenses, numbers, and persons.
CONJUGATE
Con"ju*gate, v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To unite in a kind of sexual union, as two or more cells or
individuals among the more simple plants and animals.
CONJUGATION
Con`ju*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjugatio conjugation (in senses 1 &
3).]
1. the act of uniting or combining; union; assemblage. [Obs.]
Mixtures and conjugations of atoms. Bentley.
2. Two things conjoined; a pair; a couple. [Obs.]
The sixth conjugations or pair of nerves. Sir T. Browne.
3. (Gram.)
(a) The act of conjugating a verb or giving in order its various
parts and inflections.
(b) A scheme in which are arranged all the parts of a verb.
(c) A class of verbs conjugated in the same manner.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: A kind of sexual union; -- applied to a blending of the
contents of two or more cells or individuals in some plants and lower
animals, by which new spores or germs are developed.
CONJUGATIONAL
Con`ju*ga"tion*al, a.
Defn: relating to conjugation. Ellis.
CONJUGIAL
Con*ju"gi*al, a. Etym: [L. conjugialis, fr. conjugium. Cf. Conjugal.]
Defn: Conjugal. [R.] Swedenborg.
CONJUGIUM
Con*ju"gi*um, n. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Law)
Defn: The marriage tie.
CONJUNCT
Con*junct", a. Etym: [L. conjunctus, p.p. See Conjoin.]
1. United; conjoined; concurrent. [Archaic]
2. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Conjoined.
CONJUNCTION
Con*junc"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjunctio: cf. F. conjunction. See
Conjoin.]
1. The act of conjoining, or the state of being conjoined, united, or
associated; union; association; league.
He will unite the white rose and the red: Smille heaven upon his fair
conjunction. Shak.
Man can effect no great matter by his personal strength but as he
acts in society and conjunction with others. South.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The meeting of two or more stars or planets in the same degree
of the zodiac; as, the conjunction of the moon with the sun, or of
Jupiter and Saturn. See the Note under Aspect, n., 6.
Note: Heavenly bodies are said to be in conjunction when they are
seen in the same part of the heavens, or have the same longitude or
right ascension. The inferior conjunction of an inferior planet is
its position when in conjunction on the same side of the sun with the
earth; the superior conjunction of a planet is its position when on
the side of the sun most distant from the earth.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: A connective or connecting word; an indeclinable word which
serves to join together sentences, clauses of a sentence, or words;
as, and, but, if.
Though all conjunctions conjoin sentences, yet, with respect to the
sense, some are conjunctive and some disjunctive. Harris.
CONJUNCTIONAL
Con*junc"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to a conjunction.
CONJUNCTIVA
Con`junc*ti"va, n. Etym: [NL., from L. conjunctivus connective.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The mucous membrane which covers the external surface of the
ball of the eye and the inner surface of the lids; the conjunctival
membrance.
CONJUNCTIVAL
Con`junc*ti"val, a.
1. Joining; connecting.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the conjunctiva.
CONJUNCTIVE
Con*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. conjunctivus.]
1. Serving to unite; connecting together.
2. Closely united. [Obs.] Shak. Conjunctive mood (Gram.), the mood
which follows a conjunction or expresses contingency; the subjunctive
mood.
-- Conjunctive tissue (Anat.), the tissue found in nearly all parts
of most animals. It yields gelatin on boiling, and consists of
vriously arranged fibers which are imbedded protoplasmic cells, or
corpuscles; -- called also cellular tissue and connective tissue.
Adipose or fatty tissue is one of its many forms, and cartilage and
bone are sometimes included by the phrase.
CONJUNCTIVELY
Con*junc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In conjunction or union; together. Sir T. Browne.
CONJUNCTIVENESS
Con*junc"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being conjunctive. Johnson.
CONJUNCTIVITIS
Con*junc`ti*vi"tis ( or , n. (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the conjunctiva.
CONJUNCTLY
Con*junct"ly, adv.
Defn: In union; conjointly; unitedly; together. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONJUNCTURE
Con*junc"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conjoncture, LL. conjunctura.]
1. The act of joining, or state of being joined; union; connection;
combination.
The conjuncture of philosophy and divinity. Hobbes.
A fit conjuncture or circumstances. Addison.
2. A crisis produced by a combination of circumstances; complication
or combination of events or circumstances; plight resulting from
various conditions.
He [Chesterfield] had recently governed Ireland, at a momentous
conjuncture, with eminent firmness, wisdom, and humanity. Macaulay.
CONJURATION
Con`ju*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. conjuratio, cf. F. conjuration.]
1. The act of calling or summoning by a sacred name, or in solemn
manner; the act of binding by an oath; an earnest entreaty;
adjuration.
We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; . . . Under this
conjuration speak, my lord. Shak.
2. The act or process of invoking supernatural aid by the use of a
magical form of words; the practice of magic arts; incantation;
enchantment.
Pretended conjurations and prophecies of that event. Hallam.
3. A league for a criminal purpose; conspiracy. [Obs.] "The
conjuration of Catiline." Sir T. Elyot.
CONJURATOR
Con"ju*ra`tor, n. Etym: [LL.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: One who swears or is sworn with others; one bound by oath with
others; a compurgator. Burrill.
CONJURE
Con*jure", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conjured; p.pr. & vb.n. Conjuring.]
Etym: [F. conjurer, fr. L. conjurare to swear together, to conspire;
con- + jurare to swear. See Jury.]
Defn: To call on or summon by a sacred name or in solemn manner; to
implore earnestly; to adjure.
I conjure you, let him know, Whate'er was done against him, Cato did
it. Addison.
CONJURE
Con*jure", v. i.
Defn: To combine together by an eath; to conspire; to confederate. [A
Latinism]
Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons Conjured against the
Highest. Milton.
CONJURE
Con"jure, v. t.
Defn: To affect or effect by conjuration; to call forth or send away
by magic arts; to excite or alter, as if by magic or by the aid of
supernatural powers.
The habitation which your prophet . . . conjured the devil into.
Shak.
To conjure up, or make visible, as a spirit, by magic arts; hence, to
invent; as, to conjure up a story; to conjure up alarms.
CONJURE
Con"jure, v. i.
Defn: To practice magical arts; to use the tricks of a conjurer; to
juggle; to charm.
She conjures; away with her. Shak.
CONJUREMENT
Con*jure"ment, n.
Defn: Serious injunction; solemn demand or entreaty. [Obs.] Milton.
CONJURER
Con*jur"er, n.
Defn: One who conjures; one who calls, entreats, or charges in a
solemn manner.
CONJURER
Con"jur*er, n.
1. One who practices magic arts; one who pretends to act by the aid
super natural power; also, one who performs feats of legerdemain or
sleight of hand.
Dealing with witches and with conjurers. Shak.
From the account the loser brings, The conjurer knows who stole the
things. Prior.
2. One who conjectures shrewdly or judges wisely; a man of sagacity.
[Obs.] Addison.
CONJUROR
Con*ju"ror, n. (Law)
Defn: One bound by a common cath with others. [Obs.]
CONJURY
Con"ju*ry, n.
Defn: The practice of magic; enchantment. Motley.
CONN
Conn, v. t.
Defn: See Con, to direct a ship.
CONNASCENCE; CONNASCENCY
Con*nas"cence, Con*nas"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. con- + nascentia birth,
fr. nascens, p.pr. of nasci to be born.]
1. The common birth of two or more at the same tome; production of
two or more together. Johnson.
2. That which is born or produced with another.
3. The act of growing together. [Obs.] Wiseman.
CONNASCENT
Con*nas"cent, a.
Defn: Born together; produced at the same time. Craig.
CONNATE
Con"nate, a. Etym: [L. connatus; con- + natus born, p.p. of nasci.
See Cognate.]
1. Born with another; being of the same birth.
2. Congenital; existing from birth. "Connate notions." South.
A difference has been made by some; those diseases or conditions
which are dependent on original conformation being called congenital;
while the diseases of affections that may have supervened during
gestation or delivery are called connate. Dunglison.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Congenitally united; growing from one base, or united at their
bases; united into one body; as, connate leaves or athers. See
Illust. of Connate-perfoliate.
CONNATE-PERFOLIATE
Con"nate-per*fo"li*ate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Connate or coalescent at the base so as to produce a broad
foliaceous body through the center of which the stem passes; --
applied to leaves, as the leaves of the boneset.
CONNATION
Con*na"tion, n.
Defn: Connection by birth; natural union. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONNATURAL
Con*nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [Pref. con- + natural.]
1. Connected by nature; united in nature; inborn; inherent; natural.
These affections are connatural to us. L'Estrange.
2. Partaking of the same nature.
And mix with our connatural dust. Milton.
CONNATURALITY
Con*nat`u*ral"i*ty, n.
Defn: Participation of the same nature; natural union or connection.
[R.]
A congruity and connaturality between them. Sir M. Hale.
CONNATURALIZE
Con*nat"u*ral*ize, v. t.
Defn: To bring to the same nature as something else; to adapt. [Obs.]
Dr. J. Scott.
CONNATURALLY
Con*nat"u*ral*ly, adv.
Defn: By the act of nature; originally; from birth. Sir M. Hale.
CONNATURALNESS
Con*nat"u*ral*ness, n.
Defn: Participation of the same nature; natural union. I. Walton.
CONNATURE
Con*na"ture, n.
Defn: Participation in a common nature or character. [R.]
Connature was defined as likeness in kind between either two changes
in consciousness, or two states of consciousness. H. Spencer.
CONNECT
Con*nect", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Connected; p.pr. & vb.n. Connecting.]
Etym: [L. connectere, -nexum; con- + nectere to bind. See Annex.]
1. To join, or fasten together, as by something intervening; to
associate; to combine; to unite or link together; to establish a bond
or relation between.
He fills, he bounds, connect and equals all. Pope.
A man must the connection of each intermediate idea with those that
it connects before he can use it in a syllogism. Locke.
2. To associate (a person or thing, or one's self) with another
person, thing, business, or affair. Connecting rod (Mach.), a rod or
bar joined to, and connecting, two or more moving parts; esp. a rod
connecting a crank wrist with a beam, crosshead, piston rod, or
piston, as in a steam engine.
CONNECT
Con*nect", v. i.
Defn: To join, unite, or cohere; to have a close relation; as, one
line of railroad connects with another; one argument connect with
another.
CONNECTEDLY
Con*nect"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a connected manner.
CONNECTION
Con*nec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. Connexion.]
1. The act of connecting, or the state of being connected; junction;
union; alliance; relationship.
He [Algazel] denied the possibility of a known connection between
cause and effect. Whewell.
The eternal and inserable connection between virtue and hapiness.
Atterbury.
2. That which connects or joins together; bond; tie.
Any sort of connection which is perceived or imagined between two or
more things. I. Taylor.
3. A relation; esp. a person connected with another by marriage
rather than by blood; -- used in a loose and indefinite, and
sometimes a comprehensive, sense.
4. The persons or things that are connected; as, a business
connection; the Methodist connection.
Men elevated by powerful connection. Motley.
At the head of a strong parliamentary connection. Macaulay.
Whose names, forces, connections, and characters were perfectly known
to him. Macaulay.
In this connection, in connection with this subject.
Note: [A phrase objected to by some writers.]
Note: This word was formerly written, as by Milton, with x instead of
t in the termination, connexion, and the same thing is true of the
kindred words inflexion, reflexion, and the like. But the general
usage at present is to spell them connection, inflection, reflection,
etc.
Syn.
-- Union; coherence; continuity; junction; association; dependence;
intercourse; commerce; communication; affinity; relationship.
CONNECTIVE
Con*nect"ive, a.
Defn: Connecting, or adapted to connect; involving connection.
Connection tissue (Anat.) See Conjunctive tissue, under Conjunctive.
CONNECTIVE
Con*nect"ive, n.
Defn: That which connects. Specifically:
(a) (Gram.) A word that connect words or sentences; a conjunction or
preposition.
(b) (Bot.) That part of an anther which connects its thecæ, lobes, or
cells.
CONNECTIVELY
Con*nect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In connjunction; jointly.
CONNECTOR
Con*nect"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, connects; as:
(a) A flexible tube for connecting the ends of glass tubes in
pneumatic experiments.
(b) A device for holding two parts of an electrical conductor in
contact.
CONNER
Con"ner, n. Etym: [Cf. Cunner.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine European fish (Crenilabrus melops); also, the related
American cunner. See Cunner.
CONNEX
Con*nex", v. t. Etym: [L. connexus, p.p. See Connect.]
Defn: To connect. Sir M. Hale.
CONNEXION
Con*nex"ion, n. Etym: [L. connexio: cf. F. connexion.]
Defn: Connection. See Connection.
CONNEXIVE
Con*nex"ive, a.
Defn: See Connective.
CONNING TOWER
Con"ning tow"er, n.
Defn: The shotproof pilot house of a war vessel.
CONNIVANCE
Con*niv"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. connivence, L. conniventia.]
1. Intentional failure or forbearance to discover a fault or
wrongdoing; voluntary oversight; passive consent or co
2. (Law)
Defn: Corrupt or guilty assent to wrongdoing, not involving actual
participation in, but knowledge of, and failure to prevent or oppose
it.
Syn.
-- See Collusion.
CONNIVE
Con*nive", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Connived; p.pr. & vb.n. Conniving.]
Etym: [L. connivere to shut the eues, connive, fr. con- + (perh.) a
word akin to nicere to beckon, nictare to wink.]
1. To open and close the eyes rapidly; to wink. [Obs.]
The artist is to teach them how to nod judiciously, and to connive
with either eye. Spectator.
2. To close the eyes upon a fault; to wink (at); to fail or forbear
by intention to discover an act; to permit a proceeding, as if not
aware of it; -- usually followed by at.
To connive at what it does not approve. Jer. Taylor.
In many of these, the directors were heartily concurring; in most of
them, they were encouraging, and sometimes commanding; in all they
were conniving. Burke.
The government thought it expedient, occasionally, to connive at the
violation of this rule. Macaulay.
CONNIVE
Con*nive", v. t.
Defn: To shut the eyes to; to overlook; to pretend not to see. [R. &
Obs.] "Divorces were not connived only, but with eye open allowed."
Milton.
CONNIVENCY
Con*niv"en*cy, n.
Defn: Connivance. [Obs.]
CONNIVENT
Con*niv"ent, a. Etym: [L. connivens, p. pr.]
1. Forbearing to see; designedly inattentive; as, connivent justice.
[R.] Milton.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Brought close together; arched inward so that the points meet;
converging; in close contact; as, the connivent petals of a flower,
wings of an insect, or folds of membrane in the human system, etc.
CONNIVER
Con*niv"er, n.
Defn: One who connives.
CONNOISSEUR
Con`nois*seur", n. Etym: [F. connaisseur, formerly connoisseur, fr.
connaître to know, fr. L. cognoscere to become acquainted with; co- +
noscere, gnoscere, to learn to know. See Know, amd cf. Cognizor.]
Defn: One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a
critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts.
The connoisseur is "one who knows," as opposed to the dilettant, who
only "thinks he knows." Fairholt.
CONNOISSEURSHIP
Con`nois*seur"ship, n.
Defn: State of being a connoisseur.
CONNOTATE
Con"no*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. con- + notatus, p.p.of notare to mark.
Cf. Connote.]
Defn: To connote; to suggest or designate (something) as additional;
to include; to imply. Hammond.
CONNOTATION
Con`no*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. connotation.]
Defn: The act of connoting; a making known or designating something
additional; implication of something more than is asserted.
CONNOTATIVE
Con*no"ta*tive ( or ), a.
1. Implying something additional; illative.
2. (Log.)
Defn: Implying an attribute. See Connote. Connotative term, one which
denotes a subject and implies an attribute. J. S. Mill.
CONNOTATIVELY
Con*no"ta*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a connotative manner; expressing connotation.
CONNOTE
Con*note", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Connoted; p.pr. & vb.n. Connoting.]
Etym: [See Connotate, and Note.]
1. To mark along with; to suggest or indicate as additional; to
designate by implication; to include in the meaning; to imply.
Good, in the general notion of it, connotes also a certain
suitableness of it to some other thing. South.
2. (Logic)
Defn: To imply as an attribute.
The word "white" denotes all white things, as snow, paper, the foam
of the sea, etc., and ipmlies, or as it was termed by the schoolmen,
connotes, the attribute "whiteness." J. S. Mill.
CONNUBIAL
Con*nu"bi*al, a. Etym: [L. connubialis, fr. connubium marriage; con-
+ nubere to veil, to marry. See Nupital.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to marriage, or the marriage state; conjugal;
nuptial.
Nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refused. Milton.
Kind, connubial tenderness. Goldsmith.
CONNUBIALITY
Con*nu`bi*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being connubial; something characteristics of
the conjugal state; an expression of connubial tenderness.
Some connubialities which had begun to pass between Mr. and Mrs. B.
Dickens.
CONNUMERATION
Con*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. connumeratio, fr. L. connumerare, -
numeratum, to number with.]
Defn: A reckoning together. [R.] Porson.
CONNUSANCE
Con"nu*sance, n. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizance. [Obs.]
CONNUSANT
Con"nu*sant, a. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizant. [Obs.]
CONNUSOR
Con`nu*sor", n. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizor. [Obs.]
CONNUTRITIOUS
Con`nu*tri"tious, a.
Defn: Nutritious by force of habit; -- said of certain kinds of food.
[Obs.] Crabb.
CONNY
Con"ny, a. [Canny, Gunning.]
Defn: Brave; fine; canny. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
CONODONT
Co"no*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar toothlike fossil of many forms, found especially in
carboniferous rocks. Such fossils are supposed by some to be the
teeth of marsipobranch fishes, but they are probably the jaws of
annelids.
CONOID
Co"noid, n. Etym: [Gr. conoïde.]
1. Anything that has a form resembling that of a cone.
2. (Geom.)
(a) A solid formed by the revolution of a conic section about its
axis; as, a parabolic conoid, elliptic conoid, etc.; -- more commonly
called paraboloid, ellipsoid, etc.
(b) A surface which may be generated by a straight line moving in
such a manner as always to meet a given straight line and a given
curve, and continue parallel to a given plane. Math. Dict.
CONOID
Co"noid
Defn: , Resembling a cone; conoidal.
CONOIDAL
Co*noid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conoïdal.]
Defn: Nearly, but not exactly, conical. Lindley.
CONOIDIC; CONOIDICAL
Co*noid"ic, Co*noid"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a conoid; having the form of a conoid.
CONOMINEE
Co*nom`i*nee", n.
Defn: One nominated in conjunction with another; a joint nominee.
Kirby.
CONQUADRATE
Con*quad"rate, v. t. Etym: [L. conquadratus, p.p. of conquadrare.]
Defn: To bring into a square. [R.] Ash.
CONQUASSATE
Con*quas"sate, v. t. Etym: [L. conquassatus, p.p. of conquassare.]
Defn: To shake; to agitate. [Obs.] Harvey.
-- Con`quas*sa"tion, n. [Obs.]
CONQUER
Con"quer, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conquered; p.pr. & vb.n. Conquering.]
Etym: [OF. conquerre, F. conquérir, fr. L. conquirere, -quisitum, to
seek or search for, to bring together, LL., to conquer; con- +
quaerere to seek. See Quest.]
1. To gain or acquire by force; to take possession of by violent
means; to gain dominion over; to subdue by physical means; to reduce;
to overcome by force of arms; to cause to yield; to vanquish. "If
thou conquer Rome." Shak.
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us. Shak.
We conquered France, but felt our captive's charms. Pope.
2. To subdue or overcome by mental or moral power; to surmount; as,
to conquer difficulties, temptatin, etc.
By winning words to conquer hearts, And make persuasion do the work
of fear. Milton.
3. To gain or obtain, overcoming obstacles in the way; to win; as, to
conquer freedom; to conquer a peace.
Syn.
-- To subdue; vanquish; overcome; overpower; overthrow; defeat;
rout; discomfit; subjugate; reduce; humble; crush; surmount; subject;
master.
-- To Conquer, Vanquish, Subdue, Subjugate, Overcome. These words
agree in the general idea expressed by overcome, -- that of bringing
under one's power by the exertion of force. Conquer is wider and more
general than vanquish, denoting usually a succession of conflicts.
Vanquish is more individual, and refers usually to a single conflict.
Thus, Alexander conquered Asia in a succession of battles, and
vanquished Darius in one decisive engagement. Subdue implies a more
gradual and continual pressure, but a surer and more final
subjection. We speak of a nation as subdued when its spirit is at
last broken, so that no further resistance is offered. Subjugate is
to bring completely under the yoke of bondage. The ancient Gauls were
never finally subdued by the Romans until they were completely
subjugated. These words, when used figuratively, have correspondent
meanings. We conquer our prejudices or aversions by a succesion of
conflicts; but we sometimes vanquish our reluctance to duty by one
decided effort: we endeavor to subdue our evil propensities by
watchful and persevering exertions. Subjugate is more commonly taken
in its primary meaning, and when used figuratively has generally a
bad sense; as, his reason was completely subjugated to the sway of
his passions.
CONQUER
Con"quer, v. i.
Defn: To gain the victory; to overcome; to prevail.
He went forth conquering and to conquer. Rev. vi. 2.
The champions resolved to conquer or to die. Waller.
CONQUERABLE
Con*quer*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conquered or subdued. South.
-- Con"quer*a*ble*ness, n.
CONQUERESS
Con"quer*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who conquers. Fairfax.
CONQUEROR
Con"quer*or, n. Etym: [OF. conquereor, fr. conquerre,]
Defn: One who conquers. The Conqueror (Eng. Hist.). William the
Norman (1027-1067) who invaded England, defeated Harold in the battle
of Hastings, and was crowned king, in 1066.
CONQUEST
Con"quest, n. Etym: [OF. conquest, conqueste, F. conquête, LL.
conquistum, conquista, prop. p.p. from L. conquirere. See Conquer.]
1. The act or process of conquering, or acquiring by force; the act
of overcoming or subduing opposition by force, whether physical or
moral; subjection; subjugation; victory.
In joys of conquest he resigns his breath. Addison.
Three years sufficed for the conquest of the country. Prescott.
2. That which is conquered; possession gained by force, physical or
moral.
Wherefore rejoice What conquest brings he home Shak.
3. (Feudal Law)
Defn: The acquiring of property by other means than by inheritance;
acquisition. Blackstone.
4. The act of gaining or regaining by successful strugle; as, the
conquest of liberty or peace. The Conquest (Eng. Hist.), the
subjugation of England by William of Normandy in 1066.
Syn.
-- Victory; triumph; mastery; reduction; subjugation; subjection.
CONQUIAN
Con"qui*an, n. (Card Playing)
Defn: A game for two, played with 40 cards, in which each player
tries to form three or four of a kind or sequences.
CONSANGUINEAL
Con`san*guin"e*al, a.
Defn: Of the same blood; related by birth. Sir T. Browne.
CONSANGUINED
Con*san"guined, a.
Defn: Of kin blood; related. [R.] Johnson.
CONSANGUINEOUS
Con`san*guin"e*ous, a. Etym: [L. conguineus; con- + sanguis blood:
cf. F. consanguin. See Sanquine.]
Defn: Of the same blood; related by birth; descended from the same
parent or ancestor. Shak.
CONSANGUINITY
Con`san*guin"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. consanguinitas: cf. F.
consanguintit.]
Defn: The relation of person by blood, is distinction from affinity
or relation by marriage; blood relationship; as, lineal
consanguinity; collateral consanguinity.
Invoking aid by the ties of consanguinity. Prescott.
CONSARCINATION
Con*sar`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consarcinare, -natum, to patch
together.]
Defn: A patching together; patchwork. [Obs.] Bailey.
CONSCIENCE
Con"science, n. Etym: [F. conscience, fr. L. conscientia, fr.
consciens, p.pr. of conscire to know, to be conscious; con- + scire
to know. See Science.]
1. Knowledge of one's own thoughts or actions; consciousness. [Obs.]
The sweetest cordial we receive, at last, Is conscience of our
virtuous actions past. Denham.
2. The faculty, power, or inward principle which decides as to the
character of one's own actions, purposes, and affections, warning
against and condemning that which is wrong, and approving and
prompting to that which is right; the moral faculty passing judgment
on one's self; the moral sense.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue
brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Shak.
As science means knowledge, conscience etymologically means self-
knowledge . . . But the English word implies a moral standard of
action in the mind as well as a consciousness of our own actions. . .
. Conscience is the reason, employed about questions of right and
wrong, and accompanied with the sentiments of approbation and
condemnation. Whewell.
3. The estimate or determination of conscience; conviction or right
or duty.
Conscience supposes the existence of some such [i.e., moral] faculty,
and properly signifies our consciousness of having acted agreeably or
contrary to its directions. Adam Smith.
4. Tenderness of feeling; pity. [Obs.] Chaucer. Conscience clause, a
clause in a general law exempting persons whose religious scruples
forbid compliance therewith, -- as from taking judicial oaths,
rendering military service, etc.
-- Conscience money, stolen or wrongfully acquired money that is
voluntarily restored to the rightful possessor. Such money paid into
the United States treasury by unknown debtors is called the
Conscience fund.
-- Court of Conscience, a court established for the recovery of
small debts, in London and other trading cities and districts. [Eng.]
Blackstone.
-- In conscience, In all conscience, in deference or obedience to
conscience or reason; in reason; reasonably. "This is enough in
conscience." Howell. "Half a dozen fools are, in all conscience, as
many as you should require." Swift.
-- To make conscience of, To make a matter of conscience, to act
according to the dictates of conscience concerning (any matter), or
to scruple to act contrary to its dictates.
CONSCIENCED
Con"scienced, a.
Defn: Having a conscience. [R.] "Soft-conscienced men." Shak.
CONSCIENCELESS
Con"science*less, a.
Defn: Without conscience; indifferent to conscience; unscrupulous.
Conscienceless and wicked patrons. Hookre.
CONSCIENT
Con"scient, a. Etym: [L. consciens, -entis, p.pr.]
Defn: Conscious. [R.] Bacon.
CONSCIENTIOUS
Con`sci*en"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consciencieux, LL.
conscientiosus.]
1. Influenced by conscience; governed by a strict regard to the
dictates of conscience, or by the known or supposed rules of right
and wrong; -- said of a person.
The advice of wise and conscientious men. Prescott.
2. Characterized by a regard to conscience; conformed to the dictates
of conscience; -- said of actions.
A holy and conscientious course. Abp. Tillotson.
Syn.
-- Scrupulous; exact; faithful; just; upright.
CONSCIENTIOUSLY
Con`sci*en"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conscientious manner; as a matter of conscience; hence;
faithfully; accurately; completely.
CONSCIENTIOUSNESS
Con`sci*en"tious*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conscientious; a scrupulous regard to the
dictates of conscience.
CONSCIONABLE
Con"scion*a*ble, a. Etym: [Irregularly formed fr. conscience.]
Defn: Governed by, or according to, conscience; reasonable; just.
Let my debtors have conscionable satisfaction. Sir H. Wotton.
CONSCIONABLENESS
Con"scion*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conscionable; reasonableness. Johnson.
CONSCIONABLY
Con"scion*a*bly, adv.
Defn: Reasonably; justly.
CONSCIOUS
Con"scious, a. Etym: [L. conscius; con- + scire to know. See
Conscience.]
1. Possessing the faculty of knowing one's own thoughts or mental
operations.
Some are thinking or conscious beings, or have a power of thought. I.
Watts.
2. Possessing knowledge, whether by internal, conscious experience or
by external observation; cognizant; aware; sensible.
Her conscious heart imputed suspicion where none could have been
felt. Hawthorne.
The man who breathes most healthilly is least conscious of his own
breathing. De Quincey.
3. Made the object of consciousness; known to one's self; as,
conscious guilt.
With conscious terrors vex me round. Milton.
Syn.
-- Aware; apprised; sensible; felt; known.
CONSCIOUSLY
Con"scious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conscious manner; with knowledge of one's own mental
operations or actions.
CONSCIOUSNESS
Con"scious*ness, n.
1. The state of being conscious; knowledge of one's own existence,
condition, sensations, mental operations, acts, etc.
Consciousness is thus, on the one hand, the recognition by the mind
or "ego" of its acts and affections; -- in other words, the self-
affirmation that certain modifications are known by me, and that
these modifications are mine. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Immediate knowledge or perception of the presence of any object,
state, or sensation. See the Note under Attention.
Annihilate the consciousness of the object, you annihilate the
consciousness of the operation. Sir W. Hamilton.
And, when the steam Which overflowed the soul had passed away, A
consciousness remained that it had left. . . . images and precious
thoughts That shall not die, and can not be destroyed. Wordsworth.
The consciousness of wrong brought with it the consciousness of
weakness. Froude.
3. Feeling, persuasion, or expectation; esp., inward sense of guilt
or innocence. [R.]
An honest mind is not in the power of a dishonest: to break its peace
there must be some guilt or consciousness. Pope.
CONSCRIBE
Con*scribe", v. t. Etym: [L. conscribere. See Conscript.]
Defn: To enroll; to enlist. [Obs.] E. Hall.
CONSCRIPT
Con"script, a. Etym: [L. conscriptus, p.p. of conscribere to write
together, to enroll; con- + scribere to write. See Scribe.]
Defn: Enrolled; written; registered. Conscript fathers (Rom. Antiq.),
the senators of ancient Rome. When certain new senators were first
enrolled with the "fathers" the body was called Patres et Conscripti;
afterward all were called Patres conscripti.
CONSCRIPT
Con"script, n.
Defn: One taken by lot, or compulsorily enrolled, to serve as a
soldier or sailor.
CONSCRIPT
Con*script", v. t.
Defn: To enroll, by compulsion, for military service.
CONSCRIPTION
Con*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [L. conscriptio: cf. F. conscription.]
1. An enrolling or registering.
The conscription of men of war. Bp. Burnet.
2. A compulsory enrollment of men for military or naval service; a
draft.
CONSCRIPTION
Con*scrip"tion, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or of the nature of, a conspiration.
CONSECRATE
Con"se*crate, a. Etym: [L. consceratus, p.p. of conscerare to
conscerate; con- + sacrare to consecrate, sacer sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: Consecrated; devoted; dedicated; sacred.
They were assembled in that consecrate place. Bacon.
CONSECRATE
Con"se*crate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consecrated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Consecrating.]
1. To make, or declare to be, sacred; to appropriate to sacred uses;
to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service or worship of God;
as, to consecrate a church; to give (one's self) unreservedly, as to
the service of God.
One day in the week is . . . consecrated to a holy rest. Sharp.
2. To set apart to a sacred office; as, to consecrate a bishop.
Thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons. Ex. xxix. 9.
3. To canonize; to exalt to the rank of a saint; to enroll among the
gods, as a Roman emperor.
4. To render venerable or revered; to hallow; to dignify; as, rules
or principles consecrated by time. Burke.
Syn.
-- See Addict.
CONSECRATER
Con"se*cra`ter, n.
Defn: Consecrator.
CONSECRATION
Con`se*cra"tion, n. Etym: [L. consecratio: cf. F. consécration.]
Defn: The act or ceremony of consecrating; the state of being
consecrated; dedication.
Until the days of your consecration be at an end. Lev. viii. 33.
Consecration makes not a place sacred, but only solemny declares it
so. South.
CONSECRATOR
Con"se*cra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who consecrates; one who performs the rites by which a
person or thing is devoted or dedicated to sacred purposes. [Written
also consecrater.]
CONSECRATORY
Con"se*cra*to*ry ( or ), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the act of consecration; dedicatory.
The consecratory prayer. Bp. Burnet.
CONSECTANEOUS
Con`sec*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. consectaneus.]
Defn: Following as a matter of course. Blount.
CONSECTARY
Con"sec*ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. consectarius, fr. consectari to follow
after eagerly; con- + sectari to follow eagerly, fr. sequi to
follow.]
Defn: Following by consequence; consequent; deducible. [R.]
"Consectary impieties." Sir T. Browne.
CONSECTARY
Con"sec*ta*ry, n.
Defn: That which follows by consequence or is logically deducible;
deduction from premises; corollary. [R.] Milton.
CONSECUTE
Con"se*cute, v. t.
Defn: To follow closely; to endeavor to overtake; to pursue. [Obs.]
Bp. Burnet.
CONSECUTION
Con`se*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. consecutio. See Consequent.]
1. A following, or sequel; actual or logical dependence. Sir M. Hale.
2. A succession or series of any kind. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton. Month of
consecution (Astron.), a month as reckoned from one conjunction of
the moon with the sun to another.
CONSECUTIVE
Con*sec"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consécutif. See Consequent.]
1. Following in a train; suceeding one another in a regular order;
successive; uninterrupted in course or succession; with no interval
or break; as, fifty consecutive years.
2. Following as a consequence or result; actually or logically
dependent; consequential; succeeding.
The actions of a man consecutive to volition. Locke.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Having similarity of sequence; -- said of certain parallel
progressions of two parts in a piece of harmony; as, consecutive
fifths, or consecutive octaves, which are forbidden. Consecutive
chords (Mus.), chords of the same kind suceeding one another without
interruption.
CONSECUTIVELY
Con*sec"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consecutive manner; by way of sequence; successively.
CONSECUTIVENESS
Con*sec"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being consecutive.
CONSENSION
Con*sen"sion, n. Etym: [L. consensio.]
Defn: Agreement; accord. Bentley.
CONSENSUAL
Con*sen"su*al, a. Etym: [See Consent, v. i., and cf. Sensual.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Existing, or made, by the mutual consent of two or more
parties.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Excited or caused by sensation, sympathy, or reflex action, and
not by conscious volition; as, consensual motions. Consensual
contract (Law), a contract formed merely by consent, as a marriage
contract.
CONSENSUS
Con*sen"sus, n. Etym: [L. See Consent.]
Defn: Agreement; accord; consent.
That traditional consensus of society which we call public opinion.
Tylor.
CONSENT
Con*sent", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consented; p.pr. & vb.n Consenting.]
Etym: [F. consentir, fr. L. consentire, -sensum, to feel together,
agree; con- + sentire to feel. See Sense.]
1. To agree in opinion or sentiment; to be of the same mind; to
accord; to concur.
And Saul was consenting unto his death. Acts. viii. 1.
Flourishing many years before Wyclif, and much consenting with him in
jugdment. Fuller.
2. To indicate or express a willingness; to yield to guidance,
persuasion, or necessity; to give assent or approval; to comply.
My poverty, but not my will, consents. Shak.
And whispering "I will ne'er consent," -- consented. Byron.
Syn.
-- To accede; yield; assent; comply; agree; allow; concede; permit;
admit; concur; acquiesce.
CONSENT
Con*sent", v. t.
Defn: To grant; to allow; to assent to; to admit. [Obs.]
Interpreters . . . will not consent it to be a true story. Milton.
CONSENT
Con*sent", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. consent.]
1. Agreement in opinion or sentiment; the being of one mind; accord.
All with one consent began to make exuse. Luke xiv. 18.
They feil together all, as by consent. Shak.
2. Correspondence in parts, qualities, or operations; agreement;
harmony; coherence.
The melodious consent of the birds. Holland.
Such is the world's great harmony that springs From union, order,
full consent of things. Pope.
3. Voluntary accordance with, or concurrence in, what is done or
proposed by another; acquiescence; compliance; approval; permission.
Thou wert possessed of David's throne By free consent of all. Milton.
4. (Law)
Defn: Capable, deliberate, and voluntary assent or agreement to, or
concurrence in, some act or purpose, implying physical and mental
power and free action.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: Sympathy. See Sympathy, 4.
Syn.
-- Assent; acquiescence; concurrence; agreement; approval;
permission. See Assent. Age of consent (Law), an age, fixed by
statute and varying in different jurisdictions, at which one is
competent to give consent. Sexual intercourse with a female child
under the age of consent is punishable as rape.
CONSENTANEITY
Con*sen`ta*ne"i*ty, n.
Defn: Mutual agreement. [R.]
CONSENTANEOUS
Con`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. consentaneus.]
Defn: Consistent; agreeable; suitable; accordant to; harmonious;
concurrent.
A good law and consentaneous to reason. Howell.
-- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ly, adv.
-- Con`sen*ta"ne*ous*ness, n.
CONSENTANT
Con*sent"ant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of consentir.]
Defn: Consenting. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONSENTER
Con*sent"er, a.
Defn: One who consents.
CONSENTIENT
Con*sen"tient, a. Etym: [L. consentients, p. pr. See Consent.]
Defn: Agreeing in mind; accordant.
The consentient judgment of the church. Bp. Pearson.
CONSENTINGLY
Con*sent"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With consent; in a compliant manner. Jer. Taylor.
CONSEQUENCE
Con"se*quence, n. Etym: [L., consequentia: cf. F. conséquence. See
Consequent.]
1. That which follows something on which it depends; that which is
produced by a cause; a result.
Shun to taste, And shun the bitter consequence. Milton.
2. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition collected from the agreement of other previous
propositions; any conclusion which results from reason or argument;
inference.
3. Chain of causes and effects; consecution.
Such fatal consequence unites us three. Milton.
Link follows link by necessary consequence. Coleridge.
4. Importance with respect to what comes after; power to influence or
produce an effect; value; moment; rank; distinction.
It is a matter of small consequence. Shak.
A sense of your own worth and consequence. Cowper.
In consequence, hence; for this cause.
-- In consequence of, by reason of; as the effect of.
Syn.
-- Effect; result; end. See Effect.
CONSEQUENCING
Con"se*quen`cing, n.
Defn: Drawing inference. [R.] Milton.
CONSEQUENT
Con"se*quent, a. Etym: [L. consequens, -entis, p. pr. of consequi to
follow; con- + sequi to follow: cf. F. conséquent. See Second, and
cf. Consecution.]
1. Following as a result, inference, or natural effect.
The right was consequent to, and built on, an act perfectly personal.
Locke.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Following by necessary inference or rational deduction; as, a
proposition consequent to other propositions. Consequent points,
Consequent poles (Magnetism), a number of poles distributed under
certain conditions, along the axis of a magnetized steel bar, which
regularly has but the two poles at the extremities.
CONSEQUENT
Con"se*quent, n.
1. That which follows, or results from, a cause; a result or natural
effect.
They were ill-governed, which is always a consequent of ill payment.
Sir J. Davies.
2. (Logic)
Defn: That which follows from propositions by rational deduction;
that which is deduced from reasoning or argumentation; a conclusion,
or inference.
3. (Math.)
Defn: The second term of a ratio, as the term b in the ratio a:b, the
first a, being the antecedent.
CONSEQUENTIAL
Con`se*quen"tial, a.
1. Following as a consequence, result, or logical inference;
consequenment.
All that is revealed in Scripture has a consequential necessity of
being believed . . . because it is of divine authority. Locke.
These kind of arguments . . . are highly consequential and concludent
to my purpose. Sir M. Hale.
2. Assuming or exhibiting an air of consequence; pretending to
importance; pompous; self-important; as, a consequential man. See
Consequence, n., 4.
His stately and consequential pace. Sir W. Scott.
Consequential damage (Law) (a) Damage so remote as not to be
actionable (b) Damage which although remote is actionable. (c)
Actionable damage, but not following as an immediate result of an
act.
CONSEQUENTIALLY
Con`se*quen"tial*ly, adv.
1. With just deduction of consequence; with right connection of
ideas; logically.
The faculty of writing consequentially. Addison.
2. By remote consequence; not immediately; eventually; as, to do a
thing consequentially. South.
3. In a regular series; in the order of cause and effect; with
logical concatenation; consecutively; continuously.
4. With assumed importance; pompously.
CONSEQUENTIALNESS
Con`se*quen"tial*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being consequential.
CONSEQUENTLY
Con"se*quent*ly, adv.
Defn: By consequence; by natural or logical sequence or connection.
Syn.
-- See Accordingly.
CONSERTION
Con*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. consertio, fr. conserere, -sertum to
connect; con- + serere to join.]
Defn: Junction; adaptation [R.]
Consertion of design, how exquisite. Young.
CONSERVABLE
Con*serv"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. conservabilitis.]
Defn: Capable of being preserved from decay or injury.
CONSERVANCY
Con*serv"an*cy, n.
Defn: Conservation, as from injury, defilement, or irregular use.
[An act was] passed in 1866, for vesting in the Conservators of the
River Thames the conservancy of the Thames and Isis. Mozley & W.
CONSERVANT
Con*serv"ant, a. Etym: [L. conservans, p.pr.]
Defn: Having the power or quality of conservation.
CONSERVATION
Con`ser*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. conservatio: cf. F. conservation.]
Defn: The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of
a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation.
A step necessary for the conservation of Protestantism. Hallam.
A state without the means of some change is without the means of its
conservation. Burke.
Conservation of areas (Astron.), the principle that the radius vector
drawn from a planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal
times.
-- Conservation of energy, or Conservation of force (Mech.), the
principle that the total energy of any material system is a quantity
which can neither be increased nor diminished by any action between
the parts of the system, though it may be transformed into any of the
forms of which energy is susceptible. Clerk Maxwell.
CONSERVATIONAL
Con`ser*va"tion*al, a.
Defn: Tending to conserve; preservative.
CONSERVATISM
Con*serv"a*tism, n. Etym: [For conservatism.]
Defn: The disposition and tendency to preserve what is established;
opposition to change; the habit of mind; or conduct, of a
conservative.
CONSERVATIVE
Con*serv"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatif.]
1. Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss,
waste, or injury; preservative.
2. Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions; opposed to
change or innovation.
3. Of or pertaining to a political party which favors the
conservation of existing institutions and forms of government as the
Conservative party in england; -- contradistinguished from Liberal
and Radical.
We have always been conscientuously attached to what is called the
Tory, and which might with more propierty be called the Conservative,
party. Quart. Rev. (1830).
Conservative system (Mech.), a material sustem of such a nature that
after the system has undergone any series of changes, and been
brought back in any manner to its original state, the whole work done
by external agents on the system is equal to the whole work done by
the system overcoming external forces. Clerk Maxwell.
CONSERVATIVE
Con*serv"a*tive, n.
1. One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation,
or radical change; a preserver; a conserver.
The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new life. Jer.
Taylor.
2. One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs;
also, one who holds moderate opinions in politics; -- opposed to
revolutionary or radical.
3. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: A member of the Conservative party.
CONSERVATIVENESS
Con*serv"a*tive*ness, a.
Defn: The quality of being conservative.
CONSERVATOIRE
Con`ser"va*toire`, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A public place of instruction in any special branch, esp. music
and the arts. [See Conservatory, 3].
CONSERVATOR
Con"ser*va`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. conservateur.]
1. One who preserves from injury or violation; a protector; a
preserver.
The great Creator and Conservator of the world. Derham.
2. (Law)
(a) An officer who has charge of preserving the public peace, as a
justice or sheriff.
(b) One who has an official charge of preserving the rights and
privileges of a city, corporation, community, or estate.
The lords of the secret council were likewise made conservators of
the peace of the two kingdoms. Clarendon.
The conservator of the estate of an idiot. Bouvier.
Conservators of the River Thames, a board of comissioners instituted
by Parliament to have the conservancy of the Thames.
CONSERVATORY
Con*serv"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL.
conservatorius.]
Defn: Having the quality of preserving from loss, decay, or injury.
CONSERVATORY
Con*serv"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL.
conservatorium.]
1. That which preserves from injury. [Obs.] "A conservatory of life."
Jer. Taylor.
2. A place for preserving anything from loss, decay, waste, or
injury; particulary, a greenhouse for preserving exotic or tender
plants.
3. A public place of instruction, designed to preserve and perfect
the knowledge of some branch of science or art, esp. music.
CONSERVATRIX
Con`ser*va"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A woman who preserves from loss, injury, etc.
CONSERVE
Con*serve", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conserved; p.pr. & vb.n. Conserving.]
Etym: [F. conserver, L. conservare; con- + servare to keep, guard.
See Serve.]
1. To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to
protect.
The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the
emperor. Strype.
2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as
fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of.
CONSERVE
Con"serve, n. Etym: [F. conserve, fr. conserver.]
1. Anything which is conserved; especially, a sweetmeat prepared with
sugar; a confection.
I shall . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine
lady I become a notable woman. Tatler.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A medicinal confection made of freshly gathered vegetable
substances mixed with finely powdered refined sugar. See Confection.
3. A conservatory. [Obs.] Evelyn.
CONSERVER
Con*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who conserves.
CONSIDER
Con*sid"er, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Considered; p.pr. & vb.n.
Considering.] Etym: [F. considérer, L. considerare, -sideratum, to
consider, view attentively, prob. fr. con- + sidus, sideris, star,
constellation; orig., therefore, to look at the stars. See Sidereal,
and cf. Desire.]
1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to thank
on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on.
I will consider thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 95.
Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts, and
with capacious mind Considered all things visible. Milton.
2. To look at attentively; to observe; to examine.
She considereth a field, and buyeth it. Prov. xxxi. 16.
3. To have regard to; to take into view or account; to pay due
attention to; to respect.
Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident.
Shak.
England could grow into a posture of being more united at home, and
more considered abroad. Sir W. Temple.
4. To estamate; to think; to regard; to view.
Considered as plays, his works are absurd. Macaulay.
Note: The proper sense of consider is often blended with an idea of
the result of considering; as, "Blessed is he that considereth the
poor." Ps. xli. 1. ; i.e., considers with sympathy and pity. "Which
[services] if I have not enough considered." Shak. ; i.e., requited
as the sufficient considering of them would suggest. "Consider him
liberally." J. Hooker.
Syn.
-- To ponder; weigh; revolve; study; reflect or meditate on;
contemplate; examine. See Ponder.
CONSIDER
Con*sid"er, v. i.
1. To think seriously; to make examination; to reflect; to
deliberate.
We will consider of your suit. Shak.
'T were to consider too curiously, to consider so. Shak.
She wished she had taken a moment to consider, before rushing down
stairs. W. Black
2. To hesitate. [Poetic & R.] Dryden.
CONSIDERABLE
Con*sid"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. considérable.]
1. Worthy of consideration, borne in mind, or attended to.
It is considerable, that some urns have had inscriptions on them
expressing that the lamps were burning. Bp. Wilkins.
Eternity is infinitely the most considerable duration. Tillotson.
2. Of some distinction; noteworthy; influential; respectable; -- said
of persons.
You are, indeed, a very considerable man. Junius.
3. Of importance or value.
In painting, not every action, nor every person, is considerable
enough to enter into the cloth. Dryden.
A considerable sum of money. Prescott.
CONSIDERABLENESS
Con*sid"er*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Worthiness of consideration; dignity; value; size; amount.
CONSIDERABLY
Con*sid"er*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner or to a degree not trifling or unimportant;
greatly; much.
The breeds . . . differ considerably from each other. Darwin.
CONSIDERANCE
Con*sid"er*ance, n. Etym: [L. considerantia.]
Defn: Act of considering; consideration. [Obs.] Shak.
CONSIDERATE
Con*sid"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. consideratus, p.p.]
1. Given to consideration or to sober reflection; regardful of
consequences or circumstances; circumspect; careful; esp. careful of
the rights, claims, and feelings of other.
Of dauntless courage and considerate pride. Milton.
considerate, and careful of his people. Dryden.
The wisest and most considerate men in the world. Sharp.
2. Having respect to; regardful. [R.]
They may be . . . more considerate of praise. Dr. H. More.
Syn.
-- Thoughtful; reflective; careful; discreet; prudent; deliberate;
serious. See Thoughtful.
-- Con*sid"er*ate*ly, adv.
-- Con*sid"er*ate*ness, n.
CONSIDERATION
Con*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. consideratio: cf. F. consid.]
1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful thought;
examination; contemplation; deliberation; attention.
Let us think with consideration. Sir P. Sidney.
Consideration, like an angel, came. Shak.
2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; -- used especially in
diplomatic or stately correspondence.
The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr. Hulseman the assurance
of his high consideration. D. Webster.
The consideration with which he was treated. Whewell.
3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice.
Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the church. Newman.
4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or
consequence.
Lucan is the only author of consideration among the Latin poets who
was not explained for . . . the Dauphin. Addison.
5. The result of delibration, or of attention and examonation;
matured opinion; a reflection; as, considerations on the choice of a
profession.
6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a ground of
opinion or action; motive; reason.
He was obliged, antecedent to all other considerations, to search an
asylum. Dryden.
Some considerations which are necessary to the forming of a correct
judgment. Macaulay.
7. (Law)
Defn: The cause which moves a contracting party to enter into an
agreement; the material cause of a contract; the price of a
stripulation; compensation; equivalent. Bouvier.
Note: Consideration is what is done, or promised to be done, in
exchange for a promise, and "as a mere advantage to the promisor
without detriment to the promisee would not avail, the proper test is
detriment to the promisee." Wharton.
CONSIDERATIVE
Con*sid"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Considerate; careful; thoughtful. [Archaic]
I love to be considerative. B. Jonson.
CONSIDERATOR
Con*sid"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who considers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONSIDERER
Con*sid"er*er, n.
Defn: One who considers; a man of reflection; a thinker. Milton.
CONSIDERINGLY
Con*sid"er*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With consideration or deliberation.
CONSIGN
Con*sign", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consigned 3; p.pr. & vb.n. Consigning.]
Etym: [F. consigner, L. consignare, -signatu,, to seal or sign; con-
+ signare, fr. signum mark. See Sign.]
1. To give, transfer, or deliver, in a formal manner, as if by
signing over into the possession of another, or into a different
state, with the sense of fixedness in that state, or permanence of
possession; as, to consign the body to the grave.
At the day of general account, good men are to be consigned over to
another state. Atterbury.
2. To give in charge; to commit; to intrust.
Atrides, parting for the Trojan war, Consigned the youthful consort
to his care. Pope.
The four evangelists consigned to writing that history. Addison.
3. (Com.)
Defn: To send or address (by bill of lading or otherwise) to an agent
or correspondent in another place, to be cared for or sold, or for
the use of such correspondent; as, to cosign a cargo or a ship; to
set apart.
4. To assign; to devote; to set apart.
The French commander consigned it to the use for which it was
intended by the donor. Dryden.
5. To stamp or impress; to affect. [Obs.]
Consign my spirit with great fear. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To commit; deliver; intrust; resign. See Commit.
CONSIGN
Con*sign", v. i.
1. To submit; to surrender or yield one's self. [Obs.]
All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust.
Shak.
2. To yield consent; to agree; to acquiesce. [Obs.]
Augment or alter . . . And we'll consign thereto. Shak.
CONSIGNATARY
Con*sig"na*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]
Defn: A consignee. [Obs.] Jenkins.
CONSIGNATION
Con`sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consignatio written proof, document:
cf. F. consignation comsignation.]
1. The act of consigning; the act of delivering or committing to
another person, place, or state. [Obs.]
So is despair a certain consignation to eternal ruin. Jer. Taylor.
2. The act of ratifying or establishing, as if signing; confirmation;
ratuficator.
A direct consignation of pardon. Jer. Taylor.
3. A stamp; an indication; a sign. [Obs.]
The most certain consignations of an excellent virtue. Jer. Taylor.
CONSIGNATORY
Con*sig"na*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]
Defn: One of several that jointly sign a written instrument, as a
treaty. Fallows.
CONSIGNATURE
Con*sig"na*ture; 135), n.
Defn: Joint signature. [R.] Colgrave.
CONSIGNE
Con"signe, n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)
(a) A countersign; a watchword.
(b) One who is orders to keep within certain limits.
CONSIGNEE
Con`sign*ee", n. Etym: [F. consign, p.p. of consigner.]
Defn: The person to whom goods or other things are consigned; a
factor; -- correlative to consignor.
Consigner and consignee are used by merchants to express generally
the shipper of merchandise, and the person to whom it is addressed,
by bill of lading or otherwise. De Colange.
CONSIGNER
Con*sign"er, n.
Defn: One who consigns. See Consignor.
CONSIGNIFICANT
Con`sig*nif"i*cant, a.
Defn: Having joint or equal signification; synonymous. [R.] Spelman.
CONSIGNIFICATION
Con*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Joint signification. [R.]
CONSIGNIFICATIVE
Con`sig*nif"i*ca*tive, a.
Defn: Consignificant; jointly significate. [R.]
CONSIGNIFY
Con*sig"ni*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. con- + sognify.]
Defn: To signify or denote in combination with something else.
The cipher . . . only serves to connote and consignify, and to change
the value or the figures. Horne Tooke.
CONSIGNMENT
Con*sign"ment, n.
1. The act of consigning; consignation.
2. (Com.)
Defn: The act of consigning or sending property to an agent or
correspondent in another place, as for care, sale, etc.
3. (Com.)
Defn: That which is consigned; the goods or commodities sent or
addressed to a consignee at one time or by one conveyance.
To increase your consignments of this valuable branch of national
commerce. Burke.
4. The writing by which anything is consigned.
CONSIGNOR
Con*sign"or ( or , n.
Defn: One who consigns something to another; -- opposed to consignee.
[Written also consigner.]
CONSILIENCE
Con*sil"i*ence, n. Etym: [con- + salire to leap.]
Defn: Act of concurring; coincidence; concurrence.
The consilience of inductions takes place when one class of facts
coincides with an induction obtained from another different class.
Whewell.
CONSIMILITUDE; CONSIMILITY
Con`si*mil"i*tude, Con`si*mil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consimilitude.
See Similitude.]
Defn: Common resemblance. [Obs.] Aubrey.
CONSIST
Con*sist", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consisted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consisting.]
Etym: [L. consistere to stand still or firm; con- + sistere to stand,
cause to stand, stare to stand: cf. F. consister. See Stand.]
1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body
composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to
exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained.
He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. i. 17.
2. To be composed or made up; -- followed by of.
The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet.
3. To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to
be; -- followed by in.
If their purgation did consist in words. Shak.
A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the things which he
possesseth. Luke xii. 15.
4. To be cosistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; -- formerly
used absolutely, now followed by with.
This was a consisting story. Bp. Burnet.
Health consists with temperance alone. Pope.
For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist.
Milton.
5. To insist; -- followed by on. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- To Consist, Consist of, Consist in. The verb consist is employed
chiefly for two purposes, which are marked and distinguished by the
prepositions used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite to
compose a thing, we use of; as when we say, "Macaulay's Miscellanies
consist chiefly of articles which were first published in the
Edinburgh Review." When we wish to indicate the true nature of a
thing, or that on which it depends, we use in; as, "There are some
artists whose skill consists in a certain manner which they have
affected." "Our safety consists in a strict adherence to duty."
CONSISTENCE; CONSISTENCY
Con*sist"ence, Con*sist"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consistance.]
1. The condition of standing or adhering together, or being fixed in
union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence;
solidity.
Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to
the natural consistence. Bacon.
We are as water, weak, and of no consistence. Jer. Taylor.
The same form, substance, and consistency. T. Burned.
2. A degree of firmness, density, or spissitude.
Let the expressed juices be boiled into the consistence of a sirup.
Arbuthnot.
3. That which stands together as a united whole; a combination.
The church of God, as meaning whole consistence of orders and
members. Milton.
4. Firmness of constitution or character; substantiality; durability;
persistency.
His friendship is of a noble make and a lasting consistency. South.
5. Agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among
themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; the
harmony of conduct with profession; congruity; correspondence; as,
the consistency of laws, regulations, or judicial decisions;
consistency of opinions; consistency of conduct or of character.
That consistency of behavior whereby he inflexibly pursues those
measures which appear the most just. Addison.
Consistency, thou art a jewel. Popular Saying.
CONSISTENT
Con*sist"ent, a. Etym: [L. consistens, p.pr.: cf. F. consistant.]
1. Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid.
The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey.
2. Having agreement with itself or with something else; having
harmony among its parts; possesing unity; accordant; harmonious;
congruous; compatible; uniform; not contradictory.
Show me one that has it in his power To act consistent with himself
an hour. Pope.
With reference to such a lord, to serve and to be free are terms not
consistent only, but equivalent. South.
3. Living or acting in conformity with one's belief or professions.
It was utterly to be at once a consistent Quaker and a conspirator.
Macaulay.
CONSISTENTLY
Con*sist"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consistent manner.
CONSISTORIAL
Con`sis*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consistorial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a consistory. "Consistorial laws." Hooker.
"Consistorial courts." Bp. Hoadley.
CONSISTORIAN
Con`sis*to"rian, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; -- a contemptuous term
of 17th century controversy.
You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call
Presbyterians. Milton.
CONSISTORY
Con*sis"to*ry ( or ; 277) n.; pl. Consistories. Etym: [L.
consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's
council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See
Consist.]
1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any
solemn assembly or council.
To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark
tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.
2. (Eng. Ch.)
Defn: The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his
chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere.
Hook.
3. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals
at Rome.
Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.
4. A church tribunal or governing body.
Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a
consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual
church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in
others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers
and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries
it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign
to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.
5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONSISTORY
Con*sis"to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold
consistory session." Strype.
CONSOCIATE
Con*so"ci*ate, n. Etym: [L. nsociatus, p.p. of consociare to
associate, unite; con- + sociare to join, unite. See Social.]
Defn: An associate; an accomplice. [Archaic] "Wicked consociates."
Bp. Hall.
CONSOCIATE
Con*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consociated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Consociating.]
1. To bring into alliance, confederacy, or relationship; to bring
together; to join; to unite. [R.]
Join pole to pole, consociate severed worlds. Mallet.
2. To unite in an ecclesiastical consociation. [U.S.]
CONSOCIATE
Con*so"ci*ate, v. i.
1. To be allied, confederated, or associated; to coalescence. [R.]
Bentley.
2. To form an ecclesiastical consociation. [U.S.]
CONSOCIATION
Con*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. consociatio.]
1. Intimate union; fellowship; alliance; companionship;
confederation; association; intimacy.
A friendly consociation with your kindred elements. Warburton.
2. A voluntary and permanent council or union of neighboring
Congregational churches, for mutual advice and co
Note: In Connecticut some of the Congregational churhes are
associated in consociations and the others in conferences.
CONSOCIATIONAL
Con*so`ci*a"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a consociation. [U.S.]
CONSOL
Con*sol", n.
Defn: A consolidated annuity (see Consols); -- chiefly in combination
or attributively.
CONSOLABLE
Con*sol"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. consolabilis: cf. F. consolable.]
Defn: Capable of receiving consolation.
CONSOLATE
Con"so*late, v. t. Etym: [L. consolatus, p.p. See Console, v. t.]
Defn: To console; to comfort. [Obs.] Shak.
CONSOLATION
Con`so*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. consolatio: cf. F. consolation.]
Defn: The act of consoling; the state of being consoled; allevation
of misery or distress of mind; refreshment of spirit; comfort; that
which consoles or comforts the spirit.
Against such cruelties With inward consolations recompensed. Milton.
Are the consolations of God small with thee Job xv. 11.
Syn.
-- Comfort; solace; allevation. See Comfort.
CONSOLATION GAME; CONSOLATION MATCH; CONSOLATION POT; CONSOLATION
RACE
Con`so*la"tion game, match, pot, race, etc.
Defn: A game, match, etc., open only to losers in early stages of
contests.
CONSOLATO DEL MARE
Con`so*la"to del ma"re. Etym: [It., the consulate of the sea.]
Defn: A collection of maritime laws of disputed origin, supposed to
have been first published at Barcelona early in the 14th century. It
has formed the basis of most of the subsequent collections of
maritime laws. Kent. Bouvier.
CONSOLATOR
Con"so*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who consoles or comforts. Johnson.
CONSOLATORY
Con*sol"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. consolatorius.]
Defn: Of a consoling or comforting nature.
The punishment of tyrants is a noble and awful act of justice; and it
has with truth been said to be consolatory to the human mind. Burke.
CONSOLATORY
Con*sol"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: That which consoles; a speech or writing intended for
consolation. [R.] Milton.
CONSOLE
Con*sole", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consoled; p.pr. & vb.n. Consoling.]
Etym: [L. consolari,. p.p. consolatus; con- + solari to console,
comfort: cf. F. consoler. See Solace.]
Defn: To cheer in distress or depression; to alleviate the grief and
raise the spirits of; to relieve; to comfort; to soothe.
And empty heads console with empty sound. Pope.
I am much consoled by the reflection that the religion of Christ has
been attacked in vain by all the wits and philosophers, and its
triumph has been complete. P. Henry.
Syn.
-- To comfort; solace; soothe; cheer; sustain; encourage; support.
See Comfort.
CONSOLE
Con"sole, n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
(a) A bracket whose projection is not more than half its height.
(b) Any small bracket; also, a console table. Console table, a table
whose top is supported by two or more consoles instead of legs.
CONSOLER
Con*sol"er, n.
Defn: One who gives consolation.
CONSOLIDANT
Con*sol"i*dant, a. Etym: [L. consolidans, p.pr. of consolidare: cf.
F. consolidant.]
Defn: Serving to unite or consolidate; having the quality of
consolidating or making firm.
CONSOLIDATE
Con*sol"i*date, a. Etym: [L. consolidatus, p.pr. of consolidare to
make firm; con- + solidare to make firm; solidus solid. See Solid,
and cf. Consound.]
Defn: Formed into a solid mass; made firm; consolidated. [R.]
A gentleman [should learn to ride] while he is tender and the brawns
and sinews of his thighs not fully consolidate. Elyot.
CONSOLIDATE
Con*sol"i*date, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consolidated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Consolidating.]
1. To make solid; to unite or press together into a compact mass; to
harden or make dense and firm.
He fixed and consolidated the earth. T. Burnet.
2. To unite, as various particulars, into one mass or body; to bring
together in close union; to combine; as, to consolidate the armies of
the republic.
Consolidating numbers into unity. Wordsworth.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: To unite by means of applications, as the parts of a broken
bone, or the lips of a wound. [R.]
Syn.
-- To unite; combine; harden; compact; condense; compress.
CONSOLIDATE
Con*sol"i*date, v. i.
Defn: To grow firm and hard; to unite and become solid; as, moist
clay consolidates by drying.
In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness maketh them more apt to
consolidate. Bacon.
CONSOLIDATED
Con*sol"i*da`ted, p.p. & a.
1. Made solid, hard, or compact; united; joined; solidified.
The Aggregate Fund . . . consisted of a great variety of taxes and
surpluses of taxes and duties which were [in 1715] consolidated.
Rees.
A mass of partially consolidated mud. Tyndall.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a small surface in proportion to bulk, as in the cactus.
Consolidated plants are evidently adapted and designed for very dry
regions; in such only they are found. Gray.
The Consolidated Fund, a British fund formed by consolidating (in
1787) three public funds (the Aggregate Fund, the General Fund, and
the South Sea Fund). In 1816, the larger part of the revenues of
Great Britian and Ireland was assigned to what has been known as the
Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, out of which are paid the
interest of the national debt, the salaries of the civil list, etc.
CONSOLIDATION
Con*sol`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. consolidatio a confirming: cf. F.
consolidation.]
1. The act or process of consolidating, making firm, or uniting; the
state of being consolidated; solidification; combination.
The consolidation of the marble and of the stone did not fall out at
random. Woodward.
The consolidation of the great European monarchies. Hallam.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: To organic cohesion of different circled in a flower; adnation.
3. (Law)
Defn: The combination of several actions into one.
CONSOLIDATIVE
Con*sol"i*da*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consolidatif.]
Defn: Tending or having power to consolidate; healing.
CONSOLING
Con*sol"ing, a.
Defn: Adapted to console or comfort; cheering; as, this is consoling
news.
CONSOLS
Con"sols ( or , n. pl. Etym: [A contraction of consolidated
(annuities).]
Defn: The leading British funded government security.
Note: A considerable part of the public debt of Great Britian, which
had been contracted in the form of annuities yielding various rates
of interest, was, in 1757, consolidated into one fund at 3 per cent
interest, the account of which is kept at the Bank of England. This
debt has been diminished and increased at different times, and now
constitutes somewhat more than half of the entire national debt. The
stocks are transferable, and Their value in the market constantly
fluctuates; the price at any time being regarded as a gauge of the
national prosperity and public confidence.
CONSOMME
Con`som`me, n. Etym: [F., lit. p.p. of consommer to finish.]
(Cookery)
Defn: A clear soup or bouillion boiled down so as to be very rich.
CONSONANCE; CONSONANCY
Con"so*nance, Con"so*nan*cy, n. Etym: [L. consonantia: cf. F.
consonnance.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: Accord or agreement of sounds produced simultaneously, as a
note with its third, fifth, and eighth.
2. Agreement or congruity; harmony; accord; consistency;
suitableness.
The perfect consonancy of our persecuted church to the doctrines of
Scripture and antiquity. Hammond.
The optic nerve responds to the waves with which it is in consonance.
Tyndall.
3. Friendship; concord. [Obs.]
By the consonancy of our youth. Shak.
Syn.
-- Agreement; accord; consistency; unison; harmony; congruity;
suitableness; agreeableness.
CONSONANT
Con"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. consonans, -antis; p.pr. of consonare to
sound at the same time, agree; con- + sonare to sound: cf. F.
consonnant. See Sound to make a noise.]
1. Having agreement; congruous; consistent; according; -- usually
followed by with or to.
Each one pretends that his opinion . . . is consonant to the words
there used. Bp. Beveridge.
That where much is given shall be much required is a thing consonant
with natural equity. Dr. H. More.
2. Having like sounds.
Consonant words and syllables. Howell.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: harmonizing together; accordant; as, consonant tones, consonant
chords.
4. Of or pertaining to consonants; made up of, or containing many,
consonants.
No Russian whose dissonant consonant name Almost shatters to
fragments the trumpet of fame. T. Moore.
CONSONANT
Con"so*nant, n. Etym: [L. consonans, -antis.]
Defn: An articulate sound which in utterance is usually combined and
sounded with an open sound called a vowel; a member of the spoken
alphabet other than a vowel; also, a letter or character representing
such a sound.
Note: Consonants are divided into various classes, as mutes,
spirants, sibilants, nasals, semivowels, etc. All of them are sounds
uttered through a closer position of the organs than that of a vowel
proper, although the most open of them, as the semivowels and nasals,
are capable of being used as if vowels, and forming syllables with
other closer consonants, as in the English feeble (taken (
Note: "A consonant is the result of audible friction, squeezing, or
stopping of the breath in some part of the mouth (or occasionally of
the throath.) The main distinction between vowels and consonants is,
that while in the former the mouth configuration merely modifies the
vocalized breath, which is therefore an essential element of the
vowels, in consonants the narrowing or stopping of the oral passage
is the foundation of the sound, and the state of the glottis is
something secondary." H. Sweet.
CONSONANTAL
Con`so*nan"tal
Defn: ,
CONSONANTIZE
Con"so*nant*ize, v. t.
Defn: To change into, or use as, a consonant. "The vowel is
consonantized, that is, made closer in position." Peile.
CONSONANTLY
Con"so*nant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consonant, consistent, or congruous manner; agreeably.
CONSONANTNESS
Con"so*nant*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being consonant, agreeable, or
consistent.
CONSONOUS
Con"so*nous, a. Etym: [L. consonus. See Consonant.]
Defn: Agreeing in sound; symphonious.
CONSOPIATION
Con*so`pi*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of sleeping, or of lulling, to sleep. [Obs.] Pope.
CONSOPITE
Con"so*pite, a. Etym: [L. consopitus, p.p. of consopire.]
Defn: Lulled to sleep. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CONSOPITE
Con"so*pite, v. t.
Defn: To lull to sleep; to quiet; to compose. [Obs.]
The operation of the masculine faculties of the soul were, for a
while, well slacked and consopited. Dr. H. More.
CONSORT
Con"sort, n. Etym: [L. consore, -sortis; con- + sors lot, fate,
share. See Sort.]
1. One who shares the lot of another; a companion; a partner;
especially, a wife or husband. Milton.
He single chose to live, and shunned to wed, Well pleased to want a
consort of his bed. Dryden.
The consort of the queen has passed from this troubled sphere.
Thakeray.
The snow-white gander, invariably accompanied by his darker consort.
Darwin.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A ship keeping company with another.
3. Concurrence; conjunction; combination; association; union. "By
Heaven's consort." Fuller. "Working in consort." Hare.
Take it singly, and is carries an air of levity; but, in consort with
the rest, has a meaning quite different. Atterbury.
4. Etym: [LL. consortium.]
Defn: An assembly or association of persons; a company; a group; a
combination. [Obs.]
In one consort there sat Cruel revenge and rancorious despite,
Disloyal treason, and heart-burning hate. Spenser.
Lord, place me in thy consort. Herbert.
5. Etym: [Perh. confused with concert.]
Defn: Harmony of sounds; concert, as of musical instruments. [Obs.]
Milton.
To make a sad consort`; Come, let us join our mournful song with
theirs. Spenser.
Prince consort, the husband of a queen regnant.
-- Queen consort, the wife of a king, as distinguished from a queen
regnant, who rules alone, and a queen dowager, the window of a king.
CONSORT
Con*sort", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consorted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consorting.]
Defn: To unite or to keep company; to associate; -- used with with.
Which of the Grecian chiefs consorts with thee Dryden.
CONSORT
Con*sort", v. t.
1. To unite or join, as in affection, harmony, company, marriage,
etc.; to associate.
He with his consorted Eve. Milton.
For all that pleasing is to living ears Was there consorted in one
harmony. Spenser.
He begins to consort himself with men. Locke.
2. To attend; to accompany. [Obs.]
Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him
hence. Shak.
CONSORTABLE
Con*sort"a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable for association or companionship. [Obs.] Sir H.
Wotton.
CONSORTION
Con*sor"tion, n. Etym: [L. consortio.]
Defn: Fellowship; association; companionship. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONSORTSHIP
Con"sort*ship, n.
Defn: The condition of a consort; fellowship; partnership. Hammond.
CONSOUND
Con"sound, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. F. consoude, fr L. consolida
comfrey (so called because supposed to have healing power); con- +
solidus solid, consolidare to make solid. Cf. Comfrey, Consolidate.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A name applied loosely to several plants of different genera,
esp. the comfrey.
CONSPECIFIC
Con`spe*cif"ic, a.
Defn: Of the same species.
CONSPECTUITY
Con`spec*tu"i*ty, n.; pl. Conspectuities.
Defn: The faculty of seeing; sight; eye.
Note: [A word of Menenius's making. Coriolanus ii. 1] Shak.
CONSPECTUS
Con*spec"tus, n.
Defn: A general sketch or outline of a subject; a synopsis; an
epitome.
CONSPERSION
Con*sper"sion, n. Etym: [L. conspersio, fr. conspergere to sprinkle.]
Defn: The act of sprinkling. [Obs.]
The conspersion washing the doorposts. Jer. Taylor.
CONSPICUITY
Con`spi*cu"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being clear or bright; brightness;
conspicuosness. [R.] Chapman.
CONSPICUOUS
Con*spic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. conspicuus, fr. conspicere to get sight
of, to perceive; con- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy]
1. Open to the view; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; plainly
visible; manifest; attracting the eye.
It was a rock Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, Conspicious far.
Milton.
Conspicious by her veil and hood, Signing the cross, the abbess
stood. Sir W. Scott.
2. Obvious to the mental eye; easily recognized; clearly defined;
notable; prominent; eminent; distinguished; as, a conspicuous
exellence, or fault.
A man who holds a conspicuous place in the political, eccesiastical,
and literary history of England. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Distinguished; eminent; famous; illustrious; prominent;
celebrated. See Distinguished.
-- Con*spic"u*ous*ly, adv.
-- Con*spic"u*ous*ness, n.
CONSPIRACY
Con*spir"a*cy, n.; pl. Conspiracies. Etym: [See Conspiration.]
1. A combination of men for an evil purpose; as agreement, between
two or more persons, to commit a crime in concert, as treason; a
plot.
When shapen was all his conspiracy From point to point. Chaucer.
They made a conspiracy against [Amaziah]. 2 Kings xiv. 19.
I had forgot that foul conspiracy
Of the beast Caliban and his confederates. Shak.
2. A concurence or general tendency, as of circumstances, to one
event, as if by agreement.
A conspiracy in all heavenly and earthly things. Sir P. Sidney.
3. (Law)
Defn: An agreement, manifesting itself in words or deeds, by which
two or more persons confederate to do an unlawful act, or to use
unlawful to do an act which is lawful; confederacy.
Syn.
-- Combination; plot; cabal.
CONSPIRANT
Con*spir"ant, a. Etym: [L. conspirans, p.pr. of conspirare: cf. F.
conspirant.]
Defn: Engaging in a plot to commit a crime; conspiring. [Obs.] Shak.
CONSPIRATION
Con`spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. conspiration, L. conspiratio.]
Defn: Agreement or concurrence for some end or purpose; conspiracy.
[R.]
As soon as it was day, certain Jews made a conspiration. Udall.
In our natural body every part has a nacassary sympathy with every
other, and all together form, by their harmonious onspiration, a
healthy whole. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONSPIRATOR
Con*spir"a*tor, n.
Defn: One who engages in a conspiracy; a plotter. 2 Sam. xv. 31.
CONSPIRE
Con*spire", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Conspired; p.pr. & vb.n. Conspiring.]
Etym: [F. conspirer, L. onspirare to blow together, harmonize, agree,
plot; con- + spirare to breathe, blow. See Spirit.]
1. To make an agreement, esp. a secret agreement, to do some act, as
to commit treason or a crime, or to do some unlawful deed; to plot
together.
They conspired against [Joseph] to slay him. Gen. xxxvii. 18.
You have conspired against our royal person, Joined with an enemy
proclaimed. Shak.
2. To concur to one end; to agree.
The press, the pulpit, and the stage Conspire to censure and expose
our age. Roscommon.
Syn.
-- To unite; concur; complot; confederate; league.
CONSPIRE
Con*spire", v. t.
Defn: To plot; to plan; to combine for.
Angry clouds conspire your overthrow. Bp. Hall.
CONSPIRER
Con*spir"er, n.
Defn: One who conspires; a conspirator.
CONSPIRINGLY
Con*spir"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a conspirator; by conspiracy. Milton.
CONSPISSATION
Con`spis*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. conspissatio, fr. onspissare to make
thick.]
Defn: A making thick or viscous; thickness; inspissation. [R.] Dr. H.
More.
CONSPURCATE
Con*spur"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. conspurcatus, p.p. of conspurcare.]
Defn: To pollute; to defile. [Obs.] Cockeram.
CONSPURCATION
Con`spur*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. conspurcare, -spuratum, to defile.]
Defn: This act of defiling; defilement; pollution. Bp. Hall.
CONSTABLE
Con"sta*ble, n. Etym: [OE. conestable, constable, a constable (in
sense 1), OF. conestable, F. conn, LL. conestabulus, constabularius,
comes stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse,
equerry; comes ount (L. ompanion) + L. stabulum stable. See Count a
nobleman, and Stable.]
1. A high officer in the monarhical establishments of the Middle
Ages.
Note: The constable of France was the first officer of the crown, and
had the chief ommand of the army. It was also his duty to regulate
all matters of chivalry. The office was suppressed in 1627. The
constable, or lord high constable, of England, was one of the highest
officers of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper
of the peace of the nation. He also judicial cognizance of many
important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but has
been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since the
attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry
VIII.
2. (Law)
Defn: An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the
public peace, and bound to exeute the warrants of judicial offiers.
Bouvier.
Note: In England, at the present time, the constable is a conservator
of the peace within his district, and is also charged by various
statutes with other duties, such as serving summons, precepts,
warrants, etc. In the United States, constables are town or its
officers of the peace, with powers similar to those of the constables
of England. In addition to their duties as conservators of the peace,
they are invested with others by statute, such as to execute civil as
well as criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep
juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers called high
constables, who act as shiefs of the constabulary or police force. In
other cities the title of constable, as well as the office, is merged
in that of the polie officer. High constable, a constable having
certain duties and powers within a hundred. [Eng.] -- Petty
constable, a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a
tithingman. [Eng.] -- Special constable, a person appointed to act as
constable of special occasions.
-- To overrun, or outrun, the constable, the spend more than one's
income; to get into debt. [Colloq.] Smollett.
CONSTABLERY
Con"sta*bler*y ( or , n. Etym: [OF. conestablerie. Cf. Constabulary.]
1. The constabulary. [Obs.]
2. The distrit or jurisdiction of a constable. [Obs.]
CONSTABLESHIP
Con"sta*bleship, n.
Defn: The office or functions of a constable.
CONSTABLESS
Con"sta*bless, n.
Defn: The wife of a constable. [Obs.]
CONSTABLEWICK
Con"sta*ble*wick`, n. Etym: [Constable + wick a village]
Defn: The district to which a constable's power is limited. [Obs.]
Sir M. Hale.
CONSTABULARY
Con*stab"u*la*ry, a. Etym: [LL. constabularius an equerry. See
Constable.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to constables; consisting of constables.
CONSTABULARY
Con*stab"u*la*ry, n.
Defn: The collective body of constables in any town, district, or
country.
CONSTABULATORY
Con*stab"u*la*to*ry, n.
Defn: A constabulary. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.
CONSTANCY
Con"stan*cy, n. Etym: [L. constantia: cf. F. constance. See
Constant.]
1. The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from
hange; stability; fixedness; immutabilitu; asm the constancy of God
in his nature and attributes.
2. Fixedness or firmness of mind; persevering resolution; especially,
firmness of mind under sufferings, steadiness in attashments, or
perseverance in enterprise; stability; fidelity.
A fellow of plain unoined constancy. Shak.
Constancy and contempt of danger. Prescott.
Syn.
-- Fixedness; stability; firmness; steadiness; permanence;
steadfastness; resolution. See Firmness.
CONSTANT
Con"stant, a. Etym: [L. onstans, -antis, p.pr. of constare to stand
firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf.F. constant. See
Stand and f. Cost, v. t.]
1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; -- opposed to fluid. [Obs.]
If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a
constant body. Boyle.
2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous;
continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle.
Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. Sir P.
Sidney.
I am constant to my purposes. Shak.
His gifts, his constant ourtship, nothing gained. Dryden.
Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow.
3. (Math. & Physics)
Defn: Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, forc, law,
etc.
4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable;
perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined.
-- Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in
an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in
its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or
purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing"
fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly
called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with
continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes, a
thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of
continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its
absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as,
perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically,
and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance;
perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.
CONSTANT
Con"stant, n.
1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A quantity that does not change its value; -- used in
countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose
value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, as the number 10,
or any numeral.
-- Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential
equation having the same value during all changes in the values of
the variables.
CONSTANTIA
Con*stan"ti*a ( or , n.
Defn: A superior wine, white and red, from Constantia, in Cape
Colony.
CONSTANTLY
Con"stant*ly, adv.
Defn: With constancy; steadily; continually; perseveringly; without
cessation; uniformly.
But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Acts. xii. 15.
CONSTAT
Con"stat, n. Etym: [L., it is evident.] (Law)
Defn: A certificate showing what appears upon record touching a
matter in question.
CONSTATE
Con*state", v. t. Etym: [F. constater; L. con- + stare to stand.]
Defn: To ascertain; to verify; to establish; to prove. F. P. Cobbe.
CONSTELLATE
Con"stel*late ( or , v. i. Etym: [Pref. con- + L. stellatus, p.p. of
stellare to cover with stars, stella star. See Stellate.]
Defn: To join luster; to shine with united radiance, or one general
light. [R.]
The several things which engage our affections . . . shine forth and
constellate in God. Boule.
CONSTELLATE
Con"stel*late, v. t.
1. To unite in one luster or radiane, as stars. [R.]
Whe know how to constellate these lights. Boyle.
2. To set or adorn with stars or constellations; as, constellated
heavens. J. Barlow.
CONSTELLATION
Con`stel*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. constellation, L. constellatio.]
1. A cluster or group of fixed stars, or dvision of the heavens,
designated in most cases by the name of some animal, or of some
mythologial personage, within whose imaginary outline, as traced upon
the heavens, the group is included.
The constellations seem to have been almost purposely named and
delineated to cause as much confusion and inconvenience as possible.
Sir J. Herschel.
Note: In each of the constellations now recognized by astronomers
(about 90 in number) the brightest stars, both named and unnamed are
designated nearly in the order of brilliancy by the letters of the
Greek alphabet; as,
2. An assemblage of splendors or excellences.
The constellations of genius had already begun to show itself . . .
which was to shed a glory over the meridian and close of Philip's
reign. Prescott.
3. Fortune; fate; destiny. [Obs.]
It is constellation, which causeth all that a man doeth. Gower.
CONSTERNATION
Con`ster*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consternatio, fr. consternare to
overome, perplex, an accessory form of consternere to trow down,
prostrate; con + sternere to spread out, throw down: cf. F.
consternation. See Straum.]
Defn: Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and
incapacitates for refletion; terror, combined with amaxement; dismay.
The chiefs around, In silence wrapped, in onsternation downed. Attend
the stern reply. Pope.
Syn.
-- Alarm; fright; amazement; astonishment; surprise; panic;
returbation. See Alarm.
CONSTIPATE
Con"sti*pate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constipated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constipating.] Etym: [L. constipatus, p.p. of constipare; con- +
stipare to crowd together. See Costive.]
1. To crowd or cram into a narrow compass; to press together or
condense. [Obs.]
Of cold the property is to condense and constipate. Bacon.
2. To stop (a channel) by filling it, and preventing passage through
it; as, to constipate the capillary vessels.
3. (Med.)
Defn: To render costive; to cause constipation in.
CONSTIPATION
Con`sti*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. constipatio a crowding together: cf.F.
constipation.]
1. Act of crowding anything into a less compass, or the state of
being crowded or pressed together; condensation. [Obs.]
Fullness of matter, or a pretty close constipation . . . of its
particles. Boyle.
2. A state of the bowels in which the evacuations are infrequent and
difficult, or the intestines become filled with hardened faces;
costiveness.
CONSTITUENCY
Con*stit"u*en*cy, n.; pl. Constituencies (.
Defn: A body of constituents, as the body of citizens or voters in a
representative district.
CONSTITUENT
Con*stit"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. constituens, -entis, p.pr. See
Constitute.]
1. Serving to form, compose, or make up; elemental; component.
Body, soul, and reason are the three parts necessarily constituent of
a man. Dryden.
2. Having the power of electing or appointing.
A question of right arises between the constituent and representative
body. Junius.
CONSTITUENT
Con*stit"u*ent, n.
1. The person or thing which constitutes, determines, or constructs.
Their first composure and origination require a higher and nobler
constituent than chance. Sir M. Hale
2. That which constitutes or composes, as a part, or an essential
part; a component; an element.
We know how to bring these constituents together, and to cause them
to form water. Tyndall.
3. One for whom another acts; especially, one who is represented by
another in a legislative assembly; -- correlative to representative.
The electors in the district of a representative in Congress, or in
the legislature of a State, are termed his constituents. Abbot.
To appeal from the representatives to the constituents. Macaulay.
4. (Law)
Defn: A person who appoints another to act for him as attorney in
fact. Burrill.
CONSTITUTE
Con"sti*tute, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constituted; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constituting.] Etym: [L. constitutus, p.p. of constiture to
constitute; con- + statuere to place, set, fr. status station, fr.
stare to stand. See Stand.]
1. To cause to stand; to establish; to enact.
Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority. Jer. Taylor.
2. To make up; to compose; to form.
Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies
destruction. Johnson.
3. To appoint, depute, or elect to an offie; to make and empower.
Me didst Thou constitute a priest of thine. Wordsworth.
Constituted authorities, the officers of government, collectively, as
of a nation, city, town, etc. Bartlett.
CONSTITUTE
Con"sti*tute, n.
Defn: An established law. [Obs.] T. Preston.
CONSTITUTER
Con"sti*tu`ter, n.
Defn: One who constitutes or appoints.
CONSTITUTION
Con`sti*tu"tion, n. Etym: [F. constitution, L. constitute.]
1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting,
establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.
2. The state of being; that form of being, or structure and
connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or
body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation.
The physical constitution of the sun. Sir J. Herschel.
3. The agregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the
aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with refernce to
ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust
constitution.
Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries
of the oid world. Story.
4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament.
He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from
his constitution. Clarendon.
5. The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men,
embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and
usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument
embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and
principles for the conduct of affairs.
Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not
much accustomed to frame exact definitions. Macaulay.
Note: In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be modified
from time to time by act of Parliament. In the United States a
constitution cannot ordinarily be modified, exept through such
processes as the constitution itself ordains.
6. An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially,
one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine
or disipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian.
The positive constutions of our own churches. Hooker.
A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of
Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates. George Long.
Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic.
CONSTITUTIONAL
Con`sti*tu"tion*al, a. Etym: [f. F. constitutionnel.]
1. Belonging to, or inherent in, the constitution, or in the
structure of body or mind; as, a constitutional infirmity;
constitutional ardor or dullness.
2. In accordance with, or authorized by, the constitution of a state
or a society; as, constitutional reforms.
3. Regulated by, dependent on, or secured by, a constitution; as,
constitutional government; constitutional rights. Hallam.
4. Relating to a constitution, or establishment form of government;
as, a constitutional risis.
The anient constitutional traditions of the state. Macaulay.
5. For the benefit or one's constitution or health; as, a
constitutional walk. [Colloq.] Constitutional law, law that relates
to the constitution, as a permanent system of political and juridical
government, as distinguished from statutory and common law, which
relate to matters subordinate to such constitution.
CONSTITUTIONAL
Con`sti*tu"tion*al, n.
Defn: A walk or other exercise taken for one's health or
constitution. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
The men trudged diurnal constitutionals along the different roads.
Compton Reade.
CONSTITUTIONALISM
Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ism, n.
Defn: The theory, principles, or authority of constitutional
government; attachment or adherene to a constitution or
constitutional government. Carlyle.
CONSTITUTIONALIST
Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates a constitutional form of government; a
constitutionalist.
CONSTITUTIONALITY
Con`sti*tu`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [f. F.
constitutionalité.]
1. The quality or state of being constitutional, or inherent in the
natural frame.
2. The state of being consistent with the constitution or frame of
government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke.
Constitutionalities, bottomless cavilings and questionings about
written laws. Carlyle.
CONSTITUTIONALLY
Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ly, adv.
1. In accordance with the constitution or natural disposition of the
mind or body; naturally; as, he was constitutionally timid.
The English were constitutionally humane. Hallam.
2. In accordance with the constitution or fundamental law; legally;
as, he was not constitutionally appointed.
Nothing would indue them to acknowledge that [such] an assembly . . .
was constitutionally a Parliament. Macaulay.
CONSTITUTIONIST
Con`sti*tu"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who adheres to the constitution of the country.
Bolingbroke.
CONSTITUTIVE
Con"sti*tu`tive, a.
1. Tending or assisting to constitute or compose; elemental;
essential.
An ingredient and constitutive part of every virtue. Barrow.
2. Having power to enact, establish, or create; instituting;
determining. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONSTITUTIVELY
Con"sti*tu`tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a constitutive manner.
CONSTRAIN
Con*strain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constrained; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constraining.] Etym: [OF. constraindre, F. contrainde, L.
constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain, and. cf.
Constrict, Conbstringere.]
1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or con
He binds in hains The droway prophet, and his limbs constrains.
Dryden.
When winter frosts constrain the fields with old. Dryden.
2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress.
How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay.
3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress.
My sire in caves constrains the winds. Dryden.
4. To compel; to force; to necessiate; to oblige.
The love of Christ constraineth us. 2. Cor. v. 14.
I was constrained to appeal unto CActs xxviii. 19.
5. To violate; to ravish. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effet; as, a
constrained voice.
Syn.
-- To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.
CONSTRAINABLE
Con*strain"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. constraignable, F.
contraignable.]
Defn: Capable of being constrained; liable to constraint, or to
restraint. Hooker.
CONSTRAINED
Con*strained", a.
Defn: Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as,
a constrained manner; a constrained tone.
CONSTRAINEDLY
Con*strain"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By constraint or compulsion; in a constrained manner. Hooker.
CONSTRAINER
Con*strain"er, n.
Defn: One who constrains.
CONSTRAINT
Con*straint", n. Etym: [OF. constrainte, F. constrainte.]
Defn: The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained;
that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion;
restraint; necessity.
Long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser.
Not by constraint, but bDryden.
Syn.
-- Compulsion; violence; necessity; urgency.
-- Constraint, Compulsion. Constraint implies strong binding force;
as, the constraint of necessity; the constraint of fear. Compulsion
implies the exertion of some urgent impelling force; as, driven by
compulsion. The former prevents us from acting agreeably to our
wishes; the latter forces us to act contrary to our will. Compulsion
is always produced by some active agent; a constraint may be laid
upon us by the forms of civil society, or by other outward
circumstances. Crabb.
CONSTRAINTIVE
Con*straint"ive, a.
Defn: Constraining; compulsory. [R.] "Any constraintive vow." R.
Carew.
CONSTRICT
Con*strict", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constricted; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constricting.] Etym: [L. constrictus, p.p. of constringere. See
Constrain.]
Defn: To draw together; to render narrower or smaller; to bind; to
cramp; to contract or ause to shrink.
Such things as constrict the fibers. Arbuthnot.
Membranous organs inclosing a cavity which their contraction
constrict. Todd & Bowman.
CONSTRICTED
Con*strict"ed, a.
1. Drawn together; bound; contracted; cramped.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Contracted or compressed so as to be smaller in certain places
or parts than in others.
CONSTRICTION
Con*stric"tion, n. Etym: [L. constrictio: cf. F. constriction.]
1. The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by
movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from
compression.
2. The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is
constricted; a narrowing or binding.
A constriction of the parts inservient to speech. Grew.
CONSTRICTIVE
Con*strict"ive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to bind or constrict.
CONSTRICTOR
Con*strict"or, n.
1. That which constricts, draws together, or contracts.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which contracts or closes an orifice, or which
compresses an organ; a sphincter.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with
its folds; as, the boa constrictor.
CONSTRINGE
Con*stringe", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constringed; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constringing.] Etym: [L. constringere. See onstrain.]
Defn: To dawn together; to contract; to force to contract itself; to
constrict; to cause to shrink. [R.]
Strong liquors . . . intoxicate, constringe, harden the fibers, and
coagulate the fluids. Arbuthnot.
CONSTRINGENT
Con*strin"gent, a. Etym: [L. constringens, p.pr.]
Defn: Having the quality of contracting, binding, or compressing.
Thomson.
CONSTRUCT
Con*struct", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constructed; p.pr. & vb.n.
Constructing.] Etym: [L. constructus, p.p. of construere to bring
together, to construct; con- + struere to pile up, set in order. See
Structure, and cf. Construe.]
1. To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their
proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct
an edlifice.
2. To devise; to invent; to set in order; to arrange; as, to
construct a theory of ethics.
Syn.
-- To build; erect; form; compile; make; fabricate; originate;
invent.
CONSTRUCT
Con"struct, a.
Defn: Formed by, or relating to, construction, interpretation, or
inference. Construct form or state (Heb. Gram.), that of a noun used
before another which has the genitive relation to it.
CONSTRUCTER
Con*struct"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, constructs or frames.
CONSTRUCTION
Con*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. constructio: cf. F. construction.]
1. The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection;
the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.
2. The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of
anything; structure; arrangement.
An astrolabe of peculiar construction. Whewell.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence;
syntactical arrangement.
Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a
whole sentence contained in them. Locke.
4. The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a
declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding;
explanation; interpretation; sense.
Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put
on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason. Hallam.
Strictly, the term [construction] signifies determining the meaning
and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject
matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words
employed. Abbott.
Interpretation properly precedes construction, but it does not go
beyond the written text. Parsons.
Construction of an equation (Math.), the drawing of such lines and
figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the
equation, and their relations to each other.
-- Construction train (Railroad), a train for transporting men and
materials for construction or repairs.
CONSTRUCTIONAL
Con*struc"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or deduced from, construction or interpretation.
CONSTRUCTIONIST
Con*struc"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who puts a certain construction upon some writing or
instrument, as the Constitutions of the United States; as, a strict
constructionist; a broad constructionist.
CONSTRUCTIVE
Con*struct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. constructif.]
1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as,
to exhibit constructive power.
The constructive fingers of Watts. Emerson.
2. Derived from, or depending on, construction or interpretation; not
directly expressed, but inferred. Constructive crimes (Law), acts
having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law
crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer
recognized by the courts.
-- Constructive notice, notice imputed by construction of law.
-- Constructive trust, a trust which may be assumed to exist, though
no actual mention of it be made.
CONSTRUCTIVELY
Con*struct"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a constructive manner; by construction or inference.
A neutral must have notice of a blockade, either actually by a formal
information, or constructively by notice to his government. Kent.
CONSTRUCTIVENESS
Con*struct"ive*ness, n.
1. Tendency or ability to form or construct.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty which enables one to construct, as in mechanical,
artistic, or literary matters.
CONSTRUCTOR
Con*struct"or, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. constructor.]
Defn: A constructer.
CONSTRUCTURE
Con*struc"ture, n.
Defn: That which is constructed or formed; an edifice; a fabric.
[Obs.]
CONSTRUE
Con*strue (; Archaic ), v. t. [imp & p. p. Construed; p. pr & vb. n.
Construing.] Etym: [L. construere: cf. F. construire. See Construct.]
1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to
exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection of, or to discover
the sense; to explain the construction of; to interpret; to
translate.
2. To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or intention of;
to interpret; to understand.
Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words to free
ourselves either from the ignorance or malice of our enemies. Bp.
Stilingfleet.
And to be dull was construed to be good. Pope.
CONSTUPRATE
Con"stu*prate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Construprated; p.p. & vb.n.
Constuprating.] Etym: [L. constupratus, p.p. of constuprare to
ravish; con- + stuprare to ravish, stuprum rape.]
Defn: To ravish; to debauch. Burton.
CONSTUPRATION
Con`stu*pra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of ravishing; violation; defilement. Bp. Hall.
CONSUBSTANTIAL
Con`sub*stan"tial, a. Etym: [L. consubstantialis; con- +
substantialis: cf. F. consubstantiel. See Substantial.]
Defn: Of the same kind or nature; having the same substance or
essence; coessential.
Christ Jesus . . . coeternal and consubstantial with the Father and
with the Holy Ghost. Foxe.
CONSUBSTANTIALISM
Con`sub*stan"tial*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine of consubstantiation.
CONSUBSTANTIALIST
Con`sub*stan"tial*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.
CONSUBSTANTIALITY
Con`sub*stan"ti*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consubstantialité.]
Defn: Participation of the same nature; coexistence in the same
substance. "His [the Son's] . . . consubstantiality with the Father."
Hammend.
CONSUBSTANTIALLY
Con`sub*stan"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consubstantial manner; with identity of substance or
nature.
CONSUBSTANTIATE
Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consubstantiated; p.pr & vb.
n. Consubstantiating.]
Defn: To cause to unite, or to regard as united, in one common
substance or nature. [R.]
His soul must be consubstantiated with reason. Jer. Taylor.
CONSUBSTANTIATE
Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. i.
Defn: To profess or belive the doctrine of consubstantion.
The consubstantiating church and priest. Dryden.
CONSUBSTANTIATE
Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, a.
Defn: Partaking of the same substance; united; consubstantial.
We must love her [the wife] that is thus consubstantiate with us.
Feltham.
CONSUBSTANTIATION
Con`sub*stan`ti*a"tion, n.
1. An identity or union of substance.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: The actual, substantial presence of the body of Christ with the
bread and wine of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; impanation; --
opposed to transubstantiation.
Note: This view, held by Luther himself, was called consubstantiation
by non Lutheran writers in contradistinction to transsubstantiation,
the Catholic view.
CONSUETUDE
Con"sue*tude (; 144), n. Etym: [L. consuetudo. See Custom.]
Defn: Custom, habit; usage. [R.]
To observe this consuetude or law. Barnes
.
CONSUETUDINAL
Con`sue*tu"di*nal, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinalis.]
Defn: According to custom; customary; usual. [R.]
CONSUETUDINARY
Con`sue*tu"di*na"ry, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinarius.]
Defn: Customary.
CONSUETUDINARY
Con`sue*tu"di*na*ry, n.; pl. Consuetudinaries (.
Defn: A manual or ritual of customary devotional exercises.
CONSUL
Con"sul, n. Etym: [L., prob. fr. consulere to deliberate. See
Consult.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: One of the two chief magistrates of the republic.
Note: They were chosen annually, originally from the patricians only,
but later from the plebeians also.
2. A senator; a counselor. [Obs.]
Many of the consuls, raised and met, Are at the duke's already. Shak.
With kings and consuls of the earth. Job. iii. 14 (Douay Ver. )
3. (Fr. Hist.)
Defn: One of the three chief magistrates of France from 1799 to 1804,
who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.
4. An official comissioned to reside in some foreign country, to care
for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing
government, and to protect its seamen. Consul general, a consul of
the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having
jurisdiction in several places or over several consula.
-- Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul
during the consul's absence or after he has been relieved.
CONSULAGE
Con"sul*age, n. (Com.)
Defn: A duty or tax paid by merchants for the protection of their
connerce by means of a consul in a foreign place.
CONSULAR
Con"su*lar, a. Etym: [L. consularis; cf. F. consulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a consul; performing the duties of a
consul; as, consular power; consular dignity; consular officers.
CONSULARY
Con"su*la"ry, a.
Defn: Consular. [Obs.] Holland.
CONSULATE
Con"su*late, n. Etym: [L. consulatus: cf. F. consulat.]
1. The office of a consul. Addison.
2. The jurisdiction or residence of a consul. Kent.
3. Consular government; term of office of a consul.
CONSULSHIP
Con"sul*ship, n.
1. The office of a consul; consulate.
2. The term of office of a consul.
CONSULT
Con*sult", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consulted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consulting.]
Etym: [L. consultare, fr. consulere to consult: cf. f. consulter. Cf.
Counsel.]
Defn: To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take consel; to
deliberate together; to confer.
Let us consult upon to-morrow's business. Shak.
All the laws of England have been made by the kings England,
consulting with the nobility and commons. Hobbes.
CONSULT
Con*sult", v. t.
1. To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for
information or instruction; to refer to; as, to consult a physician;
to consult a dictionary.
Men fergot, or feared, to consult . . . ; they were content to
consult liberaries. Whewell.
2. To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to
consider; as, to consult one's wishes.
We are . . . to consult the necessities of life, rather than matters
of ornament and delight. L'Estrange.
3. To deliberate upon; to take for. [Obs.]
Manythings were there consulted for the future, yet nothing was
positively resolved. Clarendon.
4. To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive.
[Obs.]
Thou hast consulted shame to thy Hab. ii. 10.
CONSULT
Con*sult" ( or ), n.
1. The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation; also, the
result of consulation; determination; decision. [Obs.]
The council broke; And all grave consults dissolved in smoke. Dryden.
2. A council; a meeting for consultation. [Obs.] "A consult of
coquettes." Swift.
3. Agreement; concert [Obs.] Dryden.
CONSULTARY
Con*sult"a*ry, a.
Defn: Formed by consultation; resulting from conference. Consultary
response (Law), the opinion of a court on a special case. Wharton.
CONSULTATION
Con`sul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. consultatio: cf. F. consultation.]
1. The act of consulting or conferring; deliberation of two or more
persons on some matter, with a view to a decision.
Thus they doubtful consultations dark Ended. Milton.
2. A council or conference, as of physicians, held to consider a
special case, or of lawyers restained in a cause. Writ of
consultation (Law), a writ by which a cause, improperly removed by
prohibition from one court to another, is returned to the court from
which it came; -- so called because the judges, on consultation, find
the prohibition ill-founded.
CONSULTATIVE
Con*sult"a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to consultation; having the privilege or right of
conference. "A consultative . . . power." Abp. Bramhall.
CONSULTATORY
Con*sult"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Formed by, or resulting from, consultation; advisory. Bancroft.
CONSULTER
Con*sult"er, n.
Defn: One who consults, or asks counsel or information.
CONSULTING
Con*sult"ing, a.
Defn: That consults. Consulting physician (Med.), a physician who
consults with the attending practitioner regarding any case of
disease.
CONSULTIVE
Con*sult"ive, a.
Defn: Determined by, or pertaining to, consultation; deliberate;
consultative.
He that remains in the grace of God sins not by any deliberative,
consultive, knowing act. Jer. Taylor.
CONSUMABLE
Con*sum"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being consumed; that may be destroyed, dissipated,
wasted, or spent. "Consumable commodities." Locke.
CONSUME
Con*sume", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consumed; p.pr. & vb.n. Consuming.]
Etym: [L. consumere to take wholly or complectely, to consume; con- +
sumere to take; sub + emere to buv. See Redeem.]
Defn: To destroy, as by decomposition, dissipation, waste, or fire;
to use up; to expend; to waste; to burn up; to eat up; to devour.
If he were putting to my house the brand That shall consume it. Shak.
Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth consume. Matt. vi. 20 (Rev. Ver. ).
Let me alone . . . that I may consume them. Ex. xxxii. 10.
Syn.
-- To destroy; swallow up; ingulf; absorb; waste; exhaust; spend;
expend; squander; lavish; dissipate.
CONSUME
Con*sume", v. i.
Defn: To waste away slowly.
Therefore, let Renedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs.
Shak.
CONSUMEDLY
Con*sum"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Excessively. [Low]
He's so consumedly pround of it. Thackeray.
CONSUMER
Con*sum"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer of food.
CONSUMER'S GOODS
Con*sum"er's goods. (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: Economic goods that directly satisfy human wants or desires,
such as food, clothes, pictures, etc.; -- called also consumption
goods, or goods of the first order, and opposed to producer's goods.
CONSUMER'S SURPLUS
Consumer's surplus. (Polit. econ.)
Defn: The excess that a purchaser would be willing to pay for a
commodity over that he does pay, rather than go without the
commodity; -- called also consumer's rent.
The price which a person pays for a thing can never exceed, and
seldom comes up to, that which he would be willing to pay rather than
go without it. . . . The excess of the price which he would be
willing to pay rather than go without it, over that which he actually
does pay, is the economic measure of this surplus satisfaction. It
has some analogies to a rent; but is perhaps best called simply
consumer's surplus.
Alfred Marshall.
CONSUMINGLY
Con*sum"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consuming manner.
CONSUMMATE
Con*sum"mate, a. Etym: [L. consummatus, p.p. or consummare to
accomplish, sum up; con- + summa sum. See Sum.]
Defn: Carried to the utmost extent or degree; of the highest quality;
complete; perfect. "A man of perfect and consummate virtue." Addison.
The little band held the post with consummate tenacity. Motley
CONSUMMATE
Con"sum*mate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consummated; p. pr & vb. n.
Consummating.]
Defn: To bring to completion; to raise to the highest point or
degree; to complete; to finish; to perfect; to achieve.
To consummate this business happily. Shak.
CONSUMMATELY
Con*sum"mate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a consummate manner; completely. T. Warton.
CONSUMMATION
Con`sum*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. consummatio.]
Defn: The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated;
completed; completion; perfection; termination; end (as of the world
or of life).
"Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.
From its original to its consummation. Addison.
Quiet consummation have, And renownShak.
Consummation of marrige, completion of the connubial relation by
actual cohabition.
CONSUMMATIVE
Con*sum"ma*tive, a.
Defn: Serving to consummate; completing. "The final, the consummative
procedure of philosophy." Sir W. Hamilton.
CONSUMPTION
Con*sump"tion, n.. Etym: [L. consumptio: cf. F. consomption.]
1. The act or process of consuming by use, waste, etc.; decay;
destruction.
Every new advance of the price to the consumer is a new incentive to
him to retrench the quality of his consumption. Burke.
2. The state or process of being consumed, wasted, or diminished;
waste; diminution; loss; decay.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A progressive wasting away of the body; esp., that form of
wasting, attendant upon pulmonary phthisis and associated with cough,
spitting of blood, hectic fever, etc.; pulmonary phthisis; -- called
also pulmonary consumption. Consumption of the bowels (Med.),
inflammation and ulceration of the intestines from tubercular
disease.
Syn.
-- Decline; waste; decay. See Decline.
CONSUMPTIVE
Con*sump"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consomptif.]
1. Of or pertaining to consumption; having the quality of consuming,
or dissipating; destructive; wasting.
It [prayer] is not consumptive or our time. Sharp.
A long consumptive war. Addison.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Affected with, or inclined to, consumption.
The lean, consumptive wench, with coughs decayed. Dryden.
CONSUMPTIVE
Con*sump"tive, n.
Defn: One affected with consumption; as, a resort for consumptives.
CONSUMPTIVELY
Con*sump"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a way tending to or indication consumption. Beddoes.
CONSUMPTIVENESS
Con*sump"tive*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being consumptive, or a tendency to a consumption.
CONTABESCENT
Con`ta*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. contabescenc, p.pr. of contabescere.]
Defn: Wasting away gradually. Darwin. - Con*ta*bes"cence, n.
CONTACT
Con"tact, n. Etym: [L. contactus, fr. contingere, -tactum, to touch
on all sides. See Contingent.]
1. A close union or junction of bodies; a touching or meeting.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: The property of two curves, or surfaces, which meet, and at the
point of meeting have a common direction.
3. (Mining)
Defn: The plane between two adjacent bodies of dissimilar rock.
Raymond. Contact level, a delicate level so pivoted as to tilt when
two parts of a measuring apparatus come into contact with each other;
-- used in precise determinations of lengths and in the accurate
graduation of instruments.
CONTACTION
Con*tac"tion, n.
Defn: Act of touching. [Obs.]
CONTAGION
Con*ta"gion, n. Etym: [L. contagio: cf. F. contagion. See Contact.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: The transmission of a disease from one person to another, by
direct or indirect contact.
Note: The term has been applied by some to the action of miasmata
arising from dead animal or vegetable matter, bogs, fens, etc., but
in this sense it is now abandoned. Dunglison.
And will he steal out of his wholesome bed To dare the vile contagion
of the night Shak.
2. That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit disease; a
virus produced by, or exhalation proceeding from, a diseased person,
and capable of reproducing the disease.
3. The act or means of communicating any influence to the mind or
heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm. "The contagion of example."
Eikon Basilike.
When lust . . . Lets in defilement to the inward parts, The soul
grows clotted by contagion. Milton.
4. Venom; poison. [Obs.] "I'll touch my point with this contagion."
Shak.
Syn.
-- See Infection.
CONTAGIONED
Con*ta"gioned, a.
Defn: Affected by contagion.
CONTAGIONIST
Con*ta"gion*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in the contagious character of certain
diseases, as of yellow fever.
CONTAGIOUS
Con*ta"gious, a. Etym: [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation;
catching; as, a contagious disease.
2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as,
contagious air.
3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar
emotions or conduct in others.
His genius rendered his courage more contagious. Wirt.
The spirit of imitation is contagious. Ames.
Syn.
-- Contagious, Infectious. These words have been used in very
diverse senses; but, in general, a contagious disease has considered
as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath, by
bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some
entirely different cause acting by a hidden influence, like the
miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with
disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by
medical men, as to the literal meaning, of the words, certainly
applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the
contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad
example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission
by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by
bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some
hidden influence.
CONTAGIOUS DISEASE
Con*ta"gious dis*ease". (Med.)
Defn: A disease communicable by contact with a patient suffering from
it, or with some secretion of, or object touched by, such a patient.
Most such diseases have already been proved to be germ diseases, and
their communicability depends on the transmission of the living
germs. Many germ diseases are not contagious, some special method of
transmission or inoculation of the germs being required.
CONTAGIOUSLY
Con*ta"gious*ly, adv.
Defn: In a contagious manner.
CONTAGIOUSNESS
Con*ta"gious*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being contagious.
CONTAGIUM
Con*ta"gi*um, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Contagion; contagious matter. "Contagium of measles." Tyndall.
CONTAIN
Con*tain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contained; p.pr. & vb.n. Containing.]
Etym: [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, -
tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]
1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose;
to hold.
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how
much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18.
When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak.
What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton.
2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be
equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.
3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within
bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.]
The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions.
Spenser.
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak.
CONTAIN
Con*tain", v. i.
Defn: To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity.
But if they can not contain, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.
CONTAINABLE
Con*tain"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being contained or comprised. Boyle.
CONTAINANT
Con*tain"ant, n.
Defn: A container.
CONTAINER
Con*tain"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, contains.
CONTAINMENT
Con*tain"ment, n.
Defn: That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.]
The containment of a rich man's estate. Fuller.
CONTAMINABLE
Con*tam"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being contaminated.
CONTAMINATE
Con*tam"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contaminated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Contaminating.] Etym: [L. contaminatus, p.p. of contaminare to bring
into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen;
con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.]
Defn: To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to
taint; to pollute; to defile.
Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes Shak.
I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue
contaminated. Goldsmith.
Syn.
-- To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.
CONTAMINATE
Con*tam"i*nate, a.
Defn: Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink."
Daniel.
CONTAMINATION
Con*tam`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. contaminatio.]
Defn: The act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement;
taint; also, that which contaminates.
CONTAMITIVE
Con*tam"i*tive, a.
Defn: Tending or liable to contaminate.
CONTANGO
Con*tan"go, n.; pl. Contangoes. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of
contingent.]
1. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: The premium or interest paid by the buyer to the seller, to be
allowed to defer paying for the stock purchased until the next
fortnightly settlement day. [Eng.]
2. (Law)
Defn: The postponement of payment by the buyer of stock on the
payment of a premium to the seller. See Backwardation. N. Biddle.
CONTE
Conte, n.; pl. Contes (#). [F.]
Defn: A short narrative or tale, esp. one dealing with surprising or
marvelous events.
The conte (sic) is a tale something more than a sketch, it may be,
and something less than a short story. . . . The "Canterbury Tales"
are contes, most of them, if not all, and so are some of the "Tales
of a Wayside Inn."
Brander Matthews.
CONTECTION
Con*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. contegere, -tectum, to cover up.]
Defn: A covering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONTEK
Con"tek, n. Etym: [OE. conteck, conteke, contake, perh. a corruption
either of contact or contest.]
1. Quarrel; contention; contest. [Obs.]
Contek with bloody knife. Chaucer.
2
2
Defn: Contumely; reproach. [Obs.] Wyclif.
CONTEMN
Con*temn", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contemned; p.pr. & vb.n. Contemning (
or ).] Etym: [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight,
despise: cf. OF. contemner.]
Defn: To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to
reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.
Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. Milton.
One who contemned divine and human laws. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate;
overlook.
-- To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term,
and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are
deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to
regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is
stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still
stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an
abhorrence of what is base.
CONTEMNER
Con*tem"ner ( or ), n.
Defn: One who contemns; a despiser; a scorner. "Contemners of the
gods." South.
CONTEMNINGLY
Con*tem"ning*ly, adv.
Defn: Contemptuously. [R.]
CONTEMPER
Con*tem"per, v. t. Etym: [L. contemperare, -temperatum; con- +
temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate.]
Defn: To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to
soften. [Obs.]
The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and contempered its
malignancy. Johnson.
CONTEMPERATE
Con*tem"per*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Contemper.]
Defn: To temper; to moderate. [Obs.]
Moisten and contemperate the air. Sir T. Browne.
CONTEMPERATION
Con*tem`per*a"tion, n.
1. The act of tempering or moderating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. Proportionate mixture or combination. "Contemperation of light and
shade." Boyle.
CONTEMPERATURE
Con*tem"per*a*ture, n.
Defn: The condition of being tempered; proportionate mixture;
temperature. [Obs.]
The different contemperature of the elements. SDouth.
CONTEMPLANCE
Con*tem"plance, n.
Defn: Contemplation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CONTEMPLANT
Con*tem"plant, a. Etym: [L. contemplans, p.pr.]
Defn: Given to contemplation; meditative. [R.] Coleridge.
CONTEMPLATE
Con"tem*plate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Contemplated (# or #); p.pr & vb.
n. Contemplating.] Etym: [L. contemplatus, p.p. of contemplari to
contemplate; con- + templum a space for observation marked out by the
augur. See Temple.]
1. To look at on all sides or in all its bearings; to view or
consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to
meditate on; to study.
To love, at least contemplate and admire, What I see excellent.
Milton.
We thus dilate Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate.
Byron.
2. To consider or have in view, as contingent or probable; to look
forward to; to purpose; to intend.
There remain some particulars to complete the information
contemplated by those resolutions. A. Hamilton.
If a treaty contains any stipulations which contemplate a state of
future war. Kent.
Syn.
-- To view; behold; study; ponder; muse; meditate on; reflect on;
consider; intend; design; plan; propose; purpose. See Meditate.
CONTEMPLATE
Con"tem*plate, v. i.
Defn: To consider or think studiously; to ponder; to reflect; to
muse; to meditate.
So many hours must I contemplate. Shak.
CONTEMPLATION
Con`tem*pla"tion, n. Etym: [F. contemplation, L. contemplatio.]
1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued
attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing;
study.
In contemplation of created things, By steps we may ascend to God.
Milton.
Contemplation is keeping the idea which is brought into the mind for
some time actually in view. Locke.
2. Holy meditation. [Obs.]
To live in prayer and contemplation. Shak.
3. The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen;
expectation; the act of intending or purposing.
In contemplation of returning at an early date, he left. Reid.
To have in contemplation, to inted or purpose, or to have under
consideration.
CONTEMPLATIST
Con*tem"pla*tist, n.
Defn: A contemplator. [R.] I. Taylor.
CONTEMPLATIVE
Con*tem"pla*tive, a. Etym: [F. contemplatif, L. contemplativus.]
1. Pertaining to contemplation; addicted to, or employed in,
contemplation; meditative.
Fixed and contemplative their looks. Denham.
2. Having the power of contemplation; as, contemplative faculties.
Ray.
CONTEMPLATIVE
Con*tem"pla*tive, n. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A religious or either sex devoted to prayer and meditation,
rather than to active works of charity.
CONTEMPLATIVELY
Con*tem"pla*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: With contemplation; in a contemplative manner.
CONTEMPLATIVENESS
Con*tem"pla*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being contemplative; thoughtfulness.
CONTEMPLATOR
Con"tem*pla`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who contemplates. Sir T. Browne.
CONTEMPORANEITY
Con*tem`po*ra*ne"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being contemporaneous.
The lines of contemporaneity in the oölitic system. J. Philips.
CONTEMPORANEOUS
Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. contemporaneus; con- + tempus
time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]
Defn: Living, existing, or occurring at the same time; contemporary.
The great age of Jewish philosophy, that of Aben Esra, Maimonides,
and Kimchi, had been contemporaneous with the later Spanish school of
Arabic philosophy. Milman
- Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness, n.
CONTEMPORANEOUSLY
Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: At the same time with some other event.
CONTEMPORARINESS
Con*tem"po*ra*ri*ness, n.
Defn: Existence at the same time; contemporaneousness. Howell.
CONTEMPORARY
Con*tem"po*ra*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. con- + L. temporarius of belonging
to time, tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]
1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or
belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous.
This king [Henry VIII.] was contemporary with the greatest monarchs
of Europe. Strype.
2. Of the same age; coeval.
A grove born with himself he sees, And loves his old contemporary
trees. Cowley.
CONTEMPORARY
Con*tem"po*ra*ry, n.; pl. Contemporaries.
Defn: One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and
Chaucer were contemporaries.
CONTEMPT
Con*tempt", n. Etym: [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF.
contempt. See Contemn.]
1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one
regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain;
scorn.
Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay.
Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.
Addison.
2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame.
Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shaks.
3. An act or expression denoting contempt.
Little insults and contempts. Spectator.
The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of
justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly,
contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a
court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due
to its authority.
Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include
publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or
commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions
the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus
exercising this process.
Syn.
-- Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard;
slight.
CONTEMPTIBILITY
Con*tempt`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness. Speed.
CONTEMPTIBLE
Con*tempt"i*ble, a.
1. Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile;
despicable. Milton.
The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful.
Burke.
2. Despised; scorned; neglected; abject. Locke.
3. Insolent; scornful; contemptuous. [Obs.]
If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll
scorn it; for the man . . . hath a contemptible spirit. Shak.
Syn.
-- Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry;
pitiful; scurrile. See Contemptuous.
-- Contemptible, Despicable, Pitiful, Paltry. Despicable is stronger
than contemptible, as despise is stronger than contemn. It implies
keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is despicable
chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility,
baseness, or mean adulation. A man is contemptible for mean qualities
which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to
be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is despicable, egotism is
contemptible. Pitiful and paltry are applied to cases which are
beneath anger, and are simply contemptible in a high degree.
CONTEMPTIBLENESS
Con*tempt"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being
despised.
CONTEMPTIBLY
Con*tempt"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a contemptible manner.
CONTEMPTUOUS
Con*temp"tu*ous, a.
Defn: Manifecting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful;
haughty; insolent; disdainful.
A proud, contemptious behavior. Hammond.
Savage invectiveand contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay.
Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews.
Atterbury.
Syn.
-- Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting;
contumelious.
-- Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of
sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person
speaks of having "a very contemptible opinion of another."
Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as,
contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied
to that which indicates contempts; as, a contemptuous look; a
contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is
personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be
either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but
can not be contemptuous.
CONTEMPTUOUSLY
Con*temp"tu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully.
The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used
contemptuously. Jer. Taylor.
CONTEMPTUOUSNESS
Con*temp"tu*ous*ness, n.
Defn: Disposition to or manifestion of contempt; insolence;
haughtiness.
CONTEND
Con*tend", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Contended; p.pr. & vb.n. Contending.]
Etym: [OF. contendre, L. contendere, -tentum; con- + tendere to
strech. See Tend.]
1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to
quarrel; to fight.
For never two such kingdoms did content Without much fall of blood.
Shak.
The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend
with them in battle. Deut. ii. 9.
In ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valor. Shak.
2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of,
or to defend.
You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for what you only can
bestow. Dryden.
3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to
argue.
The question which our author would contend for. Locke.
Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Dr. H. More.
Syn.
-- To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose; emulate;
contest; litigate; dispute; debate.
CONTEND
Con*tend", v. t.
Defn: To struggle for; to contest. [R.]
Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.
CONTENDENT
Con*tend"ent, n. Etym: [L. contendens, p.pr.]
Defn: n antagonist; a contestant. [Obs.]
In all notable changes and revolutions the contendents have been
still made a prey to the third party. L'Estrange.
CONTENDER
Con*tend"er, n.
Defn: One who contends; a contestant.
CONTENDRESS
Con*tend"ress, n.
Defn: A female contestant. [R.]
CONTENEMENT
Con*ten"e*ment, n. Etym: [Pref. con- + tenemnt.] (Law)
Defn: That which is held together with another thing; that which is
connected with a tenetment, or thing holden, as a certin quantity of
land a Burrill.
CONTENT
Con*tent, a. Etym: [F. content, fr. L. contentus, p.p. of contenire
to hold together, restrain. See Contain.]
Defn: Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by
that which one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied;
contented; at rest.
Having food rainment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi. 8.
CONTENT
Con"tent ( or ; 277), n.; usually in pl., Contents.
1. That which is contained; the thing or things held by a receptacle
or included within specified limits; as, the contents of a cask or
bale or of a room; the contents of a book.
I shall prove these writings . . . authentic, and the contents true,
and worthy of a divine original. Grew.
2. Power of containing; capacity; extent; size. [Obs.]
Strong ship's, of great content. Bacon.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: Area or quantity of space or matter contained within certain
limits; as, solid contents; superficial contents.
The geometrical content, figure, and situation of all the lands of a
kingdom. Graunt.
Table of contents, or Contents, a table or list of topics in a book,
showing their order and the place where they may be found: a summary.
CONTENT
Con*tent", v. t. Etym: [F. contenter, LL. contentare, fr. L.
contentus, p.p. See Content, a.]
1. To satisfy the desires of; to make easy in any situation; to
appease or quiet; to gratify; to please.
Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where
clearer are to be attained. I. Watts.
Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them.
Mark xv. 15.
2. To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite.
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Shak.
Syn.
-- To satisfy; appease; plese. See Satiate.
CONTENT
Con*tent", n.
1. Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; freedom
from discontent; satisfaction; contentment; moderate happiness.
Such is the fullness of my heart's content. Shak.
2. Acquiescence without examination. [Obs.]
The sense they humbly take upon content. Pope.
3. That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would
make one happy.
So will I in England work your grace's full content. Shak.
4. (Eng. House of Lords)
Defn: An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmate vote;
also, a member who votes "Content.".
Supposing the number of "Contents" and "Not contents" strictly equal
in number and consequence.Burke.
CONTENTATION
Con`ten*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. contentatio.]
Defn: Content; satisfaction. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONTENTED
Con*tent"ed, a.
Defn: Content; easy in mind; satisfied; quiet; willing.
-- Con*tent"ed*ly, adv.
-- Con*tent"ed*ness, n.
CONTENTFUL
Con*tent"ful, a.
Defn: Full of content. [Obs.] Barrow.
CONTENTION
Con*ten"tion, n. Etym: [F. contention, L. contentio. See Contend.]
1. A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something;
contest; strife.
I would my arcontenion. Shak.
2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation quarrel; dispute; as, a
bone of contention.
Contentions and strivings about the law. Titus iii. 9.
3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal.
An end . . . worthy our utmost contenion to obtain. Rogers.
4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in
its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position
taken or contended for.
All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the
subject is to be divided and defined. Bagehot.
This was my original contention, and I still maintain that you should
abide by your former decision. Jowett.
Syn.
-- Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict; feud;
litigation; controversy; dissension; variance; disagreement; debate;
competition; emulation.
-- Contention, Strife. A struggle between two parties is the idea
common to these two words. Strife is a struggle for mastery;
contention is a struggle for the possession of some desired object,
or the accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the words is
necessairly used in a bad sense, since there may be a generous strife
or contention between two friends as to which shall incur danger or
submit to sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a
struggle arising from bad passions. In that case, strife usually
springs from a quarrelsome temper, and contention from, a selfish
spirit which seeks its own aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others
should obtain too such. Strife has more reference to the manner than
to the object of a struggle, while contention takes more account of
the end to be gained.
CONTENTIOUS
Con*ten"tious, a. Etym: [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.]
1. Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or
contention; quarrelsome.
Despotic and contentious temper. Macaulay.
2. Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by
contention. Spenser.
More cheerfull; though not less contentious, regions. Brougham.
3. (Law)
Defn: Contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide
controversy. Contentious jurisdiction (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction
over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to
voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or
controverted.
Syn.
-- Quarrelsome; pugnacious; dissentious; wrangling; litigious;
perverse; peevish. - Con*ten"tious*ly, adv.
-- Con*ten"tious*ness, n.
CONTENTLESS
Con*tent"less, a. Etym: [Content + -less.]
Defn: Discontented; dissatisfied. [R.] Shak.
CONTENTLY
Con*tent"ly, adv.
Defn: In a contented manner. [Obs.]
CONTENTMENT
Con*tent"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contentement. See Content, v. t.]
1. The state of being contented or satisfied; content.
Contentment without external honor is humility. Grew.
Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6.
2. The act or process of contenting or satisfying; as, the
contentment of avarice is impossible.
3. Gratification; pleasure; satisfaction. [Obs.]
At Paris the prince spent one whole day to give his mind some
contentment in viewing of a famous city. Sir H. Wotton.
CONTENTS
Con*tents ( or ; 277), n. pl.
Defn: See Content, n.
CONTERMINABLE
Con*ter"mi*na*ble, a.
Defn: Having the same bounds; terminating at the same time or place;
conterminous.
Love and life not conterminable. Sir H. Wotton.
CONTERMINAL
Con*ter"mi*nal, a. Etym: [LL. conterminalis.]
Defn: Conterminous.
CONTERMINANT
Con*ter"mi*nant, a.
Defn: Having the same limits; ending at the same time; conterminous.
Lamb.
CONTERMINATE
Con*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. conterminare to border upon, fr.
conterminus conterminous; con- + terminus border.]
Defn: Having the same bounds; conterminous. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
CONTERMINOUS
Con*ter"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. conterminus. Cf. Conterminous.]
Defn: Having the same bounds, or limits; bordering upon; contiguous.
This conformed so many of them as were conterminous to the colonies
and garrisons, to the Roman laws. Sir M. Hale.
CONTERRANEAN; CONTERRANEOUS
Con`ter*ra"ne*an, Con`ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. conterraneus; con-
+ terra country.]
Defn: Of or belonging to the same country. Howell.
CONTESSERATION
Con*tes`ser*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. contesseratio, from contesserare to
contract friendship by means of the tesserae (friendship tokens).]
Defn: An assemblage; a collection; harmonious union. [Obs.]
That person of his [George Herbert], which afforded so unusual a
contesseration of elegancies. Oley.
CONTEST
Con*test", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contested; p.pr. & vb.n. Contesting.]
Etym: [F. contester, fr. L. contestari to call to witness, contestari
litem to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, to bring an
action; con- + testari to be a witness, testic witness. See Testify.]
1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or
emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to
oppose; to dispute.
The people . . . contested not what was done. Locke.
Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few
more contested than this. J. D. Morell.
2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend;
as, the troops contested every inch of ground.
3. (Law)
Defn: To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to
dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert. To
contest an election. (Polit.) (a) To strive to be elected. (b) To
dispute the declared result of an election.
Syn.
-- To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue; contend.
CONTEST
Con*test", v. i.
Defn: To engage in contention, or emulation; to contend; to strive;
to vie; to emulate; -- followed usually by with.
The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with
in, when there are hopes of victory. Bp. Burnet.
Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest Pope.
CONTEST
Con"test, n.
1. Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate;
altercation.
Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language.
I. Watts.
2. Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.;
competition; emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter.
The late battle had, in effect, been a contest between one usurper
and another. Hallam.
It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and
fierce. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Conflict; combat; battle; encounter; shock; struggle; dispute;
altercation; debate; controvesy; difference; disagreement; strife.
-- Contest, Conflict, Combat, Encounter. Contest is the broadest
term, and had originally no reference to actual fighting. It was, on
the contrary, a legal term signifying to call witnesses, and hence
came to denote first a struggle in argument, and then a struggle for
some common object between opposing parties, usually one of
considerable duration, and implying successive stages or acts.
Conflict denotes literally a close personal engagement, in which
sense it is applied to actual fighting. It is, however, more commonly
used in a figurative sense to denote strenuous or direct opposition;
as, a mental conflict; conflicting interests or passions; a conflict
of laws. An encounter is a direct meeting face to face. Usually it is
a hostile meeting, and is then very nearly coincident with conflict;
as, an encounter of opposing hosts. Sometimes it is used in a looser
sense; as, "this keen encounter of our wits." Shak. Combat is
commonly applied to actual fighting, but may be used figuratively in
reference to a strife or words or a struggle of feeling.
CONTESTABLE
Con*test"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. contestable.]
Defn: Capable of being contested; debatable.
CONTESTANT
Con*test"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contestant.]
Defn: One who contests; an opponent; a litigant; a disputant; one who
claims that which has been awarded to another.
CONTESTATION
Con`tes*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. contestatio testimony: cf. F.
contestation a contesting.]
1. The act of contesting; emulation; rivalry; strife; dispute.
"Loverlike contestation." Milton.
After years spent in domestic, unsociable contestations, she found
means to withdraw. Clarendon.
2. Proof by witness; attestation; testimony. [Obs.]
A solemn contestation ratified on the part of God. Barrow.
CONTESTINGLY
Con*test"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a contending manner.
CONTEX
Con*tex, v. t.
Defn: To context. [Obs.] Boyle.
CONTEXT
Con*text", a. Etym: [L. contextus, p.p. of contexere to weave, to
unite; con- + texere to weave. See Text.]
Defn: Knit or woven together; close; firm. [Obs.]
The coats, without, are context and callous. Derham.
CONTEXT
Con"text, n. Etym: [L. contextus; cf. F. contexte .]
Defn: The part or parts of something written or printed, as of
Scripture, which precede or follow a text or quoted sentence, or are
so intimately associated with it as to throw light upon its meaning.
According to all the light that the contexts afford. Sharp.
CONTEXT
Con*text", v. t.
Defn: To knit or bind together; to unite closely. [Obs.] Feltham.
The whole world's frame, which is contexted only by commerce and
contracts. R. Junius.
CONTEXTURAL
Con*tex"tur*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to contexture or arrangement of parts; producing
contexture; interwoven. Dr. John Smith (1666).
CONTEXTURE
Con*tex"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contexture.]
Defn: The arrangement and union of the constituent parts of a thing;
a weaving together of parts; structural character of a thing; system;
constitution; texture.
That wonderful contexture of all created beings. Dryden.
He was not of any delicate contexture; his limbs rather sturdy than
dainty. Sir H. Wotton.
CONTEXTURED
Con*tex"tured, a.
Defn: Formed into texture; woven together; arranged; composed. [R.]
Carlyle.
CONTICENT
Con"ti*cent, a. Etym: [L. conticens, p.pr. of conticere; con- +
tacere to be silent.]
Defn: Silent. [R.] "The guests sit conticent." Thackeray.
CONTIGNATION
Con`tig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. contignatio, fr. contignare to join
with beams; con- + tignum beam.]
1. The act or process of framing together, or uniting, as beams in a
fabric. Burke.
2. A framework or fabric, as of beams. Sir H. Wotton.
CONTIGUATE
Con*tig"u*ate, a. Etym: [LL. contiguatus.]
Defn: Contiguous; touching. [Obs.] Holland.
CONTIGUITY
Con`ti*gu"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contiguit, LL. contiguitas.]
Defn: The state of being contiguous; intimate association; nearness;
proximity.
The convicinity and contiguity of the two parishes. T. Warton.
CONTIGUOUS
Con*tig"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. contiguus; akin to contigere to touch on
all sides. See Contingent.]
Defn: In actual contact; touching; also, adjacent; near; neighboring;
adjoining.
The two halves of the paper did not appear fully divided . . . but
seemed contiguous at one of their angles. Sir I. Newton.
Sees no contiguous palace rear its head. Goldsmith.
Contiguous angles. See Adjacent angles, under Angle.
Syn.
-- Adjoining; adjacent. See Adjacent. - Con*tig"u*ous*ly, adv.
-- Con*tig"u*ous*ness, n.
CONTINENCE; CONTINENCY
Con"ti*nence, Con"ti*nen*cy, n. Etym: [F. continence, L. continentia.
See Continent, and cf. Countenance.]
1. Self-restraint; self-command.
He knew what to say; he knew also, when to leave off, -- a continence
which is practiced by few writers. Dryden.
2. The restraint which a person imposes upon his desires and
passions; the act or power of refraining from indulgence of the
sexual appetite, esp. from unlawful indulgence; sometimes, moderation
in sexual indulgence.
If they [the unmarried and widows] have not continency, let them
marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9 (Rev. Ver. ).
Chastity is either abstinence or continence: abstinence is that of
virgins or widows; continence, that of married persons. Jer. Taylor.
3. Uninterrupted course; continuity. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
CONTINENT
Con"ti*nent, a. Etym: [L. continens, -entis, prop., p. pr. of
continere to hold together, to repress: cf. F. continent. See
Contain.]
1. Serving to restrain or limit; restraining; opposing. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Exercising restraint as to the indulgence of desires or passions;
temperate; moderate.
Have a continent forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower.
Shak.
3. Abstaining from sexual intercourse; exercising restraint upon the
sexual appetite; esp., abstaining from illicit sexual intercourse;
chaste.
My past life
Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
As I am now unhappy. Shak.
4. Not interrupted; connected; continuous; as, a continent fever.
[Obs.]
The northeast part of Asia is, if not continent with the west side of
America, yet certainly it is the least disoined by sea of all that
coast. Berrewood.
CONTINENT
Con"ti*nent, n. Etym: [L. continens, prop., a holding together: cf.
F. continent. See Continent, a.]
1. That which contains anything; a receptacle. [Obs.]
The smaller continent which we call a pipkin. Bp. Kennet.
2. One of the grand divisions of land on the globe; the main land;
specifically (Phys. Geog.), a large body of land differing from an
island, not merely in its size, but in its structure, which is that
of a large basin bordered by mountain chains; as, the continent of
North America.
Note: The continents are now usually regarded as six in number: North
America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. But
other large bodies of land are also reffered to as continents; as,
the Antarctic continent; the continent of Greenland. Europe, Asia,
and Africa are often grouped together as the Eastern Continent, and
North and South America as the Western Continent. The Continent, the
main land of Europe, as distinguished from the islands, especially
from England.
CONTINENTAL
Con`ti*nen"tal, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a continent.
2. Of or pertaining to the main land of Europe, in distinction from
the adjacent islands, especially England; as, a continental tour; a
continental coalition. Macaulay.
No former king had involved himself so frequently in the labyrinth of
continental alliances. Hallam.
3. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the confederated colonies collectively, in
the time of the Revolutionary War; as, Continental money.
The army before Boston was designated as the Continental army, in
contradistinction to that under General Gage, which was called the
"Ministerial army." W. Irving.
Continental Congress. See under Congress.
-- Continental system (Hist.), the blockade of Great Britain ordered
by Napoleon by the decree of Berlin, Nov. 21, 1806; the object being
to strike a blow at the maritime and commercial supremacy of Great
Britain, by cutting her off from all intercourse with the continent
of Europe.
CONTINENTAL
Con`ti*nen"tal, n. (Amer. Hist.)
Defn: A soldier in the Continental army, or a piece of the
Continental currency. See Continental, a., 3.
CONTINENTAL DRIVE
Con`ti*nen"tal drive. (Automobiles)
Defn: A transmission arrangement in which the longitudinal crank
shaft drives the rear wheels through a clutch, change-speed gear,
countershaft, and two parallel side chains, in order.
CONTINENTAL GLACIER
Continental glacier.
Defn: A broad ice sheet resting on a plain or plateau and spreading
outward from a central névé, or region of accumulation.
CONTINENTAL PRONUNCIATION
Continental pronunciation (of Latin and Greek.)
Defn: A method of pronouncing Latin and Greek in which the vowels
have their more familiar Continental values, as in German and
Italian, the consonants being pronounced mostly as in English. The
stricter form of this method of pronouncing Latin approaches the
Roman, the modified form the English, pronunciation. The Continental
method of Greek pronunciation is often called Erasmian.
CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
Continental system. (Hist.)
Defn: The system of commercial blockade aiming to exclude England
from commerce with the Continent instituted by the Berlin decree,
which Napoleon I. issued from Berlin Nov. 21, 1806, declaring the
British Isles to be in a state of blockade, and British subjects,
property, and merchandise subject to capture, and excluding British
ships from all parts of Europe under French dominion. The retaliatory
measures of England were followed by the Milan decree, issued by
Napoleon from Milan Dec. 17, 1807, imposing further restrictions, and
declaring every ship going to or from a port of England or her
colonies to be lawful prize.
CONTINENTLY
Con"ti*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a continent manner; chastely; moderately; temperately.
CONTINGENCE
Con*tin"gence, n.
Defn: See Contingency.
CONTINGENCY
Con*tin"gen*cy, n,; pl. Contingencies. Etym: [Cf. F. contingence.]
1. Union or connection; the state of touching or contact. "Point of
contingency." J. Gregory.
2. The quality or state of being contingent or casual; the
possibility of coming to pass.
Aristotle says we are not to build certain rules on the contingency
of human actions. South.
3. An event which may or may not occur; that which is possible or
probable; a fortuitous event; a chance.
The remarkable position of the queen rendering her death a most
important contingency. Hallam.
4. An adjunct or accessory. Wordsworth.
5. (Law)
Defn: A certain possible event that may or may not happen, by which,
when happening, some particular title may be affected.
Syn.
-- Casualty; accident; chance.
CONTINGENT
Con*tin"gent, a. Etym: [L. contingens, -entis, p.pr. of contingere to
touch on all sides, to happen; con- + tangere to touch: cf. F.
contingent. See Tangent, Tact.]
1. Possible, or liable, but not certain, to occur; incidental;
casual.
Weighing so much actual crime against so much contingent advantage.
Burke.
2. Dependent on that which is undetermined or unknown; as, the
success of his undertaking is contingent upon events which he can not
control. "Uncertain and contingent causes." Tillotson.
3. (Law)
Defn: Dependent for effect on something that may or may not occur;
as, a contingent estate.
If a contingent legacy be left to any one when he attains, or if he
attains, the age of twenty-one. Blackstone.
CONTINGENT
Con*tin"gent, n.
1. An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen,
undetermined, or dependent on something future; a contingency.
His understanding could almost pierce into future contingets. South.
2. That which falls to one in a division or apportionment among a
number; a suitable share; proportion; esp., a quota of troops.
From the Alps to the border of Flanders, contingents were required .
. . 200,000 men were in arms. Milman.
CONTINGENTLY
Con*tin"gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a contingent manner; without design or foresight;
accidentally.
CONTINGENTNESS
Con*tin"gent*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being contingent; fortuitousness.
CONTINUABLE
Con*tin"u*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being continued [R.]
CONTINUAL
Con*tin"u*al, a. Etym: [OE. continuel, F. continuel. See Continue.]
1. Proceeding without interruption or cesstaion; continuous;
unceasing; lasting; abiding.
He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. Prov. xv. 15.
2. Occuring in steady and rapid succession; very frequent; often
repeated.
The eye is deligh by a continental succession of small landscapes. W.
Irwing.
Continual proportionals (Math.), quantities in continued proportion.
Brande & C.
Syn.
-- Constant; prepetual; incessant; unceasing; uninterrupted;
unintermitted; continuous. See Constant, and Continuous.
CONTINUALLY
Con*tin"u*al*ly, adv.
1. Without cessation; unceasingly; continuously; as, the current
flows continually.
Why do not all animals continually increase in bigness Bentley.
2. In regular or repeated succession; very often.
Thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. 2 Sam. ix. 7.
CONTINUANCE
Con*tin"u*ance, n. Etym: [OF. continuance.]
1. A holding on, or remaining in a particular state; permanence, as
of condition, habits, abode, etc.; perseverance; constancy; duration;
stay.
Great plagues, and of long continuence. Deut. xxviii. 59.
Patient continuance i well-doing. Rom. ii. 7.
2. Uninterrupted succession; continuation; constant renewell;
perpetuation; propagation.
The brute immedistely regards his own preservation or the continuance
of his species. Addison.
3. A holding together; continuity. [Obs.] Bacon.
4. (Law)
(a) The adjournment of the proceedings in a cause from one day, or
from one stated term of a court, to another.
(b) The entry of such adjuornment and the grounds thereof on the
record.
CONTINUANT
Con*tin"u*ant, a.
Defn: Continuing; prolonged; sustained; as, a continuant sound.
-- n.
Defn: A continuant sound; a letter whose sound may be prolonged.
CONTINUATE
Con*tin"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. continuatus, p.p. See Continue.]
1. Immediately united together; intimately connocted. [R.]
We are of Him and in Him, even as though our very flesh and bones
should be made continuate with his. Hooker.
2. Uninterrupted; unbroken; continual; continued.
An untirable and continuate goodness. Shak.
CONTINUATION
Con*tin`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. continuatio: cf. F. connuation.]
1. That act or state of continuing; the state of being continued;
uninterrupted extension or succession; prolongation; propagation.
Preventing the continuation of the royal line. Macaulay.
2. That which extends, increases, supplements, or carries on; as, the
continuation of a story.
My continuation of the version of Statius. Pope.
CONTINUATIVE
Con*tin"u*a*tive, n. Etym: [Cf. F. continuatif.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: A term or expression denoting continuance. [R.]
To these may be added continuatives; as, Rome remains to this day;
which includes, at least, two propositions, viz., Rome was, and Rome
is. I. Watts.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A word that continues the connection of sentences or subjects;
a connective; a conjunction.
Continuatives . . . consolidate sentences into one continuous whole.
Harris.
CONTINUATOR
Con*tin"u*a`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. continuateur.]
Defn: One who, or that which, continues; esp., one who continues a
series or a work; a continuer. Sir T. Browne.
CONTINUE
Con*tin"ue, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Continued; p.pr. & vb.n. Continuing.]
Etym: [F. continuer, L. continuare, -tinuatum, to connect, continue,
fr. continuus. See Continuous, and cf. Continuate.]
1. To remain ina given place or condition; to remain in connection
with; to abide; to stay.
Here to continue, and build up here A growing empire. Milton.
They continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat. Matt.
xv. 32.
2. To be permanent or durable; to endure; to last.
But now thy kingdom shall not continue. 1 Sam. xiii. 14.
3. To be steadfast or constant in any course; to persevere; to abide;
to endure; to persist; to keep up or maintain a particular condition,
course, or series of actions; as, the army continued to advance.
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. John
viii. 31.
Syn.
-- To persevere; persist. See Persevere.
CONTINUE
Con*tin"ue, v. t.
1. To unite; to connect. [Obs.]
the use of the navel is to continue the infant unto the mother. Sir
T. browne.
2. To protract or extend in duration; to preserve or persist in; to
cease not.
O continue thy loving kindness unto them that know thee. Ps. xxxvi.
10.
You know how to make yourself happy by only continuing such a life as
you have been long acustomed to lead. Pope.
3. To carry onward or extend; to prolong or produce; to add to or
draw out in length.
A bridge of wond'rous length, From hell continued, reaching th'
utmost orb of this frall world. Milton.
4. To retain; to suffer or cause to remain; as, the trustees were
continued; also, to suffer to live.
And how shall we continue Claudio. Shak.
CONTINUED
Con*tin"ued, p.p. & a.
Defn: Having extension of time, space, order of events, exertion of
energy, etc.; extended; protacted; uninterrupted; also, resumed after
interruption; extending through a succession of issues, session,
etc.; as, a continued story. "Continued woe." Jenyns. "Continued
succession." Locke. Continued bass (Mus.), a bass continued through
an entire piece of music, while the other parts of the harmony are
indicated by figures beneath the bass; the same as thorough bass or
figured bass; basso continuo. [It.] -- Continued fever (Med.), a
fever which presents no interruption in its course.
-- Continued fraction (Math.), a fraction whose numerator is 1, and
whose denominator is a whole number plus a fraction whose numerator
is 1 and whose denominator is a whole number, plus a fraction, and so
on.
-- Continued proportion (Math.), a proportion composed of two or
more equal ratios, in which the consequent of each preceding ratio is
the same with the antecedent of the folowing one; as, 4 : 8 : 8 : 16
:: 16 : 32.
CONTINUEDLY
Con*tin"u*ed*ly ( or , adv.
Defn: Continuously.
CONTINUER
Con*tin"u*er, n.
Defn: One who continues; one who has the power of perseverance or
persistence. "Indulgent continuers in sin." Hammond.
I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a
continuer. Shak.
CONTINUITY
Con`ti*nu"i*ty, n.; pl. Continuities. Etym: [L. continuitas: cf. F.
continuit. See Continuous.]
Defn: the state of being continuous; uninterupted connection or
succession; close union of parts; cohesion; as, the continuity of
fibers. Grew.
The sight would be tired, if it were attracted by a continuity of
glittering objects. Dryden.
Law of continuity (Math. & Physics), the principle that nothing
passes from one state to another without passing through all the
intermediate states.
-- Solution of continuity. (Math.) See under Solution.
CONTINUO
Con*ti"nu*o ( or , n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Basso continuo, or continued bass.
CONTINUOUS
Con*tin"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. continuus, fr. continere to hold
together. See Continent.]
1. Without break, cessation, or interruption; without intervening
space or time; uninterrupted; unbroken; continual; unceasing;
constant; continued; protracted; extended; as, a continuous line of
railroad; a continuous current of electricity.
he can hear its continuous murmur. Longfellow.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Not deviating or varying from uninformity; not interrupted; not
joined or articulated. Continuous brake (Railroad), a brake which is
attached to each car a train, and can be caused to operate in all the
cars simultaneously from a point on any car or on the engine.
-- Continuous impost. See Impost.
Syn.
-- Continuous, Continual. Continuous is the stronger word, and
denotes that the continuity or union of parts is absolute and
uninterrupted; as, a continuous sheet of ice; a continuous flow of
water or of argument. So Daniel Webster speaks of "a continuous and
unbroken strain of the martial airs of England." Continual, in most
cases, marks a close and unbroken succession of things, rather than
absolute continuity. Thus we speak of continual showers, implying a
repetition with occasional interruptions; we speak of a person as
liable to continual calls, or as subject to continual applications
for aid, etc. See Constant.
CONTINUOUSLY
Con*tin"u*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a continuous maner; without interruption.
-- Con*tin"u*ous*ness, n.
CONTLINE
Cont"line`, n.
1. (Ropemaking)
Defn: The space between the strands on the outside of a rope. Knight.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The space between the bilges of two casks stowed side by side.
CONTORNIATE; CONTORNIATE
Con*tor"ni*ate, Con*tor"ni*a`te, n., Etym: [It. contorniato, p.pr. of
contorniare to make a circuit or outline, fr. contorno circuit,
outline. See Contour.] (Numis.)
Defn: A species of medal or medallion of bronze, having a deep furrow
on the contour or edge; -- supposed to have been struck in the days
of Constantine and his successors. R. S. Poole.
CONTORSION
Con*tor"sion, n.
Defn: See Contortion.
CONTORT
Con*tort", v. t. Etym: [L. contortus, p.p. of contorquere to twist;
con- + torquere to twist. See Torture.]
Defn: To twist, or twist together; to turn awry; to bend; to distort;
to wrest.
The vertebral arteries are variously contorted. Ray.
Kant contorted the term category from the proper meaning of
attributed. Sir W. Hamilton.
CONTORTED
Con*tort"ed, a.
1. Twisted, or twisted together. "A contorted chain of icicles."
Massinger.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Twisted back upon itself, as some parts of plants.
(b) Arranged so as to overlap each other; as, petals in contorted or
convolute æstivation.
CONTORTION
Con*tor"tion, n. Etym: [L. contortio: cf. F. contorsion. See Contort,
and cf. Torsion.]
Defn: A twisting; a writhing; wry motion; a twist; as, the contortion
of the muscles of the face. Swift.
All the contortions of the sibyl, without the inspiration. Burke.
CONTORTIONIST
Con*tor"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who makes or practices contortions.
CONTORTIVE
Con*tor"tive, a.
Defn: Expressing contortion.
CONTORTUPLICATE
Con`tor*tu"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. contortuplicatus; contortus
contorted + plicare to fold.] (Bot.)
Defn: Plaited lengthwise and twisted in addition, as the bud of the
morning-glory. Gray.
CONTOUR
Con*tour", n. Etym: [F. contour, fr. contourner to mark the outlines;
con- + tourner to turn. See Turn.]
1. The outline of a figure or body, or the line or lines representing
such an outline; the line that bounds; periphery.
Titian's coloring and contours. A. Drummond.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The outline of a horizontal section of the ground, or of works
of fortification. Contour feathers (Zoöl.), those feathers that form
the general covering of a bird.
-- Contour of ground (Surv.), the outline of the surface of ground
with respect to its undulation, etc.
-- Contour line (Topographical Suv.), the line in which a horizontal
plane intersects a portion of ground, or the corresponding line in a
map or chart.
CONTOURNE
Con`tour`ne, a. Etym: [F., p.p. of contourner to twist.] (Her.)
Defn: Turned in a direction which is not the usual one; -- said of an
animal turned to the sinister which is usually turned to the dexter,
or the like.
CONTOURNIATED
Con*tour"ni*a`ted, a. Etym: [Cf. Contorniate.] (Numis.)
Defn: Having furrowed edges, as if turned in a lathe.
CONTRA
Con"tra.
Defn: A Latin adverb and preposition, signifying against, contrary,
in opposition, etc., entering as a prefix into the composition of
many English words. Cf. Counter, adv. & pref.
CONTRABAND
Con"tra*band, n. Etym: [It. contrabando; contra + bando ban,
proclamation: cf. F. contrebande. See Ban an edict.]
1. Illegal or prohobited traffic.
Persons the most bound in duty to prevent contraband, and the most
interested in the seizures. Burke.
2. Goods or merchandise the importation or exportation of which is
forbidden.
3. A negro slave, during the Civil War, escaped to, or was brought
within, the Union lines. Such slave was considered contraband of war.
[U.S.] Contraband of war, that which, according to international law,
cannot be supplied to a hostile belligerent except at the risk of
seizure and condemnation by the aggrieved belligerent. Wharton.
CONTRABAND
Con"tra*band, a.
Defn: Prohibited or excluded by law or treaty; forbidden; as,
contraband goods, or trade.
The contraband will always keep pace, in some measure, with the fair
trade. Burke.
CONTRABAND
Con"tra*band, v. t.
1. To import illegaly, as prohibited goods; to smuggle. [Obs.]
Johnson.
2. To declare prohibited; to forbid. [Obs.]
The law severly contrabands Our taking business of men's hands.
Hudibras.
CONTRABANDISM
Con"tra*band*ism, n.
Defn: Traffic in contraband gods; smuggling.
CONTRABANDIST
Con"tra*band`ist, n.
Defn: One who traffic illegaly; a smuggler.
CONTRABASS
Con`tra*bass"
Defn: , n. (Mus.) Double bass; -- applied to any instrument of the
same deep range as the stringed double bass; as, the contrabass
ophicleide; the cotrabass tuba or bombardon.
CONTRABASSO
Con`tra*bas"so, n. Etym: [It. contrabasso.] (Mus.)
Defn: The largest kind of bass viol. See Violone.
CONTRACT
Con*tract", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contracted; p.pr. & vb.n.
Contracting.] Etym: [L. contractus, p.p. of contrahere to contract;
con- + trahere to draw: cf. F. contracter. See Trace, and cf.
Contract, n.]
1. To draw together or nearer; to reduce to a less compass; to
shorten, narrow, or lesen; as, to contract one's shpere of action.
In all things desuetude doth contract and narrow our faculties. Dr.
H. More.
2. To draw together so as to wrinkle; to knit.
Thou didst contract and purse thy brow. Shak.
3. To bring on; to incur; to acquire; as, to contract a habit; to
contract a debt; to contract a disease.
Each from each contract new strength and light. Pope.
Such behavior we contract by having much conversed with persons of
high statiSwift.
4. To enter into, with mutual obligations; to make a bargain or
covenant for.
We have contracted an inviolable amity, peace, and lague with the
aforesaid queen. Hakluyt.
Many persons . . . had contracted marriage within the degrees of
consanguinity . . . prohibited by law. Strype.
5. To betroth; to affiance.
The truth is, she and I, long since contracted, Are now so sure, that
nothing can dissolve us. Shak.
6. (Gram.)
Defn: To shorten by omitting a letter or letters or by reducing two
or more vowels or syllables to one.
Syn.
-- To shorten; abridge; epitomize; narrow; lessen; condense; reduce;
confine; incur; assume.
CONTRACT
Con*tract", v. i.
1. To be drawn together so as to be diminished in size or extent; to
shrink; to be reduced in compass or in duration; as, iron contracts
in cooling; a rope contracts when wet.
Years contracting to a moment. Wordsworth.
2. To make an agreement; to covenant; to agree; to bargain; as, to
contract for carrying the mail.
CONTRACT
Con"tract, a.
Defn: Contracted: as, a contract verb. Goodwin.
CONTRACT
Con*tract", a. Etym: [L. contractus, p.p.]
Defn: Contracted; affianced; betrothed. [Obs.] Shak.
CONTRACT
Con"tract, n. Etym: [L. contractus, fr. contrahere: cf. F. contrat,
formerly also contract.]
1. (Law)
Defn: The agreement of two or more persons, upon a sufficient
consideration or cause, to do, or to abstain from doing, some act; an
agreement in which a party undertakes to do, or not to do, a
particular thing; a formal bargain; a compact; an interchange of
legal rights. Wharton.
2. A formal writing which contains the agreement of parties, with the
terms and conditions, and which serves as a proof of the obligation.
3. The act of formally betrothing a man and woman.
This is the the night of the contract. Longwellow.
Syn.
-- Covenant; agreement; compact; stipulation; bargain; arrangement;
obligation. See Covenant.
CONTRACTED
Con*tract"ed, a.
1. Drawn together; shrunken; wrinkled; narrow; as, a contracted brow;
a contracted noun.
2. Narrow; illiberal; selfish; as, a contracted mind; contracted
views.
3. Bargained for; betrothed; as, a contracted peace.
Inquire me out contracted bachelors. Shak.
CONTRACTEDNESS
Con*tract"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being contracted; narrowness; meannes;
selfishness.
CONTRACTIBILITY
Con*tract`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being contracted; quality of being contractible;
as, the contractibiliy and dilatability of air. Arbuthnot.
CONTRACTIBLE
Con*tract"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of contraction.
Small air bladders distable and contractible. Arbuthnot.
CONTRACTIBLENESS
Con*tract"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Contractibility.
CONTRACTILE
Con*tract"ile, a. Etym: [Cf. F. contractile.]
Defn: tending to contract; having the power or property of
contracting, or of shrinking into shorter or smaller dimensions; as,
the contractile tissues.
The heart's contractile force. H. Brooke.
Each cilium seems to be composed of contractile substance. Hixley.
Contractile vacuole (Zoöl.), a pulsating cavity in the interior of a
protozoan, supposed to be excretory in function. There may be one,
two, or more.
CONTRACTILITY
Con`trac*til"i*ty, n.
1. The quality or property by which bodies shrink or contract.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The power possessed by the fibers of living muscle of
contracting or shortening.
Note: When subject to the will, as in the muscles of locomotion, such
power is called voluntary contractility; when not controlled by the
will, as in the muscles of the heart, it is involuntary
contractility.
CONTRACTION
Con*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. contractio: cf. F. contraction.]
1. The act or process of contracting, shortening, or shrinking; the
state of being contracted; as, contraction of the heart, of the pupil
of the eye, or of a tendion; the contraction produced by cold.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The process of shortening an operation.
3. The act of incurring or becoming subject to, as liabilities,
obligation, debts, etc.; the process of becoming subject to; as, the
contraction of a disease.
4. Something contracted or abbreviated, as a word or phrase; -- as,
plenipo for plenipotentiary; crim. con. for criminal conversation,
etc.
5. (Gram.)
Defn: The shortening of a word, or of two words, by the omission of a
letter or letters, or by reducing two or more vowels or syllables to
one; as, ne'er for never; can't for can not; don't for do not; it's
for it is.
6. A marriage contract. [Obs.] Shak.
CONTRACTIVE
Con*tract"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to contract; having the property or power or power of
contracting.
CONTRACTOR
Con*tract"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who contracts; one of the parties to a bargain; one who
covenants to do anything for another; specifically, one who contracts
to perform work on a rather large scale, at a certain price or rate,
as in building houses or making a railroad.
CONTRACT SYSTEM
Con"tract sys"tem.
1. The sweating system.
2. The system of employing convicts by selling their labor (to be
performed inside the prison) at a fixed price per day to contractors
who are allowed to have agents in the prison to superintend the work.
CONTRACT TABLET
Con"tract tablet. (Babylonian & Assyrian Antiq.)
Defn: A clay tablet on which was inscribed a contract, for safe
keeping. Such tablets were inclosed in an outer case (often called
the envelope), on which was inscribed a duplicate of the inscription
on the inclosed tablet.
CONTRACTURE
Con*trac"ture, n. Etym: [L. contractura a drawing together.] (Med.)
Defn: A state of permanent rigidity or contraction of the muscles,
generally of the flexor muscles.
CONTRADANCE
Con"tra*dance`, n. Etym: [Pref. contra- + dance: cf. F. contrdance.
Cf. Country-dance.]
Defn: A dance in which the partners are arranged face to face, or in
opposite lines.
CONTRADICT
Con`tra*dict", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contradicted; p.pr. & vb.n
Contradicting.] Etym: [L. contradictus, p.p. of contradicere to speak
against; contra + dicere to speak. See Diction.]
1. To assert the contrary of; to oppose in words; to take issue with;
to gainsay; to deny the truth of, as of a statement or a speaker; to
impugn.
Dear Duff, I prithee, contradict thyself, And say it is not so. Shak.
The future can not contradict the past. Wordsworth.
2. To be contrary to; to oppose; to resist. [Obs.]
No truth can contradict another truth. Hooker.
A greater power than we can contradict Hath thwarted our intents.
Shak.
CONTRADICT
Con`tra*dict, v. i.
Defn: To oppose in words; to gainsay; to deny, or assert the contrary
of, something.
They . . . spake against those things which were spoken by Paul,
contradicting and blaspheming. Acts xiii. 45.
CONTRADICTABLE
Con`tra*dict"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being contradicting.
CONTRADICTER
Con`tra*dict"er, n.
Defn: one who contradicts. Swift.
CONTRADICTION
Con`tra*dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. contradictio answer, objection: cf. F.
contradiction.]
1. An assertion of the contrary to what has been said or affirmed;
denial of the truth of a statement or assertion; contrary
declaration; gainsaying.
His fair demands Shall be accomplished without contradiction. Shak.
2. Direct opposition or repugnancy; inconsistency; incongruity or
contrariety; one who, or that which, is inconsistent.
can be make deathless death That were to make Strange contradiction.
Milton.
We state our experience and then we come to a manly resolution of
acting in contradiction to it. Burke.
Both parts of a contradiction can not possibly be true. Hobbes.
Of contradictions infinite the slave. Wordsworth.
Principle of contradiction (Logic), the axiom or law of thought that
a thing cannot be and not be at the same time, or a thing must either
be or not be, or the same attribute can not at the same time be
affirmed and and denied of the same subject. It develops itself in
three specific forms which have been called the "Three Logical
Axioms." First. "A is A." Second, "A is not Not-A" Third, "Everything
is either A or Not-A."
CONTRADICTIONAL
Con`tra*dic"tion*al, a.
Defn: Contradictory; inconsistent; opposing. [R.] Milton.
CONTRADICTIOUS
Con`tra*dic"tious, a.
1. Filled with contradictions; inconsistent. [Obs.]
2. Inclined to contradict or cavil [Obs.] Sharp.
-- Con`tra*dic"tious*ness, n. Norris.
CONTRADICTIVE
Con`tra*dict"ive, a.
Defn: Contradictory; inconsistent.
-- Con`tra*dict"ive*ly, adv..
CONTRADICTOR
Con`tra*dict"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A contradicter.
CONTRADICTORILY
Con`tra*dict"o*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a contradictory manner. Sharp.
CONTRADICTORINESS
Con"tra*dict`o*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being contradictory; opposition; inconsistency.
J. Whitaker.
CONTRADICTORY
Con`tra*dict"o*ry, a. Etym: [LL. contradictorius: cf. F.
contradictoire.]
1. Affirming the contrary; implying a denial of what has been
asserted; also, mutually contradicting; inconsistent. "Contradictory
assertions." South.
2. Opposing or opposed; repugnant.
Schemes . . . contradictory to common sense. Addisn.
CONTRADICTORY
Con`tra*dict"o*ry, n.; pl. Contradictories (.
1. A proposition or thing which denies or opposes another;
contrariety.
It is common with princes to will contradictories. Bacon.
2. pl. (Logic)
Defn: propositions with the same terms, but opposed to each other
both in quality and quantity.
CONTRADISTINCT
Con`tra*dis*tinct", a.
Defn: Distinguished by opposite qualities. J. Goodwin.
CONTRADISTINCTION
Con`tra*dis*tinc"tion, n.
Defn: Distinction by contrast.
That there are such things as sins of infirmity in contradistinction
to those of presumption is not to be questioned. South.
CONTRADISTINCTIVE
Con`tra*dis*tinc"tive, a.
Defn: having the quality of contradistinction; distinguishing by
contrast.
-- Con`tra*dis*tinc"tive, n.
CONTRADISTINGUISH
Con`tra*dis*tin"guish (; 144), v. t. [imp & p. p.
Contradistinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Contradistinguishing.]
Defn: To distinguish by a contrast of opposite qualities.
These are our complex ideas of soul and body, as contradistinguished.
Locke.
CONTRAFAGETTO
Con`tra*fa*get"to, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: The double bassoon, an octave deeper than the bassoon.
CONTRAFISSURE
Con`tra*fis"sure, n. (Med.)
Defn: A fissure or fracture on the side opposite to that which
received the blow, or at some distance from it. Coxe.
CONTRAHENT
Con"tra*hent, a. Etym: [L. contrahens, p.pr. See Contract.]
Defn: Entering into covenant; contracting; as, contrahent parties.
[Obs.] Mede.
CONTRAINDICANT
Con"tra*in"di*cant, n. (Med.)
Defn: Something, as a symptom, indicating that the usual mode of
treatment is not to be followed. Burke.
CONTRAINDICATE
Con"tra*in*"di*cate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contraindicated; p.pr. &
vb.n. Contraindicating.] (Med.)
Defn: To indicate, as by a symptom, some method of treatment contrary
to that which the general tenor of the case would seem to require.
Contraindicating symptoms must be observed. Harvey.
CONTRAINDICATION
Con"tra*in`di*ca"tion, n. (med.)
Defn: An indication or symptom which forbids the method of treatment
usual in such cases.
CONTRALTO
Con*tral"to ( or , n. Etym: [It., fr. contra + alto. See Alto.]
(Mus.)
(a) The part sung by the highest male or lowest female voices; the
alto or counter tenor.
(b) the voice or singer performing this part; as, her voice is a
contralto; she is a contralto.
Note: The usual range of the contralto voice is from G, below middle
C, to the C above that; though exceptionally it embraces two octaves.
CONTRALTO
Con*tral"to ( or , a. (Mus.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a contralto, or to the part in music called
contralto; as, a contralto voice.
CONTRAMURE
Con"tra*mure, n. Etym: [Cf. Countermure.] (fort.)
Defn: An outer wall. [Obs.] Chambers.
CONTRANATURAL
Con"tra*nat"u*ral, a. Etym: [Cf. Counternatural.]
Defn: Opposed to or against nature; unnatural. [R.] Bp. Rust.
CONTRAPLEX
Con"tra*plex, a. [Contra- + -plex as in duplex.] (Teleg.)
Defn: Pertaining to the sending of two messages in opposite
directions at the same time.
CONTRAPOSITION
Con"tra*po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. contra- + position: cf. f.
conterposition.]
1. A placing over against; opposite position. [Obs.] F. Potter.
2. (Logic)
Defn: A so-called immediate inference which consists in denying the
original subject of the contradictory predicate; e.g.: Every S is P;
therefore, no Not-P is S.
CONTRAPTION
Con*trap"tion, n.
Defn: A contrivance; a new-fangled device; -- used scornfully.
[Colloq. or Dial.] -- Con*trap"tious (#), a.
We all remember some of the extraordinary contraptions which have
been thus evolved and put upon the market.
F. M. Ware.
CONTRAPUNTAL
Con`tra*pun"tal, a. Etym: [It. contrappunto counterpoint. See
Counterpoint.] (Mus.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or according to the rules of, counterpoint.
CONTRAPUNTIST
Con`tra*pun"tist, n. Etym: [It. contrappuntista.] (Mus.)
Defn: One skilled in counterpoint. L. Mason.
CONTRAREMONSTRANT
Con"tra*re*mon"strant, n.
Defn: One who remonstrates in opposition or answer to a remonstraint.
[R.]
They did the synod wrong to make this distinction of
contraremonstrants and remonstrants. Hales.
CONTRARIANT
Con*tra"ri*ant, a. Etym: [LL. contrarians, p.pr. of contrariare to
oppose, fr. L. contrarius: cf. F. contrariant, p.pr. of contrarier to
contradict. See Contrary.]
Defn: Contrary; opposed; antagonistic; inconsistent; contradictory.
[R.]
The struggles of contrariant factions. Coleridge.
CONTRARIANTLY
Con*tra"ri*ant*ly, adv.
Defn: Contrarily. [Obs.]
CONTRARIES
Con"tra*ries ( or , n. pl. Etym: [Pl. of Contrary, n.] (Logic)
Defn: Propositions which directly and destructively contradict each
other, but of which the falsehood of one does not establish the truth
of the other.
If two universals differ in quality, they are contraries; as, every
vine is a tree; no vine is a tree. These can never be both true
together; but they may be both false. I. Watts.
CONTRARIETY
Con`tra*ri"e*ty n.; pl. Contrarieties. Etym: [L. contrarietas: cf. F.
contrariété.]
1. The state or quality of being contrary; opposition; repugnance;
disagreement; antagonism.
There is a contrariety between those things that conscience inclines
to, and those that entertain the senses. South.
2. Something which is contrary to, or inconsistent with, something
else; an inconsistency.
How can these contrarieties agree Shak.
Syn.
-- Inconsistency; discrepancy; repugnance.
CONTRARILY
Con"tra*ri*ly or
Defn: (adv. In a contrary manner; in opposition; on the other side;
in opposite ways.
CONTRARINESS
Con"tra*ri*ness, n.
Defn: state or quality of being contrary; opposition; inconsistency;
contrariety; perverseness; obstinancy.
CONTRARIOUS
Con*tra"ri*ous, a. Etym: [LL. contrariosus: cf. OF. contrarios
contralius.]
Defn: Showing contrariety; repugnant; perverse. [Archaic] Milton.
She flew contrarious in the face of God. Mrs. Browning.
CONTRARIOUSLY
Con*tra"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Contrarily; oppositely. Shak.
CONTRARIWISE
Con"tra*ri*wise ( or , adv.
1. On the contrary; oppositely; on the other hand.
Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but
contrariwise, blessing. 1 Pet. iii. 9.
2. In a contrary order; conversely.
Everything that acts upon the fluids must, at the same time, act upon
the solids, and contrariwise. Arbuthnot.
CONTRAROTATION
Con`tra*ro*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Circular motion in a direction contrary to some other circular
motion.
CONTRARY
Con"tra*ry ( or ; 48), a. Etym: [OE. contrarie, contraire, F.
contraire, fr. L. contrarius, fr. contra. See Contra-.]
1. Opposite; in an opposite direction; in opposition; adverse; as,
contrary winds.
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me. Lev.
xxvi. 21.
We have lost our labor; they are gone a contrary way. Shak.
2. Opposed; contradictory; repugnant; inconsistent.
Fame, if not double-faced, is double mouthed, And with contrary blast
proclaims most deeds. Milton.
The doctrine of the earth's motion appeared to be contrary to the
sacred Scripture. Whewell.
3. Given to opposition; perverse; forward; wayward; as, a contrary
disposition; a contrary child.
4. (Logic)
Defn: Affirming the opposite; so opposed as to destroy each other;
as, contrary propositions. Contrary motion (Mus.), the progression of
parts in opposite directions, one ascending, the other descending.
Syn.
-- Adverse; repugnant; hostile; inimical; discordant; inconsistent.
CONTRARY
Con"tra*ry, n.; pl. Contraries (.
1. A thing that is of contrary or opposite qualities.
No contraries hold more antipathy Than I and such a knave. Shak.
2. An opponent; an enemy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. the opposite; a proposition, fact, or condition incompatible with
another; as, slender proofs which rather show the contrary. See
Converse, n., 1. Locke.
4. (Logic)
Defn: See Contraries. On the contrary, in opposition; on the other
hand. Swift.
-- To the contrary, to an opposite purpose or intent; on the other
side. "They did it, not for want of instruction to the contrary." Bp.
Stillingfleet.
CONTRARY
Con"tra*ry, v. t. Etym: [F. contrarier. See Contrary, a.]
Defn: To contradict or oppose; to thwart. [Obs.]
I was advised not to contrary the king. Bp. Latimer.
CONTRAST
Con*trast", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Contrasted; p.pr. & vb.n.
Contrasting.] Etym: [F. contraster, LL. contrastare to resist,
withstand, fr. L. contra + stare to stand. See Stand.]
Defn: To stand in opposition; to exhibit difference, unlikeness, or
opposition of qualities.
The joints which divide the sandstone contrast finely with the
divisional planes which separate the basalt into pillars. Lyell.
CONTRAST
Con*trast", v. t.
1. To set in opposition, or over against, in order to show the
differences between, or the comparative excellences and defects of;
to compare by difference or contrariety of qualities; as, to contrast
the present with the past.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: To give greater effect to, as to a figure or other object, by
putting it in some relation of opposition to another figure or
object.
the figures of the groups must not be all on side . . . but must
contrast each other by their several position. Dryden.
CONTRAST
Con"trast, n. Etym: [F. contraste: cf. It. contrasto.]
1. The act of contrasting, or the state of being contrasted;
comparison by contrariety of qualities.
place the prospect of the soul In sober contrast with reality.
Wordsworth.
2. Opposition or dissimilitude of things or qualities; unlikeness,
esp. as shown by juxtaposition or comparison.
The contrasts and resemblances of the seasons. Whewell.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The opposition of varied forms, colors, etc., which by such
juxtaposition more vividly express each other's pecularities.
Fairholt.
CONTRASTIMULANT
Con`tra*stim"u*lant, a.
Defn: Counteracting the effects of stimulants; relating to a course
of medical treatment based on a theory of contrastimulants.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: An agent which counteracts the effect of a stimulant.
CONTRATE
Con"trate, a. Etym: [See Contra-.]
Defn: Having cogs or teeth projecting parallel to the axis, instead
of radiating from it. [R.] Contrate wheel. See Crown wheel.
CONTRATENOR
Con"tra*ten`or, n. Etym: [Cf. Counter tenor.] (Mus.)
Defn: Counter tenor; contralto.
CONTRAVALLATION
Con`tra*val*la"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. contra- + vallation: cf. F.
contrevallation. Cf. Countervallation.] (Fort.)
Defn: A trench guarded with a parapet, constructed by besiegers, to
secure themselves and check sallies of the besieged.
CONTRAVENE
Con`tra*vene", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contravened; p.pr. & vb.n.
Contravening.] Etym: [LL. contravenire; L. contra + venire to come:
cf. F. contrevenir. See Come.]
1. To meet in the way of opposition; to come into conflict with; to
oppose; to contradict; to obstruct the operation of; to defeat.
So plain a proposition . . . was not likely to be contravened.
Southey.
2. To violate; to nullify; to be inconsistent with; as, to contravene
a law.
Laws that place the subjects in such a state contravene the first
principles of the compact of authority. Johnson.
Syn.
-- To contradict; set aside; nullify; defeat; cross; obstruct;
baffle; thwart.
CONTRAVENER
Con`tra*ven"er, n.
Defn: One who contravenes.
CONTRAVENTION
Con`tra*ven"tion, n. Etym: [Cf.F. contravention.]
Defn: The act of contravening; opposition; obstruction;
transgression; violation.
Warrants in contravention of the acts of Parliament. Macaulay.
In contravention of all his marriage stipulations. Motley.
CONTRAVERSION
Con`tra*ver"sion, n.
Defn: A turning to the opposite side; antistrophe. Congreve.
CONTRAYERVA
Con`tra*yer"va, n. Etym: [Sp. contrayerba, literally, a counter herb,
hence, an antidote for poison, fr. l. contra + herba herb.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Dorstenia (D. Contrayerva), a South American
plant, the aromatic root of which is sometimes used in medicine as a
gentle stimulant and tonic.
CONTRECOUP
Con`tre*coup", n. Etym: [F., fr. contre (L. contra) + coup a blow.]
(med.)
Defn: A concussion or shock produced by a blow or other injury, in a
part or region opposite to that at which the blow is received, often
causing rupture or disorganisation of the parts affected.
CONTREDANSE
Con"tre*danse`, n. [Cf. F. contredanse (fr. E. Country-dance). ]
1.
(a) A dance in which the partners are arranged face to face, or in
opposite lines.
(b) The quadrille. [Obs.]
2. (Music) A piece of music in the rhythm of such a dance.
CONTRETEMPS
Con`tre*temps", n. Etym: [F., fr. contre (L. conta) + temps time, fr.
L. tempus.]
Defn: An unexpected and untoward accident; something inopportune or
embarassing; a hitch.
In this unhappy contretemps. De Quincey.
CONTRIBUTABLE
Con*trib"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being contributed.
CONTRIBUTARY
Con*trib"u*ta*ry, a.
1. Contributory. [R.]
2. Tributary; contributing. [R.]
It was situated on the Ganges, at the place where this river received
a contributary stream. D'Anville (Trans. ).
CONTRIBUTE
Con*trib"ute, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contributed; p.pr. & vb.n.
Contributing.] Etym: [L. contributus, p.p. of contribuere to bring
together, to add; con- + tribuere to grant, impart. See Tribute.]
Defn: To give or grant i common with others; to give to a common
stock or for a common purpose; to furnish or suply in part; to give
(money or other aid) for a specified object; as, to contribute food
or fuel for the poor.
England contributes much more than any other of the allies. Addison.
CONTRIBUTE
Con*trib"ute, v. i.
1. To give a part to a common stock; to lend assistance or aid, or
give something, to a common purpose; to have a share in any act or
effect.
We are engaged in war; the secretary of state calls upon the colonies
to contribute. Burke.
2. To give or use one's power or influence for any object; to assist.
These men also contributed to obstruct the progress of wisdom.
Goldsmith.
CONTRIBUTION
Con`tri*bu"tion, n. Etym: [L. contributio: cf. F. contribution.]
1. The act of contributing.
2. That which is contributed; -- either the portion which an
individual furnishes to the common stock, or the whole which is
formed by the gifts of individuals.
A certain contribution for the poor saints which are at jerusalem.
Rom. xv. 26.
Aristotle's actual contributions to the physical sciences. Whewell.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: An irregular and arbitrary imposition or tax leved on the
people of a town or country.
These sums, . . . and the forced contributions paid by luckless
peasants, enabled him to keep his straggling troops together. Motley.
4. (Law)
Defn: Payment, by each of several jointly liable, of a share in a
loss suffered or an amount paid by one of their number for the common
benefit.
CONTRIBUTIONAL
Con`tri*bu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or furnishing, a contribution.
CONTRIBUTION PLAN
Con`tri*bu"tion plan. (Life Insurance)
Defn: A plan of distributing surplus by giving to each policy the
excess of premiums and interest earned thereon over the expenses of
management, cost of insurance, and the policy value at the date of
computation. This excess is called the contribution of the policy.
CONTRIBUTIVE
Con*trib"u*tive, a.
Defn: Contributing, or tending to contribute. Fuller.
CONTRIBUTOR
Con*trib"u*tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, contributes; specifically, one who
writes articles for a newspaper or magazine.
CONTRIBUTORY
Con*trib"u*to*ry, a.
Defn: Contributing to the same stock or purpose; promoting the same
end; bringing assistance to some joint design, or increase to some
common stock; contributive. Milton.
Bonfires of contributory wood. Chapman.
Contributory negligence (Law), negligence by an injured party, which
combines with the negligence of the injurer in producing the injury,
and which bars recovery when it is the proximate cause of the injury.
Wharton.
CONTRIBUTORY
Con*trib"u*to*ry, n.; pl. Contributories (.
Defn: One who contributes, or is liable to be called upon to
contribute, as toward the discharge of a common indebtedness. Abbott.
CONTRIST
Con*trist", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. contrister. See Contristate.]
Defn: To make sad. [Obs.]
To deject and contrist myself. Sterne.
CONTRISTATE
Con*tris"tate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. contristatus, p.p. of contristare
to sadden; con- + tristis sad.]
Defn: To make sorrowful. [Obs.] Bacon.
CONTRITE
Con"trite, a. Etym: [L. contritus bruised, p. p. of contrere to
grind, bruise; con- + terere to rub, grind: cf. F. contrit See
Trite.]
1. Thoroughly bruised or broken. [Obs.]
2. Broken down with grief and penitence; deeply sorrowful for sin
because it is displeasing to God; humbly and thoroughly penitent.
A contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Ps. li. 17.
Be penitent, and for thy fault contrite. Milton.
Syn.
-- Penitent; repentant; humble; sorrowful.
CONTRITE
Con"trite, n.
Defn: A contrite person. Hooker.
CONTRITE
Con"trite, v.
Defn: In a contrite manner.
CONTRITENESS
Con"trite`ness, n.
Defn: Deep sorrow and penitence for sin; contrition.
CONTRITION
Con*tri"tion, n. Etym: [F. contrition, L. contritio.]
1. The act of grinding or ribbing to powder; attrition; friction;
rubbing. [Obs.]
The breaking of their parts into less parts by contrition. Sir I.
Newton.
2. The state of being contrite; deep sorrow and repentance for sin,
because sin is displeasing to God; humble penitence; through
repentance.
My future days shall be one whole contrition. Dryden.
Syn.
-- repentance; penitence; humiliation; compunction; self-reproach;
remorse.
-- Contrition, Attrition, repentance.
-- Contrition is deep sorrow and self-condemnation, with through
repetance for sin because it is displeasing to God, and implies a
feeling of love toward God. Attrition is sorrow for sin, or imperfect
repentance produced by fear of punishment or a sense of the baseness
of sin. Repentance is a penitent renunciation of, and turning from,
sin; thorough repentance produces a new life. Repentance is often
used as synonymous with contrition. See Compunction.
CONTRITURATE
Con*trit"u*rate, v. t.
Defn: To triturate; to pulverize. [R.]
CONTRIVABLE
Con*triv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being contrived, planned, invented, or devised.
A perpetual motion may seem easily contrivable. Bp. Wilkins.
CONTRIVANCE
Con*triv"ance, n.
1. The act or faculty of contriving, inventing, devising, or
planning.
The machine which we are inspecting demonstrates, by its
construction, contrivance and design. Contrivance must have had a
contriver. Paley.
2. The thing contrived, invented, or planned; disposition of parts or
causes by design; a scheme; plan; atrifice; arrangement.
Government is a contrivance of human wisdom to provide for human
wants. Burke.
Syn.
-- Device; plan; scheme; invention; machine; project; design;
artifice; shift. See Device.
CONTRIVE
Con*trive", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contrived; p.pr. & vb.n. Contriving.]
Etym: [OE. contriven, contreven, controven, to invent, OF. controver,
contruver; con- + trouver to find. See Troubadour, trover.]
Defn: To form by an exercise of ingenuity; to devise; to invent; to
design; to plan.
What more likely to contrive this admirable frame of the universe
than infinite wisdom. Tillotson.
neither do thou imagine that I shall contrive aught against his life.
Hawthorne.
Syn.
-- To invent; discover; plan; design; project; plot; concert; hatch.
CONTRIVE
Con*trive", v. i.
Defn: To make devices; to form designs; to plan; to scheme; to plot.
The Fates with traitors do contrive. Shak.
Thou hast contrived against th very life Of the defendant. Shak.
CONTRIVEMENT
Con*trive"ment, n.
Defn: Contrivance; invention; arrangement; design; plan. [Obs.]
Consider the admirable contrivement and artifice of this great
fabric. Glanvill.
Active to meet their contrivements. Sir G. Buck.
CONTRIVER
Con*triv"er, n.
Defn: One who contrives, devises, plans, or schemas. Swift.
CONTROL
Con*trol", n. Etym: [F. contrôle a counter register, contr. fr.
contr-rôle; contre (L. contra) + rôle roll, catalogue. See Counter
and Roll, and cf. Counterroll.]
1. A duplicate book, register, or account, kept to correct or check
another account or register; a counter register. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. That which serves to check, restrain, or hinder; restraint. "Speak
without control." Dryden.
3. Power or authority to check or restrain; restraining or regulating
influence; superintendence; government; as, children should be under
parental control.
The House of Commons should exercise a control over all the
departments of the executive administration. Macaulay.
Board of control. See under Board.
CONTROL
Con*trol", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Controlled; p.pr. & vb.n. Controlling.]
Etym: [F. contrôler, fr. contrôle.] [Formerly written comptrol and
controul.]
1. To check by a counter register or duplicate account; to prove by
counter statements; to confute. [Obs.]
This report was controlled to be false. Fuller.
2. To exercise restraining or governing influence over; to check; to
counteract; to restrain; to regulate; to govern; to overpower.
Give me a staff of honor for mine age, But not a scepter to control
the world. Shak.
I feel my virtue struggling in my soul: But stronger passion does its
power control. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To restrain; rule; govern; manage; guide; regulate; hinder;
direct; check; curb; counteract; subdue.
CONTROLLABILITY
Con*trol`la*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being controlled; controllableness.
CONTROLLABLE
Con*trol"la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being controlled, checked, or restrained; amenable
to command.
Passion is the drunkeness of the mind, and, therefore, . . . not
always controllable by reason. South.
CONTROLLABLENESS
Con*trol"la*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being controlled.
CONTROLLER
Con*trol"ler, n. Etym: [From control, v.t.: cf. F. contrôleur.]
1. One who, or that which, controls or restraines; one who has power
or authority to regulate or control; one who governs.
The great controller of our fate Deigned to be man, and lived in low
estate. Dryden.
2. An officer appointed to keep a counter register of accounts, or to
examine, rectify, or verify accounts. [More commonly written
controller.]
3. (Naut.)
Defn: An iron block, usually bolted to a ship's deck, for controlling
the running out of a chain cable. The links of the cable tend to drop
into hollows in the block, and thus hold fast until disengaged.
CONTROLLERSHIP
Con*trol"ler*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a controller.
CONTROLMENT
Con*trol"ment, n.
1. The power or act of controlling; the state of being rstrained;
control; restraint; regulation; superintendence.
You may do it without controlment. Shak.
2. Opposition; resistance; hostility. [Obs.]
Here have we war for war, and blood for blood, Controlment for
controlment. Shak.
CONTROVERSAL
Con`tro*ver"sal, a.
1. Turning or looking opposite ways. [Obs.]
The temple of Janus, with his two controversal faces. Milton.
2. Controversal. [Obs.] Boyle.
CONTROVERSARY
Con`tro*ver"sa*ry, a.
Defn: Controversial. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CONTROVERSE
Con"tro*verse, n. Etym: [Cf. F. controverse.]
Defn: Controversy. [Obs.] Spenser.
CONTROVERSE
Con"tro*verse, v. t. Etym: [L. controversari, fr. controversus turned
against, disputed.]
Defn: To dispute; to controvert. [Obs.] "Controversed causes."
Hooker.
CONTROVERSER
Con"tro*ver`ser, n.
Defn: A disputant. [Obs.]
CONTROVERSIAL
Con`tro*ver"sial, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. controversialis.]
Defn: Relating to, or consisting of, controversy; disputatious;
polemical; as, controversial divinity.
Whole libraries of controversial books. Macaulay.
CONTROVERSIALIST
Con`tro*ver"sial*ist, n.
Defn: One who carries on a controversy; a disputant.
He [Johnson] was both intellectually and morally of the stuff of
which controversialists are made. Macaulay.
CONTROVERSIALLY
Con`tro*ver"sial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a controversial manner.
CONTROVERSION
Con`tro*ver"sion, n.
Defn: Act of controverting; controversy. [Obs.] Hooker.
CONTROVERSOR
Con"tro*ver`sor, n.
Defn: A controverser. [Obs.]
CONTROVERSY
Con"tro*ver`sy, n.; pl. Controversies. Etym: [L. controversia, fr.
controversus turned against, disputed; contro- = contra + versus,
p.p. of vertere to turn. See Verse.]
1. Contention; dispute; debate; discussion; agitation of contrary
opinions.
This left no room for controversy about the title. Locke.
A dispute is commonly oral, and a controversy in writing. Johnson.
2. Quarrel; strife; cause of variance; difference.
The Lord hath a controversy with the nations. Jer. xxv. 31.
3. A suit in law or equity; a question of right. [Obs.]
When any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment. 2
Sam. xv. 2.
Syn.
-- Dispute; debate; disputation; disagreement; altercation;
contention; wrangle; strife; quarrel.
CONTROVERT
Con"tro*vert, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Controverted; p.pr. & vb.n.
Controverting.] Etym: [See Controversy.]
Defn: To make matter of controversy; to dispute or oppose by
reasoning; to contend against in words or writings; to contest; to
debate.
Some controverted points had decided according to the sense of the
best jurists. Macaulay.
CONTROVERTER
Con"tro*ver`ter, n.
Defn: One who controverts; a controversial writer; a
controversialist.
Some controverters in divinity are like swaggerers in a tavern. B.
Jonson.
CONTROVERTIBLE
Con`tro*ver"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being controverted; disputable; admitting of
question.
-- Con`tro*ver"ti*bly, adv.
CONTROVERTIST
Con"tro*ver`tist, n.
Defn: One skilled in or given to controversy; a controversialist.
How unfriendly is the controvertist to the discernment of the critic!
Campbell.
CONTUBERNAL; CONTUBERNIAL
Con*tu"ber*nal, Con`tu*ber"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. contubernalis a tent
companion, fr. contubernium tent companionship.]
Defn: Living or messing together; familiar; in companionship.
Humble folk ben Christes friends: they ben contubernial with the
Lord, thy King. Chaucer.
CONTUMACIOUS
Con`tu*ma"cious, a. Etym: [L. contumax, -acis. See Contumacy.]
1. Exhibiting contumacy; contemning authority; obstinate; perverse;
stubborn; disobedient.
There is another very, efficacious method for subding the most
obstinate, contumacious sinner. Hammond.
2. (Law)
Defn: Willfully disobedient to the summous or prders of a court.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Stubborn; obstinate; obdurate; disobedient; perverse; unyielding;
headstrong.
-- Con`tu*ma"cious*ly, adv.
-- Con`tu*ma"cious*ness, n.
CONTUMACY
Con"tu*ma*cy, n.; pl. Contumacies. Etym: [L. contumacia, fr.
contumax, -acis, insolent; prob. akin to contemnere to despise: cf.
F. contumace. Cf. Contemn.]
1. Stubborn perverseness; pertinacious resistance to authority.
The bishop commanded him . . . to be thrust into the stocks for his
manifest and manifold contumacy. Strype.
2. (Law)
Defn: A willful contempt of, and disobedience to, any lawful summons,
or to the rules and orders of court, as a refusal to appear in court
when legally summoned.
Syn.
-- Stubbornness; perverseness; obstinacy.
CONTUMELIOUS
Con`tu*me"li*ous (or ; 106), a. Etym: [L. contumeliosus.]
1. Exhibiting contumely; rudely contemptuous; insolent; disdainful.
Scoffs, and scorns, and contumelious taunts. Shak.
Curving a contumelious lip. Tennyson.
2. Shameful; disgraceful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
-- Con`tu*me"li*ous*ly, adv.
-- Con`tu*me"li*ous*ness, n.
CONTUMELY
Con"tu*me*ly, n. Etym: [L. contumelia, prob. akin to contemnere to
despise: cf. OF. contumelie. Cf. Contumacy.]
Defn: Rudeness compounded of haughtiness and contempt; scornful
insolence; despiteful treatment; disdain; contemptuousness in act or
speech; disgrace.
The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely. Shak.
Nothing aggravates tyranny so much as contumely. Burke.
CONTUSE
Con*tuse", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contused; p.pr. & vb.n. Contusing.]
Etym: [L. contusus, p.p. of contundere to beat, crush; con- + tundere
to beat, akin to Skr. tud (for stud) to strike, Goth. stautan. See
Stutter.]
1. To beat, pound, or together.
Roots, barks, and seeds contused together. Bacon.
2. To bruise; to injure or disorganize a part without breaking the
skin. Contused wound, a wound attended with bruising.
CONTUSION
Con*tu"sion, n. Etym: [L. contusio: cf. F. contusion.]
1. The act or process of beating, bruising, or pounding; the state of
being beaten or bruised.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A bruise; an injury attended with more or less disorganization
of the subcutaneous tissue and effusion of blood beneath the skin,
but without apparent wound.
CONUNDRUM
Co*nun"drum, n. Etym: [Origin unknown.]
1. A kind of riddle based upon some fanciful or fantastic resemblance
between things quite unlike; a puzzling question, of which the answer
is or involves a pun.
Or pun ambiguous, or conundrum quaint. J. Philips.
2. A question to which only a conjectural answer can be made.
Do you think life is long enough to let me speculate on conundrums
like that W. Black.
CONURE
Co*nure", n. Etym: [NL. conurus, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American parrakeet of the genus Conurus. Many species are
known. See Parrakeet.
CONUS
Co"nus, n. Etym: [L., a cone.]
1. A cone.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Linnean genus of mollusks having a conical shell. See Cone,
n., 4.
CONUSABLE
Con"u*sa*ble, a.
Defn: Cognizable; liable to be tried or judged. [Obs.] Bp. Barlow.
CONUSANT
Con"u*sant, a. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizant.
CONUSOR
Con`u*sor", n. (Law)
Defn: See Cognizor.
CONVALESCE
Con`va*lesce", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Convalesced; p.pr. & vb.n.
Convalescing.] Etym: [L. convalscere; con- + valescere to grow
strong, v. incho. of valere to be strong. See Vallant.]
Defn: To recover health and strength gradually, after sickness or
weakness; as, a patient begins to convalesce.
CONVALESCED
Con`va*lesced", a.
Defn: Convalescent. [R.]
He found the queen somewhat convalesced. J. Knox.
CONVALESCENCE; CONVALESCENCY
Con`va*les"cence, Con`va*les"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. convalescentia: cf.
F. convalescence.]
Defn: The recovery of heath and strength after disease; the state of
a body renewing its vigor after sickness or weakness; the time
between the subsidence of a disease and complete restoration to
health.
CONVALESCENT
Con`va*les"cent, a. Etym: [L. convalescens, -entis, p.pr.: cf. F.
convalescent.]
1. Recovering from siclness or debility; partially restored to health
or strength.
2. Of or pertaining to convalescence.
CONVALESCENT
Con`va*les"cent, n.
Defn: One recovering from sickness.
CONVALESCENTLY
Con`va*les"cent*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a convalescent; with increasing strength or
vigor.
CONVALLAMARIN
Con*val"la*ma`rin, n. Etym: [Convalaria + L. amarus bitter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, poisonous substance, regarded as a
glucoside, extracted from the lily of the valley (Convallaria
Majalis). Its taste is first bitter, then sweet.
CONVALLARIA
Con`val*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., from L. convallis a valley; con- +
vallis valley.] (Bot. & Med.)
Defn: The lily of the valley.
CONVALLARIN
Con`val*la"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline glucoside, of an irritating taste,
extracted from the convallaria or lily of the valley.
CONVECTION
Con*vec"tion, n. Etym: [L. convectio, fr. convehere to bring
together; con- + vehere to carry.]
1. The act or process of conveying or transmitting.
2. (Physics)
Defn: A process of transfer or transmission, as of heat or
electricity, by means of currents in liquids or gases, resulting from
changes of temperature and other causes.
Liquids are generally heated by convection -- when heat is applied
from bellow. Nichol.
CONVECTIVE
Con*vec"tive, a.
Defn: Caused or accomplished by convection; as, a convective
discharge of electricity. Faraday.
CONVECTIVELY
Con*vec"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a convective manner. Hare.
CONVELLENT
Con*vel"lent, a. Etym: [L. convellens, p.pr. of convellere. See
Convulse.]
Defn: Tending to tear or pull up. [Obs.]
The ends of the fragment . . . will not yield to the convellent
force. Todd & Bowman.
CONVENABLE
Con*ven"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being convened or assembled.
CONVENABLE
Con"ve*na*ble, a. Etym: [F. convenable, fr. convenir. See Convene.]
Defn: Consistent; accordant; suitable; proper; as, convenable
remedies. [Obs.]
With his wod his work is convenable. Spenser.
CONVENANCE
Con"ve*nance, n. Etym: [F., fitness, suitableness.]
Defn: That which is suitable, agreeable, or convenient.
And they missed Their wonted convenance, cheerly hid the loss.
Emerson.
CONVENE
Con*vene", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Convened; p.pr. & vb.n. Convenong.]
Etym: [L. convenire; con- + venire to come: cf. F. convenir to agree,
to be fitting, OF. also, to assemble. See Come, and cf. Covenant.]
1. To come together; to meet; to unite. [R.]
In shortsighted men . . . the rays converge and convene in the eyes
before they come at the bottom. Sir I. Newton.
2. To come together, as in one body or for a public purpose; to meet;
to assemble. Locke.
The Parliament of Scotland now convened. Sir R. Baker.
Faint, underneath, the household fowls convene. Thomson.
Syn.
-- To meet; to assemble; to congregate; to collect; to unite.
CONVENE
Con*vene", v. t.
1. To cause to assemble; to call together; to convoke.
And now the almighty father of the gods Convenes a council in the
blest abodes. Pope.
2. To summon judicially to meet or appear.
By the papal canon law, clerks . . . can not be convened before any
but an ecclesiastical judge. Ayliffe.
CONVENER
Con*ven"er, n.
1. One who convenes or meets with others. [Obs.]
2. One who calls an assembly together or convenes a meeting; hence,
the chairman of a committee or other organized body. [Scot.]
CONVENIENCE; CONVENIENCY
Con*ven"ience, Con*ven"ien*cy, n. Etym: [L. convenientia agreement,
fitness. See Convenient.]
1. The state or quality of being convenient; fitness or suitableness,
as of place, time, etc.; propriety.
Let's futher think of this; Weigh what convenience both of time and
means May fit us to our shape. Shak.
With all brief and plain conveniency, Let me have judgment. Shak.
2. Freedom from discomfort, difficulty, or trouble; commodiousness;
ease; accommodation.
Thus necessity invented stools, Convenience next suggested elbow
chairs. Cowper.
We are rather intent upon the end of God's glory than our own
conveniency. Jer. Taylor.
3. That which is convenient; that which promotes comfort or
advantage; that which is suited to one's wants; an accommodation.
A pair of spectacles and several other little conveniences. Swift.
4. A convenient or fit time; opportunity; as, to do something at
one's convenience.
CONVENIENT
Con*ven"ient, a. Etym: [L. conveniens, -entis, suitable, p.pr. of
convenire to be suitable, to come. See Convene, v. i.]
1. Fit or adapted; suitable; proper; becoming; appropriate. [Archaic]
Feed me with food convenient for me. Prov. xxx. 8.
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient. Eph. v. 4.
2. Affording accommodation or advantage; well adapted to use; handly;
as, a convenient house; convenient implements or tools.
3. Seasonable; timely; opportune; as, a convenient occasion; a
convenient season. Acts xxiv. 25.
4. Near at hand; easy of access. [Colloq.]
Hereties used to be brought thither, convenient for burning.
Thackeray.
Syn.
-- Fit; suitable; proper; adapted; fitted; suited; handly;
commodious.
CONVENIENTLY
Con*ven"ient*ly, adv.
Defn: In a convenient manner, form, or situation; without difficulty.
CONVENT
Con"vent, n. Etym: [L. conventus a meeting, LL. also, a convent. See
Convene, v. i.]
1. A coming together; a meeting. [Obs.]
A usual ceremony at their [the witches] convents or meetings. B.
Jonson.
2. An association or community of recluses devoted to a religious
life; a body of monks or nuns.
One of our convent, and his [the duke's] confessor. Shak.
3. A house occupied by a community of religious recluses; a monastery
or nunnery.
One seldom finds in Italy a spot of ground more agreeable than
ordinary that is not covered with a convent. Addison.
Syn.
-- Nunnery; monastery; abbey. See Cloister.
CONVENT
Con*vent", v. i. Etym: [L. conventus, p.p. of convenire. See Convene,
v. i.]
1. To meet together; to concur. [obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. To be convenient; to serve. [Obs.]
When that is known and golden time convents. Shak.
CONVENT
Con*vent", v. t.
Defn: To call before a judge or judicature; to summon; to convene.
[Obs.] Shak.
CONVENTICAL
Con*vent"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or from, or pertaining to, a convent. "Conventical wages."
Sterne. Conventical prior. See Prior.
CONVENTICLE
Con*ven"ti*cle, n. Etym: [L. conventiculum, dim. of conventus: cf. F.
conventicule. See Convent, n.]
1. A small assembly or gathering; esp., a secret assembly.
They are commanded to abstain from all conventicles of men
whatsoever. Ayliffe.
2. An assembly for religious worship; esp., such an assembly held
privately, as in times of persecution, by Nonconformists or
Dissenters in England, or by Covenanters in Scotland; -- often used
opprobriously, as if those assembled were heretics or schismatics.
The first Christians could never have had recourse to nocturnal or
clandestine conventicles till driven to them by the violence of
persecution. Hammond.
A sort of men who . . . attend its [the curch of England's] service
in the morning, and go with their wives to a conventicle in the
afternoon. Swift.
CONVENTICLER
Con*ven"ti*cler, n.
Defn: One who supports or frequents conventicles. Dryden.
CONVENTICLING
Con*ven"ti*cling, a.
Defn: Belonging or going to, or resembling, a conventicle. [Obs.]
Conventicling schools . . . set up and taught secretly by fanatics.
South.
CONVENTION
Con*ven"tion, n. Etym: [L. conventio: cf. F. convention. See Convene,
v. i.]
1. The act of coming together; the state of being together; union;
coalition.
The conventions or associations of several particles of matter into
bodies of any certain denomination. Boyle.
2. General agreement or concurrence; arbitrary custom; usage;
conventionality.
There are thousands now Such women, but convention beats them down.
Tennyson.
3. A meeting or an assembly of persons, esp. of delegates or
representatives, to accomplish some specific object, -- civil,
social, political, or ecclesiastical.
He set himself to the making of good laws in a grand convention of
his nobles. Sir R. Baker.
A convention of delegates from all the States, to meet in
Philadelphia, for the sole and express purpose of reserving the
federal system, and correcting its defects. W. Irving.
4. (Eng. Hist)
Defn: An extraordinary assembly of the parkiament or estates of the
realm, held without the king's writ, -- as the assembly which
restored Charles II. to the throne, and that which declared the
throne to be abdicated by James II.
Our gratitude is due . . . to the Long Parliament, to the Convention,
and to William of Orange. Macaulay.
5. An agreement or contract less formal than, or preliminary to, a
traety; an informal compact, as between commanders of armies in
respect to suspension of hostilities, or between states; also, a
formal agreement between governments or sovereign powers; as, a
postal convetion between two governments.
This convention, I think from my soul, is nothing but a stipulation
for national ignominy; a truce without a suspension of hostilities.
Ld. Chatham.
The convention with the State of georgia has been ratified by their
Legislature. T. Jefferson.
CONVENTIONAL
Con*ven"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. conventionalis: cf. F. conventionnel.]
1. Formed by agreement or compact; stipulated.
Conventional services reserved by tenures upon grants, made out of
the crown or knights' service. Sir M. Hale.
2. Growing out of, or depending on, custom or tacit agreement;
sanctioned by general concurrence or usage; formal. "Conventional
decorum." Whewell.
The conventional language appropriated to monarchs. Motley.
The ordinary salutations, and other points of social behavior, are
conventional. Latham.
3. (Fine Arts)
(a) Based upon tradition, whether religious and historical or of
artistic rules.
(b) Abstracted; removed from close representation of nature by the
deliberate selection of what is to be represented and what is to be
rejected; as, a conventional flower; a conventional shell. Cf.
Conventionalize, v. t.
CONVENTIONALISM
Con*ven"tion*al*ism, n.
1. That which is received or established by convention or arbitrary
agreement; that which is in accordance with the fashion, tradition,
or usage.
All the artifice and conventionalism of life. Hawthorne.
They gaze on all with dead, dim eyes, -- wrapped in conventionalisms,
. . . simulating feelings according to a received standart. F. W.
Robertson.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: The principles or practice of conventionalizing. See
Conventionalize, v. t.
CONVENTIONALIST
Con*ven"tion*al*ist, n.
1. One who adheres to a convention or treaty.
2. One who is governed by conventionalism.
CONVENTIONALITY
Con*ven`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Conventionalities (.
Defn: The state of being conventional; adherence to social
formalities or usages; that which is established by conventional use;
one of the customary usages of social life.
CONVENTIONALIZATION
Con*ven`tion*al*i*za"tion, n. (Fine Arts)
(a) The act of making conventional.
(b) The state of being conventional.
CONVENTIONALIZE
Con*ven"tion*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conventionalized; p.pr. &
vb.n. Conventionalizing.]
1. To make conventional; to bring under the influence of, or cause to
conform to, conventional rules; to establish by usage.
2. (Fine Arts)
(a) To represent by selecting the important features and those which
are expressible in the medium employed, and omitting the others.
(b) To represent according to an established principle, whether
religious or traditional, or based upon certain artistic rules of
supposed importance.
CONVENTIONALIZE
Con*ven"tion*al*ize, v. i. (Fine Arts)
Defn: To make designs in art, according to conventional principles.
Cf. Conventionalize, v. t., 2.
CONVENTIONALLY
Con*ven"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a conventional manner.
CONVENTIONARY
Con*ven"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Acting under contract; settled by express agreement; as,
conventionary tenants. [Obs.] R. Carew.
CONVENTIONER
Con*ven"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a convention or assembly.
CONVENTIONIST
Con*ven"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who enters into a convention, covenant, or contract.
CONVENTUAL
Con*ven"tu*al, a. Etym: [LL. conventualis: cf. F. conventuel.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a convent; monastic. "A conventual garb."
Macaulay. Conventual church, a church attached or belonging to a
convent or monastery. Wordsworth.
CONVENTUAL
Con*ven"tu*al, n.
Defn: One who lives in a convent; a monk or num; a recluse. Addison.
CONVERGE
Con*verge", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Converged; p.pr. & vb.n. Converging.]
Etym: [Pref. con- + L. vergere to turn, incline; cf. F. converger.
See Verge, v. i.]
Defn: To tend to one point; to incline and approach nearer together;
as, lines converge.
The mountains converge into a single ridge. Jefferson.
CONVERGE
Con*verge", v. t.
Defn: To cause to tend to one point; to cause to incline and approach
nearer together.
I converge its rays to a focus of dazzling brilliancy. Tyndall.
CONVERGENCE; CONVERGENCY
Con*ver"gence, Con*ver"gen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. convergence.]
Defn: The condition or quality of converging; tendency to one point.
The convergence or divergence of the rays falling on the pupil.
Berkeley.
CONVERGENT
Con*ver"gent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. convergent.]
Defn: tending to one point of focus; tending to approach each other;
converging.
As many rays of light, as conveniently can be let in, and made
convergent. Boyle.
The vast dome of its cathedral . . . directing its convergent curves
to heaven. Hallam.
CONVERGING
Con*ver"ging, a.
Defn: Tending to one point; approaching each other; convergent; as,
converging lines. Whewell. Converging rays(Opt.), rays of light,
which, proceeding from different points of an object, tend toward a
single point.
-- Converging series (Math.), a series in which if an indefinitely
great number of terms be taken, their sum will become indefinitely
near in value to a fixed quantity, which is called the sum of the
series; -- opposed to a diverging series.
CONVERSABLE
Con*vers"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conversable.]
Defn: Qualified for conversation; disposed to converse; sociable;
free in discourse.
While young, humane, conversable, and kind. Cowper.
CONVERSABLENESS
Con*vers"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being conversable; disposition to converse;
sociability.
CONVERSABLY
Con*vers"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a conversable manner.
CONVERSANCE
Con"ver*sance, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being conversant; habit of familiarity;
familiar acquaintance; intimacy. [R.]
CONVERSANCY
Con"ver*san*cy, n.
Defn: Conversance [R.]
CONVERSANT
Con"ver*sant, a. Etym: [L. conversans, p.pr. of conversari: cf. F.
conversant.]
1. Having frequent or customary intercourse; familiary associated;
intimately acquainted.
I have been conversant with the first persons of the age. Dryden.
2. Familiar or acquainted by use or study; well-informed; versed; --
generally used with with, sometimes with in.
Deeply conversant in the Platonic philosophy. Dryden.
he uses the different dialects as one who had been conversant with
them all. Pope.
Conversant only with the ways of men. Cowper.
3. Concerned; occupied.
Education . . . is conversant about children. W. Wotton.
CONVERSANT
Con*vers"ant, n.
Defn: One who converses with another; a convenser. [R.]
CONVERSANTLY
Con"ver*sant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a familiar manner.
CONVERSATION
Con`ver*sa"tion, n. Etym: [OE. conversacio (in senses 1 & 2), OF.
conversacion, F. conversation, fr. L. conversatio frequent abode in a
place, intercourse, LL. also, manner of life.]
1. General course of conduct; behavior. [Archaic]
Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel. Philip. i. 27.
2. Familiar intercourse; intimate fellowship or association; close
acquaintance. "Conversation with the best company." Dryden.
I set down, out of long experience in business and much conversation
in books, what I thought pertinent to this business. Bacon.
3. Commerce; intercourse; traffic. [Obs.]
All traffic and mutual conversation. Hakluyt.
4. Colloqual discourse; oral interchange of sentiments and
observations; informal dialogue.
The influence exercised by his [Johnson's] conversation was
altogether without a parallel. Macaulay.
5. Sexual intercourse; as, criminal conversation.
Syn.
-- Intercourse; communion; commerce; familiarity; discourse;
dialogue; colloque; talk; chat.
-- Conversation, Talk. There is a looser sense of these words, in
which they are synonymous; there is a stricter sense, in which they
differ. Talk is usually broken, familiar, and versatile. Conversation
is more continuous and sustained, and turns ordinarily upon topics or
higher interest. Children talk to their parents or to their
companions; men converse together in mixed assemblies. Dr. Johnson
once remarked, of an evening spent in society, that there had been a
great deal of talk, but no conversation.
CONVERSATIONAL
Con`ver*sa"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to conversation; in the manner of one conversing;
as, a conversational style. Thackeray.
CONVERSATIONALIST
Con`ver*sa"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: A conversationist.
CONVERSATIONED
Conver*sa"tioned, a.
Defn: Acquainted with manners and deportment; behaved. [Obs.]
Till she be better conversationed, . . . I'll keep As far from her as
the gallows. Beau. & Fl.
CONVERSATIONISM
Con`ver*sa"tion*ism, n.
Defn: A word or phrase used in conversation; a colloqualism.
CONVERSATIONIST
Con`ver*sa"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who converses much, or who excels in conversation. Byron.
CONVERSATIVE
Con*ver"sa*tive, a.
Defn: Relating to intercourse with men; social; -- opposed to
contemplative.
She chose . . . to endue him with the conversative qualities of
youth. Sir H. Wotton.
CONVERSAZIONE
Con`ver*sa`zio"ne (or ), n.; pl. Conversazioni. Etym: [It. See
Conversation.]
Defn: A meeting or assembly for conversation, particularly on
literary or scientific subjects. Gray.
These conversazioni [at Florence] resemble our card assemblies. A.
Drummond.
CONVERSE
Con*verse", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Conversed; p.pr. & vb.n. Conversing.]
Etym: [F. converser, L. conversari to associate with; con- + versari
to be turned, to live, remain, fr. versare to turn often, v. intens.
of vertere to turn See Convert.]
1. To keep company; to hold intimate intercourse; to commune; --
followed by with.
To seek the distant hills, and there converse With nature. Thomson.
Conversing with the world, we use the world's fashions. Sir W. Scott.
But to converse with heaven -This is not easy. Wordsworth.
2. To engage, in familiar colloqui; to interchange thoughts and
opinions in a free, informal manner; to chat; -- followed by with
before a person; by on, about, concerning, etc., before a thing.
Companions That do converse and waste the time together. Shak.
We had conversed so often on that subject. Dryden.
3. To have knowledge of, from long intercourse or study; -- said of
things.
According as the objects they converse with afford greater or less
variety. Locke.
Syn.
-- To associate; commune; discourse; talk; chat.
CONVERSE
Con"verse, n.
1. Frequent intercourse; familiar communion; intimate association.
Glanvill.
"T is but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores
unrolled. Byron.
2. Familiar discourse; free interchange of thoughts or views;
conversation; chat.
Formed by thy converse happily to steer From grave to gay, from
lively to severe. Pope.
CONVERSE
Con"verse
Defn: , a. Etym: [L. conversus, p.p. of convertere. See Convert.]
Turned about; reversed in order or relation; reciprocal; as, a
converse proposition.
CONVERSE
Con"verse, n.
1. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition which arises from interchanging the terms of
another, as by putting the predicate for the subject, and the subject
for the predicate; as, no virtue is vice, no vice is virtue.
Note: It should not (as is often done) be confounded with the
contrary or opposite of a proposition, which is formed by introducing
the negative not or no.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A proposition in which, after a conclusion from something
supposed has been drawn, the order is inverted, making the conclusion
the supposition or premises, what was first supposed becoming now the
conclusion or inference. Thus, if two sides of a sides of a triangle
are equal, the angles opposite the sides are equal; and the converse
is true, i.e., if these angles are equal, the two sides are equal.
CONVERSELY
Con"verse*ly ( or , adv.
Defn: In a converse manner; with change of order or relation;
reciprocally. J. S. Mill.
CONVERSER
Con*vers"er, n.
Defn: One who engages in conversation.
CONVERSIBLE
Con*ver"si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being converted or reversed. Hammond.
CONVERSION
Con*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. conversio: cf. F. conversion. See
Convert.]
1. The act of turning or changing from one state or condition to
another, or the state of being changed; transmutation; change.
Artificial conversion of water into ice. Bacon.
The conversion of the aliment into fat. Arbuthnot.
2. The act of changing one's views or course, as in passing from one
side, party, or from of religion to another; also, the state of being
so changed. "Conversion to Christianity." Prescott.
3. (Law)
Defn: An appropriation of, and dealing with the property of another
as if it were one's own, without right; as, the conversion of a
horse.
Or bring my action of conversion And trover for my goods. Hudibras.
4. (Logic)
Defn: The act of interchanging the terms of a proposition, as by
putting the subject in the place of the predicate, or the contrary.
5. (Math.)
Defn: A change or reduction of the form or value of a proposition;
as, the conversion of equations; the conversion of proportions.
6. (Mil.)
(a) A change of front, as a body of troops attacked in the flank.
(b) A change of character or use, as of smoothbore guns into rifles.
7. (Theol.)
Defn: A spiritual and moral change attending a change of belief with
conviction; a change of heart; a change from the service of the world
to the service of God; a change of the ruling disposition of the
soul, involving a transformation of the outward life.
He oft Frequented their assemblies, . . . and to them preached
Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison under judgments
imminent. Milton.
CONVERSIVE
Con*ver"sive, a.
1. Capable of being converted or changed.
2. Ready to converse; social. [Archaic] Feltham.
CONVERT
Con*vert", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Converted; p.pr. & vb.n. Converting.]
Etym: [L. convertere, -versum; con- + vertere to turn: cf. F.
convertir. See Verse.]
1. To cause to turn; to turn. [Obs.]
O, which way shall I first convert myself B. Jonson.
2. To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter
in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to
convert water into ice.
If the whole atmosphere were converted into water. T. Burnet.
That still lessens The sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy. Milton.
3. To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from
one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.
No attempt was made to convert the Moslems. Prescott.
4. To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to
turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral
character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of
holiness.
He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a
soul from death. Lames v. 20.
5. To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended
use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally.
When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it
was] held no larceny. Cooley.
6. To exchange for some specified equivalent; as, to convert goods
into money.
7. (Logic)
Defn: To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the
subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
8. To turn into another language; to translate. [Obs.]
Which story . . . Catullus more elegantly converted. B. Jonson.
Converted guns, cast-iron guns lined with wrought-iron or steel
tubes. Farrow.
-- Converting furnace (Steel Manuf.), a furnace in which wrought
iron is converted into steel by cementation.
Syn.
-- To change; turn; transmute; appropriate.
CONVERT
Con*vert", v. i.
Defn: To be turned or changed in character or direction; to undergo a
change, physically or morally.
If Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast, they [the Neboites]
would have converted. Latimer.
A red dust which converth into worms. Sandys.
The public hope And eye to thee converting. Thomson.
CONVERT
Con"vert, n.
1. A person who is converted from one opinion or practice to another;
a person who is won over to, or heartily embraces, a creed, religious
system, or party, in which he has not previously believed;
especially, one who turns from the controlling power of sin to that
of holiness, or from unbelief to Christianity.
The Jesuits did not persuade the converts to lay aside the use of
images. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the
service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in
the choir.
Syn.
-- Proselyte; neophyte.
-- Convert, Proselyte, Pervert. A convert is one who turns from what
he believes to have been a decided error of faith or practice. Such a
change may relate to religion, politics, or other subjects. properly
considered, it is not confined to speculation alone, but affects the
whole current of one's feelings and the tenor of his actions. As such
a change carries with it the appearance of sincerity, the term
convert is usually taken in a good sense. Proselyte is a term of more
ambiguous use and application. It was first applied to an adherent of
one religious system who had transferred himself externally to some
other religious system; and is also applied to one who makes a
similar transfer in respect to systems of philosophy or speculation.
The term has little or no reference to the state of the heart.
Pervert is a term of recent origin, designed to express the contrary
of convert, and to stigmatize a person as drawn off perverted from
the true faith. It has been more particulary applied by members of
the Church of England to those who have joined the Roman Catholic
Church.
CONVERTEND
Con`ver*tend", n. Etym: [L. convertenus to be converted.] (Logic)
Defn: Any proposition which is subject to the process of conversion;
-- so called in its relation to itself as converted, after which
process it is termed the conversae. See Converse, n. (Logic).
CONVERTER
Con*vert"er, n.
1. One who converts; one who makes converts.
2. (Steel Manuf.)
Defn: A retort, used in the Bessemer process, in which molten cast
iron is decarburized and converted into steel by a blast of air
forced through the liquid metal.
CONVERTIBILITY
Con*vert`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being convertible; capability of
being exchanged; convertibleness.
The mutual convertibility of land into money, and of money into land.
Burke.
CONVERTIBLE
Con*vert"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. convertibilis: cf. F. convertible.]
1. Capable of being converted; susceptible of change; transmutable;
transformable.
Minerals are not convertible into another species, though of the same
genus. Harvey.
2. Capable of being exchanged or interchanged; reciprocal;
interchangeable.
So long as we are in the regions of nature, miraculous and
improbable, miraculous and incredible, may be allowed to remain
convertible terms. Trench.
CONVERTIBLENESS
Con*vert"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being convertible; convertibility.
CONVERTIBLY
Con*vert"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a convertible manner.
CONVERTITE
Con"vert*ite, n. Etym: [Cf. It. convertito, p.p. of convertire to
convert.]
Defn: A convert. [Obs.] Shak.
CONVEX
Con"vex, a. Etym: [L. convexus vaulted, arched, convex, concave, fr.
convehere to bring together: cf. F. convexe. See Vehicle.]
Defn: Rising or swelling into a spherical or rounded form; regularly
protuberant or bulging; -- said of a spherical surface or curved line
when viewed from without, in opposition to concave.
Drops of water naturally form themselves into figures with a convex
surface. Whewell.
Double convex, convex on both sides; convexo-convex.
CONVEX
Con"vex, n.
Defn: A convex body or surface.
Half heaven's convex glitters with the flame. Tickell.
Note: This word was often pronounced con-vex' by early writers, as by
Milton, and occasionallyby later poets.
CONVEXED
Con"vexed ( or ), a.
Defn: Made convex; protuberant in a spherical form. Sir T. Browne.
CONVEXEDLY
Con*vex"ed*ly, dv.
Defn: In a convex form; convexly. Sir T. Browne.
CONVEXEDNESS
Con*vex"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Convexity.
CONVEXITY
Con*vex"i*ty, n.; pl. Convexities. Etym: [L. convexitas: cf. F.
convexité.]
Defn: The state of being convex; the exterior surface of a convex
body; roundness.
A smooth, uniform convexity and rotundity of a globe. Bentley.
CONVEXLY
Con"vex*ly, adv.
Defn: In a convex form; as, a body convexly shaped.
CONVEXNESS
Con"vex*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being convex; convexity.
CONVEXO-CONCAVE
Con*vex"o-con"cave (or ), a.
Defn: Convex on one side, and concave on the other. The curves of the
convex and concave sides may be alike or may be different. See
Meniscus.
CONVEXO-CONVEX
Con*vex"o-con"vex, a.
Defn: Convex on botConvex, a.
CONVEXO-PLANE
Con*vex"o-plane`, a.
Defn: Convex on one side, and flat on the other; plano-convex.
CONVEY
Con*vey", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conveyed; p.pr. & vb.n. Conveying.]
Etym: [OF. conveir, convoier, to escort, convoy, F. convoyer, LL.
conviare, fr. L. con- + via way. See Viaduct, Voyage, and cf.
Convoy.]
1. To carry from one place to another; to bear or transport.
I will convey them by sea in fleats. 1 Kings v. 9.
Convey me to my bed, then to my grave. Shak.
2. To cause to pass from one place or person to another; to serve as
a medium in carrying (anything) from one place or person to another;
to transmit; as, air conveys sound; words convey ideas.
3. To transfer or deliver to another; to make over, as property; more
strictly (Law), to transfer (real estate) or pass (a title to real
estate) by a sealed writing.
The Earl of Desmond . . . secretly conveyed all his lands to feoffees
in trust. Spenser.
4. To impart or communicate; as, to convey an impression; to convey
information.
Men fill one another's heads with noise and sound, but convey not
thereby their thoughts. Locke.
5. To manage with privacy; to carry out. [Obs.]
I . . . will convey the business as I shall find means. Shak.
6. To carry or take away secretly; to steal; to thieve. [Obs.]
7. To accompany; to convoy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- To carry; transport; bear; transmit; trnsfer.
CONVEY
Con*vey", v. i.
Defn: To play the thief; to steal. [Cant]
But as I am Crack, I will convey, crossbite, and cheat upon
Simplicius. Marston.
CONVEYABLE
Con*vey"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being conveyed or transferred. Burke.
CONVEYANCE
Con*vey"ance, n.
1. The act of conveying, carrying, or transporting; carriage.
The long joirney was to be performed on horseback, -- the only sure
mode of conveyamce. Prescott.
Following th river downward, there is conveyance into the countries
named in the text. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. The instrument or means of carrying or transporting anything from
place to place; the vehicle in which, or means by which, anything is
carried from one place to another; as, stagecoaches, omnibuses, etc.,
are conveyances; a canal or aqueduct is a conveyance for water.
There pipes and these conveyances of our blood. Shak.
3. The act or process of transferring, transmitting, handing down, or
communicating; transmission.
Tradition is no infallible way of conveyance. Stillingfleet.
4. (Law)
Defn: The act by which the title to property, esp. real estate, is
transferred; transfer of ownership; an instrument in writing (as a
deed or mortgage), by which the title to property is conveyed from
one person to another.
[He] found the conveyances in law to be so firm, that in justice he
must decree the land to the earl. Clarendon.
5. Dishonest management, or artifice. [Obs.]
the very jesuits themselves . . . can not possibly devise any
juggling conveyance how to shift it off. Hakewill.
CONVEYANCER
Con*vey"an*cer, n. (Law)
Defn: One whose business is to draw up conveyances of property, as
deeds, mortgages, leases, etc. Burrill.
CONVEYANCING
Con*vey"an*cing, n. (Law)
Defn: The business of a conveyancer; the act or business of drawing
deeds, leases, or other writings, for transferring the title to
property from one person to another.
CONVEYER
Con*vey"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, conveys or carries, transmits or
transfers.
2. One given to artifices or secret practices; a juggler; a cheat; a
thief. [Obs.] Shak.
CONVEYOR
Con*vey"or, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A contrivance for carrying objects from place to place; esp.,
one for conveying grain, coal, etc., -- as a spiral or screw turning
in a pipe or trough, an endless belt with buckets, or a truck running
along a rope.
CONVICIATE
Con*vi"ci*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. conviciatus, p.p. of conviciari to
revile, fr. convicium loud reproach.]
Defn: To utter reproaches; to raise a clamor; to rail. [Obs.]
To conviciate instead of accusing. Laud.
CONVICINITY
Con`vi*cin"i*ty, n.; pl. Convicinities (.
Defn: Immediate vicinity; neighborhood.
The convicinity and contiguity of the two parishes. T. Warton.
CONVICIOUS
Con*vi"cious, a.
Defn: Expressing reproach; abusive; railing; taunting. [Obs.]
"Convicious words." Queen Elizabeth (1559).
CONVICT
Con*vict", p.a. Etym: [L. convictus, p.p. of convincere to convict,
prove. See Convice.]
Defn: Proved or found guilty; convicted. [Obs.] Shak.
Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Milton.
CONVICT
Con"vict, n.
1. A person proved guilty of a crime alleged against him; one legally
convicted or sentenced to punishment for some crime.
2. A criminal sentenced to penal servitude.
Syn.
-- Malefactor; culprit; felon; criminal.
CONVICT
Con*vict", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convicted; p.pr. & vb.n. Convicting.]
1. To prove or find guilty of an offense or crime charged; to
pronounce guilty, as by legal decision, or by one's conscience.
He [Baxter] . . . had been convicted by a jury. Macaulay.
They which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went
out one by one. John viii. 9.
2. To prove or show to be false; to confute; to refute. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
3. To demonstrate by proof or evidence; to prove.
Imagining that these proofs will convict a testament, to have that in
it which other men can nowhere by reading find. Hooker.
4. To defeat; to doom to destruction. [Obs.]
A whole armado of convicted sail. Shak.
Syn.
-- To confute; defect; convince; confound.
CONVICTIBLE
Con*victi*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being convicted. [R.] Ash.
CONVICTION
Con*vic"tion, n. Etym: [L. convictio proof: cf. F. conviction
conviction (in sense 3 & 4). See Convict, Convince.]
1. The act of convicting; the act of proving, finding, or adjudging,
guilty of an offense.
The greater certainty of conviction and the greater certainty of
punishment. Hallam.
2. (Law)
Defn: A judgment of condemnation entered by a court having
jurisdiction; the act or process of finding guilty, or the state of
being found guilty of any crime by a legal tribunal.
Conviction may accrue two ways. Blackstone.
3. The act of convincing of error, or of compelling the admission of
a truth; confutation.
For all his tedious talk is but vain boast, Or subtle shifts
conviction to evade. Milton.
4. The state of being convinced or convicted; strong persuasion or
belief; especially, the state of being convicted of sin, or by one's
conscience.
To call good evil, and evil good, against the conviction of their own
consciences. Swift.
And did you presently fall under the power of this conviction Bunyan.
Syn.
-- Conviction; persuasion.
-- Conviction respects soley matters of belief or faith; persuasion
respects matters of belief or practice. Conviction respects our most
important duties; persuasion is frequently applied to matters of
indifference. Crabb.
-- Conviction is the result of the [operation of the] understanding;
persuasion, of the will. Conviction is a necessity of the mind,
persuasion an acquiescence of the inclination. C. J. Smith.
-- Persuasion often induces men to act in opposition to their
conviction of duty.
CONVICTISM
Con"vict*ism, n.
Defn: The policy or practice of transporting convicts to penal
settlements. "The evils of convictism." W. Howitt.
CONVICTIVE
Con*vict"ive, a.
Defn: Convincing. [R.]
The best and most convictive argument. Glanwill.
-- Con*vict"ive*ly, adv.
-- Con*vict"ive*ness, n.
CONVINCE
Con*vince", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convinced; p.pr. & vb.n. Convincing.]
Etym: [L. convincere, -victum, to refute, prove; con- + vincere to
conquer. See Victor, and cf. Convict.]
1. To overpower; to overcome; to subdue or master. [Obs.]
His two chamberlains Will I with wine and wassail so convince That
memory, the warder of the brain, Shall be a fume. Shak.
2. To overcome by argument; to force to yield assent to truth; to
satisfy by proof.
Such convincing proofs and assurances of it as might enable them to
convince others. Atterbury.
3. To confute; to prove the fallacy of. [Obs.]
God never wrought miracle to convince atheism, because his ordinary
works convince it. Bacon.
4. To prove guilty; to convinct. [Obs.]
Which of you convinceth me of sin John viii. 46.
Seek not to convince me of a crime Which I can ne'er repent, nor you
can pardon. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To persuade; satisfy; convict.
-- To Convince, persuade. To convince is an act of the
understanding; to persuade, of the will or feelings. The one is
effected by argument, the other by motives. There are cases, however,
in which persuade may seem to be used in reference only to the assent
of the understanding; as when we say, I am persuaded it is so; I can
not persuade myself of the fact. But in such instances there is
usually or always a degree of awakened feeling which has had its
share in producing the assent of the understanding.
CONVINCEMENT
Con*vince"ment, n.
Defn: Act of convincing, or state of being convinced; conviction.
[R.]
The fear of a convincement. Milton.
CONVINCER
Con*vin"cer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, convinces; one who wins over by proof.
CONVINCIBLE
Con*vin"ci*ble, a.
1. Capable of being convinced or won over.
2. Capable of being confuted and disproved by argument; refutable.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CONVINCINGLY
Con*vin"cing*ly, adv.
Defn: in a convincing manner; in a manner to compel assent.
CONVINCINGNESS
Con*vin"cing*ness, n.
Defn: The power of convincing, or the quality of being convincing.
CONVIVAL
Con*viv"al, a. Etym: [L. convivalis. See Convive.]
Defn: pertaining to a feast or to festivity; convivial. [Obs.] "A
convival dish." Sir T. Browne.
CONVIVE
Con*vive", v. i. Etym: [L. convivari; akin to convivium a feast,
convivere to live or feast together; con- + vivere to live.]
Defn: To feast together; to be convivial. [Obs.] "There, in the full,
convive we." Shak.
CONVIVE
Con"vive, n. Etym: [L. conviva: cf. F. convive.]
Defn: A quest at a banquet. [R.] Beaumont.
CONVIVIAL
Con*viv"i*al, a. Etym: [From L. convivium a feast; con- + vivere to
live. See Victuals, and cf. Convive.]
Defn: Of or relating to a feast or entertainment, or to eating and
drinking, with accompanying festivity; festive; social; gay; jovial.
Which feasts convivial meetings we did name. Denham.
CONVIVIALIST
Con*viv"i*al*ist, n.
Defn: A person of convivial habits.
CONVIVIALITY
Con*viv`i*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Convivialities (.
Defn: The good humor or mirth indulged in upon festive occasions; a
convivial spirit or humor; festivity.
CONVIVIALLY
Con*viv"i*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a convivial manner.
CONVOCATE
Con"vo*cate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convocated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Convocating.] Etym: [L. convocatus, p.p. of convocare to convocate;
con- + vocare to call. See Vocal, and cf. Convoce.]
Defn: To convoke; to call together. [Obs.] May (Lucan).
CONVOCATION
Con`vo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. convocatio: cf. F. convocation. See
Convoke.]
1. The act of calling or assembling by summons.
2. An assembly or meeting.
In the first day there shall be a holy convocation. Ex. xii. 16.
3. (Ch. of Eng.)
Defn: An assembly of the clergy, by their representatives, to consult
on ecclesiastical affairs.
Note: In England, the provinces of Canterbury and York have each
their convocation, but no session for business were allowed from 1717
to 1861. The Convocation of Canterbury consists of two houses. In the
Convocation of York the business has been generally conducted in one
assembly.
4. (Oxf. University)
Defn: An academical assembly, in which the business of the university
is transacted.
Syn.
-- meeting; assembly; congregation; congress; diet; convention;
synod; council.
CONVOCATIONAL
Con`vo*ca"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a convocation.
CONVOCATIONIST
Con`vo*ca"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate or defender of convocation.
CONVOKE
Con*voke", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convoked; p.pr. & vb.n. Convoking.]
Etym: [L. convocare: cf. F. convoquer. See Convocate.]
Defn: To call together; to summon to meet; to assemble by summons.
There remained no resource but the dreadful one of convoking a
parliament. palfrey.
Syn.
-- To summon; assemble; convene. See Call.
CONVOLUTE
Con"vo*lute, a. Etym: [L. convolutus, p.p. of convolvere. See
Convolve.] (Bot.)
Defn: Rolled or wound together, one part upon another; -- said of the
leaves of plants in æstivation.
CONVOLUTED
Con"vo*lu`ted, a.
1. Having convolutions.
beaks recurved and convoluted like a ram's horn. Pennant.
2. Folded in tortuous windings.
A highly convoluted brain. North Amer. Rev.
CONVOLUTION
Con`vo*lu"tion, n.
1. The act of rolling anything upon itself, or one thing upon
another; a winding motion.
O'er the calm sea, in convolution swift, The feathered eddy floats.
Thomson.
2. The state of being rolled upon itself, or rolled or doubled
together; a tortuous or sinuous winding or fold, as of something
rolled or folded upon itself. Blackmore.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: An irregular, tortuous folding of an organ or part; as, the
convolutions of the intestines; the cerebral convolutions. See Brain.
CONVOLVE
Con*volve", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convolved; p.pr. & vb.n. Convolving.]
Etym: [L. convolvere, -volutum; con- + volvere to roll. See Voluble.]
Defn: To roll or wind together; to roll or twist one part on another.
Then Satan first knew pain, And writhed him to and fro convolved.
Milton.
CONVOLVULACEOUS
Con*vol`vu*la"ceous, a. Etym: [From Convolvus.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants of which
the bindweed and the morning-glory are common examples.
CONVOLVULIN
Con*vol"vu*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside occurring in jalap (the root of a convolvulaceous
plant), and extracted as a colorless, tasteless, gummy mass of
powerful purgative properties.
CONVOLVULUS
Con*vol"vu*lus, n.; pl. L.Convolvuli, E. Convoluluses. Etym: [L.,
bindweed, fr. convolvere to roll around. So named from its twining
stems.] (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of plants having monopetalous flowers, including
the common bindweed (C. arwensis), and formerly the morning-glory,
but this is now transferred to the genus Ipomæa.
The luster of the long convolvuluses That coiled around the stately
stems. Tennyson.
CONVOY
Con*voy", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convoyed; p.pr. & vb.n. Convoying.]
Etym: [F. convoyer, OF. conveier, convoier. See Convey.]
Defn: To accompany for protection, either by sea or land; to attend
for protection; to escort; as, a frigate convoys a merchantman.
I know ye skillful to convoy The total freight of hope and joy.
Emerson.
CONVOY
Con"voy, n. Etym: [F. convoi.]
1. The act of attending for defense; the state of being so attended;
protection; escort.
To obtain the convoy of a man-of-war. Macaulay.
2. A vessel or fleet, or a train or trains of wagons, employed in the
transportation of munitions of war, money, subsistence, clothing,
etc., and having an armed escort.
3. A protection force accompanying ships, etc., on their way from
place to place, by sea or land; an escort, for protection or
guidance.
When every morn my bosom glowed To watch the convoy on the road.
Emerson.
4. Conveyance; means of transportation. [Obs.] Shak.
5. A drag or brake applied to the wheels of a carriage, to check
their velocity in going down a hill. Knight.
CONVOY PENNANT
Con"voy pen"nant. A white pennant with red border, carried :
(a) Forward on all vessels on convoy duty.
(b) Alone by a senior officer present during evolutions or drills,
when it commands "Silence."
(c) Over a signal number, when it refers to the signal number of an
officer in the Annual Navy Register.
CONVULSE
Con*vulse", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Convulsed; p.pr. & vb.n. Convulsing.]
Etym: [L. convulsus, p.p. of convellere to tear up, to shake; con- +
vellere to pluck, pull.]
1. To contract violently and irregulary, as the muscular parts of an
animal body; to shake with irregular spasms, as in excessive
laughter, or in agony from grief or pain.
With emotions which checked his voice and convulsed his powerful
frame. Macaulay.
2. To agitate greatly; to shake violently.
The world is convulsed by the agonies of great nations. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To agitate; disturb; shake; tear; rend.
CONVULSION
Con*vul"sion, n. Etym: [L. convulsio: cf. F. convulsion.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural, violent, and unvoluntary contraction of the
muscular parts of an animal body.
2. Any violent and irregular motion or agitation; a violent shaking;
a tumult; a commotion.
Those two massy pillars, With horrible convulsion, to and fro He
tugged, he shook, till down they came. Milton.
Times of violence and convulsion. Ames.
Syn.
-- Agitation; commotion; tumult; disturbance.
CONVULSIONAL
Con*vul"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having, convulsions; convulsionary. [R.]
Lamb.
CONVULSIONARY
Con*vul"sion*a*ry (, a. Etym: [Cf. F. convulsionnaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to convulsion; convulsive. "Convulsionary
struggles." Sir W. Scott.
CONVULSIONARY
Con*vul"sion*a*ry, n.
Defn: A convulsionist.
CONVULSIONIST
Con*vul"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who has convulsions; esp., one of a body of fanatics in
France, early in the eighteenth century, who went into convulsions
under the influence of religious emotion; as, the Convulsionists of
St. Médard.
CONVULSIVE
Con*vul"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. convulsif.]
Defn: Producing, or attended with, convulsions or spasms;
characterized by convulsions; convulsionary.
An irregular, convulsive movement may be necessary to throw off an
irregular, convulsive disease. Burke.
CONVULSIVELY
Con*vul"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: in a convulsive manner.
CONY
Co"ny ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [OE. coning, conig, coni, OF. connin,
conin, connil, fr. L. cuniculus a rabbit, cony, prob. an Hispanic
word.] [Written also coney.]
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) A rabbit, esp., the European rabbit (Lepus cuniculus).
(b) The chief hare.
Note: The cony of Scripture is thought to be Hyrax Syriacus, called
also daman, and cherogril. See Daman.
2. A simpleton. [Obs.]
It is a most simple animal; whence are derived our usual phrases of
cony and cony catcher. Diet's Dry Dinner (1599).
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) An important edible West Indian fish (Epinephelus apua); the hind
of Bermuda.
(b) A local name of the burbot. [Eng.]
CONY-CATCH
Co"ny-catch, v. t.
Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to trick. [Obs.]
Take heed, Signor Baptista, lest you be cony-catched in the this
business. Shak.
CONY-CATCHER
Co"ny-catch`er, n.
Defn: A cheat; a sharper; a deceiver. [Obs.] Minsheu.
CONYLENE
Con"y*lene, n. Etym: [Conine + acetylene.]
Defn: An oily substance, C8H14, obtained from several derivatives of
conine.
CONYRINE
Con"y*rine, n. Etym: [From Conine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A blue, fluorescent, oily base (regarded as a derivative of
pyridine), obtained from conine.
COO
Coo, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Cooed; p.pr. & vb.n. Cooing.]
1. To make a low repeated cry or sound, like the characteristic note
of pigeons or doves.
The stockdove only through the forest cooes, Mournfully hoarse.
Thomson.
2. To show affection; to act in a loving way. See under Bill, v. i.
"Billing or cooing." Byron.
COOEY; COOEE
Coo"ey, Coo"ee, n. Etym: [Of imitative origin.]
Defn: A peculiar whistling sound made by the Australian aborigenes as
a call or signal. [Written also cooie.]
COOK
Cook, v. i. Etym: [Of imitative origin.]
Defn: To make the noise of the cuckoo. [Obs. or R.]
Constant cuckoos cook on every side. The Silkworms (1599).
COOK
Cook, v. t. Etym: [Etymol. unknown.]
Defn: To throw. [Prov.Eng.] "Cook me that ball." Grose.
COOK
Cook, n. Etym: [AS. coc, fr. l. cocus, coquus, coquus, fr. coquere to
cook; akin to Gr. pac, and to E. apricot, biscuit, concoct,
dyspepsia, precocious. Cf. Pumpkin.]
1. One whose occupation is to prepare food for the table; one who
dresses or cooks meat or vegetables for eating.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish, the European striped wrasse.
COOK
Cook, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cooked; p.pr & vb.n. Cooking.]
1. To prepare, as food, by boiling, roasting, baking, broiling, etc.;
to make suitable for eating, by the agency of fire or heat.
2. To concoct or prepare; hence, to tamper with or alter; to garble;
-- often with up; as, to cook up a story; to cook an account.
[Colloq.]
They all of them receive the same advices from abroad, and very often
in the same words; but their way of cooking it is so different.
Addison.
COOK
Cook, v. i.
Defn: To prepare food for the table.
COOKBOOK
Cook"book`, n.
Defn: A book of directions and receipts for cooking; a cookery book.
[U.S.]
"Just How": a key to the cookbooks. Mrs. A. D. T. Whitney.
COOKEE
Cook*ee", n.
Defn: A female cook. [R.]
COOKERY
Cook"er*y, n.
1. The art or process of preparing food for the table, by dressing,
compounding, and the application of heat.
2. A delicacy; a dainty. [Obs.] R. North.
COOKEY; COOKIE
Cook"ey, Cook"ie, n.
Defn: See Cooky.
COOKMAID
Cook"maid`, n.
Defn: A female servant or maid who dresses provisions and assists the
cook.
COOKROOM
Cook"room`, n.
Defn: A room for cookery; a kitchen; the galley or caboose of a ship.
Sir W. Raleigh.
COOKSHOP
Cook`shop, n.
Defn: An eating house. "A subterranean cookshop." Macaulay.
COOKY
Cook"y, n.; pl. Cookies. Etym: [Cf. D. koek cake, dim. koekje; akin
to G. kuchen, E. cake; or cf. OE. coket, prob., a sort of cake, and
prob. of French origin.]
Defn: A small, flat, sweetened cake of various kinds.
COOL
Cool, a. [Compar. Cooler; superl. Coolest.] Etym: [AS. col; akin to
D. koel, G. kühl, OHG. chouli, Dan. kölig, Sw. kylig, also to AS.
calan to be cold, Icel. kala. See Cold, and cf. Chill.]
1. Moderately cold; between warm and cold; lacking in warmth;
producing or promoting coolness.
Fanned with cool winds. Milton.
2. Not ardent, warm, fond, or passionate; not hasty; deliberate;
exercising self-control; self-possessed; dispassionate; indifferent;
as, a cool lover; a cool debater.
For a patriot, too cool. Goldsmith.
3. Not retaining heat; light; as, a cool dress.
4. Manifesting coldness or dislike; chilling; apathetic; as, a cool
manner.
5. Quietly impudent; negligent of propriety in matters of minor
importance, either ignorantly or willfully; presuming and selfish;
audacious; as, cool behavior.
Its cool stare of familiarity was intolerable. Hawthorne.
6. Applied facetiously, in a vague sense, to a sum of money, commonly
as if to give emphasis to the largeness of the amount.
He had lost a cool hundred. Fielding.
Leaving a cool thousand to Mr.Matthew Pocket. Dickens.
Syn.
-- Calm; dispassionate; self-possessed; composed; repulsive; frigid;
alienated; impudent.
COOL
Cool, n.
Defn: A moderate state of cold; coolness; -- said of the temperature
of the air between hot and cold; as, the cool of the day; the cool of
the morning or evening.
COOL
Cool, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cooled; p.pr. & vb.n. Cooling.]
1. To make cool or cold; to reduce the temperature of; as, ice cools
water.
Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and
cool my tongue. Luke xvi. 24.
2. To moderate the heat or excitement of; to allay, as passion of any
kind; to calm; to moderate.
We have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings, our
unbitted lusts. Shak.
To cool the heels, to dance attendance; to wait, as for admission to
a patron's house. [Colloq.] Dryden.
COOL
Cool, v. i.
1. To become less hot; to lose heat.
I saw a smith stand with his hammer, thus, the whilst his iron did on
the anvil cool. Shak.
2. To lose the heat of excitement or passion; to become more
moderate.
I will not give myself liberty to think, lest I should cool.
Congreve.
COOLER
Cool"er, n.
Defn: That which cools, or abates heat or excitement.
if acid things were used only as coolers, they would not be so proper
in this case. Arbuthnot.
2. Anything in or by which liquids or other things are cooled, as an
ice chest, a vessel for ice water, etc.
COOL-HEADED
Cool"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a temper not easily excited; free from passion.
-- Cool"-head`ed*ness, n.
COOLIE
Coo"lie, n.
Defn: Same as Cooly.
COOLING
Cool"ing, p.a.
Defn: Adapted to cool and refresh; allaying heat. "The cooling
brook." Goldsmith. Cooling card, something that dashes hopes. [Obs.]
-- Cooling time (Law), such a lapse of time as ought, taking all the
circumstances of the case in view, to produce a subsiding of passion
previously provoked. Wharton.
COOLISH
Cool"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat cool.
The nights began to grow a little coolish. Goldsmith.
COOLLY
Cool"ly, a.
Defn: Coolish; cool. [Obs.] Spenser.
COOLLY
Cool"ly, adv.
Defn: In a cool manner; without heat or excessive cold; without
passion or ardor; calmly; deliberately; with indifference;
impudently.
COOLNESS
Cool"ness, n.
1. The state of being cool; a moderate degree of cold; a moderate
degree, or a want, of passion; want of ardor, zeal, or affection;
calmness.
2. Calm impudence; self-possession. [Colloq.]
COOLUNG
Coo"lung, n. Etym: [From the native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The great gray crane of India (Grus cinerea). [Also written
coolen and cullum.]
COOLY; COOLIE
Coo"ly, Coo"lie, n.; pl. Coolies. Etym: [Hind. k a laborer, porter:
cf. Turk. k, ky, slave.]
Defn: An East Indian porter or carrier; a laborer transported from
the East Indies, China, or Japan, for service in some other country.
COOM
Coom, n. Etym: [Cf. G. kahm mold gathered on liquids, D. kam, Sw.
kimrök pine soot, smoke black, Icel. kam grime, film of dirt.]
Defn: Soot; coal dust; refuse matter, as the dirty grease which comes
from axle boxes, or the refuse at the mouth of an oven. Phillips.
Bailey.
COOMB
Coomb, n. Etym: [AS. cumb a liquid measure, perh. from LL. cumba
boat, tomb of stone, fr. Gr. kumpf bowl.]
Defn: A dry measure of four bushels, or half a quarter. [Written also
comb.]
COOMB; COOMBE
Coomb, Coombe, n. Etym: [See Comb, Combe, in this sense.]
Defn: A hollow in a hillside. [Prov. Eng.] See Comb, Combe.
COON
Coon, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A raccoon. See Raccoon.
COONCAN
Coon"can, n. [Corrupt of conquian.]
Defn: A game of cards derived from conquian, played by two or more
players with one or two full packs of cards.
COONTIE
Coon"tie, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A cycadaceous plant of Florida and the West Indies, the Zamia
integrifolia, from the stems of which a kind of sago is prepared.
COOP
Coop, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. cypa a measure, D. kuip tub, Icel. kupa bowl,
G. kufe coop tub; all fr. L. cupa vat, tub, LL. cupa, copa, cup. See
Cup, and cf. Keeve.]
1. A barrel or cask for liquor. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. An inclosure for keeping small animals; a pen; especially, a
grated box for confining poultry.
3. A cart made close with boarde; a tumbrel. [Scotch]
COOP
Coop, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cooped; p.pr. & vb.n. Cooping.]
Defn: To confine in a coop; hence, to shut up or confine in a narrow
compass; to cramp; -- usually followed by up, sometimes by in.
The Trojans coopet within their walls so long. Dryden.
The contempt of all other knowledge . . . coops the understanding up
within narrow bounds. Locke.
2. To work upon in the manner of a cooper. [Obs.] "Shaken tubs . . .
be new cooped." Holland.
Syn.
-- To crowd; confine; imprison.
COOPEE
Coo*pee", n.
Defn: See Coupe. [Obs.] Johnson.
COOPER
Coop"er, n. Etym: [From Coop.]
Defn: One who makes barrels, hogsheads, casks, etc.
COOPER
Coop"er, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Coopered; p.pr. & vb.n. Coopering.]
Defn: To do the work of a cooper upon; as, to cooper a cask or
barrel.
COOPERAGE
Coop"er*age, n.
1. Work done by a cooper.
2. The price paid for coopers; work.
3. A place where coopers' work is done.
COOPERANT
Co*öp"er*ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. coopérant.]
Defn: Operating together; as, coöperant forces.
COOPERATE
Co*öp"er*ate, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Coöperated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Coöperating.] Etym: [L. coöperatus, p.p. of coöperari to coöperate;
co + operari to work, opus work. See Operate.]
Defn: To act or operate jointly with another or others; to concur in
action, effort, or effect.
Whate'er coöperates to the common mirth. Crashaw.
COOPERATION
Co*öp`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. coöperatio: cf. F. coopération.]
1. The act of coöperating, or of operating together to one end; joint
operation; concurrent effort or labor.
Not holpen by the coöperation of angels. Bacon.
2. (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: The association of a number of persons for their benefit.
COOPERATIVE
Co*öp"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Operating jointly to the same end. Coöperative society, a
society established on the principle of a joint-stock association,
for the production of commodities, or their purchase and distribution
for consumption, or for the borrowing and lending of capital among
its members.
-- Coöperative store, a store established by a coöperative society,
where the members make their purchases and share in the profits or
losses.
COOPERATOR
Co*öp"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. coopérateur.]
Defn: One who labors jointly with others to promote the same end.
"Coöperators with the truth." Boyle.
COOPERING
Coop"er*ing, n.
Defn: Work done by a cooper in making or repairing barrels, casks,
etc.; the business of a cooper.
COOPERY
Coop"er*y, a.
Defn: Relating to a cooper; coopered. [Obs.]
Coopery vessels made of wood. Holland.
COOPERY
Coop"er*y, n.
Defn: The occupation of a cooper. Crabb.
COOPT
Co*öpt", v. t. Etym: [See Coöptate. Cf. F. coopter.]
Defn: To choose or elect in concert with another. [R.]
Each of the hundred was to coöpt three others. Jowett (Thysyd. ).
COOPTATE
Co*öp"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. coöptatus, p.p. of coötare to elect to
something; co- + optare to choose.]
Defn: To choose; to elect; to coöpt. [Obs.] Cockeram.
COOPTATION
Co`öp*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. coöptatio.]
Defn: The act of choosing; selection; choice. [Obs.]
The first election and coöptation of a friend. Howell.
COORDAIN
Co`ör*dain, v. t.
Defn: To ordain or appoint for some purpose along with another.
COORDINANCE
Co*ör"di*nance, n.
Defn: Joint ordinance.
COORDINATE
Co*ör"di*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. co- + L. ordinatus, p.p. of ordinare
to regulate. See Ordain.]
Defn: Equal in rank or order; not subordinate.
Whether there was one Supreme Governor of the world, or many
coördinate powers presiding over each country. Law.
Conjunctions joint sentences and coördinate terms. Rev. R. Morris.
Coördinate adjectives, adjectives disconnected as regards ane
another, but referring equally to the same subject.
-- Coördinate conjunctions, conjunctions joining independent
propositions. Rev. R. Morris.
COORDINATE
Co*ör"di*nate , v. t. [imp. & p.p. Coördinated; p.pr. & vb.n.
Coördinating.]
1. To make coördinate; to put in the same order or rank; as, to
coördinate ideas in classification.
2. To give a common action, movement, or condition to; to regulate
and combine so as to produce harmonious action; to adjust; to
harmonize; as, to coördinate muscular movements.
COORDINATE
Co*ör"di*nate, n.
1. A thing of the same rank with another thing; one two or more
persons or things of equal rank, authority, or importance.
It has neither coördinate nor analogon; it is absolutely one.
Coleridge.
2. pl. (Math.)
Defn: Lines, or other elements of reference, by means of which the
position of any point, as of a curve, is defined with respect to
certain fixed lines, or planes, called coördinate axes and coördinate
planes. See Abscissa.
Note: Coördinates are of several kinds, consisting in some of the
different cases, of the following elements, namely: (a) (Geom. of Two
Dimensions) The abscissa and ordinate of any point, taken together;
as the abscissa PY and ordinate PX of the point P (Fig. 2, referred
to the coördinate axes AY and AX. (b) Any radius vector PA (Fig. 1),
together with its angle of inclination to a fixed line, APX, by which
any point A in the same plane is referred to that fixed line, and a
fixed point in it, called the pole, P. (c) (Geom. of Three
Dimensions) Any three lines, or distances, PB, PC, PD (Fig. 3), taken
parallel to three coördinate axes, AX, AY, AZ, and measured from the
corresponding coördinate fixed planes, YAZ, XAZ, XAY, to any point in
space, P, whose position is thereby determined with respect to these
planes and axes. (d) A radius vector, the angle which it makes with a
fixed plane, and the angle which its projection on the plane makes
with a fixed line line in the plane, by which means any point in
space at the free extremity of the radius vector is referred to that
fixed plane and fixed line, and a fixed point in that line, the pole
of the radius vector. Cartesian coördinates. See under Cartesian.
-- Geographical coördinates, the latitude and longitude of a place,
by which its relative situation on the globe is known. The height of
the above the sea level constitutes a third coördinate.
-- Polar coördinates, coördinates made up of a radius vector and its
angle of inclination to another line, or a line and plane; as those
defined in (b) and (d) above.
-- Rectangular coördinates, coördinates the axes of which intersect
at right angles.
-- Rectilinear coördinates, coördinates made up of right lines.
Those defined in (a) and (c) above are called also Cartesian
coördinates.
-- Trigonometrical or Spherical coördinates, elements of reference,
by means of which the position of a point on the surface of a sphere
may be determined with respect to two great circles of the sphere.
-- Trilinear coördinates, coördinates of a point in a plane,
consisting of the three ratios which the three distances of the point
from three fixed lines have one to another.
COORDINATELY
Co*ör"di*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a coördinate manner.
COORDINATENESS
Co*ör"di*nate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being coördinate; equality of rank or authority.
COORDINATION
Co*ör`di*na"tion, n.
1. The act of coördinating; the act of putting in the same order,
class, rank, dignity, etc.; as, the coördination of the executive,
the legislative, and the judicial authority in forming a government;
the act of regulating and combining so as to produce harmonious
results; harmonious adjustment; as, a coördination of functions.
"Coördination of muscular movement by the cerebellum." Carpenter.
2. The state of being coördinate, or of equal rank, dignity, power,
etc.
In this high court of parliament, there is a rare coördination of
power. Howell.
COORDINATIVE
Co*ör"di*na*tive, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing coördination. J. W. Gibbs.
COOT
Coot, n. Etym: [Cf. D. koet, W. cwtair; cwta short, bodtailed + iar
hen; cf. cwtau ro dock. Cf. Cut.]
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) A wading bird with lobate toes, of the genus Fulica. The common
European or bald coot is F. atra (see under bald); the American is F.
Americana.
(b) The surf duck or scoter. In the United States all the species of
(Edemia are called coots. See Scoter. "As simple as a coot."
Halliwell.
2. A stupid fellow; a simpleton; as, a silly coot. [Colloq.]
COOTER
Coot"er, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A fresh-water tortoise (Pseudemus concinna) of Florida.
(b) The box tortoise.
COOTFOOT
Coot`foot, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pharalope; -- so called because its toes are like the
coot's.
COOTHAY
Coo*thay", n.
Defn: A striped satin made in India. McElrath.
COP
Cop, n. Etym: [AS. cop; cf. G. kopf head. Cf. Cup, Cob.]
1. The top of a thing; the head; a crest. [Obs.]
Cop they used to call The tops of many hills. Dra
2. A conical or conical-ended mass of coiled thread, yarn, or roving,
wound upon a spindle, etc.
3. A tube or quill upon which silk is wound.
4. (Mil. Arch.)
Defn: same as Merlon.
5. A policeman. [Slang] Cop waste, a kind of cotton waste, composed
chiefly
COPAIBA; COPAIVA
Co*pai"ba, Co*pai"va, n. Etym: [Sp. & Pg., fr. Brazil. cupaúba.]
(Med.)
Defn: A more or less viscid, vellowish liquid, the bitter oleoresin
of several species of Copaifera, a genus of trees growing in South
America and the West Indies. It is stimulant and diuretic, and is
much used in affections of the mucous membranes; -- called also
balsam of copaiba. [Written also capivi.]
COPAL
Co"pal, Etym: [Sp., fr. Mexican copalli, Clavigero.]
Defn: A resinous substance flowing spontaneously from trees of
Zanzibar, Madagascar, and South America (Trachylobium Hornemannianum,
T. verrocosum, and Hymenæa Courbaril), and dug from earth where
forests have stood in Africa; -- used chiefly in making varnishes. Ur
COPALM
Co"palm`, n.
Defn: The yellowish, fragrant balsam yielded by the sweet gum; also,
the tree itself.
COPARCENARY
Co*par"ce*na*ry, n.; pl. Coparcenaries. Etym: [Pref. co- + parcenary]
(Law)
Defn: Partnership in inheritance; joint heirship; joint right of
sucession to an inheritance.
COPARCENER
Co*par"ce*ner, n. Etym: [Pref. co- + parcener.] (Law)
Defn: One who has an equal portion with others of an inheritance.
All the coparceners together make but one heir, and have but one
estate among them. blackstone.
COPARCENY
Co*par"ce*ny, n. Etym: [Abbrev. of Coparcenary.] (Law)
Defn: An equal share of an inheritance.
COPART
Co*part, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Compart]
Defn: To share. [Obs.]
For, of all miserias, I hold that chief Wretched to be, when none
coparts our grief. Webster (1661).
COPARTMENT
Co*part"ment, n.
Defn: A compartment. [Obs.] T. Warton.
COPARTNER
Co*part"ner, n.
Defn: One who is jointly concerned with one or more persons in
business, etc.; a partner; an associate; a partaker; a sharer.
the associates and copartners of our loss. Milton.
COPARTNERSHIP
Co*part"ner*ship, n.
1. The state of being a copartner or of having a joint interest in
any matter.
2. A partnership or firm; as, A. and B. have this day formed a
copartnership.
COPARTNERY
Co*part"ner*y, n.; pl. Copartneries (.
Defn: the state of being copartners in any undertaking. [R.]
COPATAIN
Cop"a*tain, a. Etym: [Formed fr. cop, in imitation of captain. See
Cop, Captain.]
Defn: Having a high crown, or a point or peak at top. [Obs.]
A copatain hat made on a Flemish block. Gascoigne.
COPATRIOT
Co*pa"tri*ot, n.
Defn: A joint patriot.
COPE
Cope, n. Etym: [A doublet of cape. See Cape, Cap.]
1. A covering for the head. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. Anything regarded as extended over the head, as the arch or
concave of the sky, the roof of a house, the arch over a door. "The
starry cope of heaven." Milton.
3. An ecclesiastical vestment or cloak, semicircular in form,
reaching from the shoulders nearly to the feet, and open in front
except at the top, whereit is united by a band or clasp. It is worn
in processions and on some other occasions. Piers plowman.
A hundred and sixty priests all in their copes. Bp. Burnet.
4. An ancient tribute due to the lord of the soil, out of the lead
mines in derbyshire, England.
5. (Founding)
Defn: The top part of a flask or mold; the outer part of a loam mold.
Knight. De Colange.
COPE
Cope, v. i.
Defn: To form a cope or arch; to bend or arch; to bow. [Obs.]
Some bending down and coping to ward the earth. Holland.
COPE
Cope, v. t. (Falconry)
Defn: To pare the beak or talons of (a hawk). J. H. Walsh.
COPE
Cope, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Coped; p.pr. & vb.n. Coping.] Etym: [OE.
copen, coupen, to buy, bargain, prob. from D. koopen to buy, orig.,
to bargain. See Chear.]
1. To exchange or barter. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To encounter; to meet; to have to do with.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man As e'er my conversation coped
withal. Shak.
3. To enter into or maintain a hostile contest; to struggle; to
combat; especially, to strive or contend on equal terms or with
success; to match; to equal; -- usually followed by with.
Host coped with host, dire was the din of war. Philips.
Their generals have not been able to cope with the troops of Athens.
Addison.
COPE
Cope, v. t.
1. To bargain for; to buy. [Obs.]
2. To make return for; to requite; to repay. [Obs.]
three thousand ducats due unto the Jew, We freely cope your courteous
pains withal. Shak.
3. To match one's self against; to meet; to encounter.
I love to cope him in these sullen fits. Shak.
They say he yesterday coped Hector in the battle, and struck him
down. Shak.
COPE-CHISEL
Cope"-chis`el, n.
Defn: A narrow chisel adapted for cutting a groove. Knight.
COPECK
Co"peck, n. Etym: [Russ. kopeika]
Defn: A Russian copper coin. See Kopeck.
COPED
Coped, a.
Defn: Clad in a cope.
COPELATA
Cop`e*la"ta, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Larvalla.
COPEMAN
Cope"man, n. Etym: [D. koopman, fr. koopen to buy. See Cope, v. i.
Chapman.]
Defn: A chapman; a dealer; a merchant. [Obs.]
He would have sold his part of paradise For ready money, had he met a
copeman. B. Jonson.
COPENHAGEN
Co`pen*ha"gen, n. [From Copenhagen, Denmark.]
1.
Defn: A sweetened hot drink of spirit and beaten eggs.
2. A children's game in which one player is inclosed by a circle of
others holding a rope.
COPEPOD
Cop"e*pod, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Copepoda.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Copepoda.
COPEPODA
Co*pep"o*da, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Entomastraca, including many minute Crustacea, both
freshwater and marine.
Note: They have a distinct carapace. The eggs are carried in a pair
of external pouches. Some are parasites of fishes.
COPERNICAN
Co*per"ni*can, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Copernicus, a Prussian by birth (b. 1473, d.
1543), who taught the world the solar system now received, called the
Copernican system.
COPESMATE
Copes"mate`, n.
Defn: An associate or companion; a friend; a partner. [Obs.]
Misshapen time, copesmate of ugly Night. Shak.
COPESTONE
Cope"stone`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A stone for coping. See Coping.
COPIER
Cop"i*er, n. Etym: [From. Copy.]
1. One who copies; one who writes or transcribes from an original; a
transcriber.
2. An imitator; one who imitates an example; hence, a plagiarist.
COPING
Cop"ing, n. Etym: [See Cope, n.] (Arch.)
Defn: The highest or covering course of masonry in a wall, often with
sloping edges to carry off water; -- sometimes called capping. Gwill.
COPIOUS
Co"pi*ous, a. Etym: [L. copiosus, fr. copia abundance: cf. F.
copieux. See Copy, Opulent.]
Defn: Large in quantity or amount; plentiful; abundant; fruitful.
Kindly pours its copious treasures forth. Thomson.
Hail, Son of God, Savior of men! thy name Shall be the copious matter
of my song. Milton.
Syn.
-- Ample; abundant; plentiful; plenteous; rich; full; exuberant;
overflowing; full. See Ample.
COPIOUSLY
Co"pi*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a copious manner.
COPIOUSNESS
Co"pi*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being copious; abudance; plenty; also,
diffuseness in style.
To imitatethe copiousness of Homer. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Abudance; plenty; richness; exuberance.
COPIST
Cop"ist, n. Etym: [F. copiste. See Copy.]
Defn: A copier. [Obs.] "A copist after nature." Shaftesbury.
COPLANAR
Co*plan"ar, a. Etym: [Pref. co- + plane.] (Math.)
Defn: Situated in one plane.
COPLAND
Cop"land`, n. Etym: [Cop + land.]
Defn: A piece of ground terminating in a point or acute angle. [Obs.]
COPORTION
Co*por"tion, n.
Defn: Equal share. [Obs.]
Myself will bear . . . coportion of your pack. Spenser.
COPPED
Copped, a. Etym: [From Cop.]
Defn: Rising to a point or head; conical; pointed; crested. Wiseman.
COPPEL
Cop"pel, n. & v.
Defn: See Cupel.
COPPER
Cop"per, n. Etym: [OE. coper (cf. D. koper, Sw. koppar, Dan. kobber,
G. kupfer), LL. cuper, fr. L. cuprum for earlier Cyprium, Cyprium
aes, i.e., Cyprian brass, fr. Gr. Cypreous.]
1. A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and
very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and
electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most
useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.
Note: Copper is the only metal which occurs native abundantly in
large masses; it is found also in various ores, of which the most
important are chalcopyrite, chalcocite, cuprite, and malachite.
Copper mixed with tin forms bell metal; with a smaller proportion,
bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys.
2. A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of
copper. [Colloq.]
My friends filled my pockets with coppers. Franklin.
3. A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.
4. pl. Specifically (Naut.),
Defn: the boilers in the galley for cooking; as, a ship's coppers.
Note: Copper is often used adjectively, commonly in the sense of made
or consisting of copper, or resembling copper; as, a copper boiler,
tube, etc.
All in a hot and copper sky. Coleridge.
Note: It is sometimes written in combination; as, copperplate,
coppersmith, copper-colored. Copper finch. (Zoöl.) See Chaffinch.
-- Copper glance, or Vitreous copper. (Min.) See Chalcocite.
-- Indigo copper. (Min.) See Covelline.
COPPER
Cop"per, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Coppered; p.pr. & vb.n. Coppering.]
Defn: To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper;
as, to copper a ship.
COPPERAS
Cop"per*as, n. Etym: [OE. coperose, F. couperose, fr. (assumed) L.
cuprirosa, equiv. to G. cha`lkanqos, i. e. copper flower, vitriol.
See Copper and Rose.]
Defn: Green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; a green crystalline
substance, of an astringent taste, used in making ink, in dyeing
black, as a tonic in medicine, etc. It is made on a large scale by
the oxidation of iron pyrites. Called also ferrous sulphate.
Note: The term copperas was formerly synonymous with vitriol, and
included the green, blue, and white vitriols, or the sulphates of
iron, copper, and zinc.
COPPER-BOTTOMED
Cop"per-bot`tomed, a.
Defn: Having a bottom made of copper, as a tin boiler or other
vessel, or sheathed with copper, as a ship.
COPPER-FACED
Cop"per-faced`, a.
Defn: Faced or covered with copper; as, copper-faced type.
COPPER-FASTENED
Cop"per-fas`tened, a.
Defn: Fastened with copper bolts, as the planks of ships, etc.; as, a
copper-fastened ship.
COPPERHEAD
Cop"per*head`, n. Etym: [From its color.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A poisonous American serpent (Ancistrodon conotortrix), closely
allied to the rattlesnake, but without rattles; -- called also
copper-belly, and red viper.
2. A nickname applied to a person in the Northern States who
sympathized with the South during the Civil War. [U.S.]
COPPERING
Cop"per*ing, n.
1. The act of covering with copper.
2. An envelope or covering of copper.
COPPERISH
Cop"per*ish, a.
Defn: Containing, or partaking of the nature of, copper; like copper;
as, a copperish taste.
COPPER-NICKEL
Cop"per-nick`el, n. (Min.)
Defn: Nicolite.
COPPER-NOSE
Cop"per-nose, n.
Defn: A red nose. Shak.
COPPERPLATE
Cop"per*plate, n.
(a) A plate of polished copper on which a design or writing is
engraved.
(b) An impression on paper taken from such a plate.
Note: In printing from a copper- or steel plate the lines are filled
with ink, the surface of the plate is wiped clean, the paper laid
upon it, and the impression taken by pressing it under the roller of
a plate press. Copperplate press. See Plate press, under Plate.
COPPERSMITH
Cop"per*smith, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to manufacture copper utensils; a
worker in copper.
COPPER WORKS
Cop"per works.
Defn: A place where copper is wrought or manufactured. Woodward.
COPPERWORM
Cop"per*worm, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The teredo; -- so called because it injures the bottoms of
vessels, where not protected by copper.
(b) The ringworm.
COPPERY
Cop"per*y, a.
Defn: Mixed with copper; containing copper, or made of copper; like
copper.
COPPICE
Cop"pice, n. Etym: [OF. copeiz, fr. coper, couper, to cut, F. couper,
fr. cop, coup, colp, a blow, F. coup, L. colaphus, fr. G. Copse, and
cf. Coup, Coupee.]
Defn: A grove of small growth; a thicket of brushwood; a wood cut at
certain times for fuel or other purposes. See Copse.
The rate of coppice lands will fall, upon the discovery of coal
mines. Locke.
COPPIN
Cop"pin, n.Etym: [See Cop.]
Defn: A cop of thread.
COPPLE
Cop"ple, n. Etym: [A dim. of Cop.]
Defn: Something rising in a conical shape; specifically, a hill
rising to a point.
A low cape, and upon it a copple not very high. Hakluyt.
COPPLE-CROWN
Cop"ple-crown, n.
Defn: A created or high-topped crown or head. "Like the copple-crown
the lapwing has." T. Randolph.
-- Cop"ple-crowned`, a.
COPPLED
Cop"pled, a. Etym: [From Copple.]
Defn: Rising to a point; conical; copped. [Obs.] Woodward.
COPPLE DUST
Cop"ple dust`.
Defn: Cupel dust. [Obs.]
Powder of steel, or copple dust. Bacon.
COPPLESTONE
Cop"ple*stone`, n.
Defn: A cobblestone. [Obs.]
COPPS
Copps, n.
Defn: See Copse. [Obs.]
COPRA
Co"pra, n. Etym: [Malayálam koppara or Hind. khopra.] (Com.)
Defn: The dried meat of the cocoanut, from which cocoanut oil is
expressed. [Written also cobra, copperah, coppra.]
COPROLITE
Cop"ro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. ko`pros dung + -lite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A piece of petrified dung; a fossil excrement.
COPROLITIC
Cop`ro*lit"ic, a.
Defn: Containing, pertaining to, or of the nature of, coprolites.
COPROPHAGAN
Co*proph"a*gan, n. Etym: [See Coprophagous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of beetle which feeds upon dung.
COPROPHAGOUS
Co*proph"a*gous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Feeding upon dung, as certain insects.
COP-ROSE
Cop-rose`, n. Etym: [F. coprose, of uncertain origin; cf. D.
klaproos, klapperroos.]
Defn: The red, or corn, poppy. [Written also cup-rose.]
COPS
Cops, n. Etym: [AS. cops, cosp, fetter.]
Defn: The connecting crook of a harrow. [Prov. Eng.]
COPSE
Copse, n. Etym: [Contr. from coppice.]
Defn: A wood of small growth; a thicket of brushwood. See Coppice.
Near yonder copse where once the garden smiled. Goldsmith.
COPSE
Copse, v. t.
1. To trim or cut; -- said of small trees, brushwood, tufts of grass,
etc. Halliwell.
2. To plant and preserve, as a copse. Swift.
COPSEWOOD
Copse"wood, n.
Defn: Brushwood; coppice. Macaulay.
COPSY
Cops"y, a.
Defn: Characterized by copses. "Copsy villages." "Copsy banks." J.
Dyer.
COPTIC
Cop"tic, a. Etym: [Abbrev. from L. Aegyptius an Egyprian, Gr. kibti,
pl. kibt.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Copts.
-- n.
Defn: The language of the Copts.
COPTIC CHURCH
Coptic Church.
Defn: The native church of Egypt or church of Alexandria, which in
general organization and doctrines resembles the Roman Catholic
Church, except that it holds to the Monophysitic doctrine which was
condemned (a. d. 451) by the council of Chalcedon, and allows its
priests to marry. The "pope and patriarch" has jurisdiction over the
Abyssinian Church. Since the 7th century the Coptic Church has been
so isolated from modifying influences that in many respects it is the
most ancient monument of primitive Christian rites and ceremonies.
But centuries of subjection to Moslem rule have weakened and degraded
it.
COPTS
Copts, n. pl.; sing. Copt. Etym: [See Coptic.] (Etnol.)
1. An Egyptian race thought to be descendants of the ancient
Egyptians.
2. The principal sect of Christians in Egypt and the valley of the
Nile.
Note: they belong to the Jacobite sect of Monophysite Christians, and
for eleven centuries have had possession of the patriarchal chair of
Alexandria.
COPULA
Cop"u*la, n. Etym: [L., bond, band. See Couple.]
1. (Logic & Gram.)
Defn: The word which unites the subject and predicate.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The stop which connects the manuals, or the manuals with the
pedals; -- called also coupler.
COPULATE
Cop"u*late, a. Etym: [L. copulatus, p.p. of copulare to couple, fr.
copula. See Copula.]
1. Joined; associated; coupled. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Joining subject and predicate; copulative. F. A. March.
COPULATE
Cop"u*late, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Copulated; p.pr. & vb.n. Copulating.]
Defn: To unite in sexual intercourse; to come together in the act of
generation.
COPULATION
Cop`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. copulatio: cf. F. copulation.]
1. The act of coupling or joining; union; conjunction.
Wit, you know, is the unexpected copulation of ideas. Johnson.
2. The coming together of male and female in the act of generation;
sexual union; coition.
COPULATIVE
Cop"u*la"tive, a. Etym: [L. copulativus: cf. F. copulatif.]
Defn: Serving to couple, unite, or connect; as, a copulative
conjunction like "and".
COPULATIVE
Cop"u*la*tive, n.
1. Connection. [Obs.] Rycaut.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A copulative conjunction.
COPULATIVELY
Cop"u*la"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a copulative manner.
COPULATORY
Cop"u*la*tory, a.
1. Pertaining to copulation; tending or serving to unite; copulative.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Used in sexual union; as, the copulatory organs of insects.
COPY
Cop"y, n.; pl. Copies. Etym: [F. copie, fr. L. copia abundance,
number, LL. also, a transcript; co- + the root of opes riches. See
Opulent, and cf. Copious.]
1. An abundance or plenty of anything. [Obs.]
She was blessed with no more copy of wit, but to serve his humor
thus. B. Jonson.
2. An imitation, transcript, or reproduction of an original work; as,
a copy of a letter, an engraving, a painting, or a statue.
I have not the vanity to think my copy equal to the original. Denham.
3. An individual book, or a single set of books containing the works
of an author; as, a copy of the Bible; a copy of the works of
Addison.
4. That which is to be imitated, transcribed, or reproduced; a
pattern, model, or example; as, his virtues are an excellent copy for
imitation.
Let him first learn to write, after a copy, all the letters. Holder.
5. (print.)
Defn: Manuscript or printed matter to be set up in type; as, the
printers are calling for more copy.
6. A writing paper Bastard. See under Paper.
7. Copyhold; tenure; lease. [Obs.] Shak. Copy book, a book in which
copies are written or printed for learners to imitate.
-- Examined copies (Law), those which have been compared with the
originals.
-- Exemplified copies, those which are attested under seal of a
court.
-- Certified or Office copies, those which are made or attested by
officers having charge of the originals, and authorized to give
copies officially. Abbot.
Syn.
-- Imitation; transcript; duplicate; counterfeit.
COPY
Cop"y, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Copied; p.pr. & vb.n. Copying.] Etym: [Cf.
F. copir, fr. LL. copiare. See Copy, n.]
1. To make a copy or copies of; to write; print, engrave, or paint
after an original; to duplicate; to reproduce; to transcribe; as, to
copy a manuscript, inscription, design, painting, etc.; -- often with
out, sometimes with off.
I like the work well; ere it be demanded (As like enough it will),
I'd have it copied. Shak.
Let this be copied out, And keep it safe for our remembrance. Shak.
2. To imitate; to attempt to resemble, as in manners or course of
life.
We copy instinctively the voices of our companions, their accents,
and their modes of pronunciation. Stewart.
COPY
Cop"y, v. i.
1. To make a copy or copies; to imitate.
2. To yield a duplicate or transcript; as, the letter did not copy
well.
Some . . . never fail, when they copy, to follow the bad as well as
the good things. Dryden.
COPYER
Cop"y*er, n.
Defn: See Copier.
COPYGRAPH
Cop"y*graph, n.
Defn: A contrivance for producing manifold copies of a writing or
drawing.
Note: The writing or drawing is made with aniline ink on paper, and a
reverse copy transferred by pressure to a slab of gelatin softened
with glycerin. A large number of transcripts can be taken while the
ink is fresh.
Various names have been given to the process [the gelatin copying
process], some of them acceptable and others absurd; hectograph,
polygraph, copygraph, lithogram, etc. Knight.
COPYHOLD
Cop"y*hold`, n. (Eng. Law)
(a) A tenure of estate by copy of court roll; or a tenure for which
the tenant has nothing to show, except the rolls made by the steward
of the lord's court. Blackstone.
(b) Land held in copyhold. Milton.
Note: Copyholds do not exist in the United States.
COPYHOLDER
Cop"y*hold`er, n.
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: One possessed of land in copyhold.
2. (print.)
(a) A device for holding copy for a compositor.
(b) One who reads copy to a proof reader.
COPYING
Cop"y*ing, a. & n.
Defn: From Copy, v. Copying ink. See under Ink.
-- Copying paper, thin unsized paper used for taking copies of
letters, etc., in a copying press.
-- Copying press, a machine for taking by pressure, an exact copy of
letters, etc., written in copying ink.
COPYIST
Cop"y*ist, n.
Defn: A copier; a transcriber; an imitator; a plagiarist.
COPYRIGHT
Cop"y*right, n.
Defn: The right of an author or his assignee, under statute, to print
and publish his literary or artistic work, exclusively of all other
persons. This right may be had in maps, charts, engravings, plays,
and musical compositions, as well as in books.
Note: In the United States a copyright runs for the term of twenty-
eight years, with right of renewal for fourteen years on certain
conditions. International copyright, an author's right in his
productions as secured by treaty between nations.
COPYRIGHT
Cop"y*right`, v. t.
Defn: To secure a copyright on.
COQUE
Coque, n. [F., prop., a shell.]
Defn: A small loop or bow of ribbon used in making hats, boas, etc.
COQUELICOT
Coque"li*cot`, n. Etym: [F.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The wild poppy, or red corn rose.
2. The color of the wild poppy; a color nearly red, like orange mixed
with scarlet.
COQUET
Co*quet", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Coquetted; p.pr. & vb.n. Coquetting.]
Defn: To attempt to attract the notice, admiration, or love of; to
treat with a show of tenderness or regard, with a view to deceive and
disappoint.
You are coquetting a maid of honor. Swift.
COQUET
Co*quet", v. i.
Defn: To trifle in love; to stimulate affection or interest; to play
the coquette; to deal playfully instead of seriously; to play (with);
as, we have coquetted with political crime.
COQUETRY
Co*quet"ry, n.; pl. Coquetries. Etym: [F. coquetterie.]
Defn: Attempts to attract admoration, notice, or love, for the mere
gratification of vanity; trifling in love. "Little affectations of
coquetry." Addison.
COQUETTE
Co*quette", n. Etym: [F., fr. coquet, coquette, coquettish, orig.,
cocklike, strutting like a cock, fr. coq a cock. Cf. Cock, Cocket,
Cocky, Cockade.]
1. A vain, trifling woman, who endeavors to attract admiration from a
desire to grafity vanity; a flirt; -- formerly sometimes applied also
to men.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tropical humming bird of the genus Lophornis, with very
elegant neck plumes. Several species are known. See Illustration
under Spangle, v. t.
COQUETTISH
Co*quet"tish, a.
Defn: Practicing or exhibiting coquetry; alluring; enticing.
A pretty, coquettish housemaid. W. Irving.
COQUETTISHLY
Co*quet"tish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a coquettish manner.
COQUILLA NUT
Co*quil"la nut. Etym: [Pg. coquilho, Sp. coquillo, dim. of coco a
cocoanut.] (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of a Brazilian tree (Attalea funifera of Martius.).
Note: Its shell is hazel-brown in color, very hard and close in
texture, and much used by turners in forming ornamental articles,
such as knobs for umbrella handles.
COQUILLE
Co*quille" (ko*kel"; F. ko`ke"y'), n. [F.] Lit., a shell; hence:
(a) A shell or shell-like dish or mold in which viands are served.
(b) The expansion of the guard of a sword, dagger, etc.
(c) A form of ruching used as a dress trimming or for neckwear, and
named from the manner in which it is gathered or fulled.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
COQUIMBITE
Co*quim"bite, n.
Defn: A mineral consisting principally of sulphate of iron; white
copperas; -- so called because found in the province of Coquimbo,
Chili.
COQUINA
Co*qui"na, n. Etym: [Sp., shellfish, cockle.]
Defn: A soft, whitish, coral-like stone, formed of broken shells and
corals, found in the southern United States, and used for roadbeds
and for building material, as in the fort at St. Augustine, Florida.
COR-
Cor-.
Defn: A prefix signifying with, together, etc. See Com-.
COR
Cor, n. Etym: [Heb. k.]
Defn: A Hebrew measure of capacity; a homer. [Written also core.]
CORA
Co"ra, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Arabian gazelle (Gazella Arabica), found from persia to
North Africa.
CORACLE
Cor"a*cle, n. Etym: [W. corwgl, cwrwgl, fr. corwg, cwrwg, any round
body or vessel, the trunk of the body, carcass.]
Defn: A boat made by covering a wicker frame with leather or
oilcloth. It was used by the ancient Britons, and is still used by
fisherman in Wales and some parts of Ireland. Also, a similar boat
used in Thibet and in Egypt.
CORACOID
Cor"a*coid, a.Etym: [Gr. ko`rax crow + e'i^dos form.]
1. Shaped like a crow's beak.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a bone of the shoulder girdle in most birds,
reptiles, and amphibians, which is reduced to a process of the
scapula in most mammals.
CORACOID
Cor"a*coid, n.
Defn: The coracoid bone or process.
CORAGE
Cor"age (; OF. , n.
Defn: See Courage [Obs.]
To Canterbury with full devout corage. Chaucer.
CORAH
Co"rah, n. [Hind. kora virgin, plain.]
Defn: Plain; undyed; -- applied to Indian silk. -- n.
Defn: Corah silk.
CORAL
Cor"al, n. Etym: [Of. coral, F, corail, L. corallum, coralium, fr.
Gr. kora`llion.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hard parts or skeleton of various Anthozoa, and of a few
Hydrozoa. Similar structures are also formed by some Bryozoa.
Note: The large stony corals forming coral reefs belong to various
genera of Madreporaria, and to the hydroid genus, Millepora. The red
coral, used in jewelry, is the stony axis of the stem of a gorgonian
(Corallium rubrum) found chiefly in the Mediterranean. The fan
corals, plume corals, and sea feathers are species of Gorgoniacea, in
which the axis is horny. Organ-pipe coral is formed by the genus
Tubipora, an Alcyonarian, and black coral is in part the axis of
species of the genus Antipathes. See Anthozoa, Madrepora.
2. The ovaries of a cooked lobster; -- so called from their color.
3. A piece of coral, usually fitted with small bells and other
appurtenances, used by children as a plaything. Brain coral, or Brain
stone coral. See under Brain.
-- Chain coral. See under Chain.
-- Coral animal (Zoöl.), one of the polyps by which corals are
formed. They are often very erroneously called coral insects.
-- Coral fish. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Coral reefs (Phys. Geog.), reefs, often of great extent, made up
chiefly of fragments of corals, coral sands, and the solid limestone
resulting from their consolidation. They are classed as fringing
reefs, when they border the land; barrier reefs, when separated from
the shore by a broad belt of water; atolls, when they constitute
separate islands, usually inclosing a lagoon. See Atoll.
-- Coral root (Bot.), a genus (Corallorhiza) of orchideous plants,
of a yellowish or brownish red color, parasitic on roots of other
plants, and having curious jointed or knotted roots not unlike some
kinds of coral. See Illust. under Coralloid.
-- Coral snake. (Zo) (a) A small, venomous, Brazilian snake (Elaps
corallinus), coral-red, with black bands. (b) A small, harmless,
South American snake (Tortrix scytale).
-- Coral tree (Bot.), a tropical, leguminous plant, of several
species, with showy, scarlet blossoms and coral-red seeds. The best
known is Erythrina Corallodendron.
-- Coral wood, a hard, red cabinet wood. McElrath.
CORALED
Cor"aled, a.
Defn: Having coral; covered with coral.
CORAL FISH
Cor"al fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bright-colored fish of the genera Chætodon, Pomacentrus,
Apogon, and related genera, which live among reef corals.
CORALLACEOUS
Cor`al*la"ceous, a.
Defn: Like coral, or partaking of its qualities.
CORALLIAN
Co*ral"li*an, n. (Geol.)
Defn: A deposit of coralliferous limestone forming a portion of the
middle division of the oölite; -- called also coral-rag.
CORALLIFEROUS
Cor`al*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. corallum coral + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing or producing coral.
CORALLIFORM
Cor"al*li*form, a. Etym: [L. corallum coral + -form.]
Defn: resembling coral in form.
CORALLIGENA
Cor`al*lig"e*na, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. corallum coral + root of
gignere to produce.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Anthozoa.
CORALLIGENOUS
Cor`al*lig"e*nous, a.
Defn: producing coral; coraligerous; coralliferous. Humble.
CORALLIGEROUS
Cor`al*lig"er*ous, a Etym: [L. corallum coral + -gerous.]
Defn: Producing coral; coraliferous.
CORALLIN
Cor"al*lin, n. Etym: [So named in allusion to the color of red
corallin, fr. L. corallum coral.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow coal-tar dyestuff which probably consists chiefly of
rosolic acid. See Aurin, and Rosolic acid under Rosolic. Red
corallin, a red dyestuff which is obtained by treating aurin or
rosolic acid with ammonia; -- called also pæonin.
-- Yellow corallin. See Aurin.
CORALLINE
Cor"al*line ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. L. corallinus coralred.]
Defn: Composed of corallines; as, coralline limestone.
CORALLINE
Cor"al*line, n. Etym: [Cf. F. coralline.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A submarine, semicalcareous or calcareous plant, consisting of
many jointed branches.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly any slender coral-like animal; -- sometimes applied
more particulary to bryozoan corals.
CORALLINITE
Cor"al*lin*ite, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil coralline.
CORALLITE
Cor"al*lite, n. Etym: [L. corallum coral.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral substance or petrifaction, in the form of coral.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the individual members of a compound coral; or that part
formed by a single coral animal. [Written also corallet.]
CORALLOID
Cor"al*loid, a. Etym: [L. corallum coral + -oid: cf. F. coralloïde.]
Defn: Having the form of coral; branching like coral.
CORALLOIDAL
Cor`al*loid"al, a.
Defn: resembling coral; coralloid. Sir T. browne.
CORALLUM
Co*ral"lum, n. Etym: [L.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The coral or skeleton of a zoöphyte, whether calcareous of
horny, simple or compound. See Coral.
CORAL-RAG
Cor"al-rag`, n. (geol.)
Defn: Same as Corallian.
CORALWORT
Cor"al*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A cruciferous herb of certain species of Dentaria; -- called
also toothwort, tooth violet, or pepper root.
CORANACH
Cor"a*nach, n. Etym: [Gael. coranach, or corranach, a crying, the
Irish funeral cry (the keen), a dirge; comh with + ranaich a roaring,
ran to roar, shriek.]
Defn: A lamentation for the dead; a dirge. [Written also coranich,
corrinoch, coronach, cronach, etc.] [Scot.]
CORANT; CORANTO
Co*rant, Co*ran"to, n. Etym: [See Courant.]
Defn: A sprightly but somewhat stately dance, now out of fashion.
It is harder to dance a corant well, than a jig. Sir W. temple.
Dancing a coranto with him upon the heath. Macaulay.
CORB
Corb, n. Etym: [L. corbis basket. Cf. Corbeil, Corp.]
1. A basket used in coal mines, etc. see Corf.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament in a building; a corbel.
CORBAN
Cor"ban, n. Etym: [Heb. qorban, akin to Ar. qurban.]
1. (Jewish Antiq.) An offering of any kind, devoted to God and
therefore not be appropriated to any other use; esp., an offering in
fulfillment of a vow.
Note: In the old Testament the hebrew word is usually translated
"oblation" as in Numb. xviii. 9, xxxi. 50.
Note: The traditionists laid down that a man might interdict himself
by vow, not only from using for himself, but from giving to another,
or receiving from him, some particular object, whether of food or any
other kind. A person might thus exempt himself from assisting parents
in distress, under plea of corban. Dr. W. Smith.
2. An alms basket; a vessel to receive gifts of charity; a treasury
of the church, where offerings are deposited.
CORBE
Corbe, a. Etym: [OF. corbe, fr. L. curvus. See Cuve.]
Defn: Crooked. [Obs.] "Corbe shoulder." Spenser.
CORBEIL
Cor"beil, n. Etym: [F. corbeile, fr. L. corbicula a little basket,
dim. of corbis basket. Cf. Corbel, Corb, Corvette.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A sculptured basket of flowers; a corbel. [Obs.]
2. pl. (Fort.)
Defn: Small gabions. Brande & C.
CORBEL
Cor"bel, n. Etym: [F. corbeau, for older corbel, dim. of L. corbis
basket. (Corbels were often in the form of a basket.) See Corbeil.]
(Arch.)
Defn: A bracket supporting a superincumbent object, or receiving the
spring of an arch. Corbels were employed largely in Gothic
architecture.
Note: A common form of corbel consists of courses of stones or
bricks, each projecting slightly beyond the next below it.
CORBEL
Cor"bel, v. t.
Defn: To furnish with a corbel or corbels; to support by a corbel; to
make in the form of a corbel. To corbel out, to furnish with a corbel
of courses, each projecting beyond the one next below it.
CORBELING; CORBELLING
Cor"bel*ing, Cor"bel*ling, n.
Defn: Corbel work or the construction of corbels; a series of corbels
or piece of continuous corbeled masonry, sometimes of decorative
purpose, as in the stalactite ornament of the Moslems.
CORBEL-TABLE
Cor"bel-ta`ble, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A horizontal row of corbels, with the panels or filling between
them; also, less properly used to include the stringcourse on them.
CORBIE; CORBY
Cor"bie or Cor"by, n.; pl. Corbies. Etym: [F. corbeau, OF. corbel,
dim. fr. L. corvus raven.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The raven. [Scot.]
2. (her.)
Defn: A raven, crow, or chough, used as a charge. Corbie crow, the
carrion crow. [Scot.]
CORBIESTEP
Cor"bie*step`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: One of the steps in which a gable wall is often finished in
place of a continuous slope; -- also called crowstep.
CORCHORUS
Cor"cho*rus, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. L. corchorus a poor kind of pulse,
Gr. ko`rchoros a wild plant of bitter taste.] (Bot.)
Defn: The common name of the kerria Japonica or Japan globeflower, a
yellow-flowered, perennial, rosaceous plant, seen in old-fashioned
gardens.
CORCLE; CORCULE
Cor"cle, Cor"cule, n. Etym: [L. corculum a little heart, dim. of cor
heart.] (Bot.)
Defn: The heart of the seed; the embryo or germ. [Obs.]
CORD
Cord, n. Etym: [F. corde, L. chorda catgut, chord, cord, fr. Gr.
haruspex soothsayer (inspector of entrails), Icel. görn, pl. garnir
gut, and E. yarn. Cf. Chord, Yarn.]
1. A string, or small rope, composed of several strands twisted
together.
2. A solid measure, equivalent to 128 cubic feet; a pile of wood, or
other coarse material, eight feet long, four feet high, and four feet
broad; -- originally measured with a cord or line.
3. Fig.: Any moral influence by which persons are caught, held, or
drawn, as if by a cord; an enticement; as, the cords of the wicked;
the cords of sin; the cords of vanity.
The knots that tangle human creeds, The wounding cords that bind and
strain The heart until it bleeds. Tennyson.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: Any structure having the appearance of a cord, esp. a tendon or
a nerve. See under Spermatic, Spinal, Umbilical, Vocal.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: See Chord. [Obs.] Cord wood, wood for fuel cut to the length of
four feet (when of full measure).
CORD
Cord (krd), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Corded; p. pr. & vb. n. Cording.]
1. To bind with a cord; to fasten with cords; to connect with cords;
to ornament or finish with a cord or cords, as a garment.
2. To arrange (wood, etc.) in a pile for measurement by the cord.
CORDAGE
Cord"age (krd"j), n. Etym: [F. cordage. See Cord.]
Defn: Ropes or cords, collectively; hence, anything made of rope or
cord, as those parts of the rigging of a ship which consist of ropes.
CORDAL
Cord"al (krd"al), n.
Defn: Same as Cordelle.
CORDATE
Cordate (kr"dt), a. Etym: [L. cor, cordis, heart.] (Bot.)
Defn: Heart-shaped; as, a cordate leaf.
CORDATELY
Cor"date*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cordate form.
CORDED
Cord"ed (krd"d), a.
1. Bound or fastened with cords.
2. Piled in a form for measurement by the cord.
3. Made of cords. [Obs.] "A corded ladder." Shak.
4. Striped or ribbed with cords; as, cloth with a corded surface.
5. (Her.)
Defn: Bound about, or wound, with cords.
CORDELIER
Cor`de*lier" (kr`dlr"), n. Etym: [F., fr. OF. cordel, F. cordeau,
dim. fr. corde string, rope. See Cord.]
1. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A Franciscan; -- so called in France from the girdle of knotted
cord worn by all Franciscans.
2. (Fr. Hist.)
Defn: A member of a French political club of the time of the first
Revolution, of which Danton and Marat were members, and which met in
an old Cordelier convent in Paris.
CORDELING
Cor"del*ing (kr"dlng), a. Etym: [F. cordeler to twist, fr. OF.
cordel. See Cordelier.]
Defn: Twisting.
CORDELLE
Cor*delle" (kr-dl"), n. Etym: [F., dim. of corde cord.]
Defn: A twisted cord; a tassel. Halliwell.
CORDIAL
Cor"dial (kr"jal, formally krd"yal; 106, 277), a. Etym: [LL.
cordialis, fr. L. cor heart: cf. F. cordial. See Heart.]
1. Proceeding from the heart. [Obs.]
A rib with cordial spirits warm. Milton.
2. Hearty; sincere; warm; affectionate.
He . . . with looks of cordial love Hung over her enamored. Milton.
3. Tending to revive, cheer, or invigorate; giving strength or
spirits.
Behold this cordial julep here That flames and dances in his crystal
bounds. Milton.
Syn.
-- Hearty; sincere; heartfelt; warm; affectionate; cheering;
invigorating. See Hearty.
CORDIAL
Cor"dial, n.
1. Anything that comforts, gladdens, and exhilarates.
Charms to my sight, and cordials to my mind. Dryden.
2. (Med)
Defn: Any invigorating and stimulating preparation; as, a peppermint
cordial.
3. (Com.)
Defn: Aromatized and sweetened spirit, used as a beverage; a liqueur.
CORDIALITY
Cor*dial"i*ty (k, n.; pl. Cordialities (-t. Etym: [LL. cordialitas,
fr. cordialis sincere: cf. F. cordialité.]
1. Relation to the heart. [Obs.]
That the ancients had any respect of cordiality or reference unto the
heart, will much be doubted. Sir T. Browne.
2. Sincere affection and kindness; warmth of regard; heartiness.
Motley.
CORDIALIZE
Cor"dial*ize (kr"jal-z or krd"yal-z; 106), v. t.
1. To make into a cordial.
2. To render cordial; to reconcile.
CORDIALIZE
Cor"dial*ize, v. i.
Defn: To grow cordial; to feel or express cordiality. [R.]
CORDIALLY
Cor"dial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cordial manner. Dr. H. More.
CORDIALNESS
Cor"dial*ness, n.
Defn: Cordiality. Cotgrave.
CORDIERITE
Cor"di*er*ite (k, n. Etym: [Named after the geologist Cordier.]
(Min.)
Defn: See Iolite.
CORDIFORM
Cor"di*form (kr"d-frm), a. Etym: [L. cor, cordis, heart + -form, cf.
F. cordiforme.]
Defn: Heart-shaped. Gray.
CORDILLERA
Cor*dil"ler*a (kr-dl"lr-; Sp. kr`d-ly"r), n. Etym: [Sp., fr. OSp.
cordilla, cordiella, dim. of cuerda a rope, string. See Cord.]
(Geol.)
Defn: A mountain ridge or chain.
Note: Cordillera is sometimes applied, in geology, to the system of
mountain chains near the border of a continent; thus, the western
cordillera of North America in the United States includes the Rocky
Mountains, Sierra Nevada, Coast and Cascade ranges.
CORDINER
Cor"di*ner (kr"d-nr), n.
Defn: A cordwainer. [Obs.]
CORDITE
Cord"ite, n. [From Cord, n.] (Mil.)
Defn: A smokeless powder composed of nitroglycerin, guncotton, and
mineral jelly, and used by the British army and in other services. In
making it the ingredients are mixed into a paste with the addition of
acetone and pressed out into cords (of various diameters) resembling
brown twine, which are dried and cut to length. A variety containing
less nitroglycerin than the original is known as cordite M. D.
CORDON
Cor"don (kr"dn; F. kr"dn"), n. Etym: [F., fr. corde. See Cord.]
1. A cord or ribbon bestowed or borne as a badge of honor; a broad
ribbon, usually worn after the manner of a baldric, constituting a
mark of a very high grade in an honorary order. Cf. Grand cordon.
2. The cord worn by a Franciscan friar. Sir E. Sandys.
3. (Fort.)
Defn: The coping of the scarp wall, which projects beyong the face of
the wall a few inches.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: A line or series of sentinels, or of military posts, inclosing
or guarding any place or thing.
5. A rich and ornamental lace or string, used to secure a mantle in
some costumes of state. Cordon bleu (kd" bl Etym: [F., blue cordon],
a first-rate cook, or one worthy to be the cook of the cordons bleus,
or Knights of the Holy Ghost, famous for their good dinners.
-- Cordon sanitaire (kd" s Etym: [F., sanitary cordon], a line of
troops or military posts around a district infected with disease, to
cut off communication, and thus prevent the disease from spreading.
CORDONNET
Cor`don`net" (kr`dn`n"), n. Etym: [F., dim. of cordon. See Cardon.]
Defn: Doubled and twisted thread, made of coarse silk, and used for
tassels, fringes, etc. McElrath.
CORDOVAN
Cor"do*van (kr"d-vn), n. Etym: [Sp. cordoban, fr. Cordova, or
Cordoba, in Spain. Cf. Cordwain.]
Defn: Same as Cordwain. in England the name is applied to leather
made from horsehide.
CORDUROY
Cor"du*roy` (kr"d-roi` or kr"d-roi"), n. Etym: [Prob. for F. corde du
roi king's cord.]
1. A sort of cotton velveteen, having the surface raised in ridges.
2. pl.
Defn: Trousers or breeches of corduroy. Corduroy road, a roadway
formed of logs laid side by side across it, as in marshy places; --
so called from its rough or ribbed surface, resembling corduroy.
[U.S.]
CORDUROY
Cor"du*roy`, v. t.
Defn: To form of logs laid side by side. "Roads were corduroyed."
Gemn. W.T. Sherman.
CORDWAIN
Cord"wain (krd"wn), n. Etym: [OE. cordewan, cordian, OF. cordoan,
cordouan, fr. Sp. cordoban. See Cordovan.]
Defn: A term used in the Middle Ages for Spanish leather (goatskin
tanned and dressed), and hence, any leather handsomely finished,
colored, gilded, or the like.
Buskins he wore of costliest cordwain. Spenser.
CORDWAINER
Cord"wain*er (-r), n. Etym: [OE. cordwaner, cordiner, fr. OF.
cordoanier, cordouanier, F. cordonnier.]
Defn: A worker in cordwain, or cordovan leather; a shoemaker.
[Archaic.]
CORDY
Cord"y (kôr"dy), a. [Compar. Cordier; superl. Cordiest.]
Defn: Of, or like, cord; having cords or cordlike parts.
CORE
Core (kr), n. Etym: [F. corps. See Corps.]
Defn: A body of individuals; an assemblage. [Obs.]
He was in a core of people. Bacon.
CORE
Core, n. Etym: [Cf. Chore.] (Mining.)
Defn: A miner's underground working time or shift. Raymond.
Note: The twenty-four hours are divided into three or four cores.
CORE
Core, n. Etym: [Heb. k: cf. Gr.
Defn: A Hebrew dry measure; a cor or homer. Num. xi. 32 (Douay
version).
CORE
Core, n. Etym: [OF. cor, coer, cuer, F. c, fr. L. cor heart. See
Heart.]
1. The heart or inner part of a thing, as of a column, wall, rope, of
a boil, etc.; especially, the central part of fruit, containing the
kernels or seeds; as, the core of an apple or quince.
A fever at the core, Fatal to him who bears, to all who ever bore.
Byron.
2. The center or inner part, as of an open space; as, the core of a
ssquare. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
3. The most important part of a thing; the essence; as, the core of a
subject.
4. (Founding)
Defn: The prtion of a mold which shapes the interior of a cylinder,
tube, or other hollow casting, or which makes a hole in or through a
casting; a part of the mold, made separate from and inserted in it,
for shaping some part of the casting, the form of which is not
determined by that of the pattern.
5. A disorder of sheep occasioned by worms in the liver. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
6. (Anat.)
Defn: The bony process which forms the central axis of the horns in
many animals. Core box (Founding), a box or mold, usually divisible,
in which cores are molded.
-- Core print (Founding), a projecting piece on a pattern which
forms, in the mold, an impression for holding in place or steadying a
core.
CORE
Core, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cord (krd); p. pr. & vb. n. Coring.]
1. To take out the core or inward parts of; as, to core an apple.
He's likee a corn upon my great toe . . . he must be cored out.
Marston.
2. To form by means of a core, as a hole in a casting.
CO-REGENT
Co-re"gent (k-r"jent), n.
Defn: A joint regent or ruler.
CO-RELATION
Co`-re*la"tion (k`r-l"shn), n.
Defn: Corresponding relation.
CO-RELIGIONIST
Co`-re*li"gion*ist (-lj"n-st), n.
Defn: One of the same religion with another.
CORE LOSS
Core loss. (Elec.)
Defn: Energy wasted by hysteresis or eddy currents in the core of an
armature, transformer, etc.
COREOPSIS
Co`re*op"sis (k`r-p"ss), n. Etym: [NL., fr. GR. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous composite plants, having the achenes two-
horned and remotely resembling some insect; tickseed. C. tinctoria,
of the Western plains, the commonest plant of the genus, has been
used in dyeing.
COREPLASTY
Cor"e*plas`ty (kor"e*plas`ty), n. [Gr. ko`rh pupil + -plasty.] (Med.)
Defn: A plastic operation on the pupil, as for forming an artificial
pupil. -- Cor`e*plas"tic (-plas"tik), a.
CORER
Cor"er (krr"rr), n.
Defn: That which cores; an instrument for coring fruit; as, an apple
corer.
CO-RESPONDENT
Co`-re*spond"ent (k`rr-spnd"ent), n. (Law)
Defn: One who is called upon to answer a summons or other proceeding
jointly with another.
CORF
Corf (krrf), n.; pl. Corves (k. Etym: [Cf.LG. & D. korf basket, G.
korb, fr. L. corbis.]
1. A basket.
2. (Mining)
(a) A large basket used in carrying or hoisting coal or ore.
(b) A wooden frame, sled, or low-wheeled wagon, to convey coal or ore
in the mines.
CORFIOTE; CORFUTE
Cor"fi*ote (kr"f-t), Cor"fute (kr"ft), n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Corfu, an island in the Mediterranean
Sea.
CORIACEOUS
Co`ri*a"ceous (k`r-"shs), a. Etym: [L. coriaceous, fr. corium
leather. See Cuirass.]
1. Consisting of or resembling, leather; leatherlike; tough.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Stiff, like leather or parchment.
CORIANDER
Co`ri*an"der (k`r-n"dr), n Etym: [L. coriandrum, fr. Gr. coriandre.]
(Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant, the Coriandrum sativum, the fruit or
seeds of which have a strong smell and a spicy taste, and in medicine
are considered as stomachic and carminative.
CORIDINE
Co"ri*dine (k"r-dn; 104), n. Etym: [From L. cortium leather.]
Defn: A colorless or yellowish oil, C10H15N, of a leathery odor,
occuring in coal tar, Dippel's oil, tobacco smoke, etc., regarded as
an organic base, homologous with pyridine. Also, one of a series of
metameric compounds of which coridine is a type. [Written also
corindine.]
CORINDON
Co*rin"don (k-rn"dn), n. (Min.)
Defn: See Corrundum.
CORINNE
Co`rinne" (k`rn"), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common gazelle (Gazella dorcas). See Gazelle. [Written also
korin.]
CORINTH
Cor"inth (kr"nth), n. Etym: [L. Corinthus, Gr. Currant.]
1. A city of Greece, famed for its luxury and extravagance.
2. A small fruit; a currant. [Obs.] Broome.
CORINTHIAC
Co*rin"thi*ac (k-rn"th-k), a. Etym: [L. Corinthiacus.]
Defn: Pertaining to Corinth.
CORINTHIAN
Co*rin"thi*an (-an), a.
1. Of or relating to Corinth.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Corinthian order of architecture,
invented by the Greeks, but more commonly used by the Romans.
This is the lightest and most ornamental of the three orders used by
the Greeks. Parker.
3. Debauched in character or practice; impure. Milton.
4. Of or pertaining to an amateur sailor or yachtsman; as, a
corinthian race (one in which the contesting yachts must be manned by
amateurs.)
CORINTHIAN
Co*rin"thi*an, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Corinth.
2. A gay, licentious person. [Obs.]
CORIUM
Co"ri*um (k"r-m), n. Etym: [L. corium leather.]
1. Armor made of leather, particularly that used by the Romans; used
also by Enlish soldiers till the reign of Edward I. Fosbroke.
2. (Anat.)
(a) Same as Dermis.
(b) The deep layer of mucous membranes beneath the epithelium.
CORIVAL
Co*ri"val (k-r"val), n.
Defn: A rival; a corrival.
CORIVAL
Co*ri"val, v. t.
Defn: To rival; to pretend to equal. Shak.
CORIVALRY; CORIVALSHIP
Co*ri"val*ry, Co*ri"val*ship, n.
Defn: Joint rivalry.
CORK
Cork (krk), n. Etym: [Cf. G., Dan., & Sw. kork, D. kurk; all fr. Sp.
corcho, fr. L. cortex, corticis, bark, rind. Cf. Cortex.]
1. The outer layer of the bark of the cork tree (Quercus Suber), of
which stoppers for bottles and casks are made. See Cutose.
2. A stopper for a bottle or cask, cut out of cork.
3. A mass of tabular cells formed in any kind of bark, in greater or
less abundance.
Note: Cork is sometimes used wrongly for calk, calker; calkin, a
sharp piece of iron on the shoe of a horse or ox. Cork jackets, a
jacket having thin pieces of cork inclosed within canvas, and used to
aid in swimming.
-- Cork tree (Bot.), the species of oak (Quercus Suber of Southern
Europe) whose bark furnishes the cork of commerce.
CORK
Cork, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Corking.]
1. To stop with a cork, as a bottle.
2. To furnish or fit with cork; to raise on cork.
Tread on corked stilts a prisoner's pace. Bp. Hall.
Note: To cork is sometimes used erroneously for to calk, to furnish
the shoe of a horse or ox with sharp points, and also in the meaning
of cutting with a calk.
CORKAGE
Cork"age (-j), n.
Defn: The charge made by innkeepers for drawing the cork and taking
care of bottles of wine bought elsewhere by a guest.
CORKED
Corked (krkt), a.
Defn: having acquired an unpleasant taste from the cork; as, a bottle
of wine is corked.
CORK FOSSIL
Cork" fos`sil (krk" fs`sl). (Min.)
Defn: A variety of amianthus which is very light, like cork.
CORKINESS
Cork"i*ness (--ns), n.
Defn: The quality of being corky.
CORKING PIN
Cork"ing pin` (krk"ng pn`).
Defn: A pin of a large size, formerly used attaching a woman's
headdress to a cork mold. [Obs.] Swift.
CORKSCREW
Cork"screw` (-skr"), n.
Defn: An instrument with a screw or a steel spiral for drawing corks
from bottles. Corkscrew starts, a spiral staircase around a solid
newel.
CORKSCREW
Cork"screw`, v. t.
Defn: To press forward in a winding way; as, to corksrew one's way
through a crowd. [Colloq.] Dickens.
CORKWING
Cork"wing` (-wng`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish; the goldsinny.
CORKWOOD
Cork"wood` (kôrk"wood`), n.
1. The wood of the cork oak. [Obs.]
2. Any one of several trees or shrubs having light or corky wood;
esp.:
(a) In the United States, the tree Leitneria floridana.
(b) In the West Indies: (1) Either of the cotton trees Ochroma
lagopus and Pariti tiliaceum. (2)
Defn: The tree producing the aligator apple. (3)
Defn: The blolly.
CORKY
Cork"y (-), a.
1. Consisting of, or like, cork; dry shriveled up.
Bind fast hiss corky arms. Shak.
2. Tasting of cork.
CORM
Corm (krm), n. Etym: [See Cormus.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A solid bulb-shaped root, as of the crocus. See Bulb.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Cormus, 2.
CORMOGENY
Cor*mog"e*ny (kr-mj"-n), n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The embryological history of groups or families of individuals.
CORMOPHYLOGENY
Cor`mo*phy*log"e*ny (kr`m-f-lj"-n), n. Etym: [Gr. phylogeny.] (Biol.)
Defn: The phylogeny of groups or families of individuals. Haeckel.
CORMOPHYTES; CORMOPHYTA
Cor"mo*phytes (kr"m-fts), Cor*moph"y*ta (kr-mf"-t), n. pl. Etym: [NL.
cormophyta, fr. Gr. trunk of a tree + (Bot.)
Defn: A term proposed by Endlicher to include all plants with an axis
containing vascular tissue and with foliage.
CORMORANT
Cor`mo*rant (kr"m-rant), n. Etym: [F. cormoran, fr. Armor. m a sea
raven; m sea + bran raven, with cor, equiv. to L. corvus raven,
pleonastically prefixed; or perh. fr. L. corvus marinus sea raven.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of Phalacrocorax, a genus of sea birds having a sac
under the beak; the shag. Cormorants devour fish voraciously, and
have become the emblem of gluttony. They are generally black, and
hence are called sea ravens, and coalgeese. [Written also corvorant.]
2. A voracious eater; a glutton, or gluttonous servant. B. Jonson.
CORMORAUT
Cor"mo*raut, a.
Defn: Ravenous; voracious.
Cormorant, devouring time. Shak.
CORMUS
Cor"mus (kr"ms), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: See Corm.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A vegetable or animal made up of a number of individuals, such
as, for example, would be formed by a process of budding from a
parent stalk wherre the buds remain attached.
CORN
Corn (krn), n. Etym: [L. cornu horn: cf. F. corne horn, hornlike
excrescence. See Horn.]
Defn: A thickening of the epidermis at some point, esp. on the toees,
by friction or pressure. It is usually painful and troublesome.
Welkome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes Unplagued with corns,
will have a bout with you. Shak.
Note: The substance of a corn usually resembles horn, but where
moisture is present, as between the toes, it is white and sodden, and
is called a soft corn.
CORN
Corn, n. Etym: [AS. corn; akin to OS. korn, D. koren, G., Dan., Sw.,
& Icel. korn, Goth. ka, L. granum, Russ. zerno. Cf. Grain, Kernel.]
1. A single seed of certain plants, as wheat, rye, barley, and maize;
a grain.
2. The various farinaceous grains of the cereal grasses used for
food, as wheat, rye, barley, maize, oats.
Note: In Scotland, corn is generally restricted to oats, in the
United States, to maize, or Indian corn, of which there are several
kinds; as, yellow corn, which grows chiefly in the Northern States,
and is yellow when ripe; white or southern corn, which grows to a
great height, and has long white kernels; sweet corn, comprising a
number of sweet and tender varieties, grown chiefly at the North,
some of which have kernels that wrinkle when ripe and dry; pop corn,
any small variety, used for popping.
3. The plants which produce corn, when growing in the field; the
stalks and ears, or the stalks, ears, and seeds, after reaping and
before thrashing.
In one night, ere glimpse of morn, His shadowy flail had thrashed the
corn. Milton.
4. A small, hard particle; a grain. "Corn of sand." Bp. Hall. "A corn
of powder." Beau & Fl. Corn ball, a ball of popped corn stuck
together with soft candy from molasses or sugar.
-- Corn bread, bread made of Indian meal.
-- Corn cake, a kind of corn bread; johnny cake; hoecake.
-- Corn cockle (Bot.), a weed (Agrostemma or Lychnis Githago),
having bright flowers, common in grain fields.
-- Corn flag (Bot.), a plant of the genus Gladiolus; -- called also
sword lily.
-- Corn fly. (Zoöl.) (a) A small fly which, in the larval state, is
injurious to grain, living in the stalk, and causing the disease
called "gout," on account of the swelled joints. The common European
species is Chlorops tæniopus. (b) A small fly (Anthomyia ze) whose
larva or maggot destroys seed corn after it has been planted.
-- Corn fritter, a fritter having green Indian corn mixed through
its batter. [U. S.] -- Corn laws, laws regulating trade in corn,
especially those in force in Great Britain till 1846, prohibiting the
importation of foreign grain for home consumption, except when the
price rose above a certain rate.
-- Corn marigold. (Bot.) See under Marigold.
-- Corn oyster, a fritter containing grated green Indian corn and
butter, the combined taste resembling that of oysters. [U.S.] -- Corn
parsley (Bot.), a plant of the parsley genus (Petroselinum ssegetum),
a weed in parts of Europe and Asia.
-- Corn popper, a utensil used in popping corn.
-- Corn poppy (Bot.), the red poppy (Papaver Rhoeas), common in
European cornfields; -- also called corn rose.
-- Corn rent, rent paid in corn.
-- Corn rose. See Corn poppy.
-- Corn salad (Bot.), a name given to several species of
Valerianella, annual herbs sometimes used for salad. V. olitoria is
also called lamb's lettuce.
-- Corn stone, red limestone. [Prov. Eng.] -- Corn violet (Bot.), a
species of Campanula.
-- Corn weevil. (Zoöl.) (a) A small weevil which causes great injury
to grain. (b) In America, a weevil (Sphenophorus zeæ) which attacks
the stalk of maize near the root, often doing great damage. See Grain
weevil, under Weevil.
CORN
Corn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corned (krnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Corning.]
1. To preserve and season with salt in grains; to sprinkle with salt;
to cure by salting; now, specifically, to salt slightly in brine or
otherwise; as, to corn beef; to corn a tongue.
2. To form into small grains; to granulate; as, to corn gunpowder.
3. To feed with corn or (in Sctland) oats; as, to corn horses.
Jamieson.
4. To render intoxicated; as, ale strong enough to corn one.
[Colloq.] Corning house, a house or place where powder is corned or
granulated.
CORNAGE
Cor"nage (kr"nj), n. Etym: [OF.,, horn-blowing, tax on horned cattle,
fr. F. corne a horn, L. cornu.] (Law)
Defn: Anancient tenure of land, which obliged the tenant to give
notice of an invasion by blowing a horn.
CORNAMUTE
Cor"na*mute (kr"n-mt), n.
Defn: A cornemuse. [Obs.]
CORNBIND
Corn"bind` (krn"bnd`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A weed that binds stalks of corn, as Convolvulus arvensis,
Polygonum Convolvulus. [Prov. Eng.]
CORNCOB
Corn"cob` (krn"kb`), n.
Defn: The cob or axis on which the kernels of Indian corn grow.
[U.S.]
CORNCRAKE
Corn"crake` (-krk`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird (Crex crex or C. pratensis) which frequents grain
fields; the European crake or land rail; -- called also corn bird.
CORNCRIB
Corn"crib` (krn"krb`), n.
Defn: A crib for storing corn.
CORNCUTTER
Corn"cut`ter (-kt`tr), n.
1. A machine for cutting up stalks of corn for food of cattle.
2. An implement consisting of a long blade, attached to a handle at
nearly a right angle, used for cutting down the stalks of Indian
corn.
CORNDODGER
Corn"dodg`er (-dj`r), n.
Defn: A cake made of the meal of Indian corn, wrapped in a covering
of husks or paper, and baked under the embers. [U.S.] Bartlett.
CORNEA
Cor"ne*a (kr"n-), n.; pl. Corneas (-. Etym: [Fem. sing., fr. L.
corneus horny, fr. cornu a horn. See Horn.] (Anat.)
Defn: The transparent part of the coat of the eyeball which covers
the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior. See Eye.
CORNEAL
Cor"ne*al (-al), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the cornea.
CORNEL
Cor"nel (-nl), n. Etym: [OF. cornille, cornoille, F. cornouille,
cornel berry, LL. cornolium cornel tree, fr. L. cornus, fr. cornu
horn, in allusion to the hardness of the wood. See Horn.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The cornelian cherry (Cornus Mas), a European shrub with
clusters of small, greenish flowers, followed by very acid but edible
drupes resembling cherries.
2. Any species of the genus Cornus, as C. florida, the flowering
cornel; C. stolonifera, the osier cornel; C. Canadensis, the dwarf
cornel, or bunchberry.
CORNELIAN
Cor*nel"ian (kr-nlyan), n. Etym: [F. cornaline, OF. corneline, fr. L.
cornu horn. So called from its horny appearance when broken. See
Horn, and cf. Carnelian.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Carnelian.
CORNEMUSE
Corne"muse (krn"mz), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A wind instrument nearly identical with the bagpipe. Drayton.
CORNEOCALCAREOUS
Cor"ne*o*cal*ca"re*ous (krn--kl-k"r-s), a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formed of a mixture of horny and calcareous materials, as some
shells and corals.
2. Horny on one side and calcareous on the other.
CORNEOUS
Cor"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. corneus, fr. cornu horn.]
Defn: Of a texture resembling horn; horny; hard. Sir T. Browne.
CORNER
Cor"ner (kr"nr), n. Etym: [OF. corniere, cornier, LL. cornerium,
corneria, fr. L. cornu horn, end, point. See Horn.]
1. The point where two converging lines meet; an angle, either
external or internal.
2. The space in the angle between converging lines or walls which
meet in a point; as, the chimney corner.
3. An edge or extremity; the part farthest from the center; hence,
any quarter or part.
From the four corners of the earth they come. Shak.
4. A secret or secluded place; a remote or out of the way place; a
nook.
This thing was not done in a corner. Acts xxvi. 26.
5. Direction; quarter.
Sits the wind in that corner! Shak.
6. The state of things produced by a combination of persons, who buy
up the whole or the available part of any stock or species of
property, which compels those who need such stock or property to buy
of them at their own price; as, a corner in a railway stock.
[Broker's Cant] Corner stone, the stone which lies at the corner of
two walls, and unites them; the principal stone; especially, the
stone which forms the corner of the foundation of an edifice; hence,
that which is fundamental importance or indispensable. "A prince who
regarded uniformity of faith as the corner stone of his government."
Prescott.
-- Corner tooth, one of the four teeth which come in a horse's mouth
at the age of four years and a half, one on each side of the upper
and of the lower jaw, between the middle teeth and the tushes.
CORNER
Cor"ner, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cornered (-nrd);p. pr. & vb. n.
Cornering.]
1. To drive into a corner.
2. To drive into a position of great difficaulty or hopeless
embarrassment; as, to corner a person in argument.
3. To get command of (a stock, commodity, etc.), so as to be able to
put one's own price on it; as, to corner the shares of a railroad
stock; to corner petroleum.
CORNERCAP
Cor"ner*cap` (-kp`), n.
Defn: The chief ornament. [Obs.]
Thou makest the triumviry the cornercap of society. Shak.
CORNERED
Cor"nered (-nrd), p. a.
Defn: 1 Having corners or angles.
2. In a possition of great difficulty; brought to bay.
CORNERWISE
Cor"ner*wise` (-wz`), adv.
Defn: With the corner in front; diagonally; not square.
CORNET
Cor"net (kr"nt), n. Etym: [F. cornet, m. (for senses 1 & 2),
cornette, f. & m. (for senses 3 & 4), dim. of corne horn, L. cornu.
See Horn.]
1. (Mus.)
(a) An obsolete rude reed instrument (Ger. Zinken), of the oboe
family. (b) A brass instrument, with cupped mouthpiece, and furnished
with valves or pistons, now used in bands, and, in place of the
trumpet, in orchestras. See Cornet-à-piston. (c) A certain organ stop
or register.
2. A cap of paper twisted at the end, used by retailers to inclose
small wares. Cotgrave.
3. (Mil.)
(a) A troop of cavalry; -- so called from its being accompanied by a
cornet player. [Obs.] "A body of five cornets of horse." Clarendon.
(b) The standard of such a troop. [Obs.]
(c) The lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry
troop, who carried the standard. The office was abolished in 1871.
4. A headdress:
(a) A square cap anciently worn as a mark of certain professions.
(b) A part of a woman's headdress, in the 16th century.
5. Etym: [Cf. Coronet.] (Far.)
Defn: See Coronet, 2.
CORNET-A-PISTON
Cor"net-à-pis`ton (kr"nt--ps"tn; F. kr`n`ps`tn"), n.; pl. Cornets-à-
piston. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: A brass wind instrument, like the trumpet, furnished with
valves moved by small pistons or sliding rods; a cornopean; a cornet.
CORNETCY
Cor"net*cy (kr"nt-s), n.
Defn: The commission or rank of a cornet.
CORNETER
Cor"net*er (kr"nt-r), n.
Defn: One who blows a cornet.
CORNEULE
Cor"neule (kr"nl), n. Etym: [F., dim. of corn the cornea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the corneas of a compound eye in the invertebrates.
Carpenter.
CORNFIELD
Corn"field` (krn"fld`), n.
Defn: A field where corn is or has been growing; -- in England, a
field of wheat, rye, barley, or oats; in America, a field of Indian
corn.
CORNFLOOR
Corn"floor` (-flr`), n.
Defn: A thrashing floor. Hos. ix. 1.
CORNFLOWER
Corn"flow`er (-flou`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A conspicuous wild flower (Centaurea Cyanus), growing in
grainfields.
CORNIC
Cor"nic (kr"nk), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, the dogwood (Cornus
florida).
CORNICE
Cor"nice (kr"ns), n. Etym: [F. corniche, It. cornice, LL. coronix,
cornix, fr. L. coronis a curved line, a flourish with the pen at the
end of a book or chapter, Gr. corona crown. sEE Crown, and cf.
Coronis.] (Arch.)
Defn: Any horizontal, molded or otherwise decorated projection which
crowns or finishes the part to which it is affixed; as, the cornice
of an order, pedestal, door, window, or house. Gwilt. Cornice ring,
the ring on a cannon next behind the muzzle ring.
CORNICED
Cor"niced (kr"nst), a.
Defn: Having a cornice.
CORNICLE
Cor"ni*cle (kr"n-k'l), n. Etym: [L. corniculum, dim. of cornu horn.]
Defn: A little horn. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
CORNICULAR
Cor*nic"u*lar (-lr), n. Etym: [L. cornicularius.]
Defn: A secretary or clerk. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CORNICULATE
Cor/nic"u*late (kr-nk"-lt), a. Etym: [L. corniculatus.]
1. Horned; having horns. Dr. H. More.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having processes resembling small horns.
CORNICULUM
Cor*nic"u*lum (kr-nk"-lm), n.; pl. Cornicula (-l. Etym: [L.
corniculum little horn.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small hornlike part or process.
CORNIFEROUS
Cor*nif"er*ous (kr-nf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. cornu horn + -ferous.]
(Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the lowest period of the Devonian age.(See
the Diagram, under Geology.) The Corniferous period has been so
called from the numerous seams of hornstone which characterize the
later part of the period, as developed in the State of New York.
CORNIFIC
Cor*nif"ic (kr-nf"k), a. Etym: [L. cornu horn + facere to make.]
Defn: Producing horns; forming horn.
CORNIFICATION
Cor`ni*fi*ca"tion (kr`n-f-k"shn), n.
Defn: Conversion into, or formation of, horn; a becoming like horn.
CORNIFIED
Cor"ni*fied (kr"n-fd), a. Etym: [L. cornu horn + -fy.] (Anat.)
Defn: Converted into horn; horny.
CORNIFORM
Cor"ni*form (-frm), a. Etym: [L. cornu horn + -form.]
Defn: Having the shape of a horn; horn-shaped.
CORNIGEROUS
Cor*nig"er*ous (kr-nj"r-s), a. Etym: [L. corniger; cornu horn +
gerere to bear.]
Defn: Horned; having horns; as, cornigerous animals. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
CORNIN
Cor"nin (kr"nn), n. (Chem.)
(a) A bitter principle obtained from dogwood (Cornus florida), as a
white crystalline substance; -- called also cornic acid.
(b) An extract from dogwood used as a febrifuge.
CORNIPLUME
Cor"ni*plume (kr"n-plm), n. Etym: [L. cornu horn + pluma feather.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A hornlike tuft of feathers on the head of some birds.
CORNISH
Cor"nish (kr"nsh), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cornwall, in England. Cornish chough. See
Chough.
-- Cornish engine, a single-acting pumping engine, used in mines, in
Cornwall and elsewhere, and for water works. A heavy pump rod or
plunger, raised by the steam, forces up the water by its weight, in
descending.
CORNISH
Cor"nish, n.
Defn: The dialect, or the people, of Cornwall.
CORNIST
Cor"nist, n.
Defn: A performer on the cornet or horn.
CORNLOFT
Corn"loft` (krn"lft`), n.
Defn: A loft for corn; a granary.
CORNMUSE
Corn"muse (-mz), n.
Defn: A cornemuse.
CORNO DI BASSETTO
Cor"no di bas*set"to (kr"n d bs-st"t or bs-st"t); pl. Corni (-n di
basseto. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A tenor clarinet; -- called also basset horn, and sometimes
confounded with the English horn, which is a tenor oboe.
CORNO INGLESE
Cor"no In*gle"se (n-gl"z); pl. Corni Inglesi (-z. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A reed instrument, related to the oboe, but deeper in pitch;
the English horn.
CORNOPEAN
Cor*no"pe*an (kr-n"p-an), n. (Mus.)
Defn: An obsolete name for the cornet-à-piston.
CORNSHELLER
Corn"shell`er (krn"shl`r), n.
Defn: A machine that separates the kernels of corn from the cob.
CORNSHUCK
Corn"shuck` (-shk`), n.
Defn: The husk covering an ear of Indian corn. [Colloq. U.S.]
CORNSTALK
Corn"stalk` (-stk`), n.
Defn: A stalk of Indian corn.
CORNSTARCH
Corn"starch` (-strch`), n.
Defn: Starch made from Indian corn, esp. a fine white flour used for
puddings, etc.
CORNU
Cor"nu (kr"n), n; pl. Cornua (-n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A horn, or anything shaped like or resembling a horn.
CORNU AMMONIS
Cor"nu Am*mo"nis (m-m"ns); pl. Cornua Ammonis. Etym: [L., horn of
Ammon. See Ammonite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil shell, curved like a ram's horn; an obsolete name for
an ammonite.
CORNUCOPIA
Cor`nu*co"pi*a (kr`n-k"p-), n.; pl. Cornucopias (-. Etym: [L. cornu
copiae horn of plenty. See Horn, and Copious.]
1. The horn of plenty, from which fruits and flowers are represented
as issuing. It is an emblem of abundance.
2. pl. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of grasses bearing spikes of flowers resembling the
cornucopia in form.
Note: Some writers maintain that this word should be written, in the
singular, cornu copiæ, and in the plural, cornua copiæ.
CORNUTE; CORNUTED
Cor"nute (kr"nt or kr-nt"), Cor*nut"ed (kr-n"td), a. Etym: [L.
cornutus horned, from cornu horn.]
1. Bearing horns; horned; horn-shaped.
2. Cuckolded. [R.] "My being cornuted." LEstrange.
CORNUTE
Cor*nute" (kr-nt"), v. t.
Defn: To bestow horns upon; to make a cuckold of; to cuckold. [Obs.]
Burton.
CORNUTO
Cor*nu"to (kr-n"t), n. Etym: [It., fr. L. cornutus horned.]
Defn: A man that wears the horns; a cuckold. [R.] Shak.
CORNUTOR
Cor*nu"tor (-tr), n.
Defn: A cuckold maker. [R.] Jordan.
CORNY
Cor"ny (kr"n), a. Etym: [L. cornu horn.]
Defn: Strong, stiff, or hard, like a horn; resembling horn.
Up stood the cornu reed. Milton.
CORNY
Corn"y, a.
1. Producing corn or grain; furnished with grains of corn. [R.] "The
corny ear." Prior.
2. Containing corn; tasting well of malt. [R.]
A draught of moist and corny ale. Chaucer.
3. Tipsy. [Vulgar, Eng.] Forby.
COROCORE
Cor"o*core (kr"-kr), n.
Defn: A kind of boat of various forms, used in the Indian
Archipelago.
CORODY
Cor"o*dy (kr"-d), n. Etym: [LL. corrodium, corredium, conredium,
furniture, provision: cf. OF. conroi. See Curry.] (Old Law)
Defn: An allowance of meat, drink, or clothing due from an abbey or
other religious house for the sustenance of such of the king's
servants as he may designate to receive it. [Written also corrody.]
COROL
Cor"ol (kr"l), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A corolla.
COROLLA
Co*rol"la (k-rl"l), n. Etym: [L. corolla a little crown or garland,
dim. of corona. See Crown.] (Bot.)
Defn: The inner envelope of a flower; the part which surrounds the
organs of fructification, consisting of one or more leaves, called
petals. It is usually distinguished from the calyx by the fineness of
its texture and the gayness of its colors. See the Note under
Blossom.
COROLLACEOUS
Cor`ol*la"ceous (kr`l-l"shs), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a corolla; having the form or
texture of a corolla.
COROLLARY
Cor"ol*la*ry (kr"l-l-r; 277), n.; pl. Corollaries (-r. Etym: [L.
corollarium gift, corollary, fr. corolla. See Corolla.]
1. That which is given beyond what is actually due, as a garland of
flowers in addition to wages; surplus; something added or
superfluous. [Obs.]
Now come, my Ariel; bring a corollary, Rather than want a spirit.
Shak.
2. Something which follows from the demonstration of a proposition;
an additional inference or deduction from a demonstrated proposition;
a consequence.
COROLLATE; COROLLATED
Cor"ol*late (kr"l-lt), Cor"ol*la`ted (-l`td), a.
Defn: Having a corolla or corollas; like a corolla.
COROLLET
Cor"ol*let (kr"l-lt), n. Etym: [Dim. fr. corolla.] (Bot.)
Defn: A floret in an aggregate flower. [Obs.] Martyn.
COROLLIFLORAL; COROLLIFLOROUS
Co*rol`li*flo"ral (k-rl`l-fl"ral), Co*rol`li*flo"rous (-fl"rs), a.
Etym: [Corolla + L. flos, floris, flower.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the stamens borne on the petals, and the latter free
from the calyx. Compare Calycifloral and Thalamifloral.
COROLLINE
Cor"ol*line (-ln), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a corolla.
COROMANDEL
Cor`o*man"del (kr`-mn"del), n. (Geol.)
Defn: The west coast, or a portion of the west coast, of the Bay of
Bengal. Coromandel gooseberry. See Carambola.
-- Coromandel wood, Calamander wood.
CORONA
Co*ro"na (k-r"n), n.; pl. L. Coronæ (-nCoronas (-n. Etym: [L. corona
crown. See Crown.]
1. A crown or garland bestowed among the Romans as a reward for
distinguished services.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The projecting part of a Classic cornice, the under side of
which is cut with a recess or channel so as to form a drip. See
Illust. of Column.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The upper surface of some part, as of a tooth or the skull; a
crown.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The shelly skeleton of a sea urchin.
5. (Astrol.)
Defn: A peculiar luminous apearance, or aureola, which surrounds the
sun, and which is seen only when the sun is totally eclipsed by the
moon.
6. (Bot.)
(a) An inner appendage to a petal or a corolla, often forming a
special cup, as in the daffodil and jonquil.
(b) Any crownlike appendage at the top of an organ.
7. (Meteorol.)
(a) A circle, usually colored, seen in peculiar states of the
atmosphere around and close to a luminous body, as the sun or moon.
(b) A peculiar phase of the aurora borealis, formed by the
concentration or convergence of luminous beams around the point in
the heavens indicated by the direction of the dipping needle.
8. A crown or circlet suspended from the roof or vaulting of
churches, to hold tapers lighted on solemn occasions. It is sometimes
formed of double or triple circlets, arranged pyramidically. Called
also corona lucis. Fairholt.
9. (Mus.)
Defn: A character [] called the pause or hold.
CORONACH
Cor"o*nach (kr"-nk), n.
Defn: See Coranach.
CORONAL
Cor"o*nal (kr"-nal or, esp. in science, k-r"nal; 277), a. Etym: [L.
coronalis: cf. F. coronal.]
1. Of or pertaining to a corona (in any of the senses).
The coronal light during the eclipse is faint. Abney.
2. Of or pertaining to a king's crown, or coronation.
The law and his coronal oath require his undeniable assent to what
laws the Parliament agree upon. Milton.
3. Of or pertaining to the top of the head or skull.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the shell of a sea urchin. Coronal suture
(Anat.), a suture extending across the skull between the parietal and
frontal bones; the frontoparietal suture.
CORONAL
Cor"o*nal, n.
1. A crown; wreath; garland. Spenser.
2. The frontal bone, over which the ancients wore their coronæ or
garlands. Hooper.
CORONAMEN
Cor`o*na"men (kr`-n"mn), n. Etym: [L., a crowning.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The upper margin of a hoof; a coronet.
CORONARY
Cor"o*na*ry (kr"-n-r), a. Etym: [L. coronarius: cf. F. coronaire.]
1. Of or pertaining to a crown; ferming, or adapted to form, a crown
or garland. "Coronary thorns." Bp. Pearson.
The catalogue of coronary plants is not large in Theophrastus. Sir T.
Browne.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling, or situated like, a crown or circlet; as, the
coronary arteries and veins of the heart.
CORONARY
Cor"o*na*ry, n.
Defn: A small bone in the foot of a horse.
CORONARY BONE
Cor"o*na*ry bone.
Defn: The small pastern bone of the horse and allied animals.
CORONARY CUSHION
Coronary cushion.
Defn: A cushionlike band of vascular tissue at the upper border of
the wall of the hoof of the horse and allied animals. It takes an
important part in the secretion of the horny walls.
CORONATE; CORONATED
Cor"o*nate (kr"-nt), Cor"o*na`ted (-n`ted), a. Etym: [L. coronatus,
p. p. of coronare to crown, fr. corona. See Crown.]
1. Having or wearing a crown.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) Having the coronal feathers lengthened or otherwise
distinguished; -- said of birds.
(b) Girt about the spire with a row of tubercles or spines; -- said
of spiral shells.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Having a crest or a crownlike appendage.
CORONATION
Cor`o*na"tion (kr`-n"shn), n. Etym: [See Coronate.]
1. The act or solemnity of crowning a sovereign; the act of investing
a prince with the insignia of royalty, on his succeeding to the
sovereignty.
2. The pomp or assembly at a coronation. Pope.
CORONEL
Coro"nel (kr"nel), n. Etym: [See Colonel.]
Defn: A colonel. [Obs.] Spenser.
CORONEL
Cor"o*nel (kr"-nl or kr"nl), n. Etym: [Cf. Cronel, Crown.] (Anc.
Armor)
Defn: The iron head of a tilting spear, divided into two, three, or
four blunt points. [Written also cronel.] Grose.
CORONER
Cor"o*ner (kr"-nr), n. Etym: [From OE. coronen to crown, OF. coroner,
fr. L. coronare, fr. corona crown. Formed as a translation of LL.
coronator coroner, fr. L. corona crown, the coroner having been
originally a prosecuting officer of the crown. See Crown.]
Defn: An officer of the peace whose principal duty is to inquire,
with the help of a jury, into the cause of any violent, sudden or
mysterious death, or death in prison, usually on sight of the body
and at the place where the death occurred. [In England formerly also
written and pronounced crowner.]
Note: In some of the United States the office of coroner is
abolished, that of medical examiner taking its place. Coroner's
inquest. See under Inquest.
CORONET
Cor"o*net (kr"-nt), n. Etym: [Dim. of OE. corone crown; cf. OF.
coronete. See Crown, and cf. Crownet, Cronet.]
1. An ornamental or honorary headdress, having the shape and
character of a crown; particularly, a crown worn as the mark of high
rank lower than sovereignty. The word is used by Shakespeare to
denote also a kingly crown.
Without a star, a coronet, or garter. Goldsmith.
Note: The coronet of the Prince of Wales consist of a circlet of gold
with four crosses pattée around the edge between as many fleurs-de-
lis. The center crosses are connected by an arch which is surmounted
by a globe or cross. The coronet of a British duke is adorned with
strawberry leaves; that of a marquis has leaves with pearls
interposed; that of an earl raises the pearls above the leaves; that
of a viscount is surrounded with pearls only; that of a baron has
only four pearls.
2. (Far.)
Defn: The upper part of a horse's hoof, where the horn terminates in
skin. James White.
3. (Anc. Armor)
Defn: The iron head of a tilting spear; a coronel. Crose.
CORONETED
Cor"o*net*ed (-nt-d), a.
Defn: Wearing, or entitled to wear, a coronet; of noble birth or
rank.
CORONIFORM
Co*ron"i*form (k-rn"-frm or k-r"n-), a. Etym: [L. corona crown + -
form.]
Defn: Having the form of a crown or coronet; resembling a crown.
CORONILLA
Cor`o*nil"la (kr`-nl"l), n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. corona crown: cf. F.
coronille.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants related to the clover, having their flowers
arranged in little heads or tufts resembling coronets.
CORONIS
Co*ro"nis (k-r"ns), n. Etym: [Gr. Cornice.]
1. In Greek grammar, a sign ['] sometimes placed over a contracted
syllable. W. W. Goodwin.
2. The curved line or flourish at the end of a book or chapter;
hence, the end. [R.] Bp. Hacket.
CORONIUM
Co*ro"ni*um, n. [NL. See Corona.] (Chem. & Astron.)
Defn: The principal gaseous substance forming the solar corona,
characterized by a green line in the coronal spectrum.
CORONOID
Cor"o*noid (kr"-noid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. corono.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling the beak of a crow; as, the coronoid process of the
jaw, or of the ulna.
CORONULE
Cor"o*nule (kr"-nl), n. Etym: [L. coronula, dim. of corona crown.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A coronet or little crown of a seed; the downy tuft on seeds.
See Pappus. Martyn.
COROUN
Co*roun" (k-roun"), v. & n.
Defn: Crown. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COROZO; COROSSO
Co*ro"zo Co*ros"so (k-r"th or -s), n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. cerozo a kind of
palm tree.]
Defn: The name in Central America for the seed of a true palm; also,
a commercial name for the true ivory nut. See Ivory nut.
CORPORACE
Cor"po*race (kr"p-rs), n.
Defn: See Corporas.
CORPORAL
Cor"po*ral (kr"p-ral), n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. F. caporal, It.
caporale, fr. capo head, chief, L. caput. See Chief, and cf.
Caporal.] (Mil.)
Defn: A noncommissioned officer, next below a sergeant. In the United
States army he is the lowest noncomissioned officer in a company of
infantry. He places and relieves sentinels. Corporal's guard, a
detachment such as would be in charge of a corporal for guard duty,
etc.; hence, derisively, a very small number of persons.
-- Lance corporal, an assistant corporal on private's pay. Farrow.
-- Ship's corporal (Naut.), a petty officer who assists the master
at arms in his various duties.
CORPORAL
Cor"po*ral, a. Etym: [L. corporalis, fr. corpus body. See Corpse.]
1. Belonging or relating to the body; bodily. "Past corporal toil."
Shak.
Pillories and other corporal infections. Milton.
Corporal punishment (law), punishment applied to the body of the
offender, including the death penalty, whipping, and imprisonment.
2. Having a body or substance; not spiritual; material. In this sense
now usually written corporeal. Milton.
A corporal heaven . . . .where the stare are. Latimer.
What seemed corporal melted As breath into the wind. Shak.
Syn.
-- Corporal, Bodily, Corporeal. Bodily is opposed to mental; as,
bodily affections. Corporeal refers to the whole physical structure
or nature, of the body; as, corporeal substance or frame. Corporal,
as now used, refers more to punishment or some infliction; as,
corporal punishment. To speak of corporeal punishment is an error.
Bodily austerities; the corporeal mold.
CORPORAL; CORPORALE
Cor"po*ral (kr"p-ral), Cor`po*ra"le (-r"l), n. Etym: [LL. corporale:
cf.F. corporal. See Corporal,a.]
Defn: A fine linen cloth, on which the sacred elements are
consecrated in the eucharist, or with which they are covered; a
communion cloth. Corporal oath, a solemn oath; -- so called from the
fact that it was the ancient usage for the party taking it to touch
the corporal, or cloth that covered the consecrated elements.
CORPORALITY
Cor`po*ral"i*ty (kr`p-rl"l-t), n.: pl. Corporalities (-t. Etym: [L.
corporalitas: cf. F.corporalit.]
1. The state of being or having a body; bodily existence;
corporeality; -- opposed to spirituality. Dr. H. More.
2. A confraternity; a guild. [Obs.] Milton.
CORPORALLY
Cor"po*ral*ly (kr"p-ral-ly), adv.
Defn: In or with the body; bodily; as, to be corporally present.
Sharp.
CORPORALSHIP
Cor"po*ral*ship, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A corporal's office.
CORPORAS
Cor"po*ras (kr"p-rs), n. Etym: [Prop. pl. of corporal.]
Defn: The corporal, or communion cloth. [Obs.] Fuller.
CORPORATE
Cor"po*rate (kr"p-rt), a. Etym: [L. corporatus, p. p. of corporare to
shape into a body, fr. corpus body. See Corpse.]
1. Formed into a body by legal enactment; united in an association,
and endowed by law with the rights and liabilities of an individual;
incorporated; as, a corporate town.
2. Belonging to a corporation or incorporated body. "Corporate
property." Hallam.
3. United; general; collectively one.
They answer in a joint and corporate voice. Shak.
Corporate member, an actual or voting member of a corporation, as
distinguished from an associate or an honorary member; as, a
corporate member of the American Board.
CORPORATE
Cor"po*rate (-rt), v. t.
Defn: To incorporate. [Obs.] Stow.
CORPORATE
Cor"po*rate, v. i.
Defn: To become incorporated. [Obs.]
CORPORATELY
Cor"po*rate*ly (-rt-l), adv.
1. In a corporate capacity; acting as a coprporate body.
2. In, or as regarda, the body. Fabyan.
CORPORATION
Cor`po*ra"tion (kr`p-r"shn), n. Etym: [L. corporatio incarnation: cf.
F. corporation corporation.]
Defn: A body politic or corporate, formed and authorized by law to
act as a single person, and endowed by law with the capacity of
succession; a society having the capacity of transacting business as
an individual.
Note: Corporations are aggregate or sole. Corporations aggregate
consist of two or more persons united in a society, which is
preserved by a succession of members, either forever or till the
corporation is dissolved by the power that formed it, by the death of
all its members, by surrender of its charter or franchises, or by
forfeiture. Such corporations are the mayor and aldermen of cities,
the head and fellows of a college, the dean and chapter of a
cathedral church, the stockholders of a bank or insurance company,
etc. A corporation sole consists of a single person, who is made a
body corporate and politic, in order to give him some legal
capacities, and especially that of succession, which as a natural
person he can not have. Kings, bishops, deans, parsons, and vicars,
are in England sole corporations. A fee will not pass to a
corporation sole without the word "successors" in the grant. There
are instances in the United States of a minister of a parish seized
of parsonage lands in the right of his parish, being a corporation
sole, as in Massachusetts. Corporations are sometimes classified as
public and private; public being convertible with municipal, and
private corporations being all corporations not municipal. Close
corporation. See under Close.
CORPORATOR
Cor"po*ra`tor (kr"p-r`tr), n.
Defn: A member of a corporation, esp. one of the original members.
CORPORATURE
Cor"po*ra*ture (kr"p-r-tr), n.
Defn: The state of being embodied; bodily existence. [Obs.] Dr. H.
More.
CORPOREAL
Cor*po"re*al (kr-p"r-al), a. Etym: [L. corporeus, fr. corpus body.]
Defn: Having a body; consisting of, or pertaining to, a material body
or substance; material; -- opposed to spiritual or immaterial.
His omnipotence That to corporeal substance could add Speed almost
spiritual. Milton.
Corporeal property, such as may be seen and handled (as opposed to
incorporeal, which can not be seen or handled, and exists only in
contemplation). Mozley & W.
Syn.
-- Corporal; bodily. See Corporal.
CORPOREALISM
Cor*po"re*al*ism (-z'm), n.
Defn: Materialism. Cudworth.
CORPOREALIST
Cor*po"re*al*ist (kr-p"r-al-st), n.
Defn: One who denies the reality of spiritual existences; a
materialist.
Some corporealists pretended . . . to make a world without a God. Bp.
Berkeley.
CORPOREALITY
Cor*po`re*al"i*ty (-l"-t), n.: pl. Corporealities (-t.
Defn: The state of being corporeal; corporeal existence.
CORPOREALLY
Cor*po"re*al*ly (kr-p"r-al-l), adv.
Defn: In the body; in a bodily form or manner.
CORPOREALNESS
Cor*po"re*al*ness (-ns), n.
Defn: Corporeality; corporeity.
CORPOREITY
Cor`po*re"i*ty (kr`p-r"-t), n. Etym: [LL. corporeitas: cf. F.
corpor.]
Defn: The state of having a body; the state of being corporeal;
materiality.
The one attributed corporeity to God. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Those who deny light to be matter, do not therefore deny its
corporeity. Coleridge.
CORPORIFY
Cor*por"i*fy (kr-pr"-f), v. t. Etym: [L. corpus body + -fy: cf. F.
corporifier.]
Defn: To embody; to form into a body. [Obs.] Boyle.
CORPOSANT
Cor"po*sant (kr"p-znt), n. Etym: [It. corpo santo holy body.]
Defn: St. Elmo's fire. See under Saint.
CORPS
Corps (kr, pl. krz), n. sing. & pl. Etym: [F., fr. L. corpus body.
See Corpse.]
1. The human body, whether living or dead. [Obs.] See Corpse, 1.
By what craft in my corps, it cometh [commences] and where. Piers
Plowman.
2. A body of men; esp., an organized division of the military
establishment; as, the marine corps; the corps of topographical
engineers; specifically, an army corps.
A corps operating with an army should consist of three divisions of
the line, a brigade of artillery, and a regiment of cavalry. Gen.
Upton (U. S. Tactics. )
3. A body or code of laws. [Obs.]
The whole corps of the law. Bacon.
4. (Eccl.)
Defn: The land with which a prebend or other ecclesiastical office is
endowed. [Obs.]
The prebendaries over and above their reserved rents have a corps.
Bacon.
Army corps, or (French) Corps d'armée (k, a body containing two or
more divisions of a large army, organized as a complete army in
itself.
-- Corps de logis (ke l Etym: [F., body of the house], the principal
mass of a building, considered apart from its wings.
-- Corps diplomatique (k Etym: [F., diplomatic body], the body of
ministers or envoys accredited to a government.
CORPSE
Corpse (krps), n. Etym: [OF. cors (sometimes written corps), F.
corps, L. corpus; akin to AS. hrif womb. See Midriff, and cf. Corse,
Corselet, Corps, Cuerpo.]
1. A human body in general, whether living or dead; -- sometimes
contemptuosly. [Obs.]
Note: Formerly written (after the French form) corps. See Corps, n.,
1.
2. The dead body of a human being; -- used also Fig.
He touched the dead corpse of Public Credit, and it sprung upon its
feet. D. Webster.
Corpse candle. (a) A thick candle formerly used at a lich wake, or
the customary watching with a corpse on the night before its
interment. (b) A luminous appearance, resembling the flame of a
candle, sometimes seen in churchyards and other damp places,
superstitiously regarded as portending death.
-- Corpse gate, the gate of a burial place through which the dead
are carried, often having a covered porch; -- called also lich gate.
CORPULENCE; CORPULENCY
Cor"pu*lence (kr"p-lens), Cor"pu*len*cy (kr"p-len-s), n. Etym: [L.
corpulentia: cf. F. corpulence.]
1. Excessive fatness; fleshiness; obesity.
2. Thickness; density; compactness. [Obs.]
The heaviness and corpulency of water requiring a great force to
divide it. Ray.
CORPULENT
Cor"pu*lent (-p-lent), a. Etym: [L. corpulentus, fr. corpus: cf. F.
corpulent. See Corpse.]
1. Very fat; obese.
2. Solid; gross; opaque. [Obs.] Holland.
Syn.
-- Stout; fleshy; bulky; obese. See Stout.
CORPULENTLY
Cor"pu*lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a corpulent manner.
CORPUS
Cor"pus (-ps), n.; pl. Corpora (-p. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A body, living or dead; the corporeal substance of a thing.
Corpus callosum (k; pl. Corpora callosa (-s Etym: [NL., callous body]
(Anat.), the great band of commissural fibers uniting the cerebral
hemispheries. See Brain.
-- Corpus Christi (kr Etym: [L., body of Christ] (R. C. Ch.), a
festival in honor of the eucharist, observed on the Thursday after
Trinity Sunday.
-- Corpus Christi cloth. Same as Pyx cloth, under Pyx.
-- Corpus delicti (d Etym: [L., the body of the crime] (Law), the
substantial and fundamental fact of the comission of a crime; the
proofs essential to establish a crime.
-- Corpus luteum (l; pl. Corpora lutea (-. Etym: [NL., luteous body]
(Anat.), the reddish yellow mass which fills a ruptured Grafian
follicle in the mammalian ovary.
-- Corpus striatum (str; pl. Corpora striata (-t. Etym: [NL.,
striate body] (Anat.), a ridge in the wall of each lateral ventricle
of the brain.
CORPUSCLE
Cor"pus*cle (-ps-s'l), n. Etym: [L. corpusculum, dim. of corpus.]
1. A minute particle; an atom; a molecule.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A protoplasmic animal cell; esp., such as float free, like
blood, lymph, and pus corpuscles; or such as are imbedded in an
intercellular matrix, like connective tissue and cartilage
corpuscles. See Blood.
Virchow showed that the corpuscles of bone are homologous with those
of connective tissue. Quain's Anat.
Red blood corpuscles (Physiol.), in man, yellowish, biconcave,
circular discs varying from 1/3500 to 1/3200 of an inch in diameter
and about 1/12400 of an inch thick. They are composed of a colorless
stroma filled in with semifluid hæmoglobin and other matters. In most
mammals the red corpuscles are circular, but in the camels, birds,
reptiles, and the lower vertebrates generally, they are oval, and
sometimes more or less spherical in form. In Amphioxus, and most
invertebrates, the blood corpuscles are all white or colorless.
-- White blood corpuscles (Physiol.), rounded, slightly flattened,
nucleated cells, mainly protoplasmic in composition, and possessed of
contractile power. In man, the average size is about 1/2500 of an
inch, and they are present in blood in much smaller numbers than the
red corpuscles.
CORPUSCULAR
Cor*pus"cu*lar (kr-ps"k-lr), a. Etym: [Cf. F. corpusculaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, corpuscles, or small particles.
Corpuscular philosophy, that which attempts to account for the
phenomena of nature, by the motion, figure, rest, position, etc., of
the minute particles of matter.
-- Corpuscular theory (Opt.), the theory enunciated by Sir Isaac
Newton, that light consists in the emission and rapid progression of
minute particles or corpuscles. The theory is now generally rejected,
and supplanted by the undulatory theory.
CORPUSCULARIAN
Cor*pus`cu*la"ri*an (-l"r-an), a.
Defn: Corpuscular. [Obs.]
CORPUSCULARIAN
Cor*pus`cu*la"ri*an, n.
Defn: An adherent of the corpuscular philosophy. Bentley.
CORPUSCULE
Cor*pus"cule (kr-ps"kl), n.
Defn: A corpuscle. [Obs.]
CORPUSCULOUS
Cor*pus"cu*lous (-k-ls), a.
Defn: Corpuscular. Tyndall.
CORRADE
Cor*rade" (kr-rd"), v. t. Etym: [L. corradere, -rasum; cor- + radere
to rub.]
1. To gnaw into; to wear away; to fret; to consume. [Obs.] Dr. R.
Clerke.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: To erode, as the bed of a stream. See Corrosion.
CORRADIAL
Cor*ra"di*al (kr-r"d-al), a.
Defn: Radiating to or from the same point. [R.] Coleridge.
CORRADIATE
Cor*ra"di*ate (kr-r"d-t), v. t.
Defn: To converge to one point or focus, as light or rays.
CORRADIATION
Cor*ra`di*a"tion (kr-r`d-"shn), n.
Defn: A conjunction or concentration of rays in one point. Bacom
CORRAL
Cor*ral" (kr-rl"; Sp. kr-rl"), n. Etym: [Sp., a yard, a yard for
cattle, fr. corro a circle or ring, fr. L. currere to run. Cf.
Kraal.]
Defn: A pen for animals; esp., an inclosure made with wagons, by
emigrants in the vicinity of hostile Indians, as a place of security
for horses, cattle, etc.
CORRAL
Cor*ral", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corraled (-rld" or -rld"); p. pr. & vb.
n. Corralling.]
Defn: To surround and inclose; to coop up; to put into an inclosed
space; -- primarily used with reference to securing horses and cattle
in an inclosure of wagons while traversing the plains, but in the
Southwestern United States now colloquially applied to the capturing,
securing, or penning of anything. Bartlett.
CORRASION
Cor*ra"sion (kr-r"zhn), n. Etym: [See Corrade.] (Geol.)
Defn: The erosion of the bed of a stream by running water,
principally by attrition of the detritus carried along by the stream,
but also by the solvent action of the water.
CORRASIVE
Cor*ra"sive (-sv), a.
Defn: Corrosive. [Obs.]
Corrasive sores which eat into the flesh. Holland.
CORRECT
Cor*rect" (kr-rkt"), a. Etym: [L. correctus, p. p. of corrigere to
make straight, to correct; cor- + regere to lead straight: cf. F.
correct. See Regular, Right, and cf. Escort.]
Defn: Set right, or made straight; hence, conformable to truth,
rectitude, or propriety, or to a just standard; nnot faulty or
imperfect; free from error; as, correct behavior; correct views.
Always use the most correct editions. Felton.
Syn.
-- Accurate; right, exact; precise; regular; faultless. See
Accurate.
CORRECT
Cor*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corrected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Correcting.]
1. To make right; to bring to the standard of truth, justice, or
propriety; to rectify; as, to correct manners or principles.
This is a defect in the first make of same men's minds which can
scarce ever be corrected afterwards. T. Burnet.
2. To remove or retrench the faults or errors of; to amend; to set
right; as, to correct the proof (that is, to mark upon the margin the
changes to be made, or to make in the type the changes so marked).
3. To bring back, or attempt to bring back, to propriety in morals;
to reprove or punish for faults or deviations from moral rectitude;
to chastise; to discipline; as, a child should be corrected for
lying.
My accuser is my 'prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault
the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me.
Shak.
4. To counteract the qualities of one thing by those of another; --
said of whatever is wrong or injurious; as, to correct the acidity of
the stomach by alkaline preparations.
Syn.
-- To amend; rectify; emend; reform; improve; chastise; punish;
discipline; chasten. See Amend.
CORRECTIBLE; CORRECTABLE
Cor*rect"i*ble (-rk"t-b'l), Cor*rect"a*ble (-rk"t-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being corrected.
CORRECTIFY
Cor*rect"i*fy (kr-rk"t-f), v. t.
Defn: To correct. [Obs.]
When your worship's plassed to correctify a lady. Beau & Fl.
CORRECTION
Cor*rec"tion (kr-rk"shn), n. Etym: [L. correctio: cf. F. correction.]
1. The act of correcting, or making that right which was wrong;
change for the better; amendment; rectification, as of an erroneous
statement.
The due correction of swearing, rioting, neglect of God's word, and
other scandalouss vices. Strype.
2. The act of reproving or punishing, or that which is intended to
rectify or to cure faults; punishment; discipline; chastisement.
Correction and instruction must both work Ere this rude beast will
profit. Shak.
3. That which is substituted in the place of what is wrong; an
emendation; as, the corrections on a proof sheet should be set in the
margin.
4. Abatement of noxious qualities; the counteraction of what is
inconvenient or hurtful in its effects; as, the correction of acidity
in the stomach.
5. An allowance made for inaccuracy in an instrument; as, chronometer
correction; compass correction. Correction line (Surv.), a parallel
used as a new base line in laying out township in the government
lands of the United States. The adoption at certain intervals of a
correction line is necessitated by the convergence of of meridians,
and the statute requirement that the townships must be squares.
-- House of correction, a house where disorderly persons are
confined; a bridewell.
-- Under correction, subject to correction; admitting the
possibility of error.
CORRECTIONAL
Cor*rec"tion*al (kr-rk"shn-al), a. Etym: [Cf. F. correctionnel.]
Defn: Tending to, or intended for, correction; used for correction;
as, a correctional institution.
CORRECTIONER
Cor*rec"tion*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who is, or who has been, in the house of correction. [Obs.]
Shak.
CORRECTIVE
Cor*rect"ive (krr-rk"tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. correctif.]
1. Having the power to correct; tending to rectify; as, corrective
penalties.
Mulberries are pectoral, corrective of billious alkali. Arbuthnot.
2. Qualifying; limiting. "The Psalmist interposeth . . . this
corrective particle." Holdsworth.
CORRECTIVE
Cor*rect"ive, n.
1. That which has the power of correcting, altering, or counteracting
what is wrong or injurious; as, alkalies are correctives of acids;
penalties are correctives of immoral conduct. Burke.
2. Limitation; restriction. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
CORRECTLY
Cor*rect"ly (kr-rkt"l), adv.
Defn: In a correct manner; exactly; acurately; without fault or
error.
CORRECTNESS
Cor*rect"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being correct; as, the correctness of
opinions or of manners; correctness of taste; correctness in writing
or speaking; the correctness of a text or copy.
Syn.
-- Accuracy; exactness; precision; propriety.
CORRECTOR
Cor*rect"or (kr-rkt"r), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, corrects; as, a corrector of abuses; a
corrector of the press; an alkali is a corrector of acids.
CORRECTORY
Cor*rect"o*ry (--r), a.
Defn: Containing or making correction; corrective.
CORRECTRESS
Cor*rect"ress (-rs), n.
Defn: A woman who corrects.
CORREGIDOR
Cor*reg"i*dor (kr-rj"-dr; Sp. kr-r`h-dr"), n. Etym: [Sp., orig., a
corrector.]
Defn: The chief magistrate of a Spanish town.
CORREI
Cor"rei (kr"r), n. Etym: [Scot., perh. fr. Celt. cor a corner.]
Defn: A hollow in the side of a hill, where game usually lies. "Fleet
foot on the correi." Sir W. Scott.
CORRELATABLE
Cor`re*lat"a*ble (k3r`r-lt"-b'l), a.
Defn: Such as can be correlated; as, correlatable phenomena.
CORRELATE
Cor`re*late" (kr`r-lt" or kr"r-lt`), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Correlated;
p. pr. & vb. n. Correlating.] Etym: [Pref. cor- + relate.]
Defn: To have reciprocal or mutual relations; to be mutually related.
Doctrine and worship correlate as theory and practice. Tylor.
CORRELATE
Cor`re*late", v. t.
Defn: To put in relation with each other; to connect together by the
disclosure of a mutual relation; as, to correlate natural phenomens.
Darwin.
CORRELATE
Cor"re*late (kr"r-lt), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, stands in a reciprocal relation to
something else, as father to son; a correlative. South.
CORRELATION
Cor`re*la"tion (-l"shn), n. Etym: [LL. correlatio; L. cor- + relatio:
cf. F. corrélation. Cf. Correlation.]
Defn: Reciprocal relation; corresponding similarity or parallelism of
relation or law; capacity of being converted into, or of giving place
to, one another, under certain conditions; as, the correlation of
forces, or of zymotic diseases. Correlation of energy, the relation
to one another of different forms of energy; -- usually having some
reference to the principle of conservation of energy. See
Conservation of energy, under Conservation.
-- Correlation of forces, the relation between the forces which
matter, endowed with various forms of energy, may exert.
CORRELATIVE
Cor*rel"a*tive (kr-rl"-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. corrélatif.]
Defn: Having or indicating a reciprocal relation.
Father and son, prince and subject, stranger and citizen, are
correlative terms. Hume.
CORRELATIVE
Cor*rel"a*tive, n.
1. One who, or that which, stands in a reciprocal relation, or is
correlated, to some other person or thing. Locke.
Spiritual things and spiritual men are correlatives. Spelman.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: The antecedent of a pronoun.
CORRELATIVELY
Cor*rel"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a correlative relation.
CORRELATIVENESS
Cor*rel"a*tive*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being correlative.
CORRELIGIONIST
Cor`re*li"gion*ist (kr`r-lj"n-st), n.
Defn: A co-religion
CORREPTION
Cor*rep"tion (kr-rp"shn), n. Etym: [L. correptio, fr. corripere to
seize.]
Defn: Chiding; reproof; reproach. [Obs.]
Angry, passionate correption being rather apt to provoke, than to
amend. Hammond.
CORRESPOND
Cor`re*spond" (kr`r-spnd"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Corresponded; p. pr.
& vb. n. Corresponding.] Etym: [Pref. cor- + respond: cf. f.
correspondre.]
1. To be like something else in the dimensions and arrangement of its
parts; -- followed by with or to; as, concurring figures correspond
with each other throughout.
None of them [the forms of Sidney's sonnets] correspond to the
Shakespearean type. J. A. Symonds.
2. To be adapted; to be congruous; to suit; to agree; to fit; to
answer; -- followed by to.
Words being but empty sounds, any farther than they are signs of our
ideas, we can not but assent to them as they correspond to those
ideas we have, but no farther. Locke.
3. To have intercourse or communion; especially, to hold intercourse
or to communicate by sending and receiving letters; -- followed by
with.
After having been long in indirect communication with the exiled
family, he [Atterbury] began to correspond directly with the
Pretender. Macualay.
Syn.
-- To agree; fit; answer; suit; write; address.
CORRESPONDENCE
Cor`re*spond"ence (-spnd"ens), n. Etym: [Cf. F. correspondance.]
1. Friendly intercourse; reciprocal exchange of civilities;
especially, intercourse between persons by means of letters.
Holding also good correspondence with the other great men in the
state. Bacon.
To facilitate correspondence between one part of London and another,
was not originally one of the objects of the post office. Macualay.
2. The letters which pass between correspondents.
3. Mutual adaptation, relation, or agreement, of one thing to
another; agreement; congruity; fitness; relation.
CORRESPONDENCE SCHOOL
Cor`res*pond"ence school.
Defn: A school that teaches by correspondence, the instruction being
based on printed instruction sheets and the recitation papers written
by the student in answer to the questions or requirements of these
sheets. In the broadest sense of the term correspondence school may
be used to include any educational institution or department for
instruction by correspondence, as in a university or other
educational bodies, but the term is commonly applied to various
educational institutions organized on a commercial basis, some of
which offer a large variety of courses in general and technical
subjects, conducted by specialists.
CORRESPONDENCY
Cor`re*spond"en*cy (k$r`r--spnd"en-s), n.; pl. Correspondencies (-s.
Defn: Same as Correspondence, 3.
The correspondencies of types and antitypes . . . may be very
reasonable confirmations. S. Clarke.
CORRESPONDENT
Cor`re*spond"ent (-ent), a. Etym: [Cf. F. correspondant.]
Defn: Suitable; adapted; fit; corresponding; congruous; conformable;
in accord or agreement; obedient; willing.
Action correspondent or repugnant unto the law. Hooker.
As fast the correspondent passions rise. Thomson.
I will be correspondent to command. Shak.
CORRESPONDENT
Cor`re*spond"ent, n.
1. One with whom intercourse is carried on by letter. Macualay.
2. One who communicates information, etc., by letter or telegram to a
newspaper or periodical.
3. (Com.)
Defn: One who carries on commercial intercourse by letter or telegram
with a person or firm at a distance.
CORRESPONDENTLY
Cor`re*spond"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a a corresponding manner; conformably; suitably.
CORRESPONDING
Cor`re*spond"ing, a.
1. Answering; conformable; agreeing; suiting; as, corresponding
numbers.
2. Carrying on intercourse by letters. Corresponding member of a
society, one residing at a distance, who has been invited to
correspond with the society, and aid in carrying out its designs
without taking part in its management.
CORRESPONDINGLY
Cor`re*spond"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a corresponding manner; conformably.
CORRESPONSIVE
Cor`re*spon"sive (-r-spn"sv), a.
Defn: Corresponding; conformable; adapted. Shak.
-- Cor`re*spon"sive*ly, adv.
CORRIDOR
Cor"ri*dor (kr"r-dr or -dr), n. Etym: [F., fr. Itt. corridpore, or
Sp. corredor; prop., a runner, hence, a running or long line, a
gallery, fr. L. currere to run. See Course.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A gallery or passageway leading to several apartments of a
house.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: The covered way lying round the whole compass of the
fortifications of a place. [R.]
CORRIDOR TRAIN
Cor"ri*dor train.
Defn: A train whose coaches are connected so as to have through its
entire length a continuous corridor, into which the compartments
open. [Eng.]
CORRIE
Cor"rie (kr"r), n.
Defn: Same as Correi. [Scot.] Geikie.
CORRIGENDUM
Cor`ri*gen"dum (kr`r-jn"dm), n.; pl. Corrigenda (-d. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A fault or error to be corrected.
CORRIGENT
Cor"ri*gent (kr"r--jent), n. Etym: [L. corrigens, p. pr. of corrigere
to correct.] (Med.)
Defn: A substance added to a medicine to mollify or modify its
action. Dunglison.
CORRIGIBILITY
Cor`ri*gi*bil"i*ty (-j-bl"-t), n.
Defn: Quality of being corrigible; capability of being corrected;
corrigibleness.
CORRIGIBLE
Cor"ri*gi*ble (kr"r-j-b'l), a. Etym: [LL. corribilis, fr. L.
corrigere to correct: cf. F. corrigible. See Correrct.]
1. Capable of being set right, amended, or reformed; as, a corrigible
fault.
2. Submissive to correction; docile. "Bending down his corrigible
neck." Shak.
3. Deserving chastisement; punishable. [Obs.]
He was taken up very short, and adjudged corrigible for such
presumptuous language. Howell.
4. Having power to correct; corrective. [Obs.]
The . . . .corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. Shak.
CORRIGIBLENESS
Cor"ri*gi*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being corrigible; corrigibility.
CORRIVAL
Cor*ri"val (kr-r"val), n.
Defn: A fellow rival; a competitor; a rival; also, a companion. [R.]
Shak.
CORRIVAL
Cor*ri"val, a.
Defn: Having rivaling claims; emulous; in rivalry. [R.] Bp.
Fleetwood.
CORRIVAL
Cor*ri"val, v. i. & t.
Defn: To compete with; to rival. [R.]
CORRIVALRY
Cor*ri"val*ry (kr-r"val-r), n.
Defn: Corivalry. [R.]
CORRIVALSHIP
Cor*ri"val*ship, n.
Defn: Corivalry. [R.]
By the corrivalship of Shager his false friend. Sir T. Herbert.
CORRIVATE
Cor"ri*vate (kr"r-vt), v. t. Etym: [L. corrivatus, p. p. of corrivare
to corrivate.]
Defn: To cause to flow together, as water drawn from several streams.
[Obs.] Burton.
CORRIVATION
Cor`ri*va"tion (-v"shn), n. Etym: [L. corrivatio.]
Defn: The flowing of different streams into one. [Obs.] Burton.
CORROBORANT
Cor*rob"o*rant (kr-rb"-rant), a. Etym: [L. corroborans, p. pr. See
Corroborate.]
Defn: Strengthening; supporting; corroborating. Bacon.
-- n.
Defn: Anything which gives strength or support; a tonic.
The brain, with its proper corroborants, especially with sweet odors
and with music. Southey.
CORROBORATE
Cor*rob"o*rate (kr-rb"-rt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corroborated (-r`td);
p. pr. & vb. n. Corroborating (-r`tng). ] Etym: [L. corroboratus, p.
p. of corroborare to corroborate; cor- + roborare to strengthen,
robur strength. See Robust.]
1. To make strong, or to give additional strength to; to strengthen.
[Obs.]
As any limb well and duly exercised, grows stronger, the nerves of
the body are corroborated thereby. I. Watts.
2. To make more certain; to confirm; to establish.
The concurrence of all corroborates the same truth. I. Taylor.
CORROBORATE
Cor*rob"o*rate (-rt), a.
Defn: Corroborated. [Obs.] Bacon.
CORROBORATION
Cor*rob`o*ra"tion (kr-rb`-r"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. corroboration.]
1. The act of corroborating, strengthening, or confirming; addition
of strength; confirmation; as, the corroboration of an argument, or
of information.
2. That which corroborates.
CORROBORATIVE
Cor*rob"o*ra*tive (kr-rb"-r-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. corroboratif.]
Defn: Tending to strengthen of confirm.
CORROBORATIVE
Cor*rob"o*ra*tive, n.
Defn: A medicine that strengthens; a corroborant. Wiseman.
CORROBORATORY
Cor*rob"o*ra*to*ry (-t-r), a.
Defn: Tending to strengthen; corroborative; as, corroboratory facts.
CORROBOREE
Cor*rob"o*ree`, n. [Also corrobboree, corrobori, etc.] [Native name.]
1. A nocturnal festivity with which the Australian aborigines
celebrate tribal events of importance. Symbolic dances are given by
the young men of the tribe, while the women act as musicians.
2. A song or chant made for such a festivity.
3. A festivity or social gathering, esp. one of a noisy or
uproarious character; hence, tumult; uproar. [Australia]
CORROBORY
Cor*rob"o*ry, n. & v.
Defn: See Corroboree.
CORRODE
Cor*rode" (kr-rd") v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corroded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Corroding.] Etym: [L. corrodere, -rosum; cor + rodere to gnaw: cf. F.
corroder. See Rodent.]
1. To eat away by degrees; to wear away or diminish by gradually
separating or destroying small particles of, as by action of a strong
acid or a caustic alkali.
Aqua fortis corroding copper . . . is wont to reduce it to a green-
blue solution. Boyle.
2. To consume; to wear away; to prey upon; to impair.
CORRODE
Cor*rode", v. i.
Defn: To have corrosive action; to be subject to corrosion. Corroding
lead, lead sufficiently pure to be used in making white lead by a
process of corroding.
Syn.
-- To canker; gnaw; rust; waste; wear away.
CORRODENT
Cor*rod"ent (kr-r"dent), a. Etym: [L. corrodens, p. pr. of
corrodere.]
Defn: Corrosive. [R.] Bp. King.
CORRODENT
Cor*rod"ent, n.
Defn: Anything that corrodes. Bp. King.
CORRODIATE
Cor*ro"di*ate (kr-r"d-t), v. t. Etym: [See Corrode.]
Defn: To eat away by degrees; to corrode. [Obs.] Sandys.
CORRODIBILITY
Cor*ro`di*bil"i*ty (kr-r`d-bl"-t), n.
Defn: The qualityof being corrodible. [R.] Johnson.
CORRODIBLE
Cor*rod"i*ble (kr-r"d-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being corroded; corrosible. Sir T. Browne.
CORROSIBILITY
Cor*ro`si*bil"i*ty (kr-r`s-bl"-t), n.
Defn: Corrodibility. "Corrosibility . . . answers corrosiveness."
Boyle.
CORROSIBLE
Cor*ro"si*ble (kr-r"s-b'l), a.
Defn: Corrodible. Bailey.
CORROSIBLENESS
Cor*ro"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being corrosible. Bailey.
CORROSION
Cor*ro"sion (kr-r"zhn), n. Etym: [LL. corrosio: cf. F. corrosion. See
Corrode.]
Defn: The action or effect of corrosive agents, or the process of
corrosive change; as, the rusting of iron is a variety of corrosion.
Corrosion is a particular species of dissolution of bodies, either by
an acid or a saline menstruum. John Quincy.
CORROSIVE
Cor*ro"sive (kr-r"sv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. corrosif.]
1. Eating away; having the power of gradually wearing, changing, or
destroying the texture or substance of a body; as, the corrosive
action of an acid. "Corrosive liquors." Grew. "Corrosive
famine."Thomson.
2. Having the quality of fretting or vexing.
Care is no cure, but corrosive. Shak.
Corrosive sublimate (Chem.), mercuric chloride, HgCl2; so called
because obtained by sublimation, and because of its harsh irritating
action on the body tissue. Usually it is in the form of a heavy,
transparent, crystalline substance, easily soluble, and of an acrid,
burning taste. It is a virulent poison, a powerful antiseptic, and an
exellent antisyphilitic; called also mercuric bichloride. It is to be
carefully distinguished from calomel, the mild chloride of mercury.
CORROSIVE
Cor*ro"sive, n.
1. That which has the quality of eating or wearing away gradually.
[Corrosives] act either directly, by chemically destroying the part,
or indirectly by causing inflammation and gangrene. Dunglison.
2. That which has the power of fretting or irritating.
Such speeches . . . are grievous corrosives. Hooker.
-- Cor*ro"sive*ly, adv.
-- Cor*ro"sive*ness, n.
CORROVAL
Cor*ro"val (kr-r"val), n.
Defn: A dark brown substance of vegetable origin, allied to curare,
and used by the natives of New Granada as an arrow poison.
CORROVALINE
Cor*ro"va*line (-v-ln or -ln), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous alkaloid extracted from corroval, and characterized
by its immediate action in paralyzing the heart.
CORRUGANT
Cor"ru*gant (kr"r-gant), a. Etym: [L. corrugans, p. pr. See
Corrugate.]
Defn: Having the power of contracting into wrinkles. Johnson.
CORRUGATE
Cor"ru*gate (kr"r-gt), a. Etym: [L. corrugatus, p. p. of corrugare;
cor-+ rugare to wrinkle, ruga wrinkle; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: Wrinkled; crumpled; furrowed; contracted into ridges and
furrows.
CORRUGATE
Cor"ru*gate (-gt), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Corrugated (-g`td); p. pr. &
vb. n. Corrugating (-g`tng).]
Defn: To form or shape into wrinkles or folds, or alternate ridges
and grooves, as by drawing, contraction, pressure, bending, or
otherwise; to wrinkle; to purse up; as, to corrugate plates of iron;
to corrugate the forehead. Corrugated iron, sheet iron bent into a
series of alternate ridges and grooves in parallel lines, giving it
greater stiffness.
-- Corrugated paper, a thick, coarse paper corrugated in order to
give it elasticity. It is used as a wrapping material for fragile
articles, as bottles.
CORRUGATION
Cor`ru*ga"tion (kr`r-g"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. corrugation.]
Defn: The act corrugating; contraction into wrinkles or alternate
ridges and grooves.
CORRUGATOR
Cor"ru*ga`tor (kr"r-g`tr), n. Etym: [NL.; cf. F. corrugateur.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which contracts the skin of the forehead into
wrinkles.
CORRUGENT
Cor*ru"gent (kr-r"jent), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Drawing together; contracting; -- said of the corrugator.
[Obs.]
CORRUMP
Cor*rump" (kr-rmp"), v. t. Etym: [L. corrumpere.]
Defn: To corrupt. See Corrupt. [Obs.] Chauser.
CORRUMPABLE
Cor*rump"a*ble (--b'l), a.
Defn: Corruptible. [Obs.]
CORRUPT
Cor*rupt` (kr-rpt"), a. Etym: [L. corruptus, p. p. of corrumpere to
corrupt; cor- + rumpere to break. See Rupture.]
1. Changed from a sound to a putrid state; spoiled; tainted;
vitiated; unsound.
Who with such corrupt and pestilent bread would feed them. Knolles.
2. Changed from a state of uprightness, correctness, truth, etc., to
a worse state; vitiated; depraved; debased; perverted; as, corrupt
language; corrupt judges.
At what ease Might corrupt minds procure knaves as corrupt To swear
against you. Shak.
3. Abounding in errors; not genuine or correct; as, the text of the
manuscript is corrupt.
CORRUPT
Cor*rupt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Corrupting.]
1. To change from a sound to a putrid or putrescent state; to make
putrid; to putrefy.
2. To change from good to bad; to vitiate; to deprave; to pervert; to
debase; to defile.
Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1. Cor. xv. 33.
3. To draw aside from the path of rectitude and duty; as, to corrupt
a judge by a bribe.
Heaven is above all yet; there sits a Judge That no king can corrupt.
Shak.
4. To debase or render impure by alterations or innovations; to
falsify; as, to corrupt language; to corrupt the sacred text.
He that makes an ill use of it [language], though he does not corrupt
the fountains of knowledge, . . . yet he stops the pines. Locke.
5. To waste, spoil, or consume; to make worthless.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt. Matt. vi. 19.
CORRUPT
Cor*rupt" (kr-rpt"), v. i.
1. To become putrid or tainted; to putrefy; to rot. Bacon.
2. To become vitiated; to lose putity or goodness.
CORRUPTER
Cor*rupt"er (kr-rp"tr), n.
Defn: One who corrupts; one who vitiates or taints; as, a corrupter
of morals.
CORRUPTFUL
Cor*rupt"ful (-fl), a.
Defn: Tending to corrupt; full of corruption. [Obs.] "Corruptful
bribes." Spenser.
CORRUPTIBILITY
Cor*rupt`i*bil"i*ty (kr-rp`t-bl"-t), n. Etym: [L. corruptibilitas:
cf. F. corruptibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being corruptible; the possibility or liability
of being corrupted; corruptibleness. Burke.
CORRUPTIBLE
Cor*rupt"i*ble (kr-rp"t-b'l), a. Etym: [L. corruptibilis: cf. F.
corruptible.]
1. Capable of being made corrupt; subject to decay. "Our corruptible
bodies." Hooker.
Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold. 1
Pet. i. 18.
2. Capable of being corrupted, or morally vitiated; susceptible of
depravation.
They systematically corrupt very corruptible race. Burke.
-- Cor*rupt"i*ble*ness, n.
-- Cor*rupt"i*bly, adv.
CORRUPTIBLE
Cor*rupt"i*ble, n.
Defn: That which may decay and perish; the human body. [Archaic] 1
Cor. xv. 53.
CORRUPTINGLY
Cor*rupt"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner that corrupts.
CORRUPTION
Cor*rup"tion (kr-rp"shn), n. Etym: [F. corruption, L. corruptio.]
1. The act of corrupting or making putrid, or state of being corrupt
or putrid; decomposition or disorganization, in the process of
putrefaction; putrefaction; deterioration.
The inducing and accelerating of putrefaction is a subject of very
universal inquiry; for corruption is a reciprocal to "generation".
Bacon.
2. The product of corruption; putrid matter.
3. The act of corrupting or of impairing integrity, virtue, or moral
principle; the state of being corrupted or debased; loss of purity or
integrity; depravity; wickedness; impurity; bribery.
It was necessary, by exposing the gross corruptions of monasteries, .
. . to exite popular indignation against them. Hallam.
They abstained from some of the worst methods of corruption usual to
their party in its earlier days. Bancroft.
Note: Corruption, when applied to officers, trustees, etc., signifies
the inducing a violation of duty by means of pecuniary
considerations. Abbott.
4. The act of changing, or of being changed, for the worse; departure
from what is pure, simple, or correct; as, a corruption of style;
corruption in language. Corruption of blood (Law), taint or impurity
of blood, in consequence of an act of attainder of treason or felony,
by which a person is disabled from inheriting any estate or from
transmitting it to others.
Corruption of blood can be removed only by act of Parliament.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Putrescence; putrefaction; defilement; contamination;
deprivation; debasement; adulteration; depravity; taint. See
Depravity.
CORRUPTIONIST
Cor*rup"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who corrupts, or who upholds corruption. Sydney Smith.
CORRUPTIVE
Cor*rupt"ive (kr-rp"tv), a. Etym: [L. corruptivus: cf. F. corruptif.]
Defn: Having the quality of taining or vitiating; tending to produce
corruption.
It should be endued with some corruptive quality for so speedy a
dissolution of the meat. Ray.
CORRUPTLESS
Cor*rupt"less (kr-rpt"ls), a.
Defn: Not susceptible of corruption or decay; incorruptible. Dryden.
CORRUPTLY
Cor*rupt"ly, adv.
Defn: In a corrupt manner; by means of corruption or corrupting
influences; wronfully.
CORRUPTNESS
Cor*rupt"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being corrupt.
CORRUPTRESS
Cor*rupt"ress (-rs), n.
Defn: A woman who corrupts.
Thou studied old corruptress. Beau & Fl.
CORSAC
Cor"sac (kr"sk), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The corsak.
CORSAGE
Cor"sage (kr"sj), n. Etym: [F. See Corset.]
Defn: The waist or bodice of a lady's dress; as. a low corsage.
CORSAIR
Cor"sair (kr"sr), n. Etym: [F. corsaire (cf. It. corsare, corsale,
Pr. corsari), LL. corsarius, fr. L. cursus a running, course, whence
Sp. corso cruise, corsa cruise, coasting voyage, corsear to cruise
against the enemy, to pirate, corsario cruising, a privateer
authorized to cruise against the enemy. See Course.]
1. A pirate; one who cruises about without authorization from any
government, to seize booty on sea or land.
2. A piratical vessel.
Barbary corsairs . . . infested the coast of the Mediterranean.
Prescott.
CORSAK
Cor"sak (kr"sk), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small foxlike mammal (Cynalopex corsac), found in Central
Asia. [Written also corsac.]
CORSE
Corse (krs or krs; 277), n. Etym: [OF. cors, F. corps. See Corpse.]
1. A living body or its bulk. [Obs.]
For he was strong, and of so mighty corse As ever wielded spear in
warlike hand. Spenser.
2. A corpse; the dead body of a human being. [Archaic or Poetic]
Set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that
disobeys. Shak.
CORSELET
Corse"let (krs"lt), n. Etym: [F., dim. of OF. cors. F. corps, body.
See Corse.]
1. Armor for the body, as, the body breastplate and backpiece taken
together; -- also, used for the entire suit of the day, including
breastplate and backpiece, tasset and headpiece.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The thorax of an insect.
CORSEPRESENT
Corse"pres`ent (krs"prz`ent or krs"-), n. (Engl.Law)
Defn: An offering made to the church at the interment of a dead body.
Blackstone.
CORSET
Cor"set (kr"st), n. Etym: [F., dim. of OF. cors, F. corps, body. See
Corse.]
1. In the Middle Ages, a gown or basque of which the body was close
fitting, worn by both men and women.
2. An article of dress inclosing the chest and waist worn (chiefly by
women) to support the body or to modify its shape; stays.
CORSET
Cor"set (kr"st), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Corseted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Corseting.]
Defn: To inclose in corsets.
CORSLET
Cors"let (krs"lt), n.
Defn: A corselet. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
CORSNED
Cors"ned (krs"nd), n. Etym: [AS. corsn.] (AS. Laws)
Defn: The morsel of execration; a species of ordeal consisting in the
eating of a piece of bread consecrated by imprecation. If the
suspected person ate it freely, he was pronounced innocent; but if it
stuck in his throat, it was considered as a proof of his guilt.
Burril.
CORTEGE
Cor`tége" (kr`tzh"), n. Etym: [F., fr. It. corteggio train, fr. corte
court. See Court.]
Defn: A train of attendants; a procession.
CORTES
Cor"tes (kr"ts), n. pl. Etym: [Sp. & Pg., fr. corte court.]
Defn: The legislative assembly, composed of nobility, clergy, and
representatives of cities, which in Spain and in Portugal answers, in
some measure, to the Parliament of Great Britain.
CORTES GERAES
Cor"tes Ge*ra"es. [Pg.]
Defn: See Legislature, Portugal.
CORTEX
Cor"tex (kr"tks), n.; pl. Cortices (-t. Etym: [L., bark. Cf. Cork.]
1. Bark, as of a tree; hence, an outer covering.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Bark; rind; specifically, cinchona bark.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The outer or superficial part of an organ; as, the cortex or
gray exterior substance of the brain.
CORTICAL
Cor"ti*cal (kr"t-kal), a. Etym: [L. cortex bark: cf. F. cortical.]
Defn: Belonging to, or consisting of, bark or rind; resembling bark
or rind; external; outer; superficial; as, the cortical substance of
the kidney.
CORTICATE; CORTICATED
Cor"ti*cate (kr"t-kt), Cor"ti*ca`ted (-k`td), a. Etym: [L.
corticatus.]
Defn: Having a special outer covering of a nature unlike the interior
part.
CORTICIFER
Cor*tic"i*fer (kr-ts"-fr), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Gorgoniacea; -- so called because the fleshy part
surrounds a solid axis, like a bark.
CORTICIFEROUS
Cor`ti*cif"er*ous (kr`t-sf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. cortex, corticis, bark
-- -ferous: cf. F. corticif.]
1. Producing bark or something that resembling that resembles bark.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a barklike c
CORTICIFORM
Cor*tic"i*form (kr-ts"-frm), a. Etym: [L. cortex, corticis, bark + -
form: cf. F. corticiforme.]
Defn: Resembling, or having the form of, bark or rind.
CORTICINE
Cor"ti*cine (kr"t-sn), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. cortex, corticis, bark.]
Defn: A material for carpeting or floor covering, made of ground cork
and caoutchouc or India rubber.
CORTICOSE
Cor"ti*cose` (-ks`), a. Etym: [L. corticosus.]
Defn: Abounding in bark; resembling bark; barky.
CORTICOUS
Cor"ti*cous (-ks), a.
Defn: Relating to, or resembling, bark; corticose.
CORTILE
Cor"tile (kr"tl; It. kr-t"l), n. Etym: [It., fr. corte court.]
Defn: An open internal courtyard inclosed by the walls of a large
dwelling house or other large and stately building.
CORUNDUM
Co*run"dum (k-rn"dm), n.; pl. Corundums (-d. [Also corindon.] Etym:
[From Hind. kurand corundum stone.] (Min.)
Defn: The earth alumina, as found native in a crystalline state,
including sapphire, which is the fine blue variety; the oriental
ruby, or red sapphire; the oriental amethyst, or purple sapphire; and
adamantine spar, the hair-brown variety. It is the hardest substance
found native, next to the diamond.
Note: The name corundum is sometimes restricted to the non-
transparent or coarser kinds. Emery is a dark-colored granular
variety, usually admixed with magnetic iron ore.
CORUSCANT
Co*rus"cant (k-rs"kant), a. Etym: [L. coruscans, p. pr. See
Coruscate.]
Defn: Glittering in flashes; flashing. Howell.
CORUSCATE
Cor"us*cate (kr"s-kt or k-rs"kr), v. i. Etym: [L. coruscare to flash,
vibrate.]
Defn: To glitter in flashes; to flash.
Syn.
-- To glisten; gleam; sparkle; radiate.
CORUSCATION
Cor`us*ca"tion (kr`s-k"shn), n. Etym: [L. coruscatio: cf. F.
coruscattion.]
1. A sudden flash or play of light.
A very vivid but exceeding short-lived splender, not to call
coruscation. Boyle.
2. A flash of intellectual brilliancy.
He might have illuminated his times with the incessant cor of his
genius. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- Flash; glitter; blaze; gleam; sparkle.
CORVE
Corve (krv), n.
Defn: See Corf.
CORVEE
Cor`vee" (kr`v" or -v"), n. Etym: [F. corvée, fr. LL. corvada,
corrogata, fr. L. corrogare to entreat togetther; cor- + rogare to
ask.] (Feudal Law)
Defn: An obligation to perform certain services, as the repair of
roads, for the lord or sovereign.
CORVEN
Cor"ven (kr"ven), obs.
Defn: p. p. of Carve. Chaucer.
CORVET; CORVETTE
Cor"vet (kr"vt), Cor*vette" (kr-vr"), n. Etym: [F. corvette, fr. Pg.
corveta or Sp. corbeta, fr. L. corbita a slow-sailing ship of burden,
fr, corbis basket. Cf. Corbeil.] (Naut.)
Defn: A war vessel, ranking next below a frigate, and having usually
only one tier of guns; -- called in the United States navy a sloop of
war.
CORVETTO
Cor*vet"to (-vt"t), n. (Min.)
Defn: A curvet. Peacham.
CORVINE
Cor"vine (kr"vn), a. Etym: [L. corvinus, fr. corvus crow.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the crow; crowlike.
CORVORANT
Cor"vo*rant (kr"v-rant), n.
Defn: See Cormorant.
CORYBANT
Cor"y*bant (kr"-bnt), n.; pl. E. Corybants (-bCorybantes (-b. Etym:
[L. Corybas, Gr.
Defn: One of the priests of Cybele in Phrygia. The rites of the
Corybants were accompanied by wild music, dancing, etc.
CORYBANTIASM
Cor`y*ban"ti*asm (-bn"t-z'm), n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of frenzy in which the patient is tormented by fantastic
visions and want of sleep. Dunglison.
CORYBANTIC
Cor`y*ban"tic (kr`-bn"tk), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the Corybantes or their
rites; frantic; frenzied; as, a corybantic dance.
CORYMB
Cor"ymb (kr"mb or -m; 220), n. Etym: [L. corymbus cluster of flowers,
Gr. (Bot.)
(a) A flat-topped or convex cluster of flowers, each on its own
footstalk, and arising from different points of a common axis, the
outermost blossoms expanding first, as in the hawthorn.
(b) Any flattish flower cluster, whatever be the order of blooming,
or a similar shaped cluster of fruit.
CORYMBED
Cor"ymbed (kr"mbd), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Corymbose.
CORYMBIFEROUS
Cor`ym*bif"er*ous (kr`m-bf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. corymbifer; corymbus a
cluster of flowers + ferre to bearcorimbif.] (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing corymbs of flowers or fruit.
CORYMBOSE
Co*rym"bose (k-rm"bs or kr"m-bs`), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of corymbs, or resembling them in form. [Written
also corymbous.]
CORYMBOSELY
Co*rym"bose*ly, adv.
Defn: In corymbs.
CORYPHAENOID
Cor`y*phæ"noid (kr`-f"noid), a. Etym: [NL. coruphaena + -oid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to, or like, the genus Coryphæna. See Dolphin.
CORYPHEE
Co`ry`phee (k`r`f"), n. Etym: [F.] (Drama)
Defn: A ballet dancer.
CORYPHENE
Cor"y*phene` (kr"-fn`), n. Etym: [NL. coryphena, fr. Gr. coryph.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Coryphæna. See Dolphin. (2)
CORYPHEUS
Cor`y*phe"us (kr`-f"s), n.; pl. E. Corypheuses (-Coryphei (-f. Etym:
[L. coryphaeus, fr. Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The conductor, chief, or leader of the dramatic chorus; hence,
the chief or leader of a party or interest.
That noted corypheus [Dr. John Owen] of the Independent faction.
South.
CORYPHODON
Co*ryph"o*don (k-rf"-dn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Palen.)
Defn: A genus of extinct mammals from the eocene tertiary of Europe
and America. Its species varied in size between the tapir and
rhinoceros, and were allied to those animals, but had short,
plantigrade, five-toed feet, like the elephant.
CORYPHODONT
Co*ryph"o*dont (-dnt), a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the genus Coryphodon.
CORYZA
Co*ry"za (k-r"z), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Nasal catarrh.
COSCINOMANCY
Cos*cin"o*man`cy (ks-sn"-mn`s or ks"s-n-), n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of a suspended sieve.
COSCOROBA
Cos`co*ro"ba (ks`k-r"b), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, white, South American duck, of the genus Cascoroba,
resembling a swan.
COSECANT
Co*se"cant (k-s"knt), n. Etym: [For co. secans, an abbrev. of L.
complementi secans.] (Trig.)
Defn: The secant of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust. of
Functions.
COSEN
Cos"en (kz"'n), v. t.
Defn: See Cozen.
COSENAGE
Cos"en*age (kz"'n-j), n.
Defn: See Cozenage.
COSENING
Cos"en*ing, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Anything done deceitfully, and which could not be properly
designated by any special name, whether belonging to contracts or
not. Burrill.
COSENTIENT
Co*sen"tient (k-sn"shent), a.
Defn: Perceiving together.
COSEY
Co"sey (k"z), a.
Defn: See Cozy. Dickens.
COSHER
Cosh"er (ksh"r), v. t. Etym: [Ir. cosair a feast, a banquet or cf. F.
coucher to lie. Cf. Couch, Coshering.]
1. (Old Law)
Defn: To levy certain exactions or tribute upon; to lodge and eat at
the expense of. See Coshering.
2. To treat with hospitality; to pet. [Ireland]
COSHERER
Cosh"er*er (ksh"r-r), n.
Defn: One who coshers.
COSHERING
Cosh"er*ing, n. (Old Law)
Defn: A feudal prerogative of the lord of the soil entitling him to
lodging and food at his tenant's house. Burrill.
Sometimes he contrived, in deflance of the law, to live by coshering,
that is to say, by quartering himself on the old tentants of his
family, who, wretched as was their own condition, could not refuse a
portion of their pittance to one whom they still regarded as their
rightful lord. Macaulay.
COSIER
Co"sier (k"zhr), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. coussier maker of mattresses; or
couseor tailor, fr. OF. & F. coudre, p. p. cousu to sew, fr. L.
consuere to sew together; con- + seure to sew. See Sew to stitch.]
Defn: A tailor who botches his work. [Obs.] Shak.
COSIGNIFICATIVE
Co`sig*nif"i*ca*tive (k`s"), a.
Defn: Having the same signification. Cockerham.
COSIGNITARY
Co*sig"ni*ta*ry (k-sg"n-t-r), a. Etym: [Pref. co- + sign. Cf.
Signatory.]
Defn: Signing some important public document with another or with
others; as, a treaty violated by one of the cosignitary powers.
COSIGNITARY
Co*sig"ni*ta*ry, n.; pl. Cosignitaries (-r.
Defn: One who signs a treaty or public document along with others or
another; as, the cosignitaries of the treaty of Berlin.
COSILY
Co"si*ly (k"z-l), adv.
Defn: See Cozily.
COSINAGE
Cos"in*age (ks"'n-j), n. Etym: [See Cousinage.] (Law)
(a) Collateral relationship or kindred by blood; consanguinity.
Burrill.
(b) A writ to recover possession of an estate in lands, when a
stranger has entered, after the death of the grandfather's
grandfather, or other distant collateral relation. Blackstone.
COSINE
Co"sine (k"sn), n. Etym: [For co. sinus, an abbrev. of L. complementi
sinus.] (Trig.)
Defn: The sine of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust. of
Functions.
COSMETIC; COSMETICAL
Cos*met"ic (kz-mt"k), Cos*met"ic*al (--kal), a. Etym: [Gr.
kosmitiko`s skilled in decorating, fr. ko`smos order, ornament: cf.
F. cosmétique. See Cosmos.]
Defn: Imparting or improving beauty, particularly the beauty of the
complexion; as, a cosmetical preparation.
First, robed in white, the nymph intent adores, With head uncovered,
the cosmetic powers. Pope.
COSMETIC
Cos*met"ic, n.
Defn: Any external application intended to beautify and improve the
complexion.
COSMIC; COSMICAL
Cos"mic (kz"mk), Cos"mic*al (-m-kal), a. Etym: [Gr. kosmiko`s of the
world, fr. ko`smos: cf. F. cosmique. See Cosmos.]
1. Pertaining to the universe, and having special reference to
universal law or order, or to the one grand harmonious system of
things; hence; harmonious; orderly.
2. Pertaining to the solar system as a whole, and not to the earth
alone.
3. Characteristic of the cosmos or universe; inconceivably great;
vast; as, cosmic speed. "Cosmic ranges of time." Tyndall.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: Rising or setting with the sun; -- the opposite of acronycal.
COSMICALLY
Cos"mic*al*ly, adv.
1. With the sun at rising or setting; as, a star is said to rise or
set cosmically when it rises or sets with the sun.
2. Universally. [R.] Emerson.
COSMOGONAL; COSMOGONIC; COSMOGONICAL
Cos*mog"o*nal (kz-mg"-nal), Cos`mo*gon"ic (kz`m-gn"k),
Cos`mo*gon"ic*al (-gn"-kal), a.
Defn: Belonging to cosmogony. B. Powell. Gladstone.
COSMOGONIST
Cos*mog"o*nist (kz-mg"-nst), n.
Defn: One who treats of the origin of the universe; one versed in
cosmogony.
COSMOGONY
Cos*mog"o*ny (-n), n.; pl. Cosmogonies (-n. Etym: [Gr. kosmogoni`a;
ko`smos the world + root of gi`gnesthai to be born: cf. F.
cosmogonie.]
Defn: The creation of the world or universe; a theory or account of
such creation; as, the poetical cosmogony of Hesoid; the cosmogonies
of Thales, Anaxagoras, and Plato.
The cosmogony or creation of the world has puzzled philosophers of
all ages. Goldsmith.
COSMOGRAPHER
Cos*mog"ra*pher (-r-fr), n.
Defn: One who describes the world or universe, including the heavens
and the earth.
The name of this island is nowhere found among the old and ancient
cosmographers. Robynson (More's Utopia).
COSMOGRAPHIC; COSMOGRAPHICAL
Cos`mo*graph"ic (kz`m-grf"k), Cos`mo*graph"ic*al (--kal), a. Etym:
[Cf. F. cosmographique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to cosmography.
COSMOGRAPHICALLY
Cos`mo*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cosmographic manner; in accordance with cosmography.
COSMOGRAPHY
Cos*mog"ra*phy (kz-mg"r-f), n.; pl. Cosmographies (-f. Etym: [Gr.
cosmographie.]
Defn: A description of the world or of the universe; or the science
which teaches the constitution of the whole system of worlds, or the
figure, disposition, and relation of all its parts.
COSMOLABE
Cos"mo*labe (kz"m-lb), n. Etym: [Gr. cosmolade.]
Defn: An instrument resembling the astrolabe, formerly used for
measuring the angles between heavenly bodies; -- called also
pantacosm.
COSMOLATRY
Cos*mol"a*try (kz-ml"-tr), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Worship paid to the world. Cudworth.
COSMOLINE
Cos"mo*line (kz"m-ln), n. Etym: [Prob. fr. cosmetic + L. oleum oil.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A substance obtained from the residues of the distillation of
petroleum, essentially the same as vaseline, but of somewhat stiffer
consistency, and consisting of a mixture of the higher paraffines; a
kind of petroleum jelly.
COSMOLOGICAL
Cos`mo*log"ic*al (kz`m-lj"-kal), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to cosmology.
COSMOLOGIST
Cos*mol"o*gist (kz-ml"-jst), n.
Defn: One who describes the universe; one skilled in cosmology.
COSMOLOGY
Cos*mol"o*gy (kz-ml"-j), n. Etym: [Gr. ko`smos the world + -logy: cf.
F. cosmologie.]
Defn: The science of the world or universe; or a treatise relating to
the structure and parts of the system of creation, the elements of
bodies, the modifications of material things, the laws of motion, and
the order and course of nature.
COSMOMETRY
Cos*mom"e*try (kz-mm"-tr), n. Etym: [Gr. ko`smos the world + -metry.]
Defn: The art of measuring the world or the universe. Blount.
COSMOPLASTIC
Cos`mo*plas"tic (kz`m-pls"tk), a. Etym: [Gr. ko`smos the world +
pla`ssein to form.]
Defn: Pertaining to a plastic force as operative in the formation of
the world independently of God; world-forming. "Cosmoplastic and
hylozoic atheisms." Gudworth.
COSMOPOLITAN; COSMOPOLITE
Cos`mo*pol"i*tan (-pl"-tan), Cos*mop"o*lite (kz-mp"-lt), n. Etym:
[Gr. cosmopolitain, cosmopolite.]
Defn: One who has no fixed residence, or who is at home in every
place; a citizen of the world.
COSMOPOLITAN; COSMOPOLITE
Cos`mo*pol"i*tan, Cos*mop"o*lite, a.
1. Having no fixed residence; at home in any place; free from local
attachments or prejudices; not provincial; liberal.
In other countries taste is perphaps too exclusively national, in
Germany it is certainly too cosmopolite. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. Common everywhere; widely spread; found in all parts of the world.
The Cheiroptera are cosmopolitan. R. Owen.
COSMOPOLITANISM
Cos`mo*pol"i*tan*ism (kz`m-pl"-tan-z'm), n.
Defn: The quality of being cosmopolitan; cosmopolitism.
COSMOPOLITE
Cos*mop"o*lite (-mp"-lt), a. & n.
Defn: See Cosmopolitan.
COSMOPOLITICAL
Cos`mo*po*lit"ic*al (kz`m-p-lt"-kal), a.
Defn: Having the character of a cosmopolite. [R.] Hackluyt.
COSMOPOLITISM
Cos*mop"o*li*tism (kz-mp"-l-tz'm), n.
Defn: The condition or character of a cosmopolite; disregard of
national or local peculiarities and prejudices.
COSMORAMA
Cos`mo*ra"ma (kz`m-r"m or -r"m), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: An exhibition in which a series of views in various parts of
the world is seen reflected by mirrors through a series of lenses,
with such illumination, etc., as will make the views most closely
represent reality.
COSMORAMIC
Cos`mo*ram"ic (kz`m-rm"k), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cosmorama.
COSMOS
Cos"mos (kz"ms), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ko`smos order, harmony, the
world (from its perfect order and arrangement); akin to Skr. to
distinguish one's self.]
1. The universe or universality of created things; -- so called from
the order and harmony displayed in it.
2. The theory or description of the universe, as a system displaying
order and harmony. Humboldt.
COSMOSPHERE
Cos"mo*sphere (kz"m-sfr), n. Etym: [Gr. sphere.]
Defn: An apparattus for showing the position of the earth, at any
given time, with respect to the fixed stars. It consist of a hollow
glass globe, on which are depicted the stars and constellations, and
within which is a terrestrial globe.
COSMOTHEISM
Cos"mo*the`ism (kz"m-th`z'm), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Same as Pantheism. [R.]
COSMOTHETIC
Cos`mo*thet"ic (kz`m-tht"k), a. Etym: [Gr. (Metaph.)
Defn: Assuming or positing the actual existence or reality of the
physical or external world. Cosmothetic idealists (Metaph.), those
who assume, without attempting to prove, the reality of external
objects as corresponding to, and being the ground of, the ideas of
which only the mind has direct cognizance.
The cosmothetic idealists . . . deny that mind is immediately
conscious of matter. Sir W. Hamilton.
COSOVEREIGN
Co*sov"er*eign (k-sv"r-n or k-sv"-), n.
Defn: A joint sovereign.
COSS
Coss (ks), n. Etym: [Cf. Pers. k a road measure of about two miles;
or Skr. kr.]
Defn: A Hindoo measure of distance, varying from one and a half to
two English miles. Whitworth.
COSS
Coss, n. Etym: [It. cosa.]
Defn: A thing (only in phrase below). Rule of Coss, an old name for
Algebra. Etym: [It. regola di cosa rule of thing, the unknown
quantity being called the cosa, or the thing.]
COSSACK
Cos"sack (ks"sk), n. Etym: [Russ. kozak', kazak': cf. Turk. kaz.]
Defn: One of a warlike, pastoral people, skillful as horsemen,
inhabiting different parts of the Russian empire and furnishing
valuable contingents of irregular cavalry to its armies, those of
Little Russia and those of the Don forming the principal divisions.
COSSACK POST
Cos"sack post. (Mil.)
Defn: An outpost consisting of four men, forming one of a single line
of posts substituted for the more formal line of sentinels and line
of pickets.
COSSAS
Cos"sas (ks"ss), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Plain India muslin, of various qualities and widths.
COSSET
Cos"set (ks"st), n. Etym: [Cf. AS. cotsetla cottager, G. kossat,
kothsasse, fr. kot, koth E. (cot) hut, and cf. also E. cade, a., cot
a cade lamb.]
Defn: A lamb reared without the aid of the dam. Hence: A pet, in
general.
COSSET
Cos"set, v. t.
Defn: To treat as a pet; to fondle.
She was cosseted and posseted and prayed over and made much of. O. W.
Holmes.
COSSETTE
Cos*sette", n. [F.]
Defn: One of the small chips or slices into which beets are cut in
sugar making.
COSSIC; COSSICAL
Cos"sic (ks"sk), Cos"sic*al (-s-kal), a. Etym: [It. cossico. See 2d
Coss.]
Defn: Of or relating to algebra; as, cossic numbers, or the cossic
art. [Obs.] "Art of numbers cossical." Digges (1579).
COST
Cost (kst; 115), n. Etym: [L. costa rib. See Coast.]
1. A rib; a side; a region or coast. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
Betwixt the costs of a ship. B. Jonson.
2. (Her.)
Defn: See Cottise.
COST
Cost (kst; 115), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cost; p. pr. & vb. n. Costing.]
Etym: [OF. coster, couster, F. co, fr. L. constare to stand at, to
cost; con- + stare to stand. See Stand, and cf. Constant.]
1. To require to be given, expended, or laid out therefor, as in
barter, purchase, acquisition, etc.; to cause the cost, expenditure,
relinquishment, or loss of; as, the ticket cost a dollar; the effort
cost his life.
A d'amond gone, cost me two thousand ducats. Shak.
Though it cost me ten nights' watchings. Shak.
2. To require to be borne or suffered; to cause.
To do him wanton rites, whichcost them woe. Milton.
To cost dear, to require or occasion a large outlay of money, or much
labor, self-denial, suffering, etc.
COST
Cost, n. Etym: [OF. cost, F. co. See Cost, v. t. ]
1. The amount paid, charged, or engaged to be paid, for anything
bought or taken in barter; charge; expense; hence, whatever, as
labor, self-denial, suffering, etc., is requisite to secure benefitt.
One day shall crown the alliance on 't so please you, Here at my
house, and at my proper cost. Shak.
At less cost of life than is often expended in a skirmish, [Charles
V.] saved Europe from invasion. Prescott.
2. Loss of any kind; detriment; pain; suffering.
I know thy trains, Though dearly to my cost, thy gins and toils.
Milton.
3. pl. (Law)
Defn: Expenses incurred in litigation.
Note: Costs in actions or suits are either between attorney and
client, being what are payable in every case to the attorney or
counsel by his client whether he ultimately succeed or not, or
between party and party, being those which the law gives, or the
court in its discretion decrees, to the prevailing, against the
losing, party. Bill of costs. See under Bill.
-- Cost free, without outlay or expense. "Her duties being to talk
French, and her privileges to live cost free and to gather scraps of
knowledge." Thackeray.
COSTA
Cos"ta (ks"t), n. Etym: [L., rib. See Coast.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A rib of an animal or a human being.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A rib or vein of a leaf, especially the midrib.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) The anterior rib in the wing of an insect.
(b) One of the riblike longitudinal ridges on the exterior of many
corals.
COSTAGE
Cost"age (kst"j; 115), n. Etym: [OF. coustage.]
Defn: Expense; cost. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COSTAL
Cos"tal (ks"tal), a. Etym: [Cf. F. costal. See Costa.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the ribs or the sides of the body; as, costal
nerves.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to a costa, or rib. Costal cartilage. See Cartilage,
and Illust. of Thorax.
COSTAL-NERVED
Cos"tal-nerved` (ks"tal-nrvd`), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nerves spring from the midrib.
COSTARD
Cos"tard (ks"trd), n. Etym: [Prob. fr. OF. coste rib, side, F. côte,
and meaning orig., a ribbed apple, from the ribs or angles on its
sides. See Coast.]
1. An apple, large and round like the head.
Some [apples] consist more of air than water . . . ; others more of
water than wind, as your costards and pomewaters. Muffett.
2. The head; -- used contemptuously.
Try whether your costard or my bat be the harder. Shak.
COSTARDMONGER
Cos"tard*mon`ger (-mn`gr), n.
Defn: A costermonger.
COSTATE; COSTATED
Cos"tate (ks"tt), Cos"ta*ted (-t-td), a. Etym: [L. costatus, fr.
costa rib.]
Defn: Having ribs, or the appearance of ribs; (Bot.) having one or
more longitudinal ribs.
COSTEAN
Cos"tean` (ks"tn`), v. i. Etym: [Cornish cothas dropped + stean tin.]
Defn: To search after lodes. See Costeaning.
COSTEANING
Cos"tean`ing, n.
Defn: The process by which miners seek to discover metallic lodes. It
consist in sinking small pits through the superficial deposits to the
solid rock, and then driving from one pit to another across the
direction of the vein, in such manner as to cross all the veins
between the two pits.
COSTELLATE
Cos*tel"late (ks-tl"lt), a. Etym: [L. costa rib.]
Defn: Finely ribbed or costated.
COSTER
Cos"ter (ks"tr), n.Etym: [Abbrev. of costermonger.]
Defn: One who hawks about fruit, green vegetables, fish, etc.
COSTERMONGER
Cos"ter*mon`ger (ks"tr-mn`gr), n. Etym: [See Costard.]
Defn: An apple seller; a hawker of, or dealer in, any kind of fruit
or vegetables; a fruiterer. [Written also costardmonger.]
COSTIFEROUS
Cos*tif"er*ous (ks-tf"r-s), a. Etym: [Costa + -ferous.] (Anat.)
Defn: Rib-bearing, as the dorsal vertebræ.
COSTIVE
Cos"tive (ks"tv), a. Etym: [OF. costev, p. p. of costever, F.
constiper, L. constipare to press closely together, to cram; con- +
stipare to press together, cram. See Stipulate, Stiff, and cf.
Constipate.]
1. Retaining fecal matter in the bowels; having too slow a motion of
the bowels; constipated.
2. Reserved; formal; close; cold. [Obs.] "A costive brain." Prior.
"Costive of laughter." B. Jonson.
You must be frank, but without indiscretion; and close, but without
being costive. Lord Chesterfield.
3. Dry and hard; impermeable; unyielding. [Obs.]
Clay in dry seasons is costive, hardening with the sun and wind.
Mortimer.
COSTIVELY
Cos"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a costive manner.
COSTIVENESS
Cos"tive*ness, n.
1. An unnatural retention of the fecal matter of the bowels;
constipation.
2. Inability to express one's self; stiffness. [Obs.]
A reverend disputant of the same costiveness in public elocution with
myself. Wakefield.
COSTLESS
Cost"less (kst"ls; 115), a.
Defn: Costing nothing.
COSTLEWE
Cost"lewe (-l), a.
Defn: Costly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COSTLINESS
Cost"li*ness (-l-ns), n.
Defn: The quality of being costy; expensiveness; sumptuousness.
COSTLY
Cost"ly (kst"l; 115), a. Etym: [From Cost expense.]
1. Of great cost; expensive; dear.
He had fitted up his palace in the most costly and sumptuous style,
for the accomodation of the princess. Prescott.
2. Gorgeous; sumptuous. [Poetic.]
To show how costly summer was at hand. Shak.
COSTMARY
Cost"ma*ry (kst"m-r), n. Etym: [L. costum an Oriental aromatic plant
(Gr. kost, kust) + Maria Mary. Cf.Alecost.] (Bot.)
Defn: A garden plant (Chrysanthemum Balsamita) having a strong
balsamic smell, and nearly allied to tansy. It is used as a pot herb
and salad plant and in flavoring ale and beer. Called also alecost.
COSTON LIGHTS
Cos"ton lights.
Defn: Signals made by burning lights of different colors and used by
vessels at sea, and in the life-saving service; -- named after their
inventor.
COSTOTOME
Cos"to*tome (ks"t-tm), n. Etym: [Costa + Gr.
Defn: An instrument (chisel or shears) to cut the ribs and open the
thoracic cavity, in post-mortem examinations and dissections. Knight.
COSTREL
Cos"trel (ks"trl), n. Etym: [CF.W. costrel, OF. costrel, LL.
costrellum, a liquid measure, costrellus a wine cup.]
Defn: A bottle of leather, earthenware, or wood, having ears by which
it was suspended at the side. [Archaic]
A youth, that, following with a costrel, bore The means of goodly
welcome, flesh and wine. Tennyson.
COSTUME
Cos"tume` (ks"tm` or ks-tm"), n. Etym: [F. costume, It. costume
custom, dress, fr. L. consuetumen (not found), for consuetudo custom.
See Custom, and cf. Consuetude.]
1. Dress in general; esp., the distinctive style of dress of a
people, class, or period.
2. Such an arrangement of accessories, as in a picture, statue, poem,
or play, as is appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances
represented or described.
I began last night to read Walter Scott's Lay of the Last Minstrel .
. . .I was extremely delighted with the poetical beauty of some parts
. . . .The costume, too, is admirable. Sir J. Mackintosh.
3. A character dress, used at fancy balls or for dramatic purposes.
COSTUMER
Cos"tum`er (-tm`r), n.
Defn: One who makes or deals in costumes, as for theaters, fancy
balls, etc.
CO-SUFFERER
Co-suf"fer*er (k-sf"fr-r), n.
Defn: One who suffers with another. Wycherley.
COSUPREME
Co`su*preme" (k`s-prm"), n.
Defn: A partaker of supremacy; one jointly supreme. Shak.
COSURETY
Co*sure"ty (k-shr"t; 136), n.; pl. Cosureties (-t.
Defn: One who is surety with another.
COSY
Co"sy (k"z), a.
Defn: See Cozy.
COT
Cot (kt), n. Etym: [OE. cot, cote, AS. cot, cote, cottage; akin to D.
& Icel. kot, G. koth, kot, kothe. Cf. Coat.]
1. A small house; a cottage or hut.
The sheltered cot, the cultivated farm. Goldsmith.
2. A pen, coop, or like shelter for small domestic animals, as for
sheep or pigeons; a cote.
3. A cover or sheath; as, a roller cot (the clothing of a drawing
roller in a spinning frame); a cot for a sore finger.
4. Etym: [Cf. Ir. cot.]
Defn: A small, rudely-formed boat. Bell cot. (Arch.) See under Bell.
COT
Cot (kt), n. Etym: [AS. cot cottage, bedchamber; or cf. OF. coite, F.
couette (E. quilt), LL. cottum, cottus, mattress. See Cot a cottage.]
Defn: A sleeping place of limited size; a little bed; a cradle; a
piece of canvas extended by a frame, used as a bed. [Written also
cott.]
COTANGENT
Co*tan"gent (k-tn"jent), n. Etym: [For co. tangens, an abbrev. of L.
complementi tangens. See Tangent.] (Trig.)
Defn: The tangent of the complement of an arc or angle. See Illust.
of Functions.
COTARNINE
Co*tar"nine (k-tr"nn or -nn), n. Etym: [F., fr. narcotine, by
transposition of letters.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline substance, C12H13NO3, obtained as a
product of the decomposition of narcotine. It has weak basic
properties, and is usually regarded as an alkaloid.
COTE
Cote (kt), n. Etym: [See 1st Cot.]
1. A cottage or hut. [Obs.]
2. A shed, shelter, or inclosure for small domestic animals, as for
sheep or doves.
Watching where shepherds pen their flocks, at eve, In hurdled cotes.
Milton.
COTE
Cote, v. t. Etym: [Prob. from F. c sode, OF. costet, LL. costatus,
costatum, fr. L. costu rib, side: cf. F. c to go or keep at the side
of. See Coast.]
Defn: To go side by side with; hence, to pass by; to outrun and get
before; as, a dog cotes a hare. [Obs.] Drayton.
We coted them on the way, and hither are they coming. Shak.
COTE
Cote, v. t. Etym: [See Quote.]
Defn: To quote. [Obs.] Udall.
COTEAU
Co`teau", n.; pl. Coteaux (#). [F., a hill.] [Canada & U. S.]
1. A hilly upland including the divide between two valleys; a divide.
2. The side of a valley.
COTEMPORANEOUS
Co*tem`po*ra"ne*ous (k-tm`p-r"n-s), a. Etym: [See Contemporaneous.]
Defn: Living or being at the same time; contemporaneous.
-- Co*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv.
-- Co*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness, n.
COTEMPORARY
Co*tem"po*ra*ry (k-tm"p-r-r), a.
Defn: Living or being at the same time; contemporary.
COTEMPORARY
Co*tem"po*ra*ry, n.; pl. Cotemporaries (-r.
Defn: One who lives at the same time with another; a contemporary.
COTENANT
Co*ten"ant (k-tn"ant), n.
Defn: A tenant in common, or a joint tenant.
COTERIE
Co`te*rie" (k`Te-r"; 277), n. Etym: [F., prob. from OF. coterie
servile tenure, fr. colier cotter; of German origin. See 1st Cot.]
Defn: A set or circle of persons who meet familiarly, as for social,
literary, or other purposes; a clique. "The queen of your coterie."
Thackeray.
COTERMINOUS
Co*ter"mi*nous (k-tr"m-ns), a. Etym: [Cf. Conterminous.]
Defn: Bordering; conterminous; -- followed by with.
COTGARE
Cot"gare` (kt"gr`), n.
Defn: Refuse wool. [Obs. or Prov.]
COTHURN
Co"thurn (k"thrn), n. Etym: [L. cothurnus, Gr. Cothurnus.]
Defn: A buskin anciently used by tragic actors on the stage; hence,
tragedy in general.
The moment had arrived when it was thought that the mask and the
cothurn might be assumed with effect. Motley.
COTHURNATE; COTHURNATED
Co*thur"nate (k-thr"nt), Co*thur"na*ted (-n-td), a.
1. Wearing a cothurn.
2. Relating to tragedy; solemn; grave.
COTHURNUS
Co*thur"nus (-ns), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Cothurn.
COTICULAR
Co*tic"u*lar (k-tk"-lr), a. Etym: [L. coticula a small touchstone,
dim. cos, cotis, whetstone.]
Defn: Pertaining to whetstones; like or suitable for whetstones.
COTIDAL
Co*tid"al (k-td"al), a.
Defn: Marking an equality in the tides; having high tide at the same
time. Cotidal lines (Phys. Geog.), lines on a map passing through
places that have high tide at the same time.
COTILLON; COTILLION
Co`til`lon" (k`t`yn" or k`tl`-;277), Co*til"lion (k-tl"yn), n. Etym:
[F. cotillon, fr. OF. cote coat, LL. cotta tunic. See Coat.]
1. A brisk dance, performed by eight persons; a quadrille.
2. A tune which regulates the dance.
3. A kind of woolen material for women's skrits.
COTINGA
Co*tin"ga (k-tn"g), n. Etym: [Native South American name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the family Cotingidæ, including numerous bright-
colored South American species; -- called also chatterers.
COTISE
Cot"ise (kt"s), n. (Her.)
Defn: See Cottise.
COTISED
Cot"ised (-st), a. (Her.)
Defn: See Cottised.
COTLAND
Cot"land (kt"lnd), n.
Defn: Land appendant to a cot or cottage, or held by a cottager or
cotter.
COTQUEAN
Cot"quean` (kt"kwn`), n. Etym: [Cot a cottage + quean.]
1. A man who busies himself with affairs which properly belong to
women. Addison.
2. A she-cuckold; a cucquean; a henhussy. [Obs.]
What, shall a husband be afraid of his wife's face We are a king,
cotquean, and we will reign in our pleasures. B. Jonson.
COTQUEANITY
Cot*quean"i*ty (kt-kwn"-t), n.
Defn: The condition, character, or conduct of a cotquean. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
COTRUSTEE
Co`trus*tee" (k`trs-t"), n.
Defn: A joint trustee.
COTSWOLD
Cots"wold` (kts"wld`), n. Etym: [Cot a cottage or hut + wold an open
country.]
Defn: An open country abounding in sheepcotes, as in the Cotswold
hills, in Gloucestershire, England. Cotswold sheep, a long-wooled
breed of sheep, formerly common in the counties of Gloucester,
Hereford, and Worcester, Eng.; -- so called from the Cotswold Hills.
The breed is now chiefly amalgamated with others.
COTTA
Cot"ta, n. [LL. See Coat.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: A surplice, in England and America usually one shorter and less
full than the ordinary surplice and with short sleeves, or sometimes
none.
2. A kind of very coarse woolen blanket.
COTTAGE
Cot"tage (kt"tj; 48), n. Etym: [From Cot a cotttage.]
Defn: A small house; a cot; a hut.
Note: The term was formerly limited to a habitation for the poor, but
is now applied to any small tasteful dwelling; and at places of
summer resort, to any residence or lodging house of rustic
architecture, irrespective of size. Cottage allotment. See under
Alloment. [Eng.] -- Cottage cheese, the thick part of clabbered milk
strained, salted, and pressed into a ball.
COTTAGED
Cot"taged (-tjd), a.
Defn: Set or covered with cottages.
Even humble Harting's cottaged vale. Collins.
COTTAGELY
Cot"tage*ly (-tj-l), a.
Defn: Cottagelike; suitable for a cottage; rustic. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
COTTAGER
Cot"ta*ger (kt"t-jr), n.
1. One who lives in a cottage.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who lives on the common, without paying any rent, or having
land of his own.
COTTER; COTTAR
Cot"ter, Cot"tar (kt"tr), n. Etym: [LL. cotarius, cottarius,
coterius. See Cot.]
Defn: A cottager; a cottier. Burns.
Through Sandwich Notch the West Wind sang Good morrow to the cotter.
Whittier.
COTTER
Cot"ter (kt"tr), n.
1. A piece of wood or metal, commonly wedge-shaped, used for
fastening together parts of a machine or structure. It is driven into
an opening through one or all of the parts.
Note: [See Illust.] In the United States a cotter is commonly called
a key.
2. A toggle.
COTTER
Cot"ter, v. t.
Defn: To fasten with a cotter.
COTTIER
Cot"ti*er (-t-r), n. Etym: [OF. cotier. See Coterie, and cf. Cotter.]
Defn: In Great Britain and Ireland, a person who hires a small
cottage, with or without a plot of land. Cottiers commonly aid in the
work of the landlord's farm. [Written also cottar and cotter.]
COTTISE
Cot"tise (kt"ts), n. Etym: [Cf. F. c side, L. costa rib.] (Her.)
Defn: A diminutive of the bendlet, containing one half its area or
one quarter the area of the bend. When a single cottise is used alone
it is often called a cost. See also Couple-close.
COTTISED
Cot"tised (-tst), a. (Her.)
Defn: Set between two cottises, -- said of a bend; or between two
barrulets, -- said of a bar or fess.
COTTOID
Cot"toid (kt"toid), a. Etym: [NL. cottus sculpin + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like a fish of the genus Cottus.
-- n.
Defn: A fish belonging to, or resembling, the genus Cottus. See
Sculpin.
COTTOLENE
Cot"to*lene`, n.
Defn: A product from cottonseed, used as lard.
COTTON
Cot"ton (kt"t'n), n. Etym: [F. coton, Sp. algodon the cotton plant
and its wool, coton printed cotton, cloth, fr. Ar. qutun, alqutun,
cotton wool. Cf. Acton, Hacqueton.]
1. A soft, downy substance, resembling fine wool, consisting of the
unicellular twisted hairs which grow on the seeds of the cotton
plant. Long-staple cotton has a fiber sometimes almost two inches
long; short-staple, from two thirds of an inch to an inch and a half.
2. The cotton plant. See Cotten plant, below.
3. Cloth made of cotton.
Note: Cotton is used as an adjective before many nouns in a sense
which commonly needs no explanation; as, cottton bagging; cotton
clotch; cotton goods; cotton industry; cotton mill; cotton spinning;
cotton tick. Cotton cambric. See Cambric, n., 2.
-- Cotton flannel, the manufactures' name for a heavy cotton fabric,
twilled, and with a long plush nap. In England it is called swan's-
down cotton, or Canton flannel.
-- Cotton gin, a machine to separate the seeds from cotton, invented
by Eli Whitney.
-- Cotton grass (Bot.), a genus of plants (Eriphorum) of the Sedge
family, having delicate capillary bristles surrounding the fruit
(seedlike achenia), which elongate at maturity and resemble tufts of
cotton.
-- Cotton mouse (Zool.), a field mouse (Hesperomys gossypinus),
injurious to cotton crops.
-- Cotton plant (Bot.), a plant of the genus Gossypium, of several
species, all growing in warm climates, and bearing the cotton of
commerce. The common species, originally Asiatic, is G. herbaceum.
-- Cotton press, a building and machinery in which cotton bales are
compressed into smaller bulk for shipment; a press for baling cotton.
-- Cotton rose (Bot.), a genus of composite herbs (Filago), covered
with a white substance resembling cotton.
-- Cotton scale (Zoöl.), a species of bark louse (Pulvinaria
innumerabilis), which does great damage to the cotton plant.
-- Cotton shrub. Same as Cotton plant.
-- Cotton stainer (Zoöl.), a species of hemipterous insect
(Dysdercus suturellus), which seriously damages growing cotton by
staining it; -- called also redbug.
-- Cotton thistle (Bot.), the Scotch thistle. See under Thistle.
-- Cotton velvet, velvet in which the warp and woof are both of
cotton, and the pile is of silk; also, velvet made wholly of cotton.
-- Cotton waste, the refuse of cotton mills.
-- Cotton wool, cotton in its raw or woolly state.
-- Cotton worm (Zool.), a lepidopterous insect (Aletia argillacea),
which in the larval state does great damage to the cotton plant by
eating the leaves. It also feeds on corn, etc., and hence is often
called corn worm, and Southern army worm.
COTTON
Cot"ton, v. i.
1. To rise with a regular nap, as cloth does. [Obs.]
It cottons well; it can not choose but bear A pretty nap. Family of
Love.
2. To go on prosperously; to succeed. [Obs.]
New, Hephestion, does not this matter cotton as I would Lyly.
3. To unite; to agree; to make friends; -- usually followed by with.
[Colloq.]
A quarrel will end in one of you being turned off, in which case it
will not be easy to cotton with another. Swift.
Didst see, Frank, how the old goldsmith cottoned in with his beggarly
companion Sir W. Scott.
4. To take a liking to; to stick to one as cotton; -- used with to.
[Slang]
COTTONADE
Cot"ton*ade` (kt"t'n-d`), n. Etym: [F. cottonade.]
Defn: A somewhat stoun and thick fabric of cotton.
COTTONARY
Cot"ton*a*ry (--r), a.
Defn: Relating to, or composed of, cotton; cottony. [Obs.]
Cottomary and woolly pillows. Sir T. Browne.
COTTON BATTING
Cot"ton bat"ting.
Defn: Cotton prepared in sheets or rolls for quilting, upholstering,
and similar purposes.
COTTONOUS
Cot"ton*ous (-s), a.
Defn: Resembling cotton. [R.] Evelyn.
COTTON SEED; COTTONSEED
Cotton seed, or, usually collectively, Cot"ton*seed`, n.
Defn: The seed of the cotton plant.
COTTONSEED MEAL
Cottonseed meal.
Defn: A meal made from hulled cotton seeds after the oil has been
expressed.
COTTONSEED OIL
Cottonseed oil.
Defn: A fixed, semidrying oil extracted from cottonseed. It is pale
yellow when pure (sp. gr., .92-.93). and is extensively used in soap
making, in cookery, and as an adulterant of other oils.
COTTON STATE
Cotton State.
Defn: Alabama; -- a nickname.
COTTONTAIL
Cot"ton*tail` (kt"t'n-tl`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American wood rabbit (Lepus sylvaticus); -- also called
Molly cottontail.
COTTONWEED
Cot"ton*weed` (-wd`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cudweed.
COTTONWOOD
Cot"ton*wood` (-wd`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American tree of the genus Populus or polar, having the
seeds covered with abundant cottonlike hairs; esp., the P. monilifera
and P. angustifolia of the Western United States.
COTTONY
Cot"ton*y (-), a.
1. Covered with hairs or pubescence, like cotton; downy; nappy;
woolly.
2. Of or pertaining to cotton; resembling cotton in appearance or
character; soft, like cotton.
COTTREL
Cot"trel (kt"trl), n.
Defn: A trammel, or hook to support a pot over a fire. Knight.
COTYLA; COTYLE
Cot"y*la (kt"-l), Cot"y*le (kt"-l), n. Etym: [Gr. cotyla a measure.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A cuplike cavity or organ. Same as Acetabulum.
COTYLEDON
Cot`y*le"don (kt`-l"dn), n. Etym: [Gr.Cotyle.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the patches of villi found in some forms of placenta.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A leaf borne by the caulicle or radicle of an embryo; a seed
leaf.
Note: Many plants, as the bean and the maple, have two cotyledons,
the grasses only one, and pines have several. In one African plant
(Welwitschia) the cotyledons are permanent and grow to immense
proportions.
COTYLEDONAL
Cot`y*led"on*al (kt`-ld"n-al), a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a cotyledon.
COTYLEDONARY
Cot`y*led"on*a*ry (--r), a.
Defn: Having a cotyledon; tufted; as, the cotyledonary placenta of
the cow.
COTYLEDONOUS
Cot`y*led"on*ous (-s; 277), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cotyledon or cotyledons; having a seed
lobe.
COTYLIFORM
Co*tyl"i*form (k-tl"-frm), a. Etym: [Cotyle + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like a cotyle or a cup.
COTYLIGEROUS
Cot`y*lig"er*ous (kt`-lj"r-s), a. Etym: [Cotyle + -gerous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having cotyles.
COTYLOID
Cot"y*loid (kt"-loid), a. Etym: [Cotyle + -oid] (Anat.)
(a) Shaped like a cup; as, the cotyloid cavity, which receives the
head of the thigh bone.
(b) Pertaining to a cotyloid cavity; as, the cotyloid ligament, or
notch.
COUCAL
Cou"cal (k"kl), n. Etym: [Prob. native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, Old World, ground cuckoo of the genus Centropus, of
several species.
COUCH
Couch (kouch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Couched (koucht); p. pr. & vb. n.
Couching.] Etym: [F. coucher to lay down, lie down, OF. colchier, fr.
L. collocare to lay, put, place; col- + locare to place, fr. locus
place. See Locus.]
1. To lay upon a bed or other resting place.
Where unbruised youth, with unstuffed brain, Does couch his limbs,
there golden sleep doth reign. Shak.
2. To arrauge or dispose as in a bed; -- sometimes followed by the
reflexive pronoun.
The waters couch themselves as may be to the center of this globe, in
a spherical convexity. T. Burnet.
3. To lay or deposit in a bed or layer; to bed.
It is at this day in use at Gaza, to couch potsherds, or vessels of
earth, in their walls. Bacon.
4. (Paper Making)
Defn: To transfer (as sheets of partly dried pulp) from the wire
clotch mold to a felt blanket, for further drying.
5. To conceal; to include or involve darkly.
There is all this, and more, that lies naturally couched under this
allegory. L'Estrange.
6. To arrange; to place; to inlay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
7. To put into some form of language; to express; to phrase; -- used
with in and under.
A well-couched invective. Milton.
I had received a letter from Flora couched in rather cool terms.
Blackw. Mag.
8. (Med.)
Defn: To treat by pushing down or displacing the opaque lens with a
needle; as, to couch a cataract. To couch a spear or lance, to lower
to the position of attack; to place in rest.
He stooped his head, and couched his spear, And spurred his steed to
full career. Sir W. Scott.
To couch malt, to spread malt on a floor. Mortimer.
COUCH
Couch, v. i.
1. To lie down or recline, as on a bed or other place of rest; to
repose; to lie.
Where souls do couch on flowers, we 'll hand in hand. Shak.
If I court moe women, you 'll couch with moe men. Shak.
2. To lie down for concealment; to hide; to be concealed; to be
included or involved darkly.
We 'll couch in the castle ditch, till we see the light of our
fairies. Shak.
The half-hidden, hallf-revealed wonders, that yet couch beneath the
words of the Scripture. I. Taylor.
3. To bend the body, as in reverence, pain, labor, etc.; to stoop; to
crouch. [Obs.]
An aged squire That seemed to couch under his shield three-square.
Spenser.
COUCH
Couch, n. Etym: [F. couche, OF. colche, culche, fr. colchier. See
Couch, v. t. ]
1. A bed or place for repose or sleep; particularly, in the United
States, a lounge.
Gentle sleep . . . why liest thou with the vile In loathsome beds,
and leavest the kingly couch Shak.
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down
to pleasant dreams. Bryant.
2. Any place for repose, as the lair of a beast, etc.
3. A mass of steeped barley spread upon a floor to germinate, in
malting; or the floor occupied by the barley; as, couch of malt.
4. (Painting & Gilding)
Defn: A preliminary layer, as of color, size, etc.
COUCHANCY
Couch"an*cy (kouch"an-s), n.
Defn: State of lying down for repose. [R.]
COUCHANT
Couch"ant (kouch"ant), a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of coucher. See Couch, v.
t.]
1. Lying down with head erect; squatting.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Lying down with the head raised, which distinguishes the
posture of couchant from that of dormant, or sleeping; -- said of a
lion or other beast. Couchant and levant (Law), rising up and lying
down; -- said of beasts, and indicating that they have been long
enough on land, not belonging to their owner, to lie down and rise up
to feed, -- such time being held to include a day and night at the
least. Blackstone.
COUCHE
Cou`ché" (k`sh"), a. Etym: [F., p. p. of coucher. See Couch, v. t. ]
(Her.)
(a) Not erect; inclined; -- said of anything that is usually erect,
as an escutcheon.
(b) Lying on its side; thus, a chevron couché is one which emerges
from one side of the escutcheon and has its apex on the opposite
side, or at the fess point.
COUCHED
Couched (koucht), a. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Couch.
COUCHEE
Cou"chee (k"sh; F. k"sh"), n. Etym: [F. couch a sleeping place from
coucher. See Couch, v. t. ]
Defn: A reception held at the time of going to bed, as by a sovereign
or great prince. [Obs.] Dryden.
The duke's levees and couchees were so crowded that the antechambers
were full. Bp. Burnet.
COUCHER
Couch"er (kouch"r), n.
1. One who couches.
2. (Paper Manuf.)
Defn: One who couches paper.
3. Etym: [Cf. L. collectarius.] (O. Eng. Law)
(a) A factor or agent resident in a country for traffic. Blount. (b)
The book in which a corporation or other body registers its
particular acts. [Obs.] Cowell.
COUCH GRASS
Couch" grass` (grs`). (Bot.)
Defn: See Quitch grass.
COUCHING
Couch"ing, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of putting down or displacing the opaque lens in
cataract.
2. Embroidering by laying the materials upon the surface of the
foundation, instead of drawing them through.
COUCHLESS
Couch"less (kouch"ls), a.
Defn: Having no couch or bed.
COUDEE
Cou"dee (k"d; F. k`d"), n. Etym: [F. coud, from coude elbow.]
Defn: A measure of length; the distance from the elbow to the end of
the middle finger; a cubit.
COUGAR
Cou"gar (k"gr), n. Etym: [F. couguar, from the native name in the
South American dialects, cuguacuara, cuguacuarana.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An American feline quadruped (Felis concolor), resembling the
African panther in size and habits. Its color is tawny, without
spots; hence writers often called it the American lion. Called also
puma, panther, mountain lion, and catamount. See Puma.
COUGH
Cough (kf), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Coughed (kft); p. pr. & vb. n.
Coughing.] Etym: [Cf. D. kuchen, MHG. k to breathe, G. keuchen to
pant, and E. chincough, the first part of which is prob. akin to
cough; cf. also E. choke.]
Defn: To expel air, or obstructing or irritating matter, from the
lungs or air passages, in a noisy and violent manner.
COUGH
Cough, v. t.
1. To expel from the lungs or air passages by coughing; -- followed
by up; as, to cough up phlegm.
2. To bring to a specified state by coughing; as, he coughed himself
hoarse. To cough down, to silence or put down (an objectionable
speaker) by simulated coughing.
COUGH
Cough, n. Etym: [Cg. D. kuch. See Cough, v. i. ]
1. A sudden, noisy, and violent expulsion of air from the chest,
caused by irritation in the air passages, or by the reflex action of
nervous or gastric disorder, etc.
2. The more or less frequent repetition of coughing, constituting a
symptom of disease. Stomach cough, Ear cough, cough due to irritation
in the stomach or ear.
COUGHER
Cough"er (kf"r), n.
Defn: One who coughs.
COUHAGE
Cou"hage (kou"j), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cowhage.
COULD
Could (kd), imp. of Can. Etym: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by
mistake, under the influence of should and would.]
Defn: Was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible.
Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional
present.
COULEE
Cou`lee" (k`l"), n. Etym: [F. coulée, fr. couler to run or flow.]
Defn: A stream; (Geol.)
Defn: a stream of lava. Also, in the Western United States, the bed
of a stream, even if dry, when deep and having inclined sides;
distinguished from a cañon, which has precipitous sides.
COULEUR
Cou`leur", n. [F.]
1. Color; -- chiefly used in a few French phrases, as couler de rose,
color of rose; and hence, adjectively, rose-colored; roseate.
2. A suit of cards, as hearts or clubs; --used in some French games.
COULISSE
Cou*lisse" (k-ls"; F. k`ls"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couler to flow,
glide.]
1. A piece of timber having a groove in which something glides.
2. One of the side scenes of the stage in a theater, or the space
included between the side scenes.
COULOIR
Cou`loir" (k`lwr"), n. Etym: [F., a strainer.]
1. A deep gorge; a gully.
2. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: A dredging machine for excavating canals, etc.
COULOMB
Cou`lomb" (k`ln"), n. Etym: [From Coulomb, a French physicist and
electrican.] (Physics)
Defn: The standard unit of quantity in electrical measurements. It is
the quantity of electricity conveyed in one second by the current
produced by an electro-motive force of one volt acting in a circuit
having a resistance of one ohm, or the quantitty transferred by one
ampère in one second. Formerly called weber.
COULOMB METER
Cou`lomb" me"ter. (Elec.)
Defn: Any instrument by which electricity can be measured in
coulombs.
COULOMB'S LAW
Cou`lomb's" law. (Physics)
Defn: The law that the force exerted between two electric or magnetic
charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and
inversely to the square of the distance between them.
COULTER
Coul"ter (kl"tr), n.
Defn: Same as Colter.
COULTERNEB
Coul"ter*neb` (-nb`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The puffin.
COULURE
Cou*lure", n. [F., prop., a dropping.] (Hort.)
Defn: A disease affecting grapes, esp. in California, manifested by
the premature dropping of the fruit.
COUMARIC
Cou*mar"ic (k-mr"k), a.
Defn: Relating to, derived from, or like, the Dipterix odorata, a
tree of Guiana. Coumaric acid (Chem.), one of a series of aromatic
acids, related to cinnamic acid, the most important of which is a
white crystalline substance, HO.C6H4.C2H2.CO2H, obtained from the
tonka bean, sweet clover, etc., and also produced artifically.
COUMARIN
Cou"ma*rin (k"m-rn), n. Etym: [F., fr. coumarou, a tree of Guiana.]
(Chem.)
Defn: The concrete essence of the tonka bean, the fruit of Dipterix
(formerly Coumarouna) odorata and consisting essentially of coumarin
proper, which is a white crystalline substance, C9H6O2, of vanilla-
like odor, regarded as an anhydride of coumaric acid, and used in
flavoring. Coumarin in also made artificially.
COUMAROU
Cou"ma*rou, n. [See Coumarin.] (Bot.)
Defn: The tree (Dipteryx odorata) which bears the tonka bean; also,
the bean itself.
COUNCIL
Coun"cil (koun"sl), n. Etym: [F. concile, fr. L. concilium; con- +
calare to call, akin to Gr. hale, v., haul. Cf. Conciliate. This word
is often confounded with counsel, with which it has no connection.]
1. An assembly of men summoned or convened for consultation,
deliberation, or advice; as, a council of physicians for consultation
in a critical case.
2. A body of man elected or appointed to constitute an advisory or a
legislative assembly; as, a governor's council; a city council.
An old lord of the council rated me the other day. Shak.
3. Act of deliberating; deliberation; consultation.
Satan . . . void of rest, His potentates to council called by night.
Milton.
O great in action and in council wise. Pope.
Aulic council. See under Aulic.
-- Cabinet council. See under Cabinet.
-- City council, the legislative branch of a city government,
usually consisting of a board of aldermen and common council, but
sometimes otherwise constituted.
-- Common council. See under Common.
-- Council board, Council table, the table round which a council
holds consultation; also, the council itself in deliberation.
-- Council chamber, the room or apartment in which a council meets.
-- Council fire, the ceremonial fire kept burning while the Indians
hold their councils. [U.S.] Barilett.
-- Council of war, an assembly of officers of high rank, called to
consult with the commander in chief in regard to measures or
importance or nesessity.
-- Ecumenical council (Eccl.), an assembly of prelates or divines
convened from the whole body of the church to regulate matters of
doctrine or discipline.
-- Executive council, a body of men elected as advisers of the chief
magistrate, whether of a State or the nation. [U.S.] -- Legislative
council, the upper house of a legislature, usually called the senate.
-- Privy council. See under Privy. [Eng.]
Syn.
-- Assembly; meeting; congress; diet; parliament; convention;
convocation; synod.
COUNCILIST
Coun"cil*ist (koun"sl-st), n.
Defn: One who belong to a council; one who gives an opinion. [Obs.]
I will in three months be an expert counsilist. Milton.
COUNCILMAN
Coun"cil*man (koun`sl-man), n.; pl. Councilmen (-men).
Defn: A member of a council, especially of the common council of a
city; a councilor.
COUNCILOR
Coun"cil*or (koun"sl-r), n.
Defn: A member of a council. [Written also councillor.]
Note: The distinction between councilor, a member of a council, and
counselor, one who gives councel, was not formerly made, but is now
very generally recognized and observed.
CO-UNE
Co`-une" (k`n"), v. t. Etym: [L. co- + unus one.]
Defn: To combine or unite. [Obs.] "Co-uned together." Feltham.
CO-UNITE
Co`-u*nite" (k`-nt"), v. t.
Defn: To unite. [Obs.]
CO-UNITE
Co`-u*nite", a.
Defn: United closely with another. [Obs.]
COUNSEL
Coun"sel (koun"sl), n. Etym: [OE. conc, F. conseil, fr. L. consilium,
fr. the root of consulere to consult, of uncertain origin. Cf.
Consult, Consul.]
1. Interchange of opinions; mutual advising; consultation.
All the chief priest and elders of the people took counsel against
Jesus, to put him to death. Matt. xxvii. 1.
2. Examination of consequences; exercise of deliberate judgment;
prudence.
They all confess, therefore, in the working of that first cause, that
counsel is used. Hooker.
3. Result of consultation; advice; instruction.
I like thy counsel; well hast thou advised. Shak.
It was ill counsel had misled the girl. Tennyson.
4. Deliberate purpose; design; intent; scheme; plan.
The counsel of the Lord standeth forever. Ps. xxxiii. 11.
The counsels of the wicked are deceit. Prov. xii. 5.
5. A secret opinion or purpose; a private matter.
Thilke lord . . . to whom no counsel may be hid. Gower.
6. One who gives advice, especially in legal matters; one
professionally engaged in the trial or management of a cause in
court; also, collectively, the legal advocates united in the
management of a case; as, the defendant has able counsel.
The King found his counsel as refractory as his judges. Macaulay.
Note: The some courts a distinction is observed between the attorney
and the counsel in a cause, the former being employed in the
management iof the more mechanical parts of the suit, the latter in
attending to the pleadings, managing the cause at the trial, and in
applying the law to the exigencies of the case during the whole
progress of the suit. In other courts the same person can exercise
the powers of each. See Attorney. Kent. In counsel, in secret. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
-- To keep counsel, or To keep one's own counsel, to keep one's
thoughts, purposes, etc., undisclosed.
The players can not keep counsel: they 'll tell all. Shak.
Syn.
-- Advice; consideration; consultation; purpose; scheme; opinion.
COUNSEL
Coun"sel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counseled (-sld) or Counselled; p. pr.
& vb. n. Counseling or Counselling.] Etym: [OE. conseilen,
counseilen, F. conseiller, fr. L. consiliari, fr. consilium counsel.]
1. To give advice to; to advice, admonish, or instruct, as a person.
Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you To leave this place. Shak.
2. To advise or recommend, as an act or course.
They who counsel war. Milton.
Thus Belial, with words clothed in reson's garb, Counseled ignoble
ease and peaceful sloth. Milton.
COUNSELABLE
Coun"sel*a*ble (--b'l), a. Etym: [Written also counsellable.]
1. Willing to receive counsel or follow advice. [R.]
Few men of so great parts were upon all occasions more counselable
than he. Clarendon.
2. Suitable to be advised; advisable, wise. [Obs.]
He did not believe it counselable. Clarendon.
COUNSELOR
Coun"sel*or (koun"sl-r), n. [Written also counsellor.] Etym: [OE.
conseiler, F. conseiller, fr. L. consiliarius, fr. consilium
counsel.]
1. One who counsels; an adviser.
Can he that speaks with the tongue of an enemy be a good counselor,
or no Shak.
2. A member of council; one appointed to advise a sovereign or chief
magistrate.
Note: [See under Consilor.]
3. One whose profession is to give advice in law, and manage causes
for clients in court; a barrister.
Good counselors lack no clients. Shak.
COUNSELORSHIP
Coun"sel*or*ship (koun"sl-r-shp), n.
Defn: The function and rank or office of a counselor. Bacon.
COUNT
Count (kount), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Counting.] Etym: [OF. conter, and later (etymological spelling)
compter, in modern French thus distinguished; conter to relate (cf.
Recount, Account), compter to count; fr. L. computuare to reckon,
compute; com- + putare to reckon, settle, order, prune, orig., to
clean. See Pure, and cf. Compute.]
1. To tell or name one by one, or by groups, for the purpose of
ascertaining the whole number of units in a collection; to number; to
enumerate; to compute; to reckon.
Who can count the dust of Jacob Num. xxiii. 10.
In a journey of forty miles, Avaux counted only three miserable
cabins. Macaulay.
2. To place to an account; to ascribe or impute; to consider or
esteem as belonging.
Abracham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Rom. iv. 3.
3. To esteem; to account; to reckon; to think, judge, or consider.
I count myself in nothing else so happy As in a soul remembering my
good friends. Shak.
To count out. (a) To exclude (one) will not particapate or cannot be
depended upon. (b) (House of Commons) To declare adjourned, as a
sitting of the House, when it is ascertained that a quorum is not
present. (c) To prevent the accession of (a person) to office, by a
fraudulent return or count of the votes cast; -- said of a candidate
really elected. [Colloq.]
Syn.
-- To calculate; number; reckon; compute; enumerate. See Calculate.
COUNT
Count, v. i.
1. To number or be counted; to possess value or carry weight; hence,
to increase or add to the strength or influence of some party or
interest; as, every vote counts; accidents count for nothing.
This excellent man . . . counted among the best and wisest of English
statesmen. J. A. Symonds.
2. To reckon; to rely; to depend; -- with on or upon.
He was brewer to the palace; and it was apprehended that the
government counted on his voice. Macaulay.
I think it a great error to count upon the genius of a nation as a
standing argument in all ages. Swift.
3. To take account or note; -- with of. [Obs.] "No man counts of her
beauty." Shak.
4. (Eng. Law)
Defn: To plead orally; to argue a matter in court; to recite a count.
Burrill.
COUNT
Count, n. Etym: [F. conte and compte, with different meanings, fr. L.
computus a computation, fr. computare. See Count, v. t.]
1. The act of numbering; reckoning; also, the number ascertained by
counting.
Of blessed saints for to increase the count. Spenser.
By this count, I shall be much in years. Shak.
2. An object of interest or account; value; estimation. [Obs.] "All
his care and count." Spenser.
3. (Law)
Defn: A formal statement of the plaintiff's case in court; in a more
technical and correct sense, a particular allegation or charge in a
declaration or indictment, separately setting forth the cause of
action or prosecution. Wharton.
Note: In the old law books, count was used synonymously with
declaration. When the plaintiff has but a single cause of action, and
makes but one statement of it, that statement is called indifferently
count or declaration, most generally, however, the latter. But where
the suit embraces several causes, or the plaintiff makes several
different statements of the same cause of action, each statement is
called a count, and all of them combined, a declaration. Bouvier.
Wharton.
COUNT
Count, n. Etym: [F. conte, fr. L. comes, comitis, associate,
companion, one of the imperial court or train, properly, one who goes
with another; com- + ire to go, akin to Skr. i to go.]
Defn: A nobleman on the continent of Europe, equal in rank to an
English earl.
Note: Though the tittle Count has never been introduced into Britain,
the wives of Earls have, from the earliest period of its history,
been designated as Countesses. Brande & C. Count palatine. (a)
Formerly, the proprietor of a county who possessed royal prerogatives
within his county, as did the Earl of Chester, the Bishop of Durham,
and the Duke of Lancaster. [Eng.] See County palatine, under County.
(b) Originally, a high judicial officer of the German emperors;
afterward, the holder of a fief, to whom was granted the right to
exercise certain imperial powers within his own domains. [Germany]
COUNTABLE
Count"a*ble (--b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being numbered.
COUNTENANCE
Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), n. Etym: [OE. contenance, countenaunce,
demeanor, composure, F. contenance demeanor, fr. L. continentia
continence, LL. also, demeanor, fr. L. continere to hold together,
repress, contain. See Contain, and cf. Continence.]
1. Appearance or expression of the face; look; aspect; mien.
So spake the Son, and into terror changed His countenance. Milton.
2. The face; the features.
In countenance somewhat doth resemble you. Shak.
3. Approving or encouraging aspect of face; hence, favor, good will,
support; aid; encouragement.
Thou hast made him . . . glad with thy countenance. Ps. xxi. 6.
This is the magistrate's peculiar province, to give countenance to
piety and virtue, and to rebuke vice. Atterbury.
4. Superficial appearance; show; pretense. [Obs.]
The election being done, he made countenance of great discontent
thereat. Ascham.
In countenance, in an assured condition or aspect; free from shame or
dismay. "It puts the learned in countenance, and gives them a place
among the fashionable part of mankind." Addison.
-- Out of countenance, not bold or assured; confounded; abashed.
"Their best friends were out of countenance, because they found that
the imputations . . . were well grounded." Clarendon.
-- To keep the countenance, to preserve a composed or natural look,
undisturbed by passion or emotion. Swift.
COUNTENANCE
Coun"te*nance (koun"t-nans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countenanced (-
nanst); p. pr. & vb. n. Countenancing.]
1. To encourage; to favor; to approve; to aid; to abet.
This conceit, though countenanced by learned men, is not made out
either by experience or reason. Sir T. Browne.
Error supports custom, custom countenances error. Milton.
2. To make a show of; to pretend. [Obs.]
Which to these ladies love did countenance. Spenser.
COUNTENANCER
Coun"te*nan*cer (-nan-sr), n.
Defn: One who countenances, favors, or supports.
COUNTER
Coun"ter (koun"tr-).
Note: [See Counter, adv. ]
Defn: A prefix meaning contrary, opposite, in opposition; as,
counteract, counterbalance, countercheck. See Counter, adv. & a.
COUNTER
Count"er (koun"tr), n. Etym: [OE. countere, countour, a counter (in
sense 1), OF. contere, conteor, fr. conter to count. See Count, v. t.
]
1. One who counts, or reckons up; a calculator; a reckoner.
2. A piece of metal, ivory, wood, or bone, used in reckoning, in
keeping account of games, etc.
The old gods of our own race whose names . . . serve as counters
reckon the days of the week. E. B. Tylor.
What comes the wool to . . . I can not do it witthout counters. Shak.
3. Money; coin; -- used in contempt. [Obs.]
To lock such rascal counters from his friends. Shak.
4. A prison; either of two prisons formerly in London.
Anne Aysavugh . . . imprisoned in the Counter. Fuller.
5. A telltale; a contrivance attached to an engine, printing press,
or other machine, for the purpose of counting the revolutions or the
pulsations. Knight.
COUNTER
Coun"ter, n. Etym: [OE. countour, OF. contouer, comptouer, F.
comptoir, LL. computatorium, prop., a computing place, place of
accounts, fr. L. computare. See Count, v. t.]
Defn: A table or board on which money is counted and over which
business is transacted; a long, narrow table or bench, on which goods
are laid for examination by purchasers, or on which they are weighed
or measured.
COUNTER
Coun"ter, adv. Etym: [F. contre, fr. L. contra against. Cf. Contra-.]
1. Contrary; in opposition; in an opposite direction; contrariwise; -
- used chiefly with run or go.
Running counter to all the rules of virtue. Locks.
2. In the wrong way; contrary to the right course; as, a hound that
runs counter.
This is counter, you false Danish dogs! Shak.
3. At or against the front or face. [R.]
Which [darts] they never throw counter, but at the back of the flier.
Sandys.
COUNTER
Coun"ter, a.
Defn: Contrary; opposite; contrasted; opposed; adverse; antagonistic;
as, a counter current; a counter revolution; a counter poison; a
counter agent; counter fugue. "Innumerable facts attesting the
counter principle." I. Taylor. Counter approach (Fort.), a trench or
work pushed forward from defensive works to meet the approaches of
besiegers. See Approach.
-- Counter bond (Law), in old practice, a bond to secure one who has
given bond for another.
-- Counter brace. See Counter brace, in Vocabulary.
-- Counter deed (Law), a secret writing which destroys, invalidates,
or alters, a public deed.
-- Counter distinction, contradistinction. [Obs.] -- Counter drain,
a drain at the foot of the embankment of a canal or watercourse, for
carrying off the water that may soak through.
-- Counter extension (Surg.), the fixation of the upper part of a
limb, while extension is practiced on the lower part, as in cases of
luxation or fracture.
-- Counter fissure (Surg.) Same as Contrafissure.
-- Counter indication. (Med.) Same as Contraindication.
-- Counter irritant (Med.), an irritant to produce a blister, a
pustular eruption, or other irritation in some part of the body, in
order to relieve an existing irritation in some other part. "Counter
irritants are of as great use in moral as in physical diseases."
Macaulay.
-- Counter irritation (Med.), the act or the result of applying a
counter irritant.
-- Counter opening, an aperture or vent on the opposite side, or in
a different place. -Counter parole (Mil.), a word in addition to the
password, given in time of alarm as a signal.
-- Counter plea (Law), a replication to a plea. Cowell.
-- Counter pressure, force or pressure that acts in a contrary
direction to some other opposing pressure.
-- Counter project, a project, scheme, or proposal brought forward
in opposition to another, as in the negotiation of a treaty. Swift.
-- Counter proof, in engraving, a print taken off from another just
printed, which, by being passed through the press, gives a copy in
reverse, and of course in the same position as that of plate from
which the first was printed, the object being to enable the engraver
to inspect the state of the plate.
-- Counter revolution, a revolution opposed to a former one, and
restoring a former state of things.
-- Counter revolutionist, one engaged in, or befriending, a counter
revolution.
-- Counter round (Mil.), a body of officers whose duty it is to
visit and inspect the rounds and sentinels.
-- Counter sea (Naut.), a sea running in an opposite direction from
the wind.
-- Counter sense, opposite meaning.
-- Counter signal, a signal to answer or correspond to another.
-- Counter signature, the name of a secretary or other officer
countersigned to a writing. . Tooke.
-- Counter slope, an overhanging slope; as, a wall with a counter
slope. Mahan.
-- Counter statement, a statement made in opposition to, or denial
of, another statement.
-- Counter surety, a counter bond, or a surety to secure one who has
given security.
-- Counter tally, a tally corresponding to another.
-- Counter tide, contrary tide.
COUNTER
Coun"ter, n. Etym: [See Counter, adv., Contra.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The after part of a vessel's body, from the water line to the
stern, -- below and somewhat forward of the stern proper.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Same as Contra. Formerly used to designate any under part which
served for contrast to a principal part, but now used as equivalent
to counter tenor.
3. (Far.)
Defn: The breast, or thet part of a horse between the shoulders and
under the neck.
4. The back leather or heel part of a boot.
COUNTER
Coun"ter (koun"tr), n.
Defn: An encounter. [Obs.]
With kindly counter under mimic shade. Spenser.
COUNTER
Coun"ter, v. i. (Boxing)
Defn: To return a blow while receiving one, as in boxing.
His left hand countered provokingly. C. Kingsley.
COUNTERACT
Coun`ter*act" (koun`tr-kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counteracted; p. pr.
& vb. n. Counteracting.]
Defn: To act in opposition to; to hinder, defeat, or frustrate, by
contrary agency or influence; as, to counteract the effect of
medicines; to counteract good advice.
COUNTERACTION
Coun`ter*ac"tion (koun`tr-k"shn), n.
Defn: Action in opposition; hindrance resistance.
[They] do not . . . overcome the counteraction of a false principle
or of stubborn partiality. Johnson.
COUNTERACTIVE
Coun`ter*act"ive (-kt"v), a.
Defn: Tending to counteract.
COUNTERACTIVE
Coun`ter*act"ive, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, counteracts.
COUNTERACTIVELY
Coun`ter*act"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: By counteraction.
COUNTERBALANCE
Coun`ter*bal"ance (-bl"ans), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterbalanced (-
anst); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterbalancing.]
Defn: To oppose with an equal weight or power; to counteract the
power or effect of; to countervail; to equiponderate; to balance.
The remaining air was not able to counterbalance the mercurial
cylinder. Boyle.
The cstudy of mind is necessary to counterbalance and correct the
influence of the study of nature. Sir W. Hamilton.
COUNTERBALANCE
Coun"ter*bal`ance (koun"tr-bl`ans), n.
Defn: A weight, power, or agency, acting against or balancing
another; as:
(a) A mass of metal in one side of a driving wheel or fly wheel, to
balance the weight of a crank pin, etc., on the opposite side of the
wheel.
(b) A counterpoise to balance the weight of anything, as of a
drawbridge or a scale beam.
Money is the counterbalance to all other things purchasable by it.
Locke.
COUNTERBORE
Coun"ter*bore` (-br`), n.
1. A flat-bottomed cylindrical enlargement of the mouth of a hole,
usually of slight depth, as for receiving a cylindrical screw head.
2. A kind of pin drill with the cutting edge or edges normal to the
axis; -- used for enlarging a hole, or for forming a flat-bottomed
recess at its mouth.
COUNTERBORE
Coun`ter*bore" (koun`tr-br"), v. t.
Defn: To form a counterbore in, by boring, turning, or drilling; to
enlarge, as a hole, by means of a counterbore.
COUNTER BRACE
Coun"ter brace` (brs`).
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The brace of the fore-topsail on the leeward side of a vessel.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: A brace, in a framed structure, which resists a strain of a
character opposite to that which a main brace is designed to receive.
Note: In a quadrilateral system of bracing, the main brace is usually
in the direction of one diagonal, and the counter brace in the
direction of the other. Strains in counter braces are occasioned by
the live load only, as, in a roof, by the wind, or, in a bridge, by a
moving train.
COUNTERBRACE
Coun"ter*brace`, v. t.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: To brace in opposite directions; as, to counterbrace the yards,
i. e., to brace the head yards one way and the after yards another.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: To brace in such a way that opposite strains are resisted; to
apply counter braces to.
COUNTERBUFF
Coun`ter*buff" (koun`tr-bf"), v. t.
Defn: To strike or drive back or in an opposite direction; to stop by
a blow or impulse in front. Dryden.
COUNTERBUFF
Coun"ter*buff` (koun"tr-bf`), n.
Defn: A blow in an opposite direction; a stroke that stops motion or
cause a recoil.
COUNTERCAST
Coun"ter*cast` (koun"tr-kst`), n.
Defn: A trick; a delusive contrivance. [Obs.] Spenser.
COUNTERCASTER
Coun"ter*cast`er (-r), n.
Defn: A caster of accounts; a reckoner; a bookkeeper; -- used
conteptuously.
COUNTERCHANGE
Coun`ter*change" (koun`tr-chnj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchanged
(-chnjd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterchanging.]
1. To give and receive; to cause to change places; to exchange.
2. To checker; to diversify, as in heraldic counterchanging. See
Counterchaged, a., 2.
With-elms, that counterchange the floor Of this flat lawn with dusk
and bright. Tennyson.
COUNTERCHANGE
Coun"ter*change` (koun"tr-chnj`), n.
Defn: Exchange; reciprocation.
COUNTERCHANGED
Coun`ter*changed" (-chnjd"), a.
1. Exchanged.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having the tinctures exchanged mutually; thus, if the field is
divided palewise, or and azure, and cross is borne counterchanged,
that part of the cross which comes on the azure side will be or, and
that on the or side will be azure.
COUNTERCHARGE
Coun"ter*charge` (koun"tr-chrj`), n.
Defn: An opposing charge.
COUNTERCHARM
Coun`ter*charm" (koun`tr-chrm"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countercharmed
(-chrmd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countercharming.]
Defn: To destroy the effect of a charm upon.
COUNTERCHARM
Coun"ter*charm` (koun"tr-chrm`), n.
Defn: That which has the power of destroying the effect of a charm.
COUNTERCHECK
Coun`ter*check" (koun`tr-chk"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterchecked (-
chckt"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterchecking.]
Defn: To oppose or check by some obstacle; to check by a return
check.
COUNTERCHECK
Coun"ter*check` (koun"tr-chk`), n.
1. A check; a stop; a rebuke, or censure to check a reprover.
2. Any force or device designed to restrain another restraining
force; a check upon a check.
The system of checks and counterchecks. J. H. Newton.
COUNTERCLAIM
Coun"ter*claim` (-klm`), n. (Law)
Defn: A claim made by a person as an offset to a claim made on him.
COUNTER-COMPONY
Coun"ter-com*po`ny (-km-p`n), a. (Her.)
Defn: See Compony.
COUNTER-COUCHANT
Coun"ter-couch`ant (koun"tr-kouch"ant), a. (Her.)
Defn: Lying down, with their heads in opposite directions; -- said of
animals borne in a coat of arms.
COUNTER-COURANT
Coun"ter-cou*rant" (-k-rnt"), a. (Her.)
Defn: Running in opposite directions; -- said of animals borne in a
coast of arms.
COUNTERCURRENT
Coun"ter*cur`rent (koun"tr-kr`-rent), a.
Defn: Running in an opposite direction.
COUNTERCURRENT
Coun"ter*cur`rent, n.
Defn: A current running in an opposite direction to the main current.
COUNTERDRAW
Coun`ter*draw" (koun`tr-dr"), v. t. [imp. Counterdrew (-dr"); p. p.
Counterdrawn (-drn"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterdrawing.]
Defn: To copy, as a design or painting, by tracing with a pencil on
oiled paper, or other transparent substance.
COUNTERFAISANCE
Coun"ter*fai"sance (koun"tr-f"zans), n.
Defn: See Counterfesance. [Obs.]
COUNTERFEIT
Coun"ter*feit (koun"tr-ft), a. Etym: [F. contrefait, p. p. of
contrefaire to counterfeit; contre (L. contra) + faire to make, fr.
L. facere. See Counter, adv., and Fact.]
1. Representing by imitation or likeness; having a resemblance to
something else; portrayed.
Look here upon this picture, and on this-The counterfeit presentment
of two brothers. Shak.
2. Fabricated in imitation of something else, with a view to defraud
by passing the false copy for genuine or original; as, counterfeit
antiques; counterfeit coin. "No counterfeit gem." Robinson (More's
Utopia).
3. Assuming the appearance of something; false; spurious; deceitful;
hypocritical; as, a counterfeit philanthropist. "An arrant
counterfeit rascal." Shak.
Syn.
-- Forged; fictitious; spurious; false.
COUNTERFEIT
Coun"ter*feit, n.
1. That which resembles or is like another thing; a likeness; a
portrait; a counterpart.
Thou drawest a counterfeit Best in all Athens. Shak.
Even Nature's self envied the same, And grudged to see the
counterfeit should shame The thing itself. Spenser.
2. That which is made in imitation of something, with a view to
deceive by passing the false for the true; as, the bank note was a
counterfeit.
Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit. Shak.
Some of these counterfeits are fabricated with such exquisite taste
and skill, that it is the achievement of criticism to distinguish
them from originals. Macaulay.
3. One who pretends to be what he is not; one who personates another;
an impostor; a cheat.
I fear thou art another counterfeit; And yet, in faith, thou bears'st
thee like a king. Shak.
COUNTERFEIT
Coun"ter*feit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterfeited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Counterfeiting.]
1. To imitate, or put on a semblance of; to mimic; as, to counterfeit
the voice of another person.
Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for
many a joke had he. Goldsmith.
2. To imitate with a view to deceiving, by passing the copy for that
which is original or genuine; to forge; as, to counterfeit the
signature of another, coins, notes, etc.
COUNTERFEIT
Coun"ter*feit, v. i.
1. To carry on a deception; to dissemble; to feign; to pretend.
The knave counterfeits well; a good knave. Shak.
2. To make counterfeits.
COUNTERFEITER
Coun"ter*feit`er (-ft`r), n.
1. One who counterfeits; one who copies or imitates; especially, one
who copies or forges bank notes or coin; a forger.
The coin which was corrupted by counterfeiters. Camden.
2. One who assumes a false appearance or semblance; one who makes
false pretenses.
Counterfeiters of devotion. Sherwood.
COUNTERFEITLY
Coun"ter*feit`ly, adv.
Defn: By forgery; falsely.
COUNTERFESANCE
Coun"ter*fe`sance (-f"zans), n. Etym: [OF. contrefaisance, fr.
contrefaire. See Counterfeit, a.]
Defn: The act of forging; forgery. [Obs.] [Written also
counterfaisance.]
COUNTERFLEURY
Coun"ter*fleu`ry (koun"tr-fl`r), a. Etym: [F. contrefleuri.] (Her.)
Defn: Counterflory.
COUNTERFLORY
Coun"ter*flo`ry (-fl`r), a. Etym: [See Counterfleury.] (Her.)
Defn: Adorned with flowers (usually fleurs-de-lis) so divided that
the tops appear on one side and the bottoms on the others; -- said of
any ordinary.
COUNTERFOIL
Coun"ter*foil` (-foil), n. Etym: [Counter- + foil a leaf.]
1. That part of a tally, formerly in the exchequer, which was kept by
an officer in that court, the other, called the stock, being
delivered to the person who had lent the king money on the account; -
- called also counterstock. [Eng.]
2. The part of a writing (as the stub of a bank check) in which are
noted the main particulars contained in the corresponding part, which
has been issued.
COUNTERFORCE
Coun"ter*force` (-frs`), n.
Defn: An opposing force.
COUNTERFORT
Coun"ter*fort` (-frt`), n.
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A kind of buttress of masonry to strengthen a revetment wall.
2. A spur or projection of a mountain. Imp. Dict.
COUNTERGAGE
Coun"ter*gage` (-gj`), n. (Carp.)
Defn: An adjustable gage, with double points for transferring
measurements from one timber to another, as the breadth of a mortise
to the place where the tenon is to be made. Knight.
COUNTERGLOW
Coun"ter*glow`, n. (Astron.)
Defn: An exceedingly faint roundish or somewhat oblong nebulous light
near the ecliptic and opposite the sun, best seen during September
and October, when in the constellations Sagittarius and Pisces. Its
cause is not yet understood. Called also Gegenschein.
COUNTERGUARD
Coun"ter*guard` (koun"tr-grd`), n. (Fort.)
Defn: A low outwork before a bastion or ravelin, consisting of two
lines of rampart parallel to the faces of the bastion, and protecting
them from a breaching fire.
COUNTERIRRITANT; COUNTERIRRITATION
Coun"ter*ir`ri*tant (-r"r-tant), n., Coun"ter*ir`ri*ta"tion, n.
Defn: See Counter irritant, etc., under Counter, a.
COUNTERIRRITATE
Coun"ter*ir"ri*tate (koun"tr-r"r-tt), v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To produce counter irritation in; to treat with one morbid
process for the purpose of curing another.
COUNTERJUMPER
Coun"ter*jump`er (koun"tr-jmp`r), n.
Defn: A salesman in a shop; a shopman; -- used contemtuously. [Slang]
COUNTERLATH
Coun"ter*lath`, n. (Building)
(a) A batten laid lengthwise between two rafters to afford a bearing
for laths laid crosswise.
(b) Any lath laid without actual measurement between two gauged
laths.
(c) Any of a series of laths nailed to the timbers to raise the
sheet lathing above their surface to afford a key for plastering.
(d) One of many laths used in preparing one side of a partition or
framed wall, when the other side has been covered in and finished.
COUNTERMAN
Coun"ter*man (koun"tr-man), n.; pl. Countermen (-men).
Defn: A man who attends at the counter of a shop to sell goods.
[Eng.]
COUNTERMAND
Coun`ter*mand" (koun`tr-mnd"), v. t. [imp & p. p. Countermanded; p.
pr. & vb. n. Countermanding.] Etym: [F. contremander; contre (L.
contra) + mander to command, fr. L. mandare. Cf. Mandate.]
1. To revoke (a former command); to cancel or rescind by giving an
order contrary to one previously given; as, to countermand an order
for goods.
2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.]
Avicen countermands letting blood in choleric bodles. Harvey.
3. To oppose; to revoke the command of.
For us to alter anuthing, is to lift ourselves against God; and, as
it were, to countermand him. Hooker.
COUNTERMAND
Coun"ter*mand (koun"tr-mnd), n.
Defn: A contrary order; revocation of a former order or command.
Have you no countermand for Claudio yet, But he must die to-morrow
Shak.
COUNTERMANDABLE
Coun`ter*mand"a*ble (-mnd"-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being countermanded; revocable. Bacon.
COUNTERMARCH
Coun`ter*march" (koun`tr-mrch"), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Countermarched
(-mrcht"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermarching.] (Mil.)
Defn: To march back, or to march in reversed order.
The two armies marched and countermarched, drew near and receded.
Macaulay.
COUNTERMARCH
Coun"ter*march` (koun"tr-mrch`), n.
1. A marching back; retrocession.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: An evolution by which a body of troops change front or reverse
the direction of march while retaining the same men in the front
rank; also, a movement by which the rear rank becomes the front one,
either with or without changing the right to the left.
3. A change of measures; alteration of conduct.
Such countermarches and retractions as we do not willingly impute to
wisdom. T. Burnet.
COUNTERMARK
Coun"ter*mark` (-mrk`), n.
1. A mark or token added to those already existing, in order to
afford security or proof; as, an additional or special mark put upon
a package of goods belonging to several persons, that it may not be
opened except in the presence of all; a mark added to that of an
artificer of gold or silver work by the Goldsmiths' Company of
London, to attest the standard quality of the gold or silver; a mark
added to an ancient coin or medal, to show either its change of value
or that it was taken from an enemy.
2. (Far.)
Defn: An artificial cavity made in the teeth of horses that have
outgrown their natural mark, to disguise their age.
COUNTERMARK
Coun`ter*mark" (koun`tr-mrk"), v. t.
Defn: To apply a countenmark to; as, to countermark silverware; to
countermark a horse's teeth.
COUNTERMINE
Coun"ter*mine` (koun"tr-mn`), n. Etym: [Counter- + mine underground
gallery: cf. F. contermine.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: An underground gallery excavated to intercept and destroy the
mining of an enemy.
2. A stratagem or plot by which another sratagem or project is
defeated.
Thinking himself contemned, knowing no countermine against contempt
but terror. Sir P. Sidney.
COUNTERMINE
Coun`ter*mine" (koun`tr-mn"), v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. contreminer.] [imp.
& p. p. Countermined; p. pr. & vb. n. Countermining.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: To oppose by means or a countermine; to intercept with a
countermine.
2. To frustrate or counteract by secret measures.
COUNTERMINE
Coun`ter*mine", v. i.
Defn: To make a countermine or counterplot; to plot secretly.
'Tis hard for man to countermine with God. Chapman.
COUNTERMOVE
Coun`ter*move" (koun`tr-mv"), v. t. & i.
Defn: To move in a contrary direction to.
COUNTERMOVE; COUNTERMOVEMENT
Coun"ter*move` (-mv`), n. Coun"ter*move`ment (-ment).
Defn: A movement in opposition to another.
COUNTERMURE
Coun"ter*mure` (-mr`), n. Etym: [Counter- + mure: cf. F. contremur.]
(Fort.)
Defn: A wall raised behind another, to supply its place when breached
or destroyed. [R.] Cf. Contramure. Knolles.
COUNTERMURE
Coun`ter*mure" (koun`tr-mr"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countermured (-
mrd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countermuring.] Etym: [Cf. F. contremurer.]
Defn: To fortify with a wall behind another wall. [R.] Kyd.
COUNTERNATURAL
Coun"ter*nat`u*ral (koun"tr-nt`-ral; 135), a.
Defn: Contrary to nature. [R.] Harvey.
COUNTER-PALY
Coun"ter-pa`ly (-p`l), a. Etym: [F. contre-palé.] (Her.)
Defn: Paly, and then divided fesswise, so that each vertical piece is
cut into two, having the colors used alternately or counterchanged.
Thus the escutcheon in the illustration may also be blazoned paly of
six per fess counterchanged argent and azure.
COUNTERPANE
Coun"ter*pane` (koun"tr-pn`), n. Etym: [See Counterpoint, corrupted
into counterpane, from the employment of pane-shaped figures in these
coverlets. ]
Defn: A coverlet for a bed, -- originally stitched or woven in
squares or figures.
On which a tissue counterpane was cast. Drayton.
COUNTERPANE
Coun"ter*pane`, n. Etym: [OF. contrepan a pledge, security; contre +
pan a skirt, also, a pawn or gage, F. pan a skirt. See Pane, and cf.
Pawn.] (O. Law)
Defn: A duplicate part or copy of an indenture, deed, etc.,
corresponding with the original; -- now called counterpart.
Read, scribe; give me the counterpane. B. Jonson.
COUNTERPART
Coun"ter*part` (koun"tr-prt`), n.
1. A part corresponding to another part; anything which answers, or
corresponds, to another; a copy; a duplicate; a facsimile.
In same things the laws of Normandy agreed with the laws of England,
so that they seem to be, as it were, copies or counterparts one of
another. Sir M. Hale.
2. (Law)
Defn: One of two corresponding copies of an instrument; a duplicate.
3. A person who closely resembles another.
4. A thing may be applied to another thing so as to fit perfectly, as
a seal to its impression; hence, a thing which is adapted to another
thing, or which suplements it; that which serves to complete or
complement anything; hence, a person or thing having qualities
lacking in another; an opposite.
O counterpart Of our soft sex, well are you made our lords. Dryden.
COUNTERPASSANT
Coun"ter*pas`sant (-ps"sant), a. Etym: [Counter- + passant:cf. F.
contrepassant.] (Her.)
Defn: Passant in opposite directions; -- said of two animals.
COUNTERPLEAD
Coun`ter*plead" (koun`tr-pld"), v. t.
Defn: To plead the contrary of; to plead against; to deny.
COUNTERPLOT
Coun`ter*plot" (koun`tr-plt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterplotted;p.
pr. & vb. n. Counterplotting.]
Defn: To oppose, as another plot, by plotting; to attempt to
frustrate, as a stratagem, by stratagem.
Every wile had proved abortive, every plot had been counterplotted.
De Quinsey.
COUNTERPLOT
Coun"ter*plot` (koun"tr-plt`), n.
Defn: A plot or artifice opposed to another. L'Estrange.
COUNTERPOINT
Coun"ter*point` (koun"tr-point`), n. Etym: [Counter- + point.]
Defn: An opposite point [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
COUNTERPOINT
Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [F. contrepoint; cf. It. contrappunto. Cf.
Contrapuntal.] (Mus.)
(a) The setting of note against note in harmony; the adding of one or
more parts to a given canto fermo or melody.
(b) The art of polyphony, or composite melody, i. e., melody not
single, but moving attended by one or more related melodies.
(c) Music in parts; part writing; harmony; polyphonic music. See
Polyphony.
Counterpoint, an invention equivalent to a new creation of music.
Whewell.
COUNTERPOINT
Coun"ter*point`, n. Etym: [OF. contrepoincte, corruption of earlier
counstepointe, countepointe, F. courtepointe, fr. L. culcita cushion,
mattress (see Quilt, and cf. Cushion) + puncta, fem. p. p. of pungere
to prick (see Point). The word properly meant a stitched quilt, with
the colors broken one into another.]
Defn: A coverlet; a cover for a bed, often stitched or broken into
squares; a counterpane. See 1st Counterpane.
Embroidered coverlets or counterpoints of purple silk. Sir T. North.
COUNTERPOISE
Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
Counterpoised (-poizd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterpoising.] Etym: [OE.
countrepesen, counterpeisen, F. contrepeser. See Counter, adv., and
Poise, v. t. ]
1. To act against with equal weight; to equal in weght; to balance
the weight of; to counterbalance.
Weigts, counterpoising one another. Sir K. Digby.
2. To act against with equal power; to balance.
So many freeholders of English will be able to beard and counterpoise
the rest. Spenser.
COUNTERPOISE
Coun"ter*poise` (koun"tr-poiz`), n. Etym: [OE. countrepese, OF.
contrepois, F. contrepods. See Counter, adv., and Poise, n.]
1. A weight sufficient to balance another, as in the opposite scale
of a balance; an equal weight.
Fastening that to our exact balance, we put a metalline counterpoise
into the opposite scale. Boyle.
2. An equal power or force acting in opposition; a force sufficient
to balance another force.
The second nobles are a counterpoise to the higher nobility, that
they grow not too potent. Bacon.
3. The relation of two weights or forces which balance each other;
equilibrum; equiponderance.
The pendulous round eart, with balanced air, In counterpoise. Milton.
COUNTERPOLE
Coun"ter*pole` (-pl`), n.
Defn: The exact opposite.
The German prose offers the counterpole to the French style. De
Quincey.
COUNTERPONDERATE
Coun`ter*pon"der*ate (-pn"dr-t), v. t.
Defn: TO equal in weight; to counterpoise; to equiponderate.
COUNTERPROVE
Coun`ter*prove" (koun`tr-prv"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Counterproved (-
prvd"); p. pr. & vb. n. Counterproving.]
Defn: To take a counter proof of, or a copy in reverse, by taking an
impression directly from the face of an original. See Counter proof,
under Counter.
COUNTERREVOLUTIONARY; COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARY
counterrevolutionary counter-revolutionary adj.
Defn: marked by opposition or antipathy to revolution; as, ostracized
for his counterrevolutionary tendencies. Opposite of revolutionary.
[WordNet 1.5]
COUNTER-ROLL
Coun"ter-roll` (-rl`), n. Etym: [Cf. Control.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A duplicate roll (record or account) kept by an officer as a
check upon another officer's roll. Burrill.
Note: As a verb this word is contracted into control. See Control.
COUNTERROLMENT
Coun`ter*rol"ment (koun`tr-rl"ment), n.
Defn: A counter account. See Control. [Obs.] Bacon.
COUNTER-SALIENT
Coun`ter-sa"li*ent (-s"l-ent or -sl"yent; 106), a. (Her.)
Defn: Leaping from each other; -- said of two figures on a coast of
arms.
COUNTERSCALE
Coun"ter*scale` (koun"tr-skl`), n.
Defn: Counterbalance; balance, as of one scale against another.
[Obs.] Howell.
COUNTERSCARF
Coun"ter*scarf` (-skrf`), n. Etym: [Counter- + scarp: cf. F.
contrescarpe.] (Fort.)
Defn: The exterior slope or wall of the ditch; -- sometimes, the
whole covered way, beyond the ditch, with its parapet and glacis; as,
the enemy have lodged themselves on the counterscarp.
COUNTERSEAL
Coun`ter*seal" (koun`tr-sl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersealed (-
sld"); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersealing.]
Defn: To seal or ratify with another or others. Shak.
COUNTERSECURE
Coun`ter*se*cure" (-s-kr"), v. t.
Defn: To give additional security to or for. Burke.
COUNTERSHAFT
Coun"ter*shaft` (koun"tr-shft`), n. (Mach.)
Defn: An intermediate shaft; esp., one which receives motion from a
line shaft in a factory and transmits it to a machine.
COUNTERSIGN
Coun`ter*sign" (-sn`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersigned (-
snd`); p. pr. & vb. n. Countersigning.] Etym: [Counter- + sign: cf.
F. contresigner.]
Defn: To sign on the opposite side of (an instrument or writing);
hence, to sign in addition to the signature of a principal or
superior, in order to attest the authenticity of a writing.
COUNTERSIGN
Coun"ter*sign`, a.
1. The signature of a secretary or other officer to a writing signed
by a principal or superior, to attest its authenticity.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A private signal, word, or phrase, which must be given in order
to pass a sentry; a watchword.
COUNTERSINK
Coun"ter*sink` (koun"tr-sk`; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countersunk (-
s; p. pr. & vb. n. Countersinking.]
1. To chamfer or form a depression around the top of (a hole in wood,
metal, etc.) for the reception of the head of a screw or bolt below
the surface, either wholly or in part; as, to countersink a hole for
a screw.
2. To cause to sink even with or below the surface; as, to
countersink a screw or bolt into woodwork.
COUNTERSINK
Coun"ter*sink`, n.
1. An enlargement of the upper part of a hole, forming a cavity or
depression for receiving the head of a screw or bolt.
Note: In the United States a flaring cavity formed by chamfering the
edges of a round hole is called a countersink, while a cylindrical
flat-bottomed enlargement of the mouth of the hole is usually called
a conterbore.
2. A drill or cutting tool for countersinking holes.
COUNTERSTAND
Coun"ter*stand` (-st, n.
Defn: Resistance; opposition; a stand against.
Making counterstand to Robert Guiscard. Longfellow.
COUNTERSTEP
Coun"ter*step` (koun"tr-stp`), n.
Defn: A contrary method of procedure; opposite course of action.
COUNTERSTOCK
Coun"ter*stock` (-stk`), n.
Defn: See Counterfoil.
COUNTERSTROKE
Coun"ter*stroke` (-strk`), n.
Defn: A stroke or blow in return. Spenser.
COUNTERSUNK
Coun"ter*sunk` (-snk`), p. p. & a. from Countersink.
1. Chamfered at the top; -- said of a hole.
2. Sunk into a chamfer; as, a countersunk bolt.
3. Beveled on the lower side, so as to fit a chamfered countersink;
as, a countersunk nailhead.
COUNTERSWAY
Coun"ter*sway` (-sw`), n.
Defn: A swaying in a contrary direction; an opposing influence.
[Obs.]
A countersway of restraint, curbing their wild exorbitance. Milton.
COUNTER TENOR
Coun"ter ten`or (tn`r). Etym: [OF. contreteneur. Cf. Contratenor, and
see Tenor a part in music.] (Mus.)
Defn: One of the middle parts in music, between the tenor and the
treble; high tenor. Counter-tenor clef (Mus.), the C clef when placed
on the third line; -- also called alto clef.
COUNTERTERM
Coun"ter*term` (-trm`), n.
Defn: A term or word which is the opposite of, or antithesis to,
another; an antonym; -- the opposite of synonym; as, "foe" is the
counterterm of "friend". C. J. Smith.
COUNTERTIME
Coun"ter*time` (-tm`), n.
1. (Man.)
Defn: The resistance of a horse, that interrupts his cadence and the
measure of his manege, occasioned by a bad horseman, or the bad
temper of the horse.
2. Resistance; opposition. [Obs.]
Give not shus the countertime to fate. Dryden.
COUNTERTRIPPANT
Coun"ter*trip`pant (-trp`pant), a. (Her.)
Defn: Trippant in opposite directions. See Trippant.
COUNTERTRIPPING
Coun"ter*trip`ping (-trp`png), a. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Countertrippant.
COUNTERTURN
Coun"ter*turn` (-t, n.
Defn: The critical moment in a play, when, contrary to expectation,
the action is embroiled in new difficulties. Dryden.
COUNTERVAIL
Coun`ter*vail" (koun`tr-vl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Countervailed (-
vld); p. pr. & vb. n. Countervailing.] Etym: [OF. contrevaloir;
contre (L. contra) + valoir to avail, fr. L. valere to be strong,
avail. See Vallant.]
Defn: To act against with equal force, power, or effect; to thwart or
overcome by such action; to furnish an equivalent to or for; to
counterbalance; to compensate.
Upon balancing the account, the profit at last will hardly
countervail the inconveniences that go allong with it. L'Estrange.
COUNTERVAIL
Coun"ter*vail` (koun"tr-vl`), n.
Defn: Power or value sufficient to obviate any effect; equal weight,
strength, or value; equivalent; compensation; requital. [Obs.]
Surely, the present pleasure of a sinful act is a poor countervail
for the bitterness of the review. South.
COUNTERVALLATION
Coun`ter*val*la"tion (-vl-l"sn), n. (Fort.)
Defn: See Contravallation.
COUNTERVIEW
Coun"ter*view` (koun"tr-v`), n.
1. An opposite or opposing view; opposition; a posture in which two
persons front each other.
Within the gates of hell sat Death and Sin, In counterview. Milton
M. Peisse has ably advocated the counterview in his preface and
appendixx. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. A position in which two dissimilar things illustrate each other by
opposition; contrast.
I have drawn some lines of Linger's character, on purpose to place it
in counterview, or contrast with that of the other company. Swift.
COUNTERVOTE
Coun`ter*vote" (koun`tr-vt"), v. t.
Defn: To vote in opposition ti; to balance or overcome by viting; to
outvote. Dr. J. Scott.
COUNTERWAIT
Coun`ter*wait", v. t.
Defn: To wait or watch for; to be on guard against. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COUNTERWEIGH
Coun`ter*weigh" (-w"), v. t.
Defn: To weigh against; to counterbalance.
COUNTER WEIGHT
Coun"ter *weight` (-wt`), n.
Defn: A counterpoise.
COUNTERWHEEL
Coun`ter*wheel" (-hwl"), v. t. (Mil.)
Defn: To cause to wheel or turn in an opposite direction.
COUNTERWORK
Coun`ter*work" (-wrk"), v. t.
Defn: To work in oppositeion to; to counteract.
That counterworksh folly and caprice. Pope.
COUNTESS
Count"ess (kount"s), n.; pl. Countesses (-. Etym: [F. comtesse. See
Count a nobleman.]
Defn: The wife of an earl in the British peerage, or of a count in
the Continental nobility; also, a lady possessed of the same dignity
in her own right. See the Note under Count.
COUNTINGHOUSE; COUNTINGROOM
Count"ing*house` (kount"ng-hous`), Count"ing*room` (kount"ng-rm`), n.
Etym: [See Count, v. ]
Defn: The house or room in which a merchant, trader, or manufacturer
keeps his books and transacts business.
COUNTLESS
Count"less (-ls), a.
Defn: Incapable of being counted; not ascertainable; innumerable.
COUNTOR
Count"or (kount"r), n. Etym: [From Count, v. t. (in sense 4).] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: An advocate or professional pleader; one who counted for his
client, that is, orally pleaded his cause. [Obs.] Burrill.
COUNTOUR; COUNTOURHOUSE
Coun*tour" (kn-tr"), Coun*tour"house` (-hous`), n. Etym: [See 2d
Counter.]
Defn: A merchant's office; a countinghouse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COUNTRE-
Coun"tre- (koun"ter-).
Defn: Same as prefix Counter-. [Obs.]
COUNTREPLETE
Coun`tre*plete" (-plt"), v. t. Etym: [Countre- + plete to plead.]
Defn: To counterplead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COUNTRETAILLE
Coun"tre*taille` (koun"tr-tl`), n. Etym: [F. contretaille; contre (L.
contra) + taille cut. See Tally.]
Defn: A counter tally; correspondence (in sound). [Obs.] At the
countretaille, in return. Chaucer.
COUNTRIFIED
Coun"tri*fied (kn"tr-fld), p. a.
Defn: Having the appearance and manners of a rustic; rude.
As being one who took no pride, And was a deal too countrified.
Lloyd.
COUNTRIFY
Coun"tri*fy (kn"tr-f), v. t.
Defn: To give a rural appearance to; to cause to appear rustic. Lamb.
COUNTRY
Coun"try (kn"tr), n.; pl. Countries (-tr. Etym: [F. contr, LL.
contrata, fr. L. contra over against, on the opposite side. Cf.
Counter, adv., Contra.]
1. A tract of land; a region; the territory of an independent nation;
(as distinguished from any other region, and with a personal pronoun)
the region of one's birth, permanent residence, or citizenship.
Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred. Gen. xxxxii. 9.
I might have learned this by my last exile, that change of countries
cannot change my state. Stirling.
Many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account
Milton.
2. Rural regions, as opposed to a city or town.
As they walked, on their way into the country. Mark xvi. 12 (Rev.
Ver. ).
God made the covatry, and man made the town. Cowper.
Only very great men were in the habit of dividing the year between
town and country. Macualay.
3. The inhabitants or people of a state or a region; the populace;
the public. Hence: (a) One's constituents. (b) The whole body of the
electors of state; as, to dissolve Parliament and appeal to the
country.
All the country in a general voice Cried hate upon him. Shak.
4. (Law)
(a) A jury, as representing the citizens of a country.
(b) The inhabitants of the district from which a jury is drawn.
5. (Mining.)
Defn: The rock through which a vein runs. Conclusion to the country.
See under Conclusion.
-- To put, or throw, one's self upon the country, to appeal to one's
constituents; to stand trial before a jury.
COUNTRY
Coun"try, a.
1. Pertaining to the regions remote from a city; rural; rustic; as, a
country life; a country town; the country party, as opposed to city.
2. Destitute of refinement; rude; unpolished; rustic; not urbane; as,
country manners.
3. Pertaining, or peculiar, to one's own country.
She, bowing herself towards him, laughing the cruel tyrant to scorn,
spake in her country language. 2 Macc. vii. 27.
COUNTRY BANK
Coun"try bank. (Banking)
Defn: A national bank not in a reserve city. [Colloq., U. S.]
COUNTRY-BASE
Coun"try-base` (-bs`), n.
Defn: Same as Prison base.
COUNTRY CLUB
Coun"try club.
Defn: A club usually located in the suburbs or vicinity of a city or
town and devoted mainly to outdoor sports.
COUNTRY COUSIN
Coun"try cousin.
Defn: A relative from the country visiting the city and unfamiliar
with city manners and sights.
COUNTRY-DANCE
Coun"try-dance` (-dns`), n. Etym: [Prob. an adaptation of
contradance.]
Defn: See Contradance.
He had introduced the English country-dance to the knowledge of the
Dutch ladies. Macualay.
COUNTRYMAN
Coun"try*man (kn"tr-man), n.; pl. Countrymen (-men).
1. An inhabitant or native of a region. Shak.
2. One born in the same country with another; a compatriot; -- used
with a possessive pronoun.
In perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own
countrymen. 2 Cor. xi. 26.
3. One who dwells in the country, as distinguished from a townsman or
an inhabitant of a city; a rustic; a husbandman or farmer.
A simple countryman that brought her figs. Shak.
COUNTRY SEAT
Coun"try seat` (kn"tr st`).
Defn: A dwelling in the country, used as a place of retirement from
the city.
COUNTRYSIDE
Coun"try*side` (-sd`), n.
Defn: A particular rural district; a country neighborhood. [Eng.] W.
Black. Blackmore.
COUNTRYWOMAN
Coun"try*wom`an (-wm`an), n.; pl. Countrywomen (-w.
Defn: A woman born, or dwelling, in the country, as opposed to the
city; a woman born or dwelling in the same country with another
native or inhabitant. Shak.
COUNT-WHEEL
Count"-wheel` (kount"hwl`), n.
Defn: The wheel in a clock which regulates the number of strokes.
COUNTY
Coun"ty (koun"t), n.; pl. Counties (-t. Etym: [F. comt, fr. LL.
comitatus. See Count.]
1. An earldom; the domain of a count or earl. [Obs.]
2. A circuit or particular portion of a state or kingdom, separated
from the rest of the territory, for certain purposes in the
administration of justice and public affairs; -- called also a shire.
See Shire.
Every county, every town, every family, was in agitation. Macaulay.
3. A count; an earl or lord. [Obs.] Shak. County commissioners. See
Commissioner.
-- County corporate, a city or town having the privilege to be a
county by itself, and to be governed by its own sheriffs and other
magistrates, irrespective of the officers of the county in which it
is situated; as London, York, Bristol, etc. [Eng.] Mozley & W.
-- County court, a court whose jurisdiction is limited to county.
-- County palatine, a county distingushed by particular privileges;
-- so called a palatio (from the palace), because the owner had
originally royal powers, or the same powers, in the administration of
justice, as the king had in his palace; but these powers are now
abridged. The counties palatine, in England, are Lancaster, Chester,
and Durham.
-- County rates, rates levied upon the county, and collected by the
boards of guardians, for the purpose of defraying the expenses to
which counties are liable, such as repairing bridges, jails, etc.
[Eng.] -- County seat, a county town. [U.S.] -- County sessions, the
general quarter sessions of the peace for each county, held four
times a year. [Eng.] -- County town, the town of a county, where the
county business is transacted; a shire town.
COUP
Coup (k), n. Etym: [F., fr.L. colaphus a cuff, Gr.
Defn: A sudden stroke; an unexpected device or stratagem; -- a term
used in various ways to convey the idea of promptness and force. Coup
de grace (ke gr Etym: [F.], the stroke of mercy with which an
executioner ends by death the sufferings of the condemned; hence, a
decisive, finishing stroke.
-- Coup de main (ke m Etym: [F.] (Mil.), a sudden and unexpected
movement or attack.
-- Coup de soleil (k Etym: [F.] (Med.), a sunstroke. See Sunstroke.
-- Coup d'état (k Etym: [F.] (Politics), a sudden, decisive exercise
of power whereby the existing government is subverted without the
consent of the people; an unexpected measure of state, more or less
violent; a stroke of policy.
-- Coup d'oeil (k. Etym: [F.] (a) A single view; a rapid glance of
the eye; a comprehensive view of a scene; as much as can be seen at
one view. (b) The general effect of a picture. (c) (Mil.) The faculty
or the act of comprehending at a glance the weakness or strength of a
military position, of a certain arrangement of troops, the most
advantageous position for a battlefield, etc.
COUPABLE
Cou (k"p-b'l), a. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Culpable. [Obs.]
COUPE
Cou`pé" (k`p"), n. Etym: [F., fr. coupé, p. p. of couper to cut. See
Coppice.]
1. The front compartment of a French diligence; also, the front
compartment (usually for three persons) of a car or carriage on
British railways.
2. A four-wheeled close carriage for two persons inside, with an
outside seat for the driver; -- so called because giving the
appearance of a larger carriage cut off.
COUPED
Couped (kpt), a. Etym: [F. couper to cut.] (Her.)
Defn: Cut off smoothly, as distinguished from erased; -- used
especially for the head or limb of an animal. See Erased.
COUPEE
Cou*pee" (k-p"; F. k`p), n. Etym: [F. coupé, n., properly p. p. of
couper to cut. Cf. Coupé, Coopee.]
Defn: A motion in dancing, when one leg is a little bent, and raised
from the floor, and with the other a forward motion is made.
Chambers.
COUPE-GORGE
Coupe`-gorge" (kp`grzh"), n. Etym: [F., cut throat.] (Mil.)
Defn: Any position giving the enemy such advantage that the troops
occupying it must either surrender or be cut to pieces. Farrow.
COUPLE
Cou"ple (kp"'l), n. Etym: [F. couple, fr. L. copula a bond, band; co-
+ apere, aptum, ti join. See Art, a., and cf.Copula.]
1. That which joins or links two things together; a bond or tie; a
coupler. [Obs.]
It is in some sort with friends as it is with dogs in couples; they
should be of the same size and humor. L'Estrange.
I'll go in couples with her. Shak.
2. Two of the same kind connected or considered together; a pair; a
brace. "A couple of shepherds." Sir P. Sidney. "A couple of drops"
Adduson. "A couple of miles." Dickens. "A couple of weeks." Carlyle.
Adding one to one we have the complex idea of a couple. Locke.
[Ziba] met him with a couple of asses saddled. 2 Sam. xvi. 1.
3. A male and female associated together; esp., a man and woman who
are married or betrothed.
Such were our couple, man and wife. Lloyd.
Fair couple linked in happy, nuptial league. Milton.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: See Couple-close.
5. (Elec.)
Defn: One of the pairs of plates of two metals which compose a
voltaic battery; -- called a voltaic couple or galvanic couple.
6. (Mech.)
Defn: Two rotations, movements, etc., which are equal in amount but
opposite in direction, and acting along parallel lines or around
parallel axes.
Note: The effect of a couple of forces is to produce a rotation. A
couple of rotations is equivalent to a motion of translation.
COUPLE
Cou"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coupled (kp"'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Coupling (-lng).] Etym: [F. coupler, fr. L. copulare. See Couple, n.,
and cf. Copulate, Cobble, v. ]
1. To link or tie, as one thing to another; to connect or fasten
together; to join.
Huntsman, I charge thee, tender well my hounds, . . . And couple
Clowder with the deep-mouthed brach. Shak.
2. To join in wedlock; to marry. [Colloq.]
A parson who couples all our beggars. Swift.
COUPLE
Cou"ple, v. i.
Defn: To come together as male and female; to copulate. [Obs.]
Milton. Bacon.
COUPLE-BEGGAR
Cou"ple-beg`gar (-bg`gr), n.
Defn: One who makes it his business to marry beggars to each other.
Swift.
COUPLE-CLOSE
Cou"ple-close` (kp"-kls`), n.; pl. Couple-closes (-kl
1. (Her.)
Defn: A diminutive of the chevron, containing one fourth of its
surface. Couple-closes are generally borne one on each side of a
chevron, and the blazoning may then be either a chevron between two
couple-closes or chevron cottised.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A pair of rafters framed together with a tie fixed at their
feet, or with a collar beam. [Engl.]
COUPLEMENT
Cou"ple*ment (kp"'l-ment), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. couplement.]
Defn: Union; combination; a coupling; a pair. [Obs.] Shak.
And forth together rode, a goodly couplement. Spenser.
COUPLER
Coup"ler (kp"lr), n.
Defn: One who couples; that which couples, as a link, ring, or
shackle, to connect cars. Coupler of an organ, a contrivance by which
any two or more of the ranks of keys, or keys and pedals, are
connected so as to act together when the organ is played.
COUPLET
Coup"let (-lt), n. Etym: [F. couplet, dim. of couple. See Couple, n.
]
Defn: Two taken together; a pair or couple; especially two lines of
verse that rhyme with each other.
A sudden couplet rushes on your mind. Crabbe.
COUPLING
Coup"ling (-lng), n.
1. The act of bringing or coming together; connection; sexual union.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A device or contrivance which serves to couple or connect
adjacent parts or objects; as, a belt coupling, which connects the
ends of a belt; a car coupling, which connects the cars in a train; a
shaft coupling, which connects the ends of shafts. Box coupling,
Chain coupling. See under Box, Chain.
-- Coupling box, a coupling shaped like a journal box, for clamping
together the ends of two shafts, so that they may revolve together.
-- Coupling pin, a pin or bolt used in coupling or joining together
railroad cars, etc.
COUPON
Cou"pon (k"pn; F. k`pn"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couper to cut, cut off.
See Coppice.]
1. (Com.)
Defn: A certificate of interest due, printed at the bottom of
transferable bonds (state, railroad, etc.), given for a term of
years, designed to be cut off and presented for payment when the
interest is due; an interest warrant.
2. A section of a ticket, showing the holder to be entitled to some
specified accomodation or service, as to a passage over a designated
line of travel, a particular seat in a theater, or the like.
COUPSTICK
Coup"stick` (koo"stik`), n. [Coup + stick.]
Defn: A stick or switch used among some American Indians in making or
counting a coup.
COUPURE
Cou*pure" (k-pr"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couper to cut.] (Fort.)
Defn: A passage cut through the glacis to facilitate sallies by the
besieged. Wilhelm.
COURAGE
Cour"age (kr"j;48), n. Etym: [OE. corage heart, mind, will, courage,
OF. corage, F. courage, fr. a LL. derivative of L. cor heart. See
Heart.]
1. The heart; spirit; temper; disposition. [Obs.]
So priketh hem nature in here corages. Chaucer.
My lord, cheer up your spirits; our foes are nigh, and this soft
courage makes your followers faint. Shak.
2. Heart; inclination; desire; will. [Obs.] Chaucer.
I'd such a courage to do him good. Shak.
3. That quality of mind which enables one to encounter danger and
difficulties with firmness, or without fear, or fainting of heart;
valor; boldness; resolution.
The king-becoming graces . . . Devotion, patience, courage,
fortitude, I have no relish of them. Shak.
Courage that grows from constitution often forsakes a man when he has
occasion for it. Addison.
Syn.
-- Heroism; bravery; intrepidity; valor; gallantry; daring;
firmness; hardihood; boldness; dauntlessness; resolution. See
Heroism.
-- Courage, Bravery, Fortitude, Intrepidity, Gallantry, Valor.
Courage is that firmness of spirit and swell of soul which meets
danger without fear. Bravery is daring and impetuous courage, like
that of one who has the reward continually in view, and displays his
courage in daring acts. Fortitude has often been styled "passive
courage," and consist in the habit of encountering danger and
enduring pain with a steadfast and unbroken spirit. Valor is courage
exhibited in war, and can not be applied to single combats; it is
never used figuratively. Intrepidity is firm, unshaken courage.
Gallantry is adventurous courage, which courts danger with a high and
cheerful spirit. A man may show courage, fortitude, or intrepidity in
the common pursuits of life, as well as in war. Valor, bravery, and
gallantry are displayed in the contest of arms. Valor belongs only to
battle; bravery may be shown in single combat; gallantry may be
manifested either in attack or defense; but in the latter ease, the
defense is usually turned into an attack.
COURAGE
Cour"age, v. t.
Defn: To inspire with courage. [Obs.]
Paul writeth unto Timothy . . . to courage him. Tyndale.
COURAGEOUS
Cour*a"geous (kr-"js), a. Etym: [F. courageux.]
Defn: Possessing, or characterized by, courage; brave; bold.
With this victory, the women became most courageous and proud, and
the men waxed . . . fearful and desperate. Stow.
Syn.
-- Gallant; brave; bold; daring; valiant; valorous; heroic;
intrepid; fearless; hardy; stout; adventurous; enterprising. See
Gallant.
COURAGEOUSLY
Cour*a"geous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a courageous manner.
COURAGEOUSNESS
Cour*a"geous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being courageous; courage.
COURANT
Cou*rant" (k-rnt"), a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of courir to run, L.
currere. Cf. Current.] (Her.)
Defn: Represented as running; -- said of a beast borne in a coat of
arms.
COURANT
Cou*rant" (k-rnt"), n. Etym: [F. courante, fr. courant, p. pr.]
1. A piece of music in triple time; also, a lively dance; a coranto.
2. A circulating gazette of news; a newspaper.
COURANTO
Cou*ran"to (-rn"t), n.
Defn: A sprightly dance; a coranto; a courant.
COURAP
Cou*rap" (k-rp), n. (Med.)
Defn: A skin disease, common in India, in which there is perpetual
itching and eruption, esp. of the groin, breast, armpits, and face.
COURB
Courb (krb), a. Etym: [F. courbe, fr. L. curvus. See Curve, a.]
Defn: Curved; rounded. [Obs.]
Her neck is short, her shoulders courb. Gower.
COURB
Courb (krb), v. i. Etym: [F. courber. See Curs.]
Defn: To bend; to stop; to bow. [Obs.]
Then I courbed on my knees. Piers Plowman.
COURBARIL
Cour"ba*ril (kr"b-rl), n. Etym: [F. courbaril, from a South American
word.]
Defn: See Animé, n.
COURCHE
Courche (krsh), n. Etym: [Cf. Kerchief.]
Defn: A square piece of linen used formerly by women instead of a
cap; a kerchief. [Scot.] [Written also curch.] Jamieson.
COURIER
Cou"ri*er (k"r-r), n. Etym: [F. courrier, fr. courre, courir, to run,
L. currere. See Course, Current.]
1. A messenger sent with haste to convey letters or dispatches,
usually on public busuness.
The wary Bassa . . . by speedy couriers, advertised Solyman of the
enemy's purpose. Knolles.
2. An attendant on travelers, whose business it is to make
arrangements for their convenience at hotels and on the way.
COURLAN
Cour"lan (kr"ln), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird, of the genus Aramus, allied to the
rails.
COURSE
Course (krs), n. Etym: [F. cours, course, L. cursus, fr. currere to
run. See Current.]
1. The act of moving from one point to another; progress; passage.
And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais.
Acts xxi. 7.
2. THe ground or path traversed; track; way.
The same horse also run the round course at Newmarket. Pennant.
3. Motion, considered as to its general or resultant direction or to
its goal; line progress or advance.
A light by which the Argive squadron steers Their silent course to
Ilium's well known shore. Dennham.
Westward the course of empire takes its way. Berkeley.
4. Progress from point to point without change of direction; any part
of a progress from one place to another, which is in a straight line,
or on one direction; as, a ship in a long voyage makes many courses;
a course measured by a surveyor between two stations; also, a
progress without interruption or rest; a heat; as, one course of a
race.
5. Motion considered with reference to manner; or derly progress;
procedure in a certain line of thought or action; as, the course of
an argument.
The course of true love never did run smooth. Shak.
6. Customary or established sequence of evants; re currence of events
according to natural laws.
By course of nature and of law. Davies.
Day and night, Seedtime and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Shall hold
their course. Milton.
7. Method of procedure; manner or way of conducting; conduct;
behavior.
My lord of York commends the plot and the general course of the
action. Shak.
By perseverance in the course prescribed. Wodsworth.
You hold your course without remorse. Tennyson.
8. A series of motions or acts arranged in order; a succession of
acts or practices connectedly followed; as, a course of medicine; a
course of lectures on chemistry.
9. The succession of one to another in office or duty; order; turn.
He appointed . . . the courses of the priests 2 Chron. viii. 14.
10. That part of a meal served at one time, with its accompaniments.
He [Goldsmith] wore fine clothes, gave dinners of several courses,
paid court to venal beauties. Macualay.
11. (Arch.)
Defn: A continuous level range of brick or stones of the same height
throughout the face or faces of a building. Gwilt.
12. (Naut.)
Defn: The lowest sail on any mast of a square-rigged vessel; as, the
fore course, main course, etc.
13. pl. (Physiol.)
Defn: The menses. In course, in regular succession.
-- Of course, by consequence; as a matter of course; in regular or
natural order.
-- In the course of, at same time or times during. "In the course of
human events." T. Jefferson.
Syn.
-- Way; road; route; passage; race; series; succession; manner;
method; mode; career; progress.
COURSE
Course, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coursed (krst)); p. pr. & vb. n.
Coursing.]
1. To run, hunt, or chase after; to follow hard upon; to pursue.
We coursed him at the heels. Shak.
2. To cause to chase after or pursue game; as, to course greyhounds
after deer.
3. To run through or over.
The bounding steed courses the dusty plain. Pope.
COURSE
Course, v. i.
1. To run as in a race, or in hunting; to pursue the sport of
coursing; as, the sportsmen coursed over the flats of Lancashire.
2. To move with speed; to race; as, the blood courses through the
veins. Shak.
COURSED
Coursed (krst), a.
1. Hunted; as, a coursed hare.
2. Arranged in courses; as, coursed masonry.
COURSER
Cours"er (krs"r), n. Etym: [F. coursier.]
1. One who courses or hunts.
leash is a leathern thong by which . . . a courser leads his
greyhound. Hanmer.
2. A swift or spirited horse; a racer or a war horse; a charger.
[Poetic.] Pope.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A grallatorial bird of Europe (Cursorius cursor), remarkable
for its speed in running. Sometimes, in a wider sense, applied to
running birds of the Ostrich family.
COURSEY
Cour"sey (kr"s), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. corsie, coursie, passage way to
the stern. See Course, n. ] (Naut.)
Defn: A space in the galley; a part of the hatches. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
COURSING
Cours"ing (krs"ng), n.
Defn: The pursuit or running game with dogs that follow by sight
instead of by scent.
In coursing of a deer, or hart, with greyhounds. Bacon
COURT
Court (krt), n. Etym: [OF. court, curt, cort, F. co, LL. cortis, fr.
L. cohors, cors, chors, gen. cohortis, cortis, chortis, an inclosure,
court, thing inclosed, crowd, throng; co- + a root akin to Gr.
garden, yard, orchard. See Yard, and cf. Cohort, Curtain.]
1. An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the
walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening
from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.
The courts the house of our God. Ps. cxxxv. 2.
And round the cool green courts there ran a row Cf cloisters.
Tennyson.
Goldsmith took a garret in a miserable court. Macualay.
2. The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or ether
dignitary; a palace.
Attends the emperor in his royal court. Shak.
This our court, infected with their manners, Shows like a riotous
inn. Shak.
3. The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a
sovereign or person high in aithority; all the surroundings of a
sovereign in his regal state.
My lord, there is a nobleman of the court at door would speak with
you. Shak.
Love rules the court, the camp, the grove. Sir. W. Scott.
4. Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a
court.
The princesses held their court within the fortres. Macualay.
5. Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address
designed to gain favor; courtliness of manners; civility; compliment;
flattery.
No solace could her paramour intreat Her once to show, ne court, nor
dalliance. Spenser.
I went to make my court to the Dike and Duches of Newcastle. Evelyn.
6. (Law)
(a) The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.
(b) The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the
appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an
official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of
judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial
of causes.
(c) A tribunal established for the administration of justice.
(d) The judge or judges; as distinguished from the counsel or jury,
or both.
Most heartily I do beseech the court To give the judgment. Shak.
7. The session of a judicial assembly.
8. Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.
9. A place arranged for playing the game of tennis; also, one of the
divisions of a tennis court. Christian court, the English
ecclesiastical courts in the aggregate, or any one of them.
-- Court breeding, education acquired at court.
-- Court card. Same as Coat card.
-- Court circular, one or more paragraphs of news respecting the
sovereign and the royal family, together with the proceedings or
movements of the court generally, supplied to the newspapers by an
officer specially charged with such duty. [Eng.] Edwards.
-- Court day, a day on which a court sits to administer justice.
-- Court dress, the dress prescribed for appearance at the court of
a sovereign.
-- Court fool, a buffoon or jester, formerly kept by princes and
nobles for their amusement.
-- Court guide, a directory of the names and adresses of the
nobility and gentry in a town.
-- Court hand, the hand or manner of writing used in records and
judicial proceedings. Shak.
-- Court lands (Eng. Law), lands kept in demesne, -- that is, for
the use of the lord and his family.
-- Court marshal, one who acts as marshal for a court.
-- Court party, a party attached to the court.
-- Court rolls, the records of a court. SeeRoll.
-- Court in banc, or Court in bank, The full court sitting at its
regular terms for the hearing of arguments upon questions of law, as
distinguished from a sitting at nisi prius.
-- Court of Arches, audience, etc. See under Arches, Audience, etc.
-- Court of Chancery. See Chancery, n.
-- Court of Common pleas. (Law) See Common pleas, under Common.
-- Court of Equity. See under Equity, and Chancery.
-- Court of Inquiry (Mil.) , a court appointed to inquire into and
report on some military matter, as the conduct of an officer.
-- Court of St. James, the usual designation of the British Court; -
- so called from the old palace of St. James, which is used for the
royal receptions, levees, and drawing-rooms.
-- The court of the Lord, the temple at Jerusalem; hence, a church,
or Christian house of worship.
-- General Court, the legislature of a State; -- so called from
having had, in the colonial days, judical power; as, the General
Court of Massachusetts. [U.S.] -- To pay one's court, to seek to gain
favor by attentions. "Alcibiades was assiduous in paying his court to
Tissaphernes." Jowett.
-- To put out of court, to refuse further judicial hearing.
COURT
Court, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Courted; p. pr. & vb. n. Courting.]
1. To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try
to ingratiate one's self with.
By one person, hovever, Portland was still assiduously courted.
Macualay.
2. To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to
woo.
If either of you both love Katharina . . . leave shall you have to
court her at your pleasure. Shak.
3. To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.
They might almost seem to have courted the crown of martyrdem.
Prescott.
Guilt and misery . . . court privacy and silitude. De Quincey.
4. To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.
A well-worn pathway courted us To one green wicket in a privet hedge.
Tennyson.
COURT
Court, v. i.
1. To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting.
COURT-BARON
Court"-bar`on (-br`n), n. (Law)
Defn: An inferior court of civil jurisdiction, attached to a manor,
and held by the steward; a baron's court; -- now fallen into disuse.
COURTBRED
Court"bred` (-brd`), a.
Defn: Bred, or educated, at court; polished; courtly.
COURT-CRAFT
Court"-craft` (krt"krft`), n.
Defn: The artifices, intrigues, and plottings, at courts.
COURT-CUPBOARD
Court"-cup`board (-kb`brd), n.
Defn: A movable sideboard or buffet, on which plate and other
articles of luxury were displayed on special ocasions. [Obs.]
A way with the joint stools, remove the court-cupboard, look to the
plate. Shak.
COURTELLE
Courtelle n.
Defn: a wool-like fabric.
[WordNet 1.5]
COURTEOUS
Cour"te*ous (kr"t-s; 277), a. Etym: [OE. cortais, corteis, cortois,
rarely corteous, OF. corties, corteis, F. courtois. See Court.]
Defn: Of courtlike manners; pertaining to, or exxpressive of,
courtesy; characterized by courtesy; civil; obliging; well bred;
polite; affable; complaisant.
A patient and courteous bearing. Prescott.
His behavior toward his people is grave and courteous. Fuller.
COURTEOUSLY
Cour"te*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a courteous manner.
COURTEOUSNESS
Cour"te*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being courteous; politeness; courtesy.
COURTEPY
Cour"te*py (kr"t-p), n. Etym: [D. kort short + pije a coarse cloth.]
Defn: A short coat of coarse cloth. [Obs.]
Full threadbare was his overeste courtepy. Chaucer.
COURTER
Court"er (krt"r), n.
Defn: One who courts; one who plays the lover, or who solicits in
marriage; one who flatters and cajoles. Sherwood.
COURTESAN
Cour"te*san (kr"t-zn; 277), n. Etym: [F. courtisane, fr. courtisan
courtier, It. cortigiano; or directly fr. It. cortigiana, or Sp.
cortesana. See Court.]
Defn: A woman who prostitutes herself for hire; a prostitute; a
harlot.
Lasciviously decked like a courtesan. Sir H. Wotton.
COURTESANSHIP
Cour"te*san*ship, n.
Defn: Harlotry.
COURTESY
Cour"te*sy (kr"t-s), n.; pl. Courtesies (-s. Etym: [OE. cortaisie,
corteisie, courtesie, OF. curteisie, cortoisie, OF. curteisie,
cortoisie, F. courtoisie, fr. curteis, corteis. See Courteous.]
1. Politeness; civility; urbanity; courtliness.
And trust thy honest-offered courtesy, With oft is sooner found in
lowly sheds, With smoky rafters, than in tapestry walls And courts of
princes, where it first was named, And yet is most pretended. Milton.
Pardon me, Messer Claudio, if once more I use the ancient courtesies
of speech. Longfellow.
2. An act of civility or respect; an act of kindness or favor
performed with politeness.
My lord, for your many courtesies I thank you. Shak.
3. Favor or indulgence, as distinguished from right; as, a title
given one by courtesy. Courtesy title, a title assumed by a person,
or popularly conceded to him, to which he has no valid claim; as, the
courtesy title of Lord prefixed to the names of the younger sons of
noblemen.
Syn.
-- Politiness; urbanity; civility; complaisance; affability;
courteousness; elegance; refinement; courtliness; good breeding. See
Politeness.
COURTESY
Courte"sy (krt"s), n. Etym: [See the preceding word.]
Defn: An act of civility, respect, or reverence, made by women,
consisting of a slight depression or dropping of the body, with
bending of the kness. [Written also curtsy.]
The lady drops a courtesy in token of obedience, and the ceremony
proceeds as usual. Golgsmith.
COURTESY
Courte"sy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Courtesied (-sd);; p. pr. & vb. n.
Courtesyng.]
Defn: To make a respectful salutation or movement of respect; esp.
(with reference to women), to bow the body slightly, with bending of
the knes.
COURTESY
Courte"sy, v. t.
Defn: To treat with civility. [Obs.]
COURTHOUSE
Court"house`, n.
1. A house in which established courts are held, or a house
appropriated to courts and public meetings. [U.S.]
2. A county town; -- so called in Virginia and some others of the
Southern States.
Providence, the county town of Fairfax, is unknown by that name, and
passes as Fairfax Court House. Barlett.
COURTIER
Court"ier (krt"yr), n. Etym: [From Court.]
1. One who is in attendance at the court of a prince; one who has an
appointment at court.
You know I am no courtier, nor versed in state affairs. Bacon.
This courtier got a frigate, and that a company. Macualay.
2. One who courts or solicits favor; one who flatters.
There was not among all our princes a greater courtier of the people
than Richard III. Suckling.
COURTIERY
Court"ier*y (-), n.
Defn: The manners of a courtier; courtliness. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
COURT-LEET
Court"-leet` (-lt`), n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A court of record held once a year, in a particular hundred,
lordship, or manor, before the steward of the leet. Blackstone.
COURTLIKE
Court"like` (-lk`), a.
Defn: After the manner of a court; elegant; polite; courtly.
COURTLINESS
Court"li*ness (-l-ns), n. Etym: [From Courtly.]
Defn: The quality of being courtly; elegance or dignity of manners.
COURTLING
Court"ling (-lng), n. Etym: [Court + -ling.]
Defn: A sycophantic courtier. B. Jonson.
COURTLY
Court"ly (-l), a. Etym: [From Court.]
1. Relating or belonging to a court.
2. Elegant; polite; courtlike; flattering.
In courtly company or at my beads. Shak.
3. Disposed to favor the great; favoring the policy or party of the
court; obsequious. Macualay.
COURTLY
Court"ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of courts; politely; gracefully; elegantly.
They can produce nothing so courtly writ. Dryden
COURT-MARTIAL
Court`-mar"tial (krt`mr"shal), n.; pl. Courts-martial (k.
Defn: A court consisting of military or naval officers, for the trial
of one belonging to the army or navy, or of offenses against military
or naval law.
COURT-MARTIAL
Court`-mar"tial, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Court-martialed (-shald); p. pr.
& vb. n. Court-martialing.]
Defn: To subject to trial by a court-martial.
COURT-PLASTER
Court"-plas`ter (krt"pls`tr), n.
Defn: Sticking plaster made by coating taffeta or silk on one side
with some adhesive substance, commonly a mixture of isinglass and
glycerin.
COURTSHIP
Court"ship (krt"shp), n.
1. The act of paying court, with the intent to solicit a favor.
Swift.
2. The act of wooing in love; solicitation of woman to marriage.
This method of courtship, [by which] both sides are prepared for all
the matrimonial adventures that are to follow. Goldsmith.
3. Courtliness; elegance of manners; courtesy. [Obs.]
Trim gallants, full of courtship and of state. Shak.
4. Court policy; the character of a courtier; artifice of a court;
court-craft; finesse. [Obs.]
She [the Queen] being composed of courtship and Popery. Fuller.
COURT TENNIS
Court" ten"nis (krt" tn"ns).
Defn: See under Tennis.
COURTYARD
Court"yard (krt"yrd`), n.
Defn: A court or inclosure attached to a house.
COUSCOUS
Cous"cous` (ks"ks`), n.
Defn: A kind of food used by the natives of Western Africa, made of
millet flour with flesh, and leaves of the baobab; -- called also
lalo.
COUSCOUSOU
Cous`cou*sou" (ks`k-s"), n.
Defn: A favorite dish in Barbary. See Couscous.
COUSIN
Cous"in (kz"'n), n. Etym: [F. cousin, LL. cosinus, cusinus, contr.
from L. consobrinus the child of a mother's sister, cousin; con- +
sobrinus a cousin by the mother's side, a form derived fr. soror
(forsosor) sister. See Sister, and cf. Cozen, Coz.]
1. One collaterally related more remotely than a brother or sister;
especially, the son or daughter of an uncle or aunt.
Note: The children of brothers and sisters are usually denominated
first cousins, or cousins-german. In the second generation, they are
called second cousins. See Cater-cousin, and Quater-cousin.
Thou art, great lord, my father's sister's son, A cousin-german to
great Priam's seed. Shak.
2. A title formerly given by a king to a nobleman, particularly to
those of the council. In English writs, etc., issued by the crown, it
signifies any earl.
My noble lords and cousins, all, good morrow. Shak.
COUSIN
Cous"in, n.
Defn: Allied; akin. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COUSINAGE
Cous"in*age (-j), n. Etym: [F. cousinage, OF., also, cosinage. Cf.
Cosinage, Cozenage.]
Defn: Relationship; kinship. [Obs.] Wyclif.
COUSIN-GERMAN
Cous"in-ger"man (-jr"man), n. Etym: [Cousin + german closely akin.]
Defn: A first cousin. See Note under Cousin, 1.
COUSINHOOD
Cous"in*hood (-hd), n.
Defn: The state or condition of a cousin; also, the collective body
of cousins; kinsfolk.
COUSINLY
Cous"in*ly, a.
Defn: Like or becoming a cousin.
COUSINRY
Cous"in*ry (kz"'n-r), n.
Defn: A body or collection of cousins; the whole number of persons
who stand in the relation of cousins to a given person or persons.
COUSINSHIP
Cous"in*ship, n.
Defn: The relationship of cousins; state of being cousins;
cousinhood. G. Eliot.
COUSSINET
Cous"si*net` (ks"s-nt`), n. Etym: [F., dim. of coussin cushion. See
Cushionet.] (Arch.)
(a) A stone placed on the impost of a pier for receiving the first
stone of an arch.
(b) That part of the Ionic capital between the abacus and quarter
round, which forms the volute. Gwilt.
COUTEAU
Cou*teau" (k-t"), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A knife; a dagger.
COUTH
Couth (kth), imp. & p. p. of Can. Etym: [See Can, and cf. Uncouth.]
Defn: Could; was able; knew or known; understood. [Obs.]
Above all other one Daniel He loveth, for he couth well Divine, that
none other couth; To him were all thing couth, As he had it of God's
grace. Gower.
COUVADE
Cou`vade" (k`vd"), n. Etym: [F., fr. couver. See Covey.]
Defn: A custom, among certain barbarous tribes, that when a woman
gives birth to a child her husband takes to his bed, as if ill.
The world-wide custom of the couvade, where at childbirth the husband
undergoes medical treatment, in many cases being put to bed for days.
Tylor.
COUVEUSE
Cou`veuse", n. [F.] (Med.)
Defn: An incubator for sickly infants, esp. those prematurely born.
COVARIANT
Co*va"ri*ant (k-v"r-ant), n. (Higher Alg.)
Defn: A function involving the coefficients and the variables of a
quantic, and such that when the quantic is lineally transformed the
same function of the new variables and coefficients shall be equal to
the old function multiplied by a factor. An invariant is a like
function involving only the coefficients of the quantic.
COVE
Cove (kv), n. Etym: [AS. cofa room; akin to G. koben pigsty, orig.,
hut, Icel kofi hut, and perh. to E. cobalt.]
1. A retired nook; especially, a small, sheltered inlet, creek, or
bay; a recess in the shore.
Vessels which were in readiness for him within secret coves and
nooks. Holland.
2. A strip of prairie extending into woodland; also, a recess in the
side of a mountain. [U.S.]
3. (Arch.)
(a) A concave molding.
(b) A member, whose section is a concave curve, used especially with
regard to an inner roof or ceiling, as around a skylight.
COVE
Cove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coved (kvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Coving.]
(Arch.)
Defn: To arch over; to build in a hollow concave form; to make in the
form of a cove.
The mosques and other buildings of the Arabians are rounded into
domes and coved roofs. H. Swinburne.
Coved ceiling, a ceiling, the part of which next the wail is
constructed in a cove.
-- Coved vault, a vault composed of four coves meeting in a central
point, and therefore the reverse of a groined vault.
COVE
Cove, v. t. Etym: [CF. F. couver, It. covare. See Covey.]
Defn: To brood, cover, over, or sit over, as birds their eggs. [Obs.]
Not being able to cove or sit upon them [eggs], she [the female
tortoise] bestoweth them in the gravel. Holland.
COVE
Cove, n. Etym: [A gypsy word, covo that man, covi that woman.]
Defn: A boy or man of any age or station. [Slang]
There's a gentry cove here. Wit's Recreations (1654).
Now, look to it, coves, that all the beef and drink Be not filched
from us. Mrs. Browning.
COVELLINE; COVELLITE
Co*vel"line (k-vl"ln), Co*vel"lite (-lt), n. Etym: [After Covelli,
the discoverer.] (Min.)
Defn: A native sulphide of copper, occuring in masses of a dark blue
color; -- hence called indigo copper.
COVENABLE
Cov"e*na*ble (kv"-n-b'l), a. Etym: [OF. covenable, F. convenable. See
Covenant.]
Defn: Fit; proper; suitable. [Obs.] "A covenable day." Wyclif (Mark
vi. 21).
COVENABLY
Cov"e*na*bly (kv"-n-bly), adv.
Defn: Fitly; suitably. [Obs.] "Well and covenably." Chaucer.
COVENANT
Cov"e*nant (kv"-nant), n. Etym: [OF. covenant, fr. F. & OF. convenir
to agree, L. convenire. See Convene.]
1. A mutual agreement of two or more persons or parties, or one of
the stipulations in such an agreement.
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant. 1 Sam. xviiii. 3.
Let there be covenants drawn between us. Shak.
If we conclude a peace, It shall be with such strict and severe
covenants As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby. Shak.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: An agreement made by the Scottish Parliament in 1638, and by
the English Parliament in 1643, to preserve the reformed religion in
Scotland, and to extirpate popery and prelacy; -- usually called the
"Solemn League and Covenant."
He [Wharton] was born in the days of the Covenant, and was the heir
of a covenanted house. Macualay.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: The promises of God as revealed in the Scriptures, conditioned
on certain terms on the part of man, as obedience, repentance, faith,
etc.
I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after
thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God
unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. xvii. 7.
4. A solemn compact between members of a church to maintain its
faith, discipline, etc.
5. (Law)
(a) An undertaking, on sufficient consideration, in writing and under
seal, to do or to refrain from some act or thing; a contract; a
stipulation; also, the document or writing containing the terms of
agreement.
(b) A form of action for the violation of a promise or contract under
seal.
Syn.
-- Agreement; contract; compact; bargain; arrangement; stipulation.
-- Covenant, Contract, Compact, Stipulation. These words all denote
a mutual agreement between two parties. Covenant is frequently used
in a religious sense; as, the covenant of works or of grace; a church
covenant; the Solemn League and Covenant. Contract is the word most
used in the business of life. Crabb and Taylor are wrong in saying
that a contract must always be in writing. There are oral and implied
contracts as well as written ones, and these are equally enforced by
law. In legal usage, the word covenant has an important place as
connected with contracts. A compact is only a stronger and more
solemn contract. The term is chiefly applied to political alliances.
Thus, the old Confederation was a compact between the States. Under
the present Federal Constitution, no individual State can, without
consent of Congress, enter into a compact with any other State or
foreign power. A stipulation is one of the articles or provisions of
a contract.
COVENANT
Cov"e*nant (kv"-nnt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Covenanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Covenanting.]
Defn: To agree (with); to enter into a formal agreement; to bind
one's self by contract; to make a stipulation.
Jupiter covenanted with him, that it should be hot or cold, wet or
dry, . . . as the tenant should direct. L'Estrange.
And they covenanted with him for thyrty pieces of silver. Matt. xxvi.
15.
Syn.
-- To agree; contract; bargain; stipulate.
COVENANT
Cov"e*nant, v. t.
Defn: To grant or promise by covenant.
My covenant of peace that I covenanted with you. Wyclif.
COVENANTEE
Cov`e*nan*tee" (kv`-nan-t"), n. (Law)
Defn: The person in whose favor a covenant is made.
COVENANTER
Cov"e*nant*er (kv"-nnt-r), n.
1. One who makes a covenant.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One who subscribed and defended the "Solemn League and
Covenant." See Covenant.
COVENANTING
Cov"e*nant*ing, a.
Defn: Belonging to a covenant. Specifically, belonging to the Scotch
Covenanters.
Be they covenanting traitors, Or the brood of false Argyle Aytoun.
COVENANTOR
Cov"e*nant*or` (-r`), n. (Law)
Defn: The party who makes a covenant. Burrill.
COVENOUS
Cov"e*nous (kv"-ns), a.
Defn: See Covinous, and Covin.
COVENT
Cov"ent (kv"ent), n. Etym: [OF. covent, F. couvent. See Convent.]
Defn: A convent or monastery. [Obs.] Bale. Covent Garden, a large
square in London, so called because originally it was the garden of a
monastery.
COVENTRY
Cov"en*try (kv"en-tr), n.
Defn: A town in the county of Warwick, England. To send to Coventry,
to exclude from society; to shut out from social intercourse, as for
ungentlemanly conduct.
-- Coventry blue, blue thread of a superior dye, made at Coventry,
England, and used for embroidery.
COVER
Cov"er (kv"r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered (-rd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Covering.] Etym: [OF. covrir, F. couvrir, fr. L. cooperire; co- +
operire to cover; probably fr. ob towards, over + the root appearing
in aperire to open. Cf. Aperient, Overt, Curfew.]
1. To overspread the surface of (one thing) with another; as, to
cover wood with paint or lacquer; to cover a table with a cloth.
2. To envelop; to clothe, as with a mantle or cloak.
And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throune. Milton.
All that beauty than doth cover thee. Shak.
3. To invest (one's self with something); to bring upon (one's self);
as, he covered himself with glory.
The powers that covered themselves with everlasting infamy by the
partition of Poland. Brougham.
4. To hide sight; to conceal; to cloak; as, the snemy were covered
from our sight by the woods.
A cloud covered the mount. Exod. xxiv. 15.
In vain shou striv'st to cover shame with shame. Milton.
5. To brood or sit on; to incubate.
While the hen is covering her eggs, the male . . . diverts her with
his songs. Addison.
6. To overwhelm; to spread over.
The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen. Ex.
xiv. 28.
7. To shelter, as from evil or danger; to protect; to defend; as, the
cavalry covered the retreat.
His calm and blameless life Does with substantial blessedness abound,
And the soft wings of peace cover him round. Cowley.
8. To remove from remembrance; to put away; to remit."Blessed is he
whose is covered." Ps. xxxii. 1.
9. To extend over; to be sufficient for; to comprehend, include, or
embrace; to account for or solve; to counterbalance; as, a mortgage
which fully covers a sum loaned on it; a law which covers all
possible cases of a crime; receipts than do not cover expenses.
10. To put the usual covering or headdress on.
Cover thy head . . . ; nay, prithee, be covered. Shak.
11. To copulate with (a female); to serve; as. a horse covers a mare;
-- said of the male. To cover ground or distance, to pass over; as,
the rider covered the ground in an hour.
-- To cover one's short contracts (Stock Exchange), to buy stock
when the market rises, as a dealer who has sold short does in order
to protect himself.
-- Covering party (Mil.), a detachment of troops sent for the
protection of another detachment, as of men working in the trenches.
-- To cover into, to transfer to; as, to cover into the treasury.
Syn.
-- To shelter; screen; shield; hide; overspread.
COVER
Cov"er (kv"r), n.
1. Anything which is laid, set, or spread, upon, about, or over,
another thing; an envelope; a lid; as, the cover of a book.
2. Anything which weils or conceals; a screen; disguise; a cloack.
"Under cover of the night." Macualay.
A hendsome cover for imperfections. Collier.
3. Shelter; protection; as, the troops fought under cover of the
batteries; the woods afforded a good cover.
Being compelled to lodge in the field . . . whilst his army was under
cover, they might be forced to retire. Clarendon.
4. (Huntig)
Defn: The woods, underbrush, etc., which shelter and conceal game;
covert; as, to beat a cover; to ride to cover.
5. That portion of a slate, tile, or shingle, which is hidden by the
overlap of the course above. Knight.
6. (Steam Engine)
Defn: The lap of a slide valve.
7. Etym: [Cf. F. couvert.]
Defn: A tablecloth, and the other table furniture; esp., the table
furniture for the use of one person at a meal; as, covers were laid
for fifty guests. To break cover, to start from a covert or lair; --
said of game.
-- Under cover, in an envelope, or within a letter; -- said of a
written message.
Letters . . . dispatched under cover to her ladyship. Thackeray.
COVER
Cov"er, v. i.
Defn: To spread a table for a meal; to prepare a banquet. [Obs.]
Shak.
COVERAGE
Cov"er*age, n.
Defn: The aggregate of risks covered by the terms of a contract of
insurance.
COVERCHIEF
Cov"er*chief (chf), n. Etym: [See Kerchef.]
Defn: A covering for the head. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COVERCLE
Cov"er*cle (kv"r-k'l), n. Etym: [OF. covercle, F. couvercle, fr. L.
coöperculum fr. coöperire. See cover]
Defn: A small cover; a lid. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
COVER CROP
Cov"er crop.
Defn: A catch crop planted, esp. in orchards. as a protection to the
soil in winter, as well as for the benefit of the soil when plowed
under in spring.
COVERED
Cov"ered (kv"rd), a.
Defn: Under cover; screened; sheltered; not exposed; hidden. Covered
way (Fort.), a corridor or banquette along the top of the
counterscarp and covered by an embankment whose slope forms the
glacis. It gives the garrisonn an open line of communication around
the works, and a standing place beyond the ditch. See Illust. of
Ravelin.
COVERER
Cov"er*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, covers.
COVERING
Cov"er*ing, n.
Defn: Anything which covers or conceals, as a roof, a screen, a
wrapper, clothing, etc.
Noah removed the covering of the ark. Gen. viii. 13.
They cause the naked to lodge without clothing, that they have no
covering in the cold. Job. xxiv. 7.
A covering over the well's mouth. 2 Sam. xvii. 19.
COVERLET
Cov"er*let (kv"r-lt), n. Etym: [F. couvre-lit; couvrir to cover + lit
bed, fr. L. lectus bed. See Cover.]
Defn: The uppermost cover of a bed or of any piece of furniture.
Lay her in lilies and in violets . . . And odored sheets and arras
coverlets. Spenser.
COVERLID
Cov"er*lid (-ld), n.
Defn: A coverlet.
All the coverlid was clocth of gold. Tennyson.
COVER-POINT
Cov"er-point` (-point!), n.
Defn: The fielder in the games of cricket and lacrosse who supports
"point."
COVERSED SINE
Co*versed" sine (k-vrst" sn`). Etym: [Co- (=co- in co- sine) + versed
sine.] (Geom.)
Defn: The versed sine of the complement of an arc or angle. See
Illust. of Functions.
COVER-SHAME
Cov"er-shame` (-shm`), n.
Defn: Something used to conceal infamy. [Obs.] Dryden.
COVERSIDE
Cov"er*side`, n.
Defn: A region of country having covers; a hunting country.
COVERT
Cov"ert (kv"rt), a. Etym: [OF. covert, F. couvert, p. p. of couvrir.
See Cover, v. t.]
1. Covered over; private; hid; secret; disguised.
How covert matters may be best disclosed. Shak.
Whether of open war or covert guile. Milton
2. Sheltered; not open or exposed; retired; protected; as, a covert
nook. Wordsworth.
Of either side the green, to plant a covert alley. Bacon.
3. (Law)
Defn: Under cover, authority or protection; as, a feme covert, a
married woman who is considered as being under the protection and
control of her husband. Covert way, (Fort.) See Covered way, under
Covered.
Syn.
-- Hidden; secret; private; covered; disguised; insidious;
concealed. See Hidden.
COVERT
Cov"ert, n. Etym: [OF. See Covert, a.]
1. A place that covers and protects; a shelter; a defense.
A tabernacle . . . for a covert from storm. Is. iv. 6.
The highwayman has darted from his covered by the wayside. Prescott.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. couverte.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the special feathers covering the bases of the quills of
the wings and tail of a bird. See Illust. of Bird.
COVERT BARON
Cov"ert bar`on (br`n). (Law)
Defn: Under the protection of a husband; married. Burrill.
COVERTLY
Cov"ert*ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; in private; insidiously.
COVERTNESS
Cov"ert*ness (kv"rt-ns), n.
Defn: Secrecy; privacy. [R.]
COVERTURE
Cov"er*ture (kv"r-tr; 135), n. Etym: [OF. coverture,F.couverture.]
1. Covering; shelter; defence; hiding.
Protected by walls or other like coverture. Woodward.
Beatrice, who even now Is couched in the woodbine coverture. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: The condition of a woman during marriage, because she is
considered under the cover, influence, power, and protection of her
husband, and therefore called a feme covert, or femme couverte.
COVET
Cov"et (kv"t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Covered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Coveting.] Etym: [OF. coveitier, covoitier, F. convoiter, from a
derivative fr. L. cupere to desire; cf. Skr. kup to become excited.
Cf. Cupidity.]
1. To wish for with eagerness; to desire possession of; -- used in a
good sen
Covet earnestly the best gifts. 1. Cor. xxii. 31.
If it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.
Shak.
2. To long for inordinately or unlawfully; to hanker after (something
forbidden).
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Ex. xx. 17.
Syn: To long for; desire; hanker after; crave.
COVET
Cov"et, v. i.
Defn: To have or indulge inordinate desire.
Which [money] while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith. 1 Tim. vi. 10.
COVETABLE
Cov"et*a*ble (kv"t--b'l), a.
Defn: That may be coveted; desirable.
COVETER
Cov"et*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who covets.
COVETISE
Cov"et*ise (-s), n. Etym: [OF. coveitise, F. convoitise. See Covet,
v. t. ]
Defn: Avarice. [Obs.] Spenser.
COVETIVENESS
Cov"et*ive*ness (-v-), n. (Phren.)
Defn: Acquisitiveness.
COVETOUS
Cov"et*ous (kv"t-s), a. Etym: [OF. coveitos, F. convoiteux. See
Covet, v. t.]
1. Very desirous; eager to obtain; -- used in a good sense. [Archaic]
Covetous of wisdom and fair virtue. Shak.
Covetous death bereaved us all, To aggrandize one funeral. Emerson.
2. Inordinately desirous; excessively eager to obtain and possess
(esp. money); avaricious; -- in a bad sense.
The covetous person lives as if the world were madealtogether for
him, and not he for the world. South.
Syn.
-- Avaricious; parsimonious; penurious; misrely; niggardly. See
Avaricious.
COVETOUSLY
Cov"et*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a covetous manner.
COVETOUSNESS
Cov"et*ous*ness, n.
1. Strong desire. [R.]
When workmen strive to do better than well, They do confound their
skill in covetousness. Shak.
2. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some
supposed good; excessive desire for riches or money; -- in a bad
sense.
Covetousness, by a greed of getting more, deprivess itself of the
true end of getting. Sprat.
Syn.
-- Avarice; cupidity; eagerness.
COVEY
Cov"ey (kv"), n. Etym: [OF. cov, F. couv, fr. cover, F. couver, to
sit or brood on, fr. L. cubare to lie down; cf. E. incubate. See
Cubit, and cf. Cove to brood.]
1. A brood or hatch of birds; an old bird with her brood of young;
hence, a small flock or number of birds together; -- said of game;
as, a covey of partridges. Darwin.
2. A company; a bevy; as, a covey of girls. Addison.
COVEY
Cov"ey, v. i.
Defn: To brood; to incubate. [Obs.]
[Tortoises] covey a whole year before they hatch. Holland.
COVEY
Cov"ey, n.
Defn: A pantry. [Prov. Eng.] Parker.
COVIN
Cov"in (kv"n), n. Etym: [OF. covine, covaine, fr. covenir to agree.
See Covenant.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A collusive agreement between two or more persons to prejudice
a third.
2. Deceit; fraud; artifice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
COVING
Cov"ing, n. (Arch.)
(a) A cove or series of coves, as the concaved surface under the
overhang of a projecting upper story.
(b) The splayed jambs of a flaring fireplace.
COVINOUS
Cov"in*ous (kv"n-s), a. (Law)
Defn: Deceitful; collusive; fraudulent; dishonest.
COW
Cow (kou), n. Etym: [See Cowl a hood.]
Defn: A chimney cap; a cowl
COW
Cow, n.; pl. Cows (kouz); old pl. Kine (k. Etym: [OE. cu, cou, AS. c;
akin to D. koe, G. kuh, OHG. kuo, Icel. k, Dan. & Sw. ko, L. bos ox,
cow, Gr. g. sq. root223. Cf. Beef, Bovine, Bucolic, Butter, Nylghau.]
1. The mature female of bovine animals.
2. The female of certain large mammals, as whales, seals, etc.
COW
Cow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.]
Etym: [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf.
Cuff, v. t.]
Defn: To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to
overawe.
To vanquish a people already cowed. Shak.
THe French king was cowed. J. R. Green.
COW
Cow, n. Etym: [Prob. from same root as cow, v.t.] (Mining)
Defn: A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a
chock. Knight.
COWAGE
Cow"age (kou1j), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cowhage.
COWALKER
Co`walk"er, n.
Defn: A phantasmic or "astral" body deemed to be separable from the
physical body and capable of acting independently; a doppelgänger.
COWAN
Cow"an (kou"an), n. Etym: [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.]
Defn: One who works as a mason without having served a regular
apprenticeship. [Scot.]
Note: Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.
COWARD
Cow"ard (kou"rd), a. Etym: [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F.
couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of
cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare,
or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs;
-- said of a lion.
2. Destitute of courage; timid; cowardly.
Fie, coward woman, and soft-hearted wretch. Shak.
3. Belonging to a coward; proceeding from, or expressive of, base
fear or timidity.
He raised the house with loud and coward cries. Shak.
Invading fears repel my coward joy. Proir.
COWARD
Cow"ard, n.
Defn: A person who lacks courage; a timid or pusillanimous person; a
poltroon.
A fool is nauseous, but a coward worse. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Craven; poltroon; dastard.
COWARD
Cow"ard, v. t.
Defn: To make timoroys; to frighten. [Obs.]
That which cowardeth a man's heart. Foxe.
COWARDICE
Cow"ard*ice (-s), n. Etym: [F. couardise, fr. couard. See Coward.]
Defn: Want of courage to face danger; extreme timidity;
pusillanimity; base fear of danger or hurt; lack of spirit.
The cowardice of doing wrong. Milton.
Moderation was despised as cowardice. Macualay.
COWARDIE
Cow"ard*ie (kou"rd-), n. Etym: [OF. couardie.]
Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.]
COWARDISH
Cow"ard*ish, a.
Defn: Cowardly. [Obs.] " A base and a cowardish mind." Robynson
(More's Utopia).
COWARDIZE
Cow"ard*ize (-, v. t.
Defn: To render cowardly. [Obs.]
God . . . cowardizeth . . . insolent spirits. Bp. Hall.
COWARDLINESS
Cow"ard*li*ness (-l-ns), n.
Defn: Cowardice.
COWARDLY
Cow"ard*ly, a.
1. Wanting courage; basely or weakly timid or fearful; pusillanimous;
spiritless.
The cowardly rascals that ran from the battle. Shak.
2. Proceeding from fear of danger or other consequences; befitting a
coward; dastardly; base; as, cowardly malignity. Macualay.
The cowardly rashness of those who dare not look danger in the face.
Burke.
Syn.
-- Timid; fearful; timorous; dastardly; pusillanimous; recreant;
craven; faint-hearted; chicken-hearted; white-livered.
COWARDLY
Cow"ard*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a coward. Spenser.
COWARDSHIP
Cow"ard*ship, n.
Defn: Cowardice. [Obs.] Shak.
COWBANE
Cow"bane` (kou"bn`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A poisonous umbelliferous plant; in England, the Cicuta virosa;
in the United States, the Cicuta maculata and the Archemora rigida.
See Water hemlock.
COWBERRY
Cow"ber`ry (-br`r), n.; pl. Cowberries (-r. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Vaccinium (V. Vitis-id), which bears acid red
berries which are sometimes used in cookery; -- locally called
mountain cranberry.
COWBIRD
Cow"bird` (-brd`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The cow blackbird (Molothrus ater), an American starling. Like
the European cuckoo, it builds no nest, but lays its eggs in the
nests of other birds; -- so called because frequently associated with
cattle.
COWBLAKES
Cow"blakes` (-blks`), n. pl.
Defn: Dried cow dung used as fuel.[Prov. Eng.] Simmonds.
COWBOY
Cow"boy` (-boi`), n.
1. A cattle herder; a drover; specifically, one of an adventurous
class of herders and drovers on the plains of the Western and
Southwestern United States.
2. One of the marauders who, in the Revolutionary War infested the
neutral ground between the American and British lines, and committed
depredations on the Americans.
COWCATCHER
Cow"catch`er (-kch`r), n.
Defn: A strong inclined frame, usually of wrought-iron bars, in front
of a locomotive engine, for catching or throwing off obstructions on
a railway, as cattle; the pilot. [U.S.]
COWDIE
Cow"die (kou"d), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Kauri.
COWER
Cow"er (-r), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cowered (-rd);p. pr. & vb. n.
Cowering.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. kera to doze, liequiet, Sw. kura, Dan.
kure, G. kauern to cower, W. cwrian.]
Defn: To stoop by bending the knees; to crouch; to squat; hence, to
quail; to sink through fear.
Our dame sits cowering o'er a kitchen fire. Dryden.
Like falcons, cowering on the nest. Goldsmith.
COWER
Cow"er (kou"r), v. t.
Defn: To cherish with care. [Obs.]
COWFISH
Cow"fish` (-fch`), n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The grampus.
(b) A California dolphin (Tursiops Gillii).
(c) A marine plectognath fish (Ostracoin quadricorne, and allied
species), having two projections, like horns, in front; -- called
also cuckold, coffer fish, trunkfish.
COWHAGE
Cow"hage (kou"hj), n. Etym: [Cf. Hind. kaw, ko.] (Bot.)
Defn: A leguminous climbing plant of the genus Mucuna, having crooked
pods covered with sharp hairs, which stick to the fingers, causing
intolerable itching. The spiculæ are sometimes used in medicine as a
mechanical vermifuge. [Written also couhage, cowage, and cowitch.]
COWHEARTED
Cow"heart`ed (-hrt`d), a.
Defn: Cowardly.
The Lady Powis . . . patted him with her fan, and called him a
cowhearted fellow. R. North.
COWHERD
Cow"herd` (-hrd`), n. Etym: [AS. c; c cow + hyrde a herder.]
Defn: One whose occupation is to tend cows.
COWHIDE
Cow"hide` (-hd`), n.
1. The hide of a cow.
2. Leather made of the hide of a cow.
3. A coarse whip made of untanned leather.
COWHIDE
Cow"hide`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowhided; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowhiding.]
Defn: To flog with a cowhide.
COWISH
Cow"ish (kou"sh), a. Etym: [From Cow, v. t.]
Defn: Timorous; fearful; cowardly. [R.] Shak.
COWISH
Cow"ish, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Peucedanum Cous) with edible tuberous
roots, found in Oregon. [Written also cous.]
COWITCH
Cow"itch (kou"ch; 224), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cowhage.
COWL
Cowl (koul), n. Etym: [AS cuhle, cugle, cugele; cf. dial. G. kogel,
gugel, OF. coule, goule; all fr. LL. cuculla, cucullus, fr. L.
cucullus cap, hood; perh. akin to celare to conceal, cella cell. Cf.
Cucullate.]
1. A monk's hood; -- usually attached to the gown. The nname was also
applied to the hood and garment together.
What differ more, you cry, than crown and cowl Pope.
2. A cowl-shaped cap, commonly turning with the wind, used to improve
the draft of a chimney, ventilatingshaft, etc.
3. A wire cap for the smokestack of a locomotive.
COWL
Cowl, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. cuvele, cuvel, dim. of F. cuve tub, vat, fr.
L. cupa. See Cup.]
Defn: A vessel carried on a pole between two persons, for conveyance
of water. Johnson.
COWLED
Cowled (kould), a.
Defn: Wearing a cowl; hooded; as, a cowled monk. "That cowled
churchman." Emerson.
COWLEECH
Cow"leech` (kou"lch`), n. Etym: [2d cow + leech a physician.]
Defn: One who heals disease of cows; a cow doctor.
COWLEECHING
Cow"leech`ing, n.
Defn: Healing the distemper of cows.
COWLICK
Cow"lick` (-lk`), n.
Defn: A tuft of hair turned up or awry (usually over the forehead),
as if licked by a cow.
COWLIKE
Cow"like` (-lk`), a.
Defn: Resembling a cow.
With cowlike udders and with oxlike eyes. Pope.
COWLSTAFF
Cowl"staff` (koul"stf`), n. Etym: [Cowl a vessel + staff.]
Defn: A staff or pole on which a vessel is supported between two
persons. Suckling.
COWORKER
Co`work"er (k`wrk"r), n.
Defn: One who works with another; a co
COW PARSLEY
Cow" pars`ley (kou` prs`l). (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant of the genus Chærophyllum (C. temulum
and C. sylvestre).
COW PARSNIP
Cow" pars`nip (-np). (Bot.)
Defn: A coarse umbelliferous weed of the genus Heracleum (H.
sphondylium in England, and H. lanatum in America).
COWPEA
Cow"pea` (-p`), n.
Defn: The seed of one or more leguminous plants of the genus
Dolichos; also, the plant itself. Many varieties are cultivated in
the southern part of the United States.
COWPER'S GLANDS
Cow"per's glands` (kou"prz glndz`). Etym: [After the discoverer,
William Cowper, an English surgeon.] (Anat.)
Defn: Two small glands discharging into the male urethra.
COW-PILOT
Cow"-pi`lot (kou"p`lt), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsomely banded, coral-reef fish, of Florida and the West
Indies (Pomacentrus saxatilis); -- called also mojarra.
COWPOCK
Cow"pock` (-pk`), n.
Defn: See Cowpox. Dunglison.
COWPOX
Cow"pox` (--pks`), n. (Med.)
Defn: A pustular eruptive disease of the cow, which, when
communicated to the human system, as by vaccination, protects from
the smallpox; vaccinia; -- called also kinepox, cowpock, and
kinepock. Dunglison.
COWQUAKE
Cow"quake` (-kwk`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (Briza); quaking grass.
COWRIE
Cow"rie (-r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Kauri.
COWRIE; COWRY
Cow"rie Cow"ry (kou"r), n.; pl. Cowries (-r. Etym: [Hind. kaur.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine shell of the genus Cypræa.
Note: There are numerous species, many of them ornamental. Formerly
C. moneta and several other species were largely used as money in
Africa and some other countries, and they are still so used to some
extent. The value is always trifling, and varies at different places.
COWSLIP
Cow"slip` (-slp`), n. Etym: [AS. c, c, prob. orig., cow's droppings.
Cf. Slop, n.] (Bot.)
1. A common flower in England (Primula veris) having yellow blossoms
and appearing in early spring. It is often cultivated in the United
States.
2. In the United States, the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris),
appearing in wet places in early spring and often used as a pot herb.
It is nearer to a buttercup than to a true cowslip. See Illust. of
Marsh marigold. American cowslip (Bot.), a pretty flower of the West
(Dodecatheon Meadia), belonging to the same order (Primulaceæ) with
the English cowslip.
-- French cowslip (Bot.), bear's-ear (Primula Auricula).
COWSLIPPED
Cow"slipped` (-slpt`), a.
Defn: Adorned with cowslips. "Cowslipped lawns." Keats.
COW'S LUNGWORT
Cow's" lung"wort` (kouz" lng"wrt`).
Defn: Mullein.
COW TREE
Cow" tree` (kou" tr`). Etym: [Cf. SP. palo de vaca.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree (Galactodendron utile or Brosimum Galactodendron) of
South America, which yields, on incision, a nourishing fluid,
resembling milk.
COWWEED
Cow"weed" (-wEd`),, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Cow parsley.
COWWHEAT
Cow"wheat` (-hwt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A weed of the genus Melampyrum, with black seeds, found on
European wheatfields.
COX
Cox (kks), n. Etym: [OE. cokes. Cf. Coax.]
Defn: A coxcomb; a simpleton; a gull. [Obs.]
Go; you're a brainless cox, a toy, a fop. Beau. & Fl.
COXA
Cox"a (kks"), n. Etym: [L., the hip.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The first joint of the leg of an insect or crustacean.
COXALGIA; COXALGY
Cox*al"gi*a (-l"j-), Cox"al`gy (kks"l`j), n. Etym: [NL. coxalgia, fr.
L. coxa hip. + Gr. coxalgie.] (Med.)
Defn: Pain in the hip.
COXCOMB
Cox"comb` (kks"km`), n. Etym: [A corrupted spelling of cock's comb.]
1.
(a) A strip of red cloth notched like the comb of a cock, which
licensed jesters formerly wore in their caps.
(b) The cap itself.
2. The top of the head, or the head itself.
We will belabor you a little better, And beat a little more care into
your coxcombs. Beau & Fl.
3. A vain, showy fellow; a conceited, silly man, fond of display; a
superficial pretender to knowledge or accomplishments; a fop.
Fond to be seen, she kept a bevy Of powdered coxcombs at her levee.
Goldsmith.
Some are bewildered in the maze of schools, And some made coxcombs,
nature meant but fools. Pope.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several plants of different genera, but
particularly to Celosia cristata, or garden cockscomb. Same as
Cockscomb.
COXCOMBICAL
Cox*comb"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.
Defn: Befitting or indicating a coxcomb; like a coxcomb; foppish;
conceited.
-- Cox*comb"ic*al*ly, adv.
Studded all over in coxcombical fashion with little brass nails. W.
Irving.
COXCOMBLY
Cox"comb"ly (kks"km`l), a.
Defn: like a coxcomb. [Obs.] "You coxcombly ass, you!" Beau & Fl.
COXCOMBRY
Cox"comb`ry (-r), n.
Defn: The manners of a coxcomb; foppishness.
COXCOMICAL
Cox*com"ic*al (kks-km"-kal), a.
Defn: Coxcombical. [R.]
COXCOMICALLY
Cox*com"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Conceitedly. [R.]
COXSWAIN
Cox"swain` (kk"swn, Colloq. kk"s'n), n.
Defn: See Cockswain.
COY
Coy (koi), a. Etym: [OE. coi quiet, still, OF. coi, coit, fr.L.
quietus quiet, p. p. of quiescere to rest, quie rest; prob. akin to
E. while. See While, and cf. Quiet, Quit, Quite.]
1. Quiet; still. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Shrinking from approach or familiarity; reserved; bashful; shy;
modest; -- usually applied to women, sometimes with an implication of
coquetry.
Coy, and difficult to win. Cowper.
Coy and furtive graces. W. Irving.
Nor the coy maid, half willings to be pressed, Shall kiss the cup, to
pass it to the rest. Goldsmith.
3. Soft; gentle; hesitating.
Enforced hate, Instead of love's coy touch, shall rudely tear thee.
Shak.
Syn.
-- Shy; shriking; reserved; modest; bashful; backward; distant.
COY
Coy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Coyed (koid); p. pr. & vb. n. Coying.]
1. To allure; to entice; to decoy. [Obs.]
A wiser generation, who have the art to coy the fonder sort into
their nets. Bp. Rainbow.
2. To caress with the hand; to stroke.
Come sit thee down upon this flowery bed, While I thy amiable cheeks
do coy. Shak.
COY
Coy, v. i.
1. To behave with reserve or coyness; to shrink from approach or
familiarity. [Obs.]
Thus to coy it, With one who knows you too! Rowe.
2. To make difficulty; to be unwilling. [Obs.]
If he coyed To hear Cominius speak, I 'll keep at home. Shak.
COYISH
Coy"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat coy or reserved. Warner.
COYLY
Coy"ly, adv.
Defn: In a coy manner; with reserve.
COYNESS
Coy"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being coy; feigned o
When the kind nymph would coyness feign, And hides but to be found
again. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Reserve; shrinking; shyness; backwardness; modesty; bashfulness.
COYOTE
Coy"o*te (k"-t or k"t), n. Etym: [Spanish Amer., fr. Mexican coyotl.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found
in the western part of North America; -- called also prairie wolf.
Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.
COYOTE STATE
Coyote State.
Defn: South Dakota; -- a nickname.
COYOTILLO
Co`yo*til"lo, n. [Mex. Sp. dim. See Coyote.]
Defn: A low rhamnaceous shrub (Karwinskia humboldtiana) of the
southwestern United States and Mexico. Its berries are said to be
poisonous to the coyote.
COYPU
Coy"pu (koi"p), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American rodent (Myopotamus coypus), allied to the
beaver. It produces a valuable fur called nutria. [Written also
coypou.]
COYSTREL
Coys"trel (kois"trl), n.
Defn: Same as Coistril.
COZ
Coz (kz), n.
Defn: A contraction of cousin. Shak.
COZEN
Coz"en (kz"'n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cozened (-'nd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cozening (-'n-ng). ] Etym: [From cousin, hence, literally, to deceive
through pretext of relationship, F. cousiner.]
Defn: To cheat; to defrand; to beguile; to deceive, usually by small
arts, or in a pitiful way.
He had cozened the world by fine phrases. Macualay.
Children may be cozened into a knowledge of the letters. Locke.
Goring loved no man so well but that he would cozen him, and expose
him to public mirth for having been cozened. Clarendon.
COZEN
Coz"en, v. i.
Defn: To deceive; to cheat; to act deceitfully.
Some cogging,cozening slave. Shak.
COZENAGE
Coz"en*age (-j), n. Etym: [See Cozen, and cf. Cousinage.]
Defn: The art or practice of cozening; artifice; fraud. Shak.
COZENER
Coz"en*er (kz"'n-r), n.
Defn: One who cheats or defrauds.
COZIER
Co*zier (k"zhr), n.
Defn: See Cosier.
COZILY
Co"zi*ly (k"z-l), adv.
Defn: Snugly; comfortably.
COZINESS
Co"zi*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being cozy.
COZY
Co"zy (k"z), a. [Compar. Cozier (-z-r); superl. Coziest.] Etym: [Cf.
Scot. cosie, cozie, prob. from Gael. cosach abounding in hollows, or
cosagach full of holes or crevices, snug, sheltered, from cos a
hollow, a crevice.]
1. Snug; comfortable; easy; contented. [Written also cosey and cosy.]
2. Etym: [Cf. F. causer to chat, talk.]
Defn: Chatty; talkative; sociable; familiar. [Eng.]
COZY
Co"zy, n. Etym: [See Cozy,a.]
Defn: A wadded covering for a teakettle or other vessel to keep the
contents hot.
CRAB
Crab (krb), n. Etym: [AS. crabba; akin to D. krab, G. krabbe, krebs,
Icel. krabbi, Sw. krabba, Dan. krabbe, and perh. to E. cramp. Cf.
Crawfish.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the brachyuran Crustacea. They are mostly marine, and
usually have a broad, short body, covered with a strong shell or
carapace. The abdomen is small and curled up beneath the body.
Note: The name is applied to all the Brachyura, and to certain
Anomura, as the hermit crabs. Formerly, it was sometimes applied to
Crustacea in general. Many species are edible, the blue crab of the
Atlantic coast being one of the most esteemed. The large European
edible crab is Cancer padurus. Soft-shelled crabs are blue crabs that
have recently cast their shells. See Cancer; also, Box crab, Fiddler
crab, Hermit crab, Spider crab, etc., under Box, Fiddler. etc.
2. The zodiacal constellation Cancer.
3. Etym: [See Crab, a.] (Bot.)
Defn: A crab apple; -- so named from its harsh taste.
When roasted crabs hiss in the bowl, Then nightly sings the staring
owl. Shak.
4. A cudgel made of the wood of the crab tree; a crabstick. [Obs.]
Garrick.
5. (Mech.)
(a) A movable winch or windlass with powerful gearing, used with
derricks, etc.
(b) A form of windlass, or geared capstan, for hauling ships into
dock, etc.
(c) A machine used in ropewalks to stretch the yarn.
(d) A claw for anchoring a portable machine. Calling crab. (Zoöl.)
See Fiddler., n., 2.
-- Crab apple, a small, sour apple, of several kinds; also, the tree
which bears it; as, the European crab apple (Pyrus Malus
var.sylvestris); the Siberian crab apple (Pyrus baccata); and the
American (Pyrus coronaria).
-- Crab grass. (Bot.) (a) A grass (Digitaria, or Panicum,
sanguinalis); -- called also finger grass. (b) A grass of the genus
Eleusine (E. Indica); -- called also dog's-tail grass, wire grass,
etc.
-- Crab louse (Zoöl.), a species of louse (Phthirius pubis),
sometimes infesting the human body.
-- Crab plover (Zoöl.), an Asiatic plover (Dromas ardeola).
-- Crab's eyes, or Crab's stones, masses of calcareous matter found,
at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the
European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and
antacid purposes; the gastroliths.
-- Crab spider (Zoöl.), one of a group of spiders (Laterigradæ); --
called because they can run backwards or sideways like a crab.
-- Crab tree, the tree that bears crab applies.
-- Crab wood, a light cabinet wood obtained in Guiana, which takes a
high polish. McElrath.
-- To catch a crab (Naut.), a phrase used of a rower: (a) when he
fails to raise his oar clear of the water; (b) when he misses the
water altogether in making a stroke.
CRAB
Crab (krb), v. t.
1. To make sour or morose; to embitter. [Obs.]
Sickness sours or crabs our nature. Glanvill.
2. To beat with a crabstick. [Obs.] J. Fletcher.
CRAB
Crab, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To drift sidewise or to leeward, as a vessel. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
CRAB
Crab, a. Etym: [Prob. from the same root as crab, n.]
Defn: Sour; rough; austere.
The crab vintage of the neighb'ring coast. Dryden.
CRABBED
Crab"bed (krb"bd), a. Etym: [See Crab,n.]
1. Characterized by or manifesting, sourness, peevishness, or
moroseness; harsh; cross; cynical; -- applied to feelings,
disposition, or manners.
Crabbed age and youth can not live together. Shak.
2. Characterized by harshness or roughness; unpleasant; -- applied to
things; as, a crabbed taste.
3. Obscure; difficult; perplexing; trying; as, a crabbed author.
"Crabbed eloquence." Chaucer.
How charming is divine philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull
fools suppose. Milton.
4. Cramped; irregular; as, crabbed handwriting.
-- Crab"bed*ly, adv.
-- Crab"bed*ness, n.
CRABBER
Crab"ber (krb"br), n.
Defn: One who catches crabs.
CRABBING
Crab"bing, n.
1. The act or art of catching crabs.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: The foghting of hawks with each other.
3. (Woolem Manuf.)
Defn: A process of scouring clocth be
CRABBISH
Crab"bish (krb"bsh), a.
Defn: Somewhat sour or cross.
The wips of the most crabbish Satyristes. Decker.
CRABBY
Crab"by (-b), a.
Defn: Crabbed; difficult, or perplexing. "Persius is crabby, because
ancient." Marston.
CRABEATER
Crab"eat`er (krb"t`r), n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The cobia.
(b) An etheostomoid fish of the southern United States (Hadropterus
nigrofasciatus).
(c) A small European heron (Ardea minuta, and other allied species).
CRABER
Cra"ber (kr"br), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The water rat. Walton.
CRABFACED
Crab"faced` (krb"fst`), a.
Defn: Having a sour, disagreeable countenance. Beau & Fl.
CRABSIDLE
Crab"si`dle (-s`d'l), v. i.
Defn: To move sidewise, as a crab. [Jocular]. Southey.
CRABSTICK
Crab"stick` (-stk`), n.
Defn: A stick, cane, or cudgel, made of the wood of the carb tree.
CRAB TREE
Crab" tree (tr`).
Defn: See under Crab.
CRAB-YAWS
Crab"-yaws` (krb"yz`), n. (Med.)
Defn: A disease in the West Indies. It is a kind of ulcer on the
soles of the feet, with very hard edges. See Yaws. Dunglison.
CRACHE
Crache (krch), v.
Defn: To scratch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CRACK
Crack (krk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cracked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cracking.] Etym: [OE. cracken, craken, to crack, break, boast, AS.
cracian, cearcian, to crack; akin to D. kraken, G. krachen; cf. Skr.
garj to rattle, or perh. of imitative origin. Cf. Crake, Cracknel,
Creak.]
1. To break or burst, with or without entire separation of the parts;
as, to crack glass; to crack nuts.
2. To rend with grief or pain; to affect deeply with sorrow; hence,
to disorder; to distract; to craze.
O, madam, my old hear is cracked. Shak.
He thought none poets till their brains were cracked. Roscommon.
3. To cause to sound suddenly and sharply; to snap; as, to crack a
whip.
4. To utter smartly and sententiously; as, to crack a joke. B.
Jonson.
5. To cry up; to extol; -- followed by up. [Low] To crack a bottle,
to open the bottle and drink its contents.
-- To crack a crib, to commit burglary. [Slang] -- To crack on, to
put on; as, to crack on more sail, or more steam. [Colloq.]
CRACK
Crack, v. i.
1. To burst or open in chinks; to break, with or without quite
separating into parts.
By misfortune it cracked in the coling. Boyle.
The mirror cracked from side to side. Tennyson.
2. To be ruined or impaired; to fail. [Collog.]
The credit . . . of exchequers cracks, when little comes in and much
goes out. Dryden.
3. To utter a loud or sharp, sudden sound.
As thunder when the clouds in autumn crack. Shak.
4. To utter vain, pompous words; to brag; to boast; -- with of.
[Archaic.]
Ethoipes of their sweet complexion crack. Shak.
CRACK
Crack, n.
1. A partial separation of parts, with or without a perceptible
opening; a chink or fissure; a narrow breach; a crevice; as, a crack
in timber, or in a wall, or in glass.
2. Ropture; flaw; breach, in a moral sense.
My love to thee is sound, sans crack or flaw. Shak.
3. A sharp, sudden sound or report; the sound of anything suddenly
burst or broken; as, the crack of a falling house; the crack of
thunder; the crack of a whip.
Will the stretch out to the crack of doom Shak.
4. The tone of voice when changed at puberty.
Though now our voices Have got the mannish crack. Shak.
5. Mental flaw; a touch of craziness; partial insanity; as, he has a
crack.
6. A crazy or crack-brained person. [Obs.]
I . . . can not get the Parliament to listen to me, who look upon me
as a crack and a projector. Addison.
7. A boast; boasting. [Obs.] "Crack and brags." Burton. "Vainglorius
cracks." Spenser.
8. Breach of chastity. [Obs.] Shak.
9. A boy, generally a pert, lively boy. [Obs.]
Val. 'Tis a noble child. Vir. A crack, madam. Shak.
10. A brief time; an instant; as, to be with one in a crack. [Eng. &
Scot. Colloq.]
11. Free conversation; friendly chat. [Scot.]
What is crack in English . . . Acrack . . . a chat with a good,
kindly human heart in it. P. P. Alexander.
CRACK
Crack, a.
Defn: Of superior excellence; having qualities to be boasted of.
[Colloq.]
One of our crack speakers in the Commons. Dickens.
CRACKAJACK
Crack"a*jack`, n.
1. An individual of marked ability or excellence, esp. in some sport;
as, he is a crackajack at tennis. [Slang]
2. A preparation of popped corn, candied and pressed into small
cakes. [U. S.]
CRACKAJACK
Crack"a*jack`, a.
Defn: Of marked ability or excellence. [Slang]
CRACK-BRAINED
Crack"-brained` (-brnd`), a.
Defn: Having an impaired intellect; whimsical; crazy. Pope.
CRACKED
Cracked (krkt), a.
1. Coarsely ground or broken; as, cracked wheat.
2. Crack-brained. [Colloq.]
CRACKER
Crack"er (krk"r), n.
1. One who, or that which, cracks.
2. A noisy boaster; a swaggering fellow. [Obs.]
What cracker is this same that deafs our ears Shak.
3. A small firework, consisting of a little powder inclossed in a
thick paper cylinder with a fuse, and exploding with a sharp noise; -
- often called firecracker.
4. A thin, dry biscuit, often hard or crisp; as, a Boston cracker; a
Graham cracker; a soda cracker; an oyster cracker.
5. A nickname to designate a poor white in some parts of the Southern
United States. Bartlett.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pintail duck.
7. pl. (Mach.)
Defn: A pair of fluted rolls for grinding caoutchouc. Knight.
CRACKER STATE
Cracker State.
Defn: Georgia; -- a nickname. See Cracker, n. 5.
CRACKLE
Crac"kle (krk"k'l), v. i. Etym: [Dim. of crack.]
Defn: To make slight cracks; to make small, sharp, sudden noises,
rapidly or frequently repeated; to crepitate; as, burning thorns
crackle.
The unknown ice that crackles underneath them. Dryden.
CRACKLE
Crac"kle, n.
1. The noise of slight and frequent cracks or reports; a crackling.
The crackle of fireworks. Carlyle.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of crackling sound or râle, heard in some abnormal
states of the lungs; as, dry crackle; moist crackle. Quain.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A condition produced in certain porcelain, fine earthenware, or
glass, in which the glaze or enamel appears to be cracked in all
directions, making a sort of reticulated surface; as, Chinese
crackle; Bohemian crackle.
CRACKLED
Crac"kled (-k'ld), a. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Covered with minute cracks in the glaze; -- said of some kinds
of porcelain and fine earthenware.
CRACKLEWARE
Crac"kle*ware` (-wr`), n.
Defn: See Crackle, n., 3.
CRACKLING
Crac"kling (krk"klng), n.
1. The making of small, sharp cracks or reports, frequently repeated.
As the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the
fool. Eccl. vii. 6.
2. The well-browned, crisp rind of roasted pork.
For the first time in his life he tested crackling. Lamb.
3. pl.
Defn: Food for dogs, made from the refuse of tallow melting.
CRACK-LOO; CRACKALOO
Crack"-loo`, n. Also Crack"a*loo` .
Defn: A kind of gambling game consisting in pitching coins to or
towards the ceiling of a room so that they shall fall as near as
possible to a certain crack in the floor. [Gamblers' Cant, U. S.]
CRACKNEL
Crack"nel (krk"nl), n. Etym: [F. craquelin, fr. D. krakeling, fr.
krakken to crack. See Crack, v. t.]
Defn: A hard brittle cake or biscuit. Spenser.
CRACKSMAN
Cracks"man (krks"man), n., pl. Cracksmen (-men).
Defn: A burglar. [Slang]
CRACOVIAN
Cra*co"vi*an (kr-k"v-an), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cracow in Poland.
CRACOVIENNE
Cra*co`vi*enne" (kr-k`v-n"), n. Etym: [F., fr. Cracow, the city.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A lively Polish dance, in 2-4 time.
CRACOWES
Cra"cowes (kr"kz), n. pl.
Defn: Long-toed boots or shoes formerly worn in many parts of Europe;
-- so called from Cracow, in Poland, where they were first worn in
the fourteenth century. Fairholt.
CRADLE
Cra"dle (krd'l), n. Etym: [AS. cradel, cradol, prob. from Celtic; cf.
Gael. creathall, Ir. craidhal, W. cryd a shaking or rocking, a
cradle; perh. akin to E. crate.]
1. A bed or cot for a baby, oscillating on rockers or swinginng on
pivots; hence, the place of origin, or in which anything is nurtured
or protected in the earlier period of existence; as, a cradle of
crime; the cradle of liberty.
The cradle that received thee at thy birth. Cowper.
No sooner was I crept out of my cradle But I was made a king, at nine
months old. Shak.
2. Infancy, or very early life.
From their cradles bred together. Shak.
A form of worship in which they had been educated from their cradles.
Clarendon.
3. (Agric.)
Defn: An implement consisting of a broad scythe for cutting grain,
with a set of long fingers parallel to the scythe, designed to
receive the grain, and to lay it eventlyin a swath.
4. (Engraving)
Defn: A tool used in mezzotint engraving, which, by a rocking motion,
raises burrs on the surface of the plate, so preparing the ground.
5. A framework of timbers, or iron bars, moving upon ways or rollers,
used to support, lift, or carry ships or other vessels, heavy guns,
etc., as up an inclined plane, or across a strip of land, or in
launching a ship.
6. (Med.)
(a) A case for a broken or dislocated limb.
(b) A frame to keep the bedclothes from conntact with the person.
7. (Mining)
(a) A machine on rockers, used in washing out auriferous earth; --
also called a rocker. [U.S.]
(b) A suspended scaffold used in shafts.
8. (Carp.)
Defn: The ribbing for vaulted ceilings and arches intended to be
covered with plaster. Knight.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: The basket or apparatus in which, when a line has been made
fast to a wrecked ship from the shore, the people are brought off
from the wreck. Cat's cradle. See under Cat.
-- Cradle hole, a sunken place in a road, caused by thawing, or by
travel over a soft spot.
-- Cradle scythe, a broad scythe used in a cradle for cutting grain.
CRADLE
Cra"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cradled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cradling (-dlng).]
1. To lay to rest, or rock, as in a cradle; to lull or quiet, as by
rocking.
It cradles their fears to sleep. D. A. Clark.
2. To nurse or train in infancy.
He that hath been cradled in majesty will not leave the throne to
play with beggars. Glanvill.
3. To cut and lay with a cradle, as grain.
4. To transport a vessel by means of a cradle.
In Lombardy . . . boats are cradled and transported over the grade.
Knight.
To cradle a picture, to put ribs across the back of a picture, to
prevent the panels from warping.
CRADLE
Cra"dle, v. i.
Defn: To lie or lodge, as in a cradle.
Withered roots and husks wherein the acorn cradled. Shak.
CRADLELAND
Cra"dle*land` (kra"d'l*land`), n.
Defn: Land or region where one was cradled; hence, land of origin.
CRADLING
Cra"dling (-dlng), n.
1. The act of using a cradle.
2. (Coopering)
Defn: Cutting a cask into two pieces lengthwise, to enable it to pass
a narrow place, the two parts being afterward united and rehooped.
3. (Carp.)
Defn: The framework in arched or coved ceilings to which the laths
are nailed. Knight.
CRAFT
Craft (krft), n. Etym: [AS. cr strength, skill, art, cunning; akin to
OS., G., Sw., & Dan. kraft strength, D. kracht, Icel. kraptr; perh.
originally, a drawing together, stretching, from the root of E.
cramp.]
1. Strength; might; secret power. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Art or skill; dexterity in particular manual employment; hence,
the occupation or employment itself; manual art; a trade.
Ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Acts xix. 25.
A poem is the work of the poet; poesy is his skill or craft of
making. B. Jonson.
Since the birth of time, throughout all ages and nations, Has the
craft of the smith been held in repute. Longfellow.
3. Those engaged in any trade, taken collectively; a guild; as, the
craft of ironmongers.
The control of trade passed from the merchant guilds to the new craft
guilds. J. R. Green.
4. Cunning, art, or skill, in a bad sense, or applied to bad
purposes; artifice; guile; skill or dexterity employed to effect
purposes by deceit or shrewd devices.
You have that crooked wisdom which is called craft. Hobbes.
The chief priets and the scribes sought how they might take him by
craft, and put him to death. Mark xiv. 1.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: A vessel; vessels of any kind; -- generally used in a
collective sense.
The evolutions of the numerous tiny craft moving over the lake. Prof.
Wilson.
Small crafts, small vessels, as sloops, schooners, ets.
CRAFT
Craft, v.t.
Defn: To play tricks; to practice artifice. [Obs.]
You have crafted fair. Shak.
CRAFTER
crafter n.
Defn: a creator of great skill in the manual arts.
Syn. -- craftsman.
[WordNet 1.5]
CRAFTILY
Craft"i*ly (--l), adv. Etym: [See Crafty.]
Defn: With craft; artfully; cunningly.
CRAFTINESS
Craft"i*ness (krft"-ns), n.
Defn: Dexterity in devising and effecting a purpose; cunning;
artifice; stratagem.
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. Job. v. 13.
CRAFTLESS
Craft"less (-ls), a.
Defn: Without craft or cunning.
Helpless, craftless, and innocent people. Jer. Taylor.
CRAFTSMAN
Crafts"man (krfts"man), n.; pl. Craftsmen (-men).
Defn: One skilled in some trade or manual occupation; an artificer; a
mechanic.
CRAFTSMANSHIP
Crafts"man*ship, n.
Defn: The work of a craftsman.
CRAFTSMASTER
Crafts"mas`ter (-ms`tr), n.
Defn: One skilled in his craft or trade; one of superior cunning.
In cunning persuasion his craftsmaster. Holland.
CRAFTY
Craft"y (krft"), a. Etym: [AS. cr.]
1. Relating to, or characterized by, craft or skill; dexterous.
[Obs.] "Crafty work." Piers Plowman.
2. Possessing dexterity; skilled; skillful.
A noble crafty man of trees. Wyclif.
3. Skillful at deceiving others; characterized by craft; cunning;
wily. "A pair of crafty knaves." Shak.
With anxious care and crafty wiles. J. Baillie.
Syn.
-- Skillful; dexterous; cunning; artful; wily; Cunning.
CRAG
Crag (krg), n. Etym: [W. craig; akin to Gael. creag, Corn. karak,
Armor. karrek.]
1. A steep, rugged rock; a cough, broken cliff, or point of a rock,
on a ledge.
From crag to crag the signal fiew. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: A partially compacted bed of gravel mixed with shells, of the
Tertiary age.
CRAG
Crag, n. Etym: [A form of craw: cf. D. kraag neck, collar, G. kragen.
See Craw.]
1. The neck or throat [Obs.]
And bear the crag so stiff and so state. Spenser.
2. The neck piece or scrag of mutton. Johnson.
CRAGGED
Crag"ged (-gd), a.
Defn: Full of crags, or steep, broken
Into its cragged rents descend. J. Baillie.
CRAGGEDNESS
Crag"ged*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being cragged; cragginess.
CRAGGINESS
Crag"gi*ness (-g-ns), n.
Defn: The state of being craggy.
CRAGGY
Crag"gy (krg"g), a.
Defn: Full of crags; rugged with projecting points of rocks; as, the
craggy side of a mountain. "The craggy ledge." Tennyson.
CRAGSMAN
Crags"man (krgz"man), n.; pl. Cragsmen (-men).
Defn: One accustomed to climb rocks or crags; esp., one who makes a
business of climbing the cliffs overhanging the sea to get the eggs
of sea birds or the birds themselves.
CRAIE
Craie (kr), n.
Defn: See Crare. [Obs.]
CRAIG FLOUNDER
Craig" floun`der (krg" floun`dr). Etym: [Scot. craig a rock. See 1st
Crag.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pole flounder.
CRAIL
Crail (krl),, n. Etym: [See Creel.]
Defn: A creel or osier basket.
CRAKE
Crake (krk), v. t. & i. Etym: [See Crack.]
1. To cry out harshly and loudly, like the bird called crake.
2. To boast; to speak loudly and boastfully. [Obs.]
Each man may crake of that which was his own. Mir. for Mag.
CRAKE
Crake, n.
Defn: A boast. See Crack, n. [Obs.] Spenser.
CRAKE
Crake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kr crow, kr raven, Sw. kr, Dan. krage;
perh. of imitative origin. Cf. Crow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species or rail of the genera Crex and Porzana; -- so
called from its singular cry. See Corncrake.
CRAKEBERRY
Crake"ber`ry (-br`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Crowberry.
CRAKER
Crak"er (krk"r), n.
Defn: One who boasts; a braggart. [Obs.] Old Play.
CRAM
Cram (krm), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crammed (krmd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cramming.] Etym: [AS. crammian to cram; akin to Icel. kremia to
squeeze, bruise, Sw. krama to press. Cf. Cramp.]
1. To press, force, or drive, particularly in filling, or in
thrustung one thing into another; to stuff; to crowd; to fill to
superfluity; as, to cram anything into a basket; to cram a room with
people.
Their storehouses crammed with grain. Shak.
He will cram his brass down our throats. Swift.
2. To fill with food to satiety; to stuff.
Children would be freer from disease if they were not crammed so much
as they are by fond mothers. Locke.
Cram us with praise, and make us As fat as tame things. Shak.
3. To put hastily through an extensive course of memorizing or study,
as in preparation for an examination; as, a pupil is crammed by his
tutor.
CRAM
Cram, v. i.
1. To eat greedly, and to satiety; to stuff.
Gluttony . . . . Cr, and blasphemes his feeder. Milton.
2. To make crude preparation for a special occasion, as an
examination, by a hasty and extensive course of memorizing or study.
[Colloq.]
CRAM
Cram, n.
1. The act of cramming.
2. Innformation hastily memorized; as. a cram from an examination.
[Colloq.]
3. (Weaving)
Defn: A warp having more than two threads passing through each dent
or split of the reed.
CRAMBO
Cram"bo, n. Etym: [Cf. Cramp, a., difficult.]
1. A game in which one person gives a word, to which another finds a
rhyme.
I saw in one corner . . . a cluster of men and women,diverting
themselves with a game at crambo. I heard several double rhymes . . .
which raised a great deal of mirth. Addison.
2. A werd rhyming with another word.
His similes in order set And every crambo he could get. Swift.
Dumb crambo, a game in which one party of players give a word which
rhymes with another, which last to be guessed by the opposing party,
who represent in dumb show what they think it to be.
CRAMMER
Cram"mer (krm"mr), n.
Defn: One who crams; esp., one who prepares a pupil hastily for an
exxamination, or a pupil who is thus prepared. Dickens.
CRAMOISIE; CRAMOISY
Cra*moi"sie Cra*moi"sy (kr-moi"z), a. Etym: [F. cramoisi crimson. See
Crimson.]
Defn: Crimson. [Obs.]
A splendid seignior, magnificent in cramoisy velevet. Motley.
CRAMP
Cramp (krmp), n. Etym: [OE. crampe, craumpe; akin to D. & Sw. kramp,
Dan. krampe, G. krampf (whence F. crampe), Icel. krappr strait,
narrow, and to E. crimp, crumple; cf. cram. See Grape.]
1. That which confines or contracts; a restraint; a shakle; a
hindrance.
A narrow fortune is a cramp to a great mind. L'Estrange.
Crippling his pleasures with the cramp of fear. Cowper.
2. (Masonry)
Defn: A device, usually of iron bent at the ends, used to hold
together blocks of stone, timbers, etc.; a cramp iron.
3. (Carp.)
Defn: A rectangular frame, with a tightening screw, used for
compressing the jionts of framework, etc.
4. A piece of wood having a curve corresponding to that of the upper
part of the instep, on which the upper leather of a boot is stretched
to give it the requisite shape.
5. (Med.)
Defn: A spasmodic and painful involuntary contraction of a muscle or
muscles, as of the leg.
The cramp, divers nights, gripeth him in his legs. Sir T. More.
Cramp bone, the patella of a sheep; -- formerly used as a charm for
the cramp. Halliwell. "He could turn cramp bones into chess men."
Dickens.
-- Cramp ring, a ring formerly supposed to have virtue in averting
or curing cramp, as having been consecrated by one of the kings of
England on Good Friday.
CRAMP
Cramp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cramped (krp. pr. & vb. n. Cramping.]
1. To compress; to restrain from free action; to confine and
contract; to hinder.
The mind my be as much cramped by too much knowledge as by ignorance.
Layard.
2. To fasten or hold with, or as with, a cramp.
3. Hence, to bind together; to unite.
The . . . fabric of universal justic is well cramped and bolted
together in all its parts. Burke.
4. To form on a cramp; as, to cramp boot legs.
5. To afflict with cramp.
When the gout cramps my joints. Ford.
To cramp the wheels of wagon, to turn the front wheels out of line
with the hind wheels, so that one of them shall be against the body
of the wagon.
CRAMP
Cramp, a. Etym: [See Cramp, n.]
Defn: Knotty; difficult. [R.]
Care being taken not to add any of the cramp reasons for this
opinion. Coleridge.
CRAMPET
Cram"pet (krm"pt), n. Etym: [See Cramp,n.] (Mil.)
Defn: A cramp iron or cramp ring; a chape, as of a scabbard. [Written
also crampit and crampette.]
CRAMPFISH
Cramp"fish` (krmp"fsh`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The torpedo, or electric ray, the touch of which gives an
electric shock. See Electric fish, and Torpedo.
CRAMP IRON
Cramp" i`ron (`rn).
Defn: See Cramp, n., 2.
CRAMPIT
Cram"pit (krm"pt), n. (Mil.)
Defn: See Crampet.
CRAMPON
Cram"pon (krm"pn), n. Etym: [F. See Crampoons.] (Bot.)
Defn: An a
CRAMPONEE
Cram`po*nee" (krm`p-n"), a. Etym: [F. cramponn. See Crampoons.]
(Her.)
Defn: Having a cramp or square piece at the end; -- said of a cross
so furnished.
CRAMPOONS
Cram*poons" (krm-pnz"), n. pl. Etym: [F. crampon, fr. OHG. chramph
crooked; akin to G. krampf cramp. See Cramp,n., and cf. Crampon.]
1. A clutch formed of hooked pieces of iron, like double calipers,
for raising stones, lumber, blocks of ice, etc.
2. Iron insruments with sharp points, worn on the shoes to assist in
gaining or keeping a foothold.
CRAMPY
Cramp"y (krmp"),
1. Affected with cramp.
2. Productive of, or abounding in, cramps. "This crampy country."
Howitt.
CRAN; CRANE
Cran (krn), Crane (krn), n. Etym: [Scot., fr. Gael. crann.]
Defn: A measure for fresh herrings, -- as many as will fill a barrel.
[Scot.] H. Miller.
CRANAGE
Cran"age (krn"j), n. Etym: [See Crane.]
1. The liberty of using a crane, as for loading and unloading
vessels.
2. The money or price paid for the use of a crane.
CRANBERRY
Cran"ber*ry (krn"br-r), n.; pl. Cranberries (-r Etym: [So named from
its fruit being ripe in the spring when the cranes return. Dr.
Prior.] (Bot.)
Defn: A red, acid berry, much used for making sauce, etc.; also, the
plant producing it (several species of Vaccinum or Oxycoccus.) The
high cranberry or cranberry tree is a species of Viburnum (V.
Opulus), and the other is sometimes called low cranberry or marsh
cranberry to distinguish it.
CRANCH
Cranch (krnch), v. t.
Defn: See Craunch.
CRANDALL
Cran"dall (kran"dal), n. [Prob. from Crandall, a proper name.]
(Stonecutting)
Defn: A kind of hammer having a head formed of a group of pointed
steel bars, used for dressing ashlar, etc. -- v. t.
Defn: To dress with a crandall.
CRANE
Crane (krn), n. Etym: [AS. cran; akin to D. & LG. craan, G. kranich,
krahn (this in sense 2), Gr. grus, W. & Armor. garan, OSlav. zerav,
Lith. gerve, Icel. trani, Sw. trana, Dan. trane. Geranium.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wading bird of the genus Grus, and allied genera, of various
species, having a long, straight bill, and long legs and neck.
Note: The common European crane is Grus cinerea. The sand-hill crane
(G. Mexicana) and the whooping crane (G. Americana) are large
American species. The Balearic or crowned crane is Balearica
pavonina. The name is sometimes erroneously applied to the herons and
cormorants.
2. A machine for raising and lowering heavy weights, and, while
holding them suspended, transporting them through a limited lateral
distance. In one form it consists of a projecting arm or jib of
timber or iron, a rotating post or base, and the necessary tackle,
windlass, etc.; -- so called from a fancied similarity between its
arm and the neck of a crane See Illust. Of Derrick.
3. An iron arm with horizontal motion, attached to the side or back
of a fireplace, for supporting kettles, etc., over a fire.
4. A siphon, or bent pipe, for drawing liquors out of a cask.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: A forked post or projecting bracket to support spars, etc., --
generally used in pairs. See Crotch, 2. Crane fly (Zoöl.), a
dipterous insect with long legs, of the genus Tipula.
-- Derrick crane. See Derrick.
-- Gigantic crane. (Zoöl.) See Adjutant, n., 3.
-- Traveling crane, Traveler crane, Traversing crane (Mach.), a
crane mounted on wheels; esp., an overhead crane consisting of a crab
or other hoisting apparatus traveling on rails or beams fixed
overhead, as in a machine shop or foundry.
-- Water crane, a kind of hydrant with a long swinging spout, for
filling locomotive tenders, water carts, etc., with water.
CRANE
Crane (krn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Craned (krnd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Craning.]
1. To cause to rise; to raise or lift, as by a crane; -- with up.
[R.]
What engines, what instruments are used in craning up a soul, sunk
below the center, to the highest heavens. Bates.
An upstart craned up to the height he has. Massinger.
2. To stretch, as a crane stretches its neck; as, to crane the neck
disdainfully. G. Eliot.
CRANE
crane, v. i.
Defn: to reach forward with head and neck, in order to see better;
as, a hunter cranes forward before taking a leap. Beaconsfield.
Thackeray.
The passengers eagerly craning forward over the bulwarks. Howells.
CRANE'S-BILL
Crane's"-bill` (krnz"bl`), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The geranium; -- so named from the long axis of the fruit,
which resembles the beak of a crane. Dr. Prior.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: A pair of long-beaked forceps.
CRANG
Crang (krng), n.
Defn: See Krang.
CRANIA
Cra"ni*a (kr"n-), n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of living Brachiopoda; -- so called from its fancied
resemblance to the cranium or skull.
CRANIAL
Cra"ni*al (kr"n-al), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cranium.
CRANIOCLASM
Cra"ni*o*clasm (kr"n--klz'm), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The crushing of a child's head, as with the cranioclast or
craniotomy forceps in cases of very difficult delivery. Dunglison.
CRANIOCLAST
Cra"ni*o*clast (-klst), n. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for crushing the head of a fetus, to facilitate
delivery in difficult eases.
CRANIOFACIAL
Cra`ni*o*fa"cial (-f"shal), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cranium and face; as, the craniofacial
angle.
CRANIOGNOMY
Cra`ni*og"no*my (-g"n-m), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr.
Defn: The science of the form and characteristics of the skull. [R.]
CRANIOLOGICAL
Cra`ni*o*log"ic*al (--lj"-kal), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to craniology.
CRANIOLOGIST
Cra`ni*ol"o*gist (-l"-jst), n.
Defn: One proficient in craniology; a phrenologist.
CRANIOLOGY
Cra`ni*ol"o*gy (-j), n. Etym: [Cranium + -logy.]
Defn: The department of science (as of ethnology or archæology) which
deals with the shape, size, proportions, indications, etc., of
skulls; the study of skulls.
CRANIOMETER
Cra`ni*om"e*ter (kr`n-m"-tr), n. Etym: [Cranium + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the size of skulls.
CRANIOMETRIC; CRANIOMETRICAL
Cra`ni*o*met"ric (--mt"rk), Cra`ni*o*met"ric*al (-r-kal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to craniometry.
CRANIOMETRY
Cra`ni*om"e*try (kr`n-m"-tr), n.
Defn: The art or act of measuring skulls.
CRANIOSCOPIST
Cra`ni*os"co*pist (kr`n-s"k-pst), n.
Defn: One skilled in, or who practices, cranioscopy.
It was found of equal dimension in a literary man whose skull puzzied
the cranioscopists. Coleridge.
CRANIOSCOPY
Cra`ni*os"co*py (-p), n. Etym: [Cranium + -scopy.]
Defn: Scientific examination of the cranium.
CRANIOTA
Cra`ni*o"ta (kr`n-t), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. cranium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A comprehensive division of the Vertebrata, including all those
that have a skull.
CRANIOTOMY
Cra`ni*ot"o*my (kr`n-t"-m), n. Etym: [Cranium + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of opening the fetal head, in order to effect
delivery.
CRANIUM
Cra"ni*um (kr"n-m), n.; pl. E. Craniums (-Crania (-. Etym: [NL., fr.
Gr.
Defn: The skull of an animal; especially, that part of the skull,
either cartilaginous or bony, which immediately incloses the brain;
the brain case or brainpan. See Skull.
CRANK
Crank (krnk), n. Etym: [OE. cranke; akin to E. cringe, cringle,
crinkle, and to crank, a., the root meaning, probably, "to turn,
twist." See Cringe.]
1. (Mach.)
Defn: A bent portion of an axle, or shaft, or an arm keyed at right
angles to the end of a shaft, by which motion is imparted to or
received from it; also used to change circular into reciprocating
motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. See Bell crank.
2. Any bend, turn, or winding, as of a passage.
So many turning cranks these have, so many crooks. Spenser.
3. A twist or turn in speech; a conceit consisting in a change of the
form or meaning of a word.
Quips, and cranks, and wanton wiles. Milton.
4. A twist or turn of the mind; caprice; whim; crotchet; also, a fit
of temper or passion. [Prov. Eng.]
Violent of temper; subject to sudden cranks. Carlyle.
5. A person full of crotchets; one given to fantastic or
impracticable projects; one whose judgment is perverted in respect to
a particular matter. [Colloq.]
6. A sick person; an invalid. [Obs.]
Thou art a counterfeit crank, a cheater. Burton.
Crank axle (Mach.), a driving axle formed with a crank or cranks, as
in some kinds of locomotives.
-- Crank pin (Mach.), the cylindrical piece which forms the handle,
or to which the connecting rod is attached, at the end of a crank, or
between the arms of a double crank.
-- Crank shaft, a shaft bent into a crank, or having a crank
fastened to it, by which it drives or is driven.
-- Crank wheel, a wheel acting as a crank, or having a wrist to
which a connecting rod is attached.
CRANK
Crank (krnk), a. Etym: [AS. cranc weak; akin to Icel. krangr, D. & G.
krank sick, weak (cf.D. krengen to careen). Cf. Crank, n.]
1. Sick; infirm. [Prov. Eng.]
2. (Naut.)
Defn: Liable to careen or be overest, as a ship when she is too
narrow, or has not sufficient ballast, or is loaded too high, to
carry full sail.
3. Full of spirit; brisk; lively; sprightly; overconfident;
opinionated.
He who was, a little before, bedrid, . . . was now crank and lusty.
Udall.
If you strong electioners did not think you were among the elect, you
would not be so crank about it. Mrs. Stowe.
CRANK
Crank, v. i. Etym: [See Crank, n. ]
Defn: To run with a winding course; to double; to crook; to wind and
turn.
See how this river comes me cranking in. Shak.
CRANKBIRD
Crank"bird` (-brd`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European woodpecker (Picus minor).
CRANKED
Cranked (krnkt), a.
Defn: Formed with, or having, a bend or crank; as, a cranked axle.
CRANKINESS
Crank"i*ness (krnk"-ns), n.
Defn: Crankness. Lowell.
CRANKLE
Cran"kle (krn"k'l), v. t. Etym: [Cf. Crinkle.]
Defn: To break into bends, turns, or angles; to crinkle.
Old Veg's stream . . . drew her humid train aslope, Crankling her
banks. J. Philips.
CRANKLE
Cran"kle, v. i.
Defn: To bend, turn, or wind.
Along the crankling path. Drayton.
CRANKLE
Cran"kle, n.
Defn: A bend or turn; a twist; a crinkle.
CRANKNESS
Crank"ness (krnk"ns), n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: Liability to be overset; -- said of a ship or other vessel.
2. Sprightliness; vigor; health.
CRANKY
Crank"y (-), a.
1. Full of spirit; crank.
2. Addicted to crotchets and whims; unreasonable in opinions;
crotchety. [Colloq.]
3. Unsteady; easy to upset; crank.
CRANNIED
Cran"nied (krn"nd), a.
Defn: Having crannies, chinks, or fissures; as, a crannied wall.
Tennyson.
CRANNOG; CRANNOGE
Cran"nog (krn"ng), Cran"noge (krn"nj), n. Etym: [From Celtic; cf.
Gael. crann a tree.]
Defn: One of the stockaded islands in Scotland and Ireland which in
ancient times were numerous in the lakes of both countries. They may
be regarded as the very latest class of prehistoric strongholds,
reaching their greatest development in early historic times, and
surviving through the Middle Ages. See also Lake dwellings, under
Lake. Encyc. Brit.
CRANNY
Cran"ny (krn"n), n.; pl. Crannies (-n. Etym: [F. cran notch, prob.
from L. crena (a doubful word).]
1. A small, narrow opening, fissure, crevice, or chink, as in a wall,
or other substance.
In a firm building, the cavities ought not to be filled with rubbish,
but with brick or stone fitted to the crannies. Dryden.
He peeped into every cranny. Arbuthnot.
2. (Glass Making)
Defn: A tool for forming the necks of bottles, etc.
CRANNY
Cran"ny, v. i. [imp & p. p. Crannied (-nd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crannying.]
1. To crack into, or become full of, crannies. [R.]
The ground did cranny everywhere. Golding.
2. To haunt, or enter by, crannies.
All tenantless, save to the cranning wind. Byron.
CRANNY
Cran"ny, a. Etym: [Perh. for cranky. See Crank, a. ]
Defn: Quick; giddy; thoughtless. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CRANTARA
Cran*ta"ra (krn-t"r or -t"r), n. Etym: [Gael. cranntara.]
Defn: The fiery cross, used as a rallying signal in the Highlands of
Scotland.
CRANTS
Crants (krnts), n. Etym: [Cf. D. krans, G. kranz.]
Defn: A garland carried before the bier of a maiden. [Obs.]
Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maaiden strewments.
Shak.
CRAP
Crap (krap), n.
Defn: In the game of craps, a first throw of the dice in which the
total is two, three, or twelve, in which case the caster loses.
CRAPAUD
Cra*paud", n. [Written also crapawd, crapald, crepaud, etc.] [F.
crapaud.]
1.
Defn: A toad. [Obs.]
2. (Pronounced kra`po") As a proper name, Johnny Crapaud, or
Crapaud, a nickname for a Frenchman.
CRAPAUDINE
Crap"au*dine (krp"-dn), a. Etym: [F., n.] (Arch.)
Defn: Turning on pivots at the top and bottom; -- said of a door.
CRAPAUDINE
Crap"au*dine, n. Etym: [F.] (Far.)
Defn: An ulcer on the coronet of a horse. Bailey.
CRAPE
Crape (krp), n. Etym: [F. cr, fr. L. crispus curled, crisped. See
Crisp.]
Defn: A thin, crimped stuff, made of raw silk gummed and twisted on
the mill. Black crape is much used for mourning garments, also for
the dress of some clergymen.
A saint in crape is twice a saint in lawn. Pope.
Crape myrtle (Bot.), a very ornamental shrub (Lagerströmia Indica)
from the East Indies, often planted in the Southern United States.
Its foliage is like that of the myrtle, and the flower has wavy
crisped petals.
-- Oriental crape. See Canton crape.
CRAPE
Crape, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Craped (krpt); p. pr. & vb.n. Craping.]
Etym: [F. cr, fr. L. crispare to curl, crisp, fr. crispus. See Crape,
n.]
Defn: To form into ringlets; to curl; to crimp; to friz; as, to crape
the hair; to crape silk.
The hour for curling and craping the hair. Mad. D'Arblay.
CRAPEFISH
Crape"fish` (krp"fsh`), n.
Defn: Salted codfish hardened by pressure. Kane.
CRAPNEL
Crap"nel (krp"nel), n.
Defn: A hook or drag; a grapnel.
CRAPPIE
Crap"pie (krp"p), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of fresh-water bass of the genus Pomoxys, found in the
rivers of the Southern United States and Mississippi valley. There
are several species. [Written also croppie.]
CRAPPLE
Crap"ple (krp"p'l), n. Etym: [See Graple.]
Defn: A claw. [Obs.]
CRAPS
Craps (krps), n.
Defn: A gambling game with dice. [Local, U.S.]
CRAP SHOOTING
Crap shooting.
Defn: Same as Craps.
CRAPULA; CRAPULE
Crap"u*la (krp"-l), Crap"ule (krp"l), n. Etym: [L. crapula
intoxication.]
Defn: Same as Crapulence.
CRAPULENCE
Crap"u*lence (--lens), n.
Defn: The sickness occasioned by intemperance; surfeit. Bailey.
CRAPULENT; CRAPULOUS
Crap"u*lent (-lent), Crap"u*lous (-ls), a. Etym: [L. crapulentus,
crapulosus: cf. F. crapuleux.]
Defn: Surcharged with liquor; sick from excessive indulgence in
liquor; drunk; given to excesses. [R.]
CRAPY
Crap"y (krp"), a.
Defn: Resembling crape.
CRARE
Crare (krr), n. Etym: [OF. craier, creer, croyer, ship of war, LL.
craiera, creyera, perh. from G. krieger warrior, or D. krijger.]
Defn: A slow unwieldy trading vessel. [Obs.] [Written also crayer,
cray, and craie.] Shak.
CRASE
Crase (krz), v. t. Etym: [See Craze.]
Defn: To break in pieces; to crack. [Obs.] "The pot was crased."
Chaucer.
CRASH
Crash (kr), v. t. [imp & p. p. Crashed (kr; p. pr & vb. n. Crashing.]
Etym: [OE. crashen, the same word as crasen to break, E. craze. See
Craze.]
Defn: To break in pieces violently; to dash together with noise and
violence. [R.]
He shakt his head, and crasht his teeth for ire. Fairfax.
CRASH
Crash, v. i.
1. To make a loud, clattering sound, as of many things falling and
breaking at once; to break in pieces with a harsh noise.
Roofs were blazing and walls crashing in every part of the city.
Macualay.
2. To break with violence and noise; as, the chimney in falling
crashed through the roof.
CRASH
Crash, n.
1. A loud, sudden, confused sound, as of manu things falling and
breaking at once.
The wreck of matter and the crash of worlds. Addison.
2. Ruin; failure; sudden breaking down, as of a business house or a
commercial enterprise.
CRASH
Crash, n. Etym: [L. crassus coarse. See Crass.]
Defn: Coarse, heavy, narrow linen cloth, used esp. for towels.
CRASHING
Crash"ing, n.
Defn: The noise of many things falling and breaking at once.
There shall be . . . a great crashing from the hills. Zeph. i. 10.
CRASIS
Cra"sis (kr"ss), n. Etym: [LL., temperament, fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: A mixture of constituents, as of the blood; constitution;
temperament.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A contraction of two vowels (as the final and initial vowels of
united words) into one long vowel, or into a dipthong; synæresis; as,
cogo for coago.
CRASPEDOTA
Cras`pe*do"ta (krs`p-d"t), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hydroid or naked-eyed medusæ. See Hydroidea.
CRASPEDOTE
Cras"pe*dote (krs"p-dt), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Craspedota.
CRASS
Crass (krs), a. Etym: [L. crassus thick, fat, gross, prob. orig.,
closely woven See Crease animal fat, and cf. Crate, Hurdle.]
Defn: Cross; thick; dense; coarse; not elaborated or refined. "Crass
and fumid exhalations." Sir. T. Browne. "Crass ignorance" Cudworth.
CRASSAMENT; CRASSAMENTUM
Cras"sa*ment (krs"s-ment), Cras`sa*men"tum (-mn"tm), n. Etym: [L.
crassamentum, fr. crassare to make thick. See Crass, a.]
Defn: A semisolid mass or clot, especially that formed in coagulation
of the blood.
CRASSIMENT
Cras"si*ment (krs"s-ment), n.
Defn: See Crassament.
CRASSITUDE
Cras"si*tude (-td), n. Etym: [L. crassitudo.]
Defn: Crossness; coarseness; thickness; density. Bacon.
CRASSNESS
Crass"ness (krs"ns), n.
Defn: Grossness. [Obs.] Glanvill.
CRASTINATION
Cras`ti*na"tion (krs`t-n"shn), n. Etym: [L. crastinus of to-morrow,
from cras to-morrow.]
Defn: Procrastination; a putting off till to-morrow. [Obs.]
CRATAEGUS
Cra*tæ"gus (kr-t"gs), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of small, hardy trees, including the hawthorn, much
used for ornamental purposes.
CRATCH
Cratch (krch; 224), n. Etym: [OE. crache, creche, F. cr crib, manger,
fr. OHG. krippa, krippea,G. krippe crib. See Crib.]
Defn: A manger or open frame for hay; a crib; a rack. [Obs.]
Begin from first where He encradled was, In simple cratch, wrapt in a
wad of hay. Spenser.
Cratch cradle, a representation of the figure of the cratch, made
upon the fingers with a string; cat's cradle; -- called also scratch
cradle.
CRATE
Crate (krt), n. Etym: [L. cratis hurdle; perh. akin to E. cradle. See
Hurdle, and cf. Crate a framework.]
1. A large basket or hamper of wickerwork, used for the
transportation of china, crockery, and similar wares.
2. A box or case whose sides are of wooden slats with interspaces, --
used especially for transporting fruit.
CRATE
Crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crated; p. pr. & vb. n. Crating.]
Defn: To pack in a crate or case for transportation; as, to crate a
sewing machine; to crate peaches.
CRATER
Cra"ter (krtr), n. Etym: [L. crater, cratera, a mixing vessel, the
mouth of a volcano, Gr. ir to cook, Crail, in Holy Grail.]
1. The basinlike opening or mouth of a volcano, through which the
chief eruption comes; similarly, the mouth of a gevser, about which a
cone of silica is often built up.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The pit left by the explosion of a mine.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation of the southen hemisphere; -- called also the
Cup.
CRATERIFORM
Cra*ter"i*form (kr-tr"-frm), a. Etym: [L. cratera + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a shallow bowl; -- said of a corolla.
CRATEROUS
CRa"ter*ous (kr"tr-s), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a crater. [R.] R. Browning.
CRAUNCH
Craunch (krnch), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Craunched (krncht);p. pr. &
vb. n. Craunching.] Etym: [See Crunch.]
Defn: To crush with the teeth; to chew with violence and noise; to
crunch. Swift.
CRAVAT
Cra*vat" (kr-vt"), n. Etym: [F. cravate, fr. Cravate a Croat, an
inhabitant of Croatia, one of a body of Austrian troops, from whom,
in 1636, this article of dress was adopted in France.]
Defn: A neckcloth; a piece of silk, fine muslin, or other cloth, worn
by men about the neck.
While his wig was combed and his cravat tied. Macualay.
CRAVATTED
Cra*vat`ted (kr-vt"td), a.
Defn: Wearing a cravat.
The young men faultlessly appointed, handsomely cravatted. Thackeray.
CRAVE
Crave (krv), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Craved (kr; p pr. & vb. n. Craving.]
Etym: [AS. crafian; akin to Icel. krefia, Sw. kr, Dan. kr.]
1. To ask with earnestness or importunity; to ask with submission or
humility; to beg; to entreat; to beseech; to implore.
I crave your honor's pardon. Shak.
Joseph . . . went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of
Jesus. Mark xv. 43.
2. To call for, as a gratification; to long for; hence, to require or
demand; as, the stomach craves food.
His path is one that eminently craves weary walking. Edmund Gurney.
Syn.
-- To ask; seek; beg; beseech; implore; entreat; solicit; request;
supplicate; adjure.
CRAVE
Crave, v. i.
Defn: To desire strongly; to feel an insatiable longing; as, a
craving appetite.
Once one may crave for love. Suckling.
CRAVEN
Cra"ven (kr"v'n), a. Etym: [OE. cravant, cravaunde, OF. cravant
struck down, p. p. of cravanter, crevanter, to break, crush, strike
down, fr. an assumed LL. crepantare, fr. L. crepans, p. pr. of
crepare to break, crack, rattle. Cf. Crevice, Crepitate.]
Defn: Cowardly; fainthearted; spiritless. "His craven heart." Shak.
The poor craven bridegroom said never a word. Sir. W. Scott.
In craven fear of the sarcasm of Dorset. Macualay.
CRAVEN
Cra"ven, n. Etym: [Formerly written also cravant and cravent.]
Defn: A recreant; a coward; a weak-hearted, spiritless fellow. See
Recreant, n.
King Henry. Is it fit this soldier keep his oath Fluellen.He is a
craven and a villain else. Shak.
Syn.
-- Coward; poltroon; dastard.
CRAVEN
Cra"ven, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cravened (-v'nd);p. pr. & vb. n.
Cravening.]
Defn: To make recreant, weak, spiritless, or cowardly. [Obs.]
There is a prohibition so divine, That cravens my weak hand. Shak.
CRAVER
Crav"er (krv"r), n.
Defn: One who craves or begs.
CRAVING
Crav"ing (-ng), n.
Defn: Vehement or urgent desire; longing for; beseeching.
A succession of cravings and satiety. L'Estrange.
-- Crav"ing*ly, adv.
-- Crav"ing*ness, n.
CRAW
Craw (kr), n. Etym: [Akin to D. kraag neck, collar, G. kragen, Sw. kr
craw, Dan. kro, and possibly to Gr.bronchus), or Crag neck.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The crop of a bird.
(b) The stomach of an animal.
CRAWFISH; CRAYFISH
Craw"fish` (kr"fsh`), Cray"fish` (kr"fsh`), n.; pl. -fishes or -fish.
Etym: [Corrupted fr. OE. crevis, creves, OF. crevice, F. , fr. OHG.
krebiz crab, G. krebs. See Crab. The ending -fish arose from
confusion with E. fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any crustacean of the family Astacidæ, resembling the lobster,
but smaller, and found in fresh waters. Crawfishes are esteemed very
delicate food both in Europe and America. The North American species
are numerous and mostly belong to the genus Cambarus. The blind
crawfish of the Mamoth Cave is Cambarus pellucidus. The common
European species is Astacus fluviatilis.
CRAWFORD
Craw"ford (kr"frd), n.
Defn: A Crawford peach; a well-known freestone peach, wich yellow
flesh, first raised by Mr. William Crawford, of New Jersey.
CRAWL
Crawl (krl), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crawled (krld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crawling.] Etym: [Dan. kravle, or Icel. krafla, to paw, scrabble with
the hands; akin to Sw. kr to crawl; cf. LG. krabbeln, D. krabbelen to
scratch.]
1. To move slowly by drawing the body along the ground, as a worm; to
move slowly on hands and kness; to creep.
A worm finds what it searches after only by feeling, as it crawls
from one thing to another. Grew.
2. Hence, to move or advance in a feeble, slow, or timorous manner.
He was hardly able to crawl about the room. Arbuthnot.
The meanest thing that crawl'd beneath my eyes. Byron.
3. To advance slowly and furtively; to insinuate one's self; to
advance or gain influence by servile or obsequious conduct.
Secretly crawling up the battered walls. Knolles.
Hath crawled into the favor of the king. Shak.
Absurd opinions crawl about the world. South.
4. To have a sensation as of insect creeping over the body; as, the
flesh crawls. See Creep, v. i. ,7.
CRAWL
Crawl (krl), n.
Defn: The act or motion of crawling;
CRAWL
Crawl, n. Etym: [Cf. Kraal.]
Defn: A pen or inclosure of stakes and hurdles on the seacoast, for
holding fish.
CRAWLER
Crawl"er (krl"r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, crawls; a creeper; a reptile.
CRAWL STROKE
Crawl stroke. (Swimming)
Defn: A racing stroke, in which the swimmer, lying flat on the water
with face submerged, takes alternate overhand arm strokes while
moving his legs up and down alternately from the knee.
CRAWLY
Crawl"y (krl"), a.
Defn: Creepy. [Colloq.]
CRAY; CRAYER
Cray (kr), Cray"er (-r), n.
Defn: See Crare. [Obs.]
CRAYFISH
Cray"fish (kr"fsh), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Crawfish.
CRAYON
Cray"on (kr"n), n. Etym: [F., a crayon, a lead pencil (crayon Conté
Conté's pencil, i. e., one made a black compound invented by Conté),
fr. craie chalk, L. creta; said to be, properly, Cretan earth, fr.
Creta the island Crete. Cf. Cretaceous.]
1. An implement for drawing, made of clay and plumbago, or of some
preparation of chalk, usually sold in small prisms or cylinders.
Let no day pass over you . . . without giving some strokes of the
pencil or the crayon. Dryden.
Note: The black crayon gives a deeper black than the lead pencil.
This and the colored crayons are often called chalks. The red crayon
is also called sanguine. See Chalk, and Sanguine.
2. A crayon drawing.
3. (Electricity)
Defn: A pencil of carbon used in producing electric light. Crayon
board, cardboard with a surface prepared for crayon drawing.
-- Crayon drawing, the act or art of drawing with crayons; a drawing
made with crayons.
CRAYON
Cray"on, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crayoned (-nd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crayoning.] Etym: [Cf. F. crayonner.]
Defn: To sketch, as with a crayon; to sketch or plan.
He soon afterwards composed that discourse, conformably to the plan
which he had crayoned out. Malone.
CRAZE
Craze (krz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crazed (krzd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crazing.] Etym: [OE. crasen to break, fr. Scand., perh. through OF.;
cf. Sw. krasa to crackle, sl, to break to pieces, F. to crush, fr.
the Scand. Cf. Crash.]
1. To break into pieces; to crush; to grind to powder. See Crase.
God, looking forth, will trouble all his host, And craze their
chariot wheels. Milton.
2. To weaken; to impair; to render decrepit. [Obs.]
Till length of years, And sedentary numbness, craze my limbs. Milton.
3. To derange the intellect of; to render insane.
Any man . . . that is crazed and out of his wits. Tilloston.
Grief hath crazed my wits. Shak.
CRAZE
Craze, v. i.
1. To be crazed, or to act or appear as
She would weep and he would craze. Keats.
2. To crack, as the glazing of porcelain or pottery.
CRAZE
Craze, n.
1. Craziness; insanity.
2. A strong habitual desire or fancy; a crotchet.
It was quite a craze with him [Burns] to have his Jean dressed
genteelly. Prof. Wilson.
3. A temporary passion or infatuation, as for same new amusement,
pursuit, or fashion; as, the bric-a-brac craze; the æsthetic craze.
Various crazes concerning health and disease. W. Pater.
CRAZEDNESS
Craz"ed*ness (-d-ns), n.
Defn: A broken state; decrepitude; an impaired state of the
intellect.
CRAZE-MILL; CRAZING-MILL
Craze"-mill` (krz"m*l`), Craz"ing-mill` (kr"zng-), n. Etym: [See 1st
Craze.]
Defn: A mill for grinding tin ore.
CRAZILY
Cra"zi*ly (kr*"z-l), adv.
Defn: In a crazy manner.
CRAZINESS
Cra"zi*ness, n.
1. The state of being broken down or weakened; as, the craziness of a
ship, or of the limbs.
2. The state of being broken in mind; imbecility or weakness of
intellect; derangement.
CRAZY
Cra"zy (kr"z), a. Etym: [From Craze.]
1. Characterized by weakness or feeblness; decrepit; broken; falling
to decay; shaky; unsafe.
Piles of mean andcrazy houses. Macualay.
One of great riches, but a crazy constitution. Addison.
They . . . got a crazy boat to carry them to the island. Jeffrey.
2. Broken, weakened, or dissordered in intellect; shattered;
demented; deranged.
Over moist and crazy brains. Hudibras.
3. Inordinately desirous; foolishly eager. [Colloq.]
The girls were crazy to be introduced to him. R. B. Kimball.
Crazy bone, the bony projection at the end of the elbow (olecranon),
behind which passes the ulnar nerve; -- so called on account of the
curiously painful tingling felt, when, in a particular position, it
receives a blow; -- called also funny bone.
-- Crazy quilt, a bedquilt made of pieces of silk or other material
of various sizes, shapes, and colors, fancifully stitched together
without definite plan or arrangement.
CREABLE
Cre"a*ble (kr"-b'l), a. Etym: [L. creabilis, from creare to create.
See Create.]
Defn: Capable of being created. [Obs.] I. Watts.
CREAGHT
Creaght (krt), n. Etym: [Ir. & Gael. graidh, graigh.]
Defn: A drove or herd. [Obs.] Haliwell.
CREAGHT
Creaght, v. i.
Defn: To graze. [Obs.] Sir. L. Davies.
CREAK
Creak (krk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Creaked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n.
Creaking.] Etym: [OE. creken, prob. of imitative origin; cf. E.
crack, and. D. kreiken to crackle, chirp.]
Defn: To make a prolonged sharp grating or ssqueaking sound, as by
the friction of hard substances; as, shoes creak.
The creaking locusts with my voice conspire. Dryden.
Doors upon their hinges creaked. Tennyson.
CREAK
Creak, v. t.
Defn: To produce a creaking sound with.
Creaking my shoes on the plain masonry. Shak.
CREAK
Creak (krk), n.
Defn: Thew sound produced by anuthing that creaks; a creaking. Roget.
CREAKING
CReak"ing, n.
Defn: A harsh grating or squeaking sound, or the act of making such a
sound.
Start not at the creaking of the door. Longfellow.
CREAM
Cream (krm), n. Etym: [F. cr, perh. fr. LL. crema cteam of milk; cf.
L. cremor thick juice or broth, perh. akin to cremare to burn.]
1. The rich, oily, and yellowish part of milk, which, when the milk
stands unagitated, rises, and collects on the surface. It is the part
of milk from which butter is obtained.
2. The part of any liquor that rises, and collects on the surface.
[R.]
3. A delicacy of several kinds prepared for the table from cream,
etc., or so as to resemble cream.
4. A cosmetic; a creamlike medicinal preparation.
In vain she tries her paste and creams, To smooth her skin or hide
its seams. Goldsmith.
5. The best or choicest part of a thing; the quintessence; as. the
cream of a jest or story; the cream of a collection of books or
pictures.
Welcome, O flower and cream of knights errant. Shelton.
Bavarian cream, a preparation of gelatin, cream, sugar, and eggs,
whipped; -- to be eaten cold.
-- Cold cream, an ointment made of white wax, almond oil, rose
water, and borax, and used as a salve for the hands and lips.
-- Cream cheese, a kind of cheese made from curd from which the
cream has not been taken off, or to which cream has been added.
-- Cream gauge, an instrument to test milk, being usually a
graduated glass tube in which the milk is placed for the cream to
rise.
-- Cream nut, the Brazil nut.
-- Cream of lime. (a) A scum of calcium carbonate which forms on a
solution of milk of lime from the carbon dioxide of the air. (b) A
thick creamy emulsion of lime in water.
-- Cream of tartar (Chem.), purified tartar or argol; so called
because of the crust of crystals which forms on the surface of the
liquor in the process of purification by recrystallization. It is a
white crystalline substance, with a gritty acid taste, and is used
very largely as an ingredient of baking powders; -- called also
potassium bitartrate, acid potassium tartrate, etc.
CREAM
Cream, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creamed (krmd); p. pr. & vb. n. Creaming.]
1. To skim, or take off by skimming, as cream.
2. To take off the best or choicest part of.
3. To furnish with, or as with, cream.
Creaming the fragrant cups. Mrs. Whitney.
To cream butter (Cooking), to rub, stir, or beat, butter till it is
of a light creamy consistency.
CREAM
Cream, v. i.
Defn: To form or become covered with cream; to become thick like
cream; to assume the appearance of cream; hence, to grow stiff or
formal; to mantle.
There are a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a
standing pool. Shak.
CREAMCAKE
Cream"cake` (-kk`), n. (Cookery)
Defn: A kind of cake filled with custard made of cream, eggs, etc.
CREAM-COLORED
Cream"-col`ored (-kl`rd), a.
Defn: Of the color of cream; light yellow. "Cream-colored horses."
Hazlitt.
CREAMERY
Cream"er*y (-r-), n.; pl. Creameries (-. Etym: [CF. F. cr.]
1. A place where butter and cheese are made, or where milk and cream
are put up in cans for market.
2. A place or apparatus in which milk is set for raising cream.
3. An establishment where cream is sold.
CREAM-FACED
Cream"-faced` (krm"fst`), a.
Defn: White or pale, as the effect of fear, or as the natural
complexion.
Thou cream-faced loon. Shak.
CREAM-FRUIT
Cream"-fruit` (krm"frt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of Sierra Leone which yields a wholesome, creamy juice.
CREAMINESS
Cream"i*ness (--ns), n.
Defn: The quality of being creamy.
CREAM LAID
Cream" laid` (krm" ld`).
Defn: See under Laid.
CREAM-SLICE
Cream"-slice` (-sls`), n.
Defn: A wooden knife with a long thin blade, used in handling cream
or ice cream.
CREAM-WHITE
Cream"-white` (-hwt`), a.
Defn: As white as cream.
CREAMY
Cream"y (krm"), a.
Defn: Full of, or containing, cream; resembling cream, in nature,
appearance, or taste; creamlike; unctuous. "Creamy bowis." Collins.
"Lines of creamy spray." Tennyson. "Your creamy words but cozen."
Beau & Fl.
CREANCE
Cre"ance (kr"ans), n. Etym: [F. créance, lit., credence, fr. L.
credere to trust. See Credence.]
1. Faith; belief; creed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Falconry)
Defn: A fine, small line, fastened to a hawk's leash, when it is
first lured.
CREANCE
Cre"ance (kr*"ans), v. i. & t.
Defn: To get on credit; to borrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CREANT
Cre"ant (kr"ant), a. Etym: [L. creans, p. pr. of creare to create.]
Defn: Creative; formative. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
CREASE
Crease (krs), n.
Defn: See Creese. Tennison.
CREASE
Crease, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. krus, G. krause, crispness, krausen, kr, to
crisp, curl, lay on folds; or perh. of Celtic origin; cf. Armor.kriz
a wrinkle, crease, kriza to wrinkle, fold, W. crych a wrinkle, crychu
to rumple, ripple, crease.]
1. A line or mark made by folding or doubling any pliable substance;
hence, a similar mark, howewer produced.
2. (Cricket)
Defn: One of the lines serving to define the limits of the bowler and
the striker. Bowling crease (Cricket), a line extending three feet
four inches on each side of the central strings at right angles to
the line between the wickets.
-- Return crease (Cricket), a short line at each end of the bowling
crease and at right angles to it, extending toward the bowler.
-- Popping crease (Cricket),, a line drawn in front of the wicket,
four feet distant from it, parallel to the bowling crease and at
least as long as the latter. J. H. Walsh (Encyc. of Rural Sports).
CREASE
Crease, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creased (krst); p. pr. & vb. n.
Creasing.]
Defn: To make a crease or mark in, as by folding or doubling.
Creased, like dog's ears in a folio. Gray.
CREASER
Creas"er (krs"r), n.
1. A tool, or a sewing-mashine attachment, for making lines or
creases on leather or cloth, as guides to sew by.
2. A tool for making creases or beads, as in sheet iron, or for
rounding small tubes.
3. (Bookbinding)
Defn: A tool for making the band impression distinct on the back.
Knight.
CREASING
Creas"ing (krs"ng), n. (Arch.)
Defn: A layer of tiles forming a corona for a wall.
CREASOTE
Cre"a*sote (kr"-st), n.
Defn: See Creosote.
CREASY
Creas"y (krs"), a.
Defn: Full of creases. Tennyson.
CREAT
Cre"at (kr"t), n. Etym: [F. cr, ultimateli fr. L. creatus created,
begotten; cf. It. creato pupil, servant, Sp. criado a servant,
client.] (Man.)
Defn: An usher to a riding master.
CREATABLE
Cre*at"a*ble (kr-"t-b'l), a.
Defn: That may be created.
CREATE
Cre*ate" (kr-t"), a.Etym: [L. creatus, p. p. of creare to create;
akin to Gr. k to make, and to E. ending -cracy in aristocracy, also
to crescent, cereal.]
Defn: Created; composed; begotte. [Obs.]
Hearts create of duty and zeal. Shak.
CREATE
Cre*ate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Created;p. pr. & vb. n. Creating.]
1. To bring into being; to form out of nothing; to cause to exist.
In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. Gen. i. 1.
2. To effect by the agency, and under the laws, of causation; to be
the occasion of; to cause; to produce; to form or fashion; to renew.
Your eye in Scotland Would create soldiers. Shak.
Create in me a clean heart. Ps. li. 10.
3. To invest with a new form, office, or character; to constitute; to
appoint; to make; as, to create one a peer. "I create you companions
to our person." Shak.
CREATIC
Cre*at"ic (kr-t"k), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to, or produced by, flesh or animal food; as, creatic
nausea. [Written also kreatic.]
CREATIN
Cre"a*tin (kr"-tn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance found abundantly in
muscle tissue. [Written also kreatine.]
CREATININ
Cre*at"i*nin (kr-t"-nn), n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous body closely related to
creatin but more basic in its properties, formed from the latter by
the action of acids, and occurring naturally in muscle tissue and in
urine. [Written also kretinine.]
CREATION
Cre*a"tion (kr-A"shn), n. Etym: [L. creatio: cf. F. cr. See Create.]
1. The act of creating or causing to exist. Specifically, the act of
bringing the universe or this world into existence.
From the creation to the general doom. Shak.
As when a new particle of matter dotn begin to exist, in rerum
natura, which had before no being; and this we call creation. Locke.
2. That which is created; that which is produced or caused to exist,
as the world or some original work of art or of the imagination;
nature.
We know that the whole creation groaneth. Rom. viii. 22.
A dagger of the mind, a false creation. Shak.
Choice pictures and creations of curious art. Beaconsfield.
3. The act of constituting or investing with a new character;
appointment; formation.
An Irish peer of recent creation. Landor.
CREATIONAL
Cre*a"tion*al (-al), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to creation.
CREATIONISM
Cre*a"tion*ism (-z'm), n.
Defn: The doctrine that a soul is specially created for each human
being as soon as it is formed in the womb; -- opposed to
traducianism.
CREATIVE
Cre*a"tive (-tv), a.
Defn: Having the power to create; exerting the act of creation.
"Creative talent." W. Irving.
The creative force exists in the germ. Whewell.
CREATIVENESS
Cre*a"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The qualiyu of being creative.
CREATOR
Crea*"tor (kr-"tr), n. Etym: [L. creator: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: One who creates, produces, or constitutes. Specifically, the
Supreme Being.
To sin's rebuke and my Creater's praise. Shak.
The poets and artists of Greece, who are at the same time its
prophets, the creators of its divinities, and the revealers of its
theological beliefs. Caird.
CREATORSHIP
Cre*a"tor*ship, n.
Defn: State or condition of a creator.
CREATRESS
Cre*a"tress, n. Etym: [L. creatrix: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: She who creates. Spenser.
CREATRIX
Cre*a"trix (-trks), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A creatress. [R.]
CREATURAL
Crea"tur*al (kr"tr-al; 135), a.
Defn: Belonging to a creature; having the qualities of a creature.
[R.]
CREATURE
Crea"ture (kr"tr; 135), n. Etym: [F. cr, L. creatura. See Create.]
1. Anything created; anything not self-existent; especially, any
being created with life; an animal; a man.
He asked water, a creature so common and needful that it was against
the law of nature to deny him. Fuller.
God's first creature was light. Bacon.
On earth, join, all ye creatures, to extol Him first, him last, him
midst, and without end. Milton.
And most attractive is the fair result Of thought, the creature of a
polished mind. Cowper.
2. A human being, in pity, contempt, or endearment; as, a poor
creature; a pretty creature.
The world hath not a sweeter creature. Shak.
3. A person who owes his rise and fortune to another; a servile
dependent; an instrument; a tool.
A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen. Shak.
Both Charles himself and his creature, Laud. Macualay.
4. A general term among farmers for horses, oxen, etc. Creature
comforts, those which minister to the comfort of the body.
CREATURELESS
Crea"ture*less, a.
Defn: Without created beings; alone.
God was alone And creatureless at first. Donne.
CREATURELY
Crea"ture*ly, a.
Defn: Creatural; characteristic of a creature. [R.] "Creaturely
faculties." Cheyne.
CREATURESHIP
Crea"ture*ship, n.
Defn: The condition of being a creature.
CREATURIZE
Crea"tur*ize (-z), v. t.
Defn: To make like a creature; to degrade [Obs.]
Degrade and creaturize that mundane soul. Cudworth.
CREAZE
Creaze (krz), n. (Mining)
Defn: The tin ore which collects in the central part of the washing
pit or buddle.
CREBRICOSTATE
Cre`bri*cos"tate (kr`br-ks"tt), a. Etym: [L. creber close + costa
rib.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with closely set ribs or ridges.
CREBRISULCATE
Cre`bri*sul"cate (kr`br-sl"kt), a. Etym: [L. creber close + sulcus
furrow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Marked with closely set transverse furrows.
CREBRITUDE
Creb"ri*tude (krb"r-td), n. Etym: [L. crebritudo, fr. creber close.]
Defn: Frequency. [Obs.] Bailey.
CREBROUS
Cre"brous (kr"brs), a. Etym: [L. creber close set, frequent.]
Defn: Frequent; numerous. [Obs.] Goodwin.
CRECHE
Creche (krsh), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A public nursery, where the young children of poor women are
cared for during the day, while their mothers are at work.
CREDENCE
Cre"dence (kr"dens), n. Etym: [LL. credentia, fr. L. credens, -entis,
p. pr. of credere to trust, believe: cf. OF. credence. See Creed, and
cf. Credent, Creance.]
1. Reliance of the mind on evidence of facts derived from other
sources than personal knowledge; belief; credit; confidence.
To give credence to the Scripture miracles. Trench.
An assertion which might easily find credence. Macualay.
2. That which gives a claim to credit, belief, or confidence; as, a
letter of credence.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The small table by the side of the altar or communion table, on
which the bread and wine are placed before being consecrated.
4. A cupboard, sideboard, or cabinet, particularly one intended for
the display of rich vessels or plate, and consisting chiefly of open
shelves for that purpose.
CREDENCE
Cre"dence, v. t.
Defn: To give credence to; to believe. [Obs.]
CREDENDUM
Cre*den"dum (kr-dn"dm), n.;pl. Credenda (-d. Etym: [L., fr. credere
to belive.] (Theol.)
Defn: A thing to be believed; an article of faith; -- distinguished
from agendum, a practical duty.
The great articles and credenda of Christianity. South.
CREDENT
Cre"dent (kr"dent), a. Etym: [. credens, -entis, p. pr. of credere to
trust, believe. See Creed.]
1. Believing; giving credence; credulous. [R.]
If with too credent esr you list songs. Shak.
2. Having credit or authority; credible. [Obs.]
For my authority bears of a credent bulk. Shak.
CREDENTIAL
Cre*den"tial (kr-dn"shal), a. Etym: [Cf. It. credenziale, fr. LL.
credentia. See Credence.]
Defn: Giving a title or claim to credit or confidence; accrediting.
Their credential letters on both sides. Camden.
CREDENTIAL
Cre*den"tial, n. Etym: [Cf. It. credenziale.]
1. That which gives a title to credit or confidence.
2. pl.
Defn: Testimonials showing that a person is entitled to credit, or
has right to exercise official power, as the letters given by a
government to an ambassador or envoy, or a certificate that one is a
duly elected delegate.
The committee of estates excepted against the credentials of the
English commissioners. Whitelocke.
Had they not shown undoubted credentials from the Divine Person who
sent them on such a message. Addison.
CREDIBILITY
Cred`i*bil"i*ty (krd`-bl"-t), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cr.]
Defn: The quality of being credible; credibleness; as, the
credibility of facts; the credibility of witnesses.
CREDIBLE
Cred"i*ble (krd"-b'l), a. Etym: [L. credibilis, fr. credere. See
Creed.]
Defn: Capable of being credited or believed; worthy of belief;
entiled to confidence; trustworthy.
Things are made credible either by the known condition and quality of
the utterer or by the manifest likelihood of truth in themselves.
Hooker.
A very diligent and observing person, and likewise very sober and
credible. Dampier.
CREDIBLENESS
Cred"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being credible; worthness of belief;
credibility. [R.] Boyle.
CREDIBLY
Cred"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner inducing belief; as, I have been credibly informed
of the event.
CREDIT
Cred"it (krd"t), n. Etym: [F. cr (cf. It. credito), L. creditum loan,
prop. neut. of creditus, p. p. of credere to trust, loan, believe.
See Creed.]
1. Reliance on the truth of something said or done; belief; faith;
trust; confidence.
When Jonathan and the people heard these words they gave no credit
into them, nor received them. 1 Macc. x. 46.
2. Reputation derived from the confidence of others; esteem; honor;
good name; estimation.
John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown. Cowper.
3. A ground of, or title to, belief or confidence; authority derived
from character or reputation.
The things which we properly believe, be only such as are received on
the credit of divine testimony. Hooker.
4. That which tends to procure, or add to, reputation or esteem; an
honor.
I published, because I was told I might please such as it was a
credit to please. Pope.
5. Influence derived from the good opinion, confidence, or favor of
others; interest.
Having credit enough with his master to provide for his own interest.
Clarendon.
6. (Com.)
Defn: Trust given or received; expectation of future playment for
property transferred, or of fulfillment or promises given; mercantile
reputation entitling one to be trusted; -- applied to individuals,
corporations, communities, or nations; as, to buy goods on credit.
Credit is nothing but the expectation of money, within some limited
time. Locke.
7. The time given for payment for lands or goods sold on trust; as, a
long credit or a short credit.
8. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: The side of an account on which are entered all items reckoned
as values received from the party or the category named at the head
of the account; also, any one, or the sum, of these items; -- the
opposite of debit; as, this sum is carried to one's credit, and that
to his debit; A has several credits on the books of B. Bank credit,
or Cash credit. See under Cash.
-- Bill of credit. See under Bill.
-- Letter of credit, a letter or notification addressed by a banker
to his correspondent, informing him that the person named therein is
entitled to draw a certain sum of money; when addressed to several
different correspondents, or when the money can be drawn in
fractional sums in several different places, it is called a circular
letter of credit.
-- Public credit. (a) The reputation of, or general confidence in,
the ability or readiness of a government to fulfull its pecuniary
engagements. (b) The ability and fidelity of merchants or others who
owe largely in a community.
He touched the dead corpse of Public Credit, and it sprung upon its
feet. D. Webster.
CREDIT
Cred"it (krd"t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Credited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Crediting.]
1. To confide in the truth of; to give credence to; to put trust in;
to believe.
How shall they credit A poor unlearned virgin Shak.
2. To bring honor or repute upon; to do credit to; to raise the
estimation of.
You credit the church as much by your government as you did the
school formerly by your wit. South.
3. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: To enter upon the credit side of an account; to give credit
for; as, to credit the amount paid; to set to the credit of; as, to
credit a man with the interest paid on a bond. To credit with, to
give credit for; to assign as justly due to any one.
Crove, Helmholtz, and Meyer, are more than any others to be credited
with the clear enunciation of this doctrine. Newman.
CREDITABLE
Cred"it*a*ble (--b'l), a.
1. Worthy of belief. [Obs.]
Divers creditable witnesses deposed. Ludlow.
2. Deserving or possessing reputation or esteem; reputable;
estimable.
This gentleman was born of creditable parents. Goldsmith.
3. Bringing credit, reputation, or honor; honorable; as, such conduct
is highly creditable to him. Macualay.
He settled him in a good creditable way of living. Arbuthnot.
CREDITABLENESS
Cred"it*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being creditable.
CREDITABLY
Cred"it*a*bly (--bl), adv.
Defn: In a creditable manner; reputably; with credit.
CREDIT FONCIER
Cre`dit" fon`cier" (krd" fn`s"). Etym: [F. cr credit & foncier
relating to land, landed.]
Defn: A company licensed for the purpose of carrying out
improvements, by means of loans and advances upon real securities. ]
CREDIT MOBILIER
Cre`dit" mo`bi`lier" (m`b`ly"). Etym: [F. cr credit & mobilier
personal, pertaining to personal property.]
Defn: A joint stock company, formed for general banking business, or
for the construction of public works, by means of loans on personal
estate, after the manner of the crédit foncier on real estate. In
practice, however, this distinction has not been strictly observed.
CREDITOR
Cred"it*or (krd"t-r), n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. cr. See Credit.]
1. One who credits, believes, or trusts.
The easy creditors of novelties. Daniel.
2. One who gives credit in business matters; hence, one to whom money
is due; -- correlative to debtor.
Creditors have better memories than debtors. Franklin.
CREDITRESS; CREDITRIX
Cred"it*ress (krd"t-rs), Cred"i*trix (krd"-trks), n. Etym: [L.
creditrix.]
Defn: A female creditor.
CREDO
Cre"do (kr"d), n. Etym: [L. See Creed.]
Defn: The creed, as sung or read in the Roman Catholic church.
He repeated Aves and Credos. Macualay.
CREDULITY
Cre*du"li*ty (kr-d"l-t), n. Etym: [L. credulitas, fr. credulus: cf.
F. cr. See Credulous.]
Defn: Readiness of belief; a disposition to believe on slight
evidence.
That implict credulity is the mark of a feeble mind will not be
disputed. Sir W. Hamilton.
CREDULOUS
Cred"u*lous (krd"-ls; 135), a. Etym: [L. credulus, fr. credere. See
Creed.]
1. Apt to believe on slight evidence; easly imposed upon;
unsuspecting. Landor.
Eve, our credulous mother. Milton.
2. Believed too readily. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.
CREDULOUSLY
Cred"u*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: With credulity.
CREDULOUSNESS
Cred"u*lous*ness, n.
Defn: Readiness to believe on slight evidence; credulity.
Beyond all credulity is the credulousness of atheists. S. Clarke.
CREED
Creed (krd), n. Etym: [OE. credo, crede, AS. creda, fr. L. credo I
believe, at the beginning of the Apostles' creed, fr. credere to
believe; akin to OIr. cretin I believe, and Skr. ; crat trust + dh to
put. See Do, v. t., and cf. Credo, Grant.]
1. A definite summary of what is believed; esp., a summary of the
articles of Christian faith; a confession of faith for public use;
esp., one which is brief and comprehensive.
In the Protestant system the creed is not coördinate with, but always
subordinate to, the Bible. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
2. Any summary of principles or opinions professed or adhered to.
I love him not, nor fear him; there's my creed. Shak.
Apostles' creed, Athanasian creed, Nicene creed. See under Apostle,
Athanasian, Nicene.
CREED
Creed, v. t.
Defn: To believe; to credit. [Obs.]
That part which is so creeded by the people. Milton.
CREEDLESS
Creed"less, a.
Defn: Without a creed. Carlyle.
CREEK
Creek (krk), n. Etym: [AS. crecca; akin to D. kreek, Icel. kriki
crack, nook; cf. W. crig crack, crigyll ravine, creek. Cf. Crick,
Crook.]
1. A small inlet or bay, narrower and extending further into the land
than a cove; a recess in the shore of the sea, or of a river.
Each creek and cavern of the dangerous shore. Cowper.
They discovered a certain creek, with a shore. Acts xxvii. 39.
2. A stream of water smaller than a river and larger than a brook.
Lesser streams and rivulets are denominated creeks. Goldsmith.
3. Any turn or winding.
The passages of alleys, creeks, and narrow lands. Shak.
CREEKFISH
Creek"fish (krk"fsh), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The chub sucker.
CREEKS
Creeks (krks), n. pl.; sing. Creek. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe or confederacy of North American Indians, including the
Muskogees, Seminoles, Uchees, and other subordinate tribes. They
formerly inhabited Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
CREEKY
Creek"y (krk"), a.
Defn: Containing, or abounding in, creeks; characterized by creeks;
like a creek; winding. "The creeky shore." Spenser.
CREEL
Creel (krl), n. Etym: [Gael. craidhleag basket, creel.]
1. An osier basket, such as anglers use. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Spinning)
Defn: A bar or set of bars with skewers for holding paying-off
bobbins, as in the roving machine, throstle, and mule.
CREEP
Creep (krp), v. t. [imp. Crept (krpt) (Crope (kr, Obs.); p. p. Crept;
p. pr. & vb. n. Creeping.] Etym: [OE. crepen, creopen, AS. cre; akin
to D. kruipen, G. kriechen, Icel. krjupa, Sw. krypa, Dan. krybe. Cf.
Cripple, Crouch.]
1. To move along the ground, or on any other surface, on the belly,
as a worm or reptile; to move as a child on the hands and knees; to
crawl.
Ye that walk The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep. Milton.
2. To move slowly, feebly, or timorously, as from unwillingness,
fear, or weakness.
The whining schoolboy . . . creeping, like snail, Unwillingly to
school. Shak.
Like guilty thing, Icreep. Tennyson.
3. To move in a stealthy or secret manner; to move imperceptibly or
clandestinely; to steal in; to insinuate itself or one's self; as,
age creeps upon us.
The sothistry which creeps into most of the books of argument. Locke.
Of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly
women. 2. Tim. iii. 6.
4. To slip, or to become slightly displaced; as, the collodion on a
negative, or a coat of varnish, may creep in drying; the quicksilver
on a mirror may creep.
5. To move or behave with servility or exaggerated humility; to fawn;
as, a creeping sycophant.
To come as humbly as they used to creep. Shak.
6. To grow, as a vine, clinging to the ground or to some other
support by means of roots or rootlets, or by tendrils, along its
length. "Creeping vines." Dryden.
7. To have a sensation as of insects creeping on the skin of the
body; to crawl; as, the sight made my flesh creep. See Crawl, v.
i.,4.
8. To drag in deep water with creepers, as for recovering a submarine
cable.
CREEP
Creep, n.
1. The act or process of creeping.
2. A distressing sensation, or sound, like that occasioned by the
creeping of insects.
A creep of undefinable horror. Blackwood's Mag.
Out of the stillness, with gathering creep, Like rising wind in
leaves. Lowell.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A slow rising of the floor of a gallery, occasioned by the
pressure of incumbent strata upon the pillars or sides; a gradual
movement of mining ground.
CREEPER
Creep"er (krp"r), n.
1. One who, or that which, creeps; any creeping thing.
Standing waters are most unwholesome, . . . full of mites,creepers;
slimy, muddy, unclean. Burton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant that clings by rootlets, or by tendrils, to the ground,
or to trees, etc.; as, the Virginia creeper (Ampelopsis
quinquefolia).
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small bird of the genus Certhia, allied to the wrens. The
brown or common European creeper is C. familiaris, a variety of which
(var. Americana) inhabits America; -- called also tree creeper and
creeptree. The American black and white creeper is Mniotilta varia.
4. A kind of patten mounted on short pieces of iron instead of rings;
also, a fixture with iron points worn on a shoe to prevent one from
slipping.
5. pl.
Defn: A spurlike device strapped to the boot, which enables one to
climb a tree or pole; -- called often telegraph creepers.
6. A small, low iron, or dog, between the andirons.
7. pl.
Defn: An instrument with iron hooks or claws for dragging at the
bottom of a well, or any other body of water, and bringing up what
may lie there.
8. Any device for causing material to move steadily from one part of
a machine to another, as an apron in a carding machine, or an inner
spiral in a grain screen.
9. pl. (Arch.)
Defn: Crockets. See Crocket.
CREEPHOLE
Creep"hole` (-hl`), n.
1. A hole or retreat onto which an animal may creep, to escape notice
or danger.
2. A subterfuge; an excuse.
CREEPIE
Creep"ie (-), n.
Defn: A low stool. [Scot.]
CREEPINESS
Creep"i*ness (--ns), n.
Defn: An uneasy sensation as of insects creeping on the skin.
She felt a curious, uneasy creepiness. Mrs. Alexander.
CREEPING
Creep"ing, a.
1. Crawling, or moving close to the ground. "Every creeping thing."
Gen. vi. 20.
2. Growing along, and clinging to, the ground, or to a wall, etc., by
means of rootlets or tendrils.
Casements lined with creeping herbs. Cowper.
Ceeping crowfoot (Bot.), a plant, the Ranunculus repens.- Creeping
snowberry, an American plant (Chiogenes hispidula) with white berries
and very small round leaves having the flavor of wintergreen.
CREEPING CHARLIE
Creep"ing Char"lie.
Defn: The stonecrop (Sedum acre).
CREEPINGLY
Creep"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: by creeping slowly; in the manner of a reptile; insidiously;
cunningly.
How slily and creepingly did he address himself to our first parents.
South.
CREEPLE
Cree"ple (kr"p'l), n. Etym: [See Cripple.]
1. A creeping creature; a reptile. [Obs.]
There is one creeping beast, or long creeple (as the name is in
Devonshire), that hath a rattle at his tail that doth discover his
age. Morton (1632).
2. One who is lame; a cripple. [Obs.]
Thou knowest how lame a creeple this world is. Donne.
CREEPY
Creep"y (krp"), a.
Defn: Crawly; having or producing a sensation like that caused by
insects creeping on the skin. [Colloq.]
One's whole blood grew curdling and creepy. R. Browning.
CREES
Crees (krz), n. pl.; sing. Cree. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An Algonquin tribe of Indians, inhabiting a large part of
British America east of the Rocky Mountains and south of Hudson's
Bay.
CREESE
Creese (krs), n. Etym: [Malay. kris.]
Defn: A dagger or short sword used by the Malays, commonly having a
serpentine blade. [Written also crease and kris.]
From a Malayan creese to a sailor's jackknife. Julian Hawthorne.
CREMAILLERE
Cré`mail`lère" (kr`m`lyr" or -m`yr"), n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: An indented or zigzaged line of intrenchment.
CREMASTER
Cre*mas"ter (kr-ms"tr), n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A thin muscle which serves to draw up the testicle.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The apex of the last abdominal segment of an insect.
CREMASTERIC
Crem`as*ter"ic (krm`3s-tr"k), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cremaster; as, the cremasteric artery.
CREMATE
Cre"mate (kr"mt or kr-mt"), v. t. Etym: [L. crematus, p. p. of
cremare to burn; cf. Skr. cr to cook.]
Defn: To burn; to reduce to ashes by the action of fire, either
directly or in an oven or retort; to incremate or incinerate; as, to
cremate a corpse, instead of burying it.
CREMATION
Cre*ma"tion (kr-m"shn), n. Etym: [L. crematio.]
Defn: A burning; esp., the act or practice of cremating the dead.
Without cremation . . . of their bodies. Sir T. Browne.
CREMATIONIST
Cre*ma"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates the practice of cremation.
CREMATOR
Cre*ma"tor (-tr), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, cremmates or consumes to ashes.
CREMATORIUM; CREMATORY
Crem`a*to"ri*um (krm`-t"r-m), Crem"a*to*ry (krm"-t-r), n.; pl.
Crematoriums (-Crematories (-r. Etym: [NL. crematorium, fr. L.
cremator.]
Defn: A furnace for cremating corpses; a building containing such a
furnace.
CREMATORY
Crem"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, cremation.
CREME
Crême, n. [F.]
Defn: Cream; -- a term used esp. in cookery, names of liqueurs, etc.
CREMOCARP
Crem"o*carp (krm"-krp or kr"m-), n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The peculiar fruit of fennel, carrott, parsnip, and the like,
consisting of a pair of carpels pendent from a supporting axis.
CREMONA
Cre*mo"na (kr-m"n), n.
Defn: A superior kind of violin, formerly made at Cremona, in Italy.
CREMOR
Cre"mor (kr"mr), n. Etym: [L. CF. Cream.]
Defn: Cream; a substance resembling cream; yeast; scum.
CREMOSIN
Crem"o*sin (krm"-sn), n.
Defn: See Crimson. [Obs.]
CREMS
Crems (krmz), n.
Defn: See Krems.
CRENATE; CRENATED
Cre"nate (krnt), Cre"na*ted (kr"n-td), a. Etym: [L. crena notch. See
Cranny.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the margin cut into rounded teeth notches, or scallops.
CRENATION
Cre*na"tion (kr-n"shn), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A rounded tooth on the edge of a leaf.
2. The condition of being crenate.
CRENATURE
Cren"a*ture (krn"-tr or kr"n-; 135), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A rounded tooth or notch of a crenate leaf, or any part that is
crenate; -- called also crenelle.
2. The state of being crenated or notched.
CRENEL
Cre*nel" (kr-nl"), n.
Defn: See Crenelle.
CRENELATE
Cren"el*ate (krn"l-t or kr"nl-t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crenelated (-
`td); p. pr. & vb. n. Crenelating (-`tng).] Etym: [LL. crenellare,
kernellare: cf. F. cr to indent. See Crenelle.] [Written also
crenellate.]
1. To furnish with crenelles.
2. To indent; to notch; as, a crenelated leaf. Crenelated molding
(Arch.), a kind of indented molding used in Norman buildings.
CRENELATION
Cren`el*a"tion (-"shn), n.
Defn: The act of crenelating, or the state of being crenelated; an
indentation or an embrasure. [Written also crenellation.]
CRENELLE; CRENEL
Cre*nelle", Cre*nel" (kr-nl"), n. Etym: [OF. crenel, F. cr, LL.
crenellus, kernellus, dim. (prob.) fr. L. crena notch. See Crenny.]
1. An embrasure or indentation in a battlement; a loophole in a
fortress; an indentation; a notch. See Merlon, and Illust. of
Battlement.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Crenature.
CRENELLED
Cre*nelled" (kr a. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Crenate.
CRENGLE; CRENKLE
Cren"gle (krn"g'l), Cren"kle (-k'l), n.
Defn: See Cringle.
CRENULATE; CRENULATED
Cren"u*late (krn"-lt), Cren"u*la`ted (-l`td), a. Etym: [Dim. of
crenate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Minutely crenate.
CRENULATION
Cren`u*la"tion (-l"shn), n.
1. A minute crenation.
2. The state of being minutely scalloped.
CREOLE
Cre"ole (kr"l), n. Etym: [F. cr, Sp. criollo, from an American negro
word, perh. a corruption of a Sp. criadillo, dim. of criado servant,
formerly also, child, fr. L. creatus, p. p. of creare to create. Cf.
Create.]
Defn: One born of European parents in the American colonies of France
or Spain or in the States which were once such colonies, esp. a
person of French or Spanish descent, who is a native inhabitant of
Louisiana, or one of the States adjoining, bordering on the Gulf of
of Mexico.
Note: "The term creole negro is employed in the English West Indies
to distinguish the negroes born there from the Africans imported
during the time of the slave trade. The application of this term to
the colored people has led to an idea common in some parts of the
United States, though wholly unfounded, that it implies an admixture
greater or less of African blood." R. Hildreth.
Note: "The title [Creole] did not first belong to the descendants of
Spanish, but of French, settlers, But such a meaning implied a
certain excellence of origin, and so came early to include any native
of French or Spanish descent by either parent, whose nonalliance with
the slave race entitled him to social rank. Later, the term was
adopted by, not conceded to, the natives of mixed blood, and is still
so used among themselves. . . . Besides French and Spanish, there are
even, for convenience of speech, 'colored' Creoles; but there are no
Italian, or Sicilian, nor any English, Scotch, Irish, or 'Yankee'
Creoles, unless of parentage married into, and themselves thoroughly
proselyted in, Creole society." G. W. Cable.
CREOLE
Cre"ole (kr"l), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a Creole or the Creoles.
Note: In New Orleans the word Creole is applied to any product, or
variety of manufacture, peculiar to Louisiana; as, Creole ponies,
chickens, cows, shoes, eggs, wagons, baskets, etc.
CREOLEAN; CREOLIAN
Cre*o"le*an (kr-"l-an), Cre*o"li*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the Creoles.
-- n.
Defn: A Creole.
CREOLE STATE
Creole State.
Defn: Louisiana; -- a nickname. See Creole, n. & a.
CREOSOL
Cre"o*sol (kr"-sl), n. Etym: [Cresote + phenol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless liquid resembling phenol or carbolic acid,
homologous with pyrocatechin, and obtained from beechwood tar and gum
guaiacum. [Written also creasol.]
CREOSOTE
Cre"o*sote (kr"-st), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Wood-tar oil; an oily antiseptic liquid, of a burning smoky
taste, colorless when pure, but usually colored yellow or brown by
impurity or exposure. It is a complex mixture of various phenols and
their ethers, and is obtained by the distillation of wood tar,
especially that of beechwood.
Note: It is remarkable as an antiseptic and deodorizer in the
preservation of wood, flesh, etc., and in the prevention of
putrefaction; but it is a poor germicide, and in this respect has
been overrated. Smoked meat, as ham, owes its preservation and taste
to a small quantity of creosote absorbed from the smoke to which it
is exposed. Carbolic acid is phenol proper, while creosote is a
mixture of several phenols. Coal-tar creosote (Chem.), a colorless or
yellow, oily liquid, obtained in the distillation of coal tar, and
resembling wood-tar oil, or creosote proper, in composition and
properties.
CREOSOTE
Cre"o*sote, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Creosoted (-s"td); p. pr. & vb. n.
Creosoting.]
Defn: To saturate or impregnate with creosote, as timber, for the
prevention of decay.
CREOSOTE BUSH
Cre"o*sote bush.
Defn: A shrub (Covillea mexicana) found in desert regions from
Colorado to California and southward through Mexico. It has yellow
flowers and very resinous foliage with a strong odor of creosote.
CREPANCE; CREPANE
Cre"pance (kr"pans), Cre"pane (kr"pn), n. Etym: [Cf. L. crepare to
crack.] (Far.)
Defn: An injury in a horse's leg, caused by the shoe of one hind foot
striking and cutting the other leg. It sometimes forms an ulcer.
CREPE
Crêpe (krp), n.
Defn: Same as Crape.
CREPITANT
Crep"i*tant (krp"-tant), a. Etym: [See Crepitate.]
Defn: Having a crackling sound; crackling; rattling. Crepitant rale
(Med.), a peculiar crackling sound audible with inspiration in
pneumonia and other lung disease.
CREPITATE
Crep"i*tate (kr, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crepitated (-t; p. pr. & vb. n.
Crepitating (-t.] Etym: [L. crepitatus, p. p. of crepitare to
crackle, v. intensive of crepare to crack. Cf. Crevice.]
Defn: To make a series of small, sharp, rapidly repeated explosions
or sounds, as salt in fire; to crackle; to snap.
CREPITATION
Crep`i*ta"tion (krp`-t"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. crépitation.]
1. The act of crepitating or crackling.
2. (Med.)
(a) A grating or crackling sensation or sound, as that produced by
rubbing two fragments of a broken bone together, or by pressing upon
cellular tissue containing air.
(b) A crepitant râle.
CREPITUS
Crep"i*tus (krp"-ts), n. Etym: [L., fr. crepare to crack.] (Med.)
(a) The noise produced bu a sudden discharge of wind from the bowels.
(b) Same as Crepitation, 2.
CREPON
Cre"pon (kr"pn; F. kr`pn"), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A thin stuff made of the finest wool or silk, or of wool and
silk.
CREPT
Crept (krpt),
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Creep.
CREPUSCLE; CREPUSCULE
Cre*pus"cle (kr-ps"s'l), Cre*pus"cule (kr-ps"kl), n. Etym: [L.
crepusculum, fr. creper dusky, dark: cf. F. cr.]
Defn: Twilight. Bailey.
CREPUSCULAR; CREPUSCULOUS
Cre*pus"cu*lar (-k-lr), Cre*pus"cu*lous (-ls), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cr.]
1. Pertaining to twilight; glimmering; hence, imperfectly clear or
luminous.
This semihistorical and crepuscular period. Sir G. C. Lewis.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Flying in the twilight or evening, or before sunrise; -- said
certain birds and insects.
Others feed only in the twilight, as bats and owls, and are called
crepuscular. Whewell.
CREPUSCULINE
Cre*pus"cu*line, a.
Defn: Crepuscular. [Obs.] Sprat.
CRESCENCE
Cres"cence (krs"sens), n. Etym: [See Crescent.]
Defn: Increase; enlargement. [Obs.]
And toward the moon's attractive crescence bend. H. Brooke.
CRESCENDO
Cres*cen"do (krs-sn"d; It. kr-shn"d), a. & adv. Etym: [It., from
crescere to increase. See Crescent.] (Mus.)
Defn: With a constantly increasing volume of voice; with gradually
increasing strength and fullness of tone; -- a direction for the
performance of music, indicated by the mark, or by writing the word
on the score.
CRESCENDO
Cres*cen"do, n. (Mus.)
(a) A gradual increase in the strength and fullness of tone with
which a passage is performed.
(b) A pssage to be performed with constantly increasing volume of
tone.
CRESCENT
Cres"cent (krs"sent), n. Etym: [OE. cressent, cressaunt, crescent (in
sense 1), OF. creissant increasing, F. croissant, p. pr. of cro, OF.
creistre, fr. L. crescere to increase, v. incho.; akin to creare to
create. See Create, and cf. Accrue, Increase, Crescendo.]
1. The increasing moon; the moon in her first quarter, or when
defined by a concave and a convex edge; also, applied improperly to
the old or decreasing moon in a like state.
2. Anything having the shape of a crescent or new moon.
3. A representation of the increasing moon, often used as an emblem
or badge; as:
(a) A symbol of Artemis, or Diana.
(b) The ancient symbol of Byzantium or Constantinople. Hence:
(c) The emblem of the Turkish Empire, adopted after the taking of
Constantinople.
The cross of our faith is replanted, The pale, dying crescent is
daunted. Campbell.
4. Any one of three orders of knighthood; the first instituted by
Charles I., king of Naples and Sicily, in 1268; the second by René of
Anjou, in 1448; and the third by the Sultan Selim III., in 1801, to
be conferred upon foreigners to whom Turkey might be indebted for
valuable services. Brande & C.
5. (Her.)
Defn: The emblem of the increasing moon with horns directed upward,
when used in a coat of arms; -- often used as a mark of cadency to
distinguish a second son and his descendants.
CRESCENT
Cres"cent (krs"sent), a.
1. Shaped like a crescent.
Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns. Milton.
2. Increasing; growing.
O, I see the crescent promise of my spirit hath not set. Tennyson.
CRESCENT
Cres"cent, v. t.
1. To form into a crescent, or something resembling a crescent. [R.]
Anna Seward.
2. To adorn with crescents.
CRESCENTIC
Cres*cen"tic (krs-sn"tk), a.
Defn: Crescent-shaped. "Crescentic lobes." R. Owen.
CRESCENTWISE
Cres"cent*wise` (krs"sent-wz`), adv.
Defn: In the form of a crescent; like a crescent. Tennyson.
CRESCIVE
Cres"cive (krs"sv), a. Etym: [L. crescere to increase.]
Defn: Increasing; growing. [R.]
Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty. Shak.
CRESOL
Cre"sol (kr"sl), n. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of three metameric substances, CH3.C6H4.OH, homologous
with and resembling phenol. They are obtained from coal tar and wood
tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids.
Note: [Called also cresylic acid.]
CRESORCIN
Cre*sor"cin (kr-sr"sn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Isorcin.
CRESS
Cress (krs), n.; pl. Cresses (kr. Etym: [OE. ces, cresse, kers,
kerse, AS. cresse, cerse; akin to D. kers, G. kresse, Dan. karse, Sw.
krasse, and possibly also to OHG. chresan to creep.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of various species, chiefly cruciferous. The leaves
have a moderately pungent taste, and are used as a salad and
antiscorbutic.
Note: The garden cress, called also peppergrass, is the Lepidium
sativum; the water cress is the Nasturtium officinale. Various other
plants are sometimes called cresses.
To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread. Goldsmith.
Bitter cress. See under Bitter.
-- Not worth a cress, or "not worth a kers." a common old proverb,
now turned into the meaningless "not worth a curse." Skeat.
CRESSELLE
Cres*selle" (krs-sl"), n. Etym: [F. crécelle rattle.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A wooden rattle sometimes used as a substitute for a bell, in
the Roman Catholic church, during the latter part of Holy Week, or
the last week of Lent.
CRESSET
Cres"set (krs"st), n. Etym: [OF. crasset, cresset, sort of lamp or
torch; perh. of Dutch or German origin, and akin to E. cruse, F.
creuset crucible, E. crucible.]
1. An open frame or basket of iron, filled with combustible material,
to be burned as a beacon; an open lamp or firrepan carried on a pole
in nocturnal processions.
Starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed With naphtha and asphaltus.
Milton.
As a cresset true that darts its length Of beamy luster from a tower
of strength. Wordsworth.
2. (Coopering)
Defn: A small furnace or iron cage to hold fire for charring the
inside of a cask, and making the staves flexible. Knight.
CRESSY
Cress"y (krs"), a.
Defn: Abounding in cresses.
The cressy islets white in flower. Tennyson.
CREST
Crest (krst), n. Etym: [OF. creste, F. cr, L. crista.]
1. A tuft, or other excrescence or natural ornament, growing on
animal's head; the comb of a cock; the swelling on the head of a
serpent; the lengthened feathers of the crown or nape of bird, etc.
Darwin.
[Attack] his rising crest, and drive the serpent back. C. Pitt.
2. The plume of feathers, or other decoration, worn on a helmet; the
distinctive ornament of a helmet, indicating the rank of the weare;
hence, also, the helmet.
Stooping low his lofty crest. Sir W. Scott.
And on his head there stood upright A crest, in token of a knight.
Gower.
3. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing worn, not upon the shield, but usually above it, or
separately as an ornament for plate, liveries, and the like. It is a
relic of the ancient cognizance. See Cognizance, 4.
4. The upper curve of a horse's neck.
Throwing the base thong from his bending crest. Shak.
5. The ridge or top of wave.
Like wave with crest of sparkling foam. Sir W. Scott.
6. The summit of a hill or mountain ridge.
7. The helm or head, as typical of a high spirit; pride; courage.
Now the time is come That France must vail her lofty plumed crest.
Shak.
8. (Arch.)
Defn: The ornamental finishing which surmounts the ridge of a roof,
canopy, etc.
The finials of gables and pinnacles are sometimes called crest.
Parker.
9. (Engin.)
Defn: The top line of a slope or embankment. Crest tile, a tile made
to cover the ridge of a roof, fitting upon it like a saddle.
-- Interior crest (Fort.), the highest line of the parapet.
CREST
Crest, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crested; p. pr. & vb. n. Cresting.]
1. To furnish with, or surmount as, a crest; to serve as a crest for.
His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm Crested the world. Shak.
Mid groves of clouds that crest the mountain's brow. Wordsworth.
2. To mark with lines or streaks, like, or regarded as like, waving
plumes.
Like as the shining sky in summer's night, . . . Is crested with
lines of fiery light. Spenser.
CREST
Crest (krst), v. i.
Defn: To form a crest.
CRESTED
Crest"ed (krst"d), a.
1. Having a crest.
But laced crested helm. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a crest of feathers or hair upon the head. "The crested
bird." Dryden.
3. (Bott.)
Defn: Bearing any elevated appendage like a crest, as an elevated
line or ridge, or a tuft. Gray.
CRESTFALLEN
Crest"fall`en (-fl`'n), a.
1. With hanging head; hence, dispirited; dejected; cowed.
Let it make thee crestfullen; Ay, and allay this thy abortive pride.
Shak.
2. Having the crest, or upper part of the neck, hanging to one side;
-- said of a horse.
CRESTING
Crest"ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornamental finish on the top of a wall or ridge of a roof.
CRESTLESS
Crest"less, a.
Defn: Without a crest or escutcheon; of low birth. "Crestless
yeomen." Shak.
CRESYLIC
Cre*syl"ic (kr-sl"k), a. Etym: [From Creosote.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cresol, creosote, etc. Cresylic
acid. (Chem.) See Cresol.
CRETACEOUS
Cre*ta"ceous (kr-t"shs), a. Etym: [L. cretaceus, fr. creta chalk. See
Crayon.]
Defn: Having the qualities of chalk;abounding with chalk; chalky; as,
cretaceous rocks and formations. See Chalk. Cretaceous acid, an old
name for carbonic acid.
-- Cretaceous formation (Geol.), the series of strata of various
kinds, including beds of chalk, green sand, etc., formed in the
Cretaceous period; -- called also the chalk formation. See the
Diagram under Geology.
-- Cretaceous period (Geol.), the time in the latter part of the
Mesozoic age during which the Cretaceous formation was deposited.
CRETACEOUS; CRETACIC
Cre*ta"ceous, a. Also Cre*tac"ic. (Geol.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the period of time following
the Jurassic and preceding the Eocene.
CRETACEOUSLY
Cre*ta"ceous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a chalky manner; as chalk.
CRETAN
Cre"tan (kr"tan), a.
Defn: Pertaining to Crete, or Candia.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Crete or Candia.
CRETE
Crete (krt), n. Etym: [L. Cres, Cretis.]
Defn: A Cretan
CRETIAN
Cre"tian (kr"shan), a. & n.
Defn: See Cretan.
CRETIC
Cre"tic (kr"tk), n. Etym: [L. Creticus (sc. pes foot), Gr. (Gr. &
Lat. Pros.)
Defn: A poetic foot, composed of one short syllable between two long
ones (-Bentley.
CRETICISM
Cre"ti*cism (-t-sz'm), n.
Defn: Falsehood; lying; cretism.
CRETIN
Cre"tin (kr"tn), n. Etym: [F. crétin; of uncertain origin.]
Defn: One afflicted with cretinism.
CRETINISM
Cre"tin*ism (kr"tn-*z'm), n. Etym: [F. cr.]
Defn: A condition of endemic or inherited idiocy, accompanied by
physical degeneracy and deformity (usually with goiter), frequent in
certain mountain valleys, esp. of the Alps.
CRETINOUS
Cre"tin*ous (-s), a.
Defn: Having the characteristics of a cretin. "Cretinous
stupefaction." Ruskin.
CRETISM
Cre"tism (kr"tz'm), n. Etym: [Gr. Titus i. 12.]
Defn: A Cretan practice; iying; a falsehood.
CRETONNE
Cre*tonne" (kr-tn"), n. Etym: [F., gr. Creton, its first
manufacturer.]
1. A strong white fabric with warp of hemp and welt of flax.
2. A fabric with cotton warp and woolen weft.
3. A kind of chintz with a glossy surface.
CRETOSE
Cre"tose (kr"ts), a. Etym: [L. cretosus, fr. creta chalk.]
Defn: Chalky; cretaceous. [Obs.] Ash.
CREUTZER
Creut"zer
Defn: (kroitn. See Kreutzer.
CREUX
Creux (kr), n. Etym: [F., adj., hollow, n., a hollow.]
Defn: Used in English only in the expression en creux. Thus,
engraving en creux is engraving in intaglio, or by sinking or
hollowing out the design.
CREVALLE
Cre`val*le" (kr`vl-l"), n. Etym: [Prob. of same origin as cavally.
See Cavally.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The cavally or jurel. See Cavally, and Jurel.
(b) The pompano (Trachynotus Carolinus).
CREVASSE
Cre`vasse" (kr`vs"), n. Etym: [F. See Crevice.]
1. A deep crevice or fissure, as in embankment; one of the clefts or
fissure by which the mass of a glacier is divided.
2. A breach in the levee or embankment of a river, caused by the
pressure of the water, as on the lower Mississippi. [U.S.]
CREVET
Crev"et (krv"t), n. Etym: [Cf. Creut.]
Defn: A crucible or melting pot; a cruset. Crabb.
CREVICE
Crev"ice (krv"s), n. Etym: [OE. crevace, crevice. F. crevasse, fr.
crever to break, burst, fr. L. crepare to crack,break. Cf. Craven,
Crepitate, Crevasse.]
Defn: A narrow opening resulting from a split or crack or the
separation of a junction; a cleft; a fissure; a rent.
The mouse, Behind the moldering wainscot, shrieked, Or from the
crevice peered about. Tennyson.
CREVICE
Crev"ice, v. t.
Defn: To crack; to flaw. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
CREVICED
Crev"iced (-st), a.
Defn: Having a crevice or crevices; as, a creviced structure for
storing ears of corn.
Trickling through the creviced rock. J. Cunningham.
CREVIS
Crev"is (-s), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crawfish. [Prov. Eng.]
CREW
Crew (kr), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Manx shearwater.
CREW
Crew (kr), n. Etym: [From older accrue accession, reAccrue,
Crescent.]
1. A company of people associated together; an assemblage; a throng.
There a noble crew Of lords and ladies stood on every side. Spenser.
Faithful to whom to thy rebellious crew Milton.
2. The company of seamen who man a ship, vessel, or at; the company
belonging to a vessel or a boat.
Note: The word crew, in law, is ordinarily used as equivalent to
ship's company, including master and other officers. When the master
and other officers are excluded, the context always shows it. Story.
Burrill.
3. In an extended sense, any small body of men associated for a
purpose; a gang; as (Naut.), the carpenter's crew; the boatswain's
crew.
Syn.
-- Company; band; gang; horde; mob; herd; throng; party.
CREW
Crew (kr),
Defn: imp. of Crow.
CREWEL
Crew"el (kr"l), n. Etym: [Perh. for clewel, dim. of clew a ball of
thread; or cf. D. krul curl, E. curl. sq. root26.]
Defn: Worsted yarn,, slackly twisted, used for embroidery.
CREWELWORK
Crew"el*work` (-wrk`), n.
Defn: Embroidery in crewels, commonly done upon some plain material,
such as linen.
CREWET
Crew"et (kr"t), n.
Defn: See Cruet.
CRIB
Crib (krb), n. Etym: [AS. crybb; akin to OS. kribbja, D. krib,
kribbe, Dan. krybbe, G. krippe, and perh. to MHG. krebe basket, G,
korb, and E. rip a sort of wicker basket.]
1. A manger or rack; a feeding place for animals.
The steer lion at one crib shall meet. Pope.
2. A stall for oxen or other cattle.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean. Prov. xiv. 4.
3. A small inclosed bedstead or cot for a child.
4. A box or bin, or similar wooden structure, for storing grain,
salt, etc.; as, a crib for corn or oats.
5. A hovel; a hut; a cottage.
Why rather, Sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, . . . Than in the
perfumed chambers of the great Shak.
6. (Mining)
Defn: A structure or frame of timber for a foundation, or for
supporting a roof, or for lining a shaft.
7. A structure of logs to be anchored with stones; -- used for docks,
pier, dams, etc.
8. A small raft of timber. [Canada]
9. A small theft; anything purloined;; a plagiaris [Colloq.]
The Latin version technically called a crib. Ld. Lytton.
Occasional perusal of the Pagan writers, assisted by a crib. Wilkie
Collins.
10. A miner's luncheon. [Cant] Raymond.
11. (Card Playing)
Defn: The discarded cards which the dealer can use in scoring points
in cribbage.
CRIB
Crib, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cribbed (krbd); p.pr. & vb. n. Cribbing.]
1. To shut up or confine in a narrow habitation; to cage; to cramp.
If only the vital energy be not cribbed or cramped. I. Taylor.
Now I am cabin'd, cribbed, confined. Shak.
2. To pilfer or purloin; hence, to steal from an author; to
appropriate; to plagiarize; as, to crib a line from Milton. [Colloq.]
Child, being fond of toys, cribbed the necklace. Dickens.
CRIB
Crib, v. i.
1. To crowd together, or to be confined, as in a crib or in narrow
accommodations. [R.]
Who sought to make . . . bishops to crib in a Presbyterian trundle
bed. Gauden.
2. To make notes for dishonest use in recitation or examination.
[College Cant]
3. To seize the manger or other solid object with the teeth and draw
in wind; -- said of a horse.
CRIBBAGE
Crib"bage (krb"j), n. Etym: [From Crib, v. t., 2.]
Defn: A game of cards, played by two or four persons, in which there
is a crib. (See Crib, 11.) It is characterized by a great variety of
chances.
A man's fancy would be summed up in cribbage. John Hall.
Cribbage board, a board with holes and pegs, used by cribbage players
to score their game.
CRIBBER; CRIB-BITER
Crib"ber (krb"r), Crib"-bit`er (-bt"r), n.
Defn: A horse that has the habit of cribbing.
CRIBBING
Crib"bing (krb"bng), n.
1. The act of inclosing or confining in a crib or in close quarters.
2. Purloining; stealing; plagiarizing. [Colloq.]
3. (Mining)
Defn: A framework of timbers and plank backing for a shaft lining, to
prevent caving, percolation of water, etc.
4. A vicious habit of a horse; crib-biting. The horse lays hold of
the crib or manger with his teeth and draws air into the stomach with
a grunting sound.
CRIB-BITING
Crib"-bit`ing (krb"bt`ng), n.
Defn: Same as Cribbing, 4.
CRIBBLE
Crib"ble (krb"b'l), n. Etym: [F. crible, LL. criblus sieve, fr. L.
cribrum.]
1. A coarse sieve or screen.
2. Coarse flour or meal. [Obs.] Johnson.
CRIBBLE
Crib"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cribbled (-b'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cribbling (-blng).] Etym: [Cf. F. cribler.]
Defn: To cause to pass through a sieve or riddle; to sift.
CRIBBLE
Crib"ble, a.
Defn: Coarse; as, cribble bread. [Obs.] Huloet.
CRIBELLUM
Cri*bel"lum (krbl"lm), n. Etym: [L., a small sieve, dim. of cribrum
sieve.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A peculiar perforated organ of certain spiders (Ciniflonidæ),
used for spinning a special kind of silk.
CRIBRATE
Crib"rate (krb"rt), a. Etym: [L. cribratus, p.p. of cribrare to sift,
fr. cribrum a sieve.]
Defn: Cribriform.
CRIBRATION
Cri*bra"tion (kr-br"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cribration, fr. L.
cribrare to sift. See Cribble, n.] (Pharmacy)
Defn: The act or process of separating the finer parts of drugs from
the coarser by sifting.
CRIBRIFORM
Crib"ri*form (krb"rfrm), a. Etym: [L. cribrum sieve + -form: cf. F.
cribriforme.]
Defn: Resembling, or having the form of, a sieve; pierced with hokes;
as, the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone; a cribriform compress.
Cribriform cells (Bot.), those which have here and there oblique or
transverse sieve plates, or places perforated with many holes.
CRIBROSE
Crib"rose (krb"rs), a. Etym: [L. cribrum sieve.]
Defn: Perforated like a sieve; cribriform.
CRIC
Cric (krk), n. Etym: [prob. fr. F. cric a jackscrew.]
Defn: The ring which turns inward and condenses the flame of a lamp.
Knight.
CRICK
Crick (krk), n. Etym: [See Creak.]
Defn: The creaking of a door, or a noise resembling it. [Obs.]
Johnson.
CRICK
Crick, n. Etym: [The same as creek a bending, twisting. See Creek,
Crook.]
1. A painful, spasmodic affection of the muscles of some part of the
body, as of the neck or back, rendering it difficult to move the
part.
To those also that, with a crick or cramp, have thei necks drawn
backward. Holland.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. cric.]
Defn: A small jackscrew. Knight.
CRICKET
Crick"et (krk"t), n. Etym: [OE. criket, OF. crequet, criquet; prob.
of German origin, and akin to E. creak; cf. D. kriek a cricket. See
Creak.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllus, and allied genera.
The males make chirping, musical notes by rubbing together the basal
parts of the veins of the front wings.
Note: The common European cricket is Gryllus domesticus; the common
large black crickets of America are G. niger, G. neglectus, and
others. Balm cricket. See under Balm.
-- Cricket bird, a small European bird (Silvia locustella); --
called also grasshopper warbler.
-- Cricket frog, a small American tree frog (Acris gryllus); -- so
called from its chirping.
CRICKET
Crick"et, n. Etym: [AS. cricc, crycc, crooked staff, crutch. Perh.
first used in sense 1, a stool prob. having been first used as a
wicket. See Crutch.]
1. A low stool.
2. A game much played in England, and sometimes in America, with a
ball, bats, and wickets, the players being arranged in two contesting
parties or sides.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A small false roof, or the raising of a portion of a roof, so
as to throw off water from behind an obstacle, such as a chimney.
CRICKET
Crick"et, v. i.
Defn: To play at cricket. Tennyson.
CRICKETER
Crick"et*er (krk"t-r), n.
Defn: One who plays at cricket.
CRICOID
Cri"coid (kr"koid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling a ring; -- said esp. of the cartilage at the larynx,
and the adjoining parts.
CRICOTHYROID
Cri`co*thy"roid (-k-th"roid), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining both to the cricoid and the thyroid
cartilages.
CRIED
Cried (krd),
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Cry.
CRIER
Cri"er (kr"r), n. Etym: [Cf. F. crieur. See Cry.]
Defn: One who cries; one who makes proclamation. Specifically, an
officer who proclams the orders or directions of a court, or who
gives public notice by loud proclamation; as, a town-crier.
He openeth his mouth like a crier. Ecclus. xx. 15.
CRIME
Crime (krm), n.Etym: [F. crime, fr. L. crimen judicial decision, that
which is subjected to such a decision, charge, fault, crime, fr. the
root of cernere to decide judicially. See Certain.]
1. Any violation of law, either divine or human; an omission of a
duty commanded, or the commission of an act forbidden by law.
2. Gross violation of human law, in distinction from a misdemeanor or
trespass, or other slight offense. Hence, also, any aggravated
offense against morality or the public welfare; any outrage or great
wrong. "To part error from crime." Tennyson.
Note: Crimes, in the English common law, are grave offenses which
were originally capitally punished (murder, rape, robbery, arson,
burglary, and larceny), as distinguished from misdemeanors, which are
offenses of a lighter grade. See Misdemeanors.
3. Any great wickedness or sin; iniguity.
Nocrime was thine, if 'tis no crime to love. Pope.
4. That which occasion crime. [Obs.]
The tree of life, the crime of our first father's fall. Spenser.
Capital crime, a crime punishable with death.
Syn.
-- Sin; vice; iniquity; wrong.
-- Crime, Sin,Vice. Sin is the generic term, embracing wickedness of
every kind, but specifically denoting an offense as committed against
God. Crime is strictly a violation of law either human or divine; but
in present usage the term is commonly applied to actions contrary to
the laws of the State. Vice is more distinctively that which springs
from the inordinate indulgence of the natural appetites, which are in
themselves innocent. Thus intemperance, unchastity, duplicity, etc.,
are vices; while murder, forgery, etc., which spring from the
indulgence of selfish passions, are crimes.
CRIMEFUL
Crime"ful (krm"fl), a.
Defn: Criminal; wicked; contrary to law, right, or dury. [Obs.] Shak.
CRIMELESS
Crime"less, a.
Defn: Free from crime; innocent. Shak.
CRIMINAL
Crim"i*nal (krm"-nal), a. Etym: [L. criminalis, fr. crimen: cf. F.
criminel. See Crime.]
1. Guilty of crime or sin.
The neglect of any of the relative duties renders us criminal in the
sight of God. Rogers.
2. Involving a crime; of the nature of a crime; -- said of an act or
of conduct; as, criminal carelessness.
Foppish and fantastic ornaments are only indications of vice, not
criminal in themselves. Addison.
3. Relating to crime; -- opposed to civil; as, the criminal code.
The officers and servants of the crown, violating the personal
liberty, or other right of the subject . . . were in some cases
liable to criminal process. Hallam.
Criminal action (Law), an action or suit instituted to secure
conviction and punishment for a crime.
-- Criminal conversation (Law), unlawful intercourse with a married
woman; adultery; -- usually abbreviated, crim. con.
-- Criminal law, the law which relates to crimes.
CRIMINAL
Crim"i*nal, n.
Defn: One who has commited a crime; especially, one who is found
guilty by verdict, confession, or proof; a malefactor; a felon.
CRIMINALIST
Crim"i*nal*ist, n.
Defn: One versed in criminal law. [R.]
CRIMINALITY
Crim`i*nal"i*ty (krm`-nl"-t), n. Etym: [LL. criminalitas, fr. L.
criminalis. See Criminal.]
Defn: The quality or state of being criminal; that which constitutes
a crime; guiltiness; guilt.
This is by no means the only criterion of criminality. Blackstone.
CRIMINALLY
Crim"i*nal*ly (krm"-nal-l), adv.
Defn: In violation of law; wickedly.
CRIMINALNESS
Crim"i*nal*ness, n.
Defn: Criminality. [R.]
CRIMINATE
Crim"i*nate (kr, v. t. [imp & p. p. Criminated (-n; p. pr. & vb. n.
Criminating (-n.] Etym: [L. criminatus, p. p. of criminare,
criminari, to criminate, fr. crimen. See Crime.]
1. To accuse of, or charge with, a crime.
To criminate, with the heavy and ungrounded charge of disloyalty and
disaffection, an uncorrupt, independent, and reforming parliament.
Burke.
2. To involve in a crime or in its consequences; to render liable to
a criminal charge.
Impelled by the strongest pressure of hope and fear to criminate him.
Macaulay.
CRIMINATION
Crim`i*na"tion (krm`-n"shn), n. Etym: [L. criminatio.]
Defn: The act of accusing; accusation; charge; complaint.
The criminations and recriminations of the adverse parties. Macaulay.
CRIMINATIVE
Crim"i*na*tive (krm"-n-tv), a.
Defn: Charging with crime; accusing; criminatory. R. North.
CRIMINATORY
Crim"i*na*to*ry (-t-r), a.
Defn: Relating to, or involving, crimination; accusing; as, a
criminatory conscience.
CRIMINOLOGY
Crim`i*nol"o*gy (-nl"-j), n. Etym: [L. crimen, crimenis, crime + -
logy.]
Defn: A treatise on crime or the criminal population.
-- Crim`i*nol"o*gist (-j, n.
CRIMINOUS
Crim"i*nous (krm"-ns), a. Etym: [L. criminosus, fr. crimen. See
Crime.]
Defn: Criminal; involving great crime or grave charges; very wicked;
heinous. [Obs.] Holland.
-- Crim"i*nous*ly, adv..
-- Crim"i*nous*ness,n. [Obs.]
CRIMOSIN
Crim"o*sin (krm"-zn), n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Crimson.
CRIMP
Crimp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimped (krmt; 215); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crimping.] Etym: [Akin to D. krimpen to shrink, shrivel, Sw. krympa,
Dan. krympe, and to E. cramp. See Cramp.]
1. To fold or plait in regular undulation in such a way that the
material will retain the shape intended; to give a wavy apperance to;
as, to crimp the border of a cap; to crimp a ruffle. Cf. Crisp.
The comely hostess in a crimped cap. W. Irving.
2. To pinch and hold; to seize.
3. Hence, to entrap into the military or naval service; as, to crimp
seamen.
Coaxing and courting with intent to crimp him. Carlyle.
4. (Cookery)
Defn: To cause to contract, or to render more crisp, as the flesh of
a fish, by gashing it, when living, with a knife; as, to crimp skate,
etc. Crimping house, a low lodging house, into which men are decoyed
and plied with drink, to induce them to ship or enlist as sailors or
soldiers.
-- Crimping iron. (a) An iron instrument for crimping and curling
the hair. (b) A crimping machine.
-- Crimping machine, a machine with fluted rollers or with dies, for
crimping ruffles leather, iron, etc.
-- Crimping pin, an instrument for crimping or puckering the border
of a lady's cap.
CRIMP
Crimp, a.
1. Easily crumbled; friable; brittle. [R.]
Now the fowler . . . treads the crimp earth. J. Philips.
2. Weak; inconsistent; contradictory. [R.]
The evidance is crimp; the witnesses swear backward and forward, and
contradict themselves. Arbuthnot.
CRIMP
Crimp, n.
1. A coal broker. [Prov. Eng.] De Foe.
2. One who decoys or entraps men into the military or naval service.
Marryat.
3. A keeper of a low lodging house where sailors and emigrants are
entrapped and fleeced.
4. Hair which has been crimped; -- usually in pl.
5. A game at cards. [Obs.] B. Jonson. Boot crimp. See under Boot.
CRIMPAGE
Crimp"age (-j), n.
Defn: The act or practice of crimping; money paid to a crimp for
shipping or enlisting men.
CRIMPER
Crimp"er (-r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, crimps; as: (a) A curved board or frame
over which the upper of a boot or shoe is stretched to the required
shape. (b) A device for giving hair a wavy apperance. (c) A machine
for crimping or ruffling textile fabrics.
CRIMPLE
Crim"ple (krm"p'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimpled (-p'ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. Crimpling (-plng).] Etym: [Dim. of crimp, v. t. ]
Defn: To cause to shrink or draw together; to contract; to curl. [R.]
Wiseman.
CRIMPY
Crimp"y (krmp"), a.
Defn: Having a crimped appearance; frizzly; as, the crimpy wool of
the Saxony sheep.
CRIMSON
Crim"son (krm"z'n), n. Etym: [OE. crimson, OF. crimoisin, F. cramoisi
(cf. Sp. carmesi.) LL. carmesinus, fr. Ar. qermazi, fr. qermez
crimson, kermes, fr. Skr. k produced by a worm; k worm or insect +
jan to generate; akin to E. kin. CF. Carmine, Kermes.]
Defn: A deep red color tinged with blue; also, red color in general.
Theugh jour be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Is. i. 18.
A maid jet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty. Shak.
CRIMSON
Crim"son, a.
Defn: Of a deep red color tinged with blue; deep red. "A crimson
tide." Mrs. Hemans.
The blushing poppy with a crimson hue. Prior.
CRIMSON
Crim"son, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crimsoned (-z'nd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crimsoning.]
Defn: To dye with crimson or deep red; to redden.
Signed in thy spoil and crimsoned in thy lethe. Shak.
CRIMSON
Crim"son, b. t.
Defn: To become crimson; to blush.
Ancient towers . . . beginning to crimson with the radiant luster of
a cloudless July morning. De Quincey.
CRINAL
Cri"nal (kr"nal), a. Etym: [L. crinalis, fr. crinis the hair.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the hair. [R.] Blount.
CRINATED
Cri"na*ted (kr"n-td), a.
Defn: Having hair; hairy.
CRINATORY
Cri"na*to*ry (kr"n-t-r), a.
Defn: Crinitory. Craig.
CRINCUM
Crin"cum (krn"km), n. Etym: [Cf. Crinkle.]
Defn: A twist or bend; a turn; a whimsey. [Colloq.] Hudibras.
CRINCUM-CRANCUM
Crin"cum-cran"cum (krn"km-krn"km), n.
Defn: A twist; a whimsey or whim. [Colloq.]
CRINED
Crined (krnd), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair.] (Her.)
Defn: Having the hair of a different tincture from the rest of the
body; as, a charge crined of a red tincture.
CRINEL; CRINET
Cri"nel (kr"nEl), Cri"net (kr"nt), n. Etym: [L. crinis hair.]
Defn: A very fine, hairlike feather. Booth.
CRINGE
Cringe (krnj), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crnged (krnjd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cringing.] Etym: [As. crincgang, cringan, crincan, to jield, fall;
akin to E. crank.]
Defn: To draw one's self together as in fear or servility; to bend or
crouch with base humility; to wince; hence; to make court in a
degrading manner; to fawn.
When they were come up to the place where the lions were, the boys
that went before were glad to cringe behind, for they were afraid of
the lions. Bunyan.
Sly hypocrite, . . . who more than thou Once fawned and cringed, and
servilely adored Heaven's awful monarch Milton.
Flatterers . . . are always bowing and cringing. Arbuthnot.
CRINGE
Cringe, v. t.
Defn: To contract; to draw together; to cause to shrink or wrinkle;
to distort. [Obs.]
Till like a boy you see him cringe his face, And whine aloud for
mercy. Shak.
CRINGE
Cringe, n.
Defn: Servile civility; fawning; a shrinking or bowing, as in fear or
servility. "With cringe and shrug, and bow obsequious." Cowper.
CRINGELING
Cringe"ling, n.
Defn: One who cringes meanly; a fawner.
CRINGER
Crin"ger (krn"jr), n.
Defn: One who cringes.
CRINGINGLY
Crin"ging*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cringing manner.
CRINGLE
Crin"gle (krn"g'l), n. Etym: [Icel. kringla orb; akin to kring
around, and to D. kring circle, and to E. cringe, crank.]
1. A withe for fastening a gate.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: An iron or pope thimble or grommet worked into or attached to
the edges and corners of a sail; -- usually in the plural. The
cringles are used for making fast the bowline bridles, earings, etc.
CRINICULTURAL
Crin`i*cul"tur*al (krn`-kl"tr-al; 135), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair +
cultura.]
Defn: Relating to the growth of hair. [R.]
CRINIGEROUS
Cri*nig"er*ous (kr-nj"r-s), a. Etym: [L. criniger; crinis hair +
gerere to bear.]
Defn: Bearing hair; hairy. [R.]
CRINITAL
Cri"ni*tal (kr"n-tal), a.
Defn: Same as Crinite,
1.
He the star crinital adoreth. Stanyhurst.
CRINITE
Cri"nite (kr"nt), a. Etym: [L. crinitus, p. p. of crinire to provide
or cover with hair, fr. crinis hair.]
1. Having the appearance of a tuft of hair; having a hairlike tail or
train. "Comate, crinite, caudate stars."
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearded or tufted with hairs. Gray.
CRINITORY
Cri"ni*to*ry (kr"n-t-r), a.
Defn: Of or relating to hair; as, a crinitory covering. T. Hook.
CRINKLE
Crin"kle (krn"k'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crinkled (-k'ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. Crinkling (-klng).] Etym: [A dim., fr. the root of cringe;
akin to D. krinkelen to wind or twist. Cf. Cringle, Cringe.]
Defn: To form with short turns, bends, or wrinkles; to mold into
inequalites or sinuosities; to cause to wrinkle or curl.
The houscrinkled to and fro. Chaucer.
Her face all bowsy, Comely crinkled, Wondrously wrinkled. Skelton.
The flames through all the casements pushing forth, Like red-not
devils crinkled into snakes. Mrs. Browning.
CRINKLE
Crin"kle, v. i.
Defn: To turn or wind; ti run in and out in many short bends or
turns; to curl; to run in wavws; to wrinkle; also, to rustle, as
stiff cloth when moved.
The green wheat crinkles like a lake. L. T. Trowbridge.
And all the rooms Were full of crinkling silks. Mrs. Browning.
CRINKLE
Crin"kle, n.
Defn: A winding or turn; wrinkle; sinuosity.
The crinkles in this glass, making objects appear double. A. Tucker.
CRINKLED
Crin"kled (krn"k'ld), a.
Defn: Having short bends, turns, or wrinkles; wrinkled; wavy; zigzag.
"The crinkled lightning." Lowell.
CRINKLY
Crin"kly (-kl), a.
Defn: Having crinkles; wavy; wrinkly.
CRINOID
Cri"noid (kr"noid), a. [See Crinoidea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Crinoidal.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Crinoidea.
CRINOIDAL
Cri*noid"al (kr-noidal), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of pertaining to crinoids; consisting of, or containing,
crinoids.
CRINOIDEA
Cri*noid"e*a (kr-noid"-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -oid: cf. F.
crino.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large class of Echinodermata, including numerous extinct
families and genera, but comparatively few living ones. Most of the
fossil species, like some that are recent, were attached by a jointed
stem. See Blastoidea, Cystoidea, Comatula.
CRINOIDEAN
Cri*noid"e*an (-an), n. (Zoöl)
Defn: One of the Crinoidea.
CRINOLINE
Crin"o*line (krn"-ln), n. Etym: [F., fr. crin hair,L. crinis.]
1. A kind of stiff cloth, used chiefly by women, for underskirts, to
expand the gown worn over it; -- so called because originally made of
hair.
2. A lady's skirt made of any stiff material; latterly, a hoop skirt.
CRINOSE
Cri*nose" (kr-ns"), a. Etym: [L. crinis hair.]
Defn: Hairy. [R.]
CRINOSITY
Cri*nos"i*ty (kr-ns"-t), n.
Defn: Hairiness. [R.]
CRINUM
Cri"num (kr"nm), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of bulbous plants, of the order Amaryllidace,
cultivated as greenhouse plants on account of their beauty.
CRIOSPHINX
Cri"o*sphinx` (kr"-sfnks`), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A sphinx with the head of a ram.
CRIPPLE
Crip"ple (krp"p'l), n. Etym: [OE. cripel, crepel, crupel, AS. crypel
(akin to D. kreuple, G. kr, Dan. kr, Icel. kryppill), prop., one that
can not walk, but must creep, fr. AS. cre to creep. See Creep.]
Defn: One who creeps, halts, or limps; one who has lost, or never
had, the use of a limb or limbs; a lame person; hence, one who is
partially disabled.
I am a cripple in my limbs; but what decays are in my mind, the
reader must determine. Dryden.
CRIPPLE
Crip"ple (krp"p'l), a.
Defn: Lame; halting. [R.] "The cripple, tardy-gaited night." Shak.
CRIPPLE
Crip"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crippled (-p'ld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crippling (-plng).]
1. To deprive of the use of a limb, particularly of a leg or foot; to
lame.
He had crippled the joints of the noble child. Sir W. Scott.
2. To deprive of strength, activity, or capability for service or
use; to disable; to deprive of resources; as, to be financially
crippled.
More serious embarrassments . . . were crippling the energy of the
settlement in the Bay. Palfrey.
An incumbrance which would permanently cripple the body politic.
Macaulay.
CRIPPLED
Crip"pled (krp"p'ld), a.
Defn: Lamed; lame; disabled; impeded. "The crippled crone."
Longfellow.
CRIPPLENESS
Crip"ple*ness, n.
Defn: Lameness. [R.] Johnson.
CRIPPLER
Crip"pler (-plr), n.
Defn: A wooden tool used in graining leather. Knight.
CRIPPLING
Crip"pling (-plng), n.
Defn: Spars or timbers set up as a support against the side of a
building.
CRIPPLY
Crip"ply (-pl), a.
Defn: Lame; disabled; in a crippled condition. [R.] Mrs. Trollope.
CRISIS
Cri"sis (kr"ss), n.; pl. Crises (-s. Etym: [L. crisis, Gr. Certain.]
1. The point of time when it is to be decided whether any affair or
course of action must go on, or be modified or terminate; the
decisive moment; the turning point.
This hour's the very crisis of your fate. Dryden.
The very times of crisis for the fate of the country. Brougham.
2. (Med.)
Defn: That change in a disease which indicates whether the result is
to be recovery or death; sometimes, also, a striking change of
symptoms attended by an outward manifestation, as by an eruption or
sweat.
Till some safe crisis authorize their skill. Dryden.
CRISP
Crisp (krsp), a. Etym: [AS. crisp, fr. L. crispus; cf. carpere to
pluck, card (wool), and E. harvest. Cf. Crape.]
1. Curling in stiff curls or ringlets; as, crisp hair.
2. Curled with the ripple of the water. [Poetic]
You numphs called Naiads, of the winding brooks . . . Leave jour
crisp channels. Shak.
3. Brittle; friable; in a condition to break with a short, sharp
fracture; as, crisp snow.
The cakes at tea ate short and crisp. Goldsmith.
4. Possessing a certain degree of firmness and freshness; in a fresh,
unwilted condition.
It [laurel] has been plucked nine months, and yet looks as hale and
crisp as if it would last ninety years. Leigh Hunt.
5. Lively; sparking; effervescing.
Your neat crisp claret. Beau & Fl.
6. Brisk; crackling; cheerful; lively.
The snug, small room, and the crisp fire. Dickens.
CRISP
Crisp, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crisped (krspt); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crisping.] Etym: [L. crispare, fr. crispus. See Crisp. a. ]
1. To curl; to form into ringlets, as hair, or the nap of cloth; to
interweave, as the branches of trees.
2. To cause to undulate irregularly, as crape or water; to wrinkle;
to cause to ripple. Cf. Crimp.
The lover with the myrtle sprays Adorns his crisped tresses. Drayton.
Along the crisped shades and bowers. Milton.
The crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold.
Milton.
3. To make crisp or brittle, as in cooking. Crisping iron, an
instrument by which hair or any textile fabric is crisped.
-- Crisping pin, the simplest form of crisping iron. Is. iii. 22.
CRISP
Crisp, v. i.
Defn: To undulate or ripple. Cf. Crisp, v. t.
To watch the crisping ripples on the beach. Tennuson.
CRISP
Crisp, n.
Defn: That which is crisp or brittle; the state of being crisp or
brittle; as, burned to a crisp; specifically, the rind of roasted
pork; crackling.
CRISPATE; CRISPATED
Cris"pate (krs"pt), Cris"pa*ted (-p-td), a. Etym: [L. crispatus, p.
p. of crispare.]
Defn: Having a crisped appearance; irregularly curled or twisted.
CRISPATION
Cris*pa"tion (krs-p"shn), n. Etym: [CF. F. crispation.]
1. The act or process of curling, or the state of being curled.
Bacon.
2. A very slight convulsive or spasmodic contraction of certain
muscles, external or internal.
Few men can look down from a great height without creepings and
crispations. O. W. Holmes.
CRISPATURE
Cris"pa*ture (krs"p-tr; 135), n.
Defn: The state of being crispate.
CRISPER
Crisp"er (krs"pr), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, crisps or curls; an instrument for
making little curls in the nap of cloth, as in chinchilla.
CRISPIN
Cris"pin (krs"pn), n.
1. A shoemaker; -- jocularly so called from the patron sant of the
craft.
2. A member of a union or association of shoemakers.
CRISPLY
Crisp"ly (krsp"l), adv.
Defn: In a crisp manner.
CRISPNESS
Crisp"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being crisp.
CRISPY
Crisp"y (-), a.
1. Formed into short, close ringlets; frizzed; crisp; as, crispy
locks.
2. Crisp; brittle; as. a crispy pie crust.
CRISSAL
Cris"sal (krs"sal), a. (Zoöl.)
1. Pertaining to the crissum; as, crissal feathers.
2. Having highly colored under tail coverts; as, the crissal
thrasher.
CRISSCROSS
Criss"cross` (krs"krs`; 115), n. Etym: [A corruption of Christcross.]
1. A mark or cross, as the signature of a person who is unable to
write.
2. A child's game played on paper or on a slate, consisting of lines
arranged in the form of a cross.
CRISSCROSS
Criss"cross`, v. t.
Defn: To mark or cover with cross lines; as, a paper was crisscrossed
with red marks.
CRISSCROSS
Criss"cross` (krs"krs`;115), adv.
1. In opposite directions; in a way to cross something else; crossing
one another at various angles and in various ways.
Logs and tree luing crisscross in utter confusion. W. E. Boardman.
2. With opposition or hindrance; at cross purposes; contrarily; as,
things go crisscross.
CRISSCROSS-ROW
Criss"cross-row` (-r`), n.
Defn: See Christcross-row.
CRISSUM
Cris"sum (krs"sm),, n.; pl. Crissa (-s. Etym: [NL.; cf. L. crisso to
move the haunches.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That part of a bird, or the feathers, surrounding the cloacal
opening; the under tail coverts.
CRISTATE
Cris"tate (krs"tt), a. Etym: [L. ctistatus, fr. crista crest.] (Bot.
& Zoöl.)
Defn: Crested.
CRITERION
Cri*te"ri*on (kr-t"r-n), n.; pl. Criteria (-Criterions (-. Etym: [Gr.
Certain.]
Defn: A standard of judging; any approved or established rule or
test, by which facts, principles opinions, and conduct are tried in
forming a correct judgment respecting them.
Of the diseases of the mind there is no criterion. Donne.
Inferences founded on such enduring criteria. Sir G. C. Lewis.
Syn.
-- Standard; measure; rule.
CRITH
Crith (krth), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The unit for estimating the weight of a
CRITHOMANCY
Crith"o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy: cf. F. crithomancie.]
Defn: A kind of divination by means of the dough of the cakes offered
in the ancient sacrifices, and the meal strewed over the victims.
CRITIC
Crit"ic (krt"k), n. Etym: [L. criticus, Gr. able to discuss, from
Certain, and cf. Critique.]
1. One skilled in judging of the merits of literary or artistic
works; a connoisseur; an adept; hence, one who examines literary or
artistic works, etc., and passes judgment upon them; a reviewer.
The opininon of the most skillful critics was, that nothing finer
[than Goldsmith's "Traveler"] had appeared in verse since the fourth
book of the "Dunciad." Macaulay.
2. One who passes a rigorous or captious judgment; one who censures
or finds fault; a harsh examiner or judge; a caviler; a carper.
When an author has many beauties consistent with virtue, piety, and
truth, let not little critics exalt themselves, and shower down their
ill nature. I. Watts.
You know who the critics are the men who have failed in literature
and art. Beaconsfield.
3. The art of criticism. [Obs.] Locke.
4. An act of criticism; a critique. [Obs.]
And make each day a critic on the last. Pope.
CRITIC
Crit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to critics or criticism; critical. [Obs.]
"Critic learning." Pope.
CRITIC
Crit"ic, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. critiquer.]
Defn: To criticise; to play the critic. [Obs.]
Nay, if you begin to critic once, we shall never have done. A.
Brewer.
CRITICAL
Crit"ic*al (krt"-kal), a. Etym: [See Critic, n., Crisis.]
1. Qualified to criticise, or pass judgment upon, literary or
artistic productions.
It is submitted to the judgment of more critical ears to direct and
determine what is graceful and what is not. Holder.
2. Pertaining to criticism or the critic's art; of the nature of a
criticism; accurate; as, critical knowledge; a critical dissertation.
3. Inclined to make nice distinctions, or to exercise careful
judgment and selection; exact; nicely judicious.
Virgil was so critical in the rites of religion. that he would never
have brought in such prayers as these, if they had not been agreeable
to the Roman customs. Bp. Stillingfleet.
4. Inclined to criticise or find fault; fastidious; captious;
censorious; exacting.
O gentle lady, do not put me to 't, For I am nothing, if not
critical. Shak.
5. Characterized by thoroughness and a reference to principles, as
becomes a critic; as, a critical analysis of a subject.
6. Etym: [See Crisis.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or indicating, a crisis, turning point, or
specially important juncture; important as regards consequences;
hence, of doubtful issue; attended with risk; dangerous; as, the
critical stage of a fever; a critical situation.
Our circumstances are indeed critical. Burke.
The small moment, the exact point, the critical minute, on which
every good work so much depends. South.
Critical angle (Optics), that angle of incidence of a luminous ray at
which it is wholly reflected, and no portion of it transmitted. The
sine of this angle is the reciprocal of the refractive index of the
medium.
-- Critical philosophy, the metaphysical system of Kant; -- so
called from his most important work, the "Critique of Pure Reason." -
- Critical point (Physics), a certain temperature, different for
different gases, but always the same for each gas, regarded as the
limit above which no amount of pressure can produce condensation to a
liquid.
CRITICALLY
Crit"ic*al*ly, adv.
1. In a critical manner; with nice discernment; accurately; exactly.
Critically to discern good writers from bad. Dryden.
2. At a crisis; at a critical time; in a situation. place, or
condition of decisive consequence; as, a fortification critically
situated.
Coming critically the night before the session. Bp. Burnet.
CRITICALNESS
Crit"ic*al*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being critical, or of occurring at a
critical time.
2. Accuracy in examination or decision; exactness.
CRITICASTER
Crit"ic*as`ter (krt"k-s`tr), n.
Defn: A contemptible or vicious critic.
The rancorous and reptile crew of poeticules, who decompose into
criticasters. Swinburne.
CRITICISABLE
Crit"i*cis`a*ble (krt"-sz`-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being criticised.
CRITICISE
Crit"i*cise (krt"-sz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Criticised (-szd); p. pr.
& vb. n. Criticising.] Etym: [Written also, more analogically, but
less commonly, criticize.] Etym: [Cf. G. kritisiren. See Critic.]
1. To examine and judge as a critic; to pass literary or artistic
judgment upon; as, to criticise an author; to criticise a picture.
2. To express one's views as to the merit or demerit of; esp., to
animadvert upon; to find fault with; as, to criticise conduct.
Blackwood's Mag.
CRITICISE
Crit"i*cise, v. i.
1. To act as a critic; to pass literary or artistic judgment; to play
the critic; -- formerly used with on or upon.
Several of these ladies, indeed, criticised upon the form of the
association. Addison.
2. To discuss the merits or demerits of a thing or person; esp., to
find fault.
Cavil you may, but never criticise. Pope.
CRITICISER
Crit"i*ci`ser (-s`zr), n.
Defn: One who criticises; a critic.
CRITICISM
Crit"i*cism (krt"-sz'm), n.
1. The rules and principles which regulate the practice of the
critic; the art of judging with knowledge and propriety of the
beauties and faults of a literary performance, or of a production in
the fine arts; as, dramatic criticism.
The elements ofcriticism depend on the two principles of Beauty and
Truth, one of which is the final end or object of study in every one
of its pursuits: Beauty, in letters and the arts; Truth, in history
and sciences. Brande & C.
By criticism, as it was first instituted by Aristotle, was meant a
standard of judging well. Dryden.
2. The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a
critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique;
animadversion; censure.
About the plan of "Rasselas" little was said by the critics; and yet
the faults of the plan might seem to invite severe criticism.
Macaulay.
CRITIQUE
Cri*tique" (kr-tk"), n. Etym: [F. critique, f., fr. Gr. Critic.]
1. The art of criticism. [Written also critic.] [R.]
2. A critical examination or estimate of a work of literature or art;
a critical dissertation or essay; a careful and through analysis of
any subject; a criticism; as, Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason."
I should as soon expect to see a critique on the poesy of a ring as
on the inscription of a medal. Addison.
3. A critic; one who criticises. [Obs.]
A question among critiques in the ages to come. Bp. Lincoln.
CRITIQUE
Cri*tique", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Critic, v.]
Defn: To criticise or pass judgment upon. [Obs.] Pope.
CRIZZEL
Criz"zel (krz"z'l), n. Etym: [Cf. grizzle darkish gray, or G.
griselig gravelly, granular, speckled.]
Defn: A kind of roughness on the surface of glass, which clouds its
transparency. [Written also crizzeling and crizzle.]
CROAK
Croak (krk), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Croaked. (krp. pr. & vb. n.
Croaking.] Etym: [From the primitive of AS. cracettan to croak as a
raven; akin to G. kr to croak, and to E. creak, crake.]
1. To make a low, hoarse noise in the throat, as a frog, a raven, or
a crow; hence, to make any hoarse, dismal sound.
Loud thunder to its bottom shook the bog, And the hoarse nation
croaked. Pope.
2. To complain; especially, to grumble; to forebode evil; to utter
complaints or forebodings habitually.
Marat . . . croaks with reasonableness. Carlyle.
CROAK
Croak, v. t.
Defn: To utter in a low, hoarse voice; to announce by croaking; to
forebode; as, to croak disaster.
The raven himself is hoarse, That croaks the fatal entrance of
Duncan. Shak.
Two ravens now began to croak Their nuptial song. Wordsworth.
CROAK
Croak, n.
Defn: The coarse, harsh sound uttered by a frog or a raven, or a like
sound.
CROAKER
Croak"er (-r), n.
1. One who croaks, murmurs, grumbles, or complains unreasonably; one
who habitually forebodes evil.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small American fish (Micropogon undulatus), of the Atlantic
coast.
(a) An American fresh-water fish (Aplodinotus grunniens); -- called
also drum.
(c) The surf fish of California.
Note: When caught these fishes make a croaking sound; whence the
name, which is often corrupted into crocus.
CROAT
Cro"at (kr"t), n. Etym: [Cf. Cravat.]
1. A native of Croatia, in Austria; esp., one of the native Slavic
race.
2. An irregular soldier, generally from Croatia.
CROATIAN
Cro*a"tian (kr-"shan), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Croatia.
-- n.
Defn: A Croat.
CROCEIN
Cro"ce*in (kr"s-n), n. Etym: [See Croceous.] (Chem.)
Defn: A name given to any one of several yellow or scarlet dyestuffs
of artificial production and complex structure. In general they are
diazo and sulphonic acid derivatives of benzene and naphthol.
CROCEOUS
Cro"ceous (kr"shs), a. Etym: [L. croceus, fr. crocus saffron. See
Crocus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or like, saffron; deep reddish yellow. [R.]
CROCETIN
Cro"ce*tin (kr"s-tn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A dyestuff, obtained from the Chinese croicin, which produces a
brilliant yellow.
CROCHE
Croche (krch), n. Etym: [OF. croche, equiv. to F. crochet, croc,
hook. See Crotchet, Crook.]
Defn: A little bud or knob at the top of a deer's antler.
CROCHET
Cro*chet" (kr-sh"), n. Etym: [F. crochet small hook. See Croche.]
Defn: A kind of knitting done by means of a hooked needle, with
worsted, silk, or cotton; crochet work. Commonly used adjectively.
Crochet hook, Crochet needle, a small hook, or a hooked needle (often
of bone), used in crochet work.
CROCHET
Cro*chet", v. t. & i. [imp. & p.p. Crocheted (shd"); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crocheting (-sh"ng).]
Defn: To knit with a crochet needle or hook; as, to rochett a shawl.
CROCIARY
Cro"ci*a*ry (kr"sh--r), n. Etym: [See Crosier.] (Eccl.)
Defn: One who carries the cross before an archbishop. [Obs.]
CROCIDOLITE
Cro*cid"o*lite (kr-sd"-lt), n. Etym: [Gr. kroky`s nap on cloth + -
lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring in silky fibers of a lavender blue color. It
is related to hornblende and is essentially a silicate of iron and
soda; -- called also blue asbestus. A silicified form, in which the
fibers penetrating quartz are changed to oxide of iron, is the yellow
brown tiger-eye of the jewelers.
CROCIN
Cro"cin (kr"sn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
(a) The coloring matter of Chinese yellow pods, the fruit of Gardenia
grandiflora. Watts.
(b) A red powder (called also polychroite), which is made from the
saffron (Crocus sativus). See Polychroite.
CROCK
Crock (krk), n. Etym: [Cf. W. croeg cover, Scot. crochit covered.]
Defn: The loose black particles collected from combustion, as on pots
and kettles, or in a chimney; soot; smut; also, coloring matter which
rubs off from cloth.
CROCK
Crock, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Crocked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n. Crocking.]
Defn: To soil by contact, as with soot, or with the coloring matter
of badly dyed cloth.
CROCK
Crock, v. i.
Defn: To give off crock or smut.
CROCK
Crock, n.
Defn: A low stool. "I . . . seated her upon a little crock." Tatler.
CROCK
Crock (krk), n. Etym: [AS. croc, croca, crog, croh; akin to D. kruik,
G. krug, Icel. krukka, Dan. krukke, Sw. kruka; but cf. W. crwc
bucket, pail, crochan pot, cregen earthen vessel, jar. Cf. Cruet.]
Defn: Any piece of crockery, especially of coarse earthenware; an
earthen pot or pitcher.
Like foolish flies about an honey crock. Spenser.
CROCK
Crock, v. t.
Defn: To lay up in a crock; as, to crock butter. Halliwell.
CROCKER
Crock"er (-r), n.
Defn: A potter. [Obs.] Wyclif.
CROCKERY
Crock"er*y ( krk"r-), n. Etym: [From Crock an earthen vessel.]
Defn: Earthenware; vessels formed of baked clay, especially the
coarser kinds.
CROCKET
Crock"et (krk"t), n. Etym: [OF. croquet, F. crochet, dim. of croc
hook. See Crook, and cf. Crotchet.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament often resembling curved and bent foliage,
projecting from the sloping edge of a gable, spire, etc.
2. A croche, or knob, on the top of a stag's antler.
The antlers and the crockets. W. Black.
CROCKETED
Crock"et*ed, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Ornamented with crockets.
CROCKETING
Crock"et*ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: Ornamentation with crockets. Ruskin.
CROCKY
Crock"y (-), a. Etym: [From Crock soot.]
Defn: Smutty.
CROCODILE
Croc"o*dile (krk"-dl; 277), n. Etym: [L. crocodilus, Gr. crocodile.
Cf. Cookatrice.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large reptile of the genus Crocodilus, of several species.
They grow to the length of sixteen or eighteen feet, and inhabit the
large rivers of Africa, Asia, and America. The eggs, laid in the
sand, are hatched by the sun's heat. The best known species is that
of the Nile (C. vulgaris, or C. Niloticus). The Florida crocodile (C.
Americanus) is much less common than the alligator and has longer
jaws. The name is also sometimes applied to the species of other
related genera, as the gavial and the alligator.
2. (Logic)
Defn: A fallacious dilemma, mythically supposed to have been first
used by a crocodile. Crocodile bird (Zoöl.), an African plover
(Pluvianus ægypticus) which alights upon the crocodile and devours
its insect parasites, even entering its open mouth (according to
reliable writers) in pursuit of files, etc.; -- called also Nile
bird. It is the trochilos of ancient writers.
-- Crocodile tears, false or affected tears; hypocritical sorrow; --
derived from the fiction of old travelers, that crocodiles shed tears
over their prey.
CROCODILIA
Croc`o*dil"i*a (-dl"-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. crocodilus
crocodile.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of reptiles including the crocodiles, gavials,
alligators, and many extinct kinds.
CROCODILIAN
Croc`o*dil"i*an (krk`-dl"-an), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the crocodile; characteristic of the
crocodile.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Crocodilia.
CROCODILITY
Croc`o*dil"i*ty (--t), n. (Logic)
Defn: A caption or sophistical mode of arguing. [R.]
CROCOISITE
Cro"cois*ite (kr"kois-t), n. Etym: [Cf. F. croco.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Crocoite.
CROCOITE
Cro"co*ite (kr"k-t), n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Lead chromate occuring in crystals of a bright hyacinth red
color; -- called also red lead ore.
CROCONATE
Cro"con*ate (kr"kn-t), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt formed by the union of croconic acid with a base.
CROCONIC
Cro*con"ic (kr-kn"k), a. Etym: [Gr.
1. Of, pertaining to, or resembling saffron; having the color of
saffron; as, croconic acid.
2. Pertaining to, or derived from, croconic acid.
Croconic acid (Chem.), a yellow crystalline substance, C5O3(OH)2,
obtained from potassium carboxide, rhodizonic acid, and various
phenol and quinone derivatives of benzene, and forming yellow or
orange colored salts.
CROCOSE
Cro"cose (kr"ks), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline sugar, metameric with glucose, obtained
from the coloring matter of saffron. [Written also crokose.]
CROCUS
Cro"cus (kr"ks), n. Etym: [L., saffron, fr. Gr. kark, Ar. kurkum,
Skr. ku.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of iridaceous plants, with pretty blossoms rising
separately from the bulb or corm. C. vernus is one of the earliest of
spring-blooming flowers; C. sativus produces the saffron, and
blossoms in the autumn.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A deep yellow powder; the oxide of some metal calcined to a red
or deep yellow color; esp., the oxide of iron (Crocus of Mars or
colcothar) thus produced from salts of irron, and used as a polishing
powder. Crocus of Venus (Old Chem.), oxide of copper.
CROESUS
Croe"sus (kr"ss), n. Etym: [L., fr. G.
Defn: A king of Lydia who flourished in the 6th century b. c., and
was renowned for his vast wealth; hence, a common appellation for a
very rich man; as, he is veritable Croesus.
CROFT
Croft (krft; 115), n. Etym: [AS. croft; akin to D. kroft hillock; cf.
Gael. croit hump, croft.]
Defn: A small, inclosed field, adjoining a house; a small farm.
A few small crofts of stone-encumbered ground. Wordsworth.
CROFTER
Croft"er (-r), n.
Defn: One who rents and tills a small farm or helding; as, the
crofters of Scotland.
CROFTING
Croft"ing, n.
1. Croftland. [Scot.] Jamieson.
2. (Textile Manuf.)
Defn: Exposing linen to the sun, on the grass, in the process of
bleaching.
CROFTLAND
Croft"land (-lnd), n.
Defn: Land of superior quality, on which successive crops are raised.
[Scot.] Jamieson.
CROFTON SYSTEM
Crof"ton sys"tem. [After Sir Walter Crofton, Irish penologist.]
(Penology)
Defn: A system of prison discipline employing for consecutive periods
cellular confinement, associated imprisonment under the mark system,
restraint intermediate between imprisonment and freedom, and
liberation on ticket of leave.
CROIS
Crois (krois). n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: See Cross, n. [Obs.]
CROISADE; CROISADO
Croi*sade" (kroi-sd"), Croi*sa"do (-s"d), n. Etym: [F. criosade. See
Crusade.]
Defn: A holy war; a crusade. [Obs.] Bacon.
CROISE
Croise (krois), n. Etym: [F. crois crusader, fr. OF. crois, F. croix,
cross. See Cross.]
1. A pilgrim bearing or wearing a cross. [Obs.]
2. A crusader. [Obs.]
The conquesta of the croises extending over Palestine. Burke.
CROISSANTE
Crois`san`te" (krw`sn`t"), a. Etym: [F. croissant, adj. & n.,
crescent.] (Her.)
Defn: Terminated with crescent; -- said of a cross the ends of which
are so terminated.
CROKER
Cro"ker (kr"kr), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A cultivator of saffron; a dealer in saffron. [Obs.] Holinshed.
CROMA
Cro"ma (kr"m), n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: A quaver. [Obs.]
CROMLECH
Crom"lech (krm"l*k), n. Etym: [W. cromlech; crom bending or bent,
concave + llech a flat stone; akin to Ir. cromleac.] (Arch
Defn: A monument of rough stones composed of one or more large ones
supported in a horizontal position upon others. They are found
chiefly in countris inhabited by the ancient Celts, and are of a
period anterior to the introduction of Christianity into these
countries.
CROMORNA
Cro*mor"na (kr-mr"n), n. Etym: [F. cromorne (cf. It. cromorno0, fr.
G. krummhorn crooked horn, cornet, an organ pipe turned like a
trumpet; krumm crooked + horn horn.] (Mus.)
Defn: A certain reed stop in the organ, of a quality of tone
resembling that of the oboe. [Corruptly written cromona.]
CRONE
Crone (krn), n. Etym: [OD. kronie, karonie, an old sheep, OF.
carogne, F. charogne, carrion (also F. carogne illnatured woman.).
See Carrion, and Crony.]
1. An old ewe. [Obs.] Tusser.
2. An old woman; -- usually in contempt.
But still the crone was constant to her note. Dryden.
3. An old man; especially, a man who talks and acts like an old
woman. [R.]
The old crone [a negro man] lived in a hovel, . . . which his master
had given him. W. Irving.
A few old battered crones of office. Beaconsfield.
CRONEL
Cro"nel (kr"nl), n. Etym: [Cf. Coronel spearhead, Crown.]
Defn: The iron head of a tilting spear.
CRONET
Cro"net (kr"nt), n. Etym: [Cf. Coronet, Crownet.]
Defn: The coronet of a horse.
CRONIAN
Cro"ni*an (kr"n-an), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Saturnian; -- applied to the North Polar Sea. [R.] Milton.
CRONSTEDTITE
Cron"stedt*ite (krn"stt-t), n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting principally of silicate of iron, and
crystallizing in hexagonal prisms with perfect basal cleavage; -- so
named from the Swedish mineralogist Cronstedt.
CRONY
Cro"ny (kr"n), n.; pl. Cronies (-n. Etym: [Orig., an old woman. See
Crone.]
1. A crone. [Obs.] "Marry not an old crony." Burton.
2. An intimate companion; a familiar frend. [Colloq.]
He soon found his former cronies, though all rather the worse for the
wear and tear of time. W. Irving.
CROODLE
Croo"dle (kr"d'l), v. i. Etym: [Cf. Cruddle, Crudle.]
1. To cower or cuddle together, as from fear or cold; to lie close
and snug together, as pigs in straw. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Forby.
A dove to fly home her nest and croodle there. C. Kingsley.
2. To fawn or coax. [Obs.]
3. To coo. [Scot.]
CROOK
Crook (krk), n. Etym: [OE. crok; akin to Icel. kr hook,bend, SW.
krok, Dan. krog, OD. krooke; or cf. Gael. crecan crook, hook, W.
crwca crooked. Cf. Crosier, Crotchet, Crutch, Encroach.]
1. A bend, turn, or curve; curvature; flexure.
Through lanes, and crooks, and darkness. Phaer.
2. Any implement having a bent or crooked end. Especially: (a) The
staff used by a shepherd, the hook of which serves to hold a runaway
sheep. (b) A bishop's staff of office. Cf. Pastoral stafu.
He left his crook, he left his flocks. Prior.
3. A pothook. "As black as the crook." Sir W. Scott.
4. An artifice; trick; tricky device; subterfuge.
For all yuor brags, hooks, and crooks. Cranmer.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A small tube, usually curved, applied to a trumpet, horn, etc.,
to change its pitch or key.
6. A person given to fraudulent practices; an accomplice of thieves,
forgers, etc. [Cant, U.S.] By hook or by crook, in some way or other;
by fair means or foul.
CROOK
Crook (krk), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crooked (krkt); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crooking.] Etym: [OE. croken; cf. Sw. kr, Dan. kr. See Crook, n.]
1. To turn from a straight line; to bend; to curve.
Crook the pregnant hinges of the knee. Shak.
2. To turn from the path of rectitude; to pervert; to misapply; to
twist. [Archaic]
There is no one thing that crooks youth more than such unlawfull
games. Ascham.
What soever affairs pass such a man's hands, he crooketh them to his
own ends. Bacon.
CROOK
Crook, v. i.
Defn: To bend; to curve; to wind; to have a curvature. " The port . .
. crooketh like a bow." Phaer.
Their shoes and pattens are snouted, and piked more than a finger
long, crooking upwards. Camden.
CROOKBACK
Crook"back` (krk"bk), n.
Defn: A crooked back; one who has a crooked or deformed back; a
hunchback.
CROOKBACK
Crook"back`, a.
Defn: Hunched. Shak. `
CROOKBILL
Crook"bill` ( -bl`), n. (Zoöl)
Defn: A New Zealand plover (Anarhynchus frontalis), remarkable for
having the end of the beak abruptly bent to the right.
CROOKED
Crook"ed (krk"d), a.
1. Characterized by a crook or curve; not straight; turning; bent;
twisted; deformed. "Crooked paths." Locke.
he is deformed, crooked, old, and sere. Shak.
2. Not straightforward; deviating from rectitude; distorted from the
right.
They are a perverse and crooked generation. Deut. xxxii. 5.
3. False; dishonest; fraudulent; as, crooked dealings. Crooked
whisky, whisky on wich the paiment of duty has been fraudulently
evaded. [Slang, U.S.] Barlett.
CROOKEDLY
Crook"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a curved or crooked manner; in a perverse or untoward
manner.
CROOKEDNESS
Crook"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being crooked; hence, deformity of
body or of mind; deviation from moral rectitude; perverseness.
CROOKEN
Crook"en (krk"'n), v. t.
Defn: To make crooked. [Obs.]
CROOKES SPACE
Crookes space (krooks). [After Sir William Crookes, English chemist,
who first described it.] (Physics)
Defn: The dark space within the negative-pole glow at the cathode of
a vacuum tube, observed only when the pressure is low enough to give
a striated discharge; -- called also Crookes layer.
CROOKES TUBE
Crookes" tube` (krks" tb`). (Phys.)
Defn: A vacuum tube in which the exhaustion is carried to a very high
degree, with the production of a distinct class of effects; -- so
called from W. Crookes who introduced it.
CROOKNECK
Crook"neck`, n.
Defn: Either of two varieties of squash, distinguished by their
tapering, recurved necks. The summer crookneck is botanically a
variety of the pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) and matures early in the
season. It is pale yellow in color, with warty excrescences. The
winter crookneck belongs to a distinct species (C. moschata) and is
smooth and often striped. [U. S.]
CROON
Croon (krn), v. i. Etym: [OE. croinen, cf. D. kreunen to moan.
1. To make a continuous hollow moan, as cattle do when in pain.
[Scot.] Jamieson.
2. To hum or sing in a low tone; to murmur softly.
Here an old grandmother was crooning over a sick child, and rocking
it to and fro. Dickens.
CROON
Croon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crooned (krnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Crooning.]
1. To sing in a low tone, as if to one's self; to hum.
Hearing such stanzas crooned in her praise. C. Bront
2. To soothe by singing softly.
The fragment of the childish hymn with which he sung and crooned
himself asleep. Dickens.
CROON
Croon, n.
1. A low, continued moan; a murmur.
2. A low singing; a plain, artless melody.
CROP
Crop (krp), n. Etym: [OE. crop, croppe, craw, top of a plant,
harvest, AS. crop, cropp, craw, top, bunch, ear of corn; akin to D.
krop craw, G. kropf, Icel. kroppr hump or bunch on the body, body;
but cf. also W. cropa, croppa, crop or craw of a bird, Ir. & Gael.
sgroban. Cf. Croup, Crupper, Croup.]
1. The pouchlike enlargement of the gullet of birds, serving as a
receptacle for food; the craw.
2. The top, end, or highest part of anything, especially of a plant
or tree. [Obs.] "Crop and root." Chaucer.
3. That which is cropped, cut, or gathered from a single felld, or of
a single kind of grain or fruit, or in a single season; especially,
the product of what is planted in the earth; fruit; harvest.
Lab'ring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn, wine, and oil.
Milton.
4. Grain or other product of the field while standing.
5. Anything cut off or gathered.
Guiltless of steel, and from the razor free, It falls a plenteous
crop reserved for thee. Dryden.
6. Hair cut close or short, or the act or style of so cutting; as, a
convict's crop.
7. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting ornament in carved stone. Specifically, a finial.
[Obs.]
8. (Mining.)
(a) Tin ore prepared for smelting.
(b) Outcrop of a vein or seam at the surface. Knight.
9. A riding whip with a loop instead of a lash. Neck and crop,
altogether; roughly and at once. [Colloq.]
CROP
Crop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cropped (krpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cropping.]
1. To cut off the tops or tips of; to bite or pull off; to browse; to
pluck; to mow; to reap.
I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one. Ezek.
xvii. 22.
2. Fig.: To cut off, as if in harvest.
Death . . . .crops the growing boys. Creech.
3. To cause to bear a crop; as, to crop a field.
CROP
Crop, v. i.
Defn: To yield harvest. To crop out. (a) (Geol.) To appear above the
surface, as a seam or vein, or inclined bed, as of coal. (b) To come
to light; to be manifest; to appear; as, the peculiarities of an
author crop out.
-- To crop up, to sprout; to spring up. "Cares crop up in villas."
Beaconsfield.
CROP-EAR
Crop"-ear` (krp"r`), n.
Defn: A person or animal whose ears are cropped.
CROP-EARED
Crop"-eared` (krp"rd`), a.
Defn: Having the ears cropped.
CROPFUL
Crop"ful (-fl), a.
Defn: Having a full crop or belly; satiated. Milton.
CROPPER
Crop"per (krp"pr), n.
1. One that crops.
2. A variety of pigeon with a large crop; a pouter.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A machine for cropping, as for shearing off bolts or rod iron,
or for facing cloth.
4. A fall on one's head when riding at full speed, as in hunting;
hence, a sudden failure or collapse. [Slang.]
CROPSICK
Crop"sick` (kr"sk`), a.
Defn: Sick from excess in eating or drinking. [Obs.] "Cropsick
drunkards." Tate.
-- Crop"sick`ness, n. [Obs.] Whitlock.
CROP-TAILED
Crop"-tailed` (-tld`), a.
Defn: Having the tail cropped.
CROQUANTE
Cro`quante", n. [F.]
Defn: A brittle cake or other crisp pastry.
CROQUET
Cro*quet" (kr-k"), n. Etym: [From French; cf. Walloon croque blow,
fillip. F. croquet a crisp biscuit, croquer to crunch, fr. croc a
crackling sound, of imitative origin. Croquet then properly meant a
smart tap on the ball.]
1. An open-air game in which two or more players endeavor to drive
wooden balls, by means of mallets, through a series of hoops or
arches set in the ground according to some pattern.
2. The act of croqueting.
CROQUET
Cro*quet", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Croqueted (-kd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Croqueting (-k"ng).]
Defn: In the game of croquet, to drive away an opponent's ball, after
putting one's own in contact with it, by striking one's own ball with
the mallet.
CROQUETTE
Cro*quette", n. Etym: [F., fr. croquer to crunch.] (Cookery)
Defn: A ball of minced meat, fowl, rice, or other ingredients, highly
seasoned, and fried.
CRORE
Crore (krr), n. Etym: [Hind. karor, Skr. koTi.]
Defn: Ten millions; as, a crore of rupees (which is nearly
$5,000,000). [East Indies] Malcolm.
CROSIER
Cro"sier (kr"zhr), n. Etym: [OE. rocer, croser, croyser, fr. croce
crosier, OF. croce, croche, F. crosse, fr. LL. crocea, crocia, from
the same German or Celtic sourse as F. croc hook; akin to E. crook.]
Defn: The pastoral staff of a bishop (also of an archbishop, being
the symbol of his office as a shepherd of the flock of God.
Note: The true shape of the crosier was with a hooked or curved top;
the archbishop's staff alone bore a cross instead of a crook, and was
of exceptional, not of regular form. Skeat.
CROSIERED
Cro"siered (-zhrd), a.
Defn: Bearing a crosier.
CROSLET
Cros"let (krs"lt; 115), n.
Defn: See Crosslet.
CROSS
Cross (krs; 115), n. Etym: [OE. crois, croys, cros; the former fr.
OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, fr. L. crux; the second is perh. directly
fr. Prov. cros, crotz. fr. the same L. crux; cf. Icel. kross. Cf.
Crucial, Crusade, Cruise, Crux.]
1. A gibbet, cosisting of two pieces of timber placed transversely
upon one another, in various forms, as a T, or +, with the horizontal
piece below the upper end of the upright, or as an X. It was
anciently used in the execution of criminals.
Nailed to the cross By his own nation. Milton.
2. The sign or mark of the cross, made with the finger, or in ink,
etc., or actually represented in some material; the symbol of
Christ's death; the ensign and chosen symbol of Christianity, of a
Christian people, and of Christendom.
The custom of making the sign of the cross with the hand or finger,
as a means of conferring blessing or preserving from evil, is very
old. Schaff-Herzog Encyc.
Before the cross has waned the crescent's ray. Sir W. Scott.
Tis where the cross is preached. Cowper.
3. Affiction regarded as a test of patience or virtue; trial;
disappointment; opposition; misfortune.
Heaven prepares a good man with crosses. B. Jonson.
4. A piece of money stamped with the figure of a cross, also, that
side of such a piece on which the cross is stamped; hence, money in
general.
I should bear no cross if I did bear you; for I think you have no
money in your purse. Shak.
5. An appendage or ornament or anything in the form of a cross; a
badge or ornamental device of the general shape of a cross; hence,
such an ornament, even when varying considerably from that form;
thus, the Cross of the British Order of St. George and St. Michael
consist of a central medallion with seven arms radiating from it.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: A monument in the form of a cross, or surmounted bu a cross,
set up in a public place; as, a market cross; a boundary cross;
Charing Cross in London.
Dun-Edin's Cross, a pillared stone, Rose on a turret octagon. Sir W.
Scott.
7. (Her.)
Defn: A common heraldic bearing, of which there are many varieties.
See the Illustration, above.
8. The crosslike mark or symbol used instead of a signature by those
unable to write.
Five Kentish abbesses . . . .subscribed their names and crosses.
Fuller.
9. Church lands. [Ireland] [Obs.] Sir J. Davies.
10. A line drawn across or through another line.
11. Hence: A mixing of breeds or stock, especially in cattle
breeding; or the product of such intermixture; a hybrid of any kind.
Toning down the ancient Viking into a sort of a cross between Paul
Jones and Jeremy Diddler. Lord Dufferin.
12. (Surveying)
Defn: An instrument for laying of offsets perpendicular to the main
course.
13. (Mech.)
Defn: A pipe-fitting with four branches the axes of which usually
form's right angle. Cross and pile, a game with money, at which it is
put to chance whether a coin shall fall with that side up which bears
the cross, or the other, which is called pile, or reverse; the game
called heads or tails.
-- Cross bottony or bottoné. See under Bottony.
-- Cross estoilé (Her.). a cross, each of whose arms is pointed like
the ray of a star; that is, a star having four long points only.
-- Cross of Calvary. See Calvary, 3.
-- Southern cross. (Astron.) See under Southern.
-- To do a thing on the cross, to act dishonestly; -- opposed to
acting on the square. [Slang] -- To take up the cross, to bear
troubles and afflictions with patience from love to Christ.
CROSS
Cross (krs), a.
1. Not parallel; lying or falling athwart; transverse; oblique;
intersecting.
The cross refraction of the second prism. Sir I. Newton.
2. Not accordant with what is wished or expected; interrupting;
adverse; contrary; thwarting; perverse. "A cross fortune." Jer.
Taylor.
The cross and unlucky issue of my design. Glanvill.
The article of the resurrection seems to lie marvelously cross to the
common experience of mankind. South.
We are both love's captives, but with fates so cross, One must be
happy by the other's loss. Dryden.
3. Characterized by, or in a state of, peevishness, fretfullness, or
ill humor; as, a cross man or woman.
He had received a cross answer from his mistress. Jer. Taylor.
4. Made in an opposite direction, or an inverse relation; mutually
inverse; interchanged; as, cross interrogatories; cross marriages, as
when a brother and sister marry persons standing in the same relation
to each other. Cross action (Law), an action brought by a party who
is sued against the person who has sued him, upon the same subject
matter, as upon the same contract. Burrill.
-- Cross aisle (Arch.), a transept; the lateral divisions of a
cruciform church.
-- Cross axie. (a) (Mach.) A shaft, windlass, or roller, worked by
levers at opposite ends, as in the copperplate printing press. (b) A
driving axle. with cranks set at an angle of 90º with each other.
-- Cross bedding (Geol.), oblique lamination of horizontal beds, --
Cross bill. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Cross bitt. Same as Crosspiece.
-- Cross bond, a form of bricklaying, in which the joints of one
stretcher course come midway between those of the stretcher courses
above and below, a course of headers and stretchers intervening. See
Bond, n., 8.
-- Cross breed. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Cross breeding. See under Breeding.
-- Cross buttock, a particular throw in wrestling; hence, an
unexpected defeat or repulse. Smollet.
-- Cross country, across the country; not by the road. "The cross-
country ride." Cowper.
-- Cross fertilization, the fertilization of the female products of
one physiological individual by the male products of another, -- as
the fertilization of the ovules of one plant by pollen from another.
See Fertilization.
-- Cross file, a double convex file, used in dressing out the arms
or crosses of fine wheells.
-- Cross fire (Mil.), lines of fire, from two or more points or
places, crossing each other.
-- Cross forked. (Her.) See under Forked.
-- Cross frog. See under Frog.
-- Cross furrow, a furrow or trench cut across other furrows to
receive the water running in them and conduct it to the side of the
field.
-- Cross handle, a handle attached transversely to the axis of a
tool, as in the augur. Knight.
-- Cross lode (Mining), a vein intersecting the true or principal
lode.
-- Cross purpose. See Cross-purpose, in the Vocabulary.
-- Cross reference, a reference made from one part of a book or
register to another part, where the same or an allied subject is
treated of.
-- Cross sea (Naut.), a chopping sea, in which the waves run in
contrary directions.
-- Cross stroke, a line or stroke across something, as across the
letter t.
-- Cross wind, a side wind; an unfavorable wind.
-- Cross wires, fine wires made to traverse the field of view in a
telescope, and moved by a screw with a graduated head, used for
delicate astronomical observations; spider lines. Fixed cross wires
are also used in microscopes, etc.
Syn.
-- Fretful; peevish. See Fretful.
CROSS
Cross, prep.
Defn: Athwart; across. [Archaic or Colloq.] A fox was taking a walk
one night cross a village. L'Estrange. To go cross lots, to go across
the fields; totake a short cut. [Colloq.]
CROSS
Cross, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crossed (krst; 115); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crossing.]
1. To put across or athwart; to cause to intersect; as, to cross the
arms.
2. To lay or draw something, as a line, across; as, to cross the
letter t.
3. To pass from one side to the other of; to pass or move over; to
traverse; as, to cross a stream.
A hunted hare . . . crosses and confounds her former track. I. Watts.
4. To pass, as objects going in an opposite direction at the same
time. "Your kind letter crossed mine." J. D. Forbes.
5. To run counter to; to thwart; to obstruct; to hinder; to clash or
interfere with.
In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing. Shak.
An oyster may be crossed onlove. Sheridan.
6. To interfere and cut off; to debar. [Obs.]
To cross me from the golden time I look for. Shak.
7. To make the sign of the cross upon; -- followed by the reflexive
pronoun; as, he crossed himself.
8. To cancel by marking crosses on or over, or drawing a line across;
to erase; -- usually with out, off, or over; as, to cross out a name.
9. To cause to interbreed; -- said of different stoocks or races; to
mix the breed of. To cross one's path, to oppose one's plans.
Macualay.
CROSS
Cross, v. i.
1. To lie or be athwart.
2. To move or pass from one side to the other, or from place to
place; to make a transit; as, to cross from New York to Liverpool.
3. To be inconsistent. [Obs.]
Men's actions do not always cross with reason. Sir P. Sidney.
4. To interbreed, as races; to mix distinct breeds.
If two individuals of distinct races cross, a third is invariably
produced different from either. Coleridge.
CROSS-ARMED
Cross"-armed` (krs"rmd), a.
Defn: With arms crossed.
CROSS-BANDED
Cross"-band`ed (-bnd`d), a.
Defn: A term used when a narrow ribbon of veneer is inserted into the
surfase of any piece of furniture, wainscoting, etc., so that the
grain of it is contrary to the general surface.
CROSSBAR
Cross"bar` (-br`), n.
Defn: A transverse bar or piece, as a bar across a door, or as the
iron bar or stock which passes through the shank of an anchor to
insure its turning fluke down. Russell. Crossbar shot, a projectile
which folds into a sphere for loading, but on leaving the gun expands
to a cross with a quarter ball at the end of each arm; -- used in
naval actions for cutting the enemy's rigging.
CROSSBARRED
Cross"barred` (-brd`), a.
1. Secured by, or furnished with, crossbars. Milton.
2. Made or patterned in lines crossing each other; as, crossbarred
muslin.
CROSSBEAK
Cross"beak` (-bk`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Crossbill.
CROSSBEAM
Cross"beam` (-bm`). n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A girder.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A beam laid across the bitts, to which the cable is fastened
when riding at anchor.
CROSS-BEARER
Cross"-bear`er (-br`r), n. (R.C.Ch.)
Defn: A subdeacon who bears a cross before an archbishop or primate
on solemn occasions.
CROSSBILL
Cross"bill` (-bl`). (Law)
Defn: A bill brought by a defendant, in an equity or chancery suit,
against the plaintiff, respecting the matter in question in that
suit. Bouvier.
Note: In criminal practice, cross bills of indictment for assault, in
which the prosecutor in once case is the defendant in another, may be
tried together.
CROSSBILL
Cross"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird of the genus Loxia, allied to the finches. Their
mandibles are strongly curved and cross each other; the crossbeak.
CROSS-BIRTH
Cross"-birth` (-brth`), n. (Med.)
Defn: Any preternatural labor, in whiche the boly of the child lies
across the pelvis of the mother, so that the shoulder, arm, or trunk
is the part first presented at the mouth of the uterus.
CROSSBITE
Cross"bite` (-bt`), n.
Defn: A deeption; a cheat. [Obs.]
CROSSBITE
Cross"bite", b. t.
Defn: To deceive; to trick; to gull. [Obs.]
CROSSBONES
Cross"bones` (-bnz`), n. pl.
Defn: A representation of two of the leg bones or arm bones of a
skeleton, laid crosswise, often surmounted with a skull, and serving
as a symbol of death.
Crossbones, scythes, hourglasses, and other lugubrios emblems of
mortality. Hawthorne.
CROSSBOW
Cross"bow` (-b`), n. (Archery)
Defn: A weapon, used in discharging arrows, formed by placing a bow
crosswise on a stock.
CROSSBOWER
Cross"bow`er (-b`r), n.
Defn: A crossbowman.[Obs.]
CROSSBOWMAN
Cross"bow`man (-man), n.
Defn: One who shoots with a crossbow. See Arbalest.
CROSSBRED
Cross"bred` (-brd`), a. (Stock Breeding)
Defn: Produced by mixing distinct breeds; mongrel.
CROSSBREED
Cross"breed` (-brd`), n.
1. A breed or an animal produced from parents of different breeds; a
new variety, as of plants, combining the qualites of two parent
varieties or stocks.
2. Anything partaking of the natures of two different things; a
hybrid.
CROSS-BUN
Cross"-bun` (-bn`), n.
Defn: A bun or cake marked with a cross, and intended to be eaten on
Good Friday.
CROSS-BUTTOCK
Cross"-but`tock, n. (Wrestling)
Defn: A throw in which the wrestler turns his left side to his
opponent, places his left leg across both legs of his opponent, and
pulls him forward over his hip; hence, an unexpected defeat or
repulse.
CROSS-CROSSLET
Cross`-cross"let (-krs"lt; 115), n. (Her.)
Defn: A cross having the three upper ends crossed, so as to from
three small crosses.
CROSSCUT
Cross"cut` (-kt`)
Defn: , v. t. To cut across or through; to intersect.
CROSSCUT
Cross"cut`, n.
1. A short cut across; a path shorter than by the high road.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A level driven across the course of a vein, or across the main
workings, as from one gangway to another. Crosscut saw. (a) A saw,
the teeth of which are so set as to adapt it for sawing wood
crosswise of the grain rather than lengthwise. (b) A saw managed by
two men, one at each end, for cutting large logs crosswise.
CROSS-DAYS
Cross"-days` (-dz`), n. pl. (Eccl.)
Defn: The three days preceding the Feast of the Ascension.
CROSSE
Crosse, n. [F., crosier, hooked stick.]
Defn: The implement with which the ball is thrown and caught in the
game of lacrosse.
CROSSETTE
Cros*sette" (krs-st`), n. Etym: [F., dim. of crosse. See Crosier.]
(Arch.)
(a) A return in one of the corners of the architrave of a door or
window; -- called also ancon, ear, elbow.
(b) The shoulder of a joggled keystone.
CROSS-EXAMINATION
Cross"-ex*am`i*na"tion (krs"gz-m`-n"shn; 115), n. (Low)
Defn: The interrogating or questioning of a witness by the party
against whom he has been called and examined. See Examination.
CROSS-EXAMINE
Cross"-ex*am"ine (-m"n), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cross-examined (-nd); p.
pr. & vb. n. Cross-examining.] (Low)
Defn: To examine or question, as a witness who has been called and
examined by the opposite party. "The opportunity to cross-examine the
witnesses." Kent.
CROSS-EXAMINER
Cross"-ex*am"in*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who cross-examines or conducts a crosse-examination.
CROSS-EYE
Cross"-eye` (-`), n.
Defn: See Strabismus.
CROSS-EYED
Cross"-eyed` (-d`), a.
Defn: Affected with strabismus; squint-eyed; squinting.
CROSS-FERTILIZE
Cross"-fer"ti*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cross-fertilized; p. pr. &
vb. n. Cross-fertilizing.] (Bot.)
Defn: To fertilize, as the stigmas of a flower or plant, with the
pollen from another individual of the same species.
CROSSFISH
Cross"fish` (-fsh`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A starfish.
CROSSFLOW
Cross"flow` (-fl`), v. i.
Defn: To flow across, or in a contrary direction. "His crossflowing
course." Milton.
CROSS-GARNET
Cross"-gar`net (krs"gr`nt), n.
Defn: A hinge having one strap perpendicular and the other strap
horizontal giving it the form of an Egyptian or T cross.
CROSSGRAINED
Cross"grained (-grnd`), a.
1. Having the grain or fibers run diagonally, or more or less
transversely an irregularly, so as to interfere with splitting or
planing.
If the stuff proves crossgrained, . . . then you must turn your stuff
to plane it the contrary way. Moxon.
2. Perverse; untractable; contrary.
She was none of your crossgrained, termagant, scolding jades.
Arbuthnot.
CROSSHATCH
Cross"hatch` (-hch`; 224), v. t.
Defn: To shade by means of crosshatching.
CROSSHATCHING
Cross"hatch`ing, n.
Defn: In drawing and line engraving, shading with lines that cross
one another at an angle.
CROSSHEAD
Cross"head` (-hd), n. (Mach.)
Defn: A beam or bar across the head or end of a rod, etc., or a block
attached to it and carrying a knuckle pin; as the solid crosspiece
running between parallel slides, which receives motion from the
piston of a steam engine and imparts it to the connecting rod, which
is hinged to the crosshead.
CROSSING
Cross"ing, n. Etym: [See Cross, v. t. ]
1. The act by which anything is crossed; as, the crossing of the
ocean.
2. The act of making the sign of the cross. Bp. Hall.
3. The act of interbreeding; a mixing of breeds.
4. Intersection, as of two paths or roads.
5. A place where anything (as a stream) is crossed; a paved walk
across a street.
6. Contradiction; thwarting; obstruction.
I do not bear these crossings. Shak.
CROSSJACK
Cross"jack` (krs"jk` or kr"jk`), n. (Naut.)
Defn: The lowest square sail, or the lower yard of the mizzenmast.
CROSSLEGGED
CRoss"legged` (-lgd`), a.
Defn: Having the legs crossed.
CROSSLET
Cross"let (-lEt), n. Etym: [Dim. of cross.]
1. A small cross. Spenser.
2. Etym: [Cf. OF. croisel crucible, and E. Cresset.]
Defn: A crucible. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CROSSLET
Cross"let, a. (Her.)
Defn: Crossed again; -- said of a cross the arms of which are
crossed. SeeCross-crosslet.
CROSSLY
Cross"ly, adv.
Defn: Athwart; adversely; unfortunately; peevishly; fretfully; with
ill humor.
CROSSNESS
Cross"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being cross; peevishness; fretfulness;
ill humor.
CROSSOPTERYGIAN
Cros*sop`ter*yg"i*an (krs-sp`tr-j-an), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Crossopterygii.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Crossopterygii.
CROSSOPTERYGII
Cros*sop`te*ryg"i*i (krs-sp`t-rj-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes including among living species the
bichir (Polypterus). See Brachioganoidei.
CROSSPATCH
Cross"patch` (-pch`; 224), n.
Defn: An ill-natured person. [Colloq.] "Crosspatch, draw the latch."
Mother Goose.
CROSS-PAWL
Cross"-pawl` (-pl`), n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Same as Cross-spale.
CROSSPIECE
Cross"piece` (krs"ps`; 115), n.
1. A piece of any structure which is fitted or framed crosswise.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A bar or timber connecting two knightheads or two bitts.
CROSS-PURPOSE
Cross"-pur`pose (-pr`ps), n.
1. A counter or opposing purpose; hence, that which is inconsistent
or contradictory. Shaftesbury.
2. pl.
Defn: A conversational game, in which questions and answers are made
so as to involve ludicrous combinations of ideas. Pepys. To be at
cross-purposes, to misunderstand or to act counter to one another
without intending it; -- said of persons.
CROSS-QUESTION
Cross"-ques`tion (-kws`chn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cross-questioned (-
chnd), p. pr. & vb. n. Cross-questioning.]
Defn: To cross-examine; to subject to close questioning.
CROSS-READING
Cross"-read`ing (rd`ng), n.
Defn: The reading of the lines of a newspaper directly across the
page, instead of down the columns, thus producing a ludicrous
combination of ideas.
CROSSROAD
Cross"road` (-rd`), n.
Defn: A road that crosses another; an obscure road intersecting or
avoiding the main road.
CROSSROW
Cross"row` (-r`), n.
1. The alphabet; -- called also Christcross-row.
And from the crossrow plucks the letter G. Shak.
2. A row that crosses others.
CROSSRUFF
Cross"ruff` (-rf`), n. (Whist)
Defn: The play in whist where partners trump each a different suit,
and lead to each other for that purpose; -- called also seesaw.
CROSS-SPALE; CROSS-SPALL
Cross"-spale` (-spl`), Cross"-spall` (-spl`), n. Etym: [See Spale &
Spall.] (Shipbuilding)
Defn: One of the temporary wooden braces, placed horizontally across
a frame to hold it in position until the deck beams are in; a cross-
pawl.
CROSS-SPRINGER
Cross"-spring`er (-sprng`r), n. (Arch.)
Defn: One of the ribs in a groined arch, springing from the corners
in a diagonal direction.
Note: [See Illustr. of Groined vault.]
CROSS-STAFF
Cross"-staff` (-stf`), n.
1. An instrument formerly used at sea for taking the altitudes of
celestial bodies.
2. A surveyor's instrument for measuring offsets.
CROSS-STITCH
Cross"-stitch` (-stch`; 224), n.
Defn: A form of stitch, where the stitches are diagonal and in pairs,
the thread of one stitch crossing that of the other. "Tent and cross-
stitch." Sir W. Scott.
-- Cross"-stitch`, v. t. & i.
CROSS-STONE
Cross"-stone` (-stn`), n. (Min.)
Defn: See Harmotome, and Staurotide.
CROSS-TAIL
Cross"-tail` (-tl`), n. (Steam Engine)
Defn: A bar connecting the ends of the side rods or levers of a
backaction or side-lever engine.
CROSS-TIE
Cross"-tie` (-t`), n. (Railroad)
Defn: A sleeper supporting and connecting the rails, and holding them
in place.
CROSS-TINING
Cross"-tin`ing (krs"tn`ng), n. (Agric.)
Defn: A mode of harrowing crosswise, or transversely to the ridges.
Crabb.
CROSSTREES
Cross"trees` (-trz`), n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: Pieces of timber at a masthead, to which are attached the upper
shrouds. At the head of lower masts in large vessels, they support a
semicircular platform called the "top."
CROSS-VAULTING
Cross"-vault`ing (-vlt`ng), n. (Arch.)
Defn: Vaulting formed by the intersection of two or more simple
vaults.
CROSSWAY
Cross"way` (-w`), n.
Defn: See Crossroad.
CROSS-WEEK
Cross"-week` (-wk`), n.
Defn: Rogation week, when the cross was borne in processions.
CROSSWISE
Cross"wise` (-wz`), adv.
Defn: In the form of a cross; across; transversely. Longfellow.
CROSSWORT
Cross"wort` (-wrt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to several inconspicuous plants having leaves in
whorls of four, as species of Crucianella, Valantia, etc.
CROTALARIA
Crot`a*la"ri*a (krt`-l"r- or kr`t-l"r-A), n. Etym: [NL. See
Crotalum.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leguminous plants; rattlebox.
Note: Crotalaria juncea furnishes the fiber called sunn or Bombay
hemp.
CROTALINE
Crot"a*line (krt"-ln or kr`t-), a. Etym: [See Crotalus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling, or pertaining to, the Crotalidae, or Rattlesnake
family.
CROTALO
Crot"a*lo (-l), n.
Defn: A Turkish musical instrument.
CROTALUM
Crot"a*lum (-lm), n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: A kind of castanet used by the Corybantes.
CROTALUS
Crot"a*lus (-ls), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of poisonous serpents, including the rattlesnakes.
CROTAPHITE
Crot"a*phite (krt"-ft), n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The temple or temporal fossa. Also used adjectively.
CROTAPHITIC
Crot`a*phit"ic (krt`-ft"k), n. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the temple; temporal.
CROTCH
Crotch (krch; 224), n.; pl. Crotches (-. Etym: [Cf. Crotchet,
Crutch.]
1. The angle formed by the parting of two legs or branches; a fork;
the point where a trunk divides; as, the crotch of a tree.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A stanchion or post of wood or iron, with two arms for
supporting a boom, spare yards, etc.; -- called also crane and
crutch. Totten.
CROTCH CHAIN
Crotch chain. (Logging)
Defn: A form of tackle for loading a log sideways on a sled, skidway,
etc.
CROTCHED
Crotched (krcht), a.
1. Having a crotch; forked.
2. Cross; peevish. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
CROTCHET
Crotch"et (krch"t; 224), n. Etym: [F. crochet, prop., a little hook,
a dim. from the same source as croc hook. See Crook, and cf. Crochet,
Crocket, Crosier.]
1. A forked support; a crotch.
The crotchets of their cot in columns rise. Dryden.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A time note, with a stem, having one fourth the value of a
semibreve, one half that of a minim, and twice that of a quaver; a
quarter note.
3. (Fort.)
Defn: An indentation in the glacis of the covered way, at a point
where a traverse is placed.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: The arrangement of a body of troops, either forward or
rearward, so as to form a line nearly perpendicular to the general
line of battle.
5. (Print.)
Defn: A bracket. See Bracket.
6. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument of a hooked form, used in certain cases in the
extraction of a fetus. Dunglison.
7. A perverse fancy; a whim which takes possession of the mind; a
conceit.
He ruined himself and all that trusted in him by crotchets that he
could never explain to any rational man. De Quincey.
CROTCHET
Crotch"et, v. i.
Defn: To play music in measured time. [Obs.] Donne.
CROTCHETED
Crotch"et*ed, a.
Defn: Marked or measured by crotchets; having musical notation.
Harmar (1587).
CROTCHETINESS
Crotch"et*i*ness (krch"t--ns), n.
Defn: The state or character of being crotchety, or whimsical.
This belief in rightness is a kind of conscientiousness, and when it
degenerates it becomes crotchetiness. J. Grote.
CROTCHETY
Crotch"et*y (krch"t-), a.
Defn: Given to crotchets; subject to whims; as, a crotchety man.
CROTON
Cro"ton (kr"tn), n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of euphorbiaceous plants belonging to tropical
countries. Croton oil (Med.), a viscid, acrid, brownish yellow oil
obtained from the seeds of Croton Tiglium, a small tree of the East
Indies. It is a most powerful drastic cathartic, and is used
externally as a pustulant.
CROTON BUG
Cro"ton bug` (bg`). Etym: [From the Croton water of New York.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, active, winged species of cockroach (Ectobia
Germanica), the water bug. It is common aboard ships, and in houses
in cities, esp. in those with hot-water pipes.
CROTONIC
Cro*ton"ic (kr-tn"k), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or derived from, a plant of the genus
Croton, or from croton oil. Crotonic acid (Chem.), a white
crystalline organic acid, C3H5.CO2H, of the ethylene, or acrylic acid
series. It was so named because formerly supposed to exist in croton
oil. Also, any acid metameric with crotonic acid proper.
Note: The acid characteristic of croton oil is tiglic or tiglinic
acid, a derivative of crotonic acid.
CROTONINE
Cro"ton*ine (kr"tn-n), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed alkaloid obtained from croton oil by boiling it with
water and magnesia, since found to be merely a magnesia soap of the
oil. Watts.
CROTONYLENE
Cro*ton"y*lene (kr-tn"-ln), n. Etym: [Crotonic + acet-ylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, volatile, pungent liquid, C4H6, produced
artificially, and regarded as an unsaturated hydrocarbon of the
acetylene series, and analogous to crotonic acid.
CROTTLES
Crot"tles (krt"t'lz), n. pl. Etym: [Gael. crotal.]
Defn: A name given to various lichens gathered for dyeing. [Scot.]
CROUCH
Crouch (krouch; 129), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crouched (kroucht); p. pr.
& vb. n. Crouching.] Etym: [OE. cruchen, crouchen, crouken; cf. E.
creep, G. krauchen, kriechen, or E. crook to bend, also crouch to
cross.]
1. To bend down; to stoop low; to lie close to the ground with the
logs bent, as an animal when waiting for prey, or in fear.
Now crouch like a cur. Beau. & Fl.
2. To bend servilely; to stoop meanly; to fawn; to cringe. "A
crouching purpose." Wordsworth.
Must I stand and crouch Under your testy humor Shak.
CROUCH
Crouch, v. t. Etym: [OE. cruchen, crouchen, from cruche, crouche,
cross. Cf. Crosier, Crook.]
1. To sign with the cross; to bless. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To bend, or cause to bend, as in humility or fear.
She folded her arms across her chest, And crouched her head upon her
breast. Colerige.
CROUCHED
Crouched (kroucht), a.
Defn: Marked with the sign of the cross. [Obs.] Crouched friar. See
Crutched friar, under Crutched.
CROUD
Croud (kroud), n. (Mus.)
Defn: See Crowd, a violin.
CROUKE
Crouke (krouk), n.
Defn: A crock; a jar. [Obs.] Chauser.
CROUP
Croup (krp), n. Etym: [F. croupe hind quarters, croup, rump, of
German or Icel. origin; cf. Icel. kryppa hump; akin to Icel. kroppr.
Cf. Crop.]
Defn: The hinder part or buttocks of certain quadrupeds, especially
of a horse; hence, the place behind the saddle.
So light to the croup the fair lady he swung, So light to the saddle
before her he sprung. Sir W. Scott.
CROUP
Croup (krp), n. Etym: [Scot. croup, cf. croup, crowp, to croak, to
cry or speak with a hoarse voice; cf. also LG. kropp, G. kropf, the
crop or craw of a bird, and tumor on the anterior part of the neck, a
wen, etc. Cf. Crop.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammatory affection of the larynx or trachea, accompanied
by a hoarse, ringing cough and stridulous, difficult breathing; esp.,
such an affection when associated with the development of a false
membrane in the air passages (also called membranous croup). See
False croup, under False, and Diphtheria.
CROUPADE
Crou*pade" (kr-pd"), n. Etym: [F., fr. croupe hind quarters.] (Man.)
Defn: A leap in which the horse pulls up his hind legs toward his
belly.
CROUPAL
Croup"al (krp"al), a.
Defn: Croupy.
CROUPER
Croup"er (krp"r), n.
Defn: See Crupper.
CROUPIER
Crou"pi*er (kr, n. Etym: [F.; prop., one who sits on the croup, and
hence, in the second place; an assistant. See 1st Croup.]
1. One who presides at a gaming table and collects the stakes.
2. One who, at a public dinner party, sits at the lower end of the
table as assistant chairman.
CROUPOUS
Croup"ous (krp"s), a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to or resembling croup; especially, attended with the
formation of a deposit or membrance like that found in membranous
croup; as, croupous laryngitis. Croupous pneumonia, pneumonia
attended with deposition of fibrinous matter in the air vesicles of
the lungs; ordinary acute pneumonia.
CROUPY
Croup"y (krp"), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to croup; resembling or indicating croup; as,
a croupy cough.
CROUSE
Crouse (krs), a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Brisk; lively; bold; self-complacent. [Scot.] Burns.
CROUSTADE
Crou`stade" (kr`std"), n. Etym: [F., fr. cro a crust, OF. crouste.]
(Cookery)
Defn: Bread baked in a mold, and scooped out, to serve minces upon.
Bishop.
CROUT
Crout (krout), n. Etym: [G. kraut.]
Defn: See Sourkrout.
CROUTON
Crou`ton" (kr`tn"), n. Etym: [F. cro, fr. cro a crust.] (Cookery)
Defn: Bread cut in various forms, and fried lightly in butter or oil,
to garnish hashes, etc.
CROW
Crow (kr), v. i. [imp. Crew (kr or Crowed (kr; p. p. Crowed (Crown
(krn), Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Crowing.] Etym: [AS. cr; akin to D.
kraijen, G. kr, cf. Lith. groti to croak. sq. root24. Cf. Crake.]
1. To make the shrill sound characteristic of a cock, either in joy,
gayety, or defiance. "The cock had crown." Bayron.
The morning cock crew loud. Shak.
2. To shout in exultation or defiance; to brag.
3. To utter a sound expressive of joy or pleasure.
The sweetest little maid, That ever crowed for kisses. Tennyson.
To crow over, to exult over a vanquished antagonist.
Sennacherib crowing over poor Jerusalem. Bp. Hall.
CROW
Crow, n. Etym: [AS. cr a crow (in sense 1); akin to D. kraai, G. kr;
cf. Icel. kr crow. So named from its cry, from AS. cr to crow. See
Crow, v. i. ]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird, usually black, of the genus Corvus, having a strong
conical beak, with projecting bristles. It has a harsh, croaking
note. See Caw.
Note: The common crow of Europe, or carrion crow, is C. corone. The
common American crow is C. Americanus. See Carrion crow, and
Illustr., under Carrion.
2. A bar of iron with a beak, crook, or claw; a bar of iron used as a
lever; a crowbar.
Get me an iron crow, and bring it straight Unto my cell. Shak.
3. The cry of the cock. See Crow, v. i., 1.
4. The mesentery of a beast; -- so called by butchers. Carrion crow.
See under Carrion.
-- Crow blackbird (Zoöl.), an American bird (Quiscalus quiscula); --
called also purple grackle.
-- Crow pheasant (Zoöl.), an Indian cuckoo; the common coucal. It is
believed by the natives to give omens. See Coucal.
-- Crow shrike (Zoöl.), any bird of the genera Gymnorhina, Craticus,
or Strepera, mostly from Australia.
-- Red-legged crow. See Crough.
-- As the crow flies, in a direct line.
-- To pick a crow, To pluck a crow, to state and adjust a difference
or grievance (with any one).
CROWBAR
Crow"bar` (kr"br), n.
Defn: A bar of iron sharpened at one end, and used as a lever.
CROWBERRY
Crow`ber`ry (kr"br`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A heathlike plant of the genus Empetrum, and its fruit, a
black, scarcely edible berry; -- also called crakeberry.
CROWD
Crowd (kroud), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crowded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Crowding.] Etym: [OE. crouden, cruden, AS. cr; cf. D. kruijen to push
in a wheelbarrow.]
1. To push, to press, to shove. Chaucer.
2. To press or drive together; to mass together. "Crowd us and crush
us." Shak.
3. To fill by pressing or thronging together; hence, to encumber by
excess of numbers or quantity.
The balconies and verandas were crowded with spectators, anxious to
behold their future sovereign. Prescott.
4. To press by solicitation; to urge; to dun; hence, to treat
discourteously or unreasonably. [Colloq.] To crowd out, to press out;
specifically, to prevent the publication of; as, the press of other
matter crowded out the article.
-- To crowd sail (Naut.), to carry an extraordinary amount of sail,
with a view to accelerate the speed of a vessel; to carry a press of
sail.
CROWD
Crowd, v. i.
1. To press together or collect in numbers; to swarm; to throng.
The whole company crowded about the fire. Addison.
Images came crowding on his mind faster than he could put them into
words. Macaulay.
2. To urge or press forward; to force one's self; as, a man crowds
into a room.
CROWD
Crowd, n. Etym: [AS. croda. See Crowd, v. t. ]
1. A number of things collected or closely pressed together; also, a
number of things adjacent to each other.
A crowd of islands. Pope.
2. A number of persons congregated or collected into a close body
without order; a throng.
The crowd of Vanity Fair. Macualay.
Crowds that stream from yawning doors.--Tennyson.
3. The lower orders of people; the populace; the vulgar; the rabble;
the mob.
To fool the crowd with glorious lies. Tennyson.
He went not with the crowd to see a shrine. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Throng; multitude. See Throng.
CROWD
Crowd, n. Etym: [W. crwth; akin to Gael. cruit. Perh. named from its
shape, and akin to Gr. curve. Cf. Rote.]
Defn: An ancient instrument of music with six strings; a kind of
violin, being the oldest known stringed instrument played with a bow.
[Written also croud, crowth, cruth, and crwth.]
A lackey that . . . can warble upon a crowd a little. B. Jonson.
CROWD
Crowd, v. t.
Defn: To play on a crowd; to fiddle. [Obs.] "Fiddlers, crowd on."
Massinger.
CROWDER
Crowd"er (kroud"r), n.
Defn: One who plays on a crowd; a fiddler. [Obs.] "Some blind
crowder." Sir P. Sidney.
CROWDER
Crowd"er, n.
Defn: One who crowds or pushes.
CROWDY
Crow"dy (krou"d), n.
Defn: A thick gruel of oatmeal and milk or water; food of the
porridge kind. [Scot.]
CROWFLOWER
Crow"flow`er (kr"flou`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of campion; according to Gerarde, the Lychnis Flos-
cuculi.
CROWFOOT
Crow"foot` (kr"ft`), n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The genus Ranunculus, of many species; some are common weeds,
others are flowering plants of considerable beauty.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A number of small cords rove through a long block, or euphroe,
to suspend an awning by.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: A caltrop. [Written also crow's-foot.]
4. (Well Boring)
Defn: A tool with a side claw for recovering broken rods, etc.
Raymond.
CROWKEEPER
Crow"keep`er (-kp`r), n.
Defn: A person employed to scare off crows; hence, a scarecrow.
[Obs.]
Scaring the ladies like a crowkeeper. Shak.
CROWN
Crown (krn),
Defn: p. p. of Crow. [Obs.]
CROWN
Crown (kroun), n. Etym: [OE. corone, coroun, crune, croun, OF.
corone, corune, F. couronne, fr. L. corona crown, wreath; akin to Gr.
curvus curved, E. curve, curb, Gael. cruinn round, W. crwn. Cf.
Cornice, Corona, Coroner, Coronet.]
1. A wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling the head,
especially as a reward of victory or mark of honorable distinction;
hence, anything given on account of, or obtained by, faithful or
successful effort; a reward. "An olive branch and laurel crown."
Shak.
They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptiblle. 1
Cor. ix. 25.
Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev. ii. 10.
2. A royal headdress or cap of sovereignty, worn by emperors, kings,
princes, etc.
Note: Nobles wear coronets; the triple crown of the pope is usually
called a tiara. The crown of England is a circle of gold with
crosses, fleurs-de-lis, and imperial arches, inclosing a crimson
velvet cap, and ornamented with thousands of diamonds and precious
stones.
3. The person entitled to wear a regal or imperial crown; the
sovereign; -- with the definite article.
Parliament may be dissolved by the demise of the crown. Blackstone.
Large arrears of pay were due to the civil and military servants of
the crown. Macaulay.
4. Imperial or regal power or dominion; sovereignty.
There is a power behind the crown greater than the crown itself.
Junius.
5. Anything which imparts beauty, splendor, honor, dignity, or
finish.
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of
righteousness. Prov. xvi. 31.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband. Prov. xvi. 4.
6. Highest state; acme; consummation; perfection.
Mutual love, the crown of all our bliss. Milton.
7. The topmost part of anything; the summit.
The steepy crown of the bare mountains. Dryden.
8. The topmost part of the head (see Illust. of Bird.); that part of
the head from which the hair descends toward the sides and back;
also, the head or brain.
From toe to crown he'll fill our skin with pinches. Shak.
Twenty things which I set down: This done, I twenty more-had in my
crown. Bunyan.
9. The part of a hat above the brim.
10. (Anat.)
Defn: The part of a tooth which projects above the gum; also, the top
or grinding surface of a tooth.
11. (Arch.)
Defn: The vertex or top of an arch; -- applied generally to about one
third of the curve, but in a pointed arch to the apex only.
12. (Bot.)
Defn: Same as Corona.
13. (Naut.)
(a) That part of an anchor where the arms are joined to the shank.
(b) The rounding, or rounded part, of the deck from a level line. (c)
pl.
Defn: The bights formed by the several turns of a cable. Totten.
14. The upper range of facets in a rose diamond.
15. The dome of a furnace.
16. (Geom.)
Defn: The area inclosed between two concentric perimeters.
17. (Eccl.)
Defn: A round spot shaved clean on the top of the head, as a mark of
the clerical state; the tonsure.
18. A size of writing paper. See under Paper.
19. A coin stamped with the image of a crown; hence,a denomination of
money; as, the English crown, a silver coin of the value of five
shillings sterling, or a little more than $1.20; the Danish or
Norwegian crown, a money of account, etc., worth nearly twenty-seven
cents.
20. An ornaments or decoration representing a crown; as, the paper is
stamped with a crown. Crown of aberration (Astron.), a spurious
circle around the true circle of the sun.
-- Crown antler (Zoöl.), the topmost branch or tine of an antler;
also, an antler having a cuplike top, with tines springing from the
rim.
-- Crown bar, one of the bars which support the crown sheet of
steam-boiler furnace.
-- Crown glass. See under Glass.
-- Crown imperial. (Bot.) See in the Vocabulary.
-- Crown jewels, the jewels appertaining to the sovereign while
wearing the crown. [Eng.] "She pawned and set to sale the crown
jewels." Milton.
-- Crown land, land belonging to the crown, that is, to the
sovereign.
-- Crown law, the law which governs criminal prosecutions. [Eng.] --
Crown lawyer, one employed by the crown, as in criminal cases. [Eng.]
-- Crown octavo. See under Paper.
-- Crown office. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Crown paper. See under Paper.
-- Crown piece. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Crown Prince, the heir apparent to a crown or throne.
-- Crown saw. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Crown scab (Far.), a cancerous sore formed round the corners of a
horse's hoof.
-- Crown sheet, the flat plate which forms the top of the furnace or
fire box of an internally fired steam boiler.
-- Crown shell. (Zoöl.) See Acorn-shell.
-- Crown side. See Crown office.
-- Crown tax (Eccl. Hist.), a golden crown, or its value, which was
required annually from the Jews by the king of Syria, in the time of
the Maccabees. 1 Macc. x. 20.
-- Crown wheel. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Crown work. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Pleas of the crown (Engl. law), criminal actions.
CROWN
Crown (kroun), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crowned (kround); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crowning.] Etym: [OE. coronen, corunen, crunien, crounien, OF.
coroner, F. couronner, fr. L. coronare, fr. corona a crown. See
Crown, n.]
1. To cover, decorate, or invest with a crown; hence, to invest with
royal dignity and power.
Her who fairest does appear, Crown her queen of all the year. Dryden.
Crown him, and say, "Long live our emperor." Shak.
2. To bestow something upon as a mark of honor, dignity, or
recompense; to adorn; to dignify.
Thou . . . hast crowned him with glory and honor. Ps. viii. 5.
3. To form the topmost or finishing part of; to complete; to
consummate; to perfect.
Amidst the grove that crowns yon tufted hill. Byron.
One day shall crown the alliance. Shak.
To crown the whole, came a proposition. Motley.
4. (Mech.)
Defn: To cause to round upward; to make anything higher at the middle
than at the edges, as the face of a machine pulley.
5. (Mil.)
Defn: To effect a lodgment upon, as upon the crest of the glacis, or
the summit of the breach. To crown a knot (Naut.), to lay the ends of
the strands over and under each other.
CROWN COLONY
Crown colony.
Defn: A colony of the British Empire not having an elective
magistracy or a parliament, but governed by a chief magistrate
(called Governor) appointed by the Crown, with executive councilors
nominated by him and not elected by the people.
CROWNED
Crowned (kround), p. p. & a.
1. Having or wearing a crown; surmounted, invested, or adorned, with
a crown, wreath, garland, etc.; honored; rewarded; completed;
consummated; perfected. "Crowned with one crest." Shak. "Crowned with
conquest." Milton.
With surpassing glory crowned. Milton.
2. Great; excessive; supreme. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CROWNER
Crown"er (kroun"r), n.
1. One who, or that which, crowns. Beau. & FL.
2. Etym: [Cf. Coroner.]
Defn: A coroner. [Prov. Eng. or Scot.]
CROWNET
Crown"et (kroun"t), n. Etym: [See Crown, Coronet.]
1. A coronet. [R.] P. Whitehead.
2. The ultimate end and result of an undertaking; a chief end. [Obs.]
O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm . . . . Whose bosom was
my crownet, my chief end. Shak.
CROWN-IMPERIAL
Crown"-im*pe"ri*al (-m-p"r-al), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A spring-blooming plant (Fritillaria imperialis) of the Lily
family, having at the top of the stalk a cluster of pendent bell-
shaped flowers surmounted with a tuft of green leaves.
CROWNLAND
Crown"land`, n. [G. kronland.]
Defn: In Austria-Hungary, one of the provinces, or largest
administrative divisions of the monarchy; as, the crownland of Lower
Austria.
CROWNLESS
Crown"less, a.
Defn: Without a crown.
CROWNLET
Crown"let (-lt), n.
Defn: A coronet. [Poetic] Sir W. Scott.
CROWN OFFICE
Crown" of`fice (f`fs; 115). (Eng. Law)
Defn: The criminal branch of the Court of King's or Queen's Bench,
commonly called the crown side of the court, which takes cognizance
of all criminal cases. Burrill.
CROWNPIECE
Crown"piece` (-ps`), n.
(a) A piece or part which passes over the head, as in a bridle.
(b) A coin [In sense (b) properly crown piece.] See Crown, 19.
CROWN-POST
Crown"-post` (kroun"pst`), n.
Defn: Same as King-post.
CROWN-SAW
Crown"-saw` (-s`), n. Etym: [From its supposed resemblance to a
crown.] (Mech.)
Defn: A saw in the form of a hollow cylinder, with teeth on the end
or edge, and operated by a rotative motion.
Note: The trephine was the first of the class of crownsaws. Knight.
CROWN SIDE
Crown" side` (sd`).
Defn: See Crown office.
CROWN WHEEL
Crown" wheel` (hwl`). Etym: [Named from its resemblance to a crown.]
(Mach.)
Defn: A wheel with cogs or teeth set at right angles to its plane; --
called also a contrate wheel or face wheel.
CROWNWORK
Crown"work` (-wrk`), n. (Fort.)
Defn: A work consisting of two or more bastioned fronts, with their
outworks, covering an enceinte, a bridgehead, etc., and connected by
wings with the main work or the river bank.
CROW-QUILL
Crow"-quill` (kr"kwl`), n.
Defn: A quill of the crow, or a very fine pen made from such a quill.
CROWS
Crows (krz), n. pl.; sing. Crow. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians of the Dakota stock, living in Montana; --
also called Upsarokas.
CROW'S-FOOT
Crow's"-foot` (krz"ft`), n.; pl. Crow's-feet (-f.
1. pl.
Defn: The wrinkles that appear, as the effect of age or dissipation,
under and around the outer corners of the eyes. Tennyson.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A caltrop. [Written also crowfoot.]
3. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Bird's-mouth. [U.S.]
CROW-SILK
Crow"-silk` (kr"slk`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A filamentous fresh-water alga (Conferva rivularis of Linnaeus,
Rhizoclonium rivulare of Kutzing).
CROW'S-NEST
Crow's-nest` (krz"nst`), n. (Naut.)
Defn: A box or perch near the top of a mast, esp. in whalers, to
shelter the man on the lookout.
CROWSTEP
Crow"step` (kr"stp`), n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Corriestep.
CROWSTONE
Crow"stone` (kr"stn`), n. (Arch.)
Defn: The top stone of the gable end of a house. Halliwell.
CROWTH
Crowth (krouth), n.
Defn: An ancient musical instrument. See 4th Crowd.
CROWTOE
Crow"toe` (kr"t`), n. (Bot.)
1. The Lotus corniculatus. Dr. Prior.
2. An unidentified plant, probably the crowfoot. "The tufted
crowtoe." Milton.
CROW-TRODDEN
Crow"-trod`den (kr"trd`d'n), a.
Defn: Marked with crow's-feet, or wrinkles, about the eyes. [Poetic]
Do I look as if I were crow-trodden Beau. & FL.
CROYDON
Croy"don, n. [From Croydon, England.]
1.
Defn: A kind of carriage like a gig, orig. of wicker-work.
2. A kind of cotton sheeting; also, a calico.
CROYLSTONE
Croyl"stone` (kroil"stn`), n. (Min.)
Defn: Crystallized cawk, in which the crystals are small.
CROYS
Croys (krois), n.
Defn: See Cross, n. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CROZE
Croze (krz), n. Etym: [Cf. Cross, and Crosier.]
Defn: A cooper's tool for making the grooves for the heads of casks,
etc.; also, the groove itself.
CROZIER
Cro"zier (kr"zhr), n.
Defn: See Crosier.
CROZIERED
Cro"ziered (-zhrd), a.
Defn: Crosiered.
CRUCIAL
Cru"cial (kr"shal), a. Etym: [F. crucial, fr. L. crux, crucis, cross,
torture. See Cross.]
1. Having the form of a cross; appertaining to a cross; cruciform;
intersecting; as, crucial ligaments; a crucial incision.
2. Severe; trying or searching, as if bringing to the cross;
decisive; as, a crucial test.
CRUCIAN CARP
Cru"cian carp` (-shan krp`). Etym: [Cf. Sw. karussa, G. karausche, F.
carousse, -assin, corassin, LL. coracinus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of European carp (Carasius vulgaris), inferior to the
common carp; -- called also German carp.
Note: The gibel or Prussian carp is now generally considered a
variety of the crucian carp, or perhaps a hybrid between it and the
common carp.
CRUCIATE
Cru"ci*ate (kr"sh-t or -sht; 106), a. Etym: [L. cruciatus, p. p. of
cruciare to crucify, torture, fr. crux, crucis, a cross. See Cross.]
1. Tormented. [Obs.] Bale.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the leaves or petals arranged in the form of a cross;
cruciform.
CRUCIATE
Cru"ci*ate (kr"sh-t), v. t.
Defn: To torture; to torment. [Obs.] See Excruciate. Bale.
CRUCIATION
Cru`ci*a"tion (kr`sh-"shn), n. Etym: [LL. cruciatio.]
Defn: The act of torturing; torture; torment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
CRUCIBLE
Cru"ci*ble (kr"s-b'l), n. Etym: [LL. crucubulum a hanging lamp, an
earthen pot for melting metals (cf. OF. croisel, creuseul, sort of
lamp, crucible, F. creuset crucible), prob. of German origin; cf.
OHG. kr, LG. kr, hanging lamp, kroos, kruus, mug, jug, jar, D. kroes
cup, crucible, Dan. kruus, Sw. krus, E. cruse. It was confused with
derivatives of L. crux cross (cf. Crosslet), and crucibles were said
to have been marked with a cross, to prevent the devil from marring
the chemical operation. See Cruse, and cf. Cresset.]
1. A vessel or melting pot, composed of some very refractory
substance, as clay, graphite, platinum, and used for melting and
calcining substances which require a strong degree of heat, as
metals, ores, etc.
2. A hollow place at the bottom of a furnace, to receive the melted
metal.
3. A test of the most decisive kind; a severe trial; as, the crucible
of affliction. Hessian crucible (Chem.), a cheap, brittle, and
fragile, but very refractory crucible, composed of the finest fire
clay and sand, and commonly used for a single heating; -- named from
the place of manufacture.
CRUCIBLE STEEL
Cru"ci*ble steel.
Defn: Cast steel made by fusing in crucibles crude or scrap steel,
wrought iron, and other ingredients and fluxes.
CRUCIFER
Cru"ci*fer (-fr), n. Etym: [See Cruciferous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the order Cruciferæ.
CRUCIFEROUS
Cru*cif"er*ous (kr-sf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. crux, crucis, cross + -
ferous: cf. F. crucif.]
1. Bearing a cross.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants which have
four petals arranged like the arms of a cross, as the mustard,
radish, turnip, etc.
CRUCIFIER
Cru"ci*fi`er (kr"s-f`r), n.
Defn: One who crucifies; one who subjects himself or another to a
painful trial.
CRUCIFIX
Cru"ci*fix (kr"s-fks), n.; pl. Crucifixes (-. Etym: [F. crucifix or
LL. crucifixum, fr. L. crux, crucis, cross + figere, fixum, to fix.
See Cross, and Fix, and cf. Crucify.]
1. A representation in art of the figure of Christ upon the cross;
esp., the sculptured figure affixed to a real cross of wood, ivory,
metal, or the like, used by the Roman Catholics in their devotions.
The cross, too, by degrees, become the crucifix. Milman.
And kissing oft her crucifix, Unto the block she drew. Warner.
2. The cross or religion of Christ. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
CRUCIFIXION
Cru`ci*fix"ion (kr`s-fk"shn), n.
1. The act of nailing or fastening a person to a cross, for the
purpose of putting him to death; the use of the cross as a method of
capital punishment.
2. The state of one who is nailed or fastened to a cross; death upon
a cross.
3. Intense suffering or affliction; painful trial.
Do ye prove What crucifixions are in love Herrick.
CRUCIFORM
Cru"ci*form (kr"s-frm), a. Etym: [L. crux, crucis, cress + -form: cf.
F. cruciforme.]
Defn: Cross-shaped; (Bot.) having four parts arranged in the form of
a cross.
CRUCIFY
Cru"ci*fy (-f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crucified (-fd); p. pr. & vb.n.
Crucifying.] Etym: [F. crucifier, fr. (assumed) LL. crucificare, for
crucifigere, fr, L. crux, crucis, cross + figere to fix, the ending -
figere being changed to -ficare, F. -fier (in compounds), as if fr.
L. facere to do, make. See Cross, and Fix, and cf. Crucifix.]
1. To fasten to a cross; to put to death by nailing the hands and
feet to a cross or gibbet.
They cried, saying, Crucify him, cricify him. Luke xxiii. 21.
2. To destroy the power or ruling influence of; to subdue completely;
to mortify.
They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections
and lusts. Gal. v. 24.
3. To vex or torment. Beau. & FL.
CRUCIGEROUS
Cru*cig"er*ous (kr-sj"r-s), a. Etym: [L. crux, cricis, cross + -
gerous.]
Defn: Bearing the cross; marked with the figure of a cross. Sir. T.
Browne.
CRUD
Crud (krd), n.
Defn: See Curd. [Obs.]
CRUDDLE
Crud"dle (-d'l), v. i.
Defn: To curdle. [Obs.]
See how thy blood cruddles at this. Bea
CRUDE
Crude (krd), a. [Compar. Cruder (-r); superl. Crudest.] Etym: [L.
crudus raw; akin to cruor blood (which flows from a wound). See Raw,
and cf. Cruel.]
1. In its natural state; not cooked or prepared by fire or heat;
undressed; not altered, refined, or prepared for use by any
artificial process; raw; as, crude flesh. "Common crude salt." Boyle.
Molding to its will each successive deposit of the crude materials.
I. Taylor.
2. Unripe; not mature or perfect; immature.
I come to pluck your berries harsh and crude. Milton.
3. Not reduced to order or form;unfinished; not arranged or prepared;
ill-considered; immature. "Crudeprojects." Macualay.
Crude, undigested masses of suggestion, furnishing rather raw
materials for composition. De Quincey.
The originals of Nature in their crude Conception. Milton.
4. Undigested; unconcocted; not brought into a form to give
nourishment. "Crude and inconcoct." Bacon.
5. Having, or displaying, superficial and undigested knowledge;
without culture or profudity; as, a crude reasoner.
6. (Paint.)
Defn: Harsh and offensive, as a color; tawdry or in bad taste, as a
combination of colors, or any design or work of art.
CRUDELY
Crude"ly, adv.
Defn: In a crude, immature manner.
CRUDENESS
Crude"ness, n.
Defn: A crude, undigested, or unprepared state; rawness; unripeness;
immatureness; unfitness for a destined use or purpose; as, the
crudeness of iron ore; crudeness of theories or plans.
CRUDITY
Cru"di*ty (kr"d-t), n.; pl. Crudities (-t. Etym: [L. cruditas, fr.
crudus: cf. F. crudit. See Crude.]
1. The condition of being crude; rawness.
2. That which is in a crude or undigested state; hence, superficial,
undigested views, not reduced to order or form. "Cridities in the
stomach." Arbuthnot.
CRUDLE
Cru"dle (-d'l), v. i.
Defn: See Cruddle.
CRUDY
Crud"y (krd"), a. Etym: [From Crud.]
Defn: Coagulated. [Obs.]
His cruel wounds with crudy blood congealed. Spenser.
CRUDY
Cru"dy (kr"d), a. Etym: [From Crude.]
Defn: Characterized by crudeness; raw. [Obs.]
The foolish and dull and crudy vapors. Shak.
CRUEL
Cru"el (kr"l), n.
Defn: See Crewel.
CRUEL
Cru"el (kr*"l), a. Etym: [F. cruel, fr. L. crudelis, fr. crudus. See
Crude.]
1. Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt,
torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity;
savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless.
Behold a people cometh from the north country; . . . they are cruel
and have no mercy. Jer. vi. 22,23.
2. Causing, or fitted to cause, pain, grief, or misery.
Cruel wars, wasting the earth. Milton.
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath for it was
cruel. Gen. xlix. 7.
3. Attended with cruetly; painful; harsh.
You have seen cruel proof of this man's strength. Shak.
CRUELLY
Cru"el*ly, adv.
1. In a cruel manner.
2. Extremly; very. [Colloq.] Spectator.
CRUELNESS
Cru"el*ness, n.
Defn: Cruelty. [Obs.] Spenser.
CRUELS
Cru"els (kr"lz), n. pl. Etym: [Corrupt. fr. F. scrofula.]
Defn: Glandular scrofulous swellings in the neck.
CRUELTY
Cru"el*ty (-t), n.; pl. Cruelties (-t. Etym: [OF. cruelt, F. cruaut,
fr. L. crudelitas, fr. crudelis. See Cruel.]
1. The attribute or quality of being cruel; a disposition to give
unnecessary pain or suffering to others; inhumanity; barbarity.
Pierced through the heart with your stern cruelty. Shak.
2. A cruel and barbarous deed; inhuman treatment; the act of
willfully causing unnecessary pain.
Cruelties worthy of the dungeons of the Inquisition.
Macualay.
CRUENTATE
Cru"en*tate (kr"n-tt), a. Etym: [L. cruentatus, p. p. of cruentare to
make bloody, fr. cruentus bloody, fr. cruor. See Crude.]
Defn: Smeared with blood. [Obs.] Glanwill.
CRUENTOUS
Cru*en"tous (kr-n"ts), a. Etym: [L. cruentus.]
Defn: Bloody; cruentate. [Obs.]
CRUET
Cru"et, n. Etym: [Anglo-French cruet, a dim. from OF. crue, cruie; of
German or Celtic origin, and akin to E. crock an earthen vessel.]
1. A bottle or vessel; esp., aviai or small glass bottle for holding
vinegar, oil, pepper, or the like, for the table; a caster. Swift.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A vessel used to hold wine, oil, or water for the service of
the altar. Cruet stand, a frame for holding cruets; a caster.
CRUISE
Cruise (krs), n.
Defn: See Cruse, a small bottle.
CRUISE
Cruise (krz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cruised (krzd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cruising.] Etym: [D. kruisen to move crosswise or in a zigzag, to
cruise, fr. kruis cross, fr. OF. crois, croiz, F. croix, or directly
fr. OF. croisier, F. croiser, to cross, cruise, fr. crois a cross.
See Cross.]
1. To sail back and forth on the ocean; to sail, as for the potection
of commerce, in search of an enemy, for plunder, or for pleasure.
Note: A ship cruises in any particular sea or ocean; as, in the
Baltic or in the Atlantic. She cruises off any cape; as, off the
Lizard; off Ushant. She cruises on a coast; as, on the coast of
Africa. A priate cruises to seize vessels; a yacht cruises for the
pleasure of the owner.
Ships of war were aent to cruise near the isle of Bute. Macualay.
'Mid sands, and rocks, and storms to cruise for pleasure. Young.
2. To wander hither and thither on land. [Colloq.]
CRUISE
Cruise, n.
Defn: A voyage made in various directions, as of an armed vessel, for
the protection of other vessels, or in search of an enemy; a sailing
to and fro, as for exploration or for pleasure.
He feigned a compliance with some of his men, who were bent upon
going a cruise to Manilla. Dampier.
CRUISER
Cruis"er (kr"zr), n.
Defn: One who, or a vessel that, cruises; -- usually an armed vessel.
CRUIVE
Cruive (krv), n.
Defn: A kind of weir or dam for trapping salmon; also, a hovel.
[Scot.]
CRULL
Crull (krl), a. Etym: [SeeCurl.]
Defn: Curly; curled. [Obs.]
CRULLER
Crul"ler (krl"lr), n. Etym: [Cf. Curl.]
Defn: A kind of sweet cake cut in strips and curled or twisted, and
fried crisp in boiling fat. [Also written kruller.]
CRUMB
Crumb (krm), n. Etym: [AS. cruma, akin to D. kruim, G. krume; cf. G.
krauen to scratch, claw.] [Written also crum.]
1. A small fragment or piece; especially, a small piece of bread or
other food, broken or cut off.
Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's
table. Luke xvi. 21.
2. Fig.: A little; a bit; as, a crumb of comfort.
3. The soft part of bread.
Dust unto dust, what must be, must; If you can't get crumb, you'd
best eat crust. Old Song.
Crumb brush, a brush for sweeping crumbs from a table.
-- To a crum, with great exactness; completely.
CRUMB
Crumb, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crumbed (krmd); p. pr. & vb.n. Crumbing
(krm"ng).]
Defn: To break into crumbs or small pieces with the fingers; as, to
crumb bread. [Written also crum.]
CRUMBCLOTH
Crumb"cloth` (-kl, n.
Defn: A cloth to be laid under a dining table to receive falling
fragments, and keep the carpet or floor clean. [Written also
crumcloth.]
CRUMBLE
Crum"ble (krm"b'l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crumbled (-b'ld); p. pr. &
vb. n. Crumbling (-blng).] Etym: [Dim. of crumb, v. t., akin to D.
krimelen G. kr.]
Defn: To break into small pieces; to cause to fall in pieces.
He with his bare wand can unthread thy joints, And crumble all thy
sinews. Milton.
CRUMBLE
Crum"ble, v. i.
Defn: To fall into small pieces; to break or part into small
fragments; hence, to fall to decay or ruin; to become disintegrated;
to perish.
If the stone is brittle, it will crumble and pass into the form of
gravel. Arbuthnot.
The league deprived of its principal supports must soon crumble to
pieces. Prescott.
CRUMBLY
Crum"bly (-bl), a.
Defn: EAsily crumbled; friable; brittle. "The crumbly soil."
Hawthorne.
CRUMENAL
Cru"me*nal (kr"m-nal), n. Etym: [L. crumena purse.]
Defn: A purse. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
CRUMMABLE
Crum"ma*ble (krm"mA-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being crumbed or broken into small pieces.
CRUMMY
Crum"my (krm"m), a.
1. Full of crumb or crumbs.
2. Soft, as the crumb of bread is; not crusty.
CRUMP
Crump (krmp), a. Etym: [AS. crumb stooping, bent down; akin to OHG.
chrumb, G. krumm, Dan. krum, D. krom, and E. cramp.]
1. Crooked; bent. [Obs.]
Crooked backs and crump shoulders. Jer. Taylor.
2. Hard or crusty; dry baked; as, a crump loaf. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Hallivell.
CRUMPET
Crump"et (krmp"t), n. Etym: [Prob. from W. crempog, crammwgth, a
pancake or fritter.]
Defn: A kind of large. thin muffin or cake, light and spongy, and
cooked on a griddle or spider.
CRUMPLE
Crum"ple (krm"p'l), v. t. [imp & p. p. Crumpled (-p'ld); p. pr. & vb.
n. Crumpling (-plng).] Etym: [Dim. fr. crump, a.]
Defn: To draw or press into wrinkles or folds to crush together; to
rumple; as, to crumple paper.
They crumpled it into all shapes, and diligently scanned every
wrinkle that could be made. Addison.
CRUMPLE
Crum"ple, v. i.
Defn: To contract irregularly; to show wrinkless after being crushed
together; as, leaves crumple.
CRUMPY
Crump"y (krmp"Y), a.
Defn: Brittle; crisp. Wright.
CRUNCH
Crunch (krnch), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crunched (krncht); p. pr. & vb.
n. Crunching.] Etym: [Prob. of imitative origin; or cf. D. schransen
to eat heartily, or E. scrunch.]
1. To chew with force and noise; to craunch.
And their white tusks crunched o'er the whiter skull. Byron.
2. To grind or press with violence and noise.
The ship crunched through the ice. Kane.
3. To emit a grinding or craunching noise.
The crunching and ratting of the loose stones. H. James.
CRUNCH
Crunch, v. t.
Defn: To crush with the teeth; to chew with a grinding noise; to
craunch; as, to crunch a biscuit.
CRUNK; CRUNKLE
Crunk (krnk), Crun"kle (krn"k'l), v. i. Etym: [Cf. Icel. kr to
croak.]
Defn: To cry like a crane. [Obs.] "The crane crunketh." Withals
(1608).
CRUNODAL
Cru*no"dal (kr-n"dal), a. (Geom.)
Defn: Possessing, or characterized by, a crunode; -- used of curves.
CRUNODE
Cru"node (kr"nd), n. Etym: [Prob. fr. L. crux a cross + E. node.]
(Geom.)
Defn: A point where one branch of a curve crosses another branch. See
Double point, under Double, a.
CRUOR
Cru"or (kr"r), n. Etym: [L., blood. See Crude.]
Defn: The coloring matter of the blood; the clotted portion of
coagulated blood, containing the coloring matter; gore.
CRUORIN
Cru"o*rin (--rn), n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The coloring matter of the blood in the living animal;
hæmoglobin.
CRUP
Crup (krp), a. Etym: [Cf. OHG. grop, G. grob, coarse.]
Defn: Short; brittle; as, crup cake. Todd.
CRUP
Crup (krp), n.
Defn: See Croup, the rump of a horse.
CRUPPER
Crup"per (krp"pr in U.S.; krp"r in Eng.), n. Etym: [F. croupi, fr.
croupe. See Croup the rump of a horse.] [Written also crouper.]
1. The buttocks or rump of a horse.
2. A leather loop, passing under a horse's tail, and buckled to the
saddle to keep it from slipping forwards.
CRUPPER
Crup"per, v. t.
Defn: To fit with a crupper; to place a crupper upon; as, to crupper
a horse.
CRURA
Cru"ra (kr"r), n. pl. (Anat.)
Defn: See Crus.
CRURAL
Cru"ral (-ral), a. Etym: [L. cruralis, fr. crus, cruris, leg: cf. F.
crural.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the thigh or leg, or to any of the parts
called crura; as, the crural arteries; crural arch; crural canal;
crural ring.
CRUS
Crus (krs), n.; pl. Crura (kr. Etym: [L., the leg.] (Anat.)
(a) That part of the hind limb between the femur, or thigh, and the
ankle, or tarsus; the shank.
(b) Often applied, especially in the plural, to parts which are
supposed to resemble a pair of legs; as, the crura of the diaphragm,
a pair of muscles attached to it; crura cerebri, two bundles of nerve
fibers in the base of the brain, connecting the medulla and the
forebrain.
CRUSADE
Cru*sade" (kr-sd"), n. Etym: [F. croisade, fr. Pr. crozada, or Sp
cruzada, or It. crociata, from a verb signifying to take the cross,
mark one's self with a cross, fr. L. crux cross; or possibly taken
into English directly fr. Pr. Cf. Croisade, Crosado, and see Cross.]
1. Any one of the military expeditions undertaken by Christian
powers, in the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, for the recovery of
the Holy Land from the Mohammedans.
2. Any enterprise undertaken with zeal and enthusiasm; as, a crusade
against intemperance.
3. A Portuguese coin. See Crusado.
CRUSADE
Cru*sade", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Crusaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Crusading.]
Defn: To engage in a crusade; to attack in a zealous or hot-headed
manner. "Cease crusading against sense." M. Green.
CRUSADER
Cru*sad"er (-s"dr), n.
Defn: One engaged in a crusade; as, the crusaders of the Middle Ages.
Azure-eyed and golden-haired, Forth the young crusaders fared.
Longfellow.
CRUSADING
Cru*sad"ing, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a crusade; as, a crusading spirit.
CRUSADO
Cru*sa"do (-s"d), n. Etym: [Pg. cruzado, fr. cruz, fr. L. crux. See
Crusade, 3.]
Defn: An old Portuguese coin, worth about seventy cents. [Written
also cruade.] Shak.
CRUSE
Cruse (krs), n. Etym: [Akin to LG. kruus, kroos, mug, jug, jar, D.
kroes, G. krause, Icel. krus, Sw. krus, Dan. kruus. Cf. Crucible,
Cresset.]
1. A cup or dish.
Take with thee . . . a cruse of honey. 1 Kings xiv. 3.
2. A bottle for holding water, oil, honey, etc.
So David took . . . the cruse of water. 1 Sam. xxvi. 12.
CRUSET
Cru"set (kr"st), n. Etym: [Cf. F. creuset. See Cruse, Crucible.]
Defn: A goldsmith's crucible or melting pot.
CRUSH
Crush (krsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crushed (krsht); p. pr. & vb. n.
Crushing.] Etym: [OE. cruschen, crousshen, Of. cruisir, croissir, fr.
LL. cruscire, prob. of Ger. origin, from a derivative of the word
seen in Goth. kruistan to gnash; akin to Sw. krysta to squeeze, Dan.
kryste, Icel. kreysta.]
1. To press or bruise between two hard bodies; to squeeze, so as to
destroy the natural shape or integrity of the parts, or to force
together into a mass; as, to crush grapes.
Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed,
or broken, or cut. Lev. xxii. 24.
The ass . . . thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam's foot
against the wall. Num. xxii. 25.
2. To reduce to fine particles by pounding or grinding; to comminute;
as, to crush quartz.
3. To overwhelm by pressure or weight; to beat or force down, as by
an incumbent weight.
To crush the pillars which the pile sustain. Dryden.
Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again. Bryant.
4. To oppress or burden grievously.
Thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway. Deut. xxviii. 33.
5. To overcome completely; to subdue totally.
Speedily overtaking and crushing the rebels. Sir. W. Scott.
To crush a cup, to drink. [Obs.] -- To crush out. (a) To force out or
separate by pressure, as juice from grapes. (b) To overcome or
destroy completely; to suppress.
CRUSH
Crush (krsh), v. i.
Defn: To be or become broken down or in, or pressed into a smaller
compass, by external weight or force; as, an eggshell crushes easily.
CRUSH
Crush, n.
1. A violent collision or compression; a crash; destruction; ruin.
The wreck of matter, and the crush of worlds. Addison.
2. Violent pressure, as of a crowd; a crowd which produced
uncomfortable pressure; as, a crush at a peception. Crush hat, a hat
which collapses, and can be carried under the arm, and when expanded
is held in shape by springs; hence, any hat not injured by
compressing.
-- Crush room, a large room in a theater, opera house, etc., where
the audience may promenade or converse during the intermissions; a
foyer.
Politics leave very little time for the bow window at White's in the
day, or for the crush room of the opera at night. Macualay.
CRUSHER
Crush"er (-r), n.
Defn: One who, or that which, crushes. Crusher gauge, an instrument
for measuring the explosive force of gunpowder, etc., by its effect
in compressing a piece of metal.
CRUSHING
Crush"ing, a.
Defn: That crushes; overwhelming. "The blow must be quick and
crushing." Macualay.
CRUST
Crust (krst), n. Etym: [L. crusta: cf. OF. crouste, F. cro; prob.
akin to Gr. crystal, from the same root as E. crude, raw. See Raw,
and cf. Custard.]
1. The hard external coat or covering of anything; the hard exterior
surface or outer shell; an incrustation; as, a crust of snow.
I have known the statute of an emperor quite hid under a crust of
dross. Addison.
Below this icy crust of conformity, the waters of infidelity lay dark
and deep as ever. Prescott.
2. (Cookery)
(a) The hard exterior or surface of bread, in distinction from the
soft part or crumb; or a piece of bread grown dry or hard.
(b) The cover or case of a pie, in distinction from the soft
contents.
(c) The dough, or mass of doughy paste, cooked with a potpie; -- also
called dumpling.
Th' impenetrable crust thy teeth defies. Dryden.
He that keeps nor crust nor crumb. Shak.
They . . . made the crust for the venison pasty. Macualay.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: The exterior portion of the earth, formerly universally
supposed to inclose a molten interior.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The shell of crabs, lobsters, etc.
5. (Med.)
Defn: A hard mass, made up of dried secretions blood, or pus,
occurring upon the surface of the body.
6. An incrustation on the interior of wine bottles, the result of the
ripening of the wine; a deposit of tartar, etc. See Beeswing.
CRUST
Crust, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Crusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Crusting.] Etym:
[Cf. OF. crouster, L. crustare. See Crust, n. ]
Defn: To cover with a crust; to cover or line with an incrustation;
to incrust.
The whole body is crusted over with ice. Boyle.
And now their legs, and breast, and bodies stood Crusted with bark.
Addison.
Very foul and crusted bottles. Swift.
Their minds are crusted over, like diamonds in the rock. Felton.
CRUST
Crust, v. i.
Defn: To gather or contract into a hard crust; to become incrusted.
The place that was burnt . . . crusted and healed. Temple.
CRUSTA
Crus"ta (krs"t), n. Etym: [L., shell, crust, inlaid work.]
1. A crust or shell.
2. A gem engraved, or a plate embossed in low relief, for inlaying a
vase or other object.
CRUSTACEA
Crus*ta"ce*a (krs-t"sh-), n. pl. Etym: [Neut. pl. of NL. crustaceus
pert. to the crust or shell, from L. crusta the hard surfsce of a
body, rind, shell.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the classes of the arthropods, including lobsters and
crabs; -- so called from the crustlike shell with which they are
covered.
Note: The body usually consists of an anterior part, made up of the
head and thorax combined, called the cephalothorax, and of a
posterior jointed part called the abdomen, postabdomen, and
(improperly) tail. They breathe by means of gills variously attached
to some of the limbs or to the sides the body, according to the
group. They are divisible into two subclasses, Entomostraca and
Malacostraca, each of which includes several orders.
CRUSTACEAN
Crus*ta"cean (krs-t"shan; 97), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Crustacea; crustaceous.
-- n.
Defn: An animal belonging to the class Crustacea.
CRUSTACEOLOGICAL
Crus*ta`ce*o*log"ic*al (-sh--lj"-kal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to crustaceology.
CRUSTACEOLOGIST
Crus*ta`ce*ol"o*gist (-ll"-jst), n.
Defn: One versed in crustaceology; a crustalogist.
CRUSTACEOLOGY
Crus*ta`ce*ol"o*gy (-j), n. Etym: [Crustacea + -logy.]
Defn: That branch of Zoölogy which treats of the Crustacea;
malacostracology; carcinology.
CRUSTACEOUS
Crus*ta"ceous (krs-t"shs; 97), a. Etym: [NL. crustaceous. See
crustacea.]
1. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, crust or shell; having a
crustlike shell.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Crustacea; crustacean.
CRUSTACEOUSNESS
Crus*ta"ceous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being crustaceous or having a crustlike
shell.
CRUSTAL
Crust"al (krst"al), a.
Defn: Relating to a crust.
CRUSTALOGICAL
Crus`ta*log"ic*al (krs`t-lj"-kal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to crustalogy.
CRUSTALOGIST
Crus*tal"o*gist (-t, n.
Defn: One versed in crustalogy.
CRUSTALOGY
Crus*tal"o*gy (krs-tl"-j), n. Etym: [L. crusta shell + -logy.]
Defn: Crustaceology.
CRUSTATED
Crus"ta*ted (krs"t-td), a. Etym: [L. crustatus, p. p. of crustare,
fr. crusta. See Crust.]
Defn: Covered with a crust; as, crustated basalt.
CRUSTATION
Crus*ta"tion (krs-t"shn), n.
Defn: An adherent crust; an incrustation. Pepys.
CRUSTED
Crust"ed (krst"d), a.
Defn: Incrusted; covered with, or containing, crust; as, old, crusted
port wine.
CRUSTIFIC
Crus*tif`ic (krs-tf"k), a. Etym: [L. crusta crust + -facere to make.]
Defn: Producing or forming a crust or skin. [R.]
CRUSTILY
Crust"i*ly (krst"-l*), adv.
Defn: In a crusty or surly manner; morosely.
CRUSTINESS
Crust"i*ness (--ns), n.
1. The state or quality of having crust or being like crust;
hardness.
2. The quality of being crusty or surly.
Old Christy forgot his usual crustiness. W. Irving.
CRUSTY
Crust"y (-), a.
1. Having the nature of crust; pertaining to a hard covering; as, a
crusty coat; a crusty surface or substance.
2. Etym: [Possibly a corruption of cursty. Cf. Curst, Curstness.]
Defn: Having a hard exterior, or a short, rough manner, though kind
at heart; snappish; peevish; surly.
Thou crusty batch of nature, what's the news Shak.
CRUT
Crut (krt), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cro crust.]
Defn: The rough, shaggy part of oak bark.
CRUTCH
Crutch (krch; 224), n.; pl. Crutches (-. Etym: [OE. cruche, AS.
crycc, cricc; akin to D. kruk, G. kr, Dan. krykke, Sw. krycka, and to
E. crook. See Crook, and cf. Cricket a low stool.]
1. A staff with a crosspiece at the head, to be placed under the arm
or shoulder, to support the lame or infirm in walking.
I'll lean upon one crutch, and fight with the other. Shak.
Rhyme is a crutch that lifts the weak alone. H. Smith.
2. A form of pommel for a woman's saddle, consisting of a forked rest
to hold the leg of the rider.
3. (Naut.)
(a) A knee, or piece of knee timber.
(b) A forked stanchion or post; a crotch. See Crotch.
CRUTCH
Crutch, v. t.
Defn: To support on crutches; to prop up. [R.]
Two fools that crutch their feeble sense on verse. Dryden.
CRUTCHED
Crutched (krcht), a.
1. Supported upon crutches.
2. Etym: [See Crouch, v. t., and Crouched, a. ]
Defn: Marked with the sign of the cross; crouched. Crutched friar
(Eccl.), one of a religious order, so called because its members bore
the sign of the cross on their staves and habits; -- called also
crossed friar and crouched friar.
CRUTH
Cruth (krth), n. Etym: [W. crwth.] (Mus.)
Defn: See 4th Crowd.
CRUX
Crux (krks), n.; pl. E. Cruxes (-, L. Cruces (kr. Etym: [L., cross,
torture, trouble.]
Defn: Anything that is very puzzling or difficult to explain. Dr.
Sheridan.
The perpetual crux of New Testament chronologists. Strauss.
CRUX ANSATA
Crux an*sa"ta. [L., cross with a handle.]
Defn: A cross in the shape of the ankh.
CRUZADO
Cru*za"do (kr-z"d), n.
Defn: A coin. See Crusado.
CRWTH
Crwth (krth), n. Etym: [W.] (Mus)
Defn: See 4th Crowd.
CRY
Cry (kr), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cried (krd); p. pr. & vb. n. Crying.]
Etym: [F. crier, cf. L. quiritare to raise a plaintive cry, scream,
shriek, perh. fr. queri to complain; cf. Skr. cvas to pant, hiss,
sigh. Cf. Quarrel a brawl, Querulous.]
1. To make a loud call or cry; to call or exclaim vehemently or
earnestly; to shout; to vociferate; to proclaim; to pray; to implore.
And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice. Matt. xxvii.
46.
Clapping their hands, and crying with loud voice. Shak.
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee. Ps. xxviii.
2.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of
the Lord. Is. xl. 3.
Some cried after him to return. Bunyan.
2. To utter lamentations; to lament audibly; to express pain, grief,
or distress, by weeping and sobbing; to shed tears; to bawl, as a
child.
Ye shall cry for sorrow of heart. Is. lxv. 14.
I could find it in my heart to disgrace my man's apparel and to cry
like a woman. Shak.
3. To utter inarticulate sounds, as animals.
The young ravens which cry. Ps. cxlvii. 9.
In a cowslip's bell I lie There I couch when owls do cry. Shak.
To cry on or upon, to call upon the name of; to beseech."No longer on
Saint Denis will we cry." Shak.
-- To cry out. (a) To exclaim; to vociferate; to scream; to clamor.
(b) To complain loudly; to lament.
-- To cry out against, to complain loudly of; to censure; to blame.
-- To cry out on or upon, to denounce; to censure. "Cries out upon
abuses." Shak.
-- To cry to, to call on in prayer; to implore.
-- To cry you mercy, to beg your pardon. "I cry you mercy, madam;
was it you" Shak.
CRY
Cry, v. t.
1. To utter loudly; to call out; to shout; to sound abroad; to
declare publicly.
All, all, cry shame against ye, yet I 'll speak. Shak.
The man . . . ran on,crying, Life! life! Eternal life! Bunyan.
2. To cause to do something, or bring to some state, by crying or
weeping; as, to cry one's self to sleep.
3. To make oral and public proclamation of; to declare publicly; to
notify or advertise by outcry, especially things lost or found, goods
to be sold, ets.; as, to cry goods, etc.
Love is lost, and thus she cries him. Crashaw.
4. Hence, to publish the banns of, as for marriage.
I should not be surprised if they were cried in church next Sabbath.
Judd.
To cry aim. See under Aim.
-- To cry down, to decry; to depreciate; to dispraise; to condemn.
Men of dissolute lives cry down religion, because they would not be
under the restraints of it. Tillotson.
-- To cry out, to proclaim; to shout."Your gesture cries it out."
Shak.
-- To cry quits, to propose, or declare, the abandonment of a
contest.
-- To cry up, to enhance the value or reputation of by public and
noisy praise; to extol; to laud publicly or urgently.
CRY
Cry (kr), n.; pl. Cries (kr. Etym: [F. cri, fr. crier to cry. See
Cry, v. i. ]
1. A loud utterance; especially, the inarticulate sound produced by
one of the lower animals; as, the cry of hounds; the cry of wolves.
Milton.
2. Outcry; clamor; tumult; popular demand.
Again that cry was found to have been as unreasonable as ever.
Macaulay.
3. Any expression of grief, distress, etc., accompanied with tears or
sobs; a loud sound, uttered in lamentation.
There shall be a great cry throughout all the land. Ex. xi. 6.
An infant crying in the night, An infant crying for the light; And
with no language but a cry. Tennyson.
4. Loud expression of triumph or wonder or of popular acclamation or
favor. Swift.
The cry went once on thee. Shak.
5. Importunate supplication.
O, the most piteous cry of the poor souls. Shak.
6. Public advertisement by outcry; proclamation, as by hawkers of
their wares.
The street cries of London. Mayhew.
7. Common report; fame.
The cry goes that you shall marry her. Shak.
8. A word or phrase caught up by a party or faction and repeated for
effect; as, the party cry of the Tories.
All now depends upon a good cry. Beaconsfield.
9. A pack of hounds. Milton.
A cry more tunable Was never hollaed to, nor cheered with horn. Shak.
10. A pack or company of persons; -- in contempt.
Would not this . . . get me a fellowship in a cry of players Shak.
11. The cracklling noise made by block tin when it is bent back and
forth. A far cry, a long distance; -- in allusion to the sending of
criers or messengers through the territory of a Scottish clan with an
announcement or summons.
CRYAL
Cry"al (kr"al), n. Etym: [Cf. W. creyr, cryr, crychydd. Cf. Cruer a
hawk.]
Defn: The heron [Obs.] Ainsworth.
CRYER
Cry"er (-r), n. Etym: [F. faucon gruyer a falcon trained to fly at
the crane, fr. crye crane, fr. L. crus crane. Cf. Cryal.]
Defn: The female of the hawk; a falcon-gentil.
CRYING
Cry"ing, a.
Defn: Calling for notice; compelling attention; notorious; heinous;
as, a crying evil.
Too much fondness for meditative retirement is not the crying sin of
our modern Christianity. I. Taylor.
CRYOHYDRATE
Cry`o*hy"drate (kr`-h"drt), n. Etym: [Gr. hydrate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance, as salt, ammonium chloride, etc., which
crystallizes with water of crystallization only at low temperatures,
or below the freezing point of water. F. Guthrie.
CRYOLITE
Cry"o*lite (kr"-lt), n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. cryolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A fluoride of sodium and aluminum, found in Greenland, in white
cleavable masses; -- used as a source of soda and alumina.
CRYOMETER
Cry*om"e*ter, n. [Gr. cold, frost + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: A thermometer for the measurement of low temperatures, esp.
such an instrument containing alcohol or some other liquid of a lower
freezing point than mercury.
CRYOPHORUS
Cry*oph"o*rus (kr-f"-rs), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: An instrument used to illustrate the freezing of water by its
own evaporation. The ordinary form consist of two glass bulbs,
connected by a tube of the same material, and containing only a
quantity of water and its vapor, devoid of air. The water is in one
of the bulbs, and freezes when the other is cooled below 32º Fahr.
CRYPT
Crypt (krpt), n. Etym: [L. crypta vault, crypt, Gr. Crot, Crotto.]
1. A vault wholly or partly under ground; especially, a vault under a
church, whether used for burial purposes or for a subterranean chapel
or oratory.
Priesthood works out its task age after age, . . . treasuring in
convents and crypts the few fossils of antique learning. Motley.
My knees are bowed in crypt and shrine. Tennyson.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A simple gland, glandular cavity, or tube; a follicle; as, the
cryps of Lieberk.
CRYPTAL
Crypt"al (-al), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to crypts.
CRYPTIC; CRYPTICAL
Cryp"tic (krp"tk), Cryp"tic*al (-t-kal), a. Etym: [L. crypticus, Gr.
Defn: Hidden; secret; occult. "Her [nature's] more cryptic ways of
working." Glanvill.
CRYPTICALLY
Cryp"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; occultly.
CRYPTIDINE
Cryp"ti*dine (krp"t-dn; 104), n. Etym: [Gr. krypto`s hidden.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the quinoline bases, obtained from coal tar as an oily
liquid, C11H11N; also, any one of several substances metameric with,
and resembling, cryptidine proper.
CRYPTOBRANCHIATA
Cryp`to*bran`chi*a"ta (krp`t-bra`k-"t), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
krypto`s hidden + L. branchia a gill.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A division of the Amphibia; the Derotremata.
(b) A group of nudibranch mollusks.
CRYPTOBRANCHIATE
Cryp`to*bran"chi*ate (-br"k-t), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having concealed or rudimentary gills.
CRYPTOCRYSTALLINE
Cryp`to*crys"tal*line (-krs"tal-ln), a. Etym: [Gr. krypto`s hidden +
E. crystalline.] (Geol.)
Defn: Indistinctly crystalline; -- applied to rocks and minerals,
whose state of aggregation is so fine that no distinct particles are
visible, even under the microscope.
CRYPTOGAM
Cryp"to*gam (krp"t-gm), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cryptogame. See
Cryptogamia.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant belonging to the Cryptogamia. Henslow.
CRYPTOGAMIA
Cryp`to*ga"mi*a (krp`t-g"m-), n.; pl. Cryptogamiæ (-. Etym: [NL., fr.
Gr. krypto`s hidden, secret + ga`mos marriage.] (Bot.)
Defn: The series or division of flowerless plants, or those never
having true stamens and pistils, but propagated by spores of various
kinds.
Note: The subdivisions have been variously arranged. The following
arrangement recognizes four classes: --I. Pteridophyta, or Vascular
Acrogens. These include Ferns, Equiseta or Scouring rushes,
Lycopodiaceæ or Club mosses, Selaginelleæ, and several other smaller
orders. Here belonged also the extinct coal plants called
Lepidodendron, Sigillaria, and Calamites. II. Bryophita, or Cellular
Acrogens. These include Musci, or Mosses, Hepaticæ, or Scale mosses
and Liverworts, and possibly Characeæ, the Stoneworts. III. Algæ,
which are divided into Florideæ, the Red Seaweeds, and the orders
Dictyoteæ, Oösporeæ, Zoösporeæ, Conjugatæ, Diatomaceæ, and
Cryptophyceæ. IV. Fungi. The molds, mildews, mushrooms, puffballs,
etc., which are variously grouped into several subclasses and many
orders. The Lichenes or Lichens are now considered to be of a mixed
nature, each plant partly a Fungus and partly an Alga.
CRYPTOGAMIAN; CRYPTOGAMIC; CRYPTOGAMOUS
Cryp`to*ga"mi*an (krp`t-g"m-an), Cryp`to*gam"ic (krp`t-gm"k),
Cryp*to"gam*ous a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the series Cryptogamia, or to plants of
that series.
CRYPTOGAMIST
Cryp*tog"a*mist (-mst), n.
Defn: One skilled in cryptogamic botany.
CRYPTOGRAM
Cryp"to*gram (krp"t-grm), n.
Defn: A cipher writing. Same as Cryptograph.
CRYPTOGRAPH
Cryp"to*graph (-grf), n. Etym: [Gr. krypto`s hidden + -graph: cf. F.
cryptographe.]
Defn: Cipher; something written in cipher. "Decipherers of
cryptograph." J. Earle.
CRYPTOGRAPHAL
Cryp*tog"ra*phal (krp-tg"r-fal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to cryptography; cryptographical. Boyle.
CRYPTOGRAPHER
Cryp*tog"ra*pher (krp-tg"r-fr), n.
Defn: One who writes in cipher, or secret characters.
CRYPTOGRAPHIC; CRYPTOGRAPHICAL
Cryp`to*graph"ic (krp`t-grf"k), Cryp`to*graph"ic*al (krp`t-grf"-kal),
a.
Defn: Relating to cryptography; written in secret characters or in
cipher, or with sympathetic ink.
CRYPTOGRAPHIST
Cryp*tog"ra*phist (krp-tg"r-fst), n.
Defn: Same as Cryptographer.
CRYPTOGRAPHY
Cryp*tog"ra*phy (-f), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cryptographie.]
Defn: The act or art of writing in secret characters; also, secret
characters, or cipher.
CRYPTOLOGY
Cryp*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. krypto`s hidden + -logy.]
Defn: Secret or enigmatical language. Johnson.
CRYPTONYM
Cryp"to*nym (krp"t-nm), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A secret name; a name by which a person is known only to the
initiated.
CRYPTOPINE
Cryp"to*pine (krp"t-pn; 104), n. Etym: [Gr. krypto`s hidden + E.
opium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless crystalline alkaloid obtained in small quantities
from opium.
CRYPTURI
Cryp*tu"ri (krp-t"r), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of flying, dromTinamou.
CRYSTAL
Crys"tal (krs"tal), n. Etym: [OE. cristal, F. cristal, L. crystallum
crystal, ice, fr. Gr. crystalla, fr. L. crystallum; prob. akin to E.
crust. See Crust, Raw.]
1. (Chem. & Min.)
Defn: The regular form which a substance tends to assume in
solidifying, through the inherent power of cohesive attraction. It is
bounded by plane surfaces, symmetrically arranged, and each species
of crystal has fixed axial ratios. See Crystallization.
2. The material of quartz, in crystallization transparent or nearly
so, and either colorless or slightly tinged with gray, or the like; -
- called also rock crystal. Ornamental vessels are made of it. Cf.
Smoky quartz, Pebble; also Brazilian pebble, under Brazilian.
3. A species of glass, more perfect in its composition and
manufacture than common glass, and often cut into ornamental forms.
See Flint glass.
4. The glass over the dial of a watch case.
5. Anything resembling crystal, as clear water, etc.
The blue crystal of the seas. Byron.
Blood crystal. See under Blood.
-- Compound crystal. See under Compound.
-- Iceland crystal, a transparent variety of calcite, or
crystallized calcium carbonate, brought from Iceland, and used in
certain optical instruments, as the polariscope.
-- Rock crystal, or Mountain crystal, any transparent crystal of
quartz, particularly of limpid or colorless quartz.
CRYSTAL
Crys"tal, a.
Defn: Consisting of, or like, crystal; clear; transparent; lucid;
pellucid; crystalline.
Through crystal walls each little mote will peep. Shak.
By crystal streams that murmur through the meads. Dryden.
The crystal pellets at the touch congeal, And from the ground
rebounds the ratting hail. H. Brooks.
CRYSTALLIN
Crys"tal*lin (-ln), n. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: See Gobulin.
CRYSTALLINE
Crys"tal*line (krs"tal-ln or -ln; 277), a. Etym: [L. crystallinus,
from Gr. cristallin. See Crystal.]
1. Consisting, or made, of crystal.
Mount, eagle, to my palace crystalline. Shak.
2. Formed by crystallization; like crystal in texture.
Their crystalline structure. Whewell.
3. Imperfectly crystallized; as, granite is only crystalline, while
quartz crystal is perfectlly crystallized.
4. Fig.: Resembling crystal; pure; transparent; pellucid. "The
crystalline sky." Milton. Crystalline heavens, or Crystalline
spheres, in the Ptolemaic system of astronomy, two transparent
spheres imagined to exist between the region of the fixed stars and
the primum mobile (or outer circle of the heavens, which by its
motion was supposed to carry round all those within it), in order to
explain certain movements of the heavently bodies.
-- Crystalline lens (Anat.), the capsular lenslike body in the eye,
serving to focus the rays of light. It consists of rodlike cells
derived from the external embryonic epithelium.
CRYSTALLINE
Crys"tal*line, n.
1. A crystalline substance.
2. See Aniline. [Obs.]
CRYSTALLITE
Crys"tal*lite (krs"tal-lt), n. Etym: [See Crystal.] (Min.)
Defn: A minute mineral form like those common in glassy volcanic
rocks and some slags, not having a definite crystalline outline and
not referable to any mineral species, but marking the first step in
the crystallization process. According to their form crystallites are
called trichites, belonites, globulites, etc.
CRYSTALLIZABLE
Crys"tal*li`za*ble (krs"tal-l`z-b'l), a.
Defn: Capable of being crystallized; that may be formed into
crystals.
CRYSTALLIZATION
Crys`tal*li*za"tion (krs`tal-l-z"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F.
cristallization.]
1. (Chem. & Min.)
Defn: The act or process by which a substance in solidifying assumes
the form and sructure of a crystal, or becomes crystallized.
2. The body formed by crystallizing; as, silver on precipitation
forms arborescent crystallizations.
Note: The systems of crystallization are the several classes to which
the forms are mathematically referable. They are most simply
described according to the relative lengths and inclinations of
certain assumed lines called axes; but the real distinction is the
degree of symmetry characterizing them. 1. The Isometric, or
Monometric, system has the axes all equal, as in the cube,
octahedron, etc. 2. The Tetragonal, or Dimetric, system has a varying
vertical axis, while the lateral are equal, as in the right square
prism. 3. The Orthorhombic, or Trimetric, system has the three axes
unequal, as in the rectangular and rhombic prism. In this system, the
lateral axes are called, respectively, macrodiagonal and
brachydiagonal.
-- The preceding are erect forms, the axes intersecting at right
angles. The following are oblique. 4. The Monoclinic system, having
one of the intersections oblique, as in the oblique rhombic prism. In
this system, the lateral axes are called respectively, clinodiagonal
and orthodiagonal. 5. The Triclinic system, having all the three
intersections oblique, as in the oblique rhomboidal prism. There is
also: 6. The Hexagonal system (one division of which is called
Rhombohedral), in which there are three equal lateral axes, and a
vertical axis of variable length, as in the hexagonal prism and the
rhombohedron.
Note: The Diclinic system, sometimes recognized, with two oblique
intersections, is only a variety of the Triclinic.
CRYSTALLIZE
Crys"tal*lize (krs"tal-lz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Crystallized (-lzd);
p. pr. & vb. n. Crystallizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. cristalliser. See
Crystal.]
Defn: To cause to form crystals, or to assume the crystalline form.
CRYSTALLIZE
Crys"tal*lize, v. i.
Defn: To be converted into a crystal; to take on a crystalline form,
through the action of crystallogenic or cohesive attraction.
CRYSTALLOGENIC; CRYSTALLOGENICAL
Crys`tal*lo*gen"ic (-l-jn"k), Crys`tal*lo*gen"ic*al (--kal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to the production of crystals; crystal-producing;
as, crystallogenic attraction.
CRYSTALLOGENY
Crys`tal*log"e*ny (krs`tal-lj"-n), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science which pertains to the production of crystals.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHER
Crys`tal*log"ra*pher (krs`tal-lg"r-fr), n.
Defn: One who describes crystals, or the manner of their formation;
one versed in crystallography.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC; CRYSTALLOGRAPHICAL
Crys`tal*lo*graph"ic (-l-grf"k), Crys`tal*lo*graph"ic*al (--kal), a.
Etym: [Cf. F. crystallographique.]
Defn: Pertaining to crystallography.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHICALLY
Crys`tal*lo*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of crystallography.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY
Crys`tal*log"ra*phy (krs`tal-lg"r-f), n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F.
cristallographie. See Crystal.]
1. The doctrine or science of crystallization, teaching the system of
forms among crystals, their structure, and their methods of
formation.
2. A discourse or treatise on crystallization.
CRYSTALLOID
Crys"tal*loid (krs"tal-loid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Crystal-like; transparent like crystal.
CRYSTALLOID
Crys"tal*loid, n.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A body which, in solution, diffuses readily through animal
membranes, and generally is capable of being crystallized; -- opposed
to colloid.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the microscopic particles resembling crystals,
consisting of protein matter, which occur in certain plant cells; --
called also protein crystal.
CRYSTALLOLOGY; CRISTALLOLOGY
Crys`tal*lol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of the crystalline structure of inorganic bodies.
CRYSTALLOMANCY
Crys"tal*lo*man`cy (-l-mn`s), n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of a crystal or other transparent body,
especially a beryl.
CRYSTALLOMETRY
Crys`tal*lom"e*try (-lm"-tr), n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.]
Defn: The art of measuring crystals.
CRYSTALLURGY
Crys"tal*lur`gy (-lr`j), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Crystallizaton.
CTENOCYST
Cte"no*cyst (t"n-sst), n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An organ of the Ctenophora, supposed to be sensory.
CTENOID
Cte"noid (t"noid or tn"oid), a. (Zoöl.)
(a) Having a comblike margin, as a ctenoid scale.
(b) Pertaining to the Ctenoidei.
-- n.
Defn: A ctenoidean.
CTENOIDEAN
Cte*noid"e*an (t-noid"-an), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to the Ctenoidei.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Ctenoidei.
CTENOIDEI
Cte*noid"e*i (--), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of fishes, established by Agassiz, characterized by
having scales with a pectinated margin, as in the perch. The group is
now generally regarded as artificial.
CTENOPHORA
Cte*noph"o*ra (t-nf"-r), n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A class of Coelenterata, commonly ellipsoidal in shape,
swimming by means of eight longitudinal rows of paddles. The separate
paddles somewhat resemble combs.
CTENOPHORE
Cten"o*phore (tn"-fr), n.
Defn: (Zoöl.) One of the Ctenophora.
CTENOPHORIC; CTENOPHOROUS
Cten`o*phor"ic (tn`-fr"k), Cte*noph"o*rous (t-nf"-rs), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Ctenophora.
CTENOSTOMATA
Cten`o*stom"a*ta (tn`-stm"-t), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A suborder of Bryozoa, usually having a circle of bristles
below the tentacles.
CUB
Cub (kb), n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. cuib cub, whelp, young dog, Ir. & Gael.
cu dog; akin to E. hound.]
1. A young animal, esp. the young of the bear.
2. Jocosely or in contempt, a boy or girl, esp. an awkward, rude,
illmannered boy.
O, thuo dissembling cub! what wilt thou be When time hath sowed a
drizzle on thy case Shak.
CUB
Cub, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Cubbed (kp. pr. & vb. n. Cubbing.]
Defn: To bring forth; -- said of animals, or in contempt, of persons.
"Cubb'd in a cabin." Dryden.
CUB
Cub, n. Etym: [Cf. Cub a young animal.]
1. A stall for cattle. [Obs.]
I would rather have such . . . .in cubor kennel than in my closet or
at my table. Landor.
2. A cupboard. [Obs.] Laud.
CUB
Cub, v. t.
Defn: To shut up or confine. [Obs.] Burton.
CUBAN
Cu"ban (k"ban), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Cuba or its inhabitants.
-- n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Cuba.
CUBATION
Cu*ba"tion (k-b"shn), n. Etym: [L. cubatio, fr. cubare to lie down.]
Defn: The act of lying down; a reclining. [Obs.]
CUBATORY
Cu"ba*to*ry (k"b-t-r), a. Etym: [L. cubator he who lies down, fr.
cubare.]
Defn: Lying down; recumbent. [R.]
CUBATURE
Cu"ba*ture (k"b-tr; 135), n. Etym: [L. cubus cube: cf. F. cubature.
See Cube.]
Defn: The process of determining the solid or cubic contents of a
body.
CUBBRIDGE-HEAD
Cub"bridge-head` (kb"rjj-hd), n. (Naut.)
Defn: A bulkhead on the forecastle and half deck of a ship.
CUBBY; CUBBYHOLE
Cub"by (kb"b), Cub"by*hole` (-hl`), n. Etym: [See Cub a stall.]
Defn: A snug or confined place.
CUBDRAWN
Cub"*drawn` (kb"drn`), a.
Defn: Sucked by cubs. [R.]
This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch. Shak.
CUBE
Cube (kb), n. Etym: [F. cube, L. cubus, fr. Gr.
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A regular solid body, with six equal square sides.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The product obtained by taking a number or quantity three times
as a factor; as, 4x4=16, and 16x4=64, the cube of 4. Cube ore (Min.),
pharmacosiderite. It commonly crystallizes in cubes of a green color.
-- Cube root. (Math.), the number or quantity which, multiplied into
itself, and then into the product, produces the given cube; thus, 3
is the cube root of 27, for 3x3x3 = 27.
-- Cube spar (Min.), anhydrite; anhydrous calcium sulphate.
CUBE
Cube, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cubed (kbd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cubing.]
Defn: To raise to the third power; to obtain the cube of.
CUBEB
Cu"beb (k"bb), n. Etym: [F. cub (cf. It. cubebe, Pr., Sp., Pg., & NL.
cubeba), fr. Ar. kab.]
Defn: The small, spicy berry of a species of pepper (Piper Cubeba; in
med., Cubeba officinalis), native in Java and Borneo, but now
cultivated in various tropical countries. The dried unripe fruit is
much used in medicine as a stimulant and purgative.
CUBEBIC
Cu*beb"ic (k-bb"k), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cubebs; as, cubebic acid (a
soft olive-green resin extracted from cubebs).
CUBHOOD
Cub"hood (kb"hd), n.
Defn: The state of being a cub. [Jocose] "From cubhood to old age."
W. B. Dawkins.
CUBIC; CUBICAL
Cu"bic (k"bk), Cu"bic*al (-b-kal), a. Etym: [L. cubicus, Gr. cubique.
See Cube.]
1. Having the form or properties of a cube; contained, or capable of
being contained, in a cube.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Isometric or monometric; as, cubic cleavage. See
Crystallization. Cubic equation, an equation in which the highest
power of the unknown quantity is a cube.
-- Cubic foot, a volume equivalent to a cubical solid which measures
a foot in each of its dimensions.
-- Cubic number, a number produced by multiplying a number into
itself, and that product again by the same number. See Cube.
-- Cubical parabola (Geom.), two curves of the third degree, one
plane, and one on space of three dimensions.
CUBIC
Cu"bic, n. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve of the third degree. Circular cubic. See under
Circular.
CUBICALLY
Cu"bic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cubical method.
CUBICALNESS
Cu"bic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cubical.
CUBICLE
Cu"bi*cle (k"b-k'l), n. Etym: [L. cubiculum.]
Defn: A loding room; esp., a sleeping place partitioned off from a
large dormitory.
CUBICULAR
Cu*bic"u*lar (k-k"-lr), a. Etym: [L. cubicularis, fr. cubiculum a
sleeping room, fr. cubare to lie down.]
Defn: Belonging to a chamber or bedroom. [Obs.] Howell.
CUBIFORM
Cu"bi*form (k"b-frm), a.
Defn: Of the form of a cube.
CUBILE
Cu*bi"le (k-b"l), n. Etym: [L., bed.]
Defn: The lowest course of stones in a building.
CUBILOSE
Cu"bi*lose` (k"b-ls`), n. Etym: [L. cubile bed, nest.]
Defn: A mucilagenous secretion of certain birds found as the
characteristic ingredient of edible bird's-nests.
CUBISM
Cu"bism (ku"biz'm), n. (Painting)
Defn: A movement or phase in post-impressionism (which see, below). -
- Cu"bist (#), n.
CUBIT
Cu"bit (k"bt), n. Etym: [L. cubitum, cubitus; elbow, ell, cubit, fr.
(because the elbow serves focubare to lie down, recline; cf. Gr.
Incumbent, Covey.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The forearm; the ulna, a bone of the arm extending from elbow
to wrist. [Obs.]
2. A measure of length, being the distance from the elbow to the
extremity of the middle finger.
Note: The cubit varies in length in different countries, the Roman
cubit being 17,47 inches, the Greek 18,20, the Hebrew somewhat
longer, and the English 18 inches.
CUBITAL
Cu"bit*al (k"bt-al), a. Etym: [L. cubitalis.]
1. Of or pertaining to the cubit or ulna; as, the cubital nerve; the
cubital artery; the cubital muscle.
2. Of the length of a cubit. Sir. T. Browne.
CUBITAL
Cu"bit*al, n.
Defn: A sleeve covering the arm from the elbow to the hand. Crabb.
CUBITED
Cu"bit*ed, a.
Defn: Having the measure of a cubit.
CUBLESS
Cub"less (kb"ls), a.
Defn: Having no cubs. Byron.
CUBOID
Cu"boid (k"boid), a. Etym: [Cube + -oid: cf. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Cube-shaped, or nearly so; as, the cuboid bone of the foot.
-- n. (Anat.)
Defn: The bone of the tarsus, which, in man and most mammals,
supports the metatarsals of the fourth and fifth toes.
CUBOIDAL
Cu*boid"al (k-boid"al), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Cuboid.
CUBO-OCTAHEDRAL
Cu`bo-oc`ta*he"dral (k`b-k`t-hdral), a.
Defn: Presenting a combination of a cube and an octahedron.
CUBO-OCTAHEDRON
Cu`bo-oc`ta*he"dron (-drn), n. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A combination of a cube and octahedron, esp. one in which the
octahedral faces meet at the middle of the cubic edges.
CUCA
Cu"ca (k"k), n. Etym: [Sp., fr. native name.]
Defn: See Coca.
CUCKING STOOL
Cuck"ing stool` (k. Etym: [Cf. AS. scealfingstol, a word of similar
meaning, allied to scealfor a diver, mergus avis; or possibly from F.
coquine a hussy, slut, jade, f. of coquin, OE. cokin, a rascal; or
cf. Icel. k to dung, k dung, the name being given as to a disgracing
or infamous punishment.]
Defn: A kind of chair formerly used for punishing scolds, and also
dishonest tradesmen, by fastening them in it, usually in front of
their doors, to be pelted and hooted at by the mob, but sometimes to
be taken to the water and ducked; -- called also a castigatory, a
tumbrel, and a trebuchet; and often, but not so correctly, a ducking
stool. Sir. W. Scott.
CUCKOLD
Cuck"old (kk"ld), n. Etym: [OE. kukeweld, cokewold, cokold, fr. OF.
coucoul, cucuault, the last syllable being modified by the OE. suffix
-wold (see Herald); cf. F. cocu a cuckold, formerly also, a cuckoo,
and L. cuculus a cuckoo. The word alludes to the habit of the female
cuckoo, who lays her eggs in the nests of other birds, to be hatched
by them.]
1. A man whose wife is unfaithful; the husband of an adulteress.
Shak.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A West Indian plectognath fish (Ostracion triqueter).
(b) The cowfish.
CUCKOLD
Cuck"old, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cuckolded;p. pr. & vb. n. Cuckolding.]
Defn: To make a cuckold of, as a husband, by seducing his wife, or by
her becoming an adulteress. Shak.
CUCKOLDIZE
Cuck"old*ize (-z), v. t.
Defn: To cuckold. Dryden.
CUCKOLDLY
Cuck"old*ly, a.
Defn: Having the qualities of a cuckold; mean-spirited; sneaking.
Shak.
CUCKOLDOM
Cuck"ol*dom (-l-dm), n.
Defn: The state of a cuckold; cuckolds, collectively. Addison.
CUCKOLDRY
Cuck"old*ry (-ld-r), n.
Defn: The state of being a cuckold; the practice of making cuckolds.
CUCKOLD'S KNOT
Cuck"old's knot` (kk"ldz nt`). (Naut.)
Defn: A hitch or knot, by which a rope is secured to a spar, the two
parts of the rope being crossed and seized together; -- called also
cuckold's neck. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
CUCKOO
Cuck"oo (kk"), n. Etym: [OE. coccou, cukkow, F. coucou, prob. of
imitative origin; cf. L. cuculus, Gr. k, G. kuckuk, D. koekoek.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A bird belonging to Cuculus, Coccyzus, and several allied
genera, of many species.
Note: The European cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) builds no nest of its
own, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, to be hatched by
them. The American yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus) and the
black-billed cuckoo (C. erythrophthalmus) build their own nests.
Cuckoo bee (Zool.), a bee, parasitic in the larval stage in the nests
of other bees, feeding either upon their food or larvae. They belong
to the genera Nomada, Melecta, Epeolus, and others.
-- Cuckoo clock, a clock so constructed that at the time for
striking it gives forth sounds resembling the cry of the cuckoo.
-- Cuckoo dove (Zoöl.), a long-tailed pigeon of the genus
Macropygia. Many species inhabit the East Indies.
-- Cuckoo fish (Zoöl.), the European red gurnard (Trigla cuculus).
The name probably alludes to the sound that it utters.
-- Cuckoo falcon (Zoöl.), any falcon of the genus Baza. The genus
inhabits Africa and the East Indies.
-- Cuckoo maid (Zoöl.), the wryneck; -- called also cuckoo mate.
-- Cuckoo ray (Zoöl.), a British ray (Raia miraletus).
-- Cuckoo spit, or Cuckoo spittle. (a) A frothy secretion found upon
plants, exuded by the larvae of certain insects, for concealment; --
called also toad spittle and frog spit. (b) (Zoöl.) A small
hemipterous insect, the larva of which, living on grass and the
leaves of plants, exudes this secretion. The insects belong to
Aphrophora, Helochara, and allied genera.
-- Ground cuckoo, the chaparral cock.
CUCKOOBUD
Cuck"oo*bud" (kk"-bd`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Ranunculus (R. bulbosus); -- called also
butterflower, buttercup, kingcup, goldcup. Shak.
CUCKOOFLOWER
Cuck"oo*flow`er (-flou`r), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Cardamine (C. pratensis), or lady's smock. Its
leaves are used in salads. Also, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-
cuculi).
CUCKOOPINT
Cuck"oo*pint` (-pnt`), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Arum (A. maculatum); the European wake-
robin.
CUCQUEAN
Cuc"quean` (kk"kwn`), n. Etym: [Cuckold + quean.]
Defn: A woman whose husband is unfaithful to her. [Obs.]
CUCUJO
Cu*cu"jo (k-k"h), n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fire beetle of Mexico and the West Indies.
CUCULLATE; CUCULLATED
Cu"cul*late (k"kl-lt or k-kl"lt), Cu"cul*la`ted (-l`td or -l-td), a.
Etym: [LL. cullatus, fr. L. cucullus a cap, hood. See Cowl a hood.]
1. Hooded; cowled; covered, as with a hood. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the edges toward the base rolled inward, as the leaf of
the commonest American blue violet.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) Having the prothorax elevated so as to form a sort of hood,
receiving the head, as in certain insects.
(b) Having a hoodlike crest on the head, as certain birds, mammals,
and reptiles.
CUCULLUS
Cu*cul"lus, n.; pl. Cuculli (#). [L., a hood.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A hood-shaped organ, resembling a cowl or monk's hood, as
certain concave and arched sepals or petals.
2. (Zoöl.) A color marking or structure on the head somewhat
resembling a hood.
CUCULOID
Cu"cu*loid (kk-loid), a. Etym: [L.cuculus a cuckoo + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the cuckoos (Cuculidæ).
CUCUMBER
Cu"cum*ber (k`km-br, formerly kou"km-br), n.Etym: [OE. cucumer,
cocumber, cucumber, fr. L. cucmis, gen.cucumeris; cf. OF. cocombre,F.
concombre.] (Bot.)
Defn: A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the
genus Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is
eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or fruits of
several other genera. See below. Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the
Citrullus or Cucumis Colocynthis. SeeColocynth.
-- Cucumber beetle. (Zoöl.) (a) A small, black flea-beetle
(Crepidodera cucumeris), which destroys the leaves of cucumber,
squash, and melon vines. (b) The squash beetle.
-- Cucumber tree.(a) A large ornamental or shade tree of the genus
Magnolia (M. acuminata), so called from a slight resemblance of its
young fruit to a small cucumber. (b) An East Indian plant (Averrhoa
Bilimbi) which produces the fruit known as bilimbi.
-- Jamaica cucumber, Jerusalem cucumber, the prickly-fruited gherkin
(Cucumis Anguria).
-- Snake cucumber, a species (Cucumis flexuosus) remarkable for its
long, curiously-shaped fruit.
-- Squirting cucumber, a plant (Ecbalium Elaterium) whose small oval
fruit separates from the footstalk when ripe and expels its seeds and
juice with considerable force through the opening thus made. See
Elaterium.
-- Star cucumber,a climbing weed (Sicyos angulatus) with prickly
fruit.
CUCUMIFORM
Cu*cu"mi*form (k-k"m-frm), a. Etym: [L. cucumis cucumber + -form.]
Defn: Having the form of a cucumber; having the form of a cylinder
tapered and rounded at the ends, and either straight or curved.
CUCUMIS
Cu"cu*mis (kk--ms), n. Etym: [L., cucumber.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the cucumber, melon, and same kinds
of gourds.
CUCURBIT; CUCURBITE
Cu*cur"bit Cu*cur"bite (k-kr"bt), n. Etym: [L. cucurbita a gourd: cf.
F. cucurbite. See Gourd.] (Chem.)
Defn: A vessel of flask for distillation, used with, or forming part
of, an alembic; a matrass; -- originally in the shape of a gourd,
with a wide mouth. See Alembic.
CUCURBITACEOUS
Cu*cur`bi*ta"ceous (-b-t"shs), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cucurbitac.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants of which
the cucumber, melon, and gourd are common examples.
CUCURBITIVE
Cu*cur"bi*tive (k-kr"b-tv), a.
Defn: Having the shape of a gourd seed; -- said of certain small
worms.
CUD
Cud (kd), n Etym: [AS. cudu, cwudu,cwidu,cweodo, of uncertain origin;
cf, G. k bait, Icel. kvi womb, Goth. qipus. Cf. Quid.]
1. That portion of food which is brought up into the mouth by
ruminating animals from their first stomach, to be cheved a second
time.
Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the
cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Levit. xi. 3
2. A portion of tobacco held in the mouth and chewed; a quid. [Low]
3. The first stomach of ruminating beasts. Crabb. To chew the cud, to
ruminate; to meditate; used with of; as, to chew the cud of bitter
memories.
Chewed the thrice turned cudof wrath. Tennyson.
CUDBEAR
Cud"bear` (kd"br`), n Etym: [Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of
Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice.]
1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water,
used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain
species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea. Ure.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is
obtained.
CUDDEN
Cud"den (kd"d'n), n. Etym: [For sense 1, cf. Scot.cuddy an ass; for
sense 2, see 3d Cuddy.]
1. A clown; a low rustic; a dolt. [Obs.]
The slavering cudden, propped upon his staff. Dryden.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The coalfish. See 3d Cuddy.
CUDDLE
Cud"dle (kd"d'l), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Cuddled (-d'ld); p.pr. & vb. n.
Cuddling (-dlng).] Etym: [Prob. for couthle, fr. couth known; cf. OE.
kuppen to cuddle, or cu to make friends with. SeeCouth, Uncouth,
Can.]
Defn: To
She cuddles low beneath the brake; Nor would she stay, nor dares she
fly. Prior.
CUDDLE
Cud"dle, v. t.
Defn: To embrace closely; to foundle. Forby.
CUDDLE
Cud"dle, n.
Defn: A close embrace.
CUDDY
Cud"dy (-d), n. Etym: [See Cudden. ]
1. An ass; esp., one driven by a huckster or greengrocer. [Scot.]
2. Hence: A blockhead; a lout. Hood.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A lever mounted on a tripod for lifting stones, leveling up
railroad ties, etc. Knight.
CUDDY
Cud"dy (kd"d), n. Etym: [Prob. a contraction fr. D. kajuit cabin: cf.
F.cahute hut.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small cabin: also, the galley or kitchen of a vessel.
CUDDY
Cud"dy, n. Etym: [Scot.; cf. Gael. cudaig, cudainn, or E.cuttlefish,
or cod, codfish.] (Zoöl)
Defn: The coalfish (Pollachius carbonarius). [Written also cudden.]
CUDGEL
Cudg"el (kj"l), n. Etym: [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round
end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds,
cudgel.]
Defn: A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and
wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon.
He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating
of them as if they were dogs. Bunyan.
Cudgel play, a fight or sportive contest with cudgels.
-- To cross the cudgels, to forbear or give up the contest; -- a
phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one
cudgel over another when the contest is ended.
-- To take up cudgels for, to engage in a contest in behalf of (some
one or something).
CUDGEL
Cudg"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled (-; p. pr. & vb.
n. Cudgeling or cudgelling.]
Defn: To beat with a cudgel.
An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. Shak.
To cudgel one's brains, to exercise one's wits.
CUDGELER
Cudg"el*er (-r), n.
Defn: One who beats with a cudgel. [Written also cudgeller.]
CUDWEED
Cud"weed` (kd"wd`), n Etym: [Apparently fr. cud. + weed, but perh. a
corruption of cottonweed; or of cut weed, so called from its use as
an application to cuts and chafings.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small composite plant with cottony or silky stem and leaves,
primarily a species of Gnaphalium, but the name is now given to many
plants of different genera, as Filago, Antennaria, etc.; cottonweed.
CUE
Cue (k, n. Etym: [ OF. coue, coe, F. queue, fr. L. coda, cauda, tail.
Cf. Caudal, Coward, Queue.]
1. The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of
hair worn at the back of the head; a queue.
2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation
for the next succeeding player to speak; any word or words which
serve to remind a player to speak or to do something; a catchword.
When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. Shak.
3. A hint or intimation.
Give them [the servants] their cue to attend in two lines as he
leaves the house. Swift.
4. The part one has to perform in, or as in, a play.
Were it my cueto fight, I should have known it Without a prompter.
Shak.
5. Humor; temper of mind. [Colloq.] Dickens.
6. A straight tapering rod used to impel the balls in playing
billiards.
CUE
Cue, v. t.
Defn: To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.
CUE
Cue, n. Etym: [From q, an abbreviation for quadrans a farthing.]
Defn: A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a
farthing or half farthing. [Obs.]
Note: The term was formerly current in the English universities, the
letter q being the mark in the buttery books to denote such a
portion. Nares.
Hast thou worn Gowns in the university, tossed logic, Sucked
philosophy, eat cues Old Play.
CUERPO
Cuer"po (kwr"p), n. Etym: [Sp. cuerpo, fr. L. corpus body. See
Corpse.]
Defn: The body. In cuerpo, without full dress, so that the shape of
the Body is exposed; hence, naked or uncovered.
Exposed in cuerpo to their rage. Hudibras.
CUESTA
Cues"ta, n. [Sp.]
Defn: A sloping plain, esp. one with the upper end at the crest of a
cliff; a hill or ridge with one face steep and the opposite face
gently sloping. [Southwestern U. S.]
CUFF
Cuff (kf), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cuffed (k; p. pr. & vb. n. Cuffing.]
Etym: [Cf. Sw. kuffa to knock, push,kufva to check, subdue, and E.
cow, v. t. ]
1. To strike; esp., to smite with the palm or flat of the hand; to
slap.
I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. Shak.
They with their quills did all the hurt they could, And cuffed the
tender chickens from their food. Dryden.
2. To buffet. "Cuffed by the gale." Tennyson.
CUFF
Cuff, v. i.
Defn: To fight; to scuffle; to box.
While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport. Dryden.
CUFF
Cuff, n.
Defn: A blow; esp.,, a blow with the open hand; a box; a slap.
Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies; Who well it wards,
and quitten cuff with cuff. Spenser.
Many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.
CUFF
Cuff, n. Etym: [Perh. from F. coiffe headdress, hood, or coif; as if
the cuff were a cap for the hand. Cf. Coif.]
1. The fold at the end of a sleeve; the part of a sleeve turned back
from the hand.
He would visit his mistress in a morning gown, band,short cuffs, and
a peaked beard. Arbuthnot.
2. Any ornamental appendage at the wrist, whether attached to the
sleeve of the garment or separate;especially, in modern times, such
an appendage of starched linen, or a substitute for it of paper, or
the like.
CUFFY
Cuf"fy (k, n.
Defn: A name for a negro. [Slang]
CUFIC
Cu"fic (k`fk), a. Etym: [So called from the town of Cufa, in the
province of Bagdad.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the older characters of the Arabic
language. [Written also Kufic.]
CUI BONO
Cui` bo"no. [L.]
Defn: Lit., for whose benefit; incorrectly understood, it came to be
used in the sense, of what good or use; and hence, (what) purpose;
object; specif., the ultimate object of life.
CUINAGE
Cuin"age (kwn`j), n.Etym: [Corrupted fr. coinage.]
Defn: The stamping of pigs of tin, by the proper officer, with the
arms of the duchy of Cornwall.
CUIRASS
Cui*rass" (kw-rs`, or kw`rs; 277), n.; pl. Cuirasses(-. Etym: [
F.cuirasse, orig., a breascuir, cuirie influenced by It. corazza, or
Sp. cora, fr. an assumed LL. coriacea, fr. L. coriacevs, adj., of
leather, fr. corium leather, hide; akin to Gr. skora hide, Lith.
skura hide, leather. Cf. Coriaceous.]
1.
(a) A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to
the girdle.
(b) The breastplate taken by itself.
Note: The cuirass covered the body before and behind. It consisted of
two parts, a breast- and backpiece of iron fastened together by means
of straps and buckles or other like contrivances. It was originally,
as the name imports, made of leather, but afterward of metal. Crose.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: An armor of bony plates, somewhat resembling a cuirass.
CUIRASSED
Cui*rassed" (kw-rst` or kw`rst), a.
1. Wearing a cuirass.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: Having a covering of bony plates, resembling a cuirass;- said
of certain fishes.
CUIRASSIER
Cui`ras*sier" (kw`rs-sr"), n. Etym: [F. cuirassier. See Curass.]
Defn: A soldier armed with a cuirass. Milton.
CUIR BOUILLI
Cuir" bou`illi". [F.]
Defn: In decorative art, boiled leather, fitted by the process to
receive impressed patterns, like those produced by chasing metal, and
to retain the impression permanently.
CUISH
Cuish (kws), n. Etym: [F. cuisse thigh, fr. L. coxa hip: cf. F.
cuissard, OF, cuissot, armor for the thigh, cuish. Cf. Hough.]
Defn: Defensive armor for the thighs. [ Written also cuisse, and
quish.]
CUISINE
Cui`sine" (kw`zn"), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. coquina kitchen, fr. coquere
to cook. See Kitchen.]
1. The kitchen or cooking department.
2. Manner or style of cooking.
CULASSE
Cu`lasse" (ku`ls"), n. Etym: [F., fr. cul back.]
Defn: The lower faceted portion of a brilliant-cut diamond.
CULDEE
Cul*dee" (k, n. Etym: [ Prob. fr. Gael.cuilteach; cf. Ir. ceilede.]
Defn: One of a class of anchorites who lived in various parts of
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
The pure Culdees Were Albyn's earliest priests of God. Campbell.
CUL-DE-SAC
Cul`-de-sac" (ku`de-sk" or kul`de-sk"), n.; pl. Culs-de-sac (ku`- or
kulz`-). Etym: [ F., lit., bottom of a bag.]
1. A passage with only one outlet, as a street closed at one end; a
blind alley; hence, a trap.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: a position in which an army finds itself with no way of exit
but to the front.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Any bag-shaped or tubular cavity, vessel, or organ, open only
at one end.
CULERAGE
Cul"er*age (kl"r-j), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Culrage.
CULEX
Cu"lex (k"lks), n. Etym: [L., a gnat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of dipterous insects, including the gnat and mosquito.
CULICID
Cu"li*cid, a. [L. culex, -icis, gnat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Mosquito family (Culicidæ). -- n.
Defn: A culicid insect.
CULICIFORM
Cu*lic"i*form (k-ls"i-frm). a. Etym: [L. culex a gnat + -form:cf. F.
culiciforme.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Gnat-shaped.
CULINARILY
Cu"li*na*ri*ly (k`l-n-r-l), adv.
Defn: In the manner of a kitchen; in connection with a kitchen or
cooking.
CULINARY
Cu"li*na*ry (k"l-n-r), a. Etym: [L. culinarius, fr. culina kitchen,
perh. akin to carbo coal: cf. F. culinare.]
Defn: Relating to the kitchen, or to the art of cookery; used in
kitchens; as, a culinary vessel; the culinary art.
CULL
Cull (kl), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Culled (kld); p. pr.& Culling.] Etym:
[OE., OF. cuillir, coillir, F.cueillir, to gather, pluck, pick, fr.
L. colligere. See Coil, v. t., and cf. Collect.]
Defn: To separate, select, or pick out; to choose and gather or
collect; as, to cuil flowers.
From his herd he culls, For slaughter, from the fairest of his bulls.
Dryden.
Whitest honey in fairy gardens culled. Tennyson.
CULL
Cull, n.
Defn: A cully; a dupe; a gull. See Gully.
CULLENDER
Cul"len*der (kl"ln-dr), n.
Defn: A strainer. See Colander.
CULLER
Cull"er (kl"r), n.
Defn: One who piks or chooses; esp., an inspector who select wares
suitable for market.
CULLET
Cul"let (kl"lt), n. Etym: [From Cull, v. t. ]
Defn: Broken glass for remelting.
CULLET
Cul"let, n. Etym: [A dim. from F. cul back.]
Defn: A small central plane in the back of a cut gem. See Collet, 3
(b).
CULLIBILITY
Cul`li*bil"i*ty (-l-bl"-ty), n. Etym: [From cully to trick, cheat.]
Defn: Gullibility. [R.] Swift.
CULLIBLE
Cul"li*ble (kl"l-b'l), a.
Defn: Easily deceived; gullible.
CULLING
Cull"ing (kl"ng), n
1. The act of one who culls.
2. pl.
Defn: Anything separated or selected from a mass.
CULLION
Cul"lion (kl"yn), n. Etym: [OF. couillon, coillon, F. co, a vile
fellow, coward, dupe, from OF. couillon, coillon, testicle, fr. il
the scrotum, fr. L. coleus a leather bag, the scrotum.]
Defn: A mean wretch; a base fellow; a poltroon; a scullion. "Away,
base cullions." Shak.
CULLIONLY
Cul"lion*ly, a.
Defn: Mean; base. Shak.
CULLIS
Cul"lis (k, n. Etym: [OF. coleïs, F. coulis, fr. OF. & F. couler to
strain, to flow, fr. L. colare to filter, strain; cf. LL. coladicium.
Cf. Colander.]
Defn: A strong broth of meat, strained and made clear for invalids;
also, a savory jelly. [Obs.]
When I am exellent at caudles And cullises . . . you shall be welcome
to me. Beau. & Fl.
CULLIS
Cul"lis, n.; pl. Cullises (-. Etym: [F.coulisse groove, fr. the same
source as E. cullis broth.] (Arch.)
Defn: A gutter in a roof; a channel or groove.
CULLS
Culls (klz), n. pl. Etym: [From Cull,, v. t.]
1. Refuse timber, from which the best part has been culled out.
2. Any refuse stuff, as rolls not properly baked.
CULLY
Cul"ly (kl"l), n.; pl. Cullies (-l. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. cullion.]
Defn: A person easily deceived, tricked, or imposed on; a mean dupe;
a gull.
I have learned that . . . I am not the first cully whom she has
passed upon for a countess. Addison.
CULLY
Cul"ly, v. t. Etym: [See Cully,n., and cf. D. kullen to cheat, gull.]
Defn: To trick, cheat, or impose on; to deceive. "Tricks to cully
fools." Pomfret.
CULLYISM
Cul"ly*ism (-z'm), n.
Defn: The state of being a cully.
Less frequent instances of eminent cullyism. Spectator.
CULM
Culm (klm), n. Etym: [L. culmus stark, stem; akin to colasmus.
SeeHalm.] (Bot.)
Defn: The stalk or stem of grain and grasses (including the bamboo),
jointed and usually hollow.
CULM
Culm, n. Etym: [Perh. from W. cwlm knot or tie, applied to this
species of coal, which is much found in balls or knots in some parts
of Wales: cf. OE. culme smoke, soot.] (Min.)
(a) Mineral coal that is not bituminous; anthracite, especially when
found in small masses.
(b) The waste of the Pennsylvania anthracite mines, consisting of
fine coal, dust, etc., and used as fuel. Raymond.
CULMEN
Cul"men (kl"mn), n. Etym: [L., fr. cellere (in comp.) to impel; cf.
celsus pushed upward, lofty.]
1. Top; summit; acme. R. North.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dorsal ridge of a bird's bill.
CULMIFEROUS
Cul*mif"er*ous (kl-mf"r-s), a. Etym: [L. culmus stalk or stem + -
ferous: cf. F. culmif.]
Defn: Having jointed stems or culms.
CULMIFEROUS
Cul*mif"er*ous (kl-mf"r-s), a.Etym: [2d culm + -ferous.] (Min.)
Defn: Containing, or abounding in, culm or glance coal.
CULMINAL
Cul"mi*nal (kl"m-nal), a.
Defn: Pertaining to a culmen.
CULMINANT
Cul"mi*nant (-nant), a.
Defn: Being vertical, or at the highest point of altitude; hence,
predominant. [R.]
CULMINATE
Cul"mi*nate (kl"m-nt), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Culminated (-n`td); p. pr.
& vb. n. Culminating (-n Etym: [L. cuimen top or ridge. See Column.]
1. To reach its highest point of altitude; to come to the meridian;
to be vertical or directly overhead.
As when his beams at noon Culminate from the equator. Milton.
2. To reach the highest point, as of rank, size, power, numbers, etc.
The reptile race culminated in the secondary era. Dana.
The house of Burgundy was rapidly culminating. Motley.
CULMINATE
Cul"mi*nate (kl"m-nt), a.
Defn: Growing upward, as distinguished from a laterral growth; --
applied to the growth of corals. Dana.
CULMINATION
Cul"mi*na"tion (kl`m-n"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F.culmination]
1. The attainment of the highest point of altitude reached by a
heavently body; passage across the meridian; transit.
2. Attainment or arrival at the highest pitch of glory, power, etc.
CULPA
Cul"pa (kl"p), n. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: Negligence or fault, as distinguishable from dolus (deceit,
fraud), which implies intent, culpa being imputable to defect of
intellect, dolus to defect of heart. Wharton.
CULPABILITY
Cul`pa*bil"i*ty (kl`p-bl`-t), n.; pl. Culpabilities (-t. Etym: [Cf.
F. culpabilité.]
Defn: The state of being culpable.
CULPABLE
Cul"pa*ble (kl"p-b'l), a. Etym: [OE. culpable, coulpable, coupable,
F. coupable, formerly also coupable, formerly also coulpable,
culpable, fr. L. culpabilis, fr. culpare to blame, fr. culpa fault.]
1. Deserving censure; worthy of blame; faulty; immoral; criminal.
State Trials (1413).
If he acts according to the best reason he hath, he is not culpable,
though he be mistaken in his measures. Sharp.
2. Guilty; as, clpable of a crime. [Obs.] Spenser.
-- Cul"pa*ble*ness, n.
-- Cul"pa*bly, adv.
CULPATORY
Cul"pa*to*ry (-t-r), a.
Defn: Expressing blame; censuring; reprehensory; inculpating.
Adjectives . . . commonly used by Latian authors in a culpatory
sense. Walpole.
CULPE
Culpe (klp), n. Etym: [F. coulpe, fr.L.culpa.]
Defn: Blameworthiness. [Obs.]
Banished out of the realme . . . without culpe. E. Hall.
CULPON
Cul"pon (kl"pn), n. Etym: [See Coupon.]
Defn: A shered; a fragment; a strip of wood. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CULPRIT
Cul"prit (kl"prt), n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted for culpate, fr. Law
Latin culpatus the accused, p. p. of L. culpare to blame. See
Culpable.]
1. One accused of, or ar
An author is in the condition of a culprit; the public are his
judges. Prior.
2. One quilty of a fault; a criminal.
CULRAGE
Cul"rage (kl"rj), n. Etym: [OE. culrage, culrache; prob. fr. F. cul
the buttok + F. & E. rage; F. curage.] (Bot.)
Defn: Smartweed (Polygonum Hydropiper).
CULT
Cult (klt) n .Etym: [F. culte, L. cultus care, culture, fr. colere to
cultivate. Cf. Cultus.]
1. Attentive care; homage; worship.
Every one is convinced of the reality of a better self, and of.
thecult or homage which is due to it. Shaftesbury.
2. A system of religious belief and worship.
That which was the religion of Moses is the ceremonial or cult of the
religion of Christ. Coleridge.
CULTCH
Cultch (klch;224), n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Empty oyster shells and other substances laid down on oyster
grounds to furnish points for the attachment of the spawn of the
oyster. [Also written cutch.]
CULTER
Cul"ter (kl"tr), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A colter. See Colter.
CULTIROSTRAL
Cul`ti*ros"tral (-t-rs"tral), a. Etym: [See Cultirostres.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a bill shaped like the colter of a plow, or like a
knife, as the heron, stork, etc.
CULTIROSTRES
Cul`ti*ros"tres (-trz), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. culter colter of a
plow, knife + rostrum bill.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe of wading birds including the stork, heron, crane, etc.
CULTIVABLE
Cul"ti*va*ble (kl"t-v-b'l), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivable.]
Defn: Capable of being cultivated or tilled. Todd.
CULTIVATABLE
Cul"ti*va`ta*ble (kl"t-v`t-b'l), a.
Defn: Cultivable.
CULTIVATE
Cul"ti*vate (kl"t-vt), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cultivated (-v`td); p.pr. &
vb. n. Cultivating (-v`-t*ng).] Etym: [LL. cultivatus, p.p. of
cultivare to cultivate, fr. cultivus cultivated, fr. L. cultus, p.p.
of colere to till, cultivate. Cf. Colony.]
1. To bestow attention, care, and labor upon, with a view to valuable
returns; to till; to fertilize; as, to cultivate soil.
2. To direct special attention to; to devote time and thought to; to
foster; to cherish.
Leisure . . . to cultivate general literature. Wordsworth.
3. To seek the society of; to court intimacy with.
I ever looked on Lord Keppel as one of the greatest and best men of
his age; and I loved and cultivated him accordingly. Burke.
4. To improve by labor, care, or study; to impart culture to; to
civilize; to refine.
To cultivate the wild, licentious savage. Addison.
The mind of man hath need to be prepared for piety and virtue; it
must be cultivated to the end. Tillotson.
5. To raise or produce by tillage; to care for while growing; as, to
cultivate corn or grass.
CULTIVATION
Cul`ti*va"tion (kl`t-v"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivation.]
1. The art or act of cultivating; improvement for agricultural
purposes or by agricultural processes; tillage; production by
tillage.
2. Bestowal of time or attention for self-improvement or for the
benefit of others; fostering care.
3. The state of being cultivated; advancement in physical,
intellectual, or moral condition; refinement; culture.
Italy . . . was but imperfectly reduced to cultivation before the
irruption of the barbarians. Hallam.
CULTIVATOR
Cul"ti*va`tor (kl"t-v`tr), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cultivateur.]
1. One who cultivates; as, a cultivator of the soil; a cultivator of
literature. Whewell.
2. An agricultural implement used in the tillage of growing crops, to
loosen the surface of the earth and kill the weeds; esp., a
triangular frame set with small shares, drawn by a horse and by
handles.
Note: In a broader signification it includes any complex implement
for pulverizing or stirring the surface of the soil, as harrows,
grubbers, horse hoes, etc.
CULTRATE; CULTRATED
Cul"trate (kl"trt), Cul"tra*ted (-tr-td), a. Etym: [L. cultratus
knife-shaped, fromculter, cultri, knife.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Sharp-edged and pointed; shaped like a pruning knife, as the
beak of certain birds.
CULTRIFORM
Cul"tri*form (-tr-frm), a. Etym: [L. culter, cultri, knife + -form.]
(Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Shaped like a pruning knife; cultrate.
CULTRIVOROUS
Cul*triv"o*rous (kl-trb"-rs), a. Etym: [L. culter, cultri, knife +
vorare to devour.]
Defn: Devouring knives; swallowing, or pretending to swallow, knives;
-- applied to persons who have swallowed, or have seemed to swallow,
knives with impunity. Dunglison.
CULTURABLE
Cul"tur*a*ble (kl"tr--b'l; 135), a.
Defn: Capable of, or fit for, being cultivated; capable or becoming
cultured. London Spectator.
CULTURAL
Cul"tur*al (kl"tr-al), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to culture.
CULTURE
Cul"ture (kl"tr; 135), n. Etym: [F. culture, L. cultura, fr. colere
to till, cultivate; of uncertain origin. Cf. Colony.]
1. The act or practice of cultivating, or of preparing the earth for
seed and raising crops by tillage; as, the culture of the soil.
2. The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training,
disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man;
as. the culture of the mind.
If vain our toil We ought to blame theculture, not the soil. Pepe.
3. The state of being cultivated; result of cultivation; physical
improvement; enlightenment and discipline acquired by mental and
moral training; civilization; refinement in manners and taste.
What the Greeks expressed by their humanitas, we less happily try to
express by the more artificial word culture. J. C. Shairp.
The list of all the items of the general life of a people represents
that whole which we call its culture. Tylor.
Culture fluid, a fluid in which the germs of microscopic organisms
are made to develop, either for purposes of study or as a means of
modifying their virulence.
CULTURE
Cul"ture, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cultured (-trd; 135); p. pr. & vb. n.
Culturing.]
Defn: To cultivate; to educate.
They came . . . into places well inhabited and cultured. Usher.
CULTURED
Cul"tured (kl"trd), a.
1. Under culture; cultivated. "Cultured vales." Shenstone.
2. Characterized by mental and moral training; disciplined; refined;
well-educated.
The sense of beauty in nature, even among cultured people, is less
often met with than other mental endowments. I. Taylor.
The cunning hand and cultured brain. Whittier.
CULTURE FEATURES
Culture features. (Surv.)
Defn: The artificial features of a district as distinguished from the
natural.
CULTURELESS
Cul"ture*less, a.
Defn: Having no culture.
CULTURE MYTH
Culture myth.
Defn: A myth accounting for the discovery of arts and sciences or the
advent of a higher civilization, as in the Prometheus myth.
CULTURIST
Cul"tur*ist, n.
1. A cultivator.
2. One who is an advocate of culture.
The culturists, by which term I mean not those who esteem culture (as
what intelligent man does notJ. C. Shairp
CULTUS
Cul"tus (kl"ts), n. sing. & pl.; E. pl.Cultuses (-. Etym: [L.,
cultivation, culture. See Cult.]
Defn: Established or accepted religious rites or usages of worship;
state of religious development. Cf.Cult, 2.
CULTUS COD
Cul"tus cod` (kd`). Etym: [Chinook cultus of little worth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cod, and Buffalo cod, under Buffalo.
CULVER
Cul"ver (k"vr), n. Etym: [AS. culfre, perh. fr. L. columba.]
Defn: A dove. "Culver in the falcon's fist." Spenser.
CULVER
Cul"ver, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. Culverin.]
Defn: A culverin.
Falcon and culver on each tower Stood prompt their deadly hail to
shower. Sir W. Scott.
CULVERHOUSE
Cul"ver*house` (-hous`), n.
Defn: A dovecote.
CULVERIN
Cul"ver*in (kl"vr-n), n.Etym: [F. coulevrine, prop. fem. of
couleuvrin like a serpent, fr. couleuvre adder, fr. L. coluber,
colubra.]
Defn: A long cannon of the 16th century, usually an 18-pounder with
serpent-shaped handles.
Trump, and drum, and roaring culverin. Mac
CULVERKEY
Cul"ver*key` (-k`), n.
1. A bunch of the keys or samaras of the ash tree. Wright.
2. An English meadow plant, perhaps the columbine or the bluebell
squill (Scilla nutans). [Obs.]
A girl cropping culverkeys and cowslips to make garlands. Walton.
CULVER'S PHYSIC; CULVER'S ROOT
Cul"ver's phys"ic, or Cul"ver's root`. [So called after a Dr. Culver,
who used it.] (Bot.)
Defn: The root of a handsome erect herb (Leptandra, syn. Veronica,
Virginica) common in most moist woods of North America , used as an
active cathartic and emetic; also, the plant itself.
CULVERT
Cul"vert (kl"vrt), n. Etym: [Prob. from OF. coulouere, F. couloir,
channel, gutter, gallery, fr. couler to flow. See Cullis.]
Defn: A transverse drain or waterway of masonry under a road,
railroad, canal, etc.; a small bridge.
CULVERTAIL
Cul"ver*tail` (kl"vr-tl`), n. (Carp.)
Defn: Dovetail.
CULVERTAILED
Cul"ver*tailed` (-tld`), a.
Defn: United or fastened by a dovetailed joint.
CUMACEA
Cu*ma"ce*a (k-m"sh- or -s-), n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of marine Crustacea, mostly of small size.
CUMBENT
Cum"bent (km"bent), a. Etym: [Cf. Recumbent, Covey.]
Defn: Lying down; recumbent. J. Dyer.
CUMBER
Cum"ber (km"br), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cumbered (-brd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Cumbering.] Etym: [OE. combren, cumbren,OF. combrer to hinder, from
LL. cumbrus a heap, fr. L. cumulus; cf. Skr. to increase, grow
strong. Cf. Cumulate.]
Defn: To rest upon as a troublesome or useless weight or load; to be
burdensome or oppressive to; to hinder or embarrass in attaining an
object, to obstruct or occupy uselessly; to embarrass; to trouble.
Why asks he what avails him not in fight, And would but cumber and
retard his flight Dryden.
Martha was cumbered about much serving. Luke x. 40.
Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground Luke xiii. 7.
The multiplying variety of arguments, especially frivolous ones, . .
. but cumbers the memory. Locke.
CUMBER
Cum"ber (km"br), n. Etym: [Cf. encombre hindrance, impediment. See
Cuber,v.]
Defn: Trouble; embarrassment; distress. [Obs.] [Written also comber.]
A place of much distraction and cumber. Sir H. Wotton.
Sage counsel in cumber. Sir W. Scott.
CUMBERSOME
Cum"ber*some (k, a.
1. Burdensome or hindering, as a weight or drag; embarrassing;
vexatious; cumbrous.
To perform a cumbersome obedience. Sir. P. Sidney.
2. Not easily managed; as, a cumbersome contrivance or machine.
He holds them in utter contempt, as lumbering, cumbersome,
circuitous. I. Taylor.
-- Cum"ber*some*ly, adv.
-- Cum"ber*some*ness,n.
CUMBRANCE
Cum"brance (km"brans), n.
Defn: Encumbrance. [Obs.]
Extol not riches then, the toil of fools, The wise man's cumbrance,
if not snare. Milton.
CUMBRIAN
Cum"bri*an (km"br-an), a.
Defn: Pertaining to Cumberland, England, or to a system of rocks
found there. Cumbrian system (Geol.), the slate or graywacke system
of rocks, now included in the Cambrian or Silurian system; -- so
called because most prominent at Cumberland.
CUMBROUS
Cum"brous (km"brs), a.
1. Rendering action or motion difficult or toilsome; serving to
obstruct or hinder; burdensome; clogging.
He sunk beneath the cumbrous weight. Swift.
That cumbrousand unwieldy style which disfigures English composition
so extensively. De Quincey.
2. Giving trouble; vexatious. [Obs.]
A clud of cumbrous gnats. Spenser.
-- Cum"brous*ly, adv.
-- Cum"brous*ness, n.
CUMENE
Cu"mene (k"mn), n. Etym: [From Cumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oily hydrocarbon, C6H5.C3H7, obtained by the
distillation of cuminic acid; -- called also cumol.
CUMFREY
Cum"frey (km"fr), n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Comfrey.
CUMIC
Cu"mic (k"mk), a. (Chem.)
Defn: See Cuming.
CUMIDINE
Cu"mi*dine (k"m-dn or -dn), n. Etym: [From Cumin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A strong, liquid, organic base, C3H7.C6H4.NH2, homologous with
aniline.
CUMIN
Cum"in (km"n), n. Etym: [OE.comin, AS. cymen, fr. L. cuminum,
Gr.kamm, Heb. kamm; cf. OF. comin, F. cumin. Cf. Kummel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A dwarf umbelliferous plant, somewhat resembling fennel
(Cuminum Cyminum), cultivated for its seeds, which have a bitterish,
warm taste, with an aromatic flavor, and are used like those of anise
and caraway. [Written also cummin.]
Rank-smelling rue, and cumin good for eyes. Spenser.
Black cumin (Bot.), a plant (Nigella sativa) with pungent seeds, used
by the Afghans, etc.
CUMINIC
Cu*min"ic (k-mn"k), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cumin, or from oil of caraway;
as, cuminic acid. Cuminic acid (Chem.), white crystalline substance,
C3H7.C6H4.CO2H, obtained from oil of caraway.
CUMINIL
Cu"mi*nil (k"m-nl), n .
Defn: A substance, analogous to benzil, obtained from oil of caraway.
CUMINOL
Cu"mi*nol (-nl), n. Etym: [Cuminic + L. oleum.]
Defn: A liquid, C3H7.C6H4.CHO, obtained from oil of caraway; --
called also cuminic aldehyde.
CUMMERBUND
Cum"mer*bund`, n. [Written also kummerbund, cummerband, etc.] [Hind.
kamarband, fr. Per. Kamar loins + band fastening.]
Defn: A sash for the waist; a girdle. [India]
CUMMIN
Cum"min (km"mn), n.
Defn: Same as Cumin.
Ye pay tithe of mint, and cummin. Matt. xxiii. 23.
CUMQUAT
Cum"quat, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Kumquat.
CUMSHAW
Cum"shaw (km"sha), n. Etym: [Chin. kom-tsie.]
Defn: A present or bonus; -- originally applied to that paid on ships
which entered the port of Canton. S. Wells Williams.
CUMSHAW
Cum"shaw, v. t.
Defn: To give or make a present to.
CUMU-CIRRO-STRATUS
Cu"mu-cir`ro-stra"tus (k`m*-sr`r-str"ts), n. (Meteor.)
Defn: Nimbus, or rain cloud. See Nimbus, and Cloud.
CUMULATE
Cu"mu*late (k"m-lt), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cumulated (-l`td); p. pr. &
vb. n. Cumulating (-l`tng).] Etym: [L. cumulatus, p. p. of cumulare
to heap up, fr. cumulus a heap. See Cumber.]
Defn: To gather or throw into a heap; to heap together; to
accumulate.
Shoals of shells, bedded and cumulated heap upon heap. Woodward.
CUMULATION
Cu`mu*la"tion (k`m-l"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cumulation.]
Defn: The act of heaping together; a heap. See Accumulation.
CUMULATIST
Cu"mu*la*tist (k"m-l-tst), n.
Defn: One who accumulates; one who collects. [R.]
CUMULATIVE
Cu"mu*la*tive (k"m-l-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cumulatif.]
1. Composed of parts in a heap; forming a mass; agregated. "As for
knowledge which man receiveth by teaching, it is cumulative, njt
original." Bacon
2. Augmenting, gaining, or giving force, by successive additions; as,
a cumulative argument, i. e., one whose force increases as the
statement proceeds.
The argument . . . is in very truth not logical and single, but moral
and cumulative. Trench.
3. (Law)
(a) Tending to prove the same point to which other evidence has been
offered; -- said of evidence.
(b) Given by same testator to the same legatee; -- said of a legacy.
Bouvier. Wharton.
Cumulative action (Med.), that action of certain drugs, by virtue of
which they produce, when administered in small doses repeated at
considerable intervals, the same effect as if given in a single large
dose.
-- Cumulative poison, a poison the action of which is cumulative.
-- Cumulative vote or system of voting (Politics), that system which
allows to each voter as many votes as there are persons to be voted
for, and permits him to accumulate these votes upon one person, or to
distribute them among the candidates as he pleases.
CUMULOSE
Cu"mu*lose` (k"m-ls`), a. Etym: [From Cumulus.]
Defn: Full of heaps.
CUMULOSTRATUS
Cu"mu*lo*stra"tus (k"m-l-str"ts), n. (Meteor.)
Defn: A form of cloud. See Cloud.
CUMULUS
Cu"mu*lus (k"m-ls), n.; pl. Cumuli (-l. Etym: [L., a heap. See
Cumber.] (Meteor.)
Defn: One of the four principal forms of clouds. SeeCloud.
CUN
Cun (kn), v. t. Etym: [See Cond.]
Defn: To con (a ship). [Obs.]
CUN
Cun, v. t. Etym: [See 1st Con.]
Defn: To know. See Con. [Obs.]
CUNABULA
Cu*nab"u*la (k-nb"-l), n. pl. Etym: [L., a cradle, earliest abode,
fr. cunae cradle.]
1. The earliest abode; original dwelling place; originals; as, the
cunabula of the human race.
2. (Bibliography)
Defn: The extant copies of the first or earliest printed books, or of
such as were printed in the 15th century.
CUNCTATION
Cunc*ta"tion (knk-t"shn), n. Etym: [L. cunctatio, fr. cunctari, p.p.
cunctatus, to delay.]
Defn: Delay; procrastination. [R.] Carlyle.
CUNCTATIVE
Cunc"ta*tive (knk"t-tv), a.
Defn: Slow; tardy; dilatory; causing delay.
CUNCTATOR
Cunc*ta"tor (knk-t"tr), n. Etym: [L., lit., a delayer; -- applied as
a surname to Q. Fabius Maximus.]
Defn: One who delays or lingers. [R.]
CUNCTIPOTENT
Cunc*tip"o*tent (knk-tp"-tent), a. Etym: [L. cunctipotens; cunctus
all + potens powerful.]
Defn: All-powerful; omnipotent. [R] "God cunctipotent." Neale (Trans.
Rhythm of St. Bernard).
CUND
Cund (k*nd), v. t. Etym: [See Cond.]
Defn: To con (a ship). [Obs.]
CUNDURANGO
Cun`du*ran"go (kn`d-rn"g), n. (Med.)
Defn: The bark of a South American vine (Gonolobus Condurango) of the
Milkweed family. It has been supposed, but erroneously, to be a cure
for cancer. [Written also condurango.]
CUNEAL
Cu"ne*al (k"n-al), Etym: [L. cuneus a wege. See Coin.]
Defn: Relating to a wedge; wedge-shaped.
CUNEATE; CUNEATED
Cu"ne*ate (k"n-t), Cu"ne*a`ted (-`tEd), a. Etym: [L.cuneatus, fr.
cuneus a wege SeeCoin.]
Defn: Wedge-shaped; (Bot.), wedge-shaped, with the point at the base;
as, a cuneate leaf.
CUNEATIC
Cu`ne*at"ic (k`n-t"k), a.
Defn: Cuneiform. "Cuneatic decipherment." Sayce.
CUNEIFORM; CUNIFORM
Cu*ne"i*form (k-n"-frm), Cu"ni*form (k"n-frm), a. Etym: [L. cuneus a
wedge + -form: cf. F. cunei-forme. See Coin.]
1. Wedge-shaped; as, a cuneiform bone; -- especially applied to the
wedge-shaped or arrowheaded characters of ancient Persian and
Assyrian inscriptions. See Arrowheaded.
2. Pertaining to, or versed in, the ancient wedge-shaped characters,
or the inscriptions in them. "A cuneiform scholar." Rawlinson.
CUNEIFORM; CUNIFORM
Cu*ne"i*form, Cu"ni*form, n.
1. The wedge-shaped characters used in ancient Persian and Assyrian
inscriptions. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
2. (Anat.)
(a) One of the three tarsal bones supporting the first, second third
metatarsals. They are usually designated as external, middle, and
internal, or ectocuniform, mesocuniform, and entocuniform,
respectively.
(b) One of the carpal bones usually articulating wich the ulna; --
called also pyramidal and ulnare.
CUNETTE
Cu*nette" (k-nt"), n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: A drain trench, in a ditch or moat; -- called also cuvette.
CUNNER
Cun"ner (kn"nr), n. Etym: [Cf. Conner.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A small edible fish of the Atlantic coast (Ctenolabrus
adspersus); -- called also chogset, burgall, blue perch, and bait
stealer. [Written also conner.]
(b) A small shellfish; the limpet or patella.
CUNNING
Cun"ning (kn"nng), a. Etym: [AS. cunnan to know, to be able. See 1st
Con, Can.]
1. Knowing; skillfull; dexterous. "A cunning workman." Ex. xxxviii.
23.
"Tis beauty truly blent, whose red and white Nature's own sweet and
cunning hand laid on. Shak.
Esau was a cunning hunter. Gen xxv. 27.
2. Wrought with, or exibiting, skill or ingenuity; ingenious;
curious; as, cunning work.
Over them Arachne high did lift
Her cunning web. Spenser.
3. Crafty; sly; artful; designid; deceitful.
They are resolved to be cunning; let others run the hazard of being
sincere. South.
4. Pretty or pleasing; as, a cunning little boy. [Colloq. U.S.]
Barlett.
Syn.
-- Cunning, Artful, Sly, Wily, Crafty. These epithets agree in
expressing an aptitude for attaining some end by peculiar and secret
means. Cunning is usually low; as, a cunning trick. Artful is more
ingenious and inventive; as, an artful device. Sly implies a turn for
what is double or concealed; as, sly humor; a sly evasion. Crafty
denotes a talent for dexterously deceiving; as, a crafty manager.
Wily describes a talent for the use of stratagems; as, a wily
politician. "Acunning man often shows his dexterity in simply
concealing. An artful man goes further, and exerts his ingenuity in
misleading. A crafty man mingles cunning with art, and so shapes his
actions as to lull suspicions. The young may be cunning, but the
experienced only can be crafty. Slyness is a vulgar kind of cunning;
the sly man goes cautiously and silently to work. Wiliness is a
species of cunning or craft applicable only to cases of attack and
defence." Crabb.
CUNNING
Cun"ning, n. Etym: [AS. cunnung trial, or Icel. kunnandi knowledge.
See Cunning, a.]
1. Knowledge; art; skill; dexterity. [Archaic]
Let my right hand forget her cunning. Ps. cxxxvii. 5.
A carpenter's desert Stands more in cunning than in power. Chapman.
2. The faculty or act of using stratagem to accomplish a purpose;
fraudulent skill or dexterity; deceit; craft.
Discourage cunning in a child; cunning is the ape of wisdom. Locke.
We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. Bacon.
CUNNINGLY
Cun"ning*ly (kn"nng-l), adv.
Defn: In a cunning manner; with cunning.
CUNNINGMAN
Cun"ning*man` (-mn`), n.
Defn: A fortune teller; one who pretends to reveal mysteries. [Obs.]
Hudibras.
CUNNINGNESS
Cun"ning*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being cunning; craft.
CUP
Cup (kp), n. Etym: [AS. cuppe, LL. cuppa cup; cf. L. cupa tub, cask;
cf. also Gr. k pit, hollow, OSlav. kupa cup. Cf. Coop, Cupola, Cowl a
water vessel, and Cob, Coif, Cop.]
1. A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a
silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or
porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in
drinking tea, coffee, and the like.
2. The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.
Give me a cup of sack, boy. Shak.
3. pl.
Defn: Repeated potations; social or exessive indulgence in
intoxicating drinks; revelry.
Thence from cups to civil broils. Milton.
4. That which is to be received or indured; that which is allotted to
one; a portion.
O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. Matt.
xxvi. 39.
5. Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a
flower.
The cowslip's golden cup no more I see. Shenstone.
6. (Med.)
Defn: A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce
the vacuum in cupping. Cup and ball, a familiar toy of children,
having a cup on the top of a piece of wood to which, a ball is
attached by a cord; the ball, being thrown up, is to be caught in the
cup; bilboquet. Milman.- Cup and can, familiar companions.
-- Dry cup, Wet cup (Med.), a cup used for dry or wet cupping. See
under Cupping.
-- To be in one's cups, to be drunk.
CUP
Cup, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupped (kpt); p. pr. & vb. n. Cupping.]
1. To supply with cups of wine. [R.]
Cup us, till the world go round. Shak.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of
cupping. See Cupping.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of
a screw.
CUPBEARER
Cup"bear`er (-br`r), n.
1. One whose office it is to fill and hand the cups at an
enterainment.
2. (Antiq.)
Defn: One of the attendants of a prince or noble, permanently charged
with the performance of this office for his master. "I was the king's
cupbearer." Neh. i. 11.
CUPBOARD
Cup"board (kb"brd), n. Etym: [Cup + board.]
1. A board or shelf for cups and dishes. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. A small closet in a room, with shelves to receive cups, dishes,
food, etc.; hence, any small closet. Cupboard love, interested love,
or that which has an eye to the cupboard. "A cupboard love is seldom
true." Poor Robin. [Colloq.] -- To cry cupboard, to call for food; to
express hunger. [Colloq.] "My stomach cries cupboard." W. Irving.
CUPBOARD
Cup"board, v. t.
Defn: To collect, as into a cupboard; to hoard. [R.] Shak.
CUPEL
Cu"pel (k"pl), n. Etym: [LL. cupella cup (cf. L. cupella, small cask,
dim. of cupa) : cf. F. coupelle. See Cup, and cf. Coblet.]
Defn: A shallow porus cup, used in refining precious metals, commonly
made of bone ashes (phosphate of lime). [Written also coppel.] Cupel
dust, powder used in purifying metals.
CUPEL
Cu*pel" (k-pl"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cupelled (-pld"); p. pr. & vb.
n. Cupelling.]
Defn: To refine by means of a cupel.
CUPELLATION
Cu`pel*la"tion (k`pl-l"shn), n. Etym: [See Cupel.]
Defn: The act or process of refining gold or silver, etc., in a
cupel.
Note: The process consist in exposing the cupel containing the metal
to be assayed or refined to a hot blast, by which the lead, copper,
tin, etc., are oxidized, dissolved, and carried down into the porous
cupel, leaving the unoxidizable precious metal. If lead is not
already present in the alloy it must be added before cupellation.
CUPFUL
Cup"ful (kp"fl), n.; pl. Cupfuls (-f.
Defn: As much as a cup will hold.
CUP-GALL
Cup"-gall` (-gl`), n.
Defn: A kind of oak-leaf gall. See Gall.
CUPID
Cu"pid (k"pd), n . Etym: [L.Cupido, fr. cupido desire, desire of
love, fr. cupidus. See Cupidity.] (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The god of love, son of Venus; usually represented as a naked,
winged boy with bow and arrow.
Pretty dimpled boys, like smiling cupids. Shak.
CUPIDITY
Cu*pid"i*ty (k-pd"-t), n. Etym: [F. cupidite, L. cupiditas, fr.
cupidus longing, desiring, fr. cupere to long for, desire. See
Covet.]
1. A passionate desire; love. [Obs.]
2. Eager or inordinate desire, especially for wealth; greed of gain;
avarice; covetousness.
With the feelings of political distrust were mingled those of
cupidity and envy, as the Spaniard saw the fairest provinces of the
south still in the hands of the accursed race of Ishmael. Prescott.
CUP-MOSS
Cup"-moss` (kp"ms`; 115), n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of lichen, of the genus Cladonia.
CUPOLA
Cu"po*la (k"p-l), n.; pl. Cupolas (-l. Etym: [It. cupola, LL. cupula,
cuppula (cf. L. cupula little tub). fr. cupa, cuppa, cup; cf. L. cupa
tub. So called on account of its resemblance to a cup turned over.
See Cup, and cf.Cupule.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A roof having a rounded form, hemispherical or nearly so; also,
a celing having the same form. When on a large scale it is usually
called dome.
2. A small structure standing on the top of a dome; a lantern.
3. A furnace for melting iron or other metals in large quantity, --
used chiefly in foundries and steel works.
4. A revoling shot-proof turret for heavy ordnance.
5. (Anat.)
Defn: The top of the spire of the cochlea of the ear.
CUPPER
Cup"per (kp"pr), n. Etym: [Fropm cup.]
Defn: One who performs the operation of cupping.
CUPPING
Cup"ping (kp"png), n. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of drawing blood to or from the surface of the
person by forming a partial vacuum over the spot. Also, sometimes, a
similar operation for drawing pus from an abscess. Cupping glass, a
glass cup in which a partial vacuum is produced by heat, in the
process of cupping.
-- Dry cupping, the application of a cupping instrument without
scarification, to draw blood to the surface, produce counter
irritation, etc.
-- Wet cupping, the operation of drawing blood by the application of
a cupping instrument after scarification.
CUPPY
Cup"py, a.
1. Hollow; cuplike; also, full of cups, or small depressions.
2. Characterized by cup shakes; -- said of timber.
CUPREOUS
Cu"pre*ous (k"pr-s), a. Etym: [L. cupreus, fr. cuprum.]
Defn: Consisting of copper or resembling copper; coppery.
CUPRIC
Cu"pric (k"prk), a Etym: [From Cuprum.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper;
-- said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present
in its lowest proportion.
CUPRIFEROUS
Cu*prif"er*ous (k-prf"r-s), a. Etym: [Cuprum + -ferous.]
Defn: Containing copper; as, cupriferous silver.
CUPRITE
Cu"prite (k"prt), n. (Min.)
Defn: The red oxide of copper; red copper; an important ore of
copper, occurring massive and in isometric crystals.
CUPROID
Cu"proid (k"proid), n. Etym: [Cuprum + -oid.]
Defn: (Crystalloq.) A solid related to a tetrahedron, and contained
under twelve equal triangles.
CUP-ROSE
Cup"-rose (kp"rz), n.
Defn: Red poppy. See Cop-rose.
CUPROUS
Cu"prous (k"prs), a. Etym: [From Cuprum.] (Chem.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or derived from, copper; containing copper;
-- said of those compounds of copper in which this element is present
in its highest proportion.
CUPRUM
Cu"prum (k"prm), n. Etym: [L.] (Chem.)
Defn: Copper.
CUP SHAKE
Cup shake. (Forestry)
Defn: A shake or fissure between the annual rings of a tree, found
oftenest near the roots.
CUPULATE
Cu"pu*late (k"p-lt), a.
Defn: Having or bearing cupeles; cupuliferous.
CUPULE
Cu"pule (k"pl), n. Etym: [See Cupola.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A cuplet or little cup, as the acorn; the husk or bur of the
filbert, chestnut, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sucker or acetabulum.
CUPULIFEROUS
Cu`pu*lif"er*ous (k`p-lf"r-s), a. Etym: [Cupule + -ferous: cf. F.
cupulif.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, the family of plants ot which
the oak and the chestnut are examples, -- trees bearing a smooth,
solid nut inclosed in some kind of cup or bur; bearing, or furnished
with, a cupule.
CUR
Cur (kr), n. Etym: [OE. curre, kur; cf. dial. Sw. kurre dog, OD.
korre watchdog, and Icel. kurra to murmur, grumble, Sw. kurra to
rumble, croak, Dan. kurre to coo, whirr; prob. of imitative origin.]
1. A mongrel or inferior dog.
They . . . like to village curs, Bark when their fellows do. Shak.
2. A worthless, snarling fellow; -- used in contempt.
What would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war Shak.
CURABILITY
Cur`a*bil"i*ty (kr`-bl"-t), n.
Defn: The state of being curable; curableness.
CURABLE
Cur"a*ble (kr"-b'l), a. Etym: [Cf. F. curable. See Cure, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being cured; admitting remedy. "Curable diseases."
Harvey.
-- Cur"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Cur`a*bly, adv.
CURACAO; CURACOA
Cu`ra*çao", Cu`ra*çoa", (k`r-s"), n.
Defn: A liqueur, or cordial, flavored with orange peel, cinnamon, and
mace; -- first made at the island of Curaçcao.
CURACY
Cu"ra*cy (k"r-s), n.; pl. Curacies (-s. Etym: [See Cure, Curate.]
Defn: The office or employment of a curate.
CURARE; CURARI
Cu*ra"re Cu*ra"ri (k-r"r), n. Etym: [Native name. Cf. Wourall.]
Defn: A black resinoid extract prepared by the South American Indians
from the bark of several species of Strychnos (S. toxifera, etc.). It
sometimes has little effect when taken internally, but is quickly
fatal when introduced into the blood, and used by the Indians as an
arrow poison. [Written also urari, woorali, woorari, etc.]
CURARINE
Cu"ra*rine (k"r-rn or k-r"rn; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A deadly alkaloid extracted from the curare poison and from the
Strychnos toxifera. It is obtained in crystalline colorless salts.
CURARIZE
Cu"ra*rize (-rz), v. t.
Defn: To poison with curare.
CURASSOW
Cu*ras"sow (k-rs"s), n. Etym: [Native name in Brazil.] (Zool.)
Defn: A large gallinaceous bird of the American genera Crax, Ourax,
etc., of the family Cracidæ.
Note: The crested curassow (Crax alector) is black, and about the
size of a small hen-turkey, with an erectile crest of curled
feathers. It ranges from Mexico to Brazil. The galeated curassow or
cushew bird (Ourax Pauxi) is similar in size, and has a large,
hollow, blue, pear-shaped protuberance on the head.
CURAT
Cu"rat (k"rt), n. Etym: [SeeCuirass.]
Defn: A cuirass or breastplate. [Obs.] Spenser.
CURATE
Cu"rate (k"rt), n. Etym: [LL. curatus, prop., one who is charged with
the care (L. cura) of souls. See Cure, n., and cf. Cur]
Defn: One who has the cure souls; originally, any clergyman, but now
usually limited to one who assist a rector or vicar Hook.
All this the good old man performed alone, He spared no pains, for
curate he had none. Dryden.
CURATESHIP
Cu"rate*ship, n.
Defn: A curacy.
CURATION
Cu*ra"tion (k-r"shn), n. Etym: [Cf. OF.curacion.]
Defn: Cure; healing. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CURATIVE
Cur"a*tive (kr"-tv), a. Etym: [Cf. F.curatif. See Cure, v. t.]
Defn: Relating to, or employed in, the cure of diseases; tending to
cure. Arbuthnot.
CURATOR
Cu*ra"tor (k-r"tr). n. Etym: [L., fr. curare to take care of, fr.
cura care.]
1. One who has the care and superintendence of anything, as of a
museum; a custodian; a keeper.
2. One appointed to act as guardian of the estate of a person not
legally competent to manage it, or of an absentee; a trustee; a
guardian.
CURATORSHIP
Cu*ra"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a curator.
CURATRIX
Cu*ra"trix (-trks), n. Etym: [L.]
1. A woman who cures.
2. A woman who is a guardian or custodian. Burrill.
CURB
Curb (krb), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curbed (krbd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Curbing.] Etym: [F. courber to bend, curve, L.curvare, fr. curvus
bent, curved; cf. Gr. Curve.]
1. To bend or curve [Obs.]
Crooked and curbed lines. Holland.
2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's
will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in
check.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.
Where pinching want must curbthy warm desires. Prior.
3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as
a bank of earth.
CURB
Curb, v. i.
Defn: To bend; to crouch; to cringe. [Obs.]
Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to
do him good. Shak.
CURB
Curb, n.
1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindbrance;
esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of
a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of
the horse.
He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control
his angry jaws. Drayton.
By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of
tyranny. Denham.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal
member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain
the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a
similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.
3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a
well to prevent the earth caving in.
4. A curbstone.
5. (Far.)
Defn: A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just
behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.
James Law. Curb bit, a stiff bit having branches by which a leverage
is obtained upon the jaws of horse. Knight.
-- Curb pins (Horology), the pins on the regulator which restrain
the hairspring.
-- Curb plate (Arch.), a plate serving the purpose of a curb.
-- Deck curb. See under Deck.
CURBLESS
Curb"less, a.
Defn: Having no curb or restraint.
CURB ROOF
Curb" roof` (rf`).
Defn: A roof having a double slope, or composed, on each side, of two
parts which have unequal inclination; a gambrel roof.
CURBSTONE
Curb"stone` (krb"stn`), n.
Defn: A stone Curbstone broker.See under Broker.
CURCH
Curch (krch), n.
Defn: See Courche.
CURCULIO
Cur*cu"li*o (kr-r"l-), n.; pl. Curculios (-. Etym: [L., a grain
weevil.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a large group of beetles (Rhynchophora) of many genera;
-- called also weevils, snout beetles, billbeetles, and billbugs.
Many of the species are very destructive, as the plum curculio, the
corn, grain, and rice weevils, etc.
CURCULIONIDOUS
Cur`cu*li*on"i*dous (kr`-k-l-n"-ds), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Curculionideæ, or weevil tribe.
CURCUMA
Cur"cu*ma (kr"k-m), n. Etym: [Cf. F., It., & Sp. curcuma; all fr. Ar.
kurkum. Cf. Turmeric.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the order Scitamineæ, including the
turmeric plant (Curcuma longa). Curcuma paper. (Chem.) See Turmeric
paper, under Turmeric.
CURCUMIN
Cur"cu*min (-mn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: The coloring principle of turmeric, or curcuma root, extracted
as an orange yellow crystalline substance, C14H14O4, with a green
fluorescence.
Note: It possesses acid properties and with alkalies forms brownish
salts. This change in color from yellow to brown is the
characteristic reaction of tumeric paper. See Turmeric paper, under
Turmeric.
CURD
Curd (krd), n. Etym: [Of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. gruth, Ir, gruth,
cruth, curd, cruthaim I milk.] [Sometimes written crud.]
1. The coagulated or thickened part of milk, as distingushed from the
whey, or watery part. It is eaten as food, especially when made into
cheese.
Curds and cream, the flower of country fare. Dryden.
2. The coagulated part of any liquid.
3. The edible flower head of certain brassicaceous plants, as the
broccoli and cauliflower.
Broccoli should be cut while the curd, as the flowering mass is
termed, is entire. R. Thompson.
Cauliflowers should be cut for use while the head, or curd, is still
close and compact. F. Burr.
CURD
Curd (krd), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curded;p. pr. &* vb. n. Curding.]
Defn: To cause to coagulate or thicken; to cause to congeal; to
curdle.
Does it curd thy blood To say I am thy mother Shak.
CURD
Curd, v. i.
Defn: To become coagulated or thickened; to separate into curds and
whey Shak.
CURDINESS
Curd"i*ness (--ns), n.
Defn: The state of being curdy.
CURDLE
Cur"dle (kr"d'l), v. i. Etym: [From Curd.] [Sometimes written crudle
and cruddle.]
1. To change into curd; to coagulate; as, rennet causes milk to
curdle. Thomson.
2. To thicken; to congeal.
Then Mary could feel her heart's blood curdle cold. Southey.
CURDLE
Cur"dle, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curdled (-d'ld); p.pr. & vb. n. Curdling
(-dlng).]
1. To change into curd; to cause to coagulate. "To curdle whites of
eggs" Boyle.
2. To congeal or thicken.
My chill blood is curdled in my veins. Dryden.
CURDLESS
Curd"less (krd"ls), a.
Defn: Destitute of curd.
CURDY
Curd"y (krd"), a.
Defn: Like curd; full of curd; coagulated. "A curdy mass." Arbuthnot.
CURE
Cure (k, n. Etym: [OF, cure care, F., also, cure, healing, cure of
souls, L. cura care, medical attendance, cure; perh. akin to cavere
to pay heed, E. cution. Cure is not related to care.]
1. Care, heed, or attention. [Obs.]
Of study took he most cure and most heed. Chaucer.
Vicarages of greatcure, but small value. Fuller.
2. Spiritual charge; care of soul; the office of a parish priest or
of a curate; hence, that which is committed to the charge of a parish
priest or of a curate; a curacy; as, to resign a cure; to obtain a
cure.
The appropriator was the incumbent parson, and had the cure of the
souls of the parishioners. Spelman.
3. Medical or hygienic care; remedial treatment of disease; a method
of medical treatment; as, to use the water cure.
4. Act of healing or state of being healed; restoration to health
from disease, or to soundness after injury.
Past hope! pastcure! past help. Shak.
I do cures to-day and to-morrow. Luke xii. 32.
5. Means of the removal of disease or evil; that which heals; a
remedy; a restorative.
Cold, hunger, prisons, ills without a cure. Dryden.
The proper cure of such prejudices. Bp. Hurd.
CURE
Cure, v. t. [imp.& p.p. Cured (krd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curing.] Etym:
[OF. curer to take care, to heal, F., only, to cleanse, L. curare to
take care, to heal, fr. cura. See Cure,.]
1. To heal; to restore to health, soundness, or sanity; to make well;
-- said of a patient.
The child was cured from that very hour. Matt. xvii. 18.
2. To subdue or remove by remedial means; to remedy; to remove; to
heal; -- said of a malady.
To cure this deadly grief. Shak.
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power . .
. to cure diseases. Luke ix. 1.
3. To set free from (something injurious or blameworthy), as from a
bad habit.
I never knew any man cured of inattention. Swift.
4. To prepare for preservation or permanent keeping; to preserve, as
by drying, salting, etc.; as, to cure beef or fish; to cure hay.
CURE
Cure, v. i.
1. To pay heed; to care; to give attention. [Obs.]
2. To restore health; to effect a cure.
Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles' spear, Is able with the
change to kill and cure. Shak.
3. To become healed.
One desperate grief cures with another's languish. Shak.
CURE
Cu`ré" (k`r"), n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. curatus. See Curate.]
Defn: A curate; a pardon.
CUREALL
Cure"*all` (kr"l`), n.
Defn: A remedy for all diseases, o
CURELESS
Cure"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of cure; incurable.
With patience undergo A cureless ill, since fate will have it so.
Dryden.
CURER
Cur"er (-r), n.
1. One who cures; a healer; a physician.
2. One who prepares beef, fish, etc., for preservation by drying,
salting, smoking, etc.
CURETTE
Cu*rette" (k-rt"), n.Etym: [F., fr. curer to cleanse.] (Med.)
Defn: A scoop or ring with either a blunt or a cutting edge, for
removing substances from the walls of a cavity, as from the eye, ear,
or womb.
CURFEW
Cur"few (kr"f), n. Etym: [OE. courfew, curfu, fr. OF. cuevrefu,
covrefeu, F. couvre-feu; covrir to cover + feu fire, fr. L. focus
fireplace, hearth. See Cover, and Focus.]
1. The ringing of an evening bell, originally a signal to the
inhabitants to cover fires, extinguish lights, and retire to rest, --
instituted by William the Conqueror; also, the bell itself.
He begins at curfew, and walks till the first cock. Shak.
The village curfew, as it tolled profound. Campbell.
2. A utensil for covering the fire. [Obs.]
For pans, pots, curfews, counters and the like. Bacon.
CURIA
Cu"ri*a (k"r-), n.; pl. Curle (-. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
(a) One of the thirty parts into which the Roman people were divided
by Romulus.
(b) The place of assembly of one of these divisions.
(c) The place where the meetings of the senate were held; the senate
house.
2. (Middle Ages)
Defn: The court of a sovereign or of a feudal lord; also; his
residence or his household. Burrill.
3. (Law)
Defn: Any court of justice.
4. The Roman See in its temporal aspects, including all the machinery
of administration; -- called also curia Romana.
CURIAL
Cu"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the papal curia; as, the curial etiquette
of the Vatican. -- n.
Defn: A member of a curia, esp. of that of Rome or the later Italian
sovereignties.
CURIALISM
Cu"ri*a*lism (k"r--lz'm), n.
Defn: The wiew or doctrins of the ultramontane party in the Latin
Church. Gladstone.
CURIALIST
Cu"ri*a*list (k"r--lst), n.
Defn: One who belongs to the ultramontane party in the Latin Church.
Shipley.
CURIALISTIC
Cu`ri*a*lis"tic (-ls"tk), a. Etym: [L.curialis belonging to the
imperial court, fr. curia, LL., also, counselors and retinue of a
king.]
1. Pertaining to a court.
2. Relating or belonging to the ultramonate party in the Latin
Church.
CURIALITY
Cu`ri*al"i*ty (-l"-t), n. Etym: [Cf. LL. curialitas courtesy, fr.
curialis.]
Defn: The privileges, prerogatives, or retinue of a court. [Obs.]
Bacon.
CURIET
Cu"ri*et (k"r-t), n.
Defn: A cuirass. [Obs.] Spenser.
CURING
Cur"ing (kr"ng),
Defn: p. a. & vb. n. of Cure. Curing house, a building in which
anything is cured; especially, in the West Indies, a building in
which sugar is drained and dried.
CURIO
Cu"ri*o (k"r-), n.; pl.Curios (-. Etym: [Abbreviation of curiosity.]
Defn: Any curiosity or article of virtu.
The busy world, which does not hunt poets as collectors hunt for
curios. F. Harrison.
CURIOLOGIC
Cu`ri*o*log"ic (--lj"k), a. Etym: [Gr. Cyriologic.]
Defn: Pertaining to a rude kind of hieroglyphics, in which a thing is
represented by its picture instead of by a symbol.
CURIOSITY
Cu`ri*os"i*ty (k`r-s"-t), n.; pl. Curiosities (-t. Etym: [OE.
curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioseté, curiosité, F. curiosit, fr. L.
curiositas, fr. curiosus. See Currious, and cf. Curio.]
1. The state or quality or being curious; nicety; accuracy;
exactness; elaboration. [Obs.] Bacon.
When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too
much curiosity. Shak.
A screen accurately cut in tapiary work . . . with great curiosity.
Evelin.
2. Disposition to inquire, investigate, or seek after knowledge; a
desire to gratify the mind with new information or objects of
interest; inquisitiveness. Milton.
3. That which is curious, or fitted to excite or reward attention.
We took a ramble together to see the curiosities of this great town.
Addison.
There hath been practiced also a curiosity, to set a tree upon the
north side of a wall, and, at a little hieght, to draw it through the
wall, etc. Bacon.
CURIOSO
Cu`ri*o"so (k`r-"z or k`r-"s), n.; pl. Curiosos (-zor -s. Etym: [It.
See Curious.]
Defn: A virtuoso.
CURIOUS
Cu"ri*ous (k"r-s), a. Etym: [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L.
curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
1. Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful;
scrupulous; nice; exact. [Obs.]
Little curious in her clothes. Fuller.
How shall we, If he be curious, work upon his faith Bean &
2. Exhibiting care or nicety; artfully constructed; elaborate;
wrought with elegance or skill.
To devise curious works. Ex. xxxv. 32
His body couched in a curious bed. Shak.
3. Careful or anxious to learn; eager for knowledge; given to
research or inquiry; habitually inquisitive; prying; -- sometimes
with after or of.
It is a picurious after things that were elegant and beatiful should
not have been as curious as to their origin, their uses, and their
natural history. Woodward.
4. Exciting attention or inquiry; awakening surprise; inviting and
rewarding inquisitiveness; not simple or plain; strange; rare.
"Acurious tale" Shak.
A multitude of curious analogies. Mocaulay.
Many a quaint and curiousvolume of forgotten lore. E. A. Poe.
Abstruse investigations in recondite branches of learning or sciense
often bring to light curious results. C. J. Smith.
Curious arts, magic. [Obs.]
Many . . . which used curious arts brought their books together, and
burned them. Acts xix. 19.
Syn.
-- Inquisitive; prying. See Inquisitive.
CURIOUSLY
Cu"ri*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a curious manner.
CURIOUSNESS
Cu"ri*ous*ness, n.
1. Carefulness; painstaking. [Obs.]
My father's care With curiousness and cost did train me up.
Massinger.
2. The state of being curious; exactness of workmanship; ingenuity of
contrivance.
3. Inquisitiveness; curiosity.
CURL
Curl (krl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Curled (krld); p. pr. & vb. n.
Curling.] Etym: [Akin to D. krullen, Dan. kr, dial. Sw. krulla to
curl, crisp; possibly akin to E. crook. Cf. Curl, n., Cruller.]
1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair.
But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid. Cascoigne.
2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body.
Of his tortuous train, Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve.
Milton.
3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament.
Thicker than the snaky locks That curledMegæra. Milton.
Curling with metaphors a plain intention. Herbert.
4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.
Seas would be pools without the brushing air To curl the waves.
Dryden.
5. (Hat Making)
Defn: To shape (the brim) into a curve.
CURL
Curl, v. i.
1. To contract or bend into curis or ringlets, as hair; to grow in
curls or spirals, as a vine; to be crinkled or contorted; to have a
curly appearance; as, leaves lie curled on the ground.
Thou seest it [hair] will not curl by nature. Shak.
2. To move in curves, spirals, or undulations; to contract in curving
outlines; to bend in a curved form; to make a curl or curls. "Cirling
billows." Dryden.
Then round her slender waist he curled. Dryden.
Curling smokes from village tops are seen. Pope.
Gayly curl the waves before each dashing prow. Byron.
He smiled a king of sickly smile, and curled up on the floor. Bret
Harte.
. 358
3. To play at the game called curling. [Scot.]
CURL
Curl (krl), n. Etym: [Akin to D. krul, Dan. kr. See Curl, v. ]
1. A ringlet, especially of hair; anything of a spiral or winding
form.
Under a coronet, his flowing hair In curls on either cheek played.
Milton.
2. An undulating or waving line or streak in any substance, as wood,
glass, etc.; flexure; sinuosity.
If the glass of the prisms . . . be without those numberless waves or
curls which usually arise from the sand holes. Sir I. Newton.
3. A disease in potatoes, in which the leaves, at their first
appearance, seem curled and shrunken. Blue curls. (Bot.) See under
Blue.
CURLED
Curled (lrld), a.
Defn: Having curls; curly; sinuous; wavy; as, curled maple (maple
having fibers which take a sinnuous course). Curled hair (Com.), the
hair of the manes and tails of horses, prepared for upholstery
purposes. McElrath.
CURLEDNESS
Curl"ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being curled; curliness.
CURLER
Curl"er (-r), n.
1. One who, or that which, curls.
2. A player at the game called curling. Burns.
CURLEW
Cur"lew (kr"l), n. Etym: [F. courlieu, corlieu, courlis; perh. of
imitative origin, but cf. OF. corlieus courier; L. currere to run +
levis light.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wading bird of the genus Numenius, remarkable for its long,
slender, curved bill.
Note: The common European curlew is N. arquatus. The long-billed (N.
longirostris), the Hudsonian (N. Hudsonicus), and the Eskimo curlew
(N. borealis, are American species. The name is said to imitate the
note of the European species. Curlew Jack (Zoöl.) the whimbrel or
lesser curlew.
-- Curlew sandpiper (Zoöl.), a sandpiper (Tringa ferruginea, or
subarquata), common in Europe, rare in America, resembling a curlew
in having a long, curved bill. See Illustation in Appendix.
CURLINESS
Curl"i*ness (krl"-ns), n.
Defn: State of being curly.
CURLING
Curl"ing, n.
1. The act or state of that which curls; as, the curling of smoke
when it rises; the curling of a ringlet; also, the act or process of
one who curls something, as hair, or the brim of hats.
2. A scottish game in which heavy weights of stone or iron are
propelled by hand over the ice towards a mark.
Curling . . . is an amusement of the winter, and played on the ice,
by sliding from one mark to another great stones of 40 to 70 pounds
weight, of a hemispherical form, with an iron or wooden handle at
top. The object of the player is to lay his stone as near to the mark
as possible, to guard that of his partner, which has been well laid
before, or to strike off that of his antagonist. Pennant (Tour in
Scotland. 1772).
Curling irons, Curling tong, an instrument for curling the hair; --
commonly heated when used.
CURLINGLY
Curl"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With a curl, or curls.
CURLY
Curl"y (krl"), a.
Defn: Curling or tending to curl; having curls; full of ripples;
crinkled.
CURLYCUE
Curl"y*cue (krl"-k), n. Etym: [Cf. F. caracole.]
Defn: Some thing curled or spiral,, as a flourish made with a pen on
paper, or with skates on the ice; a trick; a frolicsome caper.
[Sometimes written carlicue.] [ Colloq. U.S.] To cut a curlycue, to
make a flourish; to cut a caper.
I gave a flourishing about the room and cut a curlycue with my right
foot. McClintock.
CURMUDGEON
Cur*mudg"eon (kr-mj"n), n. Etym: [OE. cornmudgin, where -mudgin is
prob. from OF. muchier, mucier, F. musser to hide; of uncertain
origin; cf. OE. muchares skulking thieves, E. miche, micher.]
Defn: An avaricious, grasping fellow; a miser; a niggard; a churl.
A gray-headed curmudgeon of a negro. W. Irving.
CURMUDGEONLY
Cur*mudg"eon*ly, a.
Defn: Like a curmudgeon; niggardly; churlish; as, a curmudgeonly
fellow.
CURMURRING
Cur*mur"ring (kr-mr"rng), n.
Defn: Murmuring; grumbling; -- sometimes applied to the rumbling
produced by a slight attack of the gripes. [Scot.] Burns.
CURR
Curr (kr), v. i. Etym: [Prob. imitative.]
Defn: To coo. [Scot.]
The owlets hoot, the owlets curr. Wordsworth.
CURRANT
Cur"rant (kr"rant), n. Etym: [F. corinthe (raisins de Corinthe
raisins of Corinth) currant (in sense 1), from the city of Corinth in
Greece, whence, probably, the small dried grape (1) was first
imported, the Ribes fruit (2) receiving the name from its resemblance
to that grape.]
1. A small kind of seedless raisin, imported from the Levant, chiefly
from Zante and Cephalonia; -- used in cookery.
2. The acid fruit or berry of the Ribes rubrum or common red currant,
or of its variety, the white currant.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub or bush of several species of the genus Ribes (a genus
also including the gooseberry); esp., the Ribes rubrum. Black
currant,a shrub or bush (Ribes nigrum and R. floridum) and its black,
strong-flavored, tonic fruit.
-- Cherry currant, a variety of the red currant, having a strong,
symmetrical bush and a very large berry.
-- Currant borer (Zoöl.), the larva of an insect that bores into the
pith and kills currant bushes; specif., the larvae of a small
clearwing moth (Ægeria tipuliformis) and a longicorn beetle
(Psenocerus supernotatus).
-- Currant worm (Zoöl.), an insect larva which eats the leaves or
fruit of the currant. The most injurious are the currant sawfly
(Nematus ventricosus), introduced from Europe, and the spanworm
(Eufitchia ribearia). The fruit worms are the larva of a fly (Epochra
Canadensis), and a spanworm (Eupithecia).
-- Flowering currant, Missouri currant, a species of Ribes (R.
aureum), having showy yellow flowers.
CURRENCY
Cur"ren*cy (kr"rn-c), n.; pl. Currencies (-s. Etym: [Cf. LL.
currentia a current, fr. L. currens, p. pr. of currere to run. See
Current.]
1. A continued or uninterrupted course or flow like that of a sream;
as, the currency of time. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
2. The state or quality of being current; general acceptance or
reception; a passing from person to person, or from hand to hand;
circulation; as, a report has had a long or general currency; the
currency of bank notes.
3. That which is in circulation, or is given and taken as having or
representing value; as, the currency of a country; a specie currency;
esp., government or bank notes circulating as a substitute for
metallic money.
4. Fluency; readiness of utterance. [Obs.]
5. Current value; general estimation; the rate at which anything is
generally valued.
He . . . takes greatness of kingdoms according to their bulk and
currency, and not after intrinsic value. Bacon.
The bare name of Englishman . . . too often gave a transient currency
to the worthless and ungrateful. W. Irving.
CURRENT
Cur"rent (kr"rent), a. Etym: [OE. currant, OF. curant, corant, p. pr.
of curre, corre, F. courre, courir, to run, from L. currere; perh.
akin to E. horse. Cf. Course, Concur, Courant, Coranto.]
1. Running or moving rapidly. [Archaic]
Like the current fire, that renneth Upon a cord. Gower.
To chase a creature that was current then In these wild woods, the
hart with golden horns. Tennyson.
2. Now passing, as time; as, the current month.
3. Passing from person to person, or from hand to hand; circulating
through the community; generally received; common; as, a current
coin; a current report; current history.
That there was current money in Abraham's time is past doubt.
Arbuthnot.
Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. Shak.
His current value, which is less or more as men have occasion for
him. Grew.
4. Commonly estimated or acknowledged.
5. Fitted for general acceptance or circulation; authentic; passable.
O Buckingham, now do I play the touch To try if thou be current gold
indeed. Shak.
Account current. See under Account.
-- Current money, lawful money. Abbott.
CURRENT
Cur"rent, n. Etym: [Cf. F. courant. See Current, a. ]
1. A flowing or passing; onward motion. Hence: A body of fluid moving
continuously in a certain direction; a stream; esp., the swiftest
part of it; as, a current of water or of air; that which resembles a
stream in motion; as, a current of electricity.
Two such silver currents, when they join, Do glorify the banks that
bound them in. Shak.
The surface of the ocean is furrowed by currents, whose direction . .
. the navigator should know. Nichol.
2. General course; ordinary procedure; progressive and connected
movement; as, the current of time, of events, of opinion, etc.
Current meter, an instrument for measuring the velocity, force, etc.,
of currents.
-- Current mill, a mill driven by a current wheel.
-- Current wheel, a wheel dipping into the water and driven by the
current of a stream or by the ebb and flow of the tide.
Syn.
-- Stream; course. See Stream.
CURRENTLY
Cur"rent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a current manner; generally; commonly; as, it is currently
believed.
CURRENTNESS
Cur"rent*ness, n.
1. The quality of being current; currency; circulation; general
reception.
2. Easiness of pronunciation; fluency. [Obs.]
When currentness [combineth] with staidness, how can the language . .
. sound other than most full of sweetness Camden.
CURRICLE
Cur"ri*cle (kr"r-k'l), n. Etym: [L.curriculum a running, a race
course, fr. currere to run. See Current, and cf. Curriculum.]
1. A small or short course.
Upon a curricle in this world depends a long course of the next. Sir
T. Browne.
2. A two-wheeled chaise drawn by two horses abreast.
CURRICULUM
Cur*ric"u*lum (kr-rk"-lm), n.; pl. E. Curriculums (-lCurricula (-l.
Etym: [L. See Curricle.]
1. A race course; a place for running.
2. A course; particularly, a specified fixed course of study, as in a
university.
CURRIE
Cur"rie (kr"r), n. & v.
Defn: See 2d & 3d Curry.
CURRIED
Cur"ried (-r, p.a. Etym: [See Curry, v. t., and Curry, n.]
1. Dressed by currying; cleaned; prepared.
2. Prepared with curry; as, curried rice, fowl, etc.
CURRIER
Cur"ri*er (k"r-r), n. Etym: [From 1st Curry.]
Defn: One who curries and dresses leather, after it is tanned.
CURRISH
Cur"rish (kr"rsh), a. Etym: [From Cur.]
Defn: Having the qualities, or exhibiting the characteristics, of a
cur; snarling; quarrelsome; snappish; churlish; hence, also
malicious; malignant; brutal.
Thy currish spirit Governed a wolf. Shak.
Some currish plot, -- some trick. Lockhart.
-- Cur"rish*ly, adv.
-- Cur"rish*ness, n.
CURRY
Cur"ry (kr"r), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curried (-rd); p.pr. & vb. n.
Currying.] Etym: [OE. curraien, curreien, OF. cunreer, correier, to
prepare, arrange, furnish, curry (a horse), F. corroyer to curry
(leather) (cf. OF. conrei, conroi, order, arrangement, LL.
conredium); cor- (L.com-) + roi, rei, arrangement, order; prob. of
German origin, and akin to E. ready. See Ready, Greith, and cf.
Corody, Array.]
1. To dress or prepare for use by a process of scraping, cleansing,
beating, smoothing, and coloring; -- said of leather.
2. To dress the hair or coat of (a horse, ox, or the like) with a
currycomb and brush; to comb, as a horse, in order to make clean.
Your short horse is soon curried. Beau. & FL.
3. To beat or bruise; to drub; -- said of persons.
I have seen him curry a fellow's carcass handsomely. Beau. & FL.
To curry favor, to seek to gain favor by flattery or attentions. See
Favor, n.
CURRY
Cur"ry, n. Etym: [Tamil kari.] [Written also currie.]
1. (Cookery)
Defn: A kind of sauce much used in India, containing garlic, pepper,
ginger, and other strong spices.
2. A stew of fowl, fish, or game, cooked with curry. Curry powder
(Cookery), a condiment used for making curry, formed of various
materials, including strong spices, as pepper, ginger, garlic,
coriander seed, etc.
CURRY
Cur"ry (kr"r), v. t.
Defn: To flavor or cook with curry.
CURRYCOMB
Cur"ry*comb` (kr"r-km`), n.
Defn: A kind of card or comb having rows of metallic teeth or
serrated ridges, used in curryng a horse.
CURRYCOMB
Cur"ry*comb`, v. t.
Defn: To comb with a currycomb.
CURSE
Curse (krs), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cursed (krst) or Curst; p. pr. & vb.
n. Cursing.] Etym: [AS. cursian, corsian, perh. of Scand. origin; cf.
Dan. korse to make the sign of the cross, Sw. korsa, fr. Dan. & Sw.
kors cross, Icel kross, all these Scand. words coming fr. OF. crois,
croiz, fr. L. crux cross. Cf. Cross.]
1. To call upon divine or supernatural power to send injury upon; to
imprecate evil upon; to execrate.
Thou shalt not . . . curse the ruler of thy people. Ex. xxii. 28.
Ere sunset I'll make thee curse the deed. Shak.
2. To bring great evil upon; to be the cause of serious harm or
unhappiness to; to furnish with that which will be a cause of deep
trouble; to afflict or injure grievously; to harass or torment.
On impious realms and barbarous kings impose Thy plagues, and curse
'em with such sons as those. Pope.
To curse by bell, book, and candle. See under Bell.
CURSE
Curse, v. i.
Defn: To utter imprecations or curses; to affirm or deny with
imprecations; to swear.
Then began he to curse and to swear. Matt. xxi. 74.
His spirits hear me, And yet I need must curse. Shak.
CURSE
Curse, n. Etym: [AS. curs. See Curse, v. t.]
1. An invocation of, or prayer for, harm or injury; malediction.
Lady, you know no rules of charity, Which renders good for bad,
blessings for curses. Shak.
2. Evil pronounced or invoked upon another, solemnly, or in passion;
subjection to, or sentence of, divine condemnation.
The priest shall write these curses in a book. Num. v. 23.
Curses, like chickens, come home to roost. Old Proverb.
3. The cause of great harm, evil, or misfortune; that which brings
evil or severe affliction; torment.
The common curse of mankind, folly and ignorance. Shak.
All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget, Is propagated curse.
Milton.
The curse of Scotland (Card Playing), the nine of diamonds.
-- Not worth a curse. See under Cress.
Syn.
-- Malediction; imprecation; execration. See Malediction.
CURSED
Curs"ed (krs"d), a.
Defn: Deserving a curse; execrable; hateful; detestable; abominable.
Let us fly this cursed place. Milton.
This cursed quarrel be no more renewed. Dryden.
CURSEDLY
Curs"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cursed manner; miserably; in a manner to be detested;
enormously. [Low]
CURSEDNESS
Curs"ed*ness, n.
1. The state of being under a curse or of being doomed to execration
or to evil.
2. Wickedness; sin; cursing. Chaucer.
3. Shrewishness. "My wife's cursedness." Chaucer.
CURSER
Curs"er (krs"r), n.
Defn: One who curses.
CURSHIP
Cur"ship (kr"shp), n. Etym: [Cur +-ship.]
Defn: The state of being a cur; one who is currish. [Jocose]
How durst he, I say, oppose thy curship! Hudibras.
CURSITATING
Cur"si*ta`ting (kr"s-t`tng), a. Etym: [See Cursitor.]
Defn: Moving about slightly. [R.] H. Bushnell.
CURSITOR
Cur"si*tor (kr"s-tr), n. Etym: [LL. cursitor, equiv. to L. cursor,
fr. cursare to run hither and thither, fr. currere to run. See
Current, and cf. Cursor.]
1. A courier or runner. [Obs.] "Cursitors to and fro." Holland.
2. (Eng.Law)
Defn: An officer in the Court of Chancery, whose business is to make
out original writs.
CURSIVE
Cur"sive (kr"sv), a. Etym: [LL. cursivus: cf. F. cursif See
Cursitor.]
Defn: Running; flowing. Cursive hand,a running handwriting.
CURSIVE
Cur"sive, n.
1. A character used in cursive writing.
2. A manuscript, especially of the New Testament, written in small,
connected characters or in a running hand; -- opposed to uncial.
Shipley.
CURSOR
Cur"sor (kr"sr), n. Etym: [L., a runner. See Cursitor.]
Defn: Any part of a mathematical instrument that moves or slides
backward and forward upon another part.
CURSORARY
Cur"so*ra*ry (-s-r-r), a.
Defn: Cursory; hasty. [Obs.]
With a cursorary eye o'erglanced the articles. Shak.
CURSORES
Cur*so"res (kr-s"rEz), n. pl. Etym: [L. cursor, pl. cursores, a
runner.] (Zoöl.)
(a) An order of running birds including the ostrich, emu, and allies;
the Ratitaæ.
(b) A group of running spiders; the wolf spiders.
CURSORIAL
Cur*so"ri*al (kr-s"r-al), a. (Zoöl.)
(a) Adapted to running or walking, and not to prehension; as, the
limbs of the horse are cursorial. See Illust. of Aves.
(b) Of or pertaining to the Cursores.
CURSORILY
Cur"so*ri*ly (kr"s-r-l), adv.
Defn: In a running or hasty manner; carelessly.
CURSORINESS
Cur"so*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cursory; superficial performance; as,
cursoriness of view.
CURSORY
Cur"so*ry (kr"s-r), a. Etym: [L. cursorius, fr. cursor. See Cursor.]
1. Running about; not stationary. [Obs.]
2. Characterized by haste; hastily or superficially performed;
slight; superficial; careless.
Events far too important to be treated in a cursory manner. Hallam.
CURST
Curst (krst),
Defn: imp. & p.p. of Curse.
CURST
Curst, a. Etym: [SeeCurse.]
Defn: Froward; malignant; mischievous; malicious; snarling. [Obs.]
Though his mind Be ne'er so curst, his tonque is kind. Crashaw.
CURSTFULLY
Curst"ful*ly (-fl-l), adv.
Defn: Peevishly; vexatiously; detestably. [Obs.] "Curstfully mad."
Marston.
CURSTNESS
Curst"ness (krst"ns), n.
Defn: Peevishness; malignity; frowardness; crabbedness; surliness.
[Obs.] Shak.
CURT
Curt (krt), a. Etym: [L. curtus; cf. Skr. kart to cut. Cf. Curtail.]
Defn: Characterized by exessive brevity; short; rudely concise; as,
curt limits; a curt answer.
The curt, yet comprehensive reply. W. Irving.
CURTAIL
Cur*tail" (kr-tl"), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curtailed (-tld"); p.pr. &
vb.n. Curtailing.] Etym: [See Curtal.]
Defn: To cut off the end or tail, or any part, of; to shorten; to
abridge; to diminish; to reduce.
I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion. Shak.
Our incomes have been curtailed; his salary has been doubled.
Macualay.
CURTAIL
Cur"tail (kr"tl), n.
Defn: The scroll termination of any architectural member, as of a
step, etc.
CURTAIL DOG
Cur"tail dog` (d.
Defn: A dog with a docked tail; formerly, the dog of a person not
qualified to course, which, by the forest laws, must have its tail
cut short, partly as a mark, and partly from a notion that the tail
is necessary to a dog in running; hence, a dog not fit for sporting.
Hope is a curtail dog in some affairs. Shak.
CURTAILER
Cur*tail"er (kr-tl"r), n.
Defn: One who curtails.
CURTAILMENT
Cur*tail"ment (kr-tl"ment), n.
Defn: The act or result of curtailing or cutting off. Bancroft.
CURTAIN
Cur"tain (kr"tn; 48), n. Etym: [OE.cortin, curtin,fr. OF. cortine,
curtine, F. courtine, LL. cortina, curtian (in senses 1 and 2), also,
small court, small inclosure surrounded by walls, from cortis court.
See Court.]
1. A hanging screen intended to darken or conceal, and admitting of
being drawn back or up, and reclosed at pleasure; esp., drapery of
cloth or lace hanging round a bed or at a window; in theaters, and
like places, a movable screen for concealing the stage.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: That part of the rampart and parapet which is between two
bastions or two gates. See Illustrations of Ravelin and Bastion.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a wall of a building which is between two
pavilions, towers, etc.
4. A flag; an ensign; -- in contempt. [Obs.] Shak. Behind the
curtain, in concealment; in secret.
-- Curtain lecture, a querulous lecture given by a wife to her
husband within the bed curtains, or in bed. Jerrold.
A curtain lecture is worth all the sermons in the world for teaching
the virtues of patience and long-suffering. W. Irving.
-- The curtain falls, the performance closes.
-- The curtain rises, the performance begins.
-- To draw the curtain, to close ot over an object, or to remove it;
hence: (a) To hide or to disclose an object. (b) To commence or close
a performance.
-- To drop the curtain, to end the tale, or close the performance.
CURTAIN
Cur"tain, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curtained (-tnd; 48); p. pr. & vb. n.
Curtaining.]
Defn: To inclose as with curtains; to furnish with curtains.
So when the sun in bed Curtained with cloudy red. Milton.
CURTAL
Cur"tal (kr"tal), a. Etym: [OF. courtault, F. courtaud, having a
docked tail (cf. It. cortaldo), fr. court short, L. curtus. See Curt,
and Curtail.]
Defn: Curt; brief; laconic.
Essays and curtal aphorisms. Milton.
Curtal dog. See Curtail dog.
CURTAL
Cur"tal, n.
Defn: A horse with a docked tail; hence, anything cut short. [Obs]
Nares.
CURTAL AX; CURTLE AX; CURTELASSE
Cur"tal ax`, Cur"tle ax`, Curte"lasse (krt"las).
Defn: A corruption of Cutlass.
CURTAL FRIAR
Cur"tal fri`ar (fr`r).
Defn: A friar who acted as porter at the gate of a monastery. Sir W.
Scott.
CURTANA
Cur*ta"na (kr-t"n), n.
Defn: The pointless sword carried before English monarchs at their
coronation, and emblematically considered as the sword of mercy; --
also called the sword of Edward the Confessor.
CURTATE
Cur"tate (kr"tt), a. Etym: [L. curtatus, p.p. of curtare to shorten,
fr. curtus. See Curt.] (Astron.)
Defn: Shortened or reduced; -- said of the distance of a planet from
the sun or earth, as measured in the plane of the ecliptic, or the
distance from the sun or earth to that point where a perpendicular,
let fall from the planet upon the plane of the ecliptic, meets the
ecliptic. Curtate cycloid. (Math.) See Cycloid.
CURTATION
Cur*ta"tion (kr-t"shn), n. (Astron.)
Defn: The interval by which the curtate distance of a planet is less
than the true distance.
CURTEIN
Cur*tein" (kr-tn"), n.
Defn: Same as Curtana.
CURTES
Cur*tes" (kr-ts"), a.
Defn: Courteous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
CURTESY
Cur"te*sy (kr"t-s), n.; pl. Curtesies (-s. Etym: [Either fr.
courlesy, the lands being held as it were by favor; or fr. court (LL.
curtis), the husband being regarded as holding the lands as a vassal
of the court. See Court, Courtesy.] (Law)
Defn: the life estate which a husband has in the lands of his
deceased wife, which by the common law takes effect where he has had
issue by her, born alive, and capable of inheriting the lands. Mozley
& W.
CURTILAGE
Cur"ti*lage (k, n. Etym: [OF. cortillage, curtillage, fr. cortil
court, courtyard, LL. cortis court. See Court.] (Law)
Defn: A yard, courtyard, or piece of ground, included within the
fence surrounding a dwelling house. Burrill.
CURTLY
Curt"ly (krt"l), adv.
Defn: In a curt manner.
CURTNESS
Curt"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of bing curt.
CURTSY
Curt"sy (krt"s), n.
Defn: Same as Courtesy, an act of respect.
CURULE
Cu"rule (k"rl), a. Etym: [L. curulis, fr. currus a charoit: cf. F.
curule.]
1. Of or pertaining to a charoit.
2. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a kind of chair appropriated to Roman
magistrates and dignitaries; pertaining to, having, or conferring,
the right to sit in the curule chair; hence, official.
Note: The curule chair was usually shaped like a camp stool, and
provided with curved legs. It was at first ornamented with ivory, and
later sometimes made of ivory and inlaid with gold. Curule dignity
right of sitting in the curule chair.
CURURO
Cu*ru"ro (k-r"r), n. Etym: [Chilian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A Chilian burrowing rodent of the genus Spalacopus.
CURVAL; CURVANT
Cur"val (kr"val), Cur"vant (-vant), a. Etym: [L. curvans, p. pr. ]
(Her.)
Defn: Bowed; bent; curved.
CURVATE; CURVATED
Cur"vate (kr"vt), Cur"va*ted (-v-td), a. Etym: [L. curvatus p. p. of
curvare to curve, fr. curvus. See Curve.]
Defn: Bent in a regular form; curved.
CURVATION
Cur*va"tion (kr-v"shn), n. Etym: [L. curvatio.]
Defn: The act of bending or crooking.
CURVATIVE
Cur"va*tive (kr"v-tv), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the margins only a little curved; -- said of leaves.
Henslow.
CURVATURE
Cur"va*ture (kr"v-tr; 135), n. Etym: [L. curvatura. See Curvate.]
1. The act of curving, or the state of being bent or curved; a
curving or bending, normal or abnormal, as of a line or surface from
a rectilinear direction; a bend; a curve. Cowper.
The elegant curvature of their fronds. Darwin.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The amount of degree of bending of a mathematical curve, or the
tendency at any point to depart from a tangent drawn to the curve at
that point. Aberrancy of curvature (Geom.), the deviation of a curve
from a curcular form. -Absolute curvature. See under Absolute.
-- Angle of curvature (Geom.), one that expresses the amount of
curvature of a curve.
-- Chord of curvature. See under Chord.
-- Circle of curvature. See Osculating circle of a curve, under
Circle.
-- Curvature of the spine (Med.), an abnormal curving of the spine,
especially in a lateral direction.
-- Radius of curvature, the radius of the circle of curvature, or
osculatory circle, at any point of a curve.
CURVE
Curve (krv), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent, curved. See Cirb.]
Defn: Bent without angles; crooked; curved; as, a curve line; a curve
surface.
CURVE
Curve, n. Etym: [See Curve, a., Cirb.]
1. A bending without angles; that wcich is bent; a flexure; as, a
curve in a railway or canal.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A line described according to some low, and having no finite
portion of it a straight line. Axis of a curve. See under Axis.
-- Curve of quickest descent. See Brachystochrone.
-- Curve tracing (Math.), the process of determining the shape,
location, singular points, and other perculiarities of a curve from
its equation.
-- Plane curve (Geom.), a curve such that when a plane passes
through three points of the curve, it passes through all the other
points of the curve. Any other curve is called a curve of double
curvature, or a twisted curve.
CURVE
Curve, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Curved (krvd); p. pr. & vb. n. Curving.]
Etym: [L. curvare., fr. curvus. See Curve, a., Curb.]
Defn: To bend; to crook; as, to curve a line; to curve a pipe; to
cause to swerve from a straight course; as, to curve a ball in
pitching it.
CURVE
Curve, v. i.
Defn: To bend or turn gradually from a given direction; as, the road
curves to the right.
CURVEDNESS
Curv"ed*ness (-d-ns), n.
Defn: The state of being curved.
CURVET
Cur"vet (kr"vt or kr-vt"; 277), n. Etym: [OE. corvet, It.corvetta:
cf. F. courbette. See Curve, and cf. Corvetto.]
1. (Man.)
Defn: A particular leap of a horse, when he raises both his fore legs
at once, equally advanced, and, as his fore legs are falling, raises
his hind legs, so that all his legs are in the air at once.
2. A prank; a frolic.
CURVET
Cur"vet, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Curveted or -vetted; p.pr. & vb. n.
Curveting or -vetting.] Etym: [Cf. It. corvettare. See Curvet, n.]
1. To make a curvet; to leap; to bound. 'Oft and high he did curvet."
Drayton.
2. To leap and frisk; to frolic. Shak.
CURVET
Cur"vet, v. t.
Defn: To cause to curvet. Landor.
CURVICAUDATE
Cur`vi*cau"date (kr`v-k"dt), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent + E. caudate.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a curved or crooked tail.
CURVICOSTATE
Cur`vi*cos"tate (kr`v-ks"tt), a. Etym: [L. curvus + E. costate.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having bent ribs.
CURVIDENTATE
Cur`vi*den"tate (kr`v-dn"tt), a. Etym: [L. curvus + E. dentate.]
Defn: Having curved teeth.
CURVIFORM
Cur"vi*form (kr"v-frm), a. Etym: [L. curvus + -form.]
Defn: Having a curved form.
CURVILINEAD
Cur`vi*lin"e*ad (kr`v-ln"-d), n. (Geom.)
Defn: An instrument for drawing curved lines.
CURVILINEAL; CURVILINEAR
Cur`vi*lin"e*al (-al), Cur`vi*lin"e*ar (-r), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent
+ E. lineal, linear.]
Defn: Consisting of, or bounded by, curved lines; as, a curvilinear
figure.
CURVILINEARITY
Cur`vi*lin`e*ar"i*ty (-r"-t), n.
Defn: The state of being curvilinear or of being bounded by curved
lines.
CURVILINEARLY
Cur`vi*lin"e*ar*ly (-r-l), adv.
Defn: In a curvilinear manner.
CURVINERVED
Cur"vi*nerved` (-nrvd`), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent + E. nerve. ]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having the ribs or the veins of the leaves curved; -- called
also curvinervate and curve-veined.
CURVIROSTRAL
Cur`vi*ros"tral (-rs"tral), a. Etym: [L. curvus + E. rostral.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a crooked beak, as the crossbill.
CURVIROSTRES
Cur"vi*ros"tres (-rs"trz), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. curvus curved +
rostrum beak, rostrum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of passerine birds, including the creepers and
nuthatches.
CURVISERIAL
Cur`vi*se"ri*al (-s"r-al), a. Etym: [L. curvus bent + E. serial.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Distributed in a curved line, as leaves along a stem.
CURVITY
Cur"vi*ty (kr"v-y), n. Etym: [L. curvitas, from curvus bent: cf. F.
curvité.]
Defn: The state of being curved; a bending in a regular form;
crookedness. Holder.
CURVOGRAPH
Cur"vo*graph (kr"v-grf), n. Etym: [L. curvus bent + -graph.] (Geom.)
Defn: An arcograph.
CUSCUS
Cus"cus, n. [The same word as Couscous, fr. F. couscous couscous, Ar.
kuskus.] (Bot.)
Defn: A soft grass (Pennisetum typhoideum) found in all tropical
regions, used as food for men and cattle in Central Africa.
CUSCUS OIL
Cuscus oil.
Defn: Same as Vetiver oil.
CUSHAT
Cush"at (ksh"t), n. Etym: [AS. cusceote.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ringdove or wood pigeon.
Scarce with cushat's homely song can vie. Sir W. Scott.
CUSHEWBIRD
Cush"ew*bird (ksh"-brd`), n. (Zoöl)
Defn: The galeated curassow. See Curassow.
CUSHION
Cush"ion (ksh"n), n. Etym: [OE. cuischun, quisshen, OF. coissin,
cuissin, F. coussin, fr. (assumed) LL. culcitinum, dim. of L. culcita
cushion, mattress, pillow. See Quilt, and cf. Counterpoint a
coverlet.]
1. A case or bag stuffed with some soft and elastic material, and
used to sit or recline upon; a soft pillow or pad.
Two cushions stuffed with straw, the seat to raise. Dryden.
2. Anything resembling a cushion in properties or use; as:
(a) a pad on which gilders cut gold leaf;
(b) a mass of steam in the end of the cylinder of a steam engine to
receive the impact of the piston;
(c) the elastic edge of a billiard table.
3. A riotous kind of dance, formerly common at weddings; -- called
also cushion dance. Halliwell. Cushion capital.(Arch.) A capital so
sculptured as to appear like a cushion pressed down by the weight of
its entablature. (b) A name given to a form of capital, much used in
the Romanesque style, modeled like a bowl, the upper part of which is
cut away on four sides, leaving vertical faces.
-- Cushion star (Zoöl.) a pentagonal starfish belonging to
Goniaster, Astrogonium, and other allied genera; -- so called from
its form.
CUSHION
Cush"ion (ksh"n), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cushioned (-nd); p. pr. & vb.
Cushioning.]
1. To seat or place on, or as on a cushion.
Many who are cushioned on thrones would have remained in obscurity.
Bolingbroke.
2. To furnish with cushions; as, to cushion a chaise.
3. To conceal or cover up, as under a cushion. Cushioned hammer, a
dead-stroke hammer. See under Dead-stroke.
CUSHIONET
Cush"ion*et (ksh"n-t), n. Etym: [OF. coissinet, F. coussinet. See
Cushion, and cf. Coussinet.]
Defn: A little cushion.
CUSHIONLESS
Cush"ion*less, a.
Defn: Hot furnished with a cushion.
Rows of long, cushionless benches, supplying the place of pews.
Hawthorne.
CUSHION TIRE
Cushion tire.
Defn: A thick solid-rubber tire, as for a bicycle, with a hollow
groove running lengthwise on the inside.
CUSHIONY
Cush"ion*y (-), a.
Defn: Like a cushion; soft; pliable.
A flat and cushiony noce. Dickens.
CUSHITE
Cush"ite (ksh"t), n.
Defn: A descendant of Cush, the son of Ham and grandson of Noah.
CUSK
Cusk (ksk), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, edible, marine fish (Brosmius brosme), allied to the
cod, common on the northern coasts of Europe and America; -- called
also tusk and torsk.
CUSKIN
Cus"kin (ks"kn), n.
Defn: A kind of drinking cup. [Obs.]
CUSP
Cusp (ksp), n. Etym: [L. cuspis, -idis, point, pointed end.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A triangular protection from the intrados of an arch, or from
an inner curve of tracery.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The beginning or first entrance of any house in the
calculations of nativities, etc.
3. (Astron)
Defn: The point or horn of the crescent moon or other crescent-shaped
luminary.
4. (Math.)
Defn: A multiple point of a curve at which two or more branches of
the curve have a common tangent.
5. (Anat.)
Defn: A prominence or point, especially on the crown of a tooth.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: A sharp and rigid point.
CUSP
Cusp, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cusped (kspt); p.pr. & vb. n. Cusping.]
Defn: To furnish with a cusp or cusps.
CUSPATED
Cus"pa*ted (ks"p-td), a.
Defn: Ending in a point.
CUSPID
Cus"pid (ks"pd), n. Etym: [See Cusp.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the canine teeth; -- so called from having but one point
or cusp on the crown. See Tooth.
CUSPIDAL
Cus"pi*dal (-p-dal), a. Etym: [From L. cuspis, cuspidis. See Cusp.]
Defn: Ending in a point.
CUSPIDATE
Cus"pi*date (-dt), v. t.
Defn: To make pointed or sharp.
CUSPIDATE; CUSPIDATED
Cus"pi*date (ks"p-dt), Cus"pi*da`ted (-d`td), a. Etym: [L.
cuspidatus, p.p. of cuspidare to make pointed, fr. cuspis. See Cusp.]
Defn: Having a sharp end, like the point of a spear; terminating in a
hard point; as, a cuspidate leaf.
CUSPIDOR
Cus"pi*dor (-dr), n. Etym: [Pg. cuspideria, fr. cuspir to spit.]
Defn: Any ornamental vessel used as a spittoon; hence, to avoid the
common term, a spittoon of any sort.
CUSPIS
Cus"pis (ks"ps), n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A point; a sharp end.
CUSSEDNESS
Cuss"ed*ness, n. [Cussed (for cursed) + -ness.]
Defn: Disposition to willful wrongdoing; malignity; perversity;
cantankerousness; obstinacy. [Slang or Colloq., U. S.]
In her opinion it was all pure "cussedness."
Mrs. Humphry Ward.
Disputatiousness and perversity (what the Americans call
"cussedness").
James Bryce.
CUSTARD
Cus"tard (ks"trd), n. Etym: [Prob. the same word as OE. crustade,
crustate, a pie made with a crust, fr. L. crustatus covered with a
crust, p. p. of crustare, fr. crusta crust; cf. OF. croustade pasty,
It. crostata, or F. coutarde. See Crust, and cf. Crustated.]
Defn: A mixture of milk and eggs, sweetened, and baked or boiled.
Custard apple (Bot.), a low tree or shrub of tropical America,
including several species of Anona (A. squamosa, reticulata, etc.),
having a roundish or ovate fruit the size of a small orange,
containing a soft, yellowish, edible pulp.
-- Custard coffin, pastry, or crust, which covers or coffins a
custard [Obs.] Shak.
CUSTODE
Cus"tode (ks"td), n. Etym: [F. or It. custode, fr. L. custos, -odis.]
Defn: See Custodian.
CUSTODIAL
Cus*to"di*al (ks-t"d-al), a. Etym: [Cf. F. custodial, fr. L.
custodia. See Custody.]
Defn: Relating to custody or guardianship.
CUSTODIAN
Cus*to"di*an (ks-t"d-an), n. Etym: [From Custody.]
Defn: One who has care or custody, as of some public building; a
keeper or superintendent.
CUSTODIANSHIP
Cus*to"di*an*ship, n.
Defn: Office or duty of a custodian.
CUSTODIER
Cus*to"di*er (-r), n. Etym: [Cf. LL. custodiarus.]
Defn: A custodian. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
CUSTODY
Cus"to*dy (ks"t-d), n. Etym: [L. custodia, fr. custos guard; prob.
akin to Gr. hide. Seee Hide to cover.]
1. A keeping or guarding; care, watch, inspection, for keeping,
preservation, or security.
A fleet of thirty ships for the custody of the narrow seas. Bacon.
2. Judicial or penal safe-keeping.
Jailer, take him to thy custody. Shak.
3. State of being guarded and watched to prevent escape; restraint of
liberty; confinement; imprisonment.
What pease will be given To us enslaved, but custody severe, And
stripes and arbitrary punishment Milton.
CUSTOM
Cus"tom (ks"tm), n. Etym: [OF. custume, costume, Anglo-Norman
coustome, F. coutume, fr. (assumed) LL. consuetumen custom, habit,
fr. L. consuetudo, -dinis, fr. consuescere to accustom, verb
inchoative fr. consuere to be accustomed; con- + suere to be
accustomed, prosuus one's own; akin to E. so, adv. Cf. Consuetude,
Costume.]
1. Frequent repetition of the same act; way of acting common to many;
ordinary manner; habitual practice; usage; method of doing or living.
And teach customs which are not lawful. Acts xvi. 21.
Moved beyong his custom, Gama said. Tennyson.
A custom More honored in the breach than the observance. Shak.
2. Habitual buying of goods; practice of frequenting, as a shop,
manufactory, etc., for making purchases or giving orders; business
support.
Let him have your custom, but not your votes. Addison.
3. (Law)
Defn: Long-established practice, considered as unwritten law, and
resting for authority on long consent; usage. See Usage, and
Prescription.
Note: Usage is a fact. Custom is a law. There can be no custom
without usage, though there may be usage without custom. Wharton.
4. Familiar aquaintance; familiarity. [Obs.]
Age can not wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Shak.
Custom of merchants, a system or code of customs by which affairs of
commerce are regulated.
-- General customs, those which extend over a state or kingdom.
-- Particular customs, those which are limited to a city or
district; as, the customs of London.
Syn.
-- Practice; fashion. See Habit, and Usage.
CUSTOM
Cus"tom, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. costumer. Cf. Accustom.]
1. To make familiar; to accustom. [Obs.] Gray.
2. To supply with customers. [Obs.] Bacon.
CUSTOM
Cus"tom, v. i.
Defn: To have a custom. [Obs.]
On a bridge he custometh to fight. Spenser.
CUSTOM
Cus"tom, n. Etym: [OF. coustume, F. coutume, tax, i. e., the usual
tax. See 1st Custom.]
Defn: 1 the customary toll,tax, or tribute.
Render, therefore, to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due;
custom to whom custom. Rom. xiii. 7.
2. pl.
Defn: Duties or tolls imposed by law on commodities, imported or
exported.
CUSTOM
Cus"tom, v. t.
Defn: To pay the customs of. [Obs.] Marlowe.
CUSTOMABLE
Cus"tom*a*ble (--b'l), a. Etym: [Cf. OF. coustumable.]
1. Customary. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
2. Subject to the payment of customs; dutiable.
CUSTOMABLENESS
Cus"tom*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being customable; conformity to custom. [Obs.]
CUSTOMABLY
Cus"tom*a*bly, adv.
Defn: Usually. [Obs.] Milton.
CUSTOMARILY
Cus"tom*a*ri*ly (--r-l), adv.
Defn: In a customary manner; habitually.
CUSTOMARINESS
Cus"tom*a*ri*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being customary.
CUSTOMARY
Cus"tom*a*ry (ks"tm--r), a. Etym: [CF. OF. coustumier, F. coutumier.
See Custom, and cf. Customer.]
1. Agreeing with, or established by, custom; established by common
usage; conventional; habitual.
Even now I met him With customary compliment. Shak.
A formal customary attendance upon the offices. South.
2. (Law)
Defn: Holding or held by custom; as, customary tenants; customary
service or estate.
CUSTOMARY
Cus"tom*a*ry, n. Etym: [OF. coustumier, F. coutumier.]
Defn: A book containing laws and usages, or customs; as, the
Customary of the Normans. Cowell.
CUSTOMER
Cus"tom*er (ks"tm-r), n. Etym: [A doublet of customary, a.: cf. LL.
custumarius toll gatherer. See Custom.]
1. One who collect customs; a toll gatherer. [Obs.]
The customers of the small or petty custom and of the subsidy do
demand of them custom for kersey cloths. Hakluyt.
2. One who regularly or repeatedly makes purchases of a trader; a
purchaser; a buyer.
He has got at last the character of a good customer; by this means he
gets credit for something considerable, and then never pays for it.
Goldsmith.
3. A person with whom a business house has dealings; as, the
customers of a bank. J. A. H. Murray.
4. A peculiar person; -- in an indefinite sense; as, a queer
customer; an ugly customer. [Colloq.] Dickens.
5. A lewd woman. [Obs.] Shak.
CUSTOMHOUSE
Cus"tom*house" (-hous`), n.
Defn: The building where customs and duties are paid, and where
vessels are entered or cleared. Customhouse broker, an agent who acts
for merchants in the business of entering and clearing goods and
vessels.
CUSTOS
Cus"tos (ks"ts), n.; pl. Custodes (k. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A keeper; a custodian; a superintendent. [Obs.] Custos
rotulorum (r Etym: [LL., keeper of the rolls] (Eng. Law), the
principal justice of the peace in a county, who is also keeper of the
rolls and records of the sessions of the peace.
CUSTREL
Cus"trel (ks"trel), n Etym: [OF. coustillier. See Coistril.]
Defn: An armor-bearer to a knight. [Obs.]
CUSTREL
Cus"trel, n.
Defn: See Costrel. [Obs.] Ainsworth.
CUSTUMARY
Cus"tu*ma*ry (-t-m-r), a.
Defn: See Customary. [Obs.]
CUT
Cut (kt), v. t. [imp. & p.p. Cut; p.pr. & vb. n. Cutting.] Etym: [OE.
cutten, kitten, ketten; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwtau to
shorten, curtail, dock, cwta bobtailed, cwt tail, skirt, Gael.
cutaich to shorten, curtail, dock, cutach short, docked, cut a
bobtail, piece, Ir. cut a short tail, cutach bobtailed. Cf. Coot.]
1. To sparate the parts of with, or as with, a sharp instrument; to
make an incision in; to gash; to sever; to divide.
You must cut this flesh from off his breast. Shak.
Before the whistling winds the vessels fly, With rapid swiftness cut
the liquid way. Pope.
2. To sever and cause to fall for the purpose of gathering; to hew;
to mow or reap.
Thy servants can skill to cut timer. 2. Chron. ii. 8
3. To sever and remove by cutting; to cut off; to dock; as, to cut
the hair; to cut the nails.
4. To castrate or geld; as, to cut a horse.
5. To form or shape by cutting; to make by incision, hewing, etc.; to
carve; to hew out.
Why should a man. whose blood is warm within, Sit like his grandsire
cut in alabaster Shak.
Loopholes cut through thickest shade. Milton.
6. To wound or hurt deeply the snsibilities of; to pierce; to
lacerate; as, sarcasm cuts to the quick.
The man was cut to the heart. Addison.
7. To intersect; to cross; as, one line cuts another at right angles.
8. To refuse to recognize; to ignorre; as, to cut a person in the
street; to cut one's acquaintance. [Colloq.]
9. To absent one's self from; as, to cut an appointment, a
recitation. etc. [Colloq.]
An English tradesman is always solicitous to cut the shop whenever he
can do so with impunity. Thomas Hamilton.
To cut a caper. See under Caper.
-- To cut the cards, to divide a pack of cards into portions, in
order to determine the deal or the trump, or to change the cards to
be dealt.
-- To cut a dash or a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] -- To cut
down. (a) To sever and cause to fall; to fell; to prostrate. "Timber
. . . cut down in the mountains of Cilicia." Knolles. (b) To put
down; to abash; to humble, [Obs] "So great is his natural eloquence,
that he cuts doun the finest orator." Addison (c) To lessen; to
retrench; to curtail; as, to cut down expenses. (d) (Naut.) To raze;
as, to cut down a frigate into a sloop.
-- To cut the knot or the Gordian knot, to dispose of a difficulty
summarily; to solve it by prompt, arbitrary action, rather than by
skill or patience.
-- To cut lots, to determine lots by cuttings cards; to draw lots.
-- To cut off. (a) To sever; to separate.
I would to God, . . . The king had cut off my brother's. Shak.
(b) To put an untimely death; to put an end to; to destroy. "Irencut
off by martyrdom." Addison. (c) To interrupt; as, to cut off
communication; to cut off (the flow of) steam from (the boiler to) a
steam engine. (d) To intercept; as,, to cut off an enemy's retreat.
(e) To end; to finish; as, to cut off further debate.
-- To cut out. (a) To remove by cutting or carving; as, to cut out a
piece from a board. (b) To shape or form by cutting; as, to cut out a
garment. " A large forest cut out into walks." Addison. (c) To
scheme; to contrive; to prepare; as, to cut out work for another day.
"Every man had cut out a place for himself." Addison. (d) To step in
and take the place of; to supplant; as, to cut out a rival. [Colloq.]
(e) To debar. "I am cut out from anything but common
acknowledgments." Pope. (f) To seize and carry off (a vessel) from a
harbor, or from under the guns of an enemy.
-- To cut to pieces. (a) To cut into pieces; as, to cut cloth to
pieces. (b) To slaughter; as, to cut an army to pieces.
-- To cut a play (Drama), to shorten it by leaving out passages, to
adapt it for the stage.
-- To cut rates (Railroads, etc.), to reduce the charges for
transportation below the rates established between competing lines.
-- To cut short, to arrest or check abruptly; to bring to a sudden
termination. "Achilles cut him short, and thus replied." Dryden.
-- To cut stick, to make off clandestinely or precipitately. [Slang]
-- To cut teeth, to put forth teeth; to have the teeth pierce through
the gum and appear.
-- To have cut one's eyeteeth, to be sharp and knowing. [Colloq.] --
To cut one's wisdom teeth, to come to years of discretion.
-- To cut under, to undersell; as, to cut under a competitor in
trade.
-- To cut up. (a) To cut to pieces; as, to cut up an animal, or
bushes. (b) To damage or destroy; to injure; to wound; as, to cut up
a book or its author by severe criticism. "This doctrine cuts up all
government by the roots." Locke. (c) To afflict; to discourage; to
demoralize; as, the death of his friend cut him up terribly.
[Colloq.] Thackeray.
CUT
Cut (kt), v. i.
1. To do the work of an edged tool; to serve in dividing or gashing;
as, a knife cuts well.
2. To admit of incision or severance; to yield to a cutting
instrument.
Panels of white wood that cuts like cheese. Holmes.
3. To perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising,
intersecting, etc.; to use a cutting instrument.
He saved the lives of thousands by manner of cutting for the stone.
Pope.
4. To make a stroke with a whip.
5. To interfere, as a horse.
6. To move or make off quickly. [Colloq.]
7. To divide a pack of cards into two portion to decide the deal or
trump, or to schange the order of the cards to be dealt. To cut
across, to pass over or through in the most direct way; as, to cut
across a field.
-- To cut and run, to make off suddenly and quickly; -- from the
cutting of a ship's cable, when there is not time to raise the
anchor. [Colloq.] -- To cut in or into, to interrupt; to jont an
anything suddenly.
-- To cut up. (a) To play pranks. [Colloq.] (b) To divide into
portions well or ill; to have the property left at one's death turn
out well or poorly when divided among heirs, legatees, etc. [Slang.]
"When I die, may I cut up as well as Morgan Pendennis." Thackeray.
CUT
Cut, n.
1. An opening made with an edged instrument; a cleft; a gash; a
slash; a wound made by cutting; as, a sword cut.
2. A stroke or blow or cutting motion with an edged instrument; a
stroke or blow with a whip.
3. That which wounds the feelings, as a harsh remark or criticism, or
a sarcasm; personal discourtesy, as neglecting to recognize an
acquaintance when meeting him; a slight.
Rip called him by name, but the cur snarled, snapped his teeth, and
passed on. This was an unkind cut indeed. W. Irving.
4. A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow;
a groove; as, a cut for a railroad.
This great cut or ditch Secostris . . . purposed to have made a great
deal wider and deeper. Knolles.
5. The surface left by a cut; as, a smooth or clear cut.
6. A portion severed or cut off; a division; as, a cut of beef; a cut
of timber.
It should be understood, moreover, . . . that the group are not
arbitrary cuts, but natural groups or types. Dana.
7. An engraved block or plate; the impression from such an engraving;
as, a book illustrated with fine cuts.
8.
(a) The act of dividing a pack cards.
(b) The right to divide; as, whose cut is it
9. Manner in which a thing is cut or formed; shape; style; fashion;
as, the cut of a garment.
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut. Shak.
10. A common work horse; a gelding. [Obs.]
He'll buy me a cut, forth for to ride. Beau. & Fl.
11. The failure of a college officer or student to be present at any
appointed exercise. [College Cant]
12. A skein of yarn. Wright. A cut in rates (Railroad), a reduction
in fare, freight charges, etc., below the established rates.
-- A short cut, a cross route which shortens the way and cuts off a
circuitous passage.
-- The cut of one's jib, the general appearance of a person.
[Colloq.] -- To draw cuts, to draw lots, as of paper, etc., cut
unequal lengths.
Now draweth cut . . . The which that hath the shortest shall begin.
Chaucer.
CUT
Cut (kt), a.
1. Gashed or divided, as by a cutting instrument.
2. Formed or shaped as by cuttting; carved.
3. Overcome by liquor; tipsy. [Slang] Cut and dried, prepered
beforehand; not spontaneous.
-- Cut glass, glass having a surface ground and polished in facets
or figures.
-- Cut nail, a nail cut by machinery from a rolled plate of iron, in
distinction from a wrought nail.
-- Cut stone, stone hewn or chiseled to shape after having been
split from the quarry.
CUTANEOUS
Cu*ta"ne*ous (k-t"n-s), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cutan, fr. L. cutis skin.
See Cuticle.]
Defn: Of pertaining to the skin; existing on, or affecting, the skin;
as, a cutaneous disease; cutaneous absorption; cutaneous respiration.
CUTAWAY
Cut"a*way` (kt"-w`), a.
Defn: Having a part cut off or away; having the corners rounded or
cut away. Cutaway coat, a coat whose skirts are cut away in front so
as not to meet at the bottom.
CUTCH
Cutch (kch; 224), n.
Defn: See Catechu.
CUTCH
Cutch, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Cultch.
CUTCHERY
Cutch"er*y (kch"r-), n. Etym: [Hind. kachahri.]
Defn: A hindoo hall of justice. Malcom.
CUTE
Cute (kt), a. Etym: [An abbrev. of acute.]
Defn: Clever; sharp; shrewd; ingenious; cunning. [Colloq.]
CUTENESS
Cute"ness, n.
Defn: Acuteness; cunning. [Colloq.]
CUTGRASS
Cut"grass` (kt"grs`).
Defn: A grass with leaves having edges furnished with very minute
hooked prickles, which form a cutting edge; one or more species of
Leersia.
CUTICLE
Cu"ti*cle (k"t-k'l), n. Etym: [L. cuticula, dim. of cuttis skin; akin
to E. hide skin of an animal.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The scarfskin or epidermis. See Skin.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The outermost skin or pellicle of a plant, found especially in
leaves and young stems.
3. A thin skin formed on the surface of a liquid.
CUTICULAR
Cu*tic"u*lar (k-tk"-lr), a.
Defn: Pertaining to the cuticle, or external coat of the skin;
epidermal.
CUTIN
Cu"tin (k"tn), n. Etym: [L. cutis skin, outside.] (Bot.)
Defn: The substance which, added to the material of a cell wall,
makes it waterproof, as in cork.
CUTINIZATION
Cu`tin*i*za"tion (k`tn--z"shn), n. (Bot.)
Defn: The conversion of cell walls into a material which repels
water, as in cork.
CUTINIZE
Cu"tin*ize (k"tn-z), v. t. & i.
Defn: To change into cutin.
CUTIS
Cu"tis (k"ts), n. Etym: [L. See Cuticle.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
CUTLASS
Cut"lass (kt"lass), n.; pl. Cutlasses (-Ez). Etym: [F. coutelas (cf.
It. coltellaccio), augm. fr. L. cuttellus a smallknife, dim. of
culter knife. See Colter, and cf. Curtal ax.]
Defn: A short, heavy, curving sword, used in the navy. See Curtal ax.
Cutlass fish, (Zoöl.), a peculiar, long, thin, marine fish (Trichirus
lepturus) of the southern United States and West Indies; -- called
also saber fish, silver eel, and, improperly, swordfish.
CUTLER
Cut"ler (kUt"lEr), n. Etym: [OE. coteler, F. coutelier, LL.
cultellarius, fr. L. cultellus. See Cutlass.]
Defn: One who makes or deals in cutlery, or knives and other cutting
instruments.
CUTLERY
Cut"ler*y (kt"lr-), n.
1. The business of a cutler.
2. Edged or cutting instruments, collectively.
CUTLET
Cut"let (kt"lt), n. Etym: [F. c, prop., little rib, dim. of c rib,
fr. L. costa. See Coast.]
Defn: A piece of meat, especially of veal or mutton, cut for
broiling.
CUTLING
Cut"ling (kt"lng), n., Etym: [Cf. Cuttle a knife.]
Defn: The art of making edged tools or cutlery. [Obs.] Milton.
CUT-OFF
Cut"-off` (kt"f`; 115), n.
1. That which cuts off or shortens, as a nearer passage or road.
2. (Mach.)
(a) The valve gearing or mechanism by which steam is cut off from
entering the cylinder of a steam engine after a definite point in a
stroke, so as to allow the remainder of the stroke to be made by the
expansive force of the steam already let in. See Expansion gear,
under Expansion.
(b) Any device for stopping or changing a current, as of grain or
water in a spout.
CUTOSE
Cu"tose (k"ts), n. Etym: [L. cutis skin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of cellulose, occuring as a fine transparent membrane
covering the aerial organs of plants, and forming an essential
ingredient of cork; by oxidation it passes to suberic acid.
CUT-OUT
Cut"-out` (kt"out`), n.
(a) (Telegraphy) A species of switch for changing the current from
one circuit to another, or for shortening a circuit.
(b) (Elec.) A divice for breaking or separating a portion of circuit.
CUTPURSE
Cut"purse` (kt"prs`), n.
Defn: One who cuts purses for the sake of stealing them or their
contents (an act common when men wore purses fastened by a string to
their girdles); one who steals from the person; a pickpocket
To have an open ear, a quick eye, and a nimble hand, is necessary for
a cutpurse. Shak.
CUTTER
Cut"ter (kt"tr), n.
1. One who cuts; as, a stone cutter; a die cutter; esp., one who cuts
out garments.
2. That which cuts; a machine or part of a machine, or a tool or
instrument used for cutting, as that part of a mower which severs the
stalk, or as a paper cutter.
3. A fore tooth; an incisor. Ray.
4. (Naut.)
(a) A boat used by ships of war.
(b) A fast sailing vessel with one mast, rigged in most essentials
like a sloop. A cutter is narrower end deeper than a sloop of the
same length, and depends for stability on a deep keel, often heavily
weighted with lead.
(c) A small armed vessel, usually a steamer, in the revenue marine
service; -- also called revenue cutter.
5. A small, light one-horse sleigh.
6. An officer in the exchequer who notes by cutting on the tallies
the sums paid.
7. A ruffian; a bravo; a destroyer. [Obs.]
8. A kind of soft yellow brick, used for facework; -- so called from
the facility with which it can be cut. Cutter bar.(Mach.) (a) A bar
which carries a cutter or cutting tool, as in a boring machine. (b)
The bar to which the triangular knives of a harvester are attached.
-- Cutter head (Mach.), a rotating head, which itself forms a
cutter, or a rotating stock to which cutters may be attached, as in a
planing or matching machine. Knight.
CUTTHROAT
Cut"throat` (kt"thrt`), n.
Defn: One who cuts throats; a murderer; an assassin.
CUTTHROAT
Cut"throat`, a.
Defn: Murderous; cruel; barbarous.
CUTTING
Cut"ting (kt"tng), n.
1. The act or process of making an incision, or of severing, felling,
shaping, etc.
2. Something cut, cut off, or cut out, as a twig or
CUTTING
Cut"ting, a.
1. Adapted to cut; as, a cutting tool.
2. Chilling; penetratinn; sharp; as, a cutting wind.
3. Severe; sarcastic; biting; as, a cutting reply.
CUTTINGLY
Cut"ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a cutting manner.
CUTTLE
Cut"tle (kt"t'l), n. Etym: [OF. cultel, coltel, coutel, fr. L.
cultellus. See Cutlass.]
Defn: A knife. [Obs.] Bale.
CUTTLE; CUTTLEFISH
Cut"tle (kt"t'l), Cut"tle*fish` (-fsh`), n. Etym: [OE. codule, AS.
cudele; akin to G. kuttelfish; cf. G. k, D. keutel, dirt from the
guts, G. kuttel bowels, entrails. AS. cwip womb, Gith. qipus belly,
womb.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A cephalopod of the genus Sepia, having an internal shell,
large eyes, and ten arms furnished with denticulated suckers, by
means of which it secures its prey. The name is sometimes applied to
dibranchiate cephalopods generally.
Note: It has an ink bag, opening into the siphon, from which, when
pursued, it throws out a dark liquid that clouds the water, enabling
it to escape observation.
2. A foul-mouthed fellow. "An you play the saucy cuttle me." Shak.
CUTTLE BONE
Cut"tle bone` (bn`).
Defn: The shell or bone of cuttlefishes, used for various purposes,
as for making polishing powder, etc.
CUTTOO PLATE
Cut*too" plate` (kt-t" plt`).
Defn: A hood over the end of a wagon wheel hub to keep dirt away from
the axle.
CUTTY
Cut"ty, a. Etym: [Cf. Ir. & Gael. cut a short tail, cutach bobtailed.
See Cut.]
Defn: Short; as, a cutty knife; a cutty sark. [Scot.]
CUTTY
Cut"ty (kt"t), n. Etym: [Scotch.]
1. A short spoon.
2. A short tobacco pipe. Ramsay.
3. A light or unchaste woman. Sir W. Scott.
CUTTYSTOOL
Cut"ty*stool` (-stl`), n.
1. A low stool [Scot.]
2. A seat in old Scottish churches, where offenders were made to sit,
for public rebuke by the minister.
CUTWAL
Cut"wal (kt"wl), n. Etym: [Per. kotw.]
Defn: The chief police officer of a large city. [East Indies]
CUTWATER
Cut"wa`ter (kt"wa`tr), n. (Naut.)
1. The fore part of a ship's prow, which cuts the water.
2. A starling or other structure attached to the pier of a birdge,
with an angle or edge directed up stream, in order better to resist
the action of water, ice, etc.; the sharpened upper end of the pier
itself.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A sea bird of the Atlantic (Rhynchops nigra); -- called also
black skimmer, scissorsbill, and razorbill. See Skimmer.
CUTWORK
Cut"work` (kt"wrk`), n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: An ancient term for embroidery, esp. applied to the earliest
form of lace, or to that early embroidery on linen and the like, from
which the manufacture of lace was developed.
CUTWORM
Cut"worm` (-wrm`), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A caterpillar which at night eats off young plants of cabbage,
corn, etc., usually at the ground. Some kinds ascend fruit trees and
eat off the flower buds. During the day, they conceal themselves in
the earth. The common cutworms are the larvæ of various species of
Agrotis and related genera of noctuid moths.
CUVETTE
Cu*vette" (k-wt"), n. Etym: [F., dim. of cuve a tub.]
1. A pot, bucket, or basin, in which molten plate glass is carried
from the melting pot to the casting table.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: A cunette. 3. (Spectrometry) (Analytical chemistry)
Defn: A small vessel with at least two flat and transparent sides,
used to hold a liquid sample to be analysed in the light path of a
spectrometer.
Note: The shape and materials vary; for ultraviolet spectrometry,
quartz is typically used. For visible-light spectrometry, plastic
cuvettes may be employed. Occasionally, small vessels used for other
laboratory purposes are called cuvettes. cuvette holder,
(Spectrometry) A small device used to hold one or more cuvettes[3],
shaped specifically to fit in the sample chamber of a particular type
of spectrometer, with openings to permit light to pass through the
holder and the cuvettes, and designed so as to hold the cuvette
accurately and reproducibly within the light path of the
spectrometer. For cuvettes with a square horizontal cross-section,
the compartments will have a corresponding square cross-section, usu.
slightly larger than the cuvette.
CYAMELIDE
Cy*am"e*lide (s-m"-ld or -ld; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous substance, regarded as a polymeric
modification of isocyanic acid.
CYAMELLONE
Cy*am"el*lone (s-m"l-ln), n. (Chem)
Defn: A complex derivative of cyanogen, regarded as an acid, and
known chiefly in its salts; -- called also hydromellonic acid.
CYANATE
Cy"a*nate (s"-nt), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cuanate. See Cyanic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of cyanic acid. Ammonium cyanate (Chem.), a remarkable
white crystalline substance, NH4.O.CN, which passes, on standing, to
the organic compound, urea, CO.(NH)2.
CYANAURATE
Cy`an*au"rate (s`n-"rt), n.
Defn: See Aurocyanide.
CYANEAN
Cy*a"ne*an (s-"n-an), a. Etym: [Gr. kya`neos dark blue.]
Defn: Having an azure color. Pennant.
CYANIC
Cy*an"ic (s-n"k), a. Etym: [Gr. cyanique. Cf. Kyanite.]
1. Pertaining to, or containing, cyanogen.
2. Of or pertaining to a blue color. Cyanic acid (Chem.), an acid,
HOCN, derived from cyanogen, well known in its salts, but never
isolated in the free state.
-- Cyanic colors (Bot.), those colors (of flowers) having some tinge
of blue; -- opposed to xanthic colors. A color of either series may
pass into red or white, but not into the opposing color. Red and pure
white are more common among flowers of cyanic tendency than in those
of the other class.
CYANIDE
Cy"a*nide (s"-nd or -nd; 104), n. Etym: [Cf. F. cyanide. See Cyanic.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A compound formed by the union of cyanogen with an element or
radical.
CYANIN
Cy"a*nin (s"-nn), n. Etym: [See Cyanic.] (Chem.)
Defn: The blue coloring matter of flowers; -- called also anthokyan
and anthocyanin.
CYANINE
Cy"a*nine (s"-nn or -nn; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of artificial blue or red dyes obtained from
quinoline and lepidine and used in calico printing.
CYANITE
Cy"a*nite (-nt), n. Etym: [See Cyanic.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring in thin-bladed crystals and crystalline
aggregates, of a sky-blue color. It is a silicate of aluminium.
[Written also kyanite.]
CYANOGEN
Cy*an"o*gen (s-n"-jn), n. Etym: [Gr. -gen: cf. F. cyanogène. So
called because it produced blue dyes.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, inflammable, poisonous gas, C2N2, with a peach-
blossom odor, so called from its tendency to form blue compounds;
obtained by heating ammonium oxalate, mercuric cyanide, etc. It is
obtained in combination, forming an alkaline cyanide when nitrogen or
a nitrogenous compound is strongly ignited with carbon and soda or
potash. It conducts itself like a member of the halogen group of
elements, and shows a tendency to form complex compounds. The name is
also applied to the univalent radical, CN (the half molecule of
cyanogen proper), which was one of the first compound radicals
recognized.
Note: Cyanogen is found in the commercial substances, potassium
cyanide, or prussiate of potash, yellow prussiate of potash, Prussian
blue, Turnbull's blue, prussic acid, etc.
CYANOMETER
Cy`a*nom"e*ter (s`-nm"-tr), n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. cyanomètre.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring degress of blueness.
CYANOPATHY
Cy`a*nop"a*thy (-np"-th), n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease in which the body is colored blue in its surface,
arising usually from a malformation of the heart, which causes an
imperfect arterialization of the blood; blue jaundice.
CYANOPHYLL
Cy*an"o*phyll (s-n"-fl), n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A blue coloring matter supposed by some to be one of the
component parts ofchlorophyll.
CYANOSED
Cy"a*nosed (s"-nst), a. Etym: [See Cyanic.]
Defn: Rendered blue, as the surface of the body, from cyanosis or
deficient a
CYANOSIS
Cy`a*no"sis (s`-n"ss), n. Etym: [NL. See Cyanic.] (Med.)
Defn: A condition in which, from insufficient aCyanopathy.
CYANOSITE
Cy*an"o*site (s-n"-st), n. Etym: [See Cyanic.] (Min.)
Defn: Native sulphate of copper. Cf. Blue vitriol, under Blue.
CYANOTIC
Cy`a*not"ic (s`-nt"k), a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to cyanosis; affected with cyanosis; as, a cyanotic
patient; having the hue caused by cyanosis; as, a cyanitic skin.
CYANOTYPE
Cy*an"o*type (s-n"-tp), n. Etym: [Cyanide + -type.]
Defn: A photographic picture obtained by the use of a cyanide.
CYANURATE
Cy"an"u*rate (s-n"-rt), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of cyanuric acid.
CYANURET
Cy*an"u*ret (-rt), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A cyanide. [Obs.]
CYANURIC
Cy`a*nu"ric (s`-n"rk), a. Etym: [Cyanic + uric: Cf. F. cyanurique.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cyanic and uric acids.
CYANURIC ACID
Cyanuric acid (Chem.),
Defn: an organic acid, C3O3N3H3, first obtained by heating uric acid
or urea, and called pyrouric acid; afterwards obtained from isocyanic
acid. It is a white crystalline substance, odorless and almost
tasteless; -- called also tricarbimide.
CYATHIFORM
Cy*ath"i*form (s-th"-frm), a. Etym: [L. cyathus a cup (Gr, ky`aqos) -
form:cf. F. cyathiforme.]
Defn: In the form of a cup, a little widened at the top.
CYATHOLITH
Cy*ath"olith (s-th"-lth), n. Etym: [Gr. ky`aqos a cup + -lith.]
(Biol.)
Defn: A kind of coccolith, which in shape resembles a minute cup
widened at the top, and varies in size from
CYATHOPHYLLOID
Cy`a*tho*phyl"loid (s`-th-fl"loid), a. Etym: [NL. cyathophyllum, fr.
Gr. ky`aqos a cup + fy`llon a leaf.] (Pale
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the family Cyathophyllidæ.
CYATHOPHYLLOID
Cy`a*tho*phyl"loid, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil coral of the family Cyathophyllidæ; sometimes extended
to fossil corals of other related families belonging to the group
Rugosa; -- also called cup corals. Thay are found in paleozoic rocks.
CYCAD
Cy"cad (s"kd), n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the natural order Cycadeceæ, as the sago palm,
etc.
CYCADACEOUS
Cyc`a*da"ceous (sk`-d"shs or s`k-), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an order of plants like the
palms, but having exogenous wood. The sago palm is an example.
CYCAS
Cy"cas (s"ks), n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin. Linnæus derives it from
one of the "obscure Greek words."] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees, intermediate in character between the palms
and the pines. The pith of the trunk of some species furnishes a
valuable kind of sago.
CYCLAMEN
Cyc"la*men (sk"l-mn), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. kykla`minos, kyklami`s.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants of the Primrose family, having depressed
rounded corms, and pretty nodding flowers with the petals so reflexed
as to point upwards, whence it is called rabbit's ears. It is also
called sow bread, because hogs are said to eat the corms.
CYCLAMIN
Cyc"la*min (-mn), n.
Defn: A white amorphous substance, regarded as a glucoside, extracted
from the corm of Cyclamen Europæum.
CYCLAS
Cy"clas (s"kls), n. Etym: [Cf.Ciclatoun.]
Defn: A long gown or surcoat (cut off in front), worn in the Middle
Ages. It was sometimes embroidered or interwoven with gold. Also, a
rich stuff from which the gown was made.
CYCLE
Cy"cle (s"k'l), n. Etym: [F. ycle, LL. cyclus, fr. Gr. cakra wheel,
circle. See Wheel.]
1. An imaginary circle or orbit in the heavens; one of the celestial
spheres. Milton.
2. An interval of time in which a certain succession of events or
phenomena is completed, and then returns again and again, uniformly
and continually in the same order; a periodical space of time marked
by the recurrence of something peculiar; as, the cucle of the
seasons, or of the year.
Wages . . . bear a full proportion . . . to the medium of provision
during the last bad cycle of twenty years. Burke.
3. An age; a long period of time.
Better fifty years of Europe than a cycle of Cathay. Tennyson.
4. An orderly list for a given time; a calendar. [Obs.]
We . . . present our gardeners with a complete cycle of what is
requisite to be done throughout every month of the year. Evelyn.
5. The circle of subjects connected with the exploits of the hero or
heroes of some particular period which have severed as a popular
theme for poetry, as the legend aof Arthur and the knights of the
Round Table, and that of Charlemagne and his paladins.
6. (Bot.)
Defn: One entire round in a circle or a spire; as, a cycle or set of
leaves. Gray.
7. A bicycle or tricycle, or other light velocipede. Calippic cycle,
a period of 76 years, or four Metonic cycles; -- so called from
Calippus, who proposed it as an improvement on the Metonic cycle.
-- Cycle of eclipses, a priod of about 6,586 days, the time of
revolution of the moon's node; -- called Saros by the Chaldeans.
-- Cycle of indiction, a period of 15 years, employed in Roman and
ecclesiastical chronology, not founded on any astronomical period,
but having reference to certain judicial acts which took place at
stated epochs under the Greek emperors.
-- Cycle of the moon, or Metonic cycle, a period of 19 years, after
the lapse of which the new and full moon returns to the same day of
the year; -- so called from Meton, who first proposed it.
-- Cycle of the sun, Solar cycle, a period of 28 years, at the end
of which time the days of the month return to the same days of the
week. The dominical or Sunday letter follows the same order; hence
the solar cycle is also called the cycle of the Sunday letter. In the
Gregorian calendar the solar cycle is in general interrupted at the
end of the century.
CYCLE
Cy"cle (s"k'l), v. i. [imp. & p.p. Cycled. (-k'ld); p.pr. & vb. n.
Cycling (-kl.]
1. To pass through a cycle of changes; to recur in cycles. Tennyson.
Darwin.
2. To ride a bicycle, tricycle, or other form of cycle.
CYCLIC; CYCLICAL
Cyc"lic (sk"lk or s"klk), Cyc"lic*al (sk"l-kal), a. Etym: [Cf. F.
cycluque, Gr.Cycle.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cycle or circle; moving in cycles; as,
cyclical time. Coleridge. Cyclic chorus, the chorus which performed
the songs and dances of the dithyrambic odes at Athens, dancing round
the altar of Bacchus in a circle.
-- Cyclic poets, certain epic poets who followed Homer, and wrote
merely on the Trojan war and its heroes; -- so called because keeping
within the circle of a singe subject. Also, any series or coterie of
poets writing on one subject. Milman.
CYCLIDE
Cy"clide (s"kld), n. Etym: [Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: A surface of the fourth degree, having certain special
relations to spherical surfaces. The tore or anchor ring is one of
the cyclides.
CYCLING
Cy"cling (s"klng), n.
Defn: The act, art, or practice, of riding a cycle, esp. a bicycle or
tricycle.
CYCLIST
Cy"clist (s"klst), n.
Defn: A cycler.
CYCLO-
Cy"clo- (s"kl-). Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form meaning circular, of a circle or wheel.
CYCLOBRANCHIATE
Cy`clo*bran"chi*ate (s`kl-brn"k-t), a. Etym: [Cyclo- + branchiate.]
(Zoöl)
Defn: Having the gills around the margin of the body, as certain
limpets.
CYCLOGANOID
Cy`clo*ga"noid (s`kl-g"noid or -gn"oid), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cycloganoidei.
CYCLOGANOID
Cy`clo*ga"noid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cycloganoidei.
CYCLOGANOIDEI
Cy`clo*ga*noi"de*i (s"kl-g-noi"d-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
ganoidei. See Ganoid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of ganoid fishes, having cycloid scales. The bowfin
(Amia calva) is a living example.
CYCLOGRAPH
Cy"clo*graph (s"kl-grf), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + -graph.]
Defn: See Arcograph.
CYCLOID
Cy"cloid (s"kloid), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + -oid: cf. F. cycloïde.]
(Geom.)
Defn: A curve generated by a point in the plane of a circle when the
circle is rolled along a straight line, keeping always in the same
plane.
Note: The common cycloid is the curve described when the generating
point (p) is on the circumference of the generating circle; the
curtate cycloid, when that point lies without the circumference; the
prolate or inflected cycloid, when the generating point (p) lies
within that circumference.
CYCLOID
Cy"cloid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Cycloidei. Cycloid scale (Zoöl.), a
fish scale which is thin and shows concentric lines of growth,
without serrations on the margin.
CYCLOID
Cy"cloid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cycloidei.
CYCLOIDAL
Cy*cloid"al (-al), a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a cycloid; as, the cycloidal
space is the space contained between a cycloid and its base.
Cycloidal engine. See Geometric lathe.
CYCLOIDEI
Cy*cloi"de*i (s-kloi"d-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes, formerly proposed by Agassiz, for those
with thin, smooth scales, destitute of marginal spines, as the
herring and salmon. The group is now regarded as artificial.
CYCLOIDIAN
Cy*cloid"i*an (s-kloid"-an), a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as 2d and 3d Cycloid.
CYCLOMETER
Cy*clom"e*ter (s-klm"-tr), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + -meter.]
Defn: A contrivance for recording the revolutions of a wheel, as of a
bicycle.
CYCLOMETRY
Cy*clom"e*try (-tr), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + -metry: cf. F. cyclom.]
(Geom.)
Defn: The art of measuring circles.
CYCLONE
Cy"clone (s"kln), n. Etym: [Gr. (Meteor.)
Defn: A violent storm, often of vast extent, characterized by high
winds rotating about a calm center of low atmospheric pressure. This
center moves onward, often with a velocity of twenty or thirty miles
an hour.
Note: The atmospheric disturbance usually accompanying a cyclone,
marked by an onward moving area of high pressure, is called an
anticyclone.
CYCLONE CELLAR; CYCLONE PIT
Cyclone cellar or pit .
Defn: A cellar or excavation used for refuge from a cyclone, or
tornado. [Middle U. S.]
CYCLONIC
Cy*clon"ic (s-kln"k), a.
Defn: Pertaining to a cyclone.
CYCLONOSCOPE
Cy*clo"no*scope, n. [Cyclone + -scope.]
Defn: An apparatus to assist in locating the center of a cyclone.
CYCLOP
Cy"clop (s"klp), n.
Defn: See Note under Cyclops, 1.
CYCLOPEAN
Cy`clo*pe"an (s`kl-p"an), a. Etym: [L. Cyclopeus, Gr. cyclopeen.]
Defn: Pertaining to the Cyclops; characteristic of the Cyclops; huge;
gigantic; vast and rough; massive; as, Cyclopean labors; Cyclopean
architecture.
CYCLOPEDIA; CYCLOPAEDIA
Cy`clo*pe"di*a Cy`clo*pae"di*a (s`kl-p"d-), n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
ky`klos circle + paidei`a the bringing up of a child, education,
erudition, fr. paidey`ein to bring up a child. See Cycle, and cf.
Encyclopedia, Pedagogue.]
Defn: The circle or compass of the arts and sciences (originally, of
the seven so-called liberal arts and sciences); circle of human
knowledge. Hence, a work containing, in alphabetical order,
information in all departments of knowledge, or on a particular
department or branch; as, a cyclopedia of the physical sciences, or
of mechanics. See Encyclopedia.
CYCLOPEDIC
Cy`clo*ped"ic (s`kl-pd"k or -p"dk), a.
Defn: Belonging to the circle of the sciences, or to a cyclopedia; of
the nature of a cyclopedia; hence, of great range, extent, or amount;
as, a man of cyclopedic knowledge.
CYCLOPEDIST
Cy`clo*pe"dist (-p"dst), n.
Defn: A maker of, or writer for, a cyclopedia.
CYCLOPIC
Cy*clop"ic (s-klp"k), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the Cyclops; Cyclopean.
CYCLOPS
Cy"clops (s"klps), n. sing. & pl. Etym: [L. Cyclops, Gr.
1. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: One of a race of giants, sons of Neptune and Amphitrite, having
but one eye, and that in the middle of the forehead. They were fabled
to inhabit Sicily, and to assist in the workshops of Vulcan, under
Mt. Etna.
Note: Pope, in his translation of the "Odyssey," uniformly spells
this word Cyclop, when used in the singular.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of minute Entomostraca, found both in fresh and salt
water. See Copepoda.
3. A portable forge, used by tinkers, etc.
CYCLORAMA
Cy`clo*ra"ma (s`kl-r"m or -r"m), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + Gr.
Defn: A pictorial view which is extended circularly, so that the
spectator is surrounded by the objects represented as by things in
nature. The realistic effect is increased by putting, in the space
between the spectator and the picture, things adapted to the scene
represented, and in some places only parts of these objects, the
completion of them being carried out pictorially.
CYCLOSCOPE
Cy"clo*scope (s"kl-skp), n. Etym: [Cyclo- + -scope.]
Defn: A machine for measuring at any moment velocity of rotation, as
of a wheel of a steam engine. Knight.
CYCLOSIS
Cy*clo"sis (s-kl"ss), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cyclone.] (Bot.)
Defn: The circulation or movement of protoplasmic granules within a
living vegetable cell.
CYCLOSTOMATA
Cy`clo*stom"a*ta (s`kl-stm"-t)
Defn:
CYCLOSTOME
Cy*clos"to*me, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Bryozoa, in which the cells have circular
apertures.
CYCLOSTOME; CYCLOSTOMOUS
Cy"clo*stome (s"kl-stm), Cy*clos"to*mous (s-kls"t-ms), a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Cyclostomi.
CYCLOSTOMI
Cy*clos"to*mi (s-kls"t-m), n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Cyclostomata.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A glass of fishes having a suckerlike mouth, without jaws, as
the lamprey; the Marsipobranchii.
CYCLOSTYLAR
Cy`clo*sty"lar (s`kl-st"r), a. Etym: [Cyclo- + Gr.
Defn: Relating to a structure composed of a circular range of
columns, without a core or building within. Weale.
CYCLOSTYLE
Cy"clo*style (s"kl-stl), n. Etym: [Cyclo + style.]
Defn: A contrivance for producing manifold copies of writing or
drawing. The writing or drawing is done with a style carrying a small
wheel at the end which makes minute punctures in the paper, thus
converting it into a stencil. Copies are transferred with an inked
roller.
CYDER
Cy"der (s"dr), n.
Defn: See Cider. [Archaic]
CYDONIN
Cy*do"nin (s-d"nn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar mucilaginous substance extracted from the seeds of
the quince (Cydonia vulgaris), and regarded as a variety of amylose.
CYGNET
Cyg"net (sg"nt), n. Etym: [Dim. of F. cygne swan, L. cycnus. cygnus,
fr. Gr. cugne seems to be an etymological spelling of OF. cisne, fr.
LL. cecinus, cicinus, perh. ultimately also fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young swan. Shak.
CYGNUS
Cyg"nus (sg"ns), n. Etym: [L., a swan.] (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation of the northern hemisphere east of, or
following, Lyra; the Swan.
CYLINDER
Cyl"in*der (sl"n-dr), n. Etym: [F. cylindre, OF. cilindre, L.
cylindrus, fr. Gr. Calender the machine.]
1. (Geom.)
(a) A solid body which may be generated by the rotation of a
parallelogram round one its sides; or a body of rollerlike form, of
which the longitudinal section is oblong, and the cross section is
circular.
(b) The space inclosed by any cylindrical surface. The space may be
limited or unlimited in length.
2. Any hollow body of cylindrical form, as:
(a) The chamber of a steam engine in which the piston is moved by the
force of steam.
(b) The barrel of an air or other pump.
(c) (Print.) The revolving platen or bed which produces the
impression or carries the type in a cylinder press.
(d) The bore of a gun; the turning chambered breech of a revolver.
3. The revolving square prism carryng the cards in a Jacquard loom.
Cylinder axis. (Anat.) SeeAxis cylinder, under Axis.
-- Cylinder engine (Paper Making), a machine in which a cylinder
takes up the pulp and delivers it in a continuous sheet to the
dryers.
-- Cylinder escapement. See Escapement.
-- Cylinder glass. See Glass.
-- Cylinder mill. See Roller mill.
-- Cylinder press. See Press.
CYLINDRACEOUS
Cyl`in*dra"ceous (-dr"shs), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cylyndrac]
Defn: Cylindrical, or approaching a cylindrical form.
CYLINDRIC; CYLINDRICAL
Cy*lin"dric (s-ln"drk), Cy*lin"dric*al (-dr-kal), a. Etym:
[Gr.cylindrique.]
Defn: Having the form of a cylinder, or of a section of its convex
surface; partaking of the properties of the cylinder. Cylindrical
lens, a lens having one, or more than one, cylindrical surface.
-- Cylindric, or Cylindrical, surface (Geom.), a surface described
by a straight line that moves according to any law, but so as to be
constantly parallel to a given line.
-- Cylindrical vault. (Arch.) See under Vault, n.
CYLINDRICALLY
Cy*lin"dric*al*ly (s-ln"dr-kal-l), adv.
Defn: In the manner or shape of a cylinder; so as to be cylindrical.
CYLINDRICITY
Cyl*`in*dric"i*ty (sl`n-drs"-t), n
Defn: The quality or condition of being cylindrical.
CYLINDRIFORM
Cy*lin"dri*form (s-ln"dr-frm), a. Etym: [L. cylindrus (Gr. -form:
cf.F. cylindriforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a cylinder.
CYLINDROID
Cyl"in*droid (sl"n-droid), n. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. cylindro.]
1. A solid body resembling a right cylinder, but having the bases or
ends elliptical.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A certain surface of the third degree, described by a moving
straight line; -- used to illustrate the motions of a rigid body and
also the forces acting on the body.
CYLINDROMETRIC
Cy*lin`dro*met"ric (s-ln`dr-mt"rk), a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Belonging to a scale used in measuring cylinders.
CYMA
Cy"ma (s"m) n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Cyme]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A member or molding of the cornice, the profile of which is
wavelike in form.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A cyme. See Cyme. Cyma recta, or Cyma, a cyma, hollow in its
upper part and swelling below.
-- Cyma reversa, or Ogee, a cyma swelling out on the upper part and
hollow below.
CYMAR
Cy*mar" (s-mr"), n. Etym: [F. simarre. See Chimere.]
Defn: A sight covering; a scarf. See Simar.
Her body shaded with a light cymar. Dryden.
CYMATIUM
Cy*ma"ti*um (s-m"sh-m), n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: A capping or crowning molding in classic architecture.
CYMBAL
Cym"bal (sm"bal). n. Etym: [OE. cimbale, simbale, OF. cimbale, F.
cymbale, L. cymbalum, fr. Gr. kubha pot. Cf. Chime.]
1. A musical instrument used by the ancients. It is supposed to have
been similar to the modern kettle drum, though perhaps smaller.
2. A musical instrument of brass, shaped like a circular dish or a
flat plate, with a handle at the back; -- used in pairs to produce a
sharp ringing sound by clashing them together.
Note: In orchestras, one cymbal is commonly attached to the bass
drum, and the other heid in the drummer's left hand, while his right
hand uses the drumstick.
3. A musical instrument used by gypsies and others, made of steel
wire, in a triangular form, on which are movable rings.
CYMBALIST
Cym"bal*ist, n.
Defn: A performer upon cymbals.
CYMBIFORM
Cym"bi*form (sm"b-frm),, a. Etym: [L. cymba boat (Gr. -form: cf. F.
cymbiforme.]
Defn: Shaped like a boat; (Bot.) elongated and having the upper
surface decidedly concave, as the glumes of many grasses.
CYMBIUM
Cym"bi*um (sm"b-m), n. Etym: [L., a small cup, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine univalve shells; the gondola.
CYME
Cyme (sm), n. Etym: [L. cyma the young sprount of a cabbage, fr. Gr.
(Bot.)
Defn: A flattish or convex flower cluster, of the centrifugal or
determinate type, differing from a corymb chiefly in the order of the
opening of the blossoms.
CYMENE
Cy"mene (s"mn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, liquid, combustible hydrocarbon, CH3.C6H4.C3H7, of
pleasant odor, obtained from oil of cumin, oil of caraway, carvacrol,
camphor, etc.; -- called also paracymene, and formerly camphogen.
CYMENOL
Cy"me*nol (s"m-nl), n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Carvacrol.
CYMIDINE
Cy"mi*dine ( s"m-dn or -dn; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid organic base, C10H13.NH2, derived from cymene.
CYMIFEROUS
Cy*mif"er*ous (s-mf"r-s), a. Etym: [Cyme + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing cymes.
CYMLING; CYMBLING
Cym"ling, Cymb"ling (sm"lng), n.
Defn: A scalloped or "pattypan" variety of summer squash.
CYMOGENE
Cy"mo*gene (s"m-jn), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A highly volatile liquid, condensed by cold and pressure from
the first products of the distillation of petroleum; -- used for
producing low temperatures.
CYMOGRAPH
Cy"mo*graph, n. [Cyma + -graph.]
(a) An instrument for making tracings of the outline or contour of
profiles, moldings, etc.
(b) Var. of Kymograph. --Cy`mo*graph"ic (#), a.
CYMOGRAPH
Cy"mo*graph, v. t.
Defn: To trace or copy with a cymograph.
CYMOID
Cy"moid (s"moid), a. Etym: [Cyme + -oid.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of a cyme.
CYMOMETER
Cy*mom"e*ter, n. [Gr. wave -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for exhibiting and measuring wave motion; specif.
(Elec.),
Defn: an instrument for determining the frequency of electic wave
oscillations, esp. in connection with wireless telegraphy.
CYMOPHANE
Cym"o*phane (sm"-fn or s"m-), n. Etym: [Gr.cymophane. So named in
allusion to a peculiar opalescence often seen in it.] (Min.)
Defn: See Chrysoberyl.
CYMOPHANOUS
Cy*moph"a*nous (s-mf"-ns or s-), a.
Defn: Having a wavy, floating light; opalescent; chatoyant.
CYMOSCOPE
Cy"mo*scope, n. [Gr. wave + -scope.] (Elec.)
Defn: Any device for detecting the presence of electric waves. The
influence of electric waves on the resistance of a particular kind of
electric circuit, on the magnetization of steel, on the polarization
of an electrolytic cell, or on the electric condition of a vacuum has
been applied in the various cymoscopes.
CYMOSE; CYMOUS
Cy"mose (s"ms; 277), Cy"mous (s"ms), a. Etym: [L. cymosus full of
shoots: cf. FF. cymeux. See Cyme.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the nature of a cyme, or derived from a cyme; bearing,
or pertaining to, a cyme or cymes.
CYMRIC
Cym"ric (km"rk), a. Etym: [W. Cymru Wales.]
Defn: Welsh.
-- n.
Defn: The Welsh language. [Written also Kymric.]
CYMRY
Cym"ry (-r), n. Etym: [W., pl.]
Defn: A collective term for the Welsh race; -- so called by
themselves . [Written also Cymri, Cwmry, Kymry, etc.]
CYMULE
Cy"mule (s"ml), n. Etym: [Cf. L. cymula a tender sprout, dim. of
cyna. See Cyme.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small cyme, or one of very few flowers.
CYNANCHE
Cy*nan"che (s-nn"k), n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Quinsy.] (Med.)
Defn: Any disease of the tonsils, throat, or windpipe, attended with
inflammation, swelling, and difficulty of breathing and swallowing.
CYNANTHROPY
Cy*nan"thro*py (s-nn"thr-p), n. Etym: [Gr. cynanthropie.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of madness in which men fancy themselves changed into
dogs, and imitate the voice and habits of that animal.
CYNARCTOMACHY
Cyn`arc*tom"a*chy (sn`rk-tm"-k). n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Bear baiting with a dog. Hudibras.
CYNARRHODIUM
Cyn`ar*rho"di*um (sn`r-r"d-m), n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A fruit like that of the rose, consisting of a cup formed of
the calyx tube and receptacle, and containing achenes.
CYNEGETICS
Cyn`e*get"ics (sn`-jt"ks), n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The art of hunting with dogs.
CYNIC; CYNICAL
Cyn"ic (sn"k), Cyn"ic*al (--kal), a. Etym: [L. cynicus of the sect of
Cynics, fr. Gr. Hound.]
1. Having the qualities of a surly dog; snarling; captious; currish.
I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations
where no benefit has been received. Johnson.
2. Pertaining to the Dog Star; as, the cynic, or Sothic, year; cynic
cycle.
3. Belonging to the sect of philosophers called cynics; having the
qualities of a cynic; pertaining to, or resembling, the doctrines of
the cynics.
4. Given to sneering at rectitude and the conduct of life by moral
principles; disbelieving in the reality of any human purposes which
are not suggested or directed by self-interest or self-indulgence;
as, a cynical man who scoffs at pretensions of integrity;
characterized by such opinions; as, cynical views of human nature.
Note: In prose, cynical is used rather than cynic, in the senses 1
and 4. Cynic spasm (Med.), a convulsive contraction of the muscles of
one side of the face, producing a sort of grin, suggesting certain
movements in the upper lip of a dog.
CYNIC
Cyn"ic, n. (Gr. Philos)
1. One of a sect or school of philosophers founded by Antisthenes,
and of whom Diogenes was a disciple. The first Cynics were noted for
austere lives and their scorn for social customs and current
philosophical opinions. Hence the term Cynic symbolized, in the
popular judgment, moroseness, and contempt for the views of others.
2. One who holds views resembling those of the Cynics; a snarler; a
misanthrope; particularly, a person who believes that human conduct
is directed, either consciously or unconsciously, wholly by self-
interest or self-indulgence, and that appearances to the contrary are
superficial and untrustworthy.
He could obtain from one morose cynic, whose opinion it was
impossible to despise, scarcely any not acidulated with scorn.
Macaulay.
CYNICALLY
Cyn"ic*al*ly (sn"-kal-l), adv.
Defn: In a cynical manner.
CYNICALNESS
Cyn"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being cynical.
CYNICISM
Cyn"i*cism (sn"-sz'm), n.
Defn: The doctrine of the Cynics; the quality of being cynical; the
mental state, opnions, or conduct, of a cynic; morose and
contemptuous views and opinions.
CYNOIDEA
Cy*noi"de*a (s-noi"d-a), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Carnivora, including the dogs, wolves, and foxes.
CYNOREXIA
Cyn`o*rex"i*a (sn`-rks"-), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A voracious appetite, like that of a starved dog.
CYNOSURAL
Cy`no*su"ral (s`n-sh"ral or sn`-), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a cynosure.
CYNOSURE
Cy"no*sure (s"n-shr or sn"-shr; 277), n. Etym: [L. Cynosura
theconstellation Cynosure, Gr. Cynic.]
1. The constellation of the Lesser Bear, to which, as containing the
polar star, the eyes of mariners and travelers were often directed.
2. That which serves to direct. Southey.
3. Anything to which attention is strongly turned; a center of
attraction.
Where perhaps some beauty lies, The cynosure of neighboring eyes.
Milton.
CYON
Cy"on (s"n), n.
Defn: See Cion, and Scion.
CYPERACEOUS
Cyp`er*a"ceous (sp`r-"shs or s`pr-), a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a large family of plants of
which the sedge is the type.
CYPERUS
Cyp"e*rus (sp"-rs), n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A large genus of plants belonging to the Sedge family, and
including the species called galingale, several bulrushes, and the
Egyptian papyrus.
CYPHER
Cy"pher (s"fr), n. & v.
Defn: See Cipher.
CYPHONAUTES
Cyph`o*nau"tes (sf`-n"tz), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The free-swimming, bivalve larva of certain Bryozoa.
CYPHONISM
Cyph"o*nism (sf`-nz'm or s, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A punishment sometimes used by the ancients, consisting in the
besmearing of the criminal with honey, and exposing him to insects.
It is still in use among some Oriental nations.
CYPRAEA
Cy*præ"a (s-pr"), n. Etym: [NL.; cf. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mollusks, including the cowries. See Cowrie.
CYPRES
Cy`pres" (s`pr" or s`prs"), n. Etym: [OF., nearly.] (Law)
Defn: A rule for construing written instruments so as to conform as
nearly to the intention of the parties as is consistent with law.
Mozley & W.
CYPRESS
Cy"press (s"prs), n.; pl. Cypresses (- Etym: [OE. cipres, cipresse,
OF. cipres, F. cypr, L. cupressus, cyparissus (cf. the usual Lat.
form cupressus), fr. Gr. g, Gen. vi. 14.] (Bot)
Defn: A coniferous tree of the genus Cupressus. The species are
mostly evergreen, and have wood remarkable for its durability.
Note: Among the trees called cypress are the common Oriental cypress,
Cupressus sempervirens, the evergreen American cypress, C. thyoides
(now called Chamaecyparis sphaeroidea), and the deciduous American
cypress, Taxodium distichum. As having anciently been used at
funerals, and to adorn tombs, the Oriental species is an emblem of
mourning and sadness. Cypress vine (Bot.), a climbing plant with red
or white flowers (Ipotoea Quamoclit, formerly Quamoclit vulgaris).
CYPRIAN
Cyp"ri*an (sp"r-an), a. Etym: [L. Cyprius, fr. Cyprus, Gr.
1. Belonging to Cyprus.
2. Of, pertaining, or conducing to, lewdness.
CYPRIAN
Cyp"ri*an, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Cyprus, especially of ancient Cyprus; a
Cypriot.
2. A lewd woman; a harlot.
CYPRINE
Cyp"rine (sp"rn or s"prn), a. Etym: [Cf. Cypress.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the cypress.
CYPRINE
Cyp"rine, a. Etym: [See Cyprinoid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Cyprinoid.
CYPRINODONT
Cy*prin"o*dont (s-prn"-dnt), n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cyprinodontidae, a family of fishes including the
killifishes or minnows. See Minnow.
CYPRINOID
Cyp"ri*noid (sp"r-noid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like the carp (Cyprinus).
-- n.
Defn: One of the Cyprinidae, or Carp family, as the goldfish, barbel,
etc.
CYPRIOT
Cyp"ri*ot (sp"r-t), n. Etym: [F. Cypriot, Chypriot.]
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Cyprus.
CYPRIPEDIUM
Cyp`ri*pe"di*um (sp`r-p"d-m), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Cypris Venus + pes,
pedis, foot.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of orchidaceous plants including the lady's slipper.
CYPRIS
Cy"pris (s"prs), n.; pl. Cyprides (s. Etym: [L. Cypris, the Cyprian
goddess Venus, Gr. Cyprian.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small, bivalve, freshwater Crustacea, belonging to
the Ostracoda; also, a member of this genus.
CYPRUS
Cy"prus (s"prs), n. Etym: [OE. cipres, cypirs; perh. so named as
being first manufactured in Cyprus. Cf. Cipers.]
Defn: A thin, transparent stuff, the same as, or corresponding to,
crape. It was either white or black, the latter being most common,
and used for mourning. [Obs.]
Lawn as white as driven snow, Cyprus black as e'er was crow. Shak.
CYPRUSLAWN
Cy"prus*lawn` (-ln`), n.
Defn: Same as Cyprus. Milton.
CYPSELA
Cyp"se*la (sp"s-l), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A one-seeded, one-called, indehiscent fruit; an achene with the
calyx tube adherent.
CYPSELIFORM
Cyp*sel"i*form (sp-sl"-frm), a. Etym: [L. cypselus a kind of swallow,
Gr. -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the swifts (Cypselidæ.)
CYRENAIC
Cyr`e*na"ic (sr`-n"k or s`r-), a. Etym: [L. Cyrenaicus, fr. Cyrene,
in Libya.]
Defn: Pertaining to Cyrenaica, an ancient country of northern Africa,
and to Cyrene, its principal city; also, to a school of philosophy
founded by Aristippus, a native of Cyrene.
-- n.
Defn: A native of Cyrenaica; also, a disciple of the school of
Aristippus. See Cyrenian, n.
CYRENIAN
Cy*re"ni*an (s-r"n-an), a.
Defn: Pertaining to Cyrene, in Africa; Cyrenaic.
CYRENIAN
Cy*re"ni*an, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Cyrene.
2. One of a school of philosophers, established at Cyrene by
Aristippus, a disciple of Socrates. Their doctrines were nearly the
same as those of the Epicureans.
CYRIOLOGIC
Cyr`i*o*log"ic (sr`--lj"k or s`r-), a. Etym: [See Curiologic.]
Defn: Relating to capital letters.
CYRTOSTYLE
Cyr"to*style (sr"t-stl), n. Etym: [Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: A circular projecting portion.
CYST
Cyst (sst), n. Etym: [Gr. Cyme.]
1. (Med.)
(a) A pouch or sac without opening, usually membranous and containing
morbid matter, which is accidentally developed in one of the natural
cavaties or in the substance of an organ.
(b) In old authors, the urinary bladder, or the gall bladder.
[Written also cystis.]
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the bladders or air vessels of certain algæ, as of the
great kelp of the Pacific, and common rockweeds (Fuci) of our shores.
D. C. Eaton.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small capsule or sac of the kind in which many immature
entozoans exit in the tissues of living animals; also, a similar form
in Rotifera, etc.
(b) A form assumed by Protozoa inwhich they become saclike and
quiescent. It generally precedes the production of germs. See
Encystment.
CYSTED
Cyst"ed (ss"td), a.
Defn: Inclosed in a cyst.
CYSTIC
Cyst"ic (ss"tk), a. Etym: [Cf. F. cystique.]
1. Having the form of, or living in, a cyst; as, the cystic entozoa.
2. Containing cysts; cystose; as, cystic sarcoma.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or contained in, a cyst; esp., pertaining to, or
contained in, either the urinary bladder or the gall bladder. Cystic
duct, the duct from the gall bladder which unites with the hepatic to
form the common bile duct.
-- Cystic worm (Zoöl.), a larval tape worm, as the cysticercus and
echinococcus.
CYSTICERCE; CYSTICERCUS
Cys"ti*cerce (ss"t-srs), Cys`ti*cer"cus (-sr"ks), n. Etym: [NL.
cysticercus, fr. Gr. cysticerque.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larval form of a tapeworm, having the head and neck of a
tapeworm attached to a saclike body filled with fluid; -- called also
bladder worm, hydatid, and measle (as, pork measle).
Note: These larvae live in the tissues of various living animals,
and, when swallowed by a suitable carnivorous animal, develop into
adult tapeworms in the intestine. See Measles, 4, Tapeworm.
CYSTICULE
Cys"ti*cule (ss"t-kl), n. Etym: [Dim. of cyst.] (Anat.)
Defn: An appendage of the vestibular ear sac of fishes. Owen.
CYSTID
Cys"tid (ss"td), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cystidea.
CYSTIDEA
Cys*tid"e*a (ss-td"-), n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Crinoidea, mostly fossils of the Paleozoic rocks.
They were usually roundish or egg-shaped, and often unsymmetrical;
some were sessile, others had short stems.
CYSTIDEAN
Cys*tid"e*an (-td"-an), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Cystidea.
CYSTINE
Cyst"ine (ss"tn; 104), n. Etym: [See Cyst.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C3H7NSO2, containing sulphur,
occuring as a constituent of certain rare urinary calculi, and
occasionally found as a sediment in urine.
CYSTIS
Cys"tis (ss"ts), n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: A cyst. See Cyst.
CYSTITIS
Cys*ti"tis (ss-t"ts), n. Etym: [Cyst + -itis: cf. F. cystite.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the bladder.
CYSTOCARP
Cys"to*carp (ss"t-krp), n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A minute vesicle in a red seaweed, which contains the
reproductive spores.
CYSTOCELE
Cys"to*cele (-sl), n. Etym: [Gr. cystocele.] (Med.)
Defn: Hernia in which the urinary bladder protrudes; vesical hernia.
CYSTOID; CYSTOIDEAN
Cys"toid, Cys*toid"e*an, n.
Defn: Same as Cystidean.
CYSTOIDEA
Cys*toi"de*a (ss-toi"d-), n.
Defn: Same as Cystidea.
CYSTOLITH
Cys"to*lith (ss"t-lth), n. Etym: [Gr. -lith.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A concretion of mineral matter within a leaf or other part of a
plant.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A urinary calculus.
CYSTOLITHIC
Cys`to*lith"ic (-lth"k), a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to stone in the bladder.
CYSTOPLAST
Cys"to*plast (-plst), n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A nucleated cell having an envelope or cell wall, as a red
blood corpuscle or an epithelial cell; a cell concerned in growth.
CYSTOSE
Cyst"ose (ss"ts), a.
Defn: Containing, or resembling, a cyst or cysts; cystic; bladdery.
CYSTOTOME
Cys"to*tome (ss"t-tm), n. Etym: [Gr. cystotome.] (Surg.)
Defn: A knife or instrument used in cystotomy.
CYSTOTOMY
Cys*tot"o*my (ss-tt"-m), n. Etym: [Gr. cystotomie.]
Defn: The act or practice of opening cysts; esp., the operation of
cutting into the bladder, as for the extraction of a calculus.
CYTHEREAN
Cyth`er*e"an (sth`r--"an), a. Etym: [L. Cythereus, from Cythera, Gr.
Cerigo, an island in the Ægean Sea, celebrated for the worship of
Venus.]
Defn: Pertaining to the goddess Venus.
CYTOBLAST
Cy"to*blast (s"t-blst), n. Etym: [Gr. -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: The nucleus of a cell; the germinal or active spot of a
cellule, through or in which cell development takes place.
CYTOBLASTEMA
Cy`to*blas*te"ma (-bls-t"m), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Protoplasm.
CYTOCOCCUS
Cy`to*coc"cus (-kk"ks), n.; pl. Cytococci (-s. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
(Biol.)
Defn: The nucleus of the cytula or parent cell. Hæckel.
CYTODE
Cy"tode (s"td), n. Etym: [Gr. Cyst.] (Biol.)
Defn: A nonnucleated mass of protoplasm, the supposed simplest form
of independent life differing from the amoeba, in which nuclei are
present.
CYTOGENESIS
Cy`to*gen"e*sis (s`t-jn"-ss), n. Etym: [Gr. genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Development of cells in animal and vegetable organisms. See
Gemmation, Budding, Karyokinesis; also Cell development, under Cell.
CYTOGENIC; CYTOGENETIC
Cy`to*gen"ic (s`t-jn"k), Cy`to*ge*net"ic (-j-nt"k), a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to cytogenesis or cell development.
CYTOGENOUS
Cy*tog"e*nous (s-tj"-ns), a. (Anat.)
Defn: Producing cells; -- applied esp. to lymphatic, or adenoid,
tissue.
CYTOGENY
Cy*tog"e*ny (-n), n . (Biol.)
Defn: Cell production or development; cytogenesis.
CYTOID
Cy"toid (s"toid), a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Cell-like; -- applied to the corpuscles of lymph, blood, chyle,
etc.
CYTOPLASM
Cy"to*plasm (s"t-plz'm), n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The substance of the body of a cell, as distinguished from the
karyoplasma, or substance of the nucleus.
-- Cy`to*plas"mic (-pl, a.
CYTULA
Cyt"u*la (st"-l), n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The fertilized egg cell or parent cell, from the development of
which the child or other organism is formed. Hæckel.
CZAR
Czar (zär), n. Etym: [Russ. tsare, fr. L. Caesar Cæsar; cf. OPol.
czar, Pol. car. ]
Defn: A king; a chief; the title of the emperor of Russia. [Written
also tzar.]
CZAREVNA
Cza*rev"na (z-rv"n), n. Etym: [Russ. tsarevna.]
Defn: The title of the wife of the czarowitz.
CZARINA
Cza*ri"na (z-r"n), n. Etym: [Cf. G. Zarin, Czarin, fem., Russ.
tsaitsa.]
Defn: The title of the empress of Russia.
CZARINIAN
Cza*rin"i*an (z-rn"-an), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the czar or the czarina; czarish.
CZARISH
Czar"ish (zr"sh), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the czar.
CZAROWITZ
Czar"o*witz (zr"-wts or tr"-vch), n.; pl. Czarowitzes (-. Etym:
[Russ. tsar.]
Defn: The title of the eldest son of the czar of Russia.
CZECH
Czech (chk; 204), n.
1. One of the Czechs.
2. The language of the Czechs (often called Bohemian), the harshest
and richest of the Slavic languages.
CZECHIC
Czech"ic (chk"k), a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Czechs. "One Czechic realm." The
Nation.
CZECHS
Czechs (chks), n. pl.; sing. Czech. Etym: [Named after their
chieftain, Czech.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: The most westerly branch of the great Slavic family of nations,
numbering now more than 6,000,000, and found principally in Bohemia
and Moravia.
D
1. The fourth letter of the English alphabet, and a vocal consonent.
The English letter is from Latin, which is from Greek, which took it
from Phoenician, the probable ultimate origin being Egyptian. It is
related most nearly to t and th; as, Eng. deep, G. tief; Eng.
daughter, G. tochter, Gr. duhitr. See Guide to Pronunciation, sq.
root178, 179, 229.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The nominal of the second tone in the model major scale (that
in C), or of the fourth tone in the relative minor scale of C (that
in A minor), or of the key tone in the relative minor of F.
3. As a numeral D stands for 500. in this use it is not the initial
of any word, or even strictly a letter, but one half of the sign
DAB
Dab, n. Etym: [Perh. corrupted fr. adept.]
Defn: A skillful hand; a dabster; an expert. [Colloq.]
One excels at a plan or the titlepage, another works away at the body
of the book, and the therd is a dab at an index. Goldsmith.
DAB
Dab, n. Etym: [Perh. so named from its quickness in diving beneath
the sand. Cf. Dabchick.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name given to several species of Pleuronectes . TheAmerican
rough dab is Hippoglossoides platessoides.
DAB
Dab, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Dabbed; p.pr.& vb.n. Dabbing.] Etym: [OE.
dabben to strice; akin to OD. dabben to pinch, knead, fumble, dabble,
and perh. to G. tappen to grope.]
1. To strike or touch gently, as with a soft or moist substance; to
tap; hence, to besmear with a dabber.
A sore should . . . be wiped . . . only by dabbing it over with fine
lint. S. Sharp.
2. To strike by a thrust; to hit with a sudden blow or thrust. "To
dab him in the neck." Sir T. More.
DAB
Dab, n.
1. A gentle blow with the hand or some soft substance; a sudden blow
or hit; a peck.
Astratch of her clame, a dab of her beack. Hawthorne.
2. A small mass of anything soft or moist.
DABB
Dabb, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, spine-tailed lizard (Uromastix spinipes), found in
Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine; -- called also dhobb, and dhabb.
DABBER
Dab"ber, n.
Defn: That with which one dabs; hence, a pad or other device used by
printers, engravers, etc., as for dabbing type or engraved plates
with ink.
DABBLE
Dab"ble, v. t. [imp.&p.p Dabbled; p.pr.&vb.n. Dabbling.] Etym: [Freq.
of dab: cf. OD. dabbelen.]
Defn: To wet by little dips or strokes; to spatter; to sprinkle; to
moisten; to wet. "Bright hair dabbled in blood." Shak.
DABBLE
Dab"ble, v. i.
1. To play in water, as with the hands; to paddle or splash in mud or
water.
Wher the duck dabbles Wordsworth.
2. To work in slight or superficial manner; to do in a small way; to
tamper; to meddle. "Dabbling here and there with the text."
Atterbury.
During the ferst year at Dumfries, Burns for the ferst time began to
dabble in politics. J. C. Shairp.
DABBLER
Dab"bler, n.
1. One who dabbles.
2. One who dips slightly into anything; a superficial meddler. "our
dabblers in politics." Swift.
DABBLINGLY
Dab"bling*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dabbling manner.
DABCHICK
Dab"chick`, n. Etym: [For dabchick. See Dap, Dip, cf. Dipchick.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small water bird (Podilymbus podiceps), allied to the grebes,
remarkable for its quickness in diving; -- called also dapchick,
dobchick, dipchick, didapper, dobber, devil-diver, hell-diver, and
pied-billed grebe.
DABOIA
Da*boi"a, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large and highly venomous Asiatic viper (Daboia xanthica).
DABSTER
Dab"ster, n. Etym: [Cf. Dab an expert.]
Defn: One who is skilled; a master of his business; a proficient; an
adept. [Colloq.]
Note: Sometimes improperly used for dabbler; as, "I am but a dabster
with gentle art."
DACAPO
Da`ca"po. Etym: [It., from [the] head or beginning.] (Mus.)
Defn: From the beginning; a direction to return to, and end with, the
first strain; -- indicated by the letters D. C. Also, the strain so
repeated.
DACE
Dace, n. Etym: [Written also dare, dart, fr. F. dard dase, dart, of
German origin. Dace is for an older darce, fr. an OF. nom. darz. See
Dart a javelin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European cyprinoid fish (Squalius leuciscus or
Leuciscus vulgaris); -- called also dare.
Note: In America the name is given to several related fishes of the
genera Squalius, Minnilus, etc. The black-nosed dace is Rhinichthys
atronasus the horned dace is Semotilus corporalis. For red dace, see
Redfin.
DACHSHUND
Dachs"hund`, n. Etym: [G., from dachs badger + hund dog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a breed of small dogs with short crooked legs, and long
body; -- called also badger dog. There are two kinds, the rough-
haired and the smooth-haired.
DACIAN
Da"cian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Dacia or the Dacians.
-- n.
Defn: A native of ancient Dacia.
DACOIT
Da*coit" (da*koit"), n. [Hind. dsakait, dsakayat.]
Defn: One of a class of robbers, in India, who act in gangs.
DACOITY
Da*coit"y, n.
Defn: The practice of gang robbery in India; robbery committed by
dacoits.
DACOTAHS
Da*co"tahs, n. pl.; sing. Dacotan (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Same as Dacotas. Longfellow.
DACTYL
Dac"tyl, n. Etym: [L. dactylus, Gr. Digit.]
1. (Pros.)
Defn: A poetical foot of three sylables (-- ~ ~), one long followed
by two short, or one accented followed by two unaccented; as, L.
tëgmînê, E. mer"ciful; -- so called from the similarity of its
arrangement to that of the joints of a finger. [Written also
dactyle.]
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A finger or toe; a digit.
(b) The claw or terminal joint of a leg of an insect or crustacean.
DACTYLAR
Dac"tyl*ar, a.
1. Pertaining to dactyl; dactylic.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a finger or toe, or to the claw of an
insect crustacean.
DACTYLET
Dac"tyl*et, n. Etym: [Dactyl + .]
Defn: A dactyl. [Obs.]
DACTYLIC
Dac*tyl"ic, a. Etym: [L. dactylicus, Gr. , fr. .]
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting chiefly or wholly of, dactyls; as,
dactylic verses.
DACTYLIC
Dac*tyl"ic, n.
1. A line consisting chiefly or wholly of dactyls; as, these lines
are dactylics.
2. pl.
Defn: Dactylic meters.
DACTYLIOGLYPH
Dactyl"i*o*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr. an engraver of gems; finger ring (fr.
finger) + to engrave.] (Fine Arts)
(a) An engraver of gems for rings and other ornaments.
(b) The inscription of the engraver's name on a finger ring or gem.
DACTYLIOGLYPHY
Dac*tyl`i*og"ly*phy, n.
Defn: The art or process of gem engraving.
DACTYLIOGRAPHY
Dac*tyl`i*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. finger ring + .] (Fine Arts)
(a) The art of writing or engraving upon gems.
(b) In general, the literature or history of the art.
DACTYLIOLOGY
Dac*tyl`i* ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. finger ring + .] (Fine Arts)
(a) That branch of archæology which has to do with gem engraving.
(b) That branch of archæology which has to do with finger rings.
DACTYLIOMANCY
Dac*tyl"i*o*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. dakty`lios + -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of finger rings.
DACTYLIST
Dac"tyl*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of dactylic verse.
DACTYLITIS
Dac`tyl*i"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. finger + -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammatory affection of the fingers. Gross.
DACTYLOLOGY
Dac`tyl*o"logy, n. Etym: [Gr. finger + -logy.]
Defn: The art of communicating ideas by certain movements and
positions of the fingers; -- a method of conversing practiced by the
deaf and dumb.
Note: There are two different manual alphabets, the one hand alphabet
(which was perfected by Abbé de l'Epée, who died in 1789), and the
two hand alphabet. The latter was probably based on the manual
alphabet published by George Dalgarus of Aberdeen, in 1680. See
Illustration in Appendix.
DACTYLOMANCY
Dac*tyl"o*man`cy, n.
Defn: Dactylio mancy. [R.] Am. Cyc.
DACTYLONOMY
Dac`tyl*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. finger + law, distribution.]
Defn: The art of numbering or counting by the fingers.
DACTYLOPTEROUS
Dac`tyl*op"ter*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. finger + wing, fin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the inferior rays of the pectoral fins partially or
entirely free, as in the gurnards.
DACTYLOTHECA
Dac`ty*lo*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. finger, toe + case, box.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The scaly covering of the toes, as in birds.
DACTYLOZOOID
Dac`tyl*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. finger + E. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of zooid of Siphonophora which has an elongated or even
vermiform body, with one tentacle, but no mouth. See Siphonophora.
DAD
Dad, n. Etym: [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. daid, Gael. daidein,
W. tad, OL. , , Skr. tata.]
Defn: Father; -- a word sometimes used by children.
I was never so bethumped withwords, Since I first called my brother's
father dad. Shak.
DADDLE
Dad"dle, v. i. [imp. & p.p. Daddled, p.pr. & vb.n. Daddling.] Etym:
[Prob. freq. of dade.]
Defn: To toddle; to walk unsteadily, like a child or an old man;
hence, to do anything slowly or feebly.
DADDOCK
Dad"dock, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. dad a large piece.]
Defn: The rotten body of a tree. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
DADDY
Dad"dy, n.
Defn: Diminutive of Dad. Dryden.
DADDY LONGLEGS
Dad"dy long"legs`.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An arachnidan of the genus Phalangium, and allied genera,
having a small body and four pairs of long legs; -- called also
harvestman, carter, and grandfather longlegs.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name applied to many species of dipterous insects of the
genus Tipula, and allied genera, with slender bodies, and very long,
slender legs; the crane fly; -- called also father longlegs.
DADE
Dade, v. t. Etym: [Of. uncertain origin. Cf. Dandle, Daddle.]
Defn: To hold up by leading strings or by the hand, as a child while
he toddles. [Obs.]
Little children when they learn to go By painful mothers daded to and
fro. Drayton.
DADE
Dade, v. i.
Defn: To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just
learning to walk; to move slowly. [Obs.]
No sooner taught to dade, but from their mother trip. Drayton.
DADO
Da"do, n.; pl. Dadoes. Etym: [It. dado die, cube, pedestal; of the
same origin as E. die, n. See Die, n.] (Arch.)
(a) That part of a pedestal included between the base and the cornice
(or surbase); the die. See Illust. of Column. Hence:
(b) In any wall, that part of the basement included between the base
and the base course. See Base course, under Base.
(c) In interior decoration, the lower part of the wall of an
apartment when adorned with moldings, or otherwise specially
decorated.
DAEDAL; DAEDALIAN
Dæ"dal, Dæ*dal"ian, a. Etym: [L. daedalus cunningly wrought, fr. Gr.
; cf. to work cunningly. The word also alludes to the mythical
Dædalus (Gr. , lit., the cunning worker).]
1. Cunningly or ingeniously formed or working; skillful; artistic;
ingenious.
Our bodies decked in our dædalian arms. Chapman.
The dædal hand of Nature. J. Philips.
The doth the dædal earth throw forth to thee, Out of her fruitful,
abundant flowers. Spenser.
2. Crafty; deceitful. [R.] Keats.
DAEDALOUS
Dæd"a*lous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a variously cut or incised margin; -- said of leaves.
DAEMON; DAEMONIC
Dæ"mon, n., Dæ*mon"ic (, a.
Defn: See Demon, Demonic.
DAFF
Daff, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Doff.]
Defn: To cast aside; to put off; to doff. [Obs.]
Canst thou so daff me Thou hast killed my child. Shak.
DAFF
Daff, n. Etym: [See Daft.]
Defn: A stupid, blockish fellow; a numskull. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DAFF
Daff, v. i.
Defn: To act foolishly; to be foolish or sportive; to toy. [Scot.]
Jamieson.
DAFF
Daff, v. t.
Defn: To daunt. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
DAFFODIL
Daf"fo*dil, n. Etym: [OE. affodylle, prop., the asphodel, fr. LL.
affodillus (cf. D. affodille or OF. asphodile, aphodille, F.
asphodèle), L. asphodelus, fr. Gr. . The initial d in English is not
satisfactorily explained. See Asphodel.] (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the genus Asphodelus.
(b) A plant of the genus Narcissus (N. Pseudo-narcissus). It has a
bulbous root and beautiful flowers, usually of a yellow hue. Called
also daffodilly, daffadilly, daffadowndilly, daffydowndilly, etc.
With damasc roses and daffadowndillies set. Spenser.
Strow me the ground with daffadowndillies, And cowslips, and
kingcups, and loved lilies. Spenser.
A college gown That clad her like an April Daffodilly. Tennyson
And chance-sown daffodil. Whittier.
DAFT
Daft, a. Etym: [OE. daft, deft, deft, stupid; prob. the same word as
E. deft. See Deft.]
1. Stupid; folish; idiotic; also, delirious; insance; as, he has gone
daft.
Let us think no more of this daft business Sir W. Scott.
2. Gay; playful; frolicsome. [Scot.] Jamieson.
DAFTNESS
Daft"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being daft.
DAG
Dag, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dague, LL. daga, D. dagge (fr. French); all
prob. fr. Celtic; Cf. Gael. dag a pistol, Armor. dag dagger, W.
dager, dagr, Ir. daigear. Cf. Dagger.]
1. A dagger; a poniard. [Obs.] Johnson.
2. A large pistol formerly used. [Obs.]
The Spaniards discharged their dags, and hurt some. Foxe.
A sort of pistol, called dag, was used about the same time as hand
guns and harquebuts. Grose.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The unbrunched antler of a young deer.
DAG
Dag, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Sw. dagg, Icel. dögg. sq.
root71. See Dew.]
Defn: A misty shower; dew. [Obs.]
DAG
Dag, n. Etym: [OE. dagge (cf. Dagger); or cf. AS. dag what is
dangling.]
Defn: A loose end; a dangling shred.
Daglocks, clotted locks hanging in dags or jags at a sheep's tail.
Wedgwood.
DAG
Dag, v. t. Etym: [1, from Dag dew. 2, from Dag a loose end.]
1. To daggle or bemire. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.
2. To cut into jags or points; to slash; as, to dag a garment. [Obs.]
Wright.
DAG
Dag, v. i.
Defn: To be misty; to drizzle. [Prov. Eng.]
DAGGER
Dag"ger, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. daggen to pierce, F. daguer. See Dag a
dagger.]
1. A short weapon used for stabbing. This is the general term: cf.
Poniard, Stiletto, Bowie knife, Dirk, Misericorde, Anlace.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A mark of reference in the form of a dagger [|]. It is the
second in order when more than one reference occurs on a page; --
called also obelisk. Dagger moth (Zoöl.), any moth of the genus
Apatalea. The larvæ are often destructive to the foliage of fruit
trees, etc.
-- Dagger of lath, the wooden weapon given to the Vice in the old
Moralities. Shak.
-- Double dagger, a mark of reference [||] which comes next in order
after the dagger.
-- To look, or speak, daggers, to look or speak fiercely or
reproachfully.
DAGGER
Dag"ger, v. t.
Defn: To pierce with a dagger; to stab. [Obs.]
DAGGER
Dag"ger, n. Etym: [Perh. from diagonal.]
Defn: A timber placed diagonally in a ship's frame. Knight.
DAGGES
Dagges, n. pl. Etym: [OE. See Dag a loose end.]
Defn: An ornamental cutting of the edges of garments, introduced
about a. d. 1346, according to the Chronicles of St Albans. [Obs.]
Halliwell.
DAGGLE
Dag"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Daggling.]
Etym: [Freq. of dag, v. t., 1.]
Defn: To trail, so as to wet or befoul; to make wet and limp; to
moisten.
The warrior's very plume, I say, Was daggled by the dashing spray.
Sir W. Scott.
DAGGLE
Dag"gle, v. i.
Defn: To run, go, or trail one's self through water, mud, or slush;
to draggle.
Nor, like a puppy [have I] daggled through the town. Pope.
DAGGLE-TAIL; DAGGLE-TAILED
Dag"gle-tail`, Dag"gle-tailed`, a.
Defn: Having the lower ends of garments defiled by trailing in mire
or filth; draggle-tailed.
DAGGLE-TAIL
Dag"gle-tail`, n.
Defn: A slovenly woman; a slattern; a draggle-tail.
DAGLOCK
Dag"lock`, n. Etym: [Dag a loose and + lock.]
Defn: A dirty or clotted lock of wool on a sheep; a taglock.
DAGO
Da"go, n.; pl. Dagos. Etym: [Cf. Sp. Diego, E. James.]
Defn: A nickname given to a person of Spanish (or, by extension,
Portuguese or Italian) descent. [U. S.]
DAGOBA
Da*go"ba, n. Etym: [Singhalese dagoba.]
Defn: A dome-shaped structure built over relics of Buddha or some
Buddhist saint. [East Indies]
DAGON
Da"gon, Etym: [Heb. Dagon, fr. dag a fish: cf. Gr. .]
Defn: The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face
and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish. W. Smith.
This day a solemn feast the people hold To Dagon, their sea idol.
Milton.
They brought it into the house of Dagon. 1 Sam. v. 2.
DAGON
Dag"on, n. Etym: [See Dag a loose end.]
Defn: A slip or piece. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DAGSWAIN
Dag"swain`, n. Etym: [From Dag a loose end]
Defn: Acoarse woolen fabric made of daglocks, or the refuse of wool.
"Under coverlets made of dagswain." Holinshed.
DAG-TAILED
Dag"-tailed`, a. Etym: [Dag a loose end + tail.]
Defn: Daggle-tailed; having the tail clogged with daglocks. "Dag-
tailed sheep." Bp. Hall.
DAGUERREAN; DAGUERREIAN
Da*guer"re*an, Da*guerre"i*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Daguerre, or to his invention of the
daguerreotype.
DAGUERREOTYPE
Da*guerre"o*type, n. Etym: [From Daguerre the inventor + -type.]
1. An early variety of photograph, produced on a silver plate, or
copper plate covered with silver, and rendered sensitive by the
action of iodine, or iodine and bromine, on which, after exposure in
the camera, the latent image is developed by the vapor of mercury.
2. The process of taking such pictures.
DAGUERREOTYPE
Da*guerre"o*type, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Daguerreotyped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Daguerreotyping.]
1. To produce or represent by the daguerreotype process, as a
picture.
2. To impress with great distinctness; to imprint; to imitate
exactly.
DAGUERREOTYPER; DAGUERREOTYPIST
Da*guerre"o*ty`per, Da*guerre"o*ty`pist, n.
Defn: One who takes daguerreotypes.
DAGUERREOTYPY
Da*guerre"o*ty`py, n.
Defn: The art or process of producing pictures by method of Daguerre.
DAHABEAH
Da`ha*be"ah, n. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A nile boat
DAHLIA
Dah"lia, n.; pl. Dahlias. Etym: [Named after Andrew Dahl a Swedish
botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants native to Mexico and Central America, of the
order Compositæ; also, any plant or flower of the genus. The numerous
varieties of cultivated dahlias bear conspicuous flowers which differ
in color.
DAHLIN
Dah"lin, n. Etym: [From Dahlia.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of starch extracted from the dahlia; -- called also
inulin. See Inulin.
DAHOON
Da*hoon" (da*hoon"), [Origin unknown.]
Defn: An evergreen shrub or small tree (Ilex cassine) of the southern
United States, bearing red drupes and having soft, white, close-
grained wood; -- called also dahoon holly.
DAILINESS
Dai"li*ness, n.
Defn: Daily occurence. [R.]
DAILY
Dai"ly, a. Etym: [AS. dæglic; dæg day + -lic like. See Day.]
Defn: Happening, or belonging to, each successive day; diurnal; as,
daily labor; a daily bulletin.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.
Bunyan has told us . . . that in New England his dream was the daily
subject of the conversation of thousands. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Daily, Diurnal. Daily is Anglo-Saxon, and diurnal is Latin. The
former is used in reference to the ordinary concerns of life; as,
daily wants, daily cares, daily employments. The latter is
appropriated chiefly by astronomers to what belongs to the
astronomical day; as, the diurnal revolution of the earth.
Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his
dignity, And the regard of Heaven on all his ways. Milton.
Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound Within the visible
diurnal sphere. Milton.
DAILY
Dai"ly, n.; pl. Dailies (.
Defn: A publication which appears regularly every day; as, the
morning dailies.
DAILY
Dai"ly, adv.
Defn: Every day; day by day; as, a thing happens daily.
DAIMIO
Dai"mi*o, n.; pl. Daimios. Etym: [Jap., fr. Chin. tai ming great
name.]
Defn: The title of the feudal nobles of Japan.daimyo
The daimios, or territorial nobles, resided in Yedo and were divided
into four classes. Am. Cyc.
DAINT
Daint, n. Etym: [See Dainty, n.]
Defn: Something of exquisite taste; a dainty. [Obs.] -- a.
Defn: Dainty. [Obs.]
To cherish him with diets daint. Spenser.
DAINTIFY
Dain"ti*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daintified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Daintifying.] Etym: [Dainty + -fy.]
Defn: To render dainty, delicate, or fastidious. "Daintified
emotion." Sat. rev.
DAINTILY
Dain"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dainty manner; nicely; scrupulously; fastidiously;
deliciously; prettily.
DAINTINESS
Dain"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dainty; nicety; niceness; elegance;
delicacy; deliciousness; fastidiousness; squeamishness.
The daintiness and niceness of our captains Hakluyt.
More notorious for the daintiness of the provision . . . than for the
massiveness of the dish. Hakewill.
The duke exeeded in the daintiness of his leg and foot, and the earl
in the fine shape of his hands, Sir H. Wotton.
DAINTREL
Dain"trel, n. Etym: [From daint or dainty; cf. OF. daintier.]
Defn: Adelicacy. [Obs.] Halliwell.
DAINTY
Dain"ty, n.; pl. Dainties. Etym: [OE. deinie, dainte, deintie,
deyntee, OF. deintié delicacy, orig., dignity, honor, fr. L.
dignitas, fr. dignus worthy. See Deign, and cf. Dignity.]
1. Value; estimation; the gratification or pleasure taken in
anything. [Obs.]
I ne told no deyntee of her love. Chaucer.
2. That which is delicious or delicate; a delicacy.
That precious nectar may the taste renew Of Eden's dainties, by our
parents lost. Beau. & Fl.
3. A term of fondness. [Poetic] B. Jonson.
Syn.
-- Dainty, Delicacy. These words are here compared as denoting
articles of food. The term delicacy as applied to a nice article of
any kind, and hence to articles of food which are particularly
attractive. Dainty is stronger, and denotes some exquisite article of
cookery. A hotel may be provided with all the delicacies of the
season, and its table richly covered with dainties.
These delicacies I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and
flowers, Walks and the melody of birds. Milton.
[A table] furnished plenteously with bread, And dainties, remnants of
the last regale. Cowper.
DAINTY
Dain"ty, a. [Compar. Daintier; superl. Daintiest.]
1. Rare; valuable; costly. [Obs.]
Full many a deynté horse had he in stable. Chaucer.
Note: Hence the proverb "dainty maketh dearth," i. e., rarity makes a
thing dear or precious.
2. Delicious to the palate; toothsome.
Dainty bits Make rich the ribs. Shak.
3. Nice; delicate;elegant, in form, manner, or breeding; well-formed;
neat; tender.
Those dainty limbs which nature lent For gentle usage and soft
delicacy. Milton.
Iwould be the girdle. About her dainty, dainty waist. Tennyson.
4. Requirinig daintles. Hence; Overnice; hard to please; fastidious;
sqrupulous; ceremonious.
Thew were a fine and Dainty people. Bacon.
And let us not be dainty of leave taking, But shift away. Shak.
To make dainty, to assume or affect delicacy or fastidiousness.
[Obs.]
Ah ha, my mistresses! which of you all Will now deny to dance She
that makes dainty, She, I'll swear, hath corns. Shak.
DAIRA
Da"ï*ra, n. [Turk. daire circuit department, fr. Ar. daïrah circle.]
Defn: Any of several valuable estates of the Egyptian khedive or his
family. The most important are the Da"i*ra Sa"ni*eh, or Sa"ni*yeh,
and the Da"i*ra Khas"sa, administered by the khedive's European
bondholders, and known collectively as the Daira, or the Daira
estates.
DAIRY
Dai"ry, n.;pl. Dairies. Etym: [OE. deierie, from deie, daie, maid; of
Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja, orig., a
baking maid, fr. Icel. deig. Dough.]
1. The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into
butter or cheese.
What stores my dairies and my folds contain. Dryden.
2. That department of farming which is concerned in the production of
milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.
Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or dairy; and
this advanced the trade of English butter. Temple.
3. A dairy farm. [R.]
Note: Dairy is much used adjectively or in combination; as, dairy
farm, dairy countries, dairy house or dairyhouse, dairyroom,
dairywork, etc.
DAIRYING
Dai"ry*ing, n.
Defn: The business of conducting a dairy.
DAIRYMAID
Dai"ry*maid`, n.
Defn: A female servant whose business is the care of the dairy.
DAIRYMAN
Dai"ry*man, n.; pl. Dairymen (.
Defn: A man who keeps or takes care of a dairy.
DAIRYWOMAN
Dai"ry*wom`an, n.; pl. Dairywomen (.
Defn: A woman who attends to a dairy.
DAIS
Da"is (da"îs), n. Etym: [OE. deis, des, table, dais, OF. deis table,
F. dais a canopy, L. discus a quoit, a dish (from the shape), LL.,
table, fr. Gr. a quoit, a dish. See Dish.]
1. The high or principal table, at the end of a hall, at which the
chief guests were seated; also, the chief seat at the high table.
[Obs.]
2. A platform slightly raised above the floor of a hall or large
room, giving distinction to the table and seats placed upon it for
the chief guests.
3. A canopy over the seat of a person of dignity. [Obs.] Shiply.
DAISIED
Dai"sied, a.
Defn: Full of daisies; adorned with daisies. "The daisied green."
Langhorne.
The grass all deep and daisied. G. Eliot.
DAISY
Dai"sy, n.; pl. Daisies. Etym: [OE. dayesye, AS. dæges day's eye,
daisy. See Day, and Eye.] (Bot.)
(a) A genus of low herbs (Bellis), belonging to the family Compositæ.
The common English and classical daisy is B. prennis, which has a
yellow disk and white or pinkish rays.
(b) The whiteweed (Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum), the plant commonly
called daisy in North America; -- called also oxeye daisy. See
Whiteweed.
Note: The word daisy is also used for composite plants of other
genera, as Erigeron, or fleabane. Michaelmas daisy (Bot.), any plant
of the genus Aster, of which there are many species.
-- Oxeye daisy (Bot.), the whiteweed. See Daisy (b).
DAK
Dak, n. Etym: [Hind. .]
Defn: Post; mail; also, the mail or postal arrangements; -- spelt
also dawk, and dauk. [India] Dak boat, a mail boat. Percy Smith.
-- Dak bungalow, a traveler's rest-house at the and of a dak stage.
-- To travel by dak, to travel by relays of palanquines or other
carriage, as fast as the post along a road.
DAKER; DAKIR
Da"ker, Da"kir, n. Etym: [See Dicker.] (O. Eng. & Scots Law)
Defn: A measure of certain commodities by number, usually ten or
twelve, but sometimes twenty; as, a daker of hides consisted of ten
skins; a daker of gloves of ten pairs. Burrill.
DAKER HEN
Da"ker hen`. Etym: [Perh. fr. W. crecial the daker hen; crec a sharp
noise (creg harsh, hoarse, crechian to scream) + iar hen; or cf. D.
duiken to dive, plunge.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The corncrake or land rail.
DAKOIT; DAKOITY
Da*koit", n., Da*koit"y, n.
Defn: See Dacoit, Dacoity.
DAKOTA GROUP
Da*ko"ta group`. (Geol.)
Defn: A subdivision at the base of the cretaceous formation in
Western North America; -- so named from the region where the strata
were first studied.
DAKOTAS
Da*ko"tas, n. pl.; sing. Dacota (. (Ethnol.)
Defn: An extensive race or stock of Indians, including many tribes,
mostly dwelling west of the Mississippi River; -- also, in part,
called Sioux. [Written also Dacotahs.]
DAL
Dal, n. Etym: [Hind.]
Defn: Split pulse, esp. of Cajanus Indicus. [East Indies]
DALE
Dale, n. Etym: [AS. dæl; akin to LG., D., Sw., Dan., OS., & Goth.
dal, Icel. dalr, OHG. tal, G. thal, and perth. to Gr. a rotunda, Skr.
dhara depth. Cf. Dell.]
1. A low place between hills; a vle or valley.
Where mountaines rise, umbrageous dales descend. Thomson.
2. A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump. Knight.
DALESMAN
Dales"man, n.; pl. Dalesmen (.
Defn: One living in a dale; -- a term applied particularly to the
inhabitants of the valleys in the north of England, Norway, etc.
Macaulay.
DALF
Dalf,
Defn: imp. of Delve. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DALLES
Dalles (dalz), n. pl. [F. dalle a tube, gutter, trough.]
Defn: A rapid, esp. one where the channel is narrowed between rock
walls. [Northwestern U. S. & Canada]
The place below, where the compressed river wound like a silver
thread among the flat black rocks, was the far-famed Dalles of the
Columbia.
F. H. Balch.
DALLIANCE
Dal"li*ance, n. Etym: [From Dally.]
1. The act of dallying, trifling, or fondling; interchange of
caresses; wanton play.
Look thou be true, do not give dalliance Too mnch the rein. Shak.
O, the dalliance and the wit, The flattery and the strifeTennyson.
2. Delay or procrastination. Shak.
3. Entertaining discourse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DALLIER
Dal"li*er, n.
Defn: One Who fondles; a trifler; as, dalliers with pleasant words.
Asham.
DALLOP
Dal"lop, n. Etym: [Etymol. unknown.]
Defn: A tuft or clump. [Obs.] Tusser.
DALLY
Dal"ly, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dallied; p. pr. & vb. n. Dallying.] Etym:
[OE. , dailien; cf. Icel. pylja to talk, G. dallen, dalen, dahlen, to
trifle, talk nonsense, OSw. tule a droll or funny man; or AS. dol
foolish, E. dull.]
1. To waste time in effeminate or voluptuous pleasures, or in
idleness; to fool away time; to delay unnecessarily; to tarry; to
trifle.
We have trifled too long already; it is madness to dally any longer.
Calamy.
We have put off God, and dallied with his grace. Barrow.
2. To interchange caresses, especially with one of the opposite sex;
to use fondling; to wanton; to sport.
Not dallying with a brace of courtesans. Shak.
Our aerie . . . dallies with the wind. Shak.
DALLY
Dal"ly, v. t.
Defn: To delay unnecessarily; to while away.
Dallying off the time with often skirmishes. Knolles.
DALMANIA
Dal*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [From Dalman, the geologist.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of trilobites, of many species, common in the Upper
Silurian and Devonian rocks.
DALMANITES
Dal`ma*ni"tes, n.
Defn: Same as Dalmania.
DALMATIAN
Dal*ma"tian, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Dalmatia. Dalmatian dog (Zoöl.), a carriage
dog, shaped like a pointer, and having black or bluish spots on a
white ground; the coach dog.
DALMATICA; DALMATIC
Dal*mat"i*ca, n., Dal*mat"ic (, n. Etym: [LL. dalmatica: cf. F.
dalmatique.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A vestment with wide sleeves, and with two stripes, worn at
Mass by deacons, and by bishops at pontifical Mass; -- imitated from
a dress originally worn in Dalmatia.
2. A robe worn on state ocasions, as by English kings at their
coronation.
DAL SEGNO
Dal` se"gno. Etym: [It., from the sign.] (Mus.)
Defn: A direction to go back to the sign Segno.
DALTONIAN
Dal*to"ni*an, n.
Defn: One afflicted with color blindness.
DALTONISM
Dal"ton*ism, n.
Defn: Inability to perceive or distinguish certain colors, esp. red;
color blindness. It has various forms and degrees. So called from the
chemist Dalton, who had this infirmity. Nichol.
DAM
Dam, n. Etym: [OE. dame mistress, lady; also, mother, dam. See Dame.]
1. A female parent; -- used of beasts, especially of quadrupeds;
sometimes applied in contempt to a human mother.
Our sire and dam, now confined to horses, are a relic of this age
(13th century) . . . .Dame is used of a hen; we now make a great
difference between dame and dam. T. L. K. Oliphant.
The dam runs lowing up end down, Looking the way her harmless young
one went. Shak.
2. A kind or crowned piece in the game of draughts.
DAM
Dam, n. Etym: [Akin to OLG., D., & Dan. dam, G. & Sw. damm, Icel.
dammr, and AS. fordemman to stop up, Goth. Faúrdammjan.]
1. A barrier to prevent the flow of a liquid; esp., a bank of earth,
or wall of any kind, as of masonry or wood, built across a water
course, to confine and keep back flowing water.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: A firebrick wall, or a stone, which forms the front of the
hearth of a blast furnace. Dam plate (Blast Furnace), an iron plate
in front of the dam, to strengthen it.
DAM
Dam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dammed; p. pr. & vb. n. Damming.]
1. To obstruct or restrain the flow of, by a dam; to confine by
constructing a dam, as a stream of water; -- generally used with in
or up.
I'll have the current in this place dammed up. Shak.
A weight of earth that dams in the water. Mortimer.
2. To shut up; to stop up; to close; to restrain.
The strait pass was dammed With dead men hurt behind, and cowards.
Shak.
To dam out, to keep out by means of a dam.
DAMAGE
Dam"age, n. Etym: [OF. damage, domage, F. dommage, fr. assumed LL.
damnaticum, from L. damnum damage. See Damn.]
1. Injury or harm to person, property, or reputation; an inflicted
loss of value; detriment; hurt; mischief.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet
and drinketh damage. Prov. xxvi. 6.
Great errors and absurdities many commit for want of a friend to tell
them of them, to the great damage both of their fame and fortune.
Bacon.
2. pl. (Law)
Defn: The estimated reparation in money for detriment or injury
sustained; a compensation, recompense, or satisfaction to one party,
for a wrong or injury actually done to him by another.
Note: In common-law action, the jury are the proper judges of
damages. Consequential damage. See under Consequential.
-- Exemplary damages (Law), damages imposed by way of example to
others.
-- Nominal damages (Law), those given for a violation of a right
where no actual loss has accrued.
-- Vindictive damages, those given specially for the punishment of
the wrongdoer.
Syn.
-- Mischief; injury; harm; hurt; detriment; evil; ill. See Mischief.
DAMAGE
Dam"age, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damages; p. pr. & vb. n. Damaging.]
Etym: [Cf. OF. damagier, domagier. See Damage, n.]
Defn: To ocassion damage to the soudness, goodness, or value of; to
hurt; to injure; to impair.
He . . . came up to the English admiral and gave him a broadside,
with which he killed many of his men and damaged the ship. Clarendon.
DAMAGE
Dam"age, v. i.
Defn: To receive damage or harm; to be injured or impaired in
soudness or value; as. some colors in damage in sunlight.
DAMAGEABLE
Dam"age*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. dammageable, for sense 2.]
1. Capable of being injured or impaired; liable to, or susceptible
of, damage; as, a damageable cargo.
2. Hurtful; pernicious. [R.]
That it be not demageable unto your royal majesty. Hakluit.
DAMAGE FEASANT
Dam"age fea`sant. Etym: [OF. damage + F. faisant doing, p. pr. See
Feasible.] (Law)
Defn: Doing injury; trespassing, as cattle. Blackstone.
DAMAN
Da"man, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small herbivorous mammal of the genus Hyrax. The species
found in Palestine and Syria is Hyrax Syriacus; that of Northern
Africa is H. Brucei; -- called also ashkoko, dassy, and rock rabbit.
See Cony, and Hyrax.
DAMAR
Dam"ar, n.
Defn: See Dammar.
DAMARA
Da*ma"ra, n. [The name is supposed to be from Hottentot dama
vanquished.]
Defn: A native of Damaraland, German Southwest Africa. The Damaras
include an important and warlike Bantu tribe, and the Hill Damaras,
who are Hottentots and mixed breeds hostile to the Bantus.
DAMASCENE
Dam"as*cene, a. Etym: [L. Damascenus of Damascus, fr. Damascus the
city, Gr. . See Damask, and cf. Damaskeen, Damaskin, Damson.]
Defn: Of or relating to Damascus.
DAMASCENE
Dam"as*cene, n.
Defn: A kind of plume, now called damson. See Damson.
DAMASCENE
Dam"as*cene, v. t.
Defn: Same as Damask, or Damaskeen, v. t. "Damascened armor."
Beaconsfield. "Cast and damascened steel." Ure.
DAMASCUS
Da*mas"cus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A city of Syria. Damascus blade, a sword or scimiter, made
chiefly at Damascus, having a variegated appearance of watering, and
proverbial for excellence.
-- Damascus iron, or Damascus twist, metal formed of thin bars or
wires of iron and steel elaborately twisted and welded together; used
for making gun barrels, etc., of high quality, in which the surface,
when polished and acted upon by acid, has a damasc appearance.
-- Damascus steel. See Damask steel, under Damask, a.
DAMASCUS STEEL
Da*mas"cus steel.
Defn: See Damask steel, under Damask.
DAMASK
Dam"ask, n. Etym: [From the city Damascus, L. Damascus, Gr. , Heb.
Dammesq, Ar. Daemeshq; cf. Heb. d'meseq damask; cf. It. damasco, Sp.
damasco, F. damas. Cf. Damascene, DamassÉ.]
1. Damask silk; silk woven with an elaborate pattern of flowers and
the like. "A bed of ancient damask." W. Irving.
2. Linen so woven that a pattern in produced by the different
directions of the thread, without contrast of color.
3. A heavy woolen or worsted stuff with a pattern woven in the same
way as the linen damask; -- made for furniture covering and hangings.
4. Damask or Damascus steel; also, the peculiar markings or "water"
of such steel.
5. A deep pink or rose color. Fairfax.
DAMASK
Dam"ask, a.
1. Pertaining to, or originating at, the city of Damascus; resembling
the products or manufactures of Damascus.
2. Having the color of the damask rose.
But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, Feed on her damask
cheek. Shak.
Damask color, a deep rose-color like that of the damask rose.
-- Damask plum, a small dark-colored plum, generally called damson.
-- Damask rose (Bot.), a large, pink, hardy, and very fragrant
variety of rose (Rosa damascena) from Damascus. "Damask roses have
not been known in England above one hundred years." Bacon.
-- Damask steel, or Damascus steel, steel of the kind originally
made at Damascus, famous for its hardness, and its beautiful texture,
ornamented with waving lines; especially, that which is inlaid with
damaskeening; -- formerly much valued for sword blades, from its
great flexibility and tenacity.
DAMASK
Dam"ask, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damasked; p. pr. & vb. n. Damasking.]
Defn: To decorate in a way peculiar to Damascus or attributed to
Damascus; particularly: (a) with flowers and rich designs, as silk;
(b) with inlaid lines of gold, etc., or with a peculiar marking or
"water," as metal. See Damaskeen.
Mingled metal damasked o'er with gold. Dryde
On the soft, downy bank, damasked with flowers. Milton.
DAMASKEEN; DAMASKEN
Dam"as*keen`, Dam"as*ken, v. t. Etym: [F. damaschinare. See
Damascene, v.]
Defn: To decorate, as iron, steel, etc., with a peculiar marking or
"water" produced in the process of manufacture, or with designs
produced by inlaying or incrusting with another metal, as silver or
gold, or by etching, etc., to damask.
Damaskeening is is partly mosaic work, partly engraving, and partly
carving. Ure.
DAMASKIN
Dam"as*kin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. damasquin, adj., It. damaschino, Sp.
damasquino. See Damaskeen.]
Defn: A sword of Damask steel.
No old Toledo blades or damaskins. Howell
DAMASSE
Da*mas*sé", a. Etym: [F. damassé, fr. damas. See Damask.]
Defn: Woven like damask.
-- n.
Defn: A damassé fabric, esp. one of linen.
DAMASSIN
Dam"as*sin, n. Etym: [F., fr. damas. See Damask.]
Defn: A kind of modified damask or blocade.
DAMBONITE
Dambo*nite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dambonite.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline, sugary substance obtained from an African
caotchouc.
DAMBOSE
Dam"bose, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline vari ety of fruit sugar obtained from dambonite.
DAME
Dame, n. Etym: [F. dame, LL. domna, fr. L. domina mistress, lady,
fem. of dominus master, ruler, lord; akin to domare to tame, subdue.
See Tame, and cf. Dam mother, Dan, Danger, Dangeon, Dungeon, Dominie,
Don, n., Duenna.]
1. A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a womam in authority;
especially, a lady.
Then shall these lords do vex me half so much, As that proud dame,
the lord protector's wife. Shak.
2. The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a
common school; as, a dame's school.
In the dame's classes at the village school. Emerson.
3. A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman.
4. A mother; -- applied to human beings and quadrupeds. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
DAMEWORT
Dame"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A cruciferrous plant (Hesperis matronalis), remarkable for its
fragrance, especially toward the close of the day; -- called also
rocket and dame's violet. Loudon.
DAMIANA
Da`mi*a"na, n. Etym: [NL.; of uncertain origin.] (Med.)
Defn: A Mexican drug, used as an aphrodisiac.
Note: There are several varieties derived from different plants, esp.
from a species of Turnera and from Bigelovia veneta. Wood & Bache.
DAMIANIST
Da"mi*an*ist, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Damian, patriarch of Alexandria in the 6th
century, who held heretical opinions on the doctrine of the Holy
Trinity.
DAMMAR; DAMMARA
Dam"mar, Dam"ma*ra, n. Etym: [Jav. & Malay. damar.]
Defn: An oleoresin used in making varnishes; dammar gum; dammara
resin. It is obtained from certain resin trees indigenous to the East
Indies, esp. Shorea robusta and the dammar pine. Dammar pine, (Bot.),
a tree of the Moluccas (Agathis, or Dammara, orientalis), yielding
dammar.
DAMMARA
Dam"ma*ra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A large tree of the order Coniferæ, indigenous to the East
Indies and Australasia; -- called also Agathis. There are several
species.
DAMN
Damn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Damned; p. pr. & vb. n. Damning.] Etym:
[OE. damnen dap), OF. damner, dampner, F. damner, fr. L. damnare,
damnatum, to condemn, fr. damnum damage, a fine, penalty. Cf.
Condemn, Damage.]
1. To condemn; to declare guilty; to doom; to adjudge to punishment;
to sentence; to censhure.
He shall not live; look, with a spot I damn him. Shak.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: To doom to punishment in the future world; to consign to
perdition; to curse.
3. To condemn as bad or displeasing, by open expression, as by
denuciation, hissing, hooting, etc.
You are not so arrant a critic as to damn them [the works of modern
poets] . . . without hearing. Pope.
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering
teach the rest to sneer. Pope.
Note: Damn is sometimes used interjectionally, imperatively, and
intensively.
DAMN
Damn, v. i.
Defn: To invoke damnation; to curse. "While I inwardly damn."
Goldsmith.
DAMNABILITY
Dam`na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being damnable; damnableness. Sir T. More.
DAMNABLE
Dam"na*ble, a. Etym: [L. damnabilis, fr. damnare: cf. F. damnable.
See Damn.]
1. Liable to damnation; deserving, or for which one deserves, to be
damned; of a damning nature.
A creature unprepared unmeet for dealth, And to transport him in the
mind hi is, Were damnable. Shak.
2. Odious; pernicious; detestable.
Begin, murderer; . . . leave thy damnable faces. Shak.
DAMNABLENESS
Dam"na*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of deserving damnation; execrableness.
The damnableness of this most execrable impiety. Prynne.
DAMNABLY
Dam"na*bly, adv.
1. In a manner to incur sever
2. Odiously; detestably; excessively. [Low]
DAMNATION
Dam*na"tion, n. Etym: [F. damnation, L. damnatio, fr. damnare. See
Damn.]
1. The state of being damned; condemnation; openly expressed
disapprobation.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Condemnation to everlasting punishment in the future state, or
the punishment itself.
How can ye escape the damnation of hell Matt. xxiii. 33.
Wickedness is sin, and sin is damnation. Shak.
3. A sin daserving of everlasting punishment. [R.]
The deep damnation of his taking-off. Shak.
DAMNATORY
Dam"na*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. damnatorius, fr. damnator a condemner.]
Defn: Doo "Damnatory invectives." Hallam.
DAMNED
Damned, a.
1. Sentenced to punishment in a future state; condemned; consigned to
perdition.
2. Hateful; detestable; abominable.
But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er Who doats, yet doubts,
suspects, yet strongly loves. Shak.
DAMNIFIC
Dam*nif"ic, a. Etym: [L. damnificus; damnum damage, loss + facere to
make. See Damn.]
Defn: Procuring or causing loss; mischievous; injurious.
DAMNIFICATION
Dam`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. damnificatio.]
Defn: That which causes damage or loss.
DAMNIFY
Dam"ni*fy, v. t. Etym: [LL. damnificare, fr. L. damnificus: cf. OF.
damnefier. See Damnific.]
Defn: To cause loss or damage to; to injure; to imparir. [R.]
This work will ask as many more officials to make expurgations and
expunctions, that the commonwealth of learning be not damnified.
Milton.
DAMNING
Damn"ing, a.
Defn: That damns; damnable; as, damning evidence of guilt.
DAMNINGNESS
Damn"ing*ness, n.
Defn: Tendency to bring damnation. "The damningness of them [sins]."
Hammond.
DAMNUM
dam"num, n. Etym: [L.] (law)
Defn: Harm; detriment, either to character or property.
DAMOSEL; DAMOSELLA; DAMOISELLE
Dam"o*sel, Dam`o*sel"la, Da`moi`selle", n.
Defn: See Damsel. [Archaic]
DAMOURITE
Dam"our*ite, n. Etym: [Ater the French chemist Damour.] (Min.)
Defn: A kind of Muscovite, or potash mica, containing water.
DAMP
Damp, n. Etym: [Akin to LG., D., & Dan. damp vapor, steam, fog, G.
dampf, Icel. dampi, Sw. damb dust, and to MNG. dimpfen to smoke, imp.
dampf.]
1. Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor.
Night . . . with black air Accompanied, with damps and dreadful
gloom. Milton.
2. Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind.
Even now, while thus I stand blest in thy presence, A secret damp of
grief comes o'er my soul. Addison.
It must have thrown a damp over your autumn excursion. J. D. Forbes.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A gaseous prodact, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc.
Choke damp, a damp consisting principally of carboniCarbonic acid,
under Carbonic.
-- Damp sheet, a curtain in a mine gallery to direct air currents
and prevent accumulation of gas.
-- Fire damp, a damp consisting chiefly of light carbureted
hydrogen; -- so called from its tendence to explode when mixed with
atmospheric air and brought into contact with flame.
DAMP
Damp, a. [Compar. Damper; superl. Dampest.]
1. Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist;
humid.
O'erspread with a damp sweat and holy fear. Dryden.
2. Dejected; depressed; sunk. [R.]
All these and more came flocking, but with looks Downcast and damp.
Milton.
DAMP
Damp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Damped; p. pr. & vb. n. Damping.] Etym:
[OE. dampen to choke, suffocate. See Damp, n.]
1. To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to
dampen; as, to damp cloth.
2. To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to
check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to
discourage. "To damp your tender hopes." Akenside.
Usury dulls and damps all industries, improvements, and new
inventions, wherein money would be stirring if it were not for this
slug. Bacon.
How many a day has been damped and darkened by an angry word! Sir J.
Lubbock.
The failure of his enterprise damped the spirit of the soldiers.
Macaulay.
DAMPEN
Damp"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dampened; p. pr. & vb. n. Dampening.]
1. To make damp or moist; to make slightly wet.
2. To depress; to check; to make dull; to lessen.
In a way that considerably dampened our enthusiasm. The Century.
DAMPEN
Damp"en, v. i.
Defn: To become damp; to deaden. Byron.
DAMPER
Damp"er, n.
Defn: That which damps or checks; as: (a) A valve or movable plate in
the flue or other part of a stove, furnace, etc., used to check or
regulate the draught of air. (b) A contrivance, as in a pianoforte,
to deaden vibrations; or, as in other pieces of mechanism, to check
some action at a particular time.
Nor did Sabrina's presence seem to act as any damper at the modest
little festivities. W. Black.
DAMPISH
Damp"ish, a.
Defn: Moderately damp or moist.
-- Damp"ish*ly, adv.
-- Damp"ish*ness, n.
DAMPNE
Damp"ne, v. t.
Defn: To damn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DAMPNESS
Damp"ness, n.
Defn: Moderate humidity; moisture; fogginess; moistness.
DAMP OFF
Damp" off`.
Defn: To decay and perish through excessive moisture.
DAMPY
Damp"y, a.
1. Somewhat damp. [Obs.] Drayton.
2. Dejected; gloomy; sorrowful. [Obs.] "Dispel dampy throughts."
Haywards.
DAMSEL
Dam"sel, n. Etym: [OE. damosel, damesel, damisel, damsel, fr. OF.
damoisele, damisele, gentlewoman, F. demoiselle young lady; cf. OF.
damoisel young nobleman, F. damoiseau; fr. LL. domicella,
dominicella, fem., domicellus, dominicellus, masc., dim. fr. L.
domina, dominus. See Dame, and cf. Demoiselle, Doncella.]
1. A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle
extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales. [Obs.]
2. A young unmarried woman; a gerl; a maiden.
With her train of damsels she was gone, In shady walks the scorching
heat to shum. Dryden.
Sometimes a troop of damsels glad, . . . Goes by to towered Cameleot.
Tennyson.
3. (Milling)
Defn: An attachment to a millstone spindle for shaking the hoppe
DAMSON
Dam"son, n. Etym: [OE. damasin the Damascus plum, fr. L. Damascenus.
See Damascene.]
Defn: A small oval plum of a blue color, the fruit of a variety of
the Prunus domestica; -- called also damask plum.
DAN
Dan, n. Etym: [OE. dan, danz, OF. danz (prop. only nom.), dan,
master, fr. L. dominus. See Dame.]
Defn: A title of honor equivalent to master, or sir. [Obs.]
Old Dan Geoffry, in gently spright The pure wellhead of poetry did
dwell. Spenser.
What time Dan Abraham left the Chaldee land. Thomson.
DAN
Dan, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Mining)
Defn: A small truck or sledge used in coal mines.
DANAIDE
Da"na*ide, n. Etym: [From the mythical Danaides, who were condemned
to fill with water a vessel full of holes.] (Mach.)
Defn: A water wheel having a vertical axis, and an inner and outer
tapering shell, between which are vanes or floats attached usually to
both shells, but sometimes only to one.
DANAITE
Da"na*ite, n. Etym: [Named after J. Freeman Dana.] (Min.)
Defn: A cobaltiferous variety of arsenopyrite.
DANALITE
Da"na*lite, n. Etym: [Named after James Dwight Dana.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occuring in octahedral crystals, also massive, of a
reddish color. It is a silicate of iron, zinc manganese, and
glicinum, containing sulphur.
DANBURITE
Dan"bu*rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A borosilicate of lime, first found at Danbury, Conn. It is
near the topaz in form. Dana.
DANCE
Dance, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Danced; p. pr. & vb. n. Dancing.] Etym:
[F. danser, fr. OHG. dans to draw; akin to dinsan to draw, Goth.
apinsan, and prob. from the same root (meaning to stretch) as E.
thin. See Thin.]
1. To move with measured steps, or to a musical accompaniment; to go
through, either alone or in company with others, with a regulated
succession of movements, (commonly) to the sound of music; to trip or
leap rhytmically.
Jack shall pipe and Gill shall dance. Wiher.
Good shepherd, what fair swain is this Which dances with your dauther
Shak.
2. To move nimbly or merrily; to express pleasure by motion; to
caper; to frisk; to skip about.
Then, 'tis time to dance off. Thackeray.
More dances my rapt heart Than when I first my wedded mistress saw.
Shak.
Shadows in the glassy waters dance. Byron.
Where rivulets dance their wayward round. Wordsworth.
To dance on a rope, or To dance on nothing, to be hanged.
DANCE
Dance, v. t.
Defn: To cause to dance, or move nimbly or merrily about, or up and
down; to dandle.
To dance our ringlets to the whistling wind. Shak.
Thy grandsire loved thee well; Many a time he danced thee on his
knee. Shak.
To dance attendance, to come and go obsequiously; to be or remain in
waiting, at the beck and call of another, with a view to please or
gain favor.
A man of his place, and so near our favor, To dance attendance on
their lordships' pleasure. Shak.
DANCE
Dance, n. Etym: [F. danse, of German origin. See Dance, v. i.]
1. The leaping, tripping, or measured stepping of one who dances; an
amusement, in which the movements of the persons are regulated by
art, in figures and in accord with music.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A tune by which dancing is regulated, as the minuet, the waltz,
the cotillon, etc.
Note: The word dance was used ironically, by the older writers, of
many proceedings besides dancing.
Of remedies of love she knew parchance For of that art she couth the
olde dance. Chaucer.
Dance of Death (Art), an allegorical representation of the power of
death over all, -- the old, the young, the high, and the low, being
led by a dancing skeleton.
-- Morris dance. See Morris.
-- To lead one a dance, to cause one to go through a series of
movements or experiences as if guided by a partner in a dance not
understood.
DANCER
Dan"cer, n.
Defn: One who dances or who practices dancing. The merry dancers,
beams of the northern lights when they rise and fall alternately
without any considerable change of length. See Aurora borealis, under
Aurora.
DANCERESS
Dan"cer*ess, n.
Defn: A female dancer. [Obs.] Wyclif.
DANCETTE
Dan`cet`té", a. Etym: [Cf. F. danché dancetté, dent tooth.] (Her.)
Defn: Deeply indented; having large teeth; thus, a fess dancetté has
only three teeth in the whole width of the escutcheon.
DANCING
Dan"cing, p. a. & vb. n.
Defn: from Dance. Dancing girl, one of the women in the East Indies
whose profession is to dance in the temples, or for the amusement of
spectators. There are various classes of dancing girls.
-- Dancing master, a teacher of dancing.
-- Dancing school, a school or place where dancing is taught.
DANCY
Dan"cy, a. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Dancetté.
DANDELION
Dan"de*li`on, n. Etym: [F. dent de lion lion's tooth, fr. L. dens
tooth + leo lion. See Tooth, n., and Lion.] (Bot.)
Defn: A well-known plant of the genus Taraxacum (T. officinale,
formerly called T. Dens-leonis and Leontodos Taraxacum) bearing
large, yellow, compound flowers, and deeply notched leaves.
DANDER
Dan"der, n. Etym: [Corrupted from dandruff.]
1. Dandruff or scurf on the head.
2. Anger or vexation; rage [Low] Halliwell.
DANDER
Dan"der, v. i. Etym: [See Dandle.]
Defn: To wander about; to saunter; to talk incoherently. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
DANDI
Dan"di, n. Etym: [Hind. , fr. an oar.]
Defn: A boatman; an oarsman. [India]
DANDIE
Dan"die, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a breed of small terriers; -- called also Dandie
Dinmont.
DANDIE DINMONT; DANDIE
Dan"die Din"mont, or Dan"die, n.
1.
Defn: In Scott's "Guy Mannering", a Border farmer of eccentric but
fine character, who owns two terriers claimed to be the progenitors
of the Dandie Dinmont terriers.
2. One of a breed of terriers with short legs, long body, and rough
coat, originating in the country about the English and Scotch border.
DANDIFIED
Dan"di*fied, a.
Defn: Made up like a dandy; having the dress or manners of a dandy;
buckish.
DANDIFY
Dan"di*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dandifying.] Etym: [Dandy + -fy.]
Defn: To cause to resemble a dandy; to make dandyish.
DANDIPRAT
Dan"di*prat, n. Etym: [Dandy + brat child.]
1. A little fellow; -- in sport or contempt. "A dandiprat hop-thumb."
Stanyhurst.
2. A small coin.
Henry VII. stamped a small coin called dandiprats. Camden.
DANDLE
Dan"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dandled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dandling.]
Etym: [Cf. G. dändeln to trifly, dandle, OD. & Prov. G. danten, G.
tand trifly, prattle; Scot. dandill, dander, to go about idly, to
trifly.]
1. To move up and down on one's knee or in one's arms, in
affectionate play, as an infant.
Ye shall be dandled . . . upon her knees. Is.
2. To treat with fondness, as if a child; to fondle; to toy with; to
pet.
They have put me in a silk gown and gaudy fool's cap; I as ashamed to
be dandled thus. Addison.
The book, thus dandled into popularity by bishops and good ladies,
contained many pieces of nursery eloquence. Jeffrey.
3. To play with; to put off or delay by trifles; to wheedle. [Obs.]
Captains do so dandle their doings, and dally in the service, as it
they would not have the enemy subdued. Spenser.
DANDLER
Dan"dler, n.
Defn: One who dandles or fondles.
DANDRIFF
Dan"driff, n.
Defn: See Dandruff. Swift.
DANDRUFF
Dandruff, n. Etym: [Prob. from W. toncrust, peel, skin + AS. dr
dirty, draffy, or W. drwg bad: cf. AS. tan a letter, an eruption. sq.
root240.]
Defn: A scurf which forms on the head, and comes off in small or
particles. [Written also dandriff.]
DANDY
Dan"dy, n.; pl. Dandies. Etym: [Cf. F. dandin, ninny, silly fellow,
dandiner to waddle, to play the fool; prob. allied to E. dandle.
Senses 2&3 are of uncertain etymol.]
1. One who affects special finery or gives undue attention to dress;
a fop; a coxcomb.
2. (Naut.)
(a) A sloop or cutter with a jigger on which a lugsail is set.
(b) A small sail carried at or near the stern of small boats; --
called also jigger, and mizzen.
3. A dandy roller. See below. Dandy brush, a yard whalebone brush.
-- Dandy fever. See Dengue.
-- Dandy line, a kind of fishing line to which are attached several
crosspieces of whalebone which carry a hook at each end.
-- Dandy roller, a roller sieve used in machines for making paper,
to press out water from the pulp, and set the paper.
DANDY-COCK; DANDY-HEN
Dan"dy-cock` (, n. masc., Dan"dy-hen` (, n. fem. Etym: [See Dandy.]
Defn: A bantam fowl.
DANDYISE; DANDYIZE
Dan"dy*ise, v. t. & i.
Defn: To make, or to act, like a dandy; to dandify.
DANDYISH
Dan"dy*ish, a.
Defn: Like a dandy.
DANDYISM
Dan"dy*ism, n.
Defn: The manners and dress of a dandy; foppishness. Byron.
DANDYLING
Dan"dy*ling, n. Etym: [Dandy + .]
Defn: A little or insignificant dandy; a contemptible fop.
DANE
Dane, n. Etym: [LL. Dani: cf. AS. Dene.]
Defn: A native, or a naturalized inhabitant, of Denmark. Great Dane.
(Zoöl.) See Danish dog, under Danish.
DANEGELD; DANEGELT
Dane"geld`, Dane"gelt`, n. Etym: [AS. danegeld. See Dane, and Geld,
n.] (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: An annual tax formerly laid on the English nation to buy off
the ravages of Danish invaders, or to maintain forces to oppose them.
It afterward became a permanent tax, raised by an assessment, at
first of one shilling, afterward of two shillings, upon every hide of
land throughout the realm. Wharton's Law Dict. Tomlins.
DANEWORT
Dane"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fetid European species of elder (Sambucus Ebulus); dwarf
elder; wallwort; elderwort; -- called also Daneweed, Dane's weed, and
Dane's-blood.
Note: [Said to grow on spots where battles were fought against the
Danes.]
DANG
Dang,
Defn: imp. of Ding. [Obs.]
DANG
Dang, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Ding.]
Defn: To dash. [Obs.]
Till she, o'ercome with anguish, shame, and rage, Danged down to hell
her loathsome carriage. Marlowe.
DANGER
Dan"ger, n. Etym: [OE. danger, daunger, power, arrogance, refusal,
difficulty, fr. OF. dagier, dongier (with same meaning), F. danger
danger, fr. an assumed LL. dominiarium power, authority, from L.
dominium power, property. See Dungeon, Domain, Dame.]
1. Authority; jurisdiction; control. [Obs.]
In dangerhad he . . . the young girls. Chaucer.
2. Power to harm; subjection or liability to penalty. [Obs.] See In
one's danger, below.
You stand within his danger, do you not Shak.
Covetousness of gains hath brought [them] in dangerof this statute.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
3. Exposure to injury, loss, pain, or other evil; peril; risk;
insecurity.
4. Difficulty; sparingness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Coyness; disdainful behavior. [Obs.] Chaucer. In one's danger, in
one's power; liable to a penalty to be inflicted by him. [Obs.] This
sense is retained in the proverb, "Out of debt out of danger."
Those rich man in whose debt and danger they be not. Robynson (More's
Utopia).
-- To do danger, to cause danger. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- Peril; hazard; risk; jeopardy.
-- Danger, Peril, Hazard, Risk, Jeopardy. Danger is the generic
term, and implies some contingent evil in prospect. Peril is instant
or impending danger; as, in peril of one's life. Hazard arises from
something fortuitous or beyond our control; as, the hazard of the
seas. Risk is doubtful or uncertain danger, often incurred
voluntarily; as, to risk an engagement. Jeopardy is extreme danger.
Danger of a contagious disease; the perils of shipwreck; the hazards
of speculation; the risk of daring enterprises; a life brought into
jeopardy.
DANGER
Dan"ger, v. t.
Defn: To endanger. [Obs.] Shak.
DANGERFUL
Dan"ger*ful, a.
Defn: Full of danger; dangerous. [Obs.] -- Dan"ger*ful*ly, adv.
[Obs.] Udall.
DANGERLESS
Dan"ger*less, a.
Defn: Free from danger. [R.]
DANGEROUS
Dan"ger*ous, a. Etym: [OE., haughty, difficult, dangerous, fr. OF.
dangereus, F. dangereux. See Danger.]
1. Attended or beset with danger; full of risk; perilous; hazardous;
unsafe.
Our troops set forth to-morrow; stay with us; The ways are dangerous.
Shak.
It is dangerous to assert a negative. Macaulay.
2. Causing danger; ready to do harm or injury.
If they incline to think you dangerous To less than gods. Milton.
3. In a condition of danger, as from illness; threatened with death.
[Colloq.] Forby. Bartlett.
4. Hard to suit; difficult to please. [Obs.]
My wages ben full strait, and eke full small; My lord to me is hard
and dangerous. Chaucer.
5. Reserved; not affable. [Obs.] "Of his speech dangerous." Chaucer.
-- Dan"ger*ous*ly, adv.
-- Dan"ger*ous*ness, n.
DANGLE
Dan"gle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dangled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dangling.]
Etym: [Akin to Dan. dangle, dial. Sw. dangla, Dan. dingle, Sw.
dingla, Icel. dingla; perh. from E. ding.]
Defn: To hang loosely, or with a swinging or jerking motion.
he'd rather on a gibbet dangle Than miss his dear delight, to
wrangle. Hudibras.
From her lifted hand Dangled a length of ribbon. Tennyson.
To dangle about or after, to hang upon importunately; to court the
favor of; to beset.
The Presbyterians, and other fanatics that dangle after them, are
well inclined to pull down the present establishment. Swift.
DANGLE
Dan"gle, v. t.
Defn: To cause to dangle; to swing, as something suspended loosely;
as, to dangle the feet.
And the bridegroom stood dangling his bonnet and plume. Sir W. Scott.
DANGLEBERRY
Dan"gle*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A dark blue, edible berry with a white bloom, and its shrub
(Gaylussacia frondosa) closely allied to the common huckleberry. The
bush is also called blue tangle, and is found from New England to
Kentucky, and southward.
DANGLER
Dan"gler, n.
Defn: One who dangles about or after others, especially after women;
a trifler. " Danglers at toilets." Burke.
DANIEL
Dan"i*el, n.
Defn: A Hebrew prophet distinguished for sagacity and ripeness of
judgment in youth; hence, a sagacious and upright judge.
A Daniel come to judgment. Shak.
DANISH
Dan"ish, a. Etym: [See Dane.]
Defn: Belonging to the Danes, or to their language or country.
-- n.
Defn: The language of the Danes. Danish dog (Zoöl.), one of a large
and powerful breed of dogs reared in Denmark; -- called also great
Dane. See Illustration in Appendix.
DANITE
Dan"ite, n.
1. A descendant of Dan; an Israelite of the tribe of Dan. Judges
xiii. 2.
2. Etym: [So called in remembrance of the prophecy in Gen. xlix. 17,
"Dan shall be a serpent by the way," etc.]
Defn: One of a secret association of Mormons, bound by an oath to
obey the heads of the church in all things. [U. S.]
DANK
Dank, a. Etym: [Cf. dial, Sw. dank a moist place in a field, Icel.
dökk pit, pool; possibly akin to E. damp or to daggle dew.]
Defn: Damp; moist; humid; wet.
Now that the fields are dank and ways are mire. Milton.
Cheerless watches on the cold, dank ground. Trench.
DANK
Dank, n.
Defn: Moisture; humidity; water. [Obs.]
DANK
Dank, n.
Defn: A small silver coin current in Persia.
DANKISH
Dank"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat dank.
-- Dank"ish*ness, n.
In a dark and dankish vault at home. Shak.
DANNEBROG
Dan"ne*brog, n.
Defn: The ancient battle standard of Denmark, bearing figures of
cross and crown. Order of Dannebrog, an ancient Danish order of
knighthood.
DANSEUSE
Dan`seuse", n. Etym: [F., fr. danser to dance.]
Defn: a professional female dancer; a woman who dances at a public
exhibition as in a ballet.
DANSK
Dansk, a. Etym: [Dan.]
Defn: Danish. [Obs.]
DANSKER
Dansk"er, n.
Defn: A Dane. [Obs.]
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris. Shak.
DANTEAN
Dan*te"an, a.
Defn: Relatingto, emanating from or resembling, the poet Dante or his
writings.
DANTESQUE
Dan*tesque", a. Etym: [Cf. It. Dantesco.]
Defn: Dantelike; Dantean. Earle.
DANUBIAN
Da*nu"bi*an, a.
Defn: Pertainingto, or bordering on, the river Danube.
DAP
Dap, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dip.] (Angling)
Defn: To drop the bait gently on the surface of the water.
To catch a club by dapping with a grasshoper. Walton.
DAPATICAL
Da*pat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. dapaticus, fr. daps feast.]
Defn: Sumptuous in cheer. [Obs.] Bailey.
DAPHNE
Daph"ne, n. Etym: [L., a laurel tree, from Gr. .]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of diminutive Shrubs, mostly evergreen, and with
fragrant blossoms.
2. (Myth.)
Defn: A nymph of Diana, fabled to have been changed into a laurel
tree.
DAPHNETIN
Daph"ne*tin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless crystalline substance, C9H6O4, extracted from
daphnin.
DAPHNIA
Daph"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of the genus Daphnia.
DAPHNIN
Daph"nin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. daphnine.] (Chem.)
(a) A dark green bitter resin extracted from the mezereon (Daphne
mezereum) and regarded as the essential principle of the plant. [R.]
(b) A white, crystalline, bitter substance, regarded as a glucoside,
and extracted from Daphne mezereum and D. alpina.
DAPHNOMANCY
Daph"no*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. da`fnh the laurel + -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by means of the laurel.
DAPIFER
Dap"i*fer, n. Etym: [L., daps a feast + ferre to bear.]
Defn: One who brings meat to the table; hence, in some countries, the
official title of the grand master or steward of the king's or a
nobleman's household.
DAPPER
Dap"per, a. Etym: [OE. daper; prob. fr. D. dapper brave, valiant;
akin to G. tapfer brave, OHG. taphar heavy, weighty, OSlav. dobrû
good, Russ. dobrui. Cf. Deft.]
Defn: Little and active; spruce; trim; smart; neat in dress or
appearance; lively.
He wondered how so many provinces could be held in subjection by such
a dapper little man. Milton.
The dapper ditties that I wont devise. Spenser.
Sharp-nosed, dapper steam yachts. Julian Hawthorne.
DAPPERLING
Dap"per*ling, n.
Defn: A dwarf; a dandiprat. [r.]
DAPPLE
Dap"ple, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. depill a spot, a dot, a dog with spots
over the eyes, dapi a pool, and E. dimple.]
Defn: One of the spots on a dappled animal.
He has . . . as many eyes on his body as my gray mare hath dapples.
Sir P. Sidney.
DAPPLE; DAPPLED
Dap"ple, Dap"pled, a.
Defn: Marked with spots of different shades of color; spotted;
variegated; as, a dapple horse.
Some dapple mists still floated along the peaks. Sir W. Scott.
Note: The word is used in composition to denote that some color is
variegated or marked with spots; as, dapple-bay; dapple-gray.
His steed was all dapple-gray. Chaucer.
O, swiftly can speed my dapple-gray steed. Sir W. Scott.
DAPPLE
Dap"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dappled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dappling.]
Defn: To variegate with spots; to spot.
The gentle day, . . . Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray.
Shak.
The dappled pink and blushing rose. Prior.
DARBIES
Dar"bies, n. pl.
Defn: Manacles; handcuffs. [Cant]
Jem Clink will fetch you the darbies. Sir W. Scott.
Note: In "The Steel Glass" by Gascoigne, printed in 1576, occurs the
line "To binde such babes in father Derbies bands."
DARBY
Dar"by, n.
Defn: A plasterer's float, having two handles; -- used in smoothing
ceilings, etc.
DARBYITE
Dar"by*ite, n.
Defn: One of the Plymouth Brethren, or of a sect among them; -- so
called from John N. Darby, one of the leaders of the Brethren.
DARDANIAN
Dar*da"ni*an, a. & n.Etym: [From L. Dardania, poetic name of Troy.]
Defn: Trojan.
DARE
Dare, v. i. [imp. Durst or Dared (; p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Daring.] Etym: [OE. I dar, dear, I dare, imp. dorste, durste, AS. ic
dear I dare, imp. dorste. inf. durran; akin to OS. gidar, gidorsta,
gidurran, OHG. tar, torsta, turran, Goth. gadar, gadaúrsta, Gr.
tharsei^n, tharrei^n, to be bold, tharsy`s bold, Skr. Dhrsh to be
bold. sq. root70.]
Defn: To have adequate or sufficient courage for any purpose; to be
bold or venturesome; not to be afraid; to venture.
I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none. Shak.
Why then did not the ministers use their new law Bacause they durst
not, because they could not. Macaulay.
Who dared to sully her sweet love with suspicion. Thackeray.
The tie of party was stronger than the tie of blood, because a
partisan was more ready to dare without asking why. Jowett (Thu
Note: The present tense, I dare, is really an old past tense, so that
the third person is he dare, but the form he dares is now often used,
and will probably displace the obsolescent he dare, through
grammatically as incorrect as he shalls or he cans. Skeat.
The pore dar plede (the poor man dare plead). P. Plowman.
You know one dare not discover you. Dryden.
The fellow dares nopt deceide me. Shak.
Here boldly spread thy hands, no venom'd weed Dares blister them, no
slimly snail dare creep. Beau. & Fl.
Note: Formerly durst was also used as the present. Sometimes the old
form dare is found for durst or dared.
DARE
Dare, v. y. [imp. & p. p. Dared; p. pr. & vb. n. Daring.]
1. To have courage for; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or
to undertake.
What high concentration of steady feeling makes men dare every thing
and do anything Bagehot.
To wrest it from barbarism, to dare its solitudes. The Century.
2. To challenge; to provoke; to defy.
Time, I dare thee to discover Such a youth and such a lover. Dryden.
DARE
Dare, n.
1. The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness; dash. [R.]
It lends a luster . . . A large dare to our great enterprise. Shak.
2. Defiance; challenge.
Childish, unworthy dares Are not enought to part our powers. Chapman.
Sextus Pompeius Hath given the dare to Cæsar. Shak.
DARE
Dare, v. i. Etym: [OE. darien, to lie hidden, be timid.]
Defn: To lurk; to lie hid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DARE
Dare, v. t.
Defn: To terrify; to daunt. [Obs.]
For I have done those follies, those mad mischiefs, Would dare a
woman. Beau. & Fl.
To dare larks, to catch them by producing terror through to use of
mirrors, scarlet cloth, a hawk, etc., so that they lie still till a
net is thrown over them. Nares.
DARE
Dare, n. Etym: [See Dace.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fish; the dace.
DARE-DEVIL
Dare"-dev`il, n.
Defn: A reckless fellow. Also used adjectively; as, dare-devil
excitement.
A humorous dare-devil -- the very man To suit my prpose. Ld. Lytton.
DARE-DEVILTRY
Dare"-dev`il*try, n; pl. Dare-deviltries (.
Defn: Reckless mischief; the action of a dare-devil.
DAREFUL
Dare"ful, a.
Defn: Full af daring or of defiance; adveturous. [R.] Shak.
DARER
Dar"er, n.
Defn: One who dares or defies.
DARG; DARGUE
Darg, Dargue, n. Etym: [Scot., contr. fr. day work.]
Defn: A day's work; also, a fixed amount of work, whether more or
less than that of a day. [Local, Eng. & Scott]
DARIC
Dar"ic, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Antiq.)
(a) A gold coin of ancient Persia, weighing usually a little more
than 128 grains, and bearing on one side of the figure of an archer.
(b) A silver coin of about 86 grains, having the figure of an archer,
and hence, in modern times, called a daric.
2. Any very pure gold coin.
DARING
Dar"ing, n.
Defn: Boldness; fearlessness; adventurousness; also, a daring act.
DARING
Dar"ing, a.
Defn: Bold; fearless; adventurous; as, daring spirits.
-- Dar"ing*ly, adv.
-- Dar"ing*ness, n.
DARIOLE
Da`ri*ole", n. [F.]
1. A crustade. [Obs.]
2. A shell or cup of pastry filled with custard, whipped cream,
crushed macaroons, etc.
DARK
Dark, a. Etym: [OE. dark, derk, deork, AS. dearc, deorc; cf. Gael. &
Ir. dorch, dorcha, dark, black, dusky.]
1. Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving,
reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some
deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day;
dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion.
O dark, dark, dark, amid the blaze of noon, Irrecoverable dark, total
eclipse Without all hope of day! milton.
In the dark and silent grave. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Not clear to the understanding; not easily
The dark problems of existence. Shairp.
What may seem dark at the first, will afterward be found more plain.
Hooker.
What's your dark meaning, mouse, of this light word Shak.
3. Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual
darkness; unrefined; ignorant.
The age wherin he lived was dark, but he Cobld not want light who
taught the world oto see. Denhan.
The tenth century used to be reckoned by mediæval historians as the
darkest part of this intellectual night. Hallam.
4. Evincing blaxk or foul traits of character; vile; wicked;
atrocious; as, a dark villain; a dark deed.
Left him at large to his own dark designs. Milton.
5. Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious.
More dark and dark our woes. Shak.
A deep melancholy took possesion of him, and gave a dark tinge to all
his views of human nature. Macaulay.
There is, in every true woman-s heart, a spark of heavenly fire,
which beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity. W. Irving.
6. Deprived of sight; blind. [Obs.]
He was, I think, at this time quite dark, and so had been for some
years. Evelyn.
Note: Dark is sometimes used to qualify another adjective; as, dark
blue, dark green, and sometimes it forms the first part of a
compound; as, dark-haired, dark-eyed, dark-colored, dark-seated,
dark-working. A dark horse, in racing or politics, a horse or a
candidate whose chances of success are not known, and whose
capabilities have not been made the subject of general comment or of
wagers. [Colloq.] -- Dark house, Dark room, a house or room in which
madmen were confined. [Obs.] Shak.
-- Dark lantern. See Lantern.
-- The Dark Ages, a period of stagnation and obscurity in literature
and art, lasting, according to Hallam, nearly 1000 years, from about
500 to about 1500 A. D.. See Middle Ages, under Middle.
-- The Dark and Bloody Ground, a phrase applied to the State of
Kentucky, and said to be the significance of its name, in allusion to
the frequent wars that were waged there between Indians.
-- The dark day, a day (May 19, 1780) when a remarkable and
unexplained darkness extended over all New England.
-- To keep dark, to reveal nothing. [Low]
DARK
Dark, n.
1. Absence of light; darkness; obscurity; a place where there is
little or no light.
Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out. Shak.
2. The condition of ignorance; gloom; secrecy.
Look, what you do, you do it still i' th' dark. Shak.
Till we perceive by our own understandings, we are as mucdark, and as
void of knowledge, as before. Locke.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, or the
like; as, the light and darks are well contrasted.
The lights may serve for a repose to the darks, and the darks to the
lights. Dryden.
DARK
Dark, v. t.
Defn: To darken to obscure. [Obs.] Milton.
DARKEN
Dark"en, v. t. [Imp. & p. p. Darkened; p. pr. & vb. n. Darkening.]
Etym: [AS. deorcian. See Dark, a.]
1. To make dark or black; to deprite of light; to obscure; as, a
darkened room.
They [locusts] covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land
was darkened. Ex. x. 15.
So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began To darken all the hill.
Milton.
2. To render dim; to deprive of vision.
Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see. Rom. xi. 10.
3. To cloud, obscure, or perplex; to render less clear or
intelligible.
Such was his wisdom that his confidence did seldom darkenhis
foresight. Bacon.
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge Job.
xxxviii. 2.
4. To cast a gloom upon.
With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not The mirth of the
feast. Shak.
5. To make foul; to sully; to tarnish.
I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness.
Shak.
DARKEN
Dark"en, v. i.
Defn: To grow or darker.
DARKENER
Dark"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, darkens.
DARKENING
Dark"en*ing, n.
Defn: Twilight; gloaming. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.] Wright.
DARKFUL
Dark"ful, a.
Defn: Full of darkness. [Obs.]
DARKISH
Dark"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat dark; dusky.
DARKLE
Dar"kle, v. i. Etym: [Freq. of dark.]
Defn: To grow dark; to show indistinctly. Thackeray.
DARKLING
Dark"ling, adv. Etym: [Dark + the adverbial suffix -ling.]
Defn: In the dark. [Poetic]
So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling. Shak.
As the wakeful bird Sings darkling. Milton.
DARKLING
Dark"ling, p. pr. & a.
1. Becoming dark or gloomy; frowing.
His honest brows darkling as he looked towards me. Thackeray.
2. Dark; gloomy. "The darkling precipice." Moore.
DARKLY
Dark"ly, adv.
1. With imperfect light, clearness, or knowledge; obscurely; dimly;
blindly; uncertainly.
What fame to future times conveys but darkly down. Dryden.
so softly dark and darkly pure. Byron.
2. With a dark, gloomy, cruel, or menacing look.
Looking darkly at the clerguman. Hawthorne.
DARKNESS
Dark"ness, n.
1. The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom.
And darkness was upon the face of the deep. Gen. i. 2.
2. A state of privacy; secrecy.
What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light. Matt. x. 27.
3. A state of ignorance or error, especially on moral or religious
subjects; hence, wickedness; impurity.
Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John. iii. 19.
Pursue these sons of darkness: drive them out From all heaven's
bounds. Milton.
4. Want of clearness or perspicuity; obscurity; as, the darkness of a
subject, or of a discussion.
5. A state of distress or trouble.
A day of clouds and of thick darkness. Joel. ii. 2.
Prince of darkness, the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the Prince of
darkness." Locke.
Syn.
-- Darkness, Dimness, Obscurity, Gloom. Darkness arises from a
total, and dimness from a partial, want of light. A thing is obscure
when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily perceived. As tha
shade or obscurity increases, it deepens into gloom. What is dark is
hidden from view; what is obscure is difficult to perceive or
penetrate; the eye becomes dim with age; an impending storm fills the
atmosphere with gloom. When taken figuratively, these words have a
like use; as, the darkness of ignorance; dimness of discernment;
obscurity of reasoning; gloom of superstition.
DARKSOME
Dark"some, a.
Defn: Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless. [Poetic]
He brought him through a darksome narrow pass To a broad gate, all
built of beaten gold. Spenser.
DARKY
Dark"y, n.
Defn: A negro. [Sleng]
DARLING
Dar"ling, n. Etym: [OE. derling, deorling, AS. deórling; deóre dear +
-ling. See Dear, and -ling.]
Defn: One dearly beloved; a favorite.
And can do naught but wail her darling's loss. Shak.
DARLING
Dar"ling, a.
Defn: Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and tenderness;
favorite. "Some darling science." I. Watts. "Darling sin." Macaulay.
DARLINGTONIA
Dar`ling*to"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dr. William Darlington, a
botanist of West Chester, Penn.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of California pitcher plants consisting of a single
species. The long tubular leaves are hooded at the top, and
frequently contain many insects drowned in the secretion of the
leaves.
DARN
Darn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darned; p. pr. & vb. n. Darning.] Etym:
[OE. derne, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. darnio to piece, break in
pieces, W. & Arm. to E. tear. Cf. Tear, v. t.]
Defn: To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or
thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread.
He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning his stockins.
Swift.
Darning last. See under Last.
-- Darning needle. (a) A long, strong needle for mending holes or
rents, especially in stockings. (b) (Zoöl.) Any species of dragon
fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These
flies are harmless and without stings.
Note: [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.] Called also
devil's darning-needle.
DARN
Darn, n.
Defn: A place mended by darning.
DARN
Darn, v. t.
Defn: A colloquial euphemism for Damn.
DARNEL
Dar"nel, n. Etym: [OE. darnel, dernel, of uncertain origin; cf. dial.
F. darnelle, Sw. dår-repe; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating
quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. dåra to infatuate, OD. door
foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any grass of the genus Lolium, esp. the Lolium temulentum
(bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous.
Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its
variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for
pasture and for making hay.
Note: Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of
cornfield weeds. Dr. Prior.
DARNER
Darn"er, n.
Defn: One who mends by darning.
DARNEX; DARNIC
Dar"nex, Dar"nic, n.
Defn: Same as Dornick.
DAROO
Da*roo", n. (Bot.)
Defn: The Egyptian sycamore (Ficus Sycamorus). See Sycamore.
DARR
Darr, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European black tern.
DARRAIGN; DARRAIN
Dar"raign, Dar"rain,, v. t. Etym: [OF. deraisnier to explain, defend,
to maintain in legal action by proof and reasonings, LL. derationare;
de- + rationare to discourse, contend in law, fr. L. ratio reason, in
LL., legal cause. Cf. Arraign, and see Reason.]
1. To make ready to fight; to array. [Obs.]
Darrain your battle, for they are at hand. Shak.
2. To fight out; to contest; to decide by combat. [Obs.] "To darrain
the battle." Chaucer .
DARREIN
Dar"rein, a. Etym: [OF. darrein, darrain, fr. an assumed LL.
deretranus; L. de + retro back, backward.] (Law)
Defn: Last; as, darrein continuance, the last continuance.
DART
Dart, n. Etym: [OF. dart, of German origin; cf. OHG. tart javelin,
dart, AS. dara, daro, Sw. dart dagger, Icel. darra dart.]
1. A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a
short lance; a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as
an arrow.
And he [Joab] took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through
the heart of Absalom. 2 Sa. xviii. 14.
2. Anything resembling a dart; anything that pierces or wounds like a
dart.
The artful inquiry, whose venomed dart Scarce wounds the hearing
while it stabs the heart. Hannan More.
3. A spear set as a prize in running. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish; the dace. See Dace. Dart sac (Zoöl.), a sac connected
with the reproductive organs of land snails, which contains a dart,
or arrowlike structure.
DART
Dart, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Darted; p. pr. & vb. n. Darting.]
1. To throw with a sudden effort or thrust, as a dart or other
missile weapon; to hurl or launch.
2. To throw suddenly or rapidly; to send forth; to emit; to shoot;
as, the sun darts forth his beams.
Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart Pope.
DART
Dart, v. i.
1. To fly or pass swiftly, as a dart.
2. To start and run with velocity; to shoot rapidly along; as, the
deer darted from the thicket.
DARTARS
Dar"tars, n. Etym: [F. dartre eruption, dandruff.
Defn: A kind of scab or ulceration on the skin of lambs.
DARTER
Dart"er, n.
1. One who darts, or who throw darts; that which darts.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The snakebird, a water bird of the genus Plotus; -- so called
because it darts out its long, snakelike neck at its prey. See
Snakebird.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small fresh-water etheostomoid fish. The group includes
numerous genera and species, all of them American. See Etheostomoid.
DARTINGLY
Dart"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Like a dart; rapidly.
DARTLE
Dar"tle, v. t. & i.
Defn: To pierce or shoot through; to dart repeatedly: --
frequentative of dart.
My star that dartles the red and the blue. R. Browning.
DARTOIC
Dar*to"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the dartos.
DARTOID
Dar"toid, a. Etym: [Dartos + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Like the dartos; dartoic; as, dartoid tissue.
DARTOS
Dar"tos, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. flayed.] (Anat.)
Defn: A thin layer of peculiar contractile tissue directly beneath
the skin of the scrotum.
DARTROUS
Dar"trous, a. Etym: [F. dartreux. See Dartars.] (Med.)
Defn: Relating to, or partaking of the nature of, the disease called
tetter; herpetic. Dartroud diathesis, A morbid condition of the
system predisposing to the development of certain skin deseases, such
as eczema, psoriasis, and pityriasis. Also called rheumic diathesis,
and hipretism. Piffard.
DARWINIAN
Dar*win"i*an, a. Etym: [From the name of Charles Darwin, an English
scientist.]
Defn: Pertaining to Darwin; as, the Darwinian theory, a theory of the
manner and cause of the supposed development of living things from
certain original forms or elements.
Note: This theory was put forth by Darwin in 1859 in a work entitled
"The Origin of species by Means of Natural Selection." The author
argues that, in the struggle for existence, those plants and
creatures best fitted to the requirements of the situation in which
they are placed are the ones that will live; in other words, that
Nature selects those which are survive. This is the theory of natural
selection or the survival of the fillest. He also argues that natural
selection is capable of modifying and producing organisms fit for
their circumstances. See Development theory, under Development.
DARWINIAN
Dar*win"i*an, n.
Defn: An advocate of Darwinism.
DARWINIANISM
Dar*win"i*an*ism, n.
Defn: Darwinism.
DARWINISM
Dar"win*ism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The theory or doctrines put forth by Darwin. See above. Huxley.
DASE
Dase, v. t.
Defn: See Daze. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DASEWE
Dase"we, v. i. Etym: [OE. dasewen, daswen; cf. AS. dysegian to be
foolish.]
Defn: To become dim-sighted; to become dazed or dazzled. [Obs.]
Chauscer.
DASH
Dash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dashing.] Etym:
[Of. Scand. origin; cf. Dan daske to beat, strike, Sw. & Icel. daska,
Dan. & Sw. dask blow.]
1. To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or
hastily; -- often used with against.
If you dash a stone against a stone in the botton of the water, it
maketh a sound. Bacon.
2. To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to
frustrate; to ruin.
Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Ps. ii. 9.
A brave vessel, . . . Dashed all to pieces. Shak.
To perplex and dash Maturest counsels. Milton.
3. To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.
South.
Dash the proud gamesPope.
4. To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or
adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to
overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to
dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.
I take care to dash the character with such particular circumstance
as may prevent ill-natured applications. Addison.
The very source and fount of day Is dashed with wandering isles of
night. Tennyson.
5. To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or
with careless haste; -- with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon.
6. To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out; as,
to dash out a word.
DASH
Dash, v. i.
Defn: To rust with violence; to move impetuously; to strike
violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks.
[He] dashed through thick and thin. Dryden.
On each hand the gushing waters play, And down the rough cascade all
dashing fall. Thomson.
DASH
Dash, n.
1. Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.
2. A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes
received a dash.
3. A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial
overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of
purple.
Innocence when it has in it a dash of folly. Addison.
4. A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or
blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of
rain.
She takes upon her bravely at first dash. Shak.
5. Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.
6. A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a
great dash. [Low]
7. (Punctuation)
Defn: A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden
break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its
construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or
epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used
instead of marks or parenthesis. John Wilson.
8. (Mus.)
(a) The sign of staccato, a small mark [.
(b) The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a
direction to raise the interval a semitone.
9. (Racing)
Defn: A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course;
-- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.
DASHBOARD
Dash"board`, n.
1. A board placed on the fore part of a carriage, sleigh, or other
vechicle, to intercept water, mud, or snow, thrown up by the heels of
the horses; -- in England commonly called splashboard.
2. (Naut.)
(a) The float of a paddle wheel.
(b) A screen at the bow af a steam launch to keep off the spray; --
called also sprayboard.
DASHEEN
Dash`een", n.
Defn: A tropical aroid (of the genus Caladium, syn. Colocasia) having
an edible farinaceous root. It is related to the taro and to the
tanier, but is much superior to it in quality and is as easily cooked
as the potato. It is a staple food plant of the tropics, being
prepared like potatoes, and has been introduced into the Southern
United States.
DASHER
Dash"er, n.
1. That which dashes or agitates; as, the dasher of a churn.
2. A dashboard or splashboard. [U. S.]
3. One who makes an ostentatious parade. [Low]
DASHING
Dash"ing, a.
Defn: Bold; spirited; showy.
The dashing and daring spirit is preferable to the listless. T.
Campbell.
DASHINGLY
Dash"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Conspicuously; showily. [Colloq.]
A dashingly dressed gentleman. Hawthorne.
DASHISM
Dash"ism, n.
Defn: The character of making ostentatious or blustering parade or
show. [R. & Colloq.]
He must fight a duel before his claim to . . . dashism can be
universally allowed. V. Knox.
DASHPOT
Dash"pot`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A pneumatic or hydraulic cushion for a falling weight, as in
the valve gear of a steam engine, to prevent shock.
Note: It consists of a chamber, containing air or a liquid, in which
a piston (a), attached to the weight, falls freely until it enters a
space (as below the openings, b) from which the air or liquid can
escape but slowly (as through cock c), when its fall is gradually
checked.
Note: A cataract of an engine is sometimes called a dashpot.
DASHY
Dash"y, a. Etym: [From Dash.]
Defn: Calculated to arrest attention; ostentatiously fashionable;
showy. [Colloq.]
DASTARD
Das"tard, n. Etym: [Prob. from Icel. dæstr exhausted. breathless, p.
p. of dæsa to groan, lose one's breath; cf. dasask to become
exhausted, and E. daze.]
Defn: One who meanly shrinks from danger; an arrant coward; a
poltroon.
You are all recreants and dashtards, and delight to live in slavery
to the nobility. Shak.
DASTARD
Das"tard, a.
Defn: Meanly shrinking from danger; cowardly; dastardly. "Their
dastard souls." Addison.
DASTARD
Das"tard, v. t.
Defn: To dastardize. [R.] Dryden.
DASTARDIZE
Das"tard*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dastardized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dastardizing.]
Defn: To make cowardly; to intimidate; to dispirit; as, to dastardize
my courage. Dryden.
DASTARDLINESS
Das"tard*li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dastardly; cowardice; base fear.
DASTARDLY
Das"tard*ly, a.
Defn: Meanly timid; cowardly; base; as, a dastardly outrage.
DASTARDNESS
Das"tard*ness, n.
Defn: Dastardliness.
DASTARDY
Das"tard*y, n.
Defn: Base timidity; cowardliness.
DASWE
Das"we, v. i.
Defn: See Dasewe [Obs.] Chaucer.
DASYMETER
Da*sym"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. rough, thick + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for testing the density of gases, consisting of a
thin glass globe, which is weighed in the gas or gases, and then in
an atmosphere of known density.
DASYPAEDAL
Das`y*pæ"dal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Dasypædic.
DASYPAEDES
Das`y*pæ"des, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. hairy, shaggy + , , a
child.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Those birds whose young are covered with down when hatched.
DASYPAEDIC
Das`y*pæ"dic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Dasypædes; ptilopædic.
DASYURE
Das"y*ure, n. Etym: [Gr. thick, shaggy + tail: cf. F. dasyure.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous marsupial quadruped of Australia, belonging to
the genus Dasyurus. There are several species.
DASYURINE
Das`y*u"rine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, the dasyures.
DATA
Da"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L. pl. of datum.]
Defn: See Datum.
DATABLE
Dat"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be dated; having a known or ascertainable date.
"Datable almost to a year." The Century.
DATARIA
Da*ta"ri*a, n. Etym: [LL., fr. L. datum given.] (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: Formerly, a part of the Roman chancery; now, a separate office
from which are sent graces or favors, cognizable in foro externo,
such as appointments to benefices. The name is derived from the word
datum, given or dated (with the indications of the time and place of
granting the gift or favor).
DATARY
Da"ta*ry, n. Etym: [LL. datarius. See Dataria.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An officer in the pope's court, having charge of the Dataria.
2. The office or employment of a datary.
DATE
Date, n.Etym: [F. datte, L. dactylus, fr. Gr. , prob. not the same
word as finger, but of Semitic origin.] (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of the date palm; also, the date palm itself.
Note: This fruit is somewhat in the shape of an olive, containing a
soft pulp, sweet, esculent, and wholesome, and inclosing a hard
kernel. Date palm, or Date tree (Bot.), the genus of palms which bear
dates, of which common species is Phoenix dactylifera. See Illust.
-- Date plum (Bot.), the fruit of several species of Diospyros,
including the American and Japanese persimmons, and the European
lotus (D. Lotus).
-- Date shell, or Date fish (Zoöl.), a bivalve shell, or its
inhabitant, of the genus Pholas, and allied genera. See Pholas.
DATE
Date, n. Etym: [F. date, LL. data, fr. L. datus given, p.p. of dare
to give; akin to Gr. , OSlaw. dati, Skr. da. Cf. Datum, Dose, Dato,
Die.]
1. That addition to a writing, inscription, coin, etc., which
specifies the time (as day, month, and year) when the writing or
inscription was given, or executed, or made; as, the date of a
letter, of a will, of a deed, of a coin. etc.
And bonds without a date, they say, are void. Dryden.
2. The point of time at which a transaction or event takes place, or
is appointed to take place; a given point of time; epoch; as, the
date of a battle.
He at once, Down the long series of eventful time, So fixed the dates
of being, so disposed To every living soul of every kind The field of
motion, and the hour of rest. Akenside.
3. Assigned end; conclusion. [R.]
What Time would spare, from Steel receives its date. Pope.
4. Given or assigned length of life; dyration. [Obs.]
Good luck prolonged hath thy date. Spenser.
Through his life's whole date. Chapman.
To bear date, to have the date named on the face of it; -- said of a
writing.
DATE
Date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dating.] Etym: [Cf.
F. dater. See 2d Date.]
1. To note the time of writing or executing; to express in an
instrument the time of its execution; as, to date a letter, a bond, a
deed, or a charter.
2. To note or fix the time of, as of an event; to give the date of;
as, to date the building of the pyramids.
Note: We may say dated at or from a place.
The letter is dated at Philadephia. G. T. Curtis.
You will be suprised, I don't question, to find among your
correspondencies in foreign parts, a letter dated from Blois.
Addison.
In the countries of his jornal seems to have been written; parts of
it are dated from them. M. Arnold.
DATE
Date, v. i.
Defn: To have beginning; to begin; to be dated or reckoned; -- with
from.
The Batavian republic dates from the successes of the French arms. E.
Everett.
DATELESS
Date"less, a.
Defn: Without date; having no fixed time.
DATE LINE
Date line.
Defn: The hypothetical line on the surface of the earth fixed by
international or general agreement as a boundary on one side of which
the same day shall have a different name and date in the calendar
from its name and date on the other side.
Speaking generally, the date line coincides with the meridian 180º
from Greenwich. It deflects between north latitudes 80º and 45º, so
that all Asia lies to the west, all North America, including the
Aleutian Islands, to the east of the line; and between south
latitudes 12º and 56º, so that Chatham Island and the Tonga group lie
to the west of it. A vessel crossing this line to the westward sets
the date forward by one day, as from Sunday to Monday. A vessel
crossing the line to the eastward sets the date back by one day, as
from Monday to Sunday. Hawaii has the same day name as San Francisco;
Manila, the same day name as Australia, and this is one day later
than the day of Hawaii. Thus when it is Monday May 1st at San
Francisco it is Tuesday may 2d at Manila.
DATER
Dat"er, n.
Defn: One who dates.
DATISCIN
Da*tis"cin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline glucoside extracted from the bastard hemp
(Datisca cannabina).
DATIVE
Da"tive, a. Etym: [L. dativus appropriate to giving, fr. dare to
give. See 2d Date.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: Noting the case of a noun which expresses the remoter object,
and is generally indicated in English by to or for with the
objective.
2. (Law)
(a) In one's gift; capable of being disposed of at will and pleasure,
as an office.
(b) Removable, as distinguished from perpetual; -- said of an
officer.
(c) Given by a magistrate, as distinguished from being cast upon a
party by the law. Burril. Bouvier. Dative executor, one appointed by
the judge of probate, his office answering to that of an
administrator.
DATIVE
Da"tive, n. Etym: [L. dativus.]
Defn: The dative case. See Dative, a.,
1.
DATIVELY
Da"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: As a gift. [R.]
DATOLITE
Dat"o*lite, n. Etym: [From. Gr. to divide + -lite; in allusion to the
granular structure of a massive variety.] (Min.)
Defn: A borosilicate of lime commonly occuring in glassy,, greenish
crystals. [Written also datholite.]
DATUM
Da"tum, n.; pl. Data. Etym: [L. See 2d Date.]
1. Something given or admitted; a fact or principle granted; that
upon which an inference or an argument is based; -- used chiefly in
the plural.
Any writer, therefore, who . . . furnishes us with data sufficient to
determine the time in which he wrote. Priestley.
2. pl. (Math.)
Defn: The quantities or relations which are assumed to be given in
any problem. Datum line (Surv.), the horizontal or base line, from
which the heights of points are reckoned or measured, as in the plan
of a railway, etc.
DATURA
Da*tu"ra, n. Etym: [NL.; cf. Skr. dhatt, Per. & Ar. tat, Tat.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of solanaceous plants, with large funnel-shaped flowers
and a four-celled, capsular fruit.
Note: The commonest species are the thorn apple (D. stramonium), with
a prickly capsule (see Illust. of capsule), white flowers and green
stem, and D. tatula, with a purplish tinge of the stem and flowers.
Both are narcotic and dangerously poisonous.
DATURINE
Da*tu"rine, n. Etym: [From Datura.] (Chem.)
Defn: Atropine; -- called also daturia and daturina.
DAUB
Daub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daubed; p. pr. & vb. n. Daubing.] Etym:
[OE. dauben to smear, OF. dauber to plaster, fr. L. dealbare to
whitewash, plaster; de- + albare to whiten, fr. albus white, perh.
also confused with W. dwb plaster, dwbio to plaster, Ir. & OGael. dob
plaster. See Alb, and cf. Dealbate.]
1. To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud, etc.;
to plaster; to bedaub; to besmear.
She took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and
with pitch. Ex. ii. 3.
2. To paint in a coarse or unskillful manner.
If a picture is daubed with many bright and glaring colors, the
vulgar admire it is an excellent piece. I. Watts.
A lame, imperfect piece, rudely daubed over. Dryden.
3. To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to
conceal.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue. Shak.
4. To flatter excessively or glossy. [R.]
I can safely say, however, that, without any daubing at all, I am
very sincerely your very affectionate, humble servant. Smollett.
5. To put on without taste; to deck gaudily. [R.]
Let him be daubed with lace. Dryden.
DAUB
Daub, v. i.
Defn: To smear; to play the flatterer.
His conscience . . . will not daub nor flatter. South.
DAUB
Daub, n.
1. A viscous, sticky application; a spot smeared or dabed; a smear.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: A picture coarsely executed.
Did you . . . take a look at the grand picture . . . 'T is a
melancholy daub, my lord. Sterne.
DAUBER
Daub"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, daubs; especially, a coarse, unskillful
painter.
2. (Copperplate Print.)
Defn: A pad or ball of rags, covered over with canvas, for inking
plates; a dabber.
3. A low and gross flattere.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The mud wasp; the mud dauber.
DAUBERY; DAUBRY
Daub"er*y, or Daub"ry, n.
Defn: A daubing; specious coloring; false pretenses.
She works by charms, by spells, by the figure, and such daubery as
this is. Shak.
DAUBING
Daub"ing, n.
1. The act of one who daubs; that which is daubed.
2. A rough coat of mortar put upon a wall to give it the appearance
of stone; rough-cast.
3. In currying, a mixture of fish oil and tallow worked into leather;
-- called also dubbing. Knight.
DAUBREELITE
Dau"bree*lite, n. Etym: [From Daubrée, a French mineralogist.] (Min.)
Defn: A sulphide of chromium observed in some meteoric irons.
DAUBY
Daub"y, a.
Defn: Smeary; viscous; glutinous; adhesive. "Dauby wax."
DAUGHTER
Daugh"ter, n.; pl. Daughters; obs. pl. Daughtren. Etym: [OE.
doughter, doghter, dohter, AS. dohtor, dohter; akin to OS. dohtar, D.
dochter, G. tochter, Icel. d, Sw. dotter, Dan. dotter, datter, Goth.
daúhtar,, OSlav. d, Russ. doche, Lith. dukt, Gr. , Zendughdhar, Skr.
duhit; possibly originally, the milker, cf. Skr. duh to milk. sq.
root68, 245.]
1. The female offspring of the human species; a female child of any
age; -- applied also to the lower animals.
2. A female descendant; a woman.
This woman, being a daughter of Abraham. Luke xiii. 16.
Dinah, the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to
see the daughter of the land. Gen. xxxiv. 1.
3. A son's wife; a daughter-in-law.
And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters. Ruth. i. 11.
4. A term of adress indicating parental interest.
Daughter, be of good comfort. Matt. ix. 22.
Daughter cell (Biol.), one of the cells formed by cell division. See
Cell division, under Division.
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
Daugh"ter-in-law`, n.; pl. Daughters-in-law.
Defn: The wife of one's son.
DAUGHTERLINESS
Daugh"ter*li*ness, n.
Defn: The state of a daughter, or the conduct becoming a daughter.
DAUGHTERLY
Daugh"ter*ly, a.
Defn: Becoming a daughter; filial.
Sir Thomas liked her natural and dear daughterly affection towards
him. Cavendish.
DAUK
Dauk, v. t.
Defn: See Dawk, v. t., to cut or gush.
DAUN
Daun, n.
Defn: A variant of Dan, a title of honor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DAUNT
Daunt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daunted; p. pr. & vb. n. Daunting.] Etym:
[OF. danter, F. dompter to tame, subdue, fr. L. domitare, v. intens.
of domare to tame. See Tame.]
1. To overcome; to conquer. [Obs.]
2. To repress or subdue the courage of; to check by fear of danger;
to cow; to intimidate; to dishearten.
Some presences daunt and discourage us. Glanvill.
Syn.
-- To dismay; appall. See Dismay.
DAUNTER
Daunt"er, n.
Defn: One who daunts.
DAUNTLESS
Daunt"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of being daunted; undaunted; bold; fearless;
intrepid.
Dauntless he rose, and to the fight returned. Dryden.
-- Daunt"less*ly, adv.
-- Daunt"less*ness, n.
DAUPHIN
Dau"phin, n. Etym: [F. dauphin, prop., a dolphin, from L. delphinus.
See Dolphin. The name was given, for some reason unexplained, to
Guigo, count of Vienne, in the 12th century, and was borne by
succeeding counts of Vienne. In 1349, Dauphiny was bequeathed to
Philippe de Valois, king of France, on condition that the heir of the
crown should always hold the title of Dauphin de Viennois.]
Defn: The title of the eldest son of the king of France, and heir to
the crown. Since the revolution of 1830, the title has been
discontinued.
DAUPHINESS; DAUPHINE
Dau"phin*ess, or Dau"phine, n.
Defn: The title of the wife of the dauphin.
DAUW
Dauw, n. Etym: [D.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The striped quagga, or Burchell's zebra, of South Africa
(Asinus Burchellii); -- called also peechi, or peetsi.
DAVENPORT
Dav"en*port, n. Etym: [From the name of the original maker. Encyc.
Dict.]
Defn: A kind of small writing table, generally somewhat ornamental,
and forming a piece of furniture for the parlor or boudoir.
A much battered davenport in one of the windows, at which sat a lady
writing. A. B. Edwards.
DAVIDIC
Da*vid"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to David, the king and psalmist of Israel, or
to his family.
DAVIT
Dav"it, n. Etym: [Cf. F. davier forceps, davit, cooper's instrument,
G. david davit; all probably from the proper name David.] (Naut.)
(a) A spar formerly used on board of ships, as a crane to hoist the
flukes of the anchor to the top of the bow, without injuring the
sides of the ship; -- called also the fish davit. (b) pl.
Defn: Curved arms of timber or iron, projecting over a ship's side of
stern, having tackle to raise or lower a boat, swing it in on deck,
rig it out for lowering, etc.; -- called also boat davits. Totten.
DAVY JONES
Da"vy Jones".
Defn: The spirit of the sea; sea devil; -- a term used by sailors.
This same Davy Jones, according to the mythology of sailors, is the
fiend that presides over all the evil spirits of the deep, and is
seen in various shapes warning the devoted wretch of death and woe.
Smollett.
Davy Jones's Locker, the ocean, or bottom of the ocean.
-- Gone to Davy Jones's Locker, dead, and buried in the sea; thrown
overboard.
DAVY LAMP
Da"vy lamp`.
Defn: See Safety lamp, under Lamp.
DAVYNE
Da"vyne, n. Etym: [See Davyum.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of nephelite from Vesuvius.
DAVYUM
Da"vy*um, n. Etym: [Named after Sir Humphry Davy, the English
chemist.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic element found in platinum ore. It is a white
malleable substance. Symbol Da. Atomic weight 154.
DAW
Daw, n. Etym: [OE. dawe; akin to OHG. taha, MHG. tahe, tahele, G.
dohle. Cf. Caddow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bird of the Crow family (Corvus monedula), often
nesting in church towers and ruins; a jackdaw.
The loud daw, his throat displaying, draw The whole assembly of his
fellow daws. Waller.
Note: The daw was reckoned as a silly bird, and a daw meant a
simpleton. See in Shakespeare: -- "Then thou dwellest with daws too."
(Coriolanus iv. 5, 1. 47.) Skeat.
DAW
Daw, v. i. Etym: [OE. dawen. See Dawn.]
Defn: To dawn. [Obs.] See Dawn.
DAW
Daw, v. t. Etym: [Contr. fr. Adaw.]
1. To rouse. [Obs.]
2. To daunt; to terrify. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DAWDLE
Daw"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dawdled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dawdling.]
Etym: [Cf. Daddle.]
Defn: To waste time in trifling employment; to trifle; to saunter.
Come some evening and dawdle over a dish of tea with me. Johnson.
We . . . dawdle up and down Pall Mall. Thackeray.
DAWDLE
Daw"dle, v. t.
Defn: To waste by trifling; as, to dawdle away a whole morning.
DAWDLE
Daw"dle, n.
Defn: A dawdler. Colman & Carrick.
DAWDLER
Daw"dler, n.
Defn: One who wastes time in trifling employments; an idler; a
trifler.
DAWE
Dawe, n. Etym: [See Day.]
Defn: Day. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DAWISH
Daw"ish, a.
Defn: Like a daw.
DAWK
Dawk, n.
Defn: See Dak.
DAWK
Dawk, v. t. Etym: [Prov. E. dauk to cut or pierce with a jerk; cf.
OE. dalk a dimple. Cf. Ir. tolch, tollachd, tolladh, a hole, crevice,
toll to bore, pierce, W. tyllu.]
Defn: To cut or mark with an incision; to gash. Moxon.
DAWK
Dawk, n.
Defn: A hollow, crack, or cut, in timber. Moxon.
DAWN
Dawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dawning.] Etym:
[OE. dawnen, dawen, dagen, daien, AS. dagian to become day, to dawn,
fr. dæg day; akin to D. dagen, G. tagen, Icel. daga, Dan. dages, Sw.
dagas. See Day.
1. To begin to grow light in the morning; to grow light; to break, or
begin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning dawns.
In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene . . . to see the sepulcher. Matt.
xxviii. 1.
2. To began to give promise; to begin to appear or to expand. "In
dawning youth." Dryden.
When life awakes, and dawns at every line. Pope.
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. Heber,
DAWN
Dawn, n.
1. The break of day; the first appeareance of light in the morning;
show of approaching sunrise.
And oft at dawn, deep noon, or falling eve. Thomson.
No sun, no moon, no morn, no noon, No dawn, no dusk, no proper time
of day. Hood.
2. First opening or expansion; first appearance; beginning; rise.
"The dawn of time." Thomson.
These tender circumstances diffuse a dawn of serenity over the soul.
Pope.
DAWSONITE
Daw"son*ite, n. Etym: [Named after J. W. Dawson of Montreal.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous carbonate of alumina and soda, occuring in white,
bladed crustals.
DAY
Day, n. Etym: [OE. day, dai,, dei, AS. dæg; akin to OS., D., Dan., &
Sw. dag, G, tag, Icel. dagr, Goth. dags; cf. Skr. dah (for dhagh ) to
burn. *69. Cf. Dawn.]
1. The time of light, or interval between one night and the next; the
time between sunrise and sunset, or from dawn to darkness; hence, the
light; sunshine.
2. The period of the earth's revolution on its axis.
-- ordinarily divided into twenty-four hours. It is measured by the
interval between two successive transits of a celestial body over the
same meridian, and takes a specific name from that of the body. Thus,
if this is the sun, the day (the interval between two successive
transits of the sun's center over the same meridian) is called a
solar day; if it is a star, a sidereal day; if it is the moon, a
lunar day. See Civil day, Sidereal day, below.
3. Those hours, or the daily recurring period, allotted by usage or
law for work.
4. A specified time or period; time, considered with reference to the
existence or prominence of a person or thing; age; time.
A man who was great among the Hellenes of his day. Jowett (Thucyd. )
If my debtors do not keep their day, . . . I must with patience all
the terms attend. Dryden.
5. (Preceded by the) Some day in particular, as some day of contest,
some anniversary, etc.
The field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.
Shak.
His name struck fear, his conduct won the day. Roscommon.
Note: Day is much used in self-explaining compounds; as, daybreak,
daylight, workday, etc.
Anniversary day. See Anniversary, n.
-- Astronomical day, a period equal to the mean solar day, but
beginning at noon instead of at midnight, its twenty-four hours being
numbered from 1 to 24; also, the sidereal day, as that most used by
astronomers.
-- Born days. See under Born.
-- Canicular days. See Dog day.
-- Civil day, the mean solar day, used in the ordinary reckoning of
time, and among most modern nations beginning at mean midnight; its
hours are usually numbered in two series, each from 1 to 12. This is
the period recognized by courts as constituting a day. The
Babylonians and Hindoos began their day at sunrise, the Athenians and
Jews at sunset, the ancient Egyptians and Romans at midnight.
-- Day blindness. (Med.) See Nyctalopia.
-- Day by day, or Day after day, daily; every day; continually;
without intermission of a day. See under By. "Day by day we magnify
thee." Book of Common Prayer.
-- Days in bank (Eng. Law), certain stated days for the return of
writs and the appearance of parties; -- so called because originally
peculiar to the Court of Common Bench, or Bench (bank) as it was
formerly termed. Burrill.
-- Day in court, a day for the appearance of parties in a suit.
-- Days of devotion (R. C. Ch.), certain festivals on which devotion
leads the faithful to attend mass. Shipley.
-- Days of grace. See Grace.
-- Days of obligation (R. C. Ch.), festival days when it is
obligatory on the faithful to attend Mass. Shipley.
-- Day owl, (Zoöl.), an owl that flies by day. See Hawk owl.
-- Day rule (Eng. Law), an order of court (now abolished) allowing a
prisoner, under certain circumstances, to go beyond the prison limits
for a single day.
-- Day school, one which the pupils attend only in daytime, in
distinction from a boarding school.
-- Day sight. (Med.) See Hemeralopia.
-- Day's work (Naut.), the account or reckoning of a ship's course
for twenty-four hours, from noon to noon.
-- From day to day, as time passes; in the course of time; as, he
improves from day to day.
-- Jewish day, the time between sunset and sunset.
-- Mean solar day (Astron.), the mean or average of all the apparent
solar days of the year.
-- One day, One of these days, at an uncertain time, usually of the
future, rarely of the past; sooner or later. "Well, niece, I hope to
see you one day fitted with a husband." Shak.
-- Only from day to day, without certainty of continuance;
temporarily. Bacon.
-- Sidereal day, the interval between two successive transits of the
first point of Aries over the same meridian. The Sidereal day is 23
h. 56 m. 4.09 s. of mean solar time.
-- To win the day, to gain the victory, to be successful. S. Butler.
-- Week day, any day of the week except Sunday; a working day.
-- Working day. (a) A day when work may be legally done, in
distinction from Sundays and legal holidays. (b) The number of hours,
determined by law or custom, during which a workman, hired at a
stated price per day, must work to be entitled to a day's pay.
DAYAKS
Day"aks, n. pl. (Ethnol.)
Defn: See Dyaks.
DAYBOOK
Day"book, n.
Defn: A journal of accounts; a primary record book in which are
recorded the debts and credits, or accounts of the day, in their
order, and from which they are transferred to the journal.
DAYBREAK
Day"break`, n.
Defn: The time of the first appearance of light in the morning.
DAY-COAL
Day"-coal`, n. (Mining)
Defn: The upper stratum of coal, as nearest the light or surface.
DAYDREAM
Day"dream`, n.
Defn: A vain fancy speculation; a reverie; a castle in the air;
unfounded hope.
Mrs. Lambert's little daydream was over. Thackeray.
DAYDREAMER
Day"dream`er, n.
Defn: One given to draydreams.
DAYFLOWER
Day"flow`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus consisting mostly of tropical perennial herbs
(Commelina), having ephemeral flowers.
DAYFLY
Day"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A neuropterous insect of the genus Ephemera and related genera,
of many species, and inhabiting fresh water in the larval state; the
ephemeral fly; -- so called because it commonly lives but one day in
the winged or adult state. See Ephemeral fly, under Ephemeral.
DAY-LABOR
Day"-la`bor, n.
Defn: Labor hired or performed by the day. Milton.
DAY-LABORER
Day"-la`bor*er, n.
Defn: One who works by the day; -- usually applied to a farm laborer,
or to a workman who does not work at any particular trade. Goldsmith.
DAYLIGHT
Day"light`, n.
1. The light of day as opposed to the darkness of night; the light of
the sun, as opposed to that of the moon or to artificial light.
2. pl.
Defn: The eyes. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
DAY LILY
Day" lil`y. (Bot.)
(a) A genus of plants (Hemerocallis) closely resembling true lilies,
but having tuberous rootstocks instead of bulbs. The common species
have long narrow leaves and either yellow or tawny-orange flowers.
(b) A genus of plants (Funkia) differing from the last in having
ovate veiny leaves, and large white or blue flowers.
DAYMAID
Day"maid`, n.
Defn: A dairymaid. [Obs.]
DAYMARE
Day"mare`, n. Etym: [Day + mare incubus.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of incubus which occurs during wakefulness, attended by
the peculiar pressure on the chest which characterizes nightmare.
Dunglison.
DAY-NET
Day"-net`, n.
Defn: A net for catching small birds.
DAY-PEEP
Day"-peep`, n.
Defn: The dawn. [Poetic] Milton.
DAYSMAN
Days"man, n. Etym: [From day in the sense of day fixed for trial.]
Defn: An umpire or arbiter; a mediator.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us. Job ix. 33.
DAYSPRING
Day"spring, n.
Defn: The beginning of the day, or first appearance of light; the
dawn; hence, the beginning. Milton.
The tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath
visited us. Luke i. 78.
DAY-STAR
Day"-star`, n.
1. The morning star; the star which ushers in the day.
A dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your
hearts. 2 Peter i. 19.
2. The sun, as the orb of day. [Poetic]
So sinks the day-star in the ocean bed, And yet anon repairs his
drooping head, And tricks his beams, and with new-spangled ore Flames
in the forehead of the morning sky. Milton.
DAYTIME
Day"time`, n.
Defn: The time during which there is daylight, as distinguished from
the night.
DAYWOMAN
Day"wom`an, n.
Defn: A dairymaid. [Obs.]
DAZE
Daze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dazing.] Etym: [OE.
dasen, prob. from Icel. dasask to become weary, a reflexive verb; cf.
Sw. dasa to lie idle, and OD. daesen to be foolish, insane, daes,
dwaes, D. dwaas, foolish, insane, AS. dw, dysig, stupid. Dizzy,
Doze.]
Defn: To stupefy with excess of light; with a blow, with cold, or
with fear; to confuse; to benumb.
While flashing beams do daze his feeble eyen. Spenser.
Such souls, Whose sudden visitations daze the world. Sir H. Taylor.
He comes out of the room in a dazed state, that is an odd though a
sufficient substitute for interest. Dickens.
DAZE
Daze, n.
1. The state of being dazed; as, he was in a daze. [Colloq.]
2. (Mining)
Defn: A glittering stone.
DAZZLE
Daz"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dazzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dazzling.]
Etym: [Freq. of daze.]
1. To overpower with light; to confuse the sight of by brilliance of
light.
Those heavenly shapes Will dazzle now the earthly, with their blaze
Insufferably bright. Milton.
An unreflected light did never yet Dazzle the vision feminine. Sir H.
Taylor.
2. To bewilder or surprise with brilliancy or display of any kind.
"Dazzled and drove back his enemies." Shak.
DAZZLE
Daz"zle, v. i.
1. To be overpoweringly or intensely bright; to excite admiration by
brilliancy.
Ah, friend! to dazzle, let the vain design. Pope.
2. To be overpowered by light; to be confused by excess of
brightness.
An overlight maketh the eyes dazzle. Bacon.
I dare not trust these eyes; They dance in mists, and dazzle with
surprise. Dryden.
DAZZLE
Daz"zle, n.
Defn: A light of dazzling brilliancy.
DAZZLEMENT
Daz"zle*ment, n.
Defn: Dazzling flash, glare, or burst of light. Donne.
DAZZLINGLY
Daz"zling*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dazzling manner.
DE-
De-.
Defn: A prefix from Latin de down, from, away; as in debark, decline,
decease, deduct, decamp. In words from the French it is equivalent to
Latin dis- apart, away; or sometimes to de. Cf. Dis-. It is negative
and opposite in derange, deform, destroy, etc. It is intensive in
deprave, despoil, declare, desolate, etc.
DEACON
Dea"con, n. Etym: [OE. diakne, deakne, deken, AS. diacon, deacon, L.
diaconus, fr. Gr. dean.]
1. (Eccl.)
Defn: An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain
subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman
Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest
order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In
Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders,
and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service
and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is
subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian
church.
2. The chairman of an incorporated company. [Scot.]
DEACON
Dea"con, v. t.
Defn: To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it,
-- usually with off. [Colloq. New. Eng.] See Line, v. t.
Note: The expression is derived from a former custom in the
Congregational churches of New England. It was part of the office of
a deacon to read aloud the psalm given out, one line at a time, the
congregation singing each line as soon as read; -- called, also,
lining out the psalm.
DEACONESS
Dea"con*ess, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: A female deacon; as:
(a) (Primitive Ch.) One of an order of women whose duties resembled
those of deacons. (b) (Ch. of Eng. and Prot. Epis. Ch.)
Defn: A woman set apart for church work by a bishop.
(c) A woman chosen as a helper in church work, as among the
Congregationalists.
DEACONHOOD
Dea"con*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.
DEACONRY
Dea"con*ry, n.
Defn: See Deaconship.
DEACONSHIP
Dea"con*ship, n.
Defn: The office or ministry of a deacon or deaconess.
DEAD
Dead, a. Etym: [OE. ded, dead, deed, AS. deád; akin to OS. d, D.
dood, G. todt, tot, Icel. dau, Sw. & Dan. död, Goth. daubs; prop. p.
p. of an old verb meaning to die. See Die, and cf. Death.]
1. Deprived of life; -- opposed to alive and living; reduced to that
state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have
irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a
dead man. "The queen, my lord, is dead." Shak.
The crew, all except himself, were dead of hunger. Arbuthnot.
Seek him with candle, bring him dead or living. Shak.
2. Destitute of life; inanimate; as, dead matter.
3. Resembling death in appearance or quality; without show of life;
deathlike; as, a dead sleep.
4. Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as, dead calm; a
dead load or weight.
5. So constructed as not to transmit sound; soundless; as, a dead
floor.
6. Unproductive; bringing no gain; unprofitable; as, dead capital;
dead stock in trade.
7. Lacking spirit; dull; lusterless; cheerless; as, dead eye; dead
fire; dead color, etc.
8. Monotonous or unvaried; as, a dead level or pain; a dead wall.
"The ground is a dead flat." C. Reade.
9. Sure as death; unerring; fixed; complete; as, a dead shot; a dead
certainty.
I had them a dead bargain. Goldsmith.
10. Bringing death; deadly. Shak.
11. Wanting in religious spirit and vitality; as, dead faith; dead
works. "Dead in trespasses." Eph. ii. 1.
12. (Paint.)
(a) Flat; without gloss; -- said of painting which has been applied
purposely to have this effect.
(b) Not brilliant; not rich; thus, brown is a dead color, as compared
with crimson.
13. (Law)
Defn: Cut off from the rights of a citizen; deprived of the power of
enjoying the rights of property; as, one banished or becoming a monk
is civilly dead.
14. (Mach.)
Defn: Not imparting motion or power; as, the dead spindle of a lathe,
etc. See Spindle. Dead ahead (Naut.), directly ahead; -- said of a
ship or any object, esp. of the wind when blowing from that point
toward which a vessel would go.
-- Dead angle (Mil.), an angle or space which can not be seen or
defended from behind the parapet.
-- Dead block, either of two wooden or iron blocks intended to serve
instead of buffers at the end of a freight car.
-- Dead calm (Naut.), no wind at all.
-- Dead center, or Dead point (Mach.), either of two points in the
orbit of a crank, at which the crank and connecting rod lie a
straight line. It corresponds to the end of a stroke; as, A and B are
dead centers of the crank mechanism in which the crank C drives, or
is driven by, the lever L.
-- Dead color (Paint.), a color which has no gloss upon it.
-- Dead coloring (Oil paint.), the layer of colors, the preparation
for what is to follow. In modern painting this is usually in
monochrome.
-- Dead door (Shipbuilding), a storm shutter fitted to the outside
of the quarter-gallery door.
-- Dead flat (Naut.), the widest or midship frame.
-- Dead freight (Mar. Law), a sum of money paid by a person who
charters a whole vessel but fails to make out a full cargo. The
payment is made for the unoccupied capacity. Abbott.
-- Dead ground (Mining), the portion of a vein in which there is no
ore.
-- Dead hand, a hand that can not alienate, as of a person civilly
dead. "Serfs held in dead hand." Morley. See Mortmain.
-- Dead head (Naut.), a rough block of wood used as an anchor buoy.
-- Dead heat, a heat or course between two or more race horses,
boats, etc., in which they come out exactly equal, so that neither
wins.
-- Dead horse, an expression applied to a debt for wages paid in
advance. [Law] -- Dead language, a language which is no longer spoken
or in common use by a people, and is known only in writings, as the
Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.
-- Dead letter. (a) A letter which, after lying for a certain fixed
time uncalled for at the post office to which it was directed, is
then sent to the general post office to be opened. (b) That which has
lost its force or authority; as, the law has become a dead letter.
-- Dead-letter office, a department of the general post office where
dead letters are examined and disposed of.
-- Dead level, a term applied to a flat country.
-- Dead lift, a direct lift, without assistance from mechanical
advantage, as from levers, pulleys, etc.; hence, an extreme
emergency. "(As we say) at a dead lift." Robynson (More's Utopia).
-- Dead line (Mil.), a line drawn within or around a military
prison, to cross which involves for a prisoner the penalty of being
instantly shot.
-- Dead load (Civil Engin.), a constant, motionless load, as the
weight of a structure, in distinction from a moving load, as a train
of cars, or a variable pressure, as of wind.
-- Dead march (Mus.), a piece of solemn music intended to be played
as an accompaniment to a funeral procession.
-- Dead nettle (Bot.), a harmless plant with leaves like a nettle
(Lamium album).
-- Dead oil (Chem.), the heavy oil obtained in the distillation of
coal tar, and containing phenol, naphthalus, etc.
-- Dead plate (Mach.), a solid covering over a part of a fire grate,
to prevent the entrance of air through that part.
-- Dead pledge, a mortgage. See Mortgage.
-- Dead point. (Mach.) See Dead center.
-- Dead reckoning (Naut.), the method of determining the place of a
ship from a record kept of the courses sailed as given by compass,
and the distance made on each course as found by log, with allowance
for leeway, etc., without the aid of celestial observations.
-- Dead rise, the transverse upward curvature of a vessel's floor.
-- Dead rising, an elliptical line drawn on the sheer plan to
determine the sweep of the floorheads throughout the ship's length.
-- Dead-Sea apple. See under Apple.
-- Dead set. See under Set.
-- Dead shot. (a) An unerring marksman. (b) A shot certain to be
made.
-- Dead smooth, the finest cut made; -- said of files.
-- Dead wall (Arch.), a blank wall unbroken by windows or other
openings.
-- Dead water (Naut.), the eddy water closing in under a ship's
stern when sailing.
-- Dead weight. (a) A heavy or oppressive burden. Dryden. (b)
(Shipping) A ship's lading, when it consists of heavy goods; or, the
heaviest part of a ship's cargo. (c) (Railroad) The weight of rolling
stock, the live weight being the load. Knight.
-- Dead wind (Naut.), a wind directly ahead, or opposed to the
ship's course.
-- To be dead, to die. [Obs.]
I deme thee, thou must algate be dead. Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Inanimate; deceased; extinct. See Lifeless.
DEAD
Dead, adv.
Defn: To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely;
wholly. [Colloq.]
I was tired of reading, and dead sleepy. Dickens.
Dead drunk, so drunk as to be unconscious.
DEAD
Dead, n.
1. The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest
repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter.
When the drum beat at dead of night. Campbell.
2. One who is dead; -- commonly used collectively.
And Abraham stood up from before his dead. Gen. xxiii. 3.
DEAD
Dead, v. t.
Defn: To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor.
[Obs.]
Heaven's stern decree, With many an ill, hath numbed and deaded me.
Chapman.
DEAD
Dead, v. i.
Defn: To die; to lose life or force. [Obs.]
So iron, as soon as it is out of the fire, deadeth straightway.
Bacon.
DEAD BEAT
Dead` beat".
Defn: See Beat, n., 7. [Low, U.S.]
DEADBEAT
Dead"beat`, a. (Physics)
Defn: Making a beat without recoil; giving indications by a single
beat or excursion; -- said of galvanometers and other instruments in
which the needle or index moves to the extent of its deflection and
stops with little or no further oscillation. Deadbeat escapement. See
under Escapement.
DEADBORN
Dead"born`, a.
Defn: Stillborn. Pope.
DEADEN
Dead"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deadened; p. pr. & vb. n. Deadening.]
Etym: [From Dead; cf. AS. d to kill, put to death. See Dead, a.]
1. To make as dead; to impair in vigor, force, activity, or
sensation; to lessen the force or acuteness of; to blunt; as, to
deaden the natural powers or feelings; to deaden a sound.
As harper lays his open palm Upon his harp, to deaden its vibrations.
Longfellow.
2. To lessen the velocity or momentum of; to retard; as, to deaden a
ship's headway.
3. To make vapid or spiritless; as, to deaden wine.
4. To deprive of gloss or brilliancy; to obscure; as, to deaden
gilding by a coat of size.
DEADENER
Dead"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, deadens or checks.
DEAD-EYE
Dead"-eye`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A round, flattish, wooden block, encircled by a rope, or an
iron band, and pierced with three holes to receive the lanyard; --
used to extend the shrouds and stays, and for other purposes. Called
also deadman's eye. Totten.
DEADHEAD
Dead"head`, n.
1. One who receives free tickets for theaters, public conveyances,
etc. [Colloq. U. S.]
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A buoy. See under Dead, a.
DEADHEARTED; DEAD-HEARTED
Dead"*heart`ed, a.
Defn: Having a dull, faint heart; spiritless; listless.
-- Dead"*heart`ed*ness, n. Bp. Hall.
DEADHOUSE
Dead"house`, n.
Defn: A morgue; a place for the temporary reception and exposure of
dead bodies.
DEADISH
Dead"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat dead, dull, or lifeless; deathlike.
The lips put on a deadish paleness. A. Stafford.
DEADLATCH
Dead"latch`, n.
Defn: A kind of latch whose bolt may be so locked by a detent that it
can not be opened from the inside by the handle, or from the outside
by the latch key. Knight.
DEADLIGHT
Dead"light`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A strong shutter, made to fit open ports and keep out water in
a storm.
DEADLIHOOD
Dead"li*hood, n.
Defn: State of the dead. [Obs.]
DEADLINESS
Dead"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deadly.
DEADLOCK
Dead"lock`, n.
1. A lock which is not self-latching, but requires a key to throw the
bolt forward.
2. A counteraction of things, which produces an entire stoppage; a
complete obstruction of action.
Things are at a deadlock. London Times.
The Board is much more likely to be at a deadlock of two to two. The
Century.
DEADLY
Dead"ly, a.
1. Capable of causing death; mortal; fatal; destructive; certain or
likely to cause death; as, a deadly blow or wound.
2. Aiming or willing to destroy; implacable; desperately hostile;
flagitious; as, deadly enemies.
Thy assailant is quick, skillful, and deadly. Shak.
3. Subject to death; mortal. [Obs.]
The image of a deadly man. Wyclif (Rom. i. 23).
Deadly nightshade (Bot.), a poisonous plant; belladonna. See under
Nightshade.
DEADLY
Dead"ly, adv.
1. In a manner resembling, or as if produced by, death. "Deadly
pale." Shak.
2. In a manner to occasion death; mortally.
The groanings of a deadly wounded man. Ezek. xxx. 24.
3. In an implacable manner; destructively.
4. Extremely. [Obs.] "Deadly weary." Orrery. "So deadly cunning a
man." Arbuthnot.
DEADNESS
Dead"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being destitute of life, vigor, spirit, activity,
etc.; dullness; inertness; languor; coldness; vapidness;
indifference; as, the deadness of a limb, a body, or a tree; the
deadness of an eye; deadness of the affections; the deadness of beer
or cider; deadness to the world, and the like.
DEAD-PAY
Dead"-pay`, n.
Defn: Pay drawn for soldiers, or others, really dead, whose names are
kept on the rolls.
O you commanders, That, like me, have no dead-pays. Massinger.
DEAD-RECKONING
Dead"-reck`on*ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See under Dead, a.
DEADS
Deads, n. pl. (Mining)
Defn: The substances which inclose the ore on every side.
DEAD-STROKE
Dead"-stroke`, a. (Mech.)
Defn: Making a stroke without recoil; deadbeat. Dead-stroke hammer
(Mach.), a power hammer having a spring interposed between the
driving mechanism and the hammer head, or helve, to lessen the recoil
of the hammer and reduce the shock upon the mechanism.
DEADWOOD
Dead"wood`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A mass of timbers built into the bow and stern of a vessel to
give solidity.
2. Dead trees or branches; useless material.
DEADWORKS
Dead"works`, n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The parts of a ship above the water when she is laden.
DEAF
Deaf, a. Etym: [OE. def, deaf, deef, AS. deáf; akin to D. doof, G.
taub, Icel. daufr, Dan. döv, Sw. döf, Goth. daubs, and prob. to E.
dumb (the original sense being, dull as applied to one of the
senses), and perh. to Gr. toben to rage. Cf. Dumb.]
1. Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to
perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man.
Come on my right hand, for this ear is deaf. Shak.
2. Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless;
not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; -- with
to; as, deaf to reason.
O, that men's ears should be To counsel deaf, but not to flattery!
Shak.
3. Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened.
Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight. Dryden.
4. Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. [R.]
A deaf murmur through the squadron went. Dryden.
5. Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn. [Obs. or
Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
If the season be unkindly and intemperate, they [peppers] will catch
a blast; and then the seeds will be deaf, void, light, and naught.
Holland.
Deaf and dumb, without the sense of hearing or the faculty of speech.
See Deaf-mute.
DEAF
Deaf, v. t.
Defn: To deafen. [Obs.] Dryden.
DEAFEN
Deaf"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deafened; p. pr. & vb. n. Deafening.]
Etym: [From Deaf.]
1. To make deaf; to deprive of the power of hearing; to render
incapable of perceiving sounds distinctly.
Deafened and stunned with their promiscuous cries. Addison.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: To render impervious to sound, as a partition or floor, by
filling the space within with mortar, by lining with paper, etc.
DEAFENING
Deaf"en*ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of rendering impervious to sound, as a floor
or wall; also, the material with which the spaces are filled in this
process; pugging.
DEAFLY
Deaf"ly, adv.
Defn: Without sense of sounds; obscurely.
DEAFLY
Deaf"ly, a.
Defn: Lonely; solitary. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DEAF-MUTE
Deaf"-mute`, n.
Defn: A person who is deaf and dumb; one who, through deprivation or
defect of hearing, has either failed the acquire the power of speech,
or has lost it. [See Illust. of Dactylology.]
Deaf-mutes are still so called, even when, by artificial methods,
they have been taught to speak imperfectly.
DEAF-MUTISM
Deaf"-mut`ism, n.
Defn: The condition of being a deaf-mute.
DEAFNESS
Deaf"ness, n.
1. Incapacity of perceiving sounds; the state of the organs which
prevents the impression which constitute hearing; want of the sense
of hearing.
2. Unwillingness to hear; voluntary rejection of what is addressed to
the understanding. Nervous deafness, a variety of deafness dependent
upon morbid change in some portion of the nervous system, especially
the auditory nerve.
DEAL
Deal, n. Etym: [OE. del, deel, part, AS. d; akin to OS. d, D. & Dan.
deel, G. theil, teil, Icel. deild, Sw. del, Goth. dails. Dole.]
1. A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree,
or extent, degree, or extent; as, a deal of time and trouble; a deal
of cold.
Three tenth deals [parts of an ephah] of flour. Num. xv. 9.
As an object of science it [the Celtic genius] may count for a good
deal . . . as a spiritual power. M. Arnold.
She was resolved to be a good deal more circumspect. W. Black.
Note: It was formerly limited by some, every, never a, a thousand,
etc.; as, some deal; but these are now obsolete or vulgar. In
general, we now qualify the word with great or good, and often use it
adverbially, by being understood; as, a great deal of time and pains;
a great (or good) deal better or worse; that is, better by a great
deal, or by a great part or difference.
2. The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion
disturbed.
The deal, the shuffle, and the cut. Swift.
3. Distribution; apportionment. [Colloq.]
4. An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of
interested parties; -- applied to stock speculations and political
bargains. [Slang]
5. Etym: [Prob. from D. deel a plank, threshing floor. See Thill.]
Defn: The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or
plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven
inches in width, and exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than
this, it is called a batten; if shorter, a deal end.
Note: Whole deal is a general term for planking one and one half
inches thick.
6. Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal. Deal tree, a fir
tree. Dr. Prior.
DEAL
Deal, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dealt; p. pr. & vb. n. Dealing.] Etym: [OE.
delen, AS. d, fr. d share; akin to OS. d, D. deelen, G. theilen,
teilen, Icel. deila, Sw. dela, Dan. dele, Goth. dailjan. See Deal,
n.]
1. To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to
distribute; to bestow successively; -- sometimes with out.
Is not to deal thy bread to the hungry Is. lviii. 7.
And Rome deals out her blessings and her gold. Tickell.
The nightly mallet deals resounding blows. Gay.
Hissing through the skies, the feathery deaths were dealt. Dryden.
2. Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the
commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal one a jack.
DEAL
Deal, v. i.
1. To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards to the
players.
2. To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from
that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to do
business; as, he deals in flour.
They buy and sell, they deal and traffic. South.
This is to drive to wholesale trade, when all other petty merchants
deal but for parcels. Dr. H. More.
3. To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage;
to make arrangements; -- followed by between or with.
Sometimes he that deals between man and man, raiseth his own credit
with both, by pretending greater interest than he hath in either.
Bacon.
4. To conduct one's self; to behave or act in any affair or towards
any one; to treat.
If he will deal clearly and impartially, . . . he will acknowledge
all this to be true. Tillotson.
5. To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition, check,
or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to deal with. To deal
by, to treat, either well or ill; as, to deal well by servants. "Such
an one deals not fairly by his own mind." Locke.
-- To deal in. (a) To have to do with; to be engaged in; to
practice; as, they deal in political matters. (b) To buy and sell; to
furnish, as a retailer or wholesaler; as, they deal in fish.
-- To deal with. (a) To treat in any manner; to use, whether well or
ill; to have to do with; specifically, to trade with. "Dealing with
witches." Shak. (b) To reprove solemnly; to expostulate with.
The deacons of his church, who, to use their own phrase, "dealt with
him" on the sin of rejecting the aid which Providence so manifestly
held out. Hawthorne.
Return . . . and I will deal well with thee. Gen. xxxii. 9.
DEALBATE
De*al"bate, v. t. Etym: [L. dealbatus, p. p. of dealbare. See Daub.]
Defn: To whiten. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEALBATION
De`al*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. dealbatio: cf. F. déalbation.]
Defn: Act of bleaching; a whitening. [Obs.]
DEALER
Deal"er, n.
1. One who deals; one who has to do, or has concern, with others;
esp., a trader, a trafficker, a shopkeeper, a broker, or a merchant;
as, a dealer in dry goods; a dealer in stocks; a retail dealer.
2. One who distributes cards to the players.
DEALFISH
Deal"fish`, n. Etym: [From deal a long, narrow plank.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A long, thin fish of the arctic seas (Trachypterus arcticus).
DEALING
Deal"ing, n.
Defn: The act of one who deals; distribution of anything, as of cards
to the players; method of business; traffic; intercourse;
transaction; as, to have dealings with a person. Double dealing,
insincere, treacherous dealing; duplicity.
-- Plain dealing, fair, sincere, honorable dealing; honest,
outspoken expression of opinion.
DEALTH
Dealth, n.
Defn: Share dealt. [Obs.]
DEAMBULATE
De*am"bu*late, v. i. Etym: [L. deambulare, deambulatum; de- +
ambulare to walk.]
Defn: To walk abroad. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEAMBULATION
De*am`bu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. deambulatio.]
Defn: A walking abroad; a promenading. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
DEAMBULATORY
De*am"bu*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. LL. deambulator a traveler.]
Defn: Going about from place to place; wandering; of or pertaining to
a deambulatory. [Obs.] "Deambulatory actors." Bp. Morton.
DEAMBULATORY
De*am"bu*la*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. deambulatorium.]
Defn: A covered place in which to walk; an ambulatory.
DEAN
Dean, n. Etym: [OE. dene, deene, OF. deien, dien, F. doyen, eldest of
a corporation, a dean, L. decanus the chief of ten, one set over ten
persons, e. g., over soldiers or over monks, from decem ten. See Ten,
and cf. Decemvir.]
1. A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay
bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop.
Dean of cathedral church, the chief officer of a chapter; he is an
ecclesiastical magistrate next in degree to bishop, and has immediate
charge of the cathedral and its estates.
-- Dean of peculiars, a dean holding a preferment which has some
peculiarity relative to spiritual superiors and the jurisdiction
exercised in it. [Eng.] -- Rural dean, one having, under the bishop,
the especial care and inspection of the clergy within certain
parishes or districts of the diocese.
2. The collegiate officer in the universities of Oxford and
Cambridge, England, who, besides other duties, has regard to the
moral condition of the college. Shipley.
3. The head or presiding officer in the faculty of some colleges or
universities.
4. A registrar or secretary of the faculty in a department of a
college, as in a medical, or theological, or scientific department.
[U.S.]
5. The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the
dean of the diplomatic corps; -- so called by courtesy. Cardinal
dean, the senior cardinal bishop of the college of cardinals at Rome.
Shipley.
-- Dean and chapter, the legal corporation and governing body of a
cathedral. It consists of the dean, who is chief, and his canons or
prebendaries.
-- Dean of arches, the lay judge of the court of arches.
-- Dean of faculty, the president of an incorporation or barristers;
specifically, the president of the incorporation of advocates in
Edinburgh.
-- Dean of guild, a magistrate of Scotch burghs, formerly, and
still, in some burghs, chosen by the Guildry, whose duty is to
superintend the erection of new buildings and see that they conform
to the law.
-- Dean of a monastery, Monastic dean, a monastic superior over ten
monks.
-- Dean's stall. See Decanal stall, under Decanal.
DEANERY
Dean"er*y, n.; pl. Deaneries (.
1. The office or the revenue of a dean. See the Note under Benefice,
n., 3.
2. The residence of a dean. Shak.
3. The territorial jurisdiction of a dean.
Each archdeaconry is divided into rural deaneries, and each deanery
is divided into parishes. Blackstone.
DEANSHIP
Dean"ship, n.
Defn: The office of a dean.
I dont't value your deanship a straw. Swift.
DEAR
Dear, a. [Compar. Dearer; superl. Dearest.] Etym: [OE. dere, deore,
AS. deóre; akin to OS. diuri, D. duur, OHG. tiuri, G. theuer, teuer,
Icel. d, Dan. & Sw. dyr. Cf. Darling, Dearth.]
1. Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive.
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. Shak.
2. Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear
year.
3. Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious. "Hear me,
dear lady." Shak.
Neither count I my life dear unto myself. Acts xx. 24.
And the last joy was dearer than the rest. Pope.
Dear as remember'd kisses after death. Tennyson.
4. Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging
the attention. (a) Of agreeable things and interests.
[I'll] leave you to attend him: some dear cause Will in concealment
wrap me up awhile. Shak.
His dearest wish was to escape from the bustle and glitter of
Whitehall. Macaulay.
(b) Of disagreeable things and antipathies.
In our dear peril. Shak.
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day.
Shak.
DEAR
Dear, n.
Defn: A dear one; lover; sweetheart.
That kiss I carried from thee, dear. Shak.
DEAR
Dear, adv.
Defn: Dearly; at a high price.
If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear. Shak.
DEAR
Dear, v. t.
Defn: To endear. [Obs.] Shelton.
DEARBORN
Dear"born, n.
Defn: A four-wheeled carriage, with curtained sides.
DEAR-BOUGHT
Dear"-bought`, a.
Defn: Bought at a high price; as, dear-bought experience.
DEARE
Deare,
Defn: variant of Dere, v. t. & n. [Obs.]
DEARIE
Dear"ie, n.
Defn: Same as Deary. Dickens.
DEARLING
Dear"ling, n.
Defn: A darling. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEAR-LOVED
Dear"-loved`, a.
Defn: Greatly beloved. Shak.
DEARLY
Dear"ly, adv.
1. In a dear manner; with affection; heartily; earnestly; as, to love
one dearly.
2. At a high rate or price; grievously.
He buys his mistress dearly with his throne. Dryden.
3. Exquisitely. [Obs.] Shak.
DEARN
Dearn, a. Etym: [AS. derne, dyrne, dierne, hidden, secret. Cf.
Derne.]
Defn: Secret; lonely; solitary; dreadful. [Obs.] Shak.
-- Dearn"ly, adv. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEARN
Dearn, v. t.
Defn: Same as Darn. [Obs.]
DEARNESS
Dear"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being dear; costliness; excess of price.
The dearness of corn. Swift.
2. Fondness; preciousness; love; tenderness.
The dearness of friendship. Bacon.
DEARTH
Dearth, n. Etym: [OE. derthe, fr. dere. See Dear.]
Defn: Scarcity which renders dear; want; lack; specifically, lack of
food on account of failure of crops; famine.
There came a dearth over all the land of Egypt. Acts vii. 11.
He with her press'd, she faint with dearth. Shak.
Dearth of plot, and narrowness of imagination. Dryden.
DEARTICULATE
De`ar*tic"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To disjoint.
DEARWORTH
Dear"worth`, a. Etym: [See Derworth.]
Defn: Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
DEARY
Dear"y, n.
Defn: A dear; a darling. [Familiar]
DEAS
De"as, n.
Defn: See Dais. [Scot.]
DEATH
Death, n. Etym: [OE. deth, dea, AS. deá; akin to OS. d, D. dood, G.
tod, Icel. dau, Sw. & Dan. död, Goth. daupus; from a verb meaning to
die. See Die, v. i., and cf. Dead.]
1. The cessation of all vital phenomena without capability of
resuscitation, either in animals or plants.
Note: Local death is going on at times and in all parts of the living
body, in which individual cells and elements are being cast off and
replaced by new; a process essential to life. General death is of two
kinds; death of the body as a whole (somatic or systemic death), and
death of the tissues. By the former is implied the absolute cessation
of the functions of the brain, the circulatory and the respiratory
organs; by the latter the entire disappearance of the vital actions
of the ultimate structural constituents of the body. When death takes
place, the body as a whole dies first, the death of the tissues
sometimes not occurring until after a considerable interval. Huxley.
2. Total privation or loss; extinction; cessation; as, the death of
memory.
The death of a language can not be exactly compared with the death of
a plant. J. Peile.
3. Manner of dying; act or state of passing from life.
A death that I abhor. Shak.
Let me die the death of the righteous. Num. xxiii. 10.
4. Cause of loss of life.
Swiftly flies the feathered death. Dryden.
He caught his death the last county sessions. Addison.
5. Personified: The destroyer of life, -- conventionally represented
as a skeleton with a scythe.
Death! great proprietor of all. Young.
And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that at on him
was Death. Rev. vi. 8.
6. Danger of death. "In deaths oft." 2 Cor. xi. 23.
7. Murder; murderous character.
Not to suffer a man of death to live. Bacon.
8. (Theol.)
Defn: Loss of spiritual life.
To be death. Rom. viii. 6.
9. Anything so dreadful as to be like death.
It was death to them to think of entertaining such doctrines.
Atterbury.
And urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death. Judg. xvi. 16.
Note: Death is much used adjectively and as the first part of a
compound, meaning, in general, of or pertaining to death, causing or
presaging death; as, deathbed or death bed; deathblow or death blow,
etc. Black death. See Black death, in the Vocabulary.
-- Civil death, the separation of a man from civil society, or the
debarring him from the enjoyment of civil rights, as by banishment,
attainder, abjuration of the realm, entering a monastery, etc.
Blackstone.
-- Death adder. (Zoöl.) (a) A kind of viper found in South Africa
(Acanthophis tortor); -- so called from the virulence of its venom.
(b) A venomous Australian snake of the family Elapidæ, of several
species, as the Hoplocephalus superbus and Acanthopis antarctica.
-- Death bell, a bell that announces a death.
The death bell thrice was heard to ring. Mickle.
-- Death candle, a light like that of a candle, viewed by the
superstitious as presaging death.
-- Death damp, a cold sweat at the coming on of death.
-- Death fire, a kind of ignis fatuus supposed to forebode death.
And round about in reel and rout, The death fires danced at night.
Coleridge.
-- Death grapple, a grapple or struggle for life.
-- Death in life, a condition but little removed from death; a
living death. [Poetic] "Lay lingering out a five years' death in
life." Tennyson.
-- Death knell, a stroke or tolling of a bell, announcing a death.
-- Death rate, the relation or ratio of the number of deaths to the
population.
At all ages the death rate is higher in towns than in rural
districts. Darwin.
-- Death rattle, a rattling or gurgling in the throat of a dying
person.
-- Death's door, the boundary of life; the partition dividing life
from death.
-- Death stroke, a stroke causing death.
-- Death throe, the spasm of death.
-- Death token, the signal of approaching death.
-- Death warrant. (a) (Law) An order from the proper authority for
the execution of a criminal. (b) That which puts an end to
expectation, hope, or joy.
-- Death wound. (a) A fatal wound or injury. (b) (Naut.) The
springing of a fatal leak.
-- Spiritual death (Scripture), the corruption and perversion of the
soul by sin, with the loss of the favor of God.
-- The gates of death, the grave.
Have the gates of death been opened unto thee Job xxxviii. 17.
-- The second death, condemnation to eternal separation from God.
Rev. ii. 11.
-- To be the death of, to be the cause of death to; to make die. "It
was one who should be the death of both his parents." Milton.
Syn.
-- Death, Decrase, Departure, Release. Death applies to the
termination of every form of existence, both animal and vegetable;
the other words only to the human race. Decease is the term used in
law for the removal of a human being out of life in the ordinary
course of nature. Demise was formerly confined to decease of princes,
but is now sometimes used of distinguished men in general; as, the
demise of Mr. Pitt. Departure and release are peculiarly terms of
Christian affection and hope. A violent death is not usually called a
decease. Departure implies a friendly taking leave of life. Release
implies a deliverance from a life of suffering or sorrow.
DEATHBED
Death"bed, n.
Defn: The bed in which a person dies; hence, the closing hours of
life of one who dies by sickness or the like; the last sickness.
That often-quoted passage from Lord Hervey in which the Queen's
deathbed is described. Thackeray.
DEATHBIRD
Death"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tengmalm's or Richardson's owl (Nyctale Tengmalmi); -- so
called from a superstition of the North American Indians that its
note presages death.
DEATHBLOW
Death"blow`, n.
Defn: A mortal or crushing blow; a stroke or event which kills or
destroys.
The deathblow of my hope. Byron.
DEATHFUL
Death"ful, a.
1. Full of death or slaughter; murderous; destructive; bloody.
These eyes behold The deathful scene. Pope.
2. Liable to undergo death; mortal.
The deathless gods and deathful earth. Chapman.
DEATHFULNESS
Death"ful*ness, n.
Defn: Appearance of death. Jer. Taylor.
DEATHLESS
Death"less, a.
Defn: Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal;
undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.
DEATHLIKE
Death"like`, a.
1. Resembling death.
A deathlike slumber, and a dead repose. Pope.
2. Deadly. [Obs.] "Deathlike dragons." Shak.
DEATHLINESS
Death"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deathly; deadliness. Southey.
DEATHLY
Death"ly, a.
Defn: Deadly; fatal; mortal; destructive.
DEATHLY
Death"ly, adv.
Defn: Deadly; as, deathly pale or sick.
DEATH'S-HEAD
Death's"-head`, n.
Defn: A naked human skull as the emblem of death; the head of the
conventional personification of death.
I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth.
Shak.
Death's-head moth (Zoöl.), a very large European moth (Acherontia
atropos), so called from a figure resembling a human skull on the
back of the thorax; -- called also death's-head sphinx.
DEATH'S-HERB
Death's"-herb`, n.
Defn: The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Dr. Prior.
DEATHSMAN
Deaths"man, n.
Defn: An executioner; a headsman or hangman. [Obs.] Shak.
DEATHWARD
Death"ward, adv.
Defn: Toward death.
DEATHWATCH
Death"watch` (; 224), n.
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By
forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound,
which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by
superstitious people to presage death.
(b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a
similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick.
She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches. Addison.
I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat.
Tennyson.
2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution.
DEAURATE
De*au"rate, a. Etym: [L. deauratus, p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- +
aurum gold.]
Defn: Gilded. [Obs.]
DEAURATE
De*au"rate, v. t.
Defn: To gild. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEAURATION
De`au*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Act of gilding. [Obs.]
DEAVE
Deave, v. t. Etym: [See Deafen.]
Defn: To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]
DEBACCHATE
De*bac"chate, v. i. Etym: [L. debacchatus, p. p. of debacchari to
rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.]
Defn: To rave as a bacchanal. [R.] Cockeram.
DEBACCHATION
De`bac*cha"tion, n. Etym: [L. debacchatio.]
Defn: Wild raving or debauchery. [R.] Prynne.
DEBACLE
De*ba"cle, n. Etym: [F. débâcle, fr. débâcler to unbar, break loose;
pref. dé- (prob. = L. dis) + bâcler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.]
(Geol.)
Defn: A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters
which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses
blocks of stone and other débris.
DEBAR
De*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring.]
Etym: [Pref. de- + bar.]
Defn: To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to
preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out
or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labor, as to debar us when
we need Refreshment. Milton.
Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts
but from the common decencies of civilized life. Buckle.
DEBARB
De*barb", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.]
Defn: To deprive of the beard. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEBARK
De"bark", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Debarking.] Etym: [F. débarquer; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + barque. See
Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.]
Defn: To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.
DEBARKATION
De`bar*ka"tion, n.
Defn: Disembarkation.
The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers. U.
S. Grant.
DEBARMENT
De*bar"ment, n.
Defn: Hindrance from approach; exclusion.
DEBARRASS
De*bar"rass, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. débarrasser. See Embarrass.]
Defn: To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]
DEBASE
De*base", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debased; p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing.]
Etym: [Pref. de- + base. See Base, a., and cf. Abase.]
Defn: To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth,
dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate;
to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by
frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.
The coin which was adulterated and debased. Hale.
It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with
such frivolous disputes. Hooker.
And to debase the sons, exalts the sires. Pope.
Syn.
-- To abase; degrade. See Abase.
DEBASED
De*based", a. (Her.)
Defn: Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted;
reversed.
DEBASEMENT
De*base"ment, n.
Defn: The act of debasing or the state of being debased. Milton.
DEBASER
De*bas"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, debases.
DEBASINGLY
De*bas"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to debase.
DEBATABLE
De*bat"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. debatable. See Debate.]
Defn: Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or
contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question.
The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the
Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.
DEBATE
De*bate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.]
Etym: [OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter,
v. t., and cf. Abate.]
1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.
Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of
religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of
Palestine. Prescott.
2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by
reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and
against.
A wise council . . . that did debate this business. Shak.
Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. Prov. xxv. 9.
Syn.
-- To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.
DEBATE
De*bate", v. i.
1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Well could he tourney and in lists debate. Spenser.
2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to
consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; --
often followed by on or upon.
He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and
death with his intimate friends. Tatler.
DEBATE
De*bate", n. Etym: [F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, v. t.]
1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]
On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and
in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. R. of Gloucester.
But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate.
Sir W. Scott.
2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of
elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument;
controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress.
Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. Pope.
3. Subject of discussion. [R.]
Statutes and edicts concerning this debate. Milton.
DEBATEFUL
De*bate"ful, a.
Defn: Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEBATEFULLY
De*bate"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: With contention. [Obs.]
DEBATEMENT
De*bate"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. debatement a beating.]
Defn: Controversy; deliberation; debate. [R.]
A serious question and debatement with myself. Milton.
DEBATER
De*bat"er, n.
Defn: One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant; a
controvertist.
Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters. Shak.
DEBATING
De*bat"ing, n.
Defn: The act of discussing or arguing; discussion. Debating society
or club, a society or club for the purpose of debate and improvement
in extemporaneous speaking.
DEBATINGLY
De*bat"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a debate.
DEBAUCH
De*bauch", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debauched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Debauching.] Etym: [F. débaucher, prob. originally, to entice away
from the workshop; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + OF. bauche, bauge,
hut, cf. F. bauge lair of a wild boar; prob. from G. or Icel., cf.
Icel. balkr. See Balk, n.]
Defn: To lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in character
or principles; to mar; to vitiate; to pollute; to seduce; as, to
debauch one's self by intemperance; to debauch a woman; to debauch an
army.
Learning not debauched by ambition. Burke.
A man must have got his conscience thoroughly debauched and hardened
before he can arrive to the height of sin. South.
Her pride debauched her judgment and her eyes. Cowley.
DEBAUCH
De*bauch", n. Etym: [Cf. F. débauche.]
1. Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; lewdness;
debauchery.
The first physicians by debauch were made. Dryden.
2. An act or occasion of debauchery.
Silenus, from his night's debauch, Fatigued and sick. Cowley.
DEBAUCHED
De*bauched", a.
Defn: Dissolute; dissipated. "A coarse and debauched look." Ld.
Lytton.
DEBAUCHEDLY
De*bauch"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a profligate manner.
DEBAUCHEDNESS
De*bauch"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being debauched; intemperance. Bp. Hall.
DEBAUCHEE
Deb`au*chee", n. Etym: [F. dé, n., properly p. p. of débaucher. See
Debauch, v. t.]
Defn: One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian excesses; a
man habitually lewd; a libertine.
DEBAUCHER
De*bauch"er, n.
Defn: One who debauches or corrupts others; especially, a seducer to
lewdness.
DEBAUCHERY
De*bauch"er*y, n.; pl. Debaucheries (.
1. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from virtue, duty, or
allegiance.
The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the
army. Burke.
2. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially, excessive
indulgence of lust; intemperance; sensuality; habitual lewdness.
Oppose . . . debauchery by temperance. Sprat.
DEBAUCHMENT
De*bauch"ment, n.
Defn: The act of corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty.
DEBAUCHNESS
De*bauch"ness, n.
Defn: Debauchedness. [Obs.]
DEBEIGE
De*beige", n. Etym: [F. de of + beige the natural color of wool.]
Defn: A kind of woolen or mixed dress goods. [Written also debage.]
DEBEL
De*bel", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. débeller. See Debellate.]
Defn: To conquer. [Obs.] Milton.
DEBELLATE
De*bel"late, v. t. Etym: [L. debellatus, p. p. of debellare to
subdue; de- + bellum war.]
Defn: To subdue; to conquer in war. [Obs.] Speed.
DEBELLATION
Deb`el*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. debellatio.]
Defn: The act of conquering or subduing. [Obs.]
DE BENE ESSE
De be"ne es"se. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: Of well being; of formal sufficiency for the time;
conditionally; provisionally. Abbott.
DEBENTURE
De*ben"ture, n. Etym: [L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe;
cf. F. debentur. So called because these receipts began with the
words Debentur mihi.]
1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by
a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum
thus due.
2. A customhouse certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods
to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burrill.
Note: It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway
companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and
securities for money loaned.
DEBENTURED
De*ben"tured, a.
Defn: Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods.
DEBENTURE STOCK
Debenture stock. (Finance)
Defn: The debt or series of debts, collectively, represented by a
series of debentures; a debt secured by a trust deed of property for
the benefit of the holders of shares in the debt or of a series of
debentures. By the terms of much debenture stock the holders are not
entitled to demand payment until the winding up of the company or
default in payment; in the winding up of the company or default in
payment; in the case of railway debentures, they cannot demand
payment of the principal, and the debtor company cannot redeem the
stock, except by authority of an act of Parliament. [Eng.]
DEBILE
Deb"ile, a. Etym: [L. debilis: cf. F. débile. See Debility.]
Defn: Weak. [Obs.] Shak.
DEBILITANT
De*bil"i*tant, a. Etym: [L. debilitants, p. pr.] (Med.)
Defn: Diminishing the energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a
debilitant drug.
DEBILITATE
De*bil"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debilitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Debilitating.] Etym: [L. debilitatus, p. p. of debilitare to
debilitate, fr. debilis. See Debility.]
Defn: To impair the strength of; to weaken; to enfeeble; as, to
debilitate the body by intemperance.
Various ails debilitate the mind. Jenyns.
The debilitated frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted by this last
effort. Sir W. Scott.
DEBILITATION
De*bil`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. debilitatio: cf. F. débilitation.]
Defn: The act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who
is debilitated; weakness.
DEBILITY
De*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de-
+ habilis able: cf. F. débilité. See Able, a.]
Defn: The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor.
The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility,
faintness, and sometimes sudden death. Arbuthnot.
Syn.
-- Debility, Infirmity, Imbecility. An infirmity belongs, for the
most part, to particular members, and is often temporary, as of the
eyes, etc. Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs the
ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches to the whole frame,
and renders it more or less powerless. Debility may be constitutional
or may be the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is always
constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and results from sickness or
a decay of the frame. These words, in their figurative uses, have the
same distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility of body,
and an Imbecility which affects the whole man; but Imbecility is
often used with specific reference to feebleness of mind.
DEBIT
Deb"it, n. Etym: [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe:
cf. F. débit. See Debt.]
Defn: A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; --
mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an account.
DEBIT
Deb"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debited; p. pr. & vb. n. Debiting.]
1. To charge with debt; -- the opposite of, and correlative to,
credit; as, to debit a purchaser for the goods sold.
2. (Bookkeeping)
Defn: To enter on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; as, to debit
the amount of goods sold.
DEBITOR
Deb"it*or, n. Etym: [L. See Debtor.]
Defn: A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.
DEBITUMINIZATION
De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of bitumen.
DEBITUMINIZE
De`bi*tu"mi*nize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of bitumen.
DEBLAI
Dé`blai", n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)
Defn: The cavity from which the earth for parapets, etc. (remblai),
is taken.
DEBONAIR
Deb`o*nair", a. Etym: [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of
good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. débonnaire debonair;
de of (L. de) + bon good (L. bonus) + aire. See Air, and Bounty, and
cf. Bonair.]
Defn: Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of
good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant.
Was never prince so meek and debonair. Spenser.
DEBONAIRITY
Deb`o*nair"i*ty, n. Etym: [OF. debonaireté, F. débonnaireté.]
Defn: Debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEBONAIRLY
Deb`o*nair"ly, adv.
Defn: Courteously; elegantly.
DEBONAIRNESS
Deb`o*nair"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being debonair; good humor; gentleness;
courtesy. Sterne.
DEBOSH
De*bosh", v. t. Etym: [Old form of debauch.]
Defn: To debauch. [Obs.] "A deboshed lady." Beau. & Fl.
DEBOSHMENT
De*bosh"ment, n.
Defn: Debauchment. [Obs.]
DEBOUCH
De*bouch", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Debouched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Debouching.] Etym: [F. déboucher; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + boucher
to stop up, fr. bouche mouth, fr. L. bucca the cheek. Cf.
Disembogue.]
Defn: To march out from a wood, defile, or other confined spot, into
open ground; to issue.
Battalions debouching on the plain. Prescott.
DEBOUCHE
Dé`bou`ché", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods.
The débouchés were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The
Century.
DEBOUCHURE
Dé`bou`chure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait.
DEBRIS
Dé`bris", n. Etym: [F., fr. pref. dé- (L. dis) + briser to break,
shatter; perh. of Celtic origin.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: Broken and detached fragments, taken collectively; especially,
fragments detached from a rock or mountain, and piled up at the base.
2. Rubbish, especially such as results from the destruction of
anything; remains; ruins.
DEBRUISED
De*bruised", a. Etym: [Cf. OF. debruisier to shatter, break. Cf.
Bruise.] (Her.)
Defn: Surmounted by an ordinary; as, a lion is debruised when a bend
or other ordinary is placed over it, as in the cut.
The lion of England and the lilies of France without the baton
sinister, under which, according to the laws of heraldry, they where
debruised in token of his illegitimate birth. Macaulay.
DEBT
Debt, n. Etym: [OE. dette, F. dette, LL. debita, fr. L. debitus owed,
p. p. of debere to owe, prop., to have on loan; de- + habere to have.
See Habit, and cf. Debit, Due.]
1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money,
goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another,
or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability.
Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt. Shak.
When you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty.
Franklin.
2. A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass. "Forgive
us our debts." Matt. vi. 12.
3. (Law)
Defn: An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money
alleged to be due. Burrill. Bond debt, Book debt, etc. See under
Bond, Book, etc.
-- Debt of nature, death.
DEBTED
Debt"ed, p. a.
Defn: Indebted; obliged to. [R.]
I stand debted to this gentleman. Shak.
DEBTEE
Debt*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom a debt is due; creditor; -- correlative to debtor.
Blackstone.
DEBTLESS
Debt"less, a.
Defn: Free from debt. Chaucer.
DEBTOR
Debt"or, n. Etym: [OE. dettur, dettour, OF. detor, detur, detour, F.
débiteur, fr. L. debitor, fr. debere to owe. See Debt.]
Defn: One who owes a debt; one who is indebted; -- correlative to
creditor.
[I 'll] bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully rest
debtor for the first. Shak.
In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor. Mitford.
Debtors for our lives to you. Tennyson.
DEBULLIATE
De*bul"li*ate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. dé- + L. bullire to boil.]
Defn: To boil over. [Obs.]
DEBULLITION
Deb`ul*li"tion, n. Etym: [See Debulliate.]
Defn: A bubbling or boiling over. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEBURSE
De*burse", v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. de + L. bursa purse.]
Defn: To disburse. [Obs.] Ludlow.
DEBUSCOPE
De"bu*scope, n. Etym: [From the inventor, Debus, a French optician +
-scope.] (Opt.)
Defn: A modification of the kaleidoscope; -- used to reflect images
so as to form beautiful designs.
DEBUT
Dé`but", n. Etym: [F. début, prop., the first cast or throw at play,
fr. but aim, mark. See Butt an end.]
Defn: A beginning or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before
the public, as of an actor or public speaker.
DEBUTANT; DEBUTANTE
De`bu`tant", n.; fem. De`bu`tante" (. Etym: [F., p. pr. of débuter to
have the first throw, to make one's début. See Début.]
Defn: A person who makes his (or her) first appearance before the
public.
DECA-
Dec"a-. Etym: [Cf. Ten.]
Defn: A prefix, from Gr. de`ka, signifying ten; specifically (Metric
System), a prefix signifying the weight or measure that is ten times
the principal unit.
DECACERATA
De*cac`e*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + ke`ras a
horn.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Cephalopoda which includes the squids,
cuttlefishes, and others having ten arms or tentacles; -- called also
Decapoda. [Written also Decacera.] See Dibranchiata.
DECACHORD; DECACHORDON
Dec"a*chord, Dec`a*chor"don, n. Etym: [Gr. deka`chordos tenstringed;
de`ka ten + chordj` a string.]
1. An ancient Greek musical instrument of ten strings, resembling the
harp.
2. Something consisting of ten parts. W. Watson.
DECACUMINATED
Dec`a*cu"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. decacuminare to cut off the top. See
Cacuminate.]
Defn: Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.] Bailey.
DECAD
Dec"ad, n.
Defn: A decade.
Averill was a decad and a half his elder. Tennyson.
DECADAL
Dec"a*dal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.
DECADE
Dec"ade, n. Etym: [F. décade, L. decas, -adis, fr. Gr. Ten.]
Defn: A group or division of ten; esp., a period of ten years; a
decennium; as, a decade of years or days; a decade of soldiers; the
second decade of Livy. [Written also decad.]
During this notable decade of years. Gladstone.
DECADENCE; DECADENCY
De*ca"dence, De*ca"den*cy, n. Etym: [LL. decadentia; L. de- + cadere
to fall: cf. F. décadence. See Decay.]
Defn: A falling away; decay; deterioration; declension. "The old
castle, where the family lived in their decadence.' Sir W. Scott.
DECADENT
De*ca"dent, a.
Defn: Decaying; deteriorating.
DECADIST
Dec"a*dist, n.
Defn: A writer of a book divided into decades; as, Livy was a
decadist. [R.]
DECAGON
Dec"a*gon, n. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr. décagone.] (Geom.)
Defn: A plane figure having ten sides and ten angles; any figure
having ten angles. A regular decagon is one that has all its sides
and angles equal.
DECAGONAL
De*cag"o*nal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.
DECAGRAM; DECAGRAMME
Dec"a*gram, Dec"a*gramme, n. Etym: [F. décagramme; Gr. gramme. See
Gram.]
Defn: A weight of the metric system; ten grams, equal to about 154.32
grains avoirdupois.
DECAGYNIA
Dec`a*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants characterized by having ten styles.
DECAGYNIAN; DECCAGYNOUS
Dec`a*gyn"i*an, Dec*cag"y*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décagyne.] (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles.
DECAHEDRAL
Dec`a*he"dral, a.
Defn: Having ten sides.
DECAHEDRON
Dec`a*he"dron, n.; pl. E. Decahedrons, L. Decahedra. Etym: [Pref.
deca- + Gr. 'e`dra a seat, a base, fr. 'e`zesthai to sit: cf. F.
décaèdre.] (Geom.)
Defn: A solid figure or body inclosed by ten plane surfaces. [Written
also, less correctly, decaedron.]
DECALCIFICATION
De*cal`ci*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The removal of calcareous matter.
DECALCIFY
De*cal"ci*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decalcified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decalcifying.]
Defn: To deprive of calcareous matter; thus, to decalcify bones is to
remove the stony part, and leave only the gelatin.
DECALCOMANIA; DECALCOMANIE
De*cal`co*ma"ni*a, De*cal`co*ma"nie, n. Etym: [F. décalcomanie.]
Defn: The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to
china, glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.
DECALITER; DECALITRE
Dec"a*li`ter, Dec"a*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. décalitre; Gr. litre. See
Liter.]
Defn: A measure of capacity in the metric system; a cubic volume of
ten liters, equal to about 610.24 cubic inches, that is, 2.642 wine
gallons.
DECALOG
Dec"a*log, n.
Defn: Decalogue.
DECALOGIST
De*cal"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who explains the decalogue. J. Gregory.
DECALOGUE
Dec"a*logue, n. Etym: [F. décalogue, L. decalogus, fr. Gr. Ten.]
Defn: The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount
Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.
DECAMERON
De*cam"e*ron, n. Etym: [It. decamerone, fr. Gr. décaméron.]
Defn: A celebrated collection of tales, supposed to be related in ten
days; -- written in the 14th century, by Boccaccio, an Italian.
DECAMETER; DECAMETRE
Dec"a*me`ter, Dec"a*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. décamètre; Gr. mètre. See
Meter.]
Defn: A measure of length in the metric system; ten meters, equal to
about 393.7 inches.
DECAMP
De*camp", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decamped; p. pr. & vb. n. Decamping.]
Etym: [F. décamper; pref. dé- (L. dis) + camp camp. See Camp.]
1. To break up a camp; to move away from a camping ground, usually by
night or secretly. Macaulay.
2. Hence, to depart suddenly; to run away; -- generally used
disparagingly.
The fathers were ordered to decamp, and the house was once again
converted into a tavern. Goldsmith.
DECAMPMENT
De*camp"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décampement.]
Defn: Departure from a camp; a marching off.
DECANAL
Dec"a*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décanal. See Dean.]
Defn: Pertaining to a dean or deanery.
His rectorial as well as decanal residence. Churton.
Decanal side, the side of the choir on which the dean's tall is
placed.
-- Decanal stall, the stall allotted to the dean in the choir, on
the right or south side of the chancel. Shipley.
DECANDRIA
De*can"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants characterized by having ten stamens.
DECANDRIAN; DECANDROUS
De*can"dri*an, De*can"drous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décandre.] (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Decandria; having ten stamens.
DECANE
Dec"ane, n. Etym: [See Deca-.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H22, of the paraffin series, including
several isomeric modifications.
DECANGULAR
Dec*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + angular.]
Defn: Having ten angles.
DECANI
De*ca"ni, a. Etym: [L., lit., of the dean.]
Defn: Used of the side of the choir on which the dean's stall is
placed; decanal; -- correlative to cantoris; as, the decanal, or
decani, side.
DECANT
De*cant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decanting.]
Etym: [F. décanter (cf. It. decantare), prop., to pour off from the
edge of a vessel; pref. dé- (L. de) + OF. cant (It. canto) edge,
border, end. See Cant an edge.]
Defn: To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the
sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another; as, to decant
wine.
DECANTATE
De*can"tate, v. t.
Defn: To decant. [Obs.]
DECANTATION
De`can*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décantation.]
Defn: The act of pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or
sediment, or from one vessel into another.
DECANTER
De*cant"er, n.
1. A vessel used to decant liquors, or for receiving decanted
liquors; a kind of glass bottle used for holding wine or other
liquors, from which drinking glasses are filled.
2. One who decants liquors.
DECAPHYLLOUS
De*caph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr. décaphylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having ten leaves.
DECAPITATE
De*cap"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decapitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decapitating.] Etym: [LL. decapitatus, p. p. of decapitare; L. de- +
caput head. See Chief.]
1. To cut off the head of; to behead.
2. To remove summarily from office. [Colloq. U. S.]
DECAPITATION
De*cap`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. decapitatio: cf. F. décapitation.]
Defn: The act of beheading; beheading.
DECAPOD
Dec"a*pod, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décapode.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A crustacean with ten feet or legs, as a crab; one of the
Decapoda. Also used adjectively.
DECAPODA
De*cap"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The order of Crustacea which includes the shrimps, lobsters,
crabs, etc.
Note: They have a carapace, covering and uniting the somites of the
head and thorax and inclosing a gill chamber on each side, and
usually have five (rarely six) pairs of legs. They are divided into
two principal groups: Brachyura and Macrura. Some writers recognize a
third (Anomura) intermediate between the others.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the dibranchiate cephalopods including the
cuttlefishes and squids. See Decacera.
DECAPODAL; DECAPODOUS
Dec*ap"o*dal, Dec*ap"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the decapods; having ten feet; ten-footed.
DECARBONATE
De*car"bon*ate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of carbonic acid.
DECARBONIZATION
De*car`bon*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The action or process of depriving a substance of carbon.
DECARBONIZE
De*car"bon*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decarbonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decarbonizing.]
Defn: To deprive of carbon; as, to decarbonize steel; to decarbonize
the blood. Decarbonized iron. See Malleable iron.
-- Decarbonized steel, homogenous wrought iron made by a steel
process, as that of Bessemer; ingot iron.
DECARBONIZER
De*car"bon*i`zer, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, decarbonizes a substance.
DECARBURIZATION
De*car`bu*ri*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act, process, or result of decarburizing.
DECARBURIZE
De*car"bu*rize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of carbon; to remove the carbon from.
DECARD
De*card", v. t.
Defn: To discard. [Obs.]
You have cast those by, decarded them. J. Fletcher.
DECARDINALIZE
De*car"di*nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To depose from the rank of cardinal.
DECASTERE
Dec"a*stere, n. Etym: [L. décastère; Gr. stère a stere.] (Metric
System)
Defn: A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten cubic
meters.
DECASTICH
Dec"a*stich, n. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr.
Defn: A poem consisting of ten lines.
DECASTYLE
Dec"a*style, a. Etym: [Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc.
-- n.
Defn: A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.
DECASYLLABIC
Dec`a*syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + syllabic: cf. F.
décasyllabique, décasyllable.]
Defn: Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.
DECATHLON
De*cath"lon, n. [See Deca-; Pentathlon.]
Defn: In the modern Olympic Games, a composite contest consisting of
a 100-meter run, a broad jump, putting the shot, a running high-jump,
a 400-meter run, throwing the discus, a 100-meter hurdle race, pole
vaulting, throwing the javelin, and a 1500-meter run.
DECATOIC
Dec`a*to"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.
DECAY
De*cay", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying.]
Etym: [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall,
become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.]
Defn: To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state,
to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to
decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot;
to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.
Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth
accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.
DECAY
De*cay", v. t.
1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]
Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.
2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.
DECAY
De*cay", n.
1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of
any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution
or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as,
the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman
empire; a castle in decay.
Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the
hand, and more -May strengthen my decays. Herbert.
His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay.
Macaulay.
Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat
different laws. James Byrne.
2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] Spenser.
3. Cause of decay. [R.]
He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of
the whole age. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Decline; consumption. See Decline.
DECAYED
De*cayed", a.
Defn: Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with
decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed
fortune or gentleman.
-- De*cay"ed*ness, n.
DECAYER
De*cay"er, n.
Defn: A causer of decay. [R.]
DECEASE
De*cease", n. Etym: [OE. deses, deces, F. décès, fr. L. decessus
departure, death, fr. decedere to depart, die; de- + cedere to
withdraw. See Cease, Cede.]
Defn: Departure, especially departure from this life; death.
His decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke ix. 31.
And I, the whilst you mourn for his decease, Will with my mourning
plaints your plaint increase. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Death; departure; dissolution; demise; release. See Death.
DECEASE
De*cease", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deceased; p. pr. & vb. n. Deceasing.]
Defn: To depart from this life; to die; to pass away.
She's dead, deceased, she's dead. Shak.
When our summers have deceased. Tennyson.
Inasmuch as he carries the malignity and the lie with him, he so far
deceases from nature. Emerson.
DECEASED
De*ceased", a.
Defn: Passed away; dead; gone. The deceased, the dead person.
DECEDE
De*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. decedere. See Decease, n.]
Defn: To withdraw. [Obs.] Fuller.
DECEDENT
De*ce"dent, a. Etym: [L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere.]
Defn: Removing; departing. Ash.
DECEDENT
De*ce"dent, n.
Defn: A deceased person. Bouvier.
DECEIT
De*ceit", n. Etym: [OF. deceit, des, decept (cf. deceite, de), fr. L.
deceptus deception, fr. decipere. See Deceive.]
1. An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any
declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes
him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a
wily device; fraud.
Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the
balances by deceit. Amos viii. 5.
Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. Milton.
Yet still we hug the dear deceit. N. Cotton.
2. (Law)
Defn: Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or
underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby
effected, an action of deceit, as it called, lies for compensation.
Syn.
-- Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile;
falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See Deception.
DECEITFUL
De*ceit"ful, a.
Defn: Full of, or characterized by, deceit; serving to mislead or
insnare; trickish; fraudulent; cheating; insincere.
Harboring foul deceitful thoughts. Shak.
DECEITFULLY
De*ceit"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: With intent to deceive.
DECEITFULNESS
De*ceit"ful*ness, n.
1. The disposition to deceive; as, a man's deceitfulness may be
habitual.
2. The quality of being deceitful; as, the deceitfulness of a man's
practices.
3. Tendency to mislead or deceive. "The deceitfulness of riches."
Matt. xiii. 22.
DECEITLESS
De*ceit"less, a.
Defn: Free from deceit. Bp. Hall.
DECEIVABLE
De*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. décevable.]
1. Fitted to deceive; deceitful. [Obs.]
The fraud of deceivable traditions. Milton.
2. Subject to deceit; capable of being misled.
Blind, and thereby deceivable. Milton.
DECEIVABLENESS
De*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n.
1. Capability of deceiving.
With all deceivableness of unrighteousness. 2 Thess. ii. 10.
2. Liability to be deceived or misled; as, the deceivableness of a
child.
DECEIVABLY
De*ceiv"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a deceivable manner.
DECEIVE
De*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Deceiving.]
Etym: [OE. deceveir, F. décevoir, fr. L. decipere to catch, insnare,
deceive; de- + capere to take, catch. See Capable, and cf. Deceit,
Deception.]
1. To lead into error; to cause to believe what is false, or
disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to
disappoint; to delude; to insnare.
Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived. 2 Tim. iii. 13.
Nimble jugglers that deceive the eye. Shak.
What can 'scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Milton.
2. To beguile; to amuse, so as to divert the attention; to while
away; to take away as if by deception.
These occupations oftentimes deceived The listless hour. Wordsworth.
3. To deprive by fraud or stealth; to defraud. [Obs.]
Plant fruit trees in large borders, and set therein fine flowers, but
thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Deceive, Delude, Mislead. Deceive is a general word applicable to
any kind of misrepresentation affecting faith or life. To delude,
primarily, is to make sport of, by deceiving, and is accomplished by
playing upon one's imagination or credulity, as by exciting false
hopes, causing him to undertake or expect what is impracticable, and
making his failure ridiculous. It implies some infirmity of judgment
in the victim, and intention to deceive in the deluder. But it is
often used reflexively, indicating that a person's own weakness has
made him the sport of others or of fortune; as, he deluded himself
with a belief that luck would always favor him. To mislead is to
lead, guide, or direct in a wrong way, either willfully or
ignorantly.
DECEIVER
De*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who deceives; one who leads into error; a cheat; an
impostor.
The deceived and the deceiver are his. Job xii. 16.
Syn.
-- Deceiver, Impostor. A deceiver operates by stealth and in private
upon individuals; an impostor practices his arts on the community at
large. The one succeeds by artful falsehoods, the other by bold
assumption. The faithless friend and the fickle lover are deceivers;
the false prophet and the pretended prince are impostors.
DECEMBER
De*cem"ber, n. Etym: [F. décembre, from L. December, fr. decem ten;
this being the tenth month among the early Romans, who began the year
in March. See Ten.]
1. The twelfth and last month of the year, containing thirty-one
days. During this month occurs the winter solstice.
2. Fig.: With reference to the end of the year and to the winter
season; as, the December of his life.
DECEMBRIST
De*cem"brist, n. (Russian Hist.)
Defn: One of those who conspired for constitutional government
against the Emperor Nicholas on his accession to the throne at the
death of Alexander I., in December, 1825; -- called also Dekabrist.
He recalls the history of the decembrists . . . that gallant band of
revolutionists.
G. Kennan.
DECEMDENTATE
De`cem*den"tate, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. dentate.]
Defn: Having ten points or teeth.
DECEMFID
De*cem"fid, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Cleft into ten parts.
DECEMLOCULAR
De`cem*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. locular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having ten cells for seeds.
DECEMPEDAL
De*cem"pe*dal, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. pedal.]
1. Ten feet in length.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having ten feet; decapodal. [R.] Bailey.
DECEMVIR
De*cem"vir, n.; pl. E. Decemvirs, L. Decemviri. Etym: [L., fr. decem
ten + vir a man.]
1. One of a body of ten magistrates in ancient Rome.
Note: The title of decemvirs was given to various bodies of Roman
magistrates. The most celebrated decemvirs framed "the laws of the
Twelve Tables," about 450 B. C., and had absolute authority for three
years.
2. A member of any body of ten men in authority.
DECEMVIRAL
De*cem"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. decemviralis.]
Defn: Pertaining to the decemvirs in Rome.
DECEMVIRATE
De*cem"vi*rate, n. Etym: [L. decemviratus.]
1. The office or term of office of the decemvirs in Rome.
2. A body of ten men in authority.
DECEMVIRSHIP
De*cem"vir*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a decemvir. Holland.
DECENCE
De"cence, n.
Defn: Decency. [Obs.] Dryden.
DECENCY
De"cen*cy, n.; pl. Decencies. Etym: [L. decentia, fr. decens: cf. F.
décence. See Decent.]
1. The quality or state of being decent, suitable, or becoming, in
words or behavior; propriety of form in social intercourse, in
actions, or in discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony;
seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty.
Observances of time, place, and of decency in general. Burke.
Immodest words admit of no defense, For want of decency is want of
sense. Roscommon.
2. That which is proper or becoming.
The external decencies of worship. Atterbury.
Those thousand decencies, that daily flow From all her words and
actions. Milton.
DECENE
De"cene, n. Etym: [L. decem ten.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H20, of the ethylene series.
DECENNARY
De*cen"na*ry, n.; pl. Decennaries. Etym: [L. decennium a period of
ten years; decem ten + annus a year.]
1. A period of ten years.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A tithing consisting of ten neighboring families. Burrill.
DECENNIAL
De*cen"ni*al, a. Etym: [See Decennary.]
Defn: Consisting of ten years; happening every ten years; as, a
decennial period; decennial games. Hallam.
DECENNIAL
De*cen"ni*al, n.
Defn: A tenth year or tenth anniversary.
DECENNIUM
De*cen"ni*um, n.; pl. Decenniums, L. Decennia. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A period of ten years. "The present decennium." Hallam. "The
last decennium of Chaucer's life." A. W. Ward.
DECENNOVAL; DECENNOVARY
De*cen"no*val, De*cen"no*va*ry, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + novem nine.]
Defn: Pertaining to the number nineteen; of nineteen years. [R.]
Holder.
DECENT
De"cent, a. Etym: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be
fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. d to
grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf.
Decorate, Decorum, Deig.]
1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit;
decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. Shak.
Before his decent steps. Milton.
2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.
3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic]
A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy decent shoulders drawn. Milton.
By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. Pope.
4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly
good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a
decent person.
A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke.
-- De"cent*ly, adv.
-- De"cent*ness, n.
DECENTRALIZATION
De*cen`tral*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The action of decentralizing, or the state of being
decentralized. "The decentralization of France." J. P. Peters.
DECENTRALIZE
De*cen"tral*ize, v. t.
Defn: To prevent from centralizing; to cause to withdraw from the
center or place of concentration; to divide and distribute (what has
been united or concentrated); -- esp. said of authority, or the
administration of public affairs.
DECEPTIBLE
De*cep"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deceived; deceivable. Sir T. Browne.
-- De*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (, n.
DECEPTION
De*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. déception, L. deceptio, fr. decipere,
deceptum. See Deceive.]
1. The act of deceiving or misleading. South.
2. The state of being deceived or misled.
There is one thing relating either to the action or enjoyments of man
in which he is not liable to deception. South.
3. That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false
representation; artifice; cheat; fraud.
There was of course room for vast deception. Motley.
Syn.
-- Deception, Deceit, Fraud, Imposition. Deception usually refers to
the act, and deceit to the habit of the mind; hence we speak of a
person as skilled in deception and addicted to deceit. The practice
of deceit springs altogether from design, and that of the worst kind;
but a deception does not always imply aim and intention. It may be
undesigned or accidental. An imposition is an act of deception
practiced upon some one to his annoyance or injury; a fraud implies
the use of stratagem, with a view to some unlawful gain or advantage.
DECEPTIOUS
De*cep"tious, a. Etym: [LL. deceptiosus.]
Defn: Tending deceive; delusive. [R.]
As if those organs had deceptious functions. Shak.
DECEPTIVE
De*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déceptif. See Deceive.]
Defn: Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress with
false opinions; as, a deceptive countenance or appearance.
Language altogether deceptive, and hiding the deeper reality from our
eyes. Trench.
Deceptive cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the subdominant, or in some
foreign key, postponing the final close.
DECEPTIVELY
De*cep"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to deceive.
DECEPTIVENESS
De*cep"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or aptness to
deceive.
DECEPTIVITY
De`cep*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.] Carlyle.
DECEPTORY
De*cep"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. deceptorius, from decipere.]
Defn: Deceptive. [R.]
DECERN
De*cern", v. t. Etym: [L. decernere. See Decree.]
1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: To decree; to adjudge.
DECERNITURE
De*cern"i*ture, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A decree or sentence of a court. Stormonth.
DECERP
De*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.]
Defn: To pluck off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]
DECERPT
De*cerpt", a. Etym: [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.]
Defn: Plucked off or away. [Obs.]
DECERPTIBLE
De*cerp"ti*ble, a.
Defn: That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away. [Obs.] Bailey.
DECERPTION
De*cerp"tion, n.
1. The act of plucking off; a cropping.
2. That which is plucked off or rent away; a fragment; a piece.
Glanvill.
DECERTATION
De`cer*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum;
de- + certare to contend.]
Defn: Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.] Arnway.
DECESSION
De*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. See
Decease, n.]
Defn: Departure; decrease; -- opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
DECHARM
De*charm", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décharmer. See Charm.]
Defn: To free from a charm; to disenchant.
DECHRISTIANIZE
De*chris"tian*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dechristianized; p. pr. & vb.
n. Dechristianizing.]
Defn: To turn from, or divest of, Christianity.
DECIARE
Dec"i*are`, n. [F. déciare; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + are.
See 2d Are.] (Metric System)
Defn: A measure of area, the tenth part of an are; ten square meters.
DECIDABLE
De*cid"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decided; determinable.
DECIDE
De*cide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.]
Etym: [L. decidere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E.
shed, v.: cf. F. décider. Cf. Decision.]
1. To cut off; to separate. [Obs.]
Our seat denies us traffic here; The sea, too near, decides us from
the rest. Fuller.
2. To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle,
by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment
concerning; to determine; to settle.
So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 1 Kings xx. 40.
The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; Betwixt ourselves let us
decide it then. Shak.
DECIDE
De*cide", v. i.
Defn: To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a
conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the
defendant.
Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.
DECIDED
De*cid"ed, a.
1. Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable;
clear; evident; as, a decided advantage. "A more decided taste for
science." Prescott.
2. Free from doubt or wavering; determined; of fixed purpose; fully
settled; positive; resolute; as, a decided opinion or purpose.
Syn.
-- Decided, Decisive. We call a thing decisive when it has the power
or quality of deciding; as, a decisive battle; we speak of it as
decided when it is so fully settled as to leave no room for doubt;
as, a decided preference, a decided aversion. Hence, a decided
victory is one about which there is no question; a decisive victory
is one which ends the contest. Decisive is applied only to things;
as, a decisive sentence, a decisive decree, a decisive judgment.
Decided is applied equally to persons and things. Thus we speak of a
man as decided in his whole of conduct; and as having a decided
disgust, or a decided reluctance, to certain measures. "A politic
caution, a guarded circumspection, were among the ruling principles
of our forefathers in their most decided conduct." Burke. "The
sentences of superior judges are final, decisive, and irrevocable.
Blackstone.
DECIDEDLY
De*cid"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.
DECIDEMENT
De*cide"ment, n.
Defn: Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DECIDENCE
Dec"i*dence, n. Etym: [L. decidens falling off.]
Defn: A falling off. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DECIDER
De*cid"er, n.
Defn: One who decides.
DECIDUA
De*cid"u*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. deciduus. See Deciduous.] (Anat.)
Defn: The inner layer of the wall of the uterus, which envelops the
embryo, forms a part of the placenta, and is discharged with it.
DECIDUATA
De*cid`u*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Mammalia in which a decidua is thrown off with, or
after, the fetus, as in the human species.
DECIDUATE
De*cid"u*ate, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.
DECIDUITY
Dec`i*du"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deciduousness. [R.]
DECIDUOUS
De*cid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. deciduus, fr. dec to fall off; de- +
cadere to fall. See Chance.] (Biol.)
Defn: Falling off, or subject to fall or be shed, at a certain
season, or a certain stage or interval of growth, as leaves (except
of evergreens) in autumn, or as parts of animals, such as hair,
teeth, antlers, etc.; also, shedding leaves or parts at certain
seasons, stages, or intervals; as, deciduous trees; the deciduous
membrane.
DECIDUOUSNESS
De*cid"u*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being deciduous.
DECIGRAM; DECIGRAMME
Dec"i*gram, Dec"i*gramme, n. Etym: [F. décigramme; pref. déci- tenth
(fr. L. decimus) + gramme.]
Defn: A weight in the metric system; one tenth of a gram, equal to
1.5432 grains avoirdupois.
DECIL; DECILE
Dec"il, Dec"ile, n. Etym: [F. décil, fr. L. decem tendecile.]
(Astrol.)
Defn: An aspect or position of two planets, when they are distant
from each other a tenth part of the zodiac, or 36º.
DECILITER; DECILITRE
Dec"i*li`ter, Dec"i*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. décilitre; pref. déci- tenth
(L. decimus) + litre. See Liter.]
Defn: A measure of capacity or volume in the metric system; one tenth
of a liter, equal to 6.1022 cubic inches, or 3.38 fluid ounces.
DECILLION
De*cil"lion, n. Etym: [L. decem ten + the ending of million.]
Defn: According to the English notation, a million involved to the
tenth power, or a unit with sixty ciphers annexed; according to the
French and American notation, a thousand involved to the eleventh
power, or a unit with thirty-three ciphers annexed. [See the Note
under Numeration.]
DECILLIONTH
De*cil"lionth, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a decillion, or to the quotient of unity divided
by a decillion.
DECILLIONTH
De*cil"lionth, n.
(a) The quotient of unity divided by a decillion.
(b) One of a decillion equal parts.
DECIMAL
Dec"i*mal, a. Etym: [F. décimal (cf. LL. decimalis), fr. L. decimus
tenth, fr. decem ten. See Ten, and cf. Dime.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to decimals; numbered or proceeding by tens;
having a tenfold increase or decrease, each unit being ten times the
unit next smaller; as, decimal notation; a decimal coinage. Decimal
arithmetic, the common arithmetic, in which numeration proceeds by
tens.
-- Decimal fraction, a fraction in which the denominator is some
power of 10, as -- Decimal point, a dot or full stop at the left of a
decimal fraction. The figures at the left of the point represent
units or whole numbers, as 1.05.
DECIMAL
Dec"i*mal, n.
Defn: A number expressed in the scale of tens; specifically, and
almost exclusively, used as synonymous with a decimal fraction.
Circulating, or Circulatory, decimal, a decimal fraction in which the
same figure, or set of figures, is constantly repeated; as,
0.354354354; -- called also recurring decimal, repeating decimal, and
repetend.
DECIMALISM
Dec"i*mal*ism, n.
Defn: The system of a decimal currency, decimal weights, measures,
etc.
DECIMALIZE
Dec"i*mal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to a decimal system; as, to decimalize the currency.
-- Dec`i*mal*i*za"tion, n.
DECIMALLY
Dec"i*mal*ly, adv.
Defn: By tens; by means of decimals.
DECIMATE
Dec"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decimating.] Etym: [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in
senses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.]
1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.
2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to
decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.
3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in
battle; to decimate a people by disease.
DECIMATION
Dec`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. decimatio: cf. F. décimation.]
1. A tithing. [Obs.] State Trials (1630).
2. A selection of every tenth person by lot, as for punishment. Shak.
3. The destruction of any large proportion, as of people by
pestilence or war. Milman.
DECIMATOR
Dec"i*ma`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. decimator.]
Defn: One who decimates. South.
DECIME
Dé`cime", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A French coin, the tenth part of a franc, equal to about two
cents.
DECIMETER; DECIMETRE
Dec"i*me`ter, Dec"i*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. décimètre; pref. déci- tenth
(fr. L. decimus) + mètre. See Meter.]
Defn: A measure of length in the metric system; one tenth of a meter,
equal to 3.937 inches.
DECIMOSEXTO
Dec`i*mo*sex"to, n. Etym: [Prop., in sixteenth; fr. L. decimus tenth
+ sextus sixth.]
Defn: A book consisting of sheets, each of which is folded into
sixteen leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of
book; -- usually written 16mo or 16º.
DECIMOSEXTO
Dec`i*mo*sex"to, a.
Defn: Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; as, a decimosexto form, book,
leaf, size.
DECINE
De"cine (; 104), n. Etym: [From L. decem ten.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H15, of the acetylene
series; -- called also decenylene.
DECIPHER
De*ci"pher, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deciphering.] Etym: [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F.
déchiffrer. See Cipher.]
1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible
terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.
2. To find out, so as to be able to make known the meaning of; to
make out or read, as words badly written or partly obliterated; to
detect; to reveal; to unfold.
3. To stamp; to detect; to discover. [R.]
You are both deciphered, . . . For villains. Shak.
DECIPHERABLE
De*ci"pher*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable.
DECIPHERER
De*ci"pher*er, n.
Defn: One who deciphers.
DECIPHERESS
De*ci"pher*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who deciphers.
DECIPHERMENT
De*ci"pher*ment, n.
Defn: The act of deciphering.
DECIPIENCY
De*cip"i*en*cy, n. Etym: [L. decipiens, p. pr. of decipere. See
Deceive.]
Defn: State of being deceived; hallucination. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DECIPIUM
De*cip"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. decipere to deceive.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed rare element, said to be associated with cerium,
yttrium, etc., in the mineral samarskite, and more recently called
samarium. Symbol Dp. See Samarium.
DECISION
De*ci"sion, n. Etym: [L. decisio, fr. decidere, decisum: cf. F.
décision. See Decide.]
1. Cutting off; division; detachment of a part. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
2. The act of deciding; act of settling or terminating, as a
controversy, by giving judgment on the matter at issue;
determination, as of a question or doubt; settlement; conclusion.
The decision of some dispute. Atterbury.
3. An account or report of a conclusion, especially of a legal
adjudication or judicial determination of a question or cause; as, a
decision of arbitrators; a decision of the Supreme Court.
4. The quality of being decided; prompt and fixed determination;
unwavering firmness; as, to manifest great decision.
Syn.
-- Decision, Determination, Resolution. Each of these words has two
meanings, one implying the act of deciding, determining, or
resolving; and the other a habit of mind as to doing. It is in the
last sense that the words are here compared. Decision is a cutting
short. It implies that several courses of action have been presented
to the mind, and that the choice is now finally made. It supposes,
therefore, a union of promptitude and energy. Determination is the
natural consequence of decision. It is the settling of a thing with a
fixed purpose to adhere. Resolution is the necessary result in a mind
which is characterized by firmness. It is a spirit which scatters
(resolves) all doubt, and is ready to face danger or suffering in
carrying out one's determinations. Martin Luther was equally
distinguished for his prompt decision, his steadfast determination,
and his inflexible resolution.
DECISIVE
De*ci*sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décisif. See Decision.]
1. Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy;
putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive. "A
decisive, irrevocable doom." Bates. "Decisive campaign." Macaulay.
"Decisive proof." Hallam.
2. Marked by promptness and decision.
A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character. J.
Foster.
Syn.
-- Decided; positive; conclusive. See Decided.
-- De*ci"sive*ly, adv.
-- De*ci"sive*ness, n.
DECISORY
De*ci"so*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décisoire. See Decision.]
Defn: Able to decide or determine; having a tendency to decide. [R.]
DECISTERE
Dec"i*stere, n. Etym: [F. décistère; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L.
decimus) + stère a stere.] (Metric System)
Defn: The tenth part of the stere or cubic meter, equal to 3.531
cubic feet. See Stere.
DECITIZENIZE
De*cit"i*zen*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of the rights of citizenship. [R.]
We have no law -- as the French have -- to decitizenize a citizen.
Edw. Bates.
DECIVILIZE
De*civ"i*lize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce from civilization to a savage state. [R.] Blackwood's
Mag.
DECK
Deck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decked; p. pr. & vb. n. Decking.] Etym: [D.
dekken to cover; akin to E. thatch. See Thatch.]
1. To cover; to overspread.
To deck with clouds the uncolored sky. Milton.
2. To dress, as the person; to clothe; especially, to clothe with
more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish.
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency. Job xl. 10.
And deck my body in gay ornaments. Shak.
The dew with spangles decked the ground. Dryden.
3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.
DECK
Deck, n. Etym: [D. dek. See Deck, v.]
1. The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or
compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger
ships have two or three decks.
Note: The following are the more common names of the decks of vessels
having more than one. Berth deck (Navy), a deck next below the gun
deck, where the hammocks of the crew are swung.
-- Boiler deck (River Steamers), the deck on which the boilers are
placed.
-- Flush deck, any continuous, unbroken deck from stem to stern.
-- Gun deck (Navy), a deck below the spar deck, on which the ship's
guns are carried. If there are two gun decks, the upper one is called
the main deck, the lower, the lower gun deck; if there are three, one
is called the middle gun deck.
-- Half-deck, that portion of the deck next below the spar deck
which is between the mainmast and the cabin.
-- Hurricane deck (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck, usually a
light deck, erected above the frame of the hull.
-- Orlop deck, the deck or part of a deck where the cables are
stowed, usually below the water line.
-- Poop deck, the deck forming the roof of a poop or poop cabin,
built on the upper deck and extending from the mizzenmast aft.
-- Quarter-deck, the part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast,
including the poop deck when there is one.
-- Spar deck. (a) Same as the upper deck. (b) Sometimes a light deck
fitted over the upper deck.
-- Upper deck, the highest deck of the hull, extending from stem to
stern.
2. (arch.)
Defn: The upper part or top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made
nearly flat.
3. (Railroad)
Defn: The roof of a passenger car.
4. A pack or set of playing cards.
The king was slyly fingered from the deck. Shak.
5. A heap or store. [Obs.]
Who . . . hath such trinkets Ready in the deck. Massinger.
Between decks. See under Between.
-- Deck bridge (Railroad Engineering), a bridge which carries the
track upon the upper chords; -- distinguished from a through bridge,
which carries the track upon the lower chords, between the girders.
-- Deck curb (Arch.), a curb supporting a deck in roof construction.
-- Deck floor (Arch.), a floor which serves also as a roof, as of a
belfry or balcony.
-- Deck hand, a sailor hired to help on the vessel's deck, but not
expected to go aloft.
-- Deck molding (Arch.), the molded finish of the edge of a deck,
making the junction with the lower slope of the roof.
-- Deck roof (Arch.), a nearly flat roof which is not surmounted by
parapet walls.
-- Deck transom (Shipbuilding), the transom into which the deck is
framed.
-- To clear the decks (Naut.), to remove every unnecessary
incumbrance in preparation for battle; to prepare for action.
-- To sweep the deck (Card Playing), to clear off all the stakes on
the table by winning them.
DECKEL
Deck"el, n. (Paper Making)
Defn: Same as Deckle.
DECKER
Deck"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, decks or adorns; a coverer; as, a table
decker.
2. A vessel which has a deck or decks; -- used esp. in composition;
as, a single-decker; a three-decker.
DECKLE
Dec"kle, n. Etym: [Cf. G. deckel cover, lid.] (Paper Making)
Defn: A separate thin wooden frame used to form the border of a hand
mold, or a curb of India rubber or other material which rests on, and
forms the edge of, the mold in a paper machine and determines the
width of the paper. [Spelt also deckel, and deckle.]
DECKLE EDGE
Dec"kle edge`.
Defn: The rough, untrimmed edge of paper left by the deckle; also, a
rough edge in imitation of this.
DECKLE-EDGED
Dec"kle-edged`, a.
Defn: Having a deckle edge; as, deckle-edged paper; a deckle-edged
book.
DECLAIM
De*claim", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declaimed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Declaiming.] Etym: [L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F.
déclamer. See Claim.]
1. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to
harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as
a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students
declaim twice a week.
2. To speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or
theatrically; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in
debate; to rant.
Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the
stamp act. Bancroft.
DECLAIM
De*claim", v. t.
1. To utter in public; to deliver in a rhetorical or set manner.
2. To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [Obs.] "Declaims his
cause." South.
DECLAIMANT
De*claim"ant, n.
Defn: A declaimer. [R.]
DECLAIMER
De*claim"er, n.
Defn: One who declaims; an haranguer.
DECLAMATION
Dec`la*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. declamatio, from declamare: cf. F.
déclamation. See Declaim.]
1. The act or art of declaiming; rhetorical delivery; haranguing;
loud speaking in public; especially, the public recitation of
speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges; as, the practice
declamation by students.
The public listened with little emotion, but with much civility, to
five acts of monotonous declamation. Macaulay.
2. A set or harangue; declamatory discourse.
3. Pretentious rhetorical display, with more sound than sense; as,
mere declamation.
DECLAMATOR
Dec"la*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A declaimer. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
DECLAMATORY
De*clam"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. declamatorius: cf. F. déclamatoire.]
1. Pertaining to declamation; treated in the manner of a rhetorician;
as, a declamatory theme.
2. Characterized by rhetorical display; pretentiously rhetorical;
without solid sense or argument; bombastic; noisy; as, a declamatory
way or style.
DECLARABLE
De*clar"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being declared. Sir T. Browne.
DECLARANT
De*clar"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déclarant, p. pr. of déclarer.] (Law)
Defn: One who declares. Abbott.
DECLARATION
Dec`la*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. déclaration, fr. L. declaratio, fr.
declarare. See Declare.]
1. The act of declaring, or publicly announcing; explicit asserting;
undisguised token of a ground or side taken on any subject;
proclamation; exposition; as, the declaration of an opinion; a
declaration of war, etc.
2. That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement; distinct
statement; formal expression; avowal.
Declarations of mercy and love . . . in the Gospel. Tillotson.
3. The document or instrument containing such statement or
proclamation; as, the Declaration of Independence (now preserved in
Washington).
In 1776 the Americans laid before Europe that noble Declaration,
which ought to be hung up in the nursery of every king, and blazoned
on the porch of every royal palace. Buckle.
4. (Law)
Defn: That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets forth in
order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the
plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3.
Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See under Independence.
-- Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights, under
Bill.
-- Declaration of trust (Law), a paper subscribed by a grantee of
property, acknowledging that he holds it in trust for the purposes
and upon the terms set forth. Abbott.
DECLARATIVE
De*clar"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. declarativus, fr. declarare: cf. F.
déclaratif.]
Defn: Making declaration, proclamation, or publication; explanatory;
assertive; declaratory. "Declarative laws." Baker.
The "vox populi," so declarative on the same side. Swift.
DECLARATIVELY
De*clar"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By distinct assertion; not impliedly; in the form of a
declaration.
The priest shall expiate it, that is, declaratively. Bates.
DECLARATOR
Dec"la*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L., an announcer.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A form of action by which some right or interest is sought to
be judicially declared.
DECLARATORILY
De*clar"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a declaratory manner.
DECLARATORY
De*clar"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déclaratoire.]
Defn: Making declaration, explanation, or exhibition; making clear or
manifest; affirmative; expressive; as, a clause declaratory of the
will of the legislature. Declaratory act (Law), an act or statute
which sets forth more clearly, and declares what is, the existing
law.
DECLARE
De*clare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declared; p. pr. & vb. n. Declaring.]
Etym: [F. déclarer, from L. declarare; de + clarare to make clear,
clarus, clear, bright. See Clear.]
1. To make clear; to free from obscurity. [Obs.] "To declare this a
little." Boyle.
2. To make known by language; to communicate or manifest explicitly
and plainly in any way; to exhibit; to publish; to proclaim; to
announce.
This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son. Milton.
The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. xix. 1.
3. To make declaration of; to assert; to affirm; to set forth; to
avow; as, he declares the story to be false.
I the Lord . . . declare things that are right. Isa. xlv. 19.
4. (Com.)
Defn: To make full statement of, as goods, etc., for the purpose of
paying taxes, duties, etc. To declare off, to recede from an
agreement, undertaking, contract, etc.; to renounce.
-- To declare one's self, to avow one's opinion; to show openly what
one thinks, or which side he espouses.
DECLARE
De*clare", v. i.
1. To make a declaration, or an open and explicit avowal; to proclaim
one's self; -- often with for or against; as, victory declares
against the allies.
Like fawning courtiers, for success they wait, And then come smiling,
and declare for fate. Dryden.
2. (Law)
Defn: To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal
form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.
DECLAREDLY
De*clar"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Avowedly; explicitly.
DECLAREDNESS
De*clar"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being declared.
DECLAREMENT
De*clare"ment, n.
Defn: Declaration. [Obs.]
DECLARER
De*clar"er, n.
Defn: One who makes known or proclaims; that which exhibits. Udall.
DECLASS
De*class", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declassed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Declassing.] [Cf. F. déclasser.]
Defn: To remove from a class; to separate or degrade from one's
class. North Am. Rev.
DECLENSION
De*clen"sion, n. Etym: [Apparently corrupted fr. F. déclinaison, fr.
L. declinatio, fr. declinare. See Decline, and cf. Declination.]
1. The act or the state of declining; declination; descent; slope.
The declension of the land from that place to the sea. T. Burnet.
2. A falling off towards a worse state; a downward tendency;
deterioration; decay; as, the declension of virtue, of science, of a
state, etc.
Seduced the pitch and height of all his thoughts To base declension.
Shak.
3. Act of courteously refusing; act of declining; a declinature;
refusal; as, the declension of a nomination.
4. (Gram.)
(a) Inflection of nouns, adjectives, etc., according to the
grammatical cases.
(b) The form of the inflection of a word declined by cases; as, the
first or the second declension of nouns, adjectives, etc.
(c) Rehearsing a word as declined.
Note: The nominative was held to be the primary and original form,
and was likened to a perpendicular line; the variations, or oblique
cases, were regarded as fallings (hence called casus, cases, or
fallings) from the nominative or perpendicular; and an enumerating of
the various forms, being a sort of progressive descent from the
noun's upright form, was called a declension. Harris. Declension of
the needle, declination of the needle.
DECLENSIONAL
De*clen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to declension.
Declensional and syntactical forms. M. Arnold.
DECLINABLE
De*clin"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déclinable. See Decline.]
Defn: Capable of being declined; admitting of declension or
inflection; as, declinable parts of speech.
DECLINAL
De*clin"al, a.
Defn: Declining; sloping.
DECLINATE
Dec"li*nate, a. Etym: [L. declinatus, p. p. of declinare. See
Decline.]
Defn: Bent downward or aside; (Bot.) bending downward in a curve;
declined.
DECLINATION
Dec`li*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding:
cf. F. déclination a decadence. See Declension.]
1. The act or state of bending downward; inclination; as, declination
of the head.
2. The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or
perfection; deterioration; decay; decline. "The declination of
monarchy." Bacon.
Summer . . . is not looked on as a time Of declination or decay.
Waller.
3. The act of deviating or turning aside; oblique motion; obliquity;
withdrawal.
The declination of atoms in their descent. Bentley.
Every declination and violation of the rules. South.
4. The act or state of declining or refusing; withdrawal; refusal;
averseness.
The queen's declination from marriage. Stow.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator,
either northward or southward.
6. (Dialing)
Defn: The arc of the horizon, contained between the vertical plane
and the prime vertical circle, if reckoned from the east or west, or
between the meridian and the plane, reckoned from the north or south.
7. (Gram.)
Defn: The act of inflecting a word; declension. See Decline, v. t.,
4. Angle of declination, the angle made by a descending line, or
plane, with a horizontal plane.
-- Circle of declination, a circle parallel to the celestial
equator.
-- Declination compass (Physics), a compass arranged for finding the
declination of the magnetic needle.
-- Declination of the compass or needle, the horizontal angle which
the magnetic needle makes with the true north-and-south line.
DECLINATOR
Dec"li*na`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déclinateur. See Decline.]
1. An instrument for taking the declination or angle which a plane
makes with the horizontal plane.
2. A dissentient. [R.] Bp. Hacket.
DECLINATORY
De*clin"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. declinatorius, fr. L. declinare: cf.
F. déclinatoire.]
Defn: Containing or involving a declination or refusal, as of
submission to a charge or sentence. Blackstone. Declinatory plea (O.
Eng. Law), the plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before
trial or conviction; -- now abolished.
DECLINATURE
De*clin"a*ture, n.
Defn: The act of declining or refusing; as, the declinature of an
office.
DECLINE
De*cline", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declined; p. pr. & vb. n. Declining.]
Etym: [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun), F.
décliner to decline, refuse, fr. L. declinare to turn aside, inflect
(a part of speech), avoid; de- + clinare to incline; akin to E. lean.
See Lean, v. i.]
1. To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction; to bend
over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness, despondency, etc.; to
condescend. "With declining head." Shak.
He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his family. Lady
Hutchinson.
Disdaining to decline, Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries.
Byron.
The ground at length became broken and declined rapidly. Sir W.
Scott.
2. To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to
a less perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to
sink; to diminish; to lessen; as, the day declines; virtue declines;
religion declines; business declines.
That empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of coin.
Waller.
And presume to know . . . Who thrives, and who declines. Shak.
3. To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; as, a
line that declines from straightness; conduct that declines from
sound morals.
Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 157.
4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; -- the opposite of accept or
consent; as, he declined, upon principle.
DECLINE
De*cline", v. t.
1. To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or
fall.
In melancholy deep, with head declined. Thomson.
And now fair Phoebus gan decline in haste His weary wagon to the
western vale. Spenser.
2. To cause to decrease or diminish. [Obs.] "You have declined his
means." Beau. & Fl.
He knoweth his error, but will not seek to decline it. Burton.
3. To put or turn aside; to turn off or away from; to refuse to
undertake or comply with; reject; to shun; to avoid; as, to decline
an offer; to decline a contest; he declined any participation with
them.
Could I Decline this dreadful hour Massinger.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect, or rehearse in order the changes of grammatical
form of; as, to decline a noun or an adjective.
Note: Now restricted to such words as have case inflections; but
formerly it was applied both to declension and conjugation.
After the first declining of a noun and a verb. Ascham.
5. To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy
declining a noun. [R.] Shak.
DECLINE
De*cline", n. Etym: [F. déclin. See Decline, v. i.]
1. A falling off; a tendency to a worse state; diminution or decay;
deterioration; also, the period when a thing is tending toward
extinction or a less perfect state; as, the decline of life; the
decline of strength; the decline of virtue and religion.
Their fathers lived in the decline of literature. Swift.
2. (Med.)
Defn: That period of a disorder or paroxysm when the symptoms begin
to abate in violence; as, the decline of a fever.
3. A gradual sinking and wasting away of the physical faculties; any
wasting disease, esp. pulmonary consumption; as, to die of a decline.
Dunglison.
Syn.
-- Decline, Decay, Consumption. Decline marks the first stage in a
downward progress; decay indicates the second stage, and denotes a
tendency to ultimate destruction; consumption marks a steady decay
from an internal exhaustion of strength. The health may experience a
decline from various causes at any period of life; it is naturally
subject to decay with the advance of old age; consumption may take
place at almost any period of life, from disease which wears out the
constitution. In popular language decline is often used as synonymous
with consumption. By a gradual decline, states and communities lose
their strength and vigor; by progressive decay, they are stripped of
their honor, stability, and greatness; by a consumption of their
resources and vital energy, they are led rapidly on to a completion
of their existence.
DECLINED
De*clined", a.
Defn: Declinate.
DECLINER
De*clin"er, n.
Defn: He who declines or rejects.
A studious decliner of honors. Evelyn.
DECLINOMETER
Dec`li*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Decline + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the declination of the magnetic
needle.
DECLINOUS
De*clin"ous, a.
Defn: Declinate.
DECLIVITOUS; DECLIVOUS
De*cliv"i*tous, De*cli"vous, a.
Defn: Descending gradually; moderately steep; sloping; downhill.
DECLIVITY
De*cliv"i*ty, n.; pl. Declivities. Etym: [L. declivitas, fr. declivis
sloping, downhill; de + clivus a slope, a hill; akin to clinare to
incline: cf. F. déclivité. See Decline.]
1. Deviation from a horizontal line; gradual descent of surface;
inclination downward; slope; -- opposed to acclivity, or ascent; the
same slope, considered as descending, being a declivity, which,
considered as ascending, is an acclivity.
2. A descending surface; a sloping place.
Commodious declivities and channels for the passage of the waters.
Derham.
DECOCT
De*coct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decocted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decocting.]
Etym: [L. decoctus, p. p. of decoquere to boil down; de- + coquere to
cook, boil. See Cook to decoct.]
1. To prepare by boiling; to digest in hot or boiling water; to
extract the strength or flavor of by boiling; to make an infusion of.
2. To prepare by the heat of the stomach for assimilation; to digest;
to concoct.
3. To warm, strengthen, or invigorate, as if by boiling. [R.] "Decoct
their cold blood." Shak.
DECOCTIBLE
De*coct"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being boiled or digested.
DECOCTION
De*coc"tion, n. Etym: [F. décoction, L. decoctio.]
1. The act or process of boiling anything in a watery fluid to
extract its virtues.
In decoction . . . it either purgeth at the top or settleth at the
bottom. Bacon.
2. An extract got from a body by boiling it in water.
If the plant be boiled in water, the strained liquor is called the
decoction of the plant. Arbuthnot.
In pharmacy decoction is opposed to infusion, where there is merely
steeping. Latham.
DECOCTURE
De*coc"ture, n.
Defn: A decoction. [R.]
DECOHERER
De`co*her"er, n. [Pref. de- + coherer.] (Elec.)
Defn: A device for restoring a coherer to its normal condition after
it has been affected by an electric wave, a process usually
accomplished by some method of tapping or shaking, or by rotation of
the coherer.
DECOLLATE
De*col"late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decollated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decollating.] Etym: [L. decollatus, p. p. of decollare to behead; de-
+ collum neck.]
Defn: To sever from the neck; to behead; to decapitate.
The decollated head of St. John the Baptist. Burke.
DECOLLATED
De*col"la*ted, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Decapitated; worn or cast off in the process of growth, as the
apex of certain univalve shells.
DECOLLATION
De`col*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. decollatio: cf. F. décollation.]
1. The act of beheading or state of one beheaded; -- especially used
of the execution of St. John the Baptist.
2. A painting representing the beheading of a saint or martyr, esp.
of St. John the Baptist.
DECOLLETAGE
Dé`col`le*tage" (da`ko`l'*tazh), n. [F. See Décolleté.] (Costume)
Defn: The upper border or part of a décolleté corsage.
DECOLLETE
Dé`col`le*té", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of décolleter to bare the neck and
shoulders; dé- + collet collar, fr. L. collum neck.]
Defn: Leaving the neck and shoulders uncovered; cut low in the neck,
or low-necked, as a dress.
DECOLLING
De*col"ling, n.
Defn: Beheading. [R.]
By a speedy dethroning and decolling of the king. Parliamentary
History (1648).
DECOLOR
De*col"or, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décolorer, L. decolorare. Cf.
Discolor.]
Defn: To deprive of color; to bleach.
DECOLORANT
De*col"or*ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décolorant, p. pr.]
Defn: A substance which removes color, or bleaches.
DECOLORATE
De*col"or*ate, a. Etym: [L. decoloratus, p. p. of decolorare.]
Defn: Deprived of color.
DECOLORATE
De*col"or*ate, v. t.
Defn: To decolor.
DECOLORATION
De*col`or*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. decoloratio: cf. F. décoloration.]
Defn: The removal or absence of color. Ferrand.
DECOLORIZE
De*col"or*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of color; to whiten. Turner.
-- De*col`or*i*za"tion, n.
DECOMPLEX
De"com*plex`, a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + complex.]
Defn: Repeatedly compound; made up of complex constituents.
DECOMPOSABLE
De`com*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being resolved into constituent elements.
DECOMPOSE
De`com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decomposed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decomposing.] Etym: [Cf. F. décomposer. Cf. Discompose.]
Defn: To separate the constituent parts of; to resolve into original
elements; to set free from previously existing forms of chemical
combination; to bring to dissolution; to rot or decay.
DECOMPOSE
De`com*pose", v. i.
Defn: To become resolved or returned from existing combinations; to
undergo dissolution; to decay; to rot.
DECOMPOSED
De`com*posed", a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Separated or broken up; -- said of the crest of birds when the
feathers are divergent.
DECOMPOSITE
De`com*pos"ite, a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + composite.]
1. Compounded more than once; compounded with things already
composite.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: See Decompound, a., 2.
DECOMPOSITE
De`com*pos"ite, n.
Defn: Anything decompounded.
Decomposites of three metals or more. Bacon.
DECOMPOSITION
De*com`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) +
composition: cf. F. décomposition. Cf. Decomposition.]
1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a
compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into
constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on
the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound;
disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.
2. The state of being reduced into original elements.
3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [Obs.]
Decomposition of forces. Same as Resolution of forces, under
Resolution.
-- Decomposition of light, the division of light into the prismatic
colors.
DECOMPOUND
De`com*pound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decompounded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decompounding.] Etym: [Pref. de- (intens. in sense 1) + compound, v.
t.]
1. To compound or mix with that is already compound; to compound a
second time.
2. To reduce to constituent parts; to decompose.
It divides and decompounds objects into . . . parts. Hazlitt.
DECOMPOUND
De`com*pound", a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + compound, a.]
1. Compound of what is already compounded; compounded a second time.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Several times compounded or divided, as a leaf or stem;
decomposite.
DECOMPOUND
De`com*pound", n.
Defn: A decomposite.
DECOMPOUNDABLE
De`com*pound"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decompounded.
DECONCENTRATE
De`con*cen"trate, v. t.
Defn: To withdraw from concentration; to decentralize. [R.]
DECONCENTRATION
De*con`cen*tra"tion, n.
Defn: Act of deconcentrating. [R.]
DECONCOCT
De`con*coct", v. t.
Defn: To decompose. [R.] Fuller.
DECONSECRATE
De*con"se*crate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of sacredness; to secularize.
-- De*con`se*cra"tion, n.
DECORAMENT
Dec"o*ra*ment, n. Etym: [L. decoramentum. See Decorate, v. t.]
Defn: Ornament. [Obs.] Bailey.
DECORATE
Dec"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decorating.] Etym: [L. decoratus, p. p. of decorare, fr. decus
ornament; akin to decere to be becoming. See Decent.]
Defn: To deck with that which is becoming, ornamental, or honorary;
to adorn; to beautify; to embellish; as, to decorate the person; to
decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers; to decorate the
mind with moral beauties; to decorate a hero with honors.
Her fat neck was ornamented with jewels, rich bracelets decorated her
arms. Thackeray.
Syn.
-- To adorn; embellish; ornament; beautify; grace. See Adorn.
Decorated style (Arch.), a name given by some writers to the
perfected English Gothic architecture; it may be considered as having
flourished from about a. d. 1300 to a. d. 1375.
DECORATION
Dec`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. decoratio: cf. F. décoration.]
1. The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.
2. That which adorns, enriches, or beautifies; something added by way
of embellishment; ornament.
The hall was celebrated for . . . the richness of its decoration.
Motley.
3. Specifically, any mark of honor to be worn upon the person, as a
medal, cross, or ribbon of an order of knighthood, bestowed for
services in war, great achievements in literature, art, etc.
Decoration Day, a day, May 30, appointed for decorating with flowers
the graves of the Union soldiers and sailors, who fell in the Civil
War in the United States; Memorial Day. [U.S.]
DECORATION DAY
Decoration Day.
Defn: = Memorial Day. [U. S.]
DECORATIVE
Dec"o*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décoratif.]
Defn: Suited to decorate or embellish; adorning.
-- Dec"o*ra*tive*ness, n. Decorative art, fine art which has for its
end ornamentation, rather than the representation of objects or
events.
DECORATOR
Dec"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décorateur.]
Defn: One who decorates, adorns, or embellishes; specifically, an
artisan whose business is the decoration of houses, esp. their
interior decoration.
DECORE
De*core", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décorer. See Decorate.]
Defn: To decorate; to beautify. [Obs.]
To decore and beautify the house of God. E. Hall.
DECOREMENT
De*core"ment, n.
Defn: Ornament. [Obs.]
DECOROUS
De*co"rous, a. Etym: [L. dec, fr. decor comeliness, beauty; akin to
decere. See Decent, and cf. Decorum.]
Defn: Suitable to a character, or to the time, place, and occasion;
marked with decorum; becoming; proper; seemly; befitting; as, a
decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge.
A decorous pretext the war. Motley.
-- De*co"rous*ly, adv.
-- De*co"rous*ness, n.
DECORTICATE
De*cor"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorticated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decorticating.] Etym: [L. decorticatus, p. p. of decorticare to bark;
de- + cortex bark.]
Defn: To divest of the bark, husk, or exterior coating; to husk; to
peel; to hull. "Great barley dried and decorticated." Arbuthnot.
DECORTICATION
De*cor`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. decorticatio: cf. F. décortication.]
Defn: The act of stripping off the bark, rind, hull, or outer coat.
DECORTICATOR
De*cor"ti*ca`tor, n.
Defn: A machine for decorticating wood, hulling grain, etc.; also, an
instrument for removing surplus bark or moss from fruit trees.
DECORUM
De*cor"um, n. Etym: [L. dec, fr. dec. See Decorous.]
Defn: Propriety of manner or conduct; grace arising from suitableness
of speech and behavior to one's own character, or to the place and
occasion; decency of conduct; seemliness; that which is seemly or
suitable.
Negligent of the duties and decorums of his station. Hallam.
If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, That
majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. Shak.
Syn.
-- Decorum, Dignity. Decorum, in accordance with its etymology, is
that which is becoming in outward act or appearance; as, the decorum
of a public assembly. Dignity springs from an inward elevation of
soul producing a corresponding effect on the manners; as, dignity of
personal appearance.
DECOY
De*coy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decoyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decoying.]
Etym: [Pref. de- + coy; orig., to quiet, soothe, caress, entice. See
Coy.]
Defn: To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare;
to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into
an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net.
Did to a lonely cot his steps decoy. Thomson.
E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart, distrusting,
asks if this be joy. Goldsmith.
Syn.
-- To entice; tempt; allure; lure. See Allure.
DECOY
De*coy", n.
1. Anything intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and
misleads into danger, or into the power of an enemy; a bait.
2. A fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other
fowl into a net or within shot.
3. A place into which wild fowl, esp. ducks, are enticed in order to
take or shoot them.
4. A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to
injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under
circumstances that will lead to his detection.
DECOY-DUCK
De*coy"-duck`, n.
Defn: A duck used to lure wild ducks into a decoy; hence, a person
employed to lure others into danger. Beau. & Fl.
DECOYER
De*coy"er, n.
Defn: One who decoys another.
DECOY-MAN
De*coy"-man`, n.; pl. Decoy-men (.
Defn: A man employed in decoying wild fowl.
DECREASE
De*crease", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decreasing.] Etym: [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître,
or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow
less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.]
Defn: To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished
gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength,
quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to
December.
He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.
Syn.
-- To Decrease, Diminish. Things usually decrease or fall off by
degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is
imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their
affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence
from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished
by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their
affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The
turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be
interchanged.
The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood decreased.
Drayton.
Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts
the vessels fly. Pope.
DECREASE
De*crease", v. t.
Defn: To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance
decreases one's means.
That might decrease their present store. Prior.
DECREASE
De*crease", n. Etym: [OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. See
Decrease, v.]
1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of
revenue or of strength.
2. The wane of the moon. Bacon.
DECREASELESS
De*crease"less, a.
Defn: Suffering no decrease. [R.]
It [the river] flows and flows, and yet will flow, Volume
decreaseless to the final hour. A. Seward.
DECREASING
De*creas"ing, a.
Defn: Becoming less and less; diminishing.
-- De*creas"ing*ly, adv. Decreasing series (Math.), a series in
which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term.
DECREATION
De`cre*a"tion, n.
Defn: Destruction; -- opposed to creation. [R.] Cudworth.
DECREE
De*cree", n. Etym: [OE. decre, F. décret, fr. L. decretum, neut.
decretus, p. p. of decernere to decide; de- + cernere to decide. See
Certain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal.]
1. An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by
a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding
what is to be done or to take place; edict, law; authoritative ru
"The decrees of Venice." Sh
There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should
be taxed. Luke ii. 1.
Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree Shak.
2. (Law)
(a) A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of
equity or admiralty.
(b) A determination or judgment of an umpire on a case submitted to
him. Brande.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: An edict or law made by a council for regulating any business
within their jurisdiction; as, the decrees of ecclesiastical
councils.
Syn.
-- Law; regulation; edict; ordinance. See Law.
DECREE
De*cree", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decreed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decreeing.]
1. To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute
by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to
ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property.
Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto
thee. Job xxii. 28.
2. To ordain by fate.
DECREE
De*cree", v. i.
Defn: To make decrees; -- used absolutely.
Father eternal! thine is to decree; Mine, both in heaven and earth to
do thy will. Milton.
DECREEABLE
De*cree"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decreed.
DECREER
De*cre"er, n.
Defn: One who decrees. J. Goodwin.
DECREET
De*creet", n. Etym: [Cf. Decree.] (Scots Law)
Defn: The final judgment of the Court of Session, or of an inferior
court, by which the question at issue is decided.
DECREMENT
Dec"re*ment, n. Etym: [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See Decrease.]
1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; diminution; waste;
loss.
Twit me with the decrements of my pendants. Ford.
Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a
continual decrement. Woodward.
2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; -- opposed to
Ant: increment.
3. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A name given by Haüy to the successive diminution of the layers
of molecules, applied to the faces of the primitive form, by which he
supposed the secondary forms to be produced.
4. (Math.)
Defn: The quantity by which a variable is diminished. Equal decrement
of life. (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the
assumed law of mortality is such that of a given large number of
persons, all being now of the same age, an equal number shall die
each consecutive year. (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons
in which the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of those
dying in a year to those living through the year is constant, being
independent of the age of the persons.
DECREPIT
De*crep"it, a. Etym: [L. decrepitus, perhaps orig., noised out,
noiseless, applied to old people, who creep about quietly; de- +
crepare to make a noise, rattle: cf. F. décrépit. See Crepitate.]
Defn: Broken down with age; wasted and enfeebled by the infirmities
of old age; feeble; worn out. "Beggary or decrepit age." Milton.
Already decrepit with premature old age. Motley.
Note: Sometimes incorrectly written decrepid.
DECREPITATE
De*crep"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decrepitating.] Etym: [Cf. F. décrépiter.]
Defn: To roast or calcine so as to cause a crackling noise; as, to
decrepitate salt.
DECREPITATE
De*crep"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To crackle, as salt in roasting.
DECREPITATION
De*crep`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décrépitation.]
Defn: The act of decrepitating; a crackling noise, such as salt makes
when roasting.
DECREPITNESS
De*crep"it*ness, n.
Defn: Decrepitude. [R.] Barrow.
DECREPITUDE
De*crep"i*tude, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décrépitude.]
Defn: The broken state produced by decay and the infirmities of age;
infirm old age.
DECRESCENDO
De`cres*cen"do, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With decreasing volume of sound; -- a direction to performers,
either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or
indicated by the sign.
DECRESCENT
De*cres"cent, a. Etym: [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. See
Decrease.]
Defn: Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a
decrescent moon.
DECRESCENT
De*cres"cent, n. (Her.)
Defn: A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister.
Cussans.
DECRETAL
De*cre"tal, a. Etym: [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.]
Defn: Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal
epistle. Ayliffe.
DECRETAL
De*cre"tal, n. Etym: [LL. decretale, neut. of L. decretalis. See
Decretal, a.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the
pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The
decretals form the second part of the canon law.
2. (Canon Law)
Defn: The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by
order of Gregory IX., in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort.
DECRETE
De*crete", n. Etym: [L. decretum. See Decree.]
Defn: A decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DECRETION
De*cre"tion, n. Etym: [From L. decrescere, decretum. See Decrease.]
Defn: A decrease. [Obs.] Pearson.
DECRETIST
De*cre"tist, n. Etym: [LL. decretista, fr. decretum: cf. F.
décrétiste. See Decree, n.]
Defn: One who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the decretals.
DECRETIVE
De*cre"tive, a. Etym: [From L. decretum. See Decree, n.]
Defn: Having the force of a decree; determining.
The will of God is either decretive or perceptive. Bates.
DECRETORIAL
Dec`re*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Decretory; authoritative. Sir T. Browne.
DECRETORILY
Dec"re*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decretory or definitive manner; by decree.
DECRETORY
Dec"re*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. decretorius, from decretum. See Decree.]
1. Established by a decree; definitive; settled.
The decretory rigors of a condemning sentence. South.
2. Serving to determine; critical. "The critical or decretory days."
Sir T. Browne.
DECREW
De*crew", v. i. Etym: [F. décrue, n., decrease, and décru, p. p. of
décroître. See Decrease, and cf. Accrue.]
Defn: To decrease. [Obs.] Spenser.
DECRIAL
De*cri"al, n. Etym: [See Decry.]
Defn: A crying down; a clamorous censure; condemnation by censure.
DECRIER
De*cri"er, n.
Defn: One who decries.
DECROWN
De*crown", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.] Hakewill.
DECRUSTATION
De`crus*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. décrustation.]
Defn: The removal of a crust.
DECRY
De*cry", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.]
Etym: [F. décrier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry.
See Cry, and cf. Descry.]
Defn: To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to
clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage.
For small errors they whole plays decry. Dryden.
Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally
decried by the other. Addison.
Syn.
-- To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage. Decry and depreciate
refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its
value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of
little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value,
which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the
latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their
rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the
merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs
it.
DECUBATION
Dec`u*ba"tion, n. Etym: [From L. decubare; de- + cubare. See
Decumbent.]
Defn: Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.] Evelyn.
DECUBITUS
De*cu"bi*tus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare, to lie down: cf. F.
décubitus.] (Med.)
Defn: An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the dorsal decubitus.
DECULASSEMENT; DECULASSMENT
Dé`cu`lasse`ment", n. [F.] Also, sometimes, Anglicized
Dec`u*lass"ment. (Ordnance)
Defn: An accidental blowing off of, or other serious damage to, the
breechblock of a gun; also, a removal of the breechblock for the
purpose of disabling the gun.
DECUMAN
Dec"u*man, a. Etym: [L. decumanus of the tenth, and by metonymy,
large, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: Large; chief; -- applied to an extraordinary billow, supposed
by some to be every tenth in order. [R.] Also used substantively.
"Such decuman billows." Gauden. "The baffled decuman." Lowell.
DECUMBENCE; DECUMBENCY
De*cum"bence, De*cum"ben*cy, n.
Defn: The act or posture of lying down.
The ancient manner of decumbency. Sir T. Browne.
DECUMBENT
De*cum"bent, a. Etym: [L. decumbens, -entis, p. pr. of decumbere; de-
+ cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down.]
1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent.
The decumbent portraiture of a woman. Ashmole.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending
to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem. Gray.
DECUMBENTLY
De*cum"bent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decumbent posture.
DECUMBITURE
De*cum"bi*ture, n.
1. Confinement to a sick bed, or time of taking to one's bed from
sickness. Boyle.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: Aspect of the heavens at the time of taking to one's sick bed,
by which the prognostics of recovery or death were made.
DECUPLE
Dec"u*ple, a. Etym: [F. décuple, L. decuplus, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: Tenfold. [R.]
DECUPLE
Dec"u*ple, n.
Defn: A number ten times repeated. [R.]
DECUPLE
Dec"u*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decupled; p. pr. & vb. n. Decupling.]
Defn: To make tenfold; to multiply by ten. [R.]
DECURION
De*cu"ri*on, n. Etym: [L. decurio, decurionis, fr. decuria a squad of
ten, fr. decem ten.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A head or chief over ten; especially, an officer who commanded
a division of ten soldiers.
DECURIONATE
De*cu"ri*on*ate, n. Etym: [L. decurionatus, fr. decurio.]
Defn: The office of a decurion.
DECURRENCE
De*cur"rence, n.
Defn: The act of running down; a lapse. [R.] Gauden.
DECURRENT
De*cur"rent, a. Etym: [L. decurrens, -entis, p. pr. of decurrere to
run down; de- + currere to run: cf. F. décurrent.] (Bot.)
Defn: Extending downward; -- said of a leaf whose base extends
downward and forms a wing along the stem.
-- De*cur"rent*ly, adv.
DECURSION
De*cur"sion, n. Etym: [L. decursio, fr. decurrere. See Decurrent.]
Defn: A flowing; also, a hostile incursion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
DECURSIVE
De*cur"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décursif. See Decurrent.]
Defn: Running down; decurrent.
DECURSIVELY
De*cur"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decursive manner. Decursively pinnate (Bot.), having the
leaflets decurrent, or running along the petiole; -- said of a leaf.
DECURT
De*curt", v. t. Etym: [L. decurtare; de- + curtare.]
Defn: To cut short; to curtail. [Obs.] Bale.
DECURTATION
De`cur*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. decurtatio.]
Defn: Act of cutting short. [Obs.]
DECURY
Dec"u*ry, n.; pl. Decuries. Etym: [L. decuria, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: A set or squad of ten men under a decurion. Sir W. Raleigh.
DECUSSATE
De*cus"sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decussated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Decussating.] Etym: [L. decussatus, p. p. of decussare to cross like
an X, fr. decussis (orig. equiv. to decem asses) the number ten,
which the Romans represented by X.]
Defn: To cross at an acute angle; to cut or divide in the form of X;
to intersect; -- said of lines in geometrical figures, rays of light,
nerves, etc.
DECUSSATE; DECUSSATED
De*cus"sate, De*cus"sa*ted, a.
1. Crossed; intersected.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in pairs, each of which is at right angles to the next
pair above or below; as, decussated leaves or branches.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in
alternate opposition to each other; as, a decussated period.
DECUSSATELY
De*cus"sate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decussate manner.
DECUSSATION
De`cus*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. decussatio.]
Defn: Act of crossing at an acute angle, or state of being thus
crossed; an intersection in the form of an X; as, the decussation of
lines, nerves, etc.
DECUSSATIVE
De*cus"sa*tive, a.
Defn: Intersecting at acute angles. Sir T. Browne.
DECUSSATIVELY
De*cus"sa*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Crosswise; in the form of an X. "Anointed decussatively." Sir
T. Browne.
DECYL
De"cyl, n. Etym: [L. decem ten + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical, C10H21, never existing alone, but
regarded as the characteristic constituent of a number of compounds
of the paraffin series.
DECYLIC
De*cyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Allied to, or containing, the radical decyl.
DEDALIAN
De*dal"ian, a.
Defn: See Dædalian.
DEDALOUS
Ded"a*lous, a.
Defn: See Dædalous.
DEDANS
De*dans", n. Etym: [F.] (Court Tennis)
Defn: A division, at one end of a tennis court, for spectators.
DEDE
Dede, a.
Defn: Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEDECORATE
De*dec"o*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. dedecoratus, p. p. of dedecorare to
disgrace. See Decorate.]
Defn: To bring to shame; to disgrace. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEDECORATION
De*dec`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. dedecoratio.]
Defn: Disgrace; dishonor. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEDECOROUS
De*dec"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. dedecorus. See Decorous.]
Defn: Disgraceful; unbecoming. [R.] Bailey.
DEDENTITION
De`den*ti"tion, n.
Defn: The shedding of teeth. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEDICATE
Ded"i*cate, p. a. Etym: [L. dedicatus, p. p. of dedicare to affirm,
to dedicate; de- + dicare to declare, dedicate; akin to dicere to
say. See Diction.]
Defn: Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated. "Dedicate to
nothing temporal." Shak.
Syn.
-- Devoted; consecrated; addicted.
DEDICATE
Ded"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dedicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dedicating.]
1. To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses;
to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures,
a temple, or a church, to a religious use.
Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David
did dedicate unto the Lord. 2 Sam. viii. 10, 11.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting
place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might
live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can not
consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. A. Lincoln.
2. To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or
service.
The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself.
Clarendon.
3. To inscribe or address, as to a patron.
He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord
Burghley. Peacham.
Syn.
-- See Addict.
DEDICATEE
Ded`i*ca*tee", n.
Defn: One to whom a thing is dedicated; -- correlative to dedicator.
DEDICATION
Ded`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dedicatio.]
1. The act of setting apart or consecrating to a divine Being, or to
a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation;
as, the dedication of Solomon's temple.
2. A devoting or setting aside for any particular purpose; as, a
dedication of lands to public use.
3. An address to a patron or friend, prefixed to a book, testifying
respect, and often recommending the work to his special protection
and favor.
DEDICATOR
Ded"i*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. dédicateur.]
Defn: One who dedicates; more especially, one who inscribes a book to
the favor of a patron, or to one whom he desires to compliment.
DEDICATORIAL
Ded`i*ca*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Dedicatory.
DEDICATORY
Ded"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dédicatoire.]
Defn: Constituting or serving as a dedication; complimental. "An
epistle dedicatory." Dryden.
DEDICATORY
Ded"i*ca*to*ry, n.
Defn: Dedication. [R.] Milton.
DEDIMUS
Ded"i*mus, n. Etym: [L. dedimus we have given, fr. dare to give. So
called because the writ began, Dedimus potestatem, etc.] (Law)
Defn: A writ to commission private persons to do some act in place of
a judge, as to examine a witness, etc. Bouvier.
DEDITION
De*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. deditio, fr. dedere to give away, surrender;
de- + dare to give.]
Defn: The act of yielding; surrender. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DEDOLENT
Ded"o*lent, a. Etym: [L. dedolens, p. pr. of dedolere to give over
grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.]
Defn: Feeling no compunction; apathetic. [R.] Hallywell.
DEDUCE
De*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducing.]
Etym: [L. deducere; de- + ducere to lead, draw. See Duke, and cf.
Deduct.]
1. To lead forth. [A Latinism]
He should hither deduce a colony. Selden.
2. To take away; to deduct; to subtract; as, to deduce a part from
the whole. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. To derive or draw; to derive by logical process; to obtain or
arrive at as the result of reasoning; to gather, as a truth or
opinion, from what precedes or from premises; to infer; -- with from
or out of.
O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes From the dire nation in its
early times Pope.
Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from
principles already known. Locke.
See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your
descent from kings and conquerors. Sir W. Scott.
DEDUCEMENT
De*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Inference; deduction; thing deduced. [R.] Dryden.
DEDUCIBILITY
De*du`ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deducibleness.
DEDUCIBLE
De*du"ci*ble, a.
1. Capable of being deduced or inferred; derivable by reasoning, as a
result or consequence.
All properties of a triangle depend on, and are deducible from, the
complex idea of three lines including a space. Locke.
2. Capable of being brought down. [Obs.]
As if God [were] deducible to human imbecility. State Trials (1649).
DEDUCIBLENESS
De*du"ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deducible; deducibility.
DEDUCIBLY
De*du"ci*bly, adv.
Defn: By deduction.
DEDUCIVE
De*du"cive, a.
Defn: That deduces; inferential.
DEDUCT
De*duct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deducted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducting.]
Etym: [L. deductus, p. p. of deducere to deduct. See Deduce.]
1. To lead forth or out. [Obs.]
A people deducted out of the city of Philippos. Udall.
2. To take away, separate, or remove, in numbering, estimating, or
calculating; to subtract; -- often with from or out of.
Deduct what is but vanity, or dress. Pope.
Two and a half per cent should be deducted out of the pay of the
foreign troops. Bp. Burnet.
We deduct from the computation of our years that part of our time
which is spent in . . . infancy. Norris.
3. To reduce; to diminish. [Obs.] "Do not deduct it to days."
Massinger.
DEDUCTIBLE
De*duct"i*ble, a.
1. Capable of being deducted, taken away, or withdrawn.
Not one found honestly deductible From any use that pleased him. Mrs.
Browning.
2. Deducible; consequential.
DEDUCTION
De*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. deductio: cf. F. déduction.]
1. Act or process of deducing or inferring.
The deduction of one language from another. Johnson.
This process, by which from two statements we deduce a third, is
called deduction. J. R. Seely.
2. Act of deducting or taking away; subtraction; as, the deduction of
the subtrahend from the minuend.
3. That which is deduced or drawn from premises by a process of
reasoning; an inference; a conclusion.
Make fair deductions; see to what they mount. Pope.
4. That which is deducted; the part taken away; abatement; as, a
deduction from the yearly rent.
Syn.
-- See Induction.
DEDUCTIVE
De*duct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. L. deductivus derivative.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to deduction; capable of being deduced from
premises; deducible.
All knowledge of causes is deductive. Glanvill.
Notions and ideas . . . used in a deductive process. Whewell.
DEDUCTIVELY
De*duct"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: By deduction; by way of inference; by consequence. Sir T.
Browne.
DEDUCTOR
De*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., a guide. See Deduce.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pilot whale or blackfish.
DEDUIT
De*duit", n. Etym: [F. déduit. Cf. Deduct.]
Defn: Delight; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEDUPLICATION
De*du`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- + duplication.] (Biol.)
Defn: The division of that which is morphologically one organ into
two or more, as the division of an organ of a plant into a pair or
cluster.
DEED
Deed, a.
Defn: Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEED
Deed, n. Etym: [AS. d; akin to OS. dad, D. & Dan. daad, G. thai, Sw.
dåd, Goth. d; fr. the root of do. See Do, v. t.]
1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an
action; a thing done; -- a word of extensive application, including,
whatever is done, good or bad, great or small.
And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done Gen.
xliv. 15.
We receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke xxiii. 41.
Would serve his kind in deed and word. Tennyson.
2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. "Knightly deeds." Spenser.
Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn. Dryden.
3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.]
To be, both will and deed, created free. Milton.
4. Fact; reality; -- whence we have indeed.
5. (Law)
Defn: A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly
executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or
contract.
Note: The term is generally applied to conveyances of real estate,
and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed must be signed as well
as sealed, though at common law signing was formerly not necessary.
Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal
phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates,
boundaries, etc.
6. Performance; -- followed by of. [Obs.] Shak. In deed, in fact; in
truth; verily. See Indeed.
DEED
Deed, v. t.
Defn: To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to
his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]
DEEDFUL
Deed"ful, a.
Defn: Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A deedful
life." Tennyson.
DEEDLESS
Deed"less, a.
Defn: Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits;
inactive.
Deedless in his tongue. Shak.
DEED POLL
Deed" poll`. (Law)
Defn: A deed of one part, or executed by only one party, and
distinguished from an indenture by having the edge of the parchment
or paper cut even, or polled as it was anciently termed, instead of
being indented. Burrill.
DEEDY
Deed"y, a.
Defn: Industrious; active. [R.] Cowper.
DEEM
Deem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deeming.] Etym:
[OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d,
OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme,
Goth. d. See Doom, n., and cf. Doom, v.]
1. To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [Obs.]
Claudius . . . Was demed for to hang upon a tree. Chaucer.
2. To account; to esteem; to think; to judge; to hold in opinion; to
regard.
For never can I deem him less him less than god. Dryden.
DEEM
Deem, v. i.
1. To be of opinion; to think; to estimate; to opine; to suppose.
And deemest thou as those who pore, With aged eyes, short way before
Emerson.
2. To pass judgment. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEEM
Deem, n.
Defn: Opinion; judgment. [Obs.] Shak.
DEEMSTER
Deem"ster, n. Etym: [Deem + -ster; i. e., doomster. Cf. Dempster.]
Defn: A judge in the Isle of Man who decides controversies without
process. Cowell.
DEEP
Deep, a. [Compar. Deeper; superl. Deepest.] Etym: [OE. dep, deop, AS.
deóp; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. dj, Sw. diup, Dan. dyb, Goth.
diups; fr. the root of E. dip, dive. See Dip, Dive.]
1. Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension
(measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high,
which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth;
as, a deep sea.
The water where the brook is deep. Shak.
2. Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great
horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer
part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten
seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep.
Shadowing squadrons deep. Milton.
Safely in harbor Is the king's ship in the deep nook. Shak.
3. Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep
valley.
4. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; -- opposed to shallow
or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a
deep subject or plot.
Speculations high or deep. Milton.
A question deep almost as the mystery of life. De Quincey.
O Lord, . . . thy thought are very deep. Ps. xcii. 5.
5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial;
thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning.
Deep clerks she dumbs. Shak.
6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt;
as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror. "Deep despair."
Milton. "Deep silence." Milton. "Deep sleep." Gen. ii. 21. "Deeper
darkness." Hoole. "Their deep poverty." 2 Cor. viii. 2.
An attitude of deep respect. Motley.
7. Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue
or crimson.
8. Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy. "The
deep thunder." Byron.
The bass of heaven's deep organ. Milton.
9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; -- said of roads. Chaucer.
The ways in that vale were very deep. Clarendon.
A deep line of operations (Military), a long line.
-- Deep mourning (Costume), mourning complete and strongly marked,
the garments being not only all black, but also composed of
lusterless materials and of such fashion as is identified with
mourning garments.
DEEP
Deep, adv.
Defn: To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.
Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself. Milton.
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.
Note: Deep, in its usual adverbial senses, is often prefixed to an
adjective; as, deep-chested, deep-cut, deep-seated, deep-toned, deep-
voiced, "deep-uddered kine."
DEEP
Deep, n.
1. That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an
abyss; a great depth.
Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs. Cowley.
The hollow deep of hell resounded. Milton.
Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound. Pope.
2. That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible;
a moral or spiritual depth or abyss.
Thy judgments are a great. Ps. xxxvi. 6.
Deep of night, the most quiet or profound part of night; dead of
night.
The deep of night is crept upon our talk. Shak.
DEEPEN
Deep"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deepened; p. pr. & vb. n. Deepening.]
1. To make deep or deeper; to increase the depth of; to sink lower;
as, to deepen a well or a channel.
It would . . . deepen the bed of the Tiber. Addison.
2. To make darker or more intense; to darken; as, the event deepened
the prevailing gloom.
You must deepen your colors. Peacham.
3. To make more poignant or affecting; to increase in degree; as, to
deepen grief or sorrow.
4. To make more grave or low in tone; as, to deepen the tones of an
organ.
Deepens the murmur of the falling floods. Pope.
DEEPEN
Deep"en, v. i.
Defn: To become deeper; as, the water deepens at every cast of the
lead; the plot deepens.
His blood-red tresses deepening in the sun. Byron.
DEEP-FET
Deep"-fet`, a.
Defn: Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans." Shak.
DEEP-LAID
Deep"-laid`, a.
Defn: Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as, deep-laid
plans.
DEEPLY
Deep"ly, adv.
1. At or to a great depth; far below the surface; as, to sink deeply.
2. Profoundly; thoroughly; not superficially; in a high degree;
intensely; as, deeply skilled in ethics.
He had deeply offended both his nobles and people. Bacon.
He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark viii. 12.
3. Very; with a tendency to darkness of color.
The deeply red juice of buckthorn berries. Boyle.
4. Gravely; with low or deep tone; as, a deeply toned instrument.
5. With profound skill; with art or intricacy; as, a deeply laid plot
or intrigue.
DEEP-MOUTHED
Deep"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed dogs." Dryden.
DEEPNESS
Deep"ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being deep, profound, mysterious,
secretive, etc.; depth; profundity; -- opposed to shallowness.
Because they had no deepness of earth. Matt. xiii. 5.
2. Craft; insidiousness. [R.] J. Gregory.
DEEP-READ
Deep"-read`, a.
Defn: Profoundly book-learned. "Great writers and deep-read men."
L'Estrange.
DEEP-SEA
Deep"-sea`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the deeper parts of the sea; as, a deep-sea
line (i. e., a line to take soundings at a great depth); deep-sea
lead; deep-sea soundings, explorations, etc.
DEEP-WAISTED
Deep"-waist`ed, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having a deep waist, as when, in a ship, the poop and
forecastle are much elevated above the deck.
DEER
Deer, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [OE. der, door, animal, wild animal, AS.
deór; akin to D. dier, OFries. diar, G. thier, tier, Icel. d, Dan.
dyr, Sw. djur, Goth. dius; of unknown origin.
1. Any animal; especially, a wild animal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Mice and rats, and such small deer. Shak.
The camel, that great deer. Lindisfarne MS.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of related
genera of the family Cervidæ. The males, and in some species the
females, have solid antlers, often much branched, which are shed
annually. Their flesh, for which they are hunted, is called venison.
Note: The deer hunted in England is Cervus elaphus, called also stag
or red deer; the fallow deer is C. dama; the common American deer is
C. Virginianus; the blacktailed deer of Western North America is C.
Columbianus; and the mule deer of the same region is C. macrotis. See
Axis, Fallow deer, Mule deer, Reindeer.
Note: Deer is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a
compound; as, deerkiller, deerslayer, deerslaying, deer hunting, deer
stealing, deerlike, etc. Deer mouse (Zoöl.), the white-footed mouse
(Hesperomys leucopus) of America.
-- Small deer, petty game, not worth pursuing; -- used
metaphorically. (See citation from Shakespeare under the first
definition, above.) "Minor critics . . . can find leisure for the
chase of such small deer." G. P. Marsh.
DEERBERRY
Deer"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium stamineum); also, its
bitter, greenish white berry; -- called also squaw huckleberry.
DEERGRASS
Deer"grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American genus (Rhexia) of perennial herbs, with opposite
leaves, and showy flowers (usually bright purple), with four petals
and eight stamens, -- the only genus of the order Melastomaceæ
inhabiting a temperate clime.
DEERHOUND
Deer"hound`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a large and fleet breed of hounds used in hunting deer;
a staghound.
DEERLET
Deer"let, n. Etym: [Deer + -let.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chevrotain. See Kanchil, and Napu.
DEER-NECK
Deer"-neck`, n.
Defn: A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a horse.
DEERSKIN
Deer"skin`, n.
Defn: The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made from it.
Hakluyt. Longfellow.
DEERSTALKER
Deer"stalk`er, n.
Defn: One who practices deerstalking.
DEERSTALKING
Deer"stalk`ing, n.
Defn: The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them unawares.
DEER'S-TONGUE
Deer's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose fleshy leaves give out a
fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.
DEES
Dees, n. pl.
Defn: Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEES
Dees, n.
Defn: A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEESIS
De*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.
DEESS
De"ess, n. Etym: [F. déesse, fem. of dieu god.]
Defn: A goddess. [Obs.] Croft.
DEEV
Deev, n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.)
Defn: See Dev.
DEFACE
De*face", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.]
Etym: [OE. defacen to disfigure, efface, OF. desfacier; L. dis- +
facies face. See Face, and cf. Efface.]
1. To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to
disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating
important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to
deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or
bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson.
So by false learning is good sense defaced. Pope.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. défaire.]
Defn: To destroy; to make null. [Obs.]
[Profane scoffing] doth . . . deface the reverence of religion.
Bacon.
For all his power was utterly defaste [defaced]. Spenser.
Syn.
-- See Efface.
DEFACEMENT
De*face"ment, n.
1. The act of defacing, or the condition of being defaced; injury to
the surface or exterior; obliteration.
2. That which mars or disfigures. Bacon.
DEFACER
De*fa"cer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.
DE FACTO
De` fac"to. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Actually; in fact; in reality; as, a king de facto, --
distinguished from a king de jure, or by right.
DEFAIL
De*fail", v. t. Etym: [F. défaillir to fail; pref. dé- (L. de) +
faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default.]
Defn: To cause fail. [Obs.]
DEFAILANCE
De*fail"ance, n. Etym: [F. défaillance.]
Defn: Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.]
Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance. Comber.
DEFAILURE
De*fail"ure, n.
Defn: Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.
DEFALCATE
De*fal"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defalcated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defalcating.] Etym: [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct,
orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, a sickle. See
Falchion.]
Defn: To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; -- used chiefly
of money, accounts, rents, income, etc.
To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated from the [the
estimates]. Burke.
DEFALCATE
De*fal"cate, v. i.
Defn: To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some
partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.
DEFALCATION
De`fal*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defalcatio: cf. F. défalcation.]
1. A lopping off; a diminution; abatement; deficit. Specifically:
Reduction of a claim by deducting a counterclaim; set-off. Abbott.
2. That which is lopped off, diminished, or abated.
3. An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent
DEFALCATOR
Def"al*ca`tor, n.
Defn: A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]
DEFALK
De*falk", v. t. Etym: [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.]
Defn: To lop off; to bate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DEFAMATION
Def`a*ma"tion, n. Etym: [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See
Defame.]
Defn: Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous
communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the
good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
Note: In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel,
and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill.
DEFAMATORY
De*fam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious;
slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings.
DEFAME
De*fame", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming.]
Etym: [OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer,
fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word
confused with de) + fama a report. See Fame.]
1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace;
especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous
reports; to calumniate; to asperse.
2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute.
My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; My blackness blotted thy
unblemish'd name. Dryden.
3. To charge; to accuse. [R.]
Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a
noble knight. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse.
DEFAME
De*fame", n.
Defn: Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEFAMER
De*fam"er, n.
Defn: One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.
DEFAMINGLY
De*fam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a defamatory manner.
DEFAMOUS
Def"a*mous, a.
Defn: Defamatory. [Obs.]
DEFATIGABLE
De*fat"i*ga*ble, a. Etym: [See Defatigate.]
Defn: Capable of being wearied or tired out. [R.] Glanvill.
DEFATIGATE
De*fat"i*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. defatigatus, p. p. of defatigare; de-
+ fatigare to weary. See Fatigue.]
Defn: To weary or tire out; to fatigue. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
DEFATIGATION
De*fat`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. defatigatio.]
Defn: Weariness; fatigue. [R.] Bacon.
DEFAULT
De*fault", n. Etym: [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F.
défaut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to
want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.]
1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done;
neglect to do whaas, this evil has happened through the governor's
default.
2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom.
And pardon craved for his so rash default. Spenser.
Regardless of our merit or default. Pope.
3. (Law)
Defn: A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure
the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day
assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make
answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc. In default of, in case of
failure or lack of.
Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real
ones. Arbuthnot.
-- To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called
without appearing to answer.
DEFAULT
De*fault", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defaulted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defaulting.]
1. To fail in duty; to offend.
That he gainst courtesy so foully did default. Spenser.
2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.
DEFAULT
De*fault", v. t.
1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit;
as, to default a dividend.
What they have defaulted towards him as no king. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be
present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to
appear; to enter a default against.
3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.]
Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses. Hales.
DEFAULTER
De*fault"er, n.
1. One who makes default; one who fails to appear in court when court
when called.
2. One who fails to perform a duty; a delinquent; particularly, one
who fails to account for public money intrusted to his care; a
peculator; a defalcator.
DEFEASANCE
De*fea"sance, n. Etym: [OF. defesance, fr. defesant, F. défaisant, p.
pr. of defaire, F. défaire, to undo. See Defeat.]
1. A defeat; an overthrow. [Obs.]
After his foes' defeasance. Spenser.
2. A rendering null or void.
3. (Law)
Defn: A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the
deed is defeated or rendered void; or a collateral deed, made at the
same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing
conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may
be defeated.
Note: Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but
the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the defeasance
in the same deed.
DEFEASANCED
De*fea"sanced, a. (Law)
Defn: Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.
DEFEASIBLE
De*fea"si*ble, a. Etym: [See Defeasance.]
Defn: Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible title.
-- De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.
DEFEAT
De*feat", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.]
Etym: [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire,
to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.]
His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.
2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to
deprive, as of an estate.
He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat
all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. Tillotson.
The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession.
Hallam.
In one instance he defeated his own purpose. A. W. Ward.
3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin
by victory; to overthrow.
4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault.
Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak.
Syn.
-- To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
DEFEAT
De*feat", n. Etym: [Cf. F. défaite, fr. défaire. See Defeat, v.]
1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.]
Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made.
Shak.
2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of
success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse
suffered; discomfiture; -- opposed to victory.
DEFEATURE
De*fea"ture, n. Etym: [OF. desfaiture a killing, disguising, prop.,
an undoing. See Defeat, and cf. Disfeature.]
1. Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] "Nothing but loss in their defeature."
Beau. & Fl.
2. Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] "Strange defeatures in my face."
Shak.
DEFEATURED
De*fea"tured, p. p.
Defn: Changed in features; deformed. [R.]
Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described. De
Quincey.
DEFECATE
Def"e*cate, a. Etym: [L. defaecatus, p. p. of defaecare to defecate;
de- + faex, faecis, dregs, less.]
Defn: Freed from anything that can pollute, as dregs, lees, etc.;
refined; purified.
Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense. Bates.
DEFECATE
Def"e*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defecated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defecating.]
1. To clear from impurities, as lees, dregs, etc.; to clarify; to
purify; to refine.
To defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber. Boyle.
2. To free from extraneous or polluting matter; to clear; to purify,
as from that which materializes.
We defecate the notion from materiality. Glanvill.
Defecated from all the impurities of sense. Bp. Warburton.
DEFECATE
Def"e*cate, v. i.
1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.
2. To void excrement.
DEFECATION
Def`e*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. defaecatio: cf. F. défécation.]
1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs;
purification.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of voiding excrement.
DEFECATOR
Def"e*ca`tor, n.
Defn: That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for
removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.
DEFECT
De*fect", n. Etym: [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert,
fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf.
Deficit.]
1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or
perfection; deficiency; -- opposed to superfluity.
Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies.
2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish;
as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect
of memory or judgment.
Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every
friend -- any every foe. Pope.
Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.
DEFECT
De*fect", v. i.
Defn: To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.
DEFECT
De*fect", v. t.
Defn: To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles
of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
DEFECTIBILITY
De*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.
DEFECTIBLE
De*fect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding."
Jer. Taylor.
DEFECTION
De*fec"tion, n. Etym: [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.]
Defn: Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by
allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion;
failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection
and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh.
The general defection of the whole realm. Sir J. Davies.
DEFECTIONIST
De*fec"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates or encourages defection.
DEFECTIOUS
De*fec"tious, a.
Defn: Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece."
Sir P. Sidney.
DEFECTIVE
De*fect"ive, a. Etym: [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.]
1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient;
imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities;
as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account;
a defective character; defective rules.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation;
as, a defective noun or verb.
-- De*fect"ive*ly, adv.
-- De*fect"ive*ness, n.
DEFECTUOSITY
De*fec`tu*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défectuosité.]
Defn: Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DEFECTUOUS
De*fec"tu*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défectueux.]
Defn: Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.
DEFEDATION
Def`e*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- +
foedare to foul, foedus foul.]
Defn: The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]
DEFENCE
De*fence", n. & v. t.
Defn: See Defense.
DEFEND
De*fend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.]
Etym: [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to
strike; perh. akin to Gr. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]
1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism
& Obs.]
Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and
main. Spenser.
2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak.
3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against;
attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard;
as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to
defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to
defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies.
The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. Shak.
God defend the right! Shak.
A village near it was defended by the river. Clarendon.
4. (Law.)
Defn: To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or
the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to
contest, as a suit. Burrill.
Syn.
-- To Defend, Protect. To defend is literally to ward off; to
protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We
defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to
injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected
by its wall.
As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem;
defending also he will deliver it. Is. xxxi. 5.
Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee
and protects. Milton.
DEFENDABLE
De*fend"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défendable.]
Defn: Capable of being defended; defensible. [R.]
DEFENDANT
De*fend"ant, a. Etym: [F. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See Defend.]
1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.]
With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.
2. Making defense.
DEFENDANT
De*fend"ant, n.
1. One who defends; a defender.
The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spotswood.
2. (Law)
Defn: A person required to make answer in an action or suit; --
opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.
Note: The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in
court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it,
and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal
offense.
DEFENDEE
De`fen*dee", n.
Defn: One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]
DEFENDER
De*fend"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Fender.]
Defn: One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or
vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator.
Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant defenders.
Motley.
DEFENDRESS
De*fend"ress, n.
Defn: A female defender. [R.]
Defendress of the faith. Stow.
DEFENSATIVE
De*fen"sa*tive, n. Etym: [L. defensare, defensatum, to defend
diligently, intens. of defendere. See Defend.]
Defn: That which serves to protect or defend.
DEFENSE; DEFENCE
De*fense", De*fence", n. Etym: [F. défense, OF. defense, fem.,
defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]
1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection,
as from violence or danger.
In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he
seems. Shak.
2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose
attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a
protection.
War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson.
God, the widow's champion and defense. Shak.
3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification.
Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1.
4. (Law)
Defn: The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the
truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method
of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the
plaintiff's action.
5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice
in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc.
A man of great defense. Spenser.
By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.
6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.]
Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain
breadth. Sir W. Temple.
DEFENSE
De*fense", v. t.
Defn: To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also
defence.]
Better manned and more strongly defensed. Hales.
DEFENSELESS
De*fense"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to
oppose; unprotected.
-- De*fense"less*ly, adv.
-- De*fense"less*ness, n.
DEFENSER
De*fens"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.]
Defn: Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.
DEFENSIBILITY
De*fen`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being defended.
DEFENSIBLE
De*fen"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défensable, LL. defensabilis,
defensibilis. See Defense, and cf. Defendable.]
1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible
cause.
2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.] Shak.
DEFENSIBLENESS
De*fen"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being defended; defensibility. Priestley.
DEFENSIVE
De*fen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défensif.]
1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to
offensive; as, defensive armor.
A moat defensive to a house. Shak.
2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to
offensive; as, defensive war.
3. In a state or posture of defense. Milton.
DEFENSIVE
De*fen"sive, n.
Defn: That which defends; a safeguard.
Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive. Bacon.
To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in
a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to
aggression or attack.
DEFENSIVELY
De*fen"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: On the defensive.
DEFENSOR
De*fen"sor, n. Etym: [L. See Defenser.]
1. A defender. Fabyan.
2. (Law)
Defn: A defender or an advocate in court; a guardian or protector.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the
temporal affairs of a church.
DEFENSORY
De*fen"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. defensorius.]
Defn: Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations.
DEFER
De*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.]
Etym: [OE. differren, F. différer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear
different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf.
Differ, Defer to offer.]
Defn: To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the
execution of; to delay; to withhold.
Defer the spoil of the city until night. Shak.
God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name.
Milton.
DEFER
De*fer", v. i.
Defn: To put off; to delay to act; to wait.
Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure. J. A. Symonds.
DEFER
De*fer", v. t. Etym: [F. déférer to pay deference, to yield, to bring
before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear.
See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate.]
1. To render or offer. [Obs.]
Worship deferred to the Virgin. Brevint.
2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with
to.
Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of
Northumberland. Bacon.
DEFER
De*fer", v. i.
Defn: To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the
opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to.
The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced. Bancroft.
DEFERENCE
Def"er*ence, n. Etym: [F. déférence. See 3d Defer.]
Defn: A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes
or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect;
complaisance.
Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men. Whewell.
Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most
elegant of all compliments. Shenstone.
Syn.
-- Deference, Reverence, Respect. Deference marks an inclination to
yield one's opinion, and to acquiesce in the sentiments of another in
preference to one's own. Respect marks the estimation that we have
for another, which makes us look to him as worthy of high confidence
for the qualities of his mind and heart. Reverence denotes a mingling
of fear with a high degree of respect and esteem. Age, rank, dignity,
and personal merit call for deference; respect should be paid to the
wise and good; reverence is due to God, to the authors of our being,
and to the sanctity of the laws.
DEFERENT
Def"er*ent, a. Etym: [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.]
Defn: Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.
DEFERENT
Def"er*ent, n.
1. That which carries or conveys.
Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds. Bacon.
2. (Ptolemaic Astron.)
Defn: An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery
either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's
epicycle was supposed to be carried round.
DEFERENTIAL
Def`er*en"tial, a. Etym: [See Deference.]
Defn: Expressing deference; accustomed to defer.
DEFERENTIALLY
Def`er*en"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: With deference.
DEFERMENT
De*fer"ment, n. Etym: [See 1st Defer.]
Defn: The act of delaying; postponement. [R.]
My grief, joined with the instant business, Begs a deferment.
Suckling.
DEFERRER
De*fer"rer, n.
Defn: One who defers or puts off.
DEFERVESCENCE; DEFERVESCENCY
De`fer*ves"cence, De`fer*ves"cency, n. Etym: [L. defervescere to grow
cool.]
1. A subsiding from a state of ebullition; loss of heat;
lukewarmness.
A defervescency in holy actions. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The subsidence of a febrile process; as, the stage of
defervescence in pneumonia.
DEFEUDALIZE
De*feu"dal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of the feudal character or form.
DEFIANCE
De*fi"ance, n. Etym: [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier
to challenge, F. défier. See Defy.]
1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat;
a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat.
A war without a just defiance made. Dryden.
Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down. Tennyson.
2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to
resist; contempt of opposition.
He breathed defiance to my ears. Shak.
3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance to thy
kindness." Ford. To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to
disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Locke.
DEFIANT
De*fi"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défiant, p. pr. of défier. See Defy.]
Defn: Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act.
In attitude stern and defiant. Longfellow.
-- De*fi"ant*ly, adv.
-- De*fi"ant*ness, n.
DEFIATORY
De*fi"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [See Defy.]
Defn: Bidding or manifesting defiance. [Obs.] Shelford.
DEFIBRINATE
De*fi"bri*nate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of fibrin, as fresh blood or lymph by stirring with
twigs.
DEFIBRINATION
De*fi`bri*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of depriving of fibrin.
DEFIBRINIZE
De*fi"bri*nize, v. t.
Defn: To defibrinate.
DEFICIENCE
De*fi"cience, n.
Defn: Same as Deficiency.
Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found.
Milton.
DEFICIENCY
De*fi"cien*cy, n.; pl. Deficiencies. Etym: [See Deficient.]
Defn: The state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure;
imperfection; shortcoming; defect. "A deficiencyof blood." Arbuthnot.
[Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made
him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle.
Deficiency of a curve (Geom.), the amount by which the number of
double points on a curve is short of the maximum for curves of the
same degree.
DEFICIENT
De*fi"cient, a. Etym: [L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be
wanting. See Defect.]
Defn: Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a
requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect;
incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient
strength; deficient in judgment.
The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety. Macaulay.
Deficient number. (Arith.) See under Abundant.
-- De*fi"cient-ly, adv.
DEFICIT
Def"i*cit, n. Etym: [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of
L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect.]
Defn: Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a
deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison.
DEFIER
De*fi"er, n. Etym: [See Defy.]
Defn: One who dares and defies; a contemner; as, a defier of the
laws.
DEFIGURATION
De*fig`u*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Disfiguration; mutilation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEFIGURE
De*fig"ure, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + figure.]
Defn: To delineate. [Obs.]
These two stones as they are here defigured. Weever.
DEFILADE
De`fi*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defilading.] Etym: [Cf. F. défiler to defile, and défilade act of
defiling. See 1st Defile.] (Mil.)
Defn: To raise, as a rampart, so as to shelter interior works
commanded from some higher point.
DEFILADING
De`fi*lad"ing, n. (Mil.)
Defn: The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the
lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior
from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from
any works which may be erected. Farrow.
DEFILE
De*file", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling.]
Etym: [F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or
line. See File a row.]
Defn: To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.
DEFILE
De*file", v. t. (Mil.)
Defn: Same as Defilade.
DEFILE
De*file", n. Etym: [Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile.]
1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a
file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills,
rocks, etc.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior
works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.
DEFILE
De*file", v. t. Etym: [OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF.
defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen
to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to
defile, Foul, Defoul.]
1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to
pollute.
They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak.
2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint.
He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his
character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift.
3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt.
Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx. 7.
4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate.
The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior.
5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute.
That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat
to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8.
DEFILEMENT
De*file"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défilement. See Defile] (Mil.)
Defn: The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from an
enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the
exposed side.
DEFILEMENT
De*file"ment, n. Etym: [From 3d Defile.]
Defn: The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether
physically or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness.
Defilements of the flesh. Hopkins.
The chaste can not rake into such filth without danger of defilement.
Addison.
DEFILER
De*fil"er, n.
Defn: One who defiles; one who corrupts or violates; that which
pollutes.
DEFILIATION
De*fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. de- + filius son.]
Defn: Abstraction of a child from its parents. Lamb.
DEFINABLE
De*fin"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Define.]
Defn: Capable of being defined, limited, or explained; determinable;
describable by definition; ascertainable; as, definable limits;
definable distinctions or regulations; definable words.
-- De*fin"a*bly, adv.
DEFINE
De*fine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defined; p. pr. & vb. n. Defining.]
Etym: [OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. définir to define,
L. definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis
boundary, limit, end. See Final, Finish.]
1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. "To
define controversies." Barrow.
2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the
limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.
3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to
ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical
instrument.
Rings . . . very distinct and well defined. Sir I. Newton.
4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of;
to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to
define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term.
They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature. Robynson
(More's Utopia).
DEFINE
De*fine", v. i.
Defn: To determine; to decide. [Obs.]
DEFINEMENT
De*fine"ment, n.
Defn: The act of defining; definition; description. [Obs.] Shak.
DEFINER
De*fin"er, n.
Defn: One who defines or explains.
DEFINITE
Def"i*nite, a. Etym: [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini.
See Define.]
1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness;
limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a
definite period or interval.
Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell.
2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain;
precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or
expression.
3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.
4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the
definite article. Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is
used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class
of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n.
-- Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence,
under Determinate.
-- Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of
chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the
same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more
elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative
proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions,
under Multiple.
DEFINITE
Def"i*nite, n.
Defn: A thing defined or determined. [Obs.]
DEFINITELY
Def"i*nite*ly, adv.
Defn: In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately.
DEFINITENESS
Def"i*nite*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being definite; determinateness; precision;
certainty.
DEFINITION
Def`i*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. definitio: cf. F. définition.]
1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, the
telescope accurate in definition.
2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a
description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the
meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of "circle;" the
definition of "wit;" an exact definition; a loose definition.
Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what
the term defined stands for. Locke.
3. Description; sort. [R.] "A new creature of another definition."
Jer. Taylor.
4. (Logic)
Defn: An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the
logical essence.
5. (Opt.)
Defn: Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical
instrument; precision in detail.
Syn.
-- Definition, Explanation, Description. A definition is designed to
settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended
to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more
extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars
with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not
therefore true, though often said, that description is only an
extended definition. "Logicians distinguish definitions into
essential and accidental. An essential definition states what are
regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to
be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded
as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such
as causes, effects, etc." Whately.
DEFINITIONAL
Def`i*ni"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed
in defining.
DEFINITIVE
De*fin"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. definitivus: cf. F. définitif.]
1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.
A strict and definitive truth. Sir T. Browne.
Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. Prescott.
2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word.
3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.
DEFINITIVE
De*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification
of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.
Note: Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles.
. . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so
called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other,
some, all, no, none, etc. Harris (Hermes).
DEFINITIVELY
De*fin"i*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a definitive manner.
DEFINITIVENESS
De*fin"i*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being definitive.
DEFINITUDE
De*fin"i*tude, n.
Defn: Definiteness. [R.]
Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences. Sir W.
Hamilton.
DEFIX
De*fix", v. t. Etym: [L. defixus, p. p. of defigere to fix; de- +
figere to fix.]
Defn: To fix; to fasten; to establish. [Obs.] "To defix their
princely seat . . . in that extreme province." Hakluyt.
DEFLAGRABILITY
Def`la*gra*bil"i*ty, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The state or quality of being deflagrable.
The ready deflagrability . . . of saltpeter. Boyle.
DEFLAGRABLE
De*fla"gra*ble, a. Etym: [See Deflagrate.] (Chem.)
Defn: Burning with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter;
hence, slightly explosive; liable to snap and crackle when heated, as
salt.
DEFLAGRATE
Def"la*grate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deflagrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deflagrating.] Etym: [L. deflagratus, p. p. of deflagrare to burn up;
de- + flagrare to flame, burn.] (Chem.)
Defn: To burn with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; also,
to snap and crackle with slight explosions when heated, as salt.
DEFLAGRATE
Def"la*grate, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To cause to burn with sudden and sparkling combustion, as by
the action of intense heat; to burn or vaporize suddenly; as, to
deflagrate refractory metals in the oxyhydrogen flame.
DEFLAGRATION
Def`la*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. deflagratio: cf. F. déflagration.]
1. A burning up; conflagration. "Innumerable deluges and
deflagrations." Bp. Pearson.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of deflagrating.
DEFLAGRATOR
Def"la*gra`tor, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A form of the voltaic battery having large plates, used for
producing rapid and powerful combustion.
DEFLATE
De*flate", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- down + L. flare, flatus to blow.]
Defn: To reduce from an inflated condition.
DEFLECT
De*flect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deflected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deflecting.] Etym: [L. deflectere; de- + flectere to bend or turn.
See Flexible.]
Defn: To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often
deflected.
Sitting with their knees deflected under them. Lord (1630).
DEFLECT
De*flect", v. i.
Defn: To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or
from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.
At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in
the true meridian. Sir T. Browne.
To deflect from the line of truth and reason. Warburton.
DEFLECTABLE
De*flect"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deflected.
DEFLECTED
De*flect"ed, a.
1. Turned aside; deviating from a direct line or course.
2. Bent downward; deflexed.
DEFLECTION
De*flec"tion, n. Etym: [L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf. F.
déflexion.]
1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a
turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, esp. downward;
deviation.
The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections.
Lowth.
2. (Gunnery)
Defn: The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course.
3. (Opt.)
Defn: A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an
opaque body; inflection; diffraction.
4. (Engin.)
Defn: The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own
weight or by reason of a load.
DEFLECTIONIZATION
De*flec`tion*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of freeing from inflections. Earle.
DEFLECTIONIZE
De*flec"tion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To free from inflections.
Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic. Earle.
DEFLECTIVE
De*flect"ive, a.
Defn: Causing deflection. Deflective forces, forces that cause a body
to deviate from its course.
DEFLECTOR
De*flect"or, n. (Mech.)
Defn: That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a furnace, or a come in
a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and help combustion).
DEFLEXED
De*flexed", a.
Defn: Bent abruptly downward.
DEFLEXION
De*flex"ion, n.
Defn: See Deflection.
DEFLEXURE
De*flex"ure, n. Etym: [From L. deflectere, deflexum. See Deflect.]
Defn: A bending or turning aside; deflection. Bailey.
DEFLORATE
De*flo"rate, a. Etym: [LL. defloratus, p. p. of deflorare. See
Deflour.] (Bot.)
Defn: Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. Gray.
DEFLORATION
Def`lo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defloratio: cf. F. défloration.]
1. The act of deflouring; as, the defloration if a virgin. Johnson.
2. That which is chosen as the flower or choicest part; careful
culling or selection. [R.]
The laws of Normandy are, in a great measure, the defloration of the
English laws. Sir M. Hale.
DEFLOUR
De*flour", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defloured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deflouring.] Etym: [F. déflorer, LL. deflorare; L. de- + flos,
floris, flower. See Flower, and cf. Deflorate.]
1. To deprive of flowers.
2. To take away the prime beauty and grace of; to rob of the choicest
ornament.
He died innocent and before the sweetness of his soul was defloured
and ravished from him. Jer. Taylor.
3. To deprive of virginity, as a woman; to violate; to ravish; also,
to seduce.
DEFLOURER
De*flour"er, n.
Defn: One who deflours; a ravisher.
DEFLOW
De*flow", v. i. Etym: [Pref. de- + flow: cf. L. defluere.]
Defn: To flow down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DEFLOWER
De*flow"er, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + flower.]
Defn: Same as Deflour.
An earthquake . . . deflowering the gardens. W. Montagu.
If a man had deflowered a virgin. Milton.
DEFLOWERER
De*flow"er*er, n.
Defn: See Deflourer. Milton.
DEFLUOUS
Def"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. defluus, fr. defluere to flow down; de- +
fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing down; falling off. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEFLUX
De*flux", n. Etym: [L. defluxus, fr. defluere, defluxum.]
Defn: Downward flow. [Obs.] Bacon.
DEFLUXION
De*flux"ion, n. Etym: [L. defluxio.] (Med.)
Defn: A discharge or flowing of humors or fluid matter, as from the
nose in catarrh; -- sometimes used synonymously with inflammation.
Dunglison.
DEFLY
Def"ly, adv.
Defn: Deftly. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEFOEDATION
Def`oe*da"tion, n.
Defn: Defedation. [Obs.]
DEFOLIATE; DEFOLIATED
De*fo"li*ate, De*fo"li*a`ted. a.
Defn: Deprived of leaves, as by their natural fall.
DEFOLIATION
De*fo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves;
L. de- + folium leaf: cf. F. défoliation.]
Defn: The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the
falling or shedding of the leaves.
DEFORCE
De*force", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforcing.]
Etym: [OF. deforcier; de- or des- (L. de or dis-) + forcier, F.
forcer. See Force, v.] (Law)
(a) To keep from the rightful owner; to withhold wrongfully the
possession of, as of lands or a freehold.
(b) (Scots Law) To resist the execution of the law; to oppose by
force, as an officer in the execution of his duty. Burrill.
DEFORCEMENT
De*force"ment, n. Etym: [OF.] (Law)
(a) A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding, as of
lands or tenements, to which another has a right.
(b) (Scots Law) Resistance to an officer in the execution of law.
Burrill.
DEFORCEOR
De*force"or, n.
Defn: Same as Deforciant. [Obs.]
DEFORCIANT
De*for"ciant, n. Etym: [OF. deforciant, p. pr. of deforcier. See
Deforce.] (Eng. Law)
(a) One who keeps out of possession the rightful owner of an estate.
(b) One against whom a fictitious action of fine was brought. [Obs.]
Burrill.
DEFORCIATION
De*for`ci*a"tion, n. (Law)
Defn: Same as Deforcement, n.
DEFOREST
De*for"est, v. t.
Defn: To clear of forests; to dis U. S. Agric. Reports.
DEFORM
De*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforming.]
Etym: [L. deformare; de- + formare to form, shape, fr. forma: cf. F.
déformer. See Form.]
1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure.
Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world.
Shak.
2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or
perfection; to dishonor.
Above those passions that this world deform. Thomson.
DEFORM
De*form", a. Etym: [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme,
F. difforme. Cf. Difform.]
Defn: Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [Obs.]
Sight so deform what heart of rock could long Dry-eyed behold Milton.
DEFORMATION
Def`or*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. deformatio: cf. F. déformation.]
1. The act of deforming, or state of anything deformed. Bp. Hall.
2. Transformation; change of shape.
DEFORMED
De*formed", a.
Defn: Unnatural or distorted in form; having a deformity; misshapen;
disfigured; as, a deformed person; a deformed head.
-- De*form"ed*ly, adv.
-- De*form"ed*ness, n.
DEFORMER
De*form"er, n.
Defn: One who deforms.
DEFORMITY
De*form"i*ty, n.; pl. Deformities. Etym: [L. deformitas, fr.
deformis: cf. OF. deformeté, deformité, F. difformité. See Deform, v.
& a., and cf. Disformity.]
1. The state of being deformed; want of proper form or symmetry; any
unnatural form or shape; distortion; irregularity of shape or
features; ugliness.
To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock
my body. Shak.
2. Anything that destroys beauty, grace, or propriety; irregularity;
absurdity; gross deviation from other or the established laws of
propriety; as, deformity in an edifice; deformity of character.
Confounded, that her Maker's eyes Should look so near upon her foul
deformities. Milton.
DEFORSER
De*fors"er, n. Etym: [From Deforce.] Etym: [Written also deforsor.]
Defn: A deforciant. [Obs.] Blount.
DEFOUL
De*foul", v. t. Etym: [See Defile, v. t.]
1. To tread down. [Obs.] Wyclif.
2. To make foul; to defile. [Obs.] Wyclif.
DEFRAUD
De*fraud", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrauded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Defrauding.] Etym: [L. defraudare; de- + fraudare to cheat, fr.
fraus, fraudis, fraud: cf. OF. defrauder. See Fraud.]
Defn: To deprive of some right, interest, or property, by a deceitful
device; to withhold from wrongfully; to injure by embezzlement; to
cheat; to overreach; as, to defraud a servant, or a creditor, or the
state; -- with of before the thing taken or withheld.
We have defrauded no man. 2 Cor. vii. 2.
Churches seem injured and defrauded of their rights. Hooker.
DEFRAUDATION
De`frau*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. defraudatio: cf. F. défraudation.]
Defn: The act of defrauding; a taking by fraud. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEFRAUDER
De*fraud"er, n.
Defn: One who defrauds; a cheat; an embezzler; a peculator.
DEFRAUDMENT
De*fraud"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. defraudement.]
Defn: Privation by fraud; defrauding. [Obs.] Milton.
DEFRAY
De*fray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defrayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defraying.]
Etym: [F. défrayer; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + frais expense, fr.
LL. fredum, fridum, expense, fine by which an offender obtained peace
from his sovereign, or more likely, atoned for an offense against the
public peace, fr. OHG. fridu peace, G. friede. See Affray.]
1. To pay or discharge; to serve in payment of; to provide for, as a
charge, debt, expenses, costs, etc.
For the discharge of his expenses, and defraying his cost, he allowed
him . . . four times as much. Usher.
2. To avert or appease, as by paying off; to satisfy; as, to defray
wrath. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEFRAYAL
De*fray"al, n.
Defn: The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of necessary
costs.
DEFRAYER
De*fray"er, n.
Defn: One who pays off expenses.
DEFRAYMENT
De*fray"ment, n.
Defn: Payment of charges.
DEFT
Deft, a. Etym: [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf.
OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. dæft (in derivatives only) mild,
gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit,
Goth. gadaban to be fit. Cf. Daft, Daff, Dapper.]
Defn: Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. [Archaic or
Poetic] "The deftest way." Shak. "Deftest feats." Gay.
The limping god, do deft at his new ministry. Dryden.
Let me be deft and debonair. Byron.
DEFTLY
Deft"ly, adv. Etym: [Cf. Defly.]
Defn: Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. "Deftly dancing." Drayton.
Thyself and office deftly show. Shak.
DEFTNESS
Deft"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deft. Drayton.
DEFUNCT
De*funct". a. Etym: [L. defunctus, p. p. of defungi to acquit one's
self of, to perform, finish, depart, die; de + fungi to perform,
discharge: cf. F. défunt. See Function.]
Defn: Having finished the course of life; dead; deceased. "Defunct
organs." Shak.
The boar, defunct, lay tripped up, near. Byron.
DEFUNCT
De*funct", n.
Defn: A dead person; one deceased.
DEFUNCTION
De*func"tion, n. Etym: [L. defunctio performance, death.]
Defn: Death. [Obs.]
After defunction of King Pharamond. Shak.
DEFUNCTIVE
De*func"tive, a.
Defn: Funereal. [Obs.] "Defunctive music." Shak.
DEFUSE
De*fuse", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Diffuse.]
Defn: To disorder; to make shapeless. [Obs.] Shak.
DEFY
De*fy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied; p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] Etym:
[F. défier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or
fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal
and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith.
See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.]
1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or
obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]
I defy the surety and the bond. Chaucer.
For thee I have defied my constant mistress. Beau. & Fl.
2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to
challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with
contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to
defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.
I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight. Milton.
I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary. Burke.
DEFY
De*fy", n.
Defn: A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.
DEGAGE
Dé`ga`gé", a. [F., p. p. of dégager to disengage. See De-, lst Gage,
and cf. Disgage.]
Defn: Unconstrained; easy; free. Vanbrugh.
A graceful and dégagé manner.
Poe.
DEGARNISH
De*gar"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degarnished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Degarnishing.] Etym: [F. dégarnir; pref. dé-, des- (L. dis-) + garnir
to furnish. See Garnish, and cf. Disgarnish.]
1. To strip or deprive of entirely, as of furniture, ornaments, etc.;
to disgarnish; as, to degarnish a house, etc. [R.]
2. To deprive of a garrison, or of troops necessary for defense; as,
to degarnish a city or fort. [R.] Washington.
DEGARNISHMENT
De*gar"nish*ment, n.
Defn: The act of depriving, as of furniture, apparatus, or a
garrison. [R.]
DEGENDER; DEGENER
De*gen"der, De*gen"er, v. i. Etym: [See Degenerate.]
Defn: To degenerate. [Obs.] "Degendering to hate." Spenser.
He degenereth into beastliness. Joye.
DEGENERACY
De*gen"er*a*cy, n. Etym: [From Degenerate, a.]
1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse.
Willful degeneracy from goodness. Tillotson.
2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good qualities;
deterioration; meanness.
Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery. Addison.
To recover mankind out of their universal corruption and degeneracy.
S. Clarke.
DEGENERATE
De*gen"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to
degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that
departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin
relationship.]
Defn: Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state;
having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated;
degraded; unworthy; base; low.
Faint-hearted and degenerate king. Shak.
A degenerate and degraded state. Milton.
Degenerate from their ancient blood. Swift.
These degenerate days. Pope.
I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into
the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me Jer. ii. 21.
DEGENERATE
De*gen"er*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Degenerating.]
1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally;
hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to
decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.
When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and
impiety. Tillotson.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of
its kind; to become of a lower type.
DEGENERATELY
De*gen"er*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a degenerate manner; unworthily.
DEGENERATENESS
De*gen"er*ate*ness, n.
Defn: Degeneracy.
DEGENERATION
De*gen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dégénération.]
1. The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become
worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration.
Our degeneration and apostasy. Bates.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality
has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower
for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of
animals or plants or any particular or organs; hereditary degradation
of type.
4. The thing degenerated. [R.]
Cockle, aracus, . . . and other degenerations. Sir T. Browne.
Amyloid degeneration, Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid,
Caseous, etc.
DEGENERATIONIST
De*gen`er*a"tion*ist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary
degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is
the result of degeneration from a superior state.
DEGENERATIVE
De*gen"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Undergoing or producing degeneration; tending to degenerate.
DEGENEROUS
De*gen"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. degener. See Degenerate.]
Defn: Degenerate; base. [Obs.] "Degenerous passions." Dryden.
"Degenerous practices." South.
DEGENEROUSLY
De*gen"er*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Basely. [Obs.]
DEGERM
De*germ", v. t. (Milling)
Defn: To extract the germs from, as from wheat grains.
DEGERMINATOR
De*ger"mi*na`tor, n. (Milling)
Defn: A machine for breaking open the kernels of wheat or other grain
and removing the germs.
DEGLAZE
De*glaze", v. t.
Defn: To remove the glaze from, as pottery or porcelain, so as to
give a dull finish.
DEGLAZING
De*glaz"ing, n.
Defn: The process of giving a dull or ground surface to glass by acid
or by mechanical means. Knight.
DEGLORIED
De*glo"ried, a.
Defn: Deprived of glory; dishonored. [Obs.] "With thorns degloried."
G. Fletcher.
DEGLUTINATE
De*glu"ti*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deglutinated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deglutinating.] Etym: [L. deglutinatus, p. p. of deglutinare to
deglutinate; de- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.]
Defn: To loosen or separate by dissolving the glue which unties; to
unglue.
DEGLUTINATION
De*glu`ti*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of ungluing.
DEGLUTITION
Deg`lu*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. deglutire to swallow down; de- + glutire
to swallow: cf. F. déglutition. See Glut.]
Defn: The act or process of swallowing food; the power of swallowing.
The muscles employed in the act of deglutition. Paley.
DEGLUTITIOUS
Deg`lu*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Pertaining to deglutition. [R.]
DEGLUTITORY
De*glu"ti*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving for, or aiding in, deglutition.
DEGRADATION
Deg`ra*da"tion, n. Etym: [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F.
dégradation. See Degrade.]
1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of
abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society;
diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a
bishop.
He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of
which he had been possessed. Clarendon.
2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation;
baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace;
abasement; debasement.
The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters. Macaulay.
Deplorable is the degradation of our nature. South.
Moments there frequently must be, when a sidegradation of his state.
Blair.
3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value;
degeneration; deterioration.
The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be
traced. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
4. (Geol.)
Defn: A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by
the action of water, fro
5. (Biol.)
Defn: The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits
degraded forms; degeneration.
The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its
varieties. Dana.
6. (Physiol.)
Defn: Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the
body as a whole. Degradation of energy, or Dissipation of energy
(Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is
less available for doing work.
Syn.
-- Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.
DEGRADE
De*grade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Degrading.]
Etym: [F. dégrader, LL. degradare, fr. L. de- + gradus step, degree.
See Grade, and cf. Degree.]
1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in
rank' to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to
degrade a nobleman, or a general officer.
Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from
the bar. Palfrey.
2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the
value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of;
to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice
degrades a man.
O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state
reserved! Milton.
He pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion.
Macaulay.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to
wear down.
Syn.
-- To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.
DEGRADE
De*grade", v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of
structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or
that genus or group of genera.
DEGRADED
De*grad"ed, a.
1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low;
base.
The Netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a very degraded
condition. Motley.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the typical characters or organs in a partially
developed condition, or lacking certain parts.
Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons. Dana.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. degré step.] (Her.)
Defn: Having steps; -- said of a cross each of whose extremities
finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; -- termed
also on degrees.
DEGRADEMENT
De*grade"ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation of rank or office; degradation. [R.] Milton.
DEGRADINGLY
De*grad"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a degrading manner.
DEGRAS; DEGRAS
Dé`gras", Deg"ras, n. [F.; cf. F. gras, a. & n., fat.]
Defn: A semisolid emulsion produced by the treatment of certain skins
with oxidized fish oil, which extracts their soluble albuminoids. It
was formerly solely a by-product of chamois leather manufacture, but
is now made for its own sake, being valuable as a dressing for hides.
DEGRAVATION
Deg`ra*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. degravare, degravatum, to make heavy.
See Grave, a.]
Defn: The act of making heavy. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEGREASE
De*grease", v. t.
Defn: To remove grease or fatty matter from, as wool or silk.
DEGREE
De*gree", n. Etym: [F. degré, OF. degret, fr. LL. degradare. See
Degrade.]
1. A step, stair, or staircase. [Obs.]
By ladders, or else by degree. Rom. of R.
2. One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in
quality, rank, acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression;
grade; gradation; as, degrees of vice and virtue; to advance by slow
degrees; degree of comparison.
3. The point or step of progression to which a person has arrived;
rank or station in life; position. "A dame of high degree." Dryden.
"A knight is your degree." Shak. "Lord or lady of high degree."
Lowell.
4. Measure of advancement; quality; extent; as, tastes differ in kind
as well as in degree.
The degree of excellence which proclaims genius, is different in
different times and different places. Sir. J. Reynolds.
5. Grade or rank to which scholars are admitted by a college or
university, in recognition of their attainments; as, the degree of
bachelor of arts, master, doctor, etc.
Note: In the United States diplomas are usually given as the evidence
of a degree conferred. In the humanities the first degree is that of
bachelor of arts (B. A. or A. B.); the second that of master of arts
(M. A. or A. M.). The degree of bachelor (of arts, science, divinity,
law, etc.) is conferred upon those who complete a prescribed course
of undergraduate study. The first degree in medicine is that of
doctor of medicine (M. D.). The degrees of master and doctor are
sometimes conferred, in course, upon those who have completed certain
prescribed postgraduate studies, as doctor of philosophy (Ph. D.);
but more frequently the degree of doctor is conferred as a
complimentary recognition of eminent services in science or letters,
or for public services or distinction (as doctor of laws (LL. D.) or
doctor of divinity (D. D.), when they are called honorary degrees.
The youth attained his bachelor's degree, and left the university.
Macaulay.
5. (Genealogy)
Defn: A certain distance or remove in the line of descent,
determining the proximity of blood; one remove in the chain of
relationship; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree.
In the 11th century an opinion began to gain ground in Italy, that
third cousins might marry, being in the seventh degree according to
the civil law. Hallam.
7. (Arith.)
Defn: Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is one
degree, 222,140 two degrees.
8. (Algebra)
Defn: State as indicated by sum of exponents; more particularly, the
degree of a term is indicated by the sum of the exponents of its
literal factors; thus, a2b2c is a term of the sixth degree. The
degree of a power, or radical, is denoted by its index, that of an
equation by the greatest sum of the exponents of the unknown
quantities in any term; thus, ax4 + bx2 = c, and mx2y2 + nyx = p, are
both equations of the fourth degree.
9. (Trig.)
Defn: A 360th part of the circumference of a circle, which part is
taken as the principal unit of measure for arcs and angles. The
degree is divided into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds.
10. A division, space, or interval, marked on a mathematical or other
instrument, as on a thermometer.
11. (Mus.)
Defn: A line or space of the staff.
Note: The short lines and their spaces are added degrees.
Accumulation of degrees. (Eng. Univ.) See under Accumulation.
-- By degrees, step by step; by little and little; by moderate
advances. "I 'll leave by degrees." Shak.
-- Degree of a curve or surface (Geom.), the number which expresses
the degree of the equation of the curve or surface in rectilinear
coördinates. A straight line will, in general, meet the curve or
surface in a number of points equal to the degree of the curve or
surface and no more.
-- Degree of latitude (Geog.), on the earth, the distance on a
meridian between two parallels of latitude whose latitudes differ
from each other by one degree. This distance is not the same on
different parts of a meridian, on account of the flattened figure of
the earth, being 68.702 statute miles at the equator, and 69.396 at
the poles.
-- Degree of longitude, the distance on a parallel of latitude
between two meridians that make an angle of one degree with each
other at the poles -- a distance which varies as the cosine of the
latitude, being at the equator 69.16 statute miles.
-- To a degree, to an extreme; exceedingly; as, mendacious to a
degree.
It has been said that Scotsmen . . . are . . . grave to a degree on
occasions when races more favored by nature are gladsome to excess.
Prof. Wilson.
DEGU
De"gu, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South American rodent (Octodon Cumingii), of the family
Octodontidæ.
DEGUM
De*gum", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Degumming.]
Defn: To deprive of, or free from, gum; as, to degum ramie.
DEGUST
De*gust", v. t. Etym: [L. degustare: cf. F. déguster. See Gust to
taste.]
Defn: To taste. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEGUSTATION
Deg`us*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. degustatio: cf. F. dégustation.]
(Physiol.)
Defn: Tasting; the appreciation of sapid qualities by the taste
organs. Bp. Hall.
DEHISCE
De*hisce", v. i. Etym: [L. dehiscere; de- + hiscere to gape.]
Defn: To gape; to open by dehiscence.
DEHISCENCE
De*his"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déhiscence.]
1. The act of gaping.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A gaping or bursting open along a definite line of attachment
or suture, without tearing, as in the opening of pods, or the
bursting of capsules at maturity so as to emit seeds, etc.; also, the
bursting open of follicles, as in the ovaries of animals, for the
expulsion of their contents.
DEHISCENT
De*his"cent, a. Etym: [L. dehiscens, -entis, p. pr. Cf. F.
déhiscent.]
Defn: Characterized by dehiscence; opening in some definite way, as
the capsule of a plant.
DEHONESTATE
De`ho*nes"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. dehonestatus, p. p. of dehonestare to
dishonor; de- + honestare to make honorable. Cf. Dishonest, and see
Honest.]
Defn: To disparage. [Obs.]
DEHONESTATION
De*hon`es*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dehonestatio.]
Defn: A dishonoring; disgracing. [Obs.] Gauden.
DEHORN
De*horn", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorning.]
Defn: To deprive of horns; to prevent the growth or the horns of
(cattle) by burning their ends soon after they start. See Dishorn.
"Dehorning cattle." Farm Journal (1886).
DEHORS
De*hors", prep. Etym: [F., outside.] (Law)
Defn: Out of; without; foreign to; out of the agreement, record,
will, or other instrument.
DEHORS
De*hors", n. (Mil.)
Defn: All sorts of outworks in general, at a distance from the main
works; any advanced works for protection or cover. Farrow.
DEHORT
De*hort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorting.]
Etym: [L. dehortari; de- + hortari to urge, exhort.]
Defn: To urge to abstain or refrain; to dissuade. [Obs.]
The apostles vehemently dehort us from unbelief. Bp. Ward.
"Exhort" remains, but dehort, a word whose place neither "dissuade"
nor any other exactly supplies, has escaped us. Trench.
DEHORTATION
De`hor*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dehortatio.]
Defn: Dissuasion; advice against something. [R.]
DEHORTATIVE
De*hort"a*tive, a.
Defn: Dissuasive. [R.]
DEHORTATORY
De*hort"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dehortatorius.]
Defn: Fitted or designed to dehort or dissuade. Bp. Hall.
DEHORTER
De*hort"er, n.
Defn: A dissuader; an adviser to the contrary. [Obs.]
DEHUMANIZE
De*hu"man*ize, v. t.
Defn: To divest of human qualities, such as pity, tenderness, etc.;
as, dehumanizing influences.
DEHUSK
De*husk", v. t.
Defn: To remove the husk from. [Obs.] "Wheat dehusked upon the
floor." Drant.
DEHYDRATE
De*hy"drate, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of water; to render free from water; as, to
dehydrate alcohol.
DEHYDRATION
De`hy*dra"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition
of a body from which the water has been removed.
DEHYDROGENATE
De*hy"dro*gen*ate, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of, or free from, hydrogen.
DEHYDROGENATION
De*hy`dro*gen*a"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process or freeing from hydrogen; also, the
condition resulting from the removal of hydrogen.
DEICIDE
De"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. deicida a deicide (in sense 2); deus god +
cædere to cut, kill: cf. F. déicide.]
1. The act of killing a being of a divine nature; particularly, the
putting to death of Jesus Christ. [R.]
Earth profaned, yet blessed, with deicide. Prior.
2. One concerned in putting Christ to death.
DEICTIC
Deic"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Logic)
Defn: Direct; proving directly; -- applied to reasoning, and opposed
to elenchtic or refutative.
DEICTICALLY
Deic"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to show or point out; directly; absolutely;
definitely.
When Christ spake it deictically. Hammond.
DEIFIC; DEIFICAL
De*if"ic, De*if"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. deificus; deus god + facere to
make: cf. F. déifigue.]
Defn: Making divine; producing a likeness to God; god-making. "A
deifical communion." Homilies.
DEIFICATION
De`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deificare to deify: cf. F.
déification. See Deify.]
Defn: The act of deifying; exaltation to divine honors; apotheosis;
excessive praise.
DEIFIED
De"i*fied, a.
Defn: Honored or worshiped as a deity; treated with supreme regard;
godlike.
DEIFIER
De"i*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who deifies.
DEIFORM
De"i*form, a. Etym: [L. deus a god + -form.]
1. Godlike, or of a godlike form. Dr. H. More.
2. Conformable to the will of God. [R.] Bp. Burnet.
DEIFORMITY
De`i*for"mi*ty, n.
Defn: Likeness to deity. [Obs.]
DEIFY
De"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deified; p. pr. & vb. n. Deifying.]
Etym: [F. déifier, LL. deificare, fr. L. deificus. See Deific, Deity,
-fy.]
1. To make a god of; to exalt to the rank of a deity; to enroll among
the deities; to apotheosize; as, Julius Cæsar was deified.
2. To praise or revere as a deity; to treat as an object of supreme
regard; as, to deify money.
He did again to extol and deify the pope. Bacon.
3. To render godlike.
By our own spirits are we deified. Wordsworth.
DEIGN
Deign, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Deigning.] Etym:
[OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr.
L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere
to be fitting. See Decent, and cf. Dainty, Dignity, Condign,
Disdain.]
1. To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; -- opposed to disdain.
[Obs.]
I fear my Julia would not deign my lines. Shak.
2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop to furnish; to
vouchsafe; to allow; to grant.
Nor would we deign him burial of his men. Shak.
DEIGN
Deign, v. i.
Defn: To think worthy; to vouchsafe; to condescend; -- followed by an
infinitive.
O deign to visit our forsaken seats. Pope.
Yet not Lord Cranstone deigned she greet. Sir W. Scott.
Round turned he, as not deigning Those craven ranks to see. Macaulay.
Note: In early English deign was often used impersonally.
Him deyneth not to set his foot to ground. Chaucer.
DEIGNOUS
Deign"ous, a. Etym: [For disdeignous, OF. desdeignos, desdaigneus, F.
dédaigneux. See Disdain.]
Defn: Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEIL
Deil, n.
Defn: Devil; -- spelt also deel. [Scot.] Deil's buckie. See under
Buckie.
DEINOCERAS
Dei*noc"e*ras, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: See Dinoceras.
DEINORNIS
Dei*nor"nis, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: See Dinornis.
DEINOSAUR
Dei"no*saur, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: See Dinosaur.
DEINOTHERIUM
Dei`no*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Paleon.)
Defn: See Dinotherium.
DEINTEGRATE
De*in"te*grate, v. t. Etym: [L. deintegrare to impair; de- +
integrare to make whole.]
Defn: To disintegrate. [Obs.]
DEINTEOUS; DEINTEVOUS
Dein"te*ous, Dein"te*vous, a.
Defn: Rare; excellent; costly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEIPAROUS
De*ip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. deus a god + parere to bring forth.]
Defn: Bearing or bringing forth a god; -- said of the Virgin Mary.
[Obs.] Bailey.
DEIPNOSOPHIST
Deip*nos"o*phist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One of an ancient sect of philosophers, who cultivated learned
conversation at meals.
DEIS
De"is, n.
Defn: See Dais.
DEISM
De"ism, n. Etym: [L. deus god: cf. F. déisme. See Deity.]
Defn: The doctrine or creed of a deist; the belief or system of those
who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation.
Note: Deism is the belief in natural religion only, or those truths,
in doctrine and practice, which man is to discover by the light of
reason, independent of any revelation from God. Hence, deism implies
infidelity, or a disbelief in the divine origin of the Scriptures.
DEIST
De"ist, n. Etym: [L. deus god: cf. F. déiste. See Deity.]
Defn: One who believes in the existence of a God, but denies revealed
religion; a freethinker.
Note: A deist, as denying a revelation, is opposed to a Christian;
as, opposed to the denier of a God, whether atheist or patheist, a
deist is generally denominated theist. Latham.
Syn.
-- See Infidel.
DEISTIC; DEISTICAL
De*is"tic, De*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, savoring of, or consisting in, deism; as, a
deistic writer; a deistical book.
The deistical or antichristian scheme. I. Watts.
DEISTICALLY
De*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: After the manner of deists.
DEISTICALNESS
De*is"tic*al*ness, n.
Defn: State of being deistical.
DEITATE
De"i*tate, a.
Defn: Deified. [Obs.] Granmer.
DEITY
De"i*ty, n.; pl. Deities. Etym: [OE. deite, F. déité, fr. L. deitas,
fr. deus a god; akin to divus divine, Jupiter, gen. Jovis, Jupiter,
dies day, Gr. d divine, as a noun, god, daiva divine, dy sky, day,
hence, the sky personified as a god, and to the first syllable of E.
Tuesday, Gael. & Ir. dia God, W. duw. Cf. Divine, Journey, Journal,
Tuesday.]
1. The collection of attributes which make up the nature of a god;
divinity; godhead; as, the deity of the Supreme Being is seen in his
works.
They declared with emphasis the perfect deity and the perfect manhood
of Christ. Milman.
2. A god or goddess; a heathen god.
To worship calves, the deities
Of Egypt. Milton.
The Deity, God, the Supreme Being.
This great poet and philosopher [Simonides], the more he contemplated
the nature of the Deity, found that he waded but the more out of his
depth. Addison.
DEJECT
De*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Dejecting.]
Etym: [L. dejectus, p. p. of dejicere to throw down; de- + jacere to
throw. See Jet a shooting forth.]
1. To cast down. [Obs. or Archaic]
Christ dejected himself even unto the hells. Udall.
Sometimes she dejects her eyes in a seeming civility; and many
mistake in her a cunning for a modest look. Fuller.
2. To cast down the spirits of; to dispirit; to discourage; to
dishearten.
Nor think, to die dejects my lofty mind. Pope.
DEJECT
De*ject", a. Etym: [L. dejectus, p. p.]
Defn: Dejected. [Obs.]
DEJECTA
De*jec"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from L. dejectus, p. p.]
Defn: Excrements; as, the dejecta of the sick.
DEJECTED
De*ject"ed, a.
Defn: Cast down; afflicted; low-spirited; sad; as, a dejected look or
countenance.
-- De*ject"ed*ly, adv.
-- De*ject"ed*ness, n.
DEJECTER
De*ject"er, n.
Defn: One who casts down, or dejects.
DEJECTION
De*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. dejectio a casting down: cf. F. déjection.]
1. A casting down; depression. [Obs. or Archaic] Hallywell.
2. The act of humbling or abasing one's self.
Adoration implies submission and dejection. Bp. Pearson.
3. Lowness of spirits occasioned by grief or misfortune; mental
depression; melancholy.
What besides, Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, Our frailty can
sustain, thy tidings bring. Milton.
4. A low condition; weakness; inability. [R.]
A dejection of appetite. Arbuthnot.
5. (Physiol.)
(a) The discharge of excrement.
(b) Fæces; excrement. Ray.
DEJECTLY
De*ject"ly, adv.
Defn: Dejectedly. [Obs.]
DEJECTORY
De*jec"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dejector a dejecter.]
1. Having power, or tending, to cast down.
2. Promoting evacuations by stool. Ferrand.
DEJECTURE
De*jec"ture, n.
Defn: That which is voided; excrements. Arbuthnot.
DEJERATE
Dej"er*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. dejeratus, p. p. of dejerare to swear;
de- + jurare to swear.]
Defn: To swear solemnly; to take an oath. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEJERATION
Dej`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dejeratio.]
Defn: The act of swearing solemnly. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEJEUNE
Dé`jeu`né", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A déjeuner.
Take a déjeuné of muskadel and eggs. B. Jonson.
DEJEUNER
Dé`jeu`ner", n. Etym: [F. déjeuner breakfast, as a verb, to
breakfast. Cf. Dinner.]
Defn: A breakfast; sometimes, also, a lunch or collation.
DE JURE
De` ju"re. Etym: [L.]
Defn: By right; of right; by law; -- often opposed to be facto.
DEKA-
Dek"a-. (Metric System)
Defn: A prefix signifying ten. See Deca-.
DEKABRIST
Dek"a*brist, n.
Defn: A Decembrist.
DEKAGRAM
Dek"a*gram, n.
Defn: Same as Decagram.
DEKALITER
Dek"a*li`ter, n.
Defn: Same as Decaliter.
DEKAMETER
Dek"a*me`ter, n.
Defn: Same as Decameter.
DEKASTERE
Dek"a*stere`, n.
Defn: Same as Decastere.
DEKLE
De"kle, n. (Paper Making)
Defn: See Deckle.
DEL
Del, n. Etym: [See Deal, n.]
Defn: Share; portion; part. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DELACERATION
De*lac`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. delacerare, delaceratum, to tear in
pieces. See Lacerate.]
Defn: A tearing in pieces. [Obs.] Bailey.
DELACRYMATION
De*lac`ry*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. delacrimatio, fr. delacrimare to
weep. See Lachrymation.]
Defn: An involuntary discharge of watery humors from the eyes;
wateriness of the eyes. [Obs.] Bailey.
DELACTATION
De`lac*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- + L. lactare to suck milk, from
lac milk.]
Defn: The act of weaning. [Obs.] Bailey.
DELAINE
De*laine", n. Etym: [See Muslin delaine, under Muslin.]
Defn: A kind of fabric for women's dresses.
DELAMINATION
De*lam`i*na"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Formation and separation of laminæ or layers; one of the
methods by which the various blastodermic layers of the ovum are
differentiated.
Note: This process consists of a concentric splitting of the cells of
the blastosphere into an outer layer (epiblast) and an inner layer
(hypoblast). By the perforation of the resultant two-walled vesicle,
a gastrula results similar to that formed by the process of
invagination.
DELAPSATION
De`lap*sa"tion, n.
Defn: See Delapsion. Ray.
DELAPSE
De*lapse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Delapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Delapsing.]
Etym: [L. delapsus, p. p. of delabi to fall down; de- + labi to fall
or side.]
Defn: To pass down by inheritance; to lapse. [Obs.]
Which Anne derived alone the right, before all other, Of the delapsed
crown from Philip. Drayton.
DELAPSION
De*lap"sion, n.
Defn: A falling down, or out of place; prolapsion.
DELASSATION
De`las*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. delassare, delassatum, to tire out; de-
+ lassare to tire.]
Defn: Fatigue.
Able to continue without delassation. Ray.
DELATE
De*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delated; p. pr. & vb. n. Delating.]
Etym: [L. delatus, used as p. p. of deferre. See Tolerate, and cf. 3d
Defer, Delay, v.] [Obs. or Archaic]
1. To carry; to convey.
Try exactly the time wherein sound is delated. Bacon.
2. To carry abroad; to spread; to make public.
When the crime is delated or notorious. Jer. Taylor.
3. To carry or bring against, as a charge; to inform against; to
accuse; to denounce.
As men were delated, they were marked down for such a fine. Bp.
Burnet.
4. To carry on; to conduct. Warner.
DELATE
De*late", v. i.
Defn: To dilate. [Obs.] Goodwin.
DELATION
De*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. delatio accusation: cf. F. délation.]
1. Conveyance. [Obs. or Archaic]
In delation of sounds, the inclosure of them preserveth them. Bacon.
2. (Law)
Defn: Accusation by an informer. Milman.
DELATOR
De*la"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An accuser; an informer. [R.] Howell.
DELAWARE
Del"a*ware, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American grape, with compact bunches of small, amber-colored
berries, sweet and of a good flavor.
DELAWARES
Del"a*wares, n. pl.; sing. Delaware. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A tribe of Indians formerly inhabiting the valley of the
Delaware River, but now mostly located in the Indian Territory.
DELAY
De*lay", n.; pl. Delays. Etym: [F. délai, fr. OF. deleer to delay, or
fr. L. dilatum, which, though really from a different root, is used
in Latin only as a p. p. neut. of differre to carry apart, defer,
delay. See Tolerate, and cf. Differ, Delay, v.]
Defn: A putting off or deferring; procrastination; lingering
inactivity; stop; detention; hindrance.
Without any delay, on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat. Acts
xxv. 17.
The government ought to be settled without the delay of a day.
Macaulay.
DELAY
De*lay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Delaying.]
Etym: [OF. deleer, delaier, fr. the noun délai, or directly fr. L.
dilatare to enlarge, dilate, in LL., to put off. See Delay, n., and
cf. Delate, 1st Defer, Dilate.]
1. To put off; to defer; to procrastinate; to prolong the time of or
before.
My lord delayeth his coming. Matt. xxiv. 48.
2. To retard; to stop, detain, or hinder, for a time; to retard the
motion, or time of arrival, of; as, the mail is delayed by a heavy
fall of snow.
Thyrsis! whose artful strains have oft delayed The huddling brook to
hear his madrigal. Milton.
3. To allay; to temper. [Obs.]
The watery showers delay the raging wind. Surrey.
DELAY
De*lay", v. i.
Defn: To move slowly; to stop for a time; to linger; to tarry.
There seem to be certain bounds to the quickness and slowness of the
succession of those ideas, . . . beyond which they can neither delay
nor hasten. Locke.
DELAYER
De*lay"er, n.
Defn: One who delays; one who lingers.
DELAYINGLY
De*lay"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By delays. [R.] Tennyson.
DELAYMENT
De*lay"ment, n.
Defn: Hindrance. [Obs.] Gower.
DEL CREDERE
Del` cred"er*e. Etym: [It., of belief or trust.] (Mercantile Law)
Defn: An agreement by which an agent or factor, in consideration of
an additional premium or commission (called a del credere
commission), engages, when he sells goods on credit, to insure,
warrant, or guarantee to his principal the solvency of the purchaser,
the engagement of the factor being to pay the debt himself if it is
not punctually discharged by the buyer when it becomes due.
DELE
De"le, imperative sing. of L. delere to destroy. Etym: [Cf. Delete.]
(Print.)
Defn: Erase; remove; -- a direction to cancel something which has
been put in type; usually expressed by a peculiar form of d, thus: .
DELE
De"le, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deled; p. pr. & vb. n. Deleing.] Etym:
[From the preceding word.] (Print.)
Defn: To erase; to cancel; to delete; to mark for omission.
DELE
Dele, v. t. Etym: [See Deal.]
Defn: To deal; to divide; to distribute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DELEBLE
Del"e*ble, a. Etym: [L. delebilis. See 1st Dele.]
Defn: Capable of being blotted out or erased. "An impression easily
deleble." Fuller.
DELECTABLE
De*lec"ta*ble, a. Etym: [OF. delitable, OF. delitable, F. délectable,
fr. L. delectabilis, fr. delectare to delight. See Delight.]
Defn: Highly pleasing; delightful.
Delectable both to behold and taste. Milton.
-- De*lec"ta*ble*ness, n.
-- De*lec"ta*bly, adv.
DELECTATE
De*lec"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. delectatus, p. p. of delectare. See
Delight.]
Defn: To delight; to charm. [R.]
DELECTATION
De`lec*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. delectatio: cf. F. délectation.]
Defn: Great pleasure; delight.
DELECTUS
De*lec"tus, n. Etym: [L., selection, from deligere, delectum, to
select.]
Defn: A name given to an elementary book for learners of Latin or
Greek. G. Eliot.
DELEGACY
Del`e*ga*cy, n. Etym: [From Delegate, a.]
1. The act of delegating, or state of being delegated; deputed power.
[Obs.]
By way of delegacy or grand commission. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. A body of delegates or commissioners; a delegation. [Obs.] Burton.
DELEGATE
Del"e*gate, n. Etym: [L. delegatus, p. p. of delegare to send,
delegate; de- + legare to send with a commission, to depute. See
Legate.]
1. Any one sent and empowered to act for another; one deputed to
represent; a chosen deputy; a representative; a commissioner; a
vicar.
2.
(a) One elected by the people of a territory to represent them in
Congress, where he has the right of debating, but not of voting.
(b) One sent by any constituency to act as its representative in a
convention; as, a delegate to a convention for nominating officers,
or for forming or altering a constitution. [U.S.] Court of delegates,
formerly, the great court of appeal from the archbishops' courts and
also from the court of admiralty. It is now abolished, and the privy
council is the immediate court of appeal in such cases. [Eng.]
DELEGATE
Del"e*gate, a. Etym: [L. delegatus, p. p.]
Defn: Sent to act for a represent another; deputed; as, a delegate
judge. "Delegate power." Strype.
DELEGATE
Del"e*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delegated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delegating.]
1. To send as one's representative; to empower as an ambassador; to
send with power to transact business; to commission; to depute; to
authorize.
2. To intrust to the care or management of another; to transfer; to
assign; to commit.
The delegated administration of the law. Locke.
Delegated executive power. Bancroft.
The power exercised by the legislature is the people's power,
delegated by the people to the legislative. J. B. Finch.
DELEGATION
Del`e*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. delegatio: cf. F. délégation.]
1. The act of delegating, or investing with authority to act for
another; the appointment of a delegate or delegates.
2. One or more persons appointed or chosen, and commissioned to
represent others, as in a convention, in Congress, etc.; the
collective body of delegates; as, the delegation from Massachusetts;
a deputation.
3. (Rom. Law)
Defn: A kind of novation by which a debtor, to be liberated from his
creditor, gives him a third person, who becomes obliged in his stead
to the creditor, or to the person appointed by him. Pothier.
DELEGATORY
Del"e*ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. delegatorius pert. to an assignment.]
Defn: Holding a delegated position. Nash.
DELENDA
De*len"da, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. delere to destroy.]
Defn: Things to be erased or blotted out.
DELENIFICAL
Del`e*nif"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. delenificus; delenire to soothe +
facere to make. See Lenient.]
Defn: Assuaging pain. [Obs.] Bailey.
DELETE
De*lete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deleting.]
Etym: [L. deletus, p. p. of delere to destroy. Cf. 1st Dele.]
Defn: To blot out; to erase; to expunge; to dele; to omit.
I have, therefore, . . . inserted eleven stanzas which do not appear
in Sir Walter Scott's version, and have deleted eight. Aytoun.
DELETERIOUS
Del`e*te"ri*ous, a. Etym: [LL. deleterius noxious, Gr. delere to
destroy.]
Defn: Hurtful; noxious; destructive; pernicious; as, a deleterious
plant or quality; a deleterious example.
-- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ly, adv.
-- Del`e*te"ri*ous*ness, n.
DELETERY
Del"e*ter*y, a. Etym: [LL. deleterius: cf. F. délétère.]
Defn: Destructive; poisonous. [Obs.] "Deletery medicines." Hudibras.
DELETERY
Del"e*ter*y, n.
Defn: That which destroys. [Obs.]
They [the Scriptures] are the only deletery of heresies. Jer. Taylor.
DELETION
De*le"tion, n. Etym: [L. deletio, fr. delere. See Delete.]
Defn: Act of deleting, blotting out, or erasing; destruction. [Obs.]
Jer. Taylor.
A total deletion of every person of the opposing party. Sir M. Hale.
DELETITIOUS
Del`e*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. deleticius.]
Defn: Of such a nature that anything may be erased from it; -- said
of paper.
DELETIVE
Del"e*tive, a.
Defn: Adapted to destroy or obliterate. [R.] Evelyn.
DELETORY
Del"e*to*ry, n. Etym: [See Delete.]
Defn: That which blots out. [Obs.] "A deletory of sin." Jer. Taylor.
DELF
Delf, n. Etym: [AS. delf a delving, digging. See Delve.]
Defn: A mine; a quarry; a pit dug; a ditch. [Written also delft, and
delve.] [Obs.]
The delfts would be so flown with waters, that no gins or machines
could . . . keep them dry. Ray.
DELF
Delf, n.
Defn: Same as Delftware.
DELFT
Delft, n.
Defn: Same as Delftware.
DELFTWARE
Delft"ware`, n.
(a) Pottery made at the city of Delft in Holland; hence:
(b) Earthenware made in imitation of the above; any glazed
earthenware made for table use, and the like.
DELIBATE
Del"i*bate, v. t. Etym: [L. delibatus, p. p. of delibare to taste;
de- + libare to taste.]
Defn: To taste; to take a sip of; to dabble in. [Obs.]
DELIBATION
Del`i*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. delibatio: cf. F. délibation.]
Defn: Act of tasting; a slight trial. [Obs.] Berkeley.
DELIBER
Del"i*ber, v. t. & i.
Defn: To deliberate. [Obs.]
DELIBERATE
De*lib"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. deliberatus, p. p. of deliberare to
deliberate; de- + librare to weigh. See Librate.]
1. Weighing facts and arguments with a view a choice or decision;
carefully considering the probable consequences of a step;
circumspect; slow in determining; -- applied to persons; as, a
deliberate judge or counselor. "These deliberate fools." Shak.
2. Formed with deliberation; well-advised; carefully considered; not
sudden or rash; as, a deliberate opinion; a deliberate measure or
result.
Settled visage and deliberate word. Shak.
3. Not hasty or sudden; slow. Hooker.
His enunciation was so deliberate. W. Wirt.
DELIBERATE
De*lib"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deliberated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deliberating.]
Defn: To weigh in the mind; to consider the reasons for and against;
to consider maturely; to reflect upon; to ponder; as, to deliberate a
question.
DELIBERATE
De*lib"er*ate, v. i.
Defn: To take counsel with one's self; to weigh the arguments for and
against a proposed course of action; to reflect; to consider; to
hesitate in deciding; -- sometimes with on, upon, concerning.
The woman the deliberation is lost. Addison.
DELIBERATELY
De*lib"er*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: With careful consideration, or deliberation; circumspectly;
warily; not hastily or rashly; slowly; as, a purpose deliberately
formed.
DELIBERATENESS
De*lib"er*ate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deliberate; calm consideration;
circumspection.
DELIBERATION
De*lib`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. deliberatio: cf. F. délibération.]
1. The act of deliberating, or of weighing and examining the reasons
for and against a choice or measure; careful consideration; mature
reflection.
Choosing the fairest way with a calm deliberation. W. Montagu.
2. Careful discussion and examination of the reasons for and against
a measure; as, the deliberations of a legislative body or council.
DELIBERATIVE
De*lib"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. deliberativus: cf. F. délibératif.]
Defn: Pertaining to deliberation; proceeding or acting by
deliberation, or by discussion and examination; deliberating; as, a
deliberative body.
A consummate work of deliberative wisdom. Bancroft.
The court of jurisdiction is to be distinguished from the
deliberative body, the advisers of the crown. Hallam.
DELIBERATIVE
De*lib"er*a*tive, n.
1. A discourse in which a question is discussed, or weighed and
examined. Bacon.
2. A kind of rhetoric employed in proving a thing and convincing
others of its truth, in order to persuade them to adopt it.
DELIBERATIVELY
De*lib"er*a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a deliberative manner; circumspectly; considerately.
DELIBERATOR
De*lib"er*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who deliberates.
DELIBRATE
Del"i*brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delibrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delibrating.] Etym: [L. delibratus, p. p. of delibrare to delibrate;
de from + liber bark.]
Defn: To strip off the bark; to peel. [Obs.] Ash.
DELIBRATION
Del`i*bra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of stripping off the bark. [Obs.] Ash.
DELICACY
Del"i*ca*cy, n.; pl. Delicacies. Etym: [From Delicate, a.]
1. The state or condition of being delicate; agreeableness to the
senses; delightfulness; as, delicacy of flavor, of odor, and the
like.
What choice to choose for delicacy best. Milton.
2. Nicety or fineness of form, texture, or constitution; softness;
elegance; smoothness; tenderness; and hence, frailty or weakness; as,
the delicacy of a fiber or a thread; delicacy of a hand or of the
human form; delicacy of the skin; delicacy of frame.
3. Nice propriety of manners or conduct; susceptibility or tenderness
of feeling; refinement; fastidiousness; and hence, in an exaggerated
sense, effeminacy; as, great delicacy of behavior; delicacy in doing
a kindness; delicacy of character that unfits for earnest action.
You know your mother's delicacy in this point. Cowper.
4. Addiction to pleasure; luxury; daintiness; indulgence; luxurious
or voluptuous treatment.
And to those dainty limbs which Nature lent For gentle usage and soft
delicacy Milton.
5. Nice and refined perception and discrimination; critical niceness;
fastidious accuracy.
That Augustan delicacy of taste which is the boast of the great
public schools of England. Macaulay.
6. The state of being affected by slight causes; sensitiveness; as,
the delicacy of a chemist's balance.
7. That which is alluring, delicate, or refined; a luxury or
pleasure; something pleasant to the senses, especially to the sense
of taste; a dainty; as, delicacies of the table.
The merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of
her delicacies. Rev. xviii. 3.
8. Pleasure; gratification; delight. [Obs.]
He Rome brent for his delicacie. Chaucer.
Syn.
-- See Dainty.
DELICATE
Del"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. delicatus pleasing the senses, voluptuous,
soft and tender; akin to deliciae delight: cf. F. délicat. See
Delight.]
1. Addicted to pleasure; luxurious; voluptuous; alluring. [R.]
Dives, for his delicate life, to the devil went. Piers Plowman.
Haarlem is a very delicate town. Evelyn.
2. Pleasing to the senses; refinedly; hence, adapted to please a nice
or cultivated taste; nice; fine; elegant; as, a delicate dish;
delicate flavor.
3. Slight and shapely; lovely; graceful; as, "a delicate creature."
Shak.
4. Fine or slender; minute; not coarse; -- said of a thread, or the
like; as, delicate cotton.
5. Slight or smooth; light and yielding; -- said of texture; as,
delicate lace or silk.
6. Soft and fair; -- said of the skin or a surface; as, a delicate
cheek; a delicate complexion.
7. Light, or softly tinted; -- said of a color; as; as, a delicate
blue.
8. Refined; gentle; scrupulous not to trespass or offend;
considerate; -- said of manners, conduct, or feelings; as, delicate
behavior; delicate attentions; delicate thoughtfulness.
9. Tender; not able to endure hardship; feeble; frail; effeminate; --
said of constitution, health, etc.; as, a delicate child; delicate
health.
A delicate and tender prince. Shak.
10. Requiring careful handling; not to be rudely or hastily dealt
with; nice; critical; as, a delicate subject or question.
There are some things too delicate and too sacred to be handled
rudely without injury to truth. F. W. Robertson.
11. Of exacting tastes and habits; dainty; fastidious.
12. Nicely discriminating or perceptive; refinedly critical;
sensitive; exquisite; as, a delicate taste; a delicate ear for music.
13. Affected by slight causes; showing slight changes; as, a delicate
thermometer.
DELICATE
Del"i*cate, n.
1. A choice dainty; a delicacy. [R.]
With abstinence all delicates he sees. Dryden.
2. A delicate, luxurious, or effeminate person.
All the vessels, then, which our delicates have, -- those I mean that
would seem to be more fine in their houses than their neighbors, --
are only of the Corinth metal. Holland.
DELICATELY
Del"i*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a delicate manner.
DELICATENESS
Del"i*cate*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being delicate.
DELICATESSEN
Del`i*ca*tes"sen, n. pl. [G., fr. F. délicatesse.]
Defn: Relishes for the table; dainties; delicacies. "A dealer in
delicatessen". G. H. Putnam.
DELICES
Del"i*ces, n. pl. Etym: [F. délices, fr. L. deliciae.]
Defn: Delicacies; delights. [Obs.] "Dainty delices." Spenser.
DELICIATE
De*li"ci*ate, v. t.
Defn: To delight one's self; to indulge in feasting; to revel. [Obs.]
DELICIOUS
De*li"cious, a. Etym: [OF. delicieus, F. délicieux, L. deliciosus,
fr. deliciae delight, fr. delicere to allure. See Delight.]
1. Affording exquisite pleasure; delightful; most sweet or grateful
to the senses, especially to the taste; charming.
Some delicious landscape. Coleridge.
One draught of spring's delicious air. Keble.
Were not his words delicious Tennyson.
2. Addicted to pleasure; seeking enjoyment; luxurious; effeminate.
[Obs.]
Others, lastly, of a more delicious and airy spirit, retire
themselves to the enjoyments of ease and luxury. Milton.
Syn.
-- Delicious, Delightful. Delicious refers to the pleasure derived
from certain of the senses, particularly the taste and smell; as,
delicious food; a delicious fragrance. Delightful may also refer to
most of the senses (as, delightful music; a delightful prospect;
delightful sensations), but has a higher application to matters of
taste, feeling, and sentiment; as, a delightful abode, conversation,
employment; delightful scenes, etc.
Like the rich fruit he sings, delicious in decay. Smith.
No spring, nor summer, on the mountain seen, Smiles with gay fruits
or with delightful green. Addison.
DELICIOUSLY
De*li"cious*ly, adv.
Defn: Delightfully; as, to feed deliciously; to be deliciously
entertained.
DELICIOUSNESS
De*li"cious*ness, n.
1. The quality of being delicious; as, the deliciousness of a repast.
2. Luxury. "To drive away all superfluity and deliciousness." Sir T.
North.
DELICT
De*lict", n. Etym: [L. delictum fault.] (Law)
Defn: An offense or transgression against law; (Scots Law) an offense
of a lesser degree; a misdemeanor.
Every regulation of the civil code necessarily implies a delict in
the event of its violation. Jeffrey.
DELIGATE
Del"i*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. deligatus, p. p. of deligare to bind up;
de- + ligare to bind.] (Surg.)
Defn: To bind up; to bandage.
DELIGATION
Del`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déligation.] (Surg.)
Defn: A binding up; a bandaging. Wiseman.
DELIGHT
De*light", n. Etym: [OE. delit, OF. delit, deleit, fr. delitier, to
delight. See Delight, v. t.]
1. A high degree of gratification of mind; a high-wrought state of
pleasurable feeling; lively pleasure; extreme satisfaction; joy.
Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not. Shak.
A fool hath no delight in understanding. Prov. xviii. 2.
2. That which gives great pleasure or delight.
Heaven's last, best gift, my ever new delight. Milton.
3. Licentious pleasure; lust. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DELIGHT
De*light", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delighted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delighting.] Etym: [OE. deliten, OF. delitier, deleitier, F.
délecter, fr. L. delectare to entice away, to delight (sc. by
attracting or alluring), intens. of delicere to allure, delight; de-
+ lacere to entice, allure; cf. laqueus a snare. Cf. Delectate,
Delicate, Delicious, Dilettante, Elicit, Lace.]
Defn: To give delight to; to affect with great pleasure; to please
highly; as, a beautiful landscape delights the eye; harmony delights
the ear.
Inventions to delight the taste. Shak.
Delight our souls with talk of knightly deeds. Tennyson.
DELIGHT
De*light", v. i.
Defn: To have or take great delight or pleasure; to be greatly
pleased or rejoiced; -- followed by an infinitive, or by in.
Love delights in praises. Shak.
I delight to do thy will, O my God. Ps. xl. 8.
DELIGHTABLE
De*light"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Delectable.]
Defn: Capable of delighting; delightful. [Obs.]
Many a spice delightable. Rom. of R.
DELIGHTED
De*light"ed, a.
Defn: Endowed with delight.
If virtue no delighted beauty lack. Shak.
Syn.
-- Glad; pleased; gratified. See Glad.
DELIGHTEDLY
De*light"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With delight; gladly.
DELIGHTER
De*light"er, n.
Defn: One who gives or takes delight.
DELIGHTFUL
De*light"ful, a.
Defn: Highly pleasing; affording great pleasure and satisfaction.
"Delightful bowers." Spenser. "Delightful fruit." Milton.
Syn.
-- Delicious; charming. See Delicious.
-- De*light"ful*ly, adv.
-- De*light"ful*ness, n.
DELIGHTING
De*light"ing, a.
Defn: Giving delight; gladdening.
-- De*light"ing*ly, adv. Jer. Taylor.
DELIGHTLESS
De*light"less, a.
Defn: Void of delight. Thomson.
DELIGHTOUS
De*light"ous a. Etym: [OF. delitos.]
Defn: Delightful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
DELIGHTSOME
De*light"some, a.
Defn: Very pleasing; delightful. "Delightsome vigor." Grew.
Ye shall be a delightsome land, . . . saith the Lord. Mal. iii. 12.
-- De*light"some*ly, adv.
-- De*light"some*ness, n.
DELIGNATE
De*lig"nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delignated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delignating.] [Pref. de- + L. lignum wood.]
1.
Defn: To clear or strip of wood (by cutting down trees). [R.]
Fuller.
2. To strip or remove the wood from; as, to delignate ramie, in the
preparation of ribbons of the fiber for further working.
DELILAH
De*li"lah, n.
Defn: The mistress of Samson, who betrayed him (Judges xvi.); hence,
a harlot; a temptress.
Other Delilahs on a smaller scale Burns met with during his Dumfries
sojourn. J. C. Shairp.
DELIMIT
De*lim"it, v. t. Etym: [L. delimitare: cf. F. délimitier.]
Defn: To fix the limits of; to demarcate; to bound.
DELIMITATION
De*lim`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. delimitatio: cf. F. délimitation.]
Defn: The act or process of fixing limits or boundaries; limitation.
Gladstone.
DELINE
De*line", v. t.
1. To delineate. [Obs.]
2. To mark out. [Obs.] R. North.
DELINEABLE
De*lin"e*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, delineated. Feltham.
DELINEAMENT
De*lin"e*a*ment, Etym: [See Delineate.]
Defn: Delineation; sketch. Dr. H. More.
DELINEATE
De*lin"e*ate, a. Etym: [L. delineatus, p. p. of delineare to
delineate; de- + lineare to draw, fr. linea line. See Line.]
Defn: Delineated; portrayed. [R.]
DELINEATE
De*lin"e*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delineated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delineating.]
1. To indicate by lines drawn in the form or figure of; to represent
by sketch, design, or diagram; to sketch out; to portray; to picture;
in drawing and engraving, to represent in lines, as with the pen,
pencil, or graver; hence, to represent with accuracy and minuteness.
See Delineation.
Adventurous to delineate nature's form. Akenside.
2. To portray to the mind or understanding by words; to set forth; to
describe.
Customs or habits delineated with great accuracy. Walpole.
DELINEATION
De*lin`e*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. delineatio: cf. F. délinéation.]
1. The act of representing, portraying, or describing, as by lines,
diagrams, sketches, etc.; drawing an outline; as, the delineation of
a scene or face; in drawing and engraving, representation by means of
lines, as distinguished from representation by means of tints shades;
accurate and minute representation, as distinguished from art that is
careless of details, or subordinates them excessively.
2. A delineated picture; representation; sketch; description in
words.
Their softest delineations of female beauty. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- Sketch; portrait; outline. See Sketch.
DELINEATOR
De*lin"e*a`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, delineates; a sketcher.
2. (Surv.)
Defn: A perambulator which records distances and delineates a
profile, as of a road.
DELINEATORY
De*lin"e*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: That delineates; descriptive; drawing the outline; delineating.
DELINEATURE
De*lin"e*a*ture, n.
Defn: Delineation. [Obs.]
DELINITION
Del`i*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. delinere to smear. See Liniment.]
Defn: A smearing. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DELINQUENCY
De*lin"quen*cy, n.; pl. Delinquencies. Etym: [L. delinquentia, fr.
delinquens.]
Defn: Failure or omission of duty; a fault; a misdeed; an offense; a
misdemeanor; a crime.
The delinquencies of the little commonwealth would be represented in
the most glaring colors. Motley.
DELINQUENT
De*lin"quent a. Etym: [L. delinquens, -entis, p. pr. of delinquere to
fail, be wanting in one's duty, do wrong; de- + linquere to leave.
See Loan, n.]
Defn: Failing in duty; offending by neglect of duty.
DELINQUENT
De*lin"quent, n.
Defn: One who fails or neglects to perform his duty; an offender or
transgressor; one who commits a fault or a crime; a culprit.
A delinquent ought to be cited in the place or jurisdiction where the
delinquency was committed. Ayliffe.
DELINQUENTLY
De*lin"quent*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to fail in duty.
DELIQUATE
Del"i*quate, v. i. Etym: [L. deliquatus, p. p. of deliquare to clear
off, de- + liquare to make liquid, melt, dissolve.]
Defn: To melt or be dissolved; to deliquesce. [Obs.] Boyle.
DELIQUATE
Del"i*quate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to melt away; to dissolve; to consume; to waste.
[Obs.]
Dilapidating, or rather deliquating, his bishopric. Fuller.
DELIQUATION
Del`i*qua"tion, n.
Defn: A melting. [Obs.]
DELIQUESCE
Del`i*quesce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deliquesced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deliquescing.] Etym: [L. deliquescere to melt, dissolve; de- +
liquescere to become fluid, melt, fr. liquere to be fluid. See
Liquid.] (Chem.)
Defn: To dissolve gradually and become liquid by attracting and
absorbing moisture from the air, as certain salts, acids, and
alkalies.
In very moist air crystals of strontites deliquesce. Black.
DELIQUESCENCE
Del`i*ques"cence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déliquescence.]
Defn: The act of deliquescing or liquefying; process by which
anything deliquesces; tendency to melt.
DELIQUESCENT
Del`i*ques"cent, a. Etym: [L. deliquescens, -entis, p. pr. of
deliquescere: cf. F. déliquescent.]
1. Dissolving; liquefying by contact with the air; capable of
attracting moisture from the atmosphere and becoming liquid; as,
deliquescent salts.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Branching so that the stem is lost in branches, as in most
deciduous trees. Gray.
DELIQUIATE
De*liq"ui*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. deliquia a flowing off, a gutter,
deliquium a flowing down, fr. deliquare. See Deliquate.]
Defn: To melt and become liquid by absorbing water from the air; to
deliquesce. Fourcroy.
DELIQUIATION
De*liq`ui*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of deliquating.
DELIQUIUM
De*liq"ui*um, n. Etym: [L. See Deliquiate.]
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A melting or dissolution in the air, or in a moist place; a
liquid condition; as, a salt falls into a deliquium. [R.]
2. A sinking away; a swooning. [Obs.] Bacon.
3. A melting or maudlin mood. Carlyle.
DELIRACY
De*lir"a*cy, n. Etym: [See Delirate.]
Defn: Delirium. [Obs.]
DELIRAMENT
De*lir"a*ment, n. Etym: [L. deliramentum, fr. delirare. See
Delirium.]
Defn: A wandering of the mind; a crazy fancy. [Obs.] Heywood.
DELIRANCY
De*lir"an*cy, n.
Defn: Delirium. [Obs.] Gauden.
DELIRANT
De*lir"ant, a. Etym: [L. delirans, -antis, p. pr. of delirare. See
Delirium.]
Defn: Delirious. [Obs.] Owen.
DELIRATE
De*lir"ate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. deliratus, p. p. of delirare. See
Delirium.]
Defn: To madden; to rave. [Obs.]
An infatuating and delirating spirit in it. Holland.
DELIRATION
Del`i*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. deliratio.]
Defn: Aberration of mind; delirium. J. Motley.
Deliration or alienation of the understanding. Mede.
DELIRIANT
De*lir"i*ant, n. Etym: [See Delirium.] (Med.)
Defn: A poison which occasions a persistent delirium, or mental
aberration (as belladonna).
DELIRIFACIENT
De*lir`i*fa"cient, a. Etym: [Delirium + L. faciens, -entis, p. pr. of
facere to make.] (Med.)
Defn: Producing, or tending to produce, delirium.
-- n.
Defn: Any substance which tends to cause delirium.
DELIRIOUS
De*lir"i*ous, a. Etym: [From Delirium.]
Defn: Having a delirium; wandering in mind; light-headed; insane;
raving; wild; as, a delirious patient; delirious fancies.
-- De*lir"i*ous*ly, adv.
-- De*lir"i*ous*ness, n.
DELIRIUM
De*lir"i*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. delirare to rave, to wander in mind,
prop., to go out of the furrow in plowing; de- + lira furrow, track;
perh. akin to G. geleise track, rut, and E. last to endure.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A state in which the thoughts, expressions, and actions are
wild, irregular, and incoherent; mental aberration; a roving or
wandering of the mind, -- usually dependent on a fever or some other
disease, and so distinguished from mania, or madness.
2. Strong excitement; wild enthusiasm; madness.
The popular delirium [of the French Revolution] at first caught his
enthusiastic mind. W. Irving.
The delirium of the preceding session (of Parliament). Motley.
Delirium tremens (. Etym: [L., trembling delirium] (Med.), a violent
delirium induced by the excessive and prolonged use of intoxicating
liquors.
-- Traumatic delirium (Med.), a variety of delirium following
injury.
Syn.
-- Insanity; frenzy; madness; derangement; aberration; mania;
lunacy; fury. See Insanity.
DELIT
De*lit", n.
Defn: Delight. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DELITABLE
De*lit"a*ble, a.
Defn: Delightful; delectable. [Obs.]
DELITESCENCE
Del`i*tes"cence, n. Etym: [See Delitescent.]
1. Concealment; seclusion; retirement.
The delitescence of mental activities. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The sudden disappearance of inflammation.
DELITESCENCY
Del`i*tes"cen*cy, n.
Defn: Concealment; seclusion.
The mental organization of the novelist must be characterized, to
speak craniologically, by an extraordinary development of the passion
for delitescency. Sir W. Scott.
DELITESCENT
Del`i*tes"cent, a. Etym: [L. delitescens, -entis, p. pr. of
delitescere to lie hid.]
Defn: Lying hid; concealed.
DELITIGATE
De*lit"i*gate, v. i. Etym: [L. delitigare to rail. See Litigate.]
Defn: To chide; to rail heartily. [Obs.]
DELITIGATION
De*lit`i*ga"tion, n.
Defn: Chiding; brawl. [Obs.]
DELIVER
De*liv"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delivered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Delivering.] Etym: [F. délivrer, LL. deliberare to liberate, give
over, fr. L. de + liberare to set free. See Liberate.]
1. To set free from restraint; to set at liberty; to release; to
liberate, as from control; to give up; to free; to save; to rescue
from evil actual or feared; -- often with from or out of; as, to
deliver one from captivity, or from fear of death.
He that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. Ezek. xxxiii. 5.
Promise was that I Should Israel from Philistian yoke deliver.
Milton.
2. To give or transfer; to yield possession or control of; to part
with (to); to make over; to commit; to surrender; to resign; -- often
with up or over, to or into.
Thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand. Gen. xl. 13.
The constables have delivered her over. Shak.
The exalted mind All sense of woe delivers to the wind. Pope.
3. To make over to the knowledge of another; to communicate; to
utter; to speak; to impart.
Till he these words to him deliver might. Spenser.
Whereof the former delivers the precepts of the art, and the latter
the perfection. Bacon.
4. To give forth in action or exercise; to discharge; as, to deliver
a blow; to deliver a broadside, or a ball.
Shaking his head and delivering some show of tears. Sidney.
An uninstructed bowler . . . thinks to attain the jack by delivering
his bowl straightforward. Sir W. Scott.
5. To free from, or disburden of, young; to relieve of a child in
childbirth; to bring forth; -- often with of.
She was delivered safe and soon. Gower.
Tully was long ere he could be delivered of a few verses, and those
poor ones. Peacham.
6. To discover; to show. [Poetic]
I 'll deliver Myself your loyal servant. Shak.
7. To deliberate. [Obs.] Chaucer.
8. To admit; to allow to pass. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn.
-- To Deliver, Give Forth, Discharge, Liberate, Pronounce, Utter.
Deliver denotes, literally, to set free. Hence the term is
extensively applied to cases where a thing is made to pass from a
confined state to one of greater freedom or openness. Hence it may,
in certain connections, be used as synonymous with any or all of the
above-mentioned words, as will be seen from the following examples:
One who delivers a package gives it forth; one who delivers a cargo
discharges it; one who delivers a captive liberates him; one who
delivers a message or a discourse utters or pronounces it; when
soldiers deliver their fire, they set it free or give it forth.
DELIVER
De*liv"er, a. Etym: [OF. delivre free, unfettered. See Deliver, v.
t.]
Defn: Free; nimble; sprightly; active. [Obs.]
Wonderly deliver and great of strength. Chaucer.
DELIVERABLE
De*liv"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or about to be, delivered; necessary to be
delivered. Hale.
DELIVERANCE
De*liv"er*ance, n. Etym: [F. délivrance, fr. délivrer.]
1. The act of delivering or freeing from restraint, captivity, peril,
and the like; rescue; as, the deliverance of a captive.
He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to
the captives. Luke iv. 18.
One death or one deliverance we will share. Dryden.
2. Act of bringing forth children. [Archaic] Shak.
3. Act of speaking; utterance. [Archaic] Shak.
Note: In this and in the preceding sense delivery is the word more
commonly used.
4. The state of being delivered, or freed from restraint.
I do desire deliverance from these officers. Shak.
5. Anything delivered or communicated; esp., an opinion or decision
expressed publicly. [Scot.]
6. (Metaph.)
Defn: Any fact or truth which is decisively attested or intuitively
known as a psychological or philosophical datum; as, the deliverance
of consciousness.
DELIVERER
De*liv"er*er, n.
1. One who delivers or rescues; a preserver.
2. One who relates or communicates.
DELIVERESS
De*liv"er*ess, n.
Defn: A female de [R.] Evelyn.
DELIVERLY
De*liv"er*ly, adv.
Defn: Actively; quickly; nimbly. [Obs.]
Swim with your bodies, And carry it sweetly and deliverly. Beau. &
Fl.
DELIVERNESS
De*liv"er*ness, n.
Defn: Nimbleness; agility. [Obs.]
DELIVERY
De*liv"er*y, n.; pl. Deliveries (.
1. The act of delivering from restraint; rescue; release; liberation;
as, the delivery of a captive from his dungeon.
2. The act of delivering up or over; surrender; transfer of the body
or substance of a thing; distribution; as, the delivery of a fort, of
hostages, of a criminal, of goods, of letters.
3. The act or style of utterance; manner of speaking; as, a good
delivery; a clear delivery.
4. The act of giving birth; parturition; the expulsion or extraction
of a fetus and its membranes.
5. The act of exerting one's strength or limbs.
Neater limbs and freer delivery. Sir H. Wotton.
6. The act or manner of delivering a ball; as, the pitcher has a
swift delivery.
DELL
Dell, n. Etym: [AS. del, akin to E. dale; cf. D. delle, del, low
ground. See Dale.]
1. A small, retired valley; a ravine.
In dells and dales, concealed from human sight. Tickell.
2. A young woman; a wench. [Obs.]
Sweet doxies and dells. B. Jonson.
DELLA CRUSCA
Del"la Crus"ca.
Defn: A shortened form of Academia della Crusca, an academy in
Florescence, Italy, founded in the 16th century, especially for
conversing the purity of the Italian language.
Note: The Accademia della Crusca (literally, academy of the bran or
chaff) was so called in allusion to its chief object of bolting or
purifying the national language.
DELLACRUSCAN
Del`la*crus"can, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Accademia della Crusca in Florence. The
Dellacruscan School, a name given in satire to a class of affected
English writers, most of whom lived in Florence, about a. d. 1785.
DELOO
De"loo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The duykerbok.
DELOUL
De*loul", n. Etym: [Prob. of Arabic or Bedouin origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A special breed of the dromedary used for rapid traveling; the
swift camel; -- called also herire, and maharik.
DELPH
Delph, n.
Defn: Delftware.
Five nothings in five plates of delph. Swift.
DELPH
Delph, n. (Hydraul. Engin.)
Defn: The drain on the land side of a sea embankment. Knight.
DELPHIAN
Del"phi*an, a.
Defn: Delphic.
DELPHIC
Del"phic, a. Etym: [L. Delphicus, fr. Gr. Delphi, a town of Phocis,
in Greece, now Kastri.] (Gr. Antiq.)
1. Of or relating to Delphi, or to the famous oracle of that place.
2. Ambiguous; mysterious. "If he is silent or delphic." New York
Times.
DELPHIN; DELPHINE
Del"phin, Del"phine, a. Etym: [See Dauphin.]
Defn: Pertaining to the dauphin of France; as, the Delphin classics,
an edition of the Latin classics, prepared in the reign of Louis
XIV., for the use of the dauphin (in usum Delphini).
DELPHIN
Del"phin, n. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin.] (Chem.)
Defn: A fatty substance contained in the oil of the dolphin and the
porpoise; -- called also phocenin.
DELPHINE
Del"phine, a. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the dolphin, a genus of fishes.
DELPHINIC
Del*phin"ic, a. Etym: [See Delphin, n.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the dolphin; phocenic.
Delphinic acid. (Chem.) See Valeric acid, under Valeric. [Obs.]
DELPHINIC
Del*phin"ic, a. Etym: [From NL. Delphinium, the name of the genus.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, the larkspur; specifically,
relating to the stavesacre (Delphinium staphisagria).
DELPHININE
Del"phi*nine (; 104), n. Etym: [Cf. F. delphinine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A poisonous alkaloid extracted from the stavesacre (Delphinium
staphisagria), as a colorless amorphous powder.
DELPHINOID
Del"phi*noid, a. Etym: [L. delphinus a dolphin + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the dolphin.
DELPHINOIDEA
Del`phi*noi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Cetacea which comprises the dolphins,
porpoises, and related forms.
DELPHINUS
Del*phi"nus, n. Etym: [L., a dolphin, fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Cetacea, including the dolphin. See Dolphin,
1.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The Dolphin, a constellation near the equator and east of
Aquila.
DELSARTE; DELSARTE SYSTEM
Del*sarte", n., or Delsarte system.
Defn: A system of calisthenics patterned on the theories of François
Delsarte (1811 -- 71), a French teacher of dramatic and musical
expression.
DELTA
Del"ta, n.; pl. Deltas. Etym: [Gr. Delta of the Nile.]
Defn: A tract of land shaped like the letter delta (as, the delta of
the Ganges, of the Nile, or of the Mississippi.
DELTA CONNECTION
Delta connection. (Elec.)
Defn: One of the usual forms or methods for connecting apparatus to a
three-phase circuit, the three corners of the delta or triangle, as
diagrammatically represented, being connected to the three wires of
the supply circuit.
DELTA CURRENT
Delta current. (Elec.)
Defn: The current flowing through a delta connection.
DELTAFICATION
Del`ta*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Delta + L. facere to make.]
Defn: The formation of a delta or of deltas. [R.]
DELTAIC
Del*ta"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, or like, a delta.
DELTHYRIS
Del*thy"ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta the name of the letter
thy`ra door.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A name formerly given to certain Silurian brachiopod shells of
the genus Spirifer. Delthyris limestone (Geol.), one of the divisions
of the Upper Silurian rocks in New York.
DELTIC
Del"tic, a.
Defn: Deltaic.
DELTIDIUM
Del*tid"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`lta, the letter (Zoöl.)
Defn: The triangular space under the beak of many brachiopod shells.
DELTOHEDRON
Del`to*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. de`lta, the letter 'e`dra seat, base.]
(Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twelve quadrilateral faces. It is a
hemihedral form of the isometric system, allied to the tetrahedron.
DELTOID
Del"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. deltoeidh`s delta-shaped; de`lta the name of
the letter ei^dos form: cf. F. deltoïde. See Delta.]
Defn: Shaped like the Greek Deltoid leaf (Bot.), a leaf in the form
of a triangle with the stem inserted at the middle of the base.
-- Deltoid muscle (Anat.), a triangular muscle in the shoulder which
serves to move the arm directly upward.
DELUDABLE
De*lud"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deluded; liable to be imposed on gullible. Sir
T. Browne.
DELUDE
De*lude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluding.]
Etym: [L. deludere, delusum; de- + ludere to play, make sport of,
mock. See Ludicrous.]
1. To lead from truth or into error; to mislead the mind or judgment
of to beguile; to impose on; to dupe; to make a fool of.
To delude the nation by an airy phantom. Burke.
2. To frustrate or disappoint.
It deludes thy search. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To mislead; deceive; beguile; cajole; cheat; dupe. See Deceive.
DELUDER
De*lud"er, n.
Defn: One who deludes; a deceiver; an impostor.
DELUGE
Del"uge, n. Etym: [F. déluge, L. diluvium, fr. diluere wash away; di-
= dis- + luere, equiv. to lavare to wash. See Lave, and cf.
Diluvium.]
1. A washing away; an overflowing of the land by water; an
inundation; a flood; specifically, The Deluge, the great flood in the
days of Noah (Gen. vii.).
2. Fig.: Anything which overwhelms, or causes great destruction. "The
deluge of summer." Lowell.
A fiery deluge fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. Milton.
As I grub up some quaint old fragment of a [London] street, or a
house, or a shop, or tomb or burial ground, which has still survived
in the deluge. F. Harrison.
After me the deluge. (Aprés moi le déluge.) Madame de Pompadour.
DELUGE
Del"uge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deluged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deluging.]
1. To overflow with water; to inundate; to overwhelm.
The deluged earth would useless grow. Blackmore.
2. To overwhelm, as with a deluge; to cover; to overspread; to
overpower; to submerge; to destroy; as, the northern nations deluged
the Roman empire with their armies; the land is deluged with woe.
At length corruption, like a general fldeluge all. Pope.
DELUNDUNG
De*lun"dung, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian carnivorous mammal (Prionodon gracilis),
resembling the civets, but without scent pouches. It is handsomely
spotted.
DELUSION
De*lu"sion n. Etym: [L. delusio, fr. deludere. See Delude.]
1. The act of deluding; deception; a misleading of the mind. Pope.
2. The state of being deluded or misled.
3. That which is falsely or delusively believed or propagated; false
belief; error in belief.
And fondly mourned the dear delusion gone. Prior.
Syn.
-- Delusion, Illusion. These words both imply some deception
practiced upon the mind. Delusion is deception from want of
knowledge; illusion is deception from morbid imagination. An illusion
is a false show, a mere cheat on the fancy or senses. It is, in other
words, some idea or image presented to the bodily or mental vision
which does not exist in reality. A delusion is a false judgment,
usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it
is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no
means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it. Thus we speak of
the illusions of fancy, the illusions of hope, illusive prospects,
illusive appearances, etc. In like manner, we speak of the delusions
of stockjobbing, the delusions of honorable men, delusive appearances
in trade, of being deluded by a seeming excellence. "A fanatic,
either religious or political, is the subject of strong delusions;
while the term illusion is applied solely to the visions of an
uncontrolled imagination, the chimerical ideas of one blinded by
hope, passion, or credulity, or lastly, to spectral and other ocular
deceptions, to which the word delusion is never applied." Whately.
DELUSIONAL
De*lu"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to delusions; as, delusional monomania.
DELUSIVE
De*lu"sive, a. Etym: [See Delude.]
Defn: Apt or fitted to delude; tending to mislead the mind;
deceptive; beguiling; delusory; as, delusive arts; a delusive dream.
Delusive and unsubstantial ideas. Whewell.
-- De*lu"sive*ly, adv.
-- De*lu"sive*ness, n.
DELUSORY
De*lu"so*ry a.
Defn: Delusive; fallacious. Glanvill.
DELVE
Delve v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delved; p. pr. & vb. n. Delving.] Etym:
[AS. delfan to dig; akin to OS. bidelban to bury, D. delven to dig,
MHG. telben, and possibly to E. dale. Cf. Delf a mine.]
1. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade.
Delve of convenient depth your thrashing flooDryden.
2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.
I can not delve him to the root. Shak.
DELVE
Delve, v. i.
Defn: To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a
drudge.
Delve may I not: I shame to beg. Wyclif (Luke xvi. 3).
DELVE
Delve, n. Etym: [See Delve, v. t., and cf. Delf a mine.]
Defn: A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.
Which to that shady delve him brought at last
The very tigers from their delves Look out. Moore.
DELVER
Delv"er, n.
Defn: One who digs, as with a spade.
DEMAGNETIZE
De*mag"net*ize, v. t.
1. To deprive of magnetic properties. See Magnetize.
If the bar be rapidly magnetized and demagnetized. A. Cyc.
2. To free from mesmeric influence; to demesmerize.
-- De*mag`net*i*za"tion, n.
-- De*mag"net*i`zer, n.
DEMAGOG
Dem"a*gog, n.
Defn: Demagogue.
DEMAGOGIC; DEMAGOGICAL
Dem`a*gog"ic, Dem`a*gog"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. démagogique.]
Defn: Relating to, or like, a demagogue; factious.
DEMAGOGISM
Dem"a*gog*ism, n.
Defn: The practices of a demagogue.
DEMAGOGUE
Dem"a*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. act: cf. F. démagogue.]
Defn: A leader of the rabble; one who attempts to control the
multitude by specious or deceitful arts; an unprincipled and factious
mob orator or political leader.
DEMAGOGY
Dem"a*gog`y, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démagogie, Gr.
Defn: Demagogism.
DEMAIN
De*main", n. Etym: [See Demesne.]
1. Rule; management. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Law)
Defn: See Demesne.
DEMAND
De*mand", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Demanding.]
Etym: [F. demander, LL. demandare to demand, summon, send word, fr.
L. demandare to give in charge, intrust; de- + mandare to commit to
one's charge, commission, order, command. Cf. Mandate, Commend.]
1. To ask or call for with authority; to claim or seek from, as by
authority or right; to claim, as something due; to call for urgently
or peremptorily; as, to demand a debt; to demand obedience.
This, in our foresaid holy father's name, Pope Innocent, I do demand
of thee. Shak.
2. To inquire authoritatively or earnestly; to ask, esp. in a
peremptory manner; to question.
I did demand what news from Shrewsbury. Shak.
3. To require as necessary or useful; to be in urgent need of; hence,
to call for; as, the case demands care.
4. (Law)
Defn: To call into court; to summon. Burrill.
DEMAND
De*mand", v. i.
Defn: To make a demand; to inquire.
The soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do
Luke iii. 14.
DEMAND
De*mand", n. Etym: [F. demande, fr. demander. See Demand, v. t.]
1. The act of demanding; an asking with authority; a peremptory
urging of a claim; a claiming or challenging as due; requisition; as,
the demand of a creditor; a note payable on demand.
The demand [is] by the word of the holy ones. Dan. iv. 17.
He that has confidence to turn his wishes into demands will be but a
little way from thinking he ought to obtain them. Locke.
2. Earnest inquiry; question; query. Shak.
3. A diligent seeking or search; manifested want; desire to posses;
request; as, a demand for certain goods; a person's company is in
great demand.
In 1678 came forth a second edition [Pilgrim's Progress] with
additions; and the demand became immense. Macaulay.
4. That which one demands or has a right to demand; thing claimed as
due; claim; as, demands on an estate.
5. (Law)
(a) The asking or seeking for what is due or claimed as due.
(b) The right or title in virtue of which anything may be claimed;
as, to hold a demand against a person.
(c) A thing or amount claimed to be due.
DEMANDABLE
De*mand"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be demanded or claimed. "All sums demandable." Bacon.
DEMANDANT
De*mand"ant n. Etym: [F. demandant, p. pr. of demander.]
Defn: One who demands; the plaintiff in a real action; any plaintiff.
DEMANDER
De*mand"er, n.
Defn: One who demands.
DEMANDRESS
De*mand"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who demands.
DEMANTOID
De*man"toid, n. Etym: [G. demant diamond + -oid.] (Min.)
Defn: A yellow-green, transparent variety of garnet found in the
Urals. It is valued as a gem because of its brilliancy of luster,
whence the name.
DEMARCATE
De*mar"cate, v. t. Etym: [See Demarcation.]
Defn: To mark by bounds; to set the limits of; to separate; to
discriminate. Wilkinson.
DEMARCATION
De`mar*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. démarcation; pref. dé- (L. de) + marquer
to mark, of German origin. See Mark.]
Defn: The act of marking, or of ascertaining and setting a limit;
separation; distinction.
The speculative line of demarcation, where obedience ought to end and
resistance must begin, is faint, obscure, and not easily definable.
Burke.
DEMARCH
De*march", n. Etym: [F. démarche. See March, n.]
Defn: March; walk; gait. [Obs.]
DEMARCH
De*march, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A chief or ruler of a deme or district in Greece.
DEMARKATION
De`mar*ka"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Demarcation.
DEMATERIALIZE
De`ma*te"ri*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of material or physical qualities or
characteristics.
Dematerializing matter by stripping if of everything which . . . has
distinguished matter. Milman.
DEME
Deme, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A territorial subdivision of Attica (also of modern Greece),
corresponding to a township. Jowett (Thucyd).
2. (Biol.)
Defn: An undifferentiated aggregate of cells or plastids.
DEMEAN
De*mean", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demeaned; p. pr. & vb. n. Demeaning.]
Etym: [OF. demener to conduct, guide, manage, F. se démener to
struggledé- (L. de) + mener to lead, drive, carry on, conduct, fr. L.
minare to drive animals by threatening cries, fr. minari to threaten.
See Menace.]
1. To manage; to conduct; to treat.
[Our] clergy have with violence demeaned the matter. Milton.
2. To conduct; to behave; to comport; -- followed by the reflexive
pronoun.
They have demeaned themselves Like men born to renown by life or
death. Shak.
They answered . . . that they should demean themselves according to
their instructions. Clarendon.
3. To debase; to lower; to degrade; -- followed by the reflexive
pronoun.
Her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
Thackeray.
Note: This sense is probably due to a false etymology which regarded
the word as connected with the adjective mean.
DEMEAN
De*mean", n. Etym: [OF. demene. See Demean, v. t.]
1. Management; treatment. [Obs.]
Vile demean and usage bad. Spenser.
2. Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor. [Obs.]
With grave demean and solemn vanity. West.
DEMEAN
De*mean", n. Etym: [See Demesne.]
1. Demesne. [Obs.]
2. pl.
Defn: Resources; means. [Obs.]
You know How narrow our demeans are. Massinger.
DEMEANANCE
De*mean"ance, n.
Defn: Demeanor. [Obs.] Skelton.
DEMEANOR
De*mean"or, n. [Written also demeanour.] Etym: [For demeanure, fr.
demean. See Demean, v. t.]
1. Management; treatment; conduct. [Obs.]
God commits the managing so great a trust . . . wholly to the
demeanor of every grown man. Milton.
2. Behavior; deportment; carriage; bearing; mien.
His demeanor was singularly pleasing. Macaulay.
The men, as usual, liked her artless kindness and simple refined
demeanor. Thackeray.
DEMEANURE
De*mean"ure, n.
Defn: Behavior. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEMENCY
De"men*cy, n. Etym: [L. dementia, fr. demens mad. See Dement.]
Defn: Dementia; loss of mental powers. See Insanity.
DEMENT
De*ment", v. t. Etym: [L. dementare, fr. demens, -mentis, out of
one's mind, mad; de + mens mind. See Mental, and cf. Dementate.]
Defn: To deprive of reason; to make mad. [R.] Bale.
DEMENT
De*ment", a. Etym: [L. demens, -mentis.]
Defn: Demented; dementate. [R.] J. H. Newman.
DEMENTATE
De*men"tate, a. Etym: [L. dementatus, p. p. See Dement, v. t.]
Defn: Deprived of reason.
Arise, thou dementate sinner! Hammond.
DEMENTATE
De*men"tate v. t.
Defn: To deprive of reason; to dement. [R.] Burton.
DEMENTATION
De`men*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of reason; madness. Whitlock.
DEMENTED
De*ment"ed, a. Etym: [From Dement.]
Defn: Insane; mad; of unsound mind.
-- De*ment"ed*ness, n.
DEMENTIA
De*men"ti*a, n. Etym: [L., fr. demens. See Dement.]
Defn: Insanity; madness; esp. that form which consists in weakness or
total loss of thought and reason; mental imbecility; idiocy.
DEMEPHITIZE
De*meph"i*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demephitized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Demephitizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. méphitiser to infect with mephitis.]
Defn: To purify from mephitic.
-- De*meph`i*ti*za"tion, n.
DEMERGE
De*merge", v. t. Etym: [L. demergere.]
Defn: To plunge down into; to sink; to immerse. [Obs.]
The water in which it was demerged. Boyle.
DEMERIT
De*mer"it, n. Etym: [F. démérite demerit (in sense 2), OF. demerite
demerit (in sense 1), fr. L. demerere to deserve well, LL., to
deserve well or ill; de- + merere to deserve. See De-, and Merit.]
1. That which one merits or deserves, either of good or ill; desert.
[Obs.]
By many benefits and demerits whereby they obliged their adherents,
[they] acquired this reputation. Holland.
2. That which deserves blame; ill desert; a fault; a vice;
misconduct; -- the opposite of Ant: merit.
They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action. Burke.
Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense. Sir W. Temple.
3. The state of one who deserves ill.
DEMERIT
De*mer"it, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit,
n.]
1. To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obs.]
If I have demerited any love or thanks. Udall.
Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited. State Trials
(1645).
2. To depreciate or cry down. [R.] Bp. Woolton.
DEMERIT
De*mer"it, v. i.
Defn: To deserve praise or blame.
DEMERSE
De*merse", v. t. Etym: [L. demersus, p. p. of demergere. See Merge.]
Defn: To immerse. [Obs.] Boyle.
DEMERSED
De*mersed", a. (Bot.)
Defn: Situated or growing under water, as leaves; submersed.
DEMERSION
De*mer"sion n. Etym: [L. demersio.]
1. The act of plunging into a fluid; a drowning.
2. The state of being overwhelmed in water, or as if in water. Ray.
DEMESMERIZE
De*mes"mer*ize, v. t.
Defn: To relieve from mesmeric influence. See Mesmerize.
DEMESNE
De*mesne", n. Etym: [OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine,
demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium
property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner.
See Dame, and cf. DEmain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.] (Law)
Defn: A lord's chief manor place, with that part of the lands
belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy; a house,
and the land adjoining, kept for the proprietor's own use. [Written
also demain.] Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill. Ancient demesne. (Eng.
Law) See under Ancient.
DEMESNIAL
De*mesn"i*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demesne; of the nature of a demesne.
DEMI-
Dem"i-. Etym: [F. demi-, fr. L. dimidius half; di- = dis- + medius
middle. See Medium, and cf. Demy, Dimidiate.]
Defn: A prefix, signifying half.
DEMI
De*mi", n.
Defn: See Demy, n.
DEMIBASTION
Dem"i*bas"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-bastion.] (Fort.)
Defn: A half bastion, or that part of a bastion consisting of one
face and one flank.
DEMIBRIGADE
Dem"i*bri*gade", n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-brigade.]
Defn: A half brigade.
DEMICADENCE
Dem"i*ca`dence n. (Mus.)
Defn: An imperfect or half cadence, falling on the dominant instead
of on the key note.
DEMICANNON
Dem"i*can"non, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from thirty to
thirty-six pounds. Shak.
DEMICIRCLE
Dem"i*cir`cle, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-cercle.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring angles, in surveying, etc. It
resembles
DEMICULVERIN
Dem"i*cul"ver*in, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from nine to
thirteen pounds.
DEMIDEIFY
Dem"i*de"i*fy v. t.
Defn: To deify in part. Cowper.
DEMIDEVIL
Dem"i*dev`il, n.
Defn: A half devil. Shak.
DEMIGOD
Dem"i*god, n.
Defn: A half god, or an inferior deity; a fabulous hero, the
offspring of a deity and a mortal.
DEMIGODDESS
Dem"i*god`dess, n.
Defn: A female demigod.
DEMIGORGE
Dem"i*gorge`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-gorge.] (Fort.)
Defn: Half the gorge, or entrance into a bastion, taken from the
angle of the flank to the center of the bastion.
DEMIGRATE
Dem"i*grate, v. i. Etym: [L. demigrare, demigratum, to emigrate. See
De-, and Migrate.]
Defn: To emigrate. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEMIGRATION
Dem`i*gra"tion n. Etym: [L. demigratio.]
Defn: Emigration. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEMIGROAT
Dem"i*groat`, n.
Defn: A half groat.
DEMI-ISLAND
Dem"i-is`land, n.
Defn: Peninsula. [Obs.] Knolles.
DEMIJOHN
Dem"i*john, n. Etym: [F. dame-jeanne, i. e., Lady Jane, a corruption
of Ar. damajana, damjana, prob. fr. Damaghan a town in the Persian
province of Khorassan, one famous for its glass works.]
Defn: A glass vessel or bottle with a large body and small neck,
inclosed in wickerwork.
DEMILANCE
Dem"i*lance`, n.
Defn: A light lance; a short spear; a half pike; also, a demilancer.
DEMILANCER
Dem"i*lan`cer, n.
Defn: A soldier of light cavalry of the 16th century, who carried a
demilance.
DEMILUNE
Dem"i*lune`, n. Etym: [F. demi-lune.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: A work constructed beyond the main ditch of a fortress, and in
front of the curtain between two bastions, intended to defend the
curtain; a ravelin. See Ravelin.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: A crescentic mass of granular protoplasm present in the
salivary glands.
Note: Each crescent is made of polyhedral cells which under some
circumstances are supposed to give rise to new salivary cells.
DEMIMAN
Dem"i*man`, n.
Defn: A half man. [R.] Knolles.
DEMIMONDE
Dem`i*monde", n. Etym: [F.; demi + monde world, L. mundus.]
Defn: Persons of doubtful reputation; esp., women who are kept as
mistresses, though not public prostitutes; demireps. Literary
demimonde, writers of the lowest kind.
DEMINATURED
Dem"i*na"tured, a.
Defn: Having half the nature of another. [R.] Shak.
DEMIQUAVER
Dem"i*qua`ver, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A note of half the length of the quaver; a semiquaver. [R.]
DEMIRELIEF; DEMIRELIEVO
Dem`i*re*lief", Dem`i*re*lie"vo, n.
Defn: Half relief. See Demi-rilievo.
DEMIREP
Dem"i*rep`, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. demi-reputation.]
Defn: A woman of doubtful reputation or suspected character; an
adventuress. [Colloq.] De Quincey.
DEMI-RILIEVO
Dem"i-ri*lie"vo, n. Etym: [Pref. demi- + It. rilievo.] (Fine Arts)
(a) Half relief; sculpture in relief of which the figures project
from the background by one half their full roundness.
(b) A work of sculpture of the above character. See Alto-rilievo.
DEMISABILITY
De*mis`a*bil"i*ty, n. (Law)
Defn: The state of being demisable.
DEMISABLE
De*mis"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Demise.] (Law)
Defn: Capable of being leased; as, a demisable estate.
DEMISE
De*mise", n. Etym: [F. démettre, p. p. démis, démise, to put away,
lay down; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + mettre to put, place, lay, fr.
L. mittere to send. See Mission, and cf. Dismiss, Demit.]
1. Transmission by formal act or conveyance to an heir or successor;
transference; especially, the transfer or transmission of the crown
or royal authority to a successor.
2. The decease of a royal or princely person; hence, also, the death
of any illustrious person.
After the demise of the Queen [of George II.], in 1737, they
[drawing-rooms] were held but twice a week. P. Cunningham.
3. (Law)
Defn: The conveyance or transfer of an estate, either in fee for life
or for years, most commonly the latter. Bouvier.
Note: The demise of the crown is a transfer of the crown, royal
authority, or kingdom, to a successor. Thus, when Edward IV. was
driven from his throne for a few months by the house of Lancaster,
this temporary transfer of his dignity was called a demise. Thus the
natural death of a king or queen came to be denominated a demise, as
by that event the crown is transferred to a successor. Blackstone.
Demise and redemise, a conveyance where there are mutual leases made
from one to another of the same land, or something out of it.
Syn.
-- Death; decease; departure. See Death.
DEMISE
De*mise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demised; p. pr. & vb. n. Demising.]
1. To transfer or transmit by succession or inheritance; to grant or
bestow by will; to bequeath. "Power to demise my lands." Swift.
What honor Canst thou demise to any child of mine Shak.
2. To convey; to give. [R.]
His soul is at his conception demised to him. Hammond.
3. (Law)
Defn: To convey, as an estate, be lease; to lease.
DEMISEMIQUAVER
Dem`i*sem"i*qua`ver, (Mus.)
Defn: A short note, equal in time to the half of a semiquaver, or the
thirty-second part of a whole note.
DEMISS
De*miss", a. Etym: [L. demissus, p. p. of demittere.]
Defn: Cast down; humble; submissive. [Obs.]
He down descended like a most demiss And abject thrall. Spenser.
DEMISSION
De*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. demissio, fr. demittere. See Demit.]
1. The act of demitting, or the state of being demitted; a letting
down; a lowering; dejection. "Demission of mind." Hammond.
Demission of sovereign authority. L'Estrange.
2. Resignation of an office. [Scot.]
DEMISSIONARY
De*mis"sion*a*ry, a.
1. Pertaining to transfer or conveyance; as, a demissionary deed.
2. Tending to lower, depress, or degrade.
DEMISSIVE
De*miss"ive, a. Etym: [See Demiss.]
Defn: Downcast; submissive; humble. [R.]
They pray with demissive eyelids. Lord (1630).
DEMISSLY
De*miss"ly, adv.
Defn: In a humble manner. [Obs.]
DEMISUIT
Dem"i*suit`, n. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A suit of light armor covering less than the whole body, as
having no protection for the legs below the things, no vizor to the
helmet, and the like.
DEMIT
De*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demitting.]
Etym: [L. demittere to send or bring down, to lower; de- + mittere to
send. Cf. Demise.]
1. To let fall; to depress. [R.]
They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train]. Sir
T. Browne.
2. To yield or submit; to humble; to lower; as, to demit one's self
to humble duties. [R.]
3. To lay down, as an office; to resign. [Scot.]
General Conway demitted his office. Hume.
DEMI-TASSE
De*mi"-tasse", n. [F., half cup.]
Defn: A small cup for, or of, black coffee.
DEMITINT
Dem"i*tint`, n. (Fine Arts)
(a) That part of a painting, engraving, or the like, which is neither
in full darkness nor full light.
(b) The shade itself; neither the darkest nor the lightest in a
composition. Also called half tint.
DEMITONE
Dem"i*tone`, n. (Mus.)
Defn: Semitone. [R.]
DEMIURGE
Dem"i*urge, n. Etym: [Gr. dhmioyrgo`s a worker for the people, a
workman, especially the marker of the world, the Creator; dh`mios
belonging to the people (fr. dh^mos the people) + 'e`rgon a work.]
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The chief magistrate in some of the Greek states.
2. God, as the Maker of the world.
3. According to the Gnostics, an agent or one employed by the Supreme
Being to create the material universe and man.
DEMIURGIC
Dem`i*ur"gic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a demiurge; formative; creative. "Demiurgic
power." De Quincey.
DEMIVILL
Dem"i*vill`, n. (Old Law)
Defn: A half-vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges.
Blackstone.
DEMIVOLT
Dem"i*volt`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. demi-volte.] (Man.)
Defn: A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse,
in which he raises his fore legs in a particular manner.
DEMIWOLF
Dem"i*wolf`, n.
Defn: A half wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a wolf.
DEMOBILIZATION
De*mob`i*li*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démobilisation. See
Mobilization.] (Mil.)
Defn: The disorganization or disarming of troops which have
previously been mobilized or called into active service; the change
from a war footing to a peace footing.
DEMOBILIZE
De*mob"i*lize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. démobiliser.] (Mil.)
Defn: To disorganize, or disband and send home, as troops which have
been mobilized.
DEMOCRACY
De*moc"ra*cy, n.; pl. Democracies. Etym: [F. démocratie, fr. Gr.
dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people + kratei^n to be strong, to rule,
kra`tos strength.]
1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the
supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.
2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in
which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly
exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority
periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a
republic.
3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government.
Milton.
4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called.
[U.S.]
DEMOCRAT
Dem"o*crat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démocrate.]
1. One who is an adherent or advocate of democracy, or government by
the people.
Whatever they call him, what care I, Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat.
Tennyson.
2. A member of the Democratic party. [U.S.]
DEMOCRATIC
Dem`o*crat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. démocratique.]
1. Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon
the principle of government by the people.
2. Relating to a political party so called.
3. Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic. The
Democratic party, the name of one of the chief political parties in
the United States.
DEMOCRATICAL
Dem`o*crat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Democratic.
The democratical was democratically received. Algernon Sidney.
DEMOCRATICALLY
Dem`o*crat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a democratic manner.
DEMOCRATISM
De*moc"ra*tism, n.
Defn: The principles or spirit of a democracy. [R.]
DEMOCRATIST
De*moc"ra*tist, n.
Defn: A democrat. [R.] Burke.
DEMOCRATIZE
De*moc"ra*tize v. t.
Defn: To render democratic.
DEMOCRATY
De*moc"ra*ty, n.
Defn: Democracy. [Obs.] Milton.
DEMOGORGON
De`mo*gor"gon, n. Etym: [First me the scholiast, gorgo`s fierce,
Defn: , A mysterious, terrible, and evil divinity, regarded by some
as the author of creation, by others as a great magician who was
supposed to command the spirits of the lower world. See Gorgon.
Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name Of Demogorgon. Milton.
DEMOGRAPHY
De*mog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: The study of races, as to births, marriages, mortality, health,
etc.
-- Dem`o*graph"ic, a.
DEMOISELLE
De`moi`selle", n. Etym: [F. See Damsel.]
1. A young lady; a damsel; a lady's maid.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Numidian crane (Antropoides virgo); -- so called on account
of the grace and symmetry of its form and movements.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A beautiful, small dragon fly of the genus Agrion.
DEMOLISH
De*mol"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demolished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Demolishing.] Etym: [F. démolir, fr. L. demoliri, p. p. demolitus;
de- + moliri to set a thing in motion, to work, construct, from moles
a huge mass or structure. See Mole a mound, and Finish.]
Defn: To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to
pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, or a wall.
I expected the fabric of my book would long since have been
demolished, and laid even with the ground. Tillotson.
Syn.
-- To Demolish, Overturn, Destroy, Dismantle, Raze. That is
overturned or overthrown which had stood upright; that is destroyed
whose component parts are scattered; that is demolished which had
formed a mass or structure; that is dismantled which is stripped of
its covering, as a vessel of its sails, or a fortress of its
bastions, etc.; that is razed which is brought down smooth, and level
to the ground. An ancient pillar is overturned or overthrown as the
result of decay; as city is destroyed by an invasion of its enemies;
a monument, the walls of a castle, a church, or any structure, real
or imaginary, may be demolished; a fortress may be dismantled from
motives of prudence, in order to render it defenseless; a city may be
razed by way of punishment, and its ruins become a memorial of
vengeance.
DEMOLISHER
De*mol"ish`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, demolishes; as, a demolisher of towns.
DEMOLISHMENT
De*mol"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Demolition.
DEMOLITION
Dem`o*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. demolitio, fr. demoliri: cf. F.
démolition. See Demolish.]
Defn: The act of overthrowing, pulling down, or destroying a pile or
structure; destruction by violence; utter overthrow; -- opposed to
construction; as, the demolition of a house, of military works, of a
town, or of hopes.
DEMOLITIONIST
Dem`o*li"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A demolisher. [R.] Carlyle.
DEMON
De"mon, n. Etym: [F. démon, L. daemon a spirit, an evil spirit, fr.
Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A spirit, or immaterial being, holding a middle place between
men and deities in pagan mythology.
The demon kind is of an inSydenham.
2. One's genius; a tutelary spirit or internal voice; as, the demon
of Socrates. [Often written dæmon.]
3. An evil spirit; a devil.
That same demon that hath gulled thee thus. Shak.
DEMONESS
De"mon*ess, n.
Defn: A female demon.
DEMONETIZATION
De*mon`e*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of demonetizing, or the condition of being demonetized.
DEMONETIZE
De*mon"e*tize (; see Monetary), v. t.
Defn: To deprive of current value; to withdraw from use, as money.
They [gold mohurs] have been completely demonetized by the [East
India] Company. R. Cobden.
DEMONIAC; DEMONIACAL
De*mo"ni*ac, Dem`o*ni"a*cal, a. Etym: [L. daemoniacus, fr. daemon;
cf. F. démoniaque. See Demon.]
1. Pertaining to, or characteristic of, a demon or evil spirit;
devilish; as, a demoniac being; demoniacal practices.
Sarcastic, demoniacal laughter. Thackeray.
2. Influenced or produced by a demon or evil spirit; as, demoniac or
demoniacal power. "Demoniac frenzy." Milton.
DEMONIAC
De*mo"ni*ac, n.
1. A human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit; one whose
faculties are directly controlled by a demon.
The demoniac in the gospel was sometimes cast into the fire. Bates.
2. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of Anabaptists who maintain that the demons or
devils will finally be saved.
DEMONIACALLY
Dem`o*ni"a*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a demoniacal manner.
DEMONIACISM
Dem`o*ni"a*cism, n.
Defn: The state of being demoniac, or the practices of demoniacs.
DEMONIAL
De*mo"ni*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demon. [Obs.] Cudworth.
DEMONIAN
De*mo"ni*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or having the nature of, a demon. "Demonian
spirits." Milton.
DEMONIANISM
De*mo"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: The state of being possessed by a demon or by demons.
DEMONIASM
De*mo"ni*asm, n.
Defn: See Demonianism. [R.]
DEMONIC
De*mo"nic, a. Etym: [L. daemonicus, Gr. daimoniko`s.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a demon or to demons; demoniac. "Demonic
ambushes." Lowell.
DEMONISM
De"mon*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démonisme.]
Defn: The belief in demons or false gods.
The established theology of the heathen world . . . rested upon the
basis of demonism. Farmer.
DEMONIST
De"mon*ist, n.
Defn: A believer in, or worshiper of, demons.
DEMONIZE
De"mon*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demonized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Demonizing.] Etym: [Cf. LL. daemonizare to be possessed by a demon,
Gr.
1. To convert into a demon; to infuse the principles or fury of a
demon into.
2. To control or possess by a demon.
DEMONOCRACY
De`mon*oc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + kra`tos strength: cf.
F. démonocratie.]
Defn: The power or government of demons.
A demonocracy of unclean spirits. H. Taylor.
DEMONOGRAPHER
De`mon*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Demon + -graph + -er.]
Defn: A demonologist. [R.] Am. Cyc.
DEMONOLATRY
De`mon*ol"a*try, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + latrei`a worship,
démonolâtrie.]
Defn: The worship of demons.
DEMONOLOGER
De`mon*ol"o*ger, n.
Defn: One versed in demonology. R. North.
DEMONOLOGIC; DEMONOLOGICAL
De`mon*o*log"ic, De`mon*o*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. démonologique.]
Defn: Of or Pertaining to demonology.
DEMONOLOGIST
De`mon*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who writes on, or is versed in, demonology.
DEMONOLOGY
De`mon*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Demon + -logy: cf. F. démonologie.]
Defn: A treatise on demons; a supposititious science which treats of
demons and their manifestations. Sir W. Scott.
DEMONOMAGY
De`mon*om"a*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. dai`mwn demon + magic.]
Defn: Magic in which the aid of demons is invoked; black or infernal
magic. Bp. Hurd.
DEMONOMANIA
De*mon`o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Demon + mania.]
Defn: A form of madness in which the patient conceives himself
possessed of devils.
DEMONOMIST
De*mon"o*mist n.
Defn: One in subjection to a demon, or to demons. [R.] Sir T.
Herbert.
DEMONOMY
De*mon"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The dominion of demons. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
DEMONRY
De"mon*ry, n.
Defn: Demoniacal influence or possession. J. Baillie.
DEMONSHIP
De"mon*ship, n.
Defn: The state of a demon. Mede.
DEMONSTRABILITY
De*mon`stra*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrableness.
DEMONSTRABLE
De*mon"stra*ble, a. Etym: [L. demonstrabilis: cf. OF. demonstrable,
F. démontrable.]
1. Capable of being demonstrated; that can be proved beyond doubt or
question.
The grand articles of our belief are as demonstrable as geometry.
Glanvill.
2. Proved; apparent. [Obs.] Shak.
DEMONSTRABLENESS
De*mon"stra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrability.
DEMONSTRABLY
De*mon"stra*bly, adv.
Defn: In a demonstrable manner; incontrovertibly; clearly.
Cases that demonstrably concerned the public cause. Clarendon.
DEMONSTRANCE
De*mon"strance, n. Etym: [OF. demonstrance.]
Defn: Demonstration; proof. [Obs.] Holland.
DEMONSTRATE
Dem"on*strate, v. t. Etym: [L. demonstratus, p. p. of demonstrare to
demonstrate; de- + monstrare to show. See Monster.]
1. To point out; to show; to exhibit; to make evident. Shak.
2. To show, or make evident, by reasoning or proof; to prove by
deduction; to establish so as to exclude the possibility of doubt or
denial.
We can not demonstrate these things so as to show that the contrary
often involves a contradiction. Tillotson.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: To exhibit and explain (a dissection or other anatomical
preparation).
DEMONSTRATER
Dem"on*stra`ter, n.
Defn: See Demonstrator.
DEMONSTRATION
Dem`on*stra"tion, n. Etym: [L. demonstratio: cf. F. démonstration.]
1. The act of demonstrating; an exhibition; proof; especially, proof
beyond the possibility of doubt; indubitable evidence, to the senses
or reason.
Those intervening ideas which serve to show the agreement of any two
others are called "proofs;" and where agreement or disagreement is by
this means plainly and clearly perceived, it is called demonstration.
Locke.
2. An expression, as of the feelings, by outward signs; a
manifestation; a show.
Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration of grief Shak.
Loyal demonstrations toward the prince. Prescott.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The exhibition and explanation of a dissection or other
anatomical preparation.
4. (Mil.) a decisive exhibition of force, or a movement indicating an
attack.
5. (Logic)
Defn: The act of proving by the syllogistic process, or the proof
itself.
6. (Math.)
Defn: A course of reasoning showing that a certain result is a
necessary consequence of assumed premises; -- these premises being
definitions, axioms, and previously established propositions. Direct,
or Positive, demonstration (Logic & Math.), one in which the correct
conclusion is the immediate sequence of reasoning from axiomatic or
established premises; -- opposed to Indirect, or Negative,
demonstration (called also reductio ad absurdum), in which the
correct conclusion is an inference from the demonstration that any
other hypothesis must be incorrect.
DEMONSTRATIVE
De*mon"stra*tive, a. Etym: [F. démonstratif, L. demonstrativus.]
1. Having the nature of demonstration; tending to demonstrate; making
evident; exhibiting clearly or conclusively. "Demonstrative figures."
Dryden.
An argument necessary and demonstrative. Hooker.
2. Expressing, or apt to express, much; displaying feeling or
sentiment; as, her nature was demonstrative.
3. Consisting of eulogy or of invective. "Demonstrative eloquence."
Blair. Demonstrative pronoun (Gram.), a pronoun distinctly
designating that to which it refers.
DEMONSTRATIVE
De*mon"stra*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A demonstrative pronoun; as, "this" and "that" are
demonstratives.
DEMONSTRATIVELY
De*mon"stra*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner fitted to demonstrate; clearly; convincingly;
forcibly.
DEMONSTRATIVENESS
De*mon"stra*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being demonstrative.
DEMONSTRATOR
Dem"on*stra`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. démonstrateur.]
1. One who demonstrates; one who proves anything with certainty, or
establishes it by indubitable evidence.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A teacher of practical anatomy.
DEMONSTRATORY
De*mon"stra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to demonstrate; demonstrative. Johnson.
DEMORAGE
De*mor"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Demurrage. [Obs.] Pepys (1663).
DEMORALIZATION
De*mor`al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. démoralisation.]
Defn: The act of corrupting or subverting morals. Especially: The act
of corrupting or subverting discipline, courage, hope, etc., or the
state of being corrupted or subverted in discipline, courage, etc.;
as, the demoralization of an army or navy.
DEMORALIZE
De*mor"al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoralized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Demoralizing.] Etym: [F. démoraliser; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) +
moraliser. See Moralize.]
Defn: To corrupt or undermine in morals; to destroy or lessen the
effect of moral principles on; to render corrupt or untrustworthy in
morals, in discipline, in courage, spirit, etc.; to weaken in spirit
or efficiency.
The demoralizing example of profligate power and prosperous crime.
Walsh.
The vices of the nobility had demoralized the army. Bancroft.
DEMOSTHENIC
Dem`os*then"ic, a. Etym: [L. Demosthenicus: cf. F. Démosthénique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or in the style of, Demosthenes, the Grecian
orator.
DEMOTE
De*mote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Demoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Demoting.]
[Pref. de- + mote, as in promote; cf. L. demovere to remove.]
Defn: To reduce to a lower grade, as in school.
DEMOTIC
De*mot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. démotique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the people; popular; common. Demotic
alphabet or character, a form of writing used in Egypt after six or
seven centuries before Christ, for books, deeds, and other such
writings; a simplified form of the hieratic character; -- called also
epistolographic character, and enchorial character. See Enchorial.
DEMOTICS
De*mot"ics, n.
Defn: The department of knowledge relative to the care and culture of
the people; sociology in its broadest sense; -- in library
cataloguing.
DEMOUNT
De*mount", v. i.
Defn: To dismount. [R.]
DEMOUNTABLE
De*mount"a*ble, [See De-; Mount.]
Defn: Capable of being dismounted; -- said of a form of rim, for an
automobile wheel, which can be removed with its tire from the wheel.
DEMPNE
Demp"ne v. t.
Defn: To damn; to condemn. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEMPSTER; DEMSTER
Demp"ster, Dem"ster, n. Etym: [See Deemster.]
1. A deemster.
2. (O. Scots Law)
Defn: An officer whose duty it was to announce the doom or sentence
pronounced by the court.
DEMULCE
De*mulce", v. t. Etym: [L. demulcere; de- + mulcere to stroke,
soothe.]
Defn: To soothe; to mollify; to pacify; to soften. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
DEMULCENT
De*mul"cent, a. Etym: [L. demulcens, p. pr. of demulcere.]
Defn: Softening; mollifying; soothing; assuasive; as, oil is
demulcent.
DEMULCENT
De*mul"cent, n. (Med.)
Defn: A substance, usually of a mucilaginous or oily nature, supposed
to be capable of soothing an inflamed nervous membrane, or protecting
i
DEMULSION
De*mul"sion, n.
Defn: The act of soothing; that which soothes. Feltham.
DEMUR
De*mur", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Demurred; p. pr. & vb. n. Demurring.]
Etym: [OF. demurer, demorer, demourer, to linger, stay, F. demeurer,
fr. L. demorari; de- + morari to delay, tarry, stay, mora delay;
prob. originally, time for thinking, reflection, and akin to memor
mindful. See Memory.]
1. To linger; to stay; to tarry. [Obs.]
Yet durst not demur nor abide upon the camp. Nicols.
2. To delay; to pause; to suspend proceedings or judgment in view of
a doubt or difficulty; to hesitate; to put off the determination or
conclusion of an affair.
Upon this rub, the English embassadors thought fit to demur. Hayward.
3. To scruple or object; to take exception; as, I demur to that
statement.
4. (Law)
Defn: To interpose a demurrer. See Demurrer, 2.
DEMUR
De*mur", v. t.
1. To suspend judgment concerning; to doubt of or hesitate about.
[Obs.]
The latter I demur, for in their looks Much reason, and in their
actions, oft appears. Milton.
2. To cause delay to; to put off. [Obs.]
He demands a fee, And then demurs me with a vain delay. Quarles.
DEMUR
De*mur", n. Etym: [OF. demor, demore, stay, delay. See Demur, v. i.]
Defn: Stop; pause; hesitation as to proceeding; suspense of decision
or action; scruple.
All my demurs but double his attacks; At last he whispers, "Do; and
we go snacks." Pope.
DEMURE
De*mure", a. Etym: [Perh. from OF. de murs (i. e., de bonnes murs of
good manners); de of + murs, mours, meurs, mors, F. m, fr. L. mores
(sing. mos) manners, morals (see Moral); or more prob. fr. OF. meür,
F. mûr mature, ripe (see Mature) in a phrase preceded by de, as de
mûre conduite of mature conduct.]
1. Of sober or serious mien; composed and decorous in bearing; of
modest look; staid; grave.
Sober, steadfast, and demure. Milton.
Nan was very much delighted in her demure way, and that delight
showed itself in her face and in her clear bright eyes. W. Black.
2. Affectedly modest, decorous, or serious; making a show of gravity.
A cat lay, and looked so demure, as if there had been neither life
nor soul in her. L'Estrange.
Miss Lizzy, I have no doubt, would be as demure and coquettish, as if
ten winters more had gone over her head. Miss Mitford.
DEMURE
De*mure", v. i.
Defn: To look demurely. [Obs.] Shak.
DEMURELY
De*mure"ly, adv.
Defn: In a demure manner; soberly; gravely; -- now, commonly, with a
mere show of gravity or modesty.
They . . . looked as demurely as they could; for 't was a hanging
matter to laugh unseasonably. Dryden.
DEMURENESS
De*mure"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being demure; gravity; the show of gravity or
modesty.
DEMURITY
De*mur"i*ty, n.
Defn: Demureness; also, one who is demure. Sir T. Browne.
DEMURRABLE
De*mur"ra*ble, a.
Defn: That may be demurred to. Stormonth.
DEMURRAGE
De*mur"rage, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. demorage delay. See Demur.] (Law)
(a) The detention of a vessel by the freighter beyond the time
allowed in her charter party for loading, unloading, or sailing.
(b) The allowance made to the master or owner of the ship for such
delay or detention.
The claim for demurrage ceases as soon as the ship is cleared out and
ready for sailing. M`Culloch.
Note: The term is also applied to similar delays and allowances in
land carriage, by wagons, railroads, etc.
DEMURRAL
De*mur"ral, n.
Defn: Demur; delay in acting or deciding.
The same causes of demurral existed which prevented British troops
from assisting in the expulsion of the French from Rome. Southey.
DEMURRER
De*mur"rer, n.
1. One who demurs.
2. (Law)
Defn: A stop or pause by a party to an action, for the judgment of
the court on the question, whether, assuming the truth of the matter
alleged by the opposite party, it is sufficient in law to sustain the
action or defense, and hence whether the party resting is bound to
answer or proceed further. Demurrer to evidence, an exception taken
by a party to the evidence offered by the opposite party, and an
objecting to proceed further, on the allegation that such evidence is
not sufficient in law to maintain the issue, and a reference to the
court to determine the point. Bouvier.
DEMY
De*my", n.; pl. Demies. Etym: [See Demi-.]
1. A printing and a writing paper of particular sizes. See under
Paper.
2. A half fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford. [Written also demi.]
He was elected into Magdalen College as a demy; a term by which that
society denominates those elsewhere called "scholars," young men who
partake of the founder's benefaction, and succeed in their order to
vacant fellowships. Johnson.
DEMY
De*my", a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or made of, the size of paper called demy; as, a
demy book.
DEN
Den, n. Etym: [AS. denn; perh. akin to G. tenne floor, thrashing
floor, and to AS. denu valley.]
1. A small cavern or hollow place in the side of a hill, or among
rocks; esp., a cave used by a wild beast for shelter or concealment;
as, a lion's den; a den of robbers.
2. A squalid place of resort; a wretched dwelling place; a haunt; as,
a den of vice. "Those squalid dens, which are the reproach of great
capitals." Addison.
3. Any snug or close retreat where one goes to be alone. [Colloq.]
4. Etym: [AS. denu.]
Defn: A narrow glen; a ravine; a dell. [Old Eng. & Scotch] Shak.
DEN
Den, v. i.
Defn: To live in, or as in, a den.
The sluggish salvages that den below. G. Fletcher.
DENARCOTIZE
De*nar"co*tize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of narcotine; as, to denarcotize opium.
-- De*nar`co*ti*za"tion, n.
DENARIUS
De*na"ri*us, n.; pl. Denarii. Etym: [L. See 2d Denier.]
Defn: A Roman silver coin of the value of about fourteen cents; the
"penny" of the New Testament; -- so called from being worth
originally ten of the pieces called as.
DENARY
Den"a*ry, a. Etym: [L. denarius. See 2d Denier.]
Defn: Containing ten; tenfold; proceeding by tens; as, the denary, or
decimal, scale.
DENARY
Den"a*ry, n.
1. The number ten; a division into ten.
2. A coin; the Anglicized form of denarius. Udall.
DENATIONALIZATION
De*na`tion*al*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dénationalisation.]
Defn: The or process of denationalizing.
DENATIONALIZE
De*na"tion*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denationalized; p. pr. & vb.
n. Denationalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. dénationaliser.]
Defn: To divest or deprive of national character or rights.
Bonaparte's decree denationalizes, as he calls it, all ships that
have touched at a British port. Cobbett.
An expatriated, denationalized race. G. Eliot.
DENATURALIZE
De*nat"u*ral*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denaturalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Denaturalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. dénaturaliser.]
1. To render unnatural; to alienate from nature.
2. To renounce the natural rights and duties of; to deprive of
citizenship; to denationalize. [R.]
They also claimed the privilege, when aggrieved, of denaturalizing
themselves, or, in other words, of publicly renouncing their
allegiance to their sovereign, and of enlisting under the banners of
his enemy. Prescott.
DENATURE
De*na"ture, v. t. [De- + nature.]
Defn: To deprive of its natural qualities; change the nature of.
DENAY
De*nay", v. t. Etym: [See Deny.]
Defn: To deny. [Obs.]
That with great rage he stoutly doth denay. Spenser.
DENAY
De*nay", n.
Defn: Denial; refusal. [Obs.] Shak.
DENDRACHATE
Den"dra*chate, n. Etym: [L. dendrachates; Gr. dendrachate,
dendragate.] (Min.)
Defn: Arborescent or dendritic agate.
DENDRIFORM
Den"dri*form, a. Etym: [Gr. -form.]
Defn: Resembling in structure a tree or shrub.
DENDRITE
Den"drite, n. Etym: [Gr. dendrite.] (Min.)
Defn: A stone or mineral on or in which are branching figures
resembling shrubs or trees, produced by a foreign mineral, usually an
oxide of manganese, as in the moss agate; also, a crystallized
mineral having an arborescent form, e. g., gold or silver; an
arborization.
DENDRITIC; DENDRITICAL
Den*drit"ic, Den*drit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a dendrite, or to arborescent crystallization;
having a form resembling a shrub or tree; arborescent.
DENDROCOELA
Den`dro*c, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Turbellaria in which the digestive cavity
gives off lateral branches, which are often divided into smaller
branchlets.
DENDROID; DENDROIDAL
Den"droid, Den*droid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. dendroïde.]
Defn: Resembling a shrub or tree in form; treelike.
DENDROLITE
Den"dro*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite: cf. F. dendrolithe.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A petrified or fossil shrub, plant, or part of a plant.
DENDROLOGIST
Den*drol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in the natural history of trees.
DENDROLOGOUS
Den*drol"o*gous, a.
Defn: Relating to dendrology.
DENDROLOGY
Den*drol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. dendrologie.]
Defn: A discourse or treatise on trees; the natural history of trees.
DENDROMETER
Den*drom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. dendromètre.]
Defn: An instrument to measure the height and diameter of trees.
DENEGATE
Den"e*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. denegatus, p. p. of denegare. See Deny.]
Defn: To deny. [Obs.]
DENEGATION
Den`e*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dénégation.]
Defn: Denial. [Obs.]
DENGUE
Den"gue, n. Etym: [See Note, below.] (Med.)
Defn: A specific epidemic disease attended with high fever, cutaneous
eruption, and severe pains in the head and limbs, resembling those of
rheumatism; -- called also breakbone fever. It occurs in India,
Egypt, the West Indies, etc., is of short duration, and rarely fatal.
Note: This disease, when it first appeared in the British West India
Islands, was called the dandy fever, from the stiffness and
constraint which it grave to the limbs and body. The Spaniards of the
neighboring islands mistook the term for their word dengue, denoting
prudery, which might also well express stiffness, and hence the term
dengue became, as last, the name of the disease. Tully.
DENIABLE
De*ni"a*ble, a. Etym: [See Deny.]
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, denied.
DENIAL
De*ni"al, n. Etym: [See Deny.]
1. The act of gainsaying, refusing, or disowning; negation; -- the
contrary of affirmation.
You ought to converse with so much sincerity that your bare
affirmation or denial may be sufficient. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. A refusal to admit the truth of a statement, charge, imputation,
etc.; assertion of the untruth of a thing stated or maintained; a
contradiction.
3. A refusal to grant; rejection of a request.
The commissioners, . . . to obtain from the king's subjects as much
as they would willingly give, . . . had not to complain of many
peremptory denials. Hallam.
4. A refusal to acknowledge; disclaimer of connection with;
disavowal; -- the contrary of confession; as, the denial of a fault
charged on one; a denial of God. Denial of one's self, a declining of
some gratification; restraint of one's appetites or propensities;
self-denial.
DENIANCE
De*ni"ance, n.
Defn: Denial. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DENIER
De*ni"er, n.
Defn: One who denies; as, a denier of a fact, or of the faith, or of
Christ.
DENIER
De*nier", n. Etym: [F. denier, fr. L. denarius a Roman silver coin
orig. equiv. to ten asses, later, a copper, fr. deni ten by ten, fr.
the root of decem ten; akin to E. ten. See Ten, and cf. Denary,
Dinar.]
Defn: A small copper coin of insignificant value.
My dukedom to a beggarly denier. Shak.
DENIGRATE
Den"i*grate, v. t. Etym: [L. denigrare; de- + nigrare to blacken,
niger black.]
1. To blacken thoroughly; to make very black. Boyle.
2. Fig.: To blacken or sully; to defame. [R.]
To denigrate the memory of Voltaire. Morley.
DENIGRATION
Den`i*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. denigratio.]
1. The act of making black. Boyle.
2. Fig.: A blackening; defamation.
The vigorous denigration of science. Morley.
DENIGRATOR
Den"i*gra`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, blackens.
DENIM
Den"im, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin.]
Defn: A coarse cotton drilling used for overalls, etc.
DENITRATION
Den`i*tra"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- + nitrate.]
Defn: A disengaging, or removal, of nitric acid.
DENITRIFICATION
De*ni`tri*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of freeing from nitrogen; also, the
condition resulting from the removal of nitrogen.
DENITRIFY
De*ni"tri*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + nitrogen + -fy.]
Defn: To deprive of, or free from, nitrogen.
DENIZATION
Den`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making one a denizen or adopted citizen;
naturalization. Hallam.
DENIZE
De*nize", v. t.
Defn: To make a denizen; to confer the rights of citizenship upon; to
naturalize. [Obs.]
There was a private act made for denizing the children of Richard
HillStrype.
DENIZEN
Den"i*zen, n. Etym: [OF. denzein, deinzein, prop., one living (a city
or country); opposed to forain foreign, and fr. denz within, F. dans,
fr. L. de intus, prop., from within, intus being from in in. See In,
and cf. Foreign.]
1. A dweller; an inhabitant. "Denizens of air." Pope.
Denizens of their own free, independent state. Sir W. Scott.
2. One who is admitted by favor to all or a part of the rights of
citizenship, where he did not possess them by birth; an adopted or
naturalized citizen.
3. One admitted to residence in a foreign country.
Ye gods, Natives, or denizens, of blest abodes. Dryden.
DENIZEN
Den"i*zen, v. t.
1. To constitute (one) a denizen; to admit to residence, with certain
rights and privileges.
As soon as denizened, they domineer. Dryden.
2. To provide with denizens; to populate with adopted or naturalized
occupants.
There [islets] were at once denizened by various weeds. J. D. Hooker.
DENIZENATION
Den`i*zen*a"tion, n.
Defn: Denization; denizening. Abbott.
DENIZENIZE
Den"i*zen*ize, v. t.
Defn: To constitute (one) a denizen; to denizen. Abbott.
DENIZENSHIP
Den"i*zen*ship, n.
Defn: State of being a denizen.
DENMARK SATIN
Den"mark sat"in.
Defn: See under Satin.
DENNET
Den"net, n.
Defn: A light, open, two-wheeled carriage for one horse; a kind of
gig. ("The term and vehicle common about 1825." Latham.)
DENOMINABLE
De*nom"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being denominated or named. Sir T. Browne.
DENOMINATE
De*nom"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denominated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Denominating.] Etym: [L. denominatus, p. p. of denominare to name;
de- + nominare to call by name. See Nominate.]
Defn: To give a name to; to characterize by an epithet; to entitle;
to name; to designate.
Passions commonly denominating selfish. Hume.
DENOMINATE
De*nom"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. denominatus, p. p.]
Defn: Having a specific name or denomination; specified in the
concrete as opposed to abstract; thus, 7 feet is a denominate
quantity, while 7 is mere abstract quantity or number. See Compound
number, under Compound.
DENOMINATION
De*nom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. denominatio metonymy: cf. F.
dénomination a naming.]
1. The act of naming or designating.
2. That by which anything is denominated or styled; an epithet; a
name, designation, or title; especially, a general name indicating a
class of like individuals; a category; as, the denomination of units,
or of thousands, or of fourths, or of shillings, or of tons.
Those [qualities] which are classed under the denomination of
sublime. Burke.
3. A class, or society of individuals, called by the same name; a
sect; as, a denomination of Christians.
Syn.
-- Name; appellation; title. See Name.
DENOMINATIONAL
De*nom`i*na"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a denomination, especially to a sect or society.
"Denominational differences." Buckle.
DENOMINATIONALISM
De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ism, n.
Defn: A denominational or class spirit or policy; devotion to the
interests of a sect or denomination.
DENOMINATIONALIST
De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ist, n.
Defn: One imbued with a denominational spirit. The Century.
DENOMINATIONALLY
De*nom`i*na"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a denominational manner; by denomination or sect.
DENOMINATIVE
De*nom`i*na"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dénominatif.]
1. Conferring a denomination or name.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Connotative; as, a denominative name.
3. Possessing, or capable of possessing, a distinct denomination or
designation; denominable.
The least denominative part of time is a minute. Cocker.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: Derived from a substantive or an adjective; as, a denominative
verb.
DENOMINATIVE
De*nom`i*na"tive, n.
Defn: A denominative name or term; denominative verb. Jer. Taylor.
Harkness.
DENOMINATIVELY
De*nom`i*na"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By denomination.
DENOMINATOR
De*nom"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dénominateur.]
1. One who, or that which, gives a name; origin or source of a name.
This opinion that Aram . . . was the father and denomination of the
Syrians in general. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. (Arith.)
Defn: That number placed below the line in vulgar fractions which
shows into how many parts the integer or unit is divided.
Note: Thus, in denominator, showing that the integer is divided into
five parts; and the numerator, 3, shows how many parts are taken.
3. (Alg.)
Defn: That part of any expression under a fractional form which is
situated below the horizontal line signifying division.
Note: In this sense, the denominator is not necessarily a number, but
may be any expression, either positive or negative, real or
imaginary. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. )
DENOTABLE
De*not"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Denote.]
Defn: Capable of being denoted or marked. Sir T. Browne.
DENOTATE
De*no"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. denotatus, p. p. of denotare.]
Defn: To mark off; to denote. [Archaic]
These terms denotate a longer time. Burton.
What things should be denotated and signified by the color. Urquhart.
DENOTATION
De`no*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. denotatio: cf. F. dénotation.]
Defn: The marking off or separation of anything. Hammond.
DENOTATIVE
De*not"a*tive, a.
Defn: Having power to denote; designating or marking off.
Proper names are preëminently denotative; telling us that such as
object has such a term to denote it, but telling us nothing as to any
single attribute. Latham.
DENOTE
De*note", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Denoting.]
Etym: [L. denotare; de- + notare to mark, nota mark, sign, note: cf.
F. dénoter. See Note.]
1. To mark out plainly; to signify by a visible sign; to serve as the
sign or name of; to indicate; to point out; as, the hands of the
clock denote the hour.
The better to denote her to the doctor. Shak.
2. To be the sign of; to betoken; to signify; to mean.
A general expression to denote wickedness of every sort. Gilpin.
DENOTEMENT
De*note"ment, n.
Defn: Sign; indication. [R.]
Note: A word found in some editions of Shakespeare.
DENOTIVE
De*not"ive, a.
Defn: Serving to denote.
DENOUEMENT
Dé`noue`ment", n. Etym: [F. dénouement, fr. dénouer to untie; pref.
dé- (L. dis-) + nouer to tie, fr. L. nodus knot, perh. for gnodus and
akin to E. knot.]
1. The unraveling or discovery of a plot; the catastrophe, especially
of a drama or a romance.
2. The solution of a mystery; issue; outcome.
DENOUNCE
De*nounce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denounced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Denouncing.] Etym: [F. dénoncer, OF. denoncier, fr. L. denuntiare,
denunciare; de- + nunciare, nuntiare, to announce, report, nuntius a
messenger, message. See Nuncio, and cf. Denunciate.]
1. To make known in a solemn or official manner; to declare; to
proclaim (especially an evil). [Obs.]
Denouncing wrath to come. Milton.
I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish. Deut. xxx.
18.
2. To proclaim in a threatening manner; to threaten by some outward
sign or expression.
His look denounced desperate. Milton.
3. To point out as deserving of reprehension or punishment, etc.; to
accuse in a threatening manner; to invoke censure upon; to
stigmatize.
Denounced for a heretic. Sir T. More.
To denounce the immoralities of Julius Cæsar. Brougham.
DENOUNCEMENT
De*nounce"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. denoncement.]
Defn: Solemn, official, or menacing announcement; denunciation.
[Archaic]
False is the reply of Cain, upon the denouncement of his curse. Sir
T. Browne.
DENOUNCER
De*noun"cer n.
Defn: One who denounces, or declares, as a menace.
Here comes the sad denouncer of my fate. Dryden.
DENSE
Dense, a. Etym: [L. densus; akin to Gr. dense.]
1. Having the constituent parts massed or crowded together; close;
compact; thick; containing much matter in a small space; heavy;
opaque; as, a dense crowd; a dense forest; a dense fog.
All sorts of bodies, firm and fluid, dense and rare. Ray.
To replace the cloudy barrier dense. Cowper.
2. Stupid; gross; crass; as, dense ignorance.
DENSELY
Dense"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dense, compact manner.
DENSENESS
Dense"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dense; density.
DENSIMETER
Den*sim"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. densus dense + -meter: cf. F.
densimètre.]
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the specific gravity or density
of a substance.
DENSITY
Den"si*ty, n. Etym: [L. densitas; cf. F. densité.]
1. The quality of being dense, close, or thick; compactness; --
opposed to rarity.
2. (Physics)
Defn: The ratio of mass, or quantity of matter, to bulk or volume,
esp. as compared with the mass and volume of a portion of some
substance used as a standard.
Note: For gases the standard substance is hydrogen, at a temperature
of 0º Centigrade and a pressure of 760 millimeters. For liquids and
solids the standard is water at a temperature of 4º Centigrade. The
density of solids and liquids is usually called specific gravity, and
the same is true of gases when referred to air as a standard.
3. (Photog.)
Defn: Depth of shade. Abney.
DENT
Dent, n. Etym: [A variant of Dint.]
1. A stroke; a blow. [Obs.] "That dent of thunder." Chaucer.
2. A slight depression, or small notch or hollow, made by a blow or
by pressure; an indentation.
A blow that would have made a dent in a pound of butter. De Quincey.
DENT
Dent, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dented; p. pr. & vb. n. Denting.]
Defn: To make a dent upon; to indent.
The houses dented with bullets. Macaulay.
DENT
Dent, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth. See Tooth.] (Mach.)
Defn: A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc. Knight.
DENTAL
Den"tal, a. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. dental. See Tooth.]
1. Of or pertaining to the teeth or to dentistry; as, dental surgery.
2. (Phon.)
Defn: Formed by the aid of the teeth; -- said of certain
articulations and the letters representing them; as, d t are dental
letters. Dental formula (Zoöl.), a brief notation used by zoölogists
to denote the number and kind of teeth of a mammal.
-- Dental surgeon, a dentist.
DENTAL
Den"tal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dentale. See Dental, a.]
1. An articulation or letter formed by the aid of the teeth.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine mollusk of the genus Dentalium, with a curved conical
shell resembling a tooth. See Dentalium.
DENTALISM
Den"tal*ism, n.
Defn: The quality of being formed by the aid of the teeth.
DENTALIUM
Den*ta"li*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine mollusks belonging to the Scaphopoda, having
a tubular conical shell.
DENTARY
Den"ta*ry, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or bearing, teeth.
-- n.
Defn: The distal bone of the lower jaw in many animals, which may or
may not bear teeth.
DENTATE; DENTATED
Den"tate, Den"ta*ted, a. Etym: [L. dentatus, fr. dens, dentis,
tooth.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Toothed; especially, with the teeth projecting straight out,
not pointed either forward or backward; as, a dentate leaf.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having teeth or toothlike points. See Illust. of Antennæ.
DENTATE-CILIATE
Den"tate-cil"i*ate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the margin dentate and also ciliate or fringed with
hairs.
DENTATELY
Den"tate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dentate or toothed manner; as, dentately ciliated, etc.
DENTATE-SINUATE
Den"tate-sin"u*ate, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a form intermediate between dentate and sinuate.
DENTATION
Den*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Formation of teeth; toothed form. [R.]
How did it [a bill] get its barb, its dentation Paley.
DENTED
Dent"ed, a. Etym: [From Dent, v. t.]
Defn: Indented; impressed with little hollows.
DENTEL
Dent"el, n.
Defn: Same as Dentil.
DENTELLE
Den*telle", n. Etym: [F.] (Bookbinding)
Defn: An ornamental tooling like lace. Knight.
DENTELLI
Den*tel"li, n. pl. Etym: [It., sing. dentello, prop., little tooth,
dim. of dente tooth, L. dens, dentis. Cf. Dentil.]
Defn: Modillions. Spectator.
DENTEX
Den"tex, n. Etym: [NL., cf. L. dentix a sort of sea fish.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An edible European marine fish (Sparus dentex, or Dentex
vulgaris) of the family Percidæ.
DENTICETE
Den`ti*ce"te, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. dens, dentis, tooth + cetus,
pl. cete, whale, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Cetacea in which the teeth are developed,
including the sperm whale, dolphins, etc.
DENTICLE
Den"ti*cle, n. Etym: [L. denticulus a little tooth, dim. of dens,
dentis, tooth. See Dental, and cf. Dentelli.]
Defn: A small tooth or projecting point.
DENTICULATE; DENTICULATED
Den*tic"u*late, Den*tic"u*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. denticulatus, fr.
denticulus. See Denticle.]
Defn: Furnished with denticles; notched into little toothlike
projections; as, a denticulate leaf of calyx.
-- Den*tic"u*late*ly, adv.
DENTICULATION
Den*tic`u*la"tion, n.
1. The state of being set with small notches or teeth. Grew.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: A diminutive tooth; a denticle.
DENTIFEROUS
Den*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing teeth; dentigerous.
DENTIFORM
Den"ti*form, a. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -form: cf. F.
dentiforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a tooth or of teeth; tooth-shaped.
DENTIFRICE
Den"ti*frice, n. Etym: [L. dentifricium; dens, dentis, tooth +
fricare to rub: cf. F. dentifrice. See Tooth, and Friction.]
Defn: A powder or other substance to be used in cleaning the teeth;
tooth powder.
DENTIGEROUS
Den*tig"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -gerous.]
Defn: Bearing teeth or toothlike structures.
DENTIL
Den"til, n. Etym: [LL. dentillus, for L. denticulus. Cf. Dentelli,
Denticle, Dentile.] (Arch.)
Defn: A small square block or projection in cornices, a number of
which are ranged in an ornamental band; -- used particularly in the
Ionic, Corinthian, and Composite orders.
DENTILABIAL
Den`ti*la"bi*al, a.
Defn: Formed by the teeth and the lips, or representing a sound so
formed.
-- n.
Defn: A dentilabial sound or letter.
DENTILATED
Den"ti*la`ted, a.
Defn: Toothed.
DENTILATION
Den`ti*la"tion, n.
Defn: Dentition.
DENTILAVE
Den"ti*lave, n. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + lavare to wash.]
Defn: A wash for cleaning the teeth.
DENTILE
Den"tile, n. Etym: [LL. dentillus, for L. denticulus. See Dentil.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small tooth, like that of a saw.
DENTILINGUAL
Den`ti*lin"gual, a. Etym: [L. dens tooth + E. lingual.]
Defn: Produced by applying the tongue to the teeth or to the gums; or
representing a sound so formed.
-- n.
Defn: A dentilingual sound or letter.
The letters of this fourth, dentilingual or linguidental, class,
viz., d, t, s, z, l, r. Am. Cyc.
DENTILOQUIST
Den*til"o*quist, n.
Defn: One who speaks through the teeth, that is, with the teeth
closed.
DENTILOQUY
Den*til"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + loqui to speak.]
Defn: The habit or practice of speaking through the teeth, or with
them closed.
DENTINAL
Den"ti*nal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to dentine.
DENTINE
Den"tine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dentine.] (Anat.)
Defn: The dense calcified substance of which teeth are largely
composed. It contains less animal matter than bone, and in the teeth
of man is situated beneath the enamel.
DENTIPHONE
Den"ti*phone, n. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + Gr.
Defn: An instrument which, placed against the teeth, conveys sound to
the auditory nerve; an audiphone. Knight.
DENTIROSTER
Den`ti*ros"ter, n.; pl. Dentirostres. Etym: [NL., fr. L. dens,
dentis, tooth + rostrum bill, beak: cf. F. dentirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dentirostral bird.
DENTIROSTRAL
Den`ti*ros"tral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a toothed bill; -- applied to a group of passerine
birds, having the bill notched, and feeding chiefly on insects, as
the shrikes and vireos. See Illust. (N) under Beak.
DENTIROSTRATE
Den`ti*ros"trate, a.
Defn: Dentirostral.
DENTISCALP
Den"ti*scalp, n. Etym: [L. dens tooth + scalpere to scrape.]
Defn: An instrument for scraping the teeth.
DENTIST
Den"tist, n. Etym: [From L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. dentiste. See
Tooth.]
Defn: One whose business it is to clean, extract, or repair natural
teeth, and to make and insert artificial ones; a dental surgeon.
DENTISTIC; DENTISTICAL
Den*tis"tic, Den*tis"ti*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to dentistry or to dentists. [R.]
DENTISTRY
Den"tist*ry, n.
Defn: The art or profession of a dentist; dental surgery.
DENTITION
Den*ti"tion, n. Etym: [L. dentitio, fr. dentire to cut teeth, fr.
dens, dentis, tooth. See Dentist.]
1. The development and cutting of teeth; teething.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The system of teeth peculiar to an animal.
DENTIZE
Den"tize, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Dentized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dentizing.] Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth.]
Defn: To breed or cut new teeth. [R.]
The old countess . . . did dentize twice or thrice. Bacon.
DENTOID
Den"toid, a. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth + -oid.]
Defn: Shaped like a tooth; tooth-shaped.
DENTOLINGUAL
Den`to*lin"gual, a.
Defn: Dentilingual.
DENTURE
Den"ture, n. Etym: [L. dens, dentis, tooth: cf. F. denture, OF.
denteure.] (Dentistry)
Defn: An artificial tooth, block, or set of teeth.
DENUDATE
De*nud"ate, v. t. Etym: [L. denudatus, p. p. of denudare. See
Denude.]
Defn: To denude. [Obs. or R.]
DENUDATION
Den`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. denudatio: cf. F. dénudation.]
1. The act of stripping off covering, or removing the surface; a
making bare.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The laying bare of rocks by the washing away of the overlying
earth, etc.; or the excavation and removal of them by the action of
running water.
DENUDE
De*nude", v. t. Etym: [L. denudare; de- + nudare to make naked or
bare, nudus naked. See Nude.]
Defn: To divest of all covering; to make bare or naked; to strip; to
divest; as, to denude one of clothing, or lands.
DENUNCIATE
De*nun"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. denuntiatus, denunciatus, p. p. of
denuntiare, -ciare. See Denounce.]
Defn: To denounce; to condemn publicly or solemnly. [R.]
To denunciate this new work. Burke.
DENUNCIATION
De*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. denuntiatio, -ciatio.]
1. Proclamation; announcement; a publishing. [Obs.]
Public . . . denunciation of banns before marriage. Bp. Hall.
2. The act of denouncing; public menace or accusation; the act of
inveighing against, stigmatizing, or publicly arraigning;
arraignment.
3. That by which anything is denounced; threat of evil; public menace
or accusation; arraignment.
Uttering bold denunciations of ecclesiastical error. Motley.
DENUNCIATIVE
De*nun"ci*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. denuntiativus, -ciativus, monitory.]
Defn: Same as Denunciatory. Farrar.
DENUNCIATOR
De*nun"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. denuntiator, -ciator, a police
officer.]
Defn: One who denounces, publishes, or proclaims, especially intended
or coming evil; one who threatens or accuses.
DENUNCIATORY
De*nun"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Characterized by or containing a denunciation; minatory;
accusing; threatening; as, severe and denunciatory language.
DENUTRITION
De`nu*tri"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The opposition of nutrition; the failure of nutrition causing
the breaking down of tissue.
DENY
De*ny", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Denied; p. pr. & vb. n. Denying.] Etym:
[OE. denien, denaien, OF. denier, deneer, F. dénier, fr. L. denegare;
de- + negare to say no, deny. See Negation.]
1. To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; -- opposed
to affirm, allow, or admit.
Note: We deny what another says, or we deny the truth of an
assertion, the force of it, or the assertion itself.
2. To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to
decline; to renounce. [Obs.] "If you deny to dance." Shak.
3. To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to;
as, to deny a request.
Who finds not Providence all good and wise, Alike in what it gives,
and what denies Pope.
To some men, it is more agreeable to deny a vicious inclination, than
to gratify it. J. Edwards.
4. To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to
refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow.
The falsehood of denying his opinion. Bancroft.
Thou thrice denied, yet thrice beloved. Keble.
To deny one's self, to decline the gratification of appetites or
desires; to practice self-denial.
Let him deny himself, and take up his cross. Matt. xvi. 24.
DENY
De*ny", v. i.
Defn: To answer in
Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. Gen.
xviii. 15.
DENYINGLY
De*ny"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of one denies a request. Tennyson.
DEOBSTRUCT
De`ob*struct", v. t.
Defn: To remove obstructions or impediments in; to clear from
anything that hinders the passage of fluids; as, to deobstruct the
pores or lacteals. Arbuthnot.
DEOBSTRUENT
De*ob"stru*ent, a. (Med.)
Defn: Removing obstructions; having power to clear or open the
natural ducts of the fluids and secretions of the body; aperient.
-- n.
Defn: (Med.) A medicine which removes obstructions; an aperient.
DEODAND
De"o*dand`, n. Etym: [LL. deodandum, fr. L. Deo dandum to be given to
God.] (Old Eng. Law)
Defn: A personal chattel which had caused the death of a person, and
for that reason was given to God, that is, forfeited to the crown, to
be applied to pious uses, and distributed in alms by the high
almoner. Thus, if a cart ran over a man and killed him, it was
forfeited as a deodand.
Note: Deodands are unknown in American law, and in 1846 were
abolished in England.
DEODAR
De`o*dar", n. Etym: [Native name, fr. Skr. d, prop., timber of the
gods.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of cedar (Cedrus Deodara), growing in India, highly
valued for its size and beauty as well as for its timber, and also
grown in England as an ornamental tree.
DEODATE
De"o*date`, n. Etym: [L. Deo to God (Deus God) + datum thing given.]
Defn: A gift or offering to God. [Obs.]
Wherein that blessed widow's deodate was laid up. Hooker.
DEODORANT
De*o"dor*ant, n.
Defn: A deodorizer.
DEODORIZATION
De*o`dor*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of odor, especially of offensive odors
resulting from impurities.
DEODORIZE
De*o"dor*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of odor, especially of such as results from
impurities.
DEODORIZER
De*o"dor*i`zer, n.
Defn: He who, or that which, deodorizes; esp., an agent that destroys
offensive odors.
DEONERATE
De*on"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. deoneratus, p. p. of deonerare. See
Onerate.]
Defn: To unload; to disburden. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEONTOLOGICAL
De*on`to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to deontology.
DEONTOLOGIST
De`on*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in deontology.
DEONTOLOGY
De`on*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science relat J. Bentham.
DEOPERCULATE
De`o*per"cu*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the lid removed; -- said of the capsules of mosses.
DEOPPILATE
De*op"pi*late, v. t.
Defn: To free from obstructions; to clear a passage through. [Obs.]
Boyle.
DEOPPILATION
De*op`pi*la"tion, n.
Defn: Removal of whatever stops up the passages. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
DEOPPILATIVE
De*op"pi*la*tive, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Deobstruent; aperient. [Obs.] Harvey.
DEORDINATION
De*or`di*na"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deordinatio depraved morality.]
Defn: Disorder; dissoluteness. [Obs.]
Excess of rideordination. Jer. Taylor.
DEOSCULATE
De*os"cu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. deosculatus, p. p. of deosculari. See
Osculate.]
Defn: To kiss warmly. [Obs.] -- De*os`cu*la"tion, n. [Obs.]
DEOXIDATE
De*ox"i*date, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deoxidize.
DEOXIDATION
De*ox`i*da"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of reducing from the state of an oxide.
DEOXIDIZATION
De*ox`i*di*za"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Deoxidation.
DEOXIDIZE
De*ox"i*dize, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of oxygen; to reduce from the state of an oxide.
DEOXIDIZER
De*ox"i*di`zer, n. (Chem.)
Defn: That which removes oxygen; hence, a reducing agent; as, nascent
hydrogen is a deoxidizer.
DEOXYGENATE
De*ox"y*gen*ate, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deoxidize. [Obs.]
DEOXYGENATION
De*ox`y*gen*a"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or operation of depriving of oxygen.
DEOXYGENIZE
De*ox"y*gen*ize, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deoxidize.
DEPAINT
De*paint", p. p. Etym: [F. dépeint, p. p. of dépeindre to paint, fr.
L. depingere. See Depict, p. p.]
Defn: Painted. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEPAINT
De*paint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depainted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depainting.]
1. To paint; to picture; hence, to describe; to delineate in words;
to depict. [Obs.]
And do unwilling worship to the saint That on his shield depainted he
did see. Spenser.
In few words shall see the nature of many memorable persons . . .
depainted. Holland.
2. To mark with, or as with, color; to color.
Silver drops her vermeil cheeks depaint. Fairfax.
DEPAINTER
De*paint"er n.
Defn: One who depaints. [Obs.]
DEPARDIEUX
De*par"dieux`, interj. Etym: [OF., a corruption of de part Dieu,
lit., on the part of God.]
Defn: In God's name; certainly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEPART
De*part", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Departed; p. pr. & vb. n. Departing.]
Etym: [OE. departen to divide, part, depart, F. départir to divide,
distribute, se départir to separate one's self, depart; pref. dé- (L.
de) + partir to part, depart, fr. L. partire, partiri, to divide, fr.
pars part. See Part.]
1. To part; to divide; to separate. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To go forth or away; to quit, leave, or separate, as from a place
or a person; to withdraw; -- opposed to arrive; -- often with from
before the place, person, or thing left, and for or to before the
destination.
I will depart to mine own land. Num. x. 30.
Ere thou from hence depart. Milton.
He which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart. Shak.
3. To forsake; to abandon; to desist or deviate (from); not to adhere
to; -- with from; as, we can not depart from our rules; to depart
from a title or defense in legal pleading.
If the plan of the convention be found to depart from republican
principles. Madison.
4. To pass away; to perish.
The glory is departed from Israel. 1 Sam. iv. 21.
5. To quit this world; to die.
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace. Luke ii. 29.
To depart with, to resign; to part with. [Obs.] Shak.
DEPART
De*part", v. t.
1. To part thoroughly; to dispart; to divide; to separate. [Obs.]
Till death departed them, this life they lead. Chaucer.
2. To divide in order to share; to apportion. [Obs.]
And here is gold, and that full great plentee, That shall departed
been among us three. Chaucer.
3. To leave; to depart from. "He departed this life." Addison. "Ere I
depart his house." Shak.
DEPART
De*part", n. Etym: [Cf. F. départ, fr. départir.]
1. Division; separation, as of compound substances into their
ingredients. [Obs.]
The chymists have a liquor called water of depart. Bacon.
2. A going away; departure; hence, death. [Obs.]
At my depart for France. Shak.
Your loss and his depart. Shak.
DEPARTABLE
De*part"a*ble, a.
Defn: Divisible. [Obs.] Bacon.
DEPARTER
De*part"er, n.
1. One who refines metals by separation. [Obs.]
2. One who departs.
DEPARTMENT
De*part"ment, n. Etym: [F. département, fr. départir. See Depart, v.
i.]
1. Act of departing; departure. [Obs.]
Sudden departments from one extreme to another. Wotton.
2. A part, portion, or subdivision.
3. A distinct course of life, action, study, or the like; appointed
sphere or walk; province.
Superior to Pope in Pope's own peculiar department of literature.
Macaulay.
4. Subdivision of business or official duty; especially, one of the
principal divisions of executive government; as, the treasury
department; the war department; also, in a university, one of the
divisions of instructions; as, the medical department; the department
of physics.
5. A territorial division; a district; esp., in France, one of the
districts composed of several arrondissements into which the country
is divided for governmental purposes; as, the Department of the
Loire.
6. A military subdivision of a country; as, the Department of the
Potomac.
DEPARTMENTAL
De`part*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a department or division. Burke.
DEPARTMENT STORE
De*part"ment store.
Defn: A store keeping a great variety of goods which are arranged in
several departments, esp. one with dry goods as the principal stock.
DEPARTURE
De*par"ture, n. Etym: [From Depart.]
1. Division; separation; putting away. [Obs.]
No other remedy . . . but absolute departure. Milton.
2. Separation or removal from a place; the act or process of
departing or going away.
Departure from this happy place. Milton.
3. Removal from the present life; death; decease.
The time of my departure is at hand. 2 Tim. iv. 6.
His timely departure . . . barred him from the knowledge of his son's
miseries. Sir P. Sidney.
4. Deviation or abandonment, as from or of a rule or course of
action, a plan, or a purpose.
Any departure from a national standard. Prescott.
5. (Law)
Defn: The desertion by a party to any pleading of the ground taken by
him in his last antecedent pleading, and the adoption of another.
Bouvier.
6. (Nav. & Surv.)
Defn: The distance due east or west which a person or ship passes
over in going along an oblique line.
Note: Since the meridians sensibly converge, the departure in
navigation is not measured from the beginning nor from the end of the
ship's course, but is regarded as the total easting or westing made
by the ship or person as he travels over the course. To take a
departure (Nav. & Surv.), to ascertain, usually by taking bearings
from a landmark, the position of a vessel at the beginning of a
voyage as a point from which to begin her dead reckoning; as, the
ship took her departure from Sandy Hook.
Syn.
-- Death; demise; release. See Death.
DEPASCENT
De*pas"cent, a. Etym: [L. depascens, p. pr. of depascere; de- +
pascere to feed.]
Defn: Feeding. [R.]
DEPASTURE
De*pas"ture, v. t. & i.
Defn: To pasture; to feed; to graze; also, to use for pasture. [R.]
Cattle, to graze and departure in his grounds. Blackstone.
A right to cut wood upon or departure land. Washburn.
DEPATRIATE
De*pa"tri*ate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. de- + patria one's country.]
Defn: To withdraw, or cause to withdraw, from one's country; to
banish. [Obs.]
A subject born in any state May, if he please, depatriate. Mason.
DEPAUPERATE
De*pau"per*ate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Depauperated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Depauperating.] Etym: [LL. depauperatus, p. p. depauperare to
impoverish; L. de- + pauperare to make poor, pauper poor.]
Defn: To make poor; to impoverish.
Liming does not depauperate; the ground will last long, and bear
large grain. Mortimer.
Humility of mind which depauperates the spirit. Jer. Taylor.
DEPAUPERATE
De*pau"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. depauperatus, p. p.] (Bot.)
Defn: Falling short of the natural size, from being impoverished or
starved. Gray.
DEPAUPERIZE
De*pau"per*ize, v. t.
Defn: To free from paupers; to rescue from poverty. [R.]
DEPEACH
De*peach", v. t. Etym: [L. dépêcher. See Dispatch.]
Defn: To discharge. [Obs.]
As soon as the party . . . before our justices shall be depeached.
Hakluyt.
DEPECTIBLE
De*pec"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. depectere to comb off; de- + pectere to
comb.]
Defn: Tough; thick; capable of extension. [Obs.]
Some bodies are of a more depectible nature than oil. Bacon.
DEPECULATION
De*pec`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. depeculari, p. p. depeculatus, to rob.
See Peculate.]
Defn: A robbing or embezzlement. [Obs.]
Depeculation of the public treasure. Hobbes.
DEPEINCT
De*peinct", v. t. Etym: [See Depaint.]
Defn: To paint. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEPEND
De*pend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Depended; p. pr. & vb. n. Depending.]
Etym: [F. dépendre, fr. L. depend; de- + pend to hang. See Pendant.]
1. To hang down; to be sustained by being fastened or attached to
something above.
And ever-living lamps depend in rows. Pope.
2. To hang in suspense; to be pending; to be undetermined or
undecided; as, a cause depending in court.
You will not think it unnatural that those who have an object
depending, which strongly engages their hopes and fears, should be
somewhat inclined to superstition. Burke.
3. To rely for support; to be conditioned or contingent; to be
connected with anything, as a cause of existence, or as a necessary
condition; -- followed by on or upon, formerly by of.
The truth of God's word dependeth not of the truth of the
congregation. Tyndale.
The conclusion . . . that our happiness depends little on political
institutions, and much on the temper and regulation of our own minds.
Macaulay.
Heaven forming each on other to depend. Pope.
4. To trust; to rest with confidence; to rely; to confide; to be
certain; -- with on or upon; as, we depend on the word or assurance
of our friends; we depend on the mail at the usual hour.
But if you 're rough, and use him like a dog, Depend upon it -- he
'll remain incog. Addison.
5. To serve; to attend; to act as a dependent or retainer. [Obs.]
Shak.
6. To impend. [Obs.] Shak.
DEPENDABLE
De*pend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy of being depended on; trustworthy. "Dependable
friendships." Pope.
DEPENDANT; DEPENDANCE; DEPENDANCY
De*pend"ant, De*pend"ance, n., De*pend"an*cy, n.
Defn: See Dependent, Dependence, Dependency.
Note: The forms dependant, dependance, dependancy are from the
French; the forms dependent, etc., are from the Latin. Some
authorities give preference to the form dependant when the word is a
noun, thus distinguishing it from the adjective, usually written
dependent.
DEPENDENCE
De*pend"ence, n. Etym: [LL. dependentia, fr. L. dependens. See
Dependent, and cf. Dependance.]
1. The act or state of depending; state of being dependent; a hanging
down or from; suspension from a support.
2. The state of being influenced and determined by something;
subjection (as of an effect to its cause).
The cause of effects, and the dependence of one thing upon another.
Bp. Burnet.
3. Mutu
So dark adependence or order. Sir T. More.
4. Subjection to the direction or disposal of another; inability to
help or provide for one's self.
Reduced to a servile dependence on their mercy. Burke.
5. A resting with confidence; reliance; trust.
Affectionate dependence on the Creator is the spiritual life of the
soul. T. Erskine.
6. That on which one depends or relies; as, he was her sole
dependence.
7. That which depends; anything dependent or suspended; anything
attached a subordinate to, or contingent on, something else.
Like a large cluster of black grapes they show And make a large
dependence from the bough. Dryden.
8. A matter depending, or in suspense, and still to be determined;
ground of controversy or quarrel. [Obs.]
To go on now with my first dependence. Beau. & Fl.
DEPENDENCY
De*pend"en*cy, n.; pl. Dependencies (.
1. State of being dependent; dependence; state of being subordinate;
subordination; concatenation; connection; reliance; trust.
Any long series of action, the parts of which have very much
dependency each on the other. Sir J. Reynolds.
So that they may acknowledge their dependency on the crown of
England. Bacon.
2. A thing hanging down; a dependence.
3. That which is attached to something else as its consequence,
subordinate, satellite, and the like.
This earth and its dependencies. T. Burnet.
Modes I call such complex ideas which . . . are considered as
dependencies on or affections of substances. Locke.
4. A territory remote from the kingdom or state to which it belongs,
but subject to its dominion; a colony; as, Great Britain has its
dependencies in Asia, Africa, and America.
Note: Dependence is more used in the abstract, and dependency in the
concrete. The latter is usually restricted in meaning to 3 and 4.
DEPENDENT
De*pend"ent, a. Etym: [L. dependens, -entis, p. pr. dependere. See
Depend, and cf. Dependant.]
1. Hanging down; as, a dependent bough or leaf.
2. Relying on, or subject to, something else for support; not able to
exist, or sustain itself, or to perform anything, without the will,
power, or aid of something else; not self-sustaining; contingent or
conditioned; subordinate; -- often with on or upon; as, dependent on
God; dependent upon friends.
England, long dependent and degraded, was again a power of the first
rank. Macaulay.
Dependent covenant or contract (Law), one not binding until some
connecting stipulation is performed.
-- Dependent variable (Math.), a varying quantity whose changes are
arbitrary, but are regarded as produced by changes in another
variable, which is called the independent variable.
DEPENDENT
De*pend"ent, n.
1. One who depends; one who is sustained by another, or who relies on
another for support of favor; a hanger-on; a retainer; as, a numerous
train of dependents.
A host of dependents on the court, suborned to play their part as
witnesses. Hallam.
2. That which depends; corollary; consequence.
With all its circumstances and dependents. Prynne.
Note: See the Note under Dependant.
DEPENDENTLY
De*pend"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dependent manner.
DEPENDER
De*pend"er, n.
Defn: One who depends; a dependent.
DEPENDINGLY
De*pend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: As having dependence. Hale.
DEPEOPLE
De*peo"ple, v. t.
Defn: To depopulate. [Obs.]
DEPERDIT
De*per"dit, n. Etym: [LL. deperditum, fr. L. deperditus, p. p. of
deperdere; de- + perdere to lose, destroy.]
Defn: That which is lost or destroyed. [R.] Paley.
DEPERDITELY
De*per"dite*ly
Defn: , adv. Hopelessly; despairingly; in the manner of one ruined;
as, deperditely wicked. [Archaic]
DEPERDITION
Dep`er*di"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déperdition.]
Defn: Loss; destruction. [Archaic] Sir T. Browne.
DEPERTIBLE
De*per"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Depart.]
Defn: Divisible. [Obs.] Bacon.
DEPHASE
De*phase", v. t. (Elec.)
Defn: To put out of phase, as two parts of a single alternating
current.
DEPHLEGM
De*phlegm", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + phlegm water; cf. F. déphlegmer,
déflegmer.] (O. Chem.)
Defn: To rid of phlegm or water; to dephlegmate. [Obs.] Boyle.
DEPHLEGMATE
De*phleg"mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dephlegmated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dephlegmating.] Etym: [See Dephlegm.] (Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of superabundant water, as by evaporation or
distillation; to clear of aqueous matter; to rectify; -- used of
spirits and acids.
DEPHLEGMATION
De`phleg*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déflegmation.] (Chem.)
Defn: The operation of separating water from spirits and acids, by
evaporation or repeated distillation; -- called also concentration,
especially when acids are the subject of it. [Obs.]
DEPHLEGMATOR
De*phleg"ma*tor, n.
Defn: An instrument or apparatus in which water is separated by
evaporation or distillation; the part of a distilling apparatus in
which the separation of the vapors is effected.
DEPHLEGMATORY
De*phleg"ma*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or producing, dephlegmation.
DEPHLEGMEDNESS
De*phlegm"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being freed from water. [Obs.] Boyle.
DEPHLOGISTICCATE
De`phlo*gis"tic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dephlogisticated; p. pr. &
vb. n. Dephlogisticating.] Etym: [Pref. de- + phlosticate: cf. F.
déphlogistiguer.] (O. Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of phlogiston, or the supposed principle of
inflammability. Priestley. Dephlogisticated air, oxygen gas; -- so
called by Dr. Priestly and others of his time.
-- De`phlo*gis`ti*ca"tion, n.
DEPHOSPHORIZATION
De*phos`phor*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of freeing from phosphorous.
DEPICT
De*pict", p. p. Etym: [L. depictus, p. p. of depingere to depict; de-
+ pingere to paint. See Paint, and cf. Depaint, p. p.]
Defn: Depicted. Lydgate.
DEPICT
De*pict", p. p. Etym: [L. depictus, p. p. of depinger to depict; de-
+ pingere to paint. See Paint, and cf. Depaint, p. p.]
Defn: Depicted. Lydgate.
DEPICT
De*pict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depicting.]
1. To form a colored likeness of; to represent by a picture; to
paint; to portray.
His arms are fairly depicted in his chamber. Fuller.
2. To represent in words; to describe vividly.
Cæsar's gout was then depicted in energetic language. Motley.
DEPICTION
De*pic"tion, n. Etym: [L. depictio.]
Defn: A painting or depicting; a representation.
DEPICTURE
De*pic"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depictured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depicturing.]
Defn: To make a picture of; to paint; to picture; to depict.
Several persons were depictured in caricature. Fielding.
DEPILATE
Dep"i*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depilated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depilating.] Etym: [L. depilatus, p. p. of depilare to depilate; de-
+ pilare to put forth hairs, pilus hair.]
Defn: To strip of hair; to husk. Venner.
DEPILATION
Dep`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépilation.]
Defn: Act of pulling out or removing the hair; unhairing. Dryden.
DEPILATORY
De*pil"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépilatoire.]
Defn: Having the quality or power of removing hair.
-- n.
Defn: An application used to take off hair.
DEPILOUS
Dep"i*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. de- + pilous: cf. L. depilis.]
Defn: Hairless. Sir t. Browne.
DEPLANATE
De*pla"nate, a. Etym: [L. deplanetus, p. p. of deplanare to make
level. See Plane, v. t.] (Bot.)
Defn: Flattened; made level or even.
DEPLANT
De*plant", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + plan: cf. F. déplanter, L.
deplantare to take off a twig. See Plant, v. t.]
Defn: To take up (plants); to transplant. [R.]
DEPLANTATION
De`plan*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déplantation.]
Defn: Act of taking up plants from beds.
DEPLETE
De*plete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Depleting.]
Etym: [From L. deplere to empty out; de- + plere to fill. Forined
like replete, complete. See Fill, Full, a.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: To empty or unload, as the vessels of human system, by
bloodletting or by medicine. Copland.
2. To reduce by destroying or consuming the vital powers of; to
exhaust, as a country of its strength or resources, a treasury of
money, etc. Saturday Review.
DEPLETION
De*ple"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déplétion.]
1. The act of depleting or emptying.
2. (Med.)
Defn: the act or process of diminishing the quantity of fluid in the
vessels by bloodletting or otherwise; also excessive evacuation, as
in severe diarrhea.
DEPLETIVE
De*ple"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déplétif.]
Defn: Able or fitted to deplete.
-- n.
Defn: A substance used to deplete.
DEPLETORY
De*ple"to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to deplete.
DEPLICATION
Dep`li*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deplicare to unfold; L. de- + plicare
to fold.]
Defn: An unfolding, untwisting, or unplaiting. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DEPLOITATION
Dep`loi*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. Exploitation, Deploy.]
Defn: Same as Exploitation.
DEPLORABILITY
De*plor`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deplorableness. Stormonth.
DEPLORABLE
De*plor"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déplorable.]
Defn: Worthy of being deplored or lamented; lamentable; causing
grief; hence, sad; calamitous; grievous; wretched; as, life's evils
are deplorable.
Individual sufferers are in a much more deplorable conditious than
any others. Burke.
DEPLORABLENESS
De*plor"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being deplorable.
DEPLORABLY
De*plor"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a deplorable manner.
DEPLORATE
De*plo"rate, a. Etym: [L. deploratus, p. p. of deplorare. See
Deplore.]
Defn: Deplorable. [Obs.]
A more deplorate estate. Baker.
DEPLORATION
Dep`lo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. deploratio: cf. F. déploration.]
Defn: The act of deploring or lamenting; lamentation. Speed.
DEPLORE
De*plore", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplored; p. pr. & vb. n. Deploring.]
Etym: [L. deplorare; de- + plorare to cry out, wail, lament; prob.
akin to pluere to rain, and to E. flow: cf. F. déplorer. Cf. Flow.]
1. To feel or to express deep and poignant grief for; to bewail; to
lament; to mourn; to sorrow over.
To find her, or forever to deplore Her loss. Milton.
As some sad turtle his lost love deplores. Pope.
2. To complain of. [Obs.] Shak.
3. To regard as hopeless; to give up. [Obs.] Bacon.
Syn.
-- To Deplore, Mourn, Lament, Bewail, Bemoan. Mourn is the generic
term, denoting a state of grief or sadness. To lament is to express
grief by outcries, and denotes an earnest and strong expression of
sorrow. To deplore marks a deeper and more prolonged emotion. To
bewail and to bemoan are appropriate only to cases of poignant
distress, in which the grief finds utterance either in wailing or in
moans and sobs. A man laments his errors, and deplores the ruin they
have brought on his family; mothers bewail or bemoan the loss of
their children.
DEPLORE
De*plore", v. i.
Defn: To lament. Gray.
DEPLOREDLY
De*plor"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Lamentably.
DEPLOREDNESS
De*plor"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being deplored or deplorable. [R.] Bp. Hail.
DEPLOREMENT
De*plore"ment, n.
Defn: Deploration. [Obs.]
DEPLORER
De*plor"er, n.
Defn: One who deplores.
DEPLORINGLY
De*plor"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a deploring manner.
DEPLOY
De*ploy", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Deployed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deploying.] Etym: [F. déployer; pref. dé = dés (L. dis) + ployer,
equiv. to plier to fold, fr. L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Display.]
(Mil.)
Defn: To open out; to unfold; to spread out (a body of troops) in
such a way that they shall display a wider front and less depth; --
the reverse of ploy; as, to deploy a column of troops into line of
battle.
DEPLOY; DEPLOYMENT
De*ploy", De*ploy"ment, n. (Mil.)
Defn: The act of deploying; a spreading out of a body of men in order
to extend their front. -Wilhelm.
Deployments . . . which cause the soldier to turn his back to the
enemy are not suited to war.H.L. Scott.
DEPLUMATE
De*plu"mate, a. Etym: [LL. diplumatus, p. p. of deplumare. See
Deplume.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute or deprived of features; deplumed.
DEPLUMATION
Dep`lu*ma"tion, n. Etym: [See Deplumate.]
1. The stripping or falling off of plumes or feathers. Bp.
Stillingfleet
2. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the eyelids, attended with loss of the eyelashes.
Thomas.
DEPLUME
De*plume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deplumed; p. pr. & vb. n. Depluming.]
Etym: [LL. deplumare; L. de- + plumare to cover with feathers, pluma
feather: cf. deplumis featherless, and F. déplumer.]
1. To strip or pluck off the feather of; to deprive of of plumage.
On the depluming of the pope every bird had his own feather. Fuller.
2. To lay bare; to expose.
The exposure and depluming of the leading humbugs of the age. De
Quincey.
DEPOLARIZATION
De*po`lar*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépolarisation.]
Defn: The act of depriving of polarity, or the result of such action;
reduction to an unpolarized condition. Depolarization of light
(Opt.), a change in the plane of polarization of rays, especially by
a crystalline medium, such that the light which had been extinguished
by the analyzer reappears as if the polarization had been anulled.
The word is inappropriate, as the ray does not return to the
unpolarized condition.
DEPOLARIZE
De*po"lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depolarized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depolarizing.] Etym: [Pref. de- + polarize: cf. F. dépolarizer.]
1. (Opt.)
Defn: To deprive of polarity; to reduce to an unpolarized condition.
Note: This word has been inaccurately applied in optics to describe
the effect of a polarizing medium, as a crystalline plate, in causing
the reappearance of a ray, in consequence of a change in its plane of
polarization, which previously to the change was intercepted by the
analyzer.
2. (Elec.)
Defn: To free from polarization, as the negative plate of the voltaic
battery.
DEPOLARIZER
De*po"lar*i`zer, n. (Elec.)
Defn: A substance used to prevent polarization, as upon the negative
plate of a voltaic battery.
DEPOLISH
De*pol"ish, v. t.
Defn: To remove the polish or glaze from.
DEPOLISHING
De*pol"ish*ing, n. (Ceramics)
Defn: The process of removing the vitreous glaze from porcelain,
leaving the dull luster of the surface of ivory porcelian. Knight.
DEPONE
De*pone", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deponed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deponing.]
Etym: [L. deponere, depositum, to put down, in LL., to assert under
oath; de- + ponere to put, place. See Position, and cf. Deposit.]
1. To lay, as a stake; to wager. [Obs.] Hudibras.
2. To lay down. [R.] Southey.
3. To assert under oath; to depose. [A Scotticism]
Sprot deponeth that he entered himself thereafter in conference.
State Trials(1606).
DEPONE
De*pone", v. i.
Defn: To testify under oath; to depose; to bear witness. [A
Scotticism]
The fairy Glorians, whose credibility on this point can not be called
in question, depones to the confinement of Merlin in a tree. Dunlop.
DEPONENT
De*po"nent, n. Etym: [L. deponenes, -entis, laying down. See Depone,
v. t.]
1. (Law)
Defn: One who deposes or testifies under oath; one who gives
evidence; usually, one who testifies in writing.
2. (Gr. & Lat. Gram.)
Defn: A deponent verb.
Syn.
-- Deponent, Affiant. These are legal terms describing a person who
makes a written declaration under oath, with a view to establish
certain facts. An affiant is one who makes an affidavit, or
declaration under oath, in order to establish the truth of what he
says. A deponenet is one who makes a deposition, or gives written
testimony under oath, to be used in the trial of some case before a
court of justice. See under Deposition.
DEPONENT
De*po"nent, a. Etym: [L. deponens, -entis, laying down (its proper
passive meaning), p. pr. of deponere: cf. F. déponent. See Depone.]
(Gram.)
Defn: Having a passive form with an active meaning, as certain latin
and Greek verbs.
DEPOPULACY
De*pop"u*la*cy, n.
Defn: Depopulation; destruction of population. [R.] Chapman.
DEPOPULATE
De*pop"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depopulated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depopulating.] Etym: [L. depopulatus, p. p. of depopulari to ravage;
de- + populari to ravage, fr. populus people: cf. OF. depopuler, F.
dépeupler. See People.]
Defn: To deprive of inhabitants, whether by death or by expulsion; to
reduce greatly the populousness of; to dispeople; to unpeople.
Where is this viper, That would depopulate the city Shak.
Note: It is not synonymous with laying waste or destroying, being
limited to the loss of inhabitants; as, an army or a famine may
depopulate a country. It rarely expresses an entire loss of
inhabitants, but often a great diminution of their numbers; as, the
deluge depopulated the earth.
DEPOPULATE
De*pop"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To become dispeopled. [R.]
Whether the country be depopulating or not. Goldsmith.
DEPOPULATION
De*pop`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. depopulatio pillaging: cf. F.
dépopulation depopulation.]
Defn: The act of depopulating, or condition of being depopulated;
destruction or explusion of inhabitants.
The desolation and depopulation [of St.Quentin] were now complete.
Motley.
DEPOPULATOR
De*pop"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L., pillager.]
Defn: One who depopulates; a dispeopler.
DEPORT
De*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deported; p. pr. & vb. n. Deporting.]
Etym: [F. déporter to transport for life, OF., to divert, amuse, from
L. deportare to carry away; de- + portare to carry. See Port
demeanor.]
1. To transport; to carry away; to exile; to send into banishment.
He told us he had been deported to Spain. Walsh.
2. To carry or demean; to conduct; to behave; -- followed by the
reflexive pronoun.
Let an ambassador deport himself in the most graceful manner befor a
prince. Pope.
DEPORT
De*port", n.
Defn: Behavior; carrige; demeanor; deportment. [Obs.] "Goddesslike
deport." Milton.
DEPORTATION
De`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. depotatio: cf.F. déportation.]
Defn: The act of deporting or exiling, or the state of being
deported; banishment; transportation.
In their deportations, they had often the favor of their conquerors.
Atterbury.
DEPORTMENT
De*port"ment, n. Etym: [F. déportement misconduct, OF., demeanor. See
Deport.]
Defn: Manner of deporting or demeaning one's self; manner of acting;
conduct; carrige; especially, manner of acting with respect to the
courtesies and duties of life; behavior; demeanor; bearing.
The gravity of his deportment carried him safe through many
difficulties. Swift.
DEPORTURE
De*por"ture, n.
Defn: Deportment. [Obs.]
Stately port and majestical deporture. Speed.
DEPOSABLE
De*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deposed or deprived of office. Howell.
DEPOSAL
De*pos"al, n.
Defn: The act of deposing from office; a removal from the throne.
Fox.
DEPOSE
De*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deposed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deposing.]Etym: [FF. déposer, in the sense of L. deponere to put
down; but from pref. dé- (L. de) + poser to place. See Pose, Pause.]
1. To lay down; to divest one's self of; to lay aside. [Obs.]
Thus when the state one Edward did depose, A greater Edward in his
room arose. Dryden.
2. To let fall; to deposit. [Obs.]
Additional mud deposed upon it. Woodward.
3. To remove from a throne or other high station; to dethrone; to
divest or deprive of office.
A tyrant over his subjects, and therefore worthy to be deposed.
Prynne.
4. To testify under oath; to bear testimony to; -- now usually said
of bearing testimony which is officially written down for future use.
Abbott.
To depose the yearly rent or valuation of lands. Bacon.
5. To put under oath. [Obs.]
Depose him in the justice of his cause. Shak.
DEPOSE
De*pose", v. i.
Defn: To bear witness; to testify under oath; to make deposition.
Then, seeing't was he that made you to despose, Your oath, my lord,
is vain and frivolous. Shak.
DEPOSER
De*pos"er, n.
1. One who deposes or degrades from office.
2. One who testifies or deposes; a deponent.
DEPOSIT
De*pos"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depoited; p. pr. & vb. n. Depositing.]
Etym: [L. depositus, p. p. of deponere. See Depone, and cf. Deposit,
n.]
1. To lay down; to place; to put; to let fall or throw down (as
sediment); as, a crocodile deposits her eggs in the sand; the waters
deposited a rich alluvium.
The fear is deposited in conscience. Jer. Taylor.
2. To lay up or away for safekeeping; to put up; to store; as, to
deposit goods in a warehouse.
3. To lodge in some one's hands for sale keeping; to commit to the
custody of another; to intrust; esp., to place in a bank, as a sum of
money subject to order.
4. To lay aside; to rid one's self of. [Obs.]
If what is written prove useful to you, to the depositing that which
i can not deem an error. Hammond.
Note: Both this verb and the noun following written deposite.
DEPOSIT
De*pos"it, n. Etym: [L. depositum, fr. depositus, p. p. of deponere:
cf. F. dépôt, OF. depost. See Deposit, v. t., and cf. Depot.]
1. That is deposited, or laid or thrown down; as, a deposit in a
flue; especially, matter precipitated from a solution (as the
siliceous deposits of hot springs), or that which is mechanically
deposited (as the mud, gravel, etc., deposits of a river).
The deposit already formed affording to the succeeding portion of the
charged fluid a basis. Kirwan.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A natural occurrence of a useful mineral under the conditions
to invite exploitation. Raymond.
3. That which is placed anywhere, or in any one's hands, for safe
keeping; somthing intrusted to the care of another; esp., money
lodged with a bank or banker, subject to order; anything given as
pledge or security.
4. (Law)
(a) A bailment of money or goods to be kept gratuitously for the
bailor.
(b) Money lodged with a party as earnest or security for the
performance of a duty assumed by the person depositing.
5. A place of deposit; a depository. [R.] Bank of deposit. See under
Bank.
-- In deposit, or On deposit, in trust or safe keeping as a deposit;
as, coins were recieved on deposit.
DEPOSITARY
De*pos"i*ta*ry, n.; pl. Depositaries. Etym: [L. depositarius, fr.
deponere. See Deposit.]
1. One with whom anything is lodged in the trust; one who receives a
deposit; -- the correlative of depositor.
I . . . made you my guardians, my depositaries. Shak.
The depositaries of power, who are mere delegates of the people.J.S.
Mill.
2. A storehouse; a depository. Bp. Hurd.
3. (Law)
Defn: One to whom goods are bailed, to be kept for the bailor without
a recompense. Kent.
DEPOSITION
Dep`o*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. depositio, fr. deponere: cf. F.
déposition. See Deposit.]
1. The act of depositing or deposing; the act of laying down or
thrown down; precipitation.
The deposition of rough sand and rolled pebbles. H. Miller.
2. The act of bringing before the mind; presentation.
The influence of princes upon the dispositions of their courts needs
not the deposition of their examples, since it hath the authority of
a known principle. W. Montagu.
3. The act of setting aside a sovereign or a public officer;
deprivation of authority and dignity; displacement; removal.
Note: A deposition differs from an abdication, an abdication being
voluntary, and a deposition compulsory.
4. That which is deposited; matter laid or thrown down; sediment;
alluvial matter; as, banks are sometimes depositions of alluvial
matter.
5. An opinion, example, or statement, laid down or asserted; a
declaration.
6. (Law)
Defn: The act of laying down one's testimony in writing; also,
testimony laid or taken down in writting, under oath or affirmation,
befor some competent officer, and in reply to interrogatories and
cross-interrogatories.
Syn.
-- Deposition, Affidavit. Affidavit is the wider term. It denotes
any authorized ex parte written statement of a person, sworn to or
affirmed before some competent magistrate. It is made without cross-
examination, and requires no notice to an opposing party. It is
generally signed by the party making it, and may be drawn up by
himself or any other person. A deposition is the written testimony of
a witness, taken down in due form of law, and sworn to or affirmed by
the deponent. It must be taken before some authorized magistrate, and
upon a prescribed or reasonable notice to the opposing party, that
may attend and cross-examine. It is generally written down from the
mouth of the witness by the magistrate, or some person for him, and
in his presence.
DEPOSITOR
De*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. deponere. See Depone.]
Defn: One who makes a deposit, especially of money in bank; -- the
correlative of depository.
DEPOSITORY
De*pos"i*to*ry, n.; pl. Depositories (.
1. A place where anything is deposited for sale or keeping; as,
warehouse is a depository for goods; a clerk's office is a depository
for records.
2. One with whom something is deposited; a depositary.
I am the sole depository of my own secret, and it shall perish with
me. Junius.
DEPOSITUM
De*pos"i*tum, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Deposit.
DEPOSITURE
De*pos"i*ture, n.
Defn: The act of depositing; deposition. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DEPOT
De"pot, n. Etym: [F. dépôt, OF. depost, fr. L. depositum a deposit.
See Deposit, n.]
1. A place of deposit storing of goods; a warehouse; a storehouse.
The islands of Guernsey and Jersey are at present the great depots of
this kingdom. Brit Critic (1794).
2. (Mil.)
(a) A military station where stores and provisions are kept, or where
recruits are assembled and drilled.
(b) (Eng. & France) The headquarters of a regiment, where all
supplies are recieved and distributed, recruits are assembled and
instructed, infirm or disabled soldiers are taken care of, and all
the wants of the regiment are provided for.
3. A railway station; a building for the accommodation and protection
of railway passenges or freight. [U. S.]
Syn.
-- See Station.
DEPPER
Dep"per, a.
Defn: Deeper. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEPRAVATION
Dep`ra*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. depravitio, from depravare: cf. F.
dépravation. See Deprave.]
1. Detraction; depreciation. [Obs.]
To stubborn critics, apt, without a theme, For depravation. Shak.
2. The act of depraving, or making anything bad; the act of
corrupting.
3. The state of being depraved or degenerated; degeneracy; depravity.
The depravation of his moral character destroyed his judgment. Sir G.
C. Lewis.
4. (Med.)
Defn: Change for the worse; deterioration; morbid perversion.
Syn.
-- Depravity; corruption. See Depravity.
DEPRAVE
De*prave", n. t. [imp. & p. p. Depraved; p. pr. & vb. n. Depraving.]
Etym: [L. depravare, depravatum; de- + pravus crooked, distorted,
perverse, wicked.]
1. To speak ill of; to depreciate; to malign; to revile. [Obs.]
And thou knowest, conscience, I came not to chide Nor deprave thy
person with a proud heart. Piers Plowman.
2. To make bad or worse; to vitiate; to corrupt.
Whose pride depraves each other better part. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To corrupt; vitiate; contaminate; pollute.
DEPRAVEDLY
De*prav"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depraved manner.
DEPRAVEDNESS
De*prav"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Depravity. Hammond.
DEPRAVEMENT
De*prave"ment, n.
Defn: Depravity. [Obs.] Milton.
DEPRAVER
De*prav"er, n.
Defn: One who deprave or corrupts.
DEPRAVINGLY
De*prav"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depraving manner.
DEPRAVITY
De*prav"i*ty, n. Etym: [From Deprave: cf. L. pravitas crookedness,
perverseness.]
Defn: The stae of being depraved or corrupted; a vitiated state of
moral character; general badness of character; wickedness of mind or
heart; absence of religious feeling and principle. Total depravity.
See Original sin, and Calvinism.
Syn.
-- Corruption; vitiation; wickedness; vice; contamination;
degeneracy.
-- Depravity, Depravation, Corruption. Depravilty is a vitiated
state of mind or feeling; as, the depravity of the human heart;
depravity of public morals. Depravation points to the act or process
of making depraved, and hence to the end thus reached; as, a gradual
depravation of principle; a depravation of manners, of the heart,
etc. Corruption is the only one of these words which applies to
physical substances, and in reference to these denotes the process by
which their component parts are dissolved. Hence, when figuratively
used, it denotes an utter vitiation of principle or feeling.
Depravity applies only to the mind and heart: we can speak of a
depraved taste, or a corrupt taste; in the first we introduce the
notion that there has been the influence of bad training to pervert;
in the second, that there is a want of true principle to pervert; in
the second, that there is a want of true principles to decide. The
other two words have a wider use: we can speak of the depravation or
the corruption of taste and public sentiment. Depravity is more or
less open; corruption is more or less disguised in its operations.
What is depraved requires to be reformed; what is corrupt requires to
be purified.
DEPRECABLE
Dep"re*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. deprecabilis exorable.]
Defn: That may or should be deprecated. Paley.
DEPRECATE
Dep"re*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprecated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deprecating.] Etym: [L. deprecatus, p. p. of deprecari to avert by
player, to deprecate; de- + precari to pray. See Pray.]
Defn: To pray against, as an evil; to seek to avert by player; to
desire the removal of; to seek deliverance from; to express deep
regret for; to disapprove of strongly.
His purpose was deprecated by all round him, and he was with
difficulty induced to adandon it. Sir W. Scott.
DEPRECATINGLY
Dep"re*ca`tingly, adv.
Defn: In a deprecating manner.
DEPRECATION
Dep`re*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. deprecatio; cf. F. déprécation.]
1. The act of deprecating; a praying against evil; prayer that an
evil may be removed or prevented; strong expression of
disapprobation.
Humble deprecation. Milton.
2. Entreaty for pardon; petitioning.
3. An imprecation or curse. [Obs.] Gilpin.
DEPRECATIVE
Dep"re*ca*tive, a. Etym: [L. deprecativus: cf. F. déprécatif.]
Defn: Serving to deprecate; deprecatory.
-- Dep"re*ca*tive*ly, adv.
DEPRECATOR
Dep"re*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who deprecates.
DEPRECATORY
Dep"re*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. deprecatorius.]
Defn: Serving to deprecate; tending to remove or avert evil by
prayer; apologetic.
Humble and deprecatory letters. Bacon.
DEPRECIATE
De*pre"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depreciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depreciating.] Etym: [L. depretiatus, depreciatus, p. p. of
depretiare, -ciare, to depreciate; de- + pretiare to prize, fr.
pretium price. See Price.]
Defn: To lessen in price or estimated value; to lower the worth of;
to represent as of little value or claim to esteem; to undervalue.
Addison.
Which . . . some over-severe phoilosophers may look upon
fastidiously, or undervalue and depreciate. Cudworth.
To prove that the Americans ought not to be free, we are obliged to
depreciate the value of freedom itself. Burke.
Syn.
-- To decry; disparage; traduce; lower; detract; underrate. See
Decry.
DEPRECIATE
De*pre"ci*ate, v. i.
Defn: To fall in value; to become of less worth; to sink in
estimation; as, a paper currency will depreciate, unless it is
convertible into specie.
DEPRECIATION
De*pre`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépréciation.]
1. The act of lessening, or seeking to lessen, price, value, or
reputation.
2. The falling of value; reduction of worth. Burke.
3. the state of being depreciated.
DEPRECIATIVE
De*pre"ci*a`tive, a.
Defn: Tending, or intended, to depreciate; expressing depreciation;
undervaluing.
-- De*pre"ci*a`tive*ly, adv.
DEPRECIATOR
De*pre"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who depreciates.
DEPRECIATORY
De*pre"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to depreciate; undervaluing; depreciative.
DEPREDABLE
Dep"re*da*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to depredation. [Obs.] "Made less depredable." Bacon.
DEPREDATE
Dep"re*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depredated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depredating.] Etym: [L. depraedatus, p. p. of depraedari to plunder;
de- + praedari to plunder, praeda plunder, prey. See Prey.]
Defn: To subject to plunder and pillage; to despoil; to lay waste; to
prey upon.
It makes the substance of the body . . . less apt to be consumed and
depredated by the spirits. Bacon.
DEPREDATE
Dep"re*date, v. i.
Defn: To take plunder or prey; to commit waste; as, the troops
depredated on the country.
DEPREDATION
Dep`re*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. depraedatio: cf. F. déprédation.]
Defn: The act of depredating, or the state of being depredated; the
act of despoiling or making inroads; as, the sea often makes
depredation on the land.
DEPREDATOR
Dep"re*da`tor, n. Etym: [L. depraedator.]
Defn: One who plunders or pillages; a spoiler; a robber.
DEPREDATORY
Dep"re*da`to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending or designed to depredate; characterized by depredation;
plundering; as, a depredatory incursion.
DEPREDICATE
De*pred"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intensive) + predicate.]
Defn: To proclaim; to celebrate. [R.]
DEPREHEND
Dep`re*hend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprehended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deprehending.] Etym: [L. deprehendere, deprehensum; de- + prehendere
to lay hold of, seize. See Prehensile.]
1. To take unwares or by surprise; to seize, as a person commiting an
unlawful act; to catch; to apprehend.
The deprehended adulteress.Jer. Taylor.
2. To detect; to discover; to find out.
The motion . . . are to be deprehended by experience. Bacon.
DEPREHENSIBLE
Dep`re*hen"si*ble, a.
Defn: That may be caught or discovered; apprehensible. [Obs.] Petty.
-- Dep`re*hen"si*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
DEPREHENSION
Dep`re*hen"sion, n. Etym: [L. deprehensio.]
Defn: A catching; discovery. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DEPRESS
De*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depressed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depressing.] Etym: [L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de- + premere
to press. See Press.]
1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower; as, to
depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes. "With lips
depressed." Tennyson.
2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.
3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were depressed.
4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as trade,
commerce, etc.
5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to cheapen; to
depreciate.
6. (Math.)
Defn: To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree. To depress the pole
(Naut.), to cause the sidereal pole to appear lower or nearer the
horizon, as by sailing toward the equator.
Syn.
-- To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble; degrade;
dispirit; discourage.
DEPRESS
De*press", a. Etym: [L. depressus, p. p.]
Defn: Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.]
If the seal be depress or hollow. Hammond.
DEPRESSANT
De*press"ant, n. (Med.)
Defn: An agent or remedy which lowers the vital powers.
DEPRESSED
De*pressed", a.
1. Pressed or forced down; lowed; sunk; dejected; dispirited; sad;
humbled.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Concave on the upper side; -- said of a leaf whose disk is lower
than the border.
(b) Lying flat; -- said of a stem or leaf which lies close to the
ground.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the vertical diameter shorter than the horizontal or
transverse; -- said of the bodies of animals, or of parts of the
bodies.
DEPRESSINGLY
De*press"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a depressing manner.
DEPRESSION
De*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. depressio: cf. F. dépression.]
1. The act of depressing.
2. The state of being depressed; a sinking.
3. A falling in of the surface; a sinking below its true place; a
cavity or hollow; as, roughness consists in little protuberances and
depressions.
4. Humiliation; abasement, as of pride.
5. Dejection; despondency; lowness.
In a great depression of spirit. Baker.
6. Diminution, as of trade, etc.; inactivity; dullness.
7. (Astron.)
Defn: The angular distance of a celestial object below the horizon.
8. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of reducing to a lower degree; -- said of
equations.
9. (Surg.)
Defn: A method of operating for cataract; couching. See Couch, v. t.,
8. Angle of depression (Geod.), one which a descending line makes
with a horizontal plane.
-- Depression of the dewpoint (Meteor.), the number of degreees that
the dew-point is lower than the actual temperature of the atmosphere.
-- Depression of the pole, its apparent sinking, as the spectator
goes toward the equator.
-- Depression of the visible horizon. (Astron.) Same as Dip of the
horizon, under Dip.
Syn.
-- Abasement; reduction; sinking; fall; humiliation; dejection;
melancholy.
DEPRESSIVE
De*press"ive, a.
Defn: Able or tending to depress or cast down.
-- De*press"ive*ness, n.
DEPRESSOMOTOR
De*pres`so*mo"tor, a. (Med.)
Defn: Depressing or diminishing the capacity for movement, as
depressomotor nerves, which lower or inhibit muscular activity.
-- n.
Defn: Any agent that depresses the activity of the motor centers, as
bromides, etc.
DEPRESSOR
De*press"or, n.
1. One who, or that which, presses down; an oppressor.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle that depresses or tends to draw down a part. Depressor
nerve (Physiol.), a nerve which lowers the activity of an organ; as,
the depressor nerve of the heart.
DEPRIMENT
Dep"ri*ment, a. Etym: [L. deprimens, p. pr. of deprimere. See
Depress.]
Defn: Serving to depress. [R.] "Depriment muscles." Derham.
DEPRISURE
De*pri"sure, n. Etym: [F. dépriser to undervalue; pref. dé- (L. dis-)
+ priser to prize, fr. prix price, fr. L. pretium. See Dispraise.]
Defn: Low estimation; disesteem; contempt. [Obs.]
DEPRIVABLE
De*priv"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, deprived; liable to be
deposed.
Kings of Spain . . . deprivable for their tyrannies. Prynne.
DEPRIVATION
Dep`ri*va"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deprivatio.]
1. The act of depriving, dispossessing, or bereaving; the act of
deposing or divesting of some dignity.
2. The state of being deprived; privation; loss; want; bereavement.
3. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: the taking away from a clergyman his benefice, or other
spiritual promotion or dignity.
Note: Deprivation may be a beneficio or ab officio; the first takes
away the living, the last degrades and deposes from the order.
DEPRIVE
De*prive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprived; p. pr. & vb. n. Depriving.]
Etym: [LL. deprivare, deprivatium, to divest of office; L. de- +
privare to bereave, deprive: cf. OF. depriver. See Private.]
1. To take away; to put an end; to destroy. [Obs.]
'Tis honor to deprive dishonored life. Shak.
2. To dispossess; to bereave; to divest; to hinder from possessing;
to debar; to shut out from; -- with a remoter object, usually
preceded by of.
God hath deprived her of wisdom. Job xxxix. 17.
It was seldom that anger deprived him of power over himself.
Macaulay.
3. To divest of office; to depose; to dispossess of dignity,
especially ecclesiastical.
A miniser deprived for inconformity. Bacon.
Syn.
-- To strip; despoil; rob; abridge.
DEPRIVEMENT
De*prive"ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation. [R.]
DEPRIVER
De*priv"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, deprives.
DEPROSTRATE
De*pros"trate, a.
Defn: Fully prostrate; humble; low; rude. [Obs.]
How may weak mortal ever hope to file His unsmooth tongue, and his
deprostrate style. G. Fletcher.
DEPROVINCIALIZE
De`pro*vin"cial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To divest of provincial quality or characteristics.
DEPTH
Depth, n. Etym: [From Deep; akin to D. diepte, Icel. d, d, Goth.
diupi.]
1. The quality of being deep; deepness; perpendicular measurement
downward from the surface,or horizontal measurement backward from the
front; as, the depth of a river; the depth of a body of troops.
2. Profoundness; extent or degree of intensity; abundance;
completeness; as, depth of knowledge, or color.
Mindful of that heavenly love Which knows no end in depth or height.
Keble.
3. Lowness; as, depth of sound.
4. That which is deep; a deep, or the deepest, part or place; the
deep; the middle part; as, the depth of night, or of winter.
From you unclouded depth above. Keble.
The depth closed me round about. Jonah ii. 5.
5. (Logic)
Defn: The number of simple elements which an abstract conception or
notion includes; the comprehension or content.
6. (Horology)
Defn: A pair of toothed wheels which work together. [R.]
Depth of a sail (Naut.), the extent of a square sail from the head
rope to the foot rope; the length of the after leach of a staysail or
boom sail; -- commonly called the drop of sail.
DEPTHEN
Depth"en, v. t.
Defn: To deepen. [Obs.]
DEPTHLESS
Depth"less, a.
1. Having no depth; shallow.
2. Of measureless depth; unfathomable.
In clouds of depthless night. Francis.
DEPUCELATE
De*pu"ce*late, v. t. Etym: [L. de + LL. pucella virgin, F. pucelle:
cf. F. dépuceler.]
Defn: To deflour; to deprive of virginity. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEPUDICATE
De*pu"di*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. depudicatus, p. p. of depudicare.]
Defn: To deflour; to dishonor. [Obs.]
DEPULSE
De*pulse", v. t. Etym: [L. depulsus, p. p. of depellere to drive out;
de- + pellere to drive.]
Defn: To drive away. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DEPULSION
De*pul"sion, n. Etym: [L. depulsio.]
Defn: A driving or thrusting away. [R.] Speed.
DEPULSORY
De*pul"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. depulsorius.]
Defn: Driving or thrusting away; averting. [R.] Holland.
DEPURANT
Dep"u*rant, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Depurative.
DEPURATE
Dep"u*rate, a. Etym: [LL. depuratus, p. p. of depurare to purify; L.
de- + purare to purify, purus clean, pure. Cf. Depure.]
Defn: Depurated; cleansed; freed from impurities. Boyle.
DEPURATE
Dep"u*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depurated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Depurating.]
Defn: To free from impurities, heterogeneous matter, or feculence; to
purify; to cleanse.
To depurate the mass of blood. Boyle.
DEPURATION
Dep`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuration.]
Defn: The act or process of depurating or freeing from foreign or
impure matter, as a liquid or wound.
DEPURATIVE
Dep"u*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuratif.] (Med.)
Defn: Purifying the blood or the humors; depuratory.
-- n.
Defn: A depurative remedy or agent; or a disease which is believed to
be depurative.
DEPURATOR
Dep"u*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, cleanses.
DEPURATORY
Dep"u*ra*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dépuratoire.]
Defn: Depurating; tending to depurate or cleanse; depurative.
DEPURE
De*pure", v. t. Etym: [F. dépurer. See Depurate.]
Defn: To depurate; to purify. [Obs.]
He shall first be depured and cleansed before that he shall be laid
up for pure gold in the treasures of God. Sir T. More.
DEPURGATORY
De*pur"ga*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to purge; tending to cleanse or purify. [Obs.]
Cotgrave.
DEPURITION
Dep`u*ri"tion, n.
Defn: See Depuration.
DEPUTABLE
Dep"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be deputed; suitable to act as a deputy. Carlyle.
DEPUTATION
Dep`u*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. députation. See Depute.]
1. The act of deputing, or of appointing or commissioning a deputy or
representative; office of a deputy or delegate; vicegerency.
The authority of conscience stands founded upon its vicegerency and
deputation under God. South.
2. The person or persons deputed or commissioned by another person,
party, or public body to act in his or its behalf; delegation; as,
the general sent a deputation to the enemy to propose a truce. By
deputation, or In deputation, by delegated authority; as substitute;
through the medium of a deputy. [Obs.]
Say to great Cæsar this: In deputation I kiss his conquering hand.
Shak.
DEPUTATOR
Dep"u*ta`tor, n.
Defn: One who deputes, or makes a deputation. [R.] Locke.
DEPUTE
De*pute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deputing.]
Etym: [F. députer, fr. L. deputare to esteem, consider, in LL., to
destine, allot; de- + putare to clean, prune, clear up, set in order,
reckon, think. See Pure.]
1. To appoint as deputy or agent; to commission to act in one's
place; to delegate.
There is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 2. Sam. xv. 3.
Some persons, deputed by a meeting. Macaulay.
2. To appoint; to assign; to choose. [R.]
The most conspicuous places in cities are usually deputed for the
erection of statues. Barrow.
DEPUTE
De*pute", n.
Defn: A person deputed; a deputy. [Scot.]
DEPUTIZE
Dep"u*tize, v. t.
Defn: To appoint as one's deputy; to empower to act in one's stead;
to depute.
DEPUTY
Dep"u*ty, n.; pl. Deputies. Etym: [F. député, fr. LL. deputatus. See
Depute.]
1. One appointed as the substitue of another, and empowered to act
for him, in his name or his behalf; a substitute in office; a
lieutenant; a representative; a delegate; a vicegerent; as, the
deputy of a prince, of a sheriff, of a township, etc.
There was then [in the days of Jehoshaphat] no king in Edom; a deputy
was king. 1 Kings xxii. 47.
God's substitute, His deputy anointed in His sight. Shak.
Note: Deputy is used in combination with the names of various
executive officers, to denote an assistant empowered to act in their
name; as, deputy collector, deputy marshal, deputy sheriff.
2. A member of the Chamber of Deputies. [France] Chamber of Deputies,
one of the two branches of the French legilative assembly; --
formerly called Corps Législatif. Its members, called deputies, are
elected by the people voting in districts.
Syn.
-- Substitute; representative; legate; delegate; envoy; agent;
factor.
DEQUANTITATE
De*quan"ti*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. de- + quantatas, -atis. See
Quantity.]
Defn: To diminish the quantity of; to disquantity. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
DEQUEEN
De*queen", v. t. (Apiculture)
Defn: To remove the queen from (a hive of bees).
DERACINATE
De*rac"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deracinated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deracinating.] Etym: [F. déraciner; pref. dé- (L. dis) + racine root,
fr. an assumed LL. radicina, fr. L. radix, radicis, root.]
Defn: To pluck up by the roots; to extirpate. [R.]
While that the colter rusts That should deracinate such savagery.
Shak.
DERACINATION
De*rac`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of pulling up by the roots; eradication. [R.]
DERAIGN; DERAIN
De*raign", De*rain", v. t. Etym: [See Darraign.] (Old Law)
Defn: To prove or to refute by proof; to clear (one's self). [Obs.]
DERAIGNMENT; DERAINMENT
De*raign"ment, De*rain"ment, n. Etym: [See Darraign.]
1. The act of deraigning. [Obs.]
2. The renunciation of religious or monastic vows. [Obs.] Blount.
DERAIL
De*rail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Derailing.]
Defn: To cause to run off from the rails of a railroad, as a
locomotive. Lardner.
DERAILMENT
De*rail"ment, n.
Defn: The act of going off, or the state of being off, the rails of a
railroad.
DERANGE
De*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deranged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deranging.]
Etym: [F. déranger; pref. dé- = dés- (L. dis) + ranger to range. See
Range, and cf. Disarrange, Disrank.]
1. To put out of place, order, or rank; to disturb the proper
arrangement or order of; to throw into disorder, confusion, or
embarrassment; to disorder; to disarrange; as, to derange the plans
of a commander, or the affairs of a nation.
2. To disturb in action or function, as a part or organ, or the whole
of a machine or organism.
A sudden fall deranges some of our internal parts. Blair.
3. To disturb in the orderly or normal action of the intellect; to
render insane.
Syn.
-- To disorder; disarrange; displace; unsettle; disturb; confuse;
discompose; ruffle; disconcert.
DERANGED
De*ranged", a.
Defn: Disordered; especially, disordered in mind; crazy; insane.
The story of a poor deranged parish lad. Lamb.
DERANGEMENT
De*range"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dérangement.]
Defn: The act of deranging or putting out of order, or the state of
being deranged; disarrangement; disorder; confusion; especially,
mental disorder; insanity.
Syn.
-- Disorder; confusion; embarrassment; irregularity; disturbance;
insanity; lunacy; madness; delirium; mania. See Insanity.
DERANGER
De*ran"ger, n.
Defn: One who deranges.
DERAY
De*ray", n. Etym: [OF. derroi, desroi, desrei; pref. des- (L. dis-) +
roi, rei, rai, order. See Array.]
Defn: Disorder; merriment. [Obs.]
DERBIO
Der"bi*o, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large European food fish (Lichia glauca).
DERBY
Der"by (; usually in Eng.; 85), n.
1. A race for three-old horses, run annually at Epsom (near London),
for the Derby stakes. It was instituted by the 12th Earl of Derby, in
1780. Derby Day, the day of the annual race for the Derby stakes, --
Wednesday of the week before Whitsuntide.
2. A stiff felt hat with a dome-shaped crown.
DERBYSHIRE SPAR
Der"by*shire spar". (Min.)
Defn: A massive variety of fluor spar, found in Derbyshire, England,
and wrought into vases and other ornamental work.
DERDOING
Der*do"ing, a. Etym: [See Dere, v. t.]
Defn: Doing daring or chivalrous deeds. [Obs.] "In derdoing arms."
Spenser.
DERE
Dere, v. t. Etym: [AS. derian to hurt.]
Defn: To hurt; to harm; to injure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERE
Dere, n.
Defn: Harm. [Obs.] Robert of Brunne.
DERECHO
De*re"cho, n. [Sp. derecho straight.]
Defn: A straight wind without apparent cyclonic tendency, usually
accompanied with rain and often destructive, common in the prairie
regions of the United States.
DEREINE; DEREYNE
De*reine, De*reyne", v. t.
Defn: Same as Darraign. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERELICT
Der"e*lict, a. Etym: [L. derelictus, p. p. of derelinquere to forsake
wholly, to abandon; de- + relinquere to leave. See Relinquish.]
1. Given up or forsaken by the natural owner or guardian; left and
abandoned; as, derelict lands.
The affections which these exposed or derelict children bear to their
mothers, have no grounds of nature or assiduity but civility and
opinion. Jer. Taylor.
2. Lost; adrift; hence, wanting; careless; neglectful; unfaithful.
They easily prevailed, so as to seize upon the vacant, unoccupied,
and derelict minds of his [Chatham's] friends; and instantly they
turned the vessel wholly out of the course of his policy. Burke.
A government which is either unable or unwilling to redress such
wrongs is derelict to its highest duties. J. Buchanan.
DERELICT
Der"e*lict, n. (Law)
(a) A thing voluntary abandoned or willfully cast away by its proper
owner, especially a ship abandoned at sea.
(b) A tract of land left dry by the sea, and fit for cultivation or
use.
DERELICTION
Der`e*lic"tion, n. Etym: [L. derelictio.]
1. The act of leaving with an intention not to reclaim or resume; an
utter forsaking abandonment.
Cession or dereliction, actual or tacit, of other powers. Burke.
2. A neglect or omission as if by willful abandonment.
A total dereliction of military duties. Sir W. Scott.
3. The state of being left or abandoned.
4. (Law)
Defn: A retiring of the sea, occasioning a change of high-water mark,
whereby land is gained.
DERELIGIONIZE
De`re*li"gion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make irreligious; to turn from religion. [R.]
He would dereligionize men beyond all others. De Quincey.
DERELING
Dere"ling, n.
Defn: Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERELING
Dere"ling, n.
Defn: Darling. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERF
Derf, a. Etym: [Icel. djafr.]
Defn: Strong; powerful; fierce. [Obs.] -- Derf"ly, adv. [Obs.]
DERIDE
De*ride", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriding.]
Etym: [L. deridere, derisum; de- + rid to laugh. See Ridicule.]
Defn: To laugh at with contempt; to laugh to scorn; to turn to
ridicule or make sport of; to mock; to scoff at.
And the Pharisees, also, . . . derided him. Luke xvi. 14.
Sport that wrinkled Care derides. And Laughter holding both his
sides. Milton.
Syn.
-- To mock; laugh at; ridicule; insult; taunt; jeer; banter; rally.
-- To Deride, Ridicule, Mock, Taunt. A man may ridicule without any
unkindness of feeling; his object may be to correct; as, to ridicule
the follies of the age. He who derides is actuated by a severe a
contemptuous spirit; as, to deride one for his religious principles.
To mock is stronger, and denotes open and scornful derision; as, to
mock at sin. To taunt is to reproach with the keenest insult; as, to
taunt one for his misfortunes. Ridicule consists more in words than
in actions; derision and mockery evince themselves in actions as well
as words; taunts are always expressed in words of extreme bitterness.
DERIDER
De*rid"er, n.
Defn: One who derides, or laughs at, another in contempt; a mocker; a
scoffer.
DERIDINGLY
De*rid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of derision or mockery.
DE RIGUEUR
De ri`gueur". [F. See 2d Rigor.]
Defn: According to strictness (of etiquette, rule, or the like);
obligatory; strictly required.
DERISION
De*ri"sion, n. Etym: [L. derisio: cf. F. dérision. See Deride.]
1. The act of deriding, or the state of being derided; mockery;
scornful or contemptuous treatment which holds one up to ridicule.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them
in derision. Ps. ii. 4.
Saderision called. Milton.
2. An object of derision or scorn; a laughing-stock.
I was a derision to all my people. Lam. iii. 14.
Syn.
-- Scorn; mockery; contempt; insult; ridicule.
DERISIVE
De*ri"sive, a.
Defn: Expressing, serving for, or characterized by, derision.
"Derisive taunts." Pope.
-- De*ri"sive*ly, adv.
-- De*ri"sive*ness, n.
DERISORY
De*ri"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. derisorius: cf. F. dérisoire.]
Defn: Derisive; mocking. Shaftesbury.
DERIVABLE
De*riv"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Derive.]
Defn: That can be derived; obtainable by transmission; capable of
being known by inference, as from premises or data; capable of being
traced, as from a radical; as, income is derivable from various
sources.
All honor derivable upon me. South.
The exquisite pleasure derivable from the true and beautiful
relations of domestic life. H. G. Bell.
The argument derivable from the doxologies. J. H. Newman.
DERIVABLY
De*riv"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By derivation.
DERIVAL
De*riv"al, n.
Defn: Derivation. [R.]
The derival of e from a. Earle.
DERIVATE
Der"i*vate, a. Etym: [L. derivatus, p. p. of derivare. See Derive.]
Defn: Derived; derivative. [R.] H. Taylor.
-- n.
Defn: A thing derived; a derivative. [R.]
DERIVATE
Der"i*vate, v. t.
Defn: To derive. [Obs.] Huloet.
DERIVATION
Der`i*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. derivatio: cf. F. dérivation. See
Derive.]
1. A leading or drawing off of water from a stream or source. [Obs.]
T. Burnet.
2. The act of receiving anything from a source; the act of procuring
an effect from a cause, means, or condition, as profits from capital,
conclusions or opinions from evidence.
As touching traditional communication, . . . I do not doubt but many
of those truths have had the help of that derivation. Sir M. Hale.
3. The act of tracing origin or descent, as in grammar or genealogy;
as, the derivation of a word from an Aryan root.
4. The state or method of being derived; the relation of origin when
established or asserted.
5. That from which a thing is derived.
6. That which is derived; a derivative; a deduction.
From the Euphrates into an artificial derivation of that river.
Gibbon.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The operation of deducing one function from another according
to some fixed law, called the law of derivation, as the of
differentiation or of integration.
8. (Med.)
Defn: A drawing of humors or fluids from one part of the body to
another, to relieve or lessen a morbid process.
DERIVATIONAL
Der`i*va"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to derivation. Earle.
DERIVATIVE
De*riv"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. derivativus: cf. F. dérivatif.]
Defn: Obtained by derivation; derived; not radical, original, or
fundamental; originating, deduced, or formed from something else;
secondary; as, a derivative conveyance; a derivative word. Derivative
circulation, a modification of the circulation found in some parts of
the body, in which the arteries empty directly into the veins without
the interposition of capillaries. Flint.
-- De*riv"a*tive*ly, adv.
-- De*riv"a*tive*ness, n.
DERIVATIVE
De*riv"a*tive, n.
1. That which is derived; anything obtained or deduced from another.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A word formed from another word, by a prefix or suffix, an
internal modification, or some other change; a word which takes its
origin from a root.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A chord, not fundamental, but obtained from another by
inversion; or, vice versa, a ground tone or root implied in its
harmonics in an actual chord.
4. (Med.)
Defn: An agent which is adapted to produce a derivation (in the
medical sense).
5. (Math.)
Defn: A derived function; a function obtained from a given function
by a certain algebraic process.
Note: Except in the mode of derivation the derivative is the same as
the differential coefficient. See Differential coefficient, under
Differential.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance so related to another substance by modification or
partial substitution as to be regarded as derived from it; thus, the
amido compounds are derivatives of ammonia, and the hydrocarbons are
derivatives of methane, benzene, etc.
DERIVE
De*rive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derived; p. pr. & vb. n. Deriving.]
Etym: [F. dériver, L. derivare; de- + rivus stream, brook. See
Rival.]
1. To turn the course of, as water; to divert and distribute into
subordinate channels; to diffuse; to communicate; to transmit; --
followed by to, into, on, upon. [Obs.]
For fear it [water] choke up the pits . . . they [the workman] derive
it by other drains. Holland.
Her due loves derived to that vile witch's share. Spenser.
Derived to us by tradition from Adam to Noah. Jer. Taylor.
2. To receive, as from a source or origin; to obtain by descent or by
transmission; to draw; to deduce; -- followed by from.
3. To trace the origin, descent, or derivation of; to recognize
transmission of; as, he derives this word from the Anglo-Saxon.
From these two causes . . . an ancient set of physicians derived all
diseases. Arbuthnot.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: To obtain one substance from another by actual or theoretical
substitution; as, to derive an organic acid from its corresponding
hydrocarbon.
Syn.
-- To trace; deduce; infer.
DERIVE
De*rive", v. i.
Defn: To flow; to have origin; to descend; to proceed; to be deduced.
Shak.
Power from heaven Derives, and monarchs rule by gods appointed.
Prior.
DERIVEMENT
De*rive"ment, n.
Defn: That which is derived; deduction; inference. [Obs.]
I offer these derivements from these subjects. W. Montagu.
DERIVER
De*riv"er, n.
Defn: One who derives.
DERK
Derk, a.
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-DERM
-derm. Etym: [See Derm, n.]
Defn: A suffix or terminal formative, much used in anatomical terms,
and signifying skin, integument, covering; as, blastoderm, ectoderm,
etc.
DERM
Derm, n. Etym: [Gr. derme. See Tear, v. t.]
1. The integument of animal; the skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMA
Der"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Dermis.
DERMAL
Derm"al, a. Etym: [From Derm.]
1. Pertaining to the integument or skin of animals; dermic; as, the
dermal secretions.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis or true skin.
DERMAPTERA; DERMAPTERAN
Der*map"te*ra, Der*map"ter*an (, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dermoptera, Dermopteran.
DERMATIC; DERMATINE
Der*mat"ic, Der"ma*tine, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the skin.
DERMATITIS
Der`ma*ti"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the skin.
DERMATOGEN
Der*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming
condition.
DERMATOGEN
Der*mat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Nascent epidermis, or external cuticle of plants in a forming
condition.
DERMATOGRAPHY
Der*ma*tog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: An anatomical description of, or treatise on, the skin.
DERMATOID
Der"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. F. dermatoïde. Cf. Dermoid.]
Defn: Resembling
DERMATOLOGIST
Der`ma*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One who discourses on the skin and its diseases; one versed in
dermatology.
DERMATOLOGY
Der`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. dermatologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the skin, its structure, functions,
and diseases.
DERMATOPATHIC
Der`ma*to*path"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to skin diseases, or their cure.
DERMATOPHYTE
Der*mat"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A vegetable parasite, infesting the skin.
DERMESTES
Der*mes"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of coleopterous insects, the larvæ of which feed animal
substances. They are very destructive to dries meats, skins, woolens,
and furs. The most common species is D. lardarius, known as the bacon
beetle.
DERMESTOID
Der*mes"toid, a. Etym: [Dermestes + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to or resembling the genus Dermestes.
The carpet beetle, called the buffalo moth, is a dermestoid beetle.
Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DERMIC
Der"mic, a.
1. Relating to the derm or skin.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dermis; dermal.
Underneath each nail the deep or dermic layer of the integument is
peculiarly modified. Huxley.
Dermic remedies (Med.), such as act through the skin.
DERMIS
Der"mis, n. Etym: [NL. See Derm.] (Anat.)
Defn: The deep sensitive layer of the skin beneath the scarfskin or
epidermis; -- called also true skin, derm, derma, corium, cutis, and
enderon. See Skin, and Illust. in Appendix.
DERMOBRANCHIATA
Der`mo*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of nudibranch mollusks without special gills.
DERMOBRANCHIATE
Der`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. Etym: [Derm + branchiate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the skin modified to serve as a gill.
DERMOHAEMAL
Der`mo*hæ"mal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and hæmal
structures; as, the dermohæmal spines or ventral fin rays of fishes.
DERMOID
Der"moid, a. Etym: [Derm + -oid: cf. F. dermoïde.]
Defn: Same as Dermatoid. Dermoid cyst (Med.), a cyst containing skin,
or structures connected with skin, such as hair.
DERMONEURAL
Der`mo*neu"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or in relation with, both dermal and neural
structures; as, the dermoneural spines or dorsal fin rays of fishes.
Owen.
DERMOPATHIC
Der`mo*path"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Dermatopathic.
DERMOPHYTE
Der"mo*phyte, n.
Defn: A dermatophyte.
DERMOPTERA
Der*mop"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of insects which includes the earwigs
(Forticulidæ).
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of lemuroid mammals having a parachutelike web of skin
between the fore and hind legs, of which the colugo (Galeopithecus)
is the type. See Colugo.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Mammalia; the Cheiroptera. [Written also
Dermaptera, and Dermatoptera.]
DERMOPTERAN
Der*mop"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect which has the anterior pair of wings coriaceous, and
does not use them in flight, as the earwig.
DERMOPTERI
Der*mop"te*ri, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dermopterygii.
DERMOPTERYGII
Der*mop`te*ryg"i*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of fishlike animals including the Marsipobranchiata and
Leptocardia.
DERMOSKELETON
Der`mo*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Derm + skeleton.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Exoskeleton.
DERMOSTOSIS
Der`mos*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Ossification of the dermis.
DERN
Dern, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A gatepost or doorpost. [Local Eng.] C. Kingsley.
DERN
Dern, a. Etym: [See Dearn, a.]
1. Hidden; concealed; secret. [Obs.] "Ye must be full dern." Chaucer.
2. Solitary; sad. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DERNE
Derne, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. dyrnan to hide. See Dern, a., Dearn, a.]
Defn: To hide; to skulk. [Scot.]
He at length escaped them by derning himself in a foxearth. H.
Miller.
DERNFUL
Dern"ful, a.
Defn: Secret; hence, lonely; sad; mournful. [Obs.] "Dernful noise."
Spenser.
DERNIER
Der`nier", a. Etym: [F., from OF. darrein, derrain. See Darrein.]
Defn: Last; final. Dernier ressort ( Etym: [F.], last resort or
expedient.
DERNLY
Dern"ly, adv.
Defn: Secretly; grievously; mournfully. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEROGANT
Der"o*gant, a. Etym: [L. derogans, p. pr.]
Defn: Derogatory. [R.] T. Adams.
DEROGATE
Der"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Derogated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Derogating.] Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p. of derogare to derogate; de-
+ rogare to ask, to ask the people about a law. See Rogation.]
1. To annul in part; to repeal partly; to restrict; to limit the
action of; -- said of a law.
By several contrary customs, . . . many of the civil and canon laws
are controlled and derogated. Sir M. Hale.
2. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage; to depreciate; -- said
of a person or thing. [R.]
Anything . . . that should derogate, minish, or hurt his glory and
his name. Sir T. More.
DEROGATE
Der"o*gate, v. i.
1. To take away; to detract; to withdraw; -- usually with from.
If we did derogate from them whom their industry hath made great.
Hooker.
It derogates little from his fortitude, while it adds infinitely to
the honor of his humanity. Burke.
2. To act beneath one-s rank, place, birth, or character; to
degenerate. [R.]
You are a fool granted; therefore your issues, being foolish, do not
derogate. Shak.
Would Charles X. derogate from his ancestors Would he be the
degenerate scion of that royal line Hazlitt.
DEROGATE
Der"o*gate, n. Etym: [L. derogatus, p. p.]
Defn: Diminished in value; dishonored; degraded. [R.] Shak.
DEROGATELY
Der"o*gate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner.
DEROGATION
Der`o*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. derogatio: cf. F. dérogation.]
1. The act of derogating, partly repealing, or lessening in value;
disparagement; detraction; depreciation; -- followed by of, from, or
to.
I hope it is no derogation to the Christian religion. Locke.
He counted it no derogation of his manhood to be seen to weep. F. W.
Robertson.
2. (Stock Exch.)
Defn: An alteration of, or subtraction from, a contract for a sale of
stocks.
DEROGATIVE
De*rog"a*tive, a.
Defn: Derogatory.
-- De*rog"a*tive*ly, adv. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEROGATOR
Der"o*ga`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A detractor.
DEROGATORILY
De*rog"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a derogatory manner; disparagingly. Aubrey.
DEROGATORINESS
De*rog"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being derogatory.
DEROGATORY
De*rog"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to derogate, or lessen in value; expressing derogation;
detracting; injurious; -- with from to, or unto.
Acts of Parliament derogatory from the power of subsequent
Parliaments bind not. Blackstone.
His language was severely censured by some of his brother peers as
derogatory to their other. Macaulay.
Derogatory clause in a testament (Law), a sentence of secret
character inserted by the testator alone, of which he reserves the
knowledge to himself, with a condition that no will he may make
thereafter shall be valid, unless this clause is inserted word for
word; -- a precaution to guard against later wills extorted by
violence, or obtained by suggestion.
DEROTREMATA
Der`o*tre"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tribe of aquatic Amphibia which includes Amphiuma,
Menopoma, etc. They have permanent gill openings, but no external
gills; -- called also Cryptobranchiata. [Written also Derotrema.]
DERRE
Der"re, a.
Defn: Dearer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DERRICK
Der"rick, n. Etym: [Orig., a gallows, from a hangman named Derrick.
The name is of Dutch origin; D. Diederik, Dierryk, prop. meaning,
chief of the people; cf. AS. peódric, E. Theodoric, G. Dietrich. See
Dutch, and Rich.]
Defn: A mast, spar, or tall frame, supported at the top by stays or
guys, with suitable tackle for hoisting heavy weights, as stones in
building. Derrick crane, a combination of the derrick and the crane,
having facility for hoisting and also for swinging the load
horizontally.
DERRING
Der"ring, a.
Defn: Daring or warlike. [Obs.]
Drad for his derring doe and bloody deed. Spenser.
DERRINGER
Der"rin*ger, n. Etym: [From the American inventor.]
Defn: A kind of short-barreled pocket pistol, of very large caliber,
often carrying a half-ounce ball.
DERTH
Derth, n.
Defn: Dearth; scarcity. [Obs.] Spenser.
DERTROTHECA
Der`tro*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The horny covering of the end of the bill of birds.
DERVISH; DERVISE; DERVIS
Der"vish, Der"vise, Der"vis, n. Etym: [Per. derw, fr. OPer. derew to
beg, ask alms: cf. F. derviche.]
Defn: A Turkish or Persian monk, especially one who professes extreme
poverty and leads an austere life.
DERWORTH
Der"worth, a. Etym: [AS. deórwurpe, lit., dearworth.]
Defn: Precious. [Obs.] Piers Plowman.
DESCANT
Des"cant, n. Etym: [OF. descant, deschant, F. déchant, discant, LL.
discantus, fr. L. dis + cantus singing, melody, fr. canere to sing.
See Chant, and cf. Descant, v. i., Discant.]
1. (Mus.)
(a) Originally, a double song; a melody or counterpoint sung above
the plain song of the tenor; a variation of an air; a variation by
ornament of the main subject or plain song.
(b) The upper voice in part music.
(c) The canto, cantus, or soprano voice; the treble. Grove.
Twenty doctors expound one text twenty ways, as children make descant
upon plain song. Tyndale.
She [the nightingale] all night long her amorous descant sung.
Milton.
Note: The term has also been used synonymously with counterpoint, or
polyphony, which developed out of the French déchant, of the 12th
century.
2. A discourse formed on its theme, like variations on a musical air;
a comment or comments.
Upon that simplest of themes how magnificent a descant! De Quincey.
DESCANT
Des*cant", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Descanting.] Etym: [From descant; n.; or directly fr. OF. descanter,
deschanter; L. dis- + cantare to sing.]
1. To sing a variation or accomplishment.
2. To comment freely; to discourse with fullness and particularity;
to discourse at large.
A virtuous man should be pleased to find people descanting on his
actions. Addison.
DESCANTER
Des*cant"er, n.
Defn: One who descants.
DESCEND
De*scend", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Descended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Descending.] Etym: [F. descendre, L. descendere, descensum; de- +
scandere to climb. See Scan.]
1. To pass from a higher to a lower place; to move downwards; to come
or go down in any way, as by falling, flowing, walking, etc.; to
plunge; to fall; to incline downward; -- the opposite of ascend.
The rain descended, and the floods came. Matt. vii. 25.
We will here descend to matters of later date. Fuller.
2. To enter mentally; to retire. [Poetic]
[He] with holiest meditations fed, Into himself descended. Milton.
3. To make an attack, or incursion, as if from a vantage ground; to
come suddenly and with violence; -- with on or upon.
And on the suitors let thy wrath descend. Pope.
4. To come down to a lower, less fortunate, humbler, less virtuous,
or worse, state or station; to lower or abase one's self; as, he
descended from his high estate.
5. To pass from the more general or important to the particular or
less important matters to be considered.
6. To come down, as from a source, original, or stock; to be derived;
to proceed by generation or by transmission; to fall or pass by
inheritance; as, the beggar may descend from a prince; a crown
descends to the heir.
7. (Anat.)
Defn: To move toward the south, or to the southward.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: To fall in pitch; to pass from a higher to a lower tone.
DESCEND
De*scend", v. t.
Defn: To go down upon or along; to pass from a higher to a lower part
of; as, they descended the river in boats; to descend a ladder.
But never tears his cheek descended. Byron.
DESCENDANT
De*scend"ant, a. Etym: [F. descendant, p. pr. of descendre. Cf.
Descendent.]
Defn: Descendent.
DESCENDANT
De*scend"ant, n.
Defn: One who descends, as offspring, however remotely; --
correlative to ancestor or ascendant.
Our first parents and their descendants. Hale.
The descendant of so many kings and emperors. Burke.
DESCENDENT
De*scend"ent, a. Etym: [L. descendens, -entis, p. pr. of descendre.
Cf. Descendant.]
Defn: Descending; falling; proceeding from an ancestor or source.
More than mortal grace Speaks thee descendent of ethereal race. Pope.
DESCENDER
De*scend"er, n.
Defn: One who descends.
DESCENDIBILITY
De*scend`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being descendible; capability of being
transmitted from ancestors; as, the descendibility of an estate.
DESCENDIBLE
De*scend"i*ble, a.
1. Admitting descent; capable of being descended.
2. That may descend from an ancestor to an heir. "A descendant
estate." Sir W. Jones.
DESCENDING
De*scend"ing, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to descent; moving downwards. Descending
constellations or signs (Astron.), those through which the planets
descent toward the south.
-- Descending node (Astron.), that point in a planet's orbit where
it intersects the ecliptic in passing southward.
-- Descending series (Math.), a series in which each term is
numerically smaller than the preceding one; also, a series arranged
according to descending powers of a quantity.
DESCENDINGLY
De*scend"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a descending manner.
DESCENSION
De*scen"sion, n. Etym: [OF. descension, L. descensio. See Descent.]
Defn: The act of going downward; descent; falling or sinking;
declension; degradation. Oblique descension (Astron.), the degree or
arc of the equator which descends, with a celestial object, below the
horizon of an oblique sphere.
-- Right descension, the degree or arc of the equator which descends
below the horizon of a right sphere at the same time with the object.
[Obs.]
DESCENSIONAL
De*scen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to descension. Johnson.
DESCENSIVE
De*scen"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to descend; tending downwards; descending. Smart.
DESCENSORY
De*scen"so*ry, n. Etym: [NL. descensorium: cf. OF. descensoire. See
Descend.]
Defn: A vessel used in alchemy to extract oils.
DESCENT
De*scent", n. Etym: [F. descente, fr. descendre; like vente, from
vendre. See Descend.]
1. The act of descending, or passing downward; change of place from
higher to lower.
2. Incursion; sudden attack; especially, hostile invasion from sea; -
- often followed by upon or on; as, to make a descent upon the enemy.
The United Provinces . . . ordered public prayer to God, when they
feared that the French and English fleets would make a descent upon
their coasts. Jortin.
3. Progress downward, as in station, virtue, as in station, virtue,
and the like, from a higher to a lower state, from a higher to a
lower state, from the more to the less important, from the better to
the worse, etc.
2. Derivation, as from an ancestor; procedure by generation; lineage;
birth; extraction. Dryden.
5. (Law)
Defn: Transmission of an estate by inheritance, usually, but not
necessarily, in the descending line; title to inherit an estate by
reason of consanguinity. Abbott.
6. Inclination downward; a descending way; inclined or sloping
surface; declivity; slope; as, a steep descent.
7. That which is descended; descendants; issue.
If care of our descent perplex us most, Which must be born to certain
woe. Milton.
8. A step or remove downward in any scale of gradation; a degree in
the scale of genealogy; a generation.
No man living is a thousand descents removed from Adam himself.
Hooker.
9. Lowest place; extreme downward place. [R.]
And from the extremest upward of thy head, To the descent and dust
below thy foot. Shak.
10. (Mus.)
Defn: A passing from a higher to a lower tone.
Syn.
-- Declivity; slope; degradation; extraction; lineage; assault;
invasion; attack.
DESCRIBABLE
De*scrib"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be described; capable of description.
DESCRIBE
De*scribe", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Described; p. pr. & vb. n.
Describing.] Etym: [L. describere, descriptum; de- + scribere to
write: cf. OE. descriven, OF. descrivre, F. décrire. See Scribe, and
cf. Descry.]
1. To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace
or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved
about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.
2. To represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to
make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes
countries and cities.
3. To distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to
class. [Obs.]
Passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts
in a book. Josh. xviii. 9.
Syn.
-- To set forth; represent; delineate; relate; recount; narrate;
express; explain; depict; portray; chracterize.
DESCRIBE
De*scribe", v. i.
Defn: To use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as,
Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty.
DESCRIBENT
De*scrib"ent, n. Etym: [L. describens, p. pr. of describere.] (Geom.)
Defn: Same as Generatrix.
DESCRIBER
De*scrib"er, n.
Defn: One who describes.
DESCRIER
De*scri"er, n.
Defn: One who descries.
DESCRIPTION
De*scrip"tion, n. Etym: [F. description, L. descriptio. See
Describe.]
1. The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.
2. A sketch or account of anything in words; a portraiture or
representation in language; an enumeration of the essential qualities
of a thing or species.
Milton has descriptions of morning. D. Webster.
3. A class to which a certain representation is applicable; kind;
sort.
A difference . . . between them and another description of public
creditors. A. Hamilton.
The plates were all of the meanest description. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Account; definition; recital; relation; detail; narrative;
narration; explanation; delineation; representation; kind; sort. See
Definition.
DESCRIPTIVE
De*scrip"tive, a. Etym: [L. descriptivus: cf. F. descriptif.]
Defn: Tending to describe; having the quality of representing;
containing description; as, a descriptive figure; a descriptive
phrase; a descriptive narration; a story descriptive of the age.
Descriptive anatomy, that part of anatomy which treats of the forms
and relations of parts, but not of their textures.
-- Descriptive geometry, that branch of geometry. which treats of
the graphic solution of problems involving three dimensions, by means
of projections upon auxiliary planes. Davies & Peck (Math. Dict. ) --
De*scrip"tive*ly, adv.
-- De*scrip"tive*ness, n.
DESCRIVE
De*scrive", v. t. Etym: [OF. descrivre. See Describe.]
Defn: To describe. [Obs.] Spenser.
DESCRY
De*scry", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Descried; p. pr. & vb. n. Descrying.]
Etym: [OE. descrien, discrien, to espy, prob. from the proclaiming of
what was espied, fr. OF. descrier to proclaim, cry down, decry, F.
décrier. The word was confused somewhat with OF. descriven, E.
describe, OF. descrivre, from L. describere. See Decry.]
1. To spy out or discover by the eye, as objects distant or obscure;
to espy; to recognize; to discern; to discover.
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Bethel. Judg. i. 23.
Edmund, I think, is gone . . . to descry The strength o' the enemy.
Shak.
And now their way to earth they had descried. Milton.
2. To discover; to disclose; to reveal. [R.]
His purple robe he had thrown aside, lest it should descry him.
Milton.
Syn.
-- To see; behold; espy; discover; discern.
DESCRY
De*scry"
Defn: , Discovery or view, as of an army seen at a distance. [Obs.]
Near, and on speedy foot; the main descry Stands on the hourly
thought. Shak.
DESECATE
Des"e*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. desecare to cut off.]
Defn: To cut, as with a scythe; to mow. [Obs.]
DESECRATE
Des"e*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desecrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desecrating.] Etym: [L. desecratus, p. p. of desecrare (also
desacrare) to consecrate, dedicate; but taken in the sense if to
divest of a sacred character; de- + sacrare to consecrate, fr. sacer
sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: To divest of a sacred character or office; to divert from a
sacred purpose; to violate the sanctity of; to profane; to put to an
unworthy use; -- the opposite of consecrate.
The [Russian] clergy can not suffer corporal punishment without being
previously desecrated. W. Tooke.
The founders of monasteries imprecated evil on those who should
desecrate their donations. Salmon.
DESECRATER
Des"e*cra`ter, n.
Defn: One who desecrates; a profaner. Harper's Mag.
DESECRATION
Des`e*cra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of desecrating; profanation; condition of anything
desecrated.
DESECRATOR
Des"e*cra`tor, n.
Defn: One who desecrates. "Desecrators of the church." Morley.
DESEGMENTATION
De*seg`men*ta"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The loss or obliteration of division into segments; as, a
desegmentation of the body.
DESERT
De*sert", n. Etym: [OF. deserte, desserte, merit, recompense, fr.
deservir, desservir, to merit. See Deserve.]
Defn: That which is deserved; the reward or the punishment justly
due; claim to recompense, usually in a good sense; right to reward;
merit.
According to their deserts will I judge them. Ezek. vii. 27.
Andronicus, surnamed Pius For many good and great deserts to Rome.
Shak.
His reputation falls far below his desert. A. Hamilton.
Syn.
-- Merit; worth; excellence; due.
DESERT
Des"ert, n. Etym: [F. désert, L. desertum, from desertus solitary,
desert, pp. of deserere to desert; de- + serere to join together. See
Series.]
1. A deserted or forsaken region; a barren tract incapable of
supporting population, as the vast sand plains of Asia and Africa are
destitute and vegetation.
A dreary desert and a gloomy waste. Pope.
2. A tract, which may be capable of sustaining a population, but has
been left unoccupied and uncultivated; a wilderness; a solitary
place.
He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden
of the Lord. Is. li. 3.
Note: Also figuratively.
Before her extended Dreary and vast and silent, the desert of life.
Longfellow.
DESERT
Des"ert, a. Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere, and F. désert.
See 2d Desert.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a desert; forsaken; without life or
cultivation; unproductive; waste; barren; wild; desolate; solitary;
as, they landed on a desert island.
He . . . went aside privately into a desert place. Luke ix. 10.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness
on the desert air. Gray.
Desert flora (Bot.), the assemblage of plants growing naturally in a
desert, or in a dry and apparently unproductive place.
-- Desert hare (Zoöl.), a small hare (Lepus sylvaticus, var.
Arizonæ) inhabiting the deserts of the Western United States.
-- Desert mouse (Zoöl.), an American mouse (Hesperomys eremicus),
living in the Western deserts.
DESERT
De*sert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserting.]
Etym: [Cf. L. desertus, p. p. of deserere to desert, F. déserter. See
2d Desert.]
1. To leave (especially something which one should stay by and
support); to leave in the lurch; to abandon; to forsake; -- implying
blame, except sometimes when used of localities; as, to desert a
friend, a principle, a cause, one's country. "The deserted fortress."
Prescott.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To abandon (the service) without leave; to forsake in violation
of duty; to abscond from; as, to desert the army; to desert one's
colors.
DESERT
De*sert", v. i.
Defn: To abandon a service without leave; to quit military service
without permission, before the expiration of one's term; to abscond.
The soldiers . . . deserted in numbers. Bancroft.
Syn.
-- To abandon; forsake; leave; relinquish; renounce; quit; depart
from; abdicate. See Abandon.
DESERTER
De*sert"er (, n.
Defn: One who forsakes a duty, a cause or a party, a friend, or any
one to whom he owes service; especially, a soldier or a seaman who
abandons the service without leave; one guilty of desertion.
DESERTFUL
De*sert"ful, a.
Defn: Meritorious. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTION
De*ser"tion, n. Etym: [L. desertio: cf. F. désertion.]
1. The act of deserting or forsaking; abandonment of a service, a
cause, a party, a friend, or any post of duty; the quitting of one's
duties willfully and without right; esp., an absconding from military
or naval service.
Such a resignation would have seemed to his superior a desertion or a
reproach. Bancroft.
2. The state of being forsaken; desolation; as, the king in his
desertion.
3. Abandonment by God; spiritual despondency.
The spiritual agonies of a soul under desertion. South.
DESERTLESS
De*sert"less, a.
Defn: Without desert. [R.]
DESERTLESSLY
De*sert"less*ly, adv.
Defn: Undeservedly. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
DESERTNESS
Des"ert*ness, n.
Defn: A deserted condition. [R.] "The desertness of the country."
Udall.
DESERTRIX; DESERTRICE
De*sert"rix, De*sert"rice, n. Etym: [L. desertrix.]
Defn: A feminine deserter. Milton.
DESERVE
De*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deserved; p. pr. & vb. n. Deserving.]
Etym: [OF. deservir, desservir, to merit, L. deservire to serve
zealously, be devoted to; de- + servire to serve. See Serve.]
1. To earn by service; to be worthy of (something due, either good or
evil); to merit; to be entitled to; as, the laborer deserves his
wages; a work of value deserves praise.
God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Job xi. 6.
John Gay deserved to be a favorite. Thackeray.
Encouragement is not held out to things that deserve reprehension.
Burke.
2. To serve; to treat; to benefit. [Obs.]
A man that hath So well deserved me. Massinger.
DESERVE
De*serve", v. i.
Defn: To be worthy of recompense; -- usually with ill or with well.
One man may merit or deserve of another. South.
DESERVEDLY
De*serv"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: According to desert (whether good or evil); justly.
DESERVEDNESS
De*serv"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Meritoriousness.
DESERVER
De*serv"er, n.
Defn: One who deserves.
DESERVING
De*serv"ing, n.
Defn: Desert; merit.
A person of great deservings from the republic. Swift.
DESERVING
De*serv"ing, a.
Defn: Meritorious; worthy; as, a deserving or act.
-- De*serv"ing*ly, adv.
DESHABILLE
Des`ha*bille, n. Etym: [F. déshabillé, fr. déshabiller to undress;
pref. dés- (L. dis-) + habiller to dress. See Habiliment, and cf.
Dishabille.]
Defn: An undress; a careless toilet.
DESICCANT
De*sic"cant, a. Etym: [L. desiccans, p. pr. of desiccare. See
Desiccate.]
Defn: Drying; desiccative.
-- n.
Defn: (Med.) A medicine or application for drying up a sore. Wiseman.
DESICCATE
Des"ic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiccated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desiccating.] Etym: [L. desiccatus, p. p. of desiccare to dry up; de-
+ siccare to dry, siccus dry. See Sack wine.]
Defn: To dry up; to deprive or exhaust of moisture; to preserve by
drying; as, to desiccate fish or fruit.
Bodies desiccated by heat or age. Bacon.
DESICCATE
Des"ic*cate, v. i.
Defn: To become dry.
DESICCATION
Des`ic*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dessiccation.]
Defn: The act of desiccating, or the state of being desiccated.
DESICCATIVE
De*sic"ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dessicatif.]
Defn: Drying; tending to dry. Ferrand.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: An application for drying up secretions.
DESICCATOR
Des"ic*ca`tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, desiccates.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: A short glass jar fitted with an air-tight cover, and
containing some desiccating agent, as sulphuric acid or calcium
chloride, above which is suspended the material to be dried, or
preserved from moisture.
DESICCATORY
De*sic"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Desiccative.
DESIDERABLE
De*sid"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Desirable. [R.] "Good and desiderable things." Holland.
DESIDERATA
De*sid`e*ra"ta, n. pl.
Defn: See Desideratum.
DESIDERATE
De*sid"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desiderated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desiderating.] Etym: [L. desideratus, p. p. of desiderare to desire,
miss. See Desire, and cf. Desideratum.]
Defn: To desire; to feel the want of; to lack; to miss; to want.
Pray have the goodness to point out one word missing that ought to
have been there -- please to insert a desiderated stanza. You can
not. Prof. Wilson.
Men were beginning . . . to desiderate for them an actual abode of
fire. A. W. Ward.
DESIDERATION
De*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. desideratio.]
Defn: Act of desiderating; also, the thing desired. [R.] Jeffrey.
DESIDERATIVE
De*sid"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. desiderativus.]
Defn: Denoting desire; as, desiderative verbs.
DESIDERATIVE
De*sid"er*a*tive, n.
1. An object of desire.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A verb formed from another verb by a change of termination, and
expressing the desire of doing that which is indicated by the
primitive verb.
DESIDERATUM
De*sid`e*ra"tum, n.; pl. Desiderata. Etym: [L., fr. desideratus, p.
p. See Desiderate.]
Defn: Anything desired; that of which the lack is felt; a want
generally felt and acknowledge.
DESIDIOSE; DESIDIOUS
De*sid"i*ose`, De*sid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. desidiosus, fr. desidia a
sitting idle, fr. desid to sit idle; de- + sed to sit.]
Defn: Idle; lazy. [Obs.]
DESIDIOUSNESS
De*sid"i*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desidiose, or indolent. [Obs.] N.
Bacon.
DESIGHT
De*sight", n. Etym: [Pref. de- + sight.]
Defn: An unsightly object. [Obs.]
DESIGHTMENT
De*sight"ment, n.
Defn: The act of making unsightly; disfigurement. [R.]
To substitute jury masts at whatever desightment or damage in risk.
London Times.
DESIGN
De*sign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designed; p. pr. & vb. n. Designing.]
Etym: [F. désigner to designate, cf. F. dessiner to draw, dessin
drawing, dessein a plan or scheme; all, ultimately, from L. designare
to designate; de- + signare to mark, mark out, signum mark, sign. See
Sign, and cf. Design, n., Designate.]
1. To draw preliminary outline or main features of; to sketch for a
pattern or model; to delineate; to trace out; to draw. Dryden.
2. To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to
point out; to appoint.
We shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry. Shak.
Meet me to-morrow where the master And this fraternity shall design.
Beau. & Fl.
3. To create or produce, as a work of art; to form a plan or scheme
of; to form in idea; to invent; to project; to lay out in the mind;
as, a man designs an essay, a poem, a statue, or a cathedral.
4. To intend or purpose; -- usually with for before the remote
object, but sometimes with to.
Ask of politicians the end for which laws were originally designed.
Burke.
He was designed to the study of the law. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To sketch; plan; purpose; intend; propose; project; mean.
DESIGN
De*sign", v. i.
Defn: To form a design or designs; to plan. Design for, to intend to
go to. [Obs.] "From this city she designed for Collin [Cologne]."
Evelyn.
DESIGN
De*sign", n. Etym: [Cf. dessein, dessin.]
1. A preliminary sketch; an outline or pattern of the main features
of something to be executed, as of a picture, a building, or a
decoration; a delineation; a plan.
2. A plan or scheme formed in the mind of something to be done;
preliminary conception; idea intended to be expressed in a visible
form or carried into action; intention; purpose; -- often used in a
bad sense for evil intention or purpose; scheme; plot.
The vast design and purposTennyson.
The leaders of that assembly who withstood the designs of a besotted
woman. Hallam.
A . . . settled design upon another man's life. Locke.
How little he could guess the secret designs of the court! Macaulay.
3. Specifically, intention or purpose as revealed or inferred from
the adaptation of means to an end; as, the argument from design.
4. The realization of an inventive or decorative plan; esp., a work
of decorative art considered as a new creation; conception or plan
shown in completed work; as, this carved panel is a fine design, or
of a fine design.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: The invention and conduct of the subject; the disposition of
every part, and the general order of the whole. Arts of design, those
into which the designing of artistic forms and figures enters as a
principal part, as architecture, painting, engraving, sculpture.
-- School of design, one in which are taught the invention and
delineation of artistic or decorative figures, patterns, and the
like.
Syn.
-- Intention; purpose; scheme; project; plan; idea.
-- Design, Intention, Purpose. Design has reference to something
definitely aimed at. Intention points to the feelings or desires with
which a thing is sought. Purpose has reference to a settled choice or
determination for its attainment. "I had no design to injure you,"
means it was no part of my aim or object. "I had no intention to
injure you," means, I had no wish or desire of that kind. "My purpose
was directly the reverse," makes the case still stronger.
Is he a prudent man . . . that lays designs only for a day, without
any prospect to the remaining part of his life Tillotson.
I wish others the same intention, and greater successes. Sir W.
Temple.
It is the purpose that makes strong the vow. Shak.
DESIGNABLE
Des"ig*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being designated or distinctly marked out;
distinguishable. Boyle.
DESIGNATE
Des"ig*nate, a. Etym: [L. designatus, p. p. of designare. See Design,
v. t.]
Defn: Designated; appointed; chosen. [R.] Sir G. Buck.
DESIGNATE
Des"ig*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Designated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Designating.]
1. To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to
show; to distinguish by marks or description; to specify; as, to
designate the boundaries of a country; to designate the rioters who
are to be arrested.
2. To call by a distinctive title; to name.
3. To indicate or set apart for a purpose or duty; -- with to or for;
to designate an officer for or to the command of a post or station.
Syn.
-- To name; denominate; style; entitle; characterize; describe.
DESIGNATION
Des`ig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. designatio: cf. F. désignation.]
1. The act of designating; a pointing out or showing; indication.
2. Selection and appointment for a purpose; allotment; direction.
3. That which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive
title; appellation.
The usual designation of the days of the week. Whewell.
4. Use or application; import; intention; signification, as of a word
or phrase.
Finite and infinite seem . . . to be attributed primarily, in their
first designation, only to those things have parts. Locke.
DESIGNATIVE
Des"ig*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désignatif.]
Defn: Serving to designate or indicate; pointing out.
DESIGNATOR
Des"ig*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An officer who assigned to each his rank and place in public
shows and ceremonies.
2. One who designates.
DESIGNATORY
Des"ig*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to designate; designative; indicating. [R.]
DESIGNEDLY
De*sign"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: By design; purposely; intentionally; -- opposed to
accidentally, ignorantly, or inadvertently.
DESIGNER
De*sign"er, n.
1. One who designs, marks out, or plans; a contriver.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: One who produces or creates original works of art or
decoration.
3. A plotter; a schemer; -- used in a bad sense.
DESIGNFUL
De*sign"ful, a.
Defn: Full of design; scheming. [R.] -- De*sign"ful*ness, n. [R.]
Barrow.
DESIGNING
De*sign"ing, a.
Defn: Intriguing; artful; scheming; as, a designing man.
DESIGNING
De*sign"ing, n.
Defn: The act of making designs or sketches; the act of forming
designs or plans.
DESIGNLESS
De*sign"less, a.
Defn: Without design. [Obs.] -- De*sign"less*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DESIGNMENT
De*sign"ment, n.
1. Delineation; sketch; design; ideal; invention. [Obs.]
For though that some mean artist's skill were shown In mingling
colors, or in placing light, Yet still the fair designment was his
own. Dryden.
2. Design; purpose; scheme. [Obs.] Shak.
DESILVER
De*sil"ver, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of silver; as, to desilver lead.
DESILVERIZATION
De*sil`ver*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or the process of freeing from silver; also, the
condition resulting from the removal of silver.
DESILVERIZE
De*sil"ver*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive, or free from, silver; to remove silver from.
DESINENCE
Des"i*nence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désinence.]
Defn: Termination; ending. Bp. Hall.
DESINENT
Des"i*nent, a. Etym: [L. desinens, p. pr. of desinere, desitum, to
leave off, cease; de- + sinere to let, allow.]
Defn: Ending; forming an end; lowermost. [Obs.] "Their desinent
parts, fish." B. Jonson.
DESINENTIAL
Des`i*nen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désinentiel.]
Defn: Terminal.
Furthermore, b, as a desinential element, has a dynamic function.
Fitzed. Hall.
DESIPIENT
De*sip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. desipiens, p. pr. of desipere to be
foolish; de- + sapere to be wise.]
Defn: Foolish; silly; trifling. [R.]
DESIRABILITY
De*sir`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being desirable; desirableness.
DESIRABLE
De*sir"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. désirable, fr. L. desiderabilis. See
Desire, v. t.]
Defn: Worthy of desire or longing; fitted to excite desire or a wish
to possess; pleasing; agreeable.
All of them desirable young men. Ezek. xxiii. 12.
As things desirable excite Desire, and objects move the appetite.
Blackmore.
DESIRABLENESS
De*sir"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being desirable.
The desirableness of the Austrian alliance. Froude.
DESIRABLY
De*sir"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a desirable manner.
DESIRE
De*sire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desired; p. pr. & vb. n. Desiring.]
Etym: [F. désirer, L. desiderare, origin uncertain, perh. fr. de- +
sidus star, constellation, and hence orig., to turn the eyes from the
stars. Cf. Consider, and Desiderate, and see Sidereal.]
1. To long for; to wish for earnestly; to covet.
Neither shall any man desire thy land. Ex. xxxiv. 24.
Ye desire your child to live. Tennyson.
2. To express a wish for; to entreat; to request.
Then she said, Did I desire a son of my lord 2 Kings iv. 28.
Desire him to go in; trouble him no more. Shak.
3. To require; to demand; to claim. [Obs.]
A doleful case desires a doleful song. Spenser.
4. To miss; to regret. [Obs.]
She shall be pleasant while she lives, and desired when she dies.
Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To long for; hanker after; covet; wish; ask; request; solicit;
entreat; beg.
-- To Desire, Wish. In desire the feeling is usually more eager than
in wish. "I wish you to do this" is a milder form of command than "I
desire you to do this," though the feeling prompting the injunction
may be the usage C. J. Smith.
DESIRE
De*sire", n. Etym: [F. désir, fr. désirer. See Desire, v. t.]
1. The natural longing that is excited by the enjoyment or the
thought of any good, and impels to action or effort its continuance
or possession; an eager wish to obtain or enjoy.
Unspeakable desire to see and know. Milton.
2. An expressed wish; a request; petition.
And slowly was my mother brought To yield consent to my desire.
Tennyson.
3. Anything which is desired; an object of longing.
The Desire of all nations shall come. Hag. ii. 7.
4. Excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite.
5. Grief; regret. [Obs.] Chapman.
Syn.
-- Wish; appetency; craving; inclination; eagerness; aspiration;
longing.
DESIREFUL
De*sire"ful, a.
Defn: Filled with desire; eager. [R.]
The desireful troops. Godfrey (1594).
DESIREFULNESS
De*sire"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desireful; eagerness to obtain and possess.
[R.]
The desirefulness of our minds much augmenteth and increaseth our
pleasure. Udall.
DESIRELESS
De*sire"less, a.
Defn: Free from desire. Donne.
DESIRER
De*sir"er, n.
Defn: One who desires, asks, or wishes.
DESIROUS
De*sir"ous, a. Etym: [F. désireux, OF. desiros, fr. desir. See
Desire, n.]
Defn: Feeling desire; eagerly wishing; solicitous; eager to obtain;
covetous.
Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him. John xvi. 19.
Be not desirous of his dainties. Prov. xxiii. 3.
DESIROUSLY
De*sir"ous*ly, adv.
Defn: With desire; eagerly.
DESIROUSNESS
De*sir"ous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desirous.
DESIST
De*sist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Desisting.]
Etym: [L. desistere; de- + sistere to stand, stop, fr. stare to
stand: cf. F. désister. See Stand.]
Defn: To cease to proceed or act; to stop; to forbear; -- often with
from.
Never desisting to do evil. E. Hall.
To desist from his bad practice. Massinger.
Desist (thou art discern'd, And toil'st in vain). Milton.
DESISTANCE
De*sist"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. desistance.]
Defn: The act or state of desisting; cessation. [R.] Boyle.
If fatigue of body or brain were in every case followed by desistance
. . . then would the system be but seldom out of working order. H.
Spencer.
DESISTIVE
De*sist"ive, a. Etym: [See Desist.]
Defn: Final; conclusive; ending. [R.]
DESITION
De*si"tion, n. Etym: [See Desinent.]
Defn: An end or ending. [R.]
DESITIVE
Des"i*tive, a.
Defn: Final; serving to complete; conclusive. [Obs.] "Desitive
propositions." I. Watts.
DESITIVE
Des"i*tive, n. (Logic)
Defn: A proposition relating to or expressing an end or conclusion.
[Obs.] I. Watts.
DESK
Desk, n. Etym: [OE. deske, the same word as dish, disk. See Dish, and
cf. Disk.]
1. A table, frame, or case, usually with sloping top, but often with
flat top, for the use writers and readers. It often has a drawer or
repository underneath.
2. A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the
liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the
sermon is preached; also (esp. in the United States), a pulpit.
Hence, used symbolically for "the clerical profession."
DESK
Desk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desked; p. pr. & vb. n. Desking.]
Defn: To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure.
DESKWORK
Desk"work`, n.
Defn: Work done at a desk, as by a clerk or writer. Tennyson.
DESMAN
Des"man, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. desman musk.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An amphibious, insectivorous mammal found in Russia (Myogale
moschata). It is allied to the moles, but is called muscrat by some
English writers. [Written also dæsman.]
DESMID; DESMIDIAN
Des"mid, Des*mid"i*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A microscopic plant of the family Desmidiæ, a group of
unicellular algæ in which the species have a greenish color, and the
cells generally appear as if they consisted of two coalescing halves.
DESMINE
Des"mine, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Same as Stilbite. It commonly occurs in bundles or tufts of
crystals.
DESMOBACTERIA
Des`mo*bac*te"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. bacteria.]
Defn: See Microbacteria.
DESMODONT
Des"mo*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A member of a group of South American blood-sucking bats, of
the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.
DESMOGNATHOUS
Des*mog"na*thous, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s bond + (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the maxillo-palatine bones united; -- applied to a group
of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and
swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other
kinds.
DESMOID
Des"moid, a. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Resembling, or having the characteristics of, a ligament;
ligamentous.
DESMOLOGY
Des*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. desmo`s ligament + -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the ligaments. [R.]
DESMOMYARIA
Des`mo*my*a"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Tunicata which includes the Salpæ. See Salpa.
DESOLATE
Des"o*late, a. Etym: [L. desolatus, p. p. of desolare to leave alone,
forsake; de- + solare to make lonely, solus alone. See Sole, a.]
1. Destitute or deprived of inhabitants; deserted; uninhabited;
hence, gloomy; as, a desolate isle; a desolate wilderness; a desolate
house.
I will make Jerusalem . . . a den of dragons, and I will make the
cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Jer. ix. 11.
And the silvery marish flowers that throng The desolate creeks and
pools among. Tennyson.
2. Laid waste; in a ruinous condition; neglected; destroyed; as,
desolate altars.
3. Left alone; forsaken; lonely; comfortless.
Have mercy upon, for I am desolate. Ps. xxv. 16.
Voice of the poor and desolate. Keble.
4. Lost to shame; dissolute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
5. Destitute of; lacking in. [Obs.]
I were right now of tales desolate. Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Desert; uninhabited; lonely; waste.
DESOLATE
Des"o*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desolated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desolating.]
1. To make desolate; to leave alone; to deprive of inhabitants; as,
the earth was nearly desolated by the flood.
2. To lay waste; to ruin; to ravage; as, a fire desolates a city.
Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war. Sparks.
DESOLATELY
Des"o*late*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desolate manner.
DESOLATENESS
Des"o*late*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being desolate.
DESOLATER
Des"o*la`ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, desolates or lays waste. Mede.
DESOLATION
Des`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. désolation, L. desolatio.]
1. The act of desolating or laying waste; destruction of inhabitants;
depopulation.
Unto the end of the war desolations are determined. Dan. ix. 26.
2. The state of being desolated or laid waste; ruin; solitariness;
destitution; gloominess.
You would have sold your king to slaughter, . . . And his whole
kingdom into desolation. Shak.
3. A place or country wasted and forsaken.
How is Babylon become a desolation! Jer. l. 23.
Syn.
-- Waste; ruin; destruction; havoc; devastation; ravage; sadness;
destitution; melancholy; gloom; gloominess.
DESOLATOR
Des"o*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Desolater. Byron.
DESOLATORY
Des"o*la*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desolatorius.]
Defn: Causing desolation. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DESOPHISTICATE
De`so*phis"ti*cate, v. t.
Defn: To clear from sophism or error. [R.] Hare.
DESOXALIC
Des`ox*al"ic, a. Etym: [F. pref. des- from + E. oxalic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Made or derived from oxalic acid; as, desoxalic acid.
DESPAIR
De*spair", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Despaired; p. pr. & vb. n.
Despairing.] Etym: [OE. despeiren, dispeiren, OF. desperer, fr. L.
desperare; de- + sperare to hope; akin to spes hope, and perh. to
spatium space, E. space, speed; cf. OF. espeir hope, F. espoir. Cf.
Prosper, Desperate.]
Defn: To be hopeless; to have no hope; to give up all hope or
expectation; -- often with of.
We despaired even of life. 2 Cor. i. 8.
Never despair of God's blessings here. Wake.
Syn.
-- See Despond.
DESPAIR
De*spair", v. t.
1. To give up as beyond hope or expectation; to despair of. [Obs.]
I would not despair the greatest design that could be attempted.
Milton.
2. To cause to despair. [Obs.] Sir W. Williams.
DESPAIR
De*spair", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despoir, fr. desperer.]
1. Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency.
We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken
with despair. Keble.
Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of
remorse and despair. Macaulay.
2. That which is despaired of. "The mere despair of surgery he
cures." Shak.
Syn.
-- Desperation; despondency; hopelessness.
DESPAIRER
De*spair"er, n.
Defn: One who despairs.
DESPAIRFUL
De*spair"ful, a.
Defn: Hopeless. [Obs.] Spenser.
DESPAIRING
De*spair"ing, a.
Defn: Feeling or expressing despair; hopeless.
-- De*spair"ing*ly, adv.
-- De*spair"ing*ness, n.
DESPARPLE
De*spar"ple, v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. desparpeillier.]
Defn: To scatter; to disparkle. [Obs.] Mandeville.
DESPATCH
De*spatch", n. & v.
Defn: Same as Dispatch.
DESPECIFICATE
De`spe*cif"i*cate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + specificate.]
Defn: To discriminate; to separate according to specific
signification or qualities; to specificate; to desynonymize. [R.]
Inaptitude and ineptitude have been usefully despecificated. Fitzed.
Hall.
DESPECIFICATION
De*spec`ifi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Discrimination.
DESPECT
De*spect", n. Etym: [L. despectus, fr. despicere. See Despite, n.]
Defn: Contempt. [R.] Coleridge.
DESPECTION
De*spec"tion, n. Etym: [L. despectio.]
Defn: A looking down; a despising. [R.] W. Montagu.
DESPEED
De*speed", v. t.
Defn: To send hastily. [Obs.]
Despeeded certain of their crew. Speed.
DESPEND
De*spend", v. t.
Defn: To spend; to squander. See Dispend. [Obs.]
Some noble men in Spain can despend Howell.
DESPERADO
Des`per*a"do, n.; pl. Desperadoes. Etym: [OSp. desperado, p. p. of
desperar, fr. L. desperare. See Desperate.]
Defn: A reckless, furious man; a person urged by furious passions,
and regardless of consequence; a wild ruffian.
DESPERATE
Des"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. desperatus, p. p. of desperare. See
Despair, and cf. Desperado.]
1. Without hope; given to despair; hopeless. [Obs.]
I am desperate of obtaining her. Shak.
2. Beyond hope; causing despair; extremely perilous; irretrievable;
past cure, or, at least, extremely dangerous; as, a desperate
disease; desperate fortune.
3. Proceeding from, or suggested by, despair; without regard to
danger or safety; reckless; furious; as, a desperate effort.
"Desperate expedients." Macaulay.
4. Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme
predominance of a bad quality.
A desperate offendress against nature. Shak.
The most desperate of reprobates. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Hopeless; despairing; desponding; rash; headlong; precipitate;
irretrievable; irrecoverable; forlorn; mad; furious; frantic.
DESPERATE
Des"per*ate, n.
Defn: One desperate or hopeless. [Obs.]
DESPERATELY
Des"per*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desperate manner; without regard to danger or safety;
recklessly; extremely; as, the troops fought desperately.
She fell desperately in love with him. Addison.
DESPERATENESS
Des"per*ate*ness n.
Defn: Desperation; virulence.
DESPERATION
Des`per*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. desperatio: cf. OF. desperation.]
1. The act of despairing or becoming desperate; a giving up of hope.
This desperation of success chills all our industry. Hammond.
2. A state of despair, or utter hopeless; abandonment of hope;
extreme recklessness; reckless fury.
In the desperation of the moment, the officers even tried to cut
their way through with their swords. W. Irving.
DESPICABILITY
Des`pi*ca*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Despicableness. [R.] Carlyle.
DESPICABLE
Des"pi*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. despicabilis, fr. despicari to despise;
akin to despicere. See Despise.]
Defn: Fit or deserving to be despised; contemptible; mean; vile;
worthless; as, a despicable man; despicable company; a despicable
gift.
Syn.
-- Contemptible; mean; vile; worthless; pitiful; paltry; sordid;
low; base. See Contemptible.
DESPICABLENESS
Des"pi*ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being despicable; meanness; vileness;
worthlessness.
DESPICABLY
Des"pi*ca*bly, adv.
Defn: In a despicable or mean manner; contemptibly; as, despicably
stingy.
DESPICIENCY
Des*pi"cien*cy, n. Etym: [L. despicientia. See Despise.]
Defn: A looking down; despection. [Obs.]
DESPISABLE
De*spis"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. despisable.]
Defn: Despicable; contemptible. [R.]
DESPISAL
De*spis"al, n.
Defn: A despising; contempt. [R.]
A despisal of religion. South.
DESPISE
De*spise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despised; p. pr. & vb. n. Despising.]
Etym: [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L.
despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere,
specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Despicable, Despite.]
Defn: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to
scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of.
Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. i. 7.
Men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do
not give way to them. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Syn.
-- To contemn; scorn; disdain; slight; undervalue. See Contemn.
DESPISEDNESS
De*spis"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being despised.
DESPISEMENT
De*spise"ment, n.
Defn: A despising. [R.] Holland.
DESPISER
De*spis"er, n.
Defn: One who despises; a contemner; a scorner.
DESPISINGLY
De*spis"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Contemptuously.
DESPITE
De*spite", n. Etym: [OF. despit, F. dépit, fr. L. despectus contempt,
fr. despicere. See Despise, and cf. Spite, Despect.]
1. Malice; malignity; spite; malicious anger; contemptuous hate.
With all thy despite against the land of Israel. Ezek. xxv. 6.
2. An act of malice, hatred, or defiance; contemptuous defiance; a
deed of contempt.
A despite done against the Most High. Milton.
In despite, in defiance of another's power or inclination.
-- In despite of, in defiance of; in spite of. See under Spite.
"Seized my hand in despite of my efforts to the contrary." W. Irving.
-- In your despite, in defiance or contempt of you; in spite of you.
[Obs.]
DESPITE
De*spite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despited; p. pr. & vb. n. Despiting.]
Etym: [OF. despitier, fr. L. despectare, intens. of despicere. See
Despite, n.]
Defn: To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously. [Obs.] Sir W.
Raleigh.
DESPITE
De*spite", prep.
Defn: In spite of; against, or in defiance of; notwithstanding; as,
despite his prejudices.
Syn.
-- See Notwithstanding.
DESPITEFUL
De*spite"ful, a. Etym: [See Despite, and cf. Spiteful.]
Defn: Full of despite; expressing malice or contemptuous hate;
malicious.
-- De*spite"ful*ly, adv.
-- De*spite"ful*ness, n.
Haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters. Rom. i. 30.
Pray for them which despitefully use you. Matt. v. 44.
Let us examine him with despitefulness and fortune. Book of Wisdom
ii. 19.
DESPITEOUS
Des*pit"e*ous, a. Etym: [OE. despitous, OF. despiteus, fr. despit;
affected in form by E. piteous. See Despite.]
Defn: Feeling or showing despite; malicious; angry to excess; cruel;
contemptuous. [Obs.] "Despiteous reproaches." Holland.
DESPITEOUSLY
Des*pit"e*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Despitefully. [Obs.]
DESPITOUS
De*spit"ous, a.
Defn: Despiteous; very angry; cruel. [Obs.]
He was to sinful man not despitous. Chaucer.
- De*spit"ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DESPOIL
De*spoil", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Despoiled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Despoiling.] Etym: [OF. despoiller, F. dépouiller, L. despoliare,
despoliatum; de- + spoliare to strip, rob, spolium spoil, booty. Cf.
Spoil, Despoliation.]
1. To strip, as of clothing; to divest or unclothe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To deprive for spoil; to plunder; to rob; to pillage; to strip; to
divest; -- usually followed by of.
The clothed earth is then bare, Despoiled is the summer fair. Gower.
A law which restored to them an immense domain of which they had been
despoiled. Macaulay.
Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss. Milton.
Syn.
-- To strip; deprive; rob; bereave; rifle.
DESPOIL
De*spoil", n.
Defn: Spoil. [Obs.] Wolsey.
DESPOILER
De*spoil"er, n.
Defn: One who despoils.
DESPOILMENT
De*spoil"ment, n.
Defn: Despoliation. [R.]
DESPOLIATION
De*spo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. despoliatio. See Despoil.]
Defn: A stripping or plundering; spoliation. Bailey.
DESPOND
De*spond", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Desponded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desponding.] Etym: [L. despond, desponsum, to promise away, promise
in marriage, give up, to lose (courage); de- + spond to promise
solemnly. See Sponsor.]
Defn: To give up, the will, courage, or spirit; to be thoroughly
disheartened; to lose all courage; to become dispirited or depressed;
to take an unhopeful view.
I should despair, or at least despond. Scott's Letters.
Others depress their own minds, [and] despond at the first
difficulty. Locke.
We wish that . . . desponding patriotism may turn its eyes
hitherward, and be assured that foundations of our national power
still stand strong. D. Webster.
Syn.
-- Despond, Dispair. Despair implies a total loss of hope, which
despond does not, at least in every case; yet despondency is often
more lasting than despair, or than desperation, which impels to
violent action.
DESPOND
De*spond" n.
Defn: Despondency. [Obs.]
The slough of despond. Bunyan.
DESPONDENCE
De*spond"ence, n.
Defn: Despondency.
The people, when once infected, lose their relish for happiness [and]
saunter about with looks of despondence. Goldsmith.
DESPONDENCY
De*spond"en*cy, n.
Defn: The state of desponding; loss of hope and cessation of effort;
discouragement; depression or dejection of the mind.
The unhappy prince seemed, during some days, to be sunk in
despondency. Macaulay.
DESPONDENT
De*spond"ent, a. Etym: [L. despondens, -entis, p. pr. of despond.]
Defn: Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as,
a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner.
-- De*spond"ent*ly, adv.
DESPONDER
De*spond"er, n.
Defn: One who desponds.
DESPONDINGLY
De*spond"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desponding manner.
DESPONSAGE
De*spon"sage, n. Etym: [From L. desponsus, p. p. See Despond.]
Defn: Betrothal. [Obs.]
Ethelbert . . . went peaceably to King Offa for desponsage of
Athilrid, his daughter. Foxe.
DESPONSATE
De*spon"sate, v. t. Etym: [L. desponsatus, p. p. of desponsare,
intens. of despondere to betroth. See Despond.]
Defn: To betroth. [Obs.] Johnson.
DESPONSATION
Des`pon*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. desponsatio: cf. OF. desponsation.]
Defn: A betrothing; betrothal. [Obs.]
For all this desponsation of her . . . she had not set one step
toward the consummation of her marriage. Jer. Taylor.
DESPONSORY
De*spon"so*ry, n.; pl. Desponsories (.
Defn: A written pledge of marriage. Clarendon.
DESPORT
De*sport", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Disport.
DESPOT
Des"pot, n. Etym: [F. despote, LL. despotus, fr. Gr. potens. See
Potent.]
1. A master; a lord; especially, an absolute or irresponsible ruler
or sovereign.
Irresponsible power in human hands so naturally leads to it, that
cruelty has become associated with despot and tyrant. C. J. Smith.
2. One who rules regardless of a constitution or laws; a tyrant.
DESPOTAT
Des"po*tat, n. Etym: [Cf. F. despotat.]
Defn: The station or government of a despot; also, the domain of a
despot. Freeman.
DESPOTIC; DESPOTICAL
Des*pot"ic, Des*pot"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. despotique.]
Defn: Having the character of, or pertaining to, a despot; absolute
in power; possessing and abusing unlimited power; evincing despotism;
tyrannical; arbitrary.
-- Des*pot"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Des*pot"ic*al*ness, n.
DESPOTISM
Des"po*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. despotisme.]
1. The power, spirit, or principles of a despot; absolute control
over others; tyrannical sway; tyranny. "The despotism of vice."
Byron.
2. A government which is directed by a despot; a despotic monarchy;
absolutism; autocracy.
Despotism . . . is the only form of government which may with safety
to itself neglect the education of its infant poor. Bp. Horsley.
DESPOTIST
Des"po*tist, n.
Defn: A supporter of despotism. [R.]
DESPOTIZE
Des"po*tize, v. t.
Defn: To act the despot.
DESPREAD
De*spread", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Dispread.
DESPUMATE
Des"pu*mate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Despumated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Despumating.] Etym: [L. despumatus, p. p. of despumare to despume;
de- + spumare to foam, froth, spuma froth, scum.]
Defn: To throw off impurities in spume; to work off in foam or scum;
to foam.
DESPUMATION
Des`pu*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. despumatio: cf. F. despumation.]
Defn: The act of throwing up froth or scum; separation of the scum or
impurities from liquids; scumming; clarification.
DESPUME
De*spume", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. despumer. See Despumate.]
Defn: To free from spume or scum. [Obs.]
If honey be despumed. Holland.
DESQUAMATE
Des"qua*mate, v. i. Etym: [L. desquamatus, p. p. of desquamare to
scale off; de- + squama scale.] (Med.)
Defn: To peel off in the form of scales; to scale off, as the skin in
certain diseases.
DESQUAMATION
Des`qua*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. desquamation.] (Med.)
Defn: The separation or shedding of the cuticle or epidermis in the
form of flakes or scales; exfoliation, as of bones.
DESQUAMATIVE; DESQUAMATORY
De*squam"a*tive, De*squam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or attended with, desquamation.
DESQUAMATORY
De*squam"a*to*ry, n. (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument formerly used in removing the laminæ of
exfoliated bones.
DESS
Dess, n.
Defn: Dais. [Obs.]
DESSERT
Des*sert", n. Etym: [F., fr. desservir to remove from table, to clear
the table; pref. des- (L. dis-) + servir to serve, to serve at table.
See Serve.]
Defn: A service of pastry, fruits, or sweetmeats, at the close of a
feast or entertainment; pastry, fruits, etc., forming the last course
at dinner.
"An 't please your honor," quoth the peasant, "This same dessert is
not so pleasant." Pope.
Dessert spoon, a spoon used in eating dessert; a spoon intermediate
in size between a teaspoon and a tablespoon.
-- Dessert-spoonful, n., pl. Dessert-spoonfuls, as much as a dessert
spoon will hold, usually reckoned at about two and a half fluid
drams.
DESTEMPER
Des*tem"per, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détrempe, fr. détremper.]
Defn: A kind of painting. See Distemper.
DESTIN
Des"tin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. destin.]
Defn: Destiny. [Obs.] Marston.
DESTINABLE
Des"ti*na*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. destinable.]
Defn: Determined by destiny; fated. Chaucer.
DESTINABLY
Des"ti*na*bly, adv.
Defn: In a destinable manner.
DESTINAL
Des"ti*nal, a.
Defn: Determined by destiny; fated. [Obs.] "The order destinal."
Chaucer.
DESTINATE
Des"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. destinatus, p. p. of destinare. See
Destine.]
Defn: Destined. [Obs.] "Destinate to hell." Foxe.
DESTINATE
Des"ti*nate, v. t.
Defn: To destine, design, or choose. [Obs.] "That name that God . . .
did destinate." Udall.
DESTINATION
Des`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. destinatio determination: cf. F.
destination destination.]
1. The act of destining or appointing.
2. Purpose for which anything is destined; predetermined end, object,
or use; ultimate design.
3. The place set for the end of a journey, or to which something is
sent; place or point aimed at.
Syn.
-- Appointment; design; purpose; intention; destiny; lot; fate; end.
DESTINE
Des"tine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destined; p. pr. & vb. n. Destining.]
Etym: [F. destiner, L. destinare; de + the root of stare to stand.
See Stand, and cf. Obstinate.]
Defn: To determine the future condition or application of; to set
apart by design for a future use or purpose; to fix, as by destiny or
by an authoritative decree; to doom; to ordain or preordain; to
appoint; -- often with the remoter object preceded by to or for.
We are decreed, Reserved, and destined to eternal woe. Milton.
Till the loathsome opposite Of all my heart had destined, did obtain.
Tennyson.
Not enjoyment and not sorrow Is our destined end or way. Longfellow.
Syn.
-- To design; mark out; determine; allot; choose; intend; devote;
consecrate; doom.
DESTINIST
Des"ti*nist, n.
Defn: A believer in destiny; a fatalist. [R.]
DESTINY
Des"ti*ny, n.; pl. Destinies. Etym: [OE. destinee, destene, F.
destinée, from destiner. See Destine.]
1. That to which any person or thing is destined; predetermined
state; condition foreordained by the Divine or by human will; fate;
lot; doom.
Thither he Will come to know his destiny. Shak.
No man of woman born, Coward or brave, can shun his destiny. Bryant.
2. The fixed order of things; invincible necessity; fate; a
resistless power or agency conceived of as determining the future,
whether in general or of an individual.
But who can turn the stream of destiny Spenser.
Fame comes only when deserved, and then is as inevitable as destiny,
for it is destiny. Longfellow.
The Destinies (Anc. Myth.), the three Parcæ, or Fates; the supposed
powers which preside over human life, and determine its circumstances
and duration.
Marked by the Destinies to be avoided. Shak.
DESTITUENT
De*stit"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. destituens, p. pr. of destituere.]
Defn: Deficient; wanting; as, a destituent condition. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
DESTITUTE
Des"ti*tute, a. Etym: [L. destitutus, p. p. of destituere to set
away, leave alone, forsake; de + statuere to set. See Statute.]
1. Forsaken; not having in possession (something necessary, or
desirable); deficient; lacking; devoid; -- often followed by of.
In thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Ps. cxli. 8.
Totally destitute of all shadow of influence. Burke.
2. Not possessing the necessaries of life; in a condition of want;
needy; without possessions or resources; very poor.
They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute,
afflicted, tormented. Heb. xi. 37.
DESTITUTE
Des"ti*tute, v. t.
1. To leave destitute; to forsake; to abandon. [Obs.]
To forsake or destitute a plantation. Bacon.
2. To make destitute; to cause to be in want; to deprive; -- followed
by of. [Obs.]
Destituted of all honor and livings. Holinshed.
3. To disappoint. [Obs.]
When his expectation is destituted. Fotherby.
DESTITUTELY
Des"ti*tute*ly, adv.
Defn: In destitution.
DESTITUTENESS
Des"ti*tute*ness, n.
Defn: Destitution. [R.] Ash.
DESTITUTION
Des`ti*tu"tion, n. Etym: [L. destitutio a forsaking.]
Defn: The state of being deprived of anything; the state or condition
of being destitute, needy, or without resources; deficiency; lack;
extreme poverty; utter want; as, the inundation caused general
destitution.
DESTRER; DEXTRER
Des*trer", Dex"trer, n. Etym: [OF. destrier, fr. L. dextra on the
right side. The squire led his master's horse beside him, on his
right hand. Skeat.]
Defn: A war horse. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESTRIE
De*strie", v. t.
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESTROY
De*stroy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Destroyed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Destroying.] Etym: [OE. destroien, destruien, destrien, OF.
destruire, F. détruire, fr. L. destruere, destructum; de + struere to
pile up, build. See Structure.]
1. To unbuild; to pull or tear down; to separate virulently into its
constituent parts; to break up the structure and organic existence
of; to demolish.
But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down
their groves. Ex. xxxiv. 13.
2. To ruin; to bring to naught; to put an end to; to annihilate; to
consume.
I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation. Jer. xii. 17.
3. To put an end to the existence, prosperity, or beauty of; to kill.
If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, By some false guile
pervert. Milton.
Syn.
-- To demolish; lay waste; consume; raze; dismantle; ruin; throw
down; overthrow; subvert; desolate; devastate; deface; extirpate;
extinguish; kill; slay. See Demolish.
DESTROYABLE
De*stroy"a*ble, a.
Defn: Destructible. [R.]
Plants . . . scarcely destroyable by the weather. Derham.
DESTROYER
De*stroy"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. destruior.]
Defn: One who destroys, ruins, kills, or desolates.
DESTRUCT
De*struct", v. t. Etym: [L. destructus, p. p. of destruere. See
Destroy.]
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Mede.
DESTRUCTIBILITY
De*struc`ti*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. destructibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being capable of destruction; destructibleness.
DESTRUCTIBLE
De*struc"ti*ble, a. Etym: [L. destructibilis.]
Defn: Liable to destruction; capable of being destroyed.
DESTRUCTIBLENESS
De*struc"ti*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being destructible.
DESTRUCTION
De*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. destructio: cf. F. destruction. See
Destroy.]
1. The act of destroying; a tearing down; a bringing to naught;
subversion; demolition; ruin; slaying; devastation.
The Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and
slaughter, and destruction. Esth. ix. 5.
'Tis safer to be that which we destroy Than by destruction dwell in
doubtful joy. Shak.
Destruction of venerable establishment. Hallam.
2. The state of being destroyed, demolished, ruined, slain, or
devastated.
This town came to destruction. Chaucer.
Thou castedst them down into destruction. Ps. lxxiii. 18.
2. A destroying agency; a cause of ruin or of devastation; a
destroyer.
The destruction that wasteth at noonday. Ps. xci. 6.
Syn.
-- Demolition; subversion; overthrow; desolation; extirpation;
extinction; devastation; downfall; extermination; havoc; ruin.
DESTRUCTIONIST
De*struc"tion*ist, n.
1. One who delights in destroying that which is valuable; one whose
principles and influence tend to destroy existing institutions; a
destructive.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who believes in the final destruction or complete
annihilation of the wicked; -- called also annihilationist. Shipley.
DESTRUCTIVE
De*struc"tive, a. Etym: [L. destructivus: cf. F. destructif.]
Defn: Causing destruction; tending to bring about ruin, death, or
devastation; ruinous; fatal; productive of serious evil; mischievous;
pernicious; -- often with of or to; as, intemperance is destructive
of health; evil examples are destructive to the morals of youth.
Time's destructive power. Wordsworth.
Destructive distillation. See Distillation.
-- Destructive sorties ( (Logic), a process of reasoning which
involves the denial of the first of a series of dependent
propositions as a consequence of the denial of the last; a species of
reductio ad absurdum. Whately.
Syn.
-- Mortal; deadly; poisonous; fatal; ruinous; malignant; baleful;
pernicious; mischievous.
DESTRUCTIVE
De*struc"tive, n.
Defn: One who destroys; a radical reformer; a destructionist.
DESTRUCTIVELY
De*struc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a destructive manner.
DESTRUCTIVENESS
De*struc"tive*ness, n.
1. The quality of destroying or ruining. Prynne.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: The faculty supposed to impel to the commission of acts of
destruction; propensity to destroy.
DESTRUCTOR
De*struc"tor, n. Etym: [L., from destruere. See Destroy, and cf.
Destroyer.]
Defn: A destroyer. [R.]
Fire, the destructive and the artificial death of things. Boyle.
DESTRUIE
De*struie", v. t.
Defn: To destroy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DESUDATION
Des`u*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. desudatio, fr. desudare to sweat greatly;
de + sudare to sweat.] (Med.)
Defn: A sweating; a profuse or morbid sweating, often succeeded by an
eruption of small pimples.
DESUETE
De*suete", a. Etym: [L. desuetus, p. p. of desuescere to disuse.]
Defn: Disused; out of use. [R.]
DESUETUDE
Des"ue*tude, n. Etym: [L. desuetudo, from desuescere, to grow out of
use, disuse; de + suescere to become used or accustomed: cf. F.
désuétude. See Custom.]
Defn: The cessation of use; disuse; discontinuance of practice,
custom, or fashion.
The desuetude abrogated the law, which, before, custom had
established. Jer. Taylor.
DESULPHURATE
De*sul"phu*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Desulphurated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Desulphurating.]
Defn: To deprive of sulphur.
DESULPHURATION
De*sul`phu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désulfuration.]
Defn: The act or process of depriving of sulphur.
DESULPHURIZE
De*sul"phur*ize, v. t.
Defn: To desulphurate; to deprive of sulphur.
-- De*sul`phur*i*za"tion, n.
DESULTORILY
Des"ul*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a desultory manner; without method; loosely; immethodically.
DESULTORINESS
Des"ul*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being desultory or without order or method;
unconnectedness.
The seeming desultoriness of my method. Boyle.
DESULTORIOUS
Des`ul*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Desultory. [R.]
DESULTORY
Des"ul*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. desultorius, fr. desultor a leaper, fr.
desilire, desultum, to leap down; de + salire to leap. See
Saltation.]
1. Leaping or skipping about. [Obs.]
I shot at it [a bird], but it was so desultory that I missed my aim.
Gilbert White.
2. Jumping, or passing, from one thing or subject to another, without
order or rational connection; without logical sequence; disconnected;
immethodical; aimless; as, desultory minds. Atterbury.
He [Goldsmith] knew nothing accurately; his reading had been
desultory. Macaulay.
3. Out of course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the
subject; as, a desultory remark.
Syn.
-- Rambling; roving; immethodical; discursive; inconstant;
unsettled; cursory; slight; hasty; loose.
DESUME
De*sume", v. t. Etym: [L. desumere; de + sumere to take.]
Defn: To select; to borrow. [Obs.] Sir. M. Hale.
DESYNONYMIZATION
De`syn*on`y*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of desynonymizing.
DESYNONYMIZE
De`syn*on"y*mize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of synonymous character; to discriminate in use; --
applied to words which have been employed as synonyms. Coleridge.
Trench.
DETACH
De*tach", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detached; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaching.]
Etym: [F. détacher (cf. It. distaccare, staccare); pref. dé (L. dis)
+ the root found also in E. attach. See Attach, and cf. Staccato.]
1. To part; to separate or disunite; to disengage; -- the opposite of
attach; as, to detach the coats of a bulbous root from each other; to
detach a man from a leader or from a party.
2. To separate for a special object or use; -- used especially in
military language; as, to detach a ship from a fleet, or a company
from a regiment.
Syn.
-- To separate; disunite; disengage; sever; disjoin; withdraw;; draw
off. See Detail.
DETACH
De*tach", v. i.
Defn: To push asunder; to come off or separate from anything; to
disengage.
[A vapor] detaching, fold by fold, From those still heights.
Tennyson.
DETACHABLE
De*tach"a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be detached.
DETACHED
De*tached", a.
Defn: Separate; unconnected, or imperfectly connected; as, detached
parcels. "Extensive and detached empire." Burke. Detached escapement.
See Escapement.
DETACHMENT
De*tach"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détachement.]
1. The act of detaching or separating, or the state of being
detached.
2. That which is detached; especially, a body of troops or part of a
fleet sent from the main body on special service.
Troops . . . widely scattered in little detachments. Bancroft.
3. Abstraction from worldly objects; renunciation.
A trial which would have demanded of him a most heroic faith and the
detachment of a saint. J. H. Newman.
DETAIL
De"tail, n. Etym: [F. détail, fr. détailler to cut in pieces, tell in
detail; pref. dé- (L. de or dis-) + tailler to cut. See Tailor.]
1. A minute portion; one of the small parts; a particular; an item; -
- used chiefly in the plural; as, the details of a scheme or
transaction.
The details of the campaign in Italy. Motley.
2. A narrative which relates minute points; an account which dwells
on particulars.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: The selection for a particular service of a person or a body of
men; hence, the person or the body of men so selected. Detail
drawing, a drawing of the full size, or on a large scale, of some
part of a building, machine, etc.
-- In detail, in subdivisions; part by part; item; circumstantially;
with particularity.
Syn.
-- Account; relation; narrative; recital; explanation; narration.
DETAIL
De"tail, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Detailing.]
Etym: [Cf. F. détailler to cut up in pieces, tell in detail. See
Detail, n.]
1. To relate in particulars; to particularize; to report minutely and
distinctly; to enumerate; to specify; as, he detailed all the facts
in due order.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as an officer,
a troop, or a squadron.
Syn.
-- Detail, Detach. Detail respect the act of individualizing the
person or body that is separated; detach, the removing for the given
end or object.
DETAILER
De*tail"er, n.
Defn: One who details.
DETAIN
De*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detained; p. pr. & vb. n. Detaining.]
Etym: [F. détenir, L. detinere, detentum; de + tenere to hold. See
Tenable.]
1. To keep back or from; to withhold.
Detain not the wages of the hireling. Jer. Taylor.
2. To restrain from proceeding; to stay or stop; to delay; as, we
were detained by an accident.
Let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.
Judges xiii. 15.
3. To hold or keep in custody.
Syn.
-- To withhold; retain; stop; stay; arrest; check; retard; delay;
hinder.
DETAIN
De*tain", n.
Defn: Detention. [Obs.] Spenser.
DETAINDER
De*tain"der, n. (Law)
Defn: A writ. See Detinue.
DETAINER
De*tain"er, n.
1. One who detains.
2. (Law)
(a) The keeping possession of what belongs to another; detention of
what is another's, even though the original taking may have been
lawful. Forcible detainer is indictable at common law.
(b) A writ authorizing the keeper of a prison to continue to keep a
person in custody.
DETAINMENT
De*tain"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. detenement.]
Defn: Detention. [R.] Blackstone.
DETECT
De*tect", a. Etym: [L. detectus, p. p. of detegere to uncover,
detect; de + tegere to cover. See Tegument.]
Defn: Detected. [Obs.] Fabyan.
DETECT
De*tect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detected; p. pr. & vb. n. Detecting.]
1. To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light; as, to
detect a crime or a criminal; to detect a mistake in an account.
Plain good intention . . . is as easily discovered at the first view,
as fraud is surely detected at last. Burke.
Like following life through creatures you dissect, You lose it in the
moment you detect. Pope.
2. To inform against; to accuse. [Obs.]
He was untruly judged to have preached such articles as he was
detected of. Sir T. More.
Syn.
-- To discover; find out; lay bare; expose.
DETECTABLE; DETECTIBLE
De*tect"a*ble, De*tect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being detected or found out; as, parties not
detectable. "Errors detectible at a glance." Latham.
DETECTER
De*tect"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, detects or brings to light; one who
finds out what another attempts to conceal; a detector.
DETECTION
De*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. detectio an uncovering, revealing.]
Defn: The act of detecting; the laying open what was concealed or
hidden; discovery; as, the detection of a thief; the detection of
fraud, forgery, or a plot.
Such secrets of guilt are never from detection. D. Webster.
DETECTIVE
De*tect"ive, a.
Defn: Fitted for, or skilled in, detecting; employed in detecting
crime or criminals; as, a detective officer.
DETECTIVE
De*tect"ive, n.
Defn: One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters
of secrecy.
DETECTOR
De*tect"or, n. Etym: [L., a revealer.]
Defn: One who, or that which, detects; a detecter. Shak.
A deathbed's detector of the heart. Young.
Bank-note detector, a publication containing a description of genuine
and counterfeit bank notes, designed to enable persons to
discriminate between them.
-- Detector l. See under Lock.
DETECTOR BAR
De*tect"or bar. (Railroads)
Defn: A bar, connected with a switch, longer than the distance
between any two consecutive wheels of a train (45 to 50 feet), laid
inside a rail and operated by the wheels so that the switch cannot be
thrown until all the train is past the switch.
DETENEBRATE
De*ten"e*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. de + tenebrare to make dark, fr.
tenebrae darkness.]
Defn: To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.
DETENT
De*tent", n. Etym: [F. détente, fr. détendre to unbend, relax; pref.
dé- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See Distend.] (Mech.)
Defn: That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or dog;
especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the
wheelwork in striking.
DETENTION
De*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. detentio: cf. F. détention. See Detain.]
1. The act of detaining or keeping back; a withholding.
2. The state of being detained (stopped or hindered); delay from
necessity.
3. Confinement; restraint; custody.
The archduke Philip . . . found himself in a sort of honorable
detention at Henry's court. Hallam.
DETER
De*ter", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterring.]
Etym: [L. deterrere; de + terrere to frighten, terrify. See Terror.]
Defn: To prevent by fear; hence, to hinder or prevent from action by
fear of consequences, or difficulty, risk, etc. Addison.
Potent enemies tempt and deter us from our duty. Tillotson.
My own face deters me from my glass. Prior.
DETERGE
De*terge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deterged; p. pr. & vb. n. Deterging.]
Etym: [L. detergere, detersum; de + tergere to rub or wipe off: cf.
F. déterger.]
Defn: To cleanse; to purge away, as foul or offending matter from the
body, or from an ulcer.
DETERGENCY
De*ter"gen*cy, n.
Defn: A cleansing quality or power. De Foe.
DETERGENT
De*ter"gent, a. Etym: [L. detergens, -entis, p. pr. of detergere: cf.
F. détergent.]
Defn: Cleansing; purging.
-- n.
Defn: A substance which cleanses the skin, as water or soap; a
medicine to cleanse wounds, ulcers, etc.
DETERIORATE
De*te"ri*o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deteriorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deteriorating.] Etym: [L. deterioratus, p. p. of deteriorate to
deteriorate, fr. deterior worse, prob. a comparative fr. de down,
away.]
Defn: To make worse; to make inferior in quality or value; to impair;
as, to deteriorate the mind. Whately.
The art of war . . . was greatly deteriorated. Southey.
DETERIORATE
De*te"ri*o*rate, v. i.
Defn: To grow worse; to be impaired in quality; to degenerate.
Under such conditions, the mind rapidly deteriorates. Goldsmith.
DETERIORATION
De*te`ri*o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deterioratio: cf. F.
détérioration.]
Defn: The process of growing worse, or the state of having grown
worse.
DETERIORITY
De*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. deterior worse. See Deteriorate.]
Defn: Worse state or quality; inferiority. "The deteriority of the
diet." [R.] Ray.
DETERMENT
De*ter"ment, n. Etym: [From Deter.]
Defn: The act of deterring; also, that which deters. Boyle.
DETERMINABILITY
De*ter`mi*na*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being determinable; determinableness. Coleridge.
DETERMINABLE
De*ter"mi*na*ble, a. Etym: [L. determinabilis finite. See Determine,
v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being determined, definitely ascertained, decided
upon, or brought to a conclusion.
Not wholly determinable from the grammatical use of the words. South.
DETERMINABLENESS
De*ter"mi*na*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Capability of being determined; determinability.
DETERMINACY
De*ter"mi*na*cy, n.
Defn: Determinateness. [R.]
DETERMINANT
De*ter"mi*nant, a. Etym: [L. determinans, p. pr. of determinare: cf.
F. déterminant.]
Defn: Serving to determine or limit; determinative.
DETERMINANT
De*ter"mi*nant, n.
1. That which serves to determine; that which causes determination.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The sum of a series of products of several numbers, these
products being formed according to certain specified laws; thus, the
determinant of the nine numbers. a, b, c,a', b', c',a'\'b7, b'\'b7,
c'\'b7, is a b' c'\'b7 -- a b'\'b7 c' + a' b'\'b7 c] -- a' b c'\'b7 +
a'\'b7 b' c. The determinant is written by placing the numbers from
which it is formed in a square between two vertical lines. The theory
of determinants forms a very important branch of modern mathematics.
3. (Logic)
Defn: A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate,
narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and
precise. Abp. Thomson.
DETERMINATE
De*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. determinatus, p. p. of determinare. See
Determine.]
1. Having defined limits; not uncertain or arbitrary; fixed;
established; definite.
Quantity of words and a determinate number of feet. Dryden.
2. Conclusive; decisive; positive.
The determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. Acts ii. 23.
3. Determined or resolved upon. [Obs.]
My determinate voyage. Shak.
4. Of determined purpose; resolute. [Obs.]
More determinate to do than skillful how to do. Sir P. Sidney.
Determinate inflorescence (Bot.), that in which the flowering
commences with the terminal bud of a stem, which puts a limit to its
growth; -- also called centrifugal inflorescence.
-- Determinate problem (Math.), a problem which admits of a limited
number of solutions.
-- Determinate quantities, Determinate equations (Math.), those that
are finite in the number of values or solutions, that is, in which
the conditions of the problem or equation determine the number.
DETERMINATE
De*ter"mi*nate, v. t.
Defn: To bring to an end; to determine. See Determine. [Obs.]
The sly, slow hours shall not determinate The dateless limit of thy
dear exile. Shak.
DETERMINATELY
De*ter"mi*nate*ly, adv.
1. In a determinate manner; definitely; ascertainably.
The principles of religion are already either determinately true or
false, before you think of them. Tillotson.
2. Resolutely; unchangeably.
Being determinately . . . bent to marry. Sir P. Sidney.
DETERMINATENESS
De*ter"mi*nate*ness, n.
Defn: State of being determinate.
DETERMINATION
De*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. determinatio boundary, end: cf. F.
détermination.]
1. The act of determining, or the state of being determined.
2. Bringing to an end; termination; limit.
A speedy determination of that war. Ludlow.
3. Direction or tendency to a certain end; impulsion.
Remissness can by no means consist with a constant determination of
the will . . . to the greatest apparent good. Locke.
4. The quality of mind reaches definite conclusions; decision of
character; resoluteness.
He only is a well-made man who has a good determination. Emerson.
5. The state of decision; a judicial decision, or ending of
controversy.
6. That which is determined upon; result of deliberation; purpose;
conclusion formed; fixed resolution.
So bloodthirsty a determination to obtain convictions. Hallam.
7. (Med.)
Defn: A flow, rush, or tendency to a particular part; as, a
determination of blood to the head.
8. (Physical Sciences)
Defn: The act, process, or result of any accurate measurement, as of
length, volume, weight, intensify, etc.; as, the determination of the
ohm or of the wave length of light; the determination of the salt in
sea water, or the oxygen in the air.
9. (Logic)
(a) The act of defining a concept or notion by giving its essential
constituents.
(b) The addition of a differentia to a concept or notion, thus
limiting its extent; -- the opposite of generalization.
10. (Nat. Hist.)
Defn: The act of determining the relations of an object, as regards
genus and species; the referring of minerals, plants, or animals, to
the species to which they belong; classification; as, I am indebted
to a friend for the determination of most of these shells.
Syn.
-- Decision; conclusion; judgment; purpose; resolution; resolve;
firmness. See Decision.
DETERMINATIVE
De*ter"mi*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déterminatif.]
Defn: Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing;
conclusive.
Incidents . . . determinative of their course. I. Taylor.
Determinative tables (Nat. Hist.), tables presenting the specific
character of minerals, plants, etc., to assist in determining the
species to which a specimen belongs.
DETERMINATIVE
De*ter"mi*na*tive, n.
Defn: That which serves to determine.
Explanatory determinatives . . . were placed after words phonetically
expressed, in order to serve as an aid to the reader in determining
the meaning. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
DETERMINATOR
De*ter"mi*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who determines. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DETERMINE
De*ter"mine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Determined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Determining.] Etym: [F. déterminer, L. determinare, determinatum; de
+ terminare limit, terminus limit. See Term.]
1. To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate.
[God] hath determined the times before appointed. Acts xvii. 26.
2. To set bounds to; to fix the determination of; to limit; to bound;
to bring to an end; to finish.
The knowledge of men hitherto hath been determined by the view or
sight. Bacon.
Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness
hath determined me Shak.
3. To fix the form or character of; to shape; to prescribe
imperatively; to regulate; to settle.
The character of the soul is determined by the character of its God.
J. Edwards.
Something divinely beautiful . . . that at some time or other might
influence or even determine her course of life. W. Black.
4. To fix the course of; to impel and direct; -- with a remoter
object preceded by to; as, another's will determined me to this
course.
5. To ascertain definitely; to find out the specific character or
name of; to assign to its true place in a system; as, to determine an
unknown or a newly discovered plant or its name.
6. To bring to a conclusion, as a question or controversy; to settle
authoritative or judicial sentence; to decide; as, the court has
determined the cause.
7. To resolve on; to have a fixed intention of; also, to cause to
come to a conclusion or decision; to lead; as, this determined him to
go immediately.
8. (Logic)
Defn: To define or limit by adding a differentia.
9. (Physical Sciences)
Defn: To ascertain the presence, quantity, or amount of; as, to
determine the parallax; to determine the salt in sea water.
DETERMINE
De*ter"mine, v. i.
1. To come to an end; to end; to terminate. [Obs.]
He who has vented a pernicious doctrine or published an ill book must
know that his life determine not together. South.
Estates may determine on future contingencies. Blackstone.
2. To come to a decision; to decide; to resolve; -- often with on.
"Determine on some course." Shak.
He shall pay as the judges determine. Ex. xxi. 22.
DETERMINED
De*ter"mined, a.
Defn: Decided; resolute. "Adetermined foe."" Sparks.
DETERMINEDLY
De*ter"min*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a determined manner; with determination.
DETERMINER
De*ter"min*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, determines or decides.
DETERMINISM
De*ter"min*ism, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: The doctrine that the will is not free, but is inevitably and
invincibly determined by motives.
Its superior suitability to produce courage, as contrasted with
scientific physical determinism, is obvious. F. P. Cobbe.
DETERMINIST
De*ter"min*ist, n. (Metaph.)
Defn: One who believes in determinism. Also adj.; as, determinist
theories.
DETERRATION
De`ter*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. de + terra earth: cf. F. déterrer to
unearth.]
Defn: The uncovering of anything buried or covered with earth; a
taking out of the earth or ground. Woodward.
DETERRENCE
De*ter"rence, n.
Defn: That which deters; a deterrent; a hindrance. [R.]
DETERRENT
De*ter"rent, a. Etym: [L. deterrens, p. pr. of deterrere. See Deter.]
Defn: Serving to deter. "The deterrent principle." E. Davis.
DETERRENT
De*ter"rent, n.
Defn: That which deters or prevents.
DETERSION
De*ter"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détersion. See Deterge.]
Defn: The act of deterging or cleansing, as a sore.
DETERSIVE
De*ter"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. détersif.]
Defn: Cleansing; detergent.
-- n.
Defn: A cleansing agent; a detergent.
DETERSIVELY
De*ter"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a way to cleanse.
DETERSIVENESS
De*ter"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of cleansing.
DETEST
De*test", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detested; p. pr. & vb. n. Detesting.]
Etym: [L. detestare, detestatum, and detestari, to curse while
calling a deity to witness, to execrate, detest; de + testari to be a
witness, testify, testis a witness: cf. F. détester. See Testify.]
1. To witness against; to denounce; to condemn. [Obs.]
The heresy of Nestorius . . . was detested in the Eastern churches.
Fuller.
God hath detested them with his own mouth. Bale.
2. To hate intensely; to abhor; to abominate; to loathe; as, we
detest what is contemptible or evil.
Who dares think one thing, and another tell, My heart detests him as
the gates of hell. Pope.
Syn.
-- To abhor; abominate; execrate. See Hate.
DETESTABILITY
De*test`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capacity of being odious. [R.] Carlyle.
DETESTABLE
De*test"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. detestabilis: cf. F. détestable.]
Defn: Worthy of being detested; abominable; extremely hateful; very
odious; deserving abhorrence; as, detestable vices.
Thou hast defiled my sanctuary will all thy detestable things, and
with all thine abominations. Ezek. v. 11.
Syn.
-- Abominable; odious; execrable; abhorred.
DETESTABLENESS
De*test"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being detestable.
DETESTABLY
De*test"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a detestable manner.
DETESTATE
De*tes"tate, v. t.
Defn: To detest. [Obs.] Udall.
DETESTATION
Det`es*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. detestatio: cf. F. détestation.]
Defn: The act of detesting; extreme hatred or dislike; abhorrence;
loathing.
We are heartily agreed in our detestation of civil war. Burke.
DETESTER
De*test"er, n.
Defn: One who detes
DETHRONE
De*throne", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dethroned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dethroning.] Etym: [Pref. de- + throne: cf. F. détrôner; pref. dé-
(L. dis-) + trône throne. See Throne.]
Defn: To remove or drive from a throne; to depose; to divest of
supreme authority and dignity. "The Protector was dethroned." Hume.
DETHRONEMENT
De*throne"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détrônement.]
Defn: Deposal from a throne; deposition from regal power.
DETHRONER
De*thron"er, n.
Defn: One who dethrones.
DETHRONIZATION
De*thron`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: Dethronement. [Obs.] Speed.
DETHRONIZE
De*thron"ize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. LL. dethronizare.]
Defn: To dethrone or unthrone. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DETINUE
Det"i*nue, n. Etym: [OF. detinu, detenu, p. p. of detenir to detain.
See Detain.]
Defn: A person or thing detained; (Law)
Defn: a form of action for the recovery of a personal chattel
wrongfully detained. Writ of detinue (Law), one that lies against him
who wrongfully detains goods or chattels delivered to him, or in
possession, to recover the thing itself, or its value and damages,
from the detainer. It is now in a great measure superseded by other
remedies.
DETONATE
Det"o*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Detonated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Detonating.] Etym: [L. detonare, v. i., to thunder down; de + tonare
to thunder; akin to E. thunder. See Thunder, and cf. Detonize.]
Defn: To explode with a sudden report; as, niter detonates with
sulphur.
DETONATE
Det"o*nate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to explode; to cause to burn or inflame with a sudden
report.
DETONATING
Det"o*na`ting, a. & n.
Defn: from Detonate. Detonating gas, a mixture of two volumes of
hydrogen with one volume of oxygen, which explodes with a loud report
upon ignition.
-- Detonating powder, any powder or solid substance, as fulminate of
mercury, which when struck, explodes with violence and a loud report.
-- Detonating primer, a primer exploded by a fuse; -- used to
explode gun cotton in blasting operations.
-- Detonating tube, a strong tube of glass, usually graduated,
closed at one end, and furnished with two wires passing through its
sides at opposite points, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of
exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark, as in gas analysis,
etc.
DETONATION
Det`o*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. détonation.]
Defn: An explosion or sudden report made by the instantaneous
decomposition or combustion of unstable substances' as, the
detonation of gun cotton.
DETONATOR
Det`o*na`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, detonates.
DETONIZATION
Det`o*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of detonizing; detonation.
DETONIZE
Det"o*nize, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Detonate.] [imp. & p. p.Detonized;
p. pr. & vb. n. Detonizing.]
Defn: To explode, or cause to explode; to burn with an explosion; to
detonate.
DETORSION
De*tor"sion, n.
Defn: Same as Detortion.
DETORT
De*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Detorting.]
Etym: [L. detortus, p. p. of detorquere to turn away; de + torquere
to turn about, twist: cf. F. détorquer, détordre.]
Defn: To turn form the original or plain meaning; to pervert; to
wrest. Hammond.
DETORTION
De*tor"tion, n.
Defn: The act of detorting, or the state of being detorted; a
twisting or warping.
DETOUR
De`tour", n. Etym: [F. détour, fr. détourner to turn aside; pref. dé-
(L. dis-) + tourner to turn. See Turn.]
Defn: A turning; a circuitous route; a deviation from a direct
course; as, the detours of the Mississippi.
DETRACT
De*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Detracting.] Etym: [L. detractus, p. p. of detrahere to detract; de +
trahere to draw: cf. F. détracter. See Trace.]
1. To take away; to withdraw.
Detract much from the view of the without. Sir H. Wotton.
2. To take credit or reputation from; to defame.
That calumnious critic . . . Detracting what laboriously we do.
Drayton.
Syn.
-- To derogate; decry; disparage; depreciate; asperse; vilify;
defame; traduce. See Decry.
DETRACT
De*tract", v. i.
Defn: To take away a part or something, especially from one's credit;
to lessen reputation; to derogate; to defame; -- often with from.
It has been the fashion to detract both from the moral and literary
character of Cicero. V. Knox.
DETRACTER
De*tract"er, n.
Defn: One who detracts; a detractor.
Other detracters and malicious writers. Sir T. North.
DETRACTINGLY
De*tract"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a detracting manner.
DETRACTION
De*trac"tion, n. Etym: [F. détraction, L. detractio.]
1. A taking away or withdrawing. [Obs.]
The detraction of the eggs of the said wild fowl. Bacon.
2. The act of taking away from the reputation or good name of
another; a lessening or cheapening in the estimation of others; the
act of depreciating another, from envy or malice; calumny.
Syn.
-- Depreciation; disparagement; derogation; slander; calumny;
aspersion; censure.
DETRACTIOUS
De*trac"tious, a.
Defn: Containing detraction; detractory. [R.] Johnson.
DETRACTIVE
De*tract"ive, a.
1. Tending to detractor draw. [R.]
2. Tending to lower in estimation; depreciative.
DETRACTIVENESS
De*tract"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being detractive.
DETRACTOR
De*tract"or, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. détracteur.]
Defn: One who detracts; a derogator; a defamer.
His detractors were noisy and scurrilous. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Slanderer; calumniator; defamer; vilifier.
DETRACTORY
De*tract"o*ry, a.
Defn: Defamatory by denial of desert; derogatory; calumnious. Sir T.
Browne.
DETRACTRESS
De*tract"ress, n.
Defn: A female detractor. Addison.
DETRAIN
De*train", v. i. & t.
Defn: To alight, or to cause to alight, from a railway train. [Eng.]
London Graphic.
DETRECT
De*trect", v. t. Etym: [L. detrectare; de + tractare, intens. of
trahere to draw.]
Defn: To refuse; to decline. [Obs.] "To detrect the battle."
Holinshed.
DETRIMENT
Det"ri*ment, n. Etym: [L. detrimentum, fr. deterere, detritum, to rub
or wear away; de + terere to rub: cf. F. détriment. See Trite.]
1. That which injures or causes damage; mischief; harm; diminution;
loss; damage; -- used very generically; as, detriments to property,
religion, morals, etc.
I can repair That detriment, if such it be. Milton.
2. A charge made to students and barristers for incidental repairs of
the rooms they occupy. [Eng.]
Syn.
-- Injury; loss; damage; disadvantage; prejudice; hurt; mischief;
harm.
DETRIMENT
Det"ri*ment, v. t.
Defn: To do injury to; to hurt. [Archaic]
Other might be determined thereby. Fuller.
DETRIMENTAL
Det`ri*men"tal, a.
Defn: Causing detriment; injurious; hurtful.
Neither dangerous nor detrimental to the donor. Addison.
Syn.
-- Injurious; hurtful; prejudicial; disadvantageous; mischievous;
pernicious.
DETRIMENTALNESS
Det`ri*men"tal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being detrimental; injuriousness.
DETRITAL
De*tri"tal, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, detritus.
DETRITE
De*trite", a. Etym: [L. detritus, p. p.]
Defn: Worn out.
DETRITION
De*tri"tion, n. Etym: [LL. detritio. See Detriment.]
Defn: A wearing off or away.
Phonograms which by process long-continued detrition have reached a
step of extreme simplicity. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
DETRITUS
De*tri"tus, n. Etym: [F. détritus, fr. L. detritus, p. p. of
deterere. See Detriment.]
1. (Geol.)
Defn: A mass of substances worn off from solid bodies by attrition,
and reduced to small portions; as, diluvial detritus.
Note: For large portions, the word débris is used.
2. Hence: Any fragments separated from the body to which they
belonged; any product of disintegration.
The mass of detritus of which modern languages are composed. Farrar.
DETRUDE
De*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Detruding.]
Etym: [L. detrudere, detrusum; de + trudere to thrust, push.]
Defn: To thrust down or out; to push down with force. Locke.
DETRUNCATE
De*trun"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Detruncated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Detruncating.] Etym: [L. detruncatus, p. p. of detruncare to cut off;
de + truncare to maim, shorten, cut off. See Truncate.]
Defn: To shorten by cutting; to cut off; to lop off.
DETRUNCATION
De`trun*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. detruncatio: cf. F. détroncation.]
Defn: The act of lopping or cutting off, as the head from the body.
DETRUSION
De*tru"sion, n. Etym: [L. detrusio. See Detrude.]
Defn: The act of thrusting or driving down or outward; outward
thrust.
-- De*tru"sive, a.
DETTE
Dette, n.
Defn: Debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DETTELES
Dette"les, a.
Defn: Free from debt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DETUMESCENCE
De`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [L. detumescere to cease swelling; de +
tumescere, tumere, to swell.]
Defn: Diminution of swelling; subsidence of anything swollen. [R.]
Cudworth.
DETUR
De"tur, n. Etym: [L. detur let it be given.]
Defn: A present of books given to a meritorious undergraduate student
as a prize. [Harvard Univ., U. S.]
DETURB
De*turb", v. t. Etym: [L. deturbare.]
Defn: To throw down. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DETURBATE
De*tur"bate, v. t. Etym: [LL. deturbatus, p. p. of deturbare, fr. L.
deturbare to thrust down.]
Defn: To evict; to remove. [Obs.] Foxe.
DETURBATION
Det`ur*ba"tion, n.
Defn: The act of deturbating. [Obs.]
DETURN
De*turn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + turn. Cf. Detour.]
Defn: To turn away. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.
DETURPATE
De*tur"pate, v. t. Etym: [L. deturpare; de + turpare to make ugly,
defile, turpis ugly, foul.]
Defn: To defile; to disfigure. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DETURPATION
Det`ur*pa"tion, n.
Defn: A making foul. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DEUCE
Deuce, n. Etym: [F. deux two, OF. deus, fr. L. duo. See Two.]
1. (Gaming)
Defn: Two; a card or a die with two spots; as, the deuce of hearts.
2. (Tennis)
Defn: A condition of the score beginning whendeuce, which decides the
game.
DEUCE
Deuce, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. dusius, Armor, dus, teûz, phantom, specter;
Gael. taibhs, taibhse, apparition, ghost; or fr. OF. deus God, fr. L.
deus (cf. Deity.)]
Defn: The devil; a demon. [A euphemism, written also deuse.] [Low]
DEUCED
Deu"ced, a.
Defn: Devilish; excessive; extreme. [Low] -- Deu"ced*ly, adv.
DEUSE; DEUSED
Deuse, n.; Deu"sed (, a.
Defn: See Deuce, Deuced.
DEUTEROCANONICAL
Deu`ter*o*ca*non"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. canonical.]
Defn: Pertaining to a second canon, or ecclesiastical writing of
inferior authority; -- said of the Apocrypha, certain Epistles, etc.
DEUTEROGAMIST
Deu`ter*og"a*mist, n. Etym: [See Deuterogamy.]
Defn: One who marries the second time.
DEUTEROGAMY
Deu`ter*og"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A second marriage, after the death of the first husband of
wife; -- in distinction from bigamy, as defined in the old canon law.
See Bigamy. Goldsmith.
DEUTEROGENIC
Deu`ter*o*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Of secondary origin; -- said of certain rocks whose material
has been derived from older rocks.
DEUTERONOMIST
Deu`ter*on"o*mist, n.
Defn: The writer of Deuteronomy.
DEUTERONOMY
Deu`ter*on"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Deuteronomium.] (Bibl.)
Defn: The fifth book of the Pentateuch, containing the second giving
of the law by Moses.
DEUTEROPATHIA; DEUTEROPATHY
Deu`ter*o*pa*thi"a, Deu`ter*op"a*thy, n. Etym: [NL. deuteropathia,
fr. Gr. deutéropathie.] (Med.)
Defn: A sympathetic affection of any part of the body, as headache
from an overloaded stomach.
DEUTEROPATHIC
Deu`ter*o*path"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to deuteropathy; of the nature of deuteropathy.
DEUTEROSCOPY
Deu`ter*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. -scopy.]
1. Second sight.
I felt by anticipation the horrors of the Highland seers, whom their
gift of deuteroscopy compels to witness things unmeet for mortal eye.
Sir W. Scott.
2. That which is seen at a second view; a meaning beyond the literal
sense; the second intention; a hidden signification. Sir T. Browne.
DEUTEROZOOID
Deu`ter*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the secondary, and usually sexual, zooids produced by
budding or fission from the primary zooids, in animals having
alternate generations. In the tapeworms, the joints are
deuterozooids.
DEUTHYDROGURET
Deut`hy*drog"u*ret, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Deutohydroguret.
DEUTO-; DEUT-
Deu"to- or Deut- (dut-) Etym: [Contr. from Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix which formerly properly indicated the second in a
regular series of compound in the series, and not to its composition,
but which is now generally employed in the same sense as bi- or di-,
although little used.
DEUTOHYDROGURET
Deu`to*hy*drog"u*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deut-, deuto- + hydroguret.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of hydrogen
united with some other element or radical. [Obs.]
DEUTOPLASM
Deu"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The lifeless food matter in the cytoplasm of an ovum or a cell,
as distinguished from the active or true protoplasm; yolk substance;
yolk.
DEUTOPLASTIC
Deu`to*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, deutoplasm.
DEUTOSULPHURET
Deu`to*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. deuto- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: A disulphide. [Obs.]
DEUTOXIDE
Deu*tox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. deut- + oxide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing in the molecule two atoms of oxygen
united with some other element or radical; -- usually called dioxide,
or less frequently, binoxide.
DEUTZIA
Deut"zi*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Jan Deutz of Holland.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs with pretty white flowers, much cultivated.
DEV; DEVA
Dev, or De"va (, n. Etym: [Skr. d. Cf. Deity.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: A god; a deity; a divine being; an idol; a king.
DEVANAGARI
De`va*na"ga*ri, n. Etym: [Skr. d; d god + nagara city, i. e., divine
city.]
Defn: The character in which Sanskrit is written.
DEVAPORATION
De*vap`o*ra"tion, n.
Defn: The change of vapor into water, as in the formation of rain.
DEVAST
De*vast", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. dévaster. See Devastate.]
Defn: To devastate. [Obs.] Bolingbroke.
DEVASTATE
Dev"as*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devastated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Devastating.] Etym: [L. devastatus, p. p. of devastare to devastate;
de + vastare to lay waste, vastus waste. See Vast.]
Defn: To lay waste; to ravage; to desolate.
Whole countries . . . were devastated. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To waste; ravage; desolate; destroy; demolish; plunder; pillage.
DEVASTATION
Dev`as*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dévastation.]
1. The act of devastating, or the state of being devastated; a laying
waste.
Even now the devastation is begun, And half the business of
destruction done. Goldsmith.
2. (Law)
Defn: Waste of the goods of the deceased by an executor or
administrator. Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Desolation; ravage; waste; havoc; destruction; ruin; overthrow.
DEVASTATOR
Dev"as*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, devastates. Emerson.
DEVASTAVIT
Dev`as*ta"vit, n. Etym: [L., he has wasted.] (Law)
Defn: Waste or misapplication of the assets of a deceased person by
an executor or an administrator. Bouvier.
DEVATA
De"va*ta, n. Etym: [Hind., fr. Skr. d god.] (Hind. Myth.)
Defn: A deity; a divine being; a good spirit; an idol. [Written also
dewata.]
DEVE
Deve, a. Etym: [See Deaf.]
Defn: Deaf. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEVELIN
Dev"el*in, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European swift. [Prov. Eng.]
DEVELOP
De*vel"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Developed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Developing.] Etym: [F. déveloper; dé- (L. dis-) + OF. voluper,
voleper, to envelop, perh. from L. volup agreeably, delightfully, and
hence orig., to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep
snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. perh. fr. a derivative of volvere,
volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop.] [Written also
develope.]
1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay
open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose;
to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that
develops 100 horse power.
These serve to develop its tenets. Milner.
The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the
line of the enemy. The Century.
2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring
through a succession of states or stages, each of which is
preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to
cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a
higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud
into a flower; to develop the mind.
The sound developed itself into a real compound. J. Peile.
All insects . . . acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully
developed. Owen.
3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to
promote the growth of.
We must develop our own resources to the utmost. Jowett (Thucyd).
4. (Math.)
Defn: To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by
executing certain indicated operations without changing the value.
5. (Photog.)
Defn: To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image
upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view. To
develop a curved surface on a place (Geom.), to produce on the plane
an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that
all parts shall successively touch the plane.
Syn.
-- To uncover; unfold; evolve; promote; project; lay open; disclose;
exhibit; unravel; disentangle.
DEVELOP
De*vel"op, v. i.
1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by
successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more
highly organized state; to advance from a simpler form of existence
to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom
develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo
develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year.
Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within. Mrs.
Browning.
2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper
develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators
develop.
DEVELOPABLE
De*vel"op*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being developed. J. Peile. Developable surface
(Math.), a surface described by a moving right line, and such that
consecutive positions of the generator intersect each other. Hence,
the surface can be developed into a plane.
DEVELOPER
De*vel"op*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, develops.
2. (Photog.)
Defn: A reagent by the action of which the latent image upon a
photographic plate, after exposure in the camera, or otherwise, is
developed and visible.
DEVELOPMENT
De*vel"op*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. développement.] [Written also
developement.]
1. The act of developing or disclosing that which is unknown; a
gradual unfolding process by which anything is developed, as a plan
or method, or an image upon a photographic plate; gradual advancement
or growth through a series of progressive changes; also, the result
of developing, or a developed state.
A new development of imagination, taste, and poetry. Channing.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The series of changes which animal and vegetable organisms
undergo in their passage from the embryonic state to maturity, from a
lower to a higher state of organization.
3. (Math.)
(a) The act or process of changing or expanding an expression into
another of equivalent value or meaning.
(b) The equivalent expression into which another has been developed.
4. (mus.)
Defn: The elaboration of a theme or subject; the unfolding of a
musical idea; the evolution of a whole piece or movement from a
leading theme or motive. Development theory (Biol.), the doctrine
that animals and plants possess the power of passing by slow and
successive stages from a lower to a higher state of organization, and
that all the higher forms of life now in existence were thus
developed by uniform laws from lower forms, and are not the result of
special creative acts. See the Note under Darwinian.
Syn.
-- Unfolding; disclosure; unraveling; evolution; elaboration;
growth.
DEVELOPMENTAL
De*vel`op*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characteristic of, the process of
development; as, the developmental power of a germ. Carpenter.
DEVENUSTATE
Dev`e*nus"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. devenustatus, p. p. of devenustare to
disfigure; de + venustus lovely, graceful.]
Defn: To deprive of beauty or grace. [Obs.]
DEVERGENCE; DEVERGENCY
De*ver"gence, De*ver"gen*cy, n.
Defn: See Divergence. [Obs.]
DEVEST
De*vest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devested; p. pr. & vb. n. Devesting.]
Etym: [L. devestire to undress; de + vestire to dress: cf. OF.
devestir, F. dévêtir. Cf. Divest.]
1. To divest; to undress. Shak.
2. To take away, as an authority, title, etc., to deprive; to
alienate, as an estate.
Note: This word is now generally written divest, except in the legal
sense.
DEVEST
De*vest", v. i. (Law)
Defn: To be taken away, lost, or alienated, as a title or an estate.
DEVEX
De*vex", a. Etym: [L. devexus, from devehere to carry down.]
Defn: Bending down; sloping. [Obs.]
DEVEX
De*vex", n.
Defn: Devexity. [Obs.] May (Lucan).
DEVEXITY
De*vex"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. devexitas, fr. devexus. See Devex, a.]
Defn: A bending downward; a sloping; incurvation downward; declivity.
[R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)
DEVI
De"vi, n.
Defn: ; fem. of Deva. A goddess.
DEVIANT
De"vi*ant, a.
Defn: Deviating. [Obs.]
DEVIATE
De"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deviated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deviating.]
Etym: [L. deviare to deviate; de + viare to go, travel, via way. See
Viaduct.]
Defn: To go out of the way; to turn aside from a course or a method;
to stray or go astray; to err; to digress; to diverge; to vary.
Thus Pegasus, a nearer way to take, May boldly deviate from the
common track. Pope.
Syn.
-- To swerve; stray; wander; digress; depart; deflect; err.
DEVIATE
De"vi*ate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to deviate. [R.]
To deviate a needle. J. D. Forbes.
DEVIATION
De`vi*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. deviatio: cf. F. déviation.]
1. The act of deviating; a wandering from the way; variation from the
common way, from an established rule, etc.; departure, as from the
right course or the path of duty.
2. The state or result of having deviated; a transgression; an act of
sin; an error; an offense.
2. (Com.)
Defn: The voluntary and unnecessary departure of a ship from, or
delay in, the regular and usual course of the specific voyage
insured, thus releasing the underwriters from their responsibility.
Deviation of a falling body (Physics), that deviation from a strictly
vertical line of descent which occurs in a body falling freely, in
consequence of the rotation of the earth.
-- Deviation of the compass, the angle which the needle of a ship's
compass makes with the magnetic meridian by reason of the magnetism
of the iron parts of the ship.
-- Deviation of the line of the vertical, the difference between the
actual direction of a plumb line and the direction it would have if
the earth were a perfect ellipsoid and homogeneous, -- caused by the
attraction of a mountain, or irregularities in the earth's density.
DEVIATOR
De"vi*a`tor, n. Etym: [L., a forsaker.]
Defn: One who, or that which, deviates.
DEVIATORY
De"vi*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to deviate; devious; as, deviatory motion. [R.] Tully.
DEVICE
De*vice", n. Etym: [OE. devis, devise, will, intention, opinion,
invention, fr. F. devis architect's plan and estimates (in OF.,
division, plan, wish), devise device (in sense 3), in OF. also,
division, wish, last will, fr. deviser. See Devise, v. t., and cf.
Devise, n.]
1. That which is devised, or formed by design; a contrivance; an
invention; a project; a scheme; often, a scheme to deceive; a
stratagem; an artifice.
His device in against Babylon, to destroy it. Jer. li. 11.
Their recent device of demanding benevolences. Hallam.
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty. Job v. 12.
2. Power of devising; invention; contrivance.
I must have instruments of my own device. Landor.
3.
(a) An emblematic design, generally consisting of one or more figures
with a motto, used apart from heraldic bearings to denote the
historical situation, the ambition, or the desire of the person
adopting it. See Cognizance.
(b) Improperly, an heraldic bearing.
Knights-errant used to distinguish themselves by devices on their
shields. Addison.
A banner with this strange device -Excelsior. Longfellow.
4. Anything fancifully conceived. Shak.
5. A spectacle or show. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
6. Opinion; decision. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
Syn.
-- Contrivance; invention; design; scheme; project; stratagem;
shift.
-- Device, Contrivance. Device implies more of inventive power, and
contrivance more of skill and dexterity in execution. A device
usually has reference to something worked out for exhibition or show;
a contrivance usually respects the arrangement or disposition of
things with reference to securing some end. Devices were worn by
knights-errant on their shields; contrivances are generally used to
promote the practical convenience of life. The word device is often
used in a bad sense; as, a crafty device; contrivance is almost
always used in a good sense; as, a useful contrivance.
DEVICEFUL
De*vice"ful, a.
Defn: Full of devices; inventive. [R.]
A carpet, rich, and of deviceful thread. Chapman.
DEVICEFULLY
De*vice"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a deviceful manner. [R.]
DEVIL
Dev"il, n. Etym: [AS. deófol, deóful; akin to G. , Goth. diabaúlus;
all fr. L. diabolus the devil, Gr. gal to fall. Cf. Diabolic.]
1. The Evil One; Satan, represented as the tempter and spiritual of
mankind.
[Jesus] being forty days tempted of the devil. Luke iv. 2.
That old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the
whole world. Rev. xii. 9.
2. An evil spirit; a demon.
A dumb man possessed with a devil. Matt. ix. 32.
3. A very wicked person; hence, any great evil. "That devil
Glendower." "The devil drunkenness." Shak.
Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil John vi. 70.
4. An expletive of surprise, vexation, or emphasis, or, ironically,
of negation. [Low]
The devil a puritan that he is, . . . but a timepleaser. Shak.
The things, we know, are neither rich nor rare, But wonder how the
devil they got there. Pope.
5. (Cookery)
Defn: A dish, as a bone with the meat, broiled and excessively
peppered; a grill with Cayenne pepper.
Men and women busy in baking, broiling, roasting oysters, and
preparing devils on the gridiron. Sir W. Scott.
6. (Manuf.)
Defn: A machine for tearing or cutting rags, cotton, etc. Blue
devils. See under Blue.
-- Cartesian devil. See under Cartesian.
-- Devil bird (Zoöl.), one of two or more South African drongo
shrikes (Edolius retifer, and E. remifer), believed by the natives to
be connected with sorcery.
-- Devil may care, reckless, defiant of authority; -- used
adjectively. Longfellow.
-- Devil's apron (Bot.), the large kelp (Laminaria saccharina, and
L. longicruris) of the Atlantic ocean, having a blackish, leathery
expansion, shaped somewhat like an apron.
-- Devil's coachhorse. (Zoöl.) (a) The black rove beetle (Ocypus
olens). [Eng.] (b) A large, predacious, hemipterous insect (Prionotus
cristatus); the wheel bug. [U.S.] -- Devil's darning-needle. (Zoöl.)
See under Darn, v. t.
-- Devil's fingers, Devil's hand (Zoöl.), the common British
starfish (Asterias rubens); -- also applied to a sponge with stout
branches. [Prov. Eng., Irish & Scot.] -- Devil's riding-horse
(Zoöl.), the American mantis (Mantis Carolina).
-- The Devil's tattoo, a drumming with the fingers or feet. "Jack
played the Devil's tattoo on the door with his boot heels." F.
Hardman (Blackw. Mag.).
-- Devil worship, worship of the power of evil; -- still practiced
by barbarians who believe that the good and evil forces of nature are
of equal power.
-- Printer's devil, the youngest apprentice in a printing office,
who runs on errands, does dirty work (as washing the ink rollers and
sweeping), etc. "Without fearing the printer's devil or the sheriff's
officer." Macaulay.
-- Tasmanian devil (Zoöl.), a very savage carnivorous marsupial of
Tasmania (Dasyurus, or Diabolus, ursinus).
-- To play devil with, to molest extremely; to ruin. [Low]
DEVIL
Dev"il, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deviled or Devilled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Deviling or Devilling.]
1. To make like a devil; to invest with the character of a devil.
2. To grill with Cayenne pepper; to season highly in cooking, as with
pepper.
A deviled leg of turkey. W. Irving.
deviled egg a hard-boiled egg, sliced into halves and with the yolk
removed and replaced with a paste, usually made from the yolk and
mayonnaise, seasoned with salt and/or spices such as paprika.
DEVIL-DIVER; DEVIL BIRD
Dev"il-div`er, Dev"il bird` (, n.. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small water bird. See Dabchick.
DEVILESS
Dev"il*ess, n.
Defn: A she-devil. [R.] Sterne.
DEVILET
Dev"il*et, n.
Defn: A little devil. [R.] Barham.
DEVILFISH
Dev"il*fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A huge ray (Manta birostris or Cephaloptera vampyrus) of the Gulf
of Mexico and Southern Atlantic coasts. Several other related species
take the same name. See Cephaloptera.
(b) A large cephalopod, especially the very large species of Octopus
and Architeuthis. See Octopus.
(c) The gray whale of the Pacific coast. See Gray whale.
(d) The goosefish or angler (Lophius), and other allied fishes. See
Angler.
DEVILING
Dev"il*ing, n.
Defn: A young devil. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DEVILISH
Dev"il*ish, a.
1. Resembling, characteristic of, or pertaining to, the devil;
diabolical; wicked in the extreme. "Devilish wickedness." Sir P.
Sidney.
This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual,
devilish. James iii. 15.
2. Extreme; excessive. [Colloq.] Dryden.
Syn.
-- Diabolical; infernal; hellish; satanic; wicked; malicious;
detestable; destructive.
-- Dev"il*ish*ly, adv.
-- Dev"il*ish*ness, n.
DEVILISM
Dev"il*ism, n.
Defn: The state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or
of devils. Bp. Hall.
DEVILIZE
Dev"il*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make a devil of. [R.]
He that should deify a saint, should wrong him as much as he that
should devilize him. Bp. Hall.
DEVILKIN
Dev"il*kin, n.
Defn: A little devil; a devilet.
DEVILMENT
Dev"il*ment, n.
Defn: Deviltry. Bp. Warburton.
DEVILRY
Dev"il*ry, n.; pl. Devilries (.
1. Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness; deviltry.
Stark lies and devilry. Sir T. More.
2. The whole body of evil spirits. Tylor.
DEVIL'S DARNING-NEEDLE
Dev"il's darn"ing-nee`dle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dragon fly. See Darning needle, under Darn, v. t.
DEVILSHIP
Dev"il*ship, n.
Defn: The character or person of a devil or the devil. Cowley.
DEVILTRY
Dev"il*try, n.; pl. Deviltries (.
Defn: Diabolical conduct; malignant mischief; devilry. C. Reade.
DEVILWOOD
Dev"il*wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of tree (Osmanthus Americanus), allied to the European
olive.
DEVIOUS
De"vi*ous, a. Etym: [L. devius; de + via way. See Viaduct.]
1. Out of a straight line; winding; varying from directness; as, a
devious path or way.
2. Going out of the right or common course; going astray; erring;
wandering; as, a devious step.
Syn.
-- Wandering; roving; rambling; vagrant.
-- De"vi*ous*ly, adv.
-- De"vi*ous*ness, n.
DEVIRGINATE
De*vir"gin*ate, a. Etym: [L. devirginatus, p. p. of devirginare.]
Defn: Deprived of virginity. [R.]
DEVIRGINATE
De*vir"gin*ate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of virginity; to deflour. [R.] Sandys.
DEVIRGINATION
De*vir`gi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. devirginatio.]
Defn: A deflouring. [R.] Feltham.
DEVISABLE
De*vis"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Devise.]
1. Capable of being devised, invented, or contrived.
2. Capable of being bequeathed, or given by will.
DEVISAL
De*vis"al, n.
Defn: A devising. Whitney.
DEVISE
De*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devised; p. pr. & vb. n. Devising.]
Etym: [OF. deviser to distribute, regulate, direct, relate, F., to
chat, fr. L. divisus divided, distributed, p. p. of dividere. See
Divide, and cf. Device.]
1. To form in the mind by new combinations of ideas, new applications
of principles, or new arrangement of parts; to formulate by thought;
to contrive; to excogitate; to invent; to plan; to scheme; as, to
devise an engine, a new mode of writing, a plan of defense, or an
argument.
To devise curious works. Ex. CCTV. 32.
Devising schemes to realize his ambitious views. Bancroft.
2. To plan or scheme for; to purpose to obtain.
For wisdom is most riches; fools therefore They are which fortunes do
by vows devise. Spenser.
3. To say; to relate; to describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
4. To imagine; to guess. [Obs.] Spenser.
5. (Law)
Defn: To give by will; -- used of real estate; formerly, also, of
chattels.
Syn.
-- To bequeath; invent; discover; contrive; excogitate; imagine;
plan; scheme. See Bequeath.
DEVISE
De*vise", v. i.
Defn: To form a scheme; to lay a plan; to contrive; to consider.
I thought, devised, and Pallas heard my prayer. Pope.
Note: Devise was formerly followed by of; as, let us devise of ease.
Spenser.
DEVISE
De*vise", n. Etym: [OF. devise division, deliberation, wish, will,
testament. See Device.]
1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; --
sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate.
2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will
making a gift of real property.
Fines upon devises were still exacted. Bancroft.
3. Property devised, or given by will.
DEVISE
De*vise", n.
Defn: Device. See Device. [Obs.]
DEVISEE
Dev`i*see", n. (Law)
Defn: One to whom a devise is made, or real estate given by will.
DEVISER
De*vis"er, n.
Defn: One who devises.
DEVISOR
De*vis"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who devises, or gives real estate by will; a testator; --
correlative to devisee.
DEVITABLE
Dev"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. devitare to avoid; de + vitare to shun,
avoid.]
Defn: Avoidable. [Obs.]
DEVITALIZE
De*vi"tal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of life or vitality.
-- De*vi`tal*i*za"tion, n.
DEVITATION
Dev`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. devitatio.]
Defn: An avoiding or escaping; also, a warning. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEVITRIFICATION
De*vit`ri*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of devitrifying, or the state of being
devitrified. Specifically, the conversion of molten glassy matter
into a stony mass by slow cooling, the result being the formation of
crystallites, microbites, etc., in the glassy base, which are then
called devitrification products.
DEVITRIFY
De*vit"ri*fy, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of glasslike character; to take away vitreous luster
and transparency from.
DEVOCALIZE
De*vo"cal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make toneless; to deprive of vowel quality.
-- De*vo`cal*i*za"tion, n.
If we take a high vowel, such as (i) [= nearly i of bit], and
devocalize it, we obtain a hiss which is quite distinct enough to
stand for a weak (jh). H. Sweet.
DEVOCATION
Dev`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. devocare to call off or away; de + vocare
to call.]
Defn: A calling off or away. [R.] Hallywell.
DEVOID
De*void", v. t. Etym: [OE. devoiden to leave, OF. desvuidier,
desvoidier, to empty out. See Void.]
Defn: To empty out; to remove.
DEVOID
De*void", a. Etym: [See Devoid, v. t.]
1. Void; empty; vacant. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Destitute; not in possession; -- with of; as, devoid of sense;
devoid of pity or of pride.
DEVOIR
De*voir", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. debere to owe. See Due.]
Defn: Duty; service owed; hence, due act of civility or respect; --
now usually in the plural; as, they paid their devoirs to the ladies.
"Do now your devoid, young knights!" Chaucer.
DEVOLUTE
Dev"o*lute, v. t. Etym: [L. devolutus, p. p. of devolvere. See
Devolve.]
Defn: To devolve. [Obs.] Foxe.
DEVOLUTION
Dev`o*lu"tion, n. Etym: [LL. devolutio: cf. F. dévolution.]
1. The act of rolling down. [R.]
The devolution of earth down upon the valleys. Woodward.
2. Transference from one person to another; a passing or devolving
upon a successor.
The devolution of the crown through a . . . channel known and
conformable to old constitutional requisitions. De Quincey.
DEVOLVE
De*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Devolving.]
Etym: [L. devolvere, devolutum, to roll down; de + volvere to roll
down; de + volvere to roll. See Voluble.]
1. To roll onward or downward; to pass on.
Every headlong stream Devolves its winding waters to the main.
Akenside.
Devolved his rounded periods. Tennyson.
2. To transfer from one person to another; to deliver over; to hand
down; -- generally with upon, sometimes with to or into.
They devolved a considerable share of their power upon their
favorite. Burke.
They devolved their whole authority into the hands of the council of
sixty. Addison.
DEVOLVE
De*volve", v. i.
Defn: To pass by transmission or succession; to be handed over or
down; -- generally with on or upon, sometimes with to or into; as,
after the general fell, the command devolved upon (or on) the next
officer in rank.
His estate . . . devolved to Lord Somerville. Johnson.
DEVOLVEMENT
De*volve"ment, n.
Defn: The act or process of devolving;; devolution.
DEVON
De"von, n.
Defn: One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of
Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red color. The small,
longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the
superiority of its working oxen.
DEVONIAN
De*vo"ni*an, a. (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the
Devonian rocks, period, or system. Devonian age (Geol.), the age next
older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; -- called
also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the
Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of
Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous
invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes
of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology.
DEVONIAN
De*vo"ni*an, n.
Defn: The Devonian age or formation.
DEVORATION
Dev`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. devoratio. See Devour.]
Defn: The act of devouring. [Obs.] Holinshed.
DEVOTARY
De*vo"ta*ry, n. Etym: [See Devote, Votary.]
Defn: A votary. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
DEVOTE
De*vote", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting.]
Etym: [L. devotus, p. p. of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow,
and cf. Devout, Devow.]
1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act;
to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one
to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.
No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be
sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.
2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]
3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or
compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote
one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.
Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Ps. cxix. 38.
They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. Grew.
A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of
climbing. Gray.
Syn.
-- To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom;
consign. See Addict.
DEVOTE
De*vote", a. Etym: [L. devotus, p. p.]
Defn: Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.] Milton.
DEVOTE
De*vote", n.
Defn: A devotee. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
DEVOTED
De*vot"ed, a.
Defn: Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout;
as, a devoted admirer.
-- De*vot"ed*ly, adv.
-- De*vot"ed*ness, n.
DEVOTEE
Dev`o*tee", n.
Defn: One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion;
one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies;
a bigot.
While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee. A. S.
Hardy.
DEVOTEMENT
De*vote"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.] Bp.
Hurd.
DEVOTER
De*vot"er, n.
Defn: One who devotes; a worshiper.
DEVOTION
De*vo"tion, n. Etym: [F. dévotion, L. devotio.]
1. The act of devoting; consecration.
2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong
attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God
appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness.
Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion. Macaulay.
3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong
attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion."
Hooker.
4. Disposal; power of disposal. [Obs.]
They are entirely at our devotion, and may be turned backward and
forward, as we please. Godwin.
5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [R.]
Churches and altars, priests and all devotions, Tumbled together into
rude chaos. Beau. & Fl.
Days of devotion. See under Day.
Syn.
-- Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment;
devotedness; ardor; earnestness.
DEVOTIONAL
De*vo"tion*al, a. Etym: [L. devotionalis.]
Defn: Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a
devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.
DEVOTIONALIST; DEVOTIONIST
De*vo"tion*al*ist, De*vo"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion.
DEVOTIONALITY
De*vo`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The practice of a devotionalist. A. H. Clough.
DEVOTIONALLY
De*vo"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a devotional manner; toward devotion.
DEVOTO
De*vo"to, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A devotee. Dr. J. Scott.
DEVOTOR
De*vo"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A worshiper; one given to devotion. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DEVOUR
De*vour", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Devoured; p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring.]
Etym: [F. dévorer, fr. L. devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily,
swallow up. See Voracious.]
1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon
like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon.
Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20.
2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or
wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to
annihilate.
Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15.
I waste my life and do my days devour. Spenser.
3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the
senses.
Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast
delight. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.
DEVOURABLE
De*vour"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be devoured.
DEVOURER
De*vour"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, devours.
DEVOURINGLY
De*vour"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a devouring manner.
DEVOUT
De*vout", a. Etym: [OE. devot, devout, F. dévot, from L. devotus
devoted, p. p. of devovere. See Devote, v. t.]
1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed
in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent;
religious.
A devout man, and one that feared God. Acts x. 2.
We must be constant and devout in the worship of God. Rogers.
2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a
devout posture. Milton.
3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for
one's welfare. The devout, devoutly religious persons, those who are
sincerely pious.
Syn.
-- Holy; pure; religious; prayerful; pious; earnest; reverent;
solemn; sincere.
DEVOUT
De*vout", n.
1. A devotee. [Obs.] Sheldon.
2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion.
[Obs.] Milton.
DEVOUTFUL
De*vout"ful, a.
1. Full of devotion. [R.]
2. Sacred. [R.]
To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most
devoutful rights. Marston.
DEVOUTLESS
De*vout"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of devotion.
-- De*vout"less*ly, adv.
-- De*vout"less*ness, n.
DEVOUTLY
De*vout"ly, adv.
1. In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously.
Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly. Shak.
2. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly.
'T is a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.
DEVOUTNESS
De*vout"ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being devout.
DEVOVE
De*vove", v. t. Etym: [See Devote, v. t.]
Defn: To devote. [Obs.] Cowley.
DEVOW
De*vow", v. t. Etym: [F. dévouer, L. devovere. See Devote, v. t.]
1. To give up; to devote. [Obs.]
2. Etym: [Cf. OF. desvoer. Cf. Disavow.]
Defn: To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
DEVULGARIZE
De*vul"gar*ize, v. t.
Defn: To free from what is vulgar, common, or narrow.
Shakespeare and Plutarch's "Lives" are very devulgarizing books. E.
A. Abbott.
DEW
Dew, n. Etym: [AS. deáw; akin to D. dauw, G. thau, tau, Icel. dögg,
Sw. dagg, Dan. dug; cf. Skr. dhav, dhav, to flow. Dag dew.]
1. Moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their
surfaces, particularly at night.
Her tears fell with the dews at even. Tennyson.
2. Figuratively, anything which falls lightly and in a refreshing
manner. "The golden dew of sleep." Shak.
3. An emblem of morning, or fresh vigor. "The dew of his youth."
Longfellow.
Note: Dew is used in combination; as, dew-bespangled, dew-drenched,
dewdrop, etc.
DEW
Dew, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dewing.]
Defn: To wet with dew or as with dew; to bedew; to moisten; as with
dew.
The grasses grew A little ranker since they dewed them so. A. B.
Saxton.
DEW
Dew, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Due, or Duty. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEWAR VESSEL
Dew"ar ves`sel (du"er). [After Sir James Dewar, British physicist.]
Defn: A double-walled glass vessel for holding liquid air, etc.,
having the space between the walls exhausted so as to prevent
conduction of heat, and sometimes having the glass silvered to
prevent absorption of radiant heat; -- called also, according to the
particular shape, Dewar bulb, Dewar tube, etc.
DEWBERRY
Dew"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
(a) The fruit of certain species of bramble (Rubus); in England, the
fruit of R. cæsius, which has a glaucous bloom; in America, that of
R. canadensis and R. hispidus, species of low blackberries.
(b) The plant which bears the fruit.
Feed him with apricots and dewberries. Shak.
DEWCLAW
Dew"claw`, n.
Defn: In any animal, esp. of the Herbivora, a rudimentary claw or
small hoof not reaching the ground.
Some cut off the dewclaws [of greyhounds]. J. H. Walsh.
DEWDROP
Dew"drop`, n.
Defn: A drop of dew. Shak.
DEWFALL
Dew"fall`, n.
Defn: The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall.
DEWINESS
Dew"i*ness, n.
Defn: State of being dewy.
DEWLAP
Dew"lap`, n. Etym: [Dew + lap to lick.]
1. The pendulous skin under the neck of an ox, which laps or licks
the dew in grazing.
2. The flesh upon the human throat, especially when with age.
[Burlesque]
On her withered dewlap pour the ale. Shak.
DEWLAPPED
Dew"lapped`, a.
Defn: Furnished with a dewlap.
DEWLESS
Dew"less, a.
Defn: Having no dew. Tennyson.
DEW-POINT
Dew"-point`, n. (Meteor.)
Defn: The temperature at which dew begins to form. It varies with the
humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.
DEWRET
Dew"ret`, v. t. Etym: [Dew + ret, v. t.]
Defn: To ret or rot by the process called dewretting.
DEWRETTING
Dew"ret`ting, n.
Defn: Dewrotting; the process of decomposing the gummy matter of flax
and hemp and setting the fibrous part, by exposure on a sward to dew,
rain, and sunshine.
DEWROT
Dew"rot`, v. t.
Defn: To rot, as flax or hemp, by exposure to rain, dew, and sun. See
Dewretting.
DEWWORM
Dew"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Earthworm.
DEWY
Dew"y, a.
1. Pertaining to dew; resembling, consisting of, or moist with, dew.
A dewy mist Went and watered all the ground. Milton.
When dewy eve her curtain draws. Keble.
2. Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew.
Dewy sleep ambrosial. Cowper.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with
dew.
DEXTER
Dex"ter, a. Etym: [L.,; akin to Gr. dakshi (cf. daksh to be strong,
suit); Goth. taihswa, OHG. zeso. Cf. Dexterous.]
1. Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed
to sinister, or left.
On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. Pope.
2. (Her.)
Defn: On the right-hand side of a shield, i. e., towards the right
hand of its wearer. To a spectator in front, as in a pictorial
representation, this would be the left side. Dexter chief, or Dexter
point (Her.), a point in the dexter upper corner of the shield, being
in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut.
-- Dexter base, a point in the dexter lower part or base of the
shield, as B in the cut.
DEXTERICAL
Dex*ter"i*cal, a.
Defn: Dexterous. [Obs.]
DEXTERITY
Dex*ter"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dexteritas, fr. dexter: cf. F. dextérité.
See Dexter.]
1. Right-handedness.
2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using
the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with the chisel.
In youth quick bearing and dexterity. Shak.
3. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness
and skill in managing any complicated or difficult affair;
adroitness.
His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver
himself. Bacon.
He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and
dexterity. Hallam.
Syn.
-- Adroitness; activity; nimbleness; expertness; skill; cleverness;
art; ability; address; tact; facility; aptness; aptitude; faculty.
See Skill.
DEXTEROUS
Dex"ter*ous, a. Etym: [L. dexter. See Dexter.] [Written also
dextrous.]
1. Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and
active with the hands; handy; ready; as, a dexterous hand; a
dexterous workman.
2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing expedients; expert;
as, a dexterous manager.
Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd to quit. Pope.
3. Done with dexterity; skillful; artful; as, dexterous management.
"Dexterous sleights of hand." Trench.
Syn.
-- Adroit; active; expert; skillful; clever; able; ready; apt;
handy; versed.
DEXTEROUSLY
Dex"ter*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dexterous manner; skillfully.
DEXTEROUSNESS
Dex"ter*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.
DEXTRAD
Dex"trad, adv. Etym: [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the right side; dextrally.
DEXTRAL
Dex"tral, a. Etym: [From Dexter.]
Defn: Right, as opposed to sinistral, or left. Dextral shell (Zoöl.),
a spiral shell the whorls of which turn from left right, or like the
hands of a watch when the apex of the spire is toward the eye of the
observer.
DEXTRALITY
Dex*tral"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being on the right-hand side; also, the quality of
being right-handed; right-handedness. Sir T. Browne.
DEXTRALLY
Dex"tral*ly
Defn: (adv. Towards the right; as, the hands of a watch rotate
dextrally.
DEXTRER
Dex*trer", n.
Defn: A war horse; a destrer. [Obs.] "By him baiteth his dextrer."
Chaucer.
DEXTRIN
Dex"trin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dextrine, G. dextrin. See Dexter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A translucent, gummy, amorphous substance, nearly tasteless and
odorless, used as a substitute for gum, for sizing, etc., and
obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or diastase. It is
of somewhat variable composition, containing several carbohydrates
which change easily to their respective varieties of sugar. It is so
named from its rotating the plane of polarization to the right; --
called also British gum, Alsace gum, gommelin, leiocome, etc. See
Achroödextrin, and Erythrodextrin.
DEXTRO-
Dex"tro-.
Defn: A prefix, from L. dexter, meaning, pertaining to, or toward,
the right; (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: having the property of turning the plane of polarized light to
the right; as, dextrotartaric acid.
DEXTROGEROUS
Dex*trog"er*ous, a. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: See Dextrogyrate.
DEXTROGLUCOSE
Dex`tro*glu"cose`, n. Etym: [Dextro- + glucose.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dextrose.
DEXTROGYRATE
Dex`tro*gy"rate, a. Etym: [Dextro- + gyrate.] (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: Same as Dextrorotatory.
DEXTRONIC
Dex*tron"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, dextrose; as, dextronic acid.
Dextronic acid, a sirupy substance obtained by the partial oxidation
of various carbohydrates, as dextrose, etc.
DEXTROROTARY
Dex`tro*ro"ta*ry, a. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: See Dextrotatory.
DEXTROROTATORY
Dex`tro*ro"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [Dextro- + rotatory.] (Chem. & Opt.)
Defn: Turning, or causing to turn, toward the right hand; esp.,
turning the plane of polarization of luminous rays toward the right
hand; as, dextrorotatory crystals, sugars, etc. Cf. Levorotatory.
DEXTRORSAL; DEXTRORSE
Dex*tror"sal, Dex"trorse`, a. Etym: [L. dextrorsum, contr. fr.
dextrovorsum, dextroversum, toward the right side; dexter right +
versus, vorsus, p. p. of vertere, vortere, to turn.]
Defn: Turning from the left to the right, in the ascending line, as
in the spiral inclination of the stem of the common morning-glóry.
Note: At present scientists predicate dextrorse or sinistrorse
quality of the plant regarded objectively; formerly the plant was
regarded subjectively, and what is now called dextrorse was then
considered sinistrorse.
DEXTROSE
Dex"trose`, n. Etym: [See Dexter.] (Chem.)
Defn: A sirupy, or white crystalline, variety of sugar, C6H12O6 (so
called from turning the plane of polarization to the right),
occurring in many ripe fruits. Dextrose and levulose are obtained by
the inversion of cane sugar or sucrose, and hence called invert
sugar. Dextrose is chiefly obtained by the action of heat and acids
on starch, and hence called also starch sugar. It is also formed from
starchy food by the action of the amylolytic ferments of saliva and
pancreatic juice.
Note: The solid products are known to the trade as grape sugar; the
sirupy products as glucose, or mixing sirup. These are harmless, but
are only about half as sweet as cane or sucrose.
DEXTROUS; DEXTROUSLY; DEXTROUSNESS
Dex"trous, a., Dex"trous*ly, adv., Dex"trous*ness, n.
Defn: Same as Dexterous, Dexterously, etc.
DEY
Dey, n. Etym: [See Dairy.]
Defn: A servant who has charge of the dairy; a dairymaid. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
DEY
Dey, n.; pl. Deys. Etym: [Turk. dai, orig., a maternal uncle, then a
friendly title formerly given to middle-aged or old people,
especially among the Janizaries; and hence, in Algiers, consecrated
at length to the commanding officer of that corps, who frequently
became afterward pasha or regent of that province; hence the European
misnomer of dey, as applied to the latter: cf. F. dey.]
Defn: The governor of Algiers; -- so called before the French
conquest in 1830.
DEYE
Deye, v. i.
Defn: To die. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEYNTE; DEYNTEE
Deyn"te, Deyn"tee, n. & a.
Defn: See Dainty. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEZINCIFICATION
De*zinc`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of freeing from zinc; also, the condition
resulting from the removal of zinc.
DEZINCIFY
De*zinc"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + zinc + -fy.]
Defn: To deprive of, or free from, zinc.
DHOLE
Dhole, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fierce, wild dog (Canis Dukhunensis), found in the mountains
of India. It is remarkable for its propensity to hunt the tiger and
other wild animals in packs.
DHONY
Dho"ny, n.
Defn: A Ceylonese boat. See Doni.
DHOORRA; DHOURRA; DHURRA
Dhoor"ra, Dhour"ra, or Dhur"ra (, n.
Defn: Indian millet. See Durra.
DHOW
Dhow, n. Etym: [Ar. dao]
Defn: A coasting vessel of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean.
It has generally but one mast and a lateen sail. [Also written dow.]
DI-
Di-. Etym: [Gr. bis twice. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Dia-. The L. pref.
dis- sometimes assumes the form di-. See Dis-.]
Defn: A prefix, signifying twofold, double, twice; (Chem.)
Defn: denoting two atoms, radicals, groups, or equivalents, as the
case may be. See Bi-,
2.
DIA-; DI-
Di"a-, Di-. Etym: [Gr. Two, and cf. 1st Di-.]
Defn: A prefix denoting through; also, between, apart, asunder,
across. Before a vowel dia- becomes di-; as, diactinic; dielectric,
etc.
DIABASE
Di"a*base, n. Etym: [F. diabase, fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A basic, dark-colored, holocrystalline, igneous rock,
consisting essentially of a triclinic feldspar and pyroxene with
magnetic iron; -- often limited to rocks pretertiary in age. It
includes part of what was early called greenstone.
DIABATERIAL
Di*ab`a*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Diabase.]
Defn: Passing over the borders. [R.] Mitford.
DIABETES
Di`a*be"tes, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Diabase.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease which is attended with a persistent, excessive
discharge of urine. Most frequently the urine is not only increased
in quantity, but contains saccharine matter, in which case the
disease is generally fatal. Diabetes mellitus Etym: [NL., sweet
diabetes], that form of diabetes in which the urine contains
saccharine matter.
-- Diabetes insipidus Etym: [NL., lit., diabetes], the form of
diabetes in which the urine contains no abnormal constituent.
DIABETIC; DIABETICAL
Di`a*bet"ic, Di`a*bet"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to diabetes; as, diabetic or diabetical treatment.
Quian. Diabetic sugar. (Chem.) Same as Dextrose.
DIABLERIE; DIABLEY
Dia`ble*rie", Di*ab"le*y, n. Etym: [F. diablerie, fr. diable devil,
L. diabolus. See Devil.]
Defn: Devilry; sorcery or incantation; a diabolical deed; mischief.
DIABOLIC; DIABOLICAL
Di`a*bol"ic, Di`a*bol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diabolicus, Gr. diabolique.
See Devil.]
Defn: Pertaining to the devil; resembling, or appropriate, or
appropriate to, the devil; devilish; infernal; impious; atrocious;
nefarious; outrageously wicked; as, a diabolic or diabolical temper
or act. "Diabolic power." Milton. "The diabolical institution."
Motley.
-- Di`a*bol"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Di`a*bol"ic*al*ness, n.
DIABOLIFY
Di`a*bol"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. diabolus devil + -fy.]
Defn: To ascribed diabolical qualities to; to change into, or to
represent as, a devil. [R.] Farindon.
DIABOLISM
Di*ab"o*lism, n.
1. Character, action, or principles appropriate to the devil.
2. Possession by the devil. Bp. Warburton.
DIABOLIZE
Di*ab"o*lize, v. t.
Defn: To render diabolical. [R.]
DIABOLO
Di*ab"o*lo (di*ab"o*lo), n.
Defn: An old game or sport (revived under this name) consisting in
whirling on a string, fastened to two sticks, a small somewhat spool-
shaped object (called the diabolo) so as to balance it on a string,
toss it in the air and catch it, etc.
DIACATHOLICON
Di`a*ca*thol"i*con, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + catholicon.] (Med.)
Defn: A universal remedy; -- name formerly to a purgative electuary.
DIACAUSTIC
Di`a*caus"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. dia- + caustic.] (Opt.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or possessing the properties of, a species of
caustic curves formed by refraction. See Caustic surface, under
Caustic.
DIACAUSTIC
Di`a*caus"tic, n.
1. (Med.)
Defn: That which burns by refraction, as a double convex lens, or the
sun's rays concentrated by such a lens, sometimes used as a cautery.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A curved formed by the consecutive intersections of rays of
light refracted through a lens.
DIACHYLON; DIACHYLUM
Di*ach"y*lon, Di*ach"y*lum, n. Etym: [NL. diachylum, fr. Gr. (Med. &
Chem.)
Defn: A plaster originally composed of the juices of several plants
(whence its name), but now made of an oxide of lead and oil, and
consisting essentially of glycerin mixed with lead salts of the fat
acids.
DIACID
Di*ac"id, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acid.] (Chem.)
Defn: Divalent; -- said of a base or radical as capable of saturating
two acid monad radicals or a dibasic acid. Cf. Dibasic, a., and
Biacid.
DIACODIUM
Di`a*co"di*um, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: A sirup made of poppies.
DIACONAL
Di*ac"o*nal, a. Etym: [LL. diaconalis: cf. F. diaconal. Cf. Deacon.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a deacon.
DIACONATE
Di*ac"o*nate, n. Etym: [L. diaconatus: cf. F. diaconat.]
Defn: The office of a deacon; deaconship; also, a body or board of
deacons.
DIACONATE
Di*ac"o*nate, a.
Defn: Governed by deacons. "Diaconate church." T. Goodwin.
DIACOPE
Di*ac"o*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: Tmesis.
DIACOUSTIC
Di`a*cous"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + acoustic.]
Defn: Pertaining to the science or doctrine of refracted sounds.
DIACOUSTICS
Di`a*cous"tics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diacoustique.]
Defn: That branch of natural philosophy which treats of the
properties of sound as affected by passing through different mediums;
-- called also diaphonics. See the Note under Acoustics.
DIACRITIC; DIACRITICAL
Di`a*crit"ic, Di`a*crit"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Critic.]
Defn: That separates or distinguishes; -- applied to points or marks
used to distinguish letters of similar form, or different sounds of
the same letter, as, a, â, ä, o, ô, etc. "Diacritical points." Sir W.
Jones.
A glance at this typography will reveal great difficulties, which
diacritical marks necessarily throw in the way of both printer and
writer. A. J. Ellis.
DIACTINIC
Di`ac*tin"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + actinic.] (Physics)
Defn: Capable of transmitting the chemical or actinic rays of light;
as, diactinic media.
DIADELPHIA
Di`a*del"phi*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants whose stamens are united into two
bodies or bundles by their filaments.
DIADELPHIAN; DIADELPHOUS
Di`a*del"phi*an, Di`a*del"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diadelphe.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Diadelphia; having the stamens
united into two bodies by their filaments (said of a plant or
flower); grouped into two bundles or sets by coalescence of the
filaments (said of stamens).
DIADEM
Di"a*dem, n. Etym: [F. diadème, L. diadema, fr. Gr. da to bind.]
1. Originally, an ornamental head band or fillet, worn by Eastern
monarchs as a badge of royalty; hence (later), also, a crown, in
general. "The regal diadem." Milton.
2. Regal power; sovereignty; empire; -- considered as symbolized by
the crown.
3. (Her.)
Defn: An arch rising from the rim of a crown (rarely also of a
coronet), and uniting with others over its center. Diadem lemur.
(Zoöl.) See Indri.
-- Diadem spider (Zoöl.), the garden spider.
DIADEM
Di"a*dem, v. t.
Defn: To adorn with a diadem; to crown.
Not so, when diadem'd with rays divine. Pope.
To terminate the evil, To diadem the right. R. H. Neale.
DIADROM
Di"a*drom, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A complete course or vibration; time of vibration, as of a
pendulum. [Obs.] Locke.
DIAERESIS; DIERESIS
Di*ær"e*sis, Di*er"e*sis, n.; pl. Diæreses or Diereses. Etym: [L.
diaeresis, Gr. Heresy.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: The separation or resolution of one syllable into two; -- the
opposite of synæresis.
2. A mark consisting of two dots [..], placed over the second of two
adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct
letters; as, coöperate, aërial.
DIAERETIC
Di`æ*ret"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Caustic. [Obs.]
DIAGEOTROPIC
Di`a*ge`o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism.
DIAGEOTROPISM
Di`a*ge*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The tendency of organs (as roots) of plants to assume a
position oblique or transverse to a direction towards the center of
the earth.
DIAGLYPH
Di"a*glyph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An intaglio. Mollett.
DIAGLYPHIC; DIAGLYPHTIC
Di`a*glyph"ic, Di`a*glyph"tic, a.
Defn: Represented or formed by depressions in the general surface;
as, diaglyphic sculpture or engraving; -- opposed to anaglyphic.
DIAGNOSE
Di`ag*nose", v. t. & i.
Defn: To ascertain by diagnosis; to diagnosticate. See Diagnosticate.
DIAGNOSIS
Di`ag*no"sis, n.; pl. Diagnoses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Know.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: The art or act of recognizing the presence of disease from its
signs or symptoms, and deciding as to its character; also, the
decision arrived at.
2. Scientific determination of any kind; the concise description of
characterization of a species.
3. Critical perception or scrutiny; judgment based on such scrutiny;
esp., perception pf, or judgment concerning, motives and character.
The quick eye for effects, the clear diagnosis of men's minds, and
the love of epigram. Compton Reade.
My diagnosis of his character proved correct. J. Payn.
Differential diagnosis (Med.), the determination of the
distinguishing characteristics as between two similar diseases or
conditions.
DIAGNOSTIC
Di`ag*nos"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. diagnostique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or furnishing, a diagnosis; indicating the
nature of a disease.
DIAGNOSTIC
Di`ag*nos"tic, n.
Defn: The mark or symptom by which one disease is known or
distinguished from others.
DIAGNOSTICATE
Di`ag*nos"ti*cate, v. t. & i. Etym: [From Diagnostic.]
Defn: To make a diagnosis of; to recognize by its symptoms, as a
disease.
DIAGNOSTICS
Di`ag*nos"tics, n.
Defn: That part of medicine which has to do with ascertaining the
nature of diseases by means of their symptoms or signs.
His rare skill in diagnostics. Macaulay.
DIAGOMETER
Di`a*gom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: A sort of electroscope, invented by Rousseau, in which the dry
pile is employed to measure the amount of electricity transmitted by
different bodies, or to determine their conducting power. Nichol.
DIAGONAL
Di*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. knee: cf. F. diagonal.]
(Geom.)
Defn: Joining two not adjacent angles of a quadrilateral or
multilateral figure; running across from corner to corner; crossing
at an angle with one of the sides. Diagonal bond (Masonry),
herringbone work. See Herringbone, a.
-- Diagonal built (Shipbuilding), built by forming the outer skin of
two layers of planking, making angles of about 45º with the keel, in
opposite directions.
-- Diagonal cleavage. See under Cleavage.
-- Diagonal molding (Arch.), a chevron or zigzag molding.
-- Diagonal rib. (Arch.) See Cross-springer.
-- Diagonal scale, a scale which consists of a set of parallel
lines, with other lines crossing them obliquely, so that their
intersections furnish smaller subdivisions of the unit of measure
than could be conveniently marked on a plain scale.
-- Diagonal stratification. (Geol.) Same as Cross bedding, under
Cross, a.
DIAGONAL
Di*ag"o*nal, n.
1. A right line drawn from one angle to another not adjacent, of a
figure of four or more sides, and dividing it into two parts.
2. (Engin.)
Defn: A member, in a framed structure, running obliquely across a
panel.
3. A diagonal cloth; a kind of cloth having diagonal stripes, ridges,
or welts made in the weaving.
DIAGONALLY
Di*ag"o*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diagonal direction.
DIAGONIAL
Di`a*go"ni*al, a.
Defn: Diagonal; diametrical; hence; diametrically opposed. [Obs.]
Sin can have no tenure by law at all, but is rather an eternal
outlaw, and in hostility with law past all atonement; both diagonal
contraries, as much allowing one another as day and night together in
one hemisphere. Milton.
DIAGRAM
Di"a*gram, n. Etym: [Gr. diagramme. See Graphic.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or
facilitate a demonstration; a plan.
2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes,
or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical
drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one. Indicator diagram.
(Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator
DIAGRAM
Di"a*gram, v. t.
Defn: To put into the form of a diagram.
DIAGRAMMATIC
Di`a*gram*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a diagram; showing by
diagram.
-- Di`a*gram*mat"ic*ly, adv.
DIAGRAPH
Di"a*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. diagraphe. See Diagram.]
Defn: A drawing instrument, combining a protractor and scale.
DIAGRAPHIC; DIAGRAPHICAL
Di`a*graph"ic, Di`a*graph"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diagraphique.]
Defn: Descriptive.
DIAGRAPHICS
Di`a*graph"ics, n.
Defn: The art or science of descriptive drawing; especially, the art
or science of drawing by mechanical appliances and mathematical rule.
DIAHELIOTROPIC
Di`a*he`li*o*trop"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism.
DIAHELIOTROPISM
Di`a*he`li*ot"ro*pism, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tendency of leaves or other organs of plants to have their
dorsal surface faced towards the rays of light.
DIAL
Di"al, n. Etym: [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.]
1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from
the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp.,
a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon
is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be
either horizontal or vertical.
2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is
shown by pointers or hands.
3. A miner's compass. Dial bird (Zoöl.), an Indian bird (Copsychus
saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to
other related species.
-- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers
or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain
determined way before the lock can be operated.
-- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which
lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.
DIAL
Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing
or Dialling.]
1. To measure with a dial.
Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven. Talfourd.
2. (Mining)
Defn: To survey with a dial. Raymond.
DIALECT
Di"a*lect, n. Etym: [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. Dialogue.]
1. Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of
speech.
This book is writ in such a dialect As may the minds of listless men
affect. Bunyan. The universal dialect of the world. South.
2. The form of speech of a limited region or people, as distinguished
from ether forms nearly related to it; a variety or subdivision of a
language; speech characterized by local peculiarities or specific
circumstances; as, the Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the
Yorkshire dialect; the dialect of the learned.
In the midst of this Babel of dialects there suddenly appeared a
standard English language. Earle.
[Charles V.] could address his subjects from every quarter in their
native dialect. Prescott.
Syn.
-- Language; idiom; tongue; speech; phraseology. See Language, and
Idiom.
DIALECTAL
Di`a*lec"tal, a.
Defn: Relating to a dialect; dialectical; as, a dialectical variant.
DIALECTIC
Di`a*lec"tic, n.
Defn: Same as Dialectics.
Plato placed his dialectic above all sciences. Liddell & Scott.
DIALECTIC; DIALECTICAL
Di`a*lec"tic, Di`a*lec"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. dialecticus, Gr.
dialectique. See Dialect.]
1. Pertaining to dialectics; logical; argumental.
2. Pertaining to a dialect or to dialects. Earle.
DIALECTICALLY
Di`a*lec"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dialectical manner.
DIALECTICIAN
Di`a*lec*ti"cian, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dialecticien.]
Defn: One versed in dialectics; a logician; a reasoner.
DIALECTICS
Di`a*lec"tics, n. Etym: [L. dialectica (sc. ars), Gr. dialectique.]
Defn: That branch of logic which teaches the rules and modes of
reasoning; the application of logical principles to discursive
reasoning; the science or art of discriminating truth from error;
logical discussion.
Note: Dialectics was defined by Aristotle to be the method of arguing
with probability on any given problem, and of defending a tenet
without inconsistency. By Plato, it was used in the following senses:
1. Discussion by dialogue as a method of scientific investigation.
2. The method of investigating the truth by analysis.
3. The science of ideas or of the nature and laws of being -- higher
metaphysics. By Kant, it was employed to signify the logic of
appearances or illusions, whether these arise from accident or error,
or from those necessary limitations which, according to this
philosopher, originate in the constitution of the human intellect.
DIALECTOLOGY
Di`a*lec*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Dialect + -logy.]
Defn: That branch of philology which is devoted to the consideration
of dialects. Beck.
DIALECTOR
Di`a*lec"tor, n.
Defn: One skilled in dialectics.
DIALING
Di"al*ing, n.
1. The art of constructing dials; the science which treats of
measuring time by dials. [Written also dialling.]
2. A method of surveying, especially in mines, in which the bearings
of the courses, or the angles which they make with each other, are
determined by means of the circumferentor.
DIALIST
Di"al*ist, n.
Defn: A maker of dials; one skilled in dialing.
DIALLAGE
Di*al"la*ge, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which arguments are placed in various points of
view, and then turned to one point. Smart.
DIALLAGE
Di"al*lage, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A dark green or bronze-colored laminated variety of pyroxene,
common in certain igneous rocks.
DIALLEL
Di"al*lel, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Meeting and intersecting, as lines; not parallel; -- opposed to
parallel. [Obs.] Ash.
DIALLYL
Di*al"lyl, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile, pungent, liquid hydrocarbon, C6H10, consisting of
two allyl radicals, and belonging to the acetylene series.
DIALOGICAL
Di`a*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to a dialogue; dialogistical. Burton.
DIALOGICALLY
Di`a*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or nature of a dialogue. Goldsmith.
DIALOGISM
Di*al"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. dialogisme. See Dialogue.]
Defn: An imaginary speech or discussion between two or more;
dialogue. Fulke.
DIALOGIST
Di*al"o*gist, n. Etym: [L. dialogista: cf. F. dialogiste.]
1. A speaker in a dialogue.
2. A writer of dialogues. P. Skelton.
DIALOGISTIC; DIALOGISTICAL
Di*al`o*gis"tic, Di*al`o*gis"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to a dialogue; having the form or nature of a
dialogue.
-- Di*al`o*gis"tic*al*ly, adv.
DIALOGITE
Di*al"o*gite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Native carbonate of manganese; rhodochrosite.
DIALOGIZE
Di*al"o*gize, v. t. Etym: [Gr. dialogiser.]
Defn: To discourse in dialogue. Fotherby.
DIALOGUE
Di"a*logue, n. Etym: [OE. dialogue, L. dialogus, fr. Gr. dialogue.
See Legend.]
1. A conversation between two or more persons; particularly, a formal
conservation in theatrical performances or in scholastic exercises.
2. A written composition in which two or more persons are represented
as conversing or reasoning on some topic; as, the Dialogues of Plato.
DIALOGUE
Di"a*logue, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. dialoguer.]
Defn: To take part in a dialogue; to dialogize. [R.] Shak.
DIALOGUE
Di"a*logue, v. t.
Defn: To express as in dialogue. [R.]
And dialogued for him what he would say. Shak.
DIALYPETALOUS
Di`al*y*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having separate petals; polypetalous.
DIALYSIS
Di*al"y*sis, n.; pl. Dialyses. Etym: [L., separation, fr. Gr.
1. (Gram.)
Defn: Diæresis. See Diæresis,
1.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: Same as Asyndeton.
3. (Med.)
(a) Debility.
(b) A solution of continuity; division; separation of parts.
4. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation of different substances in solution, as
crystalloids and colloids, by means of their unequal diffusion,
especially through natural or artificial membranes.
DIALYTIC
Di`a*lyt"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Dialysis.]
Defn: Having the quality of unloosing or separating. Clarke. Dialytic
telescope, an achromatic telescope in which the colored dispersion
produced by a single object lens of crown glass is corrected by a
smaller concave lens, or combination of lenses, of high dispersive
power, placed at a distance in the narrower part of the converging
cone of rays, usually near the middle of the tube.
DIALYZATE
Di*al"y*zate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The material subjected to dialysis.
DIALYZATION
Di`a*ly*za"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of dialysis.
DIALYZE
Di"a*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialyzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialyzing.]
(Chem.)
Defn: To separate, prepare, or obtain, by dialysis or osmose; to pass
through an animal membrane; to subject to dialysis. [Written also
dialyse.]
DIALYZED
Di"a*lyzed, a.
Defn: Prepared by diffusion through an animal membrane; as, dialyzed
iron.
DIALYZER
Di"a*ly`zer, n.
Defn: The instrument or medium used to effect chemical dialysis.
DIAMAGNET
Di`a*mag"net, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + magnet.]
Defn: A body having diamagnetic polarity.
DIAMAGNETIC
Di`a*mag*net"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or exhibiting the phenomena of, diamagnetism;
taking, or being of a nature to take, a position at right angles to
the lines of magnetic force. See Paramagnetic. Diamagnetic
attraction. See under Attraction.
DIAMAGNETIC
Di`a*mag*net"ic, n.
Defn: Any substance, as bismuth, glass, phosphorous, etc., which in a
field of magnetic force is differently affected from the ordinary
magnetic bodies, as iron; that is, which tends to take a position at
right angles to the lines of magnetic force, and is repelled by
either pole of the magnet.
DIAMAGNETICALLY
Di`a*mag*net"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of, or according to, diamagnetism.
DIAMAGNETISM
Di`a*mag"net*ism, n.
1. The science which treats of diamagnetic phenomena, and of the
properties of diamagnetic bodies.
2. That form or condition of magnetic action which characterizes
diamagnetics.
DIAMANTIFEROUS
Di`a*man*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [F. diamant diamond + -ferous.]
Defn: Yielding diamonds.
DIAMANTINE
Di`a*man"tine, a.
Defn: Adamantine. [Obs.]
DIAMETER
Di*am"e*ter, n. Etym: [F. diamètre, L. diametros, fr. Gr. Meter.]
1. (Geom.)
(a) Any right line passing through the center of a figure or body, as
a circle, conic section, sphere, cube, etc., and terminated by the
opposite boundaries; a straight line which bisects a system of
parallel chords drawn in a curve.
(b) A diametral plane.
2. The length of a straight line through the center of an object from
side to side; width; thickness; as, the diameter of a tree or rock.
Note: In an elongated object the diameter is usually taken at right
angles to the longer axis.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The distance through the lower part of the shaft of a column,
used as a standard measure for all parts of the order. See Module.
Conjugate diameters. See under Conjugate.
DIAMETRAL
Di*am"e*tral, a. Etym: [Gr. F. diamétral.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diameter; diametrical. Diametral curve,
Diametral surface (Geom.), any line or surface which bisects a system
of parallel chords drawn in a curve or surface.
-- Diametral planes (Crystal.), planes in which two of the axes lie.
DIAMETRAL
Di*am"e*tral, n.
Defn: A diameter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIAMETRALLY
Di*am"e*tral*ly, adv.
Defn: Diametrically.
DIAMETRIC; DIAMETRICAL
Di*am"e*tric, Di*am"e*tric*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a diameter.
2. As remote as possible, as if at the opposite end of a diameter;
directly adverse.
DIAMETRICALLY
Di*am"e*tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diametrical manner; directly; as, diametrically opposite.
Whose principles were diametrically opposed to his. Macaulay.
DIAMIDE
Di*am"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amide.] (Chem.)
Defn: Any compound containing two amido groups united with one or
more acid or negative radicals, -- as distinguished from a diamine.
Cf. Amido acid, under Amido, and Acid amide, under Amide.
DIAMIDO-
Di*am"i*do- (, a. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix or combining form of Diamine.
Note: [Also used adjectively.]
DIAMINE
Di*am"ine (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound containing two amido groups united with one or more
basic or positive radicals, -- as contrasted with a diamide.
Note: In chemical nomenclature, if any amine or diamine is named by
prefixing the nitrogen group, the name of the latter takes the form
of amido, diamido, etc., thus ethylene diamine, C2H4.(NH2)2, is also
called diamido-ethylene.
DIAMOND
Di"a*mond, n. Etym: [OE. diamaund, diamaunt, F. diamant, corrupted,
fr. L. adamas, the hardest iron, steel, diamond, Gr. Adamant, Tame.]
1. A precious stone or gem excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play
of prismatic colors, and remarkable for extreme hardness.
Note: The diamond is native carbon in isometric crystals, often
octahedrons with rounded edges. It is usually colorless, but some are
yellow, green, blue, and even black. It is the hardest substance
known. The diamond as found in nature (called a rough diamond) is
cut, for use in jewelry, into various forms with many reflecting
faces, or facets, by which its brilliancy is much increased. See
Brilliant, Rose. Diamonds are said to be of the first water when very
transparent, and of the second or third water as the transparency
decreases.
2. A geometrical figure, consisting of four equal straight lines, and
having two of the interior angles acute and two obtuse; a rhombus; a
lozenge.
3. One of a suit of playing cards, stamped with the figure of a
diamond.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: A pointed projection, like a four-sided pyramid, used for
ornament in lines or groups.
5. (Baseball)
Defn: The infield; the square space, 90 feet on a side, having the
bases at its angles.
6. (Print.)
Defn: The smallest kind of type in English printing, except that
called brilliant, which is seldom seen.
Note: * This line is printed in the type called Diamond. Black
diamond, coal; (Min.) See Carbonado.
-- Bristol diamond. See Bristol stone, under Bristol.
-- Diamond beetle (Zoöl.), a large South American weevil (Entimus
imperialis), remarkable for its splendid luster and colors, due to
minute brilliant scales.
-- Diamond bird (Zoöl.), a small Australian bird (Pardalotus
punctatus, family Ampelidæ.). It is black, with white spots.
-- Diamond drill (Engin.), a rod or tube the end of which is set
with black diamonds; -- used for perforating hard substances, esp.
for boring in rock.
-- Diamond finch (Zoöl.), a small Australian sparrow, often kept in
a cage. Its sides are black, with conspicuous white spots, and the
rump is bright carmine.
-- Diamond groove (Iron Working), a groove of V-section in a roll.
-- Diamond mortar (Chem.), a small steel mortar used for pulverizing
hard substances.
-- Diamond-point tool, a cutting tool whose point is diamond-shaped.
-- Diamond snake (Zoöl.), a harmless snake of Australia (Morelia
spilotes); the carpet snake.
-- Glazier's diamond, a small diamond set in a glazier's tool, for
cutting glass.
DIAMOND
Di"a*mond, a.
Defn: Resembling a diamond; made of, or abounding in, diamonds; as, a
diamond chain; a diamond field.
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY; DIAMOND JUBILEE
Diamond anniversary, jubilee, etc.
Defn: One celebrated upon the completion of sixty, or, according to
some, seventy-five, years from the beginning of the thing
commemorated.
DIAMOND-BACK
Di"a*mond-back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The salt-marsh terrapin of the Atlantic coast (Malacoclemmys
palustris).
DIAMONDED
Di"a*mond*ed, a.
1. Having figures like a diamond or lozenge.
2. Adorned with diamonds; diamondized. Emerson.
DIAMONDIZE
Di"a*mond*ize, v. t.
Defn: To set with diamonds; to adorn; to enrich. [R.]
Diamondizing of your subject. B. Jonson.
DIAMOND-SHAPED
Di"a*mond-shaped`, a.
Defn: Shaped like a diamond or rhombus.
DIAMOND STATE
Diamond State.
Defn: Delaware; -- a nickname alluding to its small size.
DIAMYLENE
Di*am"y*lene, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + amylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H20, of the ethylene series, regarded
as a polymeric form of amylene.
DIAN
Di"an, a
Defn: , Diana. [Poetic]
DIANA
Di*a"na, n. Etym: [L. Diana.] (Myth.)
Defn: The daughter of Jupiter and Latona; a virgin goddess who
presided over hunting, chastity, and marriage; -- identified with the
Greek goddess Artemis.
And chaste Diana haunts the forest shade. Pope.
Diana monkey (Zoöl.), a handsome, white-bearded monkey of West Africa
(Cercopithecus Diana).
DIANDRIA
Di*an"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having two stamens.
DIANDRIAN
Di*an"dri*an, a.
Defn: Diandrous.
DIANDROUS
Di*an"drous, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diandre.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the class Diandria; having two stamens.
DIANIUM
Di*a"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. Diana; either as the name of the
Roman goddess, or from its use in OE. as a name of silver.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Columbium. [Obs.]
DIANOETIC
Di`a*no*et"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Metaph.)
Defn: Pertaining to the discursive faculty, its acts or products.
I would employ . . . dianoetic to denote the operation of the
discursive, elaborative, or comparative faculty. Sir W. Hamilton.
DIANOIALOGY
Di`a*noi*al"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science of the dianoetic faculties, and their operations.
Sir W. Hamilton.
DIANTHUS
Di*an"thus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants containing some of the most popular of
cultivated flowers, including the pink, carnation, and Sweet William.
DIAPASE
Di"a*pase, n.
Defn: Same as Diapason. [Obs.]
A tuneful diapase of pleasures. Spenser.
DIAPASM
Di"a*pasm, n. Etym: [L. diapasma, Gr. diapasme.]
Defn: Powdered aromatic herbs, sometimes made into little balls and
strung together. [Obs.]
DIAPASON
Di`a*pa"son, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. i. e., diapason. Cf. Panacea.]
1. (Gr. Mus.)
Defn: The octave, or interval which includes all the tones of the
diatonic scale.
2. Concord, as of notes an octave apart; harmony.
The fair music that all creatures made . . . In perfect diapason.
Milton.
3. The entire compass of tones.
Through all the compass of the notes it ran, The diapason closing
full in man. Dryden.
4. A standard of pitch; a tuning fork; as, the French normal
diapason.
5. One of certain stops in the organ, so called because they extend
through the scale of the instrument. They are of several kinds, as
open diapason, stopped diapason, double diapason, and the like.
DIAPEDESIS
Di`a*pe*de"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The passage of the corpuscular elements of the blood from the
blood vessels into the surrounding tissues, without rupture of the
walls of the blood vessels.
DIAPENTE
Di`a*pen"te, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. diapente.]
1. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: The interval of the fifth.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A composition of five ingredients.
DIAPER
Di"a*per, n. Etym: [OF. diaspre, diapre, diaspe, sort of figured
cloth, It. diaspro jasper, diaspo figured cloth, from L.jaspis a
green-colored precious stone. See Jasper.]
1. Any textile fabric (esp. linen or cotton toweling) woven in diaper
pattern. See 2.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Surface decoration of any sort which consists of the constant
repetition of one or more simple figures or units of design evenly
spaced.
3. A towel or napkin for wiping the hands, etc.
Let one attend him with a silver basin, . . . Another bear the ewer,
the third a diaper. Shak.
4. An infant's breechcloth.
DIAPER
Di"a*per, v. t.
1. To ornament with figures, etc., arranged in the pattern called
diaper, as cloth in weaving. "Diapered light." H. Van Laun.
Engarlanded and diapered With in wrought flowers. Tennyson.
2. To put a diaper on (a child).
DIAPER
Di"a*per, v. i.
Defn: To draw flowers or figures, as upon cloth. "If you diaper on
folds." Peacham.
DIAPERING
Di"a*per*ing, n.
Defn: Same as Diaper, n.,
2.
DIAPHANE
Di"a*phane, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphane diaphanous. See Diaphanous.]
Defn: A woven silk stuff with transparent and colored figures; diaper
work.
DIAPHANED
Di"a*phaned, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. diaphaner to make transparent. See
Diaphanous.]
Defn: Transparent or translucent. [R.]
DIAPHANEITY
Di`a*pha*ne"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphanéité. See Diaphanous.]
Defn: The quality of being diaphanous; transparency; pellucidness.
DIAPHANIC
Di`a*phan"ic, a. Etym: [See Diaphanous.]
Defn: Having power to transmit light; transparent; diaphanous.
DIAPHANIE
Di*aph"a*nie, n.
Defn: The art of imitating
DIAPHANOMETER
Di`a*pha*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the transparency of the air.
DIAPHANOSCOPE
Di`a*phan"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Photog.)
Defn: A dark box constructed for viewing transparent pictures, with
or without a lens.
DIAPHANOTYPE
Di`a*phan"o*type, n. Etym: [Gr. -type.] (Photog.)
Defn: A colored photograph produced by superimposing a translucent
colored positive over a strong uncolored one.
DIAPHANOUS
Di*aph"a*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. diaphane. See Phantom, and cf. Diaphane,
Diaphanic.]
Defn: Allowing light to pass through, as porcelain; translucent or
transparent; pellucid; clear.
Another cloud in the region of them, light enough to be fantastic and
diaphanous. Landor.
DIAPHANOUSLY
Di*aph"a*nous*ly, adv.
Defn: Translucently.
DIAPHEMETRIC
Di*aph`e*met"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to the measurement of the tactile sensibility of
parts; as, diaphemetric compasses. Dunglison.
DIAPHONIC; DIAPHONICAL
Di`a*phon"ic, Di`a*phon"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Diacoustic.
DIAPHONICS
Di`a*phon"ics, n.
Defn: The doctrine of refracted sound; diacoustics.
DIAPHORESIS
Di`a*pho*re"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Perspiration, or an increase of perspiration.
DIAPHORETIC; DIAPHORETICAL
Di`a*pho*ret"ic, Di`a*pho*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. diaphoreticus, Gr.
diaphorétique. See Diaphoresis.]
Defn: Having the power to increase perspiration.
DIAPHORETIC
Di`a*pho*ret"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine or agent which promotes perspiration.
Note: Diaphoretics differ from sudorifics; the former only increase
the insensible perspiration, the latter excite the sensible discharge
called sweat. Parr.
DIAPHOTE
Di"a*phote, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + Gr. (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument designed for transmitting pictures by telegraph.
Fallows.
DIAPHRAGM
Di"a*phragm, n. Etym: [L. diaphragma, Gr. fareire to stuff: cf. F.
diaphragme. See Farce.]
1. A dividing membrane or thin partition, commonly with an opening
through it.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The muscular and tendinous partition separating the cavity of
the chest from that of the abdomen; the midriff.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A calcareous plate which divides the cavity of certain shells
into two parts.
4. (Opt.)
Defn: A plate with an opening, which is generally circular, used in
instruments to cut off marginal portions of a beam of light, as at
the focus of a telescope.
5. (Mach.)
Defn: A partition in any compartment, for various purposes. Diaphragm
pump, one in which a flexible diaphragm takes the place of a piston.
DIAPHRAGMATIC
Di`a*phrag*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diaphragmatique.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diaphragm; as, diaphragmatic respiration; the
diaphragmatic arteries and nerves.
DIAPHYSIS
Di*aph"y*sis, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An abnormal prolongation of the axis of inflorescence.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The shaft, or main part, of a bone, which is first ossified.
DIAPNOIC
Di`ap*no"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. diapnoïque.] (Med.)
Defn: Slightly increasing an insensible perspiration; mildly
diaphoretic.
-- n.
Defn: A gentle diaphoretic.
DIAPOPHYSICAL
Di*ap`o*phys"ic*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a diapophysis.
DIAPOPHYSIS
Di`a*poph"y*sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Dia-, and Apophysis.] (Anat.)
Defn: The dorsal transverse, or tubercular, process of a vertebra.
See Vertebra.
DIARCHY
Di"arch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A form of government in which the supreme power is vested in
two persons.
DIARIAL; DIARIAN
Di*a"ri*al, Di*a"ri*an, a. Etym: [See Diary.]
Defn: Pertaining to a diary; daily.
DIARIST
Di"a*rist, n.
Defn: One who keeps a diary.
DIARRHEA; DIARRHOEA
Di`ar*rhe"a, Di`ar*rhoe"a, n. Etym: [L. diarrhoea, Gr. stream. See
Stream.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbidly frequent and profuse discharge of loose or fluid
evacuations from the intestines, without tenesmus; a purging or
looseness of the bowels; a flux.
DIARRHEAL; DIARRHOEAL
Di`ar*rhe"al, Di`ar*rhoe"al a. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to diarrhea; like diarrhea.
DIARRHETIC; DIARRHOETIC
Di`ar*rhet"ic, Di`ar*rhoet"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Producing diarrhea, or a purging.
DIARTHRODIAL
Di`ar*thro"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to diarthrosis, or movable articulations.
DIARTHROSIS
Di`ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A form of articulation which admits of considerable motion; a
complete joint; abarticulation. See Articulation.
DIARY
Di"a*ry, n.; pl. Diaries. Etym: [L. diarium, fr. dies day. See
Deity.]
Defn: A register of daily events or transactions; a daily record; a
journal; a blank book dated for the record of daily memoranda; as, a
diary of the weather; a physician's diary.
DIARY
Di"a*ry, a.
Defn: lasting for one day; as, a diary fever. [Obs.] "Diary ague."
Bacon.
DIASPORA
Di*as"po*ra, n. [Gr. . See Diaspore.] Lit., "Dispersion." -- applied
collectively:
(a) To those Jews who, after the Exile, were scattered through the
Old World, and afterwards to Jewish Christians living among heathen.
Cf. James i.1.
(b) By extension, to Christians isolated from their own communion,
as among the Moravians to those living, usually as missionaries,
outside of the parent congregation.
DIASPORE
Di"a*spore, n. Etym: [From Gr. diaspore.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrate of alumina, often occurring in white lamellar masses
with brilliant pearly luster; -- so named on account of its
decrepitating when heated before the blowpipe.
DIASTASE
Di"a*stase, n. Etym: [Gr. diastase. Cf. Diastasis.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A soluble, nitrogenous ferment, capable of converting starch
and dextrin into sugar.
Note: The name is more particularly applied to that ferment formed
during the germination of grain, as in the malting of barley; but it
is also occasionally used to designate the amylolytic ferment
contained in animal fluids, as in the saliva.
DIASTASIC
Di`a*sta"sic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, diastase; as, diastasic
ferment.
DIASTASIS
Di*as"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Diastase.] (Surg.)
Defn: A forcible of bones without fracture.
DIASTATIC
Di`a*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Diastase.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Relating to diastase; having the properties of diastase;
effecting the conversion of starch into sugar.
The influence of acids and alkalies on the diastatic action of
saliva. Lauder Brunton.
DIASTEM
Di"a*stem, n. Etym: [L. diastema, Gr. diastème.]
(a) Intervening space; interval.
(b) (Anc. Mus.) An interval.
DIASTEMA
Di`a*ste"ma, n. Etym: [L. See Diastem.] (Anat.)
Defn: A vacant space, or gap, esp. between teeth in a jaw.
DIASTER
Di*as"ter, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A double star; -- applied to the nucleus of a cell, when,
during cell division, the loops of the nuclear network separate into
two groups, preparatory to the formation of two daughter nuclei. See
Karyokinesis.
DIASTOLE
Di*as"to*le, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Physiol.)
Defn: The rhythmical expansion or dilatation of the heart and
arteries; -- correlative to systole, or contraction.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.
DIASTOLIC
Di`as*tol"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to diastole.
DIASTYLE
Di"a*style, n. Etym: [L. diastylus, Gr. diastyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: See under Intercolumniation.
DIATESSARON
Di`a*tes"sa*ron, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: The interval of a fourth.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: A continuous narrative arranged from the first four books of
the New Testament.
3. An electuary compounded of four medicines.
DIATHERMAL
Di`a*ther"mal, a. Etym: [Gr. Diathermous.]
Defn: Freely permeable by radiant heat.
DIATHERMANCY; DIATHERMANEITY
Di`a*ther"man*cy, Di`a*ther`ma*ne"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Diathermanous.]
Defn: The property of transmitting radiant heat; the quality of being
diathermous. Melloni.
DIATHERMANISM
Di`a*ther"ma*nism, n.
Defn: The doctrine or the phenomena of the transmission of radiant
heat. Nichol.
DIATHERMANOUS
Di`a*ther"ma*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having the property of transmitting radiant heat; diathermal; -
- opposed to athermanous.
DIATHERMIC
Di`a*ther"mic, a.
Defn: Affording a free passage to heat; as, diathermic substances.
Melloni.
DIATHERMOMETER
Di`a*ther*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter. See Diathermal.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for examining the thermal resistance or heat-
conducting power of liquids.
DIATHERMOUS
Di`a*ther"mous, a.
Defn: Same as Diathermal.
DIATHESIS
Di*ath"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Bodily condition or constitution, esp. a morbid habit which
predisposes to a particular disease, or class of diseases.
DIATHETIC
Di`a*thet"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or dependent on, a diathesis or special
constitution of the body; as, diathetic disease.
DIATOM
Di"a*tom, n. Etym: [Gr. Diatomous.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the Diatomaceæ, a family of minute unicellular Algæ
having a siliceous covering of great delicacy, each individual
multiplying by spontaneous division. By some authors diatoms are
called Bacillariæ, but this word is not in general use.
2. A particle or atom endowed with the vital principle.
The individual is nothing. He is no more than the diatom, the bit of
protoplasm. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.
DIATOMIC
Di`a*tom"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + atomic.] (Chem.)
(a) Containing two atoms.
(b) Having two replaceable atoms or radicals.
DIATOMOUS
Di*at"o*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. Diatom.] (Min.)
Defn: Having a single, distinct, diagonal cleavage; -- said of
crystals. Mohs.
DIATONIC
Di`a*ton"ic, a. Etym: [L. diatonicus, diatonus, Gr. diatonique. See
Tone.] (Mus.)
Defn: Pertaining to the scale of eight tones, the eighth of which is
the octave of the first. Diatonic scale (Mus.), a scale consisting of
eight sounds with seven intervals, of which two are semitones and
five are whole tones; a modern major or minor scale, as distinguished
from the chromatic scale.
DIATONICALLY
Di`a*ton"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diatonic manner.
DIATRIBE
Di"a*tribe, n. Etym: [L. diatriba a learned discussion, Gr. terere,
F. trite: cf. F. diatribe.]
Defn: A prolonged or exhaustive discussion; especially, an
acrimonious or invective harangue; a strain of abusive or railing
language; a philippic.
The ephemeral diatribe of a faction. John Morley.
DIATRIBIST
Di*at"ri*bist, n.
Defn: One who makes a diatribe or diatribes.
DIATRYMA
Di`a*try"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct eocene bird from New Mexico, larger than the
ostrich.
DIAZEUCTIC; DIAZEUTIC
Di`a*zeuc"tic, Di`a*zeu"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: Disjoining two fourths; as, the diazeutic tone, which, like
that from F to G in modern music, lay between two fourths, and, being
joined to either, made a fifth. [Obs.]
DIAZO-
Di*az"o- (. Etym: [Pref. di- + azo-] (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form (also used adjectively), meaning pertaining
to, or derived from, a series of compounds containing a radical of
two nitrogen atoms, united usually to an aromatic radical; as, diazo-
benzene, C6H5.N2.OH.
Note: Diazo compounds are in general unstable, but are of great
importance in recent organic chemistry. They are obtained by a
partial reduction of the salts of certain amido compounds. Diazo
reactions (Chem.), a series of reactions whereby diazo compounds are
employed in substitution. These reactions are of great importance in
organic chemistry.
DIAZOTIZE
Di*az"o*tize, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To subject to such reactions or processes that diazo compounds,
or their derivatives, shall be produced by chemical exchange or
substitution.
DIB
Dib, v. i.
Defn: To dip. [Prov. Eng.] Walton.
DIB
Dib, n.
1. One of the small bones in the knee joints of sheep uniting the
bones above and below the joints.
2. pl.
Defn: A child's game, played with dib bones.
DIBASIC
Di*ba"sic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + basic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two acid hydrogen atoms capable of replacement by basic
atoms or radicals, in forming salts; bibasic; -- said of acids, as
oxalic or sulphuric acids. Cf. Diacid, Bibasic.
Note: In the case of certain acids dibasic and divalent are not
synonymous; as, tartaric acid is tetravalent and dibasic, lactic acid
is divalent but monobasic.
DIBASICITY
Di`ba*sic"i*ty, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The property or condition of being dibasic.
DIBBER
Dib"ber, n.
Defn: A dibble. Halliwell.
DIBBLE
Dib"ble, n. Etym: [See Dibble, v. i.]
Defn: A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which
no set out plants or to plant seeds.
DIBBLE
Dib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dibbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dibbling.]
Etym: [Freq. of Prov. E. dib, for dip to thrust in. See Dip.]
Defn: To dib or dip frequently, as in angling. Walton.
DIBBLE
Dib"ble, v. t.
1. To plant with a dibble; to make holes in (soil) with a dibble, for
planting.
2. To make holes or indentations in, as if with a dibble.
The clayey soil around it was dibbled thick at the time by the tiny
hoofs of sheep. H. Miller.
DIBBLER
Dib"bler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dibbles, or makes holes in the ground
for seed.
DIBRANCHIATA
Di*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of cephalopods which includes those with two gills, an
apparatus for emitting an inky fluid, and either eight or ten
cephalic arms bearing suckers or hooks, as the octopi and squids. See
Cephalopoda.
DIBRANCHIATE
Di*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two gills.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Dibranchiata.
DIBS
Dibs, n.
Defn: A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the
East. Johnston.
DIBSTONE
Dib"stone` (; 110), n.
Defn: A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones. Locke.
DIBUTYL
Di*bu"tyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + butyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the marsh-gas series, being one
of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. Octane.
DICACIOUS
Di*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. dicax, dicacis, fr. dicere to say.]
Defn: Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]
DICACITY
Di*cac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dicacitas: cf. F. dicacité. See Dicacious.]
Defn: Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]
DICALCIC
Di*cal"cic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + calcic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.
DICARBONIC
Di`car*bon"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + carbonic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl or radicals;
as, oxalic acid is a dicarbonic acid.
DICAST
Di"cast, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A functionary in ancient Athens answering nearly to the modern
juryman.
DICASTERY
Di*cas"ter*y, n. Etym: [Gr. Dicast.]
Defn: A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.] J. S. Mill.
DICE
Dice, n.; pl. of Die.
Defn: Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also,
the game played with dice. See Die, n. Dice coal, a kind of coal
easily splitting into cubical fragments. Brande & C.
DICE
Dice, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diced; p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing.]
1. To play games with dice.
I . . . diced not above seven times a week. Shak.
2. To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes.
DICEBOX
Dice"box`, n.
Defn: A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray.
DICENTRA
Di*cen"tra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or
heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, and the more
showy Bleeding heart (D. spectabilis). [Corruptly written dielytra.]
DICEPHALOUS
Di*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having two heads on one body; double-headed.
DICER
Di"cer, n.
Defn: A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester.
As false as dicers' oaths. Shak.
DICH
Dich, v. i.
Defn: To ditch. [Obs.]
DICHASTIC
Di*chas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Capable of subdividing spontaneously.
DICHLAMYDEOUS
Di`chla*myd"e*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two coverings, a calyx and in corolla.
DICHLORIDE
Di*chlo"ride, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + chloride.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Bichloride.
DICHOGAMOUS
Di*chog"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Manifesting dichogamy.
DICHOGAMY
Di*chog"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of certain species of plants, in which the
stamens and pistil do not mature simultaneously, so that these plants
can never fertilize themselves.
DICHOTOMIST
Di*chot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who dichotomizes. Bacon.
DICHOTOMIZE
Di*chot"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dichotomized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dichotomizing.] Etym: [See Dichotomous.]
1. To cut into two parts; to part into two divisions; to divide into
pairs; to bisect. [R.]
The apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace
and peace. Bp. Hall.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: To exhibit as a half disk. See Dichotomy,
3. "[The moon] was dichotomized." Whewell.
DICHOTOMIZE
Di*chot"o*mize, v. i.
Defn: To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become
dichotomous.
DICHOTOMOUS
Di*chot"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. dichotomos, Gr.
Defn: Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, a
dichotomous stem.
-- Di*chot"o*mous*ly, adv.
DICHOTOMY
Di*chot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. dichotomie. See Dichotomous.]
1. A cutting in two; a division.
A general breach or dichotomy with their church. Sir T. Browne.
2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into
two subordinate parts.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows
only half its disk, as at the quadratures.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or
a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin;
successive bifurcation.
5. The place where a stem or vein is forked.
6. (Logic)
Defn: Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two
subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of
the term man into white and not white.
DICHROIC
Di*chro"ic, a. Etym: [See Dichroism.]
Defn: Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal.
DICHROISCOPE
Di*chro"i*scope, n.
Defn: Same as Dichroscope.
DICHROISM
Di"chro*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)
Defn: The property of presenting different colors by transmitted
light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being
unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes.
DICHROITE
Di"chro*ite, n. Etym: [See Dichroism.] (Min.)
Defn: Iolite; -- so called from its presenting two different colors
when viewed in two different directions. See Iolite.
DICHROITIC
Di`chro*it"ic, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROMATE
Di*chro"mate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid
radical to one of the base; -- called also bichromate.
DICHROMATIC
Di`chro*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + chromatic: cf. Gr.
1. Having or exhibiting two colors.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color,
independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.
DICHROMATISM
Di*chro"ma*tism, n.
Defn: The state of being dichromatic.
DICHROMIC
Di*chro"mic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Furnishing or giving two colors; -- said of defective vision,
in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements
instead of three. Sir J. Herschel.
DICHROOUS
Di"chro*ous, a.
Defn: Dichroic.
DICHROSCOPE
Di"chro*scope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.
DICHROSCOPIC
Di`chro*scop"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.
DICING
Di"cing, n.
1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.
2. Gambling with dice. J. R. Green.
DICKCISSEL
Dick*cis"sel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).
DICKENS
Dick"ens, n. or interj. Etym: [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.]
Defn: The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]
I can not tell what the dickens his name is. Shak.
DICKER
Dick"er, n. Etym: [Also daker, dakir; akin to Icel. dekr, Dan. deger,
G. decher; all prob. from LL. dacra, dacrum, the number ten, akin to
L. decuria a division consisting of ten, fr. decem ten. See Ten.]
1. The number or quantity of ten, particularly ten hides or skins; a
dakir; as, a dicker of gloves. [Obs.]
A dicker of cowhides. Heywood.
2. A chaffering, barter, or exchange, of small wares; as, to make a
dicker. [U.S.]
For peddling dicker, not for honest sales. Whittier.
DICKER
Dick"er, v. i. & t.
Defn: To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] "Ready to dicker. and
to swap." Cooper.
DICKEY; DICKY
Dick"ey, Dick"y, n.
1. A seat behind a carriage, for a servant.
2. A false shirt front or bosom.
3. A gentleman's shirt collar. [Local, U. S.]
DICLINIC
Di*clin"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique.
See Crystallization.
DICLINOUS
Dic"li*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.
DICOCCOUS
Di*coc"cous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed pf two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous
capsule.
DICOTYLEDON
Di*cot`y*le"don, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cotyledon.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons,
in germinating.
DICOTYLEDONOUS
Di*cot`y*le"don*ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous
plant.
DICROTAL; DICROTOUS
Di"cro*tal, Di"cro*tous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Dicrotic.
DICROTIC
Di*crot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
(a) Of or pertaining to dicrotism; as, a dicrotic pulse.
(b) Of or pertaining to the second expansion of the artery in the
dicrotic pulse; as, the dicrotic wave.
DICROTISM
Di"cro*tism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the
arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.
DICTA
Dic"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Dictum.
DICTAGRAPH
Dic"ta*graph.
Defn: Var. of Dictograph.
DICTAMEN
Dic*ta"men, n. Etym: [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.]
Defn: A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.
DICTAMNUS
Dic*tam"nus, n. Etym: [L. See Dittany.] (Bot.)
Defn: A suffrutescent, D. Fraxinella (the only species), with strong
perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly
inflammable.
DICTAPHONE
Dic"ta*phone, n. [Dictate + -phone, as in telephone.]
Defn: A form of phonographic recorder and reproducer adapted for use
in dictation, as in business.
DICTATE
Dic"tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dictated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating.]
Etym: [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. See
Diction, and cf. Dight.]
1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to
compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis.
The mind which dictated the Iliad. Wayland.
Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. Macaulay.
2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a
command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as,
to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his
troops.
Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be believed. Watts.
Syn.
-- To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge;
admonish.
DICTATE
Dic"tate, v. i.
1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on).
Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay.
2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said
by another.
Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to
dictate. Bacon.
DICTATE
Dic"tate, n. Etym: [L. dictatum. See Dictate, v. t.]
Defn: A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an
authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen
to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel.
I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior.
Syn.
-- Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
DICTATION
Dic*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dictatio.]
1. The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also
that which is dictated.
It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.
2. The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing
manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends,
was that of dictatio.
DICTATOR
Dic*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims
authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.
2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate
created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with
unlimited power.
Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our
language. Macaulay.
DICTATORIAL
Dic`ta*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dictatorial.]
1. Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute.
Military powers quite dictatorial. W. Irving.
2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing;
as, a dictatorial tone or manner.
-- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
-- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ness, n.
DICTATORIAN
Dic`ta*to"ri*an, a.
Defn: Dictatorial. [Obs.]
DICTATORSHIP
Dic*ta"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence,
absolute power.
DICTATORY
Dic"ta*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dictatorius.]
Defn: Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial. Milton.
DICTATRESS
Dic*ta"tress, n.
Defn: A woman who dictates or commands.
Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen. Byron.
DICTATRIX
Dic*ta"trix, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A dictatress.
DICTATURE
Dic*ta"ture, n. Etym: [L. dictatura: cf. F. dictature.]
Defn: Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.] Bacon.
DICTION
Dic"tion, n. Etym: [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to
say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F.
diction. See Teach, and cf. Benison, Dedicate, Index, Judge, Preach,
Vengeance.]
Defn: Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction,
disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to
clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as,
the diction of Chaucer's poems.
His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur.
De Quincey.
Syn.
-- Diction, Style, Phraseology. Style relates both to language and
thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical
structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The
style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of
composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at
times, was careless and cumbersome. "Diction is a general term
applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition.
Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of
words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction;
but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties
of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are
what is comprehended under the name of style." Crabb.
DICTIONALRIAN
Dic`tion*al"ri*an, n.
Defn: A lexicographer. [R.]
DICTIONARY
Dic"tion*a*ry, n.; pl. Dictionaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dictionnaire. See
Diction.]
1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged
alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a
vocabulary; a wordbook.
I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever
might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase,
accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary. Johnson.
2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or
province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of
medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.
DICTOGRAPH
Dic"to*graph, n. [L. dictum a thing said + E. -graph.]
Defn: A telephonic instrument for office or other similar use, having
a sound-magnifying device enabling the ordinary mouthpiece to be
dispensed with. Much use has been made of it for overhearing, or for
recording, conversations for the purpose of obtaining evidence for
use in litigation.
The makers of this instrument spell it dictograph.
DICTUM
Dic"tum, n.; pl. L. Dicta, E. Dictums. Etym: [L., neuter of dictus,
p. p. of dicere to say. See Diction, and cf. Ditto.]
1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.
A class of critical dicta everywhere current. M. Arnold.
2. (Law)
(a) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not
necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it.
(b) (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges
who has given it. Bouvier.
(c) An arbitrament or award.
DICTYOGEN
Dic*ty"o*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant with netveined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos,
belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders
Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.
DICYANIDE
Di*cy"a*nide, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or
radicals; -- called also bicyanide.
DICYEMATA
Di`cy*e"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable
for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in
two forms.
DICYEMID
Di`cy*e"mid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or belonging to the Dicyemata.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Dicyemata.
DICYNODONT
Di*cyn"o*dont, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of a group of extinct reptiles having the jaws armed with a
horny beak, as in turtles, and in the genus Dicynodon, supporting
also a pair of powerful tusks. Their remains are found in triassic
strata of South Africa and India.
DID
Did, imp.
Defn: of Do.
DIDACTIC; DIDACTICAL
Di*dac"tic, Di*dac"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. docere to teach: cf. F.
didactique. See Docile.]
Defn: Fitted or intended to teach; conveying instruction; preceptive;
instructive; teaching some moral lesson; as, didactic essays.
"Didactical writings." Jer. Taylor.
The finest didactic poem in any language. Macaulay.
DIDACTIC
Di*dac"tic, n.
Defn: A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.
DIDACTICALLY
Di*dac"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a didactic manner.
DIDACTICISM
Di*dac"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The didactic method or system.
DIDACTICITY
Di`dac*tic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Aptitude for teaching. Hare.
DIDACTICS
Di*dac"tics, n.
Defn: The art or science of teaching.
DIDACTYL
Di*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [Gr. didactyle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal having only two digits.
DIDACTYLOUS
Di*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having only two digits; two-toed.
DIDAL
Di"dal, n.
Defn: A kind of triangular spade. [Obs.]
DIDAPPER
Di"dap`per, n. Etym: [For divedapper. See Dive, Dap, Dip, and cf.
Dabchick.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIDASCALAR
Di*das"ca*lar, a.
Defn: Didascalic. [R.]
DIDASCALIC
Di`das*cal"ic, a. Etym: [L. didascalius, Gr. didascalique.]
Defn: Didactic; preceptive. [R.] Prior.
DIDDLE
Did"dle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Daddle.]
Defn: To totter, as a child in walking. [Obs.] Quarles.
DIDDLE
Did"dle, v. t. Etym: [Perh. from AS. dyderian to deceive, the letter
r being changed to l.]
Defn: To cheat or overreach. [Colloq.] Beaconsfield.
DIDDLER
Did"dler, n.
Defn: A cheat. [Colloq.] Jeremy Diddler, a character in a play by
James Kenney, entitled "Raising the wind." The name is applied to any
needy, tricky, constant borrower; a confidence man.
DIDELPHIA
Di*del"phi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The subclass of Mammalia which includes the marsupials. See
Marsupialia.
DIDELPHIAN
Di*del"phi*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or relating to the Didelphia.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Didelphia.
DIDELPHIC
Di*del"phic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the uterus double; of or pertaining to the Didelphia.
DIDELPHID
Di*del"phid, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHID
Di*del"phid, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marsupial animal.
DIDELPHOUS
Di*del"phous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Didelphic.
DIDELPHOUS
Di*del"phous, n. Etym: [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an
American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many
species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in
Appendix. Cuvier.
DIDELPHYC
Di*del"phyc, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Didelphic.
DIDELPHYS
Di*del"phys, n. [NL. See Didelphia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Formerly, any marsupial; but the term is now restricted to an
American genus which includes the opossums, of which there are many
species. See Opossum. [Written also Didelphis.] See Illustration in
Appendix. Cuvier.
DIDINE
Di"dine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Didus, or the dodo.
DIDO
Di"do, n.; pl. Didos (.
Defn: A shrewd trick; an antic; a caper. To cut a dido, to play a
trick; to cut a caper; -- perhaps so called from the trick of Dido,
who having bought so much land as a hide would cover, is said to have
cut it into thin strips long enough to inclose a spot for a citadel.
DIDONIA
Di*do"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. So called in allusion to the classical
story of Dido and the bull's hide.] (Geom.)
Defn: The curve which on a given surface and with a given perimeter
contains the greatest area. Tait.
DIDRACHM; DIDRACHMA
Di"drachm, Di*drach"ma, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly
forty cents.
DIDST
Didst
Defn: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
DIDUCEMENT
Di*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Diduction; separation into distinct parts. Bacon.
DIDUCTION
Di*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. diductio, fr. diducere, diductum, to draw
apart; di- = dis- + ducere to lead, draw.]
Defn: The act of drawing apart; separation.
DIDYM
Di"dym, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Didymium.
DIDYMIUM
Di*dym"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic substance usually associated with the metal
cerium; -- hence its name. It was formerly supposed to be an element,
but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary
substances, neodymium and praseodymium. See Neodymium, and
Praseodymium.
DIDYMOUS
Did"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in pairs or twins.
DIDYNAMIA
Did`y*na"mi*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having four stamens disposed in pairs
of unequal length.
DIDYNAMIAN
Did`y*na"mi*an, a.
Defn: Didynamous.
DIDYNAMOUS
Di*dyn"a*mous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Didynamia; containing four stamens
disposed in pairs of unequal length.
DIE
Die, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Died; p. pr. & vb. n. Dying.] Etym: [OE.
deyen, dien, of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deyja; akin to Dan. döe, Sw.
dö, Goth. diwan (cf. Goth. afd to harass), OFries. d to kill, OS.
doian to die, OHG. touwen, OSlav. daviti to choke, Lith. dovyti to
torment. Cf. Dead, Death.]
1. To pass from an animate to a lifeless state; to cease to live; to
suffer a total and irreparable loss of action of the vital functions;
to become dead; to expire; to perish; -- said of animals and
vegetables; often with of, by, with, from, and rarely for, before the
cause or occasion of death; as, to die of disease or hardships; to
die by fire or the sword; to die with horror at the thought.
To die by the roadside of grief and hunger. Macaulay.
She will die from want of care. Tennyson.
2. To suffer death; to lose life.
In due time Christ died for the ungodly. Rom. v. 6.
3. To perish in any manner; to cease; to become lost or extinct; to
be extinguished.
Letting the secret die within his own breast. Spectator.
Great deeds can not die. Tennyson.
4. To sink; to faint; to pine; to languish, with weakness,
discouragement, love, etc.
His heart died within, and he became as a stone. 1 Sam. xxv. 37.
The young men acknowledged, in love letters, that they died for
Rebecca. Tatler.
5. To become indifferent; to cease to be subject; as, to die to
pleasure or to sin.
6. To recede and grow fainter; to become imperceptible; to vanish; --
often with out or away.
Blemishes may die away and disappear amidst the brightness.
Spectator.
7. (Arch.)
Defn: To disappear gradually in another surface, as where moldings
are lost in a sloped or curved face.
8. To become vapid, flat, or spiritless, as liquor. To die in the
last ditch, to fight till death; to die rather than surrender.
"There is one certain way," replied the Prince [William of Orange] "
by which I can be sure never to see my country's ruin, -- I will die
in the last ditch." Hume (Hist. of Eng. ).
-- To die out, to cease gradually; as, the prejudice has died out.
Syn.
-- To expire; decease; perish; depart; vanish.
DIE
Die, n.; pl. in 1 and (usually) in 2, Dice (dis); in 4 & 5, Dies
(diz). Etym: [OE. dee, die, F. dé, fr. L. datus given, thrown, p. p.
of dare to give, throw. See Date a point of time.]
1. A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six, and
used in playing games by being shaken in a box and thrown from it.
See Dice.
2. Any small cubical or square body.
Words . . . pasted upon little flat tablets or dies. Watts.
3. That which is, or might be, determined, by a throw of the die;
hazard; chance.
Such is the die of war. Spenser.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a pedestal included between base and cornice; the
dado.
5. (Mach.)
(a) A metal or plate (often one of a pair) so cut or shaped as to
give a certain desired form to, or impress any desired device on, an
object or surface, by pressure or by a blow; used in forging metals,
coining, striking up sheet metal, etc.
(b) A perforated block, commonly of hardened steel used in connection
with a punch, for punching holes, as through plates, or blanks from
plates, or for forming cups or capsules, as from sheet metal, by
drawing.
(c) A hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool, made in one
piece or composed of several parts, for forming screw threads on
bolts, etc.; one of the separate parts which make up such a tool.
Cutting die (Mech.), a thin, deep steel frame, sharpened to a cutting
edge, for cutting out articles from leather, cloth, paper, etc.
-- The die is cast, the hazard must be run; the step is taken, and
it is too late to draw back; the last chance is taken.
DIECIAN; DIECIOUS
Di*e"cian, a., Di*e"cious, a. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dioecian, and Dioecious.
DIEDRAL
Di*e"dral, a.
Defn: The same as Dihedral.
DIEGESIS
Di`e*ge"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A narrative or history; a recital or relation.
DIELECTRIC
Di`e*lec"tric, n. Etym: [Pref. dia- + electric.] (Elec.)
Defn: Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a
process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction;
a nonconductor. separating a body electrified by induction, from the
electrifying body.
DIELYTRA
Di*el"y*tra, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dicentra.
DIENCEPHALON
Di`en*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Dia-, and Encephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: The interbrain or thalamencephalon; -- sometimes abbreviated to
dien. See Thalamencephalon.
DIERESIS
Di*er"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Same as Diæresis.
DIESEL ENGINE; DIESEL MOTOR
Die"sel en`gine or mo`tor. [After Dr. Rudolf Diesel, of Munich, the
inventor.]
Defn: A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn in
by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated
ignites the fuel (usually crude oil), the fuel being automatically
sprayed into the cylinder under pressure. The Diesel engine has a
very high thermal efficiency.
DIESINKER
Die"sink`er, n.
Defn: An engraver of dies for stamping coins, medals, etc.
DIESINKING
Die"sink`ing, n.
Defn: The process of engraving dies.
DIES IRAE
Di"es I"ræ.
Defn: Day of wrath; -- the name and beginning of a famous mediæval
Latin hymn on the Last Judgment.
DIESIS
Di"e*sis, n.; pl. Dieses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A small interval, less than any in actual practice, but used in
the mathematical calculation of intervals.
2. (Print.)
Defn: The mark ||; -- called also double dagger.
DIES JURIDICUS
Di"es ju*rid"i*cus; pl. Dies juridici. Etym: [L.] (Law)
Defn: A court day.
DIES NON
Di"es non". Etym: [L. dies non juridicus.] (Law)
Defn: A day on which courts are not held, as Sunday or any legal
holiday.
DIESTOCK
Die"stock`, n.
Defn: A stock to hold the dies used for cutting screws.
DIET
Di"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, L. diaeta, fr. Gr.
1. Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk
habitually; food; victuals; fare. "No inconvenient diet." Milton.
2. A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of
health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed.
To fast like one that takes diet. Shak.
Diet kitchen, a kitchen in which diet is prepared for invalids; a
charitable establishment that provides proper food for the sick poor.
DIET
Di"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dieted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dieting.]
1. To cause to take food; to feed. [R.] Shak.
2. To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to
regulate medicinally the food of.
She diets him with fasting every day. Spenser.
DIET
Di"et, v. i.
1. To eat; to take one's meals. [Obs.]
Let him . . . diet in such places, where there is good company of the
nation, where he traveleth. Bacon.
2. To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the
doctor says he must diet.
DIET
Di"et, n. Etym: [F. diète, LL. dieta, diaeta, an assembly, a day's
journey; the same word as diet course of living, but with the sense
changed by L. dies day: cf. G. tag dayReichstag.]
Defn: A legislative or administrative assembly in Germany, Poland,
and some other countries of Europe; a deliberative convention; a
council; as, the Diet of Worms, held in 1521.
DIETARIAN
Di`e*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who lives in accordance with prescribed rules for diet; a
dieter.
DIETARY
Di"et*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to diet, or to the rules of diet.
DIETARY
Di"et*a*ry, n.; pl. Dietaries (.
Defn: A rule of diet; a fixed allowance of food, as in workhouse,
prison, etc.
DIETER
Di"et*er, n.
Defn: One who diets; one who prescribes, or who partakes of, food,
according to hygienic rules.
DIETETIC; DIETETICAL
Di`e*tet"ic, Di`e*tet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. diététique. See Diet.]
Defn: Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the
kind and quantity of food to be eaten.
DIETETICALLY
Di`e*tet"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dietetical manner.
DIETETICS
Di`e*tet"ics, n.
Defn: That part of the medical or hygienic art which relates to diet
or food; rules for diet.
To suppose that the whole of dietetics lies in determining whether or
not bread is more nutritive than potatoes. H. Spencer.
DIETETIST
Di`e*tet"ist, n.
Defn: A physician who applies the rules of dietetics to the cure of
diseases. Dunglison.
DIETHYLAMINE
Di*eth`yl*am"ine, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + ethylamine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, volatile, alkaline liquid, NH(C2H5)2, having a
strong fishy odor resembling that of herring or sardines. Cf.
Methylamine.
DIETIC
Di*et"ic, a.
Defn: Dietetic.
DIETICAL
Di*et"ic*al, a.
Defn: Dietetic. [R.] Ferrand.
DIETINE
Di"et*ine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diétine.]
Defn: A subordinate or local assembly; a diet of inferior rank.
DIETIST; DIETITIAN
Di"et*ist, Di`e*ti"tian, n.
Defn: One skilled in dietetics. [R.]
DIFFAME
Dif*fame`, n. Etym: [See Defame.]
Defn: Evil name; bad reputation; defamation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFARREATION
Dif*far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. diffarreatio; dif- = farreum a spelt
cake. See Confarreation.]
Defn: A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake
was used. See Confarreation.
DIFFER
Dif"fer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Differed; p. pr. & vb. n. Differing.]
Etym: [L. differre; dif- = dis- + ferre to bear, carry: cf. F.
différer. See 1st Bear, and cf. Defer, Delay.]
1. To be or stand apart; to disagree; to be unlike; to be
distinguished; -- with from.
One star differeth from another star in glory. 1 Cor. xv. 41.
Minds differ, as rivers differ. Macaulay.
2. To be of unlike or opposite opinion; to disagree in sentiment; --
often with from or with.
3. To have a difference, cause of variance, or quarrel; to dispute;
to contend.
We 'll never differ with a crowded pit. Rowe.
Syn.
-- To vary; disagree; dissent; dispute; contend; oppose; wrangle.
-- To Differ with, Differ from. Both differ from and aiffer with are
used in reference to opinions; as, "I differ from you or with you in
that opinion."" In all other cases, expressing simple unlikeness,
differ from is used; as, these two persons or things differ entirely
from each other.
Severely punished, not for differing from us in opinion, but for
committing a nuisance. Macaulay.
Davidson, whom on a former occasion we quoted, to differ from him. M.
Arnold.
Much as I differ from him concerning an essential part of the
historic basis of religion. Gladstone.
I differ with the honorable gentleman on that point. Brougham.
If the honorable gentleman differs with me on that subject, I differ
as heartily with him, and shall always rejoice to differ. Canning.
DIFFER
Dif"fer, v. t.
Defn: To cause to be different or unlike; to set at variance. [R.]
But something 'ts that differs thee and me. Cowley.
DIFFERENCE
Dif"fer*ence, n. Etym: [F. différence, L. differentia.]
1. The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or
unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a
difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or
of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty
Differencies of administration, but the same Lord. 1 Cor. xii. 5.
2. Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence,
cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
What was the difference It was a contention in public. Shak.
Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and
the young constable to compose their difference as they could. T.
Ellwood.
3. That by which one thing differs from another; that which
distinguishes or causes to differ;; mark of distinction;
characteristic quality; specific attribute.
The marks and differences of sovereignty. Davies.
4. Choice; preference. [Obs.]
That now be chooseth with vile difference To be a beast, and lack
intelligence. Spenser.
5. (Her.)
Defn: An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of
two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and
Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
6. (Logic)
Defn: The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus
to constitute a species; a differentia.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the
remainder left after subtracting the one from the other. Ascensional
difference. See under Ascensional.
Syn.
-- Distinction; dissimilarity; dissimilitude; variation; diversity;
variety; contrariety; disagreement; variance; contest; contention;
dispute; controversy; debate; quarrel; wrangle; strife.
DIFFERENCE
Dif"fer*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Differenced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Differencing.]
Defn: To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to
distinguish.
Thou mayest difference gods from men. Chapman.
Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced
from the meanest subject. Milton.
So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters
that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons. Sir W. Scott.
DIFFERENT
Dif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [L. differens, -entis, p. pr. of differre: cf.
F. différent.]
1. Distinct; separate; not the same; other. "Five different
churches." Addison.
2. Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or
totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink;
different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of
excellence.
Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they
are born are different. Dryden.
Note: Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for
different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is
quite inadmissible.
DIFFERENTIA
Dif`fer*en"ti*a, n.; pl. Differentiæ. Etym: [L. See Difference.]
(Logic)
Defn: The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species;
the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference.
DIFFERENTIAL
Dif`fer*en"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. différentiel.]
1. Relating to or indicating a difference; creating a difference;
discriminating; special; as, differential characteristics;
differential duties; a differential rate.
For whom he produced differential favors. Motley.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: Relating to differences of motion or leverage; producing
effects by such differences; said of mechanism. Differential
calculus. (Math.) See under Calculus.
-- Differential coefficient, the limit of the ratio of the increment
of a function of a variable to the increment of the variable itself,
when these increments are made indefinitely small.
-- Differential coupling, a form of slip coupling used in light
machinery to regulate at pleasure the velocity of the connected
shaft.
-- Differential duties (Polit. Econ.), duties which are not imposed
equally upon the same products imported from different countries.
-- Differential galvanometer (Elec.), a galvanometer having two
coils or circuits, usually equal, through which currents passing in
opposite directions are measured by the difference of their effect
upon the needle.
-- Differential gearing, a train of toothed wheels, usually an
epicyclic train, so arranged as to constitute a differential motion.
-- Differential motion, a mechanism in which a simple differential
combination produces such a change of motion or force as would, with
ordinary compound arrangements, require a considerable train of
parts. It is used for overcoming great resistance or producing very
slow or very rapid motion.
-- Differential pulley. (Mach.) (a) A portable hoisting apparatus,
the same in principle as the differential windlass. (b) A hoisting
pulley to which power is applied through a differential gearing.
-- Differential screw, a compound screw by which a motion is
produced equal to the difference of the motions of the component
screws.
-- Differential thermometer, a thermometer usually with a U-shaped
tube terminating in two air bulbs, and containing a colored liquid,
used for indicating the difference between the temperatures to which
the two bulbs are exposed, by the change of position of the colored
fluid, in consequence of the different expansions of the air in the
bulbs. A graduated scale is attached to one leg of the tube.
-- Differential windlass, or Chinese windlass, a windlass whose
barrel has two parts of different diameters. The hoisting rope winds
upon one part as it unwinds from the other, and a pulley sustaining
the weight to be lifted hangs in the bight of the rope. It is an
ancient example of a differential motion.
DIFFERENTIAL
Dif`fer*en"tial, n.
1. (Math.)
Defn: An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given
to a variable quantity.
Note: According to the more modern writers upon the differential and
integral calculus, if two or more quantities are dependent on each
other, and subject to increments of value, their differentials need
not be small, but are any quantities whose ratios to each other are
the limits to which the ratios of the increments approximate, as
these increments are reduced nearer and nearer to zero.
2. A small difference in rates which competing railroad lines, in
establishing a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in
order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a
differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to
cities.
3. (Elec.)
(a) One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or
to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar
action contrary to that of the other.
(b) A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the
current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action
in all. Knight. Partial differential (Math.), the differential of a
function of two or more variables, when only one of the variables
receives an increment.
-- Total differential (Math.), the differential of a function of two
or more variables, when each of the variables receives an increment.
The total differential of the function is the sum of all the partial
differentials.
DIFFERENTIALLY
Dif`fer*en"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of differentiation.
DIFFERENTIATE
Dif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. t.
1. To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a
difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential
characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize.
The word then was differentiated into the two forms then and than.
Earle.
Two or more of the forms assumed by the same original word become
differentiated in signification. Dr. Murray.
2. To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties
of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same
class; to discriminate. Earle.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of;
as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.
DIFFERENTIATE
Dif`fer*en"ti*ate, v. i. (Biol.)
Defn: To acquire a distinct and separate character. Huxley.
DIFFERENTIATION
Dif`fer*en`ti*a"tion, n.
1. The act of differentiating.
Further investigation of the Sanskrit may lead to differentiation of
the meaning of such of these roots as are real roots. J. Peile.
2. (Logic)
Defn: The act of distinguishing or describing a thing, by giving its
different, or specific difference; exact definition or determination.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: The gradual formation or production of organs or parts by a
process of evolution or development, as when the seed develops the
root and the stem, the initial stem develops the leaf, branches, and
flower buds; or in animal life, when the germ evolves the digestive
and other organs and members, or when the animals as they advance in
organization acquire special organs for specific purposes.
4. (Metaph.)
Defn: The supposed act or tendency in being of every kind, whether
organic or inorganic, to assume or produce a more complex structure
or functions.
DIFFERENTIATOR
Dif`fer*en"ti*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, differentiates.
DIFFERENTLY
Dif"fer*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a different manner; variously.
DIFFERINGLY
Dif"fer*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a differing or different manner. Boyle.
DIFFICILE
Dif"fi*cile, a. Etym: [L. difficilis: cf. F. difficile. See
Difficult.]
Defn: Difficult; hard to manage; stubborn. [Obs.] --
Dif"fi*cile*ness, n. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIFFICILITATE
Dif`fi*cil"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To make difficult. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DIFFICULT
Dif"fi*cult, a. Etym: [From Difficulty.]
1. Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor,
trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.
Note: Difficult implies the notion that considerable mental effort or
skill is required, or that obstacles are to be overcome which call
for sagacity and skill in the agent; as, a difficult task; hard work
is not always difficult work; a difficult operation in surgery; a
difficult passage in an author.
There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the
wide, strange, and difficult world, alone. Hawthorne.
2. Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere;
stubborn; as, a difficult person.
Syn.
-- Arduous; painful; crabbed; perplexed; laborious; unaccommodating;
troublesome. See Arduous.
DIFFICULT
Dif"fi*cult, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to impede; to perplex. [R.] Sir W. Temple.
DIFFICULTATE
Dif"fi*cult*ate, v. t.
Defn: To render difficult; to difficilitate. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
DIFFICULTLY
Dif"fi*cult*ly, adv.
Defn: With difficulty. Cowper.
DIFFICULTNESS
Dif"fi*cult*ness, n.
Defn: Difficulty. [R.] Golding.
DIFFICULTY
Dif"fi*cul*ty, n.; pl. Difficulties. Etym: [L. difficultas, fr.
difficilis difficult; dif- = dis- + facilis easy: cf. F. difficulté.
See Facile.]
1. The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness;
arduousness; -- opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty
of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty.
Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of
the difficulty of the region. James Byrne.
2. Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that
which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill perseverance
to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an
impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in
theology.
They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's
displeasure. Addison.
3. A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a
cavil.
Measures for terminating all local difficulties. Bancroft.
4. Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually
in the plural; as, to be in difficulties.
In days of difficulty and pressure. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity;
exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment.
DIFFIDE
Dif*fide", v. i. Etym: [L. diffidere. See Diffident.]
Defn: To be distrustful. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIFFIDENCE
Dif"fi*dence, n. Etym: [L. diffidentia.]
1. The state of being diffident; distrust; want of confidence; doubt
of the power, ability, or disposition of others. [Archaic]
That affliction grew heavy upon me, and weighed me down even to a
diffidence of God's mercy. Donne.
2. Distrust of one's self or one's own powers; lack of self-reliance;
modesty; modest reserve; bashfulness.
It is good to speak on such questions with diffidence. Macaulay.
An Englishman's habitual diffidence and awkwardness of adress. W.
Irving.
Syn.
-- Humility; bashfulness; distrust; suspicion; doubt; fear;
timidity; apprehension; hesitation. See Humility, and Bashfulness.
DIFFIDENCY
Dif"fi*den*cy, n.
Defn: See Diffidence. [Obs.]
DIFFIDENT
Dif"fi*dent, a. Etym: [L. diffidens, -entis, p. pr. of diffidere;
dif- = dis + fidere to trust; akin to fides faith. See Faith, and cf.
Defy.]
1. Wanting confidence in others; distrustful. [Archaic]
You were always extremely diffident of their success. Melmoth.
2. Wanting confidence in one's self; distrustful of one's own powers;
not self-reliant; timid; modest; bashful; characterized by modest
reserve.
The diffident maidens, Folding their hands in prayer. Longfellow.
Syn.
-- Distrustful; suspicious; hesitating; doubtful; modest; bashful;
lowly; reserved.
DIFFIDENTLY
Dif"fi*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffident manner.
To stand diffidently against each other with their thoughts in battle
array. Hobbes.
DIFFIND
Dif*find, v. t. Etym: [L. diffindere, diffissum; dif- = findere to
split.]
Defn: To split. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFINE
Dif*fine", v. t.
Defn: To define. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIFFINITIVE
Dif*fin"i*tive, a. Etym: [For definitive.]
Defn: Definitive; determinate; final. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
DIFFISSION
Dif*fis"sion, n. Etym: [See Diffind.]
Defn: Act of cleaving or splitting. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFLATION
Dif*fla"tion, n. Etym: [LL. difflatio, fr. L. difflare, difflatum, to
disperse by blowing.]
Defn: A blowing apart or away. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIFFLUENCE; DIFFLUENCY
Dif"flu*ence, Dif"flu*en*cy, n.
Defn: A flowing off on all sides; fluidity. [R.]
DIFFLUENT
Dif"flu*ent, a. Etym: [L. diffluens, p. pr. of diffluere to flow off;
dif- = dis- + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing apart or off; dissolving; not fixed. [R.] Bailey.
DIFFORM
Dif"form`, a. Etym: [Cf. F. difforme, fr. L. dif- = dis- + forma
form. Cf. Deform.]
Defn: Irregular in form; -- opposed to uniform; anomalous; hence,
unlike; dissimilar; as, to difform corolla, the parts of which do not
correspond in size or proportion; difform leaves.
The unequal refractions of difform rays. Sir I. Newton.
DIFFORMITY
Dif*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. difformité. See Difform, Deformity.]
Defn: Irregularity of form; diversity of form; want of uniformity.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIFFRACT
Dif*fract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Diffracting.] Etym: [L. diffractus, p. p. of diffringere to break in
pieces; dif- = dis- + frangere to break. See Fracture.]
Defn: To break or separate into parts; to deflect, or decompose by
deflection, a
DIFFRACTION
Dif*frac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.)
Defn: The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the
edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the
appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors, as by
the action of a grating of fine lines or bars.
Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a property of
light which he called diffraction. Whewell.
Diffraction grating. (Optics) See under Grating.
-- Diffraction spectrum. (Optics) See under Spectrum.
DIFFRACTIVE
Dif*frac"tive, a.
Defn: That produces diffraction.
DIFFRANCHISE; DIFFRANCHISEMENT
Dif*fran"chise, Dif*fran"chise*ment.
Defn: See Disfranchise, Disfranchisement.
DIFFUSATE
Dif*fus"ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Material which, in the process of catalysis, has diffused or
passed through the separating membrane.
DIFFUSE
Dif*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diffused; p. pr. & vb. n. Diffusing.]
Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p. of diffundere to pour out, to diffuse; dif-
= dis- + fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.]
Defn: To pour out and cause to spread, as a fluid; to cause to flow
on all sides; to send out, or extend, in all directions; to spread;
to circulate; to disseminate; to scatter; as to diffuse information.
Thence diffuse His good to worlds and ages infinite. Milton.
We find this knowledge diffused among all civilized nations. Whewell.
Syn.
-- To expand; spread; circulate; extend; scatter; disperse; publish;
proclaim.
DIFFUSE
Dif*fuse", v. i.
Defn: To pass by spreading every way, to diffuse itself.
DIFFUSE
Dif*fuse", a. Etym: [L. diffusus, p. p.]
Defn: Poured out; widely spread; not restrained; copious; full; esp.,
of style, opposed to concise or terse; verbose; prolix; as, a diffuse
style; a diffuse writer.
A diffuse and various knowledge of divine and human things. Milton.
Syn.
-- Prolix; verbose; wide; copious; full. See Prolix.
DIFFUSED
Dif*fused", a.
Defn: Spread abroad; dispersed; loose; flowing; diffuse.
It grew to be a widely diffused opinion. Hawthorne.
-- Dif*fus"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dif*fus"ed*ness, n.
DIFFUSELY
Dif*fuse"ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffuse manner.
DIFFUSENESS
Dif*fuse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffuse; especially, in writing, the use
of a great or excessive number of word to express the meaning;
copiousness; verbosity; prolixity.
DIFFUSER
Dif*fus"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diffuses.
DIFFUSIBILITY
Dif*fu`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being diffusible; capability of being poured or
spread out.
DIFFUSIBLE
Dif*fu"si*ble, a.
1. Capable of flowing or spreading in all directions; that may be
diffused.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Capable of passing through animal membranes by osmosis.
DIFFUSIBLENESS
Dif*fu"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Diffusibility.
DIFFUSION
Dif*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. diffusio: cf. F. diffusion.]
1. The act of diffusing, or the state of being diffused; a spreading;
extension; dissemination; circulation; dispersion.
A diffusion of knowledge which has undermined superstition. Burke.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of passing by osmosis through animal membranes, as in
the distribution of poisons, gases, etc., through the body. Unlike
absorption, diffusion may go on after death, that is, after the blood
ceases to circulate.
Syn.
-- Extension; spread; propagation; circulation; expansion;
dispersion.
DIFFUSIVE
Dif*fu"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diffusif.]
Defn: Having the quality of diffusing; capable of spreading every way
by flowing; spreading widely; widely reaching; copious; diffuse. "A
plentiful and diffusive perfume." Hare.
DIFFUSIVELY
Dif*fu"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diffusive manner.
DIFFUSIVENESS
Dif*fu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being diffusive or diffuse;
extensiveness; expansion; dispersion. Especially of style:
Diffuseness; want of conciseness; prolixity.
The fault that I find with a modern legend, it its diffusiveness.
Addison.
DIFFUSIVITY
Dif`fu*siv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Tendency to become diffused; tendency, as of heat, to become
equalized by spreading through a conducting medium.
DIG
Dig, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug or Digged (; p. pr. & vb. n. Digging.
-- Digged is archaic.] Etym: [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as
diken, dichen (see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch;
or akin to E. 1st dag.
1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open,
loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp
instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.
Be first to dig the ground. Dryden.
2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.
3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth;
to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.
4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.]
You should have seen children . . . dig and push their mothers under
the sides, saying thus to them: Look, mother, how great a lubber doth
yet wear pearls. Robynson (More's Utopia).
To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig
down a wall.
-- To dig from, out of, out, or up, to get out or obtain by digging;
as, to dig coal from or out of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up
a tree. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging
coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes.
-- To dig in, to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.(b) To
entrench oneself so as to give stronger resistance; -- used of
warfare. Also figuratively, esp. in the phrase to dig in one's heels.
DIG
Dig, v. i.
1. To work with a spade or other like implement; to do servile work;
to delve.
Dig for it more than for hid treasures. Job iii. 21.
I can not dig; to beg I am ashamed. Luke xvi. 3.
2. (Mining)
Defn: To take ore from its bed, in distinction from making
excavations in search of ore.
3. To work like a digger; to study ploddingly and laboriously. [Cant,
U.S.]
DIG
Dig, n.
1. A thrust; a punch; a poke; as, a dig in the side or the ribs. See
Dig, v. t.,
4. [Colloq.]
2. A plodding and laborious student. [Cant, U.S.]
DIGAMIST
Dig"a*mist, n. Etym: [Gr. Bigamist.]
Defn: One who marries a second time; a deuterogamist. Hammond.
DIGAMMA
Di*gam"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. gammas placed one above the other.] (Gr.
Gram.)
Defn: A letter (
Note: This form identifies it with the Latin F, though in sound it is
said to have been nearer V. It was pronounced, probably, much like
the English W.
DIGAMMATE; DIGAMMATED
Di*gam"mate, Di*gam"mated, a.
Defn: Having the digamma or its representative letter or sound; as,
the Latin word vis is a digammated form of the Greek . Andrews.
DIGAMOUS
Dig"a*mous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a second marriage, that is, one after the death
of the first wife or the first husband.
DIGAMY
Dig"a*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Bigamy.]
Defn: Act, or state, of being twice married; deuterogamy. [R.]
DIGASTRIC
Di*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. digastrique.] (Anat.)
(a) Having two bellies; biventral; -- applied to muscles which are
fleshy at each end and have a tendon in the middle, and esp. to the
muscle which pulls down the lower jaw.
(b) Pertaining to the digastric muscle of the lower jaw; as, the
digastric nerves.
DIGENEA
Di*ge"ne*a, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Trematoda in which alternate generations occur,
the immediate young not resembling their parents.
DIGENESIS
Di*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: The faculty of multiplying in two ways; -- by ova fecundated by
spermatic fluid, and asexually, as by buds. See Parthenogenesis.
DIGENOUS
Dig"e*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + -genous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Sexually reproductive. Digenous reproduction. (Biol.) Same as
Digenesis.
DIGERENT
Dig"er*ent, . Etym: [L. digerens, p. pr. of digerere. See Digest.]
Defn: Digesting. [Obs.] Bailey.
DIGEST
Di*gest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Digested; p. pr. & vb. n. Digesting.]
Etym: [L. digestus, p. p. of digerere to separate, arrange, dissolve,
digest; di- = dis- + gerere to bear, carry, wear. See Jest.]
1. To distribute or arrange methodically; to work over and classify;
to reduce to portions for ready use or application; as, to digest the
laws, etc.
Joining them together and digesting them into order. Blair.
We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. Shak.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: To separate (the food) in its passage through the alimentary
canal into the nutritive and nonnutritive elements; to prepare, by
the action of the digestive juices, for conversion into blood; to
convert into chyme.
3. To think over and arrange methodically in the mind; to reduce to a
plan or method; to receive in the mind and consider carefully; to get
an understanding of; to comprehend.
Feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer. Sir H. Sidney.
How shall this bosom multiplied digest The senate's courtesy Shak.
4. To appropriate for strengthening and comfort.
Grant that we may in such wise hear them [the Scriptures], read,
mark, learn, and inwardly digest them. Book of Common Prayer.
5. Hence: To bear comfortably or patiently; to be reconciled to; to
brook.
I never can digest the loss of most of Origin's works. Coleridge.
6. (Chem.)
Defn: To soften by heat and moisture; to expose to a gentle heat in a
boiler or matrass, as a preparation for chemical operations.
7. (Med.)
Defn: To dispose to suppurate, or generate healthy pus, as an ulcer
or wound.
8. To ripen; to mature. [Obs.]
Well-digested fruits. Jer. Taylor.
9. To quiet or abate, as anger or grief.
DIGEST
Di*gest", v. i.
1. To undergo digestion; as, food digests well or ill.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To suppurate; to generate pus, as an ulcer.
DIGEST
Di"gest, n. Etym: [L. digestum, pl. digesta, neut., fr. digestus, p.
p.: cf. F. digeste. See Digest, v. t.]
Defn: That which is digested; especially, that which is worked over,
classified, and arranged under proper heads or titles; esp. (Law),
Defn: a compilation of statutes or decisions analytically arranged.
The term is applied in a general sense to the Pandects of Justinian
(see Pandect), but is also specially given by authors to compilations
of laws on particular topics; a summary of laws; as, Comyn's Digest;
the United States Digest.
A complete digest of Hindu and Mahommedan laws after the model of
Justinian's celebrated Pandects. Sir W. Jones.
They made a sort of institute and digest of anarchy, called the
Rights of Man. Burke.
DIGESTEDLY
Di*gest"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a digested or well-arranged manner; methodically.
DIGESTER
Di*gest"er, n.
1. One who digests.
2. A medicine or an article of food that aids digestion, or
strengthens digestive power.
Rice is . . . a great restorer of health, and a great digester. Sir
W. Temple.
3. A strong closed vessel, in which bones or other substances may be
subjected, usually in water or other liquid, to a temperature above
that of boiling, in order to soften them.
DIGESTIBILITY
Di*gest`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being digestible.
DIGESTIBLE
Di*gest"i*ble, a. Etym: [F. digestible, L. digestibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being digested.
DIGESTIBLENESS
Di*gest"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being digestible; digestibility.
DIGESTION
Di*ges"tion, n. Etym: [F. digestion, L. digestio.]
1. The act or process of digesting; reduction to order;
classification; thoughtful consideration.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The conversion of food, in the stomach and intestines, into
soluble and diffusible products, capable of being absorbed by the
blood.
3. (Med.)
Defn: Generation of pus; suppuration.
DIGESTIVE
Di*gest"ive, a. Etym: [F. digestif, L. digestivus.]
Defn: Pertaining to digestion; having the power to cause or promote
digestion; as, the digestive ferments.
Digestive cheese and fruit there sure will be. B. Jonson.
Digestive apparatus, the organs of food digestion, esp. the
alimentary canal and glands connected with it.
-- Digestive salt, the chloride of potassium.
DIGESTIVE
Di*gest"ive, n.
1. That which aids digestion, as a food or medicine. Chaucer.
That digestive [a cigar] had become to me as necessary as the meal
itself. Blackw. Mag.
2. (Med.)
(a) A substance which, when applied to a wound or ulcer, promotes
suppuration. Dunglison.
(b) A tonic. [R.]
DIGESTOR
Di*gest"or, n.
Defn: See Digester.
DIGESTURE
Di*ges"ture, n.
Defn: Digestion. [Obs.] Harvey.
DIGGABLE
Dig"ga*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being dug.
DIGGER
Dig"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, digs. Digger wasp (Zoöl.), any one of
the fossorial Hymenoptera.
DIGGERS
Dig"gers, n. pl.; sing. Digger. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A degraded tribe of California Indians; -- so called from their
practice of digging roots for food.
DIGGING
Dig"ging, n.
1. The act or the place of excavating.
2. pl.
Defn: Places where ore is dug; especially, certain localities in
California, Australia, and elsewhere, at which gold is obtained.
[Recent]
3. pl.
Defn: Region; locality. [Low]
DIGHT
Dight, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dight or Dighted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dighting.] Etym: [OF. dihten, AS. dihtan to dictate, command,
dispose, arrange, fr. L. dictare to say often, dictate, order; cf. G.
dichten to write poetry, fr. L. dictare. See Dictate.]
1. To prepare; to put in order; hence, to dress, or put on; to array;
to adorn. [Archaic] "She gan the house to dight." Chaucer.
Two harmless turtles, dight for sacrifice. Fairfax.
The clouds in thousand liveries dight. Milton.
2. To have sexual intercourse with. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIGHTER
Dight"er, n.
Defn: One who dights. [Obs.]
DIGIT
Dig"it, n. Etym: [L. digitus finger; prob. akin to Gr. toe. Cf.
Dactyl.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the terminal divisions of a limb appendage; a finger or
toe.
The ruminants have the "cloven foot," i. e., two hoofed digits on
each foot. Owen.
2. A finger's breadth, commonly estimated to be three fourths of an
inch.
3. (Math.)
Defn: One of the ten figures or symbols, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, by which all numbers are expressed; -- so called because of the
use of the fingers in counting and computing.
Note: By some authorities the symbol 0 is not included with the
digits.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: One twelfth part of the diameter of the sun or moon; -- a term
used to express the quantity of an eclipse; as, an eclipse of eight
digits is one which hides two thirds of the diameter of the disk.
DIGIT
Dig"it, v. t.
Defn: To point at or out with the finger. [R.]
DIGITAL
Dig"i*tal, a. Etym: [L. digitals.]
Defn: Of or performance to the fingers, or to digits; done with the
fingers; as, digital compression; digital examination.
DIGITALIN
Dig"i*tal`in, n. Etym: [Cf. F. digitaline.]
(a) (Med.) Any one of several extracts of foxglove (Digitalis), as
the "French extract," the "German extract," etc., which differ among
themselves in composition and properties.
(b) (Chem.) A supposedly distinct vegetable principle as the
essential ingredient of the extracts. It is a white, crystalline
substance, and is regarded as a glucoside.
DIGITALIS
Dig`i*ta"lis, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named (according to
Linnæus) from its finger-shaped corolla.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants including the foxglove.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The dried leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea),
used in heart disease, disturbance of the circulation, etc.
DIGITATE
Dig"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [LL. digitatus, p. p. of digitare, fr. L.
digitus. See Digit.]
Defn: To point out as with the finger. [R.] Robinson (Eudoxa).
DIGITATE; DIGITATED
Dig"i*tate, Dig"i*ta`ted, a. Etym: [L. digitatus having fingers.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having several leaflets arranged, like the fingers of the hand,
at the extremity of a stem or petiole. Also, in general,
characterized by digitation.
-- Dig"i*tate*ly, adv.
DIGITATION
Dig`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. digitation.]
Defn: A division into fingers or fingerlike processes; also, a
fingerlike process.
DIGITIFORM
Dig"i*ti*form, a. Etym: [L. digitus a finger + -form.]
Defn: Formed like a finger or fingers; finger-shaped; as, a
digitiform root.
DIGITIGRADE
Dig"i*ti*grade, a. Etym: [L. digitus finger, toe + gradi to step,
walk: cf. F. digitigrade.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Walking on the toes; -- distinguished from plantigrade.
DIGITIGRADE
Dig"i*ti*grade, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal that walks on its toes, as the cat, lion, wolf, etc.;
-- distinguished from a plantigrade, which walks on the palm of the
foot.
DIGITIPARTITE
Dig`i*ti*par"tite, a. Etym: [L. digitus finger + partite.] (Bot.)
Defn: Parted like the fingers.
DIGITIZE
Dig"i*tize, v. t. Etym: [Digit + -ize.]
Defn: To finger; as, to digitize a pen. [R.] Sir T. Browne. computers
to convert (information, a signal, an image) into a form expressible
in binary notation
DIGITORIUM
Dig`i*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. digitus a finger.]
Defn: A small dumb keyboard used by pianists for exercising the
fingers; -- called also dumb piano.
DIGITULE
Dig"i*tule, n. Etym: [L. digitulus, dim. of digitus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A little finger or toe, or something resembling one.
DIGLADIATE
Di*gla"di*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. digladiari; di- = dis- + gladius a
sword.]
Defn: To fight like gladiators; to contend fiercely; to dispute
violently. [Obs.]
Digladiating like Æschines and Demosthenes. Hales.
DIGLADIATION
Di*gla`di*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of digladiating. [Obs.] "Sore digladiations and contest."
Evelyn.
DIGLOTTISM
Di*glot"tism, n. Etym: [Gr. Glottis.]
Defn: Bilingualism. [R.] Earle.
DIGLYPH
Di"glyph, n. Etym: [Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: A projecting face like the triglyph, but having only two
channels or grooves sunk in it.
DIGNATION
Dig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. dignatio.]
Defn: The act of thinking worthy; honor. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DIGNE
Digne, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. dignus. See Design.]
1. Worthy; honorable; deserving. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. Suitable; adequate; fit. [Obs.] Chaucer.
3. Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIGNIFICATION
Dig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Dignify.]
Defn: The act of dignifying; exaltation.
DIGNIFIED
Dig"ni*fied, a.
Defn: Marked with dignity; stately; as, a dignified judge.
DIGNIFY
Dig"ni*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dignified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dignifying.] Etym: [OF. dignifier, fr. LL. d; L. dignus worthy +
ficare (in comp.), facere to make. See Deign, and Fact.]
Defn: To invest with dignity or honor; to make illustrious; to give
distinction to; to exalt in rank; to honor.
Your worth will dignity our feast. B. Jonson.
Syn.
-- To exalt; elevate; prefer; advance; honor; illustrate; adorn;
ennoble.
DIGNITARY
Dig"ni*ta*ry, n.; pl. Dignitaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dignitaire, fr. L.
dignitas.]
Defn: One who possesses exalted rank or holds a position of dignity
or honor; especially, one who holds an ecclesiastical rank above that
of a parochial priest or clergyman.
DIGNITY
Dig"ni*ty, n.; pl. Dignities. Etym: [OE. dignete, dignite, OF.
digneté, dignité, F. dignité, fr. L. dignitas, from dignus worthy.
See Dainty, Deign.]
1. The state of being worthy or honorable; elevation of mind or
character; true worth; excellence.
2. Elevation; grandeur.
The dignity of this act was worth the audience of kings. Shak.
3. Elevated rank; honorable station; high office, political or
ecclesiastical; degree of excellence; preferment; exaltation.
Macaulay.
And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai
for this Esth. vi. 3.
Reuben, thou art my firstborn, . . . the excellency of dignity, and
the excellency of power. Gen. xlix. 3.
4. Quality suited to inspire respect or reverence; loftiness and
grace; impressiveness; stateliness; -- said of
A letter written with singular energy and dignity of thought
Macaulay.
5. One holding high rank; a dignitary.
These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities. Jude. 8.
6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [Obs.]
Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by
themselves. Sir T. Browne.
Syn.
-- See Decorum. To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a
high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character.
They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give their minds to being
or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody else. R. G. White.
DIGNOTION
Dig*no"tion, n. Etym: [L. dignoscere to distinguish; di- = dis- +
gnoscere, noscere, to learn to know.]
Defn: Distinguishing mark; diagnostic. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIGONOUS
Dig"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having two angles. Smart.
DIGRAM
Di"gram, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A digraph.
DIGRAPH
Di"graph, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Two signs or characters combined to express a single
articulated sound; as ea in head, or th in bath.
DIGRAPHIC
Di*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a digraph. H. Sweet.
DIGRESS
Di*gress", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Digressed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Digressing.] Etym: [L. digressus, p. p. of digredi to go apart, to
deviate; di- = dis- + gradi to step, walk. See Grade.]
1. To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn
aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in
writing or speaking.
Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude. Holland.
In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a
particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of
any term. Locke.
2. To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend. [R.]
Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot on thy digressing
son. Shak.
DIGRESS
Di*gress", n.
Defn: Digression. [Obs.] Fuller.
DIGRESSION
Di*gres"sion, n. Etym: [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.]
1. The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of
a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main
design or subject.
The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by the confidence
that no man will read them. Sir W. Temple.
2. A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [R.]
Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in
my face. Shak.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The elongation, or angular distance from the sun; -- said
chiefly of the inferior planets. [R.]
DIGRESSIONAL
Di*gres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the character of, a digression;
departing from the main purpose or subject. T. Warton.
DIGRESSIVE
Di*gress"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. digressif.]
Defn: Departing from the main subject; partaking of the nature of
digression. Johnson.
DIGRESSIVELY
Di*gress"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of digression.
DIGUE
Digue, n. Etym: [F. See Dike.]
Defn: A bank; a dike. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
DIGYNIA
Di*gyn"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants having two styles.
DIGYNIAN; DIGYNOUS
Di*gyn"i*an, Dig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. digyne.] (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Digynia; having two styles.
DIHEDRAL
Di*he"dral, a. Etym: [Gr. Diedral.]
Defn: Having two plane faces; as, the dihedral summit of a crystal.
Dihedral angle, the angular space contained between planes which
intersect. It is measured by the angle made by any two lines at right
angles to the two planes.
DIHEDRON
Di*he"dron, n. Etym: [See Dihedral.]
Defn: A figure with two sides or surfaces. Buchanan.
DIHEXAGONAL
Di`hex*ag"o*nal, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + hexagonal.]
(a) Consisting of two hexagonal parts united; thus, a dihexagonal
pyramid is composed of two hexagonal pyramids placed base to base.
(b) Having twelve similar faces; as, a dihexagonal prism.
DIIAMB
Di`i*amb", n.
Defn: A diiambus.
DIIAMBUS
Di`i*am"bus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Lambus.] (Pros.)
Defn: A double iambus; a foot consisting of two iambuses (
DIIODIDE
Di*i"o*dide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + iodine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound of a binary type containing two atoms of iodine; --
called also biniodide.
DIISATOGEN
Di`i*sat"o*gen, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + isatine + -gen.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red crystalline nitrogenous substance or artificial
production, which by reduction passes directly to indigo.
DIJUDICANT
Di*ju"di*cant, n. Etym: [L. dijudicans, p. pr.]
Defn: One who dijudicates. [R.] Wood.
DIJUDICATE
Di*ju"di*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dijudicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dijucating.] Etym: [L. dijudicatus, p. p. of dijudicare to decide;
di- = dis- + judicare to judge.]
Defn: To make a judicial decision; to decide; to determine. [R.]
Hales.
DIJUDICATION
Di*ju`di*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dijudicatio.]
Defn: The act of dijudicating; judgment. [R.] Cockeram.
DIKA
Di"ka, n. Etym: [Native West African name.]
Defn: A kind of food, made from the almondlike seeds of the Irvingia
Barteri, much used by natives of the west coast of Africa; -- called
also dika bread.
DIKE
Dike, n. Etym: [OE. dic, dike, diche, ditch, AS. d dike, ditch; akin
to D. dijk dike, G. deich, and prob. teich pond, Icel. d dike, ditch,
Dan. dige; perh. akin to Gr. dough; or perh. to Gr. Ditch.]
1. A ditch; a channel for water made by digging.
Little channels or dikes cut to every bed. Ray.
2. An embankment to prevent inundations; a levee.
Dikes that the hands of the farmers had raised . . . Shut out the
turbulent tides. Longfellow.
3. A wall of turf or stone. [Scot.]
4. (Geol.)
Defn: A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of
igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata.
DIKE
Dike, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diked; p. pr. & vb. n. Diking.] Etym: [OE.
diken, dichen, AS. dician to dike. See Dike.]
1. To surround or protect with a dike or dry bank; to secure with a
bank.
2. To drain by a dike or ditch.
DIKE
Dike, v. i.
Defn: To work as a ditcher; to dig. [Obs.]
He would thresh and thereto dike and delve. Chaucer.
DIKER
Dik"er, n.
1. A ditcher. Piers Plowman.
2. One who builds stone walls; usually, one who builds them without
lime. [Scot.]
DILACERATE
Di*lac"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilacerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dilacerating.] Etym: [L. dilaceratus, p. p. of dilacerare to tear
apart; di- = dis- + lacerare to tear.]
Defn: To rend asunder; to tear to pieces. Sir T. Browne.
DILACERATION
Di*lac`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilaceratio: cf. F. dilacération.]
Defn: The act of rending asunder. Arbuthnot.
DILANIATE
Di*la"ni*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. dilaniatus, p. p. of dilaniare to
dilacerate; di- = dis- + laniare to tear to pieces.]
Defn: To rend in pieces; to tear. [R.] Howell.
DILANIATION
Di*la`ni*a"tion, n.
Defn: A rending or tearing in pieces; dilaceration. [R.]
DILAPIDATE
Di*lap"i*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilapidated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dilapidating.] Etym: [L. dilapidare to scatter like stones; di- =
dis- + lapidare to throw stones, fr. lapis a stone. See Lapidary.]
1. To bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin, by misuse or
through neglect; to destroy the fairness and good condition of; --
said of a building.
If the bishop, parson, or vicar, etc., dilapidates the buildings, or
cuts down the timber of the patrimony. Blackstone.
2. To impair by waste and abuse; to squander.
The patrimony of the bishopric of Oxon was much dilapidated. Wood.
DILAPIDATE
Di*lap"i*date, v. i.
Defn: To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become
decayed; as, the church was suffered to dilapidate. Johnson.
DILAPIDATED
Di*lap"i*da`ted, a.
Defn: Decayed; fallen into partial ruin; injured by bad usage or
neglect.
A deserted and dilapidated buildings. Cooper.
DILAPIDATION
Di*lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilapidatio: cf. F. dilapidation.]
1. The act of dilapidating, or the state of being dilapidated,
reduced to decay, partially ruined, or squandered.
Tell the people that are relived by the dilapidation of their public
estate. Burke.
2. Ecclesiastical waste; impairing of church property by an
incumbent, through neglect or by intention.
The business of dilapidations came on between our bishop and the
Archibishop of York. Strype.
3. (Law)
Defn: The pulling down of a building, or suffering it to fall or be
in a state of decay. Burrill.
DILAPIDATOR
Di*lap"i*da`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilapidateur.]
Defn: One who causes dilapidation. Strype.
DILATABILITY
Di*la`ta*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilatabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being dilatable, or admitting expansion; --
opposed to contractibility. Ray.
DILATABLE
Di*lat"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dilatable.]
Defn: Capable of expansion; that may be dilated; -- opposed to
contractible; as, the lungs are dilatable by the force of air; air is
dilatable by heat.
DILATATION
Dil`a*ta"tion, n. Etym: [OE. dilatacioun, F. dilatation, L.
dilatatio, fr. dilatare. See Dilate, and cf. 2d Dilation.]
1. Prolixity; diffuse discourse. [Obs.] "What needeth greater
dilatation" Chaucer.
2. The act of dilating; expansion; an enlarging on al
3. (Anat.)
Defn: A dilation or enlargement of a canal or other organ.
DILATATOR
Dil`a*ta"tor, n. Etym: [NL. Cf. L. dilatator a propagator.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which dilates any part; a dilator.
DILATE
Di*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dilated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dilating.]
Etym: [L. dilatare; either fr. di- = dis- + latus wide, not the same
word as latus, used as p. p. of ferre to bear (see Latitude); or fr.
dilatus, used as p. p. of differre to separate (see Delay, Tolerate,
Differ, and cf. Dilatory): cf. F. dilater.]
1. To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to
swell; -- opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is
dilated by increase of heat.
2. To enlarge upon; to relate at large; to tell copiously or
diffusely. [R.]
Do me the favor to dilate at full What hath befallen of them and thee
till now. Shak.
Syn.
-- To expand; swell; distend; enlarge; spread out; amplify;
expatiate.
DILATE
Di*late", v. i.
1. To grow wide; to expand; to swell or extend in all directions.
His heart dilates and glories in his strength. Addison.
2. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge;
-- with on or upon.
But still on their ancient joys dilate. Crabbe.
DILATE
Di*late", a.
Defn: Extensive; expanded. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DILATED
Di*lat"ed, a.
1. Expanded; enlarged. Shak.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Widening into a lamina or into lateral winglike appendages.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the margin wide and spreading.
DILATEDLY
Di*lat"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dilated manner. Feltham.
DILATER
Di*lat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dilates, expands, o r enlarges.
DILATION
Di*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilatio. See Dilatory.]
Defn: Delay. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DILATION
Di*la"tion, n. Etym: [From dilate, v., cf. Dilatation, Dilator.]
Defn: The act of dilating, or the state of being dilated; expansion;
dilatation. Mrs. Browning.
At first her eye with slow dilation rolled. Tennyson.
A gigantic dilation of the hateful figure. Dickens.
DILATIVE
Di*lat"ive, a.
Defn: Causing dilation; tending to dilate, on enlarge; expansive.
Coleridge.
DILATOMETER
Dil`a*tom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Dilate + -meter.] (Physiol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the dilatation or expansion of a
substance, especially of a fluid.
DILATOR
Di*lat"or, n. Etym: [See Dilate.]
1. One who, or that which, widens or expands.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle that dilates any part.
3. (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for expanding a part; as, a urethral dilator.
DILATORILY
Dil"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: With delay; tardily.
DILATORINESS
Dil"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness;
sluggishness.
DILATORY
Dil"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dilatorius, fr. dilator a delayer, fr.
dilatus, used as p. p. of differe to defer, delay: cf. F. dilatoire.
See Dilate, Differ, Defer.]
1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given
the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating; loitering; as, a
dilatory servant.
2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; -- said
of actions or measures.
Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon hiMotley.
Dilatory plea (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the trial of
a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the
merits of the case.
Syn.
-- Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand;
backward; procrastinating. See Slow.
DILDO
Dil"do, n.
Defn: A burden in popular songs. [Obs.]
Delicate burthens of dildos and fadings. Shak.
DILDO
Dil"do, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus
Swartzii).
DILECTION
Di*lec"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilectio: dilection. See Diligent.]
Defn: Love; choice. [Obs.] T. Martin.
DILEMMA
Di*lem"ma, n. Etym: [L. dilemma, Gr. Lemma.]
1. (Logic)
Defn: An argument which presents an antagonist with two or more
alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever
alternative he chooses.
Note: The following are instances of the dilemma. A young rhetorician
applied to an old sophist to be taught the art of pleading, and
bargained for a certain reward to be paid when he should gain a
cause. The master sued for his reward, and the scholar endeavored to
dilemma. "If I gain my cause, I shall withhold your pay, because the
judge's award will be against you; if I lose it, I may withhold it,
because I shall not yet have gained a cause." "On the contrary," says
the master, "if you gain your cause, you must pay me, because you are
to pay me when you gain a cause; if you lose it, you must pay me,
because the judge will award it." Johnson.
2. A state of things in which evils or obstacles present themselves
on every side, and it is difficult to determine what course to
pursue; a vexatious alternative or predicament; a difficult choice or
position.
A strong dilemma in a desperate case! To act with infamy, or quit the
place. Swift.
Horns of a dilemma, alternatives, each of which is equally difficult
of encountering.
DILETTANT
Dil"et*tant`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant
speculation. Carlyle.
DILETTANT
Dil`et*tant", n.
Defn: A dilettante.
Though few art lovers can be connoisseurs, many are dilettants.
Fairholt.
DILETTANTE
Dil`et*tan"te, n.; pl. Dilettanti. Etym: [It., prop. p. pr. of
dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to delight. See
Delight, v. t.]
Defn: An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur;
especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge,
desultorily, or for amusement only.
The true poet is not an eccentric creature, not a mere artist living
only for art, not a dreamer or a dilettante, sipping the nectar of
existence, while he keeps aloof from its deeper interests. J. C.
Shairp.
DILETTANTEISH
Dil`et*tan"te*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like a dilettante.
DILETTANTEISM
Dil`et*tan"te*ism, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being a dilettante; the desultory
pursuit of art, science, or literature.
DILETTANTISH
Dil`et*tant"ish, a.
Defn: Dilettanteish.
DILETTANTISM
Dil`et*tant"ism, n.
Defn: Same as Dilettanteism. F. Harrison.
DILIGENCE
Dil"i*gence, n. Etym: [F. diligence, L. diligentia.]
1. The quality of being diligent; carefulness; careful attention; --
the opposite of negligence.
2. Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking
effort to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduity in service.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best
of me is diligence. Shak.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: Process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for
debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the
production of writings. To do one's diligence, give diligence, use
diligence, to exert one's self; to make interested and earnest
endeavor.
And each of them doth all his diligence To do unto the festé
reverence. Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Attention; industry; assiduity; sedulousness; earnestness;
constancy; heed; heedfulness; care; caution.
-- Diligence, Industry. Industry has the wider sense of the two,
implying an habitual devotion to labor for some valuable end, as
knowledge, property, etc. Diligence denotes earnest application to
some specific object or pursuit, which more or less directly has a
strong hold on one's interests or feelings. A man may be diligent for
a time, or in seeking some favorite end, without meriting the title
of industrious. Such was the case with Fox, while Burke was eminent
not only for diligence, but industry; he was always at work, and
always looking out for some new field of mental effort.
The sweat of industry would dry and die, But for the end it works to.
Shak.
Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer
ascribe to himself. Gibbon.
DILIGENCE
Di`li*gence", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A four-wheeled public stagecoach, used in France.
DILIGENCY
Dil"i*gen*cy, n. Etym: [L. diligentia.]
Defn: Diligence; care; persevering endeavor. [Obs.] Milton.
DILIGENT
Dil"i*gent, a. Etym: [F. diligent, L. diligens, -entis, p. pr. of
diligere, dilectum, to esteem highly, prefer; di- = dis- + legere to
choose. See Legend.]
1. Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful;
painstaking; not careless or negligent.
The judges shall make diligent inquisition. Deut. xix. 18.
2. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in
application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before
kings. Prov. xxii. 29.
Diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.
Syn.
-- Active; assiduous; sedulous; laborious; persevering; attentive;
industrious.
DILIGENTLY
Dil"i*gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diligent manner; not carelessly; not negligently; with
industry or assiduity.
Ye diligently keep commandments of the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 17.
DILL
Dill, n. Etym: [AS dile; akin to D. dille, OHG. tilli, G. dill,
dille, Sw. dill, Dan. dild.] (Bot.)
Defn: An herb (Peucedanum graveolens), the seeds of which are
moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, and were formerly used as
a soothing medicine for children; -- called also dill-seed. Dr.
Prior.
DILL
Dill, v. t. Etym: [OE. dillen, fr. dul dull, a.]
Defn: To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. [Obs.]
DILLING
Dil"ling, n.
Defn: A darling; a favorite. [Obs.]
Whilst the birds billing, Each one with his dilling. Drayton.
DILLUING
Dil*lu"ing, n. (Min.)
Defn: A process of sorting ore by washing in a hand sieve. [Written
also deluing.]
DILLY
Dil"ly, n. Etym: [Contr. fr. diligence.]
Defn: A kind of stagecoach. "The Derby dilly." J. H. Frere.
DILLY-DALLY
Dil"ly-dal`ly, v. i. Etym: [See Dally.]
Defn: To loiter or trifle; to waste time.
DILOGICAL
Di*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Ambiguous; of double meaning. [Obs.] T. Adams.
DILOGY
Dil"o*gy, n.; pl. Dilogies. Etym: [L. dilogia, Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An ambiguous speech; a figure in which a word is used an
equivocal sense. [R.]
DILUCID
Di*lu"cid, a. Etym: [L. dilucidus, fr. dilucere to be light enough to
distinguish objects apart. See Lucid.]
Defn: Clear; lucid. [Obs.] Bacon.
-- Di*lu"cid*ly, adv. [Obs.] -- Di`lu*cid"i*ty, n. [Obs.]
DILUCIDATE
Di*lu"ci*date, v. t. Etym: [L. dilucidatus, p. p. of dilucidare.]
Defn: To elucidate. [Obs.] Boyle.
DILUCIDATION
Di*lu`ci*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. dilucidatio.]
Defn: The act of making clear. [Obs.] Boyle.
DILUENT
Dil"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. diluens, p. pr. diluere. See Dilute.]
Defn: Diluting; making thinner or weaker by admixture, esp. of water.
Arbuthnot.
DILUENT
Dil"u*ent, n.
1. That which dilutes.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An agent used for effecting dilution of the blood; a weak
drink.
There is no real diluent but water. Arbuthnot.
DILUTE
Di*lute", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diluting.]
Etym: [L. dilutus, p. p. of diluere to wash away, dilute; di- = dis-
+ luere, equiv. to lavare to wash, lave. See Lave, and cf. Deluge.]
1. To make thinner or more liquid by admixture with something; to
thin and dissolve by mixing.
Mix their watery store. With the chyle's current, and dilute it more.
Blackmore.
2. To diminish the strength, flavor, color, etc., of, by mixing; to
reduce, especially by the addition of water; to temper; to attenuate;
to weaken.
Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of
any adventitious light. Sir I. Newton.
DILUTE
Di*lute", v. i.
Defn: To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily.
DILUTE
Di*lute", a. Etym: [L. dilutus, p. p.]
Defn: Diluted; thin; weak.
A dilute and waterish exposition. Hopkins.
DILUTED
Di*lut"ed, a.
Defn: Reduced in strength; thin; weak.
-- Di*lut"ed*ly, adv.
DILUTENESS
Di*lute"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being dilute. Bp. Wilkins.
DILUTER
Di*lut"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dilutes or makes thin, more liquid, or
weaker.
DILUTION
Di*lu"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dilution.]
Defn: The act of diluting, or the state of being diluted. Arbuthnot.
DILUVIAL
Di*lu"vi*al, a. Etym: [L. diluvialis. fr. diluvium.]
1. Of or pertaining to a flood or deluge, esp. to the great deluge in
the days of Noah; diluvian.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Effected or produced by a flood or deluge of water; -- said of
coarse and imperfectly stratified deposits along ancient or existing
water courses. Similar unstratified deposits were formed by the
agency of ice. The time of deposition has been called the Diluvian
epoch.
DILUVIALIST
Di*lu"vi*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who explains geological phenomena by the Noachian deluge.
Lyell.
DILUVIAN
Di*lu"vi*an, a. Etym: [Cf. F. diluvien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a deluge, esp. to the Noachian deluge;
diluvial; as, of diluvian origin. Buckland.
DILUVIATE
Di*lu"vi*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. diluviare.]
Defn: To run as a flood. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.
DILUVIUM
Di*lu"vi*um, n.; pl. E. Diluviums, L. Diluvia. Etym: [L. diluvium.
See Dilute, Deluge.] (Geol.)
Defn: A deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, stones, etc.,
caused by former action of flowing waters, or the melting of glacial
ice.
Note: The accumulation of matter by the ordinary operation of water
is termed alluvium.
DIM
Dim, a. [Compar. Dimmer; superl. Dimmest.] Etym: [AS. dim; akin to
OFries. dim, Icel. dimmr: cf. MHG. timmer, timber; of uncertain
origin.]
1. Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure
in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast;
tarnished.
The dim magnificence of poetry. Whewell.
How is the gold become dim! Lam. iv. 1.
I never saw The heavens so dim by day. Shak.
Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Through words and
things, a dim and perilous way. Wordsworth.
2. Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of
apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse.
Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. Job xvii. 7.
The understanding is dim. Rogers.
Note: Obvious compounds: dim-eyed; dim-sighted, etc.
Syn.
-- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied;
tarnished.
DIM
Dim, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dimmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimming.]
1. To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct;
to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to
eclipse.
A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden.
Now set the sun, and twilight dimmed the ways. Cowper.
2. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly,
either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or
understanding of.
Her starry eyes were dimmed with streaming tears. C. Pitt.
DIM
Dim, v. i.
Defn: To grow dim. J. C. Shairp.
DIMBLE
Dim"ble, n. Etym: [Prob. orig., a cavity, and the same word as
dimple. See Dimple.]
Defn: A bower; a dingle. [Obs.] Drayton.
DIME
Dime, n. Etym: [F. dîme tithe, OF. disme, fr. L. decimus the tenth,
fr. decem ten. See Decimal.]
Defn: A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents;
the tenth of a dollar. Dime novel, a novel, commonly sensational and
trashy, which is sold for a dime, or ten cents.
DIMENSION
Di*men"sion, n. Etym: [L. dimensio, fr. dimensus, p. p. of dimetiri
to measure out; di- = dis- + metiri to measure: cf. F. dimension. See
Measure.]
1. Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness,
or circumference; extension; measurement; -- usually, in the plural,
measure in length and breadth, or in length, breadth, and thickness;
extent; size; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the
dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom.
Gentlemen of more than ordinary dimensions. W. Irving.
Space of dimension, extension that has length but no breadth or
thickness; a straight or curved line.
-- Space of two dimensions, extension which has length and breadth,
but no thickness; a plane or curved surface.
-- Space of three dimensions, extension which has length, breadth,
and thickness; a solid.
-- Space of four dimensions, as imaginary kind of extension, which
is assumed to have length, breadth, thickness, and also a fourth
imaginary dimension. Space of five or six, or more dimensions is also
sometimes assumed in mathematics.
2. Extent; reach; scope; importance; as, a project of large
dimensions.
3. (Math.)
Defn: The degree of manifoldness of a quantity; as, time is quantity
having one dimension; volume has three dimensions, relative to
extension.
4. (Alg.)
Defn: A literal factor, as numbered in characterizing a term. The
term dimensions forms with the cardinal numbers a phrase equivalent
to degree with the ordinal; thus, a2b2c is a term of five dimensions,
or of the fifth degree.
5. pl. (Phys.)
Defn: The manifoldness with which the fundamental units of time,
length, and mass are involved in determining the units of other
physical quantities. Thus, since the unit of velocity varies directly
as the unit of length and inversely as the unit of time, the
dimensions of velocity are said to be length ÷ time; the dimensions
of work are mass × (length)2 ÷ (time)2; the dimensions of density are
mass ÷ (length)3. Dimension lumber, Dimension scantling, or Dimension
stock (Carp.), lumber for building, etc., cut to the sizes usually in
demand, or to special sizes as ordered.
-- Dimension stone, stone delivered from the quarry rough, but
brought to such sizes as are requisite for cutting to dimensions
given.
DIMENSIONAL
Di*men"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to dimension.
DIMENSIONED
Di*men"sioned, a.
Defn: Having dimensions. [R.]
DIMENSIONLESS
Di*men"sion*less, a.
Defn: Without dimensions; having no appreciable or noteworthy extent.
Milton.
DIMENSITY
Di*men"si*ty, n.
Defn: Dimension. [R.] Howell.
DIMENSIVE
Di*men"sive, a.
Defn: Without dimensions; marking dimensions or the limits.
Who can draw the soul's dimensive lines Sir J. Davies.
DIMERA
Dim"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) A division of Coleoptera, having two joints to the tarsi.
(b) A division of the Hemiptera, including the aphids.
DIMERAN
Dim"er*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Dimera.
DIMEROUS
Dim"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Composed of, or having, two parts of each kind.
Note: A dimerous flower has two sepals, two petals, two stamens, and
two pistils.
DIMETER
Dim"e*ter, a. Etym: [L. dimeter, Gr.
Defn: Having two poetical measures or meters.
-- n.
Defn: A verse of two meters.
DIMETHYL
Di*meth"yl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + methyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ethane; -- sometimes so called because regarded as consisting
of two methyl radicals. See Ethane.
DIMETRIC
Di*met"ric, a. Etym: [See Dimeter, a.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: Same as Tetragonal. Dana.
DIMICATION
Dim`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dimicatio, fr. dimicare to fight.]
Defn: A fight; contest. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIMIDIATE
Di*mid"i*ate, a. Etym: [L. dimidiatus, p. p. of dimidiare to halve,
fr. dimidius half. See Demi-.]
1. Divided into two equal parts; reduced to half in shape or form.
2. (Biol.)
(a) Consisting of only one half of what the normal condition
requires; having the appearance of lacking one half; as, a dimidiate
leaf, which has only one side developed.
(b) Having the organs of one side, or half, different in function
from the corresponding organs on the other side; as, dimidiate
hermaphroditism.
DIMIDIATE
Di*mid"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dimidiated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dimidiating.]
1. To divide into two equal parts. [Obs.] Cockeram.
2. (Her.)
Defn: To represent the half of; to halve.
DIMIDIATION
Di*mid`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dimidiatio.]
Defn: The act of dimidiating or halving; the state of being
dimidiate.
DIMINISH
Di*min"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diminished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Diminishing.] Etym: [Pref. di- (= L. dis-) + minish: cf. L.
diminuere, F. diminuer, OE. diminuen. See Dis-, and Minish.]
1. To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or amount; to
lessen; -- opposed to augment or increase.
Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt. Barrow.
2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to
abase; to weaken.
This doth nothing diminish their opinion. Robynson (More's Utopia).
I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.
Ezek. xxix. 15.
O thou . . . at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished
heads. Milton.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: To make smaller by a half step; to make (an interval) less than
minor; as, a diminished seventh.
4. To take away; to subtract.
Neither shall ye diminish aught from it. Deut. iv. 2.
Diminished column, one whose upper diameter is less than the lower.
-- Diminished, or Diminishing, scale, a scale of gradation used in
finding the different points for drawing the spiral curve of the
volute. Gwilt.
-- Diminishing rule (Arch.), a board cut with a concave edge, for
fixing the entasis and curvature of a shaft.
-- Diminishing stile (Arch.), a stile which is narrower in one part
than in another, as in many glazed doors.
Syn.
-- To decrease; lessen; abate; reduce; contract; curtail; impair;
degrade. See Decrease.
DIMINISH
Di*min"ish, v. i.
Defn: To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the
apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.
DIMINISHABLE
Di*min"ish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being diminished or lessened.
DIMINISHER
Di*min"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diminishes anything. Clerke (1637).
DIMINISHINGLY
Di*min"ish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to diminish.
DIMINISHMENT
Di*min"ish*ment, n.
Defn: Diminution. [R.] Cheke.
DIMINUENDO
Di*min`u*en"do, adv. Etym: [It., p. pr. of diminuere to diminish.]
(Mus.)
Defn: In a gradually diminishing manner; with abatement of tone;
decrescendo; -- expressed on the staff by Dim., or Dimin., or the
sign.
DIMINUENT
Di*min"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. diminuens, p. pr. of diminuere. See
Diminish.]
Defn: Lessening. Bp. Sanderson.
DIMINUTAL
Dim`i*nu"tal, a.
Defn: Indicating or causing diminution. Earle.
DIMINUTE
Dim"i*nute, a.
Defn: Small; diminished; diminutive. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DIMINUTELY
Dim"i*nute*ly, adv.
Defn: Diminutively. [Obs.]
DIMINUTION
Dim`i*nu"tion, n. Etym: [L. diminutio, or perh. rather deminutio: cf.
F. diminution. See Diminish.]
1. The act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less; state of
being diminished; reduction in size, quantity, or degree; -- opposed
to augmentation or increase.
2. The act of lessening dignity or consideration, or the state of
being deprived of dignity; a lowering in estimation; degradation;
abasement.
The world's opinion or diminution of me. Eikon Basilike.
Nor thinks it diminution to be ranked In military honor next.
Philips.
3. (Law)
Defn: Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in
notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.
Syn.
-- Decrease; decay; abatement; reduction; deduction; decrement.
DIMINUTIVAL
Di*min`u*ti"val, a.
Defn: Indicating diminution; diminutive. "Diminutival forms" [of
words]. Earle.
-- n.
Defn: A diminutive. Earle.
DIMINUTIVE
Di*min"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. L. deminutivus, F. diminutif.]
1. Below the average size; very small; little.
2. Expressing diminution; as, a diminutive word.
3. Tending to diminish. [R.]
Diminutive of liberty. Shaftesbury.
DIMINUTIVE
Di*min"u*tive, n.
1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing.
Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of
the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling,
eaglet, lambkin.
Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson.
Note: The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a
diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.
DIMINUTIVELY
Di*min"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diminutive manner.
DIMINUTIVENESS
Di*min"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness;
minuteness.
DIMISH
Dim"ish, a.
Defn: See Dimmish.
DIMISSION
Di*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. dimissio. See Dimit, and cf. Dismission.]
Defn: Leave to depart; a dismissing. [Obs.] Barrow.
DIMISSORY
Dim"is*so*ry, a. Etym: [L. dimissorius: cf. F. dimissoire. See
Dimit.]
Defn: Sending away; dismissing to another jurisdiction; granting
leave to depart. Letters dimissory (Eccl.), letters given by a bishop
dismissing a person who is removing into another diocese, and
recommending him for reception there. Hook.
DIMIT
Di*mit", v. t. Etym: [L. dimittere to send away, ledi- = dis- +
mittere to send. See Dismiss.]
Defn: To dismiss, let go, or release. [Obs.]
DIMITY
Dim"i*ty, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. Gr. diemet, of F. dimite, démitte. Cf.
Samite.]
Defn: A cotton fabric employed for hangings and furniture coverings,
and formerly used for women's under-garments. It is of many patterns,
both plain and twilled, and occasionally is printed in colors.
DIMLY
Dim"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with
imperfect sight.
DIMMISH; DIMMY
Dim"mish, Dim"my, a.
Defn: Somewhat dim; as, dimmish eyes. "Dimmy clouds." Sir P. Sidney.
DIMNESS
Dim"ness, n. Etym: [AS. dimness.]
1. The state or quality
2. Dullness, or want of clearness, of vision or of intellectual
perception. Dr. H. More.
Syn.
-- Darkness; obscurity; gloom. See Darkness.
DIMORPH
Di"morph`, n. Etym: [Gr. Di-) + (Crystallog.)
Defn: Either one of the two forms of a dimorphous substance; as,
calcite and aragonite are dimorphs.
DIMORPHIC
Di*mor"phic, a.
Defn: Having the property of dimorphism; dimorphous.
DIMORPHISM
Di*mor"phism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dimorphisme.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Difference of form between members of the same species, as when
a plant has two kinds of flowers, both hermaphrodite (as in the
partridge berry), or when there are two forms of one or both sexes of
the same species of butterfly.
Dimorphism is the condition of the appearance of the same species
under two dissimilar forms. Darwin.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallization in two independent forms of the same chemical
compound, as of calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite.
DIMORPHOUS
Di*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dimorphe.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Characterized by dimorphism; occurring under two distinct
forms, not dependent on sex; dimorphic.
2. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different, while
having the same chemical composition.
DIMPLE
Dim"ple, n. Etym: [Prob. a nasalized dim. of dip. See Dip, and cf.
Dimble.]
1. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some
part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin. Milton.
The dimple of her chin. Prior.
2. A slight indentation on any surface.
The garden pool's dark surface . . . Breaks into dimples small and
bright. Wordsworth.
DIMPLE
Dim"ple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dimpled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimpling.]
Defn: To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little
inequalities.
And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.
DIMPLE
Dim"ple, v. t.
Defn: To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak.
DIMPLEMENT
Dim"ple*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being dimpled, or marked with gentle depressions.
[R.]
The ground's most gentle dimplement. Mrs. Browning.
DIMPLY
Dim"ply, a.
Defn: Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply
pool. Thomson.
DIM-SIGHTED
Dim"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having dim sight; lacking perception.
-- Dim"-sight`ed*ness, n.
DIMYA; DIMYARIA
Dim"y*a, Dim`y*a"ri*a (, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of lamellibranchiate mollusks having an anterior and
posterior adductor muscle, as the common clam. See Bivalve.
DIMYARIAN
Dim`y*a"ri*an, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Dimya.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Dimya.
DIMYARY
Dim"y*a*ry, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Dimyarian.
DIN
Din, n. Etym: [AS. dyne, dyn; akin to Icel. dynr, and to AS. dynian
to resound, Icel. dynja to pour down like hail or rain; cf. Skr.
dhuni roaring, a torrent, dhvan to sound. Cf. Dun to ask payment.]
Defn: Loud, confused, harsh noise; a loud, continuous, rattling or
clanging sound; clamor; roar.
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears Shak.
He knew the battle's din afar. Sir W. Scott.
The dust and din and steam of town. Tennyson.
DIN
Din, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinning.] Etym: [AS.
dynian. See Din, n.]
1. To strike with confused or clanging sound; to stun with loud and
continued noise; to harass with clamor; as, to din the ears with
cries.
2. To utter with a din; to repeat noisily; to ding.
This hath been often dinned in my ears. Swift.
To din into, to fix in the mind of another by frequent and noisy
repetitions. Sir W. Scott.
DIN
Din, v. i.
Defn: To sound with a din; a ding.
The gay viol dinning in the dale. A. Seward.
DINAPHTHYL
Di*naph"thyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + naphthylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C20H14, obtained from
naphthylene, and consisting of a doubled naphthylene radical.
DINAR
Di"nar, n. Etym: [Ar. d, from Gr. denarius. See Denier.]
1. A petty money of accounts of Persia.
2. An ancient gold coin of the East.
DINARCHY
Di"nar*chy, n.
Defn: See Diarchy.
DINE
Dine, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined; p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] Etym: [F.
dîner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis-
+ an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus
fasting. See Jejune, and cf. Dinner, D.]
Defn: To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner.
Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak.
To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner; -- a phrase common
in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor
gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
DINE
Dine, v. t.
1. To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed; as,
to dine a hundred men.
A table massive enough to have dined Johnnie Armstrong and his merry
men. Sir W. Scott.
2. To dine upon; to have to eat. [Obs.] "What will ye dine." Chaucer.
DINER
Din"er, n.
Defn: One who dines.
DINER-OUT
Din"er-out`, n.
Defn: One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company.
A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate. Byron.
DINETICAL
Di*net"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Revolving on an axis. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DING
Ding, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinged, Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr.
& vb. n. Dinging.] Etym: [OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to
knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln.]
1. To dash; to throw violently. [Obs.]
To ding the book a coit's distance from him. Milton.
2. To cause to sound or ring. To ding (anything) in one's ears, to
impress one by noisy repetition, as if by hammering.
DING
Ding, v. i.
1. To strike; to thump; to pound. [Obs.]
Diken, or delven, or dingen upon sheaves. Piers Plowman.
2. To sound, as a bell; to ring; to clang.
The fretful tinkling of the convent bell evermore dinging among the
mountain echoes. W. Irving.
3. To talk with vehemence, importunity, or reiteration; to bluster.
[Low]
DING
Ding, n.
Defn: A thump or stroke, especially of a bell.
DINGDONG
Ding"dong`, n. Etym: [See Ding.]
1. The sound of, or as of, repeated strokes on a metallic body, as a
bell; a repeated and monotonous sound.
2. (Horol.)
Defn: An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck
upon bells of different tones.
DINGDONG THEORY
Ding"dong` the"o*ry. (Philol.)
Defn: The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of
language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that
is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each
general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the
brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy
of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper.
DINGEY; DINGY; DINGHY
Din"gey, Din"gy, Din"ghy, n. Etym: [Bengalee dingi.]
1. A kind of boat used in the East Indies. [Written also dinghey.]
Malcom.
2. A ship's smallest boat.
DINGILY
Din"gi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dingy manner.
DINGINESS
Din"gi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue.
DINGLE
Din"gle, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin: cf. AS. ding prison; or perh.
akin to dimble.]
Defn: A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, and embowered
valley.
DINGLE-DANGLE
Din"gle-dan`gle, adv.
Defn: In a dangling manner.
DINGO
Din"go, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild dog found in Australia, but supposed to have introduced
at a very early period. It has a wolflike face, bushy tail, and a
reddish brown color.
DINGTHRIFT
Ding"thrift`, n.
Defn: A spendthrift. [Obs.]
Wilt thou, therefore, a drunkard be, A dingthrift and a knave Drant.
DINGY
Din"gy, a. [Compar. Dingier; superl. Dingiest.] Etym: [Prob. fr.
dung. Cf. Dungy.]
Defn: Soiled; sullied; of a dark or dusky color; dark brown; dirty.
"Scraps of dingy paper." Macaulay.
DINICHTHYS
Di*nich"thys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Devonian ganoid fishes. In some parts
of Ohio remains of the Dinichthys are abundant, indicating animals
twenty feet in length.
DINING
Din"ing, n. & a.
Defn: from Dine, a.
Note: Used either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as,
dining hall or dining-hall, dining room, dining table, etc.
DINK
Dink, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Trim; neat. [Scot.] Burns.
-- Dink"ly, adv.
DINK
Dink, v. t.
Defn: To deck; -- often with out or up. [Scot.]
DINMONT
Din"mont, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wether sheep between one and two years old. [Scot.]
DINNER
Din"ner, n. Etym: [F. dîner, fr. dîner to dine. See Dine.]
1. The principal meal of the day, eaten by most people about midday,
but by many (especially in cities) at a later hour.
2. An entertainment; a feast.
A grand political dinner. Tennyson.
Note: Dinner is much used, in an obvious sense, either adjectively or
as the first part of a compound; as, dinner time, or dinner-time,
dinner bell, dinner hour, etc.
DINNERLESS
Din"ner*less, a.
Defn: Having no dinner. Fuller.
DINNERLY
Din"ner*ly, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.]
The dinnerly officer. Copley.
DINOCERAS
Di*noc"e*ras, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of large extinct Eocene mammals from Wyoming; -- called
also Uintatherium. See Illustration in Appendix.
Note: They were herbivorous, and remarkable for three pairs of
hornlike protuberances on the skull. The males were armed with a pair
of powerful canine tusks.
DINORNIS
Di*nor"nis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct, ostrichlike birds of gigantic size, which
formerly inhabited New Zealand. See Moa. [Written also Deinornis.]
DINOSAUR; DINOSAURIAN
Di"no*saur, Di`no*sau"ri*an, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of the Dinosauria. [Written also deinosaur, and
deinosaurian.]
DINOSAURIA
Di`no*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An order of extinct mesozoic reptiles, mostly of large size
(whence the name). Notwithstanding their size, they present birdlike
characters in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind limbs. Some
walked on their three-toed hind feet, thus producing the large "bird
tracks," so-called, of mesozoic sandstones; others were five-toed and
quadrupedal. See Illust. of Compsognathus, also Illustration of
Dinosaur in Appendix.
DINOTHERE; DINOTHERIUM
Di"no*there, Di`no*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL. dinotherium, fr. Gr.
(Paleon.)
Defn: A large extinct proboscidean mammal from the miocene beds of
Europe and Asia. It is remarkable fora pair of tusks directed
downward from the decurved apex of the lower jaw.
DINOXIDE
Din*ox"ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Dioxide.
DINSOME
Din"some, a.
Defn: Full of din. [Scot.] Burns.
DINT
Dint, n. Etym: [OE. dint, dent, dunt, a blow, AS. dynt; akin to Icel.
dyntr a dint, dynta to dint, and perh. to L. fendere (in
composition). Cf. 1st Dent, Defend.]
1. A blow; a stroke. [Obs.] "Mortal dint." Milton. "Like thunder's
dint." Fairfax.
2. The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by
violence; a dent. Dryden.
Every dint a sword had beaten in it [the shield]. Tennyson.
3. Force; power; -- esp. in the phrase by dint of.
Now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel The dint of pity. Shak.
It was by dint of passing strength That he moved the massy stone at
length. Sir W. Scott.
DINT
Dint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinting.]
Defn: To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to
dent. Donne. Tennyson.
DINUMERATION
Di*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dinumeratio; di- = dis- + numerare to
count, fr. numerus number.]
Defn: Enumeration. [Obs.] Bullokar.
DIOCESAN
Di*oc"e*san, a. Etym: [LL. dioecesanus: cf. F. diocésain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a diocese; as, diocesan missions.
DIOCESAN
Di*oc"e*san, n.
1. A bishop, viewed in relation to his diocese; as, the diocesan of
New York.
2. pl.
Defn: The clergy or the people of a diocese. Strype.
DIOCESE
Di"o*cese, n.; pl. Dioceses. Etym: [OE. diocise, OF. diocise, F.
diocése, L. dioecesis, fr. Gr. Economy.] (Eccl.)
Defn: The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district
in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority.
[Frequently, but improperly, spelt diocess.]
DIOCESENER
Di`o*ce"se*ner, n.
Defn: One who belongs to a diocese. [Obs.] Bacon.
DIODON
Di"o*don, n. Etym: [Gr. diodon.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the teeth of
each jaw united into a single beaklike plate. They are able to
inflate the body by taking in air or water, and, hence, are called
globefishes, swellfishes, etc. fishes, and sea hedgehogs.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of whales.
DIODONT
Di"o*dont, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon.
-- n.
Defn: A fish of the genus Diodon, or an allied genus.
DIOECIA
Di*oe"ci*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having the stamens and pistils on
different plants.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of gastropod mollusks in which the sexes are
separate. It includes most of the large marine species, like the
conchs, cones, and cowries.
DIOECIAN; DIOECIOUS
Di*oe"cian, Di*oe"cious, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the sexes in applied to plants in which the female
flowers occur on one individual and the male flowers on another of
the same species, and to animals in which the ovum is produced by one
individual and the sperm cell by another; -- opposed to monoecious.
DIOECIOUSLY
Di*oe"cious*ly, adv. (Biol.)
Defn: In a dioecious manner. Dioeciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having
flowers structurally perfect, but practically dioecious, -- those on
one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.
DIOECIOUSNESS
Di*oe"cious*ness, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The state or quality of being dioecious.
DIOECISM
Di*oe"cism, n. (Biol.)
Defn: The condition of being dioecious.
DIOGENES
Di*og"e*nes, n.
Defn: A Greek Cynic philosopher (412-323 B. C.) who lived much in
Athens and was distinguished for contempt of the common aims and
conditions of life, and for sharp, caustic sayings. Diogenes' crab
(Zoöl.), a species of terrestrial hermit crabs (Cenobita Diogenes),
abundant in the West Indies and often destructive to crops.
-- Diogenes' tub, the tub which the philosopher Diogenes is said to
have carried about with him as his house, in which he lived.
DIOICOUS
Di*oi"cous, a.
Defn: See Dioecious.
DIOMEDEA
Di*om`e*de"a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large sea birds, including the albatross. See
Albatross.
DIONAEA
Di`o*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An insectivorous plant. See Venus's flytrap.
DIONYSIA
Di`o*ny"si*a, n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. .] (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian god
Dionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greater
Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated
with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.
DIONYSIAC
Di`o*ny"si*ac, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, a
Dionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.
DIONYSIAN
Di`o*ny"sian, a.
Defn: Relating to Dionysius, a monk of the 6th century; as, the
Dionysian, or Christian, era. Dionysian period, a period of 532
years, depending on the cycle of the sun, or 28 years, and the cycle
of the moon, or 19 years; -- sometimes called the Greek paschal
cycle, or Victorian period.
DIOPHANTINE
Di`o*phan"tine, a.
Defn: Originated or taught by Diophantus, the Greek writer on
algebra. Diophantine analysis (Alg.), that branch of indeterminate
analysis which has for its object the discovery of rational values
that satisfy given equations containing squares or cubes; as, for
example, to find values of x and y which make x2 + y2 an exact
square.
DIOPSIDE
Di*op"side, n. Etym: [Gr. diopside.] (Min.)
Defn: A crystallized variety of pyroxene, of a clear, grayish green
color; mussite.
DIOPTASE
Di*op"tase, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptase.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous silicate of copper, occurring in emerald-green
crystals.
DIOPTER; DIOPTRA
Di*op"ter, Di*op"tra, n. Etym: [L. dioptra, fr. Gr. Dioptric.]
Defn: An optical instrument, invented by Hipparchus, for taking
altitudes, leveling, etc.
DIOPTRE
Di*op"tre, n. Etym: [F. See 2d Dioptric.] (Optics)
Defn: A unit employed by oculists in numbering glasses according to
the metric system; a refractive power equal to that of a glass whose
principal focal distance is one meter.
DIOPTRIC
Di*op"tric, a. (Optics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the dioptre, or to the metric system of
numbering glasses.
-- n.
Defn: A dioptre. See Dioptre.
DIOPTRIC; DIOPTRICAL
Di*op"tric, Di*op"tric*al, a. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the
refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric
glass or telescope. "Dioptrical principles." Nichol. Dioptric curve
(Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under Cartesian.
DIOPTRICS
Di*op"trics, n. Etym: [Gr. dioptrique.] (Optics)
Defn: The science of the refraction of light; that part of
geometrical optics which treats of the laws of the refraction of
light in passing from one medium into another, or through different
mediums, as air, water, or glass, and esp. through different lenses;
-- distinguished from catoptrics, which refers to reflected light.
DIOPTRY
Di*op"try, n. (Optics)
Defn: A dioptre.
DIORAMA
Di`o*ra"ma, n. Etym: [Gr. diorama. Cf. Panorama.]
1. A mode of scenic representation, invented by Daguerre and Bouton,
in which a painting is seen from a distance through a large opening.
By a combination of transparent and opaque painting, and of
transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens
and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.
2. A building used for such an exhibition.
DIORAMIC
Di`o*ram"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a diorama.
DIORISM
Di"o*rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Definition; logical direction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DIORISTIC
Di`o*ris"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Distinguishing; distinctive; defining. [R.] --
Di`o*ris"tic*al*ly, adv. [R.] Dr. H. More.
DIORITE
Di"o*rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diorite. See Diorism.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous, crystalline in structure, consisting essentially of
a triclinic feldspar and hornblende. It includes part of what was
called greenstone.
DIORITIC
Di`o*rit"ic, a.
Defn: Containing diorite.
DIORTHOTIC
Di`or*thot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to the correcting or straightening out of something;
corrective.
DIOSCOREA
Di`os*co"re*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dioscorides the Greek
physician.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants. See Yam.
DIOTA
Di*o"ta, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A vase or drinking cup having two handles or ears.
DIOXIDE
Di*ox"ide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxide.] (Chem.)
(a) An oxide containing two atoms of oxygen in each molecule;
binoxide.
(b) An oxide containing but one atom or equivalent of oxygen to two
of a metal; a suboxide. [Obs.] Carbon dioxide. See Carbonic acid,
under Carbonic.
DIOXINDOL
Di`ox*in"dol, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + oxygen + indol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, nitrogenous substance obtained by the
reduction of isatin. It is a member of the indol series; -- hence its
name.
DIP
Dip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dipped or Dipt (p. pr. & vb. n. Dipping.]
Etym: [OE. dippen, duppen, AS. dyppan; akin to Dan. dyppe, Sw. doppa,
and to AS. d to baptize, OS. d, D. doopen, G. taufen, Sw. döpa, Goth.
daupjan, Lith. dubus deep, hollow, OSlav. dupl hollow, and to E.
dive. Cf. Deep, Dive.]
1. To plunge or immerse; especially, to put for a moment into a
liquid; to insert into a fluid and withdraw again.
The priest shall dip his finger in the blood. Lev. iv. 6.
[Wat'ry fowl] now dip their pinions in the briny deep. Pope.
While the prime swallow dips his wing. Tennyson.
2. To immerse for baptism; to baptize by immersion. Book of Common
Prayer. Fuller.
3. To wet, as if by immersing; to moisten. [Poetic]
A cold shuddering dew Dips me all o'er. Milton.
4. To plunge or engage thoroughly in any affair.
He was . . . dipt in the rebellion of the Commons. Dryden.
5. To take out, by dipping a dipper, ladle, or other receptacle, into
a fluid and removing a part; -- often with out; as, to dip water from
a boiler; to dip out water.
6. To engage as a pledge; to mortgage. [Obs.]
Live on the use and never dip thy lands. Dryden.
Dipped candle, a candle made by repeatedly dipping a wick in melted
tallow.
-- To dip snuff, to take snuff by rubbing it on the gums and teeth.
[Southern U. S.] -- To dip the colors (Naut.), to lower the colors
and return them to place; -- a form of naval salute.
DIP
Dip, v. i.
1. To immerse one's self; to become plunged in a liquid; to sink.
The sun's rim dips; the stars rush out. Coleridge.
2. To perform the action of plunging some receptacle, as a dipper,
ladle. etc.; into a liquid or a soft substance and removing a part.
Whoever dips too deep will find death in the pot. L'Estrange.
3. To pierce; to penetrate; -- followed by in or into.
When I dipt into the future. Tennyson.
4. To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily
or by the way; to partake limitedly; -- followed by in or into.
"Dipped into a multitude of books." Macaulay.
5. To incline downward from the plane of the horizon; as, strata of
rock dip.
6. To dip snuff. [Southern U.S.]
DIP
Dip, n.
1. The action of dipping or plunging for a moment into a liquid. "The
dip of oars in unison." Glover.
2. Inclination downward; direction below a horizontal line; slope;
pitch.
3. A liquid, as a sauce or gravy, served at table with a ladle or
spoon. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
4. A dipped candle. [Colloq.] Marryat. Dip of the horizon (Astron.),
the angular depression of the seen or visible horizon below the true
or natural horizon; the angle at the eye of an observer between a
horizontal line and a tangent drawn from the eye to the surface of
the ocean.
-- Dip of the needle, or Magnetic dip, the angle formed, in a
vertical plane, by a freely suspended magnetic needle, or the line of
magnetic force, with a horizontal line; -- called also inclination.
-- Dip of a stratum (Geol.), its greatest angle of inclination to
the horizon, or that of a line perpendicular to its direction or
strike; -- called also the pitch.
DIPASCHAL
Di*pas"chal, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + paschal.]
Defn: Including two passovers. Carpenter.
DIPCHICK
Dip"chick`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DIPETALOUS
Di*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + petalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two petals; two-petaled.
DIPHENYL
Di*phe"nyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + phenyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline substance, C6H5.C6H5, obtained by leading
benzene through a heated iron tube. It consists of two benzene or
phenyl radicals united.
DIPHTHERIA
Diph*the"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. membrane): cf. depsere to
knead.] (Med.)
Defn: A very dangerous contagious disease in which the air passages,
and especially the throat, become coated with a false membrane,
produced by the solidification of an inflammatory exudation. Cf.
Group.
DIPHTHERIAL; DIPHTHERIC
Diph*the"ri*al, Diph*ther"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to diphtheria; diphtheritic.
DIPHTHERITIC
Diph`the*rit"ic, a. (Med.)
1. Pertaining to, or connected with, diphtheria.
2. Having characteristics resembling those of diphtheria; as,
diphtheritic inflammation of the bladder.
DIPHTHONG
Diph"thong (; 115, 277), n. Etym: [L. diphthongus, Gr. diphthongue.]
(Orthoëpy)
(a) A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one
syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; -- called a proper diphthong.
(b) A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only
one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; -- called an
improper diphthong.
DIPHTHONG
Diph"thong, v. t.
Defn: To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize. [R.]
DIPHTHONGAL
Diph*thon"gal, a.
Defn: Relating or belonging to a diphthong; having the nature of a
diphthong.
-- Diph*thon"gal*ly, adv.
DIPHTHONGALIZE
Diph*thon"gal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make into a diphthong; to pronounce as a diphthong.
DIPHTHONGATION
Diph`thon*ga"tion, n.
Defn: See Diphthongization.
DIPHTHONGIC
Diph*thong"ic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of diphthong; diphthongal. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZATION
Diph`thong*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of changing into a diphthong. H. Sweet.
DIPHTHONGIZE
Diph"thong*ize, v. t. & i.
Defn: To change into a diphthong, as by affixing another vowel to a
simple vowel. "The diphthongized long vowels." H. Sweet.
DIPHYCERCAL
Diph`y*cer"cal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the tail fin divided into two equal parts by the
notochord, or end of the vertebral column; protocercal. See
Protocercal.
DIPHYGENIC
Diph`y*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. -genic.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two modes of embryonic development.
DIPHYLLOUS
Diph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. diphylle.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two leaves, as a calyx, etc.
DIPHYODONT
Diph"y*o*dont, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having two successive sets of teeth (deciduous and permanent),
one succeeding the other; as, a diphyodont mammal; diphyodont
dentition; -- opposed to monophyodont.
-- n.
Defn: An animal having two successive sets of teeth.
DIPHYOZOOID
Diph`y*o*zo"oid, n. Etym: [Gr. zooid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.
DIPLANAR
Di*pla"nar, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + plane.] (Math.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to two planes.
DIPLEIDOSCOPE
Di*plei"do*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the time of apparent noon. It
consists of two mirrors and a plane glass disposed in the form of a
prism, so that, by the reflections of the sun's rays from their
surfaces, two images are presented to the eye, moving in opposite
directions, and coinciding at the instant the sun's center is on the
meridian.
DIPLEX
Di"plex, a. [Pref. di- + -plex, as in duplex.] (Teleg.)
Defn: Pertaining to the sending of two messages in the same direction
at the same time. Diplex and contraplex are the two varieties of
duplex.
DIPLOBLASTIC
Dip`lo*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. -blast + -ic.] (Biol.)
Defn: Characterizing the ovum when it has two primary germinal
layers.
DIPLOCARDIAC
Dip`lo*car"di*ac, a. Etym: [Gr. cardiac.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having the heart completely divided or double, one side
systemic, the other pulmonary.
DIPLOCOCCUS
Dip`lo*coc"cus, n.; pl. Diplococci. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: A form of micrococcus in which cocci are united in a binary
manner. See Micrococcus.
DIPLOE
Dip"lo*ë, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The soft, spongy, or cancellated substance between the plates
of the skull.
DIPLOETIC
Dip`lo*et"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Diploic.
DIPLOGENIC
Dip`lo*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Partaking of the nature of two bodies; producing two
substances. Wright.
DIPLOGRAPH
Dip"lo*graph, n. [Gr. double + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument used for double writing, as one for producing
embossed writing for the blind and ordinary writing at the same time.
-- Dip`lo*graph"ic*al (#), a. -- Dip*log"ra*phy (#), n.
DIPLOIC
Di*plo"ic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the diploë.
DIPLOID
Dip"loid, n. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid bounded by twenty-four similar quadrilateral faces. It
is a hemihedral form of the hexoctahedron.
DIPLOMA
Di*plo"ma, n.; pl. Diplomas. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Double.]
Defn: A letter or writing, usually under seal, conferring some
privilege, honor, or power; a document bearing record of a degree
conferred by a literary society or educational institution.
DIPLOMACY
Di*plo"ma*cy, n. Etym: [F. diplomatie. This word, like supremacy,
retains the accent of its original. See Diploma.]
1. The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations
(particularly in securing treaties), including the methods and forms
usually employed.
2. Dexterity or skill in securing advantages; tact.
3. The body of ministers or envoys resident at a court; the
diplomatic body. [R.] Burke.
DIPLOMAT; DIPLOMATE
Dip"lo*mat, Dip"lo*mate, n. Etym: [F. diplomate.]
Defn: A diplomatist.
DIPLOMATE
Dip"lo*mate, v. t.
Defn: To invest with a title o [R.] Wood.
DIPLOMATIAL
Dip`lo*ma"tial, a.
Defn: Diplomatic. [R.]
DIPLOMATIC; DIPLOMATICAL
Dip`lo*mat"ic, Dip`lo*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. diplomatique.]
1. Pertaining to diplomacy; relating to the foreign ministers at a
court, who are called the diplomatic body.
2. Characterized by tact and shrewdness; dexterous; artful; as,
diplomatic management.
3. Pertaining to diplomatics; paleographic. Astle.
DIPLOMATIC
Dip`lo*mat"ic, n.
Defn: A minister, official agent, or envoy to a foreign court; a
diplomatist.
DIPLOMATICALLY
Dip`lo*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to the rules of diplomacy; in the manner of a
diplomatist; artfully.
DIPLOMATICS
Dip`lo*mat"ics, n.
Defn: The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient
writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.
DIPLOMATISM
Di*plo"ma*tism, n.
Defn: Diplomacy. [R.]
DIPLOMATIST
Di*plo"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diplomatiste a student of
diplomatics.]
Defn: A person employed in, or skilled in, diplomacy; a diplomat.
In ability, Avaux had no superior among the numerous able diplomatics
whom his country then possessed. Macaulay.
DIPLOPIA; DIPLOPY
Di*plo"pi*a, Dip"lo*py, n. Etym: [NL. diplopia, from Gr. diplopie.]
(Med.)
Defn: The act or state of seeing double.
Note: In crossed or heteronymous diplopia the image seen by the right
eye is upon the left hand, and that seen by the left eye is upon the
right hand. In homonymous diplopia the image seen by the right eye is
on the right side, that by the left eye on the left side. In vertical
diplopia one image stands above the other.
DIPLOPOD
Dip"lo*pod, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Diplopoda.
DIPLOPODA
Di*plop"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of myriapods having two pairs of legs on each segment;
the Chilognatha.
DIPLOSTEMONOUS
Dip`lo*stem"o*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having twice as many stamens as petals, as the geranium. R.
Brown.
DIPLOSTEMONY
Dip`lo*stem"o*ny, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The condition of being diplostemonous.
DIPNEUMONA
Dip*neu"mo*na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of spiders having only two lunglike organs. [Written
also Dipneumones.]
DIPNOI
Dip"no*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of ganoid fishes, including the living genera Ceratodus
and Lepidosiren, which present the closest approximation to the
Amphibia. The air bladder acts as a lung, and the nostrils open
inside the mouth. See Ceratodus, and Illustration in Appendix.
DIPODY
Dip"o*dy, n.; pl. Dipodies. Etym: [Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: Two metrical feet taken together, or included in one measure.
Hadley.
Trochaic, iambic, and anapestic verses . . . are measured by
dipodies. W. W. Goodwin.
DIPOLAR
Di*po"lar, a. Etym: [Pre. di- + polar. Cf. Bipolar.]
Defn: Having two poles, as a magnetic bar.
DIPPEL'S OIL
Dip"pel's oil`. (Chem.) Etym: [From the name of the inventor.]
Defn: See Bone oil, under Bone.
DIPPER
Dip"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, dips; especially, a vessel used to dip
water or other liquid; a ladle.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A small grebe; the dabchick.
(b) The buffel duck.
(c) The water ouzel (Cinolus aquaticus) of Europe.
(d) The American dipper or ouzel (Cinclus Mexicanus). The Dipper
(Astron.), the seven principal stars in the constellation of the
Great Bear; popularly so called from their arrangement in the form of
a dipper; -- called also Charles's Wain. See Ursa Major, under Ursa.
DIPPING
Dip"ping, n.
1. The act or process of immersing.
2. The act of inclining downward.
3. The act of lifting or moving a liquid with a dipper, ladle, or the
like.
4. The process of cleaning or brightening sheet metal or metalware,
esp. brass, by dipping it in acids, etc.
5. The practice of taking snuff by rubbing the teeth or gums with a
stick or brush dipped in snuff. [U.S.] Dipping needle, a magnetic
needle suspended at its center of gravity, and moving freely in a
vertical plane, so as to indicate on a graduated circle the magnetic
dip or inclination.
DIPRISMATIC
Di`pris*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Prefix di- + prismatic.]
Defn: Doubly prismatic.
DIPROPARGYL
Di`pro*par"gyl, n. Etym: [Prefix di- + propargyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A pungent, mobile, volatile liquid, C6H6, produced artificially
from certain allyl derivatives. Though isomeric with benzine, it is
very different in its chemical relations. Called also dipropinyl.
DIPROPYL
Di*pro"pyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + propyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the hexane paraffins, found in petroleum, consisting of
two propyl radicals. See Hexane.
DIPROTODON
Di*pro"to*don, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct Quaternary marsupial from Australia, about as large
as the hippopotamus; -- so named because of its two large front
teeth. See Illustration in Appendix.
DIPSAS
Dip"sas, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. A serpent whose bite was fabled to produce intense thirst. Milton.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of harmless colubrine snakes.
DIPSETIC
Dip*set"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Tending to produce thirst. Wright.
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSY
Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, a.
Defn: Deep-sea; as, a dipsey line; a dipsy lead. [Sailor's Cant]
DIPSEY; DIPSIE; DIPSY
Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy, n.
1. A sinker attached to a fishing line; also, a line having several
branches, each with such a sinker, used in deep-sea fishing. [Local,
U. S.]
2. (Naut.) A deep-sea lead. [Rare]
DIPSOMANIA
Dip`so*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid an uncontrollable craving (often periodic) for drink,
esp. for alcoholic liquors; also improperly used to denote acute and
chronic alcoholism.
DIPSOMANIAC
Dip`so*ma"ni*ac, n.
Defn: One who has an irrepressible desire for alcoholic drinks.
DIPSOMANIACAL
Dip`so*ma*ni"a*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to dipsomania.
DIPSOSIS
Dip*so"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Excessive thirst produced by disease.
DIPTERA
Dip"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. diptère.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive order of insects having only two functional wings
and two balancers, as the house fly, mosquito, etc. They have a
suctorial proboscis, often including two pairs of sharp organs
(mandibles and maxillæ) with which they pierce the skin of animals.
They undergo a complete metamorphosis, their larvæ (called maggots)
being usually without feet.
DIPTERAL
Dip"ter*al, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings only; belonging to the order Diptera.
2. (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: Having a double row of columns on each on the flanks, as well
as in front and rear; -- said of a temple.
DIPTERAN
Dip"ter*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect of the order Diptera.
DIPTEROCARPUS
Dip`te*ro*car"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of trees found in the East Indies, some species of
which produce a fragrant resin, other species wood oil. The fruit has
two long wings.
DIPTEROUS
Dip"ter*ous, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two wings, as certain insects; belonging to the order
Diptera.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having two wings; two-winged.
DIPTERYGIAN
Dip`ter*yg"i*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having two dorsal fins; -- said of certain fishes.
DIPTOTE
Dip"tote, n. Etym: [Gr. diptote.] (Gram.)
Defn: A noun which has only two cases. Andrews.
DIPTYCH
Dip"tych, n. Etym: [L. diptycha, pl., fr. Gr.
1. Anything consisting of two leaves. Especially:
(a) (Roman Antiq.) A writing tablet consisting of two leaves of rigid
material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect
the writing within.
(b) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected
by hinges. See Triptych.
2. A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living,
and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics and benefactors of the
church; a catalogue of saints.
DIPYRE
Di*pyre", n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the scapolite group; -- so called from the double
effect of fire upon it, in fusing it, and rendering it
phosphorescent.
DIPYRENOUS
Di`py*re"nous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyrene.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing two stones or nutlets.
DIPYRIDINE
Di*pyr"i*dine (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine.] (Geom.)
Defn: A polymeric form of pyridine, C10H10N2, obtained as a colorless
oil by the action of sodium on pyridine.
DIPYRIDYL
Di*pyr"i*dyl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + pyridine + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A crystalline nitrogenous base, C10H8N2, obtained by the
reduction of pyridine.
DIRADIATION
Di*ra`di*a"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + radiation.]
Defn: The emission and diffusion of rays of light.
DIRE
Dire, a. [Compar. Direr; superl. Direst.] Etym: [L. dirus; of
uncertain origin.]
1. Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens.
2. Evil in great degree; dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible;
lamentable.
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans. Milton.
Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire. Milton.
DIRECT
Di*rect", a. Etym: [L. directus, p. p. of dirigere to direct: cf. F.
direct. See Dress, and cf. Dirge.]
1. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the
short or shortest way to a point or end; as, a direct line; direct
means.
What is direct to, what slides by, the question. Locke.
2. Straightforward; not of crooked ways, or swerving from truth and
openness; sincere; outspoken.
Be even and direct with me. Shak.
3. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
He howhere, that I know, says it in direct words. Locke.
A direct and avowed interference with elections. Hallam.
4. In the line of descent; not collateral; as, a descendant in the
direct line.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west
to east; in the order of the signs; not retrograde; -- said of the
motion of a celestial body. Direct action. (Mach.) See Direct-acting.
-- Direct discourse (Gram.), the language of any one quoted without
change in its form; as, he said "I can not come;" -- correlative to
indirect discourse, in which there is change of form; as, he said
that he could not come. They are often called respectively by their
Latin names, oratio directa, and oratio obliqua.
-- Direct evidence (Law), evidence which is positive or not
inferential; -- opposed to circumstantial, or indirect, evidence.
-- This distinction, however, is merely formal, since there is no
direct evidence that is not circumstantial, or dependent on
circumstances for its credibility. Wharton.
-- Direct examination (Law), the first examination of a witness in
the orderly course, upon the merits. Abbott.
-- Direct fire (Mil.), fire, the direction of which is perpendicular
to the line of troops or to the parapet aimed at.
-- Direct process (Metal.), one which yields metal in working
condition by a single process from the ore. Knight.
-- Direct tax, a tax assessed directly on lands, etc., and polls,
distinguished from taxes on merchandise, or customs, and from excise.
DIRECT
Di*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Directed; p. pr. & vb. n. Directing.]
1. To arrange in a direct or straight line, as against a mark, or
towards a goal; to point; to aim; as, to direct an arrow or a piece
of ordnance.
2. To point out or show to (any one), as the direct or right course
or way; to guide, as by pointing out the way; as, he directed me to
the left-hand road.
The Lord direct your into the love of God. 2 Thess. iii. 5.
The next points to which I will direct your attention. Lubbock.
3. To determine the direction or course of; to cause to go on in a
particular manner; to order in the way to a certain end; to regulate;
to govern; as, to direct the affairs of a nation or the movements of
an army.
I will direct their work in truth. Is. lxi. 8.
4. To point out to with authority; to instruct as a superior; to
order; as, he directed them to go.
I 'll first direct my men what they shall do. Shak.
5. To put a direction or address upon; to mark with the name and
residence of the person to whom anything is sent; to superscribe; as,
to direct a letter.
Syn.
-- To guide; lead; conduct; dispose; manage; regulate; order;
instruct; command.
DIRECT
Di*rect", v. i.
Defn: To give direction; to point out a course; to act as guide.
Wisdom is profitable to direct. Eccl. x. 10.
DIRECT
Di*rect", n. (Mus.)
Defn: A character, thus [ Moore (Encyc. of Music).
DIRECT-ACTING
Di*rect"-act`ing, a. (Mach.)
Defn: Acting directly, as one part upon another, without the
intervention of other working parts. Direct-acting steam engine, one
in which motion is transmitted to the crank without the intervention
of a beam or lever; -- also called direct-action steam engine.
-- Direct-acting steam pump, one in which the steam piston rod is
directly connected with the pump rod; -- also called direct-action
steam pump.
DIRECT ACTION
Direct action. (Trade unions)
Defn: See Syndicalism, below.
DIRECT-COUPLED
Di*rect"-cou"pled, a.
Defn: Coupled without intermediate connections, as an engine and a
dynamo.
Direct-coupled antenna (Wireless Teleg.), an antenna connected
electrically with one point of a closed oscillation circuit in
syntony with it and earthed.
DIRECT CURRENT
Direct current. (Elec.)
(a) A current flowing in one direction only; -- distinguished from
alternating current. When steady and not pulsating a direct current
is often called a continuous current.
(b) A direct induced current, or momentary current of the same
direction as the inducing current, produced by stopping or removing
the latter; also, a similar current produced by removal of a magnet.
DIRECTER
Di*rect"er, n.
Defn: One who directs; a director. Directer plane (Geom.), the plane
to which all right-lined elements in a warped surface are parallel.
DIRECTION
Di*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. directio: cf. F. direction.]
1. The act of directing, of aiming, regulating, guiding, or ordering;
guidance; management; superintendence; administration; as, the
direction o.
I do commit his youth To your direction. Shak.
All nature is but art, unknown to thee;direction, which thou canst
not see. Pope.
2. That which is imposed by directing; a guiding or authoritative
instruction; prescription; order; command; as, he grave directions to
the servants.
The princes digged the well . . . by the direction of the law giver.
Numb. xxi. 18.
3. The name and residence of a person to whom any thing is sent,
written upon the thing sent; superscription; address; as, the
direction of a letter.
4. The line or course upon which anything is moving or aimed to move,
or in which anything is lying or pointing; aim; line or point of
tendency; direct line or course; as, the ship sailed in a
southeasterly direction.
5. The body of managers of a corporation or enterprise; board of
directors.
6. (Gun.)
Defn: The pointing of a piece with reference to an imaginary vertical
axis; -- distinguished from elevation. The direction is given when
the plane of sight passes through the object. Wilhelm.
Syn.
-- Administration; guidance; management; superintendence; oversight;
government; order; command; guide; clew. Direction, Control, Command,
Order. These words, as here compared, have reference to the exercise
of power over the actions of others. Control is negative, denoting
power to restrain; command is positive, implying a right to enforce
obedience; directions are commands containing instructions how to
act. Order conveys more prominently the idea of authority than the
word direction. A shipmaster has the command of his vessel; he gives
orders or directions to the seamen as to the mode of sailing it; and
exercises a due control over the passengers.
DIRECTIVE
Di*rect"ive, a. Etym: [LL. directivus: cf. F. directif.]
1. Having power to direct; tending to direct, guide, or govern;
showing the way. Hooker.
The precepts directive of our practice in relation to God. Barrow.
2. Able to be directed; manageable. [Obs.]
Swords and bows Directive by the limbs. Shak.
DIRECTLY
Di*rect"ly, adv.
1. In a direct manner; in a straight line or course. "To run directly
on." Shak.
Indirectly and directly too Thou hast contrived against the very life
Of the defendant. Shak.
2. In a straightforward way; without anything intervening; not by
secondary, but by direct, means.
3. Without circumlocution or ambiguity; absolutely; in express terms.
No man hath hitherto been so impious as plainly and directly to
condemn prayer. Hooker.
4. Exactly; just.
Stand you directly in Antonius' way. Shak.
5. Straightforwardly; honestly.
I have dealt most directly in thy affair. Shak.
6. Manifestly; openly. [Obs.]
Desdemona is directly in love with him. Shak.
7. Straightway; next in order; without delay; immediately. "Will she
go now to bed' Directly.'" Shak.
8. Immediately after; as soon as.
Directly he stopped, the coffin was removed. Dickens.
Note: This use of the word is common in England, especially in
colloquial speech, but it can hardly be regarded as a well-sanctioned
or desirable use. Directly proportional (Math.), proportional in the
order of the terms; increasing or decreasing together, and with a
constant ratio; -- opposed to inversely proportional.
Syn.
-- Immediately; forthwith; straightway; instantly; instantaneously;
soon; promptly; openly; expressly.
-- Directly, Immediately, Instantly, Instantaneously. Directly
denotes, without any delay or diversion of attention; immediately
implies, without any interposition of other occupation; instantly
implies, without any intervention of time. Hence, "I will do it
directly," means, "I will go straightway about it." "I will do it
immediately," means, "I will do it as the very next thing." "I will
do it instantly," allows not a particle of delay. Instantaneously,
like instantly, marks an interval too small to be appreciable, but
commonly relates to physical causes; as, the powder touched by fire
instantaneously exploded.
DIRECTNESS
Di*rect"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being direct; straightness; straightforwardness;
immediateness.
DIRECT NOMINATION
Direct nomination. (Political Science)
Defn: The nomination or designation of candidates for public office
by direct popular vote rather than through the action of a convention
or body of elected nominating representatives or delegates. The term
is applied both to the nomination of candidates without any
nominating convention, and, loosely, to the nomination effected, as
in the case of candidates for president or senator of the United
States, by the election of nominating representatives pledged or
instructed to vote for certain candidates dssignated by popular vote.
DIRECTOIRE STYLE
Di`rec`toire" style. (Dressmaking)
Defn: A style of dress prevalent at the time of the French Directory,
characterized by great extravagance of design and imitating the Greek
and Roman costumes.
DIRECTOR
Di*rect"or, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directeur.]
1. One who, or that which, directs; one who regulates, guides, or
orders; a manager or superintendent.
In all affairs thou sole director. Swift.
2. One of a body of persons appointed to manage the affairs of a
company or corporation; as, the directors of a bank, insurance
company, or railroad company.
What made directors cheat in South-Sea year Pope.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: A part of a machine or instrument which directs its motion or
action.
4. (Surg.)
Defn: A slender grooved instrument upon which a knife is made to
slide when it is wished to limit the extent of motion of the latter,
or prevent its injuring the parts beneath.
DIRECTORATE
Di*rect"o*rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. directorat.]
Defn: The office of director; also, a body of directors taken
jointly.
DIRECTORIAL
Di*rec*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. directorial.]
1. Having the quality of a director, or authoritative guide;
directive.
2. Pertaining to: director or directory; specifically, relating to
the Directory of France under the first republic. See Directory, 3.
Whoever goes to the directorial presence under this passport. Burke.
DIRECTORSHIP
Di*rect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The condition or office of a director; directorate.
DIRECTORY
Di*rect"o*ry, a. Etym: [L. directorius.]
Defn: Containing directions; enjoining; instructing; directorial.
DIRECTORY
Di*rect"o*ry, n.; pl. Directories (.
1. A collection or body of directions, rules, or ordinances; esp., a
book of directions for the conduct of worship; as, the Directory used
by the nonconformists instead of the Prayer Book.
2. A book containing the names and residences of the inhabitants of
any place, or of classes of them; an address book; as, a business
directory.
3. Etym: [Cf. F. directoire.]
Defn: A body of directors; board of management; especially, a
committee which held executive power in France under the first
republic.
4. Direction; guide. [R.] Whitlock.
DIRECT PRIMARY
Direct primary. (Political Science)
Defn: A primary by which direct nominations of candidates for office
are made.
DIRECTRESS
Di*rect"ress, n.
Defn: A woman who directs. Bp. Hurd.
DIRECTRIX
Di*rect"rix, n.; pl. E. Directrixes (, L. Directrices (.
1. A directress. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
2. (Geom.)
(a) A line along which a point in another line moves, or which in any
way governs the motion of the point and determines the position of
the curve generated by it; the line along which the generatrix moves
in generating a surface.
(b) A straight line so situated with respect to a conic section that
the distance of any point of the curve from it has a constant ratio
to the distance of the same point from the focus.
DIREFUL
Dire"ful, a. Etym: [Dire + -ful.]
Defn: Dire; dreadful; terrible; calamitous; woeful; as, a direful
fiend; a direful day.
-- Dire"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dire"ful*ness, n.
DIRELY
Dire"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dire manner. Drayton.
DIREMPT
Di*rempt", a. Etym: [L. diremptus, p. p. of dirimere to take apart,
separate; di- = dis- + emere to buy, orig., to take.]
Defn: Divided; separated. [Obs.] Stow.
DIREMPT
Di*rempt", v. t.
Defn: To separate by force; to tear apart. [Obs.] Holinshed.
DIREMPTION
Di*remp"tion, n. Etym: [L. diremptio.]
Defn: A tearing apart; violent separation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIRENESS
Dire"ness, n. Etym: [Dire- + -ness.]
Defn: Terribleness; horror; woefulness. Shak.
DIREPTION
Di*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. direptio, fr. diripere to tear asunder,
plunder; di- = dis- + rapere to seize and carry off.]
Defn: The act of plundering, despoiling, or snatching away. [R.]
Speed.
DIREPTITIOUS
Di*rep*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Characterized by direption. [R.] Encyc. Dict.
DIREPTITIOUSLY
Di*rep*ti"tious*ly, adv.
Defn: With plundering violence; by violent injustice. [R.] Strype.
DIRGE
Dirge, n. Etym: [Contraction of Lat. dirige, direct thou (imperative
of dirigere), the first word of a funeral hymn (Lat. transl. of Psalm
v. 8) beginning, "Dirige, Domine, in conspectu tuo vitam meam." See
Direct, a., and cf. Dirige.]
Defn: A piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeral
rites; a funeral hymn.
The raven croaked, and hollow shrieks of owls Sung dirges at her
funeral. Ford.
DIRGEFUL
Dirge"ful, a.
Defn: Funereal; moaning.
Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind. Coleridge.
DIRIGE
Dir"i*ge, n. Etym: [L. See Dirge.]
Defn: A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the
first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first
word; a dirge.
Evensongs and placebo and dirige. Wyclif.
Resort, I pray you, unto my sepulture To sing my dirige with great
devotion. Lamentation of Mary Magdalene.
DIRIGENT
Dir"i*gent, a. Etym: [L. dirigens, p. pr. of dirigere. See Direct,
a.]
Defn: Directing. Baxter.
DIRIGENT
Dir"i*gent, n. (Geom.)
Defn: The line of motion along which a describent line or surface is
carried in the genesis of any plane or solid figure; a directrix.
Hutton.
DIRIGIBLE
Dir"i*gi*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being directed; steerable; as, a dirigible balloon.
DIRIMENT
Dir"i*ment, a. Etym: [L. dirimens, p. pr. of dirimere. See Dirempt.]
(Law)
Defn: Absolute. Diriment impediment (R. C. Ch.), an impediment that
nullifies marriage.
DIRK
Dirk, n. Etym: [Ir. duirc.]
Defn: A kind of dagger or poniard; -- formerly much used by the
Scottish Highlander. Dirk knife, a clasp knife having a large,
dirklike blade.
DIRK
Dirk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirked; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirking.]
Defn: To stab with a dirk. Sir W. Scott.
DIRK
Dirk, a. Etym: [See Dark, a.]
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRK
Dirk, v. t.
Defn: To darken. [Obs.] Spenser.
DIRKNESS
Dirk"ness, n.
Defn: Darkness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRL
Dirl, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Drill, Thrill.]
Defn: To thrill; to vibrate; to penetrate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DIRT
Dirt, n. Etym: [OE. drit; kin to Icel. drit excrement, drita to dung,
OD. drijten to dung, AS. gedritan.]
1. Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.;
whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth;
as, a wagonload of dirt.
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. lvii. 20.
2. Meanness; sordidness.
Honors . . . thrown away upon dirt and infamy. Melmoth.
3. In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing. Dirt bed
(Geom.), a layer of clayey earth forming a stratum in a geological
formation. Dirt beds are common among the coal measures.
-- Dirt eating. (a) The use of certain kinds of clay for food,
existing among some tribes of Indians; geophagism. Humboldt. (b)
(Med.) Same as Chthonophagia.
-- Dirt pie, clay or mud molded by children in imitation of pastry.
Otway (1684).
-- To eat dirt, to submit in a meanly humble manner to insults; to
eat humble pie.
DIRT
Dirt, v. t.
Defn: To make foul of filthy; to dirty. Swift.
DIRTILY
Dirt"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dirty manner; foully; nastily; filthily; meanly; sordidly.
DIRTINESS
Dirt"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dirty; filthiness; foulness; nastiness;
baseness; sordidness.
DIRTY
Dirt"y, a. [Compar. Dirtier; superl. Dirtiest.]
1. Defiled with dirt; foul; nasty; filthy; not clean or pure; serving
to defile; as, dirty hands; dirty water; a dirty white. Spenser.
2. Sullied; clouded; -- applied to color. Locke.
3. Sordid; base; groveling; as, a dirty fellow.
The creature's at his dirty work again. Pope.
4. Sleety; gusty; stormy; as, dirty weather.
Storms of wind, clouds of dust, an angry, dirty sea. M. Arnold.
Syn.
-- Nasty; filthy; foul. See Nasty.
DIRTY
Dirt"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirtied; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirtying.]
1. To foul; to make filthy; to soil; as, to dirty the clothes or
hands.
2. To tarnish; to sully; to scandalize; -- said of reputation,
character, etc.
DIRUPTION
Di*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. diruptio, fr. dirumpere. See Disrupt, a.]
Defn: Disruption.
DIS-
Dis- (; 258)
Defn: .
1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. dés, or sometimes dé-, dis-.
The Latin dis- appears as di- before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes
dif- before f, and either dis- or di- before j. It is from the same
root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Di-, Dia-.
Dis- denotes separation, a parting from, as in distribute,
disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative,
as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever.
Note: Walker's rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought
always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented
and begins with "a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r],
or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain,
disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember,
dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe." Dr.
Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing
dis- as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by
recent orthoëpists. See Disable, Disgrace, and the other words,
beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary.
2. A prefix from Gr. Di-.
DIS
Dis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The god Pluto. Shak.
DISABILITY
Dis`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Disabilities (.
1. State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence
of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness,
and the like.
Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted.
Milton.
Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability. Bancroft.
2. Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or
incompetency.
The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture. Abbott.
Syn.
-- Weakness; inability; incompetence; impotence; incapacity;
incompetency; disqualification.
-- Disability, Inability. Inability is an inherent want of power to
perform the thing in question; disability arises from some
deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes
deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is
made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an
office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may
refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability
prevents him from entering into such engagements.
DISABLE
Dis*a"ble, a.
Defn: Lacking ability; unable. [Obs.] "Our disable and unactive
force." Daniel.
DISABLE
Dis*a"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Disabling.]
1. To render unable or incapable; to destroy the force, vigor, or
power of action of; to deprive of competent physical or intellectual
power; to incapacitate; to disqualify; to make incompetent or unfit
for service; to impair.
A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare,
for which sensual pleasure disables him. Jer. Taylor.
And had performed it, if my known offense Had not disabled me.
Milton.
I have disabled mine estate. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: To deprive of legal right or qualification; to render legally
incapable.
An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the blood, and disables his
children to inherit. Blackstone.
3. To deprive of that which gives value or estimation; to declare
lacking in competency; to disparage; to undervalue. [Obs.] "He
disabled my judgment." Shak.
Syn.
-- To weaken; unfit; disqualify; incapacitate.
DISABLEMENT
Dis*a"ble*ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon.
DISABUSE
Dis`a*buse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabused; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disabusing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser.]
Defn: To set free from mistakes; to undeceive; to disengage from
fallacy or deception; to set right.
To undeceive and disabuse the people. South.
If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or
artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event
as an era in their history. J. Adams.
DISACCOMMODATE
Dis`ac*com"mo*date, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + accommodate.]
Defn: To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
DISACCOMMODATION
Dis`ac*com`mo*da"tion, n.
Defn: A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DISACCORD
Dis`ac*cord", v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccorder to cause discord.]
Defn: To refuse to assent. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISACCORD
Dis`ac*cord", n.
Defn: Disagreement. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DISACCORDANT
Dis`ac*cord"ant, a.
Defn: Not accordant. Fabyan.
DISACCUSTOM
Dis`ac*cus"tom, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccoutumer.]
Defn: To destroy the force of habit in; to wean from a custom.
Johnson.
DISACIDIFY
Dis`a*cid"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To free from acid.
DISACKNOWLEDGE
Dis`ac*knowl"edge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged; p. pr. & vb.
n. Disacknowledging.]
Defn: To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [Obs.] South.
DISACQUAINT
Dis`ac*quaint", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + acquaint: cf. OF.
desacointier.]
Defn: To render unacquainted; to make unfamiliar. [Obs.]
While my sick heart With dismal smart Is disacquainted never.
Herrick.
DISACQUAINTANCE
Dis`ac*quaint"ance, n.
Defn: Neglect of disuse of familiarity, or familiar acquaintance.
[Obs.] South.
DISACRYL
Dis*ac"ryl, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- (Gr. acrolein + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous substance obtained as a polymeric
modification of acrolein.
DISADORN
Dis`a*dorn", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of ornaments. Congreve.
DISADVANCE
Dis`ad*vance" (; 61), v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + advance: cf. OF.
desavancier.]
Defn: To draw back, or cause to draw back. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVANTAGE
Dis`ad*van"tage (; 48, 61), n. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantage.]
1. Deprivation of advantage; unfavorable or prejudicial quality,
condition, circumstance, or the like; that which hinders success, or
causes loss or injury.
I was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight
to any of you. Burke.
Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at
disadvantage. Palfrey.
2. Loss; detriment; hindrance; prejudice to interest, fame, credit,
profit, or other good.
They would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage
before the public. Bancroft.
Syn.
-- Detriment; injury; hurt; loss; damage.
DISADVANTAGE
Dis`ad*van"tage, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantager.]
Defn: To injure the interest of; to be detrimental to.
DISADVANTAGEABLE
Dis`ad*van"tage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Injurious; disadvantageous. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISADVANTAGEOUS
Dis*ad`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantageux.]
Defn: Attended with disadvantage; unfavorable to success or
prosperity; inconvenient; prejudicial; -- opposed to advantageous;
as, the situation of an army is disadvantageous for attack or
defense.
Even in the disadvantageous position in which he had been placed, he
gave clear indications of future excellence. Prescott.
-- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ly, adv.
-- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ness, n.
DISADVENTURE
Dis`ad*ven"ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + adventure: cf. OF.
desaventure.]
Defn: Misfortune; mishap. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DISADVENTUROUS
Dis`ad*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Unprosperous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVISE
Dis`ad*vise", v. t.
Defn: To advise against; to dissuade from. [R.] Boyle.
DISAFFECT
Dis`af*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disaffected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disaffecting.]
1. To alienate or diminish the affection of; to make unfriendly or
less friendly; to fill with discontent and unfriendliness.
They had attempted to disaffect and discontent his majesty's late
army. Clarendon.
2. To disturb the functions of; to disorder.
It disaffects the bowels. Hammond.
3. To lack affection for; to be alienated from, or indisposed toward;
to dislike. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISAFFECTED
Dis`af*fect"ed, a.
Defn: Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal. J. H. Newman.
-- Dis`af*fect"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis`af*fect"ed*ness, n.
DISAFFECTION
Dis`af*fec"tion, n.
1. State of being disaffected; alienation or want of affection or
good will, esp. toward those in authority; unfriendliness; dislike.
In the making laws, princes must have regard to . . . the affections
and disaffections of the people. Jer. Taylor.
2. Disorder; bad constitution. [R.] Wiseman.
Syn.
-- Dislike; disgust; discontent; unfriendliness; alienation;
disloyalty; hostility.
DISAFFECTIONATE
Dis`af*fec"tion*ate, a.
Defn: Not disposed to affection; unfriendly; disaffected. [R.]
Blount.
DISAFFIRM
Dis`af*firm", v. t.
1. To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; -- said of that
which has been asserted.
2. (Law)
Defn: To refuse to confirm; to annul, as a judicial decision, by a
contrary judgment of a superior tribunal.
DISAFFIRMANCE
Dis`af*firm"ance, n.
1. The act of disaffirming; denial; negation.
2. (Law)
Defn: Overthrow or annulment by the decision of a superior tribunal;
as, disaffirmance of judgment.
DISAFFIRMATION
Dis*af`fir*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disaffirming; negation; refutation.
DISAFFOREST
Dis`af*for"est, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disafforested; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disafforesting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + afforest: cf. OF. desaforester.]
(Eng. Law)
Defn: To reduce from the privileges of a forest to the state of
common ground; to exempt from forest laws.
By charter 9 Henry III. many forests were disafforested. Blackstone.
DISAGGREGATE
Dis*ag"gre*gate, v. t.
Defn: To destroy the aggregation of; to separate into component
parts, as an aggregate mass.
DISAGGREGATION
Dis*ag`gre*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrégation.]
Defn: The separation of an aggregate body into its component parts.
DISAGREE
Dis`a*gree", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disagreed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disageeing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + agree: cf. F. désagréer to
displease.]
1. To fail to accord; not to agree; to lack harmony; to differ; to be
unlike; to be at variance.
They reject the plainest sense of Scripture, because it seems
disagree with what they call reason. Atterbury.
2. To differ in opinion; to hold discordant views; to be at
controversy; to quarrel.
Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.
3. To be unsuited; to have unfitness; as, medicine sometimes
disagrees with the patient; food often disagrees with the stomach or
the taste.
Note: Usually followed by with, sometimes by to, rarely by from; as,
I disagree to your proposal.
Syn.
-- To differ; vary; dissent.
DISAGREEABLE
Dis`a*gree"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désagréable.]
1. Not agreeable, conformable, or congruous;
Preach you truly the doctrine which you have received, and each
nothing that is disagreeable thereunto. Udall.
2. Exciting repugnance; offensive to the feelings or
That which is disagreeable to one is many times agreeable to another,
or disagreeable in a less degree. Wollaston.
DISAGREEABLENESS
Dis`a*gree"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being; disagreeable; unpleasantness.
DISAGREEABLY
Dis`a*gree"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a disagreeable manner; unsuitably; offensively.
DISAGREEANCE
Dis`a*gree"ance, n.
Defn: Disagreement. [Obs.]
DISAGREEMENT
Dis`a*gree"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrément disagreeable
circumstance, disagreeableness.]
1. The state of disagreeing; a being at variance; dissimilitude;
diversity.
2. Unsuitableness; unadaptedness. [R.]
3. Difference of opinion or sentiment.
4. A falling out, or controversy; difference.
Syn.
-- Difference; diversity; dissimilitude; unlikeness; discrepancy;
variance; dissent; misunderstanding; dissension; division; dispute;
jar; wrangle; discord.
DISAGREER
Dis`a*gre"er, n.
Defn: One who disagrees. Hammond.
DISALLIEGE
Dis`al*liege", v. t.
Defn: To alienate from allegiance. [Obs. & R.] Milton.
DISALLOW
Dis`al*low", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disallowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disallowing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + allow: cf. OF. desalouer, desloer,
to blame, dissuade.]
Defn: To refuse to allow; to deny the force or validity of; to disown
and reject; as, the judge disallowed the executor's charge.
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but
chosen of God. 1 Pet. ii. 4.
That the edicts of Cæsar we may at all times disallow, but the
statutes of God for no reason we may reject. Milton.
Note: This verb was sometimes followed by of; as, "What follows, if
we disallow of this" Shak. See Allow.
Syn.
-- To disapprove; prohibit; censure; reject.
DISALLOWABLE
Dis`al*low"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not allowable; not to be suffered. Raleigh.
-- Dis`al*low"a*ble*ness, n.
DISALLOWANCE
Dis`al*low"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disallowing; refusal to admit or permit; rejection.
Syn.
-- Disapprobation; prohibition; condemnation; censure; rejection.
DISALLY
Dis`al*ly", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + ally: cf. F. désaltier.]
Defn: To part, as an alliance; to sunder. [R.] "Disallied their
nuptials." Milton.
DISANCHOR
Dis*an"chor, v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + anchor: cf. F.
désancrer.]
Defn: To raise the anchor of, as a ship; to weigh anchor. [Obs.]
Heywood.
DISANGELICAL
Dis`an*gel"ic*al, a.
Defn: Not angelical. [R.] "Disangelical nature." Coventry.
DISANIMATE
Dis*an"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disanimated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disanimating.]
1. To deprive of life. [R.] Cudworth.
2. To deprive of spirit; to dishearten. Shak.
DISANIMATION
Dis*an`i*ma"tion, n.
1. Privation of life. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. The state of being disanimated or discouraged; depression of
spirits.
DISANNEX
Dis`an*nex", v. t.
Defn: To disunite; to undo or repeal the annexation of. State Trials
(1608).
DISANNUL
Dis`an*nul", v. t.
Defn: To annul completely; to render void or of no effect.
For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul Isaiah
xiv. 27.
Note: The prefix in this word an its derivatives is intensive, and
not negative.
DISANNULLER
Dis`an*nul"ler, n.
Defn: One who disannuls.
DISANNULMENT
Dis`an*nul"ment, n.
Defn: Complete annulment.
DISANOINT
Dis`a*noint", v. t.
Defn: To invalidate the consecration of; as, to disanoint a king.
[Obs.] Milton.
DISAPPAREL
Dis`ap*par"el, v. t. Etym: [See Apparel, v. t.] Etym: [Pref. dis- +
apparel: cf. OF. desapareiller.]
Defn: To disrobe; to strip of apparel; to make naked.
Drink disapparels the soul. Junius (1635).
DISAPPEAR
Dis`ap*pear", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disappeared; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disappearing.]
1. To cease to appear or to be perceived; to pass from view,
gradually or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness
disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails
from port.
2. To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.
DISAPPEARANCE
Dis`ap*pear"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disappearing; cessation of appearance; removal from
sight; vanishing. Addison.
DISAPPEARING
Dis`ap*pear"ing,
Defn: p. pr. & vb. n. of Disappear.
Disappearing carriage (Ordnance), a carriage for heavy coast guns on
which the gun is raised above the parapet for firing and upon
discharge is lowered behind the parapet for protection. The standard
type of disappearing carriage in the coast artillery of the United
States army is the Buffington-Crozier carriage, in which the gun
trunnions are secured at the upper and after ends of a pair of heavy
levers, at the lower ends of which is attached a counterweight of
lead. The levers are pivoted at their middle points, which are, with
the top carriage, permitted restrained motion along the slightly
inclined chassis rails. The counterweight is held in place by a pawl
and ratchet. When the gun is loaded the pawl is released and the
counterweight sinks, raising the gun to the firing position above the
parapet. The recoil following the discharge returns the gun to the
loading position, the counterweight rising until the pawl engages the
ratchet.
DISAPPENDENCY
Dis`ap*pend"en*cy, n.
Defn: A detachment or separation from a former connection. [R.]
DISAPPENDENT
Dis`ap*pend"ent, a.
Defn: Freed from a former connection or dependence; disconnected.
[R.]
DISAPPOINT
Dis`ap*point", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapointed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disappointing.] Etym: [OF. desapointier, F. désappointer; pref. des-
(L. dis-) + apointier, F. appointier, to appoint. See Appoint.]
1. To defeat of expectation or hope; to hinder from the attainment of
that which was excepted, hoped, or desired; to balk; as, a man is
disappointed of his hopes or expectations, or his hopes, desires,
intentions, expectations, or plans are disappointed; a bad season
disappoints the farmer of his crops; a defeat disappoints an enemy of
his spoil.
I was disappointed, but very agreeably. Macaulay.
Note: Disappointed of a thing not obtained; disappointed in a thing
obtained.
2. To frustrate; to fail; to hinder of result.
His retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow.
Addison.
Syn.
-- To tantalize; fail; frustrate; balk; baffle; delude; foil;
defeat. See Tantalize.
DISAPPOINTED
Dis`ap*point"ed, a.
1. Defeated of expectation or hope; balked; as, a disappointed person
or hope.
2. Unprepared; unequipped. [Obs.]
Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseled, disappointed,
unaneled. Shak.
DISAPPOINTMENT
Dis`ap*point"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désappointement.]
1. The act of disappointing, or the state of being disappointed;
defeat or failure of expectation or hope; miscarriage of design or
plan; frustration.
If we hope for things of which we have not thoroughly considered the
value, our disappointment will be greater our pleasure in the
fruition of them. Addison.
In disappointment thou canst bless. Keble.
2. That which disappoints.
Syn.
-- Miscarriage; frustration; balk.
DISAPPRECIATE
Dis`ap*pre"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Appreciate.]
Defn: To undervalue; not to esteem.
-- Dis`ap*pre`ci*a"tion, n.
DISAPPROBATION
Dis*ap`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F.
désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove.]
Defn: The act of disapproving; mental condemnation of what is judged
wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; feeling of censure.
We have ever expressed the most unqualified disapprobation of all the
steps. Burke.
DISAPPROBATORY
Dis*ap"pro*ba`to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.
DISAPPROPRIATE
Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate, a. (Law)
Defn: Severed from the appropriation or possession of a spiritual
corporation.
The appropriation may be severed, and the church become
disappropriate, two ways. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATE
Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate, v. t.
1. To release from individual ownership or possession. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To sever from appropriation or possession a spiritual
corporation.
Appropriations of the several parsonages . . . would heave been, by
the rules of the common law, disappropriated. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATION
Dis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disappropriating.
DISAPPROVAL
Dis`ap*prov"al, n.
Defn: Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment.
DISAPPROVE
Dis`ap*prove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disapproving.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf.
Disapprobation.]
1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the
judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure;
as, to disapprove the conduct of others.
2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to
sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by
the commander in chief.
Note: This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an
opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.
DISAPPROVER
Dis`ap*prov"er, n.
Defn: One who disapproves.
DISAPPROVINGLY
Dis`ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disapproving manner.
DISARD
Dis"ard, n.
Defn: See Dizzard. [Obs.] Burton.
DISARM
Dis*arm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarming; p. pr. & vb. n. Disarming.]
Etym: [OE. desarmen, F. désarmer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + armer to
arm. See Arm.]
1. To deprive of arms; to take away the weapons of; to deprive of the
means of attack or defense; to render defenseless.
Security disarms the best-appointed army. Fuller.
The proud was half disarmed of pride. Tennyson.
2. To deprive of the means or the disposition to harm; to render
harmless or innocuous; as, to disarm a man's wrath.
DISARMAMENT
Dis*arm"a*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarmement.]
Defn: The act of disarming.
DISARMATURE
Dis*ar"ma*ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + armature.]
Defn: The act of divesting of armature. [R.]
DISARMED
Dis*armed", a.
1. Deprived of arms.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Deprived of claws, and teeth or beaks. Cussans.
DISARMER
Dis*arm"er, n.
Defn: One who disarms.
DISARRANGE
Dis`ar*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarranged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disarranging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + arrange: cf. F. désarranger.]
Defn: To unsettle or disturb the order or due arrangement of; to
throw out of order.
DISARRANGEMENT
Dis`ar*range"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disarranging, or the state of being disarranged;
confusion; disorder. Cowper.
DISARRAY
Dis`ar*ray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarrayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disarraying.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + array, v.: cf. OF. desarroyer,
desarreier.]
1. To throw into disorder; to break the array of.
Who with fiery steeds Oft disarrayed the foes in battle ranged.
Fenton.
2. To take off the dress of; to unrobe.
So, as she bade, the witch they disarrayed. Spenser.
DISARRAY
Dis`ar*ray", n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarroi.]
1. Want of array or regular order; disorder; confusion.
Disrank the troops, set all in disarray. Daniel.
2. Confused attire; undress. Spenser.
DISARRAYMENT
Dis`ar*ray"ment, n.
Defn: Disorder. [R.] Feltham.
DISARTICULATE
Dis`ar*tic"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To sunder; to separate, as joints.
-- Dis`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n.
DISARTICULATOR
Dis`ar*tic"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who disarticulates and prepares skeletons.
DISASSENT
Dis`as*sent", v. i.
Defn: To dissent. [Obs.]
DISASSENT
Dis`as*sent", n.
Defn: Dissent. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISASSENTER
Dis`as*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who disassents; a dissenter. [Obs.] State Trials (1634).
DISASSIDUITY
Dis*as`si*du"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of as siduity or care. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
DISASSIMILATE
Dis`as*sim"i*late, v. t. (Physiol.)
Defn: To subject to disassimilation.
DISASSIMILATION
Dis`as*sim`i*la"tion, n. (Physics)
Defn: The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism,
into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of
energy, -- a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation;
downward metabolism.
The breaking down of already existing chemical compounds into simpler
ones, sometimes called disassimilation. Martin.
DISASSIMILATIVE
Dis`as*sim"i*la*tive, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Having power to disassimilate; of the nature of
disassimilation.
Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life of
animal cells. McKendrick.
DISASSOCIATE
Dis`as*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disassociated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disassociating.]
Defn: To disconnect from things associated; to disunite; to
dissociate. Florio.
DISASTER
Dis*as"ter, n. Etym: [F. désastre; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + astre star,
fr. L. astrum; a word of astrological origin. See Aster, Astral,
Star.]
1. An unpropitious or baleful aspect of a planet or star; malevolent
influence of a heavenly body; hence, an ill portent. [Obs.]
Disasters in the sun. Shak.
2. An adverse or unfortunate event, esp. a sudden and extraordinary
misfortune; a calamity; a serious mishap.
But noble souls, through dust and heat, Rise from disaster and defeat
The stronger. Longfellow.
Syn.
-- Calamity; misfortune; mishap; mischance; visitation;
misadventure; ill luck. See Calamity.
DISASTER
Dis*as"ter, v. t.
1. To blast by the influence of a baleful star. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. To bring harm upon; to injure. [R.] Thomson.
DISASTERLY
Dis*as"ter*ly, adv.
Defn: Disastrously. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISASTROUS
Dis*as"trous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désastreux. See Disaster.]
1. Full of unpropitious stellar influences; unpropitious; ill-boding.
[Obs.]
The moon In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds. Milton.
2. Attended with suffering or disaster; very unfortunate; calamitous;
ill-fated; as, a disastrous day; a disastrous termination of an
undertaking.
Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances. Shak.
-- Dis*as"trous*ly, adv.
-- Dis*as"trous*ness, n.
DISATTIRE
Dis`at*tire", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + attire: cf. OF. desatirier.]
Defn: To unrobe; to undress. Spenser.
DISAUGMENT
Dis`aug*ment", v. t.
Defn: To diminish. [R.]
DISAUTHORIZE
Dis*au"thor*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of credit or authority; to discredit. [R.] W.
Wotton.
DISAVAUNCE
Dis`a*vaunce", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disadvance.]
Defn: To retard; to repel; to do damage to. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISAVENTURE
Dis`a*ven"ture, n. Etym: [See Disadventure, Adventure.]
Defn: Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVENTUROUS
Dis`a*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Misadventurous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVOUCH
Dis`a*vouch", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow.]
Defn: To disavow. [R.] Daniel.
DISAVOW
Dis`a*vow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disavowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disavowing.] Etym: [F. désavouer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + avouer to
avow. See Avow, and cf. Disavouch.]
1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny
responsibility for, approbation of, an the like; to disclaim; to
disown; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the
crime.
A solemn promise made and disavowed. Dryden.
2. To deny; to show the contrary of; to disprove.
Yet can they never Toss into air the freedom of my birth, Or disavow
my blood Plantagenet's. Ford.
DISAVOWAL
Dis`a*vow"al, n.
Defn: The act of disavowing, disclaiming, or disowning; rejection and
denial.
An earnest disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear. Richardson.
DISAVOWANCE
Dis`a*vow"ance, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [Obs.] South.
DISAVOWER
Dis`a*vow"er, n.
Defn: One who disavows.
DISAVOWMENT
Dis`a*vow"ment, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [R.] Wotton.
DISBAND
Dis*band" (; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbanded; p. pr. & vb.
n. Disbanding.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + band: cf. OF. desbander, F.
débander, to unbind, unbend. See Band, and cf. Disbend, Disbind.]
1. To loose the bands of; to set free; to disunite; to scatter; to
disperse; to break up the organization of; especially, to dismiss
from military service; as, to disband an army.
They disbanded themselves and returned, every man to his own
dwelling. Knolles.
2. To divorce. [Obs.]
And therefore . . . she ought to be disbanded. Milton.
DISBAND
Dis*band", v. i.
Defn: To become separated, broken up, dissolved, or scattered;
especially, to quit military service by breaking up organization.
When both rocks and all things shall disband. Herbert.
Human society would in a short space disband. Tillotson.
DISBANDMENT
Dis*band"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disbanding.
DISBAR
Dis*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbarring.]
(Law)
Defn: To expel from the bar, or the legal profession; to deprive (an
attorney, barrister, or counselor) of his status and privileges as
such. Abbott.
DISBARK
Dis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark a small ship: cf. OF.
desbarquer, F. débarquer. Cf. Debark, Disembark.]
Defn: To disembark. Pope.
DISBARK
Dis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark rind.]
Defn: To strip of bark; to bark. [R.] Boyle.
DISBARMENT
Dis*bar"ment, n.
Defn: Act of disbarring.
DISBASE
Dis*base", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Debase.]
Defn: To debase or degrade. [Obs.]
Nor you nor your house were so much as spoken of before I disbased
myself. B. Jonson.
DISBECOME
Dis`be*come", v. t.
Defn: To misbecome. [Obs.] Massinger.
DISBELIEF
Dis*be*lief", n.
Defn: The act of disbelieving;; a state of the mind in which one is
fully persuaded that an opinion, assertion, or doctrine is not true;
refusal of assent, credit, or credence; denial of belief.
Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the
thing. Tillotson.
No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness that
disbelief in great men. Carlyle.
Syn.
-- Distrust; unbelief; incredulity; doubt; skepticism.
-- Disbelief, Unbelief. Unbelief is a mere failure to admit;
disbelief is a positive rejection. One may be an unbeliever in
Christianity from ignorance or want of inquiry; a unbeliever has the
proofs before him, and incurs the guilt of setting them aside.
Unbelief is usually open to conviction; disbelief is already
convinced as to the falsity of that which it rejects. Men often tell
a story in such a manner that we regard everything they say with
unbelief. Familiarity with the worst parts of human nature often
leads us into a disbelief in many good qualities which really exist
among men.
DISBELIEVE
Dis`be*lieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbelieved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disbelieving.]
Defn: Not to believe; to refuse belief or credence to; to hold not to
be true or actual.
Assertions for which there is abundant positive evidence are often
disbelieved, on account of what is called their improbability or
impossibility. J. S. Mill.
DISBELIEVER
Dis`be*liev"er, n.
Defn: One who disbelieves, or refuses belief; an unbeliever.
Specifically, one who does not believe the Christian religion. I.
Watts.
DISBENCH
Dis*bench", v. t.
1. To drive from a bench or seat. [R.] Shak.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: To deprive (a bencher) of his privileges. Mozley & W.
DISBEND
Dis*bend, v. t.
Defn: To unbend. [Obs.] Stirling.
DISBIND
Dis*bind", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disband.]
Defn: To unbind; to loosen. [Obs.] Mede.
DISBLAME
Dis*blame", v. t. Etym: [OE. desblamen, OF. desblasmer; pref. des-
(L. dis-) + blasmer, F. blâmer, to blame.]
Defn: To clear from blame. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISBODIED
Dis*bod"ied, a.
Defn: Disembodied. [R.]
DISBOSCATION
Dis`bos*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + F. bosquet grove.]
Defn: Converting forest land into cleared or arable land; removal of
a forest. Sir W. Scott.
DISBOWEL
Dis*bow"el, v. t. Etym: [See Bowel, v. t.]
Defn: To disembowel. [R.] Spenser.
DISBRANCH
Dis*branch", v. t. Etym: [See Branch, v.]
Defn: To divest of a branch or branches; to tear off. Shak.
DISBUD
Dis*bud", v. t. Etym: [See Bud, v.] (Hort.)
Defn: To deprive of buds or shoots, as for training, or economizing
the vital strength of a tree.
DISBURDEN
Dis*bur"den, v. t. Etym: [See Burden, v. t.] Etym: [Cf. Disburthen.]
Defn: To rid of a burden; to free from a load borne or from something
oppressive; to unload; to disencumber; to relieve.
He did it to disburden a conscience. Feltham.
My mediations . . . will, I hope, be more calm, being thus
disburdened. Hammond.
Syn.
-- To unload; unburden; discharge; free.
DISBURDEN
Dis*bur"den, v. i.
Defn: To relieve one's self of a burden; to ease the mind. Milton.
DISBURGEON
Dis*bur"geon, v. t.
Defn: To strip of burgeons or buds; to disbud. [R.] Holland.
DISBURSE
Dis*burse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbursed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disbursing.] Etym: [OF. desbourser, F. débourser; pref. des- (L. dis-
) + bourse purse. See Burse, and cf. Dispurse.]
Defn: To pay out; to expend; -- usually from a public fund or
treasury.
The duty of collecting and disbursing his revenues. Macaulay.
Disbursing officer, an officer in any department of the public
service who is charged with the duty of paying out public money.
DISBURSEMENT
Dis*burse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déboursement.]
1. The act of disbursing or paying out.
The disbursement of the public moneys. U. S. Statutes.
2. That which is disbursed or paid out; as, the annual disbursements
exceed the income.
DISBURSER
Dis*burs"er, n.
Defn: One who disburses money.
DISBURTHEN
Dis*bur"then, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disburthened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disburthening.] Etym: [Cf. Disburden.]
Defn: To disburden; to relieve of a load. [Archaic]
DISC
Disc, n. Etym: [See Disk, Dish.]
Defn: A flat round plate; (Biol.)
Defn: a circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood
disc, a germinal disc, etc. Same as Disk.
DISCAGE
Dis*cage", v. t.
Defn: To uncage. [R.] Tennyson.
DISCAL
Disc"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a disk; as, discal cells.
DISCALCEATE
Dis*cal"ce*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. discalceatus unshod; dis- + calceus
shoe.]
Defn: To pull off shoes or sandals from. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DISCALCEATED
Dis*cal"ce*at`ed, a.
Defn: Deprived off shoes or sandals; unshod; discalced.
DISCALCEATION
Dis*cal`ce*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of pulling off the shoes or sandals. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
DISCALCED
Dis*calced", a.
Defn: Unshod; barefooted; -- in distinction from calced. "The
foundation of houses of discalced friars." Cardinal Manning's St.
Teresa.
DISCAMP
Dis*camp", v. t. Etym: [See Decamp.]
Defn: To drive from a camp. [Obs.] Holland.
DISCANDY
Dis*can"dy, v. i.
Defn: To melt; to dissolve; to thaw. [Obs.]
DISCANT
Dis"cant, n.
Defn: See Descant, n.
DISCAPACITATE
Dis*ca*pac"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of capacity; to incapacitate. [R.]
DISCARD
Dis*card", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discarding.]
1. (Card Playing)
Defn: To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to lay aside
(a card or cards).
2. To cast off as useless or as no longer of service; to dismiss from
employment, confidence, or favor; to discharge; to turn away.
They blame the favorites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the
queen should . . . resolve to discard them. Swift.
3. To put or thrust away; to reject.
A man discards the follies of boyhood. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To dismiss; displace; discharge; cashier.
DISCARD
Dis*card", v. i. (Card Playing)
Defn: To make a discard.
DISCARD
Dis*card", n. (Card Playing)
Defn: The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.
DISCARDURE
Dis*car"dure, n.
Defn: Rejection; dismissal. [R.] Hayter.
DISCARNATE
Dis*car"nate, a. Etym: [L. dis- + carnatus fleshy, fr. caro, carnis,
flesh.]
Defn: Stripped of flesh. [Obs.] "Discarnate bones." Glanvill.
DISCASE
Dis*case", v. t.
Defn: To strip; to undress. Shak.
DISCEDE
Dis*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. discedere; dis- + cedere to yield.]
Defn: To yield or give up; to depart. [Obs.]
I dare not discede from my copy a tittle. Fuller.
DISCEPT
Dis*cept", v. i. Etym: [L. disceptare.]
Defn: To debate; to discuss. [R.]
One dissertates, he is candid; Two must discept, -- has
distinguished. R. Browning.
DISCEPTATION
Dis`cep*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. disceptatio.]
Defn: Controversy; disputation; discussion. [Archaic]
Verbose janglings and endless disceptations. Strype.
DISCEPTATOR
Dis`cep*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who arbitrates or decides. [R.] Cowley.
DISCERN
Dis*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discerned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discerning.] Etym: [F. discerner, L. discernere, discretum; dis- +
cernere to separate, distinguish. See Certain, and cf. Discreet.]
1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note
the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.
To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. Boyle.
A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right
stone. Robynson (More's Utopia).
2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and
recognize; as, to discern a difference.
And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a
young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7.
Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute
texture of visible objects. Beattie.
I wake, and I discern the truth. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate;
espy; descry; detect. See Perceive.
DISCERN
Dis*cern", v. i.
1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to
discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.
More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern between their right
hand their left. Jonah iv. 11.
2. To make cognizance. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISCERNANCE
Dis*cern"ance, n.
Defn: Discernment. [Obs.]
DISCERNER
Dis*cern"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discerns, distinguishes, perceives, or
judges; as, a discerner of truth, of right and wrong.
A great observer and discerner of men's natures. Clarendon.
DISCERNIBLE
Dis*cern"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. discernibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being discerned by the eye or the understanding; as,
a star is discernible by the eye; the identity of difference of ideas
is discernible by the understanding.
The effect of the privations and sufferings . . . was discernible to
the last in his temper and deportment. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Perceptible; distinguishable; apparent; visible; evident;
manifest.
DISCERNIBLENESS
Dis*cern"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being discernible.
DISCERNIBLY
Dis*cern"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to be discerned; perceptibly; visibly. Hammond.
DISCERNING
Dis*cern"ing, a.
Defn: Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Macaulay.
DISCERNINGLY
Dis*cern"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously; acutely.
Garth.
DISCERNMENT
Dis*cern"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discernement.]
1. The act of discerning.
2. The power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one
thing from another; power of viewing differences in objects, and
their relations and tendencies; penetrative and discriminate mental
vision; acuteness; sagacity; insight; as, the errors of youth often
proceed from the want of discernment.
Syn.
-- Judgment; acuteness; discrimination; penetration; sagacity;
insight.
-- Discernment, Penetration, Discrimination. Discernment is keenness
and accuracy of mental vision; penetration is the power of seeing
deeply into a subject in spite of everything that intercepts the
view; discrimination is a capacity of tracing out minute distinctions
and the nicest shades of thought. A discerning man is not easily
misled; one of a penetrating mind sees a multitude of things which
escape others; a discriminating judgment detects the slightest
differences.
DISCERP
Dis*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. discerpere, discerptum; dis- + carpere to
pluck.]
1. To tear in pieces; to rend. [R.] Stukeley.
2. To separate; to disunite. [R.] Bp. Hurd.
DISCERPIBILITY; DISCERPTIBILITY
Dis*cerp`i*bil"i*ty, Dis*cerp`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability or liableness to be discerped. [R.] Wollaston.
DISCERPIBLE; DISCERPTIBLE
Dis*cerp"i*ble, Dis*cerp"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Discerp.]
Defn: Capable of being discerped. [R.]
DISCERPTION
Dis*cerp"tion, n. Etym: [L. discerptio.]
Defn: The act of pulling to pieces, or of separating the parts. Bp.
Hall.
DISCERPTIVE
Dis*cerp"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to separate or disunite parts. Encys. Dict.
DISCESSION
Dis*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. discessio, fr. discedere, discessum. See
Discede.]
Defn: Departure. [Obs.]
DISCHARGE
Dis*charge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discharged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discharging.] Etym: [OE. deschargen, dischargen, OF. deschargier, F.
décharger; pref. des- (L. dis) + chargier, F. charger. See Charge.]
1. To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or
cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.
2. To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded;
to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.;
especially, said of firearms, -- to fire off; to shoot off; also, to
relieve from a state of tension, as a Leyden jar.
The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their
great pieces against the city. Knolles.
Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular
actions. H. Spencer.
3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt,
claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to
acquit; to clear.
Discharged of business, void of strife. Dryden.
In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. L'Estrange.
4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service;
to dismiss.
Discharge the common sort With pay and thanks. Shak.
Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see. Milton.
5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to
discharge a prisoner.
6. To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as
that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a
cargo.
7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot.
They do discharge their shot of courtesy. Shak.
8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss.
We say such an order was "discharged on appeal." Mozley & W.
The order for Daly's attendance was discharged. Macaulay.
9. To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve
one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and
the like; hence, to perform or ex
Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large As could their hundred
offices discharge. Dryden.
10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt
or obligation to. [Obs.]
If he had The present money to discharge the Jew. Shak.
11. To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water;
to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a
horrible oath.
12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] Sir W. Scott. Discharging
arch (Arch.), an arch over a door, window, or other opening, to
distribute the pressure of the wall above. See Illust. of Lintel.
-- Discharging piece, Discharging strut (Arch.), a piece set to
carry thrust or weight to a solid point of support.
-- Discharging rod (Elec.), a bent wire, with knobs at both ends,
and insulated by a glass handle. It is employed for discharging a
Leyden jar or an electrical battery. See Discharger.
Syn.
-- See Deliver.
DISCHARGE
Dis*charge", v. i.
Defn: To throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden; to unload;
to emit or give vent to fluid or other contents; as, the water pipe
discharges freely.
The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not discharge. Bacon.
DISCHARGE
Dis*charge", n. Etym: [Cf. F. décharge. See Discharge, v. t.]
1. The act of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load;
removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship;
discharge of a cargo.
2. Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off;
as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.
3. Act of relieving of something which oppresses or weighs upon one,
as an obligation, liability, debt, accusation, etc.; acquittance; as,
the discharge of a debtor.
4. Act of removing, or getting rid of, an obligation, liability,
etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of
a trust or duty.
Indefatigable in the discharge of business. Motley.
Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties.
L'Estrange.
5. Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismission;
as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.
6. Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a
prisoner.
7. The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation,
office, and the like; acquittal.
Too secure of our discharge From penalty. Milton.
8. That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability,
penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document.
Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full
discharge. Milton.
9. A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that
which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from
the pipe.
The hemorrhage being stopped, the next occurrence is a thin serous
discharge. S. Sharp.
Charge and discharge. (Equity Practice) See under Charge, n.
-- Paralytic discharge (Physiol.), the increased secretion from a
gland resulting from the cutting of all of its nerves.
DISCHARGER
Dis*char"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discharges. Specifically, in
electricity, an instrument for discharging a Leyden jar, or
electrical battery, by making a connection between the two surfaces;
a discharging rod.
DISCHEVELE
Dis*chev"ele, a.
Defn: Disheveled. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISCHURCH
Dis*church", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of status as a church, or of membership in a church.
Bp. Hall.
DISCIDE
Dis*cide", v. t. Etym: [L. discidere; dis- + caedere to cut.]
Defn: To divide; to cleave in two. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISCIFEROUS
Dis*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Disc- + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing disks.
DISCIFLORAL; DISCIFLOROUS
Dis`ci*flo"ral, Dis`ci*flo"rous, a. Etym: [See Disk, and Floral.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Bearing the stamens on a discoid outgrowth of the receptacle; -
- said of a subclass of plants. Cf. Calycifloral.
DISCIFORM
Dis"ci*form, a.
Defn: Discoid.
DISCINA
Dis*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. discus disk, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Branchiopoda, having a disklike shell, attached by
one valve, which is perforated by the peduncle.
DISCINCT
Dis*cinct, a. Etym: [L. discinctus, p. p. of discingere to ungird;
dis- + cingere to gird.]
Defn: Ungirded; loosely dressed. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
DISCIND
Dis*cind", v. t. Etym: [L. discindere; dis- + scindere to cut,
split.]
Defn: To part; to divide. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISCIPLE
Dis*ci"ple, n. Etym: [OE. disciple, deciple, OF. disciple, fr. L.
discipulus, fr. discere to learn (akin to docere to teach; see
Docile) + prob. a root meaning to turn or drive, as in L. pellere to
drive (see Pulse).]
Defn: One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a
learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the
truth of the doctrine of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine; as,
the disciples of Plato; the disciples of our Savior. The disciples,
or The twelve disciples, the twelve selected companions of Jesus; --
also called the apostles.
-- Disciples of Christ. See Christian, n., 3, and Campbellite.
Syn.
-- Learner; scholar; pupil; follower; adherent.
DISCIPLE
Dis*ci"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discipled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discipling.]
1. To teach; to train. [Obs.]
That better were in virtues discipled. Spenser.
2. To punish; to discipline. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. To make disciples of; to convert to doctrines or principles. [R.]
Sending missionaries to disciple all nations. E. D. Griffin.
DISCIPLESHIP
Dis*ci"ple*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a disciple or follower in doctrines and
precepts. Jer. Taylor.
DISCIPLESS
Dis*ci"pless, n.
Defn: A female disciple. [Obs.]
DISCIPLINABLE
Dis"ci*plin*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. disciplinable. See Discipline.]
1. Capable of being disciplined or improved by instruction and
training.
2. Liable or deserving to be disciplined; subject to disciplinary
punishment; as, a disciplinable offense.
DISCIPLINABLENESS
Dis"ci*plin*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being improvable by discipline. Sir M. Hale.
DISCIPLINAL
Dis"ci*plin*al, a.
Defn: Relating to discipline. Latham.
DISCIPLINANT
Dis"ci*plin*ant, n. Etym: [See Discipline.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A flagellant. See Flagellant.
DISCIPLINARIAN
Dis`ci*plin*a"ri*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to discipline. "Displinarian system." Milman.
DISCIPLINARIAN
Dis`ci*plin*a"ri*an, n.
1. One who disciplines; one who excels in training, especially with
training, especially with regard to order and obedience; one who
enforces rigid discipline; a stickler for the observance of rules and
methods of training; as, he is a better disciplinarian than scholar.
2. A Puritan or Presbyterian; -- because of rigid adherence to
religious or church discipline. [Obs.]
DISCIPLINARY
Dis"ci*plin*a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. disciplinarius flogging: cf. F.
disciplinaire.]
Defn: Pertaining to discipline; intended for discipline; corrective;
belonging to a course of training.
Those canons . . . were only disciplinary. Bp. Ferne.
The evils of the . . . are disciplinary and remedial. Buckminster.
DISCIPLINE
Dis`ci*pline, n. Etym: [F. discipline, L. disciplina, from
discipulus. See Disciple.]
1. The treatment suited to a disciple or learner; education;
development of the faculties by instruction and exercise; training,
whether physical, mental, or moral.
Wife and children are a kind of discipline of humanity. Bacon.
Discipline aims at the removal of bad habits and the substitution of
good ones, especially those of order, regularity, and obedience. C.
J. Smith.
2. Training to act in accordance with established rules; accustoming
to systematic and regular action; drill.
Their wildness lose, and, quitting nature's part, Obey the rules and
discipline of art. Dryden.
3. Subjection to rule; submissiveness to order and control; habit of
obedience.
The most perfect, who have their passions in the best discipline, are
yet obliged to be constantly on their guard. Rogers.
4. Severe training, corrective of faults; instruction by means of
misfortune, suffering, punishment, etc.
A sharp discipline of half a century had sufficed to educate
Macaulay.
5. Correction; chastisement; punishment inflicted by way of
correction and training.
Giving her the discipline of the strap. Addison.
6. The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge. Bp.
Wilkins.
7. (Eccl.)
Defn: The enforcement of methods of correction against one guilty of
ecclesiastical offenses; reformatory or penal action toward a church
member.
8. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: Self- inflicted and voluntary corporal punishment, as penance,
or otherwise; specifically, a penitential scourge.
9. (Eccl.)
Defn: A system of essential rules and duties; as, the Romish or
Anglican discipline.
Syn.
-- Education; instruction; training; culture; correction;
chastisement; punishment.
DISCIPLINE
Dis"ci*pline, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disciplined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disciplining.] Etym: [Cf. LL. disciplinarian to flog, fr. L.
disciplina discipline, and F. discipliner to discipline.]
1. To educate; to develop by instruction and exercise; to train.
2. To accustom to regular and systematic action; to bring under
control so as to act systematically; to train to act together under
orders; to teach subordination to; to form a habit of obedience in;
to drill.
Ill armed, and worse disciplined. Clarendon.
His mind . . . imperfectly disciplined by nature. Macaulay.
3. To improve by corrective and penal methods; to chastise; to
correct.
Has he disciplined Aufidius soundly Shak.
4. To inflict ecclesiastical censures and penalties upon.
Syn.
-- To train; form; teach; instruct; bring up; regulate; correct;
chasten; chastise; punish.
DISCIPLINER
Dis"ci*plin*er, n.
Defn: One who disciplines.
DISCLAIM
Dis*claim", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclaimed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disclaiming.]
1. To renounce all claim to deny; ownership of, or responsibility
for; to disown; to disavow; to reject.
He calls the gods to witness their offense; Disclaims the war,
asserts his innocence. Dryden.
He disclaims the authority of Jesus. Farmer.
2. To deny, as a claim; to refuse.
The payment was irregularly made, if not disclaimed. Milman.
3. (Law)
Defn: To relinquish or deny having a claim; to disavow another's
claim; to decline accepting, as an estate, interest, or office.
Burrill.
Syn.
-- To disown; disavow; renounce; repudiate.
DISCLAIM
Dis*claim", v. t.
Defn: To disavow or renounce all part, claim, or share. Blackstone.
Disclaim in, Disclaim from, to disown; to disavow. [Obs.] "Nature
disclaims in thee." Shak.
DISCLAIMER
Dis*claim"er, n.
1. One who disclaims, disowns, or renounces.
2. (Law)
Defn: A denial, disavowal, or renunciation, as of a title, claim,
interest, estate, or trust; relinquishment or waiver of an interest
or estate. Burrill.
3. A public disavowal, as of pretensions, claims, opinions, and the
like. Burke.
DISCLAMATION
Dis`cla*ma"tion, n.
Defn: A disavowing or disowning. Bp. Hall.
DISCLAME
Dis*clame", v. t.
Defn: To disclaim; to expel. [Obs.] "Money did love disclame."
Spenser.
DISCLAUNDER
Dis*claun"der, v. t. Etym: [From OE. disclaundre, n., for sclandre,
esclandre, OF. esclandre. See Sclaundre, Slander.]
Defn: To injure one's good name; to slander. [Obs.]
DISCLOAK
Dis*cloak", v. t.
Defn: To take off a cloak from; to uncloak. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DISCLOSE
Dis*close", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disclosed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disclosing.] Etym: [OE. desclosen, disclosen, fr. disclos, desclos,
not shut in, open, OF. desclos, p. p. of desclore to open, F.
déclore; pref. des- (L. dis-) + clore to shut, fr. L. claudere to
shut. See Close, and cf. Disclusion.]
1. To unclose; to open; -- applied esp. to eggs in the sense of to
hatch.
The ostrich layeth her eggs under sand, where the heat of the
discloseth them. Bacon.
2. To remove a cover or envelope from;; to set free from inclosure;
to uncover.
The shells being broken, . . . the stone included in them is thereby
disclosed and set at liberty. Woodward.
3. To lay open or expose to view; to cause to appear; to bring to
light; to reveal.
How softly on the Spanish shore she plays, Disclosing rock, and
slope, and forest brown! Byron.
Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose. Pope.
4. To make known, as that which has been kept secret or hidden; to
reveal; to expose; as, events have disclosed his designs.
If I disclose my passion, Our friendship 's an end. Addison.
Syn.
-- To uncover; open; unveil; discover; reveal; divulge; tell; utter.
DISCLOSE
Dis*close", n.
Defn: Disclosure. [Obs.] Shak. Young.
DISCLOSED
Dis*closed", p. a. (Her.)
Defn: Represented with wings expanded; -- applied to doves and other
birds not of prey. Cussans.
DISCLOSER
Dis*clos"er, n.
Defn: One who discloses.
DISCLOSURE
Dis*clo"sure, n. Etym: [See Disclose, v. t., and cf. Closure.]
1. The act of disclosing, uncovering, or revealing; bringing to
light; exposure.
He feels it [his secret] beating at his heart, rising to his throat,
and demanding disclosure. D. Webster.
2. That which is disclosed or revealed.
Were the disclosures of 1695 forgotten Macaulay.
DISCLOUD
Dis*cloud", v. t.
Defn: To clear from clouds. [Archaic] Fuller.
DISCLOUT
Dis*clout", v. t.
Defn: To divest of a clout. [R.]
DISCLUSION
Dis*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. disclusio, fr. discludere, disclusum, to
separate. See Disclose.]
Defn: A shutting off; exclusion. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DISCOAST
Dis*coast", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + coast: cf. It. discostare.]
Defn: To depart; to quit the coast (that is, the side or border) of
anything; to be separated. [Obs.]
As far as heaven and earth discoasted lie. G. Fletcher.
To discoast from the plain and simple way of speech. Barrow.
DISCOBLASTIC
Dis`co*blas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Applied to a form of egg cleavage seen in osseous fishes, which
occurs only in a small disk that separates from the rest of the egg.
DISCOBOLUS
Dis*cob"o*lus, n.; pl. Discoboli. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Fine Arts)
(a) A thrower of the discus.
(b) A statue of an athlete holding the discus, or about to throw it
Note: The Discobolus of Myron was a famous statue of antiquity, and
several copies or imitations of it have been preserved.
DISCODACTYL
Dis`co*dac"tyl, n. Etym: [See Discodactylia.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the tree frogs.
DISCODACTYLIA
Dis`co*dac*tyl"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of amphibians having suctorial disks on the toes, as
the tree frogs.
DISCODACTYLOUS
Dis`co*dac"tyl*ous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having sucking disks on the toes, as the tree frogs.
DISCOHERENT
Dis`co*her"ent, a.
Defn: Incoherent. [R.]
DISCOID
Dis"coid, a. Etym: [Gr. discoïde. See Disk.]
Defn: Having the form of a disk, as those univalve shells which have
the whorls in one plane, so as to form a disk, as the pearly
nautilus. Discoid flower (Bot.), a compound flower, consisting of
tubular florets only, as a tansy, lacking the rays which are seen in
the daisy and sunflower.
DISCOID
Dis"coid, n.
Defn: Anything having the form of a discus or disk; particularly, a
discoid shell.
DISCOIDAL
Dis*coid"al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. discoïdal.]
Defn: Disk-shaped; discoid.
DISCOLITH
Dis"co*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lith.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of a species of coccoliths, having an oval discoidal body,
with a thick strongly refracting rim, and a thinner central portion.
One of them measures about
DISCOLOR
Dis*col"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discolored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discoloring.] Etym: [OE. descolouren, OF. descolorer, F. décolorer,
fr. L. dis- + cololare, coloratum, to color, color color. See Color.]
[Written also discolour.]
1. To alter the natural hue or color of; to change to a different
color; to stain; to tinge; as, a drop of wine will discolor water;
silver is discolored by sea water.
2. To alter the true complexion or appearance of; to put a false hue
upon.
To discolor all your ideas. Wat
DISCOLORATE
Dis*col"or*ate, v. t.
Defn: To discolor. [R.] Fuller.
DISCOLORATION
Dis*col`or*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. decoloration.]
1. The act of discoloring, or the state of being discolored;
alteration of hue or appearance. Darwin.
2. A discolored spot; a stain. Arbuthnot.
DISCOLORED
Dis*col"ored, a.
1. Altered in color;
2. Variegated; of divers colors. [R.]
That ever wore discolored arms. Chapman.
DISCOMFIT
Dis*com"fit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomfited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discomfiting.] Etym: [OF. desconfit, p. p. of desconfire, F.
déconfire; fr. L. dis- + conficere to make ready, prepare, bring
about. See Comfit, Fact.]
1. To scatter in fight; to put to rout; to defeat.
And his proud foes discomfit in victorious field. Spenser.
2. To break up and frustrate the plans of; to balk
Well, go with me and be not so discomfited. Shak.
Syn.
-- To defeat; overthrow; overpower; vanquish; conquer; baffle;
frustrate; confound; discourage.
DISCOMFIT
Dis*com"fit, a.
Defn: Discomfited; overthrown. [Obs.]
DISCOMFIT
Dis*com"fit, n.
Defn: Rout; overthrow; discomfiture.
Such as discomfort as shall quite despoil him. Milton.
DISCOMFITURE
Dis*com"fi*ture, n. Etym: [OF. desconfiture, F. déconfiture. See
Discomfort, v. t., and cf. Comfiture.]
Defn: The act of discomfiting, or the state of being discomfited;
rout; overthrow; defeat; frustration; confusion and dejection.
Every man's sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great
discomfiture. 1 Sam. xiv. 20.
A hope destined to end . . . in discomfiture and disgrace. Macaulay.
DISCOMFORT
Dis*com"fort, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomforted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discomforting.] Etym: [OF. desconforter, F. déconforter, to
discourage; pref. des- (L dis-) + conforter. See Comfort.]
1. To discourage; to deject.
His funeral shall not be in our camp, Lest it discomfort us. Shak.
2. To destroy or disturb the comfort of; to deprive oas, a smoky
chimney discomforts a family.
DISCOMFORT
Dis*com"fort, n. Etym: [OF. desconfort, F. déconfort. See Discomfort,
v. t.]
1. Discouragement. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Want of comfort; uneasiness, mental or physical; disturbance of
peace; inquietude; pain; distress; sorrow. "An age of spiritual
discomfort." M. Arnold.
Strive against all the discomforts of thy sufferings. Bp. Hall.
DISCOMFORTABLE
Dis*com"fort*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. desconfortable.]
1. Causing discomfort; occasioning uneasiness; making sad. [Obs.] Sir
P. Sidney.
2. Destitute of comfort; uncomfortable. [R.]
A labyrinth of little discomfortable garrets. Thackeray.
-- Dis*com"fort*a*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]
DISCOMMEND
Dis`com*mend", v. t.
1. To mention with disapprobation; to blame; to disapprove. [R.]
Spenser.
By commending something in him that is good, and discommending the
same fault in others. Jer. Taylor.
2. To expose to censure or ill favor; to put out of the good graces
of any one.
A compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry. Pepys.
DISCOMMENDABLE
Dis`com*mend"a*ble, a.
Defn: Deserving, disapprobation or blame.
-- Dis`com*mend"a*ble*ness, n.
DISCOMMENDATION
Dis*com`men*da"tion, n.
Defn: Blame; censure; reproach. [R.] Ayliffe.
DISCOMMENDER
Dis`com*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who discommends; a dispraiser. Johnson.
DISCOMMISSION
Dis`com*mis"sion, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a commission or trust. [R.] Laud.
DISCOMMODATE
Dis*com"mo*date, v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + commodatus, p. p. of
commodare to make fit or suitable, fr. commodus fit, commodious. See
Commodious, and cf. Discommode.]
Defn: To discommode. [Obs.] Howell.
DISCOMMODE
Dis`com*mode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discommoded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discommoding.] Etym: [See Discommodate.]
Defn: To put inconvenience; to incommode; to trouble. [R.]
Syn.
-- To incommode; annoy; inconvenience.
DISCOMMODIOUS
Dis`com*mo"di*ous, a.
Defn: Inconvenient; troublesome; incommodious. [R.] Spenser.
-- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ly, adv.
-- Dis`com*mo"di*ous*ness, n.
DISCOMMODITY
Dis`com*mod"i*ty, n.
Defn: Disadvantage; inconvenience. Bacon.
DISCOMMON
Dis*com"mon, v. t.
1. To deprive of the right of common. [R.] Bp. Hall.
2. To deprive of privileges. [R.] T. Warton.
3. (Law)
Defn: To deprive of commonable quality, as lands, by inclosing or
appropriating. Burrill.
DISCOMMUNITY
Dis`com*mu"ni*ty, n.
Defn: A lack of common possessions, properties, or relationship.
Community of embryonic structure reveals community of descent; but
dissimilarity of embryonic development does not prove discommunity of
descent. Darwin.
DISCOMPANY
Dis*com"pa*ny, v. t.
Defn: To free from company; to dissociate. [R.]
It she be alone now, and discompanied. B. Jonson.
DISCOMPLEXION
Dis`com*plex"ion, v. t.
Defn: To change the complexion or hue of. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DISCOMPLIANCE
Dis`com*pli"ance, n.
Defn: Failure or refusal to comply; noncompliance.
A compliance will discommend me to Mr. Coventry, and a discompliance
to my lord chancellor. Pepys.
DISCOMPOSE
Dis`com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discomposed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discomposing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + compose: cf. OF. decomposer, F.
décomposer.]
1. To disarrange; to interfere with; to disturb; to disorder; to
unsettle; to break up.
Or discomposed the headdress of a prude. Pope.
2. To throw into disorder; to ruffle; to destroy the composure or
equanimity; to agitate.
Opposition . . . discomposeth the mind's serenity. Glanvill.
3. To put out of place or service; to discharge; to displace. [Obs.]
Bacon.
Syn.
-- To disorder; derange; unsettle; disturb; disconcert; agitate;
ruffle; fret; vex.
DISCOMPOSED
Dis`com*posed", a.
Defn: Disordered; disturbed; disquieted.
-- Dis`com*pos"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis`com*pos"ed*ness, n.
DISCOMPOSITION
Dis*com`po*si"tion, n.
Defn: Inconsistency; discordance. [Obs.] Donne.
DISCOMPOSURE
Dis`com*po"sure, n.
1. The state of being discomposed; disturbance; disorder; agitation;
perturbation.
No discomposure stirred her features. Akenside.
2. Discordance; disagreement of parts. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISCOMPT
Dis*compt", v. t. Etym: [See Discount.]
Defn: To discount. See Discount. Hudibras.
DISCONCERT
Dis`con*cert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconcerted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disconcerting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + concert: cf. OF. desconcerter, F.
déconcerter.]
1. To break up the harmonious progress of; to throw into disorder or
confusion; as, the emperor disconcerted the plans of his enemy.
2. To confuse the faculties of; to disturb the composure of; to
discompose; to abash.
The embrace disconcerted the daughter-in-law somewhat, as the
caresses of old gentlemen unshorn and perfumed with tobacco might
well do. Thackeray.
Syn.
-- To discompose; derange; ruffle; confuse; disturb; defeat;
frustrate.
DISCONCERT
Dis`con*cert", n.
Defn: Want of concert; disagreement. Sir W. Temple.
DISCONCERTION
Dis`con*cer"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disconcerting, or state of being disconcerted;
discomposure; perturbation. [R.] State Trials (1794).
DISCONDUCIVE
Dis`con*du"cive, a.
Defn: Not conductive; impeding; disadvantageous. [R.]
DISCONFORMABLE
Dis`con*form"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not conformable.
Disconformable in religion from us. Stow (1603).
DISCONFORMITY
Dis`con*form"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of conformity or correspondence; inconsistency;
disagreement.
Those . . . in some disconformity to ourselves. Milton.
Disagreement and disconformity betwixt the speech and the conception
of the mind. Hakewill.
DISCONGRUITY
Dis`con*gru"i*ty, n.
Defn: Incongruity; disagreement; unsuitableness. Sir M. Hale.
DISCONNECT
Dis`con*nect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disconnected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disconnecting.]
Defn: To dissolve the union or connection of; to disunite; to sever;
to separate; to disperse.
The commonwealth itself would . . . be disconnected into the dust and
powder of individuality. Burke.
This restriction disconnects bank paper and the precious metals.
Walsh.
DISCONNECTION
Dis`con*nec"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disconnecting, or state of being disconnected;
separation; want of union.
Nothing was therefore to be left in all the subordinate members but
weakness, disconnection, and confusion. Burke.
DISCONSECRATE
Dis*con"se*crate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of consecration or sacredness. [R.]
DISCONSENT
Dis`con*sent", v. i.
Defn: To differ; to disagree; to dissent. [Obs.] Milton.
DISCONSOLACY
Dis*con"so*la`cy, n.
Defn: The state of being disconsolate. [Obs.] Barrow.
DISCONSOLATE
Dis*con"so*late, n.
Defn: Disconsolateness. [Obs.] Barrow.
DISCONSOLATE
Dis*con"so*late, a. Etym: [LL. disconsolatus; L. dis- + consolatus,
p. p. of consolari to console. See Console, v. t.]
1. Destitute of consolation; deeply dejected and dispirited;
hopelessly sad; comfortless; filled with grief; as, a bereaved and
disconsolate parent.
One morn a Peri at the gate Of Eden stood disconsolate. Moore.
The ladies and the knights, no shelter nigh, Were dropping wet,
disconsolate and wan. Dryden.
2. Inspiring dejection; saddening; cheerless; as, the disconsolate
darkness of the winter nights. Ray.
Syn.
-- Forlorn; melancholy; sorrowful; desolate; woeful; hopeless;
gloomy.
-- Dis*con"so*late*ly, adv.
-- Dis*con"so*late*ness, n.
DISCONSOLATED
Dis*con"so*la`ted, a.
Defn: Disconsolate. [Obs.]
A poor, disconsolated, drooping creature. Sterne.
DISCONSOLATION
Dis*con`so*la"tion, n.
Defn: Dejection; grief. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DISCONTENT
Dis`con*tent", a.
Defn: Not content; discontented; dissatisfied. Jer. Taylor.
Passion seemed to be much discontent, but Patience was very quiet.
Bunyan.
DISCONTENT
Dis`con*tent", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discontented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discontenting.]
Defn: To deprive if content; to make uneasy; to dissatisfy. Suckling.
DISCONTENT
Dis`con*tent", n.
1. Want of content; uneasiness and inquietude of mind;
dissatisfaction; disquiet.
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun
of York. Shak.
The rapacity of his father's administration had excited such
universal discontent. Hallam
2. A discontented person; a malcontent. [R.]
Thus was the Scotch nation full of discontents. Fuller.
DISCONTENTATION
Dis*con`ten*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Discontent. [Obs.] Ascham.
DISCONTENTED
Dis`con*tent"ed, p. p. & a.
Defn: Dissatisfied; uneasy in mind; malcontent.
And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt,
and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him. 1
Sam. xxii. 2.
-- Dis`con*tent"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis`con*tent"ed*ness, n.
DISCONTENTFUL
Dis`con*tent"ful, a.
Defn: Full of discontent. [R.]
DISCONTENTING
Dis`con*tent"ing, a.
1. Discontented. [Obs.] Shak.
2. Causing discontent; dissatisfying. Milton.
DISCONTENTIVE
Dis`con*tent"ive, a.
Defn: Relating or tending to discontent. [R.] "Pride is ever
discontentive." Feltham.
DISCONTENTMENT
Dis`con*tent"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being discontented; uneasiness; inquietude. Bacon.
DISCONTINUABLE
Dis`con*tin"u*a*ble, a.
Defn: Admitting of being discontinued. [R.]
DISCONTINUANCE
Dis`con*tin"u*ance, n.
1. The act of discontinuing, or the state of being discontinued; want
of continued connection or continuity; breaking off; cessation;
interruption; as, a discontinuance of conversation or intercourse;
discontinuance of a highway or of travel.
2. (Law)
(a) A breaking off or interruption of an estate, which happened when
an alienation was made by a tenant in tail, or other tenant, seized
in right of another, of a larger estate than the tenant was entitled
to, whereby the party ousted or injured was driven to his real
action, and could not enter. This effect of such alienation is now
obviated by statute in both England and the United States.
(b) The termination of an action in practice by the voluntary act of
the plaintiff; an entry on the record that the plaintiff discontinues
his action.
(c) That technical interruption of the proceedings in pleading in an
action, which follows where a defendant does not answer the whole of
the plaintiff's declaration, and the plaintiff omits to take judgment
for the part unanswered. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.
Syn.
-- Cessation; intermission; discontinuation; separation; disunion;
disjunction; disruption; break.
DISCONTINUATION
Dis`con*tin`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discontinuation.]
Defn: Breach or interruption of continuity; separation of parts in a
connected series; discontinuance.
Upon any discontinuation of parts, made either by bubbles or by
shaking the glass, the whole mercury falls. Sir I. Newton.
DISCONTINUE
Dis`con*tin"ue, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discontinued; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discontinuing.] Etym: [Cf. F. discontinuer.]
Defn: To interrupt the continuance of; to intermit, as a practice or
habit; to put an end to; to cause to cease; to cease using, to stop;
to leave off.
Set up their conventicles again, which had been discontinued. Bp.
Burnet.
I have discontinued school Above a twelvemonth. Shak.
Taught the Greek tongue, discontinued before in these parts the space
of seven hundred years. Daniel.
They modify and discriminate the voice, without appearing to
discontinue it. Holder.
DISCONTINUE
Dis`con*tin"ue, v. i.
1. To lose continuity or cohesion of parts; to be disrupted or broken
off. Bacon.
2. To be separated or severed; to part.
Thyself shalt discontinue from thine heritage. Jer. xvii. 4.
DISCONTINUEE
Dis`con*tin`u*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: One whose possession of an estate is broken off, or
discontinued; one whose estate is subject to discontinuance.
DISCONTINUER
Dis`con*tin"u*er, n.
Defn: One who discontinues, or breaks off or away from; an absentee.
He was no gadder abroad, not discontinuer from his convent for a long
time. Fuller.
DISCONTINUITY
Dis*con`ti*nu"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of continuity or cohesion; disunion of parts.
"Discontinuity of surface." Boyle.
DISCONTINUOR
Dis`con*tin"u*or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who deprives another of the possession of an estate by
discontinuance. See Discontinuance, 2.
DISCONTINUOUS
Dis`con*tin"u*ous, a.
1. Not continuous; interrupted; broken off.
A path that is zigzag, discontinuous, and intersected at every turn
by human negligence. De Quincey.
2. Exhibiting a dissolution of continuity; gaping. "Discontinuous
wound." Milton. Discontinuous function (Math.), a function which for
certain values or between certain values of the variable does not
vary continuously as the variable increases. The discontinuity may,
for example, consist of an abrupt change in the value of the
function, or an abrupt change in its law of variation, or the
function may become imaginary.
DISCONVENIENCE
Dis`con*ven"ience, n.
Defn: Unsuitableness; incongruity. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISCONVENIENT
Dis`con*ven"ient, a.
Defn: Not convenient or congruous; unsuitable; ill-adapted. [Obs.]
Bp. Reynolds.
DISCOPHORA
Dis*coph"o*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. to bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of acalephs or jellyfishes, including most of the
large disklike species.
-- Dis*coph"o*rous, a.
DISCORD
Dis"cord`, n. Etym: [OE. discord, descord, OF. discorde, descorde, F.
discorde, from L. discordia, fr. discors, -cordis, discordant,
disagreeable; dis- + cor, cordis, heart; cf. F. discord, n., and OF.
descorder, discorder, F. discorder, to discord, L. discordare, from
discors. See Heart, and cf. Discord, v. i.]
1. Want of concord or agreement; absence of unity or harmony in
sentiment or action; variance leading to contention and strife;
disagreement; -- applied to persons or to things, and to thoughts,
feelings, or purposes.
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among
brethren. Prov. vi. 19.
Peace to arise out of universal discord fomented in all parts of the
empire. Burke.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Union of musical sounds which strikes the ear harshly or
disagreeably, owing to the incommensurability of the vibrations which
they produce; want of musical concord or harmony; a chord demanding
resolution into a concord.
For a discord itself is but a harshness of divers sounds mBacon.
Apple of discord. See under Apple.
Syn.
-- Variance; difference; opposition; contrariety; clashing;
dissension; contention; strife; disagreement; dissonance.
DISCORD
Dis*cord", v. i. Etym: [OE. discorden, descorden, from the French.
See Discord, n.]
Defn: To disagree; to be discordant; to jar; to clash; not to suit.
[Obs.]
The one discording with the other. Bacon.
DISCORDABLE
Dis*cord"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. descordable.]
Defn: That may produce discord; disagreeing; discordant. [R.]
Halliwell.
DISCORDANCE; DISCORDANCY
Dis*cord"ance, Dis*cord"an*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discordance.]
Defn: State or quality of being discordant; disagreement;
inconsistency.
There will arise a thousand discordances of opinion. I. Taylor.
DISCORDANT
Dis*cord"ant, a. Etym: [OE. discordant, descordaunt, OF. descordant,
discordant, F. discordant, p. pr. of discorder, OF. also, descorder.
See Discord, n.]
1. Disagreeing; incongruous; being at variance; clashing; opposing;
not harmonious.
The discordant elements out of which the emperor had compounded his
realm did not coalesce. Motley.
2. Etym: [See Discord, n.,
2.] (Mus.)
Defn: Dissonant; not in harmony or musical concord; harsh; jarring;
as, discordant notes or sounds.
For still their music seemed to start Discordant echoes in each
heart. Longfellow.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Said of strata which lack conformity in direction of bedding,
either as in unconformability, or as caused by a fault.
Syn.
-- Disagreeing; incongruous; contradictory; repugnant; opposite;
contrary; inconsistent; dissonant; harsh; jarring; irreconcilable.
-- Dis*cord"ant*ly, adv.
-- Dis*cord"ant*ness, n. [R.]
DISCORDFUL
Dis*cord"ful, a.
Defn: Full of discord; contentious. [Obs.] "His discordful dame."
Spenser.
DISCORDOUS
Dis*cord"ous, a.
Defn: Full of discord. [Obs.]
DISCORPORATE
Dis*cor"po*rate, a.
Defn: Deprived of the privileges or form of a body corporate. [Obs.]
Jas. II.
DISCORRESPONDENT
Dis*cor`re*spond"ent, a.
Defn: Incongruous. W. Montagu.
DISCOST
Dis*cost", v. i.
Defn: Same as Discoast. [Obs.]
DISCOUNSEL
Dis*coun"sel, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + counsel: cf. OF.
desconseiller.]
Defn: To dissuade. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISCOUNT
Dis"count`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discounted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discounting.] Etym: [OF. desconter, descompter, to deduct, F.
décompter to discount; pref. des- (L. dis-) + conter, compter. See
Count, v.]
1. To deduct from an account, debt, charge, and the like; to make an
abatement of; as, merchants sometimes discount five or six per cent
for prompt payment of bills.
2. To lend money upon, deducting the discount or allowance for
interest; as, the banks discount notes and bills of exchange.
Discount only unexceptionable paper. Walsh.
3. To take into consideration beforehand; to anticipate and form
conclusions concerning (an event).
4. To leave out of account; to take no notice of. [R.]
Of the three opinions (I discount Brown's). Sir W. Hamilton.
DISCOUNT
Dis"count`, v. i.
Defn: To lend, or make a practice of lending, money, abating the
discount; as, the discount for sixty or ninety days.
DISCOUNT
Dis"count`, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décompte. See Discount, v. t.]
1. A counting off or deduction made from a gross sum on any account
whatever; an allowance upon an account, debt, demand, price asked,
and the like; something taken or deducted.
2. A deduction made for interest, in advancing money upon, or
purchasing, a bill or note not due; payment in advance of interest
upon money.
3. The rate of interest charged in discounting. At a discount, below
par, or below the nominal value; hence, colloquially, out of favor;
poorly esteemed; depreciated.
-- Bank discount, a sum equal to the interest at a given rate on the
principal (face) of a bill or note from the time of discounting until
it become due.
-- Discount broker, one who makes a business of discounting
commercial paper; a bill broker.
-- Discount day, a particular day of the week when a bank discounts
bills.
-- True discount, the interest which, added to a principal, will
equal the face of a note when it becomes due. The principal yielding
this interest is the present value of the note.
DISCOUNTABLE
Dis*count"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or suitable to be, discounted; as, certain
forms are necessary to render notes discountable at a bank.
DISCOUNTENANCE
Dis*coun"te*nance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discountenanced; p. pr. & vb.
n. Discountenancing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + countenance: cf. OF.
descontenancer, F. décontenancer.]
1. To ruffle or discompose the countenance of; to put of countenance;
to put to shame; to abash.
How would one look from his majestic brow . . . Discountenance her
despised! Milton.
The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation. Sir W.
Scott.
2. To refuse to countenance, or give the support of one's approval
to; to give one's influence against; to restrain by cold treatment;
to discourage.
A town meeting was convened to discountenance riot. Bancroft.
DISCOUNTENANCE
Dis*coun"te*nance, n.
Defn: Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment;
disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage.
He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress
that spirit. Clarendon.
DISCOUNTENANCER
Dis*coun"te*nan*cer, n.
Defn: One who discountenances; one who disfavors. Bacon.
DISCOUNTER
Dis"count`er, n.
Defn: One who discounts; a discount broker. Burke.
DISCOURAGE
Dis*cour"age (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discouraged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discouraging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + courage: cf. OF. descoragier, F.
décourager: pref. des- (L. dis-) + corage, F. courage. See Courage.]
1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the
spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of
encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be
discouraged from a like attempt.
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be
discouraged. Col. iii. 21.
2. To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to
check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his
efforts.
Syn.
-- To dishearten; dispirit; depress; deject; dissuade; disfavor.
DISCOURAGE
Dis*cour"age, n.
Defn: Lack of courage; cowardliness.
DISCOURAGEABLE
Dis*cour"age*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being discouraged; easily disheartened. Bp. Hall.
DISCOURAGEMENT
Dis*cour"age*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. descouragement, F.
découragement.]
1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged;
depression or weakening of confidence; dejection.
2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to deter, from
an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent; as,
the revolution was commenced under every possible discouragement.
"Discouragements from vice." Swift.
DISCOURAGER
Dis*cour"a*ger, n.
Defn: One who discourages.
The promoter of truth and the discourager of error. Sir G. C. Lewis.
DISCOURAGING
Dis*cour"a*ging, a.
Defn: Causing or indicating discouragement.
-- Dis*cour"a*ging*ly, adv.
DISCOURE
Dis*coure", v. t.
Defn: To discover. [Obs.]
That none might her discoure. Spenser.
DISCOURSE
Dis*course", n. Etym: [L. discursus a running to and fro, discourse,
fr. discurrere, discursum, to run to and fro, to discourse; dis- +
currere to run: cf. F. discours. See Course.]
1. The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were,
from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an
exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty.
[Obs.]
Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of natural reason.
South.
Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and
after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us
unused. Shak.
2. Conversation; talk.
In their discourses after supper. Shak.
Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the mouth with copious
discourse. Locke.
3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing.
Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse. Shak.
4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line
of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the
preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.
5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.]
Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse Betwixt Tigranes and our
king, and how We got the victory. Beau. & Fl.
DISCOURSE
Dis*course", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discoursing.]
1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring;
to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." Dryden.
2. To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to
talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to
converse.
Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear. Shak.
3. To relate something; to tell. Shak.
4. To treat of something in writing and formally.
DISCOURSE
Dis*course", v. t.
1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.]
The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently and at large
discoursed in the book. Foxe.
2. To utter or give forth; to speak.
It will discourse mosShak.
3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.]
I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to discourse the
minister about it. Evelyn.
DISCOURSER
Dis*cours"er, n.
1. One who discourse; a narrator; a speaker; an haranguer.
In his conversation he was the most clear discourser. Milward.
2. The writer of a treatise or dissertation.
Philologers and critical discoursers. Sir T. Browne.
DISCOURSIVE
Dis*cours"ive, a. Etym: [See Discursive.]
1. Reasoning; characterized by reasoning; passing from premises to
consequences; discursive. Milton.
2. Containing dialogue or conversation; interlocutory.
The epic is everywhere interlaced with dialogue or discoursive
scenes. Dryden.
3. Inclined to converse; conversable; communicative; as, a
discoursive man. [R.]
DISCOURSIVE
Dis*cours"ive, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being discoursive or able to reason.
[R.] Feltham.
DISCOURTEOUS
Dis*cour"te*ous (; see Courteous, 277), a. Etym: [Pref. dis- +
courteous: cf. OF. discortois.]
Defn: Uncivil; rude; wanting in courtesy or good manners;
uncourteous.
-- Dis*cour"te*ous*ly, adv.
-- Dis*cour"te*ous*ness, n.
DISCOURTESY
Dis*cour"te*sy, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + courtesy: cf. OF.
descourtoisie.]
Defn: Rudeness of behavior or language; ill manners; manifestation of
disrespect; incivility.
Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth
discourtesy. Herbert.
DISCOURTSHIP
Dis*court"ship, n.
Defn: Want of courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DISCOUS
Disc"ous, a. Etym: [L. discus disk. See Disk.]
Defn: Disklike; discoid.
DISCOVENANT
Dis*cov"e*nant, v. t.
Defn: To dissolve covenant with.
DISCOVER
Dis*cov"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discovered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discovering.] Etym: [OE. discoveren, discuren, descuren, OF.
descovrir, descouvrir, F. découvrir; des- (L. dis-) + couvrir to
cover. See Cover.]
1. To uncover. [Obs.]
Whether any man hath pulled down or discovered any church. Abp.
Grindal.
2. To disclose; to lay open to view; to make visible; to reveal; to
make known; to show (what has been secret, unseen, or unknown).
Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this
noble prince. Shak.
Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover
virtue. Bacon.
We will discover ourselves unto them. 1 Sam. xiv. 8.
Discover not a secret to another. Prov. xxv. 9.
3. To obtain for the first time sight or knowledge of, as of a thing
existing already, but not perceived or known; to find; to ascertain;
to espy; to detect.
Some to discover islands far away. Shak.
4. To manifest without design; to show.
The youth discovered a taste for sculpture. C. J. Smith.
5. To explore; to examine. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- To disclose; bring out; exhibit; show; manifest; reveal;
communicate; impart; tell; espy; find; out; detect.
-- To Discover, Invent. We discover what existed before, but
remained unknown; we invent by forming combinations which are either
entirely new, or which attain their end by means unknown before.
Columbus discovered America; Newton discovered the law of
gravitation; Whitney invented the cotton gin; Galileo invented the
telescope.
DISCOVER
Dis*cov"er, v. i.
Defn: To discover or show one's self. [Obs.]
This done, they discover. Decke
Nor was this the first time that they discovered to be followers of
this world. Milton.
DISCOVERABILITY
Dis*cov`er*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being discoverable. [R.] Carlyle.
DISCOVERABLE
Dis*cov"er*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being discovered, found out, or perceived; as, many
minute animals are discoverable only by the help of the microscope;
truths discoverable by human industry.
DISCOVERER
Dis*cov"er*er, n.
1. One who discovers; one who first comes to the knowledge of
something; one who discovers an unknown country, or a new principle,
truth, or fact.
The discoverers and searchers of the land. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. A scout; an explorer. Shak.
DISCOVERMENT
Dis*cov"er*ment, n.
Defn: Discovery. [Obs.]
DISCOVERT
Dis*cov"ert, a. Etym: [Cf. F. découvert uncovered, OF. descovert. See
Discover, Covert.] (Law)
Defn: Not covert; not within the bonds of matrimony; unmarried; --
applied either to a woman who has never married or to a widow.
DISCOVERT
Dis*cov"ert, n.
Defn: An uncovered place or part. [Obs.] At discovert, uncovered.
[Obs.] Chaucer.
DISCOVERTURE
Dis*cov"er*ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + coverture: cf. OF.
descoverture.]
1. Discovery. [Obs.]
2. (Law)
Defn: A state of being released from coverture; freedom of a woman
from the coverture of a husband.
DISCOVERY
Dis*cov"er*y, n.; pl. Discoveries (.
1. The action of discovering; exposure to view; laying open; showing;
as, the discovery of a plot.
2. A making known; revelation; disclosure; as, a bankrupt is bound to
make a full discovery of his assets.
In the clear discoveries of the next [world]. South.
3. Finding out or ascertaining something previously unknown or
unrecognized; as, Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood.
A brilliant career of discovery and conquest. Prescott.
We speak of the "invention" of printing, the discovery of America.
Trench.
4. That which is discovered; a thing found out, or for the first time
ascertained or recognized; as, the properties of the magnet were an
important discovery.
5. Exploration; examination. [Obs.]
DISCOVERY DAY
Dis*cov"er*y Day.
Defn: = Columbus Day, above.
DISCRADLE
Dis*cra"dle, v. t.
Defn: To take from a cradle. [R.]
This airy apparition first discradled From Tournay into Portugal.
Ford.
DISCREDIT
Dis*cred"it, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discrédit.]
1. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being
discredited or disbelieved; as, later accounts have brought the story
into discredit.
2. Hence, some degree of dishonor or disesteem; ill repute; reproach;
-- applied to persons or things.
It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation
or discredit his life may bring on his profession. Rogers.
Syn.
-- Disesteem; disrepute; dishonor; disgrace; ignominy; scandal;
disbelief; distrust.
DISCREDIT
Dis*cred"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discredited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discrediting.] Etym: [Cf. F. discréditer.]
1. To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as,
the report is discredited.
2. To deprive of credibility; to destroy confidence or trust in; to
cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of.
An occasion might be given to the . . . papists of discrediting our
common English Bible. Strype.
2. To deprive of credit or good repute; to bring reproach upon; to
make less reputable; to disgrace.
He. . . least discredits his travels who returns the same man he
went. Sir H. Wotton.
DISCREDITABLE
Dis*cred"it*a*ble, a.
Defn: Not creditable; injurious to reputation; disgraceful;
disreputable.
-- Dis*cred"it*a*bly, adv.
DISCREDITOR
Dis*cred"it*or, n.
Defn: One who discredits.
DISCREET
Dis*creet", a. [Compar. Discreeter; superl. Discreetest.] Etym: [F.
discret, L. discretus separated (whence the meaning reserved,
prudent), p. p. of discernere. See Discern, and cf. Discrete.]
1. Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil,
and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious;
judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious.
It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the
brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society.
Addison.
Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at
all I meet. Pope.
The sea is silent, the sea is discreet. Longfellow.
2. Differing; distinct. [Obs.] Spenser.
-- Dis*creet"ly, adv.
-- Dis*creet"ness, n.
DISCREPANCE; DISCREPANCY
Dis*crep"ance, Dis*crep"an*cy, n.; pl. -ances, -ancies. Etym: [L.
disrepantia: cf. OF. discrepance. See Discrepant.]
Defn: The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement;
variance; discordance; dissimilarity; contrariety.
There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture of youth and age, men
and women. Sir T. Elyot.
There is no real discrepancy between these two genealogies. G. S.
Faber.
DISCREPANT
Dis*crep"ant, a. Etym: [L. discrepans, -antis, p. pr. of discrepare
to sound differently or discordantly; dis- + crepare to rattle,
creak: cf. OF. discrepant. See Crepitate.]
Defn: Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; contrary; different.
The Egyptians were . . . the most oddly discrepant from the rest in
their manner of worship. Cudworth.
DISCREPANT
Dis*crep"ant, n.
Defn: A dissident. J. Taylor.
DISCRETE
Dis*crete", a. Etym: [L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See
Discreet.]
1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale.
2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, "I
resign my life, but not my honor," is a discrete proposition.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent.
Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under
Concrete, a.
-- Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is
different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the
same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It
is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24.
-- Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as
number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or
extension.
DISCRETE
Dis*crete", v. t.
Defn: To separate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISCRETELY
Dis*crete"ly, adv.
Defn: Separately; disjunctively.
DISCRETION
Dis*cre"tion, n. Etym: [F. discrétion, L. discretio separation,
difference, discernment, fr. discernere, discretum. See Discreet,
Discern.]
1. Disjunction; separation. [Obs.] Mede.
2. The quality of being discreet; wise conduct and management;
cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self-
control; prudence; circumspection; wariness.
The better part of valor is discretion. Shak.
The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner.
Hume.
3. Discrimination.
Well spoken, with good accent and good discretion. Shak.
4. Freedom to act according to one's own judgment; unrestrained
exercise of choice or will. At discretion, without conditions or
stipulations.
DISCRETIONAL; DISCRETIONARY
Dis*cre"tion*al, Dis*cre"tion*a*ry,Etym: [Cf. F. discrétionnaire.]
Defn: Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or
judgment; as, an ambassador with discretionary powers.
DISCRETIONALLY; DISCRETIONARILY
Dis*cre"tion*al*ly, Dis*cre"tion*a*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: At discretion; according to one's discretion or judgment.
DISCRETIVE
Dis*cre"tive, a. Etym: [L. discretivus. See Discrete.]
Defn: Marking distinction or separation; disjunctive. Discretive
proposition (Logic & Gram.), one that expresses distinction,
opposition, or variety, by means of discretive particles, as but,
though, yet, etc.; as, travelers change their climate, but not their
temper.
DISCRETIVELY
Dis*cre"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a discretive manner.
DISCRIMINABLE
Dis*crim"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being discriminated. [Obs.] Bailey.
DISCRIMINAL
Dis*crim"i*nal, a. Etym: [L. discriminalis serving to divide.]
Defn: In palmistry, applied to the line which marks the separation
between the hand and the arm.
DISCRIMINANT
Dis*crim"i*nant, n. Etym: [L. discriminans, p. pr. of discriminare.]
(Math.)
Defn: The eliminant of the n partial differentials of any homogenous
function of n variables. See Eliminant.
DISCRIMINATE
Dis*crim"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to
divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr.
discernere. See Discern, and cf. Criminate.]
Defn: Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.
Bacon.
DISCRIMINATE
Dis*crim"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discriminated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discriminating.]
Defn: To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to
separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
Cowper.
To discriminate the goats from the sheep. Barrow.
DISCRIMINATE
Dis*crim"i*nate, v. i.
1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately;
as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate
between probability and slight presumption.
2.
(a) To treat unequally.
(b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same
service.
DISCRIMINATELY
Dis*crim"i*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a discriminating manner; distinctly.
DISCRIMINATENESS
Dis*crim"i*nate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being discriminated; distinctness.
DISCRIMINATING
Dis*crim"i*na`ting, a.
Defn: Marking a difference; distinguishing.
-- Dis*crim"i*na`ting*ly, adv.
And finds with keen discriminating sight, Black's not so black; --
nor white so very white. Canning.
DISCRIMINATION
Dis*crim`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. discriminatio the contrasting of
opposite thoughts.]
1. The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking
differences.
To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and
providential. Trench.
2. The state of being discriminated, distinguished, or set apart. Sir
J. Reynolds.
3. (Railroads)
Defn: The arbitrary imposition of unequal tariffs for substantially
the same service.
A difference in rates, not based upon any corresponding difference in
cost, constitutes a case of discrimination. A. T. Hadley.
4. The quality of being discriminating; faculty of nicely
distinguishing; acute discernment; as, to show great discrimination
in the choice of means.
5. That which discriminates; mark of distinction.
Syn.
-- Discernment; penetration; clearness; acuteness; judgment;
distinction. See Discernment.
DISCRIMINATIVE
Dis*crim"i*na*tive, a.
1. Marking a difference; distinguishing; distinctive; characteristic.
That peculiar and discriminative form of life. Johnson.
2. Observing distinctions; making differences; discriminating.
"Discriminative censure." J. Foster. "Discriminative Providence." Dr.
H. More.
DISCRIMINATIVELY
Dis*crim"i*na*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: With discrimination or distinction. J. Foster.
DISCRIMINATOR
Dis*crim"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: One who discriminates.
DISCRIMINATORY
Dis*crim"i*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Discriminative.
DISCRIMINOUS
Dis*crim"i*nous, a. Etym: [LL. discriminosus, fr. L. discrimen the
dangerous, decisive moment. See Discriminate, a.]
Defn: Hazardous; dangerous. [Obs.] Harvey.
DISCRIVE
Dis*crive", v. t. Etym: [OF. descrivre. See Describe.]
Defn: To describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISCROWN
Dis*crown", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discrowned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discrowning.]
Defn: To deprive of a crown.
The end had crowned the work; it not unreasonably discrowned the
workman. Motley.
DISCRUCIATE
Dis*cru"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discruciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discruciating.] Etym: [L. discruciatus, p. p. of discruciare. See
Cruciate.]
Defn: To torture; to excruciate. [Obs.]
Discruciate a man in deep distress. Herrick.
DISCUBITORY
Dis*cu"bi*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. discumbere, discubitum, to lie down,
recline at table; dis- + cumbere (in comp.) to lie down.]
Defn: Leaning; fitted for a reclining posture. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISCULPATE
Dis*cul"pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disculpated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disculpating.] Etym: [LL. disculpatus, p. p. of disculpare to
disculpate; dis- + L. culpare to blame, culpa fault.]
Defn: To free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exculpate.
I almost fear you think I begged it, but I can disculpate myself.
Walpole.
DISCULPATION
Dis`cul*pa"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. disculpation.]
Defn: Exculpation. Burke.
DISCULPATORY
Dis*cul"pa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to exculpate; exculpatory.
DISCUMBENCY
Dis*cum"ben*cy, n. Etym: [From L. discumbens, p. pr. of discumbere.
See Discubitory.]
Defn: The act of reclining at table according to the manner of the
ancients at their meals. Sir T. Browne.
DISCUMBER
Dis*cum"ber, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + cumber: cf. OF. descombrer.]
Defn: To free from that which cumbers or impedes; to disencumber.
[Archaic] Pope.
DISCURE
Dis*cure", v. t. Etym: [See Discover.]
Defn: To discover; to reveal; to discoure. [Obs.]
I will, if please you it discure, assay To ease you of that ill, so
wisely as I may. Spenser.
DISCURRENT
Dis*cur"rent, a.
Defn: Not current or free to circulate; not in use. [Obs.] Sir E.
Sandys.
DISCURSION
Dis*cur"sion, n. Etym: [LL. discursio a running different ways. See
Discourse.]
Defn: The act of discoursing or reasoning; range, as from thought to
thought. Coleridge.
DISCURSIST
Dis*cur"sist, n.
Defn: A discourser. [Obs.] L. Addison.
DISCURSIVE
Dis*cur"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf.
Discoursive.]
1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field;
roving; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey.
The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but
discursive. Hazlitt.
A man rather tacit than discursive. Carlyle.
2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning;
argumentative.
Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive. Milton.
-- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv.
-- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n.
DISCURSORY
Dis*cur`so*ry, a.
Defn: Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DISCURSUS
Dis*cur"sus, n. Etym: [L.] (Logic)
Defn: Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.
DISCUS
Dis"cus, n.; pl. E. Discuses, L. Disci. Etym: [L. See Disk.]
1.
(a) A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be
pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill.
(b) The exercise with the discus.
Note: This among the Greeks was one of the chief gymnastic exercises
and was included in the Pentathlon (the contest of the five
exercises). The chief contest was that of throwing the discus to the
greatest possible distance.
2. A disk. See Disk.
DISCUSS
Dis*cuss", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discussed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Discussing.] Etym: [L. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike
asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish);
dis- + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.]
1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away;
-- said especially of tumors.
Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection. Sir
H. Wotton.
A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples. Rambler.
3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [Obs.]
All regard of shame she had discussed. Spenser.
4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by
presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift;
to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm .
. . and the price of grain." Tennyson. "To discuss questions of
taste." Macaulay.
5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [Colloq.]
We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought
with us. Sir S. Baker.
6. (Law)
Defn: To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against,
as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety.
Burrill.
Syn.
-- To Discuss, Examine, Debate. We speak of examining a subject when
we ponder it with care, in order to discover its real state, or the
truth respecting it. We speak of discussing a topic when we examine
it thoroughly in its distinct parts. The word is very commonly
applied to matters of opinion. We may discuss a subject without
giving in an adhesion to any conclusion. We speak of debating a point
when we examine it in mutual argumentation between opposing parties.
In debate we contend for or against some conclusion or view.
DISCUSSER
Dis*cuss"er, n.
Defn: One who discusses; one who sifts or examines. Wood.
DISCUSSION
Dis*cus"sion, n. Etym: [L. discussio a shaking, examination,
discussion: cf. F. discussion.]
1. The act or process of discussing by breaking up, or dispersing, as
a tumor, or the like.
2. The act of discussing or exchanging reasons; examination by
argument; debate; disputation; agitation.
The liberty of discussion is the great safeguard of all other
liberties. Macaulay.
Discussion of a problem or an equation (Math.), the operation of
assigning different reasonable values to the arbitrary quantities and
interpreting the result. Math. Dict.
DISCUSSIONAL
Dis*cus"sion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to discussion.
DISCUSSIVE
Dis*cuss"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. discussif.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Able or tending to discuss or disperse tumors or coagulated
matter.
2. Doubt-dispelling; decisive. [R.]
A kind of peremptory and discussive voice. Hopkins.
DISCUSSIVE
Dis*cuss"ive, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that discusses or disperses morbid humors; a
discutient.
DISCUTIENT
Dis*cu"tient, a. Etym: [L. discutiens, p. pr. of discutere. See
Discuss.] (Med.)
Defn: Serving to disperse morbid matter; discussive; as, a discutient
application.
-- n.
Defn: An agent (as a medicinal application) which serves to disperse
morbid matter. "Foment with discutiens." Wiseman.
DISDAIN
Dis*dain", n. Etym: [OE. desdain, disdein, OF. desdein, desdaing, F.
dédain, fr. the verb. See Disdain, v. t.]
1. A feeling of contempt and aversion; the regarding anything as
unworthy of or beneath one; scorn.
How my soul is moved with just disdain! Pope.
Note: Often implying an idea of haughtiness.
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes. Shak.
2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and
aversion. [Obs.]
Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain. Spenser.
3. The state of being despised; shame. [Obs.] Shak.
Syn.
-- Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See Haughtiness.
DISDAIN
Dis*dain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disdained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disdaining.] Etym: [OE. disdainen, desdainen, OF. desdeigner,
desdaigner, F. dédaigner; des- (L. dis-) + daigner to deign, fr. L.
dignari to deem worthy. See Deign.]
1. To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to
disdain to do a mean act.
Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight
living. Sir P. Sidney.
2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's
notice; to look with scorn upon; to scorn, as base acts, character,
etc.
When the Philistine . . . saw Dawid, he disdained him; for he was but
a youth. 1 Sam. xvii. 42.
'T is great, 't manly to disdain disguise. Young.
Syn.
-- To contemn; despise; scorn. See Contemn.
DISDAIN
Dis*dain", v. i.
Defn: To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger; to be
haughty.
And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did .
. . they disdained. Genevan Testament (Matt. xxi. 15).
DISDAINED
Dis*dained", a.
Defn: Disdainful. [Obs.]
Revenge the jeering and disdained contempt Of this proud king. Shak.
DISDAINFUL
Dis*dain"ful, a.
Defn: Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful; contemptuous;
haughty.
From these Turning disdainful to an equal good. Akenside.
-- Dis*dain"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dis*dain"ful*ness, n.
DISDAINISHLY
Dis*dain"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: Disdainfully. [Obs.] Vives.
DISDAINOUS
Dis*dain"ous, a. Etym: [OF. desdeignos, desdaigneux, F. dédaigneux.]
Defn: Disdainful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
DISDAINOUSLY
Dis*dain"ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Disdainfully. [Obs.] Bale.
DISDEIFY
Dis*de"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To divest or deprive of deity or of a deific rank or condition.
Feltham.
DISDEIGN
Dis*deign", v. t.
Defn: To disdain. [Obs.]
Guyon much disdeigned so loathly sight. Spenser.
DISDIACLAST
Dis*di"a*clast, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: One of the dark particles forming the doubly refracting disks
of muscle fibers.
DISDIAPASON
Dis*di`a*pa"son, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- (Gr. diapason.] (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: An interval of two octaves, or a fifteenth; -- called also
bisdiapason.
DISEASE
DIs*ease", n. Etym: [OE. disese, OF. desaise; des- (L. dis-) + aise
ease. See Ease.]
1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [Obs.]
So all that night they passed in great disease. Spenser.
To shield thee from diseases of the world. Shak.
2. An alteration in the state of the body or of some of its organs,
interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions,
and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection;
illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to
the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc.
Diseases desperate grown, By desperate appliances are relieved. Shak.
The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public
counsels have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular
governments have every where perished. Madison.
Disease germ. See under Germ.
Syn.
-- Distemper; ailing; ailment; malady; disorder; sickness; illness;
complaint; indisposition; affection.
-- Disease, Disorder, Distemper, Malady, Affection. Disease is the
leading medical term. Disorder meanirregularity of the system.
Distemper is now used by physicians only of the diseases of animals.
Malady is not a medical term, and is less used than formerly in
literature. Affection has special reference to the part, organ, or
function disturbed; as, his disease is an affection of the lungs. A
disease is usually deep-seated and permanent, or at least prolonged;
a disorder is often slight, partial, and temporary; malady has less
of a technical sense than the other terms, and refers more especially
to the suffering endured. In a figurative sense we speak of a disease
mind, of disordered faculties, and of mental maladies.
DISEASE
Dis*ease", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diseased; p. pr. & vb. n. Diseasing.]
1. To deprive of ease; to disquiet; to trouble; to distress. [Obs.]
His double burden did him sore disease. Spenser.
2. To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease or
sickness; to disorder; -- used almost exclusively in the participle
diseased.
He was diseased in body and mind. Macaulay.
DISEASED
Dis*eased", a.
Defn: Afflicted with disease.
It is my own diseased imagination that torments me. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- See Morbid.
DISEASEDNESS
Dis*eas"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being diseased; a morbid state; sickness. [R.] T.
Burnet.
DISEASEFUL
Dis*ease"ful, a.
1. Causing uneasiness. [Obs.]
Disgraceful to the king and diseaseful to the people. Bacon.
2. Abounding with disease; producing diseases; as, a diseaseful
climate. [R.]
DISEASEFULNESS
Dis*ease"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diseaseful; trouble; trial. [R.] Sir P.
Sidney.
DISEASEMENT
Dis*ease"ment, n.
Defn: Uneasiness; inconvenience. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISEDGE
Dis*edge", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of an edge; to blunt; to dull.
Served a little to disedge The sharpness of that pain about her
heart. Tennyson.
DISEDIFY
Dis*ed"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To fail of edifying; to injure. [R.]
DISELDER
Dis*eld"er, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of an elder or elders, or of the office of an elder.
[Obs.] Fuller.
DISELENIDE
Di*sel"e*nide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + selenide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A selenide containing two atoms of selenium in each molecule.
DISEMBARK
Dis`em*bark", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembarked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disembarking.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + embark: cf. F. désembarquer.]
Defn: To remove from on board a vessel; to put on shore; to land; to
debark; as, the general disembarked the troops.
Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers. Shak.
DISEMBARK
Dis`em*bark", v. i.
Defn: To go ashore out of a ship or boat; to leave a ship; to debark.
And, making fast their moorings, disembarked. Cowper.
DISEMBARKATION
Dis*em`bar*ka"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disembarking.
DISEMBARKMENT
Dis`em*bark"ment, n.
Defn: Disembarkation. [R.]
DISEMBARRASS
Dis`em*bar"rass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembarrassed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disembarrassing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + embarrass: cf. F.
désembarasser.]
Defn: To free from embarrassment, or perplexity; to clear; to
extricate.
To disembarrass himself of his companion. Sir W. Scott.
DISEMBARRASSMENT
Dis`em*bar"rass*ment, n.
Defn: Freedom or relief from impediment or perplexity.
DISEMBAY
Dis`em*bay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disembaying.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + embay.]
Defn: To clear from a bay. Sherburne.
DISEMBELLISH
Dis`em*bel"lish, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + embellish: cf. F.
désembellir.]
Defn: To deprive of embellishment; to disadorn. Carlyle.
DISEMBITTER
Dis`em*bit"ter, v. t.
Defn: To free from
DISEMBODIED
Dis`em*bod"ied, a.
Defn: Divested of a body; ceased to be corporal; incorporeal.
The disembodied spirits of the dead. Bryant.
DISEMBODIMENT
Dis`em*bod"i*ment, n.
Defn: The act of disembodying, or the state of being disembodied.
DISEMBODY
Dis`em*bod"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembodied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disembodying.]
1. To divest of the or corporeal existence.
Devils embodied and disembodied. Sir W. Scott.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To disarm and disband, as a body of soldiers,-Wilhelm.
DISEMBOGUE
Dis`em*bogue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembogued; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disemboguing.] Etym: [Sp. desembocar; pref. des- (L. dis-) + embocar
to put into the mouth, fr. en (L. in) + boca mouth, fr. L. bucca
cheek. Cf. Debouch, Embogue.]
1. To pour out or discharge at the mouth, as a stream; to vent; to
discharge into an ocean, a lake, etc.
Rolling down, the steep Timavdisembogues his waves. Addison.
2. To eject; to cast forth. [R.] Swift.
DISEMBOGUE
Dis`em*bogue", v. i.
Defn: To become discharged; to flow put; to find vent; to pour out
contents.
Volcanos bellow ere they disembogue. Young.
DISEMBOGUEMENT
Dis`em*bogue"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disemboguing; discharge. Mease.
DISEMBOSSOM
Dis`em*bos"som, v. t.
Defn: To separate from the bosom. [R.] Young.
DISEMBOWEL
Dis`em*bow"el, v. t. Etym: [See Embowel.]
1. To take or let out the bowels or interior parts of; to eviscerate.
Soon after their death, they are disemboweled. Cook.
Roaring floods and cataracts that sweep From disemboweled earth the
virgin gold. Thomson.
2. To take or draw from the body, as the web of a spider. [R.] "Her
disemboweled web." J. Philips.
DISEMBOWELMENT
Dis`em*bow"el*ment, n.
Defn: The act of disemboweling, or state of being disemboweled;
evisceration.
DISEMBOWERED
Dis`em*bow"ered, a.
Defn: Deprived of, or removed from, a bower. [Poetic] Bryant.
DISEMBRANGLE
Dis`em*bran"gle, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + em = en (L. in) +
brangle.]
Defn: To free from wrangling or litigation. [Obs.] Berkeley.
DISEMBROIL
Dis`em*broil", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disembroiled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disembroiling.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + embroil.]
Defn: To disentangle; to free from perplexity; to extricate from
confusion.
Vaillant has disembroiled a history that was lost to the world before
his time. Addison.
DISEMPLOY
Dis`em*ploy", v. t.
Defn: To throw out of employment. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
DISEMPLOYMENT
Dis`em*ploy"ment, n.
Defn: The state of being disemployed, or deprived of employment.
This glut of leisure and disemployment. Jer. Taylor.
DISEMPOWER
Dis`em*pow"er, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of power; to divest of strength. H. Bushnell.
DISENABLE
Dis`en*a"ble, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + enable.]
Defn: To disable; to disqualify.
The sight of it might damp me and disenable me to speak. State Trials
(1640).
DISENAMOR
Dis`en*am"or, v. t.
Defn: To free from the captivity of love. Shelton.
DISENCHAINED
Dis`en*chained", a.
Defn: Freed from restraint; unrestrained. [Archaic] E. A. Poe.
DISENCHANT
Dis`en*chant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disenchanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disenchanting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + enchant: cf. F. désenchanter.]
Defn: To free from enchantment; to deliver from the power of charms
or spells; to free from fascination or delusion.
Haste to thy work; a noble stroke or two Ends all the charms, and
disenchants the grove. Dryden.
DISENCHANTER
Dis`en*chant"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disenchants.
DISENCHANTMENT
Dis`en*chant"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + enchantment: cf. F.
désenchantement.]
Defn: The act of disenchanting, or state of being disenchanted.
Shelton.
DISENCHARM
Dis`en*charm", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + en (L. in) + charm.]
Defn: To free from the influence of a charm or spell; to disenchant.
[R.] Jer. Taylor.
DISENCLOSE
Dis`en*close, v. t.
Defn: See Disinclose.
DISENCOURAGEMENT
Dis`en*cour"age*ment, n.
Defn: Discouragement. [Obs.] Spectator.
DISENCRESE
Dis`en*crese", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + OE. encrese, E. increase.]
Defn: To decrease. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISENCRESE
Dis`en*crese", n.
Defn: Decrease. [Obs.]
DISENCUMBER
Dis`en*cum"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disencumbered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disencumbering.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + encumber: cf. F. désencombrer.]
Defn: To free from encumbrance, or from anything which clogs,
impedes, or obstructs; to disburden. Owen.
I have disencumbered myself from rhyme. Dryden.
DISENCUMBRANCE
Dis`en*cum"brance, n.
Defn: Freedom or deliverance from encumbrance, or anything burdensome
or troublesome. Spectator.
DISENDOW
Dis`en*dow", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of an endowment, as a church. Gladstone.
DISENDOWMENT
Dis`en*dow"ment, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of an endowment or endowments.
[The] disendowment of the Irish Church. G. B. Smith.
DISENFRANCHISE
Dis`en*fran"chise, v. t.
Defn: To disfranchise; to deprive of the rights of a citizen.
-- Dis`en*fran"chise*ment, n.
DISENGAGE
Dis`en*gage" (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disengaged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disengaging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + engage: cf. F. désengager.]
Defn: To release from that with which anything is engaged, engrossed,
involved, or entangled; to extricate; to detach; to set free; to
liberate; to clear; as, to disengage one from a party, from broils
and controversies, from an oath, promise, or occupation; to disengage
the affections a favorite pursuit, the mind from study.
To disengage him and the kingdom, great sums were to be borrowed.
Milton.
Caloric and light must be disengaged during the process. Transl. of
Lavoisier.
Syn.
-- To liberate; free; loose; extricate; clear; disentangle; detach;
withdraw; wean.
DISENGAGE
Dis`en*gage", v. i.
Defn: To release one's self; to become detached; to free one's self.
From a friends's grave how soon we disengage! Young.
DISENGAGED
Dis`en*gaged", a.
Defn: Not engaged; free from engagement; at leisure; free from
occupation or care; vacant.
-- Dis`en*ga"ged*ness, n.
DISENGAGEMENT
Dis`en*gage"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + engagement: cf. F.
désengagement.]
1. The act of disengaging or setting free, or the state of being
disengaged.
It is easy to render this disengagement of caloric and light evident
to the senses. Transl. of Lavoisier.
A disengagement from earthly trammels. Sir W. Jones.
2. Freedom from engrossing occupation; leisure.
Disengagement is absolutely necessary to enjoyment. Bp. Butler.
DISENGAGING
Dis`en*ga"ging, a.
Defn: Loosing; setting free; detaching. Disengaging machinery. See
under Engaging.
DISENNOBLE
Dis`en*no"ble, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of that which ennobles; to degrade.
An unworthy behavior degrades and disennobles a man. Guardian.
DISENROLL
Dis`en*roll", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disenrolled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disenrolling.]
Defn: To erase from a roll or list. [Written also disenrol.] Donne.
DISENSANITY
Dis`en*san"i*ty, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + en (L. in) + sanity.]
Defn: Insanity; folly. [Obs.]
What tediosity and disensanity Is here among! Beau. & Fl.
DISENSHROUDED
Dis`en*shroud"ed, a.
Defn: Freed from a shroudlike covering; unveiled.
The disenshrouded statue. R. Browning.
DISENSLAVE
Dis`en*slave", v. t.
Defn: To free from bondage or slavery; to disenthrall.
He shall disenslave and redeem his soul. South.
DISENTAIL
Dis`en*tail", v. t. (Law)
Defn: To free from entailment.
DISENTANGLE
Dis`en*tan"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disentangled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disentangling.]
1. To free from entanglement; to release from a condition of being
intricately and confusedly involved or interlaced; to reduce to
orderly arrangement; to straighten out; as, to disentangle a skein of
yarn.
2. To extricate from complication and perplexity; disengage from
embarrassing connection or intermixture; to disembroil; to set free;
to separate.
To disentangle truth from error. Stewart.
To extricate and disentangle themselves out of this labyrinth.
Clarendon.
A mind free and disentangled from all corporeal mixtures. Bp.
Stillingfleet.
Syn.
-- To loose; extricate; disembarrass; disembroil; clear; evolve;
disengage; separate; detach.
DISENTANGLEMENT
Dis`en*tan"gle*ment, n.
Defn: The act of disentangling or clearing from difficulties. Warton.
DISENTER
Dis`en*ter", v. t.
Defn: See Disinter.
DISENTHRALL
Dis`en*thrall", v. t. Etym: [See Enthrall.]
Defn: To release from thralldom or slavery; to give freedom to; to
disinthrall. [Written also disenthral.] Milton.
DISENTHRALLMENT
Dis`en*thrall"ment, n.
Defn: Liberation from bondage; emancipation; disinthrallment.
[Written also disenthralment.]
DISENTHRONE
Dis`en*throne", v. t.
Defn: To dethrone; to depose from sovereign authority. Milton.
DISENTITLE
Dis`en*ti"tle, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of title or claim.
Every ordinary offense does not disentitle a son to the love of his
father. South.
DISENTOMB
Dis`en*tomb", v. t.
Defn: To take out from a tomb; a disinter.
DISENTRAIL
Dis`en*trail", v. t.
Defn: To disembowel; to let out or draw forth, as the entrails.
[Obs.]
As if he thought her soul to disentrail. Spenser.
DISENTRANCE
Dis`en*trance", v. t.
Defn: To awaken from a trance or an enchantment. Hudibras.
DISENTWINE
Dis`en*twine", v. t.
Defn: To free from being entwined or twisted. Shelley.
DISEPALOUS
Di*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + sepalous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two sepals; two-sepaled.
DISERT
Dis*ert", a. Etym: [L. disertus, for dissertus, p. p.: cf. F. disert.
See Dissert.]
Defn: Eloquent. [Obs.]
DISERTITUDE
Dis*er"ti*tude, n. Etym: [L. disertitud
Defn: Eloquence. [Obs.]
DISERTY
Dis*ert"y, adv.
Defn: Expressly; clearly; eloquently. [Obs.] Holland.
DISESPOUSE
Dis`es*pouse", v. t.
Defn: To release from espousal or plighted faith. [Poetic] Milton.
DISESTABLISH
Dis`es*tab"lish, v. t.
Defn: To unsettle; to break up (anything established); to deprive, as
a church, of its connection with the state. M. Arnold.
DISESTABLISHMENT
Dis`es*tab"lish*ment, n.
1. The act or process of unsettling or breaking up that which has
been established; specifically, the withdrawal of the support of the
state from an established church; as, the disestablishment and
disendowment of the Irish Church by Act of Parliament.
2. The condition of being disestablished.
DISESTEEM
Dis`es*teem", n.
Defn: Want of esteem; low estimation, inclining to dislike; disfavor;
disrepute.
Disesteem and contempt of the public affairs. Milton.
DISESTEEM
Dis`es*teem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disesteemed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disesteeming.]
1. To feel an absence of esteem for; to regard with disfavor or
slight contempt; to slight.
But if this sacred gift you disesteem. Denham.
Qualities which society does not disesteem. Ld. Lytton.
2. To deprive of esteem; to bring into disrepute; to cause to be
regarded with disfavor. [Obs.]
What fables have you vexed, what truth redeemed, Antiquities
searched, opinions disesteemed B. Jonson.
DISESTEEMER
Dis`es*teem"er, n.
Defn: One who disesteems. Boyle.
DISESTIMATION
Dis*es`ti*ma"tion, n.
Defn: Disesteem.
DISEXERCISE
Dis*ex"er*cise, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of exercise; to leave untrained. [Obs.]
By disexercising and blunting our abilities. Milton.
DISFAME
Dis*fame", n.
Defn: Disrepute. [R.] Tennyson.
DISFANCY
Dis*fan"cy, v. t.
Defn: To dislike. [Obs.]
DISFASHION
Dis*fash"ion, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + fashion. See Fashion, and cf.
Defeat.]
Defn: To disfigure. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
DISFAVOR
Dis*fa"vor, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + favor: cf. OF. disfaveur, F.
défaveur.] [Written also disfavour.]
1. Want of favor of favorable regard; disesteem; disregard.
The people that deserved my disfavor. Is. x. 6 (1551).
Sentiment of disfavor against its ally. Gladstone.
2. The state of not being in favor; a being under the displeasure of
some one; state of unacceptableness; as, to be in disfavor at court.
3. An unkindness; a disobliging act.
He might dispense favors and disfavors. Clarendon.
DISFAVOR
Dis*fa"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfavored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disfavoring.]
1. To withhold or withdraw favor from; to regard with disesteem; to
show disapprobation of; to discountenance.
Countenanced or disfavored according as they obey. Swift.
2. To injure the form or looks of. [R.] B. Jonson.
DISFAVORABLE
Dis*fa"vor*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défavorable.]
Defn: Unfavorable. [Obs.] Stow.
DISFAVORABLY
Dis*fa"vor*a*bly, adv.
Defn: Unpropitiously. [Obs.]
DISFAVORER
Dis*fa"vor*er, n.
Defn: One who disfavors. Bacon.
DISFEATURE
Dis*fea"ture, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Defeature.]
Defn: To deprive of features; to mar the features of. [R.]
DISFELLOWSHIP
Dis*fel"low*ship, v. t. Etym: [See Fellowship, v. t.]
Defn: To exclude from fellowship; to refuse intercourse with, as an
associate.
An attempt to disfellowship an evil, but to fellowship the evildoer.
Freewill Bapt. Quart.
DISFIGURATION
Dis*fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [See Disfigure, and cf. Defiguration.]
Defn: The act of disfiguring, or the state of being disfigured;
defacement; deformity; disfigurement. Gauden.
DISFIGURE
Dis*fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfigured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disfiguring.] Etym: [OF. desfigurer, F. défigurer; pref. des- (L.
dis-) + figurer to fashion, shape, fr. L. figurare, fr. figura
figure. See Figure, and cf. Defiguration.]
Defn: To mar the figure of; to render less complete, perfect, or
beautiful in appearance; to deface; to deform.
Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own. Milton.
Syn.
-- To deface; deform; mar; injure.
DISFIGURE
Dis*fig"ure, n.
Defn: Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISFIGUREMENT
Dis*fig"ure*ment, n.
1. Act of disfiguring, or state of being disfigured; deformity.
Milton.
2. That which disfigures; a defacement; a blot.
Uncommon expressions . . . are a disfigurement rather than any
embellishment of discourse. Hume.
DISFIGURER
Dis*fig"ur*er, n.
Defn: One who disfigures.
DISFLESH
Dis*flesh", v. t.
Defn: To reduce the flesh or obesity of. [Obs.] Shelton.
DISFOREST
Dis*for"est, v. t.
1. To disafforest. Fuller.
2. To clear or deprive of forests or trees.
DISFORESTATION
Dis*for`es*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of clearing land of forests. Daniel.
DISFORMITY
Dis*form"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. Deformity.]
Defn: Discordance or diversity of form; unlikeness in form.
Uniformity or disformity in comparing together the respective figures
of bodies. S. Clarke.
DISFRANCHISE
Dis*fran"chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfranchised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disfranchising.] Etym: [Cf. Diffranchise.]
Defn: To deprive of a franchise or chartered right; to dispossess of
the rights of a citizen, or of a particular privilege, as of voting,
holding office, etc.
Sir William Fitzwilliam was disfranchised. Fabyan (1509).
He was partially disfranchised so as to be made incapable of taking
part in public affairs. Thirlwall.
DISFRANCHISEMENT
Dis*fran"chise*ment, n.
Defn: The act of disfranchising, or the state disfranchised;
deprivation of privileges of citizenship or of chartered immunities.
Sentenced first to dismission from the court, and then to
disfranchisement and expulsion from the colony. Palfrey.
DISFRIAR
Dis*fri"ar, v. t.
Defn: To depose or withdraw from the condition of a friar. [Obs.]
Many did quickly unnun and disfriar themselves. Fuller.
DISFROCK
Dis*frock", v. t.
Defn: To unfrock.
DISFURNISH
Dis*fur"nish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disfurnished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disfurnishing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + furnish.]
Defn: To deprive of that with which anything is furnished (furniture,
equipments, etc.); to strip; to render destitute; to divest.
I am a thing obscure, disfurnished of All merit, that can raise me
higher. Massinger.
DISFURNISHMENT
Dis*fur"nish*ment, n.
Defn: The act of disfurnishing, or the state of being disfurnished.
Daniel.
DISFURNITURE
Dis*fur"ni*ture, n.
Defn: The act of disfurnishing, or the state of being disfurnished.
[Obs.]
DISFURNITURE
Dis*fur"ni*ture, v. t.
Defn: To disfurnish. [R.] East.
DISGAGE
Dis*gage", v. t.
Defn: To free from a gage or pledge; to disengage. [Obs.] Holland.
DISGALLANT
Dis*gal"lant, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of gallantry. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DISGARLAND
Dis*gar"land, v. t.
Defn: To strip of a garland. [Poetic] "Thy locks disgarland."
Drummond.
DISGARNISH
Dis*gar"nish, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + garnish. See Degarnish.]
Defn: To divest of garniture; to disfurnish; to dismantle. Bp. Hall.
DISGARRISON
Dis*gar"ri*son, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a garrison. Hewyt.
DISGAVEL
Dis*gav"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgaveled or Disgaveled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Disgaveling.] Etym: [See Gavelkind.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: To deprive of that principal quality of gavelkind tenure by
which lands descend equally among all the sons of the tenant; -- said
of lands. Burrill.
DISGEST
Dis*gest", v. t.
Defn: To digest. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISGESTION
Dis*ges"tion, n.
Defn: Digestion. [Obs.]
DISGLORIFY
Dis*glo"ri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disglorified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disglorifying.]
Defn: To deprive of glory; to treat with indignity. [R.]
Disglorified, blasphemed, and had in scorn. Milton.
DISGLORY
Dis*glo"ry, n.
Defn: Dishonor. [Obs.]
To the disglory of God's name. Northbrooke.
DISGORGE
Dis*gorge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgorged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disgorging.] Etym: [F. dégorger, earlier desgorger; pref. dé-, des-
(L. dis-) + gorge. See Gorge.]
1. To eject or discharge by the throat and mouth; to vomit; to pour
forth or throw out with violence, as if from the mouth; to discharge
violently or in great quantities from a confined place.
This mountain when it rageth, . . . casteth forth huge stones,
disgorgeth brimstone. Hakluyt.
They loudly laughed To see his heaving breast disgorge the briny
draught. Dryden.
2. To give up unwillingly as what one has wrongfully seized and
appropriated; to make restitution of; to surrender; as, he was
compelled to disgorge his ill-gotten gains.
DISGORGE
Dis*gorge", v. i.
Defn: To vomit forth what anything contains; to discharge; to make
restitution.
See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths Into the sea. Milton.
DISGORGEMENT
Dis*gorge"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dégorgement.]
Defn: The act of disgorging; a vomiting; that which is disgorged. Bp.
Hall.
DISGOSPEL
Dis*gos"pel, v. i.
Defn: To be inconsistent with, or act contrary to, the precepts of
the gospel; to pervert the gospel. [Obs.] Milton.
DISGRACE
Dis*grace", n. Etym: [F. disgrâce; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + grâce. See
Grace.]
1. The condition of being out of favor; loss of favor, regard, or
respect.
Macduff lives in disgrace. Shak.
2. The state of being dishonored, or covered with shame; dishonor;
shame; ignominy.
To tumble down thy husband and thyself From top of honor to
disgrace's feet Shak.
3. That which brings dishonor; cause of shame or reproach; great
discredit; as, vice is a disgrace to a rational being.
4. An act of unkindness; a disfavor. [Obs.]
The interchange continually of favors and disgraces. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Disfavor; disesteem; opprobrium; reproach; discredit;
disparagement; dishonor; shame; infamy; ignominy; humiliation.
DISGRACE
Dis*grace", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgraced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disgracing.] Etym: [Cf. F. disgracier. See Disgrace, n.]
1. To put out favor; to dismiss with dishonor.
Flatterers of the disgraced minister. Macaulay.
Pitt had been disgraced and the old Duke of Newcastle dismissed. J.
Morley.
2. To do disfavor to; to bring reproach or shame upon; to dishonor;
to treat or cover with ignominy; to lower in estimation.
Shall heap with honors him they now disgrace. Pope.
His ignorance disgraced him. Johnson.
3. To treat discourteously; to upbraid; to revile.
The goddess wroth gan foully her disgrace. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To degrade; humble; humiliate; abase; disparage; defame;
dishonor; debase.
DISGRACEFUL
Dis*grace"ful, a.
Defn: Bringing disgrace; causing shame; shameful; dishonorable;
unbecoming; as, profaneness is disgraceful to a man.
-- Dis*grace"ful*fy, adv.
-- Dis*grace"ful*ness, n.
The Senate have cast you forth disgracefully. B. Jonson.
DISGRACER
Dis*gra"cer, n.
Defn: One who disgraces.
DISGRACIOUS
Dis*gra"cious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. disgracieux.]
Defn: Wanting grace; unpleasing; disagreeable. Shak.
DISGRACIVE
Dis*gra"cive, a.
Defn: Disgracing. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISGRADATION
Dis`gra*da"tion, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: Degradation; a stripping of titles and honors.
DISGRADE
Dis*grade", v. t.
Defn: To degrade. [Obs.] Foxe.
DISGRADUATE
Dis*grad"u*ate, v. t.
Defn: To degrade; to reduce in rank. [Obs.] Tyndale.
DISGREGATE
Dis"gre*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. disgregare; dis- + gregare to collect,
fr. grex, gregis, flock or herd.]
Defn: To disperse; to scatter; -- opposite of congregate. [Obs.]
DISGREGATION
Dis`gre*ga"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The process of separation, or the condition of being separate,
as of the molecules of a body.
DISGRUNTLE
Dis*grun"tle, v. t.
Defn: To dissatisfy; to disaffect; to anger. [Colloq.]
DISGUISE
Dis*guise" (; 232), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disguised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disguising.] Etym: [OE. desguisen, disgisen, degisen, OF. desguisier,
F. déguiser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + guise. See Guise.]
1. To change the guise or appearance of; especially, to conceal by an
unusual dress, or one intended to mislead or deceive.
Bunyan was forced to disguise himself as a wagoner. Macaulay.
2. To hide by a counterfeit appearance; to cloak by a false show; to
mask; as, to disguise anger; to disguise one's sentiments, character,
or intentions.
All God's angels come to us disguised. Lowell.
3. To affect or change by liquor; to intoxicate.
I have just left the right worshipful, and his myrmidons, about a
sneaker or five gallons; the whole magistracy was pretty well
disguised before I gave them the ship. Spectator.
Syn.
-- To conceal; hide; mask; dissemble; dissimulate; feign; pretend;
secrete. See Conceal.
DISGUISE
Dis*guise", n.
1. A dress or exterior put on for purposes of concealment or of
deception; as, persons doing unlawful acts in disguise are subject to
heavy penalties.
There is no passion steals into the heart more imperceptibly and
covers itself under more disguises, than pride. Addison.
2. Artificial language or manner assumed for deception; false
appearance; counterfeit semblance or show.
That eye which glances through all disguises. D. Webster.
3. Change of manner by drink; intoxication. Shak.
4. A masque or masquerade. [Obs.]
Disguise was the old English word for a masque. B. Jonson.
DISGUISEDLY
Dis*guis"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In disguise.
DISGUISEDNESS
Dis*guis"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being disguised.
DISGUISEMENT
Dis*guise"ment, n.
Defn: Disguise. [R.] Spenser.
DISGUISER
Dis*guis"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, disguises. Shak.
2. One who wears a disguise; an actor in a masquerade; a masker.
[Obs.] E. Hall.
DISGUISING
Dis*guis"ing, n.
Defn: A masque or masquerade. [Obs.]
DISGUST
Dis*gust", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disgusted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disgusting.] Etym: [OF. desgouster, F. dégoûter; pref. des- (L. dis-)
+ gouster to taste, F. goûter, fr. L. gustare, fr. gustus taste. See
Gust to taste.]
Defn: To provoke disgust or strong distaste in; to cause (any one)
loathing, as of the stomach; to excite aversion in; to offend the
moral taste of; -- often with at, with, or by.
To disgust him with the world and its vanities. Prescott.
Ærius is expressly declared . . . to have been disgusted at failing.
J. H. Newman.
Alarmed and disgusted by the proceedings of the convention. Macaulay.
DISGUST
Dis*gust", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. desgoust, F. dégoût. See Disgust, v. t.]
Defn: Repugnance to what is offensive; aversion or displeasure
produced by something loathsome; loathing; strong distaste; -- said
primarily of the sickening opposition felt for anything which offends
the physical organs of taste; now rather of the analogous repugnance
excited by anything extremely unpleasant to the moral taste or higher
sensibilities of our nature; as, an act of cruelty may excite
disgust.
The manner of doing is more consequence than the thing done, and upon
that depends the satisfaction or disgust wherewith it is received.
Locke.
In a vulgar hack writer such oddities would have excited only
disgust. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Nausea; loathing; aversion; distaste; dislike; disinclination;
abomination. See Dislike.
DISGUSTFUL
Dis*gust"ful, a.
Defn: Provoking disgust; offensive to the taste; exciting aversion;
disgusting.
That horrible and disgustful situation. Burke.
DISGUSTFULNESS
Dis*gust"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being disgustful.
DISGUSTING
Dis*gust"ing, a.
Defn: That causes disgust; sickening; offensive; revolting.
-- Dis*gust"ing*ly, adv.
DISH
Dish, n. Etym: [AS. disc, L. discus dish, disc, quoit, fr. Gr. Dais,
Desk, Disc, Discus.]
1. A vessel, as a platter, a plate, a bowl, used for serving up food
at the table.
She brought forth butter in a lordly dish. Judg. v. 25.
2. The food served in a dish; hence, any particular kind of food; as,
a cold dish; a warm dish; a delicious dish. "A dish fit for the
gods." Shak.
Home-home dishes that drive one from home. Hood.
3. The state of being concave, or like a dish, or the degree of such
concavity; as, the dish of a wheel.
4. A hollow place, as in a field. Ogilvie.
5. (Mining)
(a) A trough about 28 inches long, 4 deep, and 6 wide, in which ore
is measured.
(b) That portion of the produce of a mine which is paid to the land
owner or proprietor.
DISH
Dish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dished; p. pr. & vb. n. Dishing.]
1. To put in a dish, ready for the table.
2. To make concave, or depress in the middle, like a dish; as, to
dish a wheel by inclining the spokes.
3. To frustrate; to beat; to ruin. [Low] To dish out.
1. To serve out of a dish; to distribute in portions at table.
2. (Arch.) To hollow out, as a gutter in stone or wood.
-- To dish up, to take (food) from the oven, pots, etc., and put in
dishes to be served at table.
DISHABILITATE
Dis`ha*bil"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disability.]
Defn: To disqualify. [R.]
DISHABILLE
Dis`ha*bille", n. Etym: [See Deshabille.]
Defn: An undress; a loose, negligent dress; deshabille.
They breakfast in dishabille. Smollett.
DISHABIT
Dis*hab"it, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + habit to inhabit.]
Defn: To dislodge. [Obs.]
Those sleeping stones . . . from their fixed beds of lime Had been
dishabited. Shak.
DISHABITED
Dis*hab"it*ed, p. a.
Defn: Rendered uninhabited. "Dishabited towns." R. Carew.
DISHABITUATE
Dis`ha*bit"u*ate, v. t.
Defn: To render unaccustomed.
DISHABLE
Dis*ha"ble, v. t.
1. To disable. [Obs.]
2. To disparage. [Obs.]
She oft him blamed . . . and him dishabled quite. Spenser.
DISHALLOW
Dis*hal"low, v. t.
Defn: To make unholy; to profane. Tennyson.
Nor can the unholiness of the priest dishallow the altar. T. Adams.
DISHARMONIOUS
Dis`har*mo"ni*ous, a.
Defn: Unharmonious; discordant. [Obs.] Hallywell.
DISHARMONY
Dis*har"mo*ny, n.
Defn: Want of harmony; discord; incongruity. [R.]
A disharmony in the different impulses that constitute it [our
nature]. Coleridge.
DISHAUNT
Dis*haunt", v. t.
Defn: To leave; to quit; to cease to haunt. Halliwell.
DISHCLOTH
Dish"cloth`, n.
Defn: A cloth used for washing dishes.
DISHCLOUT
Dish"clout`, n.
Defn: A dishcloth. [Obsolescent]
DISHEART
Dis*heart", v. t.
Defn: To dishearten. [Obs.]
DISHEARTEN
Dis*heart"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disheartened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disheartening.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + hearten.]
Defn: To discourage; to deprive of courage and hope; to depress the
spirits of; to deject.
Regiments . . . utterly disorganized and disheartened. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To dispirit; discourage; depress; deject; deter; terrify.
DISHEARTENMENT
Dis*heart"en*ment, n.
Defn: Discouragement; dejection; depression of spirits.
DISHEIR
Dis*heir", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disherit.]
Defn: To disinherit. [Obs.] Dryden.
DISHELM
Dis*helm", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + helm helmet.]
Defn: To deprive of the helmet. [Poetic]
Lying stark, Dishelmed and mute, and motionlessly pale. Tennyson.
DISHERISON
Dis*her"i*son, n. Etym: [See Disherit.]
Defn: The act of disheriting, or debarring from inheritance;
disinhersion. Bp. Hall.
DISHERIT
Dis*her"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disherited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disheriting.] Etym: [F. déshériter; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + hériter to
inherit. See Inherit, and cf. Dusheir, Disinherit.]
Defn: To disinherit; to cut off, or detain, from the possession or
enjoyment of an inheritance. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISHERITANCE
Dis*her"it*ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. desheritance.]
Defn: The act of disinheriting or state of being disinherited;
disinheritance. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DISHERITOR
Dis*her"it*or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who puts another out of his inheritance.
DISHEVEL
Di*shev"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disheveled or Dishevelled; p. pr. &
vb. n. Disheveling or Dishevelling.] Etym: [OF. descheveler, F.
décheveler, LL. discapillare; dis- + L. capillus the hair of the
head. See Capillary.]
1. To suffer (the hair) to hang loosely or disorderly; to spread or
throw (the hair) in disorder; -- used chiefly in the passive
participle.
With garments rent and hair disheveled, Wringing her hands and making
piteous moan. Spenser.
2. To spread loosely or disorderly.
Like the fair flower disheveled in the wind. Cowper.
DISHEVEL
Di*shev"el, v. i.
Defn: To be spread in disorder or hang negligently, as the hair. [R.]
Sir T. Herbert.
DISHEVELE
Di*shev"ele, p. p. & a.
Defn: Disheveled. [Obs.]
Dishevele, save his cap, he rode all bare. Chaucer.
DISHEVELED
Di*shev"eled, a.
1. Having in loose disorder; disarranged; as, disheveled hair.
2. Having the hair in loose disorder.
The dancing maidens are disheveled Mænads. J. A. Symonds.
DISHFUL
Dish"ful, n.; pl. Dishfuls (.
Defn: As much as a dish holds when full.
DISHING
Dish"ing, a.
Defn: Dish-shaped; concave.
DISHONEST
Dis*hon"est, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + honest: cf. F. déshonnête, OF.
deshoneste.]
1. Dishonorable; shameful; indecent; unchaste; lewd. [Obs.]
Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars. Pope.
Speak no foul or dishonest words before them [the women]. Sir T.
North.
2. Dishonored; disgraced; disfigured. [Obs.]
Dishonest with lopped arms the youth appears, Spoiled of his nose and
shortened of his ears. Dryden.
3. Wanting in honesty; void of integrity; faithless; disposed to
cheat or defraud; not trustworthy; as, a dishonest man.
4. Characterized by fraud; indicating a want of probity; knavish;
fraudulent; unjust.
To get dishonest gain. Ezek. xxii. 27.
The dishonest profits of men in office. Bancroft.
DISHONEST
Dis*hon"est, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. deshonester.]
Defn: To disgrace; to dishonor; as, to dishonest a maid. [Obs.]
I will no longer dishonest my house. Chapman.
DISHONESTLY
Dis*hon"est*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dishonest manner.
DISHONESTY
Dis*hon"es*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. deshonesté, F. déshonnêteté.]
1. Dishonor; dishonorableness; shame. [Obs.] "The hidden things of
dishonesty." 2 Cor. iv. 2.
2. Want of honesty, probity, or integrity in principle; want of
fairness and straightforwardness; a disposition to defraud, deceive,
or betray; faithlessness.
3. Violation of trust or of justice; fraud; any deviation from
probity; a dishonest act.
4. Lewdness; unchastity. Shak.
DISHONOR
Dis*hon"or, n. Etym: [OE. deshonour, dishonour, OF. deshonor,
deshonur, F. déshonneur; pref. des- (L. dis-) + honor, honur, F.
honneur, fr. L. honor. See Honor.] [Written also dishonour.]
1. Lack of honor; disgrace; ignominy; shame; reproach.
It was not meet for us to see the king's dishonor. Ezra iv. 14.
His honor rooted in dishonor stood. Tennyson.
2. (Law)
Defn: The nonpayment or nonacceptance of commercial paper by the
party on whom it is drawn.
Syn.
-- Disgrace; ignominy; shame; censure; reproach; opprobrium.
DISHONOR
Dis*hon"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dishonored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dishonoring.] Etym: [OE. deshonouren, F. déshonorer; pref. dés- (L.
dis-) + honorer to honor, fr. L. honorare. See Honor, v. t.] [Written
also dishonour.]
1. To deprive of honor; to disgrace; to bring reproach or shame on;
to treat with indignity, or as unworthy in the sight of others; to
stain the character of; to lessen the reputation of; as, the duelist
dishonors himself to maintain his honor.
Nothing . . . that may dishonor Our law, or stain my vow of Nazarite.
Milton.
2. To violate the chastity of; to debauch. Dryden.
3. To refuse or decline to accept or pay; -- said of a bill, check,
note, or draft which is due or presented; as, to dishonor a bill
exchange.
Syn.
-- To disgrace; shame; debase; degrade; lower; humble; humiliate;
debauch; pollute.
DISHONORABLE
Dis*hon"or*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déshonorable.]
1. Wanting in honor; not honorable; bringing or deserving dishonor;
staining the character, and lessening the reputation; shameful;
disgraceful; base.
2. Wanting in honor or esteem; disesteemed.
He that is dishonorable in riches, how much more in poverty! Ecclus.
x. 31.
To find ourselves dishonorable graves. Shak.
-- Dis*hon"or*a*ble*ness, n.
-- Dis*hon"or*a*bly, adv.
DISHONORARY
Dis*hon"or*a*ry, a.
Defn: Bringing dishonor on; tending to disgrace; lessening
reputation. Holmes.
DISHONORER
Dis*hon"or*er, n.
Defn: One who dishonors or disgraces; one who treats another
indignity. Milton.
DISHORN
Dis*horn", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of horns; as, to dishorn cattle. "Dishorn the
spirit." Shak.
DISHORSE
Dis*horse", v. t.
Defn: To dismount. Tennyson.
DISHOUSE
Dis*house", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of house or home. "Dishoused villagers." James
White.
DISHUMOR
Dis*hu"mor, n.
Defn: Ill humor. [Obs.]
DISHUMOR
Dis*hu"mor, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of humor or desire; to put out of humor. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
DISHWASHER
Dish"wash`er, n.
1. One who, or that which, washes dishes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bird; the wagtail.
DISHWATER
Dish"wa`ter, n.
Defn: Water in which dishes have been washed. "Suds and dishwater."
Beau. & Fl.
DISILLUSION
Dis`il*lu"sion, n.
Defn: The act or process of freeing from an illusion, or the state of
being freed therefrom. Lowell.
DISILLUSION
Dis`il*lu"sion, v. t.
Defn: To free from an illusion; to disillusionize.
DISILLUSIONIZE
Dis`il*lu"sion*ize, v. t.
Defn: To disenchant; to free from illusion. "The bitter
disillusionizing experience of postnuptial life." W. Black.
DISILLUSIONMENT
Dis`il*lu"sion*ment, n.
Defn: The act of freeing from an illusion, or the state of being
freed therefrom.
DISIMBITTER
Dis`im*bit"ter, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + imbitter. Cf. Disembitter.]
Defn: To free from bitterness.
DISIMPARK
Dis`im*park", v. t.
Defn: To free from the barriers or restrictions of a park. [R.]
Spectator.
DISIMPASSIONED
Dis`im*pas"sioned, a.
Defn: Free from warmth of passion or feeling.
DISIMPROVE
Dis`im*prove", v. t.
Defn: To make worse; -- the opposite of improve. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
DISIMPROVE
Dis`im*prove", v. i.
Defn: To grow worse; to deteriorate.
DISIMPROVEMENT
Dis`im*prove"ment, n.
Defn: Reduction from a better to a worse state; as, disimprovement of
the earth.
DISINCARCERATE
Dis`in*car"cer*ate, v. t.
Defn: To liberate from prison. [R.] Harvey.
DISINCLINATION
Dis*in`cli*na"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being disinclined; want of propensity, desire, or
affection; slight aversion or dislike; indisposition.
Disappointment gave him a disinclination to the fair sex. Arbuthnot.
Having a disinclination to books or business. Guardian.
Syn.
-- Unwillingness; disaffection; alienation; dislike; indisposition;
distaste; aversion; repugnance.
DISINCLINE
Dis`in*cline", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinclined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinclining.]
Defn: To incline away the affections of; to excite a slight aversion
in; to indispose; to make unwilling; to alienate.
Careful . . . to disincline them from any reverence or affection to
the Queen. Clarendon.
To social scenes by nature disinclined. Cowper.
DISINCLOSE
Dis`in*close", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disenclose.]
Defn: To free from being inclosed.
DISINCORPORATE
Dis`in*cor"po*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disincorporated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Disincorporating.]
1. To deprive of corporate powers, rights, or privileges; to divest
of the condition of a corporate body.
2. To detach or separate from a corporation. Bacon.
DISINCORPORATE
Dis`in*cor"po*rate, a.
Defn: Separated from, or not included in, a corporation;
disincorporated. Bacon.
DISINCORPORATION
Dis`in*cor`po*ra"tion, n.
Defn: Deprivation of the rights and privileges of a corporation. T.
Warton.
DISINFECT
Dis`in*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinfected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinfecting.]
Defn: To free from infectious or contagious matter; to destroy
putrefaction; to purify; to make innocuous.
When the infectious matter and the infectious matter and the
odoriferous matter are one . . . then to deodorize is to disinfect.
Ure.
DISINFECTANT
Dis`in*fect"ant, n.
Defn: That which disinfects; an agent for removing the causes of
infection, as chlorine.
DISINFECTION
Dis`in*fec"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disinfecting; purification from infecting matter.
DISINFECTOR
Dis`in*fect"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disinfects; an apparatus for applying
disinfectants.
DISINFLAME
Dis`in*flame", v. t.
Defn: To divest of flame or ardor. Chapman.
DISINGENUITY
Dis*in`ge*nu"i*ty, n.
Defn: Disingenuousness. [Obs.] Clarendon.
DISINGENUOUS
Dis`in*gen"u*ous, a.
1. Not noble; unbecoming true honor or dignity; mean; unworthy; as,
disingenuous conduct or schemes.
2. Not ingenuous; wanting in noble candor or frankness; not frank or
open; uncandid; unworthily or meanly artful.
So disingenuous as not to confess them [faults]. Pope.
-- Dis`in*gen"u*ous*ly, adv. T. Warton.
-- Dis`in*gen"u*ous*ness, n. Macaulay.
DISINHABITED
Dis`in*hab"it*ed, a.
Defn: Uninhabited. [Obs.]
DISINHERISON
Dis`in*her"i*son, n. Etym: [See Disinherit, v. t., and cf.
Disherison.]
Defn: Same as Disherison. Bacon.
DISINHERIT
Dis`in*her"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinherited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinheriting.] Etym: [Cf. Disherit, Disheir.]
1. To cut off from an inheritance or from hereditary succession; to
prevent, as an heir, from coming into possession of any property or
right, which, by law or custom, would devolve on him in the course of
descent.
Of how fair a portion Adam disinherited his whole posterity! South.
2. To deprive of heritage; to dispossess.
And disinherit Chaos, that reigns here. Milton.
DISINHERITANCE
Dis`in*her"it*ance, n.
Defn: The act of disinheriting, or the condition of being;
disinherited; disherison.
DISINHUME
Dis`in*hume", v. t.
Defn: To disinter. [R.]
DISINSURE
Dis`in*sure", v. t.
Defn: To render insecure; to put in danger. [Obs.] Fanshawe.
DISINTEGRABLE
Dis*in"te*gra*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being disintegrated, or reduced to fragments or
powder.
Argillo-calcite is readily disintegrable by exposure. Kirwan.
DISINTEGRATE
Dis*in"te*grate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disintegrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disintegrating.] Etym: [L. dis- + integratus, p. p. of integrare to
renew, repair, fr. integer entire, whole. See Integer.]
Defn: To separate into integrant parts; to reduce to fragments or to
powder; to break up, or cause to fall to pieces, as a rock, by blows
of a hammer, frost, rain, and other mechanical or atmospheric
influences.
Marlites are not disintegrated by exposure to the atmosphere, at
least in six years. Kirwan.
DISINTEGRATE
Dis*in"te*grate, v. i.
Defn: To decompose into integrant parts; as, chalk rapidly
disintegrates.
DISINTEGRATION
Dis*in`te*gra"tion, n.
(a) The process by which anything is disintegrated; the condition of
anything which is disintegrated. Specifically
(b) (Geol.) The wearing away or falling to pieces of rocks or strata,
produced by atmospheric action, frost, ice, etc.
Society had need of further disintegration before it could begin to
reconstruct itself locally. Motley.
DISINTEGRATOR
Dis*in"te*gra`tor, n. (Mech.)
Defn: A machine for grinding or pulverizing by percussion.
DISINTER
Dis`in*ter", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinterred; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinterring.]
1. To take out of the grave or tomb; to unbury; to exhume; to dig up.
2. To bring out, as from a grave or hiding place; to bring from
obscurity into view. Addison.
DISINTERESS
Dis*in"ter*ess, v. t. Etym: [F. désintéresser to deprive of interest
in; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + intéresser to interest, fr. L. interesse
to import, concern. See Interest, and cf. Disinterest.]
Defn: To deprive or rid of interest in, or regard for; to disengage.
[Obs.]
DISINTERESSMENT
Dis*in"ter*ess*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désintéressement.]
Defn: Disinterestedness; impartiality; fairness. [Obs.] Prior.
DISINTEREST
Dis*in"ter*est, p. a.
Defn: Disinterested. [Obs.]
The measures they shall walk by shall be disinterest and even. Jer.
Taylor.
DISINTEREST
Dis*in"ter*est, n.
1. What is contrary to interest or advantage; disadvantage. [Obs.]
Glanvill.
2. Indifference to profit; want of regard to private advantage;
disinterestedness. [Obs.] Johnson.
DISINTEREST
Dis*in"ter*est, v. t.
Defn: To divest of interest or interested motives. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISINTERESTED
Dis*in"ter*est*ed, a. Etym: [Cf. Disinteressed.]
Defn: Not influenced by regard to personal interest or advantage;
free from selfish motive; having no relation of interest or feeling;
not biased or prejudiced; as, a disinterested decision or judge.
The happiness of disinterested sacrifices. Channing.
Syn.
-- Unbiased; impartial; uninterested; indifferent.
DISINTERESTEDLY
Dis*in"ter*est*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disinterested manner; without bias or prejudice.
DISINTERESTEDNESS
Dis*in"ter*est*ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being disinterested; impartiality.
That perfect disinterestedness and self-devotion of which man seems
to be incapable, but which is sometimes found in woman. Macaulay.
DISINTERESTING
Dis*in"ter*est*ing, a.
Defn: Uninteresting. [Obs.] "Disinteresting passages." Bp. Warburton.
DISINTERMENT
Dis`in*ter"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disinterring, or taking out of the earth;
exhumation.
DISINTHRALL
Dis`in*thrall", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinthralled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinthralling.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + inthrall. Cf. Disenthrall.]
Defn: To free from thralldom; to disenthrall. [Written also
disinthral.]
DISINTHRALLMENT
Dis`in*thrall"ment, n.
Defn: A releasing from thralldom or slavery; disenthrallment.
[Written also disinthralment.]
DISINTRICATE
Dis*in"tri*cate, v. t.
Defn: To disentangle. [R.] "To disintricate the question." Sir W.
Hamilton.
DISINURE
Dis`in*ure", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disinured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disinuring.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + inure.]
Defn: To render unaccustomed or unfamiliar.
We are hindered and disinured . . . towards the true knowledge.
Milton.
DISINVESTITURE
Dis`in*ves"ti*ture, n.
Defn: The act of depriving of investiture. [Obs.] Ogilvie.
DISINVIGORATE
Dis`in*vig"or*ate, v. t.
Defn: To enervate; to weaken. [R.] Sydney Smith.
DISINVOLVE
Dis`in*volve", v. t.
Defn: To uncover; to unfold or unroll; to disentangle. [R.] Dr. H.
More.
DISJECTION
Dis*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. disjicere, disjectum, to throw asunder,
disperse; dis- + jacere to throw.]
Defn: Destruction; dispersion. Bp. Horsley.
DISJOIN
Dis*join", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disjoined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disjoining.] Etym: [OF. desjoindre, F. disjoindre, déjoindre, fr. L.
disjungere; dis- + jungere to join. See Join, and cf. Disjoint,
Disjunct.]
Defn: To part; to disunite; to separate; to sunder.
That marriage, therefore, God himself disjoins. Milton.
Never let us lay down our arms against France, till we have utterly
disjoined her from the Spanish monarchy. Addison.
Windmill Street consisted of disjoined houses. Pennant.
Syn.
-- To disunite; separate; detach; sever; dissever; sunder;
disconnect.
DISJOIN
Dis*join", v. i.
Defn: To become separated; to part.
DISJOINT
Dis*joint", a. Etym: [OF. desjoint, p. p. of desjoindre. See
Disjoin.]
Defn: Disjointed; unconnected; -- opposed to conjoint. Milton.
DISJOINT
Dis*joint", n. Etym: [From OF. desjoint, p. p. of desjoindre. See
Disjoint, v. t.]
Defn: Difficult situation; dilemma; strait. [Obs.] "I stand in such
disjoint." Chaucer.
DISJOINT
Dis*joint", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disjointed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disjointing.]
1. To separate the joints of; to separate, as parts united by joints;
to put out of joint; to force out of its socket; to dislocate; as, to
disjoint limbs; to disjoint bones; to disjoint a fowl in carving.
Yet what could swords or poisons, racks or flame, But mangle and
disjoint the brittle frame Prior.
2. To separate at junctures or joints; to break where parts are
united; to break in pieces; as, disjointed columns; to disjoint and
edifice.
Some half-ruined wall Disjointed and about to fall. Longfellow.
3. To break the natural order and relations of; to make incoherent;
as, a disjointed speech.
DISJOINT
Dis*joint", v. i.
Defn: To fall in pieces. Shak.
DISJOINTED
Dis*joint"ed, a.
Defn: Separated at the joints; disconnected; incoherent.
-- Dis*joint"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis*joint"ed*ness, n.
DISJOINTLY
Dis*joint"ly, adv.
Defn: In a disjointed state. Sandys.
DISJUDICATION
Dis*ju`di*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Judgment; discrimination. See Dijudication. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISJUNCT
Dis*junct", a. Etym: [L. disjunctus, p. p. of disjungere to disjoin.
See Disjoin, and cf. Disjoint.]
1. Disjoined; separated. [R.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the head, thorax, and abdomen separated by a deep
constriction. Disjunct tetrachords (Mus.), tetrachords so disposed to
each other that the gravest note of the upper is one note higher than
the acutest note of the other.
DISJUNCTION
Dis*junc"tion, n. Etym: [L. disjunctio.]
1. The act of disjoining; disunion; separation; a parting; as, the
disjunction of soul and body.
2. A disjunctive proposition. Coleridge.
DISJUNCTIVE
Dis*junc"tive, a. Etym: [L. disjunctivus: cf. F. disjonctif.]
1. Tending to disjoin; separating; disjoining.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Pertaining to disjunct tetrachords. "Disjunctive notes." Moore
(Encyc. of Music). Disjunctive conjunction (Gram.), one connecting
grammatically two words or clauses, expressing at the same time an
opposition or separation inherent in the notions or thoughts; as,
either, or, neither, nor, but, although, except, lest, etc.
-- Disjunctive proposition, one in which the parts are connected by
disjunctive conjunctions; as it is either day or night.
-- Disjunctive syllogism (Logic), one in which the major proposition
is disjunctive; as, the earth moves in a circle or an ellipse; but in
does not move in a circle, therefore it moves in an ellipse.
DISJUNCTIVE
Dis*junc"tive, n.
(a) (Gram.) A disjunctive conjunction.
(b) (Logic) A disjunctive proposition.
DISJUNCTIVELY
Dis*junc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disjunctive manner; separately. Dr. H. More.
DISJUNCTURE
Dis*junc"ture, n.
Defn: The act of disjoining, or state of being disjoined; separation.
Fuller.
DISK
Disk, n. Etym: [L. discus, Gr. Dish.] [Written also disc.]
1. A discus; a quoit.
Some whirl the disk, and some the javelin dart. Pope.
2. A flat, circular plate; as, a disk of metal or paper.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: The circular figure of a celestial body, as seen projected of
the heavens.
4. (Biol.)
Defn: A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood
disk; germinal disk, etc.
5. (Bot.)
(a) The whole surface of a leaf.
(b) The central part of a radiate compound flower, as in sunflower.
(c) A part of the receptacle enlarged or expanded under, or around,
or even on top of, the pistil.
6. (Zoöl.)
(a) The anterior surface or oral area of coelenterate animals, as of
sea anemones.
(b) The lower side of the body of some invertebrates, especially when
used for locomotion, when it is often called a creeping disk.
(c) In owls, the space around the eyes. Disk engine, a form of rotary
steam engine.
-- Disk shell (Zoöl.), any species of Discina.
DISK CLUTCH
Disk clutch. (Engin.)
Defn: A friction clutch in which the gripping surfaces are disks or
more or less resemble disks.
DISKINDNESS
Dis*kind"ness, n.
Defn: Unkindness; disservice. [R.] A. Tucker.
DISKLESS
Disk"less, a.
Defn: Having no disk; appearing as a point and not expanded into a
disk, as the image of a faint star in a telescope.
DISLADE
Dis*lade", v. t.
Defn: To unlade. [Obs.] Heywood.
DISLEAL
Dis*leal", a. Etym: [See Disloyal, Leal.]
Defn: Disloyal; perfidious. [Obs.] "Disleal knight." Spenser.
DISLEAVE
Dis*leave", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of leaves. [R.]
The cankerworms that annually that disleaved the elms. Lowell.
DISLIKE
Dis*like", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disliked; p. pr. & vb. n. Disliking.]
1. To regard with dislike or aversion; to disapprove; to disrelish.
Every nation dislikes an impost. Johnson.
2. To awaken dislike in; to displease. "Disliking countenance."
Marston. "It dislikes me." Shak.
DISLIKE
Dis*like", n.
1. A feeling of positive and usually permanent aversion to something
unpleasant, uncongenial, or offensive; disapprobation; repugnance;
displeasure; disfavor; -- the opposite of liking or fondness.
God's grace . . . gives him continual dislike to sin. Hammond.
The hint malevolent, the look oblique, The obvious satire, or implied
dislike. Hannah More.
We have spoken of the dislike of these excellent women for Sheridan
and Fox. J. Morley.
His dislike of a particular kind of sensational stories. A. W. Ward.
2. Discord; dissension. [Obs.] Fairfax.
Syn.
-- Distaste; disinclination; disapprobation; disfavor; disaffection;
displeasure; disrelish; aversion; reluctance; repugnance; disgust;
antipathy.
-- Dislike, Aversion, Reluctance, Repugnance, Disgust, Antipathy.
Dislike is the more general term, applicable to both persons and
things and arising either from feeling or judgment. It may mean
little more than want of positive liking; but antipathy, repugnance,
disgust, and aversion are more intense phases of dislike. Aversion
denotes a fixed and habitual dislike; as, an aversion to or for
business. Reluctance and repugnance denote a mental strife or
hostility something proposed (repugnance being the stronger); as, a
reluctance to make the necessary sacrifices, and a repugnance to the
submission required. Disgust is repugnance either of taste or moral
feeling; as, a disgust at gross exhibitions of selfishness. Antipathy
is primarily an instinctive feeling of dislike of a thing, such as
most persons feel for a snake. When used figuratively, it denotes a
correspondent dislike for certain persons, modes of acting, etc. Men
have an aversion to what breaks in upon their habits; a reluctance
and repugnance to what crosses their will; a disgust at what offends
their sensibilities; and are often governed by antipathies for which
they can give no good reason.
DISLIKEFUL
Dis*like"ful, a.
Defn: Full of dislike; disaffected; malign; disagreeable. [Obs.]
Spenser.
DISLIKELIHOOD
Dis*like"li*hood, n.
Defn: The want of likelihood; improbability. Sir W. Scott.
DISLIKEN
Dis*lik"en, v. t.
Defn: To make unlike; to disguise. [Obs.] Shak.
DISLIKENESS
Dis*like"ness, n.
Defn: Unlikeness. [R.] Locke.
DISLIKER
Dis*lik"er, n.
Defn: One who dislikes or disrelishes.
DISLIMB
Dis*limb", v. t.
Defn: To tear limb from limb; to dismember. [Obs.] Bailey.
DISLIMN
Dis*limn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + limn.]
Defn: To efface, as a picture. [Obs.] Shak.
DISLINK
Dis*link", v. t.
Defn: To unlink; to disunite; to separate. [R.] Tennyson.
DISLIVE
Dis*live", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of life. [Obs.]
Telemachus dislived Amphimedon. Chapman.
DISLOCATE
Dis"lo*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dislocated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dislocating.] Etym: [LL. dislocatus, p. p. of dislocare; dis- +
locare to place, fr. locus place. See Locus.]
Defn: To displace; to put out of its proper place. Especially, of a
bone: To remove from its normal connections with a neighboring bone;
to put out of joint; to move from its socket; to disjoint; as, to
dislocate your bones. Shak.
After some time the strata on all sides of the globe were dislocated.
Woodward.
And thus the archbishop's see, dislocated or out of joint for a time,
was by the hands of his holiness set right again. Fuller.
DISLOCATE
Dis"lo*cate, a. Etym: [LL. dislocatus, p. p.]
Defn: Dislocated. Montgomery.
DISLOCATION
Dis`lo*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dislocation.]
1. The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced. T. Burnet.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The displacement of parts of rocks or portions of strata from
the situation which they originally occupied. Slips, faults, and the
like, are dislocations.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: The act of dislocating, or putting out of joint; also, the
condition of being thus displaced.
DISLODGE
Dis*lodge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dislodged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dislodging.] Etym: [OF. deslogier, F. déloger; pref. des- (L. dis-) +
OF. logier, F. loger. See Lodge.]
1. To drive from a lodge or place of rest; to remove from a place of
quiet or repose; as, shells resting in the sea at a considerate depth
are not dislodged by storms.
2. To drive out from a place of hiding or defense; as, to dislodge a
deer, or an enemy.
The Volscians are dislodg'd. Shak.
DISLODGE
Dis*lodge", v. i.
Defn: To go from a place of rest. [R.]
Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by
turns. Milton.
DISLODGE
Dis*lodge", n.
Defn: Dwelling apart; separation. [R.]
DISLODGMENT
Dis*lodg"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. délogement, OF. deslogement.]
Defn: The act or process of dislodging, or the state of being
dislodged.
DISLOIGN
Dis*loign", v. t. Etym: [OF. desloignier. See Eloign.]
Defn: To put at a distance; to remove. [Obs.]
Low-looking dales, disloigned from common gaze. Spenser.
DISLOYAL
Dis*loy"al, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + loyal: cf. OF. desloial, desleal,
F. déloyal. See Loyal.]
Defn: Not loyal; not true to a sovereign or lawful superior, or to
the government under which one lives; false where allegiance is due;
faithless; as, a subject disloyal to the king; a husband disloyal to
his wife.
Without a thought disloyal. Mrs. Browning.
Syn.
-- Disobedient; faithless; untrue; treacherous; perfidious;
dishonest; inconstant; disaffected.
DISLOYALLY
Dis*loy"al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disloyal manner.
DISLOYALTY
Dis*loy"al*ty, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + loyalty: cf. OF. desloiauté,
deslealté, F. déloyauté.]
Defn: Want of loyalty; lack of fidelity; violation of allegiance.
DISMAIL
Dis*mail", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + mail: cf. OF. desmaillier.]
Defn: To divest of coat of mail. Spenser.
DISMAL
Dis"mal, a. Etym: [Formerly a noun; e. g., "I trow it was in the
dismalle." Chaucer. Of uncertain origin; but perh. (as suggested by
Skeat) from OF. disme, F. dîme, tithe, the phrase dismal day properly
meaning, the day when tithes must be paid. See Dime.]
1. Fatal; ill-omened; unlucky. [Obs.]
An ugly fiend more foul than dismal day. Spenser.
2. Gloomy to the eye or ear; sorrowful and depressing to the
feelings; foreboding; cheerless; dull; dreary; as, a dismal outlook;
dismal stories; a dismal place.
Full well the busy whisper, circling round, Convey'd the dismal
tidings when he frowned. Goldsmith.
A dismal description of an English November. Southey.
Syn.
-- Dreary; lonesome; gloomy; dark; ominous; ill-boding; fatal;
doleful; lugubrious; funereal; dolorous; calamitous; sorrowful; sad;
joyless; melancholy; unfortunate; unhappy.
DISMALLY
Dis"mal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dismal manner; gloomily; sorrowfully; uncomfortably.
DISMALNESS
Dis"mal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dismal; gloominess.
DISMAN
Dis*man", v. t.
Defn: To unman. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISMANTLE
Dis*man"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismantled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dismantling.] Etym: [F. démanteler, OF. desmanteler; pref: des- (L.
dis-) + manteler to cover with a cloak, defend, fr. mantel, F.
manteau, cloak. See Mantle.]
1. To strip or deprive of dress; to divest.
2. To strip of furniture and equipments, guns, etc.; to unrig; to
strip of walls or outworks; to break down; as, to dismantle a fort, a
town, or a ship.
A dismantled house, without windows or shutters to keep out the rain.
Macaulay.
3. To disable; to render useless. Comber.
Syn.
-- To demoDemol.
DISMARCH
Dis*march", v. i.
Defn: To march away. [Obs.]
DISMARRY
Dis*mar"ry, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + marry: cf. OF. desmarier, F.
démarier.]
Defn: To free from the bonds of marriage; to divorce. [Obs.] Ld.
Berners.
DISMARSHAL
Dis*mar"shal, v. t.
Defn: To disarrange; to derange; to put in disorder. [R.] Drummond.
DISMASK
Dis*mask", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + mask: cf. F. démasquer.]
Defn: To divest of a mask. Shak.
DISMAST
Dis*mast", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dismasting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + mast: cf. F. démâter.]
Defn: To deprive of a mast of masts; to break and carry away the
masts from; as, a storm dismasted the ship.
DISMASTMENT
Dis*mast"ment, n.
Defn: The act of dismasting; the state of being dismasted. [R.]
Marshall.
DISMAW
Dis*maw", v. t.
Defn: To eject from the maw; to disgorge. [R.] Shelton.
DISMAY
Dis*may", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dismaying.]
Etym: [OE. desmaien, dismaien, OF. esmaier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OHG.
magan to be strong or able; akin to E. may. In English the pref. es-
was changed to dis- (L. dis-). See May, v. i.]
1. To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or
courage of; to deprive or firmness and energy through fear; to daunt;
to appall; to terrify.
Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed. Josh. i. 9.
What words be these What fears do you dismay Fairfax.
2. To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet. [Obs.]
Do not dismay yourself for this. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To terrify; fright; affright; frighten; appall; daunt;
dishearthen; dispirit; discourage; deject; depress.
-- To Dismay, Daunt, Appall. Dismay denotes a state of deep and
gloomy apprehension. To daunt supposes something more sudden and
startling. To appall is the strongest term, implying a sense of
terror which overwhelms the faculties.
So flies a herd of beeves, that hear, dismayed, The lions roaring
through the midnight shade. Pope.
Jove got such heroes as my sire, whose soul No fear could daunt, nor
earth nor hell control. Pope.
Now the last ruin the whole host appalls; Now Greece has trembled in
her wooden walls. Pope.
DISMAY
Dis*may", v. i.
Defn: To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay. [Obs.]
Shak.
DISMAY
Dis*may", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. esmai, F. émoi. See Dismay, v. t.]
1. Loss of courage and firmness through fear; overwhelming and
disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.
I . . . can not think of such a battle without dismay. Macaulay.
Thou with a tiger spring dost leap upon thy prey, And tear his
helpless breast, o'erwhelmed with wild dismay. Mrs. Barbauld.
2. Condition fitted to dismay; ruin. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Dejection; discouragement; depression; fear; fright; terror;
apprehension; alarm; affright.
DISMAYEDNESS
Dis*may"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being dismayed; dejection of courage;
dispiritedness.
DISMAYFUL
Dis*may"ful, a.
Defn: Terrifying. Spenser.
DISME
Disme, n. Etym: [OF. See Dime.]
Defn: A tenth; a tenth part; a tithe. Ayliffe.
DISMEMBER
Dis*mem"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismembered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dismembering.] Etym: [OF. desmembrer, F. démembrer; pref. des- (L.
dis) + OF. & F. membre limb. See Member.]
1. To tear limb from limb; to dilacerate; to disjoin member from
member; to tear or cut in pieces; to break up.
Fowls obscene dismembered his remains. Pope.
A society lacerated and dismembered. Gladstone.
By whose hands the blow should be struck which would dismember that
once mighty empire. Buckle.
2. To deprive of membership. [Obs.]
They were dismembered by vote of the house. R. North.
Syn.
-- To disjoint; dislocate; dilacerate; mutilate; divide; sever.
DISMEMBERMENT
Dis*mem"ber*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. desmembrement, F. démembrement.]
Defn: The act of dismembering, or the state of being dismembered;
cutting in piece; m
The Castilians would doubtless have resented the dismemberment of the
unwieldy body of which they formed the head. Macaulay.
DISMETTLED
Dis*met"tled, a.
Defn: Destitute of mettle, that is, or fire or spirit. [R.]
Llewellyn.
DISMISS
Dis*miss", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismissed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dismissing.] Etym: [L. dis- + missus, p. p. of mittere to send: cf.
dimittere, OF. desmetre, F. démettre. See Demise, and cf. Dimit.]
1. To send away; to give leave of departure; to cause or permit to
go; to put away.
He dismissed the assembly. Acts xix. 41.
Dismiss their cares when they dismiss their flock. Cowper.
Though he soon dismissed himself from state affairs. Dryden.
2. To discard; to remove or discharge from office, service, or
employment; as, the king dismisses his ministers; the matter
dismisses his servant.
3. To lay aside or reject as unworthy of attentions or regard, as a
petition or motion in court.
DISMISS
Dis*miss", n.
Defn: Dismission. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
DISMISSAL
Dis*miss"al, n.
Defn: Dismission; discharge.
Officeholders were commanded faithfully to enforce it, upon pain of
immediate dismissal. Motley.
DISMISSION
Dis*mis"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. L. dimissio.]
1. The act dismissing or sending away; permission to leave; leave to
depart; dismissal; as, the dismission of the grand jury.
2. Removal from office or employment; discharge, either with honor or
with disgrace.
3. Rejection; a setting aside as trivial, invalid, or unworthy of
consideration.
DISMISSIVE
Dis*miss"ive, a.
Defn: Giving dismission.
DISMORTGAGE
Dis*mort"gage (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dismortaged; p. pr. & vb.
n. Dismortgaging.]
Defn: To redeem from mortgage. [Obs.] Howell.
DISMOUNT
Dis*mount", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dismounted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dismounting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + mount: cf. OF. desmonter, F.
démonter.]
1. To come down; to descend. [Poetic]
But now the bright sun ginneth to dismount. Spenser.
2. To alight from a horse; to descend or get off, as a rider from his
beast; as, the troops dismounted.
DISMOUNT
Dis*mount", v. t.
1. To throw or bring down from an elevation, place of honor and
authority, or the like.
Dismounted from his authority. Barrow.
2. To throw or remove from a horse; to unhorse; as, the soldier
dismounted his adversary.
3. (Mech.)
Defn: To take down, or apart, as a machine.
4. To throw or remove from the carriage, or from that on which a
thing is mounted; to break the carriage or wheels of, and render
useless; to deprive of equipments or mountings; -- said esp. of
artillery.
DISNATURALIZE
Dis*nat"u*ral*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make alien; to deprive of the privileges of birth. Locke.
DISNATURED
Dis*na"tured, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + nature: cf. OF. desnaturé, F.
dénaturé.]
Defn: Deprived or destitute of natural feelings; unnatural. [Obs.]
Shak.
DISOBEDIENCE
Dis`o*be"di*ence, n.
Defn: Neglect or refusal to obey; violation of a command or
prohibition.
He is undutiful to him other actions, and lives in open disobedience.
Tillotson.
DISOBEDIENCY
Dis`o*be"di*en*cy, n.
Defn: Disobedience.
DISOBEDIENT
Dis`o*be"di*ent, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + obedient. See Disobey,
Obedient.]
1. Neglecting or refusing to obey; omitting to do what is commanded,
or doing what is prohibited; refractory; not observant of duty or
rules prescribed by authority; -- applied to persons and acts.
This disobedient spirit in the colonies. Burke.
Disobedient unto the word of the Lord. 1 Kings xiii. 26.
2. Not yielding.
Medicines used unnecessarily contribute to shorten life, by sooner
rendering peculiar parts of the system disobedient to stimuli. E.
Darwin.
DISOBEDIENTLY
Dis`o*be"di*ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disobedient manner.
DISOBEISANCE
Dis`o*bei"sance, n. Etym: [F. désobéissance.]
Defn: Disobedience. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISOBEISANT
Dis`o*bei"sant, a. Etym: [F. désobéissant.]
Defn: Disobedient. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISOBEY
Dis`o*bey", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disobeyed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disobeying.] Etym: [F. désobéir; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + obéir. See
Obey, and cf. Disobedient.]
Defn: Not to obey; to neglect or refuse to obey (a superior or his
commands, the laws, etc.); to transgress the commands of (one in
authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey
their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws.
Not to disobey her lord's behest. Tennyson.
DISOBEY
Dis`o*bey", v. i.
Defn: To refuse or neglect to obey; to violate commands; to be
disobedient.
He durst not know how to disobey. Sir P. Sidney.
DISOBEYER
Dis`o*bey"er, n.
Defn: One who disobeys.
DISOBLIGATION
Dis*ob`li*ga"tion, n.
1. The act of disobliging.
2. A disobliging act; an offense. [Obs.] Clarendon.
3. Release from obligation. Jer. Taylor.
DISOBLIGATORY
Dis*ob"li*ga*to*ry, a.
Defn: Releasing from obligation. "Disobligatory power." Charles I.
DISOBLIGE
Dis`o*blige", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disobliged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disobliging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + oblige: cf. F. désobliger.]
1. To do an act which contravenes the will or desires of; to offend
by an act of unkindness or incivility; to displease; to refrain from
obliging; to be unaccommodating to.
Those . . . who slight and disoblige their friends, shall infallibly
come to know the value of them by having none when they shall most
need them. South.
My plan has given offense to some gentlemen, whom it would not be
very safe to disoblige. Addison.
2. To release from obligation. [Obs.]
Absolving and disobliging from a more general command for some just
and reasonable cause. Milton.
DISOBLIGEMENT
Dis`o*blige"ment, n.
Defn: Release from obligation. [Obs.]
DISOBLIGER
Dis`o*bli"ger, n.
Defn: One who disobliges.
DISOBLIGING
Dis`o*bli"ging, a.
1. Not obliging; not disposed to do a favor; unaccommodating; as, a
disobliging person or act.
2. Displeasing; offensive. [Obs.] Cov. of Tongue.
-- Dis`o*bli"ging*ly, adv.
-- Dis`o*bli"ging*ness, n.
DISOCCIDENT
Dis*oc"ci*dent, v. t.
Defn: To turn away from the west; to throw out of reckoning as to
longitude. [Obs.] Marvell.
DISOCCUPATION
Dis*oc`cu*pa"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being unemployed; want of occupation. [R.]
DISOPINION
Dis`o*pin"ion, n.
Defn: Want or difference of belief; disbelief. [Obs.] Bp. Reynolds.
DISOPPILATE
Dis*op"pi*late, v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + oppilatus, p. p. of oppilare
to shut up.]
Defn: To open. [Obs.] Holland.
DISORB
Dis*orb", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + orb.]
Defn: To throw out of the proper orbit; to unsphere. Shak.
DISORD
Dis*ord", n.
Defn: Disorder. [Obs.] Holland.
DISORDEINED
Dis`or*deined", a. Etym: [See Ordain.]
Defn: Inordinate; irregular; vicious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISORDER
Dis*or"der, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + order: cf. F. désordre.]
1. Want of order or regular disposition; lack of arrangement;
confusion; disarray; as, the troops were thrown into disorder; the
papers are in disorder.
2. Neglect of order or system; irregularity.
From vulgar bounds with brave disorder part, And snatch a grace
beyond the reach of art. Pope.
3. Breach of public order; disturbance of the peace of society;
tumult. Shak.
4. Disturbance of the functions of the animal economy of the soul;
sickness; derangement. "Disorder in the body." Locke.
Syn.
-- Irregularity; disarrangement; confusion; tumult; bustle;
disturbance; disease; illness; indisposition; sickness; ailment;
malady; distemper. See Disease.
DISORDER
Dis*or"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disordered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disordering.]
1. To disturb the order of; to derange or disarrange; to throw into
confusion; to confuse.
Disordering the whole frame or jurisprudence. Burke.
The burden . . . disordered the aids and auxiliary rafters into a
common ruin. Jer. Taylor.
2. To disturb or interrupt the regular and natural functions of
(either body or mind); to produce sickness or indisposition in; to
discompose; to derange; as, to disorder the head or stomach.
A man whose judgment was so much disordered by party spirit.
Macaulay.
3. To depose from holy orders. [Obs.] Dryden.
Syn.
-- To disarrange; derange; confuse; discompose.
DISORDERED
Dis*or"dered, a.
1. Thrown into disorder; deranged; as, a disordered house, judgment.
2. Disorderly. [Obs.] Shak.
-- Dis*or"dered*ly, adv.
-- Dis*or"dered*ness, n.
DISORDERLINESS
Dis*or"der*li*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being disorderly.
DISORDERLY
Dis*or"der*ly, a.
1. Not in order; marked by disorder; disarranged; immethodical; as,
the books and papers are in a disorderly state.
2. Not acting in an orderly way, as the functions of the body or
mind.
3. Not complying with the restraints of order and law; tumultuous;
unruly; lawless; turbulent; as, disorderly people; disorderly
assemblies.
4. (Law)
Defn: Offensive to good morals and public decency; notoriously
offensive; as, a disorderly house.
Syn.
-- Irregular; immethodical; confused; tumultuous; inordinate;
intemperate; unruly; lawless; vicious.
DISORDERLY
Dis*or"der*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disorderly manner; without law or order; irregularly;
confusedly.
Withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly. 2
Thess. iii. 6.
Savages fighting disorderly with stones. Sir W. Raleigh.
DISORDINANCE
Dis*or"di*nance, n.
Defn: Disarrangement; disturbance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISORDINATE
Dis*or"di*nate, a.
Defn: Inordinate; disorderly. [Obs.] "With disordinate gestures."
Prynne.
DISORDINATELY
Dis*or"di*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: Inordinately. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISORDINATION
Dis*or`di*na"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being in disorder; derangement; confusion. [Obs.]
Bacon.
DISORGANIZATION
Dis*or`gan*i*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désorganisation. See
Disorganize, v. t.]
1. The act of disorganizing; destruction of system.
2. The state of being disorganized; as, the disorganization of the
body, or of government.
The magazine of a pawnbroker in such total disorganization, that the
owner can never lay his hands upon any one article at the moment he
has occasion for it. Sir W. Scott.
DISORGANIZE
Dis*or"gan*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disorganized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disorganizing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + organize: cf. F. désorganiser.]
Defn: To destroy the organic structure or regular system of (a
government, a society, a party, etc.); to break up (what is
organized); to throw into utter disorder; to disarrange.
Lyford . . . attempted to disorganize the church. Eliot (1809).
DISORGANIZER
Dis*or"gan*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who disorganizes or causes disorder and confusion.
DISORIENT
Dis*o"ri*ent, v. t.
Defn: To turn away from the cast; to confuse as to which way is east;
to cause to lose one's bearings. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
DISORIENTATE
Dis*o"ri*en*tate, v. t.
Defn: To turn away from the east, or (figuratively) from the right or
the truth. [R.]
DISOWN
Dis*own", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disowned; p. pr. & vb. n. Disowning.]
1. To refuse to own or acknowledge as belonging to one's self; to
disavow or deny, as connected with one's self personally; as, a
parent can hardly disown his child; an author will sometimes disown
his writings.
2. To refuse to acknowledge or allow; to deny.
Then they, who brother's better claim disown, Expel their parents,
and usurp the throne. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To disavow; disclaim; deny; abnegate; renounce; disallow.
DISOWNMENT
Dis*own"ment, n.
Defn: Act of disowning. [R.]
DISOXIDATE
Dis*ox"i*date, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deoxidate; to deoxidize. [R.]
DISOXIDATION
Dis*ox`i*da"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Deoxidation. [R.]
DISOXYGENATE
Dis*ox"y*gen*ate, v. t. (Chem.)
Defn: To deprive of oxygen; to deoxidize. [R.]
DISOXYGENATION
Dis*ox`y*gen*a"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Deoxidation. [R.]
DISPACE
Dis*pace", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- asunder, different ways, to and
fro + pace.]
Defn: To roam. [Obs.]
In this fair plot dispacing to and fro. Spenser.
DISPAIR
Dis*pair", v. t.
Defn: To separate (a pair). [R.]
I have . . . dispaired two doves. Beau. & Fl.
DISPAND
Dis*pand", v. t. Etym: [L. dispandere to spread out; pref. dis- +
pandere, pansum, to spread out.]
Defn: To spread out; to expand. [Obs.] Bailey.
DISPANSION
Dis*pan"sion, n. Etym: [See Dispand.]
Defn: Act of dispanding, or state of being dispanded. [Obs.]
DISPARADISED
Dis*par"a*dised, a.
Defn: Removed from paradise. [R.] Cockeram.
DISPARAGE
Dis*par"age (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disparaged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disparaging.] Etym: [OF. desparagier, F. déparager, to marry
unequally; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. parage extraction, lineage, from
L. par equal, peer. See Peer.]
1. To match unequally; to degrade or dishonor by an unequal marriage.
[Obs.]
Alas! that any of my nation Should ever so foul disparaged be.
Chaucer.
2. To dishonor by a comparison with what is inferior; to lower in
rank or estimation by actions or words; to speak slightingly of; to
depreciate; to undervalue.
Those forbidding appearances which sometimes disparage the actions of
men sincerely pious. Bp. Atterbury.
Thou durst not thus disparage glorious arms. Milton.
Syn.
-- To decry; depreciate; undervalue; underrate; cheapen; vilify;
reproach; detract from; derogate from; degrade; debase. See Decry.
DISPARAGE
Dis"pa*rage`, n.
Defn: Inequality in marriage; marriage with an inferior. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
Dissuaded her from such a disparage. Spenser.
DISPARAGEMENT
Dis*par"age*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. desparagement.]
1. Matching any one in marriage under his or her degree; injurious
union with something of inferior excellence; a lowering in rank or
estimation. [Eng.]
And thought that match a foul disparagement. Spenser.
2. Injurious comparison with an inferior; a depreciating or
dishonoring opinion or insinuation; diminution of value; dishonor;
indignity; reproach; disgrace; detraction; -- commonly with to.
It ought to be no disparagement to a star that it is not the sun.
South.
Imitation is a disparagement and a degradation in a Christian
minister. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- Indignity; derogation; detraction; reproach; dishonor;
debasement; degradation; disgrace.
DISPARAGER
Dis*par"a*ger, n.
Defn: One who disparages or dishonors; one who vilifies or disgraces.
DISPARAGINGLY
Dis*par"a*ging*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to disparage or dishonor; slightingly.
DISPARATE
Dis"pa*rate, a. Etym: [L. disparatus, p. p. of disparare to part,
separate; dis- + parare to make ready, prepare.]
1. Unequal; dissimilar; separate.
Connecting disparate thoughts, purely by means of resemblances in the
words expressing them. Coleridge.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Pertaining to two coördinate species or divisions.
DISPARATES
Dis"pa*rates, n. pl.
Defn: Things so unequal or unlike that they can not be compared with
each other.
DISPARITION
Dis`pa*ri"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. disparition.]
Defn: Act of disappearing; disappearance. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISPARITY
Dis*par"i*ty, n.; pl. Disparities. Etym: [LL. disparitas, fr. L.
dispar unlike, unequal; dis- + par equal: cf. F. disparité. See Par,
Peer.]
Defn: Inequality; difference in age, rank, condition, or excellence;
dissimilitude; -- followed by between, in, of, as to, etc.; as,
disparity in, or of, years; a disparity as to color.
The disparity between God and his intelligent creatures. I. Taylor.
The disparity of numbers was not such as ought to cause any
uneasiness. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Inequality; unlikeness; dissimilitude; disproportion; difference.
DISPARK
Dis*park", v. t.
1. To throw (a park or inclosure); to treat (a private park) as a
common.
The Gentiles were made to be God's people when the Jews' inclosure
was disparked. Jer. Taylor.
2. To set at large; to release from inclosure.
Till his free muse threw down the pale, And did at once dispark them
all. Waller.
DISPARKLE
Dis*par"kle, v. t. Etym: [OF. desparpeillier.]
Defn: To scatter abroad. [Obs.] Holland.
DISPART
Dis*part", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disparted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disparting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + part: cf. OF. despartir.]
Defn: To part asunder; to divide; to separate; to sever; to rend; to
rive or split; as, disparted air; disparted towers. [Archaic]
Them in twelve troops their captain did dispart. Spenser.
The world will be whole, and refuses to be disparted. Emerson.
DISPART
Dis*part", v. i.
Defn: To separate, to open; to cleave.
DISPART
Dis*part", n.
1. (Gun.)
Defn: The difference between the thickness of the metal at the mouth
and at the breech of a piece of ordnance.
On account of the dispart, the line of aim or line of metal, which is
in a plane passing through the axis of the gun, always makes a small
angle with the axis. Eng. Cys.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: A piece of metal placed on the muzzle, or near the trunnions,
on the top of a piece of ordnance, to make the line of sight parallel
to the axis of the bore; -- called also dispart sight, and muzzle
sight.
DISPART
Dis*part", v. t.
1. (Gun.)
Defn: To make allowance for the dispart in (a gun), when taking aim.
Every gunner, before he shoots, must truly dispart his piece. Lucar.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: To furnish with a dispart sight.
DISPASSION
Dis*pas"sion, n.
Defn: Freedom from passion; an undisturbed state; apathy. Sir W.
Temple.
DISPASSIONATE
Dis*pas"sion*ate, a.
1. Free from passion; not warped, prejudiced, swerved, or carried
away by passion or feeling; judicial; calm; composed.
Wise and dispassionate men. Clarendon.
2. Not dictated by passion; not proceeding from temper or bias;
impartial; as, dispassionate proceedings; a dispassionate view.
Syn.
-- Calm; cool; composed serene; unimpassioned; temperate; moderate;
impartial; unruffled.
-- Dis*pas"sion*ate*ly, adv.
-- Dis*pas"sion*ate*ness, n.
DISPASSIONED
Dis*pas"sioned, a.
Defn: Free from passion; dispassionate. [R.] "Dispassioned men."
Donne.
DISPATCH
Dis*patch" (; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispatched; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispatching.] Etym: [OF. despeechier, F. dépêcher; prob. from pref.
des- (L. dis-) + (assumed) LL. pedicare to place obstacles in the
way, fr. L. pedica fetter, fr. pes, pedis, foot. See Foot, and cf.
Impeach, Despatch.] [Written also despatch.]
1. To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a
speedy end of; to finish; to perform.
Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talked
of. Shak.
[The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day dispatcheth all the
harvest work. Robynson (More's Utopia).
2. To rid; to free. [Obs.]
I had clean dispatched myself of this great charge. Udall.
3. To get rid of by sending off; to send away hastily.
Unless dispatched to the mansion house in the country . . . they
perish among the lumber of garrets. Walpole.
4. To send off or away; -- particularly applied to sending off
messengers, messages, letters, etc., on special business, and
implying haste.
Even with the speediest expedition I will dispatch him to the
emperor's couShak.
5. To send out of the world; to put to death.
The company shall stone them with stones, and dispatch them with
their swords. Ezek. xxiii. 47.
Syn.
-- To expedite; hasten; speed; accelerate; perform; conclude;
finish; slay; kill.
DISPATCH
Dis*patch", v. i.
Defn: To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of
business.
They have dispatched with Pompey. Shak.
DISPATCH
Dis*patch", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despeche, F. dépêche. See Dispatch, v.
t.] [Written also despatch.]
1. The act of sending a message or messenger in haste or on important
business.
2. Any sending away; dismissal; riddance.
To the utter dispatch of all their most beloved comforts. Milton.
3. The finishing up of a business; speedy performance, as of
business; prompt execution; diligence; haste.
Serious business, craving quick dispatch. Shak.
To carry his scythe . . . with a sufficient dispatch through a
sufficient space. Paley.
4. A message dispatched or sent with speed; especially, an important
official letter sent from one public officer to another; -- often
used in the plural; as, a messenger has arrived with dispatches for
the American minister; naval or military dispatches.
5. A message transmitted by telegraph. [Modern] Dispatch boat, a
swift vessel for conveying dispatches; an advice boat.
-- Dispatch box, a box for carrying dispatches; a box for papers and
other conveniences when traveling.
Syn.
-- Haste; hurry; promptness; celerity; speed. See Haste.
DISPATCHER
Dis*patch"er, n.
Defn: One who dispatches.
DISPATCHFUL
Dis*patch"ful, a.
Defn: Bent on haste; intent on speedy execution of business or any
task; indicating haste; quick; as, dispatchful looks. Milton.
DISPATCHMENT
Dis*patch"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despechement.]
Defn: The act of dispatching. [Obs.] State Trials (1529).
DISPATHY
Dis"pa*thy, n.; pl. Dispathies. Etym: [Pref. dis- + Gr. Pathos.]
Defn: Lack of sympathy; want of passion; apathy. [R.]
Many discrepancies and some dispathies between us. Southey.
DISPAUPER
Dis*pau"per, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of the claim of a pauper to public support; to
deprive of the privilege of suing in forma pauperis.
DISPAUPERIZE
Dis*pau"per*ize, v. t.
Defn: To free a state of pauperism, or from paupers. J. S. Mill.
DISPEED
Dis*peed", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + speed.]
Defn: To send off with speed; to dispatch. [Obs.] Knolles.
Then they dispeeded themselves of the Cid and of their mother-in-law,
DoSouthey.
DISPEL
Dis*pel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dispelling.]
Etym: [L. dispellere; dis- + pellere to push, drive. See Pulse a
beating.]
Defn: To drive away by scattering, or so to cause to vanish; to clear
away; to banish; to dissipate; as, to dispel a cloud, vapors, cares,
doubts, illusions.
[Satan] gently raised their fainting courage, and dispelled their
fears. Milton.
I saw myself the lambent easy light Gild the brown horror, and dispel
the night. Dryden.
DISPENCE
Dis*pence", v. i. & n.
Defn: See Dispense. [Obs.]
DISPEND
Dis*pend", v. t. Etym: [OF. despendre, L. dispendere to weigh out,
dispense; dis- + pendere to weigh. See Pension, Spend, and cf.
Dispense.]
Defn: To spend; to lay out; to expend. [Obs.] Spenser.
Able to dispend yearly twenty pounds and above. Fuller.
DISPENDER
Dis*pend"er, n.
Defn: One who dispends or expends; a steward. [Obs.] Wyclif (1 Cor.
iv. 1).
DISPENSABLE
Dis*pen"sa*ble, a. Etym: [LL. dispensabilis. See Dispense.]
1. Capable of being dispensed or administered.
2. Capable of being dispensed with. Coleridge.
DISPENSABLENESS
Dis*pen"sa*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being dispensable.
DISPENSARY
Dis*pen"sa*ry, n.; pl. Dispensaries. Etym: [Cf. F. dispensaire.]
1. A place where medicines are prepared and dispensed; esp., a place
where the poor can obtain medical advice and medicines gratuitously
or at a nominal price.
2. A dispensatory. Pope.
DISPENSATION
Dis`pen*sa"tion, n. Etym: [F. dispensation, L. dispensatio.]
1. The act of dispensing or dealing out; distribution; often used of
the distribution of good and evil by God to man, or more generically,
of the acts and modes of his administration.
To respect the dispensations of Providence. Burke.
2. That which is dispensed, dealt out, or appointed; that which is
enjoined or bestowed; especially (Theol.),
Defn: a system of principles, promises, and rules ordained and
administered; scheme; economy; as, the Patriarchal, Mosaic, and
Christian dispensations.
Neither are God's methods or intentions different in his
dispensations to each private man. Rogers.
3. The relaxation of a law in a particular case; permission to do
something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined;
specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, exemption from some
ecclesiastical law or obligation to God which a man has incurred of
his own free will (oaths, vows, etc.).
A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry. Ward.
DISPENSATIVE
Dis*pen"sa*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dispensatif.]
Defn: Granting dispensation.
DISPENSATIVELY
Dis*pen"sa*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By dispensation. Wotton.
DISPENSATOR
Dis"pen*sa`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A distributer; a dispenser. Bacon.
DISPENSATORILY
Dis*pen"sa*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of dispensation; dispensatively.
DISPENSATORY
Dis*pen"sa*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. dispensatorius relating to management.
See Dispense, v. t.]
Defn: Granting, or authorized to grant, dispensations. "Dispensatory
power." Bp. Rainbow.
DISPENSATORY
Dis*pen"sa*to*ry, n.; pl. Dispensatories (.
Defn: A book or medicinal formulary containing a systematic
description of drugs, and of preparations made from them. It is
usually, but not always, distinguished from a pharmacopoeia in that
it issued by private parties, and not by an official body or by
government.
DISPENSE
Dis*pense", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispensed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispensing.] Etym: [F. dispenser, L. dispensare, intens. of
dispendere. See Dispend.]
1. To deal out in portions; to distribute; to give; as, the steward
dispenses provisions according directions; Nature dispenses her
bounties; to dispense medicines.
He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company. Sir W.
Scott.
2. To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute;
to manage; to direct.
While you dispense the laws, and guide the state. Dryden.
3. To pay for; to atone for. [Obs.]
His sin was dispensed With gold, whereof it was compensed. Gower.
4. To exempt; to excuse; to absolve; -- with from.
It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions,
should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance. Macaulay.
He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and
dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself. Johnson.
DISPENSE
Dis*pense", v. i.
1. To compensate; to make up; to make amends. [Obs.]
One loving hour For many years of sorrow can dispense. Spenser.
2. To give dispensation.
He [the pope] can also dispense in all matters of ecclesiastical law.
Addis & Arnold (Cath. Dict. )
To dispense with. (a) To permit the neglect or omission of, as a
form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to
give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; to
forego; to part with. (b) To allow by dispensation; to excuse; to
exempt; to grant dispensation to or for. [Obs.] "Conniving and
dispensing with open and common adultery." Milton. (c) To break or go
back from, as one's word. [Obs.] Richardson.
DISPENSE
Dis*pense", n. Etym: [Cf. F. dispense dispensation. See Dispense, v.
t.]
Defn: Dispensation; exemption. [Obs.]
DISPENSE
Dis*pense", n. Etym: [OF. despense, F. dépense.]
Defn: Expense; profusion; outlay. [Obs.]
It was a vault built for great dispense. Spenser.
DISPENSER
Dis*pens"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dispenses; a distributer; as, a
dispenser of favors.
DISPEOPLE
Dis*peo"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispeopled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispeopling.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + people: cf. F. dépeupler.]
Defn: To deprive of inhabitants; to depopulate.
Leave the land dispeopled and desolate. Sir T. More.
A certain island long before dispeopled . . . by sea rivers. Milton.
DISPEOPLER
Dis*peo"pler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dispeoples; a depopulator. Gay.
DISPERGE
Dis*perge", v. t. Etym: [L. dispergere. See Disperse.]
Defn: To sprinkle. [Obs.]
DISPERMOUS
Di*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. disperme.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing only two seeds; two-seeded.
DISPERPLE
Dis*per"ple, v. t. Etym: [OF. desparpe.]
Defn: To scatter; to sprinkle. [Obs.]
Odorous water was Disperpled lightly on my head and neck. Chapman.
DISPERSAL
Dis*per"sal, n.
Defn: The act or result of dispersing or scattering; dispersion.
Darwin.
DISPERSE
Dis*perse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispersed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispersing.] Etym: [L. dispersus, p. p. of dispergere to strew,
scatter. See Sparse.]
1. To scatter abroad; to drive to different parts; to distribute; to
diffuse; to spread; as, the Jews are dispersed among all nations.
The lips of the wise disperse knowledge. Prov. xv. 7.
Two lions, in the still, dark night, A herd of beeves disperse.
Cowper.
2. To scatter, so as to cause to vanish; to dissipate; as, to
disperse vapors.
Dispersed are the glories. Shak.
Syn.
-- To scatter; dissipate; dispel; spread; diffuse; distribute; deal
out; disseminate.
DISPERSE
Dis*perse", v. i.
1. To separate; to go or move into different parts; to vanish; as,
the company dispersed at ten o'clock; the clouds disperse.
2. To distribute wealth; to share one's abundance with others.
He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor. Ps. cxii. 9.
DISPERSED
Dis*persed", a.
Defn: Scattered.
-- Dis*pers"ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis*pers"ed*ness, n. Dispersed harmony (Mus.), harmony in which
the tones composing the chord are widely separated, as by an octave
or more.
DISPERSENESS
Dis*perse"ness, n.
Defn: Dispersedness. [Obs.]
DISPERSER
Dis*pers"er, n.
Defn: One that disperses.
DISPERSION
Dis*per"sion, n. Etym: [CF. F. dispersion.]
1. The act or process of scattering or dispersing, or the state of
being scattered or separated; as, the Jews in their dispersion
retained their rites and ceremonies; a great dispersion of the human
family took place at the building of Babel.
The days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished.
Jer. xxv. 34.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: The separation of light into its different colored rays,
arising from their different refrangibilities. Dispersion of the
optic axes (Crystallog.), the separation of the optic axes in biaxial
crystals, due to the fact that the axial angle has different values
for the different colors of the spectrum.
DISPERSIVE
Dis*pers"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to disperse. Dispersive power (Opt.), the relative
effect of a material in separating the different rays of light by
refraction, as when the substance is formed into a prism.
-- Dis*pers"ive*ness, n.
DISPERSONATE
Dis*per"son*ate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of personality or individuality. [R.]
We multiply; we dispersonate ourselves. Hare.
DISPIRIT
Dis*pir"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispirited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispiriting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + spirit.]
1. To deprive of cheerful spirits; to depress the spirits of; to
dishearten; to discourage.
Not dispirited with my afflictions. Dryden.
He has dispirited himself by a debauch. Collier.
2. To distill or infuse the spirit of. [Obs. or R.]
This makes a man master of his learning, and dispirits the book into
the scholar. Fuller.
Syn.
-- To dishearten; discourage; deject; damp; depress; cast down;
intimidate; daunt; cow.
DISPIRITED
Dis*pir"it*ed, a.
Defn: Depressed in spirits; disheartened; daunted.
-- Dis*pir"it*ed*ly, adv.
-- Dis*pir"it*ed, n.
DISPIRITMENT
Dis*pir"it*ment, n.
Defn: Depression of spirits; discouragement. [R.]
Procter, in evident distress and dispiritment, was waiting the slow
conclusion of this. Carlyle.
DISPITEOUS
Dis*pit"e*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + piteous. Cf. Despiteous.]
Defn: Full of despite; cruel; spiteful; pitiless. Spenser.
-- Dis*pit"e*ous*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DISPLACE
Dis*place", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displaced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Displacing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + place: cf. F. déplacer.]
1. To change the place of; to remove from the usual or proper place;
to put out of place; to place in another situation; as, the books in
the library are all displaced.
2. To crowd out; to take the place of.
Holland displaced Portugal as the mistress of those seas. London
Times.
3. To remove from a state, office, dignity, or employment; to
discharge; to depose; as, to displace an officer of the revenue.
4. To dislodge; to drive away; to banish. [Obs.]
You have displaced the mirth. Shak.
Syn.
-- To disarrange; derange; dismiss; discard.
DISPLACEABLE
Dis*place"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being displaced.
DISPLACEMENT
Dis*place"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déplacement.]
1. The act of displacing, or the state of being displaced; a putting
out of place.
Unnecessary displacement of funds. A. Hamilton.
The displacement of the sun by parallax. Whewell.
2. The quantity of anything, as water, displaced by a floating body,
as by a ship, the weight of the displaced liquid being equal to that
of the displacing body.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The process of extracting soluble substances from organic
material and the like, whereby a quantity of saturated solvent is
displaced, or removed, for another quantity of the solvent. Piston
displacement (Mech.), the volume of the space swept through, or
weight of steam, water, etc., displaced, in a given time, by the
piston of a steam engine or pump.
DISPLACENCY
Dis*pla"cen*cy, n. Etym: [LL. displacentia, for L. displicentia, fr.
displicere to displease; dis- + placere to please. See Displease, and
cf. Displeasance.]
Defn: Want of complacency or gratification; envious displeasure;
dislike. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISPLACER
Dis*pla"cer, n.
1. One that displaces.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The funnel part of the apparatus for solution by displacement.
DISPLANT
Dis*plant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Di; p. pr. & vb. n. Displanting.]
Etym: [Pref. dis- + plant: cf. OF. desplanter, F. déplanter.]
1. To remove (what is planted or fixed); to unsettle and take away;
to displace; to root out; as, to displant inhabitants.
I did not think a look, Or a poor word or two, could have displanted
Such a fixed constancy. Beau. & Fl.
2. To strip of what is planted or settled; as, to displant a country
of inhabitants. Spenser.
DISPLANTATION
Dis`plan*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of displanting; removal; displacement. Sir W. Raleigh.
DISPLAT
Dis*plat", v. t.
Defn: To untwist; to uncurl; to unplat. [Obs.] Hakewill.
DISPLAY
Dis*play", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displayed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Displaying.] Etym: [OE. displaien, desplaien, OF. despleier,
desploier, F. déployer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + pleier, ploier, plier,
F. ployer, plier, to fold, bend, L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Deploy,
Splay.]
1. To unfold; to spread wide; to expand; to stretch out; to spread.
The northern wind his wings did broad display. Spenser.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To extend the front of (a column), bringing it into line.
Farrow.
3. To spread before the view; to show; to exhibit to the sight, or to
the mind; to make manifest.
His statement . . . displays very clearly the actual condition of the
army. Burke.
4. To make an exhibition of; to set in view conspicuously or
ostentatiously; to exhibit for the sake of publicity; to parade.
Proudly displaying the insignia of their order. Prescott.
5. (Print.)
Defn: To make conspicuous by large or prominent type.
6. To discover; to descry. [Obs.]
And from his seat took pleasure to display The city so adorned with
towers. Chapman.
Syn.
-- To exhibit; show; manifest; spread out; parade; expand; flaunt.
DISPLAY
Dis*play", v. i.
Defn: To make a display; to act as one making a show or
demonstration. Shak.
DISPLAY
Dis*play", n.
1. An opening or unfolding; exhibition; manifestation.
Having witnessed displays of his power and grace. Trench.
2. Ostentatious show; exhibition for effect; parade.
He died, as erring man should die, Without display, without parade.
Byron.
DISPLAYED
Dis*played", a.
1. Unfolded; expanded; exhibited conspicuously or ostentatiously.
2. (Her.)
Defn: With wings expanded; -- said of a bird of pray, esp. an eagle.
3. (Print.)
Defn: Set with lines of prominent type interspersed, to catch the
eye.
DISPLAYER
Dis*play"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, displays.
DISPLE
Dis"ple, v. t.
Defn: To discipline; to correct. [Obs.]
And bitter Penance, with an iron whip, Was wont him once to disple
every day. Spenser.
DISPLEASANCE
Dis*pleas"ance, n. Etym: [OF. desplaisance, F. déplaisance. Cf.
Displacency.]
Defn: Displeasure; discontent; annoyance. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISPLEASANT
Dis*pleas"ant, a. Etym: [OF. desplaisant, F. déplaisant. See
Displease.]
Defn: Unpleasing; offensive; unpleasant. [Obs.] Speed.
-- Dis*pleas"ant*ly, adv. [Obs.] Strype.
-- Dis*pleas"ant*ness, n. [Obs.]
DISPLEASE
Dis*please", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displeased; p. pr. & vb. n.
Displeasing.] Etym: [OF. desplaisir, whence F. déplaisir displeasure;
pref. des- (L. dis-) + plaisir to please. See Please, and cf.
Displeasure.]
1. To make not pleased; to excite a feeling of disapprobation or
dislike in; to be disagreeable to; to offend; to vex; -- often
followed by with or at. It usually expresses less than to anger, vex,
irritate, or provoke.
God was displeased with this thing. 1 Chron. xxi. 7.
Wilt thou be displeased at us forever Psalms lxxxv. 5 (Bk. of Com.
Prayer).
This virtuous plaster will displease Your tender sides. J. Fletcher.
Adversity is so wholesome . . . why should we be displeased therewith
Barrow.
2. To fail to satisfy; to miss of. [Obs.]
I shall displease my ends else. Beau. & Fl.
Syn.
-- To offend; disgust; vex; annoy; dissatisfy; chafe; anger;
provoke; affront.
DISPLEASE
Dis*please", v. i.
Defn: To give displeasure or offense. [Obs.]
DISPLEASEDLY
Dis*pleas"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With displeasure. [R.]
DISPLEASEDNESS
Dis*pleas"ed*ness, n.
Defn: Displeasure. [R.] South.
DISPLEASER
Dis*pleas"er, n.
Defn: One who displeases.
DISPLEASING
Dis*pleas"ing, a.
Defn: Causing displeasure or dissatisfaction; offensive;
disagreeable.
-- Dis*pleas"ing*ly, adv.
-- Dis*pleas"ing*ness, n. Locke.
DISPLEASURE
Dis*pleas"ure, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + pleasure: cf. OF. desplaisir,
F. déplaisir. Cf. Displease.]
1. The feeling of one who is displeased; irritation or uneasiness of
the mind, occasioned by anything that counteracts desire or command,
or which opposes justice or a sense of propriety; disapprobation;
dislike; dissatisfaction; disfavor; indignation.
O Lord, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot
displeasure. Ps. vi. 1.
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn From his displeasure. Milton.
2. That which displeases; cause of irritation or annoyance; offense;
injury.
Hast thou delight to see a wretched man Do outrage and displeasure to
himself Shak.
3. State of disgrace or disfavor; disfavor. [Obs.]
He went into Poland, being in displeasure with the pope for overmuch
familiarity. Peacham.
Syn.
-- Dissatisfaction; disapprobation; disfavor; distaste; dislike;
anger; hate; aversion; indignation; offense.
DISPLEASURE
Dis*pleas"ure, v. t.
Defn: To displease. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISPLENISH
Dis*plen"ish, v. t.
Defn: To deprive or strip, as a house of furniture, or a barn of
stock. [Scot.]
DISPLICENCE; DISPLICENCY
Dis"pli*cence, Dis"pli*cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. displicentia. See
Displacency.]
Defn: Dislike; dissatisfaction; discontent. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DISPLODE
Dis*plode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disploded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disploding.] Etym: [L. displodere, displosum; dis- + plodere,
plaudere, to clap, strike, beat.]
Defn: To discharge; to explode.
In posture to displode their second tire Of thunder. Milton.
DISPLODE
Dis*plode", v. i.
Defn: To burst with a loud report; to explode. "Disploding engines."
Young.
DISPLOSION
Dis*plo"sion, n.
Defn: Explosion.
The vast displosion dissipates the clouds. Young.
DISPLOSIVE
Dis*plo"sive, a.
Defn: Explosive.
DISPLUME
Dis*plume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Displumed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Displuming.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + plume: cf. OF. desplumer, F.
déplumer.]
Defn: To strip of, or as of, a plume, or plumes; to deprive of
decoration; to dishonor; to degrade.
Displumed, degraded, and metamorphosed. Burke.
DISPOLINE
Dis"po*line, n. (Chem.)
Defn: One of several isomeric organic bases of the quinoline series
of alkaloids.
DISPOND
Dis*pond", n.
Defn: See Despond.
DISPONDEE
Di*spon"dee, n. Etym: [L. dispondeus, Gr. (Gr.
Defn: A double spondee; a foot consisting of four long syllables.
DISPONE
Dis*pone", v. t. Etym: [L. disponere. See Disposition.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: To dispose.
2. To dispose of. Chaucer.
3. (Scots Law)
Defn: To make over, or convey, legally.
He has disponed . . . the whole estate. Sir W. Scott.
DISPONEE
Dis`po*nee", n. (Scots Law)
Defn: The person to whom any property is legally conveyed.
DISPONER
Dis*pon"er, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: One who legally transfers property from himself to another.
DISPONGE
Dis*ponge", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + sponge.]
Defn: To sprinkle, as with water from a sponge. [Poetic & Rare]
[Written also dispunge.]
O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night
disponge upon me. Shak.
DISPOPE
Dis*pope", v. t.
Defn: To refuse to consider as pope; to depose from the popedom.
One whom they disposed. Tennyson.
DISPOROUS
Di*spor"ous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + sporous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having two spores.
DISPORT
Dis*port", n. Etym: [OF. desport, deport. See Disport, v. i., and cf.
Sport.]
Defn: Play; sport; pastime; diversion; playfulness. Milton.
DISPORT
Dis*port", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disported; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disporting.] Etym: [OF. se desporter; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F.
porter to carry; orig. therefore, to carry one's self away from work,
to go to amuse one's self. See Port demeanor, and cf. Sport.]
Defn: To play; to wanton; to move in gayety; to move lightly and
without restraint; to amuse one's self.
Where light disports in ever mingling dyes. Pope.
Childe Harold basked him in the noontide sun, Disporting there like
any other fly. Byron.
DISPORT
Dis*port", v. t. Etym: [OF. desporter. See Disport, v. i.]
1. To divert or amuse; to make merry.
They could disport themselves. Buckle.
2. To remove from a port; to carry away. Prynne.
DISPORTMENT
Dis*port"ment, n.
Defn: Act of disporting; diversion; play. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DISPOSABLE
Dis*pos"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Dispose.]
Defn: Subject to disposal; free to be used or employed as occasion
may require; not assigned to any service or use.
The great of this kingdom . . . has easily afforded a disposable
surplus. Burke.
DISPOSAL
Dis*pos"al, n. Etym: [From Dispose.]
1. The act of disposing, or disposing of, anything; arrangement;
orderly distribution; a putting in order; as, the disposal of the
troops in two lines.
2. Ordering; regulation; adjustment; management; government;
direction.
The execution leave to high disposal. Milton.
3. Regulation of the fate, condition, application, etc., of anything;
the transference of anything into new hands, a new place, condition,
etc.; alienation, or parting; as, a disposal of property.
A domestic affair of great importance, which is no less than the
disposal of my sister Jenny for life. Tatler.
4. Power or authority to dispose of, determine the condition of,
control, etc., especially in the phrase at, or in, the disposal of.
The sole and absolute disposal of him an his concerns. South.
Syn.
-- Disposition; dispensation; management; conduct; government;
distribution; arrangement; regulation; control.
DISPOSE
Dis*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disposing.]
Etym: [F. disposer; pref. dis- + poser to place. See Pose.]
1. To distribute and put in place; to arrange; to set in order; as,
to dispose the ships in the form of a crescent.
Who hath disposed the whole world Job xxxiv. 13.
All ranged in order and disposed with grace. Pope.
The rest themselves in troops did else dispose. Spenser.
2. To regulate; to adjust; to settle; to determine.
The knightly forms of combat to dispose. Dryden.
3. To deal out; to assign to a use; to bestow for an object or
purpose; to apply; to employ; to dispose of.
Importuned him that what he designed to bestow on her funeral, he
would rather dispose among the poor. Evelyn.
4. To give a tendency or inclination to; to adapt; to cause to turn;
especially, to incline the mind of; to give a bent or propension to;
to incline; to make inclined; -- usually followed by to, sometimes by
for before the indirect object.
Endure and conquer; Jove will soon dispose To future good our past
and present woes. Dryden.
Suspicions dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, and wise
men to irresolution and melancholy. Bacon.
To dispose of. (a) To determine the fate of; to exercise the power of
control over; to fix the condition, application, employment, etc. of;
to direct or assign for a use.
Freedom to order their actions and dispose of their possessions and
persons. Locke.
(b) To exercise finally one's power of control over; to pass over
into the control of some one else, as by selling; to alienate; to
part with; to relinquish; to get rid of; as, to dispose of a house;
to dispose of one's time.
More water . . . than can be disposed of. T. Burnet.
I have disposed of her to a man of business. Tatler.
A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize. Waller.
Syn.
-- To set; arrange; order; distribute; adjust; regulate; adapt; fit;
incline; bestow; give.
DISPOSE
Dis*pose", v. i.
Defn: To bargain; to make terms. [Obs.]
She had disposed with Cæsar. Shak.
DISPOSE
Dis*pose", n.
1. Disposal; ordering; management; power or right of control. [Obs.]
But such is the dispose of the sole Disposer of empires. Speed.
2. Cast of mind; disposition; inclination; behavior; demeanor. [Obs.]
He hath a person, and a smooth dispose To be suspected. Shak.
DISPOSED
Dis*posed", p. a.
1. Inclined; minded.
When he was disposed to pass into Achaia. Acts xviii. 27.
2. Inclined to mirth; jolly. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. Well disposed, in
good condition; in good health. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISPOSEDNESS
Dis*pos"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being disposed or inclined; inclination;
propensity. [R.]
DISPOSEMENT
Dis*pose"ment, n.
Defn: Disposal. [Obs.] Goodwin.
DISPOSER
Dis*pos"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disposes; a regulator; a director; a
bestower.
Absolute lord and disposer of all things. Barrow.
DISPOSINGLY
Dis*pos"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to dispose.
DISPOSITED
Dis*pos"it*ed, a. Etym: [See Disposition.]
Defn: Disposed. [Obs.] Glanvill.
DISPOSITION
Dis`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [F. disposition, dispositio, fr. disponere
to dispose; dis- + ponere to place. See Position, and cf. Dispone.]
1. The act of disposing, arranging, ordering, regulating, or
transferring; application; disposal; as, the disposition of a man's
property by will.
Who have received the law by the disposition of angels. Acts vii. 53.
The disposition of the work, to put all things in a beautiful order
and harmony, that the whole may be of a piece. Dryden.
2. The state or the manner of being disposed or arranged;
distribution; arrangement; order; as, the disposition of the trees in
an orchard; the disposition of the several parts of an edifice.
3. Tendency to any action or state resulting from natural
constitution; nature; quality; as, a disposition in plants to grow in
a direction upward; a disposition in bodies to putrefaction.
4. Conscious inclination; propension or propensity.
How stands your disposition to be married Shak.
5. Natural or prevailing spirit, or temperament of mind, especially
as shown in intercourse with one's fellow-men; temper of mind. "A man
of turbulent disposition." Hallam. "He is of a very melancholy
disposition." Shak.
His disposition led him to do things agreeable to his quality and
condition wherein God had placed him. Strype.
6. Mood; humor.
As I perchance hereafter shall think meet To put an antic disposition
on. Shak.
Syn.
-- Disposal; adjustment; regulation; arrangement; distribution;
order; method; adaptation; inclination; propensity; bestowment;
alienation; character; temper; mood.
-- Disposition, Character, Temper. Disposition is the natural humor
of a person, the predominating quality of his character, the
constitutional habit of his mind. Character is this disposition
influenced by motive, training, and will. Temper is a quality of the
fiber of character, and is displayed chiefly when the emotions,
especially the passions, are aroused.
DISPOSITIONAL
Dis`po*si"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to disposition.
DISPOSITIONED
Dis`po*si"tioned, a.
Defn: Having (such) a disposition; -- used in compounds; as, well-
dispositioned.
DISPOSITIVE
Dis*pos"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dispositif.]
1. Disposing; tending to regulate; decretive. [Obs.]
His dispositive wisdom and power. Bates.
2. Belonging to disposition or natural, tendency. [Obs.] "Dispositive
holiness." Jer. Taylor.
DISPOSITIVELY
Dis*pos"i*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dispositive manner; by natural or moral disposition.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Do dispositively what Moses is recorded to have done literally, . . .
break all the ten commandments at once. Boyle.
DISPOSITOR
Dis*pos"it*or, n. Etym: [L. See Disposition.]
1. A disposer.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: The planet which is lord of the sign where another planet is.
[Obs.] Crabb.
DISPOSSESS
Dis`pos*sess" (; see Possess), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispossessed; p.
pr. & vb. n. Dispossessing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + possess: cf. F.
déposséder.]
Defn: To put out of possession; to deprive of the actual occupancy
of, particularly of land or real estate; to disseize; to eject; --
usually followed by of before the thing taken away; as, to dispossess
a king of his crown.
Usurp the land, and dispossess the swain. Goldsmith.
DISPOSSESSION
Dis`pos*ses"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dépossession.]
1. The act of putting out of possession; the state of being
dispossessed. Bp. Hall.
2. (Law)
Defn: The putting out of possession, wrongfully or otherwise, of one
who is in possession of a freehold, no matter in what title; --
called also ouster.
DISPOSSESSOR
Dis`pos*sess"or, n.
Defn: One who dispossesses. Cowley.
DISPOST
Dis*post", v. t.
Defn: To eject from a post; to displace. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).
DISPOSURE
Dis*po"sure, n. Etym: [From Dispose.]
1. The act of disposing; power to dispose of; disposal; direction.
Give up My estate to his disposure. Massinger.
2. Disposition; arrangement; position; posture. [Obs.]
In a kind of warlike disposure. Sir H. Wotton.
DISPRAISABLE
Dis*prais"a*ble, a.
Defn: Blamable. [R.]
DISPRAISE
Dis*praise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dispraised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dispraising.] Etym: [OE. dispreisen, OF. desprisier, despreisier, F.
dépriser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + prisier, F. priser, to prize,
praise. See Praise, and cf. Disprize, Depreciate.]
Defn: To withdraw praise from; to notice with disapprobation or some
degree of censure; to disparage; to blame.
Dispraising the power of his adversaries. Chaucer.
I dispraised him before the wicked, that the wicked might not fall in
love with him. Shak.
DISPRAISE
Dis*praise", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. despris. See Dispraise, v. t.]
Defn: The act of dispraising; detraction; blame censure; reproach;
disparagement. Dryden.
In praise and in dispraise the same. Tennyson.
DISPRAISER
Dis*prais"er, n.
Defn: One who blames or dispraises.
DISPRAISINGLY
Dis*praising*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of dispraise.
DISPREAD
Dis*pread", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + spread.]
Defn: To spread abroad, or different ways; to spread apart; to open;
as, the sun dispreads his beams. Spenser.
DISPREAD
Dis*pread", v. i.
Defn: To extend or expand itself. [R.]
While tyrant Hdispreading through the sky. Thomson.
DISPREADER
Dis*pread"er, n.
Defn: One who spreads abroad.
Dispreaders both of vice and error. Milton.
DISPREJUDICE
Dis*prej"u*dice, v. t.
Defn: To free from prejudice. [Obs.] W. Montagu.
DISPREPARE
Dis`pre*pare", v. t.
Defn: To render unprepared. [Obs.] Hobbes.
DISPRINCE
Dis*prince", v. t.
Defn: To make unlike a prince. [R.]
For I was drench'd with ooze, and torn with briers, . . . And, all
one rag, disprinced from head to heel. Tennyson.
DISPRISON
Dis*pris"on, v. t.
Defn: To let loose from prison, to set all liberty. [R.] Bulwer.
DISPRIVILEGE
Dis*priv"i*lege, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a privilege or privileges. [R.]
DISPRIZE
Dis*prize", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Dispraise.]
Defn: To do preciate. [R.] Cotton (Ode to Lydia).
DISPROFESS
Dis`pro*fess", v. t.
Defn: To renounce the profession or pursuit of.
His arms, which he had vowed to disprofess. Spenser.
DISPROFIT
Dis*prof"it, n.
Defn: Loss; damage. Foxe.
DISPROFIT
Dis*prof"it, v. i. & i.
Defn: To be, or to cause to be, without profit or benefit. [Obs. or
Archaic] Bale.
DISPROFITABLE
Dis*prof"it*a*ble, a.
Defn: Unprofitable. [Obs.]
DISPROOF
Dis*proof", n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + proof. Cf. Disprove.]
Defn: A proving to be false or erroneous; confutation; refutation;
as, to offer evidence in disproof of a statement.
I need not offer anything farther in support of one, or in disproof
of the other. Rogers.
DISPROPERTY
Dis*prop"er*ty, v. t.
Defn: To cause to be no longer property; to dispossess of. [R.] Shak.
DISPROPORTION
Dis`pro*por"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + proportion: cf. F.
disproportion.]
1. Want of proportion in form or quantity; lack of symmetry; as, the
arm may be in disproportion to the body; the disproportion of the
length of a building to its height.
2. Want of suitableness, adequacy, or due proportion to an end or
use; unsuitableness; disparity; as, the disproportion of strength or
means to an object.
DISPROPORTION
Dis`pro*por"tion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disproportioned; p. pr. & vb.
n. Disproportioning.]
Defn: To make unsuitable in quantity, form, or fitness to an end; to
violate symmetry in; to mismatch; to join unfitly.
To shape my legs of an unequal size; To disproportion me in every
part. Shak.
A degree of strength altogether disproportioned to the extent of its
territory. Prescott.
DISPROPORTIONABLE
Dis`pro*por"tion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Disproportional; unsuitable in form, size, quantity, or
adaptation; disproportionate; inadequate.
-- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*ble*ness, n. Hammond.
-- Dis`pro*por"tion*a*bly, adv.
DISPROPORTIONAL
Dis`pro*por"tion*al, a.
Defn: Not having due proportion to something else; not having
proportion or symmetry of parts; unsuitable in form, quantity or
value; inadequate; unequal; as, a disproportional limb constitutes
deformity in the body; the studies of youth should not be
disproportional to their understanding.
DISPROPORTIONALITY
Dis`pro*por`tion*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being disproportional. Dr. H. More.
DISPROPORTIONALLY
Dis`pro*por"tion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disproportional manner; unsuitably in form, quantity, or
value; unequally.
DISPROPORTIONATE
Dis`pro*por"tion*ate, a.
Defn: Not proportioned; unsymmetrical; unsuitable to something else
in bulk, form, value, or extent; out of proportion; inadequate; as,
in a perfect body none of the limbs are disproportionate; it is
wisdom not to undertake a work disproportionate means.
-- Dis`pro*por"tion*ate*ly, adv.
-- Dis`pro*por"tion*ate*ness, n.
DISPROPRIATE
Dis*pro"pri*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + propriare to appropriate, fr.
proprius one's own, proper.]
Defn: To cancel the appropriation of; to disappropriate. [R.]
DISPROVABLE
Dis*prov"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being disproved or refuted. Boyle.
DISPROVAL
Dis*prov"al, n.
Defn: Act of disproving; disproof. [R.]
DISPROVE
Dis*prove", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disproved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disproving.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + prove: cf. OF. desprover.]
1. To prove to be false or erroneous; to confute; to refute.
That false supposition I advanced in order to disprove it. Atterbury.
2. To disallow; to disapprove of. [Obs.] Stirling.
DISPROVER
Dis*prov"er, n.
Defn: One who disproves or confutes.
DISPROVIDE
Dis`pro*vide", v. t.
Defn: Not to provide; to fail to provide. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISPUNCT
Dis*punct", a.
Defn: Wanting in punctilious respect; discourteous. [Obs.]
That were dispunct to the ladies. B. Jonson.
DISPUNCT
Dis*punct", v. t. Etym: [See 1st Dispunge.]
Defn: To expunge. [Obs.] Foxe.
DISPUNGE
Dis*punge", v. t. Etym: [L. dispungere to prick apart, i. e., check
off the debts and credits of an account; dis- + pungere to prick.]
Defn: To expunge; to erase. [Obs.]
DISPUNGE
Dis*punge", v. t.
Defn: See Disponge. [Obs.]
DISPUNISHABLE
Dis*pun"ish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Without penal restraint; not punishable. [R.] Swift.
DISPURPOSE
Dis*pur"pose, v. t.
Defn: To dissuade; to frustrate; as, to dispurpose plots. [R.] A.
Brewer.
DISPURSE
Dis*purse", v. t.
Defn: To disburse. [Obs.] Shak.
DISPURVEY
Dis`pur*vey", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + purvey: cf. OF. desporveoir,
F. dépourvoir.]
Defn: To disfurnish; to strip. [Obs.] Heywood.
DISPURVEYANCE
Dis`pur*vey"ance, n.
Defn: Want of provisions; [Obs.] Spenser.
DISPUTABLE
Dis`pu*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. disputabilis: cf. F. disputable. See
Dispute, v. i.]
1. Capable of being disputed; liable to be called in question,
controverted, or contested; or doubtful certainty or propriety;
controvertible; as, disputable opinions, propositions, points, or
questions.
Actions, every one of which is very disputable. Jer. Taylor.
2. Disputatious; contentious. [Obs.] Shak.
DISPUTABLENESS
Dis`pu*ta*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being disputable.
DISPUTACITY
Dis`pu*tac"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Dispute, v. i.]
Defn: Proneness to dispute. [Obs.] Bp. Ward.
DISPUTANT
Dis"pu*tant, a. Etym: [L. disputants, p. pr. of disputare: cf. F.
disputant. See Dispute, v. i.]
Defn: Disputing; engaged in controversy. Milton.
DISPUTANT
Dis"pu*tant, n.
Defn: One who disputes; one who argues
A singularly eager, acute, and pertinacious disputant. Macaulay.
DISPUTATION
Dis`pu*ta"tion, n. Etym: [OE. desputeson, disputacion, OF.
desputeison, F. disputation, fr. L. disputatio. See Dispute, v. i.]
1. The act of disputing; a reasoning or argumentation in opposition
to something, or on opposite sides; controversy in words; verbal
contest respecting the truth of some fact, opinion, proposition, or
argument.
2. A rhetorical exercise in which parties reason in opposition to
each other on some question proposed.
DISPUTATIOUS
Dis`pu*ta"tious, a.
Defn: Inclined to dispute; apt to civil or controvert; characterized
by dispute; as, a disputatious person or temper.
The Christian doctrine of a future life was no recommendation of the
new religion to the wits and philosophers of that disputations
period. Buckminster.
-- Dis`pu*ta"tious*ly, adv.
-- Dis`pu*ta"tious*ness, n.
DISPUTATIVE
Dis*put"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. disputativus.]
Defn: Disposed to dispute; inclined to cavil or to reason in
opposition; as, a disputative temper. I. Watts.
DISPUTE
Dis*pute", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disputed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disputing.]
Etym: [OE. desputen, disputen, OF. desputer, disputer, F. disputer,
from L. disputare, disputatum; dis- + putare to clean; hence, fig.,
to clear up, set in order, reckon, think. See Putative, Pure.]
Defn: To contend in argument; to argue against something maintained,
upheld, or claimed, by another; to discuss; to reason; to debate; to
altercate; to wrangle.
Therefore disputed [reasoned, Rev. Ver
.] he in synagogue with the Jews. Acts xvii. 17.
DISPUTE
Dis*pute", v. t.
1. To make a subject of disputation; to argue pro and con; to
discuss.
The rest I reserve it be disputed how the magistrate is to do herein.
Milton.
2. To oppose by argument or assertion; to attempt to overthrow; to
controvert; to express dissent or opposition to; to call in question;
to deny the truth or validity of; as, to dispute assertions or
arguments.
To seize goods under the disputed authority of writs of assistance.
Bancroft.
3. To strive or contend about; to contest.
To dispute the possession of the ground with the Spaniards. Prescott.
4. To struggle against; to resist. [Obs.]
Dispute it [grief] like a man. Shak.
Syn.
-- To controvert; contest; gainsay; doubt; question; argue; debate;
discuss; impugn. See Argue.
DISPUTE
Dis*pute", n. Etym: [Cf. F. dispute. See Dispute, v. i.]
1. Verbal controversy; contest by opposing argument or expression of
opposing views or claims; controversial discussion; altercation;
debate.
Addicted more To contemplation and profound dispute. Milton.
2. Contest; struggle; quarrel. De Foe. Beyond dispute, Without
dispute, indisputably; incontrovertibly.
Syn.
-- Altercation; controversy; argumentation; debate; discussion;
quarrel; disagreement; difference; contention; wrangling. See
Altercation.
DISPUTELESS
Dis*pute"less, a.
Defn: Admitting no dispute; incontrovertible. Bailey.
DISPUTER
Dis*put"er, n.
Defn: One who disputes, or who is given to disputes; a controvertist.
Where is the disputer of this world 1 Cor. i. 20.
DISPUTISON
Dis*pu"ti*son, n. Etym: [See Disputation.]
Defn: Dispute; discussion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISQUALIFICATION
Dis*qual`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
1. The act of disqualifying, or state of being disqualified; want of
qualification; incompetency; disability; as, the disqualification of
men for holding certain offices.
2. That which disqualifies; that which incapacitates or makes unfit;
as, conviction of crime is a disqualification of a person for office;
sickness is a disqualification for labor.
I must still retain the consciousness of those disqualifications
which you have been pleased to overlook. Sir J. Shore.
DISQUALIFY
Dis*qual"i*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disqualified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disqualifying.]
1. To deprive of the qualities or properties necessary for any
purpose; to render unfit; to incapacitate; -- with for or from before
the purpose, state, or act.
My common illness disqualifies me for all conversation; I mean my
deafness. Swift.
Me are not disqualified by their engagements in trade from being
received in high society. Southey.
2. To deprive of some power, right, or privilege, by positive
restriction; to disable; to debar legally; as, a conviction of
perjury disqualifies a man to be a witness.
DISQUANTITY
Dis*quan"ti*ty, v. t.
Defn: To diminish the quantity of; to lessen. [Obs.] Shak.
DISQUIET
Dis*qui"et, a.
Defn: Deprived of quiet; impatient; restless; uneasy. [R.] Shak.
DISQUIET
Dis*qui"et, n.
Defn: Want of quiet; want of tranquility in body or mind; uneasiness;
restlessness; disturbance; anxiety. Swift.
DISQUIET
Dis*qui"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disquieted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disquieting.]
Defn: To render unquiet; to deprive of peace, rest, or tranquility;
to make uneasy or restless; to disturb.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within
me Ps. xlii. 11.
As quiet as these disquieted times will permit. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- To harass; disturb; vex; fret; excite; agitate.
DISQUIETAL
Dis*qui"et*al, n.
Defn: The act of disquieting; a state of disquiet. [Obs.]
[It] roars and strives 'gainst its disquietal. Dr. H. More.
DISQUIETER
Dis*qui"et*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disquiets, or makes uneasy; a
disturber.
DISQUIETFUL
Dis*qui"et*ful, a.
Defn: Producing inquietude or uneasiness. [R.] Barrow.
DISQUIETIVE
Dis*qui"et*ive, a.
Defn: Tending to disquiet. [R.]
DISQUIETLY
Dis*qui"et*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disquiet manner; uneasily; as, he rested disquietly that
night. [R.] Wiseman.
DISQUIETMENT
Dis*qui"et*ment, n.
Defn: State of being disquieted; uneasiness; harassment. [R.]
Hopkins.
DISQUIETNESS
Dis*qui"et*ness, n.
Defn: Disturbance of quiet in body or mind; restlessness; uneasiness.
Hooker.
DISQUIETOUS
Dis*qui"et*ous, a.
Defn: Causing uneasiness. [R.]
So distasteful and disquietous to a number of men. Milton.
DISQUIETTUDE
Dis*qui"et*tude, n.
Defn: Want of peace or tranquility; uneasiness; disturbance;
agitation; anxiety.
Fears and disquietude, and unavoidable anxieties of mind. Abp. Sharp.
DISQUISITION
Dis`qui*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. disquisitio, fr. disquirere to inquire
diligently, investigate; dis- + quaerere to seek. See Quest.]
Defn: A formal or systematic inquiry into, or discussion of, any
subject; a full examination or investigation of a matter, with the
arguments and facts bearing upon it; elaborate essay; dissertation.
For accurate research or grave disquisition he was not well
qualified. Macaulay.
DISQUISITIONAL
Dis`qui*si"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to disquisition; of the nature of disquisition.
DISQUISITIONARY
Dis`qui*si"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to disquisition; disquisitional.
DISQUISITIVE
Dis*quis"i*tive, a.
Defn: Relating to disquisition; fond discussion or investigation;
examining; inquisitive.
DISQUISITORIAL
Dis*quis`i*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Disquisitory.
DISQUISITORY
Dis*quis"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to disquisition; disquisitive. Ed. Rev.
DISRANGE
Dis*range", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + range: cf. OF. desrengier, F.
dérangier. See Derange, Disrank.]
Defn: To disarrange. [Obs.] Wood.
DISRANK
Dis*rank" (; see Dis-), v. t. Etym: [Cf. Derange.]
1. To degrade from rank. [Obs.]
2. To throw out of rank or into confusion. Decker.
DISRATE
Dis*rate", v. t.
Defn: To reduce to a lower rating or rank; to degrade. Marryat.
DISRAY
Dis*ray", variant
Defn: of Disarray. [Obs.] Holland.
DISREALIZE
Dis*re"al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To divest of reality; to make uncertain. [Obs.] Udall.
DISREGARD
Dis`re*gard", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disregarded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disregarding.]
Defn: Not to regard; to pay no heed to; to omit to take notice of; to
neglect to observe; to slight as unworthy of regard or notice; as, to
disregard the admonitions of conscience.
Studious of good, man disregarded fame. Blackmore.
DISREGARD
Dis`re*gard", n.
Defn: The act of disregarding, or the state of being disregarded;
intentional neglect; omission of notice; want of attention; slight.
The disregard of experience. Whewell.
DISREGARDER
Dis`re*gard"er, n.
Defn: One who disregards.
DISREGARDFUL
Dis`re*gard"ful, a.
Defn: Neglect; negligent; heedless; regardless.
DISREGARDFULLY
Dis`re*gard"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: Negligently; heedlessly.
DISRELISH
Dis*rel"ish (; see Dis-), n.
1. Want of relish; dislike (of the palate or of the mind); distaste;
a slight degree of disgust; as, a disrelish for some kinds of food.
Men love to hear of their power, but have an extreme disrelish to be
told of their duty. Burke.
2. Absence of relishing or palatable quality; bad taste;
nauseousness. Milton.
DISRELISH
Dis*rel"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrelished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disrelishing.]
1. Not to relish; to regard as unpalatable or offensive; to feel a
degree of disgust at. Pope.
2. To deprive of relish; to make nauseous or disgusting in a slight
degree. Milton.
DISREMEMBER
Dis`re*mem"ber, v. t.
Defn: To fail to remember; to forget. [Obs. or Archaic]
DISREPAIR
Dis`re*pair", n.
Defn: A state of being in bad condition, and wanting repair.
The fortifications were ancient and in disrepair. Sir W. Scott.
DISREPUTABILITY
Dis*rep`u*ta*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being disreputable. [R.]
DISREPUTABLE
Dis*rep"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Not reputable; of bad repute; not in esteem; dishonorable;
disgracing the reputation; tending to bring into disesteem; as, it is
disreputable to associate familiarly with the mean, the lewd, and the
profane.
Why should you think that conduct disreputable in priests which you
probably consider as laudable in yourself Bp. Watson.
Syn.
-- Dishonorable; discreditable; low; mean; disgraceful; shameful.
DISREPUTABLY
Dis*rep"u*ta*bly, adv.
Defn: In a disreputable manner.
DISREPUTATION
Dis*rep`u*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Loss or want of reputation or good name; dishonor; disrepute;
disesteem. "A disreputation of piety." Jer. Taylor.
DISREPUTE
Dis`re*pute", n.
Defn: Loss or want of reputation; ill character; disesteem;
discredit.
At the beginning of the eighteenth century astrology fell into
general disrepute. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.
-- Disesteem; discredit; dishonor; disgrace.
DISREPUTE
Dis`re*pute", v. t.
Defn: To bring into disreputation; to hold in dishonor. [R.]
More inclined to love them tan to disrepute them. Jer. Taylor.
DISRESPECT
Dis`re*spect", n.
Defn: Want of respect or reverence; disesteem; incivility;
discourtesy.
Impatience of bearing the least affront or disrespect. Pope.
DISRESPECT
Dis`re*spect", v. t.
Defn: To show disrespect to.
We have disrespected and slighted God. Comber.
DISRESPECTABILITY
Dis`re*spect`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of respectability. Thackeray.
DISRESPECTABLE
Dis`re*spect"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not respectable; disreputable. M. Arnold.
DISRESPECTER
Dis`re*spect"er, n.
Defn: One who disrespects.
DISRESPECTFUL
Dis`re*spect"ful, a.
Defn: Wanting in respect; manifesting disesteem or lack of respect;
uncivil; as, disrespectful behavior.
-- Dis`re*spect"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dis`re*spect"ful*ness, n.
DISRESPECTIVE
Dis`re*spect"ive, a.
Defn: Showing want of respect; disrespectful. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISREVERENCE
Dis*rev"er*ence, v. t.
Defn: To treat irreverently or with disrespect. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
DISROBE
Dis*robe" (; see Dis-), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Disrobed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Disrobing.]
Defn: To divest of a robe; to undress; figuratively, to strip of
covering; to divest of that which clothes or decorates; as, autumn
disrobes the fields of verdure.
Two great peers were disrobed of their glory. Sir H. Wotton.
DISROBER
Dis*rob"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disrobes.
DISROOF
Dis*roof", v. t.
Defn: To unroof. [R.] Carlyle.
DISROOT
Dis*root", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrooted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disrooting.]
Defn: To tear up the roots of, or by the roots; hence, to tear from a
foundation; to uproot.
A piece of ground disrooted from its situation by subterraneous
inundations. Goldsmith.
DISROUT
Dis*rout", v. i. Etym: [Cf. OF. desrouter, F. dérouter.]
Defn: To put to rout. Taylor (1630).
DISRUDDER
Dis*rud"der, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of the rudder, as a ship.
DISRULILY
Dis*ru"li*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disorderly manner. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
DISRULY
Dis*ru"ly, a.
Defn: Unruly; disorderly. [Obs.]
DISRUPT
Dis*rupt", a. Etym: [L. disruptus, diruptus, p. p. of disrumpere, to
break or burst asunder; dis- + rumpere to break, burst. See Rupture.]
Defn: Rent off; torn asunder; severed; disrupted.
DISRUPT
Dis*rupt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disrupted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disrupting.]
Defn: To break asunder; to rend. Thomson.
DISRUPTION
Dis*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. disruptio, diruptio.]
Defn: The act or rending asunder, or the state of being rent asunder
or broken in pieces; breach; rent; dilaceration; rupture; as, the
disruption of rocks in an earthquake; disruption of a state.
DISRUPTIVE
Dis*rupt"ive, a.
Defn: Causing, or tending to cause, disruption; caused by disruption;
breaking through; bursting; as, the disruptive discharge of an
electrical battery. Nichol.
DISRUPTURE
Dis*rup"ture, n.
Defn: Disruption. [R.] Jefferson.
DISSATISFACTION
Dis*sat`is*fac"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being dissatisfied, unsatisfied, or discontented;
uneasiness proceeding from the want of gratification, or from
disappointed wishes and expectations.
The ambitious man has little happiness, but is subject to much
uneasiness and dissatisfaction. Addison.
Syn.
-- Discontent; discontentment; displeasure; disapprobation;
distaste; dislike.
DISSATISFACTORY
Dis*sat`is*fac"to*ry, a.
Defn: Causing dissatisfaction; unable to give content;
unsatisfactory; displeasing.
To have reduced the different qualifications in the different States
to one uniform rule, would probably have been as dissatisfactory to
some of the States, as difficult for the Convention. A. Hamilton.
-- Dis*sat`is*fac"to*ri*ness, n.
DISSATISFY
Dis*sat"is*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissatisfied; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissatisfying.]
Defn: To render unsatisfied or discontented; to excite uneasiness in
by frustrating wishes or expectations; to displease by the want of
something requisite; as, to be dissatisfied with one's fortune.
The dissatisfied factions of the autocracy. Bancroft.
DISSEAT
Dis*seat", v. t.
Defn: To unseat. [R.] Shak.
DISSECT
Dis*sect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissected; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissecting.] Etym: [L. dissectus, p. p. of dissecare; dis- + secare
to cut. See Section.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: To divide into separate parts; to cut in pieces; to separate
and expose the parts of, as an animal or a plant, for examination and
to show their structure and relations; to anatomize.
2. To analyze, for the purposes of science or criticism; to divide
and examine minutely.
This paragraph . . . I have dissected for a sample. Atterbury.
DISSECTED
Dis*sect"ed, a.
1. Cut into several parts; divided into sections; as, a dissected
map.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Cut deeply into many lobes or divisions; as, a dissected leaf.
DISSECTIBLE
Dis*sect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being dissected, or separated by dissection. Paley.
DISSECTING
Dis*sect"ing, a.
1. Dividing or separating the parts of an animal or vegetable body;
as, a dissecting aneurism, one which makes its way between or within
the coats of an artery.
2. Of or pertaining to, or received during, a dissection; as, a
dissecting wound.
3. Used for or in dissecting; as, a dissecting knife; a dissecting
microscope.
DISSECTION
Dis*sec"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dissection.]
1. The act of dissecting an animal or plant; as, dissection of the
human body was held sacrilege till the time of Francis I.
2. Fig.: The act of separating or dividing for the purpose of
critical examination.
3. Anything dissected; especially, some part, or the whole, of an
animal or plant dissected so as to exhibit the structure; an
anatomical so prepared. Dissection wound, a poisoned wound incurred
during the dissection of a dead body.
DISSECTOR
Dis*sect"or, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dissecteur.]
Defn: One who dissects; an anatomist.
DISSEIZE
Dis*seize", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disseized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disseizing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + seize: cf. F. dessaisir.] (Law)
Defn: To deprive of seizin or possession; to dispossess or oust
wrongfully (one in freehold possession of land); -- followed by of;
as, to disseize a tenant of his freehold. [Written also disseise.]
Which savage beasts strive as eagerly to keep and hold those golden
mines, as the Arimaspians to disseize them thereof. Holland.
DISSEIZEE
Dis`sei*zee", n. (Law)
Defn: A person disseized, or put out of possession of an estate
unlawfully; -- correlative to disseizor. [Written also disseisee.]
DISSEIZIN
Dis*sei"zin, n. Etym: [OF. dessaisine.] (Law)
Defn: The act of disseizing; an unlawful dispossessing and ouster of
a person actually seized of the freehold. [Written also disseisin.]
Blackstone.
DISSEIZOR
Dis*sei"zor, n. (Law)
Defn: One who wrongfully disseizes, or puts another out of possession
of a freehold. [Written also disseisor.] Blackstone.
DISSEIZORESS
Dis*sei"zor*ess, n. (Law)
Defn: A woman disseizes.
DISSEIZURE
Dis*sei"zure, n.
Defn: Disseizin. Speed.
DISSEMBLANCE
Dis*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dissemblance. See Dissemble.]
Defn: Want of resemblance; dissimilitude. [R.] Osborne.
DISSEMBLANCE
Dis*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Dissemble + -ance.]
Defn: The act or art of dissembling; dissimulation. [Obs.]
DISSEMBLE
Dis*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissembled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissembling.] Etym: [OF. dissembler to be dissimilar; pref. dis- (L.
dis-) + F. sembler to seem, L. simulare to simulate; cf. L.
dissimulare to dissemble. See Simulate, and cf. Dissimulate.]
1. To hide under a false semblance or seeming; to feign (something)
not to be what it really is; to put an untrue appearance upon; to
disguise; to mask.
Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. Shak.
Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love, But -- why did you kick
me down stairs J. P. Kemble.
2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to
feign.
He soon dissembled a sleep. Tatler.
Syn.
-- To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See Conceal.
DISSEMBLE
Dis*sem"ble, v. i.
Defn: To conceal the real fact, motives,
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips. Prov. xxvi. 24.
He [an enemy] dissembles when he assumes an air of friendship. C. J.
Smith.
DISSEMBLER
Dis*sem"bler, n.
Defn: One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or
dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite.
It is the weakest sort of politicians that are the greatest
dissemblers. Bacon.
Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here. Pope.
Syn.
-- Dissembler, Hypocrite. A person is called a dissembler with
reference to his concealment of his real character, and a hypocrite
with reference to his assumption of a false character. But hypocrite
is the stronger word, being commonly used to characterize a person
who is habitually insincere and false, especially one who makes
professions of goodness when his aims are selfish and his life
corrupt.
DISSEMBLING
Dis*sem"bling, a.
Defn: That dissembles; hypocritical; false.
-- Dis*sem"bling*ly, adv.
DISSEMINATE
Dis*sem"i*nate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Disseminated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Disseminating.] Etym: [L. disseminatus, p. p. of disseminare to
disseminate; dis- + seminare to sow, semen seed. See Seminary.]
1. To sow broadcast or as seed; to scatter for growth and
propagation, like seed; to spread abroad; to diffuse; as, principles,
ideas, opinions, and errors are disseminated when they are spread
abroad for propagation.
2. To spread or extend by dispersion.
A nearly uniform and constant fire or heat disseminated throughout
the body of the earth. Woodward.
Syn.
-- To spread; diffuse; propagate; circulate; disperse; scatter.
DISSEMINATED
Dis*sem"i*na`ted, p. a. (Min.)
Defn: Occurring in small portions scattered through some other
substance.
DISSEMINATION
Dis*sem`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. disseminatio: cf. F. dissémination.]
Defn: The act of disseminating, or the state of being disseminated;
diffusion for propagation and permanence; a scattering or spreading
abroad, as of ideas, beliefs, etc.
The universal dissemination of those writings. Wayland.
DISSEMINATIVE
Dis*sem"i*na*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to disseminate, or to become disseminated.
The effect of heresy is, like the plague, infectious and
disseminative. Jer. Taylor.
DISSEMINATOR
Dis*sem"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, disseminates, spreads, or propagates;
as, disseminators of disease.
DISSENSION
Dis*sen"sion, n. Etym: [L. dissensio: cf. F. dissension. See
Dissent.]
Defn: Disagreement in opinion, usually of a violent character,
producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan
and contentious divisions; breach of friendship and union; strife;
discord; quarrel.
Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them.
Acts xv. 2.
Debates, dissension, uproars are thy joy. Dryden.
A seditious person and raiser-up of dissension among the people.
Robynson (More's Utopia).
DISSENSIOUS
Dis*sen"sious, a.
Defn: Disposed to discord; contentious; dissentious. [R.] Ascham.
-- Dis*sen"sious*ly, adv. Chapman.
DISSENT
Dis*sent", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dissented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissenting.] Etym: [L. dissentire, dissentum; dis- + sentire to feel,
think. See Sense.]
1. To differ in opinion; to be of unlike or contrary sentiment; to
disagree; -- followed by from.
The bill passed . . . without a dissenting voice. Hallam.
Opinions in which multitudes of men dissent from us. Addison.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: To differ from an established church in regard to doctrines,
rites, or government.
3. To differ; to be of a contrary nature. Hooker.
DISSENT
Dis*sent", n.
1. The act of dissenting; difference of opinion; refusal to adopt
something proposed; nonagreement, nonconcurrence, or disagreement.
The dissent of no small number [of peers] is frequently recorded.
Hallam.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: Separation from an established church, especially that of
England; nonconformity.
It is the dissidence of dissent and the protestantism of the
Protestant religion. Burke.
3. Contrariety of nature; diversity in quality. [Obs.]
The dissent of the metals. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Disagreement; variance; difference; nonconcurrence;
nonconformity.
DISSENTANEOUS
Dis`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. dissentaneus.]
Defn: Disagreeing; contrary; differing; -- opposed to consentaneous.
[R.] Barrow.
DISSENTANY
Dis"sen*ta*ny, a.
Defn: Dissentaneous; inconsistent. [Obs.] Milton.
DISSENTATION
Dis`sen*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Dissension. [Obs.] W. Browne.
DISSENTER
Dis*sent"er, n.
1. One who dissents; one who differs in opinion, or declares his
disagreement.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: One who separates from the service and worship of an
established church; especially, one who disputes the authority or
tenets of the Church of England; a nonconformist.
Dissenters from the establishment of their several countries. Burke.
Robert Brown is said to have the first formal dissenter. Shipley.
Note: "The word is commonly applied only to Protestants. The Roman
Catholics are generally referred to as a distinct class." Brande & C.
DISSENTERISM
Dis*sent"er*ism, n.
Defn: The spirit or principles of dissenters. Ed. Rev.
DISSENTIATE
Dis*sen"ti*ate, v. t.
Defn: To throw into a state of dissent. [R.] Feltham.
DISSENTIENT
Dis*sen"tient, a. Etym: [L. dissentiens, p. pr. of dissentire. See
Dissent, v. i.]
Defn: Disagreeing; declaring dissent; dissenting.
-- n.
Defn: One who dissents. Macaulay.
DISSENTIOUS
Dis*sen"tious, a.
Defn: Marked by dissensions; apt to breed discord; quarrelsome;
contentious; factious.
-- Dis*sen"tious*ly, adv.
DISSENTIVE
Dis*sent"ive, a.
Defn: Disagreeing; inconsistent. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISSEPIMENT
Dis*sep"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. dissaepimentum, fr. dissaepire; dis- +
saepire to hedge in, inclose.]
1. A separating tissue; a partition; a septum.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One of the partitions which divide a compound ovary into cells.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the transverse, calcareous partitions between the
radiating septa of a coral.
DISSERT
Dis*sert", v. i. Etym: [L. dissertus, p. p. of disserere; dis- +
serere to join, connect: cf. F. disserter. See Series.]
Defn: To discourse or dispute; to discuss. [R.]
We have disserted upon it a little longer than was necessary.
Jeffrey.
DISSERTATE
Dis"ser*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. dissertatus, p. p. of dissertare to
discuss, intents, fr. disserere. See Dissert.]
Defn: To deal in dissertation; to write dissertations; to discourse.
[R.] J. Foster.
DISSERTATION
Dis`ser*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissertatio: cf. F. dissertation.]
Defn: A formal or elaborate argumentative discourse, oral or written;
a disquisition; an essay; a discussion; as, Dissertations on the
Prophecies.
DISSERTATIONAL
Dis`ser*ta"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to dissertations; resembling a dissertation.
DISSERTATIONIST
Dis`ser*ta"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of dissertations.
DISSERTATOR
Dis"ser*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. dissertateur.]
Defn: One who writers a dissertation; one who discourses. Boyle.
DISSERTLY
Dis*sert"ly, adv.
Defn: See Disertly. [Obs.]
DISSERVE
Dis*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Di; p. pr. & vb. n. Disserving.]
Etym: [Pref. dis- + serve: cf. F. desservir.]
Defn: To fail to serve; to do injury or mischief to; to damage; to
hurt; to harm.
Have neither served nor disserved the interests of any party. Jer.
Taylor.
DISSERVICE
Dis*serv"ice, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + service: cf. F. desservice.]
Defn: Injury; mischief.
We shall rather perform good offices unto truth than any disservice
unto their relators. Sir T. Browne.
DISSERVICEABLE
Dis*serv"ice*a*ble, a.
Defn: Calculated to do disservice or harm; not serviceable;
injurious; harmful; unserviceable. Shaftesbury.
-- Dis*serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. Norris.
-- Dis*serv"ice*a*bly, adv.
DISSETTLE
Dis*set"tle, v. t.
Defn: To unsettle. [Obs.]
DISSETTLEMENT
Dis*set"tle*ment, n.
Defn: The act of unsettling, or the state of being unsettled.
Marvell.
DISSEVER
Dis*sev"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissevered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissevering.] Etym: [OE. dessevrer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + sevrer to
sever, F. sevrer to wean, L. separate to separate. In this word the
prefix is intensive. See Dis-, and Sever.]
Defn: To part in two; to sever thoroughly; to sunder; to disunite; to
separate; to disperse.
The storm so dissevered the company . . . that most of therm never
met again. Sir P. Sidney.
States disserved, discordant, belligerent. D. Webster.
DISSEVER
Dis*sev"er, v. i.
Defn: To part; to separate. Chaucer.
DISSEVERANCE
Dis*sev"er*ance, n. Etym: [OF. dessevrance.]
Defn: The act of disserving; separation.
DISSEVERATION
Dis*sev`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disserving; disseverance. [Obs.]
DISSEVERMENT
Dis*sev"er*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. dessevrement.]
Defn: Disseverance. Sir W. Scott.
DISSHADOW
Dis*shad"ow, v. t.
Defn: To free from shadow or shade. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
DISSHEATHE
Dis*sheathe", v. i.
Defn: To become unsheathed. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DISSHIP
Dis*ship", v. t.
Defn: To dismiss from service on board ship. [Obs.] Hakluyt.
DISSHIVER
Dis*shiv"er, v. t. & i.
Defn: To shiver or break in pieces. [Obs.]
DISSIDENCE
Dis"si*dence, n. Etym: [L. dissidentia: cf. F. dissidence. See
Dissident, a.]
Defn: Disagreement; dissent; separation from the established
religion. I. Taylor.
It is the dissidence of dissent. Burke.
DISSIDENT
Dis"si*dent, a. Etym: [L. dissidens, -entis, p. pr. of dissidere to
sit apart, to disagree; dis- + sedere to sit: cf. F. dissident. See
Sit.]
Defn: No agreeing; dissenting; discordant; different.
Our life and manners be dissident from theirs. Robynson (More's
Utopia).
DISSIDENT
Dis"si*dent, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: One who disagrees or dissents; one who separates from the
established religion.
The dissident, habituated and taught to think of his dissidencI.
Taylor.
DISSIDENTLY
Dis"si*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dissident manner.
DISSILIENCE; DISSILIENCY
Dis*sil"i*ence, Dis*sil"i*en*cy, n.
Defn: The act of leaping or starting asunder. Johnson.
DISSILIENT
Dis*sil"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. dissiliens, -entis, p. pr. of dissilire
to leap asunder: dis- + salire to leap.]
Defn: Starting asunder; bursting and opening with an elastic force;
dehiscing explosively; as, a dissilient pericarp.
DISSILITION
Dis`si*li"tion, n.
Defn: The act of bursting or springing apart. [R.] Boyle.
DISSIMILAR
Dis*sim"i*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + similar: cf. F. dissimilaire.]
Defn: Not similar; unlike; heterogeneous; as, the tempers of men are
as dissimilar as their features.
This part very dissimilar to any other. Boyle.
DISSIMILARITY
Dis*sim`i*lar"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilitude; variety; as,
the dissimilarity of human faces and forms. Sir W. Jones.
DISSIMILARLY
Dis*sim"i*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dissimilar manner; in a varied style.
With verdant shrubs dissimilarly gay. C. Smart.
DISSIMILATE
Dis*sim"i*late, v. t.
Defn: To render dissimilar.
DISSIMILATION
Dis*sim`i*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making dissimilar. H. Sweet.
DISSIMILE
Dis*sim"i*le, n. Etym: [L. dissimile, neut. dissimilis unlike.]
(Rhet.)
Defn: Comparison or illustration by contraries.
DISSIMILITUDE
Dis`si*mil"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. dissimilitudo, fr. dissimilis: cf. F.
dissimilitude.]
1. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilarity.
Dissimilitude between the Divinity and images. Stillingfleet.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A comparison by contrast; a dissimile.
DISSIMULATE
Dis*sim"u*late, a. Etym: [L. dissimulatus, p. p. of dissimulare. See
Dissemble.]
Defn: Feigning; simulating; pretending. [Obs.] Henryson.
DISSIMULATE
Dis*sim"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To dissemble; to feign; to pretend.
DISSIMULATION
Dis*sim`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissimulatio: cf. F. dissimulation.]
Defn: The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance;
concealment by feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy.
Let love be without dissimulation. Rom. xii. 9.
Dissimulation . . . when a man lets fall signs and arguments that he
is not that he is. Bacon.
Simulation is a pretense of what is not, and dissimulation a
concealment of what is. Tatler.
DISSIMULATOR
Dis*sim"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who dissimulates; a dissembler.
DISSIMULE
Dis*sim"ule, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. dissimuler. See Dissimulate.]
Defn: To dissemble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISSIMULER
Dis*sim"u*ler, n.
Defn: A dissembler. [Obs.]
DISSIMULOUR
Dis*sim"u*lour, n. Etym: [OF. dissimuleur.]
Defn: A dissembler. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISSIPABLE
Dis"si*pa*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissipabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being scattered or dissipated. [R.]
The heat of those plants is very dissipable. Bacon.
DISSIPATE
Dis"si*pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissipated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissipating.] Etym: [L. dissipatus, p. p. of dissipare; dis- + an
obsolete verb sipare, supare. to throw.]
1. To scatter completely; to disperse and cause to disappear; -- used
esp. of the dispersion of things that can never again be collected or
restored.
Dissipated those foggy mists of error. Selden.
I soon dissipated his fears. Cook.
The extreme tendency of civilization is to dissipate all intellectual
energy. Hazlitt.
2. To destroy by wasteful extravagance or lavish use; to squander.
The vast wealth . . . was in three years dissipated. Bp. Burnet.
Syn.
-- To disperse; scatter; dispel; spend; squander; waste; consume;
lavish.
DISSIPATE
Dis"si*pate, v. i.
1. To separate into parts and disappear; to waste away; to scatter;
to disperse; to vanish; as, a fog or cloud gradually dissipates
before the rays or heat of the sun; the heat of a body dissipates.
2. To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of
pleasure; to engage in dissipation.
DISSIPATED
Dis"si*pa`ted, a.
1. Squandered; scattered. "Dissipated wealth." Johnson.
2. Wasteful of health, money, etc., in the pursuit of pleasure;
dissolute; intemperate.
A life irregular and dissipated. Johnson.
DISSIPATION
Dis`si*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissipatio: cf. F. dissipation.]
1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or
separation; dispersion; waste.
Without loss or dissipation of the matter. Bacon.
The famous dissipation of mankind. Sir M. Hale.
2. A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are
squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in vicious indulgence,
as late hours, riotous living, etc.; dissoluteness.
To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance. P.
Henry.
3. A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention.
Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and
dissipations. Swift.
Dissipation of energy. Same as Degradation of energy, under
Degradation.
DISSIPATIVE
Dis"si*pa*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to dissipate. Dissipative system (Mech.), an assumed
system of matter and motions in which forces of friction and
resistances of other kinds are introduced without regard to the heat
or other molecular actions which they generate; -- opposed to
conservative system.
DISSIPATIVITY
Dis`si*pa*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: The rate at which palpable energy is dissipated away into other
forms of energy.
DISSITE
Dis"site, a. Etym: [L. dissitus.]
Defn: Lying apart. [Obs.]
Lands far dissite and remote asunder. Holland.
DISSLANDER
Dis*slan"der, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + slander.]
Defn: To slander. [Obs.] Legend of Dido.
DISSLANDER
Dis*slan"der, n.
Defn: Slander. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISSLANDEROUS
Dis*slan"der*ous, a.
Defn: Slanderous. [Obs.]
DISSOCIABILITY
Dis*so`cia*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of sociability; unsociableness. Bp. Warburton.
DISSOCIABLE
Dis*so"cia*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissociabilis, fr. issociare: cf. F.
dissociable. See Dissociate.]
1. Not
They came in two and two, though matched in the most dissociable
manner. Spectator.
2. Having a tendency to dissolve social connections; unsuitable to
society; unsociable.
DISSOCIAL
Dis*so"cial, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + social: cf. L. dissocialis. See
Dissociate, v. t.]
Defn: Unfriendly to society; contracted; selfish; as, dissocial
feelings.
DISSOCIALIZE
Dis*so"cial*ize, v. t.
Defn: To render unsocial.
DISSOCIATE
Dis*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissociated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissociating.] Etym: [L. dissociatus, p. p. of dissociare to
dissociate; dis- + sociare to unite, associate, socius companion. See
Social.]
Defn: To separate from fellowship or union; to disunite; to disjoin;
as, to dissociate the particles of a concrete substance.
Before Wyclif's death in 1384, John of Gaunt had openly dissociated
himself from the reformer. A. W. Ward.
DISSOCIATION
Dis*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissociatio: cf. F. dissociation.]
1. The act of dissociating or disuniting; a state of separation;
disunion.
It will add infinitely dissociation, distraction, and confusion of
these confederate republics. Burke.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The process by which a compound body breaks up into simpler
constituents; -- said particularly of the action of heat on gaseous
or volatile substances; as, the dissociation of the sulphur
molecules; the dissociation of ammonium chloride into hydrochloric
acid and ammonia.
DISSOCIATIVE
Dis*so"ci*a*tive, a.
Defn: Tending or leading to dissociation.
DISSOLUBILITY
Dis`so*lu*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being dissoluble; capacity of being dissoluble;
capacity of being dissolved by heat or moisture, and converted into a
fluid.
DISSOLUBLE
Dis"so*lu*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissolubilis: cf. F. dissoluble. See
Dissolve, and cf. Dissolvable.]
1. Capable of being dissolved; having its parts separable by heat or
moisture; convertible into a fluid. Woodward.
2. Capable of being disunited.
DISSOLUBLENESS
Dis"so*lu*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dissoluble; dissolubility. Boyle.
DISSOLUTE
Dis"so*lute, a. Etym: [L. dissolutus, p. p. of dissolvere: cf. F.
dissolu. See Dissolve.]
1. With nerves unstrung; weak. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. Loosed from restraint; esp., loose in morals and conduct;
recklessly abandoned to sensual pleasures; profligate; wanton; lewd;
debauched. "A wild and dissolute soldier." Motley.
Syn.
-- Uncurbed; unbridled; disorderly; unrestrained; reckless; wild;
wanton; vicious; lax; licentious; lewd;
DISSOLUTELY
Dis"so*lute*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dissolute manner.
DISSOLUTENESS
Dis"so*lute*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being dissolute; looseness of morals and
manners; addictedness to sinful pleasures; debauchery; dissipation.
Chivalry had the vices of dissoluteness. Bancroft.
DISSOLUTION
Dis`so*lu"tion, n. Etym: [OE. dissolucioun dissoluteness, F.
dissolution, fr. L. dissolutio, fr. dissolvere. See Dissolve.]
1. The act of dissolving, sundering, or separating into component
parts; separation.
Dissolutions of ancient amities. Shak.
2. Change from a solid to a fluid state; solution by heat or
moisture; liquefaction; melting.
3. Change of form by chemical agency; decomposition; resolution.
The dissolution of the compound. South.
4. The dispersion of an assembly by terminating its sessions; the
breaking up of a partnership.
Dissolution is the civil death of Parliament. Blackstone.
5. The extinction of life in the human body; separation of the soul
from the body; death.
We expected Immediate dissolution. Milton.
6. The state of being dissolved, or of undergoing liquefaction.
A man of continual dissolution and thaw. Shak.
7. The new product formed by dissolving a body; a solution. Bacon.
8. Destruction of anything by the separation of its parts; ruin.
To make a present dissolution of the world. Hooker.
9. Corruption of morals; dissipation; dissoluteness. [Obs. or R.]
Atterbury.
DISSOLVABILITY
Dis*solv`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capacity of being dissolved; solubility. Richardson.
DISSOLVABLE
Dis*solv"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Dissolve, cf. Dissoluble.]
Defn: Capable of being dissolved, or separated into component parts;
capable of being liquefied; soluble.
-- Dis*solv"a*ble*ness, n.
Though everything which is compacted be in its own nature
dissolvable. Cudworth.
Such things as are not dissolvable by the moisture of the tongue. Sir
I. Newton.
DISSOLVATIVE
Dis*solv"a*tive, n.
Defn: Having the power to dissolve anything; solvent. [Obs.]
Frampton.
DISSOLVE
Dis*solve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissolved; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissolving.] Etym: [L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to
loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute.]
1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up;
hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a
relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to
dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament.
Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. Shak.
2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder;
to loosen; to undo; to separate.
Nothing can dissolve us. Shak.
Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. Fairfax.
For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected
them with another. The Declaration of Independence.
3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to
melt; to liquefy; to soften.
As if the world were all dissolved to tears. Shak.
4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. "Dissolved the mystery."
Tennyson.
Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Dan. v. 16.
5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless.
Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. Dryden.
6. (Law)
Defn: To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve
an injunction.
Syn.
-- See Adjourn.
DISSOLVE
Dis*solve", v. i.
1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.
2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied.
A figure Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat Dissolves to
water, and doth lose his form. Shak.
3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power.
The charm dissolves apace. Shak.
DISSOLVENT
Dis*solv"ent, a. Etym: [L. dissolvens, -entis, p. pr. of dissolvere.]
Defn: Having power to dissolve power to dissolve a solid body; as,
the dissolvent juices of the stomach. Ray.
DISSOLVENT
Dis*solv"ent, n.
1. That which has the power of dissolving or melting other
substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent.
Melted in the crucible dissolvents. A. Smith.
The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the
truce. Mothley.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy supposed capable of dissolving concretions in the
body, such as calculi, tubercles, etc.
DISSOLVER
Dis*solv"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, has power to dissolve or dissipate.
Thou kind dissolver of encroaching care. Otway.
DISSOLVING
Dis*solv"ing, a.
Defn: Melting; breaking up; vanishing.
-- Dis*solv"ing*ly, adv. Dissolving view, a picture which grows dim
and is gradually replaced by another on the same field; -- an effect
produced by magic lanterns.
DISSONANCE
Dis"so*nance, n. Etym: [L. dissonantia: cf. F. dissonance.]
1. A mingling of discordant sounds; an inharmonious combination of
sounds; discord.
Filled the air with barbarous dissonance. Milton.
2. Want of agreement; incongruity. Milton.
DISSONANCY
Dis"so*nan*cy, n.
Defn: Discord; dissonance.
DISSONANT
Dis"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. dissonans, -antis, p. pr. of dissonare to
disagree in sound, be discordant; dis- + sonare to sound: cf. F.
dissonant. See Sonant.]
1. Sounding harshly; discordant; unharmonious.
With clamor of voices dissonant and loud. Longfellow.
2. Disagreeing; incongruous; discrepfrom or to. "Anything dissonant
to truth." South.
What can be dissonant from reason and nature than that a man,
naturally inclined to clemency, should show himself unkind and
inhuman Hakewill.
DISSPIRIT
Dis*spir"it, v. t.
Defn: See Dispirit.
DISSUADE
Dis*suade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissuaded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissuading.] Etym: [L. dissuadere, dissuasum; dis- + suadere to
advise, persuade: cf. F. dissuader. See Suasion.]
1. To advise or exhort against; to try to persuade (one from a
course). [Obsolescent]
Mr. Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her with great ardor: and I
stood neuter. Goldsmith.
War, therefore, open or concealed, alike My voice dissuades. Milton.
2. To divert by persuasion; to turn from a purpose by reasons or
motives; -- with from; as, I could not dissuade him from his purpose.
I have tried what is possible to dissuade him. Mad. D' Arblay.
DISSUADER
Dis*suad"er, n.
Defn: One who dissuades; a dehorter.
DISSUASION
Dis*sua"sion, n. Etym: [L. dissuasio: cf. F. dissuasion. See
Dissuade.]
1. The act of dissuading; exhortation against a thing; dehortation.
In spite of all the dissuasions of his friends. Boyle.
2. A motive or consideration tending to dissuade; a dissuasive.
DISSUASIVE
Dis*sua"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to dissuade or divert from a measure or purpose;
dehortatory; as, dissuasive advice.
-- n.
Defn: A dissuasive argument or counsel; dissuasion; dehortation.
Prynne.
-- Dis*sua"sive*ly, adv.
DISSUASORY
Dis*sua"so*ry, n.
Defn: A dissuasive. [R.]
This virtuous and reasonable person, however, has ill luck in all his
dissuasories. Jeffrey.
DISSUNDER
Dis*sun"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissundered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dissundering.] Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens) + sunder.]
Defn: To separate; to sunder; to destroy. [R.] Chapman.
DISSWEETEN
Dis*sweet"en, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of sweetness. [R.] Bp. Richardson.
DISSYLLABIC
Dis`syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dissyllabique. See Dissylable.]
Defn: Consisting of two syllabas, a dissyllabic foot in poetry. B.
Jons
DISSYLLABIFICATION
Dis`syl*lab`i*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: A formi
DISSYLLABIFY
Dis`syl*lab"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Dissyllable + -fly.]
Defn: To form into two syllables. Ogilvie.
DISSYLLABIZE
Dis*syl"la*bize, v. t.
Defn: To form into two syllables; to dyssyllabify.
DISSYLLABLE
Dis*syl"la*ble, n. Etym: [F. dissyllabe, L. disyllabus, adj., of two
syllables, fr. Gr. Syllable.]
Defn: A word of two syllables; as, pa-per.
DISSYMMETRICAL
Dis`sym*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Not having symmetry; asymmetrical; unsymmetrical.
DISSYMMETRY
Dis*sym"me*try, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + symmetry.]
Defn: Absence or defect of symmetry; asymmetry.
DISSYMPATHY
Dis*sym"pa*thy, n.
Defn: Lack of sympathy; want of interest; indifference. [R.]
DISTAD
Dis"tad, adv. Etym: [Distal + L. ad toward.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward a distal part; on the distal side of; distally.
DISTAFF
Dis"taff, n.; pl. Distaffs, rarely Distaves. Etym: [OE. distaf,
dysestafe, AS. distaef; cf. LG. diesse the bunch of flax on a
distaff, and E. dizen. See Staff.]
1. The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which
the thread is drawn in spinning by hand.
I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin. Fairfax.
2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman;
women, collectively.
His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne. Dryden.
Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too busy. Howell.
Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont &
Fletcher. Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side.
-- Distaff Day, or Distaff's Day, the morrow of the Epiphany, that
is, January 7, because working at the distaff was then resumed, after
the Christmas festival; -- called also Rock Day, a distaff being
called a rock. Shipley.
DISTAIN
Dis*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distaining.] Etym: [OE. desteinen, OF. desteindre to take away the
color, F. déteindre; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. teindre to tinge, dye,
L. tingere. See Tinge, and cf. Stain.]
Defn: To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one;
to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used
chiefly in poetry. "Distained with dirt and blood." Spenser.
[She] hath . . . distained her honorable blood. Spenser.
The worthiness of praise distains his worth. Shak.
DISTAL
Dis"tal, a. Etym: [From Distant.] (Physiol.)
(a) Remote from the point of attachment or origin; as, the distal end
of a bone or muscle; -- opposed to proximal.
(b) Pertaining to that which is distal; as, the distal tuberosities
of a bone.
DISTALLY
Dis"tal*ly, adv. (Anat.)
Defn: Toward a distal part.
DISTANCE
Dis"tance, n. Etym: [F. distance, L. distantia.]
1. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially
the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate;
measure of separation in place.
Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely
proportioned to the square of the distance. Sir I. Newton.
2. Remoteness of place; a remote place.
Easily managed from a distance. W. Irving.
'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. T. Campbell.
[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato. Addison.
3. (Racing)
Defn: A space marked out in the last part of a race course.
The horse that ran the whole field out of distance. L'Estrange.
Note: In trotting matches under the rules of the American
Association, the distance varies with the conditions of the race,
being 80 yards in races of mile heaths, best two in three, and 150
yards in races of two-mile heats. At that distance from the winning
post in placed the distance post. If any horse has not reached this
distance post before the first horse in that heat has reached the
winning post, such horse is distanced, and disqualified for cunning
again during that race.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to
rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to
left. "Distance between companies in close column is twelve yards."
Farrow.
5. Space between two antagonists in fencing. Shak.
6. (Painting)
Defn: The part of a picture which contains the representation of
those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.
Note: In a picture, the Middle distance is the central portion
between the foreground and the distance or the extreme distance. In a
perspective drawing, the Point of distance is the point where the
visual rays meet.
7. Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety. Locke.
8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two
eras or events.
Ten years' distance between one and the other. Prior.
The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.
Playfair.
9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect;
ceremoniousness.
I hope your modesty Will know what distance to the crown is due.
Dryden.
'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld. Atterbury.
10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement;
variance; restraint; reserve.
Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst
themselves. Bacon.
On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. Milton.
11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a
descendant and his ancestor.
12. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or
seventh. Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines
drawn from the eye to two objects.
-- Lunar distance. See under Lunar.
-- North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a
heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the
declination.
-- Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly
body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the
altitude.
-- To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from
familiarity.
If a man makes keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the
same time. Swift.
DISTANCE
Dis"tance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distanced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distancing.]
1. To place at a distance or remotely.
I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence.
Fuller.
2. To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote.
His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space. H.
Miller.
3. To outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to
leave far behind; to surpass greatly.
He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries. Milner.
DISTANCY
Dis"tan*cy, n.
Defn: Distance. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DISTANT
Dis"tant, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. distans, -antis, p. pr. of distare to
stand apart, be separate or distant; dis- + stare to stand. See
Stand.]
1. Separated; having an intervening space; at a distance; away.
One board had two tenons, equally distant. Ex. xxxvi. 22.
Diana's temple is not distant far. Shak.
2. Far separated; far off; not near; remote; -- in place, time,
consanguinity, or connection; as, distant times; distant relatives.
The success of these distant enterprises. Prescott.
3. Reserved or repelling in manners; cold; not cordial; somewhat
haughty; as, a distant manner.
He passed me with a distant bow. Goldsmith.
4. Indistinct; faint; obscure, as from distance.
Some distant knowledge. Shak.
A distant glimpse. W. Irving.
5. Not conformable; discrepant; repugnant; as, a practice so widely
distant from Christianity.
Syn.
-- Separate; far; remote; aloof; apart; asunder; slight; faint;
indirect; indistinct.
DISTANTIAL
Dis*tan"tial, a.
Defn: Distant. [Obs.]
More distantial from the eye. W. Montagu.
DISTANTLY
Dis"tant*ly, adv.
Defn: At a distance; remotely; with reserve.
DISTASTE
Dis*taste", n.
1. Aversion of the taste; dislike, as of food or drink; disrelish.
Bacon.
2. Discomfort; uneasiness.
Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is
not without comforts and hopes. Bacon.
3. Alienation of affection; displeasure; anger.
On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. Milton.
Syn.
-- Disrelish; disinclination; dislike; aversion; displeasure;
dissatisfaction; disgust.
DISTASTE
Dis*taste", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distasting.]
1. Not to have relish or taste for; to disrelish; to loathe; to
dislike.
Although my will distaste what it elected. Shak.
2. To offend; to disgust; to displease. [Obs.]
He thought in no policy to distaste the English or Irish by a course
of reformation, but sought to please them. Sir J. Davies.
3. To deprive of taste or relish; to make unsavory or distasteful.
Drayton.
DISTASTE
Dis*taste", v. i.
Defn: To be distasteful; to taste ill or disagreeable. [Obs.]
Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which at the are
scarce found to distaste. Shak.
DISTASTEFUL
Dis*taste"ful, a.
1. Unpleasant or disgusting to the taste; nauseous; loathsome.
2. Offensive; displeasing to the feelings; disagreeable; as, a
distasteful truth.
Distasteful answer, and sometimes unfriendly actions. Milton.
3. Manifesting distaste or dislike; repulsive. "Distasteful looks."
Shak.
Syn.
-- Nauseous; unsavory; unpalatable; offensive; displeasing;
dissatisfactory; disgusting. - Dis*taste"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dis*taste"ful*ness, n.
DISTASTEIVE
Dis*taste"ive, a.
Defn: Tending to excite distaste. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: That which excites distaste or aversion. [Obs.] Whitlock.
DISTASTURE
Dis*tas"ture, n.
Defn: Something which excites distaste or disgust. [Obs.] Speed.
DISTEMPER
Dis*tem"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distempered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distempering.] Etym: [OF. destemprer, destremper, to distemper, F.
détremper to soak, soften, slake (lime); pref. des- (L. dis-) + OF.
temprer, tremper, F. tremper, L. temperare to mingle in due
proportion. See Temper, and cf. Destemprer.]
1. To temper or mix unduly; to make disproportionate; to change the
due proportions of. [Obs.]
When . . . the humors in his body ben distempered. Chaucer.
2. To derange the functions of, whether bodily, mental, or spiritual;
to disorder; to disease. Shak.
The imagination, when completely distempered, is the most incurable
of all disordered faculties. Buckminster.
3. To deprive of temper or moderation; to disturb; to ruffle; to make
disaffected, ill-humored, or malignant. "Distempered spirits."
Coleridge.
4. To intoxicate. [R.]
The courtiers reeling, And the duke himself, I dare not say
distempered, But kind, and in his tottering chair carousing.
Massinger.
5. (Paint.)
Defn: To mix (colors) in the way of distemper; as, to distemper
colors with size. [R.]
DISTEMPER
Dis*tem"per, n. Etym: [See Distemper, v. t., and cf. Destemprer.]
1. An undue or unnatural temper, or disproportionate mixture of
parts. Bacon.
Note: This meaning and most of the following are to be referred to
the Galenical doctrine of the four "humors" in man. See Humor.
According to the old physicians, these humors, when unduly tempered,
produce a disordered state of body and mind.
2. Severity of climate; extreme weather, whether hot or cold. [Obs.]
Those countries . . . under the tropic, were of a distemper
uninhabitable. Sir W. Raleigh.
3. A morbid state of the animal system; indisposition; malady;
disorder; -- at present chiefly applied to diseases of brutes; as, a
distemper in dogs; the horse distemper; the horn distemper in cattle.
They heighten distempers to diseases. Suckling.
4. Morbid temper of the mind; undue predominance of a passion or
appetite; mental derangement; bad temper; ill humor. [Obs.]
Little faults proceeding on distemper. Shak.
Some frenzy distemper had got into his head. Bunyan.
5. Political disorder; tumult. Waller.
6. (Paint.)
(a) A preparation of opaque or body colors, in which the pigments are
tempered or diluted with weak glue or size (cf. Tempera) instead of
oil, usually for scene painting, or for walls and ceilings of rooms.
(b) A painting done with this preparation.
Syn.
-- Disease; disorder; sickness; illness; malady; indisposition;
ailment. See Disease.
DISTEMPERANCE
Dis*tem"per*ance, n.
Defn: Distemperature. [Obs.]
DISTEMPERATE
Dis*tem"per*ate, a. Etym: [LL. distemperatus, p. p.]
1. Immoderate. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
2. Diseased; disordered. [Obs.] Wodroephe.
DISTEMPERATELY
Dis*tem"per*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: Unduly. [Obs.]
DISTEMPERATURE
Dis*tem"per*a*ture, n.
1. Bad temperature; intemperateness; excess of heat or cold, or of
other qualities; as, the distemperature of the air. [Obs.]
2. Disorder; confusion. Shak.
3. Disorder of body; slight illness; distemper.
A huge infectious troop Of pale distemperatures and foes to life.
Shak.
4. Perturbation of mind; mental uneasiness.
Sprinkled a little patience on the heat of his distemperature. Sir W.
Scott.
DISTEMPERMENT
Dis*tem"per*ment, n.
Defn: Distempered state; distemperature. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISTEND
Dis*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distended; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distending.] Etym: [L. distendere, distentum, distensum; dis- +
tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to distend,
détendre to unbend. See Tend, and cf. Detent.]
1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch. [R.]
But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven Distended as the
brow of God appeased Milton.
2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge,
as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to
cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc.
The warmth distends the chinks. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.
DISTEND
Dis*tend", v. i.
Defn: To become expanded or inflated; to swell. "His heart distends
with pride." Milton.
DISTENSIBILITY
Dis*ten`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or capacity of being distensible. [R.]
DISTENSIBLE
Dis*ten"si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being distended or dilated.
DISTENSION
Dis*ten"sion, n.
Defn: Same as Distention.
DISTENSIVE
Dis*ten"sive, a.
Defn: Distending, or capable of being distended.
DISTENT
Dis*tent", a. Etym: [L. distentus, p. p. See Distend.]
Defn: Distended. [Poetic] Thomson.
DISTENT
Dis*tent", n.
Defn: Breadth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.
DISTENTION
Dis*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. distentio: cf. F. distension.]
1. The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all
directions; the state of being Distended; as, the distention of the
lungs.
2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing distended.
DISTER
Dis*ter", v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + terra earth, country; cf. Sp. & Pg.
desterrar.]
Defn: To banish or drive from a country. [Obs.] Howell.
DISTERMINATE
Dis*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. disterminatus, p. p. of disterminare to
limit. See Terminate.]
Defn: Separated by bounds. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISTERMINATION
Dis*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. disterminatio.]
Defn: Separation by bounds. [Obs.] Hammond.
DISTHENE
Dis"thene, n. Etym: [Gr. disthène.] (Min.)
Defn: Cyanite or kyanite; -- so called in allusion to its unequal
hardness in two different directions. See Cyanite.
DISTHRONE
Dis*throne", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + throne: cf. OF. desthroner, F.
détroner.]
Defn: To dethrone. [Obs.]
DISTHRONIZE
Dis*thron"ize, v. t.
Defn: To dethrone. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISTICH
Dis"tich, n. Etym: [L. distichon, Gr. stigan to ascend: cf. F.
distique. See Stirrup.] (Pros.)
Defn: A couple of verses or poetic lines making complete sense; an
epigram of two verses.
DISTICH; DISTICHOUS
Dis"tich, Dis"tich*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. Distich, n.]
Defn: Disposed in two vertical rows; two-ranked.
DISTICHOUSLY
Dis"tich*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a distichous manner.
DISTIL
Dis*til", v. t. & i.
Defn: See Distill.
DISTILL
Dis*till", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Distilled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distilling.] Etym: [F. distiller, from L. destillare, destillatum; de
+ stillare to drop, stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop,
icicle; prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still, n. & v., Instill.]
[Written also distil.]
1. To drop; to fall in drops; to trickle.
Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain. Pope.
2. To flow gently, or in a small stream.
The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia. Sir W.
Raleigh.
3. To practice the art of distillation. Shak.
DISTILL
Dis*till", v. t.
1. To let fall or send down in drops.
Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain. Pope.
The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled. Drayton.
2. To obtain by distillation; to extract by distillation, as spirits,
essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to distill brandy from wine; to
distill alcoholic spirits from grain; to distill essential oils from
flowers, etc.; to distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling
odors on me." Tennyson.
3. To subject to distillation; as, to distill molasses in making rum;
to distill barley, rye, corn, etc.
4. To dissolve or melt. [R.]
Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled. Addison.
DISTILLABLE
Dis*till"a*ble, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Capable of being distilled; especially, capable of being
distilled without chemical change or decomposition; as, alcohol is
distillable; olive oil is not distillable.
DISTILLATE
Dis*till"ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The product of distillation; as, the distillate from molasses.
DISTILLATION
Dis`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. distillation, L. destillatio.]
1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.
2. That which falls in drops. [R.] Johnson
3. (Chem.)
Defn: The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the
more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor
from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and
the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool
receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization;
condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of
alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam.
Note: The evaporation of water, its condensation into clouds, and its
precipitation as rain, dew, frost, snow, or hail, is an illustration
of natural distillation.
4. The substance extracted by distilling. Shak. Destructive
distillation (Chem.), the distillation, especially of complex solid
substances, so that the ultimate constituents are separated or
evolved in new compounds, -- usually requiring a high degree of heat;
as, the destructive distillation of soft coal or of wood.
-- Dry distillation, the distillation of substances by themselves,
or without the addition of water or of other volatile solvent; as,
the dry distillation of citric acid.
-- Fractional distillation. (Chem.) See under Fractional.
DISTILLATORY
Dis*til"la*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distillatoire.]
Defn: Belonging to, or used in, distilling; as, distillatory vessels.
-- n.
Defn: A distillatory apparatus; a still.
DISTILLER
Dis*till"er, n.
1. One who distills; esp., one who extracts alcoholic liquors by
distillation.
2. The condenser of a distilling apparatus.
DISTILLERY
Dis*till"er*y, n.; pl. Distilleries. Etym: [F. distillerie.]
1. The building and works where distilling, esp. of alcoholic
liquors, is carried on.
2. The act of distilling spirits. [R.] Todd.
DISTILLMENT
Dis*till"ment, n.
Defn: Distillation; the substance obtained by distillation. [Obs.]
Shak.
DISTINCT
Dis*tinct", a. Etym: [L. distinctus, p. p. of distinguere: cf. F.
distinct. See Distinguish.]
1. Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a
visible sign; marked out; specified. [Obs.]
Wherever thus created -- for no place Is yet distinct by name.
Milton.
2. Marked; variegated. [Obs.]
The which [place] was dight With divers flowers distinct with rare
delight. Spenser.
3. Separate in place; not conjunct; not united by growth or
otherwise; -- with from.
The intention was that the two armies which marched out together
should afterward be distinct. Clarendon.
4. Not identical; different; individual.
To offend, and judge, are distinct offices. Shak.
5. So separated as not to be confounded with any other thing; not
liable to be misunderstood; not confused; well-defined; clear; as, we
have a distinct or indistinct view of a prospect.
Relation more particular and distinct. Milton.
Syn.
-- Separate; unconnected; disjoined; different; clear; plain;
conspicuous; obvious.
DISTINCT
Dis*tinct", v. t.
Defn: To distinguish. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
DISTINCTION
Dis*tinc"tion, n. Etym: [L. distinctio: cf. F. distinction.]
1. A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division.
[Obs.]
The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known. Dryden.
2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between
objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise
of discernment; discrimination.
To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth,
distinction is requisite. Hooker.
3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing
quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real
and apparent good.
The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of
matter. Locke.
4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing
circumstance.
Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall. Dryden.
5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation;
as, a man of distinction.
Your country's own means of distinction and defense. D. Webster.
Syn.
-- Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety;
disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note;
eminence.
DISTINCTIVE
Dis*tinc"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distinctif.]
1. Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing;
characteristic; peculiar.
The distinctive character and institutions of New England. Bancroft.
2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISTINCTIVELY
Dis*tinc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: With distinction; plainly.
DISTINCTIVENESS
Dis*tinc"tive*ness, n.
Defn: State of being distinctive.
DISTINCTLY
Dis*tinct"ly, adv.
1. With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one
part or thing another; clearly; plainly; as, to see distinctly.
2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.]
Thou dost snore distinctly; There's meaning in thy snores. Shak.
Syn.
-- Separately; clearly; plainly; obviously.
DISTINCTNESS
Dis*tinct"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference
that prevents confusion of parts or things.
The soul's . . . distinctness from the body. Cudworth.
2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated
his arguments with great distinctness.
Syn.
-- Plainness; clearness; precision; perspicuity.
DISTINCTURE
Dis*tinc"ture, n.
Defn: Distinctness. [R.]
DISTINGUISH
Dis*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distinguishing.] Etym: [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum;
di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick,
and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf.
Extinguish.]
1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or
discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some
characteristic.
Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming
features of her face. Dryden.
Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.
2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a
subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into
high and low.
Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to
the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.
3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality
or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things
with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a
drum.
We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from
falsehood. Watts.
Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show.
Shak.
4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ.
Who distinguisheth thee 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).
5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or
known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish
themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.
Syn.
-- To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern;
perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.
DISTINGUISH
Dis*tin"guish, v. i.
1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise
discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between
cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or
itself discernible. [R.]
The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer.
Taylor.
DISTINGUISHABLE
Dis*tin"guish*a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible;
capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable
from a shrub.
A simple idea being in itself uncompounded . . . is not
distinguishable into different ideas. Locke.
2. Worthy of note or special regard. Swift.
DISTINGUISHABLENESS
Dis*tin"guish*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being distinguishable.
DISTINGUISHABLY
Dis*tin"guish*a*bly, adv.
Defn: So as to be distinguished.
DISTINGUISHED
Dis*tin"guished, a.
1. Marked; special.
The most distinguished politeness. Mad. D' Arblay.
2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or
indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to
persons and deeds.
Syn.
-- Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent;
eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent.
-- Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A
man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around
him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed;
distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from
others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of
with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around
him which confers the highest dignity.
DISTINGUISHEDLY
Dis*tin"guish*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a distinguished manner. [R.] Swift.
DISTINGUISHER
Dis*tin"guish*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from
another by marks of diversity. Sir T. Browne.
2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or
judicious observer. Dryden.
DISTINGUISHING
Dis*tin"guish*ing, a.
Defn: Constituting difference, or distinction from everything else;
distinctive; peculiar; characteristic.
The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion. Locke.
Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a special pennant by which any
particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and signaled. Simmonds.
DISTINGUISHINGLY
Dis*tin"guish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.
DISTINGUISHMENT
Dis*tin"guish*ment, n.
Defn: Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.
DISTITLE
Dis*ti"tle, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of title or right. [R.] B. Jonson.
DISTOMA
Dis"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of parasitic, trematode worms, having two suckers for
attaching themselves to the part they infest. See 1st Fluke,
2.
DISTORT
Dis*tort", a. Etym: [L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist,
distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion.]
Defn: Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.]
Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spenser.
DISTORT
Dis*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distorting.]
1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically;
as, to distort the limbs, or the body.
Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray.
2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist
aside mentally or morally.
Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the
understandings of men. Tillotson.
3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort
passages of Scripture, or their meaning.
Syn.
-- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.
DISTORTER
Dis*tort"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distorts.
DISTORTION
Dis*tor"tion, n. Etym: [L. distortio: cf. F. distortion.]
1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular
shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face
or body.
2. A wresting from the true meaning. Bp. Wren.
3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of
true position; crookedness; perversion.
4. (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the
body producing visible deformity.
DISTORTIVE
Dis*tort"ive, a.
Defn: Causing distortion.
DISTRACT
Dis*tract", a. Etym: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw
asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]
1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.]
2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISTRACT
Dis*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p. p. Distraught; p.
pr. & vb. n. Distracting.]
1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin.
A city . . . distracted from itself. Fuller.
2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions;
to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the
attention.
Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination. Goldsmith.
3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or
of cares; to confound; to harass.
Horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts. Milton.
4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden;
-- most frequently used in the participle, distracted.
A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her. Shak.
DISTRACTED
Dis*tract"ed, a.
Defn: Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad.
My distracted mind. Pope.
DISTRACTEDLY
Dis*tract"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Disjointedly; madly. Shak.
DISTRACTEDNESS
Dis*tract"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall.
DISTRACTER
Dis*tract"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distracts away.
DISTRACTFUL
Dis*tract"ful, a.
Defn: Distracting. [R.] Heywood.
DISTRACTIBLE
Dis*tract"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drawn aside or distracted.
DISTRACTILE
Dis*tract"ile, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Tending or serving to draw apart.
DISTRACTING
Dis*tract"ing, a.
Defn: Tending or serving to distract.
DISTRACTION
Dis*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. distractio: cf. F. distraction.]
1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation.
To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.
2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic
distractions." G. Eliot.
3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.]
His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all species.
Shak.
4. State in which the attention is called in different ways;
confusion; perplexity.
That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor. vii. 3
5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political
distractions.
Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden.
6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair.
The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together,
would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.
7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.
Syn.
-- Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult;
derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.
DISTRACTIOUS
Dis*trac"tious, a.
Defn: Distractive. [Obs.]
DISTRACTIVE
Dis*trac"tive, a.
Defn: Causing perplexity; distracting. "Distractive thoughts." Bp.
Hall.
DISTRAIN
Dis*train", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distraining.] Etym: [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to
press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw
asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to
draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District,
Distraint.]
1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to
constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict.
[Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.
2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.]
Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain. Spenser.
3. (Law)
(a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of
as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done,
etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an
amercement.
(b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by
his goods and chattels.
DISTRAIN
Dis*train", v. i.
Defn: To levy a distress.
Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.
DISTRAINABLE
Dis*train"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained. Blackstone.
DISTRAINER
Dis*train"er, n.
Defn: Same as Distrainor.
DISTRAINOR
Dis*train"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels.
Blackstone.
DISTRAINT
Dis*traint", n. Etym: [OF. destrainte distress, force.] (Law)
Defn: The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress.
Abbott.
DISTRAIT
Dis`trait", a. Etym: [F. See Distract.]
Defn: Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.
DISTRAUGHT
Dis*traught", p. p. & a. Etym: [OE. distract, distrauht. See
Distract, a.]
1. Torn asunder; separated. [Obs.] "His greedy throat . . .
distraught." Spenser.
2. Distracted; perplexed. "Distraught twixt fear and pity." Spenser.
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror. Shak.
To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls Which are the most
distraught and full of pain. Mrs. Browning.
DISTRAUGHTED
Dis*traught"ed, a.
Defn: Distracted. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISTREAM
Dis*tream", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + stream.]
Defn: To flow. [Poetic]
Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear. Shenstone.
DISTRESS
Dis*tress", n. Etym: [OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse,
destrece, F. détresse, OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL.
districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere. See Distrain,
and cf. Stress.]
1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer
distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends.
Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress. Shak.
2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune;
affliction; misery.
Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. Burns.
3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from
leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.
4. (Law)
(a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of
the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an
injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent
or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc.
(b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure
satisfaction. Bouvier. Kent. Burrill.
If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of
goods and cattle. Spenser.
The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained
for. Blackstone.
Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.
Syn.
-- Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish;
grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. See
Affliction.
DISTRESS
Dis*tress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distressed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distressing.] Etym: [Cf. OF. destrecier. See Distress, n.]
1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to
afflict; to harass; to make miserable.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8.
2. To compel by pain or suffering.
Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty.
A. Hamilton.
3. (Law)
Defn: To seize for debt; to distrain.
Syn.
-- To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.
DISTRESSEDNESS
Dis*tress"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being distressed or greatly pained.
DISTRESSFUL
Dis*tress"ful, a.
Defn: Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with,
distress; as, a distressful situation. "Some distressful stroke."
Shak. "Distressful cries." Pope.
-- Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv.
DISTRESSING
Dis*tress"ing, a.
Defn: Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.
DISTRESSING
Dis*tress"ing, adv.
Defn: In a distressing manner.
DISTRIBUTABLE
Dis*trib"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being distributed. Sir W. Jones.
DISTRIBUTARY
Dis*trib"u*ta*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to distribute or be distributed; that distributes;
distributive.
DISTRIBUTE
Dis*trib"ute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distributed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distributing.] Etym: [L. distributus, p. p. of distribuere to divide,
distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute.]
1. To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to
allot.
She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of
kindred. Judith xvi. 24.
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. Shak.
3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species;
to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.
4. (Printing)
(a) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the
proper boxes in the cases.
(b) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
5. (Logic)
Defn: To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal in
one premise.
A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as to
stand for everything it is capable of being applied to. Whately.
Syn.
-- To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide.
DISTRIBUTE
Dis*trib"ute, v. i.
Defn: To make distribution.
Distributing to the necessity of saints. Rom. xii. 13.
DISTRIBUTER
Dis*trib"u*ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distributes or deals out anything; a
dispenser. Addison.
DISTRIBUTING
Dis*trib"u*ting, a.
Defn: That distributes; dealing out. Distributing past office, an
office where the mails for a large district are collected to be
assorted according to their destination and forwarded.
DISTRIBUTION
Dis`tri*bu"tion, n. Etym: [L. distributio: cf. F. distribution.]
1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or
apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as, the
distribution of an estate among heirs or children.
The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly analogous to
those of geography. A. R. Wallace.
2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into
parts; disposition; classification.
3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions."
Atterbury.
4. (Logic)
Defn: A resolving a whole into its parts.
5. (Print.)
Defn: The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in
the cases.
6. (Steam Engine)
Defn: The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and
withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz.,
admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and
compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission.
Geographical distribution, the natural arrangements of animals and
plants in particular regions or districts.
Syn.
-- Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal; dispersion;
classification; arrangement.
DISTRIBUTIONAL
Dis`tri*bu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to distribution. Huxley.
DISTRIBUTIONIST
Dis`tri*bu"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A distributer. [R.] Dickens.
DISTRIBUTIVE
Dis*trib"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distributif.]
1. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions;
dealing to each his proper share. "Distributive justice." Swift.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Assigning the species of a general term.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not
collectively; as, a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as each,
either, every; a distributive numeral, as (Latin) bini (two by two).
Distributive operation (Math.), any operation which either consists
of two or more parts, or works upon two or more things, and which is
such that the result of the total operation is the same as the
aggregated result of the two or more partial operations. Ordinary
multiplication is distributive, since a × (b + c) = ab + ac, and (a +
b) × c = ac + bc.
-- Distributive proportion. (Math.) See Fellowship.
DISTRIBUTIVE
Dis*trib"u*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A distributive adjective or pronoun; also, a distributive
numeral.
DISTRIBUTIVELY
Dis*trib"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By distribution; singly; not collectively; in a distributive
manner.
DISTRIBUTIVENESS
Dis*trib"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being distributive.
DISTRIBUTOR
Dis*trib"u*tor, n. [L.] One that distributes; a distributer; specif.:
(a) A machine for distributing type.
(b) An appliance, as a roller, in a printing press, for distributing
ink.
(c) An apparatus for distributing an electric current, either to
various points in rotation, as in some motors, or along two or more
lines in parallel, as in a distributing system.
DISTRICT
Dis"trict, a. Etym: [L. districtus, p. p.]
Defn: Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [Obs.]
Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.
DISTRICT
Dis"trict, n. Etym: [LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p.
p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain.]
1. (Feudal Law)
Defn: The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing
and punishing.
2. A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or
city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes;
as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district,
school district, etc.
To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not
exceeding ten miles square. The Constitution of the United States.
3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country;
a tract.
These districts which between the tropics lie. Blackstone.
Congressional district. See under Congressional.
-- District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district or
district court.
-- District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United States
tribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicial
district.
-- District judge, one who presides over a district court.
-- District school, a public school for the children within a school
district. [U.S.]
Syn.
-- Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country.
DISTRICT
Dis"trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Districting.]
Defn: To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as,
legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.
DISTRICTION
Dis*tric"tion, n. Etym: [L. districtio a stretching out.]
Defn: Sudden display; flash; glitter. [R.]
A smile . . . breaks out with the brightest distriction. Collier.
DISTRICTLY
Dis"trict*ly, adv.
Defn: Strictly. [Obs.] Foxe.
DISTRINGAS
Dis*trin"gas, n. Etym: [L., that you distrain, fr. distringere. See
Distrain.] (Law)
Defn: A writ commanding the sheriff to distrain a person by his goods
or chattels, to compel a compliance with something required of him.
DISTROUBLE
Dis*trou"ble, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + trouble.]
Defn: To trouble. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISTRUST
Dis*trust", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrusted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Distrusting.] Etym: [Cf. Mistrust.]
Defn: To feel absence of trust in; not to confide in or rely upon; to
deem of questionable sufficiency or reality; to doubt; to be
suspicious of; to mistrust.
Not distrusting my health. 2 Mac. ix. 22.
To distrust the justice of your cause. Dryden.
He that requireth the oath doth distrust that other. Udall.
Of all afraid, Distrusting all, a wise, suspicious maid. Collins.
Note: Mistrust has been almost wholly driven out by distrust. T. L.
K. Oliphant.
DISTRUST
Dis*trust", n.
1. Doubt of sufficiency, reality, or sincerity; want of confidence,
faith, or reliance; as, distrust of one's power, authority, will,
purposes, schemes, etc.
2. Suspicion of evil designs.
Alienation and distrust . . . are the growth of false principles. D.
Webster.
3. State of being suspected; loss of trust. Milton.
DISTRUSTER
Dis*trust"er, n.
Defn: One who distrusts.
DISTRUSTFUL
Dis*trust"ful, a.
1. Not confident; diffident; wanting confidence or thrust; modest;
as, distrustful of ourselves, of one's powers.
Distrustful sense with modest caution speaks. Pope.
2. Apt to distrust; suspicious; mistrustful. Boyle.
-- Dis*trust"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dis*trust"ful*ness, n.
DISTRUSTING
Dis*trust"ing, a.
Defn: That distrusts; suspicious; lacking confidence in.
-- Dis*trust"ing*ly, adv.
DISTRUSTLESS
Dis*trust"less, a.
Defn: Free from distrust. Shenstone.
DISTUNE
Dis*tune", v. t.
Defn: To put out of tune. [Obs.]
DISTURB
Dis*turb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disturbed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disturbing.] Etym: [OE. desturben, destourben, OF. destorber,
desturber, destourber, fr. L. disturbare, disturbatum; dis- + turbare
to disturb, trouble, turba disorder, tumult, crowd. See Turbid.]
1. To throw into disorder or confusion; to derange; to interrupt the
settled state of; to excite from a state of rest.
Preparing to disturb With all-cofounding war the realms above.
Cowper.
The bellow's noise disturbed his quiet rest. Spenser.
The utmost which the discontented colonies could do, was to disturb
authority. Burke.
2. To agitate the mind of; to deprive of tranquillity; to disquiet;
to render uneasy; as, a person is disturbed by receiving an insult,
or his mind is disturbed by envy.
3. To turn from a regular or designed course. [Obs.]
And disturb His inmost counsels from their destined aim. Milton.
Syn.
-- To disorder; disquiet; agitate; discompose; molest; perplex;
trouble; incommode; ruffle.
DISTURB
Dis*turb", n.
Defn: Disturbance. [Obs.] Milton.
DISTURBANCE
Dis*turb"ance, n. Etym: [OF. destorbance.]
1. An interruption of a state of peace or quiet; derangement of the
regular course of things; disquiet; disorder; as, a disturbance of
religious exercises; a disturbance of the galvanic current.
2. Confusion of the mind; agitation of the feelings; perplexity;
uneasiness.
Any man . . . in a state of disturbance and irritation. Burke.
3. Violent agitation in the body politic; public commotion; tumult.
The disturbance was made to support a general accusation against the
province. Bancroft.
4. (Law)
Defn: The hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and
peaceable enjoyment of his right; the interruption of a right; as,
the disturbance of a franchise, of common, of ways, and the like.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub; disorder;
derangement; confusion; agitation; perturbation; annoyance.
DISTURBATION
Dis`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. disturbatio.]
Defn: Act of disturbing; disturbance. [Obs.] Daniel.
DISTURBER
Dis*turb"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. destorbeor.]
1. One who, or that which, disturbs of disquiets; a violator of
peace; a troubler.
A needless disturber of the peace of God's church and an author of
dissension. Hooker.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who interrupts or incommodes another in the peaceable
enjoyment of his right.
DISTURN
Dis*turn", v. t. Etym: [OF. destourner, F. détourner. See Detour.]
Defn: To turn aside. [Obs.] Daniel.
DISTYLE
Dis"tyle, a. Etym: [Gr. distyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: Having two columns in front; -- said of a temple, portico, or
the like. Distyle in antis, having columns between two antæ. See
Anta.
DISULPHATE
Di*sul"phate, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphate.] (Chem.)
(a) A salt of disulphuric or pyrosulphuric acid; a pyrosulphate.
(b) An acid salt of sulphuric acid, having only one equivalent of
base to two of the acid.
DISULPHIDE
Di*sul"phide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of sulphur containing two atoms of sulphur in
each molecule; -- formerly called disulphuret. Cf. Bisulphide.
DISULPHURET
Di*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Disulphide.
DISULPHURIC
Di`sul*phu"ric, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphuric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Applied to an acid having in each molecule two atoms of sulphur
in the higher state of oxidation. Disulphuric acid, a thick oily
liquid, H2S2O7, called also Nordhausen acid (from Nordhausen in the
Harts, where it was originally manufactured), fuming sulphuric acid,
and especially pyrosulphuric acid. See under Pyrosulphuric.
DISUNIFORM
Dis*u"ni*form, a.
Defn: Not uniform. [Obs.]
DISUNION
Dis*un"ion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + union: cf. F. désunion.]
1. The termination of union; separation; disjunction; as, the
disunion of the body and the soul.
2. A breach of concord and its effect; alienation.
Such a disunion between the two houses as might much clouClarendon.
3. The termination or disruption of the union of the States forming
the United States.
I have not accustomed myself to hang over the precipice of disunion.
D. Webster.
DISUNIONIST
Dis*un"ion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate of disunion, specifically, of disunion of the
United States.
DISUNITE
Dis`u*nite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disunited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disuniting.]
1. To destroy the union of; to divide; to part; to sever; to disjoin;
to sunder; to separate; as, to disunite particles of matter.
2. To alienate in spirit; to break the concord of.
Go on both in hand, O nations, never be disunited, be the praise . .
. of all posterity! Milton.
DISUNITE
Dis`u*nite", v. i.
Defn: To part; to fall asunder; to become separated.
The joints of the body politic do separate and disunite. South.
DISUNITER
Dis`u*nit"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disjoins or causes disunion.
DISUNITY
Dis*u"ni*ty, n.
Defn: A state of separation or disunion; want of unity. Dr. H. More.
DISUSAGE
Dis*us"age, n.
Defn: Gradual cessation of use or custom; neglect of use; disuse.
[R.] Hooker.
DISUSE
Dis*use" (; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disused; p. pr. & vb. n.
Disusing.]
1. To cease to use; to discontinue the practice of.
2. To disaccustom; -- with to or from; as, disused to toil. "Disuse
me from . . . pain." Donne.
DISUSE
Dis*use", n.
Defn: Cessation of use, practice, or exercise; inusitation;
desuetude; as, the limbs lose their strength by disuse.
The disuse of the tongue in the only . . . remedy. Addison.
Church discipline then fell into disuse. Southey.
DISUTILIZE
Dis*u"til*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of utility; to render useless. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
DISVALUATION
Dis*val`u*a"tion, n.
Defn: Disesteem; depreciation; disrepute. Bacon.
DISVALUE
Dis*val"ue (; see Dis-), v. t.
Defn: To undervalue; to depreciate. Shak.
DISVALUE
Dis*val"ue, n.
Defn: Disesteem; disregard. B. Jonson.
DISVANTAGEOUS
Dis`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + vantage.]
Defn: Disadvantageous. [Obs.] "Disadvantageous ground." Drayton.
DISVELOP
Dis*vel"op, v. t.
Defn: To develop. [Obs.]
DISVENTURE
Dis*ven"ture, n.
Defn: A disadventure. [Obs.] Shelton.
DISVOUCH
Dis*vouch", v. t.
Defn: To discredit; to contradict. [Obs.] Shak.
DISWARN
Dis*warn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + warn.]
Defn: To dissuade from by previous warning. [Obs.]
DISWITTED
Dis*wit"ted, a.
Defn: Deprived of wits or understanding; distracted. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISWONT
Dis*wont", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of wonted usage; to disaccustom. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DISWORKMANSHIP
Dis*work"man*ship, n.
Defn: Bad workmanship. [Obs.] Heywood.
DISWORSHIP
Dis*wor"ship, v. t.
Defn: To refuse to worship; to treat as unworthy. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
DISWORSHIP
Dis*wor"ship, n.
Defn: A deprivation of honor; a cause of disgrace; a discredit.
[Obs.] Milton.
DISWORTH
Dis*worth", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of worth; to degrade. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISYOKE
Dis*yoke", v. t.
Defn: To unyoke; to free from a yoke; to disjoin. [Poetic] R.
Browning.
DIT
Dit, n. Etym: [Ditty.]
1. A word; a decree. [Obs.]
2. A ditty; a song. [Obs.]
DIT
Dit, v. t. Etym: [AS. dyttan, akin to Icel. ditta.]
Defn: To close up. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DITATION
Di*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ditare to enrich, fr. dis, ditis, same as
dives, rich.]
Defn: The act of making rich; enrichment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DITCH
Ditch (; 224), n.; pl. Ditches. Etym: [OE. dich, orig. the same word
as dik. See Dike.]
1. A trench made in the earth by digging, particularly a trench for
draining wet land, for guarding or fencing inclosures, or for
preventing an approach to a town or fortress. In the latter sense, it
is called also a moat or a fosse.
2. Any long, narrow receptacle for water on the surface of the earth.
DITCH
Ditch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ditched; p. pr. & vb. n. Ditching.]
1. To dig a ditch or ditches in; to drain by a ditch or ditches; as,
to ditch moist land.
2. To surround with a ditch. Shak.
3. To throw into a ditch; as, the engine was ditched and turned on
its side.
DITCH
Ditch, v. i.
Defn: To dig a ditch or ditches. Swift.
DITCHER
Ditch"er, n.
Defn: One who digs ditches.
DITE
Dite, v. t. Etym: [See Dight.]
Defn: To prepare for action or use; to make ready; to dight. [Obs.]
His hideous club aloft he dites. Spenser.
DITEREBENE
Di*ter"e*bene, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + terebene.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Colophene.
DITHECAL; DITHECOUS
Di*the"cal, Di*the"cous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + theca.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two thecæ, cells, or compartments.
DITHEISM
Di"the*ism, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + theism: cf. F. dithéisme.]
Defn: The doctrine of those who maintain the existence of two gods or
of two original principles (as in Manicheism), one good and one evil;
dualism.
DITHEIST
Di"the*ist, n.
Defn: One who holds the doctrine of ditheism; a dualist. Cudworth.
DITHEISTIC; DITHEISTICAL
Di`the*is"tic, Di`the*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ditheism; dualistic.
DITHIONIC
Di`thi*on"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + -thionic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two equivalents of sulphur; as, dithionic acid.
Dithionic acid (Chem.), an unstable substance, H2S2O6, known only in
its solutions, and in certain well-defined salts.
DITHYRAMB
Dith"y*ramb, n. Etym: [L. dithyrambus, Gr. dithyrambe.]
Defn: A kind of lyric poetry in honor of Bacchus, usually sung by a
band of revelers to a flute accompaniment; hence, in general, a poem
written in a wild irregular strain. Bentley.
DITHYRAMBIC
Dith`y*ram"bic, a. Etym: [L. dithyrambicus, Gr. dithyrambique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a dithyramb; wild and boisterous.
"Dithyrambic sallies." Longfellow.
-- n.
Defn: A dithyrambic poem; a dithyramb.
DITHYRAMBUS
Dith`y*ram"bus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Dithyramb.
DITION
Di"tion, n. Etym: [L. ditio, dicio: cf. F. dition.]
Defn: Dominion; rule. [Obs.] Evelyn.
DITIONARY
Di"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Under rule; subject; tributary. [Obs.] Chapman.
DITIONARY
Di"tion*a*ry, n.
Defn: A subject; a tributary. [Obs.] Eden.
DITOKOUS
Di"to*kous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) Having two kinds of young, as certain annelids.
(b) Producing only two eggs for a clutch, as certain birds do.
DITOLYL
Di*tol"yl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + tolyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon, C14H14, consisting
of two radicals or residues of toluene.
DITONE
Di"tone`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: The Greek major third, which comprehend two major tones (the
modern major third contains one major and one minor whole tone).
DITRICHOTOMOUS
Di`tri*chot"o*mous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + trichotomous.]
1. Divided into twos or threes.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Dividing into double or treble ramifications; -- said of a leaf
or stem. [R.] Loudon.
DITROCHEAN
Di`tro*che"an, a. (Pros.)
Defn: Containing two trochees.
DITROCHEE
Di*tro"chee, n. Etym: [L. ditrochaeus, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A double trochee; a foot made up of two trochees.
DITROITE
Dit"ro*ite, n. Etym: [Named from Ditro in Transylvania.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous rock composed of orthoclase, elæolite, and sodalite.
DITT
Ditt, n.
Defn: See Dit, n.,
2. [Obs.] Spenser.
DITTANDER
Dit*tan"der, n. Etym: [See Dittany.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of peppergrass (Lepidium latifolium).
DITTANY
Dit"ta*ny, n. Etym: [OE. dytane, detane, dytan, OF. ditain, F.
dictame, L. dictamnum, fr. Gr. Dicte in Crete. Cf. Dittander.] (Bot.)
(a) A plant of the Mint family (Origanum Dictamnus), a native of
Crete.
(b) The Dictamnus Fraxinella. See Dictamnus.
(c) In America, the Cunila Mariana, a fragrant herb of the Mint
family.
DITTIED
Dit"tied, a. Etym: [From Ditty.]
Defn: Set, sung, or composed as a ditty; -- usually in composition.
Who, with his soft pipe, and smooth-dittied song. Milton.
DITTO
Dit"to, n.; pl. Dittos (. Etym: [It., detto, ditto, fr. L. dictum.
See Dictum.]
Defn: The aforesaid thing; the same (as before). Often contracted to
do., or to two "turned commas" ("), or small marks. Used in bills,
books of account, tables of names, etc., to save repetition.
A spacious table in the center, and a variety of smaller dittos in
the corners. Dickens.
DITTO
Dit"to, adv.
Defn: As before, or aforesaid; in the same manner; also.
DITTOLOGY
Dit*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A double reading, or twofold interpretation, as of a Scripture
text. [R.]
DITTY
Dit"ty, n.; pl. Ditties. Etym: [OE. dite, OF. ditié, fr. L. dictatum,
p. p. neut. of dictare to say often, dictate, compose. See Dictate,
v. t.]
1. A saying or utterance; especially, one that is short and
frequently repeated; a theme.
O, too high ditty for my simple rhyme. Spenser.
2. A song; a lay; a little poem intended to be sung. "Religious,
martial, or civil ditties." Milton.ditties sing. Sandys.
DITTY
Dit"ty, v. i.
Defn: To sing; to warble a little tune.
Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes. Herbert.
DITTY-BAG
Dit"ty-bag`, n.
Defn: A sailor's small bag to hold thread, needles, tape, etc.; --
also called sailor's housewife.
DITTY-BOX
Dit"ty-box`, n.
Defn: A small box to hold a sailor's thread, needless, comb, etc.
DIUREIDE
Di*u"re*ide, n. Etym: [Di- + ureide.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of complex nitrogenous substances regarded as
containing two molecules of urea or their radicals, as uric acid or
allantoin. Cf. Ureide.
DIURESIS
Di`u*re"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Diuretic.] (Med.)
Defn: Free excretion of urine.
DIURETIC
Di`u*ret"ic, a. Etym: [L. diureticus, Gr. diurétique.] (Med.)
Defn: Tending to increase the secretion and discharge of urine.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine with diuretic properties. Diuretic salt (Med.),
potassium acetate; -- so called because of its diuretic properties.
DIURETICAL
Di`u*ret"ic*al, a.
Defn: Diuretic. [Obs.] Boyle.
DIURETICALNESS
Di`u*ret"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diuretical; diuretic property.
DIURNA
Di*ur"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. diurnus belonging to the day.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Lepidoptera, including the butterflies; -- so
called because they fly only in the daytime.
DIURNAL
Di*ur"nal, a. Etym: [L. diurnalis, fr. dies day. See Deity, and cf.
Journal.]
1. Relating to the daytime; belonging to the period of daylight,
distinguished from the night; -- opposed to Ant: nocturnal; as,
diurnal heat; diurnal hours.
2. Daily; recurring every day; performed in a day; going through its
changes in a day; constituting the measure of a day; as, a diurnal
fever; a diurnal task; diurnal aberration, or diurnal parallax; the
diurnal revolution of the earth.
Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring Their fiery torcher his
diurnal ring. Shak.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Opening during the day, and closing at night; -- said of
flowers or leaves.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Active by day; -- applied especially to the eagles and hawks
among raptorial birds, and to butterflies (Diurna) among insects.
Diurnal aberration (Anat.), the aberration of light arising from the
effect of the earth's rotation upon the apparent direction of motion
of light.
-- Diurnal arc, the arc described by the sun during the daytime or
while above the horizon; hence, the arc described by the moon or a
star from rising to setting.
-- Diurnal circle, the apparent circle described by a celestial body
in consequence of the earth's rotation.
-- Diurnal motion of the earth, the motion of the earth upon its
axis which is described in twentyfour hours.
-- Diurnal motion of a heavenly body, that apparent motion of the
heavenly body which is due to the earth's diurnal motion.
-- Diurnal parallax. See under Parallax.
-- Diurnal revolution of a planet, the motion of the planet upon its
own axis which constitutes one complete revolution.
Syn.
-- See Daily.
DIURNAL
Di*ur"nal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diurnal a prayerbook. See Diurnal, a.]
1. A daybook; a journal. [Obs.] Tatler.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A small volume containing the daily service for the "little
hours," viz., prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A diurnal bird or insect.
DIURNALIST
Di*ur"nal*ist, n.
Defn: A journalist. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIURNALLY
Di*ur"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: Daily; every day.
DIURNALNESS
Di*ur"nal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diurnal.
DIURNATION
Di`ur*na"tion, n.
1. Continuance during the day. [Obs.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The condition of sleeping or becoming dormant by day, as is the
case of the bats.
DIUTURNAL
Di`u*tur"nal, a. Etym: [L. diuturnus, fr. diu a long time, by day;
akin to dies day.]
Defn: Of long continuance; lasting. [R.] Milton.
DIUTURNITY
Di`u*tur"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. diuturnitas.]
Defn: Long duration; lastingness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DIVA
Di"va (de"va), n.; It. pl. Dive (de"va). [It., prop. fem. of divo
divine, L. divus.]
Defn: A prima donna.
DIVAGATION
Di`va*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. divagari to wander about; di- = dis- +
vagari to stroll about: cf. F. divagation. See Vagary.]
Defn: A wandering about or going astray; digression.
Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further divagation.
Thackeray.
DIVALENT
Div"a*lent, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + L. valens, valentis, p. pr. See
Valence.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Cf. Valence.
DIVAN
Di*van", n. Etym: [Per. diwan a book of many leaves, an account book,
a collection of books, a senate, council: cf. Ar. daiwan, F. divan.]
1. A book; esp., a collection of poems written by one author; as, the
divan of Hafiz. [Persia]
2. In Turkey and other Oriental countries: A council of state; a
royal court. Also used by the poets for a grand deliberative council
or assembly. Pope.
3. A chief officer of state. [India]
4. A saloon or hall where a council is held, in Oriental countries,
the state reception room in places, and in the houses of the richer
citizens. Cushions on the floor or on benches are ranged round the
room.
5. A cushioned seat, or a large, low sofa or couch; especially, one
fixed to its place, and not movable.
6. A coffee and smoking saloon. [Colloq.]
DIVARICATE
Di*var"i*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Divaricated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Divaricating.] Etym: [L. divaricatus, p. p. of divaricare to stretch
apart; di- = dis- + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, fr.
varus stretched outwards.]
1. To part into two branches; to become bifid; to fork.
2. To diverge; to be divaricate. Woodward.
DIVARICATE
Di*var"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To divide into two branches; to cause to branch apart.
DIVARICATE
Di*var"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. divaricatus, p. p.]
1. Diverging; spreading asunder; widely diverging.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Forking and diverging; widely diverging; as the branches of a
tree, or as lines of sculpture, or color markings on animals, etc.
DIVARICATELY
Di*var"i*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: With divarication.
DIVARICATION
Di*var`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. divarication.]
1. A separation into two parts or branches; a forking; a divergence.
2. An ambiguity of meaning; a disagreement of difference in opinion.
Sir T. Browne.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: A divergence of lines of color sculpture, or of fibers at
different angles.
DIVARICATOR
Di*var`i*ca"tor, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the muscles which open the shell of brachiopods; a
cardinal muscle. See Illust. of Brachiopoda.
DIVAST
Di*vast", a.
Defn: Devastated; laid waste. [Obs.]
DIVE
Dive, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dived, colloq. Dove (, a relic of the AS.
strong forms deáf, dofen; p. pr. & vb. n. Diving.] Etym: [OE. diven,
duven, AS. d to sink, v. t., fr. d, v. i.; akin to Icel. d, G.
taufen, E. dip, deep, and perh. to dove, n. Cf. Dip.]
1. To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or
deeply into, water or other fluid.
It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men have dived for
them. Whately.
Note: The colloquial form dove is common in the United States as an
imperfect tense form.
All [the walruses] dove down with a tremendous splash. Dr. Hayes.
When closely pressed it [the loon] dove . . . and left the young bird
sitting in the water. J. Burroughs.
2. Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question,
business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore. South.
DIVE
Dive, v. t.
1. To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck. [Obs.]
Hooker.
2. To explore by diving; to plunge into. [R.]
The Curtii bravely dived the gulf of fame. Denham.
He dives the hollow, climbs the steeps. Emerson.
DIVE
Dive, n.
1. A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives,
literally or figuratively.
2. A place of low resort. [Slang]
The music halls and dives in the lower part of the city. J.
Hawthorne.
DIVEDAPPER
Dive"dap`per, n. Etym: [See Dive, Didapper.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A water fowl; the didapper. See Dabchick.
DIVEL
Di*vel", v. t. Etym: [L. divellere; dit- = dis- + vellere to pluck.]
Defn: To rend apart. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIVELLENT
Di*vel"lent, a. Etym: [L. divellens, p. pr.]
Defn: Drawing asunder. [R.]
DIVELLICATE
Di*vel"li*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. di- = vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare
to pluck, fr. vellere to pull.]
Defn: To pull in pieces. [Obs. or R.]
DIVER
Div"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, dives.
Divers and fishers for pearls. Woodward.
2. Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or business. "A
diver into causes." Sir H. Wotton.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of certain genera, as Urinator (formerly Colymbus), or
the allied genus Colymbus, or Podiceps, remarkable for their agility
in diving.
Note: The northern diver (Urinator imber) is the loon; the black
diver or velvet scoter (Oidemia fusca) is a sea duck. See Loon, and
Scoter.
DIVERB
Di"verb, n. Etym: [L. diverbium the colloquial part of a comedy,
dialogue; di- = dis- + verbum word.]
Defn: A saying in which two members of the sentence are contrasted;
an antithetical proverb. [Obs.]
Italy, a paradise for horses, a hell for women, as the diverb goes.
Burton.
DIVERBERATE
Di*ver"ber*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. diverberatus, p. p. of diverberare to
strike asunder; di- = dis- + verberare. See Verberate.]
Defn: To strike or sound through. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).
DIVERBERATION
Di*ver`ber*a"tion, n.
Defn: A sounding through.
DIVERGE
Di*verge", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diverged; p. pr. & vb. n. Diverging.]
Etym: [L. di- = dis- + vergere to bend, incline. See Verge.]
1. To extend from a common point in different directions; to tend
from one point and recede from each other; to tend to spread apart;
to turn aside or deviate (as from a given direction); -- opposed to
converge; as, rays of light diverge as they proceed from the sun.
2. To differ from a typical form; to vary from a normal condition; to
dissent from a creed or position generally held or taken.
DIVERGEMENT
Di*verge"ment, n.
Defn: Divergence.
DIVERGENCE; DIVERGENCY
Di*ver"gence, Di*ver"gen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. divergence.]
1. A receding from each other in moving from a common center; the
state of being divergent; as, an angle is made by the divergence of
straight lines.
Rays come to the eye in a state of divergency.
2. Disagreement; difference.
Related with some divergence by other writers. Sir G. C. Lewis.
DIVERGENT
Di*ver"gent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. divergent. See Diverge.]
1. Receding farther and farther from each other, as lines radiating
from one point; deviating gradually from a given direction; --
opposed to convergent.
2. (Optics)
Defn: Causing divergence of rays; as, a divergent lens.
3. Fig.: Disagreeing from something given; differing; as, a divergent
statement. Divergent series. (Math.) See Diverging series, under
Diverging.
DIVERGING
Di*ver"ging, a.
Defn: Tending in different directions from a common center; spreading
apart; divergent. Diverging series (Math.), a series whose terms are
larger as the series is extended; a series the sum of whose terms
does not approach a finite limit when the series is extended
indefinitely; -- opposed to a converging series.
DIVERGINGLY
Di*ver"ging*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diverging manner.
DIVERS
Di"vers, a. Etym: [F. divers, L. diversus turned in different
directions, different, p. p. of divertere. See Divert, and cf.
Diverse.]
1. Different in kind or species; diverse. [Obs.]
Every sect of them hath a divers posture. Bacon.
Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds. Deut. xxii. 9.
2. Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number;
as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally.
Divers of Antonio's creditors. Shak.
Note: Divers is now limited to the plural; as, divers ways (not
divers way). Besides plurality it ordinarily implies variety of kind.
DIVERSE
Di"verse, a. Etym: [The same word as divers. See Divers.]
1. Different; unlike; dissimilar; distinct; separate.
The word . . . is used in a sense very diverse from its original
import. J. Edwards.
Our roads are diverse: farewell, love! said she. R. Browning.
2. Capable of various forms; multiform.
Eloquence is a great and diverse thing. B. Jonson.
DIVERSE
Di*verse", adv.
Defn: In different directions; diversely.
DIVERSE
Di*verse", v. i.
Defn: To turn aside. [Obs.]
The redcross knight diverst, but forth rode Britomart. Spenser.
DIVERSELY
Di"verse*ly, adv.
1. In different ways; differently; variously. "Diversely
interpreted." Bacon.
How diversely love doth his pageants play. Spenser.
2. In different directions; to different points.
On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. Pope.
DIVERSENESS
Di*verse"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diverse.
DIVERSIFIABILITY
Di*ver`si*fi`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or capacity of being diversifiable. Earle.
DIVERSIFIABLE
Di*ver"si*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being diversified or varied. Boyle.
DIVERSIFICATION
Di*ver`si*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [See Diversify.]
1. The act of making various, or of changing form or quality. Boyle.
2. State of diversity or variation; variegation; modification;
change; alternation.
Infinite diversifications of tints may be produced. Adventurer.
DIVERSIFIED
Di*ver"si*fied, a.
Defn: Distinguished by various forms, or by a variety of aspects or
objects; variegated; as, diversified scenery or landscape.
DIVERSIFIER
Di*ver"si*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diversifies.
DIVERSIFORM
Di*ver"si*form, a. Etym: [L. diversus diverse + -form.]
Defn: Of a different form; of varied forms.
DIVERSIFY
Di*ver"si*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diversified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Diversifying.] Etym: [F. diversifier, LL. diversificare, fr. L.
diversus diverse + ficare (in comp.), akin to facere to make. See
Diverse.]
Defn: To make diverse or various in form or quality; to give variety
to; to variegate; to distinguish by numerous differences or aspects.
Separated and diversified on from another. Locke.
Its seven colors, that diversify all the face of nature. I. Taylor.
DIVERSILOQUENT
Di`ver*sil"o*quent, a. Etym: [L. diversus diverse + loquens, p. pr.
of loqui to speak.]
Defn: Speaking in different ways. [R.]
DIVERSION
Di*ver"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diversion. See Divert.]
1. The act of turning aside from any course, occupation, or object;
as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind
from business.
2. That which diverts; that which turns or draws the mind from care
or study, and thus relaxes and amuses; sport; play; pastime; as, the
diversions of youth. "Public diversions." V. Knox.
Such productions of wit and humor as expose vice and folly, furnish
useful diversion to readers. Addison.
3. (Mil.)
Defn: The act of drawing the attention and force of an enemy from the
point where the principal attack is to be made; the attack, alarm, or
feint which diverts.
Syn.
-- Amusement; entertainment; pastime; recreation; sport; game; play;
solace; merriment.
DIVERSITY
Di*ver"si*ty, n.; pl. Diversities. Etym: [F. diversité, L.
diversitas, fr. diversus. See Diverse.]
1. A state of difference; dissimilitude; unlikeness.
They will prove opposite; and not resting in a bare diversity, rise
into a contrariety. South.
2. Multiplicity of difference; multiformity; variety. "Diversity of
sounds." Shak. "Diversities of opinion." Secker.
3. Variegation. "Bright diversities of day." Pope.
Syn.
-- See Variety.
DIVERSIVOLENT
Di`ver*siv"o*lent, a. Etym: [L. diversus diverse + volens, -entis, p.
pr. of velle to wish.]
Defn: Desiring different things. [Obs.] Webster (White Devil).
DIVERSORY
Di*ver"so*ry, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to divert; also, distinguishing. [Obs.]
DIVERSORY
Di*ver"so*ry, n. Etym: [L. diversorium, deversorium, an inn or
lodging.]
Defn: A wayside inn. [Obs. or R.] Chapman.
DIVERT
Di*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diverted; p. pr. & vb. n. Diverting.]
Etym: [F. divertir, fr. L. divertere, diversum, to go different ways,
turn aside; di- = dis- + vertere to turn. See Verse, and cf.
Divorce.]
1. To turn aside; to turn off from any course or intended
application; to deflect; as, to divert a river from its channel; to
divert commerce from its usual course.
That crude apple that diverted Eve. Milton.
2. To turn away from any occupation, business, or study; to cause to
have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain; as,
children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit
and humor.
We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy. C. J. Smith.
Syn.
-- To please; gratify; amuse; entertain; exhilarate; delight;
recreate. See Amuse.
DIVERT
Di*vert", v. i.
Defn: To turn aside; to digress. [Obs.]
I diverted to see one of the prince's palaces. Evelyn.
DIVERTER
Di*vert"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, diverts, turns off, or pleases.
DIVERTIBLE
Di*vert"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being diverted.
DIVERTICLE
Di*ver"ti*cle, n. Etym: [L. diverticulum, deverticulum, a bypath, fr.
divertere to turn away.]
1. A turning; a byway; a bypath. [Obs.] Hales.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A diverticulum.
DIVERTICULAR
Div`er*tic"u*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a diverticulum.
DIVERTICULUM
Div`er*tic"u*lum, n.; pl. Diverticula. Etym: [L. See Diverticle.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A blind tube branching out of a longer one.
DIVERTIMENTO
Di*ver`ti*men"to, n.; pl. -ti. Etym: [It.] (Mus.
Defn: ) A light and pleasing composition.
DIVERTING
Di*vert"ing, a.
Defn: Amusing; entertaining.
-- Di*vert"ing*ly, adv.
-- Di*vert"ing*ness, n.
DIVERTISE
Di*vert"ise, v. t. Etym: [F. divertir, p. pr. divertissant.]
Defn: To divert; to entertain. [Obs.] Dryden.
DIVERTISEMENT
Di*vert"ise*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. the next word.]
Defn: Diversion; amusement; recreation. [R.]
DIVERTISSEMENT
Di`ver`tisse`ment", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A short ballet, or other entertainment, between the acts of a
play. Smart.
DIVERTIVE
Di*vert"ive, a. Etym: [From Divert.]
Defn: Tending to divert; diverting; amusing; interesting.
Things of a pleasant and divertive nature. Rogers.
DIVES
Di"ves, n. Etym: [L., rich.]
Defn: The name popularly given to the rich man in our Lord's parable
of the "Rich Man and Lazarus" (Luke xvi. 19-31). Hence, a name for a
rich worldling.
DIVEST
Di*vest", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divested; p. pr. & vb. n. Divesting.]
Etym: [LL. divestire (di- = dis- + L. vestire to dress), equiv. to L.
devestire. It is the same word as devest, but the latter is rarely
used except as a technical term in law. See Devest, Vest.]
1. To unclothe; to strip, as of clothes, arms, or equipage; --
opposed to invest.
2. Fig.: To strip; to deprive; to dispossess; as, to divest one of
his rights or privileges; to divest one's self of prejudices,
passions, etc.
Wretches divested of every moral feeling. Goldsmith.
The tendency of the language to divest itself of its gutturals.
Earle.
3. (Law)
Defn: See Devest. Mozley & W.
DIVESTIBLE
Di*vest"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being divested.
DIVESTITURE
Di*vest"i*ture, n.
Defn: The act of stripping, or depriving; the state of being
divested; the deprivation, or surrender, of possession of property,
rights, etc.
DIVESTMENT
Di*vest"ment, n.
Defn: The act of divesting. [R.]
DIVESTURE
Di*ves"ture, n.
Defn: Divestiture. [Obs.]
DIVET
Div"et, n.
Defn: See Divot.
DIVIDABLE
Di*vid"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Divide.]
1. Capable of being divided; divisible.
2. Divided; separated; parted. [Obs.] Shak.
DIVIDANT
Di*vid"ant, a.
Defn: Different; distinct. [Obs.] Shak.
DIVIDE
Di*vide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divided; p. pr. & vb. n. Dividing.]
Etym: [L. dividere, divisum; di- = dis- + root signifying to part;
cf. Skr. vyadh to pierce; perh. akin to L. vidua widow, and E. widow.
Cf. Device, Devise.]
1. To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or
pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts.
Divide the living child in two. 1 Kings iii. 25.
2. To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an
imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream
divides the towns.
Let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. i. 6.
3. To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of
stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete
out; to share.
True justice unto people to divide. Spenser.
Ye shall divide the land by lot. Num. xxxiii. 54.
4. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile;
to set at variance.
If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand.
Mark iii. 24.
Every family became now divided within itself. Prescott.
5. To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for
and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a
question.
6. (Math.)
Defn: To subject to arithmetical division.
7. (Logic)
Defn: To separate into species; -- said of a genus or generic term.
8. (Mech.)
Defn: To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant.
9. (Music)
Defn: To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations. [Obs.]
Spenser.
Syn.
-- To sever; dissever; sunder; cleave; disjoin; disunite; detach;
disconnect; part; distribute; share.
DIVIDE
Di*vide", v. i.
1. To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder. Milton.
The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups. J. Peile.
2. To cause separation; to disunite.
A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less
than the matted forest. Bancroft.
3. To break friendship; to fall out. Shak.
4. To have a share; to partake. Shak.
5. To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating
themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in
opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes.
The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals. Gibbon.
DIVIDE
Di*vide", n.
Defn: A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two
streams; a watershed.
DIVIDED
Di*vid"ed, a.
1. Parted; disunited; distributed.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Cut into distinct parts, by incisions which reach the midrib; -
- said of a leaf.
DIVIDEDLY
Di*vid"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Separately; in a divided manner.
DIVIDEND
Div"i*dend, n. Etym: [L. dividendum thing to be divided, neut. of the
gerundive of dividere: cf. F. dividende.]
1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum
divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or
percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated among
shareholders, and to assets as apportioned among creditors; as, the
dividend of a bank, a railway corporation, or a bankrupt estate.
2. (Math.)
Defn: A number or quantity which is to be divided.
DIVIDENT
Div"i*dent, n.
Defn: Dividend; share. [Obs.] Foxe.
DIVIDER
Di*vid"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, divides; that which separates anything
into parts.
2. One who deals out to each his share.
Who made me a judge or a divider over you Luke xii. 14.
3. One who, or that which, causes division.
Hate is of all things the mightiest divider. Milton.
Money, the great divider of the world. Swift.
4. pl.
Defn: An instrument for dividing lines, describing circles, etc.,
compasses. See Compasses.
Note: The word dividers is usually applied to the instrument as made
for the use of draughtsmen, etc.; compasses to the coarser instrument
used by carpenters.
DIVIDING
Di*vid"ing, a.
Defn: That divides; separating; marking divisions; graduating.
Dividing engine, a machine for graduating circles (as for
astronomical instruments) or bars (as for scales); also, for spacing
off and cutting teeth in wheels.
-- Dividing sinker. (Knitting Mach.). See under Sinker.
DIVIDINGLY
Di*vid"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By division.
DIVI-DIVI
Di"vi-di"vi, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small tree of tropical America (Cæsalpinia coriaria), whose
legumes contain a large proportion of tannic and gallic acid, and are
used by tanners and dyers.
DIVIDUAL
Di*vid"u*al, a. Etym: [See Dividuous.]
Defn: Divided, shared, or participated in, in common with others.
[R.] Milton.
DIVIDUALLY
Di*vid"u*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By dividing. [R.]
DIVIDUOUS
Di*vid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. dividuus divisible, divided, fr.
dividere.]
Defn: Divided; dividual. [R.]
He so often substantiates distinctions into dividuous,
selfsubsistent. Coleridge.
DIVINATION
Div`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. divinatio, fr. divinare, divinatum, to
foresee, foretell, fr. divinus: cf. F. divination. See Divine.]
1. The act of divining; a foreseeing or foretelling of future events;
the pretended art discovering secret or future by preternatural
means.
There shall not be found among you any one that . . . useth
divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter. Deut. xviii.
10.
Note: Among the ancient heathen philosophers natural divination was
supposed to be effected by a divine afflatus; artificial divination
by certain rites, omens, or appearances, as the flight of birds,
entrails of animals, etc.
2. An indication of what is future or secret; augury omen;
conjectural presage; prediction.
Birds which do give a happy divination of things to come. Sir T.
North.
DIVINATOR
Div"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L. See Divination.]
Defn: One who practices or pretends to divination; a diviner. [R.]
Burton.
DIVINATORY
Di*vin"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. divinatoire.]
Defn: Professing, or relating to, divination. "A natural divinatory
instinct." Cowley.
DIVINE
Di*vine", a. Etym: [Compar. Diviner (; superl. Divinest.] Etym: [F.
divin, L. divinus divine, divinely inspired, fr. divus, dius,
belonging to a deity; akin to Gr. deus, God. See Deity.]
1. Of or belonging to God; as, divine perfections; the divine will.
"The immensity of the divine nature." Paley.
2. Proceeding from God; as, divine judgments. "Divine protection."
Bacon.
3. Appropriated to God, or celebrating his praise; religious; pious;
holy; as, divine service; divine songs; divine worship.
4. Pertaining to, or proceeding from, a deity; partaking of the
nature of a god or the gods. "The divine Apollo said." Shak.
5. Godlike; heavenly; excellent in the highest degree; supremely
admirable; apparently above what is human. In this application, the
word admits of comparison; as, the divinest mind. Sir J. Davies. "The
divine Desdemona." Shak.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king. Prov. xvi. 10.
But not to one in this benighted age Is that diviner inspiration
given. Gray.
6. Presageful; foreboding; prescient. [Obs.]
Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, Misgave him. Milton.
7. Relating to divinity or theology.
Church history and other divine learning. South.
Syn.
-- Supernatural; superhuman; godlike; heavenly; celestial; pious;
holy; sacred; preëminent.
DIVINE
Di*vine", n. Etym: [L. divinus a soothsayer, LL., a theologian. See
Divine, a.]
1. One skilled in divinity; a theologian. "Poets were the first
divines." Denham.
2. A minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman.
The first divines of New England were surpassed by none in extensive
erudition. J. Woodbridge.
DIVINE
Di*vine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divined; p. pr. & vb. n. Divining.]
Etym: [L. divinare: cf. F. deviner. See Divination.]
1. To foresee or foreknow; to detect; to anticipate; to conjecture.
A sagacity which divined the evil designs. Bancroft.
2. To foretell; to predict; to presage.
Darest thou . . . divine his downfall Shak.
3. To render divine; to deify. [Obs.]
Living on earth like angel new divined. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To foretell; predict; presage; prophesy; prognosticate; forebode;
guess; conjecture; surmise.
DIVINE
Di*vine", v. i.
1. To use or practice divination; to foretell by divination; to utter
prognostications.
The prophets thereof divine for money. Micah iii. 11.
2. To have or feel a presage or foreboding.
Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts. Shak.
3. To conjecture or guess; as, to divine rightly.
DIVINELY
Di*vine"ly, adv.
1. In a divine or godlike manner; holily; admirably or excellently in
a supreme degree.
Most divinely fair. Tennyson.
2. By the agency or influence of God.
Divinely set apart . . . to be a preacher of righteousness. Macaulay.
DIVINEMENT
Di*vine"ment, n.
Defn: Divination. [Obs.]
DIVINENESS
Di*vine"ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being divine; superhuman or supreme excellence.
Shak.
DIVINER
Di*vin"er, n.
1. One who professes divination; one who pretends to predict events,
or to reveal occult things, by supernatural means.
The diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they
comfort in vain. Zech. x. 2.
2. A conjecture; a guesser; one who makes out occult things. Locke.
DIVINERESS
Di*vin"er*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who divines. Dryden.
DIVING
Div"ing, a.
Defn: That dives or is used or diving. Diving beetle (Zoöl.), any
beetle of the family Dytiscidæ, which habitually lives under water; -
- called also water tiger.
-- Diving bell, a hollow inverted vessel, sometimes bell-shaped, in
which men may descend and work under water, respiration being
sustained by the compressed air at the top, by fresh air pumped in
through a tube from above.
-- Diving dress. See Submarine armor, under Submarine.
-- Diving stone, a kind of jasper.
DIVINIFY
Di*vin"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. divinus divine + -fy.]
Defn: To render divine; to deify. [Obs.] "Blessed and divinified
soul." Parth. Sacra (1633).
DIVINING
Di*vin"ing, a.
Defn: That divines; for divining. Divining rod, a rod, commonly of
witch hazel, with forked branches, used by those who pretend to
discover water or metals under ground.
DIVININGLY
Di*vin"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a divining manner.
DIVINISTRE
Div`i*nis"tre, n.
Defn: A diviner. [Obs.] " I am no divinistre." Chaucer.
DIVINITY
Di*vin"i*ty, n.; pl. Divinities. Etym: [F. divinité, L. divinitas.
See Divine, a.]
1. The state of being divine; the nature or essence of God; deity;
godhead.
When he attributes divinity to other things than God, it is only a
divinity by way of participation. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. The Deity; the Supreme Being; God.
This the divinity that within us. Addison.
3. A pretended deity of pagans; a false god.
Beastly divinities, and droves of gods. Prior.
4. A celestial being, inferior to the supreme God, but superior to
man.
God . . . employing these subservient divinities. Cheyne.
5. Something divine or superhuman; supernatural power or virtue;
something which inspires awe.
They say there is divinity in odd numbers. Shak.
There's such divinity doth hedge a king. Shak.
6. The science of divine things; the science which treats of God, his
laws and moral government, and the way of salvation; theology.
Divinity is essentially the first of the professions. Coleridge.
, casuistry.
DIVINITY CALF
Di*vin"i*ty calf`. (Bookbinding)
Defn: Calf stained dark brown and worked without gilding, often used
for theological books.
DIVINIZATION
Div`i*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: A making divine. M. Arnold.
DIVINIZE
Div"i*nize, v. t.
Defn: To invest with a divine character; to deify. [R.] M. Arnold.
Man had divinized all those objects of awe. Milman.
DIVISIBILITY
Di*vis`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. divisibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being divisible; the property of bodies by which
their parts are capable of separation.
Divisibility . . . is a primary attribute of matter. Sir W. Hamilton.
DIVISIBLE
Di*vis"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. divisibilis, fr. dividere: cf. F.
divisible. See Divide.]
Defn: Capable of being divided or separated.
Extended substance . . . is divisible into parts. Sir W. Hamilton.
Divisible contract (Law), a contract containing agreements one of
which can be separated from the other.
-- Divisible offense (Law), an offense containing a lesser offense
in one of a greater grade, so that on the latter there can be an
acquittal, while on the former there can be a conviction.
-- Di*vis"i*ble*ness, n.
-- Di*vis"i*bly, adv.
DIVISIBLE
Di*vis"i*ble, n.
Defn: A divisible substance. Glanvill.
DIVISION
Di*vi"sion, n. Etym: [F. division, L. divisio, from dividere. See
Divide.]
1. The act or process of diving anything into parts, or the state of
being so divided; separation.
I was overlooked in the division of the spoil. Gibbon.
2. That which divides or keeps apart; a partition.
3. The portion separated by the divining of a mass or body; a
distinct segment or section.
Communities and divisions of men. Addison.
4. Disunion; difference in opinion or feeling; discord; variance;
alienation.
There was a division among the people. John vii. 43.
5. Difference of condition; state of distinction; distinction;
contrast. Chaucer.
I will put a division between my people and thy people. Ex. viii. 23.
6. Separation of the members of a deliberative body, esp. of the
Houses of Parliament, to ascertain the vote.
The motion passed without a division. Macaulay.
7. (Math.)
Defn: The process of finding how many times one number or quantity is
contained in another; the reverse of multiplication; also, the rule
by which the operation is performed.
8. (Logic)
Defn: The separation of a genus into its constituent species.
9. (Mil.)
(a) Two or more brigades under the command of a general officer.
(b) Two companies of infantry maneuvering as one subdivision of a
battalion.
(c) One of the larger districts into which a country is divided for
administering military affairs.
10. (Naut.)
Defn: One of the groups into which a fleet is divided.
11. (Mus.)
Defn: A course of notes so running into each other as to form one
series or chain, to be sung in one breath to one syllable.
12. (Rhet.)
Defn: The distribution of a discourse into parts; a part so
distinguished.
13. (Biol.)
Defn: A grade or rank in classification; a portion of a tribe or of a
class; or, in some recent authorities, equivalent to a subkingdom.
Cell division (Biol.), a method of cell increase, in which new cells
are formed by the division of the parent cell. In this process, the
cell nucleus undergoes peculiar differentiations and changes, as
shown in the figure (see also Karyokinesis). At the same time the
protoplasm of the cell becomes gradually constricted by a furrow
transverse to the long axis of the nuclear spindle, followed, on the
completion of the division of the nucleus, by a separation of the
cell contents into two masses, called the daughter cells.
-- Long division (Math.), the process of division when the
operations are mostly written down.
-- Short division (Math.), the process of division when the
operations are mentally performed and only the results written down;
-- used principally when the divisor is not greater than ten or
twelve.
Syn.
-- compartment; section; share; allotment; distribution; separation;
partition; disjunction; disconnection; difference; variance; discord;
disunion.
DIVISIONAL
Di*vi"sion*al, a.
Defn: That divides; pas, a divisional line; a divisional general; a
divisional surgeon of police. Divisional planes (Geol.), planes of
separation between rock masses. They include joints.
DIVISIONALLY
Di*vi"sion*al*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to be divisional.
DIVISIONARY
Di*vi"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Divisional.
DIVISIONOR
Di*vi"sion*or, n.
Defn: One who divides or makes division. [Obs.] Sheldon.
DIVISIVE
Di*vi"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. divisif.]
1. Indicating division or distribution. Mede.
2. Creating, or tending to create, division, separation, or
difference.
It [culture] is after all a dainty and divisive quality, and can not
reach to the depths of humanity. J. C. Shairp.
-- Di*vi"sive*ly, adv.
-- Di*vi"sive*ness, n. Carlyle.
DIVISOR
Di*vi"sor, n. Etym: [L., fr. dividere. See Divide.] (Math.)
Defn: The number by which the dividend is divided. Common divisor.
(Math.) See under Common, a.
DIVORCE
Di*vorce", n. Etym: [F. divorce, L. divortium, fr. divortere,
divertere, to turn different ways, to separate. See Divert.]
1. (Law)
(a) A legal dissolution of the marriage contract by a court or other
body having competent authority. This is properly a divorce, and
called, technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii. "from the bond of
matrimony."
(b) The separation of a married woman from the bed and board of her
husband -- divorce a mensa et toro (or thoro), "from bed board."
2. The decree or writing by which marriage is dissolved.
3. Separation; disunion of things closely united.
To make divorce of their incorporate league. Shak.
4. That which separates. [Obs.] Shak. Bill of divorce. See under
Bill.
DIVORCE
Di*vorce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divorced; p. pr. & vb. n. Divorcing.]
Etym: [Cf. F. divorcer. See Divorce, n.]
1. To dissolve the marriage contract of, either wholly or partially;
to separate by divorce.
2. To separate or disunite; to sunder.
It [a word] was divorced from its old sense. Earle.
3. To make away; to put away.
Nothing but death Shall e'er divorce my dignities. Shak.
DIVORCEABLE
Di*vorce"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being divorced.
DIVORCEE
Di*vor`cee", n.
Defn: A person divorced.
DIVORCELESS
Di*vorce"less, a.
Defn: Incapable of being divorced or separated; free from divorce.
DIVORCEMENT
Di*vorce"ment, n.
Defn: Dissolution of the marriage tie; divorce; separation.
Let him write her a divorcement. Deut. xxiv. 1.
The divorcement of our written from our spoken language. R. Morris.
DIVORCER
Di*vor"cer, n.
Defn: The person or cause that produces or effects a divorce.
Drummond.
DIVORCIBLE
Di*vor"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Divorceable. Milton.
DIVORCIVE
Di*vor"cive, a.
Defn: Having power to divorce; tending to divorce. "This divorcive
law." Milton.
DIVOT
Div"ot, n.
Defn: A thin, oblong turf used for covering cottages, and also for
fuel. [Scot.] Simmonds.
DIVULGATE
Di*vul"gate, a. Etym: [L. divulgatus, p. p. of divulgare. See
Divulge.]
Defn: Published. [Obs.] Bale.
DIVULGATE
Di*vul"gate, v. t.
Defn: To divulge. [Obs.] Foxe.
DIVULGATER
Div"ul*ga`ter, n.
Defn: A divulger. [R.]
DIVULGATION
Div`ul*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. divulgatio: cf. F. divulgation.]
Defn: The act of divulging or publishing. [R.]
Secrecy hath no use than divulgation. Bp. Hall.
DIVULGE
Di*vulge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Divulged; p. pr. & vb. n. Divulging.]
Etym: [F. divulguer, L. divulgare; di- = dis- + vulgare to spread
among the people, from vulgus the common people. See Vulgar.]
1. To make public; to several or communicate to the public; to tell
(a secret) so that it may become generally known; to disclose; --
said of that which had been confided as a secret, or had been before
unknown; as, to divulge a secret.
Divulge not such a love as mine. Cowper.
2. To indicate publicly; to proclaim. [R.]
God . . . marks The just man, and divulges him through heaven.
Milton.
3. To impart; to communicate.
Which would not be
To them [animals] made common and divulged. Milton.
Syn.
-- To publish; disclose; discover; uncover; reveal; communicate;
impart; tell.
DIVULGE
Di*vulge", v. i.
Defn: To become publicly known. [R.] "To keep it from divulging."
Shak.
DIVULSIVE
Di*vul"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to pull asunder, tear, or rend; distracting.
DIXIE
Dix"ie, n.
Defn: A colloquial name for the Southern portion of the United
States, esp. during the Civil War. [U.S.]
DIZEN
Diz"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dizened; p. pr. & vb. n. Dizening.] Etym:
[Perh. orig., to dress in a foolish manner, and allied to dizzy: but
cf. also OE. dysyn (Palsgrave) to put tow or flax on a distaff, i.
e., to dress it. Cf. Distaff.]
1. To dress; to attire. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. To dress gaudily; to overdress; to bedizen; to deck out.
Like a tragedy queen, he has dizened her out. Goldsmith.
To-morrow when the masks shall fall That dizen Nature's carnival.
Emerson.
DIZZ
Dizz, v. t. Etym: [See Dizzy.]
Defn: To make dizzy; to astonish; to puzzle. [Obs.] Gayton.
DIZZARD
Diz"zard, n. Etym: [See Dizzy, and cf. Disard.]
Defn: A blockhead. [Obs.] [Written also dizard, and disard.] --
Diz"zard*ly, adv. [Obs.]
DIZZILY
Diz"zi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dizzy manner or state.
DIZZINESS
Diz"zi*ness, n. Etym: [AS. dysigness folly. See Dizzy.]
Defn: Giddiness; a whirling sensation in the head; vertigo.
DIZZY
Diz"zy, a. [Compar. Dizzier; superl. Dizziest.] Etym: [OE. dusi,
disi, desi, foolish, AS. dysig; akin to LG. düsig dizzy, OD. deuzig,
duyzig, OHG. tusig foolish, OFries. dusia to be dizzy; LG. dusel
dizziness, duselig, dusselig, D. duizelig, dizzy, Dan. dösig drowsy,
slepy, döse to make dull, drowsy, dös dullness, drowsiness, and to
AS. dw foolish, G. thor fool. Daze, Doze.]
1. Having in the head a sensation of whirling, with a tendency to
fall; vertiginous; giddy; hence, confused; indistinct.
Alas! his brain was dizzy. Drayton.
2. Causing, or tending to cause, giddiness or vertigo.
To climb from the brink of Fleet Ditch by a dizzy ladder. Macaulay.
3. Without distinct thought; unreflecting; thoughtless; heedless.
"The dizzy multitude." Milton.
DIZZY
Diz"zy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dizzied; p. pr. & vb. n. Dizzying.]
Defn: To make dizzy or giddy; to give the vertigo to; to confuse.
If the jangling of thy bells had not dizzied thy understanding. Sir
W. Scott.
DJEREED; DJERRID
Djer*eed" or Djer*rid" (, n. Etym: [F. djerid, fr. Ar. See Jereed.]
(a) A blunt javelin used in military games in Moslem countries.
(b) A game played with it. [Written also jereed, jerrid, etc.]
DJINNEE
Djin"nee, n.; pl. Jjinn ( or Djinns (.
Defn: See Jinnee, Jinn.
DO.
Do. (, n.
Defn: An abbreviation of Ditto.
DO
Do, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A syllable attached to the first tone of the major diatonic
scale for the purpose of solmization, or solfeggio. It is the first
of the seven syllables used by the Italians as manes of musical
tones, and replaced, for the sake of euphony, the syllable Ut,
applied to the note C. In England and America the same syllables are
used by mane as a scale pattern, while the tones in respect to
absolute pitch are named from the first seven letters of the
alphabet.
DO
Do, v. t. or auxiliary. [imp. Din; p. p. Done; p. pr. & vb. n. Doing.
This verb, when transitive, is formed in the indicative, present
tense, thus: I do, thou doest (dost , he does (doeth (doth (dost. As
an independent verb, dost is obsolete or rare, except in poetry.
"What dost thou in this world" Milton. The form doeth is a verb
unlimited, doth, formerly so used, now being the auxiliary form. The
second pers, sing., imperfect tense, is didst (didest ( Etym: [AS. d;
akin to D. doen, OS. duan, OHG. tuon, G. thun, Lith. deti, OSlav. d,
OIr. dénim I do, Gr. dha, and to E. suffix -dom, and prob. to L.
facere to do, E. fact, and perh. to L. -dere in some compounfds, as
addere to add, credere to trust. Deed, Deem, Doom, Fact, Creed,
Theme.]
1. To place; to put. [Obs.] Tale of a Usurer (about 1330).
2. To cause; to make; -- with an infinitive. [Obs.]
My lord Abbot of Westminster did do shewe to me late certain
evidences. W. Caxton.
I shall . . . your cloister do make. Piers Plowman.
A fatal plague which many did to die. Spenser.
We do you to wit [i. e., We make you to know] of the grace of God
bestowed on the churches of Macedonia. 2 Cor. viii. 1.
Note: We have lost the idiom shown by the citations (do used like the
French faire or laisser), in which the verb in the infinitive
apparently, but not really, has a passive signification, i. e., cause
. . . to be made.
3. To bring about; to produce, as an effect or result; to effect; to
achieve.
The neglecting it may do much danger. Shak.
He waved indifferently' twixt doing them neither good not harm. Shak.
4. To perform, as an action; to execute; to transact to carry out in
action; as, to do a good or a bad act; do our duty; to do what I can.
Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work. Ex. xx. 9.
We did not do these things. Ld. Lytton.
You can not do wrong without suffering wrong. Emerson.
Hence: To do homage, honor, favor, justice, etc., to render homage,
honor, etc.
5. To bring to an end by action; to perform completely; to finish; to
accomplish; -- a sense conveyed by the construction, which is that of
the past participle done. "Ere summer half be done." "I have done
weeping." Shak.
6. To make ready for an object, purpose, or use, as food by cooking;
to cook completely or sufficiently; as, the meat is done on one side
only.
7. To put or bring into a form, state, or condition, especially in
the phrases, to do death, to put to death; to slay; to do away (often
do away with), to put away; to remove; to do on, to put on; to don;
to do off, to take off, as dress; to doff; to do into, to put into
the form of; to translate or transform into, as a text.
Done to death by slanderous tongues. Shak.
The ground of the difficulty is done away. Paley.
Suspicions regarding his loyalty were entirely done away. Thackeray.
To do on our own harness, that we may not; but we must do on the
armor of God. Latimer.
Then Jason rose and did on him a fair Blue woolen tunic. W. Morris
(Jason).
Though the former legal pollution be now done off, yet there is a
spiritual contagion in idolatry as much to be shunned. Milton.
It ["Pilgrim's Progress"] has been done into verse: it has been done
into modern English. Macaulay.
8. To cheat; to gull; to overreach. [Colloq.]
He was not be done, at his time of life, by frivolous offers of a
compromise that might have secured him seventy-five per cent. De
Quincey.
9. To see or inspect; to explore; as, to do all the points of
interest. [Colloq.]
10. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: To cash or to advance money for, as a bill or note.
Note: (a) Do and did are much employed as auxiliaries, the verb to
which they are joined being an infinitive. As an auxiliary the verb
do has no participle. "I do set my bow in the cloud." Gen. ix. 13.
[Now archaic or rare except for emphatic assertion.]
Rarely . . . did the wrongs of individuals to the knowledge of the
public. Macaulay.
(b) They are often used in emphatic construction. "You don't say so,
Mr. Jobson.
-- but I do say so." Sir W. Scott. "I did love him, but scorn him
now." Latham. (c) In negative and interrogative constructions, do and
did are in common use. I do not wish to see them; what do you think
Did Cæsar cross the Tiber He did not. "Do you love me" Shak. (d) Do,
as an auxiliary, is supposed to have been first used before
imperatives. It expresses entreaty or earnest request; as, do help
me. In the imperative mood, but not in the indicative, it may be used
with the verb to be; as, do be quiet. Do, did, and done often stand
as a general substitute or representative verb, and thus save the
repetition of the principal verb. "To live and die is all we have to
do." Denham. In the case of do and did as auxiliaries, the sense may
be completed by the infinitive (without to) of the verb represented.
"When beauty lived and died as flowers do now." Shak. "I . . . chose
my wife as she did her wedding gown." Goldsmith.
My brightest hopes giving dark fears a being. As the light does the
shadow. Longfellow.
In unemphatic affirmative sentences do is, for the most part, archaic
or poetical; as, "This just reproach their virtue does excite."
Dryden. To do one's best, To do one's diligence (and the like), to
exert one's self; to put forth one's best or most or most diligent
efforts. "We will . . . do our best to gain their assent." Jowett
(Thucyd.).
-- To do one's business, to ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley.
-- To do one shame, to cause one shame. [Obs.] -- To do over. (a) To
make over; to perform a second time. (b) To cover; to spread; to
smear. "Boats . . . sewed together and done over with a kind of slimy
stuff like rosin." De Foe.
-- To do to death, to put to death. (See 7.) [Obs.] -- To do up. (a)
To put up; to raise. [Obs.] Chaucer. (b) To pack together and
envelop; to pack up. (c) To accomplish thoroughly. [Colloq.] (d) To
starch and iron. "A rich gown of velvet, and a ruff done up with the
famous yellow starch." Hawthorne.
-- To do way, to put away; to lay aside. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- To do with, to dispose of; to make use of; to employ; -- usually
preceded by what. "Men are many times brought to that extremity, that
were it not for God they would not know what to do with themselves."
Tillotson.
-- To have to do with, to have concern, business or intercourse
with; to deal with. When preceded by what, the notion is usually
implied that the affair does not concern the person denoted by the
subject of have. "Philology has to do with language in its fullest
sense." Earle. "What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah 2 Sam.
xvi. 10.
DO
Do, v. i.
1. To act or behave in any manner; to conduct one's self.
They fear not the Lord, neither do they after . . . the law and
commandment. 2 Kings xvii. 34.
2. To fare; to be, as regards health; as, they asked him how he did;
how do you do to-day
3. Etym: [Perh. a different word. OE. dugen, dowen, to avail, be of
use, AS. dugan. See Doughty.]
Defn: To succeed; to avail; to answer the purpose; to serve; as, if
no better plan can be found, he will make this do.
You would do well to prefer a bill against all kings and parliaments
since the Conquest; and if that won't do; challenge the crown.
Collier.
To do by. See under By.
-- To do for. (a) To answer for; to serve as; to suit. (b) To put an
end to; to ruin; to baffle completely; as, a goblet is done for when
it is broken. [Colloq.]
Some folks are happy and easy in mind when their victim is stabbed
and done for. Thackeray.
-- To do withal, to help or prevent it. [Obs.] "I could not do
withal." Shak.
-- To do without, to get along without; to dispense with.
-- To have done, to have made an end or conclusion; to have
finished; to be quit; to desist.
-- To have done with, to have completed; to be through with; to have
no further concern with.
-- Well to do, in easy circumstances.
DO
Do, n.
1. Deed; act; fear. [Obs.] Sir W. Scott.
2. Ado; bustle; stir; to do. [R.]
A great deal of do, and a great deal of trouble. Selden.
3. A cheat; a swindle. [Slang, Eng.]
DOAB
Do"ab, Etym: [Pers. & Hind. doab, prop., two waters.]
Defn: A tongue or tract of land included between two rivers; as, the
doab between the Ganges and the Jumna. [India] Am. Cyc.
DOABLE
Do"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being done. Carlyle.
DO-ALL
Do"-all`, n.
Defn: General manager; factotum.
Under him, Dunstan was the do-all at court, being the king's
treasurer, councilor, chancellor, confessor, all things. Fuller.
DOAND
Do"and, p. pr.
Defn: Doing. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
DOAT
Doat, v. i.
Defn: See Dote.
DOBBER
Dob"ber, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
2. A float to a fishing line. [Local, U. S.]
DOBBIN
Dob"bin, n.
1. An old jaded horse. Shak.
2. Sea gravel mixed with sand. [Prov. Eng.]
DOBBY
Dob"by, n. (Weaving)
Defn: An apparatus resembling a Jacquard for weaving small figures
(usually about 12 - 16 threads, seldom more than 36 - 40 threads).
DOBCHICK
Dob"chick`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dabchick.
DOBELL'S SOLUTION
Do*bell's" so*lu"tion. (Med.)
Defn: An aqueous solution of carbolic acid, borax, sodium
bicarbonate, and glycerin, used as a spray in diseases of the nose
and throat.
DOBSON
Dob"son, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The aquatic larva of a large neuropterous insect (Corydalus
cornutus), used as bait in angling. See Hellgamite.
DOBULE
Dob"ule, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European dace.
DOCENT
Do"cent, a. Etym: [L. docens, -entis, p. pr. of docere to teach.]
Defn: Serving to instruct; teaching. [Obs.]
DOCETAE
Do*ce"tæ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: Ancient heretics who held that Christ's body was merely a
phantom or appearance.
DOCETIC
Do*cet"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, held by, or like, the Docetæ. "Docetic
Gnosticism." Plumptre.
DOCETISM
Doc"e*tism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The doctrine of the Docetæ.
DOCHMIAC
Doch"mi*ac, a. (Pros.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, the dochmius.
DOCHMIUS
Doch"mi*us, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A foot of five syllables (usually
DOCIBILITY; DOCIBLENESS
Doc`i*bil"i*ty, Doc"i*ble*ness, n. Etym: [L. docibilitas.]
Defn: Aptness for being taught; teachableness; docility.
To persons of docibility, the real character may be easily taught in
a few days. Boyle.
The docibleness of dogs in general. Walton.
DOCIBLE
Doc"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. docibilis, fr. docere to teach.]
Defn: Easily taught or managed; teachable. Milton.
DOCILE
Doc"ile, a. Etym: [L. docilis,fr. docere to teach; cf. Gr. discere to
learn, Gr. docile. Cf. Doctor, Didactic, Disciple.]
1. Teachable; easy to teach; docible. [Obs.]
2. Disposed to be taught; tractable; easily managed; as, a docile
child.
The elephant is at once docible and docile. C. J. Smith.
DOCILITY
Do*cil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. docilitas, fr. docilis: cf. F. docilité.]
1. teachableness; aptness for being taught; docibleness. [Obs. or R.]
2. Willingness to be taught; tractableness.
The humble docility of little children is, in the New Testament,
represented as a necessary preparative to the reception of the
Christian faith. Beattie.
DOCIMACY
Doc"i*ma*cy, n. Etym: [Gr. docimasie.]
Defn: The art or practice of applying tests to ascertain the nature,
quality, etc., of objects, as of metals or ores, of medicines, or of
facts pertaining to physiology.
DOCIMASTIC
Doc`i*mas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. docimastique.]
Defn: Proving by experiments or tests. Docimastic art, metallurgy, or
the art of assaying metals; the art of separating metals from foreign
matters, and determining the nature and quantity of metallic
substances contained in any ore or mineral.
DOCIMOLOGY
Doc`i*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: A treatise on the art of testing, as in assaying metals, etc.
DOCITY
Doc"i*ty, n.
Defn: Teachableness. [Prov. Eng. & Local, U. S.]
DOCK
Dock, n. Etym: [AS. docce; of uncertain origin; cf. G. docken-
blätter, Gael. dogha burdock, OF. doque; perh. akin to L. daucus,
daucum, Gr. Burdock.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of plants (Rumex), some species of which are well-known
weeds which have a long taproot and are difficult of extermination.
Note: Yellow dock is Rumex crispus, with smooth curly leaves and
yellow root, which that of other species is used medicinally as an
astringent and tonic.
DOCK
Dock, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. dockr a short tail, Fries. dok a little
bundle or bunch, G. docke bundle, skein, a short and thick column.]
1. The solid part of an animal's tail, as distinguished from the
hair; the stump of a tail; the part of a tail left after clipping or
cutting. Grew.
2. A case of leather to cover the clipped or cut tail of a horse.
DOCK
Dock, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Docked; p. pr. & vb. n. Docking.] Etym:
[See Dock a tail. Cf. W. tociaw, and twciaw, to dock, clip.]
1. to cut off, as the end of a thing; to curtail; to cut short; to
clip; as, to dock the tail of a horse.
His top was docked like a priest biforn. Chaucer.
2. To cut off a part from; to shorten; to deduct from; to subject to
a deduction; as, to dock one's wages.
3. To cut off, bar, or destroy; as, to dock an entail.
DOCK
Dock, n. Etym: [Akin to D. dok; of uncertain origin; cf. LL. doga
ditch, L. doga ditch, L. doga sort of vessel, Gr.
1. An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or
river, -- used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates
for keeping in or shutting out the tide.
2. The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting
wharves, for the reception of ships; -- sometimes including the piers
themselves; as, to be down on the dock.
3. The place in court where a criminal or accused person stands.
Balance dock, a kind of floating dock which is kept level by pumping
water out of, or letting it into, the compartments of side chambers.
-- Dry dock, a dock from which the water may be shut or pumped out,
especially, one in the form of a chamber having walls and floor,
often of masonry and communicating with deep water, but having
appliances for excluding it; -- used in constructing or repairing
ships. The name includes structures used for the examination,
repairing, or building of vessels, as graving docks, floating docks,
hydraulic docks, etc.
-- Floating dock, a dock which is made to become buoyant, and, by
floating, to lift a vessel out of water.
-- Graving dock, a dock for holding a ship for graving or cleaning
the bottom, etc.
-- Hydraulic dock, a dock in which a vessel is raised clear of the
water by hydraulic presses.
-- Naval dock, a dock connected with which are naval stores,
materials, and all conveniences for the construction and repair of
ships.
-- Sectional dock, a form of floating dock made in separate sections
or caissons.
-- Slip dock, a dock having a sloping floor that extends from deep
water to above high-water mark, and upon which is a railway on which
runs a cradle carrying the ship.
-- Wet dock, a dock where the water is shut in, and kept at a given
level, to facilitate the loading and unloading of ships; -- also
sometimes used as a place of safety; a basin.
DOCK
Dock, v. t.
Defn: To draw, law, or place (a ship) in a dock, for repairing,
cleaning the bottom, etc.
DOCKAGE
Dock"age, n.
Defn: A charge for the use of a dock.
DOCK-CRESS
Dock"-cress`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Nipplewort.
DOCKET
Dock"et, n. Etym: [Dock to cut off + dim. suffix -et.]
1. A small piece of paper or parchment, containing the heads of a
writing; a summary or digest.
2. A bill tied to goods, containing some direction, as the name of
the owner, or the place to which they are to be sent; a label.
Bailey.
3. (Law)
(a) An abridged entry of a judgment or proceeding in an action, or
register or such entries; a book of original, kept by clerks of
courts, containing a formal list of the names of parties, and minutes
of the proceedings, in each case in court.
(b) (U. S.) A list or calendar of causes ready for hearing or trial,
prepared for the use of courts by the clerks.
4. A list or calendar of business matters to be acted on in any
assembly. On the docket, in hand; in the plan; under consideration;
in process of execution or performance. [Colloq.]
DOCKET
Dock"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Docketed; p. pr. & vb. n. Docketing.]
1. To make a brief abstract of (a writing) and indorse it on the back
of the paper, or to indorse the title or contents on the back of; to
summarize; as, to docket letters and papers. Chesterfield.
2. (Law)
(a) To make a brief abstract of and inscribe in a book; as, judgments
regularly docketed.
(b) To enter or inscribe in a docket, or list of causes for trial.
3. To mark with a ticket; as, to docket goods.
DOCKYARD
Dock"yard`, n.
Defn: A yard or storage place for all sorts of naval stores and
timber for shipbuilding.
DOCOGLOSSA
Doc`o*glos"sa, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of gastropods, including the true limpets, and having
the teeth on the odontophore or lingual ribbon.
DOCQUET
Doc"quet, n. & v.
Defn: See Docket.
DOCTOR
Doc"tor, n. Etym: [OF. doctur, L. doctor, teacher, fr. docere to
teach. See Docile.]
1. A teacher; one skilled in a profession, or branch of knowledge
learned man. [Obs.]
One of the doctors of Italy, Nicholas Macciavel. Bacon.
2. An academical title, originally meaning a men so well versed in
his department as to be qualified to teach it. Hence: One who has
taken the highest degree conferred by a university or college, or has
received a diploma of the highest degree; as, a doctor of divinity,
of law, of medicine, of music, or of philosophy. Such diplomas may
confer an honorary title only.
3. One duly licensed to practice medicine; a member of the medical
profession; a physician.
By medicine life may be prolonged, yet death Will seize the doctor
too. Shak.
4. Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or
serve some purpose in an exigency; as, the doctor of a calico-
printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring
matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The friar skate. [Prov. Eng.] Doctors' Commons. See under
Commons.
-- Doctor's stuff, physic, medicine. G. Eliot.
-- Doctor fish (Zoöl.), any fish of the genus Acanthurus; the
surgeon fish; -- so called from a sharp lancetlike spine on each side
of the tail. Also called barber fish. See Surgeon fish.
DOCTOR
Doc"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doctored; p. pr. & vb. n. Doctoring.]
1. To treat as a physician does; to apply remedies to; to repair; as,
to doctor a sick man or a broken cart. [Colloq.]
2. To confer a doctorate upon; to make a doctor.
3. To tamper with and arrange for one's own purposes; to falsify; to
adulterate; as, to doctor election returns; to doctor whisky. [Slang]
DOCTOR
Doc"tor, v. i.
Defn: To practice physic. [Colloq.]
DOCTORAL
Doc"tor*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. doctoral.]
Defn: Of or relating to a doctor, or to the degree of doctor.
Doctoral habit and square cap. Wood.
DOCTORALLY
Doc"tor*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a doctor.[R.]
DOCTORATE
Doc"tor*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. doctorat.]
Defn: The degree, title, or rank, of a doctor.
DOCTORATE
Doc"tor*ate, v. t.
Defn: To make (one) a doctor.
He was bred . . . in Oxford and there doctorated. Fuller.
DOCTORESS
Doc"tor*ess, n.
Defn: A female doctor.[R.]
DOCTORLY
Doc"tor*ly, a.
Defn: Like a doctor or learned man. [Obs.] "Doctorly prelates." Foxe.
DOCTORSHIP
Doc"tor*ship, n.
Defn: Doctorate. [R.] Clarendon.
DOCTRESS
Doc"tress, n.
Defn: A female doctor. [R.]
DOCTRINABLE
Doc"tri*na*ble, a.
Defn: Of the nature of, or constituting, doctrine. [Obs.] Sir P.
Sidney.
DOCTRINAIRE
Doc`tri*naire", n. Etym: [F. See Doctrine.]
Defn: One who would apply to political or other practical concerns
the abstract doctrines or the theories of his own philosophical
system; a propounder of a new set of opinions; a dogmatic theorist.
Used also adjectively; as, doctrinaire notions.
Note: In french history, the Doctrinaires were a constitutionalist
party which originated after the restoration of the Bourbons, and
represented the interests of liberalism and progress. After the
Revolution of July, 1830, when they came into power, they assumed a
conservative position in antagonism with the republicans and
radicals. Am. Cyc.
DOCTRINAL
Doc"tri*nal, a. Etym: [LL. doctrinalis, fr. L. doctrina: cf. F.
doctrinal. See Doctrine.]
1. Pertaining to, or containing, doctrine or something taught and to
be believed; as, a doctrinal observation. "Doctrinal clauses."
Macaulay.
2. Pertaining to, or having to do with, teaching.
The word of God serveth no otherwise than in the nature of a
doctrinal instrument. Hooker.
DOCTRINAL
Doc"tri*nal, n.
Defn: A matter of doctrine; also, a system of doctrines. T. Goodwin.
Sir T. Elyot.
DOCTRINALLY
Doc"tri*nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a doctrinal manner or for; by way of teaching or positive
direction.
DOCTRINARIAN
Doc"tri*na"ri*an, n.
Defn: A doctrinaire. J. H. Newman.
DOCTRINARIANISM
Doc`tri*na"ri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The principles or practices of the Doctrinaires.
DOCTRINE
Doc"trine, n. Etym: [F. doctrine, L. doctrina, fr. doctor. See
Doctor.]
1. Teaching; instruction.
He taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his
doctrine, Hearken. Mark iv. 2.
2. That which is taught; what is held, put forth as true, and
supported by a teacher, a school, or a sect; a principle or position,
or the body of principles, in any branch of knowledge; any tenet or
dogma; a principle of faith; as, the doctrine of atoms; the doctrine
of chances. "The doctrine of gravitation." I. Watts.
Articles of faith and doctrine. Hooker.
The Monroe doctrine (Politics), a policy enunciated by President
Monroe (Message, Dec. 2, 1823), the essential feature of which is
that the United States will regard as an unfriendly act any attempt
on the part of European powers to extend their systems on this
continent, or any interference to oppress, or in any manner control
the destiny of, governments whose independence had been acknowledged
by the United States.
Syn.
-- Precept; tenet; principle; maxim; dogma.
-- Doctrine, Precept. Doctrine denotes whatever is recommended as a
speculative truth to the belief of others. Precept is a rule down to
be obeyed. Doctrine supposes a teacher; precept supposes a superior,
with a right to command. The doctrines of the Bible; the precepts of
our holy religion.
Unpracticed he to fawn or seek for power By doctrines fashioned to
the varying hour. Goldsmith.
DOCUMENT
Doc"u*ment, n. Etym: [LL. documentum, fr. docere to teach: cf. F.
document. See Docile.]
1. That which is taught or authoritatively set forth; precept;
instruction; dogma. [Obs.]
Learners should not be too much crowded with a heap or multitude of
documents or ideas at one time. I. Watts.
2. An example for instruction or warning. [Obs.]
They were forth with stoned to death, as a document to others. Sir W.
Raleigh.
3. An original or official paper relied upon as the basis, proof, or
support of anything else; -- in its most extended sense, including
any writing, book, or other instrument conveying information in the
case; any material substance on which the thoughts of men are
represented by any species of conventional mark or symbol.
Saint Luke . . . collected them from such documents and testimonies
as he . . . judged to be authentic. Paley.
DOCUMENT
Doc"u*ment, v. t.
1. To teach; to school. [Obs.]
I am finely documented by my own daughter. Dryden.
2. To furnish with documents or papers necessary to establish facts
or give information; as, a a ship should be documented according to
the directions of law.
DOCUMENTAL
Doc`u*men"tal, a.
1. Of or pertaining to instruction. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
2. Of or pertaining to written evidence; documentary; as, documental
testimony.
DOCUMENTARY
Doc`u*men"ta*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to written evidence; contained or certified in
writing. "Documentary evidence." Macaulay.
DODD; DOD
Dodd, Dod, v. t. Etym: [OE. dodden.]
Defn: To cut off, as wool from sheep's tails; to lop or clip off.
Halliwell.
DODDART
Dod"dart, n.
Defn: A game much like hockey, played in an open field; also, the,
bent stick for playing the game. [Local, Eng.] Halliwell.
DODDED
Dod"ded, a. Etym: [See Dodd.]
Defn: Without horns; as, dodded cattle; without beards; as, dodded
corn. Halliwell.
DODDER
Dod"der, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. dodder, Sw. dodra, G. dotter.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Cuscuta. It is a leafless parasitical vine
with yellowish threadlike stems. It attaches itself to some other
plant, as to flax, goldenrod, etc., and decaying at the root. is
nourished by the plant that supports it.
DODDER
Dod"der, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. AS. dyderian to deceive, delude, and
E. didder, dudder.]
Defn: To shake, tremble, or totter. "The doddering mast." Thomson.
DODDERED
Dod"dered, a.
Defn: Shattered; infirm. "A laurel grew, doddered with age." Dryden.
DODECAGON
Do*dec"a*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. dodécagone.] (Geom.)
Defn: A figure or polygon bounded by twelve sides and containing
twelve angles.
DODECAGYNIA
Do*dec`a*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan order of plants having twelve styles.
DODECAGYNIAN; DODECAGYNOUS
Do*dec`a*gyn"i*an, Do`de*cag"y*nous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Dodecagynia; having twelve styles.
DODECAHEDRAL
Do*dec`a*he"dral, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, a dodecahedion; consisting of twelve
equal sides. Dodecahedral cleavage. See under Cleavage.
DODECAHEDRON
Do*dec`a*he"dron, n. Etym: [Gr. dodécaèdre.] (Geom. & Crystallog.)
Defn: A solid having twelve faces.
Note: The regular dodecahedron is bounded by twelve equal and regular
pentagons; the pyritohedron (see Pyritohedron) is related to it; the
rhombic dodecahedron is bounded by twelve equal rhombic faces.
DODECANDRIA
Do`de*can"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants including all that have any number of
stamens between twelve and nineteen.
DODECANDRIAN; DODECANDROUS
Do`de*can"dri*an, Do`de*can"drous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Dodecandria; having twelve stamens, or
from twelve to nineteen.
DODECANE
Do"de*cane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of a group of thick oily hydrocarbons, C12H26, of the
paraffin series.
DODECASTYLE
Do*dec"a*style, a. Etym: [Gr. dodécastyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: Having twelve columns in front.
-- n.
Defn: A dodecastyle portico, or building.
DODECASYLLABIC
Do*dec`a*syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. syllabic.]
Defn: Having twelve syllables.
DODECASYLLABLE
Do*dec"a*syl`la*ble, n.
Defn: A word consisting of twelve syllables.
DODECATEMORY
Do*dec`a*tem"o*ry, n. Etym: [Gr. dodécatémorie.] (Astron.)
Defn: A tern applied to the twelve houses, or parts, of the zodiac of
the primum mobile, to distinguish them from the twelve signs; also,
any one of the twelve signs of the zodiac.
DODGE
Dodge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dodged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dodging.] Etym:
[Of uncertain origin: cf. dodder, v., daddle, dade, or dog, v. t.]
1. To start suddenly aside, as to avoid a blow or a missile; to shift
place by a sudden start. Milton.
2. To evade a duty by low craft; to practice mean shifts; to use
tricky devices; to play fast and loose; to quibble.
Some dodging casuist with more craft than sincerity. Milton.
DODGE
Dodge, v. t.
1. To evade by a sudden shift of place; to escape by starting aside;
as, to dodge a blow aimed or a ball thrown.
2. Fig.: To evade by craft; as, to dodge a question; to dodge
responsibility. [Colloq.] S. G. Goodrich.
3. To follow by dodging, or suddenly shifting from place to place.
Coleridge.
DODGE
Dodge, n.
Defn: The act of evading by some skillful movement; a sudden starting
aside; hence, an artful device to evade, deceive, or cheat; a cunning
trick; an artifice. [Colloq.]
Some, who have a taste for good living, have many harmless arts, by
which they improve their banquet, and innocent dodges, if we may be
permitted to use an excellent phrase that has become vernacular since
the appearance of the last dictionaries. Thackeray.
DODGER
Dodg"er, n.
1. One who dodges or evades; one who plays fast and loose, or uses
tricky devices. Smart.
2. A small handbill. [U. S.]
3. See Corndodger.
DODGERY
Dodg"er*y, n.
Defn: trickery; artifice. [Obs.] Hacket.
DODIPATE; DODIPOLL
Dod"i*pate, Dod"i*poll, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. OE. dodden to cut off, to
shear, and first applied to shaven-polled priests.]
Defn: A stupid person; a fool; a blockhead.
Some will say, our curate is naught, an ass-head, a dodipoll.
Latimer.
DODKIN
Dod"kin, n. Etym: [D. duitken, dim. of duit. See Doit, and cf.
Doitkin.]
Defn: A doit; a small coin. Shelton.
DODMAN
Dod"man, n.
1. A snail; also, a snail shell; a hodmandod. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Nares.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any shellfish which casts its shell, as a lobster. [Prov. Eng.]
DODO
Do"do, n.; pl. Dodoes. Etym: [Said to be fr. Pg. doudo silly, foolish
(cf. Booby); this is fr. Prov. E. dold, the same word as E. dolt.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, extinct bird (Didus ineptus), formerly inhabiting the
Island of Mauritius. It had short, half-fledged wings, like those of
the ostrich, and a short neck and legs; -- called also dronte. It was
related to the pigeons.
DOE
Doe, n. Etym: [AS. da; cf. Dan. daa, daa-dyr, deer, and perh. L.
dama. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A female deer or antelope; specifically, the female of the
fallow deer, of which the male is called a buck. Also applied to the
female of other animals, as the rabbit. See the Note under Buck.
DOE
Doe, n.
Defn: A feat. [Obs.] See Do, n. Hudibras.
DOEGLIC
Doeg"lic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the doegling; as, doeglic acid
(Chem.), an oily substance resembling oleic acid.
DOEGLING
Doeg"ling, n. Etym: [Native name in Faroe Islands.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The beaked whale (Balænoptera rostrata), from which doegling
oil is obtained.
DOE, JOHN
Doe, John. (Law)
Defn: The fictitious lessee acting as plaintiff in the common-law
action of ejectment, the fictitious defendant being usually
denominated Richard Roe. Hence, a fictitious name for a party, real
or fictitious, to any action or proceeding.
DOER
Do"er, m. Etym: [From Do, v. t. & i.]
1. One who does; one performs or executes; one who is wont and ready
to act; an actor; an agent.
The doers of the law shall be justified. Rom. ii. 13.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: An agent or attorney; a factor. Burrill.
DOES
Does.
Defn: The 3d pers. sing. pres. of Do.
DOESKIN
Doe"skin`, n.
1. The skin of the doe.
2. A firm woolen cloth with a smooth, soft surface like a doe's skin;
-- made for men's wear.
DOFF
Doff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doffed; p. pr. & vb. n. Doffing.] Etym: [Do
+ off. See Do, v. t., 7.]
1. To put off, as dress; to divest one's self of; hence,
figuratively, to put or thrust away; to rid one's self of. And made
us doff our easy robes of peace. Shak.
At night, or in the rain, He dons a surcoat which he doffs at morn.
Emerson.
2. To strip; to divest; to undress.
Heaven's King, who doffs himself our flesh to wear. Crashaw.
DOFF
Doff, v. i.
Defn: To put off dress; to take off the hat.
DOFFER
Doff"er, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A revolving cylinder, or a vibrating bar with teeth, in a
carding machine, which doffs, or strips off, the cotton from the
cards. Ure.
DOG
Dog, n. Etym: [AS. docga; akin to D. dog mastiff, Dan. dogge, Sw.
dogg.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (C.
familiaris).
Note: The dog is distinguished above all others of the inferior
animals for intelligence, docility, and attachment to man. There are
numerous carefully bred varieties, as the beagle, bloodhound,
bulldog, coachdog, collie, Danish dog, foxhound, greyhound, mastiff,
pointer, poodle, St. Bernard, setter, spaniel, spitz dog, terrier,
etc. There are also many mixed breeds, and partially domesticated
varieties, as well as wild dogs, like the dingo and dhole. (See these
names in the Vocabulary.)
2. A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great
thing 2 Kings viii. 13 (Rev. Ver. )
3. A fellow; -- used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a
lazy dog. [Colloq.]
4. (Astron.)
Defn: One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or
the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star
(Sirius).
5. An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron.
6. (Mech.)
(a) A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood
or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them.
(b) An iron with fangs fastening a log in a saw pit, or on the
carriage of a sawmill.
(c) A piece in machinery acting as a catch or clutch; especially, the
carrier of a lathe, also, an adjustable stop to change motion, as in
a machine tool.
Note: Dog is used adjectively or in composition, commonly in the
sense of relating to, or characteristic of, a dog. It is also used to
denote a male; as, dog fox or g-fox, a male fox; dog otter or dog-
otter, dog wolf, etc.; -- also to denote a thing of cheap or mean
quality; as, dog Latin. A dead dog, a thing of no use or value. 1
Sam. xxiv. 14.
-- A dog in the manger, an ugly-natured person who prevents others
from enjoying what would be an advantage to them but is none to him.
-- Dog ape (Zoöl.), a male ape.
-- Dog cabbage, or Dog's cabbage (Bot.), a succulent herb, native to
the Mediterranean region (Thelygonum Cynocrambe).
-- Dog cheap, very cheap. See under Cheap.
-- Dog ear (Arch.), an acroterium. [Colloq.] -- Dog flea (Zoöl.), a
species of flea (Pulex canis) which infests dogs and cats, and is
often troublesome to man. In America it is the common flea. See Flea,
and Aphaniptera.
-- Dog grass (Bot.), a grass (Triticum caninum) of the same genus as
wheat.
-- Dog Latin, barbarous Latin; as, the dog Latin of pharmacy.
-- Dog lichen (Bot.), a kind of lichen (Peltigera canina) growing on
earth, rocks, and tree trunks, -- a lobed expansion, dingy green
above and whitish with fuscous veins beneath.
-- Dog louse (Zoöl.), a louse that infests the dog, esp. Hæmatopinus
piliferus; another species is Trichodectes latus.
-- Dog power, a machine operated by the weight of a dog traveling in
a drum, or on an endless track, as for churning.
-- Dog salmon (Zoöl.), a salmon of northwest America and northern
Asia; -- the gorbuscha; -- called also holia, and hone.
-- Dog shark. (Zoöl.) See Dogfish.
-- Dog's meat, meat fit only for dogs; refuse; offal.
-- Dog Star. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Dog wheat (Bot.), Dog grass.
-- Dog whelk (Zoöl.), any species of univalve shells of the family
Nassidæ, esp. the Nassa reticulata of England.
-- To give, or throw, to the dogs, to throw away as useless. "Throw
physic to the dogs; I'll none of it." Shak.
-- To go to the dogs, to go to ruin; to be ruined.
DOG
Dog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dogging.]
Defn: To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or
indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs;
to hound with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid. Pope.
Your sins will dog you, pursue you. Burroughs.
Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt
the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place,
till they even extort an answer to their rude requests. South.
DOGAL
Do"gal, a. Etym: [LL. dogalis for ducalis. See Doge.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a doge.[R.]
DOGATE
Do"gate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dogat, It. dogato. See Doge, and cf.
Dogeate.]
Defn: The office or dignity of a doge.
DOGBANE
Dog"bane`, n. Etym: [Said to be poisonous to dogs. Cf. Apocynaceous.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A small genus of perennial herbaceous plants, with poisonous
milky juice, bearing slender pods pods in pairs.
DOG BEE
Dog" bee`.
Defn: A male or drone bee. Halliwell.
DOGBERRY
Dog"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The berry of the dogwood; -- called also dogcherry. Dr. Prior.
Dogberry tree (Bot.), the dogwood.
DOGBOLT
Dog"bolt`, n. (Gun.)
Defn: The bolt of the cap-square over the trunnion of a cannon.
Knight.
DOG-BRIER
Dog"-bri`er, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The dog-rose.
DOGCART
Dog"cart`, n.
Defn: A light one-horse carriage, commonly two-wheeled, patterned
after a cart. The original dogcarts used in England by sportsmen had
a box at the back for carrying dogs.
DOG DAY; DOGDAY
Dog" day` or Dog"day`.
Defn: One of the dog days. Dogday cicada (Zoöl.), a large American
cicada (C. pruinosa), which trills loudly in midsummer.
DOG DAYS
Dog" days`.
Defn: A period of from four to six weeks, in the summer, variously
placed by almanac makers between the early part of July and the early
part of September; canicular days; -- so called in reference to the
rising in ancient times of the Dog Star (Sirius) with the sun.
Popularly, the sultry, close part of the summer.
Note: The conjunction of the rising of the Dog Star with the rising
of the sun was regarded by the ancients as one of the causes of the
sultry heat of summer, and of the maladies which then prevailed. But
as the conjunction does not occur at the same time in all latitudes,
and is not constant in the same region for a long period, there has
been much variation in calendars regarding the limits of the dog
days. The astronomer Roger Long states that in an ancient calendar in
Bede (died 735) the beginning of dog days is placed on the 14th of
July; that in a calendar prefixed to the Common Prayer, printed in
the time of Queen Elizabeth, they were said to begin on the 6th of
July and end on the 5th of September; that, from the Restoration
(1660) to the beginning of New Style (1752), British almanacs placed
the beginning on the 19th of July and the end on the 28th of August;
and that after 1752 the beginning was put on the 30th of July, the
end on the 7th of September. Some English calendars now put the
beginning on July 3d, and the ending on August 11th. A popular
American almanac of the present time (1890) places the beginning on
the 25th of July, and the end on the 5th of September.
DOGDRAW
Dog"draw`, n. (Eng. Forest Law)
Defn: The act of drawing after, or pursuing, deer with a dog. Cowell.
DOGE
Doge, n. Etym: [It doge, dogio, for duce, duca, fr. L. dux, ducis, a
leader, commander. See Duke.]
Defn: The chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa.
DOG-EARED
Dog"-eared`, a.
Defn: Having the corners of the leaves turned down and soiled by
careless or long-continued usage; -- said of a book.
Statute books before unopened, not dog-eared. Ld. Mansfield.
DOGEATE
Doge"ate, n.
Defn: Dogate. Wright.
DOGELESS
Doge"less, a.
Defn: Without a doge. Byron.
DOG-FACED
Dog"-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a face resembling that of a dog. Dog-faced baboon
(Zoöl.), any baboon of the genus Cynocephalus. See Drill.
DOG FANCIER
Dog" fan`cier.
Defn: One who has an unusual fancy for, or interest in, dogs; also,
one who deals in dogs.
DOGFISH
Dog"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
1. A small shark, of many species, of the genera Mustelus, Scyllium,
Spinax, etc.
Note: The European spotted dogfishes (Scyllium catudus, and S.
canicula) are very abundant; the American smooth, or blue dogfish is
Mustelus canis; the common picked, or horned dogfish (Squalus
acanthias) abundant on both sides of the Atlantic.
2. The bowfin (Amia calva). See Bowfin.
3. The burbot of Lake Erie.
DOG-FOX
Dog"-fox`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A male fox. See the Note under Dog, n.,
6. Sir W. Scott.
(b) The Arctic or blue fox; -- a name also applied to species of the
genus Cynalopex.
DOGGED
Dog"ged, a. Etym: [Fron. Dog.]
1. Sullen; morose. [Obs. or R.]
The sulky spite of a temper naturally dogged. Sir W. Scott.
2. Sullenly obstinate; obstinately determined or persistent; as,
dogged resolution; dogged work.
DOGGEDLY
Dog"ged*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dogged manner; sullenly; with obstinate resolution.
DOGGEDNESS
Dog"ged*ness, n.
1. Sullenness; moroseness. [R.]
2. Sullen or obstinate determination; grim resolution or persistence.
DOGGER
Dog"ger, n. Etym: [D., fr. dogger codfish, orig. used in the catching
of codfish.] (Naut.)
Defn: A two-masted fishing vessel, used by the Dutch.
DOGGER
Dog"ger, n.
Defn: A sort of stone, found in the mines with the true alum rock,
chiefly of silica and iron.
DOGGEREL
Dog"ger*el, a. Etym: [OE. dogerel.]
Defn: Low in style, and irregular in measure; as, doggerel rhymes.
This may well be rhyme doggerel, quod he. Chaucer.
DOGGEREL
Dog"ger*el, n.
Defn: A sort of loose or irregular verse; mean or undignified poetry.
Doggerel like that of Hudibras. Addison.
The ill-spelt lines of doggerel in which he expressed his reverence
for the brave sufferers. Macaulay.
DOGGERMAN
Dog"ger*man, n.
Defn: A sailor belonging to a dogger.
DOGGET
Dog"get, n.
Defn: Docket. See Docket. [Obs.]
DOGGISH
Dog"gish, a.
Defn: Like a dog; having the bad qualities of a dog; churlish;
growling; brutal.
-- Dog"*gish*ly, adv.
-- Dog"gish*ness, n.
DOGGREL
Dog"grel, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Doggerel.
DOG-HEADED
Dog"-head`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a head shaped like that of a dog; -- said of certain
baboons.
DOG-HEARTED
Dog"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Inhuman; cruel. Shak.
DOGHOLE
Dog"hole`, n.
Defn: A place fit only for dogs; a vile, mean habitation or
apartment. Dryden.
DOG-LEGGED
dog"-leg`ged, a. (Arch)
Defn: Noting a flight of stairs, consisting of two or more straight
portions connected by a platform (landing) or platforms, and running
in opposite directions without an intervening wellhole.
DOGMA
Dog"ma, n.; pl. E. Dogmas, L. Dogmata. Etym: [L. dogma, Gr. pl. , fr.
decet it is becoming. Cf. Decent.]
1. That which is held as an opinion; a tenet; a doctrine.
The obscure and loose dogmas of early antiquity. Whewell.
2. A formally stated and authoritatively settled doctrine; a
definite, established, and authoritative tenet.
3. A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or truth;
an arbitrary dictum.
Syn.
-- tenet; opinion; proposition; doctrine.
-- Dogma, Tenet. A tenet is that which is maintained as true with
great firmness; as, the tenets of our holy religion. A dogma is that
which is laid down with authority as indubitably true, especially a
religious doctrine; as, the dogmas of the church. A tenet rests on
its own intrinsic merits or demerits; a dogma rests on authority
regarded as competent to decide and determine. Dogma has in our
language acquired, to some extent, a repulsive sense, from its
carrying with it the idea of undue authority or assumption. this is
more fully the case with its derivatives dogmatical and dogmatism.
DOGMATIC
Dog*mat"ic, n.
Defn: One of an ancient sect of physicians who went by general
principles; -- opposed to the Empiric.
DOGMATIC; DOGMATICAL
Dog*mat"ic, Dog*mat`ic*al, a. Etym: [L. dogmaticus, Gr. dogmatique.]
1. Pertaining to a dogma, or to an established and authorized
doctrine or tenet.
2. Asserting a thing positively and authoritatively; positive;
magisterial; hence, arrogantly authoritative; overbearing.
Critics write in a positive, dogmatic way. Spectator.
[They] are as assertive and dogmatical as if they were omniscient.
Glanvill.
Dogmatic theology. Same as Dogmatics.
Syn.
-- Magisterial; arrogant. See Magisterial.
DOGMATICALLY
Dog*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dogmatic manner; positively; magisterially.
DOGMATICALNESS
Dog*mat"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dogmatical; positiveness.
DOGMATICIAN
Dog`ma*ti"cian, n.
Defn: A dogmatist.
DOGMATICS
Dog*mat"ics, n.
Defn: The science which treats of Christian doctrinal theology.
DOGMATISM
Dog"ma*tism, n.
Defn: The manner or character of a dogmatist; arrogance or
positiveness in stating opinion.
The self-importance of his demeanor, and the dogmatism of his
conversation. Sir W. Scott.
DOGMATIST
Dog"ma*tist, n. Etym: [L. dogmatistes, Gr.
Defn: One who dogmatizes; one who speaks dogmatically; a bold and
arrogant advancer of principles.
I expect but little success of all this upon the dogmatist; his
opinioned assurance is paramount to argument. Glanvill.
DOGMATIZE
Dog"ma*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dogmatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dogmatizing.] Etym: [L. dogmatizare to lay down an opinion, Gr.
dogmatiser. See Dogma.]
Defn: To assert positively; to teach magisterially or with bold and
undue confidence; to advance with arrogance.
The pride of dogmatizing schools. Blackmore.
DOGMATIZE
Dog"ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To deliver as a dogma. [R.]
DOGMATIZER
Dog"ma*ti`zer, n.
Defn: One who dogmatizes; a bold asserter; a magisterial teacher.
Hammond.
DOG-ROSE
Dog"-rose`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A common European wild rose, with single pink or white flowers.
DOG'S-BANE
Dog's"-bane`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Dogbane.
DOG'S-EAR
Dog's"-ear`, n.
Defn: The corner of a leaf, in a book, turned down like the ear of a
dog. Gray.
-- Dog's"-eared`, a. Cowper.
DOGSHIP
Dog"ship, n.
Defn: The character, or individuality, of a dog.
DOGSHORE
Dog"shore`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: One of several shores used to hold a ship firmly and prevent
her moving while the blocks are knocked away before launching.
DOGSICK
Dog"sick`, a.
Defn: Sick as a dog sometimes is very sick. [Colloq.]
DOGSKIN
Dog"skin, n.
Defn: The skin of a dog, or leather made of the skin. Also used
adjectively.
DOGSLEEP
Dog"sleep`, n.
1. Pretended sleep. Addison.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The fitful naps taken when all hands are kept up by stress.
DOG'S-TAIL GRASS
Dog's"-tail grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A hardy species of British grass (Cynosurus cristatus) which
abounds in grass lands, and is well suited for making straw plait; --
called also goldseed.
DOG STAR
Dog" Star`.
Defn: Sirius, a star of the constellation Canis Major, or the Greater
Dog, and the brightest star in the heavens; -- called also Canicula,
and, in astronomical charts, a Canis Majoris. See Dog days.
DOG'S-TONGUE
Dog's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Hound's-tongue.
DOGTIE
Dog"tie`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A cramp.
DOGTOOTH
Dog"tooth`, n.; pl. Dogteeth (.
1. See Canine tooth, under Canine.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament common in Gothic architecture, consisting of
pointed projections resembling teeth; -- also called tooth ornament.
Dogtooth spar (Min.), a variety of calcite, in acute crystals,
resembling the tooth of a dog. See Calcite.
-- Dogtooth violet (Bot.), a small, bulbous herb of the Lily family
(genus Erythronium). It has two shining flat leaves and commonly one
large flower. [Written also dog's-tooth violet.]
DOGTRICK
Dog"trick`, n.
Defn: A gentle trot, like that of a dog.
DOGVANE
Dog"vane`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A small vane of bunting, feathers, or any other light material,
carried at the masthead to indicate the direction of the wind.
Totten.
DOGWATCH
Dog"watch`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A half watch; a watch of two hours, of which there are two, the
first dogwatch from 4 to 6 o'clock, p.m., and the second dogwatch
from 6 to 8 o'clock, P. M. Totten.
DOG-WEARY
Dog"-wea`ry, a.
Defn: Extremely weary. Shak.
DOGWOOD
Dog"wood`, n. Etym: [So named from skewers (dags) being made of it.
Dr. Prior. See Dag, and Dagger.] (Bot.)
Defn: The Cornus, a genus of large shrubs or small trees, the wood of
which is exceedingly hard, and serviceable for many purposes.
Note: There are several species, one of which, Cornus mascula, called
also cornelian cherry, bears a red acid berry. C. florida is the
flowering dogwood, a small American tree with very showy blossoms.
Dogwood tree. (a) The dogwood or Cornus. (b) A papilionaceous tree
(Piscidia erythring) growing in Jamaica. It has narcotic properties;
-- called also Jamaica dogwood.
DOHTREN
Doh"tren, n. pl.
Defn: Daughters. [Obs.]
DOILY
Doi"ly, n. Etym: [So called from the name of the dealer.]
1. A kind of woolen stuff. [Obs.] "Some doily petticoats." Dryden.
A fool and a doily stuff, would now and then find days of grace, and
be worn for variety. Congreve.
2. A small napkin, used at table with the fruit, etc.; -- commonly
colored and fringed.
DOING
Do"ing, n.; pl. Doings (.
Defn: Anything done; a deed; an action good or bad; hence, in the
plural, conduct; behavior. See Do.
To render an account of his doings. Barrow.
DOIT
Doit, n. Etym: [D. duit, Icel. pveit, prop., a piece cut off. See
Thwaite a piece of ground, Thwite.]
1. A small Dutch coin, worth about half a farthing; also, a similar
small coin once used in Scotland; hence, any small piece of money.
Shak.
2. A thing of small value; as, I care not a doit.
DOITKIN
Doit"kin, n.
Defn: A very small coin; a doit.
DOKIMASTIC
Dok`i*mas"tic, a.
Defn: Docimastic.
DOKO
Do"ko, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Lepidosiren.
DOLABRA
Do*la"bra, n. Etym: [L., fr. dolare to hew.]
Defn: A rude ancient ax or hatchet, seen in museums.
DOLABRIFORM
Do*lab"ri*form, a. Etym: [L. dolabra a mattock + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like the head of an ax or hatchet, as some leaves, and
also certain organs of some shellfish.
DOLCE; DOLCEMENTE
Dol"ce, Dol`ce*men"te, adv. Etym: [It., fr. L. dulcis sweet, soft.]
(Mus.)
Defn: Softly; sweetly; with soft, smooth, and delicate execution.
DOLCINO; DULCINO
Dol*ci"no, or Dul*ci"no (, n. Etym: [Cf. It. dolcigno sweetish.]
(Mus.)
Defn: A small bassoon, formerly much used. Simmonds.
DOLDRUMS
Dol"drums, n. pl. Etym: [Cf. Gael. doltrum grief, vexation]
Defn: A part of the ocean near the equator, abounding in calms,
squalls, and light, baffling winds, which sometimes prevent all
progress for weeks; -- so called by sailors. To be in the doldrums,
to be in a state of listlessness ennui, or tedium.
DOLE
Dole, n. Etym: [OE. deol, doel, dol, OF. doel, fr. doloir to suffer,
fr. L. dolere; perh. akin to dolare to hew.]
Defn: grief; sorrow; lamentation. [Archaic]
And she died. So that day there was dole in Astolat. Tennyson.
DOLE
Dole, n. Etym: [L. dolus: cf. F. dol.] (Scots Law)
Defn: See Dolus.
DOLE
Dole, n. Etym: [AS. dal portion; same word as d. See Deal.]
1. Distribution; dealing; apportionment.
At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. Cleveland.
2. That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty
share or allowance.
3. Alms; charitable gratuity or portion.
So sure the dole, so ready at their call, They stood prepared to see
the manna fall. Dryden.
Heaven has in store a precious dole. Keble.
4. A boundary; a landmark. Halliwell.
5. A void space left in tillage. [Prov. Eng.] Dole beer, beer
bestowed as alms. [Obs.] -- Dole bread, bread bestowed as alms.
[Obs.] -- Dole meadow, a meadow in which several persons have a
common right or share.
DOLE
Dole, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doled; p. pr. & vb. n. Doling.]
Defn: To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to
deal out scantily or grudgingly.
The supercilious condescension with which even his reputed friends
doled out their praises to him. De Quincey.
DOLEFUL
Dole"ful, a.
Defn: Full of dole or grief; expressing or exciting sorrow;
sorrowful; sad; dismal.
With screwed face and doleful whine. South.
Regions of sorrow, doleful shades. Milton.
Syn.
-- Piteous; rueful; sorrowful; woeful; melancholy; sad gloomy;
dismal; dolorous; woe-begone. - Dole"ful*ly, adv.
-- Dole"ful*ness, n.
DOLENT
Do"lent, a. Etym: [L. dolens, p. pr. of dolere: cf. F. dolent. See
Dole sorrow.]
Defn: Sorrowful. [Obs.] Ford.
DOLENTE
Do*len"te, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Plaintively. See Doloroso.
DOLERITE
Dol"er*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Geol. & Min.)
Defn: A dark-colored, basic, igneous rock, composed essentially of
pyroxene and a triclinic feldspar with magnetic iron. By many authors
it is considered equivalent to a coarse-grained basalt.
DOLERITIC
Dol`er*it"ic, a.
Defn: Of the nature of dolerite; as, much lava is doleritic lava.
Dana.
DOLESOME
Dole"some, a.
Defn: Doleful; dismal; gloomy; sorrowful.
-- Dole"some*ly, adv.
-- Dole"some*ness, n.
DOLF
Dolf, imp.
Defn: of Delve. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOLICHOCEPHALIC; DOLICHOCEPHALOUS
Dol`i*cho*ce*phal"ic, Dol`i*cho*ceph"a*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Having the cranium, or skull, long to its breadth; long-headed;
-- opposed to brachycephalic.
-- Dol`i*cho*ceph"al, a. & n.
DOLICHOCEPHALY; DOLICHOCEPHALISM
Dol`i*cho*ceph"a*ly, Dol`i*cho*ceph"a*lism, n. Etym: [Cf. F.
dolichcéphalie.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being dolichocephalic.
DOLIOFORM
Do"li*o*form, a. Etym: [L. dolium large jar + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Barrel-shaped, or like a cask in form.
DOLIOLUM
Do*li"o*lum, n. Etym: [L. doliolum a small cask.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of freeswimming oceanic tunicates, allied to Salpa, and
having alternate generations.
DO-LITTLE
Do"-lit`tle, n.
Defn: One who performs little though professing much. [Colloq.]
Great talkers are commonly dolittles. Bp. Richardson.
DOLIUM
Do"li*um, n. Etym: [L. large jar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of large univalve mollusks, including the partridge
shell and tun shells.
DOLL
Doll, n. Etym: [A contraction of Dorothy; or less prob. an
abbreviation of idol; or cf. OD. dol a whipping top, D. dollen to
rave, and E. dull.]
Defn: A child's puppet; a toy baby for a little girl.
DOLLAR
Dol"lar, n. Etym: [D. daalder, LG. dahler, G. thaler, an abbreviation
of Joachimsthaler, i. e., a piece of money first coined, about the
year 1518, in the valley (G. thal) of St. Joachim, in Bohemia. See
Dale.]
1.
(a) A silver coin of the United States containing 371.25 grains of
silver and 41.25 grains of alloy, that is, having a total weight of
412.5 grains.
(b) A gold coin of the United States containing 23.22 grains of gold
and 2.58 grains of alloy, that is, having a total weight of 25.8
grains, nine-tenths fine. It is no longer coined.
Note: Previous to 1837 the silver dollar had a larger amount of
alloy, but only the same amount of silver as now, the total weight
being 416 grains. The gold dollar as a distinct coin was first made
in 1849. The eagles, half eagles, and quarter eagles coined before
1834 contained 24.75 grains of gold and 2.25 grains of alloy for each
dollar.
2. A coin of the same general weight and value, though differing
slightly in different countries, current in Mexico, Canada, parts of
South America, also in Spain, and several other European countries.
3. The value of a dollar; the unit commonly employed in the United
States in reckoning money values. Chop dollar. See under 9th Chop.
-- Dollar fish (Zoöl.), a fish of the United States coast
(Stromateus triacanthus), having a flat, roundish form and a bright
silvery luster; -- called also butterfish, and Lafayette. See
Butterfish.
-- Trade dollar, a silver coin formerly made at the United States
mint, intended for export, and not legal tender at home. It contained
378 grains of silver and 42 grains of alloy.
DOLLARDEE
Dol`lar*dee", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of sunfish (Lepomis pallidus), common in the United
States; -- called also blue sunfish, and copper-nosed bream.
DOLLMAN
Doll"man, n.
Defn: See Dolman.
DOLLY
Dol"ly, n.; pl. Dollies (.
1. (Mining)
Defn: A contrivance, turning on a vertical axis by a handle or winch,
and giving a circular motion to the ore to be washed; a stirrer.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A tool with an indented head for shaping the head of a rivet.
Knight.
3. In pile driving, a block interposed between the head of the pile
and the ram of the driver.
4. A small truck with a single wide roller used for moving heavy
beams, columns, etc., in bridge building.
5. A compact, narrow-gauge locomotive used for moving construction
trains, switching, etc.
DOLLY
Dol"ly, n.
Defn: A child's mane for a doll. Dolly shop, a shop where rags, old
junk, etc., are bought and sold; usually, in fact, an unlicensed
pawnbroker's shop, formerly distinguished by the sign of a black
doll. [England]
DOLLY VARDEN
Dol"ly Var"den.
1. A character in Dickens's novel "Barnaby Rudge," a beautiful,
lively, and coquettish girl who wore a cherry-colored mantle and
cherry-colored ribbons.
2. A style of light, bright-figured dress goods for women; also, a
style of dress. Dolly Varden trout (Zoöl.), a trout of northwest
America; -- called also bull trout, malma, and red-spotted trout. See
Malma.
DOLMAN
Dol"man, n. Etym: [Turk. d: cf. F. doliman.]
1. A long robe or outer garment, with long sleeves, worn by the
Turks. [Written also doliman.]
2. A cloak of a peculiar fashion worn by women.
DOLMEN
Dol"men, n. Etym: [Armor. taol, tol, table + mean, maen, men, stone:
cf. F. dolmen.]
Defn: A cromlech. See Cromlech. [Written also tolmen.]
DOLOMITE
Dol"o*mite, n. Etym: [After the French geologist Dolomieu.] (Geol. &
Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting of the carbonate of lime and magnesia in
varying proportions. It occurs in distinct crystals, and in extensive
beds as a compact limestone, often crystalline granular, either white
or clouded. It includes much of the common white marble. Also called
bitter spar.
DOLOMITIC
Dol`o*mit"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to dolomite.
DOLOMIZE
Dol"o*mize, v. t.
Defn: To convert into dolomite.
-- Dol`o*mi*za"tion, n.
DOLOR
Do"lor, n. Etym: [OE. dolor, dolur, dolour, F. douleur, L. dolor, fr.
dolere. See 1st Dole.]
Defn: Pain; grief; distress; anguish. [Written also dolour.] [Poetic]
Of death and dolor telling sad tidings. Spenser.
DOLORIFEROUS
Dol`or*if"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. dolor pain + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing pain. Whitaker.
DOLORIFIC; DOLORIFICAL
Dol`or*if"ic, Dol`or*if"ic*al, a. Etym: [LL. dolorificus; L. dolor
pain + facere to make.]
Defn: Causing pain or grief. Arbuthnot.
DOLOROSO
Do`lo*ro"so, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: Plaintive; pathetic; -- used adverbially as a musical
direction.
DOLOROUS
Dol"or*ous, a. Etym: [L. dolorosus, from dolor: cf. F. douloureux.
See Dolor.]
1. Full of grief; sad; sorrowful; doleful; dismal; as, a dolorous
object; dolorous discourses.
You take me in too dolorous a sense; I spake to you for your comfort.
Shak.
2. Occasioning pain or grief; painful.
Their dispatch is quick, and less dolorous than the paw of the bear
or teeth of the lion. Dr. H. More.
-- Dol"or*ous*ly, adv.
-- Dol"or*ous*ness, n.
DOLPHIN
Dol"phin, n. Etym: [F. dauphin dolphin, dauphin, earlier spelt also
doffin; cf. OF. dalphinal of the dauphin; fr. L. delphinus, Gr.
garbha; perh. akin to E. calf. Cf. Dauphin, Delphine.]
1. (Zool.)
(a) A cetacean of the genus Delphinus and allied genera (esp. D.
delphis); the true dolphin.
(b) The Coryphæna hippuris, a fish of about five feet in length,
celebrated for its surprising changes of color when dying. It is the
fish commonly known as the dolphin. See Coryphænoid.
Note: The dolphin of the ancients (D. delphis) is common in the
Mediterranean and Atlantic, and attains a length of from six to eight
feet.
2. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A mass of iron or lead hung from the yardarm, in readiness to
be dropped on the deck of an enemy's vessel.
3. (Naut.)
(a) A kind of wreath or strap of plaited cordage.
(b) A spar or buoy held by an anchor and furnished with a ring to
which ships may fasten their cables. R. H. Dana.
(c) A mooring post on a wharf or beach.
(d) A permanent fender around a heavy boat just below the gunwale.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
4. (Gun.)
Defn: In old ordnance, one of the handles above the trunnions by
which the gun was lifted.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: A small constellation between Aquila and Pegasus. See
Delphinus, n.,
2. Dolphin fly (Zoöl.), the black, bean, or collier, Aphis (Aphis
fable), destructive to beans.
-- Dolphin striker (Naut.), a short vertical spar under the
bowsprit.
DOLPHINET
Dol"phin*et, n.
Defn: A female dolphin. [R.] Spenser.
DOLT
Dolt, n. Etym: [OE. dulte, prop. p. p. of dullen to dull. See Dull.]
Defn: A heavy, stupid fellow; a blockhead; a numskull; an ignoramus;
a dunce; a dullard.
This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt. Drayton.
DOLT
Dolt, v. i.
Defn: To behave foolishly. [Obs.]
DOLTISH
Dolt"ish, a.
Defn: Doltlike; dull in intellect; stupid; blockish; as, a doltish
clown.
-- Dolt"ish*ly, adv.
-- Dolt"ish*ness, n.
DOLUS
Do"lus, n. Etym: [L., deceit; akin to Gr. (Law)
Defn: Evil intent, embracing both malice and fraud. See Culpa.
Wharton.
DOLVEN
Dolv"en, p. p.
Defn: of Delve. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
-DOM
-dom (.
Defn: A suffix denoting:
(a) Jurisdiction or property and jurisdiction, dominion, as in
kingdom earldom.
(b) State, condition, or quality of being, as in wisdom, freedom.
Note: It is from the same root as doom meaning authority and
judgment. . See Doom.
DOM
Dom, n. Etym: [Pg. See Don.]
1. A title anciently given to the pope, and later to other church
dignitaries and some monastic orders. See Don, and Dan.
2. In Portugal and Brazil, the title given to a member of the higher
classes.
DOMABLE
Dom"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. domabilis, fr. domare to tame.]
Defn: Capable of being tamed; tamable.
DOMABLENESS
Dom"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Tamableness.
DOMAGE
Dom"age, n. Etym: [See Damage.]
1. Damage; hurt. [Obs.] Chapman.
2. Subjugation. [Obs.] Hobbes.
DOMAIN
Do*main", n. Etym: [F. domaine, OF. demaine, L. dominium, property,
right of ownership, fr. dominus master, owner. See Dame, and cf
Demesne, Dungeon.]
1. Dominion; empire; authority.
2. The territory over which dominion or authority is exerted; the
possessions of a sovereign or commonwealth, or the like. Also used
figuratively.
The domain of authentic history. E. Everett.
The domain over which the poetic spirit ranges. J. C. Shairp.
3. Landed property; estate; especially, the land about the mansion
house of a lord, and in his immediate occupancy; demesne. Shenstone.
4. (Law)
Defn: Ownership of land; an estate or patrimony which one has in his
own right; absolute proprietorship; paramount or sovereign ownership.
Public domain, the territory belonging to a State or to the general
government; public lands. [U.S.]in the public domain may be used by
anyone wihout restriction.
-- Right of eminent domain, that superior dominion of the sovereign
power over all the property within the state, including that
previously granted by itself, which authorizes it to appropriate any
part thereof to a necessary public use, reasonable compensation being
made.
DOMAL
Do"mal, a. Etym: [L. domus house.] (Astrol.)
Defn: Pertaining to a house. Addison.
DOMANIAL
Do*ma"ni*al, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a domain or to domains.
DOME
Dome, n. Etym: [F. dôme, It. duomo, fr. L. domus a house, domus Dei
or Domini, house of the Lord, house of God; akin to Gr. timber. See
Timber.]
1. A building; a house; an edifice; -- used chiefly in poetry.
Approach the dome, the social banquet share. Pope.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A cupola formed on a large scale.
Note: "The Italians apply the term il duomo to the principal church
of a city, and the Germans call every cathedral church Dom; and it is
supposed that the word in its present English sense has crept into
use from the circumstance of such buildings being frequently
surmounted by a cupola." Am. Cyc.
3. Any erection resembling the dome or cupola of a building; as the
upper part of a furnace, the vertical steam chamber on the top of a
boiler, etc.
4. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A prism formed by planes parallel to a lateral axis which meet
above in a horizontal edge, like the roof of a house; also, one of
the planes of such a form.
Note: If the plane is parallel to the longer diagonal (macrodiagonal)
of the prism, it is called a macrodome; if parallel to the shorter
(brachydiagonal), it is a brachydome; if parallel to the inclined
diagonal in a monoclinic crystal, it is called a clinodome; if
parallel to the orthodiagonal axis, an orthodome. Dana.
DOME
Dome, n. Etym: [See Doom.]
Defn: Decision; judgment; opinion; a court decision. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOMEBOOK
Dome"book`, n. Etym: [Dome doom + book.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A book said to have been compiled under the direction of King
Alfred. It is supposed to have contained the principal maxims of the
common law, the penalties for misdemeanors, and the forms of judicial
proceedings. Domebook was probably a general name for book of
judgments. Burrill.
DOMED
Domed, a.
Defn: Furnished with a dome; shaped like a dome.
DOMESDAY
Domes"day`, n.
Defn: A day of judgment. See Doomsday. [Obs.] Domesday Book, the
ancient record of the survey of most of the lands of England, made by
order of William the Conqueror, about 1086. It consists of two
volumes, a large folio and a quarto, and gives the proprietors'
tenures, arable land, woodland, etc. [Written also Doomsday Book.]
DOMESMAN
Domes"man, n.; pl. Domesmen. Etym: [See Doom.]
Defn: A judge; an umpire. [Obs.]
DOMESTIC
Do*mes"tic, a. Etym: [L. domesticus, fr. domus use: cf. F.
domestique. See 1st Dome.]
1. Of or pertaining to one's house or home, or one's household or
family; relating to home life; as, domestic concerns, life, duties,
cares, happiness, worship, servants.
His fortitude is the more extraordinary, because his domestic
feelings were unusually strong. Macaulay.
4. Of or pertaining to a nation considered as a family or home, or to
one's own country; intestine; not foreign; as, foreign wars and
domestic dissensions. Shak.
3. Remaining much at home; devoted to home duties or pleasures; as, a
domestic man or woman.
4. Living in or near the habitations of man; domesticated; tame as
distinguished from wild; as, domestic animals.
5. Made in one's own house, nation, or country; as, domestic
manufactures, wines, etc.
DOMESTIC
Do*mes"tic, n.
1. One who lives in the family of an other, as hired household
assistant; a house servant.
The master labors and leads an anxious life, to secure plenty and
ease to the domestic. V. Knox.
2. pl. (Com.)
Defn: Articles of home manufacture, especially cotton goods. [U. S.]
DOMESTICAL
Do*mes"tic*al, a.
Defn: Domestic. [Obs.]
Our private and domestical matter. Sir. P. Sidney.
DOMESTICAL
Do*mes"tic*al, n.
Defn: A family; a household. [Obs.]
DOMESTICALLY
Do*mes"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a domestic manner; privately; with reference to domestic
affairs.
DOMESTICANT
Do*mes"ti*cant, a.
Defn: Forming part of the same family. [Obs.] Sir E. Dering.
DOMESTICATE
Do*mes"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Domesticated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Domesticating.] Etym: [LL. domesticatus, p. p. of domesticare to
reside in, to tame. See Domestic, a.]
1. To make domestic; to habituate to home life; as, to domesticate
one's self.
2. To cause to be, as it were, of one's family or country; as, to
domesticate a foreign custom or word.
3. To tame or reclaim from a wild state; as, to domesticate wild
animals; to domesticate a plant.
DOMESTICATION
Do*mes`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. domestication.]
Defn: The act of domesticating, or accustoming to home; the action of
taming wild animals.
DOMESTICATOR
Do*mes"ti*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who domesticates.
DOMESTICITY
Do`mes*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [LL. domesticitas: cf. F. domesticité.]
Defn: The state of being domestic; domestic character; household
life.
DOMETT
Dom"ett, n.
Defn: A kind of baize of which the ward is cotton and the weft
woolen. Blakely.
DOMEYKITE
Do"mey*kite, n. Etym: [Named after Domeyko, a mineralogist of Chili.]
(Min.)
Defn: A massive mineral of tin-white or steel-gray color, an arsenide
of copper.
DOMICAL
Dom"i*cal, a.
Defn: Relating to, or shaped like, a dome.
DOMICILE
Dom"i*cile, n. Etym: [L. domicilium; domus house + (prob.) root of
celare to conceal: cf. F. domicile. See Dome, and Conceal.]
1. An abode or mansion; a place of permanent residence, either of an
individual or a family.
2. (Law)
Defn: A residence at a particular place accompanied with an intention
to remain there for an unlimited time; a residence accepted as a
final abode. Wharton.
DOMICILE
Dom"i*cile, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Domiciled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Domiciling.] Etym: [Cf. F. domicilier. Cf. Domiciliate.]
Defn: To establish in a fixed residence, or a residence that
constitutes habitancy; to domiciliate. Kent.
DOMICILIAR
Dom`i*cil"i*ar, n.
Defn: A member of a household; a domestic.
DOMICILIARY
Dom`i*cil"i*a*ry, a. Etym: [LL. domiciliarius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a domicile, or the residence of a person or
family.
The personal and domiciliary rights of the citizen scrupulously
guarded. Motley.
Domiciliary visit (Law), a visit to a private dwelling, particularly
for searching it, under authority.
DOMICILIATE
Dom`i*cil"i*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Domiciliated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Domiciliating.] Etym: [See Domicile.]
1. To establish in a permanent residence; to domicile.
2. To domesticate. Pownall.
DOMICILIATION
Dom`i*cil`i*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of domiciliating; permanent residence; inhabitancy.
Milman.
DOMICULTURE
Dom"i*cul`ture, n. Etym: [L. domus house + E. culture. See 1st Dome.]
Defn: The art of house-keeping, cookery, etc. [R.] R. Park.
DOMIFY
Dom"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [L. domus + -fy: cf. F. domifier.]
1. (Astrol.)
Defn: To divide, as the heavens, into twelve houses. See House, in
astrological sense. [Obs.]
2. To tame; to domesticate. [Obs.] Johnson.
DOMINA
Dom"i*na, n. Etym: [L., lady. See Dame.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Lady; a lady; -- a title formerly given to noble ladies who
held a barony in their own right. Burrill.
DOMINANCE; DOMINANCY
Dom"i*nance, Dom"i*nan*cy, n.
Defn: Predominance; ascendency; authority.
DOMINANT
Dom"i*nant, a. Etym: [L. dominans, -antis, p. pr. of dominari: cf. F.
dominant. See Dominate.]
Defn: Ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling; predominant; as,
the dominant party, church, spirit, power.
The member of a dominant race is, in his dealings with the subject
race, seldom indeed fraudulent, . . . but imperious, insolent, and
cruel. Macaulay.
Dominant estate or tenement (Law), the estate to which a servitude or
easement is due from another estate, the estate over which the
servitude extends being called the servient estate or tenement.
Bouvier. Wharton's Law Dict.
-- Dominant owner (Law), one who owns lands on which there is an
easement owned by another.
Syn.
-- Governing; ruling; controlling; prevailing; predominant;
ascendant.
DOMINANT
Dom"i*nant, n. (Mus.)
Defn: The fifth tone of the scale; thus G is the dominant of C, A of
D, and so on. Dominant chord (Mus.), the chord based upon the
dominant.
DOMINATE
Dom"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dominated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dominating.] Etym: [L. dominatus, p. p. of dominari to dominate, fr.
dominus master, lord. See Dame, and cf. Domineer.]
Defn: To predominate over; to rule; to govern. "A city dominated by
the ax." Dickens.
We everywhere meet with Slavonian nations either dominant or
dominated. W. Tooke.
DOMINATE
Dom"i*nate, v. i.
Defn: To be dominant. Hallam.
DOMINATION
Dom`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [F. domination, L. dominatio.]
1. The act of dominating; exercise of power in ruling; dominion;
supremacy; authority; often, arbitrary or insolent sway.
In such a people, the haugtiness of domination combines with the
spirit of freedom. Burke.
2. A ruling party; a party in power. [R.] Burke.
3. pl.
Defn: A high order of angels in the celestial hierarchy; -- a meaning
given by the schoolmen.
Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers. Milton.
DOMINATIVE
Dom"i*na*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dominatif.]
Defn: Governing; ruling; imperious. Sir E. Sandys.
DOMINATOR
Dom"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A ruler or ruling power. "Sole dominator of Navarre." Shak.
Jupiter and Mars are dominators for this northwest part of the world.
Camden.
DOMINE
Dom"i*ne, n. Etym: [See Dominie.]
1. A name given to a pastor of the Reformed Church. The word is also
applied locally in the United States, in colloquial speech, to any
clergyman.
2. Etym: [From Sp. domine a schoolmaster.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A West Indian fish (Epinula magistralis), of the family
Trichiuridæ. It is a long-bodied, voracious fish.
DOMINEER
Dom`i*neer", v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Domineered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Domineering.] Etym: [F. dominer, L. dominari: cf. OD. domineren to
feast luxuriously. See Dominate, v. t.]
Defn: To rule with insolence or arbitrary sway; to play the master;
to be overbearing; to tyrannize; to bluster; to swell with conscious
superiority or haughtiness; -- often with over; as, to domineer over
dependents.
Go to the feast, revel and domineer. Shak.
His wishes tend abroad to roam, And hers to domineer at home. Prior.
DOMINEERING
Dom`i*neer"ing, a.
Defn: Ruling arrogantly; overbearing.
A violent, brutal, domineering old reprobate. Blackw. Mag.
Syn.
-- Haughty; overbearing; lordly. See Imperious.
-- Dom`i*neer"ing*ly, adv.
DOMINICAL
Do*min"ic*al, a. Etym: [LL. dominicalis, for L. dominicus belonging
to a master or lord (dominica dies the Lord's day), fr. dominus
master or lord: cf. F. dominical. See Dame.]
1. Indicating, or pertaining to, the Lord's day, or Sunday.
2. Relating to, or given by, our Lord; as, the dominical (or Lord's)
prayer. Howell.
Some words altered in the dominical Gospels. Fuller.
Dominical altar (Eccl.), the high altar.
-- Dominical letter, the letter which, in almanacs, denotes Sunday,
or the Lord's day (dies Domini). The first seven letters of the
alphabet are used for this purpose, the same letter standing for
Sunday during a whole year (except in leap year, when the letter is
changed at the end of February). After twenty-eight years the same
letters return in the same order. The dominical letters go backwards
one day every common year, and two every leap year; e. g., if the
dominical letter of a common year be G, F will be the dominical
letter for the next year. Called also Sunday letter. Cf. Solar cycle,
under Cycle, n.
DOMINICAL
Do*min"ic*al, n.
Defn: The Lord's day or Sunday; also, the Lord's prayer. [Obs.]
DOMINICAN
Do*min"i*can, a. Etym: [NL. Dominicanus, fr. Dominicus, Dominic, the
founder: cf. F. Dominicain.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to St. Dominic (Dominic de Guzman), or to the
religions communities named from him. Dominican nuns, an order of
nuns founded by St. Dominic, and chiefly employed in teaching.
-- Dominican tertiaries (the third order of St. Dominic). See
Tertiary.
DOMINICAN
Do*min"i*can, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of an order of mendicant monks founded by Dominic de
Guzman, in 1215. A province of the order was established in England
in 1221. The first foundation in the United States was made in 1807.
The Master of the Sacred Palace at Rome is always a Dominican friar.
The Dominicans are called also preaching friars, friars preachers,
black friars (from their black cloak), brothers of St. Mary, and in
France, Jacobins.
DOMINICIDE
Do*min"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. dominus master + caedere to cut down,
kill.]
1. The act of killing a master.
2. One who kills his master.
DOMINIE
Dom"i*nie, n. Etym: [L. dominus master. See Don, Dame.]
1. A schoolmaster; a pedagogue. [Scot.]
This was Abel Sampson, commonly called, from occupation as a
pedagogue, Dominie Sampson. Sir W. Scott.
2. A clergyman. See Domine, 1. [Scot. & Colloq. U. S.]
DOMINION
Do*min"ion, n. Etym: [LL. dominio, equiv. to L. dominium. See Domain,
Dungeon.]
1. Sovereign or supreme authority; the power of governing and
controlling; independent right of possession, use, and control;
sovereignty; supremacy.
I praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an
everlasting dominion. Dan. iv. 34.
To choose between dominion or slavery. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
2. Superior prominence; predominance; ascendency.
Objects placed foremost ought . . . have dominion over things
confused and transient. Dryden.
3. That which is governed; territory over which authority is
exercised; the tract, district, or county, considered as subject; as,
the dominions of a king. Also used figuratively; as, the dominion of
the passions.
4. pl.
Defn: A supposed high order of angels; dominations. See Domination,
3. Milton.
By him were all things created . . . whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers. Col. i. 16.
Syn.
-- Sovereignty; control; rule; authority; jurisdiction; government;
territory; district; region.
DOMINION DAY
Do*min"ion Day.
Defn: In Canada, a legal holiday, July lst, being the anniversary of
the proclamation of the formation of the Dominion in 1867.
DOMINO
Dom"i*no, n.; pl. Dominos or (esp. the pieces for a game) Dominoes.
Etym: [F. domino, or It. dominò, or Sp. dominó, fr. L. dominus
master. The domino was orig. a hood worn by the canons of a
cathedral. See Don, Dame.]
1. A kind of hood worn by the canons of a cathedral church; a sort of
amice. Kersey.
2. A mourning veil formerly worn by women.
3. A kind of mask; particularly, a half mask worn at masquerades, to
conceal the upper part of the face. Dominos were formerly worn by
ladies in traveling.
4. A costume worn as a disguise at masquerades, consisting of a robe
with a hood adjustable at pleasure.
5. A person wearing a domino.
6. pl.
Defn: A game played by two or more persons, with twenty-eight pieces
of wood, bone, or ivory, of a flat, oblong shape, plain at the back,
but on the face divided by a line in the middle, and either left
blank or variously dotted after the manner of dice. The game is
played by matching the spots or the blank of an unmatched half of a
domino already played Hoyle.
7. One of the pieces with which the game of dominoes is played.
Hoyle. fall like dominoes. To fall sequentially, as when one object
in a line, by falling against the next object, causes it in turn to
fall, and that second object causes a third to fall, etc.; the
process can be repeated an indefinite number of times. Derived from
an entertainment using dominoes arranged in a row, each standing on
edge and therefore easily knocked over; when the first is made to
fall against the next, it starts a sequence which ends when all have
fallen. For amusement, people have arranged such sequences involving
thousands of dominoes, arrayed in fanciful patterns. Domino theory. A
political theory current in the 1960's, according to which the
conversion of one country in South Asia to communism will start a
sequential process causing all Asian countries to convert to
Communism. The apparent assumption was that an Asian country with a
Western orientation was as politically unstable as a domino standing
on edge. Used by some as a justification for American involvement in
the Vietnam war, 1964-1972.
DOMINO WHIST
Dom"i*no whist.
Defn: A game of cards in which the suits are played in sequence,
beginning with a 5 or 9, the player who gets rid of his cards first
being the winner.
DOMINUS
Dom"i*nus, n.; pl. Domini. Etym: [L., master. See Dame.]
Defn: Master; sir; -- a title of respect formerly applied to a knight
or a clergyman, and sometimes to the lord of a manor. Cowell.
DOMITABLE
Dom"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. domitare to tame, fr. domare.]
Defn: That can be tamed. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DOMITE
Do"mite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A grayish variety of trachyte; -- so called from the Puy-de-
Dôme in Auvergne, France, where it is found.
DON
Don, n. Etym: [Sp. don; akin to Pg. dom, It. donno; fr. L. dominus
master. See Dame, and cf. Domine, Dominie, Domino, Dan, Dom.]
1. Sir; Mr; Signior; -- a title in Spain, formerly given to noblemen
and gentlemen only, but now common to all classes.
Don is used in Italy, though not so much as in Spain France talks of
Dom Calmet, England of Dom Calmet, England of Dan Lydgate. Oliphant.
2. A grand personage, or one making pretension to consequence;
especially, the head of a college, or one of the fellows at the
English universities. [Univ. Cant] "The great dons of wit." Dryden.
DON
Don, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Donned; p. pr. & vb. n. Donning.] Etym: [Do
+ on; -- opposed to doff. See Do, v. t., 7.]
Defn: To put on; to dress in; to invest one's self with.
Should I don this robe and trouble you. Shak.
At night, or in the rain, He dons a surcoat which he doffs at morn.
Emerson.
DONA; DONYA
Do"ña, n. Etym: [Sp. doña. See Duenna.]
Defn: Lady; mistress; madam; -- a title of respect used in Spain,
prefixed to the Christian name of a lady.
DONABLE
Do"na*ble, a. Etym: [L. donabilis, fr. donare to donate.]
Defn: Capable of being donated or given. [R.]
DONARY
Do"na*ry, n. Etym: [L. donarium, fr. donare.]
Defn: A thing given to a sacred use. [R.] Burton.
DONAT
Don"at, n. Etym: [From Donatus, a famous grammarian.]
Defn: A grammar. [Obs.] [Written also donet.]
DONATARY
Don"a*ta*ry, n.
Defn: See Donatory.
DONATE
Do"nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Donated; p. pr. & vb. n. Donating.]
Etym: [L. donatus, p. p. of donare to donate, fr. donum gift, fr.
dare to give. See 2d Date.]
Defn: To give; to bestow; to present; as, to donate fifty thousand
dollars to a college.
DONATION
Do*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. donatio; cf. F. donation.]
1. The act of giving or bestowing; a grant.
After donation there an absolute change and alienation of the
property of the thing given. South.
2. That which is given as a present; that which is transferred to
another gratuitously; a gift.
And some donation freely to estate On the bless'd lovers. Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: The act or contract by which a person voluntarily transfers the
title to a thing of which be is the owner, from himself to another,
without any consideration, as a free gift. Bouvier. Donation party, a
party assembled at the house of some one, as of a clergyman, each one
bringing some present. [U.S.] Bartlett.
Syn.
-- Gift; present; benefaction; grant. See Gift.
DONATISM
Don"a*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. Donatisme.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The tenets of the Donatists.
DONATIST
Don"a*tist, n. Etym: [LL. Donatista: cf. F. Donatiste.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Donatus, the leader of a body of North African
schismatics and purists, who greatly disturbed the church in the 4th
century. They claimed to be the true church.
DONATISTIC
Don`a*tis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Donatism.
DONATIVE
Don"a*tive, n. Etym: [L. donativum, fr. donare: cf. F. donatif. See
Donate.]
1. A gift; a largess; a gratuity; a present. "The Romans were
entertained with shows and donatives." Dryden.
2. (Eccl. Law)
Defn: A benefice conferred on a person by the founder or patron,
without either presentation or institution by the ordinary, or
induction by his orders. See the Note under Benefice, n.,
3.
DONATIVE
Don"a*tive, a.
Defn: Vested or vesting by donation; as, a donative advowson.
Blackstone.
DONATOR
Do*na"tor, n. Etym: [L. Cf. Donor.] (Law)
Defn: One who makes a gift; a donor; a giver.
DONATORY
Don"a*to*ry, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A donee of the crown; one the whom, upon certain condition,
escheated property is made over.
DO-NAUGHT
Do"-naught`, n. Etym: [Do + naught.]
Defn: A lazy, good-for-nothing fellow.
DONAX
Do"nax, n. Etym: [L., reed, also a sea fish, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A canelike grass of southern Europe (Arundo Donax), used for
fishing rods, etc.
DONCELLA
Don*cel"la, n. Etym: [Sp., lit., a maid. Cf. Damsel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A handsome fish of Florida and the West Indies (Platyglossus
radiatus). The name is applied also to the ladyfish (Harpe rufa) of
the same region.
DONE
Done,
Defn: p. p. from Do, and formerly the infinitive.
1. Performed; executed; finished.
2. It is done or agreed; let it be a match or bargain; -- used
elliptically. Done brown, a phrase in cookery; applied figuratively
to one who has been thoroughly deceived, cheated, or fooled.
[Colloq.] -- Done for, tired out; used up; collapsed; destroyed;
dead; killed. [Colloq.] -- Done up. (a) Wrapped up. (b) Worn out;
exhausted. [Colloq.]
DONE
Done, a. Etym: [Prob. corrupted from OF. doné, F. donné, p. p. of OF.
doner, F. donner, to give, issue, fr. L. donare to give. See Donate,
and cf. Donee.]
Defn: Given; executed; issued; made public; -- used chiefly in the
clause giving the date of a proclamation or public act.
DONEE
Do*nee", n. Etym: [OF. doné, F. donné, p. p. See the preceding word.]
1. The person to whom a gift or donation is made.
2. (Law)
Defn: Anciently, one to whom lands were given; in later use, one to
whom lands and tenements are given in tail; in modern use, one on
whom a power is conferred for execution; -- sometimes called the
appointor.
DONET
Don"et, n.
Defn: Same as Donat. Piers Plowman.
DONGOLA
Don"go*la, n.
1. A government of Upper Egypt.
2. Dongola kid.
Dongola kid, D. leather, leather made by the Dongola process. -- D.
process, a process of tanning goatskin, and now also calfskin and
sheepskin, with a combination of vegetable and mineral agents, so
that it resembles kid. -- D. race, a boat race in which the crews are
composed of a number of pairs, usually of men and women.
DONI
Do"ni, n. Etym: [Tamil t.] (Naut.)
Defn: A clumsy craft, having one mast with a long sail, used for
trading purposes on the coasts of Coromandel and Ceylon. [Written
also dhony, doney, and done.]
Balfour.
DONIFEROUS
Do*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. donum gift + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing gifts. [R.]
DONJON
Don"jon, n. Etym: [See Dungeon.]
Defn: The chief tower, also called the keep; a massive tower in
ancient castles, forming the strongest part of the fortifications.
See Illust. of Castle.
DONKEY
Don"key, n.; pl. Donkeys. Etym: [Prob. dun, in allusion to the color
of the animal + a dim. termination.]
1. An ass; or (less frequently) a mule.
2. A stupid or obstinate fellow; an ass. Donkey engine, a small
auxiliary engine not used for propelling, but for pumping water into
the boilers, raising heavy weights, and like purposes.
-- Donkey pump, a steam pump for feeding boilers, extinguishing
fire, etc.; -- usually an auxiliary.
-- Donkey's eye (Bot.), the large round seed of the Mucuna pruriens,
a tropical leguminous plant.
DONNA
Don"na, n. Etym: [It. donna, L. domina. See Don, Dame.]
Defn: A lady; madam; mistress; -- the title given a lady in Italy.
DONNAT
Don"nat, n. Etym: [Corrupted from do-naught.]
Defn: See Do-naught. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DONNEE
Don`née", n. [F., fr. donner to give.]
Defn: Lit., given; hence, in a literary work, as a drama or tale,
that which is assumed as to characters, situation, etc., as a basis
for the plot or story. W. E. Henley.
That favorite romance donnée of the heir kept out of his own.
Saintsbury.
DONNISM
Don"nism, n. Etym: [Don, n., 2.]
Defn: Self-importance; loftiness of carriage. [Cant, Eng.
Universities]
DONOR
Do"nor, n. Etym: [F. donneur, OF. daneor, fr. donner. See Donee, and
cf. Donator.]
1. One who gives or bestows; one who confers anything gratuitously; a
benefactor.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who grants an estate; in later use, one who confers a
power; -- the opposite of donee. Kent.
Touching, the parties unto deeds and charters, we are to consider as
well the donors and granters as the donees or grantees. Spelman.
DO-NOTHING
Do"-noth`ing, a.
Defn: Doing nothing; inactive; idle; lazy; as, a do-nothing policy.
DO-NOTHINGISM; DO-NOTHINGNESS
Do"-noth`ing*ism, Do"-noth`ing*ness, n.
Defn: Inactivity; habitual sloth; idleness. [Jocular] Carlyle. Miss
Austen.
DONSHIP
Don"ship, n.
Defn: The quality or rank of a don, gentleman, or knight. Hudibras.
DONZEL
Don"zel, n. Etym: [Cf. It. donzello, Sp. doncel, OF. danzel. See
Damsel, Don, n.]
Defn: A young squire, or knight's attendant; a page. [Obs.] Beau. &
Fl.
DOO
Doo, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dove. [Scot.]
DOOB GRASS
Doob" grass`. Etym: [Hind. d.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial, creeping grass (Cynodon dactylon), highly prized,
in Hindostan, as food for cattle, and acclimated in the United
States. [Written also doub grass.]
DOODLE
Doo"dle, n. Etym: [Cf. Dawdle.]
Defn: A trifler; a simple fellow.
DOODLESACK
Doo"dle*sack`, n. Etym: [Cf. G. dudelsack.]
Defn: The Scotch bagpipe. [Prov. Eng.]
DOOLE
Doole, n.
Defn: Sorrow; dole. [Obs.] Spenser.
DOOLY
Doo"ly, n.; pl. Doolies. Etym: [Skr. d.]
Defn: A kind of litter suspended from men's shoulders, for carrying
persons or things; a palanquin. [Written also doolee and doolie.]
[East Indies]
Having provided doolies, or little bamboo chairs slung on four men's
shoulders, in which I put my papers and boxes, we next morning
commenced the ascent. J. D. Hooker.
DOOM
Doom, n. Etym: [As. d; akin to OS. d, OHG. tuom, Dan. & Sw. dom,
Icel. d, Goth. d, Gr. do, v. t. Do, v. t., and cf. Deem, -dom.]
1. Judgment; judicial sentence; penal decree; condemnation.
The first dooms of London provide especially the recovery of cattle
belonging to the citizens. J. R. Green.
Now against himself he sounds this doom. Shak.
2. That to which one is doomed or sentenced; destiny or fate, esp.
unhappy destiny; penalty.
Ere Hector meets his doom. Pope.
And homely household task shall be her doom. Dryden.
3. Ruin; death.
This is the day of doom for Bassianus. Shak.
4. Discriminating opinion or judgment; discrimination; discernment;
decision. [Obs.]
And there he learned of things and haps to come, To give
foreknowledge true, and certain doom. Fairfax.
Syn.
-- Sentence; condemnation; decree; fate; destiny; lot; ruin;
destruction.
DOOM
Doom, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dooming.]
1. To judge; to estimate or determine as a judge. [Obs.] Milton.
2. To pronounce sentence or judgment on; to condemn; to consign by a
decree or sentence; to sentence; as, a criminal doomed to chains or
death.
Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls. Dryden.
3. To ordain as penalty; hence, to mulct or fine.
Have I tongue to doom my brother's death Shak.
4. To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion. [New England]
J. Pickering.
5. To destine; to fix irrevocably the destiny or fate of; to appoint,
as by decree or by fate.
A man of genius . . . doomed to struggle with difficulties. Macaulay.
DOOMAGE
Doom"age, n.
Defn: A penalty or fine for neglect. [Local, New England]
DOOMFUL
Doom"ful, a.
Defn: Full of condemnation or destructive power. [R.] "That doomful
deluge." Drayton.
DOOM PALM
Doom" palm`. Etym: [Ar. daum, dum: cf. F. doume.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of palm tree (Hyphæne Thebaica), highly valued for
the fibrous pulp of its fruit, which has the flavor of gingerbread,
and is largely eaten in Egypt and Abyssinia. [Written also doum
palm.]
DOOMSDAY
Dooms"day`, n. Etym: [AS. d. See Doom, and Day.]
1. A day of sentence or condemnation; day of death. "My body's
doomsday." Shak.
2. The day of the final judgment.
I could not tell till doomsday. Chaucer.
Doomsday Book. See Domesday Book.
DOOMSMAN
Dooms"man, n. Etym: [Doom + man.]
Defn: A judge; an umpire. [Obs.] Hampole.
DOOMSTER
Doom"ster, n.
Defn: Same as Dempster. [Scot.]
DOOR
Door, n. Etym: [OE. dore, dure, AS. duru; akin to OS. dura, dor, D.
deur, OHG. turi, door, tor gate, G. thür, thor, Icel. dyrr, Dan. dör,
Sw. dörr, Goth. daur, Lith. durys, Russ. dvere, Olr. dorus, L. fores,
Gr. dur, dvara. . Cf. Foreign.]
1. An opening in the wall of a house or of an apartment, by which to
go in and out; an entrance way.
To the same end, men several paths may tread, As many doors into one
temple lead. Denham.
2. The frame or barrier of boards, or other material, usually turning
on hinges, by which an entrance way into a house or apartment is
closed and opened.
At last he came unto an iron door That fast was locked. Spenser.
3. Passage; means of approach or access.
I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. John x.
9.
4. An entrance way, but taken in the sense of the house or apartment
to which it leads.
Martin's office is now the second door in the street. Arbuthnot.
Blank door, Blind door, etc. (Arch.) See under Blank, Blind, etc.
-- In doors, or Within doors, within the house.
-- Next door to, near to; bordering on.
A riot unpunished is but next door to a tumult. L'Estrange.
-- Out of doors, or Without doors, and, colloquially, Out doors, out
of the house; in open air; abroad; away; lost.
His imaginary title of fatherhood is out of doors. Locke.
-- To lay (a fault, misfortune, etc.) at one's door, to charge one
with a fault; to blame for.
-- To lie at one's door, to be imputable or chargeable to.
If I have failed, the fault lies wholly at my door. Dryden.
Note: Door is used in an adjectival construction or as the first part
of a compound (with or without the hyphen), as, door frame, doorbell
or door bell, door knob or doorknob, door latch or doorlatch, door
jamb, door handle, door mat, door panel.
DOORCASE
Door"case`, n.
Defn: The surrounding frame into which a door shuts.
DOORCHEEK
Door"cheek`, n.
Defn: The jamb or sidepiece of a door. Ex. xii. 22 (Douay version).
DOORGA
Door"ga, n. Etym: [Skr. Durga.] (Myth.)
Defn: A Hindoo divinity, the consort of Siva, represented with ten
arms. [Written also Durga.] Malcom.
DOORING
Door"ing, n.
Defn: The frame of a door. Milton.
DOORKEEPER
Door"keep`er, n.
Defn: One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; a porter;
a janitor.
DOORLESS
Door"less, a.
Defn: Without a door.
DOORNAIL
Door"nail`, n.
Defn: The nail or knob on which in ancient doors the knocker struck;
-- hence the old saying, "As dead as a doornail."
DOORPLANE
Door"plane`, n.
Defn: A plane on a door, giving the name, and sometimes the
employment, of the occupant.
DOORPOST
Door"post`, n.
Defn: The jamb or sidepiece of a doorway.
DOORSILL
Door"sill`, n.
Defn: The sill or threshold of a door.
DOORSTEAD
Door"stead, n.
Defn: Entrance or place of a door. [Obs. or Local] Bp. Warburton.
DOORSTEP
Door"step`, n.
Defn: The stone or plank forming a step before an outer door.
DOORSTONE
Door"stone`, n.
Defn: The stone forming a threshold.
DOORSTOP
Door"stop`, n. (Carp.)
Defn: The block or strip of wood or similar material which stops, at
the right place, the shutting of a door.
DOORWAY
Door"way`, n.
Defn: The passage of a door; entrance way into a house or a room.
DOORYARD
Door"yard`, n.
Defn: A yard in front of a house or around the door of a house.
DOP; DOOP
Dop, Doop, n.
Defn: A little copper cup in which a diamond is held while being cut.
DOP
Dop, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Dap, Dip.]
Defn: To dip. [Obs.] Walton.
DOP
Dop, n.
Defn: A dip; a low courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DOPE
Dope (dop), n. [D. doop a dipping, fr. doopen to dip. Cf. Dip.]
1. Any thick liquid or pasty preparation, as of opium for medicinal
purposes, of grease for a lubricant, etc.
2. Any preparation, as of opium, used to stupefy or, in the case of
a race horse, to stimulate. [Slang or Cant]
3. An absorbent material; esp., in high explosives, the sawdust,
infusorial earth, mica, etc., mixed with nitroglycerin to make a damp
powder (dynamite, etc.) less dangerous to transport, and ordinarily
explosive only by suitable fulminating caps.
4. Information concerning the previous performances of race horses,
or other facts concerning them which may be of assistance in judging
of their chances of winning future races; sometimes, similar
information concerning other sports. [Sporting Slang]
DOPE
Dope, v. t.
1. To treat or affect with dope; as, to dope nitroglycerin; specif.:
(a) To give stupefying drugs to; to drug. [Slang]
(b) To administer a stimulant to (a horse) to increase his speed. It
is a serious offense against the laws of racing. [Race-track Slang]
2. To judge or guess; to predict the result of, as by the aid of
dope. [Slang]
DOPE-BOOK
Dope"-book`, n.
Defn: A chart of previous performances, etc., of race horses. [Race-
track Slang]
DOPEY
Dop"ey, a.
Defn: Affected by "dope"; esp., sluggish or dull as though under the
influence of a narcotic. [Slang]
DOPPELGANGER
Dop"pel*gäng`er, n. [G.]
Defn: A spiritual or ghostly double or counterpart; esp., an
apparitional double of a living person; a cowalker.
DOPPER
Dop"per, n. Etym: [D. dooper.] [Written also doper.]
Defn: An Anabaptist or Baptist. [Contemptuous] B. Jonson.
DOPPLERITE
Dop"pler*ite, n. Etym: [Named after the physicist and mathematician
Christian Doppler.] (Min.)
Defn: A brownish black native hydrocarbon occurring in elastic or
jellylike masses.
DOQUET
Doq"uet, n.
Defn: A warrant. See Docket.
DOR
Dor, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. dora drone, locust, D. tor beetle, L. taurus a
kind of beetle. Cf. Dormouse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large European scaraboid beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius),
which makes a droning noise while flying. The name is also applied to
allied American species, as the June bug. Called also dorr,
dorbeetle, or dorrbeetle, dorbug, dorrfly, and buzzard clock.
DOR
Dor, n. Etym: [Cf. Dor a beetle, and Hum, Humbug.]
Defn: A trick, joke, or deception. Beau. & Fl. To give one the dor,
to make a fool of him. [Archaic] P. Fletcher.
DOR
Dor, v. t.
Defn: To make a fool of; to deceive. [Obs.] [Written also dorr.] B.
Jonson.
DORADO
Do*ra"do, n. Etym: [Sp. dorado gilt, fr. dorar to gild, fr. L.
deaurare. See 1st Dory, and cf. Fl Dorado.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: A southern constellation, within which is the south pole of the
ecliptic; -- called also sometimes Xiphias, or the Swordfish.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, oceanic fish of the genus Coryphæna.
DORBEETLE
Dor"bee`tle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See 1st Dor.
DOREE
Do"ree, n. Etym: [See Dory.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European marine fish (Zeus faber), of a yellow color. See
Illust. of John Doree.
Note: The popular name in England is John Doree, or Dory, well known
to be a corruption of F. jaune-dorée, i. e., golden-yellow. See 1st
Dory.
DORETREE
Dore"tree`, n.
Defn: A doorpost. [Obs.] "As dead as a doretree." Piers Plowman.
DORHAWK
Dor"hawk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European goatsucker; -- so called because it eats the dor
beetle. See Goatsucker. [Written also dorrhawk.] Booth.
DORIAN
Do"ri*an, a.
1. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks of Doris; Doric; as, a
Dorian fashion.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Same as Doric, 3. "Dorian mood." Milton. Dorian mode (Mus.),
the first of the authentic church modes or tones, from D to D,
resembling our D minor scale, but with the B natural. Grove.
DORIAN
Do"ri*an, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Doris in Greece.
DORIC
Dor"ic, a. Etym: [L. Doricus, Gr.
1. Pertaining to Doris, in ancient Greece, or to the Dorians; as, the
Doric dialect.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the oldest and simplest of the
three orders of architecture used by the Greeks, but ranked as second
of the five orders adopted by the Romans. See Abacus, Capital, Order.
Note: This order is distinguished, according to the treatment of
details, as Grecian Doric, or Roman Doric.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Of or relating to one of the ancient Greek musical modes or
keys. Its character was adapted both to religions occasions and to
war.
DORIC
Dor"ic, n.
Defn: The Doric dialect.
DORICISM
Dor"i*cism, n.
Defn: A Doric phrase or idiom.
DORIS
Do"ris, n. Etym: [L. Doris, the daughter of Oceanus, and wife of
Nereus, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of nudibranchiate mollusks having a wreath of branchiæ
on the back.
DORISM
Do"rism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A Doric phrase or idiom.
DORKING FOWL
Dor"king fowl`. Etym: [From the town of Dorking in England.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a breed of large-bodied domestic fowls, having five
toes, or the hind toe double. There are several strains, as the
white, gray, and silver-gray. They are highly esteemed for the table.
DORMANCY
Dor"man*cy, n. Etym: [From Dormant.]
Defn: The state of being dormant; quiescence; abeyance.
DORMANT
Dor"mant, a. Etym: [F., p. pr. of dormir to sleep, from L. dormire;
cf. Gr. dra, OSlav. dr.]
1. Sleeping; as, a dormant animal; hence, not in action or exercise;
quiescent; at rest; in abeyance; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted
on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles.
It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . very rarely
exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people. Burke.
2. (Her.)
Defn: In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; -- distinguished
from couchant. Dormant partner (Com.), a partner who takes no share
in the active business of a company or partnership, but is entitled
to a share of the profits, and subject to a share in losses; --
called also sleeping or silent partner.
-- Dormant window (Arch.), a dormer window. See Dormer.
-- Table dormant, a stationary table. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DORMANT
Dor"mant, n. Etym: [See Dormant, a.] (Arch.)
Defn: A large beam in the roof of a house upon which portions of the
other timbers rest or " sleep." Arch. Pub. Soc.
-- Called also dormant tree, dorman tree, dormond, and dormer.
Halliwell.
DORMER; DORMER WINDOW
Dor"mer, or Dor"mer win"dow (, n. Etym: [Literally, the window of a
sleeping apartment. F. dormir to sleep. See Dormant, a. & n.] (Arch.)
Defn: A window pierced in a roof, and so set as to be vertical while
the roof slopes away from it. Also, the gablet, or houselike
structure, in which it is contained.
DORMITIVE
Dor"mi*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dormitif, fr. dormire to sleep.]
Defn: Causing sleep; as, the dormitive properties of opium. Clarke.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine to promote sleep; a soporific; an opiate.
DORMITORY
Dor"mi*to*ry, n.; pl. Dormitories. Etym: [L. dormitorium, fr.
dormitorius of or for sleeping, fr. dormire to sleep. See Dormant.]
1. A sleeping room, or a building containing a series of sleeping
rooms; a sleeping apartment capable of containing many beds; esp.,
one connected with a college or boarding school. Thackeray.
2. A burial place. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
My sister was interred in a very honorable manner in our dormitory,
joining to the parish church. Evelyn.
DORMOUSE
Dor"mouse, n.; pl. Dormice. Etym: [Perh. fr. F. dormir to sleep
(Prov. E. dorm to doze) + E. mouse; or perh. changed fr. F. dormeuse,
fem., a sleeper, though not found in the sense of a dormouse.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European rodent of the genus Myoxus, of several
species. They live in trees and feed on nuts, acorns, etc.; -- so
called because they are usually torpid in winter.
DORMY
Dor"my, a. [Origin uncertain.] (Golf)
Defn: Up, or ahead, as many holes as remain to be played; -- said of
a player or side.
A player who is dormy can not be beaten, and at the worst must halve
the match. Encyc. of Sport.
DORN
Dorn, n. Etym: [Cf. G. dorn thorn, D. doorn, and G. dornfisch
stickleback.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A British ray; the thornback.
DORNICK; DORNOCK
Dor"nick, or Dor"nock, n.
Defn: A coarse sort of damask, originally made at Tournay (in
Flemish, Doornick), Belgium, and used for hangings, carpets, etc.
Also, a stout figured linen manufactured in Scotland. [Formerly
written also darnex, dornic, dorneck, etc.] Halliwell. Jamieson.
Note: Ure says that dornock, a kind of stout figured linen, derives
its name from a town in Scotland where it was first manufactured for
tablecloths.
DORP
Dorp, n. Etym: [LG. & D. dorp. See Thorpe.]
Defn: A hamlet. "A mean fishing dorp." Howell.
DORR
Dorr, n.
Defn: The dorbeetle; also, a drone or an idler. See 1st Dor. Robynson
(More's Utopia).
DORR
Dorr, v. t.
1. To deceive. [Obs.] See Dor, v. t.
2. To deafen with noise. [Obs.] Halliwell.
DORRFLY
Dorr"fly`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See 1st Dor.
DORRHAWK
Dorr"hawk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dorhawk.
DORSAD
Dor"sad, adv. Etym: [Dorsum +L. ad towards.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the dorsum or back; on the dorsal side; dorsally.
DORSAL
Dor"sal, a. Etym: [F. dorsal, LL. dorsalis, fr. L. dorsualis, fr.
dorsum back; cf. Gr. Dorse, Dorsel, Dosel.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the back, or dorsum, of an
animal or of one of its parts; notal; tergal; neural; as, the dorsal
fin of a fish; the dorsal artery of the tongue; -- opposed to
ventral.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.
(b) Pertaining to the surface naturally superior, as of a creeping
hepatic moss. Dorsal vessel (Zoöl.), a central pulsating blood vessel
along the back of insects, acting as a heart.
DORSAL
Dor"sal, n. Etym: [LL. dorsale, neut. fr. dorsalis. See Dorsal, a.]
(Fine Arts)
Defn: A hanging, usually of rich stuff, at the back of a throne, or
of an altar, or in any similar position.
DORSALE
Dor"sale, n.
Defn: Same as Dorsal, n.
DORSALLY
Dor"sal*ly, adv. (Anat.)
Defn: On, or toward, the dorsum, or back; on the dorsal side of;
dorsad.
DORSE
Dorse, n. Etym: [Cf. L. dorsum the back. See Dorsel, Dosel.]
1. Same as dorsal, n. [Obs.]
2. The back of a book. [Obs.]
Books, all richly bound, with gilt dorses. Wood.
DORSE
Dorse, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Baltic or variable cod (Gadus callarias), by some believed
to be the young of the common codfish.
DORSEL
Dor"sel, n. Etym: [See Dosser.]
1. A pannier.
2. Same as Dorsal, n.
DORSER
Dor"ser, n.
Defn: See Dosser.
DORSIBRANCHIATA
dor`si*bran`chi*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. dorsum back +
branchiae gills.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of chætopod annelids in which the branchiæ are along
the back, on each side, or on the parapodia. [See Illusts. under
Annelida and Chætopoda.]
DORSIBRANCHIATE
Dor`si*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having branchiæ along the back; belonging to the
Dorsibranchiata.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Dorsibranchiata.
DORSIFEROUS
Dor*sif"er*ous,. Etym: [Dorsum + -ferous; cf. F. dorsifère.] (Biol.)
Defn: Bearing, or producing, on the back; -- applied to ferns which
produce seeds on the back of the leaf, and to certain Batrachia, the
ova of which become attached to the skin of the back of the parent,
where they develop; dorsiparous.
DORSIMESON
Dor`si*mes"on, n. Etym: [Dorsum + meson.]
Defn: (Anat.) See Meson.
DORSIPAROUS
Dor*sip"a*rous, a. Etym: [Dorsum + L. parere to bring forth.] (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Dorsiferous.
DORSIVENTRAL
Dor`si*ven"tral, a. Etym: [Dorsum + ventral.]
1. (Biol.)
Defn: Having distinct upper and lower surfaces, as most common
leaves. The leaves of the iris are not dorsiventral.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: See Dorsoventral.
DORSOVENTRAL
Dor`so*ven"tral, a. Etym: [dorsum + ventral.] (Anat.)
Defn: From the dorsal to the ventral side of an animal; as, the
dorsoventral axis.
DORSUM
Dor"sum, n. Etym: [L.]
1. The ridge of a hill.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The back or dorsal region of an animal; the upper side of an
appendage or part; as, the dorsum of the tongue.
DORTOUR; DORTURE
Dor"tour, Dor"ture, n. Etym: [F. dortoir, fr. L. dormitorium.]
Defn: A dormitory. [Obs.] Bacon.
DORY
Do"ry, n.; pl. Dories. Etym: [Named from 1st color, fr. F. dorée
gilded, fr. dorer to gild, L. deaurare. See Deaurate, and cf.
Aureole.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European fish. See Doree, and John Doree.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The American wall-eyed perch; -- called also doré. See Pike
perch.
DORY
Do"ry, n.; pl. Dories (.
Defn: A small, strong, flat-bottomed rowboat, with sharp prow and
flaring sides.
DORYPHORA
Do*ryph"o*ra, n. Etym: [NL. See Doryphoros.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of plant-eating beetles, including the potato beetle.
See Potato beetle.
DORYPHOROS
Do*ryph"o*ros, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A spear bearer; a statue of a man holding a spear or in the
attitude of a spear bearer. Several important sculptures of this
subject existed in antiquity, copies of which remain to us.
DOSAGE
Dos"age (dos"ayj), n. [Cf. F. dosage. See Dose, v.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: The administration of medicine in doses; specif., a scheme or
system of grading doses of medicine according to age, etc.
2. The process of adding some ingredient, as to wine, to give
flavor, character, or strength.
DOS--DOS
Dos`-à-dos", adv. [F.]
Defn: Back to back; as, to sit dos-à-dos in a dogcart; to dance dos-
à-dos, or so that two dancers move forward and pass back to back.
DOS--DOS
Dos`-à-dos", n.
Defn: A sofa, open carriage, or the like, so constructed that the
occupants sit back to back.
DOSE
Dose, n. Etym: [F. dose, Gr. dare to give. See Date point of time.]
1. The quantity of medicine given, or prescribed to be taken, at one
time.
2. A sufficient quantity; a portion; as much as one can take, or as
falls to one to receive.
3. Anything nauseous that one is obliged to take; a disagreeable
portion thrust upon one.
I am for curing the world by gentle alteratives, not by violent
doses. W. Irving.
I dare undertake that as fulsome a dose as you give him, he shall
readily take it down. South.
DOSE
Dose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dosed; p. pr. & vb. n. dosing.] Etym: [Cf.
F. doser. See Dose, n.]
1. To proportion properly (a medicine), with reference to the patient
or the disease; to form into suitable doses.
2. To give doses to; to medicine or physic to; to give potions to,
constantly and without need.
A self-opinioned physician, worse than his distemper, who shall dose,
and bleed, and kill him, "secundum artem." South
3. To give anything nauseous to.
DOSEL
Dos"el, n. Etym: [OF. dossel; cf. LL. dorsale. See Dorsal, and cf.
Dorse, Dorsel.]
Defn: Same as Dorsal, n. [R.]
DOSIMETRY
Do*sim"e*try, n. [NL. dosis dose + -metry.] (Med.)
Defn: Measurement of doses; specif., a system of therapeutics which
uses but few remedies, mostly alkaloids, and gives them in doses
fixed by certain rules. --Do`si*met"ric (#), a. --Do*sim"e*trist (#),
n.
DOSOLOGY
Do*sol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Dose +-logy.]
Defn: Posology. [R.] Ogilvie.
DOSS
Doss, n. [Etym. uncertain.]
Defn: A place to sleep in; a bed; hence, sleep. [Slang]
DOSSEL
Dos"sel, n. Etym: [See Dosel, n.]
Defn: Same as Dorsal, n.
DOSSER
Dos"ser, n. Etym: [LL. dosserum, or F.dossier bundle of papers, part
of a basket resting on the back, fr. L. dorsum back. See Dorsal, and
cf. Dosel.] [Written also dorser and dorsel.]
1. A pannier, or basket.
To hire a ripper's mare, and buy new dossers. Beau. & Fl.
2. A hanging tapestry; a dorsal.
DOSS HOUSE
Doss house.
Defn: A cheap lodging house.
They [street Arabs] consort together and sleep in low doss houses
where they meet with all kinds of villainy.
W. Besant.
DOSSIER
Dos`sier" (dos`syay"; E. dos"si*er), n. [F., back of a thing, bulging
bundle of papers, fr. dos back.]
Defn: A bundle containing the papers in reference to some matter.
DOSSIL
Dos"sil, n. Etym: [OE. dosil faucet of a barrel, OF. dosil, duisil,
spigot, LL. diciculus, ducillus, fr. L. ducere to lead, draw. See
Duct, Duke.]
1. (Surg.)
Defn: A small ovoid or cylindrical roil or pledget of lint, for
keeping a sore, wound, etc., open; a tent.
2. (Printing)
Defn: A roll of cloth for wiping off the face of a copperplate,
leaving the ink in the engraved lines.
DOST
Dost, 2d pers. sing. pres.
Defn: of Do.
DOT
Dot, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. dos, dotis, dowry. See Dower, and cf. Dote
dowry.] (Law)
Defn: A marriage portion; dowry. [Louisiana]
DOT
Dot, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. dott small spot, speck; of uncertain origin.]
1. A small point or spot, made with a pen or other pointed
instrument; a speck, or small mark.
2. Anything small and like a speck comparatively; a small portion or
specimen; as, a dot of a child.
DOT
Dot, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dotted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dotting.]
1. To mark with dots or small spots; as, to dot a line.
2. To mark or diversify with small detached objects; as, a landscape
dotted with cottages.
DOT
Dot, v. i.
Defn: To make dots or specks.
DOTAGE
Do"tage, n. Etym: [From Dote, v. i.]
1. Feebleness or imbecility of understanding or mind, particularly in
old age; the childishness of old age; senility; as, a venerable man,
now in his dotage.
Capable of distinguishing between the infancy and the dotage of Greek
literature. Macaulay.
2. Foolish utterance; drivel.
The sapless dotages of old Paris and Salamanca. Milton.
3. Excessive fondness; weak and foolish affection.
The dotage of the nation on presbytery. Bp. Burnet.
DOTAL
Do"tal, a. Etym: [L. dotalis, fr. dos, dotis, dowry: cf. F. dotal.
See Dot dowry.]
Defn: Pertaining to dower, or a woman's marriage portion;
constituting dower, or comprised in it. Garth.
DOTANT
Do"tant, n.
Defn: A dotard. [Obs.] Shak.
DOTARD
Do"tard, n. Etym: [Dote, v. i.]
Defn: One whose mind is impaired by age; one in second childhood.
The sickly dotard wants a wife. Prior.
DOTARDLY
Do"tard*ly, a.
Defn: Foolish; weak. Dr. H. More.
DOTARY
Do"ta*ry, n.
Defn: A dotard's weakness; dotage. [Obs.] Drayton.
DOTATION
Do*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. dotatio, fr. L. dotare to endow, fr. dos,
dotis, dower: cf. F. dotation. See Dot dowry.]
1. The act of endowing, or bestowing a marriage portion on a woman.
2. Endowment; establishment of funds for support, as of a hospital or
eleemosynary corporation. Blackstone.
DOTE
Dote, n. Etym: [See Dot dowry.]
1. A marriage portion. [Obs.] See 1st Dot, n. Wyatt.
2. pl.
Defn: Natural endowments. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DOTE
Dote, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Doted;p. pr. & vb. n. Doting.] Etym: [OE.
doten; akin to OD. doten, D. dutten, to doze, Icel. dotta to nod from
sleep, MHG. t to keep still: cf. F. doter, OF. radoter (to dote,
rave, talk idly or senselessly), which are from the same source.]
[Written also doat.]
1. To act foolishly. [Obs.]
He wol make him doten anon right. Chaucer.
2. To be weak-minded, silly, or idiotic; to have the intellect
impaired, especially by age, so that the mind wanders or wavers; to
drivel.
Time has made you dote, and vainly tell Of arms imagined in your
lonely cell. Dryden.
He survived the use of his reason, grew infatuated, and doted long
before he died. South.
3. To be excessively or foolishly fond; to love to excess; to be
weakly affectionate; -- with on or upon; as, the mother dotes on her
child.
Sing, siren, for thyself, and I will dote. Shak.
What dust we dote on, when 't is man we love. Pope.
DOTE
Dote, n.
Defn: An imbecile; a dotard. Halliwell.
DOTED
Dot"ed, a.
1. Stupid; foolish. [Obs.]
Senseless speech and doted ignorance. Spenser.
2. Half-rotten; as, doted wood. [Local, U. S.]
DOTEHEAD
Dote"head`, n.
Defn: A dotard. [R.] Tyndale.
DOTER
Dot"er, n.
1. One who dotes; a man whose understanding is enfeebled by age; a
dotard. Burton.
2. One excessively fond, or weak in love. Shak.
DOTERY
Dot"er*y, n.
Defn: The acts or speech of a dotard; drivel. [R.]
DOTH
Doth, 3d pers. sing. pres.
Defn: of Do.
DOTING
Dot"ing, a.
Defn: That dotes; silly; excessively fond.
-- Dot"ing*ly, adv.
-- Dot"ing*ness, n.
DOTISH
Dot"ish, a.
Defn: Foolish; weak; imbecile. Sir W. Scott.
DOTTARD
Dot"tard, n. Etym: [For Dotard ]
Defn: An old, decayed tree. [R.] Bacon.
DOTTED
Dot"ted, a.
Defn: Marked with, or made of, dots or small spots; diversified with
small, detached objects. Dotted note (Mus.), a note followed by a dot
to indicate an increase of length equal to one half of its simple
value; thus, a dotted semibreve is equal to three minims, and a
dotted quarter to three eighth notes.
-- Dotted rest, a rest lengthened by a dot in the same manner as a
dotted note.
Note: Notes and rests are sometimes followed by two dots, to indicate
an increase of length equal to three quarters of their simple value,
and they are then said to be double-dotted.
DOTTEREL
Dot"ter*el, a. Etym: [Cf. Dottard.]
Defn: Decayed. "Some old dotterel trees." [Obs.] Ascham.
DOTTEREL
Dot"ter*el, n. Etym: [From Dote, v. i.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European bird of the Plover family (Eudromias, or Charadrius,
morinellus). It is tame and easily taken, and is popularly believed
to imitate the movements of the fowler.
In catching of dotterels we see how the foolish bird playeth the ape
in gestures. Bacon.
Note: The ringed dotterel (or ring plover) is Charadrius hiaticula.
2. A silly fellow; a dupe; a gull. Barrow.
DOTTING PEN
Dot"ting pen`.
Defn: See under Pun.
DOTTREL
Dot"trel, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dotterel.
DOTTY
Dot"ty, a. [From 2d Dot.]
1. Composed of, or characterized by, dots.
2. [Perh. a different word; cf. Totty.] Unsteady in gait; hence,
feeble; half-witted. [Eng.]
DOTY
Do"ty, a. Etym: [See Dottard.]
Defn: Half-rotten; as, doty timber. [Local, U. S.]
DOUANE
Dou`ane", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A customhouse.
DOUANIER
Dou`a"nier", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: An officer of the French customs. [Anglicized form douaneer.]
DOUAR
Dou"ar, n. Etym: [F., fr. Ar. d.]
Defn: A village composed of Arab tents arranged in streets.
DOUAY BIBLE
Dou"ay Bi"ble. Etym: [From Douay, or Douai, a town in France.]
Defn: A translation of the Scriptures into the English language for
the use of English-speaking Roman Catholics; -- done from the Latin
Vulgate by English scholars resident in France. The New Testament
portion was published at Rheims, A. D. 1582, the Old Testament at
Douai, A. D. 1609-10. Various revised editions have since been
published. [Written also Doway Bible. Called also the Rheims and
Douay version.]
DOUB GRASS
Doub" grass`.(Bot.)
Defn: Doob grass.
DOUBLE
Dou"ble, a. Etym: [OE. doble, duble, double, OF. doble, duble,
double, F. double, fr. L. duplus, fr. the root of duo two, and perh.
that of plenus full; akin to Gr. Two, and Full, and cf. Diploma,
Duple.]
1. Twofold; multiplied by two; increased by its equivalent; made
twice as large or as much, etc.
Let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 2 Kings ii. 9.
Darkness and tempest make a double night. Dryden.
2. Being in pairs; presenting two of a kind, or two in a set
together; coupled.
[Let] The swan, on still St. Mary's lake, Float double, swan and
shadow. Wordsworth.
3. Divided into two; acting two parts, one openly and the other
secretly; equivocal; deceitful; insincere.
With a double heart do they speak. Ps. xii. 2.
4. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the petals in a flower considerably increased beyond the
natural number, usually as the result of cultivation and the expense
of the stamens, or stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some
other plants have their blossoms naturally double.
Note: Double is often used as the first part of a compound word,
generally denoting two ways, or twice the number, quantity, force,
etc., twofold, or having two. Double base, or Double bass (Mus.), the
largest and lowest-toned instrument in the violin form; the
contrabasso or violone.
-- Double convex. See under Convex.
-- Double counterpoint (Mus.), that species of counterpoint or
composition, in which two of the parts may be inverted, by setting
one of them an octave higher or lower.
-- Double court (Lawn Tennis), a court laid out for four players,
two on each side.
-- Double dagger (Print.), a reference mark (||) next to the dagger
(|) in order; a diesis.
-- Double drum (Mus.), a large drum that is beaten at both ends.
-- Double eagle, a gold coin of the United States having the value
of 20 dollars.
-- Double entry. See under Bookkeeping.
-- Double floor (Arch.), a floor in which binding joists support
flooring joists above and ceiling joists below. See Illust. of
Double-framed floor.
-- Double flower. See Double, a., 4.
-- Double-framed floor (Arch.), a double floor having girders into
which the binding joists are framed.
-- Double fugue (Mus.), a fugue on two subjects.
-- Double letter. (a) (Print.) Two letters on one shank; a ligature.
(b) A mail requiring double postage.
-- Double note (Mus.), a note of double the length of the semibreve;
a breve. See Breve.
-- Double octave (Mus.), an interval composed of two octaves, or
fifteen notes, in diatonic progression; a fifteenth.
-- Double pica. See under Pica.
-- Double play (Baseball), a play by which two players are put out
at the same time.
-- Double plea (Law), a plea alleging several matters in answer to
the declaration, where either of such matters alone would be a
sufficient bar to the action. Stephen.
-- Double point (Geom.), a point of a curve at which two branches
cross each other. Conjugate or isolated points of a curve are called
double points, since they possess most of the properties of double
points (see Conjugate). They are also called acnodes, and those
points where the branches of the curve really cross are called
crunodes. The extremity of a cusp is also a double point.
-- Double quarrel. (Eccl. Law) See Duplex querela, under Duplex.
-- Double refraction. (Opt.) See Refraction.
-- Double salt. (Chem.) (a) A mixed salt of any polybasic acid which
has been saturated by different bases or basic radicals, as the
double carbonate of sodium and potassium, NaKCO3.6H2O. (b) A
molecular combination of two distinct salts, as common alum, which
consists of the sulphate of aluminium, and the sulphate of potassium
or ammonium.
-- Double shuffle, a low, noisy dance.
-- Double standard (Polit. Econ.), a double standard of monetary
values; i. e., a gold standard and a silver standard, both of which
are made legal tender.
-- Double star (Astron.), two stars so near to each other as to be
seen separate only by means of a telescope. Such stars may be only
optically near to each other, or may be physically connected so that
they revolve round their common center of gravity, and in the latter
case are called also binary stars.
-- Double time (Mil.). Same as Double-quick.
-- Double window, a window having two sets of glazed sashes with an
air space between them.
DOUBLE
Dou"ble, adv.
Defn: Twice; doubly.
I was double their age. Swift.
DOUBLE
Dou"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doubled; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubling.]
Etym: [OE. doblen, dublen, doublen, F. doubler, fr. L. duplare, fr.
duplus. See Double, a.]
1. To increase by adding an equal number, quantity, length, value, or
the like; multiply by two; to double a sum of money; to double a
number, or length.
Double six thousand, and then treble that. Shak.
2. To make of two thicknesses or folds by turning or bending together
in the middle; to fold one part upon another part of; as, to double
the leaf of a book, and the like; to clinch, as the fist; -- often
followed by up; as, to double up a sheet of paper or cloth. Prior.
Then the old man Was wroth, and doubled up his hands. Tennyson.
3. To be the double of; to exceed by twofold; to contain or be worth
twice as much as.
Thus reënforced, against the adverse fleet, Still doubling ours,
brave Rupert leads the way. Dryden.
4. To pass around or by; to march or sail round, so as to reverse the
direction of motion.
Sailing along the coast, the doubled the promontory of Carthage.
Knolles.
5. (Mil.)
Defn: To unite, as ranks or files, so as to form one from each two.
DOUBLE
Dou"ble, v. i.
1. To be increased to twice the sum, number, quantity, length, or
value; to increase or grow to twice as much.
'T is observed in particular nations, that within the space of three
hundred years, notwithstanding all casualties, the number of men
doubles. T. Burnet.
2. To return upon one's track; to turn and go back over the same
ground, or in an opposite direction.
Doubling and turning like a hunted hare. Dryden.
Doubling and doubling with laborious walk. Wordsworth.
3. To play tricks; to use sleights; to play false.
What penalty and danger you accrue, If you be found to double. J.
Webster.
4. (Print.)
Defn: To set up a word or words a second time by mistake; to make a
doublet. To double upon (Mil.), to inclose between two fires.
DOUBLE
Dou"ble, n.
1. Twice as much; twice the number, sum, quantity, length, value, and
the like.
If the thief be found, let him pay double. Ex. xxii. 7.
2. Among compositors, a doublet (see Doublet,
2.); among pressmen, a sheet that is twice pulled, and blurred.
3. That which is doubled over or together; a doubling; a plait; a
fold.
Rolled up in sevenfold double Of plagues. Marston.
4. A turn or circuit in running to escape pursues; hence, a trick; a
shift; an artifice.
These men are too well acquainted with the chase to be flung off by
any false steps or doubles. Addison.
5. Something precisely equal or counterpart to another; a
counterpart. Hence, a wraith.
My charming friend . . . has, I am almost sure, a double, who
preaches his afternoon sermons for him. Atlantic Monthly.
6. A player or singer who prepares to take the part of another player
in his absence; a substitute.
7. Double beer; strong beer.
8. (Eccl.)
Defn: A feast in which the antiphon is doubled, hat is, said twice,
before and after the Psalms, instead of only half being said, as in
simple feasts. Shipley.
9. (Lawn Tennis)
Defn: A game between two pairs of players; as, a first prize for
doubles.
10. (Mus.)
Defn: An old term for a variation, as in Bach's Suites.
DOUBLE-ACTING
Dou"ble-act`ing, a.
Defn: Acting or operating in two directions or with both motions;
producing a twofold result; as, a double-acting engine or pump.
DOUBLE-BANK
Dou"ble-bank", v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To row by rowers sitting side by side in twos on a bank or
thwart. To double-bank an oar, to set two men to pulling one oar.
DOUBLE-BANKED
Dou"ble-banked`, a.
Defn: Applied to a kind of rowing in which the rowers sit side by
side in twos, a pair of oars being worked from each bank or thwart.
DOUBLE-BARRELED; DOUBLE-BARRELLED
Dou"ble-bar`reled, or Dou"ble-bar`relled, a.
Defn: Having two barrels; -- applied to a gun.
DOUBLE-BEAT VALVE
Dou"ble-beat` valve".
Defn: See under Valve.
DOUBLE-BREASTED
Dou"ble-breast`ed, a.
Defn: Folding or lapping over on the breast, with a row of buttons
and buttonholes on each side; as, a double-breasted coat.
DOUBLE-CHARGE
Dou"ble-charge`, v. t.
1. To load with a double charge, as of gunpowder.
2. To overcharge. Shak.
DOUBLE DEALER
Dou"ble deal"er.
Defn: One who practices double dealing; a deceitful, trickish person.
L'Estrange.
DOUBLE DEALING
Dou"ble deal"ing.
Defn: False or deceitful dealing. See Double dealing, under Dealing.
Shak.
DOUBLE-DECKER
Dou"ble-deck"er, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A man-of-war having two gun decks.
2. A public conveyance, as a street car, with seats on the roof.
[Colloq.]
DOUBLE-DYE
Dou"ble-dye`, v. t.
Defn: To dye again or twice over.
To double-dye their robes in scarlet. J. Webster.
DOUBLE-DYED
Dou"ble-dyed`, a.
Defn: Dyed twice; thoroughly or intensely colored; hence; firmly
fixed in opinions or habits; as, a double-dyed villain.
DOUBLE-ENDER
Dou"ble-end"er, n.
(a) (Naut.) A vessel capable of moving in either direction, having
bow and rudder at each end. (b) (Railroad)
Defn: A locomotive with pilot at each end. Knight.
DOUBLE-ENTENDRE
Dou"ble-en*ten"dre, n. Etym: [F. double double + entendre to mean.
This is a barbarous compound of French words. The true French
equivalent is double entente.]
Defn: A word or expression admitting of a double interpretation, one
of which is often obscure or indelicate.
DOUBLE-EYED
Dou"ble-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having a deceitful look. [R.] "Deceitful meanings is double-
eyed." Spenser.
DOUBLE-FACED
Dou"ble-faced`, a.
1. Having two faces designed for use; as, a double-faced hammer.
2. Deceitful; hypocritical; treacherous. Milton.
DOUBLE FIRST
Dou"ble first`. (Eng. Universities)
(a) A degree of the first class both in classics and mathematics.
(b) One who gains at examinations the highest honor both in the
classics and the mathematics. Beaconsfield.
DOUBLEGANGER
Dou"ble*gang`er, n. [G. doppelgänger; doppel double + gänger walker.]
Defn: An apparition or double of a living person; a doppelgänger.
Either you are Hereward, or you are his doubleganger.
C. Kingsley.
DOUBLE-HANDED
Dou"ble-hand"ed, a.
1. Having two hands.
2. Deceitful; deceptive. Glanvill.
DOUBLE-HEADED
Dou"ble-head"ed, a.
Defn: Having two heads; bicipital. Double-headed rail (Railroad), a
rail whose flanges are duplicates, so that when one is worn the other
may be turned uppermost.
DOUBLEHEARTED
Dou"ble*heart"ed, a.
Defn: Having a false heart; deceitful; treacherous. Sandys.
DOUBLE-HUNG
Dou"ble-hung`, a.
Defn: Having both sashes hung with weights and cords; -- said of a
window.
DOUBLE-LOCK
Dou"ble-lock`, v. t.
Defn: To lock with two bolts; to fasten with double security. Tatler.
DOUBLE-MILLED
Dou"ble-milled`, a.
Defn: Twice milled or fulled, to render more compact or fine; -- said
of cloth; as, double-milled kerseymere.
DOUBLEMINDED
Dou"ble*mind"ed, a.
Defn: Having different minds at different times; unsettled;
undetermined.
A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Jas. i. 8.
DOUBLENESS
Dou"ble*ness, n.
1. The state of being double or doubled.
2. Duplicity; insincerity. Chaucer.
DOUBLE PEDRO
Double pedro.
Defn: Cinch (the game).
DOUBLE-QUICK
Dou"ble-quick`, a. (Mil.)
Defn: Of, or performed in, the fastest time or step in marching, next
to the run; as, a double-quick step or march.
DOUBLE-QUICK
Dou"ble-quick`, n.
Defn: Double-quick time, step, or march.
Note: Double-quick time requires 165 steps, each 33 inches in length,
to be taken in one minute. The number of steps may be increased up to
180 per minute.
DOUBLE-QUICK
Dou"ble-quick`, v. i. & t. (Mil.)
Defn: To move, or cause to move, in double-quick time.
DOUBLER
Dou"bler, n.
1. One who, or that which, doubles.
2. (Elec.)
Defn: An instrument for augmenting a very small quantity of
electricity, so as to render it manifest by sparks or the
electroscope.
DOUBLE-RIPPER
Dou"ble-rip"per, n.
Defn: A kind of coasting sled, made of two sleds fastened together
with a board, one before the other. [Local, U. S.]
DOUBLE-SHADE
Dou"ble-shade`, v. t.
Defn: To double the natural darkness of (a place). Milton.
DOUBLE-SURFACED
Dou"ble-sur"faced, a.
Defn: Having two surfaces; -- said specif. of aëroplane wings or
aërocurves which are covered on both sides with fabric, etc., thus
completely inclosing their frames.
DOUBLET
Doub"let, n. Etym: [In sense 3, OF. doublet; in sense 4, F. doublet,
dim. of double double. See Double, a.]
1. Two of the same kind; a pair; a couple.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A word or words unintentionally doubled or set up a second
time.
3. A close-fitting garment for men, covering the body from the neck
to the waist or a little below. It was worn in Western Europe from
the 15th to the 17th century.
4. (Lapidary Work)
Defn: A counterfeit gem, composed of two pieces of crystal, with a
color them, and thus giving the appearance of a naturally colored
gem. Also, a piece of paste or glass covered by a veneer of real
stone.
5. (Opt.)
Defn: An arrangement of two lenses for a microscope, designed to
correct spherical aberration and chromatic dispersion, thus rendering
the image of an object more clear and distinct. W. H. Wollaston.
6. pl. (See No. 1.)
Defn: Two dice, each of which, when thrown, has the same number of
spots on the face lying uppermost; as, to throw doublets.
7. pl. Etym: [Cf. Pr. doblier, dobler draughtboard.]
Defn: A game somewhat like backgammon. Halliwell.
8. One of two or more words in the same language derived by different
courses from the same original from; as, crypt and grot are doublets;
also, guard and ward; yard and garden; abridge and abbreviate, etc.
DOUBLETHREADED
Dou"ble*thread`ed, a.
1. Consisting of two threads twisted together; using two threads.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: Having two screw threads instead of one; -- said of a screw in
which the pitch is equal to twice the distance between the centers of
adjacent threads.
DOUBLE-TONGUE
Dou"ble-tongue`, n.
Defn: Deceit; duplicity.
Now cometh the sin of double-tongue, such as speak fair before folk
and wickedly behind. Chaucer.
DOUBLE-TONGUED
Dou"ble-tongued`, a.
Defn: Making contrary declarations on the same subject; deceitful.
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued. 1 Tim. iii.
8.
DOUBLE-TONGUING
Dou"ble-tongu`ing, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A peculiar action of the tongue by flute players in
articulating staccato notes; also, the rapid repetition of notes in
cornet playing.
DOUBLETREE
Dou"ble*tree`, n.
Defn: The bar, or crosspiece, of a carriage, to which the singletrees
are attached.
DOUBLETS
Doub"lets, n. pl.
Defn: See Doublet, 6 and 7.
DOUBLING
Dou"bling, n.
1. The act of one that doubles; a making double; reduplication; also,
that which is doubled.
2. A turning and winding; as, the doubling of a hunted hare; shift;
trick; artifice. Dryden.
3. (Her.)
Defn: The lining of the mantle borne about the shield or escutcheon.
4. The process of redistilling spirits, to improve the strength and
flavor. Doubling a cape, promontory, etc. (Naut.), sailing around or
passing beyond a cape, promontory, etc.
DOUBLOON
Doub*loon", n. Etym: [F. doublon, Sp. doblon. See Double, a., and cf.
Dupion.]
Defn: A Spanish gold coin, no longer issued, varying in value at
different times from over fifteen dollars to about five. See Doblon
in Sup.
DOUBLURE
Dou`blure", n. [F.]
1. (Bookbinding) The lining of a book cover, esp. one of unusual
sort, as of tooled leather, painted vellum, rich brocade, or the
like.
2. (Paleon.) The reflexed margin of the trilobite carapace.
DOUBLY
Dou"bly, adv.
1. In twice the quantity; to twice the degree; as, doubly wise or
good; to be doubly sensible of an obligation. Dryden.
2. Deceitfully. "A man that deals doubly." Huloet.
DOUBT
Doubt, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dou; p. pr. & vb. n. Doubting.] Etym: [OE.
duten, douten, OF. duter, doter, douter, F. douter, fr. L. dubitare;
akin to dubius doubtful. See Dubious.]
1. To waver in opinion or judgment; to be in uncertainty as to belief
respecting anything; to hesitate in belief; to be undecided as to the
truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e
undetermined.
Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully
doubt, and suspend our judgment. Hooker.
To try your love and make you doubt of mine. Dryden.
2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- To waver; vacillate; fluctuate; hesitate; demur; scruple;
question.
DOUBT
Doubt, v. t.
1. To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to
hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold
confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt
the truth of it.
To admire superior sense, and doubt their own! Pope.
I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much of what is
graceful. Tennyson.
To doubt not but.
I do not doubt but I have been to blame. Dryden.
We doubt not now But every rub is smoothed on our way. Shak.
Note: That is, we have no doubt to prevent us from believing, etc.
(or notwithstanding all that may be said to the contrary) -- but
having a preventive sense, after verbs of "doubting" and "denying"
that convey a notion of hindrance. E. A. Abbott.
2. To suspect; to fear; to be apprehensive of. [Obs.]
Edmond [was a] good man and doubted God. R. of Gloucester.
I doubt some foul play. Shak.
That I of doubted danger had no fear. Spenser.
3. To fill with fear; to affright. [Obs.]
The virtues of the valiant Caratach More doubt me than all Britain.
Beau. & Fl.
DOUBT
Doubt, n. Etym: [OE. dute, doute, F. doute, fr. douter to doubt. See
Doubt, v. i.]
1. A fluctuation of mind arising from defect of knowledge or
evidence; uncertainty of judgment or mind; unsettled state of opinion
concerning the reality of an event, or the truth of an assertion,
etc.; hesitation.
Doubt is the beginning and the end of our efforts to know. Sir W.
Hamilton.
Doubt, in order to be operative in requiring an acquittal, is not the
want of perfect certainty (which can never exist in any question of
fact) but a defect of proof preventing a reasonable assurance of
quilt. Wharton.
2. Uncertainty of condition.
Thy life shall hang in doubt before thee. Deut. xxviii. 66.
3. Suspicion; fear; apprehension; dread. [Obs.]
I stand in doubt of you. Gal. iv. 20.
Nor slack her threatful hand for danger's doubt. Spenser.
4. Difficulty expressed or urged for solution; point unsettled;
objection.
To every doubt your answer is the same. Blackmore.
No doubt, undoubtedly; without doubt.
-- Out of doubt, beyond doubt. [Obs.] Spenser.
Syn.
-- Uncertainty; hesitation; suspense; indecision; irresolution;
distrust; suspicion; scruple; perplexity; ambiguity; skepticism.
DOUBTABLE
Doubt"a*ble, a. Etym: [OF. doutable, L. dubitabilis, from dubitare.
Cf. Dubitable.]
1. Capable of being doubted; questionable.
2. Worthy of being feared; redoubtable. [Obs.]
DOUBTANCE
Doubt"ance, n. Etym: [OF. doutance. Cf. Dubitancy.]
Defn: State of being in doubt; uncertainty; doubt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOUBTER
Doubt"er, n.
Defn: One who doubts; one whose opinion is unsettled; one who
scruples.
DOUBTFUL
Doubt"ful, a.
1. Not settled in opinion; undetermined; wavering; hesitating in
belief; also used, metaphorically, of the body when its action is
affected by such a state of mind; as, we are doubtful of a fact, or
of the propriety of a measure.
Methinks I should know you, and know this man; Yet I am doubtful.
Shak.
With doubtful feet and wavering resolution. Milton.
2. Admitting of doubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable;
not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a
doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like.
Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good. Shak.
Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace,
or even the doubtful friend [i. e., one as to whose sincerity there
may be doubts] Bancroft.
3. Characterized by ambiguity; dubious; as, a doubtful expression; a
doubtful phrase.
4. Of uncertain issue or event.
We . . . have sustained one day in doubtful fight. Milton.
The strife between the two principles had been long, fierce, and
doubtful. Macaulay.
5. Fearful; apprehensive; suspicious. [Obs.]
I am doubtful that you have been conjunct And bosomed with her. Shak.
Syn.
-- Wavering; vacillating; hesitating; undetermined; distrustful;
dubious; uncertain; equivocal; ambiguous; problematical;
questionable.
DOUBTFULLY
Doubt"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a doubtful manner.
Nor did the goddess doubtfully declare. Dryden.
DOUBTFULNESS
Doubt"ful*ness, n.
1. State of being doubtful.
2. Uncertainty of meaning; ambiguity; indefiniteness. " The
doubtfulness of his expressions." Locke.
3. Uncertainty of event or issue. Bacon.
DOUBTING
Doubt"ing, a.
Defn: That is uncertain; that distrusts or hesitates; having doubts.
-- Doubt"ing*ly, adv.
DOUBTLESS
Doubt"less, a.
Defn: Free from fear or suspicion. [Obs.]
Pretty child, sleep doubtless and secure. Shak.
DOUBTLESS
Doubt"less, adv.
Defn: Undoubtedly; without doubt.
DOUBTLESSLY
Doubt"less*ly, adv.
Defn: Unquestionably. Beau. & Fl.
DOUBTOUS
Doubt"ous, a. Etym: [OF. dotos, douteus, F. douteux.]
Defn: Doubtful. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOUC
Douc, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A monkey (Semnopithecus nemæus), remarkable for its varied and
brilliant colors. It is a native of Cochin China.
DOUCE
Douce, a. Etym: [F. doux, masc., douce, fem., sweet, fr. L. duleis
sweet.]
1. Sweet; pleasant. [Obs.]
2. Sober; prudent; sedate; modest. [Scot.]
And this is a douce, honest man. Sir W. Scott.
DOUCEPERE
Douce"pere`, n. Etym: [F. les douze pairs the twelve peers of France,
renowned in romantic fiction.]
Defn: One of the twelve peers of France, companions of Charlemagne in
war. [Written also douzepere.] [Obs.]
Big-looking like a doughty doucepere. Spenser.
DOUCET; DOWSET
Dou"cet, Dow"set, n. Etym: [F. doucet sweet, dim. of doux. See
Douce.]
1. A custard. [Obs.]
2. A dowcet, or deep's testicle.
DOUCEUR
Dou`ceur", n. Etym: [F., fr. doux sweet. See Douce.]
1. Gentleness and sweetness of manner; agreeableness. Chesterfield.
2. A gift for service done or to be done; an honorarium; a present;
sometimes, a bribe. Burke.
DOUCHE
Douche, n. Etym: [F., fr. It. doccia, fr. docciare to flow, pour, fr.
an assumed LL. ductiare, fr. L. ducere, ductum, to lead, conduct
(water). See Duct.]
1. A jet or current of water or vapor directed upon some part of the
body to benefit it medicinally; a douche bath.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A syringe.
DOUCINE
Dou"cine, n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Cyma, under Cyma.
DOUCKER
Douck"er, n. Etym: [From aouck, for duck. See Duck, v. t.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A grebe or diver; -- applied also to the golden-eye, pochard,
scoter, and other ducks. [Written also ducker.] [Prov. Eng.]
DOUGH
Dough, n. Etym: [OE. dagh, dogh, dow, AS. dah; akin to D. deeg, G.
teig, Icel. deig, Sw. deg, Dan. deig, Goth. daigs; also, to Goth.
deigan to knead, L. fingere to form, shape, Skr. dih to smear; cf.
Gr. Feign, Figure, Dairy, Duff.]
1. Paste of bread; a soft mass of moistened flour or meal, kneaded or
unkneaded, but not yet baked; as, to knead dough.
2. Anything of the consistency of such paste. To have one's cake
dough. See under Cake.
DOUGH-BAKED
Dough"-baked`, a.
Defn: Imperfectly baked; hence, not brought to perfection;
unfinished; also, of weak or dull understanding. [Colloq.] Halliwell.
DOUGHBIRD
Dough"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Eskimo curlew (Numenius borealis). See Curlew.
DOUGHFACE
Dough"face`, n.
Defn: A contemptuous nickname for a timid, yielding politician, or
one who is easily molded. [Political cant, U. S.]
DOUGH-FACED
Dough"-faced`, a.
Defn: Easily molded; pliable.
DOUGHFACEISM
Dough"face`ism, n.
Defn: The character of a doughface; truckling pliability.
DOUGHINESS
Dough"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being doughy.
DOUGH-KNEADED
Dough"-knead`ed, a.
Defn: Like dough; soft.
He demeans himself . . . like a dough-kneaded thing. Milton.
DOUGHNUT
Dough"nut, n.
Defn: A small cake (usually sweetened) fried in a kettle of boiling
lard.
DOUGHTILY
Dough"ti*ly, adv.
Defn: In a doughty manner.
DOUGHTINESS
Dough"ti*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being doughty; valor; bravery.
DOUGHTREN
Dough"tren, n. pl. Etym: [See Daughter.]
Defn: Daughters. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOUGHTY
Dough"ty, a. [Compar. Doughtier; superl. Doughtiest.] Etym: [OE.
duhti, dohti, douhti, brave, valiant, fit, useful, AS, dyhtig; akin
to G. tüchtig, Dan. dygtig, Sw. dygdig virtuous, and fr. AS. dugan to
avail, be of use, be strong, akin to D. deugen, OHG. tugan, G.
taugen, Icel. & Sw. duga, Dan. due, Goth. dugan, but of uncertain
origin; cf. Skr. duh to milk, give milk, draw out, or Gr.
Defn: Able; strong; valiant; redoubtable; as, a doughty hero.
Sir Thopas wex [grew] a doughty swain. Chaucer.
Doughty families, hugging old musty quarrels to their hearts, buffet
each other from generation to generation. Motley.
Note: Now seldom used, except in irony or burlesque.
DOUGHY
Dough"y, a.
Defn: Like dough; soft and heavy; pasty; crude; flabby and pale; as,
a doughy complexion.
DOULOCRACY
Dou*loc"ra*cy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A government by slaves. [Written also dulocracy.] Hare.
DOUM PALM
Doum" palm` (doom" päm`).
Defn: See Doom palm.
DOUPE
Doupe, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The carrion crow. [Written also dob.] [Prov. Eng.]
DOUR
Dour, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dur, L. durus.]
Defn: Hard; inflexible; obstinate; sour in aspect; hardy; bold.
[Scot.]
A dour wife, a sour old carlin. C. Reade.
DOURA
Dou"ra, n.
Defn: A kind of millet. See Durra.
DOUROUCOULI
Dou`rou*cou"li, n.
Defn: See Durukuli.
DOUSE
Douse, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doused; p. pr. & vb. n. Dousing.] Etym:
[Cf. Dowse, and OD. donsen to strike with the fist on the back, Sw.
dunsa to fall down violently and noisily; perh. akin to E. din.]
1. To plunge suddenly into water; to duck; to immerse; to dowse. Bp.
Stillingfleet.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: To strike or lower in haste; to slacken suddenly; as, douse the
topsail.
DOUSE
Douse, v. i.
Defn: To fall suddenly into water. Hudibras.
DOUSE
Douse, v. t. Etym: [AS. dwæscan. (Skeat.)]
Defn: To put out; to extinguish. [Slang] " To douse the glim." Sir W.
Scott.
DOUSING-CHOCK
Dous"ing-chock`, n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: One of several pieces fayed across the apron and lapped in the
knightheads, or inside planking above the upper deck. Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
DOUT
Dout, v. t. Etym: [Do + out. Cf. Doff.]
Defn: To put out. [Obs.] "It douts the light." Sylvester.
DOUTER
Dout"er, n.
Defn: An extinguisher for candles. [Obs.]
DOVE
Dove, n. Etym: [OE. dove, duve, douve, AS. d; akin to OS. d, D. duif,
OHG. t, G. taube, Icel. d, Sw. dufva, Dan. due, Goth. d; perh. from
the root of E. dive.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The
species are numerous.
Note: The domestic dove, including the varieties called fantails,
tumblers, carrier pigeons, etc., was derived from the rock pigeon
(Columba livia) of Europe and Asia; the turtledove of Europe,
celebrated for its sweet, plaintive note, is C. turtur or Turtur
vulgaris; the ringdove, the largest of European species, is C.
palumbus; the Carolina dove, or Mourning dove, is Zenaidura macroura;
the sea dove is the little auk (Mergulus alle or Alle alle). See
Turtledove, Ground dove, and Rock pigeon. The dove is a symbol of
innocence, gentleness, and affection; also, in art and in the
Scriptures, the typical symbol of the Holy Ghost.
2. A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle.
O my dove, . . . let me hear thy voice. Cant. ii. 14.
Dove tick (Zoöl.), a mite (Argas reflexus) which infests doves and
other birds.
-- Soiled dove, a prostitute. [Slang]
DOVECOT; DOVECOTE
Dove"cot`, Dove"cote`, n.
Defn: A small house or box, raised to a considerable height above the
ground, and having compartments, in which domestic pigeons breed; a
dove house.
Like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.
Shak.
DOVE-EYED
Dove"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having eyes like a dove; meekeyed; as, dove-eyed Peace.
DOVEKIE
Dove"kie, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A guillemot (Uria grylle), of the arctic regions. Also applied
to the little auk or sea dove. See under Dove.
DOVELET
Dove"let, n.
Defn: A young or small dove. Booth.
DOVELIKE
Dove"like`, a.
Defn: Mild as a dove; gentle; pure and lovable. Longfellow.
DOVE PLANT
Dove" plant`. (Bot.)
Defn: A Central American orchid (Peristeria elata), having a flower
stem five or six feet high, with numerous globose white fragrant
flowers. The column in the center of the flower resembles a dove; --
called also Holy Spirit plant.
DOVER'S POWDER
Do"ver's Pow"der. Etym: [From Dr. Dover, an English physician.]
(Med.)
Defn: A powder of ipecac and opium, compounded, in the United States,
with sugar of milk, but in England (as formerly in the United States)
with sulphate of potash, and in France (as in Dr. Dover's original
prescription) with nitrate and sulphate of potash and licorice. It is
an anodyne diaphoretic.
DOVE'S-FOOT
Dove's"-foot`, n. (Bot.)
(a) A small annual species of Geranium, native in England; -- so
called from the shape of the leaf.
(b) The columbine. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DOVESHIP
Dove"ship, n.
Defn: The possession of dovelike qualities, harmlessness and
innocence. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DOVETAIL
Dove"tail`, n. (Carp.)
Defn: A flaring tenon, or tongue (shaped like a bird's tail spread),
and a mortise, or socket, into which it fits tightly, making an
interlocking joint between two pieces which resists pulling a part in
all directions except one. Dovetail molding (Arch.), a molding of any
convex section arranged in a sort of zigzag, like a series of
dovetails.
-- Dovetail saw (Carp.), a saw used in dovetailing.
DOVETAIL
Dove"tail`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dovetailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dovetailing.]
1. (Carp.)
(a) To cut to a dovetail.
(b) To join by means of dovetails.
2. To fit in or connect strongly, skillfully, or nicely; to fit
ingeniously or complexly.
He put together a piece of joinery so crossly indented and
whimsically dovetailed . . . that it was indeed a very curious show.
Burke.
DOVISH
Dov"ish, a.
Defn: Like a dove; harmless; innocent. "Joined with dovish
simplicity." Latimer.
DOW
Dow, n.
Defn: A kind of vessel. See Dhow.
DOW
Dow, v. t. Etym: [F. douer. See Dower.]
Defn: To furnish with a dower; to endow. [Obs.] Wyclif.
DOWABLE
Dow"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Dow, v. t.]
Defn: Capable of being endowed; entitled to dower. Blackstone.
DOWAGER
Dow"a*ger, n. Etym: [OF. douagiere, fr. douage dower. See Dower.]
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: A widow endowed, or having a jointure; a widow who either
enjoys a dower from her deceased husband, or has property of her own
brought by her to her husband on marriage, and settled on her after
his decease. Blount. Burrill.
2. A title given in England to a widow, to distinguish her from the
wife of her husband's heir bearing the same name; -- chiefly applied
to widows of personages of rank.
With prudes for proctors, dowagers for deans. Tennyson.
Queen dowager, the widow of a king.
DOWAGERISM
Dow"a*ger*ism, n.
Defn: The rank or condition of a dowager; formality, as that of a
dowager. Also used figuratively.
Mansions that have passed away into dowagerism. Thackeray.
DOWCET
Dow"cet, n. Etym: [See Doucet.]
Defn: One of the testicles of a hart or stag. [Spelt also doucet.] B.
Jonson.
DOWDY
Dow"dy, a. [Compar. Dowdier; superl. Dowdiest.] Etym: [Scot. dawdie
slovenly, daw, da sluggard, drab, Prov. E. dowd flat, dead.]
Defn: Showing a vulgar taste in dress; awkward and slovenly in dress;
vulgar-looking.
-- Dow"di*ly, adv.
-- Dow"di*ness, n.
DOWDY
Dow"dy, n.; pl. Dowdies (.
Defn: An awkward, vulgarly dressed, inelegant woman. Shak. Dryden.
DOWDYISH
Dow"dy*ish, a.
Defn: Like a dowdy.
DOWEL
Dow"el, n. Etym: [Cf. G. döbel peg, F. douelle state of a cask,
surface of an arch, douille socket, little pipe, cartridge.] (Mech.)
1. A pin, or block, of wood or metal, fitting into holes in the
abutting portions of two pieces, and being partly in one piece and
partly in the other, to keep them in their proper relative position.
2. A piece of wood driven into a wall, so that other pieces may be
nailed to it. Dowel joint, a joint secured by a dowel or dowels.
-- Dowel pin, a dowel. See Dowel, n.,
1.
DOWEL
Dow"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doweled or Dowelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Doweling or Dowelling.]
Defn: To fasten together by dowels; to furnish with dowels; as, a
cooper dowels pieces for the head of a cask.
DOWER
Dow"er, n. Etym: [F. douaire, LL. dotarium, from L. dotare to endow,
portion, fr. dos dower; akin to Gr. dare to give. See 1st Date, and
cf. Dot dowry, Dotation.]
1. That with which one is gifted or endowed; endowment; gift.
How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower! Sir J. Davies.
Man in his primeval dower arrayed. Wordsworth.
2. The property with which a woman is endowed; especially:
(a) That which a woman brings to a husband in marriage; dowry. [Obs.]
His wife brought in dower Cilicia's crown. Dryden.
(b) (Law)
Defn: That portion of the real estate of a man which his widow enjoys
during her life, or to which a woman is entitled after the death of
her husband. Blackstone.
Note: Dower, in modern use, is and should be distinguished from
dowry. The former is a provision for a widow on her husband's death;
the latter is a bride's portion on her marriage. Abbott. Assignment
of dower. See under Assignment.
DOWERED
Dow"ered, p. a.
Defn: Furnished with, or as with, dower or a marriage portion. Shak.
DOWERLESS
Dow"er*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of dower; having no marriage portion. Shak.
DOWERY
Dow"er*y, n.
Defn: See Dower.
DOWITCHER
Dow"itch*er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-breasted or gray snipe (Macrorhamphus griseus); --
called also brownback, and grayback.
DOWL
Dowl, n.
Defn: Same as Dowle.
DOWLAS
Dow"las, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. Doullens, a town of Picardy, in France,
formerly celebrated for this manufacture.]
Defn: A coarse linen cloth made in the north of England and in
Scotland, now nearly replaced by calico. Shak.
DOWLE
Dowle, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. douille soft. Cf. Ductile.]
Defn: Feathery or wool-like down; filament of a feather. Shak.
No feather, or dowle of a feather. De Quincey.
DOWN
Down, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. dune, dun, Icel. d, Sw. dun, Dan. duun,
G. daune, cf. D. dons; perh. akin to E. dust.]
1. Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or
plants, not matted and fleecy like wool; esp.:
(a) (Zoöl.) The soft under feathers of birds. They have short stems
with soft rachis and bards and long threadlike barbules, without
hooklets.
(b) (Bot.) The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of
the seeds of certain plants, as of the thistle.
(c) The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear.
And the first down begins to shade his face. Dryden.
2. That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords
ease and repose, like a bed of down
When in the down I sink my head, Sleep, Death's twin brother, times
my breath. Tennyson.
Thou bosom softness, down of all my cares! Southern.
Down tree (Bot.), a tree of Central America (Ochroma Lagopus), the
seeds of which are enveloped in vegetable wool.
DOWN
Down, v. t.
Defn: To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down. [R.] Young.
DOWN
Down, n. Etym: [OE. dun, doun, AS. d; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. d
hill, fortified hill, Gael. dun heap, hillock, hill, W. din a
fortified hill or mount; akin to E. town. See Town, and cf. Down,
adv. & prep., Dune.]
1. A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or
near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; -- usually in the plural.
Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been
on the downs of Sussex. Ray.
She went by dale, and she went by down. Tennyson.
2. A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea,
covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep;
-- usually in the plural. [Eng.]
Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his downs. Sandys.
3. pl.
Defn: A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover,
near Deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war.
On the 11th [June, 1771] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were
abreast of Dover, and about three came to an anchor in the Downs, and
went ashore at Deal. Cook (First Voyage).
4. pl. Etym: [From the adverb.]
Defn: A state of depression; low state; abasement. [Colloq.]
It the downs of life too much outnumber the ups. M. Arnold.
DOWN
Down, adv. Etym: [For older adown, AS. ad, ad, prop., from or off the
hill. See 3d Down, and cf. Adown, and cf. Adown.]
1. In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth;
toward or in a lower place or position; below; -- the opposite of up.
2. Hence, in many derived uses, as:
(a) From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in
a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright
position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior
condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the
like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs indicating motion.
It will be rain to-night. Let it come down. Shak.
I sit me down beside the hazel grove. Tennyson.
And that drags down his life. Tennyson.
There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man
who has written himself down. Addison.
The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone] the English. Shak.
(b) In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at
the bottom of a decent; below the horizon; of the ground; in a
condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of
quiet.
I was down and out of breath. Shak.
The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. Shak.
He that is down needs fear no fall. Bunyan.
3. From a remoter or higher antiquity.
Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation. D.
Webster.
4. From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker
consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in making decoctions.
Arbuthnot.
Note: Down is sometimes used elliptically, standing for go down, come
down, tear down, take down, put down, haul down, pay down, and the
like, especially in command or exclamation.
Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Shak.
If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone will down. Locke.
Down is also used intensively; as, to be loaded down; to fall down;
to hang down; to drop down; to pay down.
The temple of Herè at Argos was burnt down. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a conventional sense; as,
down East.
Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and those in the
provinces, up to London. Stormonth.
Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm to
leeward.
-- Down on or upon (joined with a verb indicating motion, as go,
come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea of threatening power.
Come down upon us with a mighty power. Shak.
-- Down with, take down, throw down, put down; -- used in energetic
command. "Down with the palace; fire it." Dryden.
-- To be down on, to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.] -- To
cry down. See under Cry, v. t.
-- To cut down. See under Cut, v. t.
-- Up and down, with rising and falling motion; to and fro; hither
and thither; everywhere. "Let them wander up and down." Ps. lix. 15.
DOWN
Down, prep. Etym: [From Down, adv.]
1. In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place
upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a
well.
2. Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail
or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound. Down the country,
toward the sea, or toward the part where rivers discharge their
waters into the ocean.
-- Down the sound, in the direction of the ebbing tide; toward the
sea.
DOWN
Down, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Downed; p. pr. & vb. n. Downing.]
Defn: To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to
overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down. [Archaic
or Colloq.] "To down proud hearts." Sir P. Sidney.
I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the wits, once at
our house. Madame D'Arblay.
DOWN
Down, v. i.
Defn: To go down; to descend. Locke.
DOWN
Down, a.
1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.]
2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. &
Fl.
3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a
down train on a railway. Down draught, a downward draft, as in a
flue, chimney, shaft of a mine, etc.
-- Down in the mouth, chopfallen; dejected.
DOWNBEAR
Down"bear`, v. t.
Defn: To bear down; to depress.
DOWNCAST
Down"cast`, a.
Defn: Cast downward; directed to the ground, from bashfulness,
modesty, dejection, or guilt.
'T is love, said she; and then my downcast eyes, And guilty dumbness,
witnessed my surprise. Dryden.
- Down"cast`ly, adv.
-- Down"cast`ness, n.
DOWNCAST
Down"cast`, n.
1. Downcast or melancholy look.
That downcast of thine eye. Beau. & Fl.
2. (mining)
Defn: A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating
through a mine.
DOWNCOME
Down"come`, n.
1. Sudden fall; downfall; overthrow. Milton.
2. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: A pipe for leading combustible gases downward from the top of
the blast furnace to the hot-blast stoves, boilers, etc., where they
are burned.
DOWNCOMER
Down"com`er, n. A pipe to conduct something downwards; specif.:
(a) (Iron Manuf.) A pipe for leading the hot gases from the top of a
blast furnace downward to the regenerators, boilers, etc.
(b) (Steam Engin.) In some water-tube boilers, a tube larger in
diameter than the water tubes to conduct the water from each top drum
to a bottom drum, thus completing the circulation.
DOWNFALL
Down"fall`, n.
1. A sudden fall; a body of things falling.
Those cataracts or downfalls aforesaid. Holland.
Each downfall of a flood the mountains pour. Dryden.
2. A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness;
destruction; ruin.
Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so
important a place. Motley.
DOWNFALLEN
Down"fall`en, a.
Defn: Fallen; ruined. Carew.
DOWNFALLING
Down"fall`ing, a.
Defn: Falling down.
DOWNGYVED
Down"gyved`, a.
Defn: Hanging down like gyves or fetters. [Poetic & Rare] Shak.
DOWNHAUL
Down"haul`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope to haul down, or to assist in hauling down, a sail; as,
a staysail downhaul; a trysail downhaul.
DOWNHEARTED
Down"heart`ed, a.
Defn: Dejected; low-spirited.
DOWNHILL
Down"hill`, adv.
Defn: Towards the bottom of a hill; as, water runs downhill.
DOWNHILL
Down"hill`, a.
Defn: Declivous; descending; sloping. "A downhill greensward."
Congrewe.
DOWNHILL
Down"hill`, n.
Defn: Declivity; descent; slope.
On th' icy downhills of this slippery life. Du Bartas (Trans. ).
DOWNINESS
Down"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being downy.
DOWNLOOKED
Down"looked`, a.
Defn: Having a downcast countenance; dejected; gloomy; sullen. [R.]
Dryden.
DOWNLYING
Down"ly`ing, n.
Defn: The time of retiring to rest; time of repose. Cavendish. At the
downlying, at the travail in childbirth. [Scot.]
DOWNPOUR
Down"pour`, n.
Defn: A pouring or streaming downwards; esp., a heavy or continuous
shower.
DOWNRIGHT
Down"right`, adv.
1. Straight down; perpendicularly.
2. In plain terms; without ceremony.
We shall chide downright, id I longer stay. Shak.
3. Without delay; at once; completely. [Obs.]
She fell downright into a fit. Arbuthnot.
DOWNRIGHT
Down"right`, a.
1. Plain; direct; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his
downright way.
A man of plain, downright character. Sir W. Scott.
2. Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright
atheism.
The downright impossibilities charged upon it. South.
Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity. Prescott.
-- Down"right`ly, adv.
-- Down"right`ness, n.
DOWN-SHARE
Down"-share`, n.
Defn: A breastplow used in paring off turf on downs. [Eng.] Knight.
DOWNSITTING
Down"sit`ting, n.
Defn: The act of sitting down; repose; a resting.
Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising. Ps. cxxxix. 2.
DOWNSTAIRS
Down"stairs, adv.
Defn: Down the stairs; to a lower floor.
-- a.
Defn: Below stairs; as, a downstairs room.
DOWNSTEEPY
Down"steep`y, a.
Defn: Very steep. [Obs.] Florio.
DOWNSTREAM
Down"stream`, adv.
Defn: Down the stream; as, floating downstream.
DOWNSTROKE
Down"stroke`, n. (Penmanship)
Defn: A stroke made with a downward motion of the pen or pencil.
DOWNTHROW
Down"throw`, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The sudden drop or depression of the strata of rocks on one
side of a fault. See Throw, n.
DOWNTROD; DOWNTRODDEN
Down"trod`, Down"trod`den, a.
Defn: Trodden down; trampled down; abused by superior power. Shak.
DOWNWARD; DOWNWARDS
Down"ward, Down"wards, adv. Etym: [AS. ad. See Down, adv., and -
ward.]
1. From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to
tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. "Looking
downwards." Pope.
Their heads they downward bent. Drayton.
2. From a higher to a lower condition; toward misery, humility,
disgrace, or ruin.
And downward fell into a groveling swine. Milton.
3. From a remote time; from an ancestor or predecessor; from one to
another in a descending line.
A ring the county wears, That downward hath descended in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents. Shak.
DOWNWARD
Down"ward, a.
1. Moving or extending from a higher to a lower place; tending toward
the earth or its center, or toward a lower level; declivous.
With downward force That drove the sand along he took his way.
Dryden.
2. Descending from a head, origin, or source; as, a downward line of
descent.
3. Tending to a lower condition or state; depressed; dejected; as,
downward thoughts. Sir P. Sidney.
DOWNWEED
Down"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Cudweed, a species of Gnaphalium.
DOWNWEIGH
Down`weigh", v. t.
Defn: To weigh or press down.
A different sin downweighs them to the bottom. Longfellow.
DOWN-WIND
Down"-wind`, adv.
Defn: With the wind.
DOWNY
Down"y, a.
1. Covered with down, or with pubescence or soft hairs. "A downy
feather." Shak.
Plants that . . . have downy or velvet rind upon their leaves. Bacon.
2. Made of, or resembling, down. Hence, figuratively: Soft; placid;
soothing; quiet. "A downy shower." Keble. "Downy pillow." Pope.
Time steals on with downy feet. Young.
3. Cunning; wary. [Slang, Eng.] Latham.
DOWRAL
Dow"ral, a.
Defn: Of or relating to a dower. [R.]
DOWRESS
Dow"ress, n.
Defn: A woman entitled to dower. Bouvier.
DOWRY
Dow"ry, n.; pl. Dowries. Etym: [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium.
See Dower.]
1. A gift; endowment. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. The money, goods, or estate, which a woman brings to her husband
in marriage; a bride's portion on her marriage. See Note under Dower.
Shak. Dryden.
3. A gift or presents for the bride, on espousal. See Dower.
Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give . . .; but give
me the damsel to wife. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
DOWSE
Dowse, v. t. Etym: [Cf. 1st Douse.]
1. To plunge, or duck into water; to immerse; to douse.
2. Etym: [Cf. OD. doesen to strike, Norw. dusa to break.]
Defn: To beat or thrash. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DOWSE
Dowse, v. i.
Defn: To use the dipping or divining rod, as in search of water, ore,
etc.
Adams had the reputation of having dowsed successfully for more than
a hundred wells. Eng. Cyc.
DOWSE
Dowse, n.
Defn: A blow on the face. [Low] Colman.
DOWSER
Dows"er, n.
1. A divining rod used in searching for water, ore, etc., a dowsing
rod. [Colloq.]
2. One who uses the dowser or divining rod. Eng. Cyc.
DOWST
Dowst, n.
Defn: A dowse. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DOWVE
Dow"ve, n.
Defn: A dove. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DOXOLOGICAL
Dox`o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to doxology; giving praise to God. Howell.
DOXOLOGIZE
Dox*ol"o*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Doxologized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Doxologizing.]
Defn: To give glory to God, as in a doxology; to praise God with
doxologies.
DOXOLOGY
Dox*ol"o*gy, n.; pl. Doxologies. Etym: [LL. doxologia, Gr. doxologie.
See Dogma, and Legend.]
Defn: In Christian worship: A hymn expressing praise and honor to
God; a form of praise to God designed to be sung or chanted by the
choir or the congregation.
David breaks forth into these triumphant praises and doxologies.
South.
DOXY
Dox"y, n.; pl. Doxies. Etym: [See Duck a pet.]
Defn: A loose wench; a disreputable sweetheart. Shak.
DOYEN
Doy`en", n. [F. See Dean.]
Defn: Lit., a dean; the senior member of a body or group; as, the
doyen of French physicians. "This doyen of newspapers." A. R.
Colquhoun.
DOYLY
Doy"ly, n.
Defn: See Doily.
DOZE
Doze, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dozed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dozing.] Etym:
[Prob. akin to daze, dizzy: cf. Icel. d to doze, Dan. döse to make
dull, heavy, or drowsy, dös dullness, drowsiness, dösig drowsy, AS.
dw dull, stupid, foolish. Dizzy.]
Defn: To slumber; to sleep lightly; to be in a dull or stupefied
condition, as if half asleep; to be drowsy.
If he happened to doze a little, the jolly cobbler waked him.
L'Estrange.
DOZE
Doze, v. t.
1. To pass or spend in drowsiness; as, to doze away one's time.
2. To make dull; to stupefy. [Obs.]
I was an hour . . . in casting up about twenty sums, being dozed with
much work. Pepys.
They left for a long time dozed and benumbed. South.
DOZE
Doze, n.
Defn: A light sleep; a drowse. Tennyson.
DOZEN
Doz"en, n.; pl. Dozen (before another noun), Dozens (. Etym: [OE.
doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L.
duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See Two, Ten, and cf. Duodecimal.]
1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or
without of before the substantive which follows. "Some six or seven
dozen of Scots." "A dozen of shirts to your back." "A dozen sons."
"Half a dozen friends." Shak.
2. An indefinite small number. Milton. A baker's dozen, thirteen; --
called also a long dozen.
DOZENTH
Doz"enth, a.
Defn: Twelfth. [R.]
DOZER
Doz"er, n.
Defn: One who dozes or drowses.
DOZINESS
Doz"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dozy; drowsiness; inclination to sleep.
DOZY
Doz"y, a.
Defn: Drowsy; inclined to doze; sleepy; sluggish; as, a dozy head.
Dryden.
DOZZLED
Doz"zled, a. [
Defn: Stupid; heavy. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DRAB
Drab, n. Etym: [AS. drabbe dregs, lees; akin to D. drab, drabbe,
dregs, G. treber; for sense 1, cf. also Gael. drabag a slattern,
drabach slovenly. Cf. Draff.]
1. A low, sluttish woman. King.
2. A lewd wench; a strumpet. Shak.
3. A wooden box, used in salt works for holding the salt when taken
out of the boiling pans.
DRAB
Drab, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drabbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drabbing.]
Defn: To associate with strumpets; to wench. Beau. & Fl.
DRAB
Drab, n. Etym: [F. drap cloth: LL. drappus, trapus, perh. orig., a
firm, solid stuff, cf. F. draper to drape, also to full cloth; prob.
of German origin; cf. Icel. drepa to beat, strike, AS. drepan, G.
treffen; perh. akin to E. drub. Cf. Drape, Trappings.]
1. A kind of thick woolen cloth of a dun, or dull brownish yellow, or
dull gray, color; -- called also drabcloth.
2. A dull brownish yellow or dull gray color.
DRAB
Drab, a.
Defn: Of a color between gray and brown.
-- n.
Defn: A drab color.
DRABBER
Drab"ber, n.
Defn: One who associates with drabs; a wencher. Massinger.
DRABBET
Drab"bet, n.
Defn: A coarse linen fabric, or duck.
DRABBISH
Drab"bish, a.
Defn: Somewhat drab in color.
DRABBISH
Drab"bish, a.
Defn: Having the character of a drab or low wench. "The drabbish
sorceress." Drant.
DRABBLE
Drab"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drabbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drabbling.]
[Drab, Draff.]
Defn: To draggle; to wet and befoul by draggling; as, to drabble a
gown or cloak. Halliwell.
DRABBLE
Drab"ble, v. i.
Defn: To fish with a long line and rod; as, to drabble for barbels.
DRABBLER
Drab"bler, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A piece of canvas fastened by lacing to the bonnet of a sail,
to give it a greater depth, or more drop.
DRABBLE-TAIL
Drab"ble-tail`, n.
Defn: A draggle-tail; a slattern. Halliwell.
DRACAENA
Dra*cæ"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of liliaceous plants with woody stems and funnel-shaped
flowers.
Note: Dracæna Draco, the source of the dragon's blood of the
Canaries, forms a tree, sometimes of gigantic size.
DRACANTH
Dra"canth, n.
Defn: A kind of gum; -- called also gum tragacanth, or tragacanth.
See Tragacanth.
DRACHM
Drachm, n. Etym: [See Drachma.]
1. A drachma.
2. Same as Dram.
DRACHMA
Drach"ma, n.; pl. E. Drachmas, L. Drachmæ. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Dram.]
1. A silver coin among the ancient Greeks, having a different value
in different States and at different periods. The average value of
the Attic drachma is computed to have been about 19 cents.
2. A gold and silver coin of modern Greece worth 19.3 cents.
3. Among the ancient Greeks, a weight of about 66.5 grains; among the
modern Greeks, a weight equal to a gram.
DRACHME
Drach"me, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Drachma.
DRACIN
Dra"cin, n.Etym: [Cf. F. dracine.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Draconin.
DRACO
Dra"co, n. Etym: [L. See Dragon.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: The Dragon, a northern constellation within which is the north
pole of the ecliptic.
2. A luminous exhalation from marshy grounds.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of lizards. See Dragon, 6.
DRACONIAN
Dra*co"ni*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Draco, a famous lawgiver of Athens, 621 b. c.
Draconian code, or Draconian laws, a code of laws made by Draco.
Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in
letters of blood; hence, any laws of excessive rigor.
DRACONIC
Dra*con"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to Draco, the Athenian lawgiver; or to the
constellation Draco; or to dragon's blood.
DRACONIN
Dra*co"nin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. draconine. See Draco.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red resin forming the essential basis of dragon's blood; --
called also dracin.
DRACONTIC
Dra*con"tic, a. Etym: [From L. draco dragon, in allusion to the terms
dragon's head and dragon's tail.] (Astron.)
Defn: Belonging to that space of time in which the moon performs one
revolution, from ascending node to ascending node. See Dragon's head,
under Dragon. [Obs.] "Dracontic month." Crabb.
DRACONTINE
Dra*con"tine, a. Etym: [L. draco dragon.]
Defn: Belonging to a dragon. Southey.
DRACUNCULUS
Dra*cun"cu*lus, n.; pl. Dracunculi. Etym: [L., dim. of draco dragon.]
(Zoöl.)
(a) A fish; the dragonet.
(b) The Guinea worm (Filaria medinensis).
DRAD
Drad, p. p. & a.
Defn: Dreaded. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRADDE
Drad"de, imp.
Defn: of Dread. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRADGE
Dradge, n. (Min.)
Defn: Inferior ore, separated from the better by cobbing. Raymond.
DRAFF
Draff, n. Etym: [Cf. D. draf the sediment of ale, Icel. draf draff,
husks. Cf. 1st Drab.]
Defn: Refuse; lees; dregs; the wash given to swine or cows; hogwash;
waste matter.
Prodigals lately come from swine keeping, from eating draff and
husks. Shak.
The draff and offal of a bygone age. Buckle.
Mere chaff and draff, much better burnt. Tennyson.
DRAFF
Draff, n. Etym: [The same word as draught. OE. draught, draht, fr.
AS. dragan to draw. See Draw, and cf. Draught.]
1. The act of drawing; also, the thing drawn. Same as Draught.
Everything available for draft burden. S. G. Goodrich.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A selecting or detaching of soldiers from an army, or from any
part of it, or from a military post; also from any district, or any
company or collection of persons, or from the people at large; also,
the body of men thus drafted.
Several of the States had supplied the deficiency by drafts to serve
for the year. Marshall.
3. An order from one person or party to another, directing the
payment of money; a bill of exchange.
I thought it most prudent to deter the drafts till advice was
received of the progress of the loan. A. Hamilton.
4. An allowance or deduction made from the gross veight of goods.
Simmonds.
5. A drawing of lines for a plan; a plan delineated, or drawn in
outline; a delineation. See Draught.
6. The form of any writing as first drawn up; the first rough sketch
of written composition, to be filled in, or completed. See Draught.
7. (Masonry)
(a) A narrow border left on a finished stone, worked differently from
the rest of its face.
(b) A narrow border worked to a plane surface along the edge of a
stone, or across its face, as a guide to the stone-cutter.
8. (Milling)
Defn: The slant given to the furrows in the dress of a millstone.
9. (Naut.)
Defn: Depth of water necessary to float a ship. See Draught.
10. A current of air. Same as Draught.
DRAFFISH
Draff"ish, a.
Defn: Worthless; draffy. Bale.
DRAFFY
Draff"y, a.
Defn: Dreggy; waste; worthless.
The dregs and draffy part. Beau. & Fl.
DRAFT
Draft, a.
1. Pertaining to, or used for, drawing or pulling (as vehicles,
loads, etc.). Same as Draught.
2. Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of air. Same
as Draught.
Note: The forms draft and draught, in the senses above-given, are
both on approved use. Draft box, Draft engine, Draft horse, Draft
net, Draft ox, Draft tube. Same as Draught box, Draught engine, etc.
See under Draught.
DRAFT
Draft, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drafted; p. pr. & vb. n. Drafting.]
1. To draw the outline of; to delineate.
2. To compose and write; as, to draft a memorial.
3. To draw from a military band or post, or from any district,
company, or society; to detach; to select.
Some royal seminary in Upper Egypt, from whence they drafted novices
to supply their colleges and temples. Holwell.
4. To transfer by draft.
All her rents been drafted to London. Fielding.
DRAFTSMAN
Drafts"man, n.
Defn: See Draughtsman.
DRAG
Drag, n. Etym: [See 3d Dredge.]
Defn: A confection; a comfit; a drug. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRAG
Drag, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dragged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dragging.] Etym:
[OE. draggen; akin to Sw. dragga to search with a grapnel, fr. dragg
grapnel, fr. draga to draw, the same word as E. draw. Draw.]
1. To draw slowly or heavily onward; to pull along the ground by main
force; to haul; to trail; -- applied to drawing heavy or resisting
bodies or those inapt for drawing, with labor, along the ground or
other surface; as, to drag stone or timber; to drag a net in fishing.
Dragged by the cords which through his feet were thrust. Denham.
The grossness of his nature will have weight to drag thee down.
Tennyson.
A needless Alexandrine ends the song That, like a wounded snake,
drags its slow length along. Pope.
2. To break, as land, by drawing a drag or harrow over it; to harrow;
to draw a drag along the bottom of, as a stream or other water;
hence, to search, as by means of a drag.
Then while I dragged my brains for such a song. Tennyson.
3. To draw along, as something burdensome; hence, to pass in pain or
with difficulty.
Have dragged a lingering life. Dryden.
To drag an anchor (Naut.), to trail it along the bottom when the
anchor will not hold the ship.
Syn.
-- See Draw.
DRAG
Drag, v. i.
1. To be drawn along, as a rope or dress, on the ground; to trail; to
be moved onward along the ground, or along the bottom of the sea, as
an anchor that does not hold.
2. To move onward heavily, laboriously, or slowly; to advance with
weary effort; to go on lingeringly.
The day drags through, though storms keep out the sun. Byron.
Long, open panegyric drags at best. Gay.
3. To serve as a clog or hindrance; to hold back.
A propeller is said to drag when the sails urge the vessel faster
than the revolutions of the screw can propel her. Russell.
4. To fish with a dragnet.
DRAG
Drag, n. Etym: [See Drag, v. t., and cf. Dray a cart, and 1st
Dredge.]
1. The act of dragging; anything which is dragged.
2. A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under water,
as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc.
3. A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind of low
car or handcart; as, a stone drag.
4. A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage. [Collog.]
Thackeray.
5. A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground.
6.
(a) Anything towed in the water to retard a ship's progress, or to
keep her head up to the wind; esp., a canvas bag with a hooped mouth,
so used. See Drag sail (below).
(b) Also, a skid or shoe, for retarding the motion of a carriage
wheel.
(c) Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to progress or
enjoyment.
My lectures were only a pleasure to me, and no drag. J. D. Forbes.
7. Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged. "Had
a drag in his walk." Hazlitt.
8. (Founding)
Defn: The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper part being the
cope.
9. (Masonry)
Defn: A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone.
10. (Marine Engin.)
Defn: The difference between the speed of a screw steamer under sail
and that of the screw when the ship outruns the screw; or between the
propulsive effects of the different floats of a paddle wheel. See
Citation under Drag, v. i., 3. Drag sail (Naut.), a sail or canvas
rigged on a stout frame, to be dragged by a vessel through the water
in order to keep her head to the wind or to prevent drifting; --
called also drift sail, drag sheet, drag anchor, sea anchor, floating
anchor, etc.
-- Drag twist (Mining), a spiral hook at the end of a rod for
cleaning drilled holes.
DRAGANTINE
Dra*gan"tine, n. Etym: [See Dracanth.]
Defn: A mucilage obtained from, or containing, gun tragacanth.
DRAGBAR
Drag"bar`, n.
Defn: Same as Drawbar (b). Called also draglink, and drawlink. [U.
S.]
DRAGBOLT
Drag"bolt`, n.
Defn: A coupling pin. See under Coupling. [U. S.]
DRAGEES
Dra`gées", n. pl. Etym: [F. See 3d Dredge.] (Pharmacy)
Defn: Sugar-coated medicines.
DRAGGLE
Drag"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Draggled; p. pr. & vb. n. Draggling.]
Etym: [Freq. of drag. Drawl.]
Defn: To wet and soil by dragging on the ground, mud, or wet grass;
to drabble; to trail. Gray.
With draggled nets down-hanging to the tide. Trench.
DRAGGLE
Drag"gle, v. i.
Defn: To be dragged on the ground; to become wet or dirty by being
dragged or trailed in the mud or wet grass. Hudibras.
DRAGGLE-TAIL
Drag"gle-tail`, n.
Defn: A slattern who suffers her gown to trail in the mire; a
drabble-tail.
DRAGGLE-TAILED
Drag"gle-tailed`, a.
Defn: Untidy; sluttish; slatternly. W. Irving.
DRAG LINE; DRAG ROPE
Drag line or drag rope . (Aëronautics)
Defn: A guide rope.
DRAGLINK
Drag"link`, n. (Mach.)
(a) A link connecting the cranks of two shafts.
(b) A drawbar.
DRAGMAN
Drag"man, n.; pl. Dragmen (.
Defn: A fisherman who uses a dragnet. Sir M. Hale.
DRAGNET
Drag"net`, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. drægnet.]
Defn: A net to be drawn along the bottom of a body of water, as in
fishing.
DRAGOMAN
Drag"o*man, n.; pl. Dragomans. Etym: [From F. dragoman, or Sp.
dragoman, or It. dragomanno; all fr. LGr. tarjuman, from the same
source as E. targum. Cf. Drogman, Truchman.]
Defn: An interpreter; -- so called in the Levant and other parts of
the East.
DRAGON
Drag"on, n. Etym: [F. dragon, L. draco, fr. Gr. dar to see), and so
called from its terrible eyes. Cf. Drake a dragon, Dragoon.]
1. (Myth.)
Defn: A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged
serpent or lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and
regarded as very powerful and ferocious.
The dragons which appear in early paintings and sculptures are
invariably representations of a winged crocodile. Fairholt.
Note: In Scripture the term dragon refers to any great monster,
whether of the land or sea, usually to some kind of serpent or
reptile, sometimes to land serpents of a powerful and deadly kind. It
is also applied metaphorically to Satan.
Thou breakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Ps. lxxiv. 13.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the
dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Ps. xci. 13.
He laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil and
Satan, and bound him a thousand years. Rev. xx. 2.
2. A fierce, violent person, esp. a woman. Johnson.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A constellation of the northern hemisphere figured as a dragon;
Draco.
4. A luminous exhalation from marshy grounds, seeming to move through
the air as a winged serpent.
5. (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: A short musket hooked to a swivel attached to a soldier's belt;
-- so called from a representation of a dragon's head at the muzzle.
Fairholt.
6. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small arboreal lizard of the genus Draco, of several species,
found in the East Indies and Southern Asia. Five or six of the hind
ribs, on each side, are prolonged and covered with weblike skin,
forming a sort of wing. These prolongations aid them in making long
leaps from tree to tree. Called also flying lizard.
7. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A variety of carrier pigeon.
8. (Her.)
Defn: A fabulous winged creature, sometimes borne as a charge in a
coat of arms.
Note: Dragon is often used adjectively, or in combination, in the
sense of relating to, resembling, or characteristic of, a dragon.
Dragon arum (Bot.), the name of several species of Arisæma, a genus
of plants having a spathe and spadix. See Dragon root(below).
-- Dragon fish (Zoöl.), the dragonet.
-- Dragon fly (Zoöl.), any insect of the family Libellulidæ. They
have finely formed, large and strongly reticulated wings, a large
head with enormous eyes, and a long body; -- called also mosquito
hawks. Their larvæ are aquatic and insectivorous.
-- Dragon root (Bot.), an American aroid plant (Arisæma Dracontium);
green dragon.
-- Dragon's blood, a resinous substance obtained from the fruit of
several species of Calamus, esp. from C. Rotang and C. Draco, growing
in the East Indies. A substance known as dragon's blood is obtained
by exudation from Dracæna Draco; also from Pterocarpus Draco, a tree
of the West Indies and South America. The color is red, or a dark
brownish red, and it is used chiefly for coloring varnishes, marbles,
etc. Called also Cinnabar Græcorum.
-- Dragon's head. (a) (Bot.) A plant of several species of the genus
Dracocephalum. They are perennial herbs closely allied to the common
catnip. (b) (Astron.) The ascending node of a planet, indicated,
chiefly in almanacs, by the symbol Encyc. Brit.
-- Dragon shell (Zoöl.), a species of limpet.
-- Dragon's skin, fossil stems whose leaf scars somewhat resemble
the scales of reptiles; -- a name used by miners and quarrymen.
Stormonth.
-- Dragon's tail (Astron.), the descending node of a planet,
indicated by the symbol Dragon's head (above).
-- Dragon's wort (Bot.), a plant of the genus Artemisia (A.
dracunculus).
-- Dragon tree (Bot.), a West African liliaceous tree (Dracæna
Draco), yielding one of the resins called dragon's blood. See
Dracæna.
-- Dragon water, a medicinal remedy very popular in the earlier half
of the 17th century. "Dragon water may do good upon him." Randolph
(1640).
-- Flying dragon, a large meteoric fireball; a bolide.
DRAGONET
Drag"on*et, n.
1. A little dragon. Spenser.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small British marine fish (Callionymuslyra); -- called also
yellow sculpin, fox, and gowdie.
DRAGONISH
Drag"on*ish, a.
Defn: resembling a dragon. Shak.
DRAGONLIKE
Drag"on*like`, a.
Defn: Like a dragon. Shak.
DRAGONNADE
Drag`on*nade", n. Etym: [F., fr. dragon dragoon, because Louis XIV.,
in persecuting the Protestants of his kingdom, quartered dragoons
upon them.]
Defn: The severe persecution of French Protestants under Louis XIV.,
by an armed force, usually of dragoons; hence, a rapid and
devastating incursion; dragoonade.
He learnt it as he watched the dragonnades, the tortures, the
massacres of the Netherlands. C. Kingsley.
DRAGON'S BLOOD; DRAGON'S HEAD; DRAGON'S TAIL
Drag"on's blood, Drag"on's head, Drag"on's tail.
Defn: See Dragon's blood, Dragon's head, etc., under Dragon.
DRAGOON
Dra*goon", n. Etym: [F. dragon dragon, dragoon, fr. L. draco dragon,
also, a cohort's standard (with a dragon on it). The name was given
from the sense standard. See Dragon.]
1. ((Mil.)
Defn: Formerly, a soldier who was taught and armed to serve either on
horseback or on foot; now, a mounted soldier; a cavalry man.
2. A variety of pigeon. Clarke. Dragoon bird (Zoöl.), the umbrella
bird.
DRAGOON
Dra*goon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dragooned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dragooning.]
1. To harass or reduce to subjection by dragoons; to persecute by
abandoning a place to the rage of soldiers.
2. To compel submission by violent measures; to harass; to persecute.
The colonies may be influenced to anything, but they can be dragooned
to nothing. Price.
Lewis the Fourteenth is justly censured for trying to dragoon his
subjects to heaven. Macaulay.
DRAGOONADE
Drag`oon*ade", n.
Defn: See Dragonnade.
DRAGOONER
Dra*goon"er, n.
Defn: A dragoon. [Obs.]
DRAIL
Drail, v. t. & i. [
Defn: To trail; to draggle. [Obs.] South.
DRAIN
Drain, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drained; p. pr. & vb. n. Draining.] Etym:
[AS. drehnigean to drain, strain; perh. akin to E. draw.]
1. To draw off by degrees; to cause to flow gradually out or off;
hence, to cause the exhaustion of.
Fountains drain the water from the ground adjacent. Bacon.
But it was not alone that the he drained their treasure and hampered
their industry. Motley.
2. To exhaust of liquid contents by drawing them off; to make
gradually dry or empty; to remove surface water, as from streets, by
gutters, etc.; to deprive of moisture; hence, to exhaust; to empty of
wealth, resources, or the like; as, to drain a country of its specie.
Sinking waters, the firm land to drain, Filled the capacious deep and
formed the main. Roscommon.
3. To filter.
Salt water, drained through twenty vessels of earth, hath become
fresh. Bacon.
DRAIN
Drain, v. i.
1. To flow gradually; as, the water of low ground drains off.
2. To become emptied of liquor by flowing or dropping; as, let the
vessel stand and drain.
DRAIN
Drain, n.
1. The act of draining, or of drawing off; gradual and continuous
outflow or withdrawal; as, the drain of specie from a country.
2. That means of which anything is drained; a channel; a trench; a
water course; a sewer; a sink.
3. pl.
Defn: The grain from the mashing tub; as, brewers' drains. [Eng.]
Halliwell. Box drain, Counter drain. See under Box, Counter.
-- Right of drain (Law), an easement or servitude by which one man
has a right to convey water in pipes through or over the estate of
another. Kent.
DRAINABLE
Drain"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drained.
DRAINAGE
Drain"age, n.
1. A draining; a gradual flowing off of any liquid; also, that which
flows out of a drain.
2. The mode in which the waters of a country pass off by its streams
and rivers.
3. (Engin.)
Defn: The system of drains and their operation, by which superfluous
water is removed from towns, railway beds, mines, and other works.
4. Area or district drained; as, the drainage of the Po, the Thames,
etc. Latham.
5. (Surg.)
Defn: The act, process, or means of drawing off the pus or fluids
from a wound, abscess, etc. Drainage tube (Surg.), a tube introduced
into a wound, etc., to draw off the discharges.
DRAINE
Draine, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The missel thrush.
DRAINER
Drain"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, drains.
DRAINING
Drain"ing, vb. n. Etym: of Drain, v. t. (Agric.)
Defn: The art of carrying off surplus water, as from land. Draining
tile. Same as Draintile.
DRAINPIPE
Drain"pipe`, n.
Defn: A pipe used for carrying off surplus water.
DRAINTILE
Drain"tile`, n.
Defn: A hollow tile used in making drains; -- called also draining
tile.
DRAINTRAP
Drain"trap`, n.
Defn: See 4th Trap, 5.
DRAKE
Drake, n. Etym: [Akin to LG. drake, OHG. antrache, anetrecho, G.
enterich, Icel. andriki, Dan. andrik, OSw. andrak, andrage, masc.,
and fr. AS. ened, fem., duck; akin to D. eend, G. ente, Icel. önd,
Dan. and, Sw. and, Lith. antis, L. anas, Gr. ati a water fowl. rich.
Cf. Gulaund.]
1. The male of the duck kind.
2. Etym: [Cf. Dragon fly, under Dragon.]
Defn: The drake fly.
The drake will mount steeple height into the air. Walton.
Drake fly, a kind of fly, sometimes used in angling.
The dark drake fly, good in August. Walton.
DRAKE
Drake, n. Etym: [AS. draca dragon, L. draco. See Dragon.]
1. A dragon. [Obs.]
Beowulf resolves to kill the drake. J. A. Harrison (Beowulf).
2. A small piece of artillery. [Obs.]
Two or three shots, made at them by a couple of drakes, made them
stagger. Clarendon.
DRAKE
Drake, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dravik, W. drewg, darnel, cockle, etc.]
Defn: Wild oats, brome grass, or darnel grass; -- called also drawk,
dravick, and drank. [Prov. Eng.] Dr. Prior.
DRAKESTONE
Drake"stone, n.
Defn: A flat stone so thrown along the surface of water as to skip
from point to point before it sinks; also, the sport of so throwing
stones; -- sometimes called ducks and drakes.
Internal earthquakes, that, not content with one throe, run along
spasmodically, like boys playing at what is called drakestone. De
Quincey.
DRAM
Dram, n. Etym: [OF. drame, F. drachme, L. drachma, drachm, drachma,
fr. Gr. Drachm, Drachma.]
1. A weight; in Apothecaries' weight, one eighth part of an ounce, or
sixty grains; in Avoirdupois weight, one sixteenth part of an ounce,
or 27.34375 grains.
2. A minute quantity; a mite.
Were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before
many times as mush the forcible hindrance of evildoing. Milton.
3. As much spirituous liquor as is usually drunk at once; as, a dram
of brandy; hence, a potation or potion; as, a dram of poison. Shak.
4. (Numis.)
Defn: A Persian daric. Ezra ii. 69. Fluid dram, or Fluid drachm. See
under Fluid.
DRAM
Dram, v. i. & t.
Defn: To drink drams; to ply with drams. [Low] Johnson. Thackeray.
DRAMA
Dra"ma, n. Etym: [L. drama, Gr. daryti.]
1. A composition, in prose or poetry, accommodated to action, and
intended to exhibit a picture of human life, or to depict a series of
grave or humorous actions of more than ordinary interest, tending
toward some striking result. It is commonly designed to be spoken and
represented by actors on the stage.
A divine pastoral drama in the Song of Solomon. Milton.
2. A series of real events invested with a dramatic unity and
interest. "The drama of war." Thackeray.
Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts
already past, A fifth shall close the drama with the day; Time's
noblest offspring is the last. Berkeley.
The drama and contrivances of God's providence. Sharp.
3. Dramatic composition and the literature pertaining to or
illustrating it; dramatic literature.
Note: The principal species of the drama are tragedy and comedy;
inferior species are tragi-comedy, melodrama, operas, burlettas, and
farces. The romantic drama, the kind of drama whose aim is to present
a tale or history in scenes, and whose plays (like those of
Shakespeare, Marlowe, and others) are stories told in dialogue by
actors on the stage. J. A. Symonds.
DRAMATIC; DRAMATICAL
Dra*mat"ic, Dra*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. dramatique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the drama; appropriate to, or having the
qualities of, a drama; theatrical; vivid.
The emperor . . . performed his part with much dramatic effect.
Motley.
DRAMATICALLY
Dra*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dramatic manner; theatrically; vividly.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Dram"a*tis per*so"næ. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The actors in a drama or play.
DRAMATIST
Dram"a*tist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dramatiste.]
Defn: The author of a dramatic composition; a writer of plays.
DRAMATIZABLE
Dram"a*ti`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being dramatized.
DRAMATIZATION
Dram`a*ti*za"tion, n.
Defn: Act of dramatizing.
DRAMATIZE
Dram"a*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dramatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dramatizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. dramatiser.]
Defn: To compose in the form of the drama; to represent in a drama;
to adapt to dramatic representation; as, to dramatize a novel, or an
historical episode.
They dramatized tyranny for public execration. Motley.
DRAMATURGIC
Dram`a*tur"gic, a.
Defn: Relating to dramaturgy.
DRAMATURGIST
Dram"a*tur`gist, n.
Defn: One versed in dramaturgy. Carlyle.
DRAMATURGY
Dram"a*tur`gy, n. Etym: [Gr. work: cf. F. dramaturgie.]
Defn: The art of dramatic composition and representation.
DRAMMING
Dram"ming, n.
Defn: The practice of drinking drams.
DRAMSELLER
Dram"sell`er, n.
Defn: One who sells distilled liquors by the dram or glass.
DRAMSHOP
Dram"shop`, n.
Defn: A shop or barroom where spirits are sold by the dram.
DRANK
Drank, imp.
Defn: of Drink.
DRANK
Drank, n. Etym: [Cf. 3d Drake.]
Defn: Wild oats, or darnel grass. See Drake a plant. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
DRAP D'ETE
Drap` d'é*té". Etym: [F., clot of summer.]
Defn: A thin woolen fabric, twilled like merino.
DRAPE
Drape, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Draped; p. pr. & vb. n. Draping.] Etym:
[F. draper, fr. drap cloth. See 3d Drab.]
1. To cover or adorn with drapery or folds of cloth, or as with
drapery; as, to drape a bust, a building, etc.
The whole people were draped professionally. De Quincey.
These starry blossoms, [of the snow] pure and white, Soft falling,
falling, through the night, Have draped the woods and mere. Bungay.
2. To rail at; to banter. [Obs.] Sir W. Temple.
DRAPE
Drape, v. i.
1. To make cloth. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. To design drapery, arrange its folds, etc., as for hangings,
costumes, statues, etc.
DRAPER
Dra"per, n. Etym: [F. drapier.]
Defn: One who sells cloths; a dealer in cloths; as, a draper and
tailor.
DRAPERIED
Dra"per*ied, a.
Defn: Covered or supplied with drapery. [R.] Byron.
DRAPERY
Dra"per*y, n.; pl. Draperies. Etym: [F. draperie.]
1. The occupation of a draper; cloth-making, or dealing in cloth.
Bacon.
2. Cloth, or woolen stuffs in general.
People who ought to be weighing out grocery or measuring out drapery.
Macaulay.
3. A textile fabric used for decorative purposes, especially when
hung loosely and in folds carefully disturbed; as: (a) Garments or
vestments of this character worn upon the body, or shown in the
representations of the human figure in art. (b) Hangings of a room or
hall, or about a bed.
Like one that wraps the drapery of his couch About him, and lies down
to pleasant dreams. Bryant.
All the decent drapery of life is to be rudely torn off. Burke.
Casting of draperies. See under Casting.
The casting of draperies . . . is one of the most important of an
artist's studies. Fairholt.
DRAPET
Dra"pet, n. Etym: [Dim. of drap.]
Defn: Cloth. [Obs.] Spenser.
DRASTIC
Dras"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. drastique. See Drama.] (Med.)
Defn: Acting rapidly and violently; efficacious; powerful; -- opposed
to bland; as, drastic purgatives.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A violent purgative. See Cathartic.
DRASTY
Dras"ty, a. Etym: [AS. dærstan, dresten, dregs.]
Defn: Filthy; worthless. [Obs.] "Drasty ryming." Chaucer.
DRAUGH
Draugh, n.
Defn: See Draft. [Obs.]
DRAUGHT
Draught, n. Etym: [The same as draft, the spelling with gh indicating
an older pronunciation. See Draft, n., Draw.]
1. The act of drawing or pulling; as:
(a) The act of moving loads by drawing, as by beasts of burden, and
the like.
A general custom of using oxen for all sort of draught would be,
perhaps, the greatest improvement. Sir W. Temple.
(b) The drawing of a bowstring. [Obs.]
She sent an arrow forth with mighty draught. Spenser.
(c) Act of drawing a net; a sweeping the water for fish.
Upon the draught of a pond, not one fish was left. Sir M. Hale.
(d) The act of drawing liquor into the mouth and throat; the act of
drinking.
In his hands he took the goblet, but a while the draught forbore.
Trench.
(e) A sudden attack or drawing upon an enemy. [Obs.]
By drawing sudden draughts upon the enemy when he looketh not for
you. Spenser.
(f) (Mil.)
Defn: The act of selecting or detaching soldiers; a draft (see Draft,
n., 2)
(g) The act of drawing up, marking out, or delineating;
representation. Dryden.
2. That which is drawn; as:
(a) That which is taken by sweeping with a net.
Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke
v. 4.
He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which brought him a very
great draught. L'Estrange.
(b) (Mil.)
Defn: The force drawn; a detachment; -- in this sense usually written
draft.
(c) The quantity drawn in at once in drinking; a potion or potation.
Disguise thyself as thou wilt, still, Slavery, . . . still thou art a
bitter draught. Sterne.
Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspired. Goldsmith.
(d) A sketch, outline, or representation, whether written, designed,
or drawn; a delineation.
A draught of a Toleration Act was offered to the Parliament by a
private member. Macaulay.
No picture or draught of these things from the report of the eye.
South.
(e) (Com.)
Defn: An order for the payment of money; -- in this sense almost
always written draft.
(f) A current of air moving through an inclosed place, as through a
room or up a chimney. Thackeray.
He preferred to go and sit upon the stairs, in . . . a strong draught
of air, until he was again sent for. Dickens.
3. That which draws; as:
(a) A team of oxen or horses. Blackstone.
(b) A sink or drain; a privy. Shak. Matt. xv. 17. (c) pl. (Med.)
Defn: A mild vesicatory; a sinapism; as, to apply draughts to the
feet.
4. Capacity of being drawn; force necessary to draw; traction.
The Hertfordshire wheel plow . . . is of the easiest draught.
Mortimer.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: The depth of water necessary to float a ship, or the depth a
ship sinks in water, especially when laden; as, a ship of twelve feet
draught.
6. (Com.)
Defn: An allowance on weighable goods. [Eng.] See Draft,
4.
7. A move, as at chess or checkers. [Obs.] Chaucer.
8. The bevel given to the pattern for a casting, in order that it may
be drawn from the sand without injury to the mold.
9. (Masonry)
Defn: See Draft, n.,
7. Angle of draught, the angle made with the plane over which a body
is drawn by the line in which the pulling force acts, when the latter
has the direction best adapted to overcome the obstacles of friction
and the weight of the body.
-- Black draught. See under Black, a.
-- Blast draught, or Forced draught, the draught produced by a
blower, as by blowing in air beneath a fire or drawing out the gases
from above it.
-- Natural draught, the draught produced by the atmosphere flowing,
by its own weight, into a chimney wherein the air is rarefied by
heat.
-- On draught, so as to be drawn from the wood (as a cask, barrel,
etc.) in distinction from being bottled; as, ale on draught.
-- Sheer draught. See under Sheer.
DRAUGHT
Draught, a.
1. Used for drawing vehicles, loads, etc.; as, a draught beast;
draught hooks.
2. Relating to, or characterized by, a draft, or current of air.
3. Used in making drawings; as, draught compasses.
4. Drawn directly from the barrel, or other receptacle, in
distinction from bottled; on draught; -- said of ale, cider, and the
like.
Note: This word, especially in the first and second meanings, is
often written draft, a spelling which is approved by many
authorities. Draught box. See Draught tube, below.
-- Draught engine (Mining), an engine used for pumping, raising
heavy weights, and the like.
-- Draught hook (Mil.), one of the hooks on a cannon carriage, used
in drawing the gun backward and forward.
-- Draught horse, a horse employed in drawing loads, plowing, etc.,
as distinguished from a saddle horse or carriage horse.
-- Draught net, a seine or hauling net.
-- Draught ox, an ox employed in hauling loads, plowing, etc.
-- Draught tube (Water Wheels), an airtight pipe extending downward
into the tailrace from a turbine wheel located above it, to make
whole fall available; -- called also draught box.
DRAUGHT
Draught (draft), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Draughted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Draughting.]
1. To draw out; to call forth. See Draft. Addison.
2. To diminish or exhaust by drawing. [R.]
The Parliament so often draughted and drained. Sir W. Scott.
3. To draw in outline; to make a draught, sketch, or plan of, as in
architectural and mechanical drawing. Draughting room, a room
draughtsmen to work in, and where plans are kept.
DRAUGHTBOARD
Draught"board`, n.
Defn: A checkered board on which draughts are played. See
Checkerboard.
DRAUGHTHOUSE
Draught"house`, n.
Defn: A house for the reception of waste matter; a privy. [Obs.] 2
Kings x. 27.
DRAUGHTS
Draughts, n. pl.
Defn: A mild vesicatory. See Draught, n., 3 (c).
DRAUGHTS
Draughts, n. pl.
Defn: A game, now more commonly called checkers. See Checkers.
Note: Polish draughts is sometimes played with 40 pieces on a board
divided into 100 squares. Am. Cyc.
DRAUGHTSMAN
Draughts"man, n.; pl. Draughtsmen (.
1. One who draws pleadings or other writings.
2. One who draws plans and sketches of machinery, structures, and
places; also, more generally, one who makes drawings of any kind.
3. A "man" or piece used in the game of draughts.
4. One who drinks drams; a tippler. [Obs.] Tatler.
DRAUGHTSMANSHIP
Draughts"man*ship, n.
Defn: The office, art, or work of a draughtsman.
DRAUGHTY
Draught"y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a draught, or current of air; as, a draughtly,
comfortless room.
DRAVE
Drave
Defn: , old imp. of Drive. [Obs.]
DRAVIDA
Dra"vi*da, n. pl. Etym: [Skr. Dravi, prob. meaning, Tamil.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: A race Hindostan, believed to be the original people who
occupied the land before the Hindoo or Aryan invasion.
DRAVIDIAN
Dra*vid"i*an, a. Etym: [From Skr. Dravi, the name of the southern
portion of the peninsula of India.] (Ethnol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Dravida. Dravidian languages, a group
of languages of Southern India, which seem to have been the idioms of
the natives, before the invasion of tribes speaking Sanskrit. Of
these languages, the Tamil is the most important.
DRAW
Draw, v. t. [imp. Drew; p. p. Drawn; p. pr. & vb. n. Drawing.] Etym:
[OE. dra, drahen, draien, drawen, AS. dragan; akin to Icel. & Sw.
draga, Dan. drage to draw, carry, and prob. to OS. dragan to bear,
carry, D. dragen, G. tragen, Goth. dragan; cf. Skr. dhraj to move
along, glide; and perh. akin to Skr. dhar to hold, bear. Drag, Dray a
cart, 1st Dredge.]
1. To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the
thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow.
He cast him down to ground, and all along Drew him through dirt and
mire without remorse. Spenser.
He hastened to draw the stranger into a private room. Sir W. Scott.
Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats
James ii. 6.
The arrow is now drawn to the head. Atterbury.
2. To influence to move or tend toward one's self; to exercise an
attracting force upon; to call towards itself; to attract; hence, to
entice; to allure; to induce.
The poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. Shak.
All eyes you draw, and with the eyes the heart. Dryden.
3. To cause to come out for one's use or benefit; to extract; to
educe; to bring forth; as: (a) To bring or take out, or to let out,
from some receptacle, as a stick or post from a hole, water from a
cask or well, etc.
The drew out the staves of the ark. 2 Chron. v. 9.
Draw thee waters for the siege. Nahum iii. 14.
I opened the tumor by the point of a lancet without drawing one drop
of blood. Wiseman.
(b) To pull from a sheath, as a sword.
I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. Ex. xv. 9.
(c) To extract; to force out; to elicit; to derive.
Spirits, by distillations, may be drawn out of vegetable juices,
which shall flame and fume of themselves. Cheyne.
Until you had drawn oaths from him. Shak.
(d) To obtain from some cause or origin; to infer from evidence or
reasons; to deduce from premises; to derive.
We do not draw the moral lessons we might from history. Burke.
(e) To take or procure from a place of deposit; to call for and
receive from a fund, or the like; as, to draw money from a bank.
(f) To take from a box or wheel, as a lottery ticket; to receive from
a lottery by the drawing out of the numbers for prizes or blanks;
hence, to obtain by good fortune; to win; to gain; as, he drew a
prize.
(g) To select by the drawing of lots.
Provided magistracies were filled by men freely chosen or drawn.
Freeman.
4. To remove the contents of; as:
(a) To drain by emptying; to suck dry.
Sucking and drawing the breast dischargeth the milk as fast as it can
generated. Wiseman.
(b) To extract the bowels of; to eviscerate; as, to draw a fowl; to
hang, draw, and quarter a criminal.
In private draw your poultry, clean your tripe. King.
5. To take into the lungs; to inhale; to inspire; hence, also, to
utter or produce by an inhalation; to heave. "Where I first drew
air." Milton.
Drew, or seemed to draw, a dying groan. Dryden.
6. To extend in length; to lengthen; to protract; to stretch; to
extend, as a mass of metal into wire.
How long her face is drawn! Shak.
And the huge Offa's dike which he drew from the mouth of Wye to that
of Dee. J. R. Green.
7. To run, extend, or produce, as a line on any surface; hence, also,
to form by marking; to make by an instrument of delineation; to
produce, as a sketch, figure, or picture.
8. To represent by lines drawn; to form a sketch or a picture of; to
represent by a picture; to delineate; hence, to represent by words;
to depict; to describe.
A flattering painter who made it his care To draw men as they ought
to be, not as they are. Goldsmith.
Can I, untouched, the fair one's passions move, Or thou draw beauty
and not feel its power Prior.
9. To write in due form; to prepare a draught of; as, to draw a
memorial, a deed, or bill of exchange.
Clerk, draw a deed of gift. Shak.
10. To require (so great a depth, as of water) for floating; -- said
of a vessel; to sink so deep in (water); as, a ship draws ten feet of
water.
11. To withdraw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Go wash thy face, and draw the action. Shak.
12. To trace by scent; to track; -- a hunting term.
Note: Draw, in most of its uses, retains some shade of its original
sense, to pull, to move forward by the application of force in
advance, or to extend in length, and usually expresses an action as
gradual or continuous, and leisurely. We pour liquid quickly, but we
draw it in a continued stream. We force compliance by threats, but we
draw it by gradual prevalence. We may write a letter with haste, but
we draw a bill with slow caution and regard to a precise form. We
draw a bar of metal by continued beating. To draw a bow, to bend the
bow by drawing the string for discharging the arrow.
-- To draw a cover, to clear a cover of the game it contains.
-- To draw a curtain, to cause a curtain to slide or move, either
closing or unclosing. "Night draws the curtain, which the sun
withdraws." Herbert.
-- To draw a line, to fix a limit or boundary.
-- To draw back, to receive back, as duties on goods for
exportation.
-- To draw breath, to breathe. Shak.
-- To draw cuts or lots. See under Cut, n.
-- To draw in. (a) To bring or pull in; to collect. (b) To entice;
to inveigle.
-- To draw interest, to produce or gain interest.
-- To draw off, to withdraw; to abstract. Addison.
-- To draw on, to bring on; to occasion; to cause. "War which either
his negligence drew on, or his practices procured." Hayward.
-- To draw (one) out, to elicit cunningly the thoughts and feelings
of another.
-- To draw out, to stretch or extend; to protract; to spread out.
-- "Wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations" Ps. lxxxv. 5.
"Linked sweetness long drawn out." Milton.
-- To draw over, to cause to come over, to induce to leave one part
or side for the opposite one.
-- To draw the longbow, to exaggerate; to tell preposterous tales.
-- To draw (one) to or on to (something), to move, to incite, to
induce. "How many actions most ridiculous hast thou been drawn to by
thy fantasy" Shak.
-- To draw up. (a) To compose in due form; to draught; to form in
writing. (b) To arrange in order, as a body of troops; to array.
"Drawn up in battle to receive the charge." Dryden.
Syn.
-- To Draw, Drag. Draw differs from drag in this, that drag implies
a natural inaptitude for drawing, or positive resistance; it is
applied to things pulled or hauled along the ground, or moved with
toil or difficulty. Draw is applied to all bodies moved by force in
advance, whatever may be the degree of force; it commonly implies
that some kind of aptitude or provision exists for drawing. Draw is
the more general or generic term, and drag the more specific. We say,
the horses draw a coach or wagon, but they drag it through mire; yet
draw is properly used in both cases.
DRAW
Draw, v. i.
1. To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to
move anything by pulling; as, a horse draws well; the sails of a ship
draw well.
Note: A sail is said to draw when it is filled with wind.
2. To draw a liquid from some receptacle, as water from a well.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and
the well is deep. John iv. 11.
3. To exert an attractive force; to act as an inducement or
enticement.
Keep a watch upon the particular bias of their minds, that it may not
draw too much. Addison.
4. (Med.)
Defn: To have efficiency as an epispastic; to act as a sinapism; --
said of a blister, poultice, etc.
5. To have draught, as a chimney, flue, or the like; to furnish
transmission to smoke, gases, etc.
6. To unsheathe a weapon, especially a sword.
So soon as ever thou seest him, draw; and as thou drawest, swear
horrible. Shak.
7. To perform the act, or practice the art, of delineation; to
sketch; to form figures or pictures. "Skill in drawing." Locke.
8. To become contracted; to shrink. "To draw into less room." Bacon.
9. To move; to come or go; literally, to draw one's self; -- with
prepositions and adverbs; as, to draw away, to move off, esp. in
racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw
back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to
come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire or retreat; to
draw on, to advance; to draw up, to form in array; to draw near,
nigh, or towards, to approach; to draw together, to come together, to
collect.
10. To make a draft or written demand for payment of money deposited
or due; -- usually with on or upon.
You may draw on me for the expenses of your journey. Jay.
11. To admit the action of pulling or dragging; to undergo draught;
as, a carriage draws easily.
12. To sink in water; to require a depth for floating. "Greater hulks
draw deep." Shak. To draw to a head. (a) (Med.) To begin to
suppurate; to ripen, as a boil. (b) Fig.: To ripen, to approach the
time for action; as, the plot draws to a head.
DRAW
Draw, n.
1. The act of drawing; draught.
2. A lot or chance to be drawn.
3. A drawn game or battle, etc. [Colloq.]
4. That part of a bridge which may be raised, swung round, or drawn
aside; the movable part of a drawbridge. See the Note under
Drawbridge. [U.S.]
DRAWABLE
Draw"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drawn.
DRAWBACK
Draw"back`, n.
1. A lose of advantage, or deduction from profit, value, success,
etc.; a discouragement or hindrance; objectionable feature.
The avaridrawback from the wisdom ascribed to him. Hallam.
2. (Com.)
Defn: Money paid back or remitted; especially, a certain amount of
duties or customs, sometimes the whole, and sometimes only a part,
remitted or paid back by the government, on the exportation of the
commodities on which they were levied. M
DRAWBAR
Draw"bar`, n. (Railroad)
(a) An openmouthed bar at the end of a car, which receives a coupling
link and pin by which the car is drawn. It is usually provided with a
spring to give elasticity to the connection between the cars of a
train.
(b) A bar of iron with an eye at each end, or a heavy link, for
coupling a locomotive to a tender or car.
DRAWBENCH
Draw"bench`, n. (Med.)
Defn: A machine in which strips of metal are drawn through a
drawplate; especially, one in which wire is thus made; -- also called
drawing bench.
DRAWBOLT
Draw"bolt`, n. (Engin.)
Defn: A coupling pin. See under Coupling.
DRAWBORE
Draw"bore`, n. (Joinery)
Defn: A hole bored through a tenon nearer to the shoulder than the
holes through the cheeks are to the edge or abutment against which
the shoulder is to rest, so that a pin or bolt, when driven into it,
will draw these parts together. Weale.
DRAWBORE
Draw"bore`, v. t.
1. To make a drawbore in; as, to drawbore a tenon.
2. To enlarge the bore of a gun barrel by drawing, instead of
thrusting, a revolving tool through it.
DRAWBOY
Draw"boy`, n. (Weaving)
Defn: A boy who operates the harness cords of a hand loom; also, a
part of power loom that performs the same office.
DRAWBRIDGE
Draw"bridge`, n.
Defn: A bridge of which either the whole or a part is made to be
raised up, let down, or drawn or turned aside, to admit or hinder
communication at pleasure, as before the gate of a town or castle, or
over a navigable river or canal.
Note: The movable portion, or draw, is called, specifically, a
bascule, balance, or lifting bridge, a turning, swivel, or swing
bridge, or a rolling bridge, according as it turns on a hinge
vertically, or on a pivot horizontally, or is pushed on rollers.
DRAWCANSIR
Draw"can*sir, n. Etym: [From the name of a bullying braggart
character in the play by George Villiers called "The Rehearsal."]
Defn: A blustering, bullying fellow; a pot-valiant braggart; a bully.
The leader was of an ugly look and gigantic stature; he acted like a
drawcansir, sparing neither friend nor foe. Addison.
DRAW-CUT
Draw"-cut`, n.
Defn: A single cut with a knife.
DRAWEE
Draw*ee", n. (Law)
Defn: The person on whom an order or bill of exchange is drawn; --
the correlative of drawer.
DRAWER
Draw"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, draws; as:
(a) One who draws liquor for guests; a waiter in a taproom. Shak.
(b) One who delineates or depicts; a draughtsman; as, a good drawer.
(c) (Law) One who draws a bill of exchange or order for payment; --
the correlative of drawee.
2. That which is drawn; as:
(a) A sliding box or receptacle in a case, which is opened by pulling
or drawing out, and closed by pushing in. (b) pl.
Defn: An under-garment worn on the lower limbs. Chest of drawers. See
under Chest.
DRAWFILING
Draw"fil`ing, n.
Defn: The process of smooth filing by working the file sidewise
instead of lengthwise.
DRAWGEAR
Draw"gear`, n.
1. A harness for draught horses.
2. (Railroad)
Defn: The means or parts by which cars are connected to be drawn.
DRAWGLOVES
Draw"gloves`, n. pl.
Defn: An old game, played by holding up the fingers. Herrick.
DRAWHEAD
Draw"head`, n. (Railroad)
Defn: The flanged outer end of a drawbar; also, a name applied to the
drawgear.
DRAWING
Draw"ing, n.
1. The act of pulling, or attracting.
2. The act or the art of representing any object by means of lines
and shades; especially, such a representation when in one color, or
in tints used not to represent the colors of natural objects, but for
effect only, and produced with hard material such as pencil, chalk,
etc.; delineation; also, the figure or representation drawn.
3. The process of stretching or spreading metals as by hammering, or,
as in forming wire from rods or tubes and cups from sheet metal, by
pulling them through dies.
4. (Textile Manuf.)
Defn: The process of pulling out and elongating the sliver from the
carding machine, by revolving rollers, to prepare it for spinning.
5. The distribution of prizes and blanks in a lottery.
Note: Drawing is used adjectively or as the first part of compounds
in the sense of pertaining to drawing, for drawing (in the sense of
pulling, and of pictorial representation); as, drawing master or
drawing-master, drawing knife or drawing-knife, drawing machine,
drawing board, drawing paper, drawing pen, drawing pencil, etc. A
drawing of tea, a small portion of tea for steeping.
-- Drawing knife. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Drawing paper (Fine Arts), a thick, sized paper for draughtsman
and for water-color painting.
-- Drawing slate, a soft, slaty substance used in crayon drawing; --
called also black chalk, or drawing chalk.
-- Free-hand drawing, a style of drawing made without the use of
guiding or measuring instruments, as distinguished from mechanical or
geometrical drawing; also, a drawing thus executed.
DRAWING KNIFE; DRAWKNIFE
Draw"ing knife", Draw"knife`, n.
1. A joiner's tool having a blade with a handle at each end, used to
shave off surfaces, by drawing it toward one; a shave; -- called also
drawshave, and drawing shave.
2. (Carp.)
Defn: A tool used for the purpose of making an incision along the
path a saw is to follow, to prevent it from tearing the surface of
the wood.
DRAWING-ROOM
Draw"ing-room`, n. Etym: [Abbrev. fr. withdraw-ing-room.]
1. A room appropriated for the reception of company; a room to which
company withdraws from the dining room.
2. The company assembled in such a room; also, a reception of company
in it; as, to hold a drawing-room.
He [Johnson] would amaze a drawing-room by suddenly ejaculating a
clause of the Lord's Prayer. Macaulay.
Drawing-room car. See Palace car, under Car.
DRAWL
Drawl, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drawled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drawling.] Etym:
[Prob. fr. draw: cf. D. dralen to linger, tarry, Icel. dralla to
loiter. See Draw, and cf. Draggle.]
Defn: To utter in a slow, lengthened tone.
DRAWL
Drawl, v. i.
Defn: To speak with slow and lingering utterance, from laziness, lack
of spirit, affectation, etc.
Theologians and moralists . . . talk mostly in a drawling and
dreaming way about it. Landor.
DRAWL
Drawl, n.
Defn: A lengthened, slow monotonous utterance.
DRAWLATCH
Draw"latch`, n.
Defn: A housebreaker or thief. [Obs.] Old Play (1631).
DRAWLING
Drawl"ing, n.
Defn: The act of speaking with a drawl; a drawl.
-- Drawl"ing*ly, adv. Bacon.
DRAWLINK
Draw"link`, n.
Defn: Same as Drawbar (b).
DRAWLOOM
Draw"loom`, n.
1. A kind of loom used in weaving figured patterns; -- called also
drawboy.
2. A species of damask made on the drawloom.
DRAWN
Drawn, p. p. & a.
Defn: See Draw, v. t. & i. Drawn butter, butter melter and prepared
to be used as a sort of gravy.
-- Drawn fowl, an eviscerated fowl.
-- Drawn game or battle, one in which neither party wins; one
equally contested.
-- Drawn fox, one driven from cover. Shak.
-- Drawn work, ornamental work made by drawing out threads from fine
cloth, and uniting the cross threads, to form a pattern.
DRAWNET
Draw"net`, n.
Defn: A net for catching the larger sorts of birds; also, a dragnet.
Crabb.
DRAWPLATE
Draw"plate`, n.
Defn: A hardened steel plate having a hole, or a gradation of conical
holes, through which wires are drawn to be reduced and elongated.
DRAWROD
Draw"rod`, n. (Railroad)
Defn: A rod which unites the drawgear at opposite ends of the car,
and bears the pull required to draw the train.
DRAWSHAVE
Draw"shave`, n.
Defn: See Drawing knife.
DRAWSPRING
Draw"spring`, n. (Railroad)
Defn: The spring to which a drawbar is attached.
DRAY
Dray, n.
Defn: A squirrel's nest. Cowper.
DRAY
Dray, n. Etym: [AS. dræge a dragnet, fr. dragan. . See Draw, and cf.
2d Drag, 1st Dredge.]
1. A strong low cart or carriage used for heavy burdens. Addison.
2. A kind of sledge or sled. Halliwell. Dray cart, a dray.
-- Dray horse, a heavy, strong horse used in drawing a dray.
DRAYAGE
Dray"age, n.
1. Use of a dray.
2. The charge, or sum paid, for the use of a dray.
DRAYMAN
Dray"man, n.; pl. Draymen (.
Defn: A man who attends a dray.
DRAZEL
Draz"el, n. Etym: [Cf. Dross, Drossel.]
Defn: A slut; a vagabond wench. Same as Drossel. [Obs.] Hudibras.
DREAD
Dread, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dreaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Dreading.] Etym:
[AS. dr, in comp.; akin to OS. dradan, OHG. tratan, both only in
comp.]
Defn: To fear in a great degree; to regard, or look forward to, with
terrific apprehension.
When at length the moment dreaded through so many years came close,
the dark cloud passed away from Johnson's mind. Macaulay.
DREAD
Dread, v. i.
Defn: To be in dread, or great fear.
Dread not, neither be afraid of them. Deut. i. 29.
DREAD
Dread, n.
1. Great fear in view of impending evil; fearful apprehension of
danger; anticipatory terror.
The secret dread of divine displeasure. Tillotson.
The dread of something after death. Shak.
2. Reverential or respectful fear; awe.
The fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of
the earth. Gen. ix. 2.
His scepter shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe
and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings. Shak.
3. An object of terrified apprehension.
4. A person highly revered. [Obs.] "Una, his dear dread." Spenser.
5. Fury; dreadfulness. [Obs.] Spenser.
6. Doubt; as, out of dread. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Syn.
-- Awe; fear; affright; terror; horror; dismay; apprehension. See
Reverence.
DREAD
Dread, a.
1. Exciting great fear or apprehension; causing terror; frightful;
dreadful.
A dread eternity! how surely mine. Young.
2. Inspiring with reverential fear; awful' venerable; as, dread
sovereign; dread majesty; dread tribunal.
DREADABLE
Dread"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy of being dreaded.
DREAD-BOLTED
Dread"-bolt`ed, a.
Defn: Armed with dreaded bolts. "Dread-bolted thunder." [Poetic]
Shak.
DREADER
Dread"er, n.
Defn: One who fears, or lives in fear.
DREADFUL
Dread"ful, a.
1. Full of dread or terror; fearful. [Obs.] "With dreadful heart."
Chaucer.
2. Inspiring dread; impressing great fear; fearful; terrible; as, a
dreadful storm. " Dreadful gloom." Milton.
For all things are less dreadful than they seem. Wordsworth.
3. Inspiring awe or reverence; awful. [Obs.] "God's dreadful law."
Shak.
Syn.
-- Fearful; frightful; terrific; terrible; horrible; horrid;
formidable; tremendous; awful; venerable. See Frightful.
DREADFULLY
Dread"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dreadful manner; terribly. Dryden.
DREADFULNESS
Dread"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being dreadful.
DREADINGLY
Dread"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With dread. Warner.
DREADLESS
Dread"less, a.
1. Free from dread; fearless; intrepid; dauntless; as, dreadless
heart. "The dreadless angel." Milton.
2. Exempt from danger which causes dread; secure. " safe in his
dreadless den." Spenser.
DREADLESS
Dread"less, adv.
Defn: Without doubt. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DREADLESSNESS
Dread"less*ness, n.
Defn: Freedom from dread.
DREADLY
Dread"ly, a.
Defn: Dreadful. [Obs.] "Dreadly spectacle." Spenser.
-- adv.
Defn: With dread. [Obs.] "Dreadly to shake." Sylvester (Du Bartas).
DREADNAUGHT
Dread"naught`, n.
1. A fearless person.
2. Hence: A garment made of very thick cloth, that can defend against
storm and cold; also, the cloth itself; fearnaught.
DREADNOUGHT
Dread"nought`, n.
1. A British battleship, completed in 1906 -- 1907, having an
armament consisting of ten 12-inch guns, and of twenty-four 12-pound
quick-fire guns for protection against torpedo boats. This was the
first battleship of the type characterized by a main armament of big
guns all of the same caliber. She has a displacement of 17,900 tons
at load draft, and a speed of 21 knots per hour.
2. Any battleship having its main armament entirely of big guns all
of one caliber. Since the Dreadnought was built, the caliber of the
heaviest guns has increased from 12 in. to 13½ in., 14 in., and 15
in., and the displacement of the largest batteships from 18,000 tons
to 30,000 tons and upwards. The term superdreadnought is popularly
applied to battleships with such increased displacement and gun
caliber.
DREAM
Dream, n. Etym: [Akin to OS. dr, D. droom, G. traum, Icel. draumr,
Dan. & Sw. dröm; cf. G. trügen to deceive, Skr. druh to harm, hurt,
try to hurt. AS. dreám joy, gladness, and OS. dr joy are, perh.,
different words; cf. Gr.
1. The thoughts, or series of thoughts, or imaginary transactions,
which occupy the mind during sleep; a sleeping vision.
Dreams are but interludes which fancy makes. Dryden.
I had a dream which was not all a dream. Byron.
2. A visionary scheme; a wild conceit; an idle fancy; a vagary; a
revery; -- in this sense, applied to an imaginary or anticipated
state of happiness; as, a dream of bliss; the dream of his youth.
There sober thought pursued the amusing theme, Till Fancy colored it
and formed a dream. Pope.
It is not them a mere dream, but a very real aim which they propose.
J. C. Shairp.
DREAM
Dream, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dreamed or Dreamt (p. pr. & vb. n.
Dreaming.] Etym: [Cf. AS. dr, dr, to rejoice. See Dream, n.]
1. To have ideas or images in the mind while in the state of sleep;
to experience sleeping visions; -- often with of; as, to dream of a
battle, or of an absent friend.
2. To let the mind run on in idle revery or vagary; to anticipate
vaguely as a coming and happy reality; to have a visionary notion or
idea; to imagine.
Here may we sit and dream Over the heavenly theme. Keble.
They dream on in a constant course of reading, but not digesting.
Locke.
DREAM
Dream, v. t.
Defn: To have a dream of; to see, or have a vision of, in sleep, or
in idle fancy; -- often followed by an objective clause.
Your old men shall dream dreams. Acts ii. 17.
At length in sleep their bodies they compose, And dreamt the future
fight. Dryden.
And still they dream that they shall still succeed. Cowper.
To dream away, out, through, etc., to pass in revery or inaction; to
spend in idle vagaries; as, to dream away an hour; to dream through
life. " Why does Antony dream out his hours" Dryden.
DREAMER
Dream"er, n.
1. One who dreams.
2. A visionary; one lost in wild imaginations or vain schemes of some
anticipated good; as, a political dreamer.
DREAMFUL
Dream"ful, a.
Defn: Full of dreams. " Dreamful ease." Tennyson.
-- Dream"ful*ly, adv.
DREAMILY
Dream"i*ly, adv.
Defn: As if in a dream; softly; slowly; languidly. Longfellow.
DREAMINESS
Dream"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dreamy.
DREAMINGLY
Dream"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dreamy manner.
DREAMLAND
Dream"land`, n.
Defn: An unreal, delightful country such as in sometimes pictured in
dreams; region of fancies; fairyland.
[He] builds a bridge from dreamland for his lay. Lowell.
DREAMLESS
Dream"less, a.
Defn: Free from, or without, dreams. Camden.
-- Dream"less*ly, adv.
DREAMY
Dream"y, a. [Compar. Dreamier; superl. Dreamiest.]
Defn: Abounding in dreams or given to dreaming; appropriate to, or
like, dreams; visionary. "The dreamy dells." Tennyson.
DREAR
Drear, a. Etym: [See Dreary.]
Defn: Dismal; gloomy with solitude. "A drear and dying sound."
Milton.
DREAR
Drear, n.
Defn: Sadness; dismalness. [Obs.] Spenser.
DREARIHEAD; DREARIHOOD
Drear"i*head, Drear"i*hood, n.
Defn: Affliction; dreariness. [Obs.] Spenser.
DREARILY
Drear"i*ly, adv.
Defn: Gloomily; dismally.
DREARIMENT
Drear"i*ment, n.
Defn: Dreariness. [Obs.] Spenser.
DREARINESS
Drear"i*ness, n.
1. Sorrow; wretchedness. [Obs.]
2. Dismalness; gloomy solitude.
DREARING
Drear"ing, n.
Defn: Sorrow. [Obs.] Spenser.
DREARISOME
Drear"i*some, a.
Defn: Very dreary. Halliwell.
DREARY
Drear"y, a. [Compar. Drearier; superl. Dreariest.] Etym: [OE. dreori,
dreri, AS. dreórig, sad; akin to G. traurig, and prob. to AS. dreósan
to fall, Goth. driusan. Cf. Dross, Drear, Drizzle, Drowse.]
1. Sorrowful; distressful. [Obs.] " Dreary shrieks." Spenser.
2. Exciting cheerless sensations, feelings, or associations;
comfortless; dismal; gloomy. " Dreary shades." Dryden. "The dreary
ground." Prior.
Full many a dreary anxious hour. Keble.
Johnson entered on his vocation in the most dreary part of that
dreary interval which separated two ages of prosperity. Macaulay.
DRECCHE
Drec"che, v. t. Etym: [AS. dreccan, dreccean.]
1. To vex; to torment; to trouble. [Obs.]
As man that in his dream is drecched sore. Chaucer.
DRECCHE
Drec"che, v. i.
Defn: To delay. [Obs.] Gower.
DREDGE
Dredge, n. Etym: [F. drège, dreige, fish net, from a word akin to E.
draw; cf. D. dreg, dregge, small anchor, dregnet dragnet. Draw.]
1. Any instrument used to gather or take by dragging; as: (a) A
dragnet for taking up oysters, etc., from their beds. (b) A dredging
machine. (c) An iron frame, with a fine net attached, used in
collecting animals living at the bottom of the sea.
2. (Mining)
Defn: Very fine mineral matter held in suspension in water. Raymond.
DREDGE
Dredge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dredged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dredging.]
Defn: To catch or gather with a dredge; to deepen with a dredging
machine. R. Carew. Dredging machine, a machine (commonly on a boat)
used to scoop up mud, gravel, or obstructions from the bottom of
rivers, docks, etc., so as to deepen them.
DREDGE
Dredge, n. Etym: [OE. dragge, F. dragée, dredge, also, sugar plum;
cf. Prov. dragea, It. treggea; corrupted fr. LL. tragemata, pl.,
sweetmeats, Gr.
Defn: A mixture of oats and barley. [Obs.] Kersey.
DREDGE
Dredge, v. t.
Defn: To sift or sprinkle flour, etc., on, as on roasting meat. Beau.
& Fl. Dredging box. (a) Same as 2d Dredger. (b) (Gun.) A copper box
with a perforated lid; -- used for sprinkling meal powder over shell
fuses. Farrow.
DREDGER
Dredg"er, n.
1. One who fishes with a dredge.
2. A dredging machine.
DREDGER
Dredg"er, n. (Cookery)
Defn: A box with holes in its lid; -- used for sprinkling flour, as
on meat or a breadboard; -- called also dredging box, drudger, and
drudging box.
DREE
Dree, v. t. Etym: [AS. dreógan to bear, endure, complete.]
Defn: To endure; to suffer. [Scot.]
DREE
Dree, v. i.
Defn: To be able to do or endure. [Obs.]
DREE
Dree, a.
Defn: Wearisome; tedious. [Prov. Eng.]
DREG
Dreg, n. Etym: [Prob. from Icel. dregg; akin to Sw. drägg, cf. Icel.
& Sw. draga to draw. Cf. Draw.]
Defn: Corrupt or defiling matter contained in a liquid, or
precipitated from it; refuse; feculence; lees; grounds; sediment;
hence, the vilest and most worthless part of anything; as, the dregs
of society.
We, the dregs and rubbish of mankind. Dryden.
Note: Used formerly (rarely) in the singular, as by Spenser and
Shakespeare, but now chiefly in the plural.
DREGGINESS
Dreg"gi*ness, n.
Defn: Fullness of dregs or lees; foulness; feculence.
DREGGISH
Dreg"gish, a.
Defn: Foul with lees; feculent. Harvey.
DREGGY
Dreg"gy, a.
Defn: Containing dregs or lees; muddy; foul; feculent. Boyle.
DREIBUND
Drei"bund`, n. [G., fr. drei three + bund league.]
Defn: A triple alliance; specif., the alliance of Germany, Austria,
and Italy, formed in 1882.
DREIN
Drein, v. i.
Defn: To drain. [Obs.] Congreve.
DREINTE; DREINT
Drein"te, imp., Dreint (,
Defn: p. p. of Drench to drown. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DREISSENA
Dreis"se*na, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dreyssen, a Belgian
physician.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of bivalve shells of which one species (D. polymorpha)
is often so abundant as to be very troublesome in the fresh waters of
Europe.
DRENCH
Drench, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drenched; p. pr. & vb. n. Drenching.]
Etym: [AS. drencan to give to drink, to drench, the causal of drincan
to drink; akin to D. drenken, Sw. dränka, G. tränken. See Drink.]
1. To cause to drink; especially, to dose by force; to put a potion
down the throat of, as of a horse; hence. to purge violently by
physic.
As "to fell," is "to make to fall," and "to lay," to make to lie." so
"to drench," is "to make to drink." Trench.
2. To steep in moisture; to wet thoroughly; to soak; to saturate with
water or other liquid; to immerse.
Now dam the ditches and the floods restrain; Their moisture has
already drenched the plain. Dryden.
DRENCH
Drench, n. Etym: [AS. drenc. See Drench, v. t.]
Defn: A drink; a draught; specifically, a potion of medicine poured
or forced down the throat; also, a potion that causes purging. "A
drench of wine." Dryden.
Give my roan horse a drench. Shak.
DRENCH
Drench, n. Etym: [AS. dreng warrior, soldier, akin to Icel. drengr.]
(O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A military vassal mentioned in Domesday Book. [Obs.] Burrill.
DRENCHE
Drench"e, v. t. & i.
Defn: To drown. [Obs.]
In the sea he drenched. Chaucer.
DRENCHER
Drench"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, west or steeps.
2. One who administers a drench.
DRENGAGE
Dren"gage, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: The tenure by which a drench held land. [Obs.] Burrill.
DRENT
Drent, p. p. Etym: [See Dreinte.]
Defn: Drenched; drowned. [Obs.] "Condemned to be drent." Spenser.
DRESDEN WARE
Dres"den ware`.
Defn: A superior kind of decorated porcelain made near Dresden in
Saxony.
DRESS
Dress, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dressed or Drest; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dressing.] Etym: [OF. drecier to make straight, raise, set up,
prepare, arrange, F. dresser. (assumed) LL. directiare, fr. L.
dirigere, directum, to direct; dis- + regere to rule. See Right, and
cf. Address, Adroit, Direct, Dirge.]
1. To direct; to put right or straight; to regulate; to order. [Obs.]
At all times thou shalt bless God and pray Him to dress thy ways.
Chaucer.
Note: Dress is used reflexively in Old English, in sense of "to
direct one's step; to addresss one's self."
To Grisild again will I me dresse. Chaucer.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: To arrange in exact continuity of line, as soldiers; commonly
to adjust to a straight line and at proper distance; to align; as, to
dress the ranks.
3. (Med.)
Defn: To treat methodically with remedies, bandages, or curative
appliances, as a sore, an ulcer, a wound, or a wounded or diseased
part.
4. To adjust; to put in good order; to arrange; specifically: (a) To
prepare for use; to fit for any use; to render suitable for an
intended purpose; to get ready; as, to dress a slain animal; to dress
meat; to dress leather or cloth; to dress or trim a lamp; to dress a
garden; to dress a horse, by currying and rubbing; to dress grain, by
cleansing it; in mining and metallurgy, to dress ores, by sorting and
separating them.
And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to
dress it. Gen. ii. 15.
When he dresseth the lamps he shall burn incense. Ex. xxx. 7.
Three hundred horses . . . smoothly dressed. Dryden.
Dressing their hair with the white sea flower. Tennyson
.
If he felt obliged to expostulate, he might have dressed his censures
in a kinder form. Carlyle.
(b) To cut to proper dimensions, or give proper shape to, as to a
tool by hammering; also, to smooth or finish.
(c) To put in proper condition by appareling, as the body; to put
clothes upon; to apparel; to invest with garments or rich
decorations; to clothe; to deck.
Dressed myself in such humility. Shak.
Prove that ever Idress myself handsome till thy return. Shak.
(d) To break and train for use, as a horse or other animal. To dress
up or out, to dress elaborately, artificially, or pompously. "You see
very often a king of England or France dressed up like a Julius
Cæsar." Addison.
-- To dress a ship (Naut.), to ornament her by hoisting the national
colors at the peak and mastheads, and setting the jack forward; when
dressed full, the signal flags and pennants are added. Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
Syn.
-- To attire; apparel; clothe; accouter; array; robe; rig; trim;
deck; adorn; embellish.
DRESS
Dress, v. i.
1. (Mil.)
Defn: To arrange one's self in due position in a line of soldiers; --
the word of command to form alignment in ranks; as, Right, dress!
2. To clothe or apparel one's self; to put on one's garments; to pay
particular regard to dress; as, to dress quickly. "To dress for a
ball." Latham.
To flaunt, to dress, to dance, to thrum. Tennyson
. To dress to the right, To dress to the left, To dress on the center
(Mil.), to form alignment with reference to the soldier on the
extreme right, or in the center, of the rank, who serves as a guide.
DRESS
Dress, n.
1. That which is used as the covering or ornament of the body;
clothes; garments; habit; apparel. "In your soldier's dress." Shak.
2. A lady's gown; as, silk or a velvet dress.
3. Attention to apparel, or skill in adjusting it.
Men of pleasure, dress, and gallantry. Pope.
4. (Milling)
Defn: The system of furrows on the face of a millstone. Knight. Dress
circle. See under Circle.
-- Dress parade (Mil.), a parade in full uniform for review.
DRESS CIRCLE
Dress circle.
Defn: A gallery or circle in a theater, generally the first above the
floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.
DRESS COAT
Dress" coat`.
Defn: A coat with skirts behind only, as distinct from the frock
coat, of which the skirts surround the body. It is worn on occasions
of ceremony. The dress coat of officers of the United States army is
a full-skirted frock coat.
DRESSER
Dress"er, n.
1. One who dresses; one who put in order or makes ready for use; one
who on clothes or ornaments.
2. (Mining)
Defn: A kind of pick for shaping large coal.
3. An assistant in a hospital, whose office it is to dress wounds,
sores, etc.
4. Etym: [F. dressoir. See Dress, v. t.]
(a) A table or bench on which meat and other things are dressed, or
prepared for use.
(b) A cupboard or set of shelves to receive dishes and cooking
utensils.
The pewter plates on the dresser Caught and reflected the flame, as
shields of armies the sunshine. Longfellow.
DRESS GOODS
Dress" goods".
Defn: A term applied to fabrics for the gowns of women and girls; --
most commonly to fabrics of mixed materials, but also applicable to
silks, printed linens, and calicoes.
DRESSINESS
Dress"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dressy.
DRESSING
Dress"ing, n.
1. Dress; raiment; especially, ornamental habiliment or attire. B.
Jonson.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: An application (a remedy, bandage, etc.) to a sore or wound.
Wiseman.
3. Manure or compost over land. When it remains on the surface, it is
called a top-dressing.
4. (Cookery)
(a) A preparation to fit food for use; a condiment; as, a dressing
for salad.
(b) The stuffing of fowls, pigs, etc.; forcemeat.
5. Gum, starch, and the like, used in stiffening or finishing silk,
linen, and other fabrics.
6. An ornamental finish, as a molding around doors, windows, or on a
ceiling, etc.
7. Castigation; scolding; -- often with down. [Colloq.] Dressing
case, a case of toilet utensils.
-- Dressing forceps, a variety of forceps, shaped like a pair of
scissors, used in dressing wounds.
-- Dressing gown, a light gown, such as is used by a person while
dressing; a study gown.
-- Dressing room, an apartment appropriated for making one's toilet.
-- Dressing table, a table at which a person may dress, and on which
articles for the toilet stand.
-- Top-dressing, manure or compost spread over land and not worked
into the soil.
DRESSMAKER
Dress"mak`er, n.
Defn: A maker of gowns, or similar garments; a mantuamaker.
DRESSMAKING
Dress"mak`ing, n.
Defn: The art, process, or occupation, of making dresses.
DRESSY
Dress"y, a.
Defn: Showy in dress; attentive to dress.
A dressy flaunting maidservant. T. Hook.
A neat, dressy gentleman in black. W. Irving.
DREST
Drest, p. p.
Defn: of Dress.
DRETCH
Dretch, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Drecche. [Obs.]
DREUL
Dreul, v. i.
Defn: To drool. [Obs.]
DREVIL
Drev"il, n.
Defn: A fool; a drudge. See Drivel.
DREW
Drew, imp.
Defn: of Draw.
DREY
Drey, n.
Defn: A squirrel's nest. See Dray. [Obs.]
DREYE
Dreye, a.
Defn: Dry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DREYNTE; DREYNT
Dreyn"te, imp., Dreynt (,
Defn: p. p., of Drench to drown. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRIB
Drib, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dribbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dribbing.] Etym:
[Cf. Drip.]
Defn: To do by little and little; as:
(a) To cut off by a little at a time; to crop.
(b) To appropriate unlawfully; to filch; to defalcate.
He who drives their bargain dribs a part. Dryden.
(c) To lead along step by step; to entice.
With daily lies she dribs thee into cost. Dryden.
DRIB
Drib, v. t. & i. (Archery)
Defn: To shoot (a shaft) so as to pierce on the descent. [Obs.] Sir
P. Sidney.
DRIB
Drib, n.
Defn: A drop. [Obs.] Swift.
DRIBBER
Drib"ber, n.
Defn: One who dribs; one who shoots weakly or badly. [Obs.] Ascham.
DRIBBLE
Drib"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dribbled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dribbing.]
Etym: [Freq. of drib, which is a variant of drip.]
1. To fall in drops or small drops, or in a quick succession of
drops; as, water dribbles from the eaves.
2. To slaver, as a child or an idiot; to drivel.
3. To fall weakly and slowly. [Obs.] "The dribbling dart of love."
Shak. (Meas. for Meas. , i. 3, 2). [Perhaps an error for dribbing.]
DRIBBLE
Drib"ble, v. t.
Defn: To let fall in drops.
Let the cook . . . dribble it all the way upstairs. Swift.
DRIBBLE
Drib"ble, n.
Defn: A drizzling shower; a falling or leaking in drops. [Colloq.]
DRIBBLER
Drib"bler, n.
Defn: One who dribbles.
DRIBBLET; DRIBLET
Drib"blet, Drib"let, n. Etym: [From Dribble.]
Defn: A small piece or part; a small sum; a small quantity of money
in making up a sum; as, the money was paid in dribblets.
When made up in dribblets, as they could, their best securities were
at an interest of twelve per cent. Burke.
DRIE
Drie, v. t. Etym: [See Dree.]
Defn: To endure. [Obs.]
So causeless such drede for to drie. Chaucer.
DRIED
Dried, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Day. Also adj.; as, dried apples.
DRIER
Dri"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, dries; that which may expel or absorb
moisture; a desiccative; as, the sun and a northwesterly wind are
great driers of the earth.
2. (Paint.)
Defn: Drying oil; a substance mingled with the oil used in oil
painting to make it dry quickly.
DRIER; DRIEST
Dri"er, compar., Dri"est, superl.,
Defn: of Dry, a.
DRIFT
Drift, n. Etym: [From drive; akin to LG. & D. drift a driving, Icel.
drift snowdrift, Dan. drift, impulse, drove, herd, pasture, common,
G. trift pasturage, drove. See Drive.]
1. A driving; a violent movement.
The dragon drew him [self] away with drift of his wings. King
Alisaunder (1332).
2. The act or motion of drifting; the force which impels or drives;
an overpowering influence or impulse.
A bad man, being under the drift of any passion, will follow the
impulse of it till something interpose. South.
3. Course or direction along which anything is driven; setting. "Our
drift was south." Hakluyt.
4. The tendency of an act, argument, course of conduct, or the like;
object aimed at or intended; intention; hence, also, import or
meaning of a sentence or discourse; aim.
He has made the drift of the whole poem a compliment on his country
in general. Addison.
Now thou knowest my drift. Sir W. Scott.
5. That which is driven, forced, or urged along; as:
(a) Anything driven at random. "Some log . . . a useless drift."
Dryden.
(b) A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together
in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., esp. by wind or water;
as, a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, and the like.
Drifts of rising dust involve the sky. Pope.
We got the brig a good bed in the rushing drift [of ice]. Kane.
(c) A drove or flock, as of cattle, sheep, birds. [Obs.]
Cattle coming over the bridge (with their great drift doing much
damage to the high ways). Fuller.
6. (Arch.)
Defn: The horizontal thrust or pressure of an arch or vault upon the
abutments. [R.] Knight.
7. (Geol.)
Defn: A collection of loose earth and rocks, or boulders, which have
been distributed over large portions of the earth's surface,
especially in latitudes north of forty degrees, by the agency of ice.
8. In South Africa, a ford in a river.
9. (Mech.)
Defn: A slightly tapered tool of steel for enlarging or shaping a
hole in metal, by being forced or driven into or through it; a
broach.
10. (Mil.)
(a) A tool used in driving down compactly the composition contained
in a rocket, or like firework.
(b) A deviation from the line of fire, peculiar to oblong
projectiles.
11. (Mining)
Defn: A passage driven or cut between shaft and shaft; a driftway; a
small subterranean gallery; an adit or tunnel.
12. (Naut.)
(a) The distance through which a current flows in a given time.
(b) The angle which the line of a ship's motion makes with the
meridian, in drifting.
(c) The distance to which a vessel is carried off from her desired
course by the wind, currents, or other causes.
(d) The place in a deep-waisted vessel where the sheer is raised and
the rail is cut off, and usually terminated with a scroll, or
driftpiece.
(e) The distance between the two blocks of a tackle.
13. The difference between the size of a bolt and the hole into which
it is driven, or between the circumference of a hoop and that of the
mast on which it is to be driven.
Note: Drift is used also either adjectively or as the first part of a
compound. See Drift, a. Drift of the forest (O. Eng. Law), an
examination or view of the cattle in a forest, in order to see whose
they are, whether they are commonable, and to determine whether or
not the forest is surcharged. Burrill.
DRIFT
Drift, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Drifting.]
1. To float or be driven along by, or as by, a current of water or
air; as, the ship drifted astern; a raft drifted ashore; the balloon
drifts slowly east.
We drifted o'er the harbor bar. Coleridge.
2. To accumulate in heaps by the force of wind; to be driven into
heaps; as, snow or sand drifts.
3. (mining)
Defn: to make a drift; to examine a vein or ledge for the purpose of
ascertaining the presence of metals or ores; to follow a vein; to
prospect. [U.S.]
DRIFT
Drift, v. t.
1. To drive or carry, as currents do a floating body. J. H. Newman.
2. To drive into heaps; as, a current of wind drifts snow or sand.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: To enlarge or shape, as a hole, with a drift.
DRIFT
Drift, a.
Defn: That causes drifting or that is drifted; movable by wind or
currents; as, drift currents; drift ice; drift mud. Kane. Drift
anchor. See Sea anchor, and also Drag sail, under Drag, n.
-- Drift epoch (Geol.), the glacial epoch.
-- Drift net, a kind of fishing net.
-- Drift sail. Same as Drag sail. See under Drag, n.
DRIFTAGE
Drift"age, n.
1. Deviation from a ship's course due to leeway.
2. Anything that drifts.
DRIFTBOLT
Drift"bolt`, n.
Defn: A bolt for driving out other bolts.
DRIFTLESS
Drift"less, a.
Defn: Having no drift or direction; without aim; purposeless.
DRIFTPIECE
Drift"piece", n. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: An upright or curved piece of timber connecting the plank sheer
with the gunwale; also, a scroll terminating a rail.
DRIFTPIN
Drift"pin`, n. (Mech.)
Defn: A smooth drift. See Drift, n., 9.
DRIFTWAY
Drift"way`, n.
1. A common way, road, or path, for driving cattle. Cowell. Burrill.
2. (Mining)
Defn: Same as Drift, 11.
DRIFTWEED
Drift"weed`, n.
Defn: Seaweed drifted to the shore by the wind. Darwin.
DRIFTWIND
Drift"wind`, n.
Defn: A driving wind; a wind that drives snow, sand, etc., into
heaps. Beau. & Fl.
DRIFTWOOD
Drift"wood`, n.
1. Wood drifted or floated by water.
2. Fig.: Whatever is drifting or floating as on water.
The current of humanity, with its heavy proportion of very useless
driftwood. New Your Times.
DRIFTY
Drift"y, a.
Defn: Full of drifts; tending to form drifts, as snow, and the like.
DRILL
Drill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drilling.] Etym:
[D. drillen to bore, drill (soldiers); probably akin to AS. pyrlian,
pyrelian, to pierce. See Thrill.]
1. To pierce or bore with a drill, or a with a drill; to perforate;
as, to drill a hole into a rock; to drill a piece of metal.
2. To train in the military art; to exercise diligently, as soldiers,
in military evolutions and exercises; hence, to instruct thoroughly
in the rudiments of any art or branch of knowledge; to discipline.
He [Frederic the Great] drilled his people, as he drilled his
grenadiers. Macaulay.
DRILL
Drill, v. i.
Defn: To practice an exercise or exercises; to train one's self.
DRILL
Drill, n.
1. An instrument with an edged or pointed end used for making holes
in hard substances; strictly, a tool that cuts with its end, by
revolving, as in drilling metals, or by a succession of blows, as in
drilling stone; also, a drill press.
2. (Mil.)
Defn: The act or exercise of training soldiers in the military art,
as in the manual of arms, in the execution of evolutions, and the
like; hence, diligent and strict instruction and exercise in the
rudiments and methods of any business; a kind or method of military
exercises; as, infantry drill; battalion drill; artillery drill.
3. Any exercise, physical or mental, enforced with regularity and by
constant repetition; as, a severe drill in Latin grammar.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine gastropod, of several species, which kills oysters and
other bivalves by drilling holes through the shell. The most
destructive kind is Urosalpinx cinerea. Bow drill, Breast drill. See
under Bow, Breast.
-- Cotter drill, or Traverse drill, a machine tool for drilling
slots.
-- Diamond drill. See under Diamond.
-- Drill jig. See under Jig.
-- Drill pin, the pin in a lock which enters the hollow stem of the
key.
-- Drill sergeant (Mil.), a noncommissioned officer whose office it
is to instruct soldiers as to their duties, and to train them to
military exercises and evolutions.
-- Vertical drill, a drill press.
DRILL
Drill, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Trill to trickle, Trickle, Dribble, and W.
rhillio to put in a row, drill.]
1. To cause to flow in drills or rills or by trickling; to drain by
trickling; as, waters drilled through a sandy stratum. [R.] Thomson.
2. To sow, as seeds, by dribbling them along a furrow or in a row,
like a trickling rill of water.
3. To entice; to allure from step; to decoy; -- with on. [Obs.]
See drilled him on to five-fifty. Addison.
4. To cause to slip or waste away by degrees. [Obs.]
This accident hath drilled away the whole summer. Swift.
DRILL
Drill, v. i.
1. To trickle. [Obs. or R.] Sandys.
2. To sow in drills.
DRILL
Drill, n.
1. A small trickling stream; a rill. [Obs.]
Springs through the pleasant meadows pour their drills. Sandys.
2. (Agr.)
(a) An implement for making holes for sowing seed, and sometimes so
formed as to contain seeds and drop them into the hole made.
(b) A light furrow or channel made to put seed into sowing.
(c) A row of seed sown in a furrow.
Note: Drill is used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound;
as, drill barrow or drill-barrow; drill husbandry; drill plow or
drill-plow. Drill barrow, a wheeled implement for planting seed in
drills.
-- Drill bow, a small bow used for the purpose of rapidly turning a
drill around which the bowstring takes a turn.
-- Drill harrow, a harrow used for stirring the ground between rows,
or drills.
-- Drill plow, or Drill plough, a sort plow for sowing grain in
drills.
DRILL
Drill, n. Etym: [Cf. Mandrill.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large African baboon (Cynocephalus leucophæus).
DRILL
Drill, n. Etym: [Usually in pl.] (Manuf.)
Defn: Same as Drilling. Imperial drill, a linen fabric having two
threads in the warp and three in the filling.
DRILLER
Drill"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, drills.
DRILLING
Drill"ing, n.
1. The act of piercing with a drill.
2. A training by repeated exercises.
DRILLING
Drill"ing, n.
Defn: The act of using a drill in sowing seeds.
DRILLING
Drill"ing, n. Etym: [G. drillich, fr. L. trilix having three threads,
fr. the of tres three + licium a thread of the warm. See Three, and
cf. Twill.] (Manuf.)
Defn: A heavy, twilled fabric of linen or cotton.
DRILLMASTER
Drill"mas`ter, n.
Defn: One who teaches drill, especially in the way of gymnastics.
Macaulay.
DRILL PRESS
Drill" press` .
Defn: A machine for drilling holes in metal, the drill being pressed
to the metal by the action of a screw.
DRILLSTOCK
Drill"stock`, n. (Mech.)
Defn: A contrivance for holding and turning a drill. Knight.
DRILY
Dri"ly, adv.
Defn: See Dryly. Thackeray.
DRIMYS
Dri"mys, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of magnoliaceous trees. Drimys aromatica furnishes
Winter's bark.
DRINK
Drink, v. i. [imp. Drank, formerly Drunk (; & p. p. Drunk, Drunken (;
p. pr. & vb. n. Drinking. Drunken is now rarely used, except as a
verbal adj. in sense of habitually intoxicated; the form drank, not
infrequently used as a p. p., is not so analogical.] Etym: [AS.
drincan; akin to OS. drinkan, D. drinken, G. trinken, Icel. drekka,
Sw. dricka, Dan. drikke, Goth. drigkan. Cf. Drench, Drunken, Drown.]
1. To swallow anything liquid, for quenching thirst or other purpose;
to imbibe; to receive or partake of, as if in satisfaction of thirst;
as, to drink from a spring.
Gird thyself, and serve me, till have eaten and drunken; and
afterward thou shalt eat and drink. Luke xvii. 8.
He shall drink of the wrath the Almighty. Job xxi. 20.
Drink of the cup that can not cloy. Keble.
2. To quaff exhilarating or intoxicating liquors, in merriment or
feasting; to carouse; to revel; hence, to lake alcoholic liquors to
excess; to be intemperate in the Pope.
And they drank, and were merry with him. Gem. xliii. 34.
Bolingbroke always spoke freely when he had drunk freely. Thackeray.
To drink to, to salute in drinking; to wish well to, in the act of
taking the cup; to pledge in drinking.
I drink to the general joy of the whole table, And to our dear friend
Banquo. Shak.
DRINK
Drink, v. t.
1. To swallow (a liquid); to receive, as a fluid, into the stomach;
to imbibe; as, to drink milk or water.
There lies she with the blessed gods in bliss, There drinks the
nectar with ambrosia mixed. Spenser.
The bowl of punch which was brewed and drunk in Mrs. Betty's room.
Thackeray.
2. To take in (a liquid), in any manner; to suck up; to absorb; to
imbibe.
And let the purple violets drink the stream. Dryden.
3. To take in; to receive within one, through the senses; to inhale;
to hear; to see.
To drink the cooler air, Tennyson.
My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words Of that tongue's
utterance. Shak.
Let me . . . drink delicious poison from thy eye. Pope.
4. To smoke, as tobacco. [Obs.]
And some men now live ninety years and past, Who never drank to
tobacco first nor last. Taylor (1630. )
To drink down, to act on by drinking; to reduce or subdue; as, to
drink down unkindness. Shak.
-- To drink in, to take into one's self by drinking, or as by
drinking; to receive and appropriate as in satisfaction of thirst.
"Song was the form of literature which he [Burns] had drunk in from
his cradle." J. C. Shairp.
-- To drink off or up, to drink the whole at a draught; as, to drink
off a cup of cordial.
-- To drink the health of, or To drink to the health of, to drink
while expressing good wishes for the health or welfare of.
DRINK
Drink, n.
1. Liquid to be swallowed; any fluid to be taken into the stomach for
quenching thirst or for other purposes, as water, coffee, or
decoctions.
Give me some drink, Titinius. Shak.
2. Specifically, intoxicating liquor; as, when drink is on, wit is
out. Drink money, or Drink penny, an allowance, or perquisite, given
to buy drink; a gratuity.
-- Drink offering (Script.), an offering of wine, etc., in the
Jewish religious service.
-- In drink, drunk. "The poor monster's in drink." Shak.
-- Strong drink, intoxicating liquor; esp., liquor containing a
large proportion of alcohol. " Wine is a mocker, strong drink is
raging." Prov. xx. 1.
DRINKABLE
Drink"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drunk; suitable for drink; potable. Macaulay.
Also used substantively, esp. in the plural. Steele.
DRINKABLENESS
Drink"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being drinkable.
DRINKER
Drink"er, n.
Defn: One who drinks; as, the effects of tea on the drinker; also,
one who drinks spirituous liquors to excess; a drunkard. Drinker moth
(Zoöl.), a large British moth (Odonestis potatoria).
DRINKING
Drink"ing, n.
1. The act of one who drinks; the act of imbibing.
2. The practice of partaking to excess of intoxicating liquors.
3. An entertainment with liquors; a carousal.
Note: Drinking is used adjectively, or as the first part of a
compound; as, a drinking song, drinking cup, drinking glass, drinking
house, etc. Drinking horn, a drinking vessel made of a horn.
DRINKLESS
Drink"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of drink. Chaucer.
DRIP
Drip, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dripped or Dript; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dripping.] Etym: [Akin to LG. drippen, Dan. dryppe, from a noun. See
Drop.]
1. To fall in drops; as, water drips from the eaves.
2. To let fall drops of moisture or liquid; as, a wet garment drips.
The dark round of the dripping wheel. Tennyson.
DRIP
Drip, v. t.
Defn: To let fall in drops.
Which from the thatch drips fast a shower of rain. Swift.
DRIP
Drip, n.
1. A falling or letting fall in drops; a dripping; that which drips,
or falls in drops.
The light drip of the suspended oar. Byron.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: That part of a cornice, sill course, or other horizontal
member, which projects beyond the rest, and is of such section as to
throw off the rain water. Right of drip (Law), an easement or
servitude by which a man has the right to have the water flowing from
his house fall on the land of his neighbor.
DRIPPING
Drip"ping, n.
1. A falling in drops, or the sound so made.
2. That which falls in drops, as fat from meat in roasting. Dripping
pan, a pan for receiving the fat which drips from meat in roasting.
DRIPPLE
Drip"ple, a. Etym: [From Drip, cf. Dribble.]
Defn: Weak or rare. [Obs.]
DRIPSTONE
Drip"stone`, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A drip, when made of stone. See Drip, 2.
DRIVE
Drive, v. t. [imp. Drove, formerly Drave (p. p. Driven; p. pr. & vb.
n. Driving.] Etym: [AS. drifan; akin to OS. driban, D. drijven, OHG.
triban, G. treiben, Icel. drifa, Goth. dreiban. Cf. Drift, Drove.]
1. To impel or urge onward by force in a direction away from one, or
along before one; to push forward; to compel to move on; to
communicate motion to; as, to drive cattle; to drive a nail; smoke
drives persons from a room.
A storm came on and drove them into Pylos. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Shield pressed on shield, and man drove man along. Pope.
Go drive the deer and drag the finny prey. Pope.
2. To urge on and direct the motions of, as the beasts which draw a
vehicle, or the vehicle borne by them; hence, also, to take in a
carriage; to convey in a vehicle drawn by beasts; as, to drive a pair
of horses or a stage; to drive a person to his own door.
How . . . proud he was to drive such a brother! Thackeray.
3. To urge, impel, or hurry forward; to force; to constrain; to urge,
press, or bring to a point or state; as, to drive person by
necessity, by persuasion, by force of circumstances, by argument, and
the like. " Enough to drive one mad." Tennyson.
He, driven to dismount, threatened, if I did not do the like, to do
as much for my horse as fortune had done for his. Sir P. Sidney.
4. To carry or; to keep in motion; to conduct; to prosecute. [Now
used only colloquially.] Bacon.
The trade of life can not be driven without partners. Collier.
5. To clear, by forcing away what is contained.
To drive the country, force the swains away. Dryden.
6. (Mining)
Defn: To dig Horizontally; to cut a horizontal gallery or tunnel.
Tomlinson.
7. To pass away; -- said of time. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Note: Drive, in all its senses, implies forcible or violent action.
It is the reverse of to lead. To drive a body is to move it by
applying a force behind; to lead is to cause to move by applying the
force before, or in front. It takes a variety of meanings, according
to the objects by which it is followed; as, to drive an engine, to
direct and regulate its motions; to drive logs, to keep them in the
current of a river and direct them in their course; to drive feathers
or down, to place them in a machine, which, by a current of air,
drives off the lightest to one end, and collects them by themselves.
"My thrice-driven bed of down." Shak.
DRIVE
Drive, v. i.
1. To rush and press with violence; to move furiously.
Fierce Boreas drove against his flying sails. Dryden.
Under cover of the night and a driving tempest. Prescott.
Time driveth onward fast, And in a little while our lips are dumb.
Tennyson.
2. To be forced along; to be impelled; to be moved by any physical
force or agent; to be driven.
The hull drives on, though mast and sail be torn. Byron.
The chaise drives to Mr. Draper's chambers. Thackeray.
3. To go by carriage; to pass in a carriage; to proceed by directing
or urging on a vehicle or the animals that draw it; as, the coachman
drove to my door.
4. To press forward; to aim, or tend, to a point; to make an effort;
to strive; -- usually with at.
Let them therefore declare what carnal or secular interest he drove
at. South.
5. To distrain for rent. [Obs.] To let drive, to aim a blow; to
strike with force; to attack. "Four rogues in buckram let drive at
me." Shak.
DRIVE
Drive, p. p.
Defn: Driven. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRIVE
Drive, n.
1. The act of driving; a trip or an excursion in a carriage, as for
exercise or pleasure; -- distinguished from a ride taken on
horseback.
2. A place suitable or agreeable for driving; a road prepared for
driving.
3. Violent or rapid motion; a rushing onward or away; esp., a forced
or hurried dispatch of business.
The Murdstonian drive in business. M. Arnold.
4. In type founding and forging, an impression or matrix, formed by a
punch drift.
5. A collection of objects that are driven; a mass of logs to be
floated down a river. [Colloq.]
Syn.
-- See Ride.
DRIVEBOLT
Drive"bolt`, n.
Defn: A drift; a tool for setting bolts home.
DRIVEL
Driv"el, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Driveled or Drivelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Driveling or Drivelling.] Etym: [Cf. OE. dravelen, drabelen,
drevelen, drivelen, to slaver, and E. drabble. Cf. Drool.]
1. To slaver; to let spittle drop or flow from the mouth, like a
child, idiot, or dotard.
2. Etym: [Perh. a different word: cf. Icel. drafa to talk thick.]
Defn: To be weak or foolish; to dote; as, a driveling hero; driveling
love. Shak. Dryden.
DRIVEL
Driv"el, n.
1. Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth.
2. Inarticulate or unmeaning utterance; foolish talk; babble.
3. A driveler; a fool; an idiot. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
4. A servant; a drudge. [Obs.] Huloet.
DRIVELER
Driv"el*er, n.
Defn: A slaverer; a slabberer; an idiot; a fool. [Written also
driveller.]
DRIVEN
Driv"en, p. p.
Defn: of Drive. Also adj. Driven well, a well made by driving a tube
into the earth to an aqueous stratum; -- called also drive well.
DRIVEPIPE
Drive"pipe`, n.
Defn: A pipe for forcing into the earth.
DRIVER
Driv"er, n. Etym: [From Drive.]
1. One who, or that which, drives; the person or thing that urges or
compels anything else to move onward.
2. The person who drives beasts or a carriage; a coachman; a
charioteer, etc.; hence, also, one who controls the movements of a
locomotive.
3. An overseer of a gang of slaves or gang of convicts at their work.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: A part that transmits motion to another part by contact with
it, or through an intermediate relatively movable part, as a gear
which drives another, or a lever which moves another through a link,
etc. Specifically:
(a) The driving wheel of a locomotive.
(b) An attachment to a lathe, spindle, or face plate to turn a
carrier.
(c) A crossbar on a grinding mill spindle to drive the upper stone.
5. (Naut.)
Defn: The after sail in a ship or bark, being a fore-and-aft sail
attached to a gaff; a spanker. Totten. Driver ant (Zoöl.), a species
of African stinging ant; one of the visiting ants (Anomma arcens); --
so called because they move about in vast armies, and drive away or
devour all insects and other small animals.
DRIVEWAY
Drive"way` (, n.
Defn: A passage or way along or through which a carriage may be
driven.
DRIVING
Driv"ing, a.
1. Having great force of impulse; as, a driving wind or storm.
2. Communicating force; impelling; as, a driving shaft. Driving axle,
the axle of a driving wheel, as in a locomotive.
-- Driving box (Locomotive), the journal box of a driving axle. See
Illust. of Locomotive.
-- Driving note (Mus.), a syncopated note; a tone begun on a weak
part of a measure and held through the next accented part, thus
anticipating the accent and driving it through.
-- Driving spring, a spring fixed upon the box of the driving axle
of a locomotive engine to support the weight and deaden shocks.
[Eng.] Weale.
-- Driving wheel (Mach.), a wheel that communicates motion; one of
the large wheels of a locomotive to which the connecting rods of the
engine are attached; -- called also, simply, driver. See Illust. of
Locomotive.
DRIVING
Driv"ing, n.
1. The act of forcing or urging something along; the act of pressing
or moving on furiously.
2. Tendency; drift. [R.]
DRIZZLE
Driz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drizzling.]
Etym: [Prop. freq. of AS. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.]
Defn: To rain slightly in very small drops; to fall, as water from
the clouds, slowly and in fine particles; as, it drizzles; drizzling
drops or rain. "Drizzling tears." Spenser.
DRIZZLE
Driz"zle, v. t.
Defn: To shed slowly in minute drops or particles. "The air doth
drizzle dew." Shak.
DRIZZLE
Driz"zle, n.
Defn: Fine rain or mist. Halliwell.
DRIZZLY
Driz"zly, a.
Defn: Characterized by small rain, or snow; moist and disagreeable.
"Winter's drizzly reign." Dryden.
DROCK
Drock, n.
Defn: A water course. [Prov. Eng.]
DROFLAND; DRYFLAND
Drof"land, Dryf"land, n. Etym: [See Drove.] (Law)
Defn: An ancient yearly payment made by some tenants to the king, or
to their landlords, for the privilege of driving their cattle through
a manor to fairs or markets. Cowell.
DROGHER
Dro"gher, n. Etym: [Cf. Drag.]
Defn: A small craft used in the West India Islands to take off
sugars, rum, etc., to the merchantmen; also, a vessel for
transporting lumber, cotton, etc., coastwise; as, a lumber drogher.
[Written also droger.] Ham. Nar. Encyc.
DROGMAN; DROGOMAN
Drog"man, Drog"o*man, n.
Defn: See Dragoman.
DROGUE
Drogue, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Drag, n.,
6, and Drag sail, under Drag, n.
DROH
Droh, imp.
Defn: of Draw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DROIL
Droil, v. i. Etym: [D. druilen to mope.]
Defn: To work sluggishly or slowly; to plod. [Obs.]
DROIL
Droil, n. Etym: [D. druil sluggard. Cf. Droll.]
1. A drudge. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. Mean labor; toil.[Obs.]
DROIT
Droit, n. Etym: [F. See Direct.]
Defn: A right; law in its aspect of the foundation of rights; also,
in old law, the writ of right. Abbott. Droit d'aubaine. See under
Aubaine.
-- Droits of the Admiralty (Eng. Law), rights or perquisites of the
Admiralty, arising from seizure of an enemy's ships in port on the
breaking out of war, or those coming into port in ignorance of
hostilities existing, or from such ships as are taken by
noncommissioned captors; also, the proceeds of wrecks, and derelict
property at sea. The droits of admiralty are now paid into the
Exchequer for the public benefit.
DROITURAL
Droi"tu*ral, a. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: relating to the mere right of property, as distinguished from
the right of possession; as, droitural actions. [Obs.] Burrill.
DROITZSCHKA
Droitzsch"ka, n.
Defn: See Drosky.
DROLL
Droll, a. [Compar. Droller; superl. Drollest.] Etym: [F. drôle; cf.
G. & D. drollig, LG. drullig, D. drol a thick and short person, a
droll, Sw. troll a magical appearance, demon, trolla to use magic
arts, enchant, Dan. trold elf, imp, Icel. tröll giant, magician, evil
spirit, monster. If this is the origin, cf. Trull.]
Defn: Queer, and fitted to provoke laughter; ludicrous from oddity;
amusing and strange.
Syn.
-- Comic; comical; farcical; diverting; humorous; ridiculous; queer;
odd; waggish; facetious; merry; laughable; ludicrous.
-- Droll, Laughable, Comical. Laughable is the generic term,
denoting anything exciting laughter or worthy of laughter; comical
denotes something of the kind exhibited in comedies, something
humorous of the kind exhibited in comedies, something, as it were,
dramatically humorous; droll stands lower on the scale, having
reference to persons or things which excite laughter by their
buffoonery or oddity. A laughable incident; a comical adventure; a
droll story.
DROLL
Droll, n.
1. One whose practice it is to raise mirth by odd tricks; a jester; a
buffoon; a merry-andrew. Prior.
2. Something exhibited to raise mirth or sport, as a puppet, a farce,
and the like.
DROLL
Droll, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drolled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drolling.]
Defn: To jest; to play the buffoon. [R.]
DROLL
Droll, v. t.
1. To lead or influence by jest or trick; to banter or jest; to
cajole.
Men that will not be reasoned into their senses, may yet be laughed
or drolled into them. L'Estrange.
2. To make a jest of; to set in a comical light. [R.]
This drolling everything is rather fatiguing. W. D. Howells.
DROLLER
Droll"er, n.
Defn: A jester; a droll. [Obs.] Glanvill.
DROLLERY
Droll"er*y, n.; pl. Drolleries. Etym: [F. drôlerie. See Droll.]
1. The quality of being droll; sportive tricks; buffoonery; droll
stories; comical gestures or manners.
The rich drollery of "She Stoops to Conquer." Macaulay.
2. Something which serves to raise mirth; as:
(a) A puppet show; also, a puppet. [Obs.] Shak.
(b) A lively or comic picture. [Obs.]
I bought an excellent drollery, which I afterward parted with to my
brother George of Wotton. Evelyn.
DROLLINGLY
Droll"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a jesting manner.
DROLLISH
Droll"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat droll. Sterne.
DROLLIST
Droll"ist, n.
Defn: A droll. [R.] Glanvill.
DROMAEOGNATHOUS
Dro`mæ*og"na*thous, a. Etym: [NL. dromaius emu + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the structure of the palate like that of the ostrich and
emu.
DROMATHERIUM
Drom`a*the"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Dromedary.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A small extinct triassic mammal from North Carolina, the
earliest yet found in America.
DROME
Drome, n. Etym: [F., fr. Gr. Dromedary.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The crab plover (Dromas ardeola), a peculiar North African
bird, allied to the oyster catcher.
DROMEDARY
Drom"e*da*ry, n.; pl. Dromedaries. Etym: [F. dromadaire, LL.
dromedarius, fr. L. dromas (sc. camelus), fr. Gr. dram to run.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius), having one hump or
protuberance on the back, in distinction from the Bactrian camel,
which has two humps.
Note: In Arabia and Egypt the name is restricted to the better breeds
of this species of camel. See Deloul.
DROMOND; DROMON
Drom"ond, or Drom"on. Etym: [OF. dromont, L. dromo, fr.
Gr.Dromedary.]
Defn: In the Middle Ages, a large, fast-sailing galley, or cutter; a
large, swift war vessel. [Hist. or Archaic] Fuller.
The great dromond swinging from the quay. W. Morris.
DRONE
Drone, n. Etym: [OE. drane a dronebee, AS. dran; akin to OS. dran,
OHG. treno, G. drohne, Dan. drone, cf. Gr. Drone, v. i.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of bees, esp. of the honeybee. It gathers no honey.
See Honeybee.
All with united force combine to drive The lazy drones from the
laborious hive. Dryden.
2. One who lives on the labors of others; a lazy, idle fellow; a
sluggard.
By living as a drone,to be an unprofitable and unworthy member of so
noble and learned a society. Burton.
3. That which gives out a grave or monotonous tone or dull sound; as:
(a) A drum. [Obs.] Halliwell. (b) The part of the bagpipe containing
the two lowest tubes, which always sound the key note and the fifth.
4. A humming or deep murmuring sound.
The monotonous drone of the wheel. Longfellow.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: A monotonous bass, as in a pastoral composition.
DRONE
Drone, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Droned; p. pr. & vb. n. Droning.] Etym:
[Cf. (for sense 1) D. dreunen, G. dröhnen, Icel. drynja to roar,
drynr a roaring, Sw. dröna to bellow, drone, Dan. dröne, Goth.
drunjus sound, Gr. dhran to sound. Cf. Drone, n.]
1. To utter or make a low, dull, monotonous, humming or murmuring
sound.
Where the beetle wheels his droning flight. T. Gray.
2. To love in idleness; to do nothing. "Race of droning kings."
Dryden.
DRONE BEE
Drone" bee`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The male of the honeybee; a drone.
DRONE FLY
Drone" fly`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dipterous insect (Eristalis tenax), resembling the drone bee.
See Eristalis.
DRONEPIPE
Drone"pipe`, n.
Defn: One of the low-toned tubes of a bagpipe.
DRONGO
Dron"go, n.; pl. Drongos (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A passerine bird of the family Dicruridæ. They are usually
black with a deeply forked tail. They are natives of Asia, Africa,
and Australia; -- called also drongo shrikes.
DRONISH
Dron"ish, a.
Defn: Like a drone; indolent; slow. Burke.
-- Dron"ish*ly, adv.
-- Dron"ish*ness, n.
DRONKELEWE
Dron"ke*lewe, a. Etym: [See Drink.]
Defn: Given to drink; drunken. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRONTE
Dron"te, n. Etym: [F.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dodo.
DRONY
Dron"y, a.
Defn: Like a drone; sluggish; lazy.
DROOL
Drool, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Drooling.] Etym:
[Contr. fr. drivel.]
Defn: To drivel, or drop saliva; as, the child drools.
His mouth drooling with texts. T. Parker.
DROOP
Droop, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drooped; p. pr. & vb. n. Drooping.] Etym:
[Icel. dr; akin to E. drop. See Drop.]
1. To hang bending downward; to sink or hang down, as an animal,
plant, etc., from physical inability or exhaustion, want of
nourishment, or the like. "The purple flowers droop." "Above her
drooped a lamp." Tennyson.
I saw him ten days before he died, and observed he began very much to
droop and languish. Swift.
2. To grow weak or faint with disappointment, grief, or like causes;
to be dispirited or depressed; to languish; as, her spirits drooped.
I'll animate the soldier's drooping courage. Addison.
3. To proceed downward, or toward a close; to decline. "Then day
drooped." Tennyson.
DROOP
Droop, v. t.
Defn: To let droop or sink. [R.] M. Arnold.
Like to a withered vine That droops his sapless branches to the
ground. Shak.
DROOP
Droop, n.
Defn: A drooping; as, a droop of the eye.
DROOPER
Droop"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, droops.
DROOPINGLY
Droop"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a drooping manner.
DROP
Drop, n. Etym: [OE. drope, AS. dropa; akin to OS. dropo, D. drop,
OHG. tropo, G. tropfen, Icel. dropi, Sw. droppe; and Fr. AS. dreópan
to drip, drop; akin to OS. driopan, D. druipen, OHG. triofan, G.
triefen, Icel. drj. Cf. Drip, Droop.]
1. The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a
liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured
portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water.
With minute drops from off the eaves. Milton.
As dear to me as are the ruddy drops That visit my sad heart. Shak.
That drop of peace divine. Keble.
2. That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as
a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a
chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or
slug.
3. (Arch.)
(a) Same as Gutta.
(b) Any small pendent ornament.
4. Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated
position; also, a contrivance for lowering something; as:
(a) A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of
the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence,
the gallows itself.
(b) A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons,
etc., to a ship's deck.
(c) A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet.
(d) A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a
theater, etc.
(e) A drop press or drop hammer.
(f) (Mach.) The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a
hanger.
5. pl.
Defn: Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as,
lavender drops.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses
only. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
7. Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent. Ague drop, Black drop.
See under Ague, Black.
-- Drop by drop, in small successive quantities; in repeated
portions. "Made to taste drop by drop more than the bitterness of
death." Burke.
-- Drop curtain. See Drop, n.,
4. (d).
-- Drop forging. (Mech.) (a) A forging made in dies by a drop
hammer. (b) The process of making drop forgings.
-- Drop hammer (Mech.), a hammer for forging, striking up metal,
etc., the weight being raised by a strap or similar device, and then
released to drop on the metal resting on an anvil or die.
-- Drop kick (Football), a kick given to the ball as it rebounds
after having been dropped from the hands.
-- Drop lake, a pigment obtained from Brazil wood. Mollett.
-- Drop letter, a letter to be delivered from the same office where
posted.
-- Drop press (Mech.), a drop hammer; sometimes, a dead-stroke
hammer; -- also called drop.
-- Drop scene, a drop curtain on which a scene is painted. See Drop,
n., 4. (d).
-- Drop seed. (Bot.) See the List under Glass.
-- Drop serene. (Med.) See Amaurosis.
DROP
Drop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dropped or Dropt; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dropping.] Etym: [OE. droppen, AS. dropan, v. i. See Drop, n.]
1. To pour or let fall in drops; to pour in small globules; to
distill. "The trees drop balsam." Creech.
The recording angel, as he wrote it down, dropped a tear upon the
word and blotted it out forever. Sterne.
2. To cause to fall in one portion, or by one motion, like a drop; to
let fall; as, to drop a line in fishing; to drop a courtesy.
3. To let go; to dismiss; to set aside; to have done with; to
discontinue; to forsake; to give up; to omit.
They suddenly drop't the pursuit. S. Sharp.
That astonishing ease with which fine ladies drop you and pick you up
again. Thackeray.
The connection had been dropped many years. Sir W. Scott.
Dropping the too rough H in Hell and Heaven. Tennyson.
4. To bestow or communicate by a suggestion; to let fall in an
indirect, cautious, or gentle manner; as, to drop hint, a word of
counsel, etc.
5. To lower, as a curtain, or the muzzle of a gun, etc.
6. To send, as a letter; as, please drop me a line, a letter, word.
7. To give birth to; as, to drop a lamb.
8. To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop.
Show to the sun their waved coats dropped with gold. Milton.
To drop a vessel (Naut.), to leave it astern in a race or a chase; to
outsail it.
DROP
Drop, v. i.
1. To fall in drops.
The kindly dew drops from the higher tree, And wets the little plants
that lowly dwell. Spenser.
2. To fall, in general, literally or figuratively; as, ripe fruit
drops from a tree; wise words drop from the lips.
Mutilations of which the meaning has dropped out of memory. H.
Spencer.
When the sound of dropping nuts is heard. Bryant.
3. To let drops fall; to discharge itself in drops.
The heavens . . . dropped at the presence of God. Ps. lxviii. 8.
4. To fall dead, or to fall in death.
Nothing, says Seneca, so soon reconciles us to the thoughts of our
own death, as the prospect of one friend after another dropping round
us. Digby.
5. To come to an end; to cease; to pass out of mind; as, the affair
dropped. Pope.
6. To come unexpectedly; -- with in or into; as, my old friend
dropped in a moment. Steele.
Takes care to drop in when he thinks you are just seated. Spectator.
7. To fall or be depressed; to lower; as, the point of the spear
dropped a little.
8. To fall short of a mark. [R.]
Often it drops or overshoots by the disproportion of distance.
Collier.
9. To be deep in extent; to descend perpendicularly; as, her main
topsail drops seventeen yards. To drop astern (Naut.), to go astern
of another vessel; to be left behind; to slacken the speed of a
vessel so as to fall behind and to let another pass a head.
-- To drop down (Naut.), to sail, row, or move down a river, or
toward the sea.
-- To drop off, to fall asleep gently; also, to die. [Colloq.]
DROPLET
Drop"let, n.
Defn: A little drop; a tear. Shak.
DROPLIGHT
Drop"light`, n.
Defn: An apparatus for bringing artificial light down from a
chandelier nearer to a table or desk; a pendant.
DROPMEAL; DROPMELE
Drop"meal`, Drop"mele`, adv. Etym: [AS. drop-m; dropa drop + m
portion. Cf. Piecemeal.]
Defn: By drops or small portions. [Obs.]
Distilling dropmeal, a little at once. Holland.
DROPPER
Drop"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, drops. Specif.: (Fishing) A fly that drops
from the leaden above the bob or end fly.
2. A dropping tube.
3. (Mining)
Defn: A branch vein which drops off from, or leaves, the main lode.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A dog which suddenly drops upon the ground when it sights game,
-- formerly a common, and still an occasional, habit of the setter.
DROPPING
Drop"ping, n.
1. The action of causing to drop or of letting drop; falling.
2. pl.
Defn: That which falls in drops; the excrement or dung of animals.
Dropping bottle, an instrument used to supply small quantities of a
fluid to a test tube or other vessel.
-- Dropping fire, a continued irregular discharge of firearms.
-- Dropping tube, a tube for ejecting any liquid in drops.
DROPPINGLY
Drop"ping*ly, adv.
Defn: In drops.
DROPSICAL
Drop"si*cal, a. Etym: [From Dropsy.]
1. Diseased with dropsy; hydropical; tending to dropsy; as, a
dropsical patient.
2. Of or pertaining to dropsy.
DROPSICALNESS
Drop"si*cal*ness, n.
Defn: State of being dropsical.
DROPSIED
Drop"sied, a.
Defn: Diseased with drops. Shak.
DROPSY
Drop"sy, n.; pl. Dropsies. Etym: [OE. dropsie, dropesie, OF.
idropisie, F. hydropisie, L. hydropisis, fr. Gr. Water, and cf.
Hydropsy.] (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural collection of serous fluid in any serous cavity of
the body, or in the subcutaneous cellular tissue. Dunglison.
DROPT
Dropt,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Drop, v. G. Eliot.
DROPWISE
Drop"wise`, adv.
Defn: After the manner of a drop; in the form of drops.
Trickling dropwise from the cleft. Tennyson.
DROPWORM
Drop"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of any geometrid moth, which drops from trees by
means of a thread of silk, as the cankerworm.
DROPWORT
Drop"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An Old World species of Spiræa (S. filipendula), with finely
cut leaves.
DROSERA
Dros"e*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of low perennial or biennial plants, the leaves of
which are beset with gland-tipped bristles. See Sundew. Gray.
DROSKY
Dros"ky, n.; pl. Droskies. Etym: [Russ. drojki, dim. of drogi a kind
of carriage, prop. pl. of droga shaft or pole of a carriage.]
Defn: A low, four-wheeled, open carriage, used in Russia, consisting
of a kind of long, narrow bench, on which the passengers ride as on a
saddle, with their feet reaching nearly to the ground. Other kinds of
vehicles are now so called, esp. a kind of victoria drawn by one or
two horses, and used as a public carriage in German cities. [Written
also droitzschka, and droschke.]
DROSOMETER
Dro*som"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. drosométre.] (Meteorol.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the quantity of dew on the surface
of a body in the open air. It consists of a balance, having a plate
at one end to receive the dew, and at the other a weight protected
from the deposit of dew.
DROSS
Dross, n. Etym: [AS. dros, fr. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.]
1. The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls from,
metals in smelting the ore, or in the process of melting; recrement.
2. Rust of metals. [R.] Addison.
3. Waste matter; any worthless matter separated from the better part;
leavings; dregs; refuse.
All world's glory is but dross unclean. Spenser.
At the devil's booth are all things sold, Each ounce of dross coats
its ounce of gold. Lowell.
DROSSEL
Dros"sel, n. Etym: [Cf. Drazel.]
Defn: A slut; a hussy; a drazel. [Obs.] Warner.
DROSSLESS
Dross"less, a.
Defn: Free from dross. Stevens.
DROSSY
Dross"y, a. [Compar. Drossier; superl. Drossiest.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, resembling, dross; full of dross; impure;
worthless. " Drossy gold." Dryden. "Drossy rhymes." Donne.
-- Dross"i*ness, n.
DROTCHEL
Drotch"el, n.
Defn: See Drossel. [Obs.]
DROUGH
Drough, imp.
Defn: of Draw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DROUGHT
Drought, n. Etym: [OE. droght, drougth, dru, AS. druga, from drugian
to dry. See Dry, and cf. Drouth, which shows the original final
sound.]
1. Dryness; want of rain or of water; especially, such dryness of the
weather as affects the earth, and prevents the growth of plants;
aridity.
The drought of March hath pierced to the root. Chaucer.
In a drought the thirsty creatures cry. Dryden.
2. Thirst; want of drink. Johnson.
3. Scarcity; lack.
A drought of Christian writers caused a dearth of all history.
Fuller.
DROUGHTINESS
Drought"i*ness, n.
Defn: A state of dryness of the weather; want of rain.
DROUGHTY
Drought"y, a.
1. Characterized by drought; wanting rain; arid; adust.
Droughty and parched countries. Ray.
2. Dry; thirsty; wanting drink.
Thy droughty throat. Philips.
DROUMY
Drou"my, a. Etym: [Cf. Scot. drum, dram, melancholy, Icel prumr a
moper, W. trwm heavy, sad.]
Defn: Troubled; muddy. [Obs.] Bacon.
DROUTH
Drouth, n.
Defn: Same as Drought. Sandys.
Another ill accident is drouth at the spindling of corn. Bacon.
One whose drouth [thirst], Yet scarce allayed, still eyes the current
stream. Milton.
In the dust and drouth of London life. Tennyson.
DROUTHY
Drouth"y, a.
Defn: Droughty.
DROVE
Drove, imp.
Defn: of Drive.
DROVE
Drove, n. Etym: [AS. draf, fr. drifan to drive. See Drive.]
1. A collection of cattle driven, or cattle collected for driving; a
number of animals, as oxen, sheep, or swine, driven in a body.
2. Any collection of irrational animals, moving or driving forward;
as, a finny drove. Milton.
3. A crowd of people in motion.
Where droves, as at a city gate, may pass. Dryden.
4. A road for driving cattle; a driftway. [Eng.]
5. (Agric.)
Defn: A narrow drain or channel used in the irrigation of land.
Simmonds.
6. (Masonry)
(a) A broad chisel used to bring stone to a nearly smooth surface; --
called also drove chisel.
(b) The grooved surface of stone finished by the drove chisel; --
called also drove work.
DROVEN
Dro"ven, p. p.
Defn: of Drive. [Obs.]
DROVER
Dro"ver, n.
1. One who drives cattle or sheep to market; one who makes it his
business to purchase cattle, and drive them to market.
Why, that's spoken like an honest drover; so they sell bullocks.
Shak.
2. A boat driven by the tide. [Obs.] Spenser.
DROVY
Dro"vy, a. Etym: [AS. dr dirty; cf. D. droef, G. trübe, Goth. dr to
trouble.]
Defn: Turbid; muddy; filthy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DROW
Drow, imp.
Defn: of Draw. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DROWN
Drown, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drowned; p. pr. & vb. n. Drowning.] Etym:
[OE. drunen, drounen, earlier drunknen, druncnien, AS. druncnian to
be drowned, sink, become drunk, fr. druncen drunken. See Drunken,
Drink.]
Defn: To be suffocated in water or other fluid; to perish in water.
Methought, what pain it was to drown. Shak.
DROWN
Drown, v. t.
1. To overwhelm in water; to submerge; to inundate. "They drown the
land." Dryden.
2. To deprive of life by immersion in water or other liquid.
3. To overpower; to overcome; to extinguish; -- said especially of
sound.
Most men being in sensual pleasures drowned. Sir J. Davies.
My private voice is drowned amid the senate. Addison.
To drown up, to swallow up. [Obs.] Holland.
DROWNAGE
Drown"age, n.
Defn: The act of drowning. [R.]
DROWNER
Drown"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, drowns.
DROWSE
Drowse, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drowsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drowsing.] Etym:
[AS. dr, dr, to sink, become slow or inactive; cf. OD. droosen to be
sleepy, fall asleep, LG. dr, druusken, to slumber, fall down with a
noise; prob, akin to AS. dreósan to fall. See Dreary.]
Defn: To sleep imperfectly or unsoundly; to slumber; to be heavy with
sleepiness; to doze. "He drowsed upon his couch." South.
In the pool drowsed the cattle up to their knees. Lowell.
DROWSE
Drowse, v. t.
Defn: To make heavy with sleepiness or imperfect sleep; to make dull
or stupid. Milton.
DROWSE
Drowse, n.
Defn: A slight or imperfect sleep; a doze.
But smiled on in a drowse of ecstasy. Mrs. Browning.
DROWSIHEAD
Drow"si*head, n.
Defn: Drowsiness. Thomson.
DROWSIHED
Drow"si*hed, n.
Defn: Drowsihead. [Obs.] Spenser.
DROWSILY
Drow"si*ly, adv.
Defn: In a drowsy manner.
DROWSINESS
Drow"si*ness, n.
Defn: State of being drowsy. Milton.
DROWSY
Drow"sy, a. [Compar. Drowsier; superl. Drowsiest.]
1. Inclined to drowse; heavy with sleepiness; lethargic; dozy. "When
I am drowsy." Shak.
Dapples the drowsy east with spots of gray. Shak.
To our age's drowsy blood Still shouts the inspiring sea. Lowell.
2. Disposing to sleep; lulling; soporific.
The drowsy hours, dispensers of all good. Tennyson.
3. Dull; stupid. " Drowsy reasoning." Atterbury.
Syn.
-- Sleepy; lethargic; dozy; somnolent; comatose; dull heavy; stupid.
DROWTH
Drowth, n.
Defn: See Drought. Bacon.
DROYLE
Droyle, v. i.
Defn: See Droil. [Obs.] Spenser.
DRUB
Drub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drubbing.] Etym:
[Cf. Prov. E. drab to beat, Icel. & Sw. drabba to hit, beat, Dan.
dræbe to slay, and perh. OE. drepen to strike, kill, AS. drepan to
strike, G. & D. freffen to hit, touch, Icel. drepa to strike, kill.]
Defn: To beat with a stick; to thrash; to cudgel.
Soundly Drubbed with a good honest cudgel. L'Estrange.
DRUB
Drub, n.
Defn: A blow with a cudgel; a thump. Addison.
DRUBBER
Drub"ber, n.
Defn: One who drubs. Sir W. Scott.
DRUDGE
Drudge, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drudged; p. pr. & vb. n. Drudging.] Etym:
[OE. druggen; prob not akin to E. drag, v. t., but fr. Celtic; cf.
Ir. drugaire a slave or drudge.]
Defn: To perform menial work; to labor in mean or unpleasant offices
with toil and fatigue.
He gradually rose in the estimation of the booksellers for whom he
drudged. Macaulay.
DRUDGE
Drudge, v. t.
Defn: To consume laboriously; -- with away.
Rise to our toils and drudge away the day. Otway.
DRUDGE
Drudge, n.
Defn: One who drudges; one who works hard in servile employment; a
mental servant. Milton.
DRUDGER
Drudg"er, n.
1. One who drudges; a drudge.
2. A dredging box.
DRUDGERY
Drudg"er*y, n.
Defn: The act of drudging; disagreeable and wearisome labor; ignoble
or slavish toil.
The drudgery of penning definitions. Macaulay.
Paradise was a place of bliss . . . without drudgery and with out
sorrow. Locke.
Syn.
-- See Toll.
DRUDGING BOX
Drudg"ing box`.
Defn: See Dredging box.
DRUDGINGLY
Drudg"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a drudging manner; laboriously.
DRUERY
Dru"er*y, n. Etym: [OF. druerie.]
Defn: Courtship; gallantry; love; an object of love. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DRUG
Drug, v. i. Etym: [See 1st Drudge.]
Defn: To drudge; to toil laboriously. [Obs.] "To drugge and draw."
Chaucer.
DRUG
Drug, n.
Defn: A drudge. Shak. (Timon iv. 3, 253).
DRUG
Drug, n. Etym: [F. drogue, prob. fr. D. droog; akin to E. dry; thus
orig., dry substance, hers, plants, or wares. See Dry.]
1. Any animal, vegetable, or mineral substance used in the
composition of medicines; any stuff used in dyeing or in chemical
operations.
Whence merchants bring
Their spicy drugs. Milton.
2. Any commodity that lies on hand, or is not salable; an article of
slow sale, or in no demand. "But sermons are mere drugs." Fielding.
And virtue shall a drug become. Dryden.
DRUG
Drug, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drugged; p. pr. & vb. n. Drugging.] Etym:
[Cf. F. droguer.]
Defn: To prescribe or administer drugs or medicines. B. Jonson.
DRUG
Drug, v. t.
1. To affect or season with drugs or ingredients; esp., to stupefy by
a narcotic drug. Also Fig.
The laboring masses . . . [were] drugged into brutish good humor by a
vast system of public spectacles. C. Kingsley.
Drug thy memories, lest thou learn it. Tennyson.
2. To tincture with something offensive or injurious.
Drugged as oft, With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws.
Milton.
3. To dose to excess with, or as with, drugs.
With pleasure drugged, he almost longed for woe. Byron.
DRUGGER
Drug"ger, n.
Defn: A druggist. [Obs.] Burton.
DRUGGET
Drug"get, n. Etym: [F. droguet, prop. dim. of drogue trash, stuff,
perh, the same word as drogue drug, but cf. also W. drwg evil, bad,
Ir. & Gael. droch, Arm. droug, drouk. See 3d Drug.]
(a) A coarse woolen cloth dyed of one color or printed on one side;
generally used as a covering for carpets.
(b) By extension, any material used for the same purpose.
DRUGGIST
Drug"gist, n. Etym: [F. droguiste, fr. drogue. See 3d Drug.]
Defn: One who deals in drugs; especially, one who buys and sells
drugs without compounding them; also, a pharmaceutist or apothecary.
Note: The same person often carries on the business of the druggist
and the apothecary. See the Note under Apothecary.
DRUGSTER
Drug"ster, n.
Defn: A druggist. [Obs.] Boule.
DRUID
Dru"id, n. Etym: [L. Druides; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. & Gael.
draoi, druidh, magician, Druid, W. derwydd Druid.]
1. One of an order of priests which in ancient times existed among
certain branches of the Celtic race, especially among the Gauls and
Britons.
Note: The Druids superintended the affairs of religion and morality,
and exercised judicial functions. They practiced divination and
magic, and sacrificed human victims as a part of their worship. They
consisted of three classes; the bards, the vates or prophets, and the
Druids proper, or priests. Their most sacred rites were performed in
the depths of oak forests or of caves.
2. A member of a social and benevolent order, founded in London in
1781, and professedly based on the traditions of the ancient Druids.
Lodges or groves of the society are established in other countries.
Druid stones, a name given, in the south of England, to weatherworn,
rough pillars of gray sandstone scattered over the chalk downs, but
in other countries generally in the form of circles, or in detached
pillars.
DRUIDESS
Dru"id*ess, n.
Defn: A female Druid; a prophetess.
DRUIDIC; DRUIDICAL
Dru*id"ic, Dru*id"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the Druids. Druidical circles.
See under Circle.
DRUIDISH
Dru"id*ish, a.
Defn: Druidic.
DRUIDISM
Dru"id*ism, n.
Defn: The system of religion, philosophy, and instruction, received
and taught by the Druids; the rites and ceremonies of the Druids.
DRUM
Drum, n. Etym: [Cf. D. trom, trommel, LG. trumme, G. trommel, Dan.
tromme, Sw. trumma, OHG. trumba a trumpet, Icel. pruma a clap of
thunder, and as a verb, to thunder, Dan. drum a booming sound, drumme
to boom; prob. partly at least of imitative origin; perh. akin to E.
trum, or trumpet.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow
cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or
vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere
(kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common
instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of
tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band.
The drums cry bud-a-dub. Gascoigne.
2. Anything resembling a drum in form; as:
(a) A sheet iron radiator, often in the shape of a drum, for warming
an apartment by means of heat received from a stovepipe, or a
cylindrical receiver for steam, etc.
(b) A small cylindrical box in which figs, etc., are packed.
(c) (Anat.) The tympanum of the ear; -- often, but incorrectly,
applied to the tympanic membrane. (d) (Arch.)
Defn: One of the cylindrical, or nearly cylindrical, blocks, of which
the shaft of a column is composed; also, a vertical wall, whether
circular or polygonal in plan, carrying a cupola or dome. (e) (Mach.)
Defn: A cylinder on a revolving shaft, generally for the purpose of
driving several pulleys, by means of belts or straps passing around
its periphery; also, the barrel of a hoisting machine, on which the
rope or chain is wound.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Drumfish.
4. A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private
house; a rout. [Archaic]
Not unaptly styled a drum, from the noise and emptiness of the
entertainment. Smollett.
Note: There were also drum major, rout, tempest, and hurricane,
differing only in degrees of multitude and uproar, as the significant
name of each declares.
5. A tea party; a kettledrum. G. Eliot. Bass drum. See in the
Vocabulary.
-- Double drum. See under Double.
DRUM
Drum, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drummed; p. pr. & vb. n. Drumming.]
1. To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum.
2. To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid
succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum;
as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings.
Drumming with his fingers on the arm of his chair. W. Irving.
3. To throb, as the heart. [R.] Dryden.
4. To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or
secure partisans, customers, etc,; -- with for.
DRUM
Drum, v. t.
1. To execute on a drum, as a tune.
2. (With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum
out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc.
3. (With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to
gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up
customers.
DRUMBEAT
Drum"beat`, n.
Defn: The sound of a beaten drum; drum music.
Whose morning drumbeat, following the sun, and keeping company with
the hours, circles the earth with one continuous and unbroken strain
of the martial airs of England. D. Webster.
DRUMBLE
Drum"ble, v. i. Etym: [See Drumly.]
1. To be sluggish or lazy; to be confused. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To mumble in speaking. [Obs.]
DRUMFISH
Drum"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: any fish of the family Sciænidæ, which makes a loud noise by
means of its air bladder; -- called also drum.
Note: The common drumfish (Pogonias chromis) is a large species,
common south of New Jersey. The southern red drum or red horse
(Sciæna ocellata), and the fresh-water drum or croaker (Aplodionotus
grunniens), are related species.
DRUMHEAD
Drum"head`, n.
1. The parchment or skin stretched over one end of a drum.
2. The top of a capstan which is pierced with sockets for levers used
in turning it. See Illust. of Capstan. Drumhead court-martial (Mil.),
a summary court-martial called to try offenses on the battlefield or
the line of march, when, sometimes, a drumhead has to do service as a
writing table.
DRUMLIN
Drum"lin, n. Etym: [Gael. druim the ridge of a hill.] (Geol.)
Defn: A hill of compact, unstratified, glacial drift or till, usually
elongate or oval, with the larger axis parallel to the former local
glacial motion.
DRUMLY
Drum"ly, a. Etym: [Cf. Droumy.]
Defn: Turbid; muddy. [Scot. & Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Wodroephe (1623).
Burns.
DRUM MAJOR
Drum" ma"jor
Defn: .
1. The chief or first drummer of a regiment; an instructor of
drummers.
2. The marching leader of a military band. [U.S.]
3. A noisy gathering. [R.] See under Drum, n.,
4.
DRUMMER
Drum"mer, n.
1. One whose office is to best the drum, as in military exercises and
marching.
2. One who solicits custom; a commercial traveler. [Colloq. U.S.]
Bartlett.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish that makes a sound when caught; as:
(a) The squeteague.
(b) A California sculpin.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large West Indian cockroach (Blatta gigantea) which drums on
woodwork, as a sexual call.
DRUMMING
Drum"ming, n.
Defn: The act of beating upon, or as if upon, a drum; also, the noise
which the male of the ruffed grouse makes in spring, by beating his
wings upon his sides.
DRUMMOND LIGHT
Drum"mond light`. Etym: [From Thomas Drummond, a British naval
officer.]
Defn: A very intense light, produced by turning two streams of gas,
one oxygen and the other hydrogen, or coal gas, in a state of
ignition, upon a ball of lime; or a stream of oxygen gas through a
flame of alcohol upon a ball or disk of lime; -- called also
oxycalcium light, or lime light.
Note: The name is also applied sometimes to a heliostat, invented by
Drummond, for rendering visible a distant point, as in geodetic
surveying, by reflecting upon it a beam of light from the sun.
DRUMSTICK
Drum"stick`, n.
1. A stick with which a drum is beaten.
2. Anything resembling a drumstick in form, as the tibiotarsus, or
second joint, of the leg of a fowl.
DRUM WINDING
Drum winding. (Elec.)
Defn: A method of armature winding in which the wire is wound upon
the outer surface of a cylinder or drum from end to end of the
cylinder; -- distinguished from ring winding, etc.
DRUNK
Drunk, a. Etym: [OE. dronke, drunke, dronken, drunken, AS. druncen.
Orig. the same as drunken, p. p. of drink. See Drink.]
1. Intoxicated with, or as with, strong drink; inebriated; drunken; -
- never used attributively, but always predicatively; as, the man is
drunk (not, a drunk man).
Be not drunk with wine, where in is excess. Eph. v. 18.
Drunk with recent prosperity. Macaulay.
2. Drenched or saturated with moisture or liquid.
I will make mine arrows drunk with blood. Deut. xxxii. 42.
DRUNK
Drunk, n.
Defn: A drunken condition; a spree. [Slang]
DRUNKARD
Drunk"ard, n. Etym: [Drunk + -ard.]
Defn: One who habitually drinks strong liquors immoderately; one
whose habit it is to get drunk; a toper; a sot.
The drunkard and glutton shall come to poverty. Prov. xxiii. 21.
DRUNKEN
Drunk"en, a. Etym: [AS. druncen, prop., that has drunk, p. p. of
drincan, taken as active. See Drink, v. i., and cf. Drunk.]
1. Overcome by strong drink; intoxicated by, or as by, spirituous
liquor; inebriated.
Drunken men imagine everything turneth round. Bacon.
2. Saturated with liquid or moisture; drenched.
Let the earth be drunken with our blood. Shak.
3. Pertaining to, or proceeding from, intoxication.
The drunken quarrels of a rake. Swift.
DRUNKENHEAD
Drunk"en*head, n.
Defn: Drunkenness. [Obs.]
DRUNKENLY
Drunk"en*ly, adv.
Defn: In a drunken manner. [R.] Shak.
DRUNKENNESS
Drunk"en*ness, n.
1. The state of being drunken with, or as with, alcoholic liquor;
intoxication; inebriety; -- used of the casual state or the habit.
The Lacedemonians trained up their children to hate drunkenness by
bringing a drunken man into their company. I. Watts.
2. Disorder of the faculties, resembling intoxication by liquors;
inflammation; frenzy; rage.
Passion is the drunkenness of the mind. South.
Syn.
-- Intoxication; inebriation; inebriety.
-- Drunkenness, Intoxication, Inebriation. Drunkenness refers more
to the habit; intoxication and inebriation, to specific acts. The
first two words are extensively used in a figurative sense; a person
is intoxicated with success, and is drunk with joy. "This plan of
empire was not taken up in the first intoxication of unexpected
success." Burke.
DRUNKENSHIP; DRUNKSHIP
Drunk"en*ship, Drunk"ship, n.
Defn: The state of being drunk; drunkenness. [Obs.] Gower.
DRUPACEOUS
Dru*pa"ceous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. drupacé.] (Bot.)
Defn: Producing, or pertaining to, drupes; having the form of drupes;
as, drupaceous trees or fruits.
DRUPAL
Drup"al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Drupaceous.
DRUPE
Drupe, n. Etym: [F. drupe, L. drupa an overripe, wrinkled olive, fr.
Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A fruit consisting of pulpy, coriaceous, or fibrous exocarp,
without valves, containing a nut or stone with a kernel. The exocarp
is succulent in the plum, cherry, apricot, peach, etc.; dry and
subcoriaceous in the almond; and fibrous in the cocoanut.
DRUPEL; DRUPELET
Drup"el, Drupe"let, n. Etym: [Dim. of Drupe.] (Bot.)
Defn: A small drupe, as one of the pulpy grains of the blackberry.
DRUSE
Druse, n. Etym: [Cf. G. druse bonny, crystallized piece of ore,
Bohem. druza. Cf. Dross.] (Min.)
Defn: A cavity in a rock, having its interior surface studded with
crystals and sometimes filled with water; a geode.
DRUSE
Druse, n.
Defn: One of a people and religious sect dwelling chiefly in the
Lebanon mountains of Syria.
The Druses separated from the Mohammedan Arabs in the 9th century.
Their characteristic dogma is the unity of God. Am. Cyc.
DRUSY; DRUSED
Dru"sy, Drused, a. (Min.)
Defn: Covered with a large number of minute crystals.
DRUXEY; DRUXY
Drux"ey, Drux"y, a. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: Having decayed spots or streaks of a whitish color; -- said of
timber. Weale.
DRY
Dry, a. [Compar. Drier; superl. Driest.] Etym: [OE. dru, druye, drie,
AS. dryge; akin to LG. dröge, D. droog, OHG. trucchan, G. trocken,
Icel. draugr a dry log. Cf. Drought, Drouth, 3d Drug.]
1. Free from moisture; having little humidity or none; arid; not wet
or moist; deficient in the natural or normal supply of moisture, as
rain or fluid of any kind; -- said especially: (a) Of the weather:
Free from rain or mist.
The weather, we agreed, was too dry for the season. Addison.
(b) Of vegetable matter: Free from juices or sap; not succulent; not
green; as, dry wood or hay.
(c) Of animals: Not giving milk; as, the cow is dry.
(d) Of persons: Thirsty; needing drink.
Give the dry fool drink. Shak
(e) Of the eyes: Not shedding tears.
Not a dry eye was to be seen in the assembly. Prescott.
(f) (Med.)
Defn: Of certain morbid conditions, in which there is entire or
comparative absence of moisture; as, dry gangrene; dry catarrh.
2. Destitute of that which interests or amuses; barren;
unembellished; jejune; plain.
These epistles will become less dry, more susceptible of ornament.
Pope.
3. Characterized by a quality somewhat severe, grave, or hard; hence,
sharp; keen; shrewd; quaint; as, a dry tone or manner; dry wit.
He was rather a dry, shrewd kind of body. W. Irving.
4. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Exhibiting a sharp, frigid preciseness of execution, or the
want of a delicate contour in form, and of easy transition in
coloring. Dry area (Arch.), a small open space reserved outside the
foundation of a building to guard it from damp.
-- Dry blow. (a) (Med.) A blow which inflicts no wound, and causes
no effusion of blood. (b) A quick, sharp blow.
-- Dry bone (Min.), Smithsonite, or carbonate of zinc; -- a miner's
term.
-- Dry castor (Zoöl.) a kind of beaver; -- called also parchment
beaver.
-- Dry cupping. (Med.) See under Cupping.
-- Dry dock. See under Dock.
-- Dry fat. See Dry vat (below).
-- Dry light, pure unobstructed light; hence, a clear, impartial
view. Bacon.
The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest
they obtrude into his researches, and color the dry light in which
alone science desires to see its objects. J. C. Shairp.
-- Dry masonry. See Masonry.
-- Dry measure, a system of measures of volume for dry or coarse
articles, by the bushel, peck, etc.
-- Dry pile (Physics), a form of the Voltaic pile, constructed
without the use of a liquid, affording a feeble current, and chiefly
useful in the construction of electroscopes of great delicacy; --
called also Zamboni's , from the names of the two earliest
constructors of it.
-- Dry pipe (Steam Engine), a pipe which conducts dry steam from a
boiler.
-- Dry plate (Photog.), a glass plate having a dry coating sensitive
to light, upon which photographic negatives or pictures can be made,
without moistening.
-- Dry-plate process, the process of photographing with dry plates.
-- Dry point. (Fine Arts) (a) An engraving made with the needle
instead of the burin, in which the work is done nearly as in etching,
but is finished without the use acid. (b) A print from such an
engraving, usually upon paper. (c) Hence: The needle with which such
an engraving is made.
-- Dry rent (Eng. Law), a rent reserved by deed, without a clause of
distress. Bouvier.
-- Dry rot, a decay of timber, reducing its fibers to the condition
of a dry powdery dust, often accompanied by the presence of a
peculiar fungus (Merulius lacrymans), which is sometimes considered
the cause of the decay; but it is more probable that the real cause
is the decomposition of the wood itself. D. C. Eaton. Called also sap
rot, and, in the United States, powder post. Hebert.
-- Dry stove, a hothouse adapted to preserving the plants of arid
climates. Brande & C.
-- Dry vat, a vat, basket, or other receptacle for dry articles.
-- Dry wine, that in which the saccharine matter and fermentation
were so exactly balanced, that they have wholly neutralized each
other, and no sweetness is perceptible; -- opposed to sweet wine, in
which the saccharine matter is in excess.
DRY
Dry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dried; p. pr. & vb. n. Drying.] Etym: [AS.
drygan; cf. drugian to grow dry. See Dry, a.]
Defn: To make dry; to free from water, or from moisture of any kind,
and by any means; to exsiccate; as, to dry the eyes; to dry one's
tears; the wind dries the earth; to dry a wet cloth; to dry hay. To
dry up. (a) To scorch or parch with thirst; to deprive utterly of
water; to consume.
Their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with
thirst. Is. v. 13.
The water of the sea, which formerly covered it, was in time exhaled
and dried up by the sun. Woodward.
(b) To make to cease, as a stream of talk.
Their sources of revenue were dried up. Jowett (Thucyd. )
-- To dry, or dry up, a cow, to cause a cow to cease secreting milk.
Tylor.
DRY
Dry, v. i.
1. To grow dry; to become free from wetness, moisture, or juice; as,
the road dries rapidly.
2. To evaporate wholly; to be exhaled; -- said of moisture, or a
liquid; -- sometimes with up; as, the stream dries, or dries up.
3. To shrivel or wither; to lose vitality.
And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he
could not pull it in again to him. I Kings xiii. 4.
DRYAD
Dry"ad, n. Etym: [L. dryas, pl. dryades, Gr. Tree.] (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A wood nymph; a nymph whose life was bound up with that of her
tree.
DRYANDRA
Dry*an"dra, n. Etym: [NL. Named after J. Dryander.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs growing in Australia, having beautiful, hard,
dry, evergreen leaves.
DRYAS
Dry"as, n.; pl. Dryades. Etym: [L. See Dryad.] (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A dryad.
DRY-BEAT
Dry"-beat`, v. t.
Defn: To beat severely. Shak.
DRY-BONED
Dry"-boned`, a.
Defn: Having dry bones, or bones without flesh.
DRY DOCK
Dry" dock`. (Naut.)
Defn: See under Dock.
DRYER
Dry"er, n.
Defn: See Drier. Sir W. Temple.
DRY-EYED
Dry"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Not having tears in the eyes.
DRY-FISTED
Dry"-fist`ed, a.
Defn: Niggardly.
DRYFOOT
Dry"foot, n.
Defn: The scent of the game, as far as it can be traced. [Obs.] Shak.
DRY GOODS
Dry" goods`.
Defn: A commercial name for textile fabrics, cottons, woolens, linen,
silks, laces, etc., -- in distinction from groceries. [U.S.]
DRYING
Dry"ing, a.
1. Adapted or tending to exhaust moisture; as, a drying wind or day;
a drying room.
2. Having the quality of rapidly becoming dry. Drying oil, an oil
which, either naturally or after boiling with oxide of lead, absorbs
oxygen from the air and dries up rapidly. Drying oils are used as the
bases of many paints and varnishes.
DRYLY
Dry"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dry manner; not succulently; without interest; without
sympathy; coldly.
DRYNESS
Dry"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dry. See Dry.
DRY NURSE
Dry" nurse`.
Defn: A nurse who attends and feeds a child by hand; -- in
distinction from a wet nurse, who suckles it.
DRYNURSE
Dry"nurse`, v. t.
Defn: To feed, attend, and bring up without the breast. Hudibras.
DRYOBALANOPS
Dry`o*bal"a*nops, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The genus to which belongs the single species D. Camphora, a
lofty resinous tree of Borneo and Sumatra, yielding Borneo camphor
and camphor oil.
DRY-RUB
Dry"-rub`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dry-rubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dry-
rubbing.]
Defn: To rub and cleanse without wetting. Dodsley.
DRYSALTER
Dry"salt`er, n.
Defn: A dealer in salted or dried meats, pickles, sauces, etc., and
in the materials used in pickling, salting, and preserving various
kinds of food Hence drysalters usually sell a number of saline
substances and miscellaneous drugs. Brande & C.
DRYSALTERY
Dry"salt`er*y, n.
Defn: The articles kept by a drysalter; also, the business of a
drysalter.
DRY-SHOD
Dry"-shod`, a.
Defn: Without wetting the feet.
DRY-STONE
Dry"-stone`, a.
Defn: Constructed of uncemented stone. "Dry-stone walls." Sir W.
Scott.
DRYTH; DRITH
Dryth, or Drith, n.
Defn: Drought. [Obs.] Tyndale.
DUAD
Du"ad, n. Etym: [See Dyad.]
Defn: A union of two; duality. [R.] Harris.
DUAL
Du"al, a. Etym: [L. dualis, fr. duo two. See Two.]
Defn: Expressing, or consisting of, the number two; belonging to two;
as, the dual number of nouns, etc. , in Greek.
Here you have one half of our dual truth. Tyndall.
DUALIN
Du"a*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An explosive substance consisting essentially of sawdust or
wood pulp, saturated with nitroglycerin and other similar nitro
compounds. It is inferior to dynamite, and is more liable to
explosion.
DUALISM
Du"al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dualisme.]
Defn: State of being dual or twofold; a twofold division; any system
which is founded on a double principle, or a twofold distinction; as:
(a) (Philos.) A view of man as constituted of two original and
independent elements, as matter and spirit. (Theol.)
(b) A system which accepts two gods, or two original principles, one
good and the other evil.
(c) The doctrine that all mankind are divided by the arbitrary decree
of God, and in his eternal foreknowledge, into two classes, the elect
and the reprobate.
(d) (Physiol.) The theory that each cerebral hemisphere acts
independently of the other.
An inevitable dualism bisects nature, so that each thing is a half,
and suggests another thing to make it whole. Emerson.
DUALIST
Du"al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dualiste.]
1. One who believes in dualism; a ditheist.
2. One who administers two offices. Fuller.
DUALISTIC
Du`al*is"tic, a.
Defn: Consisting of two; pertaining to dualism or duality. Dualistic
system or theory (Chem.), the theory, originated by Lavoisier and
developed by Berzelius, that all definite compounds are binary in
their nature, and consist of two distinct constituents, themselves
simple or complex, and possessed of opposite chemical or electrical
affinities.
DUALITY
Du"al"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. dualitas: cf. F. dualité.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being two or twofold; dual
character or usage.
DUAN
Du"an, n. Etym: [Gael. & Ir.]
Defn: A division of a poem corresponding to a canto; a poem or song.
[R.]
DUARCHY
Du"ar*chy, n. Etym: [Gr. -archy.]
Defn: Government by two persons.
DUB
Dub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dubbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dubbing.] Etym: [AS.
dubban to strike, beat ("dubbade his sunu . . . to ridere." AS.
Chron. an 1086); akin to Icel. dubba; cf. OF. adouber (prob. fr.
Icel.) a chevalier, Icel. dubba til riddara.]
1. To confer knight.
Note: The conclusion of the ceremony was marked by a tap on the
shoulder with the sword.
2. To invest with any dignity or new character; to entitle; to call.
A man of wealth is dubbed a man of worth. Pope.
3. To clothe or invest; to ornament; to adorn. [Obs.]
His diadem was dropped down Dubbed with stones. Morte d'Arthure.
4. To strike, rub, or dress smooth; to dab; as: (a) To dress with an
adz; as, to dub a stick of timber smooth.
(b) To strike cloth with teasels to raise a nap. Halliwell.
(c) To rub or dress with grease, as leather in the process of
cyrrying it. Tomlinson.
(d) To prepare for fighting, as a gamecock, by trimming the hackles
and cutting off the comb and wattles. To dub a fly, to dress a
fishing fly. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
-- To dub out (Plastering), to fill out, as an uneven surface, to a
plane, or to carry out a series of small projections.
DUB
Dub, v. i.
Defn: To make a noise by brisk drumbeats. "Now the drum dubs." Beau.
& Fl.
DUB
Dub, n.
Defn: A blow. [R.] Hudibras.
DUB
Dub, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. dób mire, stream, W. dwvr water.]
Defn: A pool or puddle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DUBB
Dubb, n. Etym: [Ar.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Syrian bear. See under Bear. [Written also dhubb, and dub.]
DUBBER
Dub"ber, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dubs.
DUBBER
Dub"ber, n. Etym: [Hind. dabbah.]
Defn: A globular vessel or bottle of leather, used in India to hold
ghee, oil, etc. [Also written dupper.] M'Culloch.
DUBBING
Dub"bing, n.
1. The act of dubbing, as a knight, etc.
2. The act of rubbing, smoothing, or dressing; a dressing off smooth
with an adz.
3. A dressing of flour and water used by weavers; a mixture of oil
and tallow for dressing leather; daubing.
4. The body substance of an angler's fly. Davy.
DUBIETY
Du*bi"e*ty, n.; pl. Dubieties. Etym: [L. dubietas, fr. dubius. See
Dubious.]
Defn: Doubtfulness; uncertainty; doubt. [R.] Lamb. "The dubiety of
his fate." Sir W. Scott.
DUBIOSITY
Du`bi*os"i*ty, n.; pl. Dubiosities. Etym: [L. dubiosus.]
Defn: The state of being doubtful; a doubtful statement or thing.
[R.]
Men often swallow falsities for truths, dubiosities for certainties,
possibilities for feasibilities. Sir T. Browne.
DUBIOUS
Du"bi*ous, a. Etym: [L. dubius, dubiosus, fr. duo two. See Two, and
cf. Doubt.]
1. Doubtful or not settled in opinion; being in doubt; wavering or
fluctuating; undetermined. "Dubious policy." Sir T. Scott.
A dubious, agitated state of mind. Thackeray.
2. Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable;
doubtful; as, a dubious answer.
Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more dubious pocket handkerchief.
Thackeray.
3. Of uncertain event or issue; as, in dubious battle.
Syn.
-- Doubtful; doubting; unsettled; undetermined; equivocal;
uncertain. Cf. Doubtful.
DUBIOUSLY
Du"bi*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dubious manner.
DUBIOUSNESS
Du"bi*ous*ness, n.
Defn: State of being dubious.
DUBITABLE
Du"bi*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. dubitabilis. Cf. Doubtable.]
Defn: Liable to be doubted; uncertain. [R.] Dr. H. More.
-- Du"bi*ta*bly, adv. [R.]
DUBITANCY
Du"bi*tan*cy, n. Etym: [LL. dubitantia.]
Defn: Doubt; uncertainty. [R.] Hammond.
DUBITATE
Du"bi*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. dubitatus, p. p. of dubitare. See Doubt.]
Defn: To doubt. [R.]
If he . . . were to loiter dubitating, and not come. Carlyle.
DUBITATION
Du`bi*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dubitatio.]
Defn: Act of doubting; doubt. [R.] Sir T. Scott.
DUBITATIVE
Du"bi*ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. dubitativus: cf. F. dubitatif.]
Defn: Tending to doubt; doubtful. [R.] -- Du"bi*ta*tive*ly, adv. [R.]
. Eliot.
DUBOISIA
Du*bois"i*a, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Duboisine.
DUBOISINE
Du*bois"ine, n. (Med.)
Defn: An alkaloid obtained from the leaves of an Australian tree
(Duboisia myoporoides), and regarded as identical with hyoscyamine.
It produces dilation of the pupil of the eye.
DUCAL
Du"cal, a. Etym: [F. ducal. See Duke.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a duke.
His ducal cap was to be exchanged for a kingly crown. Motley.
DUCALLY
Du"cal*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a duke, or in a manner becoming the rank of a
duke.
DUCAT
Duc"at, n. Etym: [F. ducat, It. ducato, LL. ducatus, fr. dux leader
or commander. See Duke.]
Defn: A coin, either of gold or silver, of several countries in
Europe; originally, one struck in the dominions of a duke.
Note: The gold ducat is generally of the value of nine shillings and
four pence sterling, or somewhat more that two dollars. The silver
ducat is of about half this value.
DUCATOON
Duc`a*toon", n. Etym: [F. or Sp. ducaton, fr. ducat.]
Defn: A silver coin of several countries of Europe, and of different
values.
DUCES TECUM
Du"ces te"cum. Etym: [L., bring with thee.]
Defn: A judicial process commanding a person to appear in court and
bring with him some piece of evidence or other thing to be produced
to the court.
DUCHESS
Duch"ess, n. Etym: [F. duchesse, fr. duc duke.]
Defn: The wife or widow of a duke; also, a lady who has the
sovereignty of a duchy in her own right.
DUCHESSE D'ANGOULEME
Du`chesse" d'An`gou`lême". Etym: [F.] (Bot.)
Defn: A variety of pear of large size and excellent flavor.
DUCHESSE LACE
Du`chesse" lace.
Defn: A beautiful variety of Brussels pillow lace made originally in
Belgium and resembling Honiton guipure. It is worked with fine thread
in large sprays, usually of the primrose pattern, with much raised
work.
DUCHY
Duch"y, n.; pl. Duchies. Etym: [F. duché, OF. duchée, (assumed) LL.
ducitas, fr. L. dux. See Duke.]
Defn: The territory or dominions of a duke; a dukedom.
DUCK
Duck, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. dukke, Sw. docka, OHG. doccha, G. docke. Cf.
Doxy.]
Defn: A pet; a darling. Shak.
DUCK
Duck, n. Etym: [D. doek cloth, canvas, or Icel. d cloth; akin to OHG.
tuoh, G. tuch, Sw. duk, Dan. dug.]
1. A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than
canvas, -- used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of
beds, and sometimes for men's clothing.
2. (Naut.) pl.
Defn: The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates. [Colloq.]
DUCK
Duck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ducked; p. pr. & vb. n. Ducking.] Etym:
[OE. duken, douken, to dive; akin to D. duiken, OHG. t, MHG. tucken,
tücken, t, G. tuchen. Cf. 5th Duck.]
1. To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly
withdraw.
Adams, after ducking the squire twice or thrice, leaped out of the
tub. Fielding.
2. To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as,
duck the boy.
3. To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion. "
Will duck his head aside. Swift.
DUCK
Duck, v. i.
1. To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to
dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip.
In Tiber ducking thrice by break of day. Dryden.
2. To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow.
The learned pate Ducks to the golden fool. Shak.
DUCK
Duck, n. Etym: [OE. duke, doke. See Duck, v. t. ]
1. (Zool.)
Defn: Any bird of the subfamily Anatinæ, family Anatidæ.
Note: The genera and species are numerous. They are divided into
river ducks and sea ducks. Among the former are the common domestic
duck (Anas boschas); the wood duck (Aix sponsa); the beautiful
mandarin duck of China (Dendronessa galeriliculata); the Muscovy
duck, originally of South America (Cairina moschata). Among the sea
ducks are the eider, canvasback, scoter, etc.
2. A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person,
resembling the motion of a duck in water.
Here be, without duck or nod, Other trippings to be trod. Milton.
Bombay duck (Zoöl.), a fish. See Bummalo.
-- Buffel duck, or Spirit duck. See Buffel duck.
-- Duck ant (Zoöl.), a species of white ant in Jamaica which builds
large nests in trees.
-- Duck barnacle. (Zoöl.) See Goose barnacle.
-- Duck hawk. (Zoöl.) (a) In the United States: The peregrine
falcon. (b) In England: The marsh harrier or moor buzzard.
-- Duck mole (Zoöl.), a small aquatic mammal of Australia, having
webbed feet and a bill resembling that of a duck (Ornithorhynchus
anatinus). It belongs the subclass Monotremata and is remarkable for
laying eggs like a bird or reptile; -- called also duckbill,
platypus, mallangong, mullingong, tambreet, and water mole.
-- To make ducks and drakes, to throw a flat stone obliquely, so as
to make it rebound repeatedly from the surface of the water, raising
a succession of jets; hence: To play at ducks and drakes, with
property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and
unprofitably.
-- Lame duck. See under Lame.
DUCKBILL
Duck"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Duck mole, under Duck, n.
DUCK-BILLED
Duck"-billed`, a.
Defn: Having a bill like that of a duck..
DUCKER
Duck"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, ducks; a plunger; a diver.
2. A cringing, servile person; a fawner.
DUCKING
Duck"ing, n. & a.
Defn: , from Duck, v. t. & i. Ducking stool, a stool or chair in
which common scolds were formerly tied, and plunged into water, as a
punishment. See Cucking stool. The practice of ducking began in the
latter part of the 15th century, and prevailed until the early part
of the 18th, and occasionally as late as the 19th century.
Blackstone. Chambers.
DUCK-LEGGED
Duck"-legged`, a.
Defn: Having short legs, like a waddling duck; short-legged. Dryden.
DUCKLING
Duck"ling, n.
Defn: A young or little duck. Gay.
DUCKMEAT; DUCK'S-MEAT
Duck"meat`, or Duck's"-meat`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Duckweed.
DUCK'S-BILL
Duck's"-bill`, a.
Defn: Having the form of a duck's bill. Duck's-bill limpet (Zoöl.), a
limpet of the genus Parmaphorus; -- so named from its shape.
DUCK'S-FOOT
Duck's"-foot`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The May apple (Podophyllum peltatum).
DUCKWEED
Duck"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Lemna) of small plants, seen floating in great
quantity on the surface of stagnant pools fresh water, and supposed
to furnish food for ducks; -- called also duckmeat.
DUCT
Duct, n. Etym: [L. ductus a leading, conducting, conduit, fr. ducere,
ductum, to lead. See Duke, and cf. Douche.]
1. Any tube or canal by which a fluid or other substance is conducted
or conveyed.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the vessels of an animal body by which the products of
glandular secretion are conveyed to their destination.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A large, elongated cell, either round or prismatic, usually
found associated with woody fiber.
Note: Ducts are classified, according to the character of the surface
of their walls, or their structure, as annular, spiral, scalariform,
etc.
4. Guidance; direction. [Obs.] Hammond.
DUCTIBLE
Duc"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drawn out [R.] Feltham.
DUCTILE
Duc"tile, a. Etym: [L. ductilis, fr. ducere to lead: cf. F. ductile.
See Duct.]
1. Easily led; tractable; complying; yielding to motives, persuasion,
or instruction; as, a ductile people. Addison.
Forms their ductile minds To human virtues. Philips.
2. Capable of being elongated or drawn out, as into wire or threads.
Gold . . . is the softest and most ductile of all metals. Dryden.
-- Duc"tile*ly, adv.
-- Duc"tile*ness, n.
DUCTILIMETER
Duc`ti*lim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Ductile + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for accurately determining the ductility of
metals.
DUCTILITY
Duc*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ductilité.]
1. The property of a metal which allows it to be drawn into wires or
filaments.
2. Tractableness; pliableness. South.
DUCTION
Duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. ductio, fr. ducere to lead.]
Defn: Guidance. [Obs.] Feltham.
DUCTLESS
Duct"less, a.
Defn: Having to duct or outlet; as, a ductless gland.
DUCTOR
Duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., fr. ducere to lead.]
1. One who leads. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A contrivance for removing superfluous ink or coloring matter
from a roller. See Doctor, 4. Knight. Ductor roller (Printing), the
roller which conveys or supplies ink to another roller. Knight.
DUCTURE
Duc"ture, n.
Defn: Guidance. [Obs.] South.
DUDDER
Dud"der, v. t. Etym: [In Suffolk, Eng., to shiver, shake, tremble;
also written dodder.]
Defn: To confuse or confound with noise. Jennings.
DUDDER
Dud"der, v. i.
Defn: To shiver or tremble; to dodder.
I dudder and shake like an aspen leaf. Ford.
DUDDER
Dud"der, n. Etym: [From Duds.]
Defn: A peddler or hawker, especially of cheap and flashy goods
pretended to be smuggled; a duffer. [Eng.]
DUDDERY
Dud"der*y, n.
Defn: A place where rags are bought and kept for sale. [Eng.]
DUDE
Dude, n.
Defn: A kind of dandy; especially, one characterized by an
ultrafashionable style of dress and other affectations. [Recent]
The social dude who affects English dress and English drawl. The
American.
DUDEEN
Du*deen", n.
Defn: A short tobacco pipe. [Written also dudheen.] [Irish]
DUDGEON
Dudg"eon, n.
1. The root of the box tree, of which hafts for daggers were made.
Gerarde (1597).
2. The haft of a dagger. Shak.
3. A dudgeon-hafted dagger; a dagger. Hudibras.
DUDGEON
Dudg"eon, n. Etym: [W. dygen anger, grudge.]
Defn: Resentment; ill will; anger; displeasure.
I drink it to thee in dudgeon and hostility.
Sir T. Scott.
DUDGEON
Dudg"eon, a.
Defn: Homely; rude; coarse. [Obs.]
By my troth, though I am plain and dudgeon, I would not be an ass.
Beau. & Fl.
DUDISH
Dud"ish, a.
Defn: Like, or characterized of, a dude.
DUDS
Duds, n. pl. Etym: [Scot. dud rag, pl. duds clothing of inferior
quality.]
1. Old or inferior clothes; tattered garments. [Colloq.]
2. Effects, in general.[Slang]
DUE
Due, a. Etym: [OF. deu, F. dû, p. p. of devoir to owe, fr. L. debere.
See Debt, Habit, and cf. Duty.]
1. Owed, as a debt; that ought to be paid or done to or for another;
payable; owing and demandable.
2. Justly claimed as a right or property; proper; suitable; becoming;
appropriate; fit.
Her obedience, which is due to me. Shak.
With dirges due, in sad array, Slow through the churchway path we saw
him borne. Gray.
3. Such as (a thing) ought to be; fulfilling obligation; proper;
lawful; regular; appointed; sufficient; exact; as, due process of
law; due service; in due time.
4. Appointed or required to arrive at a given time; as, the steamer
was due yesterday.
5. Owing; ascribable, as to a cause.
This effect is due to the attraction of the sun. J. D. Forbes.
DUE
Due, adv.
Defn: Directly; exactly; as, a due east course.
DUE
Due, n.
1. That which is owed; debt; that which one contracts to pay, or do,
to or for another; that which belongs or may be claimed as a right;
whatever custom, law, or morality requires to be done; a fee; a toll.
He will give the devil his due. Shak.
Yearly little dues of wheat, and wine, and oil. Tennyson.
2. Right; just title or claim.
The key of this infernal pit by due . . . I keep. Milton.
DUE
Due, v. t.
Defn: To endue. [Obs.] Shak.
DUEBILL
Due"bill`, n. (Com.)
Defn: A brief written acknowledgment of a debt, not made payable to
order, like a promissory note. Burrill.
DUEFUL
Due"ful, a.
Defn: Fit; becoming. [Obs.] Spenser.
DUEL
Du"el, n. Etym: [It. duello, fr. L. duellum, orig., a contest between
two, which passed into the common form bellum war, fr. duo two: cf.
F. duel. See Bellicose, Two, and cf. Duello.]
Defn: A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by
agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an affront given
by one to the other. Trial by duel (Old Law), a combat between two
persons for proving a cause; trial by battel.
DUEL
Du"el, v. i. & t.
Defn: To fight in single combat. [Obs.]
DUELER
Du"el*er, n.
Defn: One who engages in a duel. [R.] [Written also dueller.] South.
DUELING
Du"el*ing, n.
Defn: e act or practice of fighting in single combat. Also adj.
[Written also duelling.]
DUELIST
Du"el*ist, n. Etym: [F. duelliste.]
Defn: One who fights in single combat. [Written also duellist.]
A duelist . . . always values himself upon his courage, his sense of
honor, his fidelity and friendship. Hume.
DUELO
Du*e"lo, n. Etym: [It. See Duel.]
Defn: A duel; also, the rules of dueling. [Obs.] Shak.
DUENA; DUENYA
Du*e"ña, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: See Doña.
DUENESS
Due"ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being due; debt; what is due or becoming. T.
Goodwin.
DUENNA
Du*en"na, n.; pl. Duennas. Etym: [Sp. dueña, doña, fr. L. domina. See
Dame.]
1. The chief lady in waiting on the queen of Spain. Brande.
2. An elderly lady holding a station between a governess and
companion, and appointed to have charge over the younger ladies in a
Spanish or a Portuguese family. Brande & C.
3. Any old woman who is employed to guard a younger one; a governess.
Arbuthnot.
DUET
Du*et", n. Etym: [Duetto.] (Mus.)
Defn: A composition for two performers, whether vocal or
instrumental.
DUETTINO
Du`et*ti"no, n. Etym: [It ., dim. fr. duetto a duet.]
Defn: A duet of short extent and concise form.
DUETTO
Du*et"to, n. Etym: [It., fr. It & L. duo two. See Two.]
Defn: See Duet.
DUFF
Duff, n. Etym: [From OE. dagh. . See Dough.]
1. Dough or paste. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. A stiff flour pudding, boiled in a bag; -- a term used especially
by seamen; as, plum duff.
DUFFEL
Duf"fel, n. Etym: [D. duffel, from Duffel, a town not far from
Antwerp.]
Defn: A kind of coarse woolen cloth, having a thick nap or frieze.
[Written also duffle.]
Good duffel gray and flannel fine. Wordsworth.
DUFFEL BAG
Duffel bag.
Defn: A sack to hold miscellaneous articles, as tools, supplies, or
the like.
DUFFER
Duf"fer, n.
1. A peddler or hawker, especially of cheap, flashy articles, as sham
jewelry; hence, a sham or cheat. [Slang, Eng.] Halliwell.
2. A stupid, awkward, inefficient person.[Slang]
DUFFLE
Duf"fle, n.
Defn: See Duffel.
DUFRENITE
Du*fren"ite, n. Etym: [From Dufrénoy, a French geologist.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a blackish green color, commonly massive or in
nodules. It is a hydrous phosphate of iron.
DUG
Dug, n. Etym: [Akin to Sw. dägga to suckle (a child), Dan. dægge, and
prob. to Goth. daddjan.
Defn: A teat, pap, or nipple; -- formerly that of a human mother, now
that of a cow or other beast.
With mother's dug between its lips. Shak.
DUG
Dug, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Dig.
DUGONG
Du*gong", n. Etym: [Malayan d, or Javan. duyung.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An aquatic herbivorous mammal (Halicore dugong), of the order
Sirenia, allied to the manatee, but with a bilobed tail. It inhabits
the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, East Indies, and Australia. [Written also
duyong.]
DUGOUT
Dug"out`, n.
1. A canoe or boat dug out from a large log. [U.S.]
A man stepped from his slender dugout. G. W. Cable.
2. A place dug out.
3. A house made partly in a hillside or slighter elevation. [Western
U.S.] Bartlett.
DUGWAY
Dug"way`, n.
Defn: A way or road dug through a hill, or sunk below the surface of
the land. [U.S.]
DUKE
Duke n. Etym: [F. duc, fr. L. dux, ducis, leader, commander, fr.
ducere to lead; akin to AS. teón to draw; cf. AS. heretoga (here
army) an army leader, general, G. herzog duke. See Tue, and cf. Doge,
Duchess, Ducat, Duct, Adduce, Deduct.]
1. A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.]
Hannibal, duke of Carthage. Sir T. Elyot.
All were dukes once, who were "duces" -- captains or leaders of their
people. Trench.
2. In England, one of the highest order of nobility after princes and
princesses of the royal blood and the four archbishops of England and
Ireland.
3. In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title
of king. Duke's coronet. See Illust. of Coronet.
-- To dine with Duke Humphrey, to go without dinner. See under Dine.
DUKE
Duke, v. i.
Defn: To play the duke. [Poetic]
Lord Angelo dukes it well in his absence. Shak.
DUKEDOM
Duke"dom, n.
1. The territory of a duke.
2. The title or dignity of a duke. Shak.
DUKELING
Duke"ling, n.
Defn: A little or insignificant duke. Ford.
DUKESHIP
Duke"ship, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being a duke; also, the personality
of a duke. Massinger.
DUKHOBORS; DUKHOBORTSY
Du*kho*bors", Du*kho*bor"tsy, n. pl. [Russ. dukhobortsy spirit
wrestlers; dukh spirit + bortsy wrestlers.]
Defn: A Russian religious sect founded about the middle of the 18th
century at Kharkov. They believe that Christ was wholly human, but
that his soul reappears from time to time in mortals. They accept the
Ten Commandments and the "useful" portions of the Bible, but deny the
need of rulers, priests, or churches, and have no confessions, icons,
or marriage ceremonies. They are communistic, opposed to any
violence, and unwilling to use the labor of animals. Driven out of
Russia proper, many have emigrated to Cyprus and Canada. See
Raskolnik, below.
DULCAMARA
Dul`ca*ma"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. dulcis sweet + amarus bitter.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Solanum Dulcamara). See Bittersweet, n.,
3 (a).
DULCAMARIN
Dul`ca*ma"rin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside extracted from the bittersweet (Solanum Dulcamara),
as a yellow amorphous substance. It probably occasions the compound
taste. See Bittersweet, 3(a).
DULCE
Dulce, v. t.
Defn: To make sweet; to soothe. [Obs.]
DULCENESS
Dulce"ness, n.
Defn: Sweetness. [Obs.] Bacon.
DULCET
Dul"cet, a. Etym: [OF. doucet, dim. of dous sweet, F. doux, L.
dulcis; akin to Gr. Doucet.]
1. Sweet to the taste; luscious. [Obs.]
She tempers dulcet creams. Milton.
2. Sweet to the ear; melodious; harmonious.
Their dainty lays and dulcet melody. Spenser.
DULCIANA
Dul`ci*an"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. dulcis sweet.] (Mus.)
Defn: A sweet-toned stop of an organ.
DULCIFICATION
Dul`ci*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dulcification.]
Defn: The act of dulcifying or sweetening. Boyle.
DULCIFIED
Dul"ci*fied, a.
Defn: Sweetened; mollified. Dulcified spirit or spirits, a compound
of alcohol with mineral acids; as, dulcified spirits of niter.
DULCIFLUOUS
Dul*cif"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. dulcis sweet + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing sweetly. [R.]
DULCIFY
Dul"ci*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dulcified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dulcifying.] Etym: [L. dulcis sweet + -fy: cf. F. dulcifier.]
1. (Pharm.)
Defn: To sweeten; to free from acidity, saltness, or acrimony.
Wiseman.
2. Fig. : To mollify; to sweeten; to please.
As she . . . was further dulcified by her pipe of tobacco. Hawthorne.
DULCILOQUY
Dul*cil"o*quy, n. Etym: [L. dulcis sweet + loqui to speak.]
Defn: A soft manner of speaking.
DULCIMER
Dul"ci*mer, n. Etym: [It. dolcemele,r Sp. dulcemele, fr. L. dulcis
sweet + melos song, melody, Gr. doulcemele. See Dulcet, and Melody.]
(Mus.)
(a) An instrument, having stretched metallic wires which are beaten
with two light hammers held in the hands of the performer.
(b) An ancient musical instrument in use among the Jews. Dan. iii. 5.
It is supposed to be the same with the psaltery.
DULCINEA
Dul*cin"e*a, n. Etym: [Sp., from Dulcinea del Toboso the mistress of
the affections of Don Quixote.]
Defn: A mistress; a sweetheart.
I must ever have some Dulcinea in my head. Sterne.
DULCINESS
Dul"ci*ness, n.
Defn: See Dulceness. [Obs.]
DULCINO
Dul*ci"no, n. (Mus.)
Defn: See Dolcino.
DULCITE
Dul"cite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dulcite, fr. L. dulcis sweet.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, sugarlike substance, C6H8.(OH)2, occurring naturally
in a manna from Madagascar, and in certain plants, and produced
artificially by the reduction of galactose and lactose or milk sugar.
DULCITUDE
Dul"ci*tude, n. Etym: [L. dulcitudo, fr. dulcis sweet.
Defn: Sweetness. [R.] Cockeram.
DULCORATE
Dul"co*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. dulcoratus, p. p. of dulcorare, fr.
dulcor sweetness, fr. dulcis sweet.]
Defn: To sweeten; to make less acrimonious. [R.] Bacon.
DULCORATION
Dul`co*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. dulcoratio.]
Defn: The act of sweetening. [R.] Bacon.
DULEDGE
Du"ledge, n. (Mil.)
Defn: One of the dowels joining the ends of the fellies which form
the circle of the wheel of a gun carriage. Wilhelm.
DULIA
Du*li"a, n. Etym: [LL., fr. Gr. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An inferior kind of veneration or worship, given to the angels
and saints as the servants of God.
DULL
Dull, a. [Compar. Duller; superl. Dullest.] Etym: [AS. dol foolish;
akin to gedwelan to err, D. dol mad, dwalen to wander, err, G. toll
mad, Goth. dwals foolish, stupid, cf. Gr. dhvr to cause to fall. Cf.
Dolt, Dwale, Dwell, Fraud.]
1. Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid;
doltish; blockish. "Dull at classical learning." Thackeray.
She is not bred so dull but she can learn. Shak.
2. Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward.
This people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing. Matt. xiii. 15.
O, help my weak wit and sharpen my dull tongue. Spenser.
3. Insensible; unfeeling.
Think me not So dull a devil to forget the loss Of such a matchless
wife. Beau. & Fl.
4. Not keen in edge or point; lacking sharpness; blunt. "Thy scythe
is dull." Herbert.
5. Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or
luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red
or yellow; a dull mirror.
6. Heavy; gross; cloggy; insensible; spiritless; lifeless; inert.
"The dull earth." Shak.
As turning the logs will make a dull fire burn, so changes of study a
dull brain. Longfellow.
7. Furnishing little delight, spirit, or variety; uninteresting;
tedious; cheerless; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; as, a dull story
or sermon; a dull occupation or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as,
a dull day.
Along life's dullest, dreariest walk. Keble.
Syn.
-- Lifeless; inanimate; dead; stupid; doltish; heavy; sluggish;
sleepy; drowsy; gross; cheerless; tedious; irksome; dismal; dreary;
clouded; tarnished; obtuse. See Lifeless.
DULL
Dull, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Duller; p. pr. & vb. n. Dulling.]
1. To deprive of sharpness of edge or point. "This . . . dulled their
swords." Bacon.
Borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. Shak.
2. To make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy, as the senses, the
feelings, the perceptions, and the like.
Those [drugs] she has Will stupefy and dull the sense a while. Shak.
Use and custom have so dulled our eyes. Trench.
3. To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish. "Dulls the
mirror." Bacon.
4. To deprive of liveliness or activity; to render heavy; to make
inert; to depress; to weary; to sadden.
Attention of mind . . . wasted or dulled through continuance. Hooker.
DULL
Dull, v. i.
Defn: To become dull or stupid. Rom. of R.
DULLARD
Dull"ard, n. Etym: [Dull + -ard.]
Defn: A stupid person; a dunce. Shak.
-- a.
Defn: Stupid. Bp. Hall.
DULL-BRAINED
Dull"-brained`, a.
Defn: Stupid; doltish. Shak.
DULL-BROWED
Dull"-browed`, a.
Defn: Having a gloomy look.
DULLER
Dull"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, dulls.
DULL-EYED
Dull"-eyed`, a.
Defn: Having eyes wanting brightness, liveliness, or vivacity. Shak.
DULLHEAD
Dull"head`, n.
Defn: A blockhead; a dolt. Ascham.
DULLISH
Dull"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat dull; uninteresting; tiresome. "A series of dullish
verses." Prof. Wilson.
DULLNESS
Dull"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dull; slowness; stupidity; heaviness;
drowsiness; bluntness; obtuseness; dimness; want of luster; want of
vividness, or of brightness. [Written also dulness.]
And gentle dullness ever loves a joke. Pope.
DULL-SIGHTED
Dull"-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Having poor eyesight.
DULLSOME
Dull"some, a.
Defn: Dull. [R.] Gataker.
DULL-WITTED
Dull"-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Stupid.
DULLY
Dul"ly, adv.
Defn: In a dull manner; stupidly; slowly; sluggishly; without life or
spirit.
Supinely calm and dully innocent. G. Lyttelton.
DULOCRACY
Du*loc"ra*cy, n.
Defn: See Doulocracy.
DULSE
Dulse, n. Etym: [Cf. Gael. duileasg; duille leaf + uisge water. Cf.
Whisky.] (Bot.)
Defn: A seaweed of a reddish brown color, which is sometimes eaten,
as in Scotland. The true dulse is Sarcophyllis edulis; the common is
Rhodymenia. [Written also dillisk.]
The crimson leaf of the dulse is seen To blush like a banner bathed
in slaughter. Percival.
DULWILLY
Dul"wil*ly, n. Etym: [Prob. imitative.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ring plover. [Prov. Eng.]
DULY
Du"ly, adv.
Defn: In a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it (anything) ought to
be; properly; regularly.
DUMAL
Du"mal, a. Etym: [L. dumus bramble.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or set with, briers or bushes; brambly. [R.]
DUMB
Dumb, a. Etym: [AS. dumb; akin to D. dom stupid, dumb, Sw. dumb,
Goth. dumbs; cf. Gr. Deaf, and cf. Dummy.]
1. Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate
sounds; as, the dumb brutes.
To unloose the very tongues even of dumb creatures. Hooker.
2. Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied
by words; as, dumb show.
This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. Shak.
To pierce into the dumb past. J. C. Shairp.
3. Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color. [R.]
Her stern was painted of a dumb white or dun color. De Foe.
Deaf and dumb. See Deaf-mute.
-- Dumb ague, or Dumb chill, a form of intermittent fever which has
no well-defined "chill." [U.S.] -- Dumb animal, any animal except
man; -- usually restricted to a domestic quadruped; -- so called in
contradistinction to man, who is a "speaking animal." -- Dumb cake, a
cake made in silence by girls on St. Mark's eve, with certain mystic
ceremonies, to discover their future husbands. Halliwell.
-- Dumb cane (Bot.), a west Indian plant of the Arum family
(Dieffenbachia seguina), which, when chewed, causes the tongue to
swell, and destroys temporarily the power of speech.
-- Dumb crambo. See under crambo.
-- Dumb show. (a) Formerly, a part of a dramatic representation,
shown in pantomime. "Inexplicable dumb shows and noise." Shak. (b)
Signs and gestures without words; as, to tell a story in dumb show.
-- To strike dumb, to confound; to astonish; to render silent by
astonishment; or, it may be, to deprive of the power of speech.
Syn.
-- Silent; speechless; noiseless. See Mute.
DUMB
Dumb, v. t.
Defn: To put to silence. [Obs.] Shak.
DUMB-BELL
Dumb"-bell`, n.
Defn: A weight, consisting of two spheres or spheroids, connected by
a short bar for a handle; used (often in pairs) for gymnastic
exercise.
DUMBLEDOR
Dum"ble*dor`, n. Etym: [The first part is prob. of imitative origin.
See Dor a beetle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bumblebee; also, a cockchafer. [Prov. Eng.]
DUMBLY
Dumb"ly, adv.
Defn: In silence; mutely.
DUMBNESS
Dumb"ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being dumb; muteness; silence;
inability to speak.
DUMB-WAITER
Dumb"-wait`er, n.
Defn: A framework on which dishes, food, etc., are passed from one
room or story of a house to another; a lift for dishes, etc.; also, a
piece of furniture with movable or revolving shelves.
DUMDUM BULLET
Dum"dum bul"let. (Mil.)
Defn: A kind of manstopping bullet; -- so named from Dumdum, in
India, where bullets are manufactured for the Indian army.
DUMETOSE
Du"me*tose`, a. Etym: [From L. dumetum a thicket.] (Bot.)
Defn: Dumose.
DUMFOUND
Dum"found`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dumfounded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Dumfounding.]
Defn: To strike dumb; to confuse with astonishment. [Written also
dumbfound.] Spectator.
DUMFOUNDER
Dum"found`er, v. t.
Defn: To dumfound; to confound. [Written also dumbfounder.]
DUMMADOR
Dum"ma*dor`, n.
Defn: A dumbledor.
DUMMERER
Dum"mer*er, n.
Defn: One who feigns dumbness. [Obs.] Burton.
DUMMY
Dum"my, a. Etym: [See Dumb.]
1. Silent; mute; noiseless; as a dummy engine.
2. Fictitious or sham; feigned; as, a dummy watch. Dummy car. See
under Car.
DUMMY
Dum"my, n.; pl. Dummies (.
1. One who is dumb. H. Smith.
2. A sham package in a shop, or one which does not contain what its
exterior indicates.
3. An imitation or copy of something, to be used as a substitute; a
model; a lay figure; as, a figure on which clothing is exhibited in
shop windows; a blank paper copy used to show the size of the future
book, etc.
4. (Drama)
Defn: One who plays a merely nominal part in any action; a sham
character.
5. A thick-witted person; a dolt. [Colloq.]
6. (Railroad)
Defn: A locomotive with condensing engines, and, hence, without the
noise of escaping steam; also, a dummy car.
7. (Card Playing)
Defn: The fourth or exposed hand when three persons play at a four-
handed game of cards.
8. A floating barge connected with a pier. Knight. To play dummy, to
play the exposed or dummy hand in cards. The partner of the dummy
plays it.
DUMOSE; DUMOUS
Du`mose", Du"mous, a. Etym: [L. dumosus, fr. dumus a thornbush, a
bramble.]
1. Abounding with bushes and briers.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a compact, bushy form.
DUMP
Dump, n. Etym: [See Dumpling.]
Defn: A thick, ill-shapen piece; a clumsy leaden counter used by boys
in playing chuck farthing. [Eng.] Smart.
DUMP
Dump, n. Etym: [Cf. dial. Sw. dumpin melancholy, Dan.dump dull, low,
D. dompig damp, G. dumpf damp, dull, gloomy, and E. damp, or rather
perh. dump, v. t. Cf. Damp, or Dump, v. t.]
1. A dull, gloomy state of the mind; sadness; melancholy; low
spirits; despondency; ill humor; -- now used only in the plural.
March slowly on in solemn dump. Hudibras.
Doleful dumps the mind oppress. Shak.
I was musing in the midst of my dumps. Bunyan.
Note: The ludicrous associations now attached to this word did not
originally belong to it. "Holland's translation of Livy represents
the Romans as being `in the dumps' after the battle of Cannæ."
Trench.
2. Absence of mind; revery. Locke.
3. A melancholy strain or tune in music; any tune. [Obs.] "Tune a
deploring dump." "Play me some merry dump." Shak.
4. An old kind of dance. [Obs.] Nares.
DUMP
Dump, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dumped; p. pr. & vb. n. Dumping.] Etym:
[OE. dumpen to throw down, fall down, cf. Icel. dumpa to thump, Dan.
dumpe to fall suddenly, rush, dial. Sw. dimpa to fall down plump. Cf.
Dump sadness.]
1. To knock heavily; to stump. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
2. To put or throw down with more or less of violence; hence, to
unload from a cart by tilting it; as, to dump sand, coal, etc. [U.S.]
Bartlett. Dumping car or cart, a railway car, or a cart, the body of
which can be tilted to empty the contents; -- called also dump car,
or dump cart.
DUMP
Dump, n.
1. A car or boat for dumping refuse, etc.
2. A ground or place for dumping ashes, refuse, etc.
3. That which is dumped.
4. (Mining)
Defn: A pile of ore or rock.
DUMPAGE
Dump"age, n.
1. The act of dumping loads from carts, especially loads of refuse
matter; also, a heap of dumped matter.
2. A fee paid for the privilege of dumping loads.
DUMPINESS
Dump"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dumpy.
DUMPISH
Dump"ish, a.
Defn: Dull; stupid; sad; moping; melancholy. " A . . . dumpish and
sour life." Lord Herbert.
-- Dump"ish*ly, adv.
-- Dump"ish*ness, n.
DUMPLE
Dum"ple, v. t. Etym: [See Dumpling.]
Defn: To make dumpy; to fold, or bend, as one part over another. [R.]
He was a little man, dumpled up together. Sir W. Scott.
DUMPLING
Dump"ling, n. Etym: [Dimin. of dump an illshapen piece; cf. D.
dompelen to plunge, dip, duck, Scot. to dump in to plunge into, and
E. dump, v. t.]
Defn: A roundish mass of dough boiled in soup, or as a sort of
pudding; often, a cover of paste inclosing an apple or other fruit,
and boiled or baked; as, an apple dumpling.
DUMPY
Dump"y, a. [Compar. Dumpier; superl. Dumpiest.] Etym: [
1. From Dump a short ill-shapen piece.
2. From Dump sadness.]
1. Short and thick; of low stature and disproportionately stout.
2. Sullen or discontented. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DUMPY LEVEL
Dump"y lev"el. (Surv.)
Defn: A level having a short telescope (hence its name) rigidly fixed
to a table capable only of rotatory movement in a horizontal plane.
The telescope is usually an inverting one. It is sometimes called the
Troughton level, from the name of the inventor, and a variety
improved by one Gavatt is known as the Gavatt level.
DUN
Dun, n. Etym: [See Dune.]
Defn: A mound or small hill.
DUN
Dun, v. t.
Defn: To cure, as codfish, in a particular manner, by laying them,
after salting, in a pile in a dark place, covered with salt grass or
some like substance.
DUN
Dun, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Dunned; p. pr. & vb. n. Dunning.] Etym:
[AS. dyne noise, dynian to make a noise, or fr. Icel. dynr, duna,
noise, thunder, duna to thunder; the same word as E. din. Din.]
Defn: To ask or beset, as a debtor, for payment; to urge
importunately.
Hath she sent so soon to dun Swift.
DUN
Dun, n.
1. One who duns; a dunner.
To be pulled by the sleeve by some rascally dun. Arbuthnot.
2. An urgent request or demand of payment; as, he sent his debtor a
dun.
DUN
Dun, a. Etym: [AS. dunn. of Celtic origin; cf. W. dwn, Ir. & Gael.
donn.]
Defn: Of a dark color; of a color partaking of a brown and black; of
a dull brown color; swarthy.
Summer's dun cloud comes thundering up. Pierpont.
Chill and dun Falls on the moor the brief November day. Keble.
Dun crow (Zoöl.), the hooded crow; -- so called from its color; --
also called hoody, and hoddy.
-- Dun diver (Zoöl.), the goosander or merganser.
DUNBIRD
Dun"bird`, n. Etym: [Named from its color.] (Zoöl.)
(a) The pochard; -- called also dunair, and dunker, or dun-curre.
(b) An American duck; the ruddy duck.
DUNCE
Dunce, n. Etym: [From Joannes Duns Scotus, a schoolman called the
Subtle Doctor, who died in 1308. Originally in the phrase "a Duns
man". See Note below.]
Defn: One backward in book learning; a child or other person dull or
weak in intellect; a dullard; a dolt.
I never knew this town without dunces of figure. Swift.
Note: The schoolmen were often called, after their great leader Duns
Scotus, Dunsmen or Duncemen. In the revival of learning they were
violently opposed to classical studies; hence, the name of Dunce was
applied with scorn and contempt to an opposer of learning, or to one
slow at learning, a dullard.
DUNCEDOM
Dunce"dom, n.
Defn: The realm or domain of dunces. [Jocose] Carlyle.
DUNCERY
Dun"cer*y, n.
Defn: Dullness; stupidity.
DUNCICAL
Dun"ci*cal, a.
Defn: Like a dunce; duncish.
The most dull and duncical commissioner. Fuller.
DUNCIFY
Dun"ci*fy, v. t. Etym: [Dunce + -fy.]
Defn: To make stupid in intellect. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
DUNCISH
Dun"cish, a.
Defn: Somewhat like a dunce. [R.] -- Dun"cish*ness, n. [R.]
DUNDER
Dun"der, n. Etym: [Cf. Sp. redundar to overflow.]
Defn: The lees or dregs of cane juice, used in the distillation of
rum. [West Indies]
The use of dunder in the making of rum answers the purpose of yeast
in the fermentation of flour. B. Edwards.
DUNDERHEAD
Dun"der*head`, n. Etym: [Prov. Eng. also dunderpoll, from dunder,
same as thunder.]
Defn: A dunce; a numskull; a blockhead. Beau. & Fl.
DUNDER-HEADED
Dun"der-head`ed, a.
Defn: Thick-headed; stupid.
DUNDERPATE
Dun"der*pate`, n.
Defn: See Dunderhead.
DUNE
Dune, n. Etym: [The same word as down: cf. D. duin. See Down a bank
of sand.]
Defn: A low hill of drifting sand usually formed on the coats, but
often carried far inland by the prevailing winds. [Written also dun.]
Three great rivers, the Rhine, the Meuse, and the Scheldt, had
deposited their slime for ages among the dunes or sand banks heaved
up by the ocean around their mouths. Motley.
DUNFISH
Dun"fish, n.
Defn: Codfish cured in a particular manner, so as to be of a superior
quality.
DUNG
Dung, n. Etym: [AS. dung; akin to G. dung, dünger, OHG. tunga, Sw.
dynga; cf. Icel. dyngja heap, Dan. dynge, MHG. tunc underground
dwelling place, orig., covered with dung. Cf. Dingy.]
Defn: The excrement of an animal. Bacon.
DUNG
Dung, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dunged; p. pr. & vb. n. Dunging.]
1. To manure with dung. Dryden.
2. (Calico Print.)
Defn: To immerse or steep, as calico, in a bath of hot water
containing cow dung; -- done to remove the superfluous mordant.
DUNG
Dung, v. i.
Defn: To void excrement. Swift.
DUNGAREE
Dun`ga*ree", n.
Defn: A coarse kind of unbleached cotton stuff. [Written also
dungari.] [India]
DUNGEON
Dun"geon, n. Etym: [OE. donjoun highest tower of a castle, tower,
prison, F. donjon tower or platform in the midst of a castle, turret,
or closet on the top of a house, a keep of a castle, LL. domnio, the
same word as LL. dominus lord. See Dame, Don, and cf. Dominion,
Domain, Demesne, Danger, Donjon.]
Defn: A close, dark prison, commondonjon or keep of a castle, these
being used as prisons.
Down with him even into the deep dungeon. Tyndale.
Year after year he lay patiently in a dungeon. Macaulay.
DUNGEON
Dun"geon, v. t.
Defn: To shut up in a dungeon. Bp. Hall.
DUNGFORK
Dung"fork`, n.
Defn: A fork for tossing dung.
DUNGHILL
Dung"hill`, n.
1. A heap of dung.
2. Any mean situation or condition; a vile abode.
He . . . lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill. 1. Sam. ii. 8.
Dunghill fowl, a domestic fowl of common breed.
DUNGMEER
Dung"meer`, n. Etym: [Dung + (prob.) meer a pool.]
Defn: A pit where dung and weeds rot for manure.
DUNGY
Dung"y, a.
Defn: Full of dung; filthy; vile; low. Shak.
DUNGYARD
Dung"yard`, n.
Defn: A yard where dung is collected.
DUNKER
Dun"ker, n. Etym: [G. tunken to dip.]
Defn: One of a religious denomination whose tenets and practices are
mainly those of the Baptists, but partly those of the Quakers; --
called also Tunkers, Dunkards, Dippers, and, by themselves, Brethren,
and German Baptists.
Note: The denomination was founded in Germany in 1708, but after a
few years the members emigrated to the United States. Seventh-day
Dunkers, a sect which separated from the Dunkers and formed a
community, in 1728. They keep the seventh day or Saturday as the
Sabbath.
DUNLIN
Dun"lin, n. Etym: [Prob. of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. dun hill (E.
dune), and linne pool, pond, lake, E. lin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of sandpiper (Tringa alpina); -- called also churr,
dorbie, grass bird, and red-backed sandpiper. It is found both in
Europe and America.
DUNNAGE
Dun"nage, n. Etym: [Cf. Dun a mound.] (Naut.)
Defn: Fagots, boughs, or loose materials of any kind, laid on the
bottom of the hold for the cargo to rest upon to prevent injury by
water, or stowed among casks and other cargo to prevent their motion.
DUNNER
Dun"ner, n. Etym: [From Dun to ask payment from.]
Defn: One employed in soliciting the payment of debts.
DUNNISH
Dun"nish, a.
Defn: Inclined to a dun color. Ray.
DUNNOCK
Dun"nock, n. Etym: [Cf. Dun,a.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The hedge sparrow or hedge accentor. [Local, Eng.]
DUNNY
Dun"ny, a.
Defn: Deaf; stupid.[Prov. Eng.]
My old dame Joan is something dunny, and will scarce know how to
manage. Sir W. Scott.
DUNT
Dunt, n. Etym: [Dint.]
Defn: A blow. [Obs.] R. of Glouc.
DUNTED
Dunt"ed, a.
Defn: Beaten; hence, blunted. [Obs.]
Fencer's swords . . . having the edge dunted. Fuller.
DUNTER
Dun"ter, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A porpoise. [Scott.] Dunter goose (Zoöl.) the eider duck. J.
Brand.
DUO
Du"o, n. Etym: [It. duo, fr. L. duo two. See Duet.] (Mus.)
Defn: A composition for two performers; a duet.
DUODECAHEDRAL; DUODECAHEDRON
Du`o*dec`a*he"dral, a., Du`o*dec`a*he"dron (, n.
Defn: See Dodecahedral, and Dodecahedron.
DUODECENNIAL
Du`o*de*cen"ni*al, a. Etym: [L. duodecennis; duodecim twelve + annus
year.]
Defn: Consisting of twelve years. [R.] Ash.
DUODECIMAL
Du`o*dec"i*mal, a. Etym: [L. duodecim twelve. See Dozen.]
Defn: Proceeding in computation by twelves; expressed in the scale of
twelves.
-- Du`o*dec"i*mal*ly, adv.
DUODECIMAL
Du`o*dec"i*mal, n.
1. A twelfth part; as, the duodecimals of an inch.
2. pl. (Arch.)
Defn: A system of numbers, whose denominations rise in a scale of
twelves, as of feet and inches. The system is used chiefly by
artificers in computing the superficial and solid contents of their
work.
DUODECIMFID
Du`o*dec"im*fid, a. Etym: [L. duodecim twelve + findere to cleave.]
Defn: Divided into twelve parts.
DUODECIMO
Du`o*dec"i*mo, a. Etym: [L. in duodecimo in twelfth, fr. duodecimus
twelfth, fr. duodecim twelve. See Dozen.]
Defn: Having twelve leaves to a sheet; as, a duodecimo from, book,
leaf, size, etc.
DUODECIMO
Du*o*dec"i*mo, n.; pl. Duodecimos (.
Defn: A book consisting of sheets each of which is folded into twelve
leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of a book;
-- usually written 12mo or 12º.
DUODECUPLE
Du`o*dec"u*ple, a. Etym: [L. duo two + decuple.]
Defn: Consisting of twelves. Arbuthnot.
DUODENAL
Du`o*de"nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. duodénal.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the duodenum; as, duodenal digestion.
DUODENARY
Du`o*den"a*ry, a. Etym: [L. duodenarius, fr. duodeni twelve each: cf.
F. duodénaire.]
Defn: Containing twelve; twelvefold; increasing by twelves;
duodecimal.
DUODENUM
Du`o*de"num, n. Etym: [NL., fr. duodeni twelve each: cf. F. duodenum.
So called because its length is about twelve fingers' breadth.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The part of the small intestines between the stomach and the
jejunum. See Illust. of Digestive apparatus, under Digestive.
DUOGRAPH
Du"o*graph, n. [L. duo two + -graph.] (Photo-engraving)
Defn: A picture printed from two half-tone plates made with the
screen set at different angles, and usually printed in two shades of
the same color or in black and one tint.
DUOLITERAL
Du`o*lit"er*al, a. Etym: [L. duo two + E. literal.]
Defn: Consisting of two letters only; biliteral. Stuart.
DUOMO
Duo"mo, n. Etym: [It. See Done.]
Defn: A cathedral. See Dome, 2.
Of tower or duomo, sunny sweet. Tennyson.
DUOTONE
Du"o*tone, n. [L. duo two + tone.] (Photoengraving)
Defn: Any picture printed in two shades of the same color, as
duotypes and duographs are usually printed.
DUOTYPE
Du"o*type, n. [L. duo two + type.] (Photoengraving)
Defn: A print made from two half-tone plates made from the same
negative, but etched differently.
DUP
Dup, v. t. Etym: [Contr. fr. do up, that is, to lift up the latch.
Cf. Don, Doff.]
Defn: To open; as, to dup the door. [Obs.] Shak.
DUPABLE
Dup"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being duped.
DUPE
Dupe, n. Etym: [F., prob. from Prov. F. dupe, dube; of unknown
origin; equiv. to F. huppe hoopoe, a foolish bird, easily caught. Cf.
Armor. houpérik hoopoe, a man easily deceived. Cf. also Gull, Booby.]
Defn: One who has been deceived or who is easily deceived; a gull;
as, the dupe of a schemer.
DUPE
Dupe, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Duped; p. pr. & vb. n. Duping.] Etym: [Cf.
F. duper, fr. dupe. See Dupe, n.]
Defn: To deceive; to trick; to mislead by imposing on one's
credulity; to gull; as, dupe one by flattery.
Ne'er have I duped him with base counterfeits. Coleridge.
DUPER
Dup"er, n.
Defn: One who dupes another.
DUPERY
Dup"er*y, n. Etym: [F. duperie, fr. duper.]
Defn: The act or practice of duping. [R.]
DUPION
Du"pi*on, n. Etym: [F. doupion, It. doppione, fr. doppio double, L.
duplus. See Double, and cf. Doubloon.]
Defn: A double cocoon, made by two silkworms.
DUPLE
Du"ple, a. Etym: [L. duplus. See Double.]
Defn: Double. Duple ratio (Math.), that in which the antecedent term
is double the consequent, as of 2 to 1, 8 to 4, etc.
DUPLEX
Du"plex, a. Etym: [L., fr. duo two + plicare to fold. See Two, and
Complex.]
Defn: Double; twofold. Duplex escapement, a peculiar kind of watch
escapement, in which the scape-wheel has two sets of teeth. See
Escapement.
-- Duplex lathe, one for turning off, screwing, and surfacing, by
means of two cutting tools, on opposite sides of the piece operated
upon.
-- Duplex pumping engine, a steam pump in which two steam cylinders
are placed side by side, one operating the valves of the other.
-- Duplex querela Etym: [L., double complaint] (Eccl. Law), a
complaint in the nature of an appeal from the ordinary to his
immediate superior, as from a bishop to an archbishop. Mozley & W.
-- Duplex telegraphy, a system of telegraphy for sending two
messages over the same wire simultaneously.
-- Duplex watch, one with a duplex escapement.
DUPLICATE
Du"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. duplicatus, p. p. of duplicare to double,
fr. duplex double, twofold. See Duplex.]
Defn: Double; twofold. Duplicate proportion or ratio (Math.), the
proportion or ratio of squares. Thus, in geometrical proportion, the
first term to the third is said to be in a duplicate ratio of the
first to the second, or as its square is to the square of the second.
Thus, in 2, 4, 8, 16, the ratio of 2 to 8 is a duplicate of that of 2
to 4, or as the square of 2 is to the square of 4.
DUPLICATE
Du"pli*cate, n.
1. That which exactly resembles or corresponds to something else;
another, correspondent to the first; hence, a copy; a transcript; a
counterpart.
I send a duplicate both of it and my last dispatch. Sir W. Temple.
2. (Law)
Defn: An original instrument repeated; a document which is the same
as another in all essential particulars, and differing from a mere
copy in having all the validity of an original. Burrill.
DUPLICATE
Du"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Duplicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Duplicating.]
1. To double; to fold; to render double.
2. To make a duplicate of (something); to make a copy or transcript
of. Glanvill.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: To divide into two by natural growth or spontaneous action; as,
infusoria duplicate themselves.
DUPLICATION
Du`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. duplicatio: cf. F. duplication.]
1. The act of duplicating, or the state of being duplicated; a
doubling; a folding over; a fold.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The act or process of dividing by natural growth or spontaneous
action; as, the duplication of cartilage cells. Carpenter.
Duplication of the cube (Math.), the operation of finding a cube
having a volume which is double that of a given cube.
DUPLICATIVE
Du"pli*ca*tive, a.
1. Having the quality of duplicating or doubling.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the quality of subdividing into two by natural growth.
"Duplicative subdivision." Carpenter.
DUPLICATURE
Du"pli*ca*ture, n. Etym: [Cf. F. duplicature.]
Defn: A doubling; a fold, as of a membrane.
DUPLICITY
Du*plic"i*ty, n.; pl. Duplicities. Etym: [F. duplicité, L.
duplicitas, fr. duplex double. See Duplex.]
1. Doubleness; a twofold state. [Archaic]
Do not affect duplicities nor triplicities, nor any certain number of
parts in your division of things. I. Watts.
2. Doubleness of heart or speech; insincerity; a sustained form of
deception which consists in entertaining or pretending to entertain
one of feelings, and acting as if influenced by another; bad faith.
Far from the duplicity wickedly charged on him, he acted his part
with alacrity and resolution. Burke.
3. (Law)
(a) The use of two or more distinct allegations or answers, where one
is sufficient. Blackstone.
(b) In indictments, the union of two incompatible offenses. Wharton.
Syn.
-- Double dealing; dissimulation; deceit; guile; deception;
falsehood.
DUPPER
Dup"per, n.
Defn: See 2d Dubber.
DUR
Dur, a. Etym: [G., fr. L. durus hard, firm, vigorous.] (Mus.)
Defn: Major; in the major mode; as, C dur, that is, C major.
DURA
Du"ra, n.
Defn: Short form for Dura mater.
DURABILITY
Du`ra*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. durabilitas.]
Defn: The state or quality of being durable; the power of
uninterrupted or long continuance in any condition; the power of
resisting agents or influences which tend to cause changes, decay, or
dissolution; lastingness.
A Gothic cathedral raises ideas of grandeur in our minds by the size,
its height, . . . its antiquity, and its durability. Blair.
DURABLE
Du"ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. durabilis, fr. durare to last: cf. F.
durable. See Dure.]
Defn: Able to endure or continue in a particular condition; lasting;
not perishable or changeable; not wearing out or decaying soon;
enduring; as, durable cloth; durable happiness.
Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Prov. viii. 18.
An interest which from its object and grounds must be so durable. De
Quincey.
Syn.
-- Lasting; permanent; enduring; firm; stable; continuing; constant;
persistent. See Lasting.
DURABLENESS
Du"ra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Power of lasting, enduring, or resisting; durability.
The durableness of the metal that supports it. Addison.
DURABLY
Du"ra*bly, adv.
Defn: In a lasting manner; with long continuance.
DURAL
Du"ral, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the dura, or dura mater.
DURA MATER
Du"ra ma"ter. Etym: [L., lit., hard mother. The membrane was called
mater, or mother, because it was formerly thought to give rise to
every membrane of the body.] (Anat.)
Defn: The tough, fibrous membrane, which lines the cavity of the
skull and spinal column, and surrounds the brain and spinal cord; --
frequently abbreviated to dura.
DURAMEN
Du*ra"men, n. Etym: [L., hardness, a hardened, i. e., ligneous, vine
branch, fr. durare to harden. See Dure.] (Bot.)
Defn: The heartwood of an exogenous tree.
DURANCE
Dur"ance, n. Etym: [OF. durance duration, fr. L. durans, -antis, p.
pr. durare to endure, last. See Dure, and cf. Durant.]
1. Continuance; duration. See Endurance. [Archaic]
Of how short durance was this new-made state! Dryden.
2. Imprisonment; restraint of the person; custody by a jailer;
duress. Shak. "Durance vile." Burns.
In durance, exile, Bedlam or the mint. Pope.
3.
(a) A stout cloth stuff, formerly made in imitation of buff leather
and used for garments; a sort of tammy or everlasting.
Where didst thou buy this buff let me not live but I will give thee a
good suit of durance. J. Webster.
(b) In modern manufacture, a worsted of one color used for window
blinds and similar purposes.
DURANCY
Dur"an*cy, n.
Defn: Duration. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DURANT
Dur"ant, n. Etym: [F. durant, p. pr. of durer to last. Cf. Durance.]
Defn: See Durance, 3.
DURANTE
Du*ran"te, prep. Etym: [L., abl. case of the p. pr. of durare to
last.] (Law)
Defn: During; as, durante vita, during life; durante bene placito,
during pleasure.
DURATION
Du*ra"tion, n. Etym: [OF. duration. See Dure.]
Defn: The state or quality of lasting; continuance in time; the
portion of time during which anything exists.
It was proposed that the duration of Parliament should be limited.
Macaulay.
Soon shall have passed our own human duration. D. Webster.
DURATIVE
Dur"a*tive, a.
Defn: Continuing; not completed; implying duration.
Its durative tense, which expresses the thought of it as going on. J.
Byrne.
DURBAR
Dur"bar, n. Etym: [Hind. darbar, fr. Per dar house, court, hall of
audience; dar door, gate + bar court, assembly.]
Defn: An audience hall; the court of a native prince; a state levee;
a formal reception of native princes, given by the governor general
of India. [India] [Written also darbar.]
DURE
Dure, a. Etym: [L. durus; akin to Ir. & Gael. dur , stubborn, W. dir
certain, sure, cf. Gr.
Defn: Hard; harsh; severe; rough; toilsome. [R.]
The winter is severe, and life is dure and rude. W. H. Russell.
DURE
Dure, v. i. Etym: [F. durer, L. durare to harden, be hardened, to
endure, last, fr. durus hard. See Dure, a.]
Defn: To last; to continue; to endure. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while. Matt. xiii.
21.
DUREFUL
Dure"ful, a.
Defn: Lasting. [Obs.] Spenser.
DURELESS
Dure"less, a.
Defn: Not lasting. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DURENE
Du"rene, n. Etym: [L. durus hard; -- so called because solid at
ordinary temperatures.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon, C6H2(CH3)4, off
artificial production, with an odor like camphor.
DURESS
Du"ress, n. Etym: [OF. duresse, du, hardship, severity, L. duritia,
durities, fr. durus hard. See Dure.]
1. Hardship; constraint; pressure; imprisonment; restraint of
liberty.
The agreements . . . made with the landlords during the time of
slavery, are only the effect of duress and force. Burke.
2. (Law)
Defn: The state of compulsion or necessity in which a person is
influenced, whether by the unlawful restrain of his liberty or by
actual or threatened physical violence, to incur a civil liability or
to commit an offense.
DURESS
Du*ress", v. t.
Defn: To subject to duress. "The party duressed." Bacon.
DURESSOR
Du*ress"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who subjects another to duress Bacon.
DURGA
Dur"ga, n. (Myth.)
Defn: Same as Doorga.
DURHAM
Dur"ham, n.
Defn: One or a breed of short-horned cattle, originating in the
county of Durham, England. The Durham cattle are noted for their
beef-producing quality.
DURIAN; DURION
Du"ri*an, or Du"ri*on, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of the durio. It is oval or globular, and eight or
ten inches long. It has a hard prickly rind, containing a soft,
cream-colored pulp, of a most delicious flavor and a very offensive
odor. The seeds are roasted and eaten like chestnuts.
DURING
Dur"ing, prep. Etym: [Orig., p. pr. of dure.]
Defn: In the time of; as long as the action or existence of; as,
during life; during the space of a year.
DURIO
Du"ri*o, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Malay d thorn.] (Bot.)
Defn: A fruit tree (D. zibethinus, the only species known) of the
Indian Archipelago. It bears the durian.
DURITY
Du"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. duritas, fr. durus hard.] [Obs.]
1. Hardness; firmness. Sir T. Browne.
2. Harshness; cruelty. Cockeram.
DUROMETER
Du*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. durus hard + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the degree of hardness; especially,
an instrument for testing the relative hardness of steel rails and
the like.
DUROUS
Du"rous, a. Etym: [L. durus.]
Defn: Hard. [Obs. & R.]
DURRA
Dur"ra, n. Etym: [Ar. dhorra.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of millet, cultivated throughout Asia, and introduced
into the south of Europe; a variety of Sorghum vulgare; -- called
also Indian millet, and Guinea corn. [Written also dhoorra, dhurra,
doura, etc.]
DURST
Durst, imp.
Defn: of Dare. See Dare, v. i.
DURUKULI
Du`ru*ku"li, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, nocturnal, South American monkey (Nyctipthecus
trivirgatus). [Written also douroucouli.]
DURYLIC
Du*ryl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, allied to, or derived from, durene; as, durylic
acid.
DUSE
Duse, n.
Defn: A demon or spirit. See Deuce.
DUSK
Dusk, a. Etym: [OE. dusc, dosc, deosc; cf. dial. Sw. duska to
drizzle, dusk a slight shower.
Defn: Tending to darkness or blackness; moderately dark or black;
dusky.
A pathless desert, dusk with horrid shades. Milton.
DUSK
Dusk, n.
1. Imperfect obscurity; a middle degree between light and darkness;
twilight; as, the dusk of the evening.
2. A darkish color.
Whose duck set off the whiteness of the skin. Dryden.
DUSK
Dusk, v. t.
Defn: To make dusk. [Archaic]
After the sun is up, that shadow which dusketh the light of the moon
must needs be under the earth. Holland.
DUSK
Dusk, v. i.
Defn: To grow dusk. [R.] Chaucer.
DUSKEN
Dusk"en, v. t.
Defn: To make dusk or obscure. [R.]
Not utterly defaced, but only duskened. Nicolls.
DUSKILY
Dusk"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dusky manner. Byron.
DUSKINESS
Dusk"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dusky.
DUSKISH
Dusk"ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat dusky. " Duskish smoke." Spenser.
-- Dusk"ish*ly, adv.
-- Dusk"ish*ness, n.
DUSKNESS
Dusk"ness, n.
Defn: Duskiness. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
DUSKY
Dusk"y, a.
1. Partially dark or obscure; not luminous; dusk; as, a dusky valley.
Through dusky lane and wrangling mart. Keble.
2. Tending to blackness in color; partially black; dark-colored; not
bright; as, a dusky brown. Bacon.
When Jove in dusky clouds involves the sky. Dryden.
The figure of that first ancestor invested by family tradition with a
dim and dusky grandeur. Hawthorne.
3. Gloomy; sad; melancholy.
This dusky scene of horror, this melancholy prospect. Bentley.
4. Intellectually clouded.
Though dusky wits dare scorn astrology. Sir P. Sidney.
DUST
Dust, n. Etym: [AS. dust; cf. LG. dust, D. duist meal dust, OD.
doest, donst, and G. dunst vapor, OHG. tunist, dunist, a blowing,
wind, Icel. dust dust, Dan. dyst mill dust; perh. akin to L. fumus
smoke, E. fume. .]
1. Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that
they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled too
minute portions; fine powder; as, clouds of dust; bone dust.
Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen. iii. 19.
Stop! -- for thy tread is on an empire's dust. Byron.
2. A single particle of earth or other matter. [R.] "To touch a dust
of England's ground." Shak.
3. The earth, as the resting place of the dead.
For now shall sleep in the dust. Job vii. 21.
4. The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human
body.
And you may carve a shrine about my dust. Tennyson.
5. Figuratively, a worthless thing.
And by the merit of vile gold, dross, dust. Shak.
6. Figuratively, a low or mean condition.
[God] raiseth up the poor out of the dust. 1 Sam. ii. 8.
7. Gold dust; hence: (Slang)
Defn: Coined money; cash. Down with the dust, deposit the cash; pay
down the money. [Slang] "My lord, quoth the king, presently deposit
your hundred pounds in gold, or else no going hence all the days of
your life. . . . The Abbot down with his dust, and glad he escaped
so, returned to Reading." Fuller.
-- Dust brand (Bot.), a fungous plant (Ustilago Carbo); -- called
also smut.
-- Gold dust, fine particles of gold, such as are obtained in placer
mining; -- often used as money, being transferred by weight.
-- In dust and ashes. See under Ashes.
-- To bite the dust. See under Bite, v. t.
-- To raise, or kick up, dust, to make a commotion. [Colloq.] -- To
throw dust in one's eyes, to mislead; to deceive. [Colloq.]
DUST
Dust, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dusted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dusting.]
1. To free from dust; to brush, wipe, or sweep away dust from; as, to
dust a table or a floor.
2. To sprinkle with dust.
3. To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate. Sprat. To dyst one's
jacket, to give one a flogging. [Slang.]
DUSTBRUSH
Dust"brush`, n.
Defn: A brush of feathers, bristles, or hair, for removing dust from
furniture.
DUSTER
Dust"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, dusts; a utensil that frees from dust.
Specifically:
(a) (Paper Making) A revolving wire-cloth cylinder which removes the
dust from rags, etc. (b) (Milling)
Defn: A blowing machine for separating the flour from the bran.
2. A light over-garment, worn in traveling to protect the clothing
from dust. [U.S.]
DUSTINESS
Dust"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dusty.
DUSTLESS
Dust"less, a.
Defn: Without dust; as a dustless path.
DUSTMAN
Dust"man, p.; pl. Dustmen (.
Defn: One whose employment is to remove dirt and defuse. Gay.
DUSTPAN
Dust"pan, n.
Defn: A shovel-like utensil for conveying away dust brushed from the
floor.
DUST-POINT
Dust"-point`, n.
Defn: An old rural game.
With any boy at dust-point they shall play. Peacham (1620).
DUSTY
Dust"y, a. [Compar. Dustier; superl. Dustiest.] Etym: [AS. dystig.
See Dust.]
1. Filled, covered, or sprinkled with dust; clouded with dust; as, a
dusty table; also, reducing to dust.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools The way to dusty death.
Shak.
2. Like dust; of the color of dust; as a dusty white. Dusty miller
(Bot.), a plant (Cineraria maritima); -- so called because of the
ashy-white coating of its leaves.
DUTCH
Dutch, a. Etym: [D. duitsch German; or G. deutsch, orig., popular,
national, OD. dietsc, MHG. diutsch, tiutsch, OHG. diutisk, fr. diot,
diota, a people, a nation; akin to AS. peód, OS. thiod, thioda, Goth.
piuda; cf. Lith. tauta land, OIr. tuath people, Oscan touto. The
English have applied the name especially to the Germanic people
living nearest them, the Hollanders. Cf. Derrick, Teutonic.]
Defn: Pertaining to Holland, or to its inhabitants. Dutch auction.
See under Auction.
-- Dutch cheese, a small, pound, hard cheese, made from skim milk.
-- Dutch clinker, a kind of brick made in Holland. It is yellowish,
very hard, and long and narrow in shape.
-- Dutch clover (Bot.), common white clover (Trifolium repens), the
seed of which was largely imported into England from Holland.
-- Dutch concert, a so-called concert in which all the singers sing
at the same time different songs. [Slang] -- Dutch courage, the
courage of partial intoxication. [Slang] Marryat.
-- Dutch door, a door divided into two parts, horizontally, so
arranged that the lower part can be shut and fastened, while the
upper part remains open.
-- Dutch foil, Dutch leaf, or Dutch gold, a kind of brass rich in
copper, rolled or beaten into thin sheets, used in Holland to
ornament toys and paper; -- called also Dutch mineral, Dutch metal,
brass foil, and bronze leaf.
-- Dutch liquid (Chem.), a thin, colorless, volatile liquid,
C2H4Cl2, of a sweetish taste and a pleasant ethereal odor, produced
by the union of chlorine and ethylene or olefiant gas; -- called also
Dutch oil. It is so called because discovered (in 1795) by an
association of four Hollandish chemists. See Ethylene, and Olefiant.
-- Dutch oven, a tin screen for baking before an open fire or
kitchen range; also, in the United States, a shallow iron kettle for
baking, with a cover to hold burning coals.
-- Dutch pink, chalk, or whiting dyed yellow, and used in distemper,
and for paper staining. etc. Weale.
-- Dutch rush (Bot.), a species of horsetail rush or Equisetum (E.
hyemale) having a rough, siliceous surface, and used for scouring and
polishing; -- called also scouring rush, and shave grass. See
Equisetum.
-- Dutch tile, a glazed and painted ornamental tile, formerly much
exported, and used in the jambs of chimneys and the like.
Note: Dutch was formerly used for German.
Germany is slandered to have sent none to this war [the Crusades] at
this first voyage; and that other pilgrims, passing through that
country, were mocked by the Dutch, and called fools for their pains.
Fuller.
DUTCH
Dutch, n.
1. pl.
Defn: The people of Holland; Dutchmen.
2. The language spoken in Holland.
DUTCHMAN
Dutch"man, n.; pl. Dutchmen (.
Defn: A native, or one of the people, of Holland. Dutchman's breeches
(Bot.), a perennial American herb (Dicentra cucullaria), with
peculiar double-spurred flowers. See Illust. of Dicentra.
-- Dutchman's laudanum (Bot.), a West Indian passion flower
(Passiflora Murucuja); also, its fruit.
-- Dutchman's pipe (Bot.), an American twining shrub (Aristolochia
Sipho). Its flowers have their calyx tubes curved like a tobacco
pipe.
DUTEOUS
Du"te*ous, a. Etym: [From Duty.]
1. Fulfilling duty; dutiful; having the sentiments due to a superior,
or to one to whom respect or service is owed; obedient; as, a duteous
son or daughter.
2. Subservient; obsequious.
Duteous to the vices of thy mistress. Shak.
-- Du"te*ous*ly, adv.
-- Du"te*ous*ness, n.
DUTIABLE
Du"ti*a*ble, a. Etym: [From Duty.]
Defn: Subject to the payment of a duty; as dutiable goods. [U.S.]
All kinds of dutiable merchandise. Hawthorne.
DUTIED
Du"tied, a.
Defn: Subjected to a duty. Ames.
DUTIFUL
Du"ti*ful, a.
1. Performing, or ready to perform, the duties required by one who
has the right to claim submission, obedience, or deference;
submissive to natural or legal superiors; obedient, as to parents or
superiors; as, a dutiful son or daughter; a dutiful ward or servant;
a dutiful subject.
2. Controlled by, proceeding from, a sense of duty; respectful;
deferential; as, dutiful affection.
Syn.
-- Duteous; obedient; reverent; reverential; submissive; docile;
respectful; compliant.
-- Du"ti*ful*ly, adv.
-- Du"ti*ful*ness, n.
DUTY
Du"ty, n.; pl. Duties. Etym: [From Due.]
1. That which is due; payment. [Obs. as signifying a material thing.]
When thou receivest money for thy labor or ware, thou receivest thy
duty. Tyndale.
2. That which a person is bound by moral obligation to do, or refrain
from doing; that which one ought to do; service morally obligatory.
Forgetting his duty toward God, his sovereign lord, and his country.
Hallam.
3. Hence, any assigned service or business; as, the duties of a
policeman, or a soldier; to be on duty.
With records sweet of duties done. Keble.
To employ him on the hardest and most imperative duty. Hallam.
Duty is a graver term than obligation. A duty hardly exists to do
trivial things; but there may be an obligation to do them. C. J.
Smith.
4. Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and
superiors. Shak.
5. Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage. "My duty to
you." Shak.
6. (Engin.)
Defn: The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam pumping engine,
as measured by work done by a certain quantity of fuel; usually, the
number of pounds of water lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94
lbs. old standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs.,
United States).
7. (Com.)
Defn: Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money
required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or
consumption of goods.
Note: An impost on land or other real estate, and on the stock of
farmers, is not called a duty, but a direct tax. [U.S.] Ad valorem
duty, a duty which is graded according to the cost, or market value,
of the article taxed. See Ad valorem.
-- Specific duty, a duty of a specific sum assessed on an article
without reference to its value or market.
-- On duty, actually engaged in the performance of one's assigned
task.
DUUMVIR
Du*um"vir, n.; pl. E. Duumvirs, L. Duumviri. Etym: [L., fr. duo two +
vir man.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: One of two Roman officers or magistrates united in the same
public functions.
DUUMVIRAL
Du*um"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. duumviralis.]
Defn: Of or belonging to the duumviri or the duumvirate.
DUUMVIRATE
Du*um"vi*rate, n. Etym: [L. duumviratus, fr. duumvir.]
Defn: The union of two men in the same office; or the office,
dignity, or government of two men thus associated, as in ancient
Rome.
DUX
Dux, n. Etym: [L., leader.] (Mus.)
Defn: The scholastic name for the theme or subject of a fugue, the
answer being called the comes, or companion.
DUYKERBOK
Duy"ker*bok, n. Etym: [D. duiker diver + bok a buck, lit., diver
buck. So named from its habit of diving suddenly into the bush.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A small South African antelope (Cephalous mergens); -- called
also impoon, and deloo.
DUYOUNG
Du*young", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Dugong.
D VALVE
D" valve`. (Mech.)
Defn: A kind of slide valve. See Slide valve, under Slide.
DVERGR
Dver"gr, n.; pl. Dvergar. Etym: [See Dwarf.] (Scand. Myth.)
Defn: A dwarf supposed to dwell in rocks and hills and to be skillful
in working metals.
DWALE
Dwale, n. Etym: [OE. dwale, dwole, deception, deadly nightshade, AS.
dwala, dwola, error, doubt; akin to E. dull. See Dull, a.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The deadly nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), having stupefying
qualities.
2. (Her.)
Defn: The tincture sable or black when blazoned according to the
fantastic system in which plants are substituted for the tinctures.
3. A sleeping potion; an opiate. Chaucer.
DWANG
Dwang, n. Etym: [Cf. D. dwingen to force, compel.]
1. (Carp.)
Defn: A piece of wood set between two studs, posts, etc., to stiffen
and support them.
2. (Mech.)
(a) A kind of crowbar.
(b) A large wrench. Knight.
DWARF
Dwarf, n.; pl Dwarfs. Etym: [OE. dwergh, dwerf, dwarf, AS. dweorg,
dweorh; akin to D. dwerg, MHG. twerc, G. zwerg, Icel. dvergr, Sw. &
Dan. dverg; of unknown origin.]
Defn: An animal or plant which is much below the ordinary size of its
species or kind; especially, a diminutive human being.
Note: During the Middle Ages dwarfs as well as fools shared the favor
of courts and the nobility.
Note: Dwarf is used adjectively in reference to anything much below
the usual or normal size; as, dwarf tree; dwarf honeysuckle. Dwarf
elder (Bot.), danewort.
-- Dwarf wall (Arch.), a low wall, not as high as the story of a
building, often used as a garden wall or fence. Gwilt.
DWARF
Dwarf, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dwarfed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwarfing.]
Defn: To hinder from growing to the natural size; to make or keep
small; to stunt. Addison.
Even the most common moral ideas and affections . . . would be
stunted and dwarfed, if cut off from a spiritual background. J. C.
Shairp.
DWARF
Dwarf, v. i.
Defn: To become small; to diminish in size.
Strange power of the world that, the moment we enter it, our great
conceptions dwarf. Beaconsfield.
DWARFISH
Dwarf"ish, a.
Defn: Like a dwarf; below the common stature or size; very small;
petty; as, a dwarfish animal, shrub.
-- Dwarf"ish*ly, adv.
-- Dwarf"ish*ness, n.
DWARFLING
Dwarf"ling, n.
Defn: A diminutive dwarf.
DWARFY
Dwarf"y, a.
Defn: Much undersized. [R.] Waterhouse.
DWAUL; DWAULE
Dwaul, Dwaule, v. i. Etym: [See Dull, Dwell.]
Defn: To be delirious. [Obs.] Junius.
DWELL
Dwell, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwelled, usually contracted into Dwelt (p.
pr. & vb. n. Dwelling.] Etym: [OE. dwellen, dwelien, to err, linger,
AS. dwellan to deceive, hinder, delay, dwelian to err; akin to Icel.
dvelja to delay, tarry, Sw. dväljas to dwell, Dan. dvæle to linger,
and to E. dull. See Dull, and cf. Dwale.]
1. To delay; to linger. [Obs.]
2. To abide; to remain; to continue.
I 'll rather dwell in my necessity. Shak.
Thy soul was like a star and dwelt apart. Wordsworth.
3. To abide as a permanent resident, or for a time; to live in a
place; to reside.
The parish in which I was born, dwell, and have possessions. Peacham.
The poor man dwells in a humble cottage near the hall where the lord
of the domain resides. C. J. Smith.
To dwell in, to abide in (a place); hence, to depend on. "My hopes in
heaven to dwell." Shak.
-- To dwell on or upon, to continue long on or in; to remain
absorbed with; to stick to; to make much of; as, to dwell upon a
subject; a singer dwells on a note.
They stand at a distance, dwelling on his looks and language, fixed
in amazement. Buckminster.
Syn.
-- To inhabit; live; abide; sojourn; reside; continue; stay; rest.
DWELL
Dwell, v. t.
Defn: To inhabit. [R.] Milton.
DWELLER
Dwell"er, n.
Defn: An inhabitant; a resident; as, a cave dweller. "Dwellers at
Jerusalem." Acts i. 19.
DWELLING
Dwell"ing, n.
Defn: Habitation; place or house in which a person lives; abode;
domicile.
Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons. Jer. xlix. 33.
God will deign To visit oft the dwellings of just men. Milton.
Philip's dwelling fronted on the street. Tennyson.
Dwelling house, a house intended to be occupied as a residence, in
distinction from a store, office, or other building.
-- Dwelling place, place of residence.
DWELT
Dwelt, imp. & p. p.
Defn: of Dwell.
DWINDLE
Dwin"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dwindled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dwindling.]
Etym: [From OE. dwinen to languish, waste away, AS. dwinan; akin to
LG. dwinen, D. dwijnen to vanish, Icel. dvina to cease, dwindle, Sw.
tvina; of uncertain origin. The suffix -le, preceded by d excrescent
after n, is added to the root with a diminutive force.]
Defn: To diminish; to become less; to shrink; to waste or consume
away; to become degenerate; to fall away.
Weary sennights nine times nine Shall he dwindle, peak and pine.
Shak.
Religious societies, though begun with excellent intentions, are said
to have dwindled into factious clubs. Swift.
DWINDLE
Dwin"dle, v. t.
1. To make less; to bring low.
Our drooping days are dwindled down to naught. Thomson.
2. To break; to disperse. [R.] Clarendon.
DWINDLE
Dwin"dle, n.
Defn: The process of dwindling; dwindlement; decline; degeneracy.
[R.] Johnson.
DWINDLEMENT
Dwin"dle*ment, n.
Defn: The act or process of dwindling; a dwindling. [R.] Mrs.
Oliphant.
DWINE
Dwine, v. i. Etym: [See Dwindle.]
Defn: To waste away; to pine; to languish. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]
Gower.
DYAD
Dy"ad, n. Etym: [L. dyas, dyadis, the number two. Gr. dyade. See two,
and cf. Duad.]
1. Two units treated as one; a couple; a pair.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: An element, atom, or radical having a valence or combining
power of two.
DYAD
Dy"ad, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Having a valence or combining power of two; capable of being
substituted for, combined with, or replaced by, two atoms of
hydrogen; as, oxygen and calcium are dyad elements. See Valence.
DYADIC
Dy*ad"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to the number two; of two parts or elements. Dyadic
arithmetic, the same as binary arithmetic.
DYAKS
Dy"aks, n. pl.
Defn: ; sing. Dyak. (Ethnol.) The aboriginal and most numerous
inhabitants of Borneo. They are partially civilized, but retain many
barbarous practices.
DYAS
Dy"as, n. Etym: [L. dyas the number two.] (Geol.)
Defn: A name applied in Germany to the Permian formation, there
consisting of two principal groups.
DYE
Dye, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Dyeing.] Etym: [OE.
deyan, dyen, AS. deágian.]
Defn: To stain; to color; to give a new and permanent color to, as by
the application of dyestuffs.
Cloth to be dyed of divers colors. Trench.
The soul is dyed by its thoughts. Lubbock.
To dye in the grain, To dye in the wool (Fig.), to dye firmly; to
imbue thoroughly.
He might truly be termed a legitimate son of the revenue system dyed
in the wool. Hawthorne.
Syn.
-- See Stain.
DYE
Dye, n.
1. Color produced by dyeing.
2. Material used for dyeing; a dyestuff.
DYE
Dye, n.
Defn: Same as Die, a lot. Spenser.
DYEHOUSE
Dye"house`, n.
Defn: A building in which dyeing is carried on.
DYEING
Dye"ing, n.
Defn: The process or art of fixing coloring matters permanently and
uniformly in the fibers of wool, cotton, etc.
DYER
Dy"er, n.
Defn: One whose occupation is to dye cloth and the like. Dyer's
broom, Dyer's rocket, Dyer's weed. See Dyer's broom, under Broom.
DYESTUFF
Dye"stuff`, n.
Defn: A material used for dyeing.
DYEWOOD
Dye"wood`, n.
Defn: Any wood from which coloring matter is extracted for dyeing.
DYING
Dy"ing, a.
1. In the act of dying; destined to death; mortal; perishable; as,
dying bodies.
2. Of or pertaining to dying or death; as, dying bed; dying day;
dying words; also, simulating a dying state.
DYING
Dy"ing, n.
Defn: The act of expiring; passage from life to death; loss of life.
DYINGLY
Dy"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dying manner; as if at the point of death. Beau. & Fl.
DYINGNESS
Dy"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The state of dying or the stimulation of such a state; extreme
languor; languishment. [R.]
Tenderness becomes me best, a sort of dyingness; you see that
picture, Foible, -- a swimmingness in the eyes; yes, I'll look so.
Congreve.
DYKE
Dyke, n.
Defn: See Dike. The spelling dyke is restricted by some to the
geological meaning.
DYNACTINOMETER
Dy*nac`ti*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. actinometer.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the intensity of the photogenic
(light-producing) rays, and computing the power of object glasses.
DYNAM
Dy"nam, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dyname. See Dynamic.]
Defn: A unit of measure for dynamical effect or work; a foot pound.
See Foot pound. Whewell.
DYNAMETER
Dy*nam"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. dynamètre. Cf.
Dynamometer.]
1. A dynamometer.
2. (Opt.)
Defn: An instrument for determining the magnifying power of
telescopes, consisting usually of a doubleimage micrometer applied to
the eye end of a telescope for measuring accurately the diameter of
the image of the object glass there formed; which measurement,
compared with the actual diameter of the glass, gives the magnifying
power.
DYNAMETRICAL
Dy`na*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a dynameter.
DYNAMIC; DYNAMICAL
Dy*nam"ic, Dy*nam"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. durus hard, E. dure: cf. F.
dynamique.]
1. Of or pertaining to dynamics; belonging to energy or power;
characterized by energy or production of force.
Science, as well as history, has its past to show, -- a past indeed,
much larger; but its immensity is dynamic, not divine. J. Martineau.
The vowel is produced by phonetic, not by dynamic, causes. J. Peile.
2. Relating to physical forces, effects, or laws; as, dynamical
geology.
As natural science has become more dynamic, so has history. Prof.
Shedd.
Dynamical electricity. See under Electricity.
DYNAMICALLY
Dy*nam"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In accordance with the principles of dynamics or moving forces.
J. Peile.
DYNAMICS
Dy*nam"ics, n.
1. That branch of mechanics which treats of the motion of bodies
(kinematics) and the action of forces in producing or changing their
motion (kinetics). Dynamics is held by some recent writers to include
statics and not kinematics.
2. The moving moral, as well as physical, forces of any kind, or the
laws which relate to them.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: That department of musical science which relates to, or treats
of, the power of tones.
DYNAMISM
Dy"na*mism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dynamisme. See Dynamics.]
Defn: The doctrine of Leibnitz, that all substance involves force.
DYNAMIST
Dy"na*mist, n.
Defn: One who accounts for material phenomena by a theory of
dynamics.
Those who would resolve matter into centers of force may be said to
constitute the school of dynamists. Ward (Dyn. Sociol. ).
DYNAMITARD
Dy"na*mi`tard, n.
Defn: A political dynamiter.
Note: [A form found in some newspapers.]
DYNAMITE
Dy"na*mite, n. Etym: [Gr. Dynamic.] (Chem.)
Defn: An explosive substance consisting of nitroglycerin absorbed by
some inert, porous solid, as infusorial earth, sawdust, etc. It is
safer than nitroglycerin, being less liable to explosion from
moderate shocks, or from spontaneous decomposition.
DYNAMITER
Dy"na*mi`ter, n.
Defn: One who uses dynamite; esp., one who uses it for the
destruction of life and property.
DYNAMITING
Dy"na*mi`ting, n.
Defn: Destroying by dynamite, for political ends.
Dynamiting is not the American way. The Century.
DYNAMITISM
Dy"na*mi`tism, n.
Defn: The work of dynamiters.
DYNAMIZATION
Dy"na*mi*za`tion, Etym: [Gr. Dynamic.] (Homeop.)
Defn: The act of setting free the dynamic powers of a medicine, as by
shaking the bottle containing it.
DYNAMO
Dy"na*mo, n.
Defn: A dynamo-electric machine.
DYNAMO-ELECTRIC
Dy`na*mo-e*lec"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. electric. See Dynamic.]
Defn: Pertaining to the development of electricity, especially
electrical currents, by power; producing electricity or electrical
currents by mechanical power.
DYNAMOGRAPH
Dy*nam"o*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph. See Dynamic.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A dynamometer to which is attached a device for automatically
registering muscular power.
DYNAMOMETER
Dy`na*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dynamomètre. See Dynameter.]
Defn: An apparatus for measuring force or power; especially, muscular
effort of men or animals, or the power developed by a motor, or that
required to operate machinery.
Note: It usually embodies a spring to be compressed or weight to be
sustained by the force applied, combined with an index, or automatic
recorder, to show the work performed.
DYNAMOMETRIC; DYNAMOMETRICAL
Dy`na*mo*met"ric, Dy`na*mo*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Relating to a dynamometer, or to the measurement of force doing
work; as, dynamometrical instruments.
DYNAMOMETRY
Dy`na*mom"e*try, n.
Defn: The art or process of measuring forces doing work.
DYNAST
Dy"nast, n. Etym: [L. dynastes, Gr. dynaste. See Dynamic.]
1. A ruler; a governor; a prince.
2. A dynasty; a government. [Obs.]
DYNASTA
Dy*nas"ta, n. Etym: [NL. See Dynast.]
Defn: A tyrant. [Obs.] Milton.
DYNASTIC
Dy*nas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. dunastique.]
Defn: Of or relating to a dynasty or line of kings. Motley.
DYNASTICAL
Dy*nas"tic*al, a.
Defn: Dynastic.
DYNASTIDAN
Dy*nas"ti*dan, n. Etym: [Gr. Dynast. The name alludes to the immense
size of some species.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of gigantic, horned beetles, including Dynastus
Neptunus, and the Hercules beetle (D. Hercules) of tropical America,
which grow to be six inches in length.
DYNASTY
Dy"nas*ty, n.; pl. Dynasties. Etym: [Gr. dynastie dynasty. See
Dynast.]
1. Sovereignty; lordship; dominion. Johnson.
2. A race or succession of kings, of the same line or family; the
continued lordship of a race of rulers.
DYNE
Dyne, n. Etym: [Formed fr. Gr. Dynamic.] (Physics)
Defn: The unit of force, in the C. G. S. (Centimeter Gram Second)
system of physical units; that is, the force which, acting on a gram
for a second, generates a velocity of a centimeter per second.
DYS-
Dys-.
Defn: An inseparable prefix, fr. the Greek ill, bad, hard, difficult,
and the like; cf. the prefixes, Skr. dus-, Goth. tuz-, OHG. zur-, G.
zer-, AS. to-, Icel. tor-, Ir. do-.
DYSAESTHESIA
Dys`æs*the"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Impairment of any of the senses, esp. of touch.
DYSCRASIA
Dys*cra"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. dyscrasia, fr. Gr. dycrasie.] (Med.)
Defn: An ill habit or state of the constitution; -- formerly regarded
as dependent on a morbid condition of the blood and humors.
DYSCRASITE
Dys"cra*site, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting of antimony and silver.
DYSCRASY
Dys"cra*sy, n.; pl. Discrasies (.
Defn: Dycrasia.
Sin is a cause of dycrasies and distempers. Jer. Taylor.
DYSENTERIC; DYSENTERICAL
Dys`en*ter"ic, Dys`en*ter"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. dysentericus, Gr.
dysentérigue.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to dysentery; having dysentery; as, a
dysenteric patient. "Dysenteric symptoms." Copland.
DYSENTERY
Dys"en*ter*y, n. Etym: [L. dysenteria, Gr. in: cf. F. dysenterie. See
Dys, and In.] (Med.)
Defn: A disease attended with inflammation and ulceration of the
colon and rectum, and characterized by griping pains, constant desire
to evacuate the bowels, and the discharge of mucus and blood.
Note: When acute, dysentery is usually accompanied with high fevers.
It occurs epidemically, and is believed to be communicable through
the medium of the alvine discharges.
DYSGENESIC
Dys`ge*nes"ic, a.
Defn: Not procreating or breeding freely; as, one race may be
dysgenesic with respect to another. Darwin.
DYSGENESIS
Dys*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: A condition of not generating or breeding freely; infertility;
a form homogenesis in which the hybrids are sterile among themselves,
but are fertile with members of either parent race.
DYSLOGISTIC
Dys`lo*gis"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Unfavorable; not commendatory; -- opposed to eulogistic.
There is no course of conduct for which dyslogistic or eulogistic
epithets may be found. J. F. Stephen.
The paternity of dyslogistic -- no bantling, but now almost a
centenarian -- is adjudged to that genius of common sense, Jeremy
Bentham. Fitzed. Hall.
DYSLUITE
Dys"lu*ite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of the zinc spinel or gahnite.
DYSLYSIN
Dys"ly*sin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A resinous substance formed in the decomposition of cholic acid
of bile; -- so called because it is difficult to solve.
DYSMENORRHEA
Dys*men`or*rhe"a, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Difficult and painful menstruation.
DYSNOMY
Dys"no*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Bad legislation; the enactment of bad laws. Cockeram.
DYSODILE
Dys"o*dile, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: An impure earthy or coaly bitumen, which emits a highly fetid
odor when burning.
DYSPEPSIA; DYSPEPSY
Dys*pep"si*a, Dys*pep"sy,Etym: [L. dyspepsia, Gr. cook: cf. F.
dyspepsie. See Dys-, and 3d Cook.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of indigestion; a state of the stomach in which its
functions are disturbed, without the presence of other diseases, or,
if others are present, they are of minor importance. Its symptoms are
loss of appetite, nausea, heartburn, acrid or fetid eructations, a
sense of weight or fullness in the stomach, etc. Dunglison.
DYSPEPTIC; DYSPEPTICAL
Dys*pep"tic, Dys*pep"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to dyspepsia; having dyspepsia; as, a dyspeptic or
dyspeptical symptom.
DYSPEPTIC
Dys*pep"tic, n.
Defn: A person afflicted with dyspepsia.
DYSPEPTONE
Dys*pep"tone, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + peptone.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An insoluble albuminous body formed from casein and other
proteid substances by the action of gastric juice. Meissner.
DYSPHAGIA; DYSPHAGY
Dys*pha"gi*a, Dys"pha*gy, n. Etym: [NL. dysphagia, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Difficulty in swallowing.
DYSPHONIA; DYSPHONY
Dys*pho"ni*a, Dys"pho*ny, n. Etym: [NL. dysphonia, Gr. dysphonie.]
(Med.)
Defn: A difficulty in producing vocal sounds; enfeebled or depraved
voice.
DYSPHORIA
Dys*pho"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. dysphorie.] (Med.)
Defn: Impatience under affliction; morbid restlessness;
dissatisfaction; the fidgets.
DYSPNEA; DYSPNOEA
Dysp*nea, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. dyspnée.] (Med.)
Defn: Difficulty of breathing.
DYSPNOIC
Dysp*no"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Affected with shortness of breath; relating to dyspn
DYSPROSIUM
Dys*pro"si*um, n. [NL., fr. Gr. dyspro`sitos hard to get at.] (Chem.)
Defn: An element of the rare earth-group. Symbol Dy; at. wt., 162.5.
DYSTELEOLOGY
Dys*te`le*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Pref. dys- + teleology.] (Biol.)
Defn: The doctrine of purposelessness; a term applied by Haeckel to
that branch of physiology which treats of rudimentary organs, in view
of their being useless to the life of the organism.
To the doctrine of dysteleology, or the denial of final causes, a
proof of the real existence of such a thing as instinct must
necessarily be fatal. Word (Dynamic Sociology).
DYSTOCIA
Dys*to"ci*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Difficult delivery pr parturition.
DYSTOME
Dys"tome, a. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: Cleaving with difficulty.
Note: Datolite was called dystome spar by Mohs.
DYSURIA; DYSURY
Dys*u"ri*a, Dys"u*ry, n. Etym: [L. dysuria, Gr. dysurie.] (Med.)
Defn: Difficult or painful discharge of urine.
DYSURIC
Dys*u"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. dysurique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or afflicted with, dysury.
DZEREN; DZERON
Dze"ren, Dze"ron, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Chinese yellow antelope (Procapra gutturosa), a remarkably
swift-footed animal, inhabiting the deserts of Central Asia, Thibet,
and China.
DZIGGETAI
Dzig"ge*tai, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The kiang, a wild horse or wild ass of Thibet (Asinus
hemionus).
Note: The name is sometimes applied also to the koulan or onager. See
Koulan.
E
1. The fifth letter of the English alphabet.
Note: It derives its form, name, and value from the Latin, the form
and value being further derived from the Greek, into which it came
from the Phoenician, and ultimately, probably, from the Egyptian. Its
etymological relations are closest with the vowels i, a, and o, as
illustrated by to fall, to fell; man, pl. men; drink, drank, drench;
dint, dent; doom, deem; goose, pl. geese; beef, OF. boef, L. bos; and
E. cheer, OF. chiere, LL. cara.
Note: The letter e has in English several vowel sounds, the two
principal being its long or name sound, as in eve, me, and the short,
as in end, best. Usually at the end of words it is silent, but serves
to indicate that the preceding vowel has its long sound, where
otherwise it would be short, as in mane, as in cane, m, which without
the final e would be pronounced m, c, m. After c and g, the final e
indicates that these letters are to be pronounced as s and j;
respectively, as in lace, rage. See Guide to Pronunciation, §§ 74-97.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: E is the third tone of the model diatonic scale. E (E flat) is
a tone which is intermediate between D and E.
E-
E-.
Defn: A Latin prefix meaning out, out of, from; also, without. See
Ex-.
EACH
Each, a. or a. pron. Etym: [OE. eche, ælc, elk, ilk, AS. ælc; a
always + gelic like; akin to OD. ieg, OHG. , MHG. iegelich. Aye,
Like, and cf. Either, Every, Ilk.]
1. Every one of the two or more individuals composing a number of
objects, considered separately from the rest. It is used either with
or without a following noun; as, each of you or each one of you.
"Each of the combatants." Fielding.
Note: To each corresponds other. "Let each esteem other better than
himself." Each other, used elliptically for each the other. It is our
duty to assist each other; that is, it is our duty, each to assist
the other, each being in the nominative and other in the objective
case.
It is a bad thing that men should hate each other; but it is far
worse that they should contract the habit of cutting one another's
throats without hatred. Macaulay.
Let each His adamantine coat gird well. Milton.
In each cheek appears a pretty dimple. Shak.
Then draw we nearer day by day, Each to his brethren, all to God.
Keble.
The oak and the elm have each a distinct character. Gilpin.
2. Every; -- sometimes used interchangeably with every. Shak.
I know each lane and every alley green. Milton.
In short each man's happiness depends upon himself. Sterne.
Note: This use of each for every, though common in Scotland and in
America, is now un-English. Fitzed. Hall.
Syn.
-- See Every.
EACHWHERE
Each"where`, adv.
Defn: Everywhere. [Obs.]
The sky eachwhere did show full bright and fair. Spenser.
EADISH
Ead"ish, n.
Defn: See Eddish.
EAGER
Ea"ger, a. Etym: [OE. egre sharp, sour, eager, OF. agre, aigre, F.
aigre, fr. L. acer sharp, sour, spirited, zealous; akin to Gr. a
point; fr. a root signifying to be sharp. Cf. Acrid, Edge.]
1. Sharp; sour; acid. [Obs.] "Like eager droppings into milk." Shak.
2. Sharp; keen; bitter; severe. [Obs.] "A nipping and an eager air."
"Eager words." Shak.
3. Excited by desire in the pursuit of any object; ardent to pursue,
perform, or obtain; keenly desirous; hotly longing; earnest; zealous;
impetuous; vehement; as, the hounds were eager in the chase.
And gazed for tidings in my eager eyes. Shak.
How eagerly ye follow my disgraces! Shak.
When to her eager lips is brought Her infant's thrilling kiss. Keble.
A crowd of eager and curious schoolboys. Hawthorne.
Conceit and grief an eager combat fight. Shak.
4. Brittle; inflexible; not ductile. [Obs.]
Gold will be sometimes so eager, as artists call it, that it will as
little endure the hammer as glass itself. Locke.
Syn.
-- Earnest; ardent; vehement; hot; impetuous; fervent; intense;
impassioned; zealous; forward. See Earnest.
-- Eager, Earnest. Eager marks an excited state of desire or
passion; thus, a child is eager for a plaything, a hungry man is
eager for food, a covetous man is eager for gain. Eagerness is liable
to frequent abuses, and is good or bad, as the case may be. It
relates to what is praiseworthy or the contrary. Earnest denotes a
permanent state of mind, feeling, or sentiment. It is always taken in
a good sense; as, a preacher is earnest in his appeals to the
conscience; an agent is earnest in his solicitations.
EAGER
Ea"ger, n.
Defn: Same as Eagre.
EAGERLY
Ea"ger*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eager manner.
EAGERNESS
Ea"ger*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being eager; ardent desire. "The eagerness
of love." Addison.
2. Tartness; sourness. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- Ardor; vehemence; earnestness; impetuosity; heartiness; fervor;
fervency; avidity; zeal; craving; heat; passion; greediness.
EAGLE
Ea"gle, n. Etym: [OE. egle, F. aigle, fr. L. aquila; prob. named from
its color, fr. aquilus dark-colored, brown; cf. Lith. aklas blind.
Cf. Aquiline.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any large, rapacious bird of the Falcon family, esp. of the
genera Aquila and Haliæetus. The eagle is remarkable for strength,
size, graceful figure, keenness of vision, and extraordinary flight.
The most noted species are the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaëtus); the
imperial eagle of Europe (A. mogilnik or imperialis); the American
bald eagle (Haliæetus leucocephalus); the European sea eagle (H.
albicilla); and the great harpy eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia). The
figure of the eagle, as the king of birds, is commonly used as an
heraldic emblem, and also for standards and emblematic devices. See
Bald eagle, Harpy, and Golden eagle.
2. A gold coin of the United States, of the value of ten dollars.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A northern constellation, containing Altair, a star of the
first magnitude. See Aquila.
4. The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the
ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people.
Though the Roman eagle shadow thee. Tennyson.
Note: Some modern nations, as the United States, and France under the
Bonapartes, have adopted the eagle as their national emblem. Russia,
Austria, and Prussia have for an emblem a double-headed eagle. Bald
eagle. See Bald eagle.
-- Bold eagle. See under Bold.
-- Double eagle, a gold coin of the United States worth twenty
dollars.
-- Eagle hawk (Zoöl.), a large, crested, South American hawk of the
genus Morphnus.
-- Eagle owl (Zoöl.), any large owl of the genus Bubo, and allied
genera; as the American great horned owl (Bubo Virginianus), and the
allied European species (B. maximus). See Horned owl.
-- Eagle ray (Zoöl.), any large species of ray of the genus
Myliobatis (esp. M. aquila).
-- Eagle vulture (Zoöl.), a large West African bid (Gypohierax
Angolensis), intermediate, in several respects, between the eagles
and vultures.
EAGLE-EYED
Ea"gle-eyed`, a.
Defn: Sharp-sighted as an eagle. "Inwardly eagle-eyed." Howell.
EAGLE-SIGHTED
Ea"gle-sight`ed, a.
Defn: Farsighted and strong-sighted; sharp-sighted. Shak.
EAGLESS
Ea"gless, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aiglesse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A female or hen eagle. [R.] Sherwood.
EAGLESTONE
Ea"gle*stone, n. (Min.)
Defn: A concretionary nodule of clay ironstone, of the size of a
walnut or larger, so called by the ancients, who believed that the
eagle transported these stones to her nest to facilitate the laying
of her eggs; aëtites.
EAGLET
Ea"glet, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. aiglet.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young eagle, or a diminutive eagle.
EAGLE-WINGED
Ea"gle-winged`, a.
Defn: Having the wings of an eagle; swift, or soaring high, like an
eagle. Shak.
EAGLEWOOD
Ea"gle*wood`, n. Etym: [From Skr. aguru, through Pg. aguila; cf. F.
bois d'aigle.]
Defn: A kind of fragrant wood. See Agallochum.
EAGRASS
Ea"grass, n.
Defn: See Eddish. [Obs.]
EAGRE
Ea"gre, n. Etym: [AS. eágor, , in comp., water, sea, eágor-streám
water stream, sea.]
Defn: A wave, or two or three successive waves, of great height and
violence, at flood tide moving up an estuary or river; -- commonly
called the bore. See Bore.
EALDERMAN; EALDORMAN
Eal"der*man, Eal"dor*man, n.
Defn: An alderman. [Obs.]
EALE
Eale, n. Etym: [See Ale.]
Defn: Ale. [Obs.] Shak.
EAME
Eame, n. Etym: [AS. eám; akin to D. oom, G. ohm, oheim; cf. L.
avunculus.]
Defn: Uncle. [Obs.] Spenser.
EAN
Ean, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. eánian. See Yean.]
Defn: To bring forth, as young; to yean. "In eaning time." Shak.
EANLING
Ean"ling, n. Etym: [See Ean, Yeanling.]
Defn: A lamb just brought forth; a yeanling. Shak.
EAR
Ear, n. Etym: [AS. eáre; akin to OFries. áre, ár, OS. , D. oor, OHG.
, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith.
ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. audire to hear, Gr. av to favor , protect. Cf.
Auricle, Orillon.]
1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.
Note: In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very
complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear,
which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening;
the middle ear, drum, or tympanum; and the internal ear, or
labyrinth. The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian
tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear
by the tympanic membrane, and containing a chain of three small
bones, or ossicles, named malleus, incus, and stapes, which connect
this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the
internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the
membranous labyrinth, a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled
with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony
labyrinth, in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not
completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it
in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central
cavity, the vestibule, into which three semicircular canals and the
canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The
vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs,
the utriculus and sacculus, connected by a narrow tube, into the
former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the
latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing
the organ of Corti. By the help of the external ear the sonorous
vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and
set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits
these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain
delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the
membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve
to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.
2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of
discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music; --
in the singular only.
Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear. Tennyson.
3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal;
any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support
or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or
dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See
Illust. of Bell.
4. (Arch.)
(a) Same as Acroterium (a).
(b) Same as Crossette.
5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.
Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Shak.
About the ears, in close proximity to; near at hand.
-- By the ears, in close contest; as, to set by the ears; to fall
together by the ears; to be by the ears.
-- Button ear (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely
hides the inside.
-- Ear finger, the little finger.
-- Ear of Dionysius, a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; --
named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear
the prisoners in his dungeons.
-- Ear sand (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith.
-- Ear snail (Zoöl.), any snail of the genus Auricula and allied
genera.
-- Ear stones (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith.
-- Ear trumpet, an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a
tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity
which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as
to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person.
-- Ear vesicle (Zoöl.), a simple auditory organ, occurring in many
worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid
and one or more solid concretions or otocysts.
-- Rose ear (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of
the inside.
-- To give ear to, to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising.
"Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith.
-- To have one's ear, to be listened to with favor.
-- Up to the ears, deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be
in trouble up to one's ears. [Colloq.]
EAR
Ear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eared; p. pr. & vb. n. Earing.]
Defn: To take in with the ears; to hear. [Sportive] "I eared her
language." Two Noble Kinsmen.
EAR
Ear, n. Etym: [AS. ear; akin to D. aar, OHG. ahir, G. ähre, Icel.,
Sw., & Dan. ax, Goth. ahs. . Cf. Awn, Edge.]
Defn: The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian
corn, etc.), containing the kernels.
First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
Mark iv. 28.
EAR
Ear, v. i.
Defn: To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this
corn ears well.
EAR
Ear, v. t. Etym: [OE. erien, AS. erian; akin to OFries. era, OHG.
erran, MHG. eren, ern, Prov. G. aren, ären, Icel. erja, Goth. arjan,
Lith. arti, OSlav. orati, L. arare, Gr. Arable.]
Defn: To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land." Shak.
EARABLE
Ear"a*ble, a.
Defn: Arable; tillable. [Archaic]
EARACHE
Ear"ache`, n.
Defn: Ache or pain in the ear.
EARAL
Ear"al, a.
Defn: Receiving by the ear. [Obs.] Hewyt.
EAR-BORED
Ear"-bored`, a.
Defn: Having the ear perforated.
EARCAP
Ear"cap`, n.
Defn: A cap or cover to protect the ear from cold.
EARCOCKLE
Ear"coc`kle, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A disease in wheat, in which the blackened and contracted
grain, or ear, is filled with minute worms.
EARDROP
Ear"drop`, n.
1. A pendant for the ear; an earring; as, a pair of eardrops.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of primrose. See Auricula.
EARDRUM
Ear"drum`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The tympanum. See Illust. of Ear.
EARED
Eared, a.
1. Having (such or so many) ears; -- used in composition; as, long-
eared-eared; sharp-eared; full-eared; ten-eared.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having external ears; having tufts of feathers resembling ears.
Eared owl (Zoöl.), an owl having earlike tufts of feathers, as the
long-eared owl, and short-eared owl.
-- Eared seal (Zoöl.), any seal of the family Otariidæ, including
the fur seals and hair seals. See Seal.
EARINESS
Ear"i*ness, n. Etym: [Scotch ery or eiry affected with fear.]
Defn: Fear or timidity, especially of something supernatural.
[Written also eiryness.]
The sense of eariness, as twilight came on. De Quincey.
EARING
Ear"ing, n. (Naut.)
(a) A line used to fasten the upper corners of a sail to the yard or
gaff; -- also called head earing.
(b) A line for hauling the reef cringle to the yard; -- also called
reef earing.
(c) A line fastening the corners of an awning to the rigging or
stanchions.
EARING
Ear"ing, n.
Defn: Coming into ear, as corn.
EARING
Ear"ing, n.
Defn: A plowing of land. [Archaic]
Neither earing nor harvest. Gen. xlv. 6.
EARL
Earl, n. Etym: [OE. eorl, erl, AS. eorl man, noble; akin to OS. erl
boy, man, Icel. jarl nobleman, count, and possibly to Gr. arshan man.
Cf. Jarl.]
Defn: A nobleman of England ranking below a marquis, and above a
viscount. The rank of an earl corresponds to that of a count (comte)
in France, and graf in Germany. Hence the wife of an earl is still
called countess. See Count.
EARL
Earl, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The needlefish. [Ireland]
EARLAP
Ear"lap`, n.
Defn: The lobe of the ear.
EARLDOM
Earl"dom, n. Etym: [AS. eorl-d; eorl man, noble + -d -dom.]
1. The jurisdiction of an earl; the territorial possessions of an
earl.
2. The status, title, or dignity of an earl.
He [Pulteney] shrunk into insignificancy and an earldom.
Chesterfield.
EARLDORMAN
Earl"dor*man, n.
Defn: Alderman. [Obs.]
EARLDUCK
Earl"duck`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-breasted merganser (Merganser serrator).
EARLES PENNY
Earles" pen`ny. Etym: [Cf. Arles, 4th Earnest.]
Defn: Earnest money. Same as Arles penny. [Obs.]
EARLESS
Ear"less, a.
Defn: Without ears; hence, deaf or unwilling to hear. Pope.
EARLET
Ear"let, n. Etym: [Ear + -let.]
Defn: An earring. [Obs.]
The Ismaelites were accustomed to wear golden earlets. Judg. viii. 24
(Douay version).
EARLINESS
Ear"li*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being early or forward; promptness.
EARL MARSHAL
Earl" mar"shal.
Defn: An officer of state in England who marshals and orders all
great ceremonials, takes cognizance of matters relating to honor,
arms, and pedigree, and directs the proclamation of peace and war.
The court of chivalry was formerly under his jurisdiction, and he is
still the head of the herald's office or college of arms.
EARLOCK
Ear"lock`, n. Etym: [AS. eár-locca.]
Defn: A lock or curl of hair near the ear; a lovelock. See Lovelock.
EARLY
Ear"ly, adv. Etym: [OE. erli, erliche, AS. ; sooner + lic like. See
Ere, and Like.]
Defn: Soon; in good season; seasonably; betimes; as, come early.
Those that me early shall find me. Prov. viii. 17.
You must wake and call me early. Tennyson.
EARLY
Ear"ly, a. [Compar. Earlier; superl. Earliest.] Etym: [OE. earlich.
Early, adv.]
1. In advance of the usual or appointed time; in good season; prior
in time; among or near the first; -- opposed to Ant: late; as, the
early bird; an early spring; early fruit.
Early and provident fear is the mother of safety. Burke.
The doorsteps and threshold with the early grass springing up about
them. Hawthorne.
2. Coming in the first part of a period of time, or among the first
of successive acts, events, etc.
Seen in life's early morning sky. Keble.
The forms of its earlier manhood. Longfellow.
The earliest poem he composed was in his seventeenth summer. J. C.
Shairp.
Early English (Philol.) See the Note under English.
-- Early English architecture, the first of the pointed or Gothic
styles used in England, succeeding the Norman style in the 12th and
13th centuries.
Syn.
-- Forward; timely; not late; seasonable.
EARMARK
Ear"mark`, n.
1. A mark on the ear of sheep, oxen, dogs, etc., as by cropping or
slitting.
2. A mark for identification; a distinguishing mark.
Money is said to have no earmark. Wharton.
Flying, he [a slave] should be described by the rounding of his head,
and his earmark. Robynson (More's Utopia).
A set of intellectual ideas . . . have earmarks upon them, no tokens
of a particular proprietor. Burrow.
EARMARK
Ear"mark`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earmarked; p. pr. & vb. n.
Earmarking.]
Defn: To mark, as sheep, by cropping or slitting the ear.
EAR-MINDED
Ear"-mind"ed, a. (Physiol. Psychol.)
Defn: Thinking chiefly or most readily through, or in terms related
to, the sense of hearing; specif., thinking words as spoken, as a
result of familiarity with speech or of mental peculiarity; --
opposed to eye-minded.
EARN
Earn, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ern, n. Sir W. Scott.
EARN
Earn, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earned; p. pr. & vb. n. Earning.] Etym:
[AS. earnian; akin to OHG. arn to reap, aran harvest, G. ernte, Goth.
asans harvest, asneis hireling, AS. esne; cf. Icel. önn working
season, work.]
1. To merit or deserve, as by labor or service; to do that which
entitles one to (a reward, whether the reward is received or not).
The high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. Milton.
2. To acquire by labor, service, or performance; to deserve and
receive as compensation or wages; as, to earn a good living; to earn
honors or laurels.
I earn that [what] I eat. Shak.
The bread I have earned by the hazard of my life or the sweat of my
brow. Burke.
Earned run (Baseball), a run which is made without the assistance of
errors on the opposing side.
Syn.
-- See Obtain.
EARN
Earn, v. t. & i. Etym: [See 1st Yearn.]
Defn: To grieve. [Obs.]
EARN
Earn, v. i. Etym: [See 4th Yearn.]
Defn: To long; to yearn. [Obs.]
And ever as he rode, his heart did earn To prove his puissance in
battle brave. Spenser.
EARN
Earn, v. i. Etym: [AS. irnan to run. Rennet, and cf. Yearnings.]
Defn: To curdle, as milk. [Prov. Eng.]
EARNEST
Ear"nest, n. Etym: [AS. eornost, eornest; akin to OHG. ernust, G.
ernst; cf. Icel. orrosta battle, perh. akin to Gr. oriri to rise.]
Defn: Seriousness; reality; fixed determination; eagerness;
intentness.
Take heed that this jest do not one day turn to earnest. Sir P.
Sidney.
And given in earnest what I begged in jest. Shak.
In earnest, serious; seriously; not in jest; earnestly.
EARNEST
Ear"nest, a.
1. Ardent in the pursuit of an object; eager to obtain or do; zealous
with sincerity; with hearty endeavor; heartfelt; fervent; hearty; --
used in a good sense; as, earnest prayers.
An earnest advocate to plead for him. Shak.
2. Intent; fixed closely; as, earnest attention.
3. Serious; important. [Obs.]
They whom earnest lets do often hinder. Hooker.
Syn.
-- Eager; warm; zealous; ardent; animated; importunate; fervent;
sincere; serious; hearty; urgent. See Eager.
EARNEST
Ear"nest, v. t.
Defn: To use in earnest. [R.]
To earnest them [our arms] with men. Pastor Fido (1602).
EARNEST
Ear"nest, n. Etym: [Prob. corrupted fr. F. arrhes, L. arra, arrha,
arrhabo, Gr. ; or perh. fr. W. ernes, akin to Gael. earlas, perh. fr.
L. arra. Cf. Arles, Earles penny.]
1. Something given, or a part paid beforehand, as a pledge; pledge;
handsel; a token of what is to come.
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our
hearts. 2 Cor. i. 22.
And from his coffers Received the golden earnest of our death. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: Something of value given by the buyer to the seller, by way of
token or pledge, to bind the bargain and prove the sale. Kent.
Ayliffe. Benjamin. Earnest money (Law), money paid as earnest, to
bind a bargain or to ratify and prove a sale.
Syn.
-- Earnest, Pledge. These words are here compared as used in their
figurative sense. Earnest is not so strong as pledge. An earnest,
like first fruits, gives assurance, or at least a high probability,
that more is coming of the same kind; a pledge, like money deposited,
affords security and ground of reliance for the future. Washington
gave earnest of his talent as commander by saving his troops after
Braddock's defeat; his fortitude and that of his soldiers during the
winter at Valley Forge might rightly be considered a pledge of their
ultimate triumph.
EARNESTFUL
Ear"nest*ful, a.
Defn: Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EARNESTLY
Ear"nest*ly, adv.
Defn: In an earnest manner.
EARNESTNESS
Ear"nest*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being earnest; intentness; anxiety.
An honest earnestness in the young man's manner. W. Irving.
EARNFUL
Earn"ful, a. Etym: [From Earn to yearn.]
Defn: Full of anxiety or yearning. [Obs.] P. Fletcher.
EARNING
Earn"ing, n.; pl. Earnings (.
Defn: That which is earned; wages gained by work or services; money
earned; -- used commonly in the plural.
As to the common people, their stock is in their persons and in their
earnings. Burke.
EARPICK
Ear"pick`, n.
Defn: An instrument for removing wax from the ear.
EAR-PIERCER
Ear"-pier`cer, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The earwig.
EARREACH
Ear"reach`, n.
Defn: Earshot. Marston.
EARRING
Ear"ring`, n.
Defn: An ornament consisting of a ring passed through the lobe of the
ear, with or without a pendant.
EARSH
Earsh, n.
Defn: See Arrish.
EAR-SHELL
Ear"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A flattened marine univalve shell of the genus Haliotis; --
called also sea-ear. See Abalone.
EARSHOT
Ear"shot`, n.
Defn: Reach of the ear; distance at which words may be heard. Dryden.
EARSHRIFT
Ear"shrift`, n.
Defn: A nickname for auricular confession; shrift. [Obs.] Cartwright.
EARSORE
Ear"sore`, n.
Defn: An annoyance to the ear. [R.]
The perpetual jangling of the chimes . . . is no small earsore Sir T.
Browne.
EAR-SPLITTING
Ear"-split`ting, a.
Defn: Deafening; disagreeably loud or shrill; as, ear-splitting
strains.
EARST
Earst, adv.
Defn: See Erst. [Obs.] Spenser.
EARTH
Earth, n. Etym: [AS. eor; akin to OS. ertha, OFries. irthe, D. aarde,
OHG. erda, G. erde, Icel. jör, Sw. & Dan. jord, Goth. airpa, OHG.
ero, Gr. ear to plow.]
1. The globe or planet which we inhabit; the world, in distinction
from the sun, moon, or stars. Also, this world as the dwelling place
of mortals, in distinction from the dwelling place of spirits.
That law preserves the earth a sphere And guides the planets in their
course. S. Rogers.
In heaven, or earth, or under earth, in hell. Milton.
2. The solid materials which make up the globe, in distinction from
the air or water; the dry land.
God called the dry land earth. Gen. i. 10.
He is pure air and fire, and the dull elements of earth and water
never appear in him. Shak.
3. The softer inorganic matter composing part of the surface of the
globe, in distinction from the firm rock; soil of all kinds,
including gravel, clay, loam, and the like; sometimes, soil favorable
to the growth of plants; the visible surface of the globe; the
ground; as, loose earth; rich earth.
Give him a little earth for charity. Shak.
4. A part of this globe; a region; a country; land.
Would I had never trod this English earth. Shak.
5. Worldly things, as opposed to spiritual things; the pursuits,
interests, and allurements of this life.
Our weary souls by earth beguiled. Keble.
6. The people on the globe.
The whole earth was of one language. Gen. xi. 1.
7. (Chem.)
(a) Any earthy-looking metallic oxide, as alumina, glucina, zirconia,
yttria, and thoria.
(b) A similar oxide, having a slight alkaline reaction, as lime,
magnesia, strontia, baryta.
8. A hole in the ground, where an animal hides himself; as, the earth
of a fox. Macaulay.
They [ferrets] course the poor conies out of their earths. Holland.
Note: Earth is used either adjectively or in combination to form
compound words; as, earth apple or earth-apple; earth metal or earth-
metal; earth closet or earth-closet. Adamic earth, Bitter earth, Bog
earth, Chian earth, etc. See under Adamic, Bitter, etc.
-- Alkaline earths. See under Alkaline.
-- Earth apple. (Bot.) (a) A potato. (b) A cucumber.
-- Earth auger, a form of auger for boring into the ground; --
called also earth borer.
-- Earth bath, a bath taken by immersing the naked body in earth for
healing purposes.
-- Earth battery (Physics), a voltaic battery the elements of which
are buried in the earth to be acted on by its moisture.
-- Earth chestnut, the pignut.
-- Earth closet, a privy or commode provided with dry earth or a
similar substance for covering and deodorizing the fæcal discharges.
-- Earth dog (Zoöl.), a dog that will dig in the earth, or enter
holes of foxes, etc.
-- Earth hog, Earth pig (Zoöl.), the aard-vark.
-- Earth hunger, an intense desire to own land, or, in the case of
nations, to extend their domain.
-- Earth light (Astron.), the light reflected by the earth, as upon
the moon, and corresponding to moonlight; -- called also earth shine.
Sir J. Herschel.
-- Earth metal. See 1st Earth,
7. (Chem.) -- Earth oil, petroleum.
-- Earth pillars or pyramids (Geol.), high pillars or pyramids of
earth, sometimes capped with a single stone, found in Switzerland.
Lyell.
-- Earth pitch (Min.), mineral tar, a kind of asphaltum.
-- Earth quadrant, a fourth of the earth's circumference.
-- Earth table (Arch.), the lowest course of stones visible in a
building; the ground table.
-- On earth, an intensive expression, oftenest used in questions and
exclamations; as, What on earth shall I do Nothing on earth will
satisfy him. [Colloq.]
EARTH
Earth, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earthed; p. pr. & vb. n. Earthing.]
1. To hide, or cause to hide, in the earth; to chase into a burrow or
den. "The fox is earthed." Dryden.
2. To cover with earth or mold; to inter; to bury; -- sometimes with
up.
The miser earths his treasure, and the thief, Watching the mole, half
beggars him ere noon. Young.
Why this in earthing up a carcass R. Blair.
EARTH
Earth, v. i.
Defn: To burrow. Tickell.
EARTH
Earth, n. Etym: [From Ear to plow.]
Defn: A plowing. [Obs.]
Such land as ye break up for barley to sow, Two earths at the least,
ere ye sow it, bestow. Tusser.
EARTHBAG
Earth"bag`, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A bag filled with earth, used commonly to raise or repair a
parapet.
EARTHBANK
Earth"bank`, n.
Defn: A bank or mound of earth.
EARTHBOARD
Earth"board`, n. (Agric.)
Defn: The part of a plow, or other implement, that turns over the
earth; the moldboard.
EARTHBORN
Earth"born`, a.
1. Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the
earth; human.
Some earthborn giant. Milton.
2. Relating to, or occasioned by, earthly objects.
All earthborn cares are wrong. Goldsmith.
EARTHBRED
Earth"bred`, a.
Defn: Low; grovelling; vulgar.
EARTHDIN
Earth"din`, n.
Defn: An earthquake. [Obs.]
EARTHDRAKE
Earth"drake`, n.
Defn: A mythical monster of the early Anglo-Saxon literature; a
dragon. W. Spalding.
EARTHEN
Earth"en, a.
Defn: Made of earth; made of burnt or baked clay, or other like
substances; as, an earthen vessel or pipe.
EARTHEN-HEARTED
Earth"en-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Hard-hearted; sordid; gross. [Poetic] Lowell.
EARTHENWARE
Earth"en*ware`, n.
Defn: Vessels and other utensils, ornaments, or the like, made of
baked clay. See Crockery, Pottery, Stoneware, and Porcelain.
EARTH FLAX
Earth" flax`. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of asbestus. See Amianthus.
EARTHFORK
Earth"fork`, n.
Defn: A pronged fork for turning up the earth.
EARTHINESS
Earth"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being earthy, or of containing earth;
hence, grossness.
EARTHLIGHT
Earth"light`, n. (Astron.)
Defn: The sunlight reflected from the earth to the moon, by which we
see faintly, when the moon is near the sun (either before or after
new moon), that part of the moon's disk unillumined by direct
sunlight, or "the old moon in the arms of the new."
EARTHLINESS
Earth"li*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being earthly; worldliness; grossness;
perishableness.
EARTHLING
Earth"ling, n. Etym: [Earth + -ling.]
Defn: An inhabitant of the earth; a mortal.
Earthings oft her deemed a deity. Drummond.
EARTHLY
Earth"ly, a.
1. Pertaining to the earth; belonging to this world, or to man's
existence on the earth; not heavenly or spiritual; carnal; worldly;
as, earthly joys; earthly flowers; earthly praise.
This earthly load Of death, called life. Milton.
Whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things. Phil. iii.
19.
2. Of all things on earth; possible; conceivable.
What earthly benefit can be the result Pope.
3. Made of earth; earthy. [Obs.] Holland.
Syn.
-- Gross; material; sordid; mean; base; vile; low; unsubstantial;
temporary; corrupt; groveling.
EARTHLY
Earth"ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of the earth or its people; worldly.
Took counsel from his guiding eyes To make this wisdom earthly wise.
Emerson.
EARTHLY-MINDED
Earth"ly-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having a mind devoted to earthly things; worldly-minded; --
opposed to spiritual-minded.
-- Earth"ly-mind`ed*ness, n.
EARTHMAD
Earth"mad`, n. Etym: [Earth + mad an earthworm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The earthworm. [Obs.]
The earthmads and all the sorts of worms . . . are without eyes.
Holland.
EARTHNUT
Earth"nut`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given to various roots, tubers, or pods grown under or
on the ground; as to:
(a) The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum
and Carum Bulbocastanum.
(b) The peanut. See Peanut.
EARTHPEA
Earth"pea`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of pea (Amphicarpæa monoica). It is a climbing
leguminous plant, with hairy underground pods.
EARTHQUAKE
Earth"quake`, n.
Defn: A shaking, trembling, or concussion of the earth, due to
subterranean causes, often accompanied by a rumbling noise. The wave
of shock sometimes traverses half a hemisphere, destroying cities and
many thousand lives; -- called also earthdin, earthquave, and
earthshock. Earthquake alarm, a bell signal constructed to operate on
the theory that a few seconds before the occurrence of an earthquake
the magnet temporarily loses its power.
EARTHQUAKE
Earth"quake`, a.
Defn: Like, or characteristic of, an earthquake; loud; starling.
The earthquake voice of victory. Byron.
EARTHQUAVE
Earth"quave`, n.
Defn: An earthquake.
EARTH SHINE
Earth" shine`.
Defn: See Earth light, under Earth.
EARTHSHOCK
Earth"shock`, n.
Defn: An earthquake.
EARTHSTAR
Earth"star`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A curious fungus of the genus Geaster, in which the outer
coating splits into the shape of a star, and the inner one forms a
ball containing the dustlike spores.
EARTH-TONGUE
Earth"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fungus of the genus Geoglossum.
EARTHWARD; EARTHWARDS
Earth"ward, Earth"wards (, adv.
Defn: Toward the earth; -- opposed to heavenward or skyward.
EARTHWORK
Earth"work`, n.
1. (Mil.)
Defn: Any construction, whether a temporary breastwork or permanent
fortification, for attack or defense, the material of which is
chiefly earth.
2. (Engin.)
(a) The operation connected with excavations and embankments of earth
in preparing foundations of buildings, in constructing canals,
railroads, etc.
(b) An embankment or construction made of earth.
EARTHWORM
Earth"worm`, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any worm of the genus Lumbricus and allied genera, found in
damp soil. One of the largest and most abundant species in Europe and
America is L. terrestris; many others are known; -- called also
angleworm and dewworm.
2. A mean, sordid person; a niggard. Norris.
EARTHY
Earth"y, a.
1. Consisting of, or resembling, earth; terrene; earthlike; as,
earthy matter.
How pale she looks, And of an earthy cold! Shak.
All over earthy, like a piece of earth. Tennyson.
2. Of or pertaining to the earth or to, this world; earthly;
terrestrial; carnal. [R.] "Their earthy charge." Milton.
The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy. 1 Cor. xv. 47,
48 (Rev. Ver. )
Earthy spirits black and envious are. Dryden.
3. Gross; low; unrefined. "Her earthy and abhorred commands." Shak.
4. (Min.)
Defn: Without luster, or dull and roughish to the touch; as, an
earthy fracture.
EARWAX
Ear"wax`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: See Cerumen.
EARWIG
Ear"wig`, n. Etym: [AS. eárwicga; eáre ear + wicga beetle, worm: cf.
Prov. E. erri-wiggle.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any insect of the genus Forticula and related genera, belonging
to the order Euplexoptera.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: In America, any small chilopodous myriapod, esp. of the genus
Geophilus.
Note: Both insects are so called from the supposition that they creep
into the human ear.
3. A whisperer of insinuations; a secret counselor. Johnson.
EARWIG
Ear"wig`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Earwigged; p. pr. & vb. n. Earwigging.]
Defn: To influence, or attempt to influence, by whispered
insinuations or private talk. "No longer was he earwigged by the Lord
Cravens." Lord Campbell.
EARWITNESS
Ear"wit`ness, n.
Defn: A witness by means of his ears; one who is within hearing and
does hear; a hearer. Fuller.
EASE
Ease, n. Etym: [OE. ese, eise, F. aise; akin to Pr. ais, aise, OIt.
asio, It. agio; of uncertain origin; cf. L. ansa handle, occasion,
opportunity. Cf. Agio, Disease.]
1. Satisfaction; pleasure; hence, accommodation; entertainment.
[Obs.]
They him besought Of harbor and or ease as for hire penny. Chaucer.
2. Freedom from anything that pains or troubles; as: (a) Relief from
labor or effort; rest; quiet; relaxation; as, ease of body.
Usefulness comes by labor, wit by ease. Herbert.
Give yourself ease from the fatigue of watching. Swift.
(b) Freedom from care, solicitude, or anything that annoys or
disquiets; tranquillity; peace; comfort; security; as, ease of mind.
Among these nations shalt thou find no ease. Deut. xxviii. 65.
Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. Luke xii. 19.
(c) Freedom from constraint, formality, difficulty, embarrassment,
etc.; facility; liberty; naturalness; -- said of manner, style, etc.;
as, ease of style, of behavior, of address.
True ease in writing comes from art, not chance. Pope.
Whate'er he did was done with so much ease, In him alone 't was
natural to please. Dryden.
At ease, free from pain, trouble, or anxiety. "His soul shall dwell
at ease." Ps. xxv. 12.
-- Chapel of ease. See under Chapel.
-- Ill at ease, not at ease, disquieted; suffering; anxious.
-- To stand at ease (Mil.), to stand in a comfortable attitude in
one's place in the ranks.
-- With ease, easily; without much effort.
Syn.
-- Rest; quiet; repose; comfortableness; tranquility; facility;
easiness; readiness.
EASE
Ease, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Eased; p. pr. & vb. n. Easing.] Etym:
[OE. esen, eisen, OF. aisier. See Ease, n.]
1. To free from anything that pains, disquiets, or oppresses; to
relieve from toil or care; to give rest, repose, or tranquility to; -
- often with of; as, to ease of pain; ease the body or mind.
Eased [from] the putting off These troublesome disguises which we
wear. Milton.
Sing, and I 'll ease thy shoulders of thy load. Dryden.
2. To render less painful or oppressive; to mitigate; to alleviate.
My couch shall ease my complaint. Job vii. 13.
3. To release from pressure or restraint; to move gently; to lift
slightly; to shift a little; as, to ease a bar or nut in machinery.
4. To entertain; to furnish with accommodations. [Obs.] Chaucer. To
ease off, To ease away (Naut.), to slacken a rope gradually.
-- To ease a ship (Naut.), to put the helm hard, or regulate the
sail, to prevent pitching when closehauled.
-- To ease the helm (Naut.), to put the helm more nearly amidships,
to lessen the effect on the ship, or the strain on the wheel rope.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Syn.
-- To relieve; disburden; quiet; calm; tranquilize; assuage;
alleviate; allay; mitigate; appease; pacify.
EASEFUL
Ease"ful, a.
Defn: Full of ease; suitable for affording ease or rest; quiet;
comfortable; restful. Shak.
-- Ease"ful*ly, adv.
-- Ease"ful*ness, n.
EASEL
Ea"sel, n. Etym: [D. ezel ass, donkey, hence, easel, or G. esel; akin
to E. ass. See Ass.]
Defn: A frame (commonly) of wood serving to hold a canvas upright, or
nearly upright, for the painter's convenience or for exhibition.
Easel picture, Easel piece, a painting of moderate size such as is
made while resting on an easel, as distinguished from a painting on a
wall or ceiling.
EASELESS
Ease"less, a.
Defn: Without ease. Donne.
EASEMENT
Ease"ment, n. Etym: [OF. aisement. See Ease, n.]
1. That which gives ease, relief, or assistance; convenience;
accommodation.
In need of every kind of relief and easement. Burke.
2. (Law)
Defn: A liberty, privilege, or advantage, which one proprietor has in
the estate of another proprietor, distinct from the ownership of the
soil, as a way, water course, etc. It is a species of what the civil
law calls servitude. Kent.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A curved member instead of an abrupt change of direction, as in
a baseboard, hand rail, etc.
EASILY
Eas"i*ly, adv. Etym: [From Easy.]
1. With ease; without difficulty or much effort; as, this task may be
easily performed; that event might have been easily foreseen.
2. Without pain, anxiety, or disturbance; as, to pass life well and
easily. Sir W. Temple.
3. Readily; without reluctance; willingly.
Not soon provoked, she easily forgives. Prior.
4. Smoothly; quietly; gently; gracefully; without
5. Without shaking or jolting; commodiously; as, a carriage moves
easily.
EASINESS
Eas"i*ness, n.
1. The state or condition of being easy; freedom from distress; rest.
2. Freedom from difficulty; ease; as the easiness of a task.
3. Freedom from emotion; compliance; disposition to yield without
opposition; unconcernedness.
Give to him, and he shall but laugh at your easiness. South.
4. Freedom from effort, constraint, or formality; -- said of style,
manner, etc.
With painful care, but seeming easiness. Roscommon.
5. Freedom from jolting, jerking, or straining.
EAST
East, n. Etym: [OE. est, east, AS. eást; akin to D. oost, oosten,
OHG. , G. ost, osten, Icel. austr, Sw. ost, Dan. öst, östen, Lith.
auszra dawn, L. aurora (for ausosa), Gr. ushas; cf. Skr. ush to burn,
L. urere. Aurora, Easter, Sterling.]
1. The point in the heavens where the sun is seen to rise at the
equinox, or the corresponding point on the earth; that one of the
four cardinal points of the compass which is in a direction at right
angles to that of north and south, and which is toward the right hand
of one who faces the north; the point directly opposite to the west.
The east began kindle. E. Everett.
2. The eastern parts of the earth; the regions or countries which lie
east of Europe; the orient. In this indefinite sense, the word is
applied to Asia Minor, Syria, Chaldea, Persia, India, China, etc.;
as, the riches of the East; the diamonds and pearls of the East; the
kings of the East.
The gorgeous East, with richest hand, Showers on her kings barbaric
pearl and gold. Milton.
3. (U. S. Hist. and Geog.)
Defn: Formerly, the part of the United States east of the Alleghany
Mountains, esp. the Eastern, or New England, States; now, commonly,
the whole region east of the Mississippi River, esp. that which is
north of Maryland and the Ohio River; -- usually with the definite
article; as, the commerce of the East is not independent of the
agriculture of the West. East by north, East by south, according to
the notation of the mariner's compass, that point which lies 11 --
East-northeast, East-southeast, that which lie 22Illust. of Compass.
EAST
East, a.
Defn: Toward the rising sun; or toward the point where the sun rises
when in the equinoctial; as, the east gate; the east border; the east
side; the east wind is a wind that blows from the east.
EAST
East, adv.
Defn: Eastward.
EAST
East, v. i.
Defn: To move toward the east; to veer from the north or south toward
the east; to orientate.
EASTER
Eas"ter, n. Etym: [AS. eáster, eástran, paschal feast, Easter; akin
to G. ostern; fr. AS. Eástre, a goddess of light or spring, in honor
of whom a festival was celebrated in April; whence this month was
called in AS. Eásterm. From the root of E. east. See East.]
1. An annual church festival commemorating Christ's resurrection, and
occurring on Sunday, the second day after Good Friday. It corresponds
to the pasha or passover of the Jews, and most nations still give it
this name under the various forms of pascha, pasque, pâque, or pask.
2. The day on which the festival is observed; Easter day.
Note: Easter is used either adjectively or as the first element of a
compound; as, Easter day or Easter-day, Easter Sunday, Easter week,
Easter gifts.
Sundays by thee more glorious break, An Easter day in every week.
Keble.
Note: Easter day, on which the rest of the movable feasts depend, is
always the first Sunday after the fourteenth day of the calendar moon
which (fourteenth day) falls on, or next after, the 21st of March,
according to the rules laid down for the construction of the
calendar; so that if the fourteenth day happen on a Sunday, Easter
day is the Sunday after. Eng. Cyc. Easter dues (Ch. of Eng.), money
due to the clergy at Easter, formerly paid in communication of the
tithe for personal labor and subject to exaction. For Easter dues,
Easter offerings, voluntary gifts, have been substituted.
-- Easter egg. (a) A painted or colored egg used as a present at
Easter. (b) An imitation of an egg, in sugar or some fine material,
sometimes made to serve as a box for jewelry or the like, used as an
Easter present.
EASTER
East"er, v. i. (Naut.)
Defn: To veer to the east; -- said of the wind. Russell.
EASTER LILY
Eas"ter lil`y. (Bot.) Any one of various lilies or lilylike flowers
which bloom about Easter; specif.:
(a) The common white lily (Lilium candidum), called also
Annunciation lily.
(b) The larger white lily (Lilium longiflorum eximium, syn. L.
Harrisii) called also Bermuda lily.
(c) The daffodil (Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus).
(d) The Atamasco lily.
EASTERLING
East"er*ling, n. Etym: [Cf. Sterling.]
1. A native of a country eastward of another; -- used, by the
English, of traders or others from the coasts of the Baltic.
Merchants of Norway, Denmark, . . . called . . . Easterlings because
they lie east in respect of us. Holinshed.
2. A piece of money coined in the east by Richard II. of England.
Crabb.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The smew.
EASTERLING
East"er*ling, a.
Defn: Relating to the money of the Easterlings, or Baltic traders.
See Sterling.
EASTERLY
East"er*ly, a.
1. Coming from the east; as, it was easterly wind.
2. Situated, directed, or moving toward the east; as, the easterly
side of a lake; an easterly course or voyage.
EASTERLY
East"er*ly, adv.
Defn: Toward, or in the direction of, the east.
EASTERN
East"ern, a. Etym: [AS. eástern.]
1. Situated or dwelling in the east; oriental; as, an eastern gate;
Eastern countries.
Eastern churches first did Christ embrace. Stirling.
2. Going toward the east, or in the direction of east; as, an eastern
voyage. Eastern Church. See Greek Church, under Greek.
EASTERN CHURCH
Eastern Church.
Defn: That portion of the Christian church which prevails in the
countries once comprised in the Eastern Roman Empire and the
countries converted to Christianity by missionaries from them. Its
full official title is The Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Eastern
Church. It became estranged from the Western, or Roman, Church over
the question of papal supremacy and the doctrine of the filioque, and
a separation, begun in the latter part of the 9th century, became
final in 1054. The Eastern Church consists of twelve (thirteen if the
Bulgarian Church be included) mutually independent churches
(including among these the Hellenic Church, or Church of Greece, and
the Russian Church), using the vernacular (or some ancient form of
it) in divine service and varying in many points of detail, but
standing in full communion with each other and united as equals in a
great federation. The highest five authorities are the patriarch of
Constantinople, or ecumenical patriarch (whose position is not one of
supremacy, but of precedence), the patriarch of Alexandria, the
patriarch of Jerusalem, the patriarch of Antioch, and the Holy Synod
of Russia. The Eastern Church accepts the first seven ecumenical
councils (and is hence styled only schismatic, not heretical, by the
Roman Catholic Church), has as its creed the Niceno-
Constantinopolitan (without the later addition of the filioque,
which, with the doctrine it represents, the church decisively
rejects), baptizes infants with trine immersion, makes confirmation
follow immediately upon baptism, administers the Communion in both
kinds (using leavened bread) and to infants as well as adults,
permits its secular clergy to marry before ordination and to keep
their wives afterward, but not to marry a second time, selects its
bishops from the monastic clergy only, recognizes the offices of
bishop, priest, and deacon as the three necessary degrees of orders,
venerates relics and icons, and has an elaborate ritual.
EASTERNMOST
East"ern*most`, a.
Defn: Most eastern.
EAST INDIAN
East" In"di*an (; see Indian).
Defn: Belonging to, or relating to, the East Indies.
-- n.
Defn: A native of, or a dweller in, the East Indies.
EASTING
East"ing, n. (Naut. & Surv.)
Defn: The distance measured toward the east between two meridians
drawn through the extremities of a course; distance of departure
eastward made by a vessel.
EAST-INSULAR
East`-in"su*lar, a.
Defn: Relating to the Eastern Islands; East Indian. [R.] Ogilvie.
EASTWARD; EASTWARDS
East"ward, East"wards, adv.
Defn: Toward the east; in the direction of east from some point or
place; as, New Haven lies eastward from New York.
EASY
Eas"y, a. [Compar. Easier; superl. Easiest.] Etym: [OF. aisié, F.
aisé, prop. p. p. of OF. aisier. See Ease, v. t.]
1. At ease; free from pain, trouble, or constraint; as: (a) Free from
pain, distress, toil, exertion, and the like; quiet; as, the patient
is easy. (b) Free from care, responsibility, discontent, and the
like; not anxious; tranquil; as, an easy mind. (c) Free from
constraint, harshness, or formality; unconstrained; smooth; as, easy
manners; an easy style. "The easy vigor of a line." Pope.
2. Not causing, or attended with, pain or disquiet, or much exertion;
affording ease or rest; as, an easy carriage; a ship having an easy
motion; easy movements, as in dancing. "Easy ways to die." Shak.
3. Not difficult; requiring little labor or effort; slight;
inconsiderable; as, an easy task; an easy victory.
It were an easy leap. Shak.
4. Causing ease; giving freedom from care or labor; furnishing
comfort; commodious; as, easy circumstances; an easy chair or
cushion.
5. Not making resistance or showing unwillingness; tractable;
yielding; complying; ready.
He gained their easy hearts. Dryden.
He is too tyrannical to be an easy monarch. Sir W. Scott.
6. Moderate; sparing; frugal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
7. (Com.)
Defn: Not straitened as to money matters; as, the market is easy; --
opposed to tight. Honors are easy (Card Playing), said when each side
has an equal number of honors, in which case they are not counted as
points.
Syn.
-- Quiet; comfortable; manageable; tranquil; calm; facile;
unconcerned.
EASY-CHAIR
Eas"y-chair`, n.
Defn: An armichair for ease or repose. "Laugh . . . in Rabelais'
easy-chair." Pope.
EASY-GOING
Eas"y-go`ing, a.
Defn: Moving easily; hence, mild-tempered; ease-loving; inactive.
EAT
Eat, v. t. [imp. Ate, Obsolescent & Colloq. Eat (; p. p. Eaten, Obs.
or Colloq. Eat (p. pr. & vb. n. Eating.] Etym: [OE. eten, AS. etan;
akin to OS. etan, OFries. eta, D. eten, OHG. ezzan, G. essen, Icel.
eta, Sw. äta, Dan. æde, Goth. itan, Ir. & Gael. ith, W. ysu, L.
edere, Gr. ad. Etch, Fret to rub, Edible.]
1. To chew and swallow as food; to devour; -- said especially of food
not liquid; as, to eat bread. "To eat grass as oxen." Dan. iv. 25.
They . . . ate the sacrifices of the dead. Ps. cvi. 28.
The lean . . . did eat up the first seven fat kine. Gen. xli. 20.
The lion had not eaten the carcass. 1 Kings xiii. 28.
With stories told of many a feat, How fairy Mab junkets eat. Milton.
The island princes overbold Have eat our substance. Tennyson.
His wretched estate is eaten up with mortgages. Thackeray.
2. To corrode, as metal, by rust; to consume the flesh, as a cancer;
to waste or wear away; to destroy gradually; to cause to disappear.
To eat humble pie. See under Humble.
-- To eat of (partitive use). "Eat of the bread that can not waste."
Keble.
-- To eat one's words, to retract what one has said. (See the
Citation under Blurt.) -- To eat out, to consume completely. "Eat out
the heart and comfort of it." Tillotson.
-- To eat the wind out of a vessel (Naut.), to gain slowly to
windward of her.
Syn.
-- To consume; devour; gnaw; corrode.
EAT
Eat, v. i.
1. To take food; to feed; especially, to take solid, in distinction
from liquid, food; to board.
He did eat continually at the king's table. 2 Sam. ix. 13.
2. To taste or relish; as, it eats like tender beef.
3. To make one's way slowly. To eat, To eat in or into, to make way
by corrosion; to gnaw; to consume. "A sword laid by, which eats into
itself." Byron.
-- To eat to windward (Naut.), to keep the course when closehauled
with but little steering; -- said of a vessel.
EATABLE
Eat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being eaten; fit to be eaten; proper for food;
esculent; edible.
-- n.
Defn: Something fit to be eaten.
EATAGE
Eat"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Eatable growth of grass for horses and cattle, esp. that of
aftermath.
EATER
Eat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, eats.
EATH
Eath, a. & adv. Etym: [AS. eá.]
Defn: Easy or easily. [Obs.] "Eath to move with plaints." Fairfax.
EATING
Eat"ing, n.
1. The act of tasking food; the act of consuming or corroding.
2. Something fit to be eaten; food; as, a peach is good eating.
[Colloq.] Eating house, a house where cooked provisions are sold, to
be eaten on the premises.
EAU DE COLOGNE
Eau` de Co*logne". Etym: [F. eau water (L. aqua) + de of + Cologne.]
Defn: Same as Cologne.
EAU DE VIE
Eau` de vie". Etym: [F., water of life; eau (L. aqua) water + de of +
vie (L. vita) life.]
Defn: French name for brandy. Cf. Aqua vitæ, under Aqua. Bescherelle.
EAU FORTE
Eau` forte" (o` fort"). [F., strong water, nitric acid (which is used
in etching plates).] (Art)
Defn: An etching or a print from an etched plate.
EAVEDROP
Eave"drop`, n.
Defn: A drop from the eaves; eavesdrop. [R.] Tennyson.
EAVES
Eaves, n. pl. Etym: [OE. evese, pl. eveses, AS. efese eaves, brim,
brink; akin to OHG. obisa, opasa, porch, hall, MHG. obse eaves, Icel.
ups, Goth. ubizwa porch; cf. Icel. upsar-dropi, OSw. opsä-drup water
dropping from the eaves. Probably from the root of E. over. The s of
eaves is in English regarded as a plural ending, though not so in
Saxon. See Over, and cf. Eavesdrop.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which
overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof.
2. Brow; ridge. [Obs.] "Eaves of the hill." Wyclif.
3. Eyelids or eyelashes.
And closing eaves of wearied eyes. Tennyson.
Eaves board (Arch.), an arris fillet, or a thick board with a feather
edge, nailed across the rafters at the eaves of a building, to raise
the lower course of slates a little, or to receive the lowest course
of tiles; -- called also eaves catch and eaves lath.
-- Eaves channel, Eaves gutter, Eaves trough. Same as Gutter,
1.
-- Eaves molding (Arch.), a molding immediately below the eaves,
acting as a cornice or part of a cornice.
-- Eaves swallow (Zoöl.). (a) The cliff swallow; -- so called from
its habit of building retort-shaped nests of mud under the eaves of
buildings. See Cliff swallow, under Cliff. (b) The European swallow.
EAVESDROP
Eaves"drop`, v. i. Etym: [Eaves + drop.]
Defn: To stand under the eaves, near a window or at the door, of a
house, to listen and learn what is said within doors; hence, to
listen secretly to what is said in private.
To eavesdrop in disguises. Milton.
EAVESDROP
Eaves"drop`, n.
Defn: The water which falls in drops from the eaves of a house.
EAVESDROPPER
Eaves"drop`per, n.
Defn: One who stands under the eaves, or near the window or door of a
house, to listen; hence, a secret listener.
EAVESDROPPING
Eaves"drop`ping, n. (Law)
Defn: The habit of lurking about dwelling houses, and other places
where persons meet fro private intercourse, secretly listening to
what is said, and then tattling it abroad. The offense is indictable
at common law. Wharton.
EBB
Ebb, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European bunting.
EBB
Ebb, n. Etym: [AS. ebba; akin to Fries. ebba, D. eb, ebbe, Dan. & G.
ebbe, Sw. ebb, cf. Goth. ibuks backward; prob. akin to E. even.]
1. The reflux or flowing back of the tide; the return of the tidal
wave toward the sea; -- opposed to flood; as, the boats will go out
on the ebb.
Thou shoreless flood which in thy ebb and flow Claspest the limits of
morality! Shelley.
2. The state or time of passing away; a falling from a better to a
worse state; low state or condition; decline; decay. "Our ebb of
life." Roscommon.
Painting was then at its lowest ebb. Dryden.
Ebb and flow, the alternate ebb and flood of the tide; often used
figuratively.
This alternation between unhealthy activity and depression, this ebb
and flow of the industrial. A. T. Hadley.
EBB
Ebb, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Ebbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Ebbing.] Etym: [AS.
ebbian; akin to D. & G. ebben, Dan. ebbe. See 2d Ebb.]
1. To flow back; to return, as the water of a tide toward the ocean;
-- opposed to flow.
That Power who bids the ocean ebb and flow. Pope.
2. To return or fall back from a better to a worse state; to decline;
to decay; to recede.
The hours of life ebb fast. Blackmore.
Syn.
-- To recede; retire; withdraw; decay; decrease; wane; sink; lower.
EBB
Ebb, v. t.
Defn: To cause to flow back. [Obs.] Ford.
EBB
Ebb, a.
Defn: Receding; going out; falling; shallow; low.
The water there is otherwise very low and ebb. Holland.
EBB TIDE
Ebb" tide`.
Defn: The reflux of tide water; the retiring tide; -- opposed to
flood tide.
EBIONITE
E"bi*o*nite, n. Etym: [Heb. ebyonim poor people.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect of heretics, in the first centuries of the
church, whose doctrine was a mixture of Judaism and Christianity.
They denied the divinity of Christ, regarding him as an inspired
messenger, and rejected much of the New Testament.
EBIONITISM
E"bi*o*ni`tism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The system or doctrine of the Ebionites.
EBLANIN
Eb"la*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Pyroxanthin.
EBLIS
Eb"lis, n. Etym: [Ar. iblis.] (Moham. Myth.)
Defn: The prince of the evil spirits; Satan. [Written also Eblees.]
EBON
Eb"on, a.
1. Consisting of ebony.
2. Like ebony, especially in color; black; dark.
Night, sable goddess! from her ebon throne. Young.
EBON
Eb"on, n.
Defn: Ebony. [Poetic] "Framed of ebon and ivory." Sir W. Scott.
EBONIST
Eb"on*ist, n.
Defn: One who works in ebony.
EBONITE
Eb"on*ite, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A hard, black variety of vulcanite. It may be cut and polished,
and is used for many small articles, as combs and buttons, and for
insulating material in electric apparatus.
EBONIZE
Eb"on*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ebonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Ebonizing.]
Defn: To make black, or stain black, in imitation of ebony; as, to
ebonize wood.
EBONY
Eb"on*y, n.; pl. Ebonies. Etym: [F. ébène, L. ebenus, fr. Gr. hobnim,
pl. Cf. Ebon.]
Defn: A hard, heavy, and durable wood, which admits of a fine polish
or gloss. The usual color is black, but it also occurs red or green.
Note: The finest black ebony is the heartwood of Diospyros
reticulata, of the Mauritius. Other species of the same genus (D.
Ebenum, Melanoxylon, etc.), furnish the ebony of the East Indies and
Ceylon. The West Indian green ebony is from a leguminous tree (Brya
Ebenus), and from the Excæcaria glandulosa.
EBONY
Eb"on*y, a.
Defn: Made of ebony, or resembling ebony; black; as, an ebony
countenance.
This ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling. Poe.
EBRACTEATE
E*brac"te*ate, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + bracteate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Without bracts.
EBRACTEOLATE
E*brac"te*o*late, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + bracteolate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Without bracteoles, or little bracts; -- said of a pedicel or
flower stalk.
EBRAUKE
E*brau"ke, a. Etym: [L. Hebraicus: cf. F. Hébraïque.]
Defn: Hebrew. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EBRIETY
E*bri"e*ty, n.; pl. Ebrieties. Etym: [L. ebrietas, from. ebrius
intoxicated: cf. F. ébriéte. Cf. So.]
Defn: Drunkenness; intoxication by spirituous liquors; inebriety.
"Ruinous ebriety." Cowper.
EBRILLADE
E*bril"lade, n. Etym: [F.] (Man.)
Defn: A bridle check; a jerk of one rein, given to a horse when he
refuses to turn.
EBRIOSITY
E`bri*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ebriositas, from ebriousus given to
drinking, fr. ebrius. See Ebriety.]
Defn: Addiction to drink; habitual drunkenness.
EBRIOUS
E"bri*ous, a. Etym: [L. ebrius.]
Defn: Inclined to drink to excess; intoxicated; tipsy. [R.] M.
Collins.
EBULLIATE
E*bul"li*ate, v. i.
Defn: To boil or bubble up. [Obs.] Prynne.
EBULLIENCE; EBULLIENCY
E*bul"lience, E*bul"lien*cy, n.
Defn: A boiling up or over; effervescence. Cudworth.
EBULLIENT
E*bul"lient, a. Etym: [L. ebulliens, -entis, p. pr. of ebullire to
boil up, bubble up; e out, from + bullire to boil. See 1st Boil.]
Defn: Boiling up or over; hence, manifesting exhilaration or
excitement, as of feeling; effervescing. "Ebullient with subtlety."
De Quincey.
The ebullient enthusiasm of the French. Carlyle.
EBULLIOSCOPE
E*bul"li*o*scope, n. Etym: [L. ebullire to boil up + -scope.] (Phys.
Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for observing the boiling point of liquids,
especially for determining the alcoholic strength of a mixture by the
temperature at which it boils.
EBULLITION
Eb`ul*li"tion, n. Etym: [F. ébullition, L. ebullitio, fr. ebullire.
See Ebullient.]
1. A boiling or bubbling up of a liquid; the motion produced in a
liquid by its rapid conversion into vapor.
2. Effervescence occasioned by fermentation or by any other process
which causes the liberation of a gas or an aëriform fluid, as in the
mixture of an acid with a carbonated alkali. [Formerly written
bullition.]
3. A sudden burst or violent display; an outburst; as, an ebullition
of anger or ill temper.
EBURIN
Eb"ur*in, n.
Defn: A composition of dust of ivory or of bone with a cement; --
used for imitations of valuable stones and in making moldings, seals,
etc. Knight.
EBURNATION
E`bur*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. eburnus of ivory, fr. ebur ivory: cf. F.
éburnation. See Ivory.] (Med.)
Defn: A condition of bone cartilage occurring in certain diseases of
these tissues, in which they acquire an unnatural density, and come
to resemble ivory.
EBURNEAN
E*bur"ne*an, a. Etym: [L. eburneus, fr. ebur ivory. See Ivory.]
Defn: Made of or relating to ivory.
EBURNIFICATION
E*bur`ni*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. eburnus of ivory (fr. ebur ivory) +
facere to make.]
Defn: The conversion of certain substances into others which have the
appearance or characteristics of ivory.
EBURNINE
Eb"ur*nine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to ivory. "[She] read from tablet eburnine."
Sir W. Scott.
ECARDINES
E*car"di*nes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. e out, without + cardo a
hinge.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Brachiopoda; the Lyopomata. See Brachiopoda.
ECARTE
É`car`té", n. Etym: [F., prop. fr. écarter to reject, discard.]
Defn: A game at cards, played usually by two persons, in which the
players may discard any or all of the cards dealt and receive others
from the pack.
ECAUDATE
E*cau"date, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + caudate.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Without a tail or spur.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Tailless.
ECBALLIUM
Ec*bal"li*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Ecbole.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cucurbitaceous plants consisting of the single
species Ecballium agreste (or Elaterium), the squirting cucumber. Its
fruit, when ripe, bursts and violently ejects its seeds, together
with a mucilaginous juice, from which elaterium, a powerful cathartic
medicine, is prepared.
ECBASIS
Ec"ba*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure in which the orator treats of things according to
their events consequences.
ECBATIC
Ec*bat"ic, a. Etym: [See Ecbasis.] (Gram.)
Defn: Denoting a mere result or consequence, as distinguished from
telic, which denotes intention or purpose; thus the phrase so that it
was fulfilled," is ecbatic; if rendered "in order that it might be."
etc., is telic.
ECBOLE
Ec"bo*le, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A digression in which a person is introduced speaking his own
words.
ECBOLIC
Ec*bol"ic, n. Etym: [See Ecbole.] (Med.)
Defn: A drug, as ergot, which by exciting uterine contractions
promotes the expulsion of the contents of the uterus.
ECBOLINE
Ec"bo*line (; 104), n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid constituting the active principle of ergot; -- so
named from its power of producing abortion.
ECCALEOBION
Ec`ca*le*o"bi*on, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A contrivance for hatching eggs by artificial heat.
ECCE HOMO
Ec"ce ho"mo. Etym: [L., behold the man. See John xix. 5.] (Paint.)
Defn: A picture which represents the Savior as given up to the people
by Pilate, and wearing a crown of thorns.
ECCENTRIC
Ec*cen"tric, a. Etym: [F. excentrique, formerly also spelled
eccentrique, fr. LL. eccentros out of the center, eccentric, Gr. Ex-,
and Center, and cf. Excentral.]
1. Deviating or departing from the center, or from the line of a
circle; as, an eccentric or elliptical orbit; pertaining to deviation
from the center or from true circular motion.
2. Not having the same center; -- said of circles, ellipses, spheres,
etc., which, though coinciding, either in whole or in part, as to
area or volume, have not the same center; -- opposed to concentric.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: Pertaining to an eccentric; as, the eccentric rod in a steam
engine.
4. Not coincident as to motive or end.
His own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his
master. Bacon.
5. Deviating from stated methods, usual practice, or established
forms or laws; deviating from an appointed sphere or way; departing
from the usual course; irregular; anomalous; odd; as, eccentric
conduct. "This brave and eccentric young man." Macaulay.
He shines eccentric, like a comet's blaze. Savage.
Eccentric anomaly. (Astron.) See Anomaly.
-- Eccentric chuck (Mach.), a lathe chuck so constructed that the
work held by it may be altered as to its center of motion, so as to
produce combinations of eccentric combinations of eccentric circles.
-- Eccentric gear. (Mach.) (a) The whole apparatus, strap, and other
parts, by which the motion of an eccentric is transmitted, as in the
steam engine. (b) A cogwheel set to turn about an eccentric axis used
to give variable rotation.
-- Eccentric hook or gab, a hook-shaped journal box on the end of an
eccentric rod, opposite the strap.
-- Eccentric rod, the rod that connects as eccentric strap with any
part to be acted upon by the eccentric.
-- Eccentric sheave, or Eccentric pulley, an eccentric.
-- Eccentric strap, the ring, operating as a journal box, that
encircles and receives motion from an eccentric; -- called also
eccentric hoop.
Syn.
-- Irregular; anomalous; singular; odd; peculiar; erratic;
idiosyncratic; strange; whimsical.
ECCENTRIC
Ec*cen"tric, n.
1. A circle not having the same center as another contained in some
measure within the first.
2. One who, or that which, deviates from regularity; an anomalous or
irregular person or thing.
3. (Astron.)
(a) In the Ptolemaic system, the supposed circular orbit of a planet
about the earth, but with the earth not in its center.
(b) A circle described about the center of an elliptical orbit, with
half the major axis for radius. Hutton.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: A disk or wheel so arranged upon a shaft that the center of the
wheel and that of the shaft do not coincide. It is used for operating
valves in steam engines, and for other purposes. The motion derived
is precisely that of a crank having the same throw. Back eccentric,
the eccentric that reverses or backs the valve gear and the engine.
-- Fore eccentric, the eccentric that imparts a forward motion to
the valve gear and the engine.
ECCENTRICAL
Ec*cen"tric*al, a.
Defn: See Eccentric.
ECCENTRICALLY
Ec*cen"tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eccentric manner.
Drove eccentrically here and there. Lew Wallace.
ECCENTRICITY
Ec`cen*tric"i*ty, n.; pl. Eccentricities. Etym: [Cf. F.
excentricité.]
1. The state of being eccentric; deviation from the customary line of
conduct; oddity.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The ratio of the distance between the center and the focus of
an ellipse or hyperbola to its semi-transverse axis.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: The ratio of the distance of the center of the orbit of a
heavenly body from the center of the body round which it revolves to
the semi-transverse axis of the orbit.
4. (Mech.)
Defn: The distance of the center of figure of a body, as of an
eccentric, from an axis about which it turns; the throw.
ECCHYMOSE
Ec"chy*mose, v. t. (Med.)
Defn: To discolor by the production of an ecchymosis, or effusion of
blood, beneath the skin; -- chiefly used in the passive form; as, the
parts were much ecchymosed.
ECCHYMOSIS
Ec`chy*mo"sis, n.; pl. Ecchymoses (. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A livid or black and blue spot, produced by the extravasation
or effusion of blood into the areolar tissue from a contusion.
ECCHYMOTIC
Ec`chy*mot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ecchymosis.
ECCLE
Ec"cle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European green woodpecker; -- also called ecall, eaquall,
yaffle. [Prov. Eng.]
ECCLESIA
Ec*cle"si*a, n.; pl. Ecclesiæ (. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The public legislative assembly of the Athenians.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A church, either as a body or as a building.
ECCLESIAL
Ec*cle"si*al, a.
Defn: Ecclesiastical. [Obs.] Milton.
ECCLESIARCH
Ec*cle"si*arch, n. Etym: [LL. ecclesiarcha, fr. Gr. ecclésiarque.]
Defn: An official of the Eastern Church, resembling a sacrist in the
Western Church.
ECCLESIAST
Ec*cle"si*ast, n.
1. An ecclesiastic. Chaucer.
2. The Apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus. [Obs.]
ECCLESIASTES
Ec*cle`si*as"tes, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Ecclesiastic, a.]
Defn: One of the canonical books of the Old Testament.
ECCLESIASTIC
Ec*cle`si*as"tic, a. Etym: [L. ecclesiasticus, Gr. Ex-, and Hale, v.
t., Haul.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the church. See Ecclesiastical.
"Ecclesiastic government." Swift.
ECCLESIASTIC
Ec*cle`si*as"tic, n.
Defn: A person in holy orders, or consecrated to the service of the
church and the ministry of religion; a clergyman; a priest.
From a humble ecclesiastic, he was subsequently preferred to the
highest dignities of the church. Prescott.
ECCLESIASTICAL
Ec*cle`si*as"tic*al, a. Etym: [See Ecclesiastical, a.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the church; relating to the organization or
government of the church; not secular; as, ecclesiastical affairs or
history; ecclesiastical courts.
Every circumstance of ecclesiastical order and discipline was an
abomination. Cowper.
Ecclesiastical commissioners for England, a permanent commission
established by Parliament in 1836, to consider and report upon the
affairs of the Established Church.
-- Ecclesiastical courts, courts for maintaining the discipline of
the Established Church; -- called also Christian courts. [Eng.] --
Ecclesiastical law, a combination of civil and canon law as
administered in ecclesiastical courts. [Eng.] -- Ecclesiastical modes
(Mus.), the church modes, or the scales anciently used.
-- Ecclesiastical States, the territory formerly subject to the Pope
of Rome as its temporal ruler; -- called also States of the Church.
ECCLESIASTICALLY
Ec*cle`si*as"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ecclesiastical manner; according ecclesiastical rules.
ECCLESIASTICISM
Ec*cle`si*as"ti*cism, n.
Defn: Strong attachment to ecclesiastical usages, forms, etc.
ECCLESIASTICUS
Ec*cle`si*as"ti*cus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A book of the Apocrypha.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL
Ec*cle`si*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to ecclesiology.
ECCLESIOLOGIST
Ec*cle`si*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in ecclesiology.
ECCLESIOLOGY
Ec*cle`si*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Ecclesia + -logy.]
Defn: The science or theory of church building and decoration.
ECCRITIC
Ec*crit"ic, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A remedy which promotes discharges, as an emetic, or a
cathartic.
ECDERON
Ec"der*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Ecteron.
-- Ec`der*on"ic, a.
ECDYSIS
Ec"dy*sis, n.; pl. Ecdyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'e`kdysis a getting
out, fr. 'ekdy`ein, to put off; 'ek out + dy`ein to enter.] (Biol.)
Defn: The act of shedding, or casting off, an outer cuticular layer,
as in the case of serpents, lobsters, etc.; a coming out; as, the
ecdysis of the pupa from its shell; exuviation.
ECGONINE
Ec"go*nine (; 104), n. Etym: [Gr. 'e`kgonos sprung from.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline, nitrogenous base, obtained by the
decomposition of cocaine.
ECHAUGUETTE
(), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A small chamber or place of protection for a sentinel, usually
in the form of a projecting turret, or the like. See Castle.
ECHE
Ech"e, a. or a. pron.
Defn: Each. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ECHELON
Ech"e*lon, n. Etym: [F., fr. échelle ladder, fr. L. scala.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn
up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in
advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing.
Also used adjectively; as, echelon distance. Upton (Tactics).
2. (Naval)
Defn: An arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or Encyc. Dict. Echelon
lens (Optics), a large lens constructed in several parts or layers,
extending in a succession of annular rings beyond the central lens; -
- used in lighthouses.
ECHELON
Ech"e*lon, v. t. (Mil.)
Defn: To place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon.
ECHELON
Ech"e*lon, v. i.
Defn: To take position in echelon.
Change direction to the left, echelon by battalion from the right.
Upton (Tactics).
ECHIDNA
E*chid"na, n. Etym: [L., a viper, adder, Gr.
1. (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: A monster, half maid and half serpent.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Monotremata found in Australia, Tasmania, and New
Guinea. They are toothless and covered with spines; -- called also
porcupine ant-eater, and Australian ant-eater.
ECHIDNINE
E*chid"nine (; 104), n. Etym: [See Echidna.] (Chem.)
Defn: The clear, viscid fluid secreted by the poison glands of
certain serpents; also, a nitrogenous base contained in this, and
supposed to be the active poisonous principle of the virus. Brande &
C.
ECHINATE; ECHINATED
Ech"i*nate, Ech"i*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. echinatus. See Echinus.]
Defn: Set with prickles; prickly, like a hedgehog; bristled; as, an
echinated pericarp.
ECHINID
E*chi"nid, a. & n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Echinoid.
ECHINIDAN
E*chin"i*dan, n. Etym: [Cf. F. échinide.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One the Echinoidea.
ECHINITAL
E*chin"i*tal, a.
Defn: Of, or like, an echinite.
ECHINITE
Ech"i*nite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. échinite. See Echinus.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil echinoid.
ECHINOCOCCUS
E*chi`no*coc"cus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A parasite of man and of many domestic and wild animals,
forming compound cysts or tumors (called hydatid cysts) in various
organs, but especially in the liver and lungs, which often cause
death. It is the larval stage of the Tænia echinococcus, a small
tapeworm peculiar to the dog.
ECHINODERM
E*chin"o*derm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Echinodermata.
ECHINODERMAL
E*chi`no*der"mal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating or belonging to the echinoderms.
ECHINODERMATA
E*chi`no*der"ma*ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom. By many
writers it was formerly included in the Radiata. [Written also
Echinoderma.]
Note: The species usually have an exterior calcareous skeleton, or
shell, made of many pieces, and often covered with spines, to which
the name. They may be star-shaped, cylindrical, disk-shaped, or more
or less spherical. The body consists of several similar parts
(spheromeres) repeated symmetrically around a central axis, at one
end of which the mouth is situated. They generally have suckers for
locomotion. The group includes the following classes: Crinoidea,
Asterioidea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, and Holothurioidea. See these
words in the Vocabulary, and also Ambulacrum.
ECHINODERMATOUS
E*chi`no*der"ma*tous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to Echinodermata; echinodermal.
ECHINOID
E*chi"noid, a. Etym: [Echinus + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Echinoidea.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Echinoidea.
ECHINOIDEA
Ech`i*noi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Echinus, and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The class Echinodermata which includes the sea urchins. They
have a calcareous, usually more or less spheroidal or disk-shaped,
composed of many united plates, and covered with movable spines. See
Spatangoid, Clypeastroid. [Written also Echinidea, and Echinoida.]
ECHINOZOA
E*chi`no*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Echinodermata.
ECHINULATE
E*chin"u*late, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Set with small spines or prickles.
ECHINUS
E*chi"nus, n.; pl. Echini. Etym: [L., a hedgehog, sea urchin, Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hedgehog.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of echinoderms, including the common edible sea urchin
of Europe.
3. (Arch.)
(a) The rounded molding forming the bell of the capital of the
Grecian Doric style, which is of a peculiar elastic curve. See
Entablature.
(b) The quarter-round molding (ovolo) of the Roman Doric style. See
Illust. of Column
(c) A name sometimes given to the egg and anchor or egg and dart
molding, because that ornament is often identified with Roman Doric
capital. The name probably alludes to the shape of the shell of the
sea urchin.
ECHIUROIDEA
Ech`i*u*roi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. echiurus, the name of one
genus (Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Annelida which includes the genus Echiurus and
allies. They are often classed among the Gephyrea, and called the
armed Gephyreans.
ECHO
Ech"o, n.; pl. Echoes. Etym: [L. echo, Gr. va to sound, bellow; perh.
akin to E. voice: cf. F. écho.]
1. A sound reflected from an opposing surface and repeated to the ear
of a listener; repercussion of sound; repetition of a sound.
The babbling echo mocks the hounds. Shak.
The woods shall answer, and the echo ring. Pope.
2. Fig.: Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.
Fame is the echo of actions, resounding them. Fuller.
Many kind, and sincere speeches found an echo in his heart. R. L.
Stevenson.
3.
(a) (Myth. & Poetic) A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating,
and causing the reverberation of them.
Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell.
Milton.
(b) (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of
Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice.
Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo To give me answer from her
mossy couch. Milton.
Echo organ (Mus.), a set organ pipes inclosed in a box so as to
produce a soft, distant effect; -- generally superseded by the swell.
-- Echo stop (Mus.), a stop upon a harpsichord contrived for
producing the soft effect of distant sound.
-- To applaud to the echo, to give loud and continuous applause. M.
Arnold.
I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again.
Shak.
ECHO
Ech"o, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Echoed; p. pr. & vb. n. Echoing.
-- 3d pers. sing. pres. Echoes (.]
1. To send back (a sound); to repeat in sound; to reverberate.
Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng. Dryden.
The wondrous sound Is echoed on forever. Keble.
2. To repeat with assent; to respond; to adopt.
They would have echoed the praises of the men whom they Macaulay.
ECHO
Ech"o, v. i.
Defn: To give an echo; to resound; to be sounded back; as, the hall
echoed with acclamations. "Echoing noise." Blackmore.
ECHOER
Ech"o*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, echoes.
ECHOLESS
Ech"o*less, a.
Defn: Without echo or response.
ECHOMETER
E*chom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. échomètre.] (Mus)
Defn: A graduated scale for measuring the duration of sounds, and
determining their different, and the relation of their intervals. J.
J. Rousseau.
ECHOMETRY
E*chom"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. échométrie.]
1. The art of measuring the duration of sounds or echoes.
2. The art of constructing vaults to produce echoes.
ECHON; ECHOON
Ech*on", Ech*oon", pron.
Defn: Each one. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ECHOPATHY
E*chop"a*thy, n. [Echo + -pathy, as in homeopathy.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid condition characterized by automatic and purposeless
repetition of words or imitation of actions.
ECHOSCOPE
Ech"o*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for intensifying sounds produced by percussion of
the thorax. Knight.
ECLAIR
e`clair", n. Etym: [F.] (Cookery)
Defn: A kind of frosted cake, containing flavored cream.
ECLAIRCISE
E*clair"cise, v. t. Etym: [F. éclaircir; pref. es- (L. ex) + clair
clear, L. clarus.]
Defn: To make clear; to clear up what is obscure or not understood;
to explain.
ECLAIRCISSEMENT
E*clair"cisse*ment, n. Etym: [F., fr. éclaircir. See Eclaircise, v.
t.]
Defn: The clearing up of anything which is obscure or not easily
understood; an explanation.
The eclaircissement ended in the discovery of the informer.
Clarendon.
ECLAMPSIA
Ec*lamp"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A fancied perception of flashes of light, a symptom of
epilepsy; hence, epilepsy itself; convulsions.
Note: The term is generally restricted to a convulsive affection
attending pregnancy and parturition, and to infantile convulsions.
ECLAMPSY
Ec*lamp"sy, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Eclampsia.
ECLAT
E*clat", n. Etym: [F. éclat a fragment, splinter, explosion,
brilliancy, splendor, fr. éclater to splinter, burst, explode, shine
brilliantly, prob. of German origin; cf. OHG. sleizan to slit, split,
fr. slizan, G. schleissen; akin to E. slit.]
1. Brilliancy of success or effort; splendor; brilliant show;
striking effect; glory; renown. "The eclat of Homer's battles." Pope.
2. Demonstration of admiration and approbation; applause. Prescott.
ECLECTIC
Ec*lec"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. éclectique. See Eclogue, and cf. Elect.]
1. Selecting; choosing (what is true or excellent in doctrines,
opinions, etc.) from various sources or systems; as, an eclectic
philosopher.
2. Consisting, or made up, of what is chosen or selected; as, an
eclectic method; an eclectic magazine. Eclectic physician, one of a
class of practitioners of medicine, who select their modes of
practice and medicines from all schools; formerly, sometimes the same
as botanic physician. [U.S.] -- Eclectic school. (Paint.) See
Bolognese school, under Bolognese.
ECLECTIC
Ec*lec"tic, n.
Defn: One who follows an eclectic method.
ECLECTICALLY
Ec*lec"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eclectic manner; by an eclectic method.
ECLECTICISM
Ec*lec"ti*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éclecticisme. Cf. Electicism.]
Defn: Theory or practice of an eclectic.
ECLEGM
Ec*legm", n. Etym: [F. éclegme, L. ecligma, fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine made by mixing oils with sirups. John Quincy.
ECLIPSE
E*clipse", n. Etym: [F. éclipse, L. eclipsis, fr. Gr. Ex-, and Loan.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: An interception or obscuration of the light of the sun, moon,
or other luminous body, by the intervention of some other body,
either between it and the eye, or between the luminous body and that
illuminated by it. A lunar eclipse is caused by the moon passing
through the earth's shadow; a solar eclipse, by the moon coming
between the sun and the observer. A satellite is eclipsed by entering
the shadow of its primary. The obscuration of a planet or star by the
moon or a planet, though of the nature of an eclipse, is called an
occultation. The eclipse of a small portion of the sun by Mercury or
Venus is called a transit of the planet.
Note: In ancient times, eclipses were, and among unenlightened people
they still are, superstitiously regarded as forerunners of evil
fortune, a sentiment of which occasional use is made in literature.
That fatal and perfidious bark, Built in the eclipse, and rigged with
curses dark. Milton.
2. The loss, usually temporary or partial, of light, brilliancy,
luster, honor, consciousness, etc.; obscuration; gloom; darkness.
All the posterity of our fist parents suffered a perpetual eclipse of
spiritual life. Sir W. Raleigh.
As in the soft and sweet eclipse, When soul meets soul on lovers'
lips. Shelley.
Annular eclipse. (Astron.) See under Annular.
-- Cycle of eclipses. See under Cycle.
ECLIPSE
E*clipse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eclipsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Eclipsing.]
1. To cause the obscuration of; to darken or hide; -- said of a
heavenly body; as, the moon eclipses the sun.
2. To obscure, darken, or extinguish the beauty, luster, honor, etc.,
of; to sully; to cloud; to throw into the shade by surpassing. "His
eclipsed state." Dryden.
My joy of liberty is half eclipsed. Shak.
ECLIPSE
E*clipse", v. i.
Defn: To suffer an eclipse.
While the laboring moon Eclipses at their charms. Milton.
ECLIPTIC
E*clip"tic, n. Etym: [Cf. F. écliptique, L. linea ecliptica, Gr.
Ecliptic, a.]
1. (Astron.)
Defn: A great circle of the celestial sphere, making an angle with
the equinoctial of about 23º 28'. It is the apparent path of the sun,
or the real path of the earth as seen from the sun.
2. (Geog.)
Defn: A great circle drawn on a terrestrial globe, making an angle of
23º 28' with the equator; -- used for illustrating and solving
astronomical problems.
ECLIPTIC
E*clip"tic, a. Etym: [L. eclipticus belonging to an eclipse, Gr.
Eclipse.]
1. Pertaining to the ecliptic; as, the ecliptic way.
2. Pertaining to an eclipse or to eclipses. Lunar ecliptic limit
(Astron.), the space of 12º on the moon's orbit from the node, within
which, if the moon happens to be at full, it will be eclipsed.
-- Solar ecliptic limit, the space of 17º from the lunar node,
within which, if a conjunction of the sun and moon occur, the sun
will be eclipsed.
ECLOGITE
Ec"lo*gite, n. Etym: [See Ecloque.] (Min.)
Defn: A rock consisting of granular red garnet, light green
smaragdite, and common hornblende; -- so called in reference to its
beauty.
ECLOGUE
Ec"logue, n. Etym: [L. ecloga, Gr. égloque, écloque. See Ex-, and
Legend.]
Defn: A pastoral poem, in which shepherds are introduced conversing
with each other; a bucolic; an idyl; as, the Ecloques of Virgil, from
which the modern usage of the word has been established.
ECONOMIC; ECONOMICAL
E`co*nom"ic, E`co*nom"ic*al, a. Etym: [F. économique, L. oeconomicus
orderly, methodical, Gr. Economy.]
1. Pertaining to the household; domestic. "In this economical
misfortune [of ill-assorted matrimony.]" Milton.
2. Relating to domestic economy, or to the management of household
affairs.
And doth employ her economic art And busy care, her household to
preserve. Sir J. Davies.
3. Managing with frugality; guarding against waste or unnecessary
expense; careful and frugal in management and in expenditure; -- said
of character or habits.
Just rich enough, with economic care, To save a pittance. Harte.
4. Managed with frugality; not marked with waste or extravagance;
frugal; -- said of acts; saving; as, an economical use of money or of
time.
5. Relating to the means of living, or the resources and wealth of a
country; relating to political economy; as, economic purposes;
economical truths.
These matters economical and political. J. C. Shairp.
There was no economical distress in England to prompt the enterprises
of colonization. Palfrey.
Economic questions, such as money, usury, taxes, lands, and the
employment of the people. H. C. Baird.
6. Regulative; relating to the adaptation of means to an end. Grew.
Note: Economical is the usual form when meaning frugal, saving;
economic is the form commonly used when meaning pertaining to the
management of a household, or of public affairs.
ECONOMICALLY
E`co*nom"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: With economy; with careful management; with prudence in
expenditure.
ECONOMICS
E`co*nom"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. Economic.]
1. The science of household affairs, or of domestic management.
2. Political economy; the science of the utilities or the useful
application of wealth or material resources. See Political economy,
under Political. "In politics and economics." V. Knox.
ECONOMIST
E*con"o*mist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. économiste.]
1. One who economizes, or manages domestic or other concerns with
frugality; one who expends money, time, or labor, judiciously, and
without waste. "Economists even to parsimony." Burke.
2. One who is conversant with political economy; a student of
economics.
ECONOMIZATION
E*con`o*mi*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or practice of using to the best effect. [R.] H.
Spenser.
ECONOMIZE
E*con"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Economized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Economizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. économiser.]
Defn: To manage with economy; to use with prudence; to expend with
frugality; as, to economize one's income. [Written also economise.]
Expenses in the city were to be economized. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Calculating how to economize time. W. Irving.
ECONOMIZE
E*con"o*mize, v. i.
Defn: To be prudently sparing in expenditure; to be frugal and
saving; as, to economize in order to grow rich. [Written also
economise.] Milton.
ECONOMIZER
E*con"o*mi`zer, n.
1. One who, or that which, economizes.
2. Specifically: (Steam Boilers) An arrangement of pipes for heating
feed water by waste heat in the gases passing to the chimney.
ECONOMY
E*con"o*my, n.; pl. Economies. Etym: [F. économie, L. oeconomia
household management, fr. Gr. vicus village, E. vicinity) + Vicinity,
Nomad.]
1. The management of domestic affairs; the regulation and government
of household matters; especially as they concern expense or
disbursement; as, a careful economy.
Himself busy in charge of the household economies. Froude.
2. Orderly arrangement and management of the internal affairs of a
state or of any establishment kept up by production and consumption;
esp., such management as directly concerns wealth; as, political
economy.
3. The system of rules and regulations by which anything is managed;
orderly system of regulating the distribution and uses of parts,
conceived as the result of wise and economical adaptation in the
author, whether human or divine; as, the animal or vegetable economy;
the economy of a poem; the Jewish economy.
The position which they [the verb and adjective] hold in the general
economy of language. Earle.
In the Greek poets, as also in Plautus, we shall see the economy . .
. of poems better observed than in Terence. B. Jonson.
The Jews already had a Sabbath, which, as citizens and subjects of
that economy, they were obliged to keep. Paley.
4. Thrifty and frugal housekeeping; management without loss or waste;
frugality in expenditure; prudence and disposition to save; as, a
housekeeper accustomed to economy but not to parsimony. Political
economy. See under Political.
Syn.
-- Economy, Frugality, Parsimony. Economy avoids all waste and
extravagance, and applies money to the best advantage; frugality cuts
off indulgences, and proceeds on a system of saving. The latter
conveys the idea of not using or spending superfluously, and is
opposed to lavishness or profusion. Frugality is usually applied to
matters of consumption, and commonly points to simplicity of manners;
parsimony is frugality carried to an extreme, involving meanness of
spirit, and a sordid mode of living. Economy is a virtue, and
parsimony a vice.
I have no other notion of economy than that it is the parent to
liberty and ease. Swift.
The father was more given to frugality, and the son to riotousness
[luxuriousness]. Golding.
ECORCHE
(), n. Etym: [F.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: A manikin, or image, representing an animal, especially man,
with the skin removed so that the muscles are exposed for purposes of
study.
ECOSSAISE
e`cos`saise", n. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: A dancing tune in the Scotch style.
ECOSTATE
E*cos"tate, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + costate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no ribs or nerves; -- said of a leaf.
ECOUTE
e`coute", n. Etym: [F., a listening place.] (Mil.)
Defn: One of the small galleries run out in front of the glacis. They
serve to annoy the enemy's miners.
ECPHASIS
Ec"pha*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An explicit declaration.
ECPHONEMA
Ec`pho*ne"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A breaking out with some interjectional particle.
ECPHONEME
Ec"pho*neme, n. Etym: [See Ecphonema.]
Defn: A mark (!) used to indicate an exclamation. G. Brown.
ECPHONESIS
Ec`pho*ne"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Ecphonema.] (Rhet.)
Defn: An animated or passionate exclamation.
The feelings by the ecphonesis are very various. Gibbs.
ECPHRACTIC
Ec*phrac"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. ecphractique.] (Med.)
Defn: Serving to dissolve or attenuate viscid matter, and so to
remove obstructions; deobstruent.
-- n.
Defn: An ecphractic medicine. Harvey.
ECRASEMENT
e`crase`ment", n. Etym: [F.] (Surg.)
Defn: The operation performed with an écraseur.
ECRASEUR
e`cra`seur", n. Etym: [F., fr. écraser to crush.] (Surg.)
Defn: An instrument intended to replace the knife in many operations,
the parts operated on being severed by the crushing effect produced
by the gradual tightening of a steel chain, so that hemorrhage rarely
follows.
ECRU
e`cru", a. Etym: [F., fr. L. crudus raw.]
Defn: Having the color or appearance of unbleached stuff, as silk,
linen, or the like.
ECSTASY
Ec"sta*sy, n.; pl. Ecstasies. Etym: [F. extase, L. ecstasis, fr. Gr.
Ex-, and Stand.] [Also written extasy.]
1. The state of being beside one's self or rapt out of one's self; a
state in which the mind is elevated above the reach of ordinary
impressions, as when under the influence of overpowering emotion; an
extraordinary elevation of the spirit, as when the soul, unconscious
of sensible objects, is supposed to contemplate heavenly mysteries.
Like a mad prophet in an ecstasy. Dryden.
This is the very ecstasy of love. Shak.
2. Excessive and overmastering joy or enthusiasm; rapture;
enthusiastic delight.
He on the tender grass Would sit, and hearken even to ecstasy.
Milton.
3. Violent distraction of mind; violent emotion; excessive grief of
anxiety; insanity; madness. [Obs.]
That unmatched form and feature of blown youth Blasted with ecstasy.
Shak.
Our words will but increase his ecstasy. Marlowe.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A state which consists in total suspension of sensibility, of
voluntary motion, and largely of mental power. The body is erect and
inflexible; the pulsation and breathing are not affected. Mayne.
ECSTASY
Ec"sta*sy, v. t.
Defn: To fill ecstasy, or with rapture or enthusiasm. [Obs.]
The most ecstasied order of holy . . . spirits. Jer. Taylor.
ECSTATIC
Ec*stat"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. extatique. See Ecstasy, n.]
1. Pertaining to, or caused by, ecstasy or excessive emotion; of the
nature, or in a state, of ecstasy; as, ecstatic gaze; ecstatic
trance.
This ecstatic fit of love and jealousy. Hammond.
2. Delightful beyond measure; rapturous; ravishing; as, ecstatic
bliss or joy.
ECSTATIC
Ec*stat"ic, n.
Defn: An enthusiast. [R.] Gauden.
ECSTATICAL
Ec*stat"ic*al, a.
1. Ecstatic. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. Tending to external objects. [R.] Norris.
ECSTATICALLY
Ec*stat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Rapturously; ravishingly.
ECT-; ECTO-
Ect-, Ec"to-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A combining form signifying without, outside, external.
ECTAD
Ec"tad, adv. Etym: [Ect- + L. ad towards.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the outside or surface; -- opposed to entad. B. G.
Wilder.
ECTAL
Ec"tal, a. Etym: [See Ect-.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, the surface; outer; -- opposed
to ental. B. G. Wilder.
ECTASIA
Ec*ta"si*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Ectasis.] (Med.)
Defn: A dilatation of a hollow organ or of a canal.
ECTASIS
Ec"ta*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: The lengthening of a syllable from short to long.
ECTENTAL
Ec*ten"tal, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to, or connected with, the two primitive germ layers,
the ectoderm and ectoderm; as, the "ectental line" or line of
juncture of the two layers in the segmentation of the ovum. C. S.
Minot.
ECTERON
Ec"ter*on, n. Etym: [See Ect-.] (Anat.)
Defn: The external layer of the skin and mucous membranes;
epithelium; ecderon.
-- Ec`ter*on"ic, a.
ECTETHMOID
Ec*teth"moid, a. Etym: [Ect- + ethmoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: External to the ethmoid; prefrontal.
ECTHLIPSIS
Ec*thlip"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. The dropping out or suppression from a word of a consonant, with
or without a vowel.
2. (Lat. Pros.)
Defn: The elision of a final m, with the preceding vowel, before a
word beginning with a vowel.
ECTHOREUM
Ec`tho*re"um, n.; pl. Ecthorea. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The slender, hollow thread of a nettling cell or cnida. See
Nettling cell. [Written also ecthoræum.]
ECTHYMA
Ec*thy"ma, n.; pl. Ecthymata. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A cutaneous eruption, consisting of large, round pustules, upon
an indurated and inflamed base. Dunglison.
ECTO-
Ec"to-.
Defn: See Ect-.
ECTOBLAST
Ec"to*blast, n. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Biol.)
(a) The outer layer of the blastoderm; the epiblast; the ectoderm.
(b) The outer envelope of a cell; the cell wall. Agassiz.
ECTOBRONCHIUM
Ec`to*bron"chi*um, n.; pl. Ectobronchia. Etym: [NL. See Ecto-, and
Bronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the dorsal branches of the main bronchi in the lungs of
birds.
ECTOCUNERIFORM; ECTOCUNIFORM
Ec`to*cu*ne"ri*form, Ec`to*cu"ni*form, n. Etym: [Ecto- + cuneiform,
cuniform.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones of the tarsus. See Cuneiform.
ECTOCYST
Ec"to*cyst, n. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The outside covering of the Bryozoa.
ECTODERM
Ec"to*derm, n. Etym: [Ecto- + -derm.] (Biol.)
(a) The outer layer of the blastoderm; epiblast.
(b) The external skin or outer layer of an animal or plant, this
being formed in an animal from the epiblast. See Illust. of
Blastoderm.
ECTODERMAL; ECTODERMIC
Ec`to*der"mal, Ec`to*der"mic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or relating to the ectoderm.
ECTOLECITHAL
Ec`to*lec"i*thal, a. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Having the food yolk, at the commencement of segmentation, in a
peripheral position, and the cleavage process confined to the center
of the egg; as, ectolecithal ova.
ECTOMERE
Ec"to*mere, n. Etym: [Ecto- + -mere.] (Biol.)
Defn: The more transparent cells, which finally become external, in
many segmenting ova, as those of mammals.
ECTOPARASITE
Ec`to*par"a*site, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any parasite which lives on the exterior of animals; -- opposed
to endoparasite.
-- Ec`to*par`a*sit"ic, a.
ECTOPIA
Ec*to"pi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A morbid displacement of parts, especially such as is
congenial; as, ectopia of the heart, or of the bladder.
ECTOPIC
Ec*top"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Out of place; congenitally displaced; as, an ectopic organ.
ECTOPLASM
Ec"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Biol.)
(a) The outer transparent layer of protoplasm in a developing ovum.
(b) The outer hyaline layer of protoplasm in a vegetable cell.
(c) The ectosarc of protozoan.
ECTOPLASTIC
Ec`to*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, ectoplasm.
ECTOPROCTA
Ec`to*proc"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Bryozoa in which the anus lies outside the circle
of tentacles.
ECTOPY
Ec"to*py, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Ectopia.
ECTORGANISM
Ect*or"gan*ism, n. Etym: [Ect- + organism.] (Biol.)
Defn: An external parasitic organism.
ECTOSARC
Ec"to*sarc, n. Etym: [Ecto- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The semisolid external layer of protoplasm in some unicellular
organisms, as the amoeba; ectoplasm; exoplasm.
ECTOSTEAL
Ec*tos"te*al, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to ectostosis; as, ectosteal ossification.
ECTOSTOSIS
Ec`tos*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Ect-, and Ostosis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A process of bone formation in which ossification takes place
in the perichondrium and either surrounds or gradually replaces the
cartilage.
ECTOZOIC
Ec`to*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Epizoic.
ECTOZOON; ECTOZOOEN
Ec`to*zo"ön, n.; pl. Ectozoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Epizoön.
ECTROPION
Ec*tro"pi*on, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural eversion of the eyelids.
ECTROPIUM
Ec*tro"pi*um, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Ectropion.
ECTROTIC
Ec*trot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Having a tendency to prevent the development of anything,
especially of a disease.
ECTYPAL
Ec"ty*pal, a. Etym: [L. ectypus worked in high relief, Gr. Type.]
Defn: Copied, reproduced as a molding or cast, in contradistinction
from the original model.
ECTYPE
Ec"type, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ectype. See Ectypal.]
1. (Classical Archæol.)
(a) A copy, as in pottery, of an artist's original work. Hence:
(b) A work sculptured in relief, as a cameo, or in bas-relief (in
this sense used loosely).
2. A copy from an original; a type of something that has previously
existed.
Some regarded him [Klopstock] as an ectype of the ancient prophets.
Eng. Cyc. .
ECTYPOGRAPHY
Ec`ty*pog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Ectype + -graphy.]
Defn: A method of etching in which the design upon the plate is
produced in relief.
ECUMENIC; ECUMENICAL
Ec`u*men"ic, Ec`u*men"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. oecumenicus, Gr. Economy.]
Defn: General; universal; in ecclesiastical usage, that which
concerns the whole church; as, an ecumenical council. [Written also
.] Ecumenical Bishop, a title assumed by the popes.
-- Ecumenical council. See under Council.
ECURIE
Ec"u*rie, n. Etym: [F. See Equerry.]
Defn: A stable.
ECZEMA
Ec"ze*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'e`kzema; "ek out + zei^n to boil.]
(Med.)
Defn: An inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by the
presence of redness and itching, an eruption of small vesicles, and
the discharge of a watery exudation, which often dries up, leaving
the skin covered with crusts; -- called also tetter, milk crust, and
salt rheum.
ECZEMATOUS
Ec*zem"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to eczema; having the characteristic of eczema.
-ED
-ed.
Defn: The termination of the past participle of regular, or weak,
verbs; also, of analogous participial adjectives from nouns; as,
pigmented; talented.
EDACIOUS
E*da"cious, a. Etym: [L. edax, edacis, fr. edere to eat.]
Defn: Given to eating; voracious; devouring.
Swallowed in the depths of edacious Time. Carlyle.
-- E*da"cious*ly, adv.
-- E*da"cious*ness, n.
EDACITY
E*dac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. edacitas.]
Defn: Greediness; voracity; ravenousness; rapacity. Bacon.
EDAM; EDAM CHEESE
E"dam, n., or Edam cheese.
Defn: A Dutch pressed cheese of yellow color and fine flavor, made in
balls weighing three or four pounds, and usually colored crimson
outside; -- so called from the village of Edam, near Amsterdam. Also,
cheese of the same type, wherever made.
EDDA
Ed"da, n.; pl. Eddas. Etym: [Icel., lit. great-grandmother (i. e., of
Scandinavian poetry), so called by Bishop Brynjúlf Sveinsson, who
brought it again to light in 1643.]
Defn: The religious or mythological book of the old Scandinavian
tribes of German origin, containing two collections of Sagas
(legends, myths) of the old northern gods and heroes.
Note: There are two Eddas. The older, consisting of 39 poems, was
reduced to writing from oral tradition in Iceland between 1050 and
1133. The younger or prose Edda, called also the Edda of Snorri, is
the work of several writers, though usually ascribed to Snorri
Sturleson, who was born in 1178.
EDDAIC; EDDIC
Ed*da"ic, Ed"dic, a.
Defn: Relating to the Eddas; resembling the Eddas.
EDDER
Ed"der, n. Etym: [See Adder.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An adder or serpent. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
EDDER
Ed"der, n. Etym: [AS. edor hedge, fence; akin to etar.]
Defn: Flexible wood worked into the top of hedge stakes, to bind them
together. [Obs.] Tusser.
EDDER
Ed"der, v. t.
Defn: To bind the top interweaving edder; as, to edder a hedge.
[Obs.]
EDDISH
Ed"dish, n. Etym: [AS. edisc; cf. AS. pref. ed- again, anew. Cf.
Eddy, and Arrish.]
Defn: Aftermath; also, stubble and stubble field. See Arrish. [Eng.]
EDDOES
Ed"does, n. pl. (Bot.)
Defn: The tubers of Colocasia antiquorum. See Taro.
EDDY
Ed"dy, n.; pl. Eddies. Etym: [Prob. fr. Icel. i; cf. Icel. pref. i
back, AS. ed-, OS. idug-, OHG. ita-; Goth. id-.]
1. A current of air or water running back, or in a direction contrary
to the main current.
2. A current of water or air moving in a circular direction; a
whirlpool.
And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.
Wheel through the air, in circling eddies play. Addison.
Note: Used also adjectively; as, eddy winds. Dryden.
EDDY
Ed"dy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Eddied; p. pr. & vb. n. Eddying.]
Defn: To move as an eddy, or as in an eddy; to move in a circle.
Eddying round and round they sink. Wordsworth.
EDDY
Ed"dy, v. t.
Defn: To collect as into an eddy. [R.]
The circling mountains eddy in From the bare wild the dissipated
storm. Thomson.
EDDY CURRENT
Ed"dy cur"rent. (Elec.)
Defn: An induced electric current circulating wholly within a mass of
metal; -- called also Foucault current.
EDDY KITE
Ed"dy kite. Called also Malay kite. [After William A. Eddy, American
kite expert.]
Defn: A quadrilateral, tailless kite, with convex surfaces exposed to
the wind. This kite was extensively used by Eddy in his famous
meteorological experiments. It is now generally superseded by the box
kite.
EDELWEISS
E"del*weiss, n. Etym: [G., fr. edel noble + weiss white.] (Bot.)
Defn: A little, perennial, white, woolly plant (Leontopodium
alpinum), growing at high elevations in the Alps.
EDEMA
E*de"ma, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as oedema.
EDEMATOUS; EDEMATOSE
E*de"ma*tous, or E*de"ma*tose`, a. (Med.)
Defn: Same as oedematous.
EDEN
E"den, n. Etym: [Heb. eden delight, pleasure; also, a place of
pleasure, Eden.]
Defn: The garden where Adam and Eve first dwelt; hence, a delightful
region or residence.
EDENIC
E*den"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Eden; paradisaic. "Edenic joys." Mrs.
Browning.
EDENITE
E"den*ite, n. Etym: [From Edenville, N. Y.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of amphibole. See Amphibole.
EDENIZED
E"den*ized, a.
Defn: Admitted to a state of paradisaic happiness. [R.] Davies (Wit's
Pilgr. ).
EDENTAL
E*den"tal, a.
Defn: See Edentate, a.
-- n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Edentata.
EDENTALOUS
E*den"tal*ous, a.
Defn: See Edentate, a.
EDENTATA
E`den*ta"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from L. edentatus, p. p. of
edentare to render toothless; e out + dens, dentis, tooth.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of mammals including the armadillos, sloths, and
anteaters; -- called also Bruta. The incisor teeth are rarely
developed, and in some groups all the teeth are lacking.
EDENTATE
E*den"tate, a.
1. Destitute of teeth; as, an edentate quadruped; an edentate leaf.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Edentata.
EDENTATE
E*den"tate, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Edentata.
EDENTATED
E*den`ta*ted, a.
Defn: Same as Edentate, a.
EDENTATION
E`den*ta"tion, n.
Defn: A depriving of teeth. [R.] Cockeram.
EDENTULOUS
E*den"tu*lous, a. Etym: [L. edentulus; e out + dens, dentis, tooth.]
Defn: Toothless.
EDGE
Edge, n. Etym: [OE. eg, egge, AS. ecg; akin to OHG. ekka, G. ecke,
Icel. & Sw. egg, Dan. eg, and to L. acies, Gr. a edge. Egg, v. t.,
Eager, Ear spike of corn, Acute.]
1. The thin cutting side of the blade of an instrument; as, the edge
of an ax, knife, sword, or scythe. Hence, figuratively, that which
cuts as an edge does, or wounds deeply, etc.
He which hath the sharp sword with two edges. Rev. ii. 12.
Slander, Whose edge is sharper than the sword. Shak.
2. Any sharp terminating border; a margin; a brink; extreme verge;
as, the edge of a table, a precipice.
Upon the edge of yonder coppice. Shak.
In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle. Milton.
Pursue even to the very edge of destruction. Sir W. Scott.
3. Sharpness; readiness of fitness to cut; keenness; intenseness of
desire.
The full edge of our indignation. Sir W. Scott.
Death and persecution lose all the ill that they can have, if we do
not set an edge upon them by our fears and by our vices. Jer. Taylor.
4. The border or part adjacent to the line of division; the beginning
or early part; as, in the edge of evening. "On the edge of winter."
Milton. Edge joint (Carp.), a joint formed by two edges making a
corner.
-- Edge mill, a crushing or grinding mill in which stones roll
around on their edges, on a level circular bed; -- used for ore, and
as an oil mill. Called also Chilian mill.
-- Edge molding (Arch.), a molding whose section is made up of two
curves meeting in an angle.
-- Edge plane. (a) (Carp.) A plane for edging boards. (b)
(Shoemaking) A plane for edging soles.
-- Edge play, a kind of swordplay in which backswords or cutlasses
are used, and the edge, rather than the point, is employed.
-- Edge rail. (Railroad) (a) A rail set on edge; -- applied to a
rail of more depth than width. (b) A guard rail by the side of the
main rail at a switch. Knight.
-- Edge railway, a railway having the rails set on edge.
-- Edge stone, a curbstone.
-- Edge tool. (a) Any tool instrument having a sharp edge intended
for cutting. (b) A tool for forming or dressing an edge; an edging
tool.
-- To be on edge, to be eager, impatient, or anxious.
-- To set the teeth on edge, to cause a disagreeable tingling
sensation in the teeth, as by bringing acids into contact with them.
Bacon.
EDGE
Edge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Edged; p. pr. & vb. n. Edging.]
1. To furnish with an edge as a tool or weapon; to sharpen.
To edge her champion's sword. Dryden.
2. To shape or dress the edge of, as with a tool.
3. To furnish with a fringe or border; as, to edge a dress; to edge a
garden with box.
Hills whose tops were edged with groves. Pope.
4. To make sharp or keen, figuratively; to incite; to exasperate; to
goad; to urge or egg on. [Obs.]
By such reasonings, the simple were blinded, and the malicious edged.
Hayward.
5. To move by little and little or cautiously, as by pressing forward
edgewise; as, edging their chairs forwards. Locke.
EDGE
Edge, v. i.
1. To move sideways; to move gradually; as, edge along this way.
2. To sail close to the wind.
I must edge up on a point of wind. Dryden.
To edge away or off (Naut.), to increase the distance gradually from
the shore, vessel, or other object.
-- To edge down (Naut.), to approach by slow degrees, as when a
sailing vessel approaches an object in an oblique direction from the
windward.
-- To edge in, to get in edgewise; to get in by degrees.
-- To edge in with, as with a coast or vessel (Naut.), to advance
gradually, but not directly, toward it.
EDGEBONE
Edge"bone`, n.
Defn: Same as Aitchbone.
EDGELESS
Edge"less, a.
Defn: Without an edge; not sharp; blunt; obtuse; as, an edgeless
sword or weapon.
EDGELONG
Edge"long, adv.
Defn: In the direction of the edge. [Obs.]
Three hundred thousand pieces have you stuck Edgelong into the
ground. B. Jonson.
EDGESHOT
Edge"shot, a. (Carp.)
Defn: Having an edge planed, -- said of a board. Knight.
EDGEWAYS; EDGEWISE
Edge"ways, Edge"wise, adv.
Defn: With the edge towards anything; in the direction of the edge.
Glad to get in a word, as they say, edgeways. Sir W. Scott.
EDGING
Edg"ing, n.
1. That which forms an edge or border, as the fringe, trimming, etc.,
of a garment, or a border in a garden. Dryden.
2. The operation of shaping or dressing the edge of anything, as of a
piece of metal. Edging machine, a machine tool with a revolving
cutter, for dressing edges, as of boards, or metal plates, to a
pattern or templet.
EDGINGLY
Edg"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Gradually; gingerly. [R.]
EDGY
Edg"y, a. Etym: [From Edge.]
1. Easily irritated; sharp; as, an edgy temper.
2. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Having some of the forms, such as drapery or the like, too
sharply defined. "An edgy style of sculpture." Hazlitt.
EDH
Edh, n.
Defn: The name of the Anglo-Saxon letter edh, capital form th in a
similar word: oedher, other, dôedh, doth." March.
EDIBILITY
Ed`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Suitableness for being eaten; edibleness.
EDIBLE
Ed"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. edibilis, fr. edere to eat. See Eat.]
Defn: Fit to be eaten as food; eatable; esculent; as, edible fishes.
Bacon.
-- n.
Defn: Anything edible. Edible bird's nest. See Bird's nest,
2.
-- Edible crab (Zoöl.), any species of crab used as food, esp. the
American blue crab (Callinectes hastatus). See Crab.
-- Edible frog (Zoöl.), the common European frog (Rana esculenta),
used as food.
-- Edible snail (Zoöl.), any snail used as food, esp. Helix pomatia
and H. aspersa of Europe.
EDIBLENESS
Ed"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Suitableness for being eaten.
EDICT
E"dict, n. Etym: [L. edictum, fr. edicere, edictum, to declare,
proclaim; e out + dicere to say: cf. F. édit. See Diction.]
Defn: A public command or ordinance by the sovereign power; the
proclamation of a law made by an absolute authority, as if by the
very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman
emperors; the edicts of the French monarch.
It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak.
Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D.
1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by Louis XIV.
(A. D. 1685) was followed by terrible persecutions and the
expatriation of thousands of French Protestants.
Syn.
-- Decree; proclamation; law; ordinance; statute; rule; order;
manifesti; command. See Law.
EDICTAL
E*dic"tal, a.
Defn: Relating to, or consisting of, edicts; as, the Roman edictal
law.
EDIFICANT
Ed"i*fi*cant, a. Etym: [L. aedificans, -antis, p. pr. of aedificare.
See Edify.]
Defn: Building; constructing. [R.] Dugard.
EDIFICATION
Ed`i*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. aedificatio: cf. F. édification. See
Edify.]
1. The act of edifying, or the state of being edified; a building up,
especially in a moral or spiritual sense; moral, intellectual, or
spiritual improvement; instruction.
The assured edification of his church. Bp. Hall.
Out of these magazines I shall supply the town with what may tend to
their edification. Addison.
2. A building or edifice. [Obs.] Bullokar.
EDIFICATORY
Ed"i*fi*ca`to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to edification. Bp. Hall.
EDIFICE
Ed"i*fice, n. Etym: [L. aedificium, fr. aedificare: cf. F. édifice.
See Edify.]
Defn: A building; a structure; an architectural fabric; -- chiefly
applied to elegant houses, and other large buildings; as, a palace, a
church, a statehouse.
EDIFICIAL
Ed`i*fi"cial, a. Etym: [L. aedificialis.]
Defn: Pertaining to an edifice; structural.
EDIFIER
Ed"i*fi`er, n.
1. One who builds. [Obs.]
2. One who edifies, builds up, or strengthens another by moral or
religious instruction.
EDIFY
Ed"i*fy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Edified; p. pr. & vb. n. Edifying.]
Etym: [F. édifier, L. aedificare; aedes a building, house, orig., a
fireplace (akin to Gr. idh to kindle, OHG. eit funeral pile, AS. ad,
OIr. aed fire) + facere to make. See Fact, -fy.]
1. To build; to construct. [Archaic]
There was a holy chapel edified. Spenser.
2. To instruct and improve, especially in moral and religious
knowledge; to teach.
It does not appear probable that our dispute [about miracles] would
either edify or enlighten the public. Gibbon.
3. To teach or persuade. [Obs.] Bacon.
EDIFY
Ed"i*fy, v. i.
Defn: To improve. [R.] Swift.
EDIFYING
Ed"i*fy`ing, a.
Defn: Instructing; improving; as, an edifying conversation.
-- Ed"i*fy`ing*ly, adv.
-- Ed"i*fy`ing*ness, n.
EDILE
E"dile, n. Etym: [L. aedilis: cf. F. édile. Cf. Ædile.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: See Ædile.
EDILESHIP
E"dile*ship, n.
Defn: The office of ædile. T. Arnold.
EDINGTONITE
Ed"ing*ton*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A grayish white zeolitic mineral, in tetragonal crystals. It is
a hydrous silicate of alumina and baryta.
EDIT
Ed"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Edited; p. pr. & vb. n. Editing.] Etym:
[F. éditer, or L. editus, p. p. of edere to give out, put forth,
publish; e out + dare to give. See Date a point of time.]
Defn: To superintend the publication of; to revise and prepare for
publication; to select, correct, arrange, etc., the matter of, for
publication; as, to edit a newspaper.
Philosophical treatises which have never been edited. Enfield.
EDITION
E*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. editio, fr. edere to publish; cf. F. édition.
See Edit.]
1. A literary work edited and published, as by a certain editor or in
a certain manner; as, a good edition of Chaucer; Chalmers' edition of
Shakespeare.
2. The whole number of copies of a work printed and published at one
time; as, the first edition was soon sold.
EDITION DE LUXE
É`di`tion" de luxe". Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Luxe.
EDITIONER
E*di`tion*er, n.
Defn: An editor. [Obs.]
EDITOR
Ed"i*tor, n. Etym: [L., that which produces, from edere to publish:
cf. F. éditeur.]
Defn: One who edits; esp., a person who prepares, superintends,
revises, and corrects a book, magazine, or newspaper, etc., for
publication.
EDITORIAL
Ed`i*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an editor; written or sanctioned by an
editor; as, editorial labors; editorial remarks. editorial content
EDITORIAL
Ed`i*to"ri*al, n.
Defn: A leading article in a newspaper or magazine; an editorial
article; an article published as an expression of the views of the
editor.
EDITORIALLY
Ed`i*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner or character of an editor or of an editorial
article.
EDITORSHIP
Ed"i*tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office or charge of an editor; care and superintendence of
a publication.
EDITRESS
Ed"i*tress, n.
Defn: A female editor.
EDITUATE
E*dit"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [LL. aedituatus, p. p. of aedituare, fr. L.
aedituus a temple warden; aedes building, temple + tueri to guard.]
Defn: To guard as a churchwarden does. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
EDOMITE
E"dom*ite, n.
Defn: One of the descendants of Esau or Edom, the brother of Jacob;
an Idumean.
EDRIOPHTHALMA
Ed`ri*oph*thal"ma, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Crustacea in which the eyes are without stalks; the
Arthrostraca. [Written also Edriophthalmata.]
EDRIOPHTHALMOUS
Ed`ri*oph*thal"mous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Edriophthalma.
EDUCABILITY
Ed`u*ca*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éducabilité.]
Defn: Capability of being educated.
EDUCABLE
Ed"u*ca*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. éducable.]
Defn: Capable of being educated. "Men are educable." M. Arnold.
EDUCATE
Ed"u*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Educated; p. pr. & vb. n. Educating.]
Etym: [L. educatus, p. p. of educare to bring up a child physically
or mentally, to educate, fr. educere to Educe.]
Defn: To bring as, to educate a child; to educate the eye or the
taste.
Syn.
-- To develop; instruct; teach; inform; enlighten; edify; bring up;
train; breed; rear; discipline; indoctrinate.
EDUCATED
Ed"u*ca`ted, a.
Defn: Formed or developed by education; as, an educated man.
EDUCATION
Ed`u*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. educatio; cf. F. éducation.]
Defn: The act or process of educating; the result of educating, as
determined by the knowledge skill, or discipline of character,
acquired; also, the act or process of training by a prescribed or
customary course of study or discipline; as, an education for the bar
or the pulpit; he has finished his education.
To prepare us for complete living is the function which education has
to discharge. H. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Education, Instruction, Teaching, Training, Breeding. Education,
properly a drawing forth, implies not so much the communication of
knowledge as the discipline of the intellect, the establishment of
the principles, and the regulation of the heart. Instruction is that
part of education which furnishes the mind with knowledge. Teaching
is the same, being simply more familiar. It is also applied to
practice; as, teaching to speak a language; teaching a dog to do
tricks. Training is a department of education in which the chief
element is exercise or practice for the purpose of imparting facility
in any physical or mental operation. Breeding commonly relates to the
manners and outward conduct.
EDUCATIONAL
Ed`u*ca"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to education. "His educational establishment."
J. H. Newman.
EDUCATIONIST
Ed`u*ca"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in the theories of, or who advocates and
promotes, education.
EDUCATIVE
Ed"u*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. éducatif.]
Defn: Tending to educate; that gives education; as, an educative
process; an educative experience.
EDUCATOR
Ed"u*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who educates; a teacher.
EDUCE
E*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Educed; p. pr. & vb. n. Educing.] Etym:
[L. educere; e out + ducere to lead. See Duke.]
Defn: To bring or draw out; to cause to appear; to produce against
counter agency or influence; to extract; to evolve; as, to educe a
form from matter.
The eternal art educing good from ill. Pope.
They want to educe and cultivate what is best and noblest in
themselves. M. Arnold.
EDUCIBLE
E*du"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being educed.
EDUCT
E"duct, n. Etym: [L. eductum, fr. educere.]
Defn: That which is educed, as by analysis. Sir W. Hamilton.
EDUCTION
E*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. eductio.]
Defn: The act of drawing out or bringing into view. Eduction pipe,
and Eduction port. See Exhaust pipe and Exhaust port, under Exhaust,
a.
EDUCTIVE
E*duc"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to draw out; extractive.
EDUCTOR
E*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., tutor.]
Defn: One who, or that which, brings forth, elicits, or extracts.
Stimulus must be called an eductor of vital ether. E. Darwin.
EDULCORANT
E*dul"co*rant, a. Etym: [See Edulcorate.]
Defn: Having a tendency to purify or to sweeten by removing or
correcting acidity and acrimony.
EDULCORANT
E*dul"co*rant, n.
Defn: An edulcorant remedy.
EDULCORATE
E*dul"co*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Edulcorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Edulcorating.] Etym: [L. e oudulcoratus, p. p. of dulcorare to
sweeten, fr. dulcor sweetness, fr. dulcis sweet: cf. F. édulcorer.]
1. To render sweet; to sweeten; to free from acidity.
Succory . . . edulcorated with sugar and vinegar. Evelyn.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: To free from acids, salts, or other soluble substances, by
washing; to purify. [R.]
EDULCORATION
E*dul`co*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. édulcoration.]
1. The act of sweetening or edulcorating.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: The act of freeing from acids or any soluble substances, by
affusions of water. [R.] Ure.
EDULCORATIVE
E*dul"co*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to
EDULCORATOR
E*dul"co*ra`tor, n.
Defn: A contrivance used to supply small quantities of sweetened
liquid, water, etc., to any mixture, or to test tubes, etc.; a
dropping bottle.
EDULIOUS
E*du"li*ous, a. Etym: [L. edulis, fr. edere to eat.]
Defn: Edible. [Obs.] "Edulious pulses." Sir T. Browne.
-EE
-ee. Etym: [Formed on the F. p. p. ending -é, masc.]
Defn: A suffix used, chiefly in law terms, in a passive
signification, to indicate the direct or indirect object of an
action, or the one to whom an act is done or on whom a right is
conferred; as in assignee, donee, alienee, grantee, etc. It is
correlative to -or, the agent or doer.
EEK; EEKE
Eek, Eeke, v. t.
Defn: See Eke. [Obs.] Spenser.
EEL
Eel, n. Etym: [AS. ; akin to D., G., & Dan. aal, Icel. all, Sw. ål.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An elongated fish of many genera and species. The common eels
of Europe and America belong to the genus Anguilla. The electrical
eel is a species of Gymnotus. The so called vinegar eel is a minute
nematode worm. See Conger eel, Electric eel, and Gymnotus.
EELBUCK
Eel"buck`, n.
Defn: An eelpot or eel basket.
EELFARE
Eel"fare`, n. Etym: [Eel + fare a journey or passage.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A brood of eels. [Prov. Eng.]
EELGRASS
Eel"grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Zostera marina), with very long and narrow leaves,
growing abundantly in shallow bays along the North Atlantic coast.
EEL-MOTHER
Eel"-moth`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The eelpout.
EELPOT
Eel"pot`, n.
Defn: A boxlike structure with funnel-shaped traps for catching eels;
an eelbuck.
EELPOUT
Eel"pout`, n. Etym: [AS. .] (Zoöl.)
(a) A European fish (Zoarces viviparus), remarkable for producing
living young; -- called also greenbone, guffer, bard, and Maroona
eel. Also, an American species (Z. anguillaris), -- called also
mutton fish, and, erroneously, congo eel, ling, and lamper eel. Both
are edible, but of little value.
(b) A fresh-water fish, the burbot.
EELSPEAR
Eel"spear`, n.
Defn: A spear with barbed forks for spearing eels.
E'EN
E'en, adv.
Defn: A contraction for even. See Even.
I have e'en done with you. L'Estrange.
EEN
Een, n.
Defn: The old plural of Eye.
And eke with fatness swollen were his een. Spenser.
E'ER
E'er, adv.
Defn: A contraction for ever. See Ever.
EERIE; EERY
Ee"rie, Ee"ry, a. Etym: [Scotch, fr. AS. earh timid.]
1. Serving to inspire fear, esp. a dread of seeing ghosts; wild;
weird; as, eerie stories.
She whose elfin prancer springs By night to eery warblings. Tennyson.
2. Affected with fear; affrighted. Burns.
EERILY
Ee"ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a strange, unearthly way.
EERISOME
Ee"ri*some, a.
Defn: Causing fear; eerie. [Scot.]
EET
Eet, obs. imp.
Defn: of Eat. Chaucer.
EFFABLE
Ef"fa*ble, a. Etym: [L. effabilis; ex out + fari to speak.]
Defn: Capable of being uttered or explained; utterable. Barrow.
EFFACE
Ef*face", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Effacing.]
Etym: [F. effacer; pref. es- (L. ex) + face face; prop., to destroy
the face or form. See Face, and cf. Deface.]
1. To cause to disappear (as anything impresses or inscribed upon a
surface) by rubbing out, striking out, etc.; to erase; to render
illegible or indiscernible; as, to efface the letters on a monument,
or the inscription on a coin.
2. To destroy, as a mental impression; to wear away.
Efface from his mind the theories and notions vulgarly received.
Bacon.
Syn.
-- To blot out; expunge; erase; obliterate; cancel; destroy.
-- Efface, Deface. To deface is to injure or impair a figure; to
efface is to rub out or destroy, so as to render invisible.
EFFACEABLE
Ef*face"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being effaced.
EFFACEMENT
Ef*face"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. effacement.]
Defn: The act if effacing; also, the result of the act.
EFFASCINATE
Ef*fas"ci*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. effascinare.]
Defn: To charm; to bewitch. [Obs.] Heywood.
EFFASCINATION
Ef*fas`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. effascinatio.]
Defn: A charming; state of being bewitched or deluded. [Obs.]
EFFECT
Ef*fect", n. Etym: [L. effectus, fr. efficere, effectum, to effect;
ex + facere to make: cf. F. effet, formerly also spelled effect. See
Fact.]
1. Execution; performance; realization; operation; as, the law goes
into effect in May.
That no compunctious visitings of nature Shake my fell purpose, nor
keep peace between The effect and it. Shak.
2. Manifestation; expression; sign.
All the large effects That troop with majesty. Shak.
3. In general: That which is produced by an agent or cause; the event
which follows immediately from an antecedent, called the cause;
result; consequence; outcome; fruit; as, the effect of luxury.
The effect is the unfailing index of the amount of the cause.
Whewell.
4. Impression left on the mind; sensation produced.
Patchwork . . . introduced for oratorical effect. J. C. Shairp.
The effect was heightened by the wild and lonely nature of the place.
W. Irving.
5. Power to produce results; efficiency; force; importance; account;
as, to speak with effect.
6. Consequence intended; purpose; meaning; general intent; -- with
to.
They spake to her to that effect. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 22.
7. The purport; the sum and substance. "The effect of his intent."
Chaucer.
8. Reality; actual meaning; fact, as distinguished from mere
appearance.
No other in effect than what it seems. Denham.
9. pl.
Defn: Goods; movables; personal estate; -- sometimes used to embrace
real as well as personal property; as, the people escaped from the
town with their effects. For effect, for an exaggerated impression or
excitement.
-- In effect, in fact; in substance. See 8, above.
-- Of no effect, Of none effect, To no effect, or Without effect,
destitute of results, validity, force, and the like; vain; fruitless.
"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition." Mark
vii. 13. "All my study be to no effect." Shak.
-- To give effect to, to make valid; to carry out in practice; to
push to its results.
-- To take effect, to become operative, to accomplish aims. Shak.
Syn.
-- Effect, Consequence, Result. These words indicate things which
arise out of some antecedent, or follow as a consequent. Effect,
which may be regarded as the generic term, denotes that which springs
directly from something which can properly be termed a cause. A
consequence is more remote, not being strictly caused, nor yet a mere
sequence, but following out of and following indirectly, or in the
train of events, something on which it truly depends. A result is
still more remote and variable, like the rebound of an elastic body
which falls in very different directions. We may foresee the effects
of a measure, may conjecture its consequences, but can rarely
discover its final results.
Resolving all events, with their effects And manifold results, into
the will And arbitration wise of the Supreme. Cowper.
Shun the bitter consequence, for know, The day thou eatest thereof, .
. . thou shalt die. Milton.
EFFECT
Ef*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effected; p. pr. & vb. n. Effecting.]
1. To produce, as a cause or agent; to cause to be.
So great a body such exploits to effect. Daniel.
2. To bring to pass; to execute; to enforce; to achieve; to
accomplish.
To effect that which the divine counsels had decreed. Bp. Hurd.
They sailed away without effecting their purpose. Jowett (Th. ).
Syn.
-- To accomplish; fulfill; achieve; complete; execute; perform;
attain. See Accomplish.
EFFECTER
Ef*fect"er, n.
Defn: One who effects.
EFFECTIBLE
Ef*fect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being done or achieved; practicable; feasible. Sir
T. Browne.
EFFECTION
Ef*fec"tion, n. Etym: [L. effectio: cf. F. effection.]
Defn: Creation; a doing. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
EFFECTIVE
Ef*fect"ive, a. Etym: [L. effectivus: cf. F. effectif.]
Defn: Having the power to produce an effect or effects; producing a
decided or decisive effect; efficient; serviceable; operative; as, an
effective force, remedy, speech; the effective men in a regiment.
They are not effective of anything, nor leave no work behind them.
Bacon.
Whosoever is an effective, real cause of doing his heighbor wrong, is
criminal. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- Efficient; forcible; active; powerful; energetic; competent. See
Effectual.
EFFECTIVE
Ef*fect"ive, n.
1. That which produces a given effect; a cause. Jer. Taylor.
2. One who is capable of active service.
He assembled his army -- 20,000 effectives -- at Corinth. W. P.
Johnston.
3. Etym: [F. effectif real, effective, real amount.] (Com.)
Defn: Specie or coin, as distinguished from paper currency; -- a term
used in many parts of Europe. Simmonds.
EFFECTIVELY
Ef*fect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: With effect; powerfully; completely; thoroughly.
EFFECTIVENESS
Ef*fect"ive*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being effective.
EFFECTLESS
Ef*fect"less, a.
Defn: Without effect or advantage; useless; bootless. Shak.
-- Ef*fect"less*ly, adv.
EFFECTOR
Ef*fect"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An effecter. Derham.
EFFECTUAL
Ef*fec"tu*al, a. Etym: [See Effect, n.]
Defn: Producing, or having adequate power or force to produce, an
intended effect; adequate; efficient; operative; decisive. Shak.
Effectual steps for the suppression of the rebellion. Macaulay.
Effectual calling (Theol.), a doctrine concerning the work of the
Holy Spirit in producing conviction of sin and acceptance of
salvation by Christ, -- one of the five points of Calvinism. See
Calvinism.
Syn.
-- Effectual, Efficacious, Effective. An efficacious remedy is had
recourse to, and proves effective if it does decided good, effectual
if it does all the good desired. C. J. Smith.
EFFECTUALLY
Ef*fec"tu*al*ly, adv.
1. With effect; efficaciously.
2. Actually; in effect. [Obs.] Fuller.
EFFECTUALNESS
Ef*fec"tu*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being effectual.
EFFECTUATE
Ef*fec"tu*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effectuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Effectuating.] Etym: [Cf. F. effectuer. See Effect, n. & v. t.]
Defn: To bring to pass; to effect; to achieve; to accomplish; to
fulfill.
A fit instrument to effectuate his desire. Sir P. Sidney.
In order to effectuate the thorough reform. G. T. Curtis.
EFFECTUATION
Ef*fec`tu*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of effectuating.
EFFECTUOSE; EFFECTUOUS
Ef*fec"tu*ose`, Ef*fec"tu*ous, a.
Defn: Effective. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EFFECTUOUSLY
Ef*fec"tu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Effectively. [Obs.]
EFFEMINACY
Ef*fem"i*na*cy, n.; pl. Effeminacies. Etym: [From Effeminate.]
Defn: Characteristic quality of a woman, such as softness,
luxuriousness, delicacy, or weakness, which is unbecoming a man;
womanish delicacy or softness; -- used reproachfully of men. Milton.
EFFEMINATE
Ef*fem"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. effeminatus, p. p. of effeminare to make
a woman of; ex out + femina a woman. See Feminine, a.]
1. Having some characteristic of a woman, as delicacy, luxuriousness,
etc.; soft or delicate to an unmanly degree; womanish; weak.
The king, by his voluptuous life and mean marriage, became
effeminate, and less sensible of honor. Bacon.
An effeminate and unmanly foppery. Bp. Hurd.
2. Womanlike; womanly; tender; -- in a good sense.
Gentle, kind, effeminate remorse. Shak.
Note: Effeminate and womanish are generally used in a reproachful
sense; feminine and womanly, applied to women, are epithets of
propriety or commendation.
EFFEMINATE
Ef*fem"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effeminated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Effeminating.]
Defn: To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken.
It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.
EFFEMINATE
Ef*fem"i*nate, v. i.
Defn: To grow womanish or weak.
In a slothful peace both courage will effeminate and manners corrupt.
Pope.
EFFEMINATELY
Ef*fem"i*nate*ly, adv.
1. In an effeminate or womanish manner; weakly; softly; delicately.
"Proud and effeminately gay." Fawkes.
2. By means of a woman; by the power or art of a woman. [R.]
"Effeminately vanquished." Milton.
EFFEMINATENESS
Ef*fem"i*nate*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being effeminate; unmanly softness. Fuller.
EFFEMINATION
Ef*fem`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. effeminatio.]
Defn: Effeminacy; womanishness. [Obs.] Bacon.
EFFEMINIZE
Ef*fem"i*nize, v. t.
Defn: To make effeminate. [Obs.]
EFFENDI
Ef*fen"di, n. Etym: [Turk. efendi, fr. Modern Gr. Authentic.]
Defn: Master; sir; -- a title of a Turkish state official and man of
learning, especially one learned in the law.
EFFERENT
Ef"fe*rent, a. Etym: [L. efferens, -entis, p. pr. of effere to bear
out; ex out + ferre to bear.] (Physiol.)
(a) Conveying outward, or discharging; -- applied to certain blood
vessels, lymphatics, nerves, etc.
(b) Conveyed outward; as, efferent impulses, i. e., such as are
conveyed by the motor or efferent nerves from the central nervous
organ outwards; -- opposed to afferent.
EFFERENT
Ef"fe*rent, n.
Defn: An efferent duct or stream.
EFFEROUS
Ef"fer*ous, a. Etym: [L. efferus savage; ex (intens.) + ferus wild.]
Defn: Like a wild beast; fierce. [Obs.]
EFFERVESCE
Ef`fer*vesce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Effervesced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Effervescing.] Etym: [L. effervescere; ex + fervescere to begin
boiling, incho., fr. fervere to boil. See Fervent.]
1. To be in a state of natural ebullition; to bubble and hiss, as
fermenting liquors, or any fluid, when some part escapes in a gaseous
form.
2. To exhibit, in lively natural expression, feelings that can not be
repressed or concealed; as, to effervesce with joy or merriment.
EFFERVESCENCE; EFFERVESCENCY
Ef`fer*ves"cence, Ef`fer*ves"cen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. effervescence.]
Defn: A kind of natural ebullition; that commotion of a fluid which
takes place when some part of the mass flies off in a gaseous form,
producing innumerable small bubbles; as, the effervescence of a
carbonate with citric acid.
EFFERVESCENT
Ef`fer*ves"cent, a. Etym: [L. effervescences, p. pr. of effervescere:
cf. F. effervescent.]
Defn: Gently boiling or bubbling, by means of the disengagement of
gas
EFFERVESCIBLE
Ef`fer*ves"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of effervescing.
EFFERVESCIVE
Ef`fer*ves"cive, a.
Defn: Tending to produce effervescence. "An effervescive force."
Hickok.
EFFET
Ef"fet, n. Etym: [See Eft, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common newt; -- called also asker, eft, evat, and ewt.
EFFETE
Ef*fete", a. Etym: [L. effetus that has brought forth, exhausted; ex
+ fetus that has brought forth. See Fetus.]
Defn: No longer capable of producing young, as an animal, or fruit,
as the earth; hence, worn out with age; exhausted of energy;
incapable of efficient action; no longer productive; barren; sterile.
Effete results from virile efforts. Mrs. Browning
If they find the old governments effete, worn out, . . . they may
seek new ones. Burke.
EFFICACIOUS
Ef`fi*ca"cious, a. Etym: [L. eficax, -acis, fr. efficere. See Effect,
n.]
Defn: Possessing the quality of being effective; productive of, or
powerful to produce, the effect intended; as, an efficacious law.
Syn.
-- See Effectual.
-- Ef`fi*ca"cious*ly, adv.
-- Ef`fi*ca"cious*ness, n.
EFFICACITY
Ef`fi*cac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. efficacitas: cf. F. efficacité.]
Defn: Efficacy. [R.] J. Fryth.
EFFICACY
Ef"fi*ca*cy, n. Etym: [L. efficacia, fr. efficax. See Efficacious.]
Defn: Power to produce effects; operation or energy of an agent or
force; production of the effect intended; as, the efficacy of
medicine in counteracting disease; the efficacy of prayer. "Of
noxious efficacy." Milton.
Syn.
-- Virtue; force; energy; potency; efficiency.
EFFICIENCE; EFFICIENCY
Ef*fi"cience, Ef*fi"cien*cy, n. Etym: [L. efficientia.]
1. The quality of being efficient or producing an effect or effects;
efficient power; effectual agency.
The manner of this divine efficiency being far above us. Hooker.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: The ratio of useful work to energy expended. Rankine.
Efficiency of a heat engine, the ratio of the work done an engine, to
the work due to the heat supplied to it.
EFFICIENT
Ef*fi"cient, a. Etym: [L. efficiens, -entis, p. pr. of efficere to
effect: cf. F. efficient. See Effect, n.]
Defn: Causing effects; producing results; that makes the effect to be
what it is; actively operative; not inactive, slack, or incapable;
characterized by energetic and useful activity; as, an efficient
officer, power.
The efficient cause is the working cause. Wilson.
Syn.
-- Effective; effectual; competent; able; capable; material; potent.
EFFICIENT
Ef*fi"cient, n.
Defn: An efficient cause; a prime mover.
God . . . moveth mere natural agents as an efficient only. Hooker.
EFFICIENTLY
Ef*fi"cient*ly, adv.
Defn: With effect; effectively.
EFFIERCE
Ef*fierce", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex- (intens.) + fierce.]
Defn: To make fierce. [Obs.] Spenser.
EFFIGIAL
Ef*fig"i*al, a.
Defn: Relating to an effigy.
EFFIGIATE
Ef*fig"i*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. effigiatus, p. p. of effigiare to form,
fr. effigies. See Effigy.]
Defn: To form as an effigy; hence, to fashion; to adapt.
[He must] effigiate and conform himself to those circumstances. Jer.
Taylor.
EFFIGIATION
Ef*fig`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. effigiatio.]
Defn: The act of forming in resemblance; an effigy. Fuller.
EFFIGIES
Ef*fig"i*es, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Effigy. Dryden.
EFFIGY
Ef"fi*gy, n.; pl. Effigies. Etym: [L. effigies, fr. effingere to
form, fashion; ex + fingere to form, shape, devise. See Feign.]
Defn: The image, likeness, or representation of a person, whether a
full figure, or a part; an imitative figure; -- commonly applied to
sculptured likenesses, as those on monuments, or to those of the
heads of princes on coins and medals, sometimes applied to portraits.
To burn, or To hang, in effigy, to burn or to hang an image or
picture of a person, as a token of public odium.
EFFLAGITATE
Ef*flag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. efflagitatus, p. p. of efflagitare.]
Defn: To ask urgently. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EFFLATE
Ef*flate", v. t. Etym: [L. efflatus, p. p. of efflare to blow or
breathe out; ex + flare to blow.]
Defn: To fill with breath; to puff up. Sir T. Herbert.
EFFLATION
Ef*fla"tion, n.
Defn: The act of filling with wind; a breathing or puffing out; a
puff, as of wind.
A soft efflation of celestial fire. Parnell.
EFFLORESCE
Ef`flo*resce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Effloresced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Efflorescing.] Etym: [L. efflorescere to bloom, blossom; ex +
florescere to begin to blossom, incho., fr. florere to blossom, fr.
flos a flower. See Flower.]
1. To blossom forth. Carlyle.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: To change on the surface, or throughout, to a whitish, mealy,
or crystalline powder, from a gradual decomposition, esp. from the
loss of water, on simple exposure to the air; as, Glauber's salts,
and many others, effloresce.
3. To become covered with a whitish crust or light crystallization,
from a slow chemical change between some of the ingredients of the
matter covered and an acid proceeding commonly from an external
source; as, the walls of limestone caverns sometimes effloresce with
nitrate of calcium in consequence of the action in consequence of
nitric acid formed in the atmosphere.
EFFLORESCENCE
Ef`flo*res"cence, n. Etym: [F. efflorescence.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Flowering, or state of flowering; the blooming of flowers;
blowth.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A redness of the skin; eruption, as in rash, measles, smallpox,
scarlatina, etc.
3. (Chem.)
(a) The formation of the whitish powder or crust on the surface of
efflorescing bodies, as salts, etc.
(b) The powder or crust thus formed.
EFFLORESCENCY
Ef`flo*res"cen*cy, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being efflorescent; efflorescence.
EFFLORESCENT
Ef`flo*res"cent, a. Etym: [F. efflorescent, L. efflorescens, -entis,
blooming, p. pr. of efflorescere. See Effloresce, v. i.]
1. That effloresces, or is liable to effloresce on exposure; as, an
efflorescent salt.
2. Covered with an efflorescence.
EFFLOWER
Ef*flow"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. effleurer.] (Leather Making)
Defn: To remove the epidermis of (a skin) with a concave knife, blunt
in its middle part, -- as in making chamois leather.
EFFLUENCE
Ef"flu*ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. effluence.]
1. A flowing out, or emanation.
2. That which flows or issues from any body or substance; issue;
efflux.
Bright effluence of bright essence increate! Milton.
And, as if the gloom of the earth and sky had been but the effluence
of these two mortal hearts, it vanished with their sorrow. Hawthorne.
EFFLUENCY
Ef"flu*en*cy, n.
Defn: Effluence.
EFFLUENT
Ef"flu*ent, a. Etym: [L. effluens, -entis, p. pr. of effluere to flow
out; ex + fluere to flow: cf. F. effluent. See Fluent.]
Defn: Flowing out; as, effluent beams. Parnell.
EFFLUENT
Ef"flu*ent, n. (Geog.)
Defn: A stream that flows out of another stream or lake.
EFFLUVIABLE
Ef*flu"vi*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being given off as an effluvium. "Effluviable
matter." Boyle.
EFFLUVIAL
Ef*flu"vi*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to effluvia.
EFFLUVIATE
Ef*flu"vi*ate, v. i.
Defn: To give forth effluvium. [R.] "An effluviating power." Boyle.
EFFLUVIUM
Ef*flu"vi*um, n.; pl. Effluvia. Etym: [L., a flowing out, fr.
effluere to flow out. See Effluent, a.]
Defn: Subtile or invisible emanation; exhalation perceived by the
sense of smell; especially, noisome or noxious exhalation; as, the
effluvium from diseased or putrefying bodies, or from ill drainage.
EFFLUX
Ef"flux, n. Etym: [See Effluent, Flux.]
1. The act or process of flowing out, or issuing forth; effusion;
outflow; as, the efflux of matter from an ulcer; the efflux of men's
piety.
It is then that the devout affections . . . are incessantly in
efflux. I. Taylor.
2. That which flows out; emanation; effluence.
Prime cheerer, light! . . . Efflux divine. Thomson.
EFFLUX
Ef*flux", v. i.
Defn: To run out; to flow forth; to pass away. [Obs.] Boyle.
EFFLUXION
Ef*flux"ion, n. Etym: [From Efflux.]
1. The act of flowing out; effusion.
2. That which flows out; effluvium; emanation.
Some light effluxions from spirit to spirit. Bacon.
EFFODIENT
Ef*fo"di*ent, a. Etym: [L. effodiens, p. pr. of effodere to dig out;
ex + fodere to dig.]
Defn: Digging up.
EFFORCE
Ef*force, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Efforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Efforcing.]
Etym: [OF. esforcier (F. s'efforcer to exert one's self), LL.
exforciare; L. ex + fortis strong. See Force.]
Defn: To force; to constrain; to compel to yield. [Obs.] Spenser.
EFFORM
Ef*form", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex- + form.]
Defn: To form; to shape. [Obs.]
Efforming their words within their lips. Jer. Taylor.
EFFORMATION
Ef`for*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of giving shape or form. [Obs.] Ray.
EFFORT
Ef"fort, n. Etym: [F. effort, OF. esfort, for esfors, esforz, fr.
esforcier. See Efforce.]
1. An exertion of strength or power, whether physical or mental, in
performing an act or aiming at an object; more or less strenuous
endeavor; struggle directed to the accomplishment of an object; as,
an effort to scale a wall.
We prize the stronger effort of his power. Pope.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A force acting on a body in the direction of its motion.
Rankine.
Syn.
-- Endeavor; exertion; struggle; strain; straining; attempt; trial;
essay. See Attempt.
EFFORT
Ef"fort, v. t.
Defn: To stimulate. [Obs.] "He efforted his spirits." Fuller.
EFFORTLESS
Ef"fort*less, a.
Defn: Making no effort. Southey.
EFFOSSION
Ef*fos"sion, n. Etym: [L. effossio. See Effodient.]
Defn: A digging out or up. [R.] "The effossion of coins." Arbuthnot.
EFFRANCHISE
Ef*fran"chise, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex- + franchise: cf. OF.
esfranchir.]
Defn: To enfranchise.
EFFRAY
Ef*fray", v. t. Etym: [F. effrayer. See Affray.]
Defn: To frighten; to scare. [Obs.] Spenser.
EFFRAYABLE
Ef*fray"a*ble, a.
Defn: Frightful. [Obs.] Harvey.
EFFRENATION
Ef`fre*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. effrenatio, fr. effrenare to unbridle;
ex + frenum a bridle.]
Defn: Unbridled license; unruliness. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EFFRONT
Ef*front", v. t.
Defn: To give assurance to. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EFFRONTERY
Ef*front"er*y, n.; pl. Effronteries. Etym: [F. effronterie, fr.
effronté shameless, fr. L. effrons, -ontis, putting forth the
forehead, i. e., barefaced, shameless; ex + frons the forehead. See
Front.]
Defn: Impudence or boldness in confronting or in transgressing the
bounds of duty or decorum; insulting presumptuousness; shameless
boldness; barefaced assurance.
Corruption lost nothing of its effrontery. Bancroft.
Syn.
-- Impudence; sauciness. See Impudence.
EFFRONTIT
Ef*front"it, a. Etym: [F. effronté.]
Defn: Marked by impudence. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
EFFRONTUOUSLY
Ef*fron"tu*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Impudently. [Obs.] R. North.
EFFULGE
Ef*fulge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effulged; p. pr. & vb. n. Effulging.]
Etym: [L. effulgere to shine forth; ex + fulgere to flash, shine. See
Fulgent.]
Defn: To cause to shine with abundance of light; to radiate; to beam.
[R.]
His eyes effulging a peculiar fire. Thomson.
EFFULGE
Ef*fulge", v. i.
Defn: To shine forth; to beam.
EFFULGENCE
Ef*ful"gence, n.
Defn: The state of being effulgent; extreme brilliancy; a flood of
light; great luster or brightness; splendor.
The effulgence of his glory abides. Milton.
The bright and the balmy effulgence of morn. Beattie.
EFFULGENT
Ef*ful"gent, a. Etym: [L. effulgens, -entis, p. pr. of effulgere.]
Defn: Diffusing a flood of light; shining; luminous; beaming; bright;
splendid. "Effulgent rays of light." Cowper.
EFFULGENTLY
Ef*ful"gent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an effulgent manner.
EFFUMABILITY
Ef*fu`ma*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The capability of flying off in fumes or vapor. [Obs.] Boyle.
EFFUME
Ef*fume", v. t. Etym: [L. effumare to emit smoke; ex + fumare to
smoke, fr. fumus smoke.]
Defn: To breathe or puff out. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EFFUND
Ef*fund", v. t. Etym: [L. effundere. See Effuse.]
Defn: To pour out. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
EFFUSE
Ef*fuse", a. Etym: [L. effusus, p. p. of effundere to pour out; ex +
fundere to pour. See Fuse to melt.]
1. Poured out freely; profuse. [Obs.]
So should our joy be very effuse. Barrow.
2. Disposed to pour out freely; prodigal. [Obs.] Young.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Spreading loosely, especially on one side; as, an effuse
inflorescence. Loudon.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the lips, or edges, of the aperture abruptly spreading;
-- said of certain shells.
EFFUSE
Ef*fuse", n.
Defn: Effusion; loss. "Much effuse of blood." Shak.
EFFUSE
Ef*fuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Effused; p. pr. & vb. n. Effusing.]
Defn: To pour out like a stream or freely; to cause to exude; to
shed. [R.]
With gushing blood effused. Milton.
EFFUSE
Ef*fuse", v. i.
Defn: To emanate; to issue. Thomson.
EFFUSION
Ef*fu"sion, n. Etym: [L. effusio: cf. F. effusion.]
1. The act of pouring out; as, effusion of water, of blood, of grace,
of words, and the like.
To save the effusion of my people's blood. Dryden.
2. That which is poured out, literally or figuratively.
Wash me with that precious effusion, and I shall be whiter than sow.
Eikon Basilike.
The light effusions of a heedless boy. Byron.
3. (Pathol.)
(a) The escape of a fluid out of its natural vessel, either by
rupture of the vessel, or by exudation through its walls. It may pass
into the substance of an organ, or issue upon a free surface.
(b) The liquid escaping or exuded.
EFFUSIVE
Ef*fu"sive, a.
Defn: Pouring out; pouring forth freely. "Washed with the effusive
wave." Pope. Effusive rocks (Geol.), volcanic rocks, in distinction
from so-called intrusive, or plutonic, rocks.
-- Ef*fu"sive*ly, adv.
-- Ef*fu"sive*ness, n.
EFREET
Ef"reet, n.
Defn: See Afrit.
EFT
Eft, n. Etym: [AS. efete lizard. See Newt.] (Zoöl.)
(a) A European lizard of the genus Seps.
(b) A salamander, esp. the European smooth newt (Triton punctatus).
EFT
Eft, adv. Etym: [AS. eft, æft, again, back, afterward. See Aft,
After.]
Defn: Again; afterwards; soon; quickly. [Obs.]
I wold never eft comen into the snare. Spenser.
EFTSOON; EFTSOONS
Eft*soon", Eft*soons", adv. Etym: [OE. eftsone, eftsones; AS. eft + s
soon. See Eft, and Soon.]
Defn: Again; anew; a second time; at once; speedily. [Archaic]
And, if he fall from his capel [horse] eftsone. Chaucer.
The champion stout eftsoons dismounted. Spenser.
EGAD
E*gad", interj. Etym: [Euphemistic corruption of the oath, "by God."]
Defn: An exclamation expressing exultation or surprise, etc.
EGAL
E"gal, a. Etym: [F. égal. See Equal.]
Defn: Equal; impartial. [Obs.] Shak.
EGALITY
E*gal"i*ty, n. Etym: [OE. egalite, F. égalité.]
Defn: Equality. Chaucer. Tennyson.
EGEAN
E*ge"an, a.
Defn: See Ægean.
EGENCE
E"gence, n. Etym: [L. egens, -entis, p. pr. of egere to be needy,
suffer want.]
Defn: The state of needing, or of suffering a natural want. [R.] J.
Grote.
EGER; EGRE
E"ger, E"gre, a. Etym: [See Eager.]
Defn: Sharp; bitter; acid; sour. [Obs.]
The egre words of thy friend. Chaucer.
EGER
E"ger, n.
Defn: An impetuous flood; a bore. See Eagre.
EGERMINATE
E*ger"mi*nate, v. i. Etym: [From L. egerminare to sprout.]
Defn: To germinate. [Obs.]
EGEST
E*gest", v. t. Etym: [L. egestus, p. p. of egerere to carry out, to
discharge; e out + gerere to carry.] (Physiol.)
Defn: To cast or throw out; to void, as excrement; to excrete, as the
indigestible matter of the food; in an extended sense, to excrete by
the lungs, skin, or kidneys.
EGESTA
E*ges"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., neut. pl. from p. p. of L. egere. See
Egest.] (Physiol.)
Defn: That which is egested or thrown off from the body by the
various excretory channels; excrements; -- opposed to ingesta.
EGESTION
E*ges"tion, n. Etym: [L. egestio.]
Defn: Act or process of egesting; a voiding. Sir M. Hale.
EGG
Egg, n. Etym: [OE., fr. Icel. egg; akin to AS. æg (whence OE. ey),
Sw. ägg, Dan. æg, G. & D. ei, and prob. to OSlav. aje, jaje, L. ovum,
Gr. ugh, Gael. ubh, and perh. to L. avis bird. Cf. Oval.]
1. (Popularly)
Defn: The oval or roundish body laid by domestic poultry and other
birds, tortoises, etc. It consists of a yolk, usually surrounded by
the "white" or albumen, and inclosed in a shell or strong membrane.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A simple cell, from the development of which the young of
animals are formed; ovum; germ cell.
3. Anything resembling an egg in form.
Note: Egg is used adjectively, or as the first part of self-
explaining compounds; as, egg beater or egg-beater, egg case, egg
ladle, egg-shaped, etc. Egg and anchor (Arch.), an egg-shaped
ornament, alternating with another in the form of a dart, used to
enrich the ovolo; -- called also egg and dart, and egg and tongue.
See Anchor, n., 5. Ogilvie.
-- Egg cleavage (Biol.), a process of cleavage or segmentation, by
which the egg undergoes endogenous division with formation of a mass
of nearly similar cells, from the growth and differentiation of which
the new organism is ultimately formed. See Segmentation of the ovum,
under Segmentation.
-- Egg development (Biol.), the process of the development of an
egg, by which the embryo is formed.
-- Egg mite (Zoöl.), any mite which devours the eggs of insects, as
Nothrus ovivorus, which destroys those of the canker worm.
-- Egg parasite (Zoöl.), any small hymenopterous insect, which, in
the larval stage, lives within the eggs of other insects. Many genera
and species are known.
EGG
Egg, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Egged; p. pr. & vb. n. Egging.] Etym: [OE.
eggen, Icel. eggja, fr. egg edge. Edge.]
Defn: To urge on; to instigate; to incite
Adam and Eve he egged to ill. Piers Plowman.
[She] did egg him on to tell How fair she was. Warner.
EGGAR
Eg"gar, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bombycid moth of the genera Eriogaster and Lasiocampa; as,
the oak eggar (L. roboris) of Europe.
EGG-BIRD
Egg"-bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of tern, esp. the sooty tern (Sterna fuliginosa) of
the West Indies. In the Bahama Islands the name is applied to the
tropic bird, Phaëthon flavirostris.
EGG-CUP
Egg"-cup`, n.
Defn: A cup used for holding an egg, at table.
EGGEMENT
Eg"ge*ment, n. Etym: [Egg, v. t. + -ment.]
Defn: Instigation; incitement. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EGGER
Egg"er, n. Etym: [See Egg, n.]
Defn: One who gathers eggs; an eggler.
EGGER
Egg"er, n. Etym: [See Egg, v. t.]
Defn: One who eggs or incites.
EGGERY
Egg"er*y, n.
Defn: A place where eggs are deposited (as by sea birds) or kept; a
nest of eggs. [R.]
EGG-GLASS
Egg"-glass`, n.
Defn: A small sandglass, running about three minutes, for marking
time in boiling eggs; also, a small glass for holding an egg, at
table.
EGGHOT
Egg"hot`, n.
Defn: A kind of posset made of eggs, brandy, sugar, and ale. Lamb.
EGGLER
Egg"ler, n.
Defn: One who gathers, or deals in, eggs.
EGGNOG
Egg`nog", n.
Defn: A drink consisting of eggs beaten up with sugar, milk, and
(usually) wine or spirits.
EGGPLANT
Egg"plant`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Solanum Melongena), of East Indian origin, allied to
the tomato, and bearing a large, smooth, edible fruit, shaped
somewhat like an egg; mad-apple.
EGG-SHAPED
Egg"-shaped`, a.
Defn: Resembling an egg in form; ovoid.
EGGSHELL
Egg"shell`, n.
1. The shell or exterior covering of an egg. Also used figuratively
for anything resembling an eggshell.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A smooth, white, marine, gastropod shell of the genus Ovulum,
resembling an egg in form.
EGG SQUASH
Egg" squash`.
Defn: A variety of squash with small egg-shaped fruit.
EGHEN
E"ghen, n. pl.
Defn: Eyes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EGILOPICAL
Eg`i*lop"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Ægilops.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, of the nature of, or affected with, an ægilops,
or tumor in the corner of the eye.
EGILOPS
Eg"i*lops, n.
Defn: See Ægilops.
EGLANDULOSE; EGLANDULOUS
E*glan"du*lose`, E*glan"du*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + glandulose,
glandulosus.]
Defn: Destitute of glands.
EGLANTINE
Eg"lan*tine, n. Etym: [F. églantine, fr. OF. aiglent brier, hip tree,
fr. (assumed) LL. acuculentus, fr. a dim. of L. acus needle; cf. F.
aiguille needle. Cf. Aglet.] (Bot.)
(a) A species of rose (Rosa Eglanteria), with fragrant foliage and
flowers of various colors.
(b) The sweetbrier (R. rubiginosa).
Note: Milton, in the following lines, has applied the name to some
twinning plant, perhaps the honeysuckle.
Through the sweetbrier, or the vine, Or the twisted eglantine.
L'Allegro, 47.
"In our early writers and in Gerarde and the herbalists, it was a
shrub with white flowers." Dr. Prior.
EGLATERE
Eg"la*tere, n.
Defn: Eglantine. [Obs. or R.] [Written also eglantere.] Tennyson.
EGLING
Eg"ling, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European perch when two years old. [Prov. Eng.]
EGLOMERATE
E*glom"er*ate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. e- + glomerate.]
Defn: To unwind, as a thread from a ball. [R.]
EGO
E"go, n. Etym: [L., I.] (Met.)
Defn: The conscious and permanent subject of all psychical
experiences, whether held to be directly known or the product of
reflective thought; -- opposed to non-ego.
EGOICAL
E*go"i*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to egoism. [R.]
EGOISM
E"go*ism, n. Etym: [F. égoïsme, fr. L. -ego I. See I, and cf.
Egotism.]
1. (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine of certain extreme adherents or disciples of
Descartes and Johann Gottlieb Fichte, which finds all the elements of
knowledge in the ego and the relations which it implies or provides
for.
2. Excessive love and thought of self; the habit of regarding one's
self as the center of every interest; selfishness; -- opposed to
altruism.
EGOIST
E"go*ist, n. Etym: [F. égoïste. See Egoism.]
1. One given overmuch to egoism or thoughts of self.
I, dullard egoist, taking no special recognition of such nobleness.
Carlyle.
2. (Philos.)
Defn: A believer in egoism.
EGOISTIC; EGOISTICAL
E`go*is"tic, E`go*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to egoism; imbued with egoism or excessive thoughts
of self; self-loving.
Ill-natured feeling, or egoistic pleasure in making men miserable. G.
Eliot.
EGOISTICALLY
E`go*is"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an egoistic manner.
EGOITY
E*go"i*ty, n.
Defn: Personality. [R.] Swift.
EGOMISM
E"go*mism, n.
Defn: Egoism. [R.] A. Baxter.
EGOPHONIC
E`go*phon"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, egophony.
EGOPHONY
E*goph"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The sound of a patient's voice so modified as to resemble the
bleating of a goat, heard on applying the ear to the chest in certain
diseases within its cavity, as in pleurisy with effusion.
EGOTHEISM
E"go*the`ism, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The deification of self. [R.]
EGOTISM
E"go*tism, n. Etym: [L. ego I + ending -tism for -ism, prob.
influenced by other English words in -tism fr. the Greek, where t is
not part of the ending, as baptism. See Egoism.]
Defn: The practice of too frequently using the word I; hence, a
speaking or writing overmuch of one's self; self-exaltation; self-
praise; the act or practice of magnifying one's self or parading
one's own doings. The word is also used in the sense of egoism.
His excessive egotism, which filled all objects with himself.
Hazlitt.
Syn.
-- Egotism, Self-conceit, Vanity, Egoism. Self-conceit is an
overweening opinion of one's talents, capacity, attractions, etc.;
egotism is the acting out of self-conceit, or self-importance, in
words and exterior conduct; vanity is inflation of mind arising from
the idea of being thought highly of by others. It shows itself by its
eagerness to catch the notice of others. Egoism is a state in which
the feelings are concentrated on one's self. Its expression is
egotism.
EGOTIST
E"go*tist, n. Etym: [L. ego I + ending -tist for -ist. See Egotism,
and cf. Egoist.]
Defn: One addicted to egotism; one who speaks much of himself or
magnifies his own achievements or affairs.
EGOTISTIC; EGOTISTICAL
E`go*tis"tic, E`go*tis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Addicted to, or manifesting, egotism.
Syn.
-- Conceited; vain; self-important; opinionated.
EGOTISTICALLY
E`go*tis"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: With egotism.
EGOTIZE
E"go*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Egotized; p. pr. & vb. n. Egotizing.]
Etym: [See Egotism.]
Defn: To talk or write as an egotist. Cowper.
EGRANULOSE
E*gran"u*lose`, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + granule.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no granules, as chlorophyll in certain conditions. R.
Brown.
EGRE
E"gre, a. & n.
Defn: See Eager, and Eagre. [Obs.]
EGREGIOUS
E*gre"gious, a. Etym: [L. egregius; lit., separated or chosen from
the herd, i. e., distinguished, excellent; e out + grex, gregis,
herd. See Gregarious.]
Defn: Surpassing; extraordinary; distinguished (in a bad sense); --
formerly used with words importing a good quality, but now joined
with words having a bad sense; as, an egregious rascal; an egregious
ass; an egregious mistake.
The egregious impudence of this fellow. Bp. Hall.
His [Wyclif's] egregious labors are not to be neglected. Milton.
EGREGIOUSLY
E*gre"gious*ly, adv.
Defn: Greatly; enormously; shamefully; as, egregiously cheated.
EGREGIOUSNESS
E*gre"gious*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being egregious.
EGREMOIN
Eg"re*moin, n. Etym: [See Agrimony.]
Defn: Agrimony (Agrimonia Eupatoria). [Obs.] Chaucer.
EGRESS
E"gress, n. Etym: [L. egressus, fr. egredi to go out; e out + gradi
to go. See Grade.]
1. The act of going out or leaving, or the power to leave; departure.
Embarred from all egress and regress. Holland.
Gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress.
Milton.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The passing off from the sun's disk of an inferior planet, in a
transit.
EGRESS
E*gress", v. i.
Defn: To go out; to depart; to leave.
EGRESSION
E*gres"sion, n. Etym: [L. egressio.]
Defn: The act of going; egress. [R.] B. Jonson.
EGRESSOR
E*gress"or, n.
Defn: One who goes out. [R.]
EGRET
E"gret, n. Etym: [See Aigret, Heron.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The name of several species of herons which bear plumes on the
back. They are generally white. Among the best known species are the
American egret (Ardea, or Herodias, egretta); the great egret (A.
alba); the little egret (A. garzetta), of Europe; and the American
snowy egret (A. candidissima).
A bunch of egrets killed for their plumage. G. W. Cable.
2. A plume or tuft of feathers worn as a part of a headdress, or
anything imitating such an ornament; an aigrette.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: The flying feathery or hairy crown of seeds or achenes, as the
down of the thistle.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kind of ape.
EGRETTE
E*grette", n. Etym: [See Aigrette.]
Defn: Same as Egret, n.,
2.
EGRIMONY
Eg"ri*mo*ny, Etym: [Corrupted fr. agrimony.] (Bot.)
Defn: The herb agrimony. [Obs.]
EGRIMONY
Eg"ri*mo*ny, n. Etym: [L. aegrimonia.]
Defn: Sorrow. [Obs.]
EGRIOT
E"gri*ot, n. Etym: [F. aigrette, griotte, formerly agriote; cf. aigre
sour.]
Defn: A kind of sour cherry. Bacon.
EGRITUDE
E"gri*tude, n. Etym: [L. aegritudo, fr. aeger sick.]
Defn: Sickness; ailment; sorrow. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
EGYPTIAN
E*gyp"tian, a. Etym: [L. Aegyptius, Gr. Aegyptus) Egypt: cf. F.
égyptien. Cf. Gypsy.]
Defn: Pertaining to Egypt, in Africa. Egyptian bean. (Bot.) (a) The
beanlike fruit of an aquatic plant (Nelumbium speciosum), somewhat
resembling the water lily. (b) See under Bean,
1.
-- Egyptian cross. See Illust. (No. 6) of Cross.
-- Egyptian thorn (Bot.), a medium-sized tree (Acacia vera). It is
one of the chief sources of the best gum arabic.
EGYPTIAN
E*gyp"tian, n.
1. A native, or one of the people, of Egypt; also, the Egyptian
language.
2. A gypsy. [Obs.] Shak.
EGYPTIZE
E"gypt*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Egyptized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Egyptizing.]
Defn: To give an Egyptian character or appearance to. Fairbairn.
EGYPTOLOGER; EGYPTOLOGIST
E`gyp*tol"o*ger, E`gyp*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the antiquities of Egypt; a student of
Egyptology.
EGYPTOLOGICAL
E*gyp`to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or devoted to, Egyptology.
EGYPTOLOGY
E`gyp*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Egypt + -logy.]
Defn: The science or study of Egyptian antiquities, esp. the
hieroglyphics.
EH
Eh, interj. Etym: [OE. ei, ey.]
Defn: An expression of inquiry or slight surprise.
EHLITE
Eh"lite, n. Etym: [From Ehl near Linz, where it occurs.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a green color and pearly luster; a hydrous
phosphate of copper.
EIDER
Ei"der, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin, cf. Icel æ; akin to Sw. eider,
Dan. ederfugl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any species of sea duck of the genus Somateria, esp. Somateria
mollissima, which breeds in the northern parts of Europe and America,
and lines its nest with fine down (taken from its own body) which is
an article of commerce; -- called also eider duck. The American eider
(S. Dresseri), the king eider (S. spectabilis), and the spectacled
eider (Arctonetta Fischeri) are related species. Eider down. Etym:
[Cf. Icel. æ\'ebardun, Sw. eiderdun, Dan. ederduun.] Down of the
eider duck, much sought after as an article of luxury.
EIDOGRAPH
Ei"do*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. graph.]
Defn: An instrument for copying drawings on the same or a different
scale; a form of the pantograph.
EIDOLON
Ei*do"lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Idol.]
Defn: An image or representation; a form; a phantom; an apparition.
Sir W. Scott.
EIGH
Eigh, interj.
Defn: An exclamation expressing delight.
EIGHT
Eight, n. Etym: [See Ait.]
Defn: An island in a river; an ait. [Obs.] "Osiers on their eights."
Evelyn.
EIGHT
Eight, a. Etym: [AS. eahta; akin to OS. ahto, OFries. achta, D. & G.
acht, OHG. ahto, Icel. atta, Sw. åtta, Dan. otte, Goth. ahtau, Lith.
aszt, Ir. & Gael. ochd, W. wyth, Armor. eich, eiz, L. octo, Gr. ash.
Octave.]
Defn: Seven and one; as, eight years.
EIGHT
Eight, n.
1. The number greater by a unit than seven; eight units or objects.
2. A symbol representing eight units, as 8 or viii.
EIGHTEEN
Eight"een`, a. Etym: [AS. eahtat, eahtat. See Eight, and Ten, and cf.
Eighty.]
Defn: Eight and ten; as, eighteen pounds.
EIGHTEEN
Eight"een`, n.
1. The number greater by a unit than seventeen; eighteen units or
objects.
2. A symbol denoting eighteen units, as 18 or xviii.
EIGHTEENMO
Eight`een"mo, a. & n.
Defn: See Octodecimo.
EIGHTEENTH
Eight"eenth`, a. Etym: [From Eighteen.]
1. Next in order after the seventeenth.
2. Consisting of one of eighteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.
EIGHTEENTH
Eight"eenth`, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by eighteen; one of eighteen equal
parts or divisions.
2. The eighth after the tenth.
EIGHTETETHE
Eight"e*teth`e, a. Etym: [OE., fr. AS. eahtateó; eahta eight + teó
tenth. Cf. Eighteenth, Tenth.]
Defn: Eighteenth. [Obs.]
EIGHTFOLD
Eight"fold`, a.
Defn: Eight times a quantity.
EIGHTH
Eighth, a. Etym: [AS. eahto.]
1. Next in order after the seventh.
2. Consisting of one of eight equal divisions of a thing. Eighth note
(Mus.), the eighth part of a whole note, or semibreve; a quaver.
EIGHTH
Eighth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by eight; one of eight equal parts;
an eighth part.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval of an octave.
EIGHTHLY
Eighth"ly, adv.
Defn: As the eighth in order.
EIGHTIETH
Eight"i*eth, a. Etym: [From Eighty.]
1. The next in order after seventy-ninth.
2. Consisting of one of eighty equal parts or divisions.
EIGHTIETH
Eight"i*eth, n.
Defn: The quotient of a unit divided by eighty; one of eighty equal
parts.
EIGHTLING
Eight"ling, n. Etym: [Eight + -ling.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A compound or twin crystal made up of eight individuals.
EIGHTSCORE
Eight"score`, a. & n.
Defn: Eight times twenty; a hundred and sixty.
EIGHTY
Eight"y, a. Etym: [AS. eahtatig, where the ending -tig is akin to
English ten; cf. G. achtzig. See Eight, and Ten.]
Defn: Eight times ten; fourscore.
EIGHTY
Eight"y, n.
1. The sum of eight times ten; eighty units or objects.
2. A symbol representing eighty units, or ten eight times repeated,
as 80 or lxxx.
EIGNE
Eigne, a. Etym: [OF. aisné, ainsné, F. aîné, fr. L. ante natus born
before. Cf. Esnecy.]
1. (Law)
Defn: Eldest; firstborn. Blackstone.
2. Entailed; belonging to the eldest son. [Obs.] Bastard eigne, a
bastard eldest son whose parents afterwards intermarry.
EIKING
Eik"ing, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Eking.
EIKON
Ei"kon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: An image or effigy; -- used rather in an abstract sense, and
rarely for a work of art.
EIKONOGEN
Ei*kon"o*gen, n. [Gr. e'ikw`n, e'iko`nos, image + root of gi`gnesqai
to be born.] (Photog. & Chem.)
Defn: The sodium salt of a sulphonic acid of a naphthol,
C10H5(OH)(NH2)SO3Na used as a developer.
EIKOSANE
Ei"ko*sane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A solid hydrocarbon, C20H42, of the paraffine series, of
artificial production, and also probably occurring in petroleum.
EIKOSYLENE
Ei*kos"y*lene, n. Etym: [Gr. ylene.] (Chem.)
Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C20H38, of the acetylene series, obtained
from brown coal.
EILD
Eild, n. Etym: [See Eld.]
Defn: Age. [Obs.] Fairfax.
EIRE
Eire, n.
Defn: Air. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EIRENARCH
Ei`re*narch, n. Etym: [See Irenarch.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A justice of the peace; irenarch.
EIRENIC
Ei*ren"ic, a.
Defn: Pacific. See Irenic.
EIRIE
Ei"rie, n.
Defn: See Aerie, and Eyrie.
EISEL
Ei"sel, n. Etym: [OF. aisil, aissil, fr. L. acet. Cf. Acetic.]
Defn: Vinegar; verjuice. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
EISTEDDFOD
Eis*tedd"fod, n. Etym: [W., session, fr. eistedd to sit.]
Defn: Am assembly or session of the Welsh bards; an annual congress
of bards, minstrels and literati of Wales, -- being a patriotic
revival of the old custom.
EITHER
Ei"ther, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. either, aither, AS. , (akin to OHG. ,
MHG. iegeweder); a + ge + hwæ whether. See Each, and Whether, and cf.
Or, conj.]
1. One of two; the one or the other; -- properly used of two things,
but sometimes of a larger number, for any one.
Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves,
Nor either cares for him. Shak.
Scarce a palm of ground could be gotten by either of the three.
Bacon.
There have been three talkers in Great British, either of whom would
illustrate what I say about dogmatists. Holmes.
2. Each of two; the one and the other; both; -- formerly, also, each
of any number.
His flowing hair In curls on either cheek played. Milton.
On either side . . . was there the tree of life. Rev. xxii. 2.
The extreme right and left of either army never engaged. Jowett
(Thucyd).
EITHER
Ei"ther, conj. Either
Defn: precedes two, or more, coördinate words or phrases, and is
introductory to an alternative. It is correlative to or.
Either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or
peradventure he sleepeth. 1 Kings xviii. 27.
Few writers hesitate to use either in what is called a triple
alternative; such as, We must either stay where we are, proceed, or
recede. Latham.
Note: Either was formerly sometimes used without any correlation, and
where we should now use or.
Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries either a vine, figs
James iii. 12.
EJACULATE
E*jac"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejaculated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ejaculating.] Etym: [L. ejaculatus, p. p. of ejaculari to throw out;
e out + ejaculari to throw, fr. jaculum javelin, dart, fr. jacere to
throw. See Eject.]
1. To throw out suddenly and swiftly, as if a dart; to dart; to
eject. [Archaic or Technical]
Its active rays ejaculated thence. Blackmore.
2. To throw out, as an exclamation; to utter by a brief and sudden
impulse; as, to ejaculate a prayer.
EJACULATE
E*jac"u*late, v. i.
Defn: To utter ejaculations; to make short and hasty exclamations.
[R.] "Ejaculating to himself." Sir W. Scott.
EJACULATION
E*jac`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éjaculation.]
1. The act of throwing or darting out with a sudden force and rapid
flight. [Archaic or Technical] "An ejaculation or irradiation of the
eye." Bacon.
2. The uttering of a short, sudden exclamation or prayer, or the
exclamation or prayer uttered.
In your dressing, let there be jaculations fitted to the several
actions of dressing. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of ejecting or suddenly throwing, as a fluid from a
duct.
EJACULATOR
E*jac"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [NL. See Ejaculate.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which helps ejaculation.
EJACULATORY
E*jac"u*la*to*ry, a.
1. Casting or throwing out; fitted to eject; as, ejaculatory vessels.
2. Suddenly darted out; uttered in short sentences; as, an
ejaculatory prayer or petition.
3. Sudden; hasty. [Obs.] "Ejaculatory repentances, that take us by
fits and starts." L'Estrange.
EJECT
E*ject", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Ejecting.]
Etym: [L. ejectus, p. p. of ejicere; e out + jacere to throw. See Jet
a shooting forth.]
1. To expel; to dismiss; to cast forth; to thrust or drive out; to
discharge; as, to eject a person from a room; to eject a traitor from
the country; to eject words from the language. "Eyes ejecting flame."
H. Brooke.
2. (Law)
Defn: To cast out; to evict; to dispossess; as, to eject tenants from
an estate.
Syn.
-- To expel; banish; drive out; discharge; oust; evict; dislodge;
extrude; void.
EJECTA
E*jec"ta, n. pl. [L., neut. pl. of ejectus cast out. See Eject.]
Defn: Matter ejected; material thrown out; as, the ejecta of a
volcano; the ejecta, or excreta, of the body.
EJECTION
E*jec"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejectio: cf. F. éjection.]
1. The act of ejecting or casting out; discharge; expulsion;
evacuation. "Vast ejection of ashes." Eustace. "The ejection of a
word." Johnson.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of discharging anything from the body,
particularly the excretions.
3. The state of being ejected or cast out; dispossession; banishment.
EJECTMENT
E*ject"ment, n.
1. A casting out; a dispossession; an expulsion; ejection; as, the
ejectment of tenants from their homes.
2. (Law)
Defn: A species of mixed action, which lies for the recovery of
possession of real property, and damages and costs for the wrongful
withholding of it. Wharton.
EJECTOR
E*ject"or, n.
1. One who, or that which, ejects or dispossesses.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A jet jump for lifting water or withdrawing air from a space.
Ejector condenser (Steam Engine), a condenser in which the vacuum is
maintained by a jet pump.
EJOO
E"joo, n. Etym: [Malay ij or hij.]
Defn: Gomuti fiber. See Gomuti.
EJULATION
Ej`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. ejulatio, fr. ejulare to wail, lament.]
Defn: A wailing; lamentation. [Obs.] "Ejulation in the pangs of
death." Philips.
EKABOR; EKABORON
Ek"a*bor`, Ek"a*bo"ron, n. Etym: [G., fr. Skr. one + G. bor, boron,
E. boron.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name given by Mendelejeff in accordance with the periodic
law, and by prediction, to a hypothetical element then unknown, but
since discovered and named scandium; -- so called because it was a
missing analogue of the boron group. See Scandium.
EKALUMINIUM
Ek*al`u*min"i*um, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. aluminium.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name given to a hypothetical element, -- later discovered
and called gallium. See Gallium, and cf. Ekabor.
EKASILICON
Ek`a*sil"i*con, n. Etym: [Skr. one + E. silicon.] (Chem.)
Defn: The name of a hypothetical element predicted and afterwards
discovered and named germanium; -- so called because it was a missing
analogue of the silicon group. See Germanium, and cf. Ekkabor.
EKE
Eke, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eked; p. pr. & vb. n. Eking.] Etym: [AS.
ekan, ykan; akin to OFries, aka, OS. , OHG. ouhhon to add, Icel. auka
to increase, Sw. öka, Dan. öge, Goth. aukan, L. augere, Skr.
strength, ugra mighty, and probably to English wax, v. i. Cf.
Augment, Nickname.]
Defn: To increase; to add to; to augment; -- now commonly used with
out, the notion conveyed being to add to, or piece out by a
laborious, inferior, or scanty addition; as, to eke out a scanty
supply of one kind with some other. "To eke my pain." Spenser.
He eked out by his wits an income of barely fifty pounds. Macaulay.
EKE
Eke, adv. Etym: [AS. eác; akin to OFries. ák, OS. , D. , OHG. ouh, G.
auch, Icel. auk, Sw. och and, Dan. og, Goth. auk for, but. Prob. from
the preceding verb.]
Defn: In addition; also; likewise. [Obs. or Archaic]
'T will be prodigious hard to prove That this is eke the throne of
love. Prior.
A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town. Cowper.
Note: Eke serves less to unite than to render prominent a subjoined
more important sentence or notion. Mätzner.
EKE
Eke, n.
Defn: An addition. [R.]
Clumsy ekes that may well be spared. Geddes.
EKEBERGITE
Ek"e*berg`ite, n. Etym: [From Ekeberg, a German.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of scapolite.
EKENAME
Eke"name`, n. Etym: [See Nickname.]
Defn: An additional or epithet name; a nickname. [Obs.]
EKING
Ek"ing, n. Etym: [From Eke, v. t.] (Shipbuilding)
(a) A lengthening or filling piece to make good a deficiency in
length.
(b) The carved work under the quarter piece at the aft part of the
quarter gallery. [Written also eiking.]
E-LA
E"-la`, n.
Defn: Originally, the highest note in the scale of Guido; hence,
proverbially, any extravagant saying. "Why, this is above E-la!"
Beau. & Fl.
ELABORATE
E*lab"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. elaboratus, p. p. of elaborare to work
out; e out + laborare to labor, labor labor. See Labor.]
Defn: Wrought with labor; finished with great care; studied; executed
with exactness or painstaking; as, an elaborate discourse; an
elaborate performance; elaborate research.
Drawn to the life in each elaborate page. Waller.
Syn.
-- Labored; complicated; studied; perfected; high-wrought.
-- E*lab"o*rate*ly, adv.
-- E*lab"o*rate*ness, n.
ELABORATE
E*lab"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elaborated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Elaborating.]
1. To produce with labor
They in full joy elaborate a sigh, Young.
2. To perfect with painstaking; to improve or refine with labor and
study, or by successive operations; as, to elaborate a painting or a
literary work.
The sap is . . . still more elaborated and exalted as it circulates
through the vessels of the plant. Arbuthnot.
ELABORATED
elaborated adj.
Defn: developed or executed with care and in minute detail; as, the
carefully elaborated theme.
Syn. -- detailed, elaborate.
[WordNet 1.5]
ELABORATION
E*lab`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. elaboratio: cf. F. élaboration.]
1. The act or process of producing or refining with labor;
improvement by successive operations; refinement.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The natural process of formation or assimilation, performed by
the living organs in animals and vegetables, by which a crude
substance is changed into something of a higher order; as, the
elaboration of food into chyme; the elaboration of chyle, or sap, or
tissues.
ELABORATIVE
E*lab"o*ra*tive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to elaborate; constructing with labor and
minute attention to details. Elaborative faculty (Metaph.), the
intellectual power of discerning relations and of viewing objects by
means of, or in, relations; the discursive faculty; thought.
ELABORATOR
E*lab"o*ra`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, elaborates.
ELABORATORY
E*lab"o*ra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to elaborate.
ELABORATORY
E*lab"o*ra*to*ry, n.
Defn: A laboratory. [Obs.]
ELAEAGNUS
E`læ*ag"nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs or small trees, having the foliage covered
with small silvery scales; oleaster.
ELAEIS
E*læ"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of palms.
Note: Elæis Guineensis, the African oil palm, is a tree twenty or
thirty feet high, with immense pinnate leaves and large masses of
fruit. The berries are rather larger than olives, and when boiled in
water yield the orange-red palm oil.
ELAEOLITE
E*læ"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of hephelite, usually massive, of greasy luster, and
gray to reddish color. Elæolite syenite, a kind of syenite
characterized by the presence of elæolite.
ELAEOPTENE
E`læ*op"tene, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: The more liquid or volatile portion of certain oily substance,
as distinguished from stearoptene, the more solid parts. [Written
also elaoptene.]
ELAIDATE
E*la"i*date, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of elaidic acid.
ELAIDIC
E`la*id"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdique. See Elaine.]
Defn: Relating to oleic acid, or elaine. Elaidic acid (Chem.), a
fatty acid isomeric with oleic acid, and obtained from it by the
action of nitrous acid.
ELAIDIN
E*la"i*din, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élaïdine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A solid isomeric modification of olein.
ELAINE; ELAIN
E*la"ine, or E*la"in, n. Etym: [Gr. élaïne.] (Chem.)
Defn: Same as Olein.
ELAIODIC
E`lai*od"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Derived from castor oil; ricinoleic; as, elaiodic acid. [R.]
ELAIOMETER
E`lai*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for determining the amount of oil contained in any
substance, or for ascertaining the degree of purity of oil.
ELAMITE
E"lam*ite, n.
Defn: A dweller in Flam (or Susiana), an ancient kingdom of
Southwestern Asia, afterwards a province of Persia.
ELAMPING
E*lamp"ing, a. Etym: [See Lamp.]
Defn: Shining. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.
ELAN
e`lan", b. Etym: [F., fr. élancer to dart.]
Defn: Ardor inspired by passion or enthusiasm.
ELANCE
E*lance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Elancing.]
Etym: [F. élancer, OF. eslancier; pref. es- (L. ex) + F. lancer to
dart, throw, fr. lance.]
Defn: To throw as a lance; to hurl; to dart. [R.]
While thy unerring hand elanced . . . a dart. Prior.
ELAND
E"land, n. Etym: [D. eland elk, of Slav. origin; cf. Pol. jelen stag,
Russ. oléne, Lith. elnis; perh. akin to E. elk.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of large South African antelope (Oreas canna). It is
valued both for its hide and flesh, and is rapidly disappearing in
the settled districts; -- called also Cape elk.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The elk or moose.
ELANET
E*la"net, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A kite of the genus Elanus.
ELAOLITE
E*la"o*lite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Elæolite.
ELAOPTENE
E`la*op"tene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Elæoptene.
ELAPHINE
El"a*phine, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or characteristic of, the stag, or
Cervus elaphus.
ELAPHURE
El"a*phure, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of deer (Elaphurus Davidianus) found in china. It
about four feet high at the shoulder and has peculiar antlers.
ELAPIDATION
E*lap`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. elapidatus cleared from stones; e out +
lapis stone.]
Defn: A clearing away of stones. [R.]
ELAPINE
El"a*pine, a. Etym: [See Elaps.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the Elapidæ, a family of poisonous
serpents, including the cobras. See Ophidia.
ELAPS
E"laps, n. Etym: [NL., of uncertain origin.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of venomous snakes found both in America and the Old
World. Many species are known. See Coral snake, under Coral.
ELAPSE
E*lapse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Elapsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elapsing.]
Etym: [L. elapsus, p. p. of elabi to glide away; e out + labi to
fall, slide. See Lapse.]
Defn: To slip or glide away; to pass away silently, as time; -- used
chiefly in reference to time.
Eight days elapsed; at length a pilgrim came. Hoole.
ELAPSION
E*lap"sion, n.
Defn: The act of elapsing. [R.]
ELAQUEATE
E*la"que*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. elaqueatus, p. p. of elaqueare to
unfetter.]
Defn: To disentangle. [R.]
ELASIPODA
El`a*sip"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -poda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of holothurians mostly found in the deep sea. They are
remarkable for their bilateral symmetry and curious forms. [Written
also Elasmopoda.]
ELASMOBRANCH
E*las"mo*branch, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Elasmobranchii.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.
ELASMOBRANCHIATE
E*las`mo*bran"chi*ate, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to Elasmobranchii.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Elasmobranchii.
ELASMOBRANCHII
E*las`mo*bran"chi*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. branchia a gill.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A subclass of fishes, comprising the sharks, the rays, and the
Chimæra. The skeleton is mainly cartilaginous.
ELASMOSAURUS
E*las`mo*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct, long-necked, marine, cretaceous reptile from
Kansas, allied to Plesiosaurus.
ELASTIC
E*las"tic, a. Etym: [Formed fr. Gr. alacer lively, brisk, and E.
alacrity: cf. F. élastique.]
1. Springing back; having a power or inherent property of returning
to the form from which a substance is bent, drawn, pressed, or
twisted; springy; having the power of rebounding; as, a bow is
elastic; the air is elastic; India rubber is elastic.
Capable of being drawn out by force like a piece of elastic gum, and
by its own elasticity returning, when the force is removed, to its
former position. Paley.
2. Able to return quickly to a former state or condition, after being
depressed or overtaxed; having power to recover easily from shocks
and trials; as, elastic spirits; an elastic constitution. Elastic
bitumen. (Min.) See Elaterite.
-- Elastic curve. (a) (Geom.) The curve made by a thin elastic rod
fixed horizontally at one end and loaded at the other. (b) (Mech.)
The figure assumed by the longitudinal axis of an originally straight
bar under any system of bending forces. Rankine.
-- Elastic fluids, those which have the property of expanding in all
directions on the removal of external pressure, as the air, steam,
and other gases and vapors.
-- Elastic limit (Mech.), the limit of distortion, by bending,
stretching, etc., that a body can undergo and yet return to its
original form when relieved from stress; also, the unit force or
stress required to produce this distortion. Within the elastic limit
the distortion is directly proportional to the stress producing it.
-- Elastic tissue (Anat.), a variety of connective tissue consisting
of a network of slender and very elastic fibers which are but
slightly affected by acids or alkalies.
-- Gum elastic, caoutchouc.
ELASTIC
E*las"tic, n.
Defn: An elastic woven fabric, as a belt, braces or suspenders, etc.,
made in part of India rubber. [Colloq.]
ELASTICAL
E*las"tic*al, a.
Defn: Elastic. [R.] Bentley.
ELASTICALLY
E*las"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elastic manner; by an elastic power; with a spring.
ELASTICITY
E`las*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élasticité.]
1. The quality of being elastic; the inherent property in bodies by
which they recover their former figure or dimensions, after the
removal of external pressure or altering force; springiness; tendency
to rebound; as, the elasticity of caoutchouc; the elasticity of the
air.
2. Power of resistance to, or recovery from, depression or overwork.
Coefficient of elasticity, the quotient of a stress (of a given
kind), by the strain (of a given kind) which it produces; -- called
also coefficient of resistance.
-- Surface of elasticity (Geom.), the pedal surface of an ellipsoid
(see Pedal); a surface used in explaining the phenomena of double
refraction and their relation to the elastic force of the luminous
ether in crystalline media.
ELASTICNESS
E*las"tic*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being elastic; elasticity.
ELASTIN
E*las"tin, n. Etym: [Elastic + -in.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A nitrogenous substance, somewhat resembling albumin, which
forms the chemical basis of elastic tissue. It is very insoluble in
most fluids, but is gradually dissolved when digested with either
pepsin or trypsin.
ELATE
E*late", a. Etym: [L. elatus elevated, fig., elated, proud (the
figure, perh., being borrowed from a prancing horse); e out + latus
(used as p. p. of ferre to bear), for tlatus, and akin to E.
tolerate. See Tolerate, and cf. Extol.]
1. Lifted up; raised; elevated.
With upper lip elate. Fenton.
And sovereign law, that State's collected will, O'er thrones and
globes, elate, Sits empress, crowning good, repressing ill. Sir W.
Jones.
2. Having the spirits raised by success, or by hope; flushed or
exalted with confidence; elated; exultant.
O, thoughtless mortals! ever blind to fate, Too soon dejected, and
dejected, and too soon elate. Pope.
Our nineteenth century is wonderfully set up in its own esteem,
wonderfully elate at its progress. Mrs. H. H. Jackson.
Syn.
-- Puffed up; lofty; proud; haughty; exalted; inspirited;
transported; delighted; overjoyed.
ELATE
E*late", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elated; p. pr. & vb. n. Elating.]
1. To raise; to exalt. [R.]
By the potent sun elated high. Thomson.
2. To exalt the spirit of; to fill with confidence or exultation; to
elevate or flush with success; to puff up; to make proud.
Foolishly elated by spiritual pride. Warburton.
You ought not be elated at the chance mishaps of your enemies. Jowett
(Thucyd. ).
ELATEDLY
E*lat"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With elation.
ELATEDNESS
E*lat"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being elated.
ELATER
E*lat"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, elates.
ELATER
El"a*ter, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An elastic spiral filament for dispersing the spores, as in
some liverworts.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any beetle of the family Elateridæ, having the habit, when laid
on the back, of giving a sudden upward spring, by a quick movement of
the articulation between the abdomen and thorax; -- called also click
beetle, spring beetle, and snapping beetle.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The caudal spring used by Podura and related insects for
leaping. See Collembola.
ELATER
El"a*ter, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The active principle of elaterium, being found in the juice of
the wild or squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly Motordica
Elaterium) and other related species. It is extracted as a bitter,
white, crystalline substance, which is a violent purgative.
ELATERITE
El"a*ter*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral resin, of a blackish brown color, occurring in soft,
flexible masses; -- called also mineral caoutchouc, and elastic
bitumen.
ELATERIUM
El`a*te"ri*um, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Elater.]
Defn: A cathartic substance obtained, in the form of yellowish or
greenish cakes, as the dried residue of the juice of the wild or
squirting cucumber (Ecballium agreste, formerly called Momordica
Elaterium).
ELATEROMETER
El`a*ter*om"e*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Elatrometer.
ELATERY
El"a*ter*y, n. Etym: [See 2d Elater.]
Defn: Acting force; elasticity. [Obs.] Ray.
ELATION
E*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. elatio. See Elate.]
Defn: A lifting up by success; exaltation; inriation with pride of
prosperity. "Felt the elation of triumph." Sir W. Scott.
ELATIVE
E*la"tive, a. (Gram.)
Defn: Raised; lifted up; -- a term applied to what is also called the
absolute superlative, denoting a high or intense degree of a quality,
but not excluding the idea that an equal degree may exist in other
cases.
ELATROMETER
El`a*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the degree of rarefaction of air
contained in the receiver of an air pump. [Spelt also elaterometer.]
ELAYL
E*la"yl, n. Etym: [Gr. yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Olefiant gas or ethylene; -- so called by Berzelius from its
forming an oil combining with chlorine. [Written also elayle.] See
Ethylene.
ELBOW
El"bow, n. Etym: [AS. elboga, elnboga (akin to D. elleboga, OHG.
elinbogo, G. ellbogen, ellenbogen, Icel. ; prop.; arm-bend); eln ell
(orig., forearm) + boga a bending. See 1st Ell, and 4th Bow.]
1. The joint or bend of the arm; the outer curve in the middle of the
arm when bent.
Her arms to the elbows naked. R. of Gloucester.
2. Any turn or bend like that of the elbow, in a wall, building, and
the like; a sudden turn in a line of coast or course of a river;
also, an angular or jointed part of any structure, as the raised arm
of a chair or sofa, or a short pipe fitting, turning at an angle or
bent.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: A sharp angle in any surface of wainscoting or other woodwork;
the upright sides which flank any paneled work, as the sides of
windows, where the jamb makes an elbow with the window back. Gwilt.
Note: Elbow is used adjectively or as part of a compound, to denote
something shaped like, or acting like, an elbow; as, elbow joint;
elbow tongs or elbow-tongs; elbowroom, elbow-room, or elbow room. At
the elbow, very near; at hand.
-- Elbow grease, energetic application of force in manual labor.
[Low] -- Elbow in the hawse (Naut.), the twisting together of two
cables by which a vessel rides at anchor, caused by swinging
completely round once. Totten.
-- Elbow scissors (Surg.), scissors bent in the blade or shank for
convenience in cutting. Knight.
-- Out at elbow, with coat worn through at the elbows; shabby; in
needy circumstances.
ELBOW
El"bow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elbowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Elbowing.]
Defn: To push or hit with the elbow, as when one pushes by another.
They [the Dutch] would elbow our own aldermen off the Royal Exchange.
Macaulay.
To elbow one's way, to force one's way by pushing with the elbows;
as, to elbow one's way through a crowd.
ELBOW
El"bow, v. i.
1. To jut into an angle; to project or to bend after the manner of an
elbow.
2. To push rudely along; to elbow one's way. "Purseproud, elbowing
Insolence." Grainger.
ELBOWBOARD
El"bow*board`, n.
Defn: The base of a window casing, on which the elbows may rest.
ELBOWCHAIR
El"bow*chair`, n.
Defn: A chair with arms to support the elbows; an armchair. Addison.
ELBOWROOM
El"bow*room`, n.
Defn: Room to extend the elbows on each side; ample room for motion
or action; free scope. "My soul hath elbowroom." Shak.
Then came a stretch of grass and a little more elbowroom. W. G.
Norris.
ELCAJA
El*ca"ja, n. Etym: [Ar.] (Bot.)
Defn: An Arabian tree (Trichilia emetica). The fruit, which is
emetic, is sometimes employed in the composition of an ointment for
the cure of the itch.
ELCESAITE
El*ce"sa*ite, n. Etym: [From Elcesai, the leader of the sect.]
(Eccl.)
Defn: One of a sect of Asiatic Gnostics of the time of the Emperor
Trajan.
ELD
Eld, a. Etym: [AS. eald.]
Defn: Old. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ELD
Eld, n. Etym: [AS. yldu, yldo, eldo, old age, fr. ald, eald, old. See
Old.]
1. Age; esp., old age. [Obs. or Archaic]
As sooth is said, eelde hath great avantage. Chaucer.
Great Nature, ever young, yet full of eld. Spenser.
2. Old times; former days; antiquity. [Poetic]
Astrologers and men of eld. Longfellow.
ELD
Eld, v. i.
Defn: To age; to grow old. [Obs.]
ELD
Eld, v. t.
Defn: To make old or ancient. [Obs.]
Time, that eldeth all things. Rom. of R.
ELDER
Eld"er, a. Etym: [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.]
1. Older; more aged, or existing longer.
Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. Jowett
(Thucyd. )
2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as,
his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to Ant: younger, and
now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc.
The elder shall serve the younger. Gen. xxv. 23.
But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. Keble.
Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to
play, first. Hoyle.
ELDER
Eld"er, n. Etym: [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old,
and cf. Elder, a., Alderman.]
1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1.
2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
Carry your head as your elders have done. L'Estrange.
3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler
or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as
have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of
Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic
church.
Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers
who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to
inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some
churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters.
4. (M. E. Ch.)
Defn: A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a
traveling elder. Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned
by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a
certain district.
-- Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church
session. Schaff.
ELDER
El"der, n. Etym: [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn;
perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E.
alder, n.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white
flowers, and small black or red berries.
Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the
common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red-
berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient.
Box elder. See under 1st Box.
-- Dwarf elder. See Danewort.
-- Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. Shak.
-- Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).
ELDERBERRY
El"der*ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The berrylike drupe of the elder. That of the Old World elder
(Sambucus nigra) and that of the American sweet elder (S. Canadensis)
are sweetish acid, and are eaten as a berry or made into wine.
ELDERISH
Eld"er*ish, a.
Defn: Somewhat old; elderly. [R.]
ELDERLY
Eld"er*ly, a.
Defn: Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age;
as, elderly people.
ELDERN
El"dern, a.
Defn: Made of elder. [Obs.]
He would discharge us as boys do eldern guns. Marston.
ELDERSHIP
Eld"er*ship, n.
1. The state of being older; seniority. "Paternity an eldership." Sir
W. Raleigh.
2. Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.
ELDERWORT
El"der*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Danewort.
ELDEST
Eld"est, a. Etym: [AS. yldest, superl. of eald old. See Elder, a.]
1. Oldest; longest in duration. Shak.
2. Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter,
brother, etc.; first in origin. See Elder. "My lady's eldest son."
Shak.
Their eldest historians are of suspected credit. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Eldest hand (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left hand. R.
A. Proctor.
ELDING
El"ding, n. Etym: [Icel. elding, fr. elda to kindle, eldr fire; akin
to AS. æld fire, ælan to burn.]
Defn: Fuel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
EL DORADO
El` Do*ra"do, pl. El Doradoes (. Etym: [Sp., lit., the gilt (sc.
land); el the + dorado gilt, p. p. of dorare to gild. Cf. Dorado.]
1. A name given by the Spaniards in the 16th century to an imaginary
country in the interior of South America, reputed to abound in gold
and precious stones.
2. Any region of fabulous wealth; exceeding richness.
The whole comedy is a sort of El Dorado of wit. T. Moore.
ELDRITCH
El"dritch, a.
Defn: Hideous; ghastly; as, an eldritch shriek or laugh. [Local,
Eng.]
ELEATIC
E`le*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. eleaticus, from Elea (or Velia) in Italy.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a certain school of Greek philosophers who
taught that the only certain science is that which owes nothing to
the senses, and all to the reason.
-- n.
Defn: A philosopher of the Eleatic school.
ELEATICISM
E`le*at"i*cism, n.
Defn: The Eleatic doctrine.
ELECAMPANE
El`e*cam*pane", n. Etym: [F. énulecampane, NL. inula campana; L.
inula elecampane + LL. campana a bell; cf. G. glockenwurz, i. e.,
"bellwort."]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A large, coarse herb (Inula Helenium), with composite yellow
flowers. The root, which has a pungent taste, is used as a tonic, and
was formerly of much repute as a stomachic.
2. A sweetmeat made from the root of the plant.
ELECT
E*lect", a. Etym: [L. electus, p. p. of eligere to elect; e out +
legere to choose. See Legend, and cf. Elite, Eclectic.]
1. Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more. "Colors quaint
elect." Spenser.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to
eternal life. "The elect angels." 1 Tim. v. 21.
3. Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as,
bishop elect; governor or mayor elect.
ELECT
E*lect", n.
1. One chosen or set apart.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul
delighteth. Is. xlii. 1.
2. pl. (Theol.)
Defn: Those who are chosen for salvation.
Shall not God avenge his won elect Luke xviii. 7.
ELECT
E*lect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elected; p. pr. & vb. n. Electing.]
1. To pick out; to select; to choose.
The deputy elected by the Lord. Shak.
2. To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a
representative, a president, or a governor.
3. (Theol.)
Defn: To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or
favor.
Syn.
-- To choose; prefer; select. See Choose.
ELECTANT
E*lect"ant, n. Etym: [L. electans, p. pr. of electare.]
Defn: One who has the power of choosing; an elector. [R.]
ELECTARY
E*lec"ta*ry, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Electuary.
ELECTIC
E*lec"tic, a.
Defn: See Eclectic.
ELECTICISM
E*lec"ti*cism, n.
Defn: See Eclecticism.
ELECTION
E*lec"tion, n. Etym: [F. élection, L. electio, fr. eligere to choose
out. See Elect, a.]
1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.
2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership
in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the
election of a president or a mayor.
Corruption in elections is the great enemy of freedom. J. Adams.
3. Power of choosing; free will; liberty to choose or act. "By his
own election led to ill." Daniel.
4. Discriminating choice; discernment. [Obs.]
To use men with much difference and election is good. Bacon.
5. (Theol.)
Defn: Divine choice; predestination of individuals as objects of
mercy and salvation; -- one of the "five points" of Calvinism.
There is a remnant according to the election of grace. Rom. xi. 5.
6. (Law)
Defn: The choice, made by a party, of two alternatives, by taking one
of which, the chooser is excluded from the other.
7. Those who are elected. [Obs.]
The election hath obtained it. Rom. xi. 7.
To contest an election. See under Contest.
-- To make one's election, to choose.
He has made his election to walk, in the main, in the old paths.
Fitzed. Hall.
ELECTIONEER
E*lec`tion*eer", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Electionered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Electioneering.]
Defn: To make interest for a candidate at an election; to use arts
for securing the election of a candidate.
A master of the whole art of electioneering. Macaulay.
ELECTIONEERER
E*lec`tion*eer"er, n.
Defn: One who electioneers.
ELECTIVE
E*lect"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électif.]
1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as, an elective act.
2. Pertaining to, or consisting in, choice, or right of choosing;
electoral.
The independent use of their elective franchise. Bancroft.
3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as, an
elective study; an elective office.
Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the
conditions of an elective kingdom. Dryden.
Elective affinity or attraction (Chem.), a tendency to unite with
certain things; chemism.
ELECTIVE
E*lect"ive, n.
Defn: In an American college, an optional study or course of study.
[Colloq.]
ELECTIVELY
E*lect"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elective manner; by choice.
ELECTOR
E*lect"or, n. Etym: [L., fr. eligere: cf. F. électeur.]
1. One who elects, or has the right of choice; a person who is
entitled to take part in an election, or to give his vote in favor of
a candidate for office.
2. Hence, specifically, in any country, a person legally qualified to
vote.
3. In the old German empire, one of the princes entitled to choose
the emperor.
4. One of the persons chosen, by vote of the people in the United
States, to elect the President and Vice President.
ELECTOR
E*lect"or, a. Etym: [Cf. F. électoral.]
Defn: Pertaining to an election or to electors.
In favor of the electoral and other princes. Burke.
Electoral college, the body of princes formerly entitled to elect the
Emperor of Germany; also, a name sometimes given, in the United
States, to the body of electors chosen by the people to elect the
President and Vice President.
ELECTORALITY
E*lect`or*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The territory or dignity of an elector; electorate. [R.] Sir H.
Wotton.
ELECTORATE
E*lect"or*ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électorat.]
1. The territory, jurisdiction, or dignity of an elector, as in the
old German empire.
2. The whole body of persons in a nation or state who are entitled to
vote in an election, or any distinct class or division of them.
The middle-class electorate of Great Britain. M. Arnold.
ELECTORESS
E*lect"or*ess, n. Etym: [Fem. of Elector.]
Defn: An electress. Bp. Burnet.
ELECTORIAL
E`lec*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Electoral. Burke.
ELECTORSHIP
E*lect"or*ship, n.
Defn: The office or status of an elector.
ELECTRE; ELECTER
E*lec"tre, E*lec"ter, n. Etym: [L. electrum: cf. F. électre mixture
of gold and silver. See Electrum.]
1. Amber. See Electrum. [Obs.]
2. A metallic substance compounded of gold and silver; an alloy.
[Obs.] Wyclif.
ELECTREPETER
E`lec*trep"e*ter, n. Etym: [Electro + Gr.
Defn: An instrument used to change the direction of electric
currents; a commutator. [R.]
ELECTRESS
E*lect"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électrice. Cf. Electoress.]
Defn: The wife or widow of an elector in the old German empire.
Burke.
ELECTRIC; ELECTRICAL
E*lec"tric, E*lec"tric*al, a. Etym: [L. electrum amber, a mixed
metal, Gr. arc to beam, shine: cf. F. électrique. The name came from
the production of electricity by the friction of amber.]
1. Pertaining to electricity; consisting of, containing, derived
from, or produced by, electricity; as, electric power or virtue; an
electric jar; electric effects; an electric spark.
2. Capable of occasioning the phenomena of electricity; as, an
electric or electrical machine or substance.
3. Electrifying; thrilling; magnetic. "Electric Pindar." Mrs.
Browning. Electric atmosphere, or Electric aura. See under Aura.
-- Electrical battery. See Battery.
-- Electrical brush. See under Brush.
-- Electric cable. See Telegraph cable, under Telegraph.
-- Electric candle. See under Candle.
-- Electric cat (Zoöl.), one of three or more large species of
African catfish of the genus Malapterurus (esp. M. electricus of the
Nile). They have a large electrical organ and are able to give
powerful shocks; -- called also sheathfish.
-- Electric clock. See under Clock, and see Electro-chronograph.
-- Electric current, a current or stream of electricity traversing a
closed circuit formed of conducting substances, or passing by means
of conductors from one body to another which is in a different
electrical state.
-- Electric, or Electrical, eel (Zoöl.), a South American eel-like
fresh-water fish of the genus Gymnotus (G. electricus), from two to
five feet in length, capable of giving a violent electric shock. See
Gymnotus.
-- Electrical fish (Zoöl.), any fish which has an electrical organ
by means of which it can give an electrical shock. The best known
kinds are the torpedo, the gymnotus, or electrical eel, and the
electric cat. See Torpedo, and Gymnotus.
-- Electric fluid, the supposed matter of electricity; lightning.
-- Electrical image (Elec.), a collection of electrical points
regarded as forming, by an analogy with optical phenomena, an image
of certain other electrical points, and used in the solution of
electrical problems. Sir W. Thomson.
-- Electrical light, the light produced by a current of electricity
which in passing through a resisting medium heats it to incandescence
or burns it. See under Carbon.
-- Electric, or Electrical, machine, an apparatus for generating,
collecting, or exciting, electricity, as by friction.
-- Electric motor. See Electro-motor,
2.
-- Electric osmose. (Physics) See under Osmose.
-- Electric pen, a hand pen for making perforated stencils for
multiplying writings. It has a puncturing needle driven at great
speed by a very small magneto-electric engine on the penhandle.
-- Electric railway, a railway in which the machinery for moving the
cars is driven by an electric current.
-- Electric ray (Zoöl.), the torpedo.
-- Electric telegraph. See Telegraph.
ELECTRIC
E*lec"tric, n. (Physics)
Defn: A nonconductor of electricity, as amber, glass, resin, etc.,
employed to excite or accumulate electricity.
ELECTRICALLY
E*lec"tric*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of electricity, or by means of it; thrillingly.
ELECTRICALNESS
E*lec"tric*al*ness, a.
Defn: The state or quality of being electrical.
ELECTRICIAN
E`lec*tri"cian, n.
Defn: An investigator of electricity; one versed in the science of
electricity.
ELECTRICITY
E`lec*tric"i*ty, n.; pl. Electricities. Etym: [Cf. F. électricité.
See Electric.]
1. A power in nature, a manifestation of energy, exhibiting itself
when in disturbed equilibrium or in activity by a circuit movement,
the fact of direction in which involves polarity, or opposition of
properties in opposite directions; also, by attraction for many
substances, by a law involving attraction between surfaces of unlike
polarity, and repulsion between those of like; by exhibiting
accumulated polar tension when the circuit is broken; and by
producing heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when
the circuit passes between the poles or through any imperfectly
conducting substance or space. It is generally brought into action by
any disturbance of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical,
physical, or mechanical, cause.
Note: Electricity is manifested under following different forms: (a)
Statical electricity, called also Frictional or Common, electricity,
electricity in the condition of a stationary charge, in which the
disturbance is produced by friction, as of glass, amber, etc., or by
induction. (b) Dynamical electricity, called also Voltaic
electricity, electricity in motion, or as a current produced by
chemical decomposition, as by means of a voltaic battery, or by
mechanical action, as by dynamo-electric machines. (c)
Thermoelectricity, in which the disturbing cause is heat (attended
possibly with some chemical action). It is developed by uniting two
pieces of unlike metals in a bar, and then heating the bar unequally.
(d) Atmospheric electricity, any condition of electrical disturbance
in the atmosphere or clouds, due to some or all of the above
mentioned causes. (e) Magnetic electricity, electricity developed by
the action of magnets. (f) Positive electricity, the electricity that
appears at the positive pole or anode of a battery, or that is
produced by friction of glass; -- called also vitreous electricity.
(g) Negative electricity, the electricity that appears at the
negative pole or cathode, or is produced by the friction of resinous
substance; -- called also resinous electricity. (h) Organic
electricity, that which is developed in organic structures, either
animal or vegetable, the phrase animal electricity being much more
common.
2. The science which unfolds the phenomena and laws of electricity;
electrical science.
3. Fig.: Electrifying energy or characteristic.
ELECTRIFIABLE
E*lec"tri*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of receiving electricity, or of being charged with it.
ELECTRIFICATION
E*lec`tri*fi*ca"tion, n. (Physics)
Defn: The act of electrifying, or the state of being charged with
electricity.
ELECTRIFY
E*lec"tri*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Electrifying.] Etym: [Electric + -fy.]
1. To communicate electricity to; to charge with electricity; as, to
electrify a jar.
2. To cause electricity to pass through; to affect by electricity; to
give an electric shock to; as, to electrify a limb, or the body.
3. To excite suddenly and violently, esp. by something highly
delightful or inspiriting; to thrill; as, this patriotic sentiment
electrified the audience.
If the sovereign were now to immure a subject in defiance of the writ
of habeas corpus . . . the whole nation would be instantly
electrified by the news. Macaulay.
Try whether she could electrify Mr. Grandcourt by mentioning it to
him at table. G. Eliot.
ELECTRIFY
E*lec"tri*fy, v. i.
Defn: To become electric.
ELECTRINE
E*lec"trine, a. Etym: [L. electrinus of amber. See Electric.]
1. Belonging to, or made of, amber.
2. Made of electrum, an alloy used by the ancients.
ELECTRITION
E`lec*tri"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The recognition by an animal body of the electrical condition
of external objects.
ELECTRIZATION
E*lec`tri*za"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électrisation.]
Defn: The act of electrizing; electrification.
ELECTRIZE
E*lec"trize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Electrizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. électriser.]
Defn: To electricity. Eng. Cyc.
ELECTRIZER
E*lec"tri`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, electrizes.
ELECTRO-
E*lec"tro-. Etym: [L. electrum amber. See Electric.]
Defn: A prefix or combining form signifying pertaining to
electricity, produced by electricity, producing or employing
electricity, etc.; as, electro-negative; electro-dynamic; electro-
magnet.
ELECTRO
E*lec"tro, n.
Defn: An electrotype.
ELECTRO-BALLISTIC
E*lec`tro-bal*lis"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to electro-ballistics.
ELECTRO-BALLISTICS
E*lec`tro-bal*lis"tics, n.
Defn: The art or science of measuring the force or velocity of
projectiles by means of electricity.
ELECTRO-BIOLOGIST
E*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One versed in electro-biology.
ELECTRO-BIOLOGY
E*lec`tro-bi*ol"o*gy, n. (Biol.)
1. That branch of biology which treats of the electrical phenomena of
living organisms.
2. That phase of mesmerism or animal magnetism, the phenomena of
which are supposed to be produced by a form of electricity.
ELECTRO-BIOSCOPY
E*lec`tro-bi*os"co*py, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. -scopy.] (Biol.)
Defn: A method of determining the presence or absence of life in an
animal organism with a current of electricity, by noting the presence
or absence of muscular contraction.
ELECTRO-CAPILLARITY
E*lec`tro-cap`il*lar"i*ty, n. (Physics)
Defn: The occurrence or production of certain capillary effects by
the action of an electrical current or charge.
ELECTRO-CAPILLARY
E*lec`tro-cap"il*la*ry, a. (Physics)
Defn: Pert. to, or caused by, electro-capillarity.
ELECTRO-CHEMICAL
E*lec`tro-chem"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to electro-chemistry. Ure.
ELECTRO-CHEMISTRY
E*lec`tro-chem"is*try, n.
Defn: That branch of science which treats of the relation of
electricity to chemical changes.
ELECTRO-CHRONOGRAPH
E*lec`tro-chron"o*graph, n. (Astron. Physics)
Defn: An instrument for obtaining an accurate record of the time at
which any observed phenomenon occurs, or of its duration. It has an
electro-magnetic register connected with a clock. See Chronograph.
ELECTRO-CHRONOGRAPHIC
E*lec`tro-chron`o*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the electro-chronograph, or recorded by the aid of
it.
ELECTROCUTE
E*lec"tro*cute`, v. t. Etym: [Electro- + cute in execute.]
Defn: To execute or put to death by electricity.
-- E*lec`tro*cu"tion, n.
Note: [Recent; Newspaper words]
ELECTRODE
E*lec"trode, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. électrode.] (Elec.)
Defn: The path by which electricity is conveyed into or from a
solution or other conducting medium; esp., the ends of the wires or
conductors, leading from source of electricity, and terminating in
the medium traversed by the current.
ELECTRO-DYNAMIC; ELECTRO-DYNAMICAL
E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ic, E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ic*al, a. (Physics)
Defn: Pertaining to the movements or force of electric or galvanic
currents; dependent on electric force.
ELECTRO-DYNAMICS
E*lec`tro-dy*nam"ics, n.
1. The phenomena of electricity in motion.
2. The branch of science which treats of the properties of electric
currents; dynamical electricity.
ELECTRO-DYNAMOMETER
E*lec`tro-dy`na*mom"e*ter, n.
Defn: An instrument for measuring the strength of electro-dynamic
currents.
ELECTRO-ENGRAVING
E*lec`tro-en*grav"ing, n.
Defn: The art or process of engraving by means of electricity.
ELECTRO-ETCHING
E*lec`tro-etch"ing, n.
Defn: A mode of etching upon metals by electrolytic action.
ELECTROGENESIS
E*lec`tro*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Electro- + genesis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Same as Electrogeny.
ELECTROGENIC
E*lec`tro*gen"ic, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to electrogenesis; as, an electrogenic
condition.
ELECTROGENY
E`lec*trog"e*ny, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term sometimes applied to the effects (tetanus) produced in
the muscles of the limbs, when a current of electricity is passed
along the spinal cord or nerves.
ELECTRO-GILDING
E*lec`tro-gild"ing, n.
Defn: The art or process of gilding copper, iron, etc., by means of
voltaic electricity.
ELECTRO-GILT
E*lec"tro-gilt`, a.
Defn: Gilded by means of voltaic electricity.
ELECTROGRAPH
E*lec"tro*graph, n. Etym: [Electro- + -graph.]
Defn: A mark, record, or tracing, made by the action of electricity.
ELECTROGRAPHIC
E*lec`tro*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an electrograph or electrography.
ELECTROGRAPHY
E*lec*trog"ra*phy, n.
1. The art or process of making electrographs or using an
electrograph.
2. = Galvanography.
ELECTRO-KINETIC
E*lec`tro-ki*net"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to electro-kinetics.
ELECTRO-KINETICS
E*lec`tro-ki*net"ics, n.
Defn: That branch of electrical science which treats of electricity
in motion.
ELECTROLIER
E*lec`tro*lier", n. Etym: [Formed from electric in imitation of
chandelier.]
Defn: A branching frame, often of ornamental design, to support
electric illuminating lamps.
ELECTROLOGY
E`lec*trol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Electro- + -logy.]
Defn: That branch of physical science which treats of the phenomena
of electricity and its properties.
ELECTROLYSIS
E`lec*trol"y*sis, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of chemical decomposition, by the action of
electricity; as, the electrolysis of silver or nickel for plating;
the electrolysis of water.
ELECTROLYTE
E*lec"tro*lyte, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. électrolyte.] (Physics &
Chem.)
Defn: A compound decomposable, or subjected to decomposition, by an
electric current.
ELECTROLYTIC; ELECTROLYTICAL
E*lec`tro*lyt"ic, E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
électrolytique.]
Defn: Pertaining to electrolysis; as, electrolytic action.
-- E*lec`tro*lyt"ic*al*ly, adv.
ELECTROLYZABLE
E*lec"tro*ly`za*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being electrolyzed, or decomposed by electricity.
ELECTROLYZATION
E*lec`tro*ly*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or the process of electrolyzing.
ELECTROLYZE
E*lec"tro*lyze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrolyzed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Electrolyzing.] Etym: [Cf. F. électrolyser. See Electrolysis.]
Defn: To decompose by the direct action of electricity. Faraday.
ELECTRO-MAGNET
E*lec`tro-mag"net, n.
Defn: A mass, usually of soft iron, but sometimes of some other
magnetic metal, as nickel or cobalt, rendered temporarily magnetic by
being placed within a coil of wire through which a current of
electricity is passing. The metal is generally in the form of a bar,
either straight, or bent into the shape of a horseshoe.
ELECTRO-MAGNETIC
E*lec`tro-mag*net"ic, a.
Defn: Of, Pertaining to, or produced by, magnetism which is developed
by the passage of an electric current. Electro-magnetic engine, an
engine in which the motive force is electro-magnetism.
-- Electro-magnetic theory of light (Physics), a theory of light
which makes it consist in the rapid alternation of transient electric
currents moving transversely to the direction of the ray.
ELECTRO-MAGNETISM
E*lec`tro-mag"net*ism, n.
Defn: The magnetism developed by a current of electricity; the
science which treats of the development of magnetism by means of
voltaic electricity, and of the properties or actions of the currents
evolved.
ELECTRO-METALLURGY
E*lec`tro-met"al*lur`gy, n.
Defn: The act or art precipitating a metal electro-chemical action,
by which a coating is deposited, on a prepared surface, as in
electroplating and electrotyping; galvanoplasty.
ELECTROMETER
E`lec*trom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Electro- + -meter: cf. F. électromètre.]
(Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the quantity or intensity of
electricity; also, sometimes, and less properly, applied to an
instrument which indicates the presence of electricity (usually
called an electroscope). Balance electrometer. See under Balance.
ELECTRO-METRIC; ELECTRO-METRICAL
E*lec`tro-met"ric, E*lec`tro-met"ric*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
électrométrique.]
Defn: Pertaining to electrometry; made by means of electrometer; as,
an electrometrical experiment.
ELECTROMETRY
E`lec*trom"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électrométrie.] (Physics)
Defn: The art or process of making electrical measurements.
ELECTRO-MOTION
E*lec`tro-mo"tion, n.
Defn: The motion of electricity or its passage from one metal to
another in a voltaic circuit; mechanical action produced by means of
electricity.
ELECTRO-MOTIVE
E*lec`tro-mo"tive, a.
Defn: Producing electro-motion; producing, or tending to produce,
electricity or an electric current; causing electrical action or
effects. Electro-motive force (Physics), the force which produces, or
tends to produce, electricity, or an electric current; sometimes used
to express the degree of electrification as equivalent to potential,
or more properly difference of potential.
ELECTROMOTOR
E*lec`tro*mo"tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. électromoteur.]
1. (Physics)
Defn: A mover or exciter of electricity; as apparatus for generating
a current of electricity.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: An apparatus or machine for producing motion and mechanical
effects by the action of electricity; an electro-magnetic engine.
ELECTRO-MUSCULAR
E*lec`tro-mus"cu*lar, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining the reaction (contraction) of the muscles under
electricity, or their sensibility to it.
ELECTRON
E*lec"tron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Electric.]
Defn: Amber; also, the alloy of gold and silver, called electrum.
ELECTRO-NEGATIVE
E*lec`tro-neg"a*tive, a. (Chem. & Physics)
(a) Having the property of being attracted by an electro-positive
body, or a tendency to pass to the positive pole in electrolysis, by
the law that opposite electricities attract each other.
(b) Negative; nonmetallic; acid; -- opposed to positive, metallic, or
basic.
ELECTRO-NEGATIVE
E*lec`tro-neg"a*tive, n. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: A body which passes to the positive pole in electrolysis.
ELECTRONIC
E`lec*tron"ic, a. (Physics & Chem.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an electron or electrons.
ELECTROPATHY
E`lec*trop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The treatment of disease by electricity.
ELECTROPHONE
E*lec"tro*phone, n. Etym: [Electro- + Gr. (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for producing sound by means of electric
currents.
ELECTROPHORUS
E*lec`troph"o*rus, n.; pl. Electrophori. Etym: [NL., fr. combining
form electro- + Gr. (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for exciting electricity, and repeating the
charge indefinitely by induction, consisting of a flat cake of resin,
shelllac, or ebonite, upon which is placed a plate of metal.
ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGICAL
E*lec`tro-phys`i*o*log"ic*al, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to electrical results produced through physiological
agencies, or by change of action in a living organism.
ELECTRO-PHYSIOLOGY
E*lec`tro-phys`i*ol"o*gy, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: That branch of physiology which treats of electric phenomena
produced through physiological agencies.
ELECTROPLATE
E*lec"tro*plate`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electroplating.] (Mech.)
Defn: To plate or cover with a coating of metal, usually silver,
nickel, or gold, by means of electrolysis.
ELECTROPLATER
E*lec"tro*pla`ter, n.
Defn: One who electroplates.
ELECTROPLATING
E*lec"tro*pla`ting, n.
Defn: The art or process of depositing a coating (commonly) of
silver, gold, or nickel on an inferior metal, by means of
electricity.
ELECTROPOION; ELECTROPOION FLUID
E*lec`tro*poi"on, n., or Electropoion fluid. [NL.; electro- + Gr.
poiw^n, p. pr. of poiei^n to make.] (Elec.)
Defn: An exciting and depolarizing acid solution used in certain
cells or batteries, as the Grenet battery. Electropoion is best
prepared by mixing one gallon of concentrated sulphuric acid diluted
with three gallons of water, with a solution of six pounds of
potassium bichromate in two gallons of boiling water. It should be
used cold.
ELECTRO-POLAR
E*lec`tro-po"lar, a. (Physics)
Defn: Possessing electrical polarity; positively electrified at one
end, or on one surface, and negatively at the other; -- said of a
conductor.
ELECTRO-POSITIVE
E*lec`tro-pos"i*tive, a.
1. (Physics)
Defn: Of such a nature relatively to some other associated body or
bodies, as to tend to the negative pole of a voltaic battery, in
electrolysis, while the associated body tends to the positive pole; -
- the converse or correlative of electro-negative.
Note: An element that is electro-positive in one compound may be
electro-negative in another, and vice versa.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Hence: Positive; metallic; basic; -- distinguished from
negative, nonmetallic, or acid.
ELECTRO-POSITIVE
E*lec`tro-pos"i*tive, n. (Chem. & Physics)
Defn: A body which passes to the negative pole in electrolysis.
ELECTRO-PUNCTURATION; ELECTRO-PUNCTURING
E*lec`tro-punc`tu*ra"tion, E*lec`tro-punc`tur*ing, n. (Med.)
Defn: See Electropuncture.
ELECTRO-PUNCTURE
E*lec`tro-punc`ture, n. (Med.)
Defn: An operation that consists in inserting needless in the part
affected, and connecting them with the poles of a galvanic apparatus.
ELECTROSCOPE
E*lec"tro*scope, n. Etym: [Electro- + -scope: cf. F. électroscope.]
(Physics)
Defn: An instrument for detecting the presence of electricity, or
changes in the electric state of bodies, or the species of
electricity present, as by means of pith balls, and the like.
Condensing electroscope (Physics), a form of electroscope in which an
increase of sensibility is obtained by the use of a condenser.
ELECTROSCOPIC
E*lec`tro*scop"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to, or made by means of, the electroscope.
ELECTROSTATIC
E*lec`tro*stat"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to electrostatics.
ELECTROSTATICS
E*lec`tro*stat"ics, n. (Physics)
Defn: That branch of science which treats of statical electricity or
electric force in a state of rest.
ELECTRO-STEREOTYPE
E*lec`tro-ste"re*o*type, n.
Defn: Same as Electrotype.
ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHIC
E*lec`tro-tel`e*graph"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the electric telegraph, or by means of it.
ELECTRO-TELEGRAPHY
E*lec`tro-te*leg"ra*phy, n.
Defn: The art or science of constructing or using the electric
telegraph; the transmission of messages by means of the electric
telegraph.
ELECTRO-THERAPEUTICS
E*lec`tro-ther`a*peu"tics, n. (Med.)
Defn: The branch of medical science which treats of the applications
agent.
ELECTRO-THERMANCY
E*lec`tro-ther"man*cy, n.
Defn: That branch of electrical science which treats of the effect of
an electric current upon the temperature of a conductor, or a part of
a circuit composed of two different metals.
ELECTRO-TINT
E*lec"tro-tint`, n. (Fine Arts)
Defn: A style of engraving in relief by means of voltaic electricity.
A picture is drawn on a metallic plate with some material which
resists the fluids of a battery; so that, in electro-typing, the
parts not covered by the varnish, etc., receive a deposition of
metal, and produce the required copy in intaglio. A cast of this is
then the plate for printing.
ELECTROTONIC
E*lec`tro*ton"ic, a.
1. (Physics)
Defn: Of or pertaining to electrical tension; -- said of a supposed
peculiar condition of a conducting circuit during its exposure to the
action of another conducting circuit traversed by a uniform electric
current when both circuits remain stationary. Faraday.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to electrotonus; as, the electrotonic condition of a
nerve.
ELECTROTONIZE
E`lec*trot"o*nize, v. t. (Physiol.)
Defn: To cause or produce electrotonus.
ELECTROTONOUS
E`lec*trot"o*nous, a.
Defn: Electrotonic.
ELECTROTONUS
E`lec*trot"o*nus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. combining form electro- + Gr.
(Physiol.)
Defn: The modified condition of a nerve, when a constant current of
electricity passes through any part of it. See Anelectrotonus, and
Catelectrotonus.
ELECTROTYPE
E*lec"tro*type, n. Etym: [Electro- + -type.]
Defn: A facsimile plate made by electrotypy for use in printing;
also, an impression or print from such plate. Also used adjectively.
Note: The face of an electrotype consists of a shell of copper,
silver, or the like, produced by the action of an electrical current
upon a plate of metal and a wax mold suspended in an acid bath and
connected with opposite poles of the battery. It is backed up with a
solid filling of type metal.
ELECTROTYPE
E*lec"tro*type, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Electrotyped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Electrotyping.]
Defn: To make facsimile plates of by the electrotype process; as to
electrotype a page of type, a book, etc. See Electrotype, n.
ELECTROTYPER
E*lec"tro*ty`per, n.
Defn: One who electrotypes.
ELECTROTYPIC
E*lec`tro*typ"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or effected by means of, electrotypy.
ELECTROTYPING
E*lec"tro*ty`ping, n.
Defn: The act or the process of making electrotypes.
ELECTROTYPY
E*lec"tro*ty`py, n.
Defn: The process of producing electrotype plates. See Note under
Electrotype, n.
ELECTRO-VITAL
E*lec`tro-vi"tal, a.
Defn: Derived from, or dependent upon, vital processes; -- said of
certain electric currents supposed by some physiologists to circulate
in the nerves of animals.
ELECTRO-VITALISM
E*lec`tro-vi"tal*ism, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The theory that the functions of living organisms are dependent
upon electricity or a kindred force.
ELECTRUM
E*lec"trum, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Electric, and cf. Electre,
Electron.]
1. Amber.
2. An alloy of gold and silver, of an amber color, used by the
ancients.
3. German-silver plate. See German silver, under German.
ELECTUARY
E*lec"tu*a*ry, n.; pl. Electuaries. Etym: [OE. letuaire, OF.
lettuaire, electuaire, F. électuaire, L. electuarium, electarium.
prob. fr. Gr. Lick, and cf. Eclegm.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine composed of powders, or other ingredients,
incorporated with some convserve, honey, or sirup; a confection. See
the note under Confection.
ELEEMOSYNARILY
El`ee*mos"y*na*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eleemosynary manner; by charity; charitably.
ELEEMOSYNARY
El`ee*mos"y*na*ry, a. Etym: [LL. eleemosynarius, fr. eleemosyna alms,
Gr. Alms.]
1. Relating to charity, alms, or almsgiving; intended for the
distribution of charity; as, an eleemosynary corporation.
2. Given in charity or alms; having the nature of alms; as,
eleemosynary assistance. "Eleemosynary cures." Boyle.
3. Supported by charity; as, eleemosynary poor.
ELEEMOSYNARY
El`ee*mos"y*na*ry, n.; pl. Eleemosynaries (.
Defn: One who subsists on charity; a dependent. South.
ELEGANCE; ELEGANCY
El"e*gance, El"e*gan*cy, n. Etym: [L. elegantia, fr. elegans, -antis,
elegant: cf. F. élégance.]
1. The state or quality of being elegant; beauty as resulting from
choice qualities and the complete absence of what deforms or
impresses unpleasantly; grace given by art or practice; fine polish;
refinement; -- said of manners, language, style, form, architecture,
etc.
That grace that elegance affords. Drayton.
The endearing elegance of female friendship. Johnson.
A trait of native elegance, seldom seen in the masculine character
after childhood or early youth, was shown in the General's fondness
for the sight and fragrance of flowers. Hawthorne.
2. That which is elegant; that which is tasteful and highly
attractive.
The beautiful wildness of nature, without the nicer elegancies of
art. Spectator.
Syn.
-- Elegance, Grace. Elegance implies something of a select style of
beauty, which is usually produced by art, skill, or training; as,
elegance of manners, composition, handwriting, etc.; elegant
furniture; an elegant house, etc. Grace, as the word is here used,
refers to bodily movements, and is a lower order of beauty. It may be
a natural gift; thus, the manners of a peasant girl may be graceful,
but can hardly be called elegant.
ELEGANT
El"e*gant, a. Etym: [L. elegans, -antis; akin to eligere to pick out,
choose, select: cf. F. élégant. See Elect.]
1. Very choice, and hence, pleasing to good taste; characterized by
grace, propriety, and refinement, and the absence of every thing
offensive; exciting admiration and approbation by symmetry,
completeness, freedom from blemish, and the like; graceful; tasteful
and highly attractive; as, elegant manners; elegant style of
composition; an elegant speaker; an elegant structure.
A more diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.
2. Exercising a nice choice; discriminating beauty or sensitive to
beauty; as, elegant taste.
Syn.
-- Tasteful; polished; graceful; refined; comely; handsome; richly
ornamental.
ELEGANTLY
El"e*gant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to please nice taste; with elegance; with due
symmetry; richly.
ELEGIAC
E*le"gi*ac, a. Etym: [L. elegiacus, Gr. élégiaque. See Elegy.]
1. Belonging to elegy, or written in elegiacs; plaintive; expressing
sorrow or lamentation; as, an elegiac lay; elegiac strains.
Elegiac griefs, and songs of love. Mrs. Browning.
2. Used in elegies; as, elegiac verse; the elegiac distich or
couplet, consisting of a dactylic hexameter and pentameter.
ELEGIAC
E*le"gi*ac, n.
Defn: Elegiac verse.
ELEGIACAL
El`e*gi"a*cal, a.
Defn: Elegiac.
ELEGIAST
E*le"gi*ast, n.
Defn: One who composes elegies. Goldsmith.
ELEGIOGRAPHER
El`e*gi*og"ra*pher, n. Etym: [Gr. -graph + -er.]
Defn: An elegist. [Obs.]
ELEGIST
El"e*gist, n.
Defn: A write of elegies. T. Warton.
ELEGIT
E*le"git, n. Etym: [L., he has chosen, fr. eligere to choose. See
Elect.] (Law)
Defn: A judicial writ of execution, by which a defendant's goods are
appraised and delivered to the plaintiff, and, if no sufficient to
satisfy the debt, all of his lands are delivered, to be held till the
debt is paid by the rents and profits, or until the defendant's
interest has expired.
ELEGIZE
El"e*gize, v. t.
Defn: To lament in an elegy; to celebrate in elegiac verse; to
bewail. Carlyle.
ELEGY
El"e*gy, n.; pl. Elegies. Etym: [L. elegia, Gr.
Defn: A mournful or plaintive poem; a funereal song; a poem of
lamentation. Shak.
ELEIDIN
E*le"i*din, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Lifeless matter deposited in the form of minute granules within
the protoplasm of living cells.
ELEME FIGS; ELEMI FIGS
El"e*me figs`, El"e*mi figs` (el"e*mi). [Turk. eleme anything which
has been sifted and freed from dust or broken parts.]
Defn: A kind of figs of superior quality.
ELEMENT
El"e*ment, n. Etym: [F. élément, L. elementum.]
1. One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which
anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental
powers of anything are based.
2. One of the ultimate, undecomposable constituents of any kind of
matter. Specifically: (Chem.) A substance which cannot be decomposed
into different kinds of matter by any means at present employed; as,
the elements of water are oxygen and hydrogen.
Note: The elements are naturally classified in several families or
groups, as the group of the alkaline elements, the halogen group, and
the like. They are roughly divided into two great classes, the
metals, as sodium, calcium, etc., which form basic compounds, and the
nonmetals or metalloids, as oxygen, sulphur, chlorine, which form
acid compounds; but the distinction is only relative, and some, as
arsenic, tin, aluminium, etc., form both acid and basic compounds.
The essential fact regarding every element is its relative atomic
weight or equivalent. When the elements are tabulated in the order of
their ascending atomic weights, the arrangement constitutes the
series of the Periodic law of Mendelejeff. See Periodic law, under
Periodic. This Periodic law enables us to predict the qualities of
unknown elements. The number of elements known is about seventy-five,
but the gaps in the Periodic law indicate the possibility of many
more. Many of the elements with which we are familiar, as hydrogen,
carbon, iron, gold, etc., have been recognized, by means of spectrum
analysis, in the sun and the fixed stars. From certain evidence (as
that afforded by the Periodic law, spectrum analysis, etc.) it
appears that the chemical elements probably may not be simple bodies,
but only very stable compounds of some simpler body or bodies. In
formulas, the elements are designated by abbreviations of their names
in Latin or New Latin.
The Elements --------------------------------------------------------
----Name |Sym-|Atomic Weight| |bol | O=16 | H=1 | -------------------
-----------------------------------------Aluminum | Al | 27.1 | 26.9|
Antimony(Stibium) Argon Arsenic Barium Beryllium (see Glucinum)
Bismuth Boron Bromine Cadmium Caesium Calcium Carbon Cerium Chlorine
Chromium Cobalt Columbium Copper (Cuprum) Erbium Fluorine Gadolinium
Gallium Germanium Glucinum Gold Helium Hydrogen Indium Iodine Iridium
Iron (Ferrum) Krypton Lanthanum Lead (Plumbum) Lithium Magnesium
Manganese Mercury (Hydrargyrum) Molybdenum Neodymium Neon Nickel
Niobium (see Columbium) Nirogen Osmium Oxygen Palladium Phosphorus
Platinum Potassium (Kalium) Praseodymium Rhodium Rubidium Ruthenium
-----------------------------------------------------------The
Elements -- continued -----------------------------------------------
-------------Name Samarium Scandium Selenium Silicon Silver
(Argentum) Sodium (Natrium) Strontium Sulphur Tantalum Tellurium
Thallium Thorium Thulium Tin (Stannum) Titanium Tungsten (Wolframium)
Uranium Vanadium Wolfranium (see Tungsten) Xenon Ytterbium Yttrium
Zinc Zirconium ------------------------------------------------------
------
Note: Several other elements have been announced, as holmium,
vesbium, austrium, etc., but their properties, and in some cases
their existence, have not yet been definitely established.
3. One of the ultimate parts which are variously combined in
anything; as, letters are the elements of written language; hence,
also, a simple portion of that which is complex, as a shaft, lever,
wheel, or any simple part in a machine; one of the essential
ingredients of any mixture; a constituent part; as, quartz, feldspar,
and mica are the elements of granite.
The simplicity which is so large an element in a noble nature was
laughed to scorn. Jowett (Thucyd.).
4.
(a) One out of several parts combined in a system of aggregation,
when each is of the nature of the whole; as, a single cell is an
element of the honeycomb.
(b) (Anat.) One of the smallest natural divisions of the organism, as
a blood corpuscle, a muscular fiber.
5. (Biol.)
Defn: One of the simplest essential parts, more commonly called
cells, of which animal and vegetable organisms, or their tissues and
organs, are composed.
6. (Math.)
(a) An infinitesimal part of anything of the same nature as the
entire magnitude considered; as, in a solid an element may be
infinitesimal portion between any two planes that are separated and
indefinitely small distance. In the calculus, element is sometimes
used as synonymous with differential.
(b) Sometimes a curve, or surface, or volume is considered as
described by a moving point, or curve, or surface, the latter being
at any instant called an element of the former.
(c) One of the terms in an algebraic expression.
7. One of the necessary data or values upon which a system of
calculations depends, or general conclusions are based; as, the
elements of a planet's orbit.
8. pl.
Defn: The simplest or fundamental principles of any system in
philosophy, science, or art; rudiments; as, the elements of geometry,
or of music.
9. pl.
Defn: Any outline or sketch, regarded as containing the fundamental
ideas or features of the thing in question; as, the elemental of a
plan.
10. One of the simple substances, as supposed by the ancient
philosophers; one of the imaginary principles of matter.
Note: (a) The four elements were, air, earth, water, and fire; whence
it is said, water is the proper element of fishes; air is the element
of birds. Hence, the state or sphere natural to anything or suited
for its existence.
Of elements The grosser feeds the purer: Earth the Sea; Earth and the
Sea feed Air; the Air those Fires Ethereal. Milton.
Does not our life consist of the four elements Shak.
And the complexion of the element [i. e.,the sky or air] In favor's
like the work we have in hand, Most bloody, fiery, and most terrible.
Shak.
About twelve ounces [of food], with mere element for drink. Cheyne.
They show that they are out of their element. T. Baker.
Esp., the conditions and movements of the air. "The elements be kind
to thee." (b) The elements of the alchemists were salt, sulphur, and
mercury. Brande & C.
11. pl.
Defn: The whole material composing the world.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Peter iii. 10.
12. pl. (Eccl.)
Defn: The bread and wine used in the eucharist or Lord's supper.
Magnetic element, one of the hypothetical elementary portions of
which a magnet is regarded as made up.
ELEMENT
El"e*ment, v. t.
1. To compound of elements or first principles. [Obs.] "[Love] being
elemented too." Donne.
2. To constitute; to make up with elements.
His very soul was elemented of nothing but sadness. Walton.
ELEMENTAL
El`e*men"tal, a.
1. Pertaining to the elements, first principles, and primary
ingredients, or to the four supposed elements of the material world;
as, elemental air. "Elemental strife." Pope.
2. Pertaining to rudiments or first principles; rudimentary;
elementary. "The elemental rules of erudition." Cawthorn.
ELEMENTALISM
El`e*men"tal*ism, a.
Defn: The theory that the heathen divinities originated in the
personification of elemental powers.
ELEMENTALITY
E`le*men*tal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The condition of being composed of elements, or a thing so
composed.
ELEMENTALLY
El`e*men"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: According to elements; literally; as, the words, "Take, eat;
this is my body," elementally understood.
ELEMENTAR
El`e*men"tar, a.
Defn: Elementary. [Obs.] Skelton.
ELEMENTARINESS
El`e*men"ta*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being elementary; original simplicity;
uncompounded state.
ELEMENTARITY
El`e*men*tar"i*ty, n.
Defn: Elementariness. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ELEMENTARY
El`e*men"ta*ry, a. Etym: [L. elementarius: cf. F. élémentaire.]
1. Having only one principle or constituent part; consisting of a
single element; simple; uncompounded; as, an elementary substance.
2. Pertaining to, or treating of, the elements, rudiments, or first
principles of anything; initial; rudimental; introductory; as, an
elementary treatise.
3. Pertaining to one of the four elements, air, water, earth, fire.
"Some luminous and fiery impressions in the elementary region." J.
Spencer.
ELEMENTATION
El`e*men*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Instruction in the elements or first principles. [R.]
ELEMENTOID
El"e*men*toid`, a. Etym: [Element + -oid.]
Defn: Resembling an element.
ELEMI
El"e*mi, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élemi, It. elemi, Sp. elemi; of American or
Oriental. origin.]
Defn: A fragrant gum resin obtained chiefly tropical trees of the
genera Amyris and Canarium. A. elemifera yields Mexican elemi; C.
commune, the Manila elemi. It is used in the manufacture of
varnishes, also in ointments and plasters.
ELEMIN
El"e*min, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A transparent, colorless oil obtained from elemi resin by
distillation with water; also, a crystallizable extract from the
resin.
ELENCH
E*lench", n.; pl. Elenchs. Etym: [L. elenchus, Gr. elenche.] (Logic)
(a) That part of an argument on which its conclusiveness depends;
that which convinces of refutes an antagonist; a refutation.
(b) A specious but fallacious argument; a sophism.
ELENCHICAL
E*len"chic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an elench.
ELENCHICALLY
E*len"chic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By means of an elench.
ELENCHIZE
E*len"chize, v. i.
Defn: To dispute. [R.] B. Jonson.
ELENCHTIC; ELENCHTICAL
E*lench"tic, E*lench"tic*al, a.
Defn: Same as Elenctic.
ELENCHUS
E*len"chus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Same as Elench.
ELENCTIC; ELENCTICAL
E*lenc"tic, E*lenc"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. (Logic)
Defn: Serving to refute; refutative; -- applied to indirect modes of
proof, and opposed to deictic.
ELENGE
El"enge, a. Etym: [Cf. AS. ellende foreign, strange, G. elend
miserable.]
Defn: Sorrowful; wretched; full of trouble. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ELENGENESS
El"enge*ness, n.
Defn: Loneliness; misery. [Obs.]
ELEPHANSY
El"e*phan*sy, n. Etym: [L. elephantia.]
Defn: Elephantiasis. [Obs.] Holland.
ELEPHANT
El"e*phant, n. Etym: [OE. elefaunt, olifant, OF. olifant, F.
éléphant, L. elephantus, elephas, -antis, fr. Gr. ibha, with the
Semitic article al, el, prefixed, or fr. Semitic Aleph hindi Indian
bull; or cf. Goth. ulbandus camel, AS. olfend.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A mammal of the order Proboscidia, of which two living species,
Elephas Indicus and E. Africanus, and several fossil species, are
known. They have a proboscis or trunk, and two large ivory tusks
proceeding from the extremity of the upper jaw, and curving upwards.
The molar teeth are large and have transverse folds. Elephants are
the largest land animals now existing.
2. Ivory; the tusk of the elephant. [Obs.] Dryden. Elephant apple
(Bot.), an East Indian fruit with a rough, hard rind, and edible
pulp, borne by Feronia elephantum, a large tree related to the
orange.
-- Elephant bed (Geol.), at Brighton, England, abounding in fossil
remains of elephants. Mantell.
-- Elephant beetle (Zoöl.), any very large beetle of the genus
Goliathus (esp. G. giganteus), of the family Scarabæidæ. They inhabit
West Africa.
-- Elephant fish (Zoöl.), a chimæroid fish (Callorhynchus
antarcticus), with a proboscis-like projection of the snout.
-- Elephant paper, paper of large size, 23 × 28 inches.
-- Double elephant paper, paper measuring 26Paper.
-- Elephant seal (Zoöl.), an African jumping shrew (Macroscelides
typicus), having a long nose like a proboscis.
-- Elephant's ear (Bot.), a name given to certain species of the
genus Begonia, which have immense one-sided leaves.
-- Elephant's foot (Bot.) (a) A South African plant (Testudinaria
Elephantipes), which has a massive rootstock covered with a kind of
bark cracked with deep fissures; -- called also tortoise plant. The
interior part is barely edible, whence the plant is also called
Hottentot's bread. (b) A genus (Elephantopus) of coarse, composite
weeds.
-- Elephant's tusk (Zoöl.), the tooth shell. See Dentalium.
ELEPHANTIAC
El`e*phan"ti*ac, a. (Med.)
Defn: Affected with elephantiasis; characteristic of elephantiasis.
ELEPHANTIASIS
El`e*phan*ti"a*sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the skin, in which it become enormously thickened,
and is rough, hard, and fissured, like an elephant's hide.
ELEPHANTINE
El`e*phan"tine, a. Etym: [L. elephantinus of ivory, Gr. éléphantin.]
Defn: Pertaining to the elephant, or resembling an elephant
(commonly, in size); hence, huge; immense; heavy; as, of elephantine
proportions; an elephantine step or tread. Elephantine epoch (Geol.),
the epoch distinguished by the existence of large pachyderms.
Mantell.
-- Elephantine tortoise (Zoöl.), a huge land tortoise; esp., Testudo
elephantina, from islands in the Indian Ocean; and T. elephantopus,
from the Galapagos Islands.
ELEPHANTOID; ELEPHANTOIDAL
El"e*phan*toid`, El`e*phan*toid"al, a. Etym: [Elephant + -oid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling an elephant in form or appearance.
ELEUSINIAN
El`eu*sin"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Eleusinius, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Eleusis, in Greece, or to secret rites in honor
of Ceres, there celebrated; as, Eleusinian mysteries or festivals.
ELEUTHEROMANIA
E*leu`ther*o*ma"ni*a, n. Etym: [Gr. mania.]
Defn: A mania or frantic zeal for freedom. [R.] Carlyle.
ELEUTHEROMANIAC
E*leu`ther*o*ma"ni*ac, a.
Defn: Mad for freedom. [R.]
ELEUTHERO-PETALOUS
E*leu`ther*o-pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the petals free, that is, entirely separate from each
other; -- said of both plant and flower.
ELEVATE
El"e*vate, a. Etym: [L. elevatus, p. p.]
Defn: Elevated; raised aloft. [Poetic] Milton.
ELEVATE
El"e*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elevated; p. pr. & vb. n. Elevating.]
Etym: [L. elevatus, p. p. of elevare; e + levare to lift up, raise,
akin to levis light in weight. See Levity.]
1. To bring from a lower place to a higher; to lift up; to raise; as,
to elevate a weight, a flagstaff, etc.
2. To raise to a higher station; to promote; as, to elevate to an
office, or to a high social position.
3. To raise from a depressed state; to animate; to cheer; as, to
elevate the spirits.
4. To exalt; to ennoble; to dignify; as, to elevate the mind or
character.
5. To raise to a higher pitch, or to a greater degree of loudness; --
said of sounds; as, to elevate the voice.
6. To intoxicate in a slight degree; to render tipsy. [Colloq. &
Sportive] "The elevated cavaliers sent for two tubs of merry stingo."
Sir W. Scott.
7. To lessen; to detract from; to disparage. [A Latin meaning] [Obs.]
Jer. Taylor. To elevate a piece (Gun.), to raise the muzzle; to lower
the breech.
Syn.
-- To exalt; dignify; ennoble; erect; raise; hoist; heighten; elate;
cheer; flush; excite; animate.
ELEVATED
El"e*va`ted, a.
Defn: Uplifted; high; lofty; also, animated; noble; as, elevated
thoughts. Elevated railway, one in which the track is raised
considerably above the ground, especially a city railway above the
line of street travel.
ELEVATEDNESS
El"e*va`ted*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being elevated.
ELEVATION
El`e*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. elevatio: cf. F. élévation.]
1. The act of raising from a lower place, condition, or quality to a
higher; -- said of material things, persons, the mind, the voice,
etc.; as, the elevation of grain; elevation to a throne; elevation of
mind, thoughts, or character.
2. Condition of being elevated; height; exaltation. "Degrees of
elevation above us." Locke.
His style . . . wanted a little elevation. Sir H. Wotton.
3. That which is raised up or elevated; an elevated place or station;
as, an elevation of the ground; a hill.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: The distance of a celestial object above the horizon, or the
arc of a vertical circle intercepted between it and the horizon;
altitude; as, the elevation of the pole, or of a star.
5. (Dialing)
Defn: The angle which the style makes with the substylar line.
6. (Gunnery)
Defn: The movement of the axis of a piece in a vertical plane; also,
the angle of elevation, that is, the angle between the axis of the
piece and the line odirection.
7. (Drawing)
Defn: A geometrical projection of a building, or other object, on a
plane perpendicular to the horizon; orthographic projection on a
vertical plane; -- called by the ancients the orthography. Angle of
elevation (Geodesy), the angle which an ascending line makes with a
horizontal plane.
-- Elevation of the host (R. C. Ch.), that part of the Mass in which
the priest raises the host above his head for the people to adore.
ELEVATOR
El"e*va`tor, n. Etym: [L., one who raises up, a deliverer: cf. F.
élévateur.]
Defn: One who, or that which, raises or lifts up anything; as:
(a) A mechanical contrivance, usually an endless belt or chain with a
series of scoops or buckets, for transferring grain to an upper loft
for storage.
(b) A cage or platform and the hoisting machinery in a hotel,
warehouse, mine, etc., for conveying persons, goods, etc., to or from
different floors or levels; -- called in England a lift; the cage or
platform itself.
(c) A building for elevating, storing, and discharging, grain.
(d) (Anat.) A muscle which serves to raise a part of the body, as the
leg or the eye.
(e) (Surg.) An instrument for raising a depressed portion of a bone.
Elevator head, leg, and boot, the boxes in which the upper pulley,
belt, and lower pulley, respectively, run in a grain elevator.
ELEVATORY
El"e*va`to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to raise, or having power to elevate; as, elevatory
forces.
ELEVATORY
El"e*va`to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élévatoire.] (Surg.)
Defn: See Elevator, n. (e). Dunglison.
ELEVE
É`lève" (, n. Etym: [F., fr. élever to raise, bring up.]
Defn: A pupil; a student.
ELEVEN
E*lev"en, a. Etym: [OE. enleven, AS. endleofan, endlufon, for
nleofan; akin to LG. eleve, ölwe, ölwen, D. elf, G. elf, eilf, OHG.
einlif, Icel. ellifu, Sw. elfva, Dan. elleve, Goth. ainlif, cf. Lith.
vënolika; and fr. the root of E. one + (prob.) a root signifying "to
be left over, remain," appearing in E. loan, or perh. in leave, v.
t., life. See One, and cf. Twelve.]
Defn: Ten and one added; as, eleven men.
ELEVEN
E*lev"en, n.
1. The sum of ten and one; eleven units or objects.
2. A symbol representing eleven units, as 11 or xi.
3. (Cricket & American Football)
Defn: The eleven men selected to play on one side in a match, as the
representatives of a club or a locality; as, the all-England eleven.
ELEVENTH
E*lev"enth, a. Etym: [Cf. AS. endlyfta. See Eleven.]
1. Next after the tenth; as, the eleventh chapter.
2. Constituting one of eleven parts into which a thing is divided;
as, the eleventh part of a thing.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the interval of the octave and the fourth.
ELEVENTH
E*lev"enth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by eleven; one of eleven equal
parts.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval consisting of ten conjunct degrees; the interval
made up of an octave and a fourth.
ELF
Elf, n.; pl. Elves. Etym: [AS. ælf, ylf; akin to MHG. alp, G. alp
nightmare, incubus, Icel. elf, Sw. alf, elfva; cf. Skr. rbhu
skillful, artful, rabh to grasp. Cf. Auf, Oaf.]
1. An imaginary supernatural being, commonly a little sprite, much
like a fairy; a mythological diminutive spirit, supposed to haunt
hills and wild places, and generally represented as delighting in
mischievous tricks.
Every elf, and fairy sprite, Hop as light as bird from brier. Shak.
2. A very diminutive person; a dwarf. Elf arrow, a flint arrowhead; -
- so called by the English rural folk who often find these objects of
prehistoric make in the fields and formerly attributed them to
fairies; -- called also elf bolt, elf dart, and elf shot.
-- Elf child, a child supposed to be left by elves, in room of one
they had stolen. See Changeling.
-- Elf fire, the ignis fatuus. Brewer.
-- Elf owl (Zoöl.), a small owl (Micrathene Whitneyi) of Southern
California and Arizona.
ELF
Elf, v. t.
Defn: To entangle mischievously, as an elf might do.
Elf all my hair in knots. Shak.
ELFIN
Elf"in, a.
Defn: Relating to elves.
ELFIN
Elf"in, n.
Defn: A little elf or urchin. Shenstone.
ELFISH
Elf"ish, a.
Defn: Of or relating to the elves; elflike; implike; weird; scarcely
human; mischievous, as though caused by elves. "Elfish light."
Coleridge.
The elfish intelligence that was so familiar an expression on her
small physiognomy. Hawthorne.
ELFISHLY
Elf"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elfish manner.
ELFISHNESS
Elf"ish*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being elfish.
ELFKIN
Elf"kin, n.
Defn: A little elf.
ELFLAND
Elf"land`, n.
Defn: Fairyland. Tennyson.
ELFLOCK
Elf"lock`, n.
Defn: Hair matted, or twisted into a knot, as if by elves.
ELGIN MARBLES
El"gin mar"bles.
Defn: Greek sculptures in the British Museum. They were obtained at
Athens, about 1811, by Lord Elgin.
ELICIT
E*lic"it, a. Etym: [L. elictus, p. p. of elicere to elicit; e +
lacere to entice. Cf. Delight, Lace.]
Defn: Elicited; drawn out; made real; open; evident. [Obs.] "An
elicit act of equity." Jer. Taylor.
ELICIT
E*lic"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elicited; p. pr. & vb. n. Eliciting.]
Defn: To draw out or entice forth; to bring to light; to bring out
against the will; to deduce by reason or argument; as, to elicit
truth by discussion.
ELICITATE
E*lic"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To elicit. [Obs.]
ELICITATION
E*lic`i*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of eliciting. [Obs.] Abp. Bramhall.
ELIDE
E*lide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elided; p. pr. & vb. n. Eliding.] Etym:
[L. elidere to strike out or off; e + laedere to hurt by striking:
cf. F. élider. See Lesion.]
1. To break or dash in pieces; to demolish; as, to elide the force of
an argument. [Obs.] Hooker.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: To cut off, as a vowel or a syllable, usually the final one; to
subject to elision.
ELIGIBILITY
El`i*gi*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éligibilité.]
Defn: The quality of being eligible; eligibleness; as, the
eligibility of a candidate; the eligibility of an offer of marriage.
ELIGIBLE
El"i*gi*ble, a. Etym: [F. éligible, fr. L. eligere. See Elect.]
1. That may be selected; proper or qualified to be chosen; legally
qualified to be elected and to hold office.
2. Worthy to be chosen or selected; suitable; desirable; as, an
eligible situation for a house.
The more eligible of the two evils. Burke.
ELIGIBLENESS
El"i*gi*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality worthy or qualified to be chosen; suitableness;
desirableness.
ELIGIBLY
El"i*gi*bly, adv.
Defn: In an eligible manner.
ELIMATE
El"i*mate, v. t. Etym: [L. elimatus, p. p. of elimare to file up; e
out + limare to file, fr. lima file.]
Defn: To render smooth; to polish. [Obs.]
ELIMINANT
E*lim"i*nant, n. (Math.)
Defn: The result of eliminating n variables between n homogeneous
equations of any degree; -- called also resultant.
ELIMINATE
E*lim"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eliminated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eliminating.] Etym: [L. eliminatus, p. p. of eliminare; e out + limen
threshold; prob. akin to limes boundary. See Limit.]
1. To put out of doors; to expel; to discharge; to release; to set at
liberty.
Eliminate my spirit, give it range Through provinces of thought yet
unexplored. Young.
2. (Alg.)
Defn: To cause to disappear from an equation; as, to eliminate an
unknown quantity.
3. To set aside as unimportant in a process of inductive inquiry; to
leave out of consideration.
Eliminate errors that have been gathering and accumulating. Lowth.
4. To obtain by separating, as from foreign matters; to deduce; as,
to eliminate an idea or a conclusion. [Recent, and not well
authorized]
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: To separate; to expel from the system; to excrete; as, the
kidneys eliminate urea, the lungs carbonic acid; to eliminate poison
from the system.
ELIMINATION
E*lim`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élimination.]
1. The act of expelling or throwing off; (Physiol.)
Defn: the act of discharging or excreting waste products or foreign
substances through the various emunctories.
2. (Alg.)
Defn: Act of causing a quantity to disappear from an equation;
especially, in the operation of deducing from several equations
containing several unknown quantities a less number of equations
containing a less number of unknown quantities.
3. The act of obtaining by separation, or as the result of
eliminating; deduction. [See Eliminate,
4.]
ELIMINATIVE
E*lim"i*na*tive, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to, or carrying on, elimination.
ELINGUATE
E*lin"guate, v. t. Etym: [L. elinguare.]
Defn: To deprive of the tongue. [Obs.] Davies (Holy Roode).
ELINGUATION
E`lin*gua"tion, n. Etym: [L. elinguatio. See Elinguid.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: Punishment by cutting out the tongue.
ELINGUID
E*lin"guid, a. Etym: [L. elinguis, prop., deprived of the tongue;
hence, speechless; e + lingua tongue.]
Defn: Tongue-tied; dumb. [Obs.]
ELIQUAMENT
E*liq"ua*ment, n.
Defn: A liquid obtained from fat, or fat fish, by pressure.
ELIQUATION
El`i*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. eliquatio, fr. eliquare to clarify,
strain; e + liquare to make liquid, melt.] (Metallurgy)
Defn: The process of separating a fusible substance from one less
fusible, by means of a degree of heat sufficient to melt the one and
not the other, as an alloy of copper and lead; liquation. Ure.
ELISON
E*li"son, n. Etym: [L. elisio, fr. elidere, elisum, to strike out:
cf. F. élision. See Elide.]
1. Division; separation. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: The cutting off or suppression of a vowel or syllable, for the
sake of meter or euphony; esp., in poetry, the dropping of a final
vowel standing before an initial vowel in the following word, when
the two words are drawn together.
ELISOR
E*li"sor, n. Etym: [F. éliseur, fr. élire to choose, L. eligere. See
Elect.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: An elector or chooser; one of two persons appointed by a court
to return a jury or serve a writ when the sheriff and the coroners
are disqualified.
ELITE
e`lite", n. Etym: [F., fr. élire to choose, L. eligere. See Elect.]
Defn: A choice or select body; the flower; as, the élite of society.
ELIX
E*lix", v. t. Etym: [See Elixate.]
Defn: To extract. [Obs.] Marston.
ELIXATE
E*lix"ate, v. t. Etym: [L. elixatus, p. p. of elixare to seethe, fr.
elixus thoroughly boiled; e + lixare to boil, lix ashes.]
Defn: To boil; to seethe; hence, to extract by boiling or seething.
[Obs.] Cockeram.
ELIXATION
El`ix*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élixation.]
Defn: A seething; digestion. [Obs.] Burton.
ELIXIR
E*lix"ir, n. Etym: [F. élixir, Sp. elixir, Ar. eliksir the
philosopher's stone, prob. from Gr. ksha to burn.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A tincture with more than one base; a compound tincture or
medicine, composed of various substances, held in solution by alcohol
in some form.
2. (Alchemy)
Defn: An imaginary liquor capable of transmuting metals into gold;
also, one for producing life indefinitely; as, elixir vitæ, or the
elixir of life.
3. The refined spirit; the quintessence.
The . . . elixir of worldly delights. South.
4. Any cordial or substance which invigorates.
The grand elixir, to support the spirits of human nature. Addison.
ELIZABETHAN
E*liz"a*beth`an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Queen Elizabeth or her times, esp. to the
architecture or literature of her reign; as, the Elizabethan writers,
drama, literature.
-- n.
Defn: One who lived in England in the time of Queen Elizabeth.
Lowell.
ELK
Elk, n. Etym: [Icel. elgr; akin to Sw. elg, AS. eolh, OHG. elaho,
MHG. elch, cf. L. alces; perh. akin to E. eland.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large deer, of several species. The European elk (Alces
machlis or Cervus alces) is closely allied to the American moose. The
American elk, or wapiti (Cervus Canadensis), is closely related to
the European stag. See Moose, and Wapiti. Irish elk (Paleon.), a
large, extinct, Quaternary deer (Cervus giganteus) with widely
spreading antlers. Its remains have been found beneath the peat of
swamps in Ireland and England. See Illustration in Appendix; also
Illustration of Antler.
-- Cape elk (Zoöl.), the eland.
ELK; ELKE
Elk, Elke, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European wild or whistling swan (Cygnus ferus).
ELKNUT
Elk"nut`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The buffalo nut. See under Buffalo.
ELKWOOD
Elk"wood`, n.
Defn: The soft, spongy wood of a species of Magnolia (M. Umbrella).
ELL
Ell, n. Etym: [AS. eln; akin to D. el, elle, G. elle, OHG. elina,
Icel. alin, Dan. alen, Sw. aln, Goth. alenia, L. ulna elbow, ell, Gr.
Elbow, Alnage.]
Defn: A measure for cloth; -- now rarely used. It is of different
lengths in different countries; the English ell being 45 inches, the
Dutch or Flemish ell 27, the Scotch about 37.
ELL
Ell, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See L.
ELLACHICK
El"la*chick, n. Etym: [Native Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water tortoise (Chelopus marmoratus) of California; --
used as food.
ELLAGIC
El*lag"ic, a. Etym: [F., fr. galle gall (with the letters reversed).]
(Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, gallnuts or gallic acid; as,
ellagic acid. Ellagic acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance,
C14H8O9, found in bezoar stones, and obtained by the oxidation of
gallic acid.
ELLEBORE
El"le*bore, n.
Defn: Hellebore. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ELLEBORIN
El*leb"o*rin, n.
Defn: See Helleborin.
ELLECK
El"leck, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red gurnard or cuckoo fish. [Prov. Eng.]
ELLENGE; ELLINGE; ELLENGENESS; ELLINGENESS
El"lenge, El"linge, a., El"lenge*ness, El"linge*ness, n.
Defn: See Elenge, Elengeness. [Obs.]
ELLES
El"les, adv. & conj.
Defn: See Else. [Obs.]
ELLIPSE
El*lipse", n. Etym: [Gr. ellipse. See Ellipsis.]
1. (Geom.)
Defn: An oval or oblong figure, bounded by a regular curve, which
corresponds to an oblique projection of a circle, or an oblique
section of a cone through its opposite sides. The greatest diameter
of the ellipse is the major axis, and the least diameter is the minor
axis. See Conic section, under Conic, and cf. Focus.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Omission. See Ellipsis.
3. The elliptical orbit of a planet.
The Sun flies forward to his brother Sun; The dark Earth follows
wheeled in her ellipse. Tennyson.
ELLIPSIS
El*lip"sis, n.; pl. Ellipses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. In, and Loan, and
cf. Ellipse.]
1. (Gram.)
Defn: Omission; a figure of syntax, by which one or more words, which
are obviously understood, are omitted; as, the virtues I admire, for,
the virtues which I admire.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: An ellipse. [Obs.]
ELLIPSOGRAPH
El*lip"so*graph, n. Etym: [Ellipse + graph: cf. F. ellipsographe.]
Defn: An instrument for describing ellipses; -- called also trammel.
ELLIPSOID
El*lip"soid, n. Etym: [Ellipse + -oid: cf. F. ellipsoide.] (Geom.)
Defn: A solid, all plane sections of which are ellipses or circles.
See Conoid, n., 2 (a).
Note: The ellipsoid has three principal plane sections, a, b, and c,
each at right angles to the other two, and each dividing the solid
into two equal and symmetrical parts. The lines of meeting of these
principal sections are the axes, or principal diameters of the
ellipsoid. The point where the three planes meet is the center.
Ellipsoid of revolution, a spheroid; a solid figure generated by the
revolution of an ellipse about one of its axes. It is called a
prolate spheroid, or prolatum, when the ellipse is revolved about the
major axis, and an oblate spheroid, or oblatum, when it is revolved
about the minor axis.
ELLIPSOID; ELLIPSOIDAL
El*lip"soid, El`lip*soi"dal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or shaped like, an ellipsoid; as, ellipsoid or
ellipsoidal form.
ELLIPTIC; ELLIPTICAL
El*lip"tic, El*lip"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. elliptique. See Ellipsis.]
1. Of or pertaining to an ellipse; having the form of an ellipse;
oblong, with rounded ends.
The planets move in elliptic orbits. Cheyne.
2. Having a part omitted; as, an elliptical phrase. Elliptic chuck.
See under Chuck.
-- Elliptic compasses, an instrument arranged for drawing ellipses.
-- Elliptic function. (Math.) See Function.
-- Elliptic integral. (Math.) See Integral.
-- Elliptic polarization. See under Polarization.
ELLIPTICALLY
El*lip"tic*al*ly, adv.
1. In the form of an ellipse.
2. With a part omitted; as, elliptically expressed.
ELLIPTICITY
El`lip*tic"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ellipticité.]
Defn: Deviation of an ellipse or a spheroid from the form of a circle
or a sphere; especially, in reference to the figure of the earth, the
difference between the equatorial and polar semidiameters, divided by
the equatorial; thus, the ellipticity of the earth is
Note: Some writers use ellipticity as the ratio of the difference of
the two semiaxes to the minor axis, instead of the major. Nichol.
ELLIPTIC-LANCEOLATE
El*lip"tic-lan"ce*o*late, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a form intermediate between elliptic and lanceolate.
ELLIPTOGRAPH
El*lip"to*graph, n.
Defn: Same as Ellipsograph.
ELLWAND
Ell"wand, n.
Defn: Formerly, a measuring rod an ell long.
ELM
Elm, n. Etym: [AS. elm; akin to D. olm, OHG. elm, G. ulme, Icel.
almr, Dan. & Sw. alm, L. ulmus, and E. alder. Cf. Old.] (Bot.)
Defn: A tree of the genus Ulmus, of several species, much used as a
shade tree, particularly in America. The English elm is Ulmus
campestris; the common American or white elm is U. Americana; the
slippery or red elm, U. fulva. Elm beetle (Zoöl.), one of several
species of beetles (esp. Galeruca calmariensis), which feed on the
leaves of the elm.
-- Elm borer (Zoöl.), one of several species of beetles of which the
larvæ bore into the wood or under the bark of the elm (esp. Saperda
tridentata).
-- Elm butterfly (Zoöl.), one of several species of butterflies,
which, in the caterpillar state, feed on the leaves of the elm (esp.
Vanessa antiopa and Grapta comma). See Comma butterfly, under Comma.
-- Elm moth (Zoöl.), one of numerous species of moths of which the
larvæ destroy the leaves of the elm (esp. Eugonia subsignaria, called
elm spanworm).
-- Elm sawfly (Zoöl.), a large sawfly (Cimbex Americana). The larva,
which is white with a black dorsal stripe, feeds on the leaves of the
elm.
ELMEN
Elm"en, a.
Defn: Belonging to elms. [Obs.]
ELMO'S FIRE
El"mo's fire`.
Defn: See Corposant; also Saint Elmo's Fire, under Saint.
ELMY
Elm"y, a.
Defn: Abounding with elms.
The simple spire and elmy grange. T. Warton.
ELOCATION
El`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. e- + locate.]
1. A removal from the usual place of residence. [Obs.]
2. Departure from the usual state; an ecstasy. [Obs.]
ELOCULAR
E*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + locular.]
Defn: Having but one cell, or cavity; not divided by a septum or
partition.
ELOCUTION
El`o*cu"tion, n. Etym: [L. elocutio, fr. eloqui, elocutus, to speak
out: cf. F. élocution. See Eloquent.]
1. Utterance by speech. [R.]
[Fruit] whose taste . . . Gave elocution to the mute, and taught The
tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise. Milton.
2. Oratorical or expressive delivery, including the graces of
intonation, gesture, etc.; style or manner of speaking or reading in
public; as, clear, impressive elocution. "The elocution of a reader."
Whately
3. Suitable and impressive writing or style; eloquent diction. [Obs.]
To express these thoughts with elocution. Dryden.
ELOCUTIONARY
El`o*cu"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to elocution.
ELOCUTIONIST
El`o*cu"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in elocution; a teacher of elocution.
ELOCUTIVE
El"o*cu`tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to oratorical expression. [Obs.] Feltham.
ELODIAN
E*lo"di*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a tribe of tortoises, including the terrapins, etc., in
which the head and neck can be withdrawn.
ELOGE
e`loge", n. Etym: [F. See Elogium.]
Defn: A panegyrical funeral oration.
ELOGIST
El"o*gist, n. Etym: [F. élogiste.]
Defn: One who pronounces an éloge.
ELOGIUM; ELOGY
E*lo"gi*um, El"o*gy, n. Etym: [L. elogium a short saying, an
inscription, fr. Gr. .]
Defn: The praise bestowed on a person or thing; panegyric; eulogy.
ELOHIM
E*lo"him, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: One of the principal names by which God is designated in the
Hebrew Scriptures.
ELOHIST
E*lo"hist, n.
Defn: The writer, or one of the writers, of the passages of the Old
Testament, notably those of Elohim instead of Jehovah, as the name of
the Supreme Being; -- distinguished from Jehovist. S. Davidson.
ELOHISTIC
El`o*his"tic, a.
Defn: Relating to Elohim as a name of God; -- said of passages in the
Old Testament.
ELOIGN
E*loign", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eloigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Eloigning.]
Etym: [F. éloigner, OF. esloignier; pref. es- (L. ex) + OF. & F. loin
far, far off, L. longe, fr. longus long. See Elongate.] [Written also
eloin.]
1. To remove afar off; to withdraw. [Obs.]
From worldly cares he did himself eloign. Spenser.
2. (Law)
Defn: To convey to a distance, or beyond the jurisdiction, or to
conceal, as goods liable to distress.
The sheriff may return that the goods or beasts are eloigned.
Blackstone.
ELOIGNATE
E*loign"ate, v. t.
Defn: To remove. [Obs.] Howell.
ELOIGNMENT
E*loign"ment, n. Etym: [F. éloignement.]
Defn: Removal to a distance; withdrawal. [Obs.]
ELOIN
E*loin", v. t.
Defn: See Eloign.
ELOINATE
E*loin"ate, v. t.
Defn: See Eloignate.
ELOINMENT
E*loin"ment, n.
Defn: See Eloignment.
ELONG
E*long", v. t. Etym: [See Eloign, Elongate.]
1. To lengthen out; to prolong. [Obs.]
2. To put away; to separate; to keep off. [Obs.] Wyatt.
ELONGATE
E*lon"gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elongated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Elongating.] Etym: [LL. elongatus, p. p. of elongare to remove, to
prolong; e + L. longus long. See Long, a., and cf. Eloign.]
1. To lengthen; to extend; to stretch; as, to elongate a line.
2. To remove further off. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ELONGATE
E*lon"gate, v. i.
Defn: To depart to, or be at, a distance; esp., to recede apparently
from the sun, as a planet in its orbit. [R.]
ELONGATE
E*lon"gate, a. Etym: [LL. elongatus.]
Defn: Drawn out at length; elongated; as, an elongate leaf. "An
elongate form." Earle.
ELONGATION
E`lon*ga"tion, n. Etym: [LL. elongatio: cf. F. élongation.]
1. The act of lengthening, or the state of being lengthened;
protraction; extension. "Elongation of the fibers." Arbuthnot.
2. That which lengthens out; continuation.
May not the mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland be considered as
elongations of these two chains Pinkerton.
3. Removal to a distance; withdrawal; a being at a distance;
distance.
The distant points in the celestial expanse appear to the eye in so
small a degree of elongation from one another, as bears no proportion
to what is real. Glanvill.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: The angular distance of a planet from the sun; as, the
elongation of Venus or Mercury.
ELOPE
E*lope", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Eloped; p. pr. & vb. n. Eloping.] Etym:
[D. ontloopen to run away; pref. ont- (akin to G. ent-, AS. and-, cf.
E. answer) + loopen to run; akin to E. leap. See Leap, v. t.]
Defn: To run away, or escape privately, from the place or station to
which one is bound by duty; -- said especially of a woman or a man,
either married or unmarried, who runs away with a paramour or a
sweetheart.
Great numbers of them [the women] have eloped from their allegiance.
Addison.
ELOPEMENT
E*lope"ment, n.
Defn: The act of eloping; secret departure; -- said of a woman and a
man, one or both, who run away from their homes for marriage or for
cohabitation.
ELOPER
E*lop"er, n.
Defn: One who elopes.
ELOPS
E"lops, n. Etym: [L. elops, helops, a kind of sea fish, Gr.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes. See Saury.
2. A mythical serpent. [Obs.] Milton.
ELOQUENCE
El"o*quence, n. Etym: [F. éloquence, L. eloquentia, fr. eloquens. See
Eloquent.]
1. Fluent, forcible, elegant, and persuasive speech in public; the
power of expressing strong emotions in striking and appropriate
language either spoken or written, thereby producing conviction or
persuasion.
Eloquence is speaking out . . . out of the abundance of the heart.
Hare.
2. Fig.: Whatever produces the effect of moving and persuasive
speech.
Silence that spoke and eloquence of eyes. Pope.
The hearts of men are their books; events are their tutors; great
actions are their eloquence. Macaulay.
3. That which is eloquently uttered or written.
O, let my books be then the eloquence And dumb presagers of my
speaking breast. Shak.
Syn.
-- Oratory; rhetoric.
ELOQUENT
El"o*quent, a. Etym: [F. éloquent, L. eloquens, -entis, p. pr. of
eloqui to speak out, declaim; e + loqui to speak. See Loquacious.]
1. Having the power of expressing strong emotions or forcible
arguments in an elevated, impassioned, and effective manner; as, an
eloquent orator or preacher.
O Death, all-eloquent! You only prove What dust we dote on when 't is
man we love. Pope.
2. Adapted to express strong emotion or to state facts arguments with
fluency and power; as, an eloquent address or statement; an eloquent
appeal to a jury.
ELOQUENTLY
El"o*quent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eloquent manner.
ELRICH; ELRITCH
El"rich or El"ritch, a.
Defn: Ghastly; preternatural. Same as Eldritch. [Scot. & Local, Eng.]
ELSE
Else, a. & pron. Etym: [OE. & AS. elles otherwise, gen. sing. of an
adj. signifying other; akin to OHG. elles otherwise, OSw. äljes, Sw.
eljest, Goth. aljis, adj., other, L. alius, Gr. Alias, Alien.]
Defn: Other; one or something beside; as, Who else is coming What
else shall I give Do you expect anything else "Bastards and else."
Shak.
Note: This word always follows its noun. It is usual to give the
possessive form to else rather than to the substantive; as, somebody
else's; no one else's. "A boy who is fond of somebody else's pencil
case." G. Eliot. "A suit of clothes like everybody else's."
Thackeray.
ELSE
Else, adv. & conj.
1. Besides; except that mentioned; in addition; as, nowhere else; no
one else.
2. Otherwise; in the other, or the contrary, case; if the facts were
different.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. Ps. li. 16.
Note: After `or', else is sometimes used expletively, as simply
noting an alternative. "Will you give thanks, . . . or else shall I"
Shak.
ELSEWHERE
Else"where`, adv.
1. In any other place; as, these trees are not to be found elsewhere.
2. In some other place; in other places, indefinitely; as, it is
reported in town and elsewhere.
ELSEWHITHER
Else"whith`er, adv.
Defn: To some, or any, other place; as, you will have to go
elsewhither for it. R. of Gloucester."For elsewhither was I bound."
Carlyle.
ELSEWISE
Else"wise`, adv.
Defn: Otherwise. [R.]
ELSIN
El"sin, n.
Defn: A shoemaker's awl. [Prov. Eng.]
ELUCIDATE
E*lu"ci*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elucidated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Elucidating.] Etym: [LL. elucidatus, p. p. of elucidare; e + lucidus
full of light, clear. See Lucid.]
Defn: To make clear or manifest; to render more intelligible; to
illustrate; as, an example will elucidate the subject.
ELUCIDATION
E*lu`ci*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élucidation.]
Defn: A making clear; the act of elucidating or that which
elucidates, as an explanation, an exposition, an illustration; as,
one example may serve for further elucidation of the subject.
ELUCIDATIVE
E*lu"ci*da`tive, a.
Defn: Making clear; tending to elucidate; as, an elucidative note.
ELUCIDATOR
E*lu"ci*da`tor, n.
Defn: One who explains or elucidates; an expositor.
ELUCIDATORY
E*lu"ci*da*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to elucidate; elucidative. [R.]
ELUCTATE
E*luc"tate, v. i. Etym: [L. eluctatus, p. p. of eluctari to struggle
out; e + luctari to wrestle.]
Defn: To struggle out; -- with out. [Obs.] Bp. Hacket.
ELUCTATION
E`luc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. eluctatio.]
Defn: A struggling out of any difficulty. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ELUCUBRATE
E*lu"cu*brate, v. i. Etym: [L. elucubratus, p. p. of elucubrare to
compose by lamplight.]
Defn: See Lucubrate. [Obs.] Blount.
ELUCUBRATION
E*lu`cu*bra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. élucubration.]
Defn: See Lucubration. [Obs.] Evelyn.
ELUDE
E*lude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Eluding.] Etym:
[L. eludere, elusum; e + ludere to play: cf. F. éluder. See
Ludicrous.]
Defn: To avoid slyly, by artifice, stratagem, or dexterity; to escape
from in a covert manner; to mock by an unexpected escape; to baffle;
as, to elude an officer; to elude detection, inquiry, search,
comprehension; to elude the force of an argument or a blow.
Me gentle Delia beckons from the plain, Then, hid in shades, eludes
he eager swain. Pope.
The transition from fetichism to polytheism seems a gradual process
of which the stages elude close definition. Tylor.
Syn.
-- To evade; avoid; escape; shun; eschew; flee; mock; baffle;
frustrate; foil.
ELUDIBLE
E*lud"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being eluded; evadible.
ELUL
E"lul, n. Etym: [Heb.]
Defn: The sixth month of the Jewish year, by the sacred reckoning, or
the twelfth, by the civil reckoning, corresponding nearly to the
month of September.
ELUMBATED
E*lum"ba*ted, a. Etym: [L. elumbis; e + lumbus loin.]
Defn: Weak or lame in the loins. [Obs.]
ELUSION
E*lu"sion, n. Etym: [LL. elusio, fr. L. eludere, elusum. See Elude.]
Defn: Act of eluding; adroit escape, as by artifice; a mockery; a
cheat; trickery.
ELUSIVE
E*lu"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to elude; using arts or deception to escape; adroitly
escaping or evading; eluding the grasp; fallacious.
Elusive of the bridal day, she gives Fond hopes to all, and all with
hopes deceives. Pope.
-- E*lu"sive*ly, adv.
-- E*lu"sive*ness, n.
ELUSORY
E*lu"so*ry, a. Etym: [LL. elusorius.]
Defn: Tending to elude or deceive; evasive; fraudulent; fallacious;
deceitful; deceptive.
-- E*lu"so*ri*ness, n.
ELUTE
E*lute", v. t. Etym: [L. elutus, p. p. of eluers to elute; e + luere
to wash.]
Defn: To wash out. [R.] Arbuthnot.
ELUTRIATE
E*lu"tri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Elutriated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Elutriating.] Etym: [L. elutriatus, p. p. of elutriare.]
Defn: To wash or strain out so as to purify; as, to elutriate the
blood as it passes through the lungs; to strain off or decant, as a
powder which is separated from heavier particles by being drawn off
with water; to cleanse, as by washing.
ELUTRIATION
E*lu`tri*a"tion, n.
Defn: The process of elutriating; a decanting or racking off by means
of water, as finer particles from heavier.
ELUXATE
E*lux"ate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. e- + luxate.]
Defn: To dislocate; to luxate.
ELUXATION
E`lux*a"tion, n.
Defn: Dislocation; luxation.
ELVAN
Elv"an, a.
1. Pertaining to elves; elvish.
2. (Mining)
Defn: Of or pertaining to certain veins of feldspathic or porphyritic
rock crossing metalliferous veins in the mining districts of
Cornwall; as, an elvan course.
ELVAN; ELVANITE
Elv"an, Elv"an*ite, n.
Defn: The rock of an elvan vein, or the elvan vein itself; an elvan
course.
ELVE
Elve, n.
Defn: An old form of Elf.
ELVER
El"ver, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young eel; a young conger or sea eel; -- called also elvene.
ELVES
Elves, n.;
Defn: pl. of Elf.
ELVISH
Elv"ish, a.
1. Pertaining to elves; implike; mischievous; weird; also, vacant;
absent in demeanor. See Elfish.
He seemeth elvish by his countenance. Chaucer.
2. Mysterious; also, foolish. [Obs.]
ELVISHLY
Elv"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In an elvish manner. Sir W. Scott.
ELWAND
El"wand, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Ellwand.
ELYSIAN
E*ly"sian, a. Etym: [L. Elysius, fr. Elysium.]
Defn: Pertaining, or the abode of the blessed after death; hence,
yielding the highest pleasures; exceedingly delightful; beatific.
"Elysian shades." Massinger. "Elysian age." Beattie.
This life of mortal breath Is but a suburb of the life elysian.
Longfellow.
ELYSIUM
E*ly"sium, n.; pl. E. Elysiums, L. Elysia. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anc.
Myth.)
1. A dwelling place assigned to happy souls after death; the seat of
future happiness; Paradise.
2. Hence, any delightful place.
An Elysian more pure and bright than that pf the Greeks. I. Taylor.
ELYTRIFORM
E*lyt"ri*form, a. Etym: [Elytrum + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form, or structure, of an elytron.
ELYTRIN
El"y*trin, n. Etym: [From Elytrum.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Chitin.
ELYTROID
El"y*troid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling a beetle's wing case.
ELYTRON; ELYTRUM
El"y*tron, El"y*trum (-tr n.; pl. Elytra. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of the anterior pair of wings in the Coleoptera and some
other insects, when they are thick and serve only as a protection for
the posterior pair. See Coleoptera.
(b) One of the shieldlike dorsal scales of certain annelids. See
Chætopoda.
ELZEVIR
El"ze*vir, a. (Bibliog.)
Defn: Applied to books or editions (esp. of the Greek New Testament
and the classics) printed and published by the Elzevir family at
Amsterdam, Leyden, etc., from about 1592 to 1680; also, applied to a
round open type introduced by them.
The Elzevir editions are valued for their neatness, and the elegant
small types used. Brande & C.
'EM
'Em.
Defn: An obsolete or colloquial contraction of the old form hem,
them. Addison.
EM
Em, n. (Print.)
Defn: The portion of a line formerly occupied by the letter m, then a
square type, used as a unit by which to measure the amount of printed
matter on a page; the square of the body of a type.
EM-
Em-.
Defn: A prefix. See En-.
EMACERATE
E*mac"er*ate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. emaceratus emaciated; e + macerare
to make soft.]
Defn: To make lean or to become lean; to emaciate. [Obs.] Bullokar.
EMACERATION
E*mac`er*a"tion, n.
Defn: Emaciation. [Obs.]
EMACIATE
E*ma"ci*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Emaciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emaciating.] Etym: [L. emaciatus, p. p. of emaciare to make lean; e +
maciare to make lean or meager, fr. macies leanness, akin to macer
lean. See Meager.]
Defn: To lose flesh gradually and become very lean; to waste away in
flesh. "He emaciated and pined away." Sir T. Browne.
EMACIATE
E*ma"ci*ate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to waste away in flesh and become very lean; as, his
sickness emaciated him.
EMACIATE
E*ma"ci*ate, a. Etym: [L. emaciatus, p. p.]
Defn: Emaciated. "Emaciate steeds." T. Warton.
EMACIATION
E*ma`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. émaciation.]
1. The act of making very lean.
2. The state of being emaciated or reduced to excessive leanness; an
excessively lean condition.
EMACULATE
E*mac"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. emaculatus, p. p. of emaculare to clear
from spots. See Maculate.]
Defn: To clear from spots or stains, or from any imperfection. [Obs.]
Hales.
EMACULATION
E*mac`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act of clearing from spots. [Obs.] Johnson.
EMAIL OMBRANT; AEMAIL OMBRANT
E`mail` om`brant", Æ`mail` om`brant". Etym: [F., shaded enamel.]
(Fine Arts)
Defn: An art or process of flooding transparent colored glaze over
designs stamped or molded on earthenware or porcelain. Ure.
EMANANT
Em"a*nant, a. Etym: [L. emanans, -antis, p. pr. of emanare. See
Emanate.]
Defn: Issuing or flowing forth; emanating; passing forth into an act,
or making itself apparent by an effect; -- said of mental acts; as,
an emanant volition.
EMANATE
Em"a*nate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Emanated; p. pr. & vb. n. Emanating.]
Etym: [L. emanare, emanatum, to emanate; e out + manare to flow,
prob. for madnare, and akin to madere to be wet, drip, madidus wet,
drenched, drunk, Gr. mad to boil, matta drunk. Cf. Emane.]
1. To issue forth from a source; to flow out from more or less
constantly; as, fragrance emanates from flowers.
2. To proceed from, as a source or fountain; to take origin; to
arise, to originate.
That subsisting from of government from which all special laws
emanate. De Quincey.
Syn.
-- To flow; arise; proceed; issue; originate.
EMANATE
Em"a*nate, a.
Defn: Issuing forth; emanant. [R.]
EMANATION
Em`a*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. emanatio: cf. F. émanation.]
1. The act of flowing or proceeding from a fountain head or origin.
South.
Those profitable and excellent emanations from God. Jer. Taylor.
2. That which issues, flows, or proceeds from any object as a source;
efflux; an effluence; as, perfume is an emanation from a flower.
An emanation of the indwelling life. Bryant.
EMANATIVE
Em"a*na*tive, a.
Defn: Issuing forth; effluent.
EMANATIVELY
Em"a*na*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By an emanation.
EMANATORY
Em"a*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Emanative; of the nature of an emanation. Dr. H. More.
EMANCIPATE
E*man"ci*pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emancipated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emancipating.] Etym: [L. emancipatus, p. p. of emancipare to
emancipate; e + mancipare to transfer ownership in, fr. manceps
purchaser, as being one who laid his hand on the thing bought; manus
hand + capere to take. See Manual, and Capable.]
Defn: To set free from the power of another; to liberate; as: (a) To
set free, as a minor from a parent; as, a father may emancipate a
child. (b) To set free from bondage; to give freedom to; to manumit;
as, to emancipate a slave, or a country.
Brasidas . . . declaring that he was sent to emancipate Hellas.
Jowett (Thucyd. ).
(c) To free from any controlling influence, especially from anything
which exerts undue or evil influence; as, to emancipate one from
prejudices or error.
From how many troublesome and slavish impertinences . . . he had
emancipated and freed himself. Evelyn.
To emancipate the human conscience. A. W. Ward.
EMANCIPATE
E*man"ci*pate, a. Etym: [L. emancipatus, p. p.]
Defn: Set at liberty.
EMANCIPATION
E*man`ci*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. emancipatio: cf. F. émancipation.]
Defn: The act of setting free from the power of another, from
slavery, subjection, dependence, or controlling influence; also, the
state of being thus set free; liberation; as, the emancipation of
slaves; the emancipation of minors; the emancipation of a person from
prejudices; the emancipation of the mind from superstition; the
emancipation of a nation from tyranny or subjection.
Syn.
-- Deliverance; liberation; release; freedom; manumission;
enfranchisement.
EMANCIPATIONIST
E*man`ci*pa"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate of emancipation, esp. the emancipation of slaves.
EMANCIPATOR
E*man"ci*pa`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who emancipates.
EMANCIPATORY
E*man"ci*pa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to emancipation, or tending to effect emancipation.
"Emancipatory laws." G. Eliot.
EMANCIPIST
E*man"ci*pist, n.
Defn: A freed convict. [Australia]
EMARGINATE
E*mar"gi*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. emarginare; e out + marginare to
furnish with a margin, fr. margo margin.]
Defn: To take away the margin of.
EMARGINATE; EMARGINATED
E*mar"gi*nate, E*mar"gi*na`ted, a.
1. Having the margin interrupted by a notch or shallow sinus.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Notched at the summit.
3. (Cryst.)
Defn: Having the edges truncated.
EMARGINATELY
E*mar"gi*nate*ly, adv.
Defn: In an emarginate manner.
EMARGINATION
E*mar`gi*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of notching or indenting the margin, or the state of
being so notched; also, a notch or shallow sinus in a margin.
EMASCULATE
E*mas"cu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emasculated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emasculating.] Etym: [L. emasculare; e + masculus male, masculine.
See Male masculine.]
1. To deprive of virile or procreative power; to castrate power; to
castrate; to geld.
2. To deprive of masculine vigor or spirit; to weaken; to render
effeminate; to vitiate by unmanly softness.
Luxury had not emasculated their minds. V. Knox.
EMASCULATE
E*mas"cu*late, a.
Defn: Deprived of virility or vigor; unmanned; weak. "Emasculate
slave." Hammond.
EMASCULATION
E*mas`cu*la"tion, n.
1. The act of depriving of virility, or the state of being so
deprived; castration.
2. The act of depriving, or state of being deprived, of vigor or
strength; unmanly weakness.
EMASCULATOR
E*mas"cu*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, emasculates.
EMASCULATORY
E*mas"cu*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to emasculate.
EMBACE
Em*bace", v. t.
Defn: See Embase. [Obs.]
EMBALE
Em*bale", v. t. Etym: [F. emballer; pref. em- (L. in) + balle bale.
See 1st Bale.] [Obs.]
1. To make up into a bale or pack. Johnson.
2. To bind up; to inclose.
Legs . . . embaled in golden buskins. Spenser.
EMBALL
Em*ball", v. t. Etym: [See Embale.]
Defn: To encircle or embrace. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
EMBALM
Em*balm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embalmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embalming.]
Etym: [F. embaumer; pref. em- (L. in) + baume balm. See Balm.]
1. To anoint all over with balm; especially, to preserve from decay
by means of balm or other aromatic oils, or spices; to fill or
impregnate (a dead body), with aromatics and drugs that it may resist
putrefaction.
Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm embalmed
Israel. Gem. l. 2.
2. To fill or imbue with sweet odor; to perfume.
With fresh dews embalmed the earth. Milton.
3. To preserve from decay or oblivion as if with balm; to perpetuate
in remembrance.
Those tears eternal that embalm the dead. Pope.
EMBALMER
Em*balm"er, n.
Defn: One who embalms.
EMBALMMENT
Em*balm"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embaumement.]
Defn: The act of embalming. [R.] Malone.
EMBANK
Em*bank", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Embanking.]
Etym: [Pref. em- + bank. Cf. Imbank.]
Defn: To throw up a bank so as to confine or to defend; to protect by
a bank of earth or stone.
EMBANKMENT
Em*bank"ment, n.
1. The act of surrounding or defending with a bank.
2. A structure of earth, gravel, etc., raised to prevent water from
overflowing a level tract of country, to retain water in a reservoir,
or to carry a roadway, etc.
EMBAR
Em*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Embanking.]
Etym: [Pref. em- + bar: cf. F. embarrer. Cf. Embargo.]
1. To bar or shut in; to inclose securely, as with bars.
Where fast embarred in mighty brazen wall. Spenser.
2. To stop; to hinder by prohibition; to block up.
He embarred all further trade. Bacon.
EMBARCATION
Em`bar*ca"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Embarkation.
EMBARGE
Em*barge", v. t.
Defn: To put in a barge. [Poetic] Drayton.
EMBARGO
Em*bar"go, n.; pl. Embargoes. Etym: [Sp., fr. embargar to arrest,
restrain; pref. em- (L. in) + Sp. barra bar, akin to F. barre bar.
See Bar.]
Defn: An edict or order of the government prohibiting the departure
of ships of commerce from some or all of the ports within its
dominions; a prohibition to sail.
Note: If the embargo is laid on an enemy's ships, it is called a
hostile embargo; if on the ships belonging to citizens of the
embargoing state, it is called a civil embargo.
EMBARGO
Em*bar"go, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embargoed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embargoing.]
Defn: To lay an embargo on and thus detain; to prohibit from leaving
port; -- said of ships, also of commerce and goods.
EMBARK
Em*bark", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Embarking.]
Etym: [F. embarquer; pref. em- (L. in) + barque bark: cf. Sp.
embarcar, It. imbarcare. See Bark. a vessel.]
1. To cause to go on board a vessel or boat; to put on shipboard.
2. To engage, enlist, or invest (as persons, money, etc.) in any
affair; as, he embarked his fortune in trade.
It was the reputation of the sect upon which St. Paul embarked his
salvation. South.
EMBARK
Em*bark", v. i.
1. To go on board a vessel or a boat for a voyage; as, the troops
embarked for Lisbon.
2. To engage in any affair.
Slow to embark in such an undertaking. Macaulay.
EMBARKATION
Em`bar*ka"tion, n.
1. The act of putting or going on board of a vessel; as, the
embarkation of troops.
2. That which is embarked; as, an embarkation of Jesuits. Smollett.
EMBARKMENT
Em*bark"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embarquement.]
Defn: Embarkation. [R.] Middleton.
EMBARRASS
Em*bar"rass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embarrassed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embarrassing.] Etym: [F. embarrasser (cf. Sp. embarazar, Pg. embara,
Pr. barras bar); pref. em- (L. in) + LL. barra bar. See Bar.]
1. To hinder from freedom of thought, speech, or action by something
which impedes or confuses mental action; to perplex; to discompose;
to disconcert; as, laughter may embarrass an orator.
2. To hinder from liberty of movement; to impede; to obstruct; as,
business is embarrassed; public affairs are embarrassed.
3. (Com.)
Defn: To involve in difficulties concerning money matters; to
incumber with debt; to beset with urgent claims or demands; -- said
of a person or his affairs; as, a man or his business is embarrassed
when he can not meet his pecuniary engagements.
Syn.
-- To hinder; perplex; entangle; confuse; puzzle; disconcert; abash;
distress.
-- To Embarrass, Puzzle, Perplex. We are puzzled when our faculties
are confused by something we do not understand. We are perplexed when
our feelings, as well as judgment, are so affected that we know not
how to decide or act. We are embarrassed when there is some bar or
hindrance upon us which impedes our powers of thought, speech, or
motion. A schoolboy is puzzled by a difficult sum; a reasoner is
perplexed by the subtleties of his opponent; a youth is sometimes so
embarrassed before strangers as to lose his presence of mind.
EMBARRASS
Em*bar"rass, n. Etym: [F. embarras. See Embarrass, v. t.]
Defn: Embarrassment. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton.
EMBARRASSMENT
Em*bar"rass*ment, n. Etym: [F. embarrassement.]
1. A state of being embarrassed; perplexity; impediment to freedom of
action; entanglement; hindrance; confusion or discomposure of mind,
as from not knowing what to do or to say; disconcertedness.
The embarrassment which inexperienced minds have often to express
themselves upon paper. W. Irving.
The embarrassments tom commerce growing out of the late regulations.
Bancroft.
2. Difficulty or perplexity arising from the want of money to pay
debts.
EMBASE
Em*base", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + base, a. or v. t.: cf. OF.
embaissier.]
Defn: To bring down or lower, as in position, value, etc.; to debase;
to degrade; to deteriorate. [Obs.]
Embased the valleys, and embossed the hills. Sylvester.
Alloy in coin of gold . . . may make the metal work the better, but
it embaseth it. Bacon.
Such pitiful embellishments of speech as serve for nothing but to
embase divinity. South.
EMBASEMENT
Em*base"ment, n. Etym: [From Embase, v. t.]
Defn: Act of bringing down; depravation; deterioration. South.
EMBASSADE
Em"bas*sade, n. Etym: [F. ambassade. See Embassy.]
Defn: An embassy. See Ambassade. [Obs.] Shak.
EMBASSADOR
Em*bas"sa*dor, n. Etym: [F. ambassadeur, Sp. embajador, LL.
ambassiator, ambasciator. See Embassy, and cf. Ambassador.]
Defn: Same as Ambassador.
Stilbon, that was a wise embassadour, Was sent to Corinth. Chaucer.
Myself my king's embassador will go. Dryden.
EMBASSADORIAL
Em*bas`sa*do"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ambassadorial.]
Defn: Same as Ambassadorial.
EMBASSADRESS
Em*bas"sa*dress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. ambassadrice.]
Defn: Same as Ambassadress.
EMBASSADRY
Em*bas"sa*dry, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. ambassaderie.]
Defn: Embassy. [Obs.] Leland.
EMBASSAGE
Em"bas*sage (; 48), n.
1. An embassy. "He sent a solemn embassage." Bacon.
Except your embassages have better success. Motley.
2. Message; errand. Shak.
EMBASSY
Em"bas*sy, n.; pl. Embassies. Etym: [OF. ambassée, embascée, LL.
ambasciata, fr. ambasciare for ambactiare to go on a mission, fr. L.
ambactus vassal, dependent, of Celtic or German origin; cf. W. amaeth
husbandman, Goth. andbahts servant, G. amt office, OHG. ambaht. Cf.
Ambassador.]
1. The public function of an ambassador; the charge or business
intrusted to an ambassador or to envoys; a public message to; foreign
court concerning state affairs; hence, any solemn message.
He sends the angels on embassies with his decrees. Jer. Taylor.
2. The person or persons sent as ambassadors or envoys; the
ambassador and his suite; envoys.
3. The residence or office of an ambassador.
Note: Sometimes, but rarely, spelled ambassy.
EMBASTARDIZE
Em*bas"tard*ize, v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + bastardize.]
Defn: To bastardize. [Obs.]
EMBATHE
Em*bathe", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + bathe. Cf. Imbathe.]
Defn: To bathe; to imbathe.
EMBATTAIL
Em*bat"tail, v. t. Etym: [See Embattle.]
Defn: To furnish with battlements; to fortify as with battlements.
[Archaic]
To embattail and to wall about thy cause With iron-worded proof.
Tennyson.
EMBATTLE
Em*bat"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embattled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embattling.] Etym: [OF. embataillier; pref. em- (L. in) + F. bataille
battle. See Battle, and cf. Battlement.]
Defn: To arrange in order of battle; to array for battle; also, to
prepare or arm for battle; to equip as for battle.
One in bright arms embattled full strong. Spenser.
Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round
the world. Emerson.
EMBATTLE
Em*bat"tle, v. i.
Defn: To be arrayed for battle. [Obs.]
EMBATTLE
Em*bat"tle, v. t. Etym: [See Battlement.]
Defn: To furnish with battlements. "Embattled house." Wordsworth.
EMBATTLED
Em*bat"tled, a.
1. Having indentations like a battlement. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having the edge broken like battlements; -- said of a bearing
such as a fess, bend, or the like.
3. Having been the place of battle; as, an embattled plain or field.
J. Baillie.
EMBATTLEMENT
Em*bat"tle*ment, n.
1. An intended parapet; a battlement.
2. The fortifying of a building or a wall by means of battlements.
EMBAY
Em*bay", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + bay to bathe.]
Defn: To bathe; to soothe or lull as by bathing. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMBAY
Em*bay", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embaying.]
Etym: [Pref. em- + 1st bay.]
Defn: To shut in, or shelter, as in a bay.
If that the Turkish fleet Be not ensheltered and embayed, they are
drowned. Shak.
EMBAYMENT
Em*bay"ment, n.
Defn: A bay. [R.]
The embayment which is terminated by the land of North Berwick. Sir
W. Scott.
EMBEAM
Em*beam", v. t.
Defn: To make brilliant with beams. [R.] G. Fletcher.
EMBED
Em*bed", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embedded; p. pr. & vb. n. Embedding.]
Etym: [Pref. em- + bed. Cf. Imbed.]
Defn: To lay as in a bed; to lay in surrounding matter; to bed; as,
to embed a thing in clay, mortar, or sand.
EMBEDMENT
Em*bed"ment, n.
Defn: The act of embedding, or the state of being embedded.
EMBELLISH
Em*bel"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embellished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embellishing.] Etym: [OE. embelisen, embelisshen, F. embellir; pref.
em- (L. in) + bel, beau, beautiful. See Beauty.]
Defn: To make beautiful or elegant by ornaments; to decorate; to
adorn; as, to embellish a book with pictures, a garden with shrubs
and flowers, a narrative with striking anecdotes, or style with
metaphors.
Syn.
-- To adorn; beautify; deck; bedeck; decorate; garnish; enrich;
ornament; illustrate. See Adorn.
EMBELLISHER
Em*bel"lish*er, n.
Defn: One who embellishes.
EMBELLISHMENT
Em*bel"lish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embellissement.]
1. The act of adorning, or the state of being adorned; adornment.
In the selection of their ground, as well as in the embellishment of
it. Prescott.
2. That which adds beauty or elegance; ornament; decoration; as,
pictorial embellishments.
The graces and embellishments of the exterior man. I. Taylor.
EMBER
Em"ber, n. Etym: [OE. emmeres, emeres, AS. ; akin to Icel. eimyrja,
Dan. emmer, MHG. eimere; cf. Icel. eimr vapor, smoke.]
Defn: A lighted coal, smoldering amid ashes; -- used chiefly in the
plural, to signify mingled coals and ashes; the smoldering remains of
a fire. "He rakes hot embers." Dryden.
He takes a lighted ember out of the covered vessel. Colebrooke.
EMBER
Em"ber, a. Etym: [OE. ymber, AS. ymbren, ymbryne, prop., running
around, circuit; ymbe around + ryne a running, fr. rinnan to run. See
Amb-, and Run.]
Defn: Making a circuit of the year of the seasons; recurring in each
quarter of the year; as, ember fasts.
Ember days (R. C. & Eng. Ch.), days set apart for fasting and prayer
in each of the four seasons of the year. The Council of Placentia [A.
D. 1095] appointed for ember days the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday
after the first Sunday in Lent, Whitsuntide, the 14th of September,
and the 13th of December. The weeks in which these days fall are
called ember weeks.
EMBER-GOOSE
Em"ber-goose`, n. Etym: [Cf. Norw. ember, hav-imber, hav-immer, Icel.
himbrin, himbrimi.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The loon or great northern diver. See Loon. [Written also
emmer-goose and imber-goose.]
EMBERINGS
Em"ber*ings, n. pl.
Defn: Ember days. [Obs.]
EMBERIZIDAE
Emberizidae n.
Defn: a natural subfamily including buntings and some New World
sparrows.
Syn. -- subfamily Emberizidae, subfamily Emberizinae.
[WordNet 1.5]
EMBETTER
Em*bet"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make better. [Obs.]
EMBEZZLE
Em*bez"zle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embezzled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embezzling.] Etym: [Norm. F. embeseiller to destroy; cf. OF.
besillier to ill treat, ravage, destroy. Cf. Bezzle.]
1. To appropriate fraudulently to one's own use, as property
intrusted to one's care; to apply to one's private uses by a breach
of trust; as, to embezzle money held in trust.
2. To misappropriate; to waste; to dissipate in extravagance. [Obs.]
To embezzle our money in drinking or gaming. Sharp.
EMBEZZLEMENT
Em*bez"zle*ment, n.
Defn: The fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it
has been intrusted; as, the embezzlement by a clerk of his
employer's; embezzlement of public funds by the public officer having
them in charge.
Note: Larceny denotes a taking, by fraud or stealth, from another's
possession; embezzlement denotes an appropriation, by fraud or
stealth, of property already in the wrongdoer's possession. In
England and in most of the United States embezzlement is made
indictable by statute.
EMBEZZLER
Em*bez"zler, n.
Defn: One who embezzles.
EMBILLOW
Em*bil"low, v. i.
Defn: To swell or heave like a [R.] Lisle.
EMBIOTOCOID
Em`bi*ot"o*coid, a. Etym: [NL. Embiotoca, the name of one genus + -
oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to, or resembling, the Embiotocidæ.
-- n.
Defn: One of a family of fishes (Embiotocidæ) abundant on the coast
of California, remarkable for being viviparous; -- also called surf
fishes and viviparous fishes. See Illust. in Append.
EMBITTER
Em*bit"ter, v. t.
Defn: To make bitter or sad. See Imbitter.
EMBITTERMENT
Em*bit"ter*ment, n.
Defn: The act of embittering; also, that which embitters.
EMBLANCH
Em*blanch", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + 1st blanch.]
Defn: To whiten. See Blanch. [Obs.] Heylin.
EMBLAZE
Em*blaze", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Emblazing.]
Etym: [Pref. em- + 1st blaze.]
1. To adorn with glittering embellishments.
No weeping orphan saw his father's stores Our shrines irradiate, or
emblaze the floors. Pope.
2. To paint or adorn with armorial figures; to blazon, or emblazon.
[Archaic]
The imperial ensign, . . . streaming to the wind, With gems and
golden luster rich emblazed. Milton.
EMBLAZON
Em*bla"zon, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblazoned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emblazoning.] Etym: [Pref. em- + blazon. Cf. Emblaze.]
1. To depict or represent; -- said of heraldic bearings. See Blazon.
2. To deck in glaring colors; to set off conspicuously; to display
pompously; to decorate.
The walls were . . . emblazoned with legends in commemoration of the
illustrious pair. Prescott.
EMBLAZONER
Em*bla"zon*er, n.
Defn: One who emblazons; also, one who publishes and displays
anything with pomp.
EMBLAZONING
Em*bla"zon*ing, n.
Defn: The act or art of heraldic decoration; delineation of armorial
bearings.
EMBLAZONMENT
Em*bla"zon*ment, n.
Defn: An emblazoning.
EMBLAZONRY
Em*bla"zon*ry, n.; pl. Emblazonries (.
Defn: The act or art of an emblazoner; heraldic or ornamental
decoration, as pictures or figures on shields, standards, etc.;
emblazonment.
Thine ancient standard's rich emblazonry. Trench.
EMBLEM
Em"blem, n. Etym: [F. emblème, L. emblema, -atis, that which is put
in or on, inlaid work, fr. Gr. In, and Parable.]
1. Inlay; inlaid or mosaic work; something ornamental inserted in a
surface. [Obs.] Milton.
2. A visible sign of an idea; an object, or the figure of an object,
symbolizing and suggesting another object, or an idea, by natural
aptness or by association; a figurative representation; a typical
designation; a symbol; as, a balance is an emblem of justice; a
scepter, the emblem of sovereignty or power; a circle, the emblem of
eternity. "His cicatrice, an emblem of war, here on his sinister
cheek." Shak.
3. A picture accompanied with a motto, a set of verse, or the like,
intended as a moral lesson or meditation.
Note: Writers and artists of the 17th century gave much attention and
study to the composition of such emblems, and many collections of
them were published.
Syn.
-- Sign; symbol; type; device; signal; token.
-- Sign, Emblem, Symbol, Type. Sign is the generic word
comprehending all significant representations. An emblem is a visible
object representing another by a natural suggestion of characteristic
qualities, or an habitual and recognized association; as, a circle,
having no apparent beginning or end, is an emblem of eternity; a
particular flag is the emblem of the country or ship which has
adopted it for a sign and with which it is habitually associated.
Between emblem and symbol the distinction is slight, and often one
may be substituted for the other without impropriety. See Symbol.
Thus, a circle is either an emblem or a symbol of eternity; a
scepter, either an emblem or a symbol of authority; a lamb, either an
emblem or a symbol of meekness. "An emblem is always of something
simple; a symbol may be of something complex, as of a transaction . .
. In consequence we do not speak of actions emblematic." C. J. Smith.
A type is a representative example, or model, exhibiting the
qualities common to all individuals of the class to which it belongs;
as, the Monitor is a type of a class of war vessels.
EMBLEM
Em"blem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embleming.]
Defn: To represent by an emblem; to symbolize. [R.]
Emblemed by the cozening fig tree. Feltham.
EMBLEMATIC; EMBLEMATICAL
Em`blem*at"ic, Em`blem*at"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. emblématique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, containing, or consisting in, an emblem;
symbolic; typically representative; representing as an emblem; as,
emblematic language or ornaments; a crown is emblematic of royalty;
white is emblematic of purity.
-- Em`blem*at"ic*al*ly, adv.
EMBLEMATICCIZE
Em`blem*at"ic*cize, v. t.
Defn: To render emblematic; as, to emblematicize a picture. [R.]
Walpole.
EMBLEMATIST
Em*blem"a*tist, n.
Defn: A writer or inventor of emblems. Sir T. Browne.
EMBLEMATIZE
Em*blem"a*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblematized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emblematizing.]
Defn: To represent by, or as by, an emblem; to symbolize.
Anciently the sun was commonly emblematized by a starry or radiate
figure. Bp. Hurd.
EMBLEMENT
Em"ble*ment, n. Etym: [OF. embleer to sow with corn, F. emblaver, fr.
LL. imbladare; pref. in- + LL. bladum grain, F. blé.] (Law)
Defn: The growing crop, or profits of a crop which has been sown or
planted; -- used especially in the plural. The produce of grass,
trees, and the like, is not emblement. Wharton's Law Dict.
EMBLEMIZE
Em"blem*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emblemized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emblemizing.]
Defn: To represent by an emblem; to emblematize. [R.]
EMBLOOM
Em*bloom", v. t.
Defn: To emblossom. Savage.
EMBLOSSOM
Em*blos"som, v. t.
Defn: To cover or adorn with blossoms.
On the white emblossomed spray. J. Cunningham.
EMBODIER
Em*bod"i*er, n.
Defn: One who embodies.
EMBODIMENT
Em*bod"i*ment, n.
1. The act of embodying; the state of being embodied.
2. That which embodies or is embodied; representation in a physical
body; a completely organized system, like the body; as, the
embodiment of courage, or of courtesy; the embodiment of true piety.
EMBODY
Em*bod"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embodied; p. pr. & vb. n. Embodying.]
Defn: To form into a body; to invest with a body; to collect into a
body, a united mass, or a whole; to incorporate; as, to embody one's
ideas in a treatise. [Written also imbody.]
Devils embodied and disembodied. Sir W. Scott.
The soul, while it is embodied, can no more be divided from sin.
South.
EMBODY
Em*bod"y, v. i.
Defn: To unite in a body, a mass, or a collection; to coalesce.
[Written also imbody.]
Firmly to embody against this court party. Burke.
EMBOGUE
Em*bogue", v. i. Etym: [See Disembogue.]
Defn: To disembogue; to discharge, as a river, its waters into the
sea or another river. [R.]
EMBOGUING
Em*bo"guing, n.
Defn: The mouth of a river, or place where its waters are discharged.
[R.]
EMBOIL
Em*boil", v. i.
Defn: To boil with anger; to effervesce. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMBOIL
Em*boil", v. t.
Defn: To cause to boil with anger; to irritate; to chafe. [Obs.]
Spenser.
EMBOITEMENT
Em`boîte"ment`, n. Etym: [F., fr. emboîter to fit in, insert; en in +
boîte box.] (Biol.)
Defn: The hypothesis that all living things proceed from preëxisting
germs, and that these encase the germs of all future living things,
inclosed one within another. Buffon.
EMBOLDEN
Em*bold"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emboldened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emboldening.]
Defn: To give boldness or courage to; to encourage. Shak.
The self-conceit which emboldened him to undertake this dangerous
office. Sir W. Scott.
EMBOLDENER
Em*bold"en*er, n.
Defn: One who emboldens.
EMBOLIC
Em*bol"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Embolism.]
1. Embolismic.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to an embolism; produced by an embolism; as, an
embolic abscess.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: Pushing or growing in; -- said of a kind of invagination. See
under Invagination.
EMBOLISM
Em"bo*lism, n. Etym: [L. embolismus, from Gr. embolisme. See Emblem.]
1. Intercalation; the insertion of days, months, or years, in an
account of time, to produce regularity; as, the embolism of a lunar
month in the Greek year.
2. Intercalated time. Johnson.
3. (Med.)
Defn: The occlusion of a blood vessel by an embolus. Embolism in the
brain often produces sudden unconsciousness and paralysis.
EMBOLISMAL
Em`bo*lis"mal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to embolism; intercalary; as, embolismal months.
EMBOLISMATIC; EMBOLISMATICAL
Em`bo*lis*mat"ic, Em`bo*lis*mat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Embolismic.
EMBOLISMIC; EMBOLISMICAL
Em`bo*lis"mic, Em`bo*lis"mic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. embolismique.]
Defn: Pertaining to embolism or intercalation; intercalated; as, an
embolismic year, i. e., the year in which there is intercalation.
EMBOLITE
Em"bo*lite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral consisting of both the chloride and the bromide of
silver.
EMBOLUS
Em"bo*lus, n.; pl. Emboli. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Emblem.]
1. Something inserted, as a wedge; the piston or sucker of a pump or
syringe.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A plug of some substance lodged in a blood vessel, being
brought thither by the blood current. It consists most frequently of
a clot of fibrin, a detached shred of a morbid growth, a globule of
fat, or a microscopic organism.
EMBOLY
Em"bo*ly, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Embolic invagination. See under Invagination.
EMBONPOINT
Em`bon`point", n. Etym: [F., fr. en bon point in good condition. See
Bon, and Point.]
Defn: Plumpness of person; -- said especially of persons somewhat
corpulent.
EMBORDER
Em*bor"der, v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + border: cf. OF.
emborder.]
Defn: To furnish or adorn with a border; to imborder.
EMBOSOM
Em*bos"om, v. t. Etym: [Written also imbosom.]
1. To take into, or place in, the bosom; to cherish; to foster.
Glad to embosom his affection. Spenser.
2. To inclose or surround; to shelter closely; to place in the midst
of something.
His house embosomed in the grove. Pope.
Some tender flower . . . . Embosomed in the greenest glade. Keble.
EMBOSS
Em*boss", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embossed; p. pr. & vb. n. Embossing.]
Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + boss: cf. OF. embosser to swell in
bunches.]
1. To arise the surface of into bosses or protuberances;
particularly, to ornament with raised work.
Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss. Milton.
2. To raise in relief from a surface, as an ornament, a head on a
coin, or the like.
Then o'er the lofty gate his art embossed Androgeo's death. Dryden.
Exhibiting flowers in their natural color embossed upon a purple
ground. Sir W. Scott.
EMBOSS
Em*boss", v. t. Etym: [Etymology uncertain.]
Defn: To make to foam at the mouth, like a hunted animal. [Obs.]
EMBOSS
Em*boss", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Pr. & Sp. emboscar, It. imboscare, F.
embusquer, and E. imbosk.]
1. To hide or conceal in a thicket; to imbosk; to inclose, shelter,
or shroud in a wood. [Obs.]
In the Arabian woods embossed. Milton.
2. To surround; to ensheath; to immerse; to beset.
A knight her met in mighty arms embossed. Spenser.
EMBOSS
Em*boss", v. i.
Defn: To seek the bushy forest; to hide in the woods. [Obs.] S.
Butler.
EMBOSSED
Em*bossed", a.
1. Formed or covered with bosses or raised figures.
2. Having a part projecting like the boss of a shield.
3. Swollen; protuberant. [Obs.] "An embossed carbuncle." Shak.
EMBOSSER
Em*boss"er, n.
Defn: One who embosses.
EMBOSSMENT
Em*boss"ment, n.
1. The act of forming bosses or raised figures, or the state of being
so formed.
2. A bosslike prominence; figure in relief; raised work; jut;
protuberance; esp., a combination of raised surfaces having a
decorative effect. "The embossment of the figure." Addison.
EMBOTTLE
Em*bot"tle, v. t.
Defn: To bottle. [R.] Phillips.
EMBOUCHURE
Em`bou`chure", n. Etym: [F., fr. emboucher to put to the mouth; pref.
em- (L. in) + bouche the mouth. Cf. Embouge, Debouch.]
1. The mouth of a river; also, the mouth of a cannon.
2. (Mus.)
(a) The mouthpiece of a wind instrument.
(b) The shaping of the lips to the mouthpiece; as, a flute player has
a good embouchure.
EMBOW
Em*bow", v. t.
Defn: To bend like a bow; to curve. "Embowed arches." [Obs. or R.]
Sir W. Scott.
With gilded horns embowed like the moon. Spenser.
EMBOWEL
Em*bow"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emboweled or Embowelled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Emboweling or Embowelling.]
1. To disembowel.
The barbarous practice of emboweling. Hallam.
The boar . . . makes his trough In your emboweled bosoms. Shak.
Note: Disembowel is the preferable word in this sense.
2. To imbed; to hide in the inward parts; to bury.
Or deep emboweled in the earth entire. Spenser.
EMBOWELER
Em*bow"el*er, n.
Defn: One who takes out the bowels. [Written also emboweller.]
EMBOWELMENT
Em*bow"el*ment, n.
Defn: Disembowelment.
EMBOWER
Em*bow"er, v. t.
Defn: To cover with a bower; to shelter with trees. [Written also
imbower.] [Poetic] Milton.
-- v. i.
Defn: To lodge or rest in a bower. [Poetic] "In their wide boughs
embow'ring. " Spenser.
EMBOWL
Em*bowl", v. t.
Defn: To form like a bowl; to give a globular shape to. [Obs.] Sir P.
Sidney.
EMBOX
Em*box", v. t.
Defn: To inclose, as in a box; to imbox.
EMBOYSSEMENT
Em*boysse"ment, n. Etym: [See Embushment.]
Defn: An ambush. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EMBRACE
Em*brace", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (intens.) + brace, v. t.]
Defn: To fasten on, as armor. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMBRACE
Em*brace", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embraced; p. pr. & vb. n. Embracing.]
Etym: [OE. embracier, F. embrasser; pref. em- (L. in) + F. bras arm.
See Brace, n.]
1. To clasp in the arms with affection; to take in the arms; to hug.
I will embrace him with a soldier's arm, That he shall shrink under
my courtesy. Shak.
Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them. Acts xx. 1.
2. To cling to; to cherish; to love. Shak.
3. To seize eagerly, or with alacrity; to accept with cordiality; to
welcome. "I embrace these conditions." "You embrace the occasion."
Shak.
What is there that he may not embrace for truth Locke.
4. To encircle; to encompass; to inclose.
Low at his feet a spacious plain is placed, Between the mountain and
the stream embraced. Denham.
5. To include as parts of a whole; to comprehend; to take in; as,
natural philosophy embraces many sciences.
Not that my song, in such a scanty space, So large a subject fully
can embrace. Dryden.
6. To accept; to undergo; to submit to. "I embrace this fortune
patiently." Shak.
7. (Law)
Defn: To attempt to influence corruptly, as a jury or court.
Blackstone.
Syn.
-- To clasp; hug; inclose; encompass; include;
EMBRACE
Em*brace", v. i.
Defn: To join in an embrace.
EMBRACE
Em*brace", n.
Defn: Intimate or close encircling with the arms; pressure to the
bosom; clasp; hug.
We stood tranced in long embraces, Mixed with kisses. Tennyson.
EMBRACEMENT
Em*brace"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embrassement.]
1. A clasp in the arms; embrace.
Dear though chaste embracements. Sir P. Sidney.
2. State of being contained; inclosure. [Obs.]
In the embracement of the parts hardly reparable, as bones. Bacon.
3. Willing acceptance. [Obs.]
A ready embracement of . . . his kindness. Barrow.
EMBRACEOR
Em*brace"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One guilty of embracery.
EMBRACER
Em*bra"cer, n.
Defn: One who embraces.
EMBRACERY
Em*bra"cer*y, n. (Law)
Defn: An attempt to influence a court, jury, etc., corruptly, by
promises, entreaties, money, entertainments, threats, or other
improper inducements.
EMBRACIVE
Em*bra"cive, a.
Defn: Disposed to embrace; fond of caressing. [R.] Thackeray.
EMBRAID
Em*braid", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + 1st braid.]
1. To braid up, as hair. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To upbraid. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
EMBRANCHMENT
Em*branch"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embranchement.]
Defn: The branching forth, as of trees.
EMBRANGLE
Em*bran"gle, v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + brangle.]
Defn: To confuse; to entangle.
I am lost and embrangled in inextricable difficulties. Berkeley.
EMBRASURE
Em*bra"sure, n. Etym: [See Embrace.]
Defn: An embrace. [Obs.] "Our locked embrasures."" Shak.
EMBRASURE
Em*bra"sure (277), n. Etym: [F., fr. embraser, perh. equiv. to
ébraser to widen an opening; of unknown origin.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A splay of a door or window.
Apart, in the twilight gloom of a window's embrasure, Sat the lovers.
Longfellow.
2. (Fort.)
Defn: An aperture with slant sides in a wall or parapet, through
which cannon are pointed and discharged; a crenelle. See Illust. of
Casemate.
EMBRAVE
Em*brave", v. t.
1. To inspire with bravery. [Obs.] Beaumont.
2. To decorate; to make showy and fine. [Obs.]
And with sad cypress seemly it embraves. Spenser.
EMBRAWN
Em*brawn", v. t.
Defn: To harden. [Obs.]
It will embrawn and iron-crust his flesh. Nash.
EMBREAD
Em*bread", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + bread = 1st braid.]
Defn: To braid. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMBREATHEMENT
Em*breathe"ment, n.
Defn: The act of breathing in; inspiration. [R.]
The special and immediate suggestion, embreathement, and dictation of
the Holy Ghost. W. Lee.
EMBREW
Em*brew", v. t.
Defn: To imbrue; to stain with blood. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMBRIGHT
Em*bright", v. t.
Defn: To brighten. [Obs.]
EMBROCATE
Em"bro*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embrocated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embrocating.] Etym: [NL. embrocatus, p. p. of embrocare; cf. Gr.
(Med.)
Defn: To moisten and rub (a diseased part) with a liquid substance,
as with spirit, oil, etc., by means of a cloth or sponge.
EMBROCATION
Em`bro*ca"tion, n. Etym: [NL. embrocatio: cf. F. embrocation.] (Med.)
(a) The act of moistening and rubbing a diseased part with spirit,
oil, etc.
(b) The liquid or lotion with which an affected part is rubbed.
EMBROGLIO
Em*brogl"io, n.
Defn: See Imbroglio.
EMBROIDER
Em*broid"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embroidered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embroidering.] Etym: [OE. embrouden. See Broider.]
Defn: To ornament with needlework; as, to embroider a scarf.
Thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen. Ex. xxviii. 39.
EMBROIDERER
Em*broid"er*er, n.
Defn: One who embroiders.
EMBROIDERY
Em*broid"er*y, n.; pl. Embroideries (.
1. Needlework used to enrich textile fabrics, leather, etc.; also,
the art of embroidering.
2. Diversified ornaments, especially by contrasted figures and
colors; variegated decoration.
Fields in spring's embroidery are dressed. Addison.
A mere rhetorical embroidery of phrases. J. A. Symonds.
EMBROIL
Em*broil", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Embroiled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Embroiling.] Etym: [F. embrouiller; pref. em- (L. in) + brouiller.
See 1st Broil, and cf. Imbroglio.]
1. To throw into confusion or commotion by contention or discord; to
entangle in a broil or quarrel; to make confused; to distract; to
involve in difficulties by dissension or strife.
The royal house embroiled in civil war. Dryden.
2. To implicate in confusion; to complicate; to jumble.
The Christian antiquities at Rome . . . are so embroiled with
Addison.
Syn.
-- To perplex; entangle; distract; disturb; disorder; trouble;
implicate; commingle.
EMBROIL
Em*broil", n.
Defn: See Embroilment.
EMBROILER
Em*broil"er, n.
Defn: One who embroils.
EMBROILMENT
Em*broil"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. embrouillement.]
Defn: The act of embroiling, or the condition of being embroiled;
entanglement in a broil. Bp. Burnet.
EMBRONZE
Em*bronze", v. t.
1. To embody in bronze; to set up a bronze representation of, as of a
person. [Poetic]
2. To color in imitation of bronze. See Bronze, v. t.
EMBROTHEL
Em*broth"el, v. t.
Defn: To inclose in a brothel. [Obs.] Donne.
EMBROUDE; EMBROWDE; EMBROYDE
Em*broud"e, Em*browd"e, Em*broyd"e, v. t.
Defn: To embroider; to adorn. [Obs.]
Embrowded was he, as it were a mead All full of fresshe flowers,
white and red. Chaucer.
EMBROWN
Em*brown", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + brown.]
Defn: To give a brown color to; to imbrown.
Summer suns embrown the laboring swain. Fenton.
EMBRUE
Em*brue", v. t.
Defn: See Imbrue, Embrew. [Obs.]
EMBRUTE
Em*brute", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + brute. Cf. Imbrute.]
Defn: To brutify; to imbrute.
All the man embruted in the swine. Cawthorn.
EMBRYO
Em"bry*o, n.; pl. Embryos. Etym: [F. embryon, Gr. in) + brew.]
(Biol.)
Defn: The first rudiments of an organism, whether animal or plant;
as:
(a) The young of an animal in the womb, or more specifically, before
its parts are developed and it becomes a fetus (see Fetus).
(b) The germ of the plant, which is inclosed in the seed and which is
developed by germination. In embryo, in an incipient or undeveloped
state; in conception, but not yet executed. "The company little
suspected what a noble work I had then in embryo." Swift.
EMBRYO
Em"bry*o, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an embryo; rudimentary; undeveloped; as, an
embryo bud.
EMBRYOGENIC
Em`bry*o*gen"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to the development of an embryo.
EMBRYOGENY
Em`bry*og"e*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. embryogénie.] (Biol.)
Defn: The production and development of an embryo.
EMBRYOGONY
Em`bry*og"o*ny, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The formation of an embryo.
EMBRYOGRAPHY
Em`bry*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.] (Biol.)
Defn: The general description of embryos.
EMBRYOLOGIC; EMBRYOLOGICAL
Em`bry*o*log"ic, Em`bry*o*log"ic*al, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to embryology.
EMBRYOLOGIST
Em`bry*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One skilled in embryology.
EMBRYOLOGY
Em`bry*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. embryologie.] (Biol.)
Defn: The science which relates to the formation and development of
the embryo in animals and plants; a study of the gradual development
of the ovum until it reaches the adult stage.
EMBRYON
Em"bry*on, n. & a. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Embryo.
EMBRYONAL
Em"bry*o*nal, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to an embryo, or the initial state of any organ;
embryonic.
EMBRYONARY
Em"bry*o*na*ry, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Embryonic.
EMBRYONATE; EMBRYONATED
Em"bry*o*nate, Em"bry*o*na`ted, a. (Biol.)
Defn: In the state of, or having, an embryonal.
EMBRYONIC
Em`bry*on"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an embryo; embryonal; rudimentary.
Embryonic sac or vesicle (Bot.), the vesicle within which the embryo
is developed in the ovule; -- sometimes called also amnios sac, and
embryonal sac.
EMBRYONIFEROUS
Em`bry*o*nif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Embryo + -ferous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having an embryo.
EMBRYONIFORM
Em`bry*on"i*form, a. Etym: [Embryo + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Like an embryo in form.
EMBRYOPLASTIC
Em`bry*o*plas"tic, n. Etym: [Embryo + plastic.] (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to, or aiding in, the formation of an embryo; as,
embryoplastic cells.
EMBRYO SAC
Em"bry*o sac`. (Bot.)
Defn: See under Embryonic.
EMBRYOTIC
Em`bry*ot"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Embryonic.
EMBRYOTOMY
Em`bry*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. embryotomie.] (Med.)
Defn: The cutting a fetus into pieces within the womb, so as to
effect its removal.
EMBRYOTROPH
Em"bry*o*troph`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The material from which an embryo is formed and nourished.
EMBRYOUS
Em"bry*ous, a.
Defn: Embryonic; undeveloped. [R.]
EMBULK
Em*bulk", v. t.
Defn: To enlarge in the way of bulk. [R.] Latham.
EMBURSE
Em*burse", v. t. Etym: [See Imburse.]
Defn: To furnish with money; to imburse. [Obs.]
EMBUSH
Em*bush", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Ambush, Imbosk.]
Defn: To place or hide in a thicket; to ambush. [Obs.] Shelton.
EMBUSHMENT
Em*bush"ment, n. Etym: [OE. embusshement, OF. embuschement, F.
embûchement.]
Defn: An ambush. [Obs.]
EMBUSY
Em*bus"y, v. t.
Defn: To employ. [Obs.] Skelton.
EME
Eme, n. Etym: [See Eame.]
Defn: An uncle. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMEER
E*meer", n.
Defn: Same as Emir.
EMENAGOGUE
E*men"a*gogue, n.
Defn: See Emmenagogue.
EMEND
E*mend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emended; p. pr. & vb. n. Emending.]
Etym: [L. emendare; e out + menda, mendum, fault, blemish: cf. F.
émender. Cf. Amend, Mend.]
Defn: To purge of faults; to make better; to correct; esp., to make
corrections in (a literary work); to alter for the better by textual
criticism, generally verbal.
Syn.
-- To amend; correct; improve; better; reform; rectify. See Amend.
EMENDABLE
E*mend"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. emendabilis. Cf. Amendable.]
Defn: Corrigible; amendable. [R.] Bailey.
EMENDATELY
Em"en*date*ly, adv.
Defn: Without fault; correctly. [Obs.]
EMENDATION
Em`en*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. emendatio: cf. F. émendation.]
1. The act of altering for the better, or correcting what is
erroneous or faulty; correction; improvement. "He lies in his sin
without repentance or emendation." Jer. Taylor.
2. Alteration by editorial criticism, as of a text so as to give a
better reading; removal of errors or corruptions from a document; as,
the book might be improved by judicious emendations.
EMENDATOR
Em"en*da`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who emends or critically edits.
EMENDATORY
E*mend"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. emendatorius.]
Defn: Pertaining to emendation; corrective. "Emendatory criticism.""
Johnson.
EMENDER
E*mend"er, n.
Defn: One who emends.
EMENDICATE
E*men"di*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. emendicatus, p. p. of emendicare to
obtain by begging. See Mendicate.]
Defn: To beg. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EMERALD
Em"er*ald, n. Etym: [OE. emeraude, OF. esmeraude, esmeralde, F.
émeraude, L. smaragdus, fr. Gr. marakata.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A precious stone of a rich green color, a variety of beryl. See
Beryl.
2. (Print.)
Defn: A kind of type, in size between minion and nonpare
Note: * This line is printed in the type called emerald.
EMERALD
Em"er*ald, a.
Defn: Of a rich green color, like that of the emerald. "Emerald
meadows." Byron. Emerald fish (Zoöl.), a fish of the Gulf of Mexico
(Gobionellus oceanicus), remarkable for the brilliant green and blue
color of the base of the tongue; -- whence the name; -- called also
esmeralda.
-- Emerald green, a very durable pigment, of a vivid light green
color, made from the arseniate of copper; green bice; Scheele's
green; -- also used adjectively; as, emerald green crystals.
-- Emerald Isle, a name given to Ireland on account of the
brightness of its verdure.
-- Emerald spodumene, or Lithia emerald. (Min.) See Hiddenite.
-- Emerald nickel. (Min.) See Zaratite.
EMERALDINE
Em"er*ald*ine (; 104), n.
Defn: A green compound used as a dyestuff, produced from aniline blue
when acted upon by acid.
EMERAUD
Em"er*aud, n. Etym: [See Emerald, n.]
Defn: An emerald. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMERGE
E*merge", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Emerged; p. pr. & vb. n. Emerging.]
Etym: [L. emergere, emersum; e out + mergere to dip, plunge. See
Merge.]
Defn: To rise out of a fluid; to come forth from that in which
anything has been plunged, enveloped, or concealed; to issue and
appear; as, to emerge from the water or the ocean; the sun emerges
from behind the moon in an eclipse; to emerge from poverty or
obscurity. "Thetis . . . emerging from the deep." Dryden.
Those who have emerged from very low, some from the lowest, classes
of society. Burke.
EMERGENCE
E*mer"gence, n.; pl. Emergences (.
Defn: The act of rising out of a fluid, or coming forth from
envelopment or concealment, or of rising into view; sudden uprisal or
appearance.
The white color of all refracted light, at its very first emergence .
. . is compounded of various colors. Sir I. Newton.
When from the deep thy bright emergence sprung. H. Brooke.
EMERGENCY
E*mer"gen*cy, n.; pl. Emergencies. Etym: [See Emergence.]
1. Sudden or unexpected appearance; an unforeseen occurrence; a
sudden occasion.
Most our rarities have been found out by casual emergency. Glanvill.
2. An unforeseen occurrence or combination of circumstances which
calls for immediate action or remedy; pressing necessity; exigency.
To whom she might her doubts propose, On all emergencies that rose.
Swift.
A safe counselor in most difficult emergencies. Brougham.
Syn.
-- Crisis; conjuncture; exigency; pinch; strait; necessity.
EMERGENT
E*mer"gent, a. Etym: [L. emergens, p. pr. of emergere.]
1. Rising or emerging out of a fluid or anything that covers or
conceals; issuing; coming to light.
The mountains huge appear emergent. Milton.
2. Suddenly appearing; arising unexpectedly;
Protection granted in emergent danger. Burke.
Emergent year (Chron.), the epoch or date from which any people begin
to compute their time or dates; as, the emergent year of Christendom
is that of the birth of Christ; the emergent year of the United
States is that of the declaration of their independence.
-- E*mer"gent*ly, adv.
-- E*mer"gent*ness, n. [R.]
EMERIL
Em"er*il, n.
1. Emery. [Obs.] Drayton.
2. A glazier's diamond. Crabb.
EMERITED
Em"er*it*ed, a. Etym: [See Emeritus.]
Defn: Considered as having done sufficient public service, and
therefore honorably discharged. [Obs.] Evelyn.
EMERITUS
E*mer"i*tus, a. Etym: [L., having served out his time, p. p. of
emerere, emereri, to obtain by service, serve out one's term; e out +
merere, mereri, to merit, earn, serve.]
Defn: Honorably discharged from the performance of public duty on
account of age, infirmity, or long and faithful services; -- said of
an officer of a college or pastor of a church.
EMERITUS
E*mer"i*tus, n.; pl. Emeriti. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A veteran who has honorably completed his service.
EMERODS; EMEROIDS
Em"er*ods, Em"er*oids, n. pl. Etym: [OF. emmeroides. See
Hemorrhoids.]
Defn: Hemorrhoids; piles; tumors; boils. [R.] Deut. xxviii. 27.
EMERSED
E*mersed", a. Etym: [L. emersus, p. p. See Emerge.] (Bot.)
Defn: Standing out of, or rising above, water. Gray.
EMERSION
E*mer"sion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. émersion. See Emerge.]
1. The act of emerging, or of rising out of anything; as, emersion
from the sea; emersion from obscurity or difficulties.
Their immersion into water and their emersion out of the same.
Knatchbull.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The reappearance of a heavenly body after an eclipse or
occultation; as, the emersion of the moon from the shadow of the
earth; the emersion of a star from behind the moon.
EMERY
Em"er*y, n. Etym: [F. émeri, earlier émeril, It. smeriglio, fr. Gr.
smear. Cf. Emeril.] (Min.)
Defn: Corundum in the form of grains or powder, used in the arts for
grinding and polishing hard substances. Native emery is mixed with
more or less magnetic iron. See the Note under Corundum. Emery board,
cardboard pulp mixed with emery and molded into convenient.
-- Emery cloth or paper, cloth or paper on which the powder of emery
is spread and glued for scouring and polishing.
-- Emery wheel, a wheel containing emery, or having a surface of
emery. In machine shops, it is sometimes called a buff wheel, and by
the manufacturers of cutlery, a glazer.
EMESIS
Em"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Emetic.] (Med.)
Defn: A vomiting.
EMETIC
E*met"ic, a. Etym: [L. emeticus, Gr. vomere: cf. F. émétique. See
Vomit.] (Med.)
Defn: Inducing to vomit; exciting the stomach to discharge its
contents by the mouth.
-- n.
Defn: A medicine which causes vomiting.
EMETICAL
E*met"ic*al, a.
Defn: Inducing to vomit; producing vomiting; emetic.
-- E*met"ic*al*ly, adv.
EMETINE
Em"e*tine (; 104), n. Etym: [See Emetic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline bitter alkaloid extracted from ipecacuanha
root, and regarded as its peculiar emetic principle.
EMETO-CATHARTIC
Em`e*to-ca*thar"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. cathartic.] (Med.)
Defn: Producing vomiting and purging at the same time.
EMEU; EMEW
E"meu, or E"mew, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Emu.
EMEUTE
e`meute", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A seditious tumult; an outbreak.
E. M. F.
E. M. F. (Physics)
Defn: An abbreviation for electro-motive force.
EMFORTH
Em*forth", prep. Etym: [AS. em-, emn-, in comp. equiv. to efen equal
+ for forth.]
Defn: According to; conformably to. [Obs.] Chaucer. Emforth my might,
so far as lies in my power. [Obs.]
EMGALLA
Em*gal"la, n. (Zoöl.) Etym: [Native name.]
Defn: The South African wart hog. See Wart hog.
EMICANT
Em"i*cant, a. Etym: [L. emicans, p. pr. of emicare. See Emication.]
Defn: Beaming forth; flashing. [R.]
Which emicant did this and that way dart. Blackmore.
EMICATION
Em`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. emicatio, fr. emicare to spring out or
forth; e. out + micare to move quickly to and fro, to sparkle.]
Defn: A flying off in small particles, as heated iron or fermenting
liquors; a sparkling; scintillation. Sir T. Browne.
EMICTION
E*mic"tion, n. Etym: [L. e out + mingere, mictum, to make water.]
1. The voiding of urine.
2. What is voided by the urinary passages; urine.
EMICTORY
E*mic"to*ry, a. & n. (Med.)
Defn: Diuretic.
EMIGRANT
Em"i*grant, a. Etym: [L. emigrans, -antis, p. pr. of emigrare to
emigrate: cf. F. émigrant. See Emigrate, v. i.]
1. Removing from one country to another; emigrating; as, an emigrant
company or nation.
2. Pertaining to an emigrant; used for emigrants; as, an emigrant
ship or hospital.
EMIGRANT
Em"i*grant, n.
Defn: One who emigrates, or quits one country or region to settle in
another.
Syn.
-- Emigrant, Immigrant. Emigrant and emigration have reference to
the country from which the migration is made; the correlative words
immigrant and immigration have reference to the country into which
the migration is made, the former marking the going out from a
country, the latter the coming into it.
EMIGRATE
Em"i*grate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Emigrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emigrating.] Etym: [L. emigratus, p. p. of emigrare to remove,
emigrate; e out + migrare to migrate. See Migrate.]
Defn: To remove from one country or State to another, for the purpose
of residence; to migrate from home.
Forced to emigrate in a body to America. Macaulay.
They [the Huns] were emigrating from Tartary into Europe in the time
of the Goths. J. H. Newman.
EMIGRATE
Em"i*grate, a.
Defn: Migratory; roving. [Obs.]
EMIGRATION
Em`i*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. emigratio: cf. F. émigration.]
1. The act of emigrating; removal from one country or state to
another, for the purpose of residence, as from Europe to America, or,
in America, from the Atlantic States to the Western.
2. A body emigrants; emigrants collectively; as, the German
emigration.
EMIGRATIONAL
Em`i*gra"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to emigration.
EMIGRATIONIST
Em`i*gra"tion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate or promoter of emigration.
EMIGRATOR
Em"i*gra`tor, n.
Defn: One who emigrates; am emigrant. [R.]
EMIGRE
e`mi`gre", n. Etym: [F., emigrant.]
Defn: One of the natives of France who were opposed to the first
Revolution, and who left their country in consequence.
EMINENCE
Em"i*nence, n. Etym: [L. eminentia, fr. eminens eminent: cf. F.
éminence.]
1. That which is eminent or lofty; a high ground or place; a height.
Without either eminences or cavities. Dryden.
The temple of honor ought to be seated on an eminence. Burke.
2. An elevated condition among men; a place or station above men in
general, either in rank, office, or celebrity; social or moral
loftiness; high rank; distinction; preferment. Milton.
You 've too a woman's heart, which ever yet Affected eminence,
wealth, sovereignty. Shak.
3. A title of honor, especially applied to a cardinal in the Roman
Catholic Church.
EMINENCY
Em"i*nen*cy, n.; pl Eminences (.
Defn: State of being eminent; eminence. "Eminency of estate."
Tillotson.
EMINENT
Em"i*nent, a. Etym: [L. eminens, -entis, p. pr. of eminere to stand
out, be prominent; e out + minere (in comp.) to project; of uncertain
origin: cf. F. éminent. Cf. Menace.]
1. High; lofty; towering; prominent. "A very eminent promontory."
Evelyn
2. Being, metaphorically, above others, whether by birth, high
station, merit, or virtue; high in public estimation; distinguished;
conspicuous; as, an eminent station; an eminent historian,
statements, statesman, or saint. Right of eminent domain. (Law) See
under Domain.
Syn.
-- Lofty; elevated; exalted; conspicuous; prominent; remarkable;
distinguished; illustrious; famous; celebrated; renowned; well-known.
See Distinguished.
EMINENTLY
Em"i*nent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eminent manner; in a high degree; conspicuously; as, to
be eminently learned.
EMIR; EMEER
E"mir, E*meer", n. Etym: [Ar. emir, amir, commander: cf. F. émir. Cf.
Admiral, Ameer.]
Defn: An Arabian military commander, independent chieftain, or ruler
of a province; also, an honorary title given to the descendants of
Mohammed, in the line of his daughter Fatima; among the Turks,
likewise, a title of dignity, given to certain high officials.
EMIRSHIP; EMEERSHIP
E`mir*ship, E*meer"ship, n.
Defn: The rank or office of an Emir.
EMISSARY
Em"is*sa*ry, n.; pl. Emissaries. Etym: [L. emissarius, fr. emittere,
emissum, to send out: cf. F. émissaire. See Emit.]
Defn: An agent employed to advance, in a covert manner, the interests
of his employers; one sent out by any power that is at war with
another, to create dissatisfaction among the people of the latter.
Buzzing emissaries fill the ears Of listening crowds with jealousies
and fears. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Emissary, Spy. A spy is one who enters an enemy's camp or
territories to learn the condition of the enemy; an emissary may be a
secret agent appointed not only to detect the schemes of an opposing
party, but to influence their councils. A spy must be concealed, or
he suffers death; an emissary may in some cases be known as the agent
of an adversary without incurring similar hazard.
EMISSARY
Em"is*sa*ry, a.
1. Exploring; spying. B. Jonson.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Applied to the veins which pass out of the cranium through
apertures in its walls.
EMISSARYSHIP
Em"is*sa*ry*ship`, n.
Defn: The office of an emissary.
EMISSION
E*mis"sion, n. Etym: [L. emissio: cf. F. émission. See Emit.]
1. The act of sending or throwing out; the act of sending forth or
putting into circulation; issue; as, the emission of light from the
sun; the emission of heat from a fire; the emission of bank notes.
issue bank notes.
2. That which is sent out, issued, or put in circulation at one time;
issue; as, the emission was mostly blood. Emission theory (Physics),
the theory of Newton, regarding light as consisting of emitted
particles or corpuscles. See Corpuscular theory, under Corpuscular.
EMISSITIOUS
Em`is*si"tious, a. Etym: [L. emissitius, fr. emittere.]
Defn: Looking, or narrowly examining; prying. [Obs.] "Those
emissitious eyes." Bp. Hall.
EMISSIVE
E*mis"sive, a.
Defn: Sending out; emitting; as, emissive powers.
EMISSIVITY
Em`is*siv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Tendency to emission; comparative facility of emission, or rate
at which emission takes place, as of heat from the surface of a
heated body.
EMISSORY
E*mis"so*ry, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Emissary, a., 2.
EMIT
E*mit", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Emitting.] Etym:
[L. emittere to send out; e out + mittere to send. See Mission.]
1. To send forth; to throw or give out; to cause to issue; to give
vent to; to eject; to discharge; as, fire emits heat and smoke;
boiling water emits steam; the sun emits light.
Lest, wrathful, the far-shooting god emit His fatal arrows. Prior.
2. To issue forth, as an order or decree; to print and send into
circulation, as notes or bills of credit.
No State shall . . . emit bills of credit. Const. of the U. S.
EMITTENT
E*mit"tent, a. Etym: [L. emittens, p. pr. emittere.]
Defn: Sending forth; emissive. Boyle.
EMMANTLE
Em*man"tle, v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + mantle: cf. F.
emmanteler. Cf. Inmantle.]
Defn: To cover over with, or as with, a mantle; to put about as a
protection. [Obs.] Holland.
EMMANUEL
Em*man"u*el, n.
Defn: See Immanuel. Matt. i. 23.
EMMARBLE
Em*mar"ble, v. t.
Defn: To turn to marble; to harden. [Obs.]
Thou dost emmarble the proud heart. Spenser.
EMMENAGOGUE
Em*men"a*gogue, n. Etym: [Gr. n. pl., menses (emménagogue.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that promotes the menstrual discharge.
EMMET
Em"met, n. Etym: [OE. emete, amete, AS. æmete. See Ant.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An ant. Emmet hunter (Zoöl.), the wryneck.
EMMETROPIA
Em`me*tro"pi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: That refractive condition of the eye in which the rays of light
are all brought accurately and without undue effort to a focus upon
the retina; -- opposed to hypermetropia, myopia, an astigmatism.
EMMETROPIC
Em`me*trop"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, emmetropia.
The normal or emmetropic eye adjusts itself perfectly for all
distances. J. Le Conte.
EMMETROPY
Em*met"ro*py, n. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Emmetropia.
EMMEW
Em*mew", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + mew. Cf. Immew.]
Defn: To mew or coop up. [Obs.] Shak.
EMMOVE
Em*move", v. t. Etym: [For emove: cf. F. émouvoir, L. emovere. See
Emotion.]
Defn: To move; to rouse; to excite. [Obs.]
EMODIN
Em"o*din, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An orange-red crystalline substance, C15H10O5, obtained from
the buckthorn, rhubarb, etc., and regarded as a derivative of
anthraquinone; -- so called from a species of rhubarb (Rheum emodei).
EMOLLESCENCE
Em`ol*les"cence, n. Etym: [L. e out + mollescere, incho. fr. mollere
to be soft, mollis soft.]
Defn: That degree of softness in a body beginning to melt which
alters its shape; the first or lowest degree of fusibility.
EMOLLIATE
E*mol"li*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emolliated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emolliating.] Etym: [See Emollient, a.]
Defn: To soften; to render effeminate.
Emolliated by four centuries of Roman domination, the Belgic colonies
had forgotten their pristine valor. Pinkerton.
EMOLLIENT
E*mol"lient, a. Etym: [L. emolliens, -entis, p. pr. of emollire to
soften; e out + mollire to soften, mollis soft: cf. F. émollient. See
Mollify.]
Defn: Softening; making supple; acting as an emollient. "Emollient
applications." Arbuthnot.
EMOLLIENT
E*mol"lient (; 105), n. (Med.)
Defn: An external something or soothing application to allay
irritation, soreness, etc.
EMOLLITION
Em`ol*li"tion, n.
Defn: The act of softening or relaxing; relaxation. Bacon.
EMOLUMENT
E*mol"u*ment, n. Etym: [L. emolumentum, lit., a working out, fr.
emoliri to move out, work out; e out + moliri to set in motion, exert
one's self, fr. moles a huge, heavy mass: cf. F. émolument. See Mole
a mound.]
Defn: The profit arising from office, employment, or labor; gain;
compensation; advantage; perquisites, fees, or salary.
A long . . . enjoyment of the emoluments of office. Bancroft.
EMOLUMENTAL
E*mol`u*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an emolument; profitable. [R.] Evelyn.
EMONG; EMONGST
E*mong", E*mongst"
Defn: , (prep. Among. [Obs.]
EMOTION
E*mo"tion, n. Etym: [L. emovere, emotum, to remove, shake, stir up; e
out + movere to move: cf. F. émotion. See Move, and cf. Emmove.]
Defn: A moving of the mind or soul; excitement of the feelings,
whether pleasing or painful; disturbance or agitation of mind caused
by a specific exciting cause and manifested by some sensible effect
on the body.
How different the emotions between departure and return! W. Irving.
Some vague emotion of delight. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- Feeling; agitation; tremor; trepidation; perturbation; passion;
excitement.
-- Emotion, Feeling, Agitation. Feeling is the weaker term, and may
be of the body or the mind. Emotion is of the mind alone, being the
excited action of some inward susceptibility or feeling; as, an
emotion of pity, terror, etc. Agitation may the bodily or mental, and
usually arises in the latter case from a vehement struggle between
contending desires or emotions. See Passion. "Agitations have but one
character, viz., that of violence; emotions vary with the objects
that awaken them. There are emotions either of tenderness or anger,
either gentle or strong, either painful or pleasing." Crabb.
EMOTIONAL
E*mo"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, emotion; excitable; easily
moved; sensational; as, an emotional nature.
EMOTIONALISM
E*mo"tion*al*ism, n.
Defn: The cultivation of an emotional state of mind; tendency to
regard things in an emotional manner.
EMOTIONALIZE
E*mo"tion*al*ize, v. t.
Defn: To give an emotional character to.
Brought up in a pious family where religion was not talked about
emotionalized, but was accepted as the rule of thought and conduct.
Froude.
EMOTIONED
E*mo"tioned, a.
Defn: Affected with emotion. [R.] "The emotioned soul." Sir W. Scott.
EMOTIVE
E*mo"tive, a.
Defn: Attended by, or having the character of, emotion. H. Brooke.
-- E*mo"tive*ly, adv.
EMOTIVENESS
E*mo"tive*ness, n.
Defn: Susceptibility to emotion. G. Eliot.
EMOTIVITY
E`mo*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Emotiveness. Hickok.
EMOVE
E*move", v. t.
Defn: To move. [Obs.] Thomson.
EMPAIR
Em*pair", v. t.
Defn: To impair. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPAISTIC
Em*pais"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Having to do with inlaid work; -- especially used with
reference to work of the ancient Greeks.
EMPALE
Em*pale", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + pale: cf. OF. empalir.]
Defn: To make pale. [Obs.]
No bloodless malady empales their face. G. Fletcher.
EMPALE
Em*pale", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Empaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Empaling.]
Etym: [OF. empaler to palisade, pierce, F. empaler to punish by
empalement; pref. em- (L. in) + OF. & F. pal a pale, stake. See Pale
a stake, and cf. Impale.] [Written also impale.]
1. To fence or fortify with stakes; to surround with a line of stakes
for defense; to impale.
All that dwell near enemies empale villages, to save themselves from
surprise. Sir W. Raleigh.
2. To inclose; to surround. See Impale.
3. To put to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the body.
4. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Impale.
EMPALEMENT
Em*pale"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. empalement, fr. empaler. See Empale.]
[Written also impalement.]
1. A fencing, inclosing, or fortifying with stakes.
2. A putting to death by thrusting a sharpened stake through the
body.
3. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Impalement.
EMPANEL
Em*pan"el, n. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + panel.] (Law)
Defn: A list of jurors; a panel. [Obs.] Cowell.
EMPANEL
Em*pan"el, v. t.
Defn: See Impanel.
EMPANOPLIED
Em*pan"o*plied, a. Etym: [Pref. em- + panoply.]
Defn: Completely armed; panoplied. Tennyson.
EMPARADISE
Em*par"a*dise, v. t.
Defn: Same as Imparadise.
EMPARK
Em*park", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + park: cf. OF. emparchier,
emparkier. Cf. Impark.]
Defn: To make a park of; to inclose, as with a fence; to impark.
[Obs.]
EMPARLANCE
Em*par"lance, n.
Defn: Parley; imparlance. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPASM
Em*pasm", n. Etym: [F. empasme, fr. Gr.
Defn: A perfumed powder sprinkled upon the body to mask the odor of
sweat.
EMPASSION
Em*pas"sion, v. t.
Defn: To move with passion; to affect strongly. See Impassion. [Obs.]
Those sights empassion me full near. Spenser.
EMPASSIONATE
Em*pas"sion*ate, a.
Defn: Strongly affected. [Obs.]
The Briton Prince was sore empassionate. Spenser.
EMPAWN
Em*pawn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + pawn. Cf. Impawn.]
Defn: To put in pawn; to pledge; to impawn.
To sell, empawn, and alienate the estates. Milman.
EMPEACH
Em*peach", v. t.
Defn: To hinder. See Impeach. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPEARL
Em*pearl", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + pearl. Cf. Impearl.]
Defn: To form like pearls; to decorate with, or as with, pearls; to
impearl.
EMPEOPLE
Em*peo"ple, v. t.
Defn: To form into a people or community; to inhabit; to people.
[Obs.]
We now know 't is very well empeopled. Sir T. Browne.
EMPERESS
Em"per*ess, n.
Defn: See Empress. [Obs.]
EMPERICE
Em"per*ice, n.
Defn: An empress. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EMPERIL
Em*per"il, v. t.
Defn: To put in peril. See Imperil. Spenser.
EMPERISHED
Em*per"ished, a.
Defn: Perished; decayed. [Obs.]
I deem thy brain emperished be. Spenser.
EMPEROR
Em"per*or, n. Etym: [OF. empereor, empereour, F. empereur, L.
imperator, fr. imperare to command; in in + parare to prepare, order.
See Parade, and cf. Imperative, Empress.]
Defn: The sovereign or supreme monarch of an empire; -- a title of
dignity superior to that of king; as, the emperor of Germany or of
Austria; the emperor or Czar of Russia. Emperor goose (Zoöl.), a
large and handsome goose (Philacte canagica), found in Alaska.
-- Emperor moth (Zoöl.), one of several large and beautiful bombycid
moths, with transparent spots on the wings; as the American Cecropia
moth (Platysamia cecropia), and the European species (Saturnia
pavonia).
-- Emperor paper. See under Paper.
-- Purple emperor (Zoöl.), a large, strong British butterfly
(Apatura iris).
EMPERORSHIP
Em"per*or*ship, n.
Defn: The rank or office of an emperor.
EMPERY
Em"per*y, n. Etym: [L. imperium, influenced by OF. emperie, empire.
See Empire.]
Defn: Empire; sovereignty; dominion. [Archaic] Shak.
Struggling for my woman's empery. Mrs. Browning.
EMPHASIS
Em"pha*sis, n.; pl. Emphases. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. In, and Phase.]
1. (Rhet.)
Defn: A particular stress of utterance, or force of voice, given in
reading and speaking to one or more words whose signification the
speaker intends to impress specially upon his audience.
The province of emphasis is so much more important than accent, that
the customary seat of the latter is changed, when the claims of
emphasis require it. E. Porter.
2. A peculiar impressiveness of expression or weight of thought;
vivid representation, enforcing assent; as, to dwell on a subject
with great emphasis.
External objects stand before us . . . in all the life and emphasis
of extension, figure, and color. Sir W. Hamilton.
EMPHASIZE
Em"pha*size, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emphasized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Emphasizing.]
Defn: To utter or pronounce with a particular stress of voice; to
make emphatic; as, to emphasize a word or a phrase.
EMPHATIC; EMPHATICAL
Em*phat"ic, Em*phat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. emphatique. See Emphasis.]
1. Uttered with emphasis; made prominent and impressive by a peculiar
stress of voice; laying stress; deserving of stress or emphasis;
forcible; impressive; strong; as, to remonstrate in am emphatic
manner; an emphatic word; an emphatic tone; emphatic reasoning.
2. Striking the sense; attracting special attention; impressive;
forcible. "Emphatical colors." Boyle. "Emphatical evils." Bp.
Reynolds.
Syn.
-- Forcible; earnest; impressive; energetic; striking; positive;
important; special; significant.
EMPHATICALLY
Em*phat"ic*al*ly, adv.
1. With emphasis; forcibly; in a striking manner or degree;
preëminently.
He was indeed emphatically a popular writer. Macaulay.
2. Not really, but apparently. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EMPHATICALNESS
Em*phat"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being emphatic; emphasis.
EMPHRACTIC
Em*phrac"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Having the quality of closing the pores of the skin.
EMPHRENSY
Em*phren"sy, v. t.
Defn: To madden. [Obs.]
EMPHYSEMA
Em`phy*se"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. emphysème.] (Med.)
Defn: A swelling produced by gas or air diffused in the cellular
tissue. Emphysema of the lungs, Pulmonary emphysema (Med.), a common
disease of the lungs in which the air cells are distended and their
partition walls ruptured by an abnormal pressure of the air contained
in them.
EMPHYSEMATOUS
Em`phy*sem"a*tous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. emphysémateux.] (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, emphysema; swelled;
bloated.
EMPHYTEUSIS
Em`phy*teu"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rom. Law)
Defn: A real right, susceptible of assignment and of descent, charged
on productive real estate, the right being coupled with the enjoyment
of the property on condition of taking care of the estate and paying
taxes, and sometimes a small rent. Heumann.
EMPHYTEUTIC
Em`phy*teu"tic, a. Etym: [L. emphyteuticus.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an emphyteusis; as, emphyteutic lands.
EMPHYTEUTICARY
Em`phy*teu"ti*ca*ry, n. Etym: [L. emphyteuticarius, a.]
Defn: One who holds lands by emphyteusis.
EMPIERCE
Em*pierce", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + pierce. Cf. Impierce.]
Defn: To pierce; to impierce. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPIGHT
Em*pight", a. Etym: [Pref. em- + pight pitched, fixed.]
Defn: Fixed; settled; fastened. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPIRE
Em"pire, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. imperium a command, sovereignty,
dominion, empire, fr. imperare. See Emperor; cf. Imperial.]
1. Supreme power; sovereignty; sway; dominion. "The empire of the
sea." Shak.
Over hell extend His empire, and with iron scepter rule. Milton.
2. The dominion of an emperor; the territory or countries under the
jurisdiction and dominion of an emperor (rarely of a king), usually
of greater extent than a kingdom, always comprising a variety in the
nationality of, or the forms of administration in, constituent and
subordinate portions; as, the Austrian empire.
Empire carries with it the idea of a vast and complicated government.
C. J. Smith.
3. Any dominion; supreme control; governing influence; rule; sway;
as, the empire of mind or of reason. "Under the empire of facts." M.
Arnold.
Another force which, in the Middle Ages, shared with chivalry the
empire over the minds of men. A. W. Ward.
Celestial empire. See under Celestial.
-- Empire City, a common designation of the city of New York.
-- Empire State, a common designation of the State of New York.
Syn.
-- Sway; dominion; rule; control; reign; sovereignty; government;
kingdom; realm; state.
EMPIRE STATE
Empire State.
Defn: New York; -- a nickname alluding to its size and wealth.
EMPIRE STATE OF THE SOUTH
Empire State of the South.
Defn: Georgia; -- a nickname.
EMPIRE STATE OF THE WEST
Empire State of the West.
Defn: Missouri; -- a nickname.
EMPIRIC
Em*pir"ic, n. Etym: [L. empiricus an empiric, Gr. fare: cf. F.
empirique. See In, and Fare.]
1. One who follows an empirical method; one who relies upon practical
experience.
2. One who confines himself to applying the results of mere
experience or his own observation; especially, in medicine, one who
deviates from the rules of science and regular practice; an ignorant
and unlicensed pretender; a quack; a charlatan.
Among the Greek physicians, those who founded their practice on
experience called themselves empirics. Krauth-Fleming.
Swallow down opinions as silly people do empirics' pills. Locke.
EMPIRIC; EMPIRICAL
Em*pir"ic, Em*pir"ic*al, a.
1. Pertaining to, or founded upon, experiment or experience;
depending upon the observation of phenomena; versed in experiments.
In philosophical language, the term empirical means simply what
belongs to or is the product of experience or observation. Sir W.
Hamilton.
The village carpenter . . . lays out his work by empirical rules
learnt in his apprenticeship. H. Spencer.
2. Depending upon experience or observation alone, without due regard
to science and theory; -- said especially of medical practice,
remedies, etc.; wanting in science and deep insight; as, empiric
skill, remedies. Empirical formula. (Chem.) See under Formula.
Syn.
-- See Transcendental.
EMPIRICALLY
Em*pir"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By experiment or experience; without science; in the manner of
quacks.
EMPIRICISM
Em*pir"i*cism, n.
1. The method or practice of an empiric; pursuit of knowledge by
observation and experiment.
2. Specifically, a practice of medicine founded on mere experience,
without the aid of science or a knowledge of principles; ignorant and
unscientific practice; charlatanry; quackery.
3. (Metaph.)
Defn: The philosophical theory which attributes the origin of all our
knowledge to experience.
EMPIRICIST
Em*pir"i*cist, n.
Defn: An empiric.
EMPIRISTIC
Em`pi*ris"tic, a. (Physics)
Defn: Relating to, or resulting from, experience, or experiment;
following from empirical methods or data; -- opposed to nativistic.
EMPLACE
Em*place", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emplaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Emplacing.]
[Cf. F. emplacer. See En-; Place, v. & n.]
Defn: To put into place or position; to fix on an emplacement.
EMPLACEMENT
Em*place"ment, n. [Cf. F. emplacement.]
Defn: A putting in, or assigning to, a definite place; localization;
as, the emplacement of a structure.
EMPLASTER
Em*plas"ter, n. Etym: [OF. emplastre, F. emplâtre, L. emplastrum a
plaster or salve, fr. Gr.
Defn: See Plaster. [Obs.] Wiseman.
EMPLASTER
Em*plas"ter, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. emplastrer, F. emplâtrer. See
Emplaster, n.]
Defn: To plaster over; to cover over so as to present a good
appearance. [Obs.] "Fair as ye his name emplaster." Chaucer.
EMPLASTIC
Em*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. emplastique, fr. Gr. Emplaster.]
Defn: Fit to be applied as a plaster; glutinous; adhesive; as,
emplastic applications.
EMPLASTIC
Em*plas"tic, n.
Defn: A medicine causing constipation.
EMPLASTRATION
Em`plas*tra"tion, n. Etym: [L. emplastratio a budding.]
1. The act or process of grafting by inoculation; budding. [Obs.]
Holland.
2. Etym: [See 1st Emplaster.] (Med.)
Defn: The application of a plaster or salve.
EMPLEAD
Em*plead", v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- (L. in) + plead: cf. F. emplaidier.
Cf. Implead.]
Defn: To accuse; to indict. See Implead.
EMPLECTION
Em*plec"tion, n.
Defn: See Emplecton.
EMPLECTON
Em*plec"ton, n. Etym: [F. or L. emplecton, fr. Gr.
Defn: A kind of masonry in which the outer faces of the wall are
ashlar, the space between being filled with broken stone and mortar.
Cross layers of stone are interlaid as binders. [R.] Weale.
EMPLORE
Em*plore", v. t.
Defn: See Implore. [Obs.]
EMPLOY
Em*ploy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Employed; p. pr. & vb. n. Employing.]
Etym: [F. employer, fr. L. implicare to fold into, infold, involve,
implicate, engage; in + plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf. Imply,
Implicate.]
1. To inclose; to infold. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To use; to have in service; to cause to be engaged in doing
something; -- often followed by in, about, on, or upon, and sometimes
by to; as: (a) To make use of, as an instrument, a means, a material,
etc., for a specific purpose; to apply; as, to employ the pen in
writing, bricks in building, words and phrases in speaking; to employ
the mind; to employ one's energies.
This is a day in which the thoughts . . . ought to be employed on
serious subjects. Addison.
(b) To occupy; as, to employ time in study.
(c) To have or keep at work; to give employment or occupation to; to
intrust with some duty or behest; as, to employ a hundred workmen; to
employ an envoy.
Jonathan . . . and Jahaziah . . . were employed about this matter.
Ezra x. 15.
Thy vineyard must employ the sturdy steer To turn the glebe. Dryden.
To employ one's self, to apply or devote one's time and attention; to
busy one's self.
Syn.
-- To use; busy; apply; exercise; occupy; engross; engage. See Use.
EMPLOY
Em*ploy", n. Etym: [Cf. F. emploi.]
Defn: That which engages or occupies a person; fixed or regular
service or business; employment.
The whole employ of body and of mind. Pope.
In one's employ, in one's service.
EMPLOYABLE
Em*ploy"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. employable.]
Defn: Capable of being employed; capable of being used; fit or proper
for use. Boyle.
EMPLOYE
Em`ploy`é", n. Etym: [F., p. p. of employer.]
Defn: One employed by another; a clerk or workman in the service of
an employer.
EMPLOYEE
Em`ploy*ee", n. Etym: [The Eng. form of employé.]
Defn: One employed by another.
EMPLOYER
Em*ploy"er, n.
Defn: One who employs another; as, an employer of workmen.
EMPLOYMENT
Em*ploy"ment, n.
1. The act of employing or using; also, the state of being employed.
2. That which engages or occupies; that which consumes time or
attention; office or post of business; service; as, agricultural
employments; mechanical employments; public employments; in the
employment of government.
Cares are employments, and without employ The soul is on a rack.
Young.
Syn.
-- Work; business; occupation; vocation; calling; office; service;
commission; trade; profession.
EMPLUMED
Em*plumed", a.
Defn: Plumed. [R.]
EMPLUNGE
Em*plunge", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Implunge.]
Defn: To plunge; to implunge. [Obs.] Spenser.
EMPOISON
Em*poi"son, v. t. Etym: [F. empoisonner; pref. em- + F. poison. See
Poison, and cf. Impoison.]
Defn: To poison; to impoison. Shak.
EMPOISON
Em*poi"son, n.
Defn: Poison. [Obs.] Remedy of Love.
EMPOISONER
Em*poi"son*er, n.
Defn: Poisoner. [Obs.] Bacon.
EMPOISONMENT
Em*poi"son*ment, n. Etym: [F. empoisonnement.]
Defn: The act of poisoning. Bacon.
EMPORETIC; EMPORETICAL
Em`po*ret"ic, Em`po*ret"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. emporeticus, Gr.
Emporium.]
Defn: Pertaining to an emporium; relating to merchandise. [Obs.]
Johnson.
EMPORIUM
Em*po"ri*um, n.; pl. Emporiums, L. Emporia. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. In,
and Empiric, Fare.]
1. A place of trade; a market place; a mart; esp., a city or town
with extensive commerce; the commercial center of a country.
That wonderful emporium [Manchester] . . . was then a mean and ill-
built market town. Macaulay.
It is pride . . . which fills our streets, our emporiums, our
theathers. Knox.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The brain. [Obs.]
EMPOVERISH
Em*pov"er*ish, v. t.
Defn: See Impoverish.
EMPOWER
Em*pow"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Empowered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Empowering.]
1. To give authority to; to delegate power to; to commission; to
authorize (having commonly a legal force); as, the Supreme Court is
empowered to try and decide cases, civil or criminal; the attorney is
empowered to sign an acquittance, and discharge the debtor.
2. To give moral or physical power, faculties, or abilities to.
"These eyes . . . empowered to gaze." Keble.
EMPRESS
Em"press, n. Etym: [OE. empress, emperice, OF. empereis, empereris,
fr. L. imperatrix, fem. of imperator. See Emperor.]
1. The consort of an emperor. Shak.
2. A female sovereign.
3. A sovereign mistress. "Empress of my soul." Shak. Empress cloth, a
cloth for ladies' dresses, either wholly of wool, or with cotton warp
and wool weft. It resembles merino, but is not twilled.
EMPRESSEMENT
Em`presse`ment", n. [F., fr s'empresser to hasten.]
Defn: Demonstrative warmth or cordiality of manner; display of
enthusiasm.
He grasped my hand with a nervous empressement.
Poe.
EMPRINT
Em*print", v. t. [Obs.]
Defn: See Imprint.
EMPRISE
Em*prise", n. Etym: [OF. emprise, fr. emprendre to undertake; pref.
em- (L. in) + F. prendre to take, L. prehendere, prendere; prae
before + a verb akin to E. get. See Get, and cf. Enterprise,
Impresa.] [Archaic]
1. An enterprise; endeavor; adventure. Chaucer.
In brave pursuit of chivalrous emprise. Spenser.
The deeds of love and high emprise. Longfellow.
2. The qualifies which prompt one to undertake difficult and
dangerous exploits.
I love thy courage yet and bolt emprise; But here thy sword can do
thee little stead. Milton.
EMPRISE
Em*prise", v. t.
Defn: To undertake. [Obs.] Sackville.
EMPRISING
Em*pris"ing, a. Etym: [From Emprise, v. t.]
Defn: Full of daring; adventurous. [Archaic] T. Campbell.
EMPRISON
Em*pris"on, v. t. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Imprison.
EMPROSTHOTONOS
Em`pros*thot"o*nos, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A drawing of the body forward, in consequence of the spasmodic
action of some of the muscles. Gross.
EMPTE
Emp"te, v. t.
Defn: To empty. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EMPTIER
Emp"ti*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, empties.
EMPTIER
Emp"ti*er, compar.
Defn: of Empty.
EMPTINESS
Emp"ti*ness, n. Etym: [From Empty.]
1. The state of being empty; absence of contents; void space; vacuum;
as, the emptiness of a vessel; emptiness of the stomach.
2. Want of solidity or substance; unsatisfactoriness; inability to
satisfy desire; vacuity; hollowness; the emptiness of earthly glory.
3. Want of knowledge; lack of sense; vacuity of mind.
Eternal smiles his emptiness betray. Pope.
The sins of emptiness, gossip, and spite. Tennyson.
EMPTION
Emp"tion, n. Etym: [L. emptio, fr. emere to buy.]
Defn: The act of buying. [R.] Arbuthnot.
EMPTIONAL
Emp"tion*al, a.
Defn: Capable of being purchased.
EMPTY
Emp"ty, a. [Compar. Emptier; superl. Emptiest.] Etym: [AS. emtig,
æmtig, æmetig, fr. æmta, æmetta, quiet, leisure, rest; of uncertain
origin; cf. G. emsig busy.]
1. Containing nothing; not holding or having anything within; void of
contents or appropriate contents; not filled; -- said of an
inclosure, as a box, room, house, etc.; as, an empty chest, room,
purse, or pitcher; an empty stomach; empty shackles.
2. Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of. "That fair female troop . .
. empty of all good." Milton.
I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak.
3. Having nothing to carry; unburdened. "An empty messenger." Shak.
When ye go ye shall not go empty. Ex. iii. 21.
4. Destitute of effect, sincerity, or sense; -- said of language; as,
empty words, or threats.
Words are but empty thanks. Cibber.
5. Unable to satisfy; unsatisfactory; hollow; vain; -- said of
pleasure, the world, etc.
Pleas'd in the silent shade with empty praise. Pope.
6. Producing nothing; unfruitful; -- said of a plant or tree; as, an
empty vine.
Seven empty ears blasted with the east wind. Gen. xli. 27.
7. Destitute of, or lacking, sense, knowledge, or courtesy; as, empty
brains; an empty coxcomb.
That in civility thou seem'st so empty. Shak.
8. Destitute of reality, or real existence; unsubstantial; as, empty
dreams.
Note: Empty is used as the first element in a compound; as, empty-
handed, having nothing in the hands, destitute; empty-headed, having
few ideas; empty-hearted, destitute of feeling.
Syn.
-- See Vacant.
EMPTY
Emp"ty, n.; pl. Empties (.
Defn: An empty box, crate, cask, etc.; -- used in commerce, esp. in
transportation of freight; as, "special rates for empties."
EMPTY
Emp"ty, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emptied; p. pr. & vb. n. Emptying.]
Defn: To deprive of the contents; to exhaust; to make void or
destitute; to make vacant; to pour out; to discharge; as, to empty a
vessel; to empty a well or a cistern.
The clouds . . . empty themselves upon the earth. Eccl. xi. 3.
EMPTY
Emp"ty, v. i.
1. To discharge itself; as, a river empties into the ocean.
2. To become empty. "The chapel empties." B. Jonson.
EMPTYING
Emp"ty*ing, n.
1. The act of making empty. Shak.
2. pl.
Defn: The lees of beer, cider, etc.; yeast. [U.S.]
EMPUGN
Em*pugn", v. t. Etym: [Obs.]
Defn: See Impugn.
EMPURPLE
Em*pur"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Empurpled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Empurpling.] Etym: [Pref. em- + purple. Cf. Impurple.]
Defn: To tinge or dye of a purple color; to color with purple; to
impurple. "The deep empurpled ran." Philips.
EMPUSE
Em*puse", n. Etym: [LL. empusa, Gr.
Defn: A phantom or specter. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
EMPUZZLE
Em*puz"zle, v. t. Etym: [Pref. em- + puzzle.]
Defn: To puzzle. [Archaic] Sir T. Browne.
EMPYEMA
Em`py*e"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A collection of blood, pus, or other fluid, in some cavity of
the body, especially that of the pleura. Dunglison.
Note: The term empyema is now restricted to a collection of pus in
the cavity of the pleura.
EMPYESIS
Em`py*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An eruption of pustules.
EMPYREAL
Em*pyr"e*al, a. Etym: [L. empyrius, empyreus, fiery, Gr. In, and
Fire.]
Defn: Formed of pure fire or light; refined beyond aërial substance;
pertaining to the highest and purest region of heaven.
Go, soar with Plato to the empyreal sphere. Pope.
Empyreal air, oxygen gas.
EMPYREAL
Em*pyr"e*al, n.
Defn: Empyrean. Mrs. Browning.
EMPYREAN
Em`py*re"an, n. Etym: [See Empyreal.]
Defn: The highest heaven, where the pure element of fire was supposed
by the ancients to subsist.
The empyrean rung With hallelujahs. Milton.
EMPYREAN
Em`py*re"an, a.
Defn: Empyreal. Akenside.
EMPYREUMA
Em`py*reu"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. empyreume. See Empyreal.]
(Chem.)
Defn: The peculiar smell and taste arising from products of
decomposition of animal or vegetable substances when burnt in close
vessels.
EMPYREUMATIC; EMPYREUMATICAL
Em`py*reu*mat"ic, Em`py*reu*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
empyreumatique.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to empyreuma; as, an empyreumatic odor.
Empyreumatic oils, oils obtained by distilling various organic
substances at high temperatures. Brande & C.
EMPYREUMATIZE
Em`py*reu"ma*tize, v. t.
Defn: To render empyreumatic. [R.]
EMPYRICAL
Em*pyr"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Empyreal.]
Defn: Containing the combustible principle of coal. Kirwan.
EMPYROSIS
Em"py*ro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A general fire; a conflagration. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
EMRODS
Em"rods, n. pl.
Defn: See Emerods. [Obs.]
EMU
E"mu, n. Etym: [Cf. Pg. ema ostrich, F. émou, émeu, emu.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large Australian bird, of two species (Dromaius Novæ-
Hollandiæ and D. irroratus), related to the cassowary and the
ostrich. The emu runs swiftly, but is unable to fly. [Written also
emeu and emew.]
Note: The name is sometimes erroneously applied, by the Brazilians,
to the rhea, or South American ostrich. Emu wren. See in the
Vocabulary.
EMULABLE
Em"u*la*ble, a. Etym: [L. aemulari to emulate + -able.]
Defn: Capable of being emulated. [R.]
Some imitable and emulable good. Abp. Leighton.
EMULATE
Em"u*late, a. Etym: [L. aemulatus, p. p. of aemulari, fr. aemulus
emulous; prob. akin to E. imitate.]
Defn: Striving to excel; ambitious; emulous. [Obs.] "A most emulate
pride." Shak.
EMULATE
Em"u*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Emulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Emulating.]
Defn: To strive to equal or to excel in qualities or actions; to
imitate, with a view to equal or to outdo, to vie with; to rival; as,
to emulate the good and the great.
Thine eye would emulate the diamond. Shak.
EMULATION
Em`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. aemulatio: cf. F. émulation.]
1. The endeavor to equal or to excel another in qualities or actions;
an assiduous striving to equal or excel another; rivalry.
A noble emulation heats your breast. Dryden.
2. Jea
Such factious emulations shall arise. Shak.
Syn.
-- Competition; rivalry; contest; contention; strife.
-- Emulation, Competition, Rivalry. Competition is the struggle of
two or more persons for the same object. Emulation is an ardent
desire for superiority, arising from competition, but now implying,
of necessity, any improper feeling. Rivalry is a personal contest,
and, almost of course, has a selfish object and gives rise to envy.
"Competition and emulation have honor for their basis; rivalry is but
a desire for selfish gratification. Competition and emulation animate
to effort; rivalry usually produces hatred. Competition and emulation
seek to merit success; rivalry is contented with obtaining it."
Crabb.
EMULATIVE
Em"u*la*tive, a.
Defn: Inclined to emulation; aspiring to competition; rivaling; as,
an emulative person or effort. "Emulative zeal." Hoole.
EMULATIVELY
Em"u*la*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an emulative manner; with emulation.
EMULATOR
Em"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L. aemulator.]
Defn: One who emulates, or strives to equal or surpass.
As Virgil rivaled Homer, Milton was the emulator of both. Bp.
Warburton.
EMULATORY
Em"u*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to emulation; connected with rivalry. [R.]
"Emulatory officiousness." Bp. Hall.
EMULATRESS
Em"u*la`tress, n.
Defn: A female emulator. [R.]
EMULE
Em"ule, v. t. Etym: [F. émuler. See Emulate.]
Defn: To emulate. [Obs.] "Emuled of many." Spenser.
EMULGE
E*mulge", v. t. Etym: [L. emulgere, emulsum; e out + mulgere to milk;
akin to E. milk. See Milk.]
Defn: To milk out; to drain. [Obs.] Bailey.
EMULGENT
E*mul"gent, a. Etym: [L. emulgens, p. pr. of emulgere to milk out:
cf. F. émulgent. So called because regarded by the ancients as
straining out the serum, as if by milking, and so producing the
urine.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the kidneys; renal; as, emulgent arteries and
veins.
-- n.
Defn: An emulgent vessel, as a renal artery or vein.
EMULGENT
E*mul"gent, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that excites the flow of bile. [Obs.] Hoblyn.
EMULOUS
Em"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. aemulus. See Emulate.]
1. Ambitiously desirous to equal or even to excel another; eager to
emulate or vie with another; desirous of like excellence with
another; -- with of; as, emulous of another's example or virtues.
2. Vying with; rivaling; hence, contentious, envious. "Emulous
Carthage." B. Jonson.
Emulous missions 'mongst the gods. Shak.
EMULOUSLY
Em"u*lous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an emulous manner.
EMULOUSNESS
Em"u*lous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being emulous.
EMULSIC
E*mul"sic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or produced from, emulsin; as, emulsic acid.
Hoblyn.
EMULSIFY
E*mul"si*fy, v. t. Etym: [Emulsion + -fy.]
Defn: To convert into an emulsion; to form an emulsion; to reduce
from an oily substance to a milky fluid in which the fat globules are
in a very finely divided state, giving it the semblance of solution;
as, the pancreatic juice emulsifies the oily part of food.
EMULSIN
E*mul"sin, n. Etym: [See Emulsion, Emulge.] (Chem.)
(a) The white milky pulp or extract of bitter almonds. [R.]
(b) An unorganized ferment (contained in this extract and in other
vegetable juices), which effects the decomposition of certain
glucosides.
EMULSION
E*mul"sion, n. Etym: [From L. emulgere, emulsum: cf. F. émulsion. See
Emulge.]
Defn: Any liquid preparation of a color and consistency resembling
milk; as: (a) In pharmacy, an extract of seeds, or a mixture of oil
and water united by a mucilaginous substance. (b) In photography, a
liquid preparation of collodion holding salt of silver, used in the
photographic process.
EMULSIVE
E*mul"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. émulsif.]
1. Softening; milklike.
2. Yielding oil by expression; as, emulsive seeds.
3. Producing or yielding a milklike substance; as, emulsive acids.
EMUNCTORY
E*munc"to*ry, n.; pl. Emunctories. Etym: [L. emunctorium a pair of
snuffers, fr. emungere, emunctum, to blow the nose, hence, to wipe,
cleanse; e out + mungere to blow the nose: cf. F. émonctoire,
formerly spelled also émonctoire.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Any organ or part of the body (as the kidneys, skin, etc.,)
which serves to carry off excrementitious or waste matter.
EMUSCATION
Em`us*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. emuscare to clear from moss; e out +
muscus moss.]
Defn: A freeing from moss. [Obs.]
EMU WREN
E"mu wren`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small wrenlike Australian bird (Stipiturus malachurus),
having the tail feathers long and loosely barbed, like emu feathers.
EMYD
E"myd, n.; pl. E. Emyds, E. Emyd. Etym: [See Emydea.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water tortoise of the family Emydidæ.
EMYDEA
E*myd"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Emys a genus of tortoises, L. emys
a kind of fresh-water tortoise, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of chelonians which comprises many species of fresh-
water tortoises and terrapins.
EN-
En-.
1. Etym: [F. en-, L. in.]
Defn: A prefix signifying in or into, used in many English words,
chiefly those borrowed from the French. Some English words are
written indifferently with en- or in-. For ease of pronunciation it
is commonly changed to em- before p, b, and m, as in employ, embody,
emmew. It is sometimes used to give a causal force, as in enable,
enfeeble, to cause to be, or to make, able, or feeble; and sometimes
merely gives an intensive force, as in enchasten. See In-.
2. A prefix from Gr. in; as, encephalon, entomology. See In-.
-EN
-en.
1. A suffix from AS. -an, formerly used to form the plural of many
nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases,
such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural
forms.
2. A suffix corresponding to AS. -en and -on, formerly used to form
the plural of verbs, as in housen, escapen.
3. A suffix signifying to make, to cause, used to form verbs from
nouns and adjectives; as in strengthen, quicken, frighten. This must
not be confused with -en corresponding in Old English to the AS.
infinitive ending -an.
4. Etym: [AS. -en; akin to Goth. -eins, L. -inus, Gr.
Defn: An adjectival suffix, meaning made of; as in golden, leaden,
wooden.
5. Etym: [AS. -en; akin to Skr. -na.]
Defn: The termination of the past participle of many strong verbs;
as, in broken, gotten, trodden.
EN
En, n. (Print.)
Defn: Half an em, that is, half of the unit of space in measuring
printed matter. See Em.
ENABLE
En*a"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Enabling.]
1. To give strength or ability to; to make firm and strong. [Obs.]
"Who hath enabled me." 1 Tim. i. 12.
Receive the Holy Ghost, said Christ to his apostles, when he enabled
them with priestly power. Jer. Taylor.
2. To make able (to do, or to be, something); to confer sufficient
power upon; to furnish with means, opportunities, and the like; to
render competent for; to empower; to endow.
Temperance gives Nature her full play, and enables her to exert
herself in all her force and vigor. Addison.
ENABLEMENT
En*a"ble*ment, n.
Defn: The act of enabling, or the state of being enabled; ability.
Bacon.
ENACT
En*act", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enacted; p. pr. & vb. n. Enacting.]
1. To decree; to establish by legal and authoritative act; to make
into a law; especially, to perform the legislative act with reference
to (a bill) which gives it the validity of law.
2. To act; to perform; to do; to effect. [Obs.]
The king enacts more wonders than a man. Shak.
3. To act the part of; to represent; to play.
I did enact Julius Caesar. Shak.
Enacting clause, that clause of a bill which formally expresses the
legislative sanction.
ENACT
En*act", n.
Defn: Purpose; determination. [Obs.]
ENACTIVE
En*act"ive, a.
Defn: Having power to enact or establish as a law. Abp. Bramhall.
ENACTMENT
En*act"ment, n.
1. The passing of a bill into a law; the giving of legislative
sanction and executive approval to a bill whereby it is established
as a law.
2. That which is enacted or passed into a law; a law; a decree; a
statute; a prescribed requirement; as, a prohibitory enactment; a
social enactment.
ENACTOR
En*act"or, n.
Defn: One who enacts a law; one who decrees or establishes as a law.
Atterbury.
ENACTURE
En*ac"ture, n.
Defn: Enactment; resolution. [Obs.] Shak.
ENALIOSAUR
En*al"i*o*saur`, n. (Paleon.)
Defn: One of the Enaliosauria.
ENALIOSAURIA
En*al`i*o*sau"ri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct group of marine reptiles, embracing both the
Ichthyosauria and the Plesiosauria, now regarded as distinct orders.
ENALIOSAURIAN
En*al`i*o*sau"ri*an, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Pertaining to the Enaliosauria.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Enaliosauria.
ENALLAGE
E*nal"la*ge, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: A substitution, as of one part of speech for another, of one
gender, number, case, person, tense, mode, or voice, of the same
word, for another.
ENAMBUSH
En*am"bush, v. t.
Defn: To ambush. [Obs.]
ENAMEL
En*am"el, n. Etym: [Pref. en- + amel. See Amel, Smelt, v. t.]
1. A variety of glass, used in ornament, to cover a surface, as of
metal or pottery, and admitting of after decoration in color, or used
itself for inlaying or application in varied colors.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A glassy, opaque bead obtained by the blowpipe.
3. That which is enameled; also, any smooth, glossy surface,
resembling enamel, especially if variegated.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: The intensely hard calcified tissue entering into the
composition of teeth. It merely covers the exposed parts of the teeth
of man, but in many animals is intermixed in various ways with the
dentine and cement. Enamel painting, painting with enamel colors upon
a ground of metal, porcelain, or the like, the colors being
afterwards fixed by fire.
-- Enamel paper, paper glazed a metallic coating.
ENAMEL
En*am"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enameled or Enamelled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enameling or Enamelling.]
1. To lay enamel upon; to decorate with enamel whether inlaid or
painted.
2. To variegate with colors as if with enamel.
Oft he [the serpent]bowed His turret crest and sleek enameled neck.
Milton.
3. To form a glossy surface like enamel upon; as, to enamel card
paper; to enamel leather or cloth.
4. To disguise with cosmetics, as a woman's complexion.
ENAMEL
En*am"el, v. i.
Defn: To practice the art of enameling.
ENAMEL
En*am"el, a.
Defn: Relating to the art of enameling; as, enamel painting.
Tomlinson.
ENAMELAR
En*am"el*ar, a.
Defn: Consisting of enamel; resembling enamel; smooth; glossy. [R.]
Craig.
ENAMELED
En*am"eled, a.
Defn: Coated or adorned with enamel; having a glossy or variegated
surface; glazed. [Written also enamelled.]
ENAMELER; ENAMELIST
En*am"el*er, En*am"el*ist, n.
Defn: One who enamels; a workman or artist who applies enamels in
ornamental work. [Written also enameller, enamellist.]
ENAMOR
En*am"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enamored; p. pr. & vb. n. Enamoring.]
Etym: [OF. enamourer, enamorer; pref. en- (L. in) + OF. & F. amour
love, L. amor. See Amour, and cf. Inamorato.]
Defn: To inflame with love; to charm; to captivate; -- with of, or
with, before the person or thing; as, to be enamored with a lady; to
be enamored of books or science. [Written also enamour.]
Passionately enamored of this shadow of a dream. W. Irving.
ENAMORMENT
En*am"or*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being enamored. [R.]
ENANTIOMORPHOUS
E*nan`ti*o*mor"phous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Similar, but not superposable, i. e., related to each other as
a right-handed to a left-handed glove; -- said of certain hemihedral
crystals.
ENANTIOPATHIC
E*nan`ti*o*path"ic, a. (Med.)
Defn: Serving to palliate; palliative. Dunglison.
ENANTIOPATHY
E*nan`ti*op"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. An opposite passion or affection. Sir W. Hamilton.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Allopathy; -- a term used by followers of Hahnemann, or
homeopathists.
ENANTIOSIS
E*nan`ti*o"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech by which what is to be understood
affirmatively is stated negatively, and the contrary; affirmation by
contraries.
ENARCH
En**arch", v. t.
Defn: To arch. [Obs.] Lydgate.
ENARCHED
En*arched", a. (Her.)
Defn: Bent into a curve; -- said of a bend or other ordinary.
ENARGITE
En*ar"gite, n. (Min.)
Defn: An iron-black mineral of metallic luster, occurring in small
orthorhombic crystals, also massive. It contains sulphur, arsenic,
copper, and often silver.
ENARMED
En*armed", a. (Her.)
Defn: Same as Armed, 3.
ENARRATION
En`ar*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. enarratio. See Narration.]
Defn: A detailed exposition; relation. [Obs.] Hakewill.
ENARTHRODIA
En`ar*thro"di*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Arthrodia.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Enarthrosis.
-- En`ar*thro"di*al, a.
ENARTHROSIS
En`ar*thro"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A ball and socket joint, or the kind of articulation
represented by such a joint. See Articulation.
ENASCENT
E*nas"cent, a. Etym: [L. enascens, p. pr. of enasci to spring up; e
out + nasci to be born.]
Defn: Coming into being; nascent. [Obs.] Bp. Warburton.
ENATATION
E`na*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. enatare to swim out. See Natation.]
Defn: A swimming out. [Obs.] Bailey.
ENATE
E*nate", a. Etym: [L. enatus, p. p. of enasci. See Enascent.]
Defn: Growing out.
ENATION
E*na"tion, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Any unusual outgrowth from the surface of a thing, as of a
petal; also, the capacity or act of producing such an outgrowth.
ENAUNTER
E*naun"ter, adv. Etym: [Pref. en- + aunter.]
Defn: Lest that. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENAVIGATE
E*nav"i*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. enavigatus, p. p. of enavigare.]
Defn: To sail away or over. [Obs.] Cockeram.
ENBATTLED
En*bat"tled, a.
Defn: Embattled. [Obs.]
ENBIBE
En*bibe", v. t.
Defn: To imbibe. [Obs.] Skelton.
EN BLOC
En` bloc". [F. Cf. Block, n. ]
Defn: In a lump; as a whole; all together. "Movement of the ossicles
en bloc." Nature.
En bloc they are known as "the herd".
W. A. Fraser.
ENBROUDE
En*broud"e, v. t.
Defn: See Embroude.
ENCAENIA
En*cæ"ni*a, n. pl.
Defn: = Encenia.
ENCAGE
En*cage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + cage: cf. F. encager.]
Defn: To confine in a cage; to coop up. Shak.
ENCALENDAR
En*cal"en*dar, v. t.
Defn: To register in a calendar; to calendar. Drayton.
ENCAMP
En*camp", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Encamped; p. pr. & vb. n. Encamping.]
Defn: To form and occupy a camp; to prepare and settle in temporary
habitations, as tents or huts; to halt on a march, pitch tents, or
form huts, and remain for the night or for a longer time, as an army
or a company traveling.
The host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 1
Chron. xi. 15.
ENCAMP
En*camp", v. t.
Defn: To form into a camp; to place in a temporary habitation, or
quarters.
Bid him encamp his soldiers. Shak.
ENCAMPMENT
En*camp"ment, n.
1. The act of pitching tents or forming huts, as by an army or
traveling company, for temporary lodging or rest.
2. The place where an army or a company is encamped; a camp; tents
pitched or huts erected for temporary lodgings.
A square of about seven hundred yards was sufficient for the
encampment of twenty thousand Romans. Gibbon.
A green encampment yonder meets the eye. Guardian.
ENCANKER
En*can"ker, v. t.
Defn: To canker. [Obs.]
ENCAPSULATION
En*cap`su*la"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of inclosing in a capsule; the growth of a membrane
around (any part) so as to inclose it in a capsule.
ENCARNALIZE
En*car"nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To carnalize; to make gross. [R.] "Encarnalize their spirits."
Tennyson.
ENCARPUS
En*car"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. encarpa, pl., Gr. (Arch.)
Defn: An ornament on a frieze or capital, consisting of festoons of
fruit, flowers, leaves, etc. [Written also encarpa.]
ENCASE
En*case", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Enchase.]
Defn: To inclose as in a case. See Incase. Beau. & Fl.
ENCASEMENT
En*case"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. Casement.]
1. The act of encasing; also, that which encases.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: An old theory of generation similar to emboOvulist.
ENCASH
En*cash", v. t. (Eng. Banking)
Defn: To turn into cash; to cash. Sat. Rev.
ENCASHMENT
En*cash"ment, n. (Eng. Banking)
Defn: The payment in cash of a note, draft, etc.
ENCAUMA
En*cau"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Encaustic.] (Med.)
Defn: An ulcer in the eye, upon the cornea, which causes the loss of
the humors. Dunglison.
ENCAUSTIC
En*caus"tic, a. Etym: [L. encausticus, Gr. encaustique. See Caustic,
and cf. Ink.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: Prepared by means of heat; burned in. Encaustic painting (Fine
Arts), painting by means of wax with which the colors are combined,
and which is afterwards fused with hot irons, thus fixing the colors.
-- Encaustic tile (Fine Arts), an earthenware tile which has a
decorative pattern and is not wholly of one color.
ENCAUSTIC
En*caus"tic, n. Etym: [L. encaustica, Gr. encaustique. See Encaustic,
a.]
Defn: The method of painting in heated wax, or in any way where heat
is used to fix the colors.
ENCAVE
En*cave", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + cave: cf. F. encaver. Cf.
Incavated.]
Defn: To hide in, or as in, a cave or recess. "Do but encave
yourself." Shak.
-ENCE
-ence. Etym: [F. -ence, L. -entia.]
Defn: A noun suffix signifying action, state, or quality; also, that
which relates to the action or state; as in emergence, diffidence,
diligence, influence, difference, excellence. See -ance.
ENCEINTE
En`ceinte", n. Etym: [F., fr. enceindre to gird about, surround, L.
incingere; in (intens). + cingere to gird. See Cincture.]
1. (Fort.)
Defn: The line of works which forms the main inclosure of a fortress
or place; -- called also body of the place.
2. The area or town inclosed by a line of fortification.
The suburbs are not unfrequently larger than their enceinte. S. W.
Williams.
ENCEINTE
En`ceinte", a. Etym: [F., fr. L. in not + cinctus, p. p. of cingere
to gird about.]
Defn: Pregnant; with child.
ENCENIA
En*ce"ni*a, n. pl. Etym: [LL. encaenia, fr. Gr.
Defn: A festival commemorative of the founding of a city or the
consecration of a church; also, the ceremonies (as at Oxford and
Cambridge, England) commemorative of founders or benefactors.
ENCENSE
En*cense", v. t. & i. Etym: [F. encenser, fr. encens. See Incense,
n.]
Defn: To offer incense to or upon; to burn incense. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENCEPHALIC
En`ce*phal"ic, a. Etym: [See Encephalon.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the encephalon or brain.
ENCEPHALITIS
En*ceph`a*li"tis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the brain.
-- En`ceph*a*lit"ic, a.
ENCEPHALOCELE
En*ceph"a*lo*cele, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Hernia of the brain.
ENCEPHALOID
En*ceph"a*loid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling the material of the brain; cerebriform. Encephaloid
cancer (Med.), a very malignant form of cancer of brainlike
consistency. See under Cancer.
ENCEPHALOID
En*ceph"a*loid, n.
Defn: An encephaloid cancer.
ENCEPHALOLOGY
En*ceph`a*lol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the brain, its structure and
functions.
ENCEPHALON
En*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL. See Encephalos.] (Anat.)
Defn: The contents of the cranium; the brain.
ENCEPHALOPATHY
En*ceph`a*lop"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Any disease or symptoms of disease referable to disorders of
the brain; as, lead encephalopathy, the cerebral symptoms attending
chronic lead poisoning.
ENCEPHALOS
En*ceph"a*los, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The encephalon.
In man the encephalos reaches its full size about seven years of age.
Sir W. Hamilton.
ENCEPHALOTOMY
En*ceph`a*lot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: The act or art of dissecting the brain.
ENCEPHALOUS
En*ceph"a*lous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a head; -- said of most Mollusca; -- opposed to
acephalous.
ENCHAFE
En*chafe", v. t.
Defn: To chafe; to enrage; to heat. [Obs.] Shak.
ENCHAFING
En*chaf"ing, n.
Defn: Heating; burning. [Obs.]
The wicked enchaufing or ardure of this sin [lust]. Chaucer.
ENCHAIN
En*chain", v. t. Etym: [F. enchaîner; pref. en- (L. in) chaîne chain.
See Chain, and cf. Incatenation.]
1. To bind with a chain; to hold in chains.
2. To hold fast; to confine; as, to enchain attention.
3. To link together; to connect. Howell.
ENCHAINMENT
En*chain"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. enchaînement.]
Defn: The act of enchaining, or state of being enchained.
ENCHAIR
En*chair", v. t.
Defn: To seat in a chair. Tennyson.
ENCHANNEL
En*chan"nel, v. t.
Defn: To make run in a channel. "Its waters were enchanneled." Sir D.
Brewster.
ENCHANT
En*chant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enchanted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enchanting.] Etym: [F. enchanter, L. incantare to chant or utter a
magic formula over or against one, to bewitch; in in, against +
cantare to sing. See Chant, and cf. Incantation.]
1. To charm by sorcery; to act on by enchantment; to get control of
by magical words and rites.
And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring,
Enchanting all that you put in. Shak.
He is enchanted, cannot speak. Tennyson.
2. To delight in a high degree; to charm; to enrapture; as, music
enchants the ear.
Arcadia was the charmed circle where all his spirits forever should
be enchanted. Sir P. Sidney.
Syn.
-- To charm; bewitch; fascinate. Cf. Charm.
ENCHANTED
En*chant"ed, a.
Defn: Under the power of enchantment; possessed or exercised by
enchanters; as, an enchanted castle.
ENCHANTER
En*chant"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. enchanteur.]
Defn: One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; also, one who
delights as by an enchantment.
Like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing. Shelley.
Enchanter's nightshade (Bot.), a genus (Circæa) of low inconspicuous,
perennial plants, found in damp, shady places.
ENCHANTING
En*chant"ing, a.
Defn: Having a power of enchantment; charming; fascinating.
-- En*chant"ing*ly, adv.
ENCHANTMENT
En*chant"ment, n. Etym: [F. enchantement.]
1. The act of enchanting; the production of certain wonderful effects
by the aid of demons, or the agency of supposed spirits; the use of
magic arts, spells, or charms; incantation.
After the last enchantment you did here. Shak.
2. The effect produced by the act; the state of being enchanted; as,
to break an enchantment.
3. That which captivates the heart and senses; an influence or power
which fascinates or highly delights.
Such an enchantment as there is in words. South.
Syn.
-- Incantation; necromancy; magic; sorcery; witchcraft; spell;
charm; fascination; witchery.
ENCHANTRESS
En*chant"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. F. enchanteresse.]
Defn: A woman versed in magical arts; a sorceress; also, a woman who
fascinates. Shak.
ENCHARGE
En*charge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encharged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encharging.] Etym: [OF. enchargier, F. encharger; pref. en- (L. in) +
F. charger. See Charge.]
Defn: To charge (with); to impose (a charge) upon.
His countenance would express the spirit and the passion of the part
he was encharged with. Jeffrey.
ENCHARGE
En*charge", n.
Defn: A charge. [Obs.] A. Copley.
ENCHASE
En*chase", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enchased; p. pr. & vb. n. Enchasing.]
Etym: [F. enchâsser; pref. en- (L. in) + châsse box containing
relics, frame, case, the same word as caisse case. See 1st Case, and
cf. Chase, Encase, Incase.]
1. To incase or inclose in a border or rim; to surround with an
ornamental casing, as a gem with gold; to encircle; to inclose; to
adorn.
Enchased with a wanton ivy twine. Spenser.
An precious stones, in studs of gold enchased, The shaggy velvet of
his buskins graced. Mickle.
2. To chase; to ornament by embossing or engraving; as, to enchase a
watch case.
With golden letters . . . well enchased. Spenser.
3. To delineate or describe, as by writing. [Obs.]
All which . . . for to enchase, Him needeth sure a golden pen, I
ween. Spenser.
ENCHASER
En*chas"er, n.
Defn: One who enchases.
ENCHASTEN
En*chas"ten, v. t.
Defn: To chasten. [Obs.]
ENCHESON; ENCHEASON
En*che"son, En*chea"son, n. Etym: [OF. enchaison, fr. L. incidere to
happen; in + cadere to fall.]
Defn: Occasion, cause, or reason. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENCHEST
En*chest", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Inchest.]
Defn: To inclose in a chest. Vicars.
ENCHIRIDION
En`chi*rid"i*on, n. Etym: [L., from Gr.
Defn: Handbook; a manual of devotions. Evelyn.
ENCHISEL
En*chis"el, v. t.
Defn: To cut with a chisel.
ENCHODUS
En"cho*dus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct Cretaceous fishes; -- so named from their
spear-shaped teeth. They were allied to the pike (Esox).
ENCHONDROMA
En`chon*dro"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A cartilaginous tumor growing from the interior of a bone.
Quain.
ENCHORIAL; ENCHORIC
En*cho"ri*al, En*chor"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Belonging to, or used in, a country; native; domestic; popular;
common; -- said especially of the written characters employed by the
common people of ancient Egypt, in distinction from the
hieroglyphics. See Demotic.
ENCHYLEMMA
En`chy*lem"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The basal substance of the cell nucleus; a hyaline or granular
substance, more or less fluid during life, in which the other parts
of the nucleus are imbedded.
ENCHYMA
En"chy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The primitive formative juice, from which the tissues,
particularly the cellular tissue, are formed.
ENCINCTURE
En*cinc"ture, n.
Defn: A cincture. [Poetic]
The vast encincture of that gloomy sea. Wordsworth.
ENCINDERED
En*cin"dered, a.
Defn: Burnt to cinders. [R.]
ENCIRCLE
En*cir"cle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encircled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encircling.] Etym: [Pref. en- + circle: cf. OF. encercler.]
Defn: To form a circle about; to inclose within a circle or ring; to
surround; as, to encircle one in the arms; the army encircled the
city.
Her brows encircled with his serpent rod. Parnell.
Syn.
-- To encompass; surround; environ; inclose.
ENCIRCLET
En*cir"clet, n. Etym: [Encircle + -let.]
Defn: A small circle; a ring. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
ENCLASP
En*clasp", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + clasp. Cf. Inclasp.]
Defn: To clasp. See Inclasp.
ENCLAVE
En*clave", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. in + clavus a nail.]
Defn: A tract of land or a territory inclosed within another
territory of which it is independent. See Exclave. [Recent]
ENCLAVE
En*clave", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. enclaver.]
Defn: To inclose within an alien territory. [Recent]
ENCLAVEMENT
En*clave"ment, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The state of being an enclave. [Recent]
ENCLITIC; ENCLITICAL
En*clit"ic, En*clit"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. encliticus, Gr. In, and Lean,
v. i.] (Gram.)
Defn: Affixed; subjoined; -- said of a word or particle which leans
back upon the preceding word so as to become a part of it, and to
lose its own independent accent, generally varying also the accent of
the preceding word.
ENCLITIC
En*clit"ic, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A word which is joined to another so closely as to lose its
proper accent, as the pronoun thee in prithee (pray thee).
ENCLITICALLY
En*clit"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an enclitic manner; by throwing the accent back. Walker.
ENCLITICS
En*clit"ics, n. (Gram.)
Defn: The art of declining and conjugating words.
ENCLOISTER
En*clois"ter, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Incloister.]
Defn: To shut up in a cloister; to cloister.
ENCLOSE
En*close", v. t. Etym: [F. enclos, p. p. of enclore to enclose; pref.
en- (L. in) + clore to close. See Close, and cf. Inclose, Include.]
Defn: To inclose. See Inclose.
ENCLOSURE
En*clo"sure, n.
Defn: Inclosure. See Inclosure.
Note: The words enclose and enclosure are written indiscriminately
enclose or inclose and enclosure or inclosure.
ENCLOTHE
En*clothe", v. t.
Defn: To clothe.
ENCLOUD
En*cloud", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Incloud.]
Defn: To envelop in clouds; to cloud. [R.] Spenser.
ENCOACH
En*coach", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Incoach.]
Defn: To carry in a coach. [R.] Davies (Wit's Pilgr.)
ENCOFFIN
En*cof"fin, v. t.
Defn: To put in a coffin. [R.]
ENCOLDEN
En*cold"en, v. t.
Defn: To render cold. [Obs.]
ENCOLLAR
En*col"lar, v. t.
Defn: To furnish or surround with a collar. [R.]
ENCOLOR
En*col"or, v. t.
Defn: To color. [R.]
ENCOLURE
En`co`lure", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The neck of horse. R. Browning.
ENCOMBER
En*com"ber, v. t.
Defn: See Encumber. [Obs.]
ENCOMBERMENT
En*com"ber*ment, n. Etym: [See Encumberment.]
Defn: Hindrance; molestation.[Obs.] Spenser.
ENCOMIAST
En*co"mi*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. encomiaste. See Encomium.]
Defn: One who praises; a panegyrist. Locke.
ENCOMIASTIC; ENCOMIASTICAL
En*co`mi*as"tic, En*co`mi*as"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Bestowing praise; praising; eulogistic; laudatory; as, an
encomiastic address or discourse.
-- En*co`mi*as"tic*al*ly, adv.
ENCOMIASTIC
En*co`mi*as"tic, n.
Defn: A panegyric. B. Jonson.
ENCOMION
En*co"mi*on, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: Encomium; panegyric. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ENCOMIUM
En*co"mi*um, n.; pl. Encomiums. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Comedy.]
Defn: Warm or high praise; panegyric; strong commendation.
His encomiums awakened all my ardor. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- See Eulogy.
ENCOMPASS
En*com"pass, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encompassed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encompassing.]
Defn: To circumscribe or go round so as to surround closely; to
encircle; to inclose; to environ; as, a ring encompasses the finger;
an army encompasses a city; a voyage encompassing the world. Shak.
A question may be encompassed with difficulty. C. J. Smith.
The love of all thy sons encompass thee. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- To encircle; inclose; surround; include; environ; invest; hem in;
shut up.
ENCOMPASSMENT
En*com"pass*ment, n.
Defn: The act of surrounding, or the state of being surrounded;
circumvention.
By this encompassment and drift of question. Shak.
ENCORE
En`core", adv. or interj. Etym: [F. The last part of the word is fr.
L. hora hour. See Hour.]
Defn: Once more; again; -- used by the auditors and spectators of
plays, concerts, and other entertainments, to call for a repetition
of a particular part.
ENCORE
En`core", n.
Defn: A call or demand (as, by continued applause) for a repetition;
as, the encores were numerous.
ENCORE
En`core", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encored; p. pr. & vb. n. Encoring.]
Defn: To call for a repetition or reappearance of; as, to encore a
song or a singer.
[Rebecca] insisted upon encoring one of the duets. Thackeray.
ENCORPORING
En*cor"po*ring, n. Etym: [Pref. en- + L. corpus body.]
Defn: Incorporation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENCOUBERT
En`cou`bert", n. Etym: [F., Pg. encorberto, encuberto, lit.,
covered.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several species of armadillos of the genera Dasypus and
Euphractus, having five toes both on the fore and hind feet.
ENCOUNTER
En*coun"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encountered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encountering.] Etym: [OF. encontrer; pref. en- (L. in) + contre
against, L. contra. See Counter, adv.]
Defn: To come against face to face; to meet; to confront, either by
chance, suddenly, or deliberately; especially, to meet in opposition
or with hostile intent; to engage in conflict with; to oppose; to
struggle with; as, to encounter a friend in traveling; two armies
encounter each other; to encounter obstacles or difficulties, to
encounter strong evidence of a truth.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoics,
encountered him. Acts xvii. 18.
I am most fortunate thus accidentally to encounter you. Shak.
ENCOUNTER
En*coun"ter, v. i.
Defn: To meet face to face; to have a meeting; to meet, esp. as
enemies; to engage in combat; to fight; as, three armies encountered
at Waterloo.
I will encounter with Andronicus. Shak.
Perception and judgment, employed in the investigation of all truth,
have in the first place to encounter with particulars. Tatham.
ENCOUNTER
En*coun"ter, n. Etym: [OF. encontre, fr. encontrer. See Encounter, v.
t.]
1. A meeting face to face; a running against; a sudden or incidental
meeting; an interview.
To shun the encounter of the vulgar crowd. Pope.
2. A meeting, with hostile purpose; hence, a combat; a battle; as, a
bloody encounter.
As one for . . . fierce encounters fit. Spenser.
To join their dark encounter in mid-air. Milton
.
Syn.
-- Contest; conflict; fight; combat; assault; rencounter; attack;
engagement; onset. See Contest.
ENCOUNTERER
En*coun"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who encounters; an opponent; an antagonist. Atterbury.
ENCOURAGE
En*cour"age (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encouraged (; 48); p. pr. &
vb. n. Encouraging.] Etym: [F. encourager; pref. en- (L. in) +
courage courage. See Courage.]
Defn: To give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope;
to raise, or to increase, the confidence of; to animate; enhearten;
to incite; to help forward; -- the opposite of discourage.
David encouraged himself in the Lord. 1 Sam. xxx. 6.
Syn.
-- To embolden; inspirit; animate; enhearten; hearten; incite;
cheer; urge; impel; stimulate; instigate; countenance; comfort;
promote; advance; forward; strengthen.
ENCOURAGEMENT
En*cour"age*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. encouragement.]
1. The act of encouraging; incitement to action or to practice; as,
the encouragement of youth in generosity.
All generous encouragement of arts. Otway.
2. That which serves to incite, support, promote, or advance, as
favor, countenance, reward, etc.; incentive; increase of confidence;
as, the fine arts find little encouragement among a rude people.
To think of his paternal care, Is a most sweet encouragement to
prayer. Byron.
ENCOURAGER
En*cour"a*ger, n.
Defn: One who encourages, incites, or helps forward; a favorer.
The pope is . . . a great encourager of arts. Addison.
ENCOURAGING
En*cour"a*ging, a.
Defn: Furnishing ground to hope; inspiriting; favoring.
-- En*cour"a*ging*ly, adv.
ENCOWL
En*cowl", v. t.
Defn: To make a monk (or wearer of a cowl) of. [R.] Drayton.
ENCRADLE
En*cra"dle, v. t.
Defn: To lay in a cradle.
ENCRATITE
En"cra*tite, n. Etym: [L. Encratitae, pl., fr. Gr. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a sect in the 2d century who abstained from marriage,
wine, and animal food; -- called also Continent.
ENCREASE
En*crease", v. t. &
Defn: i. [Obs.] See Increase.
ENCRIMSON
En*crim"son, v. t.
Defn: To give a crimson or red color to; to crimson. Shak.
ENCRINIC; ENCRINAL; ENCRINITAL
En*crin"ic, En*cri"nal, En*crin"i*tal, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Relating to encrinites; containing encrinites, as certain kinds
of limestone.
ENCRINITE
En"cri*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. encrinite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil crinoid, esp. one belonging to, or resembling, the
genus Encrinus. Sometimes used in a general sense for any crinoid.
ENCRINITIC; ENCRINITICAL
En`cri*nit"ic, En`cri*nit"ic*al, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Pertaining to encrinites; encrinal.
ENCRINOIDEA
En`cri*noid"e*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Encrinus and -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: That order of the Crinoidea which includes most of the living
and many fossil forms, having jointed arms around the margin of the
oral disk; -- also called Brachiata and Articulata. See Illusts.
under Comatula and Crinoidea.
ENCRINUS
En"cri*nus, n.; pl. Encrini. Etym: [NL. See Encrinite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil encrinoidea, from the Mesozoic rocks.
ENCRISPED
En*crisped", a.
Defn: Curled. [Obs.] Skelton.
ENCROACH
En*croach", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Encroached; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encroaching.] Etym: [OF. encrochier to perch, prop., to hook, fasten
a hook (perh. confused with acrochier, F. accrocher, to hook, get
hold of, E. accroach); pref. en- (L. in) + F. croc hook. See Crook,
and cf. Accroach.]
Defn: To enter by gradual steps or by stealth into the possessions or
rights of another; to trespass; to intrude; to trench; -- commonly
with on or upon; as, to encroach on a neighbor; to encroach on the
highway.
No sense, faculty, or member must encroach upon or interfere with the
duty and office of another. South.
Superstition, . . . a creeping and encroaching evil. Hooker.
Exclude the encroaching cattle from thy ground. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To intrude; trench; infringe; invade; trespass.
ENCROACH
En*croach", n.
Defn: Encroachment. [Obs.] South.
ENCROACHER
En*croach"er, n.
Defn: One who by gradual steps enters on, and takes possession of,
what is not his own.
ENCROACHINGLY
En*croach"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By way of encroachment.
ENCROACHMENT
En*croach"ment, n.
1. The act of entering gradually or silently upon the rights or
possessions of another; unlawful intrusion.
An unconstitutional encroachment of military power on the civil
establishment. Bancroft.
2. That which is taken by encroaching on another.
3. (Law)
Defn: An unlawful diminution of the possessions of another.
ENCRUST
En*crust", v. t.
Defn: To incrust. See Incrust.
ENCRUSTMENT
En*crust"ment, n.
Defn: That which is formed as a crust; incrustment; incrustation.
Disengaging truth from its encrustment of error. I. Taylor.
ENCUMBER
En*cum"ber, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Encumbered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Encumbering.] Etym: [F. encombrer; pref. en- (L. in) + OF. combrer to
hinder. See Cumber, and cf. Incumber.] [Written also incumber.]
1. To impede the motion or action of, as with a burden; to retard
with something superfluous; to weigh down; to obstruct or embarrass;
as, his movements were encumbered by his mantle; his mind is
encumbered with useless learning.
Not encumbered with any notable inconvenience. Hooker.
2. To load with debts, or other legal claims; as, to encumber an
estate with mortgages.
Syn.
-- To load; clog; oppress; overload; embarrass; perplex; hinder;
retard; obstruct; check; block.
ENCUMBERMENT
En*cum"ber*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. encombrement.]
Defn: Encumbrance. [R.]
ENCUMBRANCE
En*cum"brance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. encombrance. Cf. Incumbrance.]
1. That which encumbers; a burden which impedes action, or renders it
difficult and laborious; a clog; an impediment. See Incumbrance.
2. (Law)
Defn: Same as Incumbrance.
Syn.
-- Burden; clog; impediment; check; hindrance.
ENCUMBRANCER
En*cum"bran*cer, n. (Law)
Defn: Same as Incumbrancer.
ENCURTAIN
En*cur"tain, v. t.
Defn: To inclose with curtains.
-ENCY
-en*cy. Etym: [L. -entia.]
Defn: A noun suffix having much the same meaning as -ence, but more
commonly signifying the quality or state; as, emergency, efficiency.
See -ancy.
ENCYCLIC; ENCYCLICAL
En*cyc"lic, En*cyc"li*cal, a. Etym: [L. encyclios of a circle,
general, Gr. encyclique. See Cycle.]
Defn: Sent to many persons or places; intended for many, or for a
whole order of men; general; circular; as, an encyclical letter of a
council, of a bishop, or the pope.
ENCYCLIC; ENCYCLICAL
En*cyc"lic, En*cyc"li*cal, n.
Defn: An encyclical letter, esp. one from a pope. Shipley.
ENCYCLOPEDIA; ENCYCLOPAEDIA
En*cy`clo*pe"di*a, En*cy`clo*pæ"di*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
encyclopédie. See Cyclopedia, and Encyclical.] [Formerly written
encyclopædy and encyclopedy.]
Defn: The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of
knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge; esp., a work in which the
various branches of science or art are discussed separately, and
usually in alphabetical order; a cyclopedia.
ENCYCLOPEDIACAL
En*cy`clo*pe*di"a*cal, a.
Defn: Encyclopedic.
ENCYCLOPEDIAN
En*cy`clo*pe"di*an, a.
Defn: Embracing the whole circle of learning, or a wide range of
subjects.
ENCYCLOPEDIC; ENCYCLOPEDICAL
En*cy`clo*ped"ic, En*cy`clo*ped"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F.
encyclopédique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the nature of, an encyclopedia; embracing
a wide range of subjects.
ENCYCLOPEDISM
En*cy`clo*pe"dism, n.
Defn: The art of writing or compiling encyclopedias; also, possession
of the whole range of knowledge; encyclopedic learning.
ENCYCLOPEDIST
En*cy`clo*pe"dist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. encyclopédiste.]
Defn: The compiler of an encyclopedia, or one who assists in such
compilation; also, one whose knowledge embraces the whole range of
the sciences. The Encyclopedists, the writers of the great French
encyclopedia which appeared in 1751-1772. The editors were Diderot
and D'Alembert. Among the contributors were Voltaire and Rousseau.
ENCYST
En*cyst", v. t.
Defn: To inclose in a cyst.
ENCYSTATION
En`cys*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Encystment.
ENCYSTED
En*cyst"ed, a.
Defn: Inclosed in a cyst, or a sac, bladder, or vesicle; as, an
encysted tumor.
The encysted venom, or poison bag, beneath the adder's fang.
Coleridge.
ENCYSTMENT
En*cyst"ment, n.
1. (Biol.)
Defn: A process which, among some of the lower forms of life,
precedes reproduction by budding, fission, spore formation, etc.
Note: The animal (a) first contracts its body to a globular mass (b)
and then secretes a transparent cyst (c), after which the mass
divides into two or more parts (as in d e), each of which attains
freedom by the bursting of the cyst, and becomes an individual
animal.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A process by which many internal parasites, esp. in their
larval states, become inclosed within a cyst in the muscles, liver,
etc. See Trichina.
END
End, n. Etym: [OE. & AS. ende; akin to OS. endi, D. einde, eind, OHG.
enti, G. ende, Icel. endir, endi, Sw. ände, Dan. ende, Goth. andeis,
Skr. anta. Ante-, Anti-, Answer.]
1. The extreme or last point or part of any material thing considered
lengthwise (the extremity of breadth being side); hence, extremity,
in general; the concluding part; termination; close; limit; as, the
end of a field, line, pole, road; the end of a year, of a discourse;
put an end to pain; -- opposed to Ant: beginning, when used of
anything having a first part.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. Eccl. vii.
8.
2. Point beyond which no procession can be made; conclusion; issue;
result, whether successful or otherwise; conclusive event;
consequence.
My guilt be on my head, and there an end. Shak.
O that a man might know The end of this day's business ere it come!
Shak.
3. Termination of being; death; destruction; extermination; also,
cause of death or destruction.
Unblamed through life, lamented in thy end. Pope.
Confound your hidden falsehood, and award Either of you to be the
other's end. Shak.
I shall see an end of him. Shak.
4. The object aimed at in any effort considered as the close and
effect of exertion; ppurpose; intention; aim; as, to labor for
private or public ends.
Losing her, the end of living lose. Dryden.
When every man is his own end, all things will come to a bad end.
Coleridge.
5. That which is left; a remnant; a fragment; a scrap; as, odds and
ends.
I clothe my naked villainy With old odd ends stolen out of holy writ,
And seem a saint, when most I play the devil. Shak.
6. (Carpet Manuf.)
Defn: One of the yarns of the worsted warp in a Brussels carpet.
An end. (a) On end; upright; erect; endways. Spenser (b) To the end;
continuously. [Obs.] Richardson.
-- End bulb (Anat.), one of the bulblike bodies in which some
sensory nerve fibers end in certain parts of the skin and mucous
membranes; -- also called end corpuscles.
-- End fly, a bobfly.
-- End for end, one end for the other; in reversed order.
-- End man, the last man in a row; one of the two men at the
extremities of a line of minstrels.
-- End on (Naut.), bow foremost.
-- End organ (Anat.), the structure in which a nerve fiber ends,
either peripherally or centrally.
-- End plate (Anat.), one of the flat expansions in which motor
nerve fibers terminate on muscular fibers.
-- End play (Mach.), movement endwise, or room for such movement.
-- End stone (Horol.), one of the two plates of a jewel in a
timepiece; the part that limits the pivot's end play.
-- Ends of the earth, the remotest regions of the earth.
-- In the end, finally. Shak.
-- On end, upright; erect.
-- To the end, in order. Bacon.
-- To make both ends meet, to live within one's income. Fuller.
-- To put an end to, to destroy.
END
End, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ended; p. pr. & vb. n. Ending.]
1. To bring to an end or conclusion; to finish; to close; to
terminate; as, to end a speech. "I shall end this strife." Shak.
On the seventh day God ended his work. Gen. ii. 2.
2. To form or be at the end of; as, the letter k ends the word back.
3. To destroy; to put to death. "This sword hath ended him." Shak. To
end up, to lift or tilt, so as to set on end; as, to end up a
hogshead.
END
End, v. i.
Defn: To come to the ultimate point; to be finished; to come to a
close; to cease; to terminate; as, a voyage ends; life ends; winter
ends.
ENDABLE
End"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be ended; terminable.
ENDALL; END-ALL
End"*all`, n.
Defn: Complete termination. [R.]
That but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here. Shak.
ENDAMAGE
En*dam"age (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endamaged (; 48); p. pr. & vb.
n. Endamaging.] Etym: [Pref. en- + damage: cf. F. endommager.]
Defn: To bring loss or damage to; to harm; to injure. [R.]
The trial hath endamaged thee no way. Milton.
ENDAMAGEABLE
En*dam"age*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being damaged, or injured; damageable. [Obs.]
ENDAMAGEMENT
En*dam"age*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. endommagement.]
Defn: Damage; injury; harm. [Obs.] Shak.
ENDAMNIFY
En*dam"ni*fy, v. t.
Defn: To damnify; to injure. [R.] Sandys.
ENDANGER
En*dan"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endangered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Endangering.]
1. To put to hazard; to bring into danger or peril; to expose to loss
or injury; as, to endanger life or peace.
All the other difficulties of his reign only exercised without
endangering him. Burke.
2. To incur the hazard of; to risk. [Obs.]
He that turneth the humors back . . . endangereth malign ulcers.
Bacon.
ENDANGERMENT
En*dan"ger*ment, n.
Defn: Hazard; peril. Milton.
ENDARK
En*dark", v. t.
Defn: To darken. [Obs.] Feltham.
ENDASPIDEAN
En`das*pid"e*an, a. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the anterior scutes extending around the tarsus on the
inner side; -- said of certain birds.
ENDAZZLE
En*daz"zle, v. t.
Defn: To dazzle. [Obs.] "Endazzled eyes." Milton.
ENDEAR
En*dear", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endeared; p. pr. & vb. n. Endearing.]
1. To make dear or beloved. "To be endeared to a king." Shak.
2. To raise the price or cost of; to make costly or expensive. [R.]
King James I. (1618).
ENDEAREDLY
En*dear"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: With affection or endearment; dearly.
ENDEAREDNESS
En*dear"ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being endeared.
ENDEARING
En*dear"ing, a.
Defn: Making dear or beloved; causing love.
-- En*dear"ing*ly, adv.
ENDEARMENT
En*dear"ment, n.
Defn: The act of endearing or the state of being endeared; also, that
which manifests, excites, or increases, affection. "The great
endearments of prudent and temperate speech." Jer. Taylor.
Her first endearments twining round the soul. Thomson.
ENDEAVOR
En*deav"or, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endeavored; p. pr. & vb. n.
Endeavoring.] Etym: [OE. endevor; pref. en- + dever, devoir, duty, F.
devoir: cf. F. se mettre en devoir de faire quelque chose to try to
do a thing, to go about it. See Devoir, Debt.] [Written also
endeavour.]
Defn: To exert physical or intellectual strength for the attainment
of; to use efforts to effect; to strive to achieve or reach; to try;
to attempt.
It is our duty to endeavor the recovery of these beneficial subjects.
Ld. Chatham.
To endeavor one's self, to exert one's self strenuously to the
fulfillment of a duty. [Obs.] "A just man that endeavoreth himself to
leave all wickedness." Latimer.
ENDEAVOR
En*deav"or, v. i.
Defn: To exert one's self; to work for a certain end.
And such were praised who but endeavored well. Pope.
Note: Usually with an infinitive; as, to endeavor to outstrip an
antagonist.
He had . . . endeavored earnestly to do his duty. Prescott.
Syn.
-- To attempt; try; strive; struggle; essay; aim; seek.
ENDEAVOR
En*deav"or, n. Etym: [Written also endeavour.]
Defn: An exertion of physical or intellectual strength toward the
attainment of an object; a systematic or continuous attempt; an
effort; a trial.
To employ all my endeavor to obey you. Sir P. Sidney.
To do one's endeavor, to do one's duty; to put forth strenuous
efforts to attain an object; -- a phrase derived from the Middle
English phrase "to do one's dever" (duty). "Mr. Prynne proceeded to
show he had done endeavor to prepare his answer." Fuller.
Syn.
-- Essay; trial; effort; exertion. See Attempt.
ENDEAVORER
En*deav"or*er, n.
Defn: One who makes an effort or attempt. [Written also endeavourer.]
ENDEAVORMENT
En*deav"or*ment, n.
Defn: Act of endeavoring; endeavor. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENDECAGON
En*dec"a*gon, n. Etym: [See Hendecagon.] (Geom.)
Defn: A plane figure of eleven sides and angles.
ENDECAGYNOUS
En`de*cag"y*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having eleven pistils; as, an endecagynous flower.
ENDECANE
En"de*cane, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher hydrocarbons of the paraffin series, C11H24,
found as a constituent of petroleum. [Written also hendecane.]
ENDECAPHYLLOUS
En`de*caph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed of eleven leaflets; -- said of a leaf.
ENDEICTIC
En*deic"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Serving to show or exhibit; as, an endeictic dialogue, in the
Platonic philosophy, is one which exhibits a specimen of skill.
Enfield.
ENDEIXIS
En*deix"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Endeictic.] (Med.)
Defn: An indication.
ENDEMIAL
En*de"mi*al, a.
Defn: Endemic. [R.]
ENDEMIC; ENDEMICAL
En*de"mic, En*de"mic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. endémique.] (Med.)
Defn: Peculiar to a district or particular locality, or class of
persons; as, an endemic disease.
Note: An endemic disease is one which is constantly present to a
greater or less degree in any place, as distinguished from an
epidemic disease, which prevails widely at some one time, or
periodically, and from a sporadic disease, of which a few instances
occur now and then.
ENDEMIC
En*dem"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: An endemic disease.
Fear, which is an endemic latent in every human heart, sometimes
rises into an epidemic. J. B. Heard.
ENDEMICALLY
En*dem"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an endemic manner.
ENDEMIOLOGY
En*dem`i*ol"o*gy, n.
Defn: The science which treats of endemic affections.
ENDENIZATION
En*den`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of naturalizing. [R.]
ENDENIZE
En*den"ize, v. t.
Defn: To endenizen. [Obs.]
ENDENIZEN
En*den"i*zen, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + denizen. Cf. Indenizen.]
Defn: To admit to the privileges of a denizen; to naturalize. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
ENDER
End"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, makes an end of something; as, the
ender of my life.
ENDERMATIC
En`der*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Endermic.
ENDERMIC
En*der"mic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Acting through the skin, or by direct application to the skin.
Endermic method, that in which the medicine enters the system through
the skin, being applied either to the sound skin, or to the surface
denuded of the cuticle by a blister.
ENDERMICALLY
En*der"mic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: By the endermic method; as, applied endermically.
ENDERON
En"de*ron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The deep sensitive and vascular layer of the skin and mucous
membranes.
-- En`de*ron"ic, a.
ENDIADEMED
En*di"a*demed, a.
Defn: Diademed. [R.]
ENDIAPER
En*di"a*per, v. t. Etym: [See Diaper.]
Defn: To decorate with a diaper pattern.
ENDICT
En*dict", v. t.
Defn: See Indict.
ENDICTMENT
En*dict"ment, n.
Defn: See Indictment.
ENDING
End"ing, n.
1. Termination; concluding part; result; conclusion; destruction;
death.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: The final syllable or letter of a word; the part joined to the
stem. See 3d Case, 5. Ending day, day of death. Chaucer.
ENDITE
En*dite, v. t.
Defn: See Indite. Spenser.
ENDIVE
En"dive, n. Etym: [F. endive (cf. Pr., Sp. Pg., & It. endivia), fr. a
deriv. of L. intibus, intybus, endive.] (Bot.)
Defn: A composite herb (Cichorium Endivia). Its finely divided and
much curled leaves, when blanched, are used for salad. Wild endive
(Bot.), chicory or succory.
ENDLESS
End"less, a. Etym: [AS. endeleás. See End.]
1. Without end; having no end or conclusion; perpetual; interminable;
-- applied to length, and to duration; as, an endless line; endless
time; endless bliss; endless praise; endless clamor.
2. Infinite; excessive; unlimited. Shak.
3. Without profitable end; fruitless; unsatisfying. [R.] "All loves
are endless." Beau. & Fl.
4. Void of design; objectless; as, an endless pursuit. Endless chain,
a chain which is made continuous by uniting its two ends.
-- Endless screw. (Mech.) See under Screw.
Syn.
-- Eternal; everlasting; interminable; infinite; unlimited;
incessant; perpetual; uninterrupted; continual; unceasing; unending;
boundless; undying; imperishable.
ENDLESSLY
End"less*ly, adv.
Defn: In an endless manner.
ENDLESSNESS
End"less*ness, n. Etym: [AS. endeleásnys.]
Defn: The quality of being endless; perpetuity.
ENDLONG
End"long`, adv. & prep. Etym: [Cf. Along.]
Defn: Lengthwise; along. [Archaic]
The doors were all of adamants eterne, I-clenched overthwart and
endelong With iron tough. Chaucer.
He pricketh endelong the large space. Chaucer.
To thrust the raft endlong across the moat. Sir W. Scott.
ENDMOST
End"most`, a.
Defn: Farthest; remotest; at the very end. Tylor.
ENDO-; END-
En"do-, End-. Etym: [Gr. In.]
Defn: A combining form signifying within; as, endocarp, endogen,
endocuneiform, endaspidean.
ENDOBLAST
En"do*blast, n. Etym: [Endo- + -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: Entoblast; endoplast. See Nucleus,
ENDOBLASTIC
En`do*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the endoblast; as, the endoblastic layer.
ENDOCARDIAC; ENDOCARDIAL
En`do*car"di*ac, En`do*car"di*al, a.
1. Pertaining to the endocardium.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Seated or generated within the heart; as, endocardial murmurs.
ENDOCARDITIS
En`do*car*di"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the endocardium.
ENDOCARDIUM
En`do*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The membrane lining the cavities of the heart.
ENDOCARP
En"do*carp, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. endocarpe.] (Bot.)
Defn: The inner layer of a ripened or fructified ovary.
ENDOCHONDRAL
En`do*chon"dral, a. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Growing or developing within cartilage; -- applied esp. to
developing bone.
ENDOCHROME
En"do*chrome, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The coloring matter within the cells of plants, whether green,
red, yellow, or any other color.
ENDOCTRINE
En*doc"trine, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + doctrine.]
Defn: To teach; to indoctrinate. [Obs.] Donne.
ENDOCYST
En"do*cyst, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The inner layer of the cells of Bryozoa.
ENDODERM
En"do*derm, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Biol.)
(a) The inner layer of the skin or integument of an animal.
(b) The innermost layer of the blastoderm and the structures derived
from it; the hypoblast; the entoblast. See Illust. of Ectoderm.
ENDODERMAL; ENDODERMIC
En`do*der"mal, En`do*der"mic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the endoderm.
ENDODERMIS
En`do*der"mis, n. Etym: [NL. See Endoderm.] (Bot.)
Defn: A layer of cells forming a kind of cuticle inside of the proper
cortical layer, or surrounding an individual fibrovascular bundle.
ENDOGAMOUS
En*dog"a*mous, a. Etym: [Endo- + Gr.
Defn: Marrying within the same tribe; -- opposed to exogamous.
ENDOGAMY
En*dog"a*my, n.
Defn: Marriage only within the tribe; a custom restricting a man in
his choice of a wife to the tribe to which he belongs; -- opposed to
exogamy.
ENDOGEN
En"do*gen, n. Etym: [Endo- + -gen: cf. F. endogène.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which increases in size by internal growth and
elongation at the summit, having the wood in the form of bundles or
threads, irregularly distributed throughout the whole diameter, not
forming annual layers, and with no distinct pith. The leaves of the
endogens have, usually, parallel veins, their flowers are mostly in
three, or some multiple of three, parts, and their embryos have but a
single cotyledon, with the first leaves alternate. The endogens
constitute one of the great primary classes of plants, and included
all palms, true lilies, grasses, rushes, orchids, the banana,
pineapple, etc. See Exogen.
ENDOGENESIS
En`do*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Endo- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Endogeny.
ENDOGENETIC
En`do*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Endogenous.
ENDOGENOUS
En*dog"e*nous, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Increasing by internal growth and elongation at the summit,
instead of externally, and having no distinction of pith, wood, and
bark, as the rattan, the palm, the cornstalk.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Originating from within; increasing by internal growth.
Endogenous multiplication (Biol.), a method of cell formation, seen
in cells having a cell wall. The nucleus and protoplasm divide into
two distinct masses; these in turn become divided and subdivided,
each division becoming a new cell, until finally the original cell
wall is ruptured and the new cells are liberated (see Segmentation,
and Illust. of Cell Division, under Division). This mode of growth is
characteristic of many forms of cells, both animal and vegetable.
ENDOGENOUSLY
En*dog"e*nous*ly, adv.
Defn: By endogenous growth.
ENDOGENY
En*dog"e*ny, n. Etym: [See Endogenesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: Growth from within; multiplication of cells by endogenous
division, as in the development of one or more cells in the interior
of a parent cell.
ENDOGNATH
En"dog*nath, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The inner or principal branch of the oral appendages of
Crustacea. See Maxilla.
ENDOGNATHAL
En*dog"na*thal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the endognath.
ENDOLYMPH
En"do*lymph, n. Etym: [Endo- + lymph: cf. F. endolymphe.] (Anat.)
Defn: The watery fluid contained in the membranous labyrinth of the
internal ear.
ENDOLYMPHANGIAL
En"do*lym*phan"gi*al, a. Etym: [Endo- + lymphangial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Within a lymphatic vessel.
ENDOLYMPHATIC
En"do*lym*phat"ic, a. Etym: [Endo- + lymphatic.] (Anat.)
(a) Pertaining to, or containing, endolymph; as, the endolymphatic
duct.
(b) Within a lymphatic vessel; endolymphangial.
ENDOME
En*dome", v. t.
Defn: To cover as with a dome.
ENDOMETRITIS
En`do*me*tri"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Endometrium, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the endometrium.
ENDOMETRIUM
En`do*me"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The membrane lining the inner surface of the uterus, or womb.
ENDOMORPH
En"do*morph, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A crystal of one species inclosed within one of another, as one
of rutile inclosed in quartz.
ENDOMYSIUM
En`do*my"si*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The delicate bands of connective tissue interspersed among
muscular fibers.
ENDONEURIUM
En`do*neu"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The delicate bands of connective tissue among nerve fibers.
ENDOPARASITE
En`do*par"a*site, n. Etym: [Endo- + parasite.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any parasite which lives in the internal organs of an animal,
as the tapeworms, Trichina, etc.; -- opposed to ectoparasite. See
Entozoön.
-- En`do*par`a*sit"ic, a.
ENDOPHLOEUM
En`do*phloe"um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The inner layer of the bark of trees.
ENDOPHRAGMA
En`do*phrag"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chitinous structure above the nervous cord in the thorax of
certain Crustacea.
ENDOPHRAGMAL
En`do*phrag"mal, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the endophragma.
ENDOPHYLLOUS
En*doph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Wrapped up within a leaf or sheath.
ENDOPLASM
En"do*plasm, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The protoplasm in the interior of a cell.
ENDOPLASMA
En`do*plas"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Endoplasm.] (Biol.)
Defn: Same as Entoplasm and Endosarc.
ENDOPLAST
En"do*plast, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Nucleus.
ENDOPLASTICA
En`do*plas"ti*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Rhizopoda having a distinct nucleus, as the am
ENDOPLASTULE
En`do*plas"tule, n. Etym: [A dim. fr. endo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Nucleolus.
ENDOPLEURA
En`do*pleu"ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Pleura.] (Bot.)
Defn: The inner coating of a seed. See Tegmen.
ENDOPLEURITE
En`do*pleu"rite, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The portion of each apodeme developed from the interepimeral
membrane in certain crustaceans.
ENDOPODITE
En*dop"o*dite, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The internal or principal branch of the locomotive appendages
of Crustacea. See Maxilliped.
ENDORHIZA
En`do*rhi"za, n.; pl. Endorhizæ. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Any monocotyledonous plant; -- so named because many
monocotyledons have an endorhizal embryo.
Note: Endorhiza was proposed by Richard as a substitute for the term
endogen, and exorhiza as a substitute for the term exogen; but they
have not been generally adopted.
ENDORHIZAL; ENDORHIZOUS
En`do*rhi"zal, En`do*rhi"zous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the radicle of the embryo sheathed by the cotyledon,
through which the embryo bursts in germination, as in many
monocotyledonous plants.
ENDORSE
En*dorse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endorsed; p. pr. & vb. n. Endorsing.]
Etym: [Formerly endosse, fr. F. endosser to put on the back, to
endorse; pref. en- (L. in) + dos back, L. dorsum. See Dorsal, and cf.
Indorse.]
Defn: Same as Indorse.
Note: Both endorse and indorse are used by good writers; but the
tendency is to the more general use of indorse and its derivatives
indorsee, indorser, and indorsement.
ENDORSE
En*dorse", n. (Her.)
Defn: A subordinary, resembling the pale, but of one fourth its width
(according to some writers, one eighth).
ENDORSEE
En`dor*see", n.
Defn: Same as Indorsee.
ENDORSEMENT
En*dorse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. endossement.]
Defn: Same as Indorsement.
ENDORSER
En*dors"er, n.
Defn: Same as Indorser.
ENDOSARC
En"do*sarc, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The semifluid, granular interior of certain unicellular
organisms, as the inner layer of sarcode in the amoeba; entoplasm;
endoplasta.
ENDOSCOPE
En"do*scope, n. Etym: [Endo- + -scope.] (Med.)
Defn: An instrument for examining the interior of the rectum, the
urethra, and the bladder.
ENDOSCOPY
En*dos"co*py, n. (Med.)
Defn: The art or process of examining by means of the endoscope.
ENDOSKELETAL
En`do*skel"e*tal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, the endoskeleton; as,
endoskeletal muscles.
ENDOSKELETON
En`do*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Endo- + skeleton.] (Anat.)
Defn: The bony, cartilaginous, or other internal framework of an
animal, as distinguished from the exoskeleton.
ENDOSMOMETER
En`dos*mom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Endosmose + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the force or amount of endosmotic
action.
ENDOSMOMETRIC
En*dos`mo*met"ric, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or designed for, the measurement of endosmotic
action.
ENDOSMOSE; ENDOSMOSIS
En"dos*mose`, En`dos*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL. endosmosis, fr. Gr.
endosmose.] (Physics)
Defn: The transmission of a fluid or gas from without inward in the
phenomena, or by the process, of osmose.
ENDOSMOSMIC
En`dos*mos"mic, a.
Defn: Endosmotic.
ENDOSMOTIC
En`dos*mot"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to endosmose; of the nature endosmose; osmotic.
Carpenter.
ENDOSPERM
En"do*sperm, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The albumen of a seed; -- limited by recent writers to that
formed within the embryo sac.
ENDOSPERMIC
En`do*sper"mic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Relating to, accompanied by, or containing, endosperm.
ENDOSPORE
En"do*spore, n. Etym: [Endo- + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: The thin inner coat of certain spores.
ENDOSPOROUS
En`do*spor"ous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the spores contained in a case; -- applied to fungi.
ENDOSS
En*doss", v. t. Etym: [F. endosser. See Endorse.]
Defn: To put upon the back or outside of anything; -- the older
spelling of endorse. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENDOSTEAL
En*dos"te*al, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to endostosis; as, endosteal ossification.
ENDOSTERNITE
En`do*ster"nite, n. Etym: [Endo- + sternum.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The part of each apodeme derived from the intersternal membrane
in Crustacea and insects.
ENDOSTEUM
En*dos"te*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The layer of vascular connective tissue lining the medullary
cavities of bone.
ENDOSTOMA
En*dos"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A plate which supports the labrum in certain Crustacea.
ENDOSTOME
En"do*stome, n. Etym: [See Endostoma.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The foramen or passage through the inner integument of an
ovule.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: And endostoma.
ENDOSTOSIS
En`dos*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Endo-, and Ostosis.] (Physiol.)
Defn: A process of bone formation in which ossification takes place
within the substance of the cartilage.
ENDOSTYLE
En"do*style, n. Etym: [Endo- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fold of the endoderm, which projects into the blood cavity of
ascidians. See Tunicata.
ENDOTHECA
En`do*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tissue which partially fills the interior of the
interseptal chambers of most madreporarian corals. It usually
consists of a series of oblique tranverse septa, one above another.
-- En`do*the"cal, a.
ENDOTHECIUM
En`do*the"ci*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Endotheca.] (Bot.)
Defn: The inner lining of an another cell.
ENDOTHELIAL
En`do*the"li*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of, or relating to, endothelium.
ENDOTHELIUM
En`do*the"li*um, n.; pl. Endothelia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The thin epithelium lining the blood vessels, lymphatics, and
serous cavities. See Epithelium.
ENDOTHELOID
En`do*the"loid, a. Etym: [Endothelium + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Like endothelium.
ENDOTHERMIC
En`do*ther"mic, a. [Pref. endo-+ thermic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Designating, or pert. to, a reaction which occurs with
absorption of heat; formed by such a reaction; as, an endothermic
substance; -- opposed to exothermic.
ENDOTHORAX
En`do*tho"rax, n. Etym: [Endo- + thorax.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An internal process of the sternal plates in the thorax of
insects.
ENDOW
En*dow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Endowing.]
Etym: [OF. endouer; pref. en- (L. in) + F. douer to endow, L. dotare.
See Dower, and cf. 2d Endue.]
1. To furnish with money or its equivalent, as a permanent fund for
support; to make pecuniary provision for; to settle an income upon;
especially, to furnish with dower; as, to endow a wife; to endow a
public institution.
Endowing hospitals and almshouses. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. To enrich or furnish with anything of the nature of a gift (as a
quality or faculty); -- followed by with, rarely by of; as, man is
endowed by his Maker with reason; to endow with privileges or
benefits.
ENDOWER
En*dow"er, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. endouairer. See Dower, Endow.]
Defn: To endow. [Obs.] Waterhouse.
ENDOWER
En*dow"er, n.
Defn: One who endows.
ENDOWMENT
En*dow"ment, n.
1. The act of bestowing a dower, fund, or permanent provision for
support.
2. That which is bestowed or settled on a person or an institution;
property, fund, or revenue permanently appropriated to any object;
as, the endowment of a church, a hospital, or a college.
3. That which is given or bestowed upon the person or mind; gift of
nature; accomplishment; natural capacity; talents; -- usually in the
plural.
His early endowments had fitted him for the work he was to do. I.
Taylor.
ENDOZOA
En`do*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Entozoa.
ENDRUDGE
En*drudge", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + drudge.]
Defn: To make a drudge or slave of. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ENDUE
En*due", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Endued; p. pr. & vb. n. Enduing.] Etym:
[L. induere, prob. confused with E. endow. See Indue.]
Defn: To invest. Latham.
Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from
on high. Luke xxiv. 49.
Endue them . . . with heavenly gifts. Book of Common Prayer.
ENDUE
En*due", v. t.
Defn: An older spelling of Endow. Tillotson.
ENDUEMENT
En*due"ment, n.
Defn: Act of enduing; induement.
ENDURABLE
En*dur"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. endurable. See Endure.]
Defn: Capable of being endured or borne; sufferable. Macaulay.
-- En*dur"a*ble*ness, n.
ENDURABLY
En*dur"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In an endurable manner.
ENDURANCE
En*dur"ance, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. endurance. See Endure.]
1. A state or quality of lasting or duration; lastingness;
continuance.
Slurring with an evasive answer the question concerning the endurance
of his own possession. Sir W. Scott.
2. The act of bearing or suffering; a continuing under pain or
distress without resistance, or without being overcome; sufferance;
patience.
Their fortitude was most admirable in their patience and endurance of
all evils, of pain and of death. Sir W. Temple.
Syn.
-- Suffering; patience; fortitude; resignation.
ENDURANT
En*dur"ant, a.
Defn: Capable of enduring fatigue, pain, hunger, etc.
The ibex is a remarkably endurant animal. J. G. Wood.
ENDURE
En*dure", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Endured; p. pr. & vb. n. Enduring.]
Etym: [F. endurer; pref. en- (L. in) + durer to last. See Dure, v.
i., and cf. Indurate.]
1. To continue in the same state without perishing; to last; to
remain.
Their verdure still endure. Shak.
He shall hold it [his house] fast, but it shall not endure. Job viii.
15.
2. To remain firm, as under trial or suffering; to suffer patiently
or without yielding; to bear up under adversity; to hold out.
Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong in the days that
I shall deal with thee Ezek. xxii. 14.
ENDURE
En*dure", v. t.
1. To remain firm under; to sustain; to undergo; to support without
breaking or yielding; as, metals endure a certain degree of heat
without melting; to endure wind and weather.
Both were of shining steel, and wrought so pure, As might the strokes
of two such arms endure. Dryden.
2. To bear with patience; to suffer without opposition or without
sinking under the pressure or affliction; to bear up under; to put up
with; to tolerate.
I will no longer endure it. Shak.
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake. 2 Tim. ii. 10.
How can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people
Esther viii. 6.
3. To harden; to toughen; to make hardy. [Obs.]
Manly limbs endured with little ease. Spenser.
Syn.
-- To last; remain; continue; abide; brook; submit to; suffer.
ENDUREMENT
En*dure"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. endurement.]
Defn: Endurance. [Obs.] South.
ENDURER
En*dur"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, endures or lasts; one who bears,
suffers, or sustains.
ENDURING
En*dur"ing, a.
Defn: Lasting; durable; long-suffering; as, an enduring disposition.
"A better and enduring substance." Heb. x. 34.
-- En*dur"ing*ly, adv. T. Arnold.
-- En*dur"ing*ness, n.
ENDWAYS; ENDWISE
End"ways`, End"wise, adv.
1. On end; erectly; in an upright position.
2. With the end forward.
ENDYMA
En"dy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Ependyma.
ENDYSIS
En"dy*sis, n.; pl. Endyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The act of developing a new coat of hair, a new set of
feathers, scales, etc.; -- opposed to ecdysis.
ENECATE
En"e*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. enecatus, p. p. of enecare; e out, utterly
+ necare to kill.]
Defn: To kill off; to destroy. [Obs.] Harvey.
ENEID
E*ne"id, n.
Defn: Same as Æneid.
ENEMA
En"e*ma, n.; pl. L. Enemata. Etym: [L. enema, Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An injection, or clyster, thrown into the rectum as a medicine,
or to impart nourishment. Hoblyn.
ENEMY
En"e*my, n.; pl. Enemies. Etym: [OF. enemi, F. ennemi, from L.
inimicus; in- (negative) + amicus friend. See Amicable.]
Defn: One hostile to another; one who hates, and desires or attempts
the injury of, another; a foe; an adversary; as, an enemy of or to a
person; an enemy to truth, or to falsehood.
To all good he enemy was still. Spenser.
I say unto you, Love your enemies. Matt. v. 44.
The enemy (Mil.), the hostile force. In this sense it is construed
with the verb and pronoun either in the singular or the plural, but
more commonly in the singular; as, we have met the enemy and he is
ours or they are ours.
It was difficult in such a country to track the enemy. It was
impossible to drive him to bay. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Foe; antagonist; opponent. See Adversary.
ENEMY
En"e*my, a.
Defn: Hostile; inimical. [Obs.]
They . . . every day grow more enemy to God. Jer. Taylor.
ENEPIDERMIC
En*ep`i*der"mic, a. Etym: [Pref. en- (Gr. epidermic.] (Med.)
Defn: Applied to the skin without friction; -- said of medicines.
ENERGETIC; ENERGETICAL
En`er*get"ic, En`er*get"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Energy.]
1. Having energy or energies; possessing a capacity for vigorous
action or for exerting force; active. "A Being eternally energetic."
Grew.
2. Exhibiting energy; operating with force, vigor, and effect;
forcible; powerful; efficacious; as, energetic measures; energetic
laws.
Syn.
-- Forcible; powerful; efficacious; potent; vigorous; effective;
strenuous.
-- En`er*get"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- En`er*get"ic*al*ness, n.
ENERGETICS
En`er*get"ics, n.
Defn: That branch of science which treats of the laws governing the
physical or mechanical, in distinction from the vital, forces, and
which comprehends the consideration and general investigation of the
whole range of the forces concerned in physical phenomena. [R.]
ENERGIC; ENERGICAL
En*er"gic, En*er"gic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. énergique.]
1. In a state of action; acting; operating.
2. Having energy or great power; energetic.
The energic faculty that we call will. Blackw. Mag.
ENERGIZE
En"er*gize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Energized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Energizing.] Etym: [From Energy.]
Defn: To use strength in action; to act or operate with force or
vigor; to act in producing an effect.
Of all men it is true that they feel and energize first, they reflect
and judge afterwards. J. C. Shairp.
ENERGIZE
En"er*gize, v. t.
Defn: To give strength or force to; to make active; to alacrify; as,
to energize the will.
ENERGIZER
En"er*gi`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, gives energy, or acts in producing an
effect.
ENERGIZING
En"er*gi`zing, a.
Defn: Capable of imparting or exercising energy.
Those nobler exercises of energizing love. Bp. Horsley.
ENERGUMEN
En`er*gu"men, n. Etym: [L. energumenos, fr. Gr. énergumène. See
Energetic.] (Eccl. Antiq.)
Defn: One possessed by an evil spirit; a demoniac.
ENERGY
En"er*gy, n.; pl. Energies. Etym: [F. énergie, LL. energia, fr.
Gr.In, and Work.]
1. Internal or inherent power; capacity of acting, operating, or
producing an effect, whether exerted or not; as, men possessing
energies may suffer them to lie inactive.
The great energies of nature are known to us only by their effects.
Paley.
2. Power efficiently and forcibly exerted; vigorous or effectual
operation; as, the energy of a magistrate.
3. Strength of expression; force of utterance; power to impress the
mind and arouse the feelings; life; spirit; -- said of speech,
language, words, style; as, a style full of energy.
4. (Physics)
Defn: Capacity for performing work.
Note: The kinetic energy of a body is the energy it has in virtue of
being in motion. It is measured by one half of the product of the
mass of each element of the body multiplied by the square of the
velocity of the element, relative to some given body or point. The
available kinetic energy of a material system unconnected with any
other system is that energy which is due to the motions of the parts
of the system relative to its center of mass. The potential energy of
a body or system is that energy which is not kinetic; -- energy due
to configuration. Kinetic energy is sometimes called actual energy.
Kinetic energy is exemplified in the vis viva of moving bodies, in
heat, electric currents, etc.; potential energy, in a bent spring, or
a body suspended a given distance above the earth and acted on by
gravity.
Accumulation, Conservation, Correlation, and Degradation of energy,
etc. (Physics) See under Accumulation, Conservation, Correlation,
etc.
Syn.
-- Force; power; potency; vigor; strength; spirit; efficiency;
resolution.
ENERVATE
E*ner"vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enervated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enervating.] Etym: [L. enervatus, p. p. of enervare, fr. enervis
nerveless, weak; e out + nervus nerve. See Nerve.]
Defn: To deprive of nerve, force, strength, or courage; to render
feeble or impotent; to make effeminate; to impair the moral powers
of.
A man . . . enervated by licentiousness. Macaulay.
And rhyme began t' enervate poetry. Dryden.
Syn.
-- To weaken; enfeeble; unnerve; debilitate.
ENERVATE
E*ner"vate, a. Etym: [L. enervatus, p. p.]
Defn: Weakened; weak; without strength of force. Pope.
ENERVATION
En`er*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. enervatio: cf. F. énervation.]
1. The act of weakening, or reducing strength.
2. The state of being weakened; effeminacy. Bacon.
ENERVATIVE
E*ner"va*tive, a.
Defn: Having power, or a tendency, to enervate; weakening. [R.]
ENERVE
E*nerve", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. énerver. See Enervate.]
Defn: To weaken; to enervate. [Obs.] Milton.
ENERVOUS
E*nerv"ous, a. Etym: [L. enervis, enervus.]
Defn: Lacking nerve or force; enervated. [R.]
ENFACE
En*face", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enfacing.]
[Pref. en- + face.]
1. To write or print on the face of (a draft, bill, etc.); as, to
enface drafts with memoranda.
2. To write or print (a memorandum, direction, or the like) on the
face of a draft, bill, etc.; as, to enface the words "Payable in
Calcutta" upon the face of a draft.
Enfaced paper (Com.), Indian government securities the principal and
interest of which are enfaced as payable in silver rupees. Dict. of
Pol. Econ.
ENFAMISH
En*fam"ish, v. t.
Defn: To famish; to starve.
ENFECT
En*fect", a. Etym: [See Infect, a.]
Defn: Contaminated with illegality. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENFEEBLE
En*fee"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfeebled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enfeebling.] Etym: [OF. enfeblir, enfeiblir; pref. en- (L. in) +
feble, F. faible, feeble. See Feeble.]
Defn: To make feeble; to deprive of strength; to reduce the strength
or force of; to weaken; to debilitate.
Enfeebled by scanty subsistence and excessive toil. Prescott.
Syn.
-- To weaken; debilitate; enervate.
ENFEEBLEMENT
En*fee"ble*ment, n.
Defn: The act of weakening; enervation; weakness.
ENFEEBLER
En*fee"bler, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, weakens or makes feeble.
ENFEEBLISH
En*fee"blish, v. i.
Defn: To enfeeble. [Obs.] Holland.
ENFELONED
En*fel"oned, a. Etym: [Pref. en- + felon: cf. OF. enfelonner.]
Defn: Rendered fierce or frantic. [Obs.] "Like one enfeloned or
distraught." Spenser.
ENFEOFF
En*feoff" (; see Feoff, 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfeoffed; p. pr. &
vb. n. Enfeoffing.] Etym: [Pref. en- + feoff, fief: cf. LL.
infeofare, OF. enfeffer, enfeofer.]
1. (Law)
Defn: To give a feud, or right in land, to; to invest with a fief or
fee; to invest (any one) with a freehold estate by the process of
feoffment. Mozley & W.
2. To give in vassalage; to make subservient. [Obs.]
[The king] enfeoffed himself to popularity. Shak.
ENFEOFFMENT
En*feoff"ment, n. (Law)
(a) The act of enfeoffing.
(b) The instrument or deed by which one is invested with the fee of
an estate.
ENFESTER
En*fes"ter, v. t.
Defn: To fester. [Obs.] "Enfestered sores." Davies (Holy Roode).
ENFETTER
En*fet"ter, v. t.
Defn: To bind in fetters; to enchain. "Enfettered to her love." Shak.
ENFEVER
En*fe"ver, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + fever: cf. F. enfiévrer.]
Defn: To excite fever in. [R.] A. Seward.
ENFIERCE
En*fierce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfierced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enfiercing.]
Defn: To make fierce. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENFILADE
En`fi*lade", n. Etym: [F., fr. enfiler to thread, go trough a street
or square, rake with shot; pref. en- (L. in) + fil thread. See File a
row.]
1. A line or straight passage, or the position of that which lies in
a straight line. [R.]
2. (Mil.)
Defn: A firing in the direction of the length of a trench, or a line
of parapet or troops, etc.; a raking fire.
ENFILADE
En`fi*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfiladed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enfilading.] (Mil.)
Defn: To pierce, scour, or rake with shot in the direction of the
length of, as a work, or a line of troops. Campbell.
ENFILED
En*filed", p. a. Etym: [F. enfiler to pierce, thread.] (Her.)
Defn: Having some object, as the head of a man or beast, impaled upon
it; as, a sword which is said to be "enfiled of" the thing which it
pierces.
ENFIRE
En*fire", v. t.
Defn: To set on fire. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENFLESH
En*flesh", v. t.
Defn: To clothe with flesh. [Obs.]
Vices which are . . . enfleshed in him. Florio.
ENFLEURAGE
En`fleu`rage", n. [F., fr. en-(L. in) + fleur flower.]
Defn: A process of extracting perfumes by exposing absorbents, as
fixed oils or fats, to the exhalations of the flowers. It is used for
plants whose volatile oils are too delicate to be separated by
distillation.
ENFLOWER
En*flow"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enflowered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enflowering.]
Defn: To cover or deck with flowers. [Poetic]
These odorous and enflowered fields. B. Jonson.
ENFOLD
En*fold", v. t.
Defn: To infold. See Infold.
ENFOLDMENT
En*fold"ment, n.
Defn: The act of infolding. See Infoldment.
ENFORCE
En*force", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enforcing.]
Etym: [OF. enforcier to strengthen, force, F. enforcir; pref. en- (L.
in) + F. force. See Force.]
1. To put force upon; to force; to constrain; to compel; as, to
enforce obedience to commands.
Inward joy enforced my heart to smile. Shak.
2. To make or gain by force; to obtain by force; as, to enforce a
passage. "Enforcing furious way." Spenser.
3. To put in motion or action by violence; to drive.
As swift as stones Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Shak.
4. To give force to; to strengthen; to invigorate; to urge with
energy; as, to enforce arguments or requests.
Enforcing sentiment of the thrust humanity. Burke.
5. To put in force; to cause to take effect; to give effect to; to
execute with vigor; as, to enforce the laws.
6. To urge; to ply hard; to lay much stress upon.
Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak.
ENFORCE
En*force, v. i.
1. To attempt by force. [Obs.]
2. To prove; to evince. [R.] Hooker.
3. To strengthen; to grow strong. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENFORCE
En*force", n.
Defn: Force; strength; power. [Obs.]
A petty enterprise of small enforce. Milton.
ENFORCEABLE
En*force"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being enforced.
ENFORCED
En*forced", a.
Defn: Compelled; forced; not voluntary. "Enforced wrong." "Enforced
smiles." Shak.
-- En*for"ced*ly, adv. Shak.
ENFORCEMENT
En*force"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. enforcement.]
1. The act of enforcing; compulsion.
He that contendeth against these enforcements may easily master or
resist them. Sir W. Raleigh.
Confess 't was hers, and by what rough enforcement You got it from
her. Shak.
2. A giving force to; a putting in execution.
Enforcement of strict military discipline. Palfrey.
3. That which enforces, constraints, gives force, authority, or
effect to; constraint; force applied.
The rewards and punishment of another life, which the Almighty has
established as the enforcements of his law. Locke.
ENFORCER
En*for"cer, n.
Defn: One who enforces.
ENFORCIBLE
En*for"ci*ble, a.
Defn: That may be enforced.
ENFORCIVE
En*for"cive, a.
Defn: Serving to enforce or constrain; compulsive. Marsion.
-- En*for"cive*ly, adv.
ENFOREST
En*for"est, v. t.
Defn: To turn into a forest.
ENFORM
En*form", v. t. Etym: [F. enformer. See Inform.]
Defn: To form; to fashion. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENFOULDRED
En*foul"dred, a. Etym: [Pref. en- + OF. fouldre, foldre, lightning,
F. foudre, L. fulgur.]
Defn: Mixed with, or emitting, lightning. [Obs.] "With foul
enfouldred smoke." Spenser.
ENFRAME
En*frame", v. t.
Defn: To inclose, as in a frame.
ENFRANCHISE
En*fran"chise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enfranchised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enfranchising.] Etym: [Pref. en- + franchise: cf. F. enfranchir.]
1. To set free; to liberate from slavery, prison, or any binding
power. Bacon.
2. To endow with a franchise; to incorporate into a body politic and
thus to invest with civil and political privileges; to admit to the
privileges of a freeman.
3. To receive as denizens; to naturalize; as, to enfranchise foreign
words. I. Watts.
ENFRANCHISEMENT
En*fran"chise*ment, n.
1. Releasing from slavery or custody. Shak.
2. Admission to the freedom of a corporation or body politic;
investiture with the privileges of free citizens. Enfranchisement of
copyhold (Eng. Law), the conversion of a copyhold estate into a
freehold. Mozley & W.
ENFRANCHISER
En*fran"chis*er, n.
Defn: One who enfranchises.
ENFREE
En*free", v. t.
Defn: To set free. [Obs.] "The enfreed Antenor." Shak.
ENFREEDOM
En*free"dom, v. t.
Defn: To set free. [Obs.] Shak.
ENFREEZE
En*freeze", v. t.
Defn: To freeze; to congeal. [Obs.]
Thou hast enfrozened her disdainful breast. Spenser.
ENFROWARD
En*fro"ward, v. t.
Defn: To make froward, perverse, or ungovernable. [Obs.] Sir E.
Sandys.
ENGAGE
En*gage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engaged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engaging.]
Etym: [F. engager; pref. en- (L. in) + gage pledge, pawn. See Gage.]
1. To put under pledge; to pledge; to place under obligations to do
or forbear doing something, as by a pledge, oath, or promise; to bind
by contract or promise. "I to thee engaged a prince's word." Shak.
2. To gain for service; to bring in as associate or aid; to enlist;
as, to engage friends to aid in a cause; to engage men for service.
3. To gain over; to win and attach; to attract and hold; to draw.
Good nature engages everybody to him. Addison.
4. To employ the attention and efforts of; to occupy; to engross; to
draw on.
Thus shall mankind his guardian care engage. Pope.
Taking upon himself the difficult task of engaging him in
conversation. Hawthorne.
5. To enter into contest with; to encounter; to bring to conflict.
A favorable opportunity of engaging the enemy. Ludlow.
6. (Mach.)
Defn: To come into gear with; as, the teeth of one cogwheel engage
those of another, or one part of a clutch engages the other part.
ENGAGE
En*gage", v. i.
1. To promise or pledge one's self; to enter into an obligation; to
become bound; to warrant.
How proper the remedy for the malady, I engage not. Fuller.
2. To embark in a business; to take a part; to employ or involve
one's self; to devote attention and effort; to enlist; as, to engage
in controversy.
3. To enter into conflict; to join battle; as, the armies engaged in
a general battle.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: To be in gear, as two cogwheels working together.
ENGAGED
En*gaged", a.
1. Occupied; employed; busy.
2. Pledged; promised; especially, having the affections pledged;
promised in marriage; affianced; betrothed.
3. Greatly interested; of awakened zeal; earnest.
4. Involved; esp., involved in a hostile encounter; as, the engaged
ships continued the fight. Engaged column. (Arch.) Same as Attached
column. See under Attach, v. t.
ENGAGEDLY
En*ga"ged*ly, adv.
Defn: With attachment; with interest; earnestly.
ENGAGEDNESS
En*ga"ged*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being deeply interested; earnestness; zeal.
ENGAGEMENT
En*gage"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. engagement.]
1. The act of engaging, pledging, enlisting, occupying, or entering
into contest.
2. The state of being engaged, pledged or occupied; specif., a pledge
to take some one as husband or wife.
3. That which engages; engrossing occupation; employment of the
attention; obligation by pledge, promise, or contract; an enterprise
embarked in; as, his engagements prevented his acceptance of any
office.
Religion, which is the chief engagement of our league. Milton.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: An action; a fight; a battle.
In hot engagement with the Moors. Dryden.
5. (Mach.)
Defn: The state of being in gear; as, one part of a clutch is brought
into engagement with the other part.
Syn.
-- Vocation; business; employment; occupation; promise; stipulation;
betrothal; word; battle; combat; fight; contest; conflict. See
Battle.
ENGAGER
En*ga"ger, n.
Defn: One who enters into an engagement or agreement; a surety.
Several sufficient citizens were engagers. Wood.
ENGAGING
En*ga"ging, a.
Defn: Tending to draw the attention or affections; attractive; as,
engaging manners or address.
-- En*ga"ging*ly, adv.
-- En*ga"ging*ness, n. Engaging and disengaging gear or machinery,
that in which, or by means of which, one part is alternately brought
into gear or out of gear with another part, as occasion may require.
ENGALLANT
En*gal"lant, v. t.
Defn: To make a gallant of. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ENGAOL
En*gaol", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + gaol: cf. OF. engaoler, engeoler.
See Gaol, and cf. Enjail.]
Defn: To put in jail; to imprison. [Obs.] Shak.
ENGARBOIL
En*gar"boil, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + garboil.]
Defn: To throw into disorder; to disturb. [Obs.] "To engarboil the
church." Bp. Montagu.
ENGARLAND
En*gar"land, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + garland: cf. F. enguirlander.]
Defn: To encircle with a garland, or with garlands. Sir P. Sidney.
ENGARRISON
En*gar"ri*son, v. t.
Defn: To garrison; to put in garrison, or to protect by a garrison.
Bp. Hall.
ENGASTRIMUTH
En*gas"tri*muth, n. Etym: [Gr. engastrimythe.]
Defn: An ventriloquist. [Obs.]
ENGENDER
En*gen"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engendered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engendering.] Etym: [F. engender, L. ingenerare; in + generare to
beget. See Generate, and cf. Ingenerate.]
1. To produce by the union of the sexes; to beget. [R.]
2. To cause to exist; to bring forth; to produce; to sow the seeds
of; as, angry words engender strife.
Engendering friendship in all parts of the common wealth. Southey.
Syn.
-- To breed; generate; procreate; propagate; occasion; call forth;
cause; excite; develop.
ENGENDER
En*gen"der, v. i.
1. To assume form; to come into existence; to be caused or produced.
Thick clouds are spread, and storms engender there. Dryden.
2. To come together; to meet, as in sexual embrace. "I saw their
mouths engender." Massinger.
ENGENDER
En*gen"der, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, engenders.
ENGENDRURE
En`gen*drure", n. Etym: [OF. engendreure.]
Defn: The act of generation. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENGILD
En*gild", v. t.
Defn: To gild; to make splendent.
Fair Helena, who most engilds the night. Shak.
ENGINE
En"gine, n. Etym: [F. engin skill, machine, engine, L. ingenium
natural capacity, invention; in in + the root of gignere to produce.
See Genius, and cf. Ingenious, Gin a snare.]
1. (Pronounced, in this sense, [Obs.]
A man hath sapiences three, Memory, engine, and intellect also.
Chaucer.
2. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an
agent. Shak.
You see the ways the fisherman doth take To catch the fish; what
engines doth he make Bunyan.
Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of
lust. Shak.
3. Any instrument by which any effect is produced; especially, an
instrument or machine of war or torture. "Terrible engines of death."
Sir W. Raleigh.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to
produce a given physical effect. Engine driver, one who manages an
engine; specifically, the engineer of a locomotive.
-- Engine lathe. (Mach.) See under Lathe.
-- Engine tool, a machine tool. J. Whitworth.
-- Engine turning (Fine Arts), a method of ornamentation by means of
a rose engine.
Note: The term engine is more commonly applied to massive machines,
or to those giving power, or which produce some difficult result.
Engines, as motors, are distinguished according to the source of
power, as steam engine, air engine, electro-magnetic engine; or the
purpose on account of which the power is applied, as fire engine,
pumping engine, locomotive engine; or some peculiarity of
construction or operation, as single-acting or double-acting engine,
high-pressure or low-pressure engine, condensing engine, etc.
ENGINE
En"gine, v. t.
1. To assault with an engine. [Obs.]
To engine and batter our walls. T. Adams.
2. To equip with an engine; -- said especially of steam vessels; as,
vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.
3. (Pronounced, in this sense, [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENGINEER
En`gi*neer", n. Etym: [OE. enginer: cf. OF. engignier, F. ingénieur.
See Engine, n.]
1. A person skilled in the principles and practice of any branch of
engineering. See under Engineering, n.
2. One who manages as engine, particularly a steam engine; an engine
driver.
3. One who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful
contrivance; an efficient manager. [Colloq.] Civil engineer, a person
skilled in the science of civil engineering.
-- Military engineer, one who executes engineering works of a
military nature. See under Engineering.
ENGINEER
En`gi*neer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engineered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engineering.]
1. To lay out or construct, as an engineer; to perform the work of an
engineer on; as, to engineer a road. J. Hamilton.
2. To use contrivance and effort for; to guide the course of; to
manage; as, to engineer a bill through Congress. [Colloq.]
ENGINEER CORPS; CORPS OF ENGINEERS
En`gi*neer" Corps.
(a) In the United States army, the Corps of Engineers, a corps of
officers and enlisted men consisting of one band and three battalions
of engineers commanded by a brigadier general, whose title is Chief
of Engineers. It has charge of the construction of fortifications for
land and seacoast defense, the improvement of rivers and harbors, the
construction of lighthouses, etc., and, in time of war, supervises
the engineering operations of the armies in the field.
(b) In the United States navy, a corps made up of the engineers,
which was amalgamated with the line by act of March 3, 1899. It
consisted of assistant and passed assistant engineers, ranking with
ensigns and lieutenants, chief engineers, ranking from lieutenant to
captain, and engineer in chief, ranking with commodore and having
charge of the Bureau of Steam Engineering.
ENGINEERING
En`gi*neer"ing, n.
Defn: Originally, the art of managing engines; in its modern and
extended sense, the art and science by which the mechanical
properties of matter are made useful to man in structures and
machines; the occupation and work of an engineer.
Note: In a comprehensive sense, engineering includes architecture as
a mechanical art, in distinction from architecture as a fine art. It
was formerly divided into military engineering, which is the art of
designing and constructing offensive and defensive works, and civil
engineering, in a broad sense, as relating to other kinds of public
works, machinery, etc.
-- Civil engineering, in modern usage, is strictly the art of
planning, laying out, and constructing fixed public works, such as
railroads, highways, canals, aqueducts, water works, bridges,
lighthouses, docks, embankments, breakwaters, dams, tunnels, etc.
-- Mechanical engineering relates to machinery, such as steam
engines, machine tools, mill work, etc.
-- Mining engineering deals with the excavation and working of
mines, and the extraction of metals from their ores, etc. Engineering
is further divided into steam engineering, gas engineering,
agricultural engineering, topographical engineering, electrical
engineering, etc.
ENGINEMAN
En"gine*man, n.; pl. Enginemen (.
Defn: A man who manages, or waits on, an engine.
ENGINER
En"gin*er, n. Etym: [See Engineer.]
Defn: A contriver; an inventor; a contriver of engines. [Obs.] Shak.
ENGINERY
En"gine*ry, n.
1. The act or art of managing engines, or artillery. Milton.
2. Engines, in general; instruments of war.
Training his devilish enginery. Milton.
3. Any device or contrivance; machinery; structure or arrangement.
Shenstone.
ENGINE-SIZED
En"gine-sized`, a.
Defn: Sized by a machine, and not while in the pulp; -- said of
paper. Knight.
ENGINE-TYPE GENERATOR
En"gine-type` gen"er*a`tor. (Elec.)
Defn: A generator having its revolving part carried on the shaft of
the driving engine.
ENGINOUS
En"gi*nous, a. Etym: [OF. engignos. See Ingenious.]
1. Pertaining to an engine. [Obs.]
That one act gives, like an enginous wheel, Motion to all. Decker.
2. Contrived with care; ingenious. [Obs.]
The mark of all enginous drifts. B. Jonson.
ENGIRD
En*gird", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engirded or Engirt (p. pr. & vb. n.
Engirding.] Etym: [Pref. en- + gird. Cf. Ingirt.]
Defn: To gird; to encompass. Shak.
ENGIRDLE
En*gir"dle, v. t.
Defn: To surround as with a girdle; to girdle.
ENGIRT
En*girt", v. t.
Defn: To engird. [R.] Collins.
ENGISCOPE
En"gi*scope, n. Etym: [Gr. -scope.] (Opt.)
Defn: A kind of reflecting microscope. [Obs.]
ENGLAIMED
En*glaimed", a. Etym: [OE. engleimen to smear, gleim birdlime, glue,
phlegm.]
Defn: Clammy. [Obs.]
ENGLE
En"gle, n. Etym: [OE. enghle to coax or cajole. Cf. Angle a hook, one
easily enticed, a gull, Ingle.]
Defn: A favorite; a paramour; an ingle. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
ENGLE
En"gle, v. t.
Defn: To cajole or coax, as favorite. [Obs.]
I 'll presently go and engle some broker. B. Jonson.
ENGLISH
Eng"lish, a. Etym: [AS. Englisc, fr. Engle, Angle, Engles, Angles, a
tribe of Germans from the southeast of Sleswick, in Denmark, who
settled in Britain and gave it the name of England. Cf. Anglican.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to England, or to its inhabitants, or to the
present so-called Anglo-Saxon race. English bond (Arch.)
Defn: See 1st Bond, n.,
8.
-- English breakfast tea. See Congou.
-- English horn. (Mus.) See Corno Inglese.
-- English walnut. (Bot.) See under Walnut.
ENGLISH
Eng"lish, n.
1. Collectively, the people of England; English people or persons.
2. The language of England or of the English nation, and of their
descendants in America, India, and other countries.
Note: The English language has been variously divided into periods by
different writers. In the division most commonly recognized, the
first period dates from about 450 to 1150. This is the period of full
inflection, and is called Anglo-Saxon, or, by many recent writers,
Old English. The second period dates from about 1150 to 1550 (or, if
four periods be recognized, from about 1150 to 1350), and is called
Early English, Middle English, or more commonly (as in the usage of
this book), Old English. During this period most of the inflections
were dropped, and there was a great addition of French words to the
language. The third period extends from about 1350 to 1550, and is
Middle English. During this period orthography became comparatively
fixed. The last period, from about 1550, is called Modern English.
3. A kind of printing type, in size between Pica and Great Primer.
See Type.
Note: The type called English.
4. (Billiards)
Defn: A twist or spinning motion given to a ball in striking it that
influences the direction it will take after touching a cushion or
another ball. The King's, or Queen's, English. See under King.
ENGLISH
Eng"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Englished; p. pr. & vb. n. Englishing.]
1. To translate into the English language; to Anglicize; hence, to
interpret; to explain.
Those gracious acts . . . may be Englished more properly, acts of
fear and dissimulation. Milton.
Caxton does not care to alter the French forms and words in the book
which he was Englishing. T. L. K. Oliphant.
2. (Billiards)
Defn: To strike (the cue ball) in such a manner as to give it in
addition to its forward motion a spinning motion, that influences its
direction after impact on another ball or the cushion. [U.S.]
ENGLISHABLE
Eng"lish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being translated into, or expressed in, English.
ENGLISHISM
Eng"lish*ism, n.
1. A quality or characteristic peculiar to the English. M. Arnold.
2. A form of expression peculiar to the English language as spoken in
England; an Anglicism.
ENGLISHMAN
Eng"lish*man (-man), n.; pl. Englishmen (-men).
Defn: A native or a naturalized inhabitant of England.
ENGLISHRY
Eng"lish*ry, n.
1. The state or privilege of being an Englishman. [Obs.] Cowell.
2. A body of English or people of English descent; -- commonly
applied to English people in Ireland.
A general massacre of the Englishry. Macaulay.
ENGLISHWOMAN
Eng"lish*wom`an, n.; pl. Englishwomen (.
Defn: Fem. of Englishman. Shak.
ENGLOOM
En*gloom", v. t.
Defn: To make gloomy. [R.]
ENGLUE
En*glue", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + glue: cf. F. engluer to smear with
birdlime.]
Defn: To join or close fast together, as with glue; as, a coffer well
englued. Gower.
ENGLUT
En*glut", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Englutted; p. pr. & vb. n. Englutting.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + glut: cf. F. engloutir.]
1. To swallow or gulp down. [Obs.] Shak.
2. To glut. [Obs.] "Englutted with vanity." Ascham.
ENGORE
En*gore", v. t.
1. To gore; to pierce; to lacerate. [Obs.]
Deadly engored of a great wild boar. Spenser.
2. To make bloody. [Obs.] Chapman.
ENGORGE
En*gorge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engorged; p. pr. & vb. n. Engorging.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + gorge: cf. F. engorger to obstruct, cram.]
1. To gorge; to glut. Mir. for Mag.
2. To swallow with greediness or in large quantities; to devour.
Spenser.
ENGORGE
En*gorge", v. i.
Defn: To feed with eagerness or voracity; to stuff one's self with
food. Beaumont.
ENGORGED
En*gorged", p. a.
1. Swallowed with greediness, or in large draughts.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Filled to excess with blood or other liquid; congested.
ENGORGEMENT
En*gorge"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. engorgement.]
1. The act of swallowing greedily; a devouring with voracity; a
glutting.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An overfullness or obstruction of the vessels in some part of
the system; congestion. Hoblyn.
3. (Metal.)
Defn: The clogging of a blast furnace.
ENGOULED
En*gouled", a. (Her.)
Defn: Partly swallowed; disappearing in the jaws of anything; as, an
infant engouled by a serpent; said also of an ordinary, when its two
ends to issue from the mouths of lions, or the like; as, a bend
engouled.
ENGOULEE
En`gou`lée", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of engouler to swallow up; pref. en-
(L. in) + gueule mouth.] (Her.)
Defn: Same as Engouled.
ENGRAFF
En*graff", v. t. Etym: [See Ingraft.]
Defn: To graft; to fix deeply. [Obs.]
ENGRAFFMENT
En*graff"ment, n.
Defn: See Ingraftment. [Obs.]
ENGRAFT
En*graft", v. t.
Defn: See Ingraft. Shak.
ENGRAFTATION; ENGRAFTMENT
En`graf*ta"tion, En*graft"ment, n.
Defn: The act of ingrafting; ingraftment. [R.]
ENGRAIL
En*grail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engrailed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engrailing.] Etym: [F. engrêler; pref. en- (L. in) + grêle hail. See
Grail gravel.]
1. To variegate or spot, as with hail.
A caldron new engrailed with twenty hues. Chapman.
2. (Her.)
Defn: To indent with small curves. See Engrailed.
ENGRAIL
En*grail", v. i.
Defn: To form an edging or border; to run in curved or indented
lines. Parnell.
ENGRAILED
En*grailed", a. (Her.)
Defn: Indented with small concave curves, as the edge of a bordure,
bend, or the like.
ENGRAILMENT
En*grail"ment, n.
1. The ring of dots round the edge of a medal, etc. Brande & C.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Indentation in curved lines, as of a line of division or the
edge of an ordinary.
ENGRAIN
En*grain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engrained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engraining.] Etym: [Pref. en- + grain. Cf. Ingrain.]
1. To dye in grain, or of a fast color. See Ingrain.
Leaves engrained in lusty green. Spenser.
2. To incorporate with the grain or texture of anything; to infuse
deeply. See Ingrain.
The stain hath become engrained by time. Sir W. Scott.
3. To color in imitation of the grain of wood; to grain. See Grain,
v. t., 1.
ENGRAPPLE
En*grap"ple, v. t. & i.
Defn: To grapple. [Obs.]
ENGRASP
En*grasp", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engrasped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engrasping.]
Defn: To grasp; to grip. [R.] Spenser.
ENGRAVE
En*grave", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + grave a tomb. Cf. Engrave to
carve.]
Defn: To deposit in the grave; to bury. [Obs.] "Their corses to
engrave." Spenser.
ENGRAVE
En*grave", v. t. [imp. Engraved; p. p. Engraved or Engraven (; p. pr.
& vb. n. Engraving.] Etym: [Pref. en- + grave to carve: cf. OF.
engraver.]
1. To cut in; to make by incision. [Obs.]
Full many wounds in his corrupted flesh He did engrave. Spenser.
2. To cut with a graving instrument in order to form an inscription
or pictorial representation; to carve figures; to mark with
incisions.
Like . . . . a signet thou engrave the two stones with the names of
the children of Israel. Ex. xxviii. 11.
3. To form or represent by means of incisions upon wood, stone,
metal, or the like; as, to engrave an inscription.
4. To impress deeply; to infix, as if with a graver.
Engrave principles in men's minds. Locke.
ENGRAVED
En*graved", a.
1. Made by engraving or ornamented with engraving.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the surface covered with irregular, impressed lines.
ENGRAVEMENT
En*grave"ment, n.
1. Engraving.
2. Engraved work. [R.] Barrow.
ENGRAVER
En*grav"er, n.
Defn: One who engraves; a person whose business it is to produce
engraved work, especially on metal or wood.
ENGRAVERY
En*grav"er*y, n.
Defn: The trade or work of an engraver. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
ENGRAVING
En*grav"ing, n.
1. The act or art of producing upon hard material incised or raised
patterns, characters, lines, and the like; especially, the art of
producing such lines, etc., in the surface of metal plates or blocks
of wood. Engraving is used for the decoration of the surface itself;
also, for producing an original, from which a pattern or design may
be printed on paper.
2. That which is engraved; an engraved plate.
3. An impression from an engraved plate, block of wood, or other
material; a print.
Note: Engraving on wood is called xylography; on copper,
chalcography; on stone lithography. Engravings or prints take from
wood blocks are usually called wood cuts, those from stone,
lithographs.
ENGREGGE
En*greg"ge, v. t. Etym: [OF. engregier, from (assumed) LL.
ingreviare; in + (assumed) grevis heavy, for L. gravis. Cf.
Aggravate.]
Defn: To aggravate; to make worse; to lie heavy on. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENGRIEVE
En*grieve", v. t.
Defn: To grieve. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENGROSS
En*gross", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engrossed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Engrossing.] Etym: [F., fr. pref. en- (L. in) + gros gross, grosse,
n., an engrossed document: cf. OF. engrossir, engroissier, to make
thick, large, or gross. See Gross.]
1. To make gross, thick, or large; to thicken; to increase in bulk or
quantity. [Obs.]
Waves . . . engrossed with mud. Spenser.
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body. Shak.
2. To amass. [Obs.]
To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf. Shak.
3. To copy or write in a large hand (en gross, i. e., in large); to
write a fair copy of in distinct and legible characters; as, to
engross a deed or like instrument on parchment.
Some period long past, when clerks engrossed their stiff and formal
chirography on more substantial materials. Hawthorne.
Laws that may be engrossed on a finger nail. De Quincey.
4. To seize in the gross; to take the whole of; to occupy wholly; to
absorb; as, the subject engrossed all his thoughts.
5. To purchase either the whole or large quantities of, for the
purpose of enhancing the price and making a profit; hence, to take or
assume in undue quantity, proportion, or degree; as, to engross
commodities in market; to engross power. Engrossed bill
(Legislation), one which has been plainly engrossed on parchment,
with all its amendments, preparatory to final action on its passage.
-- Engrossing hand (Penmanship), a fair, round style of writing
suitable for engrossing legal documents, legislative bills, etc.
Syn.
-- To absorb; swallow up; imbibe; consume; exhaust; occupy;
forestall; monopolize. See Absorb.
ENGROSSER
En*gross"er, n.
1. One who copies a writing in large, fair characters.
2. One who takes the whole; a person who purchases such quantities of
articles in a market as to raise the price; a forestaller. Locke.
ENGROSSMENT
En*gross"ment, n.
1. The act of engrossing; as, the engrossment of a deed.
Engrossments of power and favor. Swift.
2. That which has been engrossed, as an instrument, legislative bill,
goods, etc.
ENGUARD
En*guard", v. t.
Defn: To surround as with a guard. [Obs.] Shak.
ENGULF
En*gulf", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Engulfed; p. pr. & vb. n. Engulfing.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + gulf: cf. OF. engolfer. Cf. Ingulf.]
Defn: To absorb or swallow up as in a gulf.
It quite engulfs all human thought. Young.
Syn.
-- See Absorb.
ENGULFMENT
En*gulf"ment, n.
Defn: A swallowing up as if in a gulf. [R.]
ENGYN
En*gyn".
Defn: Variant of Engine. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENHALO
En*ha"lo, v. t.
Defn: To surround with a halo.
ENHANCE
En*hance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enhanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enhancing.]
Etym: [Norm. F. enhauncer, enhaucer, OF. enhaleier, enhaucier; pref.
en- (L. in) + haucier to lift, raise up, from an assumed L. altiare,
fr. L. altus high; cf. Pr. enansar, enanzar, to advance, exalt, and
E. advance. See Altitude, and cf. Hawser.]
1. To raise or lift up; to exalt. [Obs.] Wyclif.
Who, naught aghast, his mighty hand enhanced. Spenser.
2. To advance; to augment; to increase; to heighten; to make more
costly or attractive; as, to enhance the price of commodities; to
enhance beauty or kindness; hence, also, to render more heinous; to
aggravate; as, to enhance crime.
The reputation of ferocity enhanced the value of their services, in
making them feared as well as hated. Southey.
ENHANCE
En*hance", v. i.
Defn: To be raised up; to grow larger; as, a debt enhances rapidly by
compound interest.
ENHANCEMENT
En*hance"ment, n.
Defn: The act of increasing, or state of being increased;
augmentation; aggravation; as, the enhancement of value, price,
enjoyments, crime.
ENHANCER
En*han"cer, n.
Defn: One who enhances; one who, or that which, raises the amount,
price, etc.
ENHARBOR
En*har"bor, v. t.
Defn: To find harbor or safety in; to dwell in or inhabit. W. Browne.
ENHARDEN
En*hard"en, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + harden: cf. F. enhardir to
embolden.]
Defn: To harden; to embolden. [Obs.] Howell.
ENHARMONIC; ENHARMONICAL
En`har*mon"ic, En`har*mon"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. enharmonique.]
1. (Anc. Mus.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to that one of the three kinds of musical
scale (diatonic, chromatic, enharmonic) recognized by the ancient
Greeks, which consisted of quarter tones and major thirds, and was
regarded as the most accurate.
2. (Mus.)
(a) Pertaining to a change of notes to the eye, while, as the same
keys are used, the instrument can mark no difference to the ear, as
the substitution of A for G#.
(b) Pertaining to a scale of perfect intonation which recognizes all
the notes and intervals that result from the exact tuning of diatonic
scales and their transposition into other keys.
ENHARMONICALLY
En`har*mon"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the enharmonic style or system; in just intonation.
ENHEARTEN
En*heart"en, v. t.
Defn: To give heart to; to fill with courage; to embolden.
The enemy exults and is enheartened. I. Taylor.
ENHEDGE
En*hedge", v. t.
Defn: To surround as with a hedge. [R.] Vicars.
ENHORT
En*hort", v. t. Etym: [OF. enhorter, enorter, L. inhortari. Cf.
Exhort.]
Defn: To encourage. [Obs.] "To enhort the people." Chaucer.
ENHUNGER
En*hun"ger, v. t.
Defn: To make hungry.
Those animal passions which vice had . . . enhungered to feed on
innocence and life. J. Martineau.
ENHYDROS
En*hy"dros, n. Etym: [NL. See Enhydrous.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of chalcedony containing water.
ENHYDROUS
En*hy"drous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Having water within; containing fluid drops; -- said of certain
crystals.
ENIGMA
E*nig"ma, n.; pl. Enigmas. Etym: [L. aenigma, Gr.
1. A dark, obscure, or inexplicable saying; a riddle; a statement,
the hidden meaning of which is to be discovered or guessed.
A custom was among the ancients of proposing an enigma at festivals.
Pope.
2. An action, mode of action, or thing, which cannot be
satisfactorily explained; a puzzle; as, his conduct is an enigma.
ENIGMATIC; ENIGMATICAL
E`nig*mat"ic, E`nig*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. énigmatique.]
Defn: Relating to or resembling an enigma; not easily explained or
accounted for; darkly expressed; obscure; puzzling; as, an
enigmatical answer.
ENIGMATICALLY
E`nig*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: Darkly; obscurely.
ENIGMATIST
E*nig"ma*tist, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One who makes, or talks in, enigmas. Addison.
ENIGMATIZE
E*nig"ma*tize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Enigmatized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enigmatizing.]
Defn: To make, or talk in, enigmas; to deal in riddles.
ENIGMATOGRAPHY; ENIGMATOLOGY
E*nig`ma*tog"ra*phy, E*nig`ma*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy, -
logy.]
Defn: The art of making or of solving enigmas.
ENISLED
En*isled", p. a.
Defn: Placed alone or apart, as if on an island; severed, as an
island. [R.] "In the sea of life enisled." M. Arnold.
ENJAIL
En*jail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enjailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Enjailing.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + jail. Cf. Engaol.]
Defn: To put into jail; to imprison. [R.] Donne.
ENJOIN
En*join", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enjoined; p. pr. & vb. n. Enjoining.]
Etym: [F. enjoindre, L. injungere to join into, charge, enjoin; in +
jungere to join. See Join, and cf. Injunction.]
1. To lay upon, as an order or command; to give an injunction to; to
direct with authority; to order; to charge.
High matter thou enjoin'st me. Milton.
I am enjoined by oath to observe three things. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: To prohibit or restrain by a judicial order or decree; to put
an injunction on.
This is a suit to enjoin the defendants from disturbing the
plaintiffs. Kent.
Note: Enjoin has the force of pressing admonition with authority; as,
a parent enjoins on his children the duty of obedience. But it has
also the sense of command; as, the duties enjoined by God in the
moral law. "This word is more authoritative than direct, and less
imperious than command." Johnson.
ENJOIN
En*join", v. t.
Defn: To join or unite. [Obs.] Hooker.
ENJOINER
En*join"er, n.
Defn: One who enjoins.
ENJOINMENT
En*join"ment, n.
Defn: Direction; command; authoritative admonition. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
ENJOY
En*joy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enjoyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Enjoying.]
Etym: [OF. enjoier to receive with joy; pref. en- (L. in) + OF. & F.
joie joy: cf. OF. enjoir to enjoy. See Joy.]
1. To take pleasure or satisfaction in the possession or experience
of; to feel or perceive with pleasure; to be delighted with; as, to
enjoy the dainties of a feast; to enjoy conversation.
2. To have, possess, and use with satisfaction; to occupy or have the
benefit of, as a good or profitable thing, or as something desirable;
as, to enjoy a free constitution and religious liberty.
That the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of
his fathers. Num. xxxvi. 8.
To enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Heb. xi. 25.
3. To have sexual intercourse with. Milton. To enjoy one's self, to
feel pleasure; to be happy.
ENJOY
En*joy", v. i.
Defn: To take satisfaction; to live in happiness. [R.] Milton.
ENJOYABLE
En*joy"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being enjoyed or of giving joy; yielding enjoyment.
Milton.
ENJOYER
En*joy"er, n.
Defn: One who enjoys.
ENJOYMENT
En*joy"ment, n.
1. The condition of enjoying anything; pleasure or satisfaction, as
in the possession or occupancy of anything; possession and use; as,
the enjoyment of an estate.
2. That which gives pleasure or keen satisfaction.
The hope of everlasting enjoyments. Glanvill.
Syn.
-- Pleasure; satisfaction; gratification; fruition; happiness;
felicity; delight.
ENKENNEL
En*ken"nel, v. t.
Defn: To put into a kennel.
ENKERCHIEFED
En*ker"chiefed, a.
Defn: Bound with a kerchief; draped; hooded; covered. Milton.
That soft, enkerchiefed hair. M. Arnold.
ENKINDLE
En*kin"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enkindled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enkindling.]
1. To set on fire; to inflame; to kindle. Shak.
2. To excite; to rouse into action; to incite.
To enkindle the enthusiasm of an artist. Talfourd.
ENLACE
En*lace", v. t.
Defn: To bind or encircle with lace, or as with lace; to lace; to
encircle; to enfold; hence, to entangle.
Ropes of pearl her neck and breast enlace. P. Fletcher.
ENLACEMENT
En*lace"ment, n.
Defn: The act of enlacing, or state of being enlaced; a surrounding
as with a lace.
ENLARD
En*lard", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + lard: cf. OF. enlarder to put on
the spit, Pr. & Sp. enlardar to rub with grease, baste.]
Defn: To cover or dress with lard or grease; to fatten. Shak.
ENLARGE
En*large", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enlarged; p. pr. & vb. n. Enlarging.]
Etym: [OF. enlargier; pref. en- (L. in) + F. large wide. See Large.]
1. To make larger; to increase in quantity or dimensions; to extend
in limits; to magnify; as, the body is enlarged by nutrition; to
enlarge one's house.
To enlarge their possessions of land. Locke.
2. To increase the capacity of; to expand; to give free scope or
greater scope to; also, to dilate, as with joy, affection, and the
like; as, knowledge enlarges the mind.
O ye Corinthians, our . . . heart is enlarged. 2 Cor. vi. 11.
3. To set at large or set free. [Archaic]
It will enlarge us from all restraints. Barrow.
Enlarging hammer, a hammer with a slightly rounded face of large
diameter; -- used by gold beaters. Knight.
-- To enlarge an order or rule (Law), to extend the time for
complying with it. Abbott.
-- To enlarge one's self, to give free vent to speech; to spread out
discourse. "They enlarged themselves on this subject." Clarendon.
-- To enlarge the heart, to make free, liberal, and charitable.
Syn.
-- To increase; extend; expand; spread; amplify; augment; magnify.
See Increase.
ENLARGE
En*large", v. i.
1. To grow large or larger; to be further extended; to expand; as, a
plant enlarges by growth; an estate enlarges by good management; a
volume of air enlarges by rarefaction.
2. To speak or write at length; to be diffuse in speaking or writing;
to expatiate; to dilate.
To enlarge upon this theme. M. Arnold.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: To get more astern or parallel with the vessel's course; to
draw aft; -- said of the wind.
ENLARGED
En*larged", a.
Defn: Made large or larger; extended; swollen.
-- En*lar"ged*ly, adv.
-- En*lar"ged*ness, n.
ENLARGEMENT
En*large"ment, n.
1. The act of increasing in size or bulk, real or apparent; the state
of being increased; augmentation; further extension; expansion.
2. Expansion or extension, as of the powers of the mind; ennoblement,
as of the feelings and character; as, an enlargement of views, of
knowledge, of affection.
3. A setting at large, or being set at large; release from
confinement, servitude, or distress; liberty.
Give enlargement to the swain. Shak.
4. Diffusiveness of speech or writing; expatiation; a wide range of
discourse or argument.
An enlargement upon the vices and corruptions that were got into the
army. Clarendon.
ENLARGER
En*lar"ger, n.
Defn: One that enlarges.
ENLAY
En*lay", v. t.
Defn: See Inlay.
ENLENGTHEN
En*length"en, v. t.
Defn: To lengthen. [Obs.]
ENLEVEN
En*lev"en, n.
Defn: Eleven. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENLIGHT
En*light", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + light. Cf. Enlighten.]
Defn: To illumine; to enlighten. [R.]
Which from the first has shone on ages past, Enlights the present,
and shall warm the last. Pope.
ENLIGHTEN
En*light"en, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + lighten: cf. AS. inlihtan. Cf.
Enlight.]
1. To supply with light; to illuminate; as, the sun enlightens the
earth.
His lightnings enlightened the world. Ps. xcvii. 4.
2. To make clear to the intellect or conscience; to shed the light of
truth and knowledge upon; to furnish with increase of knowledge; to
instruct; as, to enlighten the mind or understanding.
The conscience enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God. Trench.
ENLIGHTENER
En*light"en*er, n.
Defn: One who enlightens or illuminates; one who, or that which,
communicates light to the eye, or clear views to the mind.
ENLIGHTENMENT
En*light"en*ment, n.
Defn: Act of enlightening, or the state of being enlightened or
instructed.
ENLIMN
En*limn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + limn. Cf. Enlumine, Illuminate.]
Defn: To adorn by illuminating or ornamenting with colored and
decorated letters and figures, as a book or manuscript. [R.]
Palsgrave.
ENLINK
En*link", v. t.
Defn: To chain together; to connect, as by links. Shak.
ENLIST
En*list", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enlisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Enlisting.]
1. To enter on a list; to enroll; to register.
2. To engage for military or naval service, the name being entered on
a list or register; as, to enlist men.
3. To secure the support and aid of; to employ in advancing interest;
as, to enlist persons in the cause of truth, or in a charitable
enterprise.
ENLIST
En*list", v. i.
1. To enroll and bind one's self for military or naval service; as,
he enlisted in the regular army; the men enlisted for the war.
2. To enter heartily into a cause, as if enrolled.
ENLISTMENT
En*list"ment, n.
1. The act or enlisting, or the state of being enlisted; voluntary
enrollment to serve as a soldier or a sailor.
2. The writing by which an enlisted man is bound.
ENLIVE
En*live", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + live, a.]
Defn: To enliven. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
ENLIVEN
En*liv"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enlivened; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enlivening.] Etym: [Pref. en- + liven.].
1. To give life, action, or motion to; to make vigorous or active; to
excite; to quicken; as, fresh fuel enlivens a fire.
Lo! of themselves th' enlivened chessmen move. Cowley.
2. To give spirit or vivacity to; to make sprightly, gay, or
cheerful; to animate; as, mirth and good humor enliven a company;
enlivening strains of music.
Syn.
-- To animate; rouse; inspire; cheer; encourage; comfort;
exhilarate; inspirit; invigorate.
ENLIVENER
En*liv"en*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, enlivens, animates, or invigorates.
ENLOCK
En*lock", v. t.
Defn: To lock; to inclose.
ENLUMINE
En*lu"mine, v. t. Etym: [F. enluminer; pref. en- (L. in) + L.
luminare to light up, illumine. See Illuminate, and cf. Limn.]
Defn: To illumine. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENLUTE
En*lute", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + L. lutum mud, clay.]
Defn: To coat with clay; to lute. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENMANCHE
En`man`ché", a. Etym: [F.; pref. en- (L. in) + manche sleeve.] (Her.)
Defn: Resembling, or covered with, a sleeve; -- said of the chief
when lines are drawn from the middle point of the upper edge upper
edge to the sides.
ENMARBLE
En*mar"ble, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + marble.]
Defn: To make hard as marble; to harden. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENMESH
En*mesh", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + mesh. Cf. Inmesh.]
Defn: To catch or entangle in, or as in, meshes. Shak.
My doubts enmesh me if I try. Lowell.
ENMEW
En*mew", v. t.
Defn: See Emmew.
ENMIST
En*mist", v. t.
Defn: To infold, as in a mist.
ENMITY
En"mi*ty, n.; pl. Enmities. Etym: [OE. enemyte, fr. enemy: cf. F.
inimitié, OF. enemistié. See Enemy, and cf. Amity.]
1. The quality of being an enemy; hostile or unfriendly disposition.
No ground of enmity between us known. Milton.
2. A state of opposition; hostility.
The friendship of the world is enmity with God. James iv. 4.
Syn.
-- Rancor; hostility; hatred; aversion; antipathy; repugnance;
animosity; ill will; malice; malevolence. See Animosity, Rancor.
ENMOSSED
En*mossed", a. Etym: [Pref. en- + moss.]
Defn: Covered with moss; mossed. Keats.
ENMOVE
En*move", v. t.
Defn: See Emmove. [Obs.]
ENMUFFLE
En*muf"fle, v. t.
Defn: To muffle up.
ENMURE
En*mure", v. t.
Defn: To immure. [Obs.]
ENNATION
En*na"tion, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The ninth segment in insects.
ENNEAD
En"ne*ad, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The number nine or a group of nine. The Enneads, the title
given to the works of the philosopher Plotinus, published by his
pupil Porphyry; -- so called because each of the six books into which
it is divided contains nine chapters.
ENNEAGON
En"ne*a*gon, n. Etym: [Gr. ennéagone.] (Geom.)
Defn: A polygon or plane figure with nine sides and nine angles; a
nonagon.
ENNEAGONAL
En`ne*ag"o*nal, a. (Geom.)
Defn: Belonging to an enneagon; having nine angles.
ENNEAGYNOUS
En`ne*ag"y*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having or producing nine pistils or styles; -- said of a flower
or plant.
ENNEAHEDRAL
En`ne*a*he"dral, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geom.)
Defn: Having nine sides.
ENNEAHEDRIA; ENNEAHEDRON
En`ne*a*he"dri*a, En`ne*a*he"dron, n. (Geom.)
Defn: A figure having nine sides; a nonagon.
ENNEANDRIA
En`ne*an"dri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. ennéandrie.] (Bot.)
Defn: A Linnæan class of plants having nine stamens.
ENNEANDRIAN; ENNEANDROUS
En`ne*an"dri*an, En`ne*an"drous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having nine stamens.
ENNEAPETALOUS
En`ne*a*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. petalous: cf. F. ennéapétale.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Having nine petals, or flower leaves.
ENNEASPERMOUS
En`ne*a*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Having nine seeds; -- said of fruits.
ENNEATIC; ENNEATICAL
En`ne*at"ic, En`ne*at"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Occurring once in every nine times, days, years, etc.; every
ninth. Enneatical day, every ninth day of a disease.
-- Enneatical year, every ninth year of a man's life.
ENNEW
En*new", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + new. Cf. Innovate.]
Defn: To make new. [Obs.] Skelton.
ENNICHE
En*niche", v. t.
Defn: To place in a niche. Sterne.
ENNOBLE
En*no"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ennobled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ennobling.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + noble: cf. F. ennoblir.]
1. To make noble; to elevate in degree, qualities, or excellence; to
dignify. "Ennobling all that he touches." Trench.
What can ennoble sots, or slaves, or cowards Alas! not all the blood
of all the Howards. Pope.
2. To raise to the rank of nobility; as, to ennoble a commoner.
Syn.
-- To raise; dignify; exalt; elevate; aggrandize.
ENNOBLEMENT
En*no"ble*ment, n.
1. The act of making noble, or of exalting, dignifying, or advancing
to nobility. Bacon.
2. That which ennobles; excellence; dignity.
ENNOBLER
En*no"bler, n.
Defn: One who ennobles.
ENNUI
En`nui", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. in odio in hatred. See Annoy.]
Defn: A feeling of weariness and disgust; dullness and languor of
spirits, arising from satiety or want of interest; tedium. T. Gray.
ENNUYE
En`nuy`é", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of ennuyer. See Ennui.]
Defn: Affected with ennui; weary in spirits; emotionally exhausted.
ENNUYE
En`nuy`é", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who is affected with ennui.
ENNUYEE
En`nuy`ée", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A woman affected with ennui. Mrs. Jameson.
ENODAL
E*nod"al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Without a node. Gray.
ENODATION
En`o*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. enodatio explanation, fr. enodare to free
from knots. See Enode.]
Defn: The act or operation of clearing of knots, or of untying;
hence, also, the solution of a difficulty. [R.] Bailey.
ENODE
E*node", v. t. Etym: [L. enodare; e out + nodare to fill with knots,
nodus a knot.]
Defn: To clear of knots; to make clear. [Obs.] Cockeram.
ENOINT
E*noint", a.
Defn: Anointed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENOMOTARCH
E*nom"o*tarch, n. Etym: [Gr. Enomoty.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The commander of an enomoty. Mitford.
ENOMOTY
E*nom"o*ty, n. Etym: [Gr. (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A band of sworn soldiers; a division of the Spartan army
ranging from twenty-five to thirty-six men, bound together by oath.
ENOPLA
En"o*pla, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the orders of Nemertina, characterized by the presence
of a peculiar armature of spines or plates in the proboscis.
ENOPTOMANCY
En*op"to*man`cy, n. Etym: [Gr. -mancy.]
Defn: Divination by the use of a mirror.
ENORM
E*norm", a. Etym: [Cf. F. énorme. See Enormous.]
Defn: Enormous. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENORMITY
E*nor"mi*ty, n.; pl. Enormities. Etym: [L. enormitas, fr. enormis
enormous: cf. F. énormité. See Enormous.]
1. The state or quality of exceeding a measure or rule, or of being
immoderate, monstrous, or outrageous.
The enormity of his learned acquisitions. De Quincey.
2. That which is enormous; especially, an exceeding offense against
order, right, or decency; an atrocious crime; flagitious villainy; an
atrocity.
These clamorous enormities which are grown too big and strong for law
or shame. South.
ENORMOUS
E*nor"mous, a. Etym: [L. enormis enormous, out of rule; e out + norma
rule: cf. F. énorme. See Normal.]
1. Exceeding the usual rule, norm, or measure; out of due proportion;
inordinate; abnormal. "Enormous bliss." Milton. "This enormous
state." Shak. "The hoop's enormous size." Jenyns.
Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait. Milton.
2. Exceedingly wicked; outrageous; atrocious; monstrous; as, an
enormous crime.
That detestable profession of a life so enormous. Bale.
Syn.
-- Huge; vast; immoderate; immense; excessive; prodigious;
monstrous.
-- Enormous, Immense, Excessive. We speak of a thing as enormous
when it overpasses its ordinary law of existence or far exceeds its
proper average or standard, and becomes -- so to speak -- abnormal in
its magnitude, degree, etc.; as, a man of enormous strength; a deed
of enormous wickedness. Immense expresses somewhat indefinitely an
immeasurable quantity or extent. Excessive is applied to what is
beyond a just measure or amount, and is always used in an evil; as,
enormous size; an enormous crime; an immense expenditure; the expanse
of ocean is immense. "Excessive levity and indulgence are ultimately
excessive rigor." V. Knox. "Complaisance becomes servitude when it is
excessive." La Rochefoucauld (Trans).
ENORMOUSLY
E*nor"mous*ly, adv.
Defn: In an enormous degree.
ENORMOUSNESS
E*nor"mous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being enormous.
ENORTHOTROPE
En*or"tho*trope, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: An optical toy; a card on which confused or imperfect figures
are drawn, but which form to the eye regular figures when the card is
rapidly revolved. See Thaumatrope.
ENOUGH
E*nough", a. Etym: [OE. inoh, inow, enogh, AS. gen, gen, a. & adv.
(akin to OS. gin, D. genoeg, OHG. ginoug, G. genug, Icel. gn, Sw.
nog, Dan. nok, Goth. gan), fr. geneah it suffices (akin to Goth.
ganah); pref. ge- + a root akin to L. nancisci to get, Skr. na, Gr.
Defn: Satisfying desire; giving content; adequate to meet the want;
sufficient; -- usually, and more elegantly, following the noun to
which it belongs.
How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to
spare! Luke xv. 17.
ENOUGH
E*nough", adv.
1. In a degree or quantity that satisfies; to satisfaction;
sufficiently.
2. Fully; quite; -- used to express slight augmentation of the
positive degree, and sometimes equivalent to very; as, he is ready
enough to embrace the offer.
I know you well enough; you are Signior Antonio. Shak.
Thou knowest well enough . . . that this is no time to lend money.
Shak.
3. In a tolerable degree; -- used to express mere acceptableness or
acquiescence, and implying a degree or quantity rather less than is
desired; as, the song was well enough.
Note: Enough usually follows the word it modifies.
ENOUGH
E*nough", n.
Defn: A sufficiency; a quantity which satisfies desire, is adequate
to the want, or is equal to the power or ability; as, he had enough
to do take care of himself. "Enough is as good as a feast."
And Esau said, I have enough, my brother. Gen. xxxiii. 9.
ENOUGH
E*nough", interj.
Defn: An exclamation denoting sufficiency, being a shortened form of
it is enough.
ENOUNCE
E*nounce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enounced; p. pr. & vb. n. Enouncing.]
Etym: [F. énoncer, L. enuntiare; e out + nuntiare to announce, fr.
nuntius messenger. See Nuncio, and cf. Enunciate.]
1. To announce; to declare; to state, as a proposition or argument.
Sir W. Hamilton.
2. To utter; to articulate.
The student should be able to enounce these [sounds] independently.
A. M. Bell.
ENOUNCEMENT
E*nounce"ment, n.
Defn: Act of enouncing; that which is enounced.
ENOW
E*now".
Defn: A form of Enough. [Archaic] Shak.
EN PASSANT
En` pas`sant". [F.]
Defn: In passing; in the course of any procedure; -- said specif.
(Chess),
Defn: of the taking of an adverse pawn which makes a first move of
two squares by a pawn already so advanced as to threaten the first of
these squares. The pawn which takes en passant is advanced to the
threatened square.
ENPATRON
En*pa"tron, v. t.
Defn: To act the part of a patron towards; to patronize. [Obs.] Shak.
ENPIERCE
En*pierce", v. t. Etym: [See Empierce.]
Defn: To pierce. [Obs.] Shak.
ENQUERE
En*quere", v. i.
Defn: To inquire. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENQUICKEN
En*quick"en, v. t.
Defn: To quicken; to make alive. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
ENQUIRE
En*quire", v. i. & t.
Defn: See Inquire.
ENQUIRER
En*quir"er, n.
Defn: See Inquirer.
ENQUIRY
En*quir"y, n.
Defn: See Inquiry.
ENRACE
En*race", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + race lineage.]
Defn: To enroot; to implant. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENRAGE
En*rage", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enraged; p. pr. & vb. n. Enraging.]
Etym: [F. enrager to be enraged; pref. en- (L. in) + rage rage. See
Rage.]
Defn: To fill with rage; to provoke to frenzy or madness; to make
furious.
Syn.
-- To irritate; incense; inflame; exasperate; provoke; anger;
madden; infuriate.
ENRAGEMENT
En*rage"ment, n.
Defn: Act of enraging or state of being enraged; excitement. [Obs.]
ENRANGE
En*range", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + range. Cf. Enrank, Arrange.]
1. To range in order; to put in rank; to arrange. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To rove over; to range. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENRANK
En*rank", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + rank.]
Defn: To place in ranks or in order. [R.] Shak.
EN RAPPORT
En` rap`port". [F.]
Defn: In accord, harmony, or sympathy; having a mutual, esp. a
private, understanding; of a hypnotic subject, being in such a mental
state as to be especially subject to the influence of a particular
person or persons.
ENRAPT
En*rapt", p. a. Etym: [Pref. en- + rapt. Cf. Enravish.]
Defn: Thrown into ecstasy; transported; enraptured. Shak.
ENRAPTURE
En*rap"ture, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enraptured; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enrapturing.]
Defn: To transport with pleasure; to delight beyond measure; to
enravish. Shenstone.
ENRAVISH
En*rav"ish, v. t.
Defn: To transport with delight; to enrapture; to fascinate. Spenser.
ENRAVISHINGLY
En*rav"ish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to throw into ecstasy.
ENRAVISHMENT
En*rav"ish*ment, n.
Defn: The state of being enravished or enraptured; ecstasy; rapture.
Glanvill.
ENREGISTER
En*reg"is*ter, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + register: cf. F. enregistrer.
Cf. Inregister.]
Defn: To register; to enroll or record; to inregister.
To read enregistered in every nook His goodness, which His beauty
doth declare. Spenser.
ENRHEUM
En*rheum", v. i. Etym: [Pref. en- + rheum: cf. F. s'enrhumer.]
Defn: To contract a rheum. [Obs.] Harvey.
ENRICH
En*rich", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enriched; p. pr. & vb. n. Enriching.]
Etym: [F. enrichir; pref. en- (L. in) + riche rich. See Rich.]
1. To make rich with any kind of wealth; to render opulent; to
increase the possessions of; as, to enrich the understanding with
knowledge.
Seeing, Lord, your great mercy Us hath enriched so openly. Chaucer's
Dream.
2. To supply with ornament; to adorn; as, to enrich a ceiling by
frescoes.
3. To make rich with manure; to fertilize; -- said of the soil; as,
to enrich land by irrigation.
4. To supply with knowledge; to instruct; to store; -- said of the
mind. Sir W. Raleigh.
ENRICHER
En*rich"er, n.
Defn: One who enriches.
ENRICHMENT
En*rich"ment, n.
Defn: The act of making rich, or that which enriches; increase of
value by improvements, embellishment, etc.; decoration;
embellishment.
ENRIDGE
En*ridge", v. t.
Defn: To form into ridges. Shak.
ENRING
En*ring", v. t.
Defn: To encircle. [R.]
The Muses and the Graces, grouped in threes, Enringed a billowing
fountain in the midst. Tennyson.
ENRIPEN
En*rip"en, v. t.
Defn: To ripen. [Obs.] Donne.
ENRIVE
En*rive", v. t.
Defn: To rive; to cleave. [Obs.]
ENROBE
En*robe", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + robe: cf. OF. enrober.]
Defn: To invest or adorn with a robe; to attire.
ENROCKMENT
En*rock"ment, n. Etym: [Pref. en- + rock.]
Defn: A mass of large stones thrown into water at random to form
bases of piers, breakwaters, etc.
ENROLL
En*roll", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enrolled; p. pr. & vb. n. Enrolling.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + roll: cf. F. enrôler; pref. en- (L. in) + rôle
roll or register. See Roll, n.] [Written also enrol.]
1. To insert in a roil; to register or enter in a list or catalogue
or on rolls of court; hence, to record; to insert in records; to
leave in writing; as, to enroll men for service; to enroll a decree
or a law; also, reflexively, to enlist.
An unwritten law of common right, so engraven in the hearts of our
ancestors, and by them so constantly enjoyed and claimed, as that it
needed not enrolling. Milton.
All the citizen capable of bearing arms enrolled themselves.
Prescott.
2. To envelop; to inwrap; to involve. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENROLLER
En*roll"er, n.
Defn: One who enrolls or registers.
ENROLLMENT
En*roll"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. enrôlement.] [Written also enrolment.]
1. The act of enrolling; registration. Holland.
2. A writing in which anything is enrolled; a register; a record. Sir
J. Davies.
ENROOT
En*root", v. t.
Defn: To fix by the root; to fix fast; to implant deep. Shak.
ENROUND
En*round", v. t.
Defn: To surround. [Obs.] Shak.
EN ROUTE
En` route". Etym: [F.]
Defn: On the way or road.
ENS
Ens, n. Etym: [L., ens, entis, a thing. See Entity.]
1. (Metaph.)
Defn: Entity, being, or existence; an actually existing being; also,
God, as the Being of Beings.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Something supposed to condense within itself all the virtues
and qualities of a substance from which it is extracted; essence.
[Obs.]
ENSAFE
En*safe", v. t.
Defn: To make safe. [Obs.] Hall.
ENSAMPLE
En*sam"ple, n. Etym: [OF. ensample, essample, F. exemple. See
Example.]
Defn: An example; a pattern or model for imitation. [Obs.] Tyndale.
Being ensamples to the flock.
ENSAMPLE
En*sam"ple, v. t.
Defn: To exemplify, to show by example. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENSANGUINE
En*san"guine, v. t.
Defn: To stain or cover with blood; to make bloody, or of a blood-red
color; as, an ensanguined hue. "The ensanguined field." Milton.
ENSATE
En"sate, a. Etym: [NL. ensatus, fr. L. ensis sword.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having sword-shaped leaves, or appendages; ensiform.
ENSCALE
En*scale", v. t.
Defn: To cover with scales.
ENSCHEDULE
En*sched"ule, v. t.
Defn: To insert in a schedule. See Schedule. [R.] Shak.
ENSCONCE
En*sconce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ensconced; imp. & p. p. Ensconcing.]
Defn: To cover or shelter, as with a sconce or fort; to place or hide
securely; to conceal.
She shall not see me: I will ensconce me behind the arras. Shak.
ENSEAL
En*seal", v. t.
Defn: To impress with a seal; to mark as with a seal; hence, to
ratify. [Obs.]
This deed I do enseal. Piers Plowman.
ENSEAM
En*seam", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + seam suture. Cf. Inseam.]
Defn: To sew up; to inclose by a seam; hence, to include; to contain.
Camden.
ENSEAM
En*seam", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + seam grease.]
Defn: To cover with grease; to defile; to pollute. [Obs.]
In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed. Shak.
ENSEAR
En*sear", v. t.
Defn: To sear; to dry up. [Obs.]
Ensear thy fertile and conceptious womb. Shak.
ENSEARCH
En*search", v. i. Etym: [OF. encerchier. See Search.]
Defn: To make search; to try to find something. [Obs.] -- v. t.
Defn: To search for. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
ENSEEL
En*seel", v. t.
Defn: To close eyes of; to seel; -- said in reference to a hawk.
[Obs.]
ENSEINT
En*seint", a. (Law)
Defn: With child; pregnant. See Enceinte. [Obs.]
ENSEMBLE
En`sem"ble, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The whole; all the parts taken together.
ENSEMBLE
En`sem"ble, adv. Etym: [F.]
Defn: All at once; together.
ENSHELTER
En*shel"ter, v. t.
Defn: To shelter. [Obs.]
ENSHIELD
En*shield", v. t.
Defn: To defend, as with a shield; to shield. [Archaic] Shak.
ENSHIELD
En*shield", a.
Defn: Shielded; enshielded. [Obs.] Shak.
ENSHRINE
En*shrine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enshrined; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enshrining.]
Defn: To inclose in a shrine or chest; hence, to preserve or cherish
as something sacred; as, to enshrine something in memory.
We will enshrine it as holy relic. Massinger.
ENSHROUD
En*shroud", v. t.
Defn: To cover with, or as with, a shroud; to shroud. Churchill.
ENSIFEROUS
En*sif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ensifer; ensis sword + ferre to bear: cf.
F. ensifère.]
Defn: Bearing a sword.
ENSIFORM
En"si*form, a. Etym: [L. ensis sword + -form: cf. F. ensiforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a sword blade; sword-shaped; as, an ensiform
leaf. Ensiform cartilage, and Ensiform process. (Anat.) See
Xiphisternum.
ENSIGN
En"sign, n. Etym: [L. enseigne, L. insignia, pl. of insigne a
distinctive mark, badge, flag; in + signum mark, sign. See Sign, and
cf. Insignia, 3d Ancient.]
1. A flag; a banner; a standard; esp., the national flag, or a banner
indicating nationality, carried by a ship or a body of soldiers; --
as distinguished from flags indicating divisions of the army, rank of
naval officers, or private signals, and the like.
Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still. Shak.
2. A signal displayed like a standard, to give notice.
He will lift an ensign to the nations from far. Is. v. 26.
3. Sign; badge of office, rank, or power; symbol.
The ensigns of our power about we bear. Waller.
4.
(a) Formerly, a commissioned officer of the army who carried the
ensign or flag of a company or regiment.
(b) A commissioned officer of the lowest grade in the navy,
corresponding to the grade of second lieutenant in the army. Ham.
Nav. Encyc.
Note: In the British army the rank of ensign was abolished in 1871.
In the United States army the rank is not recognized; the regimental
flags being carried by a sergeant called the color sergeant. Ensign
bearer, one who carries a flag; an ensign.
ENSIGN
En"sign, v. t.
1. To designate as by an ensign. [Obs.]
Henry but joined the roses that ensigned Particular families. B.
Jonson.
2. To distinguish by a mark or ornament; esp. (Her.), by a crown;
thus, any charge which has a crown immediately above or upon it, is
said to be ensigned.
ENSIGNCY
En"sign*cy, n.; pl. Ensigncies (.
Defn: The rank or office of an ensign.
ENSIGNSHIP
En"sign*ship, n.
Defn: The state or rank of an ensign.
ENSILAGE
En"si*lage, n. Etym: [F.; pref. en- (L. in) + silo. See Silo.]
1. The process of preserving fodder (such as cornstalks, rye, oats,
millet, etc.) by compressing it while green and fresh in a pit or vat
called a silo, where it is kept covered from the air; as the ensilage
of fodder.
2. The fodder preserved in a silo.
ENSILAGE
En"si*lage, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ensilaged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Ensilaging.]
Defn: To preserve in a silo; as, to ensilage cornstalks.
ENSILE
En*sile", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ensiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Ensiling.]
[F. ensiler: cf. Sp. ensilar. See Silo.]
Defn: To store (green fodder) in a silo; to prepare as silage. --
En"si*list (#), n.
ENSKY
En*sky", v. t.
Defn: To place in the sky or in heaven. [R.] "A thing enskied and
sainted." Shak.
ENSLAVE
En*slave", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enslaved; p. pr. & vb. n. Enslaving.]
Defn: To reduce to slavery; to make a slave of; to subject to a
dominant influence.
The conquer'd, also, and enslaved by war, Shall, with their freedom
lost, all virtue lose. Milton.
Pleasure admitted in undue degree Enslaves the will. Cowper.
ENSLAVEDNESS
En*slav"ed*ness, n.
Defn: State of being enslaved.
ENSLAVEMENT
En*slave"ment, n.
Defn: The act of reducing to slavery; state of being enslaved;
bondage; servitude.
A fresh enslavement to their enemies. South.
ENSLAVER
En*slav"er, n.
Defn: One who enslaves. Swift.
ENSNARE
En*snare", v. t.
Defn: To catch in a snare. See Insnare.
ENSNARL
En*snarl", v. t.
Defn: To entangle. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENSOBER
En*so"ber, v. t.
Defn: To make sober. [Obs.]
Sad accidents to ensober his spirits. Jer. Taylor.
ENSOUL
En*soul", v. t.
Defn: To indue or imbue (a body) with soul. [R.] Emerson.
ENSPHERE
En*sphere", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + sphere. Cf. Insphere.]
1. To place in a sphere; to envelop.
His ample shoulders in a cloud ensphered. Chapman.
2. To form into a sphere.
ENSTAMP
En*stamp", v. t.
Defn: To stamp; to mark as
It is the motive . . . which enstamps the character. Gogan.
ENSTATE
En*state", v. t.
Defn: See Instate.
ENSTATITE
En"sta*tite, n. Etym: [Named fr. Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of the pyroxene group, orthorhombic in
crystallization; often fibrous and massive; color grayish white or
greenish. It is a silicate of magnesia with some iron. Bronzite is a
ferriferous variety.
ENSTATITIC
En`sta*tit"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to enstatite.
ENSTORE
En*store", v. t. Etym: [See Instaurate.]
Defn: To restore. [Obs.] Wyclif.
ENSTYLE
En*style", v. t.
Defn: To style; to name. [Obs.]
ENSUABLE
En*su"a*ble, a.
Defn: Ensuing; following.
ENSUE
En*sue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ensued; p. pr. & vb. n. Ensuing.] Etym:
[OF. ensevre, OF. & F. ensuivre, fr. L. insequi; in + sequi to
pursue. See Sue.]
Defn: To follow; to pursue; to follow and overtake. [Obs.] "Seek
peace, and ensue it." 1 Pet. iii. 11.
To ensue his example in doing the like mischief. Golding.
ENSUE
En*sue", v. i.
Defn: To follow or come afterward; to follow as a consequence or in
chronological succession; to result; as, an ensuing conclusion or
effect; the year ensuing was a cold one.
So spoke the Dame, but no applause ensued. Pope.
Damage to the mind or the body, or to both, ensues, unless the
exciting cause be presently removed. I. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To follow; pursue; succeed. See Follow.
ENSURE
En*sure", v. t.
1. To make sure. See Insure.
2. To betroth. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
ENSURER
En*sur"er, n.
Defn: See Insurer.
ENSWATHE
En*swathe", v. t.
Defn: To swathe; to envelop, as in swaddling clothes. Shak.
ENSWATHEMENT
En*swathe"ment, n.
Defn: The act of enswathing, or the state of being enswathed.
ENSWEEP
En*sweep", v. t.
Defn: To sweep over or across; to pass over rapidly. [R.] Thomson.
ENT-
Ent-.
Defn: A prefix signifying within. See Ento-.
-ENT
-ent. Etym: [F. -ent, L. -ens, -entis.]
Defn: An adjective suffix signifying action or being; as, corrodent,
excellent, emergent, continent, quiescent. See -ant.
ENTABLATURE
En*tab"la*ture, n. Etym: [OF. entablature: cf. It intavolatura, fr.
LL. intabulare to construct a basis; L. in + tabulatum board work,
flooring, fr. tabula. See Table.] (Arch.)
Defn: The superstructure which lies horizontally upon the columns.
See Illust. of Column, Cornice.
Note: It is commonly divided into architrave, the part immediately
above the column; frieze, the central space; and cornice, the upper
projecting moldings. Parker.
ENTABLEMENT
En*tab"le*ment, n. Etym: [F. entablement, LL. intabulamentum.]
Defn: See Entablature. [R.] Evelyn.
ENTACKLE
En*tac"kle, v. t.
Defn: To supply with tackle. [Obs.] Skelton.
ENTAD
En"tad, adv. Etym: [Ent- + L. ad towards.] (Anat.)
Defn: Toward the inside or central part; away from the surface; --
opposed to ectad. B. G. Wilder.
ENTAIL
En*tail", n. Etym: [OE. entaile carving, OF. entaille, F., an
incision, fr. entailler to cut away; pref. en- (L. in) + tailler to
cut; LL. feudum talliatum a fee entailed, i. e., curtailed or
limited. See Tail limitation, Tailor.]
1. That which is entailed. Hence: (Law)
(a) An estate in fee entailed, or limited in descent to a particular
class of issue.
(b) The rule by which the descent is fixed.
A power of breaking the ancient entails, and of alienating their
estates. Hume.
2. Delicately carved ornamental work; intaglio. [Obs.] "A work of
rich entail." Spenser.
ENTAIL
En*tail", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Entailing.]
Etym: [OE. entailen to carve, OF. entailler. See Entail, n.]
1. To settle or fix inalienably on a person or thing, or on a person
and his descendants or a certain line of descendants; -- said
especially of an estate; to bestow as an heritage.
Allowing them to entail their estates. Hume.
I here entail The crown to thee and to thine heirs forever. Shak.
2. To appoint hereditary possessor. [Obs.]
To entail him and his heirs unto the crown. Shak.
3. To cut or carve in a ornamental way. [Obs.]
Entailed with curious antics. Spenser.
ENTAILMENT
En*tail"ment, n.
1. The act of entailing or of giving, as an estate, and directing the
mode of descent.
2. The condition of being entailed.
3. A thing entailed.
Brutality as an hereditary entailment becomes an ever weakening
force. R. L. Dugdale.
ENTAL
En"tal, a. Etym: [See Ent-.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or situated near, central or deep parts; inner;
-- opposed to ectal. B. G. Wilder.
ENTAME
En*tame", v. t.
Defn: To tame. [Obs.] Shak.
ENTANGLE
En*tan"gle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entangled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entangling.]
1. To twist or interweave in such a manner as not to be easily
separated; to make tangled, confused, and intricate; as, to entangle
yarn or the hair.
2. To involve in such complications as to render extrication a
bewildering difficulty; hence, metaphorically, to insnare; to
perplex; to bewilder; to puzzle; as, to entangle the feet in a net,
or in briers. "Entangling alliances." Washington.
The difficulties that perplex men's thoughts and entangle their
understandings. Locke.
Allowing her to entangle herself with a person whose future was so
uncertain. Froude.
ENTANGLEMENT
En*tan"gle*ment, n.
Defn: State of being entangled; intricate and confused involution;
that which entangles; intricacy; perplexity.
ENTANGLER
En*tan"gler, n.
Defn: One that entangles.
ENTASIA
En*ta"si*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Entasis.] (Med.)
Defn: Tonic spasm; -- applied generically to denote any disease
characterized by tonic spasms, as tetanus, trismus, etc.
ENTASIS
En"ta*sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: A slight convex swelling of the shaft of a column.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Same as Entasia.
ENTASSMENT
En*tass"ment, n. Etym: [F. entassement, fr. entasser to heap up.]
Defn: A heap; accumulation. [R.]
ENTASTIC
En*tas"tic, a. Etym: [Formed as if fr. (assumed) Gr. Entasis.] (Med.)
Defn: Relating to any disease characterized by tonic spasms.
ENTELECHY
En*tel"e*chy, n. Etym: [L. entelechia, Gr. (Peripatetic Philos.)
Defn: An actuality; a conception completely actualized, in
distinction from mere potential existence.
ENTELLUS
En*tel"lus, n. Etym: [NL., the specific name, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An East Indian long-tailed bearded monkey (Semnopithecus
entellus) regarded as sacred by the natives. It is remarkable for the
caplike arrangement of the hair on the head. Called also hoonoomaun
and hungoor.
ENTEND
En*tend", v. i. Etym: [F. entendre, fr. L. intendere. See Intend.]
Defn: To attend to; to apply one's self to. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENTENDER
En*ten"der, v. t.
1. To make tender. [R.] Jer. Taylor.
2. To treat with tenderness. [R.] Young.
ENTENTIVE
En*ten"tive, a. Etym: [OF. ententif.]
Defn: Attentive; zealous. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENTER-
En"ter-. Etym: [F. entre between, fr. L. inter. See Inter-]
Defn: A prefix signifying between, among, part.
ENTER
En"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entered; p. pr. & vb. n. Entering.] Etym:
[OE. entren, enteren, F. entrer, fr. L. intrare, fr. intro inward,
contr. fr. intero (sc. loco), fr. inter in between, between. See
Inter-, In, and cf. Interior.]
1. To come or go into; to pass into the interior of; to pass within
the outer cover or shell of; to penetrate; to pierce; as, to enter a
house, a closet, a country, a door, etc.; the river enters the sea.
That darksome cave they enter. Spenser.
I, . . . with the multitude of my redeemed, Shall enter heaven, long
absent. Milton.
2. To unite in; to join; to be admitted to; to become a member of;
as, to enter an association, a college, an army.
3. To engage in; to become occupied with; as, to enter the legal
profession, the book trade, etc.
4. To pass within the limits of; to attain; to begin; to commence
upon; as, to enter one's teens, a new era, a new dispensation.
5. To cause to go (into), or to be received (into); to put in; to
insert; to cause to be admitted; as, to enter a knife into a piece of
wood, a wedge into a log; to enter a boy at college, a horse for a
race, etc.
6. To inscribe; to enroll; to record; as, to enter a name, or a date,
in a book, or a book in a catalogue; to enter the particulars of a
sale in an account, a manifest of a ship or of merchandise at the
customhouse.
7. (Law)
(a) To go into or upon, as lands, and take actual possession of them.
(b) To place in regular form before the court, usually in writing; to
put upon record in proper from and order; as, to enter a writ,
appearance, rule, or judgment. Burrill.
8. To make report of (a vessel or her cargo) at the customhouse; to
submit a statement of (imported goods), with the original invoices,
to the proper officer of the customs for estimating the duties. See
Entry,
4.
9. To file or inscribe upon the records of the land office the
required particulars concerning (a quantity of public land) in order
to entitle a person to a right pf preëmption. [U.S.] Abbott.
10. To deposit for copyright the title or description of (a book,
picture, map, etc.); as, "entered according to act of Congress."
11. To initiate; to introduce favorably. [Obs.] Shak.
ENTER
En"ter, v. i.
1. To go or come in; -- often with in used pleonastically; also, to
begin; to take the first steps. "The year entering." Evelyn.
No evil thing approach nor enter in. Milton.
Truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Is. lix. 14.
For we which have believed do enter into rest. Heb. iv. 3.
2. To get admission; to introduce one's self; to penetrate; to form
or constitute a part; to become a partaker or participant; to share;
to engage; -- usually with into; sometimes with on or upon; as, a
ball enters into the body; water enters into a ship; he enters into
the plan; to enter into a quarrel; a merchant enters into partnership
with some one; to enter upon another's land; the boy enters on his
tenth year; to enter upon a task; lead enters into the composition of
pewter.
3. To penetrate mentally; to consider attentively; -- with into.
He is particularly pleased with . . . Sallust for his entering into
internal principles of action. Addison.
ENTERADENOGRAPHY
En`ter*ad`e*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.]
Defn: A treatise upon, or description of, the intestinal glands.
ENTERADENOLOGY
En`ter*ad`e*nol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the glands of the alimentary canal.
ENTERALGIA
En`ter*al"gi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. entéralgie.] (Med.)
Defn: Pain in the intestines; colic.
ENTERDEAL
En"ter*deal`, n. Etym: [Enter- + deal.]
Defn: Mutual dealings; intercourse. [Obs.]
The enterdeal of princes strange. Spenser.
ENTERER
En"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who makes an entrance or beginning. A. Seward.
ENTERIC
En*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Enteritis.] (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the enteron, or alimentary canal;
intestinal. Enteric fever (Med.), typhoid fever.
ENTERING EDGE; ENTRANT EDGE
En"ter*ing edge or En"trant edge.
Defn: = Advancing edge.
ENTERITIS
En`te*ri"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: An inflammation of the intestines. Hoblyn.
ENTERLACE
En`ter*lace", v. t.
Defn: See Interlace.
ENTERMETE
En`ter*mete", v. i. Etym: [F. s'entremettre; entre between + mettre
to place.]
Defn: To interfere; to intermeddle. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENTERMEWER
En"ter*mew`er, n. Etym: [Enter- + mew to molt.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hawk gradually changing the color of its feathers, commonly
in the second year.
ENTERMISE
En`ter*mise", n. Etym: [F. entremise, fr. s'entremettre. See
Entermete.]
Defn: Mediation. [Obs.]
ENTEROCELE
En"ter*o*cele`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A hernial tumor whose contents are intestine.
ENTEROCOELE
En"ter*o*coele`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A perivisceral cavity which arises as an outgrowth or
outgrowths from the digestive tract; distinguished from a
schizocoele, which arises by a splitting of the mesoblast of the
embryo.
ENTEROGRAPHY
En`ter*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy.] (Anat.)
Defn: A treatise upon, or description of, the intestines; enterology.
ENTEROLITH
En"ter*o*lith, n. Etym: [Gr. -lith.] (Med.)
Defn: An intestinal concretion.
ENTEROLOGY
En`ter*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy: cf. F. entérologie.]
Defn: The science which treats of the viscera of the body.
ENTERON
En"te*ron, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The whole alimentary, or enteric, canal.
ENTEROPATHY
En`ter*op"a*thy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Disease of the intestines.
ENTEROPNEUSTA
En`te*rop*neus"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of wormlike invertebrates having, along the sides of
the body, branchial openings for the branchial sacs, which are formed
by diverticula of the alimentary canal. Balanoglossus is the only
known genus. See Illustration in Appendix.
ENTERORRHAPHY
En`ter*or"rha*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The operation of sewing up a rent in the intestinal canal.
ENTEROTOME
En"ter*o*tome, n. Etym: [F. entérotome. See Enterotomy.] (Med.)
Defn: A kind of scissors used for opening the intestinal canal, as in
post-mortem examinations.
ENTEROTOMY
En`ter*ot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Incision of the intestines, especially in reducing certain
cases of hernia.
ENTERPARLANCE
En`ter*par"lance, n.
Defn: Mutual talk or conversation; conference. [Obs.] Sir J. Hayward.
ENTERPLEAD
En`ter*plead", v. i.
Defn: Same as Interplead.
ENTERPRISE
En"ter*prise, n. Etym: [F. enterprise, fr. entreprendre to undertake;
entre between (L. inter) + prendre to take. See Inter, and Emprise.]
1. That which is undertaken; something attempted to be performed; a
work projected which involves activity, courage, energy, and the
like; a bold, arduous, or hazardous attempt; an undertaking; as, a
manly enterprise; a warlike enterprise. Shak.
Their hands can not perform their enterprise. Job v. 12.
2. Willingness or eagerness to engage in labor which requires
boldness, promptness, energy, and like qualities; as, a man of great
enterprise.
ENTERPRISE
En"ter*prise, v. t.
1. To undertake; to begin and attempt to perform; to venture upon.
[R.]
The business must be enterprised this night. Dryden.
What would I not renounce or enterprise for you! T. Otway.
2. To treat with hospitality; to entertain. [Obs.]
Him at the threshold met, and well did enterprise. Spenser.
ENTERPRISE
En"ter*prise, v. i.
Defn: To undertake an enterprise, or something hazardous or
difficult. [R.] Pope.
ENTERPRISER
En"ter*pri`ser, n.
Defn: One who undertakes enterprises. Sir J. Hayward.
ENTERPRISING
En"ter*pri`sing, a.
Defn: Having a disposition for enterprise; characterized by
enterprise; resolute, active or prompt to attempt; as, an
enterprising man or firm.
-- En"ter*pri`sing*ly, adv.
ENTERTAIN
En`ter*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entertained; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entertaining.] Etym: [F. entretenir; entre between (L. inter) + tenir
to hold, L. tenere. See Tenable.]
1. To be at the charges of; to take or keep in one's service; to
maintain; to support; to harbor; to keep.
You, sir, I entertain for one of my hundred. Shak.
2. To give hospitable reception and maintenance to; to receive at
one's board, or into one's house; to receive as a guest.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have
entertained unawares. Heb. xiii. 2.
3. To engage the attention of agreeably; to amuse with that which
makes the time pass pleasantly; to divert; as, to entertain friends
with conversation, etc.
The weary time she can not entertain. Shak.
4. To give reception to; to receive, in general; to receive and take
into consideration; to admit, treat, or make use of; as, to entertain
a proposal.
I am not here going to entertain so large a theme as the philosophy
of Locke. De Quincey.
A rumor gained ground, -- and, however absurd, was entertained by
some very sensible people. Hawthorne.
5. To meet or encounter, as an enemy. [Obs.] Shak.
6. To keep, hold, or maintain in the mind with favor; to keep in the
mind; to harbor; to cherish; as, to entertain sentiments.
7. To lead on; to bring along; to introduce. [Obs.]
To baptize all nations, and entertain them into the services
institutions of the holy Jesus. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To amuse; divert; maintain. See Amuse.
ENTERTAIN
En`ter*tain", v. i.
Defn: To receive, or provide entertainment for, guests; as, he
entertains generously.
ENTERTAIN
En`ter*tain", n. Etym: [Cf. F. entretien, fr. entretenir.]
Defn: Entertainment. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENTERTAINER
En`ter*tain"er, n.
Defn: One who entertains.
ENTERTAINING
En`ter*tain"ing, a.
Defn: Affording entertainment; pleasing; amusing; diverting.
-- En`ter*tain"ing*ly, adv.
-- En`ter*tain"ing*ness, n.
ENTERTAINMENT
En`ter*tain"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. entretenement.]
1. The act of receiving as host, or of amusing, admitting, or
cherishing; hospitable reception; also, reception or treatment, in
general.
The entertainment of Christ by faith. Baxter.
The sincere entertainment and practice of the precepts of the gospel.
Bp. Sprat.
2. That which entertains, or with which one is entertained; as: (a)
Hospitality; hospitable provision for the wants of a guest;
especially, provision for the table; a hospitable repast; a feast; a
formal or elegant meal. (b) That which engages the attention
agreeably, amuses or diverts, whether in private, as by conversation,
etc., or in public, by performances of some kind; amusement.
Theatrical entertainments conducted with greater elegance and
refinement. Prescott.
3. Admission into service; service.
Some band of strangers in the adversary's entertainment. Shak.
4. Payment of soldiers or servants; wages. [Obs.]
The entertainment of the general upon his first arrival was but six
shillings and eight pence. Sir J. Davies.
Syn.
-- Amusement; diversion; recreation; pastime; sport; feast; banquet;
repast; carousal.
ENTERTAKE
En`ter*take", v. t.
Defn: To entertain. [Obs.]
ENTERTISSUED
En`ter*tis"sued, a.
Defn: Same as Intertissued.
ENTHEAL; ENTHEAN
En"the*al, En"the*an, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Divinely inspired; wrought up to enthusiasm. [Obs.]
ENTHEASM
En"the*asm, n.
Defn: Inspiration; enthusiasm. [R.] "Religious entheasm." Byron.
ENTHEASTIC
En`the*as"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Entheal.]
Defn: Of godlike energy; inspired.
-- En`the*as"tic*al*ly, adv.
ENTHEAT
En"the*at, a. Etym: [Cf. L. entheatus, fr. Gr.
Defn: Divinely inspired. [Obs.] Drummond.
ENTHELMINTHA; ENTHELMINTHES
En`thel*min"tha, En`thel*min"thes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Intestinal worms. See Helminthes.
ENTHETIC
En*the"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Caused by a morbifie virus implanted in the system; as, an
enthetic disease like syphilis.
ENTHRALL
En*thrall", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + thrall. Cf. Inthrall.] [Written
also enthral.]
Defn: To hold in thrall; to enslave. See Inthrall.
The bars survive the captive they enthrall. Byron.
ENTHRALLMENT
En*thrall"ment, n.
Defn: The act of enthralling, or state of being enthralled. See
Inthrallment.
ENTHRILL
En*thrill", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + thrill.]
Defn: To pierce; to thrill. [Obs.] Sackville.
ENTHRONE
En*throne", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + throne: cf. OF. enthroner. Cf.
Inthronize.]
1. To seat on a throne; to exalt to the seat of royalty or of high
authority; hence, to invest with sovereign authority or dignity.
Beneath a sculptured arch he sits enthroned. Pope.
It [mercy] is enthroned in the hearts of kings. Shak.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: To induct, as a bishop, into the powers and privileges of a
vacant see.
ENTHRONEMENT
En*throne"ment, n.
Defn: The act of enthroning, or state of being enthroned. [Recent]
ENTHRONIZATION
En*thron`i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of enthroning; hence, the admission of a bishop to his
stall or throne in his cathedral.
ENTHRONIZE
En*thron"ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enthronized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enthronizing.] Etym: [See Inthronize.]
Defn: To place on a throne; hence, to induct into office, as a
bishop.
There openly enthronized as the very elected king. Knolles.
ENTHUSE
En*thuse", v. t. & i.
Defn: To make or become enthusiastic. [Slang]
ENTHUSIASM
En*thu"si*asm, n. Etym: [Gr. enthousiasme. See Entheal, Theism.]
1. Inspiration as if by a divine or superhuman power; ecstasy; hence,
a conceit of divine possession and revelation, or of being directly
subject to some divine impulse.
Enthusiasm is founded neither on reason nor divine revelation, but
rises from the conceits of a warmed or overweening imagination.
Locke.
2. A state of impassioned emotion; transport; elevation of fancy;
exaltation of soul; as, the poetry of enthusiasm.
Resolutions adopted in enthusiasm are often repented of when
excitement has been succeeded by the wearing duties of hard everyday
routine. Froude.
Exhibiting the seeming contradiction of susceptibility to enthusiasm
and calculating shrewdness. Bancroft.
3. Enkindled and kindling fervor of soul; strong excitement of
feeling on behalf of a cause or a subject; ardent and imaginative
zeal or interest; as, he engaged in his profession with enthusiasm.
Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Emerson.
4. Lively manifestation of joy or zeal.
Philip was greeted with a tumultuous enthusiasm. Prescott.
ENTHUSIAST
En*thu"si*ast, n. Etym: [Gr. enthousiaste.]
Defn: One moved or actuated by enthusiasm; as: (a) One who imagines
himself divinely inspired, or possessed of some special revelation; a
religious madman; a fanatic. (b) One whose mind is wholly possessed
and heated by what engages it; one who is influenced by a peculiar;
fervor of mind; an ardent and imaginative person.
Enthusiasts soon understand each other. W. Irving.
Syn.
-- Visionary; fanatic; devotee; zealot.
ENTHUSIASTIC; ENTHUSIASTICAL
En*thu`si*as"tic, En*thu`si*as"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Filled with enthusiasm; characterized by enthusiasm; zealous;
as, an enthusiastic lover of art. "Enthusiastical raptures." Calamy.
-- En*thu`si*as"tic*al*ly, adv.
A young man . . . of a visionary and enthusiastic character. W.
Irving.
ENTHUSIASTIC
En*thu`si*as"tic, n.
Defn: An enthusiast; a zealot. [Obs.]
ENTHYMEMATIC; ENTHYMEMATICAL
En`thy*me*mat"ic, En`thy*me*mat"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or of the form of, an enthymeme.
ENTHYMEME
En"thy*meme, n. Etym: [Gr. (Logic)
Defn: An argument consisting of only two propositions, an antecedent
and consequent deduced from it; a syllogism with one premise omitted;
as, We are dependent; therefore we should be humble. Here the major
proposition is suppressed. The complete syllogism would be, Dependent
creatures should be humble; we are dependent creatures; therefore we
should be humble.
ENTICE
En*tice", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enticed; p. pr. & vb. n. Enticing.]
Etym: [OE. entisen, enticen, OF. enticier, entichier; pref. en- (L.
in) + a word of uncertain origin, cf. OF. atisier to stir a fire,
provoke, L. titio firebrand, or MHG. zicken to push.]
Defn: To draw on, by exciting hope or desire; to allure; to attract;
as, the bait enticed the fishes. Often in a bad sense: To lead
astray; to induce to evil; to tempt; as, the sirens enticed them to
listen.
Roses blushing as they blow, And enticing men to pull. Beau. & Fl.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Prov. i. 10.
Go, and thine erring brother gain, Entice him home to be forgiven.
Keble.
Syn.
-- To allure; lure; coax; decoy; seduce; tempt; inveigle; incite;
persuade; prevail on. See Allure.
ENTICEABLE
En*tice"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being enticed.
ENTICEMENT
En*tice"ment, n. Etym: [OF. enticement.]
1. The act or practice of alluring or tempting; as, the enticements
of evil companions.
2. That which entices, or incites to evil; means of allurement;
alluring object; as, an enticement to sin.
Syn.
-- Allurement; attraction; temptation; seduction; inveiglement;
persuasion; inducement.
ENTICER
En*ti"cer, n.
Defn: One who entices; one who incites or allures to evil. Burton.
ENTICING
En*ti"cing, a.
Defn: That entices; alluring.
ENTICINGLY
En*ti"cing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an enticing manner; charmingly. "She . . . sings most
enticingly." Addison.
ENTIERTY
En*tier"ty, n.
Defn: See Entirety. [Obs.]
ENTIRE
En*tire", a. Etym: [F. entier, L. integer untouched, undiminished,
entire; pref. in-, negative + the root of tangere to touch. See
Tangent, and cf. Integer.]
1. Complete in all parts; undivided; undiminished; whole; full and
perfect; not deficient; as, the entire control of a business; entire
confidence, ignorance.
That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. James i. 4.
With strength entire and free will armed. Milton.
One entire and perfect chrysolite. Shak.
2. Without mixture or alloy of anything; unqualified; morally whole;
pure; faithful.
Pure fear and entire cowardice. Shak.
No man had ever a heart more entire to the king. Clarendon.
3. (Bot.)
(a) Consisting of a single piece, as a corolla.
(b) Having an evenly continuous edge, as a leaf which has no kind of
teeth.
4. Not gelded; -- said of a horse.
5. Internal; interior. [Obs.] Spenser.
Syn.
-- See Whole, and Radical.
ENTIRE
En*tire", n.
1. Entirely. "Too long to print in entire." Thackeray.
2. (Brewing)
Defn: A name originally given to a kind of beer combining qualities
of different kinds of beer. [Eng.] "Foker's Entire." Thackeray.
ENTIRELY
En*tire"ly, adv.
1. In an entire manner; wholly; completely; fully; as, the trace is
entirely lost.
Euphrates falls not entirely into the Persian Sea. Raleigh.
2. Without alloy or mixture; truly; sincerely.
To highest God entirely pray. Spenser.
ENTIRENESS
En*tire"ness, n.
1. The state or condition of being entire; completeness; fullness;
totality; as, the entireness of an arch or a bridge.
This same entireness or completeness. Trench.
2. Integrity; wholeness of heart; honesty. [R.]
Entireness in preaching the gospel. Udall.
3. Oneness; unity; -- applied to a condition of intimacy or close
association. [Obs.]
True Christian love may be separated from acquaintance, and
acquaintance from entireness. Bp. Hall.
ENTIRETY
En*tire"ty, n.; pl. Entireness. Etym: [OF. entiereté. Cf. Integrity.]
1. The state of being entire; completeness; as, entirely of interest.
Blackstone.
2. That which is entire; the whole. Bacon.
ENTIRE-WHEAT
En*tire"-wheat", a.
Defn: Designating, made of, or relating to, flour including a
considerable part of the bran.
ENTITATIVE
En"ti*ta*tive, a. Etym: [See Entity.]
Defn: Considered as pure entity; abstracted from all circumstances.
Ellis.
-- En"ti*ta*tive*ly, adv.
ENTITLE
En*ti"tle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entitled; p. pr. & vb. n. Entitling.]
Etym: [OF. entituler, F. intituler, LL. intitulare, fr. L. in +
titulus title. See Title, and cf. Intitule.]
1. To give a title to; to affix to as a name or appellation; hence,
also, to dignify by an honorary designation; to denominate; to call;
as, to entitle a book "Commentaries;" to entitle a man "Honorable."
That which . . . we entitle patience. Shak.
2. To give a claim to; to qualify for, with a direct object of the
person, and a remote object of the thing; to furnish with grounds for
seeking or claiming with success; as, an officer's talents entitle
him to command.
3. To attribute; to ascribe. [Obs.]
The ancient proverb . . . entitles this work . . . peculiarly to God
himself. Milton.
Syn.
-- To name; designate; style; characterize; empower; qualify;
enable; fit.
ENTITULE
En*tit"ule, v. t. Etym: [See Entitle.]
Defn: To entitle. B. Jonson.
ENTITY
En"ti*ty, n.; pl. Entities. Etym: [LL. entitas, fr. L. ens, entis,
thing, prop. p. pr. of esse to be: cf. F. entité. See Essence, Is.]
Defn: A real being, whether in thought (as an ideal conception) or in
fact; being; essence; existence.
Self-subsisting entities, such as our own personality. Shairp.
Fortune is no real entity, . . . but a mere relative signification.
Bentley.
ENTO-
En"to-. Etym: [Gr. In.]
Defn: A combining form signifying within; as, entoblast.
ENTOBLAST
En"to*blast, n. Etym: [Ento- + -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: The inner germ layer; endoderm. See Nucleolus.
ENTOBRONCHIUM
En`to*bron"chi*um, n.; pl. Entobronchia. Etym: [See Ento-, and
Bronchia.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the main bronchi in the lungs of birds.
ENTOCUNEIFORM; ENTOCUNIFORM
En`to*cu*ne"i*form, En`to*cu"ni*form, n. Etym: [Ento- + cuneiform,
cuniform.] (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones of the tarsus. See Cuneiform.
ENTODERM
En"to*derm, n. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Endoderm, and Illust. of Blastoderm.
ENTODERMAL; ENTODERMIC
En`to*der"mal, En`to*der"mic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Relating to the entoderm.
ENTOGASTRIC
En`to*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the interior of the stomach; -- applied to a mode
of budding from the interior of the gastric cavity, in certain
hydroids.
ENTOGENOUS
En*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Ento- + -genous.] (Biol.)
Defn: See Endogenous.
ENTOGLOSSAL
En`to*glos"sal, a. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Within the tongue; -- applied to the glossohyal bone.
ENTOIL
En*toil", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entoiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Entoiling.]
Defn: To take with toils or bring into toils; to insnare. [R.]
Entoiled in woofed phantasies. Keats.
ENTOMB
En*tomb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entombed; p. pr. & vb. n. Entombing.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + tomb: cf. OF. entomber.]
Defn: To deposit in a tomb, as a dead body; to bury; to inter; to
inhume. Hooker.
ENTOMBMENT
En*tomb"ment, n.
Defn: The act of entombing or burying, or state of being entombed;
burial. Barrow.
ENTOMERE
En"to*mere, n. Etym: [Ento- + -mere.] (Biol.)
Defn: The more granular cells, which finally become internal, in many
segmenting ova, as those of mammals.
ENTOMIC; ENTOMICAL
En*tom"ic, En*tom"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. Entomology.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to insects; entomological.
ENTOMOID
En"to*moid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Resembling an insect.
-- n.
Defn: An object resembling an insect.
ENTOMOLIN
En*tom"o*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: See Chitin.
ENTOMOLITE
En*tom"o*lite, n. Etym: [Gr. -lite.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil insect.
ENTOMOLOGIC; ENTOMOLOGICAL
En`to*mo*log"ic, En`to*mo*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. entomologique.]
Defn: Of or relating to entomology.
-- En`to*mo*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ENTOMOLOGIST
En`to*mol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. entomologiste.]
Defn: One versed in entomology.
ENTOMOLOGIZE
En`to*mol"o*gize, v. i.
Defn: To collect specimens in the study of entomology. C. Kingsley.
ENTOMOLOGY
En`to*mol"o*gy, n.; pl. Entomologies. Etym: [Gr. 'e`ntomon insect (so
called because nearly cut in two, fr. 'e`ntomos cut in; 'en in +
te`mnein to cut) + -logy: cf. F. entomologie. See In, and Tome, and
cf. Insect.]
1. That part of zoölogy which treats of insects.
2. A treatise on the science of entomology.
ENTOMOPHAGA
En`to*moph"a*ga, n.; pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'e`ntomon an insect +
fagei^n to eat.] (Zoöl.)
1. One of a group of hymenopterous insects whose larvæ feed
parasitically upon living insects. See Ichneumon,
2.
2. A group of marsupials which are partly insectivorous, as the
opossum.
3. A group of edentates, including the ant-eaters.
ENTOMOPHAGAN
En`to*moph"a*gan, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to the Entomophaga.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Entomophaga.
ENTOMOPHAGOUS
En`to*moph"a*gous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Feeding on insects; insectivorous.
ENTOMOPHILOUS
En`to*moph"i*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Fertilized by the agency of insects; -- said of plants in which
the pollen is carried to the stigma by insects.
ENTOMOSTRACA
En`to*mos"tra*ca, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the subclasses of Crustacea, including a large number of
species, many of them minute. The group embraces several orders; as
the Phyllopoda, Ostracoda, Copepoda, and Pectostraca. See Copepoda,
Phyllopoda, and Cladocera.
ENTOMOSTRACAN
En`to*mos"tra*can, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Relating to the Entomostraca.
-- n.
Defn: One of the Entomostraca.
ENTOMOSTRACOUS
En`to*mos"tra*cous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Belonging to the Entomostracans.
ENTOMOTOMIST
En`to*mot"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who practices entomotomy.
ENTOMOTOMY
En`to*mot"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The science of the dissection of insects.
ENTONIC
En*ton"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Entasis.] (Med.)
Defn: Having great tension, or exaggerated action. Dunglison.
ENTOPERIPHERAL
En`to*pe*riph"er*al, a. Etym: [Ento- + peripheral.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Being, or having its origin, within the external surface of the
body; -- especially applied to feelings, such as hunger, produced by
internal disturbances. Opposed to epiperipheral.
ENTOPHYTE
En"to*phyte, n. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A vegetable parasite subsisting in the interior of the body.
ENTOPHYTIC
En`to*phyt"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to entophytes; as, an entophytic disease.
ENTOPLASM
En"to*plasm, n. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Biol.)
(a) The inner granular layer of protoplasm in a developing ovum.
(b) Endosarc.
ENTOPLASTIC
En`to*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Ento- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, entoplasm; as, the entoplastic
products of some Protozoa, or the entoplastic modification of the
cell protoplasm, by which a nucleus is produced.
ENTOPLASTRON
En`to*plas"tron, n.; pl. Entoplastra. Etym: [Ento- + plastron.]
(Anat.)
Defn: The median plate of the plastron of turtles; -- called also
entosternum.
ENTOPROCTA
En`to*proc"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Bryozoa in which the anus is within the circle of
tentacles. See Pedicellina.
ENTOPTIC
Ent*op"tic, a. Etym: [Ent- + optic.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Relating to objects situated within the eye; esp., relating to
the perception of objects in one's own eye.
ENTORGANISM
Ent*or"gan*ism, n. Etym: [Ent- + organism.] (Biol.)
Defn: An internal parasitic organism.
ENTORTILATION
En*tor`ti*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. entortiller to twist; pref. en- (L.
in) + tortiller to twist.]
Defn: A turning into a circle; round figures. [Obs.] Donne.
ENTOSTERNUM
En`to*ster"num, n.; pl. Entosterna. Etym: [NL. See Ento-, and
Sternum.] (Anat.)
Defn: See Entoplastron.
-- En`to*ster"nal, a.
ENTOSTHOBLAST
En*tos"tho*blast, n. Etym: [Gr. 'e`ntosthe from within + -blast.]
(Biol.)
Defn: The granule within the nucleolus or entoblast of a nucleated
cell. Agassiz.
ENTOTHORAX
En`to*tho"rax, n. Etym: [Ento- + thorax.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Endothorax.
ENTOTIC
Ent*ot"ic, a. Etym: [Ent- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the interior of the ear.
ENTOURAGE
En`tou`rage" (äN`too`razh"), n. [F.]
Defn: Surroundings; specif., collectively, one's attendants or
associates.
The entourage and mode of life of the mikados were not such as to
make of them able rulers.
B. H. Chamberlain.
ENTOZOA
En`to*zo"a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
1. A group of worms, including the tapeworms, flukes, roundworms,
etc., most of which live parasitically in the interior of other
animals; the Helminthes.
2. An artificial group, including all kinds of animals living
parasitically in others.
ENTOZOAL; ENTOZOIC
En`to*zo"al, En`to*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, the Entozoa.
ENTOZOOLOGIST; ENTOZOOELOGIST
En`to*zo*öl"o*gist, n. Etym: [Entozoön + -logy + -ist.]
Defn: One versed in the science of the Entozoa.
ENTOZOON; ENTOZOOEN
En`to*zo"ön, n.; pl. Entozoa. Etym: [NL. See Entozoa.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Entozoa.
ENTR'ACTE
En`tr'acte", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Interact.]
1. The interval of time which occurs between the performance of any
two acts of a drama.
2. A dance, piece of music, or interlude, performed between two acts
of a drama.
ENTRAIL
En*trail", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + OF. treiller to grate, lattice,
F. treille vine, arbor. See Trellis.]
Defn: To interweave; to intertwine. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENTRAIL
En*trail", n.
Defn: Entanglement; fold. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENTRAILS
En"trails, n. pl. Etym: [F. entrailles, LL. intralia, intranea, fr.
interaneum, pl. interanea, intestine, interaneus inward, interior,
fr. inter between, among, within. See Internal.]
1. The internal parts of animal bodies; the bowels; the guts;
viscera; intestines.
2. The internal parts; as, the entrails of the earth.
That treasure . . . hid the dark entrails of America. Locke.
ENTRAIN
En*train", v. t. Etym: [F. entrainer.]
Defn: To draw along as a current does; as, water entrained by steam.
ENTRAIN
En*train", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + train.]
Defn: To put aboard a railway train; as, to entrain a regiment.
[Recent, Eng.]
ENTRAIN
En*train", v. i.
Defn: To go aboard a railway train; as, the troops entrained at the
station. [Recent, Eng.]
ENTRAMMEL
En*tram"mel, v. t. Etym: [See Trammel.]
Defn: To trammel; to entangle. Bp. Hacket.
ENTRANCE
En"trance, n. Etym: [OF. entrance, fr. OF. & F. entrant, p. pr. of
entrer to enter. See Enter.]
1. The act of entering or going into; ingress; as, the entrance of a
person into a house or an apartment; hence, the act of taking
possession, as of property, or of office; as, the entrance of an heir
upon his inheritance, or of a magistrate into office.
2. Liberty, power, or permission to enter; as, to give entrance to
friends. Shak.
3. The passage, door, or gate, for entering.
Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city. Judg. i. 24.
4. The entering upon; the beginning, or that with which the beginning
is made; the commencement; initiation; as, a difficult entrance into
business. "Beware of entrance to a quarrel." Shak.
St. Augustine, in the entrance of one of his discourses, makes a kind
of apology. Hakewill.
5. The causing to be entered upon a register, as a ship or goods, at
a customhouse; an entering; as, his entrance of the arrival was made
the same day.
6. (Naut.)
(a) The angle which the bow of a vessel makes with the water at the
water line. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
(b) The bow, or entire wedgelike forepart of a vessel, below the
water line. Totten.
ENTRANCE
En*trance", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entranced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entrancing.] Etym: [Pref. en- + trance.]
1. To put into a trance; to make insensible to present objects.
Him, still entranced and in a litter laid, They bore from field and
to the bed conveyed. Dryden.
2. To put into an ecstasy; to ravish with delight or wonder; to
enrapture; to charm.
And I so ravished with her heavenly note, I stood entranced, and had
no room for thought. Dryden.
ENTRANCEMENT
En*trance"ment, n.
Defn: The act of entrancing, or the state of trance or ecstasy.
Otway.
ENTRANT
En"trant, n. Etym: [See Entrance, n.]
1. One who enters; a beginner. "The entrant upon life." Bp. Terrot.
2. An applicant for admission. Stormonth.
ENTRAP
En*trap", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entrapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Entrapping.]
Etym: [Pref. en- + trap: cf. OF. entraper.]
Defn: To catch in a trap; to insnare; hence, to catch, as in a trap,
by artifices; to involve in difficulties or distresses; to catch or
involve in contradictions; as, to be entrapped by the devices of evil
men.
A golden mesh, to entrap the hearts of men. Shak.
Syn.
-- To insnare; inveigle; tangle; decoy; entangle.
ENTREAT
En*treat", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Entreated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Entreating.] Etym: [OE. entreten to treat, request, OF. entraiter to
treat of; pref. en- (L. in) + traitier to treat. See Treat.]
1. To treat, or conduct toward; to deal with; to use. [Obs.]
Fairly let her be entreated. Shak.
I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well. Jer. xv. 11.
2. To treat with, or in respect to, a thing desired; hence, to ask
earnestly; to beseech; to petition or pray with urgency; to
supplicate; to importune. "Entreat my wife to come." "I do entreat
your patience." Shak.
I must entreat of you some of that money. Shak.
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door. Poe.
Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife. Gen. xxv. 21.
3. To beseech or supplicate successfully; to prevail upon by prayer
or solicitation; to persuade.
It were a fruitless attempt to appease a power whom no prayers could
entreat. Rogers.
4. To invite; to entertain. [Obs.] "Pleasures to entreat." Spenser.
Syn.
-- To beseech; beg; solicit; crave; implore; supplicate. See
Beseech.
ENTREAT
En*treat", v. i.
1. To treat or discourse; hence, to enter into negotiations, as for a
treaty. [Obs.]
Of which I shall have further occasion to entreat. Hakewill.
Alexander . . . was first that entreated of true peace with them. 1
Mac. x. 47.
2. To make an earnest petition or request.
The Janizaries entreated for them as valiant men. Knolles.
ENTREAT
En*treat", n.
Defn: Entreaty. [Obs.] Ford.
ENTREATABLE
En*treat"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be entreated.
ENTREATANCE
En*treat"ance, n.
Defn: Entreaty. [Obs.] Fairfax.
ENTREATER
En*treat"er, n.
Defn: One who entreats; one who asks earnestly; a beseecher.
ENTREATFUL
En*treat"ful, a.
Defn: Full of entreaty. [R.] See Intreatful.
ENTREATINGLY
En*treat"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an entreating manner.
ENTREATIVE
En*treat"ive, a.
Defn: Used in entreaty; pleading. [R.] "Entreative phrase." A.
Brewer.
ENTREATMENT
En*treat"ment, n.
Defn: Entreaty; invitation. [Obs.] Shak.
ENTREATY
En*treat"y, n.; pl. Entreaties (.
1. Treatment; reception; entertainment. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. The act of entreating or beseeching; urgent prayer; earnest
petition; pressing solicitation.
Fair entreaty, and sweet blandishment. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Solicitation; request; suit; supplication; importunity.
ENTREE
En`trée", n. Etym: [F. See Entry.]
1. A coming in, or entrance; hence, freedom of access; permission or
right to enter; as, to have the entrée of a house.
2. (Cookery)
Defn: In French usage, a dish served at the beginning of dinner to
give zest to the appetite; in English usage, a side dish, served with
a joint, or between the courses, as a cutlet, scalloped oysters, etc.
ENTREMETS
En`tre*mets", n. sing. & pl. Etym: [F., fr. entre between + mets a
dish, mess.]
1. (Cookery)
Defn: A side dish; a dainty or relishing dish usually eaten after the
joints or principal dish; also, a sweetmeat, served with a dinner.
2. Any small entertainment between two greater ones. [R.]
ENTRENCH
En*trench", v. t.
Defn: See Intrench.
ENTREPOT
En`tre*pôt", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A warehouse; a magazine for depositing goods, stores, etc.; a
mart or place where merchandise is deposited; as, an entrepôt for
shipping goods in transit.
ENTREPRENEUR
En`tre*pre*neur", n. Etym: [F. See Enterprise.] (Polit. Econ.)
Defn: One who creates a product on his own account; whoever
undertakes on his own account an industrial enterprise in which
workmen are employed. F. A. Walker.
ENTRESOL
En`tre*sol", n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: A low story between two higher ones, usually between the ground
floor and the first story; mezzanine. Parker.
ENTRICK
En*trick", v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. entriken to perplex, OF. entriquer.
Cf. Trick, Intrigue.]
Defn: To trick, to perplex. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
ENTROCHAL
En"tro*chal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, entrochites, or the joints of
encrinites; -- used of a kind of stone or marble.
ENTROCHITE
En"tro*chite, n. Etym: [Pref. en- + Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil joint of a crinoid stem.
ENTROPION
En*tro"pi*on, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Entropium.
ENTROPIUM
En*tro"pi*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Entropy.] (Med.)
Defn: The inversion or turning in of the border of the eyelids.
ENTROPY
En"tro*py, n. Etym: [Gr. (Thermodynamics)
Defn: A certain property of a body, expressed as a measurable
quantity, such that when there is no communication of heat the
quantity remains constant, but when heat enters or leaves the body
the quantity increases or diminishes. If a small amount, h, of heat
enters the body when its temperature is t in the thermodynamic scale
the entropy of the body is increased by h . The entropy is regarded
as measured from some standard temperature and pressure. Sometimes
called the thermodynamic function.
The entropy of the universe tends towards a maximum. Clausius.
ENTRUST
En*trust", v. t.
Defn: See Intrust.
ENTRY
En"try, n.; pl. Entries. Etym: [OE. entree, entre, F. entrée, fr.
entrer to enter. See Enter, and cf. Entrée.]
1. The act of entering or passing into or upon; entrance; ingress;
hence, beginnings or first attempts; as, the entry of a person into a
house or city; the entry of a river into the sea; the entry of air
into the blood; an entry upon an undertaking.
2. The act of making or entering a record; a setting down in writing
the particulars, as of a transaction; as, an entry of a sale; also,
that which is entered; an item.
A notary made an entry of this act. Bacon.
3. That by which entrance is made; a passage leading into a house or
other building, or to a room; a vestibule; an adit, as of a mine.
A straight, long entry to the temple led. Dryden.
4. (Com.)
Defn: The exhibition or depositing of a ship's papers at the
customhouse, to procure license to land goods; or the giving an
account of a ship's cargo to the officer of the customs, and
obtaining his permission to land the goods. See Enter, v. t., 8, and
Entrance, n.,
5.
5. (Law)
(a) The actual taking possession of lands or tenements, by entering
or setting foot on them.
(b) A putting upon record in proper form and order.
(c) The act in addition to breaking essential to constitute the
offense or burglary. Burrill. Bill of entry. See under Bill.
-- Double entry, Single entry. See Bookkeeping.
-- Entry clerk (Com.), a clerk who makes the original entries of
transactions in a business.
-- Writ of entry (Law), a writ issued for the purpose of obtaining
possession of land from one who has unlawfully entered and continues
in possession. Bouvier.
ENTRYNG
En"tryng, n.
Defn: Am entrance. [Obs.]
So great an entryng and so large. Chaucer.
ENTUNE
En*tune", v. t.
Defn: To tune; to intone. Chaucer.
ENTWINE
En*twine", v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + twine. Cf. Intwine.]
Defn: To twine, twist, or wreathe together or round. [Written also
intwine.]
Entwined in duskier wreaths her braided locks. Shelley.
Thy glorious household stuff did me entwine. Herbert.
ENTWINE
En*twine", v. i.
Defn: To be twisted or twined.
With whose imperial laurels might entwine no cypress. De Quincey.
ENTWINEMENT
En*twine"ment, n.
Defn: A twining or twisting together or round; union. Bp. Hacket.
ENTWIST
En*twist", v. t.
Defn: To twist or wreathe round; to intwine. Shak.
ENUBILATE
E*nu"bi*late, v. t. Etym: [L. enubilatus, p. p. of enubilare to
enubilate; e out + nubila clouds, fr. nubilis cloudy, nubes cloud.]
Defn: To clear from mist, clouds, or obscurity. [R.] Bailey.
ENUBILOUS
E*nu"bi*lous, a. Etym: [See Enubilate.]
Defn: Free from fog, mist, or clouds; clear. [R.]
ENUCLEATE
E*nu"cle*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enucleated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enucleating.] Etym: [L. enucleatus, p. p. of enucleare to enucleate;
e out + nucleus kernel.]
1. To bring or peel out, as a kernel from its enveloping husks its
enveloping husks or shell.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To remove without cutting (as a tumor).
3. To bring to light; to make clear. Sclater (1654).
ENUCLEATION
E*nu`cle*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. énucléation.]
Defn: The act of enucleating; elucidation; exposition.
Neither sir, nor water, nor food, seem directly to contribute
anything to the enucleation of this disease. Tooke.
ENUMERATE
E*nu"mer*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enumerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enumerating.] Etym: [L. enumeratus, p. p. of enumerare to count out,
enumerate; e out + numerare to count, fr. numerus number. See
Number.]
Defn: To count; to tell by numbers; to count over, or tell off one
after another; to number; to reckon up; to mention one by one; to
name over; to make a special and separate account of; to recount; as,
to enumerate the stars in a constellation.
Enumerating the services he had done. Ludlow.
Syn.
-- To reckon; compute; calculate; count; estimate; relate; rehearse;
recapitulate; detail.
ENUMERATION
E*nu`mer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. enumeratio: cf. F. énumération.]
1. The act of enumerating, making separate mention, or recounting.
2. A detailed account, in which each thing is specially noticed.
Because almost every man we meet possesses these, we leave them out
of our enumeration. Paley.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: A recapitulation, in the peroration, of the heads of an
argument.
ENUMERATIVE
E*nu"mer*a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. énumératif.]
Defn: Counting, or reckoning up, one by one.
Enumerative of the variety of evils. Jer. Taylor.
ENUMERATOR
E*nu"mer*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who enumerates.
ENUNCIABLE
E*nun"ci*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being enunciated or expressed.
ENUNCIATE
E*nun"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enunciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enunciating.] Etym: [L. enuntiatus, -ciatus, p. p. of enuntiare, -
ciare. See Enounce.]
1. To make a formal statement of; to announce; to proclaim; to
declare, as a truth.
The terms in which he enunciates the great doctrines of the gospel.
Coleridge.
2. To make distinctly audible; to utter articulately; to pronounce;
as, to enunciate a word distinctly.
ENUNCIATE
E*nun"ci*ate, v. i.
Defn: To utter words or syllables articulately.
ENUNCIATION
E*nun`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. enuntiatio, -ciatio.]
1. The act of enunciating, announcing, proclaiming, or making known;
open attestation; declaration; as, the enunciation of an important
truth.
By way of interpretation and enunciation. Jer. Taylor.
2. Mode of utterance or pronunciation, especially as regards fullness
and distinctness or articulation; as, to speak with a clear or
impressive enunciation.
3. That which is enunciated or announced; words in which a
proposition is expressed; an announcement; a formal declaration; a
statement.
Every intelligible enunciation must be either true or false. A.
Clarke.
ENUNCIATIVE
E*nun"ci*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. enuntiativus, -ciativus.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, enunciation; declarative.
Ayliffe.
-- E*nun"ci*a*tive*ly, adv.
ENUNCIATOR
E*nun"ci*a`tor, n. Etym: [L. enuntiator, enunciator.]
Defn: One who enunciates or proclaims.
ENUNCIATORY
E*nun"ci*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, enunciation or utterance.
ENURE
En*ure", v. t.
Defn: See Inure.
ENURESIS
En`u*re"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: An involuntary discharge of urine; incontinence of urine.
ENVASSAL
En*vas"sal, v. t.
Defn: To make a vassal of. [Obs.]
ENVAULT
En*vault", v. t.
Defn: To inclose in a vault; to entomb. [R.] Swift.
ENVEIGLE
En*vei"gle, v. t.
Defn: To entice. See Inveigle.
ENVELOP
En*vel"op, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enveloped; p. pr. & vb. n.
Enveloping.] Etym: [OE. envolupen, envolipen, OF. envoluper,
envoleper, F. envelopper; pref. en- (L. in) + voluper, voleper. See
Develop.]
Defn: To put a covering about; to wrap up or in; to inclose within a
case, wrapper, integument or the like; to surround entirely; as, to
envelop goods or a letter; the fog envelops a ship.
Nocturnal shades this world envelop. J. Philips.
ENVELOPE; ENVELOP
En"vel*ope, En*vel"op, n. Etym: [F. enveloppe.]
1. That which envelops, wraps up, encases, or surrounds; a wrapper;
an inclosing cover; esp., the cover or wrapper of a document, as of a
letter.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The nebulous covering of the head or nucleus of a comet; --
called also coma.
3. (Fort.)
Defn: A work of earth, in the form of a single parapet or of a small
rampart. It is sometimes raised in the ditch and sometimes beyond it.
Wilhelm.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve or surface which is tangent to each member of a system
of curves or surfaces, the form and position of the members of the
system being allowed to vary according to some continuous law. Thus,
any curve is the envelope of its tangents. push the envelope. It is
used to refer to the maximum performance available at the current
state of the technology, and therefore refers to a class of machines
in general, not a specific machine. push the envelope Increase the
capability of some type of machine or system; -- usu. by
technological development.
ENVELOPMENT
En*vel"op*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. enveloppement.]
1. The act of enveloping or wrapping; an inclosing or covering on all
sides.
2. That which envelops or surrounds; an envelop.
ENVENIME
En*ven"ime, v. t.
Defn: To envenom. [Obs.]
ENVENOM
En*ven"om, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Envenomed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Envenoming.] Etym: [OE. envenimen, F. envenimer; pref. en- (L. in) +
F. venin poison. See Venom.]
1. To taint or impregnate with venom, or any substance noxious to
life; to poison; to render dangerous or deadly by poison, as food,
drink, a weapon; as, envenomed meat, wine, or arrow; also, to poison
(a person) by impregnating with venom.
Alcides . . . felt the envenomed robe. Milton.
O, what a world is this, when what is comely Envenoms him that bears
it! Shak.
2. To taint or impregnate with bitterness, malice, or hatred; to
imbue as with venom; to imbitter.
The envenomed tongue of calumny. Smollett.
On the question of slavery opinion has of late years been peculiarly
envenomed. Sir G. C. Lewis.
ENVERMEIL
En*ver"meil, v. t. Etym: [Pref. en- + vermeil: cf. OF. envermeiller.
See Vermil.]
Defn: To color with, or as with, vermilion; to dye red. [Obs.]
Milton.
ENVIABLE
En"vi*a*ble, a. Etym: [From Envy.]
Defn: Fitted to excite envy; capable of awakening an ardent desire to
posses or to resemble.
One of most enviable of human beings. Macaulay.
-- En"vi*a*ble*ness, n.
-- En"vi*a*bly, adv.
ENVIE
En*vie", v. i. Etym: [See Vie.]
Defn: To vie; to emulate; to strive. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENVIER
En"vi*er, n.
Defn: One who envies; one who desires inordinately what another
possesses.
ENVIGOR
En*vig"or, v. t.
Defn: To invigorate. [Obs.]
ENVIOUS
En"vi*ous, a. Etym: [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr.
invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
1. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [Obs.]
Each envious brier his weary legs doth scratch. Shak.
2. Feeling or exhibiting envy; actuated or directed by, or proceeding
from, envy; -- said of a person, disposition, feeling, act, etc.;
jealously pained by the excellence or good fortune of another;
maliciously grudging; -- followed by of, at, and against; as, an
envious man, disposition, attack; envious tongues.
My soul is envious of mine eye. Keble.
Neither be thou envious at the wicked. Prov. xxiv. 19.
3. Inspiring envy. [Obs. or Poetic]
He to him leapt, and that same envious gage Of victor's glory from
him snatched away. Spenser.
4. Excessively careful; cautious. [Obs.]
No men are so envious of their health. Jer. Taylor.
-- En"vi*ous*ly, adv.
-- En"vi*ous*ness, n.
ENVIRON
En*vi"ron, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Environed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Environing.] Etym: [F. environner, fr. environ about, thereabout;
pref. en- (L. in) + OF. viron circle, circuit, fr. OF. & F. virer to
turn, LL. virare to turn up and down, topsy-turvy. Cf. Veer.]
Defn: To surround; to encompass; to encircle; to hem in; to be round
about; to involve or envelop.
Dwelling in a pleasant glade, With mountains round about environed.
Spenser.
Environed he was with many foes. Shak.
Environ me with darkness whilst I write. Donne.
ENVIRON
En*vi"ron, adv. Etym: [F.]
Defn: About; around. [Obs.]
Lord Godfrey's eye three times environ goes. Fairfax.
ENVIRONMENT
En*vi"ron*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. environnement.]
1. Act of environing; state of being environed.
2. That which environs or surrounds; surrounding conditions,
influences, or forces, by which living forms are influenced and
modified in their growth and development.
It is no friendly environment, this of thine. Carlyle.
ENVIRONS
En*vi"rons, n. pl. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The parts or places which surround another place, or lie in its
neighborhood; suburbs; as, the environs of a city or town.
Chesterfield.
ENVISAGE
En*vis"age (; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Envisaged (; 48); p. pr. & vb.
n. Envisaging.] Etym: [F. envisager; pref. en- (L. in) + visage face,
visage. See Visage.]
Defn: To look in the face of; to apprehend; to regard. [R.] Keats.
From the very dawn of existence the infant must envisage self, and
body acting on self. McCosh.
ENVISAGEMENT
En*vis"age*ment, n.
Defn: The act of envisaging.
ENVOLUME
En*vol"ume, v. t.
Defn: To form into, or incorporate with, a volume. [R.]
ENVOLUP
En*vol"up, v. t. Etym: [See Envelop.]
Defn: To wrap up; to envelop. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENVOY
En"voy, n. Etym: [F. envoyé envoy, fr. envoyer to send; pref. en- (L.
in) + voie way, L. via: cf. F. envoi an envoy (in sense 2). See
Voyage, and cf. Invoice.]
1. One dispatched upon an errand or mission; a messenger; esp., a
person deputed by a sovereign or a government to negotiate a treaty,
or transact other business, with a foreign sovereign or government; a
minister accredited to a foreign government. An envoy's rank is below
that of an ambassador.
2. Etym: [F. envoi, fr. envoyer to send.]
Defn: An explanatory or commendatory postscript to a poem, essay, or
book; -- also in the French from, l'envoi.
The envoy of a ballad is the "sending" of it forth. Skeat.
ENVOYSHIP
En"voy*ship, n.
Defn: The office or position of an envoy.
ENVY
En"vy, n.; pl. Envies. Etym: [F. envie, L. invidia envious; akin to
invidere to look askance at, to look with enmity; in against + videre
to see. See Vision.]
1. Malice; ill will; spite. [Obs.]
If he evade us there, Enforce him with his envy to the people. Shak.
2. Chagrin, mortification, discontent, or uneasiness at the sight of
another's excellence or good fortune, accompanied with some degree of
hatred and a desire to possess equal advantages; malicious grudging;
-- usually followed by of; as, they did this in envy of Cæsar.
Envy is a repining at the prosperity or good of another, or anger and
displeasure at any good of another which we want, or any advantage
another hath above us. Ray.
No bliss Enjoyed by us excites his envy more. Milton.
Envy, to which the ignoble mind's a slave, Is emulation in the
learned or brave. Pope.
3. Emulation; rivalry. [Obs.]
Such as cleanliness and decency Prompt to a virtuous envy. Ford.
4. Public odium; ill repute. [Obs.]
To lay the envy of the war upon Cicero. B. Jonson.
5. An object of envious notice or feeling.
This constitution in former days used to be the envy of the world.
Macaulay.
ENVY
En"vy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Envied; p. pr. & vb. n. Envying.] Etym:
[F. envier.]
1. To feel envy at or towards; to be envious of; to have a feeling of
uneasiness or mortification in regard to (any one), arising from the
sight of another's excellence or good fortune and a longing to
possess it.
A woman does not envy a man for his fighting courage, nor a man a
woman for her beauty. Collier.
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority. Rambler.
2. To feel envy on account of; to have a feeling of grief or
repining, with a longing to possess (some excellence or good fortune
of another, or an equal good fortune, etc.); to look with grudging
upon; to begrudge.
I have seen thee fight, When I have envied thy behavior. Shak.
Jeffrey . . . had actually envied his friends their cool mountain
breezes. Froude.
3. To long after; to desire strongly; to covet.
Or climb his knee the envied kiss to share. T. Gray.
4. To do harm to; to injure; to disparage. [Obs.]
If I make a lie To gain your love and envy my best mistress, Put me
against a wall. J. Fletcher.
5. To hate. [Obs.] Marlowe.
6. To emulate. [Obs.] Spenser.
ENVY
En"vy, v. i.
1. To be filled with envious feelings; to regard anything with
grudging and longing eyes; -- used especially with at.
Who would envy at the prosperity of the wicked Jer. Taylor.
2. To show malice or ill will; to rail. [Obs.] "He has . . . envied
against the people." Shak.
ENVYNED
En*vyned", a. Etym: [OF. enviner to store with wine; pref. en- (L.
in) + vin wine. See Vine.]
Defn: Stored or furnished with wine. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ENWALL
En*wall", v. t.
Defn: See Inwall. Sir P. Sidney.
ENWALLOW
En*wal"low, v. t.
Defn: To plunge into, or roll in, flith; to wallow.
So now all three one senseless lump remain, Enwallowed in his own
black bloody gore. Spenser.
ENWHEEL
En*wheel", v. t.
Defn: To encircle. Shak.
ENWIDEN
En*wid"en, v. t.
Defn: To widen. [Obs.]
ENWIND
En*wind", v. t.
Defn: To wind about; to encircle.
In the circle of his arms Enwound us both. Tennyson.
ENWOMAN
En*wom"an, v. t.
Defn: To endow with the qualities of a woman. [R.] Daniel.
ENWOMB
En*womb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enwombed; p. pr. & vb. n. Enwombing.]
1. To conceive in the womb. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. To bury, as it were in a womb; to hide, as in a gulf, pit, or
cavern. Donne.
ENWRAP
En*wrap", v. t.
Defn: To envelop. See Inwrap.
ENWRAPMENT
En*wrap"ment, n.
Defn: Act of enwrapping; a wrapping or an envelope. Shuckford.
ENWREATHE
En*wreathe", v. t.
Defn: See Inwreathe. Shelton.
ENZOOTIC; ENZOOETIC
En`zo*öt"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. enzoötique.]
Defn: Afflicting animals; -- used of a disease affecting the animals
of a district. It corresponds to an endemic disease among men.
ENZYME
En"zyme, n. Etym: [Pref. en- (Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An unorganized or unformed ferment, in distinction from an
organized or living ferment; a soluble, or chemical, ferment.
Ptyalin, pepsin, diastase, and rennet are good examples of enzymes.
EOCENE
E"o*cene, a. Etym: [Gr. (Geol.)
Defn: Pertaining to the first in time of the three subdivisions into
which the Tertiary formation is divided by geologists, and alluding
to the approximation in its life to that of the present era; as,
Eocene deposits.
-- n.
Defn: The Eocene formation. Lyell.
EOLIAN
E*o"li*an, a. Etym: [See Æolian.]
1. Æolian.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Formed, or deposited, by the action of wind, as dunes. Eolian
attachment, Eolian harp. See Æolian.
EOLIC
E*ol"ic, a. & n.
Defn: See Æolic.
EOLIPILE
E*ol"i*pile, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éolipyle.]
Defn: Same as Æolipile.
EOLIS
E"o*lis, n. Etym: [L. Aeolis a daughter of Æolus, Gr. A'ioli`s.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of nudibranch mollusks having clusters of branchial
papillæ along the back. See Ceratobranchia. [Written also Æolis.]
EON; AEON
E"on, Æ"on, n. Etym: [L. aeon, fr. Gr. a'iwn space or period of time,
lifetime, age; akin to L. aevum. See Age.]
1. An immeasurable or infinite space of time; eternity; a long space
of time; an age.
The eons of geological time. Huxley.
2. (Gnostic Philos.)
Defn: One of the embodiments of the divine attributes of the Eternal
Being.
Among the higher Æons are Mind, Reason, Power, Truth, and Life. Am.
Cyc.
Note: Eons were considered to be emanations sent forth by God from
the depths of His grand solitude to fulfill various functions in the
material and spiritual universe.
EOPHYTE
E"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A fossil plant which is found in the lowest beds of the
Silurian age.
EOPHYTIC
E`o*phyt"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to eophytes.
EOS
E"os, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. 'Hw`s.] (Gr. Myth.)
Defn: Aurora, the goddess of morn.
EOSAURUS
E`o*sau"rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'hw`s dawn + say^ros lizard.]
(Paleon.)
Defn: An extinct marine reptile from the coal measures of Nova
Scotia; -- so named because supposed to be of the earliest known
reptiles.
EOSIN
E"o*sin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow or brownish red dyestuff obtained by the action of
bromine on fluoresceïn, and named from the fine rose-red which it
imparts to silk. It is also used for making a fine red ink. Its
solution is fluorescent.
EOSPHORITE
E*os"pho*rite, n. Etym: [From Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous phosphate of alumina and manganese. It is generally
of a rose-pink color, -- whence the name.
EOZOIC
E`o*zo"ic, a. Etym: [See Eozoön.] (Geol.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to rocks or strata older than the Paleozoic,
in many of which the eozoön has been found.
Note: This term has been proposed for the strata formerly called
Azoic, and is preferred especially by those geologists who regard the
eozoön as of organic origin. See Archæan.
EOZOON; EOZOOEN
E`o*zo"ön, n.; pl. Eozoöns, L. Eozoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. 'hw`s dawn
+ zw^,on an animal.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A peculiar structure found in the Archæan limestones of Canada
and other regions. By some geologists it is believed to be a species
of gigantic Foraminifera, but others consider it a concretion,
without organic structure.
EOZOONAL; EOZOOENAL
E`o*zo"ön*al, a. (Paleon.)
Defn: Pertaining to the eozoön; containing eozoöns; as, eozoönal
limestone.
EP-
Ep-. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: See Epi-.
EPACRIS
Ep"a*cris, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs, natives of Australia, New Zealand, etc.,
having pretty white, red, or purple blossoms, and much resembling
heaths.
EPACT
E"pact, n. Etym: [F. épacte, fr. Gr. Epi-, and Act.] (Chron.)
Defn: The moon's age at the beginning of the calendar year, or the
number of days by which the last new moon has preceded the beginning
of the year. Annual epact, the excess of the solar year over the
lunar year, -- being eleven days.
-- Menstrual epact, or Monthly epact, the excess of a calendar month
over a lunar.
EPAGOGE
Ep`a*go"ge, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. Epact.] (Logic)
Defn: The adducing of particular examples so as to lead to a
universal conclusion; the argument by induction.
EPAGOGIC
Ep`a*gog"ic, a.
Defn: Inductive. Latham.
EPALATE
E*pal"ate, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + palpus.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without palpi.
EPANADIPLOSIS
Ep*an`a*di*plo"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which the same word is used both at the beginning
and at the end of a sentence; as, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and
again I say, Rejoice." Phil. iv. 4.
EPANALEPSIS
Ep*an`a*lep"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which the same word or clause is repeated after
intervening matter. Gibbs.
EPANAPHORA
Ep`a*naph"o*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: Same as Anaphora. Gibbs.
EPANASTROPHE
Ep`a*nas"tro*phe, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: Same as Anadiplosis. Gibbs.
EPANODOS
E*pan"o*dos, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure of speech in which the parts of a sentence or clause
are repeated in inverse order, as in the following: --
O more exceeding love, or law more just Just law, indeed, but more
exceeding love! Milton.
EPANODY
E*pan"o*dy, n. Etym: [See Epanodos.] (Bot.)
Defn: The abnormal change of an irregular flower to a regular form; -
- considered by evolutionists to be a reversion to an ancestral
condition.
EPANORTHOSIS
Ep`an*or*tho"sis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A figure by which a speaker recalls a word or words, in order
to substitute something else stronger or more significant; as, Most
brave! Brave, did I say most heroic act!
EPANTHOUS
Ep*an"thous, a. Etym: [Pref. ep- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing upon flowers; -- said of certain species of fungi.
EPARCH
Ep"arch, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: In ancient Greece, the governor or perfect of a province; in
modern Greece, the ruler of an eparchy.
EPARCHY
Ep"arch*y, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A province, prefecture, or territory, under the jurisdiction of
an eparch or governor; esp., in modern Greece, one of the larger
subdivisions of a monarchy or province of the kingdom; in Russia, a
diocese or archdiocese.
EPARTERIAL
Ep`ar*te"ri*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ep- + arterial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated upon or above an artery; -- applied esp. to the
branches of the bronchi given off above the point where the pulmonary
artery crosses the bronchus.
EPAULE
E*paule", n. Etym: [F. épaule shoulder, shoulder of a bastion. See
Epaulet, and cf. Spall the shoulder.] (Fort.)
Defn: The shoulder of a bastion, or the place where its face and
flank meet and form the angle, called the angle of the shoulder.
EPAULEMENT
E*paule"ment, n. Etym: [F. épaulement.] (Fort.)
Defn: A side work, made of gabions, fascines, or bags, filled with
earth, or of earth heaped up, to afford cover from the flanking fire
of an enemy.
EPAULET; EPAULETTE
Ep"au*let`, Ep"au*lette`, n. Etym: [F. épaulette, dim. of épaule
shoulder, fr. L. spatula a broad piece (LL., shoulder), dim. of
spatha abroad, flat instrument, fr. Gr. Spade the instrument, and cf.
Epaule, Spatula.] (Mil.)
Defn: A shoulder ornament or badge worn by military and naval
officers, differences of rank being marked by some peculiar form or
device, as a star, eagle, etc.; a shoulder knot.
Note: In the United States service the epaulet is reserved for full
dress uniform. Its use was abolished in the British army in 1855.
EPAULETED; EPAULETTED
Ep"au*let`ed, Ep"au*let`ted, a.
Defn: Wearing epaulets; decorated with epaulets.
EPAXIAL
Ep*ax"i*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ep- + axial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Above, or on the dorsal side of, the axis of the skeleton;
episkeletal.
EPEIRA
E*pei"ra, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of spiders, including the common garden spider (E.
diadema). They spin geometrical webs. See Garden spider.
EPEN
Ep"en, n. (Anat.)
Defn: See Epencephalon.
EPENCEPHALIC
Ep`en*ce*phal"ic, a. (Anat.)
(a) Pertaining to the epencephalon.
(b) Situated on or over the brain.
EPENCEPHALON
Ep`en*ceph"a*lon, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The segment of the brain next behind the midbrain, including
the cerebellum and pons; the hindbrain. Sometimes abbreviated to
epen.
EPENDYMA
Ep*en"dy*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The epithelial lining of the ventricles of the brain and the
canal of the spinal cord; endyma; ependymis.
EPENDYMIS
Ep*en"dy*mis, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Ependyma.
EPENETIC
Ep`e*net"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Bestowing praise; eulogistic; laudatory. [Obs.] E. Phillips.
EPENTHESIS
E*pen"the*sis, n.; pl. Epentheses. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Gram.)
Defn: The insertion of a letter or a sound in the body of a word; as,
the b in "nimble" from AS. nemol.
EPENTHETIC
Ep`en*thet"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. épenthétique.] (Gram.)
Defn: Inserted in the body of a word; as, an epenthetic letter or
sound.
EPERGNE
É`pergne", n. Etym: [F. épargne a sparing or saving; a treasury. "Our
épergne is a little treasury of sweetmeats, fruits, and flowers."
Brewer.]
Defn: A centerpiece for table decoration, usually consisting of
several dishes or receptacles of different sizes grouped together in
an ornamental design.
EPERLAN
É`per`lan", n. Etym: [F. éperlan, fr. G. spierling. See Sparling.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: The European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus).
EPEXEGESIS
Ep*ex`e*ge"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Exegesis.]
Defn: A full or additional explanation; exegesis.
EPEXEGETICAL
Ep*ex`e*get"ic*al, a.
Defn: Relating to epexegesis; explanatory; exegetical.
EPHAH; EPHA
E"phah, or E"pha, n. Etym: [Heb.
Defn: A Hebrew dry measure, supposed to be equal to two pecks and
five quarts. ten ephahs make one homer.
EPHEMERA
E*phem"e*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: A fever of one day's continuance only.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of insects including the day flies, or ephemeral flies.
See Ephemeral fly, under Ephemeral.
EPHEMERAL
E*phem"er*al, a.
1. Beginning and ending in a day; existing only, or no longer than, a
day; diurnal; as, an ephemeral flower.
2. Short-lived; existing or continuing for a short time only.
"Ephemeral popularity." V. Knox.
Sentences not of ephemeral, but of eternal, efficacy. Sir J. Stephen.
Ephemeral fly (Zoöl.), one of a group of neuropterous insects,
belonging to the genus Ephemera and many allied genera, which live in
the adult or winged state only for a short time. The larvæ are
aquatic; -- called also day fly and May fly.
EPHEMERAL
E*phem"er*al, n.
Defn: Anything lasting but a day, or a brief time; an ephemeral
plant, insect, etc.
EPHEMERAN
E*phem"er*an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the ephemeral flies.
EPHEMERIC
E*phem"e*ric, a.
Defn: Ephemeral.
EPHEMERIS
E*phem"e*ris, n.; pl. Ephemerides. Etym: [L., a diary, Gr. Ephemera.]
1. A diary; a journal. Johnson.
2. (Anat.)
(a) A publication giving the computed places of the heavenly bodies
for each day of the year, with other numerical data, for the use of
the astronomer and navigator; an astronomical almanac; as, the
"American Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac."
(b) Any tabular statement of the assigned places of a heavenly body,
as a planet or comet, on several successive days.
3. (Literature)
Defn: A collective name for reviews, magazines, and all kinds of
periodical literature. Brande & C.
EPHEMERIST
E*phem"er*ist, n.
1. One who studies the daily motions and positions of the planets.
Howell.
2. One who keeps an ephemeris; a journalist.
EPHEMERON
E*phem"e*ron, n.; pl. Ephemera. Etym: [NL. See Ephemera.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the ephemeral flies.
EPHEMEROUS
E*phem"er*ous, a.
Defn: Ephemeral. [R.] Burke.
EPHESIAN
E*phe"sian, a. Etym: [L. Ephesius: cf. F. éphésien.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Ephesus, an ancient city of Ionia, in Asia
Minor.
EPHESIAN
E*phe"sian, n.
1. A native of Ephesus.
2. A jolly companion; a roisterer. [Obs.] Shak.
EPHIALTES
Eph`i*al"tes, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: The nightmare. Brande & C.
EPHIPPIAL
E*phip"pi*al, a.
Defn: Saddle-shaped; occupying an ephippium. Dana.
EPHIPPIUM
E*phip"pi*um, n. Etym: [L., saddle cloth, fr. Gr.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: A depression in the sphenoid bone; the pituitary fossa.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A saddle-shaped cavity to contain the winter eggs, situated on
the back of Cladocera.
EPHOD
Eph"od, n. Etym: [Heb. aphad to put on.] (Jew. Antiq.)
Defn: A part of the sacerdotal habit among Jews, being a covering for
the back and breast, held together on the shoulders by two clasps or
brooches of onyx stones set in gold, and fastened by a girdle of the
same stuff as the ephod. The ephod for the priests was of plain
linen; that for the high priest was richly embroidered in colors. The
breastplate of the high priest was worn upon the ephod in front.
Exodus xxviii. 6-12.
EPHOR
Eph"or, n.; pl. Ephors, L. Ephori. Etym: [L. ephorus, Gr. éphore.]
(Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: A magistrate; one of a body of five magistrates chosen by the
people of ancient Sparta. They exercised control even over the king.
EPHORAL
Eph"or*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an ephor.
EPHORALTY
Eph"or*al*ty, n.
Defn: The office of an ephor, or the body of ephors.
EPHRAIM
E"phra*im, n. Etym: [The proper name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hunter's name for the grizzly bear.
EPHYRA
Eph"y*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A stage in the development of discophorous medusæ, when they
first begin to swim about after being detached from the strobila. See
Strobila.
EPI-
Ep"i-. Etym: [Gr. api besides, and prob. to L. ob to, before, on
account of, and perh. to E. of, off.]
Defn: A prefix, meaning upon, beside, among, on the outside, above,
over. It becomes ep- before a vowel, as in epoch, and eph- before a
Greek aspirate, as in ephemeral.
EPIBLAST
Ep"i*blast, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + -blast.] (Biol.)
Defn: The outer layer of the blastoderm; the ectoderm. See
Blastoderm, Delamination.
EPIBLASTIC
Ep`i*blas"tic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Of or relating to, or consisting of, the epiblast.
EPIBLEMA
Ep`i*ble"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The epidermal cells of rootlets, specially adapted to absorb
liquids. Goodale.
EPIBOLIC
Ep`i*bol"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Growing or covering over; -- said of a kind of invagination.
See under Invagination.
EPIBOLY
E*pib"o*ly, n. Etym: [Cf. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: Epibolic invagination. See under Invagination.
EPIBRANCHIAL
Ep`i*bran"chi*al, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + branchial.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the segment between the ceratobranchial and
pharyngobranchial in a branchial arch.
-- n.
Defn: An epibranchial cartilage or bone.
EPIC
Ep"ic, a. Etym: [L. epicus, Gr. vox voice: cf. F. épique. See Voice.]
Defn: Narrated in a grand style; pertaining to or designating a kind
of narrative poem, usually called an heroic poem, in which real or
fictitious events, usually the achievements of some hero, are
narrated in an elevated style.
The epic poem treats of one great, complex action, in a grand style
and with fullness of detail. T. Arnold.
EPIC
Ep"ic, n.
Defn: An epic or heroic poem. See Epic, a.
EPICAL
Ep"ic*al (, a.
Defn: Epic.
-- Ep"ic*al*ly, adv.
Poems which have an epical character. Brande & C.
His [Wordsworth's] longer poems (miscalled epical). Lowell.
EPICARDIAC
Ep`i*car"di*ac, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or relating to the epicardium.
EPICARDIUM
Ep`i*car"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: That of the pericardium which forms the outer surface of the
heart; the cardiac pericardium.
EPICARICAN
Ep`i*car"i*can, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An isopod crustacean, parasitic on shrimps.
EPICARP
Ep"i*carp, Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The external or outermost layer of a fructified or ripened
ovary. See Illust. under Endocarp.
EPICEDE
Ep"i*cede, n. Etym: [L. epicedion, Gr. épicède.]
Defn: A funeral song or discourse; an elegy. [R.] Donne.
EPICEDIAL
Ep`i*ce"di*al, a.
Defn: Elegiac; funereal.
EPICEDIAN
Ep`i*ce"di*an, a.
Defn: Epicedial.
-- n.
Defn: An epicede.
EPICEDIUM
Ep`i*ce"di*um, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An epicede.
EPICENE
Ep"i*cene, a. & n. Etym: [L. epicoenus, Gr. épicène.]
1. Common to both sexes; -- a term applied, in grammar, to such nouns
as have but one form of gender, either the masculine or feminine, to
indicate animals of both sexes; as bos, for the ox and cow; sometimes
applied to eunuchs and hermaphrodites.
2. Fig.: Sexless; neither one thing nor the other.
The literary prigs epicene. Prof. Wilson.
He represented an epicene species, neither churchman nor layman. J.
A. Symonds.
EPICENTRAL
Ep`i*cen"tral, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + centrum.] (Anat.)
Defn: Arising from the centrum of a vertebra. Owen.
EPICERASTIC
Ep`i*ce*ras"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. épicérastique.] (Med.)
Defn: Lenient; assuaging. [Obs.]
EPICHIREMA
Ep`i*chi*re"ma, n.; pl. Epichiremata. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet. &
Logic)
Defn: A syllogism in which the proof of the major or minor premise,
or both, is introduced with the premises themselves, and the
conclusion is derived in the ordinary manner. [Written also
epicheirema.]
EPICHORDAL
Ep`i*chor"dal, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + chordal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Upon or above the notochord; -- applied esp. to a vertebral
column which develops upon the dorsal side of the notochord, as
distinguished from a perichordal column, which develops around it.
EPICHORIAL
Ep`i*cho"ri*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: In or of the country. [R.]
Epichorial superstitions from every district of Europe. De Quincey.
EPICLEIDIUM
Ep`i*clei"di*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A projection, formed by a separate ossification, at the
scapular end of the clavicle of many birds.
EPICLINAL
Ep`i*cli"nal, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Situated on the receptacle or disk of a flower.
EPICOELE; EPICELE
Ep"i*coele, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A cavity formed by the invagination of the outer wall of the
body, as the atrium of an amphioxus and possibly the body cavity of
vertebrates.
EPICOENE
Ep"i*coene, a.
Defn: Epicene. [R.] Hadley.
EPICOLIC
Ep`i*col"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated upon or over the colon; -- applied to the region of
the abdomen adjacent to the colon.
EPICONDYLAR
Ep`i*con"dy*lar, n. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an epicondyle.
EPICONDYLE
Ep`i*con"dyle, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + condyle.] (Anat.)
Defn: A projection on the inner side of the distal end of the
numerus; the internal condyle.
EPICORACOID
Ep`i*cor"a*coid, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + coracoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: A ventral cartilaginous or bony element of the coracoid in the
shoulder girdle of some vertebrates.
EPICRANIAL
Ep`i*cra"ni*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the epicranium; as epicranial muscles.
EPICRANIUM
Ep`i*cra"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Epi-, and Cranium.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The upper and superficial part of the head, including the
scalp, muscles, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The dorsal wall of the head of insects.
EPICTETAIN; EPICTETIAN
Ep`ic*te"tain, Ep`ic*te"tian, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to Epictetus, the Roman Stoic philosopher, whose
conception of life was to be passionless under whatever
circumstances.
EPICURE
Ep"i*cure, n. Etym: [L. Epicurus, Gr.
1. A follower of Epicurus; an Epicurean. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. One devoted to dainty or luxurious sensual enjoyments, esp. to the
luxuries of the table.
Syn.
-- Voluptuary; sensualist.
EPICUREAN
Ep`i*cu*re"an, a. Etym: [L. Epicureus, Gr. épicurien.]
1. Pertaining to Epicurus, or following his philosophy. "The sect
Epicurean." Milton.
2. Given to luxury; adapted to luxurious tastes; luxurious;
pertaining to good eating.
Courses of the most refined and epicurean dishes. Prescott.
Epicurean philosophy. See Atomic philosophy, under Atomic.
EPICUREAN
Ep`i*cu*re"an, n.
1. A follower or Epicurus.
2. One given to epicurean indulgence.
EPICUREANISM
Ep`i*cu*re"an*ism, n.
Defn: Attachment to the doctrines of Epicurus; the principles or
belief of Epicurus.
EPICURELY
Ep"i*cure`ly, adv.
Defn: Luxuriously. Nash.
EPICUREOUS
Ep`i*cu*re"ous, a.
Defn: Epicurean. [Obs.]
EPICURISM
Ep"i*cu*rism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. épicurisme.]
1. The doctrines of Epicurus.
2. Epicurean habits of living; luxury.
EPICURIZE
Ep"i*cu*rize, v. i.
1. To profess or tend towards the doctrines of Epicurus. Cudworth.
2. To feed or indulge like an epicure. Fuller.
EPICYCLE
Ep"i*cy`cle, n. Etym: [L. epicyclus, Gr. Cycle.]
1. (Ptolemaic Astron.)
Defn: A circle, whose center moves round in the circumference of a
greater circle; or a small circle, whose center, being fixed in the
deferent of a planet, is carried along with the deferent, and yet, by
its own peculiar motion, carries the body of the planet fastened to
it round its proper center.
The schoolmen were like astronomers which did feign eccentries, and
epicycles, and such engines of orbs. Bacon.
2. (Mech.)
Defn: A circle which rolls on the circumference of another circle,
either externally or internally.
EPICYCLIC
Ep`i*cyc"lic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, resembling, or having the motion of, an
epicycle. Epicyclic train (Mach.), a train of mechanism in which
epicyclic motion is involved; esp., a train of spur wheels, bevel
wheels, or belt pulleys, in which an arm, carrying one or more of the
wheels, sweeps around a center lying in an axis common to the other
wheels.
EPICYCLOID
Ep`i*cy"cloid, n. Etym: [Epicycle + -oid: cf. F. épicycloïde.]
(Geom.)
Defn: A curve traced by a point in the circumference of a circle
which rolls on the convex side of a fixed circle.
Note: Any point rigidly connected with the rolling circle, but not in
its circumference, traces a curve called an epitrochoid. The curve
traced by a point in the circumference of the rolling circle when it
rolls on the concave side of a fixed circle is called a hypocycloid;
the curve traced by a point rigidly connected with the rolling circle
in this case, but not its circumference, is called a hypotrochoid.
All the curves mentioned above belong to the class class called
roulettes or trochoids. See Trochoid.
EPICYCLOIDAL
Ep`i*cy*cloid"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the epicycloid, or having its properties.
Epicycloidal wheel, a device for producing straight-line motion from
circular motion, on the principle that a pin fastened in the
periphery of a gear wheel will describe a straight line when the
wheel rolls around inside a fixed internal gear of twice its
diameter.
EPIDEICTIC
Ep`i*deic"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Epidictic.]
Defn: Serving to show forth, explain, or exhibit; -- applied by the
Greeks to a kind of oratory, which, by full amplification, seeks to
persuade.
EPIDEMIC; EPIDEMICAL
Ep`i*dem"ic, Ep`i*dem"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. epidemus, Gr. épidémique.
Cf. Demagogue.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Common to, or affecting at the same time, a large number in a
community; -- applied to a disease which, spreading widely, attacks
many persons at the same time; as, an epidemic disease; an epidemic
catarrh, fever, etc. See Endemic.
2. Spreading widely, or generally prevailing; affecting great
numbers, as an epidemic does; as, epidemic rage; an epidemic evil.
It was the epidemical sin of the nation. Bp. Burnet.
EPIDEMIC
Ep`i*dem"ic, n. Etym: [Cf. Epidemy.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: An epidemic disease.
2. Anything which takes possession of the minds of people as an
epidemic does of their bodies; as, an epidemic of terror.
EPIDEMICALLY
Ep`i*dem"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an epidemic manner.
EPIDEMIOGRAPHY
Ep`i*de`mi*og"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Epidemy + -graphy.] (Med.)
Defn: A treatise upon, or history of, epidemic diseases.
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL
Ep`i*de`mi*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Connected with, or pertaining to, epidemiology.
EPIDEMIOLOGIST
Ep`i*de`mi*ol"o*gist, n.
Defn: A person skilled in epidemiology.
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Ep`i*de`mi*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Epidemy + -logy.] (Med.)
Defn: That branch of science which treats of epidemics.
EPIDEMY
Ep"i*dem`y, n. Etym: [Gr. épidémie. See Epidemic.] (Med.)
Defn: An epidemic disease. Dunglison.
EPIDERM
Ep"i*derm, n. Etym: [Cf. F. épiderme. See Epidermis.] (Anat.)
Defn: The epidermis.
EPIDERMAL
Ep`i*der"mal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the epidermis; epidermic; cuticular.
EPIDERMATIC
Ep`i*der*mat"ic, a.
Defn: Epidermal. [R.]
EPIDERMATOID
Ep`i*der"ma*toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid. Cf. Epidermoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Epidermoid. Owen.
EPIDERMEOUS
Ep`i*der"me*ous, a.
Defn: Epidermal. [R.]
EPIDERMIC
Ep`i*der"mic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épidermique.]
Defn: Epidermal; connected with the skin or the bark. Epidermic
administration of medicine (Med.), the application of medicine to the
skin by friction.
EPIDERMICAL
Ep`i*der"mic*al, a.
Defn: Epidermal. [R.]
EPIDERMIDAL
Ep`i*der"mi*dal, a.
Defn: Epidermal. [R.]
EPIDERMIS
Ep`i*der"mis, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Tear, v. t.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The outer, nonsensitive layer of the skin; cuticle; scarfskin.
See Dermis.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The outermost layer of the cells, which covers both surfaces of
leaves, and also the surface of stems, when they are first formed. As
stems grow old this layer is lost, and never replaced.
EPIDERMOID
Ep`i*der"moid, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épidermoïde.] (Anat.)
Defn: Like epidermis; pertaining to the epidermis.
EPIDERMOSE
Ep`i*der"mose, n. Etym: [See Epidermis.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Keratin.
EPIDICTIC; EPIDICTICAL
Ep`i*dic"tic, Ep`i*dic"tic*al, a. Etym: [L. epidictius. See
Epideictic.]
Defn: Serving to explain; demonstrative.
EPIDIDYMIS
Ep`i*did"y*mis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: An oblong vermiform mass on the dorsal side of the testicle,
composed of numerous convolutions of the excretory duct of that
organ.
-- Ep`i*did"y*mal, a.
EPIDIDYMITIS
Ep`i*did`y*mi"tis, n. Etym: [NL. See Epididymis, and -itis.] (Med.)
Defn: Inflammation of the epididymis, one of the common results of
gonorrhea.
EPIDOTE
Ep"i*dote, n. Etym: [Gr. épidote. So named from the enlargement of
the base of the primary, in some of the secondary forms.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral, commonly of a yellowish green (pistachio) color,
occurring granular, massive, columnar, and in monoclinic crystals. It
is a silicate of alumina, lime, and oxide of iron, or manganese.
Note: The Epidote group includes ordinary epidote, zoisite or lime
epidote, piedmontite or manganese epidote, allanite or serium
epidote.
EPIDOTIC
Ep`i*dot"ic,, a.
Defn: Related to, resembling, or containing epidote; as, an epidotic
granite.
EPIGAEA
Ep`i*gæ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: An American genus of plants, containing but a single species
(E. repens), the trailing arbutus.
EPIGAEOUS
Ep`i*gæ"ous, a. Etym: [Gr. Epigæa, and cf. Epigee.] (Bot.)
Defn: Growing on, or close to, the ground.
EPIGASTRIAL
Ep`i*gas"tri*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Epigastric.
EPIGASTRIC
Ep`i*gas"tric, a. Etym: [Gr. épigastrique.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the epigastrium, or to the epigastric region.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Over the stomach; -- applied to two of the areas of the
carapace of crabs. Epigastric region. (Anat.) (a) The whole upper
part of the abdomen. (b) An arbitrary division of the abdomen above
the umbilical and between the two hypochondriac regions.
EPIGASTRIUM
Ep`i*gas"tri*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The upper part of the abdomen.
EPIGEAL
Ep`i*ge"al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Epigæous. [R.]
EPIGEE
Ep"i*gee, n. Etym: [NL. epigeum, fr. Gr. Epigæa.]
Defn: See Perigee. [Obs.]
EPIGENE
Ep"i*gene, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr.
1. (Crystallog.)
Defn: Foreign; unnatural; unusual; -- said of forms of crystals not
natural to the substances in which they are found.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Formed originating on the surface of the earth; -- opposed to
hypogene; as, epigene rocks.
EPIGENESIS
Ep`i*gen"e*sis, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: The theory of generation which holds that the germ is created
entirely new, not merely expanded, by the procreative power of the
parents. It is opposed to the theory of evolution, also to
syngenesis.
EPIGENESIST
Ep`i*gen"e*sist, n. (Biol.)
Defn: One who believes in, or advocates the theory of, epigenesis.
EPIGENETIC
Ep`i*ge*net"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the epigenesis; produced according to the
theory of epigenesis.
EPIGEOUS
Ep`i*ge"ous, a.
Defn: Same as Epigæous.
EPIGEUM
Ep*i*ge"um, n. Etym: [NL. See Epigee.]
Defn: See Perigee. [Obs.]
EPIGLOTTIC
Ep`i*glot"tic, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, the epiglottis.
EPIGLOTTIDEAN
Ep`i*glot*tid"e*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Epiglottic.
EPIGLOTTIS
Ep`i*glot"tis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Glottis.] (Anat.)
Defn: A cartilaginous lidlike appendage which closes the glottis
while food or drink is passing while food or drink is passing through
the pharynx.
EPIGNATHOUS
E*pig"na*thous, a. Etym: [Epi- + Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Hook-billed; having the upper mandible longer than the lower.
EPIGRAM
Ep"i*gram, n. Etym: [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. épigramme. See Graphic.]
1. A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought
or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the
reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often
satirical in character.
Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram Shak.
Note: Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues,
temples, triumphal arches, etc.
2. An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply
expressed, whether in verse or prose.
3. The style of the epigram.
Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its
later and technical signification. B. Cracroft.
EPIGRAMMATIC; EPIGRAMMATICAL
Ep`i*gram*mat"ic, Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al,Etym: [L. epigrammaticus: cf.
F. épigrammatique.]
1. Writing epigrams; dealing in epigrams; as, an epigrammatical poet.
2. Suitable to epigrams; belonging to epigrams; like an epigram;
pointed; piquant; as, epigrammatic style, wit, or sallies of fancy.
EPIGRAMMATICALLY
Ep`i*gram*mat"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of epigram; in an epigrammatic style.
EPIGRAMMATIST
Ep`i*gram"ma*tist, n. Etym: [L. epigrammatista: cf. F.
épigrammatiste.]
Defn: One who composes epigrams, or makes use of them.
The brisk epigrammatist showing off his own cleverness. Holmes.
EPIGRAMMATIZE
Ep`i*gram"ma*tize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Epigrammatized; p. pr. & vb.
n. Epigrammatizing.]
Defn: To represent by epigrams; to express by epigrams.
EPIGRAMMATIZER
Ep`i*gram"ma*ti`zer, n.
Defn: One who writes in an affectedly pointed style.
Epigrammatizers of our English prose style. Coleridge.
EPIGRAMMIST
Ep"i*gram`mist, n.
Defn: An epigrammatist. Jer. Taylor.
EPIGRAPH
Ep"i*graph, n. Etym: [Gr. épigraphe. See Epigram.]
1. Any inscription set upon a building; especially, one which has to
do with the building itself, its founding or dedication.
2. (Literature)
Defn: A citation from some author, or a sentence framed for the
purpose, placed at the beginning of a work or of its separate
divisions; a motto.
EPIGRAPHIC; EPIGRAPHICAL
Ep`i*graph"ic, Ep`i*graph"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to epigraphs or to epigraphy; as, an
epigraphic style; epigraphical works or studies.
EPIGRAPHICS
Ep`i*graph"ics, n.
Defn: The science or study of epigraphs.
EPIGRAPHIST
E*pig"ra*phist, n.
Defn: A student of, or one versed in, epigraphy.
EPIGRAPHY
E*pig"ra*phy, n.
Defn: The science of inscriptions; the art of engraving inscriptions
or of deciphering them.
EPIGYNOUS
E*pig"y*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. épigyne.] (Bot.)
Defn: Adnate to the surface of the ovary, so as to be apparently
inserted upon the top of it; -- said of stamens, petals, sepals, and
also of the disk.
EPIHYAL
Ep`i*hy"al, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + the Greek letter (Anat.)
Defn: A segment next above the ceratohyal in the hyoidean arch.
EPILEPSY
Ep"i*lep`sy, n. Etym: [L. epilepsia, Gr. épilepsie. Cf. Catalepsy.]
(Med.)
Defn: The "falling sickness," so called because the patient falls
suddenly to the ground; a disease characterized by paroxysms (or
fits) occurring at interval and attended by sudden loss of
consciousness, and convulsive motions of the muscles. Dunglison.
EPILEPTIC
Ep`i*lep"tic, a. Etym: [L. epilepticus, Gr. épileptique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, affected with, or of the nature of, epilepsy.
EPILEPTIC
Ep`i*lep"tic, n.
1. One affected with epilepsy.
2. A medicine for the cure of epilepsy.
EPILEPTICAL
Ep`i*lep"tic*al, a.
Defn: Epileptic.
EPILEPTIFORM
Ep`i*lep"ti*form, a.
Defn: Resembling epilepsy.
EPILEPTOGENOUS
Ep`i*lep*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [Gr. -genous.] (Med.)
Defn: Producing epilepsy or epileptoid convulsions; -- applied to
areas of the body or of the nervous system, stimulation of which
produces convulsions.
EPILEPTOID
Ep`i*lep"toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.] (Med.)
Defn: Resembling epilepsy; as, epileptoid convulsions.
EPILOGATION
Ep`i*lo*ga"tion, n. Etym: [LL. epilogatio.]
Defn: A summing up in a brief account. [Obs.] Udall.
EPILOGIC; EPILOGICAL
Ep`i*log"ic, Ep`i*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an epilogue.
EPILOGISM
E*pil"o*gism, n. Etym: [Gr. Epilogue.]
Defn: Enumeration; computation. [R.] J. Gregory.
EPILOGISTIC
Ep`i*lo*gis"tic, a. Etym: [Cf. Gr. Epilogism.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to epilogue; of the nature of an epilogue. T.
Warton.
EPILOGIZE
E*pil"o*gize, v. i. & t. Etym: [See Epilogism.]
Defn: To speak an epilogue to; to utter as an epilogue.
EPILOGUE
Ep"i*logue, n. Etym: [F. épilogue, L. epilogus, fr. Gr. Legend.]
1. (Drama)
Defn: A speech or short poem addressed to the spectators and recited
by one of the actors, after the conclusion of the play.
A good play no epilogue, yet . . . good plays prove the better by the
help of good epilogues. Shak.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: The closing part of a discourse, in which the principal matters
are recapitulated; a conclusion.
EPILOGUIZE
Ep"i*lo*guize, v. i. & t.
Defn: Same as Epilogize.
EPIMACHUS
E*pim"a*chus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of highly ornate and brilliantly colored birds of
Australia, allied to the birds of Paradise.
EPIMERA
E*pim"e*ra, n. pl.
Defn: See Epimeron.
EPIMERAL
E*pim"e*ral, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the epimera.
EPIMERE
Ep"i*mere, n. Etym: [Epi- + -mere.] (Biol.)
Defn: One of the segments of the transverse axis, or the so called
homonymous parts; as, for example, one of the several segments of the
extremities in vertebrates, or one of the similar segments in plants,
such as the segments of a segmented leaf. Syd. Soc. Lex.
EPIMERON
E*pim"e*ron, n.; pl. Epimera. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) In crustaceans: The part of the side of a somite external to the
basal joint of each appendage. See Illust. under Crustacea.
(b) In insects: The lateral piece behind the episternum. [Written
also epimerum.]
EPINASTIC
Ep`i*nas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: A term applied to that phase of vegetable growth in which an
organ grows more rapidly on its upper than on its under surface. See
Hyponastic.
EPINEURAL
Ep`i*neu"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + neural.] (Anat.)
Defn: Arising from the neurapophysis of a vertebra.
EPINEURIUM
Ep`i*neu"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The connective tissue framework and sheath of a nerve which
bind together the nerve bundles, each of which has its own special
sheath, or perineurium.
EPINGLETTE
Ep`in*glette", n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.)
Defn: An iron needle for piercing the cartridge of a cannon before
priming.
EPINICIAL
Ep`i*ni"cial, a. Etym: [See Epinicion.]
Defn: Relating to victory. "An epinicial song." T. Warton.
EPINICION
Ep`i*ni"cion, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. epinicium.]
Defn: A song of triumph. [Obs.] T. Warton.
EPINIKIAN
Ep`i*nik"i*an, a.
Defn: Epinicial.
EPIORNIS
Ep`i*or"nis, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. épiornis. See Æpyornis.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the gigantic ostrichlike birds of the genus Æpiornis,
only recently extinct. Its remains have been found in Madagascar.
[Written also Æpyornis.]
EPIOTIC
Ep`i*o"tic, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The upper and outer element of periotic bone, -- in man forming
a part of the temporal bone.
EPIPEDOMETRY
Ep`i*pe*dom"e*try, n. Etym: [Gr. -metry.] (Geom.)
Defn: The mensuration of figures standing on the same base. [Obs.]
EPIPERIPHERAL
Ep`i*pe*riph"er*al, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + peripheral.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Connected with, or having its origin upon, the external surface
of the body; -- especially applied to the feelings which originate at
the extremities of nerves distributed on the outer surface, as the
sensation produced by touching an object with the finger; -- opposed
to entoperipheral. H. Spenser.
EPIPETALOUS
Ep`i*pet"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + petal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Borne on the petals or corolla.
EPIPHANY
E*piph"a*ny, n. Etym: [F. épiphanie, L. epiphania, Gr. Fancy.]
1. An appearance, or a becoming manifest.
Whom but just before they beheld transfigured and in a glorious
epiphany upon the mount. Jer. Taylor.
An epic poet, if ever such a difficult birth should make its epiphany
in Paris. De Quincey.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: A church festival celebrated on the 6th of January, the twelfth
day after Christmas, in commemoration of the visit of the Magi of the
East to Bethlehem, to see and worship the child Jesus; or, as others
maintain, to commemorate the appearance of the star to the Magi,
symbolizing the manifestation of Christ to the Gentles; Twelfthtide.
EPIPHARYNGEAL
Ep`i*phar`yn*ge"al, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pharyngeal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the segments above the epibranchial in the
branchial arches of fishes.
-- n.
Defn: An epipharyngeal bone or cartilage.
EPIPHARYNX
Ep`i*phar"ynx, n. Etym: [Epi- + pharynx.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A structure which overlaps the mouth of certain insects.
EPIPHONEMA
Ep`i*pho*ne"ma, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An exclamatory sentence, or striking reflection, which sums up
or concludes a discourse.
EPIPHONEME
E*piph"o*neme, n.
Defn: Epiphonema. [R.]
EPIPHORA
E*piph"o*ra, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Med.)
Defn: The watery eye; a disease in which the tears accumulate in the
eye, and trickle over the cheek.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: The emphatic repetition of a word or phrase, at the end of
several sentences or stanzas.
EPIPHRAGM
Ep"i*phragm, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A membranaceous or calcareous septum with which some mollusks
close the aperture of the shell during the time of hibernation, or
æstivation.
EPIPHYLLOSPERMOUS
Ep`i*phyl`lo*sper"mous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Bearing fruit on the back of the leaves, as ferns. Harris
(1710).
EPIPHYLLOUS
Ep`i*phyl*lous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing upon, or inserted into, the leaf.
EPIPHYLLUM
Ep`i*phyl"lum, n. Etym: [NL.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of cactaceous plants having flattened, jointed stems,
and petals united in a tube. The flowers are very showy, and several
species are in cultivation.
EPIPHYSEAL; EPIPHYSIAL
Ep`i*phys"e*al, Ep`i*phys"i*al, (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphysis.
EPIPHYSIS
E*piph"y*sis, n.; pl. Epiphyses. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
(a) The end, or other superficial part, of a bone, which ossifies
separately from the central portion, or diaphysis.
(b) The cerebral epiphysis, or pineal gland. See Pineal gland, under
Pineal.
EPIPHYTAL
E*piph"y*tal, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to an epiphyte.
EPIPHYTE
Ep"i*phyte, n. Etym: [Gr. épiphyte.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An air plant which grows on other plants, but does not derive
its nourishment from them. See Air plant.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A vegetable parasite growing on the surface of the body.
EPIPHYTIC; EPIPHYTICAL
Ep`i*phyt"ic, Ep`i*phyt"ic*al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, an epiphyte.
-- Ep`i*phyt"ic*al*ly, adv.
EPIPLASTRON
Ep`i*plas"tron, n.; pl. Epiplastra. Etym: [Pref. epi- + plastron.]
(Anat.)
Defn: One of the first pair of lateral plates in the plastron of
turtles.
EPIPLEURAL
Ep`i*pleu"ral, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pleural.] (Anat.)
Defn: Arising from the pleurapophysis of a vertebra. Owen.
EPIPLEXIS
Ep`i*plex"is, n. Etym: [L., reproof, fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a person seeks to convince and move by an
elegant kind of upbraiding.
EPIPLOCE
E*pip"lo*ce, n. Etym: [L., connection, from Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which one striking circumstance is added, in due
gradation, to another; climax; e. g., "He not only spared his
enemies, but continued them in employment; not only continued, but
advanced them." Johnson.
EPIPLOIC
Ep`i*plo"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to the epiploön.
EPIPLOON; EPIPLOOEN
E*pip"lo*ön, n.; pl. Epiploa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Omentum.
EPIPODIAL
Ep`i*po"di*al, a.
1. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the epipodialia or the parts of the limbs to
which they belong.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to the epipodium of Mollusca.
EPIPODIALE
Ep`i*po`di*a"le, n.; pl. Epipodialia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the bones of either the forearm or shank, the
epipodialia being the radius, ulna, tibia, and fibula.
EPIPODITE
E*pip"o*dite, n. Etym: [See Epipodium.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The outer branch of the legs in certain Crustacea. See
Maxilliped.
EPIPODIUM
Ep`i*po"di*um, n.; pl. Epipodia. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the lateral lobes of the foot in certain gastropods.
EPIPOLIC
Ep`i*pol"ic, a. (Opt.)
Defn: Producing, or relating to, epipolism or fluorescence. [R.]
EPIPOLISM
E*pip"o*lism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Opt.)
Defn: See Fluorescence. [R.] Sir J. Herschel.
EPIPOLIZED
E*pip"o*lized, a.
Defn: Changed to the epipolic condition, or that in which the
phenomenon of fluorescence is presented; produced by fluorescence;
as, epipolized light. [R.] Stokes.
EPIPTERIC
Ep`ip*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a small Wormian bone sometimes present in the
human skull between the parietal and the great wing of the sphenoid.
-- n.
Defn: The epipteric bone.
EPIPTERYGOID
Ep`ip*ter"y*goid, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + pterygoid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Situated upon or above the pterygoid bone.
-- n.
Defn: An epipterygoid bone or cartilage; the columella in the skulls
of many lizards.
EPIPUBIC
Ep`i*pu"bic, a.
Defn: Relating to the epipubis.
EPIPUBIS
Ep`i*pu"bis, n.; pl. Epipubes. Etym: [NL., epi- + pubis.] (Anat.)
Defn: A cartilage or bone in front of the pubis in some amphibians
and other animals.
EPISCOPACY
E*pis"co*pa*cy, n. Etym: [See Episcopate.]
Defn: Government of the church by bishops; church government by three
distinct orders of ministers -- bishops, priests, and deacons -- of
whom the bishops have an authority superior and of a different kind.
EPISCOPAL
E*pis"co*pal, a. Etym: [L. episcopalis, fr. episcopus: cf. F.
épiscopal. See Bishop.]
1. Governed by bishops; as, an episcopal church.
2. Belonging to, or vested in, bishops; as, episcopal jurisdiction or
authority; the episcopal system.
EPISCOPALIAN
E*pis`co*pa"li*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to bishops, or government by bishops; episcopal;
specifically, of or relating to the Protestant Episcopal Church.
EPISCOPALIAN
E*pis`co*pa"li*an, n.
Defn: One who belongs to an episcopal church, or adheres to the
episcopal form of church government and discipline; a churchman;
specifically, in the United States, a member of the Protestant
Episcopal Church.
EPISCOPALIANISM
E*pis`co*pa"li*an*ism, n.
Defn: The doctrine and usages of Episcopalians; episcopacy.
EPISCOPALLY
E*pis"co*pal*ly, adv.
Defn: By episcopal authority; in an episcopal manner.
EPISCOPANT
E*pis"co*pant, n.
Defn: A bishop. [Obs.] Milton.
EPISCOPARIAN
E*pis`co*pa"ri*an, a.
Defn: Episcopal. [R.] Wood.
EPISCOPATE
E*pis"co*pate, n. Etym: [L. episcopatus, fr. episcopus: cf. F.
épiscopat. See Bishop.]
1. A bishopric; the office and dignity of a bishop.
2. The collective body of bishops.
3. The time of a bishop's rule.
EPISCOPATE
E*pis"co*pate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Episcopated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Episcopating.]
Defn: To act as a bishop; to fill the office of a prelate. [Obs.]
Feeding the flock episcopating. Milton.
EPISCOPICIDE
E*pis"co*pi*cide, n. Etym: [L. episcopus bishop + caedere to kill.]
Defn: The killing of a bishop.
EPISCOPIZE
E*pis"co*pize, v. t.
Defn: To make a bishop of by consecration. Southey.
EPISCOPIZE
E*pis"co*pize, v. i.
Defn: To perform the duties of a bishop.
EPISCOPY
E*pis"co*py, n. Etym: [Gr. Bishop.]
1. Survey; superintendence. [Obs.] Milton.
2. Episcopacy. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
EPISEPALOUS
Ep`i*sep"al*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + sepal.] (Bot.)
Defn: Growing on the sepals or adnate to them.
EPISKELETAL
Ep`i*skel"e*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. epi- + skeleletal.] (Anat.)
Defn: Above or outside of the endoskeleton; epaxial.
EPISODAL
Ep`i*so"dal, a.
Defn: Same as Episodic.
EPISODE
Ep"i*sode, n. Etym: [Gr. sad to go: cf. F. épisode.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A separate incident, story, or action, introduced for the
purpose of giving a greater variety to the events related; an
incidental narrative, or digression, separable from the main subject,
but naturally arising from it.
EPISODIAL
Ep`i*so"di*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an episode; by way of episode; episodic.
EPISODIC; EPISODICAL
Ep`i*so"dic, Ep`i*so"dic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épisodique. See
Episode.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an episode; adventitious.
-- Ep`i*so"dic*al*ly, adv.
Such a figure as Jacob Brattle, purely episodical though it be, is an
excellent English portrait. H. James.
EPISPADIAS
Ep`i*spa"di*as, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A deformity in which the urethra opens upon the top of the
penis, instead of at its extremity.
EPISPASTIC
Ep"i*spas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. épispastique.] (Med.)
Defn: Attracting the humors to the skin; exciting action in the skin;
blistering.
EPISPASTIC
Ep"i*spas"tic, n. (Med.)
Defn: An external application to the skin, which produces a puriform
or serous discharge by exciting inflammation; a vesicatory.
EPISPERM
Ep"i*sperm, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. épisperme.] (Bot.)
Defn: The skin or coat of a seed, especially the outer coat. See
Testa.
EPISPERMIC
Ep`i*sper"mic, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining, or belonging, to the episperm, or covering of a
seed.
EPISPORE
Ep"i*spore, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + spore.] (Bot.)
Defn: The thickish outer coat of certain spores.
EPISTAXIS
Ep`i*stax"is, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Bleeding at the nose.
EPISTEMOLOGY
E*pis`te*mol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The theory or science of the method or grounds of knowledge.
EPISTERNAL
Ep`i*ster"nal, a. (Anat. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the episternum.
EPISTERNUM
Ep`i*ster"num, n.; pl. Episterna. Etym: [NL. See Epi-, and Sternum.]
1. (Anat.)
(a) A median bone connected with the sternum, in many vertebrates;
the interclavicle.
(b) Same as Epiplastron.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the lateral pieces next to the sternum in the thorax of
insects.
EPISTILBITE
Ep`i*stil"bite, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + stilbite.] (Min.)
Defn: A crystallized, transparent mineral of the Zeolite family. It
is a hydrous silicate of alumina and lime.
EPISTLE
E*pis"tle, n. Etym: [OE. epistle, epistel, AS. epistol, pistol, L.
epistola, fr. Gr. epistle, epistre, F. épître. See Stall.]
1. A writing directed or sent to a person or persons; a written
communication; a letter; -- applied usually to formal, didactic, or
elegant letters.
A madman's epistles are no gospels. Shak.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of the letters in the New Testament which were addressed to
their Christian brethren by Apostles. Epistle side, the right side of
an altar or church to a person looking from the nave toward the
chancel.
One sees the pulpit on the epistle side. R. Browning.
EPISTLE
E*pis"tle, v. t.
Defn: To write; to communicate in a letter or by writing. [Obs.]
Milton.
EPISTLER
E*pis"tler, n.
1. A writer of epistles, or of an epistle of the New Testament. M.
Arnold.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: The ecclesiastic who reads the epistle at the communion
service.
EPISTOLAR
E*pis"to*lar, a.
Defn: Epistolary. Dr. H. More.
EPISTOLARY
E*pis"to*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. epistolaris, fr. epistola: cf. F.
épistolaire.]
1. Pertaining to epistles or letters; suitable to letters and
correspondence; as, an epistolary style.
2. Contained in letters; carried on by letters. "Epistolary
correspondence." Addison.
EPISTOLEAN
Ep`is*to"le*an, n.
Defn: One who writes epistles; a correspondent. Mary Cowden Clarke.
EPISTOLER
E*pis"to*ler, n. (Eccl.)
Defn: One of the clergy who reads the epistle at the communion
service; an epistler.
EPISTOLET
E*pis"to*let, n.
Defn: A little epistle. Lamb.
EPISTOLIC; EPISTOLICAL
Ep`is*tol"ic, Ep`is*tol"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. epistolicus, Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to letters or epistles; in the form or style of
letters; epistolary.
EPISTOLIZE
E*pis"to*lize, v. i.
Defn: To write epistles.
EPISTOLIZER
E*pis"to*li`zer, n.
Defn: A writer of epistles.
EPISTOLOGRAPHIC
E*pis`to*lo*graph"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. épistolographique.]
Defn: Pertaining to the writing of letters; used in writing letters;
epistolary. Epistolographic character or mode of writing, the same as
Demotic character. See under Demotic.
EPISTOLOGRAPHY
E*pis`to*log"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. épistolographie.]
Defn: The art or practice of writing epistles.
EPISTOMA; EPISTOME
E*pis"to*ma, Ep"i*stome, n. Etym: [NL. epistoma, fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
(a) The region between the antennæ and the mouth, in Crustacea.
(b) A liplike organ that covers the mouth, in most Bryozoa. See
Illust., under Entoprocta.
EPISTROPHE
E*pis"tro*phe, n. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure in which successive clauses end with the same word or
affirmation; e. g., "Are they Hebrews so am I. Are they Israelites so
am I." 2 Cor. xi. 22.
EPISTYLE
Ep"i*style, n. Etym: [L. epistylium, Gr. épistyle.] (Anc. Arch.)
Defn: A massive piece of stone or wood laid immediately on the abacus
of the capital of a column or pillar; -- now called architrave.
EPISYLLOGISM
Ep`i*syl"lo*gism, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + syllogism.] (Logic)
Defn: A syllogism which assumes as one of its premises a proposition
which was the conclusion of a preceding syllogism, called, in
relation to this, the prosyllogism.
EPITAPH
Ep"i*taph, n. Etym: [F. épitaphe, L. epitaphium a funeral oration,
fr. Gr. Cenotaph.]
1. An inscription on, or at, a tomb, or a grave, in memory or
commendation of the one buried there; a sepulchral inscription.
Hang her an epitaph upon her tomb. Shak.
2. A brief writing formed as if to be inscribed on a monument, as
that concerning Alexander: "Sufficit huic tumulus, cui non sufficeret
orbis."
EPITAPH
Ep"i*taph, v. t.
Defn: To commemorate by an epitaph. [R.]
Let me be epitaphed the inventor of English hexameters. G. Harvey.
EPITAPH
Ep"i*taph, v. i.
Defn: To write or speak after the manner of an epitaph. [R.]
The common in their speeches epitaph upon him . . . "He lived as a
wolf and died as a dog." Bp. Hall.
EPITAPHER
Ep"i*taph`er, n.
Defn: A writer of epitaphs. Nash.
EPITAPHIAL; EPITAPHIAN
Ep`i*taph"i*al, Ep`i*taph"i*an, a.
Defn: Relating to, or of the nature of, an epitaph.
The noble Pericles in his epitaphian speech. Milton.
Epitaphial Latin verses are not to be taken too literally. Lowell.
EPITAPHIC
Ep`i*taph"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an epitaph; epitaphian.
-- n.
Defn: An epitaph. Udall.
EPITAPHIST
Ep"i*taph`ist, n.
Defn: An epitapher.
EPITASIS
E*pit"a*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
1. That part which embraces the main action of a play, poem, and the
like, and leads on to the catastrophe; -- opposed to protasis.
2. (Med.)
Defn: The period of violence in a fever or disease; paroxysm.
Dunglison.
EPITHALAMIC
Ep`i*tha*lam"ic, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or designed for, an epithalamium.
EPITHALAMIUM
Ep`i*tha*la"mi*um, n.; pl. Epithalamiums, L. Epithalamia. Etym: [L.,
fr. Gr.
Defn: A nuptial song, or poem in honor of the bride and bridegroom.
The kind of poem which was called epithalamium . . . sung when the
bride was led into her chamber. B. Jonson.
EPITHALAMY
Ep`i*thal"a*my, n.; pl. Epithalamies (.
Defn: Epithalamium. [R.] Donne.
EPITHECA
Ep`i*the"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A continuous and, usually, structureless layer which covers
more or less of the exterior of many corals.
EPITHELIAL
Ep`i*the"li*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to epithelium; as, epithelial cells;
epithelial cancer.
EPITHELIOID
Ep`i*the"li*oid, a. Etym: [Epithelium + -oid.] (Anat.)
Defn: Like epithelium; as, epithelioid cells.
EPITHELIOMA
Ep`i*the`li*o"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Epithelium, and -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A malignant growth containing epithelial cells; -- called also
epithelial cancer.
EPITHELIUM
Ep`i*the"li*um, n.; pl. E. Epitheliums, L. Epithelia. Etym: [NL., fr.
Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: The superficial layer of cells lining the alimentary canal and
all its appendages, all glands and their ducts, blood vessels and
lymphatics, serous cavities, etc. It often includes the epidermis (i.
e., keratin-producing epithelial cells), and it is sometimes
restricted to the alimentary canal, the glands and their appendages,
-- the term endothelium being applied to the lining membrane of the
blood vessels, lymphatics, and serous cavities.
EPITHELOID
Ep`i*the"loid, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Epithelioid.
EPITHEM
Ep"i*them, n. Etym: [L. epithema, Gr. épithème. See Epithet.] (Med.)
Defn: Any external topical application to the body, except ointments
and plasters, as a poultice, lotion, etc.
EPITHEMA
Ep`i*the"ma, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A horny excrescence upon the beak of birds.
EPITHESIS
E*pith"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: The addition of a letter at the end of a word, without changing
its sense; as, numb for num, whilst for whiles.
EPITHET
Ep"i*thet, n. Etym: [L. epitheton, Gr. épithète. See Do.]
1. An adjective expressing some quality, attribute, or relation, that
is properly or specially appropriate to a person or thing; as, a just
man; a verdant lawn.
A prince [Henry III.] to whom the epithet "worthless" seems best
applicable. Hallam.
2. Term; expression; phrase. "Stiffed with epithets of war." Shak.
Syn.
-- Epithet, Title. The name epithet was formerly extended to nouns
which give a title or describe character (as the "epithet of liar"),
but is now confined wholly to adjectives. Some rhetoricians, as
Whately, restrict it still further, considering the term epithet as
belonging only to a limited class of adjectives, viz., those which
add nothing to the sense of their noun, but simply hold forth some
quality necessarily implied therein; as, the bright sun, the lofty
heavens, etc. But this restriction does not prevail in general
literature. Epithet is sometimes confounded with application, which
is always a noun or its equivalent.
EPITHET
Ep"i*thet, v. t.
Defn: To describe by an epithet. [R.]
Never was a town better epitheted. Sir H. Wotton.
EPITHETIC; EPITHETICAL
Ep`i*thet"ic, Ep`i*thet"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or abounding with, epithets. "In epithetic
measured prose." Lloyd.
EPITHITE
Ep"i*thite, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A lazy, worthless fellow; a vagrant. [Obs.] Mason.
EPITHUMETIC
Ep`i*thu*met"ic, a.
Defn: Epithumetical. [Obs.]
EPITHUMETICAL
Ep`i*thu*met"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to sexual desire; sensual. Sir T. Browne.
EPITITHIDES
Ep`i*tith"i*des, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. Epithet.] (Arch.)
Defn: The uppermost member of the cornice of an entablature.
EPITOMATOR
E*pit"o*ma`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: An epitomist. Sir W. Hamilton.
EPITOME
E*pit"o*me, n.; pl. Epitomes. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. épitome. See Tome.]
1. A work in which the contents of a former work are reduced within a
smaller space by curtailment and condensation; a brief summary; an
abridgement.
[An] epitome of the contents of a very large book. Sydney Smith.
2. A compact or condensed representation of anything.
An epitome of English fashionable life. Carlyle.
A man so various that he seemed to be Not one, but all mankind's
epitome. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Abridgement; compendium; compend; abstract; synopsis;
abbreviature. See Abridgment.
EPITOMIST
E*pit"o*mist, n.
Defn: One who makes an epitome; one who abridges; an epitomizer.
Milton.
EPITOMIZE
E*pit"o*mize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Epitomized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Epitomizing.]
1. To make an epitome of; to shorten or abridge, as a writing or
discourse; to reduce within a smaller space; as, to epitomize the
works of Justin.
2. To diminish, as by cutting off something; to curtail; as, to
epitomize words. [Obs.] Addison.
EPITOMIZER
E*pit"o*mi`zer, n.
Defn: An epitomist. Burton.
EPITRITE
Ep"i*trite, n. Etym: [Gr. i. e., , or in the ratio of 4 to 3);
epitritos, F. épitrite.] (Gr. & Lat. Pros.)
Defn: A foot consisting of three long syllables and one short
syllable.
Note: It is so called from being compounded of a spondee (which
contains 4 times) with an iambus or a trochee (which contains 3
times). It is called 1st, 2d, 3d, or 4th epitrite according as the
short syllable stands 1st, 2d, etc.
EPITROCHLEA
Ep`i*troch"le*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Epi-, and Trochlea.] (Anat.)
Defn: A projection on the outer side of the distal end of the
humerus; the external condyle.
EPITROCHLEAR
Ep`i*troch"le*ar, a.
Defn: Relating to the epitrochlea.
EPITROCHOID
Ep`i*tro"choid, n. Etym: [Pref. epi- + Gr. -oid.] (Geom.)
Defn: A kind of curve. See Epicycloid, any Trochoid.
EPITROPE
E*pit"ro*pe, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which permission is either seriously or ironically
granted to some one, to do what he proposes to do; e. g., "He that is
unjust, let him be unjust still."
EPIZEUXIS
Ep`i*zeux"is, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure by which a word is repeated with vehemence or
emphasis, as in the following lines: -
Alone, alone, all all alone, Alone on a wide wide sea. Coleridge.
EPIZOAN
Ep`i*zo"an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An epizoön.
EPIZOAN
Ep`i*zo"an, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An epizoön.
EPIZOIC
Ep`i*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living upon the exterior of another animal; ectozoic; -- said
of external parasites.
EPIZOIC
Ep`i*zo"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Living upon the exterior of another animal; ectozoic; -- said
of external parasites.
EPIZOON; EPIZOOEN
Ep`i*zo"ön, n.; pl. Epizoa. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the artificial group of invertebrates of various kinds,
which live parasitically upon the exterior of other animals; an
ectozoön. Among them are the lice, ticks, many acari, the lerneans,
or fish lice, and other crustaceans.
EPIZOOTIC; EPIZOOETIC
Ep`i*zo*öt"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. épizoötique.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to an epizoön.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Containing fossil remains; -- said of rocks, formations,
mountains, and the like. [Obs.]
Epizoötic mountains are of secondary formation. Kirwan.
3. Of the nature of a disease which attacks many animals at the same
time; -- corresponding to epidemic diseases among men.
EPIZOOTY; EPIZOOETY; EPIZOOTIC; EPIZOOETIC
Ep`i*zo"ö*ty, Ep`i*zo*öt"ic, n. Etym: [F. épizoötie.]
Defn: An epizoötic disease; a murrain; an epidemic influenza among
horses.
EPOCH
Ep"och, n. Etym: [LL. epocha, Gr. sah to overpower, Goth. sigis
victory, AS. sigor, sige, G. sieg: cf. F. époque. See Scheme.]
1. A fixed point of time, established in history by the occurrence of
some grand or remarkable event; a point of time marked by an event of
great subsequent influence; as, the epoch of the creation; the birth
of Christ was the epoch which gave rise to the Christian era.
In divers ages, . . . divers epochs of time were used. Usher.
Great epochs and crises in the kingdom of God. Trench.
The acquittal of the bishops was not the only event which makes the
30th of June, 1688, a great epoch in history. Macaulay.
Note: Epochs mark the beginning of new historical periods, and dates
are often numbered from them.
2. A period of time, longer or shorter, remarkable for events of
great subsequent influence; a memorable period; as, the epoch of
maritime discovery, or of the Reformation. "So vast an epoch of
time." F. Harrison.
The influence of Chaucer continued to live even during the dreary
interval which separates from one another two important epochs of our
literary history. A. W. Ward.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: A division of time characterized by the prevalence of similar
conditions of the earth; commonly a minor division or part of a
period.
The long geological epoch which stored up the vast coal measures. J.
C. Shairp.
4. (Astron.)
(a) The date at which a planet or comet has a longitude or position.
(b) An arbitrary fixed date, for which the elements used in computing
the place of a planet, or other heavenly body, at any other date, are
given; as, the epoch of Mars; lunar elements for the epoch March 1st,
1860.
Syn.
-- Era; time; date; period; age.
-- Epoch, Era. We speak of the era of the Reformation, when we think
of it as a period, during which a new order of things prevailed; so
also, the era of good feeling, etc. Had we been thinking of the time
as marked by certain great events, or as a period in which great
results were effected, we should have called the times when these
events happened epochs, and the whole period an epoch.
The capture of Constantinople is an epoch in the history of
Mahometanism; but the flight of Mahomet is its era. C. J. Smith.
EPOCHA
Ep"o*cha, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Epoch. J. Adams.
EPOCHAL
Ep"o*chal, a.
Defn: Belonging to an epoch; of the nature of an epoch. "Epochal
points." Shedd.
EPODE
Ep"ode, n. Etym: [L. epodos, Gr. épode. See Ode.] (Poet.)
(a) The after song; the part of a lyric ode which follows the strophe
and antistrophe, -- the ancient ode being divided into strophe,
antistrophe, and epode.
(b) A species of lyric poem, invented by Archilochus, in which a
longer verse is followed by a shorter one; as, the Epodes of Horace.
It does not include the elegiac distich.
EPODIC
E*pod"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an epode.
EPONYM; EPONYME
Ep"o*nym, Ep"o*nyme, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éponyme. See Eponymous.]
1. The hypothetical individual who is assumed as the person from whom
any race, city, etc., took its name; as, Hellen is an eponym of the
Hellenes.
2. A name, as of a people, country, and the like, derived from that
of an individual.
EPONYMIC
Ep`o*nym"ic, a.
Defn: Same as Eponymous.
Tablets . . . which bear eponymic dates. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
EPONYMIST
E*pon"y*mist, n.
Defn: One from whom a race, tribe, city, or the like, took its name;
an eponym.
EPONYMOUS
E*pon"y*mous, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to an eponym; giving one's name to a tribe, people,
country, and the like.
What becomes . . . of the Herakleid genealogy of the Spartan kings,
when it is admitted that eponymous persons are to be canceled as
fictions Grote.
EPONYMY
E*pon"y*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The derivation of the name of a race, tribe, etc., from that of
a fabulous hero, progenitor, etc.
EPOOPHORON; EPOOEPHORON
Ep`o*öph"o*ron, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: See Parovarium.
EPOPEE; EPOPOEIA
Ep"o*pee`, Ep`o*poe"ia, n. Etym: [F. épopée, Gr. Epos.]
Defn: An epic poem; epic poetry.
EPOPT
Ep"opt, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One instructed in the mysteries of a secret system. Carlyle.
EPOS
Ep"os, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: An epic.
EPOTATION
Ep`o*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. epotare, epotatum, to drink; e out +
potare to drink.]
Defn: A drinking up; a quaffing. [Obs.] Feltham.
EPROUVETTE
e`prou`vette", n. Etym: [F.] (Gun.)
Defn: An apparatus for testing or proving the strength of gunpowder.
EPSOMITE
Ep"som*ite, n.
Defn: Native sulphate of magnesia or Epsom salt.
EPSOM SALTS; EPSOM SALT
Ep"som salts` or Ep"som salt`. (Med.)
Defn: Sulphate of magnesia having cathartic qualities; -- originally
prepared by boiling down the mineral waters at Epsom, England, --
whence the name; afterwards prepared from sea water; but now from
certain minerals, as from siliceous hydrate of magnesia.
EPULARY
Ep"u*la*ry, a. Etym: [L. epularis, fr. epulum a feast: cf. F.
épulaire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a feast or banquet. [Obs.] Smart.
EPULATION
Ep`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. epulatio.]
Defn: A feasting or feast; banquet. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EPULIS
E*pu"lis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A hard tumor developed from the gums.
EPULOSE
Ep"u*lose`, a. Etym: [L. epulum a feast.]
Defn: Feasting to excess. [Obs.]
EPULOSITY
Ep`u*los"i*ty, n.
Defn: A feasting to excess. [Obs.]
EPULOTIC
Ep`u*lot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Promoting the skinning over or healing of sores; as, an
epulotic ointment.
-- n.
Defn: An epulotic agent.
EPURATION
Ep`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. e out, quite + purare to purify, purus
pure.]
Defn: Purification.
EPURE
e`pure", n. Etym: [F.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: A draught or model from which to build; especially, one of the
full size of the work to be done; a detailed drawing.
EPWORTH LEAGUE
Ep"worth League.
Defn: A religious organization of Methodist young people, founded in
1889 at Cleveland, Ohio, and taking its name from John Wesley's
birthplace, Epworth, Lincolnshire, England.
EQUABILITY
E`qua*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequabilitas, fr. aequabilis. See
Equable.]
Defn: The quality or condition of being equable; evenness or
uniformity; as, equability of temperature; the equability of the
mind.
For the celestial bodies, the equability and constancy of their
motions argue them ordained by wisdom. Ray.
EQUABLE
E"qua*ble, a. Etym: [L. aequabilis, fr. aequare to make level or
equal, fr. aequus even, equal. See Equal.]
1. Equal and uniform; continuing the same at different times; -- said
of motion, and the like; uniform in surface; smooth; as, an equable
plain or globe.
2. Uniform in action or intensity; not variable or changing; -- said
of the feelings or temper.
EQUABLENESS
E"qua*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being equable.
EQUABLY
E"qua*bly, adv.
Defn: In an equable manner.
EQUAL
E"qual, a. Etym: [L. aequalis, fr. aequus even, equal; akin to Skr. ,
and perh. to L. unus for older oinos one, E. one.]
1. Agreeing in quantity, size, quality, degree, value, etc.; having
the same magnitude, the same value, the same degree, etc.; -- applied
to number, degree, quantity, and intensity, and to any subject which
admits of them; neither inferior nor superior, greater nor less,
better nor worse; corresponding; alike; as, equal quantities of land,
water, etc. ; houses of equal size; persons of equal stature or
talents; commodities of equal value.
2. Bearing a suitable relation; of just proportion; having competent
power, abilities, or means; adequate; as, he is not equal to the
task.
The Scots trusted not their own numbers as equal to fight with the
English. Clarendon.
It is not permitted to me to make my commendations equal to your
merit. Dryden.
Whose voice an equal messenger Conveyed thy meaning mild. Emerson.
3. Not variable; equable; uniform; even; as, an equal movement. "An
equal temper." Dryden.
4. Evenly balanced; not unduly inclining to either side;
characterized by fairness; unbiased; impartial; equitable; just.
Are not my ways equal Ezek. xviii. 29.
Thee, O Jove, no equal judge I deem. Spenser.
Nor think it equal to answer deliberate reason with sudden heat and
noise. Milton.
5. Of the same interest or concern; indifferent.
They who are not disposed to receive them may let them alone or
reject them; it is equal to me. Cheyne.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: Intended for voices of one kind only, either all male or all
female; -- opposed to mixed. [R.]
7. (Math.)
Defn: Exactly agreeing with respect to quantity. Equal temperament.
(Mus.) See Temperament.
Syn.
-- Even; equable; uniform; adequate; proportionate; commensurate;
fair; just; equitable.
EQUAL
E"qual, n.
1. One not inferior or superior to another; one having the same or a
similar age, rank, station, office, talents, strength, or other
quality or condition; an equal quantity or number; as, "If equals be
taken from equals the remainders are equal."
Those who were once his equals envy and defame him. Addison.
2. State of being equal; equality. [Obs.] Spenser.
EQUAL
E"qual, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equaled or Equalled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Equaling or Equalling.]
1. To be or become equal to; to have the same quantity, the same
value, the same degree or rank, or the like, with; to be commen
On me whose all not equals Edward's moiety. Shak.
2. To make equal return to; to recompense fully.
Who answered all her cares, and equaled all her love. Dryden.
3. To make equal or equal to; to equalize; hence, to compare or
regard as equals; to put on equality.
He would not equal the mind that he found in himself to the infinite
and incomprehensible. Berkeley.
EQUALITARIAN
E*qual`i*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who believes in equalizing the condition of men; a leveler.
EQUALITY
E*qual"i*ty, n.; pl. Equalities. Etym: [L. aequalitas, fr. aequalis
equal. See Equal.]
1. The condition or quality of being equal; agreement in quantity or
degree as compared; likeness in bulk, value, rank, properties, etc.;
as, the equality of two bodies in length or thickness; an equality of
rights.
A footing of equality with nobles. Macaulay.
2. Sameness in state or continued course; evenness; uniformity; as,
an equality of temper or constitution.
3. Evenness; uniformity; as, an equality of surface.
4. (Math.)
Defn: Exact agreement between two expressions or magnitudes with
respect to quantity; -- denoted by the symbol =; thus, a = x
signifies that a contains the same number and kind of units of
measure that x does. Confessional equality. See under Confessional.
EQUALIZATION
E`qual*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of equalizing, or state of being equalized.
Their equalization with the rest of their fellow subjects. Burke.
EQUALIZE
E"qual*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Equalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. égaliser.]
1. To make equal; to cause to correspond, or be like, in amount or
degree as compared; as, to equalize accounts, burdens, or taxes.
One poor moment can suffice To equalize the lofty and the low.
Wordsworth.
No system of instruction will completely equalize natural powers.
Whately.
2. To pronounce equal; to compare as equal.
Which we equalize, and perhaps would willingly prefer to the Iliad.
Orrery.
3. To be equal to; equal; to match. [Obs.]
It could not equalize the hundredth part Of what her eyes have
kindled in my heart. Waller.
Equalizing bar (Railroad Mach.), a lever connecting two axle boxes,
or two springs in a car truck or locomotive, to equalize the pressure
on the axles.
EQUALIZER
E"qual*i`zer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, equalizes anything.
EQUALLY
E"qual*ly, adv.
Defn: In an equal manner or degree in equal shares or proportion;
with equal and impartial justice; without difference; alike; evenly;
justly; as, equally taxed, furnished, etc.
EQUALNESS
E"qual*ness, n.
Defn: Equality; evenness. Shak.
EQUANGULAR
E*quan"gu*lar, a. Etym: [See Equiangular.]
Defn: Having equal angles; equiangular. [R.] Johnson.
EQUANIMITY
E`qua*nim"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequanimitas, fr. aequanimus: cf. F.
équanimité. See Equanimous.]
Defn: Evenness of mind; that calm temper or firmness of mind which is
not easily elated or depressed; patience; calmness; composure; as, to
bear misfortunes with equanimity.
EQUANIMOUS
E*quan"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. aequanimus, fr. aequus equal + animus
mind.]
Defn: Of an even, composed frame of mind; of a steady temper; not
easily elated or depressed. Bp. Gauden.
EQUANT
E"quant, n. Etym: [L. aequans, -antis, p. pr. of aequare: cf. F.
équant. See Equate.] (Ptolemaic Astron.)
Defn: A circle around whose circumference a planet or the center of
ann epicycle was conceived to move uniformly; -- called also
eccentric equator.
EQUATE
E*quate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equated; p. pr. & vb. n. Equating.]
Etym: [L. aequatus, p. p. of aequare to make level or equal, fr.
aequus level, equal. See Equal.]
Defn: To make equal; to reduce to an average; to make such an
allowance or correction in as will reduce to a common standard of
comparison; to reduce to mean time or motion; as, to equate payments;
to equate lines of railroad for grades or curves; equated distances.
Palgrave gives both scrolle and scrowe and equates both to F[rench]
rolle. Skeat (Etymol. Dict. ).
Equating for grades (Railroad Engin.), adding to the measured
distance one mile for each twenty feet of ascent.
-- Equating for curves, adding half a mile for each 360 degrees of
curvature.
EQUATION
E*qua"tion, n. Etym: [L. aequatio an equalizing: cf. F. équation
equation. See Equate.]
1. A making equal; equal division; equality; equilibrium.
Again the golden day resumed its right, And ruled in just equation
with the night. Rowe.
2. (Math.)
Defn: An expression of the condition of equality between two
algebraic quantities or sets of quantities, the sign = being placed
between them; as, a binomial equation; a quadratic equation; an
algebraic equation; a transcendental equation; an exponential
equation; a logarithmic equation; a differential equation, etc.
3. (Astron.)
Defn: A quantity to be applied in computing the mean place or other
element of a celestial body; that is, any one of the several
quantities to be added to, or taken from, its position as calculated
on the hypothesis of a mean uniform motion, in order to find its true
position as resulting from its actual and unequal motion. Absolute
equation. See under Absolute.
-- Equation box, or Equational box, a system of differential gearing
used in spinning machines for regulating the twist of the yarn. It
resembles gearing used in equation clocks for showing apparent time.
-- Equation of the center (Astron.), the difference between the
place of a planet as supposed to move uniformly in a circle, and its
place as moving in an ellipse.
-- Equations of condition (Math.), equations formed for deducing the
true values of certain quantities from others on which they depend,
when different sets of the latter, as given by observation, would
yield different values of the quantities sought, and the number of
equations that may be found is greater than the number of unknown
quantities.
-- Equation of a curve (Math.), an equation which expresses the
relation between the coördinates of every point in the curve.
-- Equation of equinoxes (Astron.), the difference between the mean
and apparent places of the equinox.
-- Equation of payments (Arith.), the process of finding the mean
time of payment of several sums due at different times.
-- Equation of time (Astron.), the difference between mean and
apparent time, or between the time of day indicated by the sun, and
that by a perfect clock going uniformly all the year round.
-- Equation clock or watch, a timepiece made to exhibit the
differences between mean solar and apparent solar time. Knight.
-- Normal equation. See under Normal.
-- Personal equation (Astron.), the difference between an observed
result and the true qualities or peculiarities in the observer;
particularly the difference, in an average of a large number of
observation, between the instant when an observer notes a phenomenon,
as the transit of a star, and the assumed instant of its actual
occurrence; or, relatively, the difference between these instants as
noted by two observers. It is usually only a fraction of a second; --
sometimes applied loosely to differences of judgment or method
occasioned by temperamental qualities of individuals.
-- Theory of equations (Math.), the branch of algebra that treats of
the properties of a single algebraic equation of any degree
containing one unknown quantity.
EQUATOR
E*qua"tor, n. Etym: [L. aequator one who equalizes: cf. F. équateur
equator. See Equate.]
1. (Geog.)
Defn: The imaginary great circle on the earth's surface, everywhere
equally distant from the two poles, and dividing the earth's surface
into two hemispheres.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: The great circle of the celestial sphere, coincident with the
plane of the earth's equator; -- so called because when the sun is in
it, the days and nights are of equal length; hence called also the
equinoctial, and on maps, globes, etc., the equinoctial line. Equator
of the sun or of a planet (Astron.), the great circle whose plane
passes through through the center of the body, and is perpendicular
to its axis of revolution.
-- Magnetic equator. See Aclinic.
EQUATORIAL
E`qua*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. équatorial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the equator; as, equatorial climates; also,
pertaining to an equatorial instrument.
EQUATORIAL
E`qua*to"ri*al, n. (Astron.)
Defn: An instrument consisting of a telescope so mounted as to have
two axes of motion at right angles to each other, one of them
parallel to the axis of the earth, and each carrying a graduated
circle, the one for measuring declination, and the other right
ascension, or the hour angle, so that the telescope may be directed,
even in the daytime, to any star or other object whose right
ascension and declination are known. The motion in right ascension is
sometimes communicated by clockwork, so as to keep the object
constantly in the field of the telescope. Called also an equatorial
telescope.
Note: The term equatorial, or equatorial instrument, is sometimes
applied to any astronomical instrument which has its principal axis
of rotation parallel to the axis of the earth.
EQUATORIALLY
E`qua*to"ri*al*ly, adv.
Defn: So as to have motion or direction parallel to the equator.
EQUERRY
Eq"uer*ry, n.; pl. Equerries. Etym: [F. écurie stable, for older
escurie, escuirie (confused somewhat with F. écuyer, OF. escuyer,
squire), LL. scuria, OHG. skiura, sc, barn, shed, G. scheuer, from a
root meaning to cover, protect, and akin to L. scutum shield. See
Esquire, and cf. Ecurie, Querry.]
1. A large stable or lodge for horses. Johnson.
2. An officer of princes or nobles, charged with the care of their
horses.
Note: In England equerries are officers of the royal household in the
department of the Master of the Horse.
EQUERY
Eq"ue*ry, n.
Defn: Same as Equerry.
EQUESTRIAN
E*ques"tri*an, a. Etym: [L. equester, from eques horseman, fr. equus
horse: cf. F. équestre. See Equine.]
1. Of or pertaining to horses or horsemen, or to horsemanship; as,
equestrian feats, or games.
2. Being or riding on horseback; mounted; as, an equestrian statue.
An equestrian lady appeared upon the plains. Spectator.
3. Belonging to, or composed of, the ancient Roman equities or
knights; as, the equestrian order. Burke.
EQUESTRIAN
E*ques"tri*an, n.
Defn: One who rides on horseback; a horseman; a rider.
EQUESTRIANISM
E*ques"tri*an*ism, n.
Defn: The art of riding on horseback; performance on horseback;
horsemanship; as, feats equestrianism.
EQUESTRIENNE
E*ques"tri*enne`, n. Etym: [Formed after analogy of the French
language.]
Defn: A woman skilled in equestrianism; a horsewoman.
EQUI-
E"qui-. Etym: [L. aequus equal. See Equal.]
Defn: A prefix, meaning equally; as, equidistant; equiangular.
EQUIANGLED
E"qui*an`gled, a. Etym: [Equi- + angle.]
Defn: Equiangular. [Obs.] Boyle.
EQUIANGULAR
E`qui*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Equi- + angular. Cf. Equangular.]
Defn: Having equal angles; as, an equiangular figure; a square is
equiangular. Equiangular spiral. (Math.) See under Spiral, n.
-- Mutually equiangular, applied to two figures, when every angle of
the one has its equal among the angles of the other.
EQUIBALANCE
E`qui*bal"ance, n. Etym: [Equi- + balance.]
Defn: Equal weight; equiponderance.
EQUIBALANCE
E`qui*bal"ance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equibalanced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Equibalancing.]
Defn: To make of equal weight; to balance equally; to counterbalance;
to equiponderate.
EQUICRESCENT
E`qui*cres"cent, a. Etym: [Equi- + crescent.] (Math.)
Defn: Increasing by equal increments; as, an equicrescent variable.
EQUICRURAL
E`qui*cru"ral, a. Etym: [L. aequicrurius; aequus equal + crus,
cruris, leg.]
Defn: Having equal legs or sides; isosceles. [R.] "Equicrural
triangles." Sir T. Browne.
EQUICRURE
E"qui*crure, a.
Defn: Equicrural. [Obs.]
EQUIDIFFERENT
E`qui*dif"fer*ent, a. Etym: [Equi- + different: cf. F.
équidifférent.]
Defn: Having equal differences; as, the terms of arithmetical
progression are equidifferent.
EQUIDISTANCE
E`qui*dis"tance, n.
Defn: Equal distance.
EQUIDISTANT
E`qui*dis"tant, a. Etym: [L. aequidistans, -antis; aequus equal +
distans distant: cf. F. équidistant.]
Defn: Being at an equal distance from the same point or thing.
-- E`qui*dis"tant*ly, adv. Sir T. Browne.
EQUIDIURNAL
E`qui*di*ur"nal, a. Etym: [Equi- + diurnal.]
Defn: Pertaining to the time of equal day and night; -- applied to
the equinoctial line. Whewell.
EQUIFORM
E"qui*form, a. Etym: [L. aequiformis; aequus equal + forma form.]
Defn: Having the same form; uniform.
-- E`qui*for"mi*ty, n. Sir T. Browne.
EQUILATERAL
E`qui*lat"er*al, a. Etym: [L. aequilateralis; aequus equal + latus,
lateris, side: cf. F. équilatéral.]
Defn: Having all the sides equal; as, an equilateral triangle; an
equilateral polygon. Equilateral hyperbola (Geom.), one whose axes
are equal.
-- Equilateral shell (Zoöl.), one in which a transverse line drawn
through the apex of the umbo bisects the valve, or divides it into
two equal and symmetrical parts.
-- Mutually equilateral, applied to two figures, when every side of
the one has its equal among the sides of the other.
EQUILATERAL
E`qui*lat"er*al, n.
Defn: A side exactly corresponding, or equal, to others; also, a
figure of equal sides.
EQUILIBRATE
E`qui*li"brate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equilibrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Equilibrating.] Etym: [L. aequilibratus in equilibrium; aequus equal
+ libra balance. See Equilibrium.]
Defn: To balance two scales, sides, or ends; to keep even with equal
weight on each side; to keep in equipoise. H. Spenser.
EQUILIBRATION
E`qui*li*bra"tion, n.
1. Act of keeping a balance, or state of being balanced; equipoise.
In . . . running, leaping, and dancing, nature's laws of
equilibration are observed. J. Denham.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The process by which animal and vegetable organisms preserve a
physiological balance. H. Spenser.
EQUILIBRIOUS
E`qui*lib"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Evenly poised; balanced. Dr. H. More.
-- E`qui*lib"ri*ous*ly, adv.
EQUILIBRIST
E*quil"i*brist, n.
Defn: One who balances himself in unnatural positions and hazardous
movements; a balancer.
When the equilibrist balances a rod upon his finger. Stewart.
EQUILIBRITY
E`qui*lib"ri*ty, n. Etym: [L. aequilibritas equal distribution. See
Equilibrium.]
Defn: The state of being balanced; equality of weight. [R.] J.
Gregory.
EQUILIBRIUM
E`qui*lib"ri*um, n.; pl. E. Equilibriums, L. Equilibria. Etym: [L.
aequilibrium, fr. aequilibris in equilibrium, level; aequus equal +
libra balance. See Equal, and Librate.]
1. Equality of weight or force; an equipoise or a state of rest
produced by the mutual counteraction of two or more forces.
2. A level position; a just poise or balance in respect to an object,
so that it remains firm; equipoise; as, to preserve the equilibrium
of the body.
Health consists in the equilibrium between those two powers.
Arbuthnot.
3. A balancing of the mind between motives or reasons, with
consequent indecision and doubt. Equilibrium valve (Steam Engine), a
balanced valve. See under Valve.
EQUIMOMENTAL
E`qui*mo*men"tal, a. Etym: [Equi- + momental.] (Mech.)
Defn: Having equal moments of inertia.
Note: Two bodies or systems of bodies are said to be equimomental
when their moments of inertia about all straight lines are equal each
to each. Equimomental cone of a given rigid body, a conical surface
that has any given vertex, and is described by a straight line which
moves in such manner that the moment of inertia of the given rigid
body about the line is in all its positions the same.
EQUIMULTIPLE
E`qui*mul"ti*ple, a. Etym: [Equi- + multiple: cf. F. équimultiple.]
Defn: Multiplied by the same number or quantity.
EQUIMULTIPLE
E`qui*mul"ti*ple, n. (Math.)
Defn: One of the products arising from the multiplication of two or
more quantities by the same number or quantity. Thus, seven times 2,
or 14, and seven times 4, or 28, are equimultiples of 2 and 4.
EQUINAL
E*qui"nal, a.
Defn: See Equine. "An equinal shape." Heywood.
EQUINE
E"quine, a. Etym: [L. equinus, fr. equus horse; akin to Gr. a, OS.
ehu, AS. eh, eoh, Icel. j, OIr. ech, cf. Skr. a to reach, overtake,
perh. akin to E. acute, edge, eager, a. Cf. Hippopotamus.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a horse.
The shoulders, body, things, and mane are equine; the head completely
bovine. Sir J. Barrow.
EQUINIA
E*quin"i*a, n. Etym: [NL. See Equine.] (Med.)
Defn: Glanders.
EQUINOCTIAL
E`qui*noc"tial, a. Etym: [L. aequinoctials, fr. aequinoctium equinox:
cf. F. équinoxial. See Equinox.]
1. Pertaining to an equinox, or the equinoxes, or to the time of
equal day and night; as, the equinoctial line.
2. Pertaining to the regions or climate of the equinoctial line or
equator; in or near that line; as, equinoctial heat; an equinoctial
sun.
3. Pertaining to the time when the sun enters the equinoctial points;
as, an equinoctial gale or storm, that is, one happening at or near
the time of the equinox, in any part of the world. Equinoctial colure
(Astron.), the meridian passing through the equinoctial points.
-- Equinoctial line (Astron.), the celestial equator; -- so called
because when the sun is on it, the nights and days are of equal
length in all parts of the world. See Equator.
Thrice the equinoctial line He circled. Milton.
- Equinoctial points (Astron.), the two points where the celestial
and ecliptic intersect each other; the one being in the first point
of Aries, the other in the first point of Libra.
-- Equinoctial time (Astron.) reckoned in any year from the instant
when the mean sun is at the mean vernal equinoctial point.
EQUINOCTIAL
E`qui*noc"tial, n.
Defn: The equinoctial line.
EQUINOCTIALLY
E`qui*noc"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: Towards the equinox.
EQUINOX
E"qui*nox, n. Etym: [OE. equinoxium, equenoxium, L. aequinoctium;
aequus equal + nox, noctis, night: cf. F. équinoxe. See Equal, and
Night.]
1. The time when the sun enters one of the equinoctial points, that
is, about March 21 and September 22. See Autumnal equinox, Vernal
equinox, under Autumnal and Vernal.
When descends on the Atlantic The gigantic Stormwind of the equinox.
Longfellow.
2. Equinoctial wind or storm. [R.] Dryden.
EQUINUMERANT
E`qui*nu"mer*ant, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. numerans, p. pr. of numerare
to number.]
Defn: Equal as to number. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
EQUIP
E*quip", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Equipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Equipping.]
Etym: [F. équiper to supply, fit out, orig. said of a ship, OF.
esquiper to embark; of German origin; cf. OHG. scif, G. schiff, Icel.
skip, AS. scip. See Ship.]
1. To furnish for service, or against a need or exigency; to fit out;
to supply with whatever is necessary to efficient action in any way;
to provide with arms or an armament, stores, munitions, rigging,
etc.; -- said esp. of ships and of troops. Dryden.
Gave orders for equipping a considerable fleet. Ludlow.
2. To dress up; to array; accouter.
The country are led astray in following the town, and equipped in a
ridiculous habit, when they fancy themselves in the height of the
mode. Addison.
EQUIPAGE
Eq"ui*page (; 48), n. Etym: [F. équipage, fr. équiper. See Equip.]
1. Furniture or outfit, whether useful or ornamental; especially, the
furniture and supplies of a vessel, fitting her for a voyage or for
warlike purposes, or the furniture and necessaries of an army, a body
of troops, or a single soldier, including whatever is necessary for
efficient service; equipments; accouterments; habiliments; attire.
Did their exercises on horseback with noble equipage. Evelyn.
First strip off all her equipage of Pride. Pope.
2. Retinue; train; suite. Swift.
3. A carriage of state or of pleasure with all that accompanies it,
as horses, liveried servants, etc., a showy turn-out.
The rumbling equipages of fashion . . . were unknown in the
settlement of New Amsterdam. W. Irving.
EQUIPAGED
Eq"ui*paged, a.
Defn: Furnished with equipage.
Well dressed, well bred. Well equipaged, is ticket good enough.
Cowper.
EQUIPARABLE
E*quip"a*ra*ble a. Etym: [L. aequiparabilis.]
Defn: Comparable. [Obs. or R.]
EQUIPARATE
E*quip"a*rate v. t. Etym: [L. aequiparatus, p. p. of aequiparare.]
Defn: To compare. [R.]
EQUIPEDAL
E*quip"e*dal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. pes, pedis, foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Equal-footed; having the pairs of feet equal.
EQUIPENDENCY
E`qui*pend"en*cy, n. Etym: [Equi- + pendency.]
Defn: The act or condition of hanging in equipoise; not inclined or
determined either way. South.
EQUIPENSATE
E`qui*pen"sate, v. t. Etym: [Equi- + pensatus, p. p. of pensare to
weigh. Cf. Equipoise.]
Defn: To weigh equally; to esteem alike. [Obs.]
EQUIPMENT
E*quip"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équipement. See Equip.]
1. The act of equipping, or the state of being equipped, as for a
voyage or expedition. Burke.
The equipment of the fleet was hastened by De Witt. Hume.
2. Whatever is used in equipping; necessaries for an expedition or
voyage; the collective designation for the articles comprising an
outfit; equipage; as, a railroad equipment (locomotives, cars, etc. ;
for carrying on business); horse equipments; infantry equipments;
naval equipments; laboratory equipments.
Armed and dight, In the equipments of a knight. Longfellow.
EQUIPOISE
E"qui*poise, n. Etym: [Equi- + poise.]
1. Equality of weight or force; hence, equilibrium; a state in which
the two ends or sides of a thing are balanced, and hence equal; state
of being equally balanced; -- said of moral, political, or social
interests or forces.
The means of preserving the equipoise and the tranquillity of the
commonwealth. Burke.
Our little lives are kept in equipoise By opposite attractions and
desires. Longfellow.
2. Counterpoise.
The equipoise to the clergy being removed. Buckle.
EQUIPOLLENCE; EQUIPOLLENCY
E`qui*pol"lence, E`qui*pol"len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équipollence. See
Equipollent.]
1. Equality of power, force, signification, or application. Boyle.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Sameness of signification of two or more propositions which
differ in language.
EQUIPOLLENT
E`qui*pol"lent, a. Etym: [L. aequipollens; aequus equal + pollens, -
entis, p. pr. of pollere to be strong, able: cf. F. équipollent.]
1. Having equal power or force; equivalent. Bacon.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Having equivalent signification and reach; expressing the same
thing, but differently.
EQUIPOLLENTLY
E`qui*pol"lent*ly, adv.
Defn: With equal power. Barrow.
EQUIPONDERANCE; EQUIPONDERANCY
E`qui*pon"der*ance, E`qui*pon"der*an*cy, n. Etym: [Equi- +
ponderance: cf. F. équipondérance.]
Defn: Equality of weight; equipoise.
EQUIPONDERANT
E`qui*pon"der*ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. équipondérant.]
Defn: Being of the same weight.
A column of air . . . equiponderant to a column of quicksilver.
Locke.
EQUIPONDERATE
E`qui*pon"der*ate, v. i. Etym: [Equi- + L. ponderare to weigh. See
Ponderate.]
Defn: To be equal in weight; to weigh as much as another thing. Bp.
Wilkins.
EQUIPONDERATE
E`qui*pon"der*ate, v. t.
Defn: To make equal in weight; to counterbalance. "More than
equiponderated the declension in that direction." De Quincey.
EQUIPONDEROUS
E`qui*pon"der*ous, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. pondus, ponderis, weight.]
Defn: Having equal weight. Bailey.
EQUIPONDIOUS
E`qui*pon"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. aequipondium an equal weight; aequus
equal + pondus weight.]
Defn: Of equal weight on both sides; balanced. [Obs.] Glanvill.
EQUIPOTENTIAL
E`qui*po*ten"tial, a. Etym: [Equi- + potential.] (Mech. & Physics)
Defn: Having the same potential. Equipotential surface, a surface for
which the potential is for all points of the surface constant. Level
surfaces on the earth are equipotential.
EQUIRADICAL
E`qui*rad"i*cal a. Etym: [Equi- + radical.]
Defn: Equally radical. [R.] Coleridge.
EQUIROTAL
E`qui*ro"tal, a. Etym: [Equi- + L. rota wheel.]
Defn: Having wheels of the same size or diameter; having equal
rotation. [R.]
EQUISETACEOUS
E`qui*se*ta"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Equisetaceæ, or Horsetail family.
EQUISETIFORM
E`qui*set"i*form, a. Etym: [Equisetum- + -form.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the form of the equisetum.
EQUISETUM
Eq`ui*se"tum, n.; pl. Equiseta. Etym: [L., the horsetail, fr. equus
horse + seta a thick,, stiff hair, bristle.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of vascular, cryptogamic, herbaceous plants; -- also
called horsetails.
Note: The Equiseta have hollow jointed stems and no true leaves. The
cuticle often contains siliceous granules, so that one species (E.
hyemale) is used for scouring and polishing, under the name of Dutch
rush or scouring rush.
EQUISONANCE
E*quis"o*nance, n. Etym: [Equi- + L. sonans, p. pr. of sonare to
sound: cf. F. équisonnance. See Sonant.] (Mus.)
Defn: An equal sounding; the consonance of the unison and its
octaves.
EQUISONANT
E*quis"o*nant a.
Defn: Of the same or like sound.
EQUITABLE
Eq"ui*ta*ble, a. Etym: [F. équitable, from équité. See Equity.]
1. Possessing or exhibiting equity; according to natural right or
natural justice; marked by a due consideration for what is fair,
unbiased, or impartial; just; as an equitable decision; an equitable
distribution of an estate; equitable men.
No two . . . had exactly the same notion of what was equitable.
Macaulay.
2. (Law)
Defn: That can be sustained or made available or effective in a court
of equity, or upon principles of equity jurisprudence; as, an
equitable estate; equitable assets, assignment, mortgage, etc.
Abbott.
Syn.
-- Just; fair; reasonable; right; honest; impartial; candid;
upright.
EQUITABLENESS
Eq"ui*ta*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being equitable, just, or impartial; as, the
equitableness of a judge, a decision, or distribution of property.
EQUITABLY
Eq"ui*ta*bly, adv.
Defn: In an equitable manner; justly; as, the laws should be
equitably administered.
EQUITANCY
Eq"ui*tan*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. equitantia. See Equitant.]
Defn: Horsemanship.
EQUITANT
Eq"ui*tant, a. Etym: [L. equitans, -antis, p. pr. of equitare to
ride, fr. eques horseman, fr. equus horse.]
1. Mounted on, or sitting upon, a horse; riding on horseback.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Overlapping each other; -- said of leaves whose bases are
folded so as to overlap and bestride the leaves within or above them,
as in the iris.
EQUITATION
Eq`ui*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. equitatio, fr. equitare: cf. F.
équitation.]
Defn: A riding, or the act of riding, on horseback; horsemanship.
The pretender to equitation mounted. W. Irving.
EQUITEMPORANEOUS
E`qui*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. aequus equal + tempus, temporis,
time.]
Defn: Contemporaneous. [Obs.] Boyle.
EQUITES
Eq"ui*tes n. pl Etym: [L., pl. of eques a horseman.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: An order of knights holding a middle place between the senate
and the commonalty; members of the Roman equestrian order.
EQUITY
Eq"ui*ty, n.; pl. Equities. Etym: [F. équité, L. aequitas, fr. aequus
even, equal. See Equal.]
1. Equality of rights; natural justice or right; the giving, or
desiring to give, to each man his due, according to reason, and the
law of God to man; fairness in determination of conflicting claims;
impartiality.
Christianity secures both the private interests of men and the public
peace, enforcing all justice and equity. Tillotson.
2. (Law)
Defn: An equitable claim; an equity of redemption; as, an equity to a
settlement, or wife's equity, etc.
I consider the wife's equity to be too well settled to be shaken.
Kent.
3. (Law)
Defn: A system of jurisprudence, supplemental to law, properly so
called, and complemental of it.
Equity had been gradually shaping itself into a refined science which
no human faculties could master without long and intense application.
Macaulay.
Note: Equitable jurisprudence in England and in the United States
grew up from the inadequacy of common-law forms to secure justice in
all cases; and this led to distinct courts by which equity was
applied in the way of injunctions, bills of discovery, bills for
specified performance, and other processes by which the merits of a
case could be reached more summarily or more effectively than by
common-law suits. By the recent English Judicature Act (1873),
however, the English judges are bound to give effect, in common-law
suits, to all equitable rights and remedies; and when the rules of
equity and of common law, in any particular case, conflict, the rules
of equity are to prevail. In many jurisdictions in the United States,
equity and common law are thus blended; in others distinct equity
tribunals are still maintained. See Chancery. Equity of redemption
(Law), the advantage, allowed to a mortgageor, of a certain or
reasonable time to redeem lands mortgaged, after they have been
forfeited at law by the nonpayment of the sum of money due on the
mortgage at the appointed time. Blackstone.
Syn.
-- Right; justice; impartiality; rectitude; fairness; honesty;
uprightness. See Justice.
EQUIVALENCE
E*quiv"a*lence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. équivalence, LL. aequivalentia.]
1. The condition of being equivalent or equal; equality of worth,
value, signification, or force; as, an equivalence of definitions.
2. Equal power or force; equivalent amount.
3. (Chem.)
(a) The quantity of the combining power of an atom, expressed in
hydrogen units; the number of hydrogen atoms can combine with, or be
exchanged for; valency. See Valence.
(b) The degree of combining power as determined by relative weight.
See Equivalent, n., 2. [R.]
EQUIVALENCE
E*quiv"a*lence, v. t.
Defn: To be equivalent or equal to; to counterbalance. [R.] Sir T.
Browne.
EQUIVALENCY
E*quiv"a*len*cy, n.
Defn: Same as Equivalence.
EQUIVALENT
E*quiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [L. aequivalens, -entis, p. pr. of
aequivalere to have equal power; aequus equal + valere to be strong,
be worth: cf. F. équivalent. See Equal, and Valiant.]
1. Equal in wortir or value, force, power, effect, import, and the
like; alike in significance and value; of the same import or meaning.
For now to serve and to minister, servile and ministerial, are terms
equivalent. South.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: Equal in measure but not admitting of superposition; -- applied
to magnitudes; as, a square may be equivalent to a triangle.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Contemporaneous in origin; as, the equivalent strata of
different countries.
EQUIVALENT
E*quiv"a*lent, n.
1. Something equivalent; that which is equal in value, worth, weight,
or force; as, to offer an equivalent for damage done.
He owned that, if the Test Act were repealed, the Protestants were
entitled to some equivalent. . . . During some weeks the word
equivalent, then lately imported from France, was in the mouths of
all the coffeehouse. Macaulay.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: That comparative quantity by weight of an element which
possesses the same chemical value as other elements, as determined by
actual experiment and reference to the same standard. Specifically:
(a) The comparative proportions by which one element replaces another
in any particular compound; thus, as zinc replaces hydrogen in
hydrochloric acid, their equivalents are 32.5 and 1. (b) The
combining proportion by weight of a substance, or the number
expressing this proportion, in any particular compound; as, the
equivalents of hydrogen and oxygen in water are respectively 1 and 8,
and in hydric dioxide 1 and 16.
Note: This term was adopted by Wollaston to avoid using the
conjectural expression atomic weight, with which, however, for a time
it was practically synonymous. The attempt to limit the term to the
meaning of a universally comparative combining weight failed, because
of the possibility of several compounds of the substances by reason
of the variation in combining power which most elements exhibit. The
equivalent was really identical with, or a multiple of submultiple
of, the atomic weight.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining unit, whether an atom, a radical, or a molecule;
as, in acid salt two or more equivalents of acid unite with one or
more equivalents of base. Mechanical equivalent of heat (Physics),
the number of units of work which the unit of heat can perform; the
mechanical energy which must be expended to raise the temperature of
a unit weight of water from 0º C. to 1º C., or from 32º F. to 33º F.
The term was introduced by Dr. Mayer of Heilbronn. Its value was
found by Joule to be 1390 foot pounds upon the Centigrade, or 772
foot pounds upon the Fahrenheit, thermometric scale, whence it is
often called Joule's equivalent, and represented by the symbol J.
This is equal to 424 kilogram meters (Centigrade scale). A more
recent determination by Professor Rowland gives the value 426.9
kilogram meters, for the latitude of Baltimore.
EQUIVALENT
E*quiv"a*lent, v. t.
Defn: To make the equivalent to; to equal; equivalence. [R.]
EQUIVALENTLY
E*quiv"a*lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an equal manner.
EQUIVALUE
E`qui*val"ue, v. t.
Defn: To put an equal value upon; to put (something) on a par with
another thing. W. Taylor.
EQUIVALVE; EQUIVALVED
E"qui*valve, E"qui*valved, a. Etym: [Equi- + valve.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the valves equal in size and from, as in most bivalve
shells.
EQUIVALVULAR
E`qui*val"vu*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as Equivalve or Equivalved.
EQUIVOCACY
E*quiv"o*ca*cy, n.
Defn: Equivocalness.
EQUIVOCAL
E*quiv"o*cal, a. Etym: [L. aequivocus: aequus equal + vox, vocis,
word. See Equal, and Voice, and cf. Equivoque.]
1. (Literally, called equally one thing or the other; hence:) Having
two significations equally applicable; capable of double
interpretation; of doubtful meaning; ambiguous; uncertain; as,
equivocal words; an equivocal sentence.
For the beauties of Shakespeare are not of so dim or equivocal a
nature as to be visible only to learned eyes. Jeffrey.
2. Capable of being ascribed to different motives, or of signifying
opposite feelings, purposes, or characters; deserving to be
suspected; as, his actions are equivocal. "Equivocal repentances."
Milton.
3. Uncertain, as an indication or sign; doubtful. "How equivocal a
test." Burke. Equivocal chord (Mus.), a chord which can be resolved
into several distinct keys; one whose intervals, being all minor
thirds, do not clearly indicate its fundamental tone or root; the
chord of the diminished triad, and the diminished seventh.
Syn.
-- Ambiguous; doubtful; uncertain; indeterminate.
-- Equivocal, Ambiguous. We call an expression ambiguous when it has
one general meaning, and yet contains certain words which may be
taken in two different senses; or certain clauses which can be so
connected with other clauses as to divide the mind between different
views of part of the meaning intended. We call an expression
equivocal when, taken as a whole, it conveys a given thought with
perfect clearness and propriety, and also another thought with equal
propriety and clearness. Such were the responses often given by the
Delphic oracle; as that to Crambiguous is a mere blunder of language;
what is equivocal is usually intended to deceive, though it may occur
at times from mere inadvertence. Equivocation is applied only to
cases where there is a design to deceive.
EQUIVOCAL
E*quiv"o*cal, n.
Defn: A word or expression capable of different meanings; an
ambiguous term; an equivoque.
In languages of great ductility, equivocals like that just referred
to are rarely found. Fitzed. Hall.
EQUIVOCALLY
E*quiv"o*cal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an equivocal manner.
EQUIVOCALNESS
E*quiv"o*cal*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being equivocal.
EQUIVOCATE
E*quiv"o*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Equivocated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Equivocating.] Etym: [L. aequivocatus, p. p. of aequivocari to be
called by the same name, fr. L. aequivocus: cf. F. équivoquer. See
Equivocal, a.]
Defn: To use words of equivocal or doubtful signification; to express
one's opinions in terms which admit of different senses, with intent
to deceive; to use ambiguous expressions with a view to mislead; as,
to equivocate is the work of duplicity.
All that Garnet had to say for him was that he supposed he meant to
equivocate. Bp. Stillingfleet.
Syn.
-- To prevaricate; evade; shuffle; quibble. See Prevaricate.
EQUIVOCATE
E*quiv"o*cate, v. t.
Defn: To render equivocal or ambiguous.
He equivocated his vow by a mental reservation. Sir G. Buck.
EQUIVOCATION
E*quiv`o*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification,
with a purpose to mislead.
There being no room for equivocations, there is no need of
distinctions. Locke.
Syn.
-- Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See
Equivocal, a., and Prevaricate, v. i.
EQUIVOCATOR
E*quiv"o*ca`tor, n.
Defn: One who equivocates.
Here's an equivocator that could swear in both the scales against
either scale, yet could not equivocate to heaven. Shak.
EQUIVOCATORY
E*quiv"o*ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Indicating, or characterized by, equivocation.
EQUIVOQUE; EQUIVOKE
Eq"ui*voque, Eq"ui*voke, n. Etym: [F. équivoque. See Equivocal.]
1. An ambiguous term; a word susceptible of different significations.
Coleridge.
2. An equivocation; a guibble. B. Jonson.
EQUIVOROUS
E*quiv"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. equus horse + vorare to eat greedily.]
Defn: Feeding on horseflesh; as, equivorous Tartars.
EQUUS
E"quus, n. Etym: [L., horse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of mammals, including the horse, ass, etc.
-ER
-er
Defn: .
1. Etym: [AS. -ere; akin to L. -arius.]
Defn: The termination of many English words, denoting the agent; --
applied either to men or things; as in hater, farmer, heater, grater.
At the end of names of places, -er signifies a man of the place; as,
Londoner, i. e., London man.
2. Etym: [AS. -ra; akin to G. -er, Icel. -are, -re, Goth. -iza, -, L.
-ior, Gr. -iyas.]
Defn: A suffix used to form the comparative degree of adjectives and
adverbs; as, warmer, sooner, lat(e)er, earl(y)ier.
ERA
E"ra, n.; pl. Eras. Etym: [LL. aera an era, in earlier usage, the
items of an account, counters, pl. of aes, aeris, brass, money. See
Ore.]
1. A fixed point of time, usually an epoch, from which a series of
years is reckoned.
The foundation of Solomon's temple is conjectured by Ideler to have
been an era. R. S. Poole.
2. A period of time reckoned from some particular date or epoch; a
succession of years dating from some important event; as, the era of
Alexander; the era of Christ, or the Christian era (see under
Christian).
The first century of our era. M. Arnold.
3. A period of time in which a new order of things prevails; a signal
stage of history; an epoch.
Painting may truly be said to have opened the new era of culture. J.
A. Symonds.
Syn.
-- Epoch; time; date; period; age; dispensation. See Epoch.
ERADIATE
E*ra"di*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Eradiated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eradiating.] Etym: [Pref. e- + radiate.]
Defn: To shoot forth, as rays of light; to beam; to radiate. Dr. H.
More.
ERADIATION
E*ra`di*a"tion, n.
Defn: Emission of radiance.
ERADICABLE
E*rad"i*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being eradicated.
ERADICATE
E*rad"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eradicated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eradicating.] Etym: [L. eradicatus, p. p. of eradicare to eradicate;
e out + radix, radicis, root. See Radical.]
1. To pluck up by the roots; to root up; as, an oak tree eradicated.
2. To root out; to destroy utterly; to extirpate; as, to eradicate
diseases, or errors.
This, although now an old an inveterate evil, might be eradicated by
vigorous treatment. Southey.
Syn.
-- To extirpate; root out; exterminate; destroy; annihilate.
ERADICATION
E*rad`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. eradicatio: cf. F. éradication.]
1. The act of plucking up by the roots; a rooting out; extirpation;
utter destruction.
2. The state of being plucked up by the roots.
ERADICATIVE
E*rad"i*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. éradicatif.]
Defn: Tending or serving to eradicate; curing or destroying
thoroughly, as a disease or any evil.
ERADICATIVE
E*rad"i*ca*tive, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine that effects a radical cure. Whitlock.
ERASABLE
E*ras"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being erased.
ERASE
E*rase", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erased; p. pr. & vb. n.. Erasing.] Etym:
[L. erasus, p. p. of eradere to erase; e out + radere to scrape,
scratch, shave. See Rase.]
1. To rub or scrape out, as letters or characters written, engraved,
or painted; to efface; to expunge; to cross out; as, to erase a word
or a name.
2. Fig.: To obliterate; to expunge; to blot out; -- used of ideas in
the mind or memory. Burke.
ERASED
E*rased", p. pr. & a.
1. Rubbed or scraped out; effaced; obliterated.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Represented with jagged and uneven edges, as is torn off; --
used esp. of the head or limb of a beast. Cf. Couped.
ERASEMENT
E*rase"ment, n.
Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; expunction; obliteration.
Johnson.
ERASER
E*ras"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, erases; esp., a sharp instrument or a
piece of rubber used to erase writings, drawings, etc.
ERASION
E*ra"sion, n.
Defn: The act of erasing; a rubbing out; obliteration.
ERASTIAN
E*ras"tian, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of the followers of Thomas Erastus, a German physician and
theologian of the 16th century. He held that the punishment of all
offenses should be referred to the civil power, and that holy
communion was open to all. In the present day, an Erastian is one who
would see the church placed entirely under the control of the State.
Shipley.
ERASTIANISM
E*ras"tian*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The principles of the Erastains.
ERASURE
E*ra"sure, n. Etym: [From Erase.]
Defn: The act of erasing; a scratching out; obliteration.
ERATIVE
Er"a*tive, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the Muse Erato who presided over amatory poetry.
Stormonth.
ERATO
Er"a*to, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse who presided over lyric and amatory poetry.
ERBIUM
Er"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL. from Ytterby, in Sweden, where gadolinite is
found. Cf. Terbium, Yttrium, Ytterbium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A rare metallic element associated with several other rare
elements in the mineral gadolinite from Ytterby in Sweden. Symbol Er.
Atomic weight 165.9. Its salts are rose-colored and give
characteristic spectra. Its sesquioxide is called erbia.
ERCEDEKEN
Er`ce*de"ken, n. Etym: [OE., fr. pref. erce- = archi- + deken a
deacon.]
Defn: An archdeacon. [Obs.]
ERD
Erd, n. Etym: [OE. erd, eard, earth, land, country, AS. eard; akin to
OS. ard dwelling place, OHG. art plowing, tillage, Icel. öredh crop,
and to L. arare to plow, E. ear to plow.]
Defn: The earth. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. Erd shrew (Zoöl.), the common
European shrew (Sorex vulgaris); the shrewmouse.
ERE
Ere, prep. & adv. Etym: [AS. , prep., adv., & conj.; akin to OS.,
OFries., & OHG. , G. eher, D. eer, Icel. ar, Goth. air. sq. root204.
Cf. Early, Erst, Or, adv.]
1. Before; sooner than. [Archaic or Poetic]
Myself was stirring ere the break of day. Shak.
Ere sails were spread new oceans to explore. Dryden.
Sir, come down ere my child die. John iv. 49.
2. Rather than.
I will be thrown into Etna, . . . ere I will leave her. Shak.
Ere long, before, shortly. Shak.
-- Ere now, formerly, heretofore. Shak.
-- Ere that, and Or are. Same as Ere. Shak.
ERE
Ere, v. t.
Defn: To plow. [Obs.] See Ear, v. t. Chaucer.
EREBUS
Er"e*bus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: A place of nether darkness, being the gloomy space through
which the souls passed to Hades. See Milton's "Paradise Lost," Book
II., line 883.
2. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: The son of Chaos and brother of Nox, who dwelt in Erebus.
To the infernal deep, with Erebus and tortures vile. Shak.
ERECT
E*rect", a. Etym: [L. erectus, p. p. of erigere to erect; e out +
regere to lead straight. See Right, and cf. Alert.]
1. Upright, or having a vertical position; not inverted; not leaning
or bent; not prone; as, to stand erect.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall. Milton.
Among the Greek colonies and churches of Asia, Philadelphia is still
erect -- a column of ruins. Gibbon.
2. Directed upward; raised; uplifted.
His piercing eyes, erect, appear to view Superior worlds, and look
all nature through. Pope.
3. Bold; confident; free from depression; undismayed.
But who is he, by years Bowed, but erect in heart Keble.
4. Watchful; alert.
Vigilant and erect attention of mind. Hooker.
5. (Bot.)
Defn: Standing upright, with reference to the earth's surface, or to
the surface to which it is attached.
6. (Her.)
Defn: Elevated, as the tips of wings, heads of serpents, etc.
ERECT
E*rect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erected; p. pr. & vb. n. Erecting.]
1. To raise and place in an upright or perpendicular position; to set
upright; to raise; as, to erect a pole, a flagstaff, a monument, etc.
2. To raise, as a building; to build; to construct; as, to erect a
house or a fort; to set up; to put together the component parts of,
as of a machine.
3. To lift up; to elevate; to exalt; to magnify.
That didst his state above his hopes erect. Daniel.
I, who am a party, am not to erect myself into a judge. Dryden.
4. To animate; to encourage; to cheer.
It raiseth the dropping spirit, erecting it to a loving complaisance.
Barrow.
5. To set up as an assertion or consequence from premises, or the
like. "To erect conclusions." Sir T. Browne. "Malebranche erects this
proposition." Locke.
6. To set up or establish; to found; to form; to institute. "To erect
a new commonwealth." Hooker. Erecting shop (Mach.), a place where
large machines, as engines, are put together and adjusted.
Syn.
-- To set up; raise; elevate; construct; build; institute;
establish; found.
ERECT
E*rect", v. i.
Defn: To rise upright. [Obs.]
By wet, stalks do erect. Bacon.
ERECTABLE
E*rect"a*ble a.
Defn: Capable of being erected; as, an erectable feather. Col. G.
Montagu.
ERECTER
E*rect"er, n.
Defn: An erector; one who raises or builds.
ERECTILE
E*rect"ile, a. Etym: [Cf. F. érectile.]
Defn: Capable of being erected; susceptible of being erected of
dilated. Erectile tissue (Anat.), a tissue which is capable of being
greatly dilated and made rigid by the distension of the numerous
blood vessels which it contains.
ERECTILITY
E`rec*til"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being erectile.
ERECTION
E*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. erectio: cf. F. érection.]
1. The act of erecting, or raising upright; the act of constructing,
as a building or a wall, or of fitting together the parts of, as a
machine; the act of founding or establishing, as a commonwealth or an
office; also, the act of rousing to excitement or courage.
2. The state of being erected, lifted up, built, established, or
founded; exaltation of feelings or purposes.
Her peerless height my mind to high erection draws up. Sidney
3. State of being stretched to stiffness; tension.
4. Anything erected; a building of any kind.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: The state of a part which, from having been soft, has become
hard and swollen by the accumulation of blood in the erectile tissue.
ERECTIVE
E*rect"ive, a.
Defn: Making erect or upright; raising; tending to erect.
ERECTLY
E*rect"ly, adv.
Defn: In an erect manner or posture.
ERECTNESS
E*rect"ness, n.
Defn: Uprightness of posture or form.
ERECTO-PATENT
E*rec"to-pat"ent, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a position intermediate between erect and patent, or
spreading.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Standing partially spread and erect; -- said of the wings of
certain insects.
ERECTOR
E*rec"tor, n.
1. One who, or that which, erects.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which raises any part.
3. (Physics)
Defn: An attachment to a microscope, telescope, or other optical
instrument, for making the image erect instead of inverted.
ERELONG
Ere`long", adv.
Defn: Before the ere long.
A man, . . . following the stag, erelong slew him. Spenser.
The world, erelong, a world of tears must weep. Milton.
EREMACAUSIS
Er`e*ma*cau"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A gradual oxidation from exposure to air and moisture, as in
the decay of old trees or of dead animals.
EREMITAGE
Er"e*mit*age, n.
Defn: See Hermitage.
EREMITE
Er"e*mite, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]
Defn: A hermit.
Thou art my heaven, and I thy eremite. Keats.
EREMITIC; EREMITICAL
Er`e*mit"ic, Er`e*mit"ic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an eremite; hermitical; living in solitude.
"An eremitical life in the woods." Fuller. "The eremitic instinct."
Lowell.
EREMITISH
Er"e*mi`tish, a.
Defn: Eremitic. Bp. Hall.
EREMITISM
Er"e*mit*ism, n.
Defn: The state of a hermit; a living in seclusion from social life.
EREPTATION
E`rep*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. erepere to creep out; e out + repere to
creep.]
Defn: A creeping forth. [Obs.]
EREPTION
E*rep"tion, n. Etym: [L. ereptio, fr. eripere to snatch away; e out +
rapere to snatch.]
Defn: A snatching away. [Obs.] Cockeram.
ERETHISM
Er"e*thism, n. Etym: [Gr. éréthisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A morbid degree of excitement or irritation in an organ.
Hoblyn.
ERETHISTIC
Er`e*this"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Relating to erethism.
EREWHILE; EREWHILES
Ere`while", Ere`whiles", adv.
Defn: Some time ago; a little while before; heretofore. [Archaic]
I am as fair now as I was erewhile. Shak.
ERF
Erf, n.; pl. Erven. Etym: [D.]
Defn: A garden plot, usually about half an acre. [Cape Colony]
ERG
Erg, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physics)
Defn: The unit of work or energy in the C. G. S. system, being the
amount of work done by a dyne working through a distance of one
centimeter; the amount of energy expended in moving a body one
centimeter against a force of one dyne. One foot pound is equal to
13,560,000 ergs.
ERGAL
Er"gal, n. [G., fr. Gr. work.] (Physics)
Defn: Potential energy; negative value of the force function.
ERGAT
Er"gat, v. t. Etym: [L. ergo therefore.]
Defn: To deduce logically, as conclusions. [Obs.] Hewyt.
ERGMETER
Erg"me`ter, n. [Erg + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring energy in ergs.
ERGO
Er"go, conj. or adv. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Therefore; consequently; -- often used in a jocular way. Shak.
ERGOGRAPH
Er"go*graph, n. [Gr. work + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording the work done by a
single muscle or set of muscles, the rate of fatigue, etc. --
Er`go*graph"ic (#), a.
ERGOMETER
Er*gom"e*ter, n. [Gr. work + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: A device for measuring, or an instrument for indicating, energy
expended or work done; a dynamometer. -- Er`go*met"ric (#), a.
ERGON
Er"gon, n. [NL., fr. Gr. work.] (Physics)
(a) Work, measured in terms of the quantity of heat to which it is
equivalent.
(b) = Erg.
ERGOT
Er"got, n. Etym: [F. ergot, argot, lit., a spur.]
1. A diseased condition of rye and other cereals, in which the grains
become black, and often spur-shaped. It is caused by a parasitic
fungus, Claviceps purpurea.
2. The mycelium or spawn of this fungus infecting grains of rye and
wheat. It is a powerful remedial agent, and also a dangerous poison,
and is used as a means of hastening childbirth, and to arrest
bleeding.
3. (Far.)
Defn: A stub, like soft horn, about the size of a chestnut, situated
behind and below the pastern joint.
4. (Anat.)
Defn: See 2d Calcar, 3 (b).
ERGOTIC
Er*got"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, ergot; as, ergotic acid.
ERGOTIN
Er"go*tin, n. (Med.)
Defn: An extract made from ergot.
ERGOTINE
Er"go*tine. (Chem.)
Defn: A powerful astringent alkaloid extracted from ergot as a brown,
amorphous, bitter substance. It is used to produce contraction of the
uterus.
ERGOTISM
Er"go*tism, n. Etym: [F. ergotisme, fr. L. ergo.]
Defn: A logical deduction. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
ERGOTISM
Er"got*ism, n. Etym: [From Ergot, n.; cf. F. ergotisme.] (Med.)
Defn: A diseased condition produced by eating rye affected with the
ergot fungus.
ERGOTIZED
Er"got*ized, a.
Defn: Affected with the ergot fungus; as, ergotized rye.
ERIACH; ERIC
Er"i*ach, Er"ic, n. Etym: [Ir. eiric.] (Old Irish Law)
Defn: A recompense formerly given by a murderer to the relatives of
the murdered person.
ERICA
E*ri"ca, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. erice heath, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubby plants, including the heaths, many of them
producing beautiful flowers.
ERICACEOUS
Er`i*ca"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to the Heath family, or resembling plants of that
family; consisting of heats.
ERICINOL
E*ric"i*nol, n. Etym: [NL. ericaceae the Heath family + L. oleum
oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless oil (quickly becoming brown), with a pleasant odor,
obtained by the decomposition of ericolin.
ERICIUS
E*ri"ci*us, n. Etym: [L., a hedgehog.]
Defn: The Vulgate rendering of the Hebrew word qipod, which in the
"Authorized Version" is translated bittern, and in the Revised
Version, porcupine.
I will make it [Babylon] a possession for the ericius and pools of
waters. Is. xiv. 23 (Douay version).
ERICOLIN
E*ric"o*lin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside found in the bearberry (and others of the
Ericaceæ), and extracted as a bitter, yellow, amorphous mass.
ERIDANUS
E*rid"a*nus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: A long, winding constellation extending southward from Taurus
and containing the bright star Achernar.
ERIGIBLE
Er"i*gi*ble, a. Etym: [See Erect.]
Defn: Capable of being erected. [Obs.]
ERIN
E"rin, n. Etym: [Ir. Cf. Aryan.]
Defn: An early, and now a poetic, name of Ireland.
ERINACEOUS
Er`i*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. erinaceus hedgehog.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of the Hedgehog family; like, or characteristic of, a hedgehog.
ERINGO
E*rin"go, n.
Defn: The sea holly. See Eryngo.
ERINITE
Er"i*nite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A hydrous arseniate of copper, of an emerald-green color; -- so
called from Erin, or Ireland, where it occurs.
ERINYS
E*rin"ys, n.; pl. Erinyes. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: An avenging deity; one of the Furies; sometimes, conscience
personified. [Written also Erinnys.]
ERIOMETER
E`ri*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter.] (Opt.)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the diameters of minute particles
or fibers, from the size of the colored rings produced by the
diffraction of the light in which the objects are viewed.
ERISTALIS
E*ris"ta*lis, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of dipterous insects whose young (called rat-tailed
larvæ) are remarkable for their long tapering tail, which spiracles
at the tip, and for their ability to live in very impure and salt
waters; -- also called drone fly.
ERISTIC; ERISTICAL
E*ris"tic, E*ris"tic*al, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Controversial. [Archaic]
A specimen of admirable special pleading in the court of eristic
logic. Coleridge.
ERKE
Erke, a. Etym: [Cf. Irk.]
Defn: ASlothful. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
ERLKING
Erl"king`, n. Etym: [G. erlkönig, fr. Dan. ellekonge elfking.]
Defn: A personification, in German and Scandinavian mythology, of a
spirit natural power supposed to work mischief and ruin, esp. to
children.
ERME
Erme, v. i. Etym: [OE. ermen, AS. yrman. Cf. Yearn.]
Defn: To grieve; to feel sad. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERMELIN; ERMILIN
Er"me*lin, Er"mi*lin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Ermine. Shenstone.
ERMIN
Er"min, n. Etym: [OF. Ermin, L. Armenius.]
Defn: An Armenian. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERMINE
Er"mine, n. Etym: [OF. ermine, F. hermine, prob. of German origin;
cf. OHG. harmo, G. hermelin, akin to Lith. szarm, szarmonys, weasel,
cf. AS. hearma; but cf. also LL. armelinus, armellina, hermellina,
and pellis Armenia, the fur of the Armenian rat, mus Armenius, the
animal being found also in Armenia.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A valuable fur-bearing animal of the genus Mustela (M.
erminea), allied to the weasel; the stoat. It is found in the
northern parts of Asia, Europe, and America. In summer it is brown,
but in winter it becomes white, except the tip of the tail, which is
always black.
2. The fur of the ermine, as prepared for ornamenting garments of
royalty, etc., by having the tips of the tails, which are black,
arranged at regular intervals throughout the white.
3. By metonymy, the office or functions of a judge, whose state robe,
lined with ermine, is emblematical of purity and honor without stain.
Chatham.
4. (Her.)
Defn: One of the furs. See Fur (Her.)
Note: Ermine is represented by an argent field, tufted with black.
Ermines is the reverse of ermine, being black, spotted or timbered
with argent. Erminois is the same as ermine, except that or is
substituted for argent. Ermine moth (Zoöl.), a white moth with black
spots (esp. Yponomeuta padella of Europe); -- so called on account of
the resemblance of its covering to the fur of the ermine; also
applied to certain white bombycid moths of America.
ERMINE
Er"mine, v. t.
Defn: To clothe with, or as with, ermine.
The snows that have ermined it in the winter. Lowell.
ERMINED
Er"mined, a.
Defn: Clothed or adorned with the fur of the ermine. Pope.
ERMINES; ERMINOIS
Er"mines, n., Er"min*ois (, n. (Her.)
Defn: See Note under Ermine, n., 4.
ERMIT
Er"mit, n. Etym: [See Hermit.]
Defn: A hermit. [Obs.]
ERN; ERNE
Ern, Erne, n. Etym: [AS. earn eagle; akin to D. arend, OHG. aro, G.
aar, Icel., Sw., & Dan. örn, Goth. ara, and to Gr. Ornithology.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A sea eagle, esp. the European white-tailed sea eagle
(Haliæetus albicilla).
ERN
Ern, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Erme.]
Defn: To stir with strong emotion; to grieve; to mourn.
Note: [Corrupted into yearn in modern editions of Shakespeare.]
[Obs.]
ERNEST
Er"nest, n.
Defn: See Earnest. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERNESTFUL
Er"nest*ful, a. Etym: [See Earnest, a.]
Defn: Serious. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ERODE
E*rode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eroded; p. pr. & vb. n. Eroding.] Etym:
[L. erodere, erosum; e out + rodere to gnaw. See Rodent.]
Defn: To eat into or away; to corrode; as, canker erodes the flesh.
"The blood . . . erodes the vessels." Wiseman.
The smaller charge is more apt to . . . erode the gun. Am. Cyc.
ERODED
E*rod"ed, p. p. & a.
1. Eaten away; gnawed; irregular, as if eaten or worn away.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the edge worn away so as to be jagged or irregularly
toothed.
ERODENT
E*rod"ent, n. Etym: [L. erodens, -entis, p. pr. of erodere. See
Erode.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine which eats away extraneous growths; a caustic.
EROGATE
Er"o*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Erogated; p. pr. & vb. n. Erogating.]
Etym: [L. erogatus, p. p. of erogare; e out + rogare to ask.]
Defn: To lay out, as money; to deal out; to expend. [Obs.]
EROGATION
Er`o*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. erogatio.]
Defn: The act of giving out or bestowing. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
EROS
E"ros, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. (Greek Myth.)
Defn: Love; the god of love; -- by earlier writers represented as one
of the first and creative gods, by later writers as the son of
Aphrodite, equivalent to the Latin god Cupid.
EROSE
E*rose", a. Etym: [L. erosus, p. p. See Erode.]
1. Irregular or uneven as if eaten or worn away.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Jagged or irregularly toothed, as if nibbled out or gnawed.
-- E*rose"ly, adv.
EROSION
E*ro"sion, n. Etym: [L. erosio. See Erode.]
1. The act or operation of eroding or eating away.
2. The state of being eaten away; corrosion; canker.
EROSIVE
E*ro"sive, a.
Defn: That erodes or gradually eats away; tending to erode;
corrosive. Humble.
EROSTRATE
E*ros"trate, a. Etym: [Pref. e- out + rostrate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Without a beak.
EROTEME
Er"o*teme, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A mark indicating a question; a note of interrogation.
EROTESIS
Er`o*te"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure o
Must I give way and room to your rash choler Shall I be frighted when
a madman stares Shak.
EROTIC; EROTICAL
E*rot"ic, E*rot"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. érotique. See Eros.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the passion of love; treating of love;
amatory.
EROTIC
E*rot"ic, n.
Defn: An amorous composition or poem.
EROTICISM
E*rot"i*cism, n.
Defn: Erotic quality.
ERPETOLOGIST
Er`pe*tol"o*gist, n.
Defn: Herpetologist.
ERPETOLOGY
Er`pe*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. erpétologie.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Herpetology.
ERR
Err, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Erred; p. pr. & vb. n. Erring (; 277, 85).]
Etym: [F. errer, L. errare; akin to G. irren, OHG. irran, v. t., irr,
v. i., OS. irrien, Sw. irra, Dan. irre, Goth, aírzjan to lead astray,
airzise astray.]
1. To wander; to roam; to stray. [Archaic] "Why wilt thou err from
me" Keble.
What seemeth to you, if there were to a man an hundred sheep and one
of them hath erred. Wyclif (Matt. xviii. 12).
2. To deviate from the true course; to miss the thing aimed at. "My
jealous aim might err." Shak.
3. To miss intellectual truth; to fall into error; to mistake in
judgment or opinion; to be mistaken.
The man may err in his judgment of circumstances. Tillotson.
4. To deviate morally from the right way; to go astray, in a
figurative sense; to do wrong; to sin.
Do they not err that devise evil Prov. xiv. 22.
5. To offend, as by erring.
ERRABLE
Er"ra*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to error; fallible.
ERRABLENESS
Er"ra*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Liability to error. Dr. H. More.
ERRABUND
Er"ra*bund, a. Etym: [L. errabundus.]
Defn: Erratic. "Errabund guesses." Southey.
ERRANCY
Er"ran*cy, n. Etym: [L. errantia.]
Defn: A wandering; state of being in error.
ERRAND
Er"rand, n. Etym: [OE. erende, erande, message, business, AS. ærende,
ærend; akin to OS. arundi, OHG. arunti, Icel. eyrendi, örendi,
erendi, Sw. ärende, Dan. ærende; perh. akin to AS. earu swift, Icel.
örr, and to L. oriri to rise, E. orient.]
Defn: A special business intrusted to a messenger; something to be
told or done by one sent somewhere for the purpose; often, a verbal
message; a commission; as, the servant was sent on an errand; to do
an errand. Also, one's purpose in going anywhere.
I have a secret errand to thee, O king. Judg. iii. 19.
I will not eat till I have told mine errand. Gen. xxiv. 33.
mission.
ERRANT
Er"rant, a. Etym: [F. errant, p. pr. fr. OF. errer to travel, LL.
iterare, fr. L. iter journey; confused somewhat with L. errare to
err. See Eyre, and cf. Arrant, Itinerant.]
1. Wandering; deviating from an appointed course, or from a direct
path; roving.
Seven planets or errant stars in the lower orbs of heaven. Sir T.
Browne.
2. Notorious; notoriously bad; downright; arrant.
Would make me an errant fool. B. Jonson.
3. (Eng. Law)
Defn: Journeying; itinerant; -- formerly applied to judges who went
on circuit and to bailiffs at large. Mozley & W.
ERRANT
Er"rant, n.
Defn: One who wanders about. [Obs.] Fuller.
ERRANTIA
Er*ran"ti*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. errare to wander. See Err.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of chætopod annelids, including those that are not
confined to tubes. See Chætopoda. [Written also Errantes.]
ERRANTRY
Er"rant*ry, n.
1. A wandering; a roving; esp., a roving in quest of adventures.
Addison.
2. The employment of a knight-errant. Johnson.
ERRATA
Er*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Erratum.
ERRATIC
Er*rat"ic, a. Etym: [L. erraticus, fr. errare to wander: cf. F.
erratique. See Err.]
1. Having no certain course; roving about without a fixed
destination; wandering; moving; -- hence, applied to the planets as
distinguished from the fixed stars.
The earth and each erratic world. Blackmore.
2. Deviating from a wise of the common course in opinion or conduct;
eccentric; strange; queer; as, erratic conduct.
3. Irregular; changeable. "Erratic fever." Harvey. Erratic blocks,
gravel, etc. (Geol.), masses of stone which have been transported
from their original resting places by the agency of water, ice, or
other causes.
-- Erratic phenomena, the phenomena which relate to transported
materials on the earth's surface.
ERRATIC
Er*rat"ic, n.
1. One who deviates from common and accepted opinions; one who is
eccentric or preserve in his intellectual character.
2. A rogue. [Obs.] Cockeram.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Any stone or material that has been borne away from its
original site by natural agencies; esp., a large block or fragment of
rock; a bowlder.
Note: In the plural the term is applied especially to the loose
gravel and stones on the earth's surface, including what is called
drift.
ERRATICAL
Er*rat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Erratic.
-- Er*rat"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Er*rat"ic*al*ness, n.
ERRATION
Er*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. erratio. See Err.]
Defn: A wandering; a roving about. [Obs.] Cockeram.
ERRATUM
Er*ra"tum, n.; pl. Errata. Etym: [L., fr. errare, erratum, to wander,
err. See Err.]
Defn: An error or mistake in writing or printing.
A single erratum may knock out the brains of a whole passage. Cowper.
ERRHINE
Er"rhine, n. Etym: [Gr. errhin.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine designed to be snuffed up the nose, to promote
discharges of mucus; a sternutatory. Coxe.
-- a.
Defn: Causing or increasing secretion of nasal mucus.
ERRONEOUS
Er*ro"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. erroneus, fr. errare to err. See Err.]
1. Wandering; straying; deviating from the right course; -- hence,
irregular; unnatural. [Obs.] "Erroneous circulation." Arbuthnot.
Stopped much of the erroneous light, which otherwise would have
disturbed the vision. Sir I. Newman.
2. Misleading; misled; mistaking. [Obs.]
An erroneous conscience commands us to do what we ought to omit. Jer.
Taylor.
3. Containing error; not conformed to truth or justice; incorrect;
false; mistaken; as, an erroneous doctrine; erroneous opinion,
observation, deduction, view, etc.
-- Er*ro"ne*ous*ly, adv.
-- Er*ro"ne*ous*ness, n.
ERROR
Er"ror, n. Etym: [OF. error, errur, F. erreur, L. error, fr. errare
to err. See Err.]
1. A wandering; a roving or irregular course. [Obs.]
The rest of his journey, his error by sea. B. Jonson.
2. A wandering or deviation from the right course or standard;
irregularity; mistake; inaccuracy; something made wrong or left
wrong; as, an error in writing or in printing; a clerical error.
3. A departing or deviation from the truth; falsity; false notion;
wrong opinion; mistake; misapprehension.
Herror, though his candor remained unimpaired. Bancroft.
4. A moral offense; violation of duty; a sin or transgression;
iniquity; fault. Ps. xix. 12.
5. (Math.)
Defn: The difference between the approximate result and the true
result; -- used particularly in the rule of double position.
6. (Mensuration)
(a) The difference between an observed value and the true value of a
quantity.
(b) The difference between the observed value of a quantity and that
which is taken or computed to be the true value; -- sometimes called
residual error.
7. (Law.)
Defn: A mistake in the proceedings of a court of record in matters of
law or of fact.
8. (Baseball)
Defn: A fault of a player of the side in the field which results in
failure to put out a player on the other side, or gives him an
unearned base. Law of error, or Law of frequency of error
(Mensuration), the law which expresses the relation between the
magnitude of an error and the frequency with which that error will be
committed in making a large number of careful measurements of a
quantity.
-- Probable error. (Mensuration) See under Probable.
-- Writ of error (Law), an original writ, which lies after judgment
in an action at law, in a court of record, to correct some alleged
error in the proceedings, or in the judgment of the court. Bouvier.
Burrill.
Syn.
-- Mistake; fault; blunder; failure; fallacy; delusion;
hallucination; sin. See Blunder.
ERRORFUL
Er"ror*ful, a.
Defn: Full of error; wrong. Foxe.
ERRORIST
Er"ror*ist, n.
Defn: One who encourages and propagates error; one who holds to
error.
ERS
Ers, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. ervum a kind of pulse, bitter vetch.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The bitter vetch (Ervum Ervilia).
ERSE
Erse, n. Etym: [A modification of Irish, OE. Irishe.]
Defn: A name sometimes given to that dialect of the Celtic which is
spoken in the Highlands of Scotland; -- called, by the Highlanders,
Gaelic.
ERSE
Erse, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Celtic race in the Highlands of
Scotland, or to their language.
ERSH
Ersh, n.
Defn: See Arrish.
ERST
Erst, adv. Etym: [Orig. superlative of ere; AS. . See Ere.] [Archaic]
1. First. Chaucer.
2. Previously; before; formerly; heretofore. Chaucer.
Tityrus, with whose style he had erst disclaimed all ambition to
match his pastoral pipe. A. W. Ward.
At erst, at first; at the beginning.
-- Now at erst, at this present time. Chaucer.
ERSTWHILE
Erst`while", adv.
Defn: Till then or now; heretofore; formerly. [Archaic]
ERUBESCENCE; ERUBESCENCY
Er`u*bes"cence, Er`u*bes"cen*cy, n. Etym: [L. erubescentia: cf. F.
érubescence.]
Defn: The act of becoming red; redness of the skin or surface of
anything; a blushing.
ERUBESCENT
Er`u*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. erubescens, p. pr. erubescere to grow
red; e out + rubescere. See Rubescent.]
Defn: Red, or reddish; blushing. Johnson.
ERUBESCITE
Er`u*bes"cite, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Bornite.
ERUCA
E*ru"ca, n.; pl. Erucæ. Etym: [L., a caterpillar, also, a sort of
colewort.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect in the larval state; a caterpillar; a larva.
ERUCIC
E*ru"cic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, a genus of cruciferous
Mediterranean herbs (Eruca or Brassica); as, erucic acid, a fatty
acid resembling oleic acid, and found in colza oil, mustard oil, etc.
ERUCIFROM
E*ru"ci*from, a. Etym: [Eruca + -form.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the form of a caterpillar; -- said of insect larvæ.
ERUCT; ERUCTATE
E*ruct", E*ruc"tate, v. t. Etym: [L. eructare; e out + ructare to
belch: cf. F. éructer.]
Defn: To eject, as wind, from the stomach; to belch. [R.] Howell.
ERUCTATION
Er`uc*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. eructatio: cf. F. éructation.]
1. The act of belching wind from the stomach; a belch.
2. A violent belching out or emitting, as of gaseous or other matter
from the crater of a volcano, geyser, etc.
ERUDIATE
E*ru"di*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. erudire.]
Defn: To instruct; to educate; to teach. [Obs.]
The skillful goddess there erudiates these In all she did. Fanshawe.
ERUDITE
Er"u*dite, a. Etym: [L. eruditus, p. p. of erudire to free from
rudeness, to polish, instruct; e out + rudis rude: cf. F. érudit. See
Rude.]
Defn: Characterized by extensive reading or knowledge; well
instructed; learned. "A most erudite prince." Sir T. More. "Erudite .
. . theology." I. Taylor.
-- Er"u*dite`ly, adv.
-- Er"u*dite`ness, n.
ERUDITION
Er`u*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. eruditio: cf. F. érudition.]
Defn: The act of instructing; the result of thorough instruction; the
state of being erudite or learned; the acquisitions gained by
extensive reading or study; particularly, learning in literature or
criticism, as distinct from the sciences; scholarship.
The management of a young lady's person is not be overlooked, but the
erudition of her mind is much more to be regarded. Steele.
The gay young gentleman whose erudition sat so easily upon him.
Macaulay.
Syn.
-- Literature; learning. See Literature.
ERUGATE
Er"u*gate, a. Etym: [L. erugatus, p. p. of erugare to smooth; e out +
ruga wrinkle.]
Defn: Freed from wrinkles; smooth.
ERUGINOUS
E*ru"gi*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. érugineux. See Æruginous.]
Defn: Partaking of the substance or nature of copper, or of the rust
copper; resembling the trust of copper or verdigris; æruginous.
ERUMPENT
E*rum"pent, a. Etym: [L. erumpens, -entis, p. pr. of erumpere.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Breaking out; -- said of certain fungi which burst through the
texture of leaves.
ERUPT
E*rupt", v. t. Etym: [See Eruption.]
Defn: To cause to burst forth; to eject; as, to erupt lava. Huxley.
ERUPTION
E*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. eruptio, fr. erumpere, eruptum, to break
out; e out + rumpere, to break: cf. F. éruption. See Rupture.]
1. The act of breaking out or bursting forth; as: (a) A violent
throwing out of flames, lava, etc., as from a volcano of a fissure in
the earth's crust. (b) A sudden and overwhelming hostile movement of
armed men from one country to another. Milton. (c) A violent
commotion.
All Paris was quiet . . . to gather fresh strength for the next day's
eruption. W. Irving.
2. That which bursts forth.
3. A violent exclamation; ejaculation.
He would . . . break out into bitter and passionate eruditions. Sir
H. Wotton.
4. (Med.)
Defn: The breaking out of pimples, or an efflorescence, as in
measles, scarlatina, etc.
ERUPTIONAL
E*rup"tion*al, a.
Defn: Eruptive. [R.] R. A. Proctor.
ERUPTIVE
E*rup"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. éruptif.]
1. Breaking out or bursting forth.
The sudden glance Appears far south eruptive through the cloud.
Thomson.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Attended with eruption or efflorescence, or producing it; as,
an eruptive fever.
3. (Geol.)
Defn: Produced by eruption; as, eruptive rocks, such as the igneous
or volcanic.
ERUPTIVE
E*rup"tive, n. (Geol.)
Defn: An eruptive rock.
ERYNGIUM
E*ryn"gi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. eryngion, erynge.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of umbelliferous plants somewhat like thistles in
appearance. Eryngium maritimum, or sea holly, has been highly
esteemed as an aphrodisiac, the roots being formerly candied.
ERYNGO
E*ryn"go, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Eryngium.
ERYSIPELAS
Er`y*sip"e*las, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. Red, and Pell, n.] (Med.)
Defn: St. Anthony's fire; a febrile disease accompanied with a
diffused inflammation of the skin, which, starting usually from a
single point, spreads gradually over its surface. It is usually
regarded as contagious, and often occurs epidemically.
ERYSIPELATOID
Er`y*si*pel"a*toid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid.]
Defn: Resembling erysipelas.
ERYSIPELATOUS
Er`y*si*pel"a*tous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. érysipélateux.]
Defn: Resembling erysipelas, or partaking of its nature.
ERYSIPELOUS
Er`y*sip"e*lous, a.
Defn: Erysipelatous.
ERYTHEMA
Er`y*the"ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the skin, in which a diffused inflammation forms
rose-colored patches of variable size.
ERYTHEMATIC
Er`y*the*mat"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. érythématique.] (Med.)
Defn: Characterized by, or causing, a morbid redness of the skin;
relating to erythema.
ERYTHEMATOUS
Er`y*them"a*tous, a. (Med.)
Defn: Relating to, or causing, erythema.
ERYTHREAN; ERYTHRAEAN
Er`y*thre"an, Er`y*thræ"an, a. Etym: [L. erythraeus; Gr.
Defn: Red in color. "The erythrean main." Milton.
ERYTHRIC
E*ryth"ric, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, erythrin.
ERYTHRIN; ERYTHRINE
E*ryth"rin, E*ryth"rine, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless crystalline substance, C20H22O10, extracted from
certain lichens, as the various species of Rocella. It is a
derivative of orsellinic acid. So called because of certain red
compounds derived from it. Called also erythric acid.
2. (Min.)
Defn: See Erythrite, 2.
ERYTHRINA
Er`y*thri"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of leguminous plants growing in the tropics; coral
tree; -- so called from its red flowers.
ERYTHRISM
E*ryth"rism, n. Etym: [Gr. érythrisme.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A condition of excessive redness. See Erythrochroism.
ERYTHRITE
E*ryth"rite, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless crystalline substance, C4H6.(OH)4, of a sweet,
cooling taste, extracted from certain lichens, and obtained by the
decomposition of erythrin; -- called also erythrol, erythroglucin,
erythromannite, pseudorcin, cobalt bloom, and under the name phycite
obtained from the alga Protococcus vulgaris. It is a tetrabasic
alcohol, corresponding to glycol and glycerin.
2. (Min.)
Defn: A rose-red mineral, crystallized and earthy, a hydrous
arseniate of cobalt, known also as cobalt bloom; -- called also
erythrin or erythrine.
ERYTHROCHROIC
E*ryth`ro*chro"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having, or subject to, erythrochroism.
ERYTHROCHROISM
E*ryth"ro*chro*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An unusual redness, esp. in the plumage of birds, or hair of
mammals, independently of age, sex, or season.
ERYTHRODEXTRIN
E*ryth`ro*dex"trin, n. Etym: [Gr. dextrin.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A dextrin which gives a red color with iodine. See Dextrin.
ERYTHROGEN
E*ryth"ro*gen, n. Etym: [Gr. -gen.] (Chem.)
(a) Carbon disulphide; -- so called from certain red compounds which
it produces in combination with other substances.
(b) A substance reddened by acids, which is supposed to be contained
in flowers.
(c) A crystalline substance obtained from diseased bile, which
becomes blood-red when acted on by nitric acid or ammonia.
ERYTHROGRANULOSE
E*ryth`ro*gran"u*lose, n. Etym: [Gr. granulose.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A term applied by Brücke to a substance present in small amount
in starch granules, colored red by iodine.
ERYTHROID
Er"y*throid, a. Etym: [Gr. -oid: cf. Gr.
Defn: Of a red color; reddish; as, the erythroid tunic (the cremaster
muscle).
ERYTHROLEIC
Er`y*thro"le*ic, a. Etym: [Gr. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having a red color and oily appearance; -- applied to a purple
semifluid substance said to be obtained from archil.
ERYTHROLEIN
Er`y*thro"le*in, n. Etym: [See Erythroleic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A red substance obtained from litmus.
ERYTHROLITMIN
E*ryth`ro*lit"min, n. Etym: [Gr. litmus.] (Chem.)
Defn: Erythrolein.
ERYTHRONIUM
Er`y*thro"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A name originally given (from its red acid) to the metal
vanadium. [R.]
ERYTHROPHLEINE
E*ryth`ro*phle"ine (; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline alkaloid, extracted from sassy bark
(Erythrophleum Guineense).
ERYTHROPHYLL; ERYTHROPHYLLIN
E*ryth"ro*phyll, Er`y*throph"yl*lin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Bot.)
Defn: The red coloring matter of leaves, fruits, flowers, etc., in
distinction from chlorophyll.
ERYTHROSIN
E*ryth"ro*sin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
(a) A red substance formed by the oxidation of tyrosin.
(b) A red dyestuff obtained from fluoresceïn by the action of iodine.
ERYTHROXYLON
Er`y*throx"y*lon, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of shrubs or small trees of the Flax family, growing in
tropical countries. E. Coca is the source of cocaine. See Coca.
ERYTHROZYME
E*ryth"ro*zyme, n. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A ferment extracted from madder root, possessing the power of
inducing alcoholic fermentation in solutions of sugar.
ESCALADE
Es`ca*lade", n. Etym: [F., Sp. escalada (cf. It. scalata), fr. Sp.
escalar to scale, LL. scalare, fr. L. scala ladder. See Scale, v. t.]
(Mil.)
Defn: A furious attack made by troops on a fortified place, in which
ladders are used to pass a ditch or mount a rampart.
Sin enters, not by escalade, but by cunning or treachery.
Buckminster.
ESCALADE
Es`ca*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escaladed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Escalading.] (Mil.)
Defn: To mount and pass or enter by means of ladders; to scale; as,
to escalate a wall.
ESCALATOR
Es"ca*la`tor, n. [NL. Cf. Escalade.]
Defn: A stairway or incline arranged like an endless belt so that the
steps or treads ascend or descend continuously, and one stepping upon
it is carried up or down; -- a trade term.
ESCALLOP
Es*cal"lop, n.
Defn: See Escalop.
ESCALLOPED
Es*cal"loped, a.
Defn: See Escaloped.
ESCALOP
Es*cal"op, n. Etym: [OF. escalope shell, F. escalope a sort of cut of
meat. See Scallop.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bivalve shell of the genus Pecten. See Scallop.
2. A regular, curving indenture in the margin of anything. See
Scallop. "So many jags or escalops." Ray.
3.
(a) The figure or shell of an escalop, considered as a sign that the
bearer had been on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Hence:
(b) (Her.) A bearing or a charge consisting of an escalop shell.
ESCALOPED
Es*cal"oped, a.
1. Cut or marked in the form of an escalop; scalloped.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Covered with a pattern resembling a series of escalop shells,
each of which issues from between two others. Its appearance is that
of a surface covered with scales. Escaloped oysters (Cookery). See
under Scalloped.
ESCAMBIO
Es*cam"bi*o, n. Etym: [LL. escambium, excambium. See Excamb.] (Eng.
Law)
Defn: A license formerly required for the making over a bill of
exchange to another over sea. Cowell.
ESCAPABLE
Es*cap"a*ble, a.
Defn: Avoidable.
ESCAPADE
Es`ca*pade", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. escapada escape, fr. escapar to
escape; or F., fr. It. scappata escape, escapade, fr. scappare to
escape. see Escape.]
1. The fling of a horse, or ordinary kicking back of his heels; a
gambol.
2. Act by which one breaks loose from the rules of propriety or good
sense; a freak; a prank. Carlyle.
ESCAPE
Es*cape", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escaped; p. pr. & vb. n. Escaping.]
Etym: [OE. escapen, eschapen, OF. escaper, eschaper, F. echapper, fr.
LL. ex cappa out of one's cape or cloak; hence, to slip out of one's
cape and escape. See 3d Cape, and cf. Scape, v.]
1. To flee from and avoid; to be saved or exempt from; to shun; to
obtain security from; as, to escape danger. "Sailors that escaped the
wreck." Shak.
2. To avoid the notice of; to pass unobserved by; to evade; as, the
fact escaped our attention.
They escaped the search of the enemy. Ludlow.
ESCAPE
Es*cape", v. i.
1. To flee, and become secure from danger; -- often followed by from
or out of.
Haste, for thy life escape, nor look behindKeble.
2. To get clear from danger or evil of any form; to be passed without
harm.
Such heretics . . . would have been thought fortunate, if they
escaped with life. Macaulay.
3. To get free from that which confines or holds; -- used of persons
or things; as, to escape from prison, from arrest, or from slavery;
gas escapes from the pipes; electricity escapes from its conductors.
To escape out of these meshes. Thackeray.
ESCAPE
Es*cape", n.
1. The act of fleeing from danger, of evading harm, or of avoiding
notice; deliverance from injury or any evil; flight; as, an escape in
battle; a narrow escape; also, the means of escape; as, a fire
escape.
I would hasten my escape from the windy storm. Ps. lv. 8.
2. That which escapes attention or restraint; a mistake; an
oversight; also, transgression. [Obs.]
I should have been more accurate, and corrected all those former
escapes. Burton.
3. A sally. "Thousand escapes of wit." Shak.
4. (Law)
Defn: The unlawful permission, by a jailer or other custodian, of a
prisoner's departure from custody.
Note: Escape is technically distinguishable from prison breach, which
is the unlawful departure of the prisoner from custody, escape being
the permission of the departure by the custodian, either by
connivance or negligence. The term escape, however, is applied by
some of the old authorities to a departure from custody by stratagem,
or without force. Wharton.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: An apophyge.
6. Leakage or outflow, as of steam or a liquid.
7. (Elec.)
Defn: Leakage or loss of currents from the conducting wires, caused
by defective insulation. Escape pipe (Steam Boilers), a pipe for
carrying away steam that escapes through a safety valve.
-- Escape valve (Steam Engine), a relief valve; a safety valve. See
under Relief, and Safety.
-- Escape wheel (Horol.), the wheel of an escapement.
ESCAPEMENT
Es*cape"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. échappement. See Escape.]
1. The act of escaping; escape. [R.]
2. Way of escape; vent. [R.]
An escapement for youthful high spirits. G. Eliot.
3. The contrivance in a timepiece which connects the train of wheel
work with the pendulum or balance, giving to the latter the impulse
by which it is kept in vibration; -- so called because it allows a
tooth to escape from a pallet at each vibration.
Note: Escapements are of several kinds, as the vertical, or verge, or
crown, escapement, formerly used in watches, in which two pallets on
the balance arbor engage with a crown wheel; the anchor escapement,
in which an anchor-shaped piece carries the pallets; -- used in
common clocks (both are called recoil escapements, from the recoil of
the escape wheel at each vibration); the cylinder escapement, having
an open-sided hollow cylinder on the balance arbor to control the
escape wheel; the duplex escapement, having two sets of teeth on the
wheel; the lever escapement, which is a kind of detached escapement,
because the pallets are on a lever so arranged that the balance which
vibrates it is detached during the greater part of its vibration and
thus swings more freely; the detent escapement, used in chronometers;
the remontoir escapement, in which the escape wheel is driven by an
independent spring or weight wound up at intervals by the clock
train, -- sometimes used in astronomical clocks. When the shape of an
escape-wheel tooth is such that it falls dead on the pallet without
recoil, it forms a deadbeat escapement.
ESCAPER
Es*cap"er, n.
Defn: One who escapes.
ESCARBUNCLE
Es*car"bun*cle, n. Etym: [OF. escarbuncle, F. escaboucle.] (Her.)
Defn: See Carbuncle, 3.
ESCARGATOIRE
Es*car`ga*toire", n. Etym: [F. escargotière, fr. escargot snail.]
Defn: A nursery of snails. [Obs.] Addison.
ESCARP
Es*carp", n. Etym: [F. escarpe (cf. Sp. escarpa, It. scarpa), fr.
escarper to cut steep, cut to a slope, prob. of German origin: cf. G.
scharf sharp,, E. sharp, or perh. scrape.] (Fort.)
Defn: The side of the ditch next the parapet; -- same as scarp, and
opposed to counterscarp.
ESCARP
Es*carp", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escarped; p. pr. & vb. n. Escarping.]
(Mil.)
Defn: To make into, or furnish with, a steep slope, like that of a
scrap. Carleton.
ESCARPMENT
Es*carp"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. escarpement.]
Defn: A steep descent or declivity; steep face or edge of a ridge;
ground about a fortified place, cut away nearly vertically to prevent
hostile approach. See Scarp.
-ESCENT
-es"cent. Etym: [From the ending -escens, -entis, of the p. pr. of
inchoative verbs in Latin.]
Defn: A suffix signifying beginning, beginning to be; as, adolescent,
effervescent, etc.
ESCHALOT
Esch`a*lot", n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Shallot.
ESCHAR
Es"char, n. Etym: [L. eschara, Gr. eschare. See Scar.] (Med.)
Defn: A dry slough, crust, or scab, which separates from the healthy
part of the body, as that produced by a burn, or the application of
caustics.
ESCHAR
Es"char, n. Etym: [Ir.] (Geol.)
Defn: In Ireland, one of the continuous mounds or ridges of gravelly
and sandy drift which extend for many miles over the surface of the
country. Similar ridges in Scotland are called kames or kams.
[Written also eskar and esker.]
ESCHARA
Es"cha*ra, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Bryozoa which produce delicate corals, often
incrusting like lichens, but sometimes branched.
ESCHARINE
Es"cha*rine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Eschara, or family Escharidæ.
ESCHAROTIC
Es`cha*rot"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. escharotique.] (Med.)
Defn: Serving or tending to form an eschar;; producing a scar;
caustic.
ESCHAROTIC
Es`cha*rot"ic, n. (Med.)
Defn: A substance which produces an eschar; a caustic, esp., a mild
caustic.
ESCHATOLOGICAL
Es`cha*to*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the last or final things.
ESCHATOLOGY
Es`cha*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The doctrine of the last or final things, as death, judgment,
and the events therewith connected.
ESCHAUNGE
Es*chaunge", n.
Defn: Exchange. [Obs.]
ESCHEAT
Es*cheat", n. Etym: [OE. eschete, escheyte, an escheat, fr. OF.
escheit, escheoit, escheeite, esheoite, fr. escheoir (F. échoir) to
fall to, fall to the lot of; pref. es- (L. ex) + cheoir, F. choir, to
fall, fr. L. cadere. See Chance, and cf. Cheat.]
1. (Law)
(a) (Feud. & Eng. Law) The falling back or reversion of lands, by
some casualty or accident, to the lord of the fee, in consequence of
the extinction of the blood of the tenant, which may happen by his
dying without heirs, and formerly might happen by corruption of
blood, that is, by reason of a felony or attainder. Tomlins.
Blackstone.
(b) (U. S. Law) The reverting of real property to the State, as
original and ultimate proprietor, by reason of a failure of persons
legally entitled to hold the same.
Note: A distinction is carefully made, by English writers, between
escheat to the lord of the fee and forfeiture to the crown. But in
this country, where the State holds the place of chief lord of the
fee, and is entitled to take alike escheat and by forfeiture, this
distinction is not essential. Tomlins. Kent.
(c) A writ, now abolished, to recover escheats from the person in
possession. Blackstone.
2. Lands which fall to the lord or the State by escheat.
3. That which falls to one; a reversion or return
To make me great by others' loss is bad escheat. Spenser.
ESCHEAT
Es*cheat", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Esheated; p. pr. & vb. n. Escheating.]
(Law)
Defn: To revert, or become forfeited, to the lord, the crown, or the
State, as lands by the failure of persons entitled to hold the same,
or by forfeiture.
Note: In this country it is the general rule that when the title to
land fails by defect of heirs or devisees, it necessarily escheats to
the State; but forfeiture of estate from crime is hardly known in
this country, and corruption of blood is universally abolished. Kent.
Bouvier.
ESCHEAT
Es*cheat", v. t. (Law)
Defn: To forfeit. Bp. Hall.
ESCHEATABLE
Es*cheat"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to escheat.
ESCHEATAGE
Es*cheat"age (; 48), n.
Defn: The right of succeeding to an escheat. Sherwood.
ESCHEATOR
Es*cheat"or, n. (Law)
Defn: An officer whose duty it is to observe what escheats have taken
place, and to take charge of them. Burrill.
ESCHEVIN
Es"che*vin, n. Etym: [OF. eschevin, a sort of magistrate, alderman,
F. échevin.]
Defn: The alderman or chief officer of an ancient guild. [Obs.]
ESCHEW
Es*chew", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eshewed; p. pr. & vb. n. Eshewing.]
Etym: [OF. eschever, eschiver, eskiver, F. esquiver, fr. OHG.
sciuhen, G. scheuen; akin to E. sky. See Shy, a.]
1. To shun; to avoid, as something wrong, or from a feeling of
distaste; to keep one's self clear of.
They must not only eschew evil, but do good. Bp. Beveridge.
2. To escape from; to avoid. [Obs.]
He who obeys, destruction shall eschew. Sandys.
ESCHEWER
Es*chew"er, n.
Defn: One who eschews.
ESCHEWMENT
Es*chew"ment, n.
Defn: The act of eschewing. [R.]
ESCHSCHOLTZIA
Esch*scholtz"i*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named after Dr. Eschscholtz, a German
botanist.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of papaveraceous plants, found in California and upon
the west coast of North America, some species of which produce
beautiful yellow, orange, rose-colored, or white flowers; the
California poppy.
ESCHYNITE
Es"chy*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A rare mineral, containing chiefly niobium, titanium, thorium,
and cerium. It was so called by Berzelius on account of the inability
of chemical science, at the time of its discovery, to separate some
of its constituents.
ESCOCHEON
Es*coch"eon, n.
Defn: Escutcheon. [Obs.]
ESCOPET; ESCOPETTE
Es`co*pet", Es`co*pette", n. Etym: [Sp. escopeta, F. escopette.]
Defn: A kind of firearm; a carbine.
ESCORIAL
Es*co"ri*al, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: See Escurial.
ESCORT
Es"cort, n. Etym: [F. escorte, It. scorta a guard or guide, fr.
scorgere to perceive, discern, lead, fr. L. ex out, quite + corrigere
to correct, set right. See Correct.]
1. A body of armed men to attend a person of distinction for the sake
of affording safety when on a journey; one who conducts some one as
an attendant; a guard, as of prisoners on a march; also, a body of
persons, attending as a mark of respect or honor; -- applied to
movements on land, as convoy is to movements at sea.
The troops of my escort marched at the ordinary rate. Burke.
2. Protection, care, or safeguard on a journey or excursion; as, to
travel under the escort of a friend.
ESCORT
Es*cort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Escorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Escorting.]
Etym: [Cf. F. escorter, It. scortare. See Escort, n.]
Defn: To attend with a view to guard and protect; to accompany as
safeguard; to give honorable or ceremonious attendance to; -- used
esp. with reference to journeys or excursions on land; as, to escort
a public functionary, or a lady; to escort a baggage wagon.
Syn.
-- To accompany; attend. See Accompany.
ESCOT
Es*cot", n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: See Scot, a tax. [Obs.]
ESCOT
Es*cot", v. t.
Defn: To pay the reckoning for; to support; to maintain. [Obs.] Shak.
ESCOUADE
Es`couade", n.
Defn: See Squad,
ESCOUT
Es*cout", n.
Defn: See Scout. [Obs.] Hayward.
ESCRIBED
Es*cribed", a. Etym: [L. e out, out of + scribere to write.]
Defn: Drawn outside of; -- used to designate a circle that touches
one of the sides of a given triangle, and also the other two sides
produced.
ESCRIPT
Es"cript, n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: A writing. [Obs.]
ESCRITOIRE
Es`cri*toire", n. Etym: [OF. escritoire, F. écritoire, LL.
scriptorium, fr. L. scriptorius belonging to writing, fr. sribere to
write. See Script, and cf. Scrutoire.]
Defn: A piece of furniture used as a writing table, commonly with
drawers, pigeonholes, and the like; a secretary or writing desk.
ESCRITORIAL
Es`cri*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an escritoire.
ESCROD
Es*crod", n.
Defn: See Scrod, a young cod.
ESCROL; ESCROLL
Es*crol", Es*croll", n. Etym: [See Escrow, Scroll.]
1. A scroll. [Obs.]
2. (Her.)
(a) A long strip or scroll resembling a ribbon or a band of
parchment, or the like, anciently placed above the shield, and
supporting the crest.
(b) In modern heraldry, a similar ribbon on which the motto is
inscribed.
ESCROW
Es"crow, n. Etym: [OF. escroe, escroue, a roll of writings, bond. See
Scroll.] (Law)
Defn: A deed, bond, or other written engagement, delivered to a third
person, to be held by him till some act is done or some condition is
performed, and then to be by him delivered to the grantee.
Blackstone.
ESCUAGE
Es"cu*age (; 48), n. Etym: [OF. escuage, F. écuage, from OF. escu
shield, F. écu. See Esquire.] (Feud. Law)
Defn: Service of the shield, a species of knight service by which a
tenant was bound to follow his lord to war, at his own charge. It was
afterward exchanged for a pecuniary satisfaction. Called also
scutage. Blackstone.
ESCULAPIAN
Es`cu*la"pi*an, n.
Defn: Æsculapian.
ESCULAPIUS
Es`cu*la"pi*us, n.
Defn: Same as Æsculapius.
ESCULENT
Es"cu*lent, a. Etym: [L. esculentus, fr. escare to eat, fr. esca
food, fr. edere to eat: cf. F. esculent. See Eat.]
Defn: Suitable to be used by man for food; eatable; edible; as,
esculent plants; esculent fish.
Esculent grain for food. Sir W. Jones.
Esculent swallow (Zoöl.), the swallow which makes the edible bird's-
nest. See Edible bird's-nest, under Edible.
ESCULENT
Es"cu*lent, n.
Defn: Anything that is fit for eating; that which may be safely eaten
by man.
ESCULIC
Es*cu"lic, a. Etym: [From NL. Aesculus, the generic name of the
horse-chestnut, fr. L. aesculus a kind of oak.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or obtained from, the horse-chestnut; as,
esculic acid.
ESCULIN
Es*cu"lin, n. Etym: [See Esculic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A glucoside obtained from the Æsculus hippocastanum, or horse-
chestnut, and characterized by its fine blue fluorescent solutions.
[Written also æsculin.]
ESCURIAL
Es*cu"ri*al, n. Etym: [Prop. Sp. escorial, i. e., a hill or heap of
rubbish, earth, and stones brought out of a mine, fr. escoria dross
of metal, L. scoria, fr. Gr. Scoria.]
Defn: A palace and mausoleum of the kinds of Spain, being a vast and
wonderful structure about twenty-five miles northwest of Madrid.
Note: The ground plan is said to be in the form of a gridiron, the
structure being designed in honor of St. Lawrence, who suffered
martyrdom by being broiled on gridiron; but the resemblance is very
slight. It is nearly square, inclosing several courts, and has a
projecting mass which stands for the handle.
ESCUTCHEON
Es*cutch"eon, n. Etym: [OF. escusson, F. écusson, from OF. escu
shield, F. écu. See Esquire, Scutcheon.]
1. (Her.)
Defn: The surface, usually a shield, upon which bearings are
marshaled and displayed. The surface of the escutcheon is called the
field, the upper part is called the chief, and the lower part the
base (see Chiff, and Field.). That side of the escutcheon which is on
the right hand of the knight who bears the shield on his arm is
called dexter, and the other side sinister.
Note: The two sides of an escutcheon are respectively designated as
dexter and sinister, as in the cut, and the different parts or points
by the following names: A, Dexter chief point; B, Middle chief point;
C, Sinister chief point; D, Honor or color point; E, Fesse or heart
point; F, Nombrill or navel point; G, Dexter base point; H, Middle
base point; I, base point.
2. A marking upon the back of a cow's udder and the space above it
(the perineum), formed by the hair growing upward or outward instead
of downward. It is esteemed an index of milking qualities. C. L.
Flint.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of a vessel's stern on which her name is written. R.
H. Dane, Jr.
4. (Carp.)
Defn: A thin metal plate or shield to protect wood, or for ornament,
as the shield around a keyhole.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The depression behind the beak of certain bivalves; the
ligamental area. Escutcheon of pretense, an escutcheon used in
English heraldry to display the arms of the bearer's wife; -- not
commonly used unless she an heiress. Cf. Impalement.
ESCUTCHEONED
Es*cutch"eoned, a.
Defn: Having an escutcheon; furnished with a coat of arms or ensign.
Young.
ESE
Ese, n.
Defn: Ease; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ESEMPLASTIC
Es`em*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Gr. Plastic.]
Defn: Shaped into one; tending to, or formative into, unity. [R.]
Coleridge.
ESERINE
Es"er*ine (; 104), n. Etym: [From native name of the Calabar bean:
cf. F. ésérine.] (Chem.)
Defn: An alkaloid found in the Calabar bean, and the seed of
Physostigma venenosum; physostigmine. It is used in ophthalmic
surgery for its effect in contracting the pupil.
ESEXUAL
E*sex"u*al, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + sexual.] (Biol.)
Defn: Sexless; asexual.
ESGUARD
Es*guard", n. Etym: [Cf. OF. esgart regard, F. égard. See Guard.]
Defn: Guard. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
ESKAR; ESKER
Es"kar, or Es"ker, n. (Geol.)
Defn: See Eschar.
ESKIMO
Es"ki*mo, n.; pl. Eskimos. Etym: [Originally applied by the
Algonquins to the Northern Indians, and meaning eaters of raw flesh.]
(Ethnol.)
Defn: One of a peculiar race inhabiting Arctic America and Greenland.
In many respects the Eskimos resemble the Mongolian race. [Written
also Esquimau.] Eskimo dog (Zoöl.), one of breed of large and
powerful dogs used by the Eskimos to draw sledges. It closely
resembles the gray wolf, with which it is often crossed.
ESLOIN
Es*loin", v. t. Etym: [See Eloign.]
Defn: To remove; to banish; to withdraw; to avoid; to eloign. [Obs.]
From worldly cares he did himself esloin. Spenser.
ESNECY
Es"ne*cy, n. Etym: [See Eigne.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: A prerogative given to the eldest coparcener to choose first
after an inheritance is divide. Mozley & W.
ESODIC
E*sod"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Conveying impressions from the surface of the body to the
spinal cord; -- said of certain nerves. Opposed to exodic.
ESOPHAGAL
E*soph"a*gal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Esophageal.
ESOPHAGEAL
E`so*phag"e*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the esophagus. [Written also .]
ESOPHAGEAN
E`so*phag"e*an, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Esophageal.
ESOPHAGOTOMY
E*soph`a*got"o*my, n. Etym: [Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: The operation of making an incision into the esophagus, for the
purpose of removing any foreign substance that obstructs the passage.
[Written also oesophagotomy.]
ESOPHAGUS
E*soph"a*gus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. vi to go, drive) + (Anat.)
Defn: That part of the alimentary canal between the pharynx and the
stomach; the gullet. See Illust. of Digestive apparatus, under
Digestive. [Written also .]
ESOPIAN; ESOPIC
E*so"pi*an, E*so"pic, a.
Defn: Same as Æsopian, Æsopic.
ESOTERIC
Es`o*ter"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. In.]
Defn: Designed for, and understood by, the specially initiated alone;
not communicated, or not intelligible, to the general body of
followers; private; interior; acroamatic; -- said of the private and
more recondite instructions and doctrines of philosophers. Opposed to
exoteric.
Enough if every age produce two or three critics of this esoteric
class, with here and there a reader to understand them. De Quincey.
ESOTERICAL
Es`o*ter"ic*al, a.
Defn: Esoteric.
ESOTERICALLY
Es`o*ter"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an esoteric manner.
ESOTERICISM
Es`o*ter"i*cism, n.
Defn: Esoteric doctrine or principles.
ESOTERICS
Es`o*ter"ics, n.
Defn: Mysterious or hidden doctrines; secret science.
ESOTERY
Es"o*ter*y, n.
Defn: Mystery; esoterics; -- opposed to exotery. A. Tucker.
ESOX
E"sox, n. Etym: [L., a kind of pike.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fresh-water fishes, including pike and pickerel.
ESPACE
Es*pace", n.
Defn: Space. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ESPADON
Es"pa*don, n. Etym: [F. espadon, fr. Sp. espadon, fr. espada sword;
or fr. It. spadone an espadon, spada sword.]
Defn: A long, heavy, two-handed and two-edged sword, formerly used by
Spanish foot soldiers and by executioners. Wilhelm.
ESPALIER
Es*pal"ier, n. Etym: [F. espalier, fr. It. spalliera, fr. spalla
shoulder, the same word as F. épaule. See Epaulet.] (Hort.)
Defn: A railing or trellis upon which fruit trees or shrubs are
trained, as upon a wall; a tree or row of trees so trained.
And figs from standard and espalier join. Pope.
ESPALIER
Es*pal"ier, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espaliered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Espaliering.]
Defn: To form an espalier of, or to protect by an espalier.
ESPARCET
Es*par"cet, n. Etym: [F. esparcet, esparcette, éparcet, fr. Sp.
esparceta, esparcilla.] (Bot.)
Defn: The common sainfoin (Onobrychis sativa), an Old World
leguminous forage plant.
ESPARTO
Es*par"to, n. Etym: [Sp.; cf. L. spartum Spanish broom, Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of Spanish grass (Macrochloa tenacissima), of which
cordage, shoes, baskets, etc., are made. It is also used for making
paper.
ESPAULIERE
Es`pau`liere", n. Etym: [OF. & F. épaulière. See Espalier.]
Defn: A defense for the shoulder, composed of flexible overlapping
plates of metal, used in the 15th century; -- the origin of the
modern epaulette. Fairholt.
ESPECIAL
Es*pe"cial, a. Etym: [OF. especial, F. spécial, L. specialis, fr.
species a particular sort, kind, or quality. See Species, and cf.
Special.]
Defn: Distinguished among others of the same class or kind; special;
concerning a species or a single object; principal; particular; as,
in an especial manner or degree.
Syn.
-- Peculiar; special; particular; uncommon; chief. See Peculiar.
ESPECIALLY
Es*pe"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In an especial manner; chiefly; particularly; peculiarly; in an
uncommon degree.
ESPECIALNESS
Es*pe"cial*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being especial.
ESPERANCE
Es"pe*rance, n. Etym: [F. espérance, fr. L. sperans, p. pr. of
sperare to hope.]
Defn: Hope. [Obs.] Shak.
ESPERANTO
Es`pe*ran"to, n.
Defn: An artificial language, intended to be universal, devised by
Dr. Zamenhof, a Russian, who adopted the pseudonym "Dr. Esperanto" in
publishing his first pamphlet regarding it in 1887. The vocabulary is
very largely based upon words common to the chief European languages,
and sounds peculiar to any one language are eliminated. The spelling
is phonetic, and the accent (stress) is always on the penult. --
Es`pe*ran"tist (#), n.
ESPIAILLE
Es`pi*aille", n.
Defn: Espial. [Obs.]
ESPIAL
Es*pi"al, n. Etym: [OE. & Norm. F. espiaille. See Espy.]
1. The act of espying; notice; discovery.
Screened from espial by the jutting cape. Byron.
2. One who espies; a spy; a scout. [Obs.] "Their espials . . .
brought word." Holland.
ESPIER
Es*pi"er, n.
Defn: One who espies. Harmar.
ESPINEL
Es"pi*nel, n.
Defn: A kind of ruby. See Spinel.
ESPIONAGE
Es"pi*o*nage, n. Etym: [F. espionnage, fr. espionner to spy, fr.
espion spy, OF. espie. See Espy.]
Defn: The practice or employment of spies; the practice of watching
the words and conduct of others, to make discoveries, as spies or
secret emissaries; secret watching.
ESPLANADE
Es`pla*nade", n. Etym: [F. esplanade, Sp. esplanada, explanada, cf.
It. spianata; fr. Sp. explanar to level, L. explanare to flatten or
spread out. See Explain.]
1. (Fort.)
(a) A clear space between a citadel and the nearest houses of the
town. Campbell (Mil. Dict. ).
(b) The glacis of the counterscarp, or the slope of the parapet of
the covered way toward the country.
2. (Hort.)
Defn: A grass plat; a lawn. Simmonds.
3. Any clear, level space used for public walks or drives; esp., a
terrace by the seaside.
ESPLEES
Es*plees", n. pl. Etym: [LL. expletia, OF. espleit. Cf. Exploit.]
(Old Eng. Law)
Defn: The full profits or products which ground or land yields, as
the hay of the meadows, the feed of the pasture, the grain of arable
fields, the rents, services, and the like. Cowell.
ESPOUSAGE
Es*pous"age, n.
Defn: Espousal. [Obs.] Latimer.
ESPOUSAL
Es*pous"al, n. Etym: [OF. espousailles, pl., F. épousailles, L.
sponsalia, fr. sponsalis belonging to betrothal or espousal. See
Espouse, and cf. Sponsal, Spousal.]
1. The act of espousing or betrothing; especially, in the plural,
betrothal; plighting of the troths; a contract of marriage;
sometimes, the marriage ceremony.
2. The uniting or allying one's self with anything; maintenance;
adoption; as, the espousal of a quarrel.
The open espousal of his cause. Lord Orford.
ESPOUSE
Es*pouse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espoused; p. pr. & vb. n. Espousing.]
Etym: [OF. espouser, esposer, F. épouser, L. sponsare to betroth,
espouse, fr. sponsus betrothed, p. p. of spondere to promise solemnly
or sacredly. Cf. Spouse.]
1. To betroth; to promise in marriage; to give as spouse.
A virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph. Luke i. 27.
2. To take as spouse; to take to wife; to marry.
Lavinia will I make my empress, . . . And in the sacred Pantheon her
espouse. Shak.
3. To take to one's self with a view to maintain; to make one's own;
to take up the cause of; to adopt; to embrace. "He espoused that
quarrel." Bacon.
Promised faithfully to espouse his cause as soon as he got out of the
war. Bp. Burnet.
ESPOUSEMENT
Es*pouse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. espousement.]
Defn: The act of espousing, or the state of being espoused.
ESPOUSER
Es*pous"er, n.
Defn: One who espouses; one who embraces the cause of another or
makes it his own.
ESPRESSIVO
Es`pres*si"vo, a. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With expression.
ESPRINGAL
Es*prin"gal, n. Etym: [See Springal.] (Mil. Antiq.)
Defn: An engine of war used for throwing viretons, large stones, and
other missiles; a springal.
ESPRIT
Es`prit", n. Etym: [F. See Spirit.]
Defn: Spirit. Esprit de corps (, a French phrase much used by English
writers to denote the common spirit pervading the members of a body
or association of persons. It implies sympathy, enthusiasm, devotion,
and jealous regard for the honor of the body as a whole.
ESPY
Es*py", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Espied; p. pr. & vb. n. Espying.] Etym:
[OF. espier, F. épier, from OHG. speh to watch, spy, G. spähen; akin
to L. specere to look, species sight, shape, appearance, kind. See
Spice, Spy, and cf. Espionage.]
1. To catch sight of; to perceive with the eyes; to discover, as a
distant object partly concealed, or not obvious to notice; to see at
a glance; to discern unexpectedly; to spy; as, to espy land; to espy
a man in a crowd.
As one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn,
. . . he espied his money. Gen. xlii. 27.
A goodly vessel did I then espy Come like a giant from a haven broad.
Wordsworth.
2. To inspect narrowly; to examine and keep watch upon; to watch; to
observe.
He sends angels to espy us in all our ways. Jer. Taylor.
Syn.
-- To discern; discover; detect; descry; spy.
ESPY
Es*py", v. i.
Defn: To look or search narrowly; to look about; to watch; to take
notice; to spy.
Stand by the way, and espy. Jer. xlviii. 19.
ESPY
Es*py", n.; pl. Espies. Etym: [OF. espie. See Espy, v., Spy.]
Defn: A spy; a scout. [Obs.] Huloet.
-ESQUE
-esque. Etym: [F., fr. It. -isco. Cf. -ish.]
Defn: A suffix of certain words from the French, Italian, and
Spanish. It denotes manner or style; like; as, arabesque, after the
manner of the Arabs.
ESQUIMAU
Es"qui*mau, n.; pl. Esquimaux. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Same as Eskimo.
It is . . . an error to suppose that where an Esquimau can live, a
civilized man can live also. McClintock.
ESQUIRE
Es*quire", n. Etym: [OF. escuyer, escuier, properly, a shield-bearer,
F. écuyer shield-bearer, armor-bearer, squire of a knight, esquire,
equerry, rider, horseman, LL. scutarius shield-bearer, fr. L. scutum
shield, akin to Gr. to cover; prob. akin to E. hide to cover. See
Hide to cover, and cf. Equerry, Escutcheon.]
Defn: Originally, a shield-bearer or armor-bearer, an attendant on a
knight; in modern times, a title of dignity next in degree below
knight and above gentleman; also, a title of office and courtesy; --
often shortened to squire.
Note: In England, the title of esquire belongs by right of birth to
the eldest sons of knights and their eldest sons in perpetual
succession; to the eldest sons of younger sons of peers and their
eldest sons in perpetual succession. It is also given to sheriffs, to
justices of the peace while in commission, to those who bear special
office in the royal household, to counselors at law, bachelors of
divinity, law, or physic, and to others. In the United States the
title is commonly given in courtesy to lawyers and justices of the
peace, and is often used in the superscription of letters instead of
Mr.
ESQUIRE
Es*quire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Esquired; p. pr. & vb. n. Esquiring.]
Defn: To wait on as an esquire or attendant in public; to attend.
[Colloq.]
ESQUISSE
Es`quisse", n. Etym: [F. See Sketch.] (Fine Arts)
Defn: The first sketch of a picture or model of a statue.
-ESS
-ess. Etym: [OF. -esse, LL. -issa, Gr.
Defn: A suffix used to form feminine nouns; as, actress, deaconess,
songstress.
ESSAY
Es"say, n.; pl. Essays. Etym: [F. essai, fr. L. exagium a weighing,
weight, balance; ex out + agere to drive, do; cf. examen, exagmen, a
means of weighing, a weighing, the tongue of a balance, exigere to
drive out, examine, weigh, Gr. 'exa`gion a weight, 'exagia`zein to
examine, 'exa`gein to drive out, export. See Agent, and cf. Exact,
Examine, Assay.]
1. An effort made, or exertion of body or mind, for the performance
of anything; a trial; attempt; as, to make an essay to benefit a
friend. "The essay at organization." M. Arnold.
2. (Lit.)
Defn: A composition treating of any particular subject; -- usually
shorter and less methodical than a formal, finished treatise; as, an
essay on the life and writings of Homer; an essay on fossils, or on
commerce.
3. An assay. See Assay, n. [Obs.]
Syn.
-- Attempt; trial; endeavor; effort; tract; treatise; dissertation;
disquisition.
ESSAY
Es*say", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Essaying.]
Etym: [F. essayer. See Essay, n.]
1. To exert one's power or faculties upon; to make an effort to
perform; to attempt; to endeavor; to make experiment or trial of; to
try.
What marvel if I thus essay to sing Byron.
Essaying nothing she can not perform. Emerson.
A danger lest the young enthusiast . . . should essay the impossible.
J. C. Shairp.
2. To test the value and purity of (metals); to assay. See Assay.
[Obs.] Locke.
ESSAYER
Es*say"er, n.
Defn: One who essays. Addison.
ESSAYIST
Es"say*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of an essay, or of essays. B. Jonson.
ESSENCE
Es"sence, n. Etym: [F. essence, L. essentia, formed as if fr. a p.
pr. of esse to be. See Is, and cf. Entity.]
1. The constituent elementary notions which constitute a complex
notion, and must be enumerated to define it; sometimes called the
nominal essence.
2. The constituent quality or qualities which belong to any object,
or class of objects, or on which they depend for being what they are
(distinguished as real essence); the real being, divested of all
logical accidents; that quality which constitutes or marks the true
nature of anything; distinctive character; hence, virtue or quality
of a thing, separated from its grosser parts.
The laws are at present, both in form and essence, the greatest curse
that society labors under. Landor.
Gifts and alms are the expressions, not the essence of this virtue
[charity]. Addison.
The essence of Addison's humor is irony. Courthope.
3. Constituent substance.
And uncompounded is their essence pure. Milton.
4. A being; esp., a purely spiritual being.
As far as gods and heavenly essences Can perish. Milton.
He had been indulging in fanciful speculations on spiritual essences,
until . . . he had and ideal world of his own around him. W. Irving.
5. The predominant qualities or virtues of a plant or drug, extracted
and refined from grosser matter; or, more strictly, the solution in
spirits of wine of a volatile or essential oil; as, the essence of
mint, and the like.
The . . . word essence . . . scarcely underwent a more complete
transformation when from being the abstract of the verb "to be," it
came to denote something sufficiently concrete to be inclosed in a
glass bottle. J. S. Mill.
6. Perfume; odor; scent; or the volatile matter constituting perfume.
Nor let the essences exhale. Pope.
ESSENCE
Es"sence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essenced; p. pr. & vb. n. Essencing.]
Defn: To perfume; to scent. "Essenced fops." Addison.
ESSENE
Es*sene", n.; pl. Essenes. Etym: [Gr. asaya to heal, cf. Heb. asa.]
Defn: One of a sect among the Jews in the time of our Savior,
remarkable for their strictness and abstinence.
ESSENISM
Es"se*nism, n.
Defn: The doctrine or the practices of the Essenes. De Quincey.
ESSENTIAL
Es*sen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. essentiel. See Essence.]
1. Belonging to the essence, or that which makes an object, or class
of objects, what it is.
Majestic as the voice sometimes became, there was forever in it an
essential character of plaintiveness. Hawthorne.
2. Hence, really existing; existent.
Is it true, that thou art but a a name, And no essential thing
Webster (1623).
3. Important in the highest degree; indispensable to the attainment
of an object; indispensably necessary.
Judgment's more essential to a general Than courage. Denham.
How to live -- that is the essential question for us. H. Spencer.
4. Containing the essence or characteristic portion of a substance,
as of a plant; highly rectified; pure; hence, unmixed; as, an
essential oil. "Mine own essential horror." Ford.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: Necessary; indispensable; -- said of those tones which
constitute a chord, in distinction from ornamental or passing tones.
6. (Med.)
Defn: Idiopathic; independent of other diseases. Essential character
(Biol.), the prominent characteristics which serve to distinguish one
genus, species, etc., from another.
-- Essential disease, Essential fever (Med.), one that is not
dependent on another.
-- Essential oils (Chem.), a class of volatile oils, extracted from
plants, fruits, or flowers, having each its characteristic odor, and
hot burning taste. They are used in essences, perfumery, etc., and
include many varieties of compounds; as lemon oil is a terpene, oil
of bitter almonds an aldehyde, oil of wintergreen an ethereal salt,
etc.; -- called also volatile oils in distinction from the fixed or
nonvolatile.
ESSENTIAL
Es*sen"tial, n.
1. Existence; being. [Obs.] Milton.
2. That which is essential; first or constituent principle; as, the
essentials or religion.
ESSENTIALITY
Es*sen`ti*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being essential; the essential part. Jer.
Taylor.
ESSENTIALLY
Es*sen"tial*ly, adv.
Defn: In an essential manner or degree; in an indispensable degree;
really; as, essentially different.
ESSENTIALNESS
Es*sen"tial*ness, n.
Defn: Essentiality. Ld. Digby.
ESSENTIATE
Es*sen"ti*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Essentiated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Essentiating.]
Defn: To form or constitute the essence or being of. [Obs.] Boyle.
ESSENTIATE
Es*sen"ti*ate, v. i.
Defn: To become assimilated; to be changed into the essence. [Obs.]
B. Jonson.
ESSOIN; ESSOIGN
Es*soin" or Es*soign, n. Etym: [OF. essoine, essoigne, F. exoine, L.
essonia, exonia; pref. ex- (L. ex from) + sunnis, sunnia, sonia,
hindrance, excuse. Cf. Icel. syn refusal, synja to deny, refuse,
Goth. sunja truth, sunjon to justify, OS. sunnea impediment, OHG.
sunna.]
1. (Eng. Law)
Defn: An excuse for not appearing in court at the return of process;
the allegation of an excuse to the court.
2. Excuse; exemption. [Obs.]
From every work he challenged essoin. Spenser.
Essoin day (Eng. Law), the first general return day of the term, on
which the court sits to receive essoins. Blackstone.
ESSOIN
Es*soin", v. t. Etym: [OF. essoinier, essoignier, essonier, LL.
essoniare, exoniare. See Essoin, n.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: To excuse for nonappearance in court. "I 'll not essoin thee."
Quarles.
ESSOINER
Es*soin"er, n. (Eng. Law)
Defn: An attorney who sufficiently excuses the absence of another.
ESSONITE
Es"so*nite, n. Etym: [Named from Gr. e. g., hyacinth.] (Min.)
Defn: Cinnamon stone, a variety of garnet. See Garnet.
ESSORANT
Es"so*rant, a. Etym: [F.] (Her.)
Defn: Standing, but with the wings spread, as if about to fly; --
said of a bird borne as a charge on an escutcheon.
EST
Est, n. & adv.
Defn: East. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-EST
-est. Etym: [AS. -ost, -est; akin to G. -est, -ist, Icel. -astr, -
str, Goth. -ists, -, Skr. -ish.]
Defn: A suffix used to form the superlative of adjectives and
adverbs; as, smoothest; earl(y)iest.
ESTABLISH
Es*tab"lish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Established; p. pr. & vb. n.
Establishing.] Etym: [OE. establissen, OF. establir, F. établir, fr.
L. stabilire, fr. stabilis firm, steady, stable. See Stable, a., -
ish, and cf. Stablish.]
1. To make stable or firm; to fix immovably or firmly; to set (a
thing) in a place and make it stable there; to settle; to confirm.
So were the churches established in the faith. Acts xvi. 5.
The best established tempers can scarcely forbear being borne down.
Burke.
Confidence which must precede union could be established only by
consummate prudence and self-control. Bancroft.
2. To appoint or constitute for permanence, as officers, laws,
regulations, etc.; to enact; to ordain.
By the consent of all, we were established The people's magistrates.
Shak.
Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be
not changed. Dan. vi. 8.
3. To originate and secure the permanent existence of; to found; to
institute; to create and regulate; -- said of a colony, a state, or
other institutions.
He hath established it [the earth], he created it not in vain, he
formed it to be inhabited. Is. xlv. 18.
Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and establisheth a city
by iniquity! Hab. ii. 12.
4. To secure public recognition in favor of; to prove and cause to be
accepted as true; as, to establish a fact, usage, principle, opinion,
doctrine, etc.
At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses,
shall the matter be established. Deut. xix. 15.
5. To set up in business; to place advantageously in a fixed
condition; -- used reflexively; as, he established himself in a
place; the enemy established themselves in the citadel.
ESTABLISHED SUIT
Es*tab"lished suit. (Whist)
Defn: A plain suit in which a player (or side) could, except for
trumping, take tricks with all his remaining cards.
ESTABLISHER
Es*tab"lish*er, n.
Defn: One who establishes.
ESTABLISHMENT
Es*tab"lish*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. establissement, F.
établissement.]
1. The act of establishing; a ratifying or ordaining; settlement;
confirmation.
2. The state of being established, founded, and the like; fixed
state.
3. That which is established; as: (a) A form of government, civil or
ecclesiastical; especially, a system of religion maintained by the
civil power; as, the Episcopal establishment of England. (b) A
permanent civil, military, or commercial, force or organization. (c)
The place in which one is permanently fixed for residence or
business; residence, including grounds, furniture, equipage, etc.;
with which one is fitted out; also, any office or place of business,
with its fixtures; that which serves for the carrying on of a
business; as, to keep up a large establishment; a manufacturing
establishment.
Exposing the shabby parts of the establishment. W. Irving.
Establishment of the port (Hydrography), a datum on which the tides
are computed at the given port, obtained by observation, viz., the
interval between the moon's passage over the meridian and the time of
high water at the port, on the days of new and full moon.
ESTABLISHMENTARIAN
Es*tab`lish*men*ta"ri*an, n.
Defn: One who regards the Church primarily as an establishment formed
by the State, and overlooks its intrinsic spiritual character.
Shipley.
ESTACADE
Es`ta*cade", n. Etym: [F.; cf. It. steccata, Sp. estacada. Cf.
Stake.] (Mil.)
Defn: A dike of piles in the sea, a river, etc., to check the
approach of an enemy.
ESTAFET; ESTAFETTE
Es`ta*fet", Es`ta*fette", n. Etym: [F. estafette, cf. Sp. estafeta;
fr. It. stafetta, fr. staffa stirrup, fr. OHG. stapho footstep,
footprint, G. stapfe; akin to E. step.]
Defn: A courier who conveys messages to another courier; a military
courier sent from one part of an army to another.
ESTAMINET
Es`ta`mi`net", n. [F.]
Defn: A café, or room in a café, in which smoking is allowed.
ESTANCIA
Es*tan"ci*a, n. Etym: [Sp. See Stanza.]
Defn: A grazing; a country house. [Spanish America]
ESTATE
Es*tate", n. Etym: [OF. estat, F. état, L. status, fr. stare to
stand. See Stand, and cf. State.]
1. Settled condition or form of existence; state; condition or
circumstances of life or of any person; situation. "When I came to
man's estate." Shak.
Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Romans
xii. 16.
2. Social standing or rank; quality; dignity.
God hath imprinted his authority in several parts, upon several
estates of men. Jer. Taylor.
3. A person of high rank. [Obs.]
She's a duchess, a great estate. Latimer.
Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and
chief estates of Galilee. Mark vi. 21.
4. A property which a person possesses; a fortune; possessions, esp.
property in land; also, property of all kinds which a person leaves
to be divided at his death.
See what a vast estate he left his son. Dryden.
5. The state; the general body politic; the common-wealth; the
general interest; state affairs. [Obs.]
I call matters of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but
whatsoever . . . concerneth manifestly any great portion of people.
Bacon.
6. pl.
Defn: The great classes or orders of a community or state (as the
clergy, the nobility, and the commonalty of England) or their
representatives who administer the government; as, the estates of the
realm (England), which are (1) the lords spiritual, (2) the lords
temporal, (3) the commons.
7. (Law)
Defn: The degree, quality, nature, and extent of one's interest in,
or ownership of, lands, tenements, etc.; as, an estate for life, for
years, at will, etc. Abbott. The fourth estate, a name often given to
the public press.
ESTATE
Es*tate", v. t.
1. To establish. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. Tom settle as a fortune. [Archaic] Shak.
3. To endow with an estate. [Archaic]
Then would I . . . Estate them with large land and territory.
Tennyson.
ESTATLICH; ESTATLY
Es*tat"lich, Es"tat*ly, a. Etym: [OE.]
Defn: Stately; dignified. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ESTEEM
Es*teem", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Esteemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Esteeming.]
Etym: [F. estimer, L. aestimare, aestumare, to value, estimate; perh.
akin to Skr. ish to seek, strive, and E. ask. Cf. Aim, Estimate.]
1. To set a value on; to appreciate the worth of; to estimate; to
value; to reckon.
Then he forsook God, which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of
his salvation. Deut. xxxii. 15.
Thou shouldst (gentle reader) esteem his censure and authority to be
of the more weighty credence. Bp. Gardiner.
Famous men, -- whose scientific attainments were esteemed hardly less
than supernatural. Hawthorne.
2. To set a high value on; to prize; to regard with reverence,
respect, or friendship.
Will he esteem thy riches Job xxxvi. 19.
You talk kindlier: we esteem you for it. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- To estimate; appreciate; regard; prize; value; respect; revere.
See Appreciate, Estimate.
ESTEEM
Es*teem", v. i.
Defn: To form an estimate; to have regard to the value; to consider.
[Obs.]
We ourselves esteem not of that obedience, or love, or gift, which is
of force. Milton.
ESTEEM
Es*teem", n. Etym: [Cf. F. estime. See Esteem, v. t.]
1. Estimation; opinion of merit or value; hence, valuation;
reckoning; price.
Most dear in the esteem And poor in worth! Shak.
I will deliver you, in ready coin, The full and dear'st esteem of
what you crave. J. Webster.
2. High estimation or value; great regard; favorable opinion, founded
on supposed worth.
Nor should thy prowess want praise and esteem. Shak.
Syn.
-- See Estimate, n.
ESTEEMABLE
Es*teem"a*ble, a.
Defn: Worthy of esteem; estimable. [R.] "Esteemable qualities." Pope.
ESTEEMER
Es*teem"er, n.
Defn: One who esteems; one who sets a high value on any thing.
The proudest esteemer of his own parts. Locke.
ESTER
Es"ter, n. Etym: [A word invented by L. Gmelin, a German chemist.]
(Chem.)
Defn: An ethereal salt, or compound ether, consisting of an organic
radical united with the residue of any oxygen acid, organic or
inorganic; thus the natural fats are esters of glycerin and the fatty
acids, oleic, etc.
ESTHESIOMETER
Es*the`si*om"e*ter, n.
Defn: Same as Æsthesiometer.
ESTHETE; ESTHETIC; ESTHETICAL; ESTHETICS
Es"thete, n.; Es*thet"ic (, a., Es*thet"ic*al (, a., Es*thet"ics (,
n. etc.
Defn: Same as Æsthete, Æsthetic, Æsthetical, Æsthetics, etc.
ESTIFEROUS
Es*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. aestifer; aestus fire + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Producing heat. [R.] Smart.
ESTIMABLE
Es"ti*ma*ble, a. Etym: [F. estimable, or L. aestimabilis. See
Esteem.]
1. Capable of being estimated or valued; as, estimable damage. Paley.
.
2. Valuable; worth a great price. [R.]
A pound of man's flesh, taken from a man, Is not so estimable,
profitable neither, As flesh of muttons, beefs, or goats. Shak.
3. Worth of esteem or respect; deserving our good opinion or regard.
A lady said of her two companions, that one was more amiable, the
other more estimable. Sir W. Temple.
ESTIMABLE
Es"ti*ma*ble, n.
Defn: A thing worthy of regard. [R.]
One of the peculiar estimables of her country. Sir T. Browne.
ESTIMABLENESS
Es"ti*ma*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of deserving esteem or regard.
ESTIMABLY
Es"ti*ma*bly, adv.
Defn: In an estimable manner.
ESTIMATE
Es"ti*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Estimated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Estimating.] Etym: [L. aestimatus, p. p. of aestimare. See Esteem, v.
t.]
1. To judge and form an opinion of the value of, from imperfect data,
-- either the extrinsic (money), or intrinsic (moral), value; to fix
the worth of roughly or in a general way; as, to estimate the value
of goods or land; to estimate the worth or talents of a person.
It is by the weight of silver, and not the name of the piece, that
men estimate commodities and exchange them. Locke.
It is always very difficult to estimate the age in which you are
living. J. C. Shairp.
2. To from an opinion of, as to amount,, number, etc., from imperfect
data, comparison, or experience; to make an estimate of; to calculate
roughly; to rate; as, to estimate the cost of a trip, the number of
feet in a piece of land.
Syn.
-- To appreciate; value; appraise; prize; rate; esteem; count;
calculate; number.
-- To Estimate, Esteem. Both these words imply an exercise of the
judgment. Estimate has reference especially to the external relations
of things, such as amount, magnitude, importance, etc. It usually
involves computation or calculation; as, to estimate the loss or gain
of an enterprise. Esteem has reference to the intrinsic or moral
worth of a person or thing. Thus, we esteem a man for his kindness,
or his uniform integrity. In this sense it implies a mingled
sentiment of respect and attachment. We esteem it an honor to live in
a free country. See Appreciate.
ESTIMATE
Es"ti*mate, n.
Defn: A valuing or rating by the mind, without actually measuring,
weighing, or the like; rough or approximate calculation; as, an
estimate of the cost of a building, or of the quantity of water in a
pond.
Weigh success in a moral balance, and our whole estimate is changed.
J. C. Shairp.
Syn.
-- Estimate, Estimation, Esteem. The noun estimate, like its verb,
supposes chiefly an exercise of judgment in determining the amount,
importance, or magnitude of things, with their other exterior
relations; as, an estimate of expenses incurred; a true estimate of
life, etc. Esteem is a moral sentiment made up of respect and
attachment, -- the valuation of a person as possessing useful
qualities or real worth. Thus we speak of the esteem of the wise and
good as a thing greatly to be desired. Estimation seems to waver
between the two. In our version of the Scriptures it is used simply
for estimate; as, "If he be poorer than thy estimation." Lev. xxvii.
8. In other cases, it verges toward esteem; as, "I know him to be of
worth and worthy estimation." Shak. It will probably settle down at
last on this latter sense. "Esteem is the value we place upon some
degree of worth. It is higher than simple approbation, which is a
decision of judgment. It is the commencement of affection." Gogan.
No; dear as freedom is, and in my heart's Just estimation prized
above all price. Cowper.
ESTIMATION
Es`ti*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. aestimatio, fr. aestimare: cf. F.
estimation. See Esteem, v. t.]
1. The act of estimating. Shak.
2. An opinion or judgment of the worth, extent, or quantity of
anything, formed without using precise data; valuation; as,
estimations of distance, magnitude, amount, or moral qualities.
If he be poorer that thy estimation, then he shall present himself
before the priest, and the priest, and the priest shall value him.
Lev. xxvii. 8.
3. Favorable opinion; esteem; regard; honor.
I shall have estimation among multitude, and honor with the elders.
Wisdom viii. 10.
4. Supposition; conjecture.
I speak not this in estimation, As what I think might be, but what I
know. Shak.
Syn.
-- Estimate; calculation; computation; appraisement; esteem; honor;
regard. See Estimate, n.
ESTIMATIVE
Es"ti*ma*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. estimatif.]
1. Inclined, or able, to estimate; serving for, or capable of being
used in, estimating.
We find in animals an estimative or judicial faculty. Sir M. Hale.
2. Pertaining to an estimate. [R.]
ESTIMATOR
Es"ti*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L. aestimator.]
Defn: One who estimates or values; a valuer. Jer. Taylor.
ESTIVAL; ESTIVATE; ESTIVATION
Es"ti*val, a., Es"ti*vate , v. i., Es`ti*va"tion , n.
Defn: Same as Æstival, Æstivate, etc.
ESTOILE
Es`toile", n. Etym: [OF.] (Her.)
Defn: A six-pointed star whose rays are wavy, instead of straight
like those of a mullet. [Written also étoile.] Estoile of eight
points, a star which has four straight and four wavy rays.
-- Estoile of four points. Same as Cross estoilé, under Cross.
ESTOP
Es*top", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Estophed; p. pr. & vb. n. Estopping.]
Etym: [OF. estoper to stop, plug, close, F. étouper, LL. stuppare to
close with tow, obstruct, fr. L. stuppa tow, oakum, cf. Gr. Stop.]
(Law)
Defn: To impede or bar by estoppel.
A party will be estopped by his admissions, where his intent is to
influence another, or derive an advantage to himself. Abbott.
ESTOPPEL
Es*top"pel, n. Etym: [From Estop.] (Law)
(a) A stop; an obstruction or bar to one's alleging or denying a fact
contrary to his own previous action, allegation, or denial; an
admission, by words or conduct, which induces another to purchase
rights, against which the party making such admission can not take a
position inconsistent with the admission.
(b) The agency by which the law excludes evidence to dispute certain
admissions, which the policy of the law treats as indisputable.
Wharton. Stephen. Burrill.
ESTOVERS
Es*to"vers, n. pl. Etym: [OF. estoveir, estovoir, necessary,
necessity, need, prop. an infin. meaning to suit, be fit, be
necessary. See Stover.] (Law)
Defn: Necessaries or supples; an allowance to a person out of an
estate or other thing for support; as of wood to a tenant for life,
etc., of sustenance to a man confined for felony of his estate, or
alimony to a woman divorced out of her husband's estate. Blackstone.
Common of estovers. See under Common, n.
ESTRADE
Es`trade", n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. estrado, orig., a carpet on the
floor of a room, also, a carpeted platform, fr. L. stratum bed
covering. See Stratum.] (Arch.)
Defn: A portion of the floor of a room raised above the general
level, as a place for a bed or a throne; a platform; a dais.
He [the teacher] himself should have his desk on a mounted estrade or
platform. J. G. Fitch.
ESTRAMACON
Es`tra`ma`con", n. Etym: [F.]
1. A straight, heavy sword with two edges, used in the 16th and 17th
centuries.
2. A blow with edge of a sword. Farrow.
ESTRANGE
Es*trange", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Estranged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Estranging.] Etym: [OF. estrangier to remove, F. étranger, L.
extraneare to treat as a stranger, from extraneus strange. See
Strange.]
1. To withdraw; to withhold; hence, reflexively, to keep at a
distance; to cease to be familiar and friendly with.
We must estrange our belief from everything which is not clearly and
distinctly evidenced. Glanvill.
Had we . . . estranged ourselves from them in things indifferent.
Hooker.
2. To divert from its original use or purpose, or from its former
possessor; to alienate.
They . . . have estranged this place, and have burned incense in it
unto other gods. Jer. xix. 4.
3. To alienate the affections or confidence of; to turn from
attachment to enmity or indifference.
I do not know, to this hour, what it is that has estranged him from
me. Pope.
He . . . had pretended to be estranged from the Whigs, and had
promised to act as a spy upon them. Macaulay.
ESTRANGEDNESS
Es*tran"ged*ness, n.
Defn: State of being estranged; estrangement. Prynne.
ESTRANGEMENT
Es*trange"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. estrangement.]
Defn: The act of estranging, or the state of being estranged;
alienation.
An estrangement from God. J. C. Shairp.
A long estrangement from better things. South.
ESTRANGER
Es*tran"ger, n.
Defn: One who estranges.
ESTRANGLE
Es*tran"gle, v. t.
Defn: To strangle. [Obs.]
ESTRAPADE
Es`tra*pade", n. Etym: [F.] (Man.)
Defn: The action of a horse, when, to get rid of his rider, he rears,
plunges, and kicks furiously.
ESTRAY
Es*tray", v. i.
Defn: To stray. [Obs.] Daniel.
ESTRAY
Es*tray" n. (Law)
Defn: Any valuable animal, not wild, found wandering from its owner;
a stray. Burrill.
ESTRE
Es"tre, n. Etym: [OF. estre state, plan.]
Defn: The inward part of a building; the interior. [Obs.] Chaucer.
ESTREAT
Es*treat", n. Etym: [OF. estraite, prop., an extract, fr. p. p. of
estraire to extract, F. extraire, fr. L.extrahere. See Extract.]
(Law)
Defn: A true copy, duplicate, or extract of an original writing or
record, esp. of amercements or penalties set down in the rolls of
court to be levied by the bailiff, or other officer. Cowell. Estreat
of a recognizance, the extracting or taking out a forfeited
recognizance from among the other records of the court, for the
purpose of a prosecution in another court, or it may be in the same
court. Burrill.
ESTREAT
Es*treat", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Estreated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Estreating.] (Law)
(a) To extract or take out from the records of a court, and send up
to the court of exchequer to be enforced; -- said of a forfeited
recognizance.
(b) To bring in to the exchequer, as a fine.
ESTREPE
Es*trepe", v. t. Etym: [OF. estreper.] (Law)
Defn: To strip or lay bare, as land of wood, houses, etc.; to commit
waste.
ESTREPEMENT
Es*trepe"ment, n. Etym: [OF., damage, waste.] (Law)
Defn: A destructive kind of waste, committed by a tenant for life, in
lands, woods, or houses. Cowell.
ESTRICH
Es"trich, n.
1. Ostrich. [Obs.] Massinger.
2. (Com.)
Defn: The down of the ostrich. Brande & C.
ESTUANCE
Es"tu*ance, n. Etym: [From L. aestuans, p. pr. of aestuare. See
Estuate.]
Defn: Heat. [Obs.]
ESTUARINE
Es"tu*a*rine, a.
Defn: Pertaining to an estuary; estuary.
ESTUARY
Es"tu*a*ry, n.; pl. Estuaries. Etym: [L. aestuarium, from aestuare to
surge. See Estuate.] [Written also æstuary.]
1. A place where water boils up; a spring that wells forth. [Obs.]
Boyle.
2. A passage, as the mouth of a river or lake, where the tide meets
the current; an arm of the sea; a frith.
it to the sea was often by long and wide estuaries. Dana.
ESTUARY
Es"tu*a*ry, a.
Defn: Belonging to, or formed in, an estuary; as, estuary strata.
Lyell.
ESTUATE
Es"tu*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Estuated; p. pr. & vb. n. Estuating.]
Etym: [L. aestuare to be in violent motion, to boil up, burn, fr.
aestus boiling or undulating motion, fire, glow, heat; akin to
Gr.Ether.]
Defn: To boil up; to swell and rage; to be agitated. Bacon.
ESTUATION
Es`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. aestuatio.]
Defn: The act of estuating; commotion, as of a fluid; agitation.
The estuations of joys and fears. W. Montagu.
ESTUFA
Es*tu"fa, n.; pl. Estufas. Etym: [Sp., a stove, a warm room. Cf.
Stove.]
Defn: An assembly room in dwelling of the Pueblo Indians. L. H.
Morgan.
ESTURE
Es"ture, n. Etym: [See Estuate.]
Defn: Commotion. [Obs.] Chapman.
ESURIENT
E*su"ri*ent, a. Etym: [L. esuriens, p. pr. of ensurire, fr. edere to
eat.]
Defn: Inclined to eat; hungry; voracious. [R.] Bailey. "Poor, but
esurient." Carlyle.
ESURIENT
E*su"ri*ent, n.
Defn: One who is hungry or greedy. [R.]
An insatiable esurient after riches. Wood.
ESURINE
Es"u*rine, a. Etym: [See Esurient.]
Defn: Causing hunger; eating; corroding. [Obs.] Wiseman.
ESURINE
Es"u*rine, n. (Med.)
Defn: A medicine which provokes appetites, or causes hunger. [Obs.]
-ET
-et. Etym: [F. -et, masc., -ette, fem. Cf. -let.]
Defn: A noun suffix with a diminutive force; as in baronet, pocket,
facet, floweret, latchet.
ETAAC
E*taac", n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The blue buck.
ETACISM
E"ta*cism, n. Etym: [Gr. Itacism.] (Greek Gram.)
Defn: The pronunciation of the Greek ê (eta) like the Italian e long,
that is like a in the English word ate. See Itacism.
ETACIST
E"ta*cist, n.
Defn: One who favors etacism.
ETAGERE
É`ta`gère", n. Etym: [F., fr. étager to arrange on shelves, fr. étage
story, floor. See Stage.]
Defn: A piece of furniture having a number of uninclosed shelves or
stages, one above another, for receiving articles of elegance or use.
Fairholt.
ETAMINE
Et"a*mine, n. [F. élamine.]
Defn: A light textile fabric, like a fine bunting.
ETAPE
É`tape", n. [F. Cf. Staple a mart.]
1.
Defn: A public storehouse.
2. Supplies issued to troops on the march; hence (Mil.),
Defn: the place where troops on the march halt over night; also, by
extension, the distance marched during a day.
3. In Russia, a prison or stockade for the confinement of prisoners
in transit.
ETAT MAJOR
É`tat" Ma`jor". Etym: [F., fr. état state + L. major greater.] (Mil.)
Defn: The staff of an army, including all officers above the rank of
colonel, also, all adjutants, inspectors, quartermasters,
commissaries, engineers, ordnance officers, paymasters, physicians,
signal officers, judge advocates; also, the noncommissioned
assistants of the above officers.
ET CETERA; ET CAETERA
Et` cet"e*ra, Et` cæt"e*ra. Etym: [L. et and + caetera other things.]
Defn: Others of the like kind; and the rest; and so on; -- used to
point out that other things which could be mentioned are to be
understood. Usually abbreviated into etc. or &c. (&c). Shak.
ETCH
Etch, n.
Defn: A variant of Eddish. [Obs.] Mortimer.
ETCH
Etch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Etched; p. pr. & vb. n. Etching.] Etym: [D.
etsen, G. ätzen to feed, corrode, etch. MHG. etzen, causative of
ezzen to eat, G. essen Eat.]
1. To produce, as figures or designs, on mental, glass, or the like,
by means of lines or strokes eaten in or corroded by means of some
strong acid.
Note: The plate is first covered with varnish, or some other ground
capable of resisting the acid, and this is then scored or scratched
with a needle, or similar instrument, so as to form the drawing; the
plate is then covered with acid, which corrodes the metal in the
lines thus laid bare.
2. To subject to etching; to draw upon and bite with acid, as a plate
of metal.
I was etching a plate at the beginning of 1875. Hamerton.
3. To sketch; to delineate. [R.]
There are many empty terms to be found in some learned writes, to
which they had recourse to etch out their system. Locke.
ETCH
Etch, v. i.
Defn: To practice etching; to make etchings.
ETCHER
Etch"er, n.
Defn: One who etches.
ETCHING
Etch"ing, n.
1. The act, art, or practice of engraving by means of acid which eats
away lines or surfaces left unprotected in metal, glass, or the like.
See Etch, v. t.
2. A design carried out by means of the above process; a pattern on
metal, glass, etc., produced by etching.
3. An impression on paper, parchment, or other material, taken in ink
from an etched plate. Etching figures (Min.), markings produced on
the face of a crystal by the action of an appropriate solvent. They
have usually a definite form, and are important as revealing the
molecular structure.
-- Etching needle, a sharp-pointed steel instrument with which lines
are drawn in the ground or varnish in etching.
-- Etching stitch (Needlework), a stitch used outline embroidery.
ETEOSTIC
E`te*os"tic, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A kind of chronogram. [R.] B. Jonson.
ETERMINABLE
E*ter"mi*na*ble, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + terminable.]
Defn: Interminable. [Obs.] Skelton.
ETERN; ETERNE
E*tern" or E*terne", a. Etym: [OF. eterne, L. aeternus, for
aeviturnus, fr. aevum age. See Age, and cf. Eternal.]
Defn: Eternal. [Poetic] Shak.
Built up to eterne significance. Mrs. Browning.
ETERNAL
E*ter"nal, a. Etym: [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See
Etern.]
1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing.
The eternal God is thy refuge. Deut. xxxiii. 27.
To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been
eternal. Locke.
2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless;
immortal.
That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus,
with eternal glory. 2 Tim. ii. 10.
3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant.
And fires eternal in thy temple shine. Dryden.
4. Existing at all times without change; immutable.
Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed. Dryden.
What are the eternal objects of poetry among all nations, and at all
times M. Arnold.
5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive. "Some
eternal villain." The Eternal City, an appellation of Rome.
Syn.
-- Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual;
interminable. See Everlasting.
ETERNAL
E*ter"nal, n.
1. One of the appellations of God.
Law whereby the Eternal himself doth work. Hooker.
2. That which is endless and immortal. Young.
ETERNALIST
E*ter"nal*ist, n.
Defn: One who holds the existence of matter to be from eternity. T.
Burnet.
ETERNALIZE
E*ter"nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make eternal. Shelton.
ETERNALLY
E*ter"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eternal manner.
That which is morally good or evil at any time or in any case, must
be also eternally and unchangeably so. South.
Where western gales eternally reside. Addison.
ETERNE
E*terne", a.
Defn: See Etern.
ETERNIFY
E*ter"ni*fy, v. t.
Defn: To make eternal. [Obs.]
Fame . . . eternifies the name. Mir. for Mag.
ETERNITY
E*ter"ni*ty, n.; pl. Eternities. Etym: [F. éternité, L. aeternitas,
fr. aeternus. See Etern.]
1. Infinite duration, without beginning in the past or end in the
future; also, duration without end in the future; endless time.
The high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity. Is. lvii. 15.
2. Condition which begins at death; immortality.
Thou know'st 't is common; all that lives must die, Passing through
nature to eternity. Shak.
ETERNIZATION
E*ter`ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of eternizing; the act of rendering immortal or famous.
ETERNIZE
E*ter"nize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eternized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eterniziing.] Etym: [Cf. F. éterniser.]
1. To make eternal or endless.
This other [gift] served but to eternize woe. Milton.
2. To make forever famous; to immortalize; as, to eternize one's
self, a name, exploits.
St. Alban's battle won by famous York, Shall be eternized in all age
to come. Shak.
ETESIAN
E*te"sian, a. Etym: [L. etesiae, pl., periodic winds, Gr. étésien.]
Defn: Periodical; annual; -- applied to winds which annually blow
from the north over the Mediterranean, esp. the eastern part, for an
irregular period during July and August.
ETHAL
Eth"al, n. Etym: [Ether + alcohol: cf. F. éthal.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white waxy solid, C16H33.OH; -- called also cetylic alcohol.
See Cetylic alcohol, under Cetylic.
ETHANE
Eth"ane, n. Etym: [From Ether.] (Chem.)
Defn: A gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H6, forming a constituent of ordinary
illuminating gas. It is the second member of the paraffin series, and
its most important derivatives are common alcohol, aldehyde, ether,
and acetic acid. Called also dimethyl.
ETHE
Ethe, a. Etym: [See Eath.]
Defn: Easy. [Obs.] Spenser.
ETHEL
Eth"el, a. Etym: [AS. e, æ. See Atheling.]
Defn: Noble. [Obs.]
ETHENE
Eth"ene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Ethylene; olefiant gas.
ETHENIC
E*then"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from. or resembling, ethene or ethylene;
as, ethenic ether.
ETHENYL
Eth"e*nyl, n. Etym: [Ethene + -yl.] (Chem.)
(a) A trivalent hydrocarbon radical, CH3.C.
(b) A univalent hydrocarbon radical of the ethylene series, CH2:CH; -
- called also vinyl. See Vinyl.
ETHEOSTOMOID
E`the*os"to*moid, a. Etym: [NL. etheostoma name of a genus + -oid.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or like, the genus Etheostoma.
-- n.
Defn: Any fish of the genus Etheostoma and related genera, allied to
the perches; -- also called darter. The etheostomoids are small and
often bright-colored fishes inhabiting the fresh waters of North
America. About seventy species are known. See Darter.
ETHER
E"ther, n. Etym: [L. aether, Gr. idh, indh, and prob. to E. idle: cf.
F. éther.] [Written also æther.]
1. (Physics)
Defn: A medium of great elasticity and extreme tenuity, supposed to
pervade all space, the interior of solid bodies not excepted, and to
be the medium of transmission of light and heat; hence often called
luminiferous ether.
2. Supposed matter above the air; the air itself.
3. (Chem.)
(a) A light, volatile, mobile, inflammable liquid, (C2H5)2O, of a
characteristic aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of alcohol
with sulphuric acid, and hence called also sulphuric ether. It is
powerful solvent of fats, resins, and pyroxylin, but finds its chief
use as an anæsthetic. Called also ethyl oxide.ethyl ether.
(b) Any similar oxide of hydrocarbon radicals; as, amyl ether;
valeric ether. Complex ether, Mixed ether (Chem.), an oxide of two
different radicals in the same molecule; as, ethyl methyl ether,
C2H5.O.CH3.
-- Compound ether (Chem.), an ethereal salt or a salt of some
hydrocarbon as the base; an ester.
-- Ether engine (Mach.), a condensing engine like a steam engine,
but operated by the vapor of ether instead of by steam.
ETHEREAL
E*the"re*al, a.
1. Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher
regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; as,
ethereal space; ethereal regions.
Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger. Milton.
2. Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous;
spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner,
thought, etc.
Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal, human,
angel, man. Pope.
3. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or resembling, ether; as, ethereal
salts. Ethereal oil. (Chem.) See Essential oil, under Essential.
-- Ethereal oil of wine (Chem.), a heavy, yellow, oily liquid
consisting essentially of etherin, etherol, and ethyl sulphate. It is
the oily residuum left after etherification. Called also heavy oil of
wine (distinguished from oil of wine, or oenanthic ether).
-- Ethereal salt (Chem.), a salt of some organic radical as a base;
an ester.
ETHEREALISM
E*the"re*al*ism, n.
Defn: Ethereality.
ETHEREALITY
E*the`re*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being ethereal; etherealness.
Something of that ethereality of thought and manner which belonged to
Wordsworth's earlier lyrics. J. C. Shairp.
ETHEREALIZATION
E*the`re*al*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: An ethereal or spiritlike state. J. H. Stirling.
ETHEREALIZE
E*the"re*al*ize, v. t.
1. To convert into ether, or into subtile fluid; to saturate with
ether.
2. To render ethereal or spiritlike.
Etherealized, moreover, by spiritual communications with the other
world. Hawthorne.
ETHEREALLY
E*the"re*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ethereal manner.
ETHEREALNESS
E*the"re*al*ness, n.
Defn: Ethereality.
ETHEREOUS
E*the"re*ous, a. Etym: [L.aethereus, Gr. Ether.]
1. Formed of ether; ethereal. [Obs.]
This ethereous mold whereon we stand. Milton.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, either. Ethereous oil. See
Ethereal oil, under Ethereal.
ETHERIFICATION
E*ther`i*fi*ca"tion, n. (Chem.)
Defn: The act or process of making ether; specifically, the process
by which a large quantity of alcohol is transformed into ether by the
agency of a small amount of sulphuric, or ethyl sulphuric, acid.
ETHERIFORM
E*ther"i*form, a. Etym: [Ether + form.]
Defn: Having the form of ether.
ETHERIN
E"ther*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline hydrocarbon, regarded as a polymeric
variety of ethylene, obtained in heavy oil of wine, the residue left
after making ether; -- formerly called also concrete oil of wine.
ETHERIZATION
E`ther*i*za"tion n. (Med.)
(a) The administration of ether to produce insensibility.
(b) The state of the system under the influence of ether.
ETHERIZE
E"ther*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Etherized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Etherizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. éthériser.]
1. To convert into ether.
2. To render insensible by means of ether, as by inhalation; as, to
etherize a patient.
ETHEROL
E"ther*ol, n. Etym: [Ether + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: An oily hydrocarbon regarded as a polymeric variety of
ethylene, produced with etherin.
ETHIC; ETHICAL
Eth"ic, Eth"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. ethicus, Gr. sidus, G. sitte, Skr.
svadh, prob. orig., one's own doing; sva self + dh to set: cf. F.
éthique. See So, Do.]
Defn: Of, or belonging to, morals; treating of the moral feelings or
duties; containing percepts of morality; moral; as, ethic discourses
or epistles; an ethical system; ethical philosophy.
The ethical meaning of the miracles. Trench.
Ethical dative (Gram.), a use of the dative of a pronoun to signify
that the person or thing spoken of is regarded with interest by some
one; as, Quid mihi Celsus agit How does my friend Celsus do
ETHICALLY
Eth"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: According to, in harmony with, moral principles or character.
ETHICIST
Eth"i*cist, n.
Defn: One who is versed in ethics, or has written on ethics.
ETHICS
Eth"ics, n. Etym: [Cf. F. éthique. See Ethic.]
Defn: The science of human duty; the body of rules of duty drawn from
this science; a particular system of principles and rules concerting
duty, whether true or false; rules of practice in respect to a single
class of human actions; as, political or social ethics; medical
ethics.
The completeness and consistency of its morality is the peculiar
praise of the ethics which the Bible has taught. I. Taylor.
ETHIDE
Eth"ide, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Any compound of ethyl of a binary type; as, potassium ethide.
ETHIDENE
Eth"i*dene, n. Etym: [From Ether.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ethylidene. [Obs.]
ETHINE
Eth"ine, n. (Chem.)
Defn: Acetylene.
ETHIONIC
Eth`i*on"ic, a. Etym: [Ethyl + thionic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, an acid so called.
Ethionic acid (Chem.), a liquid derivative of ethylsulphuric and
sulphuric (thionic) acids, obtained by the action of sulphur trioxide
on absolute alcohol.
ETHIOP; ETHIOPIAN
E"thi*op, E`thi*o"pi*an, n. Etym: [L. Aethiops, Gr.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Ethiopia; also, in a general sense, a
negro or black man.
ETHIOPIAN; ETHIOPIC
E`thi*o"pi*an, E`thi*op"ic, a.
Defn: Of or relating to Ethiopia or the Ethiopians.
ETHIOPIC
E`thi*op"ic, n.
Defn: The language of ancient Ethiopia; the language of the ancient
Abyssinian empire (in Ethiopia), now used only in the Abyssinian
church. It is of Semitic origin, and is also called Geez.
ETHIOPS
E"thi*ops n. Etym: [NL. See Ethiop.] (Old Chem.)
Defn: A black substance; -- formerly applied to various preparations
of a black or very dark color. [Written also Æthiops.] [Obs.] Ethiops
martial (Old Chem.), black oxide of iron.
-- Ethiops mineral (Old Chem.), black sulphide of mercury, obtained
by triturating mercury with sulphur.
-- Ethiops per se (Old Chem.), mercury in finely divided state,
having the appearance of a dark powder, obtained by shaking it up or
by exposure to the air.
ETHMOID; ETHMOIDAL
Eth"moid, Eth*moid"al, a. Etym: [Gr. ethmoïde, ethmoïdal.] (Anat.)
(a) Like a sieve; cribriform.
(b) Pertaining to, or in the region of, the ethmoid bone. Ethmoid
bone (Anat.), a bone of complicated structure through which the
olfactory nerves pass out of the cranium and over which they are
largely distributed.
ETHMOID
Eth"moid n. (Anat.)
Defn: The ethmoid bone.
ETHMOTRUBINAL
Eth`mo*tru"bi*nal, a. Etym: [Ethmoid + turbinal.]
Defn: See Turbinal.
-- n.
Defn: An ethmoturbinal bone.
ETHMOVOMERINE
Eth`mo*vo"mer*ine, n. Etym: [Ethmoid + vomerine.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the region of the vomer and the base of the
ethmoid in the skull. Ethmovomerine plate (Anat.), a cartilaginous
plate beneath the front of the fetal brain which the ethmoid region
of the skull is developed.
ETHNARCH
Eth"narch, n. Etym: [Gr. -arch.] (Gr. Antiq.)
Defn: The governor of a province or people. Lew Wallace.
ETHNARCHY
Eth"narch*y n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The dominion of an ethnarch; principality and rule. Wright.
ETHNIC; ETHNICAL
Eth"nic, Eth"nic*al, a. Etym: [L. ethnicus, Gr. ethnique.]
1. Belonging to races or nations; based on distinctions of race;
ethnological.
2. Pertaining to the gentiles, or nations not converted to
Christianity; heathen; pagan; -- opposed to Jewish and Christian.
ETHNIC
Eth"nic n.
Defn: A heathen; a pagan. [Obs.]
No better reported than impure ethnic and lay dogs. Milton.
ETHNICALLY
Eth"nic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ethnical manner.
ETHNICISM
Eth"ni*cism n.
Defn: Heathenism; paganism; idolatry. [Obs.] "Taint of ethnicism." B.
Jonson.
ETHNOGRAPHER
Eth*nog"ra*pher n.
Defn: One who investigates ethnography.
ETHNOGRAPHIC; ETHNOGRAPHICAL
Eth`no*graph"ic, Eth`no*graph"ic*al,. a. Etym: [Cf. F.
ethnographique.]
Defn: pertaining to ethnography.
ETHNOGRAPHICALLY
Eth`no*graph"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ethnographical manner.
ETHNOGRAPHY
Eth*nog"ra*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. -graphy: cf. F. ethnographie.]
Defn: That branch of knowledge which has for its subject the
characteristics of the human family, developing the details with
which ethnology as a comparative science deals; descriptive
ethnology. See Ethnology.
ETHNOLOGIC; ETHNOLOGICAL
Eth`no*log"ic, Eth`no*log"ic*al, a
Defn: Of or pertaining to ethnology.
ETHNOLOGICALLY
Eth`no*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an ethnological manner; by ethnological classification; as,
one belonging ethnologically to an African race.
ETHNOLOGIST
Eth*nol"o*gist, n.
Defn: One versed in ethnology; a student of ethnology.
ETHNOLOGY
Eth*nol"o*gy n. Etym: [Gr. -logy.]
Defn: The science which treats of the division of mankind into races,
their origin, distribution, and relations, and the peculiarities
which characterize them.
ETHOLOGIC; ETHOLOGICAL
Eth`o*log"ic, Eth`o*log"ic*al, a Etym: [See Ethology.]
Defn: treating of, or pertaining to, ethnic or morality, or the
science of character. J. S. Mill.
ETHOLOGIST
E*thol"o*gist n.
Defn: One who studies or writes upon ethology.
ETHOLOGY
E*thol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
1. A treatise on morality; ethics.
2. The science of the formation of character, national and collective
as well as individual. J. S. Mill.
ETHOPOETIC
Eth"o*po*et"ic. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Expressing character. [Obs.] Urquhart.
ETHOS
E"thos, n. [L., fr. Gr. character. See Ethic.]
1.
Defn: The character, sentiment, or disposition of a community or
people, considered as a natural endowment; the spirit which actuates
manners and customs; also, the characteristic tone or genius of an
institution or social organization.
2. (Æsthetics) The traits in a work of art which express the ideal
or typic character -- character as influenced by the ethos (sense 1)
of a people -- rather than realistic or emotional situations or
individual character in a narrow sense; -- opposed to pathos.
ETHULE
Eth"ule Etym: [Ether + Gr. Ethyl, and see -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ethyl. [Obs.]
ETHYL
Eth"yl, n. Etym: [Ether + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A monatomic, hydrocarbon radical, C2H5 of the paraffin series,
forming the essential radical of ethane, and of common alcohol and
ether. Ethyl aldehyde. (Chem.) See Aldehyde.
ETHYLAMINE
Eth`yl*am"ine, n. Etym: [Ethyl + amine.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, mobile, inflammable liquid, C2H5.NH2, very
volatile and with an ammoniacal odor. It is a strong base, and is a
derivative of ammonia. Called also ethyl carbamine, and amido ethane.
ETHYLATE
Eth"yl*ate. Etym: [From Ethyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A compound derived from ethyl alcohol by the replacement of the
hydroxyl hydrogen, after the manner of a hydrate; an ethyl
alcoholate; as, potassium ethylate, C2H5.O.K.
ETHYLENE
Eth"yl*ene, n. [From Ethyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, gaseous hydrocarbon, C2H4, forming an important
ingredient of illuminating gas, and also obtained by the action of
concentrated sulphuric acid in alcohol. It is an unsaturated compound
and combines directly with chlorine and bromine to form oily liquids
(Dutch liquid), -- hence called olefiant gas. Called also ethene,
elayl, and formerly, bicarbureted hydrogen. Ethylene series (Chem.),
the series if unsaturated hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the type,
and represented by the general formula CnH2n.
ETHYLIC
E*thyl"ic. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing, ethyl; as, ethylic
alcohol.
ETHYLIDENE
E*thyl"i*dene. (Chem.)
Defn: An unsymmetrical, divalent, hydrocarbon radical, C2H4 metameric
with ethylene but written thus, CH3.CH to distinguish it from the
symmetrical ethylene, CH2.CH2. Its compounds are derived from
aldehyde. Formerly called also ethidene.
ETHYLIN
Eth"yl*in. (Chem.)
Defn: Any one of the several complex ethers of ethyl and glycerin.
ETHYLSULPHURIC
Eth`yl*sul*phu"ric a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, ethyl and sulphuric acid.
Ethylsulphuric acid (Chem.), an acid sulphate of ethyl, H.C2H5.SO4,
produced as a thick liquid by the action of sulphiric acid on
alcohol. It appears to be the active catalytic agent in the process
of etherification.
ETIOLATE
E"ti*o*late. v. i. [imp. & p. p. Etiolated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Etiolating.] Etym: [F. étioler to blanch.]
1. To become white or whiter; to be whitened or blanched by excluding
the light of the sun, as, plants.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To become pale through disease or absence of light.
ETIOLATE
E"ti*o*late, v. t.
1. To blanch; to bleach; to whiten by depriving of the sun's rays.
2. (Med.)
Defn: To cause to grow pale by disease or absence of light.
ETIOLATE; ETIOLATED
E"ti*o*late, E"ti*o*la`ted, a.
Defn: Having a blanched or faded appearance, as birds inhabiting
desert regions.
ETIOLATION
E`ti*o*la"tion, n.
1. The operation of blanching plants, by excluding the light of the
sun; the condition of a blanched plant.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Paleness produced by absence of light, or by disease.
Dunglison.
ETIOLIN
E"ti*o*lin, n. Etym: [See Etiolate.] (Bot.)
Defn: A yellowish coloring matter found in plants grown in darkness,
which is supposed to be an antecedent condition of chlorophyll.
Encyc. Brit.
ETIOLOGICAL
E`ti*o*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or inquiring into, causes; ætiological.
ETIOLOGY
E`ti*ol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. étiologie.]
Defn: The science of causes. Same as tiology.
ETIQUETTE
Et"i*quette`, n. Etym: [F. prop., a little piece of paper, or a mark
or title, affixed to a bag or bundle, expressing its contents, a
label, ticket, OF.estiquete, of German origin; cf. LG. stikke peg,
pin, tack, stikken to stick, G. stecken. See Stick, and cf. Ticket.]
Defn: The forms required by good breeding, or prescribed by
authority, to be observed in social or official life; observance of
the proprieties of rank and occasion; conventional decorum;
ceremonial code of polite society.
The pompous etiquette to the court of Louis the Fourteenth. Prescott.
ETNA
Et"na, n.
Defn: A kind of small, portable, cooking apparatus for which heat is
furnished by a spirit lamp.
There should certainly be an etna for getting a hot cup of coffee in
a hurry. V. Baker.
ETNEAN
Et*ne"an, a. Etym: [L. Aetnaeus, Gr. , fr.Aetna, Aetne).]
Defn: Pertaining to Etna, a volcanic mountain in Sicily.
ETOILE
E`toile", n. Etym: [F.] (Her.)
Defn: See Estoile.
ETRURIAN
E*tru"ri*an, a.
Defn: Of or relating to ancient Etruria, in Italy. "Etrurian Shades."
Milton, -- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of ancient Etruria.
ETRUSCAN
E*trus"can, n. Etym: [L. Etruscus.]
Defn: Of or relating to Etruria.
-- n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Etruria.
ETTER PIKE
Et"ter pike`, n. Etym: [Cf. Atter.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The stingfish, or lesser weever (Tranchinus vipera).
ETTIN
Et"tin, n. Etym: [SA. eten, eoten, orig., gluttonous, fr. etan to
eat.]
Defn: A giant. [Obs.] Beau & Fl.
ETTLE
Et"tle, v. t. Etym: [Perh. the same word as addle to earn; bur cf.
OE. atlien, etlien, to intend, prepare, Icel. ætla to think, suppose,
mean.]
Defn: To earn. [Obs.] See Addle, to earn. Boucher.
ETUDE
E`tude", n. Etym: [F. See Study.]
1. A composition in the fine arts which is intended, or may serve,
for a study.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: A study; an exercise; a piece for practice of some special
point of technical execution.
ETUI
E`tui", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A case for one several small articles; esp., a box in which
scissors, tweezers, and other articles of toilet or of daily use are
carried.
ETWEE
Et*wee", n.
Defn: See . Shenstone.
ETYM
Et"ym, n.
Defn: See Etymon. H. F. Talbot.
ETYMIC
E*tym"ic, a.
Defn: Relating to the etymon; as, an etymic word.
ETYMOLOGER
Et`y*mol"o*ger, n.
Defn: An etymologist.
ETYMOLOGICAL
Et`y*mo*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. etymologicus, Gr. étimilogique. See
Etymology.]
Defn: Pertaining to etymology, or the derivation of words.
-- Et`y*mo*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
ETYMOLOGICON
Et`y*mo*log"i*con, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.
Defn: an etymological dictionary or manual.
ETYMOLOGIST
Et`y*mol"o*gist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. étymologiste.]
Defn: One who investigates the derivation of words.
ETYMOLOGIZE
Et`y*mol"o*gize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. étymologiser.]
Defn: To give the etymology of; to trace to the root or primitive, as
a word. Camden
ETYMOLOGIZE
Et`y*mol"o*gize, v. t.
Defn: To search into the origin of words; to deduce words from their
simple roots.
How perilous it is to etymologize at random. Trench.
ETYMOLOGY
Et`y*mol"o*gy, n.; pl. Etymologies. Etym: [L.etymologia, Gr.
étymologie. See Etymon, and -logy.]
1. That branch of philological science which treats of the history of
words, tracing out their origin, primitive significance, and changes
of from and meaning.
2. That pert of grammar which relates to the changes in the form of
the words in a language; inflection.
ETYMON
Et"y*mon, n.; pl. E. Etymons, Gr. Etyma. Etym: [L., fr. Gr. sotya, E.
sooth. See Sooth.]
Defn: 1. An original form; primitive word; root.
2. Original or fundamental signification. [R.]
Given as the etymon or genuine sense of the word. Coleridge.
ETYPICAL
E*typ"ic*al, a. Etym: [Pref. e- + typical.] (Biol.)
Defn: Diverging from, or lacking conformity to, a type.
EU
Eu. Etym: [Gr. su, from the same root as E. is; or with Skr. vasu
good, prob. fr. the same root as E. was.]
Defn: A prefix used frequently in composition, signifying well, good,
advantageous; -- the opposite of dys-.
EUCAIRITE
Eu*cai"rite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A metallic mineral, a selenide of copper and silver; -- so
called by Berzelius on account of its being found soon after the
discovery of the metal selenium.
EUCALYN
Eu"ca*lyn, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An unfermentable sugar, obtained as an uncrystallizable sirup
by the decomposition of melitose; also obtained from a Tasmanian
eucalyptus, -- whence its name.
EUCALYPTOL
Eu`ca*lyp*tol, n. Etym: [Eucalyptus + L. oleum oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A volatile, terpenelike oil extracted from the eucalyptus, and
consisting largely of cymene.
EUCALYPTUS
Eu`ca*lyp"tus, n. Etym: [NL., from GR. (Bot.)
Defn: A myrtaceous genus of trees, mostly Australian. Many of them
grow to an immense height, one or two species exceeding the height
even of the California Sequoia.
Note: They have rigid, entire leaves with one edge turned toward the
zenith. Most of them secrete resinous gums, whence they called gum
trees, and their timber is of great value. Eucalyptus Globulus is the
blue gum; E. aigantea, the stringy bark: E. amygdalina, the
peppermint tree. E. Gunnii, the Tasmanian cider tree, yields a
refreshing drink from wounds made in the bark in the spring. Center
species yield oils, tars, acids, dyes and tans. It is said that
miasmatic valleys in Algeria and Portugal, and a part of the
unhealthy Roman Campagna, have been made more salubrious by planting
groves of these trees.
EUCHARIS
Eu"cha*ris, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. eucharis agreeable, Gr. Eucharist.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of South American amaryllidaceous plants with large and
beautiful white blossoms.
EUCHARIST
Eu"cha*rist, n. Etym: [L. euchaistia, Gr. yearn: cf. F. euchaistie.]
1. The act of giving thanks; thanksgiving. [Obs.]
Led through the vale of tears to the region of eucharist and
hallelujahs. South.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: The sacrament of the Lord's Supper; the solemn act of ceremony
of commemorating the death of Christ, in the use of bread and wine,
as the appointed emblems; the communion.
-- See Sacrament.
EUCHARISTIC; EUCHARISTICAL
Eu`cha*ris"tic, Eu`cha*ris"tic*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. eucharistie.]
1. Giving thanks; expressing thankfulness; rejoicing. [Obs.]
The eucharistical part of our daily devotions. Ray.
2. Pertaining to the Lord's Supper. "The eucharistic sacrament." Sir.
G. C. Lewis.
EUCHITE
Eu"chite, n. Etym: [From Gr.
Defn: One who resolves religion into prayer. [Obs.] Gauden.
EUCHLORIC
Eu*chlo"ric, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Relating to, or consisting of, euchlorine; as, euchloric .
Davy.
EUCHLORINE
Eu*chlo"rine, n. Etym: [Cf. F. euchlorine. See Euchloric.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow or greenish yellow gas, first prepared by Davy,
evolved from potassium chlorate and hydrochloric acid. It is supposed
to consist of chlorine tetroxide with some free chlorine.
EUCHOLOGION; EUCHOLOGY
Eu`cho*lo"gi*on, Eu*chol"o*gy, n. Etym: [NL. euchologion, Gr. (Eccl.)
Defn: A formulary of prayers; the book of offices in the Greek
Church, containing the liturgy, sacraments, and forms of prayers.
EUCHOLOGUE
Eu"cho*logue, n. Etym: [F. euchologe.]
Defn: Euchology. [R.]
EUCHRE
Eu"chre, n. Etym: [Perh. from F. écarté.]
Defn: A game at cards, that may be played by two, three, or four
persons, the highest card (except when an extra card called the Joker
is used) being the knave of the same suit as the trump, and called
right bower, the lowest card used being the seven, or frequently, in
two-handed euchre, the nine spot. See Bower.
EUCHRE
Eu"chre, v. t.
1. To defeat, in a game of euchre, the side that named the trump.
2. To defeat or foil thoroughly in any scheme. [Slang.]
EUCHROIC
Eu*chro"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Having a fine color. Euchroic acid (Chem.), an organic, imide
acid, obtained as a colorless crystalline substance, C12H4N2O8 by
heating an ammonium salt of mellitic acid. By reduction it is changed
to a dark blue substance (euchrone), -- hence its name.
EUCHROITE
Eu"chro*ite, n. Etym: [See Euchroic.] (Min.)
Defn: A mineral occurring in transparent emerald green crystals. It
is hydrous arseniate of copper.
EUCHRONE
Eu"chrone n. (Chem.)
Defn: A substance obtained from euchroic acid. See Eychroic.
EUCHYMY
Eu"chy*my, n. Etym: [Gr. Chyme.] (Med.)
Defn: A good state of he blood and other fluids of the body.
EUCLASE
Eu"clase n. Etym: [Gr. euclase, G. euklas. See named from its
brittleness.] (Min.)
Defn: A brittle gem occurring in light green, transparent crystals,
affording a brilliant clinodiagonal cleavage. It is a silicate of
alumina and glucina.
EUCLID
Eu"clid, n.
Defn: A Greek geometer of the 3d century
EUCLIDIAN
Eu*clid"i*an, n.
Defn: Related to Euclid, or to the geometry of Euclid. Euclidian
space (Geom.), the kind of space to which the axioms and definitions
of Euclid, relative to straight lines and parallel lines, apply; --
called also flat space, and homaloidal space.
EUCOPEPODA
Eu`co*pep"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Eu- and Copepoda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group which includes the typical copepods and the lerneans.
EUCRASY
Eu"cra*sy. Etym: [Gr. eucrasie.] (Med.)
Defn: Such a due mixture of qualities in bodies as constitutes health
or soundness. Quincy.
EUCTICAL
Euc"tic*al Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Expecting a wish; supplicatory. [R.]
Sacrifices . . . distinguished into expiatory, euctical, and
eucharistical. Bp. Law.
EUDEMON; EUDAEMON
Eu*de"mon, Eu*dæ"mon, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A good angel. Southey.
EUDEMONICS; EUDAEMONICS
Eu`de*mon"ics, Eu`dæ*mon"ics, n. Etym: [Gr. Eudemonism.]
Defn: That part of moral philosophy which treats of happiness; the
science of happiness; -- contrasted with aretaics. J. Grote.
EUDEMONISM; EUDAEMONISM
Eu*de"mon*ism, Eu*dæ"mon*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. Demon.]
Defn: That system of ethics which defines and enforces moral
obligation by its relation to happiness or personal well-being.
EUDEMONIST; EUDAEMONIST
Eu*de"mon*ist, Eu*dæ"mon*ist, n.
Defn: One who believes in eudemonism.
I am too much of a eudæmonist; I hanker too much after a state of
happiness both for myself and others. De Quincey.
EUDEMONISTIC; EUDAEMONISTIC
Eu*de`mon*is"tic , Eu*dæ`mon*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to eudemonism.
EUDEMONISTICAL; EUDAEMONISTICAL
Eu*de`mon*is"tic*al, Eu*dæ`mon*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Eudemonistic.
EUDIALYTE
Eu*di"a*lyte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a brownish red color and vitreous luster,
consisting chiefly of the silicates of iron, zirconia, and lime.
EUDIOMETER
Eu`di*om"e*ter, n. Etym: [Gr. -meter: cf. F. ediomètre.] (Chem.)
Defn: An instrument for the volumetric measurement of gases; -- so
named because frequently used to determine the purity of the air.
Note: It usually consists of a finely graduated and calibrated glass
tube, open at one end, the bottom; and having near the top a pair of
platinum wires fused in, to allow the passage of an electric spark,
as the process involves the explosion and combustion of one of the
ingredients to be determined. The operation is conducted in a through
of mercury, or sometimes over water. Cf. Burette. Use's ediometer has
the tube bent in the form of the letter. U.
EUDIOMETRIC; EUDIOMETRICAL
Eu`di*o*met"ric, Eu`di*o*met"ric*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to a eudiometer; as, eudiometrical experiments
or results.
EUDIOMETRY
Eu`di*om"e*try, n. Etym: [Cf. F. eudiométrie.] (Chem.)
Defn: The art or process of determining he constituents of a gaseous
mixture by means of the eudiometer, or for ascertaining the purity of
the air or the amount of oxygen in it.
EUDIPLEURA
Eu`di*pleu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: The fundamental forms of organic life, that are composed of two
equal and symmetrical halves. Syd. Soc. Lex.
EUDOXIAN
Eu*dox"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Eudoxius, patriarch of Antioch and Constantinople
in the 4th century, and a celebrated defender of the doctrines of
Arius.
EUGANOIDEI
Eu`ga*noi"de*i, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. GR. ganoidei. See Ganoid.]
(Zoöl)
Defn: A group which includes the bony ganoids, as the gar pikes.
EUGE
Eu"ge, n. Etym: [L., well done! bravo! Gr.
Defn: Applause. [Obs.] Hammond.
EUGENESIS
Eu*gen"e*sis, n. [Pref. eu- + genesis.] (Biol.)
Defn: The quality or condition of having strong reproductive powers;
generation with full fertility between different species or races,
specif. between hybrids of the first generation.
EUGENIA
Eu*ge"ni*a, n. Etym: [NL. Named in honor of Prince Eugene of Savoy.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A genus of mytraceous plants, mostly of tropical countries, and
including several aromatic trees and shrubs, among which are the
trees which produce allspice and cloves of commerce.
EUGENIC
Eu*gen"ic, a. Etym: [See Eugenia.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, cloves; as, eugenic acid.
EUGENIC
Eu*gen"ic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Well-born; of high birth. Atlantic Monthly.
EUGENICS
Eu*gen"ics, n.
Defn: The science of improving stock, whether human or animal. F.
Galton.
EUGENIN
Eu"ge*nin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline substance extracted from oil of
cloves; -- called also clove camphor.
EUGENOL
Eu"ge*nol, n. Etym: [Eugenia + -ol.] (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, aromatic, liquid hydrocarbon, C10H12O2 resembling
the phenols, and hence also called eugenic acid. It is found in the
oils of pimento and cloves.
EUGENY
Eu"ge*ny. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Nobleness of birth. [Obs.]
EUGETIC; EUGETINIC
Eu*get"ic, Eu`ge*tin"ic, a. (Chem)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, eugenol; as, eugetic acid.
EUGH
Eugh, n. Etym: [See Yew.]
Defn: The yew. [Obs.] Dryden.
EUGUBIAN; EUGUBINE
Eu*gu"bi*an, Eu"gu*bine, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the ancient town of Eugubium (now Gubbio);
as, the Eugubine tablets, or tables, or inscriptions.
EUHARMONIC
Eu`har*mon"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. -eu + harmonic.] (Mus.)
Defn: Producing mathematically perfect harmony or concord; sweetly or
perfectly harmonious.
EUHEMERISM
Eu*hem"er*ism n. Etym: [L. Euhemerus, Gr.
Defn: The theory, held by Euhemerus, that the gods of mythology were
but deified mortals, and their deeds only the amplification in
imagination of human acts.
EUHEMERIST
Eu*hem"er*ist, n.
Defn: One who advocates euhemerism.
EUHEMERISTIC
Eu*hem`er*is"tic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to euhemerism.
EUHEMERIZE
Eu*hem"er*ize v. t.
Defn: To interpret (mythology) on the theory of euhemerism.
EUISOPODA
Eu`i*sop"o*da. pl. Etym: [NL. See Eu- and Isopoda.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group which includes the typical Isopoda.
EULACHON
Eu"la*chon, n. Etym: [Native Indian name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The candlefish. [Written also oulachan, oolacan, and ulikon.]
See Candlefish.
EULERIAN
Eu*le"ri*an a.
Defn: Pertaining Euler, a German mathematician of the 18th century.
Eulerian integrals, certain definite integrals whose properties were
first investigated by Euler.
EULOGIC; EULOGICAL
Eu*log"ic, Eu*log"ic*al, a. Etym: [See Eulogy.]
Defn: Bestowing praise of eulogy; commendatory; eulogistic. [R.] --
Eu*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [R.]
EULOGIST
Eu"lo*gist n.
Defn: One who eulogizes or praises; panegyrist; encomiast. Buckle.
EULOGISTIC; EULOGISTICAL
Eu`lo*gis"tic, Eu`lo*gis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to eulogy; characterized by eulogy; bestowing
praise; panegyrical; commendatory; laudatory; as, eulogistic speech
or discourse.
-- Eu"lo*gis"tic*al*ly, adv.
EULOGIUM
Eu*lo"gi*um n.; pl. Eulogiums. Etym: [LL., fr. Gr.
Defn: A formal eulogy. Smollett.
EULOGIZE
Eu"lo*gize v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eulogized. (p. pr. & vb. n.
Eulogizing.]
Defn: To speak or write in commendation of (another); to extol in
speech or writing; to praise.
EULOGY
Eu"lo*gy, n.; pl. Eulogies. Etym: [Gr. Eulogium, and see Legend.]
Defn: A speech or writing in commendation of the character or
services of a person; as, a fitting eulogy to worth.
Eulogies turn into elegies. Spenser.
Syn.
-- Encomium; praise; panegyric; applause.
-- Eulogy, Eulogium, Encomium, Panegyric. The idea of praise is
common to all these words. The word encomium is used of both persons
and things which are the result of human action, and denotes warm
praise. Eulogium and eulogy apply only to persons and are more
studied and of greater length. A panegyric was originally a set
speech in a full assembly of the people, and hence denotes a more
formal eulogy, couched in terms of warm and continuous praise,
especially as to personal character. We may bestow encomiums on any
work of art, on production of genius, without reference to the
performer; we bestow eulogies, or pronounce a eulogium, upon some
individual distinguished for his merit public services; we pronounce
a panegyric before an assembly gathered for the occasion.
EULYTITE
Eu"ly*tite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: a mineral, consisting chiefly of the silicate of bismuth, found
at Freiberg; -- called also culytine.
EUMENIDES
Eu*men"i*des, n. pl. Etym: [L., from Gr. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: A euphemistic name for the Furies of Erinyes.
EUMOLPUS
Eu*mol"pus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small beetles, one species of which (E. viti) is
very injurious to the vines in the wine countries of Europe.
EUNOMIAN
Eu*no"mi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Eunomius, bishop of Cyzicus (4th century A. D.),
who held that Christ was not God but a created being, having a nature
different from that of the Father.
-- a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Eunomius or his doctrine.
EUNOMY
Eu"no*my, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Equal law, or a well-adjusted constitution of government. [R.]
Mitford.
EUNUCH
Eu"nuch, n. Etym: [L. eunuchus, Gr.
Defn: A male of the human species castrated; commonly, one of a class
of such persons, in Oriental countries, having charge of the women's
apartments. Some of them, in former times, gained high official rank.
EUNUCH; EUNUCHATE
Eu"nuch, Eu"nuch*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. eunuchare.]
Defn: To make a eunuch of; to castrate. as a man. Creech. Sir. T.
Browne.
EUNUCHISM
Eu"nuch*ism, n. Etym: [L. eunuchismus an unmanning, Gr. eunuchisme
eunuchism.]
Defn: The state of being eunuch. Bp. Hall.
EUONYMIN
Eu*on"y*min, n. (Med.)
Defn: A principle or mixture of principles derived from Euonymus
atropurpureus, or spindle tree.
EUONYMUS
Eu*on"y*mus, n. Etym: [NL. (cf. L. euonymos). fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of small European and American trees; the spindle tree.
The bark is used as a cathartic.
EUORNITHES
Eu`or*ni"thes, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr., Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The division of Aves which includes all the typical birds, or
all living birds except the penguins and birds of ostrichlike form.
EUOSMITTE
Eu*os"mitte, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A fossil resin, so called from its strong, peculiar, pleasant
odor.
EUPATHY
Eu"pa*thy, n. Etym: [Gr. Eu-, and Pathetic.]
Defn: Right feeling. [R.] Harris.
EUPATORIN; EUPATORINE
Eu*pat"o*rin Eu*pat"o*rine, n. (Med.)
Defn: A principle or mixture of principles extracted from various
species of Eupatorium.
EUPATORIUM
Eu`pa*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Eupator, king of Pontus, said to
have used it as a medicine.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial, composite herbs including hemp agrimony,
boneset, throughwort, etc.
EUPATRID
Eu"pa*trid, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: One well born, or of noble birth.
EUPEPSIA; EUPEPSY
Eu*pep"si*a, Eu*pep"sy, n. Etym: [NL. eupepsia, Fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Soundness of the nutritive or digestive organs; good concoction
or digestion; -- opposed to dyspepsia.
EUPEPTIC
Eu*pep"tic, a. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: Of or pertaining to good digestion; easy of digestion; having a
good digestion; as, eupeptic food; an eupeptic man.
Wrapt in lazy eupeptic fat. Carlyle.
EUPHEMISM
Eu"phe*mism, n. Etym: [Gr. euphémisme. See Fame.] (Rhet.)
Defn: A figure in which a harts or indelicate word or expression is
softened; a way of describing an offensive thing by an inoffensive
expression; a mild name for something disagreeable.
EUPHEMISTIC; EUPHEMISTICAL
Eu`phe*mis"tic, Eu`phe*mis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to euphemism; containing a euphemism; softened in
expression.
-- Eu`phe*mis"tic*al*ly, adv.
EUPHEMIZE
Eu"phe*mize, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Euphemized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Euphemizing.] Etym: [Gr.
Defn: To express by a euphemism, or in delicate language; to make use
of euphemistic expressions.
EUPHONIAD
Eu*pho"ni*ad, n. Etym: [See Euphony.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument in which are combined the characteristic tones of
the organ and various other instruments. [R.]
EUPHONIC; EUPHONICAL
Eu*phon"ic, Eu*phon"ic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or exhibiting, euphony; agreeable in sound;
pleasing to the ear; euphonious; as, a euphonic expression;
euphonical orthography.
EUPHONICON
Eu*phon"i*con, n. Etym: [See Euphony.] (Mus.)
Defn: A kind of uptight piano.
EUPHONIOUS
Eu*pho"ni*ous, a.
Defn: Pleasing or sweet in sound; euphonic; smooth-sounding. Hallam.
-- Eu*pho"ni*ous*ly, adv.
EUPHONISM
Eu"pho*nism, n.
Defn: An agreeable combination of sounds; euphony.
EUPHONIUM
Eu*pho"ni*um, n. Etym: [NL. See Euphony.] (Mus.)
Defn: A bass instrument of the saxhorn family.
EUPHONIZE
Eu"pho*nize, v. t.
Defn: To make euphonic. [R.]
EUPHONON
Eu"pho*non, n. Etym: [See Euphony.] (Mus.)
Defn: An instrument resembling the organ in tine and the upright
piano in form. It is characterized by great strength and sweetness of
tone.
EUPHONOUS
Eu"pho*nous, n.
Defn: Euphonious. [R.]
EUPHONY
Eu"pho*ny, n.; pl. Euphonies. Etym: [L. euphonia, Gr. euphonie.]
Defn: A pleasing or sweet sound; an easy, smooth enunciation of
sounds; a pronunciation of letters and syllables which is pleasing to
the ear.
EUPHORBIA
Eu*phor"bi*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. euphorbea. See Euphorrium.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Spurge, or bastard spurge, a genus of plants of many species,
mostly shrubby, herbaceous succulents, affording an acrid, milky
juice. Some of them are armed with thorns. Most of them yield
powerful emetic and cathartic products.
EUPHORBIACEOUS; EUPHORBIAL
Eu*phor`bi*a"ceous, Eu*phor"bi*al, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, relating to, or resembling, the Euphorbia family.
EUPHORBIN; EUPHORBINE
Eu*phor"bin Eu*phor"bine, n. (Med.)
Defn: A principle, or mixture of principles, derived from various
species of Euphorbia.
EUPHORBIUM
Eu*phor"bi*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. euphorbeum, from Gr. Euphorbus,
a Greek physician.] (Med.)
Defn: An inodorous exudation, usually in the form of yellow tears,
produced chiefly by the African Euphorbia resinifrea. It was formerly
employed medicinally, but was found so violent in its effects that
its use is nearly abandoned.
EUPHOTIDE
Eu"pho*tide, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A rock occurring in the Alps, consisting of saussurite and
smaragdite; -- sometimes called gabbro.
EUPHRASY
Eu"phra*sy, n. Etym: [NL. euphrasia, fr. Gr. eufrasia, F. eufrasie.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The plant eyesight (euphrasia officionalis), formerly regarded
as beneficial in disorders of the eyes.
Then purged with euphrasy and rue The visual nerve, for he had much
to see. Milton.
EUPHROE
Eu"phroe, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A block or long slat of wood, perforated for the passage of the
crowfoot, or cords by which an awning is held up. [Written also
uphroe and uvrou.] Knight.
EUPHUISM
Eu"phu*ism, n. Etym: [Gr. Euphues, or the Anatomy of Wit," and
"Euphues and his England."] (Rhet.)
Defn: An affectation of excessive elegance and refinement of
language; high-flown diction.
EUPHUIST
Eu"phu*ist, n.
Defn: One who affects excessive refinement and elegance of language;
-- applied esp. to a class of writers, in the age of Elizabeth, whose
productions are marked by affected conceits and high-flown diction.
EUPHUISTIC
Eu`phu*is"tic, a.
Defn: Belonging to the euphuists, or euphuism; affectedly refined.
EUPHUIZE
Eu"phu*ize, v. t.
Defn: To affect excessive refinement in language; to be overnice in
expression.
EUPIONE
Eu"pi*one, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A limpid, oily liquid obtained by the destructive distillation
of various vegetable and animal substances; -- specifically, an oil
consisting largely of the higher hydrocarbons of the paraffin series.
[Written also eupion.]
EUPITTONE
Eu*pit"tone, n. Etym: [Pref. eu- + pittacal + -one.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, crystalline substance, resembling aurin, and obtained
by the oxidation of pittacal; -- called also eupittonic acid.
[Written also eupitton.]
EUPITTONIC
Eu`pit*ton"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, eupittone.
EUPLASTIC
Eu*plas"tic, a. Etym: [Pref. eu- + -plastic.] (Med.)
Defn: Having the capacity of becoming organizable in a high degree,
as the matter forming the false membranes which sometimes result from
acute inflammation in a healthy person. Dunglison.
EUPLASTIC
Eu*plas"tic, n. (Med.)
Defn: Organizable substance by which the tissues of an animal body
are renewed.
EUPLECTELLA
Eu`plec*tel"la, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: A genus of elegant, glassy sponges, consisting of interwoven
siliceous fibers, and growing in the form of a cornucopia; -- called
also Venus's flower-basket.
EUPLEXOPTERA
Eu`plex*op"te*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of insects, including the earwig. The anterior wings
are short, in the form of elytra, while the posterior wings fold up
beneath them. See Earwig.
EUPNAEA
Eup*næ"a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. gr. (Physiol.)
Defn: Normal breathing where arterialization of the blood is normal,
in distinction from dyspnæa, in which the blood is insufficiently
arterialized. Foster.
EUPRYION; EUPYRION
Eu*pry"i*on, Eu*py"ri*on, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A contrivance for obtaining a light instantaneous, as a lucifer
match. Brande & C.
EURAFRIC; EURAFRICAN
Eur*af"ric, Eur*af"ri*can, a. [Europe + Afric, African.]
1. (Geog.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the continents of Europe and
Africa combined.
2. (Zoögeography) Pert. to or designating a region including most of
Europe and northern Africa south to the Sahara.
3. Of European and African descent.
EURASIAN
Eu*ra"sian, n. Etym: [European + Asian.]
1. A child of a European parent on the one side and an Asiatic on the
other.
2. One born of European parents in Asia.
EURASIAN
Eu*ra"sian, a.
Defn: Of European and Asiatic descent; of or pertaining to both
Europe and Asia; as, the great Eurasian plain.
EURASIATIO
Eu*ra`si*at"io, a. (Geog.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the continents of Europe and Asia combined.
EUREKA
Eu*re"ka. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The exclamation attributed to Archimedes, who is said to have
cried out "Eureka! eureka!" (I have found it! I have found it!), upon
suddenly discovering a method of finding out how much the gold of
King Hiero's crown had been alloyed. Hence, an expression of triumph
concerning a discovery.
EURHIPIDUROUS
Eu*rhip`i*du"rous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a fanlike tail; belonging to the Eurhipiduræ, a division
of Aves which includes all living birds.
EURIPIZE
Eu"ri*pize, v. t. Etym: [See Euripus.]
Defn: To whirl hither and thither. [Obs.]
EURIPUS
Eu*ri"pus, n. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
Defn: A strait; a narrow tract of water, where the tide, or a
current, flows and reflows with violence, as the ancient fright of
this name between Eubæa and Bæotia. Hence, a flux and reflux. Burke.
EURITE
Eu"rite, n. Etym: [Cf. F. eurite.] (Min.)
Defn: A compact feldspathic rock; felsite. See Felsite.
EURITIC
Eu*rit"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pelating to eurite.
EUROCLYDON
Eu*roc"ly*don, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. i. e. a north-east wind, as in
the Latin Yulgate Euro-aquilo.]
Defn: A tempestuous northeast wind which blows in the Mediterranean.
See Levanter.
A tempestuous wind called Euroclydon. Acts xxvii. 14.
EUROPEAN
Eu`ro*pe"an, a. Etym: [L. europeaus, Gr. europa.)]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Europe, or to its inhabitants. On the
European plain, having rooms to let, and leaving it optional with
guests whether they will take meals in the house; -- said of hotels.
[U. S.]
EUROPEAN
Eu`ro*pe"an, n.
Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Europe.
EUROPEANIZE
Eu`ro*pe"an*ize, v. t.
Defn: To cause to become like the Europeans in manners or character;
to habituate or accustom to European usages.
A state of society . . . changed and Europenized. Lubbock.
EUROPIUM
Eu*ro"pi*um, n. [NL.; Europe + -ium, as in aluminium.] (Chem.)
Defn: A metallic element of the rare-earth group, discovered
spectroscopically by Demarcay in 1896. Symbol, Eu; at. wt., 152.0.
EURUS
Eu"rus, n. Etym: [L., gr.
Defn: The east wind.
EURYALE
Eu*ry"a*le, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Euryale, one of the Gorgons.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of water lilies, growing in India and China. The only
species (E. ferox) is very prickly on the peduncles and calyx. The
rootstocks and seeds are used as food.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: A genus of ophiurans with much-branched arms.
EURYALIDA
Eu`ry*al"i*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A tribe of Ophiuroidea, including the genera Euryale,
Astrophyton, etc. They generally have the arms branched. See
Astrophyton.
EURYCEROUS
Eu*ryc"er*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having broad horns.
EURYPTEROID
Eu*ryp"ter*oid, a. Etym: [Eurypterus + -oid.] (Paleon.)
Defn: Like, or pertaining to, the genus Euryperus.
EURYPTEROIDEA
Eu*ryp`te*roi"de*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Eurypteroid.] (Paleont.)
Defn: An extinct order of Merostomata, of which the genus Eurypterus
is the type. They are found only in Paleozoic rocks. [Written also
Eurypterida.]
EURYPTERUS
Eu*ryp"te*rus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of extinct Merostomata, found in Silurian rocks. Some
of the species are more than three feet long.
EURYTHMY
Eu"ryth*my, n. Etym: [L. eurythmia, Gr. eurythmie.]
1. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Just or harmonious proportion or movement, as in the
composition of a poem, an edifice, a painting, or a statue.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Regularly of the pulse.
EUSEBIAN
Eu*se"bi*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Eusebius, bishop of Cæsarea, who was a friend and
protector of Arius.
EUSTACHIAN
Eu*sta"chi*an, a. Etym: [From Eustachi, a learned Italian physician
who died in Rome, 1574.] (Anat.)
(a) Discovered by Eustachius.
(b) Pertaining to the Eustachian tube; as, Eustachian catheter.
Eustachian catheter, a tubular instrument to be introduced into the
Eustachian tube so as to allow of inflation of the middle ear through
the nose or mouth.
-- Eustrachian tube (Anat.), a passage from the tympanum of the ear
to the pharynx. See Ear.
-- Eustachian valve (Anat.), a crescent-shaped fold of the lining
membrane of the heart at the entrance of the vena cava inferior. It
directs the blood towards the left auricle in the fetus, but is
rudimentary and functionless in the adult.
EUSTYLE
Eu"style`, n. Etym: [Gr. eustyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: See Intercolumnlation.
EUTAXY
Eu"tax*y, n. Etym: [Gr. eutaxie.]
Defn: Good or established order or arrangement. [R.] E. Waterhouse.
EUTECTIC
Eu*tec"tic, a. [Gr. e'y`thktos easily melted; e'y^ well + th`kein to
melt.] (Physics)
Defn: Of maximum fusibility; -- said of an alloy or mixture which has
the lowest melting point which it is possible to obtain by the
combination of the given components.
EUTERPE
Eu*ter"pe. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.
1. (Class. Myth.)
Defn: The Muse who presided over music.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of palms, some species of which are elegant trees.
EUTERPEAN
Eu*ter"pe*an a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Euterpe or to music.
EUTEXIA
Eu*tex"i*a, n. [NL., fr. Gr. a being easily melted.] (Physics)
Defn: The principle or process of forming from given components the
eutectic alloy, or alloy of maximum fusibility.
EUTHANASIA
Eu`tha*na"si*a n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. euthanasie.]
Defn: An easy death; a mode of dying to be desired. "An euthanasia of
all thought." Hazlitt.
The kindest wish of my friends is euthanasia. Arbuthnot.
EUTHANASY
Eu*than"a*sy, n.
Defn: Same as Euthanasia.
EUTHIOCHROIC
Eu`thi*o*chro"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or denoting, an acid so called. Euthiochroic
acid (Chem.), a complex derivative of hydroquinone and sulphonic
(thionic) acid.
-- so called because it contains sulphur, and forms brilliantly
colored (yellow) salts.
EUTHYNEURA
Eu`thy*neu"ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A large division of gastropod molluske, including the
Pulmonifera and Opisthobranchiata.
EUTROPHY
Eu"tro*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: Healthy nutrition; soundless as regards the nutritive
functions.
EUTYCHIAN
Eu*tych"i*an, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: A follower of Eutyches [5th century], who held that the divine
and the human in the person of Christ were blended together as to
constitute but one nature; a monophysite; -- opposed to Nestorian.
EUTYCHIANISM
Eu*tych"i*an*ism, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The doctrine of Eutyches and his followers.
EUXANTHIC
Eux*an"thic a. (Chem.)
Defn: Having a yellow color; pertaining to, derived from, or
resembling, euxanthin. Euxanthic acid (Chem.), a yellow, crystalline,
organic acid, extracted from euxanthin.
EUXANTHIN
Eux*an"thin, n. Etym: [Gr. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow pigment imported from India and China. It has a strong
odor, and is said to be obtained from the urine of herbivorous
animals when fed on the mango. It consists if a magnesium salt of
euxanthic acid. Called also puri, purree, and Indian yellow.
EUXENITE
Eux"e*nite, n. Etym: [Gr. (Min.)
Defn: A brownish black mineral with a metallic luster, found in
Norway. It contains niobium, titanium, yttrium, and uranium, with
some other metals.
EVACATE
E*va"cate, v. t. Etym: [Pref. e- + vacate.]
Defn: To empty. [Obs.] Harvey.
EVACUANT
E*vac"u*ant, a. Etym: [L.evacuans, -antis, p. pr. of evacuare: cf. F.
évacuant.]
Defn: Emptying; evacuative; purgative; cathartic.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: A purgative or cathartic.
EVACUATE
E*vac"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evacuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Evacuating.] Etym: [l. evacuatus, p. p. of evacuare to empty,
nullify; e out + vacuus empty, vacare to be empty. See Vacate.]
1. To make empty; to empty out; to remove the contents of; as, to
evacuate a vessel or dish.
2. Fig.: To make empty; to deprive. [R.]
Evacuate the Scriptures of their most important meaning. Coleriage.
3. To remove; to eject; to void; o discharge, as the contents of a
vessel, or of the bowels.
4. To withdraw from; to quit; to retire from; as, soldiers from a
country, city, or fortress.
The Norwegians were forced to evacuate the country. Burke.
5. To make void; to nullify; to vacate; as, to evacuate a contract or
marriage. [Obs.] Bacon.
EVACUATE
E*vac"u*ate, v. i.
Defn: To let blood [Obs.] Burton.
EVACUATION
E*vac`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. evacuatio: cf. F. évacuation.]
1. The act of emptying, clearing of the contents, or discharging.
Specifically:
(a) (Mil.) Withdrawal of troops from a town, fortress, etc.
(b) (Med.) Voidance of any matter by the natural passages of the body
or by an artificial opening; defecation; also, a diminution of the
fluids of an animal body by cathartics, venesection, or other means.
2. That which is evacuated or discharged; especially, a discharge by
stool or other natural means. Quincy.
3. Abolition; nullification. [Obs.] Hooker. Evacuation day, the
anniversary of the day on which the British army evacuated the city
of New York, November 25, 1783.
EVACUATIVE
E*vac"u*a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. évacuatif.]
Defn: Serving of tending to evacuate; cathartic; purgative.
EVACUATOR
E*vac"u*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who evacuates; a nullifier. "Evacuators of the law."
Hammond.
EVACUATORY
E*vac"u*a*to*ry, n.
Defn: A purgative.
EVADE
E*vade" (v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evaded; p. pr. & vb. n.. Evading.] Etym:
[L. evadere, evasum, e out + vadere to go, walk: cf. F. s'évader. See
Wade.]
Defn: To get away from by artifice; to avoid by dexterity,
subterfuge, address, or ingenuity; to elude; to escape from cleverly;
as, to evade a blow, a pursuer, a punishment; to evade the force of
an argument.
The heathen had a method, more truly their own, of evading the
Christian miracles. Trench.
EVADE
E*vade", v. t.
1. To escape; to slip away; -- sometimes with from. "Evading from
perils." Bacon.
Unarmed they might Have easily, as spirits evaded swift By quick
contraction or remove. Milton.
2. To attempt to escape; to practice artifice or sophistry, for the
purpose of eluding.
The ministers of God are not to evade and take refuge any of these .
. . ways. South.
Syn. - To equivocate; shuffle. See Prevaricate.
EVADIBLE
E*vad"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being evaded. [R.]
EVAGATION
Ev`a*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. evagatio, fr. evagari to wander forth: cf.
F. évagation. See Vagary.]
Defn: A wandering about; excursion; a roving. [R.] Ray.
EVAGINATE
E*vag"i*nate, a. [L. evaginatus, p. p., unsheathed. See Evagination.]
Defn: Protruded, or grown out, as an evagination; turned inside out;
unsheathed; evaginated; as, an evaginate membrane.
EVAGINATE
E*vag"i*nate, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Evaginated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Evaginating.]
Defn: To become evaginate; to cause to be evaginate.
EVAGINATION
E*vag`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. evaginatio an extending, evaginare to
unsheathe; e out + vagina sheath.]
Defn: The act of unsheathing.
EVAL
E"val, a. Etym: [L. aevum lifetime, age, eternity.]
Defn: Relating to time or duration. [Obs.]
EVALUATE
E*val"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Evaluation.]
Defn: To fix the value of; to rate; to appraise.
EVALUATION
E*val`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. évaluation, LL. evaluatio.]
Defn: Valuation; appraisement. J. S. Mill.
EVANESCE
Ev`a*nesce", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Evanesced; p. pr. & vb. n.
Evanescing. (.] Etym: [L. evanescere; e out + vanescere to vanish,
fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain, and cf. Evanish.]
Defn: To vanish away; to because dissipated and disappear, like
vapor.
I believe him to have evanesced or evaporated. De Quincey.
EVANESCENCE
Ev`a*nes"cence, n.
Defn: The act or state of vanishing away; disappearance; as, the
evanescence of vapor, of a dream, of earthly plants or hopes.
Rambler.
EVANESCENT
Ev`a*nes"cent, a. Etym: [L. evanescens, -entis, p. pr. of
evanescere.]
1. Liable to vanish or pass away like vapor; vanishing; fleeting; as,
evanescent joys.
So evanescent are the fashions of the world in these particulars.
Hawthorne.
2. Vanishing from notice; imperceptible.
The difference between right and wrong, is some petty cases, is
almost evanescent. Wollaston.
EVANESCENTLY
Ev`a*nes"cent*ly, adv. In a vanishing manner
Defn: ; imperceptibly. Chalmers.
EVANGEL
E*van"gel, n. Etym: [F. évangile, L. evangelium, Gr. Eu-, and cf.
Evangely.]
Defn: Good news; announcement of glad tidings; especially, the
gospel, or a gospel. Milton.
Her funeral anthem is a glad evangel. Whittier.
EVANGELIAN
E`van*ge"li*an, a.
Defn: Rendering thanks for favors.
EVANGELIC
E`van*gel"ic, a. Etym: [L. evangelicus, Gr. évangélique. See
Evangel.]
Defn: Belonging to, or contained in, the gospel; evangelical.
"Evangelic truth." J. Foster.
EVANGELICAL
E`van*gel"ic*al, a.
1. Contained in, or relating to, the four Gospels; as, the
evangelical history.
2. Belonging to, agreeable or consonant to, or contained in, the
gospel, or the truth taught in the New Testament; as, evangelical
religion.
3. Earnest for the truth taught in the gospel; strict in interpreting
Christian doctrine; preëminetly orthodox; -- technically applied to
that party in the Church of England, and in the Protestant Episcopal
Church, which holds the doctrine of "Justification by Faith alone";
the Low Church party. The term is also applied to other religion
bodies not regarded as orthodox. Evangelical Alliance, an alliance
for mutual strengthening and common work, comprising Christians of
different denominations and countries, organized in Liverpool,
England, in 1845.
-- Evangelical Church. (a) The Protestant Church in Germany. (b) A
church founded by a fusion of Lutherans and Calvinists in Germany in
1817.
-- Evangelical Union, a religion sect founded in Scotland in 1843 by
the Rev. James Morison; -- called also Morisonians.
EVANGELICAL
E`van*gel"ic*al, n.
Defn: One of evangelical principles.
EVANGELICALISM
E`van*gel"ic*al*ism, n.
Defn: Adherence to evangelical doctrines; evangelism. G. Eliot.
EVANGELICALLY
E`van*gel"ic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an evangelical manner.
EVANGELICALNESS
E`van*gel"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: State of being evangelical.
EVANGELICISM
E`van*gel"i*cism n.
Defn: Evangelical principles; evangelism.
EVANGELICITY
E*van`ge*lic"i*ty, n.
Defn: Evangelicism.
EVANGELISM
E*van"gel*ism n.
Defn: The preaching or promulgation of the gospel. Bacon.
EVANGELIST
E*van"gel*ist, n. Etym: [F. évangéliste, L. evangelista, fr. Gr.
Defn: A bringer of the glad tidings of Church and his doctrines.
Specially: (a) A missionary preacher sent forth to prepare the way
for a resident pastor; an itinerant missionary preacher. (b) A writer
of one of the four Gospels (With the definite article); as, the four
evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. (c) A traveling preacher
whose efforts are chiefly directed to arouse to immediate repentance.
The Apostles, so far as they evangelized, might claim the tittle
though there were many evangelists who were not Apistles. Plumptre.
EVANGELISTARY
E*van`gel*is"ta*ry, n. Etym: [LL. evangelistarium.]
Defn: A selection of passages from the Gospels, as a lesson in divine
service. Porson.
EVANGELISTIC
E*van`gel*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the four evangelists; designed or fitted to
evangelize; evangelical; as, evangelistic efforts.
EVANGELIZATION
E*van`gel*i*za"tion n.
Defn: The act of evangelizing; the state of being evangelized.
The work of Christ's ministers is evangelization. Hobbes.
EVANGELIZE
E*van"gel*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evangelized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Evangelizing]. Etym: [F. évangélisre, LL. evangelizare, fr. Gr.
Defn: To instruct in the gospel; to preach the gospel to; to convert
to Christianity; as, to evangelize the world.
His apostles whom he sends To evangelize the nations. Milton.
EVANGELIZE
E*van"gel*ize, v. i.
Defn: To preach the gospel.
EVANGELY
E*van"ge*ly, n.
Defn: Evangel. [Obs.]
The sacred pledge of Christ's evangely. Spenser.
EVANGILE
E*van"gile, n. Etym: [F. évangile. See Evangel.]
Defn: Good tidings; evangel. [R.]
Above all, the Servians . . . read, with much avidity, the evangile
of their freedom. Londor.
EVANID
E*van"id, a. Etym: [L. evanidus, fr. evanescere. See Evanesce.]
Defn: Liable to vanish or disappear; faint; weak; evanescent; as,
evanid color. [Obs.]
They are very transistory and evanid. Barrow.
EVANISH
E*van"ish, v. i. Etym: [Pref. e- + vanish: cf. L. evanescere. See
Evanesce, vanish.]
Defn: To vanish.
Or like the rainbow's lovely form, Evanishing amid the storm. Burns.
EVANISHMENT
E*van"ish*ment, n.
Defn: A vanishing; disappearance. [R.] T. Jefferson.
EVAPORABLE
E*vap"o*ra*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being converted into vapor, or dissipated by
evaporation.
EVAPORATE
E*vap"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evaporated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Evaporating.] Etym: [L. evaporatus, p. p. of evaporare; e out + vapor
steam or vapor. See Vapor.]
1. To pass off in vapor, as a fluid; to escape and be dissipated,
either in visible vapor, or in practice too minute to be visible.
2. To escape or pass off without effect; to be dissipated; to be
wasted, as, the spirit of writer often evaporates in the process of
translation.
To give moderate liberty for griefs and discontents to evaporate . .
. is a safe way. Bacon.
EVAPORATE
E*vap"o*rate, v. t.
1. To convert from a liquid or solid state into vapor (usually) by
the agency of heat; to dissipate in vapor or fumes.
2. To expel moisture from (usually by means of artificial heat),
leaving the solid portion; to subject to evaporation; as, to
evaporate apples.
3. To give vent to; to dissipate. [R.]
My lord of Essex evaporated his thoughts in a sonnet. Sir. H. Wotton.
Evaporating surface (Steam Boilers), that part of the heating surface
with which water is in contact.
EVAPORATE
E*vap"o*rate, a. Etym: [L. evaporatus, p. p.]
Defn: Dispersed in vapors. Thomson.
EVAPORATION
E*vap`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. evaporatio: cf. F. évaporation.]
1. The process by which any substance is converted from a liquid
state into, and carried off in, vapor; as, the evaporation of water,
of ether, of camphor.
2. The transformation of a portion of a fluid into vapor, in order to
obtain the fixed matter contained in it in a state of greater
consistence.
3. That which is evaporated; vapor.
4. (Steam Engine)
Defn: See Vaporization.
EVAPORATIVE
E*vap"o*ra*tive, a. Etym: [L. evaporatius: cf. F. évaporatif.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or producing, evaporation; as, the evaporative
process.
EVAPORATOR
E*vap"o*ra`tor, n.
Defn: An apparatus for condensing vegetable juices, or for drying
fruit by heat.
EVAPOROMETER
E*vap`o*rom"e*ter, n. Etym: [L. evaporare to evaporate + -meter: cf.
F. évapormètre.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for ascertaining the quantity of a fluid
evaporated in a given time; an atmometer.
EVASIBLE
E*va"si*ble, a.
Defn: That may be evaded. [R.]
EVASION
E*va"sion, n. Etym: [L. evasio: cf. F. évasion. See Evade.]
Defn: The act of eluding or avoiding, particularly the pressure of an
argument, accusation, charge, or interrogation; artful means of
eluding.
Thou . . . by evasions thy crime uncoverest more. Milton.
Syn.
-- Shift; subterfuge; shuffling; prevarication; equivocation.
EVASIVE
E*va"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. évasif. See Evade.]
Defn: Tending to evade, or marked by evasion; elusive; shuffling;
avoiding by artifice.
Thus he, though conscious of the ethereal guest, Answered evasive of
the sly request. Pope.
Stammered out a few evasive phrases. Macaulay.
-- E*va"sive*ly , adv.
-- E*va"sive*ness, n.
EVE
Eve, n. Etym: [See Even, n.]
1. Evening. [Poetic]
Winter oft, at eve resumes the breeze. Thomson.
2. The evening before a holiday, -- from the Jewish mode of reckoning
the day as beginning at sunset. not at midnight; as, Christians eve
is the evening before Christmas; also, the period immediately
preceding some important event. "On the eve of death." Keble. Eve
churr (Zoöl), the European goatsucker or nightjar; -- called also
night churr, and churr owl.
EVECTICS
E*vec"tics, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: The branch of medical science which teaches the method of
acquiring a good habit of body. [Obs.]
EVECTION
E*vec"tion. Etym: [L. evectio a going up, fr. evehere to carry out; e
out + vehere to carry: cf. F évection.]
1. The act of carrying up or away; exaltation. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
2. (Astron.)
(a) An inequality of the moon's motion is its orbit to the attraction
of the sun, by which the equation of the center is diminished at the
syzygies, and increased at the quadratures by about 1º 20'.
(b) The libration of the moon. Whewell.
EVEN
E"ven n. Etym: [OE. eve, even, efen, æfen. AS. æfen; akin to OS.
aband, OFries, avend, D. avond, OHG. aband, Icel. aptan, Sw. afton,
Dan. aften; of unknown origin. Cf. Eve, Evening.]
Defn: Evening. See Eve, n. 1. [Poetic.] Shak.
EVEN
E"ven, a. Etym: [AS. efen. efn; akin to OS. eban, D. even, OHG. eban,
G. efen, Icel. jafn, Dan. jevn, Sw. jämn, Goth. ibns. Cf. Anent,
Ebb.]
1. Level, smooth, or equal in surface; not rough; free from
irregularities; hence uniform in rate of motion of action; as, even
ground; an even speed; an even course of conduct.
2. Equable; not easily ruffed or disturbed; calm; uniformly self-
possessed; as, an even temper.
3. Parallel; on a level; reaching the same limit.
And shall lay thee even with the ground. Luke xix. 44.
4. Balanced; adjusted; fair; equitable; impartial; just to both side;
owing nothing on either side; -- said of accounts, bargains, or
persons indebted; as, our accounts are even; an even bargain.
To make the even truth in pleasure flow. Shak.
5. Without an irregularity, flaw, or blemish; pure. "I know my life
so even." Shak.
6. Associate; fellow; of the same condition. [Obs.] "His even
servant." Wyclif (Matt.
7. Not odd; capable of division by two without a remainder; -- said
of numbers; as, 4 and 10 are even numbers.
Whether the number of the stars is even or odd. Jer. Taylor.
On even ground, with equal advantage.
-- On even keel (Naut.), in a level or horizontal position.
EVEN
E"ven, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evened; p. pr. & vb. n. Evening]
1. To make even or level; to level; to lay smooth.
His temple Xerxes evened with the soil. Sir. W. Raleigh.
It will even all inequalities Evelyn.
2. To equal [Obs.] "To even him in valor." Fuller.
3. To place in an equal state, as to obligation, or in a state in
which nothing is due on either side; to balance, as accounts; to make
quits. Shak.
4. To set right; to complete.
5. To act up to; to keep pace with. Shak.
EVEN
E"ven, v. i.
Defn: To be equal. [Obs.] R. Carew.
EVEN
E"ven, adv. Etym: [AS. efne. See Even, a., and cf. E'en.]
1. In an equal or precisely similar manner; equally; precisely; just;
likewise; as well. "Is it even so" Shak.
Even so did these Gauls possess the coast. Spenser.
2. Up to, or down to, an unusual measure or level; so much as; fully;
quite.
Thou wast a soldier Even to Cato's wish. Shak.
Without . . . making us even sensible of the change. Swift.
3. As might not be expected; -- serving to introduce what is
unexpected or less expected.
I have made several discoveries, which appear new, even to those who
are versed in critical learning. Addison.
4. At the very time; in the very case.
I knew they were had enough to please, even when I wrote them.
Dryden.
Note: Even is sometimes used to emphasize a word or phrase. "I have
debated even in my soul." Shak.
By these presence, even the presence of Lord Mortimer. Shak.
EVENE
E*vene", v. i. Etym: [L. evenire. See Event.]
Defn: To happen. [Obs.] Hewyt.
EVENER
E"ven*er, n.
1. One who, or that which makes even.
2. In vehicles, a swinging crossbar, to the ends of which other
crossbars, or whiffletrees, are hung, to equalize the draught when
two or three horses are used abreast.
EVENFALL
E"ven*fall`, n.
Defn: Beginning of evening. "At the quiet evenfall." Tennyson.
EVENHAND
E"ven*hand`, n.
Defn: Equality. [Obs.] Bacon.
EVENHANDED
E"ven*hand`ed, a.
Defn: Fair or impartial; unbiased. "Evenhanded justice." Shak.
-- E"ven*hand`ed*ly, adv.
-- E"ven*hand`ed*ness, n.
EVENING
E"ven*ing, n. Etym: [AS. æfnung. See even, n., and cf. Eve.]
1. The latter part and close of the day, and the beginning of
darkness or night; properly, the decline of the day, or of the sum.
In the ascending scale Of heaven, the stars that usher evening rose.
Milton.
Note: Sometimes, especially in the Southern parts of the United
States, the afternoon is called evening. Bartlett.
2. The latter portion, as of life; the declining period, as of
strength or glory.
Note: Sometimes used adjectively; as, evening gun. "Evening Prayer."
Shak. Evening flower (Bot.), a genus of iridaceous plants
(Hesperantha) from the Cape of Good Hope, with sword-shaped leaves,
and sweet-scented flowers which expand in the evening.
-- Evening grosbeak (Zoöl.), an American singing bird
(Coccothraustes vespertina) having a very large bill. Its color is
olivaceous, with the crown, wings, and tail black, and the under tail
coverts yellow. So called because it sings in the evening.
-- Evening primrose. See under Primrose.
-- The evening star, the bright star of early evening in the western
sky, soon passing below the horizon; specifically, the planet Venus;
-- called also Vesper and Hesperus. During portions of the year,
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are also evening stars. See Morning Star.
EVENLY
E"ven*ly, adv.
Defn: With an even, level, or smooth surface; without roughness,
elevations, or depression; uniformly; equally; comfortably;
impartially; serenely.
EVENMINDED
E"ven*mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having equanimity.
EVENNESS
E"ven*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being ven, level, or disturbed; smoothness;
horizontal position; uniformity; impartiality; calmness; equanimity;
appropriate place or level; as, evenness of surface, of a fluid at
rest, of motion, of dealings, of temper, of condition.
It had need be something extraordinary, that must warrant an ordinary
person to rise higher than his own evenness. Jer. Taylor.
EVENSONG
E"ven*song`, n. Etym: [AS. æfensang.]
Defn: A song for the evening; the evening service or form of worship
(in the Church of England including vespers and compline); also, the
time of evensong. Wyclif. Milton.
EVENT
E*vent", n. Etym: [L. eventus, fr. evenire to happen, come out; e out
+ venire to come. See Come.]
1. That which comes, arrives, or happens; that which falls out; any
incident, good or bad. "The events of his early years." Macaulay.
To watch quietly the course of events. Jowett (Thucyd. )
There is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked. Eccl. ix. 2.
2. An affair in hand; business; enterprise. [Obs.] "Leave we him to
his events." Shak.
3. The consequence of anything; the issue; conclusion; result; that
in which an action, operation, or series of operations, terminates.
Dark doubts between the promise and event. Young.
Syn.
-- Incident; occurrence; adventure; issue; result; termination;
consequence; conclusion.
-- Event, Occurrence, Incident, Circumstance. An event denotes that
which arises from a preceding state of things. Hence we speak or
watching the event; of tracing the progress of events. An occurrence
has no reference to any antecedents, but simply marks that which
meets us in our progress through life, as if by chance, or in the
course of divine providence. The things which thus meet us, if
important, are usually connected with antecedents; and hence event is
the leading term. In the "Declaration of Independence" it is said,
"When, in the cource of human events, it becomes necessary." etc.
Here, occurrences would be out of place. An incident is that which
falls into a state of things to which is does not primarily belong;
as, the incidents of a journey. The term is usually applied to things
of secondary importance. A circumstance is one of the things
surrounding us in our path of life. These may differ greatly in
importance; but they are always outsiders, which operate upon us from
without, exerting greater or less influence according to their
intrinsic importance. A person giving an account of a campaign might
dwell on the leading events which it produced; might mention some of
its striking occurrences; might allude to some remarkable incidents
which attended it; and might give the details of the favorable or
adverse circumstances which marked its progress.
EVENT
E*vent", v. t. Etym: [F. éventer to fan, divulge, LL. eventare to
fan, fr., L. e out + ventus wind.]
Defn: To break forth. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EVENTERATE
E*ven"ter*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. e out + venter the belly: cf. F.
éventer.]
Defn: To rip open; todisembowel. [Obs.] Sir. T. Brown.
EVENTFUL
E*vent"ful a.
Defn: Full of, or rich in, events or incidents; as, an eventful
journey; an eventful period of history; an eventful period of life.
EVENTIDE
E"ven*tide` n. Etym: [AS. æfentid. See Tide.]
Defn: The time of evening; evening. [Poetic.] Spenser.
EVENTILATE
E*ven"ti*late, v. t. Etym: [L. eventilatus, p. p. of eventilare to
fan. See Ventilate.]
1. To winnow out; to fan. [Obs.] Cockeram.
2. To discuss; to ventilate. [Obs.] Johnson.
EVENTILATION
E*ven`ti*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act of eventilating; discussion. [Obs.] Bp. Berkely.
EVENTLESS
E*vent"less, a.
Defn: Without events; tame; monotomous; marked by nothing unusual;
uneventful.
EVENTOGNATHI
Ev`en*tog"na*thi, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Dr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of fishes including a vast number of freshwater
species such as the carp, loach, chub, etc.
EVENTRATION
E`ven*tra*tion, n. Etym: [L. e out + venter belly.] (Med.)
(a) A tumor containing a large portion of the abdominal viscera,
occasioned by relaxation of the walls of the abdomen.
(b) A wound, of large extent, in the abdomen, through which the
greater part of the intestines protrude.
(c) The act af disemboweling.
EVENTUAL
E*ven"tu*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. éventiel. See Event.]
1. Coming or happening as a consequence or result; consequential.
Burke.
2. Final; ultimate. "Eventual success." Cooper.
3. (Law)
Defn: Dependent on events; contingent. Marshall.
EVENTUALITY
E*ven`tu*al"i*ty, n.; pl. Eventualities. Etym: [Cf. F. éventualité.]
1. The coming as a consequence; contingency; also, an event which
comes as a consequence.
2. (Phren.)
Defn: Disposition to take cognizance of events.
EVENTUALLY
E*ven"tu*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In an eventual manner; finally; ultimately.
EVENTUATE
E*ven"tu*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Eventuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eventuating.]
Defn: To come out finally or in conclusion; to result; to come to
pass.
EVENTUATION
E*ven`tu*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of eventuating or happening as a result; the outcome.
R. W. Hamilton.
EVER
Ev"er adv. Etym: [OE. ever, æfre, AS. æfre; perh. akin to AS. a
always. Cf. Aye, Age,Evry, Never.] [Sometimes contracted into e'er.]
1. At any time; at any period or point of time.
No man ever yet hated his own flesh. Eph. v. 29.
2. At all times; through all time; always; forever.
He shall ever love, and always be The subject of by scorn and
cruelty. Dryder.
3. Without cessation; continually.
Note: Ever is sometimes used as an intensive or a word of
enforcement. "His the old man e'er a son" Shak.
To produce as much as ever they can. M. Arnold.
Ever and anon, now and then; often. See under Anon.
-- Ever is one, continually; constantly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- Ever so, in whatever degree; to whatever extent; -- used to
intensify indefinitely the meaning of the associated adjective or
adverb. See Never so, under Never. "Let him be ever so rich."
Emerson.
And all the question (wrangle e'er so long), Is only this, if God has
placed him wrong. Pope.
You spend ever so much money in entertaining your equals and betters.
Thackeray.
-- For ever, eternally. See Forever.
-- For ever and a day, emphatically forever. Shak.
She [Fortune] soon wheeled away, with scornful laughter, out of sight
for ever and day. Prof. Wilson.
-- Or ever (for or ere), before. See Or, ere. [Archaic]
Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day,
Horatio! Shak.
Note: Ever is sometimes joined to its adjective by a hyphen, but in
most cases the hyphen is needless; as, ever memorable, ever watchful,
ever burning.
EVERDURING
Ev`er*dur"ing a.
Defn: Everlasting. Shak.
EVERGLADE
Ev`er*glade, n.
Defn: A swamp or low tract of land inundated with water and
interspersed with hummocks, or small islands, and patches of high
grass; as, the everglades of Florida. [U. S.]
EVERGREEN
Ev"er*green a. (Bot.)
Defn: Remaining unwithered through the winter, or retaining
unwithered leaves until the leaves of the next year are expanded, as
pines cedars, hemlocks, and the like.
EVERGREEN
Ev"er*green, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: An evergreen plant.
2. pl.
Defn: Twigs and branches of evergreen plants used for decoration.
"The funeral evengreens entwine." Keble.
EVERGREEN STATE
Evergreen State.
Defn: Washington; -- a nickname alluding to the abundance of
evergreen trees.
EVERICH; EVERYCH
Ev"er*ich, Ev"er*ych, a. Etym: [OE. see Every.]
Defn: each one; every one; each of two. See Every. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EVERICHON; EVERYCHON
Ev`er*ich*on", Ev`er*ych*on", pron. Etym: [OE. everich + oon, on,
one. See Every, and One.]
Defn: Every one. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EVERLASTING
Ever*last"ing a.
1. Lasting or enduring forever; exsisting or continuing without end;
immoral; eternal. "The Everlasting God." Gen. xx1. 33.
2. Continuing indefinitely, or during a long period; perpetual;
sometimes used, colloquially, as a strong intensive; as, this
everlasting nonsence.
I will give to thee, and to thy seed after thee . . . the land of
Canaan, for an everlasting possession. Gen xvii. 8.
And heard thy everlasting yawn confess The pains and penalties of
idleness. Pope.
Syn.
-- Eternal; immortal, interminable; endless; never-ending; infinite;
unceasing; uninterrupted; continual; unintermitted; incessant. -
Everlasting, Eternal. Eternal denotes (when taken strictly) without
beginning or end of duration; everlasting is sometimes used in our
version of the Scriptures in the sense of eternal, but in modern
usage is confined to the future, and implies no intermission as well
as no end.
Whether we shall meet again I know not; Therefore our everlasting
farewell take; Forever, and forever farewell, Cassius. Shak.
Everlasting flower. Sane as Everlasting, n., 3.
-- Everlasting pea, an ornamental plant (Lathyrus latifolius)
related to the pea; -- so called because it is perennial.
EVERLASTING
Ev`er*last"ing, n.
1. Eternal duration, past of future; eternity.
From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Ps. xc. 2.
2. (With the definite article) The Eternal Being; God.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant whose flowers may be dried without losing their form or
color, as the pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), the
immortelle of the French, the cudweeds, etc.
4. A cloth fabic for shoes, etc. See Lasting.
EVERLASTINGLY
Ev`er*last"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In an everlasting manner.
EVERLASTINGNESS
Ev`er*last"ing*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being everlasting; endless duration; indefinite
duration.
EVERLIVING
Ev`er*liv"ing, a.
1. Living always; immoral; eternal; as, the everliving God.
2. Continual; incessant; unintermitted.
EVERMORE
Ev`er*more", adv.
Defn: During eternity; always; forever; for an indefinite period; at
all times; -- often used substantively with for.
Seek the Lord . . . Seek his face evermore. Ps. cv. 4.
And, behold, I am alive for evermore. Rev. i. 18.
Which flow from the presence of God for evermore. Tillotson.
I evermore did love you, Hermia. Shak.
EVERNIC
E*ver"nic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to Evernia, a genus of lichens; as, evernic acid.
EVERSE
E*verse", v. t. Etym: [L. eversus, p. p. of evertere to turn out,
overthrow; e out + vertere to turn. Cf. Evert.]
Defn: To overthrow or subvert. [Obs.] Glanvill.
EVERSION
E*ver"sion, n. Etym: [L. eversio: cf. F. éversion.]
1. The act of eversing; destruction. Jer. Taylor.
2. The state of being turned back or outward; as, eversion of
eyelids; ectropium.
EVERSIVE
E*ver"sive, a.
Defn: Tending to evert or overthrow; subversive; with of.
A maxim eversive . . . of all justice and morality. Geddes.
EVERT
E*vert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Everted; p. pr. & vb. n. Everting.]
Etym: [L. evertere. See Everse.]
1. To overthrow; to subvert. [R.] Ayliffe.
2. To turn outwards, or inside out, as an intestine.
EVERY
Ev"er*y, a. & a. pron. Etym: [OE. everich, everilk; AS. ever + ælc
each. See Ever, each.]
1. All the parts which compose a whole collection or aggregate
number, considered in their individuality, all taken separately one
by one, out of an indefinite bumber.
Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Ps. xxxix. 5.
Every door and window was adorned with wreaths of flowers. Macaulay.
2. Every one. Cf. Each. [Obs.] "Every of your wishes." Shak.
Daily occasions given to every of us. Hooker.
Every each, every one. [Obs.] "Every each of them hath some vices."
Burton..
-- Every now and then, at short intervals; occasionally; repeatedly;
frequently. [Colloq.]
Note: Every may, by way of emphasis, precede the article the with a
superlative adjective; as, every, the least variation. Locke.
Syn.
-- Every, Each, Any. Any denotes one, or some, taken indifferently
from the individuals which compose a class. Every differs from each
in giving less promonence to the selection of the individual. Each
relates to two or more individuals of a class. It refers definitely
to every one of them, denoting that they are considered separately,
one by one, all being included; as, each soldier was receiving a
dollar per day. Every relates to more than two and brings into
greater prominence the notion that not one of all considered is
excepted; as, every soldier was on service, except the cavalry, that
is, all the soldiers, etc.
In each division there were four pentecosties, in every pentecosty
four enomoties, and of each enomoty there fought in the front rank
four [soldiers]. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
If society is to be kept together and the children of Adam to be
saved from setting up each for himself with every one else his foe.
J. H. Newman.
EVERYBODY
Ev"er*y*bod`y, n.
Defn: Every person.
EVERYDAY
Ev"er*y*day`, a.
Defn: Used or fit for every day; common; usual; as, an everyday suit
or clothes.
The mechanical drudgery of his everyday employment. Sir. J. Herchel.
EVERYONE
Ev"er*y*one`, n. Etym: [OE. everychon.]
Defn: Everybody; -- commonly separated, every one.
EVERYTHING
Ev"er*y*thing`, n.
Defn: Whatever pertains to the subject under consideration; all
things.
More wise, more learned, more just, more everything. Pope.
EVERYWHEN
Ev"er*y*when`, adv.
Defn: At any or all times; every instant. [R.] "Eternal law is
silently present everywhere and everywhen." Carlyle.
EVERYWHERE
Ev"er*y*where`, adv.
Defn: In every place; in all places; hence, in every part; throughly;
altogether.
EVERYWHERENESS
Ev"er*y*where`ness, n.
Defn: Ubiquity; omnipresence. [R.] Grew.
EVESDROP
Eves"drop`, v. i.
Defn: See Eavesdrop.
EVESDROPPER
Eves"drop`per, n.
Defn: See Eavesdropper.
EVESTIGATE
E*ves"ti*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. evestigatus traced out; e out +
vestigatus, p. p. of vestigare. See Vestigate.]
Defn: To investigate. [Obs.] Bailey.
EVET
Ev"et, n. Etym: [See Eft, n.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common newt or eft. In America often applied to several
species of aquatic salamanders. [Written also evat.]
EVIBRATE
E*vi"brate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. evibrare. See Vibrate.]
Defn: To vibrate. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EVICT
E*vict", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evicted; p. pr. & vb. n. Evicting.]
Etym: [L. evictus, p. p. of evincere to overcome completely, evict.
See Evince.]
1. (Law)
Defn: To dispossess by a judicial process; to dispossess by paramount
right or claim of such right; to eject; to oust.
The law of England would speedily evict them out of their possession.
Sir. J. Davies.
2. To evince; to prove. [Obs.] Cheyne.
EVICTION
E*vic"tion, n. Etym: [L. evictio: cf. F. éviction.]
1. The act or process of evicting; or state of being evicted; the
recovery of lands, tenements, etc., from another's possession by due
course of law; dispossession by paramount title or claim of such
title; ejectment; ouster.
2. Conclusive evidence; proof. [Obs.]
Full eviction of this fatal truth. South.
EVIDENCE
Ev"i*dence, n. Etym: [F. évidence, L. Evidentia. See Evident.]
1. That which makes evident or manifest; that which furnishes, or
tends to furnish, proof; any mode of proof; the ground of belief or
judgement; as, the evidence of our senses; evidence of the truth or
falsehood of a statement.
Faith is . . . the evidence of things not seen. Heb. xi. 1.
O glorious trial of exceeding love Illustrious evidence, example
high. Milton.
2. One who bears witness. [R.] "Infamous and perjured evidences." Sir
W. Scott.
3. (Law)
Defn: That which is legally submitted to competent tribunal, as a
means of ascertaining the truth of any alleged matter of fact under
investigation before it; means of making proof; -- the latter,
strictly speaking, not being synonymous with evidence, but rather the
effect of it. Greenleaf. Circumstantial evidence, Conclusive
evidence, etc. See under Circumstantial, Conclusive, etc.
-- Crown's, King's, or Queen's evidence, evidence for the crown.
[Eng.] -- State's evidence, evidence for the government or the
people. [U. S. ] -- To turn King's, Queen's or State's evidence, to
confess a crime and give evidence against one's accomplices.
Syn.
-- Testimony; proof. See Tesimony.
EVIDENCE
Ev"i*dence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evidenced; p, pr. & vb. n.
Evidencing.]
Defn: To render evident or clear; to prove; to evince; as, to
evidence a fact, or the guilt of an offender. Milton.
EVIDENCER
Ev"i*den*cer, n.
Defn: One whi gives evidence.
EVIDENT
Ev"i*dent, a. Etym: [F. évinent, l. evidens, -entis; e out + videns,
p. pr. of videre to see. See Vision.]
Defn: Clear to the vision; especially, clear to the understanding,
and satisfactory to the judgment; as, the figure or color of a body
is evident to the senses; the guilt of an offender can not always be
made evident.
Your honor and your goodness is so evident. Shak.
And in our faces evident the sings Of foul concupiscence. Milton.
Syn.
-- Manifest; plain; clear; obvious; visible; apparent; conclusive;
indubitable; palpable; notorious. See Manifest.
EVIDENTIAL
Ev`i*den"tial, a.
Defn: Relating to, or affording, evidence; indicative; especially,
relating to the evidences of Christianity. Bp. Fleetwood. "Evidential
tracks." Earle..
-- Ev`i*den"tial*ly, adv.
EVIDENTIARY
Ev`i*den"ti*a*ry, a.
Defn: Furnishing evidence; asserting; proving; evidential.
When a fact is supposed, although incorrectly, to be evidentiary of,
a mark of, some other fact. J. S. Mill.
EVIDENTLY
Ev"i*dent*ly, adv.
Defn: In an evident manner; clearly; plainly.
Before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth. Gal.
iii. 1.
He has evidently in the prime of youth. W. Irving.
EVIDENTNESS
Ev"i*dent*ness, n.
Defn: State of being evident.
EVIGILATION
E*vig`i*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. evigilatio; e out + vigilare to be
awake. See Vigilant.]
Defn: A waking up or awakening. [Obs.]
EVIL
E*vil a. Etym: [OE. evel, evil, ifel, uvel, AS. yfel; akin to OFries,
evel, D. euvel, OS. & OHG. ubil, G. übel, Goth. ubils, and perh. to
E. over.]
1. Having qualities tending to injury and mischief; having a nature
or properties which tend to badness; mischievous; not good; worthless
or deleterious; poor; as, an evil beast; and evil plant; an evil
crop.
A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit. Matt. vii. 18.
2. Having or exhibiting bad moral qualities; morally corrupt; wicked;
wrong; vicious; as, evil conduct, thoughts, heart, words, and the
like.
Ah, what a sign it is of evil life, When death's approach is seen so
terrible. Shak.
3. Producing or threatening sorrow, distress, injury, or calamity;
unpropitious; calamitous; as, evil tidings; evil arrows; evil days.
Because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel.
Deut. xxii. 19.
The owl shrieked at thy birth -- an evil sign. Shak.
Evil news rides post, while good news baits. Milton.
Evil eye, an eye which inflicts injury by some magical or fascinating
influence. It is still believed by the ignorant and superstitious
that some persons have the supernatural power of injuring by a look.
It almost led him to believe in the evil eye. J. H. Newman.
-- Evil speaking, speaking ill of others; calumny; censoriousness.
-- The evil one, the Devil; Satan.
Note: Evil is sometimes written as the first part of a compound (with
or without a hyphen). In many cases the compounding need not be
insisted on. Examples: Evil doer or evildoer, evil speakink or evil-
speaking, evil worker, evil wishink, evil-hearted, evil-minded.
Syn.
-- Mischieveous; pernicious; injurious; hurtful; destructive;
wicked; sinful; bad; corrupt; perverse; wrong; vicious; calamitious.
EVIL
E"vil n.
1. Anything which impairs the happiness of a being or deprives a
being of any good; anything which causes suffering of any kind to
sentient beings; injury; mischief; harm; -- opposed to Ant: good.
Evils which our own misdeeds have wrought. Milton.
The evil that men do lives after them. Shak.
2. Moral badness, or the deviation of a moral being from the
principles of virtue imposed by conscience, or by the will of the
Supreme Being, or by the principles of a lawful human authority;
disposition to do wrong; moral offence; wickedness; depravity.
The heart of the sons of men is full of evil. Eccl. ix. 3.
3. malady or disease; especially in the phrase king's evil, the
scrofula. [R.] Shak.
He [Edward the Confessor] was the first that touched for the evil.
Addison.
EVIL
E"vil, adv.
Defn: In an evil manner; not well; ill; badly; unhappily;
injuriously; unkindly. Shak.
It went evil with his house. 1 Chron. vii. 23.
The Egyptians evil entreated us, and affected us. Deut. xxvi. 6.
EVIL EYE
E"vil eye`
Defn: . See Evil eye under Evil, a.
EVIL-EYED
E"vil-eyed a.
Defn: Possessed of the supposed evil eye; also, looking with envy,
jealousy, or bad design; malicious. Shak.
EVIL-FAVORED
E"vil-fa`vored, a.
Defn: Having a bad countenance or appearance; ill-favored; blemished;
deformed. Bacon.
-- E"vil-fa`vored*ness, n. Deut. xvi. 1.
EVILLY
E"vil*ly, adv.
Defn: In an evil manner; not well; ill. [Obs.] "Good deeds evilly
bestowed." Shak.
EVIL-MINDED
E"vil-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having evil dispositions or intentions; disposed to mischief or
sin; malicious; malignant; wicked.
-- E"vil-mind`ed*ness, n.
EVILNESS
E"vil*ness, n.
Defn: The condition or quality of being evil; badness; viciousness;
malignity; vileness; as, evilness of heart; the evilness of sin.
EVINCE
E*vince", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evinced; p. pr. & vb. n. Evincing.]
Etym: [L. evincere vanquish completely, prevail, succeed in proving;
e out + vincere to vanquish. See Victor, and cf. Evict.]
1. To conquer; to subdue. [Obs.]
Error by his own arms is best evinced. Milton.
2. To show in a clear manner; to prove beyond any reasonable doubt;
to manifest; to make evident; to bring to light; to evidence.
Common sense and experience must and will evince the truth of this.
South.
EVINCEMENT
E*vince"ment, n.
Defn: The act of evincing or proving, or the state of being evinced.
EVINCIBLE
E*vin"ci*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being proved or clearly brought to light;
demonstrable. Sir. M. Hale. --E*vin"ci*bly, adv.
EVINCIVE
E*vin"cive, a.
Defn: Tending to prove; having the power to demonstrate;
demonstrative; indicative.
EVIRATE
E"vi*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. eviratus, p. p. of evirare to castrate; e
out + vir man.]
Defn: To emasculate; to dispossess of manhood. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
EVIRATION
Ev`i*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. eviratio.]
Defn: Castration. [Obs.]
EVISCERATE
E*vis"cer*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eviscerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Eviscerating.] Etym: [L. evisceratus, p. p. of eviscerare to
eviscerate; e out + viscera the bowels. See Viscera.]
Defn: To take out the entrails of; to disembowel; to gut.
EVISCERATION
E*vis`cer*a"tion, a.
Defn: A disemboweling.
EVITABLE
Ev"i*ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. evitabilis: cf. F. évitable.]
Defn: A voidable. [R.] Hooker.
EVITATE
Ev"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. evitatus, p. p. of evitare to shun; e out
+ vitare to shun.]
Defn: To shun; to avoid. [Obs.] Shak.
EVITATION
Ev`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. evitatio.]
Defn: A shunning; avoidance. [Obs.] Bacon.
EVITE
E*vite", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. éviter. See Evitate.]
Defn: To shun. [Obs.] Dryton.
EVITERNAL
Ev`i*ter"nal, a. Etym: [L. eviternus, aeternus. See Etern.]
Defn: Eternal; everlasting. [Obs.] -- Ev`i*ter"nal*ly, adv. Bp. Hall.
EVITERNITY
Ev`i*ter"ni*ty, n.
Defn: Eternity. [Obs.]
EVOCATE
Ev"o*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. evocatus, p. p. of evocare. See Evoke.]
Defn: To call out or forth; to summon; to evoke. [R.] Stackhouse.
EVOCATION
Ev`o*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. evocatio: cf. F. évocation.]
Defn: The act of calling out or forth. Sir. T. Browne.
The evocation of that better spirit. M. Arnold.
EVOCATIVE
E*vo"ca*tive, a.
Defn: Calling forth; serving to evoke; developing.
Evocative power over all that is eloquent and expressive in the
better soul of man. W. Pater.
EVOCATOR
Ev"o*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who calls forth. [R.]
EVOKE
E*voke", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evoked; p. pr. & vb. n. Evoking.] Etym:
[L. evocare; e out + vocare to call, fr. vox, vocis, voice: cf. F
évoquer. See Voice, and cf. Evocate.]
1. To call out; to summon forth.
To evoke the queen of the fairies. T. Warton.
A requlating discipline of exercise, that whilst evoking the human
energies, will not suffer them to be wasted. De Quincey.
2. To call away; to remove from one tribunal to another. [R.] "The
cause was evoked to Rome." Hume.
EVOLATIC; EVOLATICAL
Ev`o*lat"ic, Ev`o*lat"ic*al, a. Etym: [L. evolare to fly away; e out
+ volare to fly.]
Defn: Apt to fly away. [Obs. or R.] Blount.
EVOLATION
Ev`o*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. evolatio.]
Defn: A flying out or up. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
EVOLUTE
Ev"o*lute, n. Etym: [L. evolutus unrolled, p. p. of evolvere. See
Evolve.] (Geom.)
Defn: A curve from which another curve, called the involute or
evolvent, is described by the end of a thread gradually wound upon
the former, or unwound from it. See Involute. It is the locus of the
centers of all the circles which are osculatory to the given curve or
evolvent.
Note: Any curve may be an evolute, the term being applied to it only
in its relation to the involute.
EVOLUTILITY
Ev`o*lu*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [See Evolution.] (Biol.)
Defn: The faculty possessed by all substances capable of self-
nourishment of manifesting the nutritive acts by changes of form, of
volume, or of structure. Syd. Soc. Lex.
EVOLUTION
Ev`o*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. evolutio an unrolling: cf. F. évolution
evolution. See Evolve.]
1. The act of unfolding or unrolling; hence, in the process of
growth; development; as, the evolution of a flower from a bud, or an
animal from the egg.
2. A series of things unrolled or unfolded. "The whole evolution of
ages." Dr. H. More.
3. (Geom.)
Defn: The formation of an involute by unwrapping a thread from a
curve as an evolute. Hutton.
4. (Arith. & Alg.)
Defn: The extraction of roots; -- the reverse of involution.
5. (Mil. & Naval)
Defn: A prescribed movement of a body of troops, or a vessel or
fleet; any movement designed to effect a new arrangement or
disposition; a maneuver.
Those evolutions are best which can be executed with the greatest
celerity, compatible with regularity. Campbell.
6. (Biol.)
(a) A general name for the history of the steps by which any living
organism has acquired the morphological and physiological characters
which distinguish it; a gradual unfolding of successive phases of
growth or development.
(b) That theory of generation which supposes the germ to preëxist in
the parent, and its parts to be developed, but not actually formed,
by the procreative act; -- opposed to epigenesis.
7. (Metaph.)
Defn: That series of changes under natural law which involves
continuous progress from the homogeneous to the heterogeneous in
structure, and from the single and simple to the diverse and manifold
in quality or function. The pocess is by some limited to organic
beings; by others it is applied to the inorganic and the psychical.
It is also applied to explain the existence and growth of
institutions, manners, language, civilization, and every product of
human activity. The agencies and laws of the process are variously
explained by different philosophrs.
Evolution is to me series with development. Gladstone.
EVOLUTIONAL
Ev`o*lu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Relating to evolution. "Evolutional changes." H. Spenser.
EVOLUTIONARY
Ev`o*lu"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Relating to evolution; as, evolutionary discussions.
EVOLUTIONISM
Ev`o*lu"tion*ism, n.
Defn: The theory of, or belief in, evolution. See Evolution, 6 and 7.
EVOLUTIONIST
Ev`o*lu"tion*ist, n.
1. One skilled in evolutions.
2. one who holds the doctrine of evolution, either in biology or in
metaphysics. Darwin.
EVOLVE
E*volve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Evolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Evolving.]
Etym: [L. evolvere, evolutum; e out + volvere to roll. See Voluble.]
1. To unfold or unroll; to open and expand; to disentangle and
exhibit clearly and satisfactorily; to develop; to derive; to educe.
The animal soul sooner evolves itself to its full orb and extent than
the human soul. Sir. M. Hale.
The principles which art involves, science alone evolves. Whewell.
Not by any power evolved from man's own resources, but by a power
which descended from above. J. C. Shairp.
2. To throw out; to emit; as, to evolve odors.
EVOLVE
E*volve", v. i.
Defn: To become open, disclosed, or developed; to pass through a
process of evolution. Prior.
EVOLVEMENT
E*volve"ment, n.
Defn: The act of evolving, or the state of being evolved; evolution.
EVOLVENT
E*volv"ent, n. Etym: [L. evolvents. -entis, unrolling, p. pr. of
evolvere.] (Geom.)
Defn: The involute of a curve. See Involute, and Evolute.
EVOMIT
E*vom"it, v. t. Etym: [L. evomitus, p. p. of evomere to vomit forth;
e out + vomere.]
Defn: To vomit. [Obs.]
EVOMITION
Ev`o*mi"tion, n.
Defn: The act of vomiting. [Obs.] Swift.
EVULGATE
E*vul"gate v. t. Etym: [L. evulgatus, p. p. of evulgare to publish.]
Defn: To publish abroad. [Obs.]
EVULGATION
Ev`ul*ga"tion, n.
Defn: A divulging. [Obs.]
EVULSION
E*vul"sion, n. Etym: [L. evulsio, fr. evellere, evulsum, to pluck
out; e out + vellere to pluck; cf. F. évulsion.]
Defn: The act of plucking out; a rooting out.
EW
Ew, n. Etym: [See Yew.]
Defn: A yew. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EWE
Ewe, n. Etym: [AS. eówu; akin to D. ooi, OHG. awi, ouwi, Icel. ær,
Goth. awe\'edi a flock of sheep, awistr a sheepfold, Lith. avis a
sheep, L. ovis, Gr. avi. *231.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The female of the sheep, and of sheeplike animals.
EWE-NECKED
Ewe"-necked`, a.
Defn: Having a neck like a ewe; -- said of horses in which the arch
of the neck is deficent, being somewhat hollowed out. Youwatt.
EWER
Ew"er, n. Etym: [OF. ewer, euwier, prop. a water carrier, F. évier a
washing place, sink, aiguière ewer, L. aquarius, adj., water
carrying, n., a water carrier, fr. aqua water; akin to Goth. ahwa
water, river, OHG, aha, G. au, aue, meadow. *219. Cf. Aquarium,
Aquatic, Island.]
Defn: A kind of widemouthed pitcher or jug; esp., one used to hold
water for the toilet.
Basins and ewers to lave her dainty hands. Shak.
EWERY; EWRY
Ew"er*y, Ew"ry n. Etym: [From Ewer.]
Defn: An office or place of household service where the ewers were
formerly kept. [Enq.] Parker.
EWT
Ewt, n. Etym: [See Newt.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The newt.
EX-
Ex-
Defn: . A prefix from the latin preposition, ex, akin to Gr. 'ex or
'ek signifying out of, out, proceeding from. Hence, in composition,
it signifies out of, as, in exhale, exclude; off, from, or out. as in
exscind; beyond, as, in excess, exceed, excel; and sometimes has a
privative sense of without, as in exalbuminuos, exsanguinous. In some
words, it intensifies the meaning; in others, it has little affect on
the signification. It becomes ef- before f, as in effuse. The form e-
occurs instead of ex- before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, and v, as in
ebullient, emanate, enormous, etc. In words from the French it often
appears as es-, sometimes as s- or é-; as, escape, scape, élite. Ex-,
prefixed to names implying office, station, condition, denotes that
the person formerly held the office, or is out of the office or
condition now; as, ex-president, ex-governor, ex-mayor, ex-convict.
The Greek form 'ex becomes ex in English, as in exarch; 'ek becomes
ec, as in eccentric.
EXACERBATE
Ex*ac"er*bate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exacerrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exacerrating.] Etym: [L. exacerbatus, p. p. of exacerbare; ex out
(intens.) + acerbare. See Acerbate.]
Defn: To render more violent or bitter; to irriate; to exasperate; to
imbitter, as passions or disease. Broughman.
EXACERBATION
Ex*ac`er*ba"tion n. Etym: [Cf. F. exacerbation.]
1. The act rendering more violent or bitter; the state of being
exacerbated or intensified in violence or malignity; as, exacerbation
of passion.
2. (Med.)
Defn: A periodical increase of violence in a disease, as in remittent
or continious fever; an increased energy of diseased and painful
action.
EXACERBESCENCE
Ex*ac`er*bes"cence, n. Etym: [L. exacerbescens, -entis, p. pr. of
exacerbescere, incho. of exacerbare.]
Defn: Increase of irritation or violence, particularly the increase
of a fever or disease.
EXACERVATION
Ex*ac`er*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. exacervare to heap up exceedingly. See
Ex-, and Acervate.]
Defn: The act of heaping up. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXACINATE
Ex*ac"i*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. ex out + acinus kernel.]
Defn: To remove the kernel form.
EXACINATION
Ex*ac`i*na"tion, n.
Defn: Removal of the kernel.
EXACT
Ex*act", a. Etym: [L. exactus precise, accurate, p. p. of exigere to
drive out, to demand, enforce, finish, determine, measure; ex out +
agere to drive; cf. F. exact. See Agent, Act.]
1. Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth;
perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any
respect; true; correct; precise; as, the clock keeps exact time; he
paid the exact debt; an exact copy of a letter; exact accounts.
I took a great pains to make out the exact truth. Jowett (Thucyd. )
2. Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise;
accurate; methodical; punctual; as, a man exact in observing an
appointment; in my doings I was exact. "I see thou art exact of
taste." Milton.
3. Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
An exact command, Larded with many several sorts of reason. Shak.
EXACT
Ex*act", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exacted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exacting.]
Etym: [From L. exactus, p. p. of exigere; or fr. LL. exactare: cf.
OF. exacter. See Exact, a.]
Defn: To demand or require authoritatively or peremptorily, as a
right; to enforce the payment of, or a yielding of; to compel to
yield or to furnish; hence, to wrest, as a fee or reward when none is
due; -- followed by from or of before the one subjected to exaction;
as, to exact tribute, fees, obedience, etc., from or of some one.
He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
Luke. iii. 13.
Years of servise past From grateful souls exact reward at last
Dryden.
My designs Exact me in another place. Massinger.
EXACT
Ex*act", v. i.
Defn: To practice exaction. [R.]
The anemy shall not exact upon him. Ps. lxxxix. 22.
EXACTER
Ex*act"er, n.
Defn: An exactor. [R.]
EXACTING
Ex*act"ing, a.
Defn: Oppressive or unreasonably severe in making demands or
requiring the exact fulfillment of obligations; harsh; severe. "A
temper so exacting." T. Arnold -- Ex*act"ing*ly, adv.
-- Ex*act"ing*ness, n.
EXACTION
Ex*ac"tion, n. Etym: [L. exactio: cf. F. exaction.]
1. The act of demanding with authority, and compelling to pay or
yield; compulsion to give or furnish; a levying by force; a driving
to compliance; as, the exaction to tribute or of obedience; hence,
extortion.
Take away your exactions from my people. Ezek. xlv. 9.
Daily new exactions are devised. Shak.
Illegal exactions of sheriffs and officials. Bancroft.
2. That which is exacted; a severe tribute; a fee, reward, or
contribution, demanded or levied with severity or injustice. Daniel.
EXACTITUDE
Ex*act"i*tude, n. Etym: [Cf. F. exactitude.]
Defn: The quality of being exact; exactness.
EXACTLY
Ex*act"ly, adv.
Defn: In an exact manner; precisely according to a rule, standard, or
fact; accurately; strictly; correctly; nicely. "Exactly wrought."
Shak.
His enemies were pleased, for he had acted exactly as their interests
required. Bancroft.
EXACTNESS
Ex*act"ness, n.
1. The condition of being exact; accuracy; nicety; precision;
regularity; as, exactness of jurgement or deportment.
2. Careful observance of method and conformity to truth; as,
exactness in accounts or business.
He had . . . that sort of exactness which would have made him a
respectable antiquary. Macaulay.
EXACTOR
Ex*act"or, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. exacteur.]
Defn: One who exacts or demands by authority or right; hence, an
extortioner; also, one unreasonably severe in injunctions or demands.
Jer. Taylor.
EXACTRESS
Ex*act"ress, n. Etym: [Cf. L. exactrix.]
Defn: A woman who is an exactor. [R.] B. Jonson.
EXACUATE
Ex*ac"u*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. exacure; ex out (intens.) + acuere to
make sharp.]
Defn: To whet or sharpen. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
-- Ex*ac`u*a"tion, n. [Obs.]
EXAERESIS
Ex*ær"e*sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Surg.)
Defn: In old writers, the operations concerned in the removal of
parts of the body.
EXAGGERATE
Ex*ag"ger*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exaggerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exaggerating . ] Etym: [L. exaggeratus , p. p. of exaggerare to heap
up; ex out + aggerare to heap up, fr. agger heap, aggerere to bring
to; ad to + gerere to bear. See Jest. ]
1. To heap up; to accumulate. [Obs.] "Earth exaggerated upon them
[oaks and firs]." Sir M. Hale.
2. To amplify; to magnify; to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth ; to
delineate extravagantly ; to overstate the truth concerning.
A friend exaggerates a man's virtues. Addison.
EXAGGERATED
Ex*ag"ger*a`ted, a.
Defn: Enlarged beyond bounds or the truth.
-- Ex*ag"ger*a`ted*ly, adv.
EXAGGERATING
Ex*ag"ger*a`ting a.
Defn: That exaggerates; enlarging beyond bounds.
-- Ex*ag"ger*a`ting*ly, adv.
EXAGGERATION
Ex*ag`ger*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exaggeratio : cf. F. exagération.]
1. The act of heaping or piling up. [Obs.] "Exaggeration of sand."
Sir M. Hale.
2. The act of exaggerating; the act of doing or representing in an
excessive manner; a going beyond the bounds of truth reason, or
justice; a hyperbolical representation; hyperbole; overstatement.
No need of an exaggeration of what they saw. I. Taylor.
3. (Paint.)
Defn: A representation of things beyond natural life, in expression,
beauty, power, vigor.
EXAGGERATIVE
Ex*ag"ger*a*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to exaggerate; involving exaggeration. "Exaggerative
language." Geddes. "Exaggerative pictures." W. J. Linton.
-- Ex*ag"ger*a*tive*ly, adv. Carlyle.
EXAGGERATOR
Ex*ag"ger*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who exaggerates; one addicted to exaggeration. L. Horner.
EXAGGERATORY
Ex*ag"ger*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing, or tending to, exaggeration; exaggerative. Johnson.
EXAGITATE
Ex*ag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. exagitatus, p. p. of exagitare. See Ex-
, and Agitate.]
1. To stir up; to agitate. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
2. To satirize; to censure severely. [Obs.] Hooker.
EXAGITATION
Ex*ag`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exagitatio : cf. OF. exagitation.]
Defn: Agitation. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXALBUMINOUS
Ex`al*bu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + albumen.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no albumen about the embryo; -- said of certain seeds.
EXALT
Ex*alt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exalted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exalting.]
Etym: [L. exaltare; ex out (intens.) + altare to make high, altus
high: cf.F. exalter. See Altitude.]
1. To raise high; to elevate; to lift up.
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. Is. xiv. 13.
Exalt thy towery head, and lift thine eyes Pope.
2. To elevate in rank, dignity, power, wealth, character, or the
like; to dignify; to promote; as, to exalt a prince to the throne, a
citizen to the presidency.
Righteousness exalteth a nation. Prov. xiv. 34.
He that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke xiv. 11.
3. To elevate by prise or estimation; to magnify; to extol; to
glorify. "Exalt ye the Lord." Ps. xcix. 5.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself. Shak.
4. To lift up with joy, pride, or success; to inspire with delight or
satisfaction; to elate.
They who thought they got whatsoever he lost were mightily exalted.
Dryden.
5. To elevate the tone of, as of the voice or a musical instrument.
Is. xxxvii. 23.
Now Mars, she said, let Fame exalt her voice. Prior.
6. (Alchem.)
Defn: To render pure or refined; to intensify or concentrate; as, to
exalt the juices of bodies.
With chemic art exalts the mineral powers. Pope.
EXALTATE
Ex"al*tate, a. Etym: [L. exaltatus, p. p. of exaltare to exalt.]
(Astrol.)
Defn: Exercising its highest influence; -- said of a planet. [Obs.]
Chaucer.
EXALTATION
Ex`al*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exaltatio: cf. F.exaltation.]
1. The act of exalting or raising high; also, the state of being
exalted; elevation.
Wondering at my flight, and change To this high exaltation. Milton.
2. (Alchem.)
Defn: The refinement or subtilization of a body, or the increasing of
its virtue or principal property.
3. (Astrol.)
Defn: That place of a planet in the zodiac in which it was supposed
to exert its strongest influence.
EXALTED
Ex*alt"ed, a.
Defn: Raised to lofty height; elevated; extolled; refined; dignified;
sublime.
Wiser far than Solomon, Of more exalted mind. Milton.
Time never fails to bring every exalted reputation to a strict
scrutiny. Ames.
-- Ex*alt"ed*ly, adv.
-- Ex*alt"ed*ness, n. "The exaltedness of some minds." T. Gray.
EXALTER
Ex*alt"er, n.
Defn: One who exalts or raises to dignity.
EXALTMENT
Ex*alt"ment, n.
Defn: Exaltation. [Obs.] Barrow.
EXAMEN
Ex*a"men, n. Etym: [L., the tongue of a balance, examination; for
exagmen, fr. exigere to weigh accurately, to treat: cf. F. examen.
See Exact, a.]
Defn: Examination; inquiry. [R.] "A critical examen of the two
pieces." Cowper.
EXAMETRON
Ex*am"e*tron, n. Etym: [NL. See Hexameter.]
Defn: An hexameter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EXAMINABLE
Ex*am"i*na*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being examined or inquired into. Bacon.
EXAMINANT
Ex*am"i*nant, n. Etym: [L. examinans, -antis, examining.]
1. One who examines; an examiner. Sir W. Scott.
2. One who is to be examined. [Obs.] H. Prideaux.
EXAMINATE
Ex*am"i*nate, n. Etym: [L. examinatus, p. p. of examinare. See
Examine. ]
Defn: A person subjected to examination. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXAMINATION
Ex*am`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. examinatio: cf. F. examination.]
1. The act of examining, or state of being examined; a careful
search, investigation, or inquiry; scrutiny by study or experiment.
2. A process prescribed or assigned for testing qualification; as,
the examination of a student, or of a candidate for admission to the
bar or the ministry.
He neglected the studies, . . . stood low at the examinations.
Macaulay.
Examination in chief, or Direct examination (Law), that examination
which is made of a witness by a party calling him.
-- Cross-examination, that made by the opposite party.
-- Reëxamination, or Re-direct examination, that made by a party
calling a witness, after, and upon matters arising out of, the cross-
examination.
Syn.
-- Search; inquiry; investigation; research; scrutiny; inquisition;
inspection; exploration.
EXAMINATOR
Ex*am"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. examinateur.]
Defn: An examiner. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
EXAMINE
Ex*am"ine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Examined; p. pr. & vb. n. Examining.]
Etym: [L. examinare, examinatum, fr. examen, examinis: cf. F.
examiner. See Examen.]
1. To test by any appropriate method; to inspect carefully with a
view to discover the real character or state of; to subject to
inquiry or inspection of particulars for the purpose of obtaining a
fuller insight into the subject of examination, as a material
substance, a fact, a reason, a cause, the truth of a statement; to
inquire or search into; to explore; as, to examine a mineral; to
examine a ship to know whether she is seaworthy; to examine a
proposition, theory, or question.
Examine well your own thoughts. Chaucer.
Examine their counsels and their cares. Shak.
2. To interrogate as in a judicial proceeding; to try or test by
question; as, to examine a witness in order to elicit testimony, a
student to test his qualifications, a bankrupt touching the state of
his property, etc.
The offenders that are to be examined. Shak.
Syn.
-- To discuss; debate; scrutinize; search into; investigate;
explore. See Discuss.
EXAMINEE
Ex*am`i*nee", n.
Defn: A person examined.
EXAMINER
Ex*am"in*er, n.
Defn: One who examines, tries, or inspects; one who interrogates; an
officer or person charged with the duty of making an examination; as,
an examiner of students for a degree; an examiner in chancery, in the
patent office, etc.
EXAMINERSHIP
Ex*am"in*er*ship, n.
Defn: The office or rank of an examiner.
EXAMINING
Ex*am"in*ing, a.
Defn: Having power to examine; appointed to examine; as, an examining
committee.
EXAMPLARY
Ex"am*pla*ry, a. Etym: [From Example, cf. Exemplary.]
Defn: Serving for example or pattern; exemplary. [Obs.] Hooker.
EXAMPLE
Ex*am"ple, n. Etym: [A later form for ensample, fr. L. exemplum,
orig., what is taken out of a larger quantity, as a sample, from
eximere to take out. See Exempt, and cf. Ensample, Sample.]
1. One or a portion taken to show the character or quality of the
whole; a sample; a specimen.
2. That which is to be followed or imitated as a model; a pattern or
copy.
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as John xiii. 15.
I gave, thou sayest, the example; I led the way. Milton.
3. That which resembles or corresponds with something else; a
precedent; a model.
Such temperate order in so fierce a cause Doth want example. Shak.
4. That which is to be avoided; one selected for punishment and to
serve as a warning; a warning.
Hang him; he'll be made an example. Shak.
Now these things were our examples, to the intent that we should not
lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1 Cor. x. 6.
5. An instance serving for illustration of a rule or precept,
especially a problem to be solved, or a case to be determined, as an
exercise in the application of the rules of any study or branch of
science; as, in trigonometry and grammar, the principles and rules
are illustrated by examples.
Syn.
-- Precedent; case; instance.
-- Example, Instance. The discrimination to be made between these
two words relates to cases in which we give "instances" or "examples"
of things done. An instance denotes the single case then "standing"
before us; if there be others like it, the word does not express this
fact. On the contrary, an example is one of an entire class of like
things, and should be a true representative or sample of that class.
Hence, an example proves a rule or regular course of things; an
instance simply points out what may be true only in the case
presented. A man's life may be filled up with examples of the self-
command and kindness which marked his character, and may present only
a solitary instance of haste or severity. Hence, the word "example"
should never be used to describe what stands singly and alone. We do,
however, sometimes apply the word instance to what is really an
example, because we are not thinking of the latter under this aspect,
but solely as a case which "stands before us." See Precedent.
EXAMPLE
Ex*am"ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exampled; p. pr. & vb. n. Exampling.]
Defn: To set an example for; to give a precedent for; to exemplify;
to give an instance of; to instance. [Obs.] "I may example my
digression by some mighty precedent." Shak.
Burke devoted himself to this duty with a fervid assiduity that has
not often been exampled, and has never been surpassed. J. Morley.
EXAMPLELESS
Ex*am"ple*less, a.
Defn: Without or above example. [R.]
EXAMPLER
Ex*am"pler, n. Etym: [See Exemplar, Example, and cf. Sampler.]
Defn: A pattern; an exemplar. [Obs.]
EXAMPLESS
Ex*am"pless, a.
Defn: Exampleless. [Wrongly formed.] B. Jonson.
EXANGUIOUS
Ex*an"gui*ous, a.
Defn: Bloodless. [Obs.] See Exsanguious. Sir T. Browne.
EXANGULOUS
Ex*an"gu*lous, a. Etym: [Pref ex- + angulous.]
Defn: Having no corners; without angles. [R.]
EXANIMATE
Ex*an"i*mate, a. Etym: [L. exanimatus, p. p. of exanimare to deprive
of life or spirit; ex out + anima air, breath, life, spirit.]
1. Lifeless; dead. [R.] "Carcasses exanimate." Spenser.
2. Destitute of animation; spiritless; disheartened. [R.] "Pale . . .
wretch, exanimate by love." Thomson.
EXANIMATE
Ex*an"i*mate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of animation or of life. [Obs.]
EXANIMATION
Ex*an`i*ma"tion, n.Etym: [L. exanimatio.]
Defn: Deprivation of life or of spirits. [R.] Bailey.
EXANIMOUS
Ex*an"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. exanimus, exanimis; ex out, without +
anima life.]
Defn: Lifeless; dead. [Obs.] Johnson.
EXANNULATE
Ex*an"nu*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + annulate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having the sporangium destitute of a ring; -- said of certain
genera of ferns.
EXANTHEM
Ex*an"them, n.
Defn: Same as Exanthema.
EXANTHEMA
Ex`an*the"ma, n.; pl. Exanthemata. Etym: [L., fr. Gr.exanthème.]
(Med.)
Defn: An efflorescence or discoloration of the skin; an eruption or
breaking out, as in measles, smallpox, scarlatina, and the like
diseases; -- sometimes limited to eruptions attended with fever.
Dunglison.
EXANTHEMATIC; EXANTHEMATOUS
Ex*an`the*mat"ic, Ex`an*them"a*tous, a.
Defn: Of, relating to, or characterized by, exanthema; efflorescent;
as, an exanthematous eruption.
EXANTHESIS
Ex`an*the"sis, n. Etym: [NL., from Gr. Exanthema. ] (Med.)
Defn: An eruption of the skin; cutaneous efflorescence.
EXANTLATE
Ex*ant"late, v. t. Etym: [L. exantlatus, p. p. of exantlare,
exanclare, to endure.]
Defn: To exhaust or wear out. [Obs.] "Seeds . . . wearied or
exantlated." Boyle.
EXANTLATION
Ex`ant*la"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. exantlation.]
Defn: Act of drawing out ; exhaustion. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXARATE
Ex"a*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. exaratus, p. p. of exarare to plow up, to
write; ex out + arare to plow.]
Defn: To plow up; also, to engrave; to write. [Obs.] Blount.
EXARATION
Ex`a*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. exaratio.]
Defn: Act of plowing; also, act of writing. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXARCH
Ex"arch, n. Etym: [L. exarchus, Gr. exarque.]
Defn: A viceroy; in Ravenna, the title of the viceroys of the
Byzantine emperors; in the Eastern Church, the superior over several
monasteries; in the modern Greek Church, a deputy of the patriarch ,
who visits the clergy, investigates ecclesiastical cases, etc.
EXARCHATE
Ex*ar"chate, n. Etym: [LL. exarchatus, fr. L. exarchus: cf. F.
exarchat.]
Defn: The office or the province of an exarch. Jer. Taylor.
EXARILLATE
Ex*ar"il*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + arillate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no aril; -- said of certain seeds, or of the plants
producing them.
EXARTICULATE
Ex`ar*tic"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + articulate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having but one joint; -- said of certain insects.
EXARTICULATION
Ex`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. ex- + articulation.]
Defn: Luxation; the dislocation of a joint. Bailey.
EXASPERATE
Ex*as"per*ate, a. Etym: [L. exasperatus, p. p. of exsasperare to
roughen, exasperate; ex out (intens.) + asperare to make rough, asper
rough. See Asperity.]
Defn: Exasperated; imbittered. [Obs.] Shak.
Like swallows which the exasperate dying year Sets spinning. Mrs.
Browning.
EXASPERATE
Ex*as"per*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exsasperated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exasperating.]
1. To irritate in a high degree; to provoke; to enrage; to excite or
to inflame the anger of; as, to exasperate a person or his feelings.
To exsasperate them against the king of France. Addison.
2. To make grievous, or more grievous or malignant; to aggravate; to
imbitter; as, to exasperate enmity.
To exasperate the ways of death. Sir T. Browne.
Syn.
-- To irritate; provoke. See Irritate.
EXASPERATER
Ex*as"per*a`ter, n.
Defn: One who exasperates or inflames anger, enmity, or violence.
EXASPERATION
Ex*as`per*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exasperatio: cf. F. exaspération.]
1. The act of exasperating or the state of being exasperated;
irritation; keen or bitter anger.
Extorted from him by the exasperation of his spirits. South.
2. Increase of violence or malignity; aggravation; exacerbation.
"Exasperation of the fits." Sir H. Wotton.
EXASPIDEAN
Ex`as*pid"e*an, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the anterior scute
EXAUCTORATE
Ex*auc"tor*ate, v. t.
Defn: See Exauthorate. [Obs.]
EXAUCTORATION
Ex*auc`tor*a"tion, n.
Defn: See Exauthoration.
EXAUGURATE
Ex*au"gu*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. exauguratus, p. p. of exaugurare to
profane; ex out + augurari to act as an augur, fr. augur. ]
Defn: To annul the consecration of; to secularize; to unhellow.
[Obs.] Holland.
EXAUGURATION
Ex*au`gu*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. exauguratio desecration.]
Defn: The act of exaugurating; desecration. [Obs.]
EXAUTHORATE
Ex*au"thor*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. exauctoratus, p. p. of exauctorare to
dismiss; ex out + auctorare to bind to something, to hire, fr.
auctor. See Author.]
Defn: To deprive of authority or office; to depose; to discharge.
[Obs.]
Exauthorated for their unworthiness. Jer. Taylor.
EXAUTHORATION
Ex*au`thor*a"tion, n.
Defn: Deprivation of authority or dignity; degration. [Obs.] Jer.
Taylor.
EXAUTHORIZE
Ex*au"thor*ize, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex- + authorize.]
Defn: To deprive of uthority. [Obs.] Selden.
EXAUTHORIZE
Ex*au"thor*ize, v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex.]
Defn: To deprive of authority. [Obs.] Selden.
EXCALCEATE
Ex*cal"ce*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. excalceatus, p. p. of excalceare to
unshoe. See Calceated.]
Defn: To deprive of shoes. [Obs.] Chambers.
EXCALCEATION
Ex*cal`ce*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving or divesting of shoes. [Obs.] Chambers.
EXCALFACTION
Ex`cal*fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. excalfactio.]
Defn: A heating or warming; calefaction. [Obs.] Blount.
EXCALFACTIVE
Ex`cal*fac"tive, a. Etym: [L. excalfacere to warm; ex out (intens.) +
calfacere to warm.]
Defn: Serving to heat; warming. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
EXCALFACTORY
Ex`cal*fac"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. excalfactorius.]
Defn: Heating; warming. [Obs.] Holland.
EXCALIBUR
Ex*cal"i*bur, n.
Defn: The name of King Arthur's mythical sword. [Written also
Excalibar, Excalibor, Escalibar, and Caliburn.] Tennyson.
EXCAMB; EXCAMBIE
Ex*camb", Ex*cam"bie, v. t. Etym: [LL. excambiare, excambire; L. ex
out + cambire. See Change, and cf. Exchange.] (Scots Law)
Defn: To exchange; -- used with reference to transfers of land.
EXCAMBION; EXCAMBIUM
Ex*cam"bi*on, Ex*cam"bi*um, n. Etym: [LL. excambium. See Excamb.]
(Scots Law)
Defn: Exchange; barter; -- used commonly of lands.
EXCANDESCENCE
Ex`can*des"cence, n. Etym: [L. excandescentia.]
1. A growing hot; a white or glowing heat; incandescence. [R.]
2. Violent anger; a growing angry. [Obs.] Blount.
EXCANDESCENT
Ex`can*des"cent, a. Etym: [L. excandescens, p. pr. of excandescere to
take fire, glow; ex out (intens.) + candescere to begin to glisten or
glow, fr. candere. See Candid.]
Defn: White or glowing with heat. [R.] Ure.
EXCANTATION
Ex`can*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. excantare to charm out. See Ex, and
Chant.]
Defn: Disenchantment by a countercharm. [Obs.] Gayton.
EXCARNATE
Ex*car"nate, v. t. Etym: [LL. excarnatus, p. p. of excarnare; L. ex
out + caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: To deprive or clear of flesh. Grew.
EXCARNATION
Ex`car*na"tion, n.
Defn: The act of depriving or divesting of flesh; excarnification; --
opposed to incarnation.
EXCARNIFICATE
Ex*car"ni*fi*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. ex out + LL. carnificatus, p. p.
carnificare to carnify; cf. L. excarnificare to tear to pieces,
torment. See Carnify.]
Defn: To clear of flesh; to excarnate. Dr. H. More.
EXCARNIFICATION
Ex*car`ni*fi*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of excarnificating or of depriving of flesh;
excarnation. Johnson.
EXCAVATE
Ex"ca*vate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excavated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Excavating().] Etym: [L. excavatus, p. p. of excavare to excavate; ex
out + cavare to make hollow, cavus hollow. See Cave.]
1. To hollow out; to form cavity or hole in; to make hollow by
cutting, scooping, or digging; as, to excavate a ball; to excavate
the earth.
2. To form by hollowing; to shape, as a cavity, or anything that is
hollow; as, to excavate a canoe, a cellar, a channel.
3. (Engin.)
Defn: To dig out and remove, as earth.
The material excavated was usually sand. E. L. Corthell.
Excavating pump, a kind of dredging apparatus for excavating under
water, in which silt and loose material mixed with water are drawn up
by a pump. Knight.
EXCAVATION
Ex`ca*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. excavatio: cf. F. excavation.]
1. The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping,
or digging out a part of a solid mass.
2. A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping. "A winding
excavation." Glover.
3. (Engin.)
(a) An uncovered cutting in the earth, in distinction from a covered
cutting or tunnel.
(b) The material dug out in making a channel or cavity.
The delivery of the excavations at a distance of 250 feet. E. L.
Corthell.
EXCAVATOR
Ex"ca*va`tor, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, excavates or hollows out; a machine, as
a dredging machine, or a tool, for excavating.
EXCAVE
Ex*cave", v. t. Etym: [L. excavare.]
Defn: To excavate. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXCECATE
Ex*ce"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. excaecatus, p. p. of excaecare to blind;
ex (intens.) + caecare to blind, caecus blind.]
Defn: To blind. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXCECATION
Ex`ce*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of making blind. [Obs.] Bp. Richardson.
EXCEDENT
Ex*ced"ent, n. Etym: [L. excedens, -entis, p. pr. of excedere. See
Exceed, v. t.]
Defn: Excess. [R.]
EXCEED
Ex*ceed", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exceeded; p. pr. & vb. n. Exceeding.]
Etym: [L. excedere, excessum, to go away or beyond; ex out + cedere
to go, to pass: cf. F. excéder. See Cede.]
Defn: To go beyond; to proceed beyond the given or supposed limit or
measure of; to outgo; to surpass; -- used both in a good and a bad
sense; as, one man exceeds another in bulk, stature, weight, power,
skill, etc. ; one offender exceeds another in villainy; his rank
exceeds yours.
Name the time, but let it not Exceed three days. Shak.
Observes how much a chintz exceeds mohair. Pope.
Syn.
-- To outdo; surpass; excel; transcend; outstrip; outvie; overtop.
EXCEED
Ex*ceed", v. i.
1. To go too far; to pass the proper bounds or measure. "In our
reverence to whom, we can not possibly exceed." Jer. Taylor.
Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed. Deut. xxv. 3.
2. To be more or greater; to be paramount. Shak.
EXCEEDABLE
Ex*ceed"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of exceeding or surpassing. [Obs.] Sherwood.
EXCEEDER
Ex*ceed"er, n.
Defn: One who exceeds. Bp. Montagu.
EXCEEDING
Ex*ceed"ing, a.
Defn: More than usual; extraordinary; more than sufficient;
measureless. "The exceeding riches of his grace." Eph. ii. 7.
-- Ex*ceed"ing*ness, n. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
EXCEEDING
Ex*ceed"ing, adv.
Defn: In a very great degree; extremely; exceedingly. [Archaic. It is
not joined to verbs.] "The voice exceeding loud." Keble.
His raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow. Mark ix. 3.
The Genoese were exceeding powerful by sea. Sir W. Raleigh.
EXCEEDINGLY
Ex*ceed"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: To a very great degree; beyond what is usual; surpassingly. It
signifies more than very.
EXCEL
Ex*cel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excelled(); p. pr. & vb. n. Excelling.]
Etym: [L. excellere, excelsum; ex out + a root found in culmen
height, top; cf. F. exceller. See Culminate, Column.]
1. To go beyond or surpass in good qualities or laudable deeds; to
outdo or outgo, in a good sense.
Excelling others, these were great; Thou, greater still, must these
excel. Prior.
I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth
darkness. Eccl. ii. 13.
2. To exceed or go beyond; to surpass.
She opened; but to shut Excelled her power; the gates wide open
stood. Milton.
EXCEL
Ex*cel", v. i.
Defn: To surpass others in good qualities, laudable actions, or
acquirements; to be distinguished by superiority; as, to excel in
mathematics, or classics.
Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel. Gen. xlix. 4.
Then peers grew proud in horsemanship t' excel. Pope.
EXCELLENCE
Ex"cel*lence, n. Etym: [F. excellence, L. excellentia.]
1. The quality of being excellent; state of possessing good qualities
in an eminent degree; exalted merit; superiority in virtue.
Consider first that great Or bright infers not excellence. Milton.
2. An excellent or valuable quality; that by which any one excels or
is eminent; a virtue.
With every excellence refined. Beattie.
3. A title of honor or respect; -- more common in the form
excellency.
I do greet your excellence With letters of commission from the king.
Shak.
Syn.
-- Superiority; preëminence; perfection; worth; goodness; purity;
greatness.
EXCELLENCY
Ex"cel*len*cy, n.; pl. Excellencies (.
1. Excellence; virtue; dignity; worth; superiority.
His excellency is over Israel. Ps. lxviii. 34.
Extinguish in men the sense of their own excellency. Hooker.
2. A title of honor given to certain high dignitaries, esp. to
viceroys, ministers, and ambassadors, to English colonial governors,
etc. It was formerly sometimes given to kings and princes.
EXCELLENT
Ex"cel*lent, a. Etym: [F. excellent, L. excellens, -entis, p. pr. of
excellere. See Excel.]
1. Excelling; surpassing others in some good quality or the sum of
qualities; of great worth; eminent, in a good sense; superior; as, an
excellent man, artist, citizen, husband, discourse, book, song, etc.;
excellent breeding, principles, aims, action.
To love . . . What I see excellent in good or fair. Milton.
2. Superior in kind or degree, irrespective of moral quality; -- used
with words of a bad significance. [Obs. or Ironical] "An excellent
hypocrite." Hume.
Their sorrows are most excellent. Beau. & Fl.
Syn.
-- Worthy; choice; prime; valuable; select; exquisite; transcendent;
admirable; worthy.
EXCELLENT
Ex"cel*lent, adv.
Defn: Excellently; eminently; exceedingly. [Obs.] "This comes off
well and excellent." Shak.
EXCELLENTLY
Ex"cel*lent*ly, adv.
1. In an excellent manner; well in a high degree.
2. In a high or superior degree; -- in this literal use, not implying
worthiness. [Obs.]
When the whole heart is excellently sorry. J. Fletcher.
EXCELSIOR
Ex*cel"si*or, a. Etym: [L., compar. of excelsus elevated, lofty, p.
p. of excellere. See Excel, v. t.]
Defn: More lofty; still higher; ever upward.
EXCELSIOR
Ex*cel"si*or, n.
Defn: A kind of stuffing for upholstered furniture, mattresses, etc.,
in which curled shreds of wood are substituted for curled hair.
EXCENTRAL
Ex*cen"tral, a. Etym: [Pref. ex.] (Bot.)
Defn: Out of the center.
EXCENTRIC; EXCENTRICAL
Ex*cen"tric, Ex*cen"tric*al, a.
1. Same as Eccentric, Eccentrical.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: One-sided; having the normally central portion not in the true
center. Gray.
EXCENTRICITY
Ex`cen*tric"i*ty
Defn: . (Math.) Same as Eccentricity.
EXCEPT
Ex*cept", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excepted; p. pr. & vb. n. Excepting.]
Etym: [L. exceptus, p. p. of excipere to take or draw out, to except;
ex out + capere to take: cf. F. excepter. See Capable.]
1. To take or leave out (anything) from a number or a whole as not
belonging to it; to exclude; to omit.
Who never touched The excepted tree. Milton.
Wherein (if we only except the unfitness of the judge) all other
things concurred. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. To object to; to protest against. [Obs.] Shak.
EXCEPT
Ex*cept", v. i.
Defn: To take exception; to object; -- usually followed by to,
sometimes by against; as, to except to a witness or his testimony.
Except thou wilt except against my love. Shak.
EXCEPT
Ex*cept", prep. Etym: [Originally past participle, or verb in the
imperative mode.]
Defn: With exclusion of; leaving or left out; excepting.
God and his Son except, Created thing naught valued he nor . . .
shunned. Milton.
Syn.
-- Except, Excepting, But, Save, Besides. Excepting, except, but,
and save are exclusive. Except marks exclusion more pointedly. "I
have finished all the letters except one," is more marked than "I
have finished all the letters but one." Excepting is the same as
except, but less used. Save is chiefly found in poetry. Besides
(lit., by the side of) is in the nature of addition. "There is no one
here except or but him," means, take him away and there is nobody
present. "There is nobody here besides him," means, hi is present and
by the side of, or in addition to, him is nobody. "Few ladies, except
her Majesty, could have made themselves heard." In this example,
besides should be used, not except.
EXCEPT
Ex*cept", conj.
Defn: Unless; if it be not so that.
And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Gen.
xxxii. 26.
But yesterday you never opened lip, Except, indeed, to drink.
Tennyson.
Note: As a conjunction unless has mostly taken the place of except.
EXCEPTANT
Ex*cept"ant, a.
Defn: Making exception.
EXCEPTING
Ex*cept"ing, prep. & conj.
Defn: , but properly a participle. With rejection or exception of;
excluding; except. "Excepting your worship's presence." Shak.
No one was ever yet made utterly miserable, excepting by himself.
Lubbock.
EXCEPTION
Ex*cep"tion, n. Etym: [L. exceptio: cf. F. exception.]
1. The act of excepting or excluding; exclusion; restriction by
taking out something which would otherwise be included, as in a
class, statement, rule.
2. That which is excepted or taken out from others; a person, thing,
or case, specified as distinct, or not included; as, almost every
general rule has its exceptions.
Such rare exceptions, shining in the dark, Prove, rather than
impeach, the just remark. Cowper.
Note: Often with to.
That proud exception to all nature's laws. Pope.
3. (Law)
Defn: An objection, oral or written, taken, in the course of an
action, as to bail or security; or as to the decision of a judge, in
the course of a trail, or in his charge to a jury; or as to lapse of
time, or scandal, impertinence, or insufficiency in a pleading; also,
as in conveyancing, a clause by which the grantor excepts something
before granted. Burrill.
4. An objection; cavil; dissent; disapprobation; offense; cause of
offense; -- usually followed by to or against.
I will never answer what exceptions they can have against our account
[relation]. Bentley.
He . . . took exception to the place of their burial. Bacon.
She takes exceptions at your person. Shak.
Bill of exceptions (Law), a statement of exceptions to the decision,
or instructions of a judge in the trial of a cause, made for the
purpose of putting the points decided on record so as to bring them
before a superior court or the full bench for review.
EXCEPTIONABLE
Ex*cep"tion*a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to exception or objection; objectionable.
-- Ex*cep"tion*a*ble*ness, n.
This passage I look upon to be the most exceptionable in the whole
poem. Addison.
EXCEPTIONAL
Ex*cep"tion*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exceptionnel.]
Defn: Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare; hence,
better than the average; superior. Lyell.
This particular spot had exceptional advantages. Jowett (Th. )
-- Ex*cep"tion*al*ly(#), adv.
EXCEPTIONER
Ex*cep"tion*er, n.
Defn: One who takes exceptions or makes objections. [Obs.] Milton.
EXCEPTIONLESS
Ex*cep"tion*less, a.
Defn: Without exception.
A universal, . . . exceptionless disqualification. Bancroft.
EXCEPTIOUS
Ex*cep"tious, a.
Defn: Disposed or apt to take exceptions, or to object; captious.
[Obs.]
At least effectually silence the doubtful and exceptious. South.
-- Ex*cep"tious*ness, n. [Obs.] Barrow.
EXCEPTIVE
Ex*cept"ive, a.
Defn: That excepts; including an exception; as, an exceptive
proposition. I. Watts.
A particular and exceptive law. Milton.
EXCEPTLESS
Ex*cept"less, a.
Defn: Not exceptional; usual. [Obs.]
My general and exceptless rashness. Shak.
EXCEPTOR
Ex*cept"or, n. Etym: [L., a scribe.]
Defn: One who takes exceptions. T. Burnet.
EXCEREBRATION
Ex*cer`e*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. excerebratus deprived of brains; ex
out + cerebrum brain.]
Defn: The act of removing or beating out the brains.
EXCEREBROSE
Ex*cer"e*brose`, a. Etym: [See Excerebration.]
Defn: Brainless. [R.]
EXCERN
Ex*cern", v. t. Etym: [L. excernere. See Excrete.]
Defn: To excrete; to throw off through the pores; as, fluids are
excerned in perspiration. [R.] Bacon.
EXCERNENT
Ex*cern"ent, a. Etym: [See Excern.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Connected with, or pertaining to, excretion.
EXCERP
Ex*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. excerpere, excerptum; ex out + carpere to
pick, gather. See Harvest, and cf. Scarce, a.]
Defn: To pick out. [Obs.] Hales.
EXCERPT
Ex*cerpt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excerpted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Excerpting.] Etym: [From L. excerptus, p. p. See Excerp.]
Defn: To select; to extract; to cite; to quote.
Out of which we have excerpted the following particulars. Fuller.
EXCERPT
Ex*cerp"t (277), n.
Defn: An extract; a passage selected or copied from a book or record.
EXCERPTION
Ex*cerp"tion, n. Etym: [L. excerptio.]
1. The act of excerpting or selecting. [R.]
2. That which is selected or gleaned; an extract. [R.]
His excerptions out of the Fathers. Fuller.
EXCERPTIVE
Ex*cerp"tive, a.
Defn: That excerpts, selects, or chooses. D. L. Mackenzie.
EXCERPTOR
Ex*cerp"tor, n.
Defn: One who makes excerpts; a picker; a culler.
EXCESS
Ex*cess", n. Etym: [OE. exces, excess, ecstasy, L. excessus a going
out, loss of self-possession, fr. excedere, excessum, to go out, go
beyond: cf. F. excès. See Exceed.]
1. The state of surpassing or going beyond limits; the being of a
measure beyond sufficiency, necessity, or duty; that which exceeds
what is usual or prover; immoderateness; superfluity; superabundance;
extravagance; as, an excess of provisions or of light.
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the
violet, . . . Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. Shak.
That kills me with excess of grief, this with excess of joy. Walsh.
2. An undue indulgence of the appetite; transgression of proper
moderation in natural gratifications; intemperance; dissipation.
Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess. Eph. v. 18.
Thy desire . . . leads to no excess That reaches blame. Milton.
3. The degree or amount by which one thing or number exceeds another;
remainder; as, the difference between two numbers is the excess of
one over the other. Spherical excess (Geom.), the amount by which the
sum of the three angles of a spherical triangle exceeds two right
angles. The spherical excess is proportional to the area of the
triangle.
EXCESSIVE
Ex*cess"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. excessif.]
Defn: Characterized by, or exhibiting, excess; overmuch.
Excessive grief [is] the enemy to the living. Shak.
Syn.
-- Undue; exorbitant; extreme; overmuch; enormous; immoderate;
monstrous; intemperate; unreasonable. See Enormous --Ex*cess*ive*ly,
adv. -Ex*cess"ive*ness, n.
EXCHANGE
Ex*change", n. Etym: [OE. eschange, eschaunge, OF. eschange, fr.
eschangier, F. échanger, to exchange; pref. ex- out + F. changer. See
Change, and cf. Excamb.]
1. The act of giving or taking one thing in return for another which
is regarded as an equivalent; as, an exchange of cattle for grain.
2. The act of substituting one thing in the place of another; as, an
exchange of grief for joy, or of a scepter for a sword, and the like;
also, the act of giving and receiving reciprocally; as, an exchange
of civilities or views.
3. The thing given or received in return; esp., a publication
exchanged for another. Shak.
4. (Com.)
Defn: The process of setting accounts or debts between parties
residing at a distance from each other, without the intervention of
money, by exchanging orders or drafts, called bills of exchange.
These may be drawn in one country and payable in another, in which
case they are called foreign bills; or they may be drawn and made
payable in the same country, in which case they are called inland
bills. The term bill of exchange is often abbreviated into exchange;
as, to buy or sell exchange.
Note: A in London is creditor to B in New York, and C in London owes
D in New York a like sum. A in London draws a bill of exchange on B
in New York; C in London purchases the bill, by which A receives his
debt due from B in New York. C transmits the bill to D in New York,
who receives the amount from B.
5. (Law)
Defn: A mutual grant of equal interests, the one in consideration of
the other. Estates exchanged must be equal in quantity, as fee simple
for fee simple. Blackstone.
6. The place where the merchants, brokers, and bankers of a city meet
at certain hours, to transact business. In this sense often
contracted to 'Change. Arbitration of exchange. See under
Arbitration.
-- Bill of exchange. See under Bill.
-- Exchange broker. See under Broker.
-- Par of exchange, the established value of the coin or standard of
value of one country when expressed in the coin or standard of
another, as the value of the pound sterling in the currency of France
or the United States. The par of exchange rarely varies, and serves
as a measure for the rise and fall of exchange that is affected by
the demand and supply. Exchange is at par when, for example, a bill
in New York, for the payment of one hundred pounds sterling in
London, can be purchased for the sum. Exchange is in favor of a place
when it can be purchased there at or above par.
-- Telephone exchange, a central office in which the wires of any
two telephones or telephone stations may be connected to permit
conversation.
Syn.
-- Barter; dealing; trade; traffic; interchange.
EXCHANGE
Ex*change", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exchanged;p. pr. & vb. n.
Exchanging.] Etym: [Cf.OF. eschangier, F. échanger. See Exchange, n.]
1. To part with give, or transfer to another in consideration of
something received as an equivalent; -- usually followed by for
before the thing received.
Exchange his sheep for shells, or wool for a sparking pebble or a
diamond. Locke.
2. To part with for a substitute; to lay aside, quit, or resign
(something being received in place of the thing as, to exchange a
palace for cell.
And death for life exchanged foolishly. Spenser.
To shift his being Is to exchange one misery with another. Shak.
3. To give and receive reciprocally, as things of the same kind; to
barter; to swap; as, to exchange horses with a neighbor; to exchange
houses or hats.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Shak.
Syn.
-- To barter; change; commute; interchange; bargain; truck; swap;
traffic.
EXCHANGE
Ex*change", v. i.
Defn: To be changed or received in exchange for; to pass in exchange;
as, dollar exchanges for ten dimes.
EXCHANGEABILITY
Ex*change`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being exchangeable.
The law ought not be contravened by an express article admitting the
exchangeability of such persons. Washington.
EXCHANGEABLE
Ex*change"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf.F. échangeable.]
1. Capable of being exchanged; fit or proper to be exchanged.
The officers captured with Burgoyne were exchangeable within the
powers of General Howe. Marshall.
2. Available for making exchanges; ratable. "An exchangeable value."
J. S. Mill.
EXCHANGEABLY
Ex*change"a*bly, adv.
Defn: By way of exchange.
EXCHANGE EDITOR
Ex*change" ed"i*tor.
Defn: An editor who inspects, and culls from, periodicals, or
exchanges, for his own publication.
EXCHANGER
Ex*chan"ger, n.
Defn: One who exchanges; one who practices exchange. Matt.
EXCHEAT
Ex*cheat", n.
Defn: See Escheat. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXCHEATOR
Ex*cheat"or, n.
Defn: See Escheator. [Obs.]
EXCHEQUER
Ex*cheq"uer, n. Etym: [OE. escheker, OF. eichekier, fr. LL.
scaccarium. See Checker, Chess, Check.]
1. One of the superior courts of law; -- so called from a checkered
cloth, which covers, or formerly covered, the table. [Eng.]
Note: The exchequer was a court of law and equity. In the revenue
department, it had jurisdiction over the proprietary rights of the
crown against subjects; in the common law department, it administered
justice in personal actions between subject and subject. A person
proceeding against another in the revenue department was said to
exchequer him. The judges of this court were one chief and four
puisne barons, so styled. The Court of Exchequer Chamber sat as court
of error in which the judgments of each of the superior courts of
common law, in England, were subject to revision by the judges of the
other two sitting collectively. Causes involving difficult questions
of law were sometimes after argument, adjourned into this court from
the other courts, for debate before judgment in the court below.
Recent legislation in England (1880) has abolished the Court of
Exchequer and the Court of Exchequer Chamber, as distinct tribunals,
a single board of judiciary, the High Court of Justice, being
established for the trial of all classes of civil cases. Wharton.
2. The department of state having charge of the collection and
management of the royal revenue. [Eng.] Hence, the treasury; and,
colloquially, pecuniary possessions in general; as, the company's
exchequer is low. Barons of the exchequer. See under Baron.
-- Chancellor of the exchequer. See under Chancellor.
-- Exchequer bills or bonds (Eng.), bills of money, or promissory
bills, issued from the exchequer by authority of Parliament; a
species of paper currency emitted under the authority of the
government, and bearing interest.
EXCHEQUER
Ex*cheq"uer, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exchequered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exchequering.]
Defn: To institute a process against (any one) in the Court of
Exchequer.
EXCIDE
Ex*cide", v. t. Etym: [L. excidere, excisum; ex out + caedere to cut.
See Concise, and cf. Excise to cut off.]
Defn: To cut off. [R.]
EXCIPIENT
Ex*cip"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. excipients, -entis, p. pr. of exipere. See
Except, v. t.]
Defn: Taking an exception.
EXCIPIENT
Ex*cip"i*ent, n.
1. An exceptor. [R.]
2. (Med.)
Defn: An inert or slightly active substance used in preparing
remedies as a vehicle or medium of administration for the medicinal
agents. Chambers.
EXCIPLE; EXCIPULUM
Ex"ci*ple, Ex*cip"u*lum, n. Etym: [NL. excipulum, fr. L. excipere.
See Except.] (Bot.)
Defn: The outer part of the fructification of most lichens.
EXCISABLE
Ex*cis"a*ble, a.
Defn: Liable or subject to excise; as, tobacco in an excisable
commodity.
EXCISE
Ex*cise", n. Etym: [Apparently fr. L. excisum cut off, fr. excidere
to cut out or off; ex out, off + caedere to cut; or, as the word was
formerly written accise, fr. F. accise, LL. accisia, as if fr. L.
accidere, accisum, to cut into; ad + caedere to cut; but prob.
transformed fr. OF. assise, LL. assisa, assisia, assize. See Assize,
Concise.]
1. In inland duty or impost operating as an indirect tax on the
consumer, levied upon certain specified articles, as, tobacco, ale,
spirits, etc., grown or manufactured in the country. It is also
levied to pursue certain trades and deal in certain commodities.
Certain direct taxes (as, in England, those on carriages, servants,
plate, armorial bearings, etc.), are included in the excise. Often
used adjectively; as, excise duties; excise law; excise system.
The English excise system corresponds to the internal revenue system
in the United States. Abbot.
An excise . . . is a fixed, absolute, and direct charge laid on
merchandise, products, or commodities. 11 Allen's (Mass. ) Rpts.
2. That department or bureau of the public service charged with the
collection of the excise taxes. [Eng.]
EXCISE
Ex*cise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excised; p. pr. & vb. n. Excising.]
1. To lay or impose an excise upon.
2. To impose upon; to overcharge. [Prov. Eng.]
EXCISE
Ex*cise", v. t. Etym: [See Excide.]
Defn: To cut out or off; to separate and remove; as, to excise a
tumor.
EXCISEMAN
Ex*cise"man, n.; pl. Excisemen (.
Defn: An officer who inspects and rates articles liable to excise
duty. Macaulay.
EXCISION
Ex*ci"sion, n. Etym: [L. excisio: cf. F. excision. See Excide.]
1. The act of excising or cutting out or off; extirpation;
destruction.
Such conquerors are the instruments of vengeance on those nations
that have . . . grown ripe for excision. Atterbury.
2. (Eccl.)
Defn: The act of cutting off from the church; excommunication.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: The removal, especially of small parts, with a cutting
instrument. Dunglison.
EXCITABILITY
Ex*cit"a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. excitabilité.]
1. The quality of being readily excited; proneness to be affected by
exciting causes.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The property manifested by living organisms, and the elements
and tissues of which they are constituted, of responding to the
action of stimulants; irritability; as, nervous excitability.
EXCITABLE
Ex*cit"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. excitabilis inciting: cf. F. excitable.]
Defn: Capable of being excited, or roused into action; susceptible of
excitement; easily stirred up, or stimulated.
EXCITANT
Ex*cit"ant, a. Etym: [L. excitans, -antis, p. pr. of excitare: cf. F.
excitant.]
Defn: Tending to excite; exciting.
EXCITANT
Ex*cit"ant, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: An agent or influence which arouses vital activity, or produces
increased action, in a living organism or in any of its tissues or
parts; a stimulant.
EXCITATE
Ex*cit"ate, v. t. Etym: [L. excitatus, p.p. of excitare. See Excite.]
Defn: To excite. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXCITATION
Ex`ci*ta"tion n. Etym: [L. excitatio: cf. F. excitation.]
1. The act of exciting or putting in motion; the act of rousing up or
awakening. Bacon.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of producing excitement (stimulation); also, the
excitement produced.
EXCITATIVE
Ex*cit"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. excitatif.]
Defn: Having power to excite; tending or serving to excite;
excitatory. Barrow.
EXCITATOR
Ex"ci*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L., one who rouses.] (Elec.)
Defn: A kind of discarder.
EXCITATORY
Ex*cit"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. excitatoire.]
Defn: Tending to excite; containing excitement; excitative.
EXCITE
Ex*cite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excited; p. pr. & vb. n. exciting.]
Etym: [L. excitare; ex out + citare to move rapidly, to rouse: cf.
OF. esciter, exciter, F. exciter. See Cite.]
1. To call to activity in any way; to rouse to feeling; to kindle to
passionate emotion; to stir up to combined or general activity; as,
to excite a person, the spirits, the passions; to excite a mutiny or
insurrection; to excite heat by friction.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: To call forth or increase the vital activity of an organism, or
any of its parts.
Syn.
-- To incite; awaken; animate; rouse or arouse; stimulate; inflame;
irritate; provoke.
-- To Excite, Incite. When we excite we rouse into action feelings
which were less strong; when we incite we spur on or urge forward to
a specific act or end. Demosthenes excited the passions of the
Athenians against Philip, and thus incited the whole nation to unite
in the war against him. Antony, by his speech over the body of Cæsar,
so excited the feelings of the populace, that Brutus and his
companions were compelled to flee from Rome; many however, were
incited to join their standard, not only by love of liberty, but
hopes of plunder.
EXCITEFUL
Ex*cite"ful, n.
Defn: Full of exciting qualities; as, an exciteful story; exciteful
players. Chapman.
EXCITEMENT
Ex*cite"ment n. Etym: [Cf. OF. excitement, escitement.]
1. The act of exciting, or the state of being roused into action, or
of having increased action; impulsion; agitation; as, an excitement
of the people.
2. That which excites or rouses; that which moves, stirs, or induces
action; a motive.
The cares and excitements of a season of transition and struggle.
Talfowrd.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: A state of aroused or increased vital activity in an organism,
or any of its organs or tissues.
EXCITER
Ex*cit"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, excites.
Hope is the grand exciter of industry. Dr. H. More.
EXCITING
Ex*cit"ing, a.
Defn: Calling or rousing into action; producing excitement; as,
exciting events; an exciting story.
-- Ex*cit"ing*ly, adv. Exciting causes (Med.), those which
immediately produce disease, or those which excite the action of
predisposing causes.
EXCITIVE
Ex*cit"ive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to excite; excitative. [R.] Bamfield.
EXCITIVE
Ex*cit"ive, n.
Defn: That which excites; an excitant. [R.]
EXCITO-MOTION
Ex*ci`to-mo"tion, n. (Physiol.)
Defn: Motion excited by reflex nerves. See Excito-motory.
EXCITO-MOTOR
Ex*ci`to-mo"tor, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Excitomotory; as, excito-motor power or causes.
EXCITO-MOTORY
Ex*ci`to-mo"to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Exciting motion; -- said of that portion of the nervous system
concerned in reflex action, by which impressions are transmitted to a
nerve center and then reflected back so as to produce muscular
contraction without sensation or volition.
EXCITO-NUTRIENT
Ex*ci`to-nu"tri*ent, a (Physiol.)
Defn: Exciting nutrition; said of the reflex influence by which the
nutritional processes are either excited or modified.
EXCITO-SECRETORY
Ex*ci`to-se*cre"to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Exciting secretion; -- said of the influence exerted by reflex
action on the function of secretion, by which the various glands are
excited to action.
EXCLAIM
Ex*claim", v. t.& i. [imp. & p. p. Exclaimed;p. pr. & vb. n.
Exclaiming.] Etym: [L. exclamare, exclamatum; ex + clamare to cry
out; cf. OF. exclamer. See Clam.]
Defn: To cry out from earnestness or passion; to utter with
vehemence; to call out or declare loudly; to protest vehemently; to
vociferate; to shout; as, to exclaim against oppression with wonder
or astonishment; "The field is won!" he exclaimed.
EXCLAIM
Ex*claim", n.
Defn: Outcry; clamor. [Archaic]
Cursing cries and deep exclaims. Shak.
EXCLAIMER
Ex*claim"er, n.
Defn: One who exclaims.
EXCLAMATION
Ex`cla*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. exclamatio: cf. F. exclamation.]
1. A loud calling or crying out; outcry; loud or emphatic utterance;
vehement vociferation; clamor; that which is cried out, as an
expression of feeling; sudden expression of sound or words indicative
of emotion, as in surprise, pain, grief, joy, anger, etc.
Exclamations against abuses in the church. Hooker.
Thus will I drown your exclamations. Shak.
A festive exclamation not unsuited to the occasion. Trench.
2. (Rhet.)
Defn: A word expressing outcry; an interjection; a word expressing
passion, as wonder, fear, or grief.
3. (Print.)
Defn: A mark or sign by which outcry or emphatic utterance is marked;
thus [!]; -- called also exclamation point.
EXCLAMATIVE
Ex*clam"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exclamatif.]
Defn: Exclamatory. Earle.
-- Ex*clam"a*tive*ly, adv.
EXCLAMATORY
Ex*clam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing, expressing, or using exclamation; as, an
exclamatory phrase or speaker. South.
-- Ex*clam"a*to*ti*ly, adv.
EXCLAVE
Ex*clave", n. Etym: [Formed fr. enclave by substitution of ex- for
en-]
Defn: A portion of a country which is separated from the main part
and surrounded by politically alien territory. [Recent.]
Note: The same territory is an enclave in respect to the surrounding
country and an exclave with respect to the country to which it is
politically attached.
EXCLUDE
Ex*clude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excluded; p. pr. & vb. n. Excluding.]
Etym: [L. excludere, exclusum; ex out + claudere to shut. See Close.]
1. To shut out; to hinder from entrance or admission; to debar from
participation or enjoyment; to deprive of; to except; -- the opposite
to admit; as, to exclude a crowd from a room or house; to exclude the
light; to exclude one nation from the ports of another; to exclude a
taxpayer from the privilege of voting.
And none but such, from mercy I exclude. Milton.
2. To thrust out or eject; to expel; as, to exclude young animals
from the womb or from eggs. Excluded middle. (logic) The name given
to the third of the "three logical axioms," so-called, namely, to
that one which is expressed by the formula: "Everything is either A
or Not-A." no third state or condition being involved or allowed. See
Principle of contradiction, under Contradiction.
EXCLUSION
Ex*clu"sion, n. Etym: [L. exclusio: cf. F. exclusion. See Exclude.]
1. The act of excluding, or of shutting out, whether by thrusting out
or by preventing admission; a debarring; rejection; prohibition; the
state of being excluded.
His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss. Milton.
The exclusion of the duke from the crown of England and Ireland.
Hume.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act of expelling or ejecting a fetus or an egg from the
womb.
3. Thing emitted. Sir T. Browne.
EXCLUSIONARY
Ex*clu"sion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to exclude; causing exclusion; exclusive.
EXCLUSIONISM
Ex*clu"sion*ism, n.
Defn: The character, manner, or principles of an exclusionist.
EXCLUSIONIST
Ex*clu"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who would exclude another from some right or privilege;
esp., one of the anti-popish politicians of the time of Charles
EXCLUSIVE
Ex*clu"sive a. Etym: [Cf. F. exclusif.]
1. Having the power of preventing entrance; debarring from
participation or enjoyment; possessed and enjoyed to the exclusion of
others; as, exclusive bars; exclusive privilege; exclusive circles of
society.
2. Not taking into the account; excluding from consideration; --
opposed to inclusive; as, five thousand troops, exclusive of
artillery.
EXCLUSIVE
Ex*clu"sive, n.
Defn: One of a coterie who exclude others; one who from real of
affected fastidiousness limits his acquaintance to a select few.
EXCLUSIVENESS
Ex*clu"sive*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being exclusive.
EXCLUSIVISM
Ex*clu"siv*ism, n.
Defn: The act or practice of excluding being exclusive;
exclusiveness.
EXCLUSIVIST
Ex*clu"siv*ist, n.
Defn: One who favor or practices any from of exclusiveness or
exclusivism.
The field of Greek mythology . . . the favorite sporting ground of
the exclusivists of the solar theory. Gladstone.
EXCLUSORY
Ex*clu"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. exclusorius.]
Defn: Able to exclude; excluding; serving to exclude.
EXCOCT
Ex*coct" v. t. Etym: [L. excoctus, p.p. of excoquere to excoct. See
3d Cook.]
Defn: To boil out; to produce by boiling. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXCOCTION
Ex*coc"tion. Etym: [L. excoctio.]
Defn: The act of excocting or boiling out. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXCOGITATE
Ex*cog"i*tate v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excogitated; p. pr. & vb. n..
Excogitating.] Etym: [L. excogitatus, p. p. of excogitare to
excogitate; ex out + cogitare to think. See Cogitate.]
Defn: To think out; to find out or discover by thinking; to devise;
to contrive. "Excogitate strange arts." Stirling.
This evidence . . . thus excogitated out of the general theory.
Whewell.
EXCOGITATE
Ex*cog"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To cogitate. [R.] Bacon.
EXCOGITATION
Ex*cog`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. excogitatio: cf. F. excogitation.]
Defn: The act of excogitating; a devising in the thoughts; invention;
contrivance.
EXCOMMUNE
Ex`com*mune" v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. excommuier. See Excommunicate.]
Defn: To exclude from participation in; to excommunicate. [Obs.]
Poets . . . were excommuned Plato's common wealth Gayton.
EXCOMMUNICABLE
Ex`com*mu"ni*ca*ble, a. Etym: [See Excommunicate.]
Defn: Liable or deserving to be excommunicated; making
excommunication possible or proper. "Persons excommunicable ." Bp.
Hall.
What offenses are excommunicable Kenle.
EXCOMMUNICANT
Ex`com*mu"ni*cant, n.
Defn: One who has been excommunicated.
EXCOMMUNICATE
Ex"com*mu"ni*cate, a. Etym: [L. excommunicatus, p. p. of communicare
to excommunicate; ex out + communicare. See Communicate.]
Defn: Excommunicated; interdicted from the rites of the church.
-- n.
Defn: One excommunicated.
Thou shalt stand cursed and excommunicate. Shak.
EXCOMMUNICATE
Ex`com*mu"ni*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excommunicated; p. pr. & vb.
n. Excommunicating.]
1. To put out of communion; especially, to cut off, or shut out, from
communion with the church, by an ecclesiastical sentence.
2. To lay under the ban of the church; to interdict.
Martin the Fifth . . . was the first that excommunicated the reading
of heretical books. Miltin.
EXCOMMUNICATION
Ex`com*mu`ni*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. excommunicatio: cf. F.
excommunication.]
Defn: The act of communicating or ejecting; esp., an ecclesiastical
censure whereby the person against whom it is pronounced is, for the
time, cast out of the communication of the church; exclusion from
fellowship in things spiritual.
Note: excommunication is of two kinds, the lesser and the greater;
the lesser excommunication is a separation or suspension from
partaking of the Eucharist; the greater is an absolute execution of
the offender from the church and all its rights and advantages, even
from social intercourse with the faithful.
EXCOMMUNICATOR
Ex`com*mu"ni*ca`tor n. Etym: [Cf. LL. excommunicator.]
Defn: One who excommunicates.
EXCOMMUNION
Ex`com*mun"ion
Defn: . A shutting out from communion; excommunication. [Obs.]
Excommunication is the utmost of ecclesiastical judicature. Milton.
EXCORIABLE
Ex*co"ri*a*ble
Defn: . Capable of being excoriated.
The scaly covering of fishes, . . . even in such as are excoriatable.
Sir T. Browne.
EXCORIATE
Ex*co"ri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excoriated;p. pr. & vb. n.
excoriating.] Etym: [L. excoriare; ex out + corium hide. cf. Scourge;
see Cuirass.]
Defn: To strip or wear off the skin of; to abrade; to gall; to break
and remove the cuticle of, in any manner, as by rubbing, beating, or
by the action of acrid substances.
EXCORIATION
Ex*co`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. excoriation.]
1. The act of excoriating or flaying, or state of being excoriated,
or stripped of the skin; abrasion.
2. Stripping of possession; spoliation. [Obs.]
A pitiful excoriation of the poorer sort. Howell.
EXCORTICATE
Ex*cor"ti*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. ex out, from + cortex, corticis,
bark.]
Defn: To strip of bark or skin; to decorticate. [Obs.] "Excorticate
the tree." Evelyn.
EXCORTICATION
Ex*cor`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. excortication.]
Defn: The act of stripping off bark, or the state of being thus
stripped; decortication.
EXCREABLE
Ex"cre*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. excreabilis, exscreabilis, fr. exscreare.
See Excreate.]
Defn: Capable of being discharged by spitting. [Obs.] Swift.
EXCREATE
Ex"cre*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. excreare, exsreare; ex out + screare to
hawk.]
Defn: To spit out; to discharge from the throat by hawking and
spitting. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXCREATION
Ex`cre*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. excreatio, exscreatio.]
Defn: Act of spitting out. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXCREMENT
Ex"cre*ment, n. Etym: [L. excrementum, fr. excernere, excretum, to
skin out, discharge: cf. F. excrément. See Excrete.]
Defn: Matter excreted and ejected; that which is excreted or cast out
of the animal body by any of the natural emunctories; especially,
alvine, discharges; dung; ordure.
EXCREMENT
Ex"cre*ment, n. Etym: [L. excrementum, fr. excrescere, excretum, to
grow out. See Excrescence.]
Defn: An excrescence or appendage; an outgrowth. [Obs.] "Ornamental
excrements." Fuller.
Living creatures put forth (after their period of growth) nothing
that is young but hair and nails, which are excrements and no parts.
Bacon.
EXCREMENTAL
Ex`cre*men"tal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to excrement.
EXCREMENTITIAL; EXCREMENTITIOUS
Ex`cre*men*ti"tial, Ex`cre*men*ti"tious, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, excrement; of the nature of
excrement.
EXCREMENTIVE
Ex`cre*men"tive, a.
Defn: Serving to excrete; connected with excretion or excrement. [R.]
"The excrementive parts." Felthman.
EXCREMENTIZE
Ex"cre*ment*ize` v. i.
Defn: To void excrement. [R.] Life of A. Wood
EXCRESCENCE
Ex*cres"cence n. Etym: [F. excrescence, excroissanse, L. excrescentia
excrescences, neut. pl. of p. pr. of excrescere. See Excrescent.]
Defn: An excrescent appendage, as, a wart or tumor; anything growing
out unnaturally from anything else; a preternatural or morbid
development; hence, a troublesome superfluity; an incumbrance; as, an
excrescence on the body, or on a plant. "Excrescences of joy." Jer.
Taylor.
The excrescences of the Spanish monarchy. Addison.
EXCRESCENCY
Ex*cres"cen*cy, n.
Defn: Excrescence. [Obs.]
EXCRESCENT
Ex*cres"cent, a. Etym: [L. excresens, -entis, p. pr. of excrescere to
grow out ; ex out + crescere to grow. See Crescent.]
Defn: Growing out in an abnormal or morbid manner or as a
superfluity.
Expunge the whole, or lip the excrescent parts. Pope.
Excrescent letter (Philol.), a letter which has been added to a root;
as, the d in alder (AS. alr) is an excrescent letter.
EXCRESCENTIAL
Ex`cres*cen"tial a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, an excrescence. [R.] Hawthorne.
EXCRETA
Ex*cre"ta, n. pl. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Matters to be excreted.
EXCRETE
Ex*crete", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Excreting.]
Etym: [L. excretus, p. p. of excernere to sift out, discharge; ex out
+ cernere to sift, separate. See Crisis.]
Defn: To separate and throw off; to excrete urine. "The mucus thus
excreted." Hooper.
EXCRETIN
Ex"cre*tin, n. Etym: [From Excrete.] (physiol. Chem.)
Defn: A nonnitrogenous, crystalline body, present in small quantity
in human fæces.
EXCRETION
Ex*cre"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. excrétion.]
1. The act of excreting.
To promote secretion and excretion. Pereira.
2. That which is excreted; excrement. Bacon.
EXCRETIVE
Ex*cre"tive, a.
Defn: Having the power of excreting, or promoting excretion. Harvey.
EXCRETORY
Ex*cre"to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. excrétoire.]
Defn: Having the quality of excreting, or throwing off
excrementitious matter.
EXCRUCIABLE
Ex*cru"ci*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. excruciabilis.]
Defn: Liable to torment. [R.] Bailey.
EXCRUCIATE
Ex*cru"ci*ate, a. Etym: [L. excruciatus, p. p. of excruciare to
excruciate; ex out + cruciare to put to death on a cross, to torment.
See Cruciate, Cross.]
Defn: Excruciated; tortured.
And here my heart long time excruciate. Chapman.
EXCRUCIATE
Ex*cru"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excruciated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Excruciating.]
Defn: To inflict agonizing pain upon; to torture; to torment greatly;
to rack; as, to excruciate the heart or the body.
Their thoughts, like devils, them excruciate. Drayton.
EXCRUCIATING
Ex*cru"ci*a`ting
Defn: . Torturing; racking. "Excruciating pain." V. Knox.
"Excruciating fears." Bentley -- Ex*cru"ci*a`ting*ly, adv.
EXCRUCIATION
Ex*cru`ci*a"tion n. Etym: [L. excruciatio.]
Defn: The act of inflicting agonizing pain, or the state of being
thus afflicted; that which excruciates; torture. Feltham.
EXCUBATION
Ex`cu*ba"tion n. Etym: [L. excubatio, fr. excubare to lie out on
guard; ex out on guard; ex out + cubare to lie down.]
Defn: A keeping watch. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXCUBITORIUM
Ex*cu`bi*to"ri*um, n. Etym: [LL. excubitorium; ex out + cubare,
cubitum, to lie.] (Eccl. Antiq.)
Defn: A gallery in a church, where persons watched all night.
EXCULPABLE
Ex*cul"pa*ble
Defn: . Capable of being exculpated; deserving exculpation. Sir G.
Buck.
EXCULPATE
Ex*cul"pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exculpated, p. pr. & vb. n..
Exculpating ( Etym: [L. ex out + culpatus, p. p. of culpare to find
fault with, to blame, culpa fault. See Culpable.]
Defn: To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless;
to relieve of blame; to acquit.
He exculpated himself from being the author of the heroic epistle.
Mason.
I exculpate him further for his writing against me. Milman.
Syn.
-- To exonerate; absolve; clear; acquit; excuse; vindicate; justify.
EXCULPATION
Ex`cul*pa"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. exculpatio.]
Defn: The act of exculpating from alleged fault or crime; that which
exculpates; excuse.
These robbers, however, were men who might have made out a strong
case in exculpation of themselves. Southey.
EXCULPATORY
Ex*cul"pa*to*ry
Defn: . Clearing, or tending to clear, from alleged fault or guilt;
excusing. "An exculpatory letter." Johnson.
EXCUR
Ex*cur" i. Etym: [L. excurrere. See Excurrent.]
Defn: To run out or forth; to extend. [Obs.] Harvey.
EXCURRENT
Ex*cur"rent, a. Etym: [L. excurrens, p. p. of excurrere, excursum, to
run out; ex out + currere to run. See Current.]
1. Running or flowing out; as: (Bot.)
Defn: Running or extending out; as, an excurrent midrib, one which
projects beyond the apex of a leaf; an excurrent steam or trunk, one
which continues to the top.
2. (Zoöl)
Defn: Characterized by a current which flows outward; as, an
excurrent orifice or tube.
EXCURSE
Ex*curse", v. t. Etym: [See excurrent.]
Defn: To journey or pass thought. [R.]
EXCURSION
Ex*cur"sion. Etym: [L. excursio: cf. F. excursion. See Excurrent.]
1. A running or going out or forth; an expedition; a sally.
Far on excursion toward the gates of hell. Milton.
They would make excursions and waste the country. Holland.
2. A journey chiefly for recreation; a pleasure trip; a brief tour;
as, an excursion into the country.
3. A wandering from a subject; digression.
I am not in a scribbling mood, and shall therefore make no
excursions. Cowper.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: Length of stroke, as of a piston; stroke. [An awkward use of
the word.]
Syn.
-- Journey; tour; ramble; jaunt. See Journey.
EXCURSIONIST
Ex*cur"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who goes on an excursion, or pleasure trip.
EXCURSIVE
Ex*cur"sive, a.
Defn: Prone to make excursions; wandering; roving; exploring; as, an
excursive fancy.
The course of excursive . . . understandings. I. Taylor.
-- Ex*cur"sive*ly, adv.
-- Ex*cur"sive*ness, , n.
EXCURSUS
Ex*cur"sus, n. Etym: [L., fr. excurrere, excursum. See Excurrent.]
Defn: A dissertation or digression appended to a work, and containing
a more extended exposition of some important point or topic.
EXCUSABLE
Ex*cus"a*ble a. Etym: [L. excusabilis: cf. F. excusable. See Excuse.]
Defn: That may be excused, forgiven, justified, or acquitted of
blame; pardonable; as, the man is excusable; an excusable action.
-- Ex*cus"a*ble*ness, n.
-- Ex*cus"a*bly, adv.
The excusableness of my dissatisfaction. Boyle.
EXCUSATION
Ex`cu*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. excusatio: cf. F. excusation.]
Defn: Excuse; apology. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXCUSATOR
Ex`cu*sa"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who makes, or is authorized to make, an excuse; an
apologist. [Obs.] Hume.
EXCUSATORY
Ex*cus"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Making or containing excuse or apology; apologetical; as, an
excusatory plea.
EXCUSE
Ex*cuse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Excused; p. pr. & vb. n. Excusing.]
Etym: [OE. escusen, cusen, OF. escuser, excuser, F. excuser, fr. L.
excusare; ex out + causa cause, causari to plead. See Cause.]
1. To free from accusation, or the imputation of fault or blame; to
clear from guilt; to release from a charge; to justify by extenuating
a fault; to exculpate; to absolve; to acquit.
A man's persuasion that a thing is duty, will not excuse him from
guilt in practicing it, if really and indeed it be against Gog's law.
Abp. Sharp.
2. To pardon, as a fault; to forgive entirely, or to admit to be
little censurable, and to overlook; as, we excuse irregular conduct,
when extraordinary circumstances appear to justify it.
I must excuse what can not be amended. Shak.
3. To regard with indulgence; to view leniently or to overlook; to
pardon.
And in our own (excuse some courtly stains.) No whiter page than
Addison remains. Pope.
4. To free from an impending obligation or duty; hence, to disengage;
to dispense with; to release by favor; also, to remit by favor; not
to exact; as, to excuse a forfeiture.
I pray thee have me excused. xiv. 19.
5. To relieve of an imputation by apology or defense; to make apology
for as not seriously evil; to ask pardon or indulgence for.
Think ye that we excuse ourselves to you 2 Cor. xii. 19.
Syn.
-- To vindicate; exculpate; absolve; acquit. - To Pardon, Excuse,
Forgive. A superior pardons as an act of mercy or generosity; either
a superior or an equal excuses. A crime, great fault, or a grave
offence, as one against law or morals, may be pardoned; a small
fault, such as a failure in social or conventional obligations,
slight omissions or neglects may be excused. Forgive relates to
offenses against one's self, and punishment foregone; as, to forgive
injuries or one who has injured us; to pardon grave offenses, crimes,
and criminals; to excuse an act of forgetfulness, an unintentional
offense. Pardon is also a word of courtesy employed in the sense of
excuse.
EXCUSE
Ex*cuse", n. Etym: [Cf. F. excuse. See Excuse, v. t.]
1. The act of excusing, apologizing, exculpating, pardoning,
releasing, and the like; acquittal; release; absolution;
justification; extenuation.
Pleading so wisely in excuse of it. Shak.
2. That which is offered as a reason for being excused; a plea
offered in extenuation of a fault or irregular deportment; apology;
as, an excuse for neglect of duty; excuses for delay of payment.
Hence with denial vain and coy excuse. Milton.
3. That which excuses; that which extenuates or justifies a fault.
"It hath the excuse of youth." Shak.
If eyes were made for seeing. Then beauty is its own excuse for
being. Emerson.
Syn.
-- See Apology.
EXCUSELESS
Ex*cuse"less, a.
Defn: Having no excuse; not admitting of excuse or apology. Whillock.
EXCUSEMENT
Ex*cuse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. excusement.]
Defn: Excuse. [Obs.] Gower.
EXCUSER
Ex*cus"er, n.
1. One who offers excuses or pleads in extenuation of the fault of
another. Swift.
2. One who excuses or forgives another. Shelton.
EXCUSS
Ex*cuss", v. t. Etym: [L. excussus. p. p. of excutere to shake off;
ex out, from + quatere to shake. Cf. Quash.]
1. To shake off; to discard. [R.]
To excuss the notation of a Geity out of their minds. Bp.
Stillingfleet.
2. To inspect; to investigate; to decipher. [R.]
To take some pains in excusing some old monuments. F. Junius (1654).
3. To seize and detain by law, as goods. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
EXCUSSION
Ex*cus"sion, n. Etym: [L. excussio a shaking down; LL., a threshing
of corn: cf. F. excussion.]
Defn: The act of excusing; seizure by law. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
EXEAT
Ex"e*at, n. Etym: [L., let him go forth.]
1. A license for absence from a college or a religious house. [Eng.]
Shipley.
2. A permission which a bishop grants to a priest to go out of his
diocese. Wharton.
EXECRABLE
Ex"e*cra*ble, a. Etym: [L. execrabilis, exsecrabilis: cf. F.
exécrable. See Execrate.]
Defn: Deserving to be execrated; accursed; damnable; detestable;
abominable; as, an execrable wretch. "Execrable pride." Hooker.
-- Ex"e*cra*ble*ness, n.
-- Ex"e*cra*bly, adv.
EXECRATE
Ex"e*crate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Execrated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Execrating.] Etym: [L. execratus, exsecratus, p. p. of execrare,
exsecrare, to execrate; ex out + sacer holy, sacred. See Sacred.]
Defn: To denounce evil against, or to imprecate evil upon; to curse;
to protest against as unholy or detestable; hence, to detest utterly;
to abhor; to abominate. "They . . . execrate their lct." Cowper.
EXECRATION
Ex`e*cra"tion, n. Etym: [L. execratio, exsecratio: cf. F.
exécration.]
1. The act of cursing; a curse dictated by violent feelings of
hatred; imprecation; utter detestation expressed.
Cease, gentle, queen, these execrations. Shak.
2. That which is execrated; a detested thing.
Ye shall be an execration and . . . a curse. Jer. xlii. 18.
Syn.
-- See Malediction.
EXECRATIVE
Ex"e*cra*tive, a.
Defn: Cursing; imprecatory; vilifying. Carlyle.
-- Ex"e*cra*tive*ly, adv.
EXECRATIVE
Ex"e*cra*tive, n.
Defn: A word used for cursing; an imprecatory word or expression.
Earle.
EXECRATORY
Ex"e*cra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of the nature of execration; imprecatory; denunciatory. C.
Kingsley.
-- n.
Defn: A formulary of execrations. L. Addison.
EXECT
Ex*ect", v. t. Etym: [See Exsect.]
Defn: To cut off or out. [Obs.] See Exsect. Harvey.
EXECTION
Ex*ec"tion, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Exsection.
EXECUTABLE
Ex"e*cu`ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being executed; feasible; as, an executable project.
[R.]
EXECUTANT
Ex*ec"u*tant, n.
Defn: One who executes or performs; esp., a performer on a musical
instrument.
Great executants on the organ. De Quincey.
EXECUTE
Ex"e*cute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Executed; p. pr. & vb. n. Executing.]
Etym: [F. exécuter, L. executus, exsecutus, p. p. of exequi to follow
to the end, pursue; ex out + sequi to follow. See Second, Sue to
follow up, and cf. Exequy.]
1. To follow out or through to the end; to carry out into complete
effect; to complete; to finish; to effect; to perform;
Why delays His hand to execute what his decree Fixed on this day
Milton.
2. To complete, as a legal instrument; to perform what is required to
give validity to, as by signing and perhaps sealing and delivering;
as, to execute a deed, lease, mortgage, will, etc.
3. To give effect to; to do what is provided or required by; to
perform the requirements or stimulations of; as, to execute a decree,
judgment, writ, or process.
4. To infect capital punishment on; to put to death in conformity to
a legal sentence; as, to execute a traitor.
5. Too put to death illegally; to kill. [Obs.] Shak.
6. (Mus.)
Defn: To perform, as a piece of music, either on an instrument or
with the voice; as, to execute a difficult part brilliantly.
Syn.
-- To accomplish; effect; fulfill; achieve; consummate; finish;
complete. See Accomplish.
EXECUTE
Ex"e*cute, v. i.
1. To do one's work; to act one's part of purpose. [R.] Hayward.
2. To perform musically.
EXECUTER
Ex"e*cu`ter, n.
Defn: One who performs or carries into effect. See Executor.
EXECUTION
Ex`e*cu"tion, n. Etym: [F. exécution, L. executio, exsecutio.]
1. The act of executing; a carrying into effect or to completion;
performance; achievement; consummation; as, the execution of a plan,
a work, etc.
The excellence of the subject contributed much to the happiness of
the execution. Dryden.
2. A putting to death as a legal penalty; death lawfully inflicted;
as, the execution of a murderer.
A warrant for his execution. Shak.
3. The act of the mode of performing a work of art, of performing on
an instrument, of engraving, etc.; as, the execution of a statue,
painting, or piece of music.
The first quality of execution is truth. Ruskin.
4. (Law)
(a) The carrying into effect the judgment given in a court of law.
(b) A judicial writ by which an officer is empowered to carry a
judgment into effect; final process.
(c) The act of signing, and delivering a legal instrument, or giving
it the forms required to render it valid; as, the execution of a
deed, or a will.
5. That which is executed or accomplished; effect; effective work; --
usually with do.
To do some fatal execution. Shak.
6. The act of sacking a town. [Obs.] Beau. & FL.
EXECUTIONER
Ex`e*cu"tion*er, n.
1. One who executes; an executer. Bacon.
2. One who puts to death in conformity to legal warrant, as a
hangman.
EXECUTIVE
Ex*ec"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf.F. exécutif.]
Defn: Designed or fitted for execution, or carrying into effect; as,
executive talent; qualifying for, concerned with, or pertaining to,
the execution of the laws or the conduct of affairs; as, executive
power or authority; executive duties, officer, department, etc.
Note: In government, executive is distinguished from legislative and
judicial; legislative being applied to the organ or organs of
government which make the laws; judicial, to that which interprets
and applies the laws; executive, to that which carries them into
effect or secures their due performance.
EXECUTIVE
Ex*ec"u*tive, n.
Defn: An impersonal title of the chief magistrate or officer who
administers the government, whether king, president, or governor; the
governing person or body.
EXECUTIVELY
Ex*ec"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the way of executing or performing.
EXECUTOR
Ex*ec"u*tor, n. Etym: [L. executor, exsecutor: cf. F. exécuteur. Cf.
Executer.]
1. One who executes or performs; a doer; as, an executor of baseness.
Shak.
2. An executioner. [Obs.]
Delivering o'er to executors pa . . . The lazy, yawning drone. Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: The person appointed by a Executor de son tort Etym: [Of.,
executor of his own wrong] (Law), a stranger who intermeddles without
authority in the distribution of the estate of a deceased person.
EXECUTORIAL
Ex*ec`u*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [LL. executorialis.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to an executive.
EXECUTORSHIP
Ex*ec"u*tor*ship, n.
Defn: The office of an executor.
EXECUTORY
Ex*ec"u*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. executorius, L. exsecutorius: cf.F.
exécutoire.]
1. Pertaining to administration, or putting the laws in force;
executive.
The official and executory duties of government. Burke.
2. (Law)
Defn: Designed to be executed or carried into effect in time to come,
or to take effect on a future contingency; as, an executory devise,
reminder, or estate; an executory contract. Blackstone.
EXECUTRESS
Ex*ec"u*tress, n. Etym: [Cf.F. exécutrice.]
Defn: An executrix.
EXECUTRIX
Ex*ec"u*trix, n. Etym: [LL.] (Law)
Defn: A woman exercising the functions of an executor.
EXEDENT
Ex"e*dent, a. Etym: [L. exedent, -entis, p.pr. of exedere. See
Exesion.]
Defn: Eating out; consuming. [R.]
EXEDRA
Ex"e*dra, n.; pl. Exedræ. Etym: [L., fr.Gr
1. (Class. Antiq.)
Defn: A room in a public building, furnished with seats.
2. (Arch.)
(a) The projection of any part of a building in a rounded form.
(b) Any out-of-door seat in stone, large enough for several persons;
esp., one of curved form.
EXEGESIS
Ex`e*ge"sis, n.;pl. Exegeses. Etym: [NL., fr.Gr. Agent.]
1. Exposition; explanation; especially, a critical explanation of a
text or portion of Scripture.
2. (Math.)
Defn: The process of finding the roots of an equation. [Obs.]
EXEGETE
Ex"e*gete, n. Etym: [Gr. exégète. See Exegesis.]
Defn: An exegetist.
EXEGETIC; EXEGETICAL
Ex`e*get"ic, Ex`e*get"ic*al, a. Etym: [Gr. exégétique.]
Defn: Pertaining to exegesis; tending to unfold or illustrate;
explanatory; expository. Walker. Ex`e*get"ic*al*ly, adv.
EXEGETICS
Ex`e*get"ics, n.
Defn: The science of interpretation or exegesis.
EXEGETIST
Ex`e*ge"tist, n.
Defn: One versed in the science of exegesis or interpretation; --
also called exegete.
EXEMPLAR
Ex*em"plar, n. Etym: [L. exemplar, exemplum: cf. F. exemplaire. See
Example, and cf. Examper, Sampler.]
1. A model, original, or pattern, to be copied or imitated; a
specimen; sometimes; an ideal model or type, as that which an artist
conceives.
Such grand exemplar as make their own abilities the sole measure of
what is fit or unfit. South.
2. A copy of a book or writing. [Obs.] Udall.
EXEMPLAR
Ex*em"plar, a.
Defn: Exemplary. [Obs.]
The exemplar piety of the father of a family. Jer. Taylor.
EXEMPLARILY
Ex"em*pla*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner fitted or designed to be an example for imitation
or for warning; by way of example.
She is exemplarily loyal. Howell.
Some he punisheth exemplarily. Hakewill.
EXEMPLARINESS
Ex"em*pla*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being exemplary; fitness to be an
example.
EXEMPLARITY
Ex`em*plar"i*ty (, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. exemplaritas.]
Defn: Exemplariness. [R.]
The exemplarity of Christ's life. Abp. Sharp.
EXEMPLARY
Ex"em*pla*ry, a. Etym: [L. exemplaris, fr. exemplar: cf. F.
exemplaire. See Exemplar.]
1. Serving as a pattern; deserving to be proposed for imitation;
commendable; as, an exemplary person; exemplary conduct.
[Bishops'] lives and doctrines ought to be exemplary. Bacon.
2. Serving as a warning; monitory; as, exemplary justice, punishment,
or damages.
3. Illustrating as the proof of a thing. Fuller. Exemplary damages.
(Law) See under Damage.
EXEMPLARY
Ex"em*pla*ry, n.
Defn: An exemplar; also, a copy of a book or writing. [Obs.] Donne.
EXEMPLIFIABLE
Ex*em"pli*fi`a*ble, a.
Defn: That can be exemplified.
EXEMPLIFICATION
Ex*em`pli*fi*ca"tion, n.
1. The act of exemplifying; a showing or illustrating by example.
2. That which exemplifies; a case in point; example.
3. (Law)
Defn: A copy or transcript attested to be correct by the seal of an
officer having custody of the original.
EXEMPLIFIER
Ex*em"pli*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who exemplifies by following a pattern.
EXEMPLIFY
Ex*em"pli*fy v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exemplified; p. pr. &. vb. n.
Exemplifying.] Etym: [L. exemplum example + -fy: cf. LL.
exemplificare to copy, serve as an example.]
1. To show or illustrate by example.
He did but . . . exemplify the principles in which he had been
brought up. Cowper.
2. To copy; to transcribe; to make an attested copy or transcript of,
under seal, as of a record. Holland.
3. To prove or show by an attested copy.
EXEMPT
Ex*empt", a. Etym: [F. exempt, L. exemptus, p. p. of eximere to take
out, remove, free; ex out + emere to buy, take. Cf. Exon, Redeem.]
1. Cut off; set apart. [Obs.]
Corrupted, and exempt from ancient gentry. Shak.
2. Extraordinary; exceptional. [Obs.] Chapman.
3. Free, or released, from some liability to which others are
subject; excepted from the operation or burden of some law; released;
free; clear; privileged; -- (with from): not subject to; not liable
to; as, goods exempt from execution; a person exempt from jury
service.
True nobility is exempt from fear. Shak.
T is laid on all, not any one exempt. Dryden.
EXEMPT
Ex*empt", n.
1. One exempted or freed from duty; one not subject.
2. One of four officers of the Yeomen of the Royal Guard, having the
rank of corporal; an Exon. [Eng.]
EXEMPT
Ex*empt", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exempted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exempting.]
Etym: [F. exempter. See Exempt, a.]
1. To remove; to set apart. [Obs.] Holland.
2. To release or deliver from some liability which others are subject
to; to except or excuse from he operation of a law; to grant immunity
to; to free from obligation; to release; as, to exempt from military
duty, or from jury service; to exempt from fear or pain.
Death So snatched will not exempt us from the pain We are by doom to
pay. Milton.
EXEMPTIBLE
Ex*empt"i*ble, a.
Defn: That may be exempted.
EXEMPTION
Ex*emp"tion, n. Etym: [L. exenptio a removing: cf. F. exemption
exemption.]
Defn: The act of exempting; the state of being exempt; freedom from
any charge, burden, evil, etc., to which others are subject;
immunity; privilege; as, exemption of certain articles from seizure;
exemption from military service; exemption from anxiety, suffering,
etc.
EXEMPTITIOUS
Ex`emp*ti"tious, a.
Defn: Separable. [Obs.] "Exemptitious from matter." Dr. H. More.
EXENTERATE
Ex*en"ter*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. exenteratus, p.p. of exenterare; cf.
Gr.
Defn: To take out the bowels or entrails of; to disembowel; to
eviscerate; as, exenterated fishes. [R.]
Exenterated rule-mongers and eviscerated logicians. Hare.
EXENTERATION
Ex*en`ter*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. exenteratio.]
Defn: Act of exenterating. [R.]
EXEQUATUR
Ex`e*qua"tur, n. Etym: [L., 3d pers. sing. pres. subj. of exequi,
exsequi, to perform, execute.]
1. A written official recognition of a consul or commercial agent,
issued by the government to which he is accredited, and authorizing
him to exercise his powers in the place to which he is assigned.
2. Official recognition or permission. Prescott.
EXEQUIAL
Ex*e"qui*al, a. Etym: [L. exequialis, exsequialis, fr. exsequiae
exequies.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to funerals; funereal.
EXEQUIOUS
Ex*e"qui*ous, a.
Defn: Funereal. [Obs.] Drayton.
EXEQUY
Ex"e*quy, n.;pl. Exequies. Etym: [L. exequiae, exsequiae, a funeral
procession, fr. exsequi to follow out: cf. OF. exeques. See Exequte.]
Defn: A funeral rite (usually in the plural); the ceremonies of
burial; obsequies; funeral procession.
But see his exequies fulfilled in Rouen. Shak.
EXERCENT
Ex*er"cent, a. Etym: [L. exercents, -entis, p. pr. of exercere. See
Exercise.]
Defn: Practicing; professional. [Obs.] "Every exercent advocate."
Ayliffe.
EXERCISABLE
Ex"er*ci`sa*ble a.
Defn: That may be exercised, used, or exerted.
EXERCISE
Ex"er*cise, n. Etym: [F. exercice, L. exercitium, from exercere,
exercitum, to drive on, keep, busy, prob. orig., to thrust or drive
out of the inclosure; ex out + arcere to shut up, inclose. See Ark.]
1. The act of exercising; a setting in action or practicing;
employment in the proper mode of activity; exertion; application;
use; habitual activity; occupation, in general; practice.
exercise of the important function confided by the constitution to
the legislature. Jefferson.
O we will walk this world, Yoked in all exercise of noble end.
Tennyson.
2. Exertion for the sake of training or improvement whether physical,
intellectual, or moral; practice to acquire skill, knowledge, virtue,
perfectness, grace, etc. "Desire of knightly exercise." Spenser.
An exercise of the eyes and memory. Locke.
3. Bodily exertion for the sake of keeping the organs and functions
in a healthy state; hygienic activity; as, to take exercise ob
horseback.
The wise for cure on exercise depend. Dryden.
4. The performance of an office, a ceremony, or a religious duty.
Lewis refused even those of the church of England . . . the public
exercise of their religion. Addison.
To draw him from his holy exercise. Shak.
5. That which is done for the sake of exercising, practicing,
training, or promoting skill, health, mental, improvement, moral
discipline, etc.; that which is assigned or prescribed for such ebbs;
hence, a disquisition; a lesson; a task; as, military or naval
exercises; musical exercises; an exercise in composition.
The clumsy exercises of the European tourney. Prescott.
He seems to have taken a degree, and preformed public exercises in
Cambridge, in 1565. Brydges.
6. That which gives practice; a trial; a test.
Patience is more oft the exercise Of saints, the trial of their
fortitude. Milton.
Exercise bone (Med.), a deposit of bony matter in the soft tissues,
produced by pressure or exertion.
EXERCISE
Ex"er*cise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exercised; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exercising.]
1. To set in action; to cause to act, move, or make exertion; to give
employment to; to put in action habitually or constantly; to school
or train; to exert repeatedly; to busy.
Herein do I Exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of
offence. Acts xxiv. 16.
2. To exert for the sake of training or improvement; to practice in
order to develop; hence, also, to improve by practice; to discipline,
and to use or to for the purpose of training; as, to exercise arms;
to exercise one's self in music; to exercise troops.
About him exercised heroic games The unarmed youth. Milton.
3. To occupy the attention and effort of; to task; to tax, especially
in a painful or vexatious manner; harass; to vex; to worry or make
anxious; to affect; to discipline; as, exercised with pain.
Where pain of unextinguishable fire Must exercise us without hope of
end. Milton.
4. To put in practice; to carry out in action; to perform the duties
of; to use; to employ; to practice; as, to exercise authority; to
exercise an office.
I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and
righteousness in the earth. Jer. ix. 24.
The people of the land have used oppression and exercised robbery.
Ezek. xxii. 29.
EXERCISE
Ex"er*cise, v. i.
Defn: To exercise one's self, as under military training; to drill;
to take exercise; to use action or exertion; to practice gymnastics;
as, to exercise for health or amusement.
I wear my trusty sword, When I do exercise. Cowper.
EXERCISER
Ex"er*ci`ser, n.
Defn: One who exercises.
EXERCISIBLE
Ex"er*ci`si*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being exercised, employed, or enforced; as, the
authority of a magistrate is exercisible within his jurisdiction.
EXERCITATION
Ex*er`ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exercitatio, fr. exercitare, intense.,
fr. exercere to exercise: CF. f. exercitation.]
Defn: exercise; practice; use. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
EXERGUE
Ex*ergue", n. Etym: [F.,fr.Gr. i.e., accessory work. See Work.]
(Numis.)
Defn: The small space beneath the base line of a subject engraved on
a coin or medal. It usually contains the date, place, engraver's
name, etc., or other subsidiary matter. Fairholt.
EXERT
Ex*ert", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exerted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exerting.]
Etym: [L. exertus, exsertus, p.p. of exerere, exserere, to thrust
out; ex out + serere to join or bind together. See Series, and cf.
Exsert.]
1. To thrust forth; to emit; to push out. [Obs.]
So from the seas exerts his radiant head The star by whom the lights
of heaven are led. Dryden.
2. To put force, ability, or anything of the nature of an active
faculty; to put in vigorous action; to bring into active operation;
as, to exert the strength of the body, limbs, faculties, or
imagination; to exert the mind or the voice.
3. To put forth, as the result or exercise of effort; to bring to
bear; to do or perform.
When we will has exerted an act of command on any faculty of the soul
or member of the body. South.
To exert one's self, to use efforts or endeavors; to strive; to make
an attempt.
EXERTION
Ex*er"tion, n.
Defn: The act of exerting, or putting into motion or action; the
active exercise of any power or faculty; an effort, esp. a laborious
or perceptible effort; as, an exertion of strength or power; an
exertion of the limbs or of the mind; it is an exertion for him to
move, to-day.
Syn.
-- Attempt; endeavor; effort; essay; trial. See Attempt.
EXERTIVE
Ex*ert"ive, a.
Defn: Having power or a tendency to exert; using exertion.
EXERTMENT
Ex*ert"ment, n.
Defn: Exertion. [R.]
EXESION
Ex*e"sion, n. Etym: [L. exedere, exesum, to eat up; ex out + edere to
eat.]
Defn: The act of eating out or through. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXESTUATE
Ex*es"tu*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. exaestuatus,p.p. of exaestuare to boil
up. See Estuate.]
Defn: To be agitated; to boil up; to effervesce. [Obs.]
EXESTUATION
Ex*es`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exaestuatio.]
Defn: A boiling up; effervescence. [Obs.] Boyle.
EXEUNT
Ex"e*unt. Etym: [L., 3d pers. pl. pres. of exire to go out.]
Defn: They go out, or retire from the scene; as, exeunt all except
Hamlet. See 1st Exit.
EXFETATION
Ex`fe*ta"tion, n Etym: [Pref. ex- + fetation.] (Med.)
Defn: Imperfect fetation in some organ exterior to the uterus; extra-
uterine fetation. Hoblyn.
EXFOLIATE
Ex*fo"li*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Exfoliated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exfoliating.] Etym: [L. exfoliare to strip of leaves; ex out, from +
folium leaf.]
1. To separate and come off in scales or laminæ, as pieces of carious
bone or of bark.
2. (Min.)
Defn: To split into scales, especially to become converted into
scales at the result of heat or decomposition.
EXFOLIATE
Ex*fo"li*ate v. t.
Defn: To remove scales, laminæ, or splinters from the surface of.
EXFOLIATION
Ex*fo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. exfoliation.]
Defn: The scaling off of a bone, a rock, or a mineral, etc.; the
state of being exfoliated.
EXFOLIATIVE
Ex*fo"li*a"tive, a. Etym: [Cf.F. exfoliatif.]
Defn: Having the power of causing exfoliation.
-- n.
Defn: An exfoliative agent. Wiseman.
EXHALABLE
Ex*hal"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being exhaled or evaporated. Boyle.
EXHALANT
Ex*hal"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exhalant.]
Defn: Having the quality of exhaling or evaporating.
EXHALATION
Ex`ha*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. exhalatio: cf. F. exhalaison,
exhalation.]
1. The act or process of exhaling, or sending forth in the form of
steam or vapor; evaporation.
2. That which is exhaled, or which rises in the form of vapor, fume,
or steam; effluvium; emanation; as, exhalations from the earth or
flowers, decaying matter, etc.
Ye mists and exhalations, that now rise From hill or steaming lake.
Milton.
3. A bright phenomenon; a meteor.
I shall fall Like a bright exhalation in the evening. Shak.
EXHALE
Ex*hale", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exaled, p. pr. & vb. n.. Exaling.]
Etym: [L. exhalare; ex out + halare to breathe; cf.F. exhaler. Cf.
Inhale.]
1. To breathe out. Hence: To emit, as vapor; to send out, as an odor;
to evaporate; as, the earth exhales vapor; marshes exhale noxious
effluvia.
Less fragrant scents the unfolding rose exhales. Pope.
2. To draw out; to cause to be emitted in vapor; as, the sum exhales
the moisture of the earth.
EXHALE
Ex*hale", v. i.
Defn: To rise or be given off, as vapor; to pass off, or vanish.
Their inspiration exhaled in elegies. Prescott.
EXHALEMENT
Ex*hale"ment, n.
Defn: Exhalation. [Obs.]
EXHALENCE
Ex*hal"ence, n.
Defn: Exhalation. [R.]
EXHAUST
Ex*haust", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exhausted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exhausting.] Etym: [L. exhaustus, p.p. of exhaurire; ex out +
haurire, haustum, to draw, esp. water; perhaps akin to Icel. asua to
sprinkle, pump.]
1. To draw or let out wholly; to drain off completely; as, to exhaust
the water of a well; the moisture of the earth is exhausted by
evaporation.
2. To empty by drawing or letting out the contents; as, to exhaust a
well, or a treasury.
3. To drain, metaphorically; to use or expend wholly, or till the
supply comes to an end; to deprive wholly of strength; to use up; to
weary or tire out; to wear out; as, to exhaust one's strength,
patience, or resources.
A decrepit, exhausted old man at fifty-five. Motley.
4. To bring out or develop completely; to discuss thoroughly; as, to
exhaust a subject.
5. (Chem.)
Defn: To subject to the action of various solvents in order to remove
all soluble substances or extractives; as, to exhaust a drug
successively with water, alcohol, and ether. Exhausted receiver.
(Physics) See under Receiver.
Syn.
-- To spend; consume; tire out; weary.
EXHAUST
Ex*haust", a. Etym: [L. exhaustus, p.p.]
1. Drained; exhausted; having expended or lost its energy.
2. Pertaining to steam, air, gas, etc., that is released from the
cylinder of an engine after having preformed its work. Exhaust
draught, a forced draught produced by drawing air through a place, as
through a furnace, instead of blowing it through.
-- Exhaust fan, a fan blower so arranged as to produce an exhaust
draught, or to draw air or gas out of a place, as out of a room in
ventilating it.
-- Exhaust nozzle, Exhaust orifice (Steam Engine), the blast orifice
or nozzle.
-- Exhaust pipe (Steam Engine), the pipe that conveys exhaust steam
from the cylinder to the atmosphere or to the condenser. Exhaust port
(Steam Engine), the opening, in the cylinder or valve, by which the
exhaust steam escapes.
-- Exhaust purifier (Milling), a machine for sorting grains, or
purifying middlings by an exhaust draught. Knight.
-- Exhaust steam (Steam Engine), steam which is allowed to escape
from the cylinder after having been employed to produce motion of the
piston.
-- Exhaust valve (Steam Engine), a valve that lets exhaust steam
escape out of a cylinder.
EXHAUST
Ex*haust", n. (Steam Engine)
1. The steam let out of a cylinder after it has done its work there.
2. The foul air let out of a room through a register or pipe provided
for the purpose.
EXHAUSTER
Ex*haust"er n.
Defn: One who, or that which, exhausts or draws out.
EXHAUSTIBILITY
Ex*haust`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of being exhausted.
I was seriously tormented by the thought of the exhaustibility of
musical combinations. J. S. Mill.
EXHAUSTIBLE
Ex*haust"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being exhausted, drained off, or expended. Johnson.
EXHAUSTING
Ex*haust"ing, a.
Defn: Producing exhaustion; as, exhausting labors.
-- Ex*haust"ing, adv.
EXHAUSTION
Ex*haus"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. exhaustion.]
1. The act of draining out or draining off; the act of emptying
completely of the contents.
2. The state of being exhausted or emptied; the state of being
deprived of strength or spirits.
3. (Math.)
Defn: An ancient geometrical method in which an exhaustive process
was employed. It was nearly equivalent to the modern method of
limits.
Note: The method of exhaustions was applied to great variety of
propositions, pertaining to rectifications and quadratures, now
investigated by the calculus.
EXHAUSTIVE
Ex*haust"ive, a.
Defn: Serving or tending to exhaust; exhibiting all the facts or
arguments; as, an exhaustive method. Ex*haust"ive*ly, adv.
EXHAUSTLESS
Ex*haust"less, a.
Defn: Not be exhausted; inexhaustible; as, an exhaustless fund or
store.
EXHAUSTMENT
Ex*haust"ment, n.
Defn: Exhaustion; drain. [Obs.]
EXHAUSTURE
Ex*haus"ture, n.
Defn: Exhaustion. Wraxall.
EXHEDRA
Ex"he*dra, n. Etym: [NL.]
Defn: See Exedra.
EXHEREDATE
Ex*her"e*date, v. t. Etym: [L., exheredatus, p.p. of exheredare to
disinherit; ex out + heres, heredis, heir.]
Defn: To disinherit. [R.] Huloet.
EXHEREDATION
Ex*her`e*da"tion, n. Etym: [L., exheredatio: cf. F. exhérédation.]
Defn: A disinheriting; disherisor. [R.]
EXHEREDITATION
Ex`he*red`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. exhereditare, exhereditatum,
disinherit.]
Defn: A disinheriting; disherison. [R.] E. Waterhouse.
EXHIBIT
Ex*hib"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exhibited; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exhibiting.] Etym: [L. exhibitus, p. p. of exhibere to hold forth, to
tender, exhibit; ex out + habere to have or hold. See Habit.]
1. To hold forth or present to view; to produce publicly, for
inspection; to show, especially in order to attract notice to what is
interesting; to display; as, to exhibit commodities in a warehouse, a
picture in a gallery.
Exhibiting a miserable example of the weakness of mind and body.
Pope.
2. (Law)
Defn: To submit, as a document, to a court or officer, in course of
proceedings; also, to present or offer officially or in legal form;
to bring, as a charge.
He suffered his attorney-general to exhibit a charge of high treason
against the earl. Clarendon.
3. (Med.)
Defn: To administer as a remedy; as, to exhibit calomel. To exhibit a
foundation or prize, to hold it forth or to tender it as a bounty to
candidates.
-- To exibit an essay, to declaim or otherwise present it in public.
[Obs.]
EXHIBIT
Ex*hib"it, n.
1. Any article, or collection of articles, displayed to view, as in
an industrial exhibition; a display; as, this exhibit was marked A;
the English exhibit.
2. (Law)
Defn: A document produced and identified in court for future use as
evidence.
EXHIBITER
Ex*hib"it*er, n. Etym: [Cf. Exhibitor.]
Defn: One who exhibits; one who presents a petition, charge or bill.
Shak.
EXHIBITION
Ex`hi*bi"tion, n. Etym: [L. exhibitio a delivering: cf. F.
exhibition.]
1. The act of exhibiting for inspection, or of holding forth to view;
manifestation; display.
2. That which is exhibited, held forth, or displayed; also, any
public show; a display of works of art, or of feats of skill, or of
oratorical or dramatic ability; as, an exhibition of animals; an
exhibition of pictures, statues, etc.; an industrial exhibition.
3. Sustenance; maintenance; allowance, esp. for meat and drink;
pension. Specifically: (Eng. Univ.) Private benefaction for the
maintenance of scholars.
What maintenance he from his friends receives, Like exhibition thou
shalt have from me. Shak.
I have given more exhibitions to scholars, in my days, than to the
priests. Tyndale.
4. (Med.)
Defn: The act of administering a remedy.
EXHIBITIONER
Ex`hi*bi"tion*er, n. (Eng. Univ.)
Defn: One who has a pension or allowance granted for support.
A youth who had as an exhibitioner from Christ's Hospital. G. Eliot.
EXHIBITIVE
Ex*hib"it*ive, a.
Defn: Serving for exhibition; representative; exhibitory. Norris.
-- Ex*hib"it*ive*ly, adv.
EXHIBITOR
Ex*hib"it*or, n. Etym: [Cf. L. exhibitor a giver.]
Defn: One who exhibits.
EXHIBITORY
Ex*hib"it*o*ry, a. Etym: [L. exhibitorius relating to giving up: cf.
F. exhibitoire exhibiting.]
Defn: Exhibiting; publicly showing. J. Warton.
EXHILARANT
Ex*hil"a*rant, a. Etym: [L. exhilarans. -antis, p. pr. See
Exhilarate.]
Defn: Exciting joy, mirth, or pleasure.
-- n.
Defn: That which exhilarates.
EXHILARATE
Ex*hil"a*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exhilarated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exilarating.] Etym: [L. exhilaratus, p.p. of exhilarare to gladden;
ex out + hilarare to make merry, hilaris merry, cheerful. See
Hilarious.]
Defn: To make merry or jolly; to enliven; to animate; to gladden
greatly; to cheer; as, good news exhilarates the mind; wine
exhilarates a man.
EXHILARATE
Ex*hil"a*rate, v. i.
Defn: To become joyous. [R.] Bacon.
EXHILARATING
Ex*hil"a*ra`ting, a.
Defn: That exhilarates; cheering; gladdening.
-- Ex*hil"a*ra`ting*ly, adv.
EXHILARATION
Ex*hil`a*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L., exhilaratio.]
1. The act of enlivening the spirits; the act of making glad or
cheerful; a gladdening.
2. The state of being enlivened or cheerful.
Exhilaration hath some affinity with joy, though it be a much lighter
motion. Bacon.
Syn.
-- Animation; joyousness; gladness; cheerfulness; gayety; hilarity;
merriment; jollity.
EXHORT
Ex*hort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exhorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exhorting.]
Etym: [L. exhortari; ex out + hortari to incite, encourage; cf. F.
exhorter. See Hortative.]
Defn: To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments,
as to a good deed or laudable conduct; to address exhortation to; to
urge strongly; hence, to advise, warn, or caution.
Examples gross as earth exhort me. Shak.
Let me exhort you to take care of yourself. J. D. Forbes.
EXHORT
Ex*hort", v. i.
Defn: To deliver exhortation; to use words or arguments to incite to
good deeds.
With many other words did he testify and exhort. Acts ii. 40.
EXHORT
Ex*hort", n.
Defn: Exhortation. [Obs.] Pope.
EXHORTATION
Ex`hor*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exhortatio: cf. F. exhortation.]
1. The act of practice of exhorting; the act of inciting to laudable
deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable.
2. Language intended to incite and encourage; advice; counsel;
admonition.
I'll end my exhortation after dinner. Shak.
EXHORTATIVE
Ex*hor"ta*tive, a. Etym: [L. exhortativus: cf. F. exhortatif.]
Defn: Serving to exhort; exhortatory; hortative. Barrow.
EXHORTATORY
Ex*hor"ta*to*ry a. Etym: [L. exhortatorius: cf. F. exhortatoire.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to exhortation; hortatory. Holinshed.
EXHORTER
Ex*hort"er, n.
Defn: One who exhorts or incites.
EXHUMATED
Ex*hu"ma*ted, a.
Defn: Disinterred. [Obs.]
EXHUMATION
Ex`hu*ma"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. exhumatio, F. exhumation.]
Defn: The act of exhuming that which has been buried; as, the
exhumation of a body.
EXHUME
Ex*hume", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exhumed p. pr. & vb. n.. Exhuming.]
Etym: [LL. exhumare; L. ex out + humus ground, soil: cf. F. exhumer.
See Humble.]
Defn: To dig out of the ground; to take out of a place of burial; to
disinter. Mantell.
EXICCATE
Ex"ic*cate, v. t.
Defn: See Exsiccate. [Obs.] Holland.
EXICCATION
Ex`ic*ca"tion, n.
Defn: See Exsiccation. [Obs.]
EXIGENCE
Ex"i*gence, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: Exigency. Hooker.
EXIGENCY
Ex"i*gen*cy, n.;pl. Exigencies. Etym: [LL. exigentia: cf. F.
exigence.]
Defn: The state of being exigent; urgent or exacting want; pressing
necessity or distress; need; a case demanding immediate action,
supply, or remedy; as, an unforeseen exigency. "The present exigency
of his affairs." Ludlow.
Syn.
-- Demand; urgency; distress; pressure; emergency; necessity;
crisis.
EXIGENDARY
Ex`i*gen"da*ry, n.
Defn: See Exigenter.
EXIGENT
Ex`i*gent, a. Etym: [L. exigens, -entis, p. pr. of exigere to drive
out or forth, require, exact. See Exact.]
Defn: Exacting or requiring immediate aid or action; pressing;
critical. "At this exigent moment." Burke.
EXIGENT
Ex"i*gent, n.
1. Exigency; pressing necessity; decisive moment. [Obs.]
Why do you cross me in this exigent Shak.
2. (o. Eng. Law)
Defn: The name of a writ in proceedings before outlawry. Abbott.
EXIGENTER
Ex"i*gent*er, n. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: An officer in the Court of King's Bench and Common Pleas whose
duty it was make out exigents. The office in now abolished. Cowell.
EXIGIBLE
Ex"i*gi*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exigible. See Exigent.]
Defn: That may be exacted; repairable. [R.] A. Smith.
EXIGUITY
Ex`i*gu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. exiguitas, fr. exiguus small: cf. F.
exiguité.]
Defn: Scantiness; smallness; thinness. [R.] Boyle.
EXIGUOUS
Ex*ig"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. exiguus.]
Defn: Scanty; small; slender; diminutive. [R.] "Exiguous resources."
Carlyle.
-- Ex*ig"uous*ness, n. [R.]
EXILE
Ex"ile, n. Etym: [OE. exil, fr. L. exilium, exsilium, fr. exsuil one
who quits, or is banished from, his native soil; ex out + solum
ground, land, soil, or perh. fr.the root of salire to leap, spring;
cf. F. exil. Cf. Sole of the foot, Saltation.]
1. Forced separation from one's native country; expulsion from one's
home by the civil authority; banishment; sometimes, voluntary
separation from one's native country.
Let them be recalled from their exile. Shak.
2. The person expelled from his country by authority; also, one who
separates himself from his home.
Thou art in exile, and thou must not stay. Shak.
Syn.
-- Banishment; proscription; expulsion.
EXILE
Ex"ile v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Exiling.]
Defn: To banish or expel from one's own country or home; to drive
away. "Exiled from eternal God." Tennyson.
Calling home our exiled friends abroad. Shak.
Syn.
-- See Banish.
EXILE
Ex*ile", a. Etym: [L. exilis.]
Defn: Small; slender; thin; fine. [Obs.] "An exile sound." Bacon.
EXILEMENT
Ex"ile*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. exilement.]
Defn: Banishment. [R.] Sir. H. Wotton.
EXILIC
Ex*il"ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to exile or banishment, esp. to that of the Jews in
Babylon. Encyc. Dict.
EXILITION
Ex`i*li"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsilire to spring from; ex out + salire
to spring, leap.]
Defn: A sudden springing or leaping out. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXILITY
Ex*il"ity, n. Etym: [L. exilitas: cf. F. exilité. See Exile, a.]
Defn: Smallness; meagerness; slenderness; fineness, thinness. [R.]
Paley.
EXIMIOUS
Ex*im"ious a. Etym: [L. eximius taken out, i. e. select, fr. eximere
to take out. See Exempt.]
Defn: Select; choice; hence, extraordinary, excellent. [Obs.]
The eximious and arcane science of physic. Fuller.
EXINANITE
Ex*in"a*nite, v. t. Etym: [L. exinanitus, p. p. of exinanire; ex out
(intens.) + inanire to make empty, inanis, empty.]
Defn: To make empty; to render of no effect; to humble. [Obs.] Bp.
Pearson.
EXINANITION
Ex*in`a*ni"tion
Defn: n. [L. exinanitio.] An emptying; an enfeebling; exhaustion;
humiliation. [Obs.]
Fastings to the exinanition of spirits. Jer. Taylor.
EXIST
Ex*ist", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Existed; p. pr. & vb. n. Existing.]
Etym: [L. existere, exsistere, to step out or forth, emerge, appear,
exist; ex out + sistere to cause to stand, to set, put, place, stand
still, fr. stare to stand: cf. F. exister. See Stand.]
1. To be as a fact and not as a mode; to have an actual or real
being, whether material or spiritual.
Who now, alas! no more is missed Than if he never did exist. Swift.
To conceive the world . . . to have existed from eternity. South.
2. To be manifest in any manner; to continue to be; as, great evils
existed in his reign.
3. To live; to have life or the functions of vitality; as, men can
not exist water, nor fishes on land.
Syn.
-- See Be.
EXISTENCE
Ex*ist"ence, n. Etym: [Cf. F. existence.]
1. The state of existing or being; actual possession of being;
continuance in being; as, the existence of body and of soul in union;
the separate existence of the soul; immortal existence.
The main object of our existence. Lubbock.
2. Continued or repeated manifestation; occurrence, as of events of
any kind; as, the existence of a calamity or of a state of war.
The existence therefore, of a phenomenon, is but another word for its
being perceived, or for the inferred possibility of perceiving it. J.
S. Mill.
3. That which exists; a being; a creature; an entity; as, living
existences.
EXISTENCY
Ex*ist"en*cy, n.
Defn: Existence. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
EXISTENT
Ex*ist"ent, a. Etym: [L. existens, -entis, p. pr. of existere. See
Exist.]
Defn: Having being or existence; existing; being; occurring now;
taking place.
The eyes and mind are fastened on objects which have no real being,
as if they were truly existent. Dryden.
EXISTENTIAL
Ex`is*ten"tial, a.
Defn: Having existence. [Archaic] Bp. Barlow. --Ex`is*ten"tial*ly,
adv. [Archaic]
Existentially as well as essentially intelligent. Colerige.
EXISTER
Ex*ist"er, n.
Defn: One who exists.
EXISTIBLE
Ex*ist"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of existence. Grew.
EXISTIMATION
Ex*is`ti*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. existimatio judgment, opinion, fr.
existimare to estimate. See Estimate.]
Defn: Esteem; opinion; reputation. [Obs.] Steele.
EXIT
Ex"it. Etym: [L., 3d pers. sing. pres. of exire to go out. See
Exeunt, Issue.]
Defn: He (or she ) goes out, or retires from view; as, exit Macbeth.
Note: The Latin words exit (he or she goes out), and exeunt ( they go
out), are used in dramatic writings to indicate the time of
withdrawal from the stage of one or more of the actors.
EXIT
Ex"it, n. Etym: [See 1st Exit.]
1. The departure of a player from the stage, when he has performed
his part.
They have their exits and their entrances. Shak.
2. Any departure; the act of quitting the stage of action or of life;
death; as, to make one's exit.
Sighs for his exit, vulgarly called death. Cowper.
3. A way of departure; passage out of a place; egress; way out.
Forcing he water forth thought its ordinary exists. Woodward.
EXITIAL; EXITIOUS
Ex*i"tial, Ex*i"tious, a. Etym: [L. exitialis, exitious, fr. exitium
a going out, a going to naught, i. e., ruin, fr.exire to go out: cf.
F. exitial.]
Defn: Destructive; fatal. [Obs.] "Exitial fevers." Harvey.
EX LIBRIS
Ex` li"bris. [L. ex from + libris books.]
Defn: An inscription, label, or the like, in a book indicating its
ownership; esp., a bookplate.
EXMOOR
Ex"moor, n. [From Exmoor, a district in Somersetshire and
Devonshire.]
1. One of a breed of horned sheep of Devonshire, England, having
white legs and face and black nostrils. They are esp. valuable for
mutton.
2. A breed of ponies native to the Exmoor district.
EXO; EXO-
Ex"o. Etym: [Gr. Ex-.]
Defn: A prefix signifying out of, outside; as in exocarp, exogen,
exoskeleton.
EXOCARDIAC; EXOCARDIAL
Ex`o*car"di*ac, Ex`o*car"di*al, a. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated or arising outside of the heat; as, exocardial
murmurs; -- opposed to endocardiac.
EXOCARP
Ex"o*carp, n. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: The outer portion of a fruit, as the flesh of a peach or the
rind of an orange. See Illust. of Drupe.
EXOCCIPITAL
Ex`oc*cip"i*tal, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + occipital.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a bone or region on each side of the great
foremen of the skull.
-- n.
Defn: The exoccipital bone, which often forms a part of the occipital
in the adult, but is usually distinct in the young.
EXOCETUS; EXOCOETUS
Ex`o*ce"tus ( or ), Ex`ocoe"tus, n. Etym: [NL. exocetus, L. exocoetus
a fish that sleeps on the shore, Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: A genus of fishes, including the common flying fishes. See
Flying fish.
EXOCULATE
Ex*oc"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. exoculatus, p. p. of exoculare to
exoculate; ex out + oculus an eye.]
Defn: To deprive of eyes. [R.] W. C. Hazlitt.
EXODE
Ex"ode n. Etym: [L. exodium, Gr. exode. See Exodus.]
1. Departure; exodus; esp., the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
[Obs.] L. Coleman. Bolingbroke.
2. (Gr. Drama)
Defn: The final chorus; the catastrophe.
3. (Rom. Antig.)
Defn: An afterpiece of a comic description, either a farce or a
travesty.
EXODIC
Ex*od"ic, a. Etym: [Gr. Exodus.] (Physiol.)
Defn: Conducting influences from the spinal cord outward; -- said of
the motor or efferent nerves. Opposed to esodic.
EXODIUM
Ex*o"di*um, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Exode.
EXODUS
Ex"o*dus, n. Etym: [L., the book of Exodus, Gr. Skr. a-sad to
approach.]
1. A going out; particularly (the Exodus), the going out or journey
of the Israelites from Egypt under the conduct of Moses; and hence,
any large migration from a place.
2. The second of the Old Testament, which contains the narrative of
the departure of the Israelites from Egypt.
EXODY
Ex"o*dy, n.
Defn: Exodus; withdrawal. [Obs.]
The time of the Jewish exody. Sir M. Hale.
EX-OFFICIAL
Ex`-of*fi"cial, a.
Defn: Proceeding from office or authority.
EX OFFICIO
Ex` of*fi"ci*o; pl. Ex officiis. Etym: [L.]
Defn: From office; by virtue, or as a consequence, of an office;
officially.
EXOGAMOUS
Ex*og"a*mous, a. Etym: [Exo- + Gr.
Defn: Relating to exogamy; marrying outside of the limits of one's
own tribe; -- opposed to endogenous.
EXOGAMY
Ex*og"a*my, n.
Defn: The custom, or tribal law, which prohibits marriage between
members of the same tribe; marriage outside of the tribe; -- opposed
to endogamy. Lubbock.
EXOGEN
Ex"o*gen, n. Etym: [Exo- + -gen: cf. F. exogène.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant belonging to one of the greater part of the vegetable
kingdom, and which the plants are characterized by having c wood
bark, and pith, the wood forming a layer between the other two, and
increasing, if at all, by the animal addition of a new layer to the
outside next to the bark. The leaves are commonly netted-veined, and
the number of cotyledons is two, or, very rarely, several in a whorl.
Cf. Endogen. Gray.
EXOGENETIC
Ex`o*ge*net"ic, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Arising or growing from without; exogenous.
EXOGENOUS
Ex*og"e*nous, a.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the character of, an exogen; -- the
opposite of endogenous.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Growing by addition to the exterior.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: Growing from previously ossified parts; -- opposed to
autogenous. Owen. Exogenous aneurism (Med.), an aneurism which is
produced by causes acting from without, as from injury.
EXOGYRA
Ex`o*gy"ra n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of Cretaceous fossil shells allied to oysters.
EXOLETE
Ex"o*lete, a. Etym: [L. exoletus, p. p. of exolescere to grow out,
grow out of use; ex out + olescere to grow.]
Defn: Obsolete; out of use; state; insipid. [Obs.]
EXOLUTION
Ex`o*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. exolutio a release. See Exolve.]
Defn: See Exsolution. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXOLVE
Ex*olve", v. t. Etym: [L. exolvere, exsolutum; ex out + solvere.]
Defn: To loose; to pay. [Obs.]
EXON
Ex"on, n. Etym: [NL., from E. Exe (Celt. uisge water) the name of a
river.]
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Exeter, in England.
EXON
Ex"on, n. Etym: [F. expect an under officer.]
Defn: An officer of the Yeomen of the Guard; an Exempt. [Eng.]
EXONERATE
Ex*on"er*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exonerated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exonerating.] Etym: [L. exoneratus, p. p. of exonerare to free from a
burden; ex out, from onerare to load, onus load. See Onerous.]
1. To unload; to disburden; to discharge. [Obs.]
All exonerate themselves into one common duct. Ray.
2. To relieve, in a moral sense, as of a charge, obligation, or load
of blame resting on one; to clear of something that lies upon
oppresses one, as an accusation or imputation; as, to exonerate one's
self from blame, or from the charge of avarice. Burke.
3. To discharge from duty or obligation, as a ball.
Syn. - To absolve; acquit; exculpate. See Absolve.
EXONERATION
Ex*on`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exoneratio: cf. F. Exonération.]
Defn: The act of disburdening, discharging, or freeing morally from a
charge or imputation; also, the state of being disburdened or freed
from a charge.
EXONERATIVE
Ex*on"er*a*tive, a.
Defn: Freeing from a burden or obligation; tending to exonerate.
EXONERATOR
Ex*on"er*a`tor, n. Etym: [L., an unloader.]
Defn: One who exonerates or frees from obligation.
EXOPHTHALMIA
Ex`oph*thal"mi*a, n. Etym: [Nl.,fr. Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The protrusion of the eyeball so that the eyelids will not
cover it, in consequence of disease.
EXOPHTHALMIC
Ex`oph*thal"mic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to, or characterized by, exophthalmia.
Exophthalmic golter. Same as Rasedow's disease.
EXOPHTHALMOS; EXOPHTHALMUS
Ex`oph*thal"mos, Ex`oph*thal"mus (, n. Etym: [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: Same as Exophthalmia.
EXOPHTHALMY
Ex`oph*thal"my, n. (Med.)
Defn: Exophthalmia.
EXOPHYLLOUS
Ex*oph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: Not sheathed in another leaf.
EXOPLASM
Ex"o*plasm, n. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. (Biol.)
Defn: See Ectosarc, and Ectoplasm.
EXOPODITE
Ex*op"o*dite, n. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. (Zoöl)
Defn: The external branch of the appendages of Crustacea.
EXOPTABLE
Ex*op"ta*ble, a. Etym: [L. exoptabilis.]
Defn: Very desirable. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXOPTILE
Ex*op"tile, n. Etym: [F., fr.Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A name given by Lestiboudois to dicotyledons; -- so called
because the plumule is naked.
EXORABLE
Ex"o*ra*ble, a. Etym: [L. exorabilis: cf. F. exorable. See Exorate.]
Defn: Capable of being moved by entreaty; pitiful; tender. Milton.
EXORATE
Ex"o*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. exoratus, p. p. of exorare to gain by
entreaty; ex out, from + orare to pay.]
Defn: To persuade, or to gain, by entreaty. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXORATION
Ex`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. exoratio.]
Defn: Entreaty. [R.] Beau. & Fl.
EXORBITANCE; EXORBITANCY
Ex*or"bi*tance, Ex*or"bi*tan*cy,, n.
Defn: A going out of or beyond the usual or due limit; hence,
enormity; extravagance; gross deviation from rule, right, or
propriety; as, the exorbitances of the tongue or of deportment;
exorbitance of demands. "a curb to your exorbitancies." Dryden.
The lamentable exorbitances of their superstitions. Bp. Hall.
EXORBITANT
Ex*or"bi*tant, a. Etym: [L. exorbitans, -antis, p. pr. of exorbitare
to go out of the track; ex out + orbita track: cf. F. exorbitant. See
Orbit.]
1. Departing from an orbit or usual track; hence, deviating from the
usual or due course; going beyond the appointed rules or established
limits of right or propriety; excessive; extravagant; enormous;
inordinate; as, exorbitant appetites and passions; exorbitant
charges, demands, or claims.
Foul exorbitant desires. Milton.
2. Not comprehended in a settled rule or method; anomalous.
The Jews . . . [were] inured with causes exorbitant, and such as
their laws had not provided for. Hooker.
EXORBITANTLY
Ex*or"bi*tant*ly, adv.
Defn: In an exorbitant, excessive, or irregular manner; enormously.
EXORBITATE
Ex*or"bi*tate, v. i. Etym: [L.exorbitatus, p.p. of exorbitare. See
Exorbitant.]
Defn: To go out of the track; to deviate. [Obs.] Bentley.
EXORCISE
Ex"or*cise, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exorcised ; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exorcising .] Etym: [L. exorcizare, Gr. exorciser.]
1. To cast out, as a devil, evil spirits, etc., by conjuration or
summoning by a holy name, or by certain ceremonies; to expel (a
demon) or to conjure (a demon) to depart out of a person possessed by
one.
He impudently excorciseth devils in the church. Prynne.
2. To deliver or purify from the influence of an evil spirit or
demon.
Exorcise the beds and cross the walls. Dryden.
Mr. Spectator . . . do all you can to exorcise crowds who are . . .
processed as I am. Spectator.
EXORCISER
Ex"or*ci`ser, n.
Defn: An exorcist.
EXORCISM
Ex"or*cism, n. Etym: [L. exorcismus, Gr. ; cf. F. exorcisme.]
1. The act of exorcising; the driving out of evil spirits from
persons or places by conjuration; also, the form of conjuration used.
2. Conjuration for raising spirits. [R.] Shak.
EXORCIST
Ex"or*cist, n. Etym: [L. exorcista, Gr. exorciste.]
1. One who expels evil spirits by conjuration or exorcism.
Certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists. Acts xix. 13.
2. A conjurer who can raise spirits. [R.]
Thou, like an exorcist, hast conjured up My mortified spirit. Shak.
EXORDIAL
Ex*or"di*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the exordium of a discourse: introductory.
The exordial paragraph of the second epistle. I. Taylor.
EXORDIUM
Ex*or"di*um, n.; pl. E. Exordiums, L. Exordia . Etym: [L. fr.
exordiri to begin a web, lay a warp, begin; ex out + ordiri to begin
a web, begin; akin to E. order. See Order.]
Defn: A beginning; an introduction; especially, the introductory part
of a discourse or written composition, which prepares the audience
for the main subject; the opening part of an oration. "The exordium
of repentance." Jer. Taylor. "Long prefaces and exordiums. " Addison.
EXORHIZA
Ex`o*rhi"za, n.; pl. Exorhize. Etym: [NL. fr. Gr. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant Whose radicle is not inclosed or sheathed by the
cotyledons or plumule. Gray.
EXORHIZAL; EXORHIZOUS
Ex`o*rhi"zal, Ex`o*rhi`zous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having a radicle which is not inclosed by the cotyledons or
plumule; of or relating to an exorhiza.
EXORNATION
Ex`or*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. exornatio, fr. exornare. See Ornate.]
Defn: Ornament; decoration; embellishment. [Obs.]
Hyperbolical exornations . . . many much affect. Burton.
EXORTIVE
Ex*or`tive, a. Etym: [L. exortivus, fr. exortus a coming forth,
rising; ex out + orivi to rise, come forth.]
Defn: Rising; relating to the east. [R.]
EXOSCULATE
Ex*os"cu*late, v. t. Etym: [L. exosculatus, p. p. of exosculari to
kiss. See Osculate.]
Defn: To kiss; especially, to kiss repeatedly or fondly. [Obs.]
EXOSKELETAL
Ex`o*skel"e*tal, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the exoskeleton; as exoskeletal muscles.
EXOSKELETON
Ex`o*skel"e*ton, n. Etym: [Exo- + skeleton] (Anat.)
Defn: The hardened parts of the external integument of an animal,
including hair, feathers, nails, horns, scales, etc.,as well as the
armor of armadillos and many reptiles, and the shells or hardened
integument of numerous invertebrates; external skeleton;
dermoskeleton.
EXOSMOSE
Ex"os*mose`, n. Etym: [Exo+osmose: cf. F. ezosmose.] (Physics)
Defn: The passage of gases, vapors, or liquids thought membranes or
porous media from within outward, in the phenomena of osmose; --
opposed to endosmose. See Osmose.
EXOSMOSIS
Ex`os*mo"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Exo-, and Osmose.] (Physics)
Defn: See Exosmose.
EXOSMOTIC
Ex`os*mot`ic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to exosmose.
EXOSPORE
Ex`o*spore, n. Etym: [Exo+spote.] (Biol.)
Defn: The extreme outer wall of a spore; the epispore.
EXOSSATE
Ex*os"sate, v. t. Etym: [L. exossatus, p. p. of exossare to bone ,
fr. exos without bones; ex out + os, ossis, bone.]
Defn: To deprive of bones; to take out the bones of; to bone. [Obs.]
Bailey.
EXOSSATION
Ex`os*sa"tion, n.
Defn: A depriving of bone or of fruit stones. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXOSSEOUS
Ex*os"seous, a. Etym: [Ex + osseous.]
Defn: Boneless. "Exosseous animals. " Sir T. Browne.
EXOSTOME
Ex"o*stome, n. Etym: [Exo- + Gr. exostome.] (Bot.)
Defn: The small aperture or foremen in the outer coat of the ovule of
a plant.
EXOSTOSIS
Ex`os*to"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. exostose.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: Any protuberance of a bone which is not natural; an excrescence
or morbid enlargement of a bone. Coxe.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A knot formed upon or in the wood of trees by disease.
EXOTERIC; EXOTERICAL
Ex`o*ter"ic, Ex`o*ter"ic*al a. Etym: [L. exotericus, Gr. exotérique.
See Ex-]
Defn: External; public; suitable to be imparted to the public; hence,
capable of being readily or fully comprehended; -- opposed to
esoteric, or secret.
The foppery of an exoteric and esoteric doctrine. De Quincey.
EXOTERICS
Ex`o*ter`ics, n. pl. (Philos.)
Defn: The public lectures or published writings of Aristotle. See
Esoterics.
EXOTERY
Ex"o*ter*y, n.; pl. Exoteries (-.
Defn: That which is obvious, public, or common.
Dealing out exoteries only to the vulgar. A. Tucker.
EXOTHECA
Ex`o*the"ca, n. Etym: [Nl., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tissue which fills the interspaces between the costæ of
many madreporarian corals, usually consisting of small transverse or
oblique septa.
EXOTHECIUM
Ex`o*the"cium, n. Etym: [NL. See Exotheca.] (Bot.)
Defn: The outer coat of the anther.
EXOTHERMIC
Ex`o*ther"mic, a. [Pref. exo-+ thermic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Characterized by, or formed with, evolution of heat; as, an
exothermic reaction; -- opposed to endothermic.
EXOTIC
Ex*ot"ic, a. Etym: [L. exoticus, Gr. exotique. See Exoteric.]
Defn: Introduced from a foreign country; not native; extraneous;
foreign; as, an exotic plant; an exotic term or word.
Nothing was so splendid and exotic as the ambassador. Evelyn.
EXOTIC
Ex*ot"ic, n.
Defn: Anything of foreign origin; something not of native growth, as
a plant, a word, a custom.
Plants that are unknown to Italy, and such as the gardeners call
exotics. Addison.
EXOTICAL
Ex*ot"ic*al, a.
Defn: Foreign; not native; exotic. [R.] -- Ex*ot"ic*al*ness, n.
EXOTICISM
Ex*ot"i*cism, n.
Defn: The state of being exotic; also, anything foreign, as a word or
idiom; an exotic.
EXPAND
Ex*pand", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Expanding.]
Etym: [L. expandere, expansum; ex out + pandere to spread out, to
throw open; perh. akin to E. patent. Cf. Spawn.]
1. To lay open by extending; to open wide; to spread out; to diffuse;
as, a flower expands its leaves.
Then with expanded wings he steers his flight. Milton.
2. To cause the particles or parts of to spread themselves or stand
apart, thus increasing bulk without addition of substance; to make to
occupy more space; to dilate; to distend; to extend every way; to
enlarge; -- opposed to Ant: contract; as, to expand the chest; heat
expands all bodies; to expand the sphere of benevolence.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To state in enlarged form; to develop; as, to expand an
equation. See Expansion, 5.
EXPAND
Ex*pand", v. i.
Defn: To become widely opened, spread apart, dilated, distended, or
enlarged; as, flowers expand in the spring; metals expand by heat;
the heart expands with joy. Dryden.
EXPANDER
Ex*pand"er, n.
Defn: Anything which causes expansion esp. (Mech.) a tool for
stretching open or expanding a tube, etc.
EXPANDING
Ex*pand"ing, a.
Defn: That expands, or may be expanded; extending; spreading;
enlarging. Expanding bit, Expanding drill (Mech.), a bit or drill
made adjustable for holes of various sizes; one which can be expanded
in diameter while boring.
-- Expanding pulley (Mach.), a pulley so made, as in sections, that
its diameter can be increased or diminished.
EXPANSE
Ex*panse", n. Etym: [From L. expansus, p. p. of expandere. See
Expand.]
Defn: That which is expanded or spread out; a wide extent of space or
body; especially, the arch of the sky. "The green expanse." Savage.
Lights . . . high in the expanse of heaven. Milton.
The smooth expanse of crystal lakes. Pope.
EXPANSE
Ex*panse", v. t.
Defn: To expand. [Obs.]
That lies expansed unto the eyes of all. Sir. T. Browne.
EXPANSIBILITY
Ex*pan`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The capacity of being expanded; as, the expansibility of air.
EXPANSIBLE
Ex*pan"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expansible.]
Defn: Capable of being expanded or spread out widely.
Bodies are not expansible in proposition to their weight.
Ex*pab"si*ble*ness ,n. -Ex*pan"si*bly ,adv.
EXPANSILE
Ex*pan"sile, a.
Defn: Expansible.
Ether and alcohol are more expansile than water. Brande & C.
EXPANSION
Ex*pan"sion, n. Etym: [L. expansio: cf. F. expansion.]
1. The act of expanding or spreading out; the condition of being
expanded; dilation; enlargement.
2. That which is expanded; expanse; extend surface; as the expansion
of a sheet or of a lake; the expansion was formed of metal.
The starred expansion of the skies. Beattie.
3. Space thought which anything is expanded; also, pure space.
Lost in expansion, void and infinite. Blackmore.
4. (Com.)
Defn: Enlargement or extension of business transaction; esp.,
increase of the circulation of bank notes.
5. (Math.)
Defn: The developed result of an indicated operation; as, the
expansion of (a + b)2 is a2 + 2ab + b2.
6. (Steam Ebgine)
Defn: The operation of steam in a cylinder after its communication
with the boiler has been cut off, by which it continues to exert
pressure upon the moving piston.
7. (Nav. Arch.)
Defn: The enlargement of the ship mathematically from a model or
drawing to the full or building size, in the process of construction.
Ham. Nav. Encyc.
Note: Expansion is also used adjectively, as in expansion joint,
expansion gear, etc. Expansion curve, a curve the coördinates of
which show the relation between the pressure and volume of expanding
gas or vapor; esp. (Steam engine), that part of an indicator diagram
which shows the declining pressure of the steam as it expands in the
cylinder.
-- Expansion gear (Stream Engine). a cut-off gear. See Illust. of
Link motion.
-- Automatic expansion gear or cut-off, one that is regulated by the
governor, and varies the supply of steam to the engine with the
demand for power.
-- Fixed expansion gear, or Fixed cut-off, one that always operates
at the same fixed point of the stroke.
-- Expansion joint, or Expansion coupling (Mech. & Engin.), a
yielding joint or coupling for so uniting parts of a machine or
structure that expansion, as by heat, is prevented from causing
injurious strains; as by heat, is prevented from causing injurious
strains; as: (a) A side or set of rollers, at the end of bridge
truss, to support it but allow end play. (b) A telescopic joint in a
steam pipe, to permit one part of the pipe to slide within the other.
(c) A clamp for holding a locomotive frame to the boiler while
allowing lengthwise motion.
-- Expansion valve (Steam Engine), a cut-off valve, to shut off
steam from the cylinder before the end of each stroke.
EXPANSIVE
Ex*pan"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expansif.]
Defn: Having a capacity or tendency to expand or dilate; diffusive;
of much expanse; wide-extending; as, the expansive force of heat; the
expansive quality of air.
A more expansive and generous compassion. Eustace.
His forehead was broad and expansive. Prescott.
-- Ex*pan"sive*ly, adv. -Ex*pan"sive*ness, n.
EXPANSURE
Ex*pan"sure (shur; 135), n.
Defn: Expanse. [Obs.] "Night's rich expansure."
EX PARTE
Ex` par"te. Etym: [L. See Ex-, and Part.]
Defn: Upon or from one side only; one-sided; partial; as, an ex parte
statement. Ex parte application, one made without notice or
opportunity to oppose.
-- Ex parte council, one that assembles at the request of only one
of the parties in dispute.
-- Ex parte hearing or evidence (Law), that which is had or taken by
one side or party in the absence of the other. Hearings before grand
juries, and affidavits, are ex parte. Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.
EXPATIATE
Ex*pa"ti*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Expatiated;p. pr. & vb. n.
Expariating.] Etym: [L. expatiatus, exspatiatus, p. p. of expatiari,
exspatiari, to expatiate; ex out + spatiari to walk about spread out,
fr. spatium space. See Space.]
1. To range at large, or without restraint.
Bids his free soul expatiate in the skies. Pope.
2. To enlarge in discourse or writing; to be copious in argument or
discussion; to descant.
He expatiated on the inconveniences of trade. Addison.
EXPATIATE
Ex*pa"ti*ate, v. t.
Defn: To expand; to spread; to extend; to diffuse; to broaden.
Afford art an ample field in which to expatiate itself. Dryden.
EXPATIATION
Ex*pa`ti*a"tion, n.
Defn: Act of expatiating.
EXPATIATORY
Ex*pa"ti*a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expansive; diffusive. [R.]
EXPATRIATE
Ex*pa"tri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expatriated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Expatriating.] Etym: [LL. expatriatus, p. p. of expatriare; L. ex out
+ patria fatherland, native land, fr. pater father. See Patriot.]
1. To banish; to drive or force (a person) from his own country; to
make an exile of.
The expatriated landed interest of France. Burke.
2. Reflexively, as To expatriate one's self: To withdraw from one's
native country; to renounce the rights and liabilities of citizenship
where one is born, and become a citizen of another country.
EXPATRIATION
Ex*pa`tri*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. expatriation.]
Defn: The act of banishing, or the state of banishment; especially,
the forsaking of one's own country with a renunciation of allegiance.
Expatriation was a heavy ransom to pay for the rights of their minds
and souls. Palfrey.
EXPECT
Ex*pect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expected; p. pr. & vb. n. Expecting.]
Etym: [L. expectatum, to look out for, await, expect; ex + out
spectare to look at. See Spectacle.]
1. To wait for; to await. [Obs.]
Let's in, and there expect their coming. Shak.
2. To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that
is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous
apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some
confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive,
sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as I expect to
receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated. "Good: I
will expect you." Shak. "Expecting thy reply." Shak.
The Somersetshire or yellow regiment . . . was expected to arrive on
the following day. Macaulay.
Syn.
-- To anticipate; look for; await; hope.
-- To Expect, Think, Believe, Await. Expect is a mental act and has
aways a reference to the future, to some coming event; as a person
expects to die, or he expects to survive. Think and believe have
reference to the past and present, as well as to the future; as I
think the mail has arrived; I believe he came home yesterday, that he
is he is at home now. There is a not uncommon use of expect, which is
a confusion of the two; as, I expect the mail has arrived; I expect
he is at home. This misuse should be avoided. Await is a physical or
moral act. We await that which, when it comes, will affect us
personally. We expect what may, or may not, interest us personally.
See Anticipate.
EXPECT
Ex*pect", v. t.
Defn: To wait; to stay. [Obs.] Sandys.
EXPECT
Ex*pect", n.
Defn: Expectation. [Obs.] Shak.
EXPECTABLE
Ex*pect"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. expectabilis.]
Defn: That may be expected or looked for. Sir T. Browne.
EXPECTANCE; EXPECTANCY
Ex*pect"ance, Ex*pect"an*cy, n.
1. The act of expecting ; expectation. Milton.
2. That which is expected, or looked or waited for with interest; the
object of expectation or hope.
The expectancy and rose of the fair state. Shak.
Estate in expectancy (Law), one the possession of which a person is
entitled to have at some future time, either as a remainder or
reversion, or on the death of some one. Burrill.
EXPECTANT
Ex*pect"ant, a. Etym: [L.expectans, exspectans, p.pr. of expectare,
exspectare: cf. F. expectant.]
Defn: Waiting in expectation; looking for; (Med.)
Defn: waiting for the efforts of nature, with little active
treatment. Expectant estate (Law), an estate in expectancy. See under
Expectancy.
EXPECTANT
Ex*pect"ant, n.
Defn: One who waits in expectation; one held in dependence by hope of
receiving some good.
An expectant of future glory. South.
Those who had employments, or were expectants. Swift.
EXPECTATION
Ex`pec*ta"tion n. Etym: [L. expectio. exspectio: cf. F. expectation.]
1. The act or state of expecting or looking forward to an event as
about to happen. "In expectation of a guest." Tennyson.
My soul, wait thou only upon God, for my expectation is from him. Ps.
lxii. 5.
2. That which is expected or looked for.
Why our great expectation should be called The seed of woman. Milton.
3. The prospect of the future; grounds upon which something excellent
is expected to happen; prospect of anything good to come, esp. of c
or rank.
His magnificent expiations made him, in the opinion of the world, the
best much in Europe. Prescott.
By all men's eyes a youth of expectations. Otway.
4. The value of any chance (as the prospect of prize or property)
which depends upon some contingent event. Expectations are computed
for or against the occurrence of the event.
5. (Med.)
Defn: The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature
to effect a cure. Expectation of life, the mean or average duration
of the life individuals after any specified age.
Syn.
-- Anticipation; confidence; trust.
EXPECTATIVE
Ex*pect"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expectatif.]
Defn: Constituting an object of expectation; contingent. Expectative
grace, a mandate given by the pope or a prince appointing a successor
to any benefice before it becomes vacant. Foxe.
EXPECTATIVE
Ex*pect"a*tive, n. Etym: [F. expectative, fr. expectatif expectant.]
Defn: Something in expectation; esp., an expectative grace. Milman.
EXPECTEDLY
Ex*pect"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In conformity with expectation. [R.] Walpole.
EXPECTER
Ex*pect"er, n.
Defn: One who expects.
EXPECTINGLY
Ex*pect"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In state of expectation.
EXPECTIVE
Ex*pect"ive, a.
Defn: Expectative. [R.] Shipley.
EXPECTORANT
Ex*pec"to*rant, a. Etym: [L. expectorans, p. pr. of expectorare to
drive from the breast: cf. F. expectorant.] (Med.)
Defn: Tending to facilitate expectoration or to promote discharges of
mucus, etc., from the lungs or throat.
-- n.
Defn: An expectorant medicine.
EXPECTORATE
Ex*pec"to*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expectorated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Expectorating.] Etym: [L. expecrorare to drive from the breast; ex
out + pectus, pectiris, breast. See Pectoral.]
Defn: To eject from the trachea or lungs; to discharge, as phlegm or
other matter, by coughing, hawking, and spitting; to spit forth.
EXPECTORATE
Ex*pec"to*rate, v. i.
Defn: To discharge matter from the lungs or throat bu hawking and
spitting; to spit.
EXPECTORATION
Ex*pec`to*ra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. expectoration.]
1. The act of ejecting phlegm or mucus from the throat or lungs, by
coughing, hawking, and spitting.
2. That which is expectorated, as phlegm or mucus.
EXPECTORATIVE
Ex*pec"to*ra*tive, a. & n.
Defn: Same as Expectorant. Harvey.
EXPEDE
Ex*pede" v. t.
Defn: To expedite; to hasten. [Obs.]
EXPEDIATE
Ex*pe"di*ate, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. expédier. See Expedite.]
Defn: To hasten; to expedite. [Obs.] "To expediate their business."
Sir E. Sandys.
EXPEDIENCE; EXPEDIENCY
Ex*pe"di*ence, Ex*pe"di*en*cy,, n.
1. The quality of being expedient or advantageous; fitness or
suitableness to effect a purpose intended; adaptedness to self-
interest; desirableness; advantage; advisability; -- sometimes
contradistinguished from moral rectitude.
Divine wisdom discovers no expediency in vice. Cogan.
To determine concerning the expedience of action. Sharp.
Much declamation may be heard in the present day against expediency,
as if it were not the proper object of a deliberative assembly, and
as if it were only pursued by the unprincipled. Whately.
2. Expedition; haste; dispatch. [Obs.]
Making hither with all due expedience. Shak.
3. An expedition; enterprise; adventure. [Obs.]
Forwarding this dear expedience. Shak.
EXPEDIENT
Ex*pe"di*ent a. Etym: [L. expediens, -entis, p. pr. of expedire to be
expedient, release, extricate: cf. F. expédient. See Expedite.]
1. Hastening or forward; hence, tending to further or promote a
proposed object; fit or proper under the circumstances; conducive to
self-interest; desirable; advisable; advantageous; -- sometimes
contradistinguished from right.
It is expedient for you that I go away. John xvi. 7.
Nothing but the right can ever be expedient, since that can never be
true expediency which would sacrifice a greater good to a less.
Whately.
2. Quick; expeditious. [Obs.]
His marches are expedient to this town. Shak.
EXPEDIENT
Ex*pe"di*ent, n.
1. That which serves to promote or advance; suitable means to
accomplish an end.
What sure expedient than shall Juno find, To calm her fears and ease
her boding mind Philips.
2. Means devised in an exigency; shift.
Syn.
-- Shift; contrivance; resource; substitute.
EXPEDIENTIAL
Ex*pe`di*en"tial
Defn: . Governed by expediency; seeking advantage; as an expediential
policy. "Calculating, expediential understanding." Hare.
-- Ex*pe`di*en"tial*ly , adv.
EXPEDIENTLY
Ex*pe"di*ent*ly adv.
1. In an expedient manner; fitly; suitably; conveniently.
2. With expedition; quickly. [Obs.]
EXPEDIMENT
Ex*ped"i*ment n.
Defn: An expedient. [Obs.]
A like expediment to remove discontent. Barrow.
EXPEDITATE
Ex*ped"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [LL. expeditatus, p. p. of expeditare to
expeditate; ex out + pes, pedis, foot.] (Eng. Forest Laws)
Defn: To deprive of the claws or the balls of the fore feet; as, to
expeditate a dog that he may not chase deer.
EXPEDITE
Ex"pe*dite, a. Etym: [L. expeditus, p. p. of expedire to free one
caught by the foot, to extricate, set free, bring forward, make
ready; ex out + pes, prdis, t. See Foot.]
1. Free of impediment; unimpeded.
To make the way plain and expedite. Hooker.
2. Expeditious; quick; speedily; prompt.
Nimble and expedite . . . in its operation. Tollotson.
Speech is a very short and expedite way of conveying their thoughts.
Locke.
EXPEDITE
Ex"pe*dite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expedited;p. pr. & vb. n.
Expediting.]
1. To relieve of impediments; to facilitate; to accelerate the
process or progress of; to hasten; to quicken; as, to expedite the
growth of plants.
To expedite your glorious march. Milton.
2. To despatch; to send forth; to issue officially.
Such charters be expedited of course. Bacon.
EXPEDITELY
Ex"pe*dite`ly, adv.
Defn: In expedite manner; expeditiously.
EXPEDITENESS
Ex"pe*dite`ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being expedite.
EXPEDITION
Ex`pe*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. expeditio: cf.F. expédition.]
1. The quality of being expedite; efficient promptness; haste;
dispatch; speed; quickness; as to carry the mail with expedition.
With winged expedition
Swift as the lightning glance.
2. A sending forth or setting forth the execution of some object of
consequence; progress.
Putting it straight in expedition.
3. An important enterprise, implying a change of place; especially, a
warlike enterprise; a march or a voyage with martial intentions; an
excursion by a body of persons for a valuable end; as, a military,
naval, exploring, or scientific expedition; also, the body of persons
making such excursion.
The expedition miserably failed. Prescott.
Narrative of the exploring expedition to the Rocky Mountains. J. C.
Fremont.
EXPEDITIONARY
Ex`pe*di"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to an expedition; as, an expeditionary force.
EXPEDITIONIST
Ex`pe*di"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who goes upon an expedition. [R].
EXPEDITIOUS
Ex`pe*di"tious, a.
Defn: Possessed of, or characterized by, expedition, or efficiency
and rapidity in action; performed with, or acting with, expedition;
quick; having celerity; speedily; as, an expeditious march or
messenger.
-- Ex`pe*di"tious*ly, adv.
-- Ex`pe*di"tious*ness, n.
Syn.
-- Prompt; ready; speedy; alert. See Prompt.
EXPEDITIVE
Ex*ped"i*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expéditif.]
Defn: Performing with speed. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXPEL
Ex*pel", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expelled, p. pr. & vb. n.. Expelling.]
Etym: [L. expellere, expulsum; ex out + pellere to drive: cf.F.
expeller. See Pulse a beat.]
1. To drive or force out from that within which anything is
contained, inclosed, or situated; to eject; as to expel air from a
bellows.
Did not ye . . . expel me out of my father's house
Judg. Xi. 7.
2. To drive away from one's country; to banish.
Forewasted all their land, and them expelled. Spenser.
.
He shell expel them from before you . . . and ye shell possess their
land. Josh. xxiii. 5.
3. To cut off from further connection with an institution of
learning, a society, and the like; as, to expel a student or member.
4. To keep out, off, or away; to exclude. "To expel the winter's
flaw." Shak.
5. To discharge; to shoot. [Obs.]
Then he another and another [shaft] did expel. Spenser.
.
Syn.
-- To banish; exile; eject; drive out. See Banish.
EXPELLABLE
Ex*pel"la*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being expelled or driven out. "Expellable by heat."
Kirwan.
EXPELLER
Ex*pel"ler, n.
Defn: One who. or that which, expels.
EXPEND
Ex*pend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expended; p. pr. & vb. n. Expending.]
Etym: [L. expendere, expensum, to weigh out, pay out, lay out, lay
out; ex out + pendere to weigh. See Poise, and cf. Spend.]
Defn: To lay out, apply, or employ in any way; to consume by use; to
use up or distribute, either in payment or in donations; to spend;
as, they expend money for food or in charity; to expend time labor,
and thought; to expend hay in feeding cattle, oil in a lamp, water in
mechanical operations.
If my death might make this island happy . . . I would expend it with
all willingness. Shak.
EXPEND
Ex*pend", v. i.
1. To be laid out, used, or consumed.
2. To pay out or disburse money.
They go elsewhere to enjoy and to expend. Macaulay
.
EXPENDITOR
Ex*pend"i*tor, n. Etym: [LL.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A disburser; especially, one of the disbursers of taxes for the
repair of sewers. Mozley & W.
EXPENDITURE
Ex*pend"iture, n.
1. The act of expending; a laying out, as of money; disbursement.
our expenditure purchased commerce and conquest. Burke.
2. That which is expended or paid out; expense.
The receipts and expenditures of this extensive country. A. Hamilton.
EXPENSE
Ex*pense", n. Etym: [L. expensa (sc. pecunia), or expensum, fr.
expensus, p. p. of expendere. See Expend.]
1. A spending or consuming; disbursement; expenditure.
Husband nature's riches from expense. Shak.
2. That which is expended, laid out, or consumed; cost; outlay;
charge; -- sometimes with the notion of loss or damage to those on
whom the expense falls; as, the expenses of war; an expense of time.
Courting popularity at his party's expense. Brougham.
3. Loss. [Obs.] Shak.
And moan the expense of many a vanished sight. Spenser.
Expense magazine (Mil.), a small magazine containing ammunition for
immediate use. H. L. Scott.
EXPENSEFULL
Ex*pense"full, a.
Defn: Full of expense; costly; chargeable. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
-- Ex*pense"ful*ly, adv. [R.] -- Ex*pense"ful*ness, n. [R.]
EXPENSELESS
Ex*pense"less, a.
Defn: Without cost or expense.
EXPENSIVE
Ex*pen"sive, a.
1. Occasioning expense; calling for liberal outlay; costly; dear;
liberal; as, expensive dress; an expensive house or family.
War is expensive, and peace desirable. Burke.
2. Free in expending; very liberal; especially, in a bad scene;
extravagant; lavish. [R.]
An active, expensive, indefatigable goodness. Sprat.
The idle and expensive are dangerous. Sir W. Temple.
Syn.
-- Costly; dear; high-priced; lavish; extravagant.
-- Ex*pen"sive*ly, adv.
-- Ex*pen"sive*ness, n.
EXPERIENCE
Ex*pe"ri*ence, n. Etym: [F. expérience, L. experientia, tr.
experiens, , p. pr. of experiri, expertus, to try; ex out + the root
of pertus experienced. See Peril, and cf. Expert.]
1. Trial, as a test or experiment. [Obs.]
She caused him to make experience Upon wild beasts. Spenser.
2. The effect upon the judgment or feelings produced by any event,
whether witnessed or participated in; personal and direct impressions
as contrasted with description or fancies; personal acquaintance;
actual enjoyment or suffering. "Guided by other's experiences." Shak.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp
of experience. P. Henry
To most men experience is like the stern lights of a ship, which
illumine only the track it has passed. Coleridge.
When the consuls . . . came in . . . they knew soon by experience how
slenderly guarded against danger the majesty of rulers is where force
is wanting. Holland.
Those that undertook the religion of our Savior upon his preaching,
had no experience of it. Sharp.
3. An act of knowledge, one or more, by which single facts or general
truths are ascertained; experimental or inductive knowledge; hence,
implying skill, facility, or practical wisdom gained by personal
knowledge, feeling or action; as, a king without experience of war.
Whence hath the mind all the materials of reason and knowledge To
this I answer in one word, from experience. Locke.
Experience may be acquired in two ways; either, first by noticing
facts without any attempt to influence the frequency of their
occurrence or to vary the circumstances under which they occur; this
is observation; or, secondly, by putting in action causes or agents
over which we have control, and purposely varying their combinations,
and noticing what effects take place; this is experiment. Sir J.
Herschel.
EXPERIENCE
Ex*pe"ri*ence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Experienced (-enst); p. pr. & vb.
n. Experiencing (-en-sng).]
1. To make practical acquaintance with; to try personally; to prove
by use or trial; to have trial of; to have the lot or fortune of; to
have befall one; to be affected by; to feel; as, to experience pain
or pleasure; to experience poverty; to experience a change of views.
The partial failure and disappointment which he had experienced in
India. Thirwall.
2. To exercise; to train by practice.
The youthful sailors thus with early care
Their arms experience, and for sea prepare. Harte.
To experience religion (Theol.), to become a convert to the diatribes
of Christianity; to yield to the power of religions truth.
EXPERIENCED
Ex*pe"ri*enced (-enst), p. p. & a.
Defn: Taught by practice or by repeated observations; skillful or
wise by means of trials, use, or observation; as, an experienced
physician, workman, soldier; an experienced eye.
The ablest and most experienced statesmen. Bancroft.
EXPERIENCER
Ex*pe"ri*en*cer (-en-sr), n.
1. One who experiences.
2. An experimenter. [Obs.] Sir. K. Gigby.
EXPERIENCE TABLE
Ex*pe"ri*ence ta"ble. (Life Insurance)
Defn: A table of mortality computed from the experience of one or
more life-insurance companies.
EXPERIENT
Ex*pe"ri*ent (-ent), a.
Defn: Experienced. [Obs.]
The prince now ripe and full experient. Beau & Fl.
EXPERIENTIAL
Ex*pe`ri*en"tial, a.
Defn: Derived from, or pertaining to, experience. Coleridge.
It is called empirical or experiential . . . because it is divan to
us by experience or observation, and not obtained as the result of
inference or reasoning. Sir. W. Hamiltion.
-- Ex*pe`ri*en"tial*ly, adv. DR. H. More.
EXPERIENTIALISM
Ex*pe`ri*en"tial*ism, n. (Philos.)
Defn: The doctrine that experience, either that ourselves or of
others, is the test or criterion of general knowledge; -- opposed to
intuitionists.
Experientialism is in short, a philosophical or logical theory, not a
philosophical one. G. C. Robertson.
EXPERIENTIALIST
Ex*pe`ri*en"tial*ist, n.
Defn: One who accepts the doctrine of experientialism. Also used
adjectively.
EXPERIMENT
Ex*per"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. experimentum, fr. experiri to try: cf.
OF. esperiment, experiment. See Experience.]
1. Atrial or special observation, made to confirm or disprove
something doubtful; esp., one under conditions determined by the
experimenter; an act or operation undertaken in order to discover
some unknown principle or effect, or to test, establish, or
illustrate some suggest or known truth; practical test; poof.
A political experiment can not be made in a laboratory, not
determinant in a few hours. J. Adams.
2. Experience. [Obs.]
Adam, by sad experiment I know How little weight my words with thee
can find. Milton.
EXPERIMENT
Ex*per"i*ment, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Experimented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Experinenting.]
Defn: To make experiment; to operate by test or trial; -- often with
on, upon, or in, referring to the subject of an experiment; with,
referring to the instrument; and by, referring to the means; as, to
experiment upon electricity; he experimented in plowing with ponies,
or by steam power.
EXPERIMENT
Ex*per"i*ment, v.t
Defn: , To try; to know, perceive, or prove, by trial experience.
[Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
EXPERIMENTAL
Ex*per`i*men"tal, a. Etym: [Cf.F. expérimental.]
1. Pertaining to experiment; founded on, or derived from, experiment
or trial; as, experimental science; given to, or skilled in,
experiment; as, an experimental philosopher.
2. Known by, or derived from, experience; as, experimental religion.
EXPERIMENTALIST
Ex*per`i*men"tal*ist, n.
Defn: One who makes experiments; an experimenter. Whaterly.
EXPERIMENTALIZE
Ex*per`i*men"tal*ize, v. i.
Defn: To make experiments (upon); to experiment. J. S. Mill.
EXPERIMENTALLY
Ex*per`i*men"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: By experiment; by experience or trial. J. S. Mill.
EXPERIMENTARIAN
Ex*per`i*men*ta"ri*an, a.
Defn: Relying on experiment or experience. "an experimentarian
philosopher." Boyle.
-- n.
Defn: One who relies on experiment or experience. [Obs.]
EXPERIMENTATION
Ex*per`i*men*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of experimenting; practice by experiment. J. S. Mill.
EXPERIMENTATIVE
Ex*per`imen"ta*tive, a.
Defn: Experimental; of the nature of experiment. [R.]
EXPERIMENTATOR
Ex*per"i*men*ta`tor, n. Etym: [LL.]
Defn: An experimenter. [R.]
EXPERIMENTER
Ex*per"i*men`ter, n.
Defn: One who makes experiments; one skilled in experiments. Faraday.
EXPERIMENTIST
Ex*per"i*men`tist, n.
Defn: An experimenter.
EXPERRECTION
Ex`per*rec"tion, n. Etym: [L. expergisci, p. p. experrectus, to rose
up; ex out + pergere to wake up.]
Defn: A waking up or arousing. [Obs.] Holland
EXPERT
Ex*pert", a. Etym: [F. expert, L. expertus, p. p. of experiri to try.
See Experience.]
Defn: Taught by use, practice, or experience, experienced; having
facility of operation or performance from practice; knowing and ready
from much practice; clever; skillful; as, an expert surgeon; expert
in chess or archery.
A valiant and most expert gentleman. Shak.
What practice, howsoe'er expert In fitting aptest words to things . .
. Hath power to give thee as thou wert Tennison.
Syn.
-- Adroit; dexterous; clever; ready; prompt.
EXPERT
Ex"pert, n.
1. An expert or experienced person; one instructed by experience; one
who has skill, experience, or extensive knowledge in his calling or
in any special branch of learning.
2. (Law)
(a) A specialist in a particular profession or department of science
requiring for its mastery peculiar culture and erudition.
Note: Such specialists may be witnesses in matters as to which
ordinary observers could not without such aid form just conclusions,
and are liable for negligence in case they injure another from want
of proper qualifications or proper care in the exercise of their
specialty.
(b) A sworn appraiser.
EXPERT
Ex*pert", v. t.
Defn: To experience. [Obs.]
Die would we daily, once it to expert. Spencer.
EXPERTLY
Ex*pert"ly, adv.
Defn: In a skillful or dexterous manner; adroitly; with readiness and
accuracy.
EXPERTNESS
Ex*pert"ness, n.
Defn: Skill derived from practice; readiness; as, expertness in
seamanship, or in reasoning.
Syn.
-- Facility; readiness; dexterity; adroitness; skill. See Facility.
EXPETIBLE
Ex*pet"ible, a. Etym: [L., expetibilis, fr. expetere to wish for; ex
out + petere to seek.]
Defn: Worthy of being wished for; desirable. [Obs.] Puller.
EXPIABLE
Ex"pi*a*ble, a. Etym: [See Expiate.]
Defn: Capable of being expiated or atoned for; as, an expiable
offense; expiable guilt. Bp. Hall.
EXPIATE
Ex"pi*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expiated();p. pr. & vb. n.
Expiating().] Etym: [L. expiatus, p.p. of expiare to expiate; ex out
+ piare to seek to appease, to purify with sacred rites, fr. pius
pious. See Pious.]
1. To extinguish the guilt of by sufferance of penalty or some
equivalent; to make complete satisfaction for; to atone for; to make
amends for; to make expiation for; as, to expiate a crime, a guilt,
or sin.
To expiate his treason, hath naught left. Milton.
The Treasurer obliged himself to expiate the injury. Clarendon.
2. To purify with sacred rites. [Obs.]
Neither let there be found among you any one that shall expiate his
son or daughter, making them to pass through the fire. Deut. xviii.
10 (Douay version)
EXPIATE
Ex"pi*ate, a. Etym: [L. expiatus,p.p]
Defn: Terminated. [Obs.] Shak.
EXPIATION
Ex`pi*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. expiatio: cf.F. expiation]
1. The act of making satisfaction or atonement for any crime or
fault; the extinguishing of guilt by suffering or penalty.
His liberality seemed to have something in it of self-abasement and
expiation. W. Irving.
2. The means by which reparation or atonement for crimes or sins is
made; an expiatory sacrifice or offering; an atonement.
Those shadowy expiations weak, The blood of bulls and goats. Milton.
3. An act by which the treats of prodigies were averted among the
ancient heathen. [Obs.] Hayward.
EXPIATIST
Ex"pi*a*tist, n.
Defn: An expiator. [R.]
EXPIATOR
Ex"pi*a`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who makes expiation or atonement.
EXPIATORIOUS
Ex`pi*a*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Of an expiatory nature; expiatory. Jer. Taylor.
EXPIATORY
Ex"pi*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. expiatorius: cf. F. expiatoire.]
Defn: Having power, or intended, to make expiation; atoning; as, an
expiatory sacrifice.
EXPILATION
Ex`pi*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. expiatio.]
Defn: The act of expilating or stripping off; plunder; pillage.
[Obs.]
This ravenous expiation of the state. Daniel.
EXPILATOR
Ex"pi*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who pillages; a plunderer; a pillager. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
EXPIRABLE
Ex*pir"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may expire; capable of being brought to an end.
EXPIRANT
Ex*pir"ant, n.
Defn: One who expires or is expiring.
EXPIRATION
Ex`pi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. expiratio,exspiratio: cf. F. expiration.
See Expire.]
1. The act of expiring; as: (a)(Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of breathing out, or forcing air from the
lungs through the nose or mouth; as, respiration consists of
inspiration and expiration; -- opposed to Ant: inspiration.
(b) Emission of volatile matter; exhalation.
The true cause of cold is an expiration from the globe of the earth.
Bacon.
(c) The last emission of breath; death. "The groan of expiration."
Rambler.
(d) A coming to a close; cessation; extinction; termination; end.
Before the expiration of thy time. Shak.
2. That which is expired; matter breathed forth; that which is
produced by breathing out, as a sound.
The aspirate "he," which is . . . a gentle expiration. G. Sharp.
EXPIRATORY
Ex*pir"a*to*ry, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or employed in, the expiration or emission of
air from the lungs; as, the expiratory muscles.
EXPIRE
Ex*pire", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expired;p. pr & vb. n. Expiring.] Etym:
[L. expirare, exspirare, expiratum, exspiratum; ex out + spirare to
breathe: cf. F. expirer. See Spirit.]
1. To breathe out; to emit from the lungs; to throw out from the
mouth or nostrils in the process of respiration; -- opposed to
inspire.
Anatomy exhibits the lungs in a continual motion of inspiring and
expiring air. Harvey.
This chafed the boar; his nostrils flames expire. Dryden.
2. To give forth insensibly or gently, as a fluid or vapor; to emit
in minute particles; to exhale; as, the earth expires a damp vapor;
plants expire odors.
The expiring of cold out of the inward parts of the earth in winter.
Bacon.
3. To emit; to give out. [Obs.] Dryden.
4. To bring to a close; to terminate. [Obs.]
Expire the term Of a despised life. Shak.
EXPIRE
Ex*pire", v. i.
1. To emit the breath.
2. To emit the last breath; to breathe out the life; to die; as, to
expire calmly; to expire in agony.
3. To come to an end; to cease; to terminate; to perish; to become
extinct; as, the flame expired; his lease expires to-day; the month
expired on Saturday.
4. To burst forth; to fly out with a blast. [Obs.] "The ponderous
ball expires." Dryden.
EXPIRING
Ex*pir"ing, a.
1. Breathing out air from the lungs; emitting fluid or volatile
matter; exhaling; breathing the last breath; dying; ending;
terminating.
2. Pertaining to, or uttered at, the time of dying; as, expiring
words; expiring groans.
EXPIRY
Ex"pi*ry, n.
Defn: Expiration.
He had to leave at the expiry of the term. Lamb.
The Parliament . . . now approaching the expiry of its legal term. J.
Morley.
EXPISCATE
Ex*pis"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. expiscatus, p.p. of expiscari to fish
out; ex out+piscari to fish, piscis fish.]
Defn: To fish out; to find out by skill or laborious investigation;
to search out. "To expiscate principles." [R.] Nichol.
Dr.Burton has with much ingenuity endeavord to expiscate the truth
which may be involved in them. W. L. Alexander.
EXPISCATION
Ex`pis*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The act of expiscating; a fishing. [R.] Chapman.
EXPISCATORY
Ex*pis"ca*to*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to fish out; searching out [R.] Carlyle.
EXPLAIN
Ex*plain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explained();p. pr. & vb. n.
Explaining.] Etym: [L. explandare to flatten, spread out, explain; ex
out+plandare to make level or plain, planus plain: cf. OF. esplaner,
explaner. See Plain,a., and cf. Esplanade.]
1. To flatten; to spread out; to unfold; to expand. [Obs.]
The horse-chestnut is . . . ready to explain its leaf. Evelyn.
2. To make plain, manifest, or intelligible; to clear of obscurity;
to expound; to unfold and illustrate the meaning of; as, to explain a
chapter of the Bible.
Commentators to explain the difficult passages to you. Gay.
To explain away, to get rid of by explanation. "Those explain the
meaning quite "away." Pope.
Syn.
-- To expound; interpret; elucidate; clear up.
EXPLAIN
Ex*plain", v. i.
Defn: To give an explanation.
EXPLAINABLE
Ex*plain"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. explainabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being explained or made plain to the understanding;
capable of being interpreted. Sir. T. Browne.
EXPLAINER
Ex*plain"er, n.
Defn: One who explains; an expounder or expositor; a commentator; an
interpreter.
EXPLANATE
Ex"pla*nate, a. Etym: [L. explanatus, p.p. of explanare. See
Explain.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Spreading or extending outwardly in a flat form.
EXPLANATION
Ex`pla*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. explanatio: cf. OF. esplanation.]
1. The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of
clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation
of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty.
2. That which explains or makes clear; as, a satisfactory
explanation.
3. The meaning attributed to anything by one who explains it;
definition; inerpretation; sense.
Different explanations [of the Trinity]. Bp. Burnet.
4. A mutual exposition of terms, meaning, or motives, with a view to
adjust a misunderstanding, and reconcile differences; reconciliation;
agreement; as, to come to an explanation.
Syn.
-- Definition; description; explication; exposition; interpretation;
detail. See Definition.
EXPLANATIVE
Ex*plan"a*tive, a.
Defn: Explanatory.
EXPLANATORINESS
Ex*plan"a*to*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being explanatory.
EXPLANATORY
Ex*plan"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. explanatorius.]
Defn: Serving to explain; containing explanation; as explanatory
notes. Swift.
EXPLAT; EXPLATE
Ex*plat", Ex*plate", v. t. Etym: [Pref. ex-+plat or plait.]
Defn: To explain; to unfold. [Obs.]
Like Solon's self explatest the knotty laws. B. Jonson.
EXPLETION
Ex*ple"tion, n. Etym: [L. expletio a satisfying. See Expletive.]
Defn: Accomplishment; fulfillment. [Obs.] Killingbeck.
EXPLETIVE
Ex"ple*tive, a. Etym: [L. expletivus, from expletus, p.p. of explere
to fill up; ex out+plere to fill, akin to plenus full: cf. F.
explétif. See Full.]
Defn: Filling up; hence, added merely for the purpose of filling up;
superfluous. "Expletive imagery." Hallam.
Expletive phrases to plump his speech. Barrow.
EXPLETIVE
Ex"ple*tive, n.
Defn: A word, letter, or syllable not necessary to the sense, but
inserted to fill a vacancy; an oath.
While explectives their feeble aid to join, And ten low words oft
creep in one dull line. Pope.
EXPLETIVELY
Ex"ple*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of an expletive.
EXPLETORY
Ex"ple*to*ry, a.
Defn: Serving to fill up; expletive; superfluous; as, an expletory
word. Bp. Burnet.
EXPLICABLE
Ex"pli*ca*ble, a. Etym: [L. explicabilis: cf. F. explicable.]
Defn: Capable of being explicated; that may be explained or accounted
for; admitting explanation.
It is not explicable upon any grounds. Burke.
EXPLICABLENESS
Ex"pli*ca*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being explicable.
EXPLICATE
Ex"pli*cate, a. Etym: [L. explicatus, p.p. of explicare.]
Defn: Evolved; unfolded. Jer. Taylor.
EXPLICATE
Ex"pli*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explicated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Explicating().]
1. To unfold; to expand; to lay open. [Obs.] "They explicate the
leaves." Blackmore.
2. To unfold the meaning or sense of; to explain; to clear of
difficulties or obscurity; to interpret.
The last verse of his last satire is not yet sufficiently explicated.
Dryden.
EXPLICATION
Ex`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. explicatio: cf. F. explication.]
1. The act of opening, unfolding, or explaining; explanation;
exposition; interpretation.
The explication of our Savior's parables. Atterbury.
2. The sense given by an expositor. Bp. Burnet.
EXPLICATIVE
Ex"pli*ca*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. explicatif.]
Defn: Serving to unfold or explain; tending to lay open to the
understanding; explanatory. Sir W. Hamilton.
EXPLICATOR
Ex"pli*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who unfolds or explains; an expounder; an explainer.
EXPLICATORY
Ex"pli*ca`to*ry, a.
Defn: Explicative. Barrow.
EXPLICIT
Ex"pli*cit. Etym: [LL., an abbreviation of explicitus (est liber) the
book (which anciently was a roll of parchment) is unfolded (and, of
course, "finished"). See Explicit, a.]
Defn: A word formerly used (as finis is now) at the conclusion of a
book to indicate the end.
EXPLICIT
Ex*plic"it, a. Etym: [L. explicitus; p.p. of explicare to unfold: cf.
F. explicite. See Explicate, Exploit.]
1. Not implied merely, or conveyed by implication; distinctly stated;
plain in language; open to the understanding; clear; not obscure or
ambiguous; express; unequivocal; as, an explicit declaration.
The language of the charter was too explicit to admit of a doubt.
Bancroft.
2. Having no disguised meaning or reservation; unreserved; outspoken;
-- applied to persons; as, he was earnest and explicit in his
statement. Explicit function. (Math.) See under Function.
Syn.
-- Express; clear; plain; open; unreserved; unambiguous.
-- Explicit, Express. Explicit denotes a setting forth in the
plainest, language, so that the meaning can not be misunderstood; as,
an explicit promise. Express is stronger than explicit: it adds force
to clearness. An express promise or engagement is not only
unambiguous, but stands out in bold relief, with the most binding
hold on the conscience. An explicit statement; a clear and explicit
notion; explicit direction; no words can be more explicit. An
explicit command; an express prohibition. "An express declaration
goes forcibly and directly to the point. An explicit declaration
leaves nothing ambiguous." C. J. Smith.
EXPLICITLY
Ex*plic"it*ly, adv.
Defn: In an explicit manner; clearly; plainly; without disguise or
reservation of meaning; not by inference or implication; as, he
explicitly avows his intention.
EXPLICITNESS
Ex*plic"it*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being explicit; clearness; directness. Jer.
Taylor.
EXPLODE
Ex*plode", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Exploded; p. pr. & vb. n. Exploding.]
Etym: [L. explodere, explosum, to drive out, drive out a player by
clapping; ex out+plaudere, plodere, to clap, strike, applaud: cf. OF.
exploder. See Plausible.]
1. To become suddenly expanded into a great volume of gas or vapor;
to burst violently into flame; as gunpowder explodes.
2. To burst with force and a loud report; to detonate, as a shell
filled with powder or the like material, or as a boiler from too
great pressure of steam.
3. To burst forth with sudden violence and noise; as, at this, his
wrath exploded.
EXPLODE
Ex*plode", v. t.
1. To drive from the stage by noisy expressions of disapprobation; to
hoot off; to drive away or reject noisily; as, to explode a play.
[Obs.]
Him old and young Exploded, and seized with violent hands. Milton.
2. To bring into disrepute, and reject; to drive from notice and
acceptance; as, to explode a scheme, fashion, or doctrine.
Old exploded contrivances of mercantile fraud. Burke.
To explode and exterminate dark atheism. Bently.
3. To cause to explode or burst noisily; to detonate; as, to explode
powder by touching it with fire.
4. To drive out with violence and noise, as by powder.
But late the kindled powder did explode The massy ball and the brass
tube unload. Blackmore.
EXPLODENT
Ex*plod"ent, n.
1. An instrument or agent causing explosion; an exploder; also, an
explosive.
2. See Explosive, n.,
2.
EXPLODER
Ex*plod"er, n.
1. One who or that which explodes.
2. One who rejects an opinion or scheme with open contempt. South.
EXPLOIT
Ex*ploit", n. Etym: [OE. esploit success, OF. esploit,
espleit,revenue, product, vigor, force, exploit, F. exploit exploit,
fr. L. explicitum, prop. p.p. neut. of explicare to unfold, display,
exhibit; ex+plicare to fold. See Ply, and cf. Explicit, Explicate.]
1. A deed or act; especially, a heroic act; a deed of renown; an
adventurous or noble achievement; as, the exploits of Alexander the
Great.
Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises. Shak.
2. Combat; war. [Obs.]
He made haste to exploit some warlike service. Holland.
2. Etym: [F. exploiter.]
Defn: To utilize; to make available; to get the value or usefulness
out of; as, to exploit a mine or agricultural lands; to exploit
public opinion. [Recent]
3. Hence: To draw an illegitimate profit from; to speculate on; to
put upon. [Recent]
In no sense whatever does a man who accumulates a fortune by
legitimate industry exploit his employés or make his capital "out of"
anybody else. W. G. Sumner.
EXPLOITATION
Ex`ploi*ta"tion, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: The act of exploiting or utilizing. J. D. Whitney.
EXPLOITURE
Ex*ploi"ture, n.
1. The act of exploiting or accomplishing; achievement. [Obs.] Udall.
2. Exploitation. Harper's Mag.
EXPLORABLE
Ex*plor"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be explored; as, an explorable region.
EXPLORATE
Ex*plo"rate, v. t. Etym: [L. explorare, exploratum.]
Defn: To explore. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.
EXPLORATION
Ex`plo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. exploratio: cf. F. exploration.]
Defn: The act of exploring, penetrating, or ranging over for purposes
of discovery, especially of geographical discovery; examination; as,
the exploration of unknown countries; (Med.)
Defn: physical examination.
"An exploration of doctrine." Bp. Hall.
EXPLORATIVE
Ex*plor"a*tive, a.
Defn: Exploratory.
EXPLORATOR
Ex"plo*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who explores; one who examines closely; a searcher.
EXPLORATORY
Ex*plor"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. exploratorius.]
Defn: Serving or intended to explore; searching; examining;
explorative. Sir H. Wotton.
EXPLORE
Ex*plore", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Explored();p. pr. & vb. n. Exploring.]
Etym: [L. explorare to explore; ex out+plorare to cry out aloud,prob.
orig., to cause to flow; perh. akin to E. flow: cf. F. explorer.]
1. To seek for or after; to strive to attain by search; to look
wisely and carefully for. [Obs.]
Explores the lost, the wandering sheep directs. Pope.
2. To search through or into; to penetrate or range over for
discovery; to examine thoroughly; as, to explore new countries or
seas; to explore the depths of science. "Hidden frauds [to] explore."
Dryden.
EXPLOREMENT
Ex*plore"ment, n.
Defn: The act of exploring; exploration. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
EXPLORER
Ex*plor"er, n.
Defn: One who explores; also, an apparatus with which one explores,
as a diving bell.
EXPLORING
Explor"ing, a.
Defn: Employed in, or designed for, exploration. "Exploring parties."
Bancroft.
EXPLOSION
Ex*plo"sion, n. Etym: [L. explosio a driving off by clapping: cf. F.
explosion explosion. See Explode.]
1. The act of exploding; detonation; a chemical action which causes
the sudden formation of a great volume of expanded gas; as, the
explosion of gunpowder, of fire damp,etc.
2. A bursting with violence and loud noise, because of internal
pressure; as, the explosion of a gun, a bomb, a steam boiler, etc.
3. A violent outburst of feeling, manifested by excited language,
action, etc.; as, an explosion of wrath.
A formidable explosion of high-church fanaticism. Macaulay.
EXPLOSIVE
Ex*plo"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. explosif.]
Defn: Driving or bursting out with violence and noise; causing
explosion; as, the explosive force of gunpowder.
EXPLOSIVE
Ex*plo"sive, n.
1. An explosive agent; a compound or mixture susceptible of a rapid
chemical reaction, as gunpowder, or nitro-glycerine.
2. A sound produced by an explosive impulse of the breath;
(Phonetics) one of consonants p, b, t, d, k, g, which are sounded
with a sort of explosive power of voice.
Note: [See Guide to Pronunciation, sq. root 155-7, 184.]
EXPLOSIVELY
Ex*plo"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In an explosive manner.
EXPOLIATION
Ex*po`li*a"tion, n.
Defn: See Exspoliation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
EXPOLISH
Ex*pol"ish, v. t. Etym: [Cf. L. expolire. See Polish.]
Defn: To polish thoroughly. [Obs.] Heywood.
EXPONE
Ex*pone", v. t. Etym: [OE. exponen. See Expound.]
Defn: To expound; to explain; also, to expose; to imperil. [Old Eng.
& Scotch] Drummond.
EXPONENT
Ex*po"nent, n. Etym: [L. exponens, -entis, p. pr. of exponere to put
out, set forth, expose. See Expound.]
1. (Alg.)
Defn: A number, letter, or any quantity written on the right hand of
and above another quantity, and denoting how many times the latter is
repeated as a factor to produce the power indicated;
Note: thus a2 denotes the second power, and an the xth power, of a (2
and x being the exponents). A fractional exponent, or index, is used
to denote the root of a quantity. Thus, a denotes the third or cube
root of a.
2. One who, or that which, stands as an index or representative; as,
the leader of a party is the exponent of its principles. Exponent of
a ratio, the quotient arising when the antecedent is divided by the
consequent; thus, 6 is the exponent of the ratio of 30 to 5. [R.]
EXPONENTIAL
Ex`po*nen"tial, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exponentiel.]
Defn: Pertaining to exponents; involving variable exponents; as, an
exponential expression; exponential calculus; an exponential
function. Exponential curve, a curve whose nature is defined by means
of an exponential equation.
-- Exponential equation, an equation which contains an exponential
quantity, or in which the unknown quantity enters as an exponent.
-- Exponential quantity (Math.), a quantity whose exponent is
unknown or variable, as ax.
-- Exponential series, a series derived from the development of
exponential equations or quantities.
EXPORT
Ex*port", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exported; p. pr. & vb. n. Exporting.]
Etym: [L. exportare, exportatum; ex out+portare to carry : cf. F.
exporter. See Port demeanor.]
1. To carry away; to remove. [Obs.]
[They] export honor from a man, and make him a return in envy. Bacon.
2. To carry or send abroad, or out of a country, especially to
foreign countries, as merchandise or commodities in the way of
commerce; -- the opposite of import; as, to export grain, cotton,
cattle, goods, etc.
EXPORT
Ex"port, n.
1. The act of exporting; exportation; as, to prohibit the export of
wheat or tobacco.
2. That which is exported; a commodity conveyed from one country or
State to another in the way of traffic; -- used chiefly in the
plural, exports.
The ordinary course of exchange . . . between two places must
likewise be an indication of the ordinary course of their exports and
imports. A. Smith.
EXPORTABILITY
Ex*port`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being suitable for exportation.
To increase the exportability of native goods. J. P. Peters.
EXPORTABLE
Ex*port"a*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable for exportation; as, exportable products.
EXPORTATION
Ex`por*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exportatio: cf. F. exporation.]
1. The act of exporting; the act of conveying or sending commodities
abroad or to another country, in the course of commerce.
2. Commodity exported; an export.
3. The act of carrying out. [R.] Bourne.
EXPORTER
Ex*port"er, n.
Defn: One who exports; the person who sends goods or commodities to a
foreign country, in the way of commerce; -- opposed to importer.
EXPOSAL
Ex*pos"al, n.
Defn: Exposure. Swift.
EXPOSE
Ex*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exposed(); p. pr. & vb. n. Exposing.]
Etym: [F. exposer; pref. ex- (L. ex out)+poser to place. See Pose, v.
t.]
1. To set forth; to set out to public view; to exhibit; to show; to
display; as, to expose goods for sale; to expose pictures to public
inspection.
Those who seek truth only, freely expose their principles to the
test, and are pleased to have them examined. Locke.
2. To lay bare; to lay open to attack, danger, or anything
objectionable; to render accessible to anything which may affect,
especially detrimentally; to make liable; as, to expose one's self to
the heat of the sun, or to cold, insult, danger, or ridicule; to
expose an army to destruction or defeat.
Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel. Shak.
3. To deprive of concealment; to discover; to lay open to public
inspection, or bring to public notice, as a thing that shuns
publicity, something criminal, shameful, or the like; as, to expose
the faults of a neighbor.
You only expose the follies of men, without arraigning their vices.
Dryden.
4. To disclose the faults or reprehensible practices of; to lay open
to general condemnation or contempt by making public the character or
arts of; as, to expose a cheat, liar, or hypocrite.
EXPOSE
Ex`po`sé", n. Etym: [F., prop.p.p. of exposer. See Expose, v. t.]
Defn: A formal recital or exposition of facts; exposure, or
revelation, of something which some one wished to keep concealed.
EXPOSEDNESS
Ex*pos"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being exposed, laid open, or unprotected; as, an
exposedness to sin or temptation.
EXPOSER
Ex*pos"er, n.
Defn: One who exposes or discloses.
EXPOSITION
Ex`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [L. expositio, fr. exponere, expositum: cf.
F. exposition. See Expound.]
1. The act of exposing or laying open; a setting out or displaying to
public view.
2. The act of expounding or of laying open the sense or meaning of an
author, or a passage; explanation; interpretation; the sense put upon
a passage; a law, or the like, by an interpreter; hence, a work
containing explanations or interpretations; a commentary.
You know the law; your exposition Hath been most sound. Shak.
3. Situation or position with reference to direction of view or
accessibility to influence of sun, wind, etc.; exposure; as, an
easterly exposition; an exposition to the sun. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
4. A public exhibition or show, as of industrial and artistic
productions; as, the Paris Exposition of 1878. [A Gallicism]
EXPOSITIVE
Ex*pos"i*tive, a.
Defn: Serving to explain; expository. Bp. Pearson.
EXPOSITOR
Ex*pos"i*tor, n. Etym: [L. See Expound.]
Defn: One who, or that which, expounds or explains; an expounder; a
commentator. Bp. Horsley.
EXPOSITORY
Ex*pos"i*to*ry, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or containing, exposition; serving to explain;
explanatory; illustrative; exegetical.
A glossary or expository index to the poetical writers. Johnson.
EXPOST FACTO; EXPOSTFACTO
Ex"post` fac"to, or Ex"post`fac"to. Etym: [L., from what is done
afterwards.] (Law)
Defn: From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in
consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective. Ex post facto law, a
law which operates by after enactment. The phrase is popularly
applied to any law, civil or criminal, which is enacted with a
retrospective effect, and with intention to produce that effect; but
in its true application, as employed in American law, it relates only
to crimes, and signifies a law which retroacts, by way of criminal
punishment, upon that which was not a crime before its passage, or
which raises the grade of an offense, or renders an act punishable in
a more severe manner that it was when committed. Ex post facto laws
are held to be contrary to the fundamental principles of a free
government, and the States are prohibited from passing such laws by
the Constitution of the United States. Burrill. Kent.
EX POST FACTO; EX POSTFACTO
Ex" post` fac"to, or Ex" post`fac"to (eks" post" fak"to). [L., from
what is done afterwards.] (Law)
Defn: From or by an after act, or thing done afterward; in
consequence of a subsequent act; retrospective.
Ex post facto law, a law which operates by after enactment. The
phrase is popularly applied to any law, civil or criminal, which is
enacted with a retrospective effect, and with intention to produce
that effect; but in its true application, as employed in American
law, it relates only to crimes, and signifies a law which retroacts,
by way of criminal punishment, upon that which was not a crime before
its passage, or which raises the grade of an offense, or renders an
act punishable in a more severe manner that it was when committed. Ex
post facto laws are held to be contrary to the fundamental principles
of a free government, and the States are prohibited from passing such
laws by the Constitution of the United States. Burrill. Kent.
EXPOSTULATE
Ex*pos"tu*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Expostulated();p. pr. & vb. n.
Expostulating.] Etym: [L. expostulatus, p.p. of expostulare to demand
vehemently; ex out + postulare to ask, require. See Postulate.]
Defn: To reason earnestly with a person on some impropriety of his
conduct, representing the wrong he has done or intends, and urging
him to make redress or to desist; to remonstrate; -- followed by
with.
Men expostulate with erring friends; they bring accusations against
enemies who have done them a wrong. Jowett (Thuc. ).
Syn.
-- To remonstrate; reason. See Remonstrate.
EXPOSTULATE
Ex*pos"tu*late, v. t.
Defn: To discuss; to examine. [Obs.]
To expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is. Shak.
EXPOSTULATION
Ex*pos`tu*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. expostulatio.]
Defn: The act of expostulating or reasoning with a person in
opposition to some impropriety of conduct; remonstrance; earnest and
kindly protest; dissuasion.
We must use expostulation kindly. Shak.
EXPOSTULATOR
Ex*pos"tu*la`tor (;135), n.
Defn: One who expostulates. Lamb.
EXPOSTULATORY
Ex*pos"tu*la*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing expostulation or remonstrance; as, an expostulatory
discourse or letter.
EXPOSTURE
Ex*pos"ture (;135), n. Etym: [Cf. Imposture.]
Defn: Exposure. [Obs.] Shak.
EXPOSURE
Ex*po"sure (;135), n. Etym: [From Expose.]
1. The act of exposing or laying open, setting forth, laying bare of
protection, depriving of care or concealment, or setting out to
reprobation or contempt.
The exposure of Fuller . . . put an end to the practices of that vile
tribe. Macaulay.
2. The state of being exposed or laid open or bare; openness to
danger; accessibility to anything that may affect, especially
detrimentally; as, exposure to observation, to cold to inconvenience.
When we have our naked frailties hid, That suffer in exposure. Shak.
3. Position as to points of compass, or to influences of climate,
etc. "Under a southern exposure. Evelyn.
The best exposure of the two for woodcocks. Sir. W. Scott.
4. (Photog.)
Defn: The exposing of a sensitized plate to the action of light.
EXPOUND
Ex*pound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expounded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Expounding.] Etym: [OE. exponen, expounen, expounden, fr. L. exponere
to set out, expose, expound; ex out + ponere to put: cf. OE.
expondre, expondre. See Position.]
1. To lay open; to expose to view; to examine. [Obs.]
He expounded both his pockets. Hudibras.
2. To lay open the meaning of; to explain; to clear of obscurity; to
interpret; as, to expound a text of Scripture, a law, a word, a
meaning, or a riddle.
Expound this matter more fully to me. Bunyan.
EXPOUNDER
Ex*pound"er, n.
Defn: One who expounds or explains; an interpreter.
EXPRESS
Ex*press", a. Etym: [F. exprès, L. expressus, p.p. of exprimere to
express; ex. out + premere To press. See Press.]
1. Exactly representing; exact.
Their human countenance The express resemblance of the gods. Milton.
2. Directly and distinctly stated; declared in terms; not implied or
left to inference; made unambiguous by intention and care; clear; not
dubious; as, express consent; an express statement.
I have express commandment. Shak.
3. Intended for a particular purpose; relating to an express; sent on
a particular errand; dispatched with special speed; as, an express
messenger or train. Also used adverbially.
A messenger sent express from the other world. Atterbury.
Express color. (Law) See the Note under Color, n., 8.
Syn.
-- Explicit; clear; unambiguous. See Explicit.
EXPRESS
Ex*press", n. Etym: [Cf. F. exprès a messenger.]
1. A clear image or representation; an expression; a plain
declaration. [Obs.]
The only remanent express of Christ's sacrifice on earth. Jer.
Taylor.
2. A messenger sent on a special errand; a courier; hence, a regular
and fast conveyance; commonly, a company or system for the prompt and
safe transportation of merchandise or parcels; also, a railway train
for transporting passengers or goods with speed and punctuality.
3. An express office.
She charged him . . . to ask at the express if anything came up from
town. E. E. Hale.
4. That which is sent by an express messenger or message. [Obs.]
Eikon Basilike. Express office, an office where packages for an
express are received or delivered.
EXPRESS
Ex*press", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expressed(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Expressing.] Etym: [Cf. OF. espresser, expresser, L. exprimere,
expressum. See Express,a.; cf. Sprain.]
1. To press or squeeze out; as, to express the juice of grapes, or of
apples; hence, to extort; to elicit.
All the fruits out of which drink is expressed. Bacon.
And th'idle breath all utterly expressed. Spenser.
Halters and racks can not express from thee More than by deeds. B.
Jonson.
2. To make or offer a representation of; to show by a copy or
likeness; to represent; to resemble.
Each skillful artist shall express thy form. E. Smith.
So kids and whelps their sires and dams express. Dryden.
3. To give a true impression of; to represent and make known; to
manifest plainly; to show in general; to exhibit, as an opinion or
feeling, by a look, gesture, and esp. by language; to declare; to
utter; to tell.
My words express my purpose. Shak.
They expressed in their lives those excellent doctrines of morality.
Addison.
4. To make known the opinions or feelings of; to declare what is in
the mind of; to show (one's self); to cause to appear; -- used
reflexively.
Mr. Phillips did express with much indignation against me, one
evening. Pope.
5. To denote; to designate.
Moses and Aaron took these men, which are expressed by their names.
Num. i. 17.
6. To send by express messenger; to forward by special opportunity,
or through the medium of an express; as, to express a package.
Syn.
-- To declare; utter; signify; testify; intimate.
EXPRESSAGE
Ex*press"age (;48), n.
Defn: The charge for carrying a parcel by express.
EXPRESSIBLE
Ex*press"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being expressed, squeezed out, shown, represented,
or uttered.
-- Express"i*bly,adv.
EXPRESSION
Ex*pres"sion, n. Etym: [L. expressio. cf. F. expression.]
1. The act of expressing; the act of forcing out by pressure; as, the
expression of juices or oils; also, of extorting or eliciting; as, a
forcible expression of truth.
2. The act of declaring or signifying; declaration; utterance; as, an
expression of the public will.
With this tone of philosophy were mingled expressions of sympathy.
Prescott.
3. Lively or vivid representation of meaning, sentiment, or feeling,
etc.; significant and impressive indication, whether by language,
appearance, or gesture; that manner or style which gives life and
suggestive force to ideas and sentiments; as, he reads with
expression; her performance on the piano has expression.
The imitators of Shakespeare, fixing their attention on his wonderful
power of expression, have directed their imitation to this. M.
Arnold.
4. That which is expressed by a countenance, a posture, a work of
art, etc.; look, as indicative of thought or feeling. "The expression
of an eye." Tennyson.
It still wore the majesty of expression so conspicuous in his
portraits by the inimitable pencil of Titian. Prescott.
5. A form of words in which an idea or sentiment is conveyed; a mode
of speech; a phrase; as, a common expression; an odd expression.
6. (Math.)
Defn: The representation of any quantity by its appropriate
characters or signs. Past expression, Beyond expression, beyond the
power of description. "Beyond expression bright." Milton.
EXPRESSIONAL
Ex*pres"sion*al, a.
Defn: Of, or relating to, expression; phraseological; also, vividly
representing or suggesting an idea sentiment. Fized. Hall. Ruskin.
EXPRESSIONLESS
Ex*pres"sion*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of expression.
EXPRESSIVE
Ex*press"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expressif.]
1. Serving to express, utter, or represent; indicative;
communicative; -- followed by of; as, words expressive of his
gratitude.
Each verse so swells expressive of her woes. Tickell.
2. Full of expression; vividly representing the meaning or feeling
meant to be conveyed; significant; emphatic; as, expressive looks or
words.
You have restrained yourself within the list of too cold an adieu; be
more expressive to them. Shak.
Through her expressive eyes her soul distinctly spoke. Littelton.
-- Ex*press"ive*ly,adv.
-- Ex*press"ive*ness,n.
EXPRESSLY
Ex*press"ly, adv.
Defn: In an express manner; in direct terms; with distinct purpose;
particularly; as, a book written expressly for the young.
The word of the Lord came expressly unto Ezekiel. Ezek. i. 3.
I am sent expressly to your lordship. Shak.
EXPRESSMAN
Ex*press"man, n.; pl. Expressmen (.
Defn: A person employed in the express business; also, the driver of
a job wagon. W. D. Howells.
EXPRESSNESS
Ex*press"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being express; definiteness. [Obs.]
Hammond.
EXPRESS RIFLE
Ex*press" ri"fle.
Defn: A sporting rifle for use at short ranges, employing a large
charge of powder and a light (short) bullet, giving a high initial
velocity and consequently a flat trajectory. It is usually of
moderately large caliber.
EXPRESS TRAIN
Express train.
Defn: Formerly, a railroad train run expressly for the occasion; a
special train; now, a train run at express or special speed and
making few stops.
EXPRESSURE
Ex*pres"sure (;135), n.
Defn: The act of expressing; expression; utterance; representation.
[Obs.]
An operation more divine Than breath or pen can give expressure to.
Shak.
EXPROBRATE
Ex"pro*brate, v. t. Etym: [L. exprobratus, p.p. of exprobrare; ex out
+ probrum a shameful or disgraceful act.]
Defn: To charge upon with reproach; to upbraid. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
EXPROBRATION
Ex`pro*bra"tion, n. Etym: [L. exprobration: cf. F. exprobration.]
Defn: Reproachful accusation; upbraiding. [Obs.]
A fearful exprobration of our unworthiness. Jer. Taylor.
EXPROBRATIVE; EXPROBRATORY
Ex*pro"bra*tive, Ex*pro"bra*to*ry, a.
Defn: Expressing reproach; upbraiding; reproachful. [R.] Sir A.
Shirley.
EXPROPRIATE
Ex*pro"pri*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. ex out, from + proprius one's own:
cf. F. exproprier.]
Defn: To put out of one's possession; to surrender the ownership of;
also, to deprive of possession or proprietary rights. Boyle.
Expropriate these [bad landlords] as the monks were expropriated by
Act of Parliament. M. Arnold.
EXPROPRIATION
Ex*pro`pri*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. expropriation.]
Defn: The act of expropriating; the surrender of a claim to exclusive
property; the act of depriving of ownership or proprietary rights. W.
Montagu.
The expropriation of bad landlords. M. Arnold.
EXPUGN
Ex*pugn", v. t. Etym: [L. expugnare; ex out + pugnare to fight, pugna
fight. Cf. Impugn.]
Defn: To take by assault; to storm; to overcome; to vanquish; as, to
expugn cities; to expugn a person by arguments.
EXPUGNABLE
Ex*pug"nable, a. Etym: [L. Expugnabilis.]
Defn: Capable of being expugnded.
EXPUGNATION
Ex`pug*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. expugnatio.]
Defn: The act of taking by assault; conquest. [R.] Sandys.
EXPUGNER
Ex*pugn"er, n.
Defn: One who expugns.
EXPULSE
Ex*pulse", v. t. Etym: [F. expulser or L. expulsare, intens. fr.
expellere. See Expel.]
Defn: To drive out; to expel. [Obs.]
If charity be thus excluded and expulsed. Milton.
EXPULSER
Ex*puls"er, n.
Defn: An expeller. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
EXPULSION
Ex*pul"sion, n. Etym: [L. expulsio, fr. expellere: cf. F. expulsion.
See Expel.]
1. The act of expelling; a driving or forcing out; summary removal
from membership, association, etc.
The expulsion of the Tarquins. Shak.
2. The state of being expelled or driven out.
EXPULSIVE
Ex*pul"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expulsif.]
Defn: Having the power of driving out or away; serving to expel.
The expulsive power of a new affection. Chalmers.
EXPUNCTION
Ex*punc"tion, n. Etym: [L. expunctio execution, performance, from
expungere. See Expunge.]
Defn: The act of expunging or erasing; the condition of being
expunged. Milton.
EXPUNGE
Ex*punge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expunged();p. pr. & vb. n.
Expunging().] Etym: [L. expungere, expunctum, prick out, expunge,
settle an account, execute; ex out + pungere to prick, puncture. See
Pungent.]
1. To blot out, as with pen; to rub out; to efface designedly; to
obliterate; to strike out wholly; as, to expunge words, lines, or
sentences.
2. To strike out; to wipe out or destroy; to annihilate; as, to
expugne an offense. Sandys.
Expugne the whole, or lop th' excrescent parts. Pope.
Syn.
-- To efface; erase; obliterate; strike out; destroy; annihilate;
cancel.
EXPURGATE
Ex"pur*gate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Expurgated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Expurgating().] Etym: [L. expurgatus, p.p. of expurgare to purge,
purify; ex out, from + purgare to cleanse, purify, purge. See Purge,
and cf. Spurge.]
Defn: To purify; to clear from anything noxious, offensive, or
erroneous; to cleanse; to purge; as, to expurgate a book.
EXPURGATION
Ex`pur*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. expurgatio justification, excuse: cf. F.
expurgation.]
Defn: The act of expurgating, purging, or cleansing; purification
from anything noxious, offensive, sinful, or erroneous. Milton.
EXPURGATOR
Ex"pur*ga`tor, n.
Defn: One who expurgates or purifies.
EXPURGATORIAL
Ex*pur`ga*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Tending or serving to expurgate; expurgatory. Milman.
EXPURGATORIOUS
Ex*pur`ga*to"ri*ous, a.
Defn: Expurgatory. [Obs.] "Expurgatorious indexes." Milton.
EXPURGATORY
Ex*pur"ga*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. expurgatoire.]
Defn: Serving to purify from anything noxious or erroneous;
cleansing; purifying. "Expurgatory animadversions." Sir T. Browne.
Expurgatory Index. See Index Expurgatorius, under Index.
EXPURGE
Ex*purge", v. t. Etym: [Cf. OF. espurgier. See Expurgate.]
Defn: To purge away. [Obs.] Milton.
EXQUIRE
Ex*quire", v. t. Etym: [L. exquirere. See Exquisite.]
Defn: To search into or out. [Obs.] Chapman.
EXQUISITE
Ex"qui*site, a. Etym: [L. exquisitus, p.p. of exquirere to search
out; ex out + quarere to seek, search. See Quest.]
1. Carefully selected or sought out; hence, of distinguishing and
surpassing quality; exceedingly nice; delightfully excellent; giving
rare satisfaction; as, exquisite workmanship.
Plate of rare device, and jewels Of reach and exquisite form. Shak.
I have no exquisite reason for 't, but I have reason good enough.
Shak.
2. Exceeding; extreme; keen; -- used in a bad or a good sense; as,
exquisite pain or pleasure.
3. Of delicate perception or close and accurate discrimination; not
easy to satisfy; exact; nice; fastidious; as, exquisite judgment,
taste, or discernment.
His books of Oriental languages, wherein he was exquisite. Fuller.
Syn.
-- Nice; delicate; exact; refined; choice; rare; matchless;
consummate; perfect.
EXQUISITE
Ex"qui*site, n.
Defn: One who manifests an exquisite attention to external
appearance; one who is overnice in dress or ornament; a fop; a dandy.
EXQUISITELY
Ex"qui*site*ly, adv.
Defn: In an exquisite manner or degree; as, lace exquisitely wrought.
To a sensitive observer there was something exquisitely painful in
it. Hawthorne.
EXQUISITENESS
Ex"qui*site*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being exquisite.
EXQUISITIVE
Ex*quis"i*tive, a.
Defn: Eager to discover or learn; curious. [Obs.] Todd.
-- Ex*quis"i*tive*ly, adv. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
EXSANGUINE
Ex*san"guine, a.
Defn: Bloodless. [R.]
EXSANGUINEOUS
Ex`san*guin"e*ous, a.
Defn: Destitute of blood; anæmic; exsanguious.
EXSANGUINITY
Ex`san*guin"i*ty, n. (Med.)
Defn: Privation or destitution of blood; -- opposed to plethora.
Dunglison.
EXSANGUINOUS
Ex*san"gui*nous, a.
Defn: See Exsanguious.
EXSANGUIOUS
Ex*san"gui*ous, a. Etym: [L. exsanguis; ex out + sanguis, sanguinis,
blood. Cf. Exsanguineous.]
1. Destitute of blood. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Destitute of true, or red, blood, as insects.
EXSCIND
Ex*scind", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exscinded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Exscinding.] Etym: [L. exscindere; ex out, from + scindere to cut.]
Defn: To cut off; to separate or expel from union; to extirpate.
Barrow.
The second presbytery of Philadelphia was also exscinded by that
Assembly. Am. Cyc.
EXSCRIBE
Ex*scribe", v. t. Etym: [L. excribere; ex out, from + scribere to
write.]
Defn: To copy; to transcribe. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EXSCRIPT
Ex"script, n. Etym: [L. exscriptus, p.p. of exscribere.]
Defn: A copy; a transcript. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXSCRIPTURAL
Ex*scrip"tur*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ex-+scriptural.]
Defn: Not in accordance with the doctrines of Scripture;
unscriptural.
EXSCUTELLATE
Ex*scu"tel*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + scutellate.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Without, or apparently without, a scutellum; -- said of certain
insects.
EXSECT
Ex*sect", v. t. Etym: [L. exsectio.]
1. A cutting out or away. E. Darwin.
2. (Surg.)
Defn: The removal by operation of a portion of a limb; particularly,
the removal of a portion of a bone in the vicinity of a joint; the
act or process of cutting out.
EXSERT; EXSERTED
Ex*sert", Ex*sert"ed, a. Etym: [L. exsertus, p.p. of exserere to
stretch out or forth. See Exert.]
Defn: Standing out; projecting beyond some other part; as, exsert
stamens.
A small portion of the basal edge of the shell exserted. D. H.
Barnes.
EXSERTILE
Ex*sert"ile, a. (Biol.)
Defn: Capable of being thrust out or protruded. J. Fleming.
EXSICCANT
Ex*sic"cant, a. Etym: [L. exsiccans, p.pr. of exsiccare. See
Exsiccate.]
Defn: Having the quality of drying up; causing a drying up.
-- n. (Med.)
Defn: An exsiccant medicine.
EXSICCATE
Ex"sic*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exsiccated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Exsiccating.] Etym: [L. exsiccatus, p.p. of exsiccare to dry up; ex
out + siccare to make dry, siccus dry.]
Defn: To exhaust or evaporate moisture from; to dry up. Sir T.
Browne.
EXSICCATION
Ex`sic*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsiccatio: cf. F. exsiccation.]
Defn: The act of operation of drying; evaporation or expulsion of
moisture; state of being dried up; dryness. Sir T. Browne.
EXSICCATIVE
Ex*sic"ca*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to make dry; having the power of drying.
EXSICCATOR
Ex"sic*ca`tor, n. (Chem.)
Defn: An apparatus for drying substances or preserving them from
moisture; a desiccator; also, less frequently, an agent employed to
absorb moisture, as calcium chloride, or concentrated sulphuric acid.
EXSILIENCY
Ex*sil"i*en*cy, n. Etym: [L. exsiliens leaping out, p.pr. of
exsilire; ex out + salire to leap.]
Defn: A leaping out. [R.] Latham.
EXSOLUTION
Ex`so*lu"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsolutio a release.]
Defn: Relaxation. [R.] Richardson (Dict. ).
EXSPOLIATION
Ex*spo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exspoliatio, fr. exspoliare to spoil,
to plunder; ex out, from + spoliare. See Spoliate.]
Defn: Spoliation. [Obs. or R.] Bp. Hall.
EXSPUITION
Ex`spu*i"tion, n. Etym: [L. exspuitio; ex out + spuere to spit: cf.
F. exspuition.]
Defn: A discharge of saliva by spitting. [R.] E. Darwin.
EXSPUTORY
Ex*spu"to*ry, a.
Defn: Spit out, or as if spit out. "Exsputory lines." Cowper.
EXSTIPULATE
Ex*stip"u*late, a. Etym: [Pref. ex- + stipulate.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having no stipules. Martyn.
EXSTROPHY
Ex"stro*phy, n. Etym: [Gr. (Med.)
Defn: The eversion or turning out of any organ, or of its inner
surface; as, exstrophy of the eyelid or of the bladder.
EXSUCCOUS
Ex*suc"cous, a. Etym: [L. exsuccus; ex out + succus juice.]
Defn: Destitute of juice; dry; sapless. Latham.
EXSUCTION
Ex*suc"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsugere, exsuctum, to suck out; ex out +
sugere to suck: cf. F. exsuccion.]
Defn: The act of sucking out.
EXSUDATION
Ex`su*da"tion, n.
Defn: Exudation.
EXSUFFLATE
Ex`suf*flate", v. t. Etym: [L. exsufflare to blow at or upon; ex out
+ sufflare. See Sufflate.] (Eccles.)
Defn: To exorcise or renounce by blowing.
EXSUFFLATION
Ex`suf*fla"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. exsufflatio.]
1. A blast from beneath. [Obs.] Bacon.
2. (Eccles.)
Defn: A kind of exorcism by blowing with the breath. Jer. Taylor.
3. (Physiol.)
Defn: A strongly forced expiration of air from the lungs.
EXSUFFLICATE
Ex*suf"fli*cate, a.
Defn: Empty; frivolous. [A Shakespearean word only once used.]
Such exsufflicate and blown surmises. Shak. (Oth. iii. 3, 182).
EXSUSCITATE
Ex*sus"ci*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. exsuscitatus, p.p. of exsuscitare; ex
out + suscitare. See Suscitate.]
Defn: To rouse; to excite. [Obs.] Johnson.
EXSUSCITATION
Ex*sus`ci*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsuscitatio.]
Defn: A stirring up; a rousing. [Obs.] Hallywell.
EXTACY
Ex"ta*cy, n.
Defn: See Ecstasy. [Obs.]
EXTANCE
Ex"tance, n. Etym: [L. extantia, exstantia, a standing out, fr.
exstans, p.pr. See Extant.]
Defn: Outward existence. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXTANCY
Ex"tan*cy, n. Etym: [L. extantia, exstantia.]
Defn: The state of rising above others; a projection. Evelyn. Boyle.
EXTANT
Ex"tant, a. Etym: [L. extans, -antis, or exstans, -antis, p.pr. of
extare, exstare, to stand out or forth; ex out + stare to stand: cf.
F. extant. See Stand.]
1. Standing out or above any surface; protruded.
That part of the teeth which is extant above the gums. Ray.
A body partly immersed in a fluid and partly extant. Bentley.
2. Still existing; not destroyed or lost; outstanding.
Writings that were extant at that time. Sir M. Hale.
The extant portraits of this great man. I. Taylor.
3. Publicly known; conspicuous. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
EXTASY
Ex"ta*sy, n. & v. t.
Defn: See Ecstasy, n. & v. t.
EXTATIC
Ex*tat"ic, a.
Defn: See Ecstatic, a.
EXTEMPORAL
Ex*tem"po*ral, a. Etym: [L. extemporalis, from ex tempore.]
Defn: Extemporaneous; unpremeditated. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
-- Ex*tem"po*ral*ly, adv. [Obs.]
EXTEMPORANEAN
Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*an, a.
Defn: Extemporaneous. [Obs] Burton.
EXTEMPORANEOUS
Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [See Extempore.]
Defn: Composed, performed, or uttered on the spur of the moment, or
without previous study; unpremeditated; off-hand; extempore;
extemporary; as, an extemporaneous address or production.
-- Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv.
-- Ex*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness,n.
EXTEMPORARILY
Ex*tem"po*ra*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: Extemporaneously.
EXTEMPORARY
Ex*tem"po*ra*ry, a.
1. Extemporaneous. "In extemporary prayer." Fuller.
2. Made for the occasion; for the time being. [Obs.] "Extemporary
habitations." Maundrell.
EXTEMPORE
Ex*tem"po*re, adv. Etym: [L. ex out + tempus, temporis, time. See
Temporal.]
Defn: Without previous study or meditation; without preparation; on
the spur of the moment; suddenly; extemporaneously; as, to write or
speak extempore. Shak.
-- a.
Defn: Done or performed extempore. "Extempore dissertation." Addison.
"Extempore poetry." Dryden.
-- n.
Defn: Speaking or writing done extempore. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
EXTEMPORINESS
Ex*tem"po*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being done or devised extempore [Obs.] Johnson.
EXTEMPORIZATION
Ex*tem`po*ri*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of extemporizing; the act of doing anything extempore.
EXTEMPORIZE
Ex*tem"po*rize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Extemporized(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extemporizing().]
Defn: To speak extempore; especially, to discourse without special
preparation; to make an offhand address.
EXTEMPORIZE
Ex*tem"po*rize, v. t.
Defn: To do, make, or utter extempore or off-hand; to prepare in
great haste, under urgent necessity, or with scanty or unsuitable
materials; as, to extemporize a dinner, a costume, etc.
Themistocles . . . was of all men the best able to extemporize the
right thing to be done. Jowett (Thucyd. ).
Pitt, of whom it was said that he could extemporize a Queen's speech
Lord Campbell.
EXTEMPORIZER
Ex*tem"po*ri`zer, n.
Defn: One who extemporizes.
EXTEND
Ex*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extended; p. pr. & vb. n. Extending.]
Etym: [L. extendere, extentum, extensum; ex out + tendere to stretch.
See Trend.]
1. To stretch out; to prolong in space; to carry forward or continue
in length; as, to extend a line in surveying; to extend a cord across
the street.
Few extend their thoughts toward universal knowledge'. Locke.
2. To enlarge, as a surface or volume; to expand; to spread; to
amplify; as, to extend metal plates by hammering or rolling them.
3. To enlarge; to widen; to carry out further; as, to extend the
capacities, the sphere of usefulness, or commerce; to extend power or
influence; to continue, as time; to lengthen; to prolong; as, to
extend the time of payment or a season of trail.
4. To hold out or reach forth, as the arm or hand.
His helpless hand extend. Dryden.
5. To bestow; to offer; to impart; to apply; as, to extend sympathy
to the suffering.
6. To increase in quantity by weakening or adulterating additions;
as, to extend liquors. G. P. Burnham.
7. (Eng. Law)
Defn: To value, as lands taken by a writ of extent in satisfaction of
a debt; to assign by writ of extent. Extended letter (Typog.), a
letter, or style of type, having a broader face than is usual for a
letter or type of the same height.
Note: This is extended type.
Syn.
-- To increase; enlarge; expand; widen; diffuse. See Increase.
EXTENDANT
Ex*tend"ant, a. (Her.)
Defn: Displaced. Ogilvie.
EXTENDEDLY
Ex*tend"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In an extended manner.
EXTENDER
Ex*tend"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, extends or stretches anything.
EXTENDIBLE
Ex*tend"i*ble, a.
1. Capable of being extended, susceptible of being stretched,
extended, enlarged, widened, or expanded.
2. (Law)
Defn: Liable to be taken by a writ of extent.
EXTENDLESSNESS
Ex*tend"less*ness, n.
Defn: Unlimited extension. [Obs.]
An . . . extendlessness of excursions. Sir. M. Hale.
EXTENSE
Ex*tense", a. Etym: [L. extensus, p.p. See Extend, v. t.]
Defn: Outreaching; expansive; extended, superficially or otherwise.
Men and gods are too extense; Could you slacken and condense Emerson.
EXTENSIBILITY
Ex*ten`si*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being extensible; the capacity of being
extended; as, the extensibility of a fiber, or of a plate of metal.
EXTENSIBLE
Ex*ten"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. extensible. See Extend.]
Defn: Capable of being extended, whether in length or breadth;
susceptible of enlargement; extensible; extendible; -- the opposite
of contractible or compressible. "An extensible membrane" Holder.
EXTENSIBLENESS
Ex*ten"si*ble*ness, n.
Defn: Extensibility.
EXTENSILE
Ex*ten"sile a.
Defn: Suited for, or capable of, extension; extensible. Owen.
EXTENSION
Ex*ten"sion, n. Etym: [L. extensio: cf. F. extension. See Extend, v.
t.]
1. The act of extending or the state of being extended; a stretching
out; enlargement in breadth or continuation of length; increase;
augmentation; expansion.
2. (Physics)
Defn: That property of a body by which it occupies a portion of
space.
3. (Logic & Metaph.)
Defn: Capacity of a concept or general term to include a greater or
smaller number of objects; -- correlative of intension.
The law is that the intension of our knowledge is in the inverse
ratio of its extension. Sir W. Hamilton.
The extension of [the term] plant is greater than that of geranium,
because it includes more objects. Abp. Thomson.
4. (Surg.)
Defn: The operation of stretching a broken bone so as to bring the
fragments into the same straight line.
5. (Physiol.)
Defn: The straightening of a limb, in distinction from flexion.
6. (Com.)
Defn: A written engagement on the part of a creditor, allowing a
debtor further time to pay a debt. Counter extension. (Surg.) See
under Counter.
-- Extension table, a table so constructed as to be readily extended
or contracted in length.
EXTENSIONAL
Ex*ten"sion*al, a.
Defn: Having great extent.
EXTENSIONIST
Ex*ten"sion*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors or advocates extension.
EXTENSIVE
Ex*ten"sive, a. Etym: [L. extensivus: cf. F. extensif. See Extend.]
1. Having wide extent; of much superficial extent; expanded; large;
broad; wide; comprehensive; as, an extensive farm; an extensive lake;
an extensive sphere of operations; extensive benevolence; extensive
greatness.
2. Capable of being extended. [Obs.]
Silver beaters choose the finest coin, as that which is most
extensive under the hammer. Boyle.
EXTENSIVELY
Ex*ten"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: To a great extent; widely; largely; as, a story is extensively
circulated.
EXTENSIVENESS
Ex*ten"sive*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being extensive; wideness; largeness; extent;
diffusiveness.
EXTENSOMETER
Ex`ten*som"e*ter, n. Etym: [Extension + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the extension of a body, especially
for measuring the elongation of bars of iron, steel, or other
material, when subjected to a tensile force.
EXTENSOR
Ex*ten"sor, n. Etym: [L., one who stretches. See Extend.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which serves to extend or straighten any part of the
body, as an arm or a finger; -- opposed to flexor.
EXTENSURE
Ex*ten"sure, n.
Defn: Extension. [R.] Drayton.
EXTENT
Ex*tent", a. Etym: [L. extentus, p. p. of extendere. See Extend.]
Defn: Extended. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXTENT
Ex*tent", n. Etym: [L. extentus, fr. extendere. See Extend.]
1. Space or degree to which a thing is extended; hence, superficies;
compass; bulk; size; length; as, an extent of country or of line;
extent of information or of charity.
Life in its large extent is scare a span. Cotton.
2. Degree; measure; proportion. "The extent to which we can make
ourselves what we wish to be." Lubbock.
3. (Eng. Law)
(a) A peculiar species of execution upon debts due to the crown,
under which the lands and goods of the debtor may be seized to secure
payment.
(b) A process of execution by which the lands and goods of a debtor
are valued and delivered to the creditor.
EXTENUATE
Ex*ten"u*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extenuated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extenuating().] Etym: [L. extenuatus, p. p. of extenuare to make
thin, loosen, weaken; ex out + tenuare to make thin, tenuis thin. See
Tenuity.]
1. To make thin or slender; to draw out so as to lessen the
thickness.
His body behind the head becomes broad, from whence it is again
extenuated all the way to the tail. Grew.
2. To lessen; to palliate; to lessen or weaken the force of; to
diminish the conception of, as crime, guilt, faults, ills,
accusations, etc.; -- opposed to aggravate.
But fortune there extenuates the crime. Dryden.
Let us extenuate, conceal, adorn the unpleasing reality. I. Taylor.
3. To lower or degrade; to detract from. [Obs.]
Who can extenuate thee Milton.
Syn.
-- To palliate; to mitigate. See Palliate.
EXTENUATE
Ex*ten"u*ate, v. i.
Defn: To become thinner; to make excuses; to advance palliating
considerations. Burke.
EXTENUATE
Ex*ten"u*ate, a. Etym: [L. extenuatus, p. p.]
Defn: Thin; slender. [Obs.] Huloet.
EXTENUATION
Ex*ten`u*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. extenuatio: cf. F. exténuation.]
Defn: The act of axtenuating or the state of being extenuated; the
act of making thin, slender, or lean, or of palliating; diminishing,
or lessening; palliation, as of a crime; mitigation, as of
punishment.
To listen . . . to every extenuation of what is evil. I. Taylor.
EXTENUATOR
Ex*ten"u*a`tor, n.
Defn: One who extenuates.
EXTENUATORY
Ex*ten"u*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. L. extenuatorius attenuating.]
Defn: Tending to extenuate or palliate. Croker.
EXTERIOR
Ex*te"ri*or, a. Etym: [L. exterior, compar. of exter or exterus on
the outside, outward, foreign, strange, a compar. fr. ex: cf. F.
extérieur. See Ex, and cf. Extreme, Interior.]
1. External; outward; pertaining to that which is external; --
opposed to interior; as, the exterior part of a sphere.
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man Resemble that it was. Shak.
2. External; on the outside; without the limits of; extrinsic; as, an
object exterior to a man, opposed to what is within, or in his mind.
Without exterior help sustained. Milton.
3. Relating to foreign nations; foreign; as, the exterior relations
of a state or kingdom. Exterior angle (Geom.), the angle included
between any side of a triangle or polygon and the prolongation of the
adjacent side; also, an angle included between a line crossing two
parallel lines and either of the latter on the outside.
-- Exterior side (Fort.), the side of the polygon upon which a front
of fortification is formed. Wilhelm.
Note: See Illust. of Ravelin.
EXTERIOR
Ex*te"ri*or, n.
1. The outward surface or part of a thing; that which is external;
outside.
2. Outward or external deportment, form, or ceremony; visible act;
as, the exteriors of religion.
EXTERIORITY
Ex*te`ri*or"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. extériorité.]
Defn: Surface; superficies; externality.
EXTERIORLY
Ex*te"ri*or*ly, adv.
Defn: Outwardly; externally; on the exterior. Shak.
They are exteriorly lifelike. J. H. Morse.
EXTERMINATE
Ex*ter"mi*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exterminated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Exterminating().] Etym: [L. exterminatus, p. p. of exterminare to
abolish, destroy, drive out or away; ex out + terminus boundary,
limit. See Term.]
1. To drive out or away; to expel.
They deposed, exterminated, and deprived him of communion. Barrow.
2. To destroy utterly; to cut off; to extirpate; to annihilate; to
root out; as, to exterminate a colony, a tribe, or a nation; to
exterminate error or vice.
To explode and exterminate rank atheism. Bentley.
3. (Math.)
Defn: To eliminate, as unknown quantities. [R.]
EXTERMINATION
Ex*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. extermination.]
1. The act of exterminating; total destruction; eradication;
excision; as, the extermination of inhabitants or tribes, of error or
vice, or of weeds from a field.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Elimination. [R.]
EXTERMINATOR
Ex*ter"mi*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who, or that which, exterminates. Buckle.
EXTERMINATORY
Ex*ter"mi*na*to*ry, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to extermination; tending to exterminate.
"Exterminatory war." Burke.
EXTERMINE
Ex*ter"mine, v. t. Etym: [F. exterminer.]
Defn: To exterminate; to destroy. [Obs.] Shak.
EXTERN
Ex*tern", a. Etym: [Cf. F. externe. See External.]
Defn: External; outward; not inherent. [Obs.] Shak.
EXTERN
Ex*tern", n. Etym: [Cf. F. externe.]
1. A pupil in a seminary who lives without its walls; a day scholar.
2. Outward form or part; exterior. [R.]
EXTERNAL
Ex*ter"nal, a. Etym: [L. externus, fr. exter, exterus, on the
outside, outward. See Exterior.]
1. Outward; exterior; relating to the outside, as of a body; being
without; acting from without; -- opposed to internal; as, the
external form or surface of a body.
Of all external things, . . . She [Fancy] forms imaginations, aery
shapes. Milton.
2. Outside of or separate from ourselves; (Metaph.) separate from the
perceiving mind.
3. Outwardly perceptible; visible; physical or corporeal, as
distinguished from mental or moral.
Her virtues graced with external gifts. Shak.
4. Not intrinsic nor essential; accidental; accompanying;
superficial.
The external circumstances are greatly different. Trench.
5. Foreign; relating to or connected with foreign nations; as,
external trade or commerce; the external relations of a state or
kingdom.
6. (Anat.)
Defn: Away from the mesial plane of the body; lateral. External
angles. (Geom.) See under Angle.
EXTERNAL
Ex*ter"nal, n.
Defn: Something external or without; outward part; that which makes a
show, rather than that which is intrinsic; visible form; -- usually
in the plural.
Adam was then no less glorious in his externals South.
God in externals could not place content. Pope.
EXTERNALISM
Ex*ter"nal*ism n.
1. The quality of being manifest to the senses; external acts or
appearances; regard for externals.
This externalism gave Catholicism a great advantage on all sides. E.
Eggleston.
2. (Metaph.)
Defn: That philosophy or doctrine which recognizes or deals only with
externals, or objects of sense perception; positivism; phenomenalism.
EXTERNALISTIC
Ex*ter`nal*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to externalism North Am. Rev.
EXTERNALITY
Ex`ter*nal"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being external; exteriority; (Metaph.)
Defn: separation from the perceiving mind.
Pressure or resistance necessarily supposes externality in the thing
which presses or resists. A. Smith.
EXTERNALIZE
Ex*ter"nal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make external; to manifest by outward form.
Thought externalizes itself in language. Soyce.
EXTERNALLY
Ex*ter"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: In an external manner; outwardly; on the outside; in
appearance; visibly.
EXTERNE
Ex`terne", n. Etym: [F. Cf. Extern.] (med.)
Defn: An officer in attendance upon a hospital, but not residing in
it; esp., one who cares for the out-patients.
EXTERRANEOUS
Ex`ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. exterraneus; es out + terra land.]
Defn: Foreign; belonging to, or coming from, abroad.
EXTERRITORIAL
Ex*ter`ri*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Pref. ex.]
Defn: Beyond the territorial limits; foreign to, or exempt from, the
territorial jurisdiction.
-- Ex*ter`ri*to"ri*al*ly(#),adv.
EXTERRITORIALITY
Ex*ter`ri*to`ri*al"i*ty, n.
1. The state of being beyond the limits of a country.
2. The state of being free from the jurisdiction of a country when
within its territorial limits.
EXTERSION
Ex*ter"sion, n. Etym: [L. extergere, extersum, to wipe out; ex out +
tergere to wipe or rub off.]
Defn: The act of wiping or rubbing out. [Obs.]
EXTILL
Ex*till", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Extilled(); p. pr. & vb. n. Extilling.]
Etym: [L. extillare, exstillare; ex out + stillare to drop, stilla
drop.]
Defn: To drop or distill. [Obs.] Johnson.
EXTILLATION
Ex`til*la"tion, n.
Defn: Distillation. [Obs.]
An exudation or extillation of petrifying juices. Derham.
EXTIMULATE
Ex*tim"u*late, v. t. Etym: [L. extimulatus, exstimulatus, p. p. of
extimulare, exstimulare, to goad. See Stimulate.]
Defn: To stimulate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXTIMULATION
Ex*tim`u*la"tion, n.
Defn: Stimulation. [Obs.]
Things insipid, and without any extimulation. Bacon.
EXTINCT
Ex*tinct", a. Etym: [L. extinctus, exstinctus, p. p. of extinguere,
exstinguere. See Extinguish.]
1. Extinguished; put out; quenched; as, a fire, a light, or a lamp,
is extinct; an extinct volcano.
Light, the prime work of God, to me is extinct. Milton.
2. Without a survivor; without force; dead; as, a family becomes
extinct; an extinct feud or law.
EXTINCT
Ex*tinct", v. t.
Defn: To cause to be extinct. [Obs.] Shak.
EXTINCTION
Ex*tinc"tion, n. Etym: [L. extinctio, exstinction: cf. F.
extinction.]
1. The act of extinguishing or making extinct; a putting an end to;
the act of putting out or destroying light, fire, life, activity,
influence, etc.
2. State of being extinguished or of ceasing to be; destruction;
suppression; as, the extinction of life, of a family, of a quarrel,
of claim.
EXTINE
Ex"tine (; 104), n. Etym: [L. exter on the outside. Cf. Intine.]
(bot.)
Defn: The outer membrane of the grains of pollen of flowering plants.
EXTINGUISH
Ex*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extinguished(); p pr. & vb. n.
Extinguishing.] Etym: [L. extinguere, exstinguere; ex out + stinguere
to quench. See Distinguish, Finish.]
1. To quench; to put out, as a light or fire; to stifle; to cause to
die out; to put an end to; to destroy; as, to extinguish a flame, or
life, or love, or hope, a pretense or a right.
A light which the fierce winds have no power to extinguish. Prescott.
This extinguishes my right to the reversion. Blackstone.
2. To obscure; to eclipse, as by superior splendor.
Natural graces that extinguish art. Shak
.
EXTINGUISHABLE
Ex*tin"guish*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being quenched, destroyed, or suppressed.
EXTINGUISHER
Ex*tin"guish*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, extinguishes; esp., a hollow cone or
other device for extinguishing a flame, as of a torch or candle.
EXTINGUISHMENT
Ex*tin"guish*ment, n.
1. The act of extinguishing, putting out, or quenching, or the state
of being extinguished; extinction; suppression; destruction;
nullification; as, the extinguishment of fire or flame, of discord,
enmity, or jealousy, or of love or affection.
2. (Law)
Defn: The annihilation or extinction of a right or obligation.
Abbott.
EXTIRP
Ex*tirp" (, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. extirper.]
Defn: To extirpate. [Obs.]
It is impossible to extirp it quite, friar. Shak
.
EXTIRPABLE
Ex*tir"pa*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being extirpated or eradicated; as, an extirpable
plant. Evelyn.
EXTIRPATE
Ex"tir*pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extirpated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extirpating().] Etym: [L. extirpatus, exstirpatus, p. p. of
extirpare, exstirpare; ex out + strips stock, stem, root.]
Defn: To pluck up by the stem or root; to root out; to eradicate,
literally or figuratively; to destroy wholly; as, to extirpate weeds;
to extirpate a tumor; to extirpate a sect; to extirpate error or
heresy.
Syn.
-- To eradicate; root out; destroy; exterminate; annihilate;
extinguish.
EXTIRPATION
Ex`tir*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. extirpatio, exstirpatio: cf. F.
extirpation.]
Defn: The act of extirpating or rooting out, or the state of being
extirpated; eradication; excision; total destruction; as, the
extirpation of weeds from land, of evil from the heart, of a race of
men, of heresy.
EXTIRPATIVE
Ex"tir*pa*tive, a.
Defn: Capable of rooting out, or tending to root out. Cheyne.
EXTIRPATOR
Ex"tir*pa`tor, n. Etym: [L. extirpator, exstirpator: cf. F.
extirpateur.]
Defn: One who extirpates or roots out; a destroyer.
EXTIRPATORY
Ex*tir"pa*to*ry, a.
Defn: Extirpative.
EXTIRPER
Ex*tirp"er, n.
Defn: Extirpator. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXTISPICIOUS
Ex`ti*spi"cious, a. Etym: [L. extispicium an inspection of the
inwards for divination; extra the entrails + specer to look at.]
Defn: Relating to the inspection of entrails for prognostication.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXTOGENOUS
Ex*tog"e*nous, a. Etym: [L. exter outward + .] (Biol.)
Defn: Exogenous.
EXTOL
Ex*tol", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extolled(); p. pr. & vb. n. Extolling.]
Etym: [L. extollere; ex out + tollere to lift, take up, or raise: cf.
OF. extoller. See Tollerate, and cf. Flate.]
1. To place on high; to lift up; to elevate. [Obs.]
Who extolled you in the half-crown boxes, Where you might sit and
muster all the beauties. Beau.
2. To elevate by praise; to eulogize; to praise; to magnify; as, to
extol virtue; to extol an act or a person.
Wherein have I so deserved of you, That you extol me thus Shak.
Syn.
-- To praise; applaud; commend; magnify; celebrate; laud; glorify.
See Praise.
EXTOLLER
Ex*tol"ler, n.
Defn: One who extols; one who praises.
EXTOLMENT
Ex*tol"ment, n.
Defn: Praise. [Obs.] Shak.
EXTORSIVE
Ex*tor"sive, a. Etym: [See Extort.]
Defn: Serving or tending to extort. [R.] Johnson.
-- Ex*tor"sive*ly, adv. [R.]
EXTORT
Ex*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Extorting.]
Etym: [L. extortus, p. p. of extorquere to twist or wrench out, to
extort; ex out + torquere to turn about, twist. See Torsion.]
1. To wrest from an unwilling person by physical force, menace,
duress, torture, or any undue or illegal exercise of power or
ingenuity; to wrench away (from); to tear away; to wring (from); to
exact; as, to extort contributions from the vanquished; to extort
confessions of guilt; to extort a promise; to extort payment of a
debt.
2. (Law)
Defn: To get by the offense of extortion. See Extortion, 2.
EXTORT
Ex*tort", v. i.
Defn: To practice extortion. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXTORT
Ex*tort", p. p. & a. Etym: [L. extortus. p. p.]
Defn: Extorted. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXTORTER
Ex*tort"er, n.
Defn: One who practices extortion.
EXTORTION
Ex*tor"tion, n. Etym: [F. extorsion.]
1. The act of extorting; the act or practice of wresting anything
from a person by force, by threats, or by any undue exercise of
power; undue exaction; overcharge.
2. (Law)
Defn: The offense committed by an officer who corruptly claims and
takes, as his fee, money, or other thing of value, that is not due,
or more than is due, or before it is due. Abbott.
3. That which is extorted or exacted by force.
Syn.
-- Oppression; rapacity; exaction; overcharge.
EXTORTIONARY
Ex*tor"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Extortionate.
EXTORTIONATE
Ex*tor"tion*ate, a.
Defn: Characterized by extortion; oppressive; hard.
EXTORTIONER
Ex*tor"tion*er, n
Defn: , One who practices extortion.
EXTORTIOUS
Ex*tor"tious, a.
Defn: Extortionate. [Obs.] "Extortious cruelties." Bp. Hall --
Ex*tor"tious*ly, adv. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXTRA-
Ex"tra-. Etym: [L., fr. exter. See Exterior.]
Defn: A Latin preposition, denoting beyond, outside of; -- often used
in composition as a prefix signifying outside of, beyond, besides, or
in addition to what is denoted by the word to which it is prefixed.
EXTRA
Ex"tra, a.
Defn: Beyond what is due, usual, expected, or necessary; additional;
supernumerary; also, extraordinarily good; superior; as, extra work;
extra pay. "By working extra hours." H. Spencer.
EXTRA
Ex"tra, n.; pl. Extras (.
Defn: Something in addition to what is due, expected, or customary;
something in addition to the regular charge or compensation, or for
which an additional charge is made; as, at European hotels lights are
extras. [Colloq.]
EXTRAARTICULAR
Ex`tra*ar*tic"u*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated outside of a joint.
EXTRAAXILLAR; EXTRAAXILLARY
Ex`tra*ax"il*lar, Ex`tra*ax"il*la*ry a. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing outside of the axils; as, an extra-axillary bud.
EXTRABRANCHIAL
Ex`tra*bran"chi*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Outside of the branchial arches; -- said of the cartilages thus
placed in some fishes.
EXTRACAPSULAR
Ex`tra*cap"su*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Situated outside of a capsule, esp. outside the capsular
ligament of a joint.
EXTRACT
Ex*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extracted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Extracting.] Etym: [L. extractus, p. p. of extrahere to extract; ex
out + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Estreat.]
1. To draw out or forth; to pull out; to remove forcibly from a fixed
position, as by traction or suction, etc.; as, to extract a tooth
from its socket, a stump from the earth, a splinter from the finger.
The bee Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. Milton.
2. To withdraw by expression, distillation, or other mechanical or
chemical process; as, to extract an essence. Cf. Abstract, v. t., 6.
Sunbeams may be extracted from cucumbers, but the process is tedious.
3. To take by selection; to choose out; to cite or quote, as a
passage from a book.
I have extracted out of that pamphlet a few notorious falsehoods.
Swift.
To extract the root (Math.), to ascertain the root of a number or
quantity.
EXTRACT
Ex"tract`, n.
1. That which is extracted or drawn out.
2. A portion of a book or document, separately transcribed; a
citation; a quotation.
3. A decoction, solution, or infusion made by drawing out from any
substance that which gives it its essential and characteristic
virtue; essence; as, extract of beef; extract of dandelion; also, any
substance so extracted, and characteristic of that from which it is
obtained; as, quinine is the most important extract of Peruvian bark.
4. (Med.)
Defn: A solid preparation obtained by evaporating a solution of a
drug, etc., or the fresh juice of a plant; -- distinguished from an
abstract. See Abstract, n., 4.
5. (Old Chem.)
Defn: A peculiar principle once erroneously supposed to form the
basis of all vegetable extracts; -- called also the extractive
principle. [Obs.]
6. Extraction; descent. [Obs.] South.
7. (Scots Law)
Defn: A draught or copy of writing; certified copy of the proceedings
in an action and the judgement therein, with an order for execution.
Tomlins. Fluid extract (Med.), a concentrated liquid preparation,
containing a definite proportion of the active principles of a
medicinal substance. At present a fluid gram of extract should
represent a gram of the crude drug.
EXTRACTABLE; EXTRACTIBLE
Ex*tract"a*ble, Ex*tract"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being extracted.
EXTRACTIFORM
Ex*tract"i*form, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Having the form, appearance, or nature, of an extract.
EXTRACTION
Ex*trac"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. extraction.]
1. The act of extracting, or drawing out; as, the extraction of a
tooth, of a bone or an arrow from the body, of a stump from earth, of
a passage from a book, of an essence or tincture.
2. Derivation from a stock or family; lineage; descent; birth; the
stock from which one has descended. "A family of ancient extraction."
Clarendon.
3. That which is extracted; extract; essence.
They [books] do preserve as in a vial the purest efficacy and
extraction of that living intellect that bred them. Milton.
The extraction of roots. (Math.) (a) The operation of finding the
root of a given number or quantity. (b) The method or rule by which
the operation is performed; evolution.
EXTRACTIVE
Ex*tract"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. extractif.]
1. Capable of being extracted. "Thirty grains of extractive matter."
Kirwan.
2. Tending or serving to extract or draw out.
Certain branches of industry are conveniently designated extractive:
e.g., agriculture, pastoral and mining pursuits, cutting of lumber,
etc. Cairnes.
EXTRACTIVE
Ex*tract"ive, n.
1. Anything extracted; an extract.
Extractives, of which the most constant are urea, kreatin, and grape
sugar. H. N. Martin.
2. (Chem.)
(a) A chemical principle once supposed to exist in all extracts.
[Obs.]
(b) Any one of a large class of substances obtained by extraction,
and consisting largely of nitrogenous hydrocarbons, such as xanthin,
hypoxanthin, and creatin extractives from muscle tissue.
EXTRACTOR
Ex*tract"or, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, extracts; as:
(a) (Surg.) A forceps or instrument for extracting substances.
(b) (Breech-loading Firearms) A device for withdrawing a cartridge or
spent cartridge shell from the chamber of the barrel.
EXTRADICTIONARY
Ex`tra*dic"tion*a*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. dictio a saying. See
Diction.]
Defn: Consisting not in words, but in realities. [Obs.]
Of these extradictionary and real fallacies, Aristotle and logicians
make in number six. Sir T. Browne.
EXTRADITABLE
Ex"tra*di`ta*ble, a.
1. Subject, or liable, to extradition, as a fugitive from justice.
2. Making liable to extradition; as, extraditable offenses.
EXTRADITE
Ex"tra*dite, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extradited(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extraditing().]
Defn: To deliver up by one government to another, as a fugitive from
justice. See Extradition.
EXTRADITION
Ex`tra*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. ex out + traditio a delivering up: cf.
F. extradition. See Tradition.]
Defn: The surrender or delivery of an alleged criminal by one State
or sovereignty to another having jurisdiction to try charge.
EXTRADOS
Ex*tra"dos, n. Etym: [F.; pref. extra outside + dos (L. dorsum) the
back.] (Arch.)
Defn: The exterior curve of an arch; esp., the upper curved face of
the whole body of voussoirs. See Intrados.
EXTRADOTAL
Ex`tra*do"tal, a. Etym: [Pref. extra.]
Defn: Forming no part of the dowry; as, extradotal property.
EXTRAFOLIACEOUS
Ex`tra*fo`li*a"ceous, a. Etym: [Pref. extra + foliaceous.] (Bot.)
Defn: Away from the leaves, or inserted in a different place from
them; as, extrafoliaceous prickles. Loudon.
EXTRAFORANEOUS
Ex`tra*fo*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. foras out of doors.]
Defn: Pertaining to that which is out of doors. "Extr occupations."
Cowper.
EXTRAGENEOUS
Ex`tra*ge"ne*ous, a. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. genus race.]
Defn: Belonging to another race or kind.
EXTRAJUDICIAL
Ex`tra*ju*di"cial, a.
Defn: Out of or beyond the proper authority of a court or judge;
beyond jurisdiction; not legally required. "An extrajudicial
opinion." Hallam.
-- Ex`tra*ju*di"cial*ly, adv.
EXTRAJUDICIAL CONVEYANCE
Extrajudicial conveyance. (Law)
Defn: A conveyance, as by deed, effected by the act of the parties
and not involving, as in the fine and recovery, judicial proceedings.
EXTRALIMITARY
Ex`tra*lim"it*a*ry, a.
Defn: Being beyond the limit or bounds; as, extraliminary land.
Mitford.
EXTRALOGICAL
Ex`tra*log"ic*al, a.
Defn: Lying outside of the domain of logic.
-- Ex`tra*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
EXTRAMISSION
Ex`tra*mis"sion, n.
Defn: A sending out; emission. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXTRAMUNDANE
Ex`tra*mun"dane, a. Etym: [L. extramundanus; extra + mundus world.]
Defn: Beyond the material world. "An extramundane being." Bp.
Warburton.
EXTRAMURAL
Ex`tra*mu"ral, a.
Defn: Outside of the walls, as of a fortified or walled city.
EXTRANEITY
Ex`tra*ne"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being without or beyond a thing; foreignness. [Obs.]
EXTRANEOUS
Ex*tra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. extraneus, from extra. See Extra,
Strange.]
Defn: Not belonging to, or dependent upon, a thing; without or beyond
a thing; not essential or intrinsic; foreign; as, to separate gold
from extraneous matter.
Nothing is admitted extraneous from the indictment. Landor.
-- Ex*tra"ne*ous*ly, adv.
EXTRA-OCULAR
Ex`tra-oc"u*lar, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Inserted exterior to the eyes; -- said of the antennæ of
certain insects.
EXTRA-OFFICIAL
Ex`tra-of*fi"cial, a.
Defn: Not prescribed by official duty.
EXTRAORDINARILY
Ex*traor"di*na*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In an extraordinary manner or degree.
EXTRAORDINARINESS
Ex*traor"di*na*ri*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being extraordinary. [R.] Gov. of the Tongue.
EXTRAORDINARY
Ex*traor"di*na*ry, a. Etym: [L. extraordinarius; extra on the outside
+ ordinarius: cf. F. extraordinaire. See Ordinary.]
1. Beyond or out of the common order or method; not usual, customary,
regular, or ordinary; as, extraordinary evils; extraordinary
remedies.
Which dispose To something extraordinary my thoughts. Milton.
2. Exceeding the common degree, measure. or condition; hence,
remarkable; uncommon; rare; wonderful; as, extraordinary talents or
grandeur.
3. Employed or sent upon an unusual or special service; as, an
ambassador extraordinary.
EXTRAORDINARY
Ex*traor"di*na*ry, n.; pl. Extraordinaries (.
Defn: That which is extraordinary; -- used especially in the plural;
as, extraordinaries excepted, there is nothing to prevent success.
Their extraordinary did consist especially in the matter of prayers
and devotions. Jer. Taylor.
EXTRAPAROCHIAL
Ex`tra*pa*ro"chi*al, a.
Defn: Beyond the limits of a parish.
-- Ex`tra*pa*ro"chi*al*ly, adv.
EXTRAPHYSICAL
Ex`tra*phys"i*cal, a.
Defn: Not subject to physical laws or methods.
EXTRAPROFESSIONAL
Ex`tra*pro*fes"sion*al, a.
Defn: Foreign to a profession; not within the ordinary limits of
professional duty or business.
EXTRAPROVINCIAL
Ex`tra*pro*vin"cial, a.
Defn: Not within of pertaining to the same province or jurisdiction.
Ayliffe.
EXTRAREGULAR
Ex`tra*reg"u*lar, a.
Defn: Not comprehended within a rule or rules. Jer. Taylor.
EXTRASTAPEDIAL
Ex`tra*sta*pe"di*al, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to a part of the columella of the ear, which, in
many animals, projects beyond the connection with the stapes.
-- n.
Defn: The extrastapedial part of columella.
EXTRATERRITORIAL
Ex`tra*ter`ri*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Beyond the limits of a territory or particular jurisdiction;
exterritorial.
-- Ex`tra*ter`ri*to"ri*al*ly(#), adv.
EXTRATERRITORIALITY
Ex`tra*ter`ri*to`ri*al"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being beyond the limits of a particular territory;
esp. (Internat. Law),
Defn: a fiction by which a public minister, though actually in a
foreign country, is supposed still to remain within the territory of
his own sovereign or nation. Wheaton.
EXTRATROPICAL
Ex`tra*trop"ic*al, a.
Defn: Beyond or outside of the tropics. Whewell.
EXTRAUGHT
Ex`traught", p. p. of Extract. Etym: [Cf. Distraught.]
Defn: Extracted; descended. [Obs.]
Knowing whence thou art extraught Shak.
EXTRA-UTERINE
Ex`tra-u"ter*ine, a. (Anat. & Med.)
Defn: Outside of the uterus, or womb. Extra-uterine pregnancy (Med.),
a condition of pregnancy in which the fetus is not in the uterus, but
in the Fallopian tube or in the abdominal cavity.
EXTRAVAGANCE
Ex*trav"a*gance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. extravagance. See Extravagant, and
cf. Extravaganza.]
1. A wandering beyond proper limits; an excursion or sally from the
usual way, course, or limit.
2. The state of being extravagant, wild, or prodigal beyond bounds of
propriety or duty; want of moderation; excess; especially, undue
expenditure of money; vaid and superfluous expense; prodigality; as,
extravagance of anger, love, expression, imagination, demands.
Some verses of my own, Maximin and Almanzor, cry vengeance on me for
their extravagance. Dryden.
The income of three dukes was enough to supply her extravagance.
Arbuthnot.
Syn.
-- Wildness; irregularity; excess; prodigality; profusion; waste;
lavishness; unreasonableness; recklessness.
EXTRAVAGANCY
Ex*trav"a*gan*cy, n.; pl. Extravagancies (.
Defn: Extravagance.
EXTRAVAGANT
Ex*trav"a*gant, a. Etym: [F. extravagant, fr. L. extra on the outside
+ vagance, , p. pr. of vagari to wander, from vagus wandering, vague.
See Vague.]
1. Wandering beyond one's bounds; roving; hence, foreign. [Obs.]
The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine. Shak.
2. Exceeding due bounds; wild; excessive; unrestrained; as,
extravagant acts, wishes, praise, abuse.
There appears something nobly wild and extravagant in great natural
geniuses. Addison.
3. Profuse in expenditure; prodigal; wasteful; as, an extravagant
man. "Extravagant expense." Bancroft.
EXTRAVAGANT
Ex*trav"a*gant, n.
1. One who is confined to no general rule. L'Estrange.
2. pl. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: Certain constitutions or decretal epistles, not at first
included with others, but subsequently made a part of the canon law.
EXTRAVAGANTLY
Ex*trav"a*gant*ly, adv.
Defn: In an extravagant manner; wildly; excessively; profusely.
EXTRAVAGANTNESS
Ex*trav"a*gant*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being extravagant or in excess; excess;
extravagance.
EXTRAVAGANZA
Ex*trav`a*gan"za, n. Etym: [Extravagance with an Italian ending: cf.
It. stravaganza.]
1. A composition, as in music, or in the drama, designed to produce
effect by its wild irregularity; esp., a musical caricature.
2. An extravagant flight of sentiment or language.
EXTRAVAGATE
Ex*trav"a*gate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. vagatus, p. p. of
vagari to rove. See Extravagant.]
Defn: To rove. Bp. Warburton.
EXTRAVAGATION
Ex*trav`a*ga"tion, n.
Defn: A wandering beyond limits; excess. [Obs.] Smollett.
EXTRAVASATE
Ex*trav"a*sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extravasated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extravasating().] Etym: [Pref. extra + L. vas vessel: cf. F.
extravaser. See Vase.]
Defn: To force or let out of the proper vessels or arteries, as
blood.
EXTRAVASATION
Ex*trav`a*sa"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. extravasation.]
Defn: The act of forcing or letting out of its proper vessels or
ducts, as a fluid; effusion; as, an extravasation of blood after a
rupture of the vessels.
EXTRAVASCULAR
Ex`tra*vas"cu*lar, a. (Anat.)
(a) Outside the vessels; -- said of the substance of all the tissues.
(b) Destitute of vessels; non-vascular.
EXTRAVENATE
Ex*trav"e*nate, a. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. vena vein.]
Defn: Let out of the veins. [Obs.] "Extravenate blood." Glanvill.
EXTRAVERSION
Ex`tra*ver"sion, n. Etym: [Pref. extra + L. vertere, versum, to turn:
cf. F. extraversion.]
Defn: The act of throwing out; the state of being turned or thrown
out. [Obs.] Boyle.
EXTREAT
Ex*treat", n. Etym: [See Estreat, Extract.]
Defn: Extraction. [Obs.] Spenser.
EXTREME
Ex*treme", a. Etym: [L. extremus, superl. of exter, extrus, on the
outside, outward: cf. F. extrême. See Exterior.]
1. At the utmost point, edge, or border; outermost; utmost; farthest;
most remote; at the widest limit.
2. Last; final; conclusive; -- said of time; as, the extreme hour of
life.
3. The best of worst; most urgent; greatest; highest; immoderate;
excessive; most violent; as, an extreme case; extreme folly. "The
extremest remedy." Dryden. "Extreme rapidity." Sir W. Scott.
Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. Shak.
4. Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.
The Puritans or extreme Protestants. Gladstone.
5. (Mus.)
Defn: Extended or contracted as much as possible; -- said of
intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth.
Extreme and mean ratio (Geom.), the relation of a line and its
segments when the line is so divided that the whole is to the greater
segment is to the less.
-- Extreme distance. (Paint.) See Distance., n., 6.
-- Extreme unction. See under Unction.
Note: Although this adjective, being superlative in signification, is
not properly subject to comparison, the superlative form not
unfrequently occurs, especially in the older writers. "Tried in his
extremest state." Spenser. "Extremest hardships." Sharp. "Extremest
of evils." Bacon. "Extremest verge of the swift brook." Shak. "The
sea's extremest borders." Addison.
EXTREME
Ex*treme", n.
1. The utmost point or verge; that part which terminates a body;
extremity.
2. Utmost limit or degree that is supposable or tolerable; hence,
furthest degree; any undue departure from the mean; -- often in the
plural: things at an extreme distance from each other, the most
widely different states, etc.; as, extremes of heat and cold, of
virtue and vice; extremes meet.
His parsimony went to the extreme of meanness. Bancroft.
3. An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress,
etc. "Resolute in most extremes." Shak.
4. (Logic)
Defn: Either of the extreme terms of a syllogism, the middle term
being interposed between them.
5. (Math.)
Defn: The first or the last term of a proportion or series. In the
extreme as much as possible. "The position of the Port was difficult
in the extreme." J. P. Peters.
EXTREMELESS
Ex*treme"less, a.
Defn: Having no extremes; infinite.
EXTREMELY
Ex*treme"ly, adv.
Defn: In an extreme manner or state; in the utmost degree; to the
utmost point; exceedingly; as, extremely hot or cold.
EXTREMIST
Ex*trem"ist, n.
Defn: A supporter of extreme doctrines or practice; one who holds
extreme opinions.
EXTREMITY
Ex*trem"i*ty, n.; pl. Extremities(. Etym: [L. extremitas: cf. F.
extrémité.]
1. The extreme part; the utmost limit; the farthest or remotest point
or part; as, the extremities of a country.
They sent fleets . . . to the extremities of Ethiopia. Arbuthnot.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of locomotive appendages of an animal; a limb; a leg or an
arm of man.
3. The utmost point; highest degree; most aggravated or intense form.
"The extremity of bodily pain." Ray.
4. The highest degree of inconvenience, pain, or suffering; greatest
need or peril; extreme need; necessity.
Divers evils and extremities that follow upon such a compulsion shall
here be set in view. Milton.
Upon mere extremity he summoned this last Parliament. Milton.
Syn.
-- Verge; border; extreme; end; termination.
EXTRICABLE
Ex"tri*ca*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being extricated. Sir W. Jones.
EXTRICATE
Ex"tri*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extricated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Extricating().] Etym: [L. extricatus, p. p. of extricare to
extricate; ex out + tricae trifles, impediments, perplexities. Cf.
Intricate.]
1. To free, as from difficulties or perplexities; to disentangle; to
disembarrass; as, to extricate a person from debt, peril, etc.
We had now extricated ourselves from the various labyrinths and
defiles. Eustance.
2. To cause to be emitted or evolved; as, to extricate heat or
moisture.
Syn.
-- To disentangle; disembarrass; disengage; relieve; evolve; set
free; liberate.
EXTRICATION
Ex`tri*ca"tion, n.
1. The act or process of extricating or disentangling; a freeing from
perplexities; disentanglement.
2. The act of sending out or evolving.
EXTRINSIC
Ex*trin"sic, a. Etym: [L. extrinsecus; exter on the outside + secus
otherwise, beside; akin to E. second: cf. F. extrinsèque. See
Exterior, Second.]
1. Not contained in or belonging to a body; external; outward;
unessential; -- opposed to intrinsic.
The extrinsic aids of education and of artificial culture. I. Taylor.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Attached partly to an organ or limb and partly to some other
partintrinsic.
EXTRINSICAL
Ex*trin"sic*al, a.
Defn: Extrinsic.
-- Ex*trin"sic*al*ly(#), adv.
EXTRINSICALITY; EXTRINSICALNESS
Ex*trin`si*cal"i*ty, Ex*trin"sic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being extrinsic.
EXTROITIVE
Ex*tro"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. extra on the outside + ire, itum, to go.]
Defn: Seeking or going out after external objects. [R.]
Their natures being almost wholly extroitive. Coleridge.
EXTRORSAL
Ex*tror"sal, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Extrorse.
EXTRORSE
Ex*trorse", a. Etym: [As if from an assumed L. extrorsus, for
extroversus; extra on the outside + vertere, versum, to turn: cf. F.
extrorse.] (Bot.)
Defn: Facing outwards, or away from the axis of growth; -- said esp.
of anthers occupying the outer side of the filament.
EXTROVERSION
Ex`tro*ver"sion, n. Etym: [See Extrorse.]
Defn: The condition of being turned wrong side out; as, extroversion
of the bladder. Dunglison.
EXTRUCT
Ex*truct", v. t. Etym: [L. extructus, exstructus, p. p. of extruere,
exstruere, to build up; ex out + struere to build.]
Defn: To construct. [Obs.] Byrom.
EXTRUCTION
Ex*truc"tion, n. Etym: [L. exstructio.]
Defn: A building up; construction. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXTRUCTIVE
Ex*truct"ive, a.
Defn: Constructive. [Obs.] Fulke.
EXTRUCTOR
Ex*truct"or, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A builder. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXTRUDE
Ex*trude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Extruded; p. pr. & vb. n. Extruding.]
Etym: [L. extrudere, extrusum; ex out + trudere to thrust, akin to E.
threat. See Threat.]
Defn: To thrust out; to force, press, or push out; to expel; to drive
off or away. "Parentheses thrown into notes or extruded to the
margin." Coleridge.
EXTRUSION
Ex*tru"sion, n.
Defn: The act of thrusting or pushing out; a driving out; expulsion.
EXTRUSIVE
Ex*tru"sive, a. [See Extrude.] (Geol.)
Defn: Forced out at the surface; as, extrusive rocks; -- contrasted
with intrusive.
EXTUBERANCE
Ex*tu"ber*ance, n.
Defn: A swelling or rising; protuberance. [R.] Moxon.
EXTUBERANCY
Ex*tu"ber*an*cy, n.
Defn: Extuberance. [R.]
EXTUBERANT
Ex*tu"ber*ant, a. Etym: [L. extuberare.]
Defn: Swollen out; protuberant. [R.] "Extuberant lips." Gayton.
EXTUBERATE
Ex*tu"ber*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. extuberatus, p. pr. of extuberare to
swell; ex out + tuber a swelling.]
Defn: To swell out. [Obs.] Cockeram.
EXTUBERATION
Ex*tu`ber*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. extuberatio.]
Defn: Protuberance. [Obs.] Farindon.
EXTUMESCENCE
Ex`tu*mes"cence, n. Etym: [L. ex. + tumescens, p. pr. of tumescere,
incho. fr. tumere to swell: cf. F. extumescence.]
Defn: A swelling or rising. [R.] Cotgrave.
EXUBERANCE
Ex*u"ber*ance, n. Etym: [L. exuberantia: cf. F. exubérance.]
Defn: The state of being exuberant; an overflowing quantity; a
copious or excessive production or supply; superabundance; richness;
as, an exuberance of joy, of fancy, or of foliage.
Syn.
-- Abundance; superabundance; excess; plenty; copiousness;
profusion; richness; overflow; overgrowth; rankness; wantonness. See
Abundance.
EXUBERANCY
Ex*u"ber*an*cy
Defn: , . Exuberance.
EXUBERANT
Ex*u"ber*ant, a. Etym: [L. exuberans, exuberantis, p. pr. of
exuberare to be abundant; ex + uberare to be fruitful, fr. uber
fruitful, fertile, uber udder: cf. F. exubérant. See Udder.]
Defn: Characterized by abundance or superabundance; plenteous; rich;
overflowing; copious or excessive in production; as, exuberant
goodness; an exuberant intellect; exuberant foliage. "Exuberant
spring." Thomson.
-- Ex*u"ber*ant*ly, adv.
EXUBERATE
Ex*u"ber*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. exuberatus, p. p. of exuberare. See
Exuberant, n.]
Defn: To abound; to be in great abundance. [Obs.] Boyle.
EXUCCOUS
Ex*uc"cous, a.
Defn: See Exsuccous. [Obs.]
EXUDATE
Ex*u"date, v. t. & i. Etym: [See Exude.]
Defn: To exude. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
EXUDATION
Ex`u*da"tion, n.
Defn: The act of exuding; sweating; a discharge of humors, moisture,
juice, or gum, as through pores or incisions; also, the substance
exuded.
Resins, a class of proximate principles, existing in almost all
plants and appearing on the external surface of many of them in the
form of exudations. Am. Cyc.
EXUDE
Ex*ude", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exuded; p. pr. & vb. n. exuding.] Etym:
[L. exudare, exsudare, exudatum, exsudatum, to sweat out; ex out +
sudare to sweat: cf. F. exuder, exsuder. See Sweat.]
Defn: To discharge through pores or incisions, as moisture or other
liquid matter; to give out.
Our forests exude turpentine in . . . abundance. Dr. T. Dwight.
EXUDE
Ex*ude", v. i.
Defn: To flow from a body through the pores, or by a natural
discharge, as juice.
EXULCERATE
Ex*ul"cer*ate, v. t. & i. Etym: [L. exulceratus, p. p. of exulcerare
to make sore; ex out + ulcerare. See Ulcerate.]
1. To ulcerate. [Obs.] "To exulcerate the lungs." Evelyn.
2. To corrode; to fret; to chafe; to inflame. [Obs.]
Minds exulcerated in themselves. Hooker.
EXULCERATE
Ex*ul"cer*ate, a. Etym: [L. exulceratus, p. p.]
Defn: Very sore; ulcerated. [Obs.] Bacon.
EXULCERATION
Ex*ul`cer*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. exulceratio: cf. F. exulcération.]
[Obs. or R.]
1. Ulceration. Quincy.
2. A fretting; a festering; soreness. Hooker.
EXULCERATIVE
Ex*ul"cer*a*tive, a.
Defn: Tending to cause ulcers; exulceratory. Holland.
EXULCERATORY
Ex*ul"cer*a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. exulceratorius: cf. F.
exulcératoire.]
Defn: Having a tendency to form ulcers; rendering ulcerous.
EXULT
Ex*ult", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Exulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Exulting.]
Etym: [L. exultare, exsultare, exultatum, exsultatum, to leap
vigorously, to exult, intens. fr. exsilire to spring out or up; ex
out + salire to spring, leap: cf. F. exulter. See Salient.]
Defn: To be in high spirits; figuratively, to leap for joy; to
rejoice in triumph or exceedingly; to triumph; as, an exulting heart.
"An exulting countenance." Bancroft.
The dumb shall sing, the lame his crutch forego, And leap exulting
like the bounding roe. Pope.
EXULTANCE; EXULTANCY
Ex*ult"ance, Ex*ult"an*cy, n. Etym: [L. exsultantia.]
Defn: Exultation. [Obs.] Burton. Hammond.
EXULTANT
Ex*ult"ant, a. Etym: [L. exsultans, exsultantis, p. pr. of exsultare.
See Exult.]
Defn: Inclined to exult; characterized by, or expressing, exultation;
rejoicing triumphantly.
Break away, exultant, from every defilement. I. Tay;or.
EXULTATION
Ex`ul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. exsultatio: cf. F. exultation.]
Defn: The act of exulting; lively joy at success or victory, or at
any advantage gained; rapturous delight; triumph.
His bosom swelled with exultation. Prescott.
EXULTING
Ex*ult"ing, a.
Defn: Rejoicing triumphantly or exceedingly; exultant.
-- Ex*ult"ing*ly, adv.
EXUNDATE
Ex*un"date, v. i. Etym: [L. exundatus, p. p. of exundare to overflow;
ex out + undare. See Undated waved.]
Defn: To overflow; to inundate. [Obs.] Bailey.
EXUNDATION
Ex`un*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. exundatio.]
Defn: An overflow, or overflowing abundance. [R.] Ray.
EXUNGULATE
Ex*un"gu*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exungulated(); p. pr. & vb. n.
Exungulating().] Etym: [L. exungulare to lose the hoof, ex out, from
+ ungula. See Ungula.]
Defn: To pare off, as nails, the hoof, etc. [R.]
EXUPERABLE
Ex*u"per*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. exuperabilis, exsuperabilis. See
Exuperate.]
Defn: Surmountable; superable. [Obs.] Johnson.
EXUPERANCE
Ex*u"per*ance, n. Etym: [L. exuperantia, exsuperantia.]
Defn: Superiority; superfluity. [Obs.] Sir K. Digby.
EXUPERANT
Ex*u"per*ant, a. Etym: [L. exuperans, exsuperans, p. pr.]
Defn: Surpassing; exceeding; surmounting. [Obs.]
EXUPERATE
Ex*u"per*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. exuperatus, exsuperatus, p. p. of
exuperare, exsuperare to excel; ex out + superare to go over, super
above, over.]
Defn: To excel; to surmount. [Obs.]
EXUPERATION
Ex*u`per*a"tion, n. Etym: [See Exurgent.]
Defn: The act of rising or coming into view. [Obs.] Baxter.
EXURGENT
Ex*ur"gent, a. Etym: [L. exurgens, exsurgens, p. pr. of exurgere,
exsurgere, to rise up; ex out + surgere to rise.]
Defn: Arising; coming to light. [Obs.]
EXUSCITATE
Ex*us"ci*tate, v. t.
Defn: See Exsuscitate [Obs.] T. Adams.
EXUSTION
Ex*us"tion, n. Etym: [L. exustio, fr. exurere, exustum, to burn up;
ex out + urere to burn.]
Defn: The act or operation of burning up. Bailey.
EXUTORY
Ex*u"to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. exutoire. See Exuv.] (Med.)
Defn: An issue.
EXUVIA
Ex*u"vi*a,
Defn: n. sing. of Exuviæ.
EXUVIABILITY
Ex*u`vi*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of shedding the skin periodically. Craig.
EXUVIABLE
Ex*u"vi*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. exuviable.]
Defn: Capable of being cast off in the form of exuviæ.
EXUVIAE
Ex*u"vi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. exuere to draw out or off, to pull
off.]
1. (Zoöl)
Defn: Cast skins, shells, or coverings of animals; any parts of
animals which are shed or cast off, as the skins of snakes, the
shells of lobsters, etc.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: The fossil shells and other remains which animals have left in
the strata of the earth.
EXUVIAL
Ex*u"vi*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to exuviæ. "Exuvial layers." "Exuvial
deposits."
EXUVIATE
Ex*u"vi*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Exuviated, p. pr. & vb. n.
Exuviating.] ( Etym: [From Exuviae.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: To shed an old covering or condition preliminary to taking on a
new one; to molt.
There is reason to suppose that very old crayfish do not exuviate
every year. Huxley.
EXUVIATION
Ex*u`vi*a"tion, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The rejecting or casting off of some part, more particularly,
the outer cuticular layer, as the shells of crustaceans, skins of
snakes, etc.; molting; ecdysis.
EX-VOTO
Ex`-vo"to, n.;pl. Ex-votos (-töz). Etym: [L. ex out of, in accordance
with + voto, abl. of votum a vow.]
Defn: An offering to a church in fulfillment of a vow.
EY
Ey, n.Etym: [AS.ig. Cf.Eyot.]
Defn: An island. [Obs.]
EY
Ey, n.; pl. Eyren (.
Defn: See Egg. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EY
Ey,
Defn: an interj. of wonder or inquiry. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYALET
E`ya*let", n. Etym: [Turk.,fr. Ar.iyalah.]
Defn: Formerly, one of the administrative divisions or provinces of
the Ottoman Empire; -- now called a vilayet.
EYAS
Ey`as, n. Etym: [F.niais fresh from the nest, a derivative fr. L.
nidus nest. E. an eyas for a nias. See Nest, and cf. Nias, Jashawk.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A nesting or unfledged Lird; in falconry, a young hawk from the
nest, not able to pr Shak J. H. Walsh
EYAS
Ey"as, a.
Defn: Unfledged, or newly fledged. [Obs.]
Like eyas hawk up mounts unto the skies, His newly budded pinions
assay. Spebser.
EYASMUSKET
Ey"as*mus`ket, n. Etym: [Eyas + muske the brid.]
Defn: An unfledged or young male sparrow hawk. [Obs.] Shak.
EYE
Eye, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. nye, an eye being for a nye. See Nye.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A brood; as, an eye of pheasants.
EYE
Eye, n. Etym: [OE. eghe, eighe, eie, eye, AS. eáge; akin to OFries.
age, OS. ga, D. oog, Ohg. ouga, G. auge, Icel. auga, Sw. öga, Dan.
öie, Goth. aug; cf. OSlav. oko, Lish. akis, L. okulus, Gr. , eye, ,
the two eyes, Skr. akshi. Diasy, Ocular, Optic, Eyelet, Ogle.]
1. The organ of sight or vision. In man, and the vertebrates
generally, it is properly the movable ball or globe in the orbit, but
the term often includes the adjacent parts. In most invertebrates the
years are immovable ocelli, or compound eyes made up of numerous
ocelli. See Ocellus. Description of illustration: a b Conjunctiva; c
Cornea; d Sclerotic; e Choroid; f Cillary Muscle; g Cillary Process;
h Iris; i Suspensory Ligament; k Prosterior Aqueous Chamber between h
and i; l Anterior Aqueous Chamber; m Crystalline Lens; n Vitreous
Humor; o Retina; p Yellow spot; q Center of blind spot; r Artery of
Retina in center of the Optic Nerve.
Note: The essential parts of the eye are inclosed in a tough outer
coat, the sclerotic, to which the muscles moving it are attached, and
which in front changes into the transparent cornea. A little way back
of cornea, the crystalline lens is suspended, dividing the eye into
two unequal cavities, a smaller one in front filled with a watery
fluid, the aqueous humor, and larger one behind filled with a clear
jelly, the vitreous humor. The sclerotic is lined with a highly
pigmented membrane, the choroid, and this is turn is lined in the
back half of the eyeball with the nearly transparent retina, in which
the fibers of the optic nerve ramify. The choroid in front is
continuous with the iris, which has a contractile opening in the
center, the pupil, admitting light to the lens which brings the rays
to a focus and forms an image upon the retina, where the light,
falling upon delicate structures called rods and cones, causes them
to stimulate the fibres of the optic nerve to transmit visual
impressions to the brain.
2. The faculty of seeing; power or range of vision; hence, judgment
or taste in the use of the eye, and in judging of objects; as, to
have the eye of sailor; an eye for the beautiful or picturesque.
3. The action of the organ of sight; sight, look; view; ocular
knowledge; judgment; opinion.
In my eye, she is the sweetest lady that I looked on. Shak.
4. The space commanded by the organ of sight; scope of vision; hence,
face; front; the presence of an object which is directly opposed or
confronted; immediate presence.
We shell express our duty in his eye. Shak.
Her shell your hear disproved to her eyes. Shak.
5. Observation; oversight; watch; inspection; notice; attention;
regard. "Keep eyes upon her." Shak.
Booksellers . . . have an eye to their own advantage. Addison.
6. That which resembles the organ of sight, in form, position, or
appearance; as:
(a) (Zoöl.) The spots on a feather, as of peacock.
(b) The scar to which the adductor muscle is attached in oysters and
other bivalve shells; also, the adductor muscle itself, esp. when
used as food, as in the scallop.
(c) The bud or sprout of a plant or tuber; as the eye of a potato.
(d) The center of a target; the bull's-eye.
(e) A small loop to receive a hook; as hooks and eyes on a dress.
(f) The hole through the head of a needle.
(g) A loop forming part of anything, or a hole through anything, to
receive a rope, hook, pin, shaft, etc.; as an eye at the end of a tie
bar in a bridge truss; as an eye through a crank; an eye at the end
of rope.
(h) The hole through the upper millstone.
7. That which resembles the eye in relative importance or beauty.
"The very eye of that proverb." Shak.
Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts. Milton.
8. Tinge; shade of color. [Obs.]
Red with an eye of blue makes a purple. Boyle.
By the eye, in abundance. [Obs.] Marlowe.
-- Elliott eye (Naut.), a loop in a hemp cable made around a thimble
and served.
-- Eye agate, a kind of circle agate, the central part of which are
of deeper tints than the rest of the mass. Brande & C.
-- Eye animalcule (Zoöl), a flagellate infusorian belonging to
Euglena and related genera; -- so called because it has a colored
spot like an eye at one end.
-- Eye doctor, an oculist.
-- Eye of a volute (Arch.), the circle in the center of volute.
-- Eye of day, Eye of the morning, Eye of heaven, the sun. "So
gently shuts the eye day." Mrs. Barbauld.
-- Eye of a ship, the foremost part in the bows of a ship, where,
formerly, eyes were painted; also, the hawser holes. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
-- Half an eye, very imperfect sight; a careless glance; as, to see
a thing with half an eye; often figuratively. "Those who have but
half an eye. " B. Jonson.
-- To catch one's eye, to attract one's notice.
-- To find favor in the eyes (of), to be graciously received and
treated.
-- To have an eye to, to pay particular attention to; to watch.
"Have an eye to Cinna." Shak.
-- To keep an eye on, to watch.
-- To set the eyes on, to see; to have a sight of.
-- In the eye of the wind (Naut.), in a direction opposed to the
wind; as, a ship sails in the eye of the wind.
EYE
Eye (, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Eyed (; p. pr. & vb. n. Eying or Eyeing.]
Defn: To fix the eye on; to look on; to view; to observe;
particularly, to observe or watch narrowly, or with fixed attention;
to hold in view.
Eye me, blest Providence, and square my trial To my proportioned
strength. Milton.
EYE
Eye, v. i.
Defn: To appear; to look. [Obs.]
My becomings kill me, when they do not Eye well to you. Shak.
EYEBALL
Eye"ball`, n.
Defn: The ball or globe of the eye.
EYEBAR
Eye"bar`, n. (Engin.)
Defn: A bar with an eye at one or both ends.
EYEBEAM
Eye"beam`, n.
Defn: A glance of the eye. Shak.
EYEBOLT
Eye"bolt`, n. (Mach.)
Defn: A bolt which a looped head, or an opening in the head.
EYEBRIGHT
Eye"bright`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A small annual plant (Euphrasia officinalis), formerly much
used as a remedy for diseases of the eye.
EYEBROW
Eye"brow`, n.
Defn: The brow or hairy arch above the eye. Shak.
EYECUP
Eye"cup`, n.
Defn: A small oval porcelain or glass cup, having a rim curved to fit
the orbit of the eye. it is used in the application of liquid
remedies to eyes; -- called also eyeglass.
EYED
Eyed, a.
Defn: Heaving (such or so many) eyes; -- used in composition; as
sharp-eyed; dull-eyed; sad-eyed; ox-eyed Juno; myriad-eyed.
EYEDROP
Eye"drop", n.
Defn: A tear. [Poetic] Shak.
EYEFLAP
Eye"flap", n.
Defn: A blinder on a horse's bridle.
EYEFUL
Eye"ful, a.
Defn: Filling or satisfying the eye; visible; remarkable. [Obs.]
"Eyeful trophies." Chapman.
EYEGLANCE
Eye"glance`, n.
Defn: A glance of eye.
EYEGLASS
Eye"glass`, n.
1. A lens of glass to assist the sight. Eyeglasses are used singly or
in pairs.
2. Eyepiece of a telescope, microscope, etc.
3. The retina. [Poetic]
4. A glass eyecup. See Eyecup.
EYEHOLE
Eye"hole`, n.
Defn: A circular opening to recive a hook, cord, ring, or rope; an
eyelet.
EYELASH
Eye"lash`, n.
1. The fringe of hair that edges the eyelid; -- usually in the pl.
2. A hair of the fringe on the edge of the eyelid.
EYELESS
Eye"less`, a.
Defn: Without eyes; blind. "Eyeless rage." Shak.
EYELET
Eye"let`, n. Etym: [F., dim. of oculus. See Eye, and cf. Oillet.]
1. A small hole or perforation to receive a cord or fastener, as in
garments, sails, etc.
2. A metal ring or grommet, or short metallic tube, the ends of which
can be bent outward and over to fasten it in place; -- used to line
an eyelet hole. Eyelet hole, a hole made for an eyelet.
-- Eyelet punch, a machine for punching eyelet holes and fastening
eyelets, as in paper or cloth.
-- Eyelet ring. See Eyelet, 2.
EYELETEER
Eye`let*eer", n.
Defn: A small, sharp-pointed instrument used in piercing eyelet
holes; a stiletto.
EYELID
Eye`lid", n. (Anat.)
Defn: The cover of the eye; that portion of movable skin with which
an animal covers or uncovers the eyeball at pleasure.
EYE-MINDED
Eye"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Having one's mental imagery prevailingly of the visual type;
having one's thoughts and memories mainly in the form of visual
images. -- Eye"-mind`ed*ness, n.
EYEN
Ey"en, n. pl.
Defn: Eyes. [Obs.] Chaucer. Spenser.
EYE OPENER
Eye opener.
Defn: That which makes the eyes open, as startling news or
occurrence, or (U. S. Slang), a drink of liquor, esp. the first one
in the morning.
EYEPIECE
Eye"piece`, n. (Opt.)
Defn: The lens, or combination of lenses, at the eye end of a
telescope or other optical instrument, through which the image formed
by the mirror or object glass is viewed. Collimating eyepiece. See
under Collimate.
-- Negative, or Huyghenian, eyepiece, an eyepiece consisting of two
plano-convex lenses with their curved surfaces turned toward the
object glass, and separated from each other by about half the sum of
their focal distances, the image viewed by the eye being formed
between the two lenses. it was devised by Huyghens, who applied it to
the telescope. Campani applied it to the microscope, whence it is
sometimes called Campani's eyepiece.
-- Positive eyepiece, an eyepiece consisting of two plano-convex
lenses placed with their curved surfaces toward each other, and
separated by a distance somewhat less than the focal distance of the
one nearest eye, the image of the object viewed being beyond both
lenses; -- called also, from the name of the inventor, Ramsden's
eyepiece.
-- terrestrial, or Erecting eyepiece, an eyepiece used in telescopes
for viewing terrestrial objects, consisting of three, or usually
four, lenses, so arranged as to present the image of the object
viewed in an erect position.
EYER
Ey"er, n.
Defn: One who eyes another. Gayton.
EYEREACH
Eye"reach`, n.
Defn: The range or reach of the eye; eyeshot. "A seat in eyereach of
him." B. Jonson.
EYESAINT; EYE-SAINT
Eye"*saint`, n.
Defn: An object of interest to the eye; one wirehaired with the eyes.
[Obs.]
That's the eye-saint, I know, Among young gallants. Beau. & Fl.
EYESALVE
Eye"salve`, n.
Defn: Ointment for the eye.
EYESERVANT
Eye"serv`ant, n.
Defn: A servant who attends faithfully to his duty only when watched.
EYESERVICE
Eye"serv`ice, n.
Defn: Service performed only under inspection, or the eye of an
employer.
Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers. Col. iii. 22.
EYESHOT
Eye"shot`, n.
Defn: Range, reach, or glance of the eye; view; sight; as, to be out
of eyeshot. Dryden.
EYESIGHT
Eye"sight`, n.
Defn: Sight of the eye; the sense of seeing; view; observation.
Josephus sets this down from his own eyesight. Bp. Wilkins.
EYESORE
Eye"sore`, n.
Defn: Something offensive to the eye or sight; a blemish.
Mordecai was an eyesore to Haman. L'Estrange.
EYESPLICE; EYE-SPLICE
Eye"*splice`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A splice formed by bending a rope's and back, and fastening it
into the rope, forming a loop or eye. See Illust. under Splice.
EYESPOT; EYE-SPOT
Eye"*spot`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A simple visual organ found in many invertebrates, consisting of
pigment cells covering a sensory nerve termination.
(b) An eyelike spot of color.
EYESPOTTED; EYE-SPOTTED
Eye"*spot`ted, a.
Defn: Marked with spots like eyes.
Junno's bird, in her eye-spotted train. Spenser.
EYESTALK
Eye"stalk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the movable peduncles which, in the decapod Crustacea,
bear the eyes at the tip.
EYESTONE
Eye"stone`, n.
1. A small, lenticular, calcareous body, esp. an operculum of a small
shell of the family Tubinid, used to remove a foreign sub stance from
the eye. It is rut into the inner corner of the eye under the lid,
and allowed to work its way out at the outer corner, bringing with
the substance.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Eye agate. See under Eye.
EYESTRING
Eye"string`, n.
Defn: The tendon by which the eye is moved. Shak.
EYET
Ey"et, n.
Defn: An island. See Eyot.
EYETOOTH
Eye"tooth, n.; pl. Eyeteeth ( (Anat.)
Defn: A canine tooth of the upper jaw. See Teeth. To cut one's
eyeteeth, to become acute or knowing. [Colloq.]
EYEWASH
Eye"wash, n.
Defn: See Eyewater.
EYEWATER
Eye"wa`ter, n. (Med.)
Defn: A wash or lotion for application to the eyes.
EYEWINK
Eye"wink`, n.
Defn: A wink; a token. Shak.
EYEWINKER
Eye"wink`er, n.
Defn: An eyelash. [A child's word.]
EYEWITNESS
Eye"wit`ness, n.
Defn: One who sees a thing done; one who has ocular view anything.
We . . . were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Pet. i. 16.
EYGHEN
Ey"ghen, n. pl.
Defn: Eyes. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYGHT
Eyght, n.
Defn: An island. See Eyot.
EYLE
Eyle v. t.& i.
Defn: To ail. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYLIAD
Ey"liad, n.
Defn: See Eiliad.
EYNE; EYEN
Eyne, or Ey"en, n.
Defn: Plural of eye; obsolete, or used only in poetry. Shak.
With such a plaintive gaze their eyne Are fastened upwardly on mine.
Mrs. Browning.
EYOT
Ey"ot, n. Etym: [Ey (AS. ig or Icel. ey) + F. dim. termination -ot;
cf. AS. igeoedt. See Island, and cf. Ait.]
Defn: A little island in a river or lake. See Ait. [Written also ait,
ayt, eey, eyet, and eyght.] Blackstone.
EYR
Eyr, n. Etym: [See Air.]
Defn: Air. [Obs.] Chaucer.
EYRA
Ey"ra, n. Etym: [Native South American name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A wild cat (Felis eyra) ranging from southern Brazil to Texas.
It is reddish yellow and about the size of the domestic cat, but with
a more slender body and shorter legs.
EYRE
Eyre, n. Etym: [OF. erre journey, march, way, fr. L. iter, itineris,
a going, way, fr. the root of ire to go. Cf. Errant, Itinerant,
Issue.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A journey in circuit of certain judges called justices in eyre
(or in itinere).
Note: They were itinerant judges, who rode the circuit, holding
courts in the different counties.
EYREN
Ey"ren, n. pl.
Defn: See Ey, an egg.
EYRIE; EYRY
Ey"rie, Ey"ry, n.; pl. Ey"ries. Etym: [See Aerie]
Defn: The nest of a bird of prey or other large bird that builds in a
lofty place; aerie.
The eagle and the stork On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build.
Milton.
EYSELL
Ey"sell, n.
Defn: Same as Eisel. [Obs.] Shak.
F
F (êf)
Defn: .
1. F is the sixth letter of the English alphabet, and a nonvocal
consonant. Its form and sound are from the Latin. The Latin borrowed
the form from the Greek digamma w consonant. The form and value of
Greek letter came from the Phoenician, the ultimate source being
probably Egyptian. Etymologically fis most closely related to p,k,v,
and b; as in E. five, Gr. f, L. lupus, Gr. fox, vixen ; fragile,
break ; fruit, brook, v. t.; E. bear, L. ferre. See Guide to
Pronunciation, sq. root 178, 179, 188, 198, 230.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The name of the fourth tone of the model scale, or scale of C.
F sharp (F #) is a tone intermediate between F and G. F clef, the
bass clef. See under Clef.
FA
Fa, n. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
(a) A syllable applied to the fourth tone of the diatonic scale in
solmization.
(b) The tone F.
FABACEOUS
Fa*ba"ceous, a. Etym: [L. fabaceus, fr. faba bean.]
Defn: Having the nature of a bean; like a bean.
FABELLA
Fa*bel"la, n.; pl. Fabellae (-l. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. faba a bean.]
(Anat.)
Defn: One of the small sesamoid bones situated behind the condyles of
the femur, in some mammals.
FABIAN
Fa"bi*an, a. Etym: [L. Fabianus, Fabius, belonging to Fabius.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or in the manner of, the Roman general,
Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus; cautious; dilatory; avoiding a
decisive contest. Fabian policy, a policy like that of Fabius
Maximus, who, by carefully avoiding decisive contests, foiled
Hannibal, harassing his army by marches, countermarches, and
ambuscades; a policy of delays and cautions.
FABLE
Fa"ble, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. fabula, fr. fari to speak, say. See Ban,
and cf. Fabulous, Fame.]
1. A Feigned story or tale, intended to instruct or amuse; a
fictitious narration intended to enforce some useful truth or
precept; an apologue. See the Note under Apologue.
Jotham's fable of the trees is the oldest extant. Addison
.
2. The plot, story, or connected series of events, forming the
subject of an epic or dramatic poem.
The moral is the first business of the poet; this being formed, he
contrives such a design or fable as may be most suitable to the
moral. Dryden.
3. Any story told to excite wonder; common talk; the theme of talk.
"Old wives' fables. " 1 Tim. iv. 7.
We grew The fable of the city where we dwelt. Tennyson.
4. Fiction; untruth; falsehood.
It would look like a fable to report that this gentleman gives away a
great fortune by secret methods. Addison.
FABLE
Fa"ble, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabling.]
Defn: To compose fables; hence, to write or speak fiction ; to write
or utter what is not true. "He Fables not." Shak.
Vain now the tales which fabling poets tell. Prior.
He fables, yet speaks truth. M. Arnold.
FABLE
Fa"ble, v. t.
Defn: To fiegn; to invent; to devise, and speak of, as true or real;
to tell of falsely.
The hell thou fablest. Milton.
FABLER
Fa"bler, n.
Defn: A writer of fables; a fabulist; a dealer in untruths or
falsehoods. Br. Hall.
FABLIAU
Fa`bli`au", n.; pl. Fabliaux . Etym: [F., fr. OF.fablel, dim. of
fable a fable.] (Fr. Lit.)
Defn: One of the metrical tales of the Trouvères, or early poets of
the north of France.
FABRIC
Fab"ric, n. Etym: [L. fabrica fabric, workshop: cf. F. fabrique
fabric. See Forge.]
1. The structure of anything; the manner in which the parts of a
thing are united; workmanship; texture; make; as cloth of a beautiful
fabric.
2. That which is fabricated; as :
(a) Framework; structure; edifice; building.
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge Rose like an exhalation. Milton.
(b) Cloth of any kind that is woven or knit from fibers, either
vegetable or animal; manufactured cloth; as, silks or other fabrics.
3. The act of constructing; construction. [R.]
Tithe was received by the bishop, . . . for the fabricof the churches
for the poor. Milman.
4. Any system or structure consisting of connected parts; as, the
fabric of the universe.
The whole vast fabric of society. Macaulay.
FABRIC
Fab"ric, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricked; p. pr. & vb. n. Fabricking.]
Defn: To frame; to built; to construct. [Obs.] "Fabric their
mansions." J. Philips.
FABRICANT
Fab"ri*cant, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: One who fabricates; a manufacturer. Simmonds.
FABRICATE
Fab"ri*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fabricated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fabricating.] Etym: [L. fabricatus, p.p. of fabricari, fabricare, to
frame, build, forge, fr. fabrica. See Fabric, Farge.]
1. To form into a whole by uniting its parts; to frame; to construct;
to build; as, to fabricate a bridge or ship.
2. To form by art and labor; to manufacture; to produce; as, to
fabricate woolens.
3. To invent and form; to forge; to devise falsely; as, to fabricate
a lie or story.
Our books were not fabricated with an accomodation to prevailing
usages. Paley.
FABRICATION
Fab`ri*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. fabricatio; cf. F. fabrication.]
1. The act of fabricating, framing, or constructing; construction;
manufacture; as, the fabrication of a bridge, a church, or a
government. Burke.
2. That which is fabricated; a falsehood; as, the story is doubtless
a fabrication.
Syn.
-- See Fiction.
FABRICATOR
Fab"ri*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who fabricates; one who constructs or makes.
The fabricator of the works of Ossian. Mason.
FABRICATRESS
Fab"ri*ca`tress, n.
Defn: A woman who fabricates.
FABRILE
Fab"rile, a. Etym: [L. fabrilis, fr. faber workman. See Forge.]
Defn: Pertaining to a workman, or to work in stone, metal, wood etc.;
as, fabrile skill.
FABULIST
Fab"u*list, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fabuliste, fr. L. fabula. See Fable.]
Defn: One who invents or writes fables.
FABULIZE
Fab"u*lize, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fabulized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fabulizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fabuliser. See Fable.]
Defn: To invent, compose, or relate fables or fictions. G. S. Faber.
FABULOSITY
Fab`u*los"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fabulositas: cf. F. fabulosité.]
1. Fabulousness. [R.] Abp. Abbot.
2. A fabulous or fictitious story. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
FABULOUS
Fab"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. fabulosus; cf. F. fabuleux. See Fable.]
1. Feigned, as a story or fable; related in fable; devised; invented;
not real; fictitious; as, a fabulous description; a fabulous hero.
The fabulous birth of Minerva. Chesterfield.
2. Passing belief; exceedingly great; as, a fabulous price. Macaulay.
Fabulous age, that period in the history of a nation of which the
only accounts are myths and unverified legends; as, the fabulous age
of Greek and Rome.
-- Fab"u*lous*ly, adv.
-- Fab"u*lous*ness, n.
FABURDEN
Fab"ur*den, n. Etym: [F. foux bpirdon. See False, and Burden a
verse.]
1. (Mus.)
(a) A species of counterpoint with a drone bass.
(b) A succession of chords of the sixth. [Obs.]
2. A monotonous refrain. [Obs.] Holland.
FAC
Fac, n. Etym: [Abbrev. of facsimile.]
Defn: A large ornamental letter used, esp. by the early printers, at
the commencement of the chapters and other divisions of a book.
Brande & C.
FACADE
Fa`çade", n. Etym: [F., fr. It. facciata, fr. fassia face, L. facies.
See Face.] (Arch.)
Defn: The front of a building; esp., the principal front, having some
architectural pretensions. Thus a church is said to have its facade
unfinished, though the interior may be in use.
FACE
Face, n. Etym: [F., from L. facies form, shape, face, perh. from
facere to make (see Fact); or perh. orig. meaning appearance, and
from a root meaning to shine, and akin to E. fancy. Cf. Facetious.]
1. The exterior form or appearance of anything; that part which
presents itself to the view; especially, the front or upper part or
surface; that which particularly offers itself to the view of a
spectator.
A mist . . . watered the whole face of the ground. Gen. ii. 6.
Lake Leman wooes me with its crystal face. Byron.
2. That part of a body, having several sides, which may be seen from
one point, or which is presented toward a certain direction; one of
the bounding planes of a solid; as, a cube has six faces.
3. (Mach.)
(a) The principal dressed surface of a plate, disk, or pulley; the
principal flat surface of a part or object.
(b) That part of the acting surface of a cog in a cog wheel, which
projects beyond the pitch line.
(c) The width of a pulley, or the length of a cog from end to end;
as, a pulley or cog wheel of ten inches face.
4. (Print.)
(a) The upper surface, or the character upon the surface, of a type,
plate, etc.
(b) The style or cut of a type or font of type.
5. Outside appearance; surface show; look; external aspect, whether
natural, assumed, or acquired.
To set a face upon their own malignant design. Milton.
This would produce a new face of things in Europe. Addison.
We wear a face of joy, because We have been glad of yore. Wordsworth.
6. That part of the head, esp. of man, in which the eyes, cheeks,
nose, and mouth are situated; visage; countenance.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread. Gen. iii. 19.
7. Cast of features; expression of countenance; look; air;
appearance.
We set the best faceon it we could. Dryden.
8. (Astrol.)
Defn: Ten degrees in extent of a sign of the zodiac. Chaucer.
9. Maintenance of the countenance free from abashment or confusion;
confidence; boldness; shamelessness; effrontery.
This is the man that has the face to charge others with false
citations. Tillotson.
10. Presence; sight; front; as in the phrases, before the face of, in
the immediate presence of; in the face of, before, in, or against the
front of; as, to fly in the face of danger; to the face of, directly
to; from the face of, from the presenceof.
11. Mode of regard, whether favorable or unfavorable; favor or anger;
mostly in Scriptural phrases.
The Lord make his face to shine upon thee. Num. vi. 25.
My face [favor] will I turn also from them. Ezek. vii. 22.
12. (Mining)
Defn: The end or wall of the tunnel, drift, or excavation, at which
work is progressing or was last done.
13. (Com.)
Defn: The exact amount expressed on a bill, note, bond, or other
mercantile paper, without any addition for interest or reduction for
discount. McElrath.
Note: Face is used either adjectively or as part of a compound; as,
face guard or face-guard; face cloth; face plan or face-plan; face
hammer. Face ague (Med.), a form of neuralgia, characterized by acute
lancinating pains returning at intervals, and by twinges in certain
parts of the face, producing convulsive twitches in the corresponding
muscles; -- called also tic douloureux.
-- Face card, one of a pack of playing cards on which a human face
is represented; the king, queen, or jack.
-- Face cloth, a cloth laid over the face of a corpse.
-- Face guard, a mask with windows for the eyes, worn by workman
exposed to great heat, or to flying particles of metal, stone, etc.,
as in glass works, foundries, etc.
-- Face hammer, a hammer having a flat face.
-- Face joint (Arch.), a joint in the face of a wall or other
structure.
-- Face mite (Zoöll.), a small, elongated mite (Demdex
folliculorum), parasitic in the hair follicles of the face.
-- Face mold, the templet or pattern by which carpenters, ect.,
outline the forms which are to be cut out from boards, sheet metal,
ect.
-- Face plate. (a) (Turning) A plate attached to the spindle of a
lathe, to which the work to be turned may be attached. (b) A covering
plate for an object, to receive wear or shock. (c) A true plane for
testing a dressed surface. Knight.
-- Face wheel. (Mach.) (a) A crown wheel. (b) A Wheel whose disk
face is adapted for grinding and polishing; a lap. Cylinder face
(Steam Engine), the flat part of a steam cylinder on which a slide
valve moves.
-- Face of an anvil, its flat upper surface.
-- Face of a bastion (Fort.), the part between the salient and the
shoulder angle.
-- Face of coal (Mining), the principal cleavage plane, at right
angles to the stratification.
-- Face of a gun, the surface of metal at the muzzle.
-- Face of a place (Fort.), the front comprehended between the
flanked angles of two neighboring bastions. Wilhelm.
-- Face of a square (Mil.), one of the sides of a battalion when
formed in a square.
-- Face of a watch, clock, compass, card etc., the dial or graduated
surface on which a pointer indicates the time of day, point of the
compass, etc.
-- Face to face. (a) In the presence of each other; as, to bring the
accuser and the accused face to face. (b) Without the interposition
of any body or substance. "Now we see through a glass darkly; but
then face to face." 1 Cor. xiii. 12. (c) With the faces or finished
surfaces turned inward or toward one another; vis à vis; -- opposed
to back to back.
-- To fly in the face of, to defy; to brave; to withstand.
-- To make a face, to distort the countenance; to make a grimace.
Shak.
FACE
Face, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faced; p. pr. & vb. n. Facing.]
1. To meet in front; to oppose with firmness; to resist, or to meet
for the purpose of stopping or opposing; to confront; to encounter;
as, to face an enemy in the field of battale.
I'll face This tempest, and deserve the name of king. Dryden.
2. To Confront impudently; to bully.
I will neither be facednor braved. Shak.
3. To stand opposite to; to stand with the face or front toward; to
front upon; as, the apartments of the general faced the park.
He gained also with his forces that part of Britain which faces
Ireland. Milton.
4. To cover in front, for ornament, protection, etc.; to put a facing
upon; as, a building faced with marble.
5. To line near the edge, esp. with a different material; as, to face
the front of a coat, or the bottom of a dress.
6. To cover with better, or better appearing, material than the mass
consists of, for purpose of deception, as the surface of a box of
tea, a barrel of sugar, etc.
7. (Mach.)
Defn: To make the surface of (anything) flat or smooth; to dress the
face of (a stone, a casting, etc.); esp., in turning, to shape or
smooth the flat surface of, as distinguished from the cylindrical
surface.
8. To cause to turn or present a face or front, as in a particular
direction. To face down, to put down by bold or impudent opposition.
"He faced men down." Prior.
-- To face (a thing) out, to persist boldly or impudently in an
assertion or in a line of conduct. "That thinks with oaths to face
the matter out." Shak
FACE
Face, v. i.
1. To carry a false appearance; to play the hypocrite. "To lie, to
face, to forge." Spenser.
2. To turn the face; as, to face to the right or left.
Face about, man; a soldier, and afraid! Dryden.
3. To present a face or front.
FACED
Faced, a.
Defn: Having (such) a face, or (so many) faces; as, smooth-faced,
two-faced.
FACER
Fa"cer, n.
1. One who faces; one who puts on a false show; a bold-faced person.
[Obs.]
There be no greater talkers, nor boasters, nor fasers. Latimer.
2. A blow in the face, as in boxing; hence, any severe or stunning
check or defeat, as in controversy. [Collog.]
I should have been a stercoraceous mendicant if I had hollowed when I
got a facer. C. Kingsley.
FACET
Fac"et, n. Etym: [F. facette, dim. of face face. See Face.]
1. A little face; a small, plane surface; as, the facets of a
diamond. [Written also facette.]
2. (Anat.)
Defn: A smooth circumscribed surface; as, the articular facet of a
bone.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The narrow plane surface between flutings of a column.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the numerous small eyes which make up the compound eyes
of insects and crustaceans.
FACET
Fac"et, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faceted; p. pr. & vb. n. Faceting.]
Defn: To cut facets or small faces upon; as, to facet a diamond.
FACETE
Fa*cete", a. Etym: [L. facetus elegant, fine, facetious; akin to
facies. See Face, and cf. Facetious.]
Defn: Facetious; witty; humorous. [Archaic] "A facete discourse."
Jer. Taylor.
"How to interpose" with a small, smart remark, sentiment facete, or
unctuous anecdote. Prof. Wilson.
-- Fa*cete"ly, adv.
-- Fa*cete"ness, n.
FACETED
Fac"et*ed, a.
Defn: Having facets.
FACETIAE
Fa*ce"ti*æ (, n. pl. Etym: [L., fr. facetus. See Facete.]
Defn: Witty or humorous writings or saying; witticisms; merry
conceits.
FACETIOUS
Fa*ce"tious, a. Etym: [Cf. F. facétieux. See Facetiæ.]
1. Given to wit and good humor; merry; sportive; jocular; as, a
facetious companion.
2. Characterized by wit and pleasantry; exciting laughter; as, a
facetious story or reply.
-- Fa*ce"tious*ly, adv.
-- Fa*ce"tious*ness, n.
FACETTE
Fa*cette", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: See Facet, n.
FACEWORK
Face"work`, n.
Defn: The material of the outside or front side, as of a wall or
building; facing.
FACIA
Fa"ci*a, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Fascia.
FACIAL
Fa"cial, a. Etym: [LL. facialis, fr. L. facies face : cf. F. facial.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to the face; as, the facial artery, vein, or
nerve.
-- Fa"cial*ly, adv. Facial angle (Anat.), the angle, in a skull,
included between a straight line (ab, in the illustrations), from the
most prominent part of the forehead to the front efge of the upper
jaw bone, and another (cd) from this point to the center of the
external auditory opening. See Gnathic index, under Gnathic.
FACIEND
Fa"ci*end, n. Etym: [From neut. of L. faciendus, gerundive of facere
to do.] (Mach.)
Defn: The multiplicand. See Facient,
2.
FACIENT
Fa"cient, n. Etym: [L. faciens, -- entis, p. pr. of facere to make,
do. See Fact.]
1. One who does anything, good or bad; a doer; an agent. [Obs.] Br.
Hacket.
2. (Mach.)
(a) One of the variables of a quantic as distinguished from a
coefficient.
(b) The multiplier.
Note: The terms facient, faciend, and factum, may imply that the
multiplication involved is not ordinary multiplication, but is either
some specified operation, or, in general, any mathematical operation.
See Multiplication.
FACIES
Fa"ci*es, n. Etym: [L., from, face. See Face.]
1. The anterior part of the head; the face.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The general aspect or habit of a species, or group of species,
esp. with reference to its adaptation to its environment.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The face of a bird, or the front of the head, excluding the
bill. Facies Hippocratica. (Med.) See Hippocratic.
FACILE
Fac"ile a. Etym: [L. facilis, prop., capable of being done or made,
hence, facile, easy, fr. facere to make, do: cf. F. facile. Srr Fact,
and cf. Faculty.]
1. Easy to be done or performed: not difficult; performable or
attainable with little labor.
Order . . . will render the work facile and delightful. Evelyn.
2. Easy to be surmounted or removed; easily conquerable; readily
mastered.
The facile gates of hell too slightly barred. Milton.
3. Easy of access or converse; mild; courteous; not haughty, austere,
or distant; affable; complaisant.
I meant she should be courteous, facile, sweet. B. Jonson.
4. Easily persuaded to good or bad; yielding; ductile to a fault;
pliant; flexible.
Since Adam, and his facile consort Eve, Lost Paradise, deceived by
me. Milton.
This is treating Burns like a child, a person of so facile a
disposition as not to be trusted without a keeper on the king's
highway. Prof. Wilson.
5. Ready; quick; expert; as, he is facile in expedients; he wields a
facile pen.
-- Fac"ile-ly, adv.
-- Fac"ile*ness, n.
FACILITATE
Fa*cil"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Facilitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Facilitating.] Etym: [Cf. F. faciliter. See Facility.]
Defn: To make easy or less difficult; to free from difficulty or
impediment; to lessen the labor of; as, to facilitate the execution
of a task.
To invite and facilitate that line of proceeding which the times call
for. I. Taylor.
FACILITATION
Fa*cil`i*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The act of facilitating or making easy.
FACILITY
Fa*cil"i*ty, n.; pl. Facilities. Etym: [L. facilitas, fr. facilis
easy: cf. F. facilitFacile.]
1. The quality of being easily performed; freedom from difficulty;
ease; as, the facility of an operation.
The facility with which government has been overturned in France.
Burke
.
2. Ease in performance; readiness proceeding from skill or use;
dexterity; as, practice gives a wonderful facility in executing works
of art.
3. Easiness to be persuaded; readiness or compliance; -- usually in a
bad sense; pliancy.
It is a great error to take facility for good nature. L'Estrange.
4. Easiness of access; complaisance; affability.
Offers himself to the visits of a friend with facility. South.
5. That which promotes the ease of any action or course of conduct;
advantage; aid; assistance; -- usually in the plural; as, special
facilities for study.
Syn.
-- Ease; expertness; readiness; dexterity; complaisance;
condescension; affability.
-- Facility, Expertness, Readiness. These words have in common the
idea of performing any act with ease and promptitude. Facility
supposes a natural or acquired power of dispatching a task with
lightness and ease. Expertness is the kind of facility acquired by
long practice. Readiness marks the promptitude with which anything is
done. A merchant needs great facility in dispatching business; a
bunker, great expertness in casting accounts; both need great
readiness in passing from one employment to another. "The facility
which we get of doing things by a custom of doing, makes them often
pass in us without our notice." Locke. "The army was celebrated for
the expertness and valor of the soldiers." "A readiness obey the
known will of God is the surest means to enlighten the mind in
respect to duty."
FACING
Fa"cing, n.
1. A covering in front, for ornament or other purpose; an exterior
covering or sheathing; as, the facing of an earthen slope, sea wall,
etc. , to strengthen it or to protect or adorn the exposed surface.
2. A lining placed near the edge of a garment for ornament or
protection.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The finishing of any face of a wall with material different
from that of which it is chiefly composed, or the coating or material
so used.
4. (Founding)
Defn: A powdered substance, as charcoal, bituminous coal, ect.,
applied to the face of a mold, or mixed with the sand that forms it,
to give a fine smooth surface to the casting.
5. (Mil.) (a) pl.
Defn: The collar and cuffs of a military coat; -- commonly of a color
different from that of the coat.
(b) The movement of soldiers by turning on their heels to the right,
left, or about; -- chiefly in the pl. Facing brick, front or pressed
brick.
FACINGLY
Fa"cing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a facing manner or position.
FACINOROUS
Fa*cin"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. facinorous, from facinus deed, bad deed,
from facere to make, do.]
Defn: Atrociously wicked. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
-- Fa*cin"o*rous*ness, n. [Obs.]
FACOUND
Fac"ound, n. Etym: [F. faconde, L. facundia. See Facund.]
Defn: Speech; eloquence. [Obs.]
Her facound eke full womanly and plain. Chaucer.
FACSIMILE
Fac*sim"i*le, n.; pl. Facsimiles (-l. Etym: [L. fac simile make like;
or an abbreviation of factum simile made like; facere to make +
similes like. See Fact, and Simile.]
Defn: A copy of anything made, either so as to be deceptive or so as
to give every part and detail of the original; an exact copy or
likeness. Facsimile telegraph, a telegraphic apparatus reproducing
messages in autograph.
FACSIMILE
Fac*sim"i*le
Defn: , (
FACT
Fact, n. Etym: [L. factum, fr. facere to make or do. Cf. Feat,
Affair, Benefit, Defect, Fashion, and -fy.]
1. A doing, making, or preparing. [Obs.]
A project for the fact and vending Of a new kind of fucus, paint for
ladies. B. Jonson.
2. An effect produced or achieved; anything done or that comes to
pass; an act; an event; a circumstance.
What might instigate him to this devilish fact, I am not able to
conjecture. Evelyn.
He who most excels in fact of arms. Milton.
3. Reality; actuality; truth; as, he, in fact, excelled all the rest;
the fact is, he was beaten.
4. The assertion or statement of a thing done or existing; sometimes,
even when false, improperly put, by a transfer of meaning, for the
thing done, or supposed to be done; a thing supposed or asserted to
be done; as, history abounds with false facts.
I do not grant the fact. De Foe.
This reasoning is founded upon a fact which is not true. Roger Long.
Note: TheTerm fact has in jurisprudence peculiar uses in contrast
with low; as, attorney at low, and attorney in fact; issue in low,
and issue in fact. There is also a grand distinction between low and
fact with reference to the province of the judge and that of the
jury, the latter generally determining the fact, the former the low.
Burrill Bouvier. Accessary before, or after, the fact. See under
Accessary.
-- Matter of fact, an actual occurrence; a verity; used adjectively:
of or pertaining to facts; prosaic; unimaginative; as, a matter-of-
fact narration.
Syn.
-- Act; deed; performance; event; incident; occurrence;
circumstance.
FACTION
Fac"tion, n. Etym: [L. factio a doing, a company of persons acting
together, a faction: cf. F. faction See Fashion.]
1. (Anc. Hist.)
Defn: One of the divisions or parties of charioteers (distinguished
by their colors) in the games of the circus.
2. A party, in political society, combined or acting in union, in
opposition to the government, or state; -- usually applied to a
minority, but it may be applied to a majority; a combination or
clique of partisans of any kind, acting for their own interests,
especially if greedy, clamorous, and reckless of the common good.
3. Tumult; discord; dissension.
They remained at Newbury in great faction among themselves.
Clarendon.
Syn.
-- Combination; clique; junto. See Cabal.
FACTIONARY
Fac"tion*a*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. factionnaire, L. factionarius the
head of a company of charioteers.]
Defn: Belonging to a faction; being a partisan; taking sides. [Obs.]
Always factionary on the party of your general. Shak.
FACTIONER
Fac"tion*er (-r), n.
Defn: One of a faction. Abp. Bancroft.
FACTIONIST
Fac"tion*ist, n.
Defn: One who promotes faction.
FACTIOUS
Fac"tious. a. Etym: [L. factiosus: cf. F. factieux.]
1. Given to faction; addicted to form parties and raise dissensions,
in opposition to government or the common good; turbulent; seditious;
prone to clamor against public measures or men; -- said of persons.
Factious for the house of Lancaster. Shak.
2. Pertaining to faction; proceeding from faction; indicating, or
characterized by, faction; -- said of acts or expressions; as,
factious quarrels.
Headlong zeal or factious fury. Burke.
-- Fac"tious*ly, adv.
-- Fac"tious-ness, n.
FACTITIOUS
Fac*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. factitius, fr. facere to make. See Fact,
and cf. Fetich.]
Defn: Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature;
artificial; sham; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or
conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; not
natural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels; a factitious taste.
-- Fac-ti"tious*ly, adv.
-- Fac*ti"tious-ness, n.
He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit,
of desultory reading. De Quincey.
Syn.
-- Unnatural.
-- Factitious, Unnatural. Anything is unnatural when it departs in
any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is
wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort, as, a factitious
excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one
which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand
is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural
alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm
is one wrought up with care and effort.
FACTITIVE
Fac"ti*tive. a. Etym: [See Fact.]
1. Causing; causative.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Pertaining to that relation which is proper when the act, as of
a transitive verb, is not merely received by an object, but produces
some change in the object, as when we say, He made the water wine.
Sometimes the idea of activity in a verb or adjective involves in it
a reference to an effect, in the way of causality, in the active
voice on the immediate objects, and in the passive voice on the
subject of such activity. This second object is called the factitive
object. J. W. Gibbs.
FACTIVE
Fac"tive, a.
Defn: Making; having power to make. [Obs.] "You are . . . factive,
not destructive." Bacon.
FACTO
Fac"to, adv. Etym: [L., ablative of factum deed, fact.] (Law)
Defn: In fact; by the act or fact. De facto. (Law) See De facto.
FACTOR
Fac"tor, n. Etym: [L. factor a doer: cf. F. facteur a factor. See
Fact.]
1. (Law)
Defn: One who transacts business for another; an agent; a substitute;
especially, a mercantile agent who buys and sells goods and transacts
business for others in commission; a commission merchant or
consignee. He may be a home factor or a foreign factor. He may buy
and sell in his own name, and he is intrusted with the possession and
control of the goods; and in these respects he differs from a broker.
Story. Wharton.
My factor sends me word, a merchant's fled That owes me for a hundred
tun of wine. Marlowe.
2. A steward or bailiff of an estate. [Scot.] Sir W. Scott.
3. (Math.)
Defn: One of the elements or quantities which, when multiplied
together, from a product.
4. One of the elements, circumstances, or influences which contribute
to produce a result; a constituent.
The materal and dynamical factors of nutrition. H. Spencer.
FACTOR
Fac"tor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factored (-trd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Factoring.] (Mach.)
Defn: To resolve (a quantity) into its factors.
FACTORAGE
Fac"tor*age, n. Etym: [Cf. F. factorage.]
Defn: The allowance given to a factor, as a compensation for his
services; -- called also a commission.
FACTORESS
Fac"tor*ess, n.
Defn: A factor who is a woman. [R.]
FACTORIAL
Fac*to"ri*al, a.
1. Of or pertaining to a factory. Buchanan.
2. (Math.)
Defn: Related to factorials.
FACTORIAL
Fac*to"ri*al, n. (Math.) (a) pl.
Defn: A name given to the factors of a continued product when the
former are derivable from one and the same function F(x) by
successively imparting a constant increment or decrement h to the
independent variable. Thus the product F(x).F(x + h).F(x + 2h) . . .
F[x + (n-1)h] is called a factorial term, and its several factors
take the name of factorials. Brande & C.
(b) The product of the consecutive numbers from unity up to any given
number.
FACTORING
Fac"tor*ing, n. (Math.)
Defn: The act of resolving into factors.
FACTORIZE
Fac"tor*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Factorized (-zd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Factorizing (-"zng).] (Law)
(a) To give warning to; -- said of a person in whose hands the
effects of another are attached, the warning being to the effect that
he shall not pay the money or deliver the property of the defendant
in his hands to him, but appear and answer the suit of the plaintiff.
(b) To attach (the effects of a debtor) in the hands of a third
person ; to garnish. See Garnish. [Vt. & Conn.]
FACTORSHIP
Fac"tor*ship, n.
Defn: The business of a factor.
FACTORY
Fac"to*ry, n.; pl. Factories (-r. Etym: [Cf. F. factorerie.]
1. A house or place where factors, or commercial agents, reside, to
transact business for their employers. "The Company's factory at
Madras." Burke.
2. The body of factors in any place; as, a chaplain to a British
factory. W. Guthrie.
3. A building, or collection of buildings, appropriated to the
manufacture of goods; the place where workmen are employed in
fabricating goods, wares, or utensils; a manufactory; as, a cotton
factory. Factory leg (Med.), a variety of bandy leg, associated with
partial dislocation of the tibia, produced in young children by
working in factories.
FACTOTUM
Fac*to"tum, n.; pl. Factotums (-t. Etym: [L., do everything; facere
to do + totus all : cf. F. factotum. See Fact, and Total.]
Defn: A person employed to do all kinds of work or business. B.
Jonson.
FACTUAL
Fac"tu*al, a.
Defn: Relating to, or containing, facts. [R.]
FACTUM
Fac"tum, n.; pl. Facta. Etym: [L. See Fact.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A man's own act and deed; particularly:
(a) (Civil Law) Anything stated and made certain.
(b) (Testamentary Law) The due execution of a will, including
everything necessary to its validity.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: The product. See Facient, 2.
FACTURE
Fac"ture, n. Etym: [F. facture a making, invoice, L. factura a
making. See Fact.]
1. The act or manner of making or doing anything; -- now used of a
literary, musical, or pictorial production. Bacon.
2. (Com.)
Defn: An invoice or bill of parcels.
FACULAE
Fac"u*læ, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of facula a little torch.] (Astron.)
Defn: Groups of small shining spots on the surface of the sun which
are brighter than the other parts of the photosphere. They are
generally seen in the neighborhood of the dark spots, and are
supposed to be elevated portions of the photosphere. Newcomb.
FACULAR
Fac"u*lar a. (Astron.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the faculæ. R. A. Proctor.
FACULTATIVE
Fac"ul*ta*tive, a. [L. facultas, -atis, faculty: cf. F. facultatif,
G. fakultativ.]
1. Having relation to the grant or exercise faculty, or authority,
privilege, license, or the like hence, optional; as, facultative
enactments, or those which convey a faculty, or permission; the
facultative referendum of Switzerland is one that is optional with
the people and is necessary only when demanded by petition;
facultative studies; -- opposed to obligatory and compulsory, and
sometimes used with to.
2. Of such a character as to admit of existing under various forms
or conditions, or of happening or not happening, or the like;
specif.: (Biol.)
Defn: Having the power to live under different conditions; as, a
facultative parasite, a plant which is normally saprophytic, but
which may exist wholly or in part as a parasite; -- opposed to
obligate.
3. (Physiol.) Pertaining to a faculty or faculties.
In short, there is no facultative plurality in the mind; it is a
single organ of true judgment for all purposes, cognitive or
practical.
J. Martineau.
FACULTY
Fac"ul*ty, n.; pl. Faculties. Etym: [F. facult, L. facultas, fr.
facilis easy (cf. facul easily), fr. fecere to make. See Fact, and
cf. Facility.]
1. Ability to act or perform, whether inborn or cultivated; capacity
for any natural function; especially, an original mental power or
capacity for any of the well-known classes of mental activity;
psychical or soul capacity; capacity for any of the leading kinds of
soul activity, as knowledge, feeling, volition; intellectual
endowment or gift; power; as, faculties of the mind or the soul.
But know that in the soul Are many lesser faculties that serve Reason
as chief. Milton.
What a piece of work is a man ! how noble in reason ! how infinite in
faculty ! Shak.
2. Special mental endowment; characteristic knack.
He had a ready faculty, indeed, of escaping from any topic that
agitated his too sensitive and nervous temperament. Hawthorne.
3. Power; prerogative or attribute of office. [R.]
This Duncan Hath borne his faculties so meek. Shak.
4. Privilege or permission, granted by favor or indulgence, to do a
particular thing; authority; license; dispensation.
The pope . . . granted him a faculty to set him free from his
promise. Fuller.
It had not only faculty to inspect all bishops' dioceses, but to
change what laws and statutes they should think fit to alter among
the colleges. Evelyn.
5. A body of a men to whom any specific right or privilege is
granted; formerly, the graduates in any of the four departments of a
university or college (Philosophy, Law, Medicine, or Theology), to
whom was granted the right of teaching (profitendi or docendi) in the
department in which they had studied; at present, the members of a
profession itself; as, the medical faculty; the legal faculty, ect.
6. (Amer. Colleges)
Defn: The body of person to whom are intrusted the government and
instruction of a college or university, or of one of its departments;
the president, professors, and tutors in a college. Dean of faculty.
See under Dean.
-- Faculty of advocates. (Scot.) See under Advocate.
Syn.
-- Talent; gift; endowment; dexterity; expertness; cleverness;
readiness; ability; knack.
FACUND
Fac"und, a. Etym: [L. facundus, fr. fari to speak.]
Defn: Eloquent. [Archaic]
FACUNDIOUS
Fa*cun"di*ous, a. Etym: [L. facundiosus.]
Defn: Eloquement; full of words. [Archaic]
FACUNDITY
Fa*cun"di*ty, n. Etym: [L. facunditas.]
Defn: Eloquence; readiness of speech. [Archaic]
FAD
Fad, n. Etym: [Cf. Faddle.]
Defn: A hobby ; freak; whim.
-- Fad"dist, n.
It is your favorite fad to draw plans. G. Eliot.
FADAISE
Fa`daise", n. [F.]
Defn: A vapid or meaningless remark; a commonplace; nonsense.
FADDLE
Fad"dle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Fiddle, Fiddle-faddle.]
Defn: To trifle; to toy.
-- v. t.
Defn: To fondle; to dandle. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FADE
Fade a. Etym: [F., prob. fr. L. vapidus vapid, or possibly fr,fatuus
foolish, insipid.]
Defn: Weak; insipid; tasteless; commonplace. [R.] "Passages that are
somewhat fade." Jeffrey.
His masculine taste gave him a sense of something fade and ludicrous.
De Quincey.
FADE
Fade, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Faded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fading.] Etym: [OE.
faden, vaden, prob. fr. fade, a.; cf. Prov. D. vadden to fade,
wither, vaddigh languid, torpid. Cf. Fade, a., Vade.]
1. To become fade; to grow weak; to lose strength; to decay; to
perish gradually; to wither, as a plant.
The earth mourneth and fadeth away. Is. xxiv. 4.
2. To lose freshness, color, or brightness; to become faint in hue or
tint; hence, to be wanting in color. "Flowers that never fade."
Milton.
3. To sink away; to disappear gradually; to grow dim; to vanish.
The stars shall fade away. Addison
He makes a swanlike end, Fading in music. Shak.
FADE
Fade, v. t.
Defn: To cause to wither; to deprive of freshness or vigor; to wear
away.
No winter could his laurels fade. Dryden.
FADED
Fad"ed, a.
Defn: That has lost freshness, color, or brightness; grown dim. "His
faded cheek." Milton.
Where the faded moon Made a dim silver twilight. Keats.
FADEDLY
Fad"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a faded manner.
A dull room fadedly furnished. Dickens.
FADELESS
Fade"less, a.
Defn: Not liable to fade; unfading.
FADER
Fa"der, n.
Defn: Father. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FADGE
Fadge, v. i. Etym: [Cf. OE. faden to flatter, and AS. f to join,
unit, G. fügen, or AS. afægian to depict; all perh. form the same
root as E. fair. Cf. Fair, a., Fay to fit.]
Defn: To fit; to suit; to agree.
They shall be made, spite of antipathy, to fadge together. Milton.
Well, Sir, how fadges the new design Wycherley.
FADGE
Fadge, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A small flat loaf or thick cake; also, a fagot. [Prov. Eng.]
Halliwell.
FADING
Fad"ing, a.
Defn: Losing freshness, color, brightness, or vigor.
-- n.
Defn: Loss of color, freshness, or vigor.
-- Fad"ing*ly, adv.
-- Fad"ing*ness, n.
FADING
Fad"ing, n.
Defn: An Irish dance; also, the burden of a song. "Fading is a fine
jig." [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FADME
Fad"me, n.
Defn: A fathom. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FADY
Fad"y, a.
Defn: Faded. [R.] Shenstone.
FAECAL
Fæ"cal, a.
Defn: See Fecal.
FAECES
Fæ"ces, n.pl. Etym: [L. faex, pl. faeces, dregs.]
Defn: Excrement; ordure; also, settlings; sediment after infusion or
distillation. [Written also feces.]
FAECULA
Fæc"u*la, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Fecula.
FAERY
Fa"ër*y, n. & a.
Defn: Fairy. [Archaic] Spenser.
FAFFLE
Faf"fle, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Famble, Maffle.]
Defn: To stammer. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FAG
Fag n.
Defn: A knot or coarse part in cloth. [Obs.]
FAG
Fag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Fagging.] Etym: [Cf.
LG. fakk wearied, weary, vaak slumber, drowsiness, OFries. fai,
equiv. to fach devoted to death, OS. f, OHG. feigi, G. feig, feige,
cowardly, Icel. feigr fated to die, AS. f, Scot. faik, to fail, stop,
lower the price; or perh. the same word as E. flag to droop.]
1. To become weary; to tire.
Creighton withheld his force till the Italian began to fag. G.
Mackenzie.
2. To labor to wearness; to work hard; to drudge.
Read, fag, and subdue this chapter. Coleridge.
3. To act as a fag, or perform menial services or drudgery, for
another, as in some English schools. To fag out, to become untwisted
or frayed, as the end of a rope, or the edge of canvas.
FAG
Fag, v. t.
1. To tire by labor; to exhaust; as, he was almost fagged out.
2. Anything that fatigues. [R.]
It is such a fag, I came back tired to death. Miss Austen.
Brain fag. (Med.) See Cerebropathy.
FAGEND; FAG-END
Fag"*end", n.
1. An end of poorer quality, or in a spoiled condition, as the
coarser end of a web of cloth, the untwisted end of a rope, ect.
2. The refuse or meaner part of anything.
The fag-end of business. Collier.
FAGGING
Fag"ging, n.
Defn: Laborious drudgery; esp., the acting as a drudge for another at
an English school.
FAGOT
Fag"ot n. Etym: [F., prob. aug. of L. fax, facis, torch, perh. orig.,
a bundle of sticks; cf. Gr. Fagotto.]
1. A bundle of sticks, twigs, or small branches of trees, used for
fuel, for raising batteries, filling ditches, or other purposes in
fortification; a fascine. Shak.
2. A bundle of pieces of wrought iron to be worked over into bars or
other shapes by rolling or hammering at a welding heat; a pile.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: A bassoon. See Fagotto.
4. A person hired to take the place of another at the muster of a
company. [Eng.] Addison.
5. An old shriveled woman. [Slang, Eng.] Fagot iron, iron, in bars or
masses, manufactured from fagots.
-- Fagot vote, the vote of a person who has been constituted a voter
by being made a landholder, for party purposes. [Political cant,
Eng.]
FAGOT
Fag"ot v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fagoted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fagoting.]
Defn: To make a fagot of; to bind together in a fagot or bundle;
also, to collect promiscuously. Dryden.
FAGOTTO
Fa*got"to, n. Etym: [It. See Fagot.] (Mus.)
Defn: The bassoon; -- so called from being divided into parts for
ease of carriage, making, as it were, a small fagot.
FAHAM
Fa"ham, n.
Defn: The leaves of an orchid (Angraecum fragrans), of the islands of
Bourbon and Mauritius, used (in France) as a substitute for Chinese
tea.
FAHLBAND
Fahl"band`, n. Etym: [G., fr. fahl dun-colored + band a band.]
(Mining)
Defn: A stratum in crystalline rock, containing metallic sulphides.
Raymond.
FAHLERZ; FAHLBAND
Fahl"erz, Fahl"band, n. Etym: [G. fahlerz; fahl dun-colored, fallow +
erz ore.] (Min.)
Defn: Same as Tetrahedrite.
FAHLUNITE
Fah"lun*ite, n. Etym: [From Falhun, a place in Sweden.] (Min.)
Defn: A hydration of iolite.
FAHRENHEIT
Fah"ren*heit a. Etym: [G.]
Defn: Conforming to the scale used by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit in
the graduation of his thermometer; of or relating to Fahrenheit's
thermometric scale.
-- n.
Defn: The Fahrenheit termometer or scale.
Note: The Fahrenheit thermometer is so graduated that the freezing
point of water is at 32 degrees above the zero of its scale, and the
boiling point at 212 degrees above. It is commonly used in the United
States and in England.
FAIENCE
Fa`ï*ence", n. Etym: [F., fr. Faenza, a town in Italy, the original
place of manufacture.]
Defn: Glazed earthenware; esp., that which is decorated in color.
FAIL
Fail v. i. [imp. & p. p. Failed; p. pr. & vb. n. Failing.] Etym: [F.
failir, fr. L. fallere, falsum, to deceive, akin to E. fall. See
Fail, and cf. Fallacy, False, Fault.]
1. To be wanting; to fall short; to be or become deficient in any
measure or degree up to total absence; to cease to be furnished in
the usual or expected manner, or to be altogether cut off from
supply; to be lacking; as, streams fail; crops fail.
As the waters fail from the sea. Job xiv. 11.
Till Lionel's issue fails, his should not reign. Shak.
2. To be affected with want; to come short; to lack; to be deficient
or unprovided; -- used with of.
If ever they fail of beauty, this failure is not be attributed to
their size. Berke.
3. To fall away; to become diminished; to decline; to decay; to sink.
When earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude they then begin to
fail. Milton.
4. To deteriorate in respect to vigor, activity, resources, etc.; to
become weaker; as, a sick man fails.
5. To perish; to die; -- used of a person. [Obs.]
Had the king in his last sickness failed. Shak.
6. To be found wanting with respect to an action or a duty to be
performed, a result to be secured, etc.; to miss; not to fulfill
expectation.
Take heed now that ye fail not to do this. Ezra iv. 22.
Either my eyesight fails, or thou look'st pale. Shak.
7. To come short of a result or object aimed at or desired ; to be
baffled or frusrated.
Our envious foe hath failed. Milton.
8. To err in judgment; to be mistaken.
Which ofttimes may succeed, so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail
not. Milton.
9. To become unable to meet one's engagements; especially, to be
unable to pay one's debts or discharge one's business obligation; to
become bankrupt or insolvent.
FAIL
Fail, v. t.
1. To be wanting to ; to be insufficient for; to disappoint; to
desert.
There shall not fail thee a man on the throne. 1 Kings ii. 4.
2. To miss of attaining; to lose. [R.]
Though that seat of earthly bliss be failed. Milton.
FAIL
Fail, n. Etym: [OF. faille, from failir. See Fail, v. i.]
1. Miscarriage; failure; deficiency; fault; -- mostly superseded by
failure or failing, except in the phrase without fail. "His highness'
fail of issue." Shak.
2. Death; decease. [Obs.] Shak.
FAILANCE
Fail"ance, n. Etym: [Of. faillance, fr. faillir.]
Defn: Fault; failure; omission. [Obs.] Bp. Fell.
FAILING
Fail"ing, n.
1. A failing short; a becoming deficient; failure; deficiency;
imperfection; weakness; lapse; fault; infirmity; as, a mental
failing.
And ever in her mind she cas about For that unnoticed failing in
herself. Tennyson.
2. The act of becoming insolvent of bankrupt.
Syn.
-- See Fault.
FAILLE
Faille, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A soft silk, heavier than a foulard and not glossy.
FAILURE
Fail"ure, n. Etym: [From Fail.]
1. Cessation of supply, or total defect; a failing; deficiency; as,
failure of rain; failure of crops.
2. Omission; nonperformance; as, the failure to keep a promise.
3. Want of success; the state of having failed.
4. Decau, or defect from decay; deterioration; as, the failure of
memory or of sight.
5. A becoming insolvent; bankruptcy; suspension of payment; as,
failure in business.
6. A failing; a slight fault. [Obs.] Johnson.
FAIN
Fain, a. Etym: [OE. fain, fagen, AS. fægen; akin to OS. fagan, Icel.
faginn glad; AS. fægnian to rejoice, OS. faganon, Icel. fagna, Goth.
faginon, cf. Goth. faheds joy; and fr. the same root as E. fair. Srr
Fair, a., and cf. Fawn to court favor.]
1. Well-pleased; glad; apt; wont; fond; inclined.
Men and birds are fain of climbing high. Shak.
To a busy man, temptation is fainto climb up together with his
business. Jer. Taylor.
2. Satisfied; contented; also, constrained. Shak.
The learned Castalio was fain to make trechers at Basle to keep
himself from starving. Locke.
FAIN
Fain, adv.
Defn: With joy; gladly; -- with wold.
He would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did
eat. Luke xv. 16.
Fain Would I woo her, yet I dare not. Shak.
FAIN
Fain, v. t. & i.
Defn: To be glad ; to wish or desire. [Obs.]
Whoso fair thing does fain to see. Spencer.
FAINEANCE; FAINEANCY
Fai"ne*ance, Fai"ne*an*cy, n. [Cf. OF. faineance. See Fainéant.]
Defn: Do-nothingness; inactivity; indolence.
The mask of sneering faineance was gone.
C. Kingsley.
FAINEANT
Fai`né`ant", a. Etym: [F.; fait he does + néant nothing.]
Defn: Doing nothing; shiftless.
-- n.
Defn: A do-nothing; an idle fellow; a sluggard. Sir W. Scott.
FAINEANT DEITY
Fainéant deity.
Defn: A deity recognized as real but conceived as not acting in human
affairs, hence not worshiped.
FAINT
Faint, a. [Compar. Fainter (-r); superl. Faintest.] Etym: [OE. faint,
feint, false, faint, F. feint, p.p. of feindre to feign, suppose,
hesitate. See Faign, and cf. Feint.]
1. Lacking strength; weak; languid; inclined to swoon; as, faint with
fatigue, hunger, or thirst.
2. Wanting in courage, spirit, or energy; timorous; cowardly;
dejected; depressed; as, "Faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Old
Proverb.
3. Lacking distinctness; hardly perceptible; striking the senses
feebly; not bright, or loud, or sharp, or forcible; weak; as, a faint
color, or sound.
4. Performed, done, or acted, in a weak or feeble manner; not
exhibiting vigor, strength, or energy; slight; as, faint efforts;
faint resistance.
The faint prosecution of the war. Sir J. Davies.
FAINT
Faint, n.
Defn: The act of fainting, or the state of one who has fainted; a
swoon. [R.] See Fainting, n.
The saint, Who propped the Virgin in her faint. Sir W. Scott.
FAINT
Faint, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fainted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fainting.]
1. To become weak or wanting in vigor; to grow feeble; to lose
strength and color, and the control of the bodily or mental
functions; to swoon; -- sometimes with away. See Fainting, n.
Hearing the honor intended her, she fainted away. Guardian.
If I send them away fasting . . . they will faint by the way. Mark
viii. 8.
2. To sink into dejection; to lose courage or spirit; to become
depressed or despondent.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Prov.
xxiv. 10.
3. To decay; to disappear; to vanish.
Gilded clouds, while we gaze upon them, faint before the eye. Pope.
FAINT
Faint, v. t.
Defn: To cause to faint or become dispirited; to depress; to weaken.
[Obs.]
It faints me to think what follows. Shak.
FAINTHEARTED; FAINT-HEARTED
Faint"*heart`ed, a.
Defn: Wanting in courage; depressed by fear; easily discouraged or
frightened; cowardly; timorous; dejected.
Fear not, neither be faint-hearted. Is. vii. 4.
-- Faint"*heart`ed*ly, adv.
-- Faint"*heart`ed*ness, n.
FAINTING
Faint"ing, n.
Defn: Syncope, or loss of consciousness owing to a sudden arrest of
the blood supply to the brain, the face becoming pallid, the
respiration feeble, and the heat's beat weak. Fainting fit, a
fainting or swoon; syncope. [Colloq.]
FAINTISH
Faint"ish, a.
Defn: Slightly faint; somewhat faint.
-- Faint"ish*ness, n.
FAINTLING
Faint"ling, a.
Defn: Timorous; feeble-minded. [Obs.] "A fainting, silly creature."
Arbuthnot.
FAINTLY
Faint"ly, adv.
Defn: In a faint, weak, or timidmanner.
FAINTNESS
Faint"ness, n.
1. The state of being faint; loss of strength, or of consciousness,
and self-control.
2. Want of vigor or energy. Spenser.
3. Feebleness, as of color or light; lack of distinctness; as,
faintness of description.
4. Faint-heartedness; timorousness; dejection.
I will send a faintness into their hearts. Lev. xxvi. 36.
FAINTS
Faints, n.pl.
Defn: The impure spirit which comes over first and last in the
distillation of whisky; -- the former being called the strong faints,
and the latter, which is much more abundant, the weak faints. This
crude spirit is much impregnated with fusel oil. Ure.
FAINTY
Faint"y, a.
Defn: Feeble; languid. [R.] Dryden.
FAIR
Fair, a. [Compar. Fairer; superl. Fairest.] Etym: [OE. fair, fayer,
fager, AS. fæger; akin to OS. & OHG. fagar, Isel. fagr, Sw. fager,
Dan. faver, Goth. fagrs fit, also to E. fay, G. fügen, to fit. fegen
to sweep, cleanse, and prob. also to E. fang, peace, pact, Cf. Fang,
Fain, Fay to fit.]
1. Free from spots, specks, dirt, or imperfection; unblemished;
clean; pure.
A fair white linen cloth. Book of Common Prayer.
2. Pleasing to the eye; handsome; beautiful.
Who can not see many a fair French city, for one fair French made.
Shak.
3. Without a dark hue; light; clear; as, a fair skin.
The northern people large and fair-complexioned. Sir M. Hale.
4. Not overcast; cloudless; clear; pleasant; propitious; favorable; -
- said of the sky, weather, or wind, etc.; as, a fair sky; a fair
day.
You wish fair winds may waft him over. Prior.
5. Free from obstacles or hindrances; unobstructed; unincumbered;
open; direct; -- said of a road, passage, etc.; as, a fair mark; in
fair sight; a fair view.
The caliphs obtained a mighty empire, which was in a fair way to have
enlarged. Sir W. Raleigh.
6. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: Without sudden change of direction or curvature; smooth;
fowing; -- said of the figure of a vessel, and of surfaces, water
lines, and other lines.
7. Characterized by frankness, honesty, impartiality, or candor;
open; upright; free from suspicion or bias; equitable; just; -- said
of persons, character, or conduct; as, a fair man; fair dealing; a
fair statement. "I would call it fair play." Shak.
8. Pleasing; favorable; inspiring hope and confidence; -- said of
words, promises, etc.
When fair words and good counsel will not prevail on us, we must be
frighted into our duty. L' Estrange.
9. Distinct; legible; as, fair handwriting.
10. Free from any marked characteristic; average; middling; as, a
fair specimen.
The news is very fair and good, my lord. Shak.
Fair ball. (Baseball) (a) A ball passing over the home base at the
height called for by the batsman, and delivered by the pitcher while
wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman. (b) A
batted ball that falls inside the foul lines; -- called also a fair
hit.
-- Fair maid. (Zoöl.) (a) The European pilchard (Clupea pilchardus)
when dried. (b) The southern scup (Stenotomus Gardeni). [Virginia] --
Fair one, a handsome woman; a beauty, -- Fair play, equitable or
impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice.
-- From fair to middling, passable; tolerable. [Colloq.] -- The fair
sex, the female sex.
Syn.
-- Candid; open; frank; ingenuous; clear; honest; equitable;
impartial; reasonable. See Candid.
FAIR
Fair, adv.
Defn: Clearly; openly; frankly; civilly; honestly; favorably;
auspiciously; agreeably. Fair and square, justly; honestly;
equitably; impartially. [Colloq.] -- To bid fair. See under Bid.
-- To speak fair, to address with courtesy and frankness. [Archaic]
FAIR
Fair, n.
1. Fairness, beauty. [Obs.] Shak.
2. A fair woman; a sweetheart.
I have found out a gift for my fair. Shenstone.
3. Good fortune; good luck.
Now fair befall thee ! Shak.
The fair, anything beautiful; women, collectively. "For slander's
mark was ever yet the fair." Shak.
FAIR
Fair, v. t.
1. To make fair or beautiful. [Obs.]
Fairing the foul. Shak.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To make smooth and flowing, as a vessel's lines.
FAIR
Fair, n. Etym: [OE. feire, OF. feire, F. foire, fr. L. fariae, pl.,
days of rest, holidays, festivals, akin to festus festal. See Feast.]
1. A gathering of buyers and sellers, assembled at a particular place
with their merchandise at a stated or regular season, or by special
appointment, for trade.
2. A festival, and sale of fancy articles. erc., usually for some
charitable object; as, a Grand Army fair.
3. A competitive exhibition of wares, farm products, etc., not
primarily for purposes of sale; as, the Mechanics' fair; an
agricultural fair. After the fair, Too late. [Colloq.]
FAIR CATCH
Fair catch. (Football)
Defn: A catch made by a player on side who makes a prescribed signal
that he will not attempt to advance the ball when caught. He must not
then be interfered with.
FAIR-HAIRED
Fair"-haired`, a.
Defn: Having fair or light-colored hair.
FAIRHOOD
Fair"hood, n.
Defn: Fairness; beauty. [Obs.] Foxe.
FAIRILY
Fair"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In the manner of a fairy.
Numerous as shadows haunting fairily The brain. Keats.
FAIRING
Fair"ing, n.
Defn: A present; originally, one given or purchased at a fair. Gay.
Fairing box, a box receiving savings or small sums of money. Hannah
More.
FAIRISH
Fair"ish, a.
Defn: Tolerably fair. [Colloq.] W. D. Howells.
FAIR-LEADER
Fair"-lead`er, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A block, or ring, serving as a guide for the running rigging or
for any rope.
FAIRLY
Fair"ly, adv.
1. In a fairmanner; clearly; openly; plainly; fully; distinctly;
frankly.
Even the nature of Mr. Dimmesdale's disease had never fairly been
revealed to him. Hawthorne.
2. Favorably; auspiciously; commodiously; as, a town fairly situated
for foreign traade.
3. Honestly; properly.
Such means of comfort or even luxury, as lay fairly within their
grasp. Hawthorne.
4. Softly; quietly; gently. [Obs.] Milton.
FAIR-MINDED
Fair"-mind`ed, a.
Defn: Unprejudiced; just; judicial; honest.
-- Fair"*mind`ed*ness, n.
FAIR-NATURED
Fair"-na`tured, a.
Defn: Well-disposed. "A fair-natured prince." Ford.
FAIRNESS
Fair"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being fair, or free form spots or stains, as of
the skin; honesty, as of dealing; candor, as of an argument, etc.
FAIR-SPOKEN
Fair"-spo`ken, a.
Defn: Using fair speech, or uttered with fairness; bland; civil;
courteous; plausible. "A marvelous fair-spoken man." Hooker.
FAIRWAY
Fair"way`, n.
Defn: The navigable part of a river, bay, etc., through which vessels
enter or depart; the part of a harbor or channel ehich is kept open
and unobstructed for the passage of vessels. Totten. the rough.
FAIR-WEATHER
Fair"-weath`er, a.
1. Made or done in pleasant weather, or in circumstances involving
but little exposure or sacrifice; as, a fair-weather voyage. Pope.
2. Appearing only when times or circumstances are prosperous; as, a
fair-weather friend. Fair-weather sailor, a make-believe or
inexperienced sailor; -- the nautical equivalent of carpet knight.
FAIR-WORLD
Fair"-world` n.
Defn: State of prosperity. [Obs.]
They think it was never fair-world with them since. Milton.
FAIRY
Fair"y, n.; pl. Fairies. Etym: [OE. fairie, faierie, enchantment,
fairy folk, fairy, OF. faerie enchantment, F. féer, fr. LL. Fata one
of the goddesses of fate. See Fate, and cf. Fay a fairy.] [Written
also faëry.]
1. Enchantment; illusion. [Obs.] Chaucer.
The God of her has made an end, And fro this worlde's fairy Hath
taken her into company. Gower.
2. The country of the fays; land of illusions. [Obs.]
He [Arthur] is a king y-crowned in Fairy. Lydgate.
3. An imaginary supernatural being or spirit, supposed to assume a
human form (usually diminutive), either male or female, and to meddle
for good or evil in the affairs of mankind; a fay. See Elf, and
Demon.
The fourth kind of spirit [is] called the Fairy. K. James.
And now about the caldron sing, Like elves and fairies in a ring.
Shak.
5. An enchantress. [Obs.] Shak. Fairy of the mine, an imaginary being
supposed to inhabit mines, etc. German folklore tells of two species;
one fierce and malevolent, the other gentle, See Kobold.
No goblin or swart fairy of the mine Hath hurtful power over true
virginity. Milton.
FAIRY
Fair"y, a.
1. Of or pertaining to fairies.
2. Given by fairies; as, fairy money. Dryden. Fairy bird (Zoöl.), the
Euoropean little tern (Sterna minuta); -- called also sea swallow,
and hooded tern.
-- Fairy bluebird. (Zoöl.) See under Bluebird.
-- Fairy martin (Zoöl.), a European swallow (Hirrundo ariel) that
builds flask-shaped nests of mud on overhanging cliffs.
-- Fairy rings or circles, the circles formed in grassy lawns by
certain fungi (as Marasmius Oreades), formerly supposed to be caused
by fairies in their midnight dances.
-- Fairy shrimp (Zoöl.), a European fresh-water phyllopod crustacean
(Chirocephalus diaphanus); -- so called from its delicate colors,
transparency, and graceful motions. The name is sometimes applied to
similar American species.
-- Fairy stone (Paleon.), an echinite.
FAIRYLAND
Fair"y*land` n.
Defn: The imaginary land or abode of fairies.
FAIRYLIKE
Fair"y*like`, a.
Defn: Resembling a fairy, or what is made or done be fairies; as,
fairylike music.
FAITH
Faith, n. Etym: [OE. feith, fayth, fay, OF. feid, feit, fei, F. foi,
fr. L. fides; akin to fidere to trust, Gr. th is perhaps due to the
influence of such words as truth, health, wealth. See Bid, Bide, and
cf. Confide, Defy, Fealty.]
1. Belief; the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by
another, resting solely and implicitly on his authority and veracity;
reliance on testimony.
2. The assent of the mind to the statement or proposition of another,
on the ground of the manifest truth of what he utters; firm and
earnest belief, on probable evidence of any kind, especially in
regard to important moral truth.
Faith, that is, fidelity, -- the fealty of the finite will and
understanding to the reason. Coleridge.
3. (Theol.)
(a) The belief in the historic truthfulness of the Scripture
narrative, and the supernatural origin of its teachings, sometimes
called historical and speculative faith.
(b) The belief in the facts and truth of the Scriptures, with a
practical love of them; especially, that confiding and affectionate
belief in the person and work of Christ, which affects the character
and life, and makes a man a true Christian, -- called a practical,
evangelical, or saving faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please him [God]. Heb. xi. 6.
The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind which is called
"trust" or "confidence" exercised toward the moral character of God,
and particularly of the Savior. Dr. T. Dwight.
Faith is an affectionate, practical confidence in the testimony of
God. J. Hawes.
4. That which is believed on any subject, whether in science,
politics, or religion; especially (Theol.), a system of religious
belief of any kind; as, the Jewish or Mohammedan faith; and
especially, the system of truth taught by Christ; as, the Christian
faith; also, the creed or belief of a Christian society or church.
Which to believe of her, Must be a faith that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me. Shak.
Now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. Gal. i. 23.
5. Fidelity to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a person
honored and beloved; loyalty.
Children in whom is no faith. Deut. xxvii. 20.
Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal.
Milton.
6. Word or honor pledged; promise given; fidelity; as, he violated
his faith.
For you alone I broke me faith with injured Palamon. Dryden.
7. Credibility or truth. [R.]
The faith of the foregoing narrative. Mitford.
Act of faith. See Auto-da-fé.
-- Breach of faith, Confession of faith, etc. See under Breach,
Confession, etc.
-- Faith cure, a method or practice of treating diseases by prayer
and the exercise of faith in God.
-- In good faith, with perfect sincerity.
FAITH
Faith, interj.
Defn: By my faith; in truth; verily.
FAITHED
Faithed, a.
Defn: Having faith or a faith; honest; sincere. [Obs.] "Make thy
words faithed." Shak.
FAITHFUL
Faith"ful, a.
1. Full of faith, or having faith; disposed to believe, especially in
the declarations and promises of God.
You are not faithful, sir. B. Jonson.
2. Firm in adherence to promises, oaths, contracts, treaties, or
other engagements.
The faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that
love him. Deut. vii. 9.
3. True and constant in affection or allegiance to a person to whom
one is bound by a vow, be ties of love, gratitude, or honor, as to a
husband, a prince, a friend; firm in the observance of duty; loyal;
of true fidelity; as, a faithful husband or servant.
So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found, Among the faithless,
faithful only he. Milton.
4. Worthy of confidence and belief; conformable to truth ot fact;
exact; accurate; as, a faithful narrative or representation.
It is a faithful saying. 2 Tim. ii. 11.
The Faithful, the adherents of any system of religious belief; esp.
used as an epithet of the followers of Mohammed.
Syn.
-- Trusty; honest; upright; sincere; veracious; trustworthy.
-- Faith"ful*ly, adv. -Faith"ful*ness, n.
FAITHLESS
Faith"less, a.
1. Not believing; not giving credit.
Be not faithless, but believing. John xx. 27.
2. Not believing on God or religion; specifically, not believing in
the Christian religion. Shak.
3. Not observant of promises or covenants.
4. Not true to allegiance, duty, or vows; perfidious; trecherous;
disloyal; not of true fidelity; inconstant, as a husband or a wife.
A most unnatural and faithless service. Shak.
5. Serving to disappoint or deceive; delusive; unsatisfying. "Yonder
faithless phantom." Goldsmith.
-- Faith"less*ly, adv.Faith"less*ness, n.
FAITOUR
Fai"tour, n. Etym: [OF. faitor a doer, L. factor. See Factor.]
Defn: A doer or actor; particularly, an evil doer; a scoundrel.
[Obs.]
Lo! faitour, there thy meed unto thee take. Spenser.
FAKE
Fake, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. faik fold, stratum of stone, AS. fæc space,
interval, G. fach compartment, partition, row, and E. fay to fit.]
(Naut.)
Defn: One of the circles or windings of a cable or hawser, as it lies
in a coil; a single turn or coil.
FAKE
Fake, v. t. (Naut.)
Defn: To coil (a rope, line, or hawser), by winding alternately in
opposite directions, in layers usually of zigzag or figure of eight
form,, to prevent twisting when running out. Faking box, a box in
which a long rope is faked; used in the life-saving service for a
line attached to a shot.
FAKE
Fake, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Gael. faigh to get, acquire, reach, or OD.
facken to catch or gripe.] [Slang in all its senses.]
1. To cheat; to swindle; to steal; to rob.
2. To make; to construct; to do.
3. To manipulate fraudulently, so as to make an object appear better
or other than it really is; as, to fake a bulldog, by burning his
upper lip and thus artificially shortening it.
FAKE
Fake, n.
Defn: A trick; a swindle. [Slang]
FAKER
Fak"er, n. [Often erroneously written fakir.]
Defn: One who fakes something, as a thief, a peddler of petty things,
a workman who dresses things up, etc. [Slang]
FAKIR
Fa"kir, n. Etym: [Ar. faqir poor.]
Defn: An Oriental religious ascetic or begging monk. [Written also
faquir anf fakeer.]
FALANAKA
Fa"la*na"ka, n. Etym: [Native name.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A viverrine mammal of Madagascar (Eupleres Goudotii), allied to
the civet; -- called also Falanouc.
FALCADE
Fal*cade" (fâl*kad"), n. Etym: [F., ultimately fr. L. falx, falcis, a
sickle or scythe.] (Man.)
Defn: The action of a horse, when he throws himself on his haunches
two or three times, bending himself, as it were, in very quick
curvets. Harris.
FALCATE; FALCATED
Fal"cate, Fal"ca*ted, a. Etym: [L. falcatus, fr. falx, falcis, a
sickle or scythe.]
Defn: Hooked or bent like a sickle; as, a falcate leaf; a falcate
claw; -- said also of the moon, or a planet, when horned or crescent-
formed.
FALCATION
Fal*ca"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being falcate; a bend in the form of a sickle. Sir
T. Browne.
FALCER
Fal"cer, n. Etym: [From L. falx, falcis, a sickle.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the mandibles of a spider.
FALCHION
Fal"chion, n. Etym: [OE. fauchon, OF. fauchon, LL. fälcio, fr. L.
falx, falcis, a sickle, cf. Gr. falcon; cf. It. falcione. Cf.
Defalcation.]
1. A broad-bladed sword, slightly curved, shorter and lighter than
the ordinary sword; -- used in the Middle Ages.
2. A name given generally and poetically to a sword, especially to
the swords of Oriental and fabled warriors.
FALCIDIAN
Fal*cid"i*an, a. Etym: [L. Falcidius.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to Publius Falcidius, a Roman tribune.
Falcidian law (Civil Law), a law by which a testator was obliged to
leave at least a fourth of his estate to the heir. Burrill.
FALCIFORM
Fal"ci*form, a. Etym: [L. falx, falcis, a sickle + -form: cf. F.
falciforme.]
Defn: Having the shape of a scithe or sickle; resembling a reaping
hook; as, the falciform ligatment of the liver.
FALCON
Fal"con, n. Etym: [OE. faucon, faucoun, OF. faucon, falcon, faucon,
fr. LL. falco, perh. from L. falx, falcis, a sickle or scythe, and
named from its curving talons. Cf. Falchion.]
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of a family (Falconidæ) of raptorial birds, characterized by
a short, hooked beak, strong claws, and powerful flight.
(b) Any species of the genus Falco, distinguished by having a
toothlike lobe on the upper mandible; especially, one of this genus
trained to the pursuit of other birds, or game.
In the language of falconry, the female peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
is exclusively called the falcon. Yarrell.
2. (Gun.)
Defn: An ancient form of cannon. Chanting falcon. (Zoöl.) See under
Chanting.
FALCONER
Fal"con*er, n. Etym: [OE. fauconer, OF. falconier, fauconier, F.
fauconnier. See Falcon.]
Defn: A person who breeds or trains hawks for taking birds or game;
one who follows the sport of fowling with hawks. Johnson.
FALCONET
Fal"co*net, n. Etym: [Dim. of falcon: cf. F. fauconneau, LL.
falconeta, properly, a young falcon.]
1. One of the smaller cannon used in the 15th century and later.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) One of several very small Asiatic falcons of the genus
Microhierax.
(b) One of a group of Australian birds of the genus Falcunculus,
resembling shrikes and titmice.
FALCONGENTIL
Fal"con*gen`til, n. Etym: [F. faucon-gentil. See Falcon, and
Genteel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The female or young of the goshawk (Astur palumbarius).
FALCONINE
Fal"co*nine, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like a falcon or hawk; belonging to the Falconidæ
FALCONRY
Fal"con*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fauconnerie. See Falcon.]
1. The art of training falcons or hawks to pursue and attack wild
fowl or game.
2. The sport of taking wild fowl or game by means of falcons or
hawks.
FALCULA
Fal"cu*la, n. Etym: [L., a small sickle, a billhook.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A curved and sharp-pointed claw.
FALCULATE
Fal"cu*late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Curved and sharppointed, like a falcula, or claw of a falcon.
FALDAGE
Fald"age, n. Etym: [LL. faldagium, fr. AS. fald, E. fold. Cf.
Foldage.] (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A privilege of setting up, and moving about, folds for sheep,
in any fields within manors, in order to manure them; -- often
reserved to himself by the lord of the manor. Spelman.
FALDFEE
Fald"fee`, n. Etym: [AS. fald (E.fold) + E. fee. See Faldage.] (O.
Eng. Law)
Defn: A fee or rent paid by a tenant for the privilege of faldage on
his own ground. Blount.
FALDING
Fald"ing, n.
Defn: A frieze or rough-napped cloth. [Obs.]
FALDISTORY
Fal"dis*to*ry, n. Etym: [LL. faldistorium, faldestorium, from OHG.
faldstuol; faldan, faltan, to fold (G. falten) + stuol stool. So
called because it could be folded or laid together. See Fold, and
Stool, and cf. Faldstool, Fauteuil.]
Defn: The throne or seat of a bishop within the chancel. [Obs.]
FALDSTOOL
Fald"stool`, n. Etym: [See Faldistory.]
Defn: A folding stool, or portable seat, made to fold up in the
manner of a camo stool. It was formerly placed in the choir for a
bishop, when he offciated in any but his own cathedral church.
Fairholt.
Note: In the modern practice of the Church of England, the term
faldstool is given to the reading desk from which the litany is read.
This esage is a relic of the ancient use of a lectern folding like a
camp stool.
FALERNIAN
Fa*ler"ni*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Mount Falernus, in Italy; as,
Falernianwine.
FALK
Falk (falk), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The razorbill. [Written also falc, and faik.] [Prov. Eng.]
FALL
Fall (fall), v. i. [imp. Fell; p. p. Fallen; p. pr. & vb. n.
Falling.] Etym: [AS. feallan; akin to D. vallen, OS. & OHG. fallan,
G. fallen, Icel. Falla, Sw. falla, Dan. falde, Lith. pulti, L.
fallere to deceive, Gr. sfa`llein to cause to fall, Skr. sphal,
sphul, to tremble. Cf. Fail, Fell, v. t., to cause to fall.]
1. To Descend, either suddenly or gradually; particularly, to descend
by the force of gravity; to drop; to sink; as, the apple falls; the
tide falls; the mercury falls in the barometer.
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Luke x. 18.
2. To cease to be erect; to take suddenly a recumbent posture; to
become prostrate; to drop; as, a child totters and falls; a tree
falls; a worshiper falls on his knees.
I fell at his feet to worship him. Rev. xix. 10.
3. To find a final outlet; to discharge its waters; to empty; -- with
into; as, the river Rhone falls into the Mediterranean.
4. To become prostrate and dead; to die; especially, to die by
violence, as in battle.
A thousand shall fall at thy side. Ps. xci. 7.
He rushed into the field, and, foremost fighting, fell. Byron.
5. To cease to be active or strong; to die away; to lose strength; to
subside; to become less intense; as, the wind falls.
6. To issue forth into life; to be brought forth; -- said of the
young of certain animals. Shak.
7. To decline in power, glory, wealth, or importance; to become
insignificant; to lose rank or position; to decline in weight, value,
price etc.; to become less; as, the falls; stocks fell two points.
I am a poor falle man, unworthy now To be thy lord and master. Shak.
The greatness of these Irish lords suddenly fell and vanished. Sir J.
Davies.
8. To be overthrown or captured; to be destroyed.
Heaven and earth will witness, If Rome must fall, that we are
innocent. Addison.
9. To descend in character or reputation; to become degraded; to sink
into vice, error, or sin; to depart from the faith; to apostatize; to
sin.
Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall
after the same example of unbelief. Heb. iv. 11.
10. To become insnared or embarrassed; to be entrapped; to be worse
off than before; asm to fall into error; to fall into difficulties.
11. To assume a look of shame or disappointment; to become or appear
dejected; -- said of the countenance.
Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. Gen. iv. 5.
I have observed of late thy looks are fallen. Addison.
12. To sink; to languish; to become feeble or faint; as, our spirits
rise and fall with our fortunes.
13. To pass somewha suddenly, and passively, into a new state of body
or mind; to become; as, to fall asleep; to fall into a passion; to
fall in love; to fall into temptation.
14. To happen; to to come to pass; to light; to befall; to issue; to
terminate.
The Romans fell on this model by chance. Swift.
Sit still, my daughter, until thou know how the matter will fall.
Ruth. iii. 18.
They do not make laws, they fall into customs. H. Spencer.
15. To come; to occur; to arrive.
The vernal equinox, which at the Nicene Council fell on the 21st of
March, falls now [1694] about ten days sooner. Holder.
16. To begin with haste, ardor, or vehemence; to rush or hurry; as,
they fell to blows.
They now no longer doubted, but fell to work heart and soul. Jowett
(Thucyd. ).
17. To pass or be transferred by chance, lot, distribution,
inheritance, or otherwise; as, the estate fell to his brother; the
kingdom fell into the hands of his rivals.
18. To belong or appertain.
If to her share some female errors fall, Look on her face, and you'll
forget them all. Pope.
19. To be dropped or uttered carelessly; as, an unguarded expression
fell from his lips; not a murmur fell from him. To fall abroad of
(Naut.), to strike against; -- applied to one vessel coming into
collision with another.
-- To fall among, to come among accidentally or unexpectedly.
-- To fall astern (Naut.), to move or be driven backward; to be left
behind; as, a ship falls astern by the force of a current, or when
outsailed by another.
-- To fall away. (a) To lose flesh; to become lean or emaciated; to
pine. (b) To renounce or desert allegiance; to revolt or rebel. (c)
To renounce or desert the faith; to apostatize. "These . . . for a
while believe, and in time of temptation fall away." Luke viii. 13.
(d) To perish; to vanish; to be lost. "How . . . can the soul . . .
fall away into nothing" Addison. (e) To decline gradually; to fade;
to languish, or become faint. "One color falls away by just degrees,
and another rises insensibly." Addison.
-- To fall back. (a) To recede or retreat; to give way. (b) To fail
of performing a promise or purpose; not to fulfill.
-- To fall back upon. (a) (Mil.) To retreat for safety to (a
stronger position in the rear, as to a fort or a supporting body of
troops). (b) To have recourse to (a reserved fund, or some available
expedient or support).
-- To fall calm, to cease to blow; to become calm.
-- To fall down. (a) To prostrate one's self in worship. "All kings
shall fall down before him." Ps. lxxii. 11. (b) To sink; to come to
the ground. "Down fell the beauteous youth." Dryden. (c) To bend or
bow, as a suppliant. (d) (Naut.) To sail or drift toward the mouth of
a river or other outlet.
-- To fall flat, to produce no response or result; to fail of the
intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.
-- To fall foul of. (a) (Naut.) To have a collision with; to become
entangled with (b) To attack; to make an assault upon.
-- To fall from, to recede or depart from; not to adhere to; as, to
fall from an agreement or engagement; to fall from allegiance or
duty.
-- To fall from grace (M. E. Ch.), to sin; to withdraw from the
faith.
-- To fall home (Ship Carp.), to curve inward; -- said of the
timbers or upper parts of a ship's side which are much within a
perpendicular.
-- To fall in. (a) To sink inwards; as, the roof fell in. (b) (Mil.)
To take one's proper or assigned place in line; as, to fall in on the
right. (c) To come to an end; to terminate; to lapse; as, on the
death of Mr. B., the annuuity, which he had so long received, fell
in. (d) To become operative. "The reversion, to which he had been
nominated twenty years before, fell in." Macaulay.
-- To fall into one's hands, to pass, often suddenly or
unexpectedly, into one's ownership or control; as, to spike cannon
when they are likely to fall into the hands of the enemy.
-- To fall in with. (a) To meet with accidentally; as, to fall in
with a friend. (b) (Naut.) To meet, as a ship; also, to discover or
come near, as land. (c) To concur with; to agree with; as, the
measure falls in with popular opinion. (d) To comply; to yield to.
"You will find it difficult to persuade learned men to fall in with
your projects." Addison.
-- To fall off. (a) To drop; as, fruits fall off when ripe. (b) To
withdraw; to separate; to become detached; as, friends fall off in
adversity. "Love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide." Shak.
(c) To perish; to die away; as, words fall off by disuse. (d) To
apostatize; to forsake; to withdraw from the faith, or from
allegiance or duty.
Those captive tribes . . . fell off From God to worship calves.
Milton.
(e) To forsake; to abandon; as, his customers fell off. (f) To
depreciate; to change for the worse; to deteriorate; to become less
valuable, abundant, or interesting; as, a falling off in the wheat
crop; the magazine or the review falls off. "O Hamlet, what a falling
off was there!" Shak. (g) (Naut.) To deviate or trend to the leeward
of the point to which the head of the ship was before directed; to
fall to leeward.
-- To fall on. (a) To meet with; to light upon; as, we have fallen
on evil days. (b) To begin suddenly and eagerly. "Fall on, and try
the appetite to eat." Dryden. (c) To begin an attack; to assault; to
assail. "Fall on, fall on, and hear him not." Dryden. (d) To drop on;
to descend on.
-- To fall out. (a) To quarrel; to begin to contend.
A soul exasperated in ills falls out With everything, its friend,
itself. Addison.
(b) To happen; to befall; to chance. "There fell out a bloody quarrel
betwixt the frogs and the mice." L'Estrange. (c) (Mil.) To leave the
ranks, as a soldier.
-- To fall over. (a) To revolt; to desert from one side to another.
(b) To fall beyond. Shak.
-- To fall short, to be deficient; as, the corn falls short; they
all fall short in duty.
-- To fall through, to come to nothing; to fail; as, the engageent
has fallen through.
-- To fall to, to begin. "Fall to, with eager joy, on homely food."
Dryden.
-- To fall under. (a) To come under, or within the limits of; to be
subjected to; as, they fell under the jurisdiction of the emperor.
(b) To come under; to become the subject of; as, this point did not
fall under the cognizance or deliberations of the court; these things
do not fall under human sight or observation. (c) To come within; to
be ranged or reckoned with; to be subordinate to in the way of
classification; as, these substances fall under a different class or
order.
-- To fall upon. (a) To attack. [See To fall on.] (b) To attempt; to
have recourse to. "I do not intend to fall upon nice disquisitions."
Holder. (c) To rush against.
Note: Fall primarily denotes descending motion, either in a
perpendicular or inclined direction, and, in most of its
applications, implies, literally or figuratively, velocity, haste,
suddenness, or violence. Its use is so various, and so mush
diversified by modifying words, that it is not easy to enumerate its
senses in all its applications.
FALL
Fall, v. t.
1. To let fall; to drop. [Obs.]
For every tear he falls, a Trojan bleeds. Shak.
2. To sink; to depress; as, to fall the voice. [Obs.]
3. To diminish; to lessen or lower. [Obs.]
Upon lessening interest to four per cent, you fall the price of your
native commodities. Locke.
4. To bring forth; as, to fall lambs. [R.] Shak.
5. To fell; to cut down; as, to fall a tree. [Prov. Eng. & Local,
U.S.]
FALL
Fall, n.
1. The act of falling; a dropping or descending be the force of
gravity; descent; as, a fall from a horse, or from the yard of ship.
2. The act of dropping or tumbling from an erect posture; as, he was
walking on ice, and had a fall.
3. Death; destruction; overthrow; ruin.
They thy fall conspire. Denham.
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Prov. xvi. 18.
4. Downfall; degradation; loss of greatness or office; termination of
greatness, power, or dominion; ruin; overthrow; as, the fall of the
Roman empire.
Beholds thee glorious only in thy fall. Pope.
5. The surrender of a besieged fortress or town ; as, the fall of
Sebastopol.
6. Diminution or decrease in price or value; depreciation; as, the
fall of prices; the fall of rents.
7. A sinking of tone; cadence; as, the fall of the voice at the close
of a sentence.
8. Declivity; the descent of land or a hill; a slope.
9. Descent of water; a cascade; a cataract; a rush of water down a
precipice or steep; -- usually in the plural, sometimes in the
singular; as, the falls of Niagara.
10. The discharge of a river or current of water into the ocean, or
into a lake or pond; as, the fall of the Po into the Gulf of Venice.
Addison.
11. Extent of descent; the distance which anything falls; as, the
water of a stream has a fall of five feet.
12. The season when leaves fall from trees; autumn.
What crowds of patients the town doctor kills, Or how, last fall, he
raised the weekly bills. Dryden.
13. That which falls; a falling; as, a fall of rain; a heavy fall of
snow.
14. The act of felling or cutting down. "The fall of timber."
Johnson.
15. Lapse or declinsion from innocence or goodness. Specifically: The
first apostasy; the act of our first parents in eating the forbidden
fruit; also, the apostasy of the rebellious angels.
16. Formerly, a kind of ruff or band for the neck; a falling band; a
faule. B. Jonson.
17. That part (as one of the ropes) of a tackle to which the power is
applied in hoisting. Fall herring (Zoöl.), a herring of the Atlantic
(Clupea mediocris); -- also called tailor herring, and hickory shad.
-- To try a fall, to try a bout at wrestling. Shak.
FALLACIOUS
Fal*la"cious, a. Etym: [L. fallaciosus, fr. fallacia: cf. F.
fallacieux. See Fallacy.]
Defn: Embodying or pertaining to a fallacy; illogical; fitted to
deceive; misleading; delusive; as, fallacious arguments or reasoning.
-- Fal*la"cious*ly, adv. -Fal*la"cious*ness, n.
FALLACY
Fal"la*cy, n.; pl. Fallacies. Etym: [OE. fallace, fallas, deception,
F. fallace, fr. L. fallacia, fr. fallax deceitful, deceptive, fr.
fallere to deceive. See Fail.]
1. Deceptive or false appearance; deceitfulness; that which misleads
the eye or the mind; deception.
Winning by conquest what the first man lost, By fallacy surprised.
Milton.
2. (Logic)
Defn: An argument, or apparent argument, which professes to be
decisive of the matter at issue, while in reality it is not; a
sophism.
Syn.
-- Deception; deceit; mistake.
-- Fallacy, Sophistry. A fallacy is an argument which professes to
be decisive, but in reality is not; sophistry is also false
reasoning, but of so specious and subtle a kind as to render it
difficult to expose its fallacy. Many fallacies are obvious, but the
evil of sophistry lies in its consummate art. "Men are apt to suffer
their minds to be misled by fallacies which gratify their passions.
Many persons have obscured and confounded the nature of things by
their wretched sophistry; though an act be never so sinful, they will
strip it of its guilt." South.
FALLALS; FAL-LALS
Fal"*lals`, n.pl.
Defn: Gay ornaments; frippery; gewgaws. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
FALLAX
Fal"lax, n. Etym: [L. fallax deceptive. See Fallacy.]
Defn: Cavillation; a caviling. [Obs.] Cranmer.
FALLEN
Fall"en, a.
Defn: Dropped; prostrate; degraded; ruined; decreased; dead.
Some ruined temple or fallen monument. Rogers.
FALLENCY
Fal"len*cy, n. Etym: [LL. fallentia, L. fallens p.pr of fallere.]
Defn: An exception. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
FALLER
Fall"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, falls.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A part which acts by falling, as a stamp in a fulling mill, or
the device in a spinning machine to arrest motion when a thread
breaks.
FALLFISH
Fall"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fresh-water fish of the United States (Semotilus bullaris); -
- called also silver chub, and Shiner. The name is also applied to
other allied species.
FALLIBILITY
Fal`li*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The state of being fallible; liability to deceive or to be
deceived; as, the fallibity of an argument or of an adviser.
FALLIBLE
Fal"li*ble, a. Etym: [LL. fallibilis, fr. L. fallere to deceive: cf.
F. faillible. See Fail.]
Defn: Liable to fail, mistake, or err; liable to deceive or to be
deceived; as, all men are fallible; our opinions and hopes are
fallible.
FALLIBLY
Fal"li*bly, adv.
Defn: In a fallible manner.
FALLING
Fall"ing, a. & n.
Defn: from Fall, v. i. Falling away, Falling off, etc. See To fall
away, To fall off, etc., under Fall, v. i.
-- Falling band, the plain, broad, linen collar turning down over
the doublet, worn in the early part of the 17th century.
-- Falling sickness (Med.), epilepsy. Shak.
-- Falling star. (Astron.) See Shooting star.
-- Falling stone, a stone falling through the atmosphere; a
meteorite; an aërolite.
-- Falling tide, the ebb tide.
-- Falling weather, a rainy season. [Colloq.] Bartlett.
FALLOPIAN
Fal*lo"pi*an, a. Etym: [From Fallopius, or Fallopio, a physician of
Modena, who died in 1562.] (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or discovered by, Fallopius; as, the Fallopian
tubes or oviducts, the ducts or canals which conduct the ova from the
ovaries to the uterus.
FALLOW
Fal"low, a. Etym: [AS. fealu, fealo, pale yellow or red; akin to D.
vaal fallow, faded, OHG. falo, G. falb, fahl, Icel. fölr, and prob.
to Lith. palvas, OSlav. plavpallidus pale, pallere to be pale, Gr.
palita. Cf. Pale, Favel, a., Favor.]
1. Pale red or pale yellow; as, a fallow deer or greyhound. Shak.
2. Etym: [Cf. Fallow, n.]
Defn: Left untilled or unsowed after plowing; uncultivated; as,
fallow ground. Fallow chat, Fallow finch (Zoöl.), a small European
bird, the wheatear (Saxicola ænanthe). See Wheatear.
FALLOW
Fal"low, n. Etym: [So called from the fallow, or somewhat yellow,
color of naked ground; or perh. akin to E. felly, n., cf. MHG. valgen
to plow up, OHG. felga felly, harrow.]
1. Plowed land. [Obs.]
Who . . . pricketh his blind horse over the fallows. Chaucer.
2. Land that has lain a year or more untilled or unseeded; land
plowed without being sowed for the season.
The plowing of fallows is a benefit to land. Mortimer.
3. The plowing or tilling of land, without sowing it for a season;
as, summer fallow, properly conducted, has ever been found a sure
method of destroying weeds.
Be a complete summer fallow, land is rendered tender and mellow. The
fallow gives it a better tilth than can be given by a fallow crop.
Sinclair.
Fallow crop, the crop taken from a green fallow. [Eng.] -- Green
fallow, fallow whereby land is rendered mellow and clean from weeds,
by cultivating some green crop, as turnips, potatoes, etc. [Eng.]
FALLOW
Fal"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fallowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fallowing.]
Etym: [From Fallow, n.]
Defn: To plow, harrow, and break up, as land, without seeding, for
the purpose of destroying weeds and insects, and rendering it mellow;
as, it is profitable to fallow cold, strong, clayey land.
FALLOW DEER
Fal"low deer`. Etym: [So called from its fallow or pale yellow
color.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European species of deer (Cervus dama), much smaller than the
red deer. In summer both sexes are spotted with white. It is common
in England, where it is often domesticated in the parks.
FALLOWIST
Fal"low*ist, n.
Defn: One who favors the practice of fallowing land. [R.] Sinclair.
FALLOWNESS
Fal"low*ness, n.
Defn: A well or opening, through the successive floors of a warehouse
or manufactory, through which goods are raised or lowered. [U.S.]
Bartlett.
FALSARY
Fal"sa*ry, n. Etym: [L. falsarius, fr. falsus. See False, a.]
Defn: A falsifier of evidence. [Obs.] Sheldon.
FALSE
False, a. [Compar. Falser; superl. Falsest.] Etym: [L. falsus, p.p.
of fallere to deceive; cf. OF. faus, fals, F. faux, and AS. fals
fraud. See Fail, Fall.]
1. Uttering falsehood; unveracious; given to deceit; dishnest; as, a
false witness.
2. Not faithful or loyal, as to obligations, allegiance, vows, etc.;
untrue; treacherous; perfidious; as, a false friend, lover, or
subject; false to promises.
I to myself was false, ere thou to me. Milton.
3. Not according with truth or reality; not true; fitted or likely to
deceive or disappoint; as, a false statement.
4. Not genuine or real; assumed or designed to deceive; counterfeit;
hypocritical; as, false tears; false modesty; false colors; false
jewelry.
False face must hide what the false heart doth know. Shak.
5. Not well founded; not firm or trustworthy; erroneous; as, a false
claim; a false conclusion; a false construction in grammar.
Whose false foundation waves have swept away. Spenser.
6. Not essential or permanent, as parts of a structure which are
temporary or supplemental.
7. (Mus.)
Defn: Not in tune. False arch (Arch.), a member having the appearance
of an arch, though not of arch construction.
-- False attic, an architectural erection above the main cornice,
concealing a roof, but not having windows or inclosing rooms.
-- False bearing, any bearing which is not directly upon a vertical
support; thus, the weight carried by a corbel has a false bearing.
-- False cadence, an imperfect or interrupted cadence.
-- False conception (Med.), an abnormal conception in which a mole,
or misshapen fleshy mass, is produced instead of a properly organized
fetus.
-- False croup (Med.), a spasmodic affection of the larynx attended
with the symptoms of membranous croup, but unassociated with the
deposit of a fibrinous membrane.
-- False door or window (Arch.), the representation of a door or
window, inserted to complete a series of doors or windows or to give
symmetry.
-- False fire, a combustible carried by vessels of war, chiefly for
signaling, but sometimes burned for the purpose of deceiving an
enemy; also, a light on shore for decoying a vessel to destruction.
-- False galena. See Blende.
-- False imprisonment (Law), the arrest and imprisonment of a person
without warrant or cause, or contrary to law; or the unlawful
detaining of a person in custody.
-- False keel (Naut.), the timber below the main keel, used to serve
both as a protection and to increase the shio's lateral resistance.
-- False key, a picklock.
-- False leg. (Zoöl.) See Proleg.
-- False membrane (Med.), the fibrinous deposit formed in croup and
diphtheria, and resembling in appearance an animal membrane.
-- False papers (Naut.), documents carried by a ship giving false
representations respecting her cargo, destination, ect., for the
purpose of deceiving.
-- False passage (Surg.), an unnatural passage leading off from a
natural canal, such as the urethra, and produced usually by the
unskillful introduction of instruments.
-- False personation (Law), the intentional false assumption of the
name and personality of another.
-- False pretenses (Law), false representations concerning past or
present facts and events, for the purpose of defrauding another.
-- False rail (Naut.), a thin piece of timber placed on top of the
head rail to strengthen it.
-- False relation (Mus.), a progression in harmony, in which a
certain note in a chord appears in the next chord prefixed by a flat
or sharp.
-- False return (Law), an untrue return made to a process by the
officer to whom it was delivered for execution.
-- False ribs (Anat.), the asternal rebs, of which there are five
pairs in man.
-- False roof (Arch.), the space between the upper ceiling and the
roof. Oxford Gloss.
-- False token, a false mark or other symbol, used for fraudulent
purposes.
-- False scorpion (Zoöl.), any arachnid of the genus Chelifer. See
Book scorpion.
-- False tack (Naut.), a coming up into the wind and filling away
again on the same tack.
-- False vampire (Zoöl.), the Vampyrus spectrum of South America,
formerly erroneously supposed to have blood-sucking habits; -- called
also vampire, and ghost vampire. The genuine blood-sucking bats
belong to the genera Desmodus and Diphylla. See Vampire.
-- False window. (Arch.) See False door, above.
-- False wing. (Zoöl.) See Alula, and Bastard wing, under Bastard.
-- False works (Civil Engin.), construction works to facilitate the
erection of the main work, as scaffolding, bridge centering, etc.
FALSE
False, adv.
Defn: Not truly; not honestly; falsely. "You play me false." Shak.
FALSE
False, v. t. Etym: [L. falsare to falsify, fr. falsus: cf. F.
fausser. See False, a.]
1. To report falsely; to falsify. [Obs.] Chaucer.
2. To betray; to falsify. [Obs.]
[He] hath his truthe falsed in this wise. Chaucer.
3. To mislead by want of truth; to deceive. [Obs.]
In his falsed fancy. Spenser.
4. To feign; to pretend to make. [Obs.] "And falsed oft his blows."
Spenser.
FALSE-FACED
False"-faced`, a.
Defn: Hypocritical. Shak.
FALSE-HEART
False"-heart`, a.
Defn: False-hearted. Shak.
FALSE-HEARTED
False"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Hollow or unsound at the core; treacherous; deceitful;
perfidious. Bacon.
-- False"*heart`ed*ness, n. Bp. Stillingfleet.
FALSEHOOD
False"hood, n. Etym: [False + -hood]
1. Want of truth or accuracy; an untrue assertion or representation;
error; misrepresentation; falsity.
Though it be a lie in the clock, it is but a falsehood in the hand of
the dial when pointing at a wrong hour, if rightly following the
direction of the wheel which moveth it. Fuller.
2. A deliberate intentional assertion of what is known to be untrue;
a departure from moral integrity; a lie.
3. Treachery; deceit; perfidy; unfaithfulness.
Betrayed by falsehood of his guard. Shak.
4. A counterfeit; a false appearance; an imposture.
For his molten image is falsehood. Jer. x. 14.
No falsehood can endure Touch of celestial temper. Milton.
Syn.
-- Falsity; lie; untruth; fiction; fabrication. See Falsity.
FALSELY
False"ly, adv.
Defn: In a false manner; erroneously; not truly; perfidiously or
treacherously. "O falsely, falsely murdered." Shak.
Oppositions of science, falsely so called. 1 Tim. vi. 20.
Will ye steal, murder . . . and swear falsely Jer. vii. 9.
FALSENESS
False"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being false; contrariety to the fact; inaccuracy;
want of integrity or uprightness; double dealing; unfaithfulness;
treachery; perfidy; as, the falseness of a report, a drawing, or a
singer's notes; the falseness of a man, or of his word.
FALSER
Fals"er, n.
Defn: A deceiver. [Obs.] Spenser.
FALSETTO
Fal*set"to, n.; pl. Falsettos. Etym: [It. falsetto, dim. fr. L.
falsus. See False.]
Defn: A false or artificial voice; that voice in a man which lies
above his natural voice; the male counter tenor or alto voice. See
Head voice, under Voice.
FALSICRIMEN
Fal"si*cri"men. Etym: [L.] (Civ. Law)
Defn: The crime of falsifying.
Note: This term in the Roman law included not only forgery, but every
species of fraud and deceit. It never has been used in so extensive a
sense in modern common law, in which its predominant significance is
forgery, though it also includes perjury and offenses of a like
character. Burrill. Greenleaf.
FALSIFIABLE
Fal"si*fi`a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. falsifiable.]
Defn: Capable of being falsified, counterfeited, or corrupted.
Johnson.
FALSIFICATION
Fal`si*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. falsification.]
1. The act of falsifying, or making false; a counterfeiting; the
giving to a thing an appearance of something which it is not.
To counterfeit the living image of king in his person exceedeth all
falsifications. Bacon.
2. Willful misstatement or misrepresentation.
Extreme necessity . . . forced him upon this bold and violent
falsification of the doctrine of the alliance. Bp. Warburton.
3. (Equity)
Defn: The showing an item of charge in an account to be wrong. Story.
FALSIFICATOR
Fal"si*fi*ca`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. falsificateur.]
Defn: A falsifier. Bp. Morton.
FALSIFIER
Fal"si*fi`er, n.
Defn: One who falsifies, or gives to a thing a deceptive appearance;
a liar.
FALSIFY
Fal"si*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Falsified; p. pr. & vb. n.
Falsifying.] Etym: [L. falsus false + -ly: cf. F. falsifier. See
False, a.]
1. To make false; to represent falsely.
The Irish bards use to forge and falsify everything as they list, to
please or displease any man. Spenser.
2. To counterfeit; to forge; as, to falsify coin.
3. To prove to be false, or untrustworthy; to confute; to disprove;
to nullify; to make to appear false.
By how much better than my word I am, By so much shall I falsify
men's hope. Shak.
Jews and Pagans united all their endeavors, under Julian the
apostate, to baffie and falsify the prediction. Addison.
4. To violate; to break by falsehood; as, to falsify one's faith or
word. Sir P. Sidney.
5. To baffie or escape; as, to falsify a blow. Bulter.
6. (Law)
Defn: To avoid or defeat; to prove false, as a judgment. Blackstone.
7. (Equity)
Defn: To show, in accounting, (an inem of charge inserted in an
account) to be wrong. Story. Daniell.
8. To make false by multilation or addition; to tamper with; as, to
falsify a record or document.
FALSIFY
Fal"si*fy, v. i.
Defn: To tell lies; to violate the truth.
It is absolutely and universally unlawful to lie and falsify.
South.
FALSISM
Fals"ism, n.
Defn: That which is evidently false; an assertion or statement the
falsity of which is plainly apparent; -- opposed to truism.
FALSITY
Fal"si*ty, n.;pl. Falsities. Etym: [L. falsitas: cf. F. fausseté, OF.
also, falsité. See False, a.]
1. The quality of being false; coutrariety or want of conformity to
truth.
Probability does not make any alteration, either in the truth or
falsity of things. South.
2. That which is false; falsehood; a lie; a false assertion.
Men often swallow falsities for truths. Sir T. Brown.
Syn.
-- Falsehood; lie; deceit.
-- Falsity, Falsehood, Lie. Falsity denotes the state or quality of
being false. A falsehood is a false declaration designedly made. A
lie is a gross, unblushing falsehood. The falsity of a person's
assertion may be proved by the evidence of others and thus the charge
of falsehood be fastened upon him.
FALTER
Fal"ter, v. t.
Defn: To thrash in the chaff; also, to cleanse or sift, as barley.
[Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
FALTER
Fal"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Faltered; p. pr. & vb. n. Faltering.]
Etym: [OE. falteren, faltren, prob. from fault. See Fault, v. & n.]
1. To hesitate; to speak brokenly or weakly; to stammer; as, his
tongue falters.
With faltering speech and visage incomposed. Milton.
2. To tremble; to totter; to be unsteady. "He found his legs falter."
Wiseman.
3. To hesitate in purpose or action.
Ere her native king Shall falter under foul rebellion's arms. Shak.
4. To fail in distinctness or regularity of exercise; -- said of the
mind or of thought.
Here indeed the power of disinct conception of space and distance
falters. I. Taylor.
FALTER
Fal"ter, v. t.
Defn: To utter with hesitation, or in a broken, trembling, or weak
manner.
And here he faltered forth his last farewell. Byron.
Mde me most happy, faltering "I am thine." Tennyson.
FALTER
Fal"ter, n. Etym: [See Falter, v. i.]
Defn: Hesitation; trembling; feebleness; an uncertain or broken
sound; as, a slight falter in her voice.
The falter of an idle shepherd's pipe. Lowell.
FALTERING
Fal"ter*ing, a.
Defn: Hesitating; trembling. "With faltering speech." Milton.
-- n.
Defn: Falter; halting; hesitation.
-- Fal"ter*ing*ly, adv.
FALUNS
Fa`luns", n. Etym: [F.] (Geol.)
Defn: A series of strata, of the Middle Tertiary period, of France,
abounding in shells, and used by Lyell as the type of his Miocene
subdivision.
FALWE
Fal"we, a. & n.
Defn: Fallow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FALX
Falx, n. Etym: [L., a sickle.] (Anat.)
Defn: A curved fold or process of the dura mater or the peritoneum;
esp., one of the partitionlike folds of the dura mater which extend
into the great fissures of the brain.
FAMBLE
Fam"ble, v. i. Etym: [OE. falmelen; cf. SW. famla to grope, Dan.
famle to grope, falter, hesitate, Isel. falma to grope. Cf. Famble.]
Defn: To stammer. [Obs.] Nares.
FAMBLE
Fam"ble, n. Etym: [Cf. Famble, v.]
Defn: A hand [Slang & Obs.] "We clap our fambles." Beau. & Fl.
FAME
Fame, n. Etym: [OF. fame, L. fama, fr. fari to speak, akin to Gr.
Ban, and cf. Fable, Fate, Euphony, Blame.]
1. Public report or rumor.
The fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house. Gen. xlv. 16.
2. Report or opinion generally diffused; renown; public estimation;
celebrity, either favorable or unfavorable; as, the fame of
Washington.
I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited. Shak.
Syn.
-- Notoriety; celebrity; renown; reputation.
FAME
Fame, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Famed,; p. pr. & vb. n. Faming.]
1. To report widely or honorably.
The field where thou art famed To have wrought such wonders. Milton.
2. To make famous or renowned.
Those Hesperian gardens famed of old. Milton.
FAMELESS
Fame"less, a.
Defn: Without fame or renown.
-- Fame"less*ly, adv.
FAMILIAR
Fa*mil`iar, a. Etym: [OE. familer, familier, F. familier, fr. L.
familiaris, fr. familia family. See Family.]
1. Of or pertaining to a family; domestic. "Familiar feuds." Byron.
2. Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend or companion; well
versed in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures.
3. Characterized by, or exhibiting, the manner of an intimate friend;
not formal; unconstrained; easy; accessible. "In loose, familiar
strains." Addison.
Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Shak.
4. Well known; well understood; common; frequent; as, a familiar
illustration.
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be As things acquainted and
familiar to us. Shak.
There is nothing more familiar than this. Locke.
5. Improperly acquainted; wrongly intimate. Camden. Familiar spirit,
a demon or evil spirit supposed to attend at call. 1 Sam. xxviii. 3,
7-9.
FAMILIAR
Fa*mil"iar, n.
1. An intimate; a companion.
All my familiars watched for my halting. Jer. xx. 10.
2. An attendant demon or evil spirit. Shak.
3. (Court of Inquisition)
Defn: A confidential officer employed in the service of the tribunal,
especially in apprehending and imprisoning the accused.
FAMILIARITY
Fa*mil`iar"i*ty, n.; pl. Familiarities. Etym: [OE. familarite, F.
familiaritéfr. L. faniliaritas. See Familiar.]
1. The state of being familiar; intimate and frequent converse, or
association; unconstrained intercourse; freedom from ceremony and
constraint; intimacy; as, to live in remarkable familiarity.
2. Anything said or done by one person to another unceremoniously and
without constraint; esp., in the pl., such actions and words as
propriety and courtesy do not warrant; liberties.
Syn.
-- Acquaintance; fellowship; affability; intimacy. See Acquaintance.
FAMILIARIZATION
Fa*mil`iar*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act or process of making familiar; the result of becoming
familiar; as, familiarization with scenes of blood.
FAMILIARIZE
Fa*mil"iar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Familiarized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Familiarizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. familiariser.]
1. To make familiar or intimate; to habituate; to accustom; to make
well known by practice or converse; as, to familiarize one's self
with scenes of distress.
2. To make acquainted, or skilled, by practice or study; as, to
familiarize one's self with a business, a book, or a science.
FAMILIARLY
Fa"mil"iar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a familiar manner.
FAMILIARNESS
Fa*mil"iar*ness, n.
Defn: Familiarity. [R.]
FAMILIARY
Fa*mil"ia*ry, a. Etym: [L. familiaris. See Familiar.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a family or household; domestic. [Obs.]
Milton.
FAMILISM
Fam"i*lism, n.
Defn: The tenets of the Familists. Milton.
FAMILIST
Fam"i*list, n. Etym: [From Family.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of afanatical Antinomian sect originating in Holland, and
existing in England about 1580, called the Family of Love, who held
that religion consists wholly in love.
FAMILISTERY
Fam"i*lis*ter*y, n.; pl. Familisteries (. Etym: [F. familistère.]
Defn: A community in which many persons unite as in one family, and
are regulated by certain communistic laws and customs.
FAMILISTIC; FAMILISTICAL
Fam`i*listic, Fam`i*lis"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Familists. Baxter.
FAMILY
Fam"i*ly, n.; pl. Families. Etym: [L. familia, fr. famulus servant;
akin to Oscan famel servant, cf. faamat he dwells, Skr. dhaman house,
fr. dhato set, make, do: cf. F. famille. Cf. Do, v. t., Doom, Fact,
Feat.]
1. The collective body of persons who live in one house, and under
one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and
servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.
2. The group comprising a husband and wife and their dependent
children, constituting a fundamental unit in the organization of
society.
The welfare of the family underlies the welfare of society. H.
Spencer.
3. Those who descend from one common progenitor; a tribe, clan, or
race; kindred; house; as, the human family; the family of Abraham;
the father of a family.
Go ! and pretennd your family is young. Pope.
4. Course of descent; genealogy; line of ancestors; lineage.
5. Honorable descent; noble or respectable stock; as, a man of
family.
6. A groupe of kindred or closely related individuals; as, a family
of languages; a family of States; the chlorine family.
7. (Biol.)
Defn: A groupe of organisms, either animal or vegetable, related by
certain points of resemblance in structure or development, more
comprehensive than a genus, because it is usually based on fewer or
less pronounced points of likeness. In zoölogy a family is less
comprehesive than an order; in botany it is often considered the same
thing as an order. Family circle. See under Circle.
-- Family man. (a) A man who has a family; esp., one who has a wife
and children living with him andd dependent upon him. (b) A man of
domestic habits. "The Jews are generally, when married, most
exemplary family men." Mayhew.
-- Family of curves or surfaces (Geom.), a group of curves or
surfaces derived from a single equation.
-- In a family way, like one belonging to the family. "Why don't we
ask him and his ladies to come over in a family way, and dine with
some other plain country gentlefolks" Thackeray.
-- In the family way, pregnant. [Colloq.]
FAMINE
Fam"ine, n. Etym: [F. famine, fr. L. fames hunger; cf. Gr. hani loss,
lack, ha to leave.]
Defn: General scarcity of food; dearth; a want of provisions;
destitution. "Worn with famine." Milton.
There was a famine in the land. Gen. xxvi. 1.
Famine fever (Med.), typhus fever.
FAMISH
Fam"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Famished; p. pr. & vb. n. Famishing.]
Etym: [OE. famen; cf. OF. afamer, L. fames. See Famine, and cf.
Affamish.]
1. To starve, kill, or destroy with hunger. Shak.
2. To exhaust the strength or endurance of, by hunger; to distress
with hanger.
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to
Pharaoh for bread. Cen. xli. 55.
The pains of famished Tantalus he'll feel. Dryden.
3. To kill, or to cause to suffer extremity, by deprivation or denial
of anything necessary.
And famish him of breath, if not of bread. Milton.
4. To force or constrain by famine.
He had famished Paris into a surrender. Burke.
FAMISH
Fam"ish, v. i.
1. To die of hunger; to starve.
2. To suffer extreme hunger or thirst, so as to be exhausted in
strength, or to come near to perish.
You are all resolved rather to die than to famish Shak.
3. To suffer extremity from deprivation of anything essential or
necessary.
The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish. Prov.
x. 3.
FAMISHMENT
Fam"ish*ment, n.
Defn: State of being famished.
FAMOSITY
Fa*mos"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. famositas infamy: cf. F. famosité. See
Famous.]
Defn: The state or quality of being famous. [Obs.] Johnson.
FAMOUS
Fa"mous, a. Etym: [L. famosus, fr. fama fame: cf. F. fameux. See
Fame.]
Defn: Celebrated in fame or public report; renowned; mach talked of;
distinguished in story; -- used in either a good or a bad sense,
chiefly the former; often followed by for; as, famous for erudition,
for eloquence, for military skill; a famous pirate.
Famous for a scolding tongue. Shak.
Syn.
-- Noted; remarkable; signal; conspicuous; celebrated; renowned;
illustrious; eminent; transcendent; excellent.
-- Famous, Renowned, Illustrious. Famous is applied to a person or
thing widely spoken of as extraordinary; renowned is applied to those
who are named again and again with honor; illustrious, to those who
have dazzled the world by the splendor of their deeds or their
virtues. See Distinguished.
FAMOUSED
Fa"moused, a.
Defn: Renowned. [Obs.] Shak.
FAMOUSLY
Fa"mous*ly, adv.
Defn: In a famous manner; in a distinguished degree; greatly;
splendidly.
Then this land was famously enriched With politic grave counsel.
Shak.
FAMOUSNESS
Fa"mous*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being famous.
FAMULAR
Fam"u*lar, n. Etym: [Cf. L. famularis of servants.]
Defn: Domestic; familiar. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FAMULATE
Fam"u*late, v. i. Etym: [L. famulatus, p.p. of famulari to serve, fr.
famulus servant.]
Defn: To serve. [Obs.]
FAMULIST
Fam"u*list, n. Etym: [L. famulus servant.]
Defn: A collegian of inferior rank or position, corresponding to the
sizar at Cambridge. [Oxford Univ., Eng.]
FAN
Fan, n. Etym: [AS. fann, fr. L. vannus fan, van for winnowing grain;
cf. F. van. Cf. Van a winnowing machine, Winnow.]
1. An instrument used for producing artificial currents of air, by
the wafting or revolving motion of a broad surface; as:
(a) An instrument for cooling the person, made of feathers, paper,
silk, etc., and often mounted on sticks all turning about the same
pivot, so as when opened to radiate from the center and assume the
figure of a section of a circle.
(b) (Mach.) Any revolving vane or vanes used for producing currents
of air, in winnowing grain, blowing a fire, ventilation, etc., or for
checking rapid motion by the resistance of the air; a fan blower; a
fan wheel.
(c) An instrument for winnowing grain, by moving which the grain is
tossed and agitated, and the chaff is separated and blown away.
(d) Something in the form of a fan when spread, as a peacock's tail,
a window, etc.
(e) A small vane or sail, used to keep the large sails of a smock
windmill always in the direction of the wind.
Clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with
the fan. Is. xxx. 24.
2. That which produces effects analogous to those of a fan, as in
exciting a flame, etc.; that which inflames, heightens, or
strengthens; as, it served as a fan to the flame of his passion.
3. A quintain; -- from its form. [Obs.] Chaucer. Fan blower, a wheel
with vanes fixed on a rotating shaft inclosed in a case or chamber,
to create a blast of air (fan blast) for forge purposes, or a current
for draft and ventilation; a fanner.
-- Fan cricket (Zoöl.), a mole cricket.
-- Fan light (Arch.), a window over a door; -- so called from the
semicircular form and radiating sash bars of those windows which are
set in the circular heads of arched doorways.
-- Fan shell (Zoöl.), any shell of the family Pectinidæ. See
Scallop, n., 1.
-- Fan tracery (Arch.), the decorative tracery on the surface of fan
vaulting.
-- Fan vaulting (Arch.), an elaborate system of vaulting, in which
the ribs diverge somewhat like the rays of a fan, as in Henry VII.'s
chapel in Westminster Abbey. It is peculiar to English Gothic.
-- Fan wheel, the wheel of a fan blower.
-- Fan window. Same as Fan light (above).
FAN
Fan, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fanned; p. pr. & vb. n. Fanning.] Etym: [Cf.
OF. vanner, L. vannere. See Fan, n., Van a winnowing machine.]
1. To move as with a fan.
The air . . . fanned with unnumbered plumes. Milton.
2. To cool and refresh, by moving the air with a fan; to blow the air
on the face of with a fan.
3. To ventilate; to blow on; to affect by air put in motion.
Calm as the breath which fans our eastern groves. Dryden.
4. To winnow; to separate chaff from, and drive it away by a current
of air; as, to fan wheat. Jer. li. 2.
5. To excite or stir up to activity, as a fan axcites a flame; to
stimulate; as, this conduct fanned the excitement of the populace.
Fanning machine, or Fanning mill, a machine for separating seed from
chaff, etc., by a blast of air; a fanner.
FANAL
Fa`nal", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A lighthouse, or the apparatus placed in it for giving light.
FANATIC
Fa*nat"ic, a. Etym: [L. fanaticus inspired by divinity, enthusiastic,
frantic, fr. fanum fane: cf. F. fanatique. See Fane.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or indicating, fanaticism; extravagant in
opinions; ultra; unreasonable; excessively enthusiastic, especially
on religious subjects; as, fanatic zeal; fanatic notions.
But Faith, fanatic Faith, once wedded fast To some dear falsehood,
hugs it to the last. T. Moore.
FANATIC
Fa*nat"ic, n.
Defn: A person affected by excessive enthusiasm, particularly on
religious subjects; one who indulges wild and extravagant notions of
religion.
There is a new word, coined within few months, called fanatics,
which, by the close stickling thereof, seemeth well cut out and
proportioned to signify what is meant thereby, even the sectaries of
our age. Fuller (1660).
Fanatics are governed rather by imagination than by judgment. Stowe.
FANATICAL
Fa*nat"ic*al, a.
Defn: Characteristic of, or relating to, fanaticism; fanatic. -
Fa*nat"ic*al*ly, adv.
-- Fa*nat"ic*al*ness, n.
FANATICISM
Fa*nat"i*cism, n. Etym: [Cf. Fanatism.]
Defn: Excessive enthusiasm, unreasoning zeal, or wild and extravagant
notions, on any subject, especially religion; religious frenzy.
Syn.
-- See Superstition.
FANATICIZE
Fa*nat"i*cize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fanaticized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fanaticizing.]
Defn: To cause to become a fanatic.
FANATISM
Fan"a*tism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fanatisme. Cf. Fanaticism.]
Defn: Fanaticism. [R.] Gibbon.
FANCIED
Fan"cied, a. Etym: [From Fancy, v. t.]
Defn: Formed or conceived by the fancy; unreal; as, a fancied wrong.
FANCIER
Fan"ci*er, n.
1. One who is governed by fancy. "Not reasoners, but fanciers."
Macaulay.
2. One who fancies or has a special liking for, or interest in, a
particular object or class or objects; hence, one who breeds and
keeps for sale birds and animals; as, bird fancier, dog fancier, etc.
FANCIFUL
Fan"ci*ful, a.
1. Full of fancy; guided by fancy, rather than by reason and
experience; whimsical; as, a fanciful man forms visionary projects.
2. Conceived in the fancy; not consistent with facts or reason;
abounding in ideal qualities or figures; as, a fanciful scheme; a
fanciful theory.
3. Curiously shaped or constructed; as, she wore a fanciful
headdress.
Gather up all fancifullest shells. Keats.
Syn.
-- Imaginative; ideal; visionary; capricious; chimerical; whimsical;
fantastical; wild.
-- Fanciful, Fantastical, Visionary. We speak of that as fanciful
which is irregular in taste and judgment; we speak of it as
fantastical when it becomes grotesque and extravagant as well as
irregular; we speak of it as visionary when it is wholly unfounded in
the nature of things. Fanciful notions are the product of a heated
fancy, without any tems are made up of oddly assorted fancies, aften
of the most whimsical kind; visionary expectations are those which
can never be realized in fact.
-- Fan"ci*ful*ly, adv. -Fan"ci*ful*ness, n.
FANCILESS
Fan"*ci*less, a.
Defn: Having no fancy; without ideas or imagination. [R.]
A pert or bluff important wight, Whose brain is fanciless, whose
blood is white. Armstrong.
FANCY
Fan"cy, n.; pl. Fancies. Etym: [Contr. fr. fantasy, OF. fantasie,
fantaisie, F. fantaisie, L. phantasia, fr. Gr. bhato shine. Cf.
Fantasy, Fantasia, Epiphany, Phantom.]
1. The faculty by which the mind forms an image or a representation
of anything perceived before; the power of combining and modifying
such objects into new pictures or images; the power of readily and
happily creating and recalling such objects for the purpose of
amusement, wit, or embellishment; imagination.
In the soul Are many lesser faculties, that serve Reason as chief.
Among these fancy next Her office holds. Milton.
2. An image or representation of anything formed in the mind;
conception; thought; idea; conceit.
How now, my lord ! why do you keep alone, Of sorriest fancies your
companoins making Shak.
3. An opinion or notion formed without much reflection; caprice;
whim; impression.
I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and
recreation to children. Locke.
4. Inclination; liking, formed by caprice rather than reason; as, to
strike one's fancy; hence, the object of inclination or liking.
To fit your fancies to your father's will. Shak.
5. That which pleases or entertains the taste or caprice without much
use or value.
London pride is a pretty fancy for borders. Mortimer.
6. A sort of love song or light impromptu ballad. [Obs.] Shak. The
fancy, all of a class who exhibit and cultivate any peculiar taste or
fancy; hence, especially, sporting characters taken collectively, or
any specific class of them, as jockeys, gamblers, prize fighters,
etc.
At a great book sale in London, which had congregated all the fancy.
De Quincey.
Syn.
-- Imagination; conceit; taste; humor; inclination; whim; liking.
See Imagination.
FANCY
Fan"cy, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fancied, p. pr. & vb. n. Fancying (.]
1. To figure to one's self; to believe or imagine something without
proof.
If our search has reached no farther than simile and metaphor, we
rather fancy than know. Locke.
2. To love. [Obs.] Shak.
FANCY
Fan"cy, v. t.
1. To form a conception of; to portray in the mind; to imagine.
He whom I fancy, but can ne'er express. Dryden.
2. To have a fancy for; to like; to be pleased with, particularly on
account of external appearance or manners. "We fancy not the
cardinal." Shak.
3. To believe without sufficient evidence; to imagine (something
which is unreal).
He fancied he was welcome, because those arounde him were his
kinsmen. Thackeray.
FANCY
Fan"cy, a.
1. Adapted to please the fancy or taste; ornamental; as, fancy goods.
2. Extravagant; above real value.
This anxiety never degenerated into a monomania, like that which led
his [Frederick the Great's] father to pay fancy prices for giants.
Macaulay.
Fancy ball, a ball in which porsons appear in fanciful dresses in
imitation of the costumes of different persons and nations.
-- Fancy fair, a fair at which articles of fancy and ornament are
sold, generally for some charitable purpose.
-- Fancy goods, fabrics of various colors, patterns, etc., as
ribbons, silks, laces, etc., in distinction from those of a simple or
plain color or make.
-- Fancy line (Naut.), a line rove through a block at the jaws of a
gaff; -- used to haul it down. Fancy roller (Carding Machine), a
clothed cylinder (usually having straight teeth) in front of the
doffer.
-- Fancy stocks, a species of stocks which afford great opportunity
for stock gambling, since they have no intrinsic value, and the
fluctuations in their prices are artificial.
-- Fancy store, one where articles of fancy and ornament are sold.
-- Fancy woods, the more rare and expensive furniture woods, as
mahogany, satinwood, rosewood, etc.
FANCY-FREE
Fan"cy-free`, a.
Defn: Free from the power of love. "In maiden meditation, fancy-
free." Shak.
FANCYMONGER
Fan"cy*mon`ger, n.
Defn: A lovemonger; a whimsical lover. [Obs.] Shak.
FANCY-SICK
Fan"cy-sick`, a.
Defn: Love-sick. Shak.
FANCYWORK
Fan"cy*work`, n.
Defn: Ornamental work with a needle or hook, as embroidery,
crocheting, netting, etc.
FAND
Fand, obs.
Defn: imp. of Find. Spenser.
FANDANGO
Fan*dan"go, n.; pl. Fandangoes. Etym: [Sp. A name brought, together
with the dance, from the West Indies to Spain.]
1. A lively dance, in 3-8 or 6-8 time, much practiced in Spain and
Spanish America. Also, the tune to which it is danced.
2. A ball or general dance, as in Mexico. [Colloq.]
FANE
Fane, n. Etym: [L. fanum a place dedicated to some deity, a
sanctuary, fr. fari to speak. See Fame.]
Defn: A temple; a place consecrated to religion; a church. [Poet.]
Such to this British Isle, her Christian fanes. Wordsworth.
FANE
Fane, n. Etym: [See Vane.]
Defn: A weathercock. [Obs.]
FANEGA
Fa*ne"ga, n. Etym: [Sp.]
Defn: A dry measure in Spain and Spanish America, varying from 1 De
Colange.
FANFARE
Fan"fare`, n. Etym: [F. Cf. Fanfaron.]
Defn: A flourish of trumpets, as in coming into the lists, etc.;
also, a short and lively air performed on hunting horns during the
chase.
The fanfare announcing the arrival of the various Christian princes.
Sir W. Scott.
FANFARON
Fan"fa*ron, n. Etym: [F., fr. Sp. fanfarron; cf. It. fanfano, and
OSp. fanfa swaggering, boasting, also Ar. farfar talkative.]
Defn: A bully; a hector; a swaggerer; an empty boaster. [R.] Dryden.
FANFARONADE
Fan*far`on*ade", n. Etym: [F. fanfaronnade, fr. Sp. fanfarronada. See
Fanfaron.]
Defn: A swaggering; vain boasting; ostentation; a bluster. Swift.
FANFOOT
Fan"foot`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A species of gecko having the toes expanded into large lobes for
adhesion. The Egyptian fanfoot (Phyodactylus gecko) is believed, by
the natives, to have venomous toes.
(b) Any moth of the genus Polypogon.
FANG
Fang, v. t. Etym: [OE. fangen, fongen, fon (g orig. only in p.p. and
imp. tense), AS. f; akin to D. vangen, OHG. fahan, G. fahen, fangen,
Isel. fa, Sw. f, f, Dan. fange, faae, Goth. fahan, and prob. to E.
fair, peace, pact. Cf. Fair, a.]
1. To catch; to seize, as with the teeth; to lay hold of; to gripe;
to clutch. [Obs.] Shak.
He's in the law's clutches; you see he's fanged. J. Webster.
2. To enable to catch or tear; to furnish with fangs. "Chariots
fanged with scythes." Philips.
FANG
Fang, n. Etym: [From Fang, v. t.; cf. AS. fang a taking, booty, G.
fang.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The tusk of an animal, by which the prey is seized and held or
torn; a long pointed tooth; esp., one of the usually erectile,
venomous teeth of serpents. Also, one of the falcers of a spider.
Since I am a dog, beware my fangs. Shak.
2. Any shoot or other thing by which hold is taken.
The protuberant fangs of the yucca. Evelyn.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The root, or one of the branches of the root, of a tooth. See
Tooth.
4. (Mining)
Defn: A niche in the side of an adit or shaft, for an air course.
Knight.
5. (Mech.)
Defn: A projecting tooth or prong, as in a part of a lock, or the
plate of a belt clamp, or the end of a tool, as a chisel, where it
enters the handle.
6. (Naut.)
(a) The valve of a pump box.
(b) A bend or loop of a rope. In a fang, fast entangled.
-- To lose the fang, said of a pump when the water has gone out;
hence: To fang a pump, to supply it with the water necessary to make
it operate. [Scot.]
FANGED
Fanged, a.
Defn: Having fangs or tusks; as, a fanged adder. Also used
figuratively.
FANGLE
Fan"gle, n. Etym: [From Fang, v. t.; hence, prop., a taking up a new
thing.]
Defn: Something new-fashioned; a foolish innovation; a gewgaw; a
trifling ornament.
FANGLE
Fan"gle, v. t.
Defn: To fashion. [Obs.]
To control and new fangle the Scripture. Milton.
FANGLED
Fan"gled, a.
Defn: New made; hence, gaudy; showy; vainly decorated. [Obs., except
with the prefix new.] See Newfangled. "Our fangled world." Shak.
FANGLENESS
Fan"gle*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being fangled. [Obs.]
He them in new fangleness did pass. Spenser.
FANGLESS
Fang"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of fangs or tusks. "A fangless lion." Shak.
FANGOT
Fan"got, n. Etym: [Cf. It. fagotto, fangotto, a bundle. Cf. Fagot.]
Defn: A quantity of wares, as raw silk, etc., from one hundred
weight.
FANION
Fan"ion, n. Etym: [See Fanon.]
1. (Mil.)
Defn: A small flag sometimes carried at the head of the baggage of a
brigade. [Obs.]
2. A small flag for marking the stations in surveying.
FANLIKE
Fan"like`, a.
Defn: Resembling a fan; -- specifically (Bot.), folded up like a fan,
as certain leaves; plicate.
FANNEL
Fan"nel, n. Etym: [Dim., from same source as fanon.]
Defn: Same as Fanon.
FANNER
Fan"ner, n.
1. One who fans. Jer. li. 2.
2. A fan wheel; a fan blower. See under Fan.
FAN-NERVED
Fan"-*nerved`, a. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the nerves or veins arranged in a radiating manner; --
said of certain leaves, and of the winfs of some insects.
FANON
Fan"on, n. Etym: [F. fanon, LL. fano, fr. OHG. fano banner cloth, G.
fahne banner. See Vane, and cf. Fanion, Confalon.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A term applied to various articles, as: (a) A peculiar striped
scarf worn by the pope at mass, and by eastern bishops. (b) A
maniple. [Written also fannel, phanon, etc.]
FAN PALM
Fan" palm`. (Bot.)
Defn: Any palm tree having fan-shaped or radiate leaves; as the
Chamærops humilis of Southern Europe; the species of Sabal and
Thrinax in the West Indies, Florida, etc.; and especially the great
talipot tree (Corypha umbraculifera) of Ceylon and Malaya. The leaves
of the latter are often eighteen feet long and fourteen wide, and are
used for umbrellas, tents, and roofs. When cut up, they are used for
books and manuscripts.
FANTAIL
Fan"tail`, n. (Zool.)
(a) A variety of the domestic pigeon, so called from the shape of the
tail.
(b) Any bird of the Australian genus Rhipidura, in which the tail is
spread in the form of a fan during flight. They belong to the family
of flycatchers.
FAN-TAILED
Fan"-tailed`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having an expanded, or fan-shaped, tail; as, the fan-tailed
pigeon.
FAN-TAN
Fan"-tan` (fan"tan`), n. [Chinese (of Canton) in an-tan-kun gambling
house.]
1. A Chinese gambling game in which coins or other small objects are
placed upon a table, usually under a cup, and the players bet as to
what remainder will be left when the sum of the counters is divided
by four.
2. A game with playing cards in which the cards are played in
sequences upon the table, the one who first gets rid of his cards
being the winner.
FANTASIA
Fan*ta"si*a, n. Etym: [It. See Fancy.] (Mus.)
Defn: A continuous composition, not divided into what are called
movements, or governed by the ordinary rules of musical design, but
in which the author's fancy roves unrestricted by set form.
FANTASIED
Fan"ta*sied, a. Etym: [From Fantasy.]
Defn: Filled with fancies or imaginations. [Obs.] Shak.
FANTASM
Fan"tasm, n. Etym: [See Phantasm, Fancy.]
Defn: Same as Phantasm.
FANTAST
Fan"tast, n.
Defn: One whose manners or ideas are fantastic. [R.] Coleridge.
FANTASTIC
Fan*tas"tic, a. Etym: [F. fantastique, fr. Gr. Fancy.]
1. Existing only in imagination; fanciful; imaginary; not real;
chimerical.
2. Having the nature of a phantom; unreal. Shak.
3. Indulging the vagaries of imagination; whimsical; full of absurd
fancies; capricious; as, fantastic minds; a fantastic mistress.
4. Resembling fantasies in irregularity, caprice, or eccentricity;
irregular; oddly shaped; grotesque.
There at the foot of yonder nodding beech, That wreathes its old
fantastic roots so high. T. Gray.
Syn.
-- Fanciful; imaginative; ideal; visionary; capricious; chimerical;
whimsical; queer. See Fanciful.
FANTASTIC
Fan*tas"tic, n.
Defn: A person given to fantastic dress, manners, etc.; an eccentric
person; a fop. Milton.
Our fantastics, who, having a fine watch, take all ocasions to drow
it out to be seen. Fuller.
FANTASTICAL
Fan*tas"tic*al, a.
Defn: Fanciful; unreal; whimsical; capricious; fantastic.
FANTASTICALITY
Fan*tas`ti*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fantastically. [Obs.]
FANTASTICALLY
Fan*tas"tic*al*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fantastic manner.
the letter A, in scarlet, fantastically embroidered with gold thread,
upon her bosom. Hawthorne.
FANTASTIC-ALNESS
Fan*tas"tic-al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being fantastic.
FANTASTICISM
Fan*tas"ti*cism, n.
Defn: The quality of being fantastical; fancifulness; whimsicality.
Ruskin.
FANTASTICLY
Fan*tas"tic*ly, adv.
Defn: Fantastically. [Obs.]
FANTASTICNESS
Fan*tas"tic*ness, n.
Defn: Fantasticalness. [Obs.]
FANTASTICO
Fan*tas"tic*o, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A fantastic. [Obs.] Shak.
FANTASY
Fan"ta*sy, n.; pl. Fantasies. Etym: [See Fancy.]
1. Fancy; imagination; especially, a whimsical or fanciful
conception; a vagary of the imagination; whim; caprice; humor.
Is not this something more than fantasy Shak.
A thousand fantasies Being to throng into my memory. Milton.
2. Fantastic designs.
Embroidered with fantasies and flourishes of gold thread. Hawthorne.
FANTASY
Fan"ta*sy, v. t.
Defn: To have a fancy for; to be pleased with; to like; to fancy.
[Obs.] Cavendish.
Which he doth most fantasy. Robynson (More's Utopia).
FANTIGUE; FANTIQUE
Fan*tigue", Fan*tique", n. [Written also fanteague, fanteeg, etc.]
[Cf. Fantod.]
Defn: State of worry or excitment; fidget; ill humor. [Prov. Eng.]
Dickens.
FANTOCCINI
Fan`toc*ci"ni, n. pl. Etym: [It., dim. fr. fante child.]
Defn: Puppets caused to perform evolutions or dramatic scenes by
means of machinery; also, the representations in which they are used.
FANTOD; FANTAD
Fan"tod, Fan"tad, n. [Cf. Fantigue.]
Defn: State of worry or excitement; fidget; fuss; also,
indisposition; pet; sulks. [Slang]
FANTOM
Fan"tom, n.
Defn: See Phantom. Fantom corn, phantom corn. Grose.
FAP
Fap, a.
Defn: Fuddled. [Obs.] Shak.
FAQUIR
Fa*quir", n.
Defn: See Fakir.
FAR
Far, n. Etym: [See Farrow.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young pig, or a litter of pigs.
FAR
Far, a. [Farther and Farthest are used as the compar. and superl. of
far, although they are corruptions arising from confusion with
further and furthest. See Further.] Etym: [OE. fer, feor, AS. feor;
akin to OS. fer, D. ver, OHG. ferro, adv., G. fern, a., Icel. fjarri,
Dan. fjirn, Sw. fjerran, adv., Goth. fairra, adv., Gr. paras, adv.,
far, and prob. to L. per through, and E. prefix for-, as in forgive,
and also to fare. CF. Farther, Farthest.]
1. Distant in any direction; not near; remote; mutually separated by
a wide space or extent.
They said, . . . We be come from a far country. Josh. ix. 6.
The nations far and near contend in choice. Dryden.
2. Remote from purpose; contrary to design or wishes; as, far be it
from me to justify cruelty.
3. Remote in affection or obedience; at a distance, morally or
spiritually; t enmity with; alienated.
They that are far from thee ahsll perish. Ps. lxxiii. 27.
4. Widely different in nature or quality; opposite in character.
He was far from ill looking, though he thought himself still farther.
F. Anstey.
5. The more distant of two; as, the far side (called also off side)
of a horse, that is, the right side, or the one opposite to the rider
when he mounts.
Note: The distinction between the adjectival and adverbial use of far
is sometimes not easily discriminated. By far, by much; by a great
difference.
-- Far between, with a long distance (of space or time) between; at
long intervals. "The examinations are few and far between." Farrar.
FAR
Far, adv.
1. To a great extent or distance of space; widely; as, we are
separated far from each other.
2. To a great distance in time from any point; remotely; as, he
pushed his researches far into antiquity.
3. In great part; as, the day is far spent.
4. In a great proportion; by many degrees; very much; deeply;
greatly.
Who can find a virtuous woman for her price is far above rubies.
Prov. xxxi. 10.
As far as, to the extent, or degree, that. See As far as, under As.
-- Far off. (a) At a great distance, absolutely or relatively. (b)
Distant in sympathy or affection; alienated. "But now, in Christ
Jesus, ye who some time were far off are made nigh by the blood of
Christ." Eph. ii. 13.
-- Far other, different by a great degree; not the same; quite
unlike. Pope.
-- Far and near, at a distance and close by; throughout a whole
region.
-- Far and wide, distantly and broadly; comprehensively. "Far and
wide his eye commands." Milton.
-- From far, from a great distance; from a remote place.
Note: Far often occurs in self-explaining compounds, such as far-
extended, far-reaching, far-spread.
FAR-ABOUT
Far"-*a*bout`, n.
Defn: A going out of the way; a digression. [Obs.] Fuller.
FARAD
Far"ad, n. Etym: [From Michael Faraday, the English electrician.]
(Elec.)
Defn: The standard unit of electrical capacity; the capacity of a
condenser whose charge, having an electro-motive force of one volt,
is equal to the amount of electricity which, with the same
electromotive force, passes through one ohm in one second; the
capacity, which, charged with one coulomb, gives an electro-motive
force of one volt.
FARADIC
Far*ad"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Michael Faraday, the distinguished
electrician; -- applied especially to induced currents of
electricity, as produced by certain forms of inductive apparatus, on
account of Faraday's investigations of their laws.
FARADISM; FARADIZATION
Far"a*dism, Far`a*di*za"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: The treatment with faradic or induced currents of electricity
for remedial purposes.
FARADIZE
Far"a*dize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faradized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Faradizing.] (Med.)
Defn: To stimulate with, or subject to, faradic, or inducted,
electric currents. --Far"a*diz`er (#), n.
FARAND
Far"and, n.
Defn: See Farrand, n.
FARANDAMS
Far"an*dams, n.
Defn: A fabrik made of silk and wool or hair. Simmonds.
FARANDOLE
Fa`ran`dole", n. [F. farandole, Pr. farandoulo.]
Defn: A rapid dance in six-eight time in which a large number join
hands and dance in various figures, sometimes moving from room to
room. It originated in Provence.
I have pictured them dancing a sort of farandole.
W. D. Howells.
FARANTLY
Far"ant*ly, a. Etym: [See Farrand.]
Defn: Orderly; comely; respectable. [Obs.] Halliwell.
FARCE
Farce, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Farced, p. pr. & vb. n. Farcing (.] Etym:
[F. Farcir, L. farcire; akin to Gr. Force to stuff, Diaphragm,
Frequent, Farcy, Farse.]
1. To stuff with forcemeat; hence, to fill with mingled ingredients;
to fill full; to stuff. [Obs.]
The first principles of religion should not be farced with school
points and private tenets. Bp. Sanderson.
His tippet was aye farsed full of knives. Chaucer.
2. To render fat. [Obs.]
If thou wouldst farce thy lean ribs. B. Jonson.
3. To swell out; to render pompous. [Obs.]
Farcing his letter with fustian. Sandys.
FARCE
Farce, n. Etym: [F. farce, from L. farsus (also sometimes farctus),
p.p. pf farcire. See Farce, v. t.]
1. (Cookery)
Defn: Stuffing, or mixture of viands, like that used on dressing a
fowl; forcemeat.
2. A low style of comedy; a dramatic composition marked by low humor,
generally written with little regard to regularity or method, and
abounding with ludicrous incidents and expressions.
Farce is that in poetry which "grotesque" is in a picture: the
persons and action of a farce are all unnatural, and the manners
false. Dryden.
3. Ridiculous or empty show; as, a mere farce. "The farce of state."
Pope.
FARCEMENT
Farce"ment, n.
Defn: Stuffing; forcemeat. [Obs.]
They spoil a good dish with . . . unsavory farcements. Feltham.
FARCICAL
Far"ci*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to farce; appropriated to farce; ludicrous;
unnatural; unreal.
They deny the characters to be farcical, because they are Gay.
-- Far"ci*cal*ly, adv. -Far"ci*cal*ness, n.
FARCICAL
Far"ci*cal, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the disease called farcy. See Farcy, n.
FARCILITE
Far"ci*lite, n. Etym: [Farce+-lite.] (Min.)
Defn: Pudding stone. [Obs.] Kirwan.
FARCIMEN; FARCIN
Far"ci*men, Far"cin, n. (Far.)
Defn: Same as Farcy.
FARCING
Far"cing, n. (Cookery)
Defn: Stuffing; forcemeat.
FARCTATE
Farc"tate, a. Etym: [L. farctus, p.p. of farcire. See Farce, v. t.]
(Bot.)
Defn: Stuffed; filled solid; as, a farctate leaf, stem, or pericarp;
-- opposed to tubular or hollow. [Obs.]
FARCY
Far"cy, n. Etym: [F. farcin; cf. L. farciminum a disease of horses,
fr. farcire. See Farce.] (Far.)
Defn: A contagious disease of horses, associated with painful
ulcerating enlargements, esp. upon the head and limbs. It is of the
same nature as glanders, and is often fatal. Called also farcin, and
farcimen.
Note: Farcy, although more common in horses, is communicable to other
animals and to human beings. Farcy bud, a hard, prominent swelling
occurrinng upon the cutaneous surface in farcy, due to the
obstruction and inflammation of the lymphatic vessels, and followed
by ulceration. Youatt.
FARD
Fard, n. Etym: [F., prob. fr. OHG. gifarit, gifarwit p.p. of farwjan
to color, tinge, fr. farawa color, G. farbe.]
Defn: Paint used on the face. [Obs.] "Painted with French fard." J.
Whitaker.
FARD
Fard, v. t. Etym: [F. farder to paint one's face.]
Defn: To paint; -- said esp. of one's face. [Obs.] Shenstone.
FARDAGE
Far`dage", n. Etym: [F. See Fardel.] (Naut.)
Defn: See Dunnage.
FARDEL
Far"del, n. Etym: [OF. fardel, F. fardeau; cf. Sp. fardel, fardillo,
fardo, LL. fardellus; prob. fr. Ar. fard one of the two parts of an
object divisible into two, hence, one of the two parts of a camel's
load. Cf. Furl.]
Defn: A bundle or little pack; hence, a burden. [Obs.] Shak.
A fardel of never-ending misery and suspense. Marryat.
FARDEL
Far"del, v. t.
Defn: To make up in fardels. [Obs.] Fuller.
FARDING-BAG
Far"ding-bag`, n. Etym: [Of uncertain origin; cf. Fardel.]
Defn: The upper stomach of a cow, or other ruminant animal; the
rumen.
FARDINGDALE
Far"ding*dale, n.
Defn: A farthingale. [Obs.]
FARDINGDEAL
Far"ding*deal, n. Etym: [See Farthing, and Deal a part.]
Defn: The fourth part of an acre of land. [Obs.] [Written also
farding dale, fardingale, etc.]
FARE
Fare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fared; p. pr. & vb. n. Faring.] Etym: [AS.
faran to travel, fare; akin to OS., Goth., & OHG. faran to travel,
go, D. varen, G. fahren, OFries., Isel., & Sw. fara, Dan. fare, Gr.
peritus experienced, portus port, Skr. par to bring over. sq. root78.
Cf Chaffer, Emporium, Far, Ferry, Ford, Peril, Port a harbor, Pore,
n.]
1. To go; to pass; to journey; to travel.
So on he fares, and to the border comes Of Eden. Milton.
2. To be in any state, or pass through any experience, good or bad;
to be attended with any circummstances or train of events, fortunate
or unfortunate; as, he fared well, or ill.
So fares the stag among the enraged hounds. Denham.
I bid you most heartily well to fare. Robynson (More's Utopia).
So fared the knight between two foes. Hudibras.
3. To be treated or entertained at table, or with bodily or social
comforts; to live.
There was a certain rich man wwhich . . . fared sumptuously every
day. Luke xvi. 19.
4. To happen well, or ill; -- used impersonally; as, we shall see how
it will fare with him.
Sso fares it when with truth falsehood contends. Milton.
5. To behave; to conduct one's self. [Obs.]
She ferde [fared] as she would die. Chaucer.
FARE
Fare, n. Etym: [AS. faru journey, fr. faran. See Fare, v.]
1. A journey; a passage. [Obs.]
That nought might stay his fare. Spenser.
2. The price of passage or going; the sum paid or due for conveying a
person by land or water; as, the fare for crossing a river; the fare
in a coach or by railway.
3. Ado; bustle; business. [Obs.]
The warder chid and made fare. Chaucer.
4. Condition or state of things; fortune; hap; cheer.
What fare what news abroad Shak.
5. Food; provisions for the table; entertainment; as, coarse fare;
delicious fare. "Philosophic fare." Dryden.
6. The person or persons conveyed in a vehicle; as, a full fare of
passengers. A. Drummond.
7. The catch of fish on a fishing vessel. Bill of fare. See under
Bill.
-- Fare indicator or register, a device for recording the number of
passengers on a street car, etc.
-- Fare wicket. (a) A gate or turnstile at the entrance of toll
bridges, exhibition grounds, etc., for registering the number of
persons passing it. (b) An opening in the door of a street car for
purchasing tickets of the driver or passing fares to the conductor.
Knight.
FAREN
Far"en, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Fare, v. i. Chaucer.
FAREWELL
Fare`well", interj. Etym: [Fare (thou, you) + well.]
Defn: Go well; good-by; adieu; -- originally applied to a person
departing, but by custom now applied both to those who depart and
those who remain. It is often separated by the pronoun; as, fare you
well; and is sometimes used as an expression of separation only; as,
farewell the year; farewell, ye sweet groves; that is, I bid you
farewell.
So farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear. Milton.
Fare thee well! and if forever, Still forever fare thee well. Byron.
Note: The primary accent is sometimes placed on the first syllable,
especially in poetry.
FAREWELL
Fare`well", n.
1. A wish of happiness or welfare at parting; the parting compliment;
a good-by; adieu.
2. Act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to
something.
And takes her farewell of the glorious sun. Shak.
Before I take my farewell of the subject. Addison.
FAREWELL
Fare"well`, a.
Defn: Parting; valedictory; final; as, a farewell discourse; his
farewell bow.
Leans in his spear to take his farewell view. Tickell.
Farewell rock (Mining), the Millstone grit; -- so called because no
coal is found worth working below this stratum. It is used for
hearths of furnaces, having power to resist intense heat. Ure.
FARFET
Far"fet`, a. Etym: [Far + fet, p. p. of Fette.]
Defn: Farfetched. [Obs.]
York with his farfet policy. Shak.
FARFETCH
Far"fetch`, v. t. Etym: [Far + fetch.]
Defn: To bring from far; to seek out studiously. [Obs.]
To farfetch the name of Tartar from a Hebrew word. Fuller.
FARFETCH
Far"fetch`, n.
Defn: Anything brought from far, or brought about with studious care;
a deep strategem. [Obs.] "Politic farfetches." Hudibras.
FARFETCHED
Far"fetched`, a.
1. Brought from far, or from a remote place.
Every remedy contained a multitude of farfetched and heterogeneous
ingredients. Hawthorne.
2. Studiously sought; not easily or naturally deduced or introduced;
forced; strained.
FARINA
Fa*ri"na, n. Etym: [L., meal, flour, fr. far a sort of grain, spelt;
akin to E. barley.]
1. A fine flour or meal made from cereal grains or from the starch or
fecula of vegetables, extracted by various processes, and used in
cookery.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Pollen. [R.] Craig.
FARINACEOUS
Far`i*na"ceous, a. Etym: [L. farinaceus.]
1. Consisting or made of meal or flour; as, a farinaceous diet.
2. Yielding farina or flour; as, ffarinaceous seeds.
3. Like meal; mealy; pertainiing to meal; as, a farinaceous taste,
smell, or appearance.
FARINOSE
Far`i*nose", a. Etym: [L. farinosus: cf. F. farineux.]
1. Yielding farinaa; as, farinose substances.
2. (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Civered with a sort of white, mealy powder, as the leaves of
some poplars, and the body of certain insects; mealy.
FARL
Farl, v. t.
Defn: Same as Furl. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FARLIE
Far"lie, n. Etym: [OE. ferlish wonder, as adj., strange, sudden,
fearful, AS. færlic sudden. See Fear.]
Defn: An unusual or unexpected thing; a wonder. See Fearly. [Obs. or
Prov. Eng.] Drayton.
FARM
Farm, n. Etym: [OE. ferme rent, lease, F. ferme, LL. firma, fr. L.
firmus firm, fast, firmare to make firm or fast. See Firm, a. & n.]
1. The rent of land, -- originally paid by reservation of part of its
products. [Obs.]
2. The term or tenure of a lease of land for cultivation; a
leasehold. [Obs.]
It is great willfulness in landlords to make any longer farms to
their tenants. Spenser.
3. The land held under lease and by payment of rent for the purpose
of cultivation.
4. Any tract of land devoted to agricultural purposes, under the
management of a tenant or the owner.
Note: In English the ideas of a lease, a term, and a rent, continue
to be in a great degree inseparable, even from the popular meaning of
a farm, as they are entirely so from the legal sense. Burrill.
5. A district of country leased (or farmed) out for the collection of
the revenues of government.
The province was devided into twelve farms. Burke.
6. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A lease of the imposts on particular goods; as, the sugar farm,
the silk farm.
Whereas G. H. held the farm of sugars upon a rent of 10,000 marks per
annum. State Trials (1196).
FARM
Farm, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Farmed; p. pr. & vb. n. Farming.]
1. To lease or let for an equivalent, as land for a rent; to yield
the use of to proceeds.
We are enforced to farm our royal realm. Shak.
2. To give up to another, as an estate, a business, the revenue,
etc., on condition of receiving in return a percentage of what it
yields; as, to farm the taxes.
To farm their subjects and their duties toward these. Burke.
3. To take at a certain rent or rate.
4. To devote (land) to agriculture; to cultivate, as land; to till,
as a farm. To farm let, To let to farm, to lease on rent.
FARM
Farm, v. i.
Defn: To engage in the business of tilling the soil; to labor as a
farmer.
FARMABLE
Farm"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being farmed.
FARMER
Farm"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fermier.]
Defn: One who farms; as:
(a) One who hires and cultivates a farm; a cultivator of leased
ground; a tenant. Smart.
(b) One who is devoted to the tillage of the soil; one who cultivates
a farm; an agriculturist; a husbandman.
(c) One who takes taxes, customs, excise, or other duties, to
collect, either paying a fixed annuual rent for the privilege; as, a
farmer of the revenues.
(d) (Mining) The lord of the field, or one who farms the lot and cope
of the crown. Farmer-general Etym: [F. fermier-general], one to whom
the right of levying certain taxes, in a particular district, was
farmed out, under the former French monarchy, for a given sum paid
down.
-- Farmers' satin, a light material of cotton and worsted, used for
coat linings. McElrath.
-- The king's farmer (O. Eng. Law), one to whom the collection of a
royal revenue was farmed out. Burrill.
FARMERESS
Farm"er*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who farms.
FARMERSHIP
Farm"er*ship, n.
Defn: Skill in farming.
FARMERY
Farm"er*y, n.
Defn: The buildings and yards necessary for the business of a farm; a
homestead. [Eng.]
FARMHOUSE
Farm"house`, n.
Defn: A dwelling house on a farm; a farmer's residence.
FARMING
Farm"ing, a.
Defn: Pertaining to agriculture; devoted to, adapted to, or engaged
in, farming; as, farming tools; farming land; a farming community.
FARMING
Farm"ing, n.
Defn: The business of cultivating land.
FARMOST
Far"most`, a.
Defn: Most distant; farthest.
A spacious cave within its farmost part. Dryden.
FARMSTEAD
Farm"stead, n.
Defn: A farm with the building upon it; a homestead on a farm.
Tennyson.
With its pleasant groves and farmsteads. Carlyle.
FARMSTEADING
Farm"stead*ing, n.
Defn: A farmstead. [Scot.] Black.
FARMYARD
Farm"yard`, n.
Defn: The yard or inclosure attached to a barn, or the space inclosed
by the farm buildings.
FARNESS
Far"ness, n. Etym: [From Far, a.]
Defn: The state of being far off; distance; remoteness. [R.] Grew.
FARO
Far"o, n. Etym: [Said to be so called because the Egyptian king
Pharaoh was formerly represented upon one of the cards.]
Defn: A gambling game at cardds, in whiich all the other players play
against the dealer or banker, staking their money upon the order in
which the cards will lie and be dealt from the pack. Faro bank, the
capital which the proprietor of a farotable ventures in the game;
also, the place where a game of faro is played. Hoyle.
FAROESE
Fa`ro*ese`, n. sing. & pl.
Defn: An inhabitant, or, collectively, inhabitants, of the Faroe
islands.
FAR-OFF
Far"-*off`, a.
Defn: Remote; as, the far-off distance. Cf. Far-off, under Far, adv.
FARRAGINOUS
Far*rag*i*nous, a. Etym: [See Farrago.]
Defn: Formed of various materials; mixed; as, a farraginous mountain.
[R.] Kirwan.
AA farraginous concurrence of all conditions, tempers, sexes, and
ages. Sir T. Browne.
FARRAGO
Far*ra"go, n. Etym: [L. farrago, -aginis, mi8xed fodder for cattle,
mash, medley, fr. far a sort of grain. See Farina.]
Defn: A mass ccomposed of various materials confusedly mixed; a
medley; a mixture.
A confounded farrago of doubts, fears, hopes, wishes, and all the
flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain. Sheridan.
FARRAND
Far"rand, n. Etym: [OE. farand beautiful; cf. Gael. farranta neat,
stout, stately; or perh. akin to E. fare.]
Defn: Manner; custom; fashion; humor. [Prov. Eng.] [Written also
farand.] Grose.
FARREATION
Far`re*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. farreatio.]
Defn: Same as Confarreation.
FARRIER
Far"ri*er, n. Etym: [OE. farrour, ferrer, OF. ferreor, ferrier, LL.
Ferrator, ferrarius equorum, from ferrare to shoe a horse, ferrum a
horseshoe, fr. L. ferrum iron. Cf. Ferreous.]
Defn:
1. A shoer of horses
Defn: 2. a veterinary surgeon.
FARRIER
Far"ri*er, v. i.
Defn: To practice as a farrier; to carry on the trade of a farrier.
[Obs.] Mortimer.
FARRIERY
Far"ri*er*y, n.
1. The art of shoeing horses.
2. The art of preventing, curing, or mitigating diseases of horses
and cattle; the veterinary art.
3. The place where a smith shoes horses.
FARROW
Far"row, n. Etym: [AS. fearh a little pig; a akin to OHG. farh,
farah, pig, dim. farheli little pig, G. fercel, D. varken pig, Lith.
parszas OIr. orc,L. porcus, Gr. Pork.]
Defn: A little of pigs. Shak.
FARROW
Far"row, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Farrowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Farrowing.]
Defn: To bring forth (young); -- said only of swine. Tusser.
FARROW
Far"row, a. Etym: [Cf. Scot. ferry cow a cow that is not with calf,
D. vaarkoe, vaars, heifer, G. färse, AS. fearr bull, G. farre. Cf.
Heifer.]
Defn: Not producing young in a given season or year; -- said only of
cows.
Note: If a cow has had a calf, but fails in a subsequent year, she is
said to be farrow, or to go farrow.
FARRY
Far"ry, n.
Defn: A farrow. [Obs.] Perry.
FARSE
Farse, n. Etym: [See Farce, n.] (Eccl.)
Defn: An addition to, or a paraphrase of, some part of the Latin
service in the vernacular; -- common in English before the
Reformation.
FARSEEING
Far"see`ing, a.
1. Able to see to a great distance; farsighted.
2. Having foresight as regards the future.
FARSIGHTED
Far"sight`ed, a.
1. Seeing to great distance; hence, of good judgment regarding the
remote effects of actions; sagacious.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Hypermetropic.
FARSIGHTEDNESS
Far"sight`ed*ness, n.
1. Quality of bbeing farsighted.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Hypermetropia.
FAR-STRETCHED; FARSTRETCHED
Far"-*stretched`, a.
Defn: Stretched beyond ordinary limits.
FAR-STRETCHED
Far"-stretched`, a.
Defn: Stretched beyond ordinary limits.
FARTHER
Far"ther, a., compar. of Far. [superl. Farthest (. See Further.]
Etym: [For farrer, OE. ferrer, compar. of far; confused with further.
Cf. Farthest.]
1. More remote; more distant than something else.
2. Tending to a greater distance; beyond a certain point; additional;
further.
Before our farther way the fates allow. Dryden.
Let me add a farther Truth. Dryden.
Some farther change awaits us. MIlton.
FARTHER
Far"ther, adv.
1. At or to a greater distance; more renotely; beyond; as, let us
rest with what we have, without looking farther.
2. Moreover; by way of progress in treating a subject; as, farther,
let us consider the probable event. No farther, (used elliptically
for) go no farther; say no more, etc.
It will be dangerous to go on. No farther ! Shak.
FARTHER
Far"ther, v. t.
Defn: To help onward. [R.] See Further.
FARTHERANCE
Far"ther*ance, n. [Obs.]
Defn: See Furtherence.
FARTHERMORE
Far"ther*more*", adv. [Obs.]
Defn: See Furthermore.
FARTHERMOST
Far"ther*most`, a.
Defn: Most distant or remote; as, the farthest degree. See Furthest.
FARTHEST
Far"thest (fär"thest), a. Superl. of far. [See Farther and cf.
Furthest]
Defn: Most distant or remote; as, the farthest degree. See Furthest.
FARTHEST
Far"thest adv.
Defn: At or to the greatest distance. See Furthest.
FARTHING
Far"thing, n. Etym: [OE. furthing, AS. feór, fr. feór fourth, feór,
feówer, four. See Four.]
1. The fourth of a penny; a small copper coin of Great Britain, being
a cent in United States currency.
2. A very small quantity or value. [Obs.]
In her cup was no farthing seen of grease. Chaucer.
3. A division of hand. [Obs.]
Thirty acres make a farthing land; nine farthings a Cornish acre; and
four Cornish acres a knight's fee. R. Carew.
FARTHINGALE
Far"thin*gale, n. Etym: [OE. vardingale, fardingale, fr. OF.
vertugale, verdugade, F. vertugade, vertugadin, from Sp. verdugado,
being named from its hoops, fr. verdugo a young shoot of tree, fr.
verde green, fr. L. viridis. See Verdant.]
Defn: A hoop skirt or hoop petticoat, or other light, elastic
material, used to extend the petticoat.
We'll revel it as bravely as the best, . . . With ruffs and cuffs,
and farthingales and things. Shak.
FASCES
Fas"ces, n. pl. Etym: [L., pl. of fascis bundle; cf. fascia a band,
and Gr. , (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A bundle of rods, having among them an ax with the blade
projecting, borne before the Roman magistrates as a badge of their
authority.
FASCET
Fas"cet, n. (Glass Making)
Defn: A wire basket on the end of a rod to carry glass bottles, etc.,
to the annealing furnace; also, an iron rod to be thrust into the
mouths of bottles, and used for the same purpose; -- calles also
pontee and punty.
FASCIA
Fas"ci*a, n.; pl. Fasciæ. Etym: [L., a band: cf. It. fascia. See
Fasces, and cf. Fess.]
1. A band, sash, or fillet; especially, in surgery, a bandage or
roller.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A flat member of an order or building, like a flat band or
broad fillet; especially, one of the three bands which make up the
architrave, in the Ionic order. See Illust. of Column.
3. (Anat.)
Defn: The layer of loose tissue, often containing fat, immediately
beneath the skin; the stronger layer of connective tissue covering
and investing all muscles; an aponeurosis.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A broad well-defined band of color.
FASCIAL
Fas"ci*al, a.
1. Pertaining to the fasces.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Relating to a fascia.
FASCIATE; FASCIATED
Fas"ci*ate, Fas"ci*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. fasciatus, p.p. of fasciare to
envelop with bands, fr. fascia band. See Fasces.]
1. Bound with a fillet, sash, or bandage.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Banded or compacted together.
(b) Flattened and laterally widened, as are often the stems of the
garden cockscomb.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Broadly banded with color.
FASCIATION
Fas`ci*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act or manner of binding up; bandage; also, the condition
of being fasciated.
FASCICLE
Fas"ci*cle, n. Etym: [L. fasciculus, dim. of fascis. See Fasces.]
Defn: A small bundle or collection; a compact cluster; as, a fascicle
of fibers; a fascicle of flowers or roots.
FASCICLED
Fas"ci*cled, a.
Defn: Growing in a bundle, tuft, or close cluster; as, the fascicled
leaves of the pine or larch; the fascicled roots of the dahlia;
fascicled muscle fibers; fascicled tufts of hair.
FASCICULAR
Fas*cic"u*lar, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a fascicle; fascicled; as, a fascicular root.
FASCICULARLY
Fas*cic"u*lar*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fascicled manner. Kirwan.
FASCICULATE; FASCICULATED
Fas*cic"u*late, Fas*cic"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Grouped in a fascicle; fascicled.
FASCICULE
Fas"ci*cule, n. [See Fascicle.]
Defn: A small bunch or bundle; a fascicle; as, a fascicule of fibers,
hairs, or spines.
FASCICULUS
Fas*cic"u*lus, n.; pl. Fasciculi. Etym: [L. See Fascicle.]
1. A little bundle; a fascicle.
2. A division of a book.
FASCINATE
Fas"ci*nate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fascinated, p. pr. & vb. n..
Fascinating (.] Etym: [L. fascinare; cf. Gr.
1. To influence in an uncontrollable manner; to operate on by some
powerful or irresistible charm; to bewitch; to enchant.
It has been almost universally believed that . . . serpents can
stupefy and fascinate the prey which they are desirous to obtain.
Griffith (Cuvier).
2. To excite and allure irresistibly or powerfully; to charm; to
captivate, as by physical or mental charms.
there be none of the passions that have been noted to fascinate or
bewhich but love and envy. Bacon.
Syn.
-- To charm; enrapture; captivate; enchant; bewitch; attract.
FASCINATION
Fas`ci*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. fascinatio; cf. F. fascination.]
1. The act of fascinating, bewhiching, or enchanting; enchantment;
witchcraft; the exercise of a powerful or irresistible influence on
the affections or passions; unseen, inexplicable influence.
The Turks hang old rags . . . upon their fairest horses, and other
goodly creatures, to secure them against fascination. Waller.
2. The state or condition of being fascinated.
3. That which fascinates; a charm; a spell.
There is a certain bewitchery or fascination in words. South.
FASCINE
Fas*cine", n. Etym: [F., fr. L. fascina a bundle of sticks, fr.
fascis. See Fasces.] (Fort. & Engin.)
Defn: A cylindrical bundle of small sticks of wood, bound together,
used in raising batteries, filling ditches, strengthening ramparts,
and making parapets; also in revetments for river banks, and in mats
for dams, jetties, etc.
FASCINOUS
Fas"ci*nous, a. Etym: [L. fascinum witchcraft, akin to fascinare. See
Fascinate.]
Defn: Caused or acting by witchcraft. [Obs.] "Fascinous diseases."
Harvey.
FASCIOLA
Fas*ci"o*la, n.;pl. Fasciolæ. Etym: [See Fasciole.] (Anat.)
Defn: A band of gray matter bordering the fimbria in the brain; the
dentate convolution. Wilder.
FASCIOLE
Fas"ci*ole, n. Etym: [L. fasciola a little bandage. See Fascia.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A band of minute tubercles, bearing modified spines, on the
shells of spatangoid sea urchins. See Spatangoidea.
FASH
Fash, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fashing.] Etym:
[OF. faschier, F. f, to anger, vex; cf. Pr. fasticar, fastigar, fr.
L. fastidium dilike. See Fastidious.]
Defn: To vex; to tease; to trouble. [Scot.]
FASH
Fash, n.
Defn: Vexation; anxiety; care. [Scot.]
Without further fash on my part. De Quincey.
FASHION
Fash"ion, n. Etym: [OE. fasoun, facioun, shape, manner, F. facon,
orig., a making, fr. L. factio a making, fr. facere to make. See
Fact, Feat, and cf. Faction.]
1. The make or form of anything; the style, shape, appearance, or
mode of structure; pattern, model; as, the fashion of the ark, of a
coat, of a house, of an altar, etc. ; workmanship; execution.
The fashion of his countenance was altered. Luke ix. 29.
I do not like the fashion of your garments. Shak.
2. The prevailing mode or style, especially of dress; custom or
conventional usage in respect of dress, behavior, etiquette, etc.;
particularly, the mode or style usual among persons of good breeding;
as, to dress, dance, sing, ride, etc., in the fashion.
The innocent diversions in fashion. Locke.
As now existing, fashion is a form of social regulation analogous to
constitutional government as a form of political regulation. H.
Spencer.
3. Polite, fashionable, or genteel life; social position; good
breeding; as, men of fashion.
4. Mode of action; method of conduct; manner; custom; sort; way.
"After his sour fashion." Shak. After a fashion, to a certain extent;
in a sort.
-- Fashion piece (Naut.), one of the timbers which terminate the
transom, and define the shape of the stern.
-- Fashion plate, a pictorial design showing the prevailing style or
a new style of dress. in a sort s.b. of a sort
FASHION
Fash"ion, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fashioned; p. pr. & vb. n. Fashioning.]
Etym: [Cf. F. faconner.]
1. To form; to give shape or figure to; to mold.
Here the loud hammer fashions female toys. Gay.
Ingenious art . . . Steps forth to fashion and refine the age.
Cowper.
2. To fit; to adapt; to accommodate; -- with to.
Laws ought to be fashioned to the manners and conditions of the
people. Spenser.
3. To make according to the rule prescribed by custom.
Fashioned plate sells for more than its weight. Locke.
4. To forge or counterfeit. [Obs.] Shak. Fashioning needle (Knitting
Machine), a needle used for widening or narrowing the work and thus
shaping it.
FASHIONABLE
Fash"ion*a*ble, a.
1. Conforming to the fashion or established mode; according with the
prevailing form or style; as, a fashionable dress.
2. Established or favored by custom or use; current; prevailing at a
particular time; as, the fashionable philosophy; fashionable
opinions.
3. Observant of the fashion or customary mode; dressing or behaving
according to the prevailing fashion; as, a fashionable man.
4. Genteel; well-bred; as, fashionable society.
Time is like a fashionable host That slightly shakes his parting
guest by the hand. Shak.
FASHIONABLE
Fash"ion*a*ble, n.
Defn: A person who conforms to the fashions; -- used chiefly in the
plural.
FASHIONABLENESS
Fash"ion*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: State of being fashionable.
FASHIONABLY
Fash"ion*a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a fashionable manner.
FASHIONED
Fash"ioned, a.
Defn: Having a certain style or fashion; as old-fashioned; new-
fashioned.
FASHIONER
Fash"ion*er, n.
Defn: One who fashions, forms, ar gives shape to anything. [R.]
The fashioner had accomplished his task, and the dresses were brought
home. Sir W. Scott.
FASHIONIST
Fash"ion*ist, n.
Defn: An obsequious follower of the modes and fashions. [R.] Fuller.
FASHIONLESS
Fash"ion*less, a.
Defn: Having no fashion.
FASHION-MONGER
Fash"ion-mon`ger, n.
Defn: One who studies the fashions; a fop; a dandy. Marston.
FASHION-MONGERING
Fash"ion-mon`ger*ing, a.
Defn: Behaving like a fashion-monger. [R.] Shak.
FASSAITE
Fas"sa*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of pyroxene, from the valley of Fassa, in the Tyrol.
FAST
Fast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fasting.] Etym:
[AS. fæstan; akin to D. vasten, OHG. fasten, G. fasten, Icel. & Sw.
fasta, Dan. faste, Goth. fastan to keep, observe, fast, and prob. to
E. fast firm.]
1. To abstain from food; to omit to take nourishment in whole or in
part; to go hungry.
Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked. Milton.
2. To practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain
from food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body
or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence.
Thou didst fast and weep for the child. 2 Sam. xii. 21.
Fasting day, a fast day; a day of fasting.
FAST
Fast, n. Etym: [OE. faste, fast; cf. AS. f, OHG. fasta, G. faste. See
Fast, v. i.]
1. Abstinence from food; omission to take nounrishment.
Surfeit is the father of much fast. Shak.
2. Voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a
spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation.
3. A time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period
of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast.
Fast day, a day appointed for fasting, humiliation, and religious
offices as a means of invoking the favor of God.
-- To break one's fast, to put an end to a period of abstinence by
taking food; especially, to take one's morning meal; to breakfast.
Shak.
FAST
Fast, a. [Compar. Faster; superl. Fastest.] Etym: [OE., firm, strong,
not loose, AS. f; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G.
fest, Isel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense
swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a
Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.]
1. Firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or
easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door.
There is an order that keeps things fast. Burke.
2. Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable;
strong.
Outlaws . . . lurking in woods and fast places. Spenser.
3. Firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated;
faithful; as, a fast friend.
4. Permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing;
durable; lasting; as, fast colors.
5. Tenacious; retentive. [Obs.]
Roses, damask and red, are fast flowers of their smells. Bacon.
6. Not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound.
All this while in a most fast sleep. Shak.
7. Moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse.
8. Given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless;
wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver. Thackeray.
Fast and loose, now cohering, now disjoined; inconstant, esp. in the
phrases to play at fast and loose, to play fast and loose, to act
with giddy or reckless inconstancy or in a tricky manner; to say one
thing and do another "Play fast and loose with faith." Shak. Fast and
loose pulleys (Mach.), two pulleys placed side by side on a revolving
shaft, which is driven from another shaft by a band, and arranged to
disengage and reëngage the machinery driven thereby. When the
machinery is to be stopped, the band is transferred from the pulley
fixed to the shaft to the pulley which revolves freely upon it, and
vice versa.
-- Hard and fast (Naut.), so completely aground as to be immovable.
-- To make fast (Naut.), to make secure; to fasten firmly, as a
vessel, a rope, or a door.
FAST
Fast, adv. Etym: [OE. Faste firmly, strongly, quickly, AS. f. See
Fast, a.]
1. In a fast, fixed, or firmly established manner; fixedly; firmly;
immovably.
We will bind thee fast. Judg. xv. 13.
2. In a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly;
wildly; as, to run fast; to live fast. Fast by, or Fast beside, close
or near to; near at hand.
He, after Eve seduced, unminded slunk Into the wood fast by. Milton.
Fast by the throne obsequious Fame resides. Pope.
FAST
Fast, n.
Defn: That which fastens or holds; especially, (Naut.) a mooring
rope, hawser, or chain; -- called, according to its position, a bow,
head, quarter, breast, or stern fast; also, a post on a pier around
which hawsers are passed in mooring.
FASTEN
Fas"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fastened; p. pr. & vb. n. Fastening.]
Etym: [AS. fæstnian; akin to OHG. festinon. See Fast, a.]
1. To fix firmly; to make fast; to secure, as by a knot, lock, bolt,
etc.; as, to fasten a chain to the feet; to fasten a door or window.
2. To cause to hold together or to something else; to attach or unite
firmly; to cause to cleave to something , or to cleave together, by
any means; as, to fasten boards together with nails or cords; to
fasten anything in our thoughts.
The words Whig and Tory have been pressed to the service of many
successions of parties, with very different ideas fastened to them.
Swift.
3. To cause to take close effect; to make to tell; to lay on; as, to
fasten a blow. [Obs.] Dryden.
If I can fasten but one cup upon him. Shak.
To fasten a charge, or a crime, upon, to make his guilt certain, or
so probable as to be generally believed.
-- To fasten one's eyes upon, to look upon steadily without
cessation. Acts iii. 4.
Syn.
-- To fix; cement; stick; link; affix; annex.
FASTEN
Fas"ten, v. i.
Defn: To fix one's self; to take firm hold; to clinch; to cling.
A horse leech will hardly fasten on a fish. Sir T. Browne.
FASTENER
Fas"ten*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, makes fast or firm.
FASTENING
Fas"ten*ing, n.
Defn: Anything that binds and makes fast, as a lock, catch, bolt,
bar, buckle, etc.
FASTER
Fast"er, n.
Defn: One who abstains from food.
FAST-HANDED
Fast"-hand`ed, a.
Defn: Close-handed; close-fisted; covetous; avaricious. [Obs.] Bacon.
FASTI
Fas"ti, n.pl. Etym: [L.]
1. The Roman calendar, which gave the days for festivals, courts,
etc., corresponding to a modern almanac.
2. Records or registers of important events.
FASTIDIOSITY
Fas*tid`i*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fastidiousness; squeamishness. [Obs.] Swift.
FASTIDIOUS
Fas*tid"i*ous, a. Etym: [L. fastidiosus disdainful, fr. fastidium
loathing, aversion, perh. fr. fastus arrogance (of uncertain origin)
+ taedium loathing. Cf. Tedious, Fash.]
Defn: Difficult to please; delicate to fault; suited with difficulty;
squeamish; as, a fastidious mind or ear; a fastidious appetite.
Proud youth ! fastidious of the lower world. Young.
Syn.
-- Squeamish; critical; overnice; difficult; punctilious.
-- Fastidious, Squeamish. We call a person fastidious when his taste
or feelings are offended by trifling defects or errors; we call him
squeamish when he is excessively nice or critical on minor points,
and also when he is overscrupulous as to questions of duty. "Whoever
examines his own imperfections will cease to be fastidious; whoever
restrains his caprice and scrupulosity will cease to be squeamish."
Crabb.
-- Fas*tid"i*ous*ly, adv.
-- Fas*tid"i*ous*ness, n.
FASTIGIATE; FASTIGIATED
Fas*tig"i*ate, Fas*tig"i*a`ted, a. Etym: [L. fastigium gable end,
top, height, summit.]
1. Narrowing towards the top.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Clustered, parallel, and upright, as the branches of the
Lombardy poplar; pointed.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: United into a conical bundle, or into a bundle with an enlarged
head, like a sheaf of wheat.
FASTISH
Fast"ish, a.
Defn: Rather fast; also, somewhat dissipated. [Colloq.] Thackeray.
FASTLY
Fast"ly, adv.
Defn: Firmly; surely.
FASTNESS
Fast"ness, n. Etym: [AS. fæstnes, fr. fæst fast. See Fast, a.]
1. The state of being fast and firm; firmness; fixedness; security;
faithfulness.
All . . . places of fastness [are] laid open. Sir J. Davies.
2. A fast place; a stronghold; a fortress or fort; a secure retreat;
a castle; as, the enemy retired to their fastnesses in the mountains.
3. Conciseness of style. [Obs.] Ascham.
4. The state of being fast or swift.
FASTUOUS
Fas"tu*ous, a. Etym: [L. fastuosus, from fastus haughtiness, pride:
cf. F. fastueux.]
Defn: Proud; haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Barrow. Fas"tu*ous*ness, n.
[Obs.] Jer. Taylor.
FAT
Fat, n. Etym: [See Vat, n.]
1. A large tub, cistern, or vessel; a vat. [Obs.]
The fats shall overflow with wine and oil. Joel ii. 24.
2. A measure of quantity, differing for different commodities. [Obs.]
Hebert.
FAT
Fat, a. [Compar. Fatter; superl. Fattest.] Etym: [AS. fætt; akin to
D. vet, G. fett, feist, Icel. feitr, Sw. fet, Dan. fed, and perh. to
Gr. pi^dax spring, fountain, pidy`ein to gush forth, pi`wn fat, Skr.
pi to swell.]
1. Abounding with fat; as:
(a) Fleshy; characterized by fatness; plump; corpulent; not lean; as,
a fat man; a fat ox.
(b) Oily; greasy; unctuous; rich; -- said of food.
2. Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross;
dull; stupid.
Making our western wits fat and mean. Emerson.
Make the heart of this people fat. Is. vi. 10.
3. Fertile; productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture.
4. Rich; producing a large income; desirable; as, a fat benefice; a
fat office; a fat job.
Now parson of Troston, a fat living in Suffolk. Carlyle.
5. Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate. [Obs.]
Persons grown fat and wealthy by long impostures. Swift.
6. (Typog.)
Defn: Of a character which enables the compositor to make large
wages; -- said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.;
as, a fat take; a fat page. Fat lute, a mixture of pipe clay and oil
for filling joints.
FAT
Fat, n.
1. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An oily liquid or greasy substance making up the main bulk of
the adipose tissue of animals, and widely distributed in the seeds of
plants. See Adipose tissue, under Adipose.
Note: Animal fats are composed mainly of three distinct fats,
tristearin, tripalmitin, and triolein, mixed in varying proportions.
As olein is liquid at ordinary temperatures, while the other two fats
are solid, it follows that the consistency or hardness of fats
depends upon the relative proportion of the three individual fats.
During the life of an animal, the fat is mainly in a liquid state in
the fat cells, owing to the solubility of the two solid fats in the
more liquid olein at the body temperature. Chemically, fats are
composed of fatty acid, as stearic, palmitic, oleic, etc., united
with glyceryl. In butter fat, olein and palmitin predominate, mixed
with another fat characteristic of butter, butyrin. In the vegetable
kingdom many other fats or glycerides are to be found, as myristin
from nutmegs, a glyceride of lauric acid in the fat of the bay tree,
etc.
2. The best or richest productions; the best part; as, to live on the
fat of the land.
3. (Typog.)
Defn: Work. containing much blank, or its equivalent, and, therefore,
profitable to the compositor. Fat acid. (Chem.) See Sebacic acid,
under Sebacic.
-- Fat series, Fatty series (Chem.), the series of the paraffine
hydrocarbons and their derivatives; the marsh gas or methane series.
-- Natural fats (Chem.), the group of oily substances of natural
occurrence, as butter, lard, tallow, etc., as distinguished from
certain fatlike substance of artificial production, as paraffin. Most
natural fats are essentially mixtures of triglycerides of fatty
acids.
FAT
Fat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fatted; p. pr. & vb. n. atting.] Etym: [OE.
fatten, AS. f. See Fat, a., and cf. Fatten.]
Defn: To make fat; to fatten; to make plump and fleshy with abundant
food; as, to fat fowls or sheep.
We fat all creatures else to fat us. Shak.
FAT
Fat, v. i.
Defn: To grow fat, plump, and fleshy.
An old ox fats as well, and is as good, as a young one. Mortimer.
FATAL
Fa"tal, a. Etym: [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.]
1. Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary;
inevitable. [R.]
These thing are fatal and necessary. Tillotson.
It was fatal to the king to fight for his money. Bacon.
2. Foreboding death or great disaster. [R.]
That fatal screech owl to our house That nothing sung but death to us
and ours. Shak.
3. Causing death or destruction; deadly; mortal; destructive;
calamitous; as, a fatal wound; a fatal disease; a fatal day; a fatal
error.
FATALISM
Fa"tal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fatalisme.]
Defn: The doctrine that all things are subject to fate, or that they
take place by inevitable necessity.
FATALIST
Fa"tal*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fataliste.]
Defn: One who maintains that all things happen by inevitable
necessity.
FATALISTIC
Fa`tal*is"tic, a.
Defn: Implying, or partaking of the nature of, fatalism.
FATALITY
Fa*tal"i*ty, n.;pl. Fatalities. Etym: [L. fatalitas: cf. F. fatalité]
1. The state of being fatal, or proceeding from destiny; invincible
necessity, superior to, and independent of, free and rational
control.
The Stoics held a fatality, and a fixed, unalterable course of
events. South.
2. The state of being fatal; tendency to destruction or danger, as if
by decree of fate; mortaility.
The year sixty-three is conceived to carry with it the most
considerable fatality. Ser T. Browne.
By a strange fatality men suffer their dissenting. Eikon Basilike.
3. That which is decreed by fate or which is fatal; a fatal event.
Dryden.
FATALLY
Fa"tal*ly, adv.
1. In a manner proceeding from, or determined by, fate. Bentley.
2. In a manner issuing in death or ruin; mortally; destructively; as,
fatally deceived or wounded.
FATALNESS
Fa"tal*ness
Defn: , . Quality of being fatal. Johnson.
FATA MORGANA
Fa"ta Mor*ga"na. Etym: [It.; -- so called because this phenomenon was
looked upon as the work of a fairy (It. fata) of the name of Morgána.
See Fairy.]
Defn: A kind of mirage by which distant objects appear inverted,
distorted, displaced, or multiplied. It is noticed particularly at
the Straits of Messina, between Calabria and Sicily.
FATBACK
Fat"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The menhaden.
FAT-BRAINED
Fat"-brained`, a.
Defn: Dull of apprehension.
FATE
Fate, n. Etym: [L. fatum a prophetic declaration, oracle, what is
ordained by the gods, destiny, fate, fr. fari to speak: cf. OF. fat.
See Fame, Fable, Ban, and cf. 1st Fay, Fairy.]
1. A fixed decree by which the order of things is prescribed; the
immutable law of the universe; inevitable necessity; the force by
which all existence is determined and conditioned.
Necessity and chance Approach not me; and what I will is fate.
Milton.
Beyond and above the Olympian gods lay the silent, brooding,
everlasting fate of which victim and tyrant were alike the
instruments. Froude.
2. Appointed lot; allotted life; arranged or predetermined event;
destiny; especially, the final lot; doom; ruin; death.
The great, th'important day, big with the fate Of Cato and of Rome.
Addison.
Our wills and fates do so contrary run That our devices still are
overthrown. Shak.
The whizzing arrow sings, And bears thy fate, Antinous, on its wings.
Pope.
3. The element of chance in the affairs of life; the unforeseen and
unestimated conitions considered as a force shaping events; fortune;
esp., opposing circumstances against which it is useless to struggle;
as, fate was, or the fates were, against him.
A brave man struggling in the storms of fate. Pope.
Sometimes an hour of Fate's serenest weather strikes through our
changeful sky its coming beams. B. Taylor.
4. pl. Etym: [L. Fata, pl. of fatum.] (Myth.)
Defn: The three goddesses, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, sometimes
called the Destinies, or Parcæwho were supposed to determine the
course of human life. They are represented, one as holding the
distaff, a second as spinning, and the third as cutting off the
thread.
Note: Among all nations it has been common to speak of fate or
destiny as a power superior to gods and men -- swaying all things
irresistibly. This may be called the fate of poets and mythologists.
Philosophical fate is the sum of the laws of the universe, the
product of eternal intelligence and the blind properties of matter.
Theological fate represents Deity as above the laws of nature, and
ordaining all things according to his will -- the expression of that
will being the law. Krauth-Fleming.
Syn.
-- Destiny; lot; doom; fortune; chance.
FATED
Fat"ed, p. p. & a.
1. Decreed by fate; destined; doomed; as, he was fated to rule a
factious people.
One midnight Fated to the purpose. Shak.
2. Invested with the power of determining destiny. [Obs.] "The fated
sky." Shak.
3. Exempted by fate. [Obs. or R.] Dryden.
FATEFUL
Fate"ful, a. .
Defn: Having the power of serving or accomplishing fate. "The fateful
steel." J. Barlow.
2. Significant of fate; ominous.
The fateful cawings of the crow. Longfellow.
-- Fate"ful*ly, adv.- Fate"ful*ness, n.
FATHEAD
Fat"head`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A cyprinoid fish of the Mississippi valley (Pimephales promelas);
-- called also black-headed minnow.
(b) A labroid food fish of California; the redfish.
FATHER
Fa"ther, n. Etym: [OE. fader, AS. fæder; akin to OS. fadar, D. vader,
OHG. fatar, G. vater, Icel. Fa Sw. & Dan. fader, OIr. athir, L.
pater, Gr. pitr, perh. fr. Skr. pa protect. Papa, Paternal, Patriot,
Potential, Pablum.]
1. One who has begotten a child, whether son or daughter; a
generator; a male parent.
A wise son maketh a glad father. Prov. x. 1.
2. A male ancestor more remote than a parent; a progenitor;
especially, a first ancestor; a founder of a race or family; -- in
the plural, fathers, ancestors.
David slept with his fathers. 1 Kings ii. 10.
Abraham, who is the father of us all. Rom. iv. 16.
3. One who performs the offices of a parent by maintenance,
affetionate care, counsel, or protection.
I was a father to the poor. Job xxix. 16.
He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house. Gen.
xiv. 8.
4. A respectful mode of address to an old man.
And Joash the king og Israel came down unto him [Elisha], . . . and
said, O my father, my father! 2 Kings xiii. 14.
5. A senator of ancient Rome.
6. A dignitary of the church, a superior of a convent, a confessor
(called also father confessor), or a priest; also, the eldest member
of a profession, or of a legislative assembly, etc.
Bless you, good father friar ! Shak.
7. One of the chief esslesiastical authorities of the first centuries
after Christ; -- often spoken of collectively as the Fathers; as, the
Latin, Greek, or apostolic Fathers.
8. One who, or that which, gives origin; an originator; a producer,
author, or contriver; the first to practice any art, profession, or
occupation; a distinguished example or teacher.
The father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Gen. iv. 21.
Might be the father, Harry, to that thought. Shak.
The father of good news. Shak.
9. The Supreme Being and Creator; God; in theology, the first person
in the Trinity.
Our Father, which art in heaven. Matt. vi. 9.
Now had the almighty Father from above . . . Bent down his eye.
Milton.
Adoptive father, one who adopts the child of another, treating it as
his own.
-- Apostolic father, Conscript fathers, etc. See under Apostolic,
Conscript, etc.
-- Father in God, a title given to bishops.
-- Father of lies, the Devil.
-- Father of the bar, the oldest practitioner at the bar.
-- Fathers of the city, the aldermen.
-- Father of the Faithful. (a) Abraham. Rom. iv. Gal. iii. 6-9. (b)
Mohammed, or one of the sultans, his successors.
-- Father of the house, the member of a legislative body who has had
the longest continuous service.
-- Most Reverend Father in God, a title given to archbishops and
metropolitans, as to the archbishops of Canterbury and York.
-- Natural father, the father of an illegitimate child.
-- Putative father, one who is presumed to be the father of an
illegitimate child; the supposed father.
-- Spiritual father. (a) A religious teacher or guide, esp. one
instrumental in leading a soul to God. (b) (R. C. Ch.) A priest who
hears confession in the sacrament of penance.
-- The Holy Father (R. C. Ch.), the pope.
FATHER
Fa"ther, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fathering.]
1. To make one's self the father of; to beget.
Cowards father cowards, and base things sire base. Shak.
2. To take as one's own child; to adopt; hence, to assume as one's
own work; to acknowledge one's self author of or responsible for (a
statement, policy, etc.).
Men of wit Often fathered what he writ. Swift.
3. To provide with a father. [R.]
Think you I am no stronger than my sex, Being so fathered and so
husbanded Shak.
To father on or upon, to ascribe to, or charge upon, as one's
offspring or work; to put or lay upon as being responsible. "Nothing
can be so uncouth or extravagant, which may not be fathered on some
fetch of wit, or some caprice of humor." Barrow.
FATHERHOOD
Fa"ther*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being a father; the character or authority of a
father; paternity.
FATHER-IN-LAW
Fa"ther-in-law`, n.; pl. Fathers-in-law (.
Defn: The father of one's husband or wife; -- correlative to son-in-
law and daughter-in-law.
Note: A man who marries a woman having children already, is
sometimes, though erroneously, called their father-in-law.
FATHERLAND
Fa"ther*land", n. Etym: [Imitated fr. D. vaderland. See Father, and
Land.]
Defn: One's native land; the native land of one's fathers or
ancestors.
FATHER-LASHER
Fa"ther-lash`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European marine fish (Cottus bubalis), allied to the sculpin;
-- called also lucky proach.
FATHERLESS
Fa"ther*less, a.
1. Destitute of a living father; as, a fatherless child.
2. Without a known author. Beau. & Fl.
FATHERLESSNESS
Fa"ther*less*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being without a father.
FATHERLINESS
Fa"ther*li*ness, n. Etym: [From Fatherly.]
Defn: The qualities of a father; parantal kindness, care, etc.
FATHER LONGLEGS
Fa"ther long"legs`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Daddy longlegs, 2.
FATHERLY
Fa"ther*ly, a.
1. Like a father in affection and care; paternal; tender; protecting;
careful.
You have showed a tender, fatherly regard. Shak.
2. Of or pertaining to a father.
FATHERSHIP
Fa"ther*ship, n.
Defn: The state of being a father; fatherhood; paternity.
FATHOM
Fath"om, n. [fadme, faedhme, AS. fæedhm fathom, the embracing arms;
akin to OS. faedhmos the outstretched arms, D. vadem, vaam, fathom,
OHG. fadom, fadum, G. faden fathom, thread, Icel. faedhmr fathom, Sw.
famn, Dan. favn; cf. Gr. patere to lie open, extend. Cf. Patent,
Petal.]
1. A measure of length, containing six feet; the space to which a man
can extend his arms; -- used chiefly in measuring cables, cordage,
and the depth of navigable water by soundings.
2. The measure or extant of one's capacity; depth, as of intellect;
profundity; reach; penetration. [R.]
Another of his fathom they have none To lead their business. Shak.
FATHOM
Fath"om, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fathomed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fathoming.]
1. To encompass with the arms extended or encircling; to measure by
throwing the arms about; to span. [Obs.] Purchas.
2. The measure by a sounding line; especially, to sound the depth of;
to penetrate, measure, and comprehend; to get to the bottom of.
Dryden.
The page of life that was spread out before me seemed dull and
commonplace, only because I had not fathomed its deeper import.
Hawthotne.
FATHOMABLE
Fath"om*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being fathomed.
FATHOMER
Fath"om*er, n.
Defn: One who fathoms.
FATHOMLESS
Fath"om*less, a.
1. Incapable of being fathomed; immeasurable; that can not be
sounded.
And buckle in a waist most fathomless. Shak.
2. Incomprehensible.
The fathomless absurdity. Milton.
FATIDICAL
Fa*tid"i*cal, a. Etym: [L. fatidicus; fatum fate + dicere to say,
tell.]
Defn: Having power to foretell future events; prophetic; fatiloquent;
as, the fatidical oak. [R.] Howell.
-- Fa*tid"i*cal*ly, adv.
FATIFEROUS
Fa*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. fatifer; fatum fate + ferre to bear,
bring.]
Defn: Fate-bringing; deadly; mortal; destructive. [R.] Johnson.
FATIGABLE
Fat"i*ga*ble, a. Etym: [L. fatigabilis: cf. F. fatigable. See
Fatigue.]
Defn: Easily tired. [Obs.] Bailey.
FATIGATE
Fat"i*gate, a. Etym: [L. fatigatus, p.p. of fatigare. See Fatigue.]
Defn: Wearied; tired; fatigued. [Obs.]
Requickened what in flesh was fatigate. Shak.
FATIGATE
Fat"i*gate, v. t.
Defn: To weary; to tire; to fatigue. [Obs.] Sir T. Elyot.
FATIGATION
Fat`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. fatigatio: cf. OF. fatigation.]
Defn: Weariness. [Obs.] W. Montaqu.
FATIGUE
Fa*tigue", n. Etym: [F., fr. fatiguer to fatigue, L. fatigare; cf. L.
affatim sufficiently.]
1. Weariness from bodily labor or mental exertion; lassitude or
exhaustion of strength.
2. The cause of weariness; labor; toil; as, the fatigues of war.
Dryden.
3. The weakening of a metal when subjected to repeated vibrations or
strains. Fatigue call (Mil.), a summons, by bugle or drum, to perform
fatigue duties.
-- Fatigue dress, the working dress of soldiers.
-- Fatigue duty (Mil.), labor exacted from soldiers aside from the
use of arms. Farrow.
-- Fatigue party, a party of soldiers on fatigue duty.
FATIGUE
Fa*tigue", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fatigued; p. pr. & vb. n. Fatiguing,
n.] Etym: [Cf. F. fatiguer. See Fatigue, n.]
Defn: To weary with labor or any bodily or mental exertion; to harass
with toil; to exhaust the strength or endurance of; to tire.
Syn.
-- To jade; tire; weary; bore. See Jade.
FATILOQUENT
Fa*til"o*quent, a. Etym: [See Fatiloquist.]
Defn: Prophetic; fatidical. [Obs.] Blount.
FATILOQUIST
Fa*til"o*quist, n. Etym: [L. fatiloquus declaring fate; fatum fate+
Loqui to speak.]
Defn: A fortune teller.
FATIMITE; FATIMIDE
Fat"i*mite, Fat"i*mide, a. (Hist.)
Defn: Descended from Fatima, the daughter and only child of Mohammed.
-- n.
Defn: A descendant of Fatima.
FATISCENCE
Fa*tis"cence, n. Etym: [L. fatiscense, p.pr. of fatiscere to gape or
crack open.]
Defn: A gaping or opening; state of being chinky, or having
apertures. Kirwan.
FAT-KIDNEYED
Fat"-kid`neyed, a.
Defn: Gross; lubberly.
Peace, ye fat-kidneyed rascal ! Shak.
FATLING
Fat"ling, n. Etym: [Fat + -ling.]
Defn: A calf, lamb, kid, or other young animal fattened for
slaughter; a fat animal; -- said of such animals as are used for
food.
He sacrificed oxen and fatlings. 2 Sam. vi. 13.
FATLY
Fat"ly, adv.
Defn: Grossly; greasily.
FATNER
Fat"ner, n.
Defn: One who fattens. [R.] See Fattener. Arbuthnit.
FATNESS
Fat"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being fat, plump, or full-fed; corpulency;
fullness of flesh.
Their eyes stand out with fatness. Ps. lxxiii. 7.
2. Hence; Richness; fertility; fruitfulness.
Rich in the fatness of her plenteous soil. Rowe.
3. That which makes fat or fertile.
The clouds drop fatness. Philips.
FATTEN
Fat"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fattened; p. pr. & vb. n. Fattining.]
Etym: [See Fat, v. t.]
1. To make fat; to feed for slaughter; to make fleshy or plump with
fat; to fill full; to fat.
2. To make fertile and fruitful; to enrich; as, to fatten land; to
fatten fields with blood. Dryden.
FATTEN
Fat"ten, v. i.
Defn: To grow fat or corpulent; to grow plump, thick, or fleshy; to
be pampered.
And villains fatten with the brave man's labor. Otway.
FATTENER
Fat"ten*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, fattens; that which gives fatness or
fertility.
FATTINESS
Fat"ti*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being fatty.
FATTISH
Fat"tish, a.
Defn: Somewhat fat; inclined to fatness.
Coleridge, a puffy, anxious, obstructed-looking, fattish old man.
Carlyle.
FATTY
Fat"ty, a.
Defn: Containing fat, or having the qualities of fat; greasy; gross;
as, a fatty substance. Fatty acid (Chem.), any one of the paraffin
series of monocarbonic acids, as formic acid, acetic, etc.; -- so
called because the higher members, as stearic and palmitic acids,
occur in the natural fats, and are themselves fatlike substances.
-- Fatty clays. See under Clay.
-- Fatty degeneration (Med.), a diseased condition, in which the oil
globules, naturally present in certain organs, are so multiplied as
gradually to destroy and replace the efficient parts of these organs.
-- Fatty heart, Fatty liver, etc. (Med.), a heart, liver, etc.,
which have been the subjects of fatty degeneration or infiltration.
-- Fatty infiltration (Med.), a condition in which there is an
excessive accumulation of fat in an organ, without destruction of any
essential parts of the latter.
-- Fatty tumor (Med.), a tumor consisting of fatty or adipose
tissue; lipoma.
FATUITOUS
Fa*tu"i*tous, a.
Defn: Stupid; fatuous.
FATUITY
Fa*tu"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fatuitas, fr. fatuus foolish: cf. F. fatuité
Cf. Fatuous.]
Defn: Weakness or imbecility of mind; stupidity.
Those many forms of popular fatuity. I Taylor.
FATUOUS
Fat"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. fatuus.]
1. Feeble in mind; weak; silly; stupid; foolish; fatuitous. Glanvill.
2. Without reality; illusory, like the ignis fatuus.
Thence fatuous fires and meteors take their birth. Danham.
FAT-WITTED
Fat"-wit`ted, a.
Defn: Dull; stupid. Shak.
FAUBOURG
Fau`bourg", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A suburb of French city; also, a district now within a city,
but formerly without its walls.
FAUCAL
Fau"cal, a. Etym: [L. fauces throat.]
Defn: Pertaining to the fauces, or opening of the throat; faucial;
esp., (Phon.) produced in the fauces, as certain deep guttural sounds
found in the Semitic and some other languages.
Ayin is the most difficult of the faucals. I. Taylor (The Alphabet).
FAUCES
Fau"ces, n.pl. Etym: [L.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The narrow passage from the mouth to the pharynx, situated
between the soft palate and the base of the tongue; -- called also
the isthmus of the fauces. On either side of the passage two
membranous folds, called the pillars of the fauces, inclose the
tonsils.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The throat of a calyx, corolla, etc.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: That portion of the interior of a spiral shell which can be
seen by looking into the aperture.
FAUCET
Fau"cet, n. Etym: [F. fausset, perh. fr. L. fauces throat.]
1. A fixture for drawing a liquid, as water, molasses, oil, etc.,
from a pipe, cask, or other vessel, in such quantities as may be
desired; -- called also tap, and cock. It consists of a tubular
spout, stopped with a movable plug, spigot, valve, or slide.
2. The enlarged end of a section of pipe which receives the spigot
end of the next section.
FAUCHION
Fau"chion, n.
Defn: See Falchion. [Obs.]
FAUCIAL
Fau"cial, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Pertaining to the fauces; pharyngeal.
FAUGH
Faugh, interj. Etym: [Cf. Foh.]
Defn: An exclamation of contempt, disgust, or abhorrence.
FAULCHION
Faul"chion, n.
Defn: See Falchion.
FAULCON
Faul"con, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Falcon.
FAULD
Fauld, n.
Defn: The arch over the dam of a blast furnace; the tymp arch.
FAULE
Faule, n.
Defn: A fall or falling band. [Obs.]
These laces, ribbons, and these faules. Herrick.
FAULT
Fault, n. Etym: [OE. faut, faute, F. faute (cf. It., Sp., & Pg.
falta), fr. a verb meaning to want, fail, freq., fr. L. fallere to
deceive. See Fail, and cf. Default.]
1. Defect; want; lack; default.
One, it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend. Shak.
2. Anything that fails, that is wanting, or that impairs excellence;
a failing; a defect; a blemish.
As patches set upon a little breach Discredit more in hiding of the
fault. Shak.
3. A moral failing; a defect or dereliction from duty; a deviation
from propriety; an offense less serious than a crime.
4. (Geol. & Mining)
(a) A dislocation of the strata of the vein.
(b) In coal seams, coal rendered worthless by impurities in the seam;
as, slate fault, dirt fault, etc. Raymond.
5. (Hunting)
Defn: A lost scent; act of losing the scent.
Ceasing their clamorous cry till they have singled, With much ado,
the cold fault cleary out. Shak.
6. (Tennis)
Defn: Failure to serve the ball into the proper court. At fault,
unable to find the scent and continue chase; hance, in trouble ot
embarrassment, and unable to proceed; puzzled; thhrown off the track.
-- To find fault, to find reason for blaming or complaining; to
express dissatisfaction; to complain; -- followed by with before the
thing complained of; but formerly by at. "Matter to find fault at."
Robynson (More's Utopia).
Syn.
-- -- Error; blemish; defect; imperfection; weakness; blunder;
failing; vice.
-- Fault, Failing, Defect, Foible. A fault is positive, something
morally wrong; a failing is negative, some weakness or failling short
in a man's character, disposition, or habits; a defect is also
negative, and as applied to character is the absence of anyything
which is necessary to its completeness or perfection; a foible is a
less important weakness, which we overlook or smile at. A man may
have many failings, and yet commit but few faults; or his faults and
failings may be few, while his foibles are obvious to all. The faults
of a friend are often palliated or explained away into mere defects,
and the defects or foibles of an enemy exaggerated into faults. "I
have failings in common with every human being, besides my own
peculiar faults; but of avarice I have generally held myself
guiltless." Fox. "Presumption and self-applause are the foibles of
mankind." Waterland.
FAULT
Fault, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Faulted; p. pr. & vb. n. Faulting.]
1. To charge with a fault; to accuse; to find fault with; to blame.
[Obs.]
For that I will not fault thee. Old Song.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: To interrupt the continuity of (rock strata) by displacement
along a plane of fracture; -- chiefly used in the p.p.; as, the coal
beds are badly faulted.
FAULT
Fault, v. i.
Defn: To err; to blunder, to commit a fault; to do wrong. [Obs.]
If after Samuel's death the people had asked of God a king, they had
not faulted. Latimer.
FAULTER
Fault"er, n.
Defn: One who commits a fault. [Obs.]
Behold the faulter here in sight. Fairfax.
FAULT-FINDER
Fault"-find`er, n.
Defn: One who makes a practice off discovering others' faults and
censuring them; a scold.
FAULT-FINDING
Fault"-find`ing, n.
Defn: The act of finding fault or blaming; -- used derogatively. Also
Adj.
FAULTFUL
Fault"ful, a.
Defn: Full of faults or sins. Shak.
FAULTILY
Fault"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a faulty manner.
FAULTINESS
Fault"i*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being faulty.
Round, even to faultiness. Shak.
FAULTING
Fault"ing, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The state or condition of being faulted; the process by which a
fault is produced.
FAULTLESS
Fault"less, a.
Defn: Without fault; not defective or imperfect; free from blemish;
free from incorrectness, vice, or offense; perfect; as, a faultless
poem.
Whoever thinks a faultless piece to see, Thinks what ne'er was, nor
is, nor e'er shall be. Pope.
Syn.
-- Blameless; spotless; perfect. See Blameless.
-- Fault"less*ly, adv.-Fault"less*ness, n.
FAULTY
Fault"y, a.
1. Containing faults, blemishes, or defects; imperfect; not fit for
the use intended.
Created once So goodly and erect, though faulty since. Milton.
2. Guilty of a fault, or of faults; hence, blamable; worthy of
censure. Shak.
The king doth speak . . . as one which is faulty. 2 Sam. xiv. 13.
FAUN
Faun, n. Etym: [L. Faunus, fr. favere to be favorable. See Favor.]
(Rom. Myth.)
Defn: A god of fields and shipherds, diddering little from the satyr.
The fauns are usually represented as half goat and half man.
Satyr or Faun, or Sylvan. Milton.
FAUNA
Fau"na, n. Etym: [NL.: cf. F. faune. See Faun.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The animals of any given area or epoch; as, the fauna of
America; fossil fauna; recent fauna.
FAUNAL
Fau"nal, a.
Defn: Relating to fauna.
FAUNIST
Fau"nist, n.
Defn: One who describes the fauna of country; a naturalist. Gilbert
White.
FAUNUS
Fau"nus, n.;pl. Fauni. Etym: [L.] (Myth.)
Defn: See Faun.
FAUSEN
Fau"sen, n. Etym: [Cf. W. llysowen eel, ll sounding in Welsh almost
like fl.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young eel. [Prov. Eng.]
FAUSSE-BRAYE
Fausse`-braye", n. Etym: [F. fausse-braie.] (Mil.)
Defn: A second raampart, exterior to, and parallel to, the main
rampart, and considerably below its level.
FAUTEUIL
Fau`teuil", n. Etym: [F. See Faldistory.]
1. An armchair; hence (because the members sit in fauteuils or
armchairs), membership in the French Academy.
2. Chair of a presiding officer.
FAUTOR
Fau"tor, n. Etym: [L., contr. fr. favitor, fr. favere to be
favorable: cf. F. fauteur. See Favor.]
Defn: A favorer; a patron; one who gives countenance or support; an
abettor. [Obs.]
The king and the fautors of his proceedings. Latimer.
FAUTRESS
Fau"tress, n. Etym: [L. fauutrix: cf. F. fautrice.]
Defn: A patroness. [Obs.] Chapman.
FAUVETTE
Fau`vette", n. Etym: [F., dim. fr. fauve fawn-colored.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small singing bird, as the nightingale and warblers.
FAUX
Faux, n.; pl. Fauces. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Fauces.
FAUX PAS
faux` pas". Etym: [F. See False, and Pas.]
Defn: A false step; a mistake or wrong measure.
FAVAGINOUS
Fa*vag"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. favus a honeycomb.]
Defn: Formed like, or resembling, a honeycomb.
FAVAS
Fa"vas, n.
Defn: See Favus, n., 2. Fairholt.
FAVEL
Fa"vel, a. Etym: [OF. fauvel, favel, dim. of F. fauve; of German
oigin. See Fallow, a.]
Defn: Yellow; fal [Obs.] Wright.
FAVEL
Fa"vel, n.
Defn: A horse of a favel or dun color. To curry favel. See To curry
favor, under Favor, n.
FAVEL
Fa"vel, n. Etym: [OF. favele, fr. L. fabella short fable, dim. of
fabula. See Fable.]
Defn: Flattery; cajolery; deceit. [Obs.] Skeat.
FAVELLA
Fa*vel"la, n. Etym: [NL., prob. from L. favus a honeycomb.] (Bot.)
Defn: A group of spores arranged without order and covered with a
thin gelatinous envelope, as in certain delicate red algæ.
FAVEOLATE
Fa*ve"o*late, a. Etym: [L. favus honeycomb.]
Defn: Honeycomb; having cavities or cells, somewhat resembling those
of a honeycomb; alveolate; favose.
FAVIER EXPLOSIVE
Fa`vier" ex*plo"sive. [After the inventor, P. A. Favier, a
Frenchman.]
Defn: Any of several explosive mixtures, chiefly of ammonium nitrate
and a nitrate derivative of naphthalene. They are stable, but require
protection from moisture. As prepared it is a compressed cylinder of
the explosive, filled with loose powder of the same composition, all
inclosed in waterproof wrappers. It is used for mining.
FAVILLOUS
Fa*vil"lous, a. Etym: [L. favilla sparkling or glowing asges.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to ashes. [Obs.]
Light and favollous particles. Sir T. Browne.
FAVONIAN
Fa*vo"ni*an, a. Etym: [L. Favonius the west wind.]
Defn: Pertaining to the west wind; soft; mild; gentle.
FAVOR
Fa"vor, n. Etym: [Written also favour.] Etym: [OF. favor, F. faveur,
L. favor, fr. favere to be favorable, cf. Skr. bhavaya to further,
foster, causative of bhBe. In the phrase to curry favor, favor is
prob. for favel a horse. See 2d Favel.]
1. Kind regard; propitious aspect; countenance; friendly disposition;
kindness; good will.
Hath crawled into the favor of the king. Shak.
2. The act of countenancing, or the condition of being countenanced,
or regarded propitiously; support; promotion; befriending.
But found no favor in his lady's eyes. Dryden.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
man. Luke ii. 52.
3. A kind act or office; kindness done or granted; benevolence shown
by word or deed; an act of grace or good will, as distinct from
justice or remuneration.
Beg one favor at thy gracious hand. Shak.
4. Mildness or mitigation of punishment; lenity.
I could not discover the lenity and fabor of this sentence. Swift.
5. The object of regard; person or thing favored.
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight and
favor. Milton.
6. A gift or represent; something bestowed as an evidence of good
will; a token of love; a knot of ribbons; something worn as a token
of affection; as, a marriage favor is a bunch or knot of white
ribbons or white flowers worn at a wedding.
Wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in thy cap. Shak.
7. Appearance; look; countenance; face. [Obs.]
This boy is fair, of female favor. Shak.
8. (Law)
Defn: Partiality; bias. Bouvier.
9. A letter or epistle; -- so called in civility or compliment; as,
your favor of yesterday is received.
10. pl.
Defn: Love locks. [Obs.] Wright. Challenge to the favor or for favor
(Law), the challenge of a juror on grounds not sufficient to
constitute a principal challenge, but sufficient to give rise to a
probable suspicion of favor or bias, such as acquaintance, business
relation, etc. See Principal challenge, under Challenge.
-- In favor of, upon the side of; favorable to; for the advantage
of.
-- In favor with, favored, countenanced, or encouraged by.
-- To curry favor Etym: [see the etymology of Favor, above], to seek
to gain favor by flattery, caresses, kindness, or officious
civilities.
-- With one's favor, or By one's favor, with leave; by kind
permission.
But, with your favor, I will treat it here. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Kindness; countenance; patronage; support; lenity; grace; gift;
present; benefit.
FAVOR
Fa"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Favored; p. pr. & vb. n. Favoring.] Etym:
[Written also favour.] Etym: [Cf. OF. favorer, favorir. See Favor,
n.]
1. To regard with kindness; to support; to aid, or to have the
disposition to aid, or to wish success to; to be propitious to; to
countenance; to treat with consideration or tenderness; to show
partiality or unfair bias towards.
O happy youth! and favored of the skies. Pope.
He that favoreth Joab, . . . let him go after Joab. 2 Sam. xx. 11.
[The painter] has favored her squint admirably. Swift.
2. To afford advantages for success to; to facilitate; as, a weak
place favored the entrance of the enemy.
3. To resemble in features; to have the aspect or looks of; as, the
child favors his father.
The porter owned that the gentleman favored his master. Spectator.
FAVORABLE
Fa"vor*a*ble, a. [Written also favourable.] Etym: [F. favorable, L.
favorabilis favored, popular, pleasing, fr. favor. See Favor, n.]
1. Full of favor; favoring; manifesting partiality; kind; propitious;
friendly.
Lend favorable ears to our request. Shak.
Lord, thou hast been favorable unto thy land. Ps. lxxxv. 1.
2. Conducive; contributing; tending to promote or facilitate;
advantageous; convenient.
A place very favorable for the making levies of men. Clarendon.
The temper of the climate, favorable to generation, health, and long
life. Sir W. Temple.
3. Beautiful; well-favored. [Obs.] Spenser.
-- Fa"vora*ble*ness, n.
-- Fa"vor*a*bly, sdv.
The faborableness of the present times to all extertions in the cause
of liberty. Burke.
FAVORED
Fa"vored, a.
1. Countenanced; aided; regarded with kidness; as, a favored friend.
2. Having a certain favor or appearance; featured; as, well-favored;
hard-favored, etc.
FAVOREDLY
Fa"vored*ly, adv.
Defn: In a favored or a favorable manner; favorably. [Obs.] Deut.
xvii. 1. Arscham.
FAVOREDNESS
Fa"vored*ness, n.
Defn: Appearance. [Obs.]
FAVORER
Fa"vor*er, n.
Defn: One who favors; one who regards with kindness or friendship; a
well-wisher; one who assists or promotes success or prosperity.
[Written also favourer.]
And come to us as favorers, not as foes. Shak.
FAVORESS
Fa"vor*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who favors or gives countenance. [Written also
fovouress.]
FAVORING
Fa"vor*ing, a.
Defn: That favors.
-- Fa"vor*ing*ly, adv.
FAVORITE
Fa"vor*ite, n. Etym: [OF. favorit favored, F. favori, fem. favorite,
p.p. of OF. favorir, cf. It. favorito, frm. favorita, fr. favorire to
favor. See Favor.]
1. A person or thing regarded with peculiar favor; one treated with
partiality; one preferred above others; especially, one unduly loved,
trusted, and enriched with favors by a person of high rank or
authority.
Committing to a wicked favorite All public cares. Milton.
2. pl.
Defn: Short curls dangling over the temples; -- fashionable in the
reign of Charles II. [Obs.] Farquhar.
3. (Sporting)
Defn: The competitor (as a horse in a race) that is judged most
likely to win; the competitor standing highest in the betting.
FAVORITE
Fa"vor*ite, a.
Defn: Regarded with particular affection, esteem, or preference; as,
a favorite walk; a favorite child. "His favorite argument." Macaulay.
FAVORITISM
Fa"vor*it*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. favoritisme.]
Defn: The disposition to favor and promote the interest of one person
or family, or of one class of men, to the neglect of others having
equal claims; partiality.
A spirit of favoritism to the Bank of the United States. A. Hamilton.
FAVORLESS
Fa"vor*less, a.
1. Unfavored; not regarded with favor; having no countenance or
support.
2. Unpropitious; unfavorable. [Obs.] "Fortune favorless." Spenser.
FAVOSE
Fa*vose", a. Etym: [L. favus honeycomb.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Honeycombed. See Faveolate.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the disease called favus.
FAVOSITE
Fav"o*site, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Favosites.
FAVOSITES
Fav`o*si"tes, n. Etym: [NL. See Favose.] (Paleon.)
Defn: A genus of fossil corals abundant in the Silurian and Devonian
rocks, having polygonal cells with perforated walls.
FAVUS
Fa"vus, n. Etym: [L., honeycomb.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A disease of the scalp, produced by a vegetable parasite.
2. A tile or flagstone cut into an hexagonal shape to produce a
honeycomb pattern, as in a pavement; -- called also favas and
sectila. Mollett.
FAWE
Fawe, a. Etym: [See Fain.]
Defn: Fain; glad; delighted. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FAWKNER
Fawk"ner, n. Etym: [See Falconer.]
Defn: A falconer. [Obs.] Donne.
FAWN
Fawn, n. Etym: [OF. faon the young one of any beast, a fawn, F. faon
a fawn, for fedon, fr. L. fetus. See Fetus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young deer; a buck or doe of the first year. See Buck.
2. The young of an animal; a whelp. [Obs.]
[The tigress] . . . followeth . . . after her fawns. Holland.
3. A fawn color.
FAWN
Fawn, a.
Defn: Of the color of a fawn; fawn-colored.
FAWN
Fawn, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. faonner.]
Defn: To bring forth a fawn.
FAWN
Fawn, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fawned; p. pr. & vb. n. Fawning.] Etym:
[OE. fawnen, fainen, fagnien, to rejoice, welcome, flatter, AS.
fægnian to rejoice; akin to Icel. fagna to rejoice, welcome. See
Fain.]
Defn: To court favor by low cringing, frisking, etc., as a dog; to
flatter meanly; -- often followed by on or upon.
You showed your teeth like apes, and fawned like hounds. Shak.
Thou with trembling fear, Or like a fawning parasite, obeyest.
Milton.
Courtiers who fawn on a master while they betray him. Macaulay.
FAWN
Fawn, n.
Defn: A servile cringe or bow; mean flattery; sycophancy. Shak.
FAWN-COLORED
Fawn"-col`ored, a.
Defn: Of the color of a fawn; light yellowish brown.
FAWNER
Fawn"er, n.
Defn: One who fawns; a sycophant.
FAWNINGLY
Fawn"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fawning manner.
FAXED
Faxed, a. Etym: [AS. feaxede haired, fr. feax hair. Cf. Paxwax.]
Defn: Hairy. [Obs.] amden.
FAY
Fay, n. Etym: [F. fée. See Fate, and cf. Fairy.]
Defn: A fairy; an elf. "Yellow-skirted fays." Milton.
FAY
Fay, n. Etym: [OF. fei, F. foi. See Faith.]
Defn: Faith; as, by my fay. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FAY
Fay (fa), v. t. [imp. & p. p. fayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Faying.] Etym:
[OE. feien, v.t. & i., AS. fegan to join, unite; akin to OS. fogian,
D. voegen, OHG. fuogen, G. fügen, Sw. foga. See Fair, and cf. Fadge.]
(Shipbuilding)
Defn: To fit; to join; to unite closely, as two pieces of wood, so as
to make the surface fit together.
FAY
Fay, v. i. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: To lie close together; to fit; to fadge; -- often with in,
into, with, or together. Faying surface, that surface of an object
which comes with another object to which it is fastened; -- said of
plates, angle irons, etc., that are riveted together in shipwork.
FAYALITE
Fay"al*ite, n. Etym: [So called from the island Fayal.] (Min.)
Defn: A black, greenish, or brownish mineral of the chrysolite group.
It is a silicate of iron.
FAYENCE
Fa`y*ence", n.
Defn: See Fa.
FAYTOUR
Fay"tour, n.
Defn: See Faitour. [Obs.] Spenser.
FAZE
Faze, v. t.
Defn: See Feeze.
FAZZOLET
Faz"zo*let`, n. Etym: [It. fazzoletto.]
Defn: A handkerchief. [R.] percival.
FEABERRY
Fea"ber*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. feabe, theabe, thape.] (Bot.)
Defn: A gooseberry. [Prov. Eng.] Prior.
FEAGUE
Feague, v. t. Etym: [Cf. G. fegen to sweep, Icel. fægia to cleanse,
polish, E. fair, fay, to fit, fey to cleanse.]
Defn: To beat or whip; to drive. [Obs.] Otway.
FEAL
Fe"al, a. Etym: [OF. feal, feel, feeil, fedeil, F. fidèle, L. fidelis
faithful, fr. fides faith. See Faith.]
Defn: Faithful; loyal. [Obs.] Wright.
FEALTY
Fe"al*ty, n. Etym: [OE. faute, OF. fauté, fealté, feelé, feelteit,
fr. L. fidelitas, fr. fidelis faithful. See Feal, and cf. Fidelity.]
1. Fidelity to one's lord; the feudal obligation by which the tenant
or vassal was bound to be faithful to his lord; the special oath by
which this obligation was assumed; fidelity to a superior power, or
to a government; loyality. It is no longer the practice to exact the
performance of fealty, as a feudal obligation. Wharton (Law Dict. ).
Tomlins.
2. Fidelity; constancy; faithfulness, as of a friend to a friend, or
of a wife to her husband.
He should maintain fealty to God. I. Taylor.
Makes wicked lightnings of her eyes, and saps The fealty of our
friends. tennyson.
Swore fealty to the new government. Macaulay.
Note: Fealty is distinguished from homage, which is an acknowledgment
of tenure, while fealty implies an oath. See Homage. Wharton.
Syn.
-- Homage; loyality; fidelity; constancy.
FEAR
Fear, n.
Defn: A variant of Fere, a mate, a companion. [Obs.] Spenser.
FEAR
Fear, n. Etym: [OE. fer, feer, fere, AS. f a coming suddenly upon,
fear, danger; akin to D. vaar, OHG. fara danger, G. gefahr, Icel. far
harm, mischief, plague, and to E. fare, peril. See Fare.]
1. A painful emotion or passion excited by the expectation of evil,
or the apprehension of impending danger; apprehension; anxiety;
solicitude; alarm; dread.
Note: The degrees of this passion, beginning with the most moderate,
may be thus expressed, -- apprehension, fear, dread, fright, terror.
Fear is an uneasiness of the mind, upon the thought of future evil
likely to befall us. Locke.
Where no hope is left, is left no fear. Milton.
2. (Script.)
(a) Apprehension of incurring, or solicitude to avoid, God's wrath;
the trembling and awful reverence felt toward the Supreme Belng.
(b) Respectful reverence for men of authority or worth.
I will put my fear in their hearts. Jer. xxxii. 40.
I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Ps. xxxiv. 11.
render therefore to all their dues; tribute to whom tribute is due .
. . fear to whom fear. Rom. xiii. 7.
3. That which causes, or which is the object of, apprehension or
alarm; source or occasion of terror; danger; dreadfulness.
There were they in great fear, where no fear was. Ps. liii. 5.
The fear of your adventure would counsel you to a more equal
enterprise. Shak.
For fear, in apprehension lest. "For fear you ne'er see chain nor
money more." Shak.
FEAR
Fear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feared; p. pr. & vb. n. Fearing.] Etym:
[OE. feren, faeren, to frighten, to be afraid, AS. fFear, n.]
1. To feel a painful apprehension of; to be afraid of; to consider or
expect with emotion of alarm or solicitude.
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Ps. xxiii. 4.
Note: With subordinate clause.
I greatly fear my money is not safe. Shak.
I almost fear to quit your hand. D. Jerrold.
2. To have a reverential awe of; to solicitous to avoid the
displeasure of.
Leave them to God above; him serve and fear. Milton.
3. To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.]
The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore .
. . I fear you. Shak.
4. To suspect; to doubt. [Obs.]
Ay what else, fear you not her courage Shak.
5. To affright; to terrify; to drive away or prevent approach of by
fear. z2
fera their people from doing evil. Robynsin (More's utopia).
Tush, tush! fear boys with bugs. Shak.
Syn.
-- To apprehend; drad; reverence; venerate.
FEAR
Fear, v. i.
Defn: To be in apprehension of evil; to be afraid; to feel anxiety on
account of some expected evil.
I exceedingly fear and quake. Heb. xii. 21.
FEARER
Fear"er, n.
Defn: One who fars. Sir P. Sidney.
FEARFUL
Fear"ful, a.
1. Full of fera, apprehension, or alarm; afraid; frightened.
Anxious amidst all their success, and fearful amidat all their power.
Bp. Warburton.
2. inclined to fear; easily frightened; without courage; timid.
What man is there that is fearful and fain-hearted Deut. xx. 8.
3. Indicating, or caused by, fear.
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. Shak.
4. Inspiring fear or awe; exciting apprehension or terror; terrible;
frightful; dreadful.
This glorious and fearful name, The Lord thy God. Deut. xxviii. 58.
Death is a fearful thing. Shak.
In dreams they fearful precipices tread. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Apprehensive; afraid; timid; timorous; ho
FEARFULLY
Fear"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fearful manner.
FEARFULNESS
Fear"ful*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being fearful.
FEARLESS
Fear"less, a.
Defn: Free from fear.
Syn.
-- Bold; courageous; interpid; valor -- Fear"less*ly, adv.
-- Fera"less*ness, n.
FEARNAUGHT
Fear"naught`, n.
1. A fearless person.
2. A stout woolen cloth of great thickness; dreadnaught; also, a warm
garment.
FEARSOME
Fear"some a.
1. Frightful; causing fear [Scotch] "This fearsome wind." Sir W.
Scott
2
Defn: . Easily frightened; timid; timorous. "A silly fearsome thing."
B. Taylor
FEASIBILITY
Fea"si*bil*ity n.; pl. Feasibilities (-tiz). Etym: [from Feasible]
Defn: The quality of being feasible; practicability; also, that which
is feasible; as, before we adopt a plan, let us consider its
feasibility.
Men often swallow falsities for truths, dubiosities for certainties,
possibilities for feasibilities. Sir T. Browne.
FEASIBLE
Fea"si*ble a. Etym: [F. faisable, fr. faire to make or do, fr. L.
facere. See Fact, Feat.]
1. Capable of being done, executed, or effected; practicable.
Always existing before their eyes as a thing feasible in practice.
Burke.
It was not feasible to gratify so many ambitions. Beaconsfield.
2. Fit to be used or tailed, as land. [R.] R. Trumbull.
Fea"si*ble*ness, n. --Fea"si*bly, adv.
FEAST
Feast, n. Etym: [OE. feste festival, holiday, feast, OF. feste
festival, F. fête, fr. L. festum, pl. festa, fr. festus joyful,
festal; of uncertain origin. Cf. Fair, n., Festal, F.]
1. A festival; a holiday; a solemn, or more commonly, a joyous,
anniversary.
The seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. Ex. xiii. 6.
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the
passover. Luke ii. 41.
Note: Ecclesiastical fasts are called immovable when they always
occur on the same day of the year; otherwise they are called movable.
2. A festive or joyous meal; a grand, ceremonious, or sumptuous
entertainment, of which many guests partake; a banquet characterized
by tempting variety and abundance of food.
Enough is as good as a feast. Old Proverb.
Belshazzar the King made a great feast to a thousand of his lords.
Dan. v. 1.
3. That which is partaken of, or shared in, with delight; something
highly agreeable; entertainment.
The feast of reason, and the flow of soul. Pope.
Feast day, a holiday; a day set as a solemn commemo
Syn.
-- Entertainment; regale; banquet; treat; carousal; festivity;
festival.
-- Feast, Banquet, Festival, Carousal. A feast sets before us viands
superior in quantity, variety, and abudance; a banquet is a luxurious
feast; a festival is the joyful celebration by good cheer of some
agreeable event. Carousal is unrestrained indulgence in frolic and
drink.
FEAST
Feast, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Feasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Feasting.] Etym:
[OE. festen, cf. OF. fester to rest from work, F. fêter to celebrate
a holiday. See Feast, n.]
1. To eat sumptuously; to dine or sup on rich provisions,
particularly in large companies, and on public festivals.
And his sons went and feasted in their houses. Job. i. 4.
2. To be highly gratified or delighted.
With my love's picture then my eye doth feast. Shak.
FEAST
Feast, v. t.
1. To entertain with sumptuous provisions; to treat at the table
bountifully; as, he was feasted by the king. Hayward.
2. To delight; to gratify; as, to feast the soul.
Feast your ears with the music a while. Shak.
FEASTER
Feast"er, n.
1. One who fares deliciously.
2. One who entertains magnificently. Johnson.
FEASTFUL
Feast"ful, a.
Defn: Festive; festal; joyful; sumptuous; luxurious. "Feastful days."
Milton.
-- Feast"ful*ly, adv.
FEAT
Feat, n. Etym: [OE. fet, OF. fet, fait, F. fait, factum, fr. L.
facere, factum, to make or do. Cf. Fact, Feasible, Do.]
1. An act; a deed; an exploit.
The warlike feats I have done. Shak.
2. A striking act of strength, skill, or cunning; a trick; as, feats
of horsemanship, or of dexterity.
FEAT
Feat, v. t.
Defn: To form; to fashion. [Obs.]
To the more mature, A glass that feated them. Shak.
FEAT
Feat, a. [Compar. Feater; superl. Featest.] Etym: [F. fait made,
shaped, fit, p.p. of faire to make or do. See Feat, n.]
Defn: Dexterous in movements or service; skillful; neat; nice;
pretty. [Archaic]
Never master had a page . . . so feat. Shak.
And look how well my garments sit upon me --Much feater than before.
Shak.
FEAT-BODIED
Feat"-bod`ied, a.
Defn: Having a feat or trim body. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FEATEOUS
Feat"e*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. faitis, faitice, fetis, well made,
fine, L. facticius made by art.]
Defn: Dexterous; neat. [Obs.] Johnson.
-- Feat"e*ous*ly, adv.
FEATHER
Feath"er, n. Etym: [OE. fether, AS. fe; akin to D. veder, OHG.
fedara, G. feder, Icel. fjö, Sw. fjäder, Dan. fjæder, Gr. pattra
wing, feathr, pat to fly, and prob. to L. penna feather, wing. sq.
root76, 248. Cf. Pen a feather.]
1. One of the peculiar dermal appendages, of several kinds, belonging
to birds, as contour feathers, quills, and down.
Note: An ordinary feather consists of the quill or hollow basal part
of the stem; the shaft or rachis, forming the upper, solid part of
the stem; the vanes or webs, implanted on the rachis and consisting
of a series of slender laminæ or barbs, which usually bear barbicels
and interlocking hooks by which they are fastened together. See Down,
Quill, Plumage.
2. Kind; nature; species; -- from the proverbial phrase, "Birds of a
feather," that is, of the same species. [R.]
I am not of that feather to shake off My friend when he must need me.
Shak.
3. The fringe of long hair on the legs of the setter and some other
dogs.
4. A tuft of peculiar, long, frizzly hair on a horse.
5. One of the fins or wings on the shaft of an arrow.
6. (Mach. & Carp.)
Defn: A longitudinal strip projecting as a fin from an object, to
strengthen it, or to enter a channel in another object and thereby
prevent displacement sidwise but permit motion lengthwise; a spline.
7. A thin wedge driven between the two semicylindrical parts of a
divided plug in a hole bored in a stone, to rend the stone. Knight.
8. The angular adjustment of an oar or paddle-wheel float, with
reference to a horizontal axis, as it leaves or enters the water.
Note: Feather is used adjectively or in combination, meaning composed
of, or resembling, a feather or feathers; as, feather fan, feather-
heeled, feather duster. Feather alum (Min.), a hydrous sulphate of
alumina, resulting from volcanic action, and from the decomposition
of iron pyrites; -- called also halotrichite. Ure.
-- Feather bed, a bed filled with feathers.
-- Feather driver, one who prepares feathers by beating.
-- Feather duster, a dusting brush of feathers.
-- Feather flower, an artifical flower made of feathers, for ladies'
headdresses, and other ornamental purposes.
-- Feather grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Stipa pennata) which has a
long feathery awn rising from one of the chaffy scales which inclose
the grain.
-- Feather maker, one who makes plumes, etc., of feathers, real or
artificial.
-- Feather ore (Min.), a sulphide of antimony and lead, sometimes
found in capillary forms and like a cobweb, but also massive. It is a
variety of Jamesonite.
-- Feather shot, or Feathered shot (Metal.), copper granulated by
pouring into cold water. Raymond.
-- Feather spray (Naut.), the spray thrown up, like pairs of
feathers, by the cutwater of a fast-moving vessel.
-- Feather star. (Zoöl.) See Comatula.
-- Feather weight. (Racing) (a) Scrupulously exact weight, so that a
feather would turn the scale, when a jockey is weighed or weighted.
(b) The lightest weight that can be put on the back of a horse in
racing. Youatt. (c) In wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the
lightest of the classes into which contestants are divided; -- in
contradistinction to light weight, middle weight, and heavy weight. A
feather in the cap an honour, trophy, or mark of distinction.
[Colloq.] -- To be in full feather, to be in full dress or in one's
best clothes. [Collog.] -- To be in high feather, to be in high
spirits. [Collog.] -- To cut a feather. (a) (Naut.) To make the water
foam in moving; in allusion to the ripple which a ship throws off
from her bows. (b) To make one's self conspicuous.[Colloq.] -- To
show the white feather, to betray cowardice, -- a white feather in
the tail of a cock being considered an indication that he is not of
the true game breed.
FEATHER
Feath"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feathered; p. pr. & vb. n. Feathering.]
1. To furnish with a feather or feathers, as an arrow or a cap.
An eagle had the ill hap to be struck with an arrow feathered from
her own wing. L'Estrange.
2. To adorn, as with feathers; to fringe.
A few birches and oaks still feathered the narrow ravines. Sir W.
Scott.
3. To render light as a feather; to give wings to.[R.]
The Polonian story perhaps may feather some tedions hours. Loveday.
4. To enrich; to exalt; to benefit.
They stuck not to say that the king cared not to plume his nobility
and people to feather himself. Bacon.
Dryden.
5. To tread, as a cock. Dryden. To feather one's nest, to provide for
one's self especially from property belonging to another, confided to
one's care; -- an expression taken from the practice of birds which
collect feathers for the lining of their nests.
-- To feather an oar (Naut), to turn it when it leaves the water so
that the blade will be horizontal and offer the least resistance to
air while reaching for another stroke.
-- To tar and feather a person, to smear him with tar and cover him
with feathers, as a punishment or an indignity.
FEATHER
Feath"er, v. i.
1. To grow or form feathers; to become feathered; -- often with out;
as, the birds are feathering out.
2. To curdle when poured into another liquid, and float about in
little flakes or "feathers;" as, the cream feathers [Colloq.]
3. To turn to a horizontal plane; -- said of oars.
The feathering oar returns the gleam. Tickell.
Stopping his sculls in the air to feather accurately. Macmillan's
Mag.
4. To have the appearance of a feather or of feathers; to be or to
appear in feathery form.
A clump of ancient cedars feathering in evergreen beauty down to the
ground. Warren.
The ripple feathering from her bows. Tennyson.
FEATHERBONE
Feath"er*bone`, n.
Defn: A substitute for whalebone, made from the quills of geese and
turkeys.
FEATHER-BRAINED
Feath"er-brained, a.
Defn: Giddy; frivolous; feather-headed. [Colloq.]
FEATHERED
Feath"ered, a.
1. Clothed, covered, or fitted with (or as with) feathers or wings;
as, a feathered animal; a feathered arrow.
Rise from the ground like feathered Mercury. Shak.
Nonsense feathered with soft and delicate phrases and pointed with
pathetic accent. Dr. J. Scott.
2. Furnished with anything featherlike; ornamented; fringed; as, land
feathered with trees.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having a fringe of feathers, as the legs of certian birds; or
of hairs, as the legs of a setter dog.
4. (Her.)
Defn: Having feathers; -- said of an arrow, when the feathers are of
a tincture different from that of the shaft.
FEATHER-EDGE
Feath"er-edge, n.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The thin, new growth around the edge of a shell, of an oyster.
2. Any thin, as on a board or a razor.
FEATHER-EDGED
Feath"er-edged, a.
Defn: Having a feather-edge; also, having one edge thinner than the
other, as a board; -- in the United States, said only of stuff one
edge of which is made as thin as practicable.
FEATHER-FEW
Feath"er-few, n. (Bot.)
Defn: Feverfew.
FEATHER-FOIL
Feath"er-foil`, n. Etym: [Feather + foil a leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic plant (Hottonia palustris), having finely divided
leaves.
FEATHER-HEAD
Feath"er-head`, n.
Defn: A frivolous or featherbrained person. [Colloq.] H. James.
FEATHER-HEADED
Feath"er-head`ed, a.
Defn: Giddy; frivolous; foolish. [Colloq.] G. Eliot.
FEATHER-HEELED
Feath"er-heeled`, a.
Defn: Light-heeled; gay; frisky; frolicsome. [Colloq.]
FEATHERINESS
Feath"er*i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being feathery.
FEATHERING
Feath"er*ing, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Same as Foliation.
2. The act of turning the blade of the oar, as it rises from the
water in rowing, from a vertical to a horizontal position. See To
feather an oar, under Feather, v. t.
3. A covering of feathers. Feathering float (Naut.), the float or
paddle of a feathering wheel.
-- Feathering screw (Naut.), a screw propeller, of which the blades
may be turned so as to move edgewise through the water when the
vessel is moving under sail alone.
-- Feathering wheel (Naut.), a paddle wheel whose floats turn
automatically so as to dip about perpendicularly into the water and
leave in it the same way, avoiding beating on the water in the
descent and lifting water in the ascent.
FEATHERLESS
Feath"er*less, a.
Defn: Destitute of feathers.
FEATHERLY
Feath"er*ly, a.
Defn: Like feathers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FEATHERNESS
Feath"er*ness, n.
Defn: The state or condition of being feathery.
FEATHER-PATED
Feath"er-pat"ed, a.
Defn: Feather-headed; frivolous. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
FEATHERSTITCH
Feath"er*stitch`, n.
Defn: A kind of embroidery stitch producing a branching zigzag line.
FEATHER-VEINED
Feath"er-veined`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having the veins (of a leaf) diverging from the two sides of a
midrib.
FEATHERY
Feath"er*y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, feathers; covered with, or as
with, feathers; as, feathery spray or snow. Milton.
Ye feathery people of mid air. Barry Cornwall.
FEATLY
Feat"ly, adv. Etym: [From Feat, a.]
Defn: Neatly; dexterously; nimbly. [Archaic]
Foot featly here and there. Shak.
FEATNESS
Feat"ness, n.
Defn: Skill; adroitness. [Archaic] Johnson.
FEATURE
Fea"ture, n. Etym: [OE. feture form, shape, feature, OF. faiture
fashion, make, fr. L. factura a making, formation, fr. facere,
factum, to make. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Facture.]
1. The make, form, or outward appearance of a person; the whole turn
or style of the body; esp., good appearance.
What needeth it his feature to descrive Chaucer.
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature. Shak.
2. The make, cast, or appearance of the human face, and especially of
any single part of the face; a lineament. (pl.) The face, the
countenance.
It is for homely features to keep home. Milton.
3. The cast or structure of anything, or of any part of a thing, as
of a landscape, a picture, a treaty, or an essay; any marked
peculiarity or characteristic; as, one of the features of the
landscape.
And to her service bind each living creature Through secret
understanding of their feature. Spenser.
4. A form; a shape. [R.]
So scented the grim feature, and upturned His nostril wide into the
murky air. Milton.
FEATURED
Fea"tured, a.
1. Shaped; fashioned.
How noble, young, how rarely featured! Shak.
2. Having features; formed into features.
The well-stained canvas or the featured stone. Young.
FEATURELESS
Fea"ture*less, a.
Defn: Having no distinct or distinctive features.
FEATURELY
Fea"ture*ly, a.
Defn: Having features; showing marked peculiarities; handsome. [R.]
Featurely warriors of Christian chivalry. Coleridge.
FEAZE
Feaze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feazed; p. pr. & vb. n. Feazing.] Etym:
[Cf. OE. faseln to ravel, fr. AS. fæs fringe; akin to G. fasen to
separate fibers or threads, fasen, faser, thread, filament, OHG.
faso.]
Defn: To untwist; to unravel, as the end of a rope. Johnson.
FEAZE
Feaze, v. t. Etym: [See Feese.faze]
Defn: To beat; to chastise; also, to humble; to harass; to worry.
[Obs.] insworth.
FEAZE
Feaze, n.
Defn: A state of anxious or fretful excitement; worry; vexation.
[Obs.]
FEAZINGS
Feaz"ings, n. pl. Etym: [See Feaze, v. t.] (Naut.)
Defn: The unlaid or ragged end of a rope. Ham. Nav. Encyc.
FEBRICITATE
Fe*bric"i*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. febricitare, fr. febris. See
Febrile.]
Defn: To have a fever. [Obs.] Bailey.
FEBRICULOSE
Fe*bric"u*lose`, a. Etym: [L. febriculosus.]
Defn: Somewhat feverish. [Obs.] Johnson.
FEBRIFACIENT
Feb`ri*fa"cient, a. Etym: [L. febris fever + faciens, p.pr. of facere
to make.]
Defn: Febrific. Dunglison.
-- n.
Defn: That which causes fever. Beddoes.
FEBRIFEROUS
Fe*brif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. febris fever + -ferous.]
Defn: Causing fever; as, a febriferous locality.
FEBRIFIC
Fe*brif"ic, a. Etym: [L. febris fever + ficare (in comp.) to make.
See fy-.]
Defn: Producing fever. Dunglison.
FEBRIFUGAL
Fe*brif"u*gal ( or ), a. Etym: [See Febrifuge.]
Defn: Having the quality of mitigating or curing fever. Boyle.
FEBRIFUGE
Feb"ri*fuge, n. Etym: [L. febris fever + fugare to put to flight,
from fugere to flee: cf. F. fébrifuge. see Febrile, Feverfew.] (Med.)
Defn: A medicine serving to mitigate or remove fever.
-- a.
Defn: Antifebrile.
FEBRILE
Fe"brile, a. Etym: [F. fébrile, from L. febris fever. See Fever.]
Defn: Pertaining to fever; indicating fever, or derived from it; as,
febrile symptoms; febrile action. Dunglison.
FEBRUARY
Feb"ru*a*ry, n. Etym: [L. Februarius, orig., the month of expiation,
because on the fifteenth of this month the great feast of expiation
and purification was held, fr. februa, pl., the Roman festival or
purification; akin to februare to purify, expiate.]
Defn: The second month in the year, said to have been introduced into
the Roman calendar by Numa. In common years this month contains
twenty-eight days; in the bissextile, or leap year, it has twenty-
nine days.
FEBRUATION
Feb`ru*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. februatio. See february.]
Defn: Purification; a sacrifice. [Obs.] Spenser.
FECAL
Fe"cal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fécal. See Feces.]
Defn: relating to, or containing, dregs, feces, or ordeure; fæcal.
FECCHE
Fec"che, v. t.
Defn: To fetch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FECES
Fe"ces, n. pl.
Defn: dregs; sediment; excrement. See FÆces.
FECIAL
Fe"cial, a. Etym: [L. fetialis belonging to the fetiales, the Roman
priests who sanctioned treaties and demanded satisfaction from the
enemy before a formal declaration of war.]
Defn: Pertaining to heralds, declarations of war, and treaties of
peace; as, fecial law. Kent.
FECIFORK
Fe"ci*fork`, n. Etym: [Feces + fork.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The anal fork on which the larvæ of certain insects carry their
fæces.
FECK
Feck, n. [Abbrev. fr. effect.]
1. Effect. [Obs.]
2. Efficacy; force; value. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
3. Amount; quantity. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
He had a feck o' books wi' him.
R. L. Stevenson.
The most feck, or The feck, the greater or larger part. "The feck o'
my life." Burns.
FECKLESS
Feck"less, a. Etym: [Perh. a corruption of effectless.]
Defn: Spiritless; weak; worthless. [Scot]
FECKLESSNESS
feck"less*ness n.
Defn: absence of merit.
[WordNet 1.5]
FECKS
Fecks, n.
Defn: A corruption of the word faith. Shak.
FECULA
Fec"u*la, n.; pl. FeculÆ Etym: [L.fae burnt tartar or salt of tartar,
dim. of faex, faecis, sediment, dregs: cf. F. fécule.]
Defn: Any pulverulent matter obtained from plants by simply breaking
down the texture, washing with water, and subsidence. Especially:
(a) The nutritious part of wheat; starch or farina; -- called also
amylaceous fecula. (b) The green matter of plants; chlorophyll.
FECULENCE
Fec"u*lence, n. Etym: [L. faeculentia dregs, filth: cf. F.
féculence.]
1. The state or quality of being feculent; muddiness; foulness.
2. That which is feculent; sediment; lees; dregs.
FECULENCY
Fec"u*len*cy, n.
Defn: Feculence.
FECULENT
Fec"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. faeculentus, fr. faecula: cf. F. féculent.
See Fecula.]
Defn: Foul with extraneous or impure substances; abounding with
sediment or excrementitious matter; muddy; thick; turbid.
Both his hands most filthy feculent. Spenser.
FECUND
Fec"und, a. Etym: [L. fecundus, from the root of fetus: cf. F.
fécond. see Fetus.]
Defn: Fruitful in children; prolific. Graunt.
FECUNDATE
Fec"un*date, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fecundated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fecundating.] Etym: [L. fecundare, fr. fecundus. See Fecund.]
1. To make fruitful or prolific. W. Montagu.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: To render fruitful or prolific; to impregnate; as, in flowers
the pollen fecundates the ovum through the stigma.
FECUNDATION
Fec`un*da"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fécondation.] (Biol.)
Defn: The act by which, either in animals or plants, material
prepared by the generative organs the female organism is brought in
contact with matter from the organs of the male, so that a new
organism results; impregnation; fertilization.
FECUNDIFY
Fe*cun"di*fy, v. t. Etym: [Fecund + -fy.]
Defn: To make fruitful; to fecundate. Johnson.
FECUNDITY
Fe*cun"di*ty, n. Etym: [L. fecunditas: cf. F. fécondité. See Fecund.]
1. The quality or power of producing fruit; fruitfulness; especially
(Biol.), the quality in female organisms of reproducing rapidly and
in great numbers.
2. The power of germinating; as in seeds.
3. The power of bringing forth in abundance; fertility; richness of
invention; as, the fecundity of God's creative power. Bentley.
FED
Fed,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Feed.
FEDARY
Fed"a*ry, n.
Defn: A feodary. [Obs.] Shak.
FEDERAL
Fed"er*al, a. Etym: [L. foedus league, treaty, compact; akin to fides
faith: cf. F. fédéral. see Faith.]
1. Pertaining to a league or treaty; derived from an agreement or
covenant between parties, especially between nations; constituted by
a compact between parties, usually governments or their
representatives.
The Romans compelled them, contrary to all federal right, . . . to
part with Sardinia. Grew.
2. Specifically:
(a) Composed of states or districts which retain only a subordinate
and limited sovereignty, as the Union of the United States, or the
Sonderbund of Switzerland.
(b) Consisting or pertaining to such a government; as, the Federal
Constitution; a Federal officer.
(c) Friendly or devoted to such a government; as, the Federal party.
see Federalist. Federal Congress. See under Congress.
FEDERAL
Fed"er*al, n.
Defn: See Federalist.
FEDERALISM
Fed"er*al*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fédéralisme.]
Defn: the principles of Federalists or of federal union.
FEDERALIST
Fed"er*al*ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fédéraliste.]
Defn: An advocate of confederation; specifically (Amer. Hist.), a
friend of the Constitution of the United States at its formation and
adoption; a member of the political party which favored the
administration of president Washington.
FEDERALIZE
Fed"er*al*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Federalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Federalizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fédéraliser.]
Defn: To unite in compact, as different States; to confederate for
political purposes; to unite by or under the Federal Constitution.
Barlow.
FEDERARY
Fed"er*a*ry, n. Etym: [See Federal.]
Defn: A partner; a confederate; an accomplice. [Obs.] hak.
FEDERATE
Fed"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. foederatus, p.p. of foederare to establish
by treaty or league, fr. foedus. See Federal.]
Defn: United by compact, as sovereignties, states, or nations; joined
in confederacy; leagued; confederate; as, federate nations.
FEDERATION
Fed`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fédération.]
1. The act of uniting in a league; confederation.
2. A league; a confederacy; a federal or confederated government.
Burke.
FEDERATIVE
Fed"er*a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fédératif.]
Defn: Uniting in a league; forming a confederacy; federal. "A
federative society." Burke.
FEDITY
Fed"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. foeditas, fr. foedus foul, fikthy.]
Defn: Turpitude; vileness. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
FEE
Fee, n. Etym: [OE. fe, feh, feoh, cattle, property, money, fiet, AS.
feoh cattle, property, money; the senses of "property, money,"
arising from cattle being used in early times as a medium of exchange
or payment, property chiefly consisting of cattle; akin to OS. feuh
cattle, property, D. vee cattle, OHG. fihu, fehu, G. vieh, Icel. f
cattle, property, money, Goth. faíhu, L. pecus cattle, pecunia
property. money, Skr. pa cattle, perh. orig., "a fastened or tethered
animal," from a root signifying to bind, and perh. akin to E. fang,
fair, a.; cf. OF. fie, flu, feu, fleu, fief, F. fief, from German, of
the same origin. the sense fief is due to the French. Feud, Fief,
Fellow, Pecuniary.]
1. property; possession; tenure. "Laden with rich fee." Spenser.
Once did she hold the gorgeous East in fee. Wordsworth.
2. Reward or compensation for services rendered or to be rendered;
especially, payment for professional services, of optional amount, or
fixed by custom or laws; charge; pay; perquisite; as, the fees of
lawyers and physicians; the fees of office; clerk's fees; sheriff's
fees; marriage fees, etc.
To plead for love deserves more fee than hate. Shak.
3. (Feud. Law)
Defn: A right to the use of a superior's land, as a stipend for
services to be performed; also, the land so held; a fief.
4. (Eng. Law)
Defn: An estate of inheritance supposed to be held either mediately
or immediately from the sovereign, and absolutely vested in the
owner.
Note: All the land in England, except the crown land, is of this
kind. An absolute fee, or fee simple, is land which a man holds to
himself and his heirs forever, who are called tenants in fee simple.
In modern writers, by fee is usually meant fee simple. A limited fee
may be a qualitified or base fee, which ceases with the existence of
certain conditions; or a conditional fee, or fee tail, which is
limited to particular heirs. Blackstone.
5. (Amer. Law)
Defn: An estate of inheritance belonging to the owner, and
transmissible to his heirs, absolutely and simply, without condition
attached to the tenure. Fee estate (Eng. Law), land or tenements held
in fee in consideration or some acknowledgment or service rendered to
the lord.
-- Fee farm (Law), land held of another in fee, in consideration of
an annual rent, without homage, fealty, or any other service than
that mentioned in the feoffment; an estate in fee simple, subject to
a perpetual rent. Blackstone.
-- Fee farm rent (Eng. Law), a perpetual rent reserved upon a
conveyance in fee simple.
-- Fee fund (Scot. Law), certain court dues out of which the clerks
and other court officers are paid.
-- Fee simple (Law), an absolute fee; a fee without conditions or
limits.
Buy the fee simple of my life for an hour and a quarter. Shak.
-- Fee tail (Law), an estate of inheritance, limited and restrained
to some particular heirs. Burill.
FEE
Fee, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feed; p. pr. & vb. n. Feeing.]
Defn: To reward for services performed, or to be performed; to
recompense; to hire or keep in hire; hence, to bribe.
The patient . . . fees the doctor. Dryden.
There's not a one of them but in his house I keep a servant feed.
Shak.
FEEBLE
Fee"ble, a. [Compar. Feebler; superl. Feeblest.] Etym: [OE. feble,
OF. feble, flebe, floibe, floible, foible, F. faible, L. flebilis to
be wept over, lamentable, wretched, fr. flere to weep. Cf. Foible.]
1. Deficient in physical strenght; weak; infirm; debilitated.
Carried all the feeble of them upon asses. 2 Chron. xxviii. 15.
2. Wanting force, vigor, or efficiency in action or expression; not
full, loud, bright, strong, rapid, etc.; faint; as, a feeble color;
feeble motion. "A lady's feeble voice." Shak.
FEEBLE
Fee"ble, v. t.
Defn: To make feble; to enfeeble. [Obs.]
Shall that victorious hand be feebled here Shak.
FEEBLE-MINDED
Fee"ble-mind"ed, a.
Defn: Weak in intellectual power; wanting firmness or constancy;
irresolute; vacilating; imbecile. "comfort the feeble-minded." 1
Thess. v. 14.
-- Fee"ble-mind"ed*ness, n.
FEEBLENESS
Fee"ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or condition of being feeble; debility; infirmity.
That shakes for age and feebleness. Shak.
FEEBLY
Fee"bly, adv.
Defn: In a feeble manner.
The restored church . . . contended feebly, and with half a heart.
Macaulay.
FEED
Feed, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fed; p. pr. & vb. n. Feeding.] Etym: [AS.
f, fr. f food; akin to C. f, OFries f, f, D. voeden, OHG. fuottan,
Icel. fæ, Sw. föda, Dan. föde. Food.]
1. To give food to; to supply with nourishment; to satisfy the
physical huger of.
If thine enemy hunger, feed him. Rom. xii. 20.
Unreasonable reatures feed their young. Shak.
2. To satisfy; grafity or minister to, as any sense, talent, taste,
or desire.
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Shak.
Feeding him with the hope of liberty. Knolles.
3. To fill the wants of; to supply with that which is used or wasted;
as, springs feed ponds; the hopper feeds the mill; to feed a furnace
with coal.
4. To nourish, in a general sense; to foster, strengthen, develop,
and guard.
Thou shalt feed people Israel. 2 Sam. v. 2.
Mightiest powers by deepest calms are feed. B. Cornwall.
5. To graze; to cause to be cropped by feeding, as herbage by cattle;
as, if grain is too forward in autumn, feed it with sheep.
Once in three years feed your mowing lands. Mortimer.
6. To give for food, especially to animals; to furnish for
consumption; as, to feed out turnips to the cows; to feed water to a
steam boiler.
7. (Mach.)
(a) To supply (the material to be operated upon) to a machine; as, to
feed paper to a printing press.
(b) To produce progressive operation upon or with (as in wood and
metal working machines, so that the work moves to the cutting tool,
or the tool to the work).
FEED
Feed, v. i.
1. To take food; to eat.
Her kid . . . which I afterwards killed because it would not feed. De
Foe.
2. To subject by eating; to satisfy the appetite; to feed one's self
(upon something); to prey; -- with on or upon.
Leaving thy trunk for crows to feed upon. Shak.
3. To be nourished, strengthened, or satisfied, as if by food. "He
feeds upon the cooling shade." Spenser.
4. To place cattle to feed; to pasture; to graze.
If a man . . . shall put in his beast, and shall feed in anotheEx.
xxii. 5.
FEED
Feed, n.
1. That which is eaten; esp., food for beasts; fodder; pasture; hay;
grain, ground or whole; as, the best feed for sheep.
2. A grazing or pasture ground. Shak.
3. An allowance of provender given to a horse, cow, etc.; a meal; as,
a feed of corn or oats.
4. A meal, or the act of eating. [R.]
For such pleasure till that hour At feed or fountain never had I
found. Milton.
5. The water supplied to steam boilers.
6. (Mach.)
(a) The motion, or act, of carrying forward the stuff to be operated
upon, as cloth to the needle in a sewing machine; or of producing
progressive operation upon any material or object in a machine, as,
in a turning lathe, by moving the cutting tool along or in the work.
(b) The supply of material to a machine, as water to a steam boiler,
coal to a furnace, or grain to a run of stones.
(c) The mechanism by which the action of feeding is produced; a feed
motion. Feed bag, a nose bag containing feed for a horse or mule.
-- Feed cloth, an apron for leading cotton, wool, or other fiber,
into a machine, as for carding, etc.
-- Feed door, a door to a furnace, by which to supply coal.
-- Feed head. (a) A cistern for feeding water by gravity to a steam
boiler. (b) (Founding) An excess of metal above a mold, which serves
to render the casting more compact by its pressure; -- also called a
riser, deadhead, or simply feed or head Knight.
-- Feed heater. (a) (Steam Engine) A vessel in which the feed water
for the boiler is heated, usually by exhaust steam. (b) A boiler or
kettle in which is heated food for stock.
-- Feed motion, or Feed gear (Mach.), the train of mechanism that
gives motion to the part that directly produces the feed in a
machine.
-- Feed pipe, a pipe for supplying the boiler of a steam engine,
etc., with water.
-- Feed pump, a force pump for supplying water to a steam boiler,
etc.
-- Feed regulator, a device for graduating the operation of a
feeder. Knight.
-- Feed screw, in lathes, a long screw employed to impart a regular
motion to a tool rest or tool, or to the work.
-- Feed water, water supplied to a steam boiler, etc.
-- Feed wheel (Mach.), a kind of feeder. See Feeder, n., 8.
FEEDER
Feed"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, gives food or supplies nourishment;
steward.
A couple of friends, his chaplain and feeder. Goldsmith.
2. One who furnishes incentives; an encourager. "The feeder of my
riots." Shak.
3. One who eats or feeds; specifically, an animal to be fed or
fattened.
With eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder. Shak.
4. One who fattens cattle for slaughter.
5. A stream that flows into another body of water; a tributary;
specifically (Hydraulic Engin.), a water course which supplies a
canal or reservoir by gravitation or natural flow.
6. A branch railroad, stage line, or the like; a side line which
increases the business of the main line.
7. (Mining)
(a) A small lateral lode falling into the main lode or mineral vein.
Ure.
(b) A strong discharge of gas from a fissure; a blower. Raymond.
8. (Mach.)
Defn: An auxiliary part of a machine which supplies or leads along
the material operated upon.
9. (Steam Engine)
Defn: A device for supplying steam boilers with water as needed.
FEEDING
Feed"ing, n.
1. the act of eating, or of supplying with food; the process of
fattening.
2. That which is eaten; food.
3. That which furnishes or affords food, especially for animals;
pasture land. Feeding bottle. See under Bottle.
FEE-FAW-FUM
Fee`-faw`-fum", n.
Defn: A nonsensical exclamation attributed to giants and ogres;
hence, any expression calculated to impose upon the timid and
ignorant. "Impudent fee-faw-fums." J. H. Newman.
FEEJEE
Fee"jee, a. & n. (Ethnol)
Defn: See Fijian.
FEEL
Feel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felt; p. pr. & vb. n. Feeling.] Etym: [AS.
f; akin to OS. gif to perceive, D. voelen to feel, OHG. fuolen, G.
fühlen, Icel. falma to grope, and prob. to AS. folm paim of the hand,
L. palma. Cf. Fumble, Palm.]
1. To perceive by the touch; to take cognizance of by means of the
nerves of sensation distributed all over the body, especially by
those of the skin; to have sensation excited by contact of (a thing)
with the body or limbs.
Who feel Those rods of scorpions and those whips of steel. Creecn.
2. To touch; to handle; to examine by touching; as, feel this piece
of silk; hence, to make trial of; to test; often with out.
Come near, . . . that I may feel thee, my son. Gen. xxvii. 21.
He hath this to feel my affection to your honor. Shak.
3. To perceive by the mind; to have a sense of; to experience; to be
affected by; to be sensible of, or sensetive to; as, to feel
pleasure; to feel pain.
Teach me to feel another's woe. Pope.
Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. Eccl. viii.
5.
He best can paint them who shall feel them most. Pope.
Mankind have felt their strength and made it felt. Byron.
4. To take internal cognizance of; to be conscious of; to have an
inward persuasion of.
For then, and not till then, he felt himself. Shak.
5. To perceive; to observe. [Obs.] Chaucer. To feel the helm (Naut.),
to obey it.
FEEL
Feel, v. i.
1. To have perception by the touch, or by contact of anything with
the nerves of sensation, especially those upon the surface of the
body.
2. To have the sensibilities moved or affected.
[She] feels with the dignity of a Roman matron. Burke.
And mine as man, who feel for all mankind. Pope.
3. To be conscious of an inward impression, state of mind,
persuasion, physical condition, etc.; to perceive one's self to be; -
- followed by an adjective describing the state, etc.; as, to feel
assured, grieved, persuaded.
I then did feel full sick. Shak.
4. To know with feeling; to be conscious; hence, to know certainly or
without misgiving.
Garlands . . . which I feel I am not worthy yet to wear. Shak.
5. To appear to the touch; to give a perception; to produce an
impression by the nerves of sensation; -- followed by an adjective
describing the kind of sensation.
Blind men say black feels rough, and white feels smooth. Dryden.
To feel after, to search for; to seek to find; to seek as a person
groping in the dark. "If haply they might feel after him, and find
him." Acts xvii. 27. - To feel of, to examine by touching.
FEEL
Feel, n.
1. Feeling; perception. [R.]
To intercept and have a more kindly feel of its genial warmth.
Hazlitt.
2. A sensation communicated by touching; impression made upon one who
touches or handles; as, this leather has a greasy feel.
The difference between these two tumors will be distinguished by the
feel. S. Sharp.
FEELER
Feel"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, feels.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the sense organs or certain animals (as insects), which
are used in testing objects by touch and in searching for food; an
antenna; a palp.
Insects . . . perpetually feeling and searching before them with
their feelers or antennæ. Derham.
3. Anything, as a proposal, observation, etc., put forth or thrown
out in order to ascertain the views of others; something tentative.
FEELING
Feel"ing, a.
1. Possessing great sensibility; easily affected or moved; as, a
feeling heart.
2. Expressive of great sensibility; attended by, or evincing,
sensibility; as, he made a feeling representation of his wrongs.
FEELING
Feel"ing, n.
1. The sense by which the mind, through certain nerves of the body,
perceives external objects, or certain states of the body itself;
that one of the five senses which resides in the general nerves of
sensation distributed over the body, especially in its surface; the
sense of touch; nervous sensibility to external objects.
Why was the sight To such a tender ball as the eye confined, . . .
And not, as feeling, through all parts diffused Milton.
2. An act or state of perception by the sense above described; an act
of apprehending any object whatever; an act or state of apprehending
the state of the soul itself; consciousness.
The apprehension of the good Gives but the greater feeling to the
worse. Shak.
3. The capacity of the soul for emotional states; a high degree of
susceptibility to emotions or states of the sensibility not dependent
on the body; as, a man of feeling; a man destitute of feeling.
4. Any state or condition of emotion; the exercise of the capacity
for emotion; any mental state whatever; as, a right or a wrong
feeling in the heart; our angry or kindly feelings; a feeling of
pride or of humility.
A fellow feeling makes one wondrous kind. Garrick.
Tenderness for the feelings of others. Macaulay.
5. That quality of a work of art which embodies the mental emotion of
the artist, and is calculated to affect similarly the spectator.
Fairholt.
Syn.
-- Sensation; emotion; passion; sentiment; agitation; opinion. See
Emotion, Passion, Sentiment.
FEELINGLY
Feel"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a feeling manner; pathetically; sympathetically.
FEERE
Feere, n. Etym: [See Fere, n.]
Defn: A consort, husband or wife; a companion; a fere. [Obs.]
FEESE
Feese, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. fesien to put to flight, AS. fesian, fysian,
fysan, fr. fus, prompt, willing.]
Defn: the short run before a leap. [Obs.] Nares.
FEET
Feet, n. pl.
Defn: See Foot.
FEET
Feet, n. Etym: [See Feat, n.]
Defn: Fact; performance. [Obs.]
FEETLESS
Feet"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of feet; as, feetless birds.
FEEZE
Feeze, v. t. Etym: [For sense 1, cf. F. visser to screw, vis screw,
or 1st E. feaze, v.t.: for sense 2, see Feese.]
1. To turn, as a screw. [Scot] Jamieson.
2. To beat; to chastise; to humble; to worry. [Obs.] [Written also
feaze, feize, pheese.] Beau. & Fl. To feeze up, to work into a
passion. [Obs.]
FEEZE
Feeze, n.
Defn: Fretful excitement. [Obs.] See Feaze.
FEHLING
Feh"ling, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Fehling's solution, under Solution.
FEHM; FEHMGERICHT
Fehm, n., Fehm"ge*richt`, n.
Defn: Same as Vehm, Vehmgericht.
FEHMIC
Feh"mic, a.
Defn: See Vehmic.
FEIGN
Feign, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feigned; p. pr. & vb. n. Feigning.] Etym:
[OE. feinen, F. feindre (p. pr. feignant), fr. L. fingere; akin to L.
figura figure,and E. dough. See Dough, and cf. Figure, Faint, Effigy,
Fiction.]
1. To give a mental existence to, as to something not real or actual;
to imagine; to invent; hence, to pretend; to form and relate as if
true.
There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them
out of thine own heart. Neh. vi. 8.
The poet Did feign that Orpheus drew trees, stones, and floods. Shak.
2. To represent by a false appearance of; to pretend; to counterfeit;
as, to feign a sickness. Shak.
3. To dissemble; to conceal. [Obs.] Spenser.
FEIGNED
Feigned, a.
Defn: Not real or genuine; pretended; counterfeit; insincere; false.
"A feigned friend." Shak.
Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Ps.
xvii. 1.
-- Feign"ed*ly, adv.
-- Feign"ed*ness, n.
Her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole
heart, but feignedly. Jer. iii. 10.
Feigned issue (Law), an issue produced in a pretended action between
two parties for the purpose of trying before a jury a question of
fact which it becomes necessary to settle in the progress of a cause.
Burill. Bouvier.
FEIGNER
Feign"er, n.
Defn: One who feigns or pretends.
FEIGNING
Feign"ing, a.
Defn: That feigns; insincere; not genuine; false.
-- Feign"ing*ly, adv.
FEINE
Feine, v. t. & i.
Defn: To feign. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEINT
Feint, a. Etym: [F. feint, p.p. of feindre to feign. See Feign.]
Defn: Feigned; counterfeit. [Obs.]
Dressed up into any feint appearance of it. Locke.
FEINT
Feint, n. Etym: [F. feinte, fr. feint. See Feint, a.]
1. That which is feigned; an assumed or false appearance; a pretense;
a stratagem; a fetch.
Courtley's letter is but a feint to get off. Spectator.
2. A mock blow or attack on one part when another part is intended to
be struck; -- said of certain movements in fencing, boxing, war, etc.
FEINT
Feint, v. i.
Defn: To make a feint, or mock attack.
FEITSUI
Fei`tsui", n. (Min.)
Defn: The Chinese name for a highly prized variety of pale green
jade. See Jade.
FEIZE
Feize, v. t.
Defn: See Feeze, v. t.
FELANDERS
Fel"an*ders, n. pl.
Defn: See Filanders.
FELDSPAR; FELDSPATH
Feld"spar`, Feld"spath`, n. Etym: [G. feldspath; feld field + spath
spar.] (Min.)
Defn: A name given to a group of minerals, closely related in
crystalline form, and all silicates of alumina with either potash,
soda, lime, or, in one case, baryta. They occur in crystals and
crystalline masses, vitreous in luster, and breaking rather easily in
two directions at right angles to each other, or nearly so. The
colors are usually white or nearly white, flesh-red, bluish, or
greenish.
Note: The group includes the monoclinic (orthoclastic) species
orthoclase or common potash feldspar, and the rare hyalophane or
baryta feldspar; also the triclinic species (called in general
plagioclase) microcline, like orthoclase a potash feldspar; anorthite
or lime feldspar; albite or soda feldspar; also intermediate between
the last two species, labradorite, andesine, oligoclase, containing
both lime and soda in varying amounts. The feldspars are essential
constituents of nearly all crystalline rocks, as granite, gneiss,
mica, slate, most kinds of basalt and trachyte, etc. The
decomposition of feldspar has yielded a large part of the clay of the
soil, also the mineral kaolin, an essential material in the making of
fine pottery. Common feldspar is itself largely used for the same
purpose.
FELDSPATHIC; FELDSPATHOSE
Feld*spath"ic, Feld*spath"ose, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or consisting of, feldspar.
FELE
Fele, a. Etym: [AS. fela, feola; akin to G. viel, gr. Full, a.]
Defn: Many. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FELICIFY
Felic"ify, v. t. Etym: [L. felix happy = -fy.]
Defn: To make happy; to felicitate. [Obs.] Quarles.
FELICITATE
Fe*lic"i*tate, a. Etym: [L. felicitatus, p.p. of felicitare to
felicitate, fr. felix, -icis, happy. See felicity.]
Defn: Made very happy. [Archaic]
I am alone felicitate In your dear highness' love. Shak.
FELICITATE
Fe*lic"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felicitated; p. pr. & vb. n.
felicitating.] Etym: [Cf. F. féliciter.]
1. To make very happy; to delight.
What a glorius entertainment and pleasure would fill and felicitate
his spirit. I. Watts.
2. To express joy or pleasure to; to wish felicity to; to call or
consider (one's self) happy; to congratulate.
Every true heart must felicitate itself that its lot is cast in this
kingdom. W. Howitt.
Syn.
-- See Congratulate.
FELICITATION
Fe*lic`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. félicitation.]
Defn: The act of felicitating; a wishing of joy or happiness;
congratulation.
FELICITOUS
Fe*lic"i*tous, a.
Defn: Characterized by felicity; happy; prosperous; delightful;
skilful; successful; happily applied or expressed; appropriate.
Felicitous words and images. M. Arnold.
-- Fe*lic"i*tous*ly, adv.
-- Fe*lic"i*tous*ness, n.
FELICITY
Fe*lic"i*ty, n.; pl. Felicities. Etym: [OE. felicite, F. félicité,
fr. L. felicitas, fr. felix, -icis, happy, fruitful; akin to fetus.]
1. The state of being happy; blessedness; blissfulness; enjoyment of
good.
Our own felicity we make or find. Johnson.
Finally, after this life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity.
Book of Common Prayer.
2. That which promotes happiness; a successful or gratifying event;
prosperity; blessing.
the felicities of her wonderful reign. Atterbury.
3. A pleasing faculty or accomplishment; as, felicity in painting
portraits, or in writing or talking. "Felicity of expression." Bp.
Warburton.
Syn.
-- Happiness; bliss; beatitude; blessedness; blissfulness. See
Happiness.
FELINE
Fe"line, a. Etym: [L. felinus, fr. feles, felis, cat, prob. orig.,
the fruitful: cf. F. félin. See Fetus.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Catlike; of or pertaining to the genus Felis, or family Felidæ;
as, the feline race; feline voracity.
2. Characteristic of cats; sly; stealthy; treacherous; as, a feline
nature; feline manners.
FELIS
Fe"lis, n. Etym: [L., cat.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of carnivorous mammals, including the domestic cat, the
lion, tiger, panther, and similar animals.
FELL
Fell,
Defn: imp. of Fall.
FELL
Fell, a. Etym: [OE. fel, OF. fel cruel, fierce, perfidious; cf. AS.
fel (only in comp.) OF. fel, as a noun also accus. felon, is fr. LL.
felo, of unknown origin; cf. Arm fall evil, Ir. feal, Arm. falloni
treachery, Ir. & Gael. feall to betray; or cf. OHG. fillan to flay,
torment, akin to E. fell skin. Cf. Felon.]
1. Cruel; barbarous; inhuman; fierce; savage; ravenous.
While we devise fell tortures for thy faults. Shak.
2. Eager; earnest; intent. [Obs.]
I am so fell to my business. Pepys.
FELL
Fell, n. Etym: [Cf. L. fel gall, bile, or E. fell, a.]
Defn: Gall; anger; melancholy. [Obs.]
Untroubled of vile fear or bitter fell. Spenser.
FELL
Fell, n. Etym: [AS. fell; akin to D. vel, OHG. fel, G. fell, Icel.
fell (in comp.), Goth fill in Þrutsfill leprosy, L. pellis skin, G.
Film, Peel, Pell, n.]
Defn: A skin or hide of a beast with the wool or hair on; a pelt; --
used chiefly in composition, as woolfell.
We are still handling our ewes, and their fells, you know, are
greasy. Shak.
FELL
Fell, n. Etym: [Icel. fell, fjally; akin to Sw. fjäll a ridge or
chain of mountains, Dan. fjeld mountain, rock and prob. to G. fels
rock, or perh. to feld field, E. field.]
1. A barren or rocky hill. T. Gray.
2. A wild field; a moor. Dryton.
FELL
Fell, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felled; p. pr. & vb. n. Felling.] Etym:
[AS. fellan, a causative verb fr. feallan to fall; akin to D. vellen,
G. fällen, Icel. fella, Sw. fälla, Dan. fælde. See Fall, v. i.]
Defn: To cause to fall; to prostrate; to bring down or to the ground;
to cut down.
Stand, or I'll fell thee down. Shak.
FELL
Fell, n. (Mining)
Defn: The finer portions of ore which go through the meshes, when the
ore is sorted by sifting.
FELL
Fell, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Gael. fill to fold, plait, Sw. fåll a hem.]
Defn: To sew or hem; -- said of seams.
FELL
Fell, n.
1. (Sewing)
Defn: A form of seam joining two pieces of cloth, the edges being
folded together and the stitches taken through both thicknesses.
2. (Weaving)
Defn: The end of a web, formed by the last thread of the weft.
FELLABLE
Fell"a*ble, a.
Defn: Fit to be felled.
FELLAH
Fel"lah, n.; pl. Ar. Fellahin, E. Fellahs. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A peasant or cultivator of the soil among the Egyptians,
Syrians, etc. W. M. Thomson.
FELLER
Fell"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, fells, knocks or cuts down; a machine
for felling trees.
FELLER
Fell"er, n.
Defn: An appliance to a sewing machine for felling a seam.
FELLFARE
Fell"fare`, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. fealafor, and E. fieldfare.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The fieldfare.
FELLIFLUOUS
Fellif"lu`ous, a. Etym: [L. fellifluus; fel gall + fluere to flow.]
Defn: Flowing with gall. [R.] Johnson.
FELLINIC
Fel*lin"ic, a. Etym: [L. fel, fellis, gall.]
Defn: Of, relating to, or derived from, bile or gall; as, fellinic
acid.
FELLMONGER
Fell"mon`ger, n.
Defn: A dealer in fells or sheepskins, who separates the wool from
the pelts.
FELLNESS
Fell"ness, n. Etym: [See Fell cruel.]
Defn: The quality or state of being fell or cruel; fierce barbarity.
Spenser.
FELLOE
Fel"loe, n.
Defn: See Felly.
FELLON
Fel"lon, n.
Defn: Variant of Felon. [Obs.]
Those two were foes the fellonest on ground. Spenser.
FELLOW
Fel"low, n. Etym: [OE. felawe, felaghe, Icel. felagi, fr. felag
companionship, prop., a laying together of property; fe property +
lag a laying, pl. lög law, akin to liggja to lie. See Fee, and Law,
Lie to be low.]
1. A companion; a comrade; an associate; a partner; a sharer.
The fellows of his crime. Milton.
We are fellows still, Serving alike in sorrow. Shak.
That enormous engine was flanked by two fellows almost of equal
magnitude. Gibbon.
Note: Commonly used of men, but sometimes of women. Judges xi. 37.
2. A man without good breeding or worth; an ignoble or mean man.
Worth makes the man, and want of it, the fellow. Pope.
3. An equal in power, rank, character, etc.
It is impossible that ever Rome Should breed thy fellow. Shak.
4. One of a pair, or of two things used together or suited to each
other; a mate; the male.
When they be but heifers of one year, . . . they are let go to the
fellow and breed. Holland.
This was my glove; here is the fellow of it. Shak.
5. A person; an individual.
She seemed to be a good sort of fellow. Dickens.
6. In the English universities, a scholar who is appointed to a
foundation called a fellowship, which gives a title to certain
perquisites and privileges.
7. In an American college or university, a member of the corporation
which manages its business interests; also, a graduate appointed to a
fellowship, who receives the income of the foundation.
8. A member of a literary or scientific society; as, a Fellow of the
Royal Society.
Note: Fellow is often used in compound words, or adjectively,
signifying associate, companion, or sometimes equal. Usually, such
compounds or phrases are self-explanatory; as, fellow-citizen, or
fellow citizen; fellow-student, or fellow student; fellow-workman, or
fellow workman; fellow-mortal, or fellow mortal; fellow-sufferer;
bedfellow; playfellow; workfellow.
Were the great duke himself here, and would lift up My head to fellow
pomp amongst his nobles. Ford.
FELLOW
Fel"low, v. t.
Defn: To suit with; to pair with; to match. [Obs.] Shak.
FELLOW-COMMONER
Fel"low-com"mon*er, n.
Defn: A student at Cambridge University, England, who commons, or
dines, at the Fellow's table.
FELLOW-CREATURE
Fel"low-crea"ture, n.
Defn: One of the same race or kind; one made by the same Creator.
Reason, by which we are raised above our fellow-creatures, the
brutes. I. Watts.
FELLOWFEEL
Fel"low*feel", v. t.
Defn: To share through sympathy; to participate in. [R.] D. Rodgers.
FELLOW-FEELING
Fel"low-feel"ing, n.
1. Sympathy; a like feeling.
2. Joint interest. [Obs.] Arbuthnot.
FELLOWLESS
Fel"low*less, a.
Defn: Without fellow or equal; peerless.
Whose well-built walls are rare and fellowless. Chapman.
FELLOWLIKE
Fel"low*like`, a.
Defn: Like a companion; companionable; on equal terms; sympathetic.
[Obs.] Udall.
FELLOWLY
Fel"low*ly, a.
Defn: Fellowlike. [Obs.] Shak.
FELLOWSHIP
Fel"low*ship, n. Etym: [Fellow + -ship.]
1. The state or relation of being or associate.
2. Companionship of persons on equal and friendly terms; frequent and
familiar intercourse.
In a great town, friends are scattered, so that there is not that
fellowship which is in less neighborhods. Bacon.
Men are made for society and mutual fellowship. Calamy.
3. A state of being together; companionship; partnership;
association; hence, confederation; joint interest.
The great contention of the sea and skies Parted our fellowship.
Shak.
Fellowship in pain divides not smart. Milton.
Fellowship in woe doth woe assuage. Shak.
The goodliest fellowship of famous knights, Whereof this world holds
record. Tennyson.
4. Those associated with one, as in a family, or a society; a
company.
The sorrow of Noah with his fellowship. Chaucer.
With that a joyous fellowship issued Of minstrels. Spenser.
5. (Eng. & Amer. Universities) A foundation for the maintenance, on
certain conditions, of a scholar called a fellow, who usually resides
at the university.
6. (Arith.) The rule for dividing profit and loss among partners; --
called also partnership, company, and distributive proportion.
FELLOWSHIP
Fel"low*ship, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fellowshiped (; p. pr. & vb. n..
Fellowshiping.]
Defn: (Eccl.) To acknowledge as of good standing, or in communion
according to standards of faith and practice; to admit to Christian
fellowship.
FELLOWSHIP; GOOD FELLOWSHIP
Good fel"low*ship
Defn: companionableness; the spirit and disposition befitting
comrades.
There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee. Shak.
FELLY
Fel"ly
Defn: , adv. In a fell or cruel manner; fiercely; barbarously;
savagely. Spenser.
FELLY
Fel"ly, n.; pl. Fellies (. Etym: [OE. feli, felwe, felow, AS. felg,
felge; akin to D. velg, G. felge, OHG. felga felly (also, a harrow,
but prob. a different word), Dan. felge.]
Defn: The exterior wooden rim, or a segment of the rim, of a wheel,
supported by the spokes. [Written also felloe.]
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel. Shak.
FELO-DE-SE
Fe"lo-de-se`, n.; pl. Felos-de-se. Etym: [LL. felo, E. felon + de of,
concerning + se self.] (Law)
Defn: One who deliberately puts an end to his own existence, or loses
his life while engaged in the commission of an unlawful or malicious
act; a suicide. Burrill.
FELON
Fel"on, n. Etym: [OE., adj., cruel, n., villain, ruffian, traitor,
whitlow, F. félon traitor, in OF. also, villain, fr. LL. felo. See
Fell, a.]
1. (Law)
Defn: A person who has committed a felony.
2. A person guilty or capable of heinous crime.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A kind of whitlow; a painful imflammation of the periosteum of
a finger, usually of the last joint.
Syn.
-- Criminal; convict; malefactor; culprit.
FELON
Fel"on, a.
Defn: Characteristic of a felon; malignant; fierce; malicious; cruel;
traitorous; disloyal.
Vain shows of love to vail his felon hate. Pope.
FELONIOUS
Fe*lo"nious, a.
Defn: Having the quality of felony; malignant; malicious; villainous;
traitorous; perfidious; in a legal sense, done with intent to commit
a crime; as, felonious homicide.
O thievish Night, Why should'st thou, but for some felonious end, In
thy dark lantern thus close up the stars Milton.
-- Fe*lo"ni`ous*ly, adv.
-- Fe*lo"ni`ous*ness, n.
FELONOUS
Fel"o*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. feloneus. Cf. Felonious.]
Defn: Wicked; felonious. [Obs.] Spenser.
FELONRY
Fel"on*ry, n.
Defn: A body of felons; specifically, the convict population of a
penal colony. Howitt.
FELONWORT
Fel"on*wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: The bittersweet nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara). See
Bittersweet.
FELONY
Fel"o*ny, n.; pl. Felonies. Etym: [OE. felonie cruelty, OF. felonie,
F. félonie treachery, malice. See Felon, n.]
1. (Feudal Law)
Defn: An act on the part of the vassal which cost him his fee by
forfeiture. Burrill.
2. (O.Eng.Law)
Defn: An offense which occasions a total forfeiture either lands or
goods, or both, at the common law, and to which capital or other
punishment may be added, according to the degree of guilt.
3. A heinous crime; especially, a crime punishable by death or
imprisonment.
Note: Forfeiture for crime having been generally abolished in the
United States, the term felony, in American law, has lost this point
of distinction; and its meaning, where not fixed by statute, is
somewhat vague and undefined; generally, however, it is used to
denote an offense of a high grade, punishable either capitally or by
a term of imprisonment. In Massachusetts, by statute, any crime
punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison, and no
other, is a felony; so in New York. the tendency now is to obliterate
the distinction between felonies and misdemeanors; and this has been
done partially in England, and completely in some of the States of
the Union. The distinction is purely arbitrary, and its entire
abolition is only a question of time.
Note: There is no lawyer who would undertake to tell what a felony
is, otherwise than by enumerating the various kinds of offenses which
are so called. originally, the word felony had a meaning: it denoted
all offenses the penalty of which included forfeiture of goods; but
subsequent acts of Parliament have declared various offenses to be
felonies, without enjoining that penalty, and have taken away the
penalty from others, which continue, nevertheless, to be called
felonies, insomuch that the acts so called have now no property
whatever in common, save that of being unlawful and purnishable. J.
S. Mill.
FELONY; TO COMPOUND A FELONY
To compound a felony
Defn: . See under Compound, v. t.
FELSITE
Fel"site, n. Etym: [Cf. Feldspar.] (Min.)
Defn: A finegrained rock, flintlike in fracture, consisting
essentially of orthoclase feldspar with occasional grains of quartz.
FELSITIC
Fel*sit"ic, a.
Defn: relating to, composed of, or containing, felsite.
FELSPAR; FELSPATH
Fel"spar`, Fel"spath`, n. (Min.)
Defn: See Feldspar.
FELSPATHIC
Fel*spath"ic, a.
Defn: See Feldspathic.
FELSTONE
Fel"stone`, n. Etym: [From G. feldstein, in analogy with E. felspar.]
(Min.)
Defn: See Felsite.
FELT
Felt,
Defn: imp. & p. p. or a. from Feel.
FELT
Felt, n. Etym: [AS. felt; akin to D. vilt, G. filz, and possibly to
Gr. pilus hair, pileus a felt cap or hat.]
1. A cloth or stuff made of matted fibers of wool, or wool and fur,
fulled or wrought into a compact substance by rolling and pressure,
with lees or size, without spinning or weaving.
It were a delicate stratagem to shoe A troop of horse with felt. Shak
.
2. A hat made of felt. Thynne.
3. A skin or hide; a fell; a pelt. [Obs.]
To know whether sheep are sound or not, see that the felt be loose.
Mortimer.
FELT
Felt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Felted; p. pr. & vb. n. Felting.]
1. To make into felt, or a feltike substance; to cause to adhere and
mat together. Sir M. Hale.
2. To cover with, or as with, felt; as, to felt the cylinder of a
steam emgine.
FELTER
Felt"er, v. t.
Defn: To clot or mat together like felt.
His feltered locks that on his bosom fell. Fairfax.
FELT GRAIN
Felt grain
Defn: , the grain of timber which is transverse to the annular rings
or plates; the direction of the medullary rays in oak and some other
timber. Knight.
FELTING
Felt"ing, n.
1. The material of which felt is made; also, felted cloth; also, the
process by which it is made.
2. The act of splitting timber by the felt grain.
FELTRY
Fel"try, n. Etym: [OF. feltre.]
Defn: See Felt, n. [Obs.]
FELUCCA
Fe*luc"ca (, n. Etym: [It. feluca (cf. Sp. faluca, Pg. falua), fr.
Ar. fulk ship, or harraqah a sort of ship.] (Naut.)
Defn: A small, swift-sailing vessel, propelled by oars and lateen
sails, -- once common in the Mediterranean.
Note: Sometimes it is constructed so that the helm may be used at
either end.
FELWORT
Fel"wort`, n. Etym: [Probably a corruption of fieldwort.] (Bot.)
Defn: A European herb (Swertia perennis) of the Gentian family.
FEMALE
Fe"male, n. Etym: [OE. femel, femal, F. femelle, fr. L. femella, dim.
of femina woman. See Feminine.]
1. An individual of the sex which conceives and brings forth young,
or (in a wider sense) which has an ovary and produces ova.
The male and female of each living thing. Drayton.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant which produces only that kind of reproductive organs
which are capable of developing into fruit after impregnation or
fertilization; a pistillate plant.
FEMALE
Fe"male, a.
1. Belonging to the sex which conceives and gives birth to young, or
(in a wider sense) which produces ova; not male.
As patient as the female dove When that her golden couplets are
disclosed. Shak.
2. Belonging to an individual of the female sex; characteristic of
woman; feminine; as, female tenderness. "Female usurpation.'b8
Milton.
To the generous decision of a female mind, we owe the discovery of
America. Belknap.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Having pistils and no stamens; pistillate; or, in cryptogamous
plants, capable of receiving fertilization.
FEMALE FERN
Female fern (Bot.),
Defn: a common species of fern with large decompound fronds
(Asplenium Filixfæmina), growing in many countries; lady fern.
Note: The names male fern and female fern were anciently given to two
common ferns; but it is now understood that neither has any sexual
character.
Syn.
-- Female, Feminine. We apply female to the sex or individual, as
opposed to male; also, to the distinctive belongings of women; as,
female dress, female form, female character, etc.; feminine, to
things appropriate to, or affected by, women; as, feminine studies,
employments, accomplishments, etc. "Female applies to sex rather than
gender, and is a physiological rather than a grammatical term.
Feminine applies to gender rather than sex, and is grammatical rather
than physiological." Latham.
FEMALE RHYMES
Female rhymes (Pros.),
Defn: double rhymes, or rhymes (called in French feminine rhymes
because they end in e weak, or feminine) in which two syllables, an
accented and an unaccented one, correspond at the end of each line.
Note: A rhyme, in which the final syllables only agree (strain,
complain) is called a male rhyme; one in which the two final
syllables of each verse agree, the last being short (motion, ocean),
is called female. Brande & C.
-- Female screw, the spiral-threaded cavity into which another, or
male, screw turns. Nicholson.
FEMALIST
Fe"mal*ist, n.
Defn: A gallant. [Obs.]
Courting her smoothly like a femalist. Marston.
FEMALIZE
Fe"mal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To make, or to describe as, female or feminine. Shaftesbury.
FEME
Feme ( or ), n. Etym: [OF. feme, F. femme.] (Old Law)
Defn: A woman. Burrill. Feme covert (Law), a married woman. See
Covert, a., 3.
-- Feme sole (Law), a single or unmarried woman; a woman who has
never been married, or who has been divorced, or whose husband is
dead.
-- Feme sole trader or merchant (Eng. Law), a married woman, by the
custom of London, engages in business on her own account, inpendently
of her husband.
FEMERAL
Fem"er*al, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Femerell.
FEMERELL
Fem"er*ell, n. Etym: [OF. fumeraille part of a chimney. See Fume.]
(Arch.)
Defn: A lantern, or louver covering, placed on a roof, for
ventilation or escape of smoke.
FEMINAL
Fem"i*nal, a.
Defn: Feminine. [Obs.] West.
FEMINALITY
Fem`i*nal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Feminity.
FEMINATE
Fem"i*nate, a. Etym: [L. feminatus effeminate.]
Defn: Feminine. [Obs.]
FEMINEITY
Fem`in*e"ity, n. Etym: [L. femineus womanly.]
Defn: Womanliness; femininity. C. Read
FEMININE
Fem"i*nine, a. Etym: [L. femininus, fr. femina woman; prob. akin to
L. fetus, or to Gr. fæmme woman, maid: cf. F. féminin. See Fetus.]
1. Of or pertaining to a woman, or to women; characteristic of a
woman; womanish; womanly.
Her letters are remarkably deficient in feminine ease and grace.
Macaulay.
2. Having the qualities of a woman; becoming or appropriate to the
female sex; as, in a good sense, modest, graceful, affectionate,
confiding; or, in a bad sense, weak, nerveless, timid, pleasure-
loving, effeminate.
Her heavenly form Angelic, but more soft and feminine. Milton.
Ninus being esteemed no man of war at all, but altogether feminine,
and subject to ease and delicacy. Sir W. Raleigh.
FEMININE
Fem"i*nine, n.
1. A woman. [Obs. or Colloq.]
They guide the feminines toward the palace. Hakluyt.
2. (Gram.)
Defn: Any one of those words which are the appellations of females,
or which have the terminations usually found in such words; as,
actress, songstress, abbess, executrix.
There are but few true feminines in English. Latham.
FEMININELY
Fem"i*nine*ly, adv.
Defn: In a feminine manner. Byron.
FEMININENESS
Fem"i*nine*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being feminine; womanliness; womanishness.
FEMININE RHYME
Feminine rhyme. (Pros.)
Defn: See Female rhyme, under Female, a.
Syn.
-- See Female, a.
FEMININITY
Fem`i*nin"i*ty, n.
1. The quality or nature of the female sex; womanliness.
2. The female form. [Obs.]
O serpent under femininitee. Chaucer.
FEMINITY
Fe*min"i*ty, n.
Defn: Womanliness; femininity. [Obs.] "Trained up in true feminity."
Spenser.
FEMINIZATION
Fem`i*ni*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of feminizing, or the state of being feminized.
FEMINIZE
Fem"i*nize, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. féminiser.]
Defn: To make womanish or effeminate. Dr. H. More.
FEMINYE
Fem"i*nye, n. Etym: [OF. femenie, feminie, the female sex, realm of
women.]
Defn: The people called Amazons. [Obs.] "[The reign of] feminye."
Chaucer.
FEMME
Femme ( or ), n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A woman. See Feme, n. Femme de chambre. Etym: [F.] A lady's
maid; a chambermaid.
FEMORAL
Fem"o*ral, a. Etym: [L. femur, femoris, thigh: cf. F. fémoral.]
Defn: Pertaining to the femur or thigh; as, the femoral artery.
"Femoral habiliments." Sir W. Scott.
FEMUR
Fe"mur, n.; pl. Femora (. Etym: [L. thigh.] (Anat.)
(a) The thigh bone.
(b) The proximal segment of the hind limb containing the thigh bone;
the thigh. See Coxa.
FEN
Fen, n. Etym: [AS. fen, fenn, marsh, mud, dirt; akin to D. veen,
OFries. fenne, fene, OHG. fenna, G. fenn, Icel. fen, Goth. fani mud.]
Defn: Low land overflowed, or covered wholly or partially with water,
but producing sedge, coarse grasses, or other aquatic plants; boggy
land; moor; marsh.
'Mid reedy fens wide spread. Wordsworth.
Note: Fen is used adjectively with the sense of belonging to, or of
the nature of, a fen or fens. Fen boat, a boat of light draught used
in marshes.
-- Fen duck (Zoöl.), a wild duck inhabiting fens; the shoveler.
[Prov. Eng.] -- Fen fowl (Zoöl.), any water fowl that frequent fens.
-- Fen goose (Zoöl.), the graylag goose of Europe. [Prov. Eng.] --
Fen land, swamp land.
FENCE
Fence, n. Etym: [Abbrev. from defence.]
1. That which fends off attack or danger; a defense; a protection; a
cover; security; shield.
Let us be backed with God and with the seas, Which he hath given for
fence impregnable. Shak.
A fence betwixt us and the victor's wrath. Addison.
2. An inclosure about a field or other space, or about any object;
especially, an inclosing structure of wood, iron, or other material,
intended to prevent intrusion from without or straying from within.
Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. Milton.
Note: In England a hedge, ditch, or wall, as well as a structure of
boards, palings, or rails, is called a fence.
3. (Locks)
Defn: A projection on the bolt, which passes through the tumbler
gates in locking and unlocking.
4. Self-defense by the use of the sword; the art and practice of
fencing and sword play; hence, skill in debate and repartee. See
Fencing.
Enjoy your dear wit, and gay rhetoric, That hath so well been taught
her dazzing fence. Milton.
Of dauntless courage and consummate skill in fence. Macaulay.
5. A receiver of stolen goods, or a place where they are received.
[Slang] Mayhew.
FENCE
Fence, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fenced ( Fencing.]
1. To fend off danger from; to give security to; to protect; to
guard.
To fence my ear against thy sorceries. Milton.
2. To inclose with a fence or other protection; to secure by an
inclosure.
O thou wall! . . . dive in the earth, And fence not Athens. Shak.
A sheepcote fenced about with olive trees. Shak.
To fence the tables (Scot. Church), to make a solemn address to those
who present themselves to commune at the Lord's supper, on the
feelings appropriate to the service, in order to hinder, so far as
possible, those who are unworthy from approaching the table.
McCheyne.
FENCE
Fence, v. i.
1. To make a defense; to guard one's self of anything, as against an
attack; to give protection or security, as by a fence.
Vice is the more stubborn as well as the more dangerous evil, and
therefore, in the first place, to be fenced against. Locke.
2. To practice the art of attack and defense with the sword or with
the foil, esp. with the smallsword, using the point only.
He will fence with his own shadow. Shak.
3. Hence, to fight or dispute in the manner of fencers, that is, by
thrusting, guarding, parrying, etc.
They fence and push, and, pushing, loudly roar; Their dewlaps and
their sides are batDryden.
As when a billow, blown against, Falls back, the voice with which I
fenced A little ceased, but recommenced. Tennyson.
FENCEFUL
Fence"ful, a.
Defn: Affording defense; defensive. [Obs.] Congreve.
FENCELESS
Fence"less, a.
Defn: Without a fence; uninclosed; open; unguarded; defenseless.
Milton.
FENCE MONTH
Fence month (Forest Law),
Defn: the month in which female deer are fawning, when hunting is
prohibited. Bullokar.
-- Fence roof, a covering for defense. "They fitted their shields
close to one another in manner of a fence roof." Holland. Fence time,
the breeding time of fish or game, when they should not be killed.
-- Rail fence, a fence made of rails, sometimes supported by posts.
-- Ring fence, a fence which encircles a large area, or a whole
estate, within one inclosure.
-- Worm fence, a zigzag fence composed of rails crossing one another
at their ends; -- called also snake fence, or Virginia rail fence.
-- To be on the fence, to be undecided or uncommitted in respect to
two opposing parties or policies. [Colloq.]
FENCER
Fen"cer, n.
Defn: One who fences; one who teaches or practices the art of fencing
with sword or foil.
As blunt as the fencer's foils. Shak.
FENCI-BLE
Fen"ci-ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being defended, or of making or affording defense.
[Obs.]
No fort so fencible, nor walls so strong. Spenser.
FENCIBLE
Fen"ci*ble, n. (Mil.)
Defn: A soldier enlisted for home service only; -- usually in the pl.
FENCING
Fen"cing, n.
1. The art or practice of attack and defense with the sword, esp.
with the s,allword. See Fence, v. i., 2.
2. Disputing or debating in a manner resembling the art of fencers.
Shak.
3. The materials used for building fences. [U.S.]
4. The act of building a fence.
5. To aggregate of the fences put up for inclosure or protection; as,
the fencing of a farm.
FEN CRICKET
Fen" crick`et. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The mole cricket. [Prov. Eng.]
FEND
Fend, n.
Defn: A fiend. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEND
Fend, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fended; p. pr. & vb. n. Fending.] Etym:
[Abbrev. fr. defend.]
Defn: To keep off; to prevent from entering or hitting; to ward off;
to shut out; -- often with off; as, to fend off blows.
With fern beneath to fend the bitter cold. Dryden.
To fend off a boat or vessel (Naut.), to prevent its running against
anything with too much violence.
FEND
Fend, v. i.
Defn: To act on the defensive, or in opposition; to resist; to parry;
to shift off.
The dexterous management of terms, and being able to fend . . . with
them, passes for a great part of learning. Locke.
FENDER
Fen"der, n. Etym: [From Fend, v. t. & i., cf. Defender.]
Defn: One who or that which defends or protects by warding off harm;
as:
(a) A screen to prevent coals or sparks of an open fire from escaping
to the floor.
(b) Anything serving as a cushion to lessen the shock when a vessel
comes in contact with another vessel or a wharf.
(c) A screen to protect a carriage from mud thrown off the wheels:
also, a splashboard.
(d) Anything set up to protect an exposed angle, as of a house, from
damage by carriage wheels.
FENDLICHE
Fend"liche, a.
Defn: Fiendlike. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FENERATE
Fen"er*ate, v. i. Etym: [L. faeneratus, p.p. of faenerari lend on
interest, fr. faenus interest.]
Defn: To put money to usury; to lend on interest. [Obs.] Cockeram.
FENERATION
Fen`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. faeneratio.]
Defn: The act of fenerating; interest. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FENES-TELLA
Fen`es-tel"la, n. Etym: [L., dim. of fenestra (Arch.)
Defn: Any small windowlike opening or recess, esp. one to show the
relics within an altar, or the like.
FENESTRA
Fe*nes"tra, n.; pl. Fenestræ. Etym: [L., a window.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small opening; esp., one of the apertures, closed by
membranes, between the tympanum and internal ear.
FENESTRAL
Fe*nes"tral, a. Etym: [L. fenestra a window.]
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Pertaining to a window or to windows.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a fenestra.
FENESTRAL
Fe*nes"tral, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A casement or window sash, closed with cloth or paper instead
of glass. Weale.
FENESTRATE
Fe*nes"trate, a. Etym: [L. fenestratus, p.p. of fenestrare to furnish
with openings and windows.]
1. Having numerous openings; irregularly reticulated; as, fenestrate
membranes; fenestrate fronds.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having transparent spots, as the wings of certain butterflies.
FENESTRATED
Fe*nes"tra*ted, a.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: Having windows; characterized by windows.
2. Same as Fenestrate.
FENESTRATION
Fen`es*tra"tion, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The arrangement and proportioning of windows; -- used by modern
writers for the decorating of an architectural composition by means
of the window (and door) openings, their ornaments, and proportions.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The state or condition of being fenestrated.
FENESTRULE
Fe*nes"trule, n. Etym: [L. fenestrula a little window, dim. of
fenestra a window.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the openings in a fenestrated structure.
FENG-HWANG
Fêng"-hwang`, n. [Chin. feng + 'huang.] (Chinese Myth.)
Defn: A pheasantlike bird of rich plumage and graceful form and
movement, fabled to appear in the land on the accession of a sage to
the throne, or when right principles are about to prevail. It is
often represented on porcelains and other works of art.
FENGITE
Fen"gite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A kind of marble or alabaster, sometimes used for windows on
account of its transparency.
FENG-SHUI
Fêng"-shu`i, n. [Chin. feng wind + shiu water.]
Defn: A system of spirit influences for good and evil believed by the
Chinese to attend the natural features of landscape; also, a kind of
geomancy dealing with these influences, used in determining sites for
graves, houses, etc.
FENIAN
Fe"ni*an, n. Etym: [From the Finians or Fenii, the old militia of
Ireland, who were so called from Fin or Finn, Fionn, or Fingal, a
popular hero of Irish traditional history.]
Defn: A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of
Irishment, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in
ireland.
FENIAN
Fe"ni*an, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.
FENIANISM
Fe"ni*an*ism, n.
Defn: The principles, purposes, and methods of the Fenians.
FENKS
Fenks, n.
Defn: The refuse whale blubber, used as a manure, and in the
manufacture of Prussian blue. Ure.
FENNEC
Fen"nec, n. Etym: [Ar. fanek.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small, African, foxlike animal (Vulpes zerda) of a pale fawn
color, remarkable for the large size of its ears.
FENNEL
Fen"nel, n. Etym: [AS. fenol, finol, from L. feniculum, faeniculum,
dim. of fenum, faenum, hay: cf. F. fenouil. Cf. Fenugreek. Finochio.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant of the genus Fæniculum (F.vulgare), having
very finely divided leaves. It is cultivated in gardens for the
agreeable aromatic flavor of its seeds.
Smell of sweetest fennel. Milton.
A sprig of fennel was in fact the theological smelling bottle of the
tender sex. S. G. Goodrich.
Azorean, or Sweet, fennel, (Fæniculum dulce). It is a smaller and
stouter plant than the common fennel, and is used as a pot herb.
-- Dog's fennel (Anthemis Cotula), a foul-smelling European weed; --
called also mayweed.
-- Fennel flower (Bot.), an herb (Nigella) of the Buttercup family,
having leaves finely divided, like those of the fennel. N.Damascena
is common in gardens. N.sativa furnishes the fennel seed, used as a
condiment, etc., in India. These seeds are the "fitches" mentioned in
Isaiah (xxviii. 25).
-- Fennel water (Med.), the distilled water of fennel seed. It is
stimulant and carminative.
-- Giant fennel (Ferula communis), has stems full of pith, which, it
is said, were used to carry fire, first, by Prometheus.
-- Hog's fennel, a European plant (Peucedanum officinale) looking
something like fennel.
FENNISH
Fen"nish, a.
Defn: Abounding in fens; fenny.
FENNY
Fen"ny, a. Etym: [AS. fennig.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or inhabiting, a fen; abounding in fens; swampy;
boggy. "Fenny snake." Shak.
FENOWED
Fen"owed, a. Etym: [AS. fynig musty, fynegean to become musty or
filthy: cf. fennig fenny, muddy, dirty, fr. fen fen. Cf. Finew.]
Defn: Corrupted; decayed; moldy. See Vinnewed. [Obs.] Dr. Favour.
FENSI-BLE
Fen"si-ble, a.
Defn: Fencible. [Obs.] Spenser.
FEN-SUCKED
Fen"-sucked`, a.
Defn: Sucked out of marches. "Fen-sucked fogs." Shak.
FENUGREEK
Fen"u*greek ( or ), n. Etym: [L. faenum Graecum, lit., Greek hay: cf.
F. fenugrec. Cf. Fennel.] (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (trigonella Foenum Græcum) cultivated for its strong-
smelling seeds, which are "now only used for giving false importance
to horse medicine and damaged hay." J. Smith (Pop. Names of Plants,
1881).
FEOD
Feod, n.
Defn: A feud. See 2d Feud. Blackstone.
FEODAL
Feod"al, a.
Defn: Feudal. See Feudal.
FEODALITY
Feo*dal"i*ty, n.
Defn: Feudal tenure; the feudal system. See Feudality. Burke.
FEODARY
Feod"a*ry, n.
1. An accomplice.
Art thou a feodary for this act Shak.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: An ancient officer of the court of wards. Burrill.
FEODATORY
Feod"a*to*ry, n.
Defn: See Feudatory.
FEOFF
Feoff
Defn: , v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feoffed; p. pr. & vb. n.. Feoffing.]
Etym: [OE. feffen, OF. feffer, fieffer, F. fieffer, fr. fief fief;
cf. LL. feoffare, fefare. See Fief.] (Law)
Defn: To invest with a fee or feud; to give or grant a corporeal
hereditament to; to enfeoff.
FEOFF
Feoff, n. (Law)
Defn: A fief. See Fief.
FEOFFEE
Feof*fee", n. Etym: [OF. feoffé.] (Law)
Defn: The person to whom a feoffment is made; the person enfeoffed.
FEOFFMENT
Feoff"ment, n. Etym: [OF. feoffement, fieffement; cf. LL.
feoffamentum.] (Law)
(a) The grant of a feud or fee.
(b) (Eng. Law) A gift or conveyance in fee of land or other corporeal
hereditaments, accompanied by actual delivery of possession. Burrill.
(c) The instrument or deed by which corporeal hereditaments are
conveyed. [Obs. in the U.S., Rare in Eng.]
FEOFOR; FEOFFER
Feo"for, Feof"fer, n. Etym: [OF. feoour.] (Law)
Defn: One who enfeoffs or grants a fee.
FER
Fer, a. & adv.
Defn: Far. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERACIOUS
Fe*ra"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferax, -acis, fr. ferre to bear.]
Defn: Fruitful; producing abudantly. [R.] Thomson.
FERACITY
Fe*rac"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feracitas.]
Defn: The state of being feracious or fruitful. [Obs.] Beattie.
FERAE
Fe"ræ, n. pl. Etym: [L., wild animals, fem. pl. of ferus wild.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of mammals which formerly included the Carnivora,
Insectivora, Marsupialia, and lemurs, but is now often restricted to
the Carnivora.
FERAE NATURAE
Fe"ræ na*tu"ræ. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Of a wild nature; -- applied to animals, as foxes, wild ducks,
etc., in which no one can claim property.
FERAL
Fe"ral, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.] (Bot. & Zoöl.)
Defn: Wild; untamed; ferine; not domesticated; -- said of beasts,
birds, and plants. feral child, not raised by humans
FERAL
Fe"ral, a. Etym: [L. feralis, belonging to the dead.]
Defn: Funereal; deadly; fatal; dangerous. [R.] "Feral accidents."
Burton.
FERDE
Ferde, obs.
Defn: imp. of Fare. Chaucer.
FER-DE-LANCE
Fer`-de-lance", n. Etym: [F., the iron of a lance, lance head.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A large, venomous serpent (Trigonocephalus lanceolatus) of
Brazil and the West Indies. It is allied to the rattlesnake, but has
no rattle.
FERDING
Fer"ding, n. Etym: [See Farthing.]
Defn: A measure of land mentioned in Domesday Book. It is supposed to
have consisted of a few acres only. [Obs.]
FERDNESS
Ferd"ness, n. Etym: [OE. ferd fear. See Fear.]
Defn: Fearfulness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERE
Fere, n. Etym: [OE. fere companion, AS. gefera, from feran to go,
travel, faran to travel. sq. root78. See Fare.]
Defn: A mate or companion; -- often used of a wife. [Obs.] [Written
also fear and feere.] Chaucer.
And Cambel took Cambrina to his fere. Spenser.
In fere, together; in company. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERE
Fere, a. Etym: [Cf. L. ferus wild.]
Defn: Fierce. [Obs.]
FERE
Fere, n. Etym: [See Fire.]
Defn: Fire. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERE
Fere, n. Etym: [See Fear.]
Defn: Fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERE
Fere, v. t. & i.
Defn: To fear. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERETORY
Fer`e*to*ry, n. Etym: [L. feretrum bier, Gr. ferre, E. bear to
support.]
Defn: A portable bier or shrine, variously adorned, used for
containing relics of saints. Mollett.
FERFORTH
Fer"forth`, adv.
Defn: Far forth. [Obs.] As ferforth as, as far as.
-- So ferforth, to such a degree.
FERFORTHLY
Fer"forth`ly, adv.
Defn: Ferforth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERGUSONITE
Fer"gu*son*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A mineral of a brownish black color, essentially a tantalo-
niobate of yttrium, erbium, and cerium; -- so called after Robert
Ferguson.
FERIA
Fe"ri*a, n.; pl. Feriæ (. (Eccl.)
Defn: A week day, esp. a day which is neither a festival nor a fast.
Shipley.
FERIAL
Fe"ri*al, n.
Defn: Same as Feria.
FERIAL
Fe"ri*al, a. Etym: [LL. ferialis, fr. L. ferie holidays: cf. F.
férial. See 5th Fair.]
1. Of or pertaining to holidays. [Obs.] J. Gregory.
2. Belonging to any week day, esp. to a day that is neither a
festival nor a fast.
FERIATION
Fe`ri*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. feriari to keep holiday, fr. ferie
holidays.]
Defn: The act of keeping holiday; cessation from work. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
FERIE
Fe"rie, n. Etym: [OF. ferie, fr. L. ferie holidays. See 5th Fair.]
Defn: A holiday. [Obs.] Bullokar.
FERIER
Fe"ri*er, a.
Defn: , compar. of Fere, fierce. [Obs.]
Rhenus ferier than the cataract. Marston.
FERINE
Fe"rine, a. Etym: [L. ferinus, fr. ferus wild. See Fierce.]
Defn: Wild; untamed; savage; as, lions, tigers, wolves, and bears are
ferine beasts. Sir M. Hale.
-- n.
Defn: A wild beast; a beast of prey.
-- Fe"rine*ly, adv.
-- Fe"rine*ness, n.
FERINGEE
Fer*in"gee, n. Etym: [Per. Farangi, or Ar. Firanji, properly, a
Frank.]
Defn: The name given to Europeans by the Hindos. [Written also
Feringhee.]
FERITY
Fer"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. feritas, from ferus wild.]
Defn: Wildness; savageness; fierceness. [Obs.] Woodward.
FERLY
Fer"ly, a. Etym: [AS. f sudden, unexpected. See Fear, n.]
Defn: Singular; wonderful; extraordinary. [Obs.] -- n.
Defn: A wonder; a marvel. [Obs.]
Who hearkened ever such a ferly thing. Chaucer.
FERM; FERME
Ferm, Ferme, n.Etym: [See Farm.]
Defn: Rent for a farm; a farm; also, an abode; a place of residence;
as, he let his land to ferm. [Obs.]
Out of her fleshy ferme fled to the place of pain. Spenser.
FERMACY
Fer"ma*cy, n. Etym: [OE. See Pharmacy.]
Defn: Medicine; pharmacy. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERMENT
Fer"ment, n. Etym: [L. fermentum ferment (in senses 1 & 2), perh. for
fervimentum, fr. fervere to be boiling hot, boil, ferment: cf. F.
ferment. Cf. 1st Barm, Fervent.]
1. That which causes fermentation, as yeast, barm, or fermenting
beer.
Note: Ferments are of two kinds: (a) Formed or organized ferments.
(b) Unorganized or structureless ferments. The latter are also called
soluble or chemical ferments, and enzymes. Ferments of the first
class are as a rule simple microscopic vegetable organisms, and the
fermentations which they engender are due to their growth and
development; as, the acetic ferment, the butyric ferment, etc. See
Fermentation. Ferments of the second class, on the other hand, are
chemical substances, as a rule soluble in glycerin and precipitated
by alcohol. In action they are catalytic and, mainly, hydrolytic.
Good examples are pepsin of the dastric juice, ptyalin of the salvia,
and disease of malt. globular proteins, capable of catalyzing a wide
variety of chemical reactions, not merely hydrolytic. The full set of
enzymes causing production of ethyl alcohol from sugar has been
identified and individually purified and studied. See enzyme
2. Intestine motion; heat; tumult; agitation.
Subdue and cool the ferment of desire. Rogers.
the nation is in a ferment. Walpole.
in a ferment in a state of agitation, applied to human groups.
3. A gentle internal motion of the constituent parts of a fluid;
fermentation. [R.]
Down to the lowest lees the ferment ran. Thomson.
ferment oils, volatile oils produced by the fermentation of plants,
and not originally contained in them. These were the quintessences of
the alchenists. Ure.
FERMENT
Fer*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fermented; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fermenting.] Etym: [L. fermentare, fermentatum: cf. F. fermenter. See
Ferment, n.]
Defn: To cause ferment of fermentation in; to set in motion; to
excite internal emotion in; to heat.
Ye vigorous swains! while youth ferments your blood. Pope.
FERMENT
Fer*ment", v. i.
1. To undergo fermentation; to be in motion, or to be excited into
sensible internal motion, as the constituent oarticles of an animal
or vegetable fluid; to work; to effervesce.
2. To be agitated or excited by violent emotions.
But finding no redress, ferment an rage. Milton.
The intellect of the age was a fermenting intellect. De Quincey.
FERMENTABILITY
Fer*ment`a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability of fermentation.
FERMENTABLE
Fer*ment"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentable.]
Defn: Capable of fermentation; as, cider and other vegetable liquors
are fermentable.
FERMENTAL
Fer*ment"al, a.
Defn: Fermentative. [Obs.]
FERMENTATION
Fer`men*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentation.]
1. The process of undergoing an effervescent change, as by the action
of yeast; in a wider sense (Physiol. Chem.), the transformation of an
organic substance into new compounds by the action of a ferment,
either formed or unorganized. It differs in kind according to the
nature of the ferment which causes it.
2. A state of agitation or excitement, as of the intellect or the
feelings.
It puts the soul to fermentation and activity. Jer. Taylor.
A univesal fermentation of human thought and faith. C. Kingsley.
Acetous, or Acetic, fermentation, a form of oxidation in which
alcohol is converted into vinegar or acetic acid by the agency of a
specific fungus or ferment (Mycoderma aceti). The process involves
two distinct reactions, in which the oxygen of the air is essential.
An intermediate product, aldehyde, is formed in the first process. 1.
C2H6O + O = H2O + C2H4O
Note: Alcohol. Water. Aldehyde. 2. C2H4O + O = C2H4O2
Note: Aldehyde. Acetic acid.
-- Alcoholic fermentation, the fermentation which saccharine bodies
undergo when brought in contact with the yeast plant or Torula. The
sugar is converted, either directly or indirectly, into alcohol and
carbonic acid, the rate of action being dependent on the rapidity
with which the Torulæ develop.
-- Ammoniacal fermentation, the conversion of the urea of the urine
into ammonium carbonate, through the growth of the special urea
ferment. CON2H4 + 2H2O = (NH4)2CO3
Note: Urea. Water. Ammonium carbonate.
Note: Whenever urine is exposed to the air in open vessels for
several days it undergoes this alkaline fermentation.
-- Butyric fermentation, the decomposition of various forms of
organic matter, through the agency of a peculiar worm-shaped vibrio,
with formation of more or less butyric acid. It is one of the many
forms of fermentation that collectively constitute putrefaction. See
Lactic fermentation.
-- Fermentation by an unorganized ferment or enzyme. Fermentations
of this class are purely chemical reactions, in which the ferment
acts as a simple catalytic agent. Of this nature are the
decomposition or inversion of cane sugar into levulose and dextrose
by boiling with dilute acids, the conversion of starch into dextrin
and sugar by similar treatment, the conversion of starch into like
products by the action of diastase of malt or ptyalin of saliva, the
conversion of albuminous food into peptones and other like products
by the action of pepsin-hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice or by
the ferment of the pancreatic juice.
-- Fermentation theory of disease (Biol. & Med.), the theory that
most if not all, infectious or zymotic disease are caused by the
introduction into the organism of the living germs of ferments, or
ferments already developed (organized ferments), by which processes
of fermentation are set up injurious to health. See Germ theory.
-- Glycerin fermentation, the fermentation which occurs on mixing a
dilute solution of glycerin with a peculiar species of schizomycetes
and some carbonate of lime, and other matter favorable to the growth
of the plant, the glycerin being changed into butyric acid, caproic
acid, butyl, and ethyl alcohol. With another form of bacterium
(Bacillus subtilis) ethyl alcohol and butyric acid are mainly formed.
-- Lactic fermentation, the transformation of milk sugar or other
saccharine body into lactic acid, as in the souring of milk, through
the agency of a special bacterium (Bacterium lactis of Lister). In
this change the milk sugar, before assuming the form of lactic acid,
presumably passes through the stage of glucose. C12H22O11.H2O =
4C3H6O3
Note: Hydrated milk sugar. Lactic acid.
Note: In the lactic fermentation of dextrose or glucose, the lactic
acid which is formed is very prone to undergo butyric fermentation
after the manner indicated in the following equation: 2C3H6O3 (lactic
acid) = C4H8O2 (butyric acid) + 2CO2 (carbonic acid) + 2H2 (hydrogen
gas).
-- Putrefactive fermentation. See Putrefaction.
FERMENTATION THEORY
Fer`men*ta"tion the"o*ry. (Med.)
Defn: The theory which likens the course of certain diseases (esp.
infectious diseases) to the process of fermentation, and attributes
them to the organized ferments in the body. It does not differ
materially from the accepted germ theory (which see).
FERMENTATIVE
Fer*ment"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fermentatif.]
Defn: Causing, or having power to cause, fermentation; produced by
fermentation; fermenting; as, a fermentative process.
-- Fer*ment"a*tive*ly, adv.
-- Fer*ment"a*tive*ness, n.
FERMERERE
Fer"mer*ere, n. Etym: [OF. enfermerier, fr. enfermerie infirmary. See
Infirmary.]
Defn: The officer in a religious house who had the care of the
infirmary. [Obs.]
FERMETURE
Fer"me*ture, n. [F., fr. fermer to close.] (Mil.)
Defn: The mechanism for closing the breech of a breech-loading
firearm, in artillery consisting principally of the breechblock,
obturator, and carrier ring.
FERMILLET
Fer"mil*let, n. Etym: [OF., dim. of fermeil, fermail, clasp, prob.
fr. OF. & F. fermer to make fast, fr. ferme fast. See Firm.]
Defn: A buckle or clasp. [Obs.] Donne.
FERN
Fern, adv.
Defn: Long ago. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERN
Fern, a. Etym: [AS. fyrn.]
Defn: Ancient; old. [Obs.] "Pilgrimages to . . . ferne halwes."
[saints]. Chaucer.
FERN
Fern, n. Etym: [AS. fearn; akin to D. varen, G. farn, farnkraut; cf.
Skr. parna wing, feather, leaf, sort of plant, or Lith. papartis
fern.] (Bot.)
Defn: An order of cryptogamous plants, the Filices, which have their
fructification on the back of the fronds or leaves. They are usually
found in humid soil, sometimes grow epiphytically on trees, and in
tropical climates often attain a gigantic size.
Note: The plants are asexual, and bear clustered sporangia,
containing minute spores, which germinate and form prothalli, on
which are borne the true organs of reproduction. The brake or
bracken, the maidenhair, and the polypody are all well known ferns.
Christmas fern. See under Christmas.
-- Climbing fern (Bot.), a delicate North American fern (Lygodium
palmatum), which climbs several feet high over bushes, etc., and is
much sought for purposes of decoration.
-- Fern owl. (Zoöl.) (a) The European goatsucker. (b) The short-
eared owl. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fern shaw, a fern thicket. [Eng.] R.
Browning.
FERNERY
Fern"er*y, n.
Defn: A place for rearing ferns.
FERNTICLE
Fern"ti*cle, n.
Defn: A freckle on the skin, resembling the seed of fern. [Prov.
Eng.]
FERNY
Fern"y, a.
Defn: Abounding in ferns.
FEROCIOUS
Fe*ro"cious, a. Etym: [L. ferox, -ocis, fierce: cf. F. féroce. See
Ferocity.]
Defn: Fierce; savage; wild; indicating cruelty; ravenous; rapacious;
as, ferocious look or features; a ferocious lion.
The humbled power of a ferocious enemy. Lowth.
Syn.
-- Ferocious, Fierce, Savage, Barbarous. When these words are
applied to human feelings or conduct, ferocious describes the
disposition; fierce, the haste and violence of an act; barbarous, the
coarseness and brutality by which it was marked; savage, the cruel
and unfeeling spirit which it showed. A man is ferocious in his
temper, fierce in his actions, barbarous in the manner of carrying
out his purposes, savage in the spirit and feelings expressed in his
words or deeds.
-- Fe*ro"cious*ly, adv.
-- Fe*ro"cious*ness, n.
It [Christianity] has adapted the ferociousness of war. Blair.
FEROCITY
Fe*roc"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. ferocitas, fr. ferox, -ocis, fierce, kin to
ferus wild: cf. F. ferocité. See Fierce.]
Defn: Savage wildness or fierceness; fury; cruelty; as, ferocity of
countenance.
The pride and ferocity of a Highland chief. Macaulay.
FEROHER
Fer*o"her, n. (Archæol.)
Defn: A symbol of the solar deity, found on monuments exhumed in
Babylon, Nineveh, etc.
FEROUS
Fe"rous, a. Etym: [L. ferus. See Fierce.]
Defn: Wild; savage. [R.] Arthur Wilson.
-FEROUS
-fer*ous. Etym: [L. -fer. fr. ferre to bear. See Bear to support.]
Defn: A suffix signifying bearing, producing, yielding; as,
auriferous, yielding gold; chyliferous, producing chyle.
FERRANDINE
Fer*ran"dine ( or ), n. Etym: [F.; cf. OF. ferrant iron-gray, from L.
ferrum iron.]
Defn: A stuff made of silk and wool.
I did buy a colored silk ferrandine. Pepys.
FERRANTI CABLES; FERRANTI MAINS
Fer*ran"ti ca"bles, Fer*ran"ti mains". (Elec.)
Defn: A form of conductor, designed by Ferranti, for currents of high
potential, and consisting of concentric tubes of copper separated by
an insulating material composed of paper saturated with black mineral
wax.
FERRANTI PHENOMENON
Fer*ran"ti phe*nom"e*non. (Elec.)
Defn: An increase in the ratio of transformation of an alternating
current converter, accompanied by other changes in electrical
conditions, occurring when the secondary of the converter is
connected with a condenser of moderate capacity; -- so called because
first observed in connection with the Ferranti cables in London.
FERRARA
Fer*ra"ra, n.
Defn: A sword bearing the mark of one of the Ferrara family of Italy.
These swords were highly esteemed in England and Scotland in the 16th
and 17th centuries.
FERRARESE
Fer`ra*rese", a.
Defn: Pertaining to Ferrara, in Italy.
-- n., sing. & pl.
Defn: A citizen of Ferrara; collectively, the inhabitants of Ferrara.
FERRARY
Fer"ra*ry, n. Etym: [L. ferraria iron works. See Ferreous.]
Defn: The art of working in iron. [Obs.] Chapman.
FERRATE
Fer"rate, n. Etym: [L. ferrum iron.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of ferric acid.
FERRE; FERRER
Fer"re, Fer"rer, a. & adv. Obs.
Defn: compar. of Fer.
FERREOUS
Fer"re*ous, a. Etym: [L. ferreus, fr. ferrum iron. Cf. Farrier,
Ferrous.]
Defn: Partaking of, made of, or pertaining to, iron; like iron.
[Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FERREST
Fer"rest, a. & adv. Obs.
Defn: superl. of Fer. Chaucer.
FERRET
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. furet, cf. LL. furo; prob. fr. L. fur thief
(cf. Furtive); cf. Arm. fur wise, sly.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An animal of the Weasel family (Mustela or Putorius furo),
about fourteen inches in length, of a pale yellow or white color,
with red eyes. It is a native of Africa, but has been domesticated in
Europe. Ferrets are used to drive rabbits and rats out of their
holes.
FERRET
Fer"ret, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferreted; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferreting.]
Etym: [Cf. F. fureter. See Ferret, n.]
Defn: To drive or hunt out of a lurking place, as a ferret does the
cony; to search out by patient and sagacious efforts; -- often used
with out; as, to ferret out a secret.
Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.
FERRET
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [Ital. foretto, dim. of fiore flower; or F.
fleuret. Cf. Floret.]
Defn: A kind of narrow tape, usually made of woolen; sometimes of
cotton or silk; -- called also ferreting.
FERRET
Fer"ret, n. Etym: [F. feret, dim. or fer iron, L. ferrum.] (Glass
Making)
Defn: The iron used for trying the melted glass to see if is fit to
work, and for shaping the rings at the mouths of bottles.
FERRETER
Fer"ret*er, n.
Defn: One who ferrets. Johnson.
FERRET-EYE
Fer"ret-eye`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The spur-winged goose; -- so called from the red circle around
the eyes.
FERRETTO
Fer*ret"to, n. Etym: [It. ferretto di Spagna, dim. of ferro iron, fr.
L. ferrum.]
Defn: Copper sulphide, used to color glass. Hebert.
FERRI-
Fer"ri- (. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form indicating ferric iron as an ingredient; as,
ferricyanide.
FERRIAGE
Fer"ri*age (; 48), n. Etym: [From Ferry.]
Defn: The price or fare to be paid for passage at a ferry.
FERRIC
Fer"ric, a. Etym: [L. ferrum iron: cf. F. ferrique. See Ferrous.]
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or containing iron. Specifically
(Chem.), denoting those compounds in which iron has a higher valence
than in the ferrous compounds; as, ferric oxide; ferric acid. Ferric
acid (Chem.), an acid, H2FeO4, which is not known in the free state,
but forms definite salts, analogous to the chromates and sulphates.
-- Ferric oxide (Chem.), sesquioxide of iron, Fe2O3; hematite. See
Hematite.
FERRICYANATE
Fer`ri*cy"a*nat, n. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of ferricyanic acid; a ferricyanide.
FERRICYANIC
Fer`ri*cy*an"ic, a. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, a ferricyanide. Ferricyanic
acid (Chem.), a brown crystalline substance, H6(CN)12Fe2, obtained
from potassium ferricyanide, and regarded as the type of the
ferricyanides; -- called also hydro-ferricyanic acid, hydrogen
ferricyanide, etc.
FERRICYANIDE
Fer`ri*cy"a*nide (; 104), n. Etym: [Ferri- + cyanide.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a complex series of double cyanides of ferric iron and
some other base. Potassium ferricyanide (Chem.), red prussiate of
potash; a dark, red, crystalline salt, K6(CN)12Fe2, consisting of the
double cyanide of potassium and ferric iron. From it is derived the
ferrous ferricyanate, Turnbull's blue.
FERRIER
Fer"ri*er, n.
Defn: A ferryman. Calthrop.
FERRIFEROUS
Fer*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. ferrum iron + -ferous: cf. F.
ferrifère.]
Defn: Producing or yielding iron.
FERRIPRUSSIATE
Fer`ri*prus"si*ate ( or ; see Prussiate, 277), n. Etym: [Ferri- +
prussiate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A ferricyanate; a ferricyanide. [R.]
FERRIPRUSSIC
Fer`ri*prus"sic ( or ; see Prussik, 277), a. Etym: [Ferri- +
prussic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ferricyanic. [R.]
FERRIS WHEEL
Fer"ris wheel.
Defn: An amusement device consisting of a giant power-driven steel
wheel, revolvable on its stationary axle, and carrying a number of
balanced passenger cars around its rim; -- so called after G. W. G.
Ferris, American engineer, who erected the first of its kind for the
World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
FERRO-
Fer"ro- (. (Chem.)
Defn: A prefix, or combining form, indicating ferrous iron as an
ingredient; as, ferrocyanide.
FERROCALCITE
Fer`ro*cal"cite, n. Etym: [Ferro- + calcite.]
Defn: Limestone containing a large percentage of iron carbonate, and
hence turning brown on exposure.
FERRO-CONCRETE
Fer"ro-con"crete, n. (Arch. & Engin.)
Defn: Concrete strengthened by a core or foundation skeleton of iron
or steel bars, strips, etc. Floors, columns, piles, water pipes,
etc., have been successfully made of it. Called also armored concrete
steel, and reënforced concrete.
FERROCYANATE
Fer`ro*cy"a*nate, n. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanate: cf. F. ferrocyanate.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A salt of ferrocyanic acid; a ferrocyanide.
FERROCYANIC
Fer`ro*cy*an"ic, a. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanic: cf. F. ferrocyanique.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or designating, a ferrocyanide.
ferrocyanic acid (Chem.), a white crystalline substance, H4(CN)6Fe,
of strong acid properties, obtained from potassium ferrocyanide, and
regarded as the type of the ferrocyanides; -- called also hydro-
ferrocyanic acid, hydrogen ferrocyanide. etc.
FERROCYANIDE
Fer`ro*cy"a*nide ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [Ferro- + cyanide.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of complex double cyanides of ferrous iron and
some other base. Potassium ferrocyanide (Chem.), yellow prussiate of
potash; a tough, yellow, crystalline salt, K4(CN)6Fe, the starting
point in the manufacture of almost all cyanogen compounds, and the
basis of the ferric ferrocyanate, prussian blue. It is obtained by
strongly heating together potash, scrap iron, and animal matter
containing nitrogen, as horn, leather, blood, etc., in iron pots.
FERROPRUSSIATE
Fer`ro*prus"si*ate ( or or; see Prussiate, 277), n. ) Etym: [Ferro- +
prussiate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A ferrocyanate; a ferocyanide. [R.]
FERROPRUSSIC
Fer`ro*prus"sic ( or ; see Prussic, 277), a. Etym: [Ferro- +
prussic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Ferrocyanic.
FERROSO-
Fer*ro"so- (. (Chem.)
Defn: See Ferro-.
FERROTYPE
Fer"ro*type, n. Etym: [L. ferrum iron + -type.]
Defn: A photographic picture taken on an iron plate by a collodion
process; -- familiarly called tintype.
FERROUS
Fer"rous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. ferreux. See Ferreous.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, iron; -- especially used of
compounds of iron in which the iron has its lower valence; as,
ferrous sulphate.
FERRUGINATED
Fer*ru"gi*na`ted, a. Etym: [See Ferrugo.]
Defn: Having the color or properties of the rust of iron.
FERRUGINEOUS
Fer`ru*gin"e*ous, a.
Defn: Ferruginous. [R.]
FERRUGINOUS
Fer*ru"gi*nous, a. Etym: [L. ferruginus, ferrugineus, fr. ferrugo, -
ginis, iron rust: cf. F. ferrugineux. See Ferrugo.]
1. Partaking of iron; containing particles of iron. Boyle.
2. Resembling iron rust in appearance or color; brownish red, or
yellowish red.
FERRUGO
Fer*ru"go, n. Etym: [L., iron rust, fr. ferrum iron.]
Defn: A disease of plants caused by fungi, commonly called the rust,
from its resemblance to iron rust in color.
FERRULE
Fer"rule ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Formerly verrel, F. virole, fr. L.
viriola little bracelet, dim. of viriae, pl., bracelets; prob. akin
to viere to twist, weave, and E. withe. The spelling with f is due to
confusion with L. ferrum iron.]
1. A ring or cap of metal put round a cane, tool, handle, or other
similar object, to strengthen it, or prevent splitting and wearing.
2. (Steam Boilers)
Defn: A bushing for expanding the end of a flue to fasten it tightly
in the tube plate, or for partly filling up its mouth.
FERRUMINATE
Fer*ru"mi*nate, v. t. Etym: [L. ferruminatus, p.p. of ferruminare to
cement, solder, fr. ferrumen cement, fr. ferrum iron.]
Defn: To solder or unite, as metals. [R.] Coleridge.
FERRUMINATION
Fer*ru`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. ferruminatio: cf. F. ferrumination.]
Defn: The soldering ir uniting of me [R.] Coleridge.
FERRY
Fer"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ferried; p. pr. & vb. n. Ferrying.] Etym:
[OE. ferien to convey, AS. ferian, from faran to go; akin to Icel.
ferja to ferry, Goth. farjan to sail. See Fare.]
Defn: To carry or transport over a river, strait, or other narrow
water, in a boat.
FERRY
Fer"ry, v. i.
Defn: To pass over water in a boat or by a ferry.
They ferry over this Lethean sound Both to and fro. Milton.
FERRY
Fer"ry, n.; pl. Ferries. Etym: [OE. feri; akin to Icel. ferja, Sw.
färja, Dan. færge, G. fähre. See Ferry, v. t.]
1. A place where persons or things are carried across a river, arm of
the sea, etc., in a ferryboat.
It can pass the ferry backward into light. Milton.
To row me o'er the ferry. Campbell.
2. A vessel in which passengers and goods are conveyed over narrow
waters; a ferryboat; a wherry.
3. A franchise or right to maintain a vessel for carrying passengers
and freight across a river, bay, etc., charging tolls. Ferry bridge,
a ferryboat adapted in its structure for the transfer of railroad
trains across a river or bay.
-- Ferry railway. See under Railway.
FERRYBOAT
Fer"ry*boat`, n.
Defn: A vessel for conveying passengers, merchandise, etc., across
streams and other narrow waters.
FERRYMAN
Fer"ry*man, n.; pl. Ferrymen (.
Defn: One who maintains or attends a ferry.
FERS
Fers, a.
Defn: Fierce. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERTHE
Ferthe, a.
Defn: Fourth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FERTILE
Fer"tile ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. fertilis, fr. ferr to bear,
produce: cf. F. fertile. See Bear to support.]
1. Producing fruit or vegetation in abundance; fruitful; able to
produce abundantly; prolific; fecund; productive; rich; inventive;
as, fertile land or fields; a fertile mind or imagination.
Though he in a fertile climate dwell. Shak.
2. (Bot.)
(a) Capable of producing fruit; fruit-bearing; as, fertile flowers.
(b) Containing pollen; -- said of anthers.
3. produced in abundance; plenteous; ample.
Henceforth, my early care . . . Shall tend thee, and the fertile
burden ease Of thy full branches. Milton.
Syn.
-- Fertile, Fruitful. Fertile implies the inherent power of
production; fruitful, the act. The prairies of the West are fertile
by nature, and are turned by cultivation into fruitful fields. The
same distinction prevails when these words are used figuratively. A
man of fertile genius has by nature great readiness of invention; one
whose mind is fruitful has resources of thought and a readiness of
application which enable him to think and act effectively.
FERTILELY
Fer"tile*ly ( or ; 277), adv.
Defn: In a fertile or fruitful manner.
FERTILENESS
fer"tile*ness, n.
Defn: Fertility. Sir P. Sidney.
FERTILITATE
Fer*til"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To fertilize; to fecundate. Sir T. Browne.
FERTILITY
Fer*til"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fertilitas: cf. F. fertilité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being fertile or fruitful;
fruitfulness; productiveness; fecundity; richness; abundance of
resources; fertile invention; quickness; readiness; as, the fertility
of soil, or of imagination. "fertility of resource." E. Everett.
And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps Corrupting in its own
fertility. Shak.
Thy very weeds are beautiful; thy waste More rich than other climes'
fertility. Byron.
FERTILIZATION
Fer`ti*li*za"tion, n.
1. The act or process of rendering fertile.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: The act of fecundating or impregnating animal or vegetable
germs; esp., the process by which in flowers the pollen renders the
ovule fertile, or an analogous process in flowerless plants;
fecundation; impregnation. Close fertilization (Bot.), the
fertilization of pistils by pollen derived from the stamens of the
same blossom.
-- Cross fertilization, fertilization by pollen from some other
blossom. See under Cross, a.
FERTILIZE
Fer"ti*lize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fertilized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fertilizing.] Etym: [Cf. F. fertiliser.]
1. To make fertile or enrich; to supply with nourishment for plants;
to make fruitful or productive; as, to fertilize land, soil, ground,
and meadows.
And fertilize the field that each pretends to gain. Byron.
2. To fecundate; as, to fertilize flower. A. R. Wallace.
FERTILIZER
Fer"ti*lizer, n.
1. One who fertilizes; the agent that carries the fertilizing
principle, as a moth to an orchid. A. R. Wallace.
2. That which renders fertile; a general name for commercial manures,
as guano, phosphate of lime, etc.
FERULA
Fer"u*la, n. Etym: [L. ferula giant fennel (its stalks were used in
punishing schoolboys), rod, whip, fr. ferire to strike; akin to OHG.
berjan, Icel. berja. Cf. Ferule.]
1. A ferule. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
2. The imperial scepter in the Byzantine or Eastern Empire.
FERULACEOUS
Fer`u*la"ceous, a. Etym: [L. ferulaceus, fr. ferula rod: cf. F.
férulacé.]
Defn: Pertaining to reeds and canes; having a stalk like a reed; as,
ferulaceous plants.
FERULAR
Fer"u*lar, n.
Defn: A ferule. [Obs.] Milton.
FERULE
Fer"ule ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [L. ferula: cf. F. férule. See Ferula.]
Defn: A flat piece of wood, used for striking, children, esp. on the
hand, in punishment.
FERULE
Fer"ule, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feruled; p. pr. & vb. n. Feruling.]
Defn: To punish with a ferule.
FERULIC
Fe*ru"lic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, asafetida (Ferula asafoetida);
as, ferulic acid. [Written also ferulaic.]
FERVENCE
Fer"vence, n.
Defn: Heat; fervency. [Obs.]
FERVENCY
Fer"ven*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. fervence. See Fervent.]
Defn: The state of being fervent or warm; ardor; warmth of feeling or
devotion; eagerness.
When you pray, let it be with attention, with fervency, and with
perseverance. Wake.
FERVENT
Fer"vent, a. Etym: [F. fervent, L. fervens, -entis. p.pr. of fervere
o the boiling hot, to boil, glow.]
1. Hot; glowing; boiling; burning; as, a fervent summer.
The elements shall melt with fervent heat. 2 Pet. iii. 10.
2. Warm in feeling; ardent in temperament; earnest; full of fervor;
zealous; glowing.
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit. Rom. iii. 11.
So spake the fervent angel. Milton.
A fervent desire to promote the happiness of mankind. Macaulay.
-- Fer"vent*ly, adv.
-- Fer"vent*ness, n.
Laboring fervently for you in prayers. Col. iv. 12.
FERVESCENT
Fer*ves"cent, a. Etym: [L. fervescens, p.pr. of fervescere to become
boiling hot, incho., fr. fervere. See Fervent.]
Defn: Growing hot.
FERVID
Fer"vid, a. Etym: [L. fervidus, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]
1. Very hot; burning; boiling.
The mounted sun Shot down direct his fervid rays. Milton.
2. Ardent; vehement; zealous.
The fervid wishes, holy fires. Parnell.
-- Fer"vid*ly, adv.
-- Fer"vid*ness, n.
FERVOR
Fer"vor, n. [Written also fervour.] Etym: [OF. fervor, fervour, F.
ferveur, L. fervor, fr. fervere. See Fervent.]
1. Heat; excessive warmth.
The fevor of ensuing day. Waller.
2. Intensity of feeling or expression; glowing ardor; passion; holy
zeal; earnestness. Hooker.
Winged with fervor of her love. Shak.
Syn.
-- Fervor, Ardor. Fervor is a boiling heat, and ardor is a burning
heat. Hence, in metaphor, we commonly use fervor and its derivatives
when we conceive of thoughts or emotions under the image of
ebullition, or as pouring themselves forth. Thus we speak of the
fervor of passion, fervid declamation, fervid importunity, fervent
supplication, fervent desires, etc. Ardent is used when we think of
anything as springing from a deepseated glow of soul; as, ardent
friendship, ardent zeal, ardent devotedness; burning with ardor for
the fight.
FESCENNINE
Fes"cen*nine, a. Etym: [L. Fescenninus, fr. Fescennia, a city of
Etruria.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, the Fescennines.
-- n.
Defn: A style of low, scurrilous, obscene poetry originating in
fescennia.
FESCUE
Fes"cue, n. Etym: [OE. festu, OF. festu, F. fétu, fr. L. festuca
stalk, straw.]
1. A straw, wire, stick, etc., used chiefly to point out letters to
children when learning to read. "Pedantic fescue.' Sterne.
To come under the fescue of an imprimatur. Milton.
2. An instrument for playing on the harp; a plectrum. [Obs.] Chapman.
3. The style of a dial. [Obs.]
4. (Bot.)
Defn: A grass of the genus Festuca. Fescue grass (Bot.), a genus of
grasses (Festuca) containing several species of importance in
agriculture. Festuca ovina is sheep's fescue; F. elatior is meadow
fescue.
FESCUE
Fes"cue, v. i. & t. [imp. & p. p. Fescued; p. pr. & vb. n. Fescuing.]
Defn: To use a fescue, or teach with a fescue. Milton.
FESELS
Fes"els, n. pl. Etym: [Written also fasels.]
Defn: See Phasel. [Obs.] May (Georgics).
FESS; FESSE
Fess, Fesse, n. Etym: [OF. fesse, faisse, F. fasce, fr. L. fascia
band. See Fascia.] (Her.)
Defn: A band drawn horizontally across the center of an escutcheon,
and containing in breadth the third part of it; one of the nine
honorable ordinaries. Fess point (Her.), the exact center of the
escutcheon. See Escutcheon.
FESSITUDE
Fes"si*tude, n. Etym: [L. fessus wearied, fatigued.]
Defn: Weariness. [Obs.] Bailey.
FESSWISE
Fess"wise, adv.
Defn: In the manner of fess.
FEST
Fest, n. Etym: [See Fist.]
Defn: The fist. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEST; FESTE
Fest, Fes"te, n.
Defn: A feast. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FESTAL
Fes"tal, a. Etym: [L. festum holiday, feast. See feast.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a holiday or a feast; joyous; festive.
You bless with choicer wine the festal day. Francis.
FESTALLY
Fes"tal*ly, adv.
Defn: Joyously; festively; mirthfully.
FESTENNINE
Fes"ten*nine, n.
Defn: A fescennine.
FESTER
Fes"ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Festered; p. pr. & vb. n. Festering.]
Etym: [OE. festern, fr. fester, n.; or fr. OF. festrir, fr. festre,
n. See Fester, n.]
1. To generate pus; to become imflamed and suppurate; as, a sore or a
wound festers.
Wounds immedicable Rankle, and fester, and gangrene. Milton.
Unkindness may give a wound that shall bleed and smart, but it is
treachery that makes it fester. South.
Hatred . . . festered in the hearts of the children of the soil.
Macaulay.
2. To be inflamed; to grow virulent, or malignant; to grow in
intensity; to rankle.
FESTER
Fes`ter, v. t.
Defn: To cause to fester or rankle.
For which I burnt in inward, swelt'ring hate, And fstered ranking
malice in my breast. Marston.
FESTER
Fes"ter, n. Etym: [OF. festre, L. fistula a sort of ulcer. Cf.
Fistula.]
1. A small sore which becomes inflamed and discharge corrupt matter;
a pustule.
2. A festering or rankling.
The fester of the chain their necks. I. Taylor.
FESTERMENT
Fes"ter*ment, n.
Defn: A festering. [R.] Chalmers.
FESTEYE
Fest"eye, v. t. Etym: [OF. festier, festeer, F. festoyer.]
Defn: To feast; to entertain. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FESTINATE
Fes"ti*nate, a. Etym: [L. festinatus, p.p. of festinare to hasten.]
Defn: Hasty; hurried. [Obs.] -- Fes"ti*nate*ly, adv. [Obs.] Shak.
FESTINATION
Fes`ti*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. festinatio.]
Defn: Haste; hurry. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FESTIVAL
Fes"ti*val, a. Etym: [OF. festival, fr. L. festivum festive jollity,
fr. festivus festive, gay. See Festive.]
Defn: Pertaining to a fest; festive; festal; appropriate to a
festival; joyous; mirthful.
I cannot woo in festival terms. Shak.
FESTI-VAL
Fes"ti-val, n.
Defn: A time of feasting or celebration; an anniversary day of joy,
civil or religious.
The morning trumpets festival proclaimed. Milton.
Syn.
-- Feast; banquet; carousal. See Feast.
FESTIVE
Fes"tive, a. Etym: [L. festivus, fr. festum holiday, feast. See
feast, and cf. Festivous.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or becoming, a feast; festal; joyous; gay;
mirthful; sportive.
-- Fes"tive*ly, adv.
The glad circle round them yield their souls To festive mirth and wit
that knows no gall. Thomson.
FESTIVITY
Fes*tiv"i*ty, n.; pl. Festivities. Etym: [L. festivitas: cf. F.
festivité.]
1. The condition of being festive; social joy or exhilaration of
spirits at an entertaintment; joyfulness; gayety.
The unrestrained festivity of the rustic youth. Bp. Hurd.
2. A festival; a festive celebration. Sir T. Browne.
FESTIVOUS
Fes"ti*vous, a. Etym: [See Festive.]
Defn: Pertaining to a feast; festive. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
FESTLICH
Fest"lich, a. Etym: [See Feast, n.]
Defn: Festive; fond of festive occasions. [Obs.] "A festlich man."
Chaucer.
FESTOON
Fes*toon", n. Etym: [F. feston (cf. Sp. feston, It. festone), prob.
fr. L. festum festival. See Feast.]
1. A garland or wreath hanging in a depending curve, used in
decoration for festivals, etc.; anything arranged in this way.
2. (Arch. & Sculp.)
Defn: A carved ornament consisting of flowers, and leaves, intermixed
or twisted together, wound with a ribbon, and hanging or depending in
a natural curve. See Illust. of Bucranium.
FESTOON
Fes*toon", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Festooned; p. pr. & vb. n.
Festooning.]
Defn: To form in festoons, or to adorn with festoons.
FESTOONY
Fes*toon"y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, festoons. Sir J.
Herschel.
FESTUCINE
Fes*tu*cine ( or ), a. Etym: [L. festula stalk, straw. Cf. Fescue.]
Defn: Of a straw color; greenish yellow. [Obs.]
A little insect of a festucine or pale green. Sir T. Browne.
FESTUCOUS
Fes"tu*cous, a.
Defn: Formed or consisting of straw. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
FESTUE
Fes"tue, n. Etym: [See Fescue.]
Defn: A straw; a fescue. [Obs.] Holland.
FET
Fet, n. Etym: [Cf. feat, F. fait, and It. fett slice, G. fetzen rag,
Icel. fat garment.]
Defn: A piece. [Obs.] Dryton.
FET
Fet, v. t. Etym: [OE. fetten, feten, AS. fetian; akin to AS. fæt a
journey, and to E. foot; cf. G. fassen to seize. sq. root 77. See
Foot, and cf. Fetch.]
Defn: To fetch. [Obs.]
And from the other fifty soon the prisoner fet. Spenser.
FET
Fet, p. p. of Fette.
Defn: Fetched. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FETAL
Fe"tal, a. Etym: [From Fetus.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or connected with, a fetus; as, fetal
circulation; fetal membranes.
FETATION
Fe*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The formation of a fetus in the womb; pregnancy.
FETCH
Fetch (; 224), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fetched 2; p. pr. & vb. n..
Fetching.] Etym: [OE. fecchen, AS. feccan, perh. the same word as
fetian; or cf. facian to wish to get, OFries. faka to prepare. sq.
root 77. Cf. Fet, v. t.]
1. To bear toward the person speaking, or the person or thing from
whose point of view the action is contemplated; to go and bring; to
get.
Time will run back and fetch the age of gold. Milton.
He called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in
a vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to fetch it he
called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bred in
thine hand. 1 Kings xvii. 11, 12.
2. To obtain as price or equivalent; to sell for.
Our native horses were held in small esteem, and fetched low prices.
Macaulay.
3. To recall from a swoon; to revive; -- sometimes with to; as, to
fetch a man to.
Fetching men again when they swoon. Bacon.
4. To reduce; to throw.
The sudden trip in wrestling that fetches a man to the ground. South.
5. To bring to accomplishment; to achieve; to make; to perform, with
certain objects; as, to fetch a compass; to fetch a leap; to fetch a
sigh.
I'll fetch a turn about the garden. Shak.
He fetches his blow quick and sure. South.
6. To bring or get within reach by going; to reach; to arrive at; to
attain; to reach by sailing.
Meantine flew our ships, and straight we fetched The siren's isle.
Chapman.
7. To cause to come; to bring to a particular state.
They could n't fetch the butter in the churn. W. Barnes.
To fetch a compass (Naut.), to make a sircuit; to take a circuitious
route going to a place.
-- To fetch a pump, to make it draw water by pouring water into the
top and working the handle.
-- To fetch headway or sternway (Naut.), to move ahead or astern.
-- To fetch out, to develop. "The skill of the polisher fetches out
the colors [of marble]" Addison.
-- To fetch up. (a) To overtake. [Obs.] "Says [the hare], I can
fetch up the tortoise when I please." L'Estrange. (b) To stop
suddenly.
FETCH
fetch, v. i.
Defn: To bring one's self; to make headway; to veer; as, to fetch
about; to fetch to windward. Totten. To fetch away (Naut.), to break
loose; to roll slide to leeward.
-- To fetch and carry, to serve obsequiously, like a trained
spaniel.
FETCH
Fetch, n.
1. A stratagem by which a thing is indirectly brought to pass, or by
which one thing seems intended and another is done; a trick; an
artifice.
Every little fetch of wit and criticism. South.
2. The apparation of a living person; a wraith.
The very fetch and ghost of Mrs. Gamp. Dickens.
Fetch candle, a light seen at night, superstitiously believed to
portend a person's death.
FETCHER
Fetch"er, n.
Defn: One wo fetches or brings.
FETE
Fete, n. Etym: [See feat.]
Defn: A feat. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FETE
Fete, n. pl. Etym: [See Foot.]
Defn: Feet. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FETE
Fête, n. Etym: [F. See Feast.]
Defn: A festival. Fête champêtre ( Etym: [F.], a festival or
entertainment in the open air; a rural festival.
FETE
Fête, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fêted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fêting.] Etym: [Cf.
F. fêter.]
Defn: To feast; to honor with a festival.
FETICH; FETISH
Fe"tich, Fe"tish, n.Etym: [F. fétiche, from Pg. feiti, adj., n.,
sorcery, charm, fr. L. facticius made by art, artifical, factitious.
See Factitious.]
1. A material object supposed among certain African tribes to
represent in such a way, or to be so connected with, a supernatural
being, that the possession of it gives to the possessor power to
control that being.
2. Any object to which one is excessively devoted.
FETICHISM; FETISHISM
fe"tich*ism, Fe"tish*ism ( or ); 277), n.Etym: [Cf. F. fétichisme.]
[Written also feticism.]
1. The doctrine or practice of belief in fetiches.
2. Excessive devotion to one object or one idea; abject superstition;
blind adoration.
The real and absolute worship of fire falls into two great divisions,
the first belonging rather to fetichism, the second to polytheism
proper. Tylor.
FETICHIST; FETISHIST
Fe"tich*ist, Fe"tish*ist, n.
Defn: A believer in fetiches.
He was by nature a fetichist. H. Holbeach.
FETICHISTIC; FETISHISTIC
Fe`tich*is"tic, Fe`tish*is"tic, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or involving, fetichism.
A man of the fifteenth century, inheriting its strange web of belief
and unbelief, of epicurean levity and fetichistic dread. G. Eliot.
FETICIDE
Fe"ti*cide ( or ), n. [Written also foeticide.] Etym: [Fetus + L.
caedere to kill.] (Med. & Law)
Defn: The act of killing the fetus in the womb; the offense of
procuring an abortion.
FETICISM
Fe"ti*cism, n.
Defn: See Fetichism.
FETID
Fet"id ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. fetidus, foetidus, fr. fetere,
foetere, to have an ill smell, to stink: cf. F. fétide.]
Defn: Having an offensive smell; stinking.
Most putrefactions . . . smell either fetid or moldy. Bacon.
FETIDITY
Fet*id"i*ty ( or ), n.
Defn: Fetidness.
FETIDNESS
Fet"id*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being fetid.
FETIFEROUS
Fe*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Fetus + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing young, as animals.
FETIS
Fe"tis, a. Etym: [OF. fetis, faitis. Cf. Factitious.]
Defn: Neat; pretty; well made; graceful. [Obs.]
Full fetis was her cloak, as I was ware. Chaucer.
FETISELY
Fe"tise*ly, adv.
Defn: Neatly; gracefully; properly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FETISH; FETISHISM; FETISHIST; FETISHISTIC
Fe"tish, n., Fe"tish*ism, n., Fe"tishist, n., Fe`tish*is"tic (, a.
Defn: See Fetich, n., Fetichism, n., Fetichistic, a.
FETLOCK
Fet"lock, n. Etym: [OE. fetlak, fitlock, cf. Icel. fet pace, step,
fit webbed foot of water birds, akin to E. foot. sq. root 77. See
Foot.]
Defn: The cushionlike projection, bearing a tuft of long hair, on the
back side of the leg above the hoof of the horse and similar animals.
Also, the joint of the limb at this point (between the great pastern
bone and the metacarpus), or the tuft of hair.
Their wounded steeds Fret fetlock deep in gore. Shak.
FETOR
Fe"tor, n. Etym: [L. fetor, foetor. See Fetid.]
Defn: A strong, offensive smell; stench; fetidness. Arbuthnot.
FETTE
Fet"te ( or ), v.t. [imp. Fette, p.p. Fet.] Etym: [See Fet, v. t.]
Defn: To fetch. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FETTER
Fet"ter, n. Etym: [AS. fetor, feter; akin to OS. feter, pl., OD.
veter, OHG. fezzera, Icel. fjöturr, L. pedi, Gr. foot. sq. root 77.
See Foot.] [Chiefly used in the plural, fetters.]
1. A chain or shackle for the feet; a chain by which an animal is
confined by the foot, either made fast or disabled from free and
rapid motion; a bond; a shackle.
[They] bound him with fetters of brass. Judg. xvi. 21.
2. Anything that confines or restrains; a restraint.
Passion's too fierce to be in fetters bound. Dryden.
FETTER
Fet"ter, v. t. Etym: [imp. & p.p. Fettered (n. Fettering.]
Defn: 1. To put fetters upon; to shakle or confine the feet of with a
chain; to bind.
My heels are fettered, but my fist is free. Milton.
2. To reastrain from motion; to impose restrains on; to confine; to
enchain; as, fettered by obligations.
My conscience! thou art fettered More than my shanks and wrists.
Shak.
FETTERED
Fet"tered, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Seeming as if fettered, as the feet pf certain animals which
bend backward, and appear unfit for walking.
FETTERER
Fet"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who fetters. Landor.
FETTERLESS
Fet"ter*less, a.
Defn: Free from fetters. Marston.
FETTLE
Fet"tle, v. t. Etym: [OE. & Prov. E., to fettle (in sense 1), fettle,
n., order, repair, preparation, dress; prob. akin to E. fit. See Fit,
a.]
Defn: 1. To repair; to prepare; to put in order. [Prov. Eng.]
Carlyle.
2. (Metal.)
Defn: To cover or line with a mixture of ore, cinders, etc., as the
hearth of a puddling furnace.
FETTLE
Fet"tle, v. i.
Defn: To make preparations; to put things in order; to do trifling
business. [Prov. Eng.] Bp. Hall.
FETTLE
Fet"tle, n.
Defn: The act of fettling. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. In fine fettle, in
good spirits.
FETTLING
Fet"tling, n.
1. (Metal.)
Defn: A mixture of ore, cinders, etc., used to line the hearth of a
puddling furnace. [Eng.] [It is commonly called fix in the United
States.]
2. (Pottery)
Defn: The operation of shaving or smoothing the surface of undried
clay ware.
FETUOUS
Fet"u*ous, a.
Defn: Neat; feat. [Obs.] Herrick.
FETUS
Fe"tus, n.; pl. Fetuses. Etym: [L. fetus, foetus, a bringing forth,
brood, offspring, young ones, cf. fetus fruitful, fructified, that is
or was filled with young; akin to E. fawn a deer, fecundity,
felicity, feminine, female, and prob. to do, or according to others,
to be.]
Defn: The young or embryo of an animal in the womb, or in the egg;
often restricted to the later stages in the development of viviparous
and oviparous animals, embryo being applied to the earlier stages.
[Written also foetus.]
FETWAH
Fet"wah, n. Etym: [Ar.]
Defn: A written decision of a Turkish mufti on some point of law.
Whitworth.
FEU
Feu, n. Etym: [See 2d Feud, and Fee.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A free and gratuitous right to lands made to one for service to
be performed by him; a tenure where the vassal, in place of military
services, makes a return in grain or in money. Burrill.
FEUAR
Feu"ar, n. Etym: [From Feu.] (Scots Law)
Defn: One who holds a feu. Sir W. Scott.
FEUD
Feud, n. Etym: [OE. feide, AS. f, fr. fah hostile; akin to OHG. f, G.
fehde, Sw. fejd, D. feide; prob. akin to E. fiend. See Foe.]
1. A combination of kindred to avenge injuries or affronts, done or
offered to any of their blood, on the offender and all his race.
2. A contention or quarrel; especially, an inveterate strife between
families, clans, or parties; deadly hatred; contention satisfied only
by bloodshed.
Mutual feuds and battles betwixt their several tribes and kindreds.
Purchas.
Syn.
-- Affray; fray; broil; contest; dispute; strife.
FEUD
Feud, n. Etym: [LL. feudum, feodum prob. of same origin as E. fief.
See Fief, Fee.] (Law)
Defn: A stipendiary estate in land, held of superior, by service; the
right which a vassal or tenant had to the lands or other immovable
thing of his lord, to use the same and take the profists thereof
hereditarily, rendering to his superior such duties and services as
belong to military tenure, etc., the property of the soil always
remaining in the lord or superior; a fief; a fee.
FEUDAL
Feu"dal, a. Etym: [F. féodal, or LL. feudalis.]
1. Of or pertaining to feuds, fiefs, or feels; as, feudal rights or
services; feudal tenures.
2. Consisting of, or founded upon, feuds or fiefs; embracing tenures
by military services; as, the feudal system.
FEUDALISM
Feu"dal*ism, n. Etym: [Cf. F. féodalisme.]
Defn: The feudal system; a system by which the holding of estates in
land is made dependent upon an obligation to render military service
to the kind or feudal superior; feudal principles and usages.
FEUDALIST
Feu"dal*ist, n.
Defn: An upholder of feudalism.
FEUDALITY
Feu*dal"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. féodalité.]
Defn: The state or quality of being feudal; feudal form or
constitution. Burke.
FEUDALIZATION
Feu*dal*i*za/tion, n.
Defn: The act of reducing to feudal tenure.
FEUDALIZE
Feu"dal*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Feudalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Feudalizing.]
Defn: To reduce toa feudal tenure; to conform to feudalism.
FEUDALLY
Feu"dal*ly, adv.
Defn: In a feudal manner.
FEUDARY
Feu"da*ry, a. Etym: [LL. feudarius, fr. feudum. See 2d Feud.]
Defn: Held by, or pertaining to, feudal tenure.
FEUDARY
Feu"da*ry, n.
1. A tenant who holds his lands by feudal service; a feudatory. Foxe.
2. A feodary. See Feodary.
FEUDATARY
Feu"da*ta*ry, a. & n. Etym: [LL. feudatarius: cf. F. feudataire.]
Defn: See Feudatory.
FEUDATORY
Feu"da*to*ry, n.; pl. Feudatories (.
Defn: A tenant or vassal who held his lands of a superior on
condition of feudal service; the tenant of a feud or fief.
The grantee . . . was styled the feudatory or vassal. Blackstone.
[He] had for feudatories great princes. J. H. Newman.
FEUDATORY
Feu"da*to*ry, a.
Defn: Held from another on some conditional tenure; as, a feudatory
title. Bacon.
FEU DE JOIE
Feu` de joie". Etym: [F., lit., fire of joy.]
Defn: A fire kindled in a public place in token of joy; a bonfire; a
firing of guns in token of joy.
FEUDIST
Feud"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. feudiste.]
Defn: A writer on feuds; a person versed in feudal law. Spelman.
FEUILLANTS
Feu`illants", n. pl.
Defn: A reformed branch of the Bernardines, founded in 1577 at
Feuillans, near Toulouse, in France.
FEUILLEMORT
Feuille"mort`, a. Etym: [F. feuille morte a dead leaf.]
Defn: Having the color of a faded leaf. Locke.
FEUILLETON
Feu`ille*ton" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., from feulle leaf.]
Defn: A part of a French newspaper (usually the bottom of the page),
devoted to light literature, criticism, etc.; also, the article or
tale itself, thus printed.
FEUILLTONIST
Feuill"ton*ist, n. Etym: [F. feuilletoniste.]
Defn: A writer of feuilletons. F. Harrison.
FEUTER
feu"ter (, v. t. Etym: [OE. feutre rest for a lance, OF. feutre,
fautre, feltre, felt, cushion, rest for a lance, fr. LL. filtrum,
feltrum; of German origin, and akin to E. felt. See Felt, and cf.
Filter.]
Defn: To set close; to fix in rest, as a spear. Spenser.
FEUTERER
Feu"ter*er, n. Etym: [Either fr. G. fütterer feeder, or corrupted fr.
OF. vautrier, vaultrier; fr. vaultre, viautre, a kind of hound, fr.
L. vertragus, vertraga, a greyhound. The last is of Celtic origin.]
Defn: A dog keeper. [Obs.] Massinger.
FEVER
Fe"ver, n. Etym: [OE. fever, fefer, AS. fefer, fefor, L. febris: cf.
F. fièvre. Cf. Febrile.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: A diseased state of the system, marked by increased heat,
acceleration of the pulse, and a general derangement of the
functions, including usually, thirst and loss of appetite. Many
diseases, of which fever is the most prominent symptom, are
denominated fevers; as, typhoid fever; yellow fever.
Note: Remitting fevers subside or abate at intervals; intermitting
fevers intermit or entirely cease at intervals; continued or
continual fevers neither remit nor intermit.
2. Excessive excitement of the passions in consequence of strong
emotion; a condition of great excitement; as, this quarrel has set my
blood in a fever.
An envious fever Of pale and bloodless emulation. Shak.
After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Shak.
Brain fever, Continued fever, etc. See under Brain, Continued, etc.
-- Fever and ague, a form of fever recurring in paroxysms which are
preceded by chills. It is of malarial origin.
-- Fever blister (Med.), a blister or vesicle often found about the
mouth in febrile states; a variety of herpes.
-- Fever bush (Bot.), the wild allspice or spice bush. See
Spicewood.
-- Fever powder. Same as Jame's powder.
-- Fever root (Bot.), an American herb of the genus Triosteum (T.
perfoliatum); -- called also feverwort amd horse gentian.
-- Fever sore, a carious ulcer or necrosis. Miner.
FEVER
Fe"ver, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fevered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fevering.]
Defn: To put into a fever; to affect with fever; as, a fevered lip.
[R.]
The white hand of a lady fever thee. Shak.
FEVERET
Fe"ver*et, n.
Defn: A slight fever. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
FEVERFEW
Fe"ver*few, n. Etym: [AS. feferfuge, fr. L. febrifugia. See fever,
Fugitive, and cf. Febrifuge.] (Bot.)
Defn: A perennial plant (Pyrethrum, or Chrysanthemum, Parthenium)
allied to camomile, having finely divided leaves and white blossoms;
-- so named from its supposed febrifugal qualities.
FEVERISH
Fe"ver*ish, a.
1. Having a fever; suffering from, or affected with, a moderate
degree of fever; showing increased heat and thirst; as, the patient
is feverish.
2. Indicating, or pertaining to, fever; characteristic of a fever;
as, feverish symptoms.
3. Hot; sultry. "The feverish north." Dryden.
4. Disordered as by fever; excited; restless; as, the feverish
condition of the commercial world.
Strive to keep up a frail and feverish bing. Milton.
-- Fe"ver*ish*ly, adv.
-- Fe"ver*ish*ness, n.
FEVEROUS
Fe"ver*ous, a. Etym: [Cf.F. fiévreux.]
1. Affected with fever or ague; feverish.
His heart, love's feverous citadel. Keats.
2. Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fever; as, a feverous
pulse.
All maladies . . . all feverous kinds. Milton.
3. Having the tendency to produce fever; as, a feverous disposition
of the year. [R.] Bacon.
FEVEROUSLY
Fe"ver*ous*ly, adv.
Defn: Feverishly. [Obs.] Donne.
FEVERWORT
Fe"ver*wort`, n.
Defn: See Fever root, under Fever.
FEVERY
Fe"ver*y, a.
Defn: Feverish. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
FEW
Few, a. [Compar. Fewer; superl. Fewest.] Etym: [OE. fewe, feawe, AS.
feá, pl. feáwe; akin to OS. fah, OHG. f*, Icel. far, Sw. få, pl.,
Dan. faa, pl., Goth. faus, L. paucus, cf. Gr. Paucity.]
Defn: Not many; small, limited, or confined in number; -- indicating
a small portion of units or individuals constituing a whole; often,
by ellipsis of a noun, a few people. "Are not my days few" Job x. 20.
Few know and fewer care. Proverb.
Note: Few is often used partitively; as, few of them. A few, a small
number.
-- In few, in a few words; briefly. Shak. - No few, not few; more
than a few; many. Cowper. - The few, the minority; -- opposed to the
many or the majority.
FEWEL
Fe"wel, n. Etym: [See Fuel.]
Defn: Fuel. [Obs.] Hooker.
FEWMET
Few"met, n.
Defn: See Fumet. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
FEWNESS
Few"ness, n.
1. The state of being few; smallness of number; paucity. Shak.
2. Brevity; conciseness. [Obs.] Shak.
FEY
Fey, a. Etym: [AS. f, Icel. feigr, OHG. feigi.]
Defn: Fated; doomed. [Old Eng. & Scot.]
FEY
Fey, n. Etym: [See Fay faith.]
Defn: Faith. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEY
Fey, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Feague.]
Defn: To cleanse; to clean out. [Obs.] Tusser.
FEYNE
Feyne, v. t.
Defn: To feign. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEYRE
Feyre, n.
Defn: A fair or market. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FEZ
Fez, n. Etym: [F., fr. the town of Fez in Morocco.]
Defn: A felt or cloth cap, usually red and having a tassel, -- a
variety of the tarboosh. See Tarboosh. B. Taylor.
FIACRE
Fia"cre, n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A kind of French hackney coach.
FIANCE
Fi"ance, v. t. Etym: [F. fiancer. See Affiance.]
Defn: To betroth; to affiance. [Obs.] Harmar.
FIANCE
Fi`an`cé", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A betrothed man.
FIANCEE
Fi`an`cée", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A betrothed woman.
FIANTS
Fi"ants, n. Etym: [F. fiente dung.]
Defn: The dung of the fox, wolf, boar, or badger.
FIAR
Fi"ar ( or ), n. Etym: [See Feuar.]
1. (Scots Law)
Defn: One in whom the property of an estate is vested, subject to the
estate of a life renter.
I am fiar of the lands; she a life renter. Sir W. Scott.
2. pl.
Defn: The price of grain, as legally fixed, in the counties of
Scotland, for the current year.
FIASCO
Fi*as"co, n.; pl. Fiascoes. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A complete or ridiculous failure, esp. of a musical
performance, or of any pretentious undertaking.
FIAT
Fi"at, n. Etym: [L., let it be done, 3d pers. sing., subj. pres., fr.
fieri, used as pass. of facere to make. Cf. Be.]
1. An authoritative command or order to do something; an effectual
decree.
His fiat laid the corner stone. Willis.
2. (Eng. Law)
(a) A warrant of a judge for certain processes.
(b) An authority for certain proceedings given by the Lord
Chancellor's signature. Fiat money, irredeemable paper currency, not
resting on a specie basis, but deriving its purchasing power from the
declaratory fiat of the government issuing it.
FIAUNT
Fi*aunt", n.
Defn: Commission; fiat; order; decree. [Obs.] Spenser.
FIB
Fib, n. Etym: [Prob. fr. fable; cf. Prov. E. fibble-fabble nonsense.]
Defn: A falsehood; a lie; -- used euphemistically.
They are very serious; they don't tell fibs. H. James.
FIB
Fib, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fibbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fibbing.]
Defn: To speak falsely. [Colloq.]
FIB
Fib, v. t.
Defn: To tell a fib to. [R.] De Quincey.
FIBBER
Fib"ber, n.
Defn: One who tells fibs.
FIBER; FIBRE
Fi"ber, Fi"bre, (, n. Etym: [F. fibre, L. fibra.]
1. One of the delicate, threadlike portions of which the tissues of
plants and animals are in part constituted; as, the fiber of flax or
of muscle.
2. Any fine, slender thread, or threadlike substance; as, a fiber of
spun glass; especially, one of the slender rootlets of a plant.
3. Sinew; strength; toughness; as, a man of real fiber.
Yet had no fibers in him, nor no force. Chapman.
4. A general name for the raw material, such as cotton, flax, hemp,
etc., used in textile manufactures. Fiber gun, a kind of steam gun
for converting, wood, straw, etc., into fiber. The material is shut
up in the gun with steam, air, or gas at a very high pressure which
is afterward relieved suddenly by letting a lid at the muzzle fly
open, when the rapid expansion separates the fibers.
-- Fiber plants (Bot.), plants capable of yielding fiber useful in
the arts, as hemp, flax, ramie, agave, etc.
FIBERED; FIBRED
Fi"bered, Fi"bred, a.
Defn: Having fibers; made up of fibers.
FIBER-FACED; FIBRE-FACED
Fi"ber-faced`, Fi"bre-faced`, a.
Defn: Having a visible fiber embodied in the surface of; -- applied
esp. to a kind of paper for checks, drafts, etc.
FIBERLESS; FIBRELESS
Fi"ber*less, Fi"bre*less, a.
Defn: Having no fibers; destitute of fibers or fiber.
FIBRIFORM
Fi"bri*form ( or ), a. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + -form.] (Biol.)
Defn: Having the form of a fiber or fibers; resembling a fiber.
FIBRIL
Fi"bril, n. Etym: [F. fibrille, dim. of fibre, L. fibra.]
Defn: A small fiber; the branch of a fiber; a very slender thread; a
fibrilla. Cheyne.
FIBRILLA
Fi*bril"la, n.; pl. FibrillÆ. Etym: [NL. See Fibril.]
Defn: A minute thread of fiber, as one of the fibrous elements of a
muscular fiber; a fibril.
FIBRILLAR
Fi"bril*lar, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to fibrils or fibers; as, fibrillar
twitchings.
FIBRILLARY
Fi"bril*la*ry ( or ), a.
Defn: Of of pertaining to fibrils.
FIBRILLATED
Fi"bril*la`ted ( or ), a.
Defn: Furnished with fibrils; fringed.
FIBRILLATION
Fi`bril*la"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being reduced to fibers. Carpenter.
FIBRILLOSE
Fi*bril"lose ( or ), a.
Defn: Covered with hairlike appendages, as the under surface of some
lichens; also, composed of little strings or fibers; as, fibrillose
appendages.
FIBRILLOUS
Fi*bril"lous ( or ), a. Etym: [Cf. F. fibraleux.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or composed of, fibers.
FIBRIN
Fi"brin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fibrine. See Fiber.] (Physiol. Chem.)
1. A white, albuminous, fibrous substance, formed in the coagulation
of the blood either by decomposition of fibrinogen, or from the union
of fibrinogen and paraglobulin which exist separately in the blood.
It is insoluble in water, but is readily digestible in gastric and
pancreatic juice.
2. The white, albuminous mass remaining after washing lean beef or
other meat with water until all coloring matter is removed; the
fibrous portion of the muscle tissue; flesh fibrin.
3. An albuminous body, resembling animal fibrin in composition, found
in cereal grains and similar seeds; vegetable fibrin. Fibrin factors
(Physiol.), the albuminous bodies, paraglobulin and fibrinigen in the
blood, which, by the action of the fibrin ferment, are changed into
fibrin, in coagulation.
-- Fibrin ferment (Physiol. Chem.), a ferment which makes its
appearance in the blood shortly after it is shed, and is supposed to
be the active agent in causing coagulation of the blood, with
formation of fibrin.
FIBRINATION
Fi`bri*na"tion, n. (Med.)
Defn: The state of acquiring or having an excess of fibrin.
FIBRINE
Fi"brine, a.
Defn: Belonging to the fibers of plants.
FIBRINOGEN
Fi*brin"o*gen, n. Etym: [Fibrin + -gen.] (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: An albuminous substance existing in the blood, and in other
animal fluids, which either alone or with fibrinoplastin or
paraglobulin forms fibrin, and thus causes coagulation.
FIBRINOGENOUS
Fi`bri*nog"e*nous, a. (Physiol. Chem.)
Defn: Possessed of properties similar to fibrinogen; capable of
forming fibrin.
FIBRINOPLASTIC
Fi`bri*no*plas"tic, a. (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: Like fibrinoplastin; capable of forming fibrin when brought in
contact with fibrinogen.
FIBRINOPLASTIN
Fi`bri*no*plas"tin, n. Etym: [Fibrin + Gr. (Physiol.Chem.)
Defn: An albuminous substance, existing in the blood, which in
combination with fibrinogen forms fibrin; -- called also
paraglobulin.
FIBRINOUS
Fi"bri*nous ( or ; 277), a.
Defn: Having, or partaking of the properties of, fibrin; as, fibrious
exudation.
FIBROCARTILAGE
Fi`bro*car"ti*lage, n. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + E. cartilage.]
(Anat.)
Defn: A kind of cartilage with a fibrous matrix and approaching
fibrous connective tissue in structure.
-- Fi`bro*car`ti*lag"i*nous, a.
FIBROCHONDROSTEAL
Fi`bro*chon*dros"te*al, a. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + gr. (Anat.)
Defn: Partly fibrous, partly cartilaginous, and partly osseous. St.
George Mivart.
FIBROID
Fi"broid, a. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + -oid.] (Med.)
Defn: Resembling or forming fibrous tissue; made up of fibers; as,
fibroid tumors.
-- n.
Defn: A fibroid tumor; a fibroma. Fibroid degeneration, a form of
degeneration in which organs or tissues are converted into fibroid
tissue.
-- Fibroid phthists, a form of pulmonary consumption associated with
the formation of fibrous tissue in the lungs, and the gradual atrophy
of the lungs, from the pressure due to the contraction of this
tissue.
FIBROIN
Fi"bro*in ( or ), n. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber.] (Chem.)
Defn: A variety of gelatin; the chief ingredient of raw silk,
extracted as a white amorphous mass.
FIBROLITE
Fi"bro*lite ( or ), n. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + -lite: cf. F.
fibrolithe.] (Min.)
Defn: A silicate of alumina, of fibrous or columnar structure. It is
like andalusite in composition; -- called also sillimanite, and
bucholizite.
FIBROMA
Fi*bro"ma, n. Etym: [NL. See Fiber, and -oma.] (Med.)
Defn: A tumor consisting mainly of fibrous tissue, or of same
modification of such tissue.
FIBROSPONGIAE
Fi`bro*spon"gi*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fibra a fiber + spongia a
sponge.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of sponges having a fibrous skeleton, including the
commercial sponges.
FIBROUS
Fi"brous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fibreux.]
Defn: Containing, or consisting of, fibers; as, the fibrous coat of
the cocoanut; the fibrous roots of grasses.
-- Fi"brous*ness, n.
FIBROVASCULAR
Fi`bro*vas"cu*lar, a. Etym: [L. fibra a fiber + E. vascular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Containing woody fiber and ducts, as the stems of all flowering
plants and ferns; -- opposed to cellular.
FIBSTER
Fib"ster, n.
Defn: One who tells fibs. [Jocular]
FIBULA
Fib"u*la, n.; pl. FibulÆ. Etym: [L., clasp, buckle.]
1. A brooch, clasp, or buckle.
Mere fibulæ, without a robe to clasp. Wordsworth.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: The outer and usually the smaller of the two bones of the leg,
or hind limb, below the knee.
3. (Surg.)
Defn: A needle for sewing up wounds.
FIBU-LAR
Fib"u-lar, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the fibula.
FIBULARE
Fib`u*la"re, n.; pl. Fibularia. Etym: [NL. See Fibula.] (Anat.)
Defn: The bone or cartilage of the tarsus, which articulates with the
fibula, and corresponds to the calcaneum in man and most mammals.
FICE
Fice, n.
Defn: A small dog; -- written also fise, fyce, fiste, etc. [Southern
U.S.]
FICHE
Fi*ché, a. (Her.)
Defn: See FitchÉ.
FICHTELITE
Fich"tel*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A white crystallized mineral resin from the Fichtelgebirge,
Bavaria.
FICHU
Fich"u, n. Etym: [F., neckerchief.]
Defn: A light cape, usually of lace, worn by women, to cover the neck
and throat, and extending to the shoulders.
FICKLE
Fic"kle, a. Etym: [OE. fikel untrustworthy, deceitful, AS. ficol, fr.
fic, gefic, fraud, deceit; cf. facen deceit, OS. f, OHG. feichan,
Icel. feikn portent. Cf. Fidget.]
Defn: Not fixed or firm; liable to change; unstable; of a changeable
mind; not firm in opinion or purpose; inconstant; capricious; as,
Fortune's fickle wheel. Shak.
They know how fickle common lovers are. Dryden.
Syn.
-- Wavering; irresolute; unsettled; vacillating; unstable;
inconsonant; unsteady; variable; mutable; changeful; capricious;
veering; shifting.
FICKLENESS
Fic"kle*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being fickle; instability; inconsonancy. Shak.
FICKLY
Fic"kly, adv.
Defn: In a fickle manner. [Obs.] Pepys.
FICO
Fi"co, n.; pl. Ficoes. Etym: [It., a fig, fr. L.ficus. See Fig.]
Defn: A fig; an insignificant trifle, no more than the snap of one's
thumb; a sign of contempt made by the fingers, expressing. A fig for
you.
Steal! foh, a fico for the phrase. Shak.
FICTILE
Fic"tile, a. Etym: [L. fictilis. See Fiction.]
Defn: Molded, or capable of being molded, into form by art; relating
to pottery or to molding in any soft material.
Fictile earth is more fragile than crude earth. Bacon.
The earliest specimens of Italian fictile art. C. Wordsworth.
Fictile ware, ware made of any material which is molded or shaped
while soft; hence, pottery of any sort.
-- Fic"tile*ness, n.
-- Fic*til"i*ty, n.
FICTION
Fic"tion, n. Etym: [F. fiction, L. fictio, fr. fingere, fictum to
form, shape, invent, feign. See Feign.]
1. The act of feigning, inventing, or imagining; as, by a mere
fiction of the mind. Bp. Stillingfleet.
2. That which is feigned, invented, or imagined; especially, a
feigned or invented story, whether oral or written. Hence: A story
told in order to deceive; a fabrication; -- opposed to fact, or
reality.
The fiction of those golden apples kept by a dragon. Sir W. Raleigh.
When it could no longer be denied that her flight had been voluntary,
numerous fictions were invented to account for it. Macaulay.
3. Fictitious literature; comprehensively, all works of imagination;
specifically, novels and romances.
The office of fiction as a vehicle of instruction and moral elevation
has been recognized by most if not all great educators. Dict. of
Education.
4. (Law)
Defn: An assumption of a possible thing as a fact, irrespective of
the question of its truth. Wharton.
5. Any like assumption made for convenience, as for passing more
rapidly over what is not disputed, and arriving at points really at
issue.
Syn.
-- Fabrication; invention; fable; falsehood.
-- Fiction, Fabrication. Fiction is opposed to what is real;
fabrication to what is true. Fiction is designed commonly to amuse,
and sometimes to instruct; a fabrication is always intended to
mislead and deceive. In the novels of Sir Walter Scott we have
fiction of the highest order. The poems of Ossian, so called, were
chiefly fabrications by Macpherson.
FICTIONAL
Fic"tion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or characterized by, fiction; fictitious;
romantic."Fictional rather than historical." Latham.
FICTIONIST
Fic"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A writer of fiction. [R.] Lamb.
FICTIOUS
Fic"tious, a.
Defn: Fictitious. [R.] Prior.
FICTITIOUS
Fic*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. fictitius. See Fiction.]
Defn: Feigned; imaginary; not real; fabulous; counterfeit; false; not
genuine; as, fictitious fame.
The human persons are as fictitious as the airy ones. Pope.
-- Fic*ti"tious*ly, adv.
-- Fic*ti"tious*ness, n.
FICTIVE
Fic"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fictif.]
Defn: Feigned; counterfeit. "The fount of fictive tears." Tennyson.
FICTOR
Fic"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An artist who models or forms statues and reliefs in any
plastic material. [R.] Elmes.
FICUS
Fi"cus, n. Etym: [L., a fig.]
Defn: A genus of trees or shrubs, one species of which (F. Carica)
produces the figs of commerce; the fig tree.
Note: Ficus Indica is the banyan tree; F. religiosa, the peepul tree;
F. elastica, the India-rubber tree.
FID
Fid, n. Etym: [Prov. E. fid a small, thick lump.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A square bar of wood or iron, used to support the topmast,
being passed through a hole or mortise at its heel, and resting on
the trestle trees.
2. A wooden or metal bar or pin, used to support or steady anything.
3. A pin of hard wood, tapering to a point, used to open the strands
of a rope in splicing.
Note: There are hand fids and standing fids (which are larger than
the others, and stand upon a flat base). An iron implement for this
purpose is called a marline spike.
4. (Mil.)
Defn: A block of wood used in mounting and dismounting heavy guns.
FIDALGO
Fi*dal"go, n. Etym: [Pg. See Hidalgo.]
Defn: The lowest title of nobility in Portugal, corresponding to that
of Hidalgo in Spain.
FIDDLE
Fid"dle, n. Etym: [OE. fidele, fithele, AS. fi; akin to D. vedel,
OHG. fidula, G. fiedel, Icel. fi, and perh. to E. viol. Cf. Viol.]
1. (Mus.)
Defn: A stringed instrument of music played with a bow; a violin; a
kit.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of dock (Rumex pulcher) with fiddle-shaped leaves; --
called also fiddle dock.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A rack or frame of bars connected by strings, to keep table
furniture in place on the cabin table in bad weather. Ham. Nav.
Encyc. Fiddle beetle (Zoöl.), a Japanese carabid beetle (Damaster
blaptoides); -- so called from the form of the body.
-- Fiddle block (Naut.), a long tackle block having two sheaves of
different diameters in the same plane, instead of side by side as in
a common double block. Knight.
-- Fiddle bow, fiddlestick.
-- Fiddle fish (Zoöl.), the angel fish.
-- Fiddle head, an ornament on a ship's bow, curved like the volute
or scroll at the head of a violin.
-- Fiddle pattern, a form of the handles of spoons, forks, etc.,
somewhat like a violin.
-- Scotch fiddle, the itch. (Low) -- To play first, or second,
fiddle, to take a leading or a subordinate part. [Colloq.]
FIDDLE
Fid"dle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fiddled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fiddling.]
1. To play on a fiddle.
Themistocles . . . said he could not fiddle, but he could make a
small town a great city. Bacon.
2. To keep the hands and fingers actively moving as a fiddler does;
to move the hands and fingers restlessy or in busy idleness; to
trifle.
Talking, and fiddling with their hats and feathers. Pepys.
FIDDLE
Fid"dle, v. t.
Defn: To play (a tune) on a fiddle.
FIDDLEDEEDEE
Fid"dle*dee*dee`, interj.
Defn: An exclamatory word or phrase, equivalent to nonsense!
[Colloq.]
FIDDLE-FADDLE
Fid"dle-fad`dle, n.
Defn: A trifle; trifling talk; nonsense. [Colloq.] Spectator.
FIDDLE-FADDLE
Fid"dle-fad`dle, v. i.
Defn: To talk nonsense. [Colloq.] Ford.
FIDDLER
Fid"dler, n. Etym: [AS. fi.]
1. One who plays on a fiddle or violin.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A burrowing crab of the genus Gelasimus, of many species. The
male has one claw very much enlarged, and often holds it in a
position similar to that in which a musician holds a fiddle, hence
the name; -- called also calling crab, soldier crab, and fighting
crab.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The common European sandpiper (Tringoides hypoleucus); -- so
called because it continually oscillates its body. Fiddler crab.
(Zoöl.) See Fiddler, n., 2.
FIDDLE-SHAPED
Fid"dle-shaped`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Inversely ovate, with a deep hollow on each side. Gray.
FIDDLESTICK
Fid"dle*stick`, n.
Defn: The bow, strung with horsehair, used in playing the fiddle; a
fiddle bow.
FIDDLESTRING
Fid"dle*string`, n.
Defn: One of the catgut strings of a fiddle.
FIDDLEWOOD
Fid"dle*wood`, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. F. bois-fidèle, lit., faithful
wood; -- so called from its durability.]
Defn: The wood of several West Indian trees, mostly of the genus
Citharexylum.
FIDEJUSSION
Fi`de*jus"sion, n. Etym: [L. fidejussio, from fidejubere to be surety
or bail; fides faith + jubere to order: cf. F. fidéjussion.] (Civil
Law)
Defn: The act or state of being bound as surety for another;
suretyship.
FIDEJUSSOR
Fi`de*jus"sor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. fidéjusseur.] (Civil Law)
Defn: A surety; one bound for another, conjointly with him; a
guarantor. Blackstone.
FIDELITY
Fi*del"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. fidelitas: cf. F. fidélité. See Fealty.]
Defn: Faithfulness; adherence to right; careful and exact observance
of duty, or discharge of obligations. Especially:
(a) Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty.
Whose courageous fidelity was proof to all danger. Macaulay.
The best security for the fidelity of men is to make interest
coincide with duty. A. Hamilton.
(b) Adherence to the marriage contract.
(c) Adherence to truth; veracity; honesty.
The principal thing required in a witness is fidelity. Hooker.
Syn.
-- Faithfulness; honesty; integrity; faith; loyalty; fealty.
FIDES
Fi"des, n. Etym: [L., faith.] (Roman Muth.)
Defn: Faith personified as a goddess; the goddess of faith.
FIDGE
Fidge, n. & i.
Defn: See Fidget. [R.] Swift.
FIDGET
Fidg"et, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fidgeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fodgeting.]
Etym: [From Fidge; cf. OE. fiken to fidget, to flatter, Icel. fika to
hasten, Sw. fika to hunt after, AS. befician to deceive. Cf. Fickle.]
Defn: To move uneasily one way and the other; to move irregularly, or
by fits and starts. Moore.
FIDGET
Fidg"et, n.
1. Uneasiness; restlessness. Cowper.
2. pl.
Defn: A general nervous restlessness, manifested by incessant changes
of position; dysphoria. Dunglison.
FIDGETINESS
Fidg"et*i*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being fidgety.
FIDGETY
Fidg"et*y, a.
Defn: Restless; uneasy. Lowell.
FIDIA
Fid"i*a, n. Etym: [NL., prob. fr. L. fidus trusty.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small beetles, of which one species (the grapevine
Fidia, F. longipes) is very injurious to vines in America.
FIDICINAL
Fi*dic"i*nal, a. Etym: [L. fidicinus, fr. fidicen, -inis, a lute
player.] (Mus.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to a stringed instrument.
FIDUCIAL
Fi*du"cial, a. Etym: [L. fiducia trust, confidence; akin to fides
faith. See Faith.]
1. Having faith or trust; confident; undoubting; firm. "Fiducial
reliance on the promises of God." Hammond.
2. Having the nature of a trust; fiduciary; as, fiducial power.
Spelman. Fiducial edge (Astron. & Surv.), the straight edge of the
alidade or ruler along which a straight line is to be drawn.
-- Fiducial line or point (Math. & Physics.), a line or point of
reference, as for setting a graduated circle or scale used for
measurments.
FIDUCIALLY
Fi*du"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: With confidence. South.
FIDUCIARY
Fi*du"ci*a*ry ( or ), a. Etym: [L. fiduciarus, fr. fiducia: cf. F.
fiduciaire. See Fiducial.]
1. Involving confidence or trust; confident; undoubting; faithful;
firm; as, in a fiduciary capacity. "Fiduciary obedience." Howell.
2. Holding, held, or founded, in trust. Spelman.
FIDUCIARY
Fi*du"ci*a*ry, n.
1. One who holds a thing in trust for another; a trustee.
Instrumental to the conveying God's blessing upon those whose
fiduciaries they are. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Theol.)
Defn: One who depends for salvation on faith, without works; an
Antinomian. Hammond.
FIE
Fie, interj. Etym: [OE. fi; cf. D. fif. G. pfui, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan.
fy, F. fi, L. fi, phy.]
Defn: An exclamation denoting contempt or dislike. See Fy. Fuller.
FIEF
Fief, n. Etym: [F. fief; of German origin, and the same word as E.
fee. See Fee, and cf. Feud, a tief.] (Law)
Defn: An estate held of a superior on condition of military service;
a fee; a feud. See under Benefice, n., 2.
FIELD
Field, n. Etym: [OE. feld, fild, AS. feld; akin to D. veld, G. feld,
Sw. fält, Dan. felt, Icel. fold field of grass, AS. folde earth,
land, ground, OS. folda.]
1. Cleared land; land suitable for tillage or pasture; cultivated
ground; the open country.
2. A piece of land of considerable size; esp., a piece inclosed for
tillage or pasture.
Fields which promise corn and wine. Byron.
3. A place where a battle is fought; also, the battle itself.
In this glorious and well-foughten field. Shak.
What though the field be lost Milton.
4. An open space; an extent; an expanse. Esp.:
(a) Any blank space or ground on which figures are drawn or
projected.
(b) The space covered by an optical instrument at one view.
Without covering, save yon field of stars. Shak.
Ask of yonder argent fields above. Pope.
5. (Her.)
Defn: The whole surface of an escutcheon; also, so much of it is
shown unconcealed by the different bearings upon it. See Illust. of
Fess, where the field is represented as gules (red), while the fess
is argent (silver).
6. An unresticted or favorable opportunity for action, operation, or
achievement; province; room.
Afforded a clear field for moral experiments. Macaulay.
7. A collective term for all the competitors in any outdoor contest
or trial, or for all except the favorites in the betting.
8. (Baseball)
Defn: That part of the grounds reserved for the players which is
outside of the diamond; -- called also outfield.
Note: Field is often used adjectively in the sense of belonging to,
or used in, the fields; especially with reference to the operations
and equipments of an army during a campaign away from permanent camps
and fortifications. In most cases such use of the word is
sufficiently clear; as, field battery; field fortification; field
gun; field hospital, etc. A field geologist, naturalist, etc., is one
who makes investigations or collections out of doors. A survey uses a
field book for recording field notes, i.e., measurment, observations,
etc., made in field work (outdoor operations). A farmer or planter
employs field hands, and may use a field roller or a field derrick.
Field sports are hunting, fishing, athletic games, etc. Coal field
(Geol.) See under Coal.
-- Field artillery, light ordnance mounted on wheels, for the use of
a marching army.
-- Field basil (Bot.), a plant of the Mint family (Calamintha
Acinos); -- called also basil thyme.
-- Field colors (Mil.), small flags for marking out the positions
for squadrons and battalions; camp colors.
-- Field cricket (Zoöl.), a large European cricket (Gryllus
campestric), remarkable for its loud notes.
-- Field day. (a) A day in the fields. (b) (Mil.) A day when troops
are taken into the field for instruction in evolutions. Farrow. (c) A
day of unusual exertion or display; a gala day.
-- Field driver, in New England, an officer charged with the driving
of stray cattle to the pound.
-- Field duck (Zoöl.), the little bustard (Otis tetrax), found in
Southern Europe.
-- Field glass. (Optics) (a) A binocular telescope of compact form;
a lorgnette; a race glass. (b) A small achromatic telescope, from 20
to 24 inches long, and having 3 to 6 draws. (c) See Field lens.
-- Field lark. (Zoöl.) (a) The skylark. (b) The tree pipit.
-- Field lens (Optics), that one of the two lenses forming the
eyepiece of an astronomical telescope or compound microscope which is
nearer the object glass; -- called also field glass.
-- Field madder (Bot.), a plant (Sherardia arvensis) used in dyeing.
-- Field marshal (Mil.), the highest military rank conferred in the
British and other European armies.
-- Field mouse (Zoöl.), a mouse inhabiting fields, as the campagnol
and the deer mouse. See Campagnol, and Deer mouse.
-- Field officer (Mil.), an officer above the rank of captain and
below that of general.
-- Field officer's court (U.S.Army), a court-martial consisting of
one field officer empowered to try all cases, in time of war, subject
to jurisdiction of garrison and regimental courts. Farrow.
-- Field plover (Zoöl.), the black-bellied plover (Charadrius
squatarola); also sometimes applied to the Bartramian sandpiper
(Bartramia longicauda).
-- Field spaniel (Zoöl.), a small spaniel used in hunting small
game.
-- Field sparrow. (Zoöl.) (a) A small American sparrow (Spizella
pusilla). (b) The hedge sparrow. [Eng.] -- Field staff (Mil.), a
staff formerly used by gunners to hold a lighted match for
discharging a gun.
-- Field vole (Zoöl.), the European meadow mouse.
-- Field of ice, a large body of floating ice; a pack.
-- Field, or Field of view, in a telescope or microscope, the entire
space within which objects are seen.
-- Field magnet. see under Magnet.
-- Magnetic field. See Magnetic.
-- To back the field, or To bet on the field. See under Back, v. t.
-- To keep the field. (a) (Mil.) To continue a campaign. (b) To
maintain one's ground against all comers.
-- To lay, or back, against the field, to bet on (a horse, etc.)
against all comers.
-- To take the field (Mil.), to enter upon a campaign.
FIELD
Field, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fielded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fielding.]
1. To take the field. [Obs.] Spenser.
2. (Ball Playing)
Defn: To stand out in the field, ready to catch, stop, or throw the
ball.
FIELD
Field, v. t. (Ball Playing)
Defn: To catch, stop, throw, etc. (the ball), as a fielder.
FIELDED
Field"ed, a.
Defn: Engaged in the field; encamped. [Obs.]
To help fielded friends. Shak.
FIELDEN
Field"en, a.
Defn: Consisting of fields. [Obs.]
The fielden country also and plains. Holland.
FIELDER
Field"er, n. (Ball Playing)
Defn: A ball payer who stands out in the field to catch or stop
balls.
FIELDFARE
Field"fare`, n. Etym: [OE. feldfare, AS. feldfare; field + faran to
travel.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: a small thrush (Turdus pilaris) which breeds in northern Europe
and winters in Great Britain. The head, nape, and lower part of the
back are ash-colored; the upper part of the back and wing coverts,
chestnut; -- called also fellfare.
FIELDING
Field"ing, n. (Ball Playing)
Defn: The act of playing as a fielder.
FIELDPIECE
Field"piece`, n.
Defn: A cannon mounted on wheels, for the use of a marching army; a
piece of field artillery; -- called also field gun.
FIELDWORK
Field"work`, n. (Mil.)
Defn: Any temporary fortification thrown up by an army in the field;
-- commonly in the plural.
All works which do not come under the head of permanent fortification
are called fieldworks. Wilhelm.
FIELDY
Field"y, a.
Defn: Open, like a field. [Obs.] Wyclif.
FIEND
Fiend, n. Etym: [OE. fend, find, fiend, feond, fiend, foe, AS. feónd;
akin to OS. fiond, D. vijand enemy, OHG. fiant, G. feind, Icel.
fjand, Sw. & Dan. fiende, Goth. fijands; orig. p.pr. of a verb
meaning to hate, AS. feón, feógan, OHG. fi, Goth. fijan, Skr. piy to
scorn; prob. akin to E. feud a quarrel. *81. Cf. Foe, Friend.]
Defn: An implacable or malicious foe; one who is diabolically wicked
or cruel; an infernal being; -- applied specifically to the devil or
a demon.
Into this wild abyss the wary fiend Stood on the brink of Hell and
looked a while. Milton.
O woman! woman! when to ill thy mind Is bent, all hell contains no
fouler fiend. Pope.
FIENDFUL
Fiend"ful, a.
Defn: Full of fiendish spirit or arts. Marlowe.
-- Fiend"ful*ly, adv.
FIENDISH
Fiend"ish, a.
Defn: Like a fiend; diabolically wicked or cruel; infernal;
malignant; devilish; hellish.
-- Fiend"ish*ly, adv.
-- Fiend"ish*ness, n.
FIENDLIKE
Fiend"like`, a.
Defn: Fiendish; diabolical. Longfellow.
FIENDLY
Fiend"ly, a. Etym: [AS. feóndlic.]
Defn: Fiendlike; monstrous; devilish. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FIERASFER
Fi`e*ras"fer, n. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of small, slender fishes, remarkable for their habit of
living as commensals in other animals. One species inhabits the gill
cavity of the pearl oyster near Panama; another lives within an East
Indian holothurian.
FIERCE
Fierce, a. [Compar. Fiercer; superl. Fiercest.] Etym: [OE. fers,
fiers, OF. fier, nom. fiers, fierce, savage, cruel, F. fier proud,
from L. ferus wild, savage, cruel; perh. akin to E. bear the animal.
Cf. Feral, Ferocity.]
1. Furious; violent; unrestrained; impetuous; as, a fierce wind.
His fierce thunder drove us to the deep. Milton.
2. Vehement in anger or cruelty; ready or eager to kill or injure; of
a nature to inspire terror; ferocious. "A fierce whisper." Dickens.
"A fierce tyrant." Pope.
The fierce foe hung upon our broken rear. Milton.
Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. Job. x. 16.
3. Excessively earnest, eager, or ardent.
Syn.
-- Ferocious; savage; cruel; vehement; impetuous; barbarous; fell.
See Ferocious.
-- Fierce"ly, adv.
-- Fierce"ness, n.
FIERI FACIAS
Fi"e*ri fa"ci*as. Etym: [L., cause it to be done.] (Law)
Defn: A judicial writ that lies for one who has recovered in debt or
damages, commanding the sheriff that he cause to be made of the
goods, chattels, or real estate of the defendant, the sum claimed.
Blackstone. Cowell.
FIERINESS
Fi"er*i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being fiery; heat; acrimony; irritability; as, a
fieriness of temper. Addison.
FIERY
Fi"er*y ( or ), a. Etym: [Formerly written firy, fr. fire.]
1. Consisting of, containing, or resembling, fire; as, the fiery gulf
of Etna; a fiery appearance.
And fiery billows roll below. I. Watts.
2. Vehement; ardent; very active; impetuous.
Hath thy fiery heart so parched thine entrails Shak.
The fiery spirit of his forefathers. W. Irwing.
3. Passionate; easily provoked; irritable.
You kniw the fiery quality of the duke. Shak.
4. Unrestrained; fierce; mettlesome; spirited.
One curbed the fiery steed. Dryden.
5. heated by fire, or as if by fire; burning hot; parched; feverish.
Pope.
The sword which is made fiery. Hooker.
Fiery cross, a cross constructed of two firebrands, and pitched upon
the point of a spear; formerly in Scotland borne by a runner as a
signal for the clan to take up arms. Sir W. Scott.
FIESTA
Fies"ta, n. [Sp. See Feast, n.]
Defn: Among Spanish, a religious festival; a saint's day or holiday;
also, a holiday or festivity.
Even . . . a bullfight is a fiesta.
Am. Dialect Notes.
Some fiesta, when all the surrounding population were expected to
turn out in holiday dress for merriment.
The Century.
FIFE
Fife, n. Etym: [F. fifre, OHG. pfifa, LL. pipa pipe, pipare to play
on the pipe, fr. L. pipire, pipare, to peep, pip, chirp, as a chiken.
See Pipe.] (Mus.)
Defn: A small shrill pipe, resembling the piccolo flute, used chiefly
to accompany the drum in military music. Fife major (Mil.), a
noncommissioned officer who superintends the fifers of a regiment.
-- Fife rail. (Naut.) (a) A rail about the mast, at the deck, to
hold belaying pins, etc. (b) A railing around the break of a poop
deck.
FIFE
Fife, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fifed; p. pr. & vb. n. fifing.]
Defn: To play on a fife.
FIFER
Fif"er, n.
Defn: One who plays on a fife.
FIFTEEN
Fif"teen`, a. Etym: [OE. fiftene, AS. fift, fift. See Five, and Ten,
and cf. Fifty.]
Defn: Five and ten; one more than fourteen.
FIFTEEN
Fif"teen`, n.
1. The sum of five and ten; fifteen units or objects.
2. A symbol representing fifteen units, as 15, or xv.
FIFTEENTH
Fif"teenth`, a. Etym: [OE. fiftenthe; cf. fiftethe, AS. fifte. See
Fifteen.]
1. Next in order after the fourteenth; -- the ordinal of fifteen.
2. Consisting of one of fifteen equal parts or divisions of a thing.
FIFTEENTH
Fif"teenth`, n.
1. One of fifteen equal parts or divisions; the quotient of a unit
divided by fifteen.
2. A species of tax upon personal property formerly laid on towns,
boroughs, etc., in England, being one fifteenth part of what the
personal property in each town, etc., had been valued at. Burrill.
3. (Mus.)
(a) A stop in an organ tuned two octaves above the diaposon.
(b) An interval consisting of two octaves.
FIFTH
Fifth, a. Etym: [OE. fifte, fifthe, AS. fifta. See Five.]
1. Next in order after the fourth; -- the ordinal of five.
2. Consisting of one of five equal divisions of a thing. Fifth
monarchy men (Hist.), a fanatical sect in England, of the time of the
commonwealth, who maintained that there would be a fifth universal
monarchy, during which Christ would reign on earth a thousand years.
-- Fifth wheel, a horizontal wheel or segment above the fore axle of
a carriage and beneath the body, forming an extended support to
prevent careening.
FIFTH
Fifth, n.
1. The quotient of a unit divided by five; one of five equal parts; a
fifth part.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: The interval of three tones and a semitone, embracing five
diatonic degrees of the scale; the dominant of any key.
FIFTHLY
Fifth"ly, adv.
Defn: In the fifth place; as the fifth in order.
FIFTIETH
Fif"ti*eth, a. Etym: [AS. fiftigo. See Fifty.]
1. Next in order after the forty-ninth; -- the ordinal of fifty.
2. Consisting of one of fifty equal parts or divisions.
FIFTIETH
Fif"ti*eth, n.
Defn: One of fifty equal parts; the quotient of a unit divided by
fifty.
FIFTY
Fif"ty, a. Etym: [AS. fiftig; akin to OHG. finfzug, fimfzug, G.
fünfzig, funfzig, Goth. fimftigjus. See Five, and Ten, and cf.
Fifteen.]
Defn: Five times ten; as, fifty men.
FIFTY
Fif"ty, n.; pl. Fifties (.
1. The sum of five tens; fifty units or objects.
2. A symbol representing fifty units, as 50, or l.
FIG
Fig, n. Etym: [F. figue the fruit of the tree, Pr. figa, fr. L. ficus
fig tree, fig. Cf. Fico.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A small fruit tree (Ficus Carica) with large leaves, known from
the remotest antiquity. It was probably native from Syria westward to
the Canary Islands.
2. The fruit of a fig tree, which is of round or oblong shape, and of
various colors.
Note: The fruit of a fig tree is really the hollow end of a stem, and
bears numerous achenia inside the cavity. Many species have little,
hard, inedible figs, and in only a few does the fruit become soft and
pulpy. The fruit of the cultivated varieties is much prized in its
fresh state, and also when dried or preserved. See Caprification.
3. A small piece of tobacco. [U.S.]
4. The value of a fig, practically nothing; a fico; -- used in scorn
or contempt. "A fig for Peter." Shak. Cochineal fig. See Conchineal
fig.
-- Fig dust, a preparation of fine oatmeal for feeding caged birds.
-- Fig faun, one of a class of rural deities or monsters supposed to
live on figs. "Therefore shall dragons dwell there with the fig
fauns." Jer. i. 39. (Douay version).
-- Fig gnat (Zoöl.), a small fly said to be injurious to figs.
-- Fig leaf, the leaf tree; hence, in allusion to the first clothing
of Adam and Eve (Genesis iii.7), a covering for a thing that ought to
be concealed; esp., an inadequate covering; a symbol for affected
modesty.
-- Fig marigold (Bot.), the name of several plants of the genus
Mesembryanthemum, some of which are prized for the brilliancy and
beauty of their flowers.
-- Fig tree (Bot.), any tree of the genus Ficus, but especially F.
Carica which produces the fig of commerce.
FIG
Fig, v. t. Etym: [See Fico, Fig, n.]
1. To insult with a fico, or contemptuous motion. See Fico. [Obs.]
When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me like The bragging Spaniard.
Shak.
2. To put into the head of, as something useless o [Obs.] L'Estrange.
FIG
Fig, n.
Defn: Figure; dress; array. [Colloq.]
Were they all in full fig, the females with feathers on their heads,
the males with chapeaux bras Prof. Wilson.
FIGARO
Fi`ga`ro", n. Etym: [From the name of the barber in Beaumarchais'
"Barber of Seville."]
Defn: An adroi
FIGARY
Fig"a*ry, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. vagary.]
Defn: A frolic; a vagary; a whim. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FIGEATER
Fig"eat`er, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A large beetle (Allorhina nitida) which in the Southern United
States destroys figs. The elytra are velvety green with pale borders.
(b) A bird. See Figpecker.
FIGENT
Fig"ent, a.
Defn: Fidgety; restless. [Obs.]
Such a little figent thing. Beau. & Fl.
FIGGUM
Fig"gum, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: A juggler's trick; conjuring. [Obs.]
The devil is the author of wicked figgum. B. Jonson.
FIGHT
Fight, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fought; p. pr. & vb. n. Fighting.] Etym:
[OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G.
fechten, Sw. fäkta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare
to fight, pugnus fist.]
1. To strive or contened for victory, with armies or in single
combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by
blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed by with or against.
You do fight against your country's foes. Shak.
To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. Milton.
2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend;
to strive; to make resistance. To fight shy, to avoid meeting fairly
or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.
FIGHT
Fight, v. t.
1. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by
struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
He had to fight his way through the world. Macaulay.
I have fought a good fight. 2 Tim. iv. 7.
2. To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the
enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three
hours.
3. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight
cocks; to fight one's ship. To fight it out, to fight until a
decisive and conclusive result is reached.
FIGHT
Fight, n. Etym: [OE. fight, feht, AS. feoht. See Fight, v. i.]
1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent
conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between
armies, ships, or navies, etc.
Who now defies thee thrice to single fight. Milton.
2. A struggle or contest of any kind.
3. Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as, he has a
great deal of fight in him. [Colloq.]
4. A screen for the combatants in ships. [Obs.]
Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare. Dryden.
Running fight, a fight in which the enemy is continually chased;
also, one which continues without definite end or result.
Syn.
-- Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray;
action; conflict. See Battle.
FIGHTER
Fight"er, n. Etym: [AS. feohtere.]
Defn: One who fights; a combatant; a warrior. Shak.
FIGHTING
Fight"ing, a.
1. Qualified for war; fit for battle.
An host of fighting men. 2 Chron. xxvi. 11.
2. Occupied in war; being the scene of a battle; as, a fighting
field. Pope. A fighting chance, one dependent upon the issue of a
struggle. [Colloq.] -- Fighting crab (Zoöl.), the fiddler crab.
-- Fighting fish (Zoöl.), a remarkably pugnacious East Indian fish
(Betta pugnax), reared by the Siamese for spectacular fish fights.
FIGHTINGLY
Fight"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: Pugnaciously.
FIGHTWITE
Fight"wite`, n. Etym: [Fight + wite.] (O.Eng. Law)
Defn: A mulct or fine imposed on a person for making a fight or
quarrel to the disturbance of the peace.
FIGMENT
Fig"ment, n. Etym: [L. figmentum, fr. fingere to form, shape, invent,
feign. See Feign.]
Defn: An invention; a fiction; something feigned or imagined.
Social figments, feints, and formalism. Mrs. Browning.
It carried rather an appearance of figment and invention . . . than
of truth and reality. Woodward.
FIGPECKER
Fig"peck`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European garden warbler (Sylvia, or Currica, hortensis); --
called also beccafico and greater pettychaps.
FIG-SHELL
Fig"-shell`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A marine univalve shell of the genus Pyrula, or Ficula,
resembling a fig in form.
FIGULATE; FIGULATED
Fig"u*late, Fig"u*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. figulatus, p.p. of figulare to
shape, fr. figulus potter, fr. fingere to shape.]
Defn: Made of potter's clay; molded; shaped. [R.] Johnson.
FIGULINE
Fig"u*line ( or ), n. Etym: [F., fr. L. figulina pottery, fr.
figulus. See Figulate.]
Defn: A piece of pottery ornamented with representations of natural
objects.
Whose figulines and rustic wares Scarce find him bread from day to
day. Longfellow.
FIGURABILITY
Fig`ur*a*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. figurabilité.]
Defn: The quality of being figurable. Johnson.
FIGURABLE
Fig`ur*a*ble, a. Etym: [L. figurare to form, shape, fr. figura
figure: cf. F. figurable. See Figure.]
Defn: Capable of being brought to a fixed form or shape.
Lead is figurable, but water is not. Johnson.
FIGURAL
Fig"ur*al, a. Etym: [From Figure.]
1. Represented by figure or delineation; consisting of figures; as,
figural ornaments. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Figurate. See Figurate. Figural numbers. See Figurate numbers,
under Figurate.
FIGURANT
Fig"u*rant` ( or ), n. masc. Etym: [F., prop. p.pr. of figurer
figure, represent, make a figure.]
Defn: One who dances at the opera, not singly, but in groups or
figures; an accessory character on the stage, who figures in its
scenes, but has nothing to say; hence, one who figures in any scene,
without taking a prominent part.
FIGURANTE
Fig"u*rante` ( or ), n. fem. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A female figurant; esp., a ballet girl.
FIGURATE
Fig"ur*ate, a. Etym: [L. figuratus, p.p. of figurare. See Figure.]
1. Of a definite form or figure.
Plants are all figurate and determinate, which inanimate bodies are
not. Bacon.
2. Figurative; metaphorical. [Obs.] Bale.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Florid; figurative; involving passing discords by the freer
melodic movement of one or more parts or voices in the harmony; as,
figurate counterpoint or descant. Figurate counterpoint or descant
(Mus.), that which is not simple, or in which the parts do not move
together tone for tone, but in which freer movement of one or more
parts mingles passing discords with the harmony; -- called also
figural, figurative, and figured counterpoint or descant (although
the term figured is more commonly applied to a bass with numerals
written above or below to indicate the other notes of the harmony).
-- Figurate numbers (Math.), numbers, or series of numbers, formed
from any arithmetical progression in which the first term is a unit,
and the difference a whole number, by taking the first term, and the
sums of the first two, first three, first four, etc., as the
successive terms of a new series, from which another may be formed in
the same manner, and so on, the numbers in the resulting series being
such that points representing them are capable of symmetrical
arrangement in different geometrical figures, as triangles, squares,
pentagons, etc.
Note: In the following example, the two lower lines are composed of
figurate numbers, those in the second line being triangular, and
represented thus: --. 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. . . . 1, 3, 6, 10, etc. . . .
. . . . etc. 1, 4, 10, 20, etc . . . . . . . . . . . .
FIGURATED
Fig"ur*a`ted, a.
Defn: Having a determinate form.
FIGURATELY
Fig"ur*ate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a figurate manner.
FIGURATION
Fig`u*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. figuratio.]
1. The act of giving figure or determinate form; determination to a
certain form. Bacon.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: Mixture of concords and discords.
FIGURATIVE
Fig"ur*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. figurativus: cf. F. figuratif. See
Figurative.]
1. Representing by a figure, or by resemblance; typical;
representative.
This, they will say, was figurative, and served, by God's
appointment, but for a time, to shadow out the true glory of a more
divine sanctity. Hooker.
2. Used in a sense that is tropical, as a metaphor; not literal; --
applied to words and expressions.
3. Ambounding in figures of speech; flowery; florid; as, a highly
figurative description.
4. Relating to the representation of form or figure by drawing,
carving, etc. See Figure, n., 2.
They belonged to a nation dedicated to the figurative arts, and they
wrote for a public familiar with painted form. J. A. Symonds.
Figurative counterpointdescant. See under Figurate.
-- Fig"ur*a*tive*ly, adv.
-- Fig"ur*a*tive*ness, n.
FIGURE
Fig"ure, n. Etym: [F., figure, L. figura; akin to fingere to form,
shape, feign. See Feign.]
1. The form of anything; shape; outline; appearance.
Flowers have all exquisite figures. Bacon.
2. The representation of any form, as by drawing, painting, modeling,
carving, embroidering, etc.; especially, a representation of the
human body; as, a figure in bronze; a figure cut in marble.
A coin that bears the figure of an angel. Shak.
3. A pattern in cloth, paper, or other manufactured article; a design
wrought out in a fabric; as, the muslin was of a pretty figure.
4. (Geom.)
Defn: A diagram or drawing; made to represent a magnitude or the
relation of two or more magnitudes; a surface or space inclosed on
all sides; -- called superficial when inclosed by lines, and solid
when inclosed by surface; any arrangement made up of points, lines,
angles, surfaces, etc.
5. The appearance or impression made by the conduct or carrer of a
person; as, a sorry figure.
I made some figure there. Dryden.
Gentlemen of the best figure in the county. Blackstone.
6. Distinguished appearance; magnificence; conspicuous
representation; splendor; show.
That he may live in figure and indulgence. Law.
7. A character or symbol representing a number; a numeral; a digit;
as, 1, 2,3, etc.
8. Value, as expressed in numbers; price; as, the goods are estimated
or sold at a low figure. [Colloq.]
With nineteen thousand a year at the very lowest figure. Thackeray.
9. A person, thing, or action, conceived of as analogous to another
person, thing, or action, of which it thus becomes a type or
representative.
Who is the figure of Him that was to come. Rom. v. 14.
10. (Rhet.)
Defn: A mode of expressing abstract or immaterial ideas by words
which suggest pictures or images from the physical world; pictorial
language; a trope; hence, any deviation from the plainest form of
statement.
To represent the imagination under the figure of a wing. Macaulay.
11. (Logic)
Defn: The form of a syllogism with respect to the relative position
of the middle term.
12. (Dancing)
Defn: Any one of the several regular steps or movements made by a
dancer.
13. (Astrol.)
Defn: A horoscope; the diagram of the aspects of the astrological
houses. Johnson.
14. (Music)
(a) Any short succession of notes, either as melody or as a group of
chords, which produce a single complete and distinct impression.
Grove.
(b) A form of melody or accompaniment kept up through a strain or
passage; a musical or motive; a florid embellishment.
Note: Figures are often written upon the staff in music to denote the
kind of measure. They are usually in the form of a fraction, the
upper figure showing how many notes of the kind indicated by the
lower are contained in one measure or bar. Thus, 2/4 signifies that
the measure contains two quarter notes. The following are the
principal figures used for this purpose: --2/22/42/8 4/22/44/8
3/23/43/8 6/46/46/8 Academy figure, Canceled figures, Lay figure,
etc. See under Academy, Cancel, Lay, etc.
-- Figure caster, or Figure flinger, an astrologer. This figure
caster." Milton.
-- Figure flinging, the practice of astrology.
-- Figure-of-eight knot, a knot shaped like the figure 8. See
Illust. under Knot.
-- Figure painting, a picture of the human figure, or the act or art
of depicting the human figure.
-- Figure stone (Min.), agalmatolite.
-- Figure weaving, the art or process of weaving figured fabrics.
-- To cut a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.] Sir W. Scott.
FIGURE
Fig"ure, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Figured; p. pr. & vb. n. Figuring.]
Etym: [F. figurer, L. figurare, fr. figura. See Figure, n.]
1. To represent by a figure, as to form or mold; to make an image of,
either palpable or ideal; also, to fashion into a determinate form;
to shape.
If love, alas! be pain I bear,
No thought can figure, and no tongue declare.Prior.
2. To embellish with design; to adorn with figures.
The vaulty top of heaven Figured quite o'er with burning meteors.
Shak.
3. To indicate by numerals; also, to compute.
As through a crystal glass the figured hours are seen. Dryden.
4. To represent by a metaphor; to signify or symbolize.
Whose white vestments figure innocence. Shak.
5. To prefigure; to foreshow.
In this the heaven figures some event. Shak.
6. (Mus.)
(a) To write over or under the bass, as figures or other characters,
in order to indicate the accompanying chords.
(b) To embellish. To figure out, to solve; to compute or find the
result of.
-- To figure up, to add; to reckon; to compute the amount of.
FIGURE
Fig"ure, v. t.
1. To make a figure; to be distinguished or conspicious; as, the
envoy figured at court.
Sociable, hospitable, eloquent, admired, figuring away brilliantly.
M. Arnold.
2. To calculate; to contrive; to scheme; as, he is figuring to secure
the nomination. [Colloq.]
FIGURED
Fig"ured, a.
1. Adorned with figures; marked with figures; as, figured muslin.
2. Not literal; figurative. [Obs.] Locke.
3. (Mus.)
(a) Free and florid; as, a figured descant. See Figurate, 3.
(b) Indicated or noted by figures. Figured bass. See Continued bass,
under Continued.
FIGUREHEAD
Fig"ure*head`, n.
1. (Naut.)
Defn: The figure, statue, or bust, on the prow of a ship.
2. A person who allows his name to be used to give standing to
enterprises in which he has no responsible interest or duties; a
nominal, but not real, head or chief.
FIGURIAL
Fi*gu"ri*al, a.
Defn: Represented by figure or delineation. [R.] Craig.
FIGURINE
Fi`gu`rine" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., dim. of figure.]
Defn: A very small figure, whether human or of an animal; especially,
one in terra cotta or the like; -- distinguished from statuette,
which is applied to small figures in bronze, marble, etc.
FIGURIST
Fig"ur*ist, n.
Defn: One who uses or interprets figurative expressions. Waterland.
FIGWORT
Fig"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of herbaceous plants (Scrophularia), mostly found in
the north temperate zones. See Brownwort.
FIJIAN
Fi"ji*an, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Fiji islands or their inhabitants.
-- n.
Defn: A native of the Fiji islands. [Written also Feejeean, Feejee.]
FIKE
Fike, n.
Defn: See Fyke.
FIL
Fil, obs.
Defn: imp. of Fall, v. i. Fell. Chaucer.
FILACEOUS
Fi*la"ceous ( or ), a. Etym: [L. filum thread.]
Defn: Composed of threads. Bacon.
FILACER
Fil"a*cer, n. Etym: [OE. filace a file, or thread, on which the
records of the courts of justice were strung, F. filasse tow of flax
or hemp, fr. L. filum thread.] (Eng. Law)
Defn: A former officer in the English Court of Common Pleas; -- so
called because he filed the writs on which he made out process.
[Obs.] Burrill.
FILAMENT
Fil"a*ment, n. Etym: [F. filament, fr. L. filum thread. See File a
row.]
Defn: A thread or threadlike object or appendage; a fiber; esp.
(Bot.), the threadlike part of the stamen supporting the anther.
FILAMENTARY
Fil`a*men"ta*ry, a.
Defn: Having the character of, or formed by, a filament.
FILAMENTOID
Fil"a*men*toid`, a. Etym: [Filament + -oid.]
Defn: Like a filament.
FILAMENTOUS
Fil`a*men"tous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. filamenteux.]
Defn: Like a thread; consisting of threads or filaments. Gray.
FILANDER
Fil"an*der, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A species of kangaroo (Macropus Brunii), inhabiting New Guinea.
FILANDERS
Fil"an*ders, n. pl. Etym: [F. filandres, fr. L. filum thread.]
(Falconry)
Defn: A disease in hawks, characterized by the presence of small
threadlike worms, also of filaments of coagulated blood, from the
rupture of a vein; -- called also backworm. Sir T. Browne.
FILAR
Fi"lar, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to a thread or line; characterized by threads
stretched across the field of view; as, a filar microscope; a filar
micrometer.
FILARIA
Fi*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. filum a thread.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of slender, nematode worms of many species, parasitic
in various animals. See Guinea worm.
FILARIAL
Fi*la"ri*al, a.
1. (Zoöl. & Med.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or caused by, filariæ and allied parasitic
worms.
2. Straight, as if in a line; as, the filarial flight of birds.
FILARIASIS
Fil`a*ri"a*sis, n. [NL.] (Med.)
Defn: The presence of filariæ in the blood; infection with filariæ.
FILASSE
Fi*lasse", n. [F., fr. fil thread, L. filum.]
Defn: Vegetable fiber, as jute or ramie, prepared for manufacture.
FILATORY
Fil"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [LL. filatorium place for spinning, fr. filare
to spin, fr. L. filum a thread.]
Defn: A machine for forming threads. [Obs.] W. Tooke.
FILATURE
Fil"a*ture, n. Etym: [LL. filatura, fr. filare to spin: cf. F.
filature. See Filatory.]
1. A drawing out into threads; hence, the reeling of silk from
cocoons. Ure.
2. A reel for drawing off silk from cocoons; also, an establishment
for reeling silk.
FILBERT
Fil"bert, n. Etym: [Perh. fr. fill + bread, as filling the bread or
husk; cf. G. bartnuss (lit., bread nut) filbert; or perh. named from
a St.Philibert, whose day, Aug. 22, fell in the nutting season.]
(Bot.)
Defn: The fruit of the Corylus Avellana or hazel. It is an oval nut,
containing a kernel that has a mild, farinaceous, oily taste,
agreeable to the palate.
Note: In England filberts are usually large hazelnuts, especially the
nuts from selected and cultivated trees. The American hazelnuts are
of two other species. Filbert gall (Zoöl.), a gall resembling a
filbert in form, growing in clusters on grapevines. It is produced by
the larva of a gallfly (Cecidomyia).
FILCH
Filch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filched; p. pr. & vb. n. Filching.] Etym:
[Cf. AS. feol to stick to, OHG. felhan, felahan, to hide, Icel. fela,
Goth. filhan to hide, bury, Prov. E. feal to hide slyly, OE. felen.]
Defn: To steal or take privily (commonly, that which is of little
value); to pilfer.
Fain would they filch that little food away. Dryden.
But he that filches from me my good name, Robs me of that which not
enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. Shak.
FILCHER
Filch"er, n.
Defn: One who filches; a thief.
FILCHINGLY
Filch"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: By pilfering or petty stealing.
FILE
File, n. Etym: [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL.
fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade, Filament, Fillet.]
1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as:
(a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; -- in
contradistinction to rank, which designates a row of soldiers
standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops,
which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the
battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks.
Note: The number of files in a company describes its width, as the
number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in "fours deep" would
be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks. Farrow.
(b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or
classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of
newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant.
(c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and
kept in order.
It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.
(d) A roll or list. "A file of all the gentry." Shak.
2. Course of thought; thread of narration. [Obs.]
Let me resume the file of my narration. Sir H. Wotton.
File firing, the act of firing by file, or each file independently of
others.
-- File leader, the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and
leads those in rear of him.
-- File marching, the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the
right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side.
Brande & C. --Indian file, or Single file, a line of men marching one
behind another; a single row.
-- On file, preserved in an orderly collection.
-- Rank and file. (a) The body of soldiers constituing the mass of
an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who
constitute the bulk or working members of a party, society, etc., in
distinction from the leaders.
FILE
File, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filed; p. pr. & vb. n. Filing.]
1. To set in order; to arrange, or lay away, esp. as papers in a
methodical manner for preservation and reverence; to place on file;
to insert in its proper place in an arranged body of papers.
I would have my several courses and my dishes well filed. Beau. & Fl.
2. To bring before a court or legislative body by presenting proper
papers in a regular way; as, to file a petition or bill. Burrill.
3. (Law)
Defn: To put upon the files or among the records of a court; to note
on (a paper) the fact date of its reception in court.
To file a paper, on the part of a party, is to place it in the
official custody of the clerk. To file, on the part of the clerk, is
to indorse upon the paper the date of its reception, and retain it in
his office, subject to inspection by whomsoever it may concern.
Burrill.
FILE
File, v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. filer.] (Mil.)
Defn: To march in a file or line, as soldiers, not abreast, but one
after another; -- generally with off. To file with, to follow
closely, as one soldier after another in file; to keep pace.
My endeavors Have ever come too short of my desires, Yet filed with
my abilities. Shak.
FILE
File, n. Etym: [AS. feól; akin to D. viji, OHG. fila, fihala, G.
feile, Sw. fil, Dan. fiil, cf. Icel. , Russ. pila, and Skr. pi to cut
out, adorn; perh. akin to E. paint.]
1. A steel instrument, having cutting ridges or teeth, made by
indentation with a chisel, used for abrading or smoothing other
substances, as metals, wood, etc.
Note: A file differs from a rasp in having the furrows made by
straight cuts of a chisel, either single or crossed, while the rasp
has coarse, single teeth, raised by the pyramidal end of a triangular
punch.
2. Anything employed to smooth, polish, or rasp, literally or
figuratively.
Mock the nice touches of the critic's file. Akenside.
3. A shrewd or artful person. [Slang] Fielding.
Will is an old file spite of his smooth face. Thackeray.
Bastard file, Cross file, etc. See under Bastard, Cross, etc.
-- Cross-cut file, a file having two sets of teeth crossing
obliquely.
-- File blank, a steel blank shaped and ground ready for cutting to
form a file.
-- File cutter, a maker of files.
-- Second-cut file, a file having teeth of a grade next finer than
bastard.
-- Single-cut file, a file having only one set of parallel teeth; a
float.
-- Smooth file, a file having teeth so fine as to make an almost
smooth surface.
FILE
File, v. t.
1. To rub, smooth, or cut away, with a file; to sharpen with a file;
as, to file a saw or a tooth.
2. To smooth or polish as with a file. Shak.
File your tongue to a little more courtesy.Sir W.Scott.
FILE
File, v. t. Etym: [OE. fulen, filen, foulen, AS. f, fr. fFoul, and
cf. Defile, v.t.]
Defn: To make f [Obs.]
All his hairy breast with blood was filed.Spenser.
For Banquo's issue have I filed mind.Shak.
FILE CLOSER
File" clos`er. (Mil.)
Defn: A commissioned or noncommissioned officer posted in the rear of
a line, or on the flank of a column, of soldiers, to rectify mistakes
and insure steadiness and promptness in the ranks.
FILEFISH
File"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any plectognath fish of the genera Monacanthus, Alutera,
balistes, and allied genera; -- so called on account of the roughly
granulated skin, which is sometimes used in place of sandpaper.
FILEMOT
Fil"e*mot, n.
Defn: See Feullemort. Swift.
FILER
Fil"er, n.
Defn: One who works with a file.
FILIAL
Fil"ial, a. Etym: [L. filialis, fr. filius son, filia daughter; akin
to e. female, feminine. Cf. Fitz.]
1. Of or pertaining to a son or daughter; becoming to a child in
relation to his parents; as, filial obedience.
2. Bearing the relation of a child.
And thus the filial Godhead answering spoke. Milton.
FILIALLY
Fil"ial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a filial manner.
FILIATE
Fil"i*ate, v. t.
Defn: To adopt as son or daughter; to establish filiation between.
[R.] Southey.
FILIATION
Fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. filiatio, fr. L. filius son: cf. F.
filiation. See Filial.]
1. The relationship of a son or child to a parent, esp. to a father.
The relation of paternity and filiation. Sir M. Hale.
2. (Law)
Defn: The assignment of a bastard child to some one as its ather;
affiliation. Smart.
FILIBEG
Fil"i*beg, n. Etym: [Gael. feileadhbeag, i.e., little kilt; feileadh
kilt + beag little, small; cf. filleadh a plait, fold.]
Defn: Same as Kilt. [Written also philibeg.]
FILIBUSTER
Fil"i*bus`ter, n. Etym: [Sp. flibuster, flibustero, corrupted fr. E.
freebooter. See Freebooter.]
Defn: A lawless military adventurer, especially one in quest of
plunder; a freebooter; -- originally applied to buccaneers infesting
the Spanish American coasts, but introduced into common English to
designate the followers of Lopez in his expedition to Cuba in 1851,
and those of Walker in his expedition to Nicaragua, in 1855.
FILIBUSTER
Fil"i*bus*ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fillibustered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Filibustering.]
1. To act as a filibuster, or military freebooter. Bartlett.
2. To delay legislation, by dilatory motions or other artifices.
[political cant or slang, U.S.] Bartlett.
FILIBUSTERISM
Fil"i*bus`ter*ism, n.
Defn: The characteristics or practices of a filibuster. Bartlett.
FILICAL
Fil"i*cal, a.
Defn: Belonging to the Filices, r ferns.
FILICIC
Fi*lic"ic, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, a fern.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, ferns; as, filicic acid.
FILICIDE
Fil"i*cide, n. Etym: [L. filius son, filia daughter + caedere to
kill.]
Defn: The act of murdering a son or a daughter; also, parent who
commits such a murder.
FILICIFORM
Fi*lic"i*form, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, fern + -form: cf. F.
filiciforme]
Defn: Shaped like a fern or like the parts of a fern leaf. Smart.
FILICOID
Fil"i*coid, a. Etym: [L. filix, -icis, fern + -oid: cf. F.
filicoiïde.] (Bot.)
Defn: Fernlike, either in form or in the nature of the method of
reproduction.
FILICOID
Fil"i*coid, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A fernlike plant. Lindley.
FILIETY
Fi*li"e*ty, n. Etym: [L. filietas.]
Defn: The relation of a son to a father; sonship; -- the correlative
of paternity. J. S. Mill.
FILIFEROUS
Fi*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread + -ferous.]
Defn: Producing threads. Carpenter.
FILIFORM
Fil"i*form, a. Etym: [L. filum thread + -form: cf. F. filiforme.]
Defn: Having the shape of a thread or filament; as, the filiform
papillæ of the tongue; a filiform style or peduncle. See Illust. of
AntennÆ.
FILIGRAIN; FILIGRANE
Fil"i*grain, Fil"i*grane, n. Etym: [Sp. filigrana (cf. It. filigrana,
E. filigrane), fr. L. filuma thread + granum grain. See File a row,
and Grain, and cf. Filigree.]
Defn: Filigree. [Archaic]
With her head . . . touches the crown of filigrane. Longfellow.
FILIGRANED
Fil"i*graned, a.
Defn: See Filigreed. [Archaic]
FILIGREE
Fil"i*gree, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. filigrane.]
Defn: Ornamental work, formerly with grains or breads, but now
composed of fine wire and used chiefly in decorating gold and silver
to which the wire is soldered, being arranged in designs frequently
of a delicate and intricate arabesque pattern.
FILIGREE
Fil"i*gree, a.
Defn: Relating to, composed of, or resembling, work in filigree; as,
a filigree basket. Hence: Fanciful; unsubstantial; merely decorative.
You ask for reality, not fiction and filigree work. J. C. Shairp.
FILIGREED
Fil"i*greed, a.
Defn: Adorned with filigree. Tatler.
FILING
Fil"ing, n.
Defn: A fragment or particle rubbed off by the act of filing; as,
iron filings.
FILIOQUE
Fil`i*o"que, n. (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: The Latin for, "and from the Son," equivalent to et filio,
inserted by the third council of Toledo (a. d. 589) in the clause qui
ex Patre procedit (who proceedeth from the Father) of the Niceno-
Constantinopolitan Creed (a. d. 381), which makes a creed state that
the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Son as well as from the Father.
Hence, the doctrine itself (not admitted by the Eastern Church).
FILIPENDULOUS
Fil`i*pen"du*lous, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread + pendulus hanging,
fr. pend to hang.] (Bot.)
Defn: Suspended by, or strung upon, a thread; -- said of tuberous
swellings in the middle or at the extremities of slender, threadlike
rootlets.
FILIPINO
Fil`i*pi"no, n.; pl. Filipinos (#). [Sp.]
Defn: A native of the Philippine Islands, specif. one of Spanish
descent or of mixed blood.
Then there are Filipinos, -- "children of the country," they are
called, -- who are supposed to be pure-blooded descendants of Spanish
settlers. But there are few of them without some touch of Chinese or
native blood.
The Century.
FILL
Fill, n. Etym: [See Thill.]
Defn: One of the thills or shafts of a carriage. Mortimer. Fill
horse, a thill horse. Shak.
FILL
Fill, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filled; p. pr. & vb. n. Filling.] Etym:
[OE. fillen, fullen, AS. fyllan, fr. full full; akin to D. vullen, G.
füllen, Icel. fylla, Sw. fylla, Dan. fylde, Goth. fulljan. See Full,
a.]
1. To make full; to supply with as much as can be held or contained;
to put or pour into, till no more can be received; to occupy the
whole capacity of.
The rain also filleth the pools. Ps. lxxxiv. 6.
Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. Anf they filled
them up to the brim. John ii. 7.
2. To furnish an abudant supply to; to furnish with as mush as is
desired or desirable; to occupy the whole of; to swarm in or overrun.
And God blessed them, saying. Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the
waters in the seas. Gen. i. 22.
The Syrians filled the country. 1 Kings xx. 27.
3. To fill or supply fully with food; to feed; to satisfy.
Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fillso
great a multitude Matt. xv. 33.
Things that are sweet and fat are more filling. Bacon.
4. To possess and perform the duties of; to officiate in, as an
incumbent; to occupy; to hold; as, a king fills a throne; the
president fills the office of chief magistrate; the speaker of the
House fills the chair.
5. To supply with an incumbent; as, to fill an office or a vacancy.
A. Hamilton.
6. (Naut.)
(a) To press and dilate, as a sail; as, the wind filled the sails.
(b) To trim (a yard) so that the wind shall blow on the after side of
the sails.
7. (Civil Engineering)
Defn: To make an embankment in, or raise the level of (a low place),
with earth or gravel. To fill in, to insert; as, he filled in the
figures.
-- To fill out, to extend or enlarge to the desired limit; to make
complete; as, to fill out a bill.
-- To fill up, to make quite full; to fill to the brim or entirely;
to occupy completely; to complete. "The bliss that fills up all the
mind." Pope. "And fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of
Christ." Col. i. 24.
FILL
Fill, v. i.
1. To become full; to have the whole capacity occupied; to have an
abundant supply; to be satiated; as, corn fills well in a warm
season; the sail fills with the wind.
2. To fill a cup or glass for drinking.
Give me some wine; fill full. Shak.
To back and fill. See under Back, v. i.
-- To fill up, to grow or become quite full; as, the channel of the
river fills up with sand.
FILL
Fill, n. Etym: [AS. fyllo. See Fill, v. t.]
Defn: A full supply, as much as supplies want; as much as gives
complete satisfaction. "Ye shall eat your fill." Lev. xxv. 19.
I'll bear thee hence, where I may weep my fill. Shak.
FILLED CHEESE
Filled cheese.
Defn: An inferior kind of cheese made from skim milk with a fatty
"filling," such as oleomargarine or lard, to replace the fat removed
in the cream.
FILLER
Fill"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, fills; something used for filling.
'T is mere filer, to stop a vacancy in the hexameter. Dryden.
They have six diggers to four fillers, so as to keep the fillers
always at work. Mortimer.
FILLER
Fill"er, n. Etym: [From 1st Fill.]
Defn: A thill horse. [Prov. Eng.]
FILLET
Fil"let, n. Etym: [OE. filet, felet, fr. OF. filet thread, fillet of
meat, dim. of fil a thread, fr. L. filum. See Fille a row.]
1. A little band, especially one intended to encircle the hair of the
head.
A belt her waist, a fillet binds her hair. Pope.
2. (Cooking)
Defn: A piece of lean meat without bone; sometimes, a long strip
rolled together and tied.
Note: A fillet of beef is the under side of the sirlom; also called
tenderloin. A fillet of veal or mutton is the fleshy part of the
thigh. A fillet of fish is a slice of flat fish without bone. "Fillet
of a fenny snake." Shak.
3. A thin strip or ribbon; esp.: (a) A strip of metal from which
coins are punched. (b) A strip of card clothing. (c) A thin
projecting band or strip.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: A concave filling in of a reëntrant angle where two surfaces
meet, forming a rounded corner.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: A narrow flat member; especially, a flat molding separating
other moldings; a reglet; also, the space between two flutings in a
shaft. See Illust. of Base, and Column.
6. (Her.)
Defn: An ordinary equaling in breadth one fourth of the chief, to the
lowest portion of which it corresponds in position.
7. (Mech.)
Defn: The thread of a screw.
8. A border of broad or narrow lines of color or gilt.
9. The raised molding about the muzzle of a gun.
10. Any scantling smaller than a batten.
11. (Anat.)
Defn: A fascia; a band of fibers; applied esp. to certain bands of
white matter in the brain.
12. (Man.)
Defn: The loins of a horse, beginning at the place where the hinder
part of the saddle rests. Arris fillet. See under Arris.
FILLET
Fil"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Filleting.]
Defn: To bind, furnish, or adorn with a fillet.
FILLETING
Fil"let*ing, n.
1. (Arch.)
Defn: The protecting of a joint, as between roof and parapet wall,
with mortar, or cement, where flashing is employed in better work.
2. The material of which fillets are made; also, fillets,
collectively.
FILLIBEG
Fil"li*beg, n.
Defn: A kilt. See Filibeg.
FILLIBUSTER
Fil"li*bus`ter, n.
Defn: See Filibuster.
FILLING
Fill"ing, n.
1. That which is used to fill a cavity or any empty space, or to
supply a deficiency; as, filling for a cavity in a tooth, a
depression in a roadbed, the space between exterior and interior
walls of masonry, the pores of open-grained wood, the space between
the outer and inner planks of a vessel, etc.
2. The woof in woven fabrics.
3. (Brewing)
Defn: Prepared wort added to ale to cleanse it. Back filling. (Arch.)
See under Back, a.
FILLIP
Fil"lip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filliped; p. pr. & vb. n. Filliping.]
Etym: [For filp, flip. Cf. Flippant.]
1. To strike with the nail of the finger, first placed against the
ball of the thumb, and forced from that position with a sudden
spring; to snap with the finger. "You filip me o' the head." Shak.
2. To snap; to project quickly.
The use of the elastic switch to fillip small missiles with. Tylor.
FILLIP
Fil"lip, n.
1. A jerk of the finger forced suddenly from the thumb; a smart blow.
2. Something serving to rouse or excite.
I take a glass of grog for a filip. Dickens.
FILLIPEEN
Fil"li*peen`, n.
Defn: See Philopena.
FILLISTER
Fil"lis*ter, n.
1. The rabbet on the outer edge of a sash bar to hold the glass and
the putty. Knight.
2. A plane for making a rabbet. Fillister screw had, a short
cylindrical screw head, having a convex top.
FILLY
Fil"ly, n.; pl. Fillies. Etym: [Cf. Icel. fylia, fr. foli foal. See
Foal.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A female foal or colt; a young mare. Cf. Colt, Foal.
Neighing in likeness of a filly foal. Shak.
2. A lively, spirited young girl. [Colloq.] Addison.
FILM
Film, n. Etym: [AS. film skin, fr. fell skin; akin to fylmen
membrane, OFries. filmene skin. See Fell skin.]
1. A thin skin; a pellicle; a membranous covering, causing opacity;
hence, any thin, slight covering.
He from thick films shall purge the visual ray. Pope.
2. A slender thread, as that of a cobweb.
Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film. Shak.
FILM
Film, v. t.
Defn: To cover with a thin skin or pellicle.
It will but skin and film the ulcerous place. Shak.
FILMINESS
Film"i*ness, n.
Defn: State of being filmy.
FILMY
Film"y, a.
Defn: Composed of film or films.
Whose filmy cord should bind the struggling fly. Dryden.
FILOPLUMACEOUS
Fil`o*plu*ma"ceous, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the structure of a filoplume.
FILOPLUME
Fil"o*plume, n. Etym: [L. filum a thread pluma a soft feather.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A hairlike feather; a father with a slender scape and without a
web in most or all of its length.
FILOSE
Fi"lose`, a. Etym: [L. filum a thread.]
Defn: Terminating in a threadlike process.
FILOSELLE
Fil`o*selle", n. [F., floss silk.]
Defn: A kind of silk thread less glossy than floss, and spun from
coarser material. It is much used in embroidery instead of floss.
FILS
Fils, n. [F., fr. L. filius. See Filial.]
Defn: Son; -- sometimes used after a French proper name to
distinguish a son from his father, as, Alexandre Dumas, fils.
FILTER
Fil"ter, n. Etym: [F. filtre, the same word as feutre felt, LL.
filtrum, feltrum, felt, fulled wool, this being used for straining
liquors. See Feuter.]
Defn: Any porous substance, as cloth, paper, sand, or charcoal,
through which water or other liquid may passed to cleanse it from the
solid or impure matter held in suspension; a chamber or device
containing such substance; a strainer; also, a similar device for
purifying air. Filter bed, a pond, the bottom of which is a filter
composed of sand gravel.
-- Filter gallery, an underground gallery or tunnel, alongside of a
stream, to collect the water that filters through the intervening
sand and gravel; -- called also infiltration gallery.
FILTER
Fil"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filtered; p. pr. & vb. n. Filtering]
Etym: [Cf. F. filter. See Filter, n., and cf. Filtrate.]
Defn: To purify or defecate, as water or other liquid, by causing it
to pass through a filter. Filtering paper, or Filter paper, a porous
unsized paper, for filtering.
FILTER
Fil"ter, v. i.
Defn: To pass through a filter; to percolate.
FILTER
Fil"ter, n.
Defn: Same as Philter.
FILTH
Filth, n. Etym: [OE. filthe, fulthe, AS. f, fr. ful foul; akin to
OHG. fulida. See Foul, and cf. File.]
1. Foul matter; anything that soils or defiles; dirt; nastiness.
2. Anything that sullies or defiles the moral character; corruption;
pollution.
To purify the soul from the dross and filth of sensual delights.
Tillotson.
Filth disease (Med.), a disease supposed to be due to pollution of
the soil or water.
FILTHILY
Filth"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a filthy manner; foully.
FILTHINESS
Filth"i*ness, n.
1. The state of being filthy.
Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.
2 Cor. vii. 1.
2. That which is filthy, or makes filthy; foulness; nastiness;
corruption; pollution; impurity.
Carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. 2 Chron. xxix. 5.
FILTHY
Filth"y, a. [Compar. Filthier; superl. Filthiest.]
Defn: Defiled with filth, whether material or moral; nasty; dirty;
polluted; foul; impure; obscene. "In the filthy-mantled pool." Shak.
He which is filthy let him be filthy still. Rev. xxii. 11.
Syn.
-- Nasty; foul; dirty; squalid; unclean; sluttish; gross; vulgar;
licentious. See Nasty.
FILTRATE
Fil"trate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Filtrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Filtrating.
(] Etym: [Cf. LL. filtrare. See Filter.]
Defn: To filter; to defecate; as liquid, by straining or percolation.
Arbuthnot.
FILTRATE
Fil"trate, n.
Defn: That which has been filtered; the liquid which has passed
through the filter in the process of filtration.
FILTRATION
Fil*tra"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. filtration.]
Defn: The act or process of filtering; the mechanical separation of a
liquid from the undissolved particles floating in it.
FIMBLE; FIMBLE HEMP
Fim"ble, n., or Fim"ble hemp`.Etym: [Corrupted from female hemp.]
Defn: Light summer hemp, that bears no seed.
FIMBRIA
Fim"bri*a, n.; pl. Fimbriæ. Etym: [L., fringe. See Fringle.] (Anat.)
(a) pl.
Defn: A fringe, or fringed border.
(b) A band of white matter bordering the hippocampus in the brain.
-- Fim"bri*al, a.
FIMBRIATE
Fim*bri*ate, a. Etym: [L. fimbriatus fibrous, fringed, fr. fimbria
fiber, fringe. See Fringe.]
Defn: Having the edge or extremity bordered by filiform processes
thicker than hairs; fringed; as, the fimbriate petals of the pink;
the fimbriate end of the Fallopian tube.
FIMBRIATE
Fim"bri*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fimbriated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fimbriating.]
Defn: To hem; to fringe. Fuller.
FIMBRIATED
Fim"bri*a`ted, a.
1. Having a fringed border; fimbriate.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Having a very narrow border of another tincture; -- said esp.
of an ordinary or subordinary.
FIMBRICATE
Fim"bri*cate, a.
1. Fringed; jagged; fimbriate.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: fringed, on one side only, by long, straight hairs, as the
antennæ of certain insects.
FIN
Fin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finned; p. pr. & vb. n. Finning.] Etym: [Cf.
Fin of a fish.]
Defn: To carve or cut up, as a chub.
FIN
Fin, n. Etym: [See Fine, n.]
Defn: End; conclusion; object. [Obs.] "She knew eke the fin of his
intent." Chaucer.
FIN
Fin, n.Etym: [OE. finne, fin, AS. finn; akin to D. vin, G. & Dan.
finne, Sw. fena, L. pinna, penna, a wing, feather. cf. pen a
feather.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An organ of a fish, consisting of a membrane supported by rays,
or little bony or cartilaginous ossicles, and serving to balance and
propel it in the water.
Note: Fishes move through the water chiefly by means of the caudal
fin or tail, the principal office of the other fins being to balance
or direct the body, though they are also, to a certain extent,
employed in producing motion.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A membranous, finlike, swimming organ, as in pteropod and
heteropod mollusks.
3. A finlike organ or attachment; a part of an object or product
which protrudes like a fin, as:
(a) The hand. [Slang]
(b) (Com.) A blade of whalebone. [Eng.] McElrath.
(c) (Mech.) A mark or ridge left on a casting at the junction of the
parts of a mold.
(d) (Mech.) The thin sheet of metal squeezed out between the collars
of the rolls in the process of rolling. Raymond.
(e) (Mech.) A feather; a spline.
4. A finlike appendage, as to submarine boats. Apidose fin. (Zoöl.)
See under Adipose, a.
-- Fin ray (Anat.), one of the hornlike, cartilaginous, or bony,
dermal rods which form the skeleton of the fins of fishes.
-- Fin whale (Zoöl.), a finback.
-- Paired fins (Zoöl.), the pectoral and ventral fins, corresponding
to the fore and hind legs of the higher animals.
-- Unpaired, or Median, fins (Zoöl.), the dorsal, caudal, and anal
fins.
FINABLE
Fin"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Fine.]
Defn: Liable or subject to a fine; as, a finable person or offense.
Bacon.
FINAL
Fi"nal, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. finalis, fr. finis boundary, limit, end.
See Finish.]
1. Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate;
as, the final day of a school term.
Yet despair not of his final pardon. Milton.
2. Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo
brought the contest to a final issue.
3. Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose
or ultimate end in view. Final cause. See under Cause.
Syn.
-- Final, Conclusive, Ultimate. Final is now appropriated to that
which brings with it an end; as, a final adjustment; the final
judgment, etc. Conclusive implies the closing of all discussion,
negotiation, etc.; as, a conclusive argument or fact; a conclusive
arrangement. In using ultimate, we have always reference to something
earlier or proceeding; as when we say, a temporary reverse may lead
to an ultimate triumph. The statements which a man finally makes at
the close of a negotiation are usually conclusive as to his ultimate
intentions and designs.
FINALE
Fi*na"le, n. Etym: [It. See Final.]
Defn: Close; termination; as:
(a) (Mus.) The last movement of a symphony, sonata, concerto, or any
instrumental composition.
(b) The last composition performed in any act of an opera.
(c) The closing part, piece, or scene in any public performance or
exhibition.
FINALIST
Fi"nal*ist, n. (Sports)
Defn: Any of the players who meet in the final round of a tournament
in which the losers in any round do not play again.
FINALITY
Fi*nal"i*ty, n.; pl. Finalities. Etym: [L. finalitas the being last.]
1. The state of being final, finished, or complete; a final or
conclusive arrangement; a settlement. Baxter.
2. The relation of end or purpose to its means. Janet.
FINALLY
Fi"nal*ly, adv.
1. At the end or conclusion; ultimately; lastly; as, the contest was
long, but the Romans finally conquered.
Whom patience finally must crown. Milton.
2. Completely; beyond recovery.
Not any house of noble English in Ireland was utterly destroyed or
finally rooted out. Sir J. Davies.
FINANCE
Fi*nance", n. Etym: [F., fr. LL. financia payment of money, money,
fr. finare to pay a fine or subsidy (cf. OF. finer to finish, pay),
fr. L. finis end. See Fine, n., Finish.]
1. The income of a ruler or of a state; revennue; public money;
sometimes, the income of an individual; often used in the plural for
funds; available money; resources.
All the finances or revenues of the imperial crown. Bacon.
2. The science of raising and expending the public revenue. "Versed
in the details of finance." Macaulay.
FINANCIAL
Fi*nan"cial, a.
Defn: Pertaining to finance. "Our financial and commercial system."
Macaulay.
FINANCIALIST
Fi*nan"cial*ist, n.
Defn: A financier.
FINANCIALLY
Fi*nan"cial*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dfinancial manner. Burke.
FINANCIER
Fin`an*cier", n. Etym: [Cf. F. financier.]
1. One charged with the administration of finance; an officer who
administers the public revenue; a treasurer. Burke.
2. One skilled in financial operations; one acquainted with money
matters.
FINANCIER
Fin`an*cier", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Financiered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Financiering.]
Defn: To conduct financial operations.
FINARY
Fin"a*ry, n. (Iron Works)
Defn: See Finery.
FINATIVE
Fi"na*tive, a.
Defn: Conclusive; decisive; definitive; final. [Obs.] Greene (1593).
FINBACK
Fin"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any whale of the genera Sibbaldius, Balænoptera, and allied
genera, of the family Balænopteridæ, characterized by a prominent fin
on the back. The common finbacks of the New England coast are
Sibbaldius tectirostris and S. tuberosus.
FINBAT KITE
Fin"bat kite.
Defn: = Eddy kite. [Eng.]
FINCH
Finch, n.; pl. Fishes. Etym: [AS. finc; akin to D. vink, OHG. fincho,
G. fink; cf. W. pinc a finch; also E. spink.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small singing bird of many genera and species, belonging to
the family Fringillidæ.
Note: The word is often used in composition, as in chaffinch,
goldfinch, grassfinch, pinefinch, etc. Bramble finch. See Brambling.
-- Canary finch, the canary bird.
-- Copper finch. See Chaffinch.
-- Diamond finch. See under Diamond.
-- Finch falcon (Zoöl.), one of several very small East Indian
falcons of the genus Hierax.
-- To pull a finch, to swindle an ignorant or unsuspecting person.
[Obs.] "Privily a finch eke could he pull." Chaucer.
FINCHBACKED
Finch"backed`, a.
Defn: Streaked or spotted on the back; -- said of cattle.
FINCHED
Finched, a.
Defn: Same as Finchbacked.
FIND
Find, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Found; p. pr. & vb. n. Finding.] Etym: [AS.
findan; akin to D. vinden, OS. & OHG. findan, G. finden, Dan. finde,
icel. & Sw. finna, Goth. fin; and perh. to L. petere to seek, Gr. pat
to fall, fly, E. petition.]
1. To meet with, or light upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight
or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in
with, as a person.
Searching the window for a flint, I found This paper, thus sealed up.
Shak.
In woods and forests thou art found. Cowley.
2. To learn by experience or trial; to perceive; to experience; to
discover by the intellect or the feelings; to detect; to feel. "I
find you passing gentle." Shak.
The torrid zone is now found habitable. Cowley.
3. To come upon by seeking; as, to find something lost.
(a) To discover by sounding; as, to find bottom.
(b) To discover by study or experiment direct to an object or end;
as, water is found to be a compound substance.
(c) To gain, as the object of desire or effort; as, to find leisure;
to find means.
(d) To attain to; to arrive at; to acquire.
Seek, and ye shall find. Matt. vii. 7.
Every mountain now hath found a tongue. Byron.
4. To provide for; to supply; to furnish; as, to find food for
workemen; he finds his nephew in money.
Wages £14 and all found. London Times.
Nothing a day and find yourself. Dickens.
5. To arrive at, as a conclusion; to determine as true; to establish;
as, to find a verdict; to find a true bill (of indictment) against an
accused person.
To find his title with some shows of truth. Shak.
To find out, to detect (a thief); to discover (a secret) -- to solve
or unriddle (a parable or enigma); to understand. "Canst thou by
searching find out God" Job. xi. 7. "We do hope to find out all your
tricks." Milton.
-- To find fault with, to blame; to censure.
-- To find one's self, to be; to fare; -- often used in speaking of
health; as, how do you find yourself this morning
FIND
Find, v. i. (Law)
Defn: To determine an issue of fact, and to declare such a
determination to a court; as, the jury find for the plaintiff.
Burrill.
FIND
Find, n.
Defn: Anything found; a discovery of anything valuable; especially, a
deposit, discovered by archæologists, of objects of prehistoric or
unknown origin.
FINDABLE
Find"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being found; discoverable. Fuller.
FINDER
Find"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, finds; specifically (Astron.), a small
telescope of low power and large field of view, attached to a larger
telescope, for the purpose of finding an object more readily.
FIN DE SIECLE
Fin` de siè"cle. [F.]
Defn: Lit., end of the century; -- mostly used adjectively in English
to signify: belonging to, or characteristic of, the close of the 19th
century; modern; "up-to-date;" as, fin-de-siècle ideas.
FINDFAULT
Find"fault`, n.
Defn: A censurer or caviler. [Obs.]
FINDFAULTING
Find"fault`ing, a.
Defn: Apt to censure or cavil; faultfinding; captious. [Obs.]
Whitlock.
FINDING
Find"ing, n.
1. That which is found, come upon, or provided; esp. (pl.), that
which a journeyman artisan finds or provides for himself; as tools,
trimmings, etc.
When a man hath been laboring . . . in the deep mines of knowledge,
hath furnished out his findings in all their equipage. Milton.
2. Support; maintenance; that which is provided for one; expence;
provision.
3. (Law)
Defn: The result of a judicial examination or inquiry, especially
into some matter of fact; a verdict; as, the finding of a jury.
Burrill.
After his friends finding and his rent. Chaucer.
FINDY
Fin"dy, a. Etym: [AS. finding heavy; cf. Dan. fyndig strong,
energetical, fynd strength, energy, emphasis.]
Defn: Full; heavy; firm; solid; substemtial. [Obs.]
A cold May and a windy Makes the barn fat amd findy. Old Prover
FINE
Fine, a. [Compar. Finer; superl. Finest.] Etym: [F. fin, LL. finus
fine, pure, fr. L. finire to finish; cf. finitus, p.p., finished,
completed (hence the sense accomplished, perfect.) See Finish, and
cf. Finite.]
1. Finished; brought to perfection; refined; hence, free from
impurity; excellent; superior; elegant; worthy of admiration;
accomplished; beautiful.
The gain thereof [is better] than fine gold. Prov. iii. 14.
A cup of wine that's brisk and fine. Shak.
Not only the finest gentleman of his time, but one of the finest
scholars. Felton.
To soothe the sick bed of so fine a being [Keats]. Leigh Hunt.
2. Aiming at show or effect; loaded with ornament; overdressed or
overdecorated; showy.
He gratified them with occasional . . . fine writing. M. Arnold.
3. Nice; delicate; subtle; exquisite; artful; skillful; dexterous.
The spider's touch, how exquisitely fine! Pope.
The nicest and most delicate touches of satire consist in fine
raillery. Dryden.
He has as fine a hand at picking a pocket as a woman. T. Gray.
4. Not coarse, gross, or heavy; as:
(a) Not gross; subtile; thin; tenous.
The eye standeth in the finer medium and the object in the grosser.
Bacon.
(b) Not coarse; comminuted; in small particles; as, fine sand or
flour.
(c) Not thick or heavy; slender; filmy; as, a fine thread.
(d) Thin; attenuate; keen; as, a fine edge.
(e) Made of fine materials; light; delicate; as, fine linen or silk.
5. Having (such) a proportion of pure metal in its composition; as,
coins nine tenths fine.
6. (Used ironically.)
Ye have made a fine hand, fellows. Shak.
Note: Fine is often compounded with participles and adjectives,
modifying them adverbially; a, fine-drawn, fine-featured, fine-
grained, fine-spoken, fine-spun, etc. Fine arch (Glass Making), the
smaller fritting furnace of a glasshouse. Knight.
-- Fine arts. See the Note under Art.
-- Fine cut, fine cut tobacco; a kind of chewing tobacco cut up into
shreds.
-- Fine goods, woven fabrics of fine texture and quality. McElrath.
-- Fine stuff, lime, or a mixture of lime, plaster, etc., used as
material for the finishing coat in plastering.
-- To sail fine (Naut.), to sail as close to the wind as possible.
Syn.
-- Fine, Beautiful. When used as a word of praise, fine (being
opposed to coarse) denotes no "ordinary thing of its kind." It is not
as strong as beautiful, in reference to the single attribute implied
in the latter term; but when we speak of a fine woman, we include a
greater variety of particulars, viz., all the qualities which become
a woman, -- breeding, sentiment, tact, etc. The term is equally
comprehensive when we speak of a fine garden, landscape, horse, poem,
etc.; and, though applied to a great variety of objects, the word has
still a very definite sense, denoting a high degree of characteristic
excellence.
FINE
Fine, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fined; p. pr. & vb. n. Fining.] Etym: [From
Fine, a.]
1. To make fine; to refine; to purify, to clarify; as, to fine gold.
It hath been fined and refined by . . . learned men. Hobbes.
2. To make finer, or less coarse, as in bulk, texture, etc.; as. to
fine the soil. L. H. Bailey.
3. To change by fine gradations; as (Naut.), to fine down a ship's
lines, to diminish her lines gradually.
I often sate at home On evenings, watching how they fined themselves
With gradual conscience to a perfect night. Browning.
FINE
Fine, n. Etym: [OE. fin, L. finis end, also in LL., a final agreement
or concord between the lord and his vassal; a sum of money paid at
the end, so as to make an end of a transaction, suit, or prosecution;
mulct; penalty; cf. OF. fin end, settlement, F. fin end. See Finish,
and cf. Finance.]
1. End; conclusion; termination; extinction. [Obs.] "To see their
fatal fine." Spenser.
Is this the fine of his fines Shak.
2. A sum of money paid as the settlement of a claim, or by way of
terminating a matter in dispute; especially, a payment of money
imposed upon a party as a punishment for an offense; a mulct.
3. (Law)
(a) (Feudal Law) A final agreement concerning lands or rents between
persons, as the lord and his vassal. Spelman.
(b) (Eng. Law) A sum of money or price paid for obtaining a benefit,
favor, or privilege, as for admission to a copyhold, or for obtaining
or renewing a lease. Fine for alienation (Feudal Law), a sum of money
paid to the lord by a tenant whenever he had occasion to make over
his land to another. Burrill.
-- Fine of lands, a species of conveyance in the form of a
fictitious suit compromised or terminated by the acknowledgment of
the previous owner that such land was the right of the other party.
Burrill. See Concord, n., 4.
-- In fine, in conclusion; by way of termination or summing up.
FINE
Fine, v. t. Etym: [From Fine, n.]
Defn: To impose a pecuniary penalty upon for an offense or breach of
law; to set a fine on by judgment of a court; to punish by fine; to
mulct; as, the trespassers were fined ten dollars.
FINE
Fine, v. i.
Defn: To pay a fine. See Fine, n., 3 (b). [R.]
Men fined for the king's good will; or that he would remit his anger;
women fined for leave to marry. Hallam.
FINE
Fine, v. t. & i. Etym: [OF. finer, F. finir. See Finish, v. t.]
Defn: To finish; to cease; or to cause to cease. [Obs.]
FINEDRAW
Fine"draw`, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finedrawn; p. pr. & vb. n.
Finedrawing.]
Defn: To sew up, so nicely that the seam is not perceived; to renter.
Marryat.
FINEDRAWER
Fine"draw`er, n.
Defn: One who finedraws.
FINEDRAWN
Fine"drawn`, a.
Defn: Drawn out with too much subtilty; overnice; as, finedrawn
speculations.
FINEER
Fi*neer", v. i.
Defn: To run in dept by getting goods made up in a way unsuitable for
the use of others, and then threatening not to take them except on
credit. [R.] Goldsmith.
FINEER
Fi*neer", v. t.
Defn: To veneer.
FINELESS
Fine"less, a. Etym: [Fine end + -less.]
Defn: Endless; boundless. [Obs.] Shak.
FINELY
Fine"ly, adv.
Defn: In a fine or finished manner.
FINENESS
Fine"ness, n. Etym: [From Fine, a.]
1. The quality or condition of being fine.
2. Freedom from foreign matter or alloy; clearness; purity; as, the
fineness of liquor.
The fineness of the gold, and chargeful fashion. Shak.
3. The proportion of pure silver or gold in jewelry, bullion, or
coins.
Note: The fineness of United States coin is nine tenths, that of
English gold coin is eleven twelfths, and that of English silver coin
is
4. Keenness or sharpness; as, the fineness of a needle's point, or of
the edge of a blade.
FINER
Fin"er, n.
Defn: One who fines or purifies.
FINERY
Fin"er*y, n.
1. Fineness; beauty. [Obs.]
Don't choose your place of study by the finery of the prospects. I.
Watts.
2. Ornament; decoration; especially, excecially decoration; showy
clothes; jewels.
Her mistress' cast-off finery. F. W. Robertson.
3. Etym: [Cf. Refinery.] (Iron Works)
Defn: A charcoal hearth or furnace for the conversion of cast iron
into wrought iron, or into iron suitable for puddling.
FINESPUN
Fine"spun`, a.
Defn: Spun so as to be fine; drawn to a fine thread; attenuated;
hence, unsubstantial; visionary; as, finespun theories.
FINESSE
Fi`nesse" ( or ), n. Etym: [F., fr. fin fine. See Fine, a.]
1. Subtilty of contrivance to gain a point; artifice; stratagem.
This is the artificialest piece of finesse to persuade men into
slavery. Milton.
2. (Whist Playing)
Defn: The act of finessing. See Finesse, v. i., 2.
FINESSE
Fi*nesse", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Finessed; p. pr. & vb. n. Finessing.]
1. To use artifice or stratagem. Goldsmith.
2. (Whist Playing)
Defn: To attempt, when second or third player, to make a lower card
answer the purpose of a higher, when an intermediate card is out,
risking the chance of its being held by the opponent yet to play.
FINESTILL
Fine"still`, v. t.
Defn: To distill, as spirit from molasses or some saccharine
preparation.
FINESTILLER
Fine"still`er, n.
Defn: One who finestills.
FINEW
Fin"ew, n. Etym: [See Fenowed.]
Defn: Moldiness. [R.]
FINFISH
Fin"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) A finback whale.
(b) (pl.) True fish, as distinguished from shellfish.
FINFOOT
Fin"foot`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A South American bird (heliornis fulica) allied to the grebes.
The name is also applied to several related species of the genus
Podica.
FIN-FOOTED
Fin"-foot`ed, a. (Zoöl.)
(a) Having palmate feet.
(b) Having lobate toes, as the coot and grebe.
FINGER
Fin"ger, n. Etym: [AS. finger; akin to D. vinger, OS. & OHG. fingar,
G. finger, Icel. fingr, Sw. & Dan. finger, Goth. figgrs; of unknown
origin; perh. akin to E. fang.]
1. One of the five terminating members of the hand; a digit; esp.,
one of the four extermities of the hand, other than the thumb.
2. Anything that does work of a finger; as, the pointer of a clock,
watch, or other registering machine; especially (Mech.) a small
projecting rod, wire, or piece, which is brought into contact with an
object to effect, direct, or restrain a motion.
3. The breadth of a finger, or the fourth part of the hand; a measure
of nearly an inch; also, the length of finger, a measure in domestic
use in the United States, of about four and a half inches or one
eighth of a yard.
A piece of steel three fingers thick. Bp. Wilkins.
4. Skill in the use of the fingers, as in playing upon a musical
instrument. [R.]
She has a good finger. Busby.
Ear finger, the little finger.
-- Finger alphabet. See Dactylology.
-- Finger bar, the horizontal bar, carrying slotted spikes, or
fingers, through which the vibratory knives of mowing and reaping
machines play.
-- Finger board (Mus.), the part of a stringed instrument against
which the fingers press the strings to vary the tone; the keyboard of
a piano, organ, etc.; manual.
-- Finger bowl or glass, a bowl or glass to hold water for rinsing
the fingers at table.
-- Finger flower (Bot.), the foxglove.
-- Finger grass (Bot.), a kind of grass (Panicum sanguinale) with
slender radiating spikes; common crab grass. See Crab grass, under
Crab.
-- Finger nut, a fly nut or thumb nut.
-- Finger plate, a strip of metal, glass, etc., to protect a painted
or polished door from finger marks.
-- Finger post, a guide post bearing an index finger.
-- Finger reading, reading printed in relief so as to be sensible to
the touch; -- so made for the blind.
-- Finger shell (Zoöl.), a marine shell (Pholas dactylus) resembling
a finger in form.
-- Finger sponge (Zoöl.), a sponge having finger-shaped lobes, or
branches.
-- Finger stall, a cover or shield for a finger.
-- Finger steel, a steel instrument for whetting a currier's knife.
To burn one's fingers. See under Burn.
-- To have a finger in, to be concerned in. [Colloq.] -- To have at
one's fingers' ends, to be thoroughly familiar with. [Colloq.]
FINGER
Fin"ger, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fingered; p. pr. & vb. n. Fingering.]
1. To touch with the fingers; to handle; to meddle with.
Let the papers lie; You would be fingering them to anger me. Shak.
2. To touch lightly; to toy with.
3. (Mus.)
(a) To perform on an instrument of music.
(b) To mark the notes of (a piece of music) so as to guide the
fingers in playing.
4. To take thievishly; to pilfer; to purloin. Shak.
5. To execute, as any delicate work.
FINGER
Fin"ger, v. i. (Mus.)
Defn: To use the fingers in playing on an instrument. Busby.
FINGERED
Fin"gered, a.
1. Having fingers.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having leaflets like fingers; digitate.
3. (Mus.)
Defn: Marked with figures designating which finger should be used for
each note.
FINGERER
Fin"ger*er, n.
Defn: One who fingers; a pilferer.
FINGERING
Fin"ger*ing, n.
1. The act or process of handling or touching with the fingers.
The mere sight and fingering of money. Grew.
2. The manner of using the fingers in playing or striking the keys of
an instrument of music; movement or management of the fingers in
playing on a musical instrument, in typewriting, etc.
3. The marking of the notes of a piece of music to guide or regulate
the action or use of the fingers.
4. Delicate work made with the fingers. Spenser.
FINGERLING
Fin"ger*ling, n. Etym: [Finger + -ling.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A young salmon. See Parr.
FINGLE-FANGLE
Fin"gle-fan`gle, n. Etym: [From fangle.]
Defn: A trifle. [Low] Hudibras.
FINGRIGO
Fin"gri*go, n.; pl. Fingrigos. Etym: [So called in Jamaica.] (Bot.)
Defn: A prickly, climbing shrub of the genus Pisonia. The fruit is a
kind of berry.
FINIAL
Fin"*i*al, n. Etym: [L. finire to finish, end. See Finish.] (Arch.)
Defn: The knot or bunch of foliage, or foliated ornament, that forms
the upper extremity of a pinnacle in Gothic architecture; sometimes,
the pinnacle itself.
FINICAL
Fin"i*cal, a. Etym: [From Fine, a.]
Defn: Affectedly fine; overnice; unduly particular; fastidious.
"Finical taste." Wordsworth.
The gross style consists in giving no detail, the finical in giving
nothing else. Hazlitt.
Syn.
-- Finical, Spruce, Foppish. These words are applied to persons who
are studiously desirous to cultivate finery of appearance. One who is
spruce is elaborately nice in dress; one who is finical shows his
affectation in language and manner as well as in dress; one who is
foppish distinguishes himself by going to the extreme of the fashion
in the cut of his clothes, by the tawdriness of his ornaments, and by
the ostentation of his manner. "A finical gentleman clips his words
and screws his body into as small a compass as possible, to give
himself the air of a delicate person; a spruce gentleman strives not
to have a fold wrong in his frill or cravat, nor a hair of his head
to lie amiss; a foppish gentleman seeks . . . to render himself
distinguished for finery." Crabb.
-- Fin"i*cal*ly, adv.
-- Fin"i*cal*ness, n.
FINICALITY
Fin`i*cal"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being finical; finicalness.
FINICKING; FINICKY
Fin"ick*ing, Fin"ick*y, a.
Defn: Finical; unduly particular. [Colloq.]
FINIFIC
Fi*nif"ic ( or ), n. Etym: [L. finis end + facere to make.]
Defn: A limiting element or quality. [R.]
The essential finific in the form of the finite. Coleridge.
FINIFY
Fin"i*fy ( or ), v. t. Etym: [Fine, a. + -fy.]
Defn: To make fine; to dress finically. [Obs.]
Hath so pared and finified them [his feet.] B. Jonson.
FINIKIN
Fin"i*kin, a. Etym: [Fine, a. + -kin.]
Defn: Precise in trifles; idly busy. [Colloq.] Smart.
FINING
Fin"ing, n.
1. The act of imposing a fin
2. The process of fining or refining; clarification; also (Metal.),
the conversion of cast iron into suitable for puddling, in a hearth
or charcoal fire.
3. That which is used to refine; especially, a preparation of
isinglass, gelatin, etc., for clarifying beer. Fining pot, a vessel
in which metals are refined. Prov. xvii. 3.
FINIS
Fi"nis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An end; conclusion. It is often placed at the end of a book.
FINISH
Fin"ish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Finished; p. pr. & vb. n. Finishing.]
Etym: [F. finir (with a stem finiss- in several forms, whence E. -
ish: see -ish.),fr. L. finire to limit, finish, end, fr. finis
boundary, limit, end; perh. for fidnis, and akin findere to cleave,
E. fissure.]
1. To arrive at the end of; to bring to an end; to put an end to; to
make an end of; to terminate.
And heroically hath finished A life heroic. Milton.
2. To bestow the last required labor upon; to complete; to bestow the
utmost possible labor upon; to perfect; to accomplish; to polish.
Syn.
-- To end; terminate; close; conclude; complete; accomplish;
perfect.
FINISH
Fin"ish, v. i.
1. To come to an end; to terminate.
His days may finish ere that hapless time. Shak.
2. To end; to die. [R.] Shak.
FINISH
Fin"ish, n.
1. That which finishes, puts an end to
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The joiner work and other finer work required for the
completion of a building, especially of the interior. See Inside
finish, and Outside finish.
3. (Fine Arts)
(a) The labor required to give final completion to any work; hence,
minute detail, careful elaboration, or the like.
(b) See Finishing coat, under Finishing.
4. The result of completed labor, as on the surface of an object;
manner or style of finishing; as, a rough, dead, or glossy finish
given to cloth, stone, metal, etc.
5. Completion; -- opposed to Ant: start, or Ant: beginning.
FINISHED
Fin"ished, a.
Defn: Polished to the highest degree of excellence; complete;
perfect; as, a finished poem; a finished education. Finished work
(Mach.), work that is made smooth or polished, though not necessarily
completed.
FINISHER
Fin"ish*er, n.
1. One who finishes, puts an end to, completes, or perfects; esp.
used in the trades, as in hatting, weaving, etc., for the workman who
gives a finishing touch to the work, or any part of it, and brings it
to perfection.
O prophet of glad tidings, finisher Of utmost hope! Milton.
2. Something that gives the finishing touch to, or settles, anything.
[Colloq.]
FINISHING
Fin"ish*ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of completing or perfecting; the final work
upon or ornamentation of a thing.
FINISHING
Fin"ish*ing, a.
Defn: Tending to complete or to render fit for the market or for use.
Finishing coat. (a) (Plastering) the final coat of plastering applied
to walls and ceilings, usually white and rubbed smooth. (b)
(Painting) The final coat of paint, usually differently mixed applied
from the others.
-- Finishing press, a machine for pressing fabrics.
-- Finishing rolls (Iron Working), the rolls of a train which
receive the bar from roughing rolls, and reduce it to its finished
shape. Raymond.
FINITE
Fi"nite, a. Etym: [L. finitus, p.p. of finire. See Finish, and cf.
Fine, a.]
Defn: Having a limit; limited in quantity, degree, or capacity;
bounded; -- opposed to infinite; as, finite number; finite existence;
a finite being; a finite mind; finite duration.
FINITELESS
Fi"nite*less, a
Defn: Infinite. [Obs.] Sir T. browne.
FINITELY
Fi"nite*ly, adv.
Defn: In a finite manner or degree.
FINITENESS
Fi"nite*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being finite.
FINITUDE
Fin"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. finire. See Finish.]
Defn: Limitation. Cheyne.
FINJAN
Fin*jan", n. [Also fingan, findjan, fingian, etc.] [Ar. finjan.]
Defn: In the Levant, a small coffee cup without a handle, such as is
held in a cup or stand called a zarf.
FIN KEEL
Fin keel. (Naut.)
Defn: A projection downward from the keel of a yacht, resembling in
shape the fin of a fish, though often with a cigar-shaped bulb of
lead at the bottom, and generally made of metal. Its use is to
ballast the boat and also to enable her to sail close to the wind and
to make the least possible leeway by offering great resistance to
lateral motion through the water.
FINLANDER
Fin"land*er, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Finland.
FINLESS
Fin"less, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: destitute of fins.
FINLET
Fin"let, n. Etym: [Fin + -let.]
Defn: A little fin; one of the parts of a divided fin.
FINLIKE
Fin"like`, a.
Defn: Resembling a fin.
FINN
Finn, a.
Defn: A native of Finland; one of the FinnFinns.
FINNAN HADDIE
Fin"nan had"die. Etym: [See Haddock.]
Defn: Haddock cured in peat smoke, originally at Findon (pron.
fìn"an), Scotland. the name is also applied to other kinds of smoked
haddock. [Written also finnan haddock.]
FINNED
Finned, a.
Defn: Having a fin, or fins, or anything resembling a fin. Mortimer.
FINNER
Fin"ner, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A finback whale.
FINNIC
Finn"ic, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Finns.
FINNIKIN
Fin"ni*kin, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A variety of pigeon, with a crest somewhat resembling the mane
of a horse. [Written also finikin.]
FINNISH
Finn"ish, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to Finland, to the Finns, or to their
language.
-- n.
Defn: A Northern Turanian group of languages; the language of the
Finns.
FINNS
Finns, n. pl.; sing. Finn. (Ethnol.)
(a) Natives of Finland; Finlanders.
(b) A branch of the Mongolian race, inhabiting Northern and Eastern
Europe, including the Magyars, Bulgarians, Permians, Lapps, and
Finlanders. [Written also Fins.]
FINNY
Fin"ny, a.
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having, or abounding in, fins, as fishes; pertaining to fishes.
2. Abounding in fishes.
With patient angle trolls the finny deep. Goldsmoth.
FINOCHIO
Fi*no"chi*o, n. Etym: [It. finocchio fennel, LL. fenuclum. See
Fennel.] (Bot.)
Defn: An umbelliferous plant (Foeniculum dulce) having a somewhat
tuberous stem; sweet fennel. The blanched stems are used in France
and Italy as a culinary vegetable.
FINOS
Fi"nos, n. pl. Etym: [Sp., pl., fr. fino fine.]
Defn: Second best wool from Merino sheep. Gardner.
FINPIKE
Fin"pike`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The bichir. See Crossopterygii.
FINSEN LIGHT
Fin"sen light. [After Prof. Niels R. Finsen (b. 1860), Danish
physician.] (Med.)
Defn: Highly actinic light, derived from sunlight or from some form
of electric lamp, used in the treatment of lupus and other cutaneous
affections.
FINT
Fint,
Defn: 3d pers. sing. pr. of Find, for findeth. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FIN-TOED
Fin"-toed`, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having toes connected by a membrane; palmiped; palmated; also,
lobate.
FIORD
Fiord (fyi or y consonant, § 272), n. Etym: [Dan. & Norw. fiord. See
Frith.]
Defn: A narrow inlet of the sea, penetrating between high banks or
rocks, as on the coasts of Norway and Alaska. [Written also fjord.]
FIORIN
Fi"o*rin, n. Etym: [Cf. Ir. fiothran a sort of grass.] (Bot.)
Defn: A species of creeping bent grass (Agrostis alba); -- called
also fiorin grass.
FIORITE
Fi"o*rite, n. (Min.)
Defn: A variety of opal occuring in the cavities of volcanic tufa, in
smooth and shining globular and botryoidal masses, having a pearly
luster; -- so called from Fiora, in Ischia.
FIORITURE
Fio`ri*tu"re, n. pl. Etym: [It., pl. of fioritura a flowering.]
(Mus.)
Defn: Little flowers of ornament introduced into a melody by a singer
or player.
FIPPENNY BIT
Fip"pen*ny bit` ( or ). Etym: [Corruption of five penny bit.]
Defn: The Spanish half real, or one sixteenth of a dollar, -- so
called in Pennsylvania and the adjacent States. [Obs.]
Note: Before the act of Congress, Feb. 21, 1857, caused the adoption
of decimal coins and the withdrawal of foreign coinage from
circulation, this coin passed currently for 6fourpence ha'penny or
fourpence; in New York a sixpence; in Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc., a
fip; and in Louisiana, a picayune.
FIPPLE
Fip"ple (fer), n. Etym: [perh. fr. L. fibula a clasp, a pin; cf.
Prov. E. fible a stick used to stir pottage.]
Defn: A stopper, as in a wind instrument of music. [Obs.] Bacon.
FIR
Fir, n. Etym: [Dan. fyr, fyrr; akin to Sw. furu, Icel. fura, AS. furh
in furhwudu fir wood, G. föhre, OHG. forha pine, vereheih a sort of
oak, L. quercus (Bot.)
Defn: A genus (Abies) of coniferous trees, often of large size and
elegant shape, some of them valued for their timber and others for
their resin. The species are distinguished as the balsam fir, the
silver fir, the red fir, etc. The Scoth fir is a Pinus.
Note: Fir in the Bible means any one of several coniferous trees,
including, cedar, cypress, and probably three species of pine. J. D.
Hooker.
FIRE
Fire, n. Etym: [OE. fir, fyr, fur AS. fr; akin to D. vuur, OS. & OHG.
fiur, G. feuer, Icel. f, f, Gr. purus pure, E. pure Cf. Empyrean,
Pyre.]
1. The evolution of light and heat in the combustion of bodies;
combustion; state of ignition.
Note: The form of fire exhibited in the combustion of gases in an
ascending stream or current is called flame. Anciently, fire, air,
earth, and water were regarded as the four elements of which all
things are composed.
2. Fuel in a state of combustion, as on a hearth, or in
3. The burning of a house or town; a conflagration.
4. Anything which destroys or affects like fire.
5. Ardor of passion, whether love or hate; excessive warmth;
consumingviolence of temper.
he had fire in his temper.Atterbury.
6. Liveliness of imagination or fancy; intellectual and moral
enthusiasm; capacity for ardor and zeal.
And bless their critic with a poet's fire.Pope.
7. Splendor; brilliancy; luster; hence, a star.
Stars, hide your fires.Shak.
As in a zodiac
representing the heavenly fires.Milton.
8. Torture by burning; severe trial or affliction.
9. The discharge of firearms; firing; as, the troops were exposed to
a heavy fire. Blue fire, Red fire, Green fire (Pyrotech.),
compositions of various combustible substances, as sulphur, niter,
lampblack, etc., the flames of which are colored by various metallic
salts, as those of antimony, strontium, barium, etc.
-- Fire alarm (a) A signal given on the breaking out of a fire. (b)
An apparatus for giving such an alarm.
-- Fire annihilator, a machine, device, or preparation to be kept at
hand for extinguishing fire by smothering it with some incombustible
vapor or gas, as carbonic acid.
-- Fire balloon. (a) A balloon raised in the air by the buoyancy of
air heated by a fire placed in the lower part. (b) A balloon sent up
at night with fireworks which ignite at a regulated height. Simmonds.
-- Fire bar, a grate bar.
-- Fire basket, a portable grate; a cresset. Knight.
-- Fire beetle. (Zoöl.) See in the Vocabulary.
-- Fire blast, a disease of plants which causes them to appear as if
burnt by fire.
-- Fire box, the chamber of a furnace, steam boiler, etc., for the
fire.
-- Fire brick, a refractory brick, capable of sustaining intense
heat without fusion, usually made of fire clay or of siliceous
material, with some cementing substance, and used for lining fire
boxes, etc.
-- Fire brigade, an organized body of men for extinguished fires.
-- Fire bucket. See under Bucket.
-- Fire bug, an incendiary; one who, from malice or through mania,
persistently sets fire to property; a pyromaniac. [U.S.] -- Fire
clay. See under Clay.
-- Fire company, a company of men managing an engine in
extinguishing fires.
-- Fire cross. See Fiery cross. [Obs.] Milton.
-- Fire damp. See under Damp.
-- Fire dog. See Firedog, in the Vocabulary.
-- Fire drill. (a) A series of evolutions performed by fireman for
practice. (b) An apparatus for producing fire by friction, by rapidly
twirling a wooden pin in a wooden socket; -- used by the Hindoos
during all historic time, and by many savage peoples.
-- Fire eater. (a) A juggler who pretends to eat fire. (b) A
quarrelsome person who seeks affrays; a hotspur. [Colloq.] -- Fire
engine, a portable forcing pump, usually on wheels, for throwing
water to extinguish fire.
-- Fire escape, a contrivance for facilitating escape from burning
buildings.
-- Fire gilding (Fine Arts), a mode of gilding with an amalgam of
gold and quicksilver, the latter metal being driven off afterward by
heat.
-- Fire gilt (Fine Arts), gold laid on by the process of fire
gilding.
-- Fire insurance, the act or system of insuring against fire; also,
a contract by which an insurance company undertakes, in consideration
of the payment of a premium or small percentage -- usually made
periodically -- to indemnify an owner of property from loss by fire
during a specified period.
-- Fire irons, utensils for a fireplace or grate, as tongs, poker,
and shovel.
-- Fire main, a pipe for water, to be used in putting out fire.
-- Fire master (Mil), an artillery officer who formerly supervised
the composition of fireworks.
-- Fire office, an office at which to effect insurance against fire.
-- Fire opal, a variety of opal giving firelike reflections.
-- Fire ordeal, an ancient mode of trial, in which the test was the
ability of the accused to handle or tread upon red-hot irons. Abbot.
-- Fire pan, a pan for holding or conveying fire, especially the
receptacle for the priming of a gun.
-- Fire plug, a plug or hydrant for drawing water from the main
pipes in a street, building, etc., for extinguishing fires.
-- Fire policy, the writing or instrument expressing the contract of
insurance against loss by fire.
-- Fire pot. (a) (Mil.) A small earthen pot filled with
combustibles, formerly used as a missile in war. (b) The cast iron
vessel which holds the fuel or fire in a furnace. (c) A crucible. (d)
A solderer's furnace.
-- Fire raft, a raft laden with combustibles, used for setting fire
to an enemy's ships.
-- Fire roll, a peculiar beat of the drum to summon men to their
quarters in case of fire.
-- Fire setting (Mining), the process of softening or cracking the
working face of a lode, to facilitate excavation, by exposing it to
the action of fire; -- now generally superseded by the use of
explosives. Raymond.
-- Fire ship, a vessel filled with combustibles, for setting fire to
an enemy's ships.
-- Fire shovel, a shovel for taking up coals of fire.
-- Fire stink, the stench from decomposing iron pyrites, caused by
the formation of sulphureted hydrogen. Raymond.
-- Fire surface, the surfaces of a steam boiler which are exposed to
the direct heat of the fuel and the products of combustion; heating
surface.
-- Fire swab, a swab saturated with water, for cooling a gun in
action and clearing away particles of powder, etc. Farrow.
-- Fire teaser, in England, the fireman of a steam emgine.
-- Fire water, ardent spirits; -- so called by the American Indians.
-- Fire worship, the worship of fire, which prevails chiefly in
Persia, among the followers of Zoroaster, called Chebers, or Guebers,
and among the Parsees of India.
-- Greek fire. See under Greek.
-- On fire, burning; hence, ardent; passionate; eager; zealous.
-- Running fire, the rapid discharge of firearms in succession by a
line of troops.
-- St. Anthony's fire, erysipelas; -- an eruptive fever which St.
Anthony was supposed to cure miraculously. Hoblyn.
-- St. Elmo's fire. See under Saint Elmo.
-- To set on fire, to inflame; to kindle.
-- To take fire, to begin to burn; to fly into a passion.
FIRE
Fire, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fired; p. pr. & vb. n. Fring.]
1. To set on fire; to kindle; as, to fire a house or chimney; to fire
a pile.
2. To subject to intense heat; to bake; to burn in a kiln; as, to
fire pottery.
3. To inflame; to irritate, as the passions; as, to fire the soul
with anger, pride, or revenge.
Love had fired my mind. Dryden.
4. To animate; to give life or spirit to; as, to fire the genius of a
young man.
5. To feed or serve the fire of; as, to fire a boiler.
6. To light up as if by fire; to illuminate.
[The sun] fires the proud tops of the eastern pines. Shak.
7. To cause to explode; as, to fire a torpedo; to disharge; as, to
fire a musket or cannon; to fire cannon balls, rockets, etc.
8. To drive by fire. [Obs.]
Till my bad angel fire my good one out. Shak.
9. (Far.)
Defn: To cauterize. To fire up, to light up the fires of, as of an
engine.
FIRE
Fire, v. i.
1. To take fire; to be kindled; to kindle.
2. To be irritated or inflamed with passion.
3. To discharge artillery or firearms; as, they fired on the town. To
fire up, to grow irritated or angry. "He . . . fired up, and stood
vigorously on his defense." Macaulay.
FIREARM
Fire"arm`, n.
Defn: A gun, pistol, or any weapon from a shot is discharged by the
force of an explosive substance, as gunpowder.
FIREBACK
Fire"back`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of several species of pheasants of the genus Euplocamus,
having the lower back a bright, fiery red. They inhabit Southern Asia
and the East Indies.
FIREBALL
Fire"ball`, n.
(a) (Mil.) A ball filled with powder or other combustibles, intended
to be thrown among enemies, and to injure by explosion; also, to set
fire to their works and light them up, so that movements may be seen.
(b) A luminous meteor, resembling a ball of fire passing rapidly
through the air, and sometimes exploding.
FIREBARE
Fire"bare`, n.
Defn: A beacon. [Obs.] Burrill.
FIRE BEETLE
Fire" bee`tle. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A very brilliantly luminous beetle (Pyrophorus noctilucus), one
of the elaters, found in Central and South America; -- called also
cucujo. The name is also applied to other species. See Firefly.
FIREBIRD
Fire"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The Baltimore oriole.
FIREBOARD
Fire"board`, n.
Defn: A chimney board or screen to close a fireplace when not in use.
FIREBOTE
Fire"bote`, n. (O.Eng.Law)
Defn: An allowance of fuel. See Bote.
FIREBRAND
Fire"brand`, n.
1. A piece of burning wood. L'Estrange.
2. One who inflames factions, or causes contention and mischief; an
incendiary. Bacon.
FIRECRACKER
Fire"crack`er, n.
Defn: See Cracker., n., 3.
FIRECREST
Fire"crest`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small European kinglet (Regulus ignicapillus), having a
bright red crest; -- called also fire-crested wren.
FIREDOG
Fire"dog`, n.
Defn: A support for wood in a fireplace; an andiron.
FIREDRAKE
Fire"drake`, n. Etym: [AS. f; f fire + draca a dragon. See Fire, and
Drake a dragon.] [Obs.]
1. A fiery dragon. Beau. & Fl.
2. A fiery meteor; an ignis fatuus; a rocket.
3. A worker at a furnace or fire. B. Jonson.
FIRE-FANGED
Fire"-fanged`, a. Etym: [Fire + fanged seized.]
Defn: Injured as by fire; burned; -- said of manure which has lost
its goodness and acquired an ashy hue in consequence of heat
generated by decomposition.
FIREFISH
Fire"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A singular marine fish of the genus Pterois, family Scorpænidæ,
of several species, inhabiting the Indo-Pacific region. They are
usually red, and have very large spinose pectoral and dorsal fins.
FIREFLAIRE
Fire"flaire`, n. Etym: [Fire + Prov. E. flaire a ray.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A European sting ray of the genus Trygon (T. pastinaca); --
called also fireflare and fiery flaw.
FIREFLAME
Fire"flame`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European band fish (Cepola rubescens).
FIREFLY
Fire"fly`, n.; pl. Fireflies (. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any luminous winged insect, esp. luminous beetles of the family
Lampyridæ.
Note: The common American species belong to the genera Photinus and
Photuris, in which both sexes are winged. The name is also applied to
luminous species of Elateridæ. See Fire beetle.
FIRELESS
Fire"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of fire.
FIRELOCK
Fire"lock`, n.
Defn: An old form of gunlock, as the flintlock, which ignites the
priming by a spark; perhaps originally, a matchlock. Hence, a gun
having such a lock.
FIREMAN
Fire"man, n.; pl. Firemen (-men).
1. A man whose business is to extinguish fires in towns; a member of
a fire company.
2. A man who tends the fires, as of a steam engine; a stocker.
FIRE-NEW
Fire"-new`, a.
Defn: Fresh from the forge; bright; quite new; brand-new. Charles
reade.
Your fire-new stamp of honor is scarce current. Shak.
FIREPLACE
Fire"place`, n.
Defn: The part a chimney appropriated to the fire; a hearth; --
usually an open recess in a wall, in which a fire may be built.
FIREPROOF
Fire"proof`, a.
Defn: Proof against fire; incombustible.
FIREPROOFING
Fire"proof`ing, n.
Defn: The act or process of rendering anything incombustible; also,
the materials used in the process.
FIRER
Fir"er, n.
Defn: One who fires or sets fire to anything; an incendiary. [R.] R.
Carew.
FIREROOM
Fire"room`, n.
Defn: Same as Stokehold, below.
FIRE-SET
Fire"-set`, n.
Defn: A set of fire irons, including, commonly, tongs, shovel, and
poker.
FIRESIDE
Fire"side`, n.
Defn: A place near the fire or hearth; home; domestic life or
retirement.
FIRESTONE
Fire"stone` (; 110), n. Etym: [AS. f flint; f fire + stan stone.]
1. Iron pyrites, formerly used for striking fire; also, a flint.
2. A stone which will bear the heat of a furnace without injury; --
especially applied to the sandstone at the top of the upper greensand
in the south of England, used for lining kilns and furnaces. Ure.
FIRETAIL
Fire"tail`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European redstart; -- called also fireflirt. [prov. Eng.]
FIREWARDEN
Fire"ward`en, n.
Defn: An officer who has authority to direct in the extinguishing of
fires, or to order what precautions shall be taken against fires; --
called also fireward.
FIREWEED
Fire"weed`, n. (Bot.)
(a) An American plant (Erechthites hiercifolia), very troublesome in
spots where brushwood has been burned.
(b) The great willow-herb (Epilobium spicatum).
FIREWOOD
Fire"wood`, n.
Defn: Wood for fuel.
FIREWORK
Fire"work`, n.
1. A device for producing a striking display of light, or a figure or
figures in plain or colored fire, by the combustion of materials that
burn in some peculiar manner, as gunpowder, sulphur, metallic
filings, and various salts. The most common feature of fireworks is a
paper or pasteboard tube filled with the combustible material. A
number of these tubes or cases are often combined so as to make, when
kindled, a great variety of figures in fire, often variously colored.
The skyrocket is a common form of firework. The name is also given to
various combustible preparations used in war.
2. pl.
Defn: A pyrotechnic exhibition. [Obs. in the sing.]
Night before last, the Duke of Richmond gave a firework. Walpole.
FIREWORM
Fire"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The larva of a small tortricid moth which eats the leaves of
the cranberry, so that the vines look as if burned; -- called also
cranberry worm.
FIRING
Fir"ing, n.
1. The act of disharging firearms.
2. The mode of introducing fuel into the furnace and working it.
Knight.
3. The application of fire, or of a cautery. Dunglison.
4. The process of partly vitrifying pottery by exposing it to intense
heat in a kiln.
5. Fuel; firewood or coal. [Obs.] Mortimer. Firing iron, an
instrument used in cauterizing.
FIRING PIN
Fir"ing pin`.
Defn: In the breech mechanism of a firearm, the pin which strikes the
head of the cartridge and explodes it.
FIRK
Firk, v. t. Etym: [Cf. OE. ferken to proceed, hasten, AS. fercian to
bring, assist; perh. akin to faran to go, E. fare.]
Defn: To beat; to strike; to chastise. [Obs.]
I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Shak.
FIRK
Firk, v. i.
Defn: To fly out; to turn out; to go off. [Obs.]
A wench is a rare bait, with which a man
No sooner's taken but he straight firks mad.B.Jonson.
FIRK
Firk, n.
Defn: A freak; trick; quirk. [Obs.] Ford.
FIRKIN
Fir"kin, n. Etym: [From AS. feówer four (or an allied word, perh.
Dutch or Danish) + -kin. See Four.]
1. A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a
barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons.
[Eng.]
2. A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for
butter, lard, etc. [U.S.]
FIRLOT
Fir"lot, n. Etym: [Scot., the fourth part of a boll of grain, from a
word equiv. to E. four + lot part, portion. See Firkin.]
Defn: A dry measure formerly used in Scotland; the fourth part of a
boll of grain or meal. The Linlithgow wheat firlot was to the
imperial bushel as 998 to 1000; the barley firlot as 1456 to 1000.
Brande & C.
FIRM
Firm, a. [Compar. Firmer; superl. Firmest.] Etym: [OE. ferme, F.
ferme, fr.L. firmus; cf. Skr. dharman support, law, order, dh to hold
fast, carry. Cf. Farm, Throne.]
1. Fixed; hence, closely compressed; compact; substantial; hard;
solid; -- applied to the matter of bodies; as, firm flesh; firm
muscles, firm wood.
2. Not easily excited or disturbed; unchanging in purpose; fixed;
steady; constant; stable; unshaken; not easily changed in feelings or
will; strong; as, a firm believer; a firm friend; a firm adherent.
Under spread ensigns, moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion.
Milton.
By one man's firm obediency fully tried. Milton.
3. Solid; -- opposed to fluid; as, firm land.
4. Indicating firmness; as, a firm tread; a firm countenance.
Syn.
-- Compact; dense; hard; solid; stanch; robust; strong; sturdly;
fixed; steady; resolute; constant.
FIRM
Firm, n. Etym: [It. firma the (firm, sure, or confirming) signature
or subscription, or Pg. firma signature, firm, cf. Sp. firma
signature; all fr. L. firmus, adj., firm. See Firm, a]
Defn: The name, title, or style, under which a company transacts
business; a partnership of two or more persons; a commercial house;
as, the firm of Hope & Co.
FIRM
Firm, v. t. Etym: [OE. fermen to make firm, F. fermer, fr. L. firmare
to make firm. See Firm, a.]
1. To fix; to settle; to confirm; to establish. [Obs.]
And Jove has firmed it with an awful nod. Dryden.
2. To fix or direct with firmness. [Obs.]
He on his card and compass firms his eye. Spenser.
FIRMAMENT
Fir"ma*ment, n. Etym: [L. firmamentum, fr. firmare to make firm: cf.
F. firmament. See Firm, v. & a.]
1. Fixed foundation; established basis. [Obs.]
Custom is the . . . firmament of the law. Jer. Taylor.
2. The region of the air; the sky or heavens.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the miGen. i. 6.
And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament. Gen. i. 14.
Note: In Scripture, the word denotes an expanse, a wide extent; the
great arch or expanse over out heads, in which are placed the
atmosphere and the clouds, and in which the stars appear to be
placed, and are really seen.
3. (Old Astron.)
Defn: The orb of the fixed stars; the most rmote of the celestial
spheres.
FIRMAMENTAL
Fir`ma*men"tal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to the firmament; celestial; being of the upper
regions. Dryden.
FIRMAN
Fir"man ( or ), n.; pl. Firmans or. Etym: [Pers. ferman.]
Defn: In Turkey and some other Oriental countries, a decree or
mandate issued by the sovereign; a royal order or grant; -- generally
given for special objects, as to a traveler to insure him protection
and assistance. [Written also firmaun.]
FIRMER-CHISEL
Firm"er-chis"el, n.
Defn: A chisel, thin in proportion to its width. It has a tang to
enter the handle instead of a socket for receiving it. Knight.
FIRMITUDE
Firm"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. firmitudo. See Firm.]
Defn: Strength; stability. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
FIRMITY
Firm"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. firmitas.]
Defn: Strength; firmness; stability. [Obs.] Chillingworth.
FIRMLESS
Firm"less, a.
1. Detached from substance. [Obs.]
Does passion still the firmless mind control Pope.
2. Infirm; unstable. "Firmless sands." Sylvester.
FIRMLY
Firm"ly, adv.
Defn: In a firm manner.
FIRMNESS
Firm"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being firm.
Syn.
-- Firmness, Constancy. Firmness belongs to the will, and constancy
to the affections and principles; the former prevents us from
yielding, and the latter from fluctuating. Without firmness a man has
no character; "without constancy," says Addison, "there is neither
love, friendship, nor virtue in the world."
FIRMS
Firms, n. pl. Etym: [From Firm, a.] (Arch.)
Defn: The principal rafters of a roof, especially a pair of rafters
taken together. [Obs.]
FIRRING
Fir"ring, n. (Arch.)
Defn: See Furring.
FIRRY
Fir"ry, a.
Defn: Made of fir; abounding in firs.
In firry woodlands making moan. Tennyson.
FIRST
First, a. Etym: [OE. first, furst, AS. fyrst; akin to Icel. fyrstr,
Sw. & Dan. förste, OHG. furist, G. fürst prince; a superlatiye form
of E. for, fore. See For, Fore, and cf. Formeer, Foremost.]
1. Preceding all others of a series or kind; the ordinal of one;
earliest; as, the first day of a month; the first year of a reign.
2. Foremost; in front of, or in advance of, all others.
3. Most eminent or exalted; most excellent; chief; highest; as,
Demosthenes was the first orator of Greece. At first blush. See under
Blush.
-- At first hand, from the first or original source; without the
intervention of any agent.
It is the intention of the person to reveal it at first hand, by way
of mouth, to yourself. Dickens.
-- First coat (Plastering), the solid foundation of coarse stuff, on
which the rest is placed; it is thick, and crossed with lines, so as
to give a bond for the next coat.
-- First day, Sunday; -- so called by the Friends.
-- First floor. (a) The ground floor. [U.S.] (b) The floor next
above the ground floor. [Eng.] -- First fruit or fruits. (a) The
fruits of the season earliest gathered. (b) (Feudal Law) One year's
profits of lands belonging to the king on the death of a tenant who
held directly from him. (c) (Eng. Eccl. Law) The first year's whole
profits of a benefice or spiritual living. (d) The earliest effects
or results.
See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung From thy implanted
grace in man! Milton.
-- First mate, an officer in a merchant vessel next in rank to the
captain.
-- First name, same as Christian name. See under Name, n.
-- First officer (Naut.), in the merchant service, same as First
mate (above).
-- First sergeant (Mil.), the ranking non-commissioned officer in a
company; the orderly sergeant. Farrow.
-- First watch (Naut.), the watch from eight to twelve at midnight;
also, the men on duty during that time.
-- First water, the highest quality or purest luster; -- said of
gems, especially of diamond and pearls.
Syn.
-- Primary; primordial; primitive; primeval; pristine; highest;
chief; principal; foremost.
FIRST
First, adv.
Defn: Before any other person or thing in time, space, rank, etc.; --
much used in composition with adjectives and participles.
Adam was first formed, then Eve. 1 Tim. ii. 13.
At first, At the first, at the beginning or origin.
-- First or last, at one time or another; at the beginning or end.
And all are fools and lovers first or last. Dryden.
FIRST
First, n. (Mus.)
Defn: The upper part of a duet, trio, etc., either vocal or
instrumental; -- so called because it generally expresses the air,
and has a preëminence in the combined effect.
FIRSTBORN
First"born`, a.
Defn: First brought forth; first in the order of nativity; eldest;
hence, most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.
FIRST-CLASS
First"-class`, a.
Defn: Of the best class; of the highest rank; in the first division;
of the best quality; first-rate; as, a first-class telescope. First-
class car or First-class railway carriage, any passenger car of the
highest regular class, and intended for passengers who pay the
highest regular rate; -- distinguished from a second-class car.
FIRST-HAND
First"-hand`, a.
Defn: Obtained directly from the first or original source; hence,
without the intervention of an agent.
One sphere there is . . . where the apprehension of him is first-hand
and direct; and that is the sphere of our own mind. J. Martineau.
FIRSTLING
First"ling, n. Etym: [First + -ling.]
1. The first produce or offspring; -- said of animals, especially
domestic animals; as, the firstlings of his flock. Milton.
2. The thing first thought or done.
The very firstlings of my heart shall be The firstlings of my hand.
Shak.
FIRSTLING
First"ling, a.
Defn: Firstborn.
All the firstling males. Deut. xv. 19.
FIRSTLY
First"ly, adv.
Defn: In the first place; before anything else; -- sometimes
improperly used for first.
FIRST-RATE
First"-rate`, a.
Defn: Of the highest excellence; preëminent in quality, size, or
estimation.
Our only first-rate body of contemporary poetry is the German. M.
Arnold.
Hermocrates . . . a man of first-rate ability. Jowett (Thucyd).
FIRST-RATE
First"-rate`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A war vessel of the highest grade or the most powerful class.
FIRTH
Firth, n. Etym: [Scot. See Frith.] (geog.)
Defn: An arm of the sea; a frith.
FIR TREE
Fir" tree`
Defn: . See Fir.
FISC
Fisc, n. Etym: [F. fisc, fr. L. fiscus basket, money basket,
treasury; prob. akin to fascis bundle. See Fasces.]
Defn: A public or state treasury. Burke.
FISCAL
Fis"cal, a. Etym: [F. fiscal, L. fiscalis, fr. fiscus. See Fisc.]
Defn: Pertaining to the public treasury or revenue.
The fiscal arreangements of government. A. Hamilton.
FISCAL
Fis"cal, n.
1. The income of a prince or a state; revenue; exchequer. [Obs.]
Bacon.
2. A treasurer. H. Swinburne.
3. A public officer in Scotland who prosecutes in petty criminal
cases; -- called also procurator fiscal.
4. The solicitor in Spain and Portugal; the attorney-general.
FISETIC
Fi*set"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to fustet or fisetin.
FISETIN
Fis"e*tin, n. Etym: [G. fisettholz a species of fustic.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow crystalline substance extracted from fustet, and
regarded as its essential coloring principle; -- called also fisetic
acid.
FISH
Fish, n. Etym: [F. fiche peg, mark, fr. fisher to fix.]
Defn: A counter, used in various games.
FISH
Fish, n.; pl. Fishes, or collectively, Fish. Etym: [OE. fisch, fisc,
fis, AS. fisc; akin to D. visch, OS. & OHG. fisk, G. fisch, Icel.
fiskr, Sw. & Dan. fisk, Goth. fisks, L. piscis, Ir. iasg. Cf.
Piscatorial. In some cases, such as fish joint, fish plate, this word
has prob. been confused with fish, fr. F. fichea peg.]
1. A name loosely applied in popular usage to many animals of diverse
characteristics, living in the water.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An oviparous, vertebrate animal usually having fins and a
covering scales or plates. It breathes by means of gills, and lives
almost entirely in the water. See Pisces.
Note: The true fishes include the Teleostei (bony fishes), Ganoidei,
Dipnoi, and Elasmobranchii or Selachians (sharks and skates).
Formerly the leptocardia and Marsipobranciata were also included, but
these are now generally regarded as two distinct classes, below the
fishes.
3. pl.
Defn: The twelfth sign of the zodiac; Pisces.
4. The flesh of fish, used as food.
5. (Naut.)
(a) A purchase used to fish the anchor.
(b) A piece of timber, somewhat in the form of a fish, used to
strengthen a mast or yard.
Note: Fish is used adjectively or as part of a compound word; as,
fish line, fish pole, fish spear, fish-bellied. Age of Fishes. See
under Age, n., 8.
-- Fish ball, fish (usually salted codfish) shared fine, mixed with
mashed potato, and made into the form of a small, round cake. [U.S.]
-- Fish bar. Same as Fish plate (below).
-- Fish beam (Mech.), a beam one of whose sides (commonly the under
one) swells out like the belly of a fish. Francis.
-- Fish crow (Zoöl.), a species of crow (Corvus ossifragus), found
on the Atlantic coast of the United States. It feeds largely on fish.
-- Fish culture, the artifical breeding and rearing of fish;
pisciculture.
-- Fish davit. See Davit.
-- Fish day, a day on which fish is eaten; a fast day.
-- Fish duck (Zoöl.), any species of merganser.
-- Fish fall, the tackle depending from the fish davit, used in
hauling up the anchor to the gunwale of a ship.
-- Fish garth, a dam or weir in a river for keeping fish or taking
them easily.
-- Fish glue. See Isinglass.
-- Fish joint, a joint formed by a plate or pair of plates fastened
upon two meeting beams, plates, etc., at their junction; -- used
largely in connecting the rails of railroads.
-- Fish kettle, a long kettle for boiling fish whole.
-- Fish ladder, a dam with a series of steps which fish can leap in
order to ascend falls in a river.
-- Fish line, or Fishing line, a line made of twisted hair, silk,
etc., used in angling.
-- Fish louse (Zoöl.), any crustacean parasitic on fishes, esp. the
parasitic Copepoda, belonging to Caligus, Argulus, and other related
genera. See Branchiura.
-- Fish maw (Zoöl.), the stomach of a fish; also, the air bladder,
or sound.
-- Fish meal, fish desiccated and ground fine, for use in soups,
etc.
-- Fish oil, oil obtained from the bodies of fish and marine
animals, as whales, seals, sharks, from cods' livers, etc.
-- Fish owl (Zoöl.), a fish-eating owl of the Old World genera
Scotopelia and Ketupa, esp. a large East Indian species (K.
Ceylonensis).
-- Fish plate, one of the plates of a fish joint.
-- Fish pot, a wicker basket, sunk, with a float attached, for
catching crabs, lobsters, etc.
-- Fish pound, a net attached to stakes, for entrapping and catching
fish; a weir. [Local, U.S.] Bartlett.
-- Fish slice, a broad knife for dividing fish at table; a fish
trowel.
-- Fish slide, an inclined box set in a stream at a small fall, or
ripple, to catch fish descending the current. Knight.
-- Fish sound, the air bladder of certain fishes, esp. those that
are dried and used as food, or in the arts, as for the preparation of
isinglass.
-- Fish story, a story which taxes credulity; an extravagant or
incredible narration. [Colloq. U.S.] Bartlett.
-- Fish strainer. (a) A metal colander, with handles, for taking
fish from a boiler. (b) A perforated earthenware slab at the bottom
of a dish, to drain the water from a boiled fish.
-- Fish trowel, a fish slice.
-- Fish weir or wear, a weir set in a stream, for catching fish.
-- Neither fish nor flesh (Fig.), neither one thing nor the other.
FISH
Fish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fished; p. pr. & vb. n. Fishing.]
1. To attempt to catch fish; to be employed in taking fish, by any
means, as by angling or drawing a net.
2. To seek to obtain by artifice, or indirectly to seek to draw
forth; as, to fish for compliments.
Any other fishing question. Sir W. Scott.
FISH
Fish, v. t. Etym: [OE. fischen, fisken, fissen, AS. fiscian; akin to
G. fischen, OHG. fisc, Goth. fisk. See Fish the animal.]
1. To catch; to draw out or up; as, to fish up an anchor.
2. To search by raking or sweeping. Swift.
3. To try with a fishing rod; to catch fish in; as, to fish a stream.
Thackeray.
4. To strengthen (a beam, mast, etc.), or unite end to end (two
timbers, railroad rails, etc.) by bolting a plank, timber, or plate
to the beam, mast, or timbers, lengthwise on one or both sides. See
Fish joint, under Fish, n. To fish the anchor. (Naut.) See under
Anchor.
FISH-BELLIED
Fish"-bel`lied, a.
Defn: Bellying or swelling out on the under side; as, a fish-bellied
rail. Knight.
FISH-BLOCK
Fish"-block`, n.
Defn: See Fish-tackle.
FISHER
Fish"er, n. Etym: [AS. fiscere.]
1. One who fishes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A carnivorous animal of the Weasel family (Mustela Canadensis);
the pekan; the "black cat."
FISHERMAN
Fish"er*man, n.; pl. Fishermen (.
1. One whose occupation is to catch fish.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A ship or vessel employed in the business of taking fish, as in
the cod fishery.
FISHERY
Fish"er*y, n.; pl. Fisheries (.
1. The business or practice of catching fish; fishing. Addison.
2. A place for catching fish.
3. (Law)
Defn: The right to take fish at a certain place, or in particular
waters. Abbott.
FISHFUL
Fish"ful, a.
Defn: Abounding with fish. [R.] "My fishful pond." R. Carew.
FISHGIG
Fish"gig`, n.
Defn: A spear with barbed prongs used for harpooning fish. Knight.
FISHHAWK
Fish"hawk`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The osprey (Pandion haliaëtus), found both in Europe and
America; -- so called because it plunges into the water and seizes
fishes in its talons. Called also fishing eagle, and bald buzzard.
FISHHOOK
Fish"hook`, n.
1. A hook for catching fish.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: A hook with a pendant, to the end of which the fish-tackle is
hooked. Dana.
FISHIFY
Fish"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To change to fish. [R.] Shak.
FISHINESS
Fish"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fishy or fishlike. Pennant.
FISHING
Fish"ing, n.
1. The act, practice, or art of one who fishes.
2. A fishery. Spenser.
FISHING
Fish"ing, a. Etym: [From Fishing, n.]
Defn: Pertaining to fishing; used in fishery; engaged in fishing; as,
fishing boat; fishing tackle; fishing village. Fishing fly, an
artificial fly for fishing.
-- Fishing line, a line used in catching fish.
-- Fishing net, a net of various kinds for catching fish; including
the bag net, casting net, drag net, landing net, seine, shrimping
net, trawl, etc.
-- Fishing rod, a long slender rod, to which is attached the line
for angling.
-- Fishing smack, a sloop or other small vessel used in sea fishing.
-- Fishing tackle, apparatus used in fishing, as hook, line, rod,
etc.
-- Fishing tube (Micros.), a glass tube for selecting a microscopic
object in a fluid.
FISHLIKE
Fish"like, a.
Defn: Like fish; suggestive of fish; having some of the qualities of
fish.
A very ancient and fishlike smell. Shak.
FISHMONGER
Fish"mon`ger, n.
Defn: A dealer in fish.
FISHSKIN
Fish"skin`, n.
1. The skin of a fish (dog fish, shark, etc.)
2. (Med.)
Defn: See Ichthyosis.
FISH-TACKLE
Fish"-tac`kle, n.
Defn: A tackle or purchase used to raise the flukes of the anchor up
to the gunwale. The block used is called the fish-block.
FISH-TAIL
Fish"-tail`, a.
Defn: Like the of a fish; acting, or producing something, like the
tail of a fish. Fish-tail burner, a gas burner that gives a spreading
flame shaped somewhat like the tail of a fish.
-- Fish-tail propeller (Steamship), a propeller with a single blade
that oscillates like the tail of a fish when swimming.
FISHWIFE
Fish"wife`, n.
Defn: A fishwoman.
FISHWOMAN
Fish"wom`an, n.; pl. Fishwomen (.
Defn: A woman who retails fish.
FISHY
Fish"y, a.
1. Consisting of fish; fishlike; having the qualities or taste of
fish; abounding in fish. Pope.
2. Extravagant, like some stories about catching fish; improbable;
also, rank or foul. [Colloq.]
FISK
Fisk, v. i. Etym: [Cf. Sw. fjeska to bustle about.]
Defn: To run about; to frisk; to whisk. [Obs.]
He fisks abroad, and stirreth up erroneous opinions. Latimer.
FISSIGEMMATION
Fis`si*gem*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) +
E. gemmation.] (Biol.)
Defn: A process of reproduction intermediate between fission and
gemmation.
FISSILE
Fis"sile, a. Etym: [L. fissilis, fr. fissus, p.p. of findere to
split. See Fissure.]
Defn: Capable of being split, cleft, or divided in the direction of
the grain, like wood, or along natural planes of cleavage, like
crystals.
This crystal is a pellucid, fissile stone. Sir I. Newton.
FISSILINGUAL
Fis`si*lin"gual, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) + E.
lingual.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the tongue forked.
FISSILINGUIA
Fis`si*lin"gui*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. o f findere
to split) + lingua tongue.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Lacertilia having the tongue forked, including the
common lizards. [Written also Fissilingues.]
FISSILITY
Fis*sil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Quality of being fissile.
FISSION
Fis"sion, n. Etym: [L. fissio. See Fissure.]
1. A cleaving, splitting, or breaking up into parts.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: A method of asexual reproduction among the lowest (unicellular)
organisms by means of a process of self-division, consisting of
gradual division or cleavage of the into two parts, each of which
then becomes a separate and independent organisms; as when a cell in
an animal or plant, or its germ, undergoes a spontaneous division,
and the parts again subdivide. See Segmentation, and Cell division,
under Division.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids,
etc., spontaneously subdivide, each individual thus forming two or
more new ones. See Strobilation.
FISSIPALMATE
Fis`si*pal"mate, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) +
palma palm.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Semipalmate and loboped, as a grebe's foot. See Illust. under
Aves.
FISSIPARA
Fis*sip"a*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL. See Fissiparous.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Animals which reproduce by fission.
FISSIPARISM
Fis*sip"a*rism, n. Etym: [See Fissiparous.] (Biol.)
Defn: Reproduction by spontaneous fission.
FISSIPARITY
Fis`si*par"i*ty, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Quality of being fissiparous; fissiparism.
FISSIPAROUS
Fis*sip"a*rous, a. Etym: [L. fissus (p.p. of findere to split) +
parere to bring forth: cf. F. fissipare.] (Biol.)
Defn: Reproducing by spontaneous fission. See Fission.
-- Fis*sip"a*rous*ly, adv.
FISSIPATION
Fis`si*pa"tion, n. (Biol.)
Defn: Reproduction by fission; fissiparism.
FISSIPED; FISSIPEDAL
Fis"si*ped, Fis*sip"e*dal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fissipède.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the toes separated to the base. [See Aves.]
FISSIPED
Fis"si*ped, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Fissipedia.
FISSIPEDIA
Fis`si*pe"di*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. of findere to
cleave) + pes, pedis, a foot.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of the Carnivora, including the dogs, cats, and
bears, in which the feet are not webbed; -- opposed to Pinnipedia.
FISSIROSTRAL
Fis`si*ros"tral, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fissirostre.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the bill cleft beyond the horny part, as in the case of
swallows and goatsuckers.
FISSIROSTRES
Fis`si*ros"tres, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fissus (p.p. of findere to
cleave) + rostrum beak.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of birds having the bill deeply cleft.
FISSURAL
Fis"sur*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a fissure or fissures; as, the fissural pattern
of a brain.
FISSURATION
Fis`su*ra"tion, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The act of dividing or opening; the state of being fissured.
FISSURE
Fis"sure, n. Etym: [L. fissura, fr. findere, fissum, to cleave,
split; akin to E. bite: cf. F. fissure.]
Defn: A narrow opening, made by the parting of any substance; a
cleft; as, the fissure of a rock. Cerebral fissures (Anat.), the
furrows or clefts by which the surface of the cerebrum is divided;
esp., the furrows first formed by the infolding of the whole wall of
the cerebrum.
-- Fissure needle (Surg.), a spiral needle for catching together the
gaping lips of wounds. Knight.
-- Fissure of rolando (Anat.), the furrow separating the frontal
from the parietal lobe in the cerebrum.
-- Fissure of Sylvius (Anat.), a deep cerebral fissure separating
the frontal from the temporal lobe. See Illust. under Brain.
-- Fissure vein (Mining), a crack in the earth's surface filled with
mineral matter. Raymond.
FISSURE
Fis"sure, v. t.
Defn: To cleave; to divide; to crack or fracture.
FISSURELLA
Fis`su*rel"la, n. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. fissura a fissure.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of marine gastropod mollusks, having a conical or
limpetlike shell, with an opening at the apex; -- called also keyhole
limpet.
FIST
Fist, n. Etym: [OE. fist, fust, AS. f; akin to D. vuist, OHG. f, G.
faust, and prob. to L. pugnus, Gr. Pugnacious, Pigmy.]
1. The hand with the fingers doubled into the palm; the closed hand,
especially as clinched tightly for the purpose of striking a blow.
Who grasp the earth and heaven with my fist. Herbert.
2. The talons of a bird of prey. [Obs.]
More light than culver in the falcon's fist. Spenser.
3. (print.)
Defn: the index mark [], used to direct special attention to the
passage which follows. Hand over fist (Naut.), rapidly; hand over
hand.
FIST
Fist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fisting.]
1. To strike with the fist. Dryden.
2. To gripe with the fist. [Obs.] Shak.
FISTIC
Fist"ic, a. Etym: [From Fist.]
Defn: Pertaining to boxing, or to encounters with the fists;
puglistic; as, fistic exploits; fistic heroes. [Colloq.]
FISTICUFF
Fist"i*cuff, n.
Defn: A cuff or blow with the fist or hand; (pl.)
Defn: a fight with the fists; boxing. Swift.
FISTINUT
Fis"ti*nut, n. Etym: [Cf. Fr. fistinq, fistuq. See Pistachio.]
Defn: A pistachio nut. [Obs.] Johnson.
FISTUCA
Fis*tu"ca, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: An instrument used by the ancients in driving piles.
FISTULA
Fis"tu*la, n.; pl. Fistulæ. Etym: [L.]
1. A reed; a pipe.
2. A pipe for convejing water. [Obs.] Knight.
3. (Med.)
Defn: A permanent abnormal opening into the soft parts with a
constant discharge; a deep, narrow, chronic abscess; an abnormal
opening between an internal cavity and another cavity or the surface;
as, a salivary fistula; an anal fistula; a recto-vaginal fistula.
Incomplete fistula (Med.), a fistula open at one end only.
FISTULAR
Fis"tu*lar, a. Etym: [L. fistularis: cf. F. fistulaire.]
Defn: Hollow and cylindrical, like a pipe or reed. Johnson.
FISTULARIA
Fis`tu*la"ri*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fistula pipe.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of fishes, having the head prolonged into a tube, with
the mouth at the extremity.
FISTULARIOID
Fis`tu*la"ri*oid, a. Etym: [Fistularia + -oid.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Like or pertaining to the genus Fistularia.
FISTULATE
Fis"tu*late, v. t. & i. Etym: [Cf. L. fistulatus furnished with
pipes.]
Defn: To make hollow or become hollow like a fistula, or pipe. [Obs.]
"A fistulated ulcer." Fuller.
FISTULE
Fis"tule, n.
Defn: A fistula.
FISTULIFORM
Fis"tu*li*form ( or ), a. Etym: [Fistula + -form.]
Defn: Of a fistular form; tubular; pipe-shaped.
Stalactite often occurs fistuliform. W. Philips.
FISTULOSE
Fis"tu*lose`, a. Etym: [L. fistulosus.]
Defn: Formed like a fistula; hollow; reedlike. Craig.
FISTULOUS
Fis"tu*lous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fistuleux.]
1. Having the form or nature of a fistula; as, a fistulous ulcer.
2. Hollow, like a pipe or reed; fistulose. Lindley.
FIT
Fit,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Fight. [Obs. or Colloq.]
FIT
Fit, n. Etym: [AS. fitt a song.]
Defn: In Old English, a song; a strain; a canto or portion of a
ballad; a passus. [Written also fitte, fytte, etc.]
To play some pleasant fit. Spenser.
FIT
Fit, a. [Compar. Fitter; superl. Fittest.] Etym: [OE. fit, fyt; cf.
E. feat neat, elegant, well made, or icel. fitja to web, knit, OD.
vitten to suit, square, Goth. f to adorn.
1. Adapted to an end, object, or design; suitable by nature or by
art; suited by character, qualitties, circumstances, education, etc.;
qualified; competent; worthy.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in. Shak.
Fit audience find, though few. Milton.
2. Prepared; ready. [Obs.]
So fit to shoot, she singled forth among her foes who first her
quarry's strength should feel. Fairfax.
3. Conformed to a standart of duty, properiety, or taste; convenient;
meet; becoming; proper.
Is it fit to say a king, Thou art wicked Job xxxiv. 18.
Syn.
-- Suitable; proper; appropriate; meet; becoming; expedient;
congruous; correspondent; apposite; apt; adapted; prepared;
qualified; competent; adequate.
FIT
Fit, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fitting.]
1. To make fit or suitable; to adapt to the purpose intended; to
qualify; to put into a condition of readiness or preparation.
The time is fitted for the duty. Burke.
The very situation for which he was peculiarly fitted by nature.
Macaulay.
2. To bring to a required form and size; to shape aright; to adapt to
a model; to adjust; -- said especially of the work of a carpenter,
machinist, tailor, etc.
The carpenter . . . marketh it out with a line; he fitteth it with
planes. Is. xliv. 13.
3. To supply with something that is suitable or fit, or that is
shaped and adjusted to the use required.
No milliner can so fit his customers with gloves. Shak.
4. To be suitable to; to answer the requirements of; to be correctly
shaped and adjusted to; as, if the coat fits you, put it on.
That's a bountiful answer that fits all questions. Shak.
That time best fits the work. Shak.
To fit out, to supply with necessaries or means; to furnish; to
equip; as, to fit out a privateer.
-- To fit up, to firnish with things suitable; to make proper for
the reception or use of any person; to prepare; as, to fit up a room
for a guest.
FIT
Fit, v. i.
1. To be proper or becoming.
Nor fits it to prolong the feast. Pope.
2. To be adjusted to a particular shape or size; to suit; to be
adapted; as, his coat fits very well.
FIT
Fit, n.
1. The quality of being fit; adjustment; adaptedness; as of dress to
the person of the wearer.
2. (Mach.)
(a) The coincidence of parts that come in contact.
(b) The part of an object upon which anything fits tightly. Fit rod
(Shipbuilding), a gauge rod used to try the depth of a bolt hole in
order to determine the length of the bolt required. Knight.
FIT
Fit, n. Etym: [AS. fit strife, fight; of uncertain origin. sq. root
77.]
1. A stroke or blow. [Obs. or R.]
Curse on that cross, quoth then the Sarazin, That keeps thy body from
the bitter fit. Spenser.
2. A sudden and violent attack of a disorder; a stroke of disease, as
of epilepsy or apoplexy, which produces convulsions or
unconsciousness; a convulsion; a paroxysm; hence, a period of
exacerbation of a disease; in general, an attack of disease; as, a
fit of sickness.
And when the fit was on him, I did mark How he did shake. Shak.
3. A mood of any kind which masters or possesses one for a time; a
temporary, absorbing affection; a paroxysm; as, a fit melancholy, of
passion, or of laughter.
All fits of pleasure we balanced by an equal degree of pain. Swift.
The English, however, were on this subject prone to fits of
jealously. Macaulay.
4. A passing humor; a caprice; a sudden and unusual effort, activity,
or motion, followed by relaxation or insction; an impulse and
irregular action.
The fits of the season. Shak.
5. A darting point; a sudden emission. [R.]
A tongue of light, a fit of flame. Coleridge.
By fits, By fits and starts, by intervals of action and re
FITCH
Fitch (; 224), n.; pl. Fitches. Etym: [See Vetch.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A vetch. [Obs.]
2. pl. (Bot.)
Defn: A word found in the Authorized Version of the Bible,
representing different Hebrew originals. In Isaiah xxviii. 25, 27, it
means the black aromatic seeds of Nigella sativa, still used as a
flavoring in the East. In Ezekiel iv. 9, the Revised Version now
reads spelt.
FITCH
Fitch, n. Etym: [Contr. of fitched.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European polecat; also, its fur.
FITCHE
Fitch"é, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fiché, lit. p.p. of ficher to fasten, OF.
fichier to pierce. Cf. 1st Fish.] (Her.)
Defn: Sharpened to a point; pointed. Cross fitché, a cross having the
lower arm pointed.
FITCHED
Fitched, a. (her.)
Defn: Fitché. [Also fiched.]
FITCHET; FITCHEW
Fitch"et, Fitch"ew, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. fisseau, fissel, OD. fisse,
visse, vitsche, D. vies nasty, loathsome, E. fizz.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The European polecat (Putorius foetidus). See Polecat.
FITCHY
Fitch"y, a.
Defn: Having fitches or vetches.
FITCHY
Fitch"y, a. Etym: [See Fitché.] (Her.)
Defn: Fitché.
FITFUL
Fit"ful, a. Etym: [From 7th Fit.]
Defn: Full of fits; irregularly variable; impulsive and unstable.
After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well. Shak.
-- Fit"ful*ly, adv.
-- Fit"ful*ness, n.
The victorius trumpet peal Dies fitfully away. Macaulay.
FITHEL; FITHUL
Fith"el, Fith"ul, n. Etym: [OE. See Fiddle.]
Defn: A fiddle [Obs.] Chaucer.
FITLY
Fit"ly, adv.
Defn: In a fit manner; suitably; properly; conveniently; as, a maxim
fitly applied.
FITMENT
Fit"ment, n.
Defn: The act of fitting; that which is proper or becoming;
equipment. [Obs.] Shak.
FITNESS
Fit"ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fit; as, the fitness of measures
or laws; a person's fitness for office.
FITT
Fitt, n.
Defn: See 2d Fit.
FITTABLE
Fit"ta*ble, a.
Defn: Suitable; fit. [Obs.] Sherwood.
FITTEDNESS
Fit"ted*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being fitted; adaptation. [Obs.] Dr. H.
More.
FITTER
Fit"ter, n.
1. One who fits or makes to fit; esp.: (a) One who tries on, and
adjusts, articles of dress. (b) One who fits or adjusts the different
parts of machinery to each other.
2. A coal broker who conducts the sales between the owner of a coal
pit and the shipper. [Eng.] Simmonds.
FITTER
Fit"ter, n.
Defn: A little piece; a flitter; a flinder. [Obs.]
Where's the Frenchman Alas, he's all fitters. Beau. & Fl.
FITTING
Fit"ting, n.
Defn: Anything used in fitting up; especially (pl.),
Defn: necessary fixtures or apparatus; as, the fittings of a church
or study; gas fittings.
FITTING
Fit"ting, a.
Defn: Fit; appropriate; suitable; proper.
-- Fit"ting*ly, adv.
-- Fit"ting*ness, n. Jer. Taylor.
FITWEED
Fit"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Eryngium foetidum) supposed to be a remedy for fits.
FITZ
Fitz, n. Etym: [OF. fils, filz, fiz, son, F. fils, L. filius. See
Filial.]
Defn: A son; -- used in compound names, to indicate paternity, esp.
of the illegitimate sons of kings and princes of the blood; as,
Fitzroy, the son of the king; Fitzclarence, the son of the duke of
Clarence.
FIVE
Five, a. Etym: [OE. fif, five, AS. fif, fife; akin to D. vijf, OS.
fif, OHG. finf, funf, G. fünf, Icel. fimm, Sw. & Sw. Dan. fem, Goth.
fimf, Lith. penki, W. pump, OIr. cóic, L. quinque, Gr. pa. Fifth,
Cinque, Pentagon, Punch the drink, Quinary.]
Defn: Four and one added; one more than four.
Five nations (Ethnol.), a confederacy of the Huron-Iroquois Indians,
consisting of five tribes: Mohawks, Onondagas, Cayugas, Oneidas, and
Senecas. They inhabited the region which is now the State of new
York.
FIVE
Five, n.
1. The number next greater than four, and less than six; five units
or objects.
Five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Matt. xxv. 2.
2. A symbol representing this number, as 5, or V.
FIVE-FINGER
Five"-fin`ger, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: See Cinquefoil.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A starfish with five rays, esp. Asterias rubens.
FIVEFOLD
Five"fold`, a. & adv.
Defn: In fives; consisting of five in one; five repeated; quintuple.
FIVE-LEAF
Five"-leaf`, n.
Defn: Cinquefoil; five-finger.
FIVE-LEAFED; FIVE-LEAVED
Five"-leafed`, Five"-leaved`, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having five leaflets, as the Virginia creeper.
FIVELING
Five"ling, n. (Min.)
Defn: A compound or twin crystal consisting of five individuals.
FIVES
Fives, n. pl.
Defn: A kind of play with a ball against a wall, resembling tennis; -
- so named because three fives, or fifteen, are counted to the game.
Smart. Fives court, a place for playing fives.
FIVES
Fives, n. Etym: [See Vives.]
Defn: A disease of the glands under the ear in horses; the vives.
Shak.
FIVE-TWENTIES
Five`-twen"ties, n. pl.
Defn: Five-twenty bonds of the United States (bearing six per cent
interest), issued in 1862, '64, and '65, redeemable after five and
payable in twenty years.
FIX
Fix, a. Etym: [OE., fr. L. fixus, p.p. of figere to fix; cf. F.
fixe.]
Defn: Fixed; solidified. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FIX
Fix, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fixed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fixing.] Etym: [Cf.
F. fixer.]
1. To make firm, stable, or fast; to set or place permanently; to
fasten immovably; to establish; to implant; to secure; to make
efinite.
An ass's nole I fixed on his head. Shak.
O, fix thy chair of grace, that all my powers May also fix their
reverence. Herbert.
His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. Ps. cxii. 7.
And fix far deeper in his head their stings. Milton.
2. To hold steadily; to direct unwaveringly; to fasten, as the eye on
an object, the attention on a speaker.
Sat fixed in thought the mighty Stagirite. Pope.
One eye on death, and one full fix'd on heaven. Young.
3. To transfix; to pierce. [Obs.] Sandys.
4. (Photog.)
Defn: To render (an impression) permanent by treating with such
applications a will make it insensible to the action of light. Abney.
5. To put in prder; to arrange; to dispose of; to adjust; to set to
rights; to set or place in the manner desired or most suitable;
hence, to repair; as, to fix the clothes; to fix the furniture of a
room. [Colloq. U.S.]
6. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: To line the hearth of (a puddling furnace) with fettling.
Syn.
-- To arrange; prepare; adjust; place; establis; settle; determine.
FIX
Fix, v. i.
1. To become fixed; to settle or remain permanently; to cease from
wandering; to rest.
Your kindness banishes your fear, Resolved to fix forever here.
Waller.
2. To become firm, so as to resist volatilization; to cease to flow
or be fluid; to congeal; to become hard and malleable, as a metallic
substance. Bacon. To fix on, to settle the opinion or resolution
about; to determine regarding; as, the contracting parties have fixed
on certain leading points.
FIX
Fix, n.
1. A position of difficulty or embarassment; predicament; dillema.
[Colloq.]
Is he not living, then No. is he dead, then No, nor dead either. Poor
Aroar can not live, and can not die, -- so that he is in an almighty
fix. De Quincey.
2. (Iron Manuf.)
Defn: fettling. [U.S.]
FIXABLE
Fix"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being fixed.
FIXATION
Fix*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fixation.]
1. The act of fixing, or the state of being fixed.
An unalterable fixation of resolution. Killingbeck.
To light, created in the first day, God gave no proper place or
fixation. Sir W. Raleigh.
Marked stiffness or absolute fixation of a joint. Quain.
A fixation and confinement of thought to a few objects. Watts.
2. The act of uniting chemically with a solid substance or in a solid
form; reduction to a non-volatile condition; -- said of gaseous
elements.
3. The act or process of ceasing to be fluid and becoming firm.
Glanvill.
4. A state of resistance to evaporation or volatilization by heat; --
said of metals. Bacon.
FIXATIVE
Fix"a*tive, n.
Defn: That which serves to set or fix colors or drawings, as a
mordant.
FIXED
Fixed, a.
1. Securely placed or fastened; settled; established; firm; imovable;
unalterable.
2. (Chem.)
Defn: Stable; non-volatile. Fixed air (Old Chem.), carbonic acid or
carbon dioxide; -- so called by Dr. Black because it can be absorbed
or fixed by strong bases. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
-- Fixed alkali (Old Chem.), a non-volatile base, as soda, or
potash, in distinction from the volatile alkali ammonia.
-- Fixed ammunition (Mil.), a projectile and powder inclosed
together in a case ready for loading.
-- Fixed battery (Mil.), a battery which contains heavy guns and
mortars intended to remain stationary; -- distinguished from movable
battery.
-- Fixed bodies, those which can not be volatilized or separated by
a common menstruum, without great difficulty, as gold, platinum,
lime, etc.
-- Fixed capital. See the Note under Capital, n., 4.
-- Fixed fact, a well established fact. [Colloq.] -- Fixed light,
one which emits constant beams; -- distinguished from a flashing,
revolving, or intermittent light.
-- Fixed oils (Chem.), non-volatile, oily substances, as stearine
and olein, which leave a permanent greasy stain, and which can not be
distilled unchanged; -- distinguished from volatile or essential
oils.
-- Fixed pivot (Mil.), the fixed point about which any line of
troops wheels.
-- Fixed stars (Astron.), such stars as always retain nearly the
same apparent position and distance with respect to each other, thus
distinguished from planets and comets.
FIXEDLY
Fix"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fixed, stable, or constant manner.
FIXEDNESS
Fix"ed*ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being fixed; stability; steadfastness.
2. The quality of a body which resists evaporation or volatilization
by heat; solidity; cohesion of parts; as, the fixedness of gold.
FIXIDITY
Fix*id"i*ty, n.
Defn: Fixedness. [Obs.] Boyle.
FIXING
Fix"ing, n.
1. The act or process of making fixed.
2. That which is fixed; a fixture.
3. pl.
Defn: Arrangements; embellishments; trimmings; accompaniments.
[Colloq. U.S.]
FIXITY
Fix"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fixité.]
1. Fixedness; as, fixity of tenure; also, that which is fixed.
2. Coherence of parts. Sir I. Newton.
FIXTURE
Fix"ture, n. Etym: [Cf. Fixture.]
1. That which is fixed or attached to something as a permanent
appendage; as, the fixtures of a pump; the fixtures of a farm or of a
dwelling, that is, the articles which a tenant may not take away.
2. State of being fixed; fixedness.
The firm fixture of thy foot. Shak.
3. (Law)
Defn: Anything of an accessory character annexed to houses and lands,
so as to constitute a part of them. This term is, however, quite
frequently used in the peculiar sense of personal chattels annexed to
lands and tenements, but removable by the person annexing them, or
his personal representatives. In this latter sense, the same things
may be fixtures under some circumstances, and not fixtures under
others. Wharton (Law Dict. ). Bouvier.
Note: This word is frequently substituted for fixure (formerly the
word in common use) in new editions of old works.
FIXURE
Fix"ure, n. Etym: [L. fixura a fastening, fr. figere to fix. See Fix,
and cf. Fixture.]
Defn: Fixed position; stable condition; firmness. [Obs.] Shak.
FIZGIG
Fiz"gig`, n.
Defn: A fishing spear. [Obs.] Sandys.
FIZGIG
Fiz"gig`, n. Etym: [Fizz + gig whirling thing.]
Defn: A firework, made of damp powder, which makes a fizzing or
hissing noise when it explodes.
FIZGIG
Fiz"gig`, n. Etym: [See Gig a flirt.]
Defn: A gadding, flirting girl. Gosson.
FIZZ
Fizz, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzing.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. fisa to break wind, Dan. fise to foist, fizzle, OSw. fisa,
G. fisten, feisten. Cf. Foist.]
Defn: To make a hissing sound, as a burning fuse.
FIZZ
Fizz, n.
Defn: A hising sound; as, the fizz of a fly.
FIZZLE
Fiz"zle, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fizzled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fizzling.]
Etym: [See Fizz.]
1. To make a hissing sound.
It is the easfizzling. B. Jonson.
2. To make a ridiculous failure in an undertaking. [Colloq. or Low]
To fizzle out, to burn with a hissing noise and then go out, like wet
gunpowder; hence, to fail completely and ridicuously; to prove a
failure. [Colloq.]
FIZZLE
Fiz"zle, n.
Defn: A failure or abortive effort. [Colloq.]
FJORD
Fjord, n.
Defn: See Fiord.
FLABBERGAST
Flab"ber*gast, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Flap, and Aghast.]
Defn: To astonish; to strike with wonder, esp. by extraordinary
statements. [Jocular] Beaconsfield.
FLABBERGASTATION
Flab`ber*gas*ta"tion, n.
Defn: The state of being flabbergasted. [Jocular] London Punch.
FLABBILY
Flab"bi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flabby manner.
FLABBINESS
Flab"bi*ness, n.
Defn: Quality or state of being flabby.
FLABBY
Flab"by, a. Etym: [See Flap.]
Defn: Yielding to the touch, and easily moved or shaken; hanging
loose by its own weight; wanting firmness; flaccid; as, flabby flesh.
FLABEL
Fla"bel, n. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan, dim. of flabrum a breeze, fr.
flare to blow.]
Defn: A fan. [Obs.] Huloet.
FLABELLATE
Fla*bel"late, a. Etym: [L. flabellatus, p.p. of flabellare to fan,
fr. flabellum. See Flabbel.] (Bot.)
Defn: Flabelliform.
FLABELLATION
Flab`el*la"tion, n.
Defn: The act of keeping fractured limbs cool by the use of a fan or
some other contrivance. Dunglison.
FLABELLIFORM
Fla*bel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan + -fform: cf. F.
flabeliforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a fan; fan-shaped; flabellate.
FLABELLINERVED
Fla*bel"li*nerved`, a. Etym: [L. flabellum a fan + E. nerve.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many nerves diverging radiately from the base; -- said
of a leaf.
FLABELLUM
Fla*bel"lum, n. Etym: [L. See Flabel.] (Eccl.)
Defn: A fan; especially, the fan carried before the pope on state
occasions, made in ostrich and peacock feathers. Shipley.
FLABILE
Flab"ile, a. Etym: [L. flabilis.]
Defn: Liable to be blown about. Bailey.
FLACCID
Flac"cid, a. Etym: [L. flaccidus, fr. flaccus flabby: cf. OF.
flaccide.]
Defn: Yielding to pressure for want of firmness and stiffness; soft
and weak; limber; lax; drooping; flabby; as, a flaccid muscle;
flaccid flesh.
Religious profession . . . has become flacced. I. Taylor.
-- Flac"cid*ly, adv.
-- Flac"cid*ness, n.
FLACCIDITY
Flac*cid"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flaccidité.]
Defn: The state of being flaccid.
FLACHERIE
Flache`rie" (flash`re"), n. [F.]
Defn: A bacterial disease of silkworms, supposed to be due to eating
contaminated mulberry leaves.
FLACKER
Flack"er, v. i. Etym: [OE. flakeren, fr. flacken to move quickly to
and fro; cf. icel. flakka to rove about, AS. flacor fluttering,
flying, G. flackern to flare, flicker.]
Defn: To flutter, as a bird. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
FLACKET
Flack"et, n. Etym: [OF. flasquet little flask, dim. of flasque a
flask.]
Defn: A barrel-shaped bottle; a flagon.
FLACON
Fla"con (fla"kôn), n. [F. See Flagon.]
Defn: A small glass bottle; as, a flacon for perfume. "Two glass
flacons for the ink." Longfellow.
FLAG
Flag, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flagged; p. pr. & vb. n. Flagging.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. flaka to droop, hang loosely. Cf. Flacker, Flag an
ensign.]
1. To hang loose without stiffness; to bend down, as flexible bodies;
to be loose, yielding, limp.
As loose it [the sail] flagged around the mast. T. Moore.
2. To droop; to grow spiritless; to lose vigor; to languish; as, the
spirits flag; the streugth flags.
The pleasures of the town begin to flag. Swift.
Syn.
-- To droop; decline; fail; languish; pine.
FLAG
Flag, v. t.
1. To let droop; to suffer to fall, or let fall, into feebleness; as,
to flag the wings. prior.
2. To enervate; to exhaust the vigor or elasticity of.
Nothing so flags the spirits. Echard.
FLAG
Flag, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. & G. flagge, Sw. flagg, Dan. flag, D. vlag.
See Flag to hang loose.]
1. That which flags or hangs down loosely.
2. A cloth usually bearing a device or devices and used to indicate
nationality, party, etc., or to give or ask information; -- commonly
attached to a staff to be waved by the wind; a standard; a banner; an
ensign; the colors; as, the national flag; a military or a naval
flag.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) A group of feathers on the lower part of the legs of certain
hawks, owls, etc.
(b) A group of elongated wing feathers in certain hawks.
(c) The bushy tail of a dog, as of a setter. Black flag. See under
Black.
-- Flag captain, Flag leutenant, etc., special officers attached to
the flagship, as aids to the flag officer.
-- Flag officer, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an admiral,
or commodore.
-- Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as
an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some
communication not hostile.
-- Flag share, the flag officer's share of prize money.
-- Flag station (Railroad), a station at which trains do not stop
unless signaled to do so, by a flag hung out or waved.
-- National flag, a flag of a particular country, on which some
national emblem or device, is emblazoned.
-- Red flag, a flag of a red color, displayed as a signal of danger
or token of defiance; the emblem of anarchists.
-- To dip, the flag, to mlower it and quickly restore it to its
place; -- done as a mark of respect.
-- To hang out the white flag, to ask truce or quarter, or, in some
cases, to manifest a friendly design by exhibiting a white flag.
-- To hang the flag half-mast high or half-staff, to raise it only
half way to the mast or staff, as a token or sign of mourning.
-- To strike, or lower, the flag, to haul it down, in token of
respect, submission, or, in an engagement, of surrender.
-- Yellow flag, the quarantine flag of all nations; also carried at
a vessel's fore, to denote that an infectious disease is on board.
FLAG
Flag, v. t. Etym: [From Flag an ensign.]
1. To signal to with a flag; as, to flag a train.
2. To convey, as a message, by means of flag signals; as, to flag an
order to troops or vessels at a distance.
FLAG
Flag, n. Etym: [From Flag to hang loose, to bend down.] (Bot.)
Defn: An aquatic plant, with long, ensiform leaves, belonging to
either of the genera Iris and Acorus. Cooper's flag, the cat-tail
(Typha latifolia), the long leaves of which are placed between the
staves of barrels to make the latter water-tight.
-- Corn flag. See under 2d Corn.
-- Flag broom, a coarse of broom, originally made of flags or
rushes.
-- Flag root, the root of the sweet flag.
-- Sweet flag. See Calamus, n., 2.
FLAG
Flag, v. t.
Defn: To furnish or deck out with flags.
FLAG
Flag, n. Etym: [Icel. flaga, cf. Icel. flag spot where a turf has
been cut out, and E. flake layer, scale. Cf. Floe.]
1. A flat stone used for paving. Woodward.
2. (Geol.)
Defn: Any hard, evenly stratified sandstone, which splits into layers
suitable for flagstones.
FLAG
Flag, v. t.
Defn: To lay with flags of flat stones.
The sides and floor are all flagged with . . . marble. Sandys.
FLAGELLANT
Flag"el*lant, n. Etym: [L. flagellans, p.p. of flagellare: cf.F.
flagellant. See Flagellate.] (Eccl. Hist.)
Defn: One of a fanatical sect which flourished in Europe in the 13th
and 14th centuries, and maintained that flagellation was of equal
virtue with baptism and the sacrament; -- called also disciplinant.
FLAGELLATA
Flag`el*la"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr.L. flagellatus, p. p. See
Flagellate, v. t.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An order of Infusoria, having one or two long, whiplike cilia,
at the anterior end. It includes monads. See Infusoria, and Monad.
FLAGELLATE
Flag"el*late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flagellated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Flagellating.] Etym: [L. flagellatus, p.p. of flagellare to scoure,
fr. flagellum whip, dim. of flagrum whip, scoure; cf. fligere to
strike. Cf. Flall.]
Defn: To whip; to scourge; to flog.
FLAGELLATE
Fla*gel"late, a.
1. Flagelliform.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the Flagellata.
FLAGELLATION
Flag`el*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. flagellatio: cf. F. flagellation.]
Defn: A beating or flogging; a whipping; a scourging. Garth.
FLAGELLATOR
Flag"el*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who practices flagellation; one who whips or scourges.
FLAGELLIFORM
Fla*gel"li*form, a. Etym: [L. flagellum a whip + -form.]
Defn: Shaped like a whiplash; long, slender, round, flexible, and
(comming) tapering.
FLAGELLUM
Fla*gel"lum, n.; pl. E. Flagellums, L. Flagella. Etym: [L., a whip.
See Flagellate, v. t.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A young, flexible shoot of a plant; esp., the long trailing
branch of a vine, or a slender branch in certain mosses.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) A long, whiplike cilium. See Flagellata.
(b) An appendage of the reproductive apparatus of the snail.
(c) A lashlike appendage of a crustacean, esp. the terminal ortion of
the antennæ and the epipodite of the maxilipeds. See Maxilliped.
FLAGEOLET
Flag"eo*let`, n. Etym: [F. flageolet, dim. of OF. flaj (as if fr. a
LL. flautio;us), of flaüte, flahute, F. fl. See Flute.] (Mus.)
Defn: A small wooden pipe, having six or more holes, and a mouthpiece
inserted at one end. It produces a shrill sound, softer than of the
piccolo flute, and is said to have superseded the old recorder.
Flageolet tones (Mus.), the naturel harmonics or overtones of
stringed instruments.
FLAGGINESS
Flag"gi*ness, n.
Defn: The condition of being flaggy; laxity; limberness. Johnson.
FLAGGING
Flag"ging, n.
Defn: A pavement or sidewalk of flagstones; flagstones, collectively.
FLAGGING
Flag"ging, a.
Defn: Growing languid, weak, or spiritless; weakening; delaying.
-- Flag"ging*ly, adv.
FLAGGY
Flag"gy, a.
1. Weak; flexible; limber. "Flaggy wings." Spenser.
2. Tasteless; insipid; as, a flaggy apple. [Obs.] Bacon.
FLAGGY
Flag"gy, a. Etym: [From 5th Flag.]
Defn: Abounding with the plant called flag; as, a flaggy marsh.
FLAGITATE
Flag"i*tate, v. t. Etym: [L. flagitatus, p.p. of flagitare to demand.
See Flagitious.]
Defn: To importune; to demand fiercely or with passion. [Archaic]
Carcyle.
FLAGITATION
Flag`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. flagitatio.]
Defn: Importunity; urgent demand. [Archaic] Carlyle.
FLAGITIOUS
Fla*gi"tious, a. Etym: [L. flagitiosus, fr. flagitium a shameful or
disgraceful act, orig., a burning desire, heat of passion, from
flagitare to demand hotly, fiercely; cf. flagrare to burn, E.
flagrant.]
1. Disgracefully or shamefully criminal; grossly wicked; scandalous;
shameful; -- said of acts, crimes, etc.
Debauched principles and flagitious practices. I. Taylor.
2. Guilty of enormous crimes; corrupt; profligate; -- said of
persons. Pope.
3. Characterized by scandalous crimes or vices; as, flagitious times.
Pope.
Syn.
-- Atrocious; villainous; flagrant; heinous; corrupt; profligate;
abandoned. See Atracious.
-- Fla*gi"tious*ly, adv.
-- Fla*gi"tious*ness, n.
A sentence so flagitiously unjust. Macaulay.
FLAGMAN
Flag"man, n.; pl. Flagmen (.
Defn: One who makes signals with a flag.
FLAGON
Flag"on, n. Etym: [F. flacon, for flascon, fr. OF. flasche, from LL.
flasco. See Flask.]
Defn: A vessel with a narrow mouth, used for holding and conveying
liquors. It is generally larger than a bottle, and of leather or
stoneware rather than of glass.
A trencher of mutton chops, and a flagon of ale. Macaulay.
FLAGRANCE
Fla"grance, n.
Defn: Flagrancy. Bp. Hall.
FLAGRANCY
Fla"gran*cy, n.; pl. Flagrancies. Etym: [L. flagrantia a burning. See
Flagrant.]
1. A burning; great heat; inflammation. [Obs.]
Lust causeth a flagrancy in the eyes. Bacon.
2. The condition or quality of being flagrant; atrocity;
heiniousness; enormity; excess. Steele.
FLAGRANT
Fla"grant, a. Etym: [L. flagrans, -antis, p.pr. of flagrate to burn,
akin to Gr. flagrant. Cf. Flame, Phlox.]
1. Flaming; inflamed; glowing; burning; ardent.
The beadle's lash still flagrant on their back. Prior.
A young man yet flagrant from the lash of the executioner or the
beadle. De Quincey.
Flagrant desires and affections. Hooker.
2. Actually in preparation, execution, or performance; carried on
hotly; raging.
A war the most powerful of the native tribes was flagrant. Palfrey.
3. Flaming into notice; notorious; enormous; heinous; glaringly
wicked.
Syn.
-- Atrocious; flagitious; glaring. See Atrocious.
FLAGRANTLY
Fla"grant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flagrant manner.
FLAGRATE
Fla"grate, v. t. Etym: [L. flagrare, flagratum, v.i. & t., to burn.]
Defn: To burn. [Obs.] Greenhill.
FLAGRATION
Fla*gra"tion, n.
Defn: A conflagration. [Obs.]
FLAGSHIP
Flag"ship`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or
squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.
FLAGSTAFF
Flag"staff`, n.; pl. -staves ( or -staffs (.
Defn: A staff on which a flag is hoisted.
FLAGSTONE
Flag"stone`, n.
Defn: A flat stone used in paving, or any rock which will split into
such stones. See Flag, a stone.
FLAGWORM
Flag"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A worm or grub found among flags and sedge.
FLAIL
Flail, n. Etym: [L. flagellum whip, scourge, in LL., a threshing
flail: cf. OF. flael, flaiel, F. fléau. See Flagellum.]
1. An instrument for threshing or beating grain from the ear by hand,
consisting of a wooden staff or handle, at the end of which a stouter
and shorter pole or club, called a swipe, is so hung as to swing
freely.
His shadowy flail hath threshed the corn. Milton.
2. An ancient military weapon, like the common flail, often having
the striking part armed with rows of spikes, or loaded. Fairholt.
No citizen thought himself safe unless he carried under his coat a
small flail, loaded with lead, to brain the Popish assassins.
Macaulay.
FLAILY
Flail"y, a.
Defn: Acting like a flail. [Obs.] Vicars.
FLAIN
Flain, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Flay. Chaucer.
FLAIR
Flair (flâr), n. [OE. flaireodor, fr. OF. & F. flair, fr. OF.
flairier, F. flairer, to smell, LL. flagrare for L. fragrare. See
Flagrant.]
1. Smell; odor. [Obs.]
2. Sense of smell; scent; fig., discriminating sense.
FLAKE
Flake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flaki, fleki, Dan. flage, D. vlaak.]
1. A paling; a hurdle. [prov. Eng.]
2. A platform of hurdles, or small sticks made fast or interwoven,
supported by stanchions, for drying codfish and other things.
You shall also, after they be ripe, neither suffer them to have straw
nor fern under them, but lay them either upon some smooth table,
boards, or flakes of wands, and they will last the longer. English
Husbandman.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: A small stage hung over a vessel's side, for workmen to stand
on in calking, etc.
FLAKE
Flake, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flakna to flake off, split, flagna to
flake off, Sw. flaga flaw, flake, flake plate, Dan. flage snowflake.
Cf. Flag a flat stone.]
1. A loose filmy mass or a thin chiplike layer of anything; a film;
flock; lamina; layer; scale; as, a flake of snow, tallow, or fish.
"Lottle flakes of scurf." Addison.
Great flakes of ice encompassing our boat. Evelyn.
2. A little particle of lighted or incandescent matter, darted from a
fire; a flash.
With flakes of ruddy fire. Somerville.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: A sort of carnation with only two colors in the flower, the
petals having large stripes. Flake knife (Archæol.), a cutting
instrument used by savage tribes, made of a flake or chip of hard
stone. Tylor.
-- Flake stand, the cooling tub or vessel of a still worm. Knight.
-- Flake white. (Paint.) (a) The purest white lead, in the form of
flakes or scales. (b) The trisnitrate of bismuth. Ure.
FLAKE
Flake, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flaked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaking.]
Defn: To form into flakes. Pope.
FLAKE
Flake, v. i.
Defn: To separate in flakes; to peel or scale off.
FLAKINESS
Flak"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being flaky.
FLAKY
Flak"y, a.
Defn: Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or
cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.
What showers of mortal hail, what flaky fires! Watts.
A flaky weight of winter's purest snows. Wordsworth.
FLAM
Flam, n. Etym: [Cf. AS. fleám, fl, floght. sq. root 84 . Cf.
Flimflam.]
Defn: A freak or whim; also, a falsehood; a lie; an illusory pretext;
deception; delusion. [Obs.]
A perpetual abuse and flam upon posterity. South.
FLAM
Flam, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flammed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Flamming.]
Defn: To deceive with a falsehood. [Obs.]
God is not to be flammed off with lies. South.
FLAMBE
Flam`bé", a. [F., p.p. of flamber to singe, pass (a thing) through
flame. Cf. Flambeau.] (Ceramics)
Defn: Decorated by glaze splashed or irregularly spread upon the
surface, or apparently applied at the top and allowed to run down the
sides; -- said of pieces of Chinese porcelain.
FLAMBEAU
Flam"beau; n.; pl. Flambeaux or Flambeaus. Etym: [F., fr. OF. flambe
flame, for flamble, from L. flammula a little flame, dim. of flamma
flame. See Flame.]
Defn: A flaming torch, esp. one made by combining together a number
of thick wicks invested with a quick-burning substance (anciently,
perhaps, wax; in modern times, pitch or the like); hence, any torch.
FLAMBOYANT
Flam*boy"ant, a. Etym: [F.] (Arch.)
Defn: Characterized by waving or flamelike curves, as in the tracery
of windows, etc.; -- said of the later (15th century) French Gothic
style.
FLAMBOYER
Flam*boy"er, n. Etym: [F. flamboyer to be bright.] (Bot.)
Defn: A name given in the East and West Indies to certain trees with
brilliant blossoms, probably species of Cæsalpinia.
FLAME
Flame, n. Etym: [OE. flame, flaume, flaumbe, OF. flame, flambe, F.
flamme, fr. L. flamma, fr. flamma, fr. flagrare to burn. See
Flagrant, and cf. Flamneau, Flamingo.]
1. A stream of burning vapor or gas, emitting light and heat; darting
or streaming fire; a blaze; a fire.
2. Burning zeal or passion; elevated and noble enthusiasm; glowing
imagination; passionate excitement or anger. "In a flame of zeal
severe." Milton.
Where flames refin'd in breasts seraphic glow. Pope.
Smit with the love of sister arts we came, And met congenial,
mingling flame with flame. Pope.
3. Ardor of affection; the passion of love. Coleridge.
4. A person beloved; a sweetheart. Thackeray.
Syn.
-- Blaze; brightness; ardor. See Blaze. Flame bridge, a bridge wall.
See Bridge, n., 5.
-- Flame color, brilliant orange or yellow. B. Jonson.
-- Flame engine, an early name for the gas engine.
-- Flame manometer, an instrument, invented by Koenig, to obtain
graphic representation of the action of the human vocal organs. See
Manometer.
-- Flame reaction (Chem.), a method of testing for the presence of
certain elements by the characteristic color imparted to a flame; as,
sodium colors a flame yellow, potassium violet, lithium crimson,
boracic acid green, etc. Cf. Spectrum analysis, under Spectrum.
-- Flame tree (Bot.), a tree with showy scarlet flowers, as the
Rhododendron arboreum in India, and the Brachychiton acerifolium of
Australia.
FLAME
Flame, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaming.] Etym:
[OE. flamen, flaumben, F. flamber, OF. also, flamer. See Flame, n.]
1. To burn with a flame or blaze; to burn as gas emitted from bodies
in combustion; to blaze.
The main blaze of it is past, but a small thing would make it flame
again. Shak.
2. To burst forth like flame; to break out in violence of passion; to
be kindled with zeal or ardor.
He flamed with indignation. Macaulay.
FLAME
Flame, v. t.
Defn: To kindle; to inflame; to excite.
And flamed with zeal of vengeance inwardly. Spenser.
FLAME-COLORED
Flame"-col`ored, a.
Defn: Of the color of flame; of a bright orange yellow color. Shak.
FLAMELESS
Flame"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of flame. Sandys.
FLAMELET
Flame"let, n. Etym: [Flame + -let.]
Defn: A small flame.
The flamelets gleamed and flickered. Longfellow.
FLAMEN
Fla"men, n.; pl. E. Flammens, L. Flamines. Etym: [L.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A priest devoted to the service of a particular god, from whom
he received a distinguishing epithet. The most honored were those of
Jupiter, Mars, and Quirinus, called respectively Flamen Dialis,
Flamen Martialis, and Flamen Quirinalis.
Affrights the flamens at their service quaint. Milton.
FLAMINEOUS
Fla*min"e*ous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a flamen; flaminical.
FLAMING
Flam"ing, a.
1. Emitting flames; afire; blazing; consuming; illuminating.
2. Of the color of flame; high-colored; brilliant; dazzling. "In
flaming yellow bright." Prior.
3. Ardent; passionate; burning with zeal; irrepressibly earnest; as,
a flaming proclomation or harangue.
FLAMINGLY
Flam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flaming manner.
FLAMINGO
Fla*min"go, n.; pl. Flamingoes. Etym: [Sp. flamenco, cf. Pg.
flamingo, Prov. flammant, F. flamant; prop. a p.pr. meaning flaming.
So called in allusion to its color. See Flame.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Phoenicopterus. The flamingoes have
webbed feet, very long legs, and a beak bent down as if broken. Their
color is usually red or pink. The American flamingo is P. ruber; the
European is P. antiquorum.
FLAMINICAL
Fla*min"i*cal, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a flamen. Milton.
FLAMMABILITY
Flam`ma*bil"ity, n.
Defn: The quality of being flammable; inflammability. [Obs.] Sir T.
Browne.
FLAMMABLE
Flam"ma*ble, a.
Defn: Inflammable. [Obs.]
FLAMMATION
Flam*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of setting in a flame or blaze. [Obs.] Sir. T. Browne.
FLAMMEOUS
Flam"me*ous, a. Etym: [L. flammeus from flamma flame.]
Defn: Pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling, flame. [Obs.] Sir
T. Browne.
FLAMMIFEROUS
Flam*mif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. flammifer; flamma flame + ferre to
bear.]
Defn: Producing flame.
FLAMMIVOMOUS
Flam*miv"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. flammivomus; flamma flame + vomere to
vomit.]
Defn: Vomiting flames, as a volcano. W. Thompson. (1745).
FLAMMULATED
Flam"mu*la`ted, a. Etym: [L. flammula little flame, dim. fr. flamma
flame.]
Defn: Of a reddish color.
FLAMY
Flam"y, a. Etym: [From Flame.]
Defn: Flaming; blazing; flamelike; flame-colored; composed of flame.
Pope.
FLANCH
Flanch, n.; pl. Flanches. Etym: [Prov. E., a projection, OF. flanche
flank. See Flank.]
1. A flange. [R.]. (Her.)
Defn: A bearing consisting of a segment of a circle encroaching on
the field from the side.
Note: Flanches are always in pairs. A pair of flanches is considered
one of the subordinaries.
FLANCHED
Flanched, a. (Her.)
Defn: Having flanches; -- said of an escutcheon with those bearings.
FLANCONADE
Flan`co*nade", n. Etym: [F.] (Fencing)
Defn: A thrust in the side.
FLANERIE
Flâ`ne*rie", n. [F. flânerie. See Flaneur.]
Defn: Lit., strolling; sauntering; hence, aimless; idleness; as,
intellectual flânerie.
FLANEUR
Fla`neur", n. Etym: [F., fr. flâner to stroll.]
Defn: One who strolls about aimlessly; a lounger; a loafer.
FLANG
Flang, n.
Defn: A miner's two-pointed pick.
FLANGE
Flange, n. Etym: [Prov. E. flange to project, flanch a projection.
See Flanch, Flank.]
1. An external or internal rib, or rim, for strength, as the flange
of an iron beam; or for a guide, as the flange of a car wheel (see
Car wheel.); or for attachment to another object, as the flange on
the end of a pipe, steam cylinder, etc. Knight.
2. A plate or ring to form a rim at the end of a pipe when fastened
to the pipe. Blind flange, a plate for covering or closing the end of
a pipe.
-- Flange joint, a joint, as that of pipes, where the connecting
pieces have flanges by which the parts are bolted together. Knight. -
Flange rail, a rail with a flange on one side, to keep wheels, etc.
from running off.
-- Flange turning, the process of forming a flange on a wrought iron
plate by bending and hammering it wh
FLANGE
Flange, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanged; p. pr. & vb. n. Flanging.]
(Mach.)
Defn: To make a flange on; to furnish with a flange.
FLANGE
Flange, v. i.
Defn: To be bent into a flange.
FLANGED
Flanged, a.
Defn: Having a flange or flanges; as, a flanged wheel.
FLANK
Flank, n. Etym: [F. flanc, prob. fr. L. flaccus flabby, with n
inserted. Cf. Flaccid, Flanch, Flange.]
1. The fleshy or muscular part of the side of an animal, between the
rids and the hip. See Illust. of Beef.
2. (Mil.)
(a) The side of an army, or of any division of an army, as of a
brigade, regiment, or battalion; the extreme right or left; as, to
attack an enemy in flank is to attack him on the side.
When to right and left the front
Divided, and to either flank retired. Milton.
(b) (Fort.)
Defn: That part of a bastion which reaches from the curtain to the
face, and defends the curtain, the flank and face of the opposite
bastion; any part of a work defending another by a fire along the
outside of its parapet. See Illust. of Bastion.
3. (Arch.)
Defn: The side of any building. Brands.
4. That part of the acting surface of a gear wheel tooth that lies
within the pitch line. Flank attack (Mil.), an attack upon the side
of an army or body of troops, distinguished from one upon its front
or rear.
-- Flank company (Mil.), a certain number of troops drawn up on the
right or left of a battalion; usually grenadiers, light infantry, or
riflemen.
-- Flank defense (Fort.), protection of a work against undue
exposure to an enemy's direct fire, by means of the fire from other
works, sweeping the ground in its front.
-- Flank en potence (Mil.), any part of the right or left wing
formed at a projecting angle with the line.
-- Flank files, the first men on the right, and the last on the
left, of a company, battalion, etc.
-- Flank march, a march made parallel or obliquely to an enemy's
position, in order to turn it or to attack him on the flank.
-- Flank movement, a change of march by an army, or portion of one,
in order to turn one or both wings of the enemy, or to take up a new
position.
-- Flanks of a frontier, salient points in a national boundary,
strengthened to protect the frontier against hostile incursion.
-- Flank patrol, detachments acting independently of the column of
an army, but patrolling along its flanks, to secure it against
surprise and to observe the movements of the enemy.
FLANK
Flank, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flanked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flanking.] Etym:
[Cf. F. flanquer. See Flank, n., and cf. Flanker, v. t.]
1. To stand at the flank or side of; to border upon.
Stately colonnades are flanked with trees. Pitt.
2. To overlook or command the flank of; to secure or guard the flank
of; to pass around or turn the flank of; to attack, or threaten to
attack; the flank of.
FLANK
Flank, v. i.
1. To border; to touch. Bp. Butler.
2. To be posted on the side.
FLANKER
Flank"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, flanks, as a skirmisher or a body of
troops sent out upon the flanks of an army toguard a line of march,
or a fort projecting so as to command the side of an assailing body.
They threw out flankers, and endeavored to dislodge their assailants.
W. Irwing.
FLANKER
Flank"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flankered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flankering.]
Etym: [See Flank, v. t.]
1. To defend by lateral fortifications. [Obs.] Sir T. Herbert.
2. To attack sideways. [Obs.] Evelyn.
FLANNEL
Flan"nel, n. Etym: [F. flanelle, cf. OF. flaine a pillowcase, a
mattress; fr. W. gwlanen flannel, fr. gwlan wool; prob. akin to E.
wool. Cf. Wool.]
Defn: A soft, nappy, woolen cloth, of loose texture. Shak. Adam's
flannel. (Bot.) See under Adam.
-- Canton flannel, Cotton flannel. See Cotton flannel, under Cotton.
FLANNELED
Flan"neled, a.
Defn: Covered or wrapped in flannel.
FLANNEL FLOWER
Flan"nel flow`er. (Bot.)
(a) The common mullein.
(b) A Brazilian apocynaceous vine (Macrosiphonia longiflora) having
woolly leaves.
(c) An umbelliferous Australian flower (Actinotus helianthi), often
erroneously thought to be composite. The involucre looks as if cut
out of white flannel.
FLANNEN
Flan"nen, a.
Defn: Made or consisting of flannel. [Obs.] "Flannen robes." Dryden.
FLAP
Flap, n. Etym: [OE. flappe, flap, blow, bly-flap; cf. D. flap, and E.
flap, v.]
Defn: Anything broad and limber that hangs loose, or that is attached
by one side or end and is easily moved; as, the flap of a garment.
A cartilaginous flap upon the opening of the larynx. Sir T. Browne.
2. A hinged leaf, as of a table or shutter.
3. The motion of anything broad and loose, or a stroke or sound made
with it; as, the flap of a sail or of a wing.
4. pl. (Far.)
Defn: A disease in the lips of horses. Flap tile, a tile with a bent
up portion, to turn a corner or catch a drip.
-- Flap valve (Mech.), a valve which opens and shuts upon one hinged
side; a clack valve.
FLAP
Flap, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flapped; p. pr. & vb. n. Flapping.] Etym:
[Prob. of imitative origin; cf. D. flappen, E. flap, n., flop,
flippant, fillip.]
1. To beat with a flap; to strike.
Yet let me flap this bug with gilded wings. Pope.
2. To move, as something broad and flaplike; as, to flap the wings;
to let fall, as the brim of a hat. To flap in the mouth, to taunt.
[Obs.] W. Cartwright.
FLAP
Flap, v. i.
1. To move as do wings, or as something broad or loose; to fly with
wings beating the air.
The crows flapped over by twos and threes. Lowell.
2. To fall and hang like a flap, as the brim of a hat, or other broad
thing. Gay.
FLAPDRAGON
Flap"drag`on, n.
1. A game in which the players catch raisins out burning brandy, and
swallow them blazing. Johnson.
2. The thing thus caught abd eaten. Johnson.
Cakes and ale, and flapdragtons and mummer's plays, and all the happy
sports of Christians night. C. Kingsley.
FLAPDRAGON
Flap"drag`on, v. t.
Defn: To swallow whole, as a flapdragon; to devour. [Obs.]
See how the sea flapdragoned it. Shak.
FLAP-EARED
Flap"-eared`, a.
Defn: Having broad, loose, dependent ears. Shak.
FLAPJACK
Flap"jack`, n.
1. A fklat cake turned on the griddle while cooking; a griddlecake or
pacake.
2. A fried dough cake containing fruit; a turnover. [Prov. Eng.]
FLAP-MOUTHED
Flap"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Having broad, hangling lips. [R.] Shak.
FLAPPER
Flap"per, n.
1. One who, or that which, flaps.
2. See Flipper. "The flapper of a porpoise." Buckley. Flapper skate
(Zoöl.), a European skate (Raia intermedia).
FLARE
Flare, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flared; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaring.] Etym:
[Cf. Norw. flara to blaze, flame, adorn with tinsel, dial. Sw. flasa
upp, and E. flash, or flacker.]
1. To burn with an unsteady or waving flame; as, the candle flares.
2. To shine out with a sudden and unsteady light; to emit a dazzling
or painfully bright light.
3. To shine out with gaudy colors; to flaunt; to be offensively
bright or showy.
With ribbons pendant, flaring about her head. Shak.
4. To be exosed to too much light. [Obs.]
Flaring in sunshine all the day. Prior.
5. To open or spread outwards; to project beyond the perpendicular;
as, the sides of a bowl flare; the bows of a ship flare. To flare up,
to become suddenly heated or excited; to burst into a passion.
[Colloq.] Thackeray.
FLARE
Flare, n.
1. An unsteady, broad, offensive light.
2. A spreading outward; as, the flare of a fireplace.
FLARE
Flare, n.
Defn: Leaf of lard. "Pig's flare." Dunglison.
FLARE-UP
Flare"-up`, n.
Defn: A sudden burst of anger or passion; an angry dispute. [Colloq.]
FLARING
Flar"ing, a.
1. That flares; flaming or blazing unsteadily; shining out with a
dazzling light.
His [the sun's] flaring beams. Milton.
2. Opening or speading outwards.
FLARINGLY
Flar"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flaring manner.
FLASH
Flash, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flashed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flashing.] Etym:
[Cf. OE. flaskien, vlaskien to pour, sprinkle, dial. Sw. flasa to
blaze, E. flush, flare.]
1. To burst or break forth with a sudden and transient flood of flame
and light; as, the lighting flashes vividly; the powder flashed.
2. To break forth, as a sudden flood of light; to burst instantly and
brightly on the sight; to show a momentary brilliancy; to come or
pass like a flash.
Names which have flashed and thundered as the watch words of
unumbered struggles. Talfourd.
The object is made to flash upon the eye of the mind. M. Arnold.
A thought floashed through me, which I clothed in act. Tennyson.
3. To burst forth like a sudden flame; to break out violently; to
rush hastily.
Every hour He flashes into one gross crime or other. Shak.
To flash in the pan, to fail of success. [Colloq.] See under Flash, a
burst of light. Bartlett.
Syn.
-- Flash, Glitter, Gleam, Glisten, Glister. Flash differs from
glitter and gleam, denoting a flood or wide extent of light. The
latter words may express the issuing of light from a small object, or
from a pencil of rays. Flash differs from other words, also, in
denoting suddenness of appearance and disappearance. Flashing differs
from exploding or disploding in not being accompanied with a loud
report. To glisten, or glister, is to shine with a soft and fitful
luster, as eyes suffused with tears, or flowers wet with dew.
FLASH
Flash, v. t.
1. To send out in flashes; to cause to burst forth with sudden flame
or light.
The chariot of paternal Deity, Flashing thick flames. Milton.
2. To convey as by a flash; to light up, as by a sudden flame or
light; as, to flash a message along the wires; to flash conviction on
the mind.
3. (Glass Making)
Defn: To cover with a thin layer, as objects of glass with glass of a
different color. See Flashing, n., 3 (b).
4. To trick up in a showy manner.
Limning and flashing it with various dyes. A. Brewer.
5. Etym: [Perh. due to confusion between flash of light and plash,
splash.]
Defn: To strike and throw up large bodies of water from the surface;
to splash. [Obs.]
He rudely flashed the waves about. Spenser.
Flashed glass. See Flashing, n., 3.
FLASH
Flash, n.; pl. Flashes (.
1. A sudden burst of light; a flood of light instantaneously
appearing and disappearing; a momentary blaze; as, a flash of
lightning.
2. A sudden and brilliant burst, as of wit or genius; a momentary
brightness or show.
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind. Shak.
No striking sentiment, no flash of fancy. Wirt.
3. The time during which a flash is visible; an instant; a very brief
period.
The Persians and Macedonians had it for a flash. Bacon.
4. A preparation of capsicum, burnt sugar, etc., for coloring and
giving a fictious strength to liquors. Flash light, or Flashing
light, a kind of light shown by lighthouses, produced by the
revolution of reflectors, so as to show a flash of light every few
seconds, alternating with periods of dimness. Knight.
-- Flash in the pan, the flashing of the priming in the pan of a
flintlock musket without discharging the piece; hence, sudden,
spasmodic effort that accomplishes nothing.
FLASH
Flash, a.
1. Showy, but counterfeit; cheap, pretentious, and vulgar; as, flash
jewelry; flash finery.
2. Wearing showy, counterfeit ornaments; vulgarly pretentious; as,
flash people; flash men or women; -- applied especially to thieves,
gamblers, and prostitutes that dress in a showy way and wear much
cheap jewelry. Flash house, a house frequented by flash people, as
thieves and whores; hence, a brothel. "A gang of footpads, reveling
with their favorite beauties at a flash house." Macaulay.
FLASH
Flash, n.
Defn: Slang or cant of thieves and prostitutes.
FLASH
Flash, n. Etym: [OE. flasche, flaske; cf. OF. flache, F. flaque.]
1. A pool. [Prov. Eng.] Haliwell.
2. (Engineering)
Defn: A reservoir and sluiceway beside a navigable stream, just above
a shoal, so that the stream may pour in water as boats pass, and thus
bear them over the shoal. Flash wheel (Mech.), a paddle wheel made to
revolve in a breast or curved water way, by which water is lifted
from the lower to the higher level.
FLASHBOARD
Flash"board`, n.
Defn: A board placed temporarily upon a milldam, to raise the water
in the pond above its usual level; a flushboard. [U.S.]
FLASH BOILER
Flash boiler.
Defn: A variety of water-tube boiler, used chiefly in steam
automobiles, consisting of a nest of strong tubes with very little
water space, kept nearly red hot so that the water as it trickles
drop by drop into the tubes is immediately flashed into steam and
superheated.
FLASH BURNER
Flash burner.
Defn: A gas burner with a device for lighting by an electric spark.
FLASHER
Flash"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, flashes.
2. A man of more appearance of wit than reality.
3. (Zoöl.)
(a) A large sparoid fish of the Atlantic coast and all tropical seas
(Lobotes Surinamensis).
(b) The European red-backed shrile (Lanius collurio); -- called also
flusher.
FLASHILY
Flash"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flashy manner; with empty show.
FLASHINESS
Flash"i*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being flashy.
FLASHING
Flash"ing, n.
1. (Engineering)
Defn: The creation of an artifical flood by the sudden letting in of
a body of water; -- called also flushing.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Pieces of metal, built into the joints of a wall, so as to lap
over the edge of the gutters or to cover the edge of the roofing;
also, similar pieces used to cover the valleys of roofs of slate,
shingles, or the like. By extension, the metal covering of ridges and
hips of roofs; also, in the United States, the protecting of angles
and breaks in walls of frame houses with waterproof material, tarred
paper, or the like. Cf. Filleting.
3. (Glass Making)
(a) The reheating of an article at the furnace aperture during
manufacture to restore its plastic condition; esp., the reheating of
a globe of crown glass to allow it to assume a flat shape as it is
rotated.
(b) A mode of covering transparent white glass with a film of colored
glass. Knight. Flashing point (Chem.), that degree of temperature at
which a volatile oil gives off vapor in sufficient quantity to burn,
or flash, on the approach of a flame, used as a test of the
comparative safety of oils, esp. kerosene; a flashing point of 100º
F. is regarded as a fairly safe standard. The burning point of the
oil is usually from ten to thirty degree above the flashing point of
its vapor.
FLASHY
Flash"y, a.
1. Dazzling for a moment; making a momentary show of brilliancy;
transitorily bright.
A little flashy and transient pleasure. Barrow.
2. Fiery; vehement; impetuous.
A temper always flashy. Burke.
3. Showy; gay; gaudy; as, a flashy dress.
4. Without taste or spirit.
Lean and flashy songs. Milton.
FLASK
Flask, n. Etym: [AS. flasce, flaxe; akin to D. flesch, OHG. flasca,
G. flasche, Icel. & Sw. flaska, Dan. flaske, OF. flasche, LL. flasca,
flasco; of uncertain origin; cf. L. vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel,
Gr. Flagon, Flasket.]
1. A small bottle-shaped vessel for holding fluids; as, a flask of
oil or wine.
2. A narrow-necked vessel of metal or glass, used for various
purposes; as of sheet metal, to carry gunpowder in; or of wrought
iron, to contain quicksilver; or of glass, to heat water in, etc.
3. A bed in a gun carriage. [Obs.] Bailey.
4. (Founding)
Defn: The wooden or iron frame which holds the sand, etc., forming
the mold used in a foundry; it consists of two or more parts; viz.,
the cope or top; sometimes, the cheeks, or middle part; and the drag,
or bottom part. When there are one or more cheeks, the flask is
called a three part flask, four part flask, etc. Erlenmeyer flask, a
thin glass flask, flat-bottomed and cone-shaped to allow of safely
shaking its contents laterally without danger of spilling; -- so
called from Erlenmeyer, a German chemist who invented it.
-- Florence flask. Etym: [From Florence in Italy.] (a) Same as
Betty, n., 3. (b) A glass flask, round or pear-shaped, with round or
flat bottom, and usually very thin to allow of heating solutions.
-- Pocket flask, a kind of pocket dram bottle, often covered with
metal or leather to protect it from breaking.
FLASKET
Flask"et, n. Etym: [Cf. W. fflasged a vessel of straw or wickerwork,
fflasg flask, basket, and E. flask.]
1. A long, shallow basket, with two handles. [Eng.]
In which they gathered flowers to fill their flasket. Spenser.
2. A small flask.
3. A vessel in which viands are served. [Obs.] Pope.
FLAT
Flat, a. [Compar. Flatter; superl. Flattest.] Etym: [Akin to Icel.
flatr, Sw. flat, Dan. flad, OHG. flaz, and AS. flet floor, G. flötz
stratum, layer.]
1. Having an even and horizontal surface, or nearly so, without
prominences or depressions; level without inclination; plane.
Though sun and moon Were in the flat sea sunk. Milton.
2. Lying at full length, or spread out, upon the ground; level with
the ground or earth; prostrate; as, to lie flat on the ground; hence,
fallen; laid low; ruined; destroyed.
What ruins kingdoms, and lays cities flat! Milton.
I feel . . . my hopes all flat. Milton.
3. (Fine Arts)
Defn: Wanting relief; destitute of variety; without points of
prominence and striking interest.
A large part of the work is, to me, very flat. Coleridge.
4. Tasteless; stale; vapid; insipid; dead; as, fruit or drink flat to
the taste.
5. Unanimated; dull; uninteresting; without point or spirit;
monotonous; as, a flat speech or composition.
How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of
this world. Shak.
6. Lacking liveliness of commercial exchange and dealings; depressed;
dull; as, the market is flat.
7. Clear; unmistakable; peremptory; absolute; positive; downright.
Flat burglary as ever was committed. Shak.
A great tobacco taker too, -- that's flat. Marston.
8. (Mus.)
(a) Below the true pitch; hence, as applied to intervals, minor, or
lower by a half step; as, a flat seventh; A flat.
(b) Not sharp or shrill; not acute; as, a flat sound.
9. (Phonetics)
Defn: Sonant; vocal; -- applied to any one of the sonant or vocal
consonants, as distinguished from a nonsonant (or sharp) consonant.
Flat arch. (Arch.) See under Arch, n., 2. (b).
-- Flat cap, cap paper, not folded. See under Paper.
-- Flat chasing, in fine art metal working, a mode of ornamenting
silverware, etc., producing figures by dots and lines made with a
punching tool. Knight.
-- Flat chisel, a sculptor's chisel for smoothing.
-- Flat file, a file wider than its thickness, and of rectangular
section. See File.
-- Flat nail, a small, sharp-pointed, wrought nail, with a flat,
thin head, larger than a tack. Knight.
-- Flat paper, paper which has not been folded.
-- Flat rail, a railroad rail consisting of a simple flat bar spiked
to a longitudinal sleeper.
-- Flat rods (Mining), horizontal or inclined connecting rods, for
transmitting motion to pump rods at a distance. Raymond.
-- Flat rope, a rope made by plaiting instead of twisting; gasket;
sennit.
Note: Some flat hoisting ropes, as for mining shafts, are made by
sewing together a number of ropes, making a wide, flat band. Knight.
-- Flat space. (Geom.) See Euclidian space.
-- Flat stitch, the process of wood engraving. [Obs.] -- Flat tint
(Painting), a coat of water color of one uniform shade.
-- To fall flat (Fig.), to produce no effect; to fail in the
intended effect; as, his speech fell flat.
Of all who fell by saber or by shot, Not one fell half so flat as
Walter Scott. Lord Erskine.
FLAT
Flat, adv.
1. In a flat manner; directly; flatly.
Sin is flat opposite to the Almighty. Herbert.
2. (Stock Exchange)
Defn: Without allowance for accrued interest. [Broker's Cant]
FLAT
Flat, n.
1. A level surface, without elevation, relief, or prominences; an
extended plain; specifically, in the United States, a level tract
along the along the banks of a river; as, the Mohawk Flats.
Envy is as the sunbeams that beat hotter upon a bank, or steep rising
ground, than upon a flat. Bacon.
2. A level tract lying at little depth below the surface of water, or
alternately covered and left bare by the tide; a shoal; a shallow; a
strand.
Half my power, this night Passing these flats, are taken by the tide.
Shak.
3. Something broad and flat in form; as:
(a) A flat-bottomed boat, without keel, and of small draught.
(b) A straw hat, broad-brimmed and low-crowned.
(c) (Railroad Mach.) A car without a roof, the body of which is a
platform without sides; a platform car.
(d) A platform on wheel, upon which emblematic designs, etc., are
carried in processions.
4. The flat part, or side, of anything; as, the broad side of a
blade, as distinguished from its edge.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: A floor, loft, or story in a building; especially, a floor of a
house, which forms a complete residence in itself.
6. (Mining)
Defn: A horizontal vein or ore deposit auxiliary to a main vein;
also, any horizontal portion of a vein not elsewhere horizontal.
Raymond.
7. A dull fellow; a simpleton; a numskull. [Colloq.]
Or if you can not make a speech, Because you are a flat. Holmes.
8. (Mus.)
Defn: A character [] before a note, indicating a tone which is a half
step or semitone lower.
9. (Geom.)
Defn: A homaloid space or extension.
FLAT
Flat, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flatted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flatting.]
1. To make flat; to flatten; to level.
2. To render dull, insipid, or spiritless; to depress.
Passions are allayed, appetites are flatted. Barrow.
3. To depress in tone, as a musical note; especially, to lower in
pitch by half a tone.
FLAT
Flat, v. i.
1. To become flat, or flattened; to sink or fal to an even surface.
Sir W. Temple.
2. (Mus.)
Defn: To fall form the pitch. To flat out, to fail from a promising
beginning; to make a bad ending; to disappoint expectations.
[Colloq.]
FLATBILL
Flat"bill`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of the genus Flatyrynchus. They belong to the family
of flycatchers.
FLATBOAT
Flat"boat`, n.
Defn: A boat with a flat bottom and square ends; -- used for the
transportation of bulky freight, especially in shallow waters.
FLAT-BOTTOMED
Flat"-bot`tomed, a.
Defn: Having an even lower surface or bottom; as, a flat-bottomed
boat.
FLAT-CAP
Flat"-cap`, n.
Defn: A kind of low-crowned cap formerly worn by all classes in
England, and continued in London after disuse elsewhere; -- hence, a
citizen of London. Marston.
FLATFISH
Flat"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any fish of the family Pleuronectidæ; esp., the winter flounder
(Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened,
swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot,
and halibut. See Flounder.
FLAT FOOT
Flat" foot`. (Med.)
Defn: A foot in which the arch of the instep is flattened so that the
entire sole of the foot rests upon the ground; also, the deformity,
usually congential, exhibited by such a foot; splayfoot.
FLAT-FOOTED
Flat"-foot`ed, a.
1. Having a flat foot, with little or no arch of the instep.
2. Firm-footed; determined. [Slang, U.S.]
FLATHEAD
Flat"head`, a.
Defn: Characterized by flatness of head, especially that produced by
artificial means, as a certain tribe of American Indians.
FLATHEAD
Flat"head`, n. (Ethnol.)
Defn: A Chinook Indian. See Chinook, n., 1.
FLAT-HEADED
Flat"-head`ed, a.
Defn: Having a head with a flattened top; as, a flat-headed nail.
FLATIRON
Flat"i`ron, n.
Defn: An iron with a flat, smooth surface for ironing clothes.
FLATIVE
Fla"tive, a. Etym: [L. flare, flatum to blow.]
Defn: Producing wind; flatulent. [Obs.] A. Brewer.
FLATLING
Flat"ling, adv. Etym: [Flat, a. + adverbial suff. -ing.]
Defn: With the flat side, as of a sword; flatlong; in a prostrate
position. [Obs.] Spenser.
FLATLONG
Flat"long
Defn: ; 115), adv. With the flat side downward; not edgewise. Shak.
FLATLY
Flat"ly, adv.
Defn: In a flat manner; evenly; horizontally; without spirit; dully;
frigidly; peremptori;y; positively, plainly. "He flatly refused his
aid." Sir P. Sidney.
He that does the works of religion slowly, flatly, and without
appetite. Jer. Taylor.
FLATNESS
Flat"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being flat.
2. Eveness of surface; want of relief or prominence; the state of
being plane or level.
3. Want of vivacity or spirit; prostration; dejection; depression.
4. Want of variety or flavor; dullness; inspidity.
5. Depression of tone; the state of being below the true pitch; --
opposed to sharpness or acuteness.
FLATOUR
Fla*tour", n. Etym: [OF.]
Defn: A flatterer. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLATTEN
Flat"ten, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattened; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattening.]
Etym: [From Flat, a.]
1. To reduce to an even surface or one approaching evenness; to make
flat; to level; to make plane.
2. To throw down; to bring to the ground; to prostrate; hence, to
depress; to deject; to dispirit.
3. To make vapid or insipid; to render stale.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: To lower the pitch of; to cause to sound less sharp; to let
fall from the pitch. To flatten a sail (Naut.), to set it more nearly
fore-and-aft of the vessel.
-- Flattening oven, in glass making, a heated chamber in which split
glass cylinders are flattened for window glass.
FLATTEN
Flat"ten, v. i.
Defn: To become or grow flat, even, depressed dull, vapid,
spiritless, or depressed below pitch.
FLATTER
Flat"ter, n.
1. One who, or that which, makes flat or flattens.
2. (Metal Working)
(a) A flat-faced fulling hammer.
(b) A drawplate with a narrow, rectangular orifice, for drawing flat
strips, as watch springs, etc.
FLATTER
Flat"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flattered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flattering.]
Etym: [OE. flateren, cf. OD. flatteren; akin to G. flattern to
flutter, Icel. fla to fawn, flatter: cf. F. flatter. Cf. Flitter,
Flutter, Flattery.]
1. To treat with praise or blandishments; to gratify or attempt to
gratify the self-love or vanity of, esp. by artful and interested
commendation or attentions; to blandish; to cajole; to wheedle.
When I tell him he hates flatterers, He says he does, being then most
flattered. Shak.
A man that flattereth his neighbor, spreadeth a net for his feet.
Prov. xxix. 5.
Others he flattered by asking their advice. Prescott.
2. To raise hopes in; to encourage or favorable, but sometimes
unfounded or deceitful, representations.
3. To portray too favorably; to give a too favorable idea of; as, his
portrait flatters him.
FLATTER
Flat"ter, v. i.
Defn: To use flattery or insincere praise.
If it may stand him more in stead to lie, Say and unsay, feign,
flatter, or adjure. Milton.
FLATTERER
Flat"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who flatters.
The most abject flaterers degenerate into the greatest tyrants.
Addison.
FLATTERING
Flat"ter*ing, a.
Defn: That flatters (in the various senses of the verb); as, a
flattering speech.
Lay not that flattering unction to your soul. Shak.
A flattering painter, who made it his care, To draw men as they ought
be, not as they are. Goldsmith.
FLATTERINGLY
Flat"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With flattery.
FLATTERY
Flat"ter*y, n.; pl. Flatteries. Etym: [OE. flaterie, OF. flaterie, F.
flaterie, fr. flater to flatter, F. flatter; of uncertain origin. See
Flatter, v. t.]
Defn: The act or practice of flattering; the act of pleasing by
artiful commendation or compliments; adulation; false, insincere, or
excessive praise.
Just praise is only a debt, but flattery is a present. Rambler.
Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver. Burke.
Syn.
-- Adulation; compliment; obsequiousness. See Adulation.
FLATTING
Flat"ting, n.
1. The process or operation of making flat, as a cylinder of glass by
opening it out.
2. A mode of painting,in which the paint, being mixed with
turpentine, leaves the work without gloss. Gwilt.
3. A method of preserving gilding unburnished, by touching with size.
Knolles.
4. The process of forming metal into sheets by passing it between
rolls. Flatting coat, a coat of paint so put on as to have no gloss.
-- Flatting furnace. Same as Flattening oven, under Flatten.
-- Flatting mill. (a) A rolling mill producing sheet metal; esp., in
mints, the ribbon from which the planchets are punched. (b) A mill in
which grains of metal are flatted by steel rolls, and reduced to
metallic dust, used for purposes of ornamentation.
FLATTISH
Flat"tish, a.
Defn: Somewhat flat. Woodward.
FLATULENCE; FLATULENCY
Flat"u*lence, Flat"u*len*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flatulence.]
Defn: The state or quality of being flatulent.
FLATULENT
Flat"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. flatus a blowing, flatus ventris windiness,
flatulence, fr. flare to blow: cf. F. flatulent. See Blow.]
1. Affected with flatus or gases generated in the alimentary canal;
windy.
2. Generating, or tending to generate, wind in the stomach.
Vegetables abound more with aërial particles than animal substances,
and therefore are more flatulent. Arbuthnot.
3. Turgid with flatus; as, a flatulent tumor. Quincy.
4. Pretentious without substance or reality; puffy; empty; vain; as,
a flatulent vanity.
He is too flatulent sometimes, and sometimes too dry. Dryden.
FLATULENTLY
Flat"u*lent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flatulent manner; with flatulence.
FLATUOSITY
Flat`u*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flatuosité.]
Defn: Flatulence. [Obs.] Bacon.
FLATUOUS
Flat"u*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. flatueux.]
Defn: Windy; generating wind. [Obs.] Bacon.
FLATUS
Fla"tus, n.; pl. E. Flatuses, L. Flatus. Etym: [L., fr. flare to
blow.]
1. A breath; a puff of wind. Clarke.
2. Wind or gas generated in the stomach or other cavities of the
body. Quincy.
FLATWARE
Flat"ware`, n.
Defn: Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more
or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware.
FLATWARE
Flat"ware`, n.
Defn: Articles for the table, as china or silverware, that are more
or less flat, as distinguished from hollow ware.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
FLATWISE
Flat"wise`, a. or adv.
Defn: With the flat side downward, or next to another object; not
edgewise.
FLATWORM
Flat"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any worm belonging to the Plathelminthes; also, sometimes
applied to the planarians.
FLAUNDRISH
Flaun"drish ( or ), a.
Defn: Flemish. [Obs.]
FLAUNT
Flaunt ( or ; 277), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flaunted; p. pr. & vb. n..
Flaunting.] Etym: [Cf. dial. G. flandern to flutter, wave; perh. akin
to E. flatter, flutter.]
Defn: To throw or spread out; to flutter; to move ostentatiously; as,
a flaunting show.
You flaunt about the streets in your new gilt chariot. Arbuthnot.
One flaunts in rags, one flutters in brocade. Pope.
FLAUNT
Flaunt, v. t.
Defn: To display ostentatiously; to make an impudent show of.
FLAUNT
Flaunt, n.
Defn: Anything displayed for show. [Obs.]
In these my borrowed flaunts. Shak.
FLAUNTINGLY
Flaunt"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flaunting way.
FLAUTIST
Flau"tist, n. Etym: [It. flauto a flute See Flute.]
Defn: A player on the flute; a flutist.
FLAUTO
Flau"to, n. Etym: [It.]
Defn: A flute. Flaute piccolo ( Etym: [It., little flute], an octave
flute.
-- Flauto traverso ( Etym: [It., transverse flute], the German
flute, held laterally, instead of being played, like the old flûte a
bec, with a mouth piece at the end.
FLAVANILINE
Fla*van"i*line ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow + E. aniline.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, crystalline, organic dyestuff, C16H14N2, of artifical
production. It is a strong base, and is a complex derivative of
aniline and quinoline.
FLAVESCENT
Fla*ves"cent, a. Etym: [L. flavescens, p.pr. of flavescere to turn
yellow.]
Defn: Turning yellow; yellowish.
FLAVICOMOUS
Fla*vic"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. flavicomus; flavus yellow + coma hair.]
Defn: Having yellow hair. [R.]
FLAVIN
Fla"vin, n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, vegetable dyestuff, resembling quercitron.
FLAVINE
Fla"vine (; 104), n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, crystalline, organic base, C13H12N2O, obtained
artificially.
FLAVOL
Fla"vol, n. Etym: [L. flavus yellow + -oil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A yellow, crystalline substance, obtained from anthraquinone,
and regarded as a hydroxyl derivative of it.
FLAVOR
Fla"vor, n. Etym: [OF. fleur, flaur (two syllables), odor, cf. F.
fleurer to emit an odor, It. flatore a bad odor, prob. fr. L. flare
to bow, whence the sense of exhalation. Cf. Blow.] [Written also
flavour.]
1. That quality of anything which affects the smell; odor;
fragrances; as, the flavor of a rose.
2. That quality of anything which affects the taste; that quality
which gratifies the palate; relish; zest; savor; as, the flavor of
food or drink.
3. That which imparts to anything a peculiar odor or taste,
gratifying to the sense of smell, or the nicer perceptions of the
palate; a substance which flavors.
4. That quality which gives character to any of the productions of
literature or the fine arts.
FLAVOR
Fla"vor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flavored; p. pr. & vb. n. Flavoring.]
Defn: To give flavor to; to add something (as salt or a spice) to, to
give character or zest.
FLAVORED
Fla"vored, a.
Defn: Having a distinct flavor; as, high-flavored wine.
FLAVORLESS
Fla"vor*less, a.
Defn: Without flavor; tasteless.
FLAVOROUS
Fla"vor*ous, a.
Defn: Imparting flavor; pleasant to the taste or smell; sapid.
Dryden.
FLAVOUS
Fla"vous, a. Etym: [L. flavus.]
Defn: Yellow. [Obs.]
FLAW
Flaw, n. Etym: [OE. flai, flaw flake; cf. Sw. flaga flaw, crack,
breach, flake, D. vlaag gust of wind, Norw. flage, flaag, and E. flag
a flat stone.]
1. A crack or breach; a gap or fissure; a defect of continuity or
cohesion; as, a flaw in a knife or a vase.
This heart Shall break into a hundered thousand flaws. Shak.
2. A defect; a fault; as, a flaw in reputation; a flaw in a will, in
a deed, or in a statute.
Has not this also its flaws and its dark side South.
3. A sudden burst of noise and disorder; a tumult; uproar; a quarrel.
[Obs.]
And deluges of armies from the town Came pouring in; I heard the
mighty flaw. Dryden.
4. A sudden burst or gust of wind of short duration.
Snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw. Milton.
Like flaws in summer laying lusty corn. Tennyson.
Syn.
-- Blemish; fault; imoerfection; spot; speck.
FLAW
Flaw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flawing.]
1. To crack; to make flaws in.
The brazen caldrons with the frosts are flawed. Dryden.
2. To break; to violate; to make of no effect. [Obs.]
France hath flawed the league. Shak.
FLAWLESS
Flaw"less, a.
Defn: Free from flaws. Boyle.
FLAWN
Flawn, n. Etym: [OF. flaon, F. flan, LL. flado, fr. OHG. flado, G.
fladen, a sort of pancake; cf. Gr. Place.]
Defn: A sort of flat custard or pie. [Obs.] Tusser.
FLAWTER
Flaw"ter, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Flay.]
Defn: To scrape o [Obs.] Johnson.
FLAWY
Flaw"y, a.
1. Full of flaws or cracks; broken; defective; faulty. Johnson.
2. Subject to sudden flaws or gusts of wind.
FLAX
Flax, n. Etym: [AS. fleax; akin to D. vlas, OHG. flahs, G. flachs,
and prob. to flechten to braid, plait,m twist, L. plectere to weave,
plicare to fold, Gr. Ply.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant of the genus Linum, esp. the L. usitatissimum, which
has a single, slender stalk, about a foot and a half high, with blue
flowers. The fiber of the bark is used for making thread and cloth,
called linen, cambric, lawn, lace, etc. Linseed oil is expressed from
the seed.
2. The skin or fibrous part of the flax plant, when broken and
cleaned by hatcheling or combing. Earth flax (Min.), amianthus.
-- Flax brake, a machine for removing the woody portion of flax from
the fibrous.
-- Flax comb, a hatchel, hackle, or heckle.
-- Flax cotton, the fiber of flax, reduced by steeping in
bicarbinate of soda and acidulated liquids, and prepared for
bleaching and spinning like cotton. Knight.
-- Flax dresser, one who breaks and swingles flax, or prepares it
for the spinner.
-- Flax mill, a mill or factory where flax is spun or linen
manufactured.
-- Flax puller, a machine for pulling flax plants in the field.
-- Flax wench. (a) A woman who spins flax. [Obs.] (b) A prostitute.
[Obs.] Shak.
-- Mountain flax (Min.), amianthus.
-- New Zealand flax (Bot.) See Flax-plant.
FLAXEN
Flax"en, a.
Defn: Made of flax; resembling flax or its fibers; of the color of
flax; of a light soft straw color; fair and flowing, like flax or
tow; as, flaxen thread; flaxen hair.
FLAX-PLANT
Flax"-plant`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant in new Zealand (Phormium tenax), allied to the lilies
and aloes. The leaves are two inches wide and several feet long, and
furnish a fiber which is used for making ropes, mats, and coarse
cloth.
FLAXSEED
Flax"seed`, n.
Defn: The seed of the flax; linseed.
FLAXWEED
Flax"weed`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Toadflax.
FLAXY
Flax"y, a.
Defn: Like flax; flaxen. Sir M. Sandys.
FLAY
Flay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flaying.] Etym:
[OE. flean, flan, AS. fleán; akin to D. vlaen, Icel. fla, Sw. flå,
Dan. flaae, cf. Lith. ples to tear, plyszti, v.i., to burst tear;
perh. akin to E. flag to flat stone, flaw.]
Defn: To skin; to strip off the skin or surface of; as, to flay an
ox; to flay the green earth.
With her nails She 'll flay thy wolfish visage. Shak.
FLAYER
Flay"er, n.
Defn: One who strips off the skin.
FLEA
Flea, v. t. Etym: [See Flay.]
Defn: To flay. [Obs.]
He will be fleaced first And horse collars made of's skin. J.
Fletcher.
FLEA
Flea, n. Etym: [OE. fle, flee, AS. fleá, fleáh; akin to D. fl, G.
floh, Icel. fl, Russ. blocha; prob. from the root of E. flee. Flee.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: An insect belonging to the genus Pulex, of the order
Aphaniptera. Fleas are destitute of wings, but have the power of
leaping energetically. The bite is poisonous to most persons. The
human flea (Pulex irritans), abundant in Europe, is rare in America,
where the dog flea (P. canis) takes its place. See Aphaniptera, and
Dog flea. See Illustration in Appendix. A flea in the ear, an
unwelcome hint or unexpected reply, annoying like a flea; an
irritating repulse; as, to put a flea in one's ear; to go away with a
flea in one's ear.
-- Beach flea, Black flea, etc. See under Beach, etc.
FLEABANE
Flea"bane`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: One of various plants, supposed to have efficacy in driving
away fleas. They belong, for the most part, to the genera Conyza,
Erigeron, and Pulicaria.
FLEA-BEETLE
Flea"-bee`tle, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A small beetle of the family Halticidæ, of many species. They
have strong posterior legs and leap like fleas. The turnip flea-
beetle (Phyllotreta vittata) and that of the grapevine (Graptodera
chalybea) are common injurious species.
FLEA-BITE
Flea"-bite`, n.
1. The bite of a flea, or the red spot caused by the bite.
2. A trifling wound or pain, like that of the bite of a flea. Harvey.
FLEA-BITTEN
Flea"-bit`ten, a.
1. Bitten by a flea; as, a flea-bitten face.
2. White, flecked with minute dots of bay or sorrel; -- said of the
color of a horse.
FLEAGH
Fleagh, obs.
Defn: imp. of Fly.
FLEAK
Fleak, n.
Defn: A flake; a thread or twist. [Obs.]
Little long fleaks or threads of hemp. Dr. H. More.
FLEAKING
Fleak"ing, n.
Defn: A light covering of reeds, over which the main covering is
laid, in thatching houses. [Prov. Eng.] Wright.
FLEA-LOUSE
Flea"-louse`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A jumping plant louse of the family Psyllidæ, of many species.
That of the pear tree is Psylla pyri.
FLEAM
Fleam, n. Etym: [F. flamme, OF. flieme, fr. LL. flevotomum,
phlebotomum; cf. D. vlijm. See Phlebotomy.] (Surg. & Far.)
Defn: A sharp instrument used for opening veins, lancing gums, etc.;
a kind of lancet. Fleam tooth, a tooth of a saw shaped like an
isosceles triangle; a peg tooth. Knight.
FLEAMY
Fleam"y, a.
Defn: Bloody; clotted. [Obs. or Prov.]
Foamy bubbling of a fleamy brain. Marston.
FLEAR
Flear, v. t. & i.
Defn: See Fleer.
FLEAWORT
Flea"wort`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An herb used in medicine (Plantago Psyllium), named from the
shape of its seeds. Loudon.
FLECHE
Flèche, n. Etym: [F. flèche, prop., an arrow.] (Fort.)
Defn: A simple fieldwork, consisting of two faces forming a salient
angle pointing outward and open at the gorge.
FLECK
Fleck, n.
Defn: A flake; also, a lock, as of wool. [Obs.] J. Martin.
FLECK
Fleck, n. Etym: [Cf. Icel. flekkr; akin to Sw. fläck, D. vlek, G.
fleck, and perh. to E. flitch.]
Defn: A spot; a streak; a speckle. "A sunny fleck." Longfellow.
Life is dashed with flecks of sin. tennyson.
FLECK
Fleck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flecked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flecking.] Etym:
[Cf. Icel. flekka, Sw. fläcka, D. vlekken, vlakken, G. flecken. See
Fleck, n.]
Defn: To spot; to streak or stripe; to variegate; to dapple.
Both flecked with white, the true Arcadian strain. Dryden.
A bird, a cloud, flecking the sunny air. Trench.
FLECKER
Fleck"er, v. t.
Defn: To fleck. Johnson.
FLECKLESS
Fleck"less, a.
Defn: Without spot or blame. [R.]
My consnience will not count me fleckless. Tennyson.
FLECTION
Flec"tion, n. Etym: [See Flexion.]
1. The act of bending, or state of being bent.
2. The variation of words by declension, comparison, or conjugation;
inflection.
FLECTIONAL
Flec"tion*al, a.
Defn: Capable of, or pertaining to, flection or inflection.
A flectional word is a phrase in the bud. Earle.
FLECTOR
Flec"tor, n.
Defn: A flexor.
FLED
Fled,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Flee.
FLEDGE
Fledge, a. Etym: [OE. flegge, flygge; akin to D. vlug, G. flügge,
flücke, OHG. flucchi, Icel. fleygr, and to E. fly. Fly, v. i.]
Defn: Feathered; furnished with feathers or wings; able to fly.
Hfledge with wings. Milton.
FLEDGE
Fledge, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Fledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Fledging.]
1. To furnish with feathers; to supply with the feathers necessary
for flight.
The birds were not as yet fledged enough to shift for themselves.
L'Estrange.
2. To furnish or adorn with any soft covering.
Your master, whose chin is not yet fledged. Shak.
FLEDGELING
Fledge"ling, n.
Defn: A young bird just fledged.
FLEE
Flee, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeing.] Etym: [OE.
fleon, fleen, AS. fleón (imperf. fleáh); akin to D. vlieden, OHG. &
OS. fliohan, G. fliehen, Icel. fl (imperf. fl), Dan. flye, Sw. fly
(imperf. flydde), Goth. pliuhan. (Flight.]
Defn: To run away, as from danger or evil; to avoid in an alarmed or
cowardly manner; to hasten off; -- usually with from. This is
sometimes omitted, making the verb transitive.
[He] cowardly fled, not having struck one stroke. Shak.
Flee fornication. 1 Cor. vi. 18.
So fled his enemies my warlike father. Shak.
Note: When great speed is to be indicated, we commonly use fly, not
flee; as, fly hence to France with the utmost speed. "Whither shall I
fly to 'scape their hands" Shak. See Fly, v. i., 5.
FLEECE
Fleece, n. Etym: [OE. flees, AS. fleós; akin to D. flies, vlies .]
1. The entire coat of wood that covers a sheep or other similar
animal; also, the quantity shorn from a sheep, or animal, at one
time.
Who shore me Like a tame wether, all my precious fleece. Milton.
2. Any soft woolly covering resembling a fleece.
3. (Manuf.)
Defn: The fine web of cotton or wool removed by the doffing knife
from the cylinder of a carding machine. Fleece wool, wool shorn from
the sheep.
-- Golden fleece. See under Golden.
FLEECE
Fleece, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleeced; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleecing.]
1. To deprive of a fleece, or natural covering of wool.
2. To strip of money or other property unjustly, especially by
trickery or frand; to bring to straits by oppressions and exactions.
Whilst pope and prince shared the wool betwixt them, the people were
finely fleeced. Fuller.
3. To spread over as with wool. [R.] Thomson.
FLEECED
Fleeced, a.
1. Furnished with a fleece; as, a sheep is well fleeced. Spenser.
2. Stripped of a fleece; plundered; robbed.
FLEECELESS
Fleece"less, a.
Defn: Without a fleece.
FLEECER
Flee"cer, n.
Defn: One who fleeces or strips unjustly, especially by trickery or
fraund. Prynne.
FLEECY
Flee"cy, a.
Defn: Covered with, made of, or resembling, a fleece. "Fleecy
flocks." Prior.
FLEEN
Fleen, n. pl.
Defn: Obs. pl. of Flea. Chaucer.
FLEER
Fle"er, n.
Defn: One who flees. Ld. Berners.
FLEER
Fleer, [imp. & p. p. Fleered (; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleering.] Etym: [OE.
flerien; cf. Scot. fleyr, Norw. flira to titter, giggle, laugh at
nothing, MHG. vlerre, vlarre, a wide wound.]
1. To make a wry face in contempt, or to grin in scorn; to deride; to
sneer; to mock; to gibe; as, to fleer and flout.
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity. Shak.
2. To grin with an air of civility; to leer. [Obs.]
Grinning and fleering as though they went to a bear baiting. Latimer.
FLEER
Fleer, v. t.
Defn: To mock; to flout at. Beau. & Fl.
FLEER
Fleer, n.
1. A word or look of derision or mockery.
And mark the fleers, the gibes, and notable scorn. Shak.
2. A grin of civility; a leer. [Obs.]
A sly, treacherous fleer on the face of deceivers. South.
FLEERER
Fleer"er, n.
Defn: One who fleers. Beau. & Fl.
FLEERINGLY
Fleer"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fleering manner.
FLEET
Fleet, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fleeted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleeting.] Etym:
[OE. fleten, fleoten, to swim, AS. fleótan to swim, float; akin to D.
vlieten to flow, OS. fliotan, OHG. fliozzan, G. fliessen, Icel.
fljota to float, flow, Sw. flyta, D. flyde, L. pluere to rain, Gr.
plu to swim, sail. sq. root84. Cf. Fleet, n. & a., Float, Pluvial,
Flow.]
1. To sail; to float. [Obs.]
And in frail wood on Adrian Gulf doth fleet. Spenser.
2. To fly swiftly; to pass over quickly; to hasten; to flit as a
light substance.
All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, . . . Dissolved on
earth, fleet hither. Milton.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: To slip on the whelps or the barrel of a capstan or windlass; -
- said of a cable or hawser.
FLEET
Fleet, v. t.
1. To pass over rapidly; to skin the surface of; as, a ship that
fleets the gulf. Spenser.
2. To hasten over; to cause to pass away lighty, or in mirth and joy.
Many young gentlemen flock to him, and fleet the time carelessly.
Shak.
3. (Naut.)
(a) To draw apart the blocks of; -- said of a tackle. Totten.
(b) To cause to slip down the barrel of a capstan or windlass, as a
rope or chain.
FLEET
Fleet, a. [Compar. Fleeter; superl. Fleetest.] Etym: [Cf. Icel. flj
quick. See Fleet, v. i.]
1. Swift in motion; moving with velocity; light and quick in going
from place to place; nimble.
In mail their horses clad, yet fleet and strong. Milton.
2. Light; superficially thin; not penetring deep, as soil. [Prov.
Eng.] Mortimer.
FLEET
Fleet, n. Etym: [OE. flete, fleote, AS. fleót ship, fr. fleótan to
float, swim. See Fleet, v. i. and cf. Float.]
Defn: A number of vessels in company, especially war vessels; also,
the collective naval force of a country, etc. Fleet captain, the
senior aid of the admiral of a fleet, when a captain. Ham. Nav.
Encyc.
FLEET
Fleet, n. Etym: [AS. fleót a place where vessels float, bay, river;
akin to D. vliet rill, brook, G. fliess. See Fleet, v. i.]
1. A flood; a creek or inlet; a bay or estuary; a river; -- obsolete,
except as a place name, -- as Fleet Street in London.
Together wove we nets to entrap the fish In floods and sedgy fleets.
Matthewes.
2. A former prison in London, which originally stood near a stream,
the Fleet (now filled up). Fleet parson, a clergyman of low
character, in, or in the vicinity of, the Fleet prison, who was ready
to unite persons in marriage (called Fleet marriage) at any hour,
without public notice, witnesses, or consent of parents.
FLEET
Fleet, v. t. Etym: [AS. flet cream, fr. fleótan to float. See Fleet,
v. i.]
Defn: To take the cream from; to skim. [Prov. Eng.] Johnson.
FLEETEN
Fleet"en, n.
Defn: Fleeted or skimmed milk. [Obs.] Fleeten face, a face of the
color of fleeten, i. e., blanched; hence, a coward. "You know where
you are, you fleeten face." Beau. & Fl.
FLEET-FOOT
Fleet"-foot`, a.
Defn: Swift of foot. Shak.
FLEETING
Fleet"ing, a.
Defn: Passing swiftly away; not durable; transient; transitory; as,
the fleeting hours or moments.
Syn.
-- Evanescent; ephemeral. See Transient.
FLEETINGLY
Fleet"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fleeting manner; swiftly.
FLEETINGS
Fleet"ings, n. pl.
Defn: A mixture of buttermilk and boiling whey; curds. [prov. Eng.]
Wright.
FLEETLY
Fleet"ly, adv.
Defn: In a fleet manner; rapidly.
FLEETNESS
Fleet"ness, n.
Defn: Swiftness; rapidity; velocity; celerity; speed; as, the
fleetness of a horse or of time.
FLEIGH
Fleigh, obs.
Defn: imp. of Fly. Chaucer.
FLEME
Fleme, v. t. Etym: [AS. fleman, flyman.]
Defn: To banish; to drive out; to expel. [Obs.] "Appetite flemeth
discretion." Chaucer.
FLEMER
Flem"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, banishes or expels. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLEMING
Flem"ing, n.
Defn: A native or inhabitant of Flanders.
FLEMISH
Flem"ish, a.
Defn: Pertaining to Flanders, or the Flemings.
-- n.
Defn: The language or dialect spoken by the Flemings; also,
collectively, the people of Flanders. Flemish accounts (Naut.), short
or deficient accounts. [Humorous]Ham. Nav. Encyc.
-- Flemish beauty (Bot.), a well known pear. It is one of few kinds
which have a red color on one side.
-- Flemish bond. (Arch.) See Bond, n., 8.
-- Flemish brick, a hard yellow paving brick.
-- Flemish coil, a flat coil of rope with the end in the center and
the turns lying against, without riding over, each other.
-- Flemish eye (Naut.), an eye formed at the end of a rope by
dividing the strands and lying them over each other.
-- Flemish horse (Naut.), an additional footrope at the end of a
yard.
FLENCH
Flench, v. t.
Defn: Same as Flence.
FLENSE
Flense, v. t. Etym: [Cf. Dan. flense, D. vlensen, vlenzen, Scot.
flinch.]
Defn: To strip the blubber or skin from, as from a whale, seal, etc.
the flensed carcass of a fur seal. U. S. Census (1880).
FLESH
Flesh, n. Etym: [OE. flesch, flesc, AS. fl; akin to OFries. flask, D.
vleesch, OS. fl, OHG. fleisc, G. fleisch, Icel. & Dan. flesk lard,
bacon, pork, Sw. fläsk.]
1. The aggregate of the muscles, fat, and other tissues which cover
the framework of bones in man and other animals; especially, the
muscles.
Note: In composition it is mainly albuminous, but contains in adition
a large number of crystalline bodies, such as creatin, xanthin,
hypoxanthin, carnin, etc. It is also rich in phosphate of potash.
2. Animal food, in distinction from vegetable; meat; especially, the
body of beasts and birds used as food, as distinguished from fish.
With roasted flesh, or milk, and wastel bread. Chaucer.
3. The human body, as distinguished from the soul; the corporeal
person.
As if this flesh, which walls about our life, Were brass impregnable.
Shak.
4. The human eace; mankind; humanity.
All flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. Gen. vi. 12.
5. Human nature:
(a) In a good sense, tenderness of feeling; gentleness.
There is no flesh in man's obdurate heart. Cowper.
(b) In a bad sense, tendency to transient or physical pleasure;
desire for sensual gratification; carnality.
(c) (Theol.) The character under the influence of animal propensities
or selfish passions; the soul unmoved by spiritual influences.
6. Kindred; stock; race.
He is our brother and our flesh. Gen. xxxvii. 27.
7. The soft, pulpy substance of fruit; also, that part of a root,
fruit, and the like, which is fit to be eaten.
Note: Flesh is often used adjectively or self-explaining compounds;
as, flesh broth or flesh-broth; flesh brush or fleshbrush; flesh tint
or flesh-tint; flesh wound. After the flesh, after the manner of man;
in a gross or earthly manner. "Ye judge after the flesh." John viii.
15.
-- An arm of flesh, human strength or aid.
-- Flesh and blood. See under Blood.
-- Flesh broth, broth made by boiling flesh in water.
-- Flesh fly (Zoöl.), one of several species of flies whose larvæ or
maggots feed upon flesh, as the bluebottle fly; -- called also meat
fly, carrion fly, and blowfly. See Blowly.
-- Flesh meat, animal food. Swift.
-- Flesh side, the side of a skin or hide which was next to the
flesh; -- opposed to grain side.
-- Flesh tint (Painting), a color used in painting to imitate the
hue of the living body.
-- Flesh worm (Zoöl.), any insect larva of a flesh fly. See Flesh
fly (above).
-- Proud flesh. See under Proud.
-- To be one flesh, to be closely united as in marriage; to become
as one person. Gen. ii. 24.
FLESH
Flesh, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fleshed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fleshing.]
1. To feed with flesh, as an incitement to further exertion; to
initiate; -- from the practice of training hawks and dogs by feeding
them with the first game they take, or other flesh. Hence, to use
upon flesh (as a murderous weapon) so as to draw blood, especially
for the first time.
Full bravely hast thou fleshed Thy maiden sword. Shak.
The wild dog Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent. Shak.
2. To glut; to satiate; hence, to harden, to accustom. "Fleshed in
triumphs." Glanvill.
Old soldiers Fleshed in the spoils of Germany and France. Beau. & Fl.
3. (Leather Manufacture)
Defn: To remove flesh, membrance, etc., from, as from hides.
FLESHED
Fleshed, a.
1. Corpulent; fat; having flesh.
2. Glutted; satiated; initiated.
Fleshed with slaughter. Dryden.
FLESHER
Flesh"er, n.
1. A butcher.
A flesher on a block had laid his whittle down. Macaulay.
2. A two-handled, convex, blunt-edged knife, for scraping hides; a
fleshing knife.
FLESHHOOD
Flesh"hood, n.
Defn: The state or condition of having a form of flesh; incarnation.
[R.]
Thou, who hast thyself Endured this fleshhood. Mrs. Browning.
FLESHINESS
Flesh"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being fleshy; plumpness; corpulence; grossness.
Milton.
FLESHINGS
Flesh"ings, n. pl.
Defn: Flesh-colored tights, worn by actors dancers. D. Jerrold.
FLESHLESS
Flesh"less, a.
Defn: Destitute of flesh; lean. Carlyle.
FLESHLINESS
Flesh"li*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being fleshly; carnal passions and appetites.
Spenser.
FLESHLING
Flesh"ling, n.
Defn: A person devoted to fleshly things. [Obs.] Spenser.
FLESHLY
Flesh"ly, a. Etym: [AS.
1. Of or pertaining to the flesh; corporeal. "Fleshly bondage."
Denham.
2. Animal; not Dryden.
3. Human; not celestial; not spiritual or divine. "Fleshly wisdom." 2
Cor. i. 12.
Much ostentation vain of fleshly arm And fragile arms. Milton.
4. Carnal; wordly; lascivious.
Abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 1 Pet. ii.
11.
FLESHLY
Flesh"ly, adv.
Defn: In a fleshly manner; carnally; lasciviously. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLESHMENT
Flesh"ment, n.
Defn: The act of fleshing, or the excitement attending a successful
beginning. [R.] Shak.
FLESHMONGER
Flesh"mon`ger, n. Etym: [AS. .]
Defn: One who deals in flesh; hence, a pimp; a procurer; a pander.
[R.] Shak.
FLESHPOT
Flesh"pot`, n.
Defn: A pot or vessel in which flesh is cooked; hence (pl.),
Defn: plenty; high living.
In the land of Egypt . . . we sat by the fleshpots, and . . . did eat
bread to the full. Ex. xvi. 3.
FLESHQUAKE
Flesh"quake`, n.
Defn: A quaking or trembling of the flesh; a quiver. [Obs.] B.
Jonson.
FLESHY
Flesh"y, a. [Compar. Fleshier; superl. Fleshiest.]
1. Full of, or composed of, flesh; plump; corpulent; fat; gross.
The sole of his foot is fleshy. Ray.
2. Human. [Obs.] "Fleshy tabernacle." Milton.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Composed of firm pulp; succulent; as, the houseleek, cactus,
and agave are fleshy plants.
FLET
Flet, p. p. of Fleet.
Defn: Skimmed. [Obs.]
FLETCH
Fletch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fletched; p. pr. & vb. n. Fletching.]
Etym: [F. flèche arrow.]
Defn: To feather, as an arrow. Bp. Warburton.
[Congress] fletched their complaint, by adding: "America loved his
brother." Bancroft.
FLETCHER
Fletch"er, n. Etym: [OF. flechier.]
Defn: One who fletches of feathers arrows; a manufacturer of bows and
arrows. [Obs.] Mortimer.
FLETE
Flete, v. i. Etym: [See Fleet, v. i.]
Defn: To float; to swim. [Obs.] "Whether I sink or flete." Chaucer.
FLETIFEROUS
Fle*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. fletifer; fletus a weeping (from flere,
fletum, to weep) + ferre to bear.]
Defn: Producing tears. [Obs.] Blount.
FLEUR-DE-LIS
Fleur`-de-lis`, n.; pl. Fleurs-de-lis. Etym: [F., flower of the lily.
Cf. Flower-de-luce, Lily.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The iris. See Flower-de-luce.
2. A conventional flower suggested by the iris, and having a form
which fits it for the terminal decoration of a scepter, the ornaments
of a crown, etc. It is also a heraldic bearing, and is identified
with the royal arms and adornments of France.
FLEURON
Fleu`ron", n. [F., fr. OF. floron. Cf. Floroon.]
Defn: A flower-shaped ornament, esp. one terminating an object or
forming one of a series, as a knob of a cover to a dish, or a flower-
shaped part in a necklace.
FLEURY
Fleur"y, a. Etym: [F. fleuri covered with flowers, p.p. of fleurir.
See Flourish.] (Her.)
Defn: Finished at the ends with fleurs-de-lis; -- said esp. a cross
so decorated.
FLEW
Flew,
Defn: imp. of Fly.
FLEWED
Flewed, a.
Defn: Having large flews. Shak.
FLEWS
Flews, n. pl.
Defn: The pendulous or overhanging lateral parts of the upper lip of
dogs, especially prominent in hounds; -- called also chaps. See
Illust. of Bloodhound.
FLEX
Flex, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flexed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flexing.] Etym: [L.
flexus, p.p. of flectere to bend, perh. flectere and akin to falx
sickle, E. falchion. Cf. Flinch.]
Defn: To bend; as, to flex the arm.
FLEX
Flex, n.
Defn: Flax. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLEXANIMOUS
Flex*an"i*mous, a. Etym: [L. flexanimus; flectere, flexum, to bend +
animus mind.]
Defn: Having power to change the mind. [Obs.] Howell.
FLEXIBILITY
Flex`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. flexibilitas: cf. F. flexibilite.]
Defn: The state or quality of being flexible; flexibleness; pliancy;
pliability; as, the flexibility of strips of hemlock, hickory,
whalebone or metal, or of rays of light. Sir I. Newton.
All the flexibility of a veteran courtier. Macaulay.
FLEXIBLE
Flex"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. flexibilis: cf. F. flexible.]
1. Capable of being flexed or bent; admitting of being turned, bowed,
or twisted, without breaking; pliable; yielding to pressure; not
stiff or brittle.
When the splitting wind Makes flexible the knees of knotted oaks.
Shak.
2. Willing or ready to yield to the influence of others; not
invincibly rigid or obstinate; tractable; manageable; ductile; easy
and compliant; wavering.
Phocion was a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will
of the people. Bacon.
Women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible. Shak.
3. Capable or being adapted or molded; plastic,; as, a flexible
language.
This was a principle more flexible to their purpose. Rogers.
Syn.
-- Pliant; pliable; supple; tractable; manageable; ductile;
obsequious; inconstant; wavering.
-- Flex"i*ble*ness, n.
-- Flex"i*bly, adv.
FLEXICOSTATE
Flex`i*cos"tate, a. Etym: [L. flexus bent + E. costate.] (Anat.)
Defn: Having bent or curved ribs.
FLEXILE
Flex"ile, a. Etym: [L. flexilis.]
Defn: Flexible; pliant; pliable; easily bent; plastic; tractable.
Wordsworth.
FLEXION
Flex"ion, n. Etym: [L. flexio: cf. F. flexion.]
1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning.
2. A bending; a part bent; a fold. Bacon.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Syntactical change of form of words, as by declension or
conjugation; inflection.
Express the syntactical relations by flexion. Sir W. Hamilton.
4. (Physiol.)
Defn: The bending of a limb or joint; that motion of a joint which
gives the distal member a continually decreasing angle with the axis
of the proximal part; -- distinguished from extension.
FLEXOR
Flex"or, n. Etym: [NL.] (Anat.)
Defn: A muscle which bends or flexes any part; as, the flexors of the
arm or the hand; -- opposed to extensor.
FLEXUOSE
Flex"u*ose`, a.
Defn: Flexuous.
FLEXUOUS
Flex"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. flexuosus, fr. flexus a bending, turning.]
1. Having turns, windings, or flexures.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having alternate curvatures in opposite directions; bent in a
zigzag manner.
3. Wavering; not steady; flickering. Bacon.
FLEXURAL
Flex"u*ral, a. Etym: [From Flexure.]
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resulting from, flexure; of the nature
of, or characterized by, flexure; as, flexural elasticity.
FLEXURE
Flex"ure, n. Etym: [L. flexura.]
1. The act of flexing or bending; a turning or curving; flexion;
hence, obsequious bowing or bending.
Will it give place to flexure and low bending Shak.
2. A turn; a bend; a fold; a curve.
Varying with the flexures of the valley through which it meandered.
British Quart. Rev.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The last joint, or bend, of the wing of a bird.
4. (Astron.)
Defn: The small distortion of an astronomical instrument caused by
the weight of its parts; the amount to be added or substracted from
the observed readings of the instrument to correct them for this
distortion. The flexure of a curve (Math.), the bending of a curve
towards or from a straight line.
FLIBBERGIB
Flib"ber*gib, n.
Defn: A sycophant. [Obs. & Humorous.] "Flatterers and flibbergibs."
Latimer.
FLIBBERTIGIBBET
Flib"ber*ti*gib`bet, n.
Defn: An imp. Shak.
FLIBUSTIER
Fli`bus`tier", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A buccaneer; an American pirate. See Flibuster. [Obs.]
FLICK
Flick, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flicked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flicking.] Etym:
[Cf. Flicker.]
Defn: To whip lightly or with a quick jerk; to flap; as, to flick a
horse; to flick the dirt from boots. Thackeray.
FLICK
Flick, n.
Defn: A flitch; as, a flick of bacon.
FLICKER
Flick"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flickered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flickering.]
Etym: [OE. flikeren, flekeren, to flutter, AS. flicerian, flicorian,
cf. D. flikkeren to sparkle. Flacker.]
1. To flutter; to flap the wings without flying.
And flickering on her nest made short essays to sing. Dryden.
2. To waver unsteadily, like a flame in a current of air, or when
about to expire; as, the flickering light.
The shadows flicker to fro. Tennyson.
FLICKER
Flick"er, n.
1. The act of wavering or of fluttering; flucuation; sudden and brief
increase of brightness; as, the last flicker of the dying flame.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The golden-winged woodpecker (Colaptes aurutus); -- so called
from its spring note. Called also yellow-hammer, high-holder, pigeon
woodpecker, and yucca.
The cackle of the flicker among the oaks. Thoureau.
FLICKERINGLY
Flick"ering*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flickering manner.
FLICKERMOUSE
Flick"er*mouse`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See Flittermouse.
FLIDGE
Flidge, a.
Defn: Fledged; fledge. [Obs.] Holland.
FLIDGE
Flidge, v. i.
Defn: To become fledged; to fledge. [Obs.]
Every day build their nests, every hour flidge. R. Greene.
FLIER
Fli"er, n. Etym: [Form Fly, v.; cf. Flyer]
1. One who flies or flees; a runaway; a fugitive. Shak.
2. (Mach.)
Defn: A fly. See Fly, n., 9, and 13 (b).
3. (Spinning)
Defn: See Flyer, n., 5.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: See Flyer, n., 4.
FLIGHT
Flight, n. Etym: [AS. fliht, flyht, a flying, fr. fleógan to fly; cf.
flyht a fleeing, fr. fleón to flee, G. flucht a fleeing, Sw. flykt,
G. flug a flying, Sw. flygt, D. vlugt a fleeing or flying, Dan.
flugt. sq. root84. See Flee, Fly.]
1. The act or flying; a passing through the air by the help of wings;
volitation; mode or style of flying.
Like the night owl's lazy flight. Shak.
2. The act of fleeing; the act of running away, to escape or expected
evil; hasty departure.
Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. Matt. xxiv. 20.
Fain by flight to save themselves. Shak.
3. Lofty elevation and excursion;a mounting; a soaas, a flight of
imagination, ambition, folly.
Could he have kept his spirit to that flight, He had been happy.
Byron.
His highest flights were indeed far below those of Taylor. Macaulay.
4. A number of beings or things passing through the air together;
especially, a flock of birds flying in company; the birds that fly or
migrate together; the birds produced in one season; as, a flight of
arrows. Swift.
Swift flights of angels ministrant. Milton.
Like a flight of fowl Scattered winds and tempestuous gusts. Shak.
5. A series of steps or stairs from one landing to another. Parker.
6. A kind of arrow for the longbow; also, the sport of shooting with
it. See Shaft. [Obs.]
Challenged Cupid at the flight. Shak.
Not a flight drawn home E'er made that haste that they have. Beau. &
Fl.
7. The husk or glume of oats. [Prov. Eng.] Wright. to take a
flight{9}. Flight feathers (Zoöl.), the wing feathers of a bird,
including the quills, coverts, and bastard wing. See Bird.
-- To put to flight, To turn to flight, to compel to run away; to
force to flee; to rout.
Syn.
-- Pair; set. See Pair.
FLIGHTED
Flight"ed, a.
1. Taking flight; flying; -- used in composition. "Drowsy-flighted
steeds." Milton.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Feathered; -- said of arrows.
FLIGHTER
Flight"er, n. (Brewing)
Defn: A horizontal vane revolving over the surface of wort in a
cooler, to produce a circular current in the liquor. Knight.
FLIGHTILY
Flight"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flighty manner.
FLIGHTINESS
Flight"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being flighty.
The flightness of her temper. Hawthorne.
Syn.
-- Levity; giddiness; volatility; lightness; wildness; eccentricity.
See Levity.
FLIGHT-SHOT
Flight"-shot`, n.
Defn: The distance to which an arrow or flight may be shot; bowshot,
-- about the fifth of a mile. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
Within a flight-shot it inthe valley. Evelyn.
Half a flight-shot from the king's oak. Sir W. Scott.
FLIGHTY
Flight"y, a.
1. Fleeting; swift; transient.
The flighty purpose never is o'ertook, Unless the deed go with it.
Shak.
2. Indulging in flights, or wild and unrestrained sallies, of
imagination, humor, caprice, etc.; given to disorder
Proofs of my flighty and paradoxical turn of mind. Coleridge.
A harsh disciplinarian and a flighty enthusiast. J. S. Har
FLIMFLAM
Flim"flam, n. Etym: [Cf. Flam.]
Defn: A freak; a trick; a lie. Beau. & Fl.
FLIMSILY
Flim"si*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flimsy manner.
FLIMSINESS
Flim"si*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being flimsy.
FLIMSY
Flim"sy, a. [Compar. Flimsier; superl. Flimsiest.] Etym: [Cf. W.
llumsi naked, bare, empty, slouggish, spiritless. Cf. Limsy.]
Defn: Weak; feeble; limp; slight; vain; without strength or solidity;
of loose and unsubstantial structure; without reason or plausibility;
as, a flimsy argument, excuse, objection.
Proud of a vast extent of flimsy lines. Pope.
All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain. Sheridan.
Syn.
-- Weak; feeble; superficial; shallow; vain.
FLIMSY
Flim"sy, n.
1. Thin or transfer paper.
2. A bank note. [Slang, Eng.]
FLINCH
Flinch, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flinched; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinching.]
Etym: [Prob. fr. OE. flecchen to waver, give way, F. fléchir, fr. L.
flectere to bend; but prob. influenced by E. blench. Cf. Flex.]
1. To withdraw from any suffering or undertaking, from pain or
danger; to fail in doing or perserving; to show signs of yielding or
of suffering; to shrink; to wince; as, one of the parties flinched
from the combat.
A child, by a constant course of kindness, may be accustomed to bear
very rough usage without flinching or complaining. Locke.
2. (Croquet)
Defn: To let the foot slip from a ball, when attempting to give a
tight croquet.
FLINCH
Flinch, n.
Defn: The act of flinching.
FLINCHER
Flinch"er, n.
Defn: One who flinches or fails.
FLINCHINGLY
Flinch"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flinching manner.
FLINDERMOUSE
Flin"der*mouse`, n.Etym: [OE. vlindre moth (cf. D. vlinder butterfly)
+ E. mouse. Cf. Flittermouse, Flinders.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bat; a flittermouse.
FLINDERS
Flin"ders, n. pl. Etym: [Scot. flenders, flendris; perh. akin to E.
flutter; cf. D. flenters rags, broken pieces.]
Defn: Small pieces or splinters; fragments.
The tough ash spear, so stout and true, Into a thousand flinders
flew. Sir W. Scott.
FLING
Fling, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flung; p. pr. & vb. n. Flinging.] Etym:
[OE. flingen, flengen, to rush, hurl; cf. Icel. flengia to whip, ride
furiously, OSw. flenga to strike, Sw. flänga to romp, Dan. flenge to
slash.]
1. To cast, send, to throw from the hand; to hurl; to dart; to emit
with violence as if thrown from the hand; as, to fing a stone into
the pond.
'T is Fate that flings the dice: and, as she flings, Of kings makes
peasants, and of peasants kings. Dryden.
He . . . like Jove, his lighting flung. Dryden.
I know thy generous temper well. Fling but the appearance of dishonor
on it, It straight takes fire. Addison.
2. To shed forth; to emit; to scatter.
The sun begins to fling His flaring beams. Milton.
Every beam new transient colors flings. Pope.
3. To throw; to hurl; to throw off or down; to prostrate; hence, to
baffle; to defeat; as, to fling a party in litigation.
His horse started, flung him, and fell upon him. Walpole.
To fling about, to throw on all sides; to scatter.
-- To fling away, to reject; to discard.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition. Shak.
--To fling down. (a) To throw to the ground; esp., to throw in
defiance, as formerly knights cast a glove into the arena as a
challenge.
This question so flung down before the guests, . . . Was handed over
by consent of all To me who had not spoken. Tennyson.
(b) To overturn; to demolish; to ruin.
-- To fling in, to throw in; not to charge in an account; as, in
settling accounts, one party flings in a small sum, or a few days'
work.
-- To fling off, to baffle in the chase; to defeat of prey; also, to
get rid of. Addison.
-- To fling open, to throw open; to open suddenly or with violence;
as, to fling open a door.
-- To fling out, to utter; to speak in an abrupt or harsh manner;
as, to fling out hard words against another.
-- To fling up, to relinquish; to abandon; as, to fling up a design.
FLING
Fling, v. i.
1. To throw; to wince; to flounce; as, the horse began to kick and
fling.
2. To cast in the teeth; to utter abusive language; to sneer; as, the
scold began to flout and fling.
3. To throw one's self in a violent or hasty manner; to rush or
spring with violence or haste.
And crop-full, out of doors he flings. Milton.
I flung closer to his breast, As sword that, after battle, flings to
sheath. Mrs. Browning.
To fling out, to become ugly and intractable; to utter sneers and
insinuations.
FLING
Fling, n.
1. A cast from the hand; a throw; also, a flounce; a kick; as, the
fling of a horse.
2. A severe or contemptuous remark; an expression of sarcastic scorn;
a gibe; a sarcasm.
I, who love to have a fling, Both at senate house and king. Swift.
3. A kind of dance; as, the Highland fling.
4. A trifing matter; an object of contempt. [Obs.]
England were but a fling Save for the crooked stick and the gray
goose wing. Old Proverb.
To have one's fling, to enjoy one's self to the full; to have a
season of dissipation. J. H. Newman. "When I was as young as you, I
had my fling. I led a life of pleasure." D. Jerrold.
FLINGDUST
Fling"dust`, n.
Defn: One who kicks up the dust; a streetwalker; a low manner. [Obs.]
Beau. & Fl.
FLINGER
Fling"er, n.
Defn: One who flings; one who jeers.
FLINT
Flint, n. Etym: [AS. flint, akin to Sw. flinta, Dan. flint; cf. OHG.
flins flint, G. flinte gun (cf. E. flintlock), perh. akin to Gr.
Plinth.]
1. (Min.)
Defn: A massive, somewhat impure variety of quartz, in color usually
of a gray to brown or nearly black, breaking with a conchoidal
fracture and sharp edge. It is very hard, and strikes fire with
steel.
2. A piece of flint for striking fire; -- formerly much used, esp. in
the hammers of gun locks.
3. Anything extremely hard, unimpressible, and unyielding, like
flint. "A heart of flint." Spenser. Flint age. (Geol.) Same as Stone
age, under Stone.
-- Flint brick, a fire made principially of powdered silex.
-- Flint glass. See in the Vocabulary.
-- Flint implements (Archæol.), tools, etc., employed by men before
the use of metals, such as axes, arrows, spears, knives, wedges,
etc., which were commonly made of flint, but also of granite, jade,
jasper, and other hard stones.
-- Flint mill. (a) (Pottery) A mill in which flints are ground. (b)
(Mining) An obsolete appliance for lighting the miner at his work, in
which flints on a revolving wheel were made to produce a shower of
sparks, which gave light, but did not inflame the fire damp. Knight.
-- Flint stone, a hard, siliceous stone; a flint.
-- Flint wall, a kind of wall, common in England, on the face of
which are exposed the black surfaces of broken flints set in the
mortar, with quions of masonry.
-- Liquor of flints, a solution of silica, or flints, in potash.
-- To skin a flint, to be capable of, or guilty of, any expedient or
any meanness for making money. [Colloq.]
FLINT GLASS
Flint" glass`. (Chem.)
Defn: A soft, heavy, brilliant glass, consisting essentially of a
silicate of lead and potassium. It is used for tableware, and for
optical instruments, as prisms, its density giving a high degree of
dispersive power; -- so called, because formerly the silica was
obtained from pulverized flints. Called also crystal glass. Cf.
Glass.
Note: The concave or diverging half on an achromatic lens is usually
made of flint glass.
FLINT-HEARTED
Flint"-heart`ed, a.
Defn: Hard-hearted. Shak.
FLINTINESS
Flint"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being flinty; hardness; cruelty. Beau.
& Fl.
FLINTLOCK
Flint"lock`, n.
1. A lock for a gun or pistol, having a flint fixed in the hammer,
which on stricking the steel ignites the priming.
2. A hand firearm fitted with a flintlock; esp., the old-fashioned
musket of European and other armies.
FLINTWARE
Flint"ware`, n.
Defn: A superior kind of earthenware into whose composition flint
enters largely. Knight.
FLINTWOOD
Flint"wood`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An Australian name for the very hard wood of the Eucalyptus
piluralis.
FLINTY
Flint"y, a. [Compar. Flintier; superl. Flintiest.]
Defn: Consisting of, composed of, abounding in, or resembling, flint;
as, a flinty rock; flinty ground; a flinty heart. Flinty rockFlinty
state, a siliceous slate; -- basanite is here included. See Basanite.
FLIP
Flip, n. Etym: [Cf. Prov. E. flip nimble, flippant, also, a slight
blow. Cf. Flippant.]
Defn: A mixture of beer, spirit, etc., stirred and heated by a hot
iron. Flip dog, an iron used, when heated, to warm flip.
FLIP
Flip, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flipped; p. pr. & vb. n. Flipping.]
Defn: To toss or fillip; as, to flip up a cent.
As when your little ones Do 'twixt their fingers flip their cherry
stones. W. Browne.
FLIPE
Flipe, v. t.
Defn: To turn inside out, or with the leg part back over the foot, as
a stocking in pulling off or for putting on. [Scot.]
FLIP-FLAP
Flip"-flap`, n. Etym: [See Flip, and Flap.]
Defn: The repeated stroke of something long and loose. Johnson.
FLIP-FLAP
Flip"-flap`, adv.
Defn: With repeated strokes and noise, as of something long and
loose. Ash.
FLIPPANCY
Flip"pan*cy, n.Etym: [See Flippant.]
Defn: The state or quality of being flippant.
This flippancy of language. Bp. Hurd.
FLIPPANT
Flip"pant, a. Etym: [Prov. E. flip to move nimbly; cf. W. llipa soft,
limber, pliant, or Icel. fleipa to babble, prattle. Cf. Flip, Fillip,
Flap, Flipper.]
1. Of smooth, fluent, and rapid speech; speaking with ease and
rapidity; having a voluble tongue; talkative.
It becometh good men, in such cases, to be flippant and free in their
speech. Barrow.
2. Speaking fluently and confidently, without knowledge or
consideration; empty; trifling; inconsederate; pert; petulant.
"Flippant epilogous." Thomson.
To put flippant scorn to the blush. I. Taylor.
A sort of flippant, vain discourse. Burke.
FLIPPANT
Flip"pant, n.
Defn: A flippant person. [R.] Tennyson.
FLIPPANTLY
Flip"pant*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flippant manner.
FLIPPANTNESS
Flip"pant*ness, n.
Defn: State or quality of being flippant.
FLIPPER
Flip"per, n. Etym: [Cf. Flip, Flippant.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A broad flat limb used for swimming, as those of seals, sea
turtles, whales, etc.
2. (Naut.)
Defn: The hand. [Slang]
FLIRT
Flirt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flirted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flirting.] Etym:
[Cf. AS. fleard trifle, folly, fleardian to trifle.]
1. To throw with a jerk or quick effort; to fling suddenly; as, they
flirt water in each other's faces; he flirted a glove, or a
handkerchief.
2. To toss or throw about; to move playfully to and fro; as, to flirt
a fan.
3. To jeer at; to treat with contempt; to mock. [Obs.]
I am ashamed; I am scorned; I am flirted. Beau. & Fl.
FLIRT
Flirt, v. i.
1. To run and dart about; to act with giddiness, or from a desire to
attract notice; especially, to play the coquette; to play at
courtship; to coquet; as, they flirt with the young men.
2. To utter contemptious language, with an air of disdain; to jeer or
gibe. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FLIRT
Flirt, n.
1. A sudden jerk; a quick throw or cast; a darting motion; hence, a
jeer.
Several little flirts and vibrations. Addison.
With many a flirt and flutter. E. A. Poe.
2. Etym: [Cf. LG. flirtje, G. flirtchen. See Flirt, v. t.]
Defn: One who flirts; esp., a woman who acts with giddiness, or plays
at courtship; a coquette; a pert girl.
Several young flirts about town had a design to cast us out of the
fashionable world. Addison.
FLIRT
Flirt, a.
Defn: Pert; wanton. [Obs.]
FLIRTATION
Flir*ta"tion, n.
1. Playing at courtship; coquerty.
The flirtations and jealousies of our ball rooms. Macaulay.
FLIRT-GILL
Flirt"-gill`, n.
Defn: A woman of light behavior; a gill-flirt. [Obs.] Shak.
You heard him take me up like a flirt-gill. Beau. & Fl.
FLIRTIGIG
Flirt"i*gig, n.
Defn: A wanton, pert girl. [Obs.]
FLIRTINGLY
Flirt"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flirting manner.
FLISK
Flisk, v. i.
Defn: To frisk; to skip; to caper. [Obs. Scot.] "The flisking flies."
Gosson.
FLISK
Flisk, n.
Defn: A caper; a spring; a whim. [Scot.]
FLIT
Flit, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flitted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flitting.] Etym:
[OE. flitten, flutten, to carry away; cf. Icel. flytja, Sw. flytta,
Dan. flytte. Fleet, v. i.]
1. To move with celerity through the air; to fly away with a rapid
motion; to dart along; to fleet; as, a bird flits away; a cloud flits
along.
A shadow flits before me. Tennyson.
2. To flutter; to rove on the wing. Dryden.
3. To pass rapidly, as a light substance, from one place to another;
to remove; to migrate.
It became a received opinion, that the souls of men, departing this
life, did flit out of one body into some other. Hooker.
4. To remove from one place or habitation to another. [Scot. & Prov.
Eng.] Wright. Jamieson.
5. To be unstable; to be easily or often moved.
And the free soul to flitting air resigned. Dryden.
FLIT
Flit, a.
Defn: Nimble; quick; swift. [Obs.] See Fleet.
FLITCH
Flitch, n.; pl. Flitches. Etym: [OE. flicche, flikke, AS. flicce,
akin to Icel. flikki; cf. Icel. flik flap, tatter; perh. akin to E.
fleck. Cf. Flick, n.]
1. The side of a hog salted and cured; a side of bacon. Swift.
2. One of several planks, smaller timbers, or iron plates, which are
secured together, side by side, to make a large girder or built beam.
3. The outside piece of a sawed log; a slab. [Eng.]
FLITE
Flite, v. i. Etym: [AS. flitan to strive, contend, quarrel; akin to
G. fleiss industry.]
Defn: To scold; to quarrel. [Prov. Eng.] Grose.
FLITE; FLYTE
Flite, Flyte, n. [AS. flit. See Flite.]
Defn: Strife; dispute; abusive or upbraiding talk, as in fliting;
wrangling. [Obs. or Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
The bird of Pallas has also a good "flyte" on the moral side . . . in
his suggestion that the principal effect of the nightingale's song is
to make women false to their husbands.
Saintsbury.
FLITTER
Flit"ter, v. i.
Defn: To flutter. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLITTER
Flit"ter, v. t.
Defn: To flutter; to move quickly; as, to flitter the cards. [R.]
Lowell.
FLITTER
Flit"ter, n. Etym: [Cf. G. flitter spangle, tinsel, flittern to make
a tremulous motion, to glitter. Cf. Flitter, v. i.]
Defn: A rag; a tatter; a small piece or fragment.
FLITTERMOUSE
Flit"ter*mouse`, n. Etym: [Flitter, v.i. + mouse; cf. G. fledermaus,
OHG. fledarm. Cf. Flickermouse, Flindermouse.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A bat; -- called also flickermouse, flindermouse, and
flintymouse.
FLITTERN
Flit"tern, a.
Defn: A term applied to the bark obtained from young oak trees.
McElrath.
FLITTINESS
Flit"ti*ness, n. Etym: [From Flitty.]
Defn: Unsteadiness; levity; lightness. [Obs.] Bp. Hopkins.
FLITTING
Flit"ting, n.
1. A flying with lightness and celerity; a fluttering.
2. A removal from one habitation to another. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
A neighbor had lent his cart for the flitting, and it was now
standing loaded at the door, ready to move away. Jeffrey.
FLITTING; FLYTTING
Flitt"ing, Flytt"ing, n.
Defn: Contention; strife; scolding; specif., a kind of metrical
contest between two persons, popular in Scotland in the 16th century.
[Obs. or Scot.]
These "flytings" consisted of alternate torrents of sheer
Billingsgate poured upon each other by the combatants.
Saintsbury.
FLITTINGLY
Flit"ting*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flitting manner.
FLITTY
Flit"ty, a. Etym: [From Flit.]
Defn: Unstable; fluttering. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
FLIX
Flix, n. Etym: [Cf. Flax.]
Defn: Down; fur. [Obs. or Eng.] J. Dyer.
FLIX
Flix, n.
Defn: The flux; dysentery. [Obs.] Udall. Flix weed (Bot.), the
Sisymbrium Sophia, a kind of hedge mustard, formerly used as a remedy
for dysentery.
FLO
Flo, n.; pl. Flon. Etym: [AS. fla, flan.]
Defn: An arrow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLOAT
Float, n.Etym: [OE. flote ship, boat, fleet, AS. flota ship, fr.
fleótan to float; akin to D. vloot fleet, G. floss raft, Icel. floti
float, raft, fleet, Sw. flotta. sq. root 84. See Fleet, v. i., and
cf. Flotilla, Flotsam, Plover.]
1. Anything which floats or rests on the surface of a fluid, as to
sustain weight, or to indicate the height of the surface, or mark the
place of, something. Specifically:
(a) A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a
stream by the current; a raft.
(b) The hollow, metallic ball of a self-acting faucet, which floats
upon the water in a cistern or boiler.
(c) The cork or quill used in angling, to support the bait line, and
indicate the bite of a fish.
(d) Anything used to buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated
bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver.
This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative
ministry. J. P. Peters.
2. A float board. See Float board (below).
3. (Tempering)
Defn: A contrivance for affording a copious stream of water to the
heated surface of an object of large bulk, as an anvil or die.
Knight.
4. The act of flowing; flux; flow. [Obs.] Bacon.
5. A quantity of earth, eighteen feet square and one foot deep.
[Obs.] Mortimer.
6. (Plastering)
Defn: The trowel or tool with which the floated coat of plastering is
leveled and smoothed.
7. A polishing block used in marble working; a runner. Knight.
8. A single-cut file for smoothing; a tool used by shoemakers for
rasping off pegs inside a shoe.
9. A coal cart. [Eng.] Simmonds.
10. The sea; a wave. See Flote, n. Float board, one of the boards
fixed radially to the rim of an undershot water wheel or of a
steamer's paddle wheel; -- a vane.
-- Float case (Naut.), a caisson used for lifting a ship.
-- Float copper or gold (Mining), fine particles of metallic copper
or of gold suspended in water, and thus liable to be lost.
-- Float ore, water-worn particles of ore; fragments of vein
material found on the surface, away from the vein outcrop. Raymond.
-- Float stone (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or
brickwork to a smooth surface.
-- Float valve, a valve or cock acted upon by a float. See Float, 1
(b).
FLOAT
Float, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floated; p. pr. & vb. n. Floating.] Etym:
[OE. flotien, flotten, AS. flotian to float, swim, fr. fleótan. See
Float, n.]
1. To rest on the surface of any fluid; to swim; to be buoyed up.
The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground. Milton.
Three blustering nights, borne by the southern blast, I floated.
Dryden.
2. To move quietly or gently on the water, as a raft; to drift along;
to move or glide without effort or impulse on the surface of a fluid,
or through the air.
They stretch their broad plumes and float upon the wind. Pope.
There seems a floating whisper on the hills. Byron.
FLOAT
Float, v. t.
1. To cause to float; to cause to rest or move on the surface of a
fluid; as, the tide floated the ship into the harbor.
Had floated that bell on the Inchcape rock. Southey.
2. To flood; to overflow; to cover with water.
Proud Pactolus floats the fruitful lands. Dryden.
3. (Plastering)
Defn: To pass over and level the surface of with a float while the
plastering is kept wet.
4. To support and sustain the credit of, as a commercial scheme or a
joint-stock company, so as to enable
FLOATABLE
Float"a*ble, a.
Defn: That may be floated.
FLOATAGE
Float"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Same as Flotage.
FLOATATION
Float*a"tion, n.
Defn: See Flotation.
FLOATER
Float"er, n.
1. One who floats or swims.
2. A float for indicating the height of a liquid surface.
FLOATING
Float"ing, a.
1. Buoyed upon or in a fluid; a, the floating timbers of a wreck;
floating motes in the air.
2. Free or lose from the usual attachment; as, the floating ribs in
man and some other animals.
3. Not funded; not fixed, invested, or determined; as, floating
capital; a floating debt.
Trade was at an end. Floating capital had been withdrawn in great
masses from the island. Macaulay.
Floating anchor (Naut.), a drag or sea anchor; drag sail.
-- Floating battery (Mil.), a battery erected on rafts or the hulls
of ships, chiefly for the defense of a coast or the bombardment of a
place.
-- Floating bridge. (a) A bridge consisting of rafts or timber, with
a floor of plank, supported wholly by the water; a bateau bridge. See
Bateau. (b) (Mil.) A kind of double bridge, the upper one projecting
beyond the lower one, and capable of being moved forward by pulleys;
-- used for carrying troops over narrow moats in attacking the
outworks of a fort. (c) A kind of ferryboat which is guided and
impelled by means of chains which are anchored on each side of a
stream, and pass over wheels on the vessel, the wheels being driven
by stream power. (d) The landing platform of a ferry dock.
-- Floating cartilage (Med.), a cartilage which moves freely in the
cavity of a joint, and often interferes with the functions of the
latter.
-- Floating dam. (a) An anchored dam. (b) A caisson used as a gate
for a dry dock.
-- Floating derrick, a derrick on a float for river and harbor use,
in raising vessels, moving stone for harbor improvements, etc.
-- Floating dock. (Naut.) See under Dock.
-- Floating harbor, a breakwater of cages or booms, anchored and
fastened together, and used as a protection to ships riding at anchor
to leeward. Knight.
-- Floating heart (Bot.), a small aquatic plant (Limnanthemum
lacunosum) whose heart-shaped leaves float on the water of American
ponds.
-- Floating island, a dish for dessert, consisting of custard with
floating masses of whipped cream or white of eggs.
-- Floating kidney. (Med.) See Wandering kidney, under Wandering.
-- Floating light, a light shown at the masthead of a vessel moored
over sunken rocks, shoals, etc., to warn mariners of danger; a light-
ship; also, a light erected on a buoy or floating stage.
-- Floating liver. (Med.) See Wandering liver, under Wandering.
-- Floating pier, a landing stage or pier which rises and falls with
the tide.
-- Floating ribs (Anat.), the lower or posterior ribs which are not
connected with the others in front; in man they are the last two
pairs.
-- Floating screed (Plastering), a strip of plastering first laid
on, to serve as a guide for the thickness of the coat.
-- Floating threads (Weaving), threads which span several other
threads without being interwoven with them, in a woven fabric.
FLOATING
Float"ing, n.
1. (Weaving)
Defn: Floating threads. See Floating threads, above.
2. The second coat of three-coat plastering. Knight.
FLOATING CHARGE; FLOATING LIEN
Floating charge, lien, etc. (Law)
Defn: A charge, lien, etc., that successively attaches to such assets
as a person may have from time to time, leaving him more or less free
to dispose of or encumber them as if no such charge or lien existed.
FLOATINGLY
Float"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a floating manner.
FLOATY
Float"y, a.
Defn: Swimming on the surface; buoyant; light. Sir W. Raleigh.
FLOBERT
Flo"bert, n. (Gun.)
Defn: A small cartridge designed for target shooting; -- sometimes
called ball cap. Flobert rifle, a rifle adapted to the use of
floberts.
FLOCCILLATION
Floc`cil*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. floccus a flock of wool. Cf. Flock of
wool.] (Med.)
Defn: A delirious picking of bedclothes by a sick person, as if to
pick off flocks of wool; carphology; -- an alarming symptom in acute
diseases. Dunglison.
FLOCCOSE
Floccose", a. Etym: [L. floccosus. Cf. 2d Flock, n.]
1. Spotted with small tufts like wool. Wright.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Having tufts of soft hairs, which are often deciduous.
FLOCCULAR
Floc"cu*lar, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to the flocculus.
FLOCCULATE
Floc"cu*late, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocculated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Flocculating.] (Geol.)
Defn: To aggregate into small lumps.
FLOCCULATE
Floc"cu*late, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Furnished with tufts of curly hairs, as some insects.
FLOCCULATION
Floc`cu*la"tion, n. (Geol.)
Defn: The process by which small particles of fine soils and
sediments aggregate into larger lumps.
FLOCCULE
Floc"cule, n. [See Flocculus.]
1. A detached mass of loosely fibrous structure like a shredded tuft
of wool.
2. (Chem.) Specif.: A small particle of an insoluble substance formed
in a liquid by the union of smaller particles.
FLOCCULENCE
Floc"cu*lence, n.
Defn: The state of being flocculent.
FLOCCULENT
Floc"cu*lent, a. Etym: [See Flock of wool.]
1. Clothed with small flocks or flakes; woolly. Gray.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Applied to the down of newly hatched or unfledged birds.
FLOCCULUS
Floc"cu*lus, n.; pl. Flocculi. Etym: [NL., dim. of L. floccus a lock
or flock of wool.] (Anat.)
Defn: A small lobe in the under surface of the cerebellum, near the
middle peduncle; the subpeduncular lobe.
FLOCCUS
Floc"cus, n.; pl. Flocci. Etym: [L., a flock of wool.]
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) The tuft of hair terminating the tail of mammals.
(b) A tuft of feathers on the head of young birds.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A woolly filament sometimes occuring with the sporules of
certain fungi.
FLOCK
Flock, n. Etym: [AS. flocc flock, company; akin to Icel. flokkr
crowd, Sw. flock, Dan. flok; prob. orig. used of flows, and akin to
E. fly. See Fly.]
1. A company or collection of living creatures; -- especially applied
to sheep and birds, rarely to persons or (except in the plural) to
cattle and other large animals; as, a flock of ravenous fowl. Milton.
The heathen . . . came to Nicanor by flocks. 2 Macc. xiv. 14.
2. A Christian church or congregation; considered in their relation
to the pastor, or minister in charge.
As half amazed, half frighted all his flock. Tennyson.
FLOCK
Flock, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flocked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flocking.]
Defn: To gather in companies or crowds.
Friends daily flock. Dryden.
Flocking fowl (Zoöl.), the greater scaup duck.
FLOCK
Flock, v. t.
Defn: To flock to; to crowd. [Obs.]
Good fellows, trooping, flocked me so. Taylor (1609).
FLOCK
Flock, n. Etym: [OE. flokke; cf. D. vlok, G. flocke, OHG. floccho,
Icel. fl, perh. akin to E. flicker, flacker, or cf. L. floccus, F.
floc.]
1. A lock of wool or hair.
I prythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point
[pommel]. Shak.
2. Woolen or cotton refuse (sing. or pl.), old rags, etc., reduced to
a degree of fineness by machinery, and used for stuffing unpholstered
furniture.
3. Very fine, sifted, woolen refuse, especially that from shearing
the nap of cloths, used as a coating for wall paper to give it a
velvety or clothlike appearance; also, the dust of vegetable fiber
used for a similar purpose. Flock bed, a bed filled with flocks or
locks of coarse wool, or pieces of cloth cut up fine. "Once a flock
bed, but repaired with straw." Pope.
-- Flock paper, paper coated with flock fixed with glue or size.
FLOCK
Flock, v. t.
Defn: To coat with flock, as wall paper; to roughen the surface of
(as glass) so as to give an appearance of being covered with fine
flock.
FLOCKLING
Flock"ling, n.
Defn: A lamb. [Obs.] Brome (1659).
FLOCKLY
Flock"ly, adv.
Defn: In flocks; in crowds. [Obs.]
FLOCKMEL
Flock"mel, adv. Etym: [AS. flocm. See Meal part.]
Defn: In a flock; in a body. [Obs.]
That flockmel on a day they to him went. Chaucer.
FLOCKY
Flock"y, a.
Defn: Abounding with flocks; floccose.
FLOE
Floe, n. Etym: [Cf. Dan. flag af iis, iisflage, Sw. flaga, flake,
isflaga, isflake. See Flag a flat stone.]
Defn: A low, flat mass of floating ice. Floe rat (Zoöl.), a seal
(Phoca foetida).
FLOG
Flog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Flogging.] Etym:
[Cf. Scot. fleg blow, stroke, kick, AS. flocan to strike, or perh.
fr. L. flagellare to whip. Cf. Flagellate.]
Defn: To beat or strike with a rod or whip; to whip; to lash; to
chastise with repeated blows.
FLOGGER
Flog"ger, n.
1. One who flogs.
2. A kind of mallet for beating the bung stave of a cask to start the
bung. Knight.
FLOGGING
Flog"ging, a. & n.
Defn: from Flog, v. t. Flogging chisel (Mach.), a large cold chisel,
used in chipping castings.
-- Flogging hammer, a small sledge hammer used for striking a
flogging chisel.
FLON
Flon, n. pl.
Defn: See Flo. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLONG
Flong ( or ), obs.
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Fling.
FLOOD
Flood, n. Etym: [OE. flod a flowing, stream, flood, AS. flod; akin to
D. vloed, OS. flod, OHG. fluot, G. flut, Icel. floedh, Sw. & Dan.
flod, Goth. flodus; from the root of E. flow. sq. root80. See Flow,
v. i.]
1. A great flow of water; a body of moving water; the flowing stream,
as of a river; especially, a body of water, rising, swelling, and
overflowing land not usually thus covered; a deluge; a freshet; an
inundation.
A covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood. Milton.
2. The flowing in of the tide; the semidiurnal swell or rise of water
in the ocean; -- opposed to ebb; as, young flood; high flood.
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which, taken at the flood,
leads on to fortune. Shak.
3. A great flow or stream of any fluid substance; as, a flood of
light; a flood of lava; hence, a great quantity widely diffused; an
overflowing; a superabundance; as, a flood of bank notes; a flood of
paper currency.
4. Menstrual disharge; menses. Harvey. Flood anchor (Naut.) , the
anchor by which a ship is held while the tide is rising.
-- Flood fence, a fence so secured that it will not be swept away by
a flood.
-- Flood gate, a gate for shutting out, admitting, or releasing, a
body of water; a tide gate.
-- Flood mark, the mark or line to which the tide, or a flood,
rises; high-water mark.
-- Flood tide, the rising tide; -- opposed to ebb tide.
-- The Flood, the deluge in the days of Noah.
FLOOD
Flood, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flooded; p. pr. & vb. n. Flooding.]
1. To overflow; to inundate; to deluge; as, the swollen river flooded
the valley.
2. To cause or permit to be inundated; to fill or cover with water or
other fluid; as, to flood arable land for irrigation; to fill to
excess or to its full capacity; as, to flood a country with a
depreciated currency.
FLOODAGE
Flood"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Inundation. [R.] Carlyle.
FLOODER
Flood"er, n.
Defn: One who floods anything.
FLOODING
Flood"ing, n.
Defn: The filling or covering with water or other fluid; overflow;
inundation; the filling anything to excess.
2. (Med.)
Defn: An abnormal or excessive discharge of blood from the uterus.
Dunglison.
FLOOK
Flook, n.
Defn: A fluke of an anchor.
FLOOKAN; FLUKAN
Flook"an, Flu"kan, n. (Mining)
Defn: See Flucan.
FLOOKY
Flook"y, a.
Defn: Fluky.
FLOOR
Floor, n. Etym: [AS. fl; akin to D. vloer, G. flur field, floor,
entrance hall, Icel. fl floor of a cow stall, cf. Ir. & Gael. lar
floor, ground, earth, W. llawr, perh. akin to L. planus level. Cf.
Plain smooth.]
1. The bottom or lower part of any room; the part upon which we stand
and upon which the movables in the room are supported.
2. The structure formed of beams, girders, etc., with proper
covering, which divides a building horizontally into stories. Floor
in sense 1 is, then, the upper surface of floor in sense 2.
3. The surface, or the platform, of a structure on which we walk or
travel; as, the floor of a bridge.
4. A story of a building. See Story.
5. (Legislative Assemblies)
(a) The part of the house assigned to the members.
(b) The right to speak. [U.S.]
Note: Instead of he has the floor, the English say, he is in
possession of the house.
6. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of the bottom of a vessel on each side of the keelson
which is most nearly horizontal.
7. (Mining)
(a) The rock underlying a stratified or nearly horizontal deposit.
(b) A horizontal, flat ore body. Raymond. Floor cloth, a heavy
fabric, painted, varnished, or saturated, with waterproof material,
for covering floors; oilcloth.
-- Floor cramp, an implement for tightening the seams of floor
boards before nailing them in position.
-- Floor light, a frame with glass panes in a floor.
-- Floor plan. (a) (Shipbuilding) A longitudinal section, showing a
ship as divided at the water line. (b) (Arch.) A horizontal section,
showing the thickness of the walls and partitions, arrangement of
passages, apartments, and openings at the level of any floor of a
house.
FLOOR
Floor, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Floored; p. pr. & vb. n. Flooring.]
1. To cover with a floor; to furnish with a floor; as, to floor a
house with pine boards.
2. To strike down or lay level with the floor; to knock down; hence,
to silence by a conclusive answer or retort; as, to floor an
opponent.
Floored or crushed by him. Coleridge.
3. To finish or make an end of; as, to floor a college examination.
[Colloq.]
I've floored my little-go work. T. Hughes.
FLOORAGE
Floor"age (; 48), n.
Defn: Floor space.
FLOORER
Floor"er, n.
Defn: Anything that floors or upsets a person, as a blow that knocks
him down; a conclusive answer or retort; a task that exceeds one's
abilities. [Colloq.]
FLOORHEADS
Floor"heads`, n. pl. (Naut.)
Defn: The upper extermities of the floor of a vessel.
FLOORING
Floor"ing, n.
Defn: A platform; the bottom of a room; a floor; pavement. See Floor,
n. Addison.
2. Material for the construction of a floor or floors.
FLOORLESS
Floor"less, a.
Defn: Having no floor.
FLOORWALKER
Floor"walk`er, n.
Defn: One who walks about in a large retail store as an overseer and
director. [U.S.]
FLOP
Flop, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flopped; p. pr. & vb. n. Flopping.] Etym:
[A variant of flap.]
1. To clap or strike, as a bird its wings, a fish its tail, etc.; to
flap.
2. To turn suddenly, as something broad and flat. [Colloq.] Fielding.
FLOP
Flop, v. i.
1. To strike about with something broad abd flat, as a fish with its
tail, or a bird with its wings; to rise and fall; as, the brim of a
hat flops.
2. To fall, sink, or throw one's self, heavily, clumsily, and
unexpectedly on the ground. [Colloq.] Dickens.
FLOP
Flop, n.
Defn: Act of flopping. [Colloq.] W. H. Russell.
FLOPPY
Flop"py, n.
Defn: Having a tendency to flop or flap; as, a floppy hat brim. G.
Eliot.
FLOPWING
Flop"wing`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The lapwing.
FLORA
Flo"ra, n. Etym: [L., the goddess of flowers, from flos, floris,
flower. See Flower.]
1. (Rom. Myth.)
Defn: The goddess of flowers and spring.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: The complete system of vegetable species growing without
cultivation in a given locality, region, or period; a list or
description of, or treatise on, such plants.
FLORAL
Flo"ral, a. Etym: [L. Floralis belonging to Flora: cf. F. floral. See
Flora.]
1. Pertaining to Flora, or to flowers; made of flowers; as, floral
games, wreaths.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Containing, or belonging to, a flower; as, a floral bud; a
floral leaf; floral characters. Martyn. Floral envelope (Bot.), the
calyx and corolla, one or the other of which (mostly the corolla) may
be wanting.
FLORALLY
Flo"ral*ly, adv.
Defn: In a floral manner.
FLORAMOUR
Flo"ra*mour, n.Etym: [L. flos, floris, flower + amorlove.]
Defn: The plant love-lies-bleeding. [Obs.] Prior.
FLORAN
Flo"ran, n. (Mining)
Defn: Tin ore scarcely perceptible in the stone; tin ore stamped very
fine. Pryce.
FLOREAL
Flo`réal", n. Etym: [F. floréal, fr. L. flos, floris, flower.]
Defn: The eight month of the French republican calendar. It began
April 20, and ended May 19. See Vendémiare.
FLOREN
Flor"en, n. Etym: [LL. florenus. See Florin.]
Defn: A cerain gold coin; a Florence. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FLORENCE
Flor"ence, n. Etym: [From the city of Florence: cf. F. florence a
kind of cloth, OF. florin.]
1. An ancient gold coin of the time of Edward III., of six shillings
sterling value. Camden.
2. A kind of cloth. Johnson. Florence flask. See under Flask.
-- Florence oil, olive oil prepared in Florence.
FLORENTINE
Flor"en*tine ( or ; 277), a. Etym: [L. Florentinus, fr. Florentia
Florence: cf. F. florentin.]
Defn: Belonging or relating to Florence, in Italy. Florentine mosaic,
a mosaic of hard or semiprecious stones, often so chosen and arranged
that their natural colors represent leaves, flowers, and the like,
inlaid in a background, usually of black or white marble.
FLORENTINE
Flor"en*tine, n.
1. A native or inhabitant of Florence, a city in Italy.
2. A kind of silk. Knight.
3. A kind of pudding or tart; a kind of meat pie. [Obs.]
Stealing custards, tarts, and florentines. Beau. & Fl.
FLORESCENCE
Flo*res"cence, n. Etym: [See Florescent.] (Bot.)
Defn: A bursting into flower; a blossoming. Martyn.
FLORESCENT
Flo*res"cent, a. Etym: [L. florescens, p.pr. of florescere begin to
blossom, incho. fr. florere to blossom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See
Flower.]
Defn: Expanding into flowers; blossoming.
FLORET
Flo"ret, n. Etym: [OF. florete, F. fleurette, dim. of OF. lor, F.
fleur. See Flower, and cf. Floweret, 3d Ferret.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A little flower; one of the numerous little flowers which
compose the head or anthodium in such flowers as the daisy, thistle,
and dandelion. Gray.
2. Etym: [F. fleuret.]
Defn: A foil; a blunt sword used in fencing. [Obs.] Cotgrave.
FLORIAGE
Flo"ri*age, n. Etym: [L. flos, flori, flower.]
Defn: Bloom; blossom. [Obs.] J. Scott.
FLORIATED
Flo"ri*a`ted, a. (Arch.)
Defn: Having floral ornaments; as, floriated capitals of Gothic
pillars.
FLORIATION
Flo`ri*a"tion, n.
1. Ornamentation by means of flower forms, whether closely imitated
or conventionalized.
2. Any floral ornament or decoration. Rock.
FLORICOMOUS
Flo*ric"o*mous, a. Etym: [L. flos, floris, flower + coma hair.]
Defn: Having the head adorned with flowers. [R.]
FLORICULTURAL
Flo`ri*cul"tur*al ( or ; 135), a.
Defn: Pertaining to the cultivation of flowering plants.
FLORICULTURE
Flo"ri*cul`ture ( or ; 135, 277), n. Etym: [L. flos, floris, flower +
cultura culture.]
Defn: The cultivation of flowering plants.
FLORICULTURIST
Flo`ri*cul"tur*ist, n.
Defn: One skilled in the cultivation of flowers; a florist.
FLORID
Flor"id, a. Etym: [L. floridus, fr. flos, floris, flower. See
Flower.]
1. Covered with flowers; abounding in flowers; flowery. [R.]
Fruit from a pleasant and florid tree. Jer. Taylor.
2. Bright in color; flushed with red; of a lively reddish color; as,
a florid countenance.
3. Embellished with flowers of rhetoric; enriched to excess with
figures; excessively ornate; as, a florid style; florid eloquence.
4. (Mus.)
Defn: Flowery; ornamental; running in rapid melodic figures,
divisions, or passages, as in variations; full of fioriture or little
ornamentations.
FLORIDA BEAN
Flor"i*da bean". (Bot.)
(a) The large, roundish, flattened seed of Mucuna urens. See under
Bean.
(b) One of the very large seeds of the Entada scandens.
FLORIDEAE
Flo*rid"e*æ, n. pl. Etym: [NL., from L. flos, floris, a flower.]
(Bot.)
Defn: A subclass of algæ including all the red or purplish seaweeds;
the Rhodospermeæ of many authors; -- so called from the rosy or
florid color of most of the species.
FLORIDITY
Flo*rid"i*ty, n.
Defn: The quality of being florid; floridness. Floyer.
FLORIDLY
Flor"id*ly, adv.
Defn: In a florid manner.
FLORIDNESS
Flor"id*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being florid. Boyle.
FLORIFEROUS
Flo*rif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. florifer; flos, floris, flower + ferre
to bear; cf. F. florifère.]
Defn: Producing flowers. Blount.
FLORIFICATION
Flo`ri*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. flos, floris, flower + facere to
make.]
Defn: The act, process, or time of flowering; florescence.
FLORIFORM
Flo"ri*form ( or ), a. Etym: [L. flos, floris, flower + -form: cf. F.
floriforme.]
Defn: Having the form of a flower; flower-shaped.
FLORIKEN
Flo"ri*ken, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: An Indian bustard (Otis aurita). The Bengal floriken is
Sypheotides Bengalensis. [Written also florikan, floriken, florican.]
FLORILEGE
Flo"ri*lege, n. Etym: [L. florilegus flower-culling; flos, floris,
flower + legere to gather: cf. F. florilège.]
Defn: The act of gathering flowers.
FLORIMER
Flo"ri*mer, n. (Bot.)
Defn: See Floramour. [Obs.]
FLORIN
Flor"in, n. Etym: [F. florin, It. florino, orig., a Florentine coin,
with a lily on it, fr. flore a flower, fr. L. flos. See Flower, and
cf. Floren.]
Defn: A silver coin of Florence, first struck in the twelfth century,
and noted for its beauty. The name is given to different coins in
different countries. The florin of England, first minted in 1849, is
worth two shillings, or about 48 cents; the florin of the
Netherlands, about 40 cents; of Austria, about 36 cents.
FLORIST
Flo"rist ( or ; 277), n. Etym: [Cf. F. fleuriste, floriste, fr. F.
fleur flower. See Flower.]
1. A cultivator of, or dealer in, flowers.
2. One who writes a flora, or an account of plants.
FLOROON
Flo*roon", n. Etym: [F. fleuron. See Flower.]
Defn: A border worked with flowers. Wright.
FLORULENT
Flor"u*lent, a. Etym: [L. florulentus, fr. flos, floris, flower.]
Defn: Flowery; blossoming. [Obs.] Blount.
FLOSCULAR
Flos"cu*lar, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Flosculous.
FLOSCULARIAN
Flos`cu*la"ri*an, n. Etym: [From L. flosculus a floweret.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of stalked rotifers, having ciliated tentacles
around the lobed disk.
FLOSCULE
Flos*cule, n. Etym: [L. flosculus, dim. of flos flower: cf. F.
floscule.] (Bot.)
Defn: A floret.
FLOSCULOUS
Flos"cu*lous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of many gamopetalous florets.
FLOS-FERRI
Flos`-fer"ri, n.Etym: [L., flower of iron.] (Min.)
Defn: A variety of aragonite, occuring in delicate white coralloidal
forms; -- common in beds of iron ore.
FLOSH
Flosh, n. Etym: [Cf. G. flösse a trough in which tin ore is washed.]
(Metallurgy)
Defn: A hopper-shaped box or Knight.
FLOSS
Floss (; 195), n. Etym: [It. floscio flabby, soft, fr. L. fluxus
flowing, loose, slack. See Flux, n.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The slender styles of the pistillate flowers of maize; also
called silk.
2. Untwisted filaments of silk, used in embroidering. Floss silk,
silk that has been twisted, and which retains its loose and downy
character. It is much used in embroidery. Called also floxed silk.
-- Floss thread, a kind of soft flaxen yarn or thread, used for
embroidery; -- called also linen floss, and floss yarn. McElrath.
FLOSS
Floss, n. Etym: [Cf. G. floss a float.]
1. A small stream of water. [Eng.]
2. Fluid glass floating on iron in the puddling furnace, produced by
the vitrification of oxides and earths which are present. Floss hole.
(a) A hole at the back of a puddling furnace, at which the slags pass
out. (b) The tap hole of a melting furnace. Knight.
FLOSSIFICATION
Flos`si*fi*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. Florification.]
Defn: A flowering; florification. [R.] Craig.
FLOSSY
Floss"y, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, made of, or resembling, floss; hence, light;
downy.
FLOTA
Flo"ta, n. Etym: [Sp. See Flotilla.]
Defn: A fleet; especially, a
FLOTAGE
Flo"tage, n. Etym: [OF. flotage, F. flottage, fr. flotter to float.]
1. The state of floating.
2. That which floats on the sea or in rivers. [Written also
floatage.]
FLOTANT
Flo"tant, a. Etym: [OF. flotant, F. flottant, p.pr. of flotter to
float.] (Her.)
Defn: Represented as flying or streaming in the air; as, a banner
flotant.
FLOTATION
Flo*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flottation a floating, flottaison water
line, fr. flotter to float. See Flotilla.]
1. The act, process, or state of floating.
2. The science of floating bodies. Center of flotation.
(Shipbuilding) (a) The center of any given plane of flotation. (b)
More commonly, the middle of the length of the load water line.
Rankine.
-- Plane, or Line, of flotation, the plane or line in which the
horizontal surface of a fluid cuts a body floating in it. See
Bearing, n., 9 (c).
-- Surface of flotation (Shipbuilding), the imaginary surface which
all the planes of flotation touch when a vessel rolls or pitches; the
envelope of all such planes.
FLOTATION PROCESS
Flotation process.
Defn: A process of separating the substances contained in pulverized
ore or the like by depositing the mixture on the surface of a
flowing liquid, the substances that are quickly wet readily
overcoming the surface tension of the liquid and sinking, the others
flowing off in a film or slime on the surface, though, perhaps,
having a greater specific gravity than those that sink.
FLOTE
Flote, v. t.
Defn: To fleet; to skim. [Obs.] Tusser.
FLOTE
Flote, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flot, L. fluctus; also cf. Float, n.]
Defn: A wave. [Obs.] "The Mediterranean flote." Shak.
FLOTERY
Flot"er*y, a.
Defn: Wavy; flowing. [Obs.]
With flotery beard. Chaucer.
FLOTILLA
Flo*til"la, n. Etym: [Sp. flotilla, dim. of flota fleet; akin to F.
flotte, It. flotta, and F. flot wave, fr. L. fluctus, but prob.
influenced by words akin to E. float. See Fluctuate, and cf. Float,
n.]
Defn: A little fleet, or a fleet of small vessels.
FLOTSAM; FLOTSON
Flot"sam, Flot"son, n. Etym: [F. flotter to float. See FFlotilla, and
cf. Jetsam.] (Law)
Defn: Goods lost by shipwreck, and floating on the sea; -- in
distinction from jetsam or jetson. Blackstone.
FLOTTEN
Flot"ten, p. p. of Flote, v. t.
Defn: Skimmed. [Obs.]
FLOUNCE
Flounce, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flounced (flounst); p. pr. & vb. n.
Flouncing.] Etym: [Cf. OSw. flunsa to immerge.]
Defn: To throw the limbs and body one way and the other; to spring,
turn, or twist with sudden effort or violence; to struggle, as a
horse in mire; to flounder; to throw one's self with a jerk or spasm,
often as in displeasure.
To flutter and flounce will do nothing but batter and bruise us.
Barrow.
With his broad fins and forky tail he laves The rising sirge, and
flounces in the waves. Addison.
FLOUNCE
Flounce, n.
Defn: The act of floucing; a sudden, jerking motion of the body.
FLOUNCE
Flounce, n. Etym: [Cf. G. flaus, flausch, a tuft of wool or hair;
akin to vliess, E. fleece; or perh. corrupted fr. rounce.]
Defn: An ornamental appendage to the skirt of a woman's dress,
consisting of a strip gathered and sewed on by its upper edge around
the skirt, and left hanging.
FLOUNCE
Flounce, v. t.
Defn: To deck with a flounce or flounces; as, to flounce a petticoat
or a frock.
FLOUNDER
Floun"der, n. Etym: [Cf. Sw. flundra; akin to Dan. flynder, Icel.
fly, G. flunder, and perh. to E. flounder, v.i.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A flatfish of the family Pleuronectidæ, of many species.
Note: The common English flounder is Pleuronectes flesus. There are
several common American species used as food; as the smooth flounder
(P. glabra); the rough or winter flounder (P. Americanus); the summer
flounder, or plaice (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic coast; and the
starry flounder (Pleuronectes stellatus).
2. (Bootmaking)
Defn: A tool used in crimping boot fronts.
FLOUNDER
Floun"der, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Floundered; p. pr. & vb. n.
Floundering.] Etym: [Cf. D. flodderen to flap, splash through mire,
E. flounce, v.i., and flounder the fish.]
Defn: To fling the limbs and body, as in making efforts to move; to
struggle, as a horse in the mire, or as a fish on land; to roll,
toss, and tumble; to flounce.
They have floundered on from blunder to blunder. Sir W. Hamilton.
FLOUNDER
Floun"der, n.
Defn: The act of floundering.
FLOUR
Flour, n. Etym: [F. fleur de farine the flower (i.e., the best) of
meal, cf. Sp. flor de la harina superfine flour, Icel. flür flower,
flour. See Flower.]
Defn: The finely ground meal of wheat, or of any other grain;
especially, the finer part of meal separated by bolting; hence, the
fine and soft powder of any substance; as, flour of emery; flour of
mustard. Flour bolt, in milling, a gauze-covered, revolving,
cylindrical frame or reel, for sifting the flour from the refuse
contained in the meal yielded by the stones.
-- Flour box a tin box for scattering flour; a dredging box.
-- Flour dredge or dredger, a flour box.
-- Flour dresser, a mashine for sorting and distributing flour
according to grades of fineness.
-- Flour mill, a mill for grinding and sifting flour.
FLOUR
Flour, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Floured; p. pr. & vb. n. Flouring.]
1. To grind and bolt; to convert into flour; as, to flour wheat.
2. To sprinkle with flour.
FLOURED
Floured, p. a.
Defn: Finely granulated; -- said of quicksilver which has been
granulated by agitation during the amalgamation process. Raymond.
FLOURISH
Flour"ish, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flourished; p. pr. & vb. n.
Flourishing.] Etym: [OE. florisshen, flurisshen, OF. flurir, F.
fleurir, fr. L. florere to bloom, fr. flos, floris, flower. See
Flower, and -ish.]
1. To grow luxuriantly; to increase and enlarge, as a healthy growing
plant; a thrive.
A tree thrives and flourishes in a kindly . . . soil. Bp. Horne.
2. To be prosperous; to increase in wealth, honor, comfort,
happiness, or whatever is desirable; to thrive; to be prominent and
influental; specifically, of authors, painters, etc., to be in a
state of activity or production.
When all the workers of iniquity do flourish. Ps. xcii 7
Bad men as frequently prosper and flourish, and that by the means of
their wickedness. Nelson.
We say Of those that held their heads above the crowd, They
flourished then or then. Tennyson.
3. To use florid language; to indulge in rhetorical figures and lofty
expressions; to be flowery.
They dilate . . . and flourish long on little incidents. J. Watts.
4. To make bold and sweeping, fanciful, or wanton movements, by way
of ornament, parade, bravado, etc.; to play with fantastic and
irregular motion.
Impetuous spread The stream, and smoking flourished o'er his head.
Pope.
5. To make ornamental strokes with the pen; to write graceful,
decorative figures.
6. To execute an irregular or fanciful strain of music, by way of
ornament or prelude.
Why do the emperor's trumpets flourish thus Shak.
7. To boast; to vaunt; to brag. Pope.
FLOURISH
Flour"ish, v. t.
1. To adorn with flowers orbeautiful figures, either natural or
artificial; to ornament with anything showy; to embellish. [Obs.]
Fenton.
2. To embellish with the flowers of diction; to adorn with rhetorical
figures; to grace with ostentatious eloquence; to set off with a
parade of words. [Obs.]
Sith that the justice of your title to him Doth flourish the deceit.
Shak.
3. To move in bold or irregular figures; to swing about in circles or
vibrations by way of show or triumph; to brandish.
And flourishes his blade in spite of me. Shak.
4. To develop; to make thrive; to expand. [Obs.]
Bottoms of thread . . . which with a good needle, perhaps flourished
into large works. Bacon.
FLOURISH
Flour"ish, n.; pl. Flourishes (.
1. A flourishing condition; prosperity; vigor. [Archaic]
The Roman monarchy, in her highest flourish, never had the like.
Howell.
2. Decoration; ornament; beauty.
The flourish of his sober youth Was the pride of naked truth.
Crashaw.
3. Something made or performed in a fanciful, wanton, or vaunting
manner, by way of ostentation, to excite admiration, etc.;
ostentatious embellishment; ambitious copiousness or amplification;
parade of wordas, a flourish of rhetoric or of wit.
He lards with flourishes his long harangue. Dryden.
4. A fanciful stroke of the pen or graver; a merely decorative
figure.
The neat characters and flourishes of a Bible curiously printed.
Boyle.
5. A fantastic or decorative musical passage; a strain of triumph or
bravado, not forming part of a regular musical composition; a cal; a
fanfare.
A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums! Shak.
6. The waving of a weapon or other thing; a brandishing; as, the
fluorish of a sword.
FLOURISHER
Flour"ish*er, n.
Defn: One who flourishes.
FLOURISHINGLY
Flour"ish*ing*ly
Defn: , adv. In a flourishing manner; ostentatiously.
FLOURY
Flour"y, a.
Defn: Of or resembling flour; mealy; covered with flour. Dickens.
FLOUT
Flout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Flouting.] Etym:
[OD. fluyten to play the flute, to jeer, D. fluiten, fr. fluit, fr.
French. See Flute.]
Defn: To mock or insult; to treat with contempt.
Phillida flouts me. Walton.
Three gaudy standarts lout the pale blue sky. Byron.
FLOUT
Flout, v. i.
Defn: To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to
fleer; -- often with at.
Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout. Swift.
FLOUT
Flout, n.
Defn: A mock; an insult.
Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn. Tennyson.
FLOUTER
Flout"er, n.
Defn: One who flouts; a mocker.
FLOUTINGLY
Flout"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With flouting; insultingly; as, to treat a lover floutingly.
FLOW
Flow, obs.
Defn: imp. sing. of Fly, v. i. Chaucer.
FLOW
Flow, v. i. [imp. & p. p. FFlowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flowing.] Etym:
[AS. flowan; akin to D. vloeijen, OHG. flawen to wash, Icel. floa to
deluge, Gr. float, fleet. *80. Cf. Flood.]
1. To move with a continual change of place among the particles or
parts, as a fluid; to change place or circulate, as a liquid; as,
rivers flow from springs and lakes; tears flow from the eyes.
2. To become liquid; to melt.
The mountains flowed down at thy presence. Is. lxiv. 3.
3. To pproceed; to issue forth; as, wealth flows from industry and
economy.
Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and
actions. Milton.
4. To glide along smoothly, without harshness or asperties; as, a
flowing period; flowing numbers; to sound smoothly to the ear; to be
uttered easily.
Virgil is sweet and flowingin his hexameters. Dryden.
5. To have or be in abundance; to abound; to full, so as to run or
flow over; to be copious.
In that day . . . the hills shall flow with milk. Joel iii. 18.
The exhilaration of a night that needed not the influence of the
flowing bowl. Prof. Wilson.
6. To hang loose and waving; as, a flowing mantle; flowing locks.
The imperial purple flowing in his train. A. Hamilton.
7. To rise, as the tide; -- opposed to ebb; as, the tide flows twice
in twenty-four hours.
The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between. Shak.
8. To discharge blood in excess from the uterus.
FLOW
Flow, v. t.
1. To cover with water or other liquid; to overflow; to inundate; to
flood.
2. To cover with varnish.
FLOW
Flow, n.
1. A stream of water or other fluid; a current; as, a flow of water;
a flow of blood.
2. A continuous movement of something abundant; as, a flow of words.
3. Any gentle, gradual movement or procedure of thought, diction,
music, or the like, resembling the quiet, steady movement of a river;
a stream.
The feast of reason and the flow of soul. Pope.
4. The tidal setting in of the water from the ocean to the shore. See
Ebb and flow, under Ebb.
5. A low-lying piece of watery land; -- called also flow moss and
flow bog. [Scot.] Jamieson.
FLOWAGE
Flow"age (; 48), n.
Defn: An overflowing with water; also, the water which thus
overflows.
FLOWEN
Flow"en, obs.
Defn: imp. pl. of Fly, v. i. Chaucer.
FLOWER
Flow"er, n. Etym: [OE. flour, OF. flour, flur, flor, F. fleur, fr. L.
flos, floris. Cf. Blossom, Effloresce, Floret, Florid, Florin, Flour,
Flourish.]
1. In the popular sense, the bloom or blossom of a plant; the showy
portion, usually of a different color, shape, and texture from the
foliage.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: That part of a plant destined to produce seed, and hence
including one or both of the sexual organs; an organ or combination
of the organs of reproduction, whether inclosed by a circle of foliar
parts or not. A complete flower consists of two essential parts, the
stamens and the pistil, and two floral envelopes, the corolla and
callyx. In mosses the flowers consist of a few special leaves
surrounding or subtending organs called archegonia. See Blossom, and
Corolla.
Note: If we examine a common flower, such for instance as a geranium,
we shall find that it consists of: First, an outer envelope or calyx,
sometimes tubular, sometimes consisting of separate leaves called
sepals; secondly, an inner envelope or corolla, which is generally
more or less colored, and which, like the calyx, is sometimes
tubular, sometimes composed of separate leaves called petals;
thirdly, one or more stamens, consisting of a stalk or filament and a
head or anther, in which the pollen is produced; and fourthly, a
pistil, which is situated in the center of the flower, and consists
generally of three principal parts; one or more compartments at the
base, each containing one or more seeds; the stalk or style; and the
stigma, which in many familiar instances forms a small head, at the
top of the style or ovary, and to which the pollen must find its way
in order to fertilize the flower. Sir J. Lubbock.
3. The fairest, freshest, and choicest part of anything; as, the
flower of an army, or of a family; the state or time of freshness and
bloom; as, the flower of life, that is, youth.
The choice and flower of all things profitable the Psalms do more
briefly contain. Hooker.
The flower of the chivalry of all Spain. Southey.
A simple maiden in her flower Is worth a hundred coats of arms.
Tennyson.
4. Grain pulverized; meal; flour. [Obs.]
The flowers of grains, mixed with water, will make a sort of glue.
Arbuthnot.
5. pl. (Old. Chem.)
Defn: A substance in the form of a powder, especially when condensed
from sublimation; as, the flowers of sulphur.
6. A figure of speech; an ornament of style.
7. pl. (Print.)
Defn: Ornamental type used chiefly for borders around pages, cards,
etc. W. Savage.
8. pl.
Defn: Menstrual discharges. Lev. xv. 24. Animal flower (Zoöl.) See
under Animal.
-- Cut flowers, flowers cut from the stalk, as for making a bouquet.
-- Flower bed, a plat in a garden for the cultivation of flowers.
-- Flower beetle (Zoöl.), any beetle which feeds upon flowers, esp.
any one of numerous small species of the genus Meligethes, family
Nitidulidæ, some of which are injurious to crops.
-- Flower bird (Zoöl.), an Australian bird of the genus Anthornis,
allied to the honey eaters.
-- Flower bud, an unopened flower.
-- Flower clock, an assemblage of flowers which open and close at
different hours of the day, thus indicating the time.
-- Flower head (Bot.), a compound flower in which all the florets
are sessile on their receptacle, as in the case of the daisy.
-- Flower pecker (Zoöl.), one of a family (Dicæidæ) of small Indian
and Australian birds. They resemble humming birds in habits.
-- Flower piece. (a) A table ornament made of cut flowers. (b) (Fine
Arts) A picture of flowers.
-- Flower stalk (Bot.), the peduncle of a plant, or the stem that
supports the flower or fructification.
FLOWER
Flow"er, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flowered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flowering.]
Etym: [From the noun. Cf. Flourish.]
1. To blossom; to bloom; to expand the petals, as a plant; to produce
flowers; as, this plant flowers in June.
2. To come into the finest or fairest condition.
Their lusty and flowering age. Robynson (More's Utopia).
When flowered my youthful spring. Spenser.
3. To froth; to ferment gently, as new beer.
That beer did flower a little. Bacon.
4. To come off as flowers by sublimation. [Obs.]
Observations which have flowered off. Milton.
FLOWER
Flow"er, v. t.
Defn: To embellish with flowers; to adorn with imitated flowers; as,
flowered silk.
FLOWERAGE
Flow"er*age (; 48), n.
Defn: State of flowers; flowers, collectively or in general.
Tennyson.
FLOWER-DE-LUCE
Flow"er-de-luce", n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. fleur-de-lis.] (Bot.)
Defn: A genus of perennial herbs (Iris) with swordlike leaves and
large three-petaled flowers often of very gay colors, but probably
white in the plant first chosen for the royal French emblem.
Note: There are nearly one hundred species, natives of the north
temperate zone. Some of the best known are Iris Germanica, I.
Florentina, I. Persica, I. sambucina, and the American I. versicolor,
I. prismatica, etc.
FLOWERER
Flow"erer, n.
Defn: A plant which flowers or blossoms.
Many hybrids are profuse and persistent flowerers. Darwin.
FLOWERET
Flow"er*et, n.
Defn: A small flower; a floret. Shak.
FLOWER-FENCE
Flow"er-fence`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A tropical leguminous bush (Poinciana, or Cæsalpinia,
pulcherrima) with prickly branches, and showy yellow or red flowers;
-- so named from its having been sometimes used for hedges in the
West Indies. Baird.
FLOWERFUL
Flow"er*ful, a.
Defn: Abounding with flowers. Craig.
FLOWER-GENTLE
Flow"er-gen`tle, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A species of amaranth (Amarantus melancholicus).
FLOWERINESS
Flow"er*i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being flowery.
FLOWERING
Flow"er*ing, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Having conspicuous flowers; -- used as an epithet with many
names of plants; as, flowering ash; flowering dogwood; flowering
almond, etc. Flowering fern, a genus of showy ferns (Osmunda), with
conspicuous bivalvular sporangia. They usually grow in wet places.
-- Flowering plants, plants which have stamens and pistils, and
produce true seeds; phenogamous plants; -- distinguished from
flowerless plants.
-- Flowering rush, a European rushlike plant (Butomus umbellatus),
with an umbel of rosy blossoms.
FLOWERING
Flow"er*ing, n.
1. The act of blossoming, or the season when plants blossom;
florification.
2. The act of adorning with flowers.
FLOWERLESS
Flow"er*less, a.
Defn: Having no flowers. Flowerless plants, plants which have no true
flowers, and produce no seeds; cryptigamous plants.
FLOWERLESSNESS
Flow"er*less*ness, n.
Defn: State of being without flowers.
FLOWERPOT
Flow"er*pot`, n.
Defn: A vessel, commonly or earthenware, for earth in which plants
are grown.
FLOWER STATE
Flow"er State.
Defn: Florida; -- a nickname, alluding to sense of L. floridus,
from florida flowery. See Florid.
FLOWERY
Flow"er*y, a.
1. Full of flowers; abounding with blossoms.
2. Highly embellished with figurative language; florid; as, a flowery
style. Milton. The flowery kingdom, China.
FLOWERY-KIRTLED
Flow"er*y-kir`tled, a.
Defn: Dressed with garlands of flowers. [Poetic & Rare] Milton.
FLOWING
Flow"ing, a.
Defn: That flows or for flowing (in various sense of the verb);
gliding along smoothly; copious. Flowing battery (Elec.), a battery
which is kept constant by the flowing of the exciting liquid through
the cell or cells. Knight.
-- Flowing furnace, a furnace from which molten metal, can be drawn,
as through a tap hole; a foundry cupola.
-- Flowing sheet (Naut.), a sheet when eased off, or loosened to the
wind, as when the wind is abaft the beam. Totten.
FLOWING
Flow"ing,
Defn: a. & n. from Flow, v. i. & t.
FLOWINGLY
Flow"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flowing manner.
FLOWINGNESS
Flow"ing*ness, n.
Defn: Flowing tendency or quality; fluency. [R.] W. Nichols.
FLOWK
Flowk ( or ), n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: See 1st Fluke.
FLOWN
Flown,
Defn: p. p. of Fly; -- often used with the auxiliary verb to be; as,
the birds are flown.
FLOWN
Flown, a.
Defn: Flushed, inflated.
Note: [Supposed by some to be a mistake for blown or swoln.] Pope.
Then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.
Milton.
FLOXED SILK
Floxed" silk`.
Defn: See Floss silk, under Floss.
FLOYTE
Floyte, n. & v.
Defn: A variant of Flute. [Obs.]
FLUATE
Flu"ate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluate. See Fluor.] (Chem.)
Defn: A fluoride. [Obs.]
FLUAVIL
Flu"a*vil, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon extracted from gutta-percha, as a yellow,
resinous substance; -- called also fluanil.
FLUCAN
Flu"can, n. (Mining)
Defn: Soft clayey matter in the vein, or surrounding it. [Written
also flookan, flukan, and fluccan.]
FLUCTIFEROUS
Fluc*tif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. fluctus wave + -ferous.]
Defn: Tending to produce waves. Blount.
FLUCTISONOUS
Fluc*tis"o*nous, a. Etym: [L. fluctisonus; fluctus wave + sonus
sound.]
Defn: Sounding like waves.
FLUCTUABILITY
Fluc`tu*a*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: The capacity or ability to fluctuate. [R.] H. Walpole.
FLUCTUANT
Fluc"tu*ant, a. Etym: [L. fluctuans, p.pr. of fluctuare. See
Fluctuate.]
1. Moving like a wave; wavering; (Med.)
Defn: showing undulation or fluctuation; as, a fluctuant tumor.
2. Floating on the waves. [Obs.] Bacon.
FLUCTUATE
Fluc"tu*ate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fluctuated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fluctuating.] Etym: [L. fluctuatus, p.p. of fluctuare, to wave, fr.
fluctus wave, fr. fluere, fluctum, to flow. See Fluent, and cf.
Flotilla.]
1. To move as a wave; to roll hither and thither; to wave; to float
backward and forward, as on waves; as, a fluctuating field of air.
Blackmore.
2. To move now in one direction and now in another; to be wavering or
unsteady; to be irresolute or undetermined; to vacillate.
Syn.
-- To waver; vacillate; hesitate; scruple.
-- To Fluctuate, Vacillate, Waver.
-- Fluctuate is applied both to things and persons and denotes that
they move as they are acted upon. The stocks fluctuate; a man
fluctuates. between conflicting influences. Vacillate and waver are
applied to persons to represent them as acting themselves. A man
vacillates when he goes backward and forward in his opinions and
purposes, without any fixity of mind or principles. A man wavers when
he shrinks back or hesitates at the approach of difficulty or danger.
One who is fluctuating in his feelings is usually vacillating in
resolve, and wavering in execution.
FLUCTUATE
Fluc"tu*ate, v. t.
Defn: To cause to move as a wave; to put in motion. [R.]
And fluctuate all the still perfume. Tennyson.
FLUCTUATION
Fluc`tu*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. fluctuatio; cf. F. fluctuation.]
1. A motion like that of waves; a moving in this and that direction;
as, the fluctuations of the sea.
2. A wavering; unsteadiness; as, fluctuations of opinion;
fluctuations of prices.
3. (Med.)
Defn: The motion or undulation of a fluid collected in a natural or
artifical cavity, which is felt when it is subjected to pressure or
percussion. Dunglison.
FLUE
Flue, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. flue a flowing, fr. fluer to flow, fr. L.
fluere (cf. Fluent); a perh. a corruption of E. flute.]
Defn: An inclosed passage way for establishing and directing a
current of air, gases, etc.; an air passage; esp.:
(a) A compartment or division of a chimney for conveying flame and
smoke to the outer air.
(b) A passage way for conducting a current of fresh, foul, or heated
air from one place to another.
(c) (Steam Boiler) A pipe or passage for conveying flame and hot
gases through surrounding water in a boiler; -- distinguished from a
tube which holds water and is surrounded by fire. Small flues are
called fire tubes or simply tubes. Flue boiler. See under Boiler.
-- Flue bridge, the separating low wall between the flues and the
laboratory of a reverberatory furnace.
-- Flue plate (Steam Boiler), a plate to which the ends of the flues
are fastened; -- called also flue sheet, tube sheet, and tube plate.
-- Flue surface (Steam Boiler), the aggregate surface of flues
exposed to flame or the hot gases.
FLUE
Flue, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flou light, tender, G. flau weak, W. llwch
dust. sq. root84.]
Defn: Light down, such as rises from cotton, fur, etc.; very fine
lint or hair. Dickens.
FLUENCE
Flu"ence, n.
Defn: Fluency. [Obs.] Milton.
FLUENCY
Flu"en*cy, n. Etym: [L. fluentia: cf. F. fluence. See Fluent.]
Defn: The quality of being fluent; smoothness; readiness of
utterance; volubility.
The art of expressing with fluency and perspicuity. Macaulay.
FLUENT
Flu"ent, a. Etym: [L. fluens, -entis, p.pr. of fluere to flow; cf.
Gr. Fluctuate, Flux.]
1. Flowing or capable of flowing; liquid; glodding; easily moving.
2. Ready in the use of words; voluble; copious; having words at
command; and uttering them with facility and smoothness; as, a fluent
speaker; hence, flowing; voluble; smooth; -- said of language; as,
fluent speech.
With most fluent utterance. Denham.
Fluent as the flight of a swallow is the sultan's letter. De Quincey.
FLUENT
Flu"ent, n.
1. A current of water; a stream. [Obs.]
2. Etym: [Cf. F. fluente.] (Math.)
Defn: A variable quantity, considered as increasing or diminishing; -
- called, in the modern calculus, the function or integral.
FLUENTLY
Flu"ent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fluent manner.
FLUENTNESS
Flu"ent*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being fluent.
FLUE PIPE
Flue pipe. (Music)
Defn: A pipe, esp. an organ pipe, whose tone is produced by the
impinging of a current of air upon an edge, or lip, causing a wave
motion in the air within; a mouth pipe; -- distinguished from reed
pipe. Flue pipes are either open or closed (stopped at the distant
end). The flute and flageolet are open pipes; a bottle acts as a
closed pipe when one blows across the neck. The organ has both open
and closed flue pipes, those of metal being usually round in section,
and those of wood triangular or square.
FLUEWORK
Flue"work`, n. (Mus.)
Defn: A general name for organ stops in which the sound is caused by
wind passing through a flue or fissure and striking an edge above; --
in distinction from reedwork.
FLUEY
Flue"y, a. Etym: [2d Flue.]
Defn: Downy; fluffy. [R.]
FLUFF
Fluff, n. Etym: [Cf. 2d Flue.
Defn: Nap or down; flue; soft, downy feathers.
FLUFFY
Fluff"y, a. [Compar. Fluffier; superl. Fluffiest.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, fluff or nap; soft and downy.
"The carpets were fluffy." Thackeray.
The present Barnacle . . . had a youthful aspect, and the fluffiest
little whisker, perhaps, that ever was seen. Dickens.
-- Fluff"i*ness, n.
FLUGEL; FLUEGEL
Flü"gel, n. Etym: [G., a wing.] (Mus.)
Defn: A grand piano or a harpsichord, both being wing-shaped.
FLUGELMAN
Flu"gel*man, n. Etym: [G. flügelman.] (Mil.)
Defn: Same as Fugleman.
FLUID
Flu"id, a. Etym: [L. fluidus, fr. fluere to flow: cf. F. fluide. See
Fluent.]
Defn: Having particles which easily move and change their relative
position without a separation of the mass, and which easily yield to
pressure; capable of flowing; liquid or gaseous.
FLUID
Flu"id, n.
Defn: A fluid substance; a body whose particles move easily among
themselves.
Note: Fluid is a generic term, including liquids and gases as
species. Water, air, and steam are fluids. By analogy, the term is
sometimes applied to electricity and magnetism, as in phrases
electric fluid, magnetic fluid, though not strictly appropriate.
Fluid dram, or Fluid drachm, a measure of capacity equal to one
eighth of a fluid ounce.
-- Fluid ounce. (a) In the United States, a measure of capacity, in
apothecaries' or wine measure, equal to one sixteenth of a pint or
29.57 cubic centimeters. This, for water, is about 1.04158 ounces
avoirdupois, or 455.6 grains. (b) In England, a measure of capacity
equal to the twentieth part of an imperial pint. For water, this is
the weight of the avoirdupois ounce, or 437.5 grains.
-- Fluids of the body. (Physiol.) The circulating blood and lymph,
the chyle, the gastric, pancreatic, and intestinal juices, the
saliva, bile, urine, aqueous humor, and muscle serum are the more
important fluids of the body. The tissues themselves contain a large
amount of combined water, so much, that an entire human body dried in
vacuo with a very moderate degree of heat gives about 66 per cent of
water.
-- Burning fluid, Elastic fluid, Electric fluid, Magnetic fluid,
etc. See under Burning, Elastic, etc.
FLUIDAL
Flu"id*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a fluid, or to its flowing motion. Fluidal
structure (Geol.), the structure characteristic of certain volcanic
rocks in which the arrangement of the minute crystals shows the lines
of flow of thew molten material before solidification; -- also called
fluxion structure.
FLUIDITY
Flu*id"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluidité.]
Defn: The quality of being fluid or capable of flowing; a liquid,
aëriform. or gaseous state; -- opposed to solidity.
It was this want of organization, this looseness and fluidity of the
new movement, that made it penetrate through every class of society.
J. R. Green.
FLUIDIZE
Flu"id*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluidized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Fluidizing.]
Defn: To render fluid.
FLUIDNESS
Flu"id*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being flluid; fluidity.
FLUIDOUNCE
Flu"id*ounce`, n.
Defn: See Fluid ounce, under Fluid.
FLUIDRACHM
Flu"i*drachm`, n.
Defn: See Fluid dram, under Fluid. Pharm. of the U. S.
FLUKAN
Flu"kan, n. (Mining)
Defn: Flucan.
FLUKE
Fluke, n. Etym: [Cf. LG. flunk, flunka wing, the palm of an anchor;
perh. akin to E. fly.]
1. The part of an anchor which fastens in the ground; a flook. See
Anchor.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the lobes of a whale's tail, so called from the
resemblance to the fluke of an anchor.
3. An instrument for cleaning out a hole drilled in stone for
blasting.
4. An accidental and favorable stroke at billiards (called a scratch
in the United States); hence, any accidental or unexpected advantage;
as, he won by a fluke. [Cant, Eng.] A. Trollope.
FLUKEWORM
Fluke"worm`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Same as 1st Fluke, 2.
FLUKY
Fluk"y, a.
Defn: Formed like, or having, a fluke.
FLUME
Flume, n. Etym: [Cf. OE. flum river, OF, flum, fr. L. flumen, fr.
fluere to flow. *84. See Fluent.]
Defn: A stream; especially, a passage channel, or conduit for the
water that drives a mill wheel; or an artifical channel of water for
hydraulic or placer mining; also, a chute for conveying logs or
lumber down a declivity.
FLUMINOUS
Flu"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. flumen, fluminis, river.]
Defn: Pertaining to rivers; abounding in streama.
FLUMMERY
Flum"mer*y, n. Etym: [W. llumru, or llumruwd, a kind of food made of
oatmeal steeped in water until it has turned sour, fr. llumrig harsh,
raw, crude, fr. llum sharp, severe.]
1. A light kind of food, formerly made of flour or meal; a sort of
pap.
Milk and flummery are very fit for children. Locke.
2. Something insipid, or not worth having; empty compliment; trash;
unsubstantial talk of writing.
The flummery of modern criticism. J. Morley.
FLUNG
Flung,
Defn: imp. & p. p. of Fling.
FLUNK
Flunk, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flunked; p. pr. & vb. n. Flunking.] Etym:
[Cf. Funk.]
Defn: To fail, as on a lesson; to back out, as from an undertaking,
through fear.
FLUNK
Flunk, v. t.
Defn: To fail in; to shirk, as a task or duty. [Colloq. U.S.]
FLUNK
Flunk, n.
Defn: A failure or backing out; specifically (College cant),
Defn: a total failure in a recitation. [U.S.]
FLUNKY
Flun"ky, n.; pl. Flunkies. Etym: [Prob. fr. or akin to flank.]
[Written also flunkey.]
1. A contemptuous name for a liveried servant or a footman.
2. One who is obsequious or cringing; a snob.
3. One easily deceived in buying stocks; an inexperienced and unwary
jobber. [Cant, U.S.]
FLUNKYDOM
Flun"ky*dom, n.
Defn: The place or region of flunkies. C. Kingsley.
FLUNLYISM
Flun"ly*ism, n.
Defn: The quality or characteristics of a flunky; readiness to cringe
to those who are superior in wealth or position; toadyism. Thackeray.
FLUO-
Flu"o- (. (Chem.)
Defn: A combining form indicating fluorine as an ingredient; as in
fluosilicate, fluobenzene.
FLUOBORATE
Flu`o*bo"rate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluoborate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A salt of fluoboric acid; a fluoboride.
FLUOBORIC
Flu`o*bo"ric, a. Etym: [Fluo- boric: cf. F. fluoborique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, derived from, or consisting of, fluorine and
boron. Fluoridic acid (Chem.), a double fluoride, consisting
essentially of a solution of boron fluoride, in hydrofluoric acid. It
has strong acid properties, and is the type of the borofluorides.
Called also borofluoric acid.
FLUOBORIDE
Flu`o*bo"ride, n. (Chem.)
Defn: See Borofluoride.
FLUOCERINE; FLUOCERITE
Flu`o*ce"rine, Flu`o*ce"rite, n. Etym: [Fluo- + cerium.] (Min.)
Defn: A fluoride of cerium, occuring near Fahlun in Sweden. Tynosite,
from Colorado, is probably the same mineral.
FLUOHYDRIC
Flu`o*hy"dric, a. Etym: [Fluo- + hydrogen.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Hydrofluoric.
FLUOPHOSPHATE
Flu`o*phos"phate, n. Etym: [Fluo- + phosphate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double salt of fluoric and phosphoric acids.
FLUOR
Flu"or, n. Etym: [L., a flowing, fr. fluere to flow. See Fluent.]
1. A fluid state. [Obs.] Sir I. Newton.
2. Menstrual flux; catamenia; menses. [Obs.]
3. (Min.)
Defn: See Fluorite.
FLUOR ALBUS
Flu"or albus. Etym: [L., white flow.] (Med.)
Defn: The whites; leucorrhæa.
FLUORANTHENE
Flu`or*an"thene, n. Etym: [Fluorene + anthra (Chem.)
Defn: A white crystalline hydrocarbon C
FLUORATED
Flu"or*a`ted, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Combined with fluorine; subjected to the action of fluoride.
[R.]
FLUORENE
Flu`or*ene, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C13H10 having a beautiful
violet fluorescence; whence its name. It occurs in the higher boiling
products of coal tar, and is obtained artificially.
FLUORESCEIN
Flu`o*res"ce*in, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A yellowish red, crystalline substance, C20H12O5, produced by
heating together phthalic anhydride and resorcin; -- so called, from
the very brilliant yellowish green fluorescence of its alkaline
solutions. It has acid properties, and its salts of the alkalies are
known to the trade under the name of uranin.
FLUORESCENCE
Flu`o*res"cence, n. Etym: [From Fluor.] (Opt.)
Defn: That property which some transparent bodies have of producing
at their surface, or within their substance, light different in color
from the mass of the material, as when green crystals of fluor spar
afford blue reflections. It is due not to the difference in the color
of a distinct surface layer, but to the power which the substance has
of modifying the light incident upon it. The light emitted by
fluorescent substances is in general of lower refrangibility than the
incident light. Stockes.
FLUORESCENT
Flu`o*res"cent, a.
Defn: Having the property of fluorescence.
FLUORESCIN
Flu`o*res"cin, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A colorless, amorphous substance which is produced by the
reduction of fluoresceïn, and from which the latter may be formed by
oxidation.
FLUORIC
Flu*or"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. fluorique.] (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, obtained from, or containing, fluorine.
FLUORIDE
Flu"or*ide ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluoride.] (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of fluorine with another element or radical.
Calcium fluoride (Min.), fluorite, CaF2. See Fluorite.
FLUORINE
Flu"or*ine ( or ; 104), n. Etym: [NL. fluorina: cf. G. fluorin, F.
fluorine. So called from its occurrence in the mineral fluorite.]
(Chem.)
Defn: A non-metallic, gaseous element, strongly acid or negative, or
associated with chlorine, bromine, and iodine, in the halogen group
of which it is the first member. It always occurs combined, is very
active chemically, and possesses such an avidity for most elements,
and silicon especially, that it can neither be prepared nor kept in
glass vessels. If set free it immediately attacks the containing
material, so that it was not isolated until 1886. It is a pungent,
corrosive, colorless gas. Symbol F. Atomic weight 19.
Note: Fluorine unites with hydrogen to form hydrofluoric acid, which
is the agent employed in etching glass. It occurs naturally,
principally combined as calcium fluoride in fluorite, and as a double
fluoride of aluminium and sodium in cryolite.
FLUORITE
Flu"or*ite, n. (Min.)
Defn: Calcium fluoride, a mineral of many different colors, white,
yellow, purple, green, red, etc., often very beautiful, crystallizing
commonly in cubes with perfect octahedral cleavage; also massive. It
is used as a flux. Some varieties are used for ornamental vessels.
Also called fluor spar, or simply fluor.
FLUOROID
Flu"or*oid, n. Etym: [Fluor + -oid.] (Crystallog.)
Defn: A tetrahexahedron; -- so called because it is a common form of
fluorite.
FLUOROSCOPE
Flu*or"o*scope, n. Etym: [Fluorescence + -scope.] (Phys.)
Defn: An instrument for observing or exhibiting fluorescence.
FLUOROSCOPY
Flu`or*os"co*py, n.
Defn: Examination of an object, as the human body, by exposing it to
the X rays and observing the shadow cast upon a fluorescent screen;
cryptoscopy.
FLUOROUS
Flu"or*ous, a.
Defn: Pertaining to fluor.
FLUOR SPAR
Flu"or spar`. (Min.)
Defn: See Fluorite.
FLUOSILICATE
Flu`o*sil"i*cate, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluosilicate.] (Chem.)
Defn: A double fluoride of silicon and some other (usually basic)
element or radical, regarded as a salt of fluosilicic acid; -- called
also silicofluoride.
FLUOSILICIC
Flu`o*si*lic"ic, a. Etym: [Fluo- + silicic: cf. F. fluosilicique.]
(Chem.)
Defn: Composed of, or derived from, silicon and fluorine. Fluosilicic
acid, a double fluoride of hydrogen and silicon, H2F6Si, obtained in
solution in water as a sour fuming liquid, and regarded as the type
of the fluosilicates; -- called also silicofluoric acid, and
hydrofluosilicic acid.
FLURRIED
Flur"ried, a.
Defn: Agitated; excited.
-- Flur"ried*ly adv.
FLURRY
Flur"ry, n.; pl. Flurries. Etym: [Prov. E. flur to ruffle.]
1. A sudden and brief blast or gust; a light, temporary breeze; as, a
flurry of wind.
2. A light shower or snowfall accompanied with wind.
Like a flurry of snow on the whistling wind. Longfellow.
3. Violent agitation; commotion; bustle; hurry.
The racket and flurry of London. Blakw. Mag.
4. The violent spasms of a dying whale.
FLURRY
Flur"ry, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flurried; p. pr. & vb. n. Flurrying.]
Defn: To put in a state of agitation; to excite or alarm. H.
Swinburne.
FLURT
Flurt, n.
Defn: A flirt. [Obs.] Quarles.
FLUSH
Flush, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Flushed; p. pr. & vb. n. Flushing.] Etym:
[Cf. OE. fluschen to fly up, penetrate, F. fluz a flowing, E. flux,
dial. Sw. flossa to blaze, and E. flash; perh. influenced by blush.
*84.]
1. To flow and spread suddenly; to rush; as, blood flushes into the
face.
The flushing noise of many waters. Boyle.
It flushes violently out of the cock. Mortimer.
2. To become suddenly suffused, as the cheeks; to turn red; to blush.
3. To snow red; to shine suddenly; to glow.
In her cheek, distemper flushing glowed. Milton.
4. To star
Flushing from one spray unto another. W. Browne.
FLUSH
Flush, v. t.
1. To cause to be full; to flood; to overflow; to overwhelm with
water; as, to flush the meadows; to flood for the purpose of
cleaning; as, to flush a sewer.
2. To cause the blood to rush into (the face); to put to the blush,
or to cause to glow with excitement.
Nor flush with shame the passing virgin's cheek. Gay.
Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose, Flushing his brow.
Keats.
3. To make suddenly or temporarily red or rosy, as if suffused with
blood.
How faintly flushed. how phantom fair, Was Monte Rosa, hanging there!
Tennyson.
4. To excite; to animate; to stir.
Such things as can only feed his pride and flush his ambition. South.
5. To cause to start, as a hunter a bird. Nares. To flush a joints
(Masonry), to fill them in; to point the level; to make them flush.
FLUSH
Flush, n.
1. A sudden flowing; a rush which fills or overflows, as of water for
cleansing purposes.
In manner of a wave or flush. Ray.
2. A suffusion of the face with blood, as from fear, shame, modesty,
or intensity of feeling of any kind; a blush; a glow.
The flush of angered shame. Tennyson.
3. Any tinge of red color like that produced on the cheeks by a
sudden rush of blood; as, the flush on the side of a peach; the flush
on the clouds at sunset.
4. A sudden flood or rush of feeling; a thrill of excitement.
animation, etc.; as, a flush of joy.
5. A flock of birds suddenly started up or flushed.
6. Etym: [From F. or Sp. flux. Cf. Flux.]
Defn: A hand of cards of the same suit.
FLUSH
Flush, a.
1. Full of vigor; fresh; glowing; bright.
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May. Shak.
2. Affluent; abounding; well furnished or suppled; hence, liberal;
prodigal.
Lord Strut was not very flush in ready. Arbuthnot.
3. (Arch. & Mech.)
Defn: Unbroken or even in surface; on a level with the adjacent
surface; forming a continuous surface; as, a flush panel; a flush
joint.
4. (Card Playing)
Defn: Consisting of cards of one suit. Flush bolt. (a) A screw bolt
whose head is countersunk, so as to be flush with a surface. (b) A
sliding bolt let into the face or edge of a door, so as to be flush
therewith.
-- Flush deck. (Naut.) See under Deck, n., 1.
-- Flush tank, a water tank which can be emptied rapidly for
flushing drainpipes, etc.
FLUSH
Flush, adv.
Defn: So as to be level or even.
FLUSHBOARD
Flush"board`, n.
Defn: Same as Flashboard.
FLUSHER
Flush"er, n.
1. A workman employed in cleaning sewers by flushing them with water.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The red-backed shrike. See Flasher.
FLUSHING
Flush"ing, n.
1. A heavy, coarse cloth manufactured from shoddy; -- commonly in the
[Eng.]
2. (Weaving)
Defn: A surface formed of floating threads.
FLUSHINGLY
Flush"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a flushing manner.
FLUSHNESS
Flush"ness, n.
Defn: The state of being flush; abundance.
FLUSTER
Flus"ter, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Flustered; p. pr. & vb. n. Flustering.]
Etym: [Cf. Icel. flaustra to be flustered, flaustr a fluster.]
Defn: To make hot and rosy, as with drinking; to heat; hence, to
throw into agitation and confusion; to confuse; to muddle.
His habit or flustering himself daily with claret. Macaulay.
FLUSTER
Flus"ter, v. i.
Defn: To be in a heat or bustle; to be agitated and confused.
The flstering, vainglorious Greeks. South.
FLUSTER
Flus"ter, n.
Defn: Heat or glow, as from drinking; agitation mingled with
confusion; disorder.
FLUSTERATION
Flus`ter*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of flustering, or the state of being flustered;
fluster. [Colloq.]
FLUSTRATE
Flus"trate, v. t. Etym: [See Fluster, v. t.]
Defn: To fluster. [Colloq.] Spectator.
FLUSTRATION
Flus*tra"tion, n.
Defn: The act of flustrating; confusion; flurry. [Colloq.]
Richardson.
FLUTE
Flute, n. Etym: [OE. floute, floite, fr. OF. flaüte, flahute,
flahuste, F. fl; cf. LL. flauta, D. fluit. See Flute, v. i.]
1. A musical wind instrument, consisting of a hollow cylinder or
pipe, with holes along its length, stopped by the fingers or by keys
which are opened by the fingers. The modern flute is closed at the
upper end, and blown with the mouth at a lateral hole.
The breathing flute's soft notes are heard around. Pope.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: A channel of curved section; -- usually applied to one of a
vertical series of such channels used to decorate columns and
pilasters in classical architecture. See Illust. under Base, n.
3. A similar channel or groove made in wood or other material, esp.
in plaited cloth, as in a lady's ruffle.
4. A long French breakfast roll. Simonds.
5. A stop in an organ, having a flutelike sound. Flute bit, a boring
tool for piercing ebony, rosewood, and other hard woods.
-- Flute pipe, an organ pipe having a sharp lip or wind-cutter which
imparts vibrations to Knight.
FLUTE
Flute, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fl a transport, D. fluit.]
Defn: A kindof flyboat; a storeship. Armed en flûte ( (Nav.),
partially armed.
FLUTE
Flute, v. i. Etym: [OE. flouten, floiten, OF. flaüter, fleüter,
flouster, F. flûter, cf. D. fluiten; ascribed to an assumed LL.
flautare, flatuare, fr. L. flatus a blowing, fr. flare to blow. Cf.
Flout, Flageolet, Flatulent.]
Defn: To play on, or as on, a flute; to make a flutelike sound.
FLUTE
Flute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluted; p. pr. & vb. n. Fluting.]
1. To play, whistle, or sing with a clear, soft note, like that of a
flute.
Knaves are men, That lute and flute fantastic tenderness. Tennyson.
The redwing flutes his o-ka-lee. Emerson.
2. To form flutes or channels in, as in a column, a ruffle, etc.
FLUTE A BEC
Flûte` à bec". Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: A beak flute, an older form of the flute, played with a
mouthpiece resembling a beak, and held like a flageolet.
FLUTED
Flut"ed, a.
1. Thin; fine; clear and mellow; flutelike; as, fluted notes. Busby.
2. Decorated with flutes; channeled; grooved; as, a fluted column; a
fluted ruffle; a fluted spectrum.
FLUTEMOUTH
Flute"mouth`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish of the genus Aulostoma, having a much elongated tubular
snout.
FLUTER
Flut"er, n.
1. One who plays on the flute; a flutist or flautist.
2. One who makes grooves or flutings.
FLUTING
Flut"ing, n.
Defn: Decoration by means of flutes or channels; a flute, or flutes
collectively; as, the fluting of a column or pilaster; the fluting of
a lady's ruffle. Fluting iron, a laundry iron for fluting ruffles; --
called also Italian iron, or gaufering iron. Knight.
-- Fluting lathe, a machine for forming spiral flutes, as on
balusters, table legs, etc.
FLUTIST
Flut"ist, n. Etym: [Cf. F. flûtiste.]
Defn: A performer on the flute; a flautist. Busby.
2. To move with quick vibrations or undulations; as, a sail flutters
in the wind; a fluttering fan.
3. To move about briskly, irregularly, or with great bustle and show,
without much result.
No rag, no scrap, of all the beau, or wit, That once so fluttered,
and that once so writ. Pope.
4. To be in agitation; to move irregularly; to flucttuate; to be
uncertainty.
Long we fluttered on the wings of doubtful success. Howell.
His thoughts are very fluttering and wandering. I. Watts.
FLUTTER
Flut"ter, v. t.
1. To vibrate or move quickly; as, a bird flutters its wings.
2. To drive in disorder; to throw into confusion.
Like an eagle in a dovecote, I Fluttered your Volscians in Corioli.
Shak.
FLUTTER
Flut"ter, n.
1. The act of fluttering; quick and irregular motion; vibration; as,
the flutter of a fan.
The chirp and flutter of some single bird Milnes. .
2. Hurry; tumult; agitation of the mind; confusion; disorder. Pope.
Flutter wheel, a water wheel placed below a fall or in a chute where
rapidly moving water strikes the tips of the floats; -- so called
from the spattering, and the fluttering noise it makes.
FLUTTERER
Flut"ter*er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, flutters.
FLUTTERINGLY
Flut"ter*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a fluttering manner.
FLUTY
Flut"y, a.
Defn: Soft and clear in tone, like a flute.
FLUVIAL
Flu"vi*al, a. Etym: [L. fluvialis, from fluvius river, fr. fluere to
flow: cf.F. fluvial. See Fluent.]
Defn: Belonging to rivers; growing or living in streams or ponds; as,
a fluvial plant.
FLUVIALIST
Flu"vi*al*ist, n.
Defn: One who exlpains geological phenomena by the action of streams.
[R.]
FLUVIATIC
Flu`vi*at"ic, a. Etym: [L. fluviaticus. See Fluvial.]
Defn: Belonging to rivers or streams; fluviatile. Johnson.
FLUVIATILE
Flu"vi*a*tile, a. Etym: [L. fluviatilis, fr. fluvius river: cf. F.
fluviatile.]
Defn: Belonging to rivers or streams; existing in or about rivers;
produced by river action; fluvial; as, fluviatile starta, plants.
Lyell.
FLUVIOGRAPH
Flu"vi*o*graph, n. [L. fluvius river + -graph.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring and recording automatically the
rise and fall of a river.
FLUVIO-MARINE
Flu`vi*o-ma*rine", a. Etym: [L. fluvius river + E. marine.] (Geol.)
Defn: Formed by the joint action of a river and the sea, as deposits
at the mouths of rivers.
FLUVIOMETER
Flu`vi*om"e*ter, n. [L. fluvius river + -meter.]
Defn: An instrument for measuring the height of water in a river; a
river gauge.
FLUX
Flux, n. Etym: [L. fluxus, fr. fluere, fluxum,to flow: cf.F. flux.
See Fluent, and cf. 1st & 2d Floss, Flush, n., 6.]
1. The act of flowing; a continuous moving on or passing by, as of a
flowing stream; constant succession; change.
By the perpetual flux of the liquids, a great part of them is thrown
out of the body. Arbuthnot.
Her image has escaped the flux of things, And that same infant beauty
that she wore Is fixed upon her now forevermore. Trench.
Languages, like our bodies, are in a continual flux. Felton.
2. The setting in of the tide toward the shore, -- the (reflux.
3. The state of beinng liquid through heat; fusion.
4. (Chem.& Metal.)
Defn: Any substance or mixture used to promote the fusion of metals
or minerals, as alkalies, borax, lime, fluorite.
Note: White flux is the residuum of the combustion of a mixture of
equal parts of niter and tartar. It consists chiefly of the carbonate
of potassium, and is white.- Black flux is the ressiduum of the
combustion of one part of niter and two of tartar, and consists
essentially of a mixture of potassium carbonate and charcoal.
5. (Med.)
(a) A fluid discharge from the bowels or other part; especially, an
excessive and morbid discharge; as, the bloody flux or dysentery. See
Bloody flux.
(b) The matter thus discharged.
6. (Physics)
Defn: The quantity of a fluid that crosses a unit area of a given
surface in a unit of time.
FLUX
Flux, a. Etym: [L. fluxus, p. p. of fluere. See Flux, n.]
Defn: Flowing; unstable; inconstant; variable.
The flux nature of all things here. Barrow.
FLUX
Flux, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fluxed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fluxing.]
1. To affect, or bring to a certain state, by flux.
He might fashionably and genteelly . . . have been dueled or fluxed
into another world. South.
2. To cause to become fluid; to fuse. Kirwan.
3. (Med.)
Defn: To cause a discharge from; to purge.
FLUXATION
Flux*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of fluxing.
FLUXIBILITY
Flux`i*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. fluxibilitas fluidity.]
Defn: The quality of being fluxible. Hammond.
FLUXIBLE
Flux"i*ble, a. Etym: [Cf.LL. fluxibilis fluid, OF. fluxible.]
Defn: Capable of being melted or fused, as a mineral. Holland.
-- Flux"i*ble*ness, n.
FLUXILE
Flux"ile, a. Etym: [L. fluxilis, a., fluid.]
Defn: Fluxible. [R.]
FLUXILITY
Flux*il"i*ty, n.
Defn: State of being fluxible.[Obs.]
FLUXION
Flux"ion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fluxion.]
Defn: The act of flowing. Cotgrave.
2. The matter that flows. Wiseman.
3. Fusion; the running of metals into a fluid state.
4. (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural or excessive flow of blood or fluid toward any
organ; a determination.
5. A constantly varying indication.
Less to be counted than the fluxions of sun dials. De Quincey.
6. (Math.)
(a) The infinitely small increase or decrease of a variable or
flowing quantity in a certain infinitely small and constant period of
time; the rate of variation of a fluent; an incerement; a
differential. (b) pl.
Defn: A method of analysis developed by Newton, and based on the
conception of all magnitudes as generated by motion, and involving in
their changes the notion of velocity or rate of change. Its results
are the same as those of the differential and integral calculus, from
which it differs little except in notation and logical method.
FLUXIONAL
Flux"ion*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or having the nature of, fluxion or fluxions;
variable; inconstant.
The merely human,the temporary and fluxional. Coleridge.
Fluxional structure (Geol.), fluidal structure.
FLUXIONARY
Flux"ion*a*ry, a.
1. Fluxional. Berkeley.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or caused by, an increased flow of blood to a
part; congestive; as, a fluxionary hemorrhage.
FLUXIONIST
Flux"ion*ist, n.
Defn: One skilled in fluxions. Berkeley.
FLUXIONS
Flux"ions, n. pl. (Math.)
Defn: See Fluxion, 6(b).
FLUXIVE
Flux"ive, a.
Defn: Flowing; also, wanting solidity. B. Jonson.
FLUXURE
Flux"ure (; 138), n. Etym: [L. fluxura a flowing.]
1. The quality of being fluid. [Obs.] Fielding.
2. Fluid matter. [Obs.] Drayton.
FLY
Fly, v. i. [imp. Flew; p. p. Flown; p. pr. & vb. n. Flying.] Etym:
[OE. fleen, fleen, fleyen, flegen, AS. fleógan; akin to D. vliegen,
ONG. fliogan, G. fliegen, Icel. flj, Sw. flyga, Dan. flyve, Goth. us-
flaugjan to cause to fly away, blow about, and perh. to L. pluma
feather, E. plume. Fledge, Flight, Flock of animals.]
1. To move in or pass thorugh the air with wings, as a bird.
2. To move through the air or before the wind; esp., to pass or be
driven rapidly through the air by any impulse.
3. To float, wave, or rise in the air, as sparks or a flag.
Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. Job v. 7.
4. To move or pass swiftly; to hasten away; to circulate rapidly; as,
a ship flies on the deep; a top flies around; rumor flies.
Fly, envious Time, till thou run out thy race. Milton.
The dark waves murmured as the ships flew on. Bryant.
5. To run from danger; to attempt to escape; to flee; as, an enemy or
a coward flies. See Note under Flee.
Fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. Milton.
Whither shall I fly to escape their hands Shak.
6. To move suddenly, or with violence; to do an act suddenly or
swiftly; -- usually with a qualifying word; as, a door flies open; a
bomb flies apart. To fly about (Naut.), to change frequently in a
short time; -- said of the wind.
-- To fly around, to move about in haste. [Colloq.] -- To fly at, to
spring toward; to rush on; to attack suddenly.
-- To fly in the face of, to insult; to assail; to set at defiance;
to oppose with violence; to act in direct opposition to; to resist.
-- To fly off, to separate, or become detached suddenly; to revolt.
-- To fly on, to attack.
-- To fly open, to open suddenly, or with violence.
-- To fly out. (a) To rush out. (b) To burst into a passion; to
break out into license.
-- To let fly. (a) To throw or drive with violence; to discharge. "A
man lets fly his arrow without taking any aim." Addison. (b) (Naut.)
To let go suddenly and entirely; as, to let fly the sheets.
FLY
Fly, v. t.
1. To cause to fly or to float in the air, as a bird, a kite, a flag,
etc.
The brave black flag I fly. W. S. Gilbert.
2. To fly or flee from; to shun; to avoid.
Sleep flies the wretch. Dryden.
To fly the favors of so good a king. Shak.
3. To hunt with a hawk. [Obs.] Bacon. To fly a kite (Com.), to raise
money on commercial notes. [Cant or Slang]
FLY
Fly, n.; pl. Flies. Etym: [OE. flie, flege, AS. flge, fleóge, fr.
fleógan to fly; akin to D. vlieg, OHG. flioga, G. fliege, Icel. & Sw.
fluga, Dan. flue. Fly, v. i.]
1. (Zoöl.)
(a) Any winged insect; esp., one with transparent wings; as, the
Spanish fly; firefly; gall fly; dragon fly.
(b) Any dipterous insect; as, the house fly; flesh fly; black fly.
See Diptera, and Illust. in Append.
2. A hook dressed in imitation of a fly, -- used for fishing. "The
fur-wrought fly." Gay.
3. A familiar spirit; a witch's attendant. [Obs.]
A trifling fly, none of your great familiars. B. Jonson.
4. A parasite. [Obs.] Massinger.
5. A kind of light carriage for rapid transit, plying for hire and
usually drawn by one horse. [Eng.]
6. The length of an extended flag from its staff; sometimes, the
length from the "union" to the extreme end.
7. The part of a vane pointing the direction from which the wind
blows.
8. (Naut.)
Defn: That part of a compass on which the points are marked; the
compass card. Totten.
9. (Mech.)
(a) Two or more vanes set on a revolving axis, to act as a fanner, or
to equalize or impede the motion of machinery by the resistance of
the air, as in the striking part of a clock.
(b) A heavy wheel, or cross arms with weights at the ends on a
revolving axis, to regulate or equalize the motion of machinery by
means of its inertia, where the power communicated, or the resistance
to be overcome, is variable, as in the steam engine or the coining
press. See Fly wheel (below).
10. (Knitting Machine)
Defn: The piece hinged to the needle, which holds the engaged loop in
position while the needle is penetrating another loop; a latch.
Knight.
11. The pair of arms revolving around the bobbin, in a spinning wheel
or spinning frame, to twist the yarn.
12. (Weaving)
Defn: A shuttle driven through the shed by a blow or jerk. Knight.
13.
(a) Formerly, the person who took the printed sheets from the press.
(b) A vibrating frame with fingers, attached to a power to a power
printing press for doing the same work.
14. The outer canvas of a tent with double top, usually drawn over
the ridgepole, but so extended as to touch the roof of the tent at no
other place.
15. One of the upper screens of a stage in a theater.
16. The fore flap of a bootee; also, a lap on trousers, overcoats,
etc., to conceal a row of buttons.
17. (Baseball)
Defn: A batted ball that flies to a considerable distance, usually
high in the air; also, the flight of a ball so struck; as, it was
caught on the fly. Black fly, Cheese fly, Dragon fly, etc. See under
Black, Cheese, etc.
-- Fly agaric (Bot.), a mushroom (Agaricus muscarius), having a
narcotic juice which, in sufficient quantities, is poisonous.
-- Fly block (Naut.), a pulley whose position shifts to suit the
working of the tackle with which it is connected; -- used in the
hoisting tackle of yards.
-- Fly board (Printing Press), the board on which printed sheets are
deposited by the fly.
-- Fly book, a case in the form of a book for anglers' flies.
Kingsley.
-- Fly cap, a cap with wings, formerly worn by women.
-- Fly drill, a drill having a reciprocating motion controlled by a
fly wheel, the driving power being applied by the hand through a cord
winding in reverse directions upon the spindle as it rotates backward
and forward. Knight.
-- Fly fishing, the act or art of angling with a bait of natural or
artificial flies. Walton.
-- Fly flap, an implement for killing flies.
-- Fly governor, a governor for regulating the speed of an engine,
etc., by the resistance of vanes revolving in the air.
-- Fly honeysuckle (Bot.), a plant of the honeysuckle genus
(Lonicera), having a bushy stem and the flowers in pairs, as L.
ciliata and L. Xylosteum.
-- Fly hook, a fishhook supplied with an artificial fly.
-- Fly leaf, an unprinted leaf at the beginning or end of a book,
circular, programme, etc.
-- Fly maggot, a maggot bred from the egg of a fly. Ray.
-- Fly net, a screen to exclude insects.
-- Fly nut (Mach.), a nut with wings; a thumb nut; a finger nut.
-- Fly orchis (Bot.), a plant (Ophrys muscifera), whose flowers
resemble flies.
-- Fly paper, poisoned or sticky paper for killing flies that feed
upon or are entangled by it.
-- Fly powder, an arsenical powder used to poison flies.
-- Fly press, a screw press for punching, embossing, etc., operated
by hand and having a heavy fly.
-- Fly rail, a bracket which turns out to support the hinged leaf of
a table.
-- Fly rod, a light fishing rod used in angling with a fly.
-- Fly sheet, a small loose advertising sheet; a handbill.
-- Fly snapper (Zoöl.), an American bird (Phainopepla nitens),
allied to the chatterers and shrikes. The male is glossy blue-black;
the female brownish gray.
-- Fly wheel (Mach.), a heavy wheel attached to machinery to
equalize the movement (opposing any sudden acceleration by its
inertia and any retardation by its momentum), and to accumulate or
give out energy for a variable or intermitting resistance. See Fly,
n., 9.
-- On the fly (Baseball), still in the air; -- said of a batted ball
caught before touching the ground..
FLY
Fly, a.
Defn: Knowing; wide awake; fully understanding another's meaning.
[Slang] Dickens.
FLY AMANITA; FLY FUNGUS
Fly amanita, Fly fungus. (Bot.)
Defn: A poisonous mushroom (Amanita muscaria, syn. Agaricus
muscarius), having usually a bright red or yellowish cap covered with
irregular white spots. It has a distinct volva at the base, generally
an upper ring on the stalk, and white spores. Called also fly agaric,
deadly amanita.
FLYAWAY
Fly"a*way`, a.
Defn: Disposed to fly away; flighty; unrestrained; light and free; --
used of both persons and things. -- n.
Defn: A flyaway person or thing. "Truth is such a flyaway." Emerson.
FLYAWAY
flyaway adj.
1. frivolous; -- of people. serious
Syn. -- flighty.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. Tending to move away from a center, rather than remain in a
compact group; -- used of hair or clothing or of small particles of
matter. Light objects or particles readily taking a static electric
charge may be moved apart by acquisition of a charge, or by approach
of a charged object. Such a property is called flyaway.
Syn. -- fluttering.
[WordNet 1.5]
FLYAWAY GRASS
Flyaway grass. (Bot.)
Defn: The hair grass (Agrostis scabra). So called from its light
panicle, which is blown to great distances by the wind.
FLYBANE
Fly"bane`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of catchfly of the genus Silene; also, a poisonous
mushroom (Agaricus muscarius); fly agaric.
FLY-BITTEN
Fly"-bit`ten, a.
Defn: Marked by, or as if by, the bite of flies. Shak.
FLYBLOW
Fly"blow`, v. t.
Defn: To deposit eggs upon, as a flesh fly does on meat; to cause to
be maggoty; hence, to taint or contaminate, as if with flyblows. Bp.
Srillingfleet.
FLYBLOW
Fly"blow`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the eggs or young larvæ deposited by a flesh fly, or
blowfly.
FLYBLOWN
Fly"blown`, a.
Defn: Tainted or contaminated with flyblows; damaged; foul.
Wherever flyblown reputations were assembled. Thackeray.
FLYBOAT
Fly"boat`, n. Etym: [Fly + boat: cf. D. vlieboot.]
1. (Naut.)
Defn: A large Dutch coasting vessel.
Captain George Weymouth made a voyage of discovery to the northwest
with two flyboats. Purchas.
2. A kind of passenger boat formerly used on canals.
FLY-CASE
Fly"-case`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The covering of an insect, esp. the elytra of beetles.
FLYCATCHER
Fly"catch`er, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of numerous species of birds that feed upon insects, which
they take on the wing.
Note: The true flycatchers of the Old World are Oscines, and belong
to the family Muscicapidæ, as the spotted flycatcher (Muscicapa
grisola). The American flycatchers, or tyrant flycatchers, are
Clamatores, and belong to the family Tyrannidæ, as the kingbird,
pewee, crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), and the vermilion
flycatcher or churinche (Pyrocephalus rubineus). Certain American
flycatching warblers of the family Sylvicolidæ are also called
flycatchers, as the Canadian flycatcher (Sylvania Canadensis), and
the hooded flycatcher (S. mitrata). See Tyrant flycatcher.
FLY-CATCHING
Fly"-catch`ing, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having the habit of catching insects on the wing.
FLYER
Fly"er, n. Etym: [See Flier.]
1. One that uses wings.
2. The fly of a flag: See Fly, n., 6.
3. Anything that is scattered abroad in great numbers as a theatrical
programme, an advertising leaf, etc.
4. (Arch.)
Defn: One in a flight of steps which are parallel to each other(as in
ordinary stairs), as distinguished from a winder.
5. The pair of arms attached to the spindle of a spinning frame, over
which the thread passes to the bobbin; -- so called from their swift
revolution. See Fly, n., 11.
6. The fan wheel that rotates the cap of a windmill as the wind
veers. Internat. Cyc.
7. (Stock Jobbing)
Defn: A small operation not involving considerable part of one's
capital, or not in the line of one's ordinary business; a venture.
[Cant] Bartlett.
FLYFISH
Fly"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A California scorpænoid fish (Sebastichthys rhodochloris),
having brilliant colors.
FLY-FISH
Fly"-fish, v. i.
Defn: To angle, using flies for bait. Walton.
FLYING
Fly"ing, a. Etym: [From Fly, v. i.]
Defn: Moving in the air with, or as with, wings; moving lightly or
rapidly; intended for rapid movement.
Flying army (Mil.) a body of cavalry and infantry, kept in motion, to
cover its own garrisons and to keep the enemy in continual alarm.
Farrow. --Flying artillery (Mil.), artillery trained to rapid
evolutions, -- the men being either mounted or trained to spring upon
the guns and caissons when they change position.
-- Flying bridge, Flying camp. See under Bridge, and Camp.
-- Flying buttress (Arch.), a contrivance for taking up the thrust
of a roof or vault which can not be supported by ordinary buttresses.
It consists of a straight bar of masonry, usually sloping, carried on
an arch, and a solid pier or buttress sufficient to receive the
thrust. The word is generally applied only to the straight bar with
supporting arch.
-- Flying colors, flags unfurled and waving in the air; hence: To
come off with flying colors, to be victorious; to succeed thoroughly
in an undertaking.
-- Flying doe (Zoöl.), a young female kangaroo.
-- Flying dragon. (a) (Zoöl.) See Dragon, 6. (b) A meteor. See under
Dragon.
-- Flying Dutchman. (a) A fabled Dutch mariner condemned for his
crimes to sail the seas till the day of judgment. (b) A spectral
ship.
-- Flying fish. (Zoöl.) See Flying fish, in the Vocabulary.
-- Flying fox (Zoöl.), the colugo.
-- Flying frog (Zoöl.), an East Indian tree frog of the genus
Rhacophorus, having very large and broadly webbed feet, which serve
as parachutes, and enable it to make very long leaps.
-- Flying gurnard (Zoöl.), a species of gurnard of the genus
Cephalacanthus or Dactylopterus, with very large pectoral fins, said
to be able to fly like the flying fish, but not for so great a
distance.
Note: Three species are known; that of the Atlantic is Cephalacanthus
volitans.
-- Flying jib (Naut.), a sail extended outside of the standing jib,
on the flying-jib boom.
-- Flying-jib boom (Naut.), an extension of the jib boom.
-- Flying kites (Naut.), light sails carried only in fine weather.
-- Flying lemur. (Zoöl.) See Colugo.
-- Flying level (Civil Engin.), a reconnoissance level over the
course of a projected road, canal, etc.
-- Flying lizard. (Zoöl.) See Dragon, n, 6.
-- Flying machine, an apparatus for navigating the air; a form of
balloon.
-- Flying mouse (Zoöl.), the opossum mouse (Acrobates pygmæus), of
Australia.
Note: It has lateral folds of skin, like the flying squirrels.
-- Flying party (Mil.), a body of soldiers detailed to hover about
an enemy.
-- Flying phalanger (Zoöl.), one of several species of small
marsuupials of the genera Petaurus and Belideus, of Australia and New
Guinea, having lateral folds like those of the flying squirrels. The
sugar squirrel (B. sciureus), and the ariel (B. ariel), are the best
known; -- called also squirrel petaurus and flying squirrel. See
Sugar squirrel.
-- Flying pinion, the fly of a clock.
-- Flying sap (Mil.), the rapid construction of trenches (when the
enemy's fire of case shot precludes the method of simple trenching),
by means of gabions placed in juxtaposition and filled with earth.
-- Flying shot, a shot fired at a moving object, as a bird on the
wing.
-- Flying spider. (Zoöl.) See Ballooning spider.
-- Flying squid (Zoöl.), an oceanic squid (Ommastrephes, or
Sthenoteuthis, Bartramii), abundant in the Gulf Stream, which is able
to leap out of the water with such force that it often falls on the
deck of a vessel.
-- Flying squirrel (Zoöl.) See Flying squirrel, in the Vocabulary.
-- Flying start, a start in a sailing race in which the signal is
given while the vessels are under way.
-- Flying torch (Mil.), a torch attached to a long staff and used
for signaling at night.
FLYING BOAT
Flying boat.
Defn: A compact form of hydro-aëroplane having one central body, or
hull.
FLYING FISH
Fly"ing fish`. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A fish which is able to leap from the water, and fly a
considerable distance by means of its large and long pectoral fins.
These fishes belong to several species of the genus Exocoetus, and
are found in the warmer parts of all the oceans.
FLYING SQUIRREL
Fly"ing squir"rel ( or ). (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a group of squirrels, of the genera Pteromus and
Sciuropterus, having parachute-like folds of skin extending from the
fore to the hind legs, which enable them to make very long leaps.
Note: The species of Pteromys are large, with bushy tails, and
inhabit southern Asia and the East Indies; those of Sciuropterus are
smaller, with flat tails, and inhabit the northern parts of Europe,
Asia, and America. The American species (Sciuropterus volucella) is
also called Assapan. The Australian flying squrrels, or flying
phalangers, are marsupials. See Flying phalanger (above).
FLYMAN
Fly"man, n.; pl. Flymen (-mn).
Defn: The driver of a fly, or light public carriage.
FLYSCH
Flysch (flsh), n. Etym: [A Swiss word, fr. G. fliessen to flow,
melt.] (Geol.)
Defn: A name given to the series of sandstones and schists overlying
the true nummulitic formation in the Alps, and included in the Eocene
Tertiary.
FLYSPECK
Fly"speck (fl'spk), n.
Defn: A speck or stain made by the excrement of a fly; hence, any
insignificant dot.
FLYSPECK
Fly"speck, v. t.
Defn: To soil with flyspecks.
FLYTRAP
Fly"trap, n.
1
Defn: . A trap for catching flies.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Dionæa muscipula), called also Venus's flytrap, the
leaves of which are fringed with stiff bristles, and fold together
when certain hairs on their upper surface are touched, thus seizing
insects that light on them. The insects so caught are afterwards
digested by a secretion from the upper surface of the leaves.
FNESE
Fnese, v. i. Etym: [AS. fnsan, gefnsan.]
Defn: To breathe heavily; to snort. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FO
Fo, n.
Defn: The Chinese name of Buddha.
FOAL
Foal, n. Etym: [OE. fole, AS. fola; akin to OHG. folo, G. fohlen,
Goth. fula, Icel. foli, Sw Lfle, Gr., L. pullus a young animal. Cf.
Filly, Poultry, Pullet.] (Zoö.)
Defn: The young of any animal of the Horse family (Equidæ); a colt; a
filly. Foal teeth (Zoöl.), the first set of teeth of a horse.
-- In foal, With foal, being with young; pregnant; -- said of a mare
or she ass.
FOAL
Foal, v.t. [imp.& p.p. Foaled; p. pr. & vb. n. Foaling.]
Defn: To bring forth (a colt); -- said of a mare or a she ass.
FOAL
Foal, v.i.
Defn: To bring forth young, as an animal of the horse kind.
FOALFOOT
Foal"foot`, n.
Defn: (Bot.) See Coltsfoot.
FOAM
Foam, n. Etym: [OE. fam, fom, AS. fm; akin to OHG. & G. feim.]
Defn: The white substance, consisting of an aggregation of bubbles,
which is formed on the surface of liquids,or in the mouth of an
animal, by violent agitation or fermentation; froth; spume; scum; as,
the foam of the sea. Foam cock, in steam boilers, a cock at the water
level, to blow off impurities.
FOAM
Foam, v.i. [imp.& p.p. Foamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Foaming.] Etym: [AS.
fman. See Foam, n.]
1. To gather foam; to froth; as, the billows foam.
He foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth. Mark ix. 18.
2. To form foam, or become filled with foam; -- said of a steam
boiler when the water is unduly agitated and frothy, as because of
chemical action.
FOAM
Foam, v.t.
Defn: To cause to foam; as,to foam the goblet; also (with out), to
throw out with rage or violence, as foam. "Foaming out their own
shame." Jude 13.
FOAMINGLY
Foam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With foam; frothily.
FOAMLESS
Foam"less, a.
Defn: Having no foam.
FOAMY
Foam"y, a.
Defn: Covered with foam; frothy; spumy.
Behold how high the foamy billows ride! Dryden.
FOB
Fob, n. Etym: [Cf.Prov. G. fuppe pocket.]
Defn: A little pocket for a watch. Fob chain, a short watch chain
worn a watch carried in the fob.
FOB
Fob, v.t. [imp. & p. p. Fobbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Fobbing.] Etym:
[Cf.Fop.]
1. To beat; to maul. [Obs.]
2. To cheat; to trick; to impose on. Shak. To fob off, to shift off
by an artifice; to put aside; to delude with a trick."A conspiracy of
bishops could prostrate and fob off the right of the people." Milton.
FOCAL
Fo"cal, a. Etym: [Cf.F. focal. See Focus.]
Defn: Belonging to,or concerning, a focus; as, a focal point. Focal
distance, or length,of a lens or mirror (Opt.), the distance of the
focus from the surface of the lens or mirror, or more exactly, in the
case of a lens, from its optical center. --Focal distance of a
telescope, the distance of the image of an object from the object
glass.
FOCALIZATION
Fo`cal*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The act of focalizing or bringing to a focus, or the state of
being focalized.
FOCALIZE
Fo"cal*ize, v. t. [imp.& p. p. Focalized; p. pr. & vb. n.
Focalizing.]
Defn: To bring to a focus; to focus; to concentrate.
Light is focalized in the eye, sound in the ear. De Quincey.
FOCILLATE
Foc"il*late, v. t. Etym: [L. focilatus,p.p. of focillare.]
Defn: To nourish. [Obs.] Blount.
FOCILLATION
Foc`il*la"tion, n.
Defn: Comfort; support. [Obs.]
FOCIMETER
Fo*cim"e*ter, n. Etym: [Focus + -meter.]
Defn: (Photog.) An assisting instrument for focusing an object in or
before a camera. Knight.
FOCUS
Fo"cus, n.; pl. E. Focuses, L. Foci. Etym: [L. focus hearth,
fireplace; perh. akin to E. bake. Cf. Curfew, Fuel, Fusil the
firearm.]
1. (Opt.)
Defn: A point in which the rays of light meet, after being reflected
or refrcted, and at which the image is formed; as, the focus of a
lens or mirror.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A point so related to a conic section and certain straight line
called the directrix that the ratio of the distace between any point
of the curve and the focus to the distance of the same point from the
directrix is constant.
Note: Thus, in the ellipse FGHKLM, A is the focus and CD the
directrix, when the ratios FA:FE, GA:GD, MA:MC, etc., are all equal.
So in the hyperbola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the
ratio HA:HK is constant for all points of the curve; and in the
parabola, A is the focus and CD the directrix when the ratio BA:BC is
constant. In the ellipse this ratio is less than unity, in the
parabola equal to unity, and in the hyperbola greater than unity. The
ellipse and hyperbola have each two foci, and two corresponding
directrixes, and the parabola has one focus and one directrix. In the
ellipse the sum of the two lines from any point of the curve to the
two foci is constant; that is: AG+GB=AH+HB; and in the hyperbola the
difference of the corresponding lines is constant. The diameter which
passes through the foci of the ellipse is the major axis. The
diameter which being produced passes through the foci of the
hyperbola is the transverse axis. The middle point of the major or
the transverse axis is the center of the curve. Certain other curves,
as the lemniscate and the Cartesian ovals, have points called foci,
possessing properties similar to those of the foci of conic sections.
In an ellipse, rays of light coming from one focus, and reflected
from the curve, proceed in lines directed toward the other; in an
hyperbola, in lines directed from the other; in a parabola, rays from
the focus, after reflection at the curve, proceed in lines parallel
to the axis. Thus rays from A in the ellipse are reflected to B; rays
from A in the hyperbola are reflected toward L and M away from B.
3. A central point; a point of concentration. Aplanatic focus. (Opt.)
See under Aplanatic.
-- Conjugate focus (Opt.), the focus for rays which have a sensible
divergence, as from a near object; -- so called because the positions
of the object and its image are interchangeable.
-- Focus tube (Phys.), a vacuum tube for Roentgen rays in which the
cathode rays are focused upon the anticathode, for intensifying the
effect.
-- Principal, or Solar, focus (Opt.), the focus for parallel rays.
FOCUS
Fo"cus, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Focused; p. pr. & vb. n. Focusing.]
Defn: To bring to a focus; to focalize; as, to focus a camera. R.
Hunt.
FODDER
Fod"der, n. Etym: [See 1st Fother.]
Defn: A weight by which lead and some other metals were formerly
sold, in England, varying from 19 [Obs.]
FODDER
Fod"der, n. Etym: [AS. fdder, fddor, fodder (also sheath case), fr.
fda food; akin to D. voeder, OHG. fuotar, G. futter, Icel. fr, Sw. &
Dan. foder. sq. root75. See Food Land cf. Forage, Fur.]
Defn: That which is fed out to cattle horses, and sheep, as hay,
cornstalks, vegetables, etc.
FODDER
Fod"der, v.t. [imp.& p.p. Foddered (-drd); p. pr. & vb. n.
Foddering.]
Defn: To feed, as cattle, with dry food or cut grass, etc.;to furnish
with hay, straw, oats, etc.
FODDERER
Fod"der*er, n.
Defn: One who fodders cattle.
FODIENT
Fo"di*ent, a. Etym: [L. fodiens, p. pr. of fodere to dig.]
Defn: Fitted for, or pertaining to, digging.
FODIENT
Fo"di*ent, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the Fodientia.
FODIENTIA
Fo`di*en"ti*a, n.pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. fodiens p. pr., digging.]
(Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of African edentates including the aard-vark.
FOE
Foe, n. Etym: [OE. fo, fa, AS. fh hostile; prob. akin to E. fiend.
sq. root81.]
Defn: See Fiend, and cf. Feud a quarrel.
1. One who entertains personal enmity, hatred, grudge, or malice,
against another; an enemy.
A man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matt. x. 36
2. An enemy in war; a hostile army.
3. One who opposes on principle; an opponent; an adversary; an ill-
wisher; as, a foe to religion.
A foe to received doctrines. I. Watts
FOE
Foe, v. t.
Defn: To treat as an enemy. [Obs.] Spenser.
FOEHN
Foehn, n. [G. dial. (Swiss), fr. L. Favonius west wind. Cf.
Favonian.] (Meteor.)
(a) A warm dry wind that often blows in the northern valleys of the
Alps, due to the indraught of a storm center passing over Central
Europe. The wind, heated by compression in its descent from the
mountains, reaches the base, particularly in winter, dry and warm.
(b) Any similar wind, as the chinook, in other parts of the world.
FOEHOOD
Foe"hood, n.
Defn: Enmity. Br. Bedell.
FOEMAN
Foe"man, n.; pl. Foemen (-men). Etym: [AS. fhman.]
Defn: An enemy in war.
And the stern joy which warriors feel In foemen worthy of their
steel. Sir W. Scott
FOETAL
Foe"tal, a.
Defn: Same as Fetal.
FOETATION
Foe*ta"tion, n.
Defn: Same as Fetation.
FOETICIDE
Foe"ti*cide, n.
Defn: Same as Feticide.
FOETOR
Foe"tor, n.
Defn: Same as Fetor.
FOETUS
Foe"tus, n.
Defn: Same as Fetus.
FOG
Fog, n. Etym: [Cf. Scot. fog, fouge, moss, foggag rank grass, LL.
fogagium, W. ffug dry grass.] (Agric.)
(a) A second growth of grass; aftergrass.
(b) Dead or decaying grass remaining on land through the winter; --
called also foggage. [Prov.Eng.] Halliwell.
Note: Sometimes called, in New England, old tore. In Scotland, fog is
a general name for moss.
FOG
Fog, v. t.
Defn: (Agric.) To pasture cattle on the fog, or aftergrass, of; to
eat off the fog from.
FOG
Fog, v. i. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.]
Defn: To practice in a small or mean way; to pettifog. [Obs.]
Where wouldst thou fog to get a fee Dryden.
FOG
Fog, n. Etym: [Dan. sneefog snow falling thick, drift of snow,
driving snow, cf. Icel. fok spray, snowdrift, fj snowstorm, fjka to
drift.]
1. Watery vapor condensed in the lower part of the atmosphere and
disturbing its transparency. It differs from cloud only in being near
the ground, and from mist in not approaching so nearly to fine rain.
See Cloud.
2. A state of mental confusion. Fog alarm, Fog bell, Fog horn, etc.,
a bell, horn, whistle or other contrivance that sounds an alarm,
often automatically, near places of danger where visible signals
would be hidden in thick weather.
-- Fog bank, a mass of fog resting upon the sea, and resembling
distant land.
-- Fog ring, a bank of fog arranged in a circular form, -- often
seen on the coast of Newfoundland.
FOG
Fog, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fogged; p. pr. & vb. n. Fogging.]
Defn: To envelop, as with fog; to befog; to overcast; to darken; to
obscure.
FOG
Fog, v. i. (Photog.)
Defn: To show indistinctly or become indistinct, as the picture on a
negative sometimes does in the process of development.
FOG BELT
Fog belt.
Defn: A region of the ocean where fogs are of marked frequency, as
near the coast of Newfoundland.
FOGBOW
Fog"bow`, n.
Defn: A nebulous arch, or bow, of white or yellowish light sometimes
seen in fog, etc.
FOGE
Foge, n.
Defn: The Cornish name for a forge used for smelting tin. Raymond
FOGEY
Fogey, n.
Defn: See Fogy.
FOGGAGE
Foggage (; 48), n. (Agric.)
Defn: See 1st Fog.
FOGGER
Fogger, n.
Defn: One who fogs; a pettifogger. [Obs.]
A beggarly fogger. Terence in English(1614)
FOGGILY
Fog"gi*ly, adv.
Defn: In a foggy manner; obscurely. Johnson.
FOGGINESS
Fog"gi*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being foggy. Johnson.
FOGGY
Fog"gy, a. [Compar. Foggier; superl. Foggiest.] Etym: [From 4th Fog.]
1. Filled or abounding with fog, or watery exhalations; misty; as, a
foggy atmosphere; a foggy morning. Shak.
2. Beclouded; dull; obscure; as, foggy ideas.
Your coarse, foggy, drowsy conceit. Hayward.
FOGIE
Fo"gie, n.
Defn: See Fogy.
FOGLESS
Fog"less, a.
Defn: Without fog; clear. Kane.
FOGY
Fo"gy, n.; pl. Fogies (.
Defn: A dull old fellow; a person behind the times, over-
conservative, or slow; -- usually preceded by old. [Written also
fogie and fogey.] [Colloq.]
Notorious old bore; regular old fogy. Thackeray.
Note: The word is said to be connected with the German vogt, a guard
or protector. By others it is regareded as a diminutive of folk (cf.
D. volkje). It is defined by Jamieson, in his Scottish Dictionary, as
"an invalid or garrison soldier," and is applied to the old soldiers
of the Royal Hospital at Dublin, which is called the Fogies'
Hospital. In the fixed habits of such persons we see the origin of
the present use of the term. Sir F. Head.
FOGYISM
Fo"gy*ism, n.
Defn: The principles and conduct of a fogy. [Colloq.]
FOH
Foh, interj. Etym: [Cf. Faugh.]
Defn: An exclamation of abhorrence or contempt; poh; fle. Shak.
FOHIST
Fo"hist, n.
Defn: A Buddhist priest. See Fo.
FOIBLE
Foi"ble, a. Etym: [OF. foible. See Feeble.]
Defn: Weak; feeble. [Obs.] Lord Herbert.
FOIBLE
Foi"ble, n.
1. A moral weakness; a failing; a weak point; a frailty.
A disposition radically noble and generous, clouded and overshadowed
by superficial foibles. De Quincey.
2. The half of a sword blade or foil blade nearest the point; --
opposed to forte. [Written also faible.]
Syn.
-- Fault; imperfection; failing; weakness; infirmity; frailty;
defect. See Fault.
FOIL
Foil (foil), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foiled (foild); p. pr. & vb. n.
Foiling.] Etym: [F. fouler to tread or trample under one's feet, to
press, oppress. See Full, v. t.]
1. To tread under foot; to trample.
King Richard . . . caused the ensigns of Leopold to be pulled down
and foiled under foot. Knoless.
Whom he did all to pieces breake and foyle, In filthy durt, and left
so in the loathely soyle. Spenser.
2. To render (an effort or attempt) vain or nugatory; to baffle; to
outwit; to balk; to frustrate; to defeat.
And by foiled. Dryden.
Her long locks that foil the painter's power. Byron.
3. To blunt; to dull; to spoil; as, to foil the scent in chase.
Addison.
FOIL
Foil, v. t. Etym: [See 6th File.]
Defn: To defile; to soil. [Obs.]
FOIL
Foil, n.
1. Failure of success when on the point of attainment; defeat;
frustration; miscarriage. Milton.
Nor e'er was fate so near a foil. Dryden.
2. A blunt weapon used in fencing, resembling a smallsword in the
main, but usually lighter and having a button at the point.
Blunt as the fencer's foils, which hit, but hurt not. Shak.
socrates contended with a foil against Demosthenes with a word.
Mitford.
3. The track or trail of an animal. To run a foil,to lead astray; to
puzzle; -- alluding to the habits of some animals of running back
over the same track to mislead their pursuers. Brewer.
FOIL
Foil, n. Etym: [OE. foil leaf, OF. foil, fuil, fueil, foille,
fueille, F. feuille, fr. L. folium, pl. folia; akin to Gr.blade. Cf.
Foliage, Folio.]
1. A leaf or very thin sheet of metal; as, brass foil; tin foil; gold
foil.
2. (Jewelry)
Defn: A thin leaf of sheet copper silvered and burnished, and
afterwards coated with transparent colors mixed with isinglass; --
employed by jewelers to give color or brilliancy to pastes and
inferior stones. Ure.
3. Anything that serves by contrast of color or quality to adorn or
set off another thing to advantage.
As she a black silk cap on him began To set, for foil of his milk-
white to serve. Sir P. Sidney.
Hector has a foil to set him off. Broome.
4. A thin coat of tin, with quicksilver, laid on the back of a
looking-glass, to cause reflection.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: The space between the cusps in Gothic architecture; a rounded
or leaflike ornament, in windows, niches, etc. A group of foils is
called trefoil, quatrefoil, quinquefoil, etc., according to the
number of arcs of which it is composed. Foil stone, an imitation of a
jewel or precious stone.
FOILABLE
Foil"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being foiled.
FOILER
Foil"er, n.
Defn: One who foils or frustrates. Johnson.
FOILING
Foil"ing, n. (Arch.)
Defn: A foil. Simmonds.
FOILING
Foil"ing, n. Etym: [Cf. F. foulées. See 1st Foil.] (Hunting)
Defn: The track of game (as deer) in the grass.
FOIN
Foin (foin), n. Etym: [F. fouine a marten.]
1. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The beech marten (Mustela foina). See Marten.
2. A kind of fur, black at the top on a whitish ground, taken from
the ferret or weasel of the same name.[Obs.]
He came to the stake in a fair black gown furred and faced with
foins. Fuller.
FOIN
Foin, v. i. Etym: [OE. foinen, foignen; of uncertain origin; cf.
dial. F. fouiner to push for eels with a spear, fr. F. fouine an
eelspear, perh. fr. L. fodere to dig, thrust.]
Defn: To thrust with a sword or spear; to lunge. [Obs.]
He stroke, he soused, he foynd, he hewed, he lashed. Spenser.
They lash, they foin, they pass, they strive to bore Their corselets,
and the thinnest parts explore. Dryden.
FOIN
Foin, v. t.
Defn: To prick; to stng. [Obs.] Huloet.
FOIN
Foin, n.
Defn: A pass in fencing; a lunge. [Obs.] Shak.
FOINERY
Foin"er*y, n.
Defn: Thrusting with the foil; fencing with the point, as
distinguished from broadsword play. [Obs.] Marston.
FOININGLY
Foin"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With a push or thrust. [Obs.]
FOISON
Foi"son, n. Etym: [F. foison, fr. L. fusio a pouring, effusion. See
Fusion.]
Defn: Rich harvest; plenty; abundance. [Archaic] Lowell.
That from the seedness the bare fallow brings To teeming foison.
Shak.
FOIST
Foist (foist), n. Etym: [OF. fuste stick, boat, fr. L. fustis cudgel.
Cf. 1st Fust.]
Defn: A light and fast-sailing ship. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
FOIST
Foist, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foisted; p. pr. & vb. n. Foisting.] Etym:
[Cf. OD. vysten to fizzle, D. veesten, E. fizz, fitchet, bullfist.]
Defn: To insert surreptitiously, wrongfully, or without warrant; to
interpolate; to pass off (something spurious or counterfeit) as
genuine, true, or worthy; -- usually followed by in.
Lest negligence or partiality might admit or fois in abuses
corruption. R. Carew.
When a scripture has been corrupted . . . by a supposititious
foisting of some words in. South.
FOIST
Foist, n.
1. A foister; a sharper. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
2. A trick or fraud; a swindle. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
FOISTER
Foist"er, n.
Defn: One who foists something surreptitiously; a falsitier. Mir. for
Mag.
FOISTIED
Foist"ied, a. Etym: [See 2d Fust.]
Defn: Fusty. [Obs.]
FOISTINESS
Foist"i*ness, n.
Defn: Fustiness; mustiness. [Obs.]
FOISTY
Foist"y, a.
Defn: Fusty; musty. [Obs.] Johnson.
FOLD
Fold, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Folded; p. pr. & vb. n. Folding.] Etym:
[OE. folden, falden, AS. fealdan; akin to OHG. faltan, faldan, G.
falten, Icel. falda, Dan. folde, Sw. fålla, Goth. fal, cf. Gr.pu a
fold. Cf. Fauteuil.]
1. To lap or lay in plaits or folds; to lay one part over another
part of; to double; as, to fold cloth; to fold a letter.
As a vesture shalt thou fold them up. Heb. i. 12.
2. To double or lay together, as the arms or the hands; as, he folds
his arms in despair.
3. To inclose within folds or plaitings; to envelop; to infold; to
clasp; to embrace.
A face folded in sorrow. J. Webster.
We will descend and fold him in our arms. Shak.
4. To cover or wrap up; to conceal.
Nor fold my fault in cleanly coined excuses. Shak.
FOLD
Fold, v. i.
Defn: To become folded, plaited, or doubled; to close over another of
the same kind; to double together; as, the leaves of the door fold. 1
Kings vi. 34.
FOLD
Fold, n. Etym: [From Fold, v. In sense 2 AS. -feald, akin to fealdan
to fold.]
1. A doubling,esp. of any flexible substance; a part laid over on
another part; a plait; a plication.
Mummies . . . shrouded in a number of folds of linen. Bacon.
Folds are most common in the rocks of mountainous regions. J. D.
Dana.
2. Times or repetitions; -- used with numerals, chiefly in
composition, to denote multiplication or increase in a geometrical
ratio, the doubling, tripling, etc., of anything; as, fourfold, four
times, increased in a quadruple ratio, multiplied by four.
3. That which is folded together, or which infolds or envelops;
embrace.
Shall from your neck unloose his amorous fold. Shak.
Fold net, a kind of net used in catching birds.
FOLD
Fold, n. Etym: [OE. fald, fold, AS. fald, falod.]
1. An inclosure for sheep; a sheep pen.
Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold. Milton.
2. A flock of sheep; figuratively, the Church or a church; as,
Christ's fold.
There shall be one fold and one shepherd. John x. 16.
The very whitest lamb in all my fold. Tennyson.
3. A boundary; a limit. [Obs.] Creech.
Fold yard, an inclosure for sheep or cattle.
FOLD
Fold, v. t.
Defn: To confine in a fold, as sheep.
FOLD
Fold, v. i.
Defn: To confine sheep in a fold. [R.]
The star that bids the shepherd fold. Milton.
FOLDAGE
Fold"age, ( n. Etym: [See Fold inclosure, Faldage.] (O.Eng.Law.)
Defn: See Faldage.
FOLDER
Fold"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, folds; esp., a flat, knifelike
instrument used for folding paper.
FOLDEROL
Fol"de*rol`, n.
Defn: Nonsense. [Colloq.]
FOLDING
Fold"ing, n.
1. The act of making a fold or folds; also, a fold; a doubling; a
plication.
The lower foldings of the vest. Addison.
2. (Agric.)
Defn: The keepig of sheep in inclosures on arable land, etc. Folding
boat, a portable boat made by stretching canvas, etc., over jointed
framework, used in campaigning, and by tourists, etc. Ham. Nav.
Encyc. Folding chairFolding door, one of two or more doors filling a
single and hung upon hinges.
FOLDLESS
Fold"less, a.
Defn: Having no fold. Milman.
FOLIACEOUS
Fo`li*a"ceous, a. Etym: [L. foliaceus, fr. folium leaf.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: Belonging to, or having the texture or nature of, a leaf;
having leaves intermixed with flowers; as, a foliaceous spike.
2. (Min.)
Defn: Consisting of leaves or thin laminæ; having the form of a leaf
or plate; as, foliaceous spar.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Leaflike in form or mode of growth; as, a foliaceous coral.
FOLIAGE
Fo"li*age, n. Etym: [OF. foillage, fueillage, F. feuillage, fr. OF.
foille, fueille, fueil, F. feulle, leaf, L. folium. See 3d Foil, and
cf. Foliation, Filemot.]
1. Leaves, collectively, as produced or arranged by nature; leafage;
as, a tree or forest of beautiful foliage.
2. A cluster of leaves, flowers, and branches; especially, the
representation of leaves, flowers, and branches, in architecture,
intended to ornament and enrich capitals, friezes, pediments, etc.
Foliage plant (Bot.), any plant cultivated for the beauty of its
leaves, as many kinds of Begonia and Coleus.
FOLIAGE
Fo"li*age, v. t.
Defn: To adorn with foliage or the imitation of foliage; to form into
the representation of leaves. [R.] Drummond.
FOLIAGED
Fo"li*aged, a.
Defn: Furnished with foliage; leaved; as, the variously foliaged
mulberry.
FOLIAR
Fo"li*ar, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Consisting of, or pertaining to, leaves; as, foliar appendages.
Foliar gap (Bot.), an opening in the fibrovascular system of a stem
at the point of origin of a leaf.
-- Foliar trace (Bot.), a particular fibrovascular bundle passing
down into the stem from a leaf.
FOLIATE
Fo"li*ate (, a. Etym: [L. foliatus leaved, leafy, fr. folium leaf.
See Foliage.] (Bot.)
Defn: Furnished with leaves; leafy; as, a foliate stalk. Foliate
curve. (Geom.) Same as Folium.
FOLIATE
Fo"li*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foliated; p. pr. & vb. n. Foliating.]
1. To beat into a leaf, or thin plate. Bacon.
2. To spread over with a thin coat of tin and quicksilver; as, to
foliate a looking-glass.
FOLIATED
Fo"li*a`ted, a.
1. Having leaves, or leaflike projections; as, a foliated shell.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: Containing, or consisting of, foils; as, a foliated arch.
3. (Min.)
Defn: Characterized by being separable into thin plates or folia; as,
graphite has a foliated structure.
4. (Geol.)
Defn: Laminated, but restricted to the variety of laminated structure
found in crystalline schist, as mica schist, etc.; schistose.
5. Spread over with an amalgam of tin and quicksilver. Foliated
telluium. (Min.) See Nagyagite.
FOLIATION
Fo"li*a"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. foliation.]
1. The process of forming into a leaf or leaves.
2. The manner in which the young leaves are dispo
The . . . foliation must be in relation to the stem. De Quincey.
3. The act of beating a metal into a thin plate, leaf, foil, or
lamina.
4. The act of coating with an amalgam of tin foil and quicksilver, as
in making looking-glasses.
5. (Arch.)
Defn: The enrichment of an opening by means of foils, arranged in
trefoils, quatrefoils, etc.; also, one of the ornaments. See Tracery.
6. (Geol.)
Defn: The property, possessed by some crystalline rocks, of dividing
into plates or slabs, which is due to the cleavage structure of one
of the constituents, as mica or hornblende. It may sometimes include
slaty structure or cleavage, though the latter is usually independent
of any mineral constituent, and transverse to the bedding, it having
been produced by pressure.
FOLIATURE
Fo"li*a*ture, n. Etym: [L. foliatura foliage.]
Defn: 1. Foliage; leafage. [Obs.] Shuckford.
2. The state of being beaten into foil. Johnson.
FOLIER
Fo"li*er, n.
Defn: Goldsmith's foil. [R.] Sprat.
FOLIFEROUS
Fo*lif"er*ous, a. Etym: [L. folium leaf+ -ferous: cf. F. foliifère.]
Defn: Producing leaves. [Written also foliiferous.]
FOLILY
Fol"i*ly, a.
Defn: Foolishly. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FOLIO
Fol"io, n.; pl. Folios. Etym: [Ablative of L. folium leaf. See 4th
Foil.]
1. A leaf of a book or manuscript.
2. A sheet of paper once folded.
3. A book made of sheets of paper each folded once (four pages to the
sheet); hence, a book of the largest kind. See Note under Paper.
4. (Print.)
Defn: The page number. The even folios are on the left-hand pages and
the odd folios on the right-hand.
5. A page of a book; (Bookkeeping) a page in an account book;
sometimes, two opposite pages bearing the same serial number.
6. (Law)
Defn: A leaf containing a certain number of words, hence, a certain
number of words in a writing, as in England, in law proceedings 72,
and in chancery, 90; in New York, 100 words. Folio post, a flat
writing paper, usually 17 by 24 inches.
FOLIO
Folio, v. t.
Defn: To put a serial number on each folio or page of (a book); to
page.
FOLIO
Folio, a.
Defn: Formed of sheets each folded once, making two leaves, or four
pages; as, a folio volume. See Folio, n., 3.
FOLIOLATE
Fo"li*o*late, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to leaflets; -- used in composition; as, bi-
foliolate. Gray.
FOLIOLE
Fo"li*ole, n. Etym: [Dim. of L. folium leaf: cf. F. foliole.] (Bot.)
Defn: One of the distinct parts of a compound leaf; a leaflet.
FOLIOMORT
Fo`li*o*mort", a.
Defn: See Feuillemort.
FOLIOSE
Fo`li*ose", a. Etym: [L. foliosus, fr. folium leaf.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having many leaves; leafy.
FOLIOSITY
Fo`li*os"i*ty, n.
Defn: The ponderousness or bulk of a folio; voluminousness. [R.] De
Quincey.
FOLIOUS
Fo"li*ous (, a. Etym: [See Foliose.]
1. Like a leaf; thin; unsubstantial. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Foliose. [R.]
FOLIUM
Fo"li*um, n.; pl. E. Foliums, L. Folia. Etym: [L., a leaf.]
1. A leaf, esp. a thin leaf or plate.
2. (Geom.)
Defn: A curve of the third order, consisting of two infinite
branches, which have a common asymptote. The curve has a double
point, and a leaf-shaped loop; whence the name. Its equation is x3 +
y3 = axy.
FOLK; FOLKS
Folk, Folks, n. collect. & pl. Etym: [AS. folc; akin to D. volk, OS.
& OHG. folk, G. volk, Icel. f, Sw. & Dan. folk, Lith. pulkas crowd,
and perh. to E. follow.]
1. (Eng. Hist.)
Defn: In Anglo-Saxon times, the people of a group of townships or
villages; a community; a tribe. [Obs.]
The organization of each folk, as such, sprang mainly from war. J. R.
Green.
2. People in general, or a separate class of people; -- generally
used in the plural form, and often with a qualifying adjective; as,
the old folks; poor folks. [Colloq.]
In winter's tedious nights, sit by the fire With good old folks, and
let them tell thee tales. Shak.
3. The persons of one's own family; as, our folks are all well.
[Colloq. New Eng.] Bartlett. Folk song, one of a class of songs long
popular with the common people.
-- Folk speech, the speech of the common people, as distinguished
from that of the educated class.
FOLKETHING
Fol"ke*thing`, n. [Dan. See Folk, and Thing.]
Defn: The lower house of the Danish Rigsdag, or Parliament. See
Legislature, below.
FOLKLAND
Folk"land`, n. Etym: [AS. folcland.] (O.Eng. Law)
Defn: Land held in villenage, being distributed among the folk, or
people, at the pleasure of the lord of the manor, and resumed at his
discretion. Not being held by any assurance in writing, it was
opposed to bookland or charter land, which was held by deed. Mozley &
W.
FOLKLORE; FOLK LORE
Folk"lore`, n., or; Folk" lore`
Defn: . Tales, legends, or superstitions long current among the
people. Trench.
FOLKMOTE
Folk"mote`, n. Etym: [AS. folcm folk meeting.]
Defn: An assembly of the people; esp. (Sax. Law),
Defn: a general assembly of the people to consider and order matters
of the commonwealth; also, a local court. [Hist.]
To which folkmote they all with one consent Agreed to travel.
Spenser.
FOLKMOTER
Folk"mot`er, n.
Defn: One who takes part in a folkmote, or local court. [Obs.]
Milton.
FOLLICLE
Fol"li*cle, n. Etym: [L. folliculus a small bag, husk, pod, dim of
follis bellows, an inflated ball, a leathern money bag, perh. akin to
E. bellows: cf. F. follicule. Cf. 2d Fool.]
1. (Bot.)
Defn: A simple podlike pericarp which contains several seeds and
opens along the inner or ventral suture, as in the peony, larkspur
and milkweed.
2. (Anat.)
(a) A small cavity, tubular depression, or sac; as, a hair follicle.
(b) A simple gland or glandular cavity; a crypt.
(c) A small mass of adenoid tissue; as, a lymphatic follicle.
FOLLICULAR
Fol*lic"u*lar, a.
1. Like, pertaining to, or consisting of, a follicles or follicles.
2. (Med.)
Defn: Affecting the follicles; as, follicular pharyngitis.
FOLLICULATED
Fol*lic"u*la`ted, a.
Defn: Having follicles.
FOLLICULOUS
Fol*lic"u*lous, a. Etym: [L. folliculosus full of husks: cf. F.
folliculeux.]
Defn: Having or producing follicles.
FOLLIFUL
Fol"li*ful, a.
Defn: Full of folly. [Obs.]
FOLLOW
Fol"low, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Followed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Following.]Etym: [OE. foluwen, folwen, folgen, AS. folgian, fylgean,
fylgan; akin to D. volgen, OHG. folg, G. folgen, Icel. fylgja, Sw.
följa, Dan. fölge, and perh. to E. folk.]
1. To go or come after; to move behind in the same path or direction;
hence, to go with (a leader, guide, etc.); to accompany; to attend.
It waves me forth again; I'll follow it. Shak.
2. To endeavor to overtake; to go in pursuit of; to chase; to pursue;
to prosecute.
I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow
them. Ex. xiv. 17.
3. To accept as authority; to adopt the opinions of; to obey; to
yield to; to take as a rule of action; as, to follow good advice.
Approve the best, and follow what I approve. Milton.
Follow peace with all men. Heb. xii. 14.
It is most agreeable to some men to follow their reason; and to
others to follow their appetites. J. Edwards.
4. To copy after; to take as an example.
We had rather follow the perfections of them whom we like not, than
in defects resemble them whom we love. Hooker.
5. To succeed in order of time, rank, or office.
6. To result from, as an effect from a cause, or an inference from a
premise.
7. To watch, as a receding object; to keep the eyes fixed upon while
in motion; to keep the mind upon while in progress, as a speech,
musical performance, etc.; also, to keep up with; to understand the
meaning, connection, or force of, as of a course of thought or
argument.
He followed with his eyes the flitting shade. Dryden.
8. To walk in, as a road or course; to attend upon closely, as a
profession or calling.
O, had I but followed the arts! Shak.
O Antony! I have followed thee to this. Shak.
Follow board (Founding), a board on which the pattern and the flask
lie while the sand is rammed into the flask. Knight.
-- To follow the hounds, to hunt with dogs.
-- To follow suit (Card Playing), to play a card of the same suit as
the leading card; hence, colloquially, to follow an example set.
-- To follow up, to pursue indefatigably.
Syn.- To pursue; chase; go after; attend; accompany; succeed;
imitate; copy; embrace; maintain. - To Follow, Pursue. To follow
(v.t.) denotes simply to go after; to pursue denotes to follow with
earnestness, and with a view to attain some definite object; as, a
hound pursues the deer. So a person follows a companion whom he
wishes to overtake on a journey; the officers of justice pursue a
felon who has escaped from prison.
FOLLOW
Fol"low, v. i.
Defn: To go or come after; -- used in the various senses of the
transitive verb: To pursue; to attend; to accompany; to be a result;
to imitate.
Syn.- To Follow, Succeed, Ensue. To follow (v.i.) means simply to
come after; as, a crowd followed. To succeed means to come after in
some regular series or succession; as, day succeeds to day, and night
to night. To ensue means to follow by some established connection or
principle of sequence. As wave follows wave, revolution succeeds to
revolution; and nothing ensues but accumulated wretchedness.
FOLLOWER
Fol"low*er, n. Etym: [OE. folwere, AS. folgere.]
Defn: 1. One who follows; a pursuer; an attendant; a disciple; a
dependent associate; a retainer.
2. A sweetheart; a beau. [Colloq.] A. Trollope.
3. (Steam Engine)
(a) The removable flange, or cover, of a piston. See Illust. of
Piston.
(b) A gland. See Illust. of Stuffing box.
4. (Mach.)
Defn: The part of a machine that receives motion from another part.
See Driver.
5. Among law stationers, a sheet of parchment or paper which is added
to the first sheet of an indenture or other deed.
Syn.
-- Imitator; copier; disciple; adherent; partisan; dependent;
attendant.
FOLLOWING
Fol"low*ing, n.
1. One's followers, adherents, or dependents, collectively. Macaulay.
2. Vocation; business; profession.
FOLLOWING
Fol"low*ing, a.
1. Next after; succeeding; ensuing; as, the assembly was held on the
following day.
2. (Astron.)
Defn: (In the field of a telescope) In the direction from which stars
are apparently moving (in consequence of the erth's rotation); as, a
small star, north following or south following. In the direction
toward which stars appear to move is called preceding.
Note: The four principal directions in the field of a telescope are
north, south, following, preceding.
FOLLOWING EDGE
Following edge. (Aëronautics)
Defn: See Advancing-edge, above.
FOLLOWING SURFACE
Following surface. (Aëronautics)
Defn: See Advancing-surface, above.
FOLLY
Fol"ly, n.; pl. Follies. Etym: [OE. folie, foli, F. folie, fr. fol,
fou, foolish, mad. See Fool.]
1. The state of being foolish; want of good sense; levity, weakness,
or derangement of mind.
2. A foolish act; an inconsiderate or thoughtless procedure; weak or
light-minded conduct; foolery.
What folly 'tis to hazard life for ill. Shak.
3. Scandalous crime; sin; specifically, as applied to a woman,
wantonness.
[Achan] wrought folly in Israel. Josh. vii. 15.
When lovely woman stoops to folly. Goldsmith.
4. The result of a foolish action or enterprise.
It is called this man's or that man's "folly," and name of the
foolish builder is thus kept alive for long after years. Trench.
FOLWE
Fol"we, v. t.
Defn: To follow. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FOMALHAUT
Fo"mal*haut`, n. [AFomalhaut.] (Astron.)
Defn: A star of the first magnitude, in the constellation Piscis
Australis, or Southern Fish.
FOMENT
Fo*ment", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fomented; p. pr. & vb. n. Fomenting.]
Etym: [F. fomenter, fr. L. fomentare, fr. fomentum (for fovimentum) a
warm application or lotion, fr. fovere to warm or keep warm; perh.
akin to Gr. bake.]
1. To apply a warm lotion to; to bathe with a cloth or sponge wet
with warm water or medicated liquid.
2. To cherish with heat; to foster. [Obs.]
Which these soft fires . . . foment and warm. Milton.
3. To nurse to life or activity; to cherish and promote by
excitements; to encourage; to abet; to instigate; -- used often in a
bad sense; as, to foment ill humors. Locke.
But quench the choler you foment in vain. Dryden.
Exciting and fomenting a religious rebellion. Southey.
FOMENTATION
Fo`men*ta"tion, n. [fomentatio: cf. F. fomentation.]
1. (Med.)
(a) The act of fomenting; the application of warm, soft, medicinal
substances, as for the purpose of easing pain, by relaxing the skin,
or of discussing tumors.
(b) The lotion applied to a diseased part.
2. Excitation; instigation; encouragement.
Dishonest fomentation of your pride. Young.
FOMENTER
Fo*ment"er, n.
Defn: One who foments; one who encourages or instigates; as, a
fomenter of sedition.
FOMES
Fo"mes, n.; pl. Fomites. Etym: [L. fomes, -itis, touch-wood, tinder.]
(Med.)
Defn: Any substance supposed to be capable of absorbing, retaining,
and transporting contagious or infectious germs; as, woolen clothes
are said to be active fomites.
FON
Fon, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fani silly, fana to act
silly, Sw. fåne fool. Cf. Fond, a.]
Defn: A fool; an idiot. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FOND
Fond, obs.
Defn: imp. of Find. Found. Chaucer.
FOND
Fond, a. [Compar. Fonder; superl. Fondest.] Etym: [For fonned, p. p.
of OE. fonnen to be foolish. See Fon.]
1. Foolish; silly; simple; weak. [Archaic]
Grant I may never prove so fond To trust man on his oath or bond.
Shak.
2. Foolishly tender and loving; weakly indulgent; over-affectionate.
3. Affectionate; loving; tender; -- in a good sense; as, a fond
mother or wife. Addison.
4. Loving; much pleased; affectionately regardful, indulgent, or
desirous; longing or yearning; -- followed by of (formerly also by
on).
More fond on her than she upon her love. Shak.
You are as fond of grief as of your child. Shak.
A great traveler, and fond of telling his adventures. Irving.
5. Doted on; regarded with affection. [R.]
Nor fix on fond abodes to circumscribe thy prayer. Byron.
6. Trifling; valued by folly; trivial. [Obs.] Shak.
FOND
Fond, v. t.
Defn: To caress; to fondle. [Obs.]
The Tyrian hugs and fonds thee on her breast. Dryden.
FOND
Fond, v. i.
Defn: To be fond; to dote. [Obs.] Shak.
FONDANT
Fon"dant (fon"dant; Fr. fôN`däN"), n. [F., lit., melting, p. pr. of
fondre to melt, L. fundere. See Found to cast.]
Defn: A kind of soft sweetmeat made by boiling solutions to the point
of crystallization, usually molded; as, cherry fondant.
FONDE
Fond"e, v. t. & i. Etym: [AS. fandian to try.]
Defn: To endeavor; to strive; to try. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FONDLE
Fon"dle, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fondled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fondling.]
Etym: [From Fond, v.]
Defn: To treat or handle with tenderness or in a loving manner; to
caress; as, a nurse fondles a child.
Syn.- See Caress.
FONDLER
Fon"dler, n.
Defn: One who fondles. Johnson.
FONDLING
Fon"dling, n. Etym: [From Fondle.]
Defn: The act of caressing; manifestation of tenderness.
Cyrus made no . . . amorous fondling To fan her pride, or melt her
guardless heart. Mickle.
FONDLING
Fond"ling, n. Etym: [Fond + -ling.]
1. A person or thing fondled or caressed; one treated with foolish or
doting affection.
Fondlings are in danger to be made fools. L'Estrange.
2. A fool; a simpleton; a ninny. [Obs.] Chapman.
FONDLY
Fond"ly, adv.
1. Foolishly. [Archaic] Verstegan (1673).
Make him speak fondly like a frantic man. Shak.
2. In a fond manner; affectionately; tenderly.
My heart, untarveled, fondly turns to thee. Goldsmith.
FONDNESS
Fond"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being fond; foolishness. [Obs.]
Fondness it were for any, being free, To covet fetters, though they
golden be. Spenser.
2. Doting affection; tender liking; strong appetite, propensity, or
relish; as, he had a fondness for truffles.
My heart had still some foolish fondness for thee. Addison.
Syn.- Attachment; affection; love; kindness.
FONDON
Fon"don, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fondant flux.] (Metal.)
Defn: A large copper vessel used for hot amalgamation.
FONDU
Fon`du" (fon"dus"), a. [F. fondu, p.p. of fondre to melt, blend. See
Found to cast.]
Defn: Blended; passing into each other by subtle gradations; -- said
of colors or of the surface or material on which the colors are laid.
FONDUE; FONDU
Fon`due", n. [Also erroneously Fon`du".] [F. See Fondu; cf. Fondant.]
(Cookery)
Defn: A dish made of cheese, eggs, butter, etc., melted together.
FONDUS
Fon`dus", n. Etym: [F. fondu, prop. p.p. of fondre to melt, blend.
See Found to cast.]
Defn: A style of printing calico, paper hangings, etc., in which the
colors are in bands and graduated into each other. Ure.
FONE
Fone, n.;
Defn: pl. of Foe. [Obs.] Spenser.
FONGE
Fong"e, v. t. Etym: [See Fang, v. t.]
Defn: To take; to receive. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FONLY
Fon"ly, adv. Etym: [See Fon.]
Defn: Foolishly; fondly. [Obs.] Spenser.
FONNE
Fon"ne, n.
Defn: A fon. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FONT
Font, n. Etym: [F. fonte, fr. fondre to melt or cast. See Found to
cast, and cf. Fount a font.] (Print.)
Defn: A complete assortment of printing type of one size, including a
due proportion of all the letters in the alphabet, large and small,
points, accents, and whatever else is necessary for printing with
that variety of types; a fount.
FONT
Font, n. Etym: [AS. font, fant, fr. L. fons, fontis, spring,
fountain; cf. OF. font, funt, F. fonts, fonts baptismaux, pl. See
Fount.]
1. A fountain; a spring; a source.
Bathing forever in the font of bliss. Young.
2. A basin or stone vessel in which water is contained for baptizing.
That name was given me at the font. Shak.
FONTAL
Font"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a font, fountain, source, or origin; original;
primitive. [R.]
From the fontal light of ideas only can a man draw intellectual
power. Coleridge.
FONTANEL
Fon"ta*nel`, n. Etym: [F. fontanelle, prop., a little fountain, fr.
fontaine fountain. See Fountain.]
1. (Med.)
Defn: An issue or artificial ulcer for the discharge of humors from
the body.[Obs.] Wiseman.
2. (Anat.)
Defn: One of the membranous intervals between the incompleted angles
of the parietal and neighboring bones of a fetal or young skull; --
so called because it exhibits a rhythmical pulsation.
Note: In the human fetus there are six fontanels, of which the
anterior, or bregmatic, situated at the junction of the coronal and
sagittal sutures, is much the largest, and remains open a
considerable time after birth.
FONTANELLE
Fon`ta`nelle", n. Etym: [F.] (Anat.)
Defn: Same as Fontanel, 2.
FONTANGE
Fon`tange", n. Etym: [F., from the name of the first wearer, Mlle. de
Fontanges, about 1679.]
Defn: A kind of tall headdress formerly worn. Addison.
FOOD
Food, n. Etym: [OE. fode, AS. foda; akin to Icel. fæ\'eba, fæ\'ebi,
Sw. föda, Dan. & LG. föde, OHG. fatunga, Gr. patei^sthai to eat, and
perh. to Skr. pa to protect, L. pascere to feed, pasture, pabulum
food, E. pasture. *75. Cf. Feed, Fodder food, Foster to cherish.]
1. What is fed upon; that which goes to support life by being
received within, and assimilated by, the organism of an animal or a
plant; nutriment; aliment; especially, what is eaten by animals for
nourishment.
Note: In a physiological sense, true aliment is to be distinguished
as that portion of the food which is capable of being digested and
absorbed into the blood, thus furnishing nourishment, in distinction
from the indigestible matter which passes out through the alimentary
canal as fæces.
Note: Foods are divided into two main groups: nitrogenous, or
proteid, foods, i.e., those which contain nitrogen, and
nonnitrogenous, i.e., those which do not contain nitrogen. The latter
group embraces the fats and carbohydrates, which collectively are
sometimes termed heat producers or respiratory foods, since by
oxidation in the body they especially subserve the production of
heat. The proteids, on the other hand, are known as plastic foods or
tissue formers, since no tissue can be formed without them. These
latter terms, however, are misleading, since proteid foods may also
give rise to heat both directly and indirectly, and the fats and
carbohydrates are useful in other ways than in producing heat.
2. Anything that instructs the intellect, excites the feelings, or
molds habits of character; that which nourishes.
This may prove food to my displeasure. Shak.
In this moment there is life and food For future years. Wordsworth.
Note: Food is often used adjectively or in self-explaining compounds,
as in food fish or food-fish, food supply. Food vacuole (Zoöl.), one
of the spaces in the interior of a protozoan in which food is
contained, during digestion.
-- Food yolk. (Biol.) See under Yolk.
Syn.
-- Aliment; sustenance; nutriment; feed; fare; victuals; provisions;
meat.
FOOD
Food, v. t.
Defn: To supply with food. [Obs.] Baret.
FOODFUL
Food"ful, a.
Defn: Full of food; supplying food; fruitful; fertile. "The foodful
earth." Dryden.
Bent by its foodful burden [the corn]. Glover.
FOODLESS
Food"less, a.
Defn: Without food; barren. Sandys.
FOODY
Food"y, a.
Defn: Eatable; fruitful. [R.] Chapman.
FOOL
Fool, n. Etym: [Cf. F. fouler to tread, crush. Cf. 1st Foil.]
Defn: A compound of gooseberries scalded and crushed, with cream; --
commonly called gooseberry fool.
FOOL
Fool, n. Etym: [OE. fol, n. & adj., F. fol, fou, foolish, mad; a
fool, prob. fr. L. follis a bellows, wind bag, an inflated ball;
perh. akin to E. bellows. Cf. Folly, Follicle.]
1. One destitute of reason, or of the common powers of understanding;
an idiot; a natural.
2. A person deficient in intellect; one who acts absurdly, or pursues
a course contrary to the dictates of wisdom; one without judgment; a
simpleton; a dolt.
Extol not riches, then, the toil of fools. Milton.
Experience keeps a dear school, but fools will learn in no other.
Franklin.
3. (Script.)
Defn: One who acts contrary to moral and religious wisdom; a wicked
person.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Ps. xiv. 1.
4. One who counterfeits folly; a professional jester or buffoon; a
retainer formerly kept to make sport, dressed fantastically in
motley, with ridiculous accouterments.
Can they think me . . . their fool or jester Milton.
April fool, Court fool, etc. See under April, Court, etc.
-- Fool's cap, a cap or hood to which bells were usually attached,
formerly worn by professional jesters.
-- Fool's errand, an unreasonable, silly, profitless adventure or
undertaking.
-- Fool's gold, iron or copper pyrites, resembling gold in color.
-- Fool's paradise, a name applied to a limbo (see under Limbo)
popularly believed to be the region of vanity and nonsense. Hence,
any foolish pleasure or condition of vain self-satistaction.
-- Fool's parsley (Bot.), an annual umbelliferous plant (Æthusa
Cynapium) resembling parsley, but nauseous and poisonous.
-- To make a fool of, to render ridiculous; to outwit; to shame.
[Colloq.] -- To play the fool, to act the buffoon; to act a foolish
part. "I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 1 Sam.
xxvi. 21.
FOOL
Fool, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fooled; p. pr. & vb. n. Fooling.]
Defn: To play the fool; to trifle; to toy; to spend time in idle
sport or mirth.
Is this a time for fooling Dryden.
FOOL
Fool, v. t.
1. To infatuate; to make foolish. Shak.
For, fooled with hope, men favor the deceit. Dryden.
2. To use as a fool; to deceive in a shameful or mortifying manner;
to impose upon; to cheat by inspiring foolish confidence; as, to fool
one out of his money.
You are fooled, discarded, and shook off By him for whom these shames
ye underwent. Shak.
To fool away, to get rid of foolishly; to spend in trifles, idleness,
folly, or without advantage.
FOOLAHS
Foo"lahs`, n. pl.; sing. Foolah. (Ethnol.)
Defn: Same as Fulahs.
FOOL-BORN
Fool"-born`, a.
Defn: Begotten by a fool. Shak.
FOOLERY
Fool"er*y, n.; pl. Fooleries (.
1. The practice of folly; the behavior of a fool; absurdity.
Folly in fools bears not so strong a note, As foolery in the wise,
when wit doth dote. Shak.
2. An act of folly or weakness; a foolish practice; something absurd
or nonsensical.
That Pythagoras, Plato, or Orpheus, believed in any of these
fooleries, it can not be suspected. Sir W. Raleigh.
FOOLFISH
Fool"fish`, n. (Zoöl.)
(a) The orange filefish. See Filefish.
(b) The winter flounder. See Flounder.
FOOL-HAPPY
Fool"-hap`py, a.
Defn: Lucky, without judgment or contrivance. [Obs.] Spenser.
FOOLHARDIHOOD
Fool"har`di*hood, n.
Defn: The state of being foolhardy; foolhardiness.
FOOLHARDILY
Fool"har`di*ly, adv.
Defn: In a foolhardy manner.
FOOLHARDINESS
Fool"har`di*ness, n.
Defn: Courage without sense or judgment; foolish rashness;
recklessness. Dryden.
FOOLHARDISE
Fool"har`dise, n. Etym: [Fool, F. fol, fou + F. hardiesse boldness.]
Defn: Foolhardiness. [Obs.] Spenser.
FOOLHARDY
Fool"har`dy, a. Etym: [OF. folhardi. See Fool idiot, and Hardy.]
Defn: Daring without judgment; foolishly adventurous and bold.
Howell.
Syn.
-- Rash; venturesome; venturous; precipitate; reckless; headlong;
incautious. See Rash.
FOOL-HASTY
Fool"-has`ty, a.
Defn: Foolishly hasty. [R.]
FOOLIFY
Fool"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Fool + -fy.]
Defn: To make a fool of; to befool. [R.] Holland.
FOOLISH
Fool"ish, a.
1. Marked with, or exhibiting, folly; void of understanding; weak in
intellect; without judgment or discretion; silly; unwise.
I am a very foolish fond old man. Shak.
2. Such as a fool would do; proceeding from weakness of mind or
silliness; exhibiting a want of judgment or discretion; as, a foolish
act.
3. Absurd; ridiculous; despicable; contemptible.
A foolish figure he must make. Prior.
Syn.
-- Absurd; shallow; shallow-brained; brainless; simple; irrational;
unwise; imprudent; indiscreet; incautious; silly; ridiculous; vain;
trifling; contemptible. See Absurd.
FOOLISHLY
Fool"ish*ly, adv.
Defn: In a foolish manner.
FOOLISHNESS
Fool"ish*ness, n.
1. The quality of being foolish.
2. A foolish practice; an absurdity.
The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness. 1 Cor.
i. 18.
FOOL-LARGE
Fool"-large`, a. Etym: [OF. follarge. See Fool, and Large.]
Defn: Foolishly liberal. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FOOL-LARGESSE
Fool"-lar*gesse`, n. Etym: [See Fool-large, Largess.]
Defn: Foolish expenditure; waste. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FOOLSCAP
Fools"cap`, n. Etym: [So called from the watermark of a fool's cap
and bells used by old paper makers. See Fool's cap, under Fool.]
Defn: A writing paper made in sheets, ordinarily 16 x 13 inches, and
folded so as to make a page 13 x 8 inches. See Paper.
FOOT
Foot, n.; pl. Feet. Etym: [OE. fot, foot, pl. feet. AS. f, pl. f;
akin to D. voet, OHG. fuoz, G. fuss, Icel. f, Sw. fot, Dan. fod,
Goth. f, L. pes, Gr. pad, Icel. fet step, pace measure of a foot,
feta to step, find one's way. *77, 250. Cf. Antipodes, Cap-a-pie,
Expedient, Fet to fetch, Fetlock, Fetter, Pawn a piece in chess,
Pedal.]
1. (Anat.)
Defn: The terminal part of the leg of man or an animal; esp., the
part below the ankle or wrist; that part of an animal upon which it
rests when standing, or moves. See Manus, and Pes.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The muscular locomotive organ of a mollusk. It is a median
organ arising from the ventral region of body, often in the form of a
flat disk, as in snails. See Illust. of Buccinum.
3. That which corresponds to the foot of a man or animal; as, the
foot of a table; the foot of a stocking.
4. The lowest part or base; the ground part; the bottom, as of a
mountain or column; also, the last of a row or series; the end or
extremity, esp. if associated with inferiority; as, the foot of a
hill; the foot of the procession; the foot of a class; the foot of
the bed.
And now at foot Of heaven's ascent they lift their feet. Milton.
5. Fundamental principle; basis; plan; -- used only in the singular.
Answer directly upon the foot of dry reason. Berkeley.
6. Recognized condition; rank; footing; -- used only in the singular.
[R.]
As to his being on the foot of a servant. Walpole.
7. A measure of length equivalent to twelve inches; one third of a
yard. See Yard.
Note: This measure is supposed to be taken from the length of a man's
foot. It differs in length in different countries. In the United
States and in England it is 304.8 millimeters.
8. (Mil.)
Defn: Soldiers who march and fight on foot; the infantry, usually
designated as the foot, in distinction from the cavalry. "Both horse
and foot." Milton.
9. (Pros.)
Defn: A combination of syllables consisting a metrical element of a
verse, the syllables being formerly distinguished by their quantity
or length, but in modern poetry by the accent.
10. (Naut.)
Defn: The lower edge of a sail.
Note: Foot is often used adjectively, signifying of or pertaining to
a foot or the feet, or to the base or lower part. It is also much
used as the first of compounds. Foot artillery. (Mil.) (a) Artillery
soldiers serving in foot. (b) Heavy artillery. Farrow.
-- Foot bank (Fort.), a raised way within a parapet.
-- Foot barracks (Mil.), barracks for infantery.
-- Foot bellows, a bellows worked by a treadle. Knight.
-- Foot company (Mil.), a company of infantry. Milton.
-- Foot gear, covering for the feet, as stocking, shoes, or boots.
-- Foot hammer (Mach.), a small tilt hammer moved by a treadle.
-- Foot iron. (a) The step of a carriage. (b) A fetter.
-- Foot jaw. (Zoöl.) See Maxilliped.
-- Foot key (Mus.), an organ pedal.
-- Foot level (Gunnery), a form of level used in giving any proposed
angle of elevation to a piece of ordnance. Farrow.
-- Foot mantle, a long garment to protect the dress in riding; a
riding skirt. [Obs.] -- Foot page, an errand boy; an attendant.
[Obs.] -- Foot passenger, one who passes on foot, as over a road or
bridge.
-- Foot pavement, a paved way for foot passengers; a footway; a
trottoir.
-- Foot poet, an inferior poet; a poetaster. [R.] Dryden.
-- Foot post. (a) A letter carrier who travels on foot. (b) A mail
delivery by means of such carriers.
-- Fot pound, and Foot poundal. (Mech.) See Foot pound and Foot
poundal, in the Vocabulary.
-- Foot press (Mach.), a cutting, embossing, or printing press,
moved by a treadle.
-- Foot race, a race run by persons on foot. Cowper.
-- Foot rail, a railroad rail, with a wide flat flange on the lower
side.
-- Foot rot, an ulcer in the feet of sheep; claw sickness.
-- Foot rule, a rule or measure twelve inches long.
-- Foot screw, an adjusting screw which forms a foot, and serves to
give a machine or table a level standing on an uneven place.
-- Foot secretion. (Zoöl.) See Sclerobase.
-- Foot soldier, a soldier who serves on foot.
-- Foot stick (Printing), a beveled piece of furniture placed
against the foot of the page, to hold the type in place.
-- Foot stove, a small box, with an iron pan, to hold hot coals for
warming the feet.
-- Foot tubercle. (Zoöl.) See Parapodium.
-- Foot valve (Steam Engine), the valve that opens to the air pump
from the condenser.
-- Foot vise, a kind of vise the jaws of which are operated by a
treadle.
-- Foot waling (Naut.), the inside planks or lining of a vessel over
the floor timbers. Totten.
-- Foot wall (Mining), the under wall of an inclosed vein. By foot,
or On foot, by walking; as, to pass a stream on foot.
-- Cubic foot. See under Cubic.
-- Foot and mouth disease, a contagious disease (Eczema epizoötica)
of cattle, sheep, swine, etc., characterized by the formation of
vesicles and ulcers in the mouth and about the hoofs.
-- Foot of the fine (Law), the concluding portion of an
acknowledgment in court by which, formerly, the title of land was
conveyed. See Fine of land, under Fine, n.; also Chirograph. (b).
-- Square foot. See under Square.
-- To be on foot, to be in motion, action, or process of execution.
-- To keep the foot (Script.), to preserve decorum. "Keep thy foot
when thou goest to the house of God." Eccl. v. 1.
-- To put one's foot down, to take a resolute stand; to be
determined. [Colloq.] -- To put the best foot foremost, to make a
good appearance; to do one's best. [Colloq.] -- To set on foot, to
put in motion; to originate; as, to set on foot a subscription.
-- To put, or set, one on his feet, to put one in a position to go
on; to assist to start.
-- Under foot. (a) Under the feet; (Fig.) at one's mercy; as, to
trample under foot. Gibbon. (b) Below par. [Obs.] "They would be
forced to sell . . . far under foot." Bacon.
FOOT
Foot, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Footed; p. pr. & vb. n. Footing.]
1. To tread to measure or music; to dance; to trip; to skip. Dryden.
2. To walk; -- opposed to ride or fly. Shak.
FOOT
Foot, v. t.
1. To kick with the foot; to spurn. Shak.
2. To set on foot; to establish; to land. [Obs.]
What confederacy have you with the traitors Late footed in the
kingdom Shak.
3. To tread; as, to foot the green. Tickell.
4. To sum up, as the numbers in a column; -- sometimes with up; as,
to foot (or foot up) an account.
5. The size or strike with the talon. [Poet.] Shak.
6. To renew the foot of, as of stocking. Shak. To foot a bill, to pay
it. [Colloq.] -- To foot it, to walk; also, to dance.
If you are for a merry jaunt, I'll try, for once, who can foot it
farthest. Dryden.
FOOTBALL
Foot"ball`, n.
Defn: An inflated ball to be kicked in sport, usually made in India
rubber, or a bladder incased in Leather. Waller.
2. The game of kicking the football by opposing parties of players
between goals. Arbuthnot.
FOOTBAND
Foot"band`, n.
Defn: A band of foot soldiers. [Obs.]
FOOTBATH
Foot"bath`, n.
Defn: A bath for the feet; also, a vessel used in bathing the feet.
FOOTBOARD
Foot"board`, n.
1. A board or narrow platfrom upon which one may stand or brace his
feet; as:
(a) The platform for the engineer and fireman of a locomotive.
(b) The foot-rest of a coachman's box.
2. A board forming the foot of a bedstead.
3. A treadle.
FOOTBOY
Foot"boy`, n.
Defn: A page; an attendant in livery; a lackey. Shak.
FOOTBREADTH
Foot"breadth`, n.
Defn: The breadth of a foot; -- used as a measure. Longfellow.
Not so much as a footbreadth. Deut. ii. 5.
FOOTBRIDGE
Foot"bridge`, n.
Defn: A narrow bridge for foot passengers only.
FOOT CANDLE
Foot candle. (Photom.)
Defn: The amount of illumination produced by a standard candle at a
distance of one foot.
FOOTCLOTH
Foot"cloth`, n.
Defn: Formerly, a housing or caparison for a horse. Sir W. Scott.
FOOTED
Foot"ed, a.
1. Having a foot or feet; shaped in the foot. "Footed like a goat."
Grew.
Note: Footed is often used in composition in the sense of having
(such or so many) feet; as, fourfooted beasts.
2. Having a foothold; established.
Our king . . . is footed in this land already. Shak.
FOOTFALL
Foot"fall`, n.
Defn: A setting down of the foot; a footstep; the sound of a
footstep. Shak.
Seraphim, whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor. Poe
FOOTFIGHT
Foot"fight`, n.
Defn: A conflict by persons on foot; -- distinguished from a fight on
horseback. Sir P. Sidney.
FOOTGLOVE
Foot"glove`, n.
Defn: A kind of stocking. [Obs.]
FOOT GUARDS
Foot" Guards`, pl.
Defn: Infantry soldiers belonging to select regiments called the
Guards. [Eng.]
FOOTHALT
Foot"halt`, n.
Defn: A disease affecting the feet of sheep.
FOOTHILL
Foot"hill`, n.
Defn: A low hill at the foot of highe
FOOTHOLD
Foot"hold`, n.
Defn: A holding with the feet; firm L'Estrange.
FOOTHOOK
Foot"hook`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: See Futtock.
FOOTHOT
Foot"hot`, adv.
Defn: Hastily; immediately; instantly; on the spot; hotfloot. Gower.
Custance have they taken anon, foothot. Chaucer.
FOOTING
Foot"ing, n.
1. Ground for the foot; place for the foot to rest on; firm
foundation to stand on.
In ascent, every stfooting and help to the next. Holder.
2. Standing; position; established place; basis for operation;
permanent settlement; foothold.
As soon as he had obtained a footing at court, the charms of his
manner . . . made him a favorite. Macaulay.
3. Relative condition; state.
Lived on a footing of equality with nobles. Macaulay.
4. Tread; step; especially, measured tread.
Hark, I hear the footing of a man. Shak.
5. The act of adding up a column of figures; the amount or sum total
of such a column.
6. The act of putting a foot to anything; also, that which is added
as a foot; as, the footing of a stocking.
7. A narrow cotton lace, without figures.
8. The finer refuse part of whale blubber, not wholly deprived of
oil. Simmonds.
9. (Arch. & Enging.)
Defn: The thickened or sloping portion of a wall, or of an embankment
at its foot. Footing course (Arch.), one of the courses of masonry at
the foot of a wall, broader than the courses above.
-- To pay one's footing, to pay a fee on first doing anything, as
working at a trade or in a shop. Wright.
-- Footing beam, the tie beam of a roof.
FOOTLESS
Foot"less, a.
Defn: Having no feet.
FOOTLICKER
Foot"lick`er, n.
Defn: A sycophant; a fawner; a toady. Cf. Bootlick. Shak.
FOOTLIGHT
Foot"light`, n.
Defn: One of a row of lights in the front of the stage in a theater,
etc., and on a level therewith. Before the footlights, upon the
stage; -- hence, in the capacity of an actor.
FOOTMAN
Foot"man, n.; pl. Footmen (.
1. A soldier who marches and fights on foot; a foot soldier.
2. A man in waiting; a male servant whose duties are to attend the
door, the carriage, the table, etc.
3. Formerly, a servant who ran in front of his master's carriage; a
runner. Prior.
4. A metallic stand with four feet, for keeping anything warm before
a fire.
5. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A moth of the family Lithosidæ; -- so called from its livery-
like colors.
FOOTMANSHIP
Foot"man*ship, n.
Defn: Art or skill of a footman.
FOOTMARK
Foot"mark`, n.
Defn: A footprint; a track or vestige. Coleridge.
FOOTNOTE
Foot"note`, n.
Defn: A note of reference or comment at the foot of a page.
FOOTPACE
Foot"pace`, n.
1. A walking pace or step.
2. A dais, or elevated platform; the highest step of the altar; a
landing in a staircase. Shipley.
FOOTPAD
Foot"pad`, n.
Defn: A highwayman or robber on foot.
FOOTPATH
Foot"path`, n.; pl. Footpaths (.
Defn: A narrow path or way for pedestrains only; a footway.
FOOTPLATE
Foot"plate`, n. (Locomotives)
Defn: See Footboard (a).
FOOT POUND
Foot" pound`. (Mech.)
Defn: A unit of energy, or work, being equal to the work done in
raising one pound avoirdupois against the force of gravity the height
of one foot.
FOOT POUNDAL
Foot" pound`al. (Mech.)
Defn: A unit of energy or work, equal to the work done in moving a
body through one foot against the force of one poundal.
FOOTPRINT
Foot"print`, n.
Defn: The impression of the foot; a trace or footmark; as,
"Footprints of the Creator."
FOOTROPE
Foot"rope`, n. (Aut.)
(a) The rope rigged below a yard, upon which men stand when reefing
or furling; -- formerly called a horse.
(b) That part of the boltrope to which the lower edge of a sail is
sewed.
FOOTS
Foots, n. pl.
Defn: The settlings of oil, molasses, etc., at the bottom of a barrel
or hogshead. Simmonds.
FOOT-SORE
Foot"-sore`, a.
Defn: Having sore or tender feet, as by reason of much walking; as,
foot-sore cattle.
FOOTSTALK
Foot"stalk`, n.
1. (Bot.)
Defn: The stalk of a leaf or of flower; a petiole, pedicel, or
reduncle.
2. (Zoöl.)
(a) The peduncle or stem by which various marine animals are
attached, as certain brachiopods and goose barnacles.
(b) The stem which supports which supports the eye in decapod
Crustacea; eyestalk.
3. (Mach.)
Defn: The lower part of a millstone spindle. It rests in a step.
Knight.
FOOTSTALL
Foot"stall`, n. Etym: [Cf. Pedestal.]
1. The stirrup of a woman's saddle.
2. (Arch.)
Defn: The plinth or base of a pillar.
FOOTSTEP
Foot"step`, n.
1. The mark or impression of the foot; a track; hence, visible sign
of a course pursued; token; mark; as, the footsteps of divine wisdom.
How on the faltering footsteps of decay Youth presses. Bryant.
2. An inclined plane under a hand printing press.
FOOTSTONE
Foot"stone` (; 110), n.
Defn: The stone at the foot of a grave; -- opposed to headstone.
FOOTSTOOL
Foot"stool`, n.
Defn: A low stool to support the feet of one when sitting.
FOOT TON
Foot ton. (Mech.)
Defn: A unit of energy or work, being equal to the work done in
raising one ton against the force of gravity through the height of
one foot.
FOOT VALVE
Foot valve. (Mech.)
Defn: A suction valve or check valve at the lower end of a pipe;
esp., such a valve in a steam-engine condenser opening to the air
pump.
FOOTWAY
Foot"way`, n.
Defn: A passage for pedestrians only.
FOOTWORN
Foot"worn`, a.
Defn: Worn by, or weared in, the feet; as, a footworn path; a
footworn traveler.
FOOTY
Foot"y, a.
1. Having foots, or settlings; as, footy oil, molasses, etc. [Eng.]
2. Poor; mean. [Prov. Eng.] C. Kingsley.
FOOZLE
Foo"zle, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Foozled; p. pr. & vb. n.
Foozling.] [Cf. G. fuseln to work badly or slowly.]
Defn: To bungle; to manage awkwardly; to treat or play unskillfully;
as, to foozle a stroke in golf.
She foozles all along the course.
Century Mag.
FOOZLE
Foo"zle, n.
1. A stupid fellow; a fogy. [Colloq.]
2. Act of foozling; a bungling stroke, as in golf.
FOP
Fop, n. Etym: [OE. foppe, fop, fool; cf. E. fob to cheat, G. foppen
to make a fool of one, jeer, D. foppen.]
Defn: One whose ambition it is to gain admiration by showy dress; a
coxcomb; an inferior dandy.
FOP-DOODLE
Fop"-doo`dle, n.
Defn: A stupid or insignaficant fellow; a fool; a simpleton. [R.]
Hudibras.
FOPLING
Fop"ling, n.
Defn: A petty fop. Landor.
FOPPERY
Fop"per*y, n.; pl. Fopperies. Etym: [From Fop.]
1. The behavior, dress, or other indication of a fop; coxcombry;
affectation of show; showy folly.
2. Folly; foolery.
Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter My sober house. Shak.
FOPPISH
Fop"pish, a.
Defn: Foplike; characteristic of a top in dress or manners; making an
ostentatious display of gay clothing; affected in manners.
Syn.
-- Finical; spruce; dandyish. See Finical.
-- Fop"pish*ly, adv.
-- Fop"pish*ness, n.
FOR-
For- (. Etym: [AS. for-; akin to D. & G. ver-, OHG. fir-, Icel. for-,
Goth. fra-, cf. Skr. para- away, Gr. far, adj. Cf. Fret to rub.]
Defn: A prefix to verbs, having usually the force of a negative or
privative. It often implies also loss, detriment, or destruction, and
sometimes it is intensive, meaning utterly, quite thoroughly, as in
forbathe.
FOR
For, prep. Etym: [AS. for, fore; akin to OS. for, fora, furi, D.
voor, OHG. fora, G. vor, OHG. furi, G. für, Icel. fyrir, Sw. för,
Dan. for, adv. för, Goth. faúr, faúra, L. pro, Gr. pra-. sq. root
202. Cf. Fore, First, Foremost, Forth, Pro-.]
Defn: In the most general sense, indicating that in consideration of,
in view of, or with reference to, which anything is done or takes
place.
1. Indicating the antecedent cause or occasion of an action; the
motive or inducement accompanying and prompting to an act or state;
the reason of anything; that on account of which a thing is or is
done.
With fiery eyes sparkling for very wrath. Shak.
How to choose dogs for scent or speed. Waller.
Now, for so many glorious actions done, For peace at home, and for
the public wealth, I mean to crown a bowl for Cæsar's health. Dryden.
That which we, for our unworthiness, are afraid to crave, our prayer
is, that God, for the worthiness of his Son, would, notwithstanding,
vouchsafe to grant. Hooker.
2. Indicating the remoter and indirect object of an act; the end or
final cause with reference to which anything is, acts, serves, or is
done.
The oak for nothing ill, The osier good for twigs, the poplar for the
mill. Spenser.
It was young counsel for the persons, and violent counsel for the
matters. Bacon.
Shall I think the worls was made for one, And men are born for kings,
as beasts for men, Not for protection, but to be devoured Dryden.
For he writes not for money, nor for praise. Denham.
3. Indicating that in favor of which, or in promoting which, anything
is, or is done; hence, in behalf of; in favor of; on the side of; --
opposed to against.
We can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. 2 Cor. xiii.
8.
It is for the general good of human society, and consequently of
particular persons, to be true and just; and it is for men's health
to be temperate. Tillotson.
Aristotle is for poetical justice. Dennis.
4. Indicating that toward which the action of anything is directed,
or the point toward which motion is made;
We sailed from Peru for China and Japan. Bacon.
5. Indicating that on place of or instead of which anything acts or
serves, or that to which a substitute, an equivalent, a compensation,
or the like, is offered or made; instead of, or place of.
And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, eye
for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. Ex. xxi. 23,
24.
6. Indicating that in the character of or as being which anything is
regarded or treated; to be, or as being.
We take a falling meteor for a star. Cowley.
If a man can be fully assured of anything for a truth, without having
examined, what is there that he may not embrace for truLocke.
Most of our ingenious young men take up some cried-up English poet
for their model. Dryden.
But let her go for an ungrateful woman. Philips.
7. Indicating that instead of which something else controls in the
performing of an action, or that in spite of which anything is done,
occurs, or is; hence, equivalent to notwithstanding, in spite of; --
generally followed by all, aught, anything, etc.
The writer will do what she please for all me. Spectator.
God's desertion shall, for aught he knows, the next minute supervene.
Dr. H. More.
For anything that legally appears to the contrary, it may be a
contrivance to fright us. Swift.
8. Indicating the space or time through which an action or state
extends; hence, during; in or through the space or time of.
For many miles about There 's scarce a bush. Shak.
Since, hired for life, thy servile muse sing. prior.
To guide the sun's bright chariot for a day. Garth.
9. Indicating that in prevention of which, or through fear of which,
anything is done. [Obs.]
We 'll have a bib, for spoiling of thy doublet. Beau. & Fl.
For, or As for, so far as concerns; as regards; with reference to; --
used parenthetically or independently. See under As.
As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Josh. xxiv. 15.
For me, my stormy voyage at an end, I to the port of death securely
tend. Dryden.
-- For all that, notwithstanding; in spite of.
-- For all the world, wholly; exactly. "Whose posy was, for all the
world, like cutlers' poetry." Shak.
-- For as much as, or Forasmuch as, in consideration that; seeing
that; since.
-- For by. See Forby, adv.
-- For ever, eternally; at all times. See Forever.
-- For me, or For all me, as far as regards me.
-- For my life, or For the life of me, if my life depended on it.
[Colloq.] T. Hook.
-- For that, For the reason that, because; since. [Obs.] "For that I
love your daughter." Shak.
-- For thy, or Forthy Etym: [AS. for, for this; on this account.
[Obs.] "Thomalin, have no care for thy." Spenser.
-- For to, as sign of infinitive, in order to; to the end of. [Obs.,
except as sometimes heard in illiterate speech.] -- "What went ye out
for to see" Luke vii. 25. See To, prep., 4.
-- O for, would that I had; may there be granted; -- elliptically
expressing desire or prayer. "O for a muse of fire." Shak.
-- Were it not for, or If it were not for, leaving out of account;
but for the presence or action of. "Moral consideration can no way
move the sensible appetite, were it not for the will." Sir M. Hale.
FOR
For, conj.
1. Because; by reason that; for that; indicating, in Old English, the
reason of anything.
And for of long that way had walkéd none, The vault was hid with
plants and bushes hoar. Fairfax.
And Heaven defend your good souls, that you think I will your serious
and great business scant, For she with me. Shak.
2. Since; because; introducing a reason of something before advanced,
a cause, motive, explanation, justification, or the like, of an
action related or a statement made. It is logically nearly equivalent
to since, or because, but connects less closely, and is sometimes
used as a very general introduction to something suggested by what
has gone before.
Give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth
forever. Ps. cxxxvi. 1.
Heaven doth with us as we with torches do, Not light them for
themselves; for if our virtues Did not go forth of us, 't were all
alike As if we had them not. Shak.
For because, because. [Obs.] "Nor for because they set less store by
their own citizens." Robynson (More's Utopia).
-- For why. (a) Why; for that reason; wherefore. [Obs.] (b) Because.
[Obs.] See Forwhy.
Syn.
-- See Because.
FOR
For, n.
Defn: One who takes, or that which is said on, the affrimative side;
that which is said in favor of some one or something; -- the
antithesis of against, and commonly used in connection with it. The
fors and against. those in favor and those opposed; the pros and the
cons; the advantages and the disadvantages. Jane Austen.
FORAGE
For"age (; 48), n. Etym: [OF. fourage, F. fourrage, fr. forre,
fuerre, fodder, straw, F. feurre, fr. LL. foderum, fodrum, of German
or Scand, origin; cf. OHG. fuotar, G. futter. See Fodder food, and
cf. Foray.]
1. The act of foraging; search for provisions, etc.
He [the lion] from forage will incline to play. Shak.
One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen
and fair kine. Milton.
Mawhood completed his forage unmolested. Marshall.
2. Food of any kind for animals, especially for horses and cattle, as
grass, pasture, hay, corn, oats. Dryden. Forage cap. See under Cap.
-- Forage master (Mil.), a person charged with providing forage and
the means of transporting it. Farrow.
FORAGE
For"age, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Foraged ; p. pr. & vb. n. Foraging.]
Defn: To wander or rove in search of food; to collect food, esp.
forage, for horses and cattle by feeding on or stripping the country;
to ravage; to feed on spoil.
His most mighty father on a hill Stood smiling to behold his lion's
whelp Forage in blood of French nobility. Shak.
Foraging ant (Zoöl.), one of several species of ants of the genus
Eciton, very abundant in tropical America, remarkable for marching in
vast armies in search of food.
-- Foraging cap, a forage cap.
-- Foraging party, a party sent out after forage.
FORAGE
For"age, v. t.
Defn: To strip of provisions; to supply with forage; as, to forage
steeds. Pope.
FORAGER
For"a*ger, n.
Defn: One who forages.
FORALITE
For"a*lite, n. Etym: [L. forare to bore + -lite.] (Geol.)
Defn: A tubelike marking, occuring in sandstone and other strata.
FORAMEN
Fo*ra"men, n.; pl. L. Foramina, E. Foramines. Etym: [L., fr. forare
to bore, pierce.]
Defn: A small opening, perforation, or orifice; a fenestra. Foramen
of Monro (Anat.), the opening from each lateral into the third
ventricle of the brain.
-- Foramen of Winslow (Anat.), the opening connecting the sac of the
omentum with the general cavity of the peritoneum.
FORAMINATED
Fo*ram"i*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. foraminatus.]
Defn: Having small opening, or foramina.
FORAMINIFER
For`a*min"i*fer, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the foraminifera.
FORAMINIFERA
Fo*ram`i*nif"e*ra, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. foramen, -aminis, a
foramen + ferre to bear.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: An extensive order of rhizopods which generally have a
chambered calcareous shell formed by several united zooids. Many of
them have perforated walls, whence the name. Some species are covered
with sand. See Rhizophoda.
FORAMINIFEROUS
Fo*ram`i*nif"er*ous, a.
1. Having small openings, or foramina.
2. Pertaining to, or composed of, Foraminifera; as, foraminiferous
mud.
FORAMINOUS
Fo*ram"i*nous, a. Etym: [L. foraminosus.]
Defn: Having foramina; full of holes; porous. Bacon.
FORASMUCH
For`as*much", comj.
Defn: In consideration that; seeing that; since; because that; --
followed by as. See under For, prep.
FORAY
For"ay, n. Etym: [Another form of forahe. Cf. Forray.]
Defn: A sudden or irregular incursion in border warfare; hence, any
irregular incursion for war or spoils; a raid. Spenser.
The huge Earl Doorm, . . . Bound on a foray, rolling eyes of prey.
Tennyson.
FORAY
For"ay, v. t.
Defn: To pillage; to ravage.
He might foray our lands. Sir W. Scott.
FORAYER
For"ay*er ( or ), n.
Defn: One who makes or joins in a foray.
They might not choose the lowand road, For the Merse forayers were
abroad. Sir W. Scott.
FORBADE
For*bade",
Defn: imp. of Forbid.
FORBATHE
For*bathe", v. t.
Defn: To bathe. [Obs.]
FORBEAR
For*bear", n. Etym: [See Fore, and Bear to produce.]
Defn: An ancestor; a forefather; -- usually in the plural. [Scot.]
"Your forbears of old." Sir W. Scott.
FORBEAR
For*bear", v. i. [imp. Forbore (Forbare (, [Obs.]); p. p. Forborne;
p. pr. & vb. n. Forbearing.] Etym: [OE. forberen, AS. forberan; pref.
for- + beran to bear. See Bear to support.]
1. To refrain from proceeding; to pause; to delay.
Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear 1
Kinds xxii. 6.
2. To refuse; to decline; to give no heed.
Thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or
whether they will forbear. Ezek. ii. 7.
3. To control one's self when provoked.
The kindest and the happiest pair Will find occasion to forbear.
Cowper.
Both bear and forbear. Old Proverb.
FORBEAR
For*bear", v. t.
1. To keep away from; to avoid; to abstain from; to give up; as, to
forbear the use of a word of doubdtful propriety.
But let me that plunder forbear. Shenstone.
The King In open battle or the tilting field Forbore his own
advantage. Tennyson.
2. To treat with consideration or indulgence.
Forbearing one another in love. Eph. iv. 2.
3. To cease from bearing. [Obs.]
Whenas my womb her burden would forbear. Spenser.
FORBEARANCE
For*bear"ance, n.
Defn: The act of forbearing or waiting; the exercise of patience.
He soon shall findForbearance no acquittance ere day end. Milton.
2. The quality of being forbearing; indulgence toward offenders or
enemies; long-suffering.
Have a continent forbearance, till the speed of his rage goeShak.
Syn.
-- Abstinence; refraining; lenity; mildness.
FORBEARANT
For*bear"ant, a.
Defn: Forbearing. [R.] Carlyle.
FORBEARER
For*bear"er, n.
Defn: One who forbears. Tusser.
FORBEARING
For*bear"ing, a.
Defn: Disposed or accustomed to forbear; patient; long-suffering.
-- For*bear"ing*ly, adv.
FORBID
For*bid", v. t. [imp. Forbade; p. p. Forbidden (Forbid, [Obs.]); p.
pr. & vb. n. Forbidding.] Etym: [OE. forbeden, AS. forbeódan; pref.
for- + beódan to bid; akin to D. verbieden, G. verbieten, Icel.,
fyrirbjoedha, forboedha, Sw. förbjuda, Dan. forbyde. See Bid, v. t.]
1. To command against, or contrary to; to prohibit; to interdict.
More than I have said . . . The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell upon. Shak.
2. To deny, exclude from, or warn off, by express command; to command
not to enter.
Have I not forbid her my house Shak.
3. To oppose, hinder, or prevent, as if by an effectual command; as,
an impassable river forbids the approach of the army.
A blaze of glory that forbids the sight. Dryden.
4. To accurse; to blast. [Obs.]
He shall live a man forbid. Shak.
5. To defy; to challenge. [Obs.] L. Andrews.
Syn.
-- To prohibit; interdict; hinder; preclude; withold; restrain;
prevent. See Prohibit.
FORBID
For*bid", v. i.
Defn: To utter a prohibition; to prevent; to hinder. "I did not or
forbid." Milton.
FORBIDDANCE
For*bid"dance, n.
Defn: The act of forbidding; prohibition; command or edict against a
thing. [Obs.]
ow hast thou yield to transgress The strict forbiddance. Milton.
FORBIDDEN
For*bid"den, a.
Defn: Prohibited; interdicted.
I kniw no spells, use no forbidden arts. Milton.
Forbidden fruit. (a) Any coveted unlawful pleasure, -- so called with
reference to the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden. (b) (Bot.) A
small variety of shaddock (Citrus decumana). The name is given in
different places to several varieties of Citrus fruits.
FORBIDDENLY
For*bid"den*ly, adv.
Defn: In a forbidden or unlawful manner. Shak.
FORBIDDER
For*bid"der, n.
Defn: One who forbids. Milton.
FORBIDDING
For*bid"ding, a.
Defn: Repelling approach; repulsive; raising abhorrence, aversion, or
dislike; disagreeable; prohibiting or interdicting; as, a forbidding
aspect; a forbidding formality; a forbidding air.
Syn.
-- Disagreeable; unpleasant; displeasing; offensive; repulsive;
odious; abhorrent.
-- For*bid"ding*ly, adv.
-- For*bid"ding*ness, n.
FORBLACK
For*black", a.
Defn: Very black. [Obs.]
As any raven's feathers it shone forblack. Chaucer.
FORBODEN
For*bo"den, obs.
Defn: p. p. of Forbid. Chaucer.
FORBORE
For*bore",
Defn: imp. of Forbear.
FORBORNE
For*borne",
Defn: p. p. of Forbear.
FORBRUISE
For*bruise", v. t.
Defn: To bruise sorely or exceedingly. [Obs.]
All forbrosed, both back and side. Chaucer.
FORBY
For*by", adv. & prep. Etym: [See Foreby.]
Defn: Near; hard by; along; past. [Obs.]
To tell her if her child went ought forby. Chaucer.
To the intent that ships may pass along forby all the sides of the
city without let. Robynson (More's Utopia).
FORCARVE
For*carve", v. t.
Defn: To cut completely; to cut off. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FORCE
Force, v. t. Etym: [See Farce to stuff.]
Defn: To stuff; to lard; to farce. [R.]
Wit larded with malice, and malice forced with wit. Shak.
FORCE
Force, n. Etym: [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. fors, foss, Dan. fos.]
Defn: A waterfall; a cascade. [Prov. Eng.]
To see the falls for force of the river Kent. T. Gray.
FORCE
Force, n. Etym: [F. force, LL. forcia, fortia, fr. L. fortis strong.
See Fort, n.]
1. Strength or energy of body or mind; active power; vigor; might;
often, an unusual degree of strength or energy; capacity of
exercising an influence or producing an effect; especially, power to
persuade, or convince, or impose obligation; pertinency; validity;
special signification; as, the force of an appeal, an argument, a
contract, or a term.
He was, in the full force of the words, a good man. Macaulay.
2. Power exerted against will or consent; compulsory power; violence;
coercion.
Which now they hold by force, and not by right. Shak.
3. Strength or power war; hence, a body of land or naval combatants,
with their appurtenances, ready for action; -- an armament; troops;
warlike array; -- often in the plural; hence, a body of men prepared
for action in other ways; as, the laboring force of a plantation.
Is Lucius general of the forces Shak.
4. (Law)
(a) Strength or power exercised without law, or contrary to law, upon
persons or things; violence.
(b) Validity; efficacy. Burrill.
5. (Physics)
Defn: Any action between two bodies which changes, or tends to
change, their relative condition as to rest or motion; or, more
generally, which changes, or tends to change, any physical relation
between them, whether mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical,
magnetic, or of any other kind; as, the force of gravity; cohesive
force; centrifugal force. Animal force (Physiol.), muscular force or
energy.
-- Catabiotic force Etym: [Gr. (Biol.), the influence exerted by
living structures on adjoining cells, by which the latter are
developed in harmony with the primary structures.
-- Centrifugal force, Centripetal force, Coercive force, etc. See
under Centrifugal, Centripetal, etc.
-- Composition of forces, Correlation of forces, etc. See under
Composition, Correlation, etc.
-- Force and arms Etym: [trans. of L. vi et armis] (Law), an
expression in old indictments, signifying violence.
-- In force, or Of force, of unimpaired efficacy; valid; of full
virtue; not suspended or reversed. "A testament is of force after men
are dead." Heb. ix. 17.
-- Metabolic force (Physiol.), the influence which causes and
controls the metabolism of the body.
-- No force, no matter of urgency or consequence; no account; hence,
to do no force, to make no account of; not to heed. [Obs.] Chaucer.
-- Of force, of necessity; unavoidably; imperatively. "Good reasons
must, of force, give place to better." Shak.
-- Plastic force (Physiol.), the force which presumably acts in the
growth and repair of the tissues.
-- Vital force (Physiol.), that force or power which is inherent in
organization; that form of energy which is the cause of the vital
phenomena of the body, as distinguished from the physical forces
generally known.
Syn.
-- Strength; vigor; might; energy; stress; vehemence; violence;
compulsion; coaction; constraint; coercion.
-- Force, Strength. Strength looks rather to power as an inward
capability or energy. Thus we speak of the strength of timber, bodily
strength, mental strength, strength of emotion, etc. Force, on the
other hand, looks more to the outward; as, the force of gravitation,
force of circumstances, force of habit, etc. We do, indeed, speak of
strength of will and force of will; but even here the former may lean
toward the internal tenacity of purpose, and the latter toward the
outward expression of it in action. But, though the two words do in a
few cases touch thus closely on each other, there is, on the whole, a
marked distinction in our use of force and strength. "Force is the
name given, in mechanical science, to whatever produces, or can
produce, motion." Nichol.
Thy tears are of no force to mollify This flinty man. Heywood.
More huge in strength than wise in works he was. Spenser.
Adam and first matron Eve Had ended now their orisons, and found
Strength added from above, new hope to spring Out of despair. Milton.
FORCE
Force, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forced; p. pr. & vb. n. Forcing.] Etym:
[OF. forcier, F. forcer, fr. LL. forciare, fortiare. See Force, n.]
1. To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not
resistible; to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to
coerce; as, masters force slaves to labor.
2. To compel, as by strength of evidence; as, to force conviction on
the mind.
3. To do violence to; to overpower, or to compel by violence to one;s
will; especially, to ravish; to violate; to commit rape upon.
To force their monarch and insult the court. Dryden.
I should have forced thee soon wish other arms. Milton.
To force a spotless virgin's chastity. Shak.
4. To obtain or win by strength; to take by violence or struggle;
specifically, to capture by assault; to storm, as a fortress.
5. To impel, drive, wrest, extort, get, etc., by main strength or
violence; -- with a following adverb, as along, away, from, into,
through, out, etc.
It stuck so fast, so deeply buried lay That scarce the victor forced
the steel away. Dryden.
To force the tyrant from his seat by war. Sahk.
Ethelbert ordered that none should be forced into religion. Fuller.
6. To put in force; to cause to be executed; to make binding; to
enforce. [Obs.]
What can the church force more J. Webster.
7. To exert to the utmost; to urge; hence, to strain; to urge to
excessive, unnatural, or untimely action; to produce by unnatural
effort; as, to force a consient or metaphor; to force a laugh; to
force fruits.
High on a mounting wave my head I bore, Forcing my strength, and
gathering to the shore. Dryden.
8. (Whist)
Defn: To compel (an adversary or partner) to trump a trick by leading
a suit of which he has none.
9. To provide with forces; to reënforce; to strengthen by soldiers;
to man; to garrison. [Obs.] Shak.
10. To allow the force of; to value; to care for. [Obs.]
For me, I force not argument a straw. Shak.
Syn.
-- To compel; constrain; oblige; necessitate; coerce; drive; press;
impel.
FORCE
Force, v. i. [Obs. in all the senses.]
1. To use violence; to make violent effort; to strive; to endeavor.
Forcing with gifts to win his wanton heart. Spenser.
2. To make a difficult matter of anything; to labor; to hesitate;
hence, to force of, to make much account of; to regard.
Your oath once broke, you force not to forswear. Shak.
I force not of such fooleries. Camden.
3. To be of force, importance, or weight; to matter.
It is not sufficient to have attained the name and dignity of a
shepherd, not forcing how. Udall.
FORCED
Forced, a.
Defn: Done or produced with force or great labor, or by extraordinary
exertion; hurried; strained; produced by unnatural effort or
pressure; as, a forced style; a forced laugh. Forced draught. See
under Draught.
-- Forced march (Mil.), a march of one or more days made with all
possible speed.
-- For"ced*ly, adv.
-- For"ced*ness, n.
FORCEFUL
Force"ful, a.
Defn: Full of or processing force; exerting force; mighty.
-- Force"ful*ly, adv.
Against the steed he threw His forceful spear. Dryden.
FORCELESS
Force"less, a.
Defn: Having little or no force; feeble.
These forceless flowers like sturdy trees support me. Shak.
FORCEMEAT
Force"meat`, n. Etym: [Corrupt. for farce-meat, fr. F. farce
stuffing. See Farce, n.] (Cookery)
Defn: Meat chopped fine and highly seasoned, either served up alone,
or used as a stuffing. [Written also forced meat.]
FORCEMENT
Force"ment, n.
Defn: The act of forcing; compulsion. [Obs.]
It was imposed upon us by constraint; And will you count such
forcement treachery J. Webster.
FORCEPS
For"ceps, n. Etym: [L. forceps, -cipis, from the root of formus Hot +
capere to take; akin to E. heave. Cf. Furnace.]
1. A pair of pinchers, or tongs; an instrument for grasping, holding
firmly, or exerting traction upon, bodies which it would be
inconvenient or impracticable to seize with the fingers, especially
one for delicate operations, as those of watchmakers, surgeons,
accoucheurs, dentists, etc.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The caudal forceps-shaped appendage of earwigs and some other
insects. See Earwig. Dressing forceps. See under Dressing.
FORCE PUMP
Force" pump`. (Mach.)
(a) A pump having a solid piston, or plunger, for drawing and forcing
a liquid, as water, through the valves; in distinction from a pump
having a bucket, or valved piston.
(b) A pump adapted for delivering water at a considerable height
above the pump, or under a considerable pressure; in distinction from
one which lifts the water only to the top of the pump or delivers it
through a spout. See Illust. of Plunger pump, under Plunger.
FORCER
For"cer, n.
1. One who, or that which, forces or drives.
2. (Mech.)
(a) The solid piston of a force pump; the instrument by which water
is forced in a pump.
(b) A small hand pump for sinking pits, draining cellars, etc.
FORCIBLE
For"ci*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. forcible forcible, forceable that may
be forced.]
1. Possessing force; characterized by force, efficiency, or energy;
powerful; efficacious; impressive; influential.
How forcible are right words! Job. vi. 2
Sweet smells are most forcible in dry substances, when broken. Bacon.
But I have reasons strong and forcible. Shak.
That punishment which hath been sometimes forcible to bridle sin.
Hooker.
He is at once elegant and sublime, forcible and ornamented. Lowth
(Transl. )
2. Violent; impetuous.
Like mingled streams, more forcible when joined. Prior.
3. Using force against opposition or resistance; obtained by
compulsion; effected by force; as, forcible entry or abduction.
In embraces of King James . . . forcible and unjust. Swift.
Forcible entry and detainer (Law), the entering upon and taking and
withholding of land and tenements by actual force and violence, and
with a strong hand, to the hindrance of the person having the right
to enter.
Syn.
-- Violent; powerful; strong; energetic; mighty; potent; weighty;
impressive; cogent; influential.
FORCIBLE-FEEBLE
For"ci*ble-fee`ble, a. Etym: [From Feeble, a character in the Second
Part of Shakespeare's "King Henry IV.," to whom Falstaff derisively
applies the epithet "forcible."]
Defn: Seemingly vigorous, but really weak or insipid.
He [Prof. Ayton] would purge his book of much offensive matter, if he
struck out epithets which are in the bad taste of the forcible-feeble
school. N. Brit. Review.
FORCIBLENESS
For"ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being forcible.
FORCIBLY
For"ci*bly, adv.
Defn: In a forcible manner.
FORCING
For"cing, n.
1. The accomplishing of any purpose violently, precipitately,
prematurely, or with unusual expedition.
2. (Gardening)
Defn: The art of raising plants, flowers, and fruits at an earlier
season than the natural one, as in a hitbed or by the use of
artificial heat. Forcing bed or pit, a plant bed having an under
layer of fermenting manure, the fermentation yielding bottom heat for
forcing plants; a hotbed.
-- Forcing engine, a fire engine.
-- Forcing fit (Mech.), a tight fit, as of one part into a hole in
another part, which makes it necessary to use considerable force in
putting the two parts together.
-- Forcing house, a greenhouse for the forcing of plants, fruit
trees, etc.
-- Forcing machine, a powerful press for putting together or
separating two parts that are fitted tightly one into another, as for
forcing a crank on a shaft, or for drawing off a car wheel from the
axle.
-- Forcing pump. See Force pump (b).
FORCIPAL
For"ci*pal, a.
Defn: Forked or branched like a pair of forceps; constructed so as to
open and shut like a pair of forceps. Sir T. Browne.
FORCIPATE; FORCIPATED
For"ci*pate, For"ci*pa`ted, a.
Defn: Like a pair of forceps; as, a forcipated mouth.
FORCIPATION
For`ci*pa"tion, n.
Defn: Torture by pinching with forceps or pinchers. Bacon.
FORCITE
For"cite, n. [From 3d Force, n.] (Chem.)
Defn: A gelatin dynamite in which the dope is composed largely of
sodium nitrate.
FORCUT
For*cut", v. t.
Defn: To cut completely; to cut off. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FORD
Ford, n. Etym: [AS. ford; akin to G. furt, Icel. f bay, and to E.
fare. Fare, v. i., and cf. Frith arm of the sea.]
1. A place in a river, or other water, where it may passed by man or
beast on foot, by wading.
He swam the Esk river where ford there was none. Sir W. Scott.
2. A stream; a current.
With water of the ford Or of the clouds. Spenser.
Permit my ghost to pass the Stygford. Dryden.
FORD
Ford, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forded; p. pr. & vb. n. Fording.]
Defn: To pass or cross, as a river or other water, by wading; to wade
through.
His last section, which is no deep one, remains only to be forted.
Milton.
FORDABLE
Ford"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being forded.
-- Ford"a*ble*ness, n.
FORDLESS
Ford"less, a.
Defn: Without a ford.
A deep and fordless river. Mallock.
FORDO
For*do", v. t. Etym: [OE. fordon, AS. ford; pref. for- + d to do. See
For-, and Do, v. i.]
1. To destroy; to undo; to ruin. [Obs.]
This is the night That either makes me or fordoes me quite. Shak.
2. To overcome with fatigue; to exhaust. M. Arnold.
All with weary task fordone. Shak.
FORDONE
For*done", a. Etym: [See Fordo.]
Defn: Undone; ruined. [Obs.] Spenser.
FORDRIVE
For*drive", v. t.
Defn: To drive about; to drive here and there. [Obs.] Rom. of R.
FORDRUNKEN
For*drunk"en, a.
Defn: Utterly drunk; very drunk. [Obs.] Chaucer.
FORDRY
For*dry", a.
Defn: Entirely dry; withered. [Obs.] "A tree fordry." Chaucer.
FORDWINE
For*dwine", v. i.
Defn: To dwindle away; to disappear. [Obs.] Rom of R.
FORE
Fore, n. Etym: [AS. f, fr. faran to go. See Fare, v. i.]
Defn: Journey; way; method of proceeding. [Obs.] "Follow him and his
fore." Chaucer.
FORE
Fore, adv. Etym: [AS. fore, adv. & prep., another form of for. See
For, and cf. Former, Foremost.]
1. In the part that precedes or goes first; -- opposed to aft, after,
back, behind, etc.
2. Formerly; previously; afore. [Obs. or Colloq.]
The eyes, fore duteous, now converted are. Shak.
3. (Naut.)
Defn: In or towards the bows of a ship. Fore and aft (Naut.), from
stem to stern; lengthwise of the vessel; -- in distinction from
athwart. R. H. Dana, Jr.
-- Fore-and-aft rigged (Naut.), not rigged with square sails
attached to yards, but with sails bent to gaffs or set on stays in
the midship line of the vessel. See Schooner, Sloop, Cutter.
FORE
Fore, a. Etym: [See Fore, advv.]
Defn: Advanced, as compared with something else; toward the front;
being or coming first, in time, place, order, or importance;
preceding; anterior; antecedent; earlier; forward; -- opposed to Ant:
back or Ant: behind; as, the fore part of a garment; the fore part of
the day; the fore and of a wagon.
The free will of the subject is preserved, while it is directed by
the fore purpose of the state. Southey.
Note: Fore is much used adjectively or in composition. Fore bay, a
reservoir or canal between a mill race and a water wheel; the
discharging end of a pond or mill race.
-- Fore body (Shipbuilding), the part of a ship forward of the
largest cross-section, distinguisched from middle body abd after
body.
-- Fore boot, a receptacle in the front of a vehicle, for stowing
baggage, etc.
-- Fore bow, the pommel of a saddle. Knight.
-- Fore cabin, a cabin in the fore part of a ship, usually with
inferior accommodations.
-- Fore carriage. (a) The forward part of the running gear of a
four-wheeled vehicle. (b) A small carriage at the front end of a plow
beam.
-- Fore course (Naut.), the lowermost sail on the foremost of a
square-rigged vessel; the foresail. See Illust. under Sail.
-- Fore door. Same as Front door.
-- Fore edge, the front edge of a book or folded sheet, etc.
-- Fore elder, an ancestor. [Prov. Eng.] -- Fore end. (a) The end
which precedes; the earlier, or the nearer, part; the beginning.
I have . . . paid More pious debts to heaven, than in all The fore
end of my time. Shak.
(b) In firearms, the wooden stock under the barrel, forward of the
trigger guard, or breech frame.
-- Fore girth, a girth for the fore part (of a horse, etc.); a
martingale.
-- Fore hammer, a sledge hammer, working alternately, or in time,
with the hand hammer.
-- Fore leg, one of the front legs of a quadruped, or multiped, or
of a chair, settee, etc.
-- Fore peak (Naut.), the angle within a ship's bows; the portion of
the hold which is farthest forward.
-- Fore piece, a front piece, as the flap in the fore part of a
sidesaddle, to guard the rider's dress.
-- Fore plane, a carpenter's plane, in size and use between a jack
plane and a smoothing plane. Knight.
-- Fore reading, previous perusal. [Obs.] Hales.
-- Fore rent, in Scotland, rent payable before a crop is gathered.
-- Fore sheets (Naut.), the forward portion of a rowboat; the space
beyond the front thwart. See Stern sheets.
-- Fore shore. (a) A bank in advance of a sea wall, to break the
force of the surf. (b) The seaward projecting, slightly inclined
portion of a breakwater. Knight. (c) The part of the shore between
high and low water marks.
-- Fore sight, that one of the two sights of a gun which is near the
muzzle.
-- Fore tackle (Naut.), the tackle on the foremast of a ship.
-- Fore topmast. (Naut.) See Fore-topmast, in the Vocabulary.
-- Fore wind, a favorable wind. [Obs.]
Sailed on smooth seas, by fore winds borne. Sandys.
-- Fore world, the antediluvian world. [R.] Southey.
FORE
Fore, n.
Defn: The front; hence, that which is in front; the future. At the
fore (Naut.), at the fore royal masthead; -- said of a flag, so
raised as a signal for sailing, etc.
-- To the fore. (a) In advance; to the front; to a prominent
position; in plain sight; in readiness for use. (b) In existence;
alive; not worn out, lost, or spent, as money, etc. [Irish] "While I
am to the fore." W. Collins. "How many captains in the regiment had
two thousand pounds to the fore" Thackeray.
FORE
Fore, prep.
Defn: Before; -- sometimes written 'fore as if a contraction of afore
or before. [Obs.]
FOREADMONISH
Fore`ad*mon"ish, v. t.
Defn: To admonish beforehand, or before the act or event. Bp. Hall.
FOREADVISE
Fore`ad*vise", v. t.
Defn: To advise or counsel before the time of action, or before the
event. Shak.
FOREALLEGE
Fore`al*lege", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Forealleged; p. pr. & vb. n.
Forealleging.]
Defn: To allege or cite before. Fotherby.
FOREAPPOINT
Fore`ap*point", v. t.
Defn: To set, order, or appoint, beforehand. Sherwood.
FOREAPPOINTMENT
Fore`ap*point"ment, n.
Defn: Previous appointment; preordinantion. Sherwood.
FOREARM
Fore*arm", v. t.
Defn: To arm or prepare for attack or resistance before the time of
need. South.
FOREARM
Fore"arm`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: That part of the arm or fore limb between the elbow and wrist;
the antibrachium.
FOREBEAM
Fore"beam`, n.
Defn: The breast beam of a loom.
FOREBEAR
Fore*bear", n.
Defn: An ancestor. See Forbear.
FOREBODE
Fore*bode", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foreboded; p. pr. & vb. n.
Foreboding.] Etym: [AS. forebodian; fore + bodian to announce. See
Bode v. t.]
1. To foretell.
2. To be prescient of (some ill or misfortune); to have an inward
conviction of, as of a calamity which is about to happen; to augur
despondingly.
His heart forebodes a mystery. Tennyson.
Sullen, desponding, and foreboding nothing but wars and desolation,
as the certain consequence of Cæsar's death. Middleton.
I have a sort of foreboding about him. H. James.
Syn.
-- To foretell; predict; prognosticate; augur; presage; portend;
betoken.
FOREBODE
Fore*bode", v. i.
Defn: To fortell; to presage; to augur.
If I forebode aright. Hawthorne.
FOREBODE
Fore*bode", n.
Defn: Prognostication; presage. [Obs.]
FOREBODEMENT
Fore*bode"ment, n.
Defn: The act of foreboding; the thing foreboded.
FOREBODER
Fore*bod"er, n.
Defn: One who forebodes.
FOREBODING
Fore*bod"ing, n.
Defn: Presage of coming ill; expectation of misfortune.
FOREBODINGLY
Fore*bod"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a foreboding manner.
FOREBRACE
Fore"brace`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: A rope applied to the fore yardarm, to change the position of
the foresail.
FOREBRAIN
Fore"brain`, n. (Anat.)
Defn: The anterior of the three principal divisions of the brain,
including the prosencephalon and thalamencephalon. Sometimes
restricted to the prosencephalon only. See Brain.
FOREBY
Fore*by", prep. Etym: [Fore + by.]
Defn: Near; hard by; along; past. See Forby. Spenser.
FORECAST
Fore*cast", v. t.
1. To plan beforehand; to scheme; to project.
He shall forecast his devices against the strongholds. Dan. xi. 24.
2. To foresee; to calculate beforehand, so as to provide for.
It is wisdom to consider the end of things before we embark, and to
forecast consequences. L'Estrange.
FORECAST
Fore*cast", v. i.
Defn: To contrive or plan beforehand.
If it happen as I did forecast. Milton.
FORECAST
Fore"cast, n.
Defn: Previous contrivance or determination; predetermination.
He makes this difference to arise from the forecast and
predetermination of the gods themselves. Addison.
2. Foresight of consequences, and provision against them; prevision;
premeditation.
His calm, deliberate forecast better fitted him for the council than
the camp. Prescott.
FORECASTER
Fore*cast"er, n.
Defn: One who forecast. Johnson.
FORECASTLE
Fore"cas`tle (; sailors say , n. (Naut.)
(a) A short upper deck forward, formerly raised like a castle, to
command an enemy's decks.
(b) That part of the upper deck of a vessel forward of the foremast,
or of the after part of the fore channels.
(c) In merchant vessels, the forward part of the vessel, under the
deck, where the sailors live.
FORECHOSEN
Fore`cho"sen, a.
Defn: Chosen beforehand.
FORECITED
Fore"cit`ed, a.
Defn: Cited or quoted before or above. Arbuthnot.
FORECLOSE
Fore*close", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Foreclosed; p. pr. & vb. n.
Foreclosing.] Etym: [F. forclos, p.p. of forclore to exclude; OF.
fors, F. hors, except, outside (fr. L. foris outside) + F. clore to
close. See Foreign, and Close, v. t.]
Defn: To shut up or out; to preclude; to stop; to prevent; to bar; to
exclude.
The embargo with Spain foreclosed this trade. Carew.
To foreclose a mortgager (Law), to cut him off by a judgment of court
from the power of redeeming the mortgaged premises, termed his equity
of redemption.
-- To foreclose a mortgage, (not technically correct, but often used
to signify) the obtaining a judgment for the payment of an overdue
mortgage, and the exposure of the mortgaged property to sale to meet
the mortgage debt. Wharton.
FORECLOSURE
Fore*clo"sure, n.
Defn: The act or process of foreclosing; a proceeding which bars or
extinguishes a mortgager's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate.
FORECONCEIVE
Fore`con*ceive", v. t.
Defn: To preconceive; to imagine beforehand. [Obs.] Bacon.
FOREDATE
Fore*date", v. t.
Defn: To date before the true time; to antendate.
FOREDECK
Fore"deck`, n. (Naut.)
Defn: The fore part of a deck, or of a ship.
FOREDEEM
Fore*deem", v. t.
Defn: To recognize or judge in advance; to forebode. [Obs.] Udall.
Laugh at your misery, as foredeeming you An idle meteor. J. Webster.
FOREDEEM
Fore*deem", v. i. Etym: [Cf. Foredoom.]
Defn: To know or discover beforehand; to foretell. [Obs.]
Which [maid] could guess and foredeem of things past, present, and to
come. Genevan Test.
FOREDESIGN
Fore`de*sign" ( or ), v. t.
Defn: To plan beforehand; to intend previously. Cheyne.
FOREDETERMINE
Fore`de*ter"mine, v. t.
Defn: To determine or decree beforehand. Bp. Hopkins.
FOREDISPOSE
Fore`dis*pose", v. t.
Defn: To bestow beforehand. [R.]
King James had by promise foredisposed the place on the Bishop of
Meath. Fuller.
FOREDOOM
Fore*doom", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Foredeem.]
Defn: To doom beforehand; to predestinate.
Thou art foredomed to view the Stygian state. Dryden.
FOREDOOM
Fore"doom`, n.
Defn: Doom or sentence decreed in advance. "A dread foredoom ringing
in the ears of the guilty adult." Southey.
FOREFATHER
Fore"fa`ther, n.
Defn: One who precedes another in the line of genealogy in any
degree, but usually in a remote degree; an ancestor.
Respecting your forefathers, you would have been taught to respect
yourselves. Burke.
Forefathers' Day, the anniversary of the day (December 21) on which
the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts (1620). On
account of a mistake in reckoning the change from Old Style to New
Style, it has generally been celebrated on the 22d.
FOREFEEL
Fore*feel", v. t.
Defn: To feel beforehand; to have a presentiment of. [Obs.]
As when, with unwieldy waves, the great sea forefeels winds. Chapman.
FOREFENCE
Fore`fence", n.
Defn: Defense in front. [Obs.]
FOREFEND
Fore*fend", v. t. Etym: [OE. forfenden; pref. for- + fenden to fend.
See Fend, v. t.]
Defn: To hinder; to fend off; to avert; to prevent the approach of;
to forbid or prohibit. See Forfend.
God forefend it should ever be recorded in our history. Landor.
It would be a far better work . . . to forefend the cruelty. I.
Taylor.
FOREFINGER
Fore"fin`ger, n.
Defn: The finger next to the thumb; the index.
FOREFLOW
Fore*flow", v. t.
Defn: To flow before. [Obs.]
FOREFOOT
Fore"foot`, n.
1. One of the anterior feet of a quardruped or multiped; -- usually
written fore foot.
2. (Shipbuilding)
Defn: A piece of timber which terminates the keel at the fore end,
connecting it with the lower end of the stem.
FOREFRONT
Fore"front`, n.
Defn: Foremost part or place.
Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle. 2 Sam. xi. 15.
Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, standing in the forefront for all time,
the masters of those who know. J. C. Shairp.
FOREGAME
Fore"game`, n.
Defn: A first game; first plan. [Obs.] Whitlock.
FOREGANGER
Fore"gang`er, n. Etym: [Prop., a goer before cf. G. voregänger. See
Fore, and Gang.] (Naut.)
Defn: A short rope grafted on a harpoon, to which a longer lin
Totten.
FOREGATHER
Fore*gath"er, v. i.
Defn: Same as Forgather.
FOREGIFT
Fore"gift`, n. (Law)
Defn: A premium paid by
FOREGLEAM
Fore"gleam`, n.
Defn: An antecedent or premonitory gleam; a dawning light.
The foregleams of wisdom. Whittier.
FOREGO
Fore*go", v. t. [imp. Forewent 2; p. p. Foregone; p. pr. & vb. n.
Foregoing.] Etym: [See Forgo.]
1. To quit; to relinquish; to leave.
Stay at the third cup, or forego the place. Herbert.
2. To relinquish the enjoyment or advantage of; to give up; to
resign; to renounce; -- said of a thing already enjoyed, or of one
within reach, or anticipated.
All my patrimony,, If need be, I am ready to forego. Milton.
Thy lovers must their promised heaven forego. Keble.
[He] never forewent an opportunity of honest profit. R. L. Stevenson.
Note: Forgo is the better spelling etymologically, but the word has
been confused with Forego, to go before.
FOREGO
Fore*go"
Excerpt
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, by Various
This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions
whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms
of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at
www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you
will have to check the laws of the country where you are located...